2022-12-31-accounts

Annual Report & Financial Statement

of the

Parochial Church Council of the Parish of St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch, Torquay

for the year ending 31[st] December 2022

Parish Priest:

Fr Nick Debney B.A. SSC (from 18[th] July 2022)

Parish Church:

St Mary the Virgin St Marychurch Fore Street Torquay TQ1 4PZ

Bank:

HSBC Bank 7 Palace Avenue Paignton TQ3 3ED

Independent Examiner:

Mr Ian Barrett

Barrett’s Chartered Accountants

22 Union Street

Newton Abbot

TQ12 2JS

Registered Charity Number: 1128269

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch, Torquay, TQ1 4PZ

Annual Report for 2022 presented at Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 21[st] May 2023 in the Church after the Parish Mass

Contents

Agenda for Annual Parochial Church Meeting	Page 2
Trustees of the Charity	Page 3
Administration	Page 4-5
Review – ‘Highlights’ of 2022	Page 6-7
The Priest in Charge’s Annual Report for 2022	Page 8
The Churchwardens Annual Report for 2022	Page 9
Revised Electoral Roll for 2022	Page 10
Honorary Secretary’s Report for 2022	Page 11
Honorary Treasurer’s Report for 2022	Page 12-13
Examined Accounts for 2022	Page 14-19
General Reports:	Page 20-21
Deanery Synod Highlights
Forward in Faith and the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda
Structure, Governance and Management	Page 22
The Notes of the 2021 Annual Parochial Church Meeting	Page 23-24

Page 1

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch, Torquay, TQ1 4PZ

Annual Report for 2022 presented at Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 21[st] May in the Church after the Parish Mass

Agenda

The Meeting of the Parishioners

1. Opening Prayer

2. Apologies for absence

3. The notes of the 2022 Annual Parochial Church Meeting

4. The Vicars Report

5. The Churchwarden’s Report

6. The Election of two Church Wardens

The Meeting of those on the Electoral Roll

1. Presentation of the Revised Electoral Roll

2. The Honorary Secretary’s Report

3. The Honorary Treasurer’s Report and presentation of the Independent Examined Accounts for 2022

4. General Reports (taken as read)

   • 4.1. Deanery Synod Report

   • 4.2. Forward in Faith and the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda

5. Elections

   • 5.1. The Parochial Church Council (12 posts)

   • 5.2. Independent Examiner

   • 5.3. Electoral Roll Officer

   • 5.4. Deanery Synod Representatives (2 posts)

6. Safeguarding

7. Letters of Thanks as the meeting requires

8. Dates of Future Meetings

   • 8.1. New Parochial Church Council Meeting – to be confirmed following APCM

   • 8.2. Archdeacon’s Visitation – Thursday 22[nd] June at 7pm in St John the Evangelist, Paignton

   • 8.3. Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 19[th] May 2024

9. Close of meeting by Chair.

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The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch, Torquay, TQ1 4PZ

Annual Report and Financial Statement For Year ending 31[st] December 2022

Trustees of the Charity

Parochial Church Council members are automatically Trustees and are either elected, ex officio or co-opted. During the year 2022, the following people served as Parochial Church Council members:

Parish Priest:	Fr Nick Debney	Chair	Ex-Officio
Church Wardens:	Christine Hinchliffe		Ex-Officio	Until APCM
	Vacancy		Ex-Officio	Until APCM
Deanery Synod Rep:	Nicola Hall		Ex-Officio	Until 2023
	Christine Hinchliffe		Ex-Officio	Until 2023
Secretary:	Angela Lee		Ex-Officio	Until APCM
Treasurer:	Peter Gaston		Ex-Officio	Until APCM
Electoral Roll Officer:	Margaret Roper		Ex-Officio	Until APCM
Parish Safeguarding Rep.:	Valerie Oswin		Co-opted	Until APCM
Elected Members:	Valerie Oswin		Until 2023
	Janey Condict		Until 2023
	Graham Ward		Until 2023
	Margaret Roper		Until 2023
	Jeremy Aspinall (Vice	Chair)	Until 2023
	Peter Gaston		Until 2023
	Wendy Piddlesden		Until 2023
	Angela Lee		Until 2023

Deanery Synod Representatives are elected every three years, upon election they become Ex-officio members of the PCC for the term. Next election in 2023.

