Annual Parish Meeting Minutes 2025

PARISH CHURCH OF S GEORGE, CULLERCOATS

MINUTES OF ANNUAL VESTRY AND PAROCHIAL MEETINGS

  Held in S George’s Church, Sunday 18th May 2025. 

 

Present

Mr Michael Nicholson (Lay Vice Chairman) (in the Chair), B McNally (Secretary), A Pinkett (Treasurer) and 41 Parishioners.

 

VESTRY MEETING

  1. Appointment of Chairman

 

It was proposed by M/s Pauline Murray and seconded by Mr Jonathan Ryland that Fr John Chamberlin be appointed Chairman of this meeting.

 

This was approved unanimously. (Fr John Chamberlin in the Chair)

 

  1. Minutes of the previous Vestry Meeting 28th April 2024

 

It was proposed by Mrs Vivienne Barke and seconded by Fr John Chamberlin and agreed that the minutes be taken as read. 

 

  1. Election of Church Wardens

 

The agenda of this meeting was to elect Church Wardens for the following year.  Two nominations have been put forward – Mr Michael Nicholson and Mr Brian McNally.  They are both eligible for election and are willing to stand.

 

As there were no further nominations both candidates were duly elected

 

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL MEETING

  (Mr Michael Nicholson, Lay Vice Chairman) (in the Chair)

 

  1. Apologies for Absence.

Mr Gordon Wightman, Mrs Sheila Wightman, Fr Andrew Beeston, Mrs Jennifer Beeston, Mrs Pamela Winn, and Mrs Claire Robson.

 

  1. Minutes of Parochial Meeting held 28th April 2024

 

It was proposed by and duly seconded by and agreed that the minutes be taken as read.

 

  1. Report of the Electoral Roll Officer.

 

It was reported on behalf of the Electoral Roll Officer that the New Roll now stood at 129 and of these 52were resident in the Parish and 77 were non resident. 

 

Thanks, were expressed to Mrs S Wightman for her work as Electoral Roll Officer in the preparation of the New Roll. 

 

4. Report of the Proceedings of the Parochial Church Council.

 

  The report of the proceedings of the PCC for the year 2024/2025 was presented (see copy attached to the minutes.)

 

  The Secretary referred to the fact that under the Deanery Plan we would only be entitled to a new incumbent who would be funded only half time by the Diocese and not a full time Priest and therefore he could shared with another Parish or Parishes.  During the Vacancy the PCC had decided to continue with the current episcopal arrangement ie, we receive pastoral and sacramental care from the Bishop Of Beverley, then the Bishop of Beverley and the Bishop of Newcastle would be responsible for the appointment.  If not, then all likelihood, the Parish would come to share the care of one of the clergy from another Parish or Parishes in the Deanery.

 

  The PCC had prepared a Parish Profile, ie, what sort of person we would want to be with us in say 10 years time, such a profile shared our Misson Action Plan, and our confidence in the future of the Parish given the present statistics appertaining to the health of the Parish.

 

  In answer to a question, it was explained how the PCC had unanimously agreed the position regarding the continuing care of the Bishop of Beverley and the consultation that had been taken in making this decision.

 

  It was proposed and duly seconded by that the report be received.

 

  1. Financial Reports.

 

  The accounts of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2024, and a statement of the funds and property in the hands of the Council as of 31st December 2024, were presented by the Treasurer (see copy attached to the minutes).

 

  The Treasurer explained the current position regarding the accounts and the payment of the Parish Share.  The Parish Share pledged for 2024 had been paid in full as pledged and the Diocese had been informed of our aim to pay £30,000for this year.  However, we have had extra unforeseen expenditures on the the maintenance of the boilers and the knock on effect of this means this years gas bill would be significantly over budget and added to this we have unforeseen expenditures on the church fabric.

 

  All of these factors the deficit on the General Fund this year was likely to be significantly more than originally forecast.  The PCC therefore decided to reduce the direct debit payment of Parish Share.  If this monthly reduction continues for the rest of this year the Parish Share we actually pay this year would be £12,500 not £30,000 as pledged.  The PCC will monitor the situation in the coming months to see if we can make extra payments.

 

  Thanks, were given to the Treasurer for his work during this past year.

 

  A report was received from the Planned Giving Committee (see copy attached to the Official Minutes.

 

  Thanks were given to Mr Martin Hood as coordinator of the Planned Giving Scheme.

 

  It was proposed by Mr Jonathan Ryland and seconded by Mr Maurice Condie that the reports be received and approved.

 

6 Report upon the Fabric, Goods and Ornaments of the Church under Section 50 of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018.

 

  The Church Wardens Report for the year 2024/2025 was presented and this included the report upon the Fabric of the Church Building for the year 2024/25.

  (See copy attached to the minutes).

 

  It was proposed by M/s Pauline Murray and seconded by Mr Aubrey Bowles and agreed that the above reports be approved in accordance with Section 50 of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018.

 

7. Report of the Proceedings of the Deanery Synod.

 

The report of the proceedings of the Tynemouth Deanery Synod was received.  (see copy attached to the minutes)

 

It was proposed by Mr Maurice Condie and seconded by M/s Pauline Murray and agreed that the report be noted.

 

  1. Elections.

 

    1. Parochial Church Council.

 

The Chairman advised the meeting there were four vacancies plus casual vacancies from previous years and there were five candidates to date.

 

Mr Jonathan Ryland, Mrs Caroline Douglas, Mrs Elizabeth Lynn, M/s Rachel Box, and Mrs Pamela Winn, together with Mrs Rosemary Kinghorn to fill a casual vacancy on the Deanery Synod were duly elected.

 

The Chairman pointed out that he hoped that the remaining casual vacancy could be filled in due course.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    1. Appointment of Independent Examiner.

 

It was proposed by Mrs Vivienne Barke and seconded by Mrs Shaun Mitchell that Mr William Burgess be appointed as Independent Examiner.  There being no other nominations he was duly elected.

 

  1. Safeguarding.

 

The Parish Safeguarding Officer’s the report of the Safeguarding Group for the year 2024/25 was presented. (Copy attached to the minutes).

 

M/s Pauline Murray, Parish Safeguarding Officer reported that we had as a Parish achieved 100% progress of the Safeguarding Dashboard to Level 3 of the Diocesan Safeguarding Model Plan and our own Action Plan.  

 

It was proposed by Mr Jonathan Ryland and seconded by Mrs Vivienne Barke that the report be received.

 

  1. Pastoral Group Report.

 

The report of the Pastoral Group for the year 2024/25 was received. (see copy attached to the Minutes).

 

  It was proposed by Mrs Caroline Douglas and seconded by

   Mrs Helen Brunton that the report be noted.

 

  1.  Mothers Union Report.

 

The report on the work of the Mothers Union for the year 2024/25 was received. (See copy attached to these Minutes).

 

  1. Chairman’s Remarks.

 

The Chairman pointed out it had been a challenging year but with the help of everyone we had covered all our normal services and weddings, funerals and baptisms.  He expressed thanks to all concerned and in particular to the Retired Clergy for their help and support.

 

This was agreed.

 

  1. Closing Prayer.

 

Fr John closed the meeting with the Grace.

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