Held on 17/01/2006 at 7:30 p.m. in the church.
3. Minutes of previous meeting
6 a. Talk from font purchaser.
8 a. Church’s mission in the Parish.
Stanley
opened the meeting with a prayer and Thea took the chair.
|
Present John
Cartwright Wendy Cartwright Gillian
Crease Chris
Green Tricia
Heckbert Colette
Jeff Thea
Oliver |
JC
WC GC CG TH
CJ
TO |
Present- contd. Stanley
Price Victor
Skinner Lorne Talbot Apologies/Absent Richard
Dingley Sylvia Dingley |
SP VS LT RD SD |
Minutes
of 5/12/2005 meeting were agreed as accurate.
(not covered in Agenda)
from minutes previous to 05/12/05
6 a. (Chancel decoration) In progress. VC showed us
a sample of the duck-egg blue. The local person who was to have provided an
alternative quotation was not willing to proceed once he understood the
specialised nature of the job. The timescale is too tight to search for
alternatives, so we will retain the original choice. The PCC approved these
decisions.
6 d. (Toilet seat). Bolts were corroded, not easy to
see how to remove the lid. Perhaps we should just saw it off?.
6 e. (Church linen). CG had spoken to Heather, who had sorted some of it with
RD but there was still some to go through. Colette will liaise with Heather to
sort the remaining linen out.
6 f. (Kettle). Wendy had bought two new ones.
from minutes of 02/12/05
6 (AOB- contacting LMG to meet for Stanley’s
re-licensing). SP will give contact information to TO who will send an
invitation.
6 h. (Charities group). Still need to do this. ACTION: TO will announce in church.
7 c. (Bells). The bells are not safe. One bell is
loose in its housing and gets jammed in the ‘up’ position. Mr. Chedburn has
been informed. This may be a job for a Somerset foundry, as it needs a proper
re-moulding.
ACTION: Mr. Chedburn is following
this up. Until further notice we must not ring the bell- put the bell ropes out
of reach (done).
7 e. (German War Graves Commission). There was
insufficient information to take this up formally with the diocese. All we know
is that formerly the diocese were forwarding £50 per year for the upkeep of war
graves, now they are not. There were formerly two iron crosses, but they are
not there now.
ACTION: JC to talk informally with
Jonathan Cox, diocesan treasurer.
a. (Raised by CG on behalf of Owen Spencer):
In December last year Mid Somerset Series newspaper titles ran a piece on Christmas services at Cheddar Valley churches. Rodney Stoke and Draycott did not figure among the over 80 village churches mentioned. Why not?
The simple answer was- no-one
sent the list (and we were not asked).
ACTION: next year the PCC secretary
will have the job of making sure the list gets forwarded.
Can we arrange for the LMG to meet here so that the licensing can be done? Mothering Sunday was proposed, and agreed by the meeting.
The PCC expressed their pleasure at Stanley's continuation as our vicar.
ACTION: RD to write to secretary of LMG with invitation.
b. (Raised by TO on behalf of Wilf Lacey)
Wilf was
worried that people tending graves in the churchyard were not using the
bonfire/ bins appropriately. (Where do people put old ‘oasis’?- this must not
go on the fire).
ACTION: TO volunteered Audrey to
discover what the rules are. CJ will make any new notices that may be required.
Should this be an
open meeting or restricted?
ACTION:
i. After RD gets back the vicar & wardens will decide.
ii. Meeting suggested for March. Colette will organise. NB. Any talk should take in other features of interest such as the rood screen and pulpit.
These individuals have come forward: Tricia Heckbert, Owen Spencer, Colette Jeff.
The bible study group
considered five different Lent courses. Our favourites were two specifically
for Lent 2006. One was a ‘York’ course entitled ‘Where is God today’, and the
other a CTBNI course entitled ‘Easter people in a Good Friday world’. The group
left CG the casting vote between these alternatives, and he decided on the
latter one.
ACTION: SP will inform other churches
and publicise a list for expressions of interest. We shall decide on numbers of
groups and timing(s) when we know the level of interest.
Stanley has used Card
Charities monies to buy a pack of reproductions of contemporary Christian art,
for use in the school and anywhere else we might wish to use it. One set was
passed around. Stanley proposed an exhibition to be staged in church during
Lent
ACTION: PCC approved; SP will stage
it. Eva will help SP.
i.
The non-Eucharistic service for the first Sunday of February
will have a Candle Mass theme. We have a form of service, but more help is
needed.
ACTION: Announce on Sunday. WC will
help on the day.
ii.
For the next quarter, we might revert to Eucharistic services
but with a very informal approach (no robes, simple liturgy, invite all comers
to take communion).
