PCC minutes

Ecclesiastical Parish of St John the Baptist, Loughton

Minutes for the Parochial Church Council Meeting

Wednesday 18th September 2025, 7.30pm, Choir Vestry

1. Opening Prayer

  • Led by CD

2. Attendance

  • Present: Reverend Chris Davies, Reverend Will Rose-Moore, Sammy Alder, Anton French, Phillip Gwinn, Rachel Cartwright, Linda Cook, Sam Murdoch, Stuart Jack, Claude Goodman, David Roderick, Vicky Shankland, James Hill, Virgil Parenzee, Steve Hart, Jamie Flavell

3. Conflicts of Interest

  • No conflicts of interest were declared.

4. Apologies for Absence

  • No apologies for absence were received.

5. Approval of Previous Minutes

  • The minutes of the previous meeting were approved without amendment.

6. Matters Arising

  • Fly-tipping issue at St Nics has been Resolved.
  • Boiler: Progressing; awaiting quotes for gutter clearing. (CD)
  • Scouts: Legal advice sought; lease to be progressed. (CD)

7. Ministry and Mission Update

  • WRM will be ordained on 27th September, and all plans are in place in regard to side persons, catering and hall use.
  • Christmas planning is underway with confirmation of services to be provided at the next PCC meeting.
  • Good attendance at 8am (27 people) and 9:30am services.
  • 20s/30s group continues to grow with attendees now meeting independently.
  • Discussion took place on inclusivity and the recent conversations about flying the Guild of Arms flag at church. CD confirmed that we do not have the correct flag, and we will not be ordering or flying one. VS advised that she believes a lot of people seem to feel a bit unsettled with what is going on in the local towns and cities and a lot of the group said they felt the same and for everyone to look out for each other.

8. Confirmation Plans

  • Bishop Adam may be in attendance.
  • WRM to run classes for adults and children, providing an opportunity to discuss the Eucharist.

9. Safeguarding

  • DBS Checks: eleven completed; a couple of ID checks outstanding which SA will chase up.
  • Training: nineteen completed; Sunday School to complete training RC and SA to work on this action point.
  • Website: WRM has ensured all safeguarding information is up to date.
  • Issue: One safeguarding issue managed appropriately with robust systems and policies.
  • Policy: PCC members agreed policy, no changes required. SA to place on website and all our notice boards.
  • Attendance for Sunday school: Monitor helper-to-child ratio, especially if attendance exceeds thirty.

10. Finance

  • Parish Operations Manager Remuneration: Discussed and all agreed to increase from £13.10 to £15.00 and hour to be backdated from 1.9.2025.
  • Parish Share: Increased to £76,000 for 2026; the Church will continue efforts to pay in full.
  • Finance Reports: All PCC members had sight of reports and nothing of importance noted.
  • Legacy: £42,000 received from the estate of Christine Stevens. Proposal to use funds for music and choir development; plan to be presented at next PCC meeting.
  • The Shop: Business rates agreed at £1,000, to be paid in instalments.
  • Investment: Fund closed; CCLA UK Equity Fund Account CB3004335 move to new fund. Details are as follows.

25% allocation to CCLA Better World Global Equity and 75% allocation to the CCLA Short Duration Credit fund, taking the yield to 4.6% and paying £1,568, an increase of £105  Motion to proceed agreed to reinvest as above.

  • Parish Hall Hire Fees: Some groups were struggling so it was agreed to leave the rates as 2025 for 2026. Weekend party hire will be increased from £105.00 an hour to £120.00 for a 3-hour party.

Brownies and Guides’ rent will remain the same and the Wives group have agreed to a £100.00 a year increase.

11. Fabric, Buildings, and Churchyard

  • Railings: £120 labour; DR to source materials by end of October.
  • Guttering: Quotes being obtained - CD
  • Garden of Remembrance: Hedge and tree maintenance approved (£360); ongoing management to be conducted. DR to contact Becker Tree surgeons for them to conduct the work now that the PCC has agreed to the money being spent.
  • Storage: Need to ensure secure storage for equipment that has been purchased.

12. Church, Social, and Community Events

  • Priesting Plans: All arrangements in place; approx. 250 attendees expected. Side people all booked in.
  • Barn Dance: Bands booked, catering arranged; events need further promotion which WRM will do using our social media platforms.

13. Any Other Business

  • Nothing noted

14. Upcoming PCC Meetings

  • Wednesday 19th November: Health & Safety Review
  • Wednesday 21st January 2026: Draft Accounts for 2025
  • Wednesday 18th March 2026: Agree APCM Agenda, Approve Audited Accounts
  • APCM – Sunday 10th May 2026: Election of Officers, Reports

 

 


 

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