OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

← The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Nicolas, Nuneaton

2023-12-31-accounts

Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

St Nicolas Church, Nuneaton

Serving Nuneaton since 1155

Annual Report

and Financial Statements

of the Parochial Church Council (PCC)

for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

Registered Charity Number 1126349

Incumbent:

Rev Chris Routledge

The Vicarage 61 Ambleside Way Nuneaton CV11 6AU

Bank:

Cooperative Bank

Independent Examiner:

Neil Screaton

Screatons Chartered Accountants Midlands Accountants Screatons Ltd Atherstone College Ratcliffe Road Atherstone Warwickshire CV9 1LF

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

Contents.................................................................................................................................................................2 Aim and purposes.................................................................................................................................................3 Objectives and Activities......................................................................................................................................3 Achievements and Performance......................................................................................................................... 3 Worshipping God: Worship and Prayer.............................................................................................................4 Sunday Worship.......................................................................................................................................... 4 Children’s, Families and adults with additional needs Work....................................................................... 4 Seasonal Worship....................................................................................................................................... 4 Wednesday Worship (Book of Common Prayer).........................................................................................4 Home Communions & Visiting.....................................................................................................................4 Prayer Circle Team......................................................................................................................................4 Occasional Offices & Special Services and Events.................................................................................... 4 Making Disciples: Evangelism, Vocation and Pastoral Care.............................................................................4 Lent Courses...............................................................................................................................................4 Alpha Courses.............................................................................................................................................5 Pastoral Visiting, Prayer and vocational discussions.................................................................................. 5 Serving & Transforming Community: Mission and Outreach............................................................................ 5 Community Service:.................................................................................................................................... 5 Community Events 2023:............................................................................................................................ 5 Community Investment: Mission Giving...................................................................................................... 5 Community Spaces: St Nicolas Parish Centre............................................................................................5 Community Partnerships:............................................................................................................................6 How many church members do we have?........................................................................................................ 7 Financial Review................................................................................................................................................... 7 St Nicolas P.C.C Treasurer’s Annual Report for 2022.......................................................................................7 Additional Information..........................................................................................................................................9 Volunteers................................................................................................................................................... 9 Structure, governance and management......................................................................................................... 10 Administrative information................................................................................................................................ 10

2 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St Nicolas Church, Nuneaton 2023

St. Nicolas Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent, the Reverend Chris Routledge, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church Centre complex of St. Nicolas.

The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at St. Nicolas as we serve St Nicolas Parish and the town of Nuneaton. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services and activities can involve and reach out to the many groups that live within our parish. Our services, worship and activities put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament.

To help us with this goal, during 2023, St Nicolas PCC have met with St James PCC (A church we work in close partnership with) on a number of occasions and have agreed to share a Mission Action Plan and a shared missional priority - namely ‘to develop a culture within the churches of invitation and welcome’. In addition to this, the two churches share an Incumbent, Senior Leadership Team (SLT), Administrator, Treasurer and Safeguarding Team.

When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. The PCC has also regularly considered its duty to have due regard to House of Bishops guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:

To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church of St. Nicolas and the Church Centre.

As a review of 2023 at our January 2024 meeting, PCC members commented on the following as highlights for the year (in no particular order):

3 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

Worshipping God: Worship and Prayer

Sunday Worship

Worship is overseen by the Vicar and led by a strong and growing Lay team of Service Leaders (7 members), supported by active participation from church members with Bible Reading, Welcome, Refreshments and hospitality, AV and intercessions. St Nicolas Church is also well supported with music during worship with a growing Worship Singing Team (10 regular members) supported by dedicated Organist, Anthony Newborough and, during the first quarter of 2023, a Diocesan Funded position of Music Missioner, Sally-Ann Veasey. For the rest of 2023 Sally Ann has supported the All Age Services specifically with Music and plays an active role on the Senior Leadership Team and leading services.

