Annual review 2021 including the Annual Report and Accounts
V3.0
## Annual review 2021
## including the Annual Report and Accounts (pages 11-22)
Every year is unique. While 2020 will likely be remembered as the most unprecedented year in Covid terms, 2021 has also been rather unusual with its mix of challenges and hope. It has been another year in which the importance of our faith in God’s love which is stronger than all else has been particularly apparent, with great thankfulness that Jesus Christ understands the vulnerability of being human from the inside, and that we are granted the presence of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us always.
The year started in Tier 4 before quickly returning to lockdown and then a gradual easing of Covid restrictions between March and July, before Plan
B from December as the Omicron variant surged. Worship in church was never illegal during 2021, but we complied with the strong recommendation of our local public health bodies not to gather in our church building during the Beta variant surge of early 2021. So many people from our church congregation, staff and community have displayed incredible resilience and worked very hard to allow us to continue gathering, communicating, praying, encouraging, worshipping and offering support and help within the law and our risk assessments. Thank you for all that has been contributed and the ways God has been glorified.
Significant changes during the year include:
- The licensing of our new Rector in February;
- Wendy Littlejohns finishing her interim term as church warden in July and being replaced by Viveca Dutt;
- Jano Goodchild becoming a deputy warden;
- Chris Winward becoming Reader Emeritus in July;
- Bev Alderson finishing with Seekers in July with the move to Epping;
- Becca Kemal leaving her role as Youth Worker jointly between Woodford, Wanstead and Aldersbrook churches in July;
- David Godwin leaving the ministry team as he and Jane moved to Gloucester in September;
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- Henry Metcalfe joining us as Director of Music in October after John Bradley had been generously acting as Director of Music in a voluntary capacity and Chris Wooll had been our regular organist for over two years.
- Seekers and Quest groups for children and young people have become an umbrella Junior Church with more specific groups within it meeting on Sunday mornings, and a new evening discussion group has been developed for young people.
It was good to be able to mark each of these occasions and several more together during the year: tolling a bell each Sunday in Lent to remember those who had died with Covid; the Confirmation service in March in Aldersbrook; a silence and bell tolling for the Duke of Edinburgh following his death in April; Ascension Day at St Peter in the Forest; Pentecost with many of the
congregation wearing red – participation of a different kind substituting for the singing which wasn’t allowed; a delightfully sunny and joyful Food & Fun Day held in September rather than the usual May; Harvest Festival; celebration of our new bronze ecochurch status and Climate Sunday; Gift Day for St Mary’s; a Thanksgiving service for Woodford & Wanstead 241 Squadron Air Cadets in October attended by representatives of local Jewish and Muslim congregations; All Souls at St Mary’s; a November memorial service organised with W. English funeral director co-led with clergy from Woodford Methodist (Derby Road) and St Anne Line Catholic churches; civic Remembrance and Remembrance Sunday with congregation; and a very successful Charity Bazaar in November.
During 2021 there was also much looking to the future: a congregational survey in the spring sought interim possibilities as restrictions eased and missional and evangelistic ideas; in September we welcomed our MP Iain Duncan Smith to discuss climate change before the COP26 conference in Glasgow and from that discussion a new ecumenical
ecochurches network has developed; many at St Mary’s have made eco pledges and the PCC has requested further research about how to reach silver ecochurch status; a new walking fellowship group has emerged and met monthly; and we have begun planning for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and 50[th] anniversary of St Mary’s
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reconsecration in June 2022, with a visit planned from Guli, Bishop of Chelmsford. In October the Rector and wardens participated with others from the Barking episcopal area in an online weekend course ‘Leading your Church into Growth’ (full details of this evidence-based approach which other churches have found led them to spiritual and numerical growth at
www.leadingyourchurchintogrowth.org.uk) and the PCC endorsed drawing on these principles in an approach called ‘Growing God’s Kingdom at St Mary’s’. The intention is not to add more work, but to focus all that we do, to be open to God deepening and changing the faith of each of us, to be a place offering opportunities for people to come to faith in Christ or return to church. We hope and pray this will lead us into missional, spiritual and numerical growth as individuals, as a church and in engagement with our local community.
Growing churches have focused fruitfully on four key elements:
- **Prayer** : consistently, for growth within and numerically
- **Presence** : buildings, community, christenings, weddings, funerals
- **Proclamation** : church festivals, any event with Gospel sharing opportunities
- **Persuasion** : courses, questions/apologetics, witness/testimony,
- conversation
Given the importance of prayer in general and throughout this approach to God’s growing kingdom, our initial focus has been prayer, and during 2022 we will develop further strands. We expect that Bishop Guli and the Diocese more broadly may give further direction during 2022, as will Lynne Cullen, who will become Bishop of Barking in spring 2022.
As we look forward, we are already employing more focused approaches in our management of storage within the church building; in how PCC works; we have identified that fewer coffee volunteers and sidespeople will be needed; and we know online worship, fellowship and communication will remain important.
This annual report is in many ways an interim one with the rest of the structure simply reflecting: Worship & Life of Faith , Community & Mission , Financial Report , Core Support & Wider Faith Links.
All of the areas of church life mentioned in this report would be very glad of new people joining, bringing with them new ideas and approaches. Support and training, where needed, is available. If you or someone you know would like to support a particular area of church life, please contact the Rector or the church office (see page 12), or please contact the team leader if you know them. **Revd Dr Elizabeth Lowson**
**Revd Dr Elizabeth Lowson**
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## **1** _**Worship and Life of Faith**_
## **Music**
Covid-19 continued to dominate musical affairs at St Mary’s through a good part of 2021. Furthermore, St Mary’s began the year without a Rector or a Music Director, and under a substantial lockdown that meant that services were again pre-recorded and digitally streamed, with music restricted to two hymns sung by a single voice with piano accompaniment. We’ve come a long way since then. Elizabeth was keen to re-establish St Mary’s choral music tradition as it became possible, so things began to open up a little with some limited live singing by members of the choir during Holy Week and Easter Sunday. Later in the year the choir was again able to gather on Friday to record anthem music for use on Sunday morning. Finally, in September, the choir was able to sing live in services, and services resumed that were closer to what we had had pre-Covid, including service music and some hymn singing as well as an anthem.
During all this time, I have been acting Director of Music; leading the choir, with mostly Chris Wooll and occasionally William Layzell-Smith as organists. However, the Rector was anxious for a new Director of Music to be appointed and set in train a process that has resulted in Henry Metcalfe being appointed, and starting in November. Henry is a young man with a view of choral music which fits very well with St Mary’s, and he has a sensitive view of the place of music in liturgy. He is an extraordinary improviser on the organ. The choir has
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been much enjoying his leadership, and we are all much looking forward to a music future led by him! Under his leadership all Sunday services have resumed: including morning and evening worship and Taizé. Already the choir has taken part in a full choral evensong on the first Sunday of Advent and led the music in an inspiring Christmas Carol Service a few weeks later – although the rise of the Omicron variant meant that the service had to be without congregation and was only available live-streamed. (Indeed, this writer was unable to participate, since I actually had Covid at the time myself).
Linda Wiskin reports on Joyful Voices: “During the year, Joyful Voices continued to have some rehearsals at 9am on Sunday mornings so they were able to contribute to worship. It was good to have Ella join Robyn, Jack, Verity, Josie and Lily. They contributed music by Rose and Wilby and some other contemporary composers. I was grateful for the choristers’ continued enthusiasm and the support of their parents in my caretaker role”.
