ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

By invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick the meeting took place at the Parsonage and was held against a background of lightning, thunder and rain. As an experiment coffee and sandwiches were served at the end. Among the 24 people present was Mr. W. G. Ingle, from the Methodist congregation who, as treasurer, presented the Parish Magazine Accounts and whom we were delighted to welcome.

Extracts from the minute-book:

  1. Churchwardens.
    Mr. W. C. Moore and Mr. A. Lawrence were re-elected churchwardens for the ensuing year, 1968/69.
  2. Changes in the P.C.C.
    Resigned: Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Causey and Mr. Ambrose. Re-elected: Mesdames Titcomb, Williamson, Kendrick, Lawrence and Miles and Mr. Fentiman.
    Elected: Miss E. Woodcock, Mr. Tong.
  3. Sidesmen.
    Messrs. F. Cox, R. Kendrick, A. Williamson.
  4. Vicar's Report on Church Fabric
    "The organ having been cleaned, the outstanding item for concern was the roof on the north side. The interior decoration of the church should also be considered in due course ... there had recently been a small fall of ceiling in the Lady Chapel. Arising from the 1965 Quinquennial Inspection, maintenance and painting had been done on the roof, gutters and downpipes, and repairs had been completed to all damaged or badly fitting windows. ... A new violet frontal had been made and given jointly by Mrs. Bone and her niece, Mrs. Shephard."
  5. Hon. Treasurer's Report:
    "Income was roughly the same as last year.... There was increased direct giving through the F.W.O. scheme and Covenants and the Organ Appeal. ... Our giving to the wider work of the church had gone up to £130. ... We should continue to put aside at least £150 a year into the Fabric Fund and a smaller amount into the Organ Fund to meet possible future expenses of an organist and repairs to the organ."

NATURALIST'S NOTEBOOK

I am convinced that, at this time of the year, everybody who lives in Hartlip or its neighbouring parishes cannot fail to be impressed by the beauty of the countryside even though they are only remotely interested. The cherry blossom which looks like a carpet of snowflakes from a distance seems to be particularly good this year, and with the recent rains promoting a lush cover of young spring grass in the orchards, one has a picture which would grace the cover of any magazine.

This wonderful spell of weather has been most suitable for our summer migrants which have now arrived in full force from their long journey back from Africa. The first swallows have already taken up territories in the old farm-yard barns which have been deserted for the past seven months, most of them using exactly the same site as last year. The nightingales have returned to the woodlands and will soon be rendering their majestic song, keeping people awake if they are ....(cont.)