1.     Apologies for absence were received from Prof. Richard Marks, Mr Andrew Skelton, Dr Clive Easter, Dr Claude Blair, Dr Kelcey Wilson-Lee, Dr John Bromilow, Mr Philip Lankester and Dr Kerry Bristol.

2.     Approval of the minutes of the 2008 Annual General Meeting:

       The minutes were approved subject to the following amendment  –

        Under item 5 paragraph 3, the figure of the Society’s income is £23, 815 this was our expenditure and the figure for income should be £30,527.

        The Minutes were proposed by Dr Litten and seconded by Dr Wilson.

 3.     Matters arising:

        Last year it was suggested by a member that we should consider introducing Life Memberships. Council debated this and rejected the suggestion on two grounds. First, although no actuarial assessment was sought, to ensure that the Society did not lose out on such memberships it would be necessary to charge many hundreds of pounds which would make them unlikely to be attractive, especially in the present economic climate. Secondly, the Society’s finances are on a firm footing with no need for large injections of cash now which would have to be carefully invested and managed to ensure a steady income stream for the future when interests could fluctuate greatly.

 4.          Presidential report (delivered by Miss Sally Badham)

 Today’s AGM marks the end of my first year as President of our Society, I would like to thank you all for the trust you have placed in me and the honour you have done me in electing me to that position, previously held by a succession of highly-distinguished scholars and gentleman. In the six months prior to the AGM the Society was without a President and I would like to pay tribute to the Vice Presidents, chiefly Dr Julian Litten and Professor Brian Kemp, for ensuring that in the interregnum the Society was not rudderless. I was fortunate in inheriting a strong and effective Council and that has continued. We have no passengers; all Council members, office holders and ordinary members alike, have contributed positively to the useful debates at Council meetings and in promoting the interests and activities of the Society. I would like to express my gratitude to them all for making my task easier over the past year.

 One of the greatest challenges of that year was coping without Robin Millerchip, who organised our excursions seemingly effortlessly for many decades. He has had to be replaced by a team of volunteers and they have got off to an excellent start. Our first two excursions were both fully booked and splendidly organised; I know I was not alone in enjoying them greatly. The next, on 17 October will take us round some estate churches of NW Norfolk; if you have not already booked I urge you to contact Dr Litten as soon as possible. We have also enjoyed events with a variety of themes at York, Arundel and Worcester Cathedral. The high standard of our publications has continued, with two issues of the Newsletter and one of Church Monuments being issued, as well as the index to the Newsletter. We all try to ensure that you, our members, continue to receive excellent value for your subscriptions. It is surely the reason why our membership continues to grow, despite the economic downturn.

This year the Society is 30 years old. One of my objectives during my Presidency is to try to reinforce the Society’s international credentials. We will always have the bulk of our membership base in the UK, but I do not want us to be insular, but to live up to the Society’s original name ‘The International Society for the Study of Church Monuments’. We already have an Irish Hon. Secretary, and Dutch and Canadian Hon. Editors and are about to have an American join Council as an Ordinary member. For several years the journal in particular has always included articles on tombs from Europe and beyond, often written by non-UK residents. We also carry reviews of key foreign language publications on church monuments. But we also want more overseas members and in time activities also. One innovation this year is that we have just opened a Paypal account, which will enable overseas members to pay subscriptions in their local currency. In the next few months we will launch an attractive and well-planned new website, which among other advantages will make joining the Society a smoother process. Most excitingly, the CMS will be hosting a session at the 2010 International Medieval Congress at the University of Michigan, Kalamazoo. This should really help to boost the Society’s profile ‘across the pond’.

In conclusion I would like to say that, although I am myself primarily a medievalist, under my Presidency the CMS will continue to plan events which we hope will appeal to all interests in our Society. We have an exciting forward programme for the next two years, including a one-day conference on Victorian monuments, which will hopefully take place in 2011, and we aim to collaborate with other learned societies to host events like the Costume Day of 2007 and the fourteenth-century monuments day of last October. We are always open to ideas and suggestions from ordinary members of the Society; the 2010 study day venue was proposed by two such members. I cannot guarantee that we will be able to take up all such suggestions, but we would be glad to hear from you and to see you at our events.

 5.     Hon. Treasurer's report (delivered by Mr Michael Thompson)).

        Copies of the Income and Expenditure Account for the year ending on 31 March 2009 and of the Balance Sheet, as approved by the Independent Examiner (Mr Robert Oakley), were provided.

