The PCC is the 'management committee' of our Parish and meets approximately 6 times a year.
Current members are:
Ex-Officio: Enid Powell (Licensed Lay Minister),Steve Keighley (Churchwarden), Jonathan Billings (Churchwarden), Caroline Williamson (Churchwarden), Lucy Hemmings (Churchwarden) Caspar Bush, Sarah Errington
Deanery Synod Representatives: Stan Anniss, Mary Pilcher-Clayton,
PCC Members: Richard Aldhous, Jack Robinson, Graham Spencer, Kevin Wells, David Munday, Jane Ridgwell, Kathryn Miller, Deirdre Aldhous, Eddie Sims, Mary Pilcher-Clayton
Click HERE to see the annual report and account for 2023
Click Here to see the notes from the APCM in April 2025
CALNE & BLACKLAND PCC – Minutes of meeting 6th November 2025
Present: Revd Caspar Bush(Chair); Richard Aldhous; Stan Anniss; Jonathan Billings; Phil Bond;
Carolyn Burleson-Webb; Jenny Colby; Steven Colby; Rose Cooper; Alex Grenfell;
Lucy Hemmings; Mary Pilcher-Clayton; Jane Ridgwell; Jack Robinson(on Zoom); Eddie Sims;
Graham Spencer(on Zoom); Revd Carly Taylor(on Zoom); Kevin Wells;
Caroline Williamson(on Zoom) Apologies: Deirdre Aldhous; Steven Keighley; Kathryn Miller
1 Prayers/welcome: Caspar welcomed members in room and on Zoom, Psalm 118, prayer
2 Minutes of PCC 4th September 2025/matters arising: Minutes approved as correct record.
Matters arising:
- Church opening Monday 2-4pm – approved by e-mail (18 for, 0 against, 3 abstention)
- Eco champion (Alice Forbes Eldridge) St Mary’s - approved by e-mail(16 for,5 abstention)
- item 3(g) – all 6 meters now with Scottish Power at better rate than first thought!
ACTION: Graham to sign e-mail to confirm
- item AOB Woottens – service now at Baptist Church
- item 4 – date changes – concert in January now on 31st; March coffee morning now on 7th; barn dance/auction now on June 6th;
3 Finance: Treasurer report: Graham explained he has always used Data Developments as system is easier to work with than others – My Fund Accounting is part of Data Developments. Graham has made this proposal: Proposal to move PCC accounting and record keeping to ‘My Fund Accounting’ at a cost of £9 per month (Salisbury negotiated rate – normally £15 monthly) Proposed: Graham Spencer – seconded: Stan Anniss, passed with all in favour. Change to take effect January 2026, Graham asks for patience as he adjusts to new system.
There have been some discrepancies on Collection Counting Sheets – Graham reminded that these sheets are statutory financial sheets (kept for 6 years) – also vestry books need to be accurate record of donations
Holy Trinity Field Trust – Graham has been in touch with Elizabeth Wallis (Trust and Property Registration Officer) at Diocese – figure available for Project 2026 to date is £242k (£42k endowment trust funds, £100k HTFT, £100k donations) – grant givers often look 50% of project funds raised in advance of giving grants – figure is short at moment so request of £85k be made available IF NEEDED to underwrite shortfall. Proposal is to ask the Diocese for a letter confirming the availability of £85k if needed. Proposed: Revd Caspar Bush – seconded Richard Aldhous, passed with all in favour.
Graham reminded PCC that the Diocese hold our money in trust – less money held = less assets
4 Electoral Roll update: 2 addresses updated – 3 people added bringing total to 177 on Roll
5 St Mary’s improvements: A representative (Emma Davies)from Heritage Lottery Fund visited today – after looking at plans etc for project, she is happy for a full application to be made (after other grants received) – stressed importance of making case for heritage aspect – other grants will start to be applied for now. The architect is finalizing faculty application this week.
Bell – the large bell at back of St Mary’s – contact has been made with organisation who re-home bells – someone in Yorkshire is interested in using as a training bell Proposal is that the bell be re-homed appropriately. Proposed: Jane Ridgwell – seconded Mary Pilcher-Clayton,
Passed with all in favour
6 Buildings maintenance & churchyards:
Fire extinguishers have been checked – foam ones being replaced.
Heating check at Church House – boiler serviced and advise that will need to be replaced probably in 2026 ACTION: Richard to obtain quote for replacing boiler
New heating controls fitted in St Mary’s – thermostat frost control at Holy Trinity
HT Churchyard – church conveyancer submitted proposal of transfer of land – Chancellor confirmed faculty is needed to complete transfer ACTION: Caspar to complete faculty
Allotment holders advised of termination at end of December 2025 (offer of new from CTC)
7 St Mary’s church – unlocking: CCTV – records to computer in box – it was decided to source new computer and system. Confirmation church system is not connected to town system.
