These minutes are published on the basis that such matters
(if there be any) which the PCC has resolved shall remain confidential have
not been included
MINUTES
OF THE PCC MEETING HELD ON
MONDAY
3rd September 2007 AT 7.15 pm IN THE REID ROOM
27 PCC members were present at the meeting.
The PCC read Psalm
127 together and Erik read Haggai 1, both lectionary readings for the day. Erik
reminded the PCC that whatever decision was taken about the nave would involve
both depending on the Lord and cooperating with him. We must rely on the Lord
in trust and do our part in faith and obedience.
2. Apologies for absence
These were
received from Paul Bury, Ray and Kate Morris, Peggy Moor, Sue Ravalde, Dawn
Howitt and Linda Peacock.
In the absence of Kate Morris, Barbara Edwards acted as secretary.
3. Minutes of the Last Meeting
There were two
amendments. Item 4a: The first sentence should read: ‘Re
the money not allocated in previous years – it has now accumulated to £4066’.
Item 7c: The water is running into the toilet, not the bathroom. It
was proposed by Erik Wilson and seconded by John Downs that with these two
amendments the minutes of the meeting of 2nd July be approved as an accurate
record. All were in favour and the file copy was signed by the Vicar.
4. Matters Arising from the Minutes
a) Charitable
Disbursements – Sowing Seeds progress
The cheque for
Sowing Seeds Ministries has now been sent.
b) Report from
buildings committee on further consideration for security cameras
The buildings
committee has not met since the last PCC. However, it has been ascertained
from Ecclesiastical Insurance that there would be no reduction in premium if
we had cameras installed. The buildings committee will look at this again.
c) 64 Queens Road
inspection progress
Nigel Fletcher
visited 64 Queens Road. Some water is still getting in and lead flashing needs
replacing. Some pointing needs attention and some slates have slipped on the
roof. There are apparently no major issues, but these jobs need doing. Nigel
will report back to the buildings committee.
5. Correspondence
None
6. Vicar’s Remarks
Anticipating the agenda item 9 concerning life
groups, Erik said that about 100 people will be involved initially. He felt
that it would have an impact on the church, bringing in people on the fringe
and integrating them and that we will grow as we worship God together. Looking
forward to the nave reordering, Erik reiterated that our decision must be
decided in the context of vision.
7. Buildings sub-committee Report
Bob Parkin gave
this report.
a) The church
1. Quinquennial inspection has been carried out by
Ferrey and Mennim
2. The organ humidifier has been serviced
b) The Hall
1. The window in flat has been repaired (nailed up)
and the ceiling in the corridor in the flat repaired.
2. Reid Room boiler flue has been renewed
3. Ecolab has inspected the rodent traps and found
them to be clear after last month’s evidence of mice under the stage.
c) Houses
1. 64 Queens Road has been emptied apart from a few furniture items.
The gas has been turned off and the electric turned off except for the alarm
supply. When the house is occupied again the gas system will have to be
inspected/serviced and a landlord certificate sent to the diocese. There are
no white goods in the kitchen and little furniture in the house.
2.23 Linden Grove has had a leaded window renewed
3. The vicarage has had the alarm serviced.
Total Monthly
Bills Paid in July and August 2007 - £340.88
Jenny Reid
reminded the PCC that it would not be their responsibility to provide white
goods or furniture if the house were reoccupied.
8.Nave Reordering- Scheme A or Scheme
B
Before this item
there was a time of prayer.
Andrew Argyle
opened the discussion by reporting on behalf of the nave working party. He
said that there was a restlessness in the church as there was no evidence of
progress in the nave reordering. The time had been taken because it was not
just a matter of the buildings, but concerned all areas of the church as a
body, including finance.
The question of making good the existing
floor had been raised at the July PCC. Andrew and Erik had visited St Michael
and St Luke’s in Darlington, which had levelled, sanded, sealed and coloured
their floor at a cost of £18,000 three years ago. Their floor is about 80%
the size of ours, so a similar job on our floor would cost in the region of £20
- £25.000. Both Erik and Andrew felt that the result was uneven and looked
incomplete and Andrew felt it would not be right to spend such a large amount
of money when we know there are problems underneath which have to be dealt
with at some point. The nave working party were therefore recommending that
the project should be done to the highest standard, including replacing the
floor if within our reach financially. It will be necessary to appeal for
funds, as had been done in 1990 for the chancel.