Perhaps it is appropriate to mention other kinds of music that have happened at St Mary’s in 2021. Covid has disrupted things here too, but the St Mary’s Chamber Music Ensemble managed to present a concert of Schubert’s music in May, and Chris Wooll and his singing colleague also presented a wonderful reading of Schubert’s Winterreise shortly thereafter. Hopefully, more concerts of a broad range of musical styles as public outreach will be able to occur in 2022!
Once again I must thank the choir for their continued commitment to choral music at St Mary's in spite of all that Covid-19 could throw at us. Also, to our wardens and readers who have made a consistent effort to make a place for music, in one form or other, in our services. I must also thank the rector who has worked hard to re-establish choral music at our church, and whose efforts are clearly bearing fruit! I also must thank Nina Lewis for her continued efforts to manage our substantial choral music library. And finally to Viveca Dutt who, through her technical wizardry, made it possible for music contributions to continue through much of this past year.
Finally, I must close with a comment that although our choir is made up of committed, and highly skilled, singers, we are now to the point where numbers are often at an absolute bare minimum to allow us to carry on providing service music of the kind St Mary’s has become accustomed. Please, if you can sing this kind of music, and if you value St Mary’s choral tradition, consider joining us! It is becoming close to urgent that you do so. Henry would be delighted to hear from you. **John Bradley**
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## **The Bells of St Mary’s**
We have continued ringing throughout this year whenever COVID has allowed. In April after the death of Prince Philip we tolled a bell for an hour at the time of his funeral, under the tuition of Dennis Ellisdon , one of our experienced ringers. Philip Petchey , Dennis and I tolled the heaviest bell in the tower attempting to stand the bell
at each stroke leaving an equal amount of time between each stroke , we got better at it as the hour went on! It was an honour to ring for this occasion We were happy to have the tower open to visitors on Food and Fun day in September, it was a busy couple of hours talking to people and letting them enjoy the view from the top. One of our visitors was a lapsed ringer and he has happily joined our band.
We celebrated the tercentenary of the back six bells in November by ringing a quarter peal and were joined by Andrew Kelso the Master of the Essex Association, I’m pleased to say we got the quarter. A celebratory cake was shared with the congregation on the following Sunday.
## **Kate Walker Tower Captain**
## **Flowers**
It is not too long since our last report but circumstances have improved and Church has remained open for services so we have continued with flowers. Harvest, Remembrance and Christmas are always major dates for us in the flower calendar with more arrangements than usual. We shall soon be into Lent, with no flowers, then Easter with Church decorated. If you wish to contribute, we have a list in the foyer, or for donations a box in the wall. Thank you. **Hazel Lovejoy**
## **Sacristy**
I have been in charge of the Sacristy Team since January 2020 taking over from Viveca Dutt. Within a couple of months
7
COVID took over & we were in “lockdown” which meant that services stopped completely for some months. Even in normal circumstances the work of the Sacristy team is very much ”hidden” from the congregation but provides vital help to the Ministry team & we have had to adapt to the changed procedures & known routines on a regular basis. St. Mary’s is very fortunate to have a really reliable team of four to do this on a monthly basis. The Sacristy is not large & we have to “share” it with others so it is important that we keep an air of calm & cleanliness, tidiness & a high standard of hygiene within it. I do thank my team for their support & assistance in this work. **Sally Phillips**
## **St Mary’s Online and Tech**
We have continued to make use of online tools as our patterns of worship changed during the year.
In the early part of the year, we continued to pre-record worship for Sunday mornings, until we were able to resume services in Church. We were delighted to be able to live stream Revd Elizabeth Lowson’s licensing service with people joining us from around the world.
We have been pleased to continue live streaming for the 10.00am service as we re-opened for worship in church and have also live streamed a few special services. We have also started putting the words of services on screens in church which benefits both worshippers in church and the online congregation. Sunday evening prayer and worship was shared on Zoom until November when evening services restarted in church, and continued on Zoom on Tuesday mornings.
Our website and Facebook continue to be sources of information about what is going on in church and we were pleased to see members of the congregation contributing pictures to our Facebook page. We created an Instagram page in March and resumed posting regularly on Twitter. We have gained over 100 Instagram followers and around 60 Facebook followers taking us over 250 in total; and we have a total of 180 Twitter followers: all three of our social media pages are publicly available @stmaryswoodford with some good engagement figures. Our weekly email enables us to give information about our live streaming links and other useful information. **Viveca Dutt**
## **Junior Church**
Our Seekers group remained steady in numbers. The families who attend are all regular, enthusiastic and contribute hugely to Seekers and Church life. We also have some wonderful new young members that have joined our group.
2021 continued to be dominated by the Pandemic. However, we were happy to
8
be able to come together again in late spring. Meeting for fellowship, bible stories and learning about God through creative activities. Our weekly sessions now follow the liturgical calendar. We were unable to be involved in all St Mary’s . services in church for much of the year due to restrictions. However, we returned with enthusiasm in September and JuniorCHURCH have contributed to the Sunday morning services by sharing what we have learnt during the morning and asking and learning from the congregation what they have been focusing on in their morning service.
The PCC Set up a working group to review our current offering for families and young people. The group produced a report with recommendations of how St Mary’s can best serve families and young people. This was submitted and approved at the September PCC. The full report is available for those who would like to read it. Thanks to all who worked on this.
## **What is Junior Church trying to do?**
_We want to nurture and encourage the faith journey and belonging of children, young people and families in St Mary’s and the wider community._
9
- To support families, parents, carers and young people from ages 0-18 years
- Support all ages in their faith journey now and for the future
- Provide consistency of teaching and theological approach
- Teaching Materials to follow the liturgical calendar and where appropriate the lectionary
- Be a core part of St Mary’s
**In** September we launched our New Junior Church, bringing a more cohesive approach and giving choice for all families and across all ages. From our Baby and toddler group (see page 26) our Sunflowers (under 3s with parent carers on Sunday mornings) Sunday morning Junior church, The philosophy and cake for the older teens (Sunday Evening) and encouraging young leaders.
Since then, Junior Church has taken an active part in our altogether services; Harvest, Remembrance & Christingle. Once again, we were unable to be in person with the wider community for the nativity service. However, our wonderful Junior Church did a fabulous job, singing and performing the story that was then streamed on Christmas Eve and is available to enjoy on you tube.
This new approach, style and format has been a huge success with worship, learning and fun activities being enjoyed by all age groups and, we look forward to building on this great start through 2022. **Sarah Reynolds**
## **Confirmations**
In March five people from St Mary’s were confirmed: three adults who had completed the ‘Just Looking’ course in 2019 with our previous Rector Ian Tarrant; and two young people. The service was held at St Gabriel’s Aldersbrook on Mothering Sunday and was led by Peter, Bishop of Barking. It was a joyful celebration of this step in faith despite all the safety measures: masks, limited numbers distanced in church with two people singing on behalf of everyone, and an online congregation praying supportively from locations near and far. In September, when congregational singing and refreshments were once more happening at St Mary’s, we officially welcomed and celebrated our newly confirmed and we all renewed our baptismal vows together with abundant holy water.