Standing Committee consists of the Parish Priest, Church Wardens, PCC Secretary and PCC Treasurer

Page 3

Administration

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch is located in the North of Torquay serving a large and varied parish. The Parish sits within the Mission Community of Our Lady and All the Saint’s which comprises of St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch, All Saint’s Babbacombe, and St Martin of Tours, Barton.

Aim and Purposes

St Mary’s Parochial Church Council’s (PCC) primary aim is the promotion of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The Parochial Church Council has the responsibility of co-operating with the Priest in Charge, Fr Nick Debney, in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The Parochial Church Council is also specifically responsible for the Church building, the church hall and the grounds within the boundary.

St Mary’s PCC have passed as resolution under the House of Bishop’s Declaration on the Ministry of Bishops and Priests in the Church of England. Following their petition, the Bishop of Exeter has requested extended Episcopal Oversight from the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, and, from September 2022 from the Bishop of Oswestry.

Our mission is to be a growing, joy-filled, Christian presence at the heart of our community. We welcome both local residents and visitors of all ages to all of our services and events. By witnessing inside and outside of our church buildings, we endeavor to walk the journey of faith together, fed and nurtured by God's word and sacraments. Worship is our first duty, and we seek to make the worship at St Mary’s both reverent and accessible, but above all filled with joy.

We are a family friendly Eucharistic community that use our buildings to the glory of God as we seek to grow in faith and out-reach to the community we seek to serve. Everyone is very welcome to join us wherever they may be on their journey of faith.

Our mission statement is 'Serving the people of North Torquay with joy'

Objective and Actions

Our 2022 objective in pursuit of our aim and purposes is to offer public worship, a place for private prayer, community events, opportunities to go on pilgrimage and supporting activities aligned with our aim and purpose, both locally and further afield. We have considered the Charities Commission’s guidance on public benefit and believe our actions have many benefits to the public and the people living in our parish as we intend to offer the following actions for 2022:

Sung Parish Mass on Sundays in the parish church. Tea and Coffee are served after Mass in the Precinct Centre to encourage fellowship and community, everyone is welcome.

Said Masses take place on Wednesday morning at 10am and Friday morning, as well as a sung School Mass on a Tuesday morning in the parish church. Refreshments are available in the Precinct Centre after Mass on a Wednesday and Friday morning.

Additional services throughout the year including Lent, Easter, Festivals and Saint Days, Feast of Consecration, Patronal Festival and Christmas. These services times vary and with details being available in the news sheet. Bring and share lunches or nibbles follow selected services to continue the celebration and give opportunity for fellowship.

There is not currently a Sunday School running within the Parish, however weekly resources reflecting the readings for the day and the season are provided in a children’s area and are well used.

Upkeep and maintenance of the Church, Church Hall and grounds. To ensure they are safe and suitable for the purposes they are being used for.

The Church Hall is hired out to users for many sessions of the week and is available for the community to hire for their personal and community events. Bot the hall is used for Church events e.g. Lent Lunches and receptions/events throughout the year as the Church Hall has a high quality kitchen and toilet facilities.

Historically the parish have been on Pilgrimage to Glastonbury for the South-West Pilgrimage in July each year.

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These activities are principally funded by voluntary donations through the Parish Standing Order Scheme, envelopes, collections and the lettings of the hall. These funds are primarily used for the common fund, heating, lighting, insurance, licences, day to day maintenance and repair of church buildings and grounds. Purchase of resources for services (e.g. candles and printer costs), supporting mission activities (e.g. donations to charity and projects).

