Pam here is my suggestion for the general shape of the PCC ...



‘Connecting with God, Each Other, and our Community, and Caring for Creation in the Name of Jesus’

Marshfield PCC meeting via Zoom at 7.30pm, Wednesday 16th September 2020

Minutes

1. Meeting opened in prayer by AG

2. Those present: Revd Sally Wheeler (SW), Bob Wheeler (BW), Aurea Hart (AH), Andrew Gammie (AG), Eric Pullin (EP), John Pullin (JP), Paul White (PW), Lynne White (LW), Kate Brain (KBr), Melanie Hardy (MH), Donna Chambers (DC), Kate Precious (KP), Peter Woodward (PWd),

Apologies for absence: Richard Owen (RO), Peter Brunyate (PB), Amelia Eyre (AE), Revd Lynne Godfrey (LG), Kirsty Bushell (KB)

3. Approval of Minutes: 28th April, 28th May, 28th June and 7th July 2020. These were approved and will be signed.

4. Our Vision and Priorities:

Deepening Discipleship, engaging younger families and growing leaders through:

WITNESS

a) Eco Church: St Mary’s has been awarded the Eco Church Bronze Award. Thanks

to PWd who has been our Eco Church champion and to all those who have given their time and hard work to attain this award. Both PWd and SW were interviewed by BBC Radio Wiltshire this month (still available via BBC Sounds) about the Eco Church activities at St Mary’s.

Heritage Open Days: 11th-20th September at St Mary’s underway. Thanks to LW for overseeing the (sustainable) flower festival at St Mary’s held during the Open Days.

Creation Altar frontal: Latest example (see attached) welcomed by PCC. All

members accepted the drawings and concept in principle.

b) Deepening Faith during pandemic:

• Services to continue as they are.

• Church website to honour the Benefice as well as St Mary’s at this time. Please

send any news or information for the website to Richard Shreeve. KP suggested

FAQs be available on the website to reassure and encourage others to try Zoom

services.

• Masks to be worn in church. The disposable masks available in porch (for those

visiting St Mary’s without one) are not biodegradable. BW suggested

washable/reusable ones to take home be available for a small donation.

SW to mention in Benefice Post & Cotswold Edge and ask for volunteers to provide

handmade, washable masks for this purpose.

• Alpha and Home groups New home group with Sue and Richard Shreeve was well

attended (via Zoom). Other home groups are continuing virtually and new members

are always welcome.

• Children’s work Breakfast Church running 3rd Sundays of month, Brunch and Thrive

on 1st Sunday of month. SW hopes to start a new All Age Service via Zoom, at 4pm

on 4th Sundays of the month.

School is still keen for SW and LG to take assemblies, either live via Microsoft

Teams or pre-recorded. School wish to go ahead with a Harvest Service online.

SW gave the £100.00 donation from congregation to Primary School staff for their refreshment fund to show our love and support for them at this challenging time.

c) Subgroup for online communications: Following discussion within subgroup (at present AG and Richard Shreeve), AG shared options with those present for

mixed-mode services (e.g. livestreaming, recorded etc.) together with a summary of pros and cons for each. Following a long discussion, the following actions were agreed between PCC members:

➢ AG and Richard Shreeve to seek advice of local expert Bory Brayson regarding access to the best internet connection/bandwidth possible for St Mary’s. It was agreed that a poor connection would be worse than no connection.

➢ PCC agreed it would be acceptable to receive subsequent feedback from the subgroup via email and, if recommended and agreed by all, to then go ahead with a proposed contract for internet connection without having to wait for the next PCC meeting.

➢ Subgroup to experiment with current hardware and to report back to PCC what additional hardware would be necessary for livestreaming/recording of services.

d) Harvest 2020 Harvest services will go ahead but without any social activities this year. Monetary donations will go to Send a Cow. Dried and tinned produce will go to Sisters of the Church in Bristol. SW thanked those who have donated to the mini larder in the porch for those who need food support in the village.

All Souls 2020 A particularly difficult year for the bereaved due to Covid restrictions. An All Souls Day service will go ahead, even if it has to be via zoom.

WORSHIP

a) Our Giving:

Latest Accounts (to 31/08/2020) & Update: KBr shared these with those present (information previously shared with all PCC members prior to the meeting).

Main points:

➢ The format has been changed to make the monthly accounts easier to decipher

➢ Note zero income this year to date from fundraising events due to pandemic; despite this the accounts are healthy thanks to generous donations St Mary’s continues to receive from voluntary giving.

Parish Share Bristol Diocese has now provided its Parish Share Request for 2021 for £54,400.

➢ KBr explained that financially we can meet that request but before making the commitment the PCC reviewed St Mary’s present and proposed Designated Funds (previously discussed by the financial sub-group prior to this meeting).

