## ANNUAL REPORTS & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL For the year ending 31st December 2020 INCUMBENT Rev Chris Spittle The Vicarage Church Rd Skelmersdale ## BANK Barclays — The Concourse, Skelmersdale INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mrs D.L.Wynne 105, Blaguegate Lane Lathom Ormskirk Lancashire WN8 8TY Registered Charity No:1128068 16 1 **Administrative Information** Deanery Synod Report The Parish Church of St. Paul Skelmersdale, Church Road Skelmersdale WN8 8ND Official correspondence to Parish Administrator Parish Office at the above address. PCC Members are: Incumbent The Revd. Chris Spittle Chairperson Curate Church Wardens Mr Ken Skelton Mr John Taylor Readers Representative Deanery Synod Reps Mr J Davies (until 2023) Mrs J Price (until 2023) (until 2023) Diocesan Synod Rep : Elected members Mr J. Davies (until 2021) Mrs A Faza (until 2021) Mrs L. Oakley (until 2021) Mrs B. Curry (until 2021) Mrs B. Jones (until 2022) Mrs J. Price (until 2022) Mrs R Williams (until 2022) Mrs D. Bennett (until 2023) Mrs J. Curry (until 2023) Mrs E Kenyon (until 2023) Treasurer Mrs June Price Secretary Mrs Lynne Lomas Child Protection Officer Mrs Ann Taylor Vulnerable Adults Officer Mrs Ann Taylor Bankers Barclays Bank. Auditor Mrs D. L. Wynne Architect Mr Robin Wolley Day to day management control of the church is exercised by the Incumbent and Wardens: Revd. Chris Spittle, Mr Ken Skelton and Mr J. Taylor contactable via the Church Office 01695 716439 or the Vicarage 01695 722087 Ormskirk Deanery Synod met once in 2020, in February before lockdown began. The meeting included an update on the changes to the Church Representation Rules and an update on some of the initiatives happening around the deanery which included the reordering and installation of a Post Office at St Thomas, Upholland; the Pilgrim and SHAPE Courses; Suzanne Finch’s work as an LML at Newburgh, and the Bright Lights worshipping community in our own parish. The next meeting took place over Zoom on 19[th] January 2021 when the major agenda item was a presentation on the Deanery Plan. The plan highlights two priorities: Discipleship and Numerical Growth. As part of the plan all the churches of the Deanery have been assessed as to their health in two key areas: Numbers/Attendance and Finances. Each church was assessed using a traffic light system. Health in both Numbers and Finances = green; health in one of the two areas = amber, and concerns in both areas = red. St Paul’s was assessed as green. The deanery mission plan encourages churches to form informal clusters with each other and for each cluster to include at least one green rated church. The current plan is for a Skelmersdale cluster including St Paul’s, Oaks, the Ecumenical Centre, Christ the Servant Digmoor, St Thomas’s Upholland and St Michael’s, Dalton. This corresponds to the already longstanding Group. The hope is that within the cluster resources, and experience will be shared to enable mutual flourishing. During 2020-21 the Standing Committees of the churches of the Skelmersdale cluster met twice to talk about the development of the cluster. 2 15 ## **Structure, Management and Governance.** ## MOTHERS UNION REPORT The work of the Mothers’ Union continues regardless of the pandemic, albeit in a more restricted fashion. Finance was a problem, an appeal was launched and M.U. members gave generously. Staff members were furloughed both in London and here in Liverpool. As a Branch here at St Paul’s the pandemic also impacted us, we were only able to hold three meetings in 2020. All our usual fund raising events were cancelled and that seriously damaged our ability to give as we would normally do to the Mothers’ Union departments and to Church. As Branch Leader throughout these difficult months I have done what I could to maintain contact with our members by phone and letter just to check that they were ok. The number of members is falling, two of the ladies have moved to residential care and very sadly one lady has died. At the time of writing there is perhaps light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel. I am trusting that as we move out of the restrictions that have been placed upon us we can hopefully think about meeting again, as and when it is safe to do so. I am ever mindful that our membership is made up of the more vulnerable age group, so I will proceed with caution, giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for bringing us safe thus far. In His Service, Barbara Jones Branch Leader St. Paul’s Skelmersdale PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure 1956. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission The method of appointment of the PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church members are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC operates Two Subcommittees when needed: The Standing Committee: Incumbent, Treasurer, Secretary, Church Wardens and three elected members The Finance Committee: Incumbent, Treasurer, Secretary, and Church Wardens plus any member of the PCC who would like to attend. ## **Financial Risk.** The PCC continually reviews the financial position. This is currently a cause for concern, although there is no immediate financial risk. . ## **Health and Safety** The PCC has identified a review of our Health and Safety procedures as a priority . All formal risk assessments are listed within the PCC’s Risk Register. Every year the Fire Alarm is checked to make sure that it is in good working order and the fire extinguishers are also checked on an annual basis. A five yearly Electrical Inspection has been undertaken. A survey of the trees in the churchyard took place in 2018 ## C **hild and Vulnerable Adult Protecton.** Those who work with children and young people in the church have had their Disclosure and Barring Service checks renewed, and we have completed an overhaul of our Vulnerable Adult procedures. ## **Objectves and Actvites.** The PCC (Powers) Measure 1956 states that the PCC is to cooperate with the Minister in promoting in the Parish the whole mission of the Church, this includes the Pastoral, Evangelistic, Social, and Ecumenical ministry. At St Pauls we have a Mission Statement which confirms our mission to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England, both through the proclamation of the word and to encourage members of the congregation to put their faith into action, as we serve Christ in the Parish. 