Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
held in St Mary’s Church
Sunday 28
April 2019
Chair: Rev. Geoff Boucher
Present: 30 Parishioners
Vestry Meeting
1.
Thanks
Guy Morton and Mike Batchelor were thanked
for their service and dedication to the church over
the last 12 months.
2.
Election of Church Wardens
Guy Morton and Mike Batchelor were elected
(proposed by Simon Summers, seconded by Sarah
Holden, all in favour).
Meeting closed.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting
1.
Minutes of the 2018 AGM were agreed as
accurate. Proposed by Guy Morton, seconded by
Simon Summers, the proposal was passed.
2.
Electoral Roll Report was shared by Paul
Bowerman (Electoral Roll Officer). Currently 103
on the register, a reduction of 35 since 2018. 74
residents of Houghton & Wyton and Wyton-on-the-
Hill, 29 non-residents. The report was approved.
Paul is stepping down as Electoral Roll Officer,
thanks were extended to him for all his work.
3.
Annual Report was approved. Proposed by
Guy Morton, seconded by Mike Batchelor, all in
favour.
4.
Financial Report was stepped through by
Simon Summers (Treasurer). Highlights included;
•
General Fund – a positive financial position
for the church to be in with total receipts of £59,446
v. payments of £41,198. Regular giving has
increased and returned to the level of 2/3 years ago.
Total income is down slightly due to not having a
particular ‘theme’ to fund raise for last year.
•
Total outgoings – missionary and charitable
giving decreased due to specific one off events in
2017 that increased the amount of giving. There was
nothing comparable in 2018. The PCC have already
elected to give to a few causes in 2019. Regular
maintenance of the church was low and there is a
backlog in expenses not claimed by Clergy that we
expect to be rectified this year.
•
Fabric fund – didn’t raise any income but
had costs of £4,441 which were transferred in from
the General Fund.
•
Churchyard fund – we benefited from
funding from the Parish Council to restore the
church gates.
•
Organ fund – will close down due to work
completed.
•
Tower fund – a project is being developed to
complete works in the bell tower in 2019.
•
St Mary’s Centre – we have transferred
£10k to leave a balance in the account in case of
adversity. Outside painting will start in the next
week. Booking income back up again, Parish
Council is our biggest tenant and underpin the
finances for St Mary’s Centre. A healthy position of
£695 excess of receipts over payments for 2018.
•
Specific funds given through donations – no
big news stories to report.
•
Individual donations – the congregation
were asked to consider any specific charities they
would like the Pastoral Committee and PCC to
donate to in 2019.
Thanks were noted to Gerry Feakes for managing
the St Mary’s Centre bookings and finances. And to
Ray King-Underwood for examining the accounts
and for his energy as Gift Aid and Parish Giving
Scheme Co-ordinator.
Questions raised by congregation
1.
What is the Charities Aid Foundation that we
have donations from? Simon explained it is a way
of donating to the church that has tax advantages for
some individuals and offered to share further details
if needed.
2.
Can the PCC consider allocating funds to
maintain Wyton Churchyard? Simon Summers
welcomed the suggestion and took an action to
discuss with Mike Batchelor.
3.
Can you confirm the donation to the Royal
British Legion is that from the collection? It was
confirmed.
Acceptance of the accounts was proposed by Jenny
Thompson, seconded by Bill Brown, all in favour.
The Chair thanked Simon for his work on the
accounts throughout the year.
5.
Fabric, Goods and Ornaments Report is
included in the main Annual Report so nothing
further to add. All is well!
6.
Huntingdon Deanery Synod Report.
The Synod continues to meet 4 times a year and the
focus for 2018 was on the reorganisation of
parishes, the church plant of St Barnabas in
Huntingdon and the work of the secondary schools
co-ordinator.
There was a suggestion that the congregation would
benefit from seeing future minutes from PCC and
Deanery Synod meetings. It was agreed that
minutes from those meetings and from the St
Mary’s Strategy Working Group, will be published
on the church web site and printed on the church
notice board in the porch for all to see. We will also
consider adding highlights to the weekly pew sheets
to keep all informed.
7.
Election of PCC members took place with
Debbie Hollis being re-elected for another term
(proposed by Graham Sterne, seconded by Jeanie
Batchelor, all in favour). New members were
elected; Roger Churchill and Andrew Taylor are
welcomed to the PCC (proposed by Sandra Blakes,
seconded by Simon Summers, all in favour).
Members leaving the PCC include Sue Feakes,
Charlotte Saunderson and Hayley Challinor.
8.
Election of Deputy Church Wardens
took place and Joy Bell was duly elected. There
remains a vacancy for a Deputy Church Warden.
9.
Election of Electoral Roll Officer took
place with Richard Ashford duly elected (proposed
by Paul Bowerman, seconded by Liz Sterne, all in
favour).
10.
Election of Sidespeople took place with all
17 re-elected and thanked by Sandra Blakes for all
their hard work. The Chair thanked Sandra for
organising rotas. A request was made for more
sidespeople, especially at the 0830 services.
Guy Morton shared our intention to recruit
‘greeters’ to meet people as they come in to church
services and asked for interested parties to make
themselves known.
11.
Election of Gift Aid Secretary took place
with Ray King-Underwood agreeing to continue
(proposed by Simon Summers, seconded by Barbara
Midgley, all in favour).
12.
Appointment of Independent Examiner
took place with Ray King-Underwood agreeing to
continue (proposed by Mike Batchelor, seconded by
Simon Summers, all in favour).
13.
AOB
•
Jenny Thompson announced the Coffee Pot
will be closing after 10 years on 21 May 2019. The
Chair thanked Jenny and Shirley Brown for their
service to the Coffee Pot over the years.
•
Sandra Blakes thanked those on the coffee rota
and noted that we are trying to reduce the use of
non-reusable cups so those that can were requested
to bring their own cup to services were possible.
14.
Date, time for 1st meeting of new PCC
will be 30 May 2019, after the 7pm service of Holy
Communion for Ascension Day, in the St Mary’s
Centre
Closing remarks: The Chair thanked everyone
for sustaining the life of St Mary’s in his
absence over the last year.
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