## **BALLYMACARRETT PARISH CHURCH** ## **FOURTEENTH ANNUAL EASTER VESTRY** ## **15 APRIL 2024** ## **PRESENT** **Canon Dr Helene Steed Catherine Allison Alex Cooke Brian Hilton Kevin Holt Eileen Linder Isobel McKendrick Beverley Russell-Browne Irene Vance Roy Vance** **Anne Allan Catherine Bradley Betty Duckett John Holland Jennifer Jemphrey Edith Magill Kathleen Rainey Lilian Stokes Philip Vance** ## **OPENING** Canon Dr Steed opened the meeting with prayer and a Bible reading. ## **APOLOGIES** ## **Elaine Bickerstaff, Geoffrey McConnell,** ## **MINUTES OF THE 2023 ANNUAL EASTER VESTRY** The minutes were read by Canon Dr Steed. It was proposed by Kevin Holt, seconded by Brian Hilton and unanimously agreed that they be adopted. ## **MATTERS ARISING** None ## **CHAIRMAN’S REPORT** Canon Dr Steed thanked the outgoing and incoming Select Vestry for their work and also thanked Alex Cooke and Brian Hilton for taking services during the vacancy in the parish. She stated that the congregation needs to be united and to pray continuously for the future of the parish and suggested that prayer cards should be produced for the congregation. She reminded those present that the Bishop had reassured the congregation that the church would not be closing and there would continue to be a traditional service while there was a need for it. Dr Steed concluded by asking those present to stand, in silence, as an act of remembrance for those in the parish who had died in the past year. ## **FINANCE** Copies of the Annual Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2023 were distributed to those present. The Hon Treasurer said they had been audited by Richard McClay of McCreery Turkington Stockman Ltd and approved by the Select Vestry. The Hon Treasurer reported that the year ended with a balance of £54,150; last year ended with a balance of £74,871, a deficit of £20,72l. This has been the trend for the last number of years. FWO was down by £900. No Gift Aid was allocated in the year due to a hold up with the HMRC despite the strenuous efforts by Alex Cooke to recover the money. However, we have now received the amount of £7,635 from HMRC which will be included in the current year’s accounts. Our maintenance fund was greatly enhanced by a generous gift from a parishioner. Income from the rental of St Martin’s was up, due to the Salvation Army owing £2,000 from the year before. Rental income from St Martin’s and Ascot Park is a necessity for us. Charitable Activity and Support costs (covering every day running of the Church and properties) increased by £13,716. We must remember we have three Churches, three Church Halls and two Rectories to care for, which is a big burden on our finances and will be on the agenda for the new Select Vestry to explore and make decisions We ended the year with £54,150 but we have, due to the Quinnquenial Reports on our properties, a lot of expense ahead of us in maintaining these properties, not least of which will be the Rectory. The Hon. Treasurer finished by expressing thanks to Gemma Hilton for all her work during the year, and her guidance in the preparation of the accounts, and gratitude that she is able attend the meeting. The Treasurer also thanked the counters, Beverley, Betty, Edith and Irene and their backups Kevin and John, who each fortnight count our envelopes and do the lodgements. On behalf of the Select Vestry, she also expressed thanks to Canon Steed for her leadership and support since the Rector retired. Also to Canon Russell, whose pastoral visits have been a great success. To Alex Cooke for his visiting and also continuing to take Tuesday morning prayers; and to David Jardine, Gary Roberts, Brian Hilton, Rev. G. Gimpel, Rev. Francy McCrea and Rev. Henry Hull for taking Sunday and Lenten services over these past few months. And last, but by no means least, to our wonderful congregation who week by week support the Church, physically as well as financially. Knowing that the almighty looks down on us each Sunday and says “There’s life in the Ole codgers yet”. ## **APPOINTMENTS AND ELECTIONS** Canon Dr Steed appointed **Jennifer Jemphrey** as the Rector’s Churchwarden and **Kevin Holt** as Rector’s Glebewarden. **People’s Churchwarden: Roy Vance:** proposed by John Holland and seconded by Edith Magill. **People’s Glebewarden: John Holland,** proposed by Kevin Holt and seconded by Anne Allan. The following were proposed, seconded and unanimously elected to the Select Vestry:- **Anne Allan, Catherine Bradley, Alex Cooke, Betty Duckett, Brian Hilton, Edith Magill, Geoffrey McConnell, Isobel McKendrick, Irene Vance, Philip Vance** **Auditor:** Anne Allan proposed and Beverley Russell Browne seconded that **Richard McClay of McCreery, Turkington Stockman Ltd.** be reappointed auditor. This was agreed. ## **Closing:** There being no other business, the meeting was closed with The Grace. **Signed:_________________________ Dated:___________________**