| Prepared by | Warren Richards | ||||
| Subject | Holy Cross & St Mary Church Meeting of Parishioners & Annual Parochial Church Meeting | ||||
| Meeting Date | 25 May February 2025 | ||||
| Chairperson | Steve Flashman | ||||
| Present: | Members of the Electoral Role – Quainton Parish | ||||
| Absent: | Martin Dorrell, Steph Toop, Patty Goddard, Caroline Campbell, Ruth Miller | ||||
| Item | Action description | A = Action I= Info D=Decision | Responsible | Due date | |
| Meeting of Parishioners | |||||
| Appointment of Chairman and Clerk | Steve proposed himself as Chair and Warren as Clerk to the meeting | D | |||
| Appointment of Church Wardens | i) Richard Clark has decided to stand down as Church Warden. Steve thanked Richard for all his hard work and effort whilst he was in the role ii) Andrea Wearn and Jane Vowles proposed and willing to stand as Church Wardens. APCM voted in favour | I D | |||
| Annual Parochial Church Meeting | |||||
| Act of worship | Reading: Exodus 16:1-10 and Philippians 4:4-9 | ||||
| Apologies for Absence | Martin Dorrell, Steph Toop, Patty Goddard, Caroline Campbell, Ruth Miller Reflection from Steve about vision and the link to the meeting and the vision for the church | ||||
| Minutes from last APCM meeting 12 May 2024 | APCM approved | ||||
| Deanery Synod Representative election | i) Jane Vowles continues as a representative ii) Andrea Wearn and Alison Scagell put themselves forward as representatives to fill the other two empty spaces. APCM approve | D D | |||
| PCC members election | Election of PCC members: Rev’d Steve Flashman, Andrea Wearn (Church Warden), Jane Vowles (Church Warden) (all three as ex – officio members) Standing for re-election: Richard Clark, John Lucas, Warren Richards (Secretary), Chris Wilcox (Treasurer), Carole Cooper, Steph Toop, Pete Miller, James Petty, Jayne Williamson New PCC members standing for election – Steve Thompson All existing and new members approved and voted onto the PCC | D | |||
| Appointment of Sidesmen | Proposed – Margaret Willoughby, Jane Vowles, David Letheren, Venetia Dalton, Arthur Evans, Kathy Blanchard, Richard Clark, John Lucas, Carole Cooper, Jayne Williamson, Joe Williamson, Ruth Miller and Pete Miller All Sidesmen approved | D | |||
| Appointment of Independent Examiner / Auditor | Kate Barton stands again as Examiner | D | |||
| Safeguarding officer report | Karen Boulton Safeguarding Officer was unable to submit a report during the meeting however please see Appendix 1 for details. | I | |||
| Electoral Roll Report – Margaret Willoughby | i) Margaret updated the APCM with the latest new 2025 Electoral Role ii) Margaret thanked those who completed the application forms and can confirm that the new total number of people wishing to be on the Quainton Parish Church new 2025 Electoral Roll is 70 iii) Last year was 80 but the change reflected people moving away from the village, death, illness and those no longer wishing to be on the Roll iv) The next new Electoral Roll is not due until the year 2031 | I | |||
| Treasurer’s report | Treasurer’s report – See appendix 2 – Key points i) Results were better than anticipate, There was a surplus of £14,500 even after paying the parish share at £29,000. There were exceptional factors delivering this including £5,000 tax rebate on a donation from 2 people and £6,000 from two bequests. ii) Income in total was £70,000, £23,000 from pledges from the parish giving scheme, with 52 in all from the old and new schemes. iii) Collections down in 2024. Fees were £6,000 and looking good in 2025 iv) QuaintFest raised £5,000 and Quainton News made £2,000. A grant from the diocese was given to keep Jane in the pay roll v) In total the expenses were £56,000 with the Parish share £29,000 which will increase to £30,000 in 2025. Utility bills less than in 2023 but still £6,000 and only £3,000 3 years ago. Oil cost was £3,000 and electricity cost was £2,500 vi) Reordering – £6,000 in expenses so far. However the interest gained from the Barbara Hall bequest earned £6,000. The PCC have reserve fund of £42,000 which will be good for covering future expenses. vii) Total funds – Reordering fund £175,000, Anstiss bequest £79,000 and £55,000 in other. £351,00 in all bequests. Steve thanks Chris for all he does as treasurer and for his amazing work, as always. | I | |||
| Vicar’s Report | Vicar’s report – See appendix 3 for detail – Key points i) Recent research reviews that 2 million more people coming to church each year sparking a quiet revival . ii) Steve reviewed the mandate and the mission of the church. Steve says that God answering prayers to individual people in this church, especially in the healing services. iii) Focus and aim for the church. Based on our study of Nehemiah we have continued to create A Sacred Space: Worship, prayer and quiet reflectionA Safe Space: A place of welcome for allA Social Space: Offering hospitality and community iv) In October on Mill Hill a year of hope was announced and the year of Jubilee. Martin Dorrell blew the Schofar v) Home Groups and communions in Sally’s house taking place. Home Group are led by Jane, Pete and Ruth and Stella and Richard. vi) Community engagement – Community choir has 50 people attend each week. Quaintfest will take place on 28th June. Schools and assemblies are taking place too vii) Concerts – New Year’s Day concert took place, the Wototo African choir came to the church, Bella Massa did a concert in the church to raise money for World Challenge. Celtish, Nigel and Julie Cameron – Hall will come on 7 and 8 June viii) Tots, toys and teas is run by Jane. Sacred stitchers, a