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Summary
The Church has had a steady year, both financially and in it's activities. The Parochial Church Council met every two months. The most significant issue at present is the Interregnum and Amalgamation of the Benefices, more details are given below. 

Financial
Income for the year, including that from voluntary giving and the recovery of tax from Gift Aid has remained consistent with the previous year. The modest reserves within the general fund also remian similar. In Common with other Charitable organisation, tax changes in the recent Budget will potentially reduce income from 2008.

Activities
Sunday and mid-week services have been maintained during the year and major and minor festivals have all been marked. A number of fund raising events have been held, including the annual provision of refreshments at one of the Lexham Garden open days, which makes a very worthwhile contribution to our funds. The boy's choir remians buoyant and provides a useful introduction to music, teamwork, discipline and spiritual devotion to boys of a range of ages and backgrounds. Membership of the choir also qualifies them for the further lively expierence of Junior Leaders Camps.

The Church Building
Several Thousand pounds have been spent on the routine maintenance during the year, although no s[pecific major restoration project is in hand at the present. Maintenance work has consisted of roofing, drainage and over £1000 on glazing repairs as a result of a combination of natural decay and sporadic vandalism. The Building remains in a reasonable condition, although the Quinquennial Architects report list numerous necessary repairs of varying degrees of urgency. 

Insurance
A change in Insurers this year resulted in improved cover in the event of major loss. The premium remians the biggest single outgoing after the Parish Share towards diocesan and clergy costs. Risk Assessment conditions now imposed by insurers add to the financial pressures. Improved fire fighting appliances have been installed, an electrical condition survey has been carried out as well as a tree condtion survey. Both the latter have resulkted in essential and expensive work being required.

Benefice Measures and Vacancy
The Benefice of Litcham was suspended by the Bishop of Norwich several years ago. This technical measure allows the Bishop to appoint a Priest in Charge rather than an incumbent with a freehold of the incumbency. The Revd. Boston's appointment was a Priest in Charge.
This permitted the Bishop to take the opportunity of the simultaneous vacancy of he Upper Nar Group of Parishes and that of the Dunhams and Franshams to amalgamate the two groups. This resulted in a new grouping of eleven Parishes and Churches. This has subsequently bee reduced to ten as the Churchwardens of Miles have opted to loin the North Elmham Benefice.

The Churchwardens of the new group of ten parishes have worked harmoniously together to produce a Parish Profile which is the basis of the advertisment for a new Parish Priest. This profile is flexible as to the selection of a priest of either gender and also to a variety of forms of worship.
Nonetheless, the challenge of ten rural parishes is a substantial one and it may be some time before an incumbent can be found. Meanwhile, thanks lay worship leaders and the continuing assistance of the Revd, Boston, service patterns at Litcham remain unaltered.

One positive benefit from the enlarged group is that the Church and Village magazine is already eveloping a wider content and circulation, building on its success over the years.

Richard Vogt, Church Warden, Litcham PCC 10.4.07

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