## **Pattern of worship and reflection**
We started the year with a pre-recorded service of the Word on YouTube and our website. These included readings, intercessions, singing, preaching and other content filmed in individuals’ homes and were
**(continued on page 23)**
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**St Mary with St Philip and St James High Road South Woodford E18 2PA** www.stmaryswoodford.org.uk ~~BO~~ Registered Charity No: 1127596 Pe ge: te xTrt SS <= aalal a sees
PCC and Clergy Report for 2021
The Parochial Church Council meets every other month: the Standing Committee meets in the alternate months to transact business requiring more urgent or detailed attention and decisions.
The Standing Committee membership comprises of the Rector, Wardens, Deputy Wardens, Secretary and Treasurer. PCC receives periodic reports from the following committees:- Fabric, Eco-church, Mission, Children’s & Young people’s, Events, Trustees of the Memorial Hall, Deanery Synod members, Education Scrutiny, Neighbourhood Ward Panel and the MMU.
We continue to explore and develop our relationship with our Ministry and Mission Unit partnership formalised as the West Roding Ministry Partnership and such projects as the Bereavement Café continue to be successful.
We continue to support Rowena Rudkin as Diocesan representative on the London Borough of Redbridge Education Scrutiny Committee. David Snowdon is a member of the Churchf elds ward panel which acts as the interface between the local community and the Met Police safer neighbourhood team.
In 2021 we appointed both a new rector, Revd Elizabeth Lowson, and director of music, Henry Metcalfe. With the easing of COVID-related restrictions and the planned celebration of 50 years since the re-dedication of St Mary’s we enter 2022 with renewed vigour and optimism. **David Snowdon**
11
## **Treasurer’s Report 2020**
Accepting that 2020 & 2021 have not been normal years, the TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES in 2021 - £129445 is not sufficient to cover our EXPENSES DIRECTLY RELATED TO CHURCH WORK £136680, & in addition we have the administration costs £10881 to add. We have therefore had to take a further £18116 this year from Reserves after taking £10171 in 2020. As mentioned in 2020 the rental income £22200 is crucial in supporting the Church income.
The General Fund Reserve, excluding the balance of legacy monies, only covers approximately 6 weeks expenditure.
To continue to work as St Marys Woodford we must give much prayer & heed to our support of the church.
My sincere appreciation goes to the Stewardship Secretary Anne Jones, for her work with Gift Aid reclaims and Planned Giving; to Michael Lovejoy for banking tasks which have become a lot more difficult since HSBC closed locally; to the Wardens who assist in authorisation & management of expenditure & to all who are involved with the card donations via SumUp. **Jane Fone**
## **Church Contact Details**
|**Rector**|The Revd Dr Elizabeth Lowson|||
|---|---|---|---|
||020 8504 7981|||
||rector@stmaryswoodford.org.uk|||
|P**arish Ofce**|St Mary’s Church|||
||207 High Road, E18 2PA|||
||020 8505 3000|||
||info@stmaryswoodford.org.uk|||
|**Authorised Preacher**|Mark Spencer-Ellis|||
|**Lay Readers**|Mark Lewis, Rowena Rudkin|||
|**PCC Secretary**|David Snowdon|**Treasurer**|Jane Fone|
|**Independent Examiner**|Yusuf Dedat FCA|**Bankers**|HSBC|
||Suite D, The Business Centre|||
||Faringdon Avenue|||
12
|**ST MARY WITH ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES WOODFORD**
**Balance Sheet at 31 December 2021**|**ST MARY WITH ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES WOODFORD**
**Balance Sheet at 31 December 2021**|
|---|---|
|**Note**
**2021**
~~ee~~|**2020**
~~ee~~|
|£
~~ee~~|£
~~ee~~|
|**FIXED ASSETS**
~~ee~~
~~a~~|~~ee~~
|
|Freehold Land and Buildings
4a
690000
~~a~~|690000
690000
|
|Investments
4b
99422
~~aee~~|99422
106498
~~ee~~|
|**Total Fixed Assets**
**789422**
~~ee~~|**789422**
**796498**
~~ee~~|
|~~ee~~|~~ee~~|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**
~~ee~~|~~ee~~|
|SundryDebtors
5
6528 -
~~ee~~|6528 -
~~ee~~|
|CBF Deposit
222501
~~ee~~|222501
263934
~~ee~~|
|Bank Balance
38930
~~ee~~|38930
27683
~~ee~~|
|**267959**
~~ee~~|**267959**
**291617**
~~ee~~|
|**LIABILITIES**
~~ee~~|~~ee~~|
|Amounts fallingdue within oneyear
4082
~~ee~~|4082
4611
~~ee~~|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
263877
~~ee~~|263877
287006
~~ee~~|
|**NET ASSETS**
**1053299 1083504**
~~ee~~|**1053299 1083504**
~~ee~~|
|~~ee~~|~~ee~~|
|**FUNDS**
~~ee~~|~~ee~~|
|**Unrestricted**
~~ee~~|~~ee~~|
|General Purpose
8
922222
~~ee~~|922222
947414
~~ee~~|
|Earmarked
101004
~~ee~~|101004
103751
~~ee~~|
|**Total Unrestricted Funds**
**1023226 1051165**
~~ee~~|**1023226 1051165**
~~ee~~|
|**Restricted Funds**
30073
~~ee~~|30073
32339
~~ee~~|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**
**1053299 1083504**|**1053299 1083504**
~~|~~|
|~~Chmntan~~
~~(\wetre~~
~~|~~|~~|~~
~~|~~|
|**Signed:**
~~Chmntan~~
~~(\wetre~~
~~|~~|~~|~~|
|~~Chmntan~~
~~(\wetre~~
~~|~~
~~os|o3l22~~
~~3/3~~
~~[|~~|~~|~~
~~||~~
|
|~~os|o3l22~~
~~3/3~~
~~[|OT~~|~~||~~
~~OT~~|
13
## **ST MARY WITH ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES WOODFORD**
|
**2020**|
**Total**|**£**|111065|
1376|
25620|
4622|
-|142683||
2000|157774|
91|
8815|
1715|170395|(27712)|
-|
-|
3629|(24083)|1107587|1083504|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
**2021**|**Total**||96565|1528|
30078|
2925|2074|
133170||
2000|
143418|247|8891|1743|
156299|
(23129)|-|-|(7076)|
(30205)|1083504|1053299|
|**Restricted**||
**£**|||3671|
3||
3674||2000|
3940||||
5940|
(2266)||||
(2266)|
32339|
30073|
|**Earmarked**||**£**||||
51||
51|||
2798||||
2798|
(2747)||||
(2747)|
103751|
101004|
|
**2021**|**GP Fund**||
96565|
1528|
26407|
2871|
2074|
129445|||
136680|
247|
8891|
1743|
147561|(18116)|-|-|
(7076)|(25192)|
947414|
922222|
|
**2020**|**GP Fund**|
**£**|104065|1376|
25151|4179|
-|134771||-|134321|91|8815|1715|144942|(10171)|||3629|(6542)|953956|947414|
|**Note**||2|||9b||9a||3||||||||||||||
|**STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
**For the year ended 31 December 2021**||**INCOMING RESOURCES**|Voluntary Income|Income From Charitable Actvites|Other Income|Investment Income|Other Trading Actvites|**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**|**RESOURCES USED**|Grants|Actvites Directly related to the Work of the Church|Fundraising and publicity|Church Management and Administraton|Governance Costs|**TOTAL RESOURCES USED**|**NET INCOMING/OUTGOING RESOURCES**|Interfund Transfers|Proft on Property Revaluaton|Loss/Proft on Investment Revaluaton|**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**|**BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD**|**BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD**|
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## **ST MARY WITH ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES WOODFORD**
## **NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - Note 1**
## _**Accounting Policies**_
The PCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011. and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCCs, and with the Regulations’ “true and fair view”, provisions, together with FRS102 (2016) as the applicable accounting standards and the 2016 version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and reporting by Charities (SORP (FRS102).
