Guiseley Methodist Church
Minutes of the Church Council Meeting 24 June 2025
Revd Roger opened the meeting with prayer and welcomed all attendees.
- Minutes of previous meeting were accepted with no matters arising
- MULTISITE CHURCH RESOLUTION
- Explanation and discussion – proposals already circulated. Those who agree with this proposal will become part of the Chevin multi-site church and still belong and worship at Guiseley Methodist Church. Otley Methodist Church has charity status so all proposed Chevin churches have to become part of Otley first, then Otley changes its name to Chevin Methodist Church and takes in all the other Chevin churches temporarily. Then the complex constitutional changes can be made for the whole multi-site Chevin church.
There are more churches included on the eastern side of the circuit because the western side includes Christ Church with their own minister, so there will be roughly equal numbers of ministers and attendees.
Before the present Guiseley Church Council is formally disbanded we will need to appoint our own reps to the new joint church council. Internal, informal meetings will still be needed here at Guiseley .
Financial standing orders will have to be sorted out at a later date, every legacy to our church will be designated to wherever it was donated for. Initially services will still be held at each separate church, in time this may change gradually as members of congregations become acquainted with each other more. This opens up the possibility of more flexibility.
- A vote was taken on the main resolution (as attached) and Council voted 16 to 1 to merge with other churches to form the Chevin multi-site church. Council also agreed to the transfers of our Church assets and liabilities to the new Chevin Church Council with effect from 1st September. Our accounts will be prepared at the end of August as usual. Council approved the transfer under TUPE regulations of our church administrator to the Chevin Church Council.
- Subsequent appointments: Initially two or three volunteer members of our church to be formally elected as members of the the Chevin Church Council. At Guiseley we will also need to appoint our own local property rep, letting officer, finance rep, pastoral rep and safeguarding rep.
Finance and Property
Income has gone down slightly, there is a shortfall every month. The Griffin bequest has relieved this situation somewhat. See report below for proposals which Council ageed to:
Treasurer’s report on withdrawal of monies from TCMP
This is an explanation of the withdrawal from TCMP (c£10,000) which was agreed by Church Council on 24 June 2025
At TMCP there are 2 “pots” of money. £100,000 plus interest from the Griffin legacy and about £10,500 incl interest representing the residue of a legacy from Freda Hudell deceased.
Keith Reed told me that there was a Church Council direction that some of the Hudell money be used for “mission”.
Council resolved to override any direction re the Hudell money and withdraw the entirety of it (c£10,500) from TMCP. This would then be used for the windows replacement plus associated decorating and any money left be placed into general funds.
The effect of this would be to tidy up the funds at TMCP as the only funds held there in future will be the Griffin money.
Anne North and I both signed a form to make the withdrawal from TMCP.
Tom Morrish
Church Treasurer
24 June 2025
Work on the new windows and door etc agreed at the ACM in June, will start shortly. This might interrupt the use of some rooms.
The Gift Aid report had been received.
Additional Lay Workers hours: Jean declared an interest in this subject, Council accepted this. Council agreed to approve releasing half of the £10,000 bequest from Mrs Challinor to Circuit in order to increase the hours of Hester in her Circuit work. The other half will enable Jean’s hours working for Guiseley, Yeadon and Bramhope, to be increased. Jean and Hester’s plans will be circulated in due course.
A discussion was held about purchasing new chairs that fold and stack on a trolley which is wheeled away, to replace the old metal ones, in order to make putting chairs away easier. To compare availability we are asked to make a note of any of these chairs we come across, and advise Tony King and the property team so that a choice can be made.
The new Safeguarding Policy had been circulated and was approved by Council. Sarah Morrish has volunteered be our Safeguarding rep on the Chevin Church Council, and will be producing information about future training sessions in due course.
Council agreed to transfer authority for marriages from Roger to Annie Baker-Streevy.
Any other business:
Report on Recent Quinquennial Inspection: there are some slipped tiles and slates on the roof. Access from Youth Room to roof void above it needs to be improved. Rainwater is coming down outside the down pipes. Overall a good report. Alan thanked all who are involved in the maintenance of our building.
Sarah Osgerby is looking into solar panels for our church. Summerbridge Methodist Church have them as do all the manses in the Circuit now. Possibility of a grant towards it?
As she retires, Council thanked Pam Smith for all the years she has spent sorting out refreshments and making coffee and tea for many occasions.
We have been given a hand painted picture and some etched goblets from the home of the late Revd Leslie Holmes and his wife Cathrine. It was agreed to hang the picture in the vestry with a note of its provenance on the back, and the etched goblets have gone to a good home.
As there will be no more Guiseley Church Councils, members thanked Roger for his leadership over the years, and Anne for taking the minutes.
The meeting closed with prayer.