Parish of St Andrew’s, Tarvin with St Peter’s, Duddon
7th April 2008
Draft Minutes of the PCC meeting
St Andrew’s Parish Room
Eric welcomed everyone to the meeting and David led the prayers, using a new setting of Psalm 23 in words and music.
Present David Herbert, Eric Plenderleath, Alex Henderson, Jane Holmes, Harry Wilson, Jane Parker, Michael Burgess, Yvonne Albon, Richard Tuckwell, Susie Connolly.
1. Apologies
Margaret Marr, Judith Brown, Ron Fuller.
2. Minutes of meeting held on 4th February 2008
The minutes were accepted as a true record.
3. Matters Arising
- The Spring Clean took place on 15 March and about 15 volunteers are to be thanked for making such an excellent job.
- 8 people qualified as Emergency First Aiders on February 14th. Jane Parker, Cara Grime, Marie Grime, Alex Henderson, Steven Hildreth, Jo Richards, Richard Tuckwell and Ron Fuller.
- The Parish Room Lease is in preparation and will date from 01.02.08.
- The Fund raising meeting had not yet been held.
4. Electoral Roll
Two applications had been received and accepted.
7. Agenda Item (brought forward by request HW)
Communication David led an open discussion by asking us to consider
- What we wanted to communicate - answers included:
that we are a lively, active, interesting, open and welcoming Church community;
how people can be involved, can access information about the churches, the village and the wider community; and not forgetting the Word of God.
- How do we communicate - answers included:
Ourselves and our body language; the notice boards and St Peter’s flag; the Website; Network and Parish Grapevine.
The May edition of Parish Grapevine will be the last one that will have Harry as Editor. His retirement is regrettable but understandable, as he now spends only two days a week in Tarvin and he has done the two years that he originally committed himself to.
Harry will also resign from leading The Friends of St Andrew’s and as a Deanery Synod representative.
The PCC expressed their most sincere thanks and appreciation for all the Harry has done for St Andrew’s Church and Parish Grapevine. He will be sorely missed.
To take the Parish Grapevine forward will be no easy task and as no one volunteer had come forward to be Editor the proposal by David to act as Co-ordinating Editor was, somewhat reluctantly, accepted. David hopes to work with a team of contributors/sub-editors who will need to meet before the end of April to ensure making the May 15th deadline for the June issue. Using the results of a short survey the magazine may change format/be more concise but it will continue and be a well-read and well-loved magazine, which reaches 500 – 600 homes in the village each month.
(HW had to leave the meeting at this point)
5. Development Groups
- St Peter’s – the Standing Committee had approved pointing work, needed on the buttresses, to go ahead.
- Finance – Michael reported that the Accounts were with Wilf Thompson, the auditor, and would be ready for 28th April.
A Legacy of £5,000 has been received from the estate of Jim Nicholas. His wife, Marian, wishes it to used for the upkeep of the organ and the bells, as the need arises.
The Organ repairs had been completed and the costs covered by insurance, less £50 excess.
United Utilities had informed us of a change in billing arrangements which meant the Parish Room bill would not alter significantly but the Church bill could increase from £94 to £1,500 per year. Eric and Michael are in discussions to appeal against such an increase.
- Buildings –
Group Report from 10 March
Lectern steps completed – letter of thanks sent to Chris Tilston, cost of wood covered by Michael & Mary Burgess.
Choir Vestry Electrics – Standing Committee agreed to proceed with wooden cover - £280.
Woodworm – cupboard has been removed and new one to be installed.
South Aisle Ceiling – Jane P. confirmed that a Faculty was not necessary providing it was ‘like for like’. Alex considered a WREN grant would be unlikely. Quotations from GPS looked favourable but decision to go ahead deferred to Finance Group, meeting on 14 April.
