Parochial Church Council

Written by slc-admin on Thursday, 12th November 2020. Posted in

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is the executive committee for the church of St. Mary and St. Margaret, Stow Maries.

Parochial Church Council Members:

Rector – Vacant
Vice Chairman – Mr Garry Driver
Church Warden/Electoral Roll Officer – Mrs Kathy Swan
Treasurer – Ms Jane Coe
Secretary – Mrs Yvonne Wood
Safe guarding officer – Mr Ian Osborne
Mr John Little
Mrs Chris Dutfield
Mrs Christine Little

Parochial Church Council News

There can’t be many residents of Stow Maries who are not aware that there have been no church services for several years.

The PCC regrets this with great sadness, particularly for those who are used to attending the regular services and also the special services such as Harvest, Carol, Easter, Remembrance Sunday and Christmas Day.

Not everyone, however, is likely to know of the actual reasons for the lack of services.

Just before Christmas 2019, the lead covering of the church roof was removed by thieves thus leaving the main part of the church open to the elements.

Those of you with long memories will remember the deluges that Stow Maries experienced over that part of the year.

John and Chris Dutfield, with help from other residents, spent many hours over those few weeks trying to soak up the rainwater that poured down the walls and on to the wooden floor.

A temporary plastic covering was installed by willing volunteers but water still managed to penetrate the church.

An emergency meeting was held between the PCC and an expert who offered a solution that was accepted by the PCC members who assumed that the insurance cover would pay for the repair.

Unfortunately, the PCC, who although having the responsibility for the building maintenance, does not have the authority to make decisions about what that maintenance can consist of even though it has to find the money to pay for it.

The PCC decision to give the go ahead for the repairs was not accepted by the Chelmsford Diocese.

As the better weather lessened the amount of rain entering the church, the PCC received two further setbacks.

The first was a result of the dreadful pandemic that wreaked havoc in the World – the PCC was ordered to close the church on health grounds.

It had been closed, anyway, because of the wet interior but, even with repairs still outstanding, services were being planned to take place in dry weather.

The second was the decision by the insurance company to pay less than half the sum expected because there was no intruder alarm system on the roof.

The PCC is presently awaiting the outcome of attempts to obtain grants from charitable bodies to make up the difference between the insurance payment and the cost of the repairs – about £28,000!

In the meantime the church still remains closed because the PCC cannot offer services in a building that continues to be subject to the elements.

Hopefully, this coverage of the situation will bring about a better understanding of the enormous and insurmountable problems that have been faced over the last few years by the PCC and are still facing.

UPDATE – Due to generous donations and support of the Stow Maries fund raising group the roof repairs have now started and the church should be open again by summer 2026.

The PCC committee would like to thank everyone who has contributed in any way.