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention except that the Curate's House is stated at a fair value as agreed by the PCC and investments which are stated at market value.
## _**Funds**_
Unrestricted funds represent the funds of the PCC which are not subject to any legal restrictions regarding their use and are available for applications to the general purposes of the PCC. This category includes both the General Purposes Fund and funds earmarked for a particular purpose by the PCC. Restricted funds are those funds which may only be used for the restricted purpose for which they were given or otherwise obtained.
The accounts include all transaction assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law.
They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.
## _**Incoming resources**_
## _Income from donors and other voluntary income_
Planned Giving is recognised only when received.
Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC.
Income tax recoverable on gift aid donations is recognised when received or when calculated and submitted for payment.
Grants and legacies to the PCC are accountable for as soon as the PCC is notified of its legal entitlement and the amount due.
Funds raised by the Charity bazaar and other events are accounted for gross unless related expenses are immaterial in amount.
Donated good are recognised at fair value, unless it is impractical to measure this reliably. An equivalent amount is included as expenditure under the relevant heading in the statement of financial activities. Monies received in relations to donated goods sold are included under the relevant heading in The Statement of Financial Activities when the good are sold.
## _Charitable trading_
Fees for weddings are included in this caption and accounted for when due.
## _Other ordinary income_
Rental income from the letting of the curate’s house is accounted for when due
## _Income from investments_
Interest on deposits is accounted for when receivable and any related tax recoverable is recognised at the same time.
## _**Resources Used**_
## _**Grants**_
Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over or when awarded if that award creates a binding obligation on the PCC.
_Activities directly related to the work of the church_ The diocesan quota is accounted for when payable.
## _**Fixed Assets**_
## _Consecrated land and buildings and movable church furnishings_
Consecrated and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by s.10(2)(a) and (c)of the Charities Act 2011 Chapter 2, s.10(2)(C).
No value is placed on movable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal since the PCC considers this to be inalienable property. All expenditure incurred during the year on consecrated or beneficed buildings and movable church furnishings whether maintenance or improvement is written off as expenditure in the Statement of Financial Activities and separately disclosed.
_Other land and buildings held for use in the work of the church._
The curate's house is included under this caption. It is stated at a fair value as agreed by the PCC.
## _**Investments**_
Investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date. The Statement of Financial
Activities includes net gains and losses arising on revaluation and disposals throughout the year.
## _**Equipment**_
Equipment used within the church premises is depreciated on a straight-line basis over four years. Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £5000 or less are written off when the asset is acquired.
## _**Current Assets**_
Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors less provision for any amounts that may prove to be uncollectable.
15
## **ST MARY WITH ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES WOODFORD**
## **Note 2 Incoming Resources**
||**General**|
**Earmarked**|**Restricted**|
**2021**|
**2020**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Fund**|
**Funds**|
**Funds**|
**TOTAL**|
**TOTAL**|
||£|
£|
£||£|
|**Voluntary Income**||||||
|Planned Giving|61586|||61586|
62924|
|Income Tax recovered|14483|||14483|
23991|
|Loose Collectons|4160|||4160|
2520|
|SundryDonatons|8059|||8059|
4361|
|Donatons Earmarked|-|||-|
7000|
|Church Appeals|7445|||7445|
-|
|FloodlightngDonaton|365|||365|
425|
|Magazine Donatons|467|||467|
538|
|Legacies|-|||-|
9306|
||**96565**|||**96565**|
**111065**|
|||||||
|**Income: Charitable Actvites**||||||
|Fees - weddings etc|1528|||1528|
1376|
|||||||
|**Other Income**||||||
|Rent - Curate's House|22200|||22200|
22200|
|Churchyard Income|1500|||1500|
1500|
|Fund Raising|2707|||2707|
1920|
|Bazaar Fund Raising|||3671|
3671|
-|
||**26407**|
**-**|
**3671**|
**30078**|
**25620**|
|||||||
|**Investment Income**||||||
|Interest and Dividends|2871|
51|
3|
2925|
4622|
|**Other Trading Actvites**|2074|||2074|
-|
|**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**|**129445**|
**51**|
**3674**|**133170**|
**142683**|
16
## **ST MARY WITH ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES WOODFORD**
## **Note 3 Resources Used**
||**General**|**Earmarked**|**Restricted**|**TOTAL**|**TOTAL**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Funds**|
**Funds**|
**Funds**|
**2021**|
**2020**|
|**Grants**|**£**|
**£**|
**£**|
**£**|
**£**|
|Mission societes|||2000|
2000|
2000|
|Church societes||||||
|Charites e.gELHAP||||||
||||**2000**|
**2000**|
**2000**|
|**Actvites directly related to church**|**work**|||||
|DiocesanQuota|92738|||92738|
92540|
|Rector's Expenses|146|||146|
99|
|Music,Organ & Choir|3652|||3652|
2459|
|Service Expenses|1014|||1014|
787|
|Heatng/Light/Water|4675|||4675|
3113|
|Cleaning|3703|||3703|
4125|
|Routne Maintenance|2817|||2817|
1456|
|Clergyhouse expenses|4594|
393||4987|
6123|
|Churchyard Expenses|3679|||3679|
2429|
|Insurances|3058|||3058|
3020|
|Interegnum expenses|116|||116|
798|
|Seekers/Mums & Tods|-|||-|180|
|Memorial Hall Contributons|5700|||5700|
5580|
|Printngand statoneryinc magazine|1700|||1700|
1333|
|Sundries|93|||93|
72|
|Outreach incyouth worker|6275||3940|10215|
28715|
|Fabric Expenditure||2405||2405|
3103|
|Churchyard Access Road|2720|||2720|
1842|
|**Total directly related to Church work**|
**136680**|
**2798**|
**3940**|**143418**|**157774**|
|**Fund Raising and Publicity**||||||
|StewardshipExpenses|**247**|||**247**|
**91**|
|**Church Management and Admin**||||||
|Parish Ofce and Telephone|**8891**|||**8891**|
**8815**|
|**Governance Costs**||||||
|Treasurers/SecretaryExpenses|75|||75|
75|
|Independent Examiner Fee|1668|||1668|
1640|
||**1743**|||**1743**|
**1715**|
|**TOTAL RESOURCES USED**|**147561**|
**2798**|
**5940**|**156299**|**170395**|
17
**ST MARY WITH ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES WOODFORD Notes 4 to 7**
## **NOTE 4 FIXED ASSETS For Use By The PCC**
## **NOTE 4a Freehold land and buildings**
Freehold land and buildings comprise the “Curate’s House” at 33 Elmhurst Drive. The gross book value is based on a fair valuation as agreed by the PCC in 2017.
|**NOTE 4b INVESTMENTS**|**2021**|
**2020**|
|---|---|---|
||**£**|
**£**|
|CBF Fixed Interest Securites Fund
Income Shares|||
|Market Value at 31/12/20|106498|
102869|
|Market Value at 31/12/21|99422|
106498|
|Loss/Proft on revaluaton|-7076|
3629|
||||
|**NOTE 5 DEBTORS**|||
||||
|Prepayments|625|
-|
|Other Debtors|5903|
-|
|**TOTAL**|**6528**|
**-**|
## **NOTE 6 STAFF COSTS**
During the year the PCC employed a Director of Music, youth worker, administration secretary and a cleaner/caretaker. Employment costs are included in the respective expenditure heads. No present member of the PCC received remuneration or expenses.