During 2023, the PCC has regularised the worship pattern as follows, with a slight rearrangement in the structure of worship from Order 1 Holy Communion to Service of the Word (with/without Holy Communion): 1st & 3rd Sundays - Holy Communion (with Children’s groups) 2nd Sunday - Morning Praise (with Children’s groups) 4th Sunday - Altogether (All Age Worship)

Children’s, Families and adults with additional needs Work

Children’s and adults-with-additional-needs inclusion work is available most weeks through a dedicated team who provide supported activities that help young people explore faith topics at an age and stage appropriate level. A number of this team are also part of the All Age Service Leaders Team which works across both St James and St Nicolas Churches

Seasonal Worship

Seasonal Worship (i.e. Christmas, Harvest, Easter etc) often has additional/seasonal liturgical elements as appropriate and additional opportunities such as Christmas Community Choir, Handbell Ring and Sing team, Taize Singers etc These are open more broadly as they are occasional (not regular).

Wednesday Worship (Book of Common Prayer)

During 2023 we also extended the monthly Wednesday BCP service to have a weekly Service in this more traditional format. We regularly get between 10-15 people at this each week.

Home Communions & Visiting

In addition to this we take Holy Communion to those who can’t attend worship regularly any longer due to ill health. Currently there are about 7 people we regularly visit as well as around 10 at Caldwell Lodge and 15 at Caldwell Grange Nursing homes. Visiting is coordinated by Terry & Jean Lenton and is currently undertaken by members of the visiting team.

Prayer Circle Team

A small team of dedicated intercessors are available to pray for specific requests as and when they are requested. This is coordinated by Jean and Terry Lenton

Occasional Offices & Special Services and Events

As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life, in marriage public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and to commend the person into God's keeping. We have celebrated 7 baptisms and 4 weddings. There have been 15 funerals in 2023: 9 in church, and 6 at the crematorium conducted by ministers from St Nicolas. We also have occasional special services, often in the evening, to mark particular events or seasons such as the Coronation, Taize Healing service in Lent, Memorial services etc.

Making Disciples: Evangelism, Vocation and Pastoral Care

Lent Courses

During Lent 2023 two lent groups were run across the two Parishes both using material from the ‘Everybody Welcome’ course. This facilitated input and discussion around how we can make the buildings, services and ministry more welcoming and formed the basis for later PCC discussions in July which adopted a shared priority across both churches of developing a culture of invitation and welcome and producing our shared MAP.

4 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

Alpha Courses

Though Alpha had been run at St Nics in the past, Holy Trinity, Attleborough, in conversation with Saints, Nuneaton wanted to host a daytime Alpha course at Saints to run after Easter 2023. St Nicolas Church was invited to be involved and so supported this with a small number of members of the congregations of both St James (2) and St Nicolas (3) churches initially coming along to it as well as Chris being a small group leader. A Youth Alpha course began in July 2023 and continued until October with 6 young people ages 10-17 attending.

An evening Alpha course began in November for 5 adults. The away evening was held at St James Church and jointly hosted by Holy Trinity, Attleborough.

Pastoral Visiting, Prayer and vocational discussions

The Vicar is available to meet with anyone in the church or community who wants to explore faith and God’s calling on your life further or if someone is unwell and would benefit from prayer for healing and/or a visit. A number of such visits took place during 2023 and are available into the future.

Serving & Transforming Community: Mission and Outreach

Community Service:

During 2023, we continued to run SWANS weekly, led by Sally-Ann Veasey. This aims to provide activities and support for those suffering with or caring for those with Dementia and also provides a useful support and activity for those who are feeling isolated for other and varied reasons. The St Nicolas Group is one of two such groups run in the Nuneaton Area (the other run at St James Church).

Two other key groups that we have supported (though do not formally manage) are Baby Hub (a stay and play activity-based group) to help new parents find support, activity and socialisation for their preschool children. The other group is the long standing Child Contact Centre which provides free (donation based and volunteer-led) supported access for families who, through court orders would not be otherwise able to have direct contact with each other.

Community Events 2023:

Throughout 2023 we have run a variety of events and concerts designed to help members of our existing church family invite their friends and contacts and welcome those who might not ordinarily come into the church building. These have ranged from fundraising events such as Women in Concert event and Summer Barn Dance & Fish and chips for the Megan Newborough foundation; Bulkington Brass Concert; Atherstone Choral Society; Historic Churches Open days; St Nicolas Festival and Harvest Barn Dance

Community Investment: Mission Giving

Every year St Nicolas Church gives away a percentage of its income to charity, this is a part of the money given either on the collection plate or through people’s bank accounts. It is 10% because there is a biblical precedent for a 10% ‘tithe’ to be made.

