The Friends of St Anne’s Church, Kew
Registered Charity No. 1085389
Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held in the Church Hall on 15 June 2024
There was a quorum. Attending were Wendy and Paul Booth, Adrian Bradshaw, Bill Cottle, Giles Fraser, Marion and Robin Goodgame, Ben Jones, Simon Mollett, Bill Morris, Isobel Moses, Lorraine Neale, Belinda Pethick, Christine Reay, Telfer Saywell, and Margaret Walsh.
Apologies had been submitted by Howard and Susan Bailes, Carole Brougham, Rosemary Charles, Susan and Jane Hayman, Anthony and Patricia Holme, Claudine McCreadie, John Mortley, John Moses, Francesca Snow, Joan Stanton and Lynn Tandler.
Those attending the meeting appointed Giles Fraser (GF), the Friends’ President, to chair the meeting. He welcomed all attending.
1. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 17 June 2023
GF asked if anyone had questions on the minutes of last year’s meeting. Lorraine Neale noted that, at the last meeting, GF had undertaken to furnish the Friends with a list of things to be done (which the Friends might consider sponsoring) and asked if this list has been furnished. GF acknowledged that it had not been, as the PCC was working on a 20 year plan which was taking a long time to assemble. He said that the PCC has agreed a list of 6 architects who will be invited to come look around and review the church and churchyard and make recommendations. The minutes were then approved.
2. Election of Executive Committee
GF read the list of the officers (Simon Mollett (SM), Treasurer; Ben Jones (BJ), Secretary) who are presenting themselves for re-election this year, noting that we do not currently have a candidate for Chairman, and persons submitting themselves for election as elected representatives on the Executive Committee (Wendy Booth, Sian Merrylees, Belinda Pethick and Lynn Tandler). He proposed that they be voted on together, which was agreed, and all were elected, Chris Reay proposing and Paul Booth seconding. The churchwardens (Adrian Bradshaw and John Mortley) are of course also on the Committee, as provided in the Constitution.
GF said that the Committee was still pursuing a candidate for Chair and had approached a number of possibilities. He invited members attending to submit any ideas for candidates. Simon Mollett (SM) clarified that the position being proposed is not as extensive as that performed by Lorraine Neale, which included event organizing, but is people focused – ensuring a succession on the committee and of officers, facilitating communication with the committee and communicating with Friends.
3. Annual Report and Accounts
Copies of the annual report for the year 6 April 2023 to 5 April 2024, including a statement of accounts for that period, had been made available to all members. GF passed the floor over to the Treasurer.
SM reviewed the sections of the annual report and especially the section on “achievements and performance” where he noted that the planned talk by Julia Korner has had to be postponed to next year and then listed the talks planned for the autumn this year – Susan Sloman’s on British portrait miniatures and Susan Bailes’s on three British Queens and their miniature worlds, as mentioned in the report, and another, since added, by Judith Evans on Siena.
Income for the year was £12,915, somewhat evenly split into three parts of membership subscriptions (£4320), gift aid reimbursement for the last four years (£3788) and events (£4643). Expenses were slightly more than income, predominantly for our contribution to the new church audio system (£10,000) and to the cost of the verger (£3000), producing a small deficit of £774. GF said what a success the hiring of the verger had been – allowing the church to be open on most days and in enabling the church to be maintained to a much higher standard than has been the case. He said that the planned pathway through the churchyard now has the required faculty, and work should begin in September, delayed so as not to interfere with the Summer Teas. Work should take 4-6 weeks. He gave thanks to Cate Lyon and others who were involved in obtaining the faculty, a long and difficult process. He also commented on the new sound system, which is working very well and is quite discreet. A number of people have commented on how much better they can hear the service now. Lorraine Neale also praised the system but wondered if it comes within the Friends’ objects. It does enhance the church for public use. She felt that there had been an impression that the Friends were only concerned with the outside of the church but that this was only a “folk memory”. SM and BJ confirmed that the “objects” in the Constitution covered this kind of expense.
SM concluded the financial discussion by pointing out that, despite the small deficit, the Friends still had reserves of £28,772 at the end of the financial year which have since grown (due to April subscription income) to £32,625. Chris Reay asked what bank we use – SM responded the Co-Op Bank, which we switched to when required to move from Nat West. Paul Booth commented, from his experience with the Lady Capel Trust, that some banks are looking to close charitable accounts, so having to change banks is a common problem. The difficulties are enhanced if the charity changes trustees often, as for example the PCC.
Telfer Saywell proposing and Chris Reay seconding, the annual report and accounts were approved.
4. Membership
Membership as of the AGM was noted as 137.
5. Questions and Any Other Business
Wendy Booth noted that she had received an email from a member Joan Stanton questioning whether it was appropriate for the Friends to pay for the verger and for any “staff salaries” and hoped it was a one-off. SM clarified that the payment this last year was specifically only for one year but that the committee had agreed to consider continuing that support. He said the committee had indeed discussed whether it was within the charity’s objects and concluded that it is – improving public access and aiding in the “preservation, repair, maintenance” of the building and the chattels within. He also noted that section 4(7) allows the Friends to employ staff to help pursue its objects. Chris Reay agreed that Glyn has been a great asset. GF passed around the visitors book with many favourable comments. He noted that the verger is a secular job, not a church function, and Glyn is not even a churchgoer. Lorraine Neale, Bill Cottle and Telfer Saywell added favourable comments about his contribution. SM asked those attending if anyone shared Joan’s concerns and no one responded. GF then asked for a vote on whether the Friends should continue to make a contribution to the cost of a verger; all those present were in favour. Wendy will respond to Joan, noting that we are only making a partial contribution to the cost of the position, not paying for it.
It was agreed that this demonstrated that the Constitution should be posted on the Friends’ website so members can better understand the charity’s objects and powers. The Secretary will forward a copy to Paul Booth who will put it on. In this connection, Lorraine asked who was administering the website at the moment, it being noted that Adam Watson who has been so helpful with it, has been ill. SM said that, whenever we need something posted, we ask Adam or Paul. There was some discussion about ticketing on the website which is sometimes troublesome but does work. We have had to switch to PayPal for donations.
Lorraine asked about cleaning the church windows. GF noted that it is not currently being done and wondered if it might be something the Friends could help with. It is an expensive undertaking. He also referred to the churchyard monuments, many of them damaged and some potentially dangerous. This needs to be looked at.
Bill Morris said he had some ideas for possible Friends activities and would talk to GF about them.
Finally SM thanked Lorraine for leaving the Friends in such a healthy state, all the committee members and especially the membership for their continuing support. He singled out Rosie Charles, Jenny Tonge, Paul Booth and Bill Cottle for their help with events and Adam Watson and Paul for IT support.
GF offered to take those attending around the church and churchyard to show them his ideas and concerns. Bill Cottle, as the co-ordinator of the lawn mowers, pointed out that people would find that some areas were being left un-mowed to allow wildflowers to flourish.
There being no further business, GF thanked the members for their attendance and closed the meeting.