Salaries 2021 £22419 (2020 £23280)
## **NOTE 7 SPECIAL COLLECTIONS**
Restricted retiring collections for 2021 for which the PCC acted solely as a post-box amounted to £1467 (2020 £1163 )
18
**ST MARY WITH ST PHILIP AND ST JAMES WOODFORD**
## **Notes 8 & 9**
## **NOTE 8** ANALYSIS OF FUNDS AND NET
|**NOTE 8**ANALYSIS OF FUNDS AND NET|**NOTE 8**ANALYSIS OF FUNDS AND NET|**NOTE 8**ANALYSIS OF FUNDS AND NET|**NOTE 8**ANALYSIS OF FUNDS AND NET|**NOTE 8**ANALYSIS OF FUNDS AND NET|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|ASSETS|||||
||**Fixed Assets**|**Current Assets**|**Liabilites**|**FUND BALANCES**|
||£|
£|
£|
£|
|**General Purpose Fund**|789422|
136882|
4082|
922222|
||||||
|**Earmarked Funds**|||||
|Fabric Fund||92867||92867|
|ClergyHouse Fund||8137||8137|
||||||
|**TOTAL UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**789422**|
**237886**|
**-4082**|
**1023226**|
||||||
|**RESTRICTED FUNDS**|||||
|Music Fund||4758||4758|
|PinneyFund(a)||200||200|
|Mission Fund||4475||4475|
|Youth Worker Fund||20640||20640|
|**TOTAL RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**||**30073**||**30073**|
||||||
|**TOTAL FUNDS**|**789422**|
**267959**|
**-4082**|
**1053299**|
(a) The Pinney Fund is restricted to maintaining a War Memorial Plaque on the North Wall
## **Note 9**
The income from Other Trading Actvites £2074 (2020 £Nil) is the amount received for computer equipment donated to the church and sold to non related third parties.
19
|**Fund Balances**
**Carried Forward**|
£|
232222|690000|92867|8137|4758|200|4475|20640|
1053299|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Gains and**
**Losses**|
£|(7076)||||||||(7076)|
|**Transfers**|
£||||||||||
|**Outgoing**
**Resources**|
£|
147561|
-|
2405|
393|||
2000|3940|
156299|
|**Incoming**
**Resources**|
£|
129445|
-|
47|
4|
2||
3672||
133170|
|**Fund Balances**
**Brought Fwd**|£|257414|690000|95225|8526|4756|
200|2803|24580|1083504|
|**FUND NAME**||General Fund|General Fund
Property|Fabric Fund|Clergy House
Fund|Music Fund|Pinney Memorial|Missionary Giv-
ing Fund|Youth Worker
Fund|TOTALS|
20
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the PCC at St Mary’s Woodford**
I report to the PCC on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31st December 2021 which comprise the Balance Sheet, Statement of Financial Activities and related notes.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the PCC’s members you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Yusuf Dedat FCA
Clay Ratnage Strevens & Hills
Suite D, The Business Centre
Faringdon Avenue
**Signed:**
Romford
Essex
**Dated:**
RM3 8EN
21
## **Secretary's Report**
The PCC supports the Rector and Clergy in their Parish Ministry and has certain legal responsibility for the Church. Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Meeting of the Church in accordance with the Church Representation rules. During 2021 the following served as members of the PCC:
## **Rector** Revd Elizabeth Lowson
**Lay Readers** Mark Lewis , Rowena Rudkin, Chris Winward
**Church Wardens** From April 2019 Linda Wiskin Until May 2021 Wendy Littlejohns From May 2021 Viveca Dutt **Deputy Wardens** Until May 2021 Viveca Dutt From October 2020 Philip Petchey From May 2021 Jano Goodchild **Deanery Synod** Sarah Reynolds John Wiltshire **Elected PCC members** From April 2019 Gwen Wiggs Stephen Wiggs Sally Phillips From October 2020 Kate Adu-Baah Adela Kay Jano Goodchild Ian Layzell-Smith **Treasurer** Jane Fone **Secretary** David Snowdon **Safeguarding officer** Jackie Peacock
**Electoral roll.** In April 2021 there were 158 names on the electoral roll of which 89 were resident in the Parish and 61 non-resident, 8 not known. This compares with 152 in 2020.
|**Church attendance (October 2022 average)**|**Church attendance (October 2022 average)**|**Church attendance (October 2022 average)**|**Church attendance (October 2022 average)**|**Church attendance (October 2022 average)**|**Church attendance (October 2022 average)**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Sunday**||||**Tuesday**
**Wednesday**|||
|8am||10am
Sung Eucharist|6:30pm|9am|10:30 am||
|in-building|in-building|online|via zoom|via zoom|in building||
|9|78|49|10|3|12||
22
carefully edited together and released each Sunday at 9am, so we could pray and worship together yet apart at any time during the week.
Ash Wednesday was marked with a pre-recorded service of Holy Communion and ashes available on the church drive. From Lent we added a Sunday evening service on Zoom: initially Compline sung by two cantors, and later Evening Prayer, both with time afterwards to chat. Tuesday Morning Prayer on Zoom also started in Lent and has continued most weeks. Holy Week was kept half on Zoom and half in church with livestream, with reflections via video monologue from three of Jesus’ disciples in contemporary mode, and images of the Faces of Jesus from different cultures shown on Good Friday. On Easter Day we had four cantors singing on our behalf in church, children and young people created an Easter garden on the lawn which was later featured on Diocesan social media, Creme Eggs were taken home to enjoy, and for the final hymn we processed outside and sang together for the first time since March 2020: _Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son; endless is the victory, thou o’er death has won!_
From Palm Sunday we have held a weekly 10am Communion service in church with organ, masked congregation in the building and at home via livestream on YouTube and our website. Communion was received by the congregation in one kind only, reflection and discussion with the Communion Assistants was held, and a plan made to restart Communion in two kinds for all from Easter 2022. Music was initially anthems pre-recorded by the choir in church on Fridays, and then from August we added congregational hymns and from September choir in the building with the congregation, and coffee. 8am Sunday Communion restarted weekly in June and 10.30am Wednesday Communion from July. Contemplative Prayer and the new format Communion with Prayers for Wholeness and Healing (previously Prayers for the Sick) restarted monthly from the summer.
Sunday evening services restarted weekly from November and in December we were able to hold an Advent Quiet morning in church. At Christmas, we held services in church but coffee was paused again, lateral flow tests recommended and the largest services went online only: the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols was held with only choir, clergy, readers and tech team live in the building; and the Nativity service was pre-recorded a few days early.
## **Contemplative Prayer**
Despite intermittent Lockdowns it has been a good year. We have gained two new members, one who has become leader, and Elizabeth has joined when her other duties have permitted.
23
Unusually we met in August this year to make up for lost time. Topics have included the duties of a Christian in the active life as described in Walter Hilton’s medieval book on the Ladder of Perfection, peace , silence, the power of contemplation in healing and Hilda of Whitby.