In the past the 10% group made suggestions to the PCC about organisations to support but the work of this group has been paused as it has been under review during 2023. The PCC are very grateful to Ian Miskin for his leadership of this group for a number of years. Despite being under review, the PCC have made donations to a number of organisations but there will be additional money for the renewed version of this group to be able to invest.

In addition, we have a long-term commitment to support Evelyn, a student living in Peru, through the Charity Compassion.

Community Spaces: St Nicolas Parish Centre

The centre is a very popular venue and used every day by a wide range of community groups in Nuneaton and beyond (church, social services, children, etc.) for functions, meetings, and classes. Feedback is always positive from users who value the social support and opportunity to meet like minded groups of people.

Some of the long-established groups who use the centre include:

5 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

New groups in 2022

New groups in 2023

There are also rooms used for private parties and celebrations.

The centre is now thriving and in use most days and nights. This is very positive for the future.

Community Partnerships:

St Nicolas School Partnership:

St Nicolas School is a Church of England Academy with strong historic links. These links have been developing well with Dawn Beasley, an active member of our Congregation as Chair of Governors. The vicar is regularly involved in school collective worship and year groups visit the church at least once each year. During 2023, two visits during the year for most year groups happened with summer term visits as well as seasonal visits. For the first time in 2023, the Church gifted a bible to each year 6 leaver as a reminder of their time at St Nicolas School. The school is preparing for a SIAMS inspection, and the church is actively involved in supporting the school with this. In 2024, the headteacher of the last 6 years, Sharon Thorpe is relocating to a new area and has therefore had to say goodbye to St Nicolas School. The MAT and Governors are actively recruiting a new head and request the prayers of the local church for this appointment.

Deanery Synod

Within Coventry diocese, St Nicolas is in the Nuneaton Deanery. This is led by Area Dean Rev Dave Poultney and Assistant Area Dean Rev Alison Shaw alongside lay Chair Dave Spiers. Three members of the PCC sit on the deanery synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the church. The Deanery also operates a local Mission Hub to support deanery churches through All Saints Bedworth.

Working with other parishes

I reported at the last APCM on the difficulties numerous other parishes in the Deanery were experiencing due to lack of an incumbent and depleted resources. The overall situation is better but those same parishes are still struggling from lack of their own incumbent, Holy Communion services being conducted by clergy from other parishes on average once a month on a rota.

There is little opportunity for outreach of any sort in these parishes and they remain largely in survival mode. We are so fortunate here in St Nicolas and St James Churches to have such strong leadership teams and those of us that can help out elsewhere when we can do so. Jesus knew the same situation when he said “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” This should be our prayer too.

John Hitchcock

Ecumenical Relationships

The church is a part of Churches Together community in Nuneaton, and is involved with the Saints project, with the Vicar on the Saints advisory committee. Saints hosted a Christmas Meal for 50 at St Nicolas Church at Christmas 2023. An Alpha group was held at Saints. The Vicar regularly meets church leaders of the Nuneaton Churches and seeks to explore opportunities for collaborative work and ministry.

6 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

Interfaith Relationships

During May 2023 St Nicolas represented a number of other churches at an interfaith gathering organised by the local Police called ‘Food and Faith’. The aim of this was to provide an environment to learn from and about the various faith communities in this area. It is the hope of many of the faith groups that this would be the start of other such events.

Civic Relationships

As Nuneaton's longest serving Church of England church, St Nicolas has an important role within the civic life of the local community. During 2023 we have been involved in events with the George Eliot Society, Nuneaton Historical Association, local councillors, MP, Local Schools (Higham Lane, Etone, Milby), Nuneaton District Guides, the town’s Civic Remembrance Sunday event and the vigil for the Knife Angel visit to Nuneaton.

How many church members do we have?

It is difficult to gauge an accurate number as there are varying ways to understand membership of a church like St Nicolas. All are welcome to attend our services and events. Some identify with St Nicolas because it is the Parish Church, others because it is the Town Church, others still because it is their spiritual home.

The average weekly attendance, counted during October, was 87, but this number increased at festivals and Christmas carol services with recording 109 during our Christmas Services 2023 and 154 during our Easter Services 2023.

