ST PETER AND ST PAUL, SHOREHAM
Parochial Church Council
2025-2026
MINUTES OF THE FOURTH MEETING HELD ON
MONDAY 13 OCTOBER 2025
AT 6PM IN THE CHURCH ROOM
Members:
Johnny Aisher - Churchwarden Chair
Bill Lattimer - Treasurer
Kevin Andrews Apol
Lindsey MacRae Apol
Audrey Arthur Apol
James Saynor - Secretary
Ann Ball - Deputy Churchwarden Apol
Elaine Scott - Churchwarden
Bryan Harris Apol
1. Opening prayer and apologies for absence
Ann, Audrey, Bryan, Kevin and Lindsey sent apologies. The meeting was opened with a
prayer by Bill.
2. Sarah Parkes
Warm tributes were paid to our much-loved former PCC colleague Sarah Parkes, who died in
early September, just after our last meeting. Johnny noted the huge contribution Sarah made
to the PCC, to the church, to the governance of the parish, and to the village as a whole.
Members described her as a very special person, and her work maintaining and conserving
the rich ecology of the churchyard was especially noted.
3. Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the meeting on 1 September were agreed, subject to the correction of the
name of the Parish Buying Scheme and the adding of information on how the Parish
Administrator would be funded from the Growth and Enhancement Fund, and on how the
preferred use of service sheets was agreed. PCC minutes, with any redactions for reasons of
confidentiality, would be posted henceforth on the church website.
4. Interregnum
4.1. Updates. The interview process for a new Priest in Charge had taken place and no
outcome had yet been announced.
4.2. Parish Administrator. Our new Administrator, Erin Fung, was already involved in a
number of tasks, including work on the website.
5. Called to Grow
5.1. Children and families. It had been decided not to run a Messy Church in the autumn
half-term, but Children and Families Worker Liz Clitheroe would provide new “Take Out
Church” boxes for families. Bill would discuss with Liz input she might have into Advent
and Christmas services, perhaps adding new elements to Christingle.
6. Finance and stewardship
6.1. Treasurer’s report. Bill had circulated a report analysing receipts and payments in the
General Fund, now projecting a loss of £1,589 by 31 December. It noted that our income
position remained fragile, in part because only a few households contributed to the bulk of
giving. It was thought that a new stewardship campaign might be launched next year.
7. Ministry matters
7.1. Services. There had been a good attendance at the very successful Harvest service, with
a number of families there, while around 30 people had come to the October Breakfast
Church. For an All Souls service at 6pm on Sunday 2 November, people wishing to
commemorate the departed could write names on a list in church or email via a notice on
Facebook. The Service of Remembrance would be on Sunday 9 November, and Johnny
would ask the Aircraft Museum if they wished to co-ordinate their event with ours.
7.2. Christmas. Johnny had circulated a list of November, Advent and Christmas events,
with further additions and amendments to come. It was agreed to hold the Carol Service on
Sunday 14 December at 6pm, and to have carol singing around the village on 19 and 22
December. Elaine would prepare a Christmas card with children’s pictures and would liaise
with Liz Clitheroe to source these.
8. Fabric
8.1. Updates. Johnny would arrange a Fabric Committee meeting to discuss issues including
path lighting and new small tables and chairs. Small electrical works were almost completed.
There were no developments on faculties.
8.2. Piano. After taking advice, Johnny was looking into buying a jack to raise and move the
piano, which might cost several hundred pounds.
8.3. Vicarage and garden. The diocese were to paint the house interior by the end of
November and to make good one or two small areas. They had removed a hornets’ nest from
the garage area. A Quinquennial Report on the vicarage and garden had been prepared by the
diocese and circulated to the PCC. It had given the property a good bill of health and
recommended £8,300 of further work, including sanding and resealing wooden floors, also to
be paid by the diocese.
8.4. Bees. Johnny had obtained a quote for scaffolding and building work for the removal of
the bee hive in the church roof, which came to £1,560. This would involve two men for two
days. A decision on this was deferred.
9. Churchyard
9.1. General. Elaine and Ann were trying to determine who had planted/cleared several plots
in the churchyard where it was not thought there were graves; Elaine would leave notices on
them seeking contacts. A recommended stonemason was being sought. Johnny was still
seeking a second grass-cutting quote. The Friends had undertaken to trim the western yew
hedge. Lindsey was still to make boards for dog-waste signs; James had prepared laminated
artwork.
9.2. Survey of graves. Ann would begin the survey of recent headstones shortly.
9.3. Tidy-up day. A new churchyard tidy-up day would be on Saturday 1 November, from 9
to 1, followed by a pizza lunch.
10. Information updates
10.1. Safeguarding. Elaine and Erin would curate our Safeguarding webpage.
10.2. Stewarding. Johnny and Lindsey were working on new documents. James would draft
notes for stewards on accessing the defibrillator outside the Samuel Palmer pub and on CPR
advice, and liaise with the churchwardens.
10.3. Ride and Stride. This year’s event had drawn 13 people to the church.
10.4. Christmas meal/2026 PCC dates. The PCC Christmas meal was set for 7pm on 8
December, with the PCC meeting on that evening moved to 5pm. Dates for next year’s PCC
meetings – listed below – were agreed. In a change to a list circulated earlier, the March
meeting is now to be on 30 March.
11. AOB
11.1. Churchyard guide. Newly printed guides to the churchyard, of great interest to the
public, had been prepared by Ann and were distributed to a grateful PCC.
The meeting closed at about 7.30pm.
Action points
Bill to discuss Advent and Christmas with Liz Clitheroe (5.1.)
Johnny to liaise with Aircraft Museum on Remembrance service (7.1) and arrange Fabric
Committee meeting (8.1)
Elaine to talk to Liz about Christmas card artwork (7.2) and leave notices in churchyard
(9.1)
Lindsey to make dog-waste boards (9.1)
Johnny and Lindsey to prepare stewarding/user documents (10.2)
James to draft defibrillator/CPR notes (10.2)
Next meeting: 8 December at 5pm, followed by Christmas meal.
Deanery Synod: 16 October.
2026 PCC meetings: 26 January, 30 March, 11 May, 6 July, 7 September, 19 October, 7
December. (PCC Christmas meal in 2026: 14 December.)