ST PETER AND ST PAUL, SHOREHAM
Parochial Church Council
2025-2026
MINUTES OF THE THIRD MEETING HELD ON
MONDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2025
Members:
Johnny Aisher - Churchwarden - Chair
Bill Lattimer - Treasurer
Audrey Arthur
Lindsey MacRae
Ann Ball - Deputy Churchwarden
James Saynor - Secretary
Bryan Harris - Apol
Elaine Scott - Churchwarden
1. Opening prayer and apologies for absence
Bryan sent apologies. The meeting was opened with a prayer by Bill.
2. Reports on Stay and Play/Family Worker by Jill Aisher and Liz Clitheroe
- Johnny thanked Jill and Liz for their papers summarising work with children and families,
and the PCC expressed its gratitude and admiration for all the progress made over the past
year. Jill noted that Stay and Play averaged about 26 families attending per week, with 218
children registered since the playgroup started. [Post-meeting note: 24 of those children have
come from Shoreham, according to Jill.] Feedback from parents and carers was very
positive, and the Village School attend once a term with a learning-based activity. The
weekly fee is to rise to £4 this month, and the Parish Council is to be asked to invest in new
small tables and chairs. Jill paid tribute to Liz’s work as an inspiring playgroup leader, and
the events in church have helped adults and children see Shoreham Church as “their church”,
including parents from outside the village.
- It was thought that Stay and Play could also focus on giving to the food bank, and the
church could be a venue for swapping toys. New government regulations would mean more
of an emphasis on fresh and unprocessed food for the snacks, which might have slight cost
implications. Jill suggested that our big services, such as Harvest Festival, could be more
child-focused, and it was thought children might be used as lesson-readers in regular services.
We needed to buy new small tables and chairs for the church and Johnny said the PCC would
draw up proposals for them; Jill suggested they might be sponsored.
- Liz had kept in touch with a dozen or so families who reported how modern life made it
hard for many to come along regularly to church services and events, although Breakfast
Church was much liked. She had given families “Take Out Church” boxes which had been
enjoyed over the summer, and had been sending birthday cards to children on behalf of the church. She reported on the success of the Easter Messy Church, tied to her work gaining her
Catalyst qualification. Fewer families turned up for the Messy Church on 31 August,
although it was appreciated by parents for opportunities to spend time together. Closer to
Halloween, Liz was considering a “Light Party” (emphasising the “beauty of light”) as a half-
term event in the church. When it came to engagement with teenagers, it was hard for them
to find time for set-piece events but perhaps things like phone apps might reach them. Bill
suggested co-operation with Otford Church, which has had success with youth outreach.
- Jill and Liz were thanked for their attendance before leaving the meeting.
3. Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the meeting on 7 July were agreed.
4. Interregnum
4.1. Updates. Our Parish Representatives were to attend a meeting in a few days to shortlist
candidates for the post of Priest in Charge with interviews potentially taking place a few
weeks later. Members re-iterated the need to work with neighbouring parishes while keeping
the vicarage occupied by clergy. Kemsing and Eynsford/Farningham now had new
incumbents. Johnny reported that Erin Fung, who works part-time at the school, had agreed
to work one day a week for us as an Administrator, and it was resolved to move forward with
this, paid out of our Growth and Enhancement fund. Johnny would re-circulate a job
description. Part of Erin getting up to speed should involve liaising with the admin team at
Otford. She might work some of the time in our parish office.
5. Finance and stewardship
5.1. Treasurer’s report. Bill had circulated a report showing that, after seven months of the
church financial year, we were showing a surplus of £3,500. Both income and expenditure
were down. The Parish Buying scheme recommended we save slightly by switching
electricity supply from Total Energies to Ecotricity and Bill had made the change. With no
vicar, we no longer had to give the diocese a proportion of fees for weddings, funerals and
monuments. An analysis by Bill of Stay and Play showed that we had spent £1,500 across
seven months – about half of the playgroup’s costs, with the other half covered by fee
income. Asset allocation within the CCLA COIF Charities Investment Fund was arranged
with ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) factors in mind. About 60% of the fund
was invested in overseas equities and about 9% in UK shares. Thanks had been received
from several of the organisations we resolved to support at the last meeting.
5.2. Saxon coin. A valuation had been made of a Saxon-era coin found in the churchyard in
the 1930s. James would look into a second valuation from a museum and Johnny would
explore insurance issues.