       The Society made a surplus of £7,719 in the year. The Society has investments and cash assets totalling £37,741 (2008: £44,290) which are held to fulfil the ongoing commitments of the Society. In the year the market value of our investment fell by £2,111 and it was discussed at Council level in March, the merit of possibly selling these units However in the period to 30^th August the value of these units had risen to about £15,200. The Society also has an outstanding loan of £1,000 made to the Ledger Stone Survey of England and Wales.

       Last year also saw the decision to put a value (£3,539) on the stocks held of back issues of the Journal and newsletter. However this decision was misguided and does not conform to accepted accountancy practice. Consequently this item has been written down to nil in the accounts this year.

     The practice of allocating to the income and expenditure account of unrealised gains and losses in the market value of the unit trust investment has also ceased.

     The principal sources for funding for the charity are members’ subscriptions, donations and revenue raised from organising excursions and visits. Grants are also received towards publication of the Journal. In addition donations and legacies are sometimes received. Council has decided to permanently record such legacies and to further treat these monies as restricted funds. For these reason a separate deposit account with the Charities Official Investment Fund has been opened for these monies.

    Since the year-end the Society has opened an account with Paypal. This is intended to assist members to pay subscriptions and in particular to aid members overseas to pay using their own currency.

    The total assets of the Society amount to £44,289. The opportunity provided by the surplus been used to increase the Reserve by £5,000 to £10,000 a figure which corresponds roughly to the costs of the Journal and the Newsletter each year. The accumulated funds of the Society amount to £24,813 and the remainder of the assets cover a Conservation Study Fund and several payments which have been received in advance.

 It was announced the future notices of the AGM in the Newsletter will include Income and Expenditure sheets.

 The accounts were accepted. Proposed by Dr Oosterwijk and Mrs Jane Kelsall.

 6.     Appointment of independent examiners for 2010

        Miss Badham thanked the independent examiner, Mr Robert Oakley, for his work for the Society. It was unanimously agreed that Mr Oakley should be asked to continue as independent examiner, as proposed by Mrs Moira Gittos and seconded by Mr Mark Downing.

 7.     Hon. Membership Secretary's report (delivered by Miss Sally Badham in Dr Easter’s absence).

        It has been a busy year for membership with quite a few members joining and fewer than usual resignations. The economic downturn was doubtless responsible for their being a dearth of members at the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009.

       The current membership numbers are as follows:  439 Ordinary and Family members and 70 Corporate members this makes a grand total of 509. Breaking the 500 mark has been an ambition of the Society for a number of years. However we must be cautious as we still have 107 Ordinary and Family members unpaid and 13 Corporate members unpaid.

       Hopefully the Paypal scheme should eliminate many of the payment defaulters and save us money. It may also help recruit overseas members and therefore help sustain our membership above 500.

 
8.     Hon. Publicity Officer's report (delivered by Miss Sally Badham in Dr Bromilow’s absence).

        Dr Bromilow reported that the Society’s new publicity leaflet is now being reproduced at a much cheaper rate by Mr Thompson, Hon. Treasurer.

        He thanked members who had sent photographs of monuments for the website.

        A lot of his time has been taken up with the new website in particular transferring old data to the new site. The county pages will be transferred at a later date. The plan is for the new website to be more logically laid out and easier to navigate. The addition of Paypal will hopefully encourage more overseas people to join the Society.

 9.     Hon. Excursions Secretary's report (delivered by Mr Mark Downing).

        Mr Downing reported that the society had held a very well attended number of events over the past twelve months. The York workshop conference in October 2008 (Sally Badham), Arundal Study Day in November 2008 (Ann Brodrick), Bedfordshire Excursion (Jane Kelsall), Worcester Cathedral Study Day (Mark Downing) and South Yorkshire Excursion (Patrick Farman and Peter Hacker) both in June 2009. All of those involved in the organisation of these events should be highly congratulated. In October 2009, Dr Julian Litten will be leading an excursion in North-West Norfolk.

       The events planned for 2010 include the Symposium in September at Winchester (Brian and Moira Gittos), Much Marcle (Herefordshire) on 12^th June 2010. Other excursions planned are Oxfordshire (Sally Badham), South Yorkshire (Patrick Farman and Peter Hacker), Cambridgeshire (Julian Litten) and Hertsfordshire (Jane Kelsall).

 10.   Report on the Society's publications.

        ● Journal (delivered by Dr Oosterwijk):

        Dr Oosterwijk reported that Vol.23 of Church Monuments once again covered a wide range of subjects and periods and was produced within budget. Grants totalling £750 were received from the Greening Lamborn Trust and the Kenneth Hargreaves Charitable Trust.