14 3 ## **Mission Statement** Jesus Says, “Go and make Disciples” we try to do this:- Through the teaching of the Bible as God’s Word to us in all matters of faith and moral behaviour, Through allowing God’s Holy Spirit to work in us in order to make us more like Jesus, Through worshipping together: listening to God; talking to Him; responding to Him and encouraging one another. Through using the different gifts God has given us to love and serve Him, each other and the local community. Through making Jesus known to others by what we say and what we do. Through encouraging and supporting children and younger members of the Church family at St. Paul’s and Trinity Anglican/Methodist School and making every effort to ensure that we are a “Child Friendly” Church. Through seeking to work with other Christians and by building links with the world-wide church. ## **In order to do this our aims and objectves for 2020 were:** To nurture vocations and ministries, and to share our ministerial resources more widely. To address the financial challenges that the church is facing To maintain and develop our role in the community To look at developing our building To develop our small group life. To improve our Pastoral Care. To explore the Liverpool Diocese Rule of Life at our pattern of worship. Significant steps forward have been taken in these areas, however our objectives for2020 were largely focussed on maintaining as much of our church life as possible: ## **Achievements and Performance including review of charitable achievements against objectves** . 2020 has been a unique year with the country entering into lockdown in March 2020 and restrictions being in place for the remainder of the year. However St Paul’s has continued to function despite this. From the beginning of lockdown we instigated daily Morning and Evening prayers from Monday-Friday online and these have continued until the present time. We are grateful to the team: Anne, Peter, Jack, Sandra, Jane, Rick, Carolyn and Chris (with the help of ## WELL-BEING COURSE In addition, I have run the ‘Well-being’ Course for the Oaks Men’s Group, which has been run with 7 men and 3 partners joining in. Our last session is due on Wednesday 21st April 2021. ## FAITH WALKS In addition, I have managed several walks with men, over the last few months, reflecting on faith and life under Covid. ## ASYLUM SEEKERS & REFUGEES In addition, I have continued to reach out to asylum seekers and refugees (mostly men), provided food, clothes and bikes. I have helped with bank accounts, ID cards, Travel Documents, legal & Home office letters and signing up to GPs. This has mostly been carried out remotely, as our 2 weekly drop-ins stopped with lockdown measures, earlier in 2020. We did offer a Christmas drop-in in the newly modelled Ecumenical Centre, following Covid guidelines. ## THE FUTURE My Local Missional Leader’s role officially end at the beginning of September 2021, following a 5 year period. It would be good to think that another man, within the church, could pick up the baton of a ‘ministry to men’, within the town. ## LAWRENCE ## LML MEN’s MINISTRY 4 13 ## **MEN’S MINISTRY** ## 2020 to APRIL 2021 ## CONVERSATIONS OF FAITH Due to Covid lockdown measures, face to face ministry to men has been curtailed. Following prayerful reflection, I felt God guided me to try and ‘encourage’ men in their faith journeys through the medium of conversation, via the Zoom platform. I have carried out 27 Faith conversations with a variety of men, over a period of 7 months, lasting on average 40 minutes, which have been distributed on a dedicated WhatsApp Platform to approximately 60 men, both within St Paul’s and other local churches. The conversations have included the Vicar, several other ministers, a refugee, a doctor, a financial adviser, a man with a military background, 2 bishops and a man who runs a centre for recovering alcoholics. Several other local men have also engaged in a conversation with me. I believe, from various forms of feedback, that the conversations have both encouraged and guided men in their faith journeys, during a challenging period. As someone shared with me ; ‘the Holy Spirit’ can never be locked down!’ As restrictions ease, I am beginning to feel the conversations may gradually come to an end. Matthew and Jonathan) who have made this possible. We have been joined by worshippers not only from our usual congregation, but also from our wider area and indeed across the world. A few of these have also chosen to support the church financially. There have been numerous testimonies shared of how God has blessed people through these daily prayer times. Likewise our Sunday worship has continued unabated, sometimes broadcast from the clergy’s own homes, or from behind closed doors in church. More recently the building has been open while some restrictions have remained in place. We are again grateful to the ministry team, the band, Ken our organist and a team who have taken on extra responsibilities to make this possible. We were able to offer a full programme of services over the Christmas period which included some successful innovations such as holding three Christingle services to allow as many as possible to attend. Some of our Christmas activities and services saw increased attendances from previous years. We were able to open the building for the whole of Holy Week in 2021 and again hold all the usual services. Livestreaming our worship on Facebook and www.thesundayservice.org has been very important in the past year and has helped grow our church community. We intend to continue this as much as possible alongside our “in person” worship in the future. Despite lockdown Vocations and Ministry has continued to be an exciting movement of God at St Paul’s. Sandra Jones was ordained at Liverpool Cathedral in September 2020 in a moving but intimate service as she was only allowed to invite four guests. She is now serving her curacy in the North-East Hub of Wigan. In May 2020 Jane Cliff was accepted for Reader Ministry and her training began in the autumn. In March 2021 Jill Rigby was accepted for Ordination training and will serve as a Self-Supporting Minister at St Paul’s after Ordination in 2024. Lawrence Smye-Rumsby has continued his ministry as LML for Men’s Ministry across the town