PCC Report: January 2026

The meeting opened in prayer after which the administrative items were completed.  We received the minutes of the Standing Committee meeting. An unallocated amount in the PCC mission projects budget (£2,000) has been sent to support the work of the Bedford Winter Night Shelter.  We were also reminded that this will be the first year that the PCC have formally requested a grant for salaries from the Hall Trust denoting a new way of working.  The Lent Course this year will have a focus on prayer and will include a session on Daily Offices.  Morning and Evening prayer are still said corporately with good attendance at Morning prayer in the chapel and on Zoom.  Evening prayer is available on Zoom but this is not well supported. 

We approved the policy documents which had been discussed by Standing committee.

We approved the new sidespeople list with thanks to those who take on the important duty of welcoming people into the church on Sundays.

Part of the Mission Action Plan involves finding a new hymn book and PCC spent some time discussing what we might need and how to achieve this.  A working group will be set up to progress this and we have been fortunate enough to receive a legacy which will be used to fund it.  It is hoped to have a recommendation by September.

The Environmental Policy was received with thanks to those who had spent so much time writing the document and working towards achieving its aims.  Agreed that this should be shared more widely.

Progress on Church House are ongoing.  Thanks were recorded to those steering this item.

The Safeguarding team are covering the work of the Parish Safeguarding Officer for the time being.

The report from CCMC was received and noted that the boilers in the Centre need to be replaced.  It was agreed that we should continue our commitment to the Net zero policy and therefore we should ask if there is anyone in the congregation who could carry this item forward. 

The reworked finance budget was adopted.  This took into account various items including the Parish Share being smaller than anticipated and the Hall Trust grant greater.

Monies had been sent to the Children’s Society (£270) and Christian Aid (£3,900) from the collections at the Christmas Services.

Mission and Outreach are looking for more people to join the committee.

Natasha Vaughan will chair the February meeting.

It was agreed that we should support Kelly Agler Good during her Reader Training.

The meeting ended with prayer.