The parish is blessed to have the Cornerstone Shop to support the life and witness of the parish. While it is an independent trading company, they make generous grants to the church for fabric and other work.

Committees

During 2022 the P.C.C. operated with just one formal committee which met between full meetings: this was the Standing Committee, elected by the P.C.C. from its own membership.

Standing Committee

This is the only committee recognized by law. It has power to transact the business of the P.C.C. between its meetings, subject to any directions given by the Council. This committee meets when need arises to make recommendations to the full P.C.C. or to proceed with any work requiring immediate attention. The Standing Committee is made up of the Priest in Charge, Churchwardens, Secretary and Treasurer.

Church Attendance

There are seventy-two names on the Church Electoral Roll. The Roll has been subject to a standard Annual Revision, with details of the changes from the 2022 Roll listed. The number of names on the Roll - 72 - is a net increase of thirteen from last year. Two people have moved away and two have gone to glory. There were seventeen new additions to the roll.

Sunday attendance has now recovered and increased from the pre-pandemic numbers with average communicants of between 50 and 55. There are usually between 15 and 20 who attend our weekday Masses. A small number of children and non-confirmed adults attend Sunday services.

Safeguarding

The Parochial Church Council believes that it has complied with its duty under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, and that it has due regard to the House of Bishop’s guidance on the Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. The relevant individuals, as well as the Parochial Church Council as a body, are fully appraised of the requirements which go both with the offices they hold and also with their qualification to be nominated for such offices.

The Parish Safeguarding Officer is automatically co-opted as a member of the Parochial Church Council. Safeguarding is an integral agenda item of every P.C.C. meeting, even if only to report that there are no current issues.

All member of the parish community, whose DBS Certificates expired in 2022 have had these certifications renewed. All safeguarding training is also up to date.

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Review ‘Highlights’ of 2022

The year began with us in good heart following the first almost ’normal’ Christmas since the Coronavirus Pandemic. We continued to be well served by our faithful and hard-working retired clergy, Fr Tony Oswin, Fr Geoffrey Richardson, Fr Antony Lane and latterly in 2022 Fr Trevor Smyth who have supported the Parish throughout the vacancy, both liturgically and pastorally, and have also been great assistance to Fr Nick as he has arrived and begun to settle in.

At the end of January, interviews took place and we were pleased that Fr Nick Debney (Vicar of St Luke’s Milber and Priest in Charge of St John the Evangelist, Bovey Tracey) had been appointed as our new Priest in Charge (to be shared with St Martin of Tours, Barton).

Some Social Events, for example our scrumptious Harvest Lunch have begun to take place again and our fundraising efforts as well, the Autumn Craft Fayre was a particular success and thanks are owed to Graham Ward for organizing it. We are becoming more financially stable through the generosity of our planned giving, and while we have had to use some planned reserves this year, St Mary’s has been able to fulfill all its financial commitments in 2022 and a huge debt of gratitude is owed to Peter Gaston our Honorary Treasurer.

Fr Nick Debney was licensed as our new Priest in Charge on the 18[th] July 2022 at a joy-filled licensing at St Marychurch where the Bishop of Lewes, Rt Revd Will Hazlewood came to preach on behalf of the society. At the beginning of September, we prepared to celebrate our Patronal Festival Mass on the 8[th] September, with our Preacher Fr Harri Williams, the Vicar of Walsingham which was followed by a lovely reception in the Hall. Half an hour before we started, we learned of the death of Her Late Majesty, the Queen. May she rest in peace.

Following the death of her Late Majesty the Queen, St Mary’s was open daily for members of the local community to pay their respects, light a candle and sign the Book of Condolence. It was a good thing firstly, to have the church open, but also for it to be a place where people could come in, be quiet, and pay their respects. The following Sunday there was a thanksgiving service for her late majesty.

