Parochial Church Council Notes

Meeting on October 7th 2009

Parochial Church Council Meeting:
Wednesday 7 October 2009

Church Clean-up Day: Thanks were expressed to the volunteers who had worked tirelessly in extremely dirty conditions to clean the church from the very top to the bottom, and to those who had served refreshments to the needy team throughout the day. Another day is required to remove the ground-in dirt from the stone floor.
(If you are able to scrub a 6yards square section of floor, please come, with your kneeling pads, on Saturday 21st November at 10.30am)

Mission and Worship: The Church will be decorated on Saturday 5th December and the Tower Lights switched on before the 6.30pm service on Sunday 6th December. Unfortunately, this means that the decorations will not be in place in time for the Village Christmas Fayre the week before but it is hoped that, next year, the Village Fayre may be held during December. It is intended that the cards circulated to every home in the parish, advertising all Church Activities over Christmas and the New Year can be distributed before the date of the first service listed on the card. This needs 'postmen/women' to collect cards from church as soon after 22nd November as possible.
(If any of our readers can help by posting all cards in their street, and help us in this mammoth task, please contact me so that I can arrange to supply you with the number of cards required)
The new Communion Booklet has been well received; another form of the service will be introduced soon and an Advent Booklet will follow.

Finance: The PCC has sent £3000 in addition to the amount pledged monthly towards the Parish Share payments. The Building Trust has provided grants to pay the fees charged by the Architect and the Tree Surgeon. The Endowment Trust has paid the running costs of the Parish Office up to June 2009. Collections are up on the same stage last year, but there has been a drop in the amounts paid by Banker's Order.

Fabric: Damaged gravestones have been repaired by Carpenters Funeral Directors at no cost to the PCC. The Vicar expressed his thanks for their generosity. The new Wedding Carpet has been fitted to a roll-out trolley, making it easier to lay down for that special occasion.

Open Church is under threat due to a lack of volunteers to act as stewards when the building is open to visitors. Teams have been reduced to two, but it is still difficult to find volunteers for every session. The provision of access is fundamental to claims for grants and the ability to maintain the condition of our magnificent church is at risk if we are unable to offer that facility.
(Can you help out by being in church for a session of two hours? If so, Barrie Lister or the Vicar would be pleased to talk to you)

Barn Regeneration Group: The suggestions made to improve the plan revealed earlier have been subsumed into an amended plan, which will be submitted to the Planning Department. The PCC is receiving Minutes of the meetings held by the Barn RegenerationGroup.

Church Schools: Letters of thanks have been received from both Headteachers, for the PCC grants awarded for the purchase of RE Resources. Mrs Linda Newton has been nominated by the PCC to the Diocese to serve as a Foundation Governor at Manor School.

Other Matters: As new requirements will impede the receipt of a grant from Hatfield Town Council towards the costs of the Over-70s Christmas Lunch, it was agreed that this event should be considered by the PCC as a recipient of a Charitable Giving donation at the end of the year.
Plans for the Autumn Fayre (see details elsewhere in the magazine) are well under way and tickets for the Prize Draw are now available. Mrs Liddle emphasised the need to sell every ticket to guarantee the success of the event as a much-needed fundraiser and urged members to sell as many as they can.
( YOU can really help here - please contact the Vicar, the Churchwardens, Mrs Liddle or myself if you are willing to sell some books of tickets ahead of the day? Our contact details can be found on the inside cover of the magazine)
A letter has been sent to Hatfield Town Council, requesting support in the provision of bulbs for the Tower Lights display and a donation towards the electricity costs.
The Legacy Fund has paid for the Staining and Waxing of the Choir Stalls.

Next PCC Meeting will be on Wednesday 4 November
Jill McGarvie, PCC Secretary