MINUTES OF PCC MEETINGS

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St George’s Parish Church

Parochial Church Council

Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 9th October 2024

Vice Chair: Paul Raven

 

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

 

Apologies: None

P Raven opened the meeting with a bible reading from Psalm 31 and a brief reflection. K Raven led in prayer.

 

Urgent Business

 

Interregnum: There was some discussion about whether we were in interregnum/vacancy and what the next steps were. Mr A Talbot reported to the PCC that this had been discussed at the monthly Churchwardens meeting within the Benefice and that he would keep PCC updated with further information when it is known.

Use of Common Cup: After some discussion, it was agreed to continue with the current way Holy Communion is administered (combined wafer and wine intincted by the priest). It was agreed though to try and gauge the congregation’s opinion on reverting to the common cup over time.

The minutes of the PCC meeting held on Wednesday 3rd July 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

• School Flag - A Talbot said that the school were still working on this.

 

Building Care group report

Roof Project: A Talbot reported that he had met this week with Simon Smith, our architect, to conduct the quinquennial inspection and that Simon would look into some grants for us with a breakdown of the works needed with focus to be on the work on the tower.

 

Shaping for Mission – Strategic Action Plan

Following the Diocesan ‘Shaping for Mission Framework’ meeting held in July that was attended by P Raven, K Raven and M Lee, it was agreed that the following objectives were priorities for St George’s with a view to continuing with these:

• Connection with every primary and secondary school in the parish

• Community engagement plans for every parish

• Our diversity reflects the community diversity

 

And the three objectives that would be the biggest challenges for us were as follow:

• 30 young people per year trained in leadership

• 200 new worshipping communities

• A culture of vocation, 60 new licensed ministers a year.

 

Mission Action Plan

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

 

• Photo Board: PCC Members

 

We are waiting for the photos to be printed although photos need to be taken of new PCC members.

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Growing Together

• Relationship with St Georges School: The relationship is very good at the present time. A Talbot reported that the school came into church for their harvest. A celebration of Song will be taking place in church on 25th October. School had recently been through an Ofsted Inspection and were pleased with its report and are awaiting result in due course.

 

• Relationship with wider benefice: The prayer group was still attended by St Georges but very little by the other churches in the benefice. Joint services with the Benefice were still taking place on the 5th Sunday of the month. A Talbot attends the monthly Churchwardens meetings and L Hallybone attends the Safeguarding Officers group.

 

• Relationship amongst ourselves: It was agreed that things continued to be positive and it was noted that the congregation enjoyed the variety of visiting priests.

 

Safeguarding

L Hallybone reported that there was a lady called Linda Hayes asking churches for money and gifts and asked us to be aware of this. L Hallybone said she was in the process of receiving the appropriate training.

 

Finance Report

• 2024 Accounts to date

 

P Raven handed out the current financial position. The current account stands at £689. P Raven reported that the Parish Share payments still owing £530.

P Raven also said that online banking with Barclays enabling statement viewing and faster payment was up and running and was working well between P Raven, A Tabot and M Lee as the three signatories.

 

Fundraising /Events Schedule and Progress against budgets

The fundraising budget for the year is £3800 the amount raised so far being £3,160. The next fundraising event is the Autumn Fair in November.

 

Electoral Roll Applications

There was one new application in the name of Mr Richard Tuxford. All were in favour,

 

Forthcoming Services

Remembrance Sunday 10th November – 10.45am at the gates and afterwards in church

Crib Service – 24th December 4pm – to be led by P Raven and others

Carol Service – 24th December – 6pm – to be led by Revd R Walker-Hill

Sunday 29th December – 10.30am Fifth Sunday Benefice Service at St George’s

25th December - There was some discussion about the possibility of holding a lay-led service at 9.30am on Christmas morning at St George’s even though the one Benefice service will be at the same time (at Wombridge). Whilst we wouldn’t want to be seen as ‘snubbing’ the Benefice service, it was agreed to gauge the opinion of those that might attend a Christmas morning service (and perhaps would not attend Wombridge) if it were to be held. A decision would be made at the next PCC meeting in November.

 

Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 12th November at 7.30 pm in church

The meeting closed at 8.30 p.m. with the Grace

 

(Signed) P.G.Raven                                                                           Dated 12 November 2024

Vice Chair

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