There was a larger than usual gathering this year at the St Marychurch War Memorial on the 11[th] November. St Marychurch Church of England School sang for us and the Act of Remembrance was supported by the Royal British Legion.

Leading up to Christmas there were a myriad of Carol Services and celebrations from across the community. It was a great joy to welcome so many people back to St Mary’s, many of whom had not visited since before the lockdown.

Our hall bookings have continued to grow from strength to strength under the watchful eye (and lots of work) of Angela Lee.

Christmas was celebrated well at St Mary’s this year with good congregations and lots of happy, smiley faces – Fr Nick brought his new snow machine which brought lots of smiles to the children’s faces!

Our work with schools has begun to grow and be re-established this year. The weekly School Mass has been back in place from September for years 3-6. Fr Antony Lane led the May Day procession and Crowning of the May Queen and the Image of Our Lady for the first time since 2019. We have welcomed Coombe Pafford School back into Church this Christmas and have had visits from St Margarets School as part of the RE Programme and syllabus.

In September it was a joy to welcome Rob Atkin back to St Mary’s as our Organist and Director of Music. There had not been regular organ music at St Mary’s since 2020, so it has been lovely to have the organ in use once more, and thanks are owed to him for his support and for the hours he puts in to keep the organ in tune and sounding beautiful. Thanks must go to the team of people who faithfully provided recorded music during that time, as well as to our servers, our cleaners, our tea and coffee servers, readers, stewards and all who support the life of St Mary’s.

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We are very blessed with our flower team at St Mary’s led by Jenny Purver. The quality and drama of our displays are exceptional and we are so very lucky to have such talent within the parish. A massive thank you to everyone who is involved in our flower team and for your creativity and drive.

At the beginning of December 2022 there was a change to the Sunday morning Mass time to enable Fr Nick Debney to be at St Mary’s at 11am every Sunday. This has taken a little time to settle down, but where a few people struggled with the time initially, they have since returned to be regular communicants on Sunday mornings. There have a been a steady flow of new people coming along to St Mary’s and it is a joy to welcome them and everyone to our Mass on a Sunday morning – how heartening that 17 new people have applied to go on the Electoral Roll this year.

Next year, the 30[th] May 2023 will mark the 80[th] anniversary of the bombing of St Mary’s and its destruction killing 21 children and 3 Sunday School teachers. It is wonderful that by August, the Holy Innocents Chapel had been redecorated in time for that anniversary. In September we also took delivery of our new microphones which has transformed our services in that people can now hear without ‘crackles and pops.’

It was lovely to celebrate a ‘full Christmas’ without any social distancing, regulations or anxieties in place. The service pattern changes enabled Fr Nick to be at both churches for all the Christmas Services. At the end of December in was confirmed that we would be welcoming a curate to St Mary’s and St Martin’s in June 2023 – a great joy and privilege for us to be alongside Kenny Wickens in his training and formation as a Deacon and Priest in the Church of God.

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Priest in Charge’s Annual Report for 2022

Dear Friends,

As this is my first report to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, I would firstly like to thank you for making Sally, Adam, and me so welcome in our move back to Torquay. I would like to begin by paying tribute to our fabulous churchwarden who has steered the parish through the recent vacancy with so much energy, love, and care. A great debt of thanks is due to Christine Hinchliffe for the time she has given to the life of the parish.

I would also like to thank our wonderful team of retired clergy for their liturgical and pastoral care during the vacancy. In so many cases, when it comes to vacancies, it can often be a different priest each week. St Mary’s has had the privilege of consistency in ministry from Fr Tony Oswin, Fr Geoffrey Richardson, and Fr Antony Lane. We owe them such thanks for their ministry both in the vacancy and since my arrival in July.

We have had a number of high-profile and one-off events since July; our Patronal Festival where we learned of the death of her late Majesty, services of thanksgiving for the life of her late Majesty the Queen, Remembrance Sunday, and the diverse and joy-filled visits to the church by St Marychurch School and Coombe Pafford to celebrate Christmas.