and through lockdown has run a WhatsApp group MECOF (Men’s Encouraging Conversations of Faith) interviewing men about their faith and sharing the films to an appreciative audience. In October Rev Jack Shepherd completed his curacy at St Paul’s and moved to be Missional Priest in the Parish of Dalton and Upholland. He has been a great blessing to our church and parish and we were thrilled that he is remaining in the area so that our town can continue to benefit from his gifts and ministry. We greatly value our partnership with Trinity our church school. The Bright Lights worshipping community at Trinity school in partnership with Trinity Methodist church is now an established part of church and school life. In 2020 we moved to monthly gatherings, meeting in January and February with growing attendances 12 5 before lockdown curtailed our activities for the year. The St Paul’s clergy continued to offer weekly Collective Worship for Trinity through lockdown, in the form of pre-recorded films and livestreams, or in person when restrictions allowed. We have striven to maintain our pastoral care as much as has been possible. Sadly ministry to our local nursing homes had to be suspended and is yet to restart, but many church members have been involved in maintaining contact and support of others through phone calls, social media and where appropriate and possible, face to face contact. The funeral ministry of the church has also continued during the past year despite the restrictions. ReNew 100 was continuing to establish itself at the start of 2020 until lockdown. We are looking forward to it re-opening in May 2021. ## **Electoral Roll.** Is now 120 ## **Church Buildings.** Mr. Ken Skelton continues to work as “Building Manager”, he has organised minor work that needed to be carried out on the church building. There is an ongoing programme to improve the church fabric . Important checks such as electrics, boiler and fire appliances are all up to dater. During lockdown a small team has worked on the Vestry Project and have made a significant difference to this area of the building. We are grateful for their efforts. A Quinquennial Inspection of the Church took place in 2018, which although broadly positive raised some concerns about the roof and perimeter walls **Finance** The Financial Accounts can be found elsewhere in this document ## **Reserves Policy.** It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds (if possible), which equates to approximately three months unrestricted payments, to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. ## SPY Report 2020/21 Hello Everyone. SPY stands for St Paul’s Youth. Well, like nearly everyone else, SPY have not been able to meet in church because of Covid since Spring last year. However, we have been meeting on Zoom every week. This has sorely tested some of our leader’ technical skills - well mostly one leader! We have met for an hour and a quarter every Monday evening. During that time we have been learning more from the Bible and playing games that we can play on Zoom. Sometimes we have quizzes as well. Each session has been led by a different leader in rotation. Our leaders are Alison Giblin, Chris Spittle and Lynda Oakley, and we are supported by Jeanette Williams when she isn’t working or studying. She is a great asset to the group and we are fortunate to have her. Jack, our last Curate, was with us until last year but has of course now moved on. We certainly miss him. Some of our young people have stayed with us, but unfortunately there are some who don’t like Zoom meetings so we are hoping that they may come back now. We have just started meeting in church again from the 19[th] April and have five new young people from Year 6 that have now joined us. It’s a bit early to tell yet, but we think that they like it. We still have to be spaced out a bit and are sanitising tables, chairs and ourselves of course. As well as teaching and games, we have planned craft evenings, a barbecue, a camp out in the vicar’s garden and next spring will be spending a weekend away in the Yorkshire Dales. All this is dependent on Covid levels of course. We would greatly value prayer support for all our young people and leaders as we look at how God seeks to help us all to be the best people we can be. We ask for prayers not just for our youth group, but for all our church groups and their leaders and indeed all of our church. Lynda 6 11 Reports from church groups and organisations for the year ending 31st December 2020 **2020** ## **Craf Club** No meetings since the lockdown. However a number of us have kept in contact through ‘WhatsApp’ Showing and telling with our crafting activities. Regards ## Beryl. ## CHOIR AND ORGAN After a year long lockdown, there's little to report. I have kept in contact with the choir Members, but they are becoming more frustrated at not being allowed to sing. When the time comes a choir practice will be the first requirement. The organ shows no sign of requiring any attention. April 15th. 2021, Ken. 10 10 7 To the PCC of St Paul Skelmersdale ## **Parish Details** **PCC Name** ST. PAUL. SKELMERSDALE **Year (e.g. 2001)** 2020 **Name of signature 1 on accounts: Name of signature 2 on accounts Name of Independent Examiner** Revd Christopher Spittle Mrs J.Price Mrs D.L.Wynne **Professional Qualifications of Independent Examiner (if any)** **Address of Independent Examiner** **Address of Independent Examiner** 105 Blaguegate Lane Lathom, Lancashire **Date of Accounts approval by PCC** 16th March 2021 **Date of Independent Examiners Report 2** 8th April 2021 This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on separate sheets, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 (“the Regulations”) and s.43 of the Charities Act 1993 (“the Act”) ## **Respective responsibilities of the PCC and the examiner** As members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements; you consider that the audit requirement of Regulations and section 43(2) of the Act do not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations ## **Basis of this report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General directions given by the Charities Commission under section 43(7)(b) of the Act and top be found in the church guidance, 2006 edition. