Minutes of the meeting of the Parochial Church Council of St. Nicholas Church, Shepperton, held in the Parish Centre, at 8.15, on Tuesday, 12th. May, 2020. 20200512_pcc_minutes_2.pdf
Minutes of the meeting of the Parochial Church Council of St. Nicholas Church, Shepperton, held in the Parish Centre, at 8.15, on Tuesday, 18th. February, 2020. 20200218_pcc_minutes.pdf
Minutes of the meeting of the Parochial Church Council of
St Nicholas Church, Shepperton
held in the Parish Centre at 8:15pm on Tuesday 14th January 2020
St Nicholas Church, Shepperton
held in the Parish Centre at 8:15pm on Tuesday 14th January 2020
Those present: The Rector (in the chair), Pamela Barrie, Guy Blythman, Jo Child, John Child, Peter Davis, Mark Steptoe, Janice Wetherell, Elizabeth Harrow, Kathy Hodge, Angie Enock-Shore, Mike Ralph, Peter Davis, Pam Powell. Susan Smith attended as a guest to present the draft report on Safeguarding.
The Rector opened the meeting with a prayer.
1. Apologies for absence were received from Sharon Fish
2. The minutes of the meeting of 19th November were accepted without amendment by the Rector.
3. Matters Arising from the minutes.
4. Safeguarding
5. Financial Report
6. The Shape of Lent 2020 –
• Elizabeth has led for the past couple of years but is not available this year. The PCC discussed the following issues which might be suitable for Lent study:-
• We needed a grabbing title! We shouldn't be too earnest with congregation. We needed joy as well as justice.
7. Reports from the Away Day Working Groups
The post PCC Awayday Groups on the Wider Church (led by Pamela), Teaching and Learning (led by Angie) and Parish and Community (led by John) reported. The group on Social Justice and the Environment had yet to meet and would report at the February meeting. Mind Maps had been prepared by each group and would be used by the PCC as a source of reference during the preparation, and for the interregnum and to assist the preparation of a parish profile and statement of need.
8. The future shape of parish administration
After May when Chris retires, all phone calls to the Rectory number would be put through to the Parish Office. We will therefore need to know who is responsible for what so we can prepare a directory.
9. The future of the United Benefice
The Bishop has asked if we should consider dissolving the United Benefice. Tim and Chris think we should consider this seriously. It will also make appointing a new priest at Shepperton less complex. It hasn't made any material difference to the work of the two churches, and dissolution might even facilitate our working together. The PCC agreed to this. It will be considered at the Area Council on January 27th
10. St Nicholas and issues of Climate and Environment
Time did not permit discussion of this issue but we must keep it urgently in mind.
11. Experimenting without having the dais for services
Following discussion at November’s PCC, it was suggested by Chris that the diocesan architect was asked to advise whether the dais could be removed. This was proposed by Janice, seconded by John and agreed nem con.
12. St. Nicholas and Mental Health - Princess Alice, Bereavement Café Scheme
Discussion of this was deferred until the next meeting when those on the mental health scheme would have completed their training.
13. Correspondence
There was none other than that previously circulated regarding mental health and covered in items 4 and 12.
14. Churchwardens’ Notices
Janice reported that the vestry roof had been leaking and was repaired in October. It is now leaking again. A different contractor advised that we could replace it with one using modern materials with a 20-year guarantee. Although the vestry was not of historical interest, it would require a faculty as it was attached to a Grade 2 listed building. It was agreed to approach the diocesan architect.
15. AOB (Previously notified to the chairman)
None
There being no further business the meeting concluded at approximately 10.00pm with the saying of the Grace.
The Rector opened the meeting with a prayer.
1. Apologies for absence were received from Sharon Fish
2. The minutes of the meeting of 19th November were accepted without amendment by the Rector.
3. Matters Arising from the minutes.
- Anne Spencer-Edwards is looking to stepdown as PCC Secretary. Mark Steptoe would be replacing her as Minutes Secretary only.
- All the essential works in the Quinquennial review had been carried out with the exception of the hatch to the church tower. This had come to under £1000.
- An “understudy” to the role of Churchwarden was already in hand (as suggested in correspondence).
- Chris had written to Bishop Graham about a Question and Answer session. Pamela advised that this was already in his diary for Wednesday 19th February. There was a clash with Faith and Film. Chris would work with Guy to resolve this.
