Minutes of the 79th Annual General Meeting
held in the Chapter House of Coventry Cathedral,
at 1.30 p.m. on Sunday, September 29th 2013
1.0 Opening Prayer
The Chairman, Andrew Paine welcomed the Dean, the Very Reverend John
Witcombe, and 55 members to the meeting, and invited Canon Margaret
Sedgwick to lead in prayer. Members said the new Friends prayer together.
2.0 Apologies
16 Friends had sent their apologies.
3.0 Minutes of the 2012 AGM
The Minutes of the 2012 AGM were presented to the meeting and were agreed
as a fair record. Proposed by Margaret Parker and seconded by Barry Greener,
Vice-President.
4.0 Matters Arising from the Minutes
The Chairman reported that the Friends had bought copies of Canon Kenyon
Wright’s book, “Cathedral of Peace” for resale. Members should contact him if
they would like to purchase a copy.
All the vacancies for Vice-President had now been filled, with the appointment of
Mrs. Shirley Willis and Professor Louise Campbell.
It was noted that John Willis’s name was incorrectly spelled on page 3.
5.0 The Election of Officers and New Members of Council
The Chairman explained the Constitutional position regarding the elections. This
year, a Secretary, and Treasurer, needed to be elected as well as no fewer than
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three Council members. Short biographical details were given about the
Reverend William Howard, nephew of Provost Howard, who has agreed to stand
as Secretary. He had recently retired to live in Wellesbourne. Details were also
given about Mrs. Gill Evans who had also agreed to stand for Council. Gill is a
former teacher, Parish administrator and was currently a Lay Chaplain at both
Warwick Hospital and the Cathedral.
Mrs. Jane Corrigan had also been nominated for Council, having previously been
a co-opted Member.
All three Members were elected unanimously.
6.0 The Hon. Treasurer’s Report
In the absence of the Treasurer, Adrian Williams, the Chairman read the Report. In
2012 the Friends had been able to support the Jubilee Art Exhibition by
facilitating grants and donations.
Grants had been made to the Cathedral during the year totaling £13,496.
To date, in 2013 net Income was £8,197 (not including Gift Aid); Expenses were
£1,674; Bank Deposits were £64,078.
There was committed expenditure of £4,100, including £500 to transport the
homeless statue, currently in the Cathedral, and £3,600 for re-wiring the Haigh
Chapel and the Cappers Room.
This left a Current Balance of £59,978, plus interest.
It was proposed by Martin Williams and seconded by Margaret Parker that the
Annual Report and Accounts be accepted.
7.0 The Hon. Secretary’s Report
In the absence of a Secretary, the Chairman said that the Friends Council had met
seven times during the year.
Members of Council had reflected on their responsibilities, jointly and individually,
as Charity Trustees. A Code of Conduct has been adopted and job descriptions
outlined for each Officer, and for individual members.
Brand guidelines and templates have been professionally designed; a new
recruitment leaflet printed; a pull-up stand produced and a tablecloth made, to
display our 80th Anniversary Logo.
A copy of the limited edition of the Golden Jubilee Book “Reconciling People”
had been presented to Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, during his
visit to Coventry. Council had also agreed to support the production of a book on
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the Cathedral’s New Stained Glass, to be published later this year.
The Friends Grant Making Guidelines had been revised, and updated.
Grants had been made to pay for the Cathedral Christmas Tree; to enable the
appointment of a male choral scholar for three years ; towards the costs of
transporting the homeless sculpture and for the re-wiring of the Haigh Chapel
and the Cappers Room.
It had also been agreed, with the Cathedral that, Friends could not only enjoy free
entry and a10% discount on retail purchases over £10, but also the opportunity
to introduce a guest to the Cathedral, at no charge.
To a question about the availability of the Grant Making Guidelines, the Chairman
said that they were posted on the website.
Another Member questioned the revised Friends Membership fee. The Chairman
replied that the Membership Secretary had individually written to some Members
who had not realized that a new rate had been introduced several years ago.
8.0 The Membership Secretary’s Report
Jane Corrigan read the Membership Secretary’s Report, in Gill Brooke’s absence.
Membership of the Friends is currently 611, of whom 124 are affiliated. Some 47
new Members had joined since October 2012. This increase in the membership,
had unfortunately, been cancelled out, by the Members who had resigned, or
died. Many more Members were now paying by Standing Order, and an
increasing number had arranged for their payments to be made during the first
two months of the year. Many members were now also making their
subscriptions subject to Gift Aid.
9.0 Chairman’s Report
The Chairman began by posing two questions. First, ‘Is the full potential of the
Friends being realised?’ and secondly, ‘How can we release the full energy and
support of the Friends?’
He said that the Friend’s performance could be measured in three ways: by the
number of members, by the range of activities, and by the value of the financial
grants made to the Cathedral.
During the year, membership had remained static. Among the 42 English
Cathedrals we remain one of the smaller Friends Associations, predominantly
local with 48% of our members living in Coventry, 21% in Warwickshire and 30%
living outside the Diocese.