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **Independent examiners statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to disbelieve that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations have not been met: or - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mrs L. Wynne 105 Blaguegate Lane Lathom , Ormskirk Lancashire WN8 8TY 8 9 ## **E OF LIVERPOOL** **This working blank is based on the example shown in The Charities Act 1993 and the PCC 2006 - Preparing Receipts and Payments Accounts (SORP 2005)** ## **sclaimer** **ese worksheets are intended as a guide only to illustrate the principl when considering the application of the prescribed accounting rocedures.** **actice and understanding but it has no gal validity.** **ation and for more details you should refer ulations prepared by the working party of the nce of the Church of England.** **ore information: ces Department se of Liverpool Church House 1 Hanover Street Liverpool L1 3DW** **el: 0151-705 218** **Step 1.** **Step 2.** **Step 3.** **Step 4. Step 5** **Step 6. Step 7.** **Step 8. Step 9. Step 10.** **Welcome** ## **Introduction** things easier for you. this. If you have any problems in ammending the template please contact Resources. comparatives. _(CBF) form. They form no part of the accounts and the entire column should be deleted before printing out the finished accounts_ Please ensure you have taken a master copy of this file and you back-up your data regularly. ## **Instructions for Use** file; you will delete the CBF codes from the new file before printing (see below) the spreadsheet. Include additional lines or amend the item lines under the main categories to suit your own parish requirements. need to insert any additional rows please **DO NOT** place any after the very narrow row above a 'Total' row. This w produce an error in the formula. Input last year's figures first from your accounts and then the current year's. Complete the General Fund Incoming and Outgoing resources sheets & then the FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OTHER FUNDS. Enter the figures for each line and the 'Totals' will be produced for you. You will find assistance in determining where to place items of expenditure in the cream coloured "Analysis of Resources" paper from the Resources Department dated January 2002 correct as necessary eg: the Total Across does not equal the Total Down. are included in the formula. If anything is added or missing edit the formula in the formula bar till it is right. Now complete the Statement of Assets and Liabilities worksheet Amend the ACCOUNTING POLICIES sheet to incorporate your parish's approach top right hand corner of each page. Parish Details ## **Variables to be answered** ## **PCC Name (IN CAPITALS)** ******************************************************St Paul Skelmersdale |**Year (e.g. 2000)**
******************************************************
2020|**Year (e.g. 2000)**
******************************************************
2020| |---|---| |**Name of signature 1 on accounts:**|*******************************************Revd Christopher Spittle| |**Name of signature 2 on accounts**|*******************************************MrsJune Price| ||Mrs D L Wynne| |**Name of Independent Examiner**|****************************************************| |**Professional Qualifcations of Independent Examiner (if any)**|| |**Address of Independent Examiner**|*******************************************162 BusheyLane| ||Rainford| ||Merseyside| |**Date of Accounts approval by PCC (e.g. 23 March 2001) ****************
16th March 2021|| |**Date of Independent Examiner's Report (e.g. 24 March 2001) ************
April 2021|| ## **Notes** 1 The Independent Examiners Report in this file is an unqualified report. If this is not appropriate, please amend accordingly. There are two examples of qualified reports in the Treasurers Pack mailed in January 2002 which you can use as a basis for a qualified report. - 2 Please check that Accounting Policy notes are correct for your PCC! You may need to make minor changes Page 4 |||||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||||||||||||||| |||||**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF**||||||||||| |||||**St Paul Skelmersdale**||||||||||| |||||**FINANCIAL STATEMENT**||||||||||| |||||**For theyear ended 31 December 2020**||||||||||| |||||**General (Unrestricted) Fund Receipts & Payments Account**||||||||||| |||||||||||||||| |||||||**2020**||||||**2019**||| |||**Receipts**||||**£**|||**£**|||**£**||| ||**CBF code**|||||||||||||| |||**Voluntary receipts**||||||||||||| |||**Regular Giving**||||||||||||| |a|**101**||Tax efcientplannedgiving|||39,602||||||42,946||| |a1|**101**||Gift Aided donations|||1,070||||||||| |a*|**101**||Tax efcientplannedgivingvia PGSgift aided collected|||150||||||||| |b|**102**||Income tax recovered|||13,516||||||14,249||| |c|**103a**||Other Planned Giving (nongift aid)|||19,725||||||6,486||| |d|**104**||Collections and othergiving|||4,064||||||18,268||| |e|**10401**||Appleals at Services- Harvest for Foodbank,Christingle|||446||||||144||| ||||||||||78,572|||||| |||**Other voluntary receipts**||||||||||||| |f|**202**||Legacy|||14,500||||||0||| |g|**105b**||Donations|||6,880||||||2,047||| |g*|**105b**||Donations towards leaving gifts - Sandra &Jack|||502||||||||| ||**105b**||Donations towards Parish Weekend|||0||||||448||| ||**105b**||Donations from MU & Douglas Valleyre Men's Weekend|||0||||||600||| ||**105b**||Donations towards Stephen's tripto America|||0||||||457||| ||||||||||21,882|||||| |||**Receipts from activities forgenerating funds**||||||||||||| |h|**0203b**||ExaminingChaplain fee,ecclesiastical bonus|||250||||||47||| |k|**302**||Rent from templettingof curate's house/diocese assistance|||1,250||||||1,750||| |m|**203a**||Spring& Autumn Fayre,Brass Band,Christmas Star Event|||263||||||5,146||| |||||||||||||||| ||||||||||1,763|||||| |||**Receipt**||||||||||||| |n|**404**||Fees||6,882||||||8,835||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |p|**402b**||Hall Rental - 5+2 Centre +pool||185||||||1,235||| |q|**602**||Sale of assets- organpipes, pew,chairs||0||||||800||| |q|**602**||Recylingink cartridges and donation toprinting||96||||||||| |||||||||7,162|||||| |||**Receipts from investments**|||||||||||| |r|**301**||Bank & CBF interest||114||||||113||| ||**301**||Dividend on CBF Church of England Investment Fund||||||||||| |||||||||114|||||| ||||||||||||||| ||||**Total