The PCC is the 'management committee' of our Parish and meets approximately 6 times a year.
Current members are:
Ex-Officio: Enid Powell (Licensed Lay Minister),Steve Keighley (Churchwarden), Jonathan Billings (Churchwarden), Caroline Williamson (Churchwarden), Lucy Hemmings (Churchwarden) Caspar Bush, Sarah Errington
Deanery Synod Representatives: Stan Anniss, Mary Pilcher-Clayton,
PCC Members: Richard Aldhous, Jack Robinson, Graham Spencer, Kevin Wells, David Munday, Jane Ridgwell, Kathryn Miller, Deirdre Aldhous, Eddie Sims, Mary Pilcher-Clayton
Click HERE to see the annual report and account for 2023
Click Here to see the notes from the APCM in April 2025
CALNE & BLACKLAND PCC - Minutes of meeting held 5th June 2025
Present: Revd Caspar Bush(Chair); Richard Aldhous; Stan Anniss; Jonathan Billings; Phil Bond; Carolyn Burleson-Webb; Jenny Colby; Steven Colby; Rose Cooper;
Alex Grenfell; Lucy Hemmings; Kathryn Miller; Mary Pilcher-Clayton; Jane Ridgwell;
Jack Robinson; Eddie Sims; Graham Spencer; Kevin Wells; Caroline Williamson
(Jane Wells – minutes) Apologies: Deirdre Aldhous; Steve Keighley
1 Prayer/welcome - Caspar opened meeting with prayer.
Phil and Carolyn welcomed to PCC. PCC approved Jane Wells to be PCC secretary – prop Kathryn Miller; sec Mary Pilcher-Clayton.
Stan thanked PCC for giftcard for being Holy Trinity warden (replaced by Phil)
2 Minutes/matters arising
Item 4 – new amplifier and mic fitted and working
Lucy has passed pest control details to Richard
Item 5 – not necessary for organ maintenance contract for St Mary’s as is attended to when needed - agreed Holy Trinity/St Peter’s organs to be looked at occasionally
ACTION: Richard to pass number of organ maintenance to Lucy
3 Finance – Graham stressed the importance of planning with church finance.
i) donation £20k for improvement fund in memory of Herta Buckeridge fund; also 2 anonymous donations (£700) for improvement fund video, all Gift Aided - also £10 cash donation handed into Office.
ii) St Mary’s card reader stopped working at end of March - new WiFi connection with most transactions recovered
iii) CCLI licence for St Mary’s/Holy Trinity increased from £194 to £586 as wrong membership being paid (St Peter’s only use hymn book)
iv) 1st quarter Parochial Fees(DBF) paid £1749, and £25k paid for Parish Share
v) Buildings committee - £7k for heating control co-ordinator (from Tower Fund)
vi) Annual stewardship letter to be sent this week
Question: Is there to be a record of memorial donations to improvement fund?
When grants are sought, grant providers will request this information
4 St Mary’s improvements – a power point of progress to date was shown.
Logo/leaflet – after discussion/clarification on chosen logo (church tower using blue, yellow, black) with St Mary’s Church, Calne and wording Faith, Community and Discovery PCC voted to approve - prop Richard Aldhous; sec Kevin Wells
- (for:16; against: 2; abstention: 1).
Project 26 was agreed as this shows urgency of scheme, yet realistic time-scale.
Prop Richard Aldhous; sec Carolyn Burleson-Webb – (voting as before).
Stickers and badges for use on launch day (28th June)
Solar panels on South Chapel roof may help with environmental element.
4 St Mary’s improvements (cont)
Launch event - 28th June 3pm 1000 postcard size invites to distribute locally – Teddy Bear parachute jump 12:30-2; presentation at 3 featuring 90 second promotional video (photos for this in St Mary’s 15th June). Stall booked at Carnival in centre of town to advertise launch, also stand outside Sainsbury’s Friday 20th June.
Help needed with: postcard printing; stickers and badges; advertising stalls; Website/Facebook group content
It was felt a Gift Aid envelope or details could be included ACTION: Graham?