The congregation
have so far only had a verbal description of the work envisaged. Andrew felt
that if we are to move forward it is time to show a visual representation of a
reordered nave and to illustrate this in a good brochure, as part of any
appeal. The working party still needed to look at details, but were looking at
a project in the region of £250,000. A first stage could be the removal of
the rest of the pews and their replacement with new chairs, considered in the
context of the whole project. Phase 1 could be relatively soon, linked to
repairs to the floor to make it safe, but keeping these to a minimum. Also at
this stage there could be experiments with other elements of the reordering,
such as the position of the music group.
On behalf of the
nave working party, Andrew made the following four part recommendation:
1. To proceed with a full reordering of the nave as envisaged in Scheme
B, i.e. to include laying a new floor
2. To authorize the vicar and churchwardens to make the necessary
faculty application(s)
3. To prepare for an appeal for pledges to raise a sum in the region of
£250k
4. To approve in principle a phase 1 of reordering costing approx £40k
to cover a) the purchase of new chairs, b) repairs following the removal of
the pews, and c) initial professional fees and expenses
A long and
thoughtful discussion followed. The question of the condition and life
expectancy of the floor was raised. Andrew reminded that PCC that no one had
been willing to put a time limit on the life of the floor. Although there is
no current structural emergency, it is likely that the floor will need
repairing in the lifetime of a reordered nave and there may be a poor return
on the £20,000 that will need to be spent on it if we do not replace it.
Visually it will look much more impressive with a new floor. It was pointed
out that the pews are joined to the floor and part of its current structure.
Removing the pews will weaken the structure and changing our use of the floor,
e.g. by having chairs in different arrangements, will put more pressure on the
floor. The current floor cannot be sealed or carpeted because this will cause
damp problems and would have to be stained dark, because some of the wood is
mahogany.
Erik pointed out
that 2012 is the 120th anniversary of the church building and
suggested it would be good to have the work finished by then and be able to
focus on mission in that year.
It was felt that
the appeal for finance would test the PCC’s vision. If the money is
forthcoming the PCC had probably got the vision right and now was the time to
test that vision with the congregation.
A number of people
expressed the view that we had a responsibility to provide for future
generations. Concern was expressed that we were talking about spending a very
large amount of money on our building and perhaps we should be concentrating
more on people. Erik pointed out that the standard of church buildings are
seen in the context of the buildings around them. A church building says
something about that congregation and what they think of the God they worship.
Building God’s house is part of building the kingdom. It felt that mission
was always a priority at St Barnabas and God would continue to show us ways to
be involved in mission, even while the reordering took some of our energy for
a short while.
Erik proposed that
‘the PCC should decide:
1. To proceed with a full reordering of the nave as
envisaged in Scheme B, i.e. to include laying a new floor
2. To authorize the vicar and churchwardens to make the necessary
faculty application(s)
3. To prepare for an appeal for pledges to raise a sum in the region of
£250k
4. To approve in principle a phase 1 of reordering costing approx £40k
to cover a) the purchase of new chairs, b) repairs following the removal of
the pews, and c) initial professional fees and expenses.’
The proposal was
seconded by Doreen Lynas, 26 in favour, 1 against.
9. Life Groups progress
These begin on
Tuesday 11th or Wednesday 12th September.
10. Director of Music
The advert has been put on a couple of websites.
There have been 3 enquiries and 2 applications so far. The closing date is 10th
September. Applicants will then by shortlisted and interviewed by a panel.
11. Finance
Keith Barker, the
treasurer, gave an update on the current financial situation. Giving is about
£5000 down on budget, but expenditure is about £6000 under budget.
12. Link Centre
Nick Heaton
reported that he had a meeting with those involved with the Link Centre. It
had not been as successful as hoped. Although people had been helped, it was
not worth the volunteers’ time and effort to continue and after prayer it
had been decided to close the Link Centre. Nick reminded the PCC that the
vision for the Link Centre had come out of a passion to do something to show
God’s love in the community and this passion was still there. God would show
us other ways to serve people and valuable lessons had been learned. Erik
thanked Nick and the team for being prepared to ask the hard questions and
consider the fruit of the effort being put into the project. He also thanked
on behalf of the PCC all who had been in involved in the Link Centre for the
planning and time they had given to it.
13. Schools Worker
Nick had heard
from Kevin Leavsley that someone from the Baptist Church was continuing the
after-school club at Linthorpe, but they would like someone from St Barnabas
to be involved. Ste Corner asked for prayer for the football ministry and
particularly that links with secondary schools would not be lost now Laura has
gone.
14. Any Other Notified Business
None
15. Date of Next Meeting
Monday 1st October
16.
Prayer
The meeting closed with a hymn and the
grace.
