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The following is taken from the report to the APCM 2007
This was an interesting year for Mursley Deanery. By far the biggest topic has been a new plan for the deanery. This is necessary not just because of the expected departure of Linslade into the diocese of St Albans but also because the number of stipendiary priests will be further reduced. Deanery Synod set up a Deanery Plan Committee sub-group to consider options including five independent benefices, multi-parish team ministry and group ministry.
The Archdeaconry Parish Development Adviser has given assistance but the diocese very much wants deaneries to be responsible for their own future. We at Linslade very much wanted to give advice to our friends in the deanery and so we assisted in developing the strategy and plan even though such strategies and plans will probably not affect us. In the end, Mursley has decided to proceed with the cautious approach of having five independent benefices albeit with close but informal co-operation. Part of the reasoning was that the present boundaries of the deanery and surrounding deaneries may well be subject to change with the enlargement of Milton Keynes over the next few years.
Linslade is not the only parish facing funding problems for major structural work. Great Brickhill has a grant of £85,000 from English Heritage for roof restoration. They only need another £200,000.
We have complained for years about our parish share. Mursley faces yet another above-inflation increase.
One of the deanery’s successes has been to be in the forefront of getting the diocese to adopt the Fairtrade pledge. Catherine can be well pleased with this.
In the February Synod, members expressed much gratitude for Catherine’s work for the deanery especially her stint as Area Dean and gave best wishes for her retirement.