4. Safeguarding
- Susan Smith presented the draft Parish Safeguarding Audit which had been circulated prior to the meeting. It would be sent to the diocese after the Annual Parish Meeting (APCM) on 26th April. It was intended to be reflective not forensic.
- Should we include Messy Church where parents were present throughout? PCC recommended parents carry out the online safeguarding course. The Diocese had advised that a DBS check was not required.
- It was asked, what should happen if an incident - particularly involving a vulnerable adult -occurs in Church? Should sidespeople be given training? This was to be considered by the people who were undergoing the mental health course. Calling emergency services is always an option.
- A response from Roseacre Nursery was awaited regarding issues that arose before Christmas, with a visit from Susan Smith to speak with Roseacre having been requested by the Rector. It has raised the question of the tensions between the parish church as a place of communal welcome and the safeguarding needs of a commercial let. The former is primary.
- Should we have a Champion for vulnerable people? This was another issue raised by the people who were undergoing the mental health course. A role description was already in place. This was to be brought back to the PCC.
5. Financial Report
- The Parish had begun implementing the new card reader. It had been used at the Winter Fair. It was agreed that it should be used in the following ways :-
- Baptisms, weddings, and possibly funerals
- Summer and Winter Fair.
- 9.30 and 11.15 services (at the end of the service in the transept).
- Messy Church.
- Christian Aid.
- Alma Fundraising.
- The Standing committee would identify who would be trained in its use. The reader would be kept in the vestry safe when not in use. The system purchased used an App on a mobile phone linked to a card reader. Additional readers for this system cost about £30. Concerns were raised over personal data security and the liability of individuals in case of, for example, error. Mike would look at the cost of a reader where software is contained within the reader and a phone not needed.
- The Rector would like an information sheet on the financial position with pie charts etc to be handed to congregation in advance of APCM. It was agreed to find someone with the appropriate skills.
6. The Shape of Lent 2020 –
• Elizabeth has led for the past couple of years but is not available this year. The PCC discussed the following issues which might be suitable for Lent study:-
- Gap between haves and have nots, relating this theme to saving work of Christ.
- Climate change - (with ref to Angola and Mozambique?).
- Inequality.
- Stations of Cross devotional group.
- Study group around Laudato Si - papal encyclical subtitled “on care for our common home”- possible ecumenical activity.
- Place of suffering - Mystery.
- How do we relate this to our tendency to “cling to our average day” in the suburbs?
• We needed a grabbing title! We shouldn't be too earnest with congregation. We needed joy as well as justice.
7. Reports from the Away Day Working Groups
The post PCC Awayday Groups on the Wider Church (led by Pamela), Teaching and Learning (led by Angie) and Parish and Community (led by John) reported. The group on Social Justice and the Environment had yet to meet and would report at the February meeting. Mind Maps had been prepared by each group and would be used by the PCC as a source of reference during the preparation, and for the interregnum and to assist the preparation of a parish profile and statement of need.
8. The future shape of parish administration
After May when Chris retires, all phone calls to the Rectory number would be put through to the Parish Office. We will therefore need to know who is responsible for what so we can prepare a directory.
9. The future of the United Benefice
The Bishop has asked if we should consider dissolving the United Benefice. Tim and Chris think we should consider this seriously. It will also make appointing a new priest at Shepperton less complex. It hasn't made any material difference to the work of the two churches, and dissolution might even facilitate our working together. The PCC agreed to this. It will be considered at the Area Council on January 27th
10. St Nicholas and issues of Climate and Environment
Time did not permit discussion of this issue but we must keep it urgently in mind.
11. Experimenting without having the dais for services
Following discussion at November’s PCC, it was suggested by Chris that the diocesan architect was asked to advise whether the dais could be removed. This was proposed by Janice, seconded by John and agreed nem con.
12. St. Nicholas and Mental Health - Princess Alice, Bereavement Café Scheme
Discussion of this was deferred until the next meeting when those on the mental health scheme would have completed their training.
13. Correspondence
There was none other than that previously circulated regarding mental health and covered in items 4 and 12.
14. Churchwardens’ Notices
Janice reported that the vestry roof had been leaking and was repaired in October. It is now leaking again. A different contractor advised that we could replace it with one using modern materials with a 20-year guarantee. Although the vestry was not of historical interest, it would require a faculty as it was attached to a Grade 2 listed building. It was agreed to approach the diocesan architect.
15. AOB (Previously notified to the chairman)
None
There being no further business the meeting concluded at approximately 10.00pm with the saying of the Grace.