Receipts**|||||109,494|||||| ||||||||||||||| |||**Payments**|||||||||||| |||**Church activities**|||||||||||| |A|**1002**||Mission||719||||||1,522||| |B|**2001005**||Diocesanparish share||68,478||||||69,076||| |B|**2002/3**||Incumbant Expenses||2,785||||||3,222||| |D|**2004/11**||Curate Expenses||2,107||||||3,716||| |E|**2005**||Church runningexpenses||11,592||||||12,771||| |F|**2006/12**||Buildings maintenance||1,119||||||2,526||| |G|**2007/9/2005035**||Cost of services||2,664||||||2,681||| |H|**2008**||Upkeepof Churchyard/Vicarage Gardens||0||||||42||| |J|**2016**||Fees Paid for Weddings/Funerals(inc SundayOrganist)||2,085||||||4,500||| |K|**2017**||Reader/Diocese Costs&Fees/Parish training||86||||||440||| |M|**3000**||Cost of Events/Lunches/Parish Weekend||0||||||260||| |N|**3000**||Men's Weekend in Knock||0||||||600||| |P|**4000**||Ofce Costs(inc staf/equipment)||6,398||||||7,550||| ||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||| ||||**Total Payments**|||||98,035|||||| ||||||||||||||| |||**Excess of Receipts overpayments**|||||||||||| ||||General||11,458||||||-5,335||| ||||Restricted||441||||||5,859||| ||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||| |||||||||11,899|||||| ||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Bank current and deposit accounts at 1January20|||||||57,712|||||| ||Interest on Deposit Account|||||||217|||||| ||Bank current and deposit accounts at 31 December 20|||||||69,828|||||| ||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||| 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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| |10,870|||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| |113|||||||||| ||||||||||| |103,572|nearly6k more|||but without legacyof 14.5k would have been 8.5k less|||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| |||ZOOM(143.90)and leaving gifts of 750|||||otherwise 1770.58||| |||NOT CHARGED BUT LOADS TO MAINTENANCE TEAM|||||||| ||||||||||| |||DeanerySynod and P Thorn travellingonly|||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| |108,907|||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| |524|||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| 56.949 239.est zero next year 57,712 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF St Paul Skelmersdale STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILI at 31 December 2020** ||||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL O**|||||||||| |**St Paul Skelmersdale**|||||||||| |**STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILI**|||||||||| |**at 31 December 2020**|||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||**2020**| ||||||||||**£**| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| |**Cash Funds**|||||||||| ||Bank current accounts||||||||39,514| ||General Fund||||||||2,431| ||Restricted Funds||||||||37,082| |||Kings Kids|||||||320| |||SPY|||||||481| |||EW Kitchen/Chairs|||||||283| |||Gift Day|||||||12,579| |||VestryFund|||||||21,006| |||Keyboard|||||||0| |||Flower|||||||508| |||Fees to Diocese|||||||81| |||Organist|||||||230| |||WeddingFees|||||||1,594| ||||||||||| ||Deposit Fund||||||||30,314| ||||||||||| ||Total bank current and deposit accounts||||||||69,828| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| |**Other Monetary Assets**|||||||||| ||End ofyear income tax claim||||||||12,322| ||||||||||12,322| |**Investment Assets**|||||||||| ||Investment Fund shares(market value)||||||||4,996| ||||||||||4,996| ||||||||||| |**Assets retained for the use of the Church(unrestricted funds)**|||||||||| ||Freehold house at Wilcove||||||||160,000| ||||||||||| ||||||||||160,000| ||||||||||| |**Liabilities**|||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||0| |**Other Tangible Assets**|||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||||||||||| |**NOTES:**|||||||||| ||||||||||| ||1. The fnancial statements of the PCC have beenprepared in accordance with the Church Accountin||||||||| ||usingthe Receipts and Payments basis.||||||||| ||||||||||| **NOTES:** 1. The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting using the Receipts and Payments basis. 2. The following assets are recognised but not necessarily valued in the Statement of Assets and Liab Moveable church furnishings held by the church-wardens on special trust for the PCC and for their disposal. 3. The expenses paid to clergy may include a small, immaterial proportion which relates to their func No other payments were made to PCC members. 4. The payments to missions and overseas relief agencies included £334.33 to Skelmersdale Foodban Approved by the PCC on16/3/2021 and signed on their behalf **Revd Christopher Spittle Mrs June Price PCC Chairman PCC Treasurer** |||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |**F**||||| |||||| |**TIE**|**S**|||| |||||| |||||| ||**2019**|||| ||**£**|||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ||27,615|||| ||-9,027|||| ||36,642||441|| ||259|||| ||473|||| ||283|||| ||11,989|||| ||21,053|||| ||1,050|||| ||399|||| ||-8|||| ||230|||| ||914|||| |||||| ||30,098|||| |||||| ||57,712|||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ||13,528|||| |||||| ||13,528|||| |||||| ||4,757
~~3969~~|||| ||~~,~~|||| ||4,757|||| |||||| |||||| ||160,000|||| |||||| ||160,000|||| |||||| |||||| |||||| ||0|||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |||||| |gRegulations 2006||||| |||||| |||||| bilities: which require a faculty ction as PCC members. nk and £328.82 to the Children's Society from the Christingle service ## **Independent Examiner’s report to the PCC of St Paul Skelmersdale** _**delete this text in blue italics prior to printing the Independent Examiner's Report**_ is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 (‘th s.43 of the Charities Act 1993 (‘the Act’). ## **Respective responsibilities of the PCC and the examiner** statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations. ## **Basis of this report** disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be rqyired in an audit, and consequently audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and the Regulations have not been met; or reached. (Signed) ## ANNUAL REPORTS & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL For the year ending 31st December 2020 INCUMBENT Rev Chris Spittle The Vicarage Church Rd Skelmersdale ## BANK Barclays — The Concourse, Skelmersdale INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mrs