All Saints Church PCC Minutes

THE PARISH CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, WRITTLE
MEETING OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ON THURSDAY 20 MAY 2010

MINUTES

Those attending

Rev Michael Jones (Chair) Rev Susan Iskander Sally Cansdale (Minutes)
Tony Ripton Dave Stanley Pauline Montague
Margaret Annelli  Diana Day Sue Howden       
Amy Lattimer Andrew Middleton Michael Rose
Jane Stanley Phil Stevens         

 

Summary of Action Points
Item 6 – Dave Stanley to head a working party to clear clutter from the south porch
Item 7g – Sally Cansdale to arrange, with Andersons, an estimate for repairs to the pathway.
Item 7h – Sally Cansdale to write to Avril Revell
Item 9c – Susan Iskander to book a date, with Mulberry House, for PCC Awayday, and notify members.
Item 9d – Amy Lattimer to arrange First Aid training.

The meeting was preceded by a celebration of the Eucharist.

1. Welcome and apologies for absence

Michael welcomed members to the new PCC for 2010, with a special welcome to Michael Rose.     Jerry Allanson offered his apologies due to work commitments.

2. Minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2010                                                

a. Minutes of the meeting were approved and signed.
b. Matters arising:
Chelmsford Christian Festival (item 6)  Michael Rose expressed disappointment that from 45  letters sent to churches in Chelmsford only 8 replies had been received; Writtle was not amongst that 8. (It was agreed that, in future, when correspondence was received which required a reply, it would be put in the Secretary’s pigeon hole, or in a tray in the office with a note detailing what was needed.) He handed out copies of a flyer which has been produced to advertise the event.  All Saints will offer financial sponsorship, and will support Praise in the Park on 27 June  and will cancel the 10.45 Eucharist.  Other services are available for those unable to travel into Chelmsford.
Other matters and action points are included in agenda items.

3. Appointment of Officers of the Council

Following a proposal by Tony Ripton, which was seconded by Mike Rose, the following officers were appointed:
Treasurer – Pauline Montague
Secretary – Sally Cansdale
Electoral Roll Officer – Derek Judd
Gift Aid Officer – Ron Geary
Parish Giving Officer – Dave Stanley
Lay Members of the Standing Committee – Diana Day and Andrew Middleton.

4. Appreciative Inquiry

    Susan will be running a SHAPE course starting on 10 June.

5. Officer’s reports

Vicar Permission has been granted, for a period between Trinity Sunday up to All Saints Day, to lay aside the lectionary.  The time will be used to study Romans.  The passage to be preached about will be included in the Link.  Details of the following week’s reading will be included to allow the congregation to read in advance.
The service for Pentecost Sunday will begin at the URC, with a prayer.  A procession will then follow, to All Saints.  The preacher will be Jane Mortimer.  People are invited to a picnic after the service.
Churchwardens  Churchwardens will be formally appointed at a service on 26 May at All Saints Maldon.
Treasurer Accounts had been circulated prior to the meeting.  Since then a cheque, for £1510, has been received from the Parish Council for the Churchyard.  A letter was sent to the Parish Council requesting assistance with the cost of repair to the church clock.  A cheque is expected for £100 towards the bill of £452.38. VAT reclaims for tower works total £326.66, a claim form has been sent.  Signatories for all cheque accounts have now been changed, to include current Churchwardens.  It was proposed by Pauline, seconded by Dave and agreed by all that the CLA licence should be cancelled – it is not needed.  Funds still held for tower works are not required.  They will be handed to the Friends for safe keeping.  It was noted that couples being married in church may Gift Aid their voluntary donations, only.
Secretary Nothing to report.

6. Health and Safety

A report had been circulated, highlighting the problem with clutter in the South Porch. Dave Stanley will head up a party to clear up, thus making the passageway to the exit door wide enough for evacuation purposes. [Action Dave Stanley]

7. Committee and other reports

  1. Stewardship – Michael will be running Stewardship sessions on 27 May and 3 June.
  2. Website – James Wilton has now moved to Dubai but will continue with work on the Website from his new home.
  3. Charity Committee – The final total for Christian Aid is still awaited.  Lent charity donations, including Lent lunches, raised £830 87 for J’s Hospice.  The committee will consider whether cash donations from Harvest should go to H4H, or elsewhere.
  4. Christian Centre – no issues to report.
  5. Churchyard Conservation – New nest boxes, made by Stan Montague have been erected.
  6. Deanery Synod – There will be a meeting at Roxwell on 14 June.  Michael has a copy of the Deanery Plan.
  7. Fabric Committee – It will not be possible to convert the current boiler to run on gas.  A replacement would cost in the region of £15.000.  Phil will supply necessary information before a site visit can be made to investigate the possibility of running the gas main from the Christian Centre spur, and to obtain costings.  Should things proceed, it will no longer be necessary to run a flue pipe to the top of the tower.  Oil deliveries have now been sorted, so there should be no more problems with the footpath through the churchyard.  It was agreed that an estimate should be obtained for repairs to the damaged surface near to Loves Walk.  Sally will contact Andersons to arrange this. [Action Sally Cansdale]
    The smoke sensor in the belfry has been repaired.
    Phil and Laurie have done some work on the original louvres which has ensured that the clock chimes can be more easily heard.
    Phil recommended that works to the south porch, as recommended in the last Quinquennial Review, should not be started yet.  Members accepted this advice.
    A Faculty Application has now been made for the Garden of Rest.  A copy of the plan (which was circulated) is available for inspection, and the requisite notice has been affixed to the door.
  8. Friends of Writtle Parish Church – Michael reported that “Gardens Open” will take place on 20 June.  There will be 17 gardens open, with teas being available in two.  (See also Social Committee report re lunches)  Pauline asked if a letter of thanks could be sent to Avril Revell, who stood down as membership secretary.  [Action Sally Cansdale]
  9. Social Committee – a report had been circulated, prior to the meeting:-
    We have met and this is our programme for the near future.
    Brentwood Boys Big Band in the Church 7.30p.m. Sat 19th June
    Ploughmans Lunches in Church next day, Sunday 20th. June (Open Gardens)
    Fun Day 10th July; we are running 2 stalls which need your support, namely Cakes and Bottles.
    Table Top Sale in Village Hall Sat. 25th September
    Maybe a quiz night in October and possible film show in Oct/ Nov
    Christmas Market  Sat 27th Nov.
    Please do support all of these events, especially the selling of the concert tickets. We need to raise a lot of money for the church. If you can't come yourself sell tickets to others    .
  10. Worship Group – Monthly meetings continue for planning and evaluation.  John Howden will be running a course for Worship Leaders – delegates will also include those who lead other services within the church.

8. Dates of 2010 – 2011 PCC and Standing Committees

Dates for PCC meeting were circulated.  The next Standing Committee will be at the Vicarage on 17 June, starting at 7.45.  Future dates will be agreed at that meeting.

9. Any other business

  1. Michael proposed a joint PCC meeting with Highwood.  Members agreed that this would be a welcome idea.
  2. Cooksmill Green Church garden will be open on 31 May.
  3. It was agreed that a PCC Awayday should beheld, at Mulberry House, on either 13 or 20 November.  Susan will arrange this and contact PCC members.  [Action Susan Iskander]
  4. Amy offered to provide First Aid training to all interested parties.  In the light of recent events, it was agreed that this was an excellent idea.  Amy will decide on dates and a notice will appear in the Link. [Action Amy Lattimer]
  5. Diana asked that anyone calling service engineers for office equipment should ensure that someone can be there when they arrive, and that she should be made aware of any impending visits.

The meeting closed, with the Grace, at 9.45pm.