6. Ministry matters
6.1. Services. Bryan was thanked for arranging service cover until Christmas. Bill was
putting together the Harvest service on 28 September and it was thought there could fewer
elements in it than last year. Johnny would contact William Alexander for his review of the
agricultural year and also the school to discuss children’s involvement. Bryan would be
asked to do a poster, which might solicit “harvest gifts”. Johnny proposed that the Harvest collection might go towards the diocese’s Poverty and Hope Appeal. Johnny would contact
the British Legion about Remembrance Sunday. Rev. Kelly Parsons at Otford had offered to
take services at Shoreham, including Evensong, and was keen to build links with us.
6.2. Service book. Bill suggested that service sheets from the green folders should be more
consistently used in preference to the blue books. This was agreed.
6.3. Communion. A modification of ideas for taking communion was suggested by Audrey
and agreed to: those taking communion who wanted “intinction” (the wafer dipped in the
wine) could approach first, followed by those who wished to take the cup. Johnny would
draw up a notice explaining this for visiting clergy.
6.4. Prayer list. Ann undertook to leave a note in the Vicar’s Vestry each week with names
to go into Intercessions and to liaise with the intercessors.
7. Fabric
7.1. Updates/security key. The PCC of the Church of St Peter and St Paul, Shoreham,
resolved that further copies of the security key be cut for the sole use of PCC members and
others authorised by the PCC to access secure areas of the church buildings.
7.2. Font. There was no further news from the DAC on the font move.
7.3. Piano. Johnny was exploring options for a new platform.
7.4. Vicarage and garden. There had been a successful garden tidy-up day, with much
valuable clearance by Lindsey and Duncan MacRae. There might be further small tidying
later. The rewiring of the house had been completed and was still to be checked. Hornets
needed removing from the garage and Johnny would seek a quote.
7.5. Church locking. Elaine was organising people to lock and unlock the church each day.
7.6. Bees. Johnny was getting quotes from a scaffolder for the plan to remove the beehive to
another site.
7.7. Path lighting. A quote of just under £10,000 + VAT had been received for all-new
lighted bollards, compared to an earlier quote of about £12,000 + VAT. The Fabric
Committee would discuss these with the Friends.
8. Churchyard
8.1. General. Ann reported that inscriptions had been completed at the Garden of
Remembrance. Johnny had received a quote for the new mowing contract and was seeking
another. Jasper Dale and Austin MacRae were thanked for their recent grass-cutting. There
had been a churchyard tidy-up day and Johnny would fix a date for a further one in the
autumn. Lindsey would put up dog-waste signs.
8.2. Surveys of graves. Ann had recruited at least four people to update gravestone details.
8.3. Weedkilling. After a request from Bill for weedkilling methods, especially around
paths, Audrey suggested a homemade spray of salt, vinegar and washing-up liquid which was
thought suitable.
9. Information updates
9.1. Safeguarding. There were no updates.
9.2. PCC member. Kevin Andrews was proposed as a new PCC member, to fill a casual
vacancy before the next APCM elections, and it was resolved to appoint him. James would
contact him with the necessary paperwork.
9.3. Stewarding. Johnny and Lindsey were working on various documents. Bill stressed the
need for stewards whenever the church was hired out and it was thought that selecting these
could be one task for the new Administrator.
9.4. Nuisance children. Johnny had spoken to one of the parents of the children and received
encouraging feedback.
10. AOB
10.1. Ride and Stride. Ann noted that this year’s Ride and Stride event, to raise money for
Kent churches, is on 13 September from 10am to 4pm. If you would like to do a stint
welcoming the fundraisers please let Ann know.
10.2. Christmas. Key Christmas dates would be decided at the next meeting.
10.3. 2026 PCC dates. James would prepare a draft of these.
The meeting closed at about 9.35pm.
Action points
Johnny to re-circulate Administrator job description (4.1), explore coin insurance (5.2),
contact William Alexander and school re: Harvest and RBL re: Remembrance (6.1), draw up
clergy notice for communion (6.3), seek quote for hornet removal (7.4), set date for new
churchyard tidy-up (8.1)
James to seek museum expert (5.2), contact new PCC member (9.2) and prepare PCC dates
for next year (10.1)
Ann to put prayer list in Vicar’s Vestry (6.4)
Lindsey to put up dog waste signs (8.1)
Johnny and Lindsey to prepare stewarding/user documents (9.3)
Next meetings: 13 October, 8 December.
Deanery Synod: 16 October.
(agreed version, with 1 redaction for reasons of confidentiality, of 15.10.25)