ST ANDREW’S PSALTER LANE CHURCH
Minutes of the Ecumenical Church Council meeting, Tuesday 22nd July 2025
Present: Anna Calvert (AC) in the Chair, Bill Atherton (BA), Jenny Bywaters (JB), Jenny
Carpenter (JC), Caroline Cripps (CC), John Cripps (JCC), Joseph Dey (JD), Anna Harvey (AHa),
Anne Hollows (AHo). Clare Loughridge (CL), Janet Loughridge (JL), Mary Mitchell (MM), Peter
Mitchell (PM), Alastair Morris (AM), Rachel Morris (RM), Jan Owen (JO), Judith Roberts (JRo),
Pete Sandford (PS)
1. The meeting opened with prayer
2. Welcome AC welcomed everyone to the meeting.
. Apologies had been received from Revd Naomi Cooke, Emma Handy, John Harding,
Julie Jordan-Brown, Rev Joy Rulton.
Forms to be filled in: members were asked to fill in the necessary forms
Notice of Pecuniary interests - signed by members not at last meeting and present
Fit and Proper person Declaration - be signed by members not at last meeting and present
3. Items for Any Other Business:
Sound at weddings and funerals – see Property & Finance report.
4. Minutes of the ECC meeting held on 19th May 18th February 2025 were accepted as a
true record and signed.
5. Matters arising not already on the agenda:
MM had asked about the solar panel battery box, and whether there would be any
money left after installation - JCC said there would, but he did not know how much.
Emma Handy had said there should be an explanation about the bread and 2 sorts
of wine at all Communion services – PS said this should be considered part of
SAPLC’s inclusivity and be provided during HC services.
6. Minister’s leave of absence:
a. Worship: AC reported that
Sunday services were covered until the end of November; she expected to be
covering services until the end of the year including Christmas. JR and Cheryl
Collins were thinking about this, and Worship Planning would consider it when
they next meet.
Sacred Space to continue.
Thursday evening Holy Communion would restart in September with JR
officiating.
Wednesday morning service was covered, and would not have an August
break
The Bishop wants to come and take a service at SAPLC
AC thanked all who had helped with this.
AH said the South Sudan family’s children were to be baptised, possibly on 14 th
September, with JR officiating; possibly to be followed by lunch.
JCC suggested that Ela Nutu Hall from St Augustine’s would be happy to take a
service at SAPLC.
b. Away Day Process
An update had been given to the congregation on 20 th July.
Church of Sanctuary
CC said that the process involved a lot of form filling and box ticking; AH said Romeo
Pedro is hoping to get the Circuit made a Circuit of Sanctuary, and that our work with
the South Sudan family showed SAPLC were on the way. AH would be able to lead
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on this in January, but our location is against us. JCC suggested we should work
with Highfield Trinity; AH would contact them.
To be included on the November ECC Agenda, possibly with a summary of the
paperwork needed.
c. Line management
MM explained the current position:
Chris Heald: Naomi Cooke; Joe Dey in interim
Clare Loughridge: CL to discuss with MM
Liz Bentley: Mary Mitchell
Linnea Pettersson: Chris Heald
Sophie Peel-Yates: Anna Calvert in interim – ECC voted in favour of this. Sophie will
also have a support group (AC, Jane Chapman, Lydia Hutchings, Cheryl Collins)
from 1 st September.
d. Other concerns
AH said we must make sure our care for Naomi and Lisa is clear in all we do.
Nether Edge Festival: there had been confusion as the NEF organisers did
not understand Naomi’s Out of Office message. CL offered to step in as
SAPLC contact as she has been in contact with them about the Repair Café.
Baptism: JL had had a request in the office from Australia for a baptism on
Sunday 12 April 2026. To speak to Joy Rulton before making any
commitment.
PS asked about support to SAPLC during Naomi’s leave of absence: Joy
Rulton is covering for Naomi as Pastoral Care and has visited a lot of people.
