Vestry Meeting Minutes

The joint Vestry and Parochial Church Meeting was held in the Church Room, Ilmer, on Wednesday, the 20th of April, 1938, at 6, p.m. There were present - the Rev. W. O'Connor, Vicar, in the Chair, Messrs. R.H. Attenborough and W.J. Harper, churchwardens, Mrs. Attenborough, Mrs. Pursell, Mrs. Harper and Mrs. Cobb.

After Prayers, the Minutes of the Meeting of the 7th of April, 1937, were read, confirmed and signed. Arising out of the Minutes, a discussion took place on the subject of the cost of lighting the Church Room, and it was agreed that the present arrangement should be allowed to stand.

The Vicar nominated Mr. R.H. Attenborough as Vicar's Churchwarden. Mr. W.J. Harper was unanimously elected People's Churchwarden. Mr. Harper read the Statement of Accounts for the year 1937 (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31). Income: Collections for Church Expenses, £14-7-1, and for non-parochial purposes, £7-2-3; Sale of "rummage", per Mrs. Kingham, 15s; from Mothers' Union, 3s. Expenditure: Non-parochial objects, £7-2-3; Coal and Coke, £2-5-0; Electric Light - Church, 17/-; Church Room, 17/-: Rates, 10/4; Insurance of Window, 5/-; Deficit paid off, £2-4-1: Organist, £3: Clerk and Sexton, £5: Sundries, 10/-. Total Expenditure, £21-10-8. Balance in hand, 16s. 8d. The Statement was unanimously passed, and satisfaction was expressed that for the first time in at least ten years the Collections in Church had been sufficient to meet all expenses and pay off a deficit.

The list of Charities was approved, with the addition, for this year only, of the Anglo Indian School Endowment Fund. Mrs. Attenborough proposed that the Church Room should be thoroughly cleaned, and she asked for volunteers to help. This was approved.

A discussion took place about the legal ownership of the Church Room. The Chairman stated that the Rev. J.E. Varley, who built it, has declared it to be the property of the Vicar for the time being and that it is not situated on glebe land. Mr. Attenborough undertook to write to the Ecclesiastical Commission and ascertain if there are any legal documents establishing ownership.

A warm vote of thanks was passed to those members of the congregation who have worked throughout the year to keep the church and churchyard clean and in a proper condition. A resolution was also passed congratulating the Vicar on his recovery from serious illness. The proceedings were closed with prayer.

W. O'Connor. April 12, 1939.