Our Electoral Roll shows the following membership:

Year Resident Non residents Total on roll
2019 62 31 93
2020 68 39 107
2021 69 39 108
2022 69 39 108
2023 70 39 109

Our Facebook Account has 413 likes and 516 followers

Report on the Fabric, goods and ornaments of the Church

See Dashboard.

A huge number of tasks have been done to ensure that the church is safe, watertight, warm and welcoming. Our Churchwardens run a fabric dashboard to enable the PCC to see the progress and status of the many projects undertaken on their behalf. This was not started at the beginning of 2023 but is indicative of a number of different projects that have been explored during 2023.

7 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

8 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

Financial Review

St Nicolas P.C.C Treasurer’s Annual Report for 2023

The results from 2023 are encouraging, our income has increased and we have a surplus of income over expenditure of £9,731. In more detail, giving has increased significantly, thank you to everyone who has given to the church. Income from letting the hall has also increased by 50%.

Expenditure has increased overall, energy costs remain high, and we had high maintenance expenditure which has included much needed improvement to the car park.

Coventry Diocese agreed to a substantial reduction in Parish Share and this has enabled us to achieve a surplus.

Looking ahead to 2024, we plan to continue our mission with more community events and by increasing our giving to other organisations. I would like to thank everyone at St Nicolas for your continued friendship and support, also thank you to Neil Screaton of Screatons Ltd who has kindly reviewed our accounts for 2023.

Description 2022 **2023 ** Difference % Diff Comment
Income
200 - Planned Giving 44,926 46,215 1,290 3 General increase in giving
201 - Collections 3,190 4,275 1,085 34
202 - Donations 2,484 7,578 5,094 205 significant individual donations
204 - Income Tax Credits 11,469 12,113 644 6
210 - Church Hall Lettings 23,759 35,611 11,852 50 Bookings near capacity
215 - PCC Fees - Retained 2,529 3,209 680 27 More weddings and funerals
230 - Interest Received 260 872 612 236 Higher interest rates in 2023
Totals 88,616 109,87
3		 21,257 24 Encouraging increase of both giving and hall lettings
Expenditure
501 - Donations inc 10%
Giving		 9,505 3,552 -5,953 -63 Significant reduction, to be addressed in 2024
505 - Heat and Light 6,680 12,031 5,351 80 Energy bills remain high
506 - Rates and Water 47 82 35 73
507 - Insurance 6,997 6,059 -938 -13 Timing of monthly payments
508 - Repairs and
Maintenance		 2,502 8,360 5,859 234 Includes car park, alarm, hall lights
510 - Cleaning 5,477 8,036 2,558 47 Increase after caretaker left and increase in cleaning
costs
511 - Caretaker 1,264 0 -1,264 No caretaker in 2023
521 - Weekly Service Costs 3,362 4,436 1,074 32 Higher cost of organ maintenance
525 - Clergy Expenses 0 1,301 1,301 2022 expenses claimed in 2023
527 - Salary Secretary 7,338 8,373 1,034 14 Increase in rate and hours
528 - Printing, Postage
Admin etc.		 1,068 1,881 813 76 Replaced old copier, new copier shared with St James
530 - Telephone 739 1,514 775 105 includes clergy telephone in 2023, and new office mobile
535 - Parish Share 50,516 42,297 -8,219 -16 Reduction agreed by Coventry Diocese
550 - Mission/Outreach 55 913 858 1,557 Increase in community activity/events

9 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

565 - Independent
Examination Fee		 1,164 1,308 144 12
Totals 96,714 100,14
3		 3,429 4 Higher expenses, reduced Parish Share, lower donations
to other organisations
Income - Expenditure -8,097 9,731

Reserves policy

The Trustees consider that the liquid unrestricted reserves required by the Church should ideally be equivalent to a minimum of 3 months operating costs to cover the costs of winding up that would be incurred in the case of the Church ceasing to operate.

Thank you

Jim Keeley Treasurer

Please ask me about the various ways that you can give to the church. Email jimkeeleyhome@hotmail.com mobile 07906 220330 or ask me in church.

Volunteers

We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard to make our church the lively and vibrant community it is. In particular we want to mention our churchwardens Garry Clark and Nick Shaw who have worked so tirelessly on our behalf and Jim Keeley who has helped us all to understand the church’s accounts and its finances.

