Staffing

There is a full time Chaplain and Assistant Chaplain, assisted by a Licenced Lay Reader, two Lay Readers who have permission to officiate and a Lay Reader licenced by the Episcopal Spanish Church.  The last two chaplains have both stayed in post for almost eleven years, providing some stability in staffing.  The Assistant Chaplain tends to stay for a shorter period.

There is a paid Chaplain’s secretary who works on Monday and Wednesday from 09.00 to 13.00.  A cleaner is employed Tuesday to Friday from 09.30 to 12.00.  All staff are employed legally and social security is paid.

Finance

The Chaplaincy is currently financially secure and the annual accounts for 2010 showed total assets of €137,000.  There have been three Christian Giving Programmes over the last few years and Christian Giving is taught as proportionate, realistic and regular.  The weekly pledged giving amounts to €414.  Unlike 2010, when there was a deficit of €6,941on the outgoings and incomings, the Church Council is determined that in 2011 the budget should balance.  As of August, this was on course for achieving following the 2011 Christian Giving Programme earlier in the year.  The income and expenditure budget for 2011 is available on request.

There is a Willoughby Waters Trust Fund which in the past has provided help towards school fees for the Chaplain’s children.  This could be available again.

It is Chaplaincy Policy that 10% of all income is given away to local charities and for Third World Development.

Chaplaincy Car

The Chaplaincy car is a 3 year old Citroen Xsara Picasso VTX.   At present (August 2011) there are 80,000 kms on the clock.  It is in good condition and has been regularly serviced.  The Chaplain’s average mileage is usually about 25,000 kms a year.  There is a car replacement fund.  The last car was replaced at just over 100,000 kms. 

Cala d’Or Congregation

The first ever non-Catholic service in a Catholic Church in Spain was held at Santa Maria del Mar in Cala d’Or by kind permission of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Mallorca.   The small Anglican congregation at Cala d’Or continues a monthly Eucharist on the third Thursday of the month together with additional services at Christmas and Easter.  The congregation averages 27, with a local co-ordinator and a Lay Reader who takes the main pastoral responsibility for the east of the Island.  Cala d’Or is just over an hour’s drive from Palma. 

Palma Congregation

The congregation is predominantly English speaking with a wide range of nationalities and church allegiance.  On any Sunday morning there can be up to twenty nationalities represented from many church backgrounds.  A large part of the congregation differs from week to week.  It comprises residents who have either lived here all their lives or moved to Mallorca on retirement.  “Swallows” live here for part of the year during the shoulder months of May/June and September/October.  They are joined by holiday makers who come each year and feel at home but also by one off visitors.  For the resident population the Anglican Church is seen in the same terms as their local parish church in the U.K. available for weddings, funerals etc.  Only four members of the regular congregation are able to walk to church.  The rest will drive from differing parts of the island, sometimes up to an hour’s drive away.  We are an “inclusive congregation”.  The Electoral Roll is 55. 

Prison

In the past, this has been an important part of the Chaplain’s ministry and he has been on the official Consular list for entry to the prison.  This has involved regular visiting, and also being prepared to sign out and be responsible for prisoners on the Spanish ‘permiso’ remand system.  On occasions prisoners have stayed in Church House, if no other accommodation was available for them.  There are usually about 30 UK citizens in Palma prison at any one time, most of them on drug related offences.  There is, however, an increasing ministry with English speaking people from African countries.  The Chaplaincy also acts as a contact point with families in the UK who wish to send clothing and parcels to prisoners.  They have also provided work experience for prisoners in the past who are in the open prison section.  It is hoped that this area of work will continue.    

Ecumenical relationships

The former Roman Catholic Bishop of Mallorca gave permission for the Anglican Church to use any church on the island, subject to the approval of the local parish priest.  It is a hospitality that the chaplaincy has been grateful for, for services, baptisms and funerals.  The present Bishop has not removed this hospitality but he is considered by many of the Catholic clergy to be taking a more conservative and cautious approach. 

