The Meeting of Parishioners was held on the 20th April, starting at 11 am in the church hall. It was attended by about 50 parishioners and chaired by the Vicar. The main business was to elect the two churchwardens for the coming year. Elizabeth Wilmot, having served one year, was re-elected. Liz Butler, having served for the customary five years, did not stand for re-election.

Elizabeth Wilmot thanked her warmly on behalf of all parishioners for her cheerful and unstinting hard work during her whole period of office, in particular for the extra duties entailed during the interregnum. A presentation was made in token of our gratitude to her. Richard Melville was elected as our new churchwarden and will serve with Elizabeth Wilmot. Richard has lived in the parish for the greater part of his life and has been a member of St James’s church during that time, actively assisting in the running of the church for many years.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)
The APCM followed immediately after the Meeting of Parishioners. The minutes of the last meeting were agreed, and the numbers of the revised Electoral Roll presented. There are now 257 members on our Electoral Roll, the previous Electoral Roll having 235 members.

The election of the PCC followed. The PCC consists of the Vicar, the two Churchwardens, our five elected representatives on the Deanery Synod, all as ex-officio members; also up to eleven ordinary elected members. An additional two members may also be co-opted to the PCC.

The five Deanery Synod members were elected unopposed. They are: Liz Butler, Lesley Mortimer, Ann Peterken, Pip Rowett and Rodney Taylor. The ordinary members were elected unopposed. They are: Nick Bagge, Clive Beaumont, Jennifer Greville-Giddings, Martin and Prill Hinckley, (shared membership), Gwynneth Lloyd, Susannah Nettleton, Janet Nunn, Betty Rainbow, Coryn Robinson, David Taylor and Dick Wilde. At the later meeting of the PCC Anne Cowlin was co-opted as a member.
.
A list of those volunteering to act as sidespersons was read by the chair and agreed by the meeting.

A report from the Churchwardens was presented by Elizabeth Wilmot, followed by a report from Janet Nunn, the Secretary of the PCC, outlining the major business conducted over the past year. Anne Cowlin, the Treasurer, distributed written copies of the overall balance sheet, a statement of major financial activities and lists of income and expenditure. Anne invited questions from the meeting and in response explained the significance of the figures she had given. There had been heavy unexpected expenditure over the past year due mainly to problems with the finalisation of the contract with the builders of the new West Porch. Due to this unusual expense we had a net loss of liquid assets. Had there not been these problems there would have been a small gain. The inspection of accounts had not yet been completed, so the APCM would have to re-convene formally to approve them

The Vicar proposed that since the detailed written reports of the different groups of the church had been displayed in church for two weeks, their representatives need not speak to the meeting. This was agreed.

The Vicar’s report summarised the work of the church throughout the year. He outlined the progress of our Mission Action Plan, the work of our Eco Group, our co-operation with the Greenwood Centre and the Voluntary Care Group. In our domestic affairs he was pleased to say that the financial problems we had had with the West Porch construction were almost at an end. He said that a new curate might be assigned to us next year. The meeting concluded with The Blessing.

The APCM was followed by a short meeting of the new PCC. Janet Nunn was appointed as Secretary to the PCC, and Anne Cowlin was co-opted to the PCC and appointed as Treasurer. A Standing Committee of the PCC was also appointed. The meeting concluded at 12.30 with The Grace.

Source: The Spire Magazine - 2008 June