CC asked what we should say if outside people ask about Naomi’s absence –
tell them what we know without breaking confidentiality.
7. Charitable giving policy
JO and RM had prepared the revised list in Naomi’s absence. CC asked which charities
had been dropped; CL said the list from last year was on the church website and could be
compared with the new list. The ECC was asked to approve the list - All in Favour
To start the procedure earlier next year and consult the congregation; to be added to the
ACM Agenda.
The ECC thanked JO and RM for their work on this.
AH pointed out the correct name of City of Sanctuary Sheffield for the local branch.
AH asked whether some money could be found to pay for taxis to bring the South Sudan
family to church. She proposed that we establish a limited and very specific taxi account to
bring the family to church and return them home.
JD to speak to Chris Heald; AH to send the family’s address to JD.
JD said there was a minister’s discretionary fund £1000, which could be used for this
purpose; AC to inform Naomi.
AM said this should be reviewed in 12 months.
The ECC voted – All in Favour. It was agreed to inform the congregation in the newsletter;
AH to send text to JL.
8. Volunteers
a. Steward/warden – no offers to stand received, so we only have 3 in the team.
b. Property Steward – AM had offered to take on this role, but not while Church
Steward. JCC had offered to stand as Warden for a 4-year term; this would free AM.
Darren Coggins had offered to help with project management.
It was agreed to hold an Extraordinary Church Meeting directly after the service on
Sunday 3 August for the purpose of electing CC Warden. There would be a
Newsletter appeal for someone to stand as Steward, and also for people to live
stream, with training offered.
The meeting thanked JCC for his work as Property Steward for many years.
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c. Skills audit – some useful information came from this; AC to report to the
congregation. JO said the update during coffee had been very useful – is this
something to consider doing regularly?
9. Staffing: update
a. Lay worker for hospitality, pastoral care and children – Sophie to start on 1 August,
with an induction programme, to allow her time to familiarise herself with the post.
Duties to include:
Junior Church: to would work with the parents and volunteers in September, and
alone for 2 Sundays per month from October.
Highfield Toddler Group 5 hours per week
School visits
Report to ECC on Children’s Work
Sophie could work with the Church Links, perhaps by feeding back family issues for
pastoral care.
b. Director of Music- discussion of pay – MM reported on Liz’s 6 month review. Liz was
employed for 13 hours per month, claiming for hours worked; this equals ca 3 hours per
week of which 1.5 hours is spent at the Sunday service; this leaves her too little time for
other work. MM proposed this change to 15 hours per month flat rate, so no monthly claim
to be submitted. JC said the contract would have to be changed; MM said it had to be
changed anyway as the annual leave in the contract was wrong. Liz to be asked to record
the hours worked in case she needs to ask for more hours.
Service leaders to be asked to liaise with Liz and let her have the Order of Service as well
as JL.
ECC asked to vote to change Liz’s hours – All in Favour.
Holy Communion information (How we do Communion) to be added to the loop slideshow
before the service and/or during the service.
10. Inclusive Church update
a. Break out space – well advanced. JCC to lower volume of sound in the Break out
space and narthex. The meeting thanked Theo Strong and JCC for their work on
this.
b. Welcome Workshop – was informative, but not much time for discussion A follow-up
session to be arranged.
c. House groups – PS asked how we can get people to join housegroups; JL said the
evening and afternoon groups were always in the newsletter, and it always made
clear that new members would be made very welcome. MM to put Housegroup slide
on the loop.
11. Reports for discussion
a. Property and Finance report - the report had been tabled. Items for
discussion/explanation:
PAT testing - P&F had agreed that 4-yearly would be adequate; AM expressed his
very strong opinion that this testing should be annual as some items are used
frequently and by different people. AC proposed should be done as soon as possible
and then annually. Carried Nem con
CL to change the policy to include this.
Diocesan grants were available for LED lighting in public rooms, secondary glazing
and church toilets. Agreed to go ahead on this.
