Minutes of meetings
CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BRIDPORT AND DISTRICT
Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 3rd September 2024
Time – 7pm at Bridport United Church.
1. Welcome and opening prayer. Sue Herman- Chairman
2. Apologies for Absence. Peter Clark, Louise Hartley, John Yarrien, Jane Wilson,
Michele Craddock.
3. Changes required to Minutes from 25th June. No changes required. Minutes signed
by Sue as correct.
4. Feed back on Open Air Services at West Bay
14th July- Sea Sunday Service. Led by Philip Ringer. Well attended and successful.
Wessex Military Band provided the music. Great thoughtful testimony from
Cally Burch. £110 collection for the RNLI.
28th July- Led by Peter Clark, music by Ruth Jenkins. Not well attended however
information and posters were late.
11th August- Songs of Praise. Led by Philip Ringer. Successful event at the end of
Come and Sea weekend- activities for children lead by St Mary’s and St
John’s.
Need to consider next summer’s programme for West Bay open air services earlier
and improve publicity.
5. Feed back – Melplash Rest Tent- 22nd August. Thank you to the 18 volunteers who
help during the show day. Lucy from the Melplash Office who generously gave the
tickets for the volunteers. Show also provided marquee, chairs, tables, hay bales and
electricity. Although the weather was not too good, plenty of people attended the show.
Although numbers taken on the day may not show accurate figures. Attendances
known were 370 adults, 202 children and 60-70 baby’s were either feed or changed or
both in the tent. Cakes were donated in abundance. Income from the refreshments
provided amounted to £194.67. Expenses totalled £52.10 for tea, coffee, crafts etc. for
children, Net profit made of £142.57 for Churches Together Funds. Unfortunately
because of the wind the Gazebo inside the tent for changing and feeding had to be
moved within the tent as it was touching the roof of the marquee. Peter was thanked by
the meeting for his hard work in making the Rest Tent as success.
6. Feedback on Pray Bridport’, 9th July, 13th August
Really positive experience with a representative from every church. West Bay lovely to
gather their on a summers evening the numbers taking part had increased. Next Pray
for Bridport at United Church, 10th September at earlier time of 6pm due to Big Band
rehearsal on a Tuesday night. Other faiths have been invited to include the Baptists,
Unitarians and Quakers but as yet only Lizzy Harley from the Unitarian church has
replied to an email.
October 8th. St Mary’s Bridport
November 12th. Christian Fellowship
No venue as yet for December ? RC church.
Father Keith’s last mass on 16th September and father Colin’s first Mass will be on 23rd
September.
David Collins has offered the Fellowship’s Colour Laser printer for the use of Pray
Bridport, posters. Many to the members commented on how good the posters for have
been.
7. Feedback on progress in improving communication.
Since last meeting the communication email list has been updated. And all events
have had a notification via email.
The website for churches together was edited by Di Sinclair who has updated a few
items.
Request for past photos of events to put on the website, members to send any suitable
photos.
Would also be favourable to use the Bridport Banter and Face book, to ask Peter Clark if
he would be willing to help with this and to connect with the website.
8. Feedback on progress on subgroup Youth Worker Project
Peter, Cally, Seb and Lorna have met. First initial step is that the confirmation
candidates from St Mary’s and the Beacon Church are getting together over supper of
Pizza’s to get the views of the young people about how they would like to met up with
other young Christians and whether this could be within the school environment or after
school. To bear in mind that the RC church has a number of servers and Sunday school
children of various ages.
Thought best to start small. To feedback next meeting. Reminder to the group that the
Youth Worker Project is raising £330 a month which could be available and on starting
a group may find more people willing to subscribe to the fund. To communicate with
other churches if a Youth Group meeting is starting. Reminder will need Risk
Assessments/ Safe Guarding which could be under which ever Church hosts the
group. Will become more complicated if other churches involved. Through Jackie of
Pathways to Care has a contact who could help with DBS checks. Tony Lee from the
Volunteers Centre
9. Mission Statement and Aim from Churches Together in England
It was asked of the meeting if we should add The Vision and Strap-line from Churches
Together England website onto our own. We have the Statement of Belief. Majority
decision thought that this would be a good idea. However the list of churches involved
was a little more problematic. Asked to look at the Evangelical Guidelines. It was thought
by the meeting that at this stage it was better not to include the opening statement.
10. A Rocha . Discuss if members would like further info/talk
Janet Webster Eco Church lead C of E parish has contacted CT as willing to come and
talk about the principles of Eco Church. The Methodist Circuit and Beacon Church have
discussed this and are looking at completing and acting on the bronze survey. C of E
Bridport have liaised and are working with Bee Friendly and Sustainable Bridport, they
have also found that the young people within the church are open to join in the
conversation. The meeting felt that a talk open and advertised to all the churches may
be a worthwhile event. Heather to talk to Janet about this.
11. Pathways to Care Update. Were expecting an article in the Bridge advertising for
more divers but this did not happen. Jackie was asked by Deb to send some
information so this could be placed in the pew sheet. Drivers can select what jobs they
undertake.
Bridget Bolwell (Councillor) is looking into starting a befriending scheme along with
Pauline of the social subscribing team and Carol at Harmony Centre. Bridget has
possible volunteers to take people to events.
NHS volunteer responders have been working for the past 5 years. There is a
telephone system in place. They can visit people, get prescriptions and act as a social
contact.
12. Forthcoming events.
Taize Service- Date 1st December at 4pm. Venue as yet undecided. Ruth to book
Christmas Tree Lighting. West Bay Green in association with West Bay Days.
Sunday 1st December at 4pm
Nativity Play 21st December. Inaugural planing meeting to be held on Tuesday 24th
September, 11am at St Mary’s. All welcome to attend.
Christmas Day Lunch 25th December. Peter Wilson willing to organise this year but
needs volunteers particularly for collection of food etc. Meeting suggested that Peter
comes to the next meeting with a list of tasks etc so members can volunteer for a
particular job.
Epiphany Service Sunday 5th January. Christian Fellowship at 4pm. Churches to be
invited to select and perform two carols. Ruth to liaise with David and Jackie about the
music.
Quarterly Tea and Games Afternoon. Previously CT organised a social tea monthly
but regular hosting became difficult. Meeting felt a quarterly event would be a good
idea to be hosted by a different church each time. To commence on the third Sunday of
the month, at 2:30pm. ? To be called Tea and Chat. May involve singing and or games.
Jane to be asked to produce posters.
First event at BUC 20th October at 2:30
Christian Fellowship to host 15th January
12. A.O.B.
Community Carols. West Bay Green . 26th December at 12:30
Bridport Carnival Request to enter a walking float at the next year. Theme ? Early
Nativity
Accounts-Kathy Hinks although no longer the CT representative is the secondary
signature, no one opposed her remaining as a signatory until future paper work is
completed.
Vigil for Peace, occurs at the Chapel in the Garden on the 1st Saturday of the month
at 12 noon. Lizzy has asked if CT would be favourable in continuing these vigils on
other Saturdays in the month. Lasts for 15 minutes. After discussion as to time and
venue it was decided the best place for number of people who would seen and
possibly take part was in front of BUC at the same time each Saturday rota to be set
up as to which church is responsible to find volunteers to partake.
Alpha Courses starts – 11th September- contact Cally Burch
2nd October- contact Seb Gawen
6th January- contact David Collins
Eye Witness Talk- Monday 9th September at 7pm. St Mary’s Church
13.Date of Next Meeting. Note change of date. Thursday 31st October 7pm.
At St Mary and St Catherine Catholic Church.