On Good Friday Mark Lewis and I gave a face to face presentation of the many ways in which the Crucifixion is shown in the art of different places and cultures throughout the world, while our Advent Quiet Morning concentrated on St Joseph, without whom Mary would have been stoned. The morning ended with one of Mark’s monologues of a present day father in Joseph’s place.
**Rowena Rudkin**
## **2** _**Community & Mission**_
## **Eco Church**
Our major achievement in 2021 was to achieve bronze status in the ARocha eco church awards. This reflects what we are already doing to care for God’s creation, but is only a stepping stone to what we have to do to reach carbon zero by 2033; the Church of England target. The most important step we can take is to replace our gas boiler with an eco-friendly heating system, and we have started a feasibility study for this long-term project which will also be looking at insulation, energy use and possibly solar panels. We have started a series of conversations with the congregation about all the things we can do collectively and individually, and we were pleased to see many people making personal pledges about what they can do.
We have also made wider links. A group of churches met Iain Duncan Smith, our local MP to share concerns ahead of COP 26. We are now forming a wider network of local churches to discuss how we can campaign together and to see where we can work together and learn from each other. We have made links
24
with the South Woodford Society and attended meetings of the Redbridge Climate Forum. **Viveca Dutt**
## **Mission Committee**
Mission Committee has not met formally during the Covid period and we are looking for new members to join us since Jane and David Godwin have moved their residence to Gloucestershire and we have not been able meet with Jean Russell at her home as a group as we have for so many years. Grateful thanks to all three of them for their faithful service and efforts to support Mission on this committee. This year, we have been able to support our CMS Mission partners from the existing funds.
The generous collection of Harvest goods ensured we were able to continue to support The Manna Centre. Collections were taken for Christian Aid to support both the impact of the earthquake in Haiti and the Afghan Refugee Crisis.
Send a Cow was well supported at Christmas and there were retiring collections for Crisis at Christmas and the orphanage at Makutano which many of us have visited.
The work undertaken by so many to resume the Church Bazaar Events has enabled the replenishment of the funds to continue supporting the mission of the church and our charitable giving. With a slightly reduced group of charities and priorities identified two years ago, we added A Rocha to the list as the Church sought Eco status. It was good to see the development by the Eco group in this area and the achievement of the bronze award.
Please continue to pray for the Clare family who have returned to Uganda; here are more details of how you can subscribe to their mailing list for regular updates: htps://mailchi.mp/7edda23d83b7/claresinuganda **Linda Wiskin**
## **Schools**
There are three schools within the parish boundary: Churchfields Infants School (3-7 years), Junior School (7-11 years) and St Aubyn’s School (2.5-13 years). The Rector has toured Churchfields Juniors and St Aubyn’s, met the Heads and led sessions in school for collective worship or religious studies. Small groups of pupils have visited St Mary’s for Remembrance and ecochurch audit purposes and both schools held Christmas services at St Mary’s.
## **Memorial Hall**
All the trustees for the Memorial Hall must be drawn from the church electoral roll. Memorial Hall staff worked very hard with continually changing Covid regulations and advice with hire income limited by those regulations. Annual
25
reports for Woodford Parish Church Memorial Hall can be found on the Charity Commission website at: htps://register-of-charites.charitycommission.gov.uk/ charity-search/-/charity-details/214670/charity-overview
## **Baby & Toddler Group**
Following a pause since March 2020 due to Covid, St Mary’s Baby & Toddler group relaunched in September, with a new logo, a slightly new name and a new volunteer in-room team (Angkana Sales, Clare Reeves, Habiba Rye and Elizabeth Lowson), ably supported with refreshments by Kate Adu Baah, Carol Holdstock and Stephen Wiggs. We are grateful to be drawing on the expertise, documentation and equipment of previous leader Jean Lear and her team. We have been delighted to welcome many children from our local community of all faiths and none, from a few weeks to four years old accompanied by one or more relatives or childminders: sometimes we have been so busy we have used the Sunflower Room as well as the first floor Gwinnell Room. Each session finishes with action songs: sometimes there is a dog or a lion on the bus, and a firm favourite is ‘Alice the Camel’. We have had lots of positive feedback about offering this for children who have spent the majority of their lives under Covid restrictions, and a few people wanting to discuss faith and christening and some children in awe of the organ.
## **Guides, Brownies & Rainbows**
In September 2021 Simone, Jane and Young Leaders Anne, Chloe and Phoebe welcomed back 1st Woodford Rainbows to the Roberts Hall (every Friday 4.15-5.15). The girls have enjoyed fun and games, make and do, learning new skills and working together. Highlights have included a trip to watch Encanto at the Odeon cinema, meeting a hamster, sparklers and marshmallows for Bonfire Night and our Christmas party with Promise ceremony. If you would like to volunteer your time in any capacity, please visit the Girlguiding website for details.
The Brownies returned in September 2021 at a new time and venue. We changed the timings to 5.30pm to 6.45pm and we now meet in the Memorial Hall. Becky and Tilly returned to help and Simone (Rainbows’ Leader) was kind enough to assist me and continues to do so. We
26
have had lots of fun in our first term and hope to continue to have fun. My Brownies enjoyed the cinema trip to see Encanto, the Christmas party and they enjoyed making the Poppy Wreath and the card for Margaret for her 100th birthday.
The 9[th] Woodford Brownies meet on zoom from January to July in 2021 and then returned to the meeting physically in the Pankhurst Hall in September. We had several new Brownies join us whilst on zoom and they made their promises over the internet with a parent pinning their promise badges on to their uniforms. Whilst on zoom each week each Brownie received a package of craft and challenges to do during the meeting time and we learnt several completely new games – for example passing a pencil between screens, playing scavenger hunts around the house to find ten green objects. We also discovered things we could not do in a physical meeting – we learnt about 6 famous artists and styles of painting for our Brownie Painter Badge and saw the different star constellations on the screen – which due to light pollution we could not see in the streets of South Woodford. We worked for our
Mindfulness badges, trying out different yoga positions and making our own scented bath salts. Back in our hall we did 50 challenges to celebrate LaSERS 50[th] Birthday which ranged from how many Brownies would fit into one hula hoop to making up nonsense poems. We helped at the Food and Fun Day at St Mary’s and we held our Christmas Disco.
In Sept 2021, the 1[st] Woodford Guides returned to meeting in person, limiting themselves to our remaining Guides for the first few meetings and bringing in newbies one or two at a time. It has been unusual to have 50/50 new and original Guides, and we have concentrated on settling in " th = ae ° - me together and being mindful of the things that have made life weird for them. Mostly this meant having traditional activities which made us hdth, \. aWeg | P. laugh perhaps more than those that made us think or a hy | * = “a learn. We took part in the Food n Fun n Craft Day as 4 well as the Bazaar and put together gift bags of chocolates to take to the residents of Churchfields
27
Nursing Home, where we would, in normal times, have sung Christmas Carols with them.