Minutes of the meeting of the Parochial Church Council of
St Nicholas Church, Shepperton
held in the Parish Centre at 8:15pm on Tuesday 14th May 2019
St Nicholas Church, Shepperton
held in the Parish Centre at 8:15pm on Tuesday 14th May 2019
Those present: Pamela Barrie, Peter Carpenter, Jo Child, John Child, Peter Davis, Angela Enoch-Shore, Elizabeth Harrow, Pam Powell, Mike Ralph, Mark Steptoe and the Rector in the Chair. The meeting opened with a prayer.
1. Apologies for absence were received from Guy Blythman, Sharon Fish, Kathy Hodge and Janice Wetherell.
2. The minutes of the meeting held on 19th February 2019 were approved and signed by the Rector.
3. Matters Arising - The Rector handed out a list of proposed meeting dates for 2019/20 and asked that everyone check that they are workable. The matter of an Away Day in the autumn was raised.
The Rector said we have another elected position to be filled on the PCC and noted that, as there was a fair representation from the 8.00 and 9.30 it would be good to have someone from the Alternative Worship service. Angie said she'd speak to Tom and Elizabeth said she'd ask Susan. The Rector, for the sake of new and returning members, noted the main responsibilities of the PCC as encouragement and oversight of the development of: Worship, Care of the Church Buildings, Resources - including Finance, and Mission; all of which is focused on directing the life of the church outwards. Angie asked if there could be designated roles, and she was invited to develop a proposal with regard to this. In two areas at present we are looking for small working groups: a group looking at buildings and fabric, and a group developing communications.
The date of the APCM in 2020 was considered and the PCC decided on a Sunday - Sunday 26th April, following a 10.00 joint service, with a continental breakfast offered prior to the meeting.
The PCC were willing to be involved in an Away Day, with a focus of planning for the next three years, so that anyone looking to come here as parish priest would have an idea of the church’s considered direction. St. Columba’s, Woking, was suggested as a good nearby venue and dates in September will be explored.
4. Finance - Kathy was not present, so no report was made. A printed copy of the accounts was handed out. On 17th June there will be the Deanery Common Fund Meeting. We will be expected to make our Common fund offer for 2020 by July or - in practice more likely - by September. When Bishop Graham visits the church in October it has been suggested that he speaks to us about the need for “generosity”.
5. Safeguarding - The Safeguarding policy needs to be formally adopted at this first meeting of the new PCC. (This is an annual requirement.) This was proposed by Peter Davis and Seconded by John Child. This will now be placed on the public notice boards and in the south transept. A question was raised about safeguarding training in the church. Susan Smith, the safeguarding officer, will be asked to look into this.
6. Reviewing Lent, Holy Week and Easter 2019 - The Rector thanked Elizabeth Harrow for all she had done in planning for this Lent and delivering the two evening sessions so successfully.
The theme of this Lent had been “Solitude and Communion”, with a concern for the prevalence and understanding of loneliness in our lives now. Material had been drawn in part from the Church Urban Fund.
The Following points arose in discussion:
The church should work to publicise the open groups that exist here - the games afternoon, fun choir - so that they were available to the community. There was a feeling that people might prefer this task-focused approach to being labeled as “lonely”.
There was a suggestion that we might run two or three community breakfasts/brunches throughout the year in the Village Hall. The use of the Village Hall for some acts of worship was also raised, to go alongside our use of the School in opening up the church’s worship to the community.
The preparation of the churchyard by the Lent gardening group had established a welcoming, attractive setting for those invited to light candles in the grounds following the Easter Vigil. This new approach within the Vigil appears to have been well received. (Candles were still burning there on Easter morning.)
The Palm Sunday service - a joint Community Eucharist/Alternative Worship liturgy, using largely the form of the 11.15 simple Eucharist - and therefore part lay led liturgically - had been very good, with a good number of people from both congregations present. At it the Lent groups made a report back on their insights, which was held in quite a structured format of question and answer. This seems to have been well received.
Two ideas come from this:
To make more use of the 11.15, joint lay/priest way of presenting the liturgy. (Liz Felsing had noted how successful and fresh this felt when it was the format at the School during Lent.)
To consider other times in the year focused around a community led teaching theme.
The Rector said that it would be very helpful to begin planning next year’s Lent near the beginning of December.
