Thank you to parishes and their treasurers

A late surge in Parish Share payments in December and January avoided what looked like being a substantial deficit for 2006.

Although some deaneries lost their rebates last year by not paying in full (and on time) the eventual shortfall against budget was £40,000, equal to what one moderate-sized parish pays.

Parishes in the Oxford Archdeaconry achieved their best result in over a decade.

Brian `Newey, Chair of the Board of Finance, told the March meeting of Diocesan Synod: ‘I particularly want to say how grateful I am to parishes and treasurers in all parts of the diocese who worked so hard and persuasively to bring in such a good Parish Share result once again. It is a very important achievement’.

In a final pledge on future Share increases he concluded: ‘I’d much rather collect the Share that’s due, with the lowest possible increases, than ask for higher amounts that we can’t achieve.’