Permission to be sought for use of photographs on back of leaflet
ACTION: Sparkly Singers - Caspar to contact
Carolyn to ask if CTC have any photographs of Christmas Tree Festival
Project finance – approx costs including 10% contingency and Architect fees:
Bid 1 Heritage Lottery (roof, dec, solar, engagement officer) 240795 VAT 25133
Bid 2 Toilets/childrens area 197750 VAT 12125
Bid 3 Kitchen and North porch access area 173750 VAT 15625
Bid 4 Dais and relocation of font 44022 VAT 7337
Bid writer (essential - especially for Lottery application) 12000 no VAT
Totals 668317 VAT 60220
Proposal: To go ahead and recruit a bid writer for Heritage Lottery Bid including Project Enquiry Form and other bids in due course - prop Carolyn Burleson-Webb; sec Richard Aldhous - approved nem com.
Next stage: i) Fund-raising and start of applications
ii)Detailed building plans (kitchen decision next 4 weeks) for PCC approval Sept PCC so faculty can be applied for -archaeological work required for drains (toilets/kitchen on same faculty but work in chosen order)
iii) Faculty application including statutory consultation
iv) Architect prepares specifications - grant applications
v) Tenders put out for bids vi) Building proceeds
5 Buildings/churchyards – St Peter’s – trial pits not yet dug. Holy Trinity – volunteer needed to replace Stan on Eco Church ACTION: Richard to put in notices
Church House – leak in roof sorted. HT churchyard – letter from Town Council about conversion of allotment area to additional burial space. Question: are the Churchyard regulations referred to the Diocesan Memorial Regulations?
Proposal: In view of the letter dated 30th May 2025 from Calne Town Council, and the assurances it contains, the PCC resolves to continue with the transfer process of the allotment area to Calne Town Council as a burial ground. Prop Mary Pilcher-Clayton;
sec Jane Ridgwell – approved nem com
St Mary’s – to leave open in day would not affect insurance – appointment of Community Engagement Officer would increase usage – CCTV in place -working group of Richard, Jonathan and Mary to look at.
Proposal: PCC resolves to keep St Mary’s unlocked during every day-time and is setting up a working group on this. Prop Richard Aldhous; sec Mary Pilcher-Clayton – approved nem com
6 Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 – Caspar and Jonathan attended forum on terrorism in large buildings – Diocese producing guidance but acts of worship are exempt events! Needs to be looked at both to evacuate church and to use church as evacuation point.
7 Music director – Jemima Palfreyman appointed – start date 16/6/25
8 Safeguarding – all up to date – risk assessments in place?
ACTION: Eddie to check what risk assessments are in place and assess accordingly
9 Worship, Prayer & Discipleship –
i)Quiet Day (10-1) led by Teresa at Compton Bassett church – need to book place
ii)Prayer for St Mary’s projects – 4th Sat each month 9:30am in St Mary’s (28/6 venue tbc)
iii)Thy Kingdom Come – 6th and 7th June, St Mary’s open all day – prayer stations –
8:30am Morning Prayer; 5pm Evening Prayer
iv)Small groups – 3 groups continue to meet
v)Weekly prayer leaflet (revised) being prepared
vi)St Mary’s 4th Sunday format – Carly to co-ordinate – Jemima to sort music
10 Other future events –
i)Carly ordination - Salisbury Cathedral 10:30am Sunday 29th June – coach available
ii)6th July – cake to celebrate Carly ordination ACTION: Mary to ask Jenny Reynolds
iii)Bike Meet – Kathy Moore leading team in St Mary’s – Saturday 26th July
iv)Ride and Stride – Saturday 13th September – Stan is contact
v)Christmas Tree Festival 2025 – Calne Town Council
11 Electoral roll report – number now stands at 174 (increase of 12)
12 Partnership of churches – confirmation that St Mary’s Public Liability Insurance to cover this as church event - prop Steven Colby; sec Jenny Colby; approved nem com
ACTION: Steven to pass copy to Stan Woods
13 AOB – Deanery report and Schools to be included at next PCC
14 Next meetings – Thursdays 4th September and 6th November – both at 7:30pm