PCC Membership

Members of the PCC are either ex-officio (Clergy, Readers & Deanery/diocesan synod members) , co-opted to fulfil a certain role (currently up to 2 members), or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) [Currently up to 12 members] in accordance with the Church Representation Rules as revised in 2022. Elected, co-opted and ex-officio members are the trustees of the Church, registered with the Charity Commission.

The PCC members are responsible for making strategic decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent.

PCC Standing Committee

This is the only committee required by law, it has the power, delegated by the PCC, to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings subject to directions given by the Council.

Members: Chris Routledge (Vicar), Nick Shaw (Warden), Garry Clarke (Warden), Peter Rogers (Deanery Synod member), David Bailey (PCC Secretary), Jim Keeley (Treasurer), Carole Harris (Lay Chair of PCC).

Senior Leadership Team (SLT):

This involves key leaders (Clergy, Lay and staff) involved in the day to day church ministry. The SLT is responsible to the PCC but handles day to day management-level decisions, providing support and accountability for each other and the various church ministries across both Churches.

Members: Chris Routledge (vicar: St Nicolas/Priest-in-charge: St James), Adrian Guthrie (Associate Minister: St James), Martin Butt (Retired Clergy PTO), Nick Shaw (Warden: St Nics), Garry Clarke (Warden: St Nicolas), Brenda Gardiner (Warden: St James), Sally-Ann Veasey (Music Missioner/ Local Lay Leader), Terry Lenton (Reader PTO), John Hitchcock (Reader PTO), Marina Betteridge (Parish Administrator)

10 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

Joint Safeguarding Team:

The Safeguarding Team usually meets monthly to monitor and set Actions related to the Parish Safeguarding dashboards and safer recruitment requirements supporting the ministry opportunities across both churches and ensure that the PCC has due regard to the house of Bishops safeguarding guidance and

Members: Chris Routledge, Phil Healey (St Nics PSO), Sue Harris (St James PSO), Lynn Keeley (Assistant PSO)

Non-attending Team: Marina Betteridge (DBS Admin), Dawn Beasley (Assistant PSO), Garry Clarke (Warden: St Nics), Brenda Gardiner (Warden: ST James).

The Parish Office Is the initial contact point for all enquiries: in person; by telephone and email. It is managed by our part-time Administrator, Marina Betteridge. It is where many church functions are arranged and organised (weddings, funerals, baptisms, etc.). It is also the administration hub for events, the centre, invoicing, bookings, resolving issues and generally responsible for all day-to-day activities.

During the year the following served as members of the PCC:

Serving Until
Chair Rev Chris
Routledge		 Vicar (ex officio) (from September 2022)
Church Wardens Nicholas Shaw APCM 2024
GarryClarke APCM 2024
Deanery Synod
Members		 John Hitchcock APCM 2026
Peter Rogers APCM 2026
Adam Fielder APCM 2026
Elected Members Jim Keeley APCM 2024 PCC Treasurer
David Bailey APCM 2026 PCC Secretary
Dawn Beasley APCM 2024
Lynn Keeley APCM 2025 Assistant Parish SafeguardingOfficer
Sally-Anne Veasey APCM 2023 Came off PCC at APCM 2023
CaroleHarris APCM 2026 Lay Chairof PCC
Jean Bailey APCM 2026
Marina Betteridge APCM 2026
Adam Fielder APCM 2023 became a member of deanery Synod
2023 -2026 so is ex-officio on PCC
Helen Fielder APCM 2026
Julie Bannister APCM 2024
Lynn Werrett APCM 2026

PCC Officers:

PCC Secretary - David Bailey PCC Treasurer - Jim Keeley Electoral Roll Officer - Ian Miskin Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) - Phil Healey

11 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

How you can get in touch with us:

The Church and the Office are situated on Vicarage Street. Please visit us on Sunday for any of our services St Nicolas Church

Vicarage Street Nuneaton CV11 4AZ You may phone: Telephone: 02476 344553 Email: office@stnicolaschurch.org.uk Website:www.stnicolaschurch.org.uk

St. Nicolas Church is part of the Diocese of Coventry within the Church of England. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2020) and a charity registered with the Charity Commission. Registered Charity Number 1126349

12 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

13 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

14 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

15 | Page

Serving Nuneaton since 1155 Worshipping God, Making Disciples, Transforming Community

16 | Page