## **Events**
2021 was always going to be a tricky year for us in the Events Committee on the back of the Covid trauma and lockdowns of 2020, and so it proved to be. Being in lockdown over Christmas and January meant the prospect of holding our 21st annual Race Evening in February didn't even get to the start line. Food and Fun Day in May similarly stood no chance of happening before the Government were willing to open up society. So we decided to defer this until September in the hope the situation for events was much improved for our first of the year and Elizabeth's first social event at St Mary's, and luckily it was. Combining with a Craft Fair meant double the reason for people to come along and enjoy too. Good weather blessed us, always a concern for us organisers, but no need to worry. The tower once again had as many visitors as ever for clear viewing atop. The tight spiral staircase wasn't putting anyone off. Another favourite, the plant stall had to switch to autumnal planting and flowers, and was surprisingly popular. Plenty of tasty refreshments from cakes to hot food and snacks were available as usual. And having a Pimms stall certainly helped make a sunny afternoon amongst friends that bit more enjoyable. A great day outside. Our Charity Bazaar was less of a sure thing to happen in November. Ventilating the halls in cold weather and the necessity of mask wearing had to be contended with, plus trying to create more space between stalls for social distancing. We invited the Woodford WI to join us for a presence outside,
28
manning a hot mulled wine stall in front of the hall, giving the Bazaar a welcome winter fair feel. There weren't too many surprises, apart from Elizabeth in elf costume. All the usual stalls, including the late Peggy Renouf’s Knitwits manned by her son Francis selling Peggy’s knitted characters they still had left. It was nice that we made as much for charity as we did pre-Covid, thank you all. Looking ahead, without the storage had for many years future bazaars will be somewhat different as donated items can only be received just prior to the eve. We realise this may well reduce donations and therefore our charitable giving, but trust you'll understand. **Richard Walker**
## **Bereavement café update**
We restarted the cafés at St Mary’s and Christchurch in April, at first by Zoom, and have kept going, now meeting in the Church buildings, and supporting each other. Last year, I asked:
- _Do volunteers all want to stay involved?_ A few have been unable to go on supporting the cafés. We really need more volunteers!
- _Who wants this kind of support?_ We don’t know. No café since we reopened has had more than 3 visitors, although previously there were more, and more came regularly.
- _Does our café have something unique to offer?_ The Church buildings are lovely peaceful places, and we think, when they get there, our visitors appreciate that, and the space to talk about difficult things.
- _How do we publicise what we want to do?_ We need to do more, both within and outside the Churches. We have spread the word in Churches, funeral services, libraries, local Gazettes, etc.
We are at a crossroads. In general people seem to find the experience helpful, even cathartic. However, we hang by a thread… we need both more volunteers and more visitors. We need to get that message across also to people unconnected to the Church. We are struggling to do that. **Judy Noble**
## **Parish Magazine**
After a second year affected by Covid, we are getting a clearer picture of 'the new normal'. The availability of the parish magazine on St Mary's website has become more significant and not just because that reduces the need for printing copies. Just as having services on-line has meant
29
that access has extended to those not part of the regular church community, so it is for the magazine. As well as welcoming our new Rector, Elizabeth, to the magazine team we were also pleased to welcome Bryony Bennett. Elizabeth has been encouraging us to think about engaging with on-line readers and those who may visit St Mary's for the first time as well as for those who already know and love St Mary's. Please do send in articles and ideas and thanks, as usual, for those of you who do. If sending in photographs, particularly those of children and young people, it helps us if you also let us have written permission for the photographs to be used in order to meet safeguarding requirements. In the magazine team we think about getting the right balance of different types of articles. We love to hear your views on this.
**Penny Freeston and Peter Wall**
## **3** _**Core Support**_
## **Pastoral Care**
The majority of pastoral care has been given and received by individuals keeping in touch with each other and especially those within our fellowship on the prayer list or known to be in need. Chris Winward continued his lockdown ministry of keeping in touch by telephone with many people, and especially those most in need, and later adding visits where possible. Chris formally became Reader Emeritus in July but has continued with some pastoral care as our new Rector has got to know the congregation. Four members of our Ministry Team take home Communion to those unable to attend church. Prayer ministry team met for prayer and reflection to discuss offering individual prayer after the 10am service from 2022. We were pleased to re-introduce naming people in our 10am Sunday intercessions from the autumn, now that permission is in place for these details to appear on livestream: the Prayer for Wholeness and Healing services and/or prayer with ministry team members is available for those who do not wish to be mentioned online. We also identified a need for more people to offer pastoral care more formally, and connecting with MMU colleagues decided to run a course early in 2022.
## **Safeguarding**
I have been Parish Safeguarding Officer at St Mary’s since 2018 and updated my training in 2021. I repeated the Basic Awareness and Foundation training and have successfully undertaken the Compressed Leadership Course. As a result I’m in the process of developing an action plan to ensure that I can fulfill all aspects of the role. Members of the PCC and Ministry team have also undertaken relevant training.
30
At St Mary’s we want everyone to feel safe and cared for and it’s important that we work closely together to ensure that this happens. We follow the Safer Recruitment and People Management procedures when recruiting and make sure that all those working with adults and children are DBS checked. (Disclosure and Barring Service) All future DBS certificates will expire after 3 years instead of 5. This is to bring the Church of England into line with other organisations. We now have a register of Eucharistic Assistants who were required to provide a reference as well as additional personal information.
I am always willing to be asked for advice around any concerns people may have and talk things through. My contact details are on the blue poster in the Church entrance, in the parish directory and on St Mary’s website. Best practice on safeguarding can be found on the Church of England’s website: www.churchofengland.org/more/safeguarding **Jackie Peacock**
## **Fabric**
This year we have welcomed the new warden Viveca Dutt and the deputy warden Philip Petchey to the committee together with Ian Layzell Smith as member from the PCC. In the summer we reviewed the last Quinquennial report and the current state of the buildings. We have been dealing with damp over a long period of time partially related to the hoppers not dealing with the water and some further investigation is now needed into the French drain which is not proving adequate to take the water away.
The electrical work has been done in the cupboard in the Chapel. This both relates to the faculty we had for the sound cupboard and for electrical work that did not need a faculty to ensure the circuity was safe. Additional hard wiring to improve Wi-Fi in the Church was successfully undertaken by Dave Snowdon and Pete Alderson and our thanks are due to them for the improved ability to livestream services. Some work has been done to repair the flagpole so that we can fly the flag in this jubilee year.
David Mason has undertaken several pieces of work, not least the securing of the front steps and then pointing them up. His variety of skills are much appreciated. Sheba Lockley has also supported strongly in her role of administrator to support the work
Drakes, a specialist in our organ make, have resolved the coupling issues but going forward there has to be restricted access to the tower to avoid traffic behind the organ.
Planning permission has been achieved to widen the drive and we are applying for a faculty to widen the drive. Thanks are due to Jean Lear’s persistence and support form Alan Frost, our Church architect.
31
The churchyard has been kept in better condition with employed gardeners. There continue to be challenges to maintain the building and seek improvements with the desire to be as Eco-friendly as we can possibly be. 2022 will see the next Quinquennial Inspection and there is much to achieve this year
**Linda Wiskin**
## **4** _**Wider Faith Links**_
## **Deanery Synod**
Deanery Synod is the collaboration and consultation forum that sits usefully in between parishes and Chelmsford Diocesan Synod. St Mary’s is part of the Redbridge Deanery Synod, which brings together five Mission and Ministry Units (MMUs). St Mary’s is part of the West Roding Partnership MMU, along with St Mary with Christchurch Wanstead, St Peter’s in the Forest (which is in Waltham Forest Deanery) and St Gabriel’s Aldersbrook.
