Parochial Church Council Notes

Meeting on March 4th 2009

Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) is on April 22nd. At this the Parochial Church Council is chosen for the following year. You ,may have wondered what they do, and if you vote you should know what they do otherwise you might vote for an inappropriate person! Someone has to make these sorts of decisions on your behalf, read on!

Parochial Church Council Meeting:
Wednesday 4 March 2009

Following the very successful Rainbow Day of activities and workshops at Dearne Valley Leisure Centre organised by Jonathan Newton, the Secretary will write to the Thorne Lions, thanking them for the loan of their minibus.

Fabric: Members were pleased to hear that the new Wedding Carpet will soon be available, thanks to the very generous donation received from the Craft Group. An individual donation will cover the cost of the same carpet for the Chancel, once the required Faculty (formal permission) has been obtained.

Finance: The revised End of Year figures were unanimously accepted by the PCC. These will form the basis of the Financial Report at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, following scrutiny by the Independent Examiner.

Giving Director: Gary Carlin expressed his concern at the drop in income over the year, conscious of the need to raise the amount needed to pay the Parish Share. He is seeking fresh ideas for fundraising.

Fabric: The steeplejacks have completed their survey of the external walls of the church, and have issued a list of what needs to be done. Revd Wilson has received a DVD of photographs, some of which are very scary. The members were told that many of the churches they have surveyed are in a far worse state! Detailed Scale Drawings have also been produced and will be made available to building contractors in the future. The next priorities are to tackle the surface water problem in the vicinity of the church and to rectify the vandalism damage to the South Door surrounds.
APCM Information Pack: The Secretary had distributed as much of the Annual Report Pack as she had been able, thanks to the group organisers who had achieved the deadline set for submission of reports. The rest had been received since the printing of the pack, so the PCC was able to accept the Annual Report, subject to Mrs McGarvie collating all reports into the format required for the APCM. It was confirmed that everyone may attend the APCM, to be held in Church on 22 April, but only those on the Electoral Roll will be entitled to vote.

Deanery Synod: Mrs Hoffman gave a verbal report on the last meeting, which was a follow-up to “First Impressions”, an initiative seeking to understand and engage with the changing nature of the world in which we live. How do we reach out? How do we get non-churchgoers to join in church activities? How do we help the Lonely?
It was confirmed that an election for Deanery Synod Representatives is not due until 2011.

Social Committee: The Barn Dance on 21st February had been a very enjoyable event, in spite of the worry that the number of tickets sold would question its viability. It had raised £100 for Church Funds and many a laugh on the dance floor!
Future events were confirmed: day trip to Scarborough, Coffee Mornings, Bingo Night, the Over-70s lunch, Concert in church by the Powerfuel Hatfield Colliery Band, Church Outing to Bakewell and the Plant Sale.
(Details of these events will appear in the magazine and in the weekly newsletter produced by the Vicar nearer to the relevant date – watch out for them and come and join us!).

Christian Aid Week is 10 – 16 May.

Any Other Business: The PCC was informed that a new Church Website is up and running. Members (and Readers) are encouraged to visit it. Jonathan Newton would welcome any comments.

Next Meeting of the (new) PCC will be on Wednesday 7 May 2009
Jill McGarvie, PCC Secretary