Snippets from the PCC Meeting – 17th February 2025
The meeting on February 17 was devoted to a review of the PCC’s priorities and organisation as we have now been in interregnum for more than three-and-a-half years.
As this was an opportunity to think about issues in a wider way than is usually possible no specific decisions were made but we were able to take stock of our current position in various areas and what we need to develop or change.
Services
We noted that in the current pattern of services there is a mix of types of services which ensures that there is something for everyone.
Youth and Family Worker
It was disappointing that it was not possible to fill the post of Youth and Family Worker when it was advertised last year. The PCC remains committed to filling this post and the terms and conditions will be reviewed with a view to it being advertised again in due course.
Links with schools
We considered the links we have as a church with St Chad’s School and the other schools which are attended by children who live in the parish. We have good links with St Chad’s School but no, or very little, links with others. We hope to be able to find ways to develop those links.
There are many ways in which the church works with St Chad’s School and it may be that some people are not aware of them.
The school holds a service in church at least once a term and twice a term a group of church members go into the school to present Open the Book, which is an exciting storytelling project in which Bible stories are shared with children in a way that is fun, interactive and memorable. The storytelling team uses the Bible Society Open the Book programme to prepare and present a 10-15 minute scripted Bible story.
In December, the school came into church for Experience Christmas. There were a series of stations around the church at each of which church members shared part of the Christmas story with the children as they moved around in groups. This allowed the children to experience key parts of the Christmas story, helping them understand the celebration of the wonderful gift of Christmas.
In April they will be returning to church for Experience Easter.
In addition two of the governors of the school are Foundation Governors who are appointed by the diocese on behalf of St Chad’s.
PCC members
The members of the PCC are:
Philip Sims (Chairman), Tony Ainsworth, Iain Coleman, Milly Colin-Stokes, Geoffrey Dann, Henry Ibberson, Clive Pendrell, Alan Smith, Dorothy Steel, Graham Tritton and Tracey Williams.