At my licensing, I chose the reading of the annunciation with a focus on the words “with God nothing is impossible”, and nothing is impossible if we have faith in the providence of God, and if we are faithful and confident in the proclamation of the Gospel. My other mantra is that things are ‘the same, but different’. The tradition and liturgical life is the same, and yet, by virtue of a new Parish Priest and Pastor, it is different; sharing your Parish Priest with another church community is different – and yet I hope that we can build together on the firm and sound foundations I have inherited.

I would like to thank all our regular worshippers for your sensitivity and support in the changing of our Sunday Mass time from 10am to 11am. It has meant that I have been able to be with you each week rather than every other week and I feel I am beginning to get to know everyone a little better. There may be further minor tweaks after we have reviewed it as a PCC in May/June, but it feels as if everyone is getting used to the different time.

It is a particular joy to be more and more involved in the life of St Marychurch School. We must be one of the few churches who are still able to hold a weekly School Mass in Church, something I am very grateful for. I am now serving as a governor for the school which is another great way to be involved. From the general overview of the parish, our children’s work and junior church provision is becoming more and more exciting as we seek to reach out to our local community. Towards the end of the year we also welcomed St Margaret’s School into church for a visit, which has been the start of a new and flourishing relationship.

I would like to thank the PCC for all their hard work this year. All of you have contributed faithfully to the life of the parish, both in the vacancy and since my arrival. There has to be a thank you to Peter Gaston who has worked so hard to manage our finances and balance the books at the end of the year.

It is an incredibly exciting time in the life of St Mary’s, we are beginning to see more and more things happening in the parish, by God’s grace, and as we look forward to welcoming our new curate in the summer, my prayer is we remain faithful, joyful and focussed on growing God’s Kingdom in this part of Torquay – for if we are faithful, with God nothing is impossible!

Fr Nick Debney Priest in Charge and Prebendary of Exeter Cathedral

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The Churchwarden’s Report for 2022

What a year 2022 was in the life of our church and in our worship.

In January 2022, Peter Gaston and I were nominated by the PCC to sit on the Interview panel to select our new Priest in Charge. All I can say is the rest is now history. Fr Nick, Sally, Adam and Lucy moved from Milber, to the Vicarage in July 2022. There was a lot of behind the scenes organizing that went on between St Martin’s and St Mary’s to ensure that Fr Nick had a Licensing Service to remember. And it certainly was a Service to remember and such glorious weather that day. As I said at the time, a huge thank you to all those who helped in any way to celebrate the start of a new Ministry.

We were warned by Bishop Will as to some of what we could expect over the coming months from Fr Nick, (who thought we would have snow in Church at Midnight Mass, Crib Service and Christmas morning, it was truly joyous) As the number of people with Covid began to reduce, our congregation numbers have begun to increase.

Spending Efficiencies

The hiring contract on the photocopier in the Parish Office was up for review. It was expensive and Fr Nick was able to negotiate a much better deal to get a new photocopier, so we have much improved printing facilities which we share with St Martin’s to keep the cost down.

Parish Giving

You are encouraged to join the parish giving scheme (monthly giving by direct debit) Information available from Margaret, Peter or myself.

Information technology

Our website is up and running our number of hits is slowly rising, www.saintmarychurch.co.uk as is the number of hits on at a Church Near You (where our service details are shown). New microphones were purchased, and I am sure you would agree, this has made a big difference to our services.

Fabric Report

Quinquennial Inspection work.

The PCC has approved work to be undertaken from the Quinquennial Inspection. This work will be partly funded again with a generous donation from Cornerstone. This includes guttering work, and repair of the Tower cabin. The organ has also had some basic refurbishment to keep it in good working order, further work will take place in 2023.

Holy Innocents Chapel painting.