• BW explained that we cannot depend on grants for our Stoneworks Fund (part of our 2018 Quinquennial work) as we will not be receiving a grant from the National Churches Trust, and although a grant application is being made to Gloucestershire Historical Churches Trust it is a small grant. KBr explained that this would therefore mean a larger target of £35,000 rather than £15,000 for this designated fund.

SW suggested contacting Naomi Buckler of Bristol Diocese for further advice

regarding possible grants available.

• PW confirmed that there are extra unforeseen costs to discuss regarding the following:

1. Our architect George Chedburn raised concerns to PW about Howlett-Neal repeatedly asking for additional costs and prevaricating over a start date. George has cancelled the contract with them, recommending that we retrieve our deposit

and seek another company for the Stonework repairs. PW has since received tenders from J.B. Kerr and Ellis & Co which he shared with PCC. George Chedburn recommends J.B. Kerr who can start work beginning of October at a higher cost but, VAT can be claimed back (as St Mary’s is a Grade 1 listed building) which would bring the cost back in line with previous tenders.

PW proposed that PCC accept the advice of our architect and endorse J.B. Kerr to carry out repairs on our stonework. Seconded by BW. All PCC in favour with no objections.

2. Simon Boyd has looked at the Cockerel which has fallen off its post. Both Cockerel and the post requires repair work. Simon will provide an estimate for works needed.

• Regarding proposed targets for designated funds, PWd suggested

that an individual with a special interest be identified for each fund to consider

a reasonable target. PWd proposed £1000 be allocated to each fund (except

for General Reserve Fund) in the meantime. KBr happy to reissue the

document taking on above suggestions.

• Re: Free Funds, SW explained that the Legacy is not designated for

Tower/Bell work KBr to amend.

• Re: Vicar and Churchwarden Fund. A pastorally sensitive area where

confidentiality is necessary. KB suggested and AH proposed that the PCC

agree to pay across the £408.00 to SW, for the money to be used as she

feels correct following a discussion with the Churchwardens on each

occasion. Once the money has been spent, a request for more can then

be put to the PCC for who can vote on how much more can be provided.

Seconded by LW and all PCC in favour with no objections.

➢ Returning to the Parish Request for 2021, considering the above matters, AH

proposed that we increase the Parish Share for 2021 by £1000.00 above

the £54,400 requested to £55,400. Seconded by AG and all PCC in favour

with no objections. KBr to inform Diocese by 31st October 2020

WELCOME

a) Safeguarding update AH referred to the Safeguarding Report and Action Plan (previously shared with PCC).

Safeguarding report: One amendment identified, PCC agreed to add Bellringing to the list of Church Activities. AH to discuss further with BW.

Action Plan:

AH proposed that the PCC adopt the Action Plan. Seconded by JP and all PCC in favour with no objections.

All who have been identified as needing online Safeguarding Training please let AH know when this has been completed.

b) Kids Club Venue (SW) Plans for this are on hold as fewer children are presently coming to church during the pandemic. To review once restrictions lifted.

c) Health & Safety for this season (SW) Most recent risk assessment completed for singing in church by PWd and Frances Gammie (see attached).

d) Fabric Report (PW)

• Quinquennial Update: PW referred to the 3 quotes (previously shared) for repair of stone wall. Discussion took place as to whether wall should be replaced with mortar or dry stone as opinion was divided amongst those who gave quotes.

PW to seek advice of George Chedburn (our architect) to see if permission is needed to use dry stone walling instead of mortar techniques.

• Clock Repair General Update:

Scaffolding is due to come down any day now. Repairs will be complete in

approximately 3 weeks

Height of trees in front of clock is obscuring the clock itself. PW will discuss with situation with Tim Rudge and ask for an estimate before mentioning again to owner of trees.

5. Review of Policies & GDPR Data Audit – (previously shared with PCC prior to meeting)

SW reiterated that the policies remain unchanged since they were reviewed last year.

MH has been advised by Bristol Diocese that best practice would be to review non-safeguarding policies on a biennial basis.

PCC members were all in favour of accepting all Policies as they stand now.

AH proposed that the Benefice Safeguarding Policies are review annually and the statutory policies are reviewed biennially. Seconded by JP and all PCC in favour with no objections.

The GDPR Data Audit was accepted by the PCC.

6. Correspondence (MH)

• PWd shared information about the Bats in Churches Project that runs until 2023. Five species of bats were recently identified at St Mary’s. The project links us into resources to help make the co-existence between the church and the bats harmonious. No cost involved. PCC happy to register.

7. AOB

• PW asks for assistance with 9am Holy Communion, on 2nd Sunday of month and perhaps with weddings too. SW will put request into Benefice News.

• SW mentioned a small memorial plaque within the churchyard that has been damaged by a lawnmower. The family has been informed and St Mary’s will pay for a repair or replacement as necessary.

8. Date for next meeting Wednesday 4th November at 7.30pm via Zoom

9. SW closed meeting with a prayer

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