The Synod gives St Mary’s a way of communicating with both local churches and our diocese. It uses a standing agenda plus usually a main item on a current key topic. Regular progress reports include updates from the Diocese and the local Education Scrutiny Committee, on its finances and the parish share, on the state of vocations and news from the MMUs and parishes including our own. In 2021 the main issues included eco-church (climate change) commitments, suggesting that progress at St Mary’s is encouraging. More recently we heard about the C of E’s Living in Love and Faith initiative, which invites reflection and discussion about identity, sexuality, personal relationships, and marriage in the context of our faith. We learnt that this material is still being consulted on until 30 April 2022. **John Wiltshire & Sarah Reynolds**
## **West Roding Mission Partnership**
West Roding Mission Partnership is the parishes of St Mary’s Woodford, St Mary’s with Christ Church Wanstead, St Gabriel’s Aldersbrook (all Redbridge Deanery) and St Peter in the Forest Walthamstow (Waltham Forest Deanery). Much change has happened with new clergy for three parishes: in addition to our new Rector licensed in February; Alex Summers began as interim priest in charge for St Peter in the Forest from February; and Martyn Hawkes as part time interim priest in charge for the Wanstead churches from April, while remaining incumbent at St Gabriel’s and Redbridge Area Dean. The parishes have continued to work together through the Partnership Committee, online in the first half of the year, and Woodford has hosted in the church building from September. Anne Jones finished her term as Woodford lay rep in the summer and was replaced by Adela Kay, serving alongside Linda Wiskin and Elizabeth
32
Lowson. Snaresbrook Crown Court chaplaincy and the bereavement cafes remain important; the three Redbridge parishes work together on youth work; we had a joint Confirmation at St Gabriel’s in March; a joint Ascension Day service outside at St Peter’s; and made plans for a joint pastoral care course, a joint social and other ideas for working together.
## **Redbridge Faith Forum**
The Redbridge Faith Forum represents the seven major religions of Redbridge and is supported financially by the Council so it can be consulted on aspects of policy. While Catholics and Methodists are Trustees, the CofE is not always represented at meetings, although that may be changing.
This year the Council consulted on needs of different faiths for more land resources for burials, and it was also used to promote the importance of people completing their religion on the Census. The carrot is that Census data will be used to allocate & vary funding for Chaplaincy in hospitals & Prisons on a pro rata basis. There are financial implications.
The RFF has also hosted several zoom events on religious at udes to social issues, such as bereavement, suicide, aging, domestic abuse, and how being thankful can help us maintain mental and spiritual health. There are some separate events for women.
The Autumn saw the Annual Faith Walk through Ilford, visiting the gurdwara and mosque, the newly Eco-refurbished Anglican church, temples and the Holocaust memorial. The theme was Redbridge’s Climate change policies and 3 councillors spoke at different venues. It is growing to be an important partnership. **Judy Noble**
## **Woodford Fellowship of Christian Churches**
The W.F.C.C. provides opportunities for Christians of different denominations in the Woodford area to talk, to worship, to sing and to work together.
We were delighted that after a Covid absence in 2020 the 2021 Ecumenical Advent Carol Service took place once again at St Thomas of Canterbury, Woodford Green, on the second Sunday of Advent. We enjoyed singing Advent carols and the singing of choirs from All Saints’ and from St Thomas of Canterbury. Members of about ten local churches participated, offering reflections, readings and prayers. Our rector Elizabeth led the intercessions. The service was attended by 110 people from local churches and was followed by tea, coffee and mince pies in the Becket Centre. In the retiring collection £660 was collected. This was split between Mary’s Meals and the Salvation Army for the Redbridge Cold Weather Centre. We are looking forward to
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hosting the 2022 Service of Prayer for Christian Unity at St Mary’s. The theme of this year’s service is “We saw His Star in the East”. This year’s service has been prepared by the churches of the Middle East. **Cheryl Corney**
## **Kenya**
_Our partnership with Kenya continues._ **Our Link parish, The Church of the Good Shepherd, Muchunguri, in Mbeere Diocese, started in 2004;** the Vicar is now Ven Jenard Nyaga Nthiga, (who visited here in 2010), he has returned to Muchunguri having been moved on in 2007 by the bishop. Clergy tend to stay only a few years in one parish, sometimes as little as a year so as (according to the bishop) they do not become too friendly with the parishioners! Clergy commute to their parishes overall from their home as they do not live in the parish so can be moved at a moment's notice by the bishop and often do! With far more congregations than parishes it gives them flexibility.
The Church congregations have all been manifestly affected by Covid19 just as we have. Lockdown closed all the churches for a while and even now they are only partially reopened for 6-64 yrs olds. So, the very young and the elderly are unable to attend. This partial reopening has affected the giving very severely. Most church giving is by cash offerings on a Sunday from a rural economy. It has also been seriously affected by the drought situation which was severe last year. As here each church has a monthly parish share of nearly £600 to pay to the diocese, if they don’t pay up then the vicar doesn’t get paid. Despite regular fundraising activities, they have still been short of the monthly amount, we have helped on an occasional basis. Consequently, the clergy income is down, and some have been reduced to begging from friends and neighbours. Some Chelmsford diocesan friends have been supporting Jenard.
St
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Johns Church, Kirimiri is a daughter congregation of Muchunguri and now has a stone-built building instead of a wattle and daub one
Emmanuel church at Mariari. Is now an independent parish with its own vicar Rev Esther Muriithi. Mariari wishes to remain part of our partnership There is a new congregation at Ngaari, which is nearby and now part of Emmanuel.
The Dispensary - We have been frustrated by the lack of progress; they were about to upgrade the dispensary when Covid struck so all work was put on hold but has now been completed. They have been waiting for some months for the government to inspect the premises before they can reopen.
At **Makutano** we support the St Michael and All Angels Childrens Home in the grounds of the Church at the other end of the Mbeere Diocese; a 90 minutes' drive away. The vicar is Rev Jackson (Jack) Njue Ngari, who has now left! We currently sponsor six boys and a girl in Secondary education, who having passed their primary exams went on to various Secondary schools depending on their Exam results. That is testament to the support they get from the home. We continue to seek sponsorship for the children, especially now that several have completed their education and need to do post education courses to secure employment. **Antony** Matheka **Watheka** completed a two-year _Diploma in Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management_ course and is now upgrading to a degree course at Zetech University, (with our support) in Nairobi. During the pandemic all schools were closed for nine months MarchDecember 2020 so nine months education has been lost. All the children were sent home to their relatives or guardians, so the home only had the caretaker living on the premises. The Home has now reopened with fourteen children including two girls at Makutano. The Home needs refurbishment and money raised in Christmas 2020 was sent for the refurbishments of the showers and toilets amongst other things. Seven children are in Primary school which is for eight years with Secondary education of four years. The government is still playing catch up by concentrating several short terms of ten weeks = Sh > 7 . r | t ? with only short holiday of two weeks in between. School leaving exams that should have been taken ss— fs Sn+ a: ‘) a last October will now take place ; \a i this March. **Wendy Littlejohns**
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**Generosity in numbers...**
|**Mission Societies**|**£**|**Special Collections**|**£**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Church Mission Society|2000|Bishops Lent Appeal||590|
|||McMillan Cancer Appeal|McMillan Cancer Appeal|232|
|||Christian Aid||310|
|||Send-A-Cow||335|
|||(plus £799 sent direct)|(plus £799 sent direct)||
|||Total||£1,467|
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