There is a Clergy Fraternal which meets three or four times a year, involving clergy and representatives from the differing churches represented on the island viz Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Bulgarian Orthodox, Rumanian Orthodox, Salvation Army, Baptist Church, German Lutheran, Norwegian Lutheran, Finnish Evangelical, Finnish Lutheran, Swedish Church and German and Polish Catholic Churches.  There is usually an Ecumenical walk organised for the Spring and Autumn, together with a rather arduous daily Ecumenical Service during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, culminating with a service in Palma Cathedral.   The Ecumenical Clergy Fraternal needs some new life breathing into it if it is to survive with any useful role.  Relationships with the Roman Catholic Church on the island are excellent and friendly.

The Finnish Lutheran Church and the Finnish Evangelical Church have use of our premises on a regular basis.  In the past a number of independent black led churches have used the church on a regular basis. 

Palma

The Anglican Church and Church House stand in a reasonably leafy part of Palma in a residential area.  It is the only Anglican Church building on the island and the other two congregations use Roman Catholic churches.  Palma is a lovely city, sufficiently small to be able to walk everywhere, but large enough to provide all the amenities and cultural activities of a large city.  The church is five minutes walk away from the seafront and the large marinas.  Palma has the large superstores such as Ikea, Lidl, Toys R Us, Makro, El Corte Ingles that are part of city life.  There are theatres, cinemas showing English films, concert halls and is a reasonably safe environment apart from some petty pilfering.  It is a multi-national and multi-cultural city, with good transport facilities by bus, rail and air.  Palma Airport is a ten minute drive. 

Worship in Palma

The Sunday Eucharist is the main act of worship at 11 am.  Common Worship modern language is used with hymns and a sung setting.  The hymnal is Hymns Old and New.  There is a small non-robed choir and a first rate organist, who is assisted by an assistant organist who plays occasionally.  The worship has a relaxed feel about it.   A weekly pew sheet with readings and news is produced for each Sunday.  Refreshments are available in the Coleman Hall afterwards.  Special services are held during Holy Week, Remembrance Sunday and Christmas.  At the moment, there are no mid-week services in Palma apart from Home and Sick Communions.  On the first Sunday of the month, the Eucharist is an All Age act of worship.  At the moment there is a 9.30 am Said Communion on the first Sunday of the month but, given the attendance, this may well be cancelled during the interregnum.   

A small Sunday School operates in the church hall during the Eucharist.  They leave during the second hymn and return during the administration of Communion.

The attendance varies throughout the year.  The following figures might be a helpful guide:

Worship in Puerto Pollensa

St Andrew´s Puerto Pollensa is a financially independent congregation and employs a full time priest living in a chaplaincy house. It has an electoral roll of 70. There are house groups and prayer groups. Thirty plus weddings each year are celebrated by the Assistant Chaplain in the North of Mallorca. Worship takes place every Sunday morning at 9.00 hrs and there is also a Eucharist each Thursday lunchtime, after which several of the congregation go for lunch at a nearby restaurant. By kind permission of the Parish Priest; the congregation has the use of the Roman Catholic Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Plaza Mayor, Puerto Pollensa.  They make a donation to the Catholic Church, who also allows them to use the Church Hall for a variety of events. So there are no church buildings to worry about.  The worship is Anglican in origin, relaxed and user-friendly.  In broad terms, the congregation also has a liberal modern catholic Eucharistic tradition.  There is a small Sunday School which is an area for development given the number of younger families living and working in Puerto Pollensa, Pollensa and Alcudia.

Weddings

The ministry through wedding services, wedding blessings and renewal of vows has grown considerably over the last few years and is a significant part of the mission of the chaplaincy.  It does require an openness to take couples as they present themselves from which real and lasting relationships are possible.  The budget for 2011 includes donations from a minimum of 50 weddings per year.  The Lay Readers assist in this ministry. 

Funerals

There are usually about 30 funerals a year, most of which are at one of the three local crematoria.  Owing to local legislation, coffins are never brought into church and therefore funerals are usually followed by a Memorial Service in church.  The nearest crematorium is a five minute drive, whilst the next nearest is a fifteen minute drive away. 