When the walls in the Chapel had finally dried out, the badly needed decoration of the Chapel was undertaken with the generous help of a donation from Cornerstone. As we look towards the 80th anniversary of the bombing of the Church, this work was long overdue.

Mission

“Every little helps” The future mission in St Mary’s is dependent on developing attendance of families over the next 5 years. We are all aware that attendance at any church has been declining over the years. As we continue in our new journey in faith in Church and in the community, it is down to all of us to encourage and support those who are perhaps new to faith. If you have family, friends, neighbours who haven’t been to church for a while, how about inviting them to one of our services. You will be helping to promote the growth of the Church’s Mission in the Community. This is especially important as we prepare to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Church’s bombing.

Volunteering in Church

We always welcome people to help in whatever way you are able. Have you got hidden talents, bell ringing, singing in the choir, flower arranging, catering, DIY? It need not be on a regular basis, it may be helping the cleaning team on a Wednesday every now and again, helping with catering at special events.

I wish to thank our wonderful housekeeping team, Jenny and her flower and catering team. Graham Ward, who does so much DIY around our Church. To our bell ringers. To all the members of the PCC who work quietly behind the scenes and finally to all of you participating in anyway whatsoever to our journey in faith.

Chris Hinchliffe, Churchwarden. Page 9

Revised Electoral Roll 2022

This year is a revision of the Electoral Roll with a full revision due next year.

P Adams Christine Hinchliffe Kim Plumb Jeremy Aspinall March Ivory David Powell Marguerite Aspinall Ken Jeffrey Jenny Purver Alexandra Blellock Meg Joliffe Mike Roper Jan Condict Joan Jones Margaret Roper Fiona Cook Nikki Jones Ida Shewchuk Irene Coulton Jennie Kay Clifford Spence Dianne Dann Kathryn Kelly Libby Spence Ken Davies Brenda Kelly Neville Stanford Elaine Davies Jane Lane Barrington Stevens Heather Davies Jean Leaman Jill Stevens Adam Debney Angela Lee Robert Stone Sally Debney Martin Mansley Catalina Tamas Jennifer Elliot Jessie Mickerman Rose Trembath Cora Grant Julia Montages Stuart Walton Cyril Garman Janet Morgan Graham Ward Peter Gaston Stan Myers Gareth Watkins Philippe Giorgetti Lesley Northway-Reux Hayley Watkins Judith Giorgetti Ruth Northway-Reux Donna Westlake Joyce Goodricke Val Oswin Janet Westlake Nicola Hall Alma Pearson Nora Whelan June Harris Ena Pethick Robert Williams Andy Harris Peggy Phillips Sarah Williams Joan Harrop Wendy Piddlesden Maureen Wood

Summary

This roll contains 72 names, and includes the following changes from the 2022 roll:

Additions: Seventeen Change of address: None Change of name: None Moved away: Two No longer attend Two, Deceased: Two

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Honorary Secretary’s Report for 2022

PCC Secretary report

In 2022 the PCC met on 8th January via zoom, 23rd February, 27th April, 7th June, 27th June, 22nd September, 8th November and 13th December.

In Januarys meeting the Rev Roger Carlton chaired his last PCC for us, a Christine thanked him for all his hard work and delaying his retirement. PCC had agreed Christine Hinchliffe and Peter Gaston would be on the interview panel for our new Priest in Charge. Jeremy Aspinall acted as Chairman as he was already the Vice Chairman.

Fr Anthony Lane had been liaising with Marychurch, Church of England school and was conducting school services. PCC also agreed in February to obtain more quotes for the re-painting of Holy Innocence chapel. Peter Gaston produced the weekly pew sheets during the vacancy but has now handed this to Fr Nick since his licensing. Lent services to be agreed with retired clergy, Lent lunches to proceed.

In April we received a donation of £3000 for which we are very grateful. Grateful thanks to all who volunteered at Lent lunches, and a total of £1559 was raised for various charities.

