Present: Rt Revd Dominic Walker OGS, Elisabeth Lewis, Dr Vanessa Dodd, Dick Coates, Jane Benson, David Benson.
Apologies: Jan Pain (following bereavement)
1. Rt Revd Dominic Walker opened the meeting with prayer.
2. Chair's Report Rt Revd Dominic Walker set out the Chairs Report for 2025 a copy of which is attached. Although it had been necessary to cancel Vespers 25 due to adverse weather conditions Abbot Brendan Thomas had agreed to preach in 2026 and it was hoped that Newport Cathedral Choir and the monks of Belmont Abbey would also be able to lead worship once again. The second Sunday of September 2026 would fall conveniently either near the Feast of Our Lady's Birthday or the feast of the Holy Cross. The Marian Way project was still moving forward and a grant (£1,000) had been secured from the Welsh Church Fund. Further initiatives were underway to seek further grant funding. FOLT finances were healthy; the Calendars had sold well, despite the cancellation of Sung Vespers 25, and a generous donation had also been received from the Tintern Wine Tasting Group. Dominic thanked the members of the committee for their work and hospitality. He also wished to record the Friends grateful thanks to Pascal Bidois, the Curator of Tintern Abbey, for his assistance and cooperation over many years. He also gave thanks for the work of Steve Evans for setting up and managing our website for us. Steve was unable to continue to support FOLT due to ill health and arrangements were in hand to take over the work.
3. Treasurer's Report and Approval of the Accounts for the year ending 14 March 2026. Elisabeth Lewis presented the Finance Report a copy of which is attached. The closing balance at the end of March 26 would be £2,924.39 of which £1,000 would be ring-fenced for the Pilgrimage Trail Project. Dominic provided details of the Simon Gibson Charitable Trust which offers grants of up to £20K but there was a time limit for applications (1 Jan to 31 Mar each year). In discussion, it was thought that should a substantial grant (circa £50,000) be received in support of the Pilgrimage Trail Project then a separate account/sub account would need to be established.
The accounts were approved nem-con.
4. Pilgrimage Report – Dr Vanessa Dodd. Vanessa provided a written report a copy of which is attached...
Secretary's Note: Regrettably the Arts, Health and Well Being Lottery Fund grant application had not been successful.
Further discussion on the points regarding the implementation of items in the report were deferred to the Committee Meeting.
5. Election of the FOLT Committee for 2026:
Chair: Rt Revd Dominic Walker kindly agreed to continue as chair. Proposed Jane Benson, seconded David Benson agreed nem con.
Secretary (In absentia): Jan Pain. Proposed Elisabeth Lewis, seconded Vanessa Dodd agreed nem con.
Treasurer: Elisabeth Lewis. Proposed Vanessa Dodd, seconded David Benson agreed nem con.
Members: David Benson, Jane Benson, Vanessa Dodd, Dick Coates.
6. Any Other Business.
a. The chair would write to Steve Evans to thank him for his work on the FOLT website.
b. Dominic was thanked for his continued leadership of the Friends and for his active involvement in the arrangements for the continuation of Sung Vespers and the development of the Pilgrimage Trail. All this notwithstanding ill health.
7. The Meeting Closed in Prayer.
Attachments:
1. Chair's Report.
2. Treasurer's Finance Report.
3. Pilgrimage Report.