The Parochial Church Council (PCC)

Wantage Parish is a charity, and the PCC is the legally responsible governing body. Members of the PCC are Trustees, elected from the worshipping members of both churches. The PCC meets approximately every other month.

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held on Sunday 18 May 2025 at 5.30pm, following Evening Prayer at 5pm.

The Annual Report and Accounts covering the year 2024 has been prepared for the meeting.

Please note this document is in pdf format. If you use assistive technology which cannot read pdf files please contact us and we can send it to you in an alternative format.

PCC Meeting 25 March 2025

The PCC met on 25 March, the Feast of the Annunciation. The main focus of the meeting was safeguarding and we were joined by Matt Godfrey, Safeguarding Officer, for the mandatory annual revision of safeguarding policies. Most were re-approved, with some further changes to be made to one document. We also revised Health and Safety and related policies in preparation for an Archdeacon’s Inspection in May.

Other items included:

The first draft of the Annual Report for 2024, which will need to be finalised before the APCM in May.
A discussion on how we could reduce printing costs for pewsheets.
Further details about the bid application to the Diocese to fund the Children and Families role.

PCC Meeting 5 February 2025

The PCC met on 5 February 2025, and appointed Erica Mackay as our new PCC secretary.

The main item on the agenda was a Financial Sustainability Plan presented by the Treasurer. The PCC agreed that:

We would not seek to cut costs by reducing ministry, administrative staff, or music activity, but we would apply for grant funding wherever possible, as well as seeking efficiencies by looking for energy saving initiatives, and reviewing current contracts and suppliers.
Our main focus should be on increasing our income. Many of the ambitions are already agreed, e.g. increasing donations from visitors and occasional services, maximising how often our church buildings are hired out, promoting legacy giving.
Volunteer time is already stretched, so fundraising should focus on activities which raise the most money for the least input of effort, as well as prioritising mission and outreach.
We should explore other avenues for income including grants, semi-commercial or community activities, and (especially for the building project) a friends’ scheme focusing on ringfenced funds for specific purposes.

The PCC also:

Agreed that the trial period for the services of The Well and Storytime Service be brought to an end. These services have not achieved the hoped-for aim of reaching new people, and take a disproportionate amount of preparation. For the time being, the Vigil will alternate with a service of Evening Prayer at 4pm on Saturdays. James Clarke will be tasked with exploring alternative options for outreach to families.
Agreed to extend the Parish Assistant for Children and Families contract for a further 12 months from September 2025 and apply to the diocese for funding for this post.
Agreed the final colour and wording for the new external noticeboard at the Parish Church, and authorised the vicar and churchwardens to seek approval from the diocese and local authority. The location for the Holy Trinity board is still not resolved.
Noted the next steps in the building project, which are to seek input from architects and other experts. There are no costs at this stage.
Noted that further advice will be sought about our health and safety obligations in relation to incense.
Approved the renewal of a loan to the Museum of a medieval carved stone.

Previous PCC Meeting Summaries:

The Parochial Church Council (PCC)

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