There were 2 meetings in June, Christine Hinchliffe had a meeting with Fr Nick Debney and Churchwardens from St Martin’s she advised that Fr Nick and his Family will move in vicarage on 1st July. Work will begin on 21st June in the Holy Innocence chapel followed by deep clean before Fr Nicks licensing.

It was agreed at September PCC that Robert Atkin would be returning as our organist and Director of Music. Key safe implemented for hall hirers Christine will set codes weekly. Fr Nick Debney introduced an ongoing programme of works for fabric of church identified at the Quinquennial Inspection. All agreed licensing service was very well attended, and the gathered choir was excellent.

In November we agreed to change Sunday service to 11am so that Fr Nick could preside at both parishes on a Sunday morning. New microphones were installed following a sound system review. Arthur Christian is hosting warm hubs in the Precinct Centre, PCC asked for volunteers to assist.

At last meeting of 2022 it was agreed we would have a curate who would live at St Martin’s vicarage. Date arranged for January to declutter church. Flooring to be replaced in vestry and tiles in sacristy, insurance claim. Fr Nick has reconnected with Coombe Pafford who are to hold Carol service as are St Marychurch Church of England School.

Angela Lee

Parochial Church Council Honorary Secretary

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Honorary Treasurers Report for 2022

I would like to start by expressing my thanks to all those who have helped to make my task possible.

Firstly, and above all, to Chris Hinchcliffe for all that she does. Without her sterling efforts, my task would have been impossible, and the Parish would have ceased to function. I wish also to express my thanks to those who count the collection each week and to Graham Ward for looking after the candle money and organ pipe donations. I wish also to thank Margaret Roper for her work as Planned Giving Administrator, although unresolved problems with HMRC’s on-line systems prevented the Tax Refund being processed.

I must also thank the Clergy, Fr. Roger, the Acting Priest-in-Charge at the start of the year, Fr. Nick from his Installation in July, and the Honorary Assistant Clergy for their help.

I wish to thank the Directors of St. Marychurch Trading (the Cornerstone shop) for their generous support of the work to maintain the fabric of the church.

Finally, I give my thanks to our Independent Examiner, Ian Barrett, for his work and the support he has given.

2022 was a year of slowly getting back to a ‘new normal’ following the COVID pandemic and the Interregnum. We are only just seeing the impact of having a resident incumbent, but so far, the signs are very positive, and congregations are beginning to increase again, with especially gratifying attendances at special services. This shows in the plate collections which have more than doubled this year.

However, the underlying loss remains serious. The face of the accounts seems superficially satisfactory as far as the Church account goes, but this is only after paying half of the Common Fund contribution from the capital proceeds of the sale of the Curates House in Barewell Road back to the Diocese.

Some regular givers have switched to the Parish Giving Scheme, but I would urge other planned givers to move across. It aids the administration as the Income Tax is recovered for us immediately. As I mentioned above, it has not yet been possible to submit a Gift Aid claim for last year.

I would like to thank those who helped make the Craft Fair in October such a successful day, raising almost £850.

I would like to thank the Diocese for their generous contribution to the expenses incurred by Fr Roger as the Acting Priest-in-Charge after he moved to the other side of the county.

The utility charges seem to have only risen modestly. This is somewhat misleading, although it does reflect the work put in by our Churchwarden to ensure that power is not wasted, while still ensuring the church is warm and comfortable. However, we have been overcharged in the past and this is now unwinding, so we must expect a significant increase in 2023. We are very grateful to the Church Commissioners for their heating grant which we received through the Diocese.

The Church Halls are a continuing drain on the Parish. Bookings have recovered and there was a modest fee increase so that letting income has more than doubled. I would like to thank Angela Lee for all her hard work administering the bookings. However, all the good work has been undone by the surge in utility costs. We must continue to address this, and there are difficult issues we must face, raising income while remaining an affordable space in a deprived area.

