12 May 2026, 7:30pm
Present: Father Kevin, Mike Campbell (chair), David Bellamy, Jen Benzies, Sam Caldwell, Sarah Lynch (minutes), Richard McQuinn, Sian Price (SP2), Ben Ryan
Apologies: Deacon Stephen Parker, Eva Kaltenthaler, Stephen Spooner, Maria Levesley, Richard Bushell
Opening meditation: two minutes’ silence, led by MC
Minutes of the last meeting: passed without debate
Matters arising
- SL apologised she had not yet written an article for the Chronicle about the S2 food bank but will do it for the next time.
- Re Children’s Liturgy, JB has done a sign for the week’s when it is happening and work is continuing on a pack for children. As there is no Children’s Liturgy for the next couple of weeks, some seasonal colouring has been left out for the children, to which the welcomers’ attention should be directed so they can mention it to families.
- Actions arising from the April visit by Franciscans : MC suggested someone writes an article for the Chronicle about the visit, and we have plenty of photographs for that. The visit was very successful, including a pub meal, a visit to Padley Chapel, mass at the cathedral, as well as the mass and meal at church. Thanks go to DB for organising it, EK and SS for hosting them, and to Martial and Susanne Staub for driving.
- Dementia meeting : Diane Rossiter will be attending on behalf of the parish.
- Liaison with Crosspool Churches : Diane Rossiter has offered to be our link person.
Diocesan Merger
There was a meeting at church regarding the Diocesan merger, minutes of which are being finalised. One of the proposals at the meeting are that MC (as chair of the Parish Council), SC (as chair of the Finance Committee), alongside Fr Kevin and SP should attend the meeting on 22nd May at All Saints, although it was noted that all our attendees would be male. No women though have come forward to take the place of MC or SC. An approach will be made on the parish WhatsApp by MC and if that is not successful those originally identified will attend.
Readers’ Meeting Feedback
There has been a successful training session for readers and thanks were given to DB for organising it. Alongside the training, key takeaways were that reading the notices puts off some people from volunteering to read. It is proposed that there will be an additional column on the volunteering list for doing the notices, the suggestion being a parish council member steps in if no one else has signed up. The format of the notices it was felt was a matter for wider discussion, indeed whether they are given and if so when in the mass. It was felt there was value in the notices to give a sense of community and welcome people to the parish, and as an adjunct to the Franciscan. The length though could be reduced, so key matters are highlighted. Styles will inevitably vary. Saying something welcoming people to mass was agreed to be important.
Action: DB will write a short guidance paragraph for readers, to be shared with parish council members initially and then share it with parishioners.
Spirituality & Liturgy
No one from this subgroup was present but it was noted we had had the visit of the Franciscan friars. The Taizé event did not happen, due to it not being advertised, but if we have one it could be advertised more widely in the local Christian community.
J & P Report
The Covenant for the Poor was renewed at the AGM. The Live Simply assessment meeting is on 16th May; ML will be present for the parish due to others being away. Information boards continue to appear in the narthex, changed bi-monthly. The gardening group planted the wildflower seeds in the garden on Sunday and more may be planted.
Action: DB will pay the charities which were agreed at the AGM, no additional names having been put forward. The nine charities will receive £300 each.
Youth Ministry
RB was not present to report. The Youth group has restarted and Children’s Liturgy continues provided there is a leader present.
Finance Committee
The finances were presented at the AGM. The Diocesan return has been submitted and SC gave his thanks to DB for doing that, with the assistance of Liz Dingle. We have moved to a new accounting system which it is hoped will make tasks simpler.
Regarding Gift Aid, RM confirmed the return has just gone in for £48,000, with an expectation we will get about £12,000 back. Thanks were given to Edmund King for his many years of service doing this.
Maintenance
DB and SC met after the readers’ meeting and discussed action which is required. SL’s husband is available for practical matters and a meeting will be arranged with DB. A firm is coming in the near future to do some electrical work that is required. Replacing lightbulbs is still an issue as neither of the firms asked to quote were willing to tender, concerns expressed about the age of the bulbs and the system. It was suggested we should be using energy efficient lightbulbs if at all possible. An issue has also been identified with switching off two of the lights, which currently requires the relevant fuse being switched off.
Action: Regarding the lighting, enquiries will be made of others as to possible firms to do this – JB to ask at school, SC at St William’s.
Feedback from the AGM and parish survey
BR advised we have some people who have been in touch since the AGM to be in touch about specific topics which were identified in the survey. We may want to put more reminders in the Franciscan, give people time to read the document in full, and possibly make approached to parishioners who have expressed views on the matters to be covered. After that, we may want to start to organise some additional discussions with those people in an appropriate way initially, through WhatsApp, Zoom, after mass, etc, whatever works for those people. Hopefully those groups would then come up with some ideas which can be brought back to this meeting, with the hope that others would engage as a result of the process. The highest response was for the topic around welcome and inclusion/accessibility. The other area of particular interest is leadership and planning for the future. No one new has come forward for the area of children and young people.
It was agreed a note should go in the Franciscan, thanking those who have come forward, outlining the themes again, aiming for initial conversations to happen before the next Parish Council. BR will direct those who have expressed an interest in areas which already have parish groups, eg Justice & Peace, parishioners will be directed to the existing groups.
Thanks were given again to BR for all his work around the Parish Survey and the presentation of it at the AGM.
Action: BR will prepare an amended announcement for the Franciscan.
Matters raised by Fr Kevin
Fr Kevin had nothing to raise.
Closing prayer: led by Fr Kevin
Next meeting: 14th July at 7:30 pm in the parish room.
15th September is already set for the subsequent meeting.