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We had held a successful medley of well-attended lectures, meetings and visits
over the last 12 months.
The Friends total income for the current year was £8,000 from subscriptions and
donations, before Gift Aid. He felt that, taking everything into account, we might
give ourselves an overall rating of 6/10 ‘satisfactory’ or ‘could do better’.
‘But how?’, he asked. At present, everything that happens within the Friends
depended on just half a dozen people. We needed no fewer than 8 new active
Council members to replace those who would have to retire from Council in 2014
and 2015.
Exciting ideas were afoot for our 80th Anniversary Year in 2014, but the hopedfor events were entirely dependent on our having sufficient Friends to provide
able leadership and active support.
The Big Anniversary Ask had been launched, and endorsed by the Archbishop of
Canterbury. It is three fold challenge to each Member - to pray for the work of
the Cathedral and the Friends weekly, to recruit at least one new Friend and to
raise £80 for the work of the Friends.
He reported that, even before the formal launch, £500 has already been given,
including one member’s birthday money. Each Member was being asked to
respond to the Challenge by using their respective talents and different
circumstances to make a contribution.
He concluded by saying that, the Cathedral has never needed its wider circle of
Friends more, than at present.
He was confident that, with commitment, support and encouragement, the
Friends, would release their full energy and support for the Cathedral in 2014.
10.0 The Dean’s Report
The Dean gave Members a presentation on the unfolding vision for Coventry
Cathedral.
On his appointment, he had quickly become aware of the enormous impact that
the Cathedral had on visitors. Some people come for the art and the architecture,
others come from the Diocese, while others come for the history, and to learn
about the story of Reconciliation.
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In re-focusing the Reconciliation Ministry, the Community needs to heal the
wounds of history, learn to live with difference, celebrate diversity and build a
culture of peace. Reconciliation, he said, must be at the heart of everything that
we do as we aim to be a World Centre for Reconciliation. “We stand for the future
and a reconciled world.”
The Cathedral’s three aims are also the Diocesan priorities - to Worship God,
Make New Disciples and Transform Communities.
He went on to say, that there is an increasing recognition of the place of English
Cathedrals in national life. Research showed that 27% of adults had visited a
Cathedral in the past 12 months. 76% of adults thought that Cathedrals were
relevant to every day life as a venue for events, for inter-faith gatherings and for
encouraging social action.
The Dean hoped that the newly resurrected Dean’s Breakfast, would encourage
City engagement. He believed that the Friends had a potential role to play in
supporting the arts, which would help to refresh the pilgrim route through the
Cathedral.
“I would love to have free entry again and won’t stop trying to achieve it”, he
promised.
He also reported that the Cathedral is in the process of building and
strengthening the ministry of Reconciliation, with Canon David Porter leading the
Archbishop’s initiative from Coventry. Other work included, St. Michael’s House
refurbishment, the development of the Cross of Nails Centre’s, and setting up
national partnerships.
He concluded by saying that, finances continued to be very tight with a projected
deficit of £170,000 expected for the current year, despite significant economies. A
new Business Plan was being prepared. “We have one of the most astounding
places in the country,” he said, “a place of celebration a place for performance, a
place to visit and a place that is home to many communities.”
11.0 Any Other Business
11.1 Cathedral Shop
Pauline Lawrence said how impressed she had been with the shop at Winchester
Cathedral. The Dean said he agreed, and added that it is hoped to have shop in
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the Ruins, at some point in the future. It was planned, on a temporary basis, to reopen the old bookshop so that visitors could purchase tickets for the Cathedral,
see the introductory film, and buy items for Christmas.
11.2 Email v Paper
A Member asked whether paper copies of the Chairman’s E Bulletin could be
made more widely available, including information about Cathedral events. The
Chairman said that he would be happy for someone to take on the task of
preparing information, for the local press. It was noted that the Cathedral Liaison
Officers role is to provide Parishes with Cathedral Information.
11.3 The 80th Anniversary Challenge
Rex Satchwell asked about holding a dinner party to raise money for the Friends.
The Chairman said that was one of several effective ways of both raising money
and of raising the profile of the Friends. However, the indicative minimum
donation from guests should more than cover the ingredient costs.
Ann Burkett suggested that by putting £1.50 a week into a money-box, and
perhaps a little more at Christmas, Easter and Whitsun, Friends could reach the
£80 target which could then be Gift Aided, to add even more.
Frances Hawkey said that she would appreciate having a designated cause for the
money to be raised by the Challenge. The Chairman said that he vey much hoped
that the Council, in consultation with the Dean, would be able to identify, and
designate, a salient and significant project.
11.4 Amici
Richard Chamberlaine-Brothers asked whether Amici were still involved as our
Singing Friends, and was assured that they are greatly valued as ambassadors for
the Friends, and for the Cathedral. It was reported that their next concert is on 22
November 2013, in Hatton Parish Church.
12.0 The Closing Prayer
The Dean closed the meeting with prayer at 3.00 p.m.
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