THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARY, PORTCHESTER
Minutes of the Meeting held on Wednesday 10th April 2013 at 7.30p.m.
Present: Rev Dr Ian Meredith (IM) (chair), Denise Simmons (DS) , Richard Andrews (RA), Valerie Agar (VA),
Gerry Anderson (GA), Brian Boxall (BB), Jan Fuller (JF), Judy Keith-Smith (JKS), Ray Norman (RN), Keith
Phillips (KP), Joan Searle (JS), Jan Shephard (JSh), Faye Simmons (FS), Nell Wycherley (NW) and Rev Connie
Sherman (CS).
1. WELCOME, OPENING PRAYER & APOLOGIES
818. IM welcomed all those in attendance. He explained that, coming from Scotland, he might find things
are slightly different. The name he was used to for Church meetings was ‘The Vestry’ (as they were
held in the Vestry) rather than PCC, and if he reverted to ‘The Vestry’, hopefully we would understand.
IM began his first PCC meeting with prayer.
2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
819. Apologies were received from Christian and Gail Evans (CE & GE), Rev. Julie Jones (JJ), Ian Parker (IP),
Pat Poil (PP), Hazel Powlesland (HPO) and Catherine Rouve (CR).
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING.
820. It was agreed that the Minutes be accepted as a true record after a few changes mentioned by JSh.
They were proposed by JSh and seconded by RN.
4. ACTIONS ARISING
821. JSh reported the following five updates to her investigations.
1)
Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are unable to fund the altar refurbishment. They have asked
if we would consider supporting their ‘stride and ride’ fundraising initiative. An email was
sent to the churchwardens.
2)
Post cards are on sale.
3)
The idea of a calendar is shelved, as Jennifer Jackson is creating one with Blue Dot. DS asked
JF if the Finance Team had been informed and, as nothing had been mentioned, suggested
that Jennifer Jackson should discuss this with JF.
4)
Potatoes fundraising also shelved for another year as the uptake last year was poor.
5)
HIHCT sent a long list of possible grant trusts. BB helped JSh go through these.
822. JF spoke about Refurbishment Grants, saying that Sainsbury’s and Veolia were possible avenues in
the past but both have shut their doors as they have no funds. The Diocese will know which ones to
tap into. It is not a repair we need but it is a refurbishment. NW said that IP had mentioned the
possible bequests from bereaved clients he could follow up. BB said that he knew of two. JF
mentioned that members of the congregations are willing and have offered financial contributions
823. JSh will go back to those on her list, as follows:All Churches Trust, The Ashley Family Foundation (Laura Ashley), Barker Mills Foundation, The
Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation, The February Foundation, Foyle Foundation, Gerald Micklem
Charitable Trust, Jill Franklin Foundation and Wakeham Trust.
824. CS asked when the Faculty runs out for the Altar rail. KP asked for this item to be included on the
next PCC Meeting Agenda. The Standing Committee agreed to review the project and propose a
plan.
825. The Cormorant Quiz raised £187 this week and the profits would be donated to the Sanctuary Fund.
DS said that the Cormorant is keen to continue sponsorship and have kept a record of the amount
they have donated thus far. The Sanctuary fund will include any projects that are required to
maintain the area and has flexibility for allocation of monies. People want a target to aim for and we
need a project to encourage fund raising.
826. CS and JJ were acknowledged for their contribution in encouraging visitors donating funds at services,
such as weddings and baptisms. CS said that it is pleasing to see the result recorded. Gift Aid can be
drawn from the plate from casual givers, up to a total of £5,000 from April 2013. Gift Aid for regular
givers is recorded differently. JSh mentioned that the planned giving has hardly increased and was
disappointed, but JF said that she thinks it is not at all bad in the current economic climate. There are
many people who do not agree with Gift Aid. Some think that, as it is a Church, it should not be
thought of as a charity and some think that the church is state funded. BB commented that we
should congratulate ourselves about the finances and DS said that it shows just how much the
Finance Team does. JSh said we are basically on a par and we do not have a huge deficit. The roof
money has not yet shown up as the final bills are reported in 2013. RA mentioned also the architect’s
fees. Eventually the Roof Fund resources will be expended and closed.
JF reported on the monies deposited in the different funds: Official Investment Fund, COIF (Charity
Official Investment Fund) bank account has the investment that was the residual amount from the
sale of Dore Avenue and purchase of Jute Close, £20k. This amount can be withdrawn if the PCC
agree a resolution for financing the refurbishment required at Jute Close.
The Legacy Fund - £6k is a restricted fund to be spent on the building at the Incumbents discretion.
The Organ replacement fund - David Cain was looking at Organ replacement and was investigating
options available.
The General Fund - Income and expenditure had maintained an even balance during 2012.
827. Charitable Giving - Money was given to Whiteley as the Deanery had requested and CS made a point
that this might be repeated. The Bishop may well ask us to help again. This will come from our
charitable giving.
All parishes in the Deanery paid their Parish Quotas, including Whiteley. CS explained to IM the part
that the parish of Whiteley plays, and means to us in the Deanery.
828. IM gave official and grateful thanks to all who provided a modern, warm and clean vicarage, which is
a lovely house and a comfortable home.
829. IM read a letter of thanks received from the Bishop, expressing his gratitude for making so many
people welcome at IM’s licensing.
5. MAIN DISCUSSION ITEMS:
830. IDWAL (Inter Denominational West African Link) - Referring to the previous Sunday Service, IM
reiterated that initials are understood only by those within, yet by others may not be clearly
understood. It was agreed that when first mentioned, it should be clearly said in full and thereafter
initials may be used.