D.L.Wynne 105, Blaguegate Lane Lathom Ormskirk Lancashire WN8 8TY Registered Charity No:1128068 16 1 **Administrative Information** Deanery Synod Report The Parish Church of St. Paul Skelmersdale, Church Road Skelmersdale WN8 8ND Official correspondence to Parish Administrator Parish Office at the above address. PCC Members are: Incumbent The Revd. Chris Spittle Chairperson Curate Church Wardens Mr Ken Skelton Mr John Taylor Readers Representative Deanery Synod Reps Mr J Davies (until 2023) Mrs J Price (until 2023) (until 2023) Diocesan Synod Rep : Elected members Mr J. Davies (until 2021) Mrs A Faza (until 2021) Mrs L. Oakley (until 2021) Mrs B. Curry (until 2021) Mrs B. Jones (until 2022) Mrs J. Price (until 2022) Mrs R Williams (until 2022) Mrs D. Bennett (until 2023) Mrs J. Curry (until 2023) Mrs E Kenyon (until 2023) Treasurer Mrs June Price Secretary Mrs Lynne Lomas Child Protection Officer Mrs Ann Taylor Vulnerable Adults Officer Mrs Ann Taylor Bankers Barclays Bank. Auditor Mrs D. L. Wynne Architect Mr Robin Wolley Day to day management control of the church is exercised by the Incumbent and Wardens: Revd. Chris Spittle, Mr Ken Skelton and Mr J. Taylor contactable via the Church Office 01695 716439 or the Vicarage 01695 722087 Ormskirk Deanery Synod met once in 2020, in February before lockdown began. The meeting included an update on the changes to the Church Representation Rules and an update on some of the initiatives happening around the deanery which included the reordering and installation of a Post Office at St Thomas, Upholland; the Pilgrim and SHAPE Courses; Suzanne Finch’s work as an LML at Newburgh, and the Bright Lights worshipping community in our own parish. The next meeting took place over Zoom on 19[th] January 2021 when the major agenda item was a presentation on the Deanery Plan. The plan highlights two priorities: Discipleship and Numerical Growth. As part of the plan all the churches of the Deanery have been assessed as to their health in two key areas: Numbers/Attendance and Finances. Each church was assessed using a traffic light system. Health in both Numbers and Finances = green; health in one of the two areas = amber, and concerns in both areas = red. St Paul’s was assessed as green. The deanery mission plan encourages churches to form informal clusters with each other and for each cluster to include at least one green rated church. The current plan is for a Skelmersdale cluster including St Paul’s, Oaks, the Ecumenical Centre, Christ the Servant Digmoor, St Thomas’s Upholland and St Michael’s, Dalton. This corresponds to the already longstanding Group. The hope is that within the cluster resources, and experience will be shared to enable mutual flourishing. During 2020-21 the Standing Committees of the churches of the Skelmersdale cluster met twice to talk about the development of the cluster. 2 15 ## **Structure, Management and Governance.** ## MOTHERS UNION REPORT The work of the Mothers’ Union continues regardless of the pandemic, albeit in a more restricted fashion. Finance was a problem, an appeal was launched and M.U. members gave generously. Staff members were furloughed both in London and here in Liverpool. As a Branch here at St Paul’s the pandemic also impacted us, we were only able to hold three meetings in 2020. All our usual fund raising events were cancelled and that seriously damaged our ability to give as we would normally do to the Mothers’ Union departments and to Church. As Branch Leader throughout these difficult months I have done what I could to maintain contact with our members by phone and letter just to check that they were ok. The number of members is falling, two of the ladies have moved to residential care and very sadly one lady has died. At the time of writing there is perhaps light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel. I am trusting that as we move out of the restrictions that have been placed upon us we can hopefully think about meeting again, as and when it is safe to do so. I am ever mindful that our membership is made up of the more vulnerable age group, so I will proceed with caution, giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for bringing us safe thus far. In His Service, Barbara Jones Branch Leader St. Paul’s Skelmersdale PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure 1956. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission The method of appointment of the PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church members are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC operates Two Subcommittees when needed: The Standing Committee: Incumbent, Treasurer, Secretary, Church Wardens and three elected members The Finance Committee: Incumbent, Treasurer, Secretary, and Church Wardens plus any member of the PCC who would like to attend. ## **Financial Risk.** The PCC continually reviews the financial position. This is currently a cause for concern, although there is no immediate financial risk. . ## **Health and Safety** The PCC has identified a review of our Health and Safety procedures as a priority . All formal risk assessments are listed within the PCC’s Risk Register. Every year the Fire Alarm is checked to make sure that it is in good working order and the fire extinguishers are also checked on an annual basis. A five yearly Electrical Inspection has been undertaken. A survey of the trees in the churchyard took place in 2018 ## C **hild and Vulnerable Adult Protecton.** Those who work with children and young people in the church have had their Disclosure and Barring Service checks renewed, and we have completed an overhaul of our Vulnerable Adult procedures. ## **Objectves and Actvites.** The PCC (Powers) Measure 1956 states that the PCC is to cooperate with the Minister in promoting in the Parish the whole mission of the Church, this includes the Pastoral, Evangelistic, Social, and Ecumenical ministry. At St Pauls we have a Mission Statement which confirms our mission to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England, both through the proclamation of the word and to encourage members of the congregation to put their faith into action, as we serve Christ in the Parish. 