Parochial Church Council

Holy Land 2002: The Vicar said that he would be going to the Holy Land next January with a clergy group. He asked if members of the parishes would like to consider going the following year. There seemed to be some enthusiasm for this.

The Vicar said that he would be taking Swaffham Bulbeck to Clare Priory on an Away-Day, and would like to take others from the benefice. This would probably be next Spring. He was also planning an evening excursion to an historical holy place.

2. Treasurer’s Reports

(a) Reach

Norah Smith reported that the Current a/c contained £1900.82p; the Business a/c was at £2763.85p.

Reach Gift Day envelopes would go out on Saturday October 7^th. A Gift-Aid declaration would be put on the back. Jen Holmwood needed help with distributing these. The Appeal leaflet would also go out.

(b) Swaffham Prior

In the absence of Michael Cazenove, the Vicar presented the accounts Jan 1^st – September 21^st . There had been a very good response to Gift Day – over £2000 had been given.

The Treasurer had expressed a wish to resign as Treasurer in 2001. We should have to find a new Treasurer before the next vestry meeting.

3. Social Working Groups’ Reports

The Recipe Book would be ready for Christmas.

The Harvest Supper would be on Friday, 29^th September in Reach Village Centre.

St Etheldreda’s Fair and Gift Day Saturday October 14^th – Gifts of produce etc. needed.

Future events:

Harvest Supper, 7^th October, St Cyriac’s, 7.00 for 7.30 p.m.

Salvation Army Evening, 14^th October, St Mary’s, 6.30 p.m.

Winter Quiz, November 18^th, 7.30 p.m.

Advent by Candlelight, 3^rd December, 4.00 p.m.

4. Fabric Working Groups’ Reports

The new safe had been built into the wall of the vestry. (b) The organ was still crackling – an electronics engineer was needed. (c) The glass door was still catching on the floor. Ivett and Read would cut a new piece of stone to go on the floor under the door. (d) Vestry: a new scheme was needed to tidy up the vestry, with new cupboards. The PCC agreed nem.con. to go ahead with this. John Norris would give some ideas to the architect. (e) The proposed toilet and extension to the Vicar’s study had not been approved by the Diocesan Housing Association, for very unconvincing reasons. More letters would be written to ask for their consideration. (f) The churchyard wall had fallen down into Barbara Ives’ garden. E.C.D.C. are seeing to the rebuilding of the walls. (g) The lime trees obscuring the clock ought to be trimmed. (h) A Faculty has been applied for to erect a lamp standard by the yew bush opposite St Cyriac’s doorway. (i) The Lewis family are donating a seat for the churchyard to be placed under the cedar tree. Archdeacon’s advice is to be sought.

We are awaiting another tender to get the font moved. Water for the church would have to be taken from a pipe in the road as the Village Hall did not want the church to use their water pipe. It was suggested that to save expense, Reach Church could be connected to the Village Hall supply with a tick metre to determine how much water had been used by the church. Village Hall committee to be re-approached. Norah reported her lack of success in getting a wasps’ nest removed from the roof. There was also a drainpipe leaking, which needed the attention of a builder.

8. Vicar

The Vicar distributed copies of the worship pattern for October-January. He reported that we now have two ordinands attached to the parish: Silke, as before, and Jonathan Strickland, from Ridley Hall.

The Vicar suggested that there should be more reciprocity between the churches in the benefice. Perhaps we should support each others’ social events sometimes.

Next Meeting: Wednesday 22^nd November 7.30 p.m. at Reach Village Centre.

Jenny Moseley