831. APCM - Report changes were suggested. Ruth Tuschling spelt incorrectly. Few small grammatical
changes/corrections were made to the document. Diocesan Representatives were elected in July
2012 rather than 2011. Car Boot Sale was in July 2012 and this year will be in May. ‘Open the Book
Group’ title corrected (schools programme). KP’s name should be added to the heating work but GA
commented that no particular names should be made as there were other people helping too and it
would mean excluding others who helped.
832. JF advised that accounts would be presented at the next PCC for 2013.
833. A vote of thanks was given to DS and JF for putting everything for the APCM reports together.
Proposed by KP and seconded by JS. Unanimously agreed.
6. ONGOING PROJECT UPDATES
834. KP suggested that Hugh Crothers be invited to come to discuss the four fans. He said that 2 have been
running for over a year and are run-in. The other two fans possibly need time to settle in. CS asked if
we could invite David Cain to the meeting. It was mentioned that a delegation went to Bridgewater
to observe the work done there, but advice was accepted rather than decisions made by our own
representatives. IM had visited Chichester Cathedral, an extremely warm building despite being a
large space to heat, and would not compare with the heating in our church. Comments that the
Cathedral has more resources than St Mary’s were made and our heating bill, recently received, was
astronomical.
7. PCC SUB-GROUP REPORTS
No Pastoral Reports
8. DEANERY AND DIOCESAN REPORTS
835. Deanery VA said that everyone has had a copy of the Deanery Newsletter, which is quite
comprehensive. The main item is that the Pentecost weekend is looming and we need to plan now.
Friday worship is being organised by Rev Karina Green and will be at three venues; Petersfield, the Isle
of Wight and Portsmouth Cathedral. We have, however, a concert here on Friday evening. On
Saturday we are asked to reach out to the community, to plan events which will benefit all
parishioners. VA spoke to Councillor Roger Price to ask if there is anything he could suggest and he
said that cleaning up the shore and the area around the castle might be good, but he would come
back to VA if there was anything else he could think of. We do have an event request from Bryan
Jerrard, which will come later in AOB, as an outreach on that day: the annual visit to a garden centre
taking old people out for afternoon tea. RN mentioned that the Boot Sale is also on that same day
and would also be included as a community event. CS said that, because of weddings and those two
events, we could choose another Saturday to run an event. We can include the parish lunch as our
way of reaching out to the community around us, in the future. It was suggested that we could litter
pick around Wicor School, where the Boot Sale will be held. IM and CS will attend a meeting on 25th
April.
836. Diocese - Nothing to report since the previous PCC meeting.
9. CHURCH WARDEN’S NOTICES
837. Michael Moore’s letter had been sent to the PCC and RA responded that FBC have decided that it is
not their responsibility. English Heritage has today filled in some pot holes, not particularly well but
they have filled in some holes. The castle door has been snapped by a workman leaving the castle
grounds with a vehicle. Quotations have to be found and brackets made for the castle door, which
will not be repaired for two weeks. Stonework may also be damaged and that will now have to be
assessed. The door is wedged shut and no wedding car can enter. NW asked about a medical
emergency. A helicopter could lift an injured person from the castle but fire would be a serious risk.
RA says he will need to be available with umbrellas for the weddings, if it is raining. Golf buggies
were thought of, but this is not an option. Is there any fear of the church being sued? Could a
disabled buggy offer any help? CS will communicate with the brides.
11. AOB
838. Concert details have been sent from Michael Moore.
Friday 17th May
Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood
Friday 27th September
The Pompey Pluckers (20 plus ukuleles and choir)
Friday 1st November
Paul Hart (Trumpet) and Organ
2014
Friday 7th March (tbc)
Angelic Voices (By popular request)
th
Friday 25 April
St Petersburg Male Voice Choir
June tbc
Jonathan Plowright – Concert Pianist, sponsored by Steinway
September (tbc)
Ben Waters (Boogie-woogie)
November (tbc)
Balalaika Concert
Depending on advance take-up we may not be able to sell tickets for 17th May to the general public
but it should still be published to show what St Mary’s does.
839. Bryan Jerrard asked the PCC to endorse his arrangements to take out the 'senior shut-ins' on Sat 18th
May to Brambridge Garden Centre, leaving in some 11 cars at 2.15 and returning by 5.30 to
Portchester car park, for a cream tea. This is the fifth such trip and usually 40, including non-church
attenders.
Proposed DS
Seconded FS
Unanimous decision.
840. FBC Faculty want confirmation that the work has been completed regarding the Garden of
Remembrance. A letter must have gone to Rev Charlie and therefore not received.
841. NW proposed a warm welcome to our midst to IM. Congratulations also to CS. Unanimously agreed.
842. IM said that as Greg and Cathy Howard had opened their home for prayer for the interviews for the
new incumbent and want to offer again for prayer for the APCM. It was suggested a day of prayer,
with sessions throughout the day and we need to be open and bring it into the light. One session
should be held in the vicarage.
843. GA mentioned that, as with PCC regulations, Church Wardens should only serve 5 years in special
circumstances and asked DS if she intended to stand down as her time is up. DS answered that she
has been asked by the Arch Deacon and by IM to reapply as Church Warden for a further year.
12. NEXT MEETING: - Wednesday 22nd May 2013 with a 7.30pm start. AOB by 21st May.
Signed by the Chairman –
Rev Dr Ian Meredith
Priest-in-Charge
Date: Tuesday, 16 February 2016