      Copy for Vol. 24 will be completed for handover this Autumn. The issue will also contain twelve book reviews. Grants towards the publication cost have so far been pledged by the Francis Coales Charitable Foundation, the AVB Normal Trust and the outcome of one made to the Paul Mellon Foundation is awaited. Target date for publication is February.

     Volume 25 has already received seven articles and it will also contain the winner of the second CMS Essay Prize competition (2010).

     To streamline the submission process in future, all articles will be sent to Mrs Rhianydd Biebrach, who has agreed to take on the role of Editorial Assistant in addition to that of Book Review Editor.

     The journal is gaining more interest abroad and it is hoped to attract more articles on monuments outside the UK. For this reason and to attract more members, we aim to offer more reviews for international publications.

        ● Newsletter (delivered by Dr Sargent):

        Two issues of the Newsletter were again published this year (Winter 2008/9 24:2 and Summer 2009 (25:1).

        The Editor is grateful for all those who submitted items for publication. Dr Sargent urged that this continue as the Newsletter provides the Society with a forum for members. Next copy date is 5^th February 2010.

         Council wishes to record its gratitude to Mr Tony Carr who has indexed the Newsletter and it predecessor ISSCM Bulletin. This valuable index was mailed out with issue 24:2. Copies of same are still available.

       As agreed with last year’s AGM, the Newsletter publication dates are being aligned with the AGM cycle. Consequently the next issue 25:2 will appear in March 2010, with 26:1 the following October.

        Council has recommended that the current issue 25:1 should be the last to carry the AGM minutes. It is proposed that in future the Newsletter will only carry the AGM agenda and a note explaining that the previous minutes are available on the CMS website with hard copies available on request. This will free up space in the Newsletter.

 11.   Cases Recorder' report (delivered by Mr Watney).

        Mr Watney reported that he has been dealing with series of reported problems concerning a variety of monuments from different periods. They include monuments to Blanche Mortimer, Lady Grandison (d 1347) at Much Marcle in Herefordshire, Edward Grimes (d.1623) by Scarning in Norfolk and other seventeenth century monuments in Suffolk and Sussex. Mr Watney welcomed input from members of Council for practical help in relation to the Much Marcle monument

 12.   Re-election of Council Officers and of three Ordinary Members of the Council.

 All other serving officers of the Society were prepared to stand for re-election; and this was unanimously accepted.

 The following candidates were unanimously elected to Council:

 Mr Mark Downing, Excursion Secretary

 Dr Adam White, Ordinary Council Member (3 years)

 Dr Kelcey Wilson Lee, Ordinary Council Member (3 years)

 Dr Neil Rushton, Ordinary Council Member (2 year)

 Mr Brian Gittos, Ordinary Council Member (1 year)

 Miss Badham expressed her thanks to the following who had left or who were leaving Council:

 ● Mrs Moira Gittos, Ordinary Member of Council  

 ● Miss Ann Brodrick Ordinary Member of Council  

 Miss Badham also announced that the Society has been successful at long last in filling the vacancy of the CMS Archivist position. Our member, Dr Ellie Pridgeon, who took her PhD at Leicester University under the supervision of our former President, Dr Lindley, is now an Archive Assistant at the Geffrye Museum, She has also undertaken cataloguing projects at Britten-Pears Suffolk and St Paul’s Cathedral and is currently undertaking the Archives Diploma at Aberystwyth University, and will be qualifed Archivist in 2010. We are extremely fortunate to find such a well-qualified person as Hon. Archivist and Ellie is to be co-opted to Council for the next year.

 Miss Badham also informed those present, that due to pressure of work that is the last year that Dr Amy Harris will be carrying out the important role of Hon Secretary. Council will miss her very much indeed when the time comes, as she has carried out her duties in a cheerful and positive spirit which has greatly endeared her to her fellow Council members and also CMS members as a whole. Although the choice of her replacement will be the decision of those attending the 2010 AGM and any member can stand for election, we already have a volunteer. Dr Barbara Tomlinson is a former member of Council and will be well known to members through her admirable contributions to our publications. She is also co-opted to Council for the forthcoming year.

 14.   Date and venue for the 2009 Annual General Meeting.

        The proposal for the AGM to take place on Saturday 4^th September 2010, The London Charterhouse Chapel, London was unanimously accepted.

 The meeting closed at 15.05 h.

 Dr Amy L Harris ,                                                Miss Sally Badham

Hon. Secretary,                                                    President,

The Church Monuments Society                            The Church Monuments Society