MINUTES OF PCC MEETINGS

​

St George’s Parish Church

Parochial Church Council

 

          Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday 4th  February 2025

 

Vice Chair: Paul Raven

 

Present: Mary Lee, Cathy Mansell, Kate Raven, Helen Ravencross, Ashley Smith, Alan Talbot

 

Apologies: None

 

P Raven opened the meeting with a bible reading from Revelation Chapter 21.  K Raven led in prayer.

 

Urgent Business

 

An email of resignation had been received by Mrs K Raven from Louise Hallybone immediate effect. This was regretfully accepted by all and K Raven agreed to respond to Louise.

 

a) Advertising Banners including fixtures

 

All agreed that the banner advertising Christmas services had worked well and it was decided to

purchase  more  banners  over  time  after  putting  in  the  relevant  fixtures. A  Smith  said  he had  a contact who could advise on the required fixtures.  

 

b) Change of date for Annual Meeting

 

The date of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting has now been changed to the Sunday 11th May  2025 to be part of the lay led service that day.  All were in favour of this.

 

The  minutes  of  the  PCC  meeting  held  on Tuesday 12th November 2024 had  been  previously circulated and were signed by P Raven as a true record of the proceedings.  It was also agreed to make those minutes available on the noticeboard.

 

Matters Arising

 

a) Interregnum/Vacancy – P Raven said that it had become apparent from Kerry Debenham that Revd Tom Atfield now has ‘oversight’ of the six parishes although it wasn’t clear what ‘oversight’ meant in practical terms.

b) Service Rota – A new service rota for March to May had been received together with a letter to all church members from the Area Dean, Revd Stuart Howes.  The letter imposed an additional joint benefice service on the third Sunday of each month (which would include Easter Sunday on 20th April). After a lengthy discussion it was agreed that the PCC would reply to the letter setting out our concerns and proposing we have a lay-led service on the third Sunday. It was proposed by P Raven that PCC members should email their comments to K Raven who would collate and draft the letter accordingly.  All were in favour of this.

 

Building Care

 

a) Roof Project - A Talbot said there was nothing further to report. 

b) Quinquennial  report - A  Talbot  reported that he  had  received  an  email  from  Mr  Simon  Smith attaching a  copy  of  the quinquennial  inspection report  and  an  invoice for  £1,050.    The  work  on the tower roof was a matter of urgency and needed to be carried out soon.

 

 

Mission Action Plan

 

a) Info Leaflet for new attendees - There was nothing further to report on this.

 

b) Photo Board: PCC Members – P Raven said he would contact Josh Ravencross to ask for the photos to be printed out and put on the photo board as soon as possible.

 

Growing Together

 

a) Relationship  with  St  Georges  School: A  Talbot  reported  that there  was  a  temporary

    Foundation Governor to be appointed by the diocese: Revd Steph Warrell who is part of the

    clergy  team  at  Telford Minster.    The relationship with the  school  was still very  strong  at the  present time. 

b) Relationship  with wider  benefice:  The monthly prayer  group  was  still  attended  by  St

    George’s  but  very  little  by  the  other  churches  in  the  benefice.   The joint  services  with  the     Benefice  were  still  taking  place  on  the  5th Sundays. A  Talbot  attends  the  monthly

    Churchwardens meetings and L Hallybone attends the Safeguarding Officers group.

 

c) Relationship  amongst  ourselves: It  was  agreed  that  things continued  to  be positive and united at the moment.

 

Safeguarding

 

There was no report as the Safeguarding Officer was not present.

 

Finance Report

 

a) 2025 Accounts to date

 

P Raven handed out the current financial position.  The current account stands at £290. P Raven reported that the Parish Share payments for January and February were still owing at a sum of £1982 and that £663 had been paid. 

 

The  sum  of  £23,980  was  in  the  fabric  fund  and  would  be  used  for  the  tower  repair  costs.    P Raven also reported that the direct debit for British Gas had reduced from £816 per month to £83 per month.

 

 

Fundraising /Events Schedule and Progress against budgets

 

It  was  reported  that  the  next  fundraising  event  was  a  quiz  night  to  be  held  in  the  social  club on Wednesday 12th February and a pancake evening to be held in church on the 4th March.  

 

Electoral Roll Applications

 

There were no new applications

 

Forthcoming Services

 

 

Joint services to be held in the benefice during holy week with Evensong at St George’s on Tuesday 15th April at 7pm.

 

Date of Next Meeting

 

Wednesday 12th March 2025 at 7.30 pm in church. A Smith offered to host at his home again if it was too cold to hold it in church.

 

The meeting closed at 9.00pm with the Grace

 

 

 P. Raven

(Signed)                                                                                              Dated  9 April 2025

Chair

​​