14 3 ## **Mission Statement** Jesus Says, “Go and make Disciples” we try to do this:- Through the teaching of the Bible as God’s Word to us in all matters of faith and moral behaviour, Through allowing God’s Holy Spirit to work in us in order to make us more like Jesus, Through worshipping together: listening to God; talking to Him; responding to Him and encouraging one another. Through using the different gifts God has given us to love and serve Him, each other and the local community. Through making Jesus known to others by what we say and what we do. Through encouraging and supporting children and younger members of the Church family at St. Paul’s and Trinity Anglican/Methodist School and making every effort to ensure that we are a “Child Friendly” Church. Through seeking to work with other Christians and by building links with the world-wide church. ## **In order to do this our aims and objectves for 2020 were:** To nurture vocations and ministries, and to share our ministerial resources more widely. To address the financial challenges that the church is facing To maintain and develop our role in the community To look at developing our building To develop our small group life. To improve our Pastoral Care. To explore the Liverpool Diocese Rule of Life at our pattern of worship. Significant steps forward have been taken in these areas, however our objectives for2020 were largely focussed on maintaining as much of our church life as possible: ## **Achievements and Performance including review of charitable achievements against objectves** . 2020 has been a unique year with the country entering into lockdown in March 2020 and restrictions being in place for the remainder of the year. However St Paul’s has continued to function despite this. From the beginning of lockdown we instigated daily Morning and Evening prayers from Monday-Friday online and these have continued until the present time. We are grateful to the team: Anne, Peter, Jack, Sandra, Jane, Rick, Carolyn and Chris (with the help of ## WELL-BEING COURSE In addition, I have run the ‘Well-being’ Course for the Oaks Men’s Group, which has been run with 7 men and 3 partners joining in. Our last session is due on Wednesday 21st April 2021. ## FAITH WALKS In addition, I have managed several walks with men, over the last few months, reflecting on faith and life under Covid. ## ASYLUM SEEKERS & REFUGEES In addition, I have continued to reach out to asylum seekers and refugees (mostly men), provided food, clothes and bikes. I have helped with bank accounts, ID cards, Travel Documents, legal & Home office letters and signing up to GPs. This has mostly been carried out remotely, as our 2 weekly drop-ins stopped with lockdown measures, earlier in 2020. We did offer a Christmas drop-in in the newly modelled Ecumenical Centre, following Covid guidelines. ## THE FUTURE My Local Missional Leader’s role officially end at the beginning of September 2021, following a 5 year period. It would be good to think that another man, within the church, could pick up the baton of a ‘ministry to men’, within the town. ## LAWRENCE ## LML MEN’s MINISTRY 4 13 ## **MEN’S MINISTRY** ## 2020 to APRIL 2021 ## CONVERSATIONS OF FAITH Due to Covid lockdown measures, face to face ministry to men has been curtailed. Following prayerful reflection, I felt God guided me to try and ‘encourage’ men in their faith journeys through the medium of conversation, via the Zoom platform. I have carried out 27 Faith conversations with a variety of men, over a period of 7 months, lasting on average 40 minutes, which have been distributed on a dedicated WhatsApp Platform to approximately 60 men, both within St Paul’s and other local churches. The conversations have included the Vicar, several other ministers, a refugee, a doctor, a financial adviser, a man with a military background, 2 bishops and a man who runs a centre for recovering alcoholics. Several other local men have also engaged in a conversation with me. I believe, from various forms of feedback, that the conversations have both encouraged and guided men in their faith journeys, during a challenging period. As someone shared with me ; ‘the Holy Spirit’ can never be locked down!’ As restrictions ease, I am beginning to feel the conversations may gradually come to an end. Matthew and Jonathan) who have made this possible. We have been joined by worshippers not only from our usual congregation, but also from our wider area and indeed across the world. A few of these have also chosen to support the church financially. There have been numerous testimonies shared of how God has blessed people through these daily prayer times. Likewise our Sunday worship has continued unabated, sometimes broadcast from the clergy’s own homes, or from behind closed doors in church. More recently the building has been open while some restrictions have remained in place. We are again grateful to the ministry team, the band, Ken our organist and a team who have taken on extra responsibilities to make this possible. We were able to offer a full programme of services over the Christmas period which included some successful innovations such as holding three Christingle services to allow as many as possible to attend. Some of our Christmas activities and services saw increased attendances from previous years. We were able to open the building for the whole of Holy Week in 2021 and again hold all the usual services. Livestreaming our worship on Facebook and www.thesundayservice.org has been very important in the past year and has helped grow our church community. We intend to continue this as much as possible alongside our “in person” worship in the future. Despite lockdown Vocations and Ministry has continued to be an exciting movement of God at St Paul’s. Sandra Jones was ordained at Liverpool Cathedral in September 2020 in a moving but intimate service as she was only allowed to invite four guests. She is now serving her curacy in the North-East Hub of Wigan. In May 2020 Jane Cliff was accepted for Reader Ministry and her training began in the autumn. In March 2021 Jill Rigby was accepted for Ordination training and will serve as a Self-Supporting Minister at St Paul’s after Ordination in 2024. Lawrence Smye-Rumsby has continued his ministry as LML for Men’s Ministry across the town and through lockdown has run a WhatsApp group MECOF (Men’s Encouraging Conversations of Faith) interviewing men about their faith and sharing the films to an appreciative audience. In October Rev Jack Shepherd completed his curacy at St Paul’s and moved to be