Narthex toilets – drawings had been received from the architect; the contractor had
suggested improving the drainage internally, which would be simpler and no
permissions required.
Junior Church room – a contractor to be asked to look at the damp problem.
Sound system for weddings, funerals – we could charge extra for the system with an
operator for £50, or just have one mike on the lectern included in the basic cost.
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Solar panels – generating electricity, costs have gone down. The enclosure for the
battery had cost £1890 +VAT.
Health & Safety Officer – JCC thanked JO for taking this on.
Photo album – this is badly out of date. CL offered to take photographs; people to
sign consent form when photographed. JR said we need to get more forms for live-
stream consent. There could be a slide on the loop explaining where people should
sit if not wanting to be on the stream, and a permanent note in the newsletter, and a
sign in church. CL & JL to produce the wording for this, BA to send them a form of
words he already has.
Lost Property – agreed we do not need a policy.
Old hymn books – MM to speak to Liz.
Vestry – pictures and notice board to be put up again.
Party venue: We have been asked if the lawn area could be hired for a celebratory
party for about 100 people on Sunday 28th September, 3pm – 6pm. It is planned to
have a marquee, live band and afternoon tea to be provided by caterers. Access to
the Church would be required for the use of facilities. Church members will be
invited to attend. Group to be asked to send in PRS report.
b. Policies and Communications Officer’s report
• Health, Safety and Risk Management Policy for review and approval – to be
changed to reflect earlier decision on PAT testing.
CC asked for the food preparation form to be changed; CC to send new version to
JL.
JO to produce an executive summary to make the policy easier to use, especially for
people hiring rooms. She intends to do a Health & Safety walk-around.
MM had produced an updated list of Steward and Warden duties; to pass on to the
Stewards and Wardens and JL.
c. Treasurer’s report, receipts and payments: tabled.
d. Peace and Justice report: covered in Item 7, section 2
12. Reports to be noted
a. Clifford All Saints School – report from Caroline Cripps, School Governor. CC
pointed out that the Governing Body would be known as the Local Advisory Board in
future.
b. Eco group report: tabled.
c. Interfaith report: tabled.
d. Children’s Work– nothing to report
e. Worship Planning – no report as no meeting since last ECC
f. Safeguarding report: tabled with Peace and Justice report.
13. Badge Sunday review (as agreed at ECC meeting 18th February)
Wonderful idea and working well – thanks to AHa
14. Church being open during the week
Prayers for Peace - JC suggested that at this time when people want to pray for
peace we should keep the church open for this reason after the Wednesday morning
service as a trial in August, and advertise it as a chance for people to come and pray
for peace in our lovely peaceful space.
The ECC approved this, with the proviso that there would be a rota with 2 people on
duty at all times. The caretaker to be informed and if necessary asked to lock up.
Week of Prayer 1 – 7 September: Cheryl Collins had asked for the church to be
open; JO to discuss with Cheryl and CL.
15. Saltmine theatre visit – AC had contacted Clifford All Saints School and will report back to
the September ECC meeting. CC said they were very keen but would need to know dates
as soon as possible.
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16. MAP – had to be completed by the end of the year, AC asked anyone interested to speak to
her.
17. Memories of Two Churches Joining – Pril Rishbeth had asked for permission to collect
memories from Church members who were around at the time that our 2 churches joined to
become an LEP. All in Favour
18. Heritage Open Days – CL asked for permission to open the church for this. All in Favour
19. Pete Sandford: Lay Reader Authorisation – ECC agreement was needed for PS to be
authorised by the Bishop to lead services at SAPLC, and to. formalise the pastoral role he
is already carrying out. He would need a DBS check. All in Favour
20. Room hire fees – JCC asked for approval of the increased fees agreed by Property &
Finance. All in Favour
21. Dates of next meetings
ECC meetings:
2025 Wednesday 17th September, Monday 24 th November;
2026 - Wednesday 11th February
Annual Church Meeting 26 th April 2026
22. Closing Prayers. The meeting ended with the Grace.