Vestry Meeting Minutes

The joint Meeting of the Vestry and Parochial Church Electors of the Parish of Ilmer was held in the Church Room on Thursday, the 28th of March, 1940, at 6, p.m. There were present - the Rev. W. O'Connor, Vicar, in the chair, Mr. R.H. Attenborough and Mr. W.J. Harper, churchwardens, Mrs. Attenborough and Mrs. Cobb. Mrs. Pursell was unable to attend owing to illness.

After the opening Prayer the Minutes of the Meeting of the 12th of April, 1939, were read, confirmed and signed. Arising out of the Minutes it was reported that four new Prayer- and Hymn-books had been purchased, that repairs to the chimney had been satisfactorily finished, and that circumstances had delayed the painting of the Church Room. It was resolved that this work should be taken in hand as soon as possible, and Mr. Harper undertook to make the necessary arrangements. Mr. Harper also undertook to see that the trees which are at present dangerously tall should be 'topped'. Mr. Attenborough promised to consult his architect with a view to remedying the draughts from the door of the Church and from a chancel window.

Mr. Attenborough was nominated Vicar's Churchwarden, and Mr. Harper was elected People's Churchwarden.

The Statement of Accounts for the year 1939 was read by Mr. Harper:- Receipts: Balance from 1938, £4-6-7: Church Collections - Parochial, £18-0-1: Non-Parochial, £7-19-1. Donation from Mothers' Union, 3s. Total receipts, £30-8-9. Expenditure: Non-Parochial Collections, £7-19-1; Coal and Coke, £2-17-6; Electric Light - Church, £1-5-0, Church Room, 15s.; Repairs to Church Roof, 17s. 6d.; Rates, 12s; Insurance of Window, 5s.; Wine, 3s. 6d.; Wafers, 2s. 6d.; Candles, 2s. 10d.; Sundries, 5s. 6d.; Organist, £3; Clerk and Sexton, £5. Total Expenditure, £23-5-5. Cash in Bank £6, in hand, £1-3-4: Total, £30-8-9. The Statement was unanimously passed.

The list of Charities as approved in 1936 (see Minutes) was passed. The Chairman laid the accounts of Raper's Charity before the Meeting. A sum of £44-14-1 appeared to the credit of the Fund. After a discussion it was suggested that this sum should be kept in reserve. The Charity is administered by the Vicar and Churchwardens. The Chairman also presented a statement of the standing Ilmer Close Fund, which has £9-5-5½ in hand. It was agreed that it would be allowable to devote part of this sum to paying for the painting of the Church Room.

Mr. Attenborough was warmly thanked for his kindness in defraying the expence of repairing the Church chimney, and for his other services to the parish. It having come to the knowledge of the meeting that Mr. Harper has been, in addition to his other duties, attending to the heating of the Church since the late Mrs. Kingham's death, a warm vote of thanks to him was unanimously passed. It was agreed that Mrs. Cobb should be appointed to perform this duty and keep the Church clean; and that she be paid £2 (two pounds) a-year for doing so. The Meeting was closed with Prayer.

W. O'Connor. Vicar. 16th April, 1941.