Branch Correspondents Page
Training Conference Report
A Personal View
Being at school I can only go to the conference for three days.
Day 1
I went to this years conference at the All Saint Pastoral Centre, in London Colney. I arrived there at half nine. Most of the other vergers were there before us and were having breakfast when I got there. I hung around the entrance speaking to other members and brought a new gown badge from the shop that was set up near the entrance. This is to go on my new gown. At 11:30 it was time for the AGM meeting which was very interesting. Many items were brought up. After that there was lunch and a short rest to look around the centre and chat with the other vergers.
Then at 2:30 the training officer had a little talk while we waited for the sub Dean of St. Albans Abbey to have a talk about the new wedding rules for someone wanting to get married in a parish church. It was very interesting and the book with all the information is coming out in November 2008. It will be a good read for us to help weddings go smoothly.
to be continued .......
Day 4
I arrived on Thursday morning just before 10 am. There were four workshops to choose. I chose the National chaplains workshop on public speaking.
We had to read a verse from Matthew chapter one aloud trying to project my voice making it loud and clear. I was quite good at this from my singing in the choir.
This was followed by a break then the National Chairman’s workshop on Handling the Virge. I had the opportunity to practice using one of the virges. This will help me for when I do my Work Experience at St Albans Cathedral. There are three positions. Processing, processing out the way, when the virge is on your shoulder and laying the virge at rest.
There was a midday service in the oratory. After this was lunch followed by a talk about the maintenance of an historic building. We investigated seeing whether a building was getting worse or staying the same. What to look out for in the stonework.
Then there was a coffee break followed by questions. This was followed by evensong.
Day 5
Day 5 was a only half a day
Mark Russell
Branch Correspondent
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