Snippets from the PCC Meeting in May 2026 and the 2026 Annual Church Meeting
19th May 2026 meeting
The PCC meeting on 19th May was held in church and among the matters discussed were:
Dementia Friendly Church
Our certificate as a Dementia Friendly Church is due for renewal soon. We have selected the three actions which we would like to include for the coming 12 months. They are a Dementia Friends Training session, Memory Boxes and to share resources in church and articles in Parish Magazine. Those will be submitted to the diocese and, assuming they are agreed, we will receive our new certificate signed by the Bishop.
North Aisle Project
The plans for the North Aisle have been revised to take account of observations by the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC). The general arrangement remains the same – the removal of the existing Choir Vestry and of the pews in the North Aisle, opening up that space, installing a kitchen area at the west end and having suitable tables and chairs. This will enable that area to be used for various purposes as being available as part of the church for services. The revision relates to the heating and we have adopted the advice of the DAC Heating Advisor. As part of the process of applying for a faculty we are now in the formal consultation phase when the various heritage organisations have the opportunity to make representations. That next stage will be for the DAC to give its formal advice, which we hope will be done in July. After that we will be able to move on to the next stage when the Chancellor will decide the application after public notice has been given.
Previous meetings
Snippets from the January and February meetings did not appear in the magazine but are on the church website. They include information about donations to the Well, church attendance figures for 2025, the Parish News and the Crafts and Pancakes! event.
Annual Church Meeting
The Annual Church meeting was held on Sunday 31st May.
Clive Pendrell had competed the maximum six terms as Churchwarden and was thanked for everything he had done. He said it had been an absolute privilege to serve as Churchwarden and thanked everyone for the support he received during the six years.
Dorothy Steel was elected for her sixth term as Churchwarden and Barbara Dias was elected as new Churchwarden. Debbie Sims and Clive Pendrell were appointed as Deputy Churchwardens to work with the Churchwardens and to share the responsibilities involved. Gena Richards continues as Deputy Churchwarden (Administration of Churchyard).
Reports on many aspects of church life are available on the church website and everyone is encouraged to look at them.
Under any other business a concern was raised in relation to the condition of one of the churchyard paths. The PCC decided last year that all the paved paths should be relaid but there has been a delay in making those arrangements. In the meantime it was acknowledged that something should be done as soon as possible at least on a temporary basis. Since the meeting a temporary repair has been made to the relevant path to make it safe.
Following elections to Deanery Synod and the PCC the new membership of the PCC is:
- Merry Smith (Vicar and Chair)
- Philip Sims (Vice Chair)
- Barbara Dias (Churchwarden and Deanery Synod)
- Dorothy Steel (Churchwarden and Deanery and Diocesan Synods)
- Geoffrey Dann (Secretary and Deanery Synod)
- Clive Pendrell (Deputy Churchwarden and Deanery Synod)
- Henry Ibberson
- Tony Ainsworth
- Tracey Williams (Safeguarding Officer and Dementia Friendly Church Co-ordinator)
- Milly Colin-Stokes
- Alan Smith
- Graham Tritton (Treasurer)
- Debbie Sims (Deputy Churchwarden)