Minutes of the Chapter AGM 2013

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary – Chapter of St Birinus held on 13th March 2013 at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Kidlington.

Present: Bros. Trevor Langrish, Ben Heffer (chair), Ken Belcher and Dennis Dean; Srs. Susan Greenaway, Jenney Dowdeswell and Angela Dean; supporters Pam Cooper and Barbara Belcher.

1. Opening Prayer – Bro. Ben Heffer opened the meeting with prayer.

2. Apologies for Absence – apologies were received from Revd Jason St John Nicolle and Revd William Whyte; Bro Bruce Armour and Mrs Armour, Bro Kim Clowseley.

3. Minutes of the AGM 2012 – the minutes of the meeting held on 14th March 2012 were read and approved. Proposed: Trevor Langrish. Seconded: Dennis Dean.

4. Matters Arising – Bro Treasurer confirmed that £70 was sent to the Candidates for Ordination Fund (COF) as agreed. It was noted that there had been no increase in the numbers attending chapter meetings and the poor attendances referred to in the minutes had continued.

5. Secretary’s Report – Bro Ben Heffer presented the Secretary’s Report. The roll stands at 24 comprising 15 members, seven life members and two associates. Many of these are infirm and do not attend chapter meetings. Bro Ben recorded with sadness the death of Bro Sid Cox of Didcot. The chapter met four times in the year, at St Mary’s Kidlington in March and September, at Hampton Poyle in May and at St John’s Church, Kidlington in November. At the meeting in September a presentation was made to Canon Anthony Ellis to mark his retirement and as a thank you for his support for the chapter during his time in Kidlington. It was reported that attendances have been very poor with little more than 10 people typically attending meetings. Bro Ben reported that following the resignation of Cllr Clive Tilling, the position of group councillor had not been filled. He extended thanks to the clergy particularly those from Kidlington, Canon Anthony Ellis now retired and Revd William Whyte, for their support and to Bro Trevor Langrish for his work as Treasurer and to David Murray for playing the organ. Bro Ben indicated that he would not be seeking re-election as chapter secretary.

6. Treasurer’s Report – Bro Trevor presented the audited accounts and Treasurer's Report, which were approved and accepted. Proposed: Ken Belcher. Seconded: Angela Dean. Bro. Trevor reported that Michael Ling had audited the accounts and that the amendments in presentation he suggested last year had been incorporated into the balance sheet this time. There had been little activity in the chapter’s finances: income was £146.04 and expenditure was £102.00. At the end of the year, the chapter’s balance stood at £1,306.88. It was noted though that the secretary’s expenses for 2012 of £188.56, which were late in presentation had not yet been paid. Bro Trevor indicated that he would not be seeking re-election as chapter treasurer.

7. Election of Chapter Officers – There were no nominations for the position of chapter secretary and chapter treasurer. In view of this and the continued poor attendances at chapter meetings it was agreed that the Secretary-General would be asked to put the chapter into abeyance.

8. Chapter Programme 2013 – No further chapter meetings will be held. It was suggested that a meeting (not under the auspices of the GSS) for the servers in Kidlington could be convened on an annual basis.

9. Any Other Business – It was noted that once any money owing had been paid, the chapter books would be brought to final account and the chapter’s assets handed over to the Secretary-General to be held in safekeeping until such time as the Oxford chapter could be reformed. It was noted that members of the chapter continue to be members of the GSS and receive news of GSS events via the quarterly edition of The Server. Subscriptions, where applicable, should continue to be paid direct to the GSS by direct debit or another means acceptable to the Secretary-General. It was noted that the chapter owns a number of items of minimal resale value associated with its worship activities. These are kept in St Mary’s Church, Kidlington and it is anticipated that this arrangement can continue. It was the will of the meeting that these items, which are frequently used by the servers and clergy in Kidlington, could continue to be made available to them. On behalf of the meeting, Bro Ken Belcher thanked Bros Ben Heffer and Trevor Langrish for their many years of service the St Birinus Chapter.

10. Closing Prayer – Bro ben closed the meeting with prayer.