MINUTES OF MEETING OF LASHAM
ST.MARY’S PCC HELD AT WINGFIELD HOUSE
ON 24 JANUARY 2017
Present Canon Ed Pruen Chairman
Steve Clarke Churchwarden
Sue Jamieson Churchwarden
Michael Del Mar Treasurer
Millie Shaylor Secretary
Angela Clarke
Hugo Egleston
Maurice Goor
Jean Osgood
Frances Parris
Charlie Shaylor
Apologies Stuart McCandlish
Canon Ed welcomed the Members and opened with Prayers.
1 MINUTES of the meeting held on 29 November 2016 were signed as a correct record
MATTERS ARISING
2 Winchester Records Office - Michael had not seen the records to be sent to the Records Office. These are in the safe and would be given to Michael next time he was in St. Mary's.
CANON ED'S REPORT
3 Canon Ed thanked all the members for their support for the Advent and Christmas Services, which had been well attended.
CHURCHWARDENS REPORT
4 This Report had been circulated to all Members and was taken as read. Various items would come up for discussion during the Meeting.
WORSHIP AND MISSION
5 Canon Ed outlined the planned Services for Lent:
Ash Wednesday, 1 March Benefice Holy Communion, 7.30 pm Lasham
Monday evenings during Lent - Prayers for Churches visited:
6 March, 7 pm - Medstead
13 March, 7 pm - Shalden
27 March, 7 pm - Bentworth
3 April, 7 pm - Lasham
Mothering Sunday, 26 March - Lasham Family Service 9.15 am ? Holy Communion
Palm Sunday, 9 April Benefice Holy Communion, 10 am Bentworth
Pilgrimage Walks during Holy Week:
Monday 10 April, 2 pm - Medstead to Shalden
Tuesday 11 April, 2 pm - Shalden to Lasham
Wednesday 12 April, 2 pm - Lasham to Bentworth
Thursday 13 April, 2 pm - Bentworth to Medstead
Maundy Thursday, 13 April Benefice Holy Communion, 7.30 pm Lasham
Good Friday, 14 April Walk of Witness, Alton 10.30 am
Medstead and Bentworth Services 2 pm
Easter Day, 16 April Service of Light, Medstead 6 am
Holy Communion, Bentworth 8 am
Parish Communion, Lasham 9.15 am
Parish Communion, Shalden 9.15 am
Parish Communion, Medstead 11 am
Lent Lunches - These will be held in Medstead on weekdays during Lent. It was decided to hold one lunch in Lasham on Saturday 4 March.
SECRETARY'S NOTE - After the meeting a quorum of the PCC decided that the Lent Lunch in Lasham should be cancelled this year as it was felt there were many activities during Lent and we should support the Lenten Lunches in Medstead when possible:
Thursday 2 March Kathryn Mercy Home
Friday 10 March Kirakonka
Thursday 16 March Hart Wildlife
Tuesday 21 March St Michael's Hospice
Tuesday 28 March Wessex Kidney Trust
Tuesday 4 April Murray Parish Trust
6 PCC Composition
After some discussion it was decided that it would be helpful if Members rotated onto the PCC in order that "fresh blood" could be brought in regularly. A couple of parishioners had expressed interest and would confirm before next PCC meeting. It was also suggested that Deputy Wardens could be appointed at the APCM.
7 Church Attendance
Numbers attending Church from 2013 - 2016 had been circulated to Members. It was noted that there was no discernible trend. However, it was suggested that we could "sell ourselves" better by promoting our venue for weddings and Christenings on the website.
8 Safeguarding
Jean Osgood, our Safeguarding Officer, thanked Ed for exhibiting the notice regarding Safeguarding. It was noted that the Church should be seen as a place of safety.
FINANCE AND FABRIC
9 The Treasurer's Report had been previously submitted to Members. We were asked to consider three matters:
(a) It was unanimously agreed that £3,000 should be transferred from the General Fund to the Fabric Fund, which is a designated Fund (ie funds can be moved if essential).
(b) It was debated whether funds should be invested to earn an income. However, it was decided that at present it was not worth doing so.
(c) The insurance premium has a current excess of £250 and the PCC decided that it could be in our interest to increase this to £500. This could only be done when the current arrangement ended in 2018. Michael Del Mar to contact The Ecclesiastical Insurance to ask what the effect would be on the premium. ACTION - Treasurer
10 Planned Giving Scheme - the Treasurer said that if an extra four people could be encouraged to give £20 per month through the Planned Giving Scheme we could improve our financial situation by £1,200 per annum.
11 Central Benefice Account - Mervyn Dunwoody had set up a central Benefice Account. Each Parish would pay in approximately £100 four times a year for any joint expenses, eg Canon Ed's expenses. The PCC expressed thanks to Mervyn.
12 Faculties Application System - This system will now be web based. Michael Del Mar and Frances Parris volunteered to co-ordinate this.
13 Rector's Board - As explained in the Churchwardens Report, there was a problem with the signwriting on this board. It was decided to ask Emma Seymour from Bentworth for her opinion before proceeding.
ACTION - Steve Clarke
14 Lighting - Steve Clarke reported that Chris Reading, who had been recommended by the Diocese, said that the Church was very poorly lit and he estimated £30,000 for all the work required. We had also had a quote from Electrical Testing for just replacing the current lightbulbs with LED lights for £1,100.
Recommended - Electrical Testing should be contacted again for more information. ACTION - Churchwardens
THE WIDER CHURCH
15 Karamoja - A letter from Raymond Bukenya had been circulated to Members. Charlie Shaylor also reported that our student was back in training for his second year. The subscriptions were due to be paid again at the AGMs.
16 Deanery Synod - There had been no Synod since the last PCC meeting in November. Meetings were due to be held on 22 February and 29 March (dMAP)
17 Messy Church and Open the Book - More volunteers required.
OTHER BUSINESS
18 Hampshire Records Office Workshop - A workshop would be held on Friday 17 February. ACTION - Secretary to send info to Michael Del Mar.
19 Next Meeting of PCC - Tuesday 28 March at Hill House
The meeting closed with Prayer.