Vestry Meeting Minutes

The joint meeting of the Vestry and Parochial Church Electors of Ilmer was held at Ilmer House by kind invitation of Mr & Mrs R.H. Attenborough on Wednesday April 24th 1946 at 6.30 p.m. There were present Rev. E.W. Pipe, Vicar, in chair, Rev. E.W.C. Horner, Mesdames R.H & Meric Attenborough, Miss Brooks, Messrs R.H. Attenborough & W.H. Harper.

After opening prayers the minutes of the meeting of the 5th April 1945 were read, confirmed and signed. Mr Attenborough tendered his resignation as Vicar's Warden which was received with regret and thanks were expressed for his good services. Mr Attenborough indicated that Mrs Meric Attenborough was willing to assume office; the Vicar had great pleasure in nominating her as his Warden & Mr W.J. Harper was elected as People's Warden.

Mr Harper presented the accounts for the Year ending Dec. 31st 1945. Income: Balance from 1944, £31-0-8; Parochial Collections, 14-16-9; Non Parochial £19-7-5. Expenditure: Non Parochial 19-7-5; Coal 3-8-0; Rates 13-6; Insurance 5-0; War Damage 3-6; Electric Light 1-14-0; Churchyard 2-0-0; Church cleaner £2-0-0; Lighting Fires £1; Organist £3; Sexton & Clerk £3. Total £36-11-5. Balance at bank £28-13-5. It was decided to transfer this balance from a savings account at Lloyds Bank Princes Risborough to a current a/c at the same bank.

The Vicar stated he had received from the Rev. W. O'Connor a Cheque for £14-19-10 being the balance in hand on the Ilmer Close Fund; it was the general feeling of the meeting that this should be paid into Messrs Lloyds Bank Princes Risborough - the Vicar undertook to attend to this. The Vicar reported that the balance standing to the credit of the Raper Charity Fund amounted to £96-6-2. A lengthy discussion ensued as to whether it would be desirable to distribute any of the funds during the present year; eventually on the proposition of Mr Harper seconded by Mr Attenborough it was unanimously decided to defray from the Raper Fund the cost of 5 cwt of coal to each cottage in Ilmer where the tenant was the holder of an Unemployment Insurance Card. Mr Attenborough thought that not more than 9 people would come within this definition; Mr Harper thought the cost might be between £9 & £10. Mrs Meric Attenborough and Mr Harper undertook to make the necessary arrangements with the Coal merchant.

Mr Horner asked the meeting whether they would like to continue Evensong on Sundays at 3 p.m or change to 7 p.m during the Summer months. All agreed that 7 p.m. was a preferable hour and Mr Horner said he would be pleased to take the service at that time.

Mr Attenborough stated his builder had repaired the cracks in the North & South walls and the thanks of the meeting were extended to Mr Attenborough for the attentions he had given to this matter.

There being no other business the meeting closed with prayer.

Edmund. W. Pipe. 9.iv.47.