Locked cupboards now in operation in church. Proposal that Jonathan and Richard investigate removal and replacement of system up to an amount of £1060.80 (quote recd)
Proposed: Revd Caspar Bush – seconded: Kevin Wells, passed with all in favour
ACTION: Jonathan and Richard to investigate
Choir vestry – bolt to lock needs to be sorted. Guides did Risk Assessment for their Summer service – ACTION: Jonathan to ask Guides to see their report
Locking/unlocking – rota needed – ACTION: Carly has volunteered to sort this rota
Votive candles – to light real candles is important for some – Carly and Joanna Childs have volunteered to remove/replace candles/LED alternatives as necessary – compromise may be to extinguish lit candles if church being left open after services. Option of timed lock on door to lock up? Is there a set period to evaluate how opening is going? Proposal is that, subject to CCTV working and locking/unlocking rota in place, St Mary’s be open 9am-4pm from Monday 1st December 2025. Proposed: Mary Pilcher-Clayton – seconded: Carolyn Burleson-Webb, passed with all in favour.
8 Director of Music: Young Voices have taken part in Eucharist service – singing at Christmas Tree Festival and Carol service at St Mary’s – plan to take part in 10am services from February, initially once a month.
9 Safeguarding: Eddie gave report –
- APCS Data Breach in August affecting 6 of DBS applicants – informed, advice given
- Safer recruitment is ongoing
- DBS checks renewed every 3 years – registering with new provider (31.8)
- Training continuing on 3 year cycle
- Eddie is also undertaking risk assessments as needed
10 Worship, Prayer & Discipleship:
- Prayer leaflet update complete
- Prayer opportunity late pm/early evening; eg. 5 0r 5:30pm – team to discuss opportunities
- Lent groups – Calne Partnership proposal to do The Difference Course across the churches, meeting in individual houses
11 Craft group proposal: Tamara Davis & Tonia Grouch – Monday 10-12noon in upstairs room in Church House – no storage needed – starting 26th January 2026
PCC propose acceptance of craft group beginning in January 2026
Proposed: Revd Carly Taylor - seconded: Mary Pilcher-Clayton, passed with all in favour
12 Calne Exchange Christmas appeal: leaflets etc to be in church – congregations encouraged to donate to appeal
13 Future events/services:
- Confirmation Foxham - +Stephen - 18th November 6pm – 6 candidates + 1 Roman Cath
- Deanery evensong Hilmarton 23rd November 4pm
- Bereavement café 1st Wednesday monthly (1st one on 5th – well received)
- Christmas Tree Festival – 27th Nov 4-8:30(Silver Band); 28th Nov 11-7:30(St Mary’s choir)
29th Nov 12-6; 30th after 10am service till 4pm
- Benefice Advent Carol Service Bremhill 30th November 6pm
- Blue Christmas St Mary’s 18th December 7pm
- Carol services 21st Dec HT at 10am; St Peter’s at 3pm; St Mary’s at 6pm
- Christmas Eve/Day as usual
- FOSP (Friends of St Peter’s) fundraising event – 4th June 2026 7pm
14 Friends groups: FOSM – have made decision to dissolve itself from 31/3/26 with funds being transferred to PCC under restricted heading to be used for St Mary’s fabric
FOHTCC – have this week made same decision as FOSM – funds to PCC under restricted heading for Holy Trinity after necessary advice sought
15 Deanery Synod: Deanery Synod met on 18th September, looking at each Benefice
- Light church in Wootton Bassett – also band led worship monthly in Lyneham
- Woodhill Benefice (Lyneham, Clyffe Pypard, Broad Town, Hilmarton, Bradenstoke & Tockenham) vacancy has been advertised
16 Calne Partnership Churches: still running Messy Church (varying numbers attending);
- Open the Book still need more men
- producing Christmas leaflet of all church services
- Nativity dressing up at Lights switch-on 29th November
17 Children/young people/schools:
- SMUFS numbers very low.
- Holy Trinity – Steven chair of governors - Carly also now Governor
18 Keith and Eve: relinquishing sacristan duties at end of year. Eve will continue ordering candles etc – other jobs to be shared out
19 AOB: HT churchyard maintenance – is Saturday 8th November
Sponsored hymn playing – Mary will finish her sponsored hymn playing tomorrow
Christmas charity – Sudan fund ACTION: Caspar to find fund to donate to
Graham to print giving envelopes
Date of next meetings: Wednesday 7th January 7pm - Standing committee
Thursday 22nd January 7:30pm - PCC