PCC

A Parochial Church Council (PCC) is the executive committee of a Church of England parish and consists of clergy and churchwardens of the parish, together with representatives of the laity.  The origin of PCCs is in the old parish vestry committees, which they replaced in 1921.

There are four Parochial Church Council around the Benefice:

Calne and Blackland, Derry Hill, Foxham and Bremhill.

Press a button below to find out about the one where you are.

Calne and Blackland   Derry Hill   Bremhill   Foxham

The PCCs usually meet every other month, although dates and times of meetings can be found on our church calendar.  We meet to discuss any church issues and plan events and services for the church.

We are currently looking for new members to join our highly committed teams.  If you are interested, please contact Reverend Caspar Bush to discuss this further.

PCC minutes:

CALNE & BLACKLAND PCC Minutes of meeting – 16^th July 2026

Present: Revd Caspar Bush(Chair); Stan Anniss; Richard Aldhous; Jonathan Billings; Phil Bond; Carolyn Burleson-Webb(Zoom); Jenny Colby; Steven Colby; Steve Keighley; Kathryn Miller; Mary Pilcher-Clayton; Jane Ridgwell; Jack Robinson(Zoom); Eddie Sims; Graham Spencer(Zoom); Kevin Wells;  -  Jane Wells(notes)

Guest – Emmy Butcher

Apologies: Alex Grenfell; Lucy Hemmings; Caroline Williamson

Caspar opened the meeting with prayer

1 Calne Community Business Champions for Project 2026 – Emmy has joined Project 2026 Fund Raising Team and presented the initiative to PCC.

No networking events in Calne on offer for businesses – there is to be a Wine & Cheese Networking Evening in St Mary’s on 30^th September at 7pm to launch the Calne Community Business Champions for Project 2026.

ACTION: Eddie will advertise at Chippenham Chamber of Commerce – to be advertised on social media (Emmy set up facebook group?)

PCC asked to approve the name, and the launch event - Proposed: Richard Aldhous;  Seconded: Steve Keighley – passed nem com

2 Minutes of Meeting 14^th May 2026: signed as correct record

  Matters arising: item 17 – closer on North door – door still very heavy to open

ACTION: Richard to obtain and fit new lighter door closer

3 Rector’s report:

• Inclusive church – not much response to date
• Film for Sustainable Calne – 40 mins documentary called Peoples Emergency Briefing – St Mary’s – 24^th September – show film, discussion, cup of tea – to raise awareness – PCC approved
• Lumos Candlelit Concert – 30^th October – they organise/advertise

Question: do we still get donation if tickets not sold out? Caspar to ask

PCC were asked by email between meetings - agreed

• Wednesday coffee – offer to host coffee in St Mary’s on Wednesdays – possibly in morning after Eucharist? PCC agreed with this offer
• LPA/LWL training – Diocese training scheme for these commissioned ministries.

1candidate in Benefice at the moment for each ministry

Question: are there cost implications? None known  PCC agreed subject to internal references/safe guarding

4 Finance: Accounts January – June 2026 presented to PCC, showing an overspend of £5898 over the period. Planned giving down little over last year same period. Over £16K in HT Field - £10K to be taken from there to pay towards Parish Share (£30K paid to date of £80K+ total) Proposed: Graham Spencer; seconded: Jonathan Billings – passed nem com

4 Finance (continued): St Peter’s congregation to be approached to contribute (£11K?) towards Parish Share.

Question: Where has the £16K in HT Field come from? Small HT accounts amalgamated – also interest accumulated over the years.

Question: Why is planned giving figure down on last year? Congregation members altering figure donated – moved away – deceased.