Foyer meeting 22 Feb
Disabled Access – Eric’s informal meeting with the access officer had resulted in the following advice: Parish Room slope could be done ‘in-house’ as it is a gentle slope. Tarvin Education Trust will help with costs if York Stone is used;
Slope to the road could be re-done as 2/3 slope 1/3 steps with handrail in between. Any handrail on left side would have to have City Council approval as in Heritage Area.
West Doors - thanks had been expressed to Bill Turner for his re-furbishment work.
Inside handrail was being made.
No drawings/costings had been obtained for storage/display.
- Health & Safety - next meeting 14 April
- Worship – next meeting end of April
- Pastoral – no meeting held
- Mission & Ministry – Report attached
Yvonne advised against buying a defibrillator as only a trained operator could use it.
- Tarvin Ecumenical – meeting in a fortnight
Living Hope meeting on Reconciliation in
Friendship Lunches were continuing fortnightly at TMC with £82 sent to Adoption Matters. Still more support needed from St Andrew’s.
6. Member’s Business
Window Protection
Jane P. presented the following for consideration:
We have already protected 5 of our stained glass. Pendle Stained Glass, who did the protection work on the windows last year are highly regard by the Diocese, have quoted £4,900 (VAT zero rated) - fully inclusive - for this work. I personally think this is a very good price and their work is excellent.
Funding - Already an anonymous donor has offered £500 and it has been agreed that the money raised by the Concert held by Ralph Crawford and the City of
After discussion a vote was taken which was unanimously in favour of accepting the quotation from Pendle Glass and to proceed with the necessary Faculty Application to protect the remaining windows.
Although there is some funding available it was also decided to make a Grant Application to WREN. Alex will help Jane P. with the applications and if possible include pointing work. If grants are not obtained the funding will be considered by the Finance Group to be included in their priority list.
St Peter’s Re-ordering
The Faculty has gone to the Chancellor and the four week consultation period began on April 1st. Public Notices have been put up at St Andrew’s and St Peter’s and there are details in the April Grapevine. The plans are available on the Website and were at the Vicarage. However Eric has been asked to make arrangements for them to be in St Peter’s Church. Of the £123,000 needed there is £56,000 raised.
If we are successful and obtain the faculty then the PCC will have to face the challenges ahead and look to ways to proceed.
8. Clergy Report
Richard reported that after some initial concerns the Lent Courses had all gone well. Some of the groups may continue later in the year in a slightly different form.
David reminded us that Richard’s Ordination is on Saturday 14th June at 5pm in Chester Cathedral.
Stephen Hildreth attends his national selection conference on April 15th.
We are to have an Ordinand on placement for four weeks in August.
The response to
The Church Calendar is now on the Website.
9. Deanery Synod
Report of last meeting attached
Dates for future meetings
Tuesday 27th May
Thursday 2d October Synod Eucharist at St. Andrew, Tarvin – Rt Rev Colin Bazley will be preaching
Monday 24th November St. Michael, Plas Newton
10. Annual Meeting - 28th April, 7.30pm in The Parish Room
Election of 4 PCC members – only Susie Connolly willing to stand again
Election of 1 Deanery Synod representative
Jane H will co-ordinate/assemble the written report – contributions by 21st April at the latest.
- Chairman – David
- PCC Secretary – Jane H
- St Peter’s – Peter
- Finance – Michael
- Churchwardens – Eric
- Grapevine – Harry
- Electoral Roll – Ruth
- Deanery Synod – Jane H
- Development Groups – St Peter’s & Finance already covered
- Buildings – Alex
- Health & Safety – Yvonne
- Ecumenical - Yvonne
- Worship – Richard
- Pastoral – Susie
- Mission & Ministry – Ron
- Buildings – Alex
11. A.O.B.
- Jane distributed tickets for 10th May Concert for PCC members to sell.
- Susie told us she had persuaded her nephew, who is a professional opera singer, to give a concert ‘free of charge’, for fund raising purposes.
Date of the next meeting
Annual Meeting 7.30pm – short PCC follows
PCC meeting – Monday 7 July, 7.30pm