Calne and Blackland PCC

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

CALNE & BLACKLAND PCC Minutes of meeting – 16^th July 2026

Present: Revd Caspar Bush(Chair); Stan Anniss; Richard Aldhous; Jonathan Billings; Phil Bond; Carolyn Burleson-Webb(Zoom); Jenny Colby; Steven Colby; Steve Keighley; Kathryn Miller; Mary Pilcher-Clayton; Jane Ridgwell; Jack Robinson(Zoom); Eddie Sims; Graham Spencer(Zoom); Kevin Wells;  -  Jane Wells(notes)

Guest – Emmy Butcher

Apologies: Alex Grenfell; Lucy Hemmings; Caroline Williamson

Caspar opened the meeting with prayer

1 Calne Community Business Champions for Project 2026 – Emmy has joined Project 2026 Fund Raising Team and presented the initiative to PCC.

No networking events in Calne on offer for businesses – there is to be a Wine & Cheese Networking Evening in St Mary’s on 30^th September at 7pm to launch the Calne Community Business Champions for Project 2026.

ACTION: Eddie will advertise at Chippenham Chamber of Commerce – to be advertised on social media (Emmy set up facebook group?)

PCC asked to approve the name, and the launch event - Proposed: Richard Aldhous;  Seconded: Steve Keighley – passed nem com

2 Minutes of Meeting 14^th May 2026: signed as correct record

   Matters arising: item 17 – closer on North door – door still very heavy to open

ACTION: Richard to obtain and fit new lighter door closer

3 Rector’s report:

• Inclusive church – not much response to date
• Film for Sustainable Calne – 40 mins documentary called Peoples Emergency Briefing – St Mary’s – 24^th September – show film, discussion, cup of tea – to raise awareness – PCC approved
• Lumos Candlelit Concert – 30^th October – they organise/advertise

Question: do we still get donation if tickets not sold out? Caspar to ask

PCC were asked by email between meetings - agreed

• Wednesday coffee – offer to host coffee in St Mary’s on Wednesdays – possibly in morning after Eucharist? PCC agreed with this offer
• LPA/LWL training – Diocese training scheme for these commissioned ministries.

1candidate in Benefice at the moment for each ministry

Question: are there cost implications? None known  PCC agreed subject to internal references/safe guarding

4 Finance: Accounts January – June 2026 presented to PCC, showing an overspend of £5898 over the period. Planned giving down little over last year same period. Over £16K in HT Field - £10K to be taken from there to pay towards Parish Share (£30K paid to date of £80K+ total) Proposed: Graham Spencer; seconded: Jonathan Billings – passed nem com

4 Finance (continued): St Peter’s congregation to be approached to contribute (£11K?) towards Parish Share.

Question: Where has the £16K in HT Field come from? Small HT accounts amalgamated – also interest accumulated over the years.

Question: Why is planned giving figure down on last year? Congregation members altering figure donated – moved away – deceased.

Question: Over £1400 in CAMEO Activities – group no longer exists? To be looked into

5 Project 2026:

1. Fundraising update- next event Coffee Morning/Tower Tours – 10^th October
2. Grant application progress – 16 applications so far – further 6 in hand – some grant providers only meet every 6 months so may be lengthy process.  Our application to the Place of Worship Renewal Fund (meant to replace the VAT-reclaim scheme) has not been successful – can be applied for again in 6 months
3. Kitchen design proposals – Servery plans presented – Proposed: Steve Keighley; seconded: Richard Aldhous – passed nem com
4. Faculty/building design/timeline – approvals hoped by end January 27 – tenders applied for at same time as plans to Chancellor – contracts February 27 – works hopefully start end March 27 (Easter 28^th March) – 9 months to complete
5. Implications for 2027 – West End out of bounds once work starts – pews in South Chapel removed so social/server can be re-located there

6 Buildings maintenance/churchyards:

• St Mary’s- Quinquennial inspection showed no roof alarm - roof assessment to be completed – final report to follow
• St Peter’s –  Quinquennial inspection highlighted issue with porch and clergy vestry (have foundations unlike rest of building) – looking at options to resolve
• HT Churchyard – maintenance morning postponed to 8^th August
• HT Churchyard – spoil – quote received from Turners £3180 inc VAT – comparative quote to be sought – Proposal – if this is best quote received, this will be accepted Proposed: Kevin Wells; seconded: Steve Keighley – passed nem com
• Allotments transfer – still ongoing!
• First Aid boxes – ACTION: need someone to check First Aid boxes in all premises
• Fire Risk assessments – ACTION: needed for all premises (following  extinguisher checks)

7 St Mary’s Music:  Recruitment event for Young Voices in early September

8 Safeguarding:  those needing to renew DBS have been contacted

9 Worship, Prayer & Discipleship:

1. Study groups – Apocrypha course well received – Autumn series on prayer
2. Prayer at St Mary’s – 4^th Saturday of month at 9:30am (25^th July; 22^nd August etc)
3. Quiet morning – held at Compton Bassett on 20^th June – enjoyed by attendees
4. St Mary’s Patronal Festival – Sunday 6^th September – 10am
5. St Mary’s School – in St Mary’s 10am on Sunday 20^th September
6. Harvest Festival – Holy Trinity 10:45 27^th September; St Peter’s 5pm Evensong on 27^th September; St Mary’s 10am 18^th October; Holy Trinity Family service 10am 18^th October
7. CMAF Festival Evensong – 6pm Bishop Alan Smith
8. Remembering services – H T 6pm 18^th October; St M 3pm 1^st November
1. Remembrance Sunday – 10am Sunday 8^th November
10. Confirmation – St Mary’s 5pm with Bishop Karen

10 St Mary’s church unlocking: nothing to report

11 Other groups: Bereavement café; St Mary’s Craft Group – nothing to report

12 Other future events:

1. Eden Bridge festival – at Bremhill Vineyard 22^nd August
2. Ride and Stride – 12^th September
3. Coffee Morning /Tower tours (Project 26) – 10^th October
4. Christmas Tree festival – 26^th – 29^th November

13 Deanery Synod:

1. Synod – at Derry Hill – Use of Church spaces – 17^th September
2. Deanery Confirmation – St Mary’s 5pm 21^st November
3. Deanery Evensong – Heddington – 4pm on 22^nd November
4. Synod – Diocesan Finance Director Elizabeth Harvey – 25^th February

14 Partnership of Churches: - please attend 1 service a year at least!!

1. 19^th July – 6pm at St Edmunds
2. 25^th October – 6pm at Baptists (venue tbc)

15 Children/young people/schools:

• SMUFS – numbers low – 1 helper leaving – ACTION: appeal to congregations
• Open the Book Team – 8 in team – to take part in service in St Mary’s in Autumn

16 AOB:  Grant to Ordinand: PCC approved grant to Gareth Lovell (ordinand) for £1K – approval by email between meetings

17 Date of next meetings: Standing – 2^nd September        PCC 16^th September

                                                         Standing – 4^th November          PCC 19^th November