stitching community for the church. Tuesday lunch run by Claire Lucas each Tuesday which features, tea and cake and talk! ix) Morning family services – Steve received a great testimonial from one of the mums about the services. Thank you for being welcoming and so relaxed. x) School services – Jerome de Silva, Deputy Head also send a great testimonial in. Steve thanked those individuals that helped with reading in the school including Jane and David Letheren xi) Sarah update – Sarah gave an update on her challenging year in which she was made redundant from her role at the Oxford Diocese. She was on a paid sabbatical for 3 months then went on retreat for three months. Since January she has been considering her next steps. Met with Guy the Archdeacon and has had good meetings. She applied for national jobs but they have not been right for her. In April and May she did some research and consulting work and also some teaching at Whitcliffe Hall. However all this is finished now. She is currently at the nursery two days a week and has enjoyed it. She will be meeting with David Bull on 5th June who is Bishop of Buckingham. She is praying for a good meeting with him and she will then review her next steps. She points out that the fact Quainton has paid it’s Parish share will help our conversation with David Bull. She reflects we are a flourishing community and we must trust in God xii) Call to Prayer: 1) Thursday Morning Prayer 8.30am followed by coffee at the George 2.Prayer Triplets meeting regularly 3.Prayer Request Box on the Welcome Table 4.Prayer Team – Healing Services and more 5.“Thy Kingdom Come” Prayer Stations from Ascension Day to Pentecost 6. Quiet Space in church 7. 1st Sunday at 9.30am – Prayer Breakfast Other activities; Praise and worship services, weddings, baptisms, adult baptisms, funerals, dedicated flower arrangers – Steve thanks the arrangers for a great job, churchyard clearers inside and outside. xiii) Music tradition – Steve thanks Jenny for organising the music. It would be great to get more people in the choir so if there are any volunteers for coral evening song, please sign up and talk to Jenny xiv) Steve pay tribute to Jane our Licensed Lay Minister. She is critical to the work that Steve is doing. Thank you too to Jane for stepping up as Church Warden. xv) Steve’s license is expiring in October 2026 and he is looking to renew his licence for a further period. Restoration project i) Flooring and North & South aisles investigated and new floor tiles selected. Steve will send details if need be where people want to see it ii) Chairs – Christchurch Upholster chair made by ICS Ireland with a Celtic cross is the favour chair. Planning to have 30 of the heavy ones and 70 of the lighter, Eton version. Waiting for permission to proceed with these. iii) Heating – chandler infrared heaters are the favoured route forward. iv) All reports required have been completed including radar screening and boreholes in North and South aisles v) Bruce Mullett has retired. Peter Preston in Banbury is our new architect. He is on the DAC and on the PCC of his church. There are hundreds of documents to be handed over so it’s not quick process! DAC meeting is on 10th June which is our next milestone. Tender packages need to be sent to contractors and we need to have quotes in before we can go ahead. Steve apologises for it taking so long. vi) The Victorian Society doesn’t want the Churchwarden Pews removed. There are on going discussions with them. Steve will keep everyone posted vii) Funding – Parish giving scheme is in operation so please donate. Verse for the year is Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” | ||||
| Church Warden’s report | Church wardens report – see appendix 4 – Key points – i) Repair and maintenance – organ issues but all reset and mended. Gutter and downpipes sorted. Drains unblocked and tap replaced. Mowers sorted. Fire extinguishers sorted. Roof alarms tested. Alarm company said that the strobes and the alarms were activated but nothing to be seen as a break in. All need to be vigilant however. ii) The church as had 6,000 litres of oil from November to March so a lot! Parish returns are all completed. iii) Anstiss trust – MIll Hill. Our Land Agent has arranged summer grazing with Greg Masters. Events held at the beacon on the Jubilee, for the D Day anniversary and the Dawn service on Good Friday. Jane continues to help sort the grazing and maintenance of the hill. Mill Hill farm track – agreement with the neighbours reached regarding parking on the track and boundaries and gates which should conclude negotiations. Richard thanked Winkworth and the neighbours for working together to reach a conclusion. Bones Close – Pete Laybourne will mow three it time as year. Rich says a personal thank you to Andrea and to Steve for their support and also to Jane for her support | I | |||
| AOB | A point is raised that that the Village shop is in financial trouble and Tom Morrison urges everyone to use the shop and post office which Steve supports. | I | |||
| Closing Prayer | Steve closed in a prayer | ||||
Appendix 1 – Safeguarding Report
Holy Cross and St Mary’s Church Quainton Annual Meeting
Parish Safeguarding Annual Report 2024-2025
Karen Boulton, Parish Safeguarding Officer
We have a Safeguarding Policy and Action Plan in place, which comply with Church of England requirements. These have been reviewed as part of the annual safeguarding review process and have been approved by the PCC. The Safeguarding Policy, along with clear safeguarding contact information is available on the church website and displayed in the church.
