Vestry Meeting Minutes

The joint meeting of the Vestry and Parochial Church Electors of the parish of Ilmer was held on Wednesday March 31st 1948 at Ilmer House by kind invitation of Mr & Mrs R.H. Attenborough. Those present were Rev E.W. Pipe, Vicar, in the chair, Rev E.W.C. Horner, Mesdames R.H. & Meric Attenborough, Mr R.H. Attenborough & Mr W.H. Harper.

After opening prayers the minutes of the meeting of April 9th 1947 were read approved and signed. The Vicar had much pleasure in nominating Mrs Meric Attenborough as his Warden for the ensuing year and thanked her for all her work in the past year particularly in raising funds towards the cost of the electric heating in the Church. On the proposition of Mr R.H. Attenborough seconded by Mrs R.H. Attenborough, Mr W.H. Harper was re-elected people's warden and the thanks of the meeting were extended to him for his many and various services in the past year.

Mr Harper then presented the accounts for the year ending December 31st 1947 as follows:- Income. Bal in hand 1.1.47 £32-10-11. Heating Fund (Sales per Mrs R.H Attenborough £10-10-0, £4-3-0, £2-7-6). Proceeds of Whist Drive per Mrs Meric Attenborough £23-12-0. Rec'd from W.I. for use of Church Hall £2-2-0, from M.U. £1-0-0. Ilmer Close Rentless Tithe £2-5-6. Parochial Collections 14-15-0. Non Parochial 12-5-9. Total Income £105-11-2. Expenditure. Organist (1 quarter) 15-0. Cleaner £2-0-0. Heating (Feb qr) 3-16-8. May (qr) 2-12-6. Rates 14-0. 2 bottles Wine 1-1-0. Insurance (Window) 5-0. E. Light: Ch. 17-0, ditto Hall 17-0. Sexton & Clerk £3-0-0. Non parochial 12-5-9. Total Expenditure 28-3-8. Balance in Bank £77-7-6.

Mr Harper stated that the account for the Electric Heating in the Church had now been paid in full; this amounted to £90-14-0 and was settled by the drawing of two cheques as follows:- £68-4-3 on the current a/c and £22-9-9 on the Close Fund A/c. Mr Harper reminded the meeting that the total cost of no less than £42-14-6 had been raised by the efforts of Mesdames R.H. & Meric Attenborough. It was the unanimous wish of the meeting that a very sincere vote of thanks be conveyed to these two ladies for their indefatigable work and also that a suitable record be made in the minutes of this meeting.

The Vicar reported that the balance standing to the credit of Raper Charity a/c was £108-16-11. It was unanimously decided to make a similar allocation of coal in 1948 as in 1947 and to those as defined in the minute of April 9th 1947. It was further decided that assistance might be given from the Raper Charity to parishioners involved in heavy expenditure on account of illness. After a discussion it was proposed by Mr R.H. Attenborough and seconded by Mrs R.H. Attenborough it was agreed that the collections at the Harvest Festival should in future years be given towards the founding of a Fabric Fund for the Church. It was agreed that the produce as in previous years should be given to St Agatha's Home Princes Risborough.

The new table of fees drawn up by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners was brought to the notice of the meeting - & it was unanimously decided that application be made to the Commissioners to fix a table of fees in accordance with the terms set out in their memorandum of May 1947.

The Rev. E.W. Horner expressed his thanks for the generous Easter Offering & the Vicar voiced the thanks of the meeting to Mr & Mrs R.H. Attenborough for their kindness in offering the hospitality of Ilmer House.

There being no further business the Vicar closed with the Benediction.

E.W. Pipe, Vicar. 20.iv.49.