ST. MARGARET’S DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL

COMMITTEE MEETING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21^ST 2011

1. OPENING PRAYERS: Richard opened the meeting with prayer.

2. PRESENT: Rev. Richard Hainsworth, Dave Rogers, Andy Paine, Dorothy Lewis, Anthony Williams, Phil Carey, Brenda Jones, John Page, Helen Davies, Doris White, David Evans, Francis Dawson, Brian Reader, Gwyn Edwards, Mary Shaw & Ruth Browning.

3. APOLOGIES: Anne Casey, Malcolm Casey, Chris Smith & Jean Morris.

4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Agreed and signed.

5. MATTERS ARISING: St. Margaret’s to host the Harvest Supper on Monday October 3^rd. We will provide the main course, and Bethel the dessert. St. Margaret’s Singers will perform. RH has purchased a new lapel microphone which the Altar Guild will pay for.

6. TREASURER’S REPORT: Balances at end of August 2011: C/A £8639 D/A £4304. There has been a slight underpayment of the Quota which GE will rectify. Gift Aid has not yet been received.

7. PROJECT UPDATE: The DAC have been very positive about all the Faculty Applications they have received. All have been granted. Query looking at design of glass doors depending on budget. Planning permission granted for the porch with the condition that each facing material needs to get Council approval. Architect to do more detailed plans and handle Building Regulations. A grant of £3000 has been agreed by Diocesan Churches Pastoral Committee, but currently no response to other applications i.e. RB £10000, Investing in Mission £3000 (projector & screen), WCAF £500 (repainting). The latter, if successful, must be spent within 3 months of receipt, therefore repainting must be started immediately. RH pointed out that the repainted Church front may look odd for a while until replacement windows have been fitted. All agreed to go ahead with painting if grant received. RH now has all information required to go ahead with the application for £45000 to WREN. RH requested that all committee members should access the Project Brief file on the Church website and feedback to him a.s.a.p., as application must go before end of October. RH and HD have completed a Disability Access survey and applications have been made to All Churches Act for £10000 and another source for £3000 for related funding. Community Facilities Fund may be a useful fallback if necessary. There have not been any objections from the PCC, but they raised the matter of how much space the new kitchen area will take up, considering the new entrance position. DR showed the meeting a new slightly cheaper design with units in an L shape fitted into corner. A decision will be made nearer the time but please feedback any thoughts to RH.

CAR PARK - A grant of £1400 towards car park has been received from the Co-op. They have provided a plaque to display on fence to show they have sponsored the project. As the builders did not have an account with Grasscrete provider, a cheque for 50% of cost has been paid upfront from the hall. Blocks to be delivered this week.

GAS METER – a quote has been received from British Gas. This has taken 9 months and cost is 3x that of cost of gas to hall. We will not go ahead with B.G. but will use Scottish Power as the hall does.

8. DATES FOR DIARY:

• Thanks expressed to FD and team for Elvis event.

• Blue Hills Theatre Group to stage ‘Thomas Hardy Three Tales’ in hall on 27/9. Tickets £7/£5. 40% of takings to Church.

• Fashion Show 15/10 in hall. 70% of takings to church 30% to Hope House Hospice.

• St. Margaret’s Singers to hold an event, possibly with a Christmas theme – date TBA.

• Farmers Market 3/12 to be Christmas themed. Salvation Army band/St. M’s Singers/Father Christmas arriving on a fire engine.

• Special communion 20/11 King James Bible 400^th Anniversary Service – authentic music/dress/no order of service etc.

• All Souls – Weds 2/11 7.30 p.m.

• Advent Sunday 27/11

• Christingle 4/12 6p.m. There will be a service at 8.15 a.m. that day but not at 9.30 a.m. Altar Guild to make Christingles from 11 a.m. on 3/12.

• Service of Lessons & Carols 18/12 9.30 a.m.

• 24/12 6 p.m. Crib Service / 11.30 p.m. Midnight Mass

• Christmas Day 10 a.m. service only

• 31/12 Reflection time – 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

• 1/1 All Age Worship

9. CHILDRENS REVIEW: The recent Sunday Club survey was very positive. They expressed a willingness to help at All Age Worship. Their only negative issue is that they don’t generally like the music in Church. Agreed to reflect and discuss new types of music at next meeting. RH to visit Bethel Youth Club on 29/9 with a group of teenagers from Sunday Club.

10. PRICING STRUCTURE – CHURCH AND LOUNGE: Post renovations, hourly charges will be £15 for Church + lounge and £10 for lounge only for outside groups, 30% to hall/70% to Church payable quarterly. An additional charge will apply if caretaker has to set up chairs etc. Charges to be reviewed after 6 months, unanimously agreed. Hourly cost of heating to be looked into. Agreed to review free usage for other groups at next meeting.

11. FARMERS MARKET: JP suggested that the Church might be open to the public for reflection during Farmers Markets. Donations to Church could be made by way of the wall safe. Unanimously agreed.

12. AOB:

• 3 neighbours have complained that the hedge needs cutting twice a year, but others have complained when it has been cut. Agreed to continue to cut annually in September.

• RH and MC to meet to discuss Risk Assessment.

• ‘Peel to Save’ – RH and PC met their Rep. Involves selling books of vouchers at £10 per book, with 50% of sales to be retained by Church. Agreed to give it a go.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: TUESDAY 29^TH NOVEMBER 2011

Agenda items

• Finalise design of kitchen

• ‘Exploring Faith’ course - vocations