Annual
Parochial Church Meeting 2007/08 - St. Peter’s Draycott
Draft Minutes
Held on 27th April 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the
church.
Contents
2. Apologies
for absence and attendance
3. Vestry
Meeting for the Election of Church Wardens
4. Confirmation
of Minutes from meeting on 22nd April 2007
9. Audited
accounts for the PCC for 2007
10. Report
on Fabric, Goods and Ornaments of the Church
11. Report
on Fundraising and Events
22. Election
of PCC Members for 2008/2009
Independent examiner’s report to
the PCC of St Peter’s Church, Draycott
Richard Dingley opened the meeting with a prayer. Tricia Heckbert took the chair.
Victor and Rita Skinner, Linda Whittle, Stanley Price
Mavis Ball is in hospital.
Barbara Brice, David Cheetham, Tricia Corrick, Nikki Devitt, Richard Dingley, Sylvia Dingley, Chris Green, Tricia Heckbert, Collett Jeff, Gordon Jeff, Tricia Lumley, Maria Millard, Dorothea Oliver, Barry Rose, Susanna Walker
Two nominations had been proposed and seconded:
Thea Oliver and Richard Dingley
All agreed with these proposals, so they were declared duly elected. The meeting thanked them for taking up the office during a time of interregnum.
The minutes were agreed as an accurate account of the meeting, and signed by the chair.
The following actions had been taken on matters mentioned in the minutes.
Under item 10,
pollarding of lime trees.
Richard Dingley had contacted Mendip District Council to ask whose responsibility this was. They agreed that it was their own (but only thought that they needed thinning, not pollarding). However they are treating this job as low priority. We were at liberty to arrange the pollarding ourselves by a suitably qualified person, but this would have been very expensive. Richard wrote back saying that there was a safety issue involved- the path is used not only by the congregation of St. Peters, and visitors to the church and churchyard, but also regularly by school children and accompanying adults. He had not heard back.
Under item 11,
Fundraising Committee.
Chris Green had written to Victor Skinner expressing our greatest appreciation for his work on the fundraising committee. He had replied explaining his reasons for resigning.
Under item 19,
Charitable Giving: support for Sisters of the Church.
We had publicised this more widely, and one of the Sisters had come to talk to us about their work in Bristol. Tricia Corrick had encouraged everyone to bring extra food during Lent. All this had resulted in increased donations, especially at Easter, and much more had been donated this year compared to last year.
Richard
Dingley
(See report A)
Since the report was written the number has been reduced by one to 45.
Chris
Green
(See report B)
David
Cheetham
(See report C)
David drew our attention to the following:
It was asked why we should pay the parish share. Most goes on clergy salaries and pensions. NB. in former years we have been the only parish in the deanery to pay such a small proportion of our parish share, so have been rather ‘letting the side down’. We think that it is essential that we pay this, if we possibly can.
David
Cheetham
(See report D)
Richard Dingley proposed that the meeting accepts these accounts. Colette Jeff seconded. All were in favour, so the motion was carried.
Richard
Dingley
(See report E)
Highlights- we should be able to start looking for a buyer for the font next month (May).
We thanked Stanley for organising the original petition for the sale of the font, and his part in presenting the case in the face of objections. Thanks also to Chris Green for pulling together the elements of this case and producing a well-argued document.
Tricia
Lumley
(See report F)
The most encouraging part of this had been that different people had been involved in the various events. We should look at setting up a fundraising subcommittee. NB. The previous committee was wound up through lack of support, which meant that too much was falling on individual members.
This year all fundraising has gone into the refurbishment fund, not into the parish share.
Sylvia
Dingley
(See report G)
Sylvia encouraged participation by others- ideally we need another one or two members.
The new youth worker at Kings of Wessex- has been a very good appointment. The deanery is appealing for churches to help fund her for additional hours (she is employed by the school for four days a week).
Thea
Oliver
(See report H)
This has been working well. In the future we should think of having joint ones with Cheddar.
It was suggested that when we are organising a service rota for St. Peter’s in the new benefice, we should try to keep a service at the same time each week- otherwise people get confused and stop coming. This was agreed.
Gordon
Jeff
(See report I)
The report should take into account that Nikki, Chris and Thea are not yet officially accepted as trainee Lay Readers- indeed Thea has not yet applied, although she is doing the ‘Exploring Christianity’ training module with Nikki.
