Vicar’s Report
Fabulous things happening through December such as the term of work with our young people – Becky and Sam Lewis have been at the vicar’s house on a Sunday evening. They receive around 10-15 young people most weeks and, in some cases, up to 20 people.
The new speakers in the spire are a great improvement.
Christmas worship evening with the gospel choir and the Carol Service were well attended.
Despite the increasing anxiety about Omicron, St Mary’s went ahead with the Christingles which were well attended and much appreciated by all. Thanks to all those who helped support those services and made them really special.
Sadly we have lost a number of the congregation lately. Irene Fowler has appreciated the support from St. Mary’s and asked Alastair to take part in the funeral of Paul Fowler in Nailsea. Jacquie Briggs died suddenly after being at a home for a few weeks before Christmas and Margaret Allsop was also remembered.
There are a number of vacant positions. Judith Hird – payroll position and children’s society. Elaine Marsden – safeguarding officer; Martin Russell – treasurer for the Parish Centre. There is a vacancy for an organist and a new warden from April as Val will be stepping down. We are also looking for an Environment Officer to help John.
PCC Secretary Sally Weatherall is getting married on the 23rd April – congratulations
Lis – Vision & Strategy
Consulted with PCC imagination groups to collect ideas to develop a strategy for 2022 which she hoped could be finalized agreed at the next PCC.
Children and Family Work
Alastair said that we must try and get more considered plan around children and family’s work after the resignation of Sara and Nerys. Historically great interaction with young people which need to be sustained. Job description, hours and salary as well as general support was raised. Connect a good example.
We are grateful to Sara and Nerys for modelling what the job looks like. We are looking for someone committed to growing faith in families and are good at encouraging volunteers. The significant giving has been given from outside the church. St Mary’s members contributed less than a quarter of the money for the post.
It was agreed that Connect cannot stop. We need to work out our needs and the relationship between paid employees and volunteers.
Financial Statement.
1.0 New Fibre Connection for the Church is now up and running.
2.0 The new speakers in the towers have now been installed and working successfully.
3.0 Reordering: A Contract has now been agreed between Woolers Construction Limited and the Architect at £ 127,442.00
£165k has been given in legacies and £125k in gifts. Card payments £600 so far.
£400,000 in reserves – a third is gone so far on phase one of the reordering project.
Fabric Redecorating Glass Door
Due to Wedding commitments and Christmas and Easter the works will take place as follows:
· External works will be started in the next week. Replastering between mid-February and Palm Sunday.
· Decoration after Easter cannot start before 25/04/2022. The date will be dependent on the drying time for the plaster.
The Church will need to be closed when the repairs and plastering takes place during the working week with the church not useable for worship on Sundays from 14th February – 8th April. Waiting for the URC to confirm whether we can worship in their building. Queens Hall will be saved for a couple of dates. Decorating will take place after John and Sally have got married, possibly from the 9th May whilst the building is drying out. The path work is starting on Monday.
Worship Evening/ Organists / Music etc.
A gentleman in Ilkley called Nigel offered to be an organist as an interim and Alastair is meeting him on Thursday. Edward may continue until we vacate the building.
Alastair encouraged all to come along to a worship evening. The next is this Thursday. It will then move over to the Methodist Church with the works making it a more of an ecumenical event.
Churches together will separate the difference between Burley together and Menston together. PCC in agreement with this change.
Parish Centre
Zoe has had a good first couple of months. Had a promising team meeting before Christmas. Going to be working on refurbishing open door. They need help with some of the building maintenance side of things.
Correspondence
There was no correspondence.
AOB
Depending on the outcome of Omicron, Alastair will be going to co-lead a pilgrimage on 27th March with Rev Gordon Dey. He will be away until 7th April (including 2 Sundays) along with Mary and Becky. The PCC agreed unanimously to dispensation for Becky to take the time off.
There was a suggestion of reinstating pastoral lists to keep an eye on vulnerable people. Becky and Mary have started compiling a list
Concern was raised about the amount of information available about
reordering. Alastair to include more about the redecoration and the church closure in next weekly email.
It was decided to move the next meeting to the 1st March
The meeting closed with a grace at 9.50pm.