THERE is a bit of a rap over the knuckles for his flock from the Vicar of Cookham Dean the Reverend John Copping. He obviously believes that his congregation should give more than they do to the church and he is not afraid to say so.

In the latest June parish magazine he stresses that last year's planned giving was £25,890. He says this may sound a tidy sum but "in fact denotes a failure to grasp the principles of Christian stewardship.

For if that total was divided by 50 and we should in fact have more regular givers than that it would give an average of £517.80 a year or £9.95 per week."

The vicar adds that bearing in mind that General Synod many years ago set church members a stewardship target of a half tithe or five per cent his church's total would suggest an average total income of £10,356 for each of 50 people.

"This obviously cannot be the case" admits the vicar "Perhaps we can take this opportunity to look again carefully and prayerfully at our standard of giving. I am of course aware that some people are giving sacrificially already, that people's incomes and the demands made upon them do vary and that many folk include many good causes other than their church in their total giving.

"But Mr Copping says he does believe that there are some people who could be giving more or perhaps making a commitment to Christian Stewardship for the first time.

THE Cookham Dean Parish Church's annual report shows there are 157 names on the church electoral roll with 61 not resident in the parish. There were 4,765 acts of communion during the year an increase of 2.6 per cent on the previous year. The number of communicants on Easter Day was 144 and on Christmas Day 173. Average attendance at Sunday services was 69 adults and 29 children and young people.

THE Cookham Dean Church in fact has had its parish share increased and there is no flower festival this year there may well be a reduction in charitable giving which the vicar thinks would be deplorable.

A COFFEE morning in aid of the Sue Ryder Home at Nettlebed is being held next Tuesday at Bagsters, Kings Lane, Cookham Dean from 10.30am. Admission will be 60p and tickets are available from the Cookham Dean Post Office Stores or Meg Warren at (01628) 482993 or Jacky Atkinson at (01628) 484405.

THE Dean Rise Women's Institute meets next Wednesday when Joanna Wheatley will talk on BSE.

THE Cookhams fundraising group for the Thames Valley Hospice has its annual open gardens on Sunday, June 10, from 2-6pm. Parking can be provided by the Cookham Dean Cricket Common and you can visit six local gardens at a cost of £4 each/teas will be available at the Cookham Dean Village Hall where there will be plants for sale.

COOKHAM Methodists attended evensong at Holy Trinity Church, Cookham on Sunday evening.

NEXT Monday morning the money given by Cookham people for Christian Aid will be counted.

THERE will be a parish barbecue on the lawn at the Cookham Parish Centre on Sunday, June 17.

MEANTIME any sunny weather draws record crowds to Cookham. Local motorists are reminded not to leave anything visible in their cars to avoid theft.

IF you driving across Cookham Moor please look out for the road side signs warning that swans are crossing.