Stanley is reducing his coverage of services from July, and only doing the 1st Sunday in the month at Draycott. The preaching team will cover two Sundays each month.
If anyone would like us to invite particular celebrants back, please let Richard know.
Victor
Skinner
(See report J)
How do we convey more effectively the advantages of covenanting ones contribution to the church (NB. See 8. Financial Report, above).
We would ask Victor if he would be prepared to write an article in the Newsletter on this subject.
Nikki
Devitt
(See report K)
Relations between church and school are cordial.
Note that the new incumbent at Cheddar will be governor at Kings of Wessex ex officio, so is unlikely to be a governor at Draycott and Rodney Stoke School (as previous priests in charge at Rodney Stoke and Draycott have been).
The meeting thanked Nikki for stepping in and taking school assemblies.
Richard
Dingley
(See report L)
Pentecost Praise seems to have gone by the board- a pity, as it was good last year.
Colette
Jeff
(See report M)
Should we provide a more regular reminder to the village about the contribution to Sisters of the Church? We need more publicity, plus we should probably put dates of food delivery to Bristol in the diary.
Nikki
Devitt
(See report N)
All are welcome- and it is not a commitment that you have to come every week!
Chris
Green
(See report O)
The meeting thanked Chris for keeping this excellent website up to date.
Stanley
Price
(See report P)
The meeting re-iterated our feeling of gratitude to Stanley for all that he had done in the parishes. His final departure will not happen until the new incumbent is in post.
The following nominations had been proposed and seconded:
Tricia Heckbert, Chris Green, David Cheetham, Tricia Lumley, Colette Jeff, Barry Rose.
All had agreed to stand, and there were no objections. Together with the ex officio members Thea Oliver and Richard Dingley (churchwardens) and Sylvia Dingley (Deanery Synod representative) they were welcomed as the new PCC (proposed: Gordon Jeff; seconded- Nikki Devitt; no objections).
a. Thea Oliver wanted us to recognise David Cheetham’s considerable contribution to the running of the church as, effectively, deputy churchwarden. He had expressed his willingness to continue in this role, and it was a pity that it did not have formal recognition. The meeting agreed, and thanked David for his help in the previous year, and in advance for next year.
b. Audrey Morgan said that the organists should have a vote of thanks. We were particularly blessed with the quality and quantity of organists, and the occasional organ recital at the end of a service was a treat in its own right! All agreed.
c. Tricia Corrick asked whether the second bell would be brought back into use. It was only the bell rope that was preventing this- unfortunately, repairing it would necessitate erecting scaffolding, so would have to wait until we were doing redecoration.
d. Chris Green submitted a request on behalf of Graham Brown. Graham and Julie were distressed at the state of the Garden of Remembrance. It is in a scruffy condition- why could we not do something along the lines of St. Leonard’s? This is an issue for Graham at the moment as the daughter of his deceased brother-in-law Richard had proposed to inter her father’s ashes there, but in its current condition Graham could not recommend this course of action. If nothing were done, Graham would have to reconsider his current contribution to our funds; conversely, if we were able to make improvements, a contribution could be made from Richard’s estate (and Julie would make due provision in hers).
In reply, David said that we have been tending the garden, and Gordon Jeff and Owen Spencer had inspected it. Had Graham seen this in its current condition?
The meeting asked the next PCC to address this issue.
e. Barry Rose raised the issue of the sound system. The feedback we endured at the last service was an ample illustration of the problem- what can we do?
Suggestions: testing more thoroughly before the service; fixing the settings; switching off the speakers (only those with hearing aids would then be affected).
We will look into it!
Richard closed the meeting with a prayer, and we said the Grace.
Richard Dingley, Electoral
Roll officer
In the year under review there have been few changes to the Electoral Roll. The present Roll has 46 members.
The annual survey for the Parish Share has increased by two since last year. This is based on attendances in October last and NOT on the Electoral Roll. Our active membership this year is counted as 32.
Chris Green, PCC Secretary
Our PCC has often felt stretched by the challenges thrown up this year. Where feasible we have created subgroups to manage particular aspects of church life, but have not always had enough people to go round- so for example we have not re-started the fund-raising committee, although we have hosted several events.
One major source of work this year, as last year, surrounded our proposal for the sale of the Font. Our main task was delivering a response to the objector’s reply to our own document justifying the proposed sale. Mercifully there was no new round of responses, and as you know the Chancellor found in favour of the proposed sale (albeit with some conditions). This felt like a major vindication of our efforts, and the prospect of an increase in our funds due to the font sale is one of the bright points looking forward to next year.
