Parochial Church Council

The Treasurer, Michael Cazenove, presented the Receipts and Payments account from January to November. The cost of the repair to the vestry chimney (£4623.30) had been included under Payments, so the deficit appeared much greater than it was. The actual deficit was £3018, which is slightly better than last year. Covenants and FWO were up but collections were down. We need to concentrate on fund-raising. The Village Christmas Market, the profits of which were to be shared between the Church and the Village Hall, was thought to have raised over £1000.

Laura Luckyn-Malone, who has taken on the role of Gift Aid Officer as well as Treasurer, presented a Summary Sheet of the Reach accounts. She felt that the Reach villagers should be made aware of how the legacy was to be used and showed the PCC a draft of a letter she had composed for their information. She also suggested that we might set up a Trust or a Friends’ scheme.

There was some discussion of how much of the collection on Remembrance Sunday should go to the British Legion. It was suggested that £20 should go to the Reach War Memorial Appeal and £20 to the British Legion.

2. Social Working Groups’ Reports

Jan Robinson reported that £326 had been raised at St Etheldreda’s Fair on October 12^th. Mince pies to be served with tea after the Carol Service this year on December 23^rd. The Social Working Group would be convening to make arrangements for next year.

The Vicar reported on the meeting of 8^th November. The Quiz had raised £134. The Christmas Market had raised about £1000 to be shared between Church and Village Hall. Thanks were given to all who had contributed. The Travelling Crib would be launched on December 1^st. At the “Advent by Candlelight” service on December 2^nd mince pies and mulled wine would be served. A list of next year’s social events was circulated, including arrangements for the Festival Weekends in June. Attention was drawn to the “Bring and Share” Village Lunch at the Village Hall on January 1^st ; the Ash Wednesday Concert of Cambridge Voices on February 13^th; the Bulb Walk and Coffee Morning, 10.30 a.m. at the Manor House, Lower End on March 7^th, the Buffet Concert with Cambridge Voices at Swaffham Prior House on Friday May 10^th to raise money for the Centenary Restoration Fund ; and a Marquee event at Goodwin Manor on June 2^nd.

There was some discussion about refreshments to be offered after special services, especially Christingle and the Carol Service. The next meeting of the Social Working Group would be at the Manor House at 8.00 p.m. on 26^th January.

3. Fabric and Finance Working Groups’ Reports

Doreen Robinson reported that Ian Frearson from Freeland Rees and Roberts was working on a specification for the re- ordering and the work would soon go out to tender, hopefully to local builders and craftsmen, and as soon as possible. Some of the Quinquennial repairs should be prioritised, and a start should be made on these as well in the near future.

John Norris reported that the Faculty for the vestry refurbishment which had expired, had now been extended. The new safe was to be installed under the window above the worktop. The timber had been ordered for the cupboards, which would be fitted in January. The vestry door has to be made waterproof, and ventilators have been ordered to mitigate the damp. The light outside St Cyriac’s has now been installed and is working satisfactorily. Thanks are due to Francis Reeks, Tim Doe and Martin Mead for help in the installation. The tree officer has been helpful in allowing permission to tidy up trees in the churchyard. The boundary wall repairs seem to be prohibitively expensive, but they are the concern of the ECDC, working with our architect. The clock striking mechanism is too quiet to be heard – this will be fixed. Rev. Dr. L. Broughton has advised on the suggestion of a replacement pulpit, to be carved to match the screen, and has suggested a new, lower lectern to match – PCC members supported this. The electrophonic organ is in very poor repair and seems to be nearing its end, in spite of Sidney Hewitt’s attempts to revive it.

Wednesday 30^th January. 2002, 7.30 p.m. at Reach Village Centre.

Jenny Moseley

The Electoral Roll of a Church is not to be confused with the Electoral Roll of a local authority, though it is similar in purpose. It is a list of baptised lay members of a church who live in the parish or who are regular worshippers. Membership means being able to speak at and vote at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting of the parish. It is a way of ensuring that the people of a Parish Church have a representative voice in its affairs. The Roll is updated yearly by the Electoral Roll Officer, appointed by the Church Council, but every 6 years every Church must begin a completely new Roll. This Roll must be in 'place before the next APCM and so we have begun the process of enrolling members. This must be done 'from scratch' and even if you have been on the Roll for many years you will still need to complete and sign an application form. Of course, the Roll is open to those who are not yet members.

These forms, along with a sheet explaining the Electoral Roll in more detail, are now available in St. Etheldredas,

If you have any questions about whether or not you qualify, or what is involved, please contact the Electoral Roll Officer, Mrs Jan Holmwood (742969) who will be happy to help you.