WONSTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
Minutes of Meeting held on Monday 8th November 2010 at Beech Cottage, Wonston.
Present: Revd. Sue Foster (Chairman), Col Peter Barrett (Churchwarden), Capt Andrew Betton (Churchwarden)Mrs Bettina Betton (Treasurer), Dr. Angela Lewis (Secretary), Mr Wally Taylor, Mr Peter Clarke, Mrs Sandy Fitzgerald, Mr Steve Mullins.
Apologies: Mr Nicholas Wood, Mr George Gray, Dr Sarah Hobhouse.
The meeting was opened with a prayer.
1. Minutes of Meeting 6th September 2010.
The correct spelling of Richard Leyton was noted.
The minutes were accepted as a true record by those present and signed by the Rector.
Thanks to Dr Hobhouse for taking the minutes were noted.
2. Matters Arising
Mrs Betton explained that a children’s Christmas activity day was not going to be possible as Caroline Wolfson has serious illness in the family.
Capt Betton reported damage to the new signs and kissing gate at Giddy Bridge. He offered to look into repairing the signs and Mr Mullins volunteered to attend to the gate.
Mr Clarke informed the meeting that the bell repairs are complete and the bells fully functioning.
The decision has been made not to take part in the Victoria Hall Christmas sale as it is thought to be inappropriate for the PCC on the day preceding Remembrance Sunday.
Mr Clarke is in contact with Blackwell and Moody, stonemasons, to confirm a date to attend to the Churchyard repairs before the VAT rise at the beginning of 2011.
3. Wonston Website.
Col Barrett had nothing further to report on the website except that encouragingly, it is taking a large number of “hits” due to the volume of activity and people using its services.
4. 2011 Parish Share.
The parish share for 2011 is £22,354, an increase of 3.4% on 2010 figure. The Deanery has requested an additional £260 uplift on top of this to help to cover the shortfall across the Deanery.
Discussion followed around the extenuating circumstances of parishes that had found themselves unable to pay the uplift. Wonston has always paid its share in full in the past, and has good reserves in the Fabric Fund.
5. Deanery Report.
There have been no Deanery Synod meetings. 2 issues are pending for discussion at forthcoming Synod, that of Women Bishops and the setting up of the Deanery Pastoral Committee.
6. Rector’s Report.
Revd Foster reported a very successful and enjoyable Deanery retreat in France recently. 12 members of the Clergy from the Deanery took part and had a very positive and supportive experience. There is a plan to take it forwards to have regular meetings and prayer together, and the possibility of creating a Deputy Rural Dean to further include the rural parishes.
Sutton Manor congregations are flourishing.
The Rector continues to support Amanda Grant in her training for two terms until March 2011.
She thanked Mr Clarke for liaising with the Very Revd John Treadgold who will preach at the service on Remembrance Sunday. Car parking will be an issue for the service – Capt Betton will speak with James Gray about the possibility of using Church Meadow, and the congregation will be encouraged to share cars travelling from the war memorial.
Revd Kousseff will take Holy Trinity’s service on Christmas morning at 11am.
Revd Foster will take the midnight service at 11.15pm. Servers for both are organised.
Mrs Betton suggested 21st December at 3pm for Sutton Manor carols to be followed by tea. Mr Taylor will ask Molly if she might be able to accompany.
The Forestry Commission have asked for carols to be sung in Micheldever Woods at 6.30pm on 14th December.
Holy Trinity Carol Service is to be at 4.30pm on 19th December.
The Christingle Service is to be on 5th December at 10am and a local family have asked for a thanksgiving for the birth of their baby to be given within the service. Mrs Betton has offered to make the christingles.
7. Treasurer’s Report.
Mrs Betton reported a healthy level of giving currently, and a good income so far for the forthcoming Safari Supper and Mrs Wood’s recent Book Swap event. There is a surplus in the general fund, but the margin will be tight especially as 90% of the collections taken at the Remembrance and Christmas services will be given to charity as is customary.
The bell fund currently stands at £6,490 due largely to the generous donations given towards the recent repairs.
Mr Clarke explained that a substantial donation towards the bell repair was given by Sally Newman in memory of her sister, Maureen Freeman who had lived in Bray Cottage and enjoyed listening to the bells. He felt that a particular purchase should be made to mark this and suggested the installation of an Ellacombe chiming system. Col Barrett explained that this chimed rather than rang the bells if a suboptimal number of ringers were present, however those present felt that this was too expensive at £7,318.
Mr Clarke offered to research and produce a leaflet on the history of the Bells.
He also suggested putting funds towards tidying and making improvements to the lower room in the Tower and also the ringing chamber. Capt Betton suggested allocating a sum for the bellringers to decide how to spend and to place a plaque in memory of Mrs Freeman.
Mr Taylor felt that a sum from the fabric fund should be apportioned to creating a cupboard in the vestry to house odd and loose untidy items. The Rector welcomed the idea and Mr Mullins offered to progress this.Col Barrett felt it would be helpful to increase the depth of the altar frontal storage box and to create a drop down front. This would enable all the frontal to be stored and would greatly improve access. It would require the removal of the rear pew in the North Aisle.
Dr Lewis suggested that a display bookshelf would enhance the appearance of the area behind the font, for display of the leaflets currently on the pew seat. She also thought that books for sale and loan, and postcards could be displayed.
Mrs Fitzgerald suggested postcards of kneelers.She will also contact Jackson’s to confirm the cost of commissioning a new kneeler for the altar rail. A maximum figure of £500 was agreed to be realistic. Mrs Betton and Dr Lewis felt that it would be preferable and more meaningful to have one stitched by parishioners than to have a factory-made one.
Revd Foster asked for a decision from the meeting on the payment of the requested uplift of £260 on the parish share. After discussion, it was agreed that the Deanery had made a great effort to overcome the deficit, and that Holy Trinity was currently in a relatively strong position and should aim to pay the requested amount.
8. The Churchwardens’ Report.
Col Barrett thanked everyone for a successful churchyard cleanup effort on 23rd October.
He is waiting for Gary Seymour to produce a specification regarding the work required on the east gable (5-10yr bracket in quinquennial). We were reminded that the quinquennial is due next year. Capt Betton noted that the major items required from the last one have been addressed.
It was agreed that Capt Betton should renew the current grass cutting contract with the addition of one extra long and one short cut. A maximum figure of £1,000 was agreed ( £750 in current year).
The meeting decided to mark next year’s 400th anniversary of King James’ Bible during the HC service on Bible Sunday, 23rd October 2011.
Mr Clarke will communicate with the William Morris Society about the 150th anniversary of the Wm Morris Company in view of the Wm Morris windows in Holy Trinity.
Capt Betton felt that it is becoming imperative to make a decisive move to improve car parking at the church. The meeting were in agreement to proceed towards renting 1/3 acre of Church Meadow from the Church Commissioners (in preference to purchasing). No planning permission is required if it is to be used on fewer than 28 occasions in a year. He suggested a slip rail to divide the two areas of parking. Mr Clarke noted that compensation to James Gray needed to be factored in. He also pointed out that further repairs were required to the potholes in the driveway.
9. A.O.B.
There were no further matters raised.
10. Date of Next Meeting.
Monday 31st January at Beech Cottage, Wonston.
The meeting closed with the Grace.