Missional Priest in the Parish of Dalton and Upholland. He has been a great blessing to our church and parish and we were thrilled that he is remaining in the area so that our town can continue to benefit from his gifts and ministry. We greatly value our partnership with Trinity our church school. The Bright Lights worshipping community at Trinity school in partnership with Trinity Methodist church is now an established part of church and school life. In 2020 we moved to monthly gatherings, meeting in January and February with growing attendances 12 5 before lockdown curtailed our activities for the year. The St Paul’s clergy continued to offer weekly Collective Worship for Trinity through lockdown, in the form of pre-recorded films and livestreams, or in person when restrictions allowed. We have striven to maintain our pastoral care as much as has been possible. Sadly ministry to our local nursing homes had to be suspended and is yet to restart, but many church members have been involved in maintaining contact and support of others through phone calls, social media and where appropriate and possible, face to face contact. The funeral ministry of the church has also continued during the past year despite the restrictions. ReNew 100 was continuing to establish itself at the start of 2020 until lockdown. We are looking forward to it re-opening in May 2021. ## **Electoral Roll.** Is now 120 ## **Church Buildings.** Mr. Ken Skelton continues to work as “Building Manager”, he has organised minor work that needed to be carried out on the church building. There is an ongoing programme to improve the church fabric . Important checks such as electrics, boiler and fire appliances are all up to dater. During lockdown a small team has worked on the Vestry Project and have made a significant difference to this area of the building. We are grateful for their efforts. A Quinquennial Inspection of the Church took place in 2018, which although broadly positive raised some concerns about the roof and perimeter walls **Finance** The Financial Accounts can be found elsewhere in this document ## **Reserves Policy.** It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds (if possible), which equates to approximately three months unrestricted payments, to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. ## SPY Report 2020/21 Hello Everyone. SPY stands for St Paul’s Youth. Well, like nearly everyone else, SPY have not been able to meet in church because of Covid since Spring last year. However, we have been meeting on Zoom every week. This has sorely tested some of our leader’ technical skills - well mostly one leader! We have met for an hour and a quarter every Monday evening. During that time we have been learning more from the Bible and playing games that we can play on Zoom. Sometimes we have quizzes as well. Each session has been led by a different leader in rotation. Our leaders are Alison Giblin, Chris Spittle and Lynda Oakley, and we are supported by Jeanette Williams when she isn’t working or studying. She is a great asset to the group and we are fortunate to have her. Jack, our last Curate, was with us until last year but has of course now moved on. We certainly miss him. Some of our young people have stayed with us, but unfortunately there are some who don’t like Zoom meetings so we are hoping that they may come back now. We have just started meeting in church again from the 19[th] April and have five new young people from Year 6 that have now joined us. It’s a bit early to tell yet, but we think that they like it. We still have to be spaced out a bit and are sanitising tables, chairs and ourselves of course. As well as teaching and games, we have planned craft evenings, a barbecue, a camp out in the vicar’s garden and next spring will be spending a weekend away in the Yorkshire Dales. All this is dependent on Covid levels of course. We would greatly value prayer support for all our young people and leaders as we look at how God seeks to help us all to be the best people we can be. We ask for prayers not just for our youth group, but for all our church groups and their leaders and indeed all of our church. Lynda 6 11 Reports from church groups and organisations for the year ending 31st December 2020 **2020** ## **Craf Club** No meetings since the lockdown. However a number of us have kept in contact through ‘WhatsApp’ Showing and telling with our crafting activities. Regards ## Beryl. ## CHOIR AND ORGAN After a year long lockdown, there's little to report. I have kept in contact with the choir Members, but they are becoming more frustrated at not being allowed to sing. When the time comes a choir practice will be the first requirement. The organ shows no sign of requiring any attention. April 15th. 2021, Ken. 10 10 7 To the PCC of St Paul Skelmersdale ## **Parish Details** **PCC Name** ST. PAUL. SKELMERSDALE **Year (e.g. 2001)** 2020 **Name of signature 1 on accounts: Name of signature 2 on accounts Name of Independent Examiner** Revd Christopher Spittle Mrs J.Price Mrs D.L.Wynne **Professional Qualifications of Independent Examiner (if any)** **Address of Independent Examiner** **Address of Independent Examiner** 105 Blaguegate Lane Lathom, Lancashire **Date of Accounts approval by PCC** 16th March 2021 **Date of Independent Examiners Report 2** 8th April 2021 This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on separate sheets, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 (“the Regulations”) and s.43 of the Charities Act 1993 (“the Act”) ## **Respective responsibilities of the PCC and the examiner** As members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements; you consider that the audit requirement of Regulations and section 43(2) of the Act do not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations ## **Basis of this report** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General directions given by the Charities Commission under section 43(7)(b) of the Act and top be found in the church guidance, 2006 edition. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. ## **Independent examiners statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to disbelieve that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations have not been met: or - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mrs L. Wynne 105 Blaguegate Lane Lathom , Ormskirk Lancashire WN8 8TY 8 9