Safeguarding is a standing agenda point on the PCC meeting agenda and minutes.
In terms of Safeguarding training, we have a clear vision of which roles require which levels of training. Those in leadership and safeguarding positions have completed all required training. For those in the PCC and other key roles in the church, progress has been with the completion of Basic Awareness training and those who still need to complete the training have the details required. A further Basic Awareness in-person course will be scheduled in the next six months. Existing role holders, as well as new role holders, will be invited to complete the training. Foundation training has expired and needs to be completed. A training approach has been defined and will be implemented in the next three months.
Regarding DBS checks, these have been completed and approved for all roles which require them, including Parish Safeguarding Officer, Children’s Lead and Pastoral Visitor. As a parish, we are fully compliant with DBS requirements.
There have been no safeguarding concerns or incidents raised in the last 12 months
Appendix 2 – Treasurer’s report
QUAINTON PCC TREASURER’S REPORT ANNUAL MEETING MAY 2025 1. ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2024 The Surplus of Regular Income over Regular Expenditure was higher than anticipated , at £14,497, even after paying the Parish Share of £29,079 in full. However, it should be noted that income included £5,000 in respect of a tax rebate on one-off donations received in the previous year and £6,145 in bequests (two). The good news is that Pledged Income is certainly increasing, notably in the Parish Giving Scheme. Collections and donations were both lower than last year. Fee Income was again strong and Quainton News contributed over £2,000. Quaintfest was also successful, raising over £5,000. The Diocese contributed £6,250 to our income as support to Jane Vowles’s salary cost. For accounting purposes, her salary has been charged to Mission Costs. Regular Expenditure was reasonably close to the level for 2023 in most areas. Costs of actually running the church, excluding Mission Costs – hence Utilities, Maintenance, Services Costs – were slightly lower than in 2023. The Parish Share increased from £27,694 to £29,079 , 52% of our total expenditure. 2. REORDERING PROJECT We continued, inevitably, to incur Professional Costs (Architect’s Fees, etc) through 2024, to the extent of £6, 405. However, this was largely covered by Interest Received on the Barbara Hall Bequest, which is deposited at the CCLA, amounting to £6,278. In fairness, this figure would be higher but for the fourth quarter interest receipt being delayed until January . I have excluded this from the 2024 accounts for the sake of accounting simplicity going forward. (Thus the figure for 2025 will be higher, reflecting four quarterly payments rather than , as in 2024, three.) We have spent £41,000 to date and earned £15,000 in interest – better in recent times with (relatively) higher interest rates. As at 31st December 2024 the balance on the Barbara Hall Bequest stood at £154,589, to which must be added £20,000, held currently in the PCC bank account, representing the two major donations received. By means of explanation, I have never transferred this sum onto deposit on the basis that it could, theoretically, be called upon at any time. I do not think any of us expected approval to be so long in coming…. 3. TOTAL FUNDS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2024 QUAINTON PCC £61,781 , less £20,000 = £41,781 REORDERING FUND £154,589 , plus £20,000 = £174,789 ANSTISS BEQUEST £78,725 BELL FUND £2,735 BARGE/PHILBEY RESERVE £31,414 OTHER TRUSTS £21,409 TOTAL £350,853 These figures have been adjusted to reflect sums owed by the other funds to the PCC, which has made payments totalling £19,173 on their behalf – significantly Legal Fees for the Anstiss Bequest , Architects Reordering Fees, and new Bell Ropes. These can be settled in due course, now that all the mandates at CCLA are updated, and all bar the Anstiss Bequest at NatWest.
Appendix 3 – Vicar’s report
Appendix 4 – Church Warden’s report
Churchwardens’ Report for Annual Parochial Church Meeting
Sunday 25th May 2025 – Andrea Wearn & Richard Clark
Repair & Maintenance
Fire & Security
Heating
Parish Returns & Articles of Enquiry
1. The church organ was tuned on 5th March. On Sunday 23rd March we encountered a problem relating to the Pistons and one of the Stops. The engineer has now rectified the problems.
2. The water tap and support post in the church yard have been replaced.
3. Gutters and down pipes have all been cleared of leaves and debris, the drains have also been cleared
Heating Oil
We are concerned about the amount of oil that has been used. The oil tank holds approximately 2,000 L. It was filled on 4.11.24, since then we have had approximately another 4,000L delivered. The last time the heating was turned on was the 3.4.25.
Security
On two occasions recently we have been notified of the roof alarm being activated at the church. On 9th April it was the strobe light and on 13th April the tamper alarm was activated. The church was checked and no evidence of attempted access was found to the roof.
The annual service of the roof alarm and cameras is due next week.