WONSTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
Minutes of Meeting held on Monday 6th September 2010 at Lake House, Norton
Present:
Revd. Sue Foster (Chairman) Lt Col Peter Barrett (Churchwarden) Mr Wally Taylor (Treasurer), Mrs Bettina Betton, Mr Peter Clarke, Mr George Gray, Dr Sarah Hobhouse.
Apologies:
Dr Angela Lewis, Mr Nicholas Wood, Capt Andrew Betton, Mrs Sandy Fitzgerald , Mr Steve Mullins
1. Minutes of Meeting s 21st June and 10th July 2010
The minutes were accepted as a true record by those present and signed by the Rector.
2. Matters arising
Churchyard repairs. (Item 4)
Mr Clarke reported that the statement in item 4 regarding the reclamation of Tax was in fact incorrect, as repairs to graves do not fall into the relevant category. Following the visit and quote from Blackwell and Moody, a start date for repairs to the graves is awaited.
Revd Foster has not heard back from the Parish Council after her correspondence to them requesting duplicate records of Parish Burials. Mr Gray confirmed that he has a copy of the names and plots for every grave dug in the Parish area, which he will make available to Mr Clarke.
The Grass cutter has suggested that the Hawthorn hedges around the graveyard be cut back to enable effective maintenance to continue.
Revd Foster reports that a distressed Parishoner who has several relatives buried in the graveyard, is upset that 2 stone pots are regularly moved during grass cutting, and not replaced. This will be passed on to the grass cutter by Mrs Betton.
There was also a complaint that dogs have been fouling the Churchyard, and that a dog owner has been discourteous when this was pointed out. After discussion it was agreed that, although there are already polite notices on the church notice boards, Dr Hobhouse will attach discrete but visible signs to both sides of the ‘Kiss gate’ leading from the Giddy bridge to the Churchyard requesting that dog owners clear up after their dogs.
Bell repairs
There was an emergency PCC meeting at the Parish Fete on 10th July 2010 in order to agree progress for repair following the damage to Bell no 4. Following this meeting Mr Clarke spent 6 weeks trying to sort out public liability insurance with the Bellringers’ Guild. Cover was eventually agreed for Voluntary labour to retrieve and re-hang the bell. The cost of the repair has thus been halved.
Mr Gerry Cornick, Col Peter Barrett, Mr Edmund Wratten and Mr Martin Waldren worked in the tower and retrieved the bell. The wheel had to be lowered down the outside the tower. The fittings are now at the foundry in Whitechapel, where a diagnosis of metal fatigue has been made. The quote for repair is £1942 + £339.85 VAT, and work is expected to take 1 month. This will mean the bell should be back in position in time for the wedding on 2/10/10.
At the same time, the Architect Gary Seymour has assessed the tower and bell frame and has not found any structural damage. Mr Clarke informed the meeting that the Terms of the Archdeacon’s Certificate require an inspection of all gudgeon pins, and Mr Cornick will do this inspection.
It was noted that until Bell 4 is re-hung it will not be known whether or not it has been cracked, though this is not thought to be likely.
An insurance claim has been submitted by Mr Clarke, and an outcome is awaited.
The PCC records its thanks to all involved, for their hard work in organising and carrying out the necessary works.
3. Sponsored Cycle ride.
The annual Historic Churches Trust Ride and Stride event takes place on 11/9/10. Several local families are cycling, and the Church will be manned during the day.
4. Wonston website
Mr Barrett reports that there were 125 ‘hits’ for the Wonston Church website last month. It was generally agreed that the priority for items on the website should be those regarding our own Parish. The PCC thanked Mr Barrett for his work in setting up and maintaining the site.
5. Rector’s report
There have been several funerals, weddings and baptisms in the last couple of months and the Rector has 7 more baptisms booked in for the Benefice, 2 at Holy Trinity. There was discussion about the Family Service, and the Rector thanked Campbell Dye who stood in for her at the September service. (There is no successor to the Rev Kate Cambridge)
The Rector is pleased to report that, having been rather depleted, the Sutton Manor group is growing again. She also announced that at the beginning of October she is to be joined by Amanda Grant who is in her final year of training, and who is on Placement for 6 months.
Future Services at Holy Trinity.
12th September: Richard Layton, ex Lay Chair of the Deanery is presiding.
19th September: Battle of Britain Anniversary. Mr Clarke is adapting the Matins service, which he is taking.
3rd October: Harvest Festival (Note the Church cannot be decorated until after the Wedding the previous day.) Harvest Hymns will also be sung at the Holy Communion service the week before.
24th October: Duncan Strathie to take Holy Communion.
31st October: Group Service at South Wonston
14th November: Remembrance Sunday. The Very Rev John Treadgold, ex-Dean of Chichester will be taking the service.
21st November Confirmation Service at a Church in the Lower Dever, to be arranged.
28th November: Advent Sunday
5th December: Christingle in Family Service 10am
19th December: No Matins, CAROL SERVICE 4.30pm
24th December: Midnight Mass 11.15pm
25th December: Holy Communion 11am
26th December: Holy Communion Stoke Charity 10am.
6.Treasurer’s Report
Mr Taylor is stepping down from the position of Treasurer and handing over to Mrs Betton on 9th September 2010.
The meeting approved Mrs Betton as an additional signatory to the Church Account from 9/9/10 and ratified the revised mandate to the Bank by Mr Taylor..
Attached copy of the Accounts summary
Wedding and Funeral income increased by approx £1000, and Fete income up by £600.
The balance of the General Fund was discussed and agreed that it is necessary to retain a healthy balnce in the reserved funds to allow for unexpected future fabric repairs and capital expenditure demands, for instance if the plan for changes to the Car Parking area was taken forward.
Fundraising
The PCC records its thanks to the Fete Committee and Mr and Mrs McHale, and all involved for their hard work in making the Fete such a success. The final total from the Fete is just over £7000, and split 60/40 % with South Wonston. The date of next year’s Fete is 10th July 2011. Mr Taylor will continue as Treasurer for the Fete.
Mrs Betton is organising a Safari Supper to be held on 27th November.
7. Churchwarden’s report
The Boiler has been serviced. Mr Clarke has purchased 4 collapsible tables from St Cross Church, and they are now in the Church, available for use for Church activities.
8. Any Other Business
Christmas Quiz: Mr Clarke had circulated an email notifying the PCC of his intention not to produce a Christmas Quiz this year. He took over the production of the Quiz in 2001 and the PCC thanked him for his hard work in this respect
Christmas Sale: 21st November, Victoria Hall. It was agreed that Holy Trinity should have a table. Dr Hobhouse will liaise with Sue Lane.
Autumn Churchyard clean-up: 23rd October was a suitable date, and Col Barrett will supervise the work.
Church Records: The Records office has done an inspection of the records in the Vestry, and some have been taken to the Records office for safe keeping. During the inspection it was suggested that the Safe be opened once a month in order for air to circulate. Mr Clarke has been doing this during his monthly Matins service.
Christmas Activity day, and Carols at Sutton Manor: dates to be arranged.
Car Parking: Mr Clarke will search for the files of work previously done including discussions with Cluttons about the proposed car parking changes , these need to be found in order to take the project forward.
Portable lavatory: Dr Hobhouse has done some research and with the agreement of the PCC will obtain further quotes and request a site assessment etc with a view to having a portable WC possibly from Remembrance Sunday until after Christmas.
Date of next meeting 1st November
The meeting closed with the Grace.