To support our case for the font sale we carried out surveys on heating and lighting, to assess the real extent of our immediate fabric needs. This resulted in both being condemned as unsafe! We then needed rapidly to organise works to get both in service again, and - after some Sunday services held in the cold and dark- we are using them with new appreciation.
The great challenge in store for the PCC in the next year follows from the retirement of Stanley, and the choice of a new incumbent. We have appointed representatives to work with Rodney Stoke and Cheddar, due to become joined together in the new benefice. This heralds the most far-reaching change for Draycott for many years, and we look forward with a mixture of feelings- trepidation at the unknown changes, excitement at the new possibilities it opens to us in worship, fellowship and study. At the same time, we acknowledge gratefully the huge contribution Stanley has made to the running of the parish - he will be greatly missed by us all.
In the meantime, the PCC must continue to run the parish in Interregnum, and requires your fullest support and understanding to do so.
Both
PCC minutes and APCM reports can be found on the website at:
www.rodneystokewithdraycott.org.uk/Draycott/Reports/Reports.htm.
David Cheetham, Treasurer
Because of very heavy refurbishment commitments in previous years, it has not been possible for us to pay the Parish Share (Diocesan Quota) in full for some time. However, the PCC decided that this year the Parish Share, amounting to nearly £9 000, should be paid in full.
Even if we had not undertaken any major refurbishment work this year, our income would still have been insufficient to cover our costs. I would like to remind the whole congregation how advantageous it would be to the church if we all gave our donations by covenanted standing order instead of by cash in the collection plate.
It is important for us all to realise that if we should receive a windfall during this coming year by selling the Font, that would not mean that our financial problems were over. The cost of carrying out all the necessary work outlined in the quinquennial survey would more than swallow up the extra income. We are holding a number of fund-raising activities during the year; please do your best to support them.
I would like to thank Bernard Wood for helping with the book-keeping and Alan Rowntree for carrying out the examination of the accounts.
David Cheetham, Treasurer
Receipts
Covenants and Gift Aid 6 828.00
Income Tax recovered 1 766.57
Collections at services 1 729.70
Gift Days and sundry donations 2 546.17
Investment income 5.46
Charitable and ancillary trading 1 121.20
Restricted income 385.00
Total 14 382.10
Payments
Grants 387.08
Diocesan quota 8 954.00
Clergy expenses 907.27
Upkeep of church 2 905.95
Upkeep of services 144.94
Trading 616.81
Major works 8 299.03
Salaries and support costs 362.00
Fund raising and church admin 133.29
Restricted payments 460.00
Total 23 170.37
Balance sheet
Payments 23 170.37
Receipts 14 382.10
Excess of Payments over Receipts 8 788.27
Less internal transfers* - 7 203.88*
1 584.39
Add cheques from adjacent years** + 353.25**
1 937.64***
Internal Transfers*
From Refurb. to Gen., 30/07/07 8 000.00 (towards the rewiring)
From Flower to Gen., 25/01/07 + 5.70 (flower account closed)
8 005.70
From Gen. to Refurb., 22/01/07 - 698.50 (proceeds of B Rose concert)
7 307.20
From Gen. to Refurb., 24/09/07 - 103.32 (share of tax refund)
7 203.88*
Cheques from adjacent years**
Drawn in 2006, not debited until 2007 563.40
Ditto + 71.62
635.02
Drawn in 2007, not debited until 2008 - 281.77
353.25**
Balances of Account
at Lloyds Bank
01/01/2007 4 678.62
31/12/2007 2 740.98
Decrease of balance during the year 1 937.64***
Receipts
Covenants and Gift Aid 280.00
Income Tax recovered 103.32
Gift Days and sundry donations 650.44
Grants and legacies 1500.00
Fund raising 965.93
Total 3 499.69
Balance Sheet
Receipts 3 499.69
Add transfer from Gen. Fund (Rose concert, 2006) 698.50
Less transfer to Gen Fund (Rewiring) 8 000.00
Excess of payments over receipts 3 801.81***
Balances of Account
at Lloyds Bank
01/01/2007 5 717.21
31/12/2007 1 915.40
Decrease of balance during the year 3 801.81***
Balance of Account at Lloyds Bank, 01/01/2007 5.70
Transfer to General Fund 5.70
Account closed