7. Internal Church Project - The Rector gave details of the projected costs for the internal works to the church - based on the estimated costs as given by a local company, Ashcroft’s:
Moving the Rood Screen: £8,100, which includes plumbing and pipe work.
Creating the new Dais: £8,950.
Redecoration: £18,470, not including the South transept.
Relocation of projection screen: £750.
Making good: £5,575.
A total of £41,845, plus VAT.
Including architect’s fees, we are looking at some 30% on top of the total figure, which will bring the overall figure to approximately £50,000.
These works would include the placing of the rood screen on the east wall of the south transept, removing and disposing of the carpets, and waxing the wooden fixtures in the church.
The Rector said we should bear in mind that there is £9,000 in the Restoration fund, as well as £90,000 in the designated Mission & Ministry Fund.The question was asked if we had any other quotes and for how long was Ashcroft’s quote valid. The Rector said that we should approach at least two other contractors, and that Ashcroft's quote was given in April and was valid for six months.
- The Victorian Society and Heritage England were objecting to the moving of the chancel screen, largely on grounds of previous supposed patterns of worship and on its memorial aspect. These objections will need to be met and the Rector will discuss this with the architect.
- The PCC went into the church, in particular to look at the question of re-siting the pulpit, as the architect is suggesting in order to create more space on the dais placing it on the south side of the chancel arch in the position it occupied in the first part of the twentieth century, which does indeed have more room for the pulpit. The PCC were in agreement with the architect’s suggestion. Peter Davis said it would be better to maximize space, but noted the font is also probably not in its original place - could it be moved to provide more space for children and families in the north transept? - We would need to have an idea of where it might be re-sited, but could discuss this with the architect.
- The PCC have to make a decision on taking this scheme forward, either in part or as described by the architect’s schedule of work as a whole. It was suggested that the scheme go forward in all its parts. Mark Steptoe proposed and Angie Enock-Shore seconded, and the PCC were unanimous in agreeing to this.
- Angie said the Friends of St. Nicholas would want to contribute, and might need to have some description of the scope of and rationale for the project. Jo Child said it's important now to give some thought about the timing of the works.
8. Bishop of London's Questionnaire - The Years to 2030 - There was a brief discussion regarding this and the PCC agreed to make it a major item at the July meeting.
9. Christian Aid Week - Mike reported that Caroline Button has everything in hand from Big Breakfast, and tabards and buckets had been handed out to collectors. Caroline will not be involved next year so we need to establish a new team and prepare well ahead of time.
10. Correspondence.
The secretary read a letter from Hilary Dyer, asking for an outline of what the Rector does on a month by month basis, so that when we have to manage an interregnum we can be prepared.
The Rector will meet with the Wardens and Pamela Barrie to begin this work.
11. AOB
The Rector said that “Thy Kingdom Come”, a special ten days of prayer called for by the Archbishops in the period between Ascension and Pentecost, will be kept in St. Nicholas this year, focused through our usual pattern of morning and evening prayer, with the special prayer booklet that has been prepared for the occasion. There is also a prayer booklet for children and families, which will be distributed
At the recent chapter of the clergy it was announced by the area dean that Bishop Graham has set aside the month of February next year to be available to Spelthorne for mission. What could we do in Shepperton to respond to this? An initial thought was that something focused on the arts/drama might be in our “culture”.
There being no other business the meeting closed at 10.15 with The Grace.
Outward Giving
At St Nicholas we recognise that we are part of the World-wide family of Christ,
and that our “neighbour” exists both locally and throughout the world.
We have an ongoing commitment to the community of St Simeon of Cyrene, based in and around Milange, Mozambique,
We look at particular seasons, particularly Lent and Harvest, to support a Church Charity.
In our Summer and Winter Fairs we have we have a source of charitable income from which to ask those at the APCM
to choose two recipients of outward giving, one home and one abroad.
(In recent years we have kept a principle of dividing the fairs between the mission of St Nicholas Church and outward giving).
We are aware of a particular responsibility for the Church of England’s Missionary Societies,
such as the United Society & the Church Missionary Society.
We reserve the right to respond to specific needs arising out of world events or other needs brought to our attention,
by way of designated special collections or fund raising events.
We would ask anyone proposing a special collection to make the PCC secretary aware of this in advance, in order to prevent over exposure.
St Nicholas will continue to support the work of charities operating in Shepperton via the historic funds of the Shepperton Parish Charities.
Adopted by the PCC – 1st February 2016