Baptisms

Baptisms are usually conducted in the main service and there are about 30 a year, both children and, increasingly, adults.   Confirmation services tend to take place about every three years when one of the Bishops visits.

 Communion before Confirmation

During the last ten years, the chaplaincy has experimented with allowing children, who are not yet confirmed, to receive Communion alongside their family, friends and congregation.  We see the ceremony of Baptism as conferring membership of the Church and it is therefore a natural extension that children should be allowed to participate fully in our worship on a Sunday morning.  In line with many of the churches in the Church of England, and at the request of the Church Council, the Bishop has now formally authorised the admission of children to Communion before Confirmation.

Meetings

It is expected that the Chaplain and the Assistant Chaplain will meet on a regular basis.  The Chaplain is also expected to attend the Annual Clergy Chapter, the Archdeaconry Synod Meeting which is usually held in January or February, together with the Annual Catalonia Chaplains’ Meeting usually held in May or June.  They will also be part of the Ecumenical Clergy Fraternal.   

Accomodation in “Church House”

The Chaplain’s accommodation is arranged over three floors in a house attached to the Church.  There is a drive for parking with a Vado which guarantees access for a parking space.  On the ground floor there is a dining room, kitchen, laundry room, cloakroom and Chaplain’s office.  On the first floor there is a large living room with cloakroom and main bedroom with en suite.  On the second floor are a large double bedroom with en suite facilities, a single bedroom and bathroom.  On the roof there is a large terrace area.  Outside there is a small sitting area.  The house is furnished and the Church  Council is willing to discuss with the newly appointed Chaplain any requests for upgrading of facilities.  There is air-conditioning in the lounge and the two large bedrooms.  There is central heating, together with Sky television and dish.  As well as furniture, the house has good adequate bedding, kitchen equipment, china, glass and cutlery.  As the policy in the Diocese is to provide furnished accommodation, the Chaplaincy is unable to pay for the transport of furniture, and provision would probably need to be made in the U.K. for the storage of such items.  There is access from the house through the Chaplain’s study into the church office and church. 

The church is a typical flat roofed concrete Spanish building with electronic organ, PA system and hearing loop provision.  It seats approximately 150 people comfortably but it is possible to cater for about 200.  It is a pleasant building and enjoyable to use with very attractive modern stained glass.  At the rear of the church is a cloakroom, lift and toilet facilities for the disabled.  There is a small vestry/sacristy.  Outside is a reasonably large terrace which is used for social occasions and fund-raising events.  The building is air-conditioned and centrally heated.  There is an alarm system in place.  The building is in a good state of repair and there are no outstanding repairs. 

Coleman Hall  

The Church Hall is conveniently situated beneath the church.  At present it is used by Centre Stage Productions, which involves over 150 youngsters a week.  The church has use of it on Sunday mornings and by arrangement on other occasions.  In addition, there is a Mums & Toddlers run by the church on a Tuesday morning and also a Yoga class on a Tuesday lunchtime.  The rental of the hall has never proved a problem and there is a happy working relationship and understanding.  The hall has stage and toilet and kitchen facilities.  It is in an extremely good state of repair, having been refurbished in 2009.  There is disabled access. 

General Information

1. Mallorca is well served by budget airlines from many European and most U.K. airports.  During the winter months, although there is limited service, the flights tend to be fairly cheap.  Access by air is easy and convenient and the flights are usually just over two hours. 
2. There are five English speaking International Schools, most of which provide a high standard of education.  The last Chaplain’s children transferred quite easily prior to GCSE’s and A levels before going on to university in the U.K.
3. The Chaplaincy will be responsible for paying the Spanish Social Security, giving access to Ibsalud, the Spanish National Health Service, which has a very good reputation.
4. The Chaplaincy works closely with the Consulate offices.
5. Mallorca has many of the organisations connected with an ex pat community: Lions, Freemasons, Walking groups, Rotary, English Speaking Residents Association, Age Concern and Scouts and Cub Scouts, together with excellent sporting facilities.
6. Further information is available at the church website www.anglican-mallorca.org