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Snippets from the PCC meeting – 23rd October 2018
Among the items discussed at the October meeting of the PCC were the following:
Lady Chapel.
The Diocesan Advisory Committee, which is responsible for considering proposals for changes which need approval from the diocesan authorities, has refused to recommend our proposals for the reordering of the Lady Chapel.
It may be that it did not understand what we were trying to achieve. One of our aims is to make the church feel less cluttered by removing the freestanding pews which are in the Lady Chapel and replacing them with more comfortable chairs.
We intend to resubmit the application with more detail and this time we hope the committee will understand what we are trying to achieve and how it will enhance that part of the church.
As a result of that setback we are taking more time to formulate our plans for the north aisle and the west door. We are therefore not yet ready to share our ideas with the congregation and wider community.
Services.
Maureen was absent from this meeting as it took place about a week after her knee operation. She had managed to arrange cover from other clergy for all the services in her absence, with the exception of the early Sunday morning communion services on those Sundays when there is another communion service.
We are grateful for all the local clergy and others (including our Reader, Ken) who have supported us through this time.
Church fabric.
Work on the fabric of the church continues. The final parts of the maintenance work identified by the architect in his five-yearly inspection have been completed. Work has also been done on the lighting, which completes that started a few years ago in memory of Jenny Baxter; it was funded by a bequest from David Baxter.
Synod.
Gordon Bramall reported on the recent meeting of the Deanery Synod, which is the body which brings together representatives of the local Church of England parishes.
George Fisher, who is the Diocesan Director of Mission, spoke about “the E Word’: Evangelism. Lots of people find it hard but he suggested a number of things which could be done easily.
There are a number of resources which can be used to let people know about what we are doing which may lead them to seek to find out more. We have used a number of those things in the past.
We gave out copies of the booklet The Servant Queen to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday in 2016 and during Advent we will be giving away booklets called Follow the Star, which helps people and families remember the true significance of Christmas.
Evangelism is one of the Bishop’s three priorities for the diocese and without it the church will not grow.