Question: Over £1400 in CAMEO Activities – group no longer exists? To be looked into

5 Project 2026:

1. Fundraising update- next event Coffee Morning/Tower Tours – 10^th October
2. Grant application progress – 16 applications so far – further 6 in hand – some grant providers only meet every 6 months so may be lengthy process.  Our application to the Place of Worship Renewal Fund (meant to replace the VAT-reclaim scheme) has not been successful – can be applied for again in 6 months
3. Kitchen design proposals – Servery plans presented – Proposed: Steve Keighley; seconded: Richard Aldhous – passed nem com
4. Faculty/building design/timeline – approvals hoped by end January 27 – tenders applied for at same time as plans to Chancellor – contracts February 27 – works hopefully start end March 27 (Easter 28^th March) – 9 months to complete
5. Implications for 2027 – West End out of bounds once work starts – pews in South Chapel removed so social/server can be re-located there

6 Buildings maintenance/churchyards:

• St Mary’s- Quinquennial inspection showed no roof alarm - roof assessment to be completed – final report to follow
• St Peter’s –  Quinquennial inspection highlighted issue with porch and clergy vestry (have foundations unlike rest of building) – looking at options to resolve
• HT Churchyard – maintenance morning postponed to 8^th August
• HT Churchyard – spoil – quote received from Turners £3180 inc VAT – comparative quote to be sought – Proposal – if this is best quote received, this will be accepted Proposed: Kevin Wells; seconded: Steve Keighley – passed nem com
• Allotments transfer – still ongoing!
• First Aid boxes – ACTION: need someone to check First Aid boxes in all premises
• Fire Risk assessments – ACTION: needed for all premises (following  extinguisher checks)

7 St Mary’s Music:  Recruitment event for Young Voices in early September

8 Safeguarding:  those needing to renew DBS have been contacted

9 Worship, Prayer & Discipleship:

1. Study groups – Apocrypha course well received – Autumn series on prayer
2. Prayer at St Mary’s – 4^th Saturday of month at 9:30am (25^th July; 22^nd August etc)
3. Quiet morning – held at Compton Bassett on 20^th June – enjoyed by attendees
4. St Mary’s Patronal Festival – Sunday 6^th September – 10am
5. St Mary’s School – in St Mary’s 10am on Sunday 20^th September
6. Harvest Festival – Holy Trinity 10:45 27^th September; St Peter’s 5pm Evensong on 27^th September; St Mary’s 10am 18^th October; Holy Trinity Family service 10am 18^th October
7. CMAF Festival Evensong – 6pm Bishop Alan Smith
8. Remembering services – H T 6pm 18^th October; St M 3pm 1^st November
1. Remembrance Sunday – 10am Sunday 8^th November
10. Confirmation – St Mary’s 5pm with Bishop Karen

10 St Mary’s church unlocking: nothing to report

11 Other groups: Bereavement café; St Mary’s Craft Group – nothing to report

12 Other future events:

1. Eden Bridge festival – at Bremhill Vineyard 22^nd August
2. Ride and Stride – 12^th September
3. Coffee Morning /Tower tours (Project 26) – 10^th October
4. Christmas Tree festival – 26^th – 29^th November

13 Deanery Synod:

1. Synod – at Derry Hill – Use of Church spaces – 17^th September
2. Deanery Confirmation – St Mary’s 5pm 21^st November
3. Deanery Evensong – Heddington – 4pm on 22^nd November
4. Synod – Diocesan Finance Director Elizabeth Harvey – 25^th February

14 Partnership of Churches: - please attend 1 service a year at least!!

1. 19^th July – 6pm at St Edmunds
2. 25^th October – 6pm at Baptists (venue tbc)

15 Children/young people/schools:

• SMUFS – numbers low – 1 helper leaving – ACTION: appeal to congregations
• Open the Book Team – 8 in team – to take part in service in St Mary’s in Autumn

16 AOB:  Grant to Ordinand: PCC approved grant to Gareth Lovell (ordinand) for £1K – approval by email between meetings

17 Date of next meetings: Standing – 2^nd September  PCC 16^th September

  Standing – 4^th November  PCC 19^th November

Deanery Synod

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