ACTION: Start the first Sunday of
April. Discuss details at the next worship group.
iii. Iona service. Another is planned for the 29th January.
(VS took this item in RD’s absence)
i.
VS had discussed chancel painting question with George Chedburn
and Andrew Kynaston. A number of decisions are required from us relating to
works that could be carried out whilst the scaffolding is in place.
Firstly: the original ceiling colour was not the current pale blue, but a dark
blue. This would require an extra coating of varnish to be colour-fast, at an
extra cost of £1200. (The alternative is the duck-egg blue previously shown to
the meeting).
ACTION: the meeting decided on the
cheaper alternative of duck-egg blue.
ii.
Secondly, the original gold rays on the beams could be
re-painted. The cost of this would be £300.
ACTION: the meeting agreed to the
re-painting of the gold rays.
iii.
Thirdly, the chain holding the candelabra is rusty. Cleaning
and repainting would cost £90.
ACTION: the meeting agreed to the cleaning
& repainting of the candelabra chain.
iv.
Fourthly, the chancel arch could be painted to match the
interior. The cost for this would be £300.
ACTION: the meeting agreed to the
painting of the chancel arch.
v.
On a different subject, the drain by the back door is blocked.
The manhole cover is also very fragile. Whose responsibility is this?
ACTION: SP will ask Steve Wall to
inspect the drain and the man-hole covers and report back. (NB. Soiled water
drainage is responsibility of Wessex Water, rain water drainage of Bristol
Water).
Wendy
circulated a draft of the annual accounts for our inspection.
SP asked why our income was down £2000 on the previous year. The answer: we had
not recovered VAT this year, although there will be some VAT (for scaffolding)
that will go into next year’s income.
We cannot afford to pay any more Parish Share for the moment.
The flower fund is dormant.
Copytec (who service the photocopier) have asked us for £164 for future servicing of the photocopier. We are discontinuing this servicing so will not pay.
(JC item).
Informal discussions with the diocese reveal that grants are available to
create disabled facilities in churches. He had obtained papers for grant
applications.
ACTION: JC will hand the papers to
VC. VC to look into.
The meeting thanked Wendy and John.
Before Christmas we received a cheque for £2000 from the historic Churches Preservation Trust. We have been promised a further £2000 from the Friends of Somerset Churches.
We applied to Wyvern Waste Management, but they had already made their allocation for this year.
We are thinking of applying to Wessex Aggregates for grants for some piece of work, such as disabled access, floodlights or the new path.
It was suggested that we might utilise Community Service manpower in decorating the church.
We have received a license for the draw- this must be in Sedgemoor.
The meeting thanked Victor for all his hard work.
This really needs a special meeting, rather than being tacked on to a normal PCC. We should involve the architect Mr. Chedburn.
ACTION: Churchwardens and vicar to take this forward when RD is back.
SP had been going over contemporary minutes provided by CG concerning the building of the second vicarage. The final account for the new vicarage/sale of old vicarage showed a surplus of over £1,400 indicating that there was no need for a contribution from the PCC. The PCC of the time mobilised £500 from the church office account for their contribution. SP will choose a moment to take this forward with the diocese.
Bishop Peter is keen that all clergy speak about mission in the parishes. We need to consider, what are we for? This may require a meeting for itself- SP will come back with a suggestion.
CG thought there would be
support in the church for a music group, to lead singing during services. David
Cheetham had been approached and was willing to act as choirmaster. We would
need to find a day and time to practice, say every 2 weeks.
ACTION: PCC approved. CG to take
forward when he returns from his holiday.
SP proposed that other people
than himself and RD become regular contributors for sermons on Sunday mornings.
Those approached were: CG, TO and Gordon Jeff. The Worship Group will discuss
this, and also service planning. NB. Timing of sermons, also intercessions, an
issue- they must not be too long! The PCC gave their backing.
ACTION: SP to call a meeting of those
involved to draw up a rota for the sermon slot. Other issues could be discussed
in the Worship Group
Heather Robinson query: The
rural dean and archdeacon get a magazine each month, but it seems doubtful that
they read it.
ACTION: we shall stop sending it, but
reinstate it if asked to
i. The confirmation was a lovely occasion- the PCC thanked Stanley.
ii. The list of babies christened at St. Peter’s (the Baptismal Roll) has been missed- it was on the wall by the font. Does anyone know about it?
iii. The Historic Churches Preservation Trust has asked for a contribution of £25 per annum. We shall give what we can.
iv. The church roof is due to be completed in 5 week’s time!
Next PCC meeting: Monday 27th Feb at 7:30 in the church.
APCM- Sunday 2nd April. 6pm. Service, followed by meeting at 6:30.
The meeting was closed by SP with a prayer.