The Fabric Fund has been blessed by the continuing generous donations from the Cornerstone shop, and we are making progress with the work identified in the Quinquennial report. Work has been slower than we had hoped because of the general backlog of building work in the post COVID period.

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With the welcome return of Rob Atkin as Organist and Director of Music, we have been reminded of the poor state of the organ and there is work which will be required to restore it to full working order.

The Parish is now in better heart than it has been for some time, and we are starting to see some green shoots appear. However, we are still very far from being self- sufficient and are still living off capital, which is clearly unsustainable.

For the Parish to survive, we must grow, developing the tender green shoots that we see at present into strong growths, showing the joy of the Gospel in a vigorous and generous community.

But while this is happening, there is a responsibility on us. Despite the present inflationary pressures that we face, and despite the limited income growth that most of us are seeing, we must look carefully at our giving and see if we cannot offer a bit more cash to the Parish, as well as the contributions, seen and unseen, that we all make to our common life in Christ.

Peter Gaston

Parochial Church Council Honorary Treasurer

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PARISH OF ST MARYCHURCH ACCOUNTS FOR THEY YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2022 2021 GENERAL FUND CHURCH RECEIPTS PLANNED GIVING PARISH GIVING SCHEME PLATE DONATIC•4S GIFT AID TAX REFUND LEGACIES GI￿s FEES CRA￿ FAIR DICLESAN EXPENSES REFUND DICLESAN HEATING GRANT 10,159 14,662 8298 1 J79 12.523 12,013 3.757 888 3.994 292 429 4.014 315 2,535 3,681 4.140 TOTAL 47￿91 36,025 PAYMENTS GIVING DIOCESAN SHARE UTILITIES INSURANCE ADMIN UPKEEP OF SERvfcES ROUTINE MAINTENANCE TrANSFER TO ORGAN AND MUSIC FUND CLERGY EXPENSES REFRESHMENTS GI￿s FEES 698 13085 10,118 6947 1.743 1.168 2.145 1,475 4.782 341 10 17,817 9.207 6.743 2,199 224 2,072 415 100 3I36 TOTAL 47.139 38.778 SURPLUSI{DEFicrr) 753 (2,752) Puge 14

HALL RECEiprJ HIRE FEES FURLOUGH PAYMENTS D(￿AT1(￿l TOWARDS REPAIRS 9225 4,197 619 TOTAL 9225 5,026 PAYMENTS UTILMES CLEANER INSURANCE DEPOSITS REFUNDED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE 6258 2,637 1N33 320 2,074 2,230 2.413 1,391 TOTAL 12,722 6,843 SURPLUSI(DEFIC (3h97) (6.843) COM8I4ED SURPLUS (DEFicrr) (2,744) (4,569) BASIC GENERAL FUND BALANCE AT 1 ST JANUAR Y CHURCH SURPLUSI (DEFICIT) HALL DEFICIT UNPRESENTED CHEQUES WRtrtEN BACK 21P96 753 (3A97) 987 26,353 (2,752) (1,817) 212 BALANCE AT 31ST DECEMBER 20339 21,99S BAREWELL FUND BALANCE AT 1 ST JANUARY TRANSFER TO COMMON FUND ACC(XJNT SOUND SYSTEM 91￿92 152,050 (52.517) (7,641) 2,794 BALANCE AT 31ST DECEMBER 89,099 91,892 COMMON FUND ACCOUNT BALANCE AT 1 ST JANUAR Y FROM GENERAL ACCOUNT COMM(hN FUND PAYMENT 41,687 13,885 (27,770) 52,517 17,817 128.647) BALANCEAT31ST DECEMBER 27102 41,687 Puge 15

FABRIC FUND BALANCE AT 1 ST JANUARY 17M91 CORNERSTChNE DONATION 16,000 HOLY INNOCENTS CHAPEL REDEC(JIATI(X 110.679) STONEWORK 15,477 3,500 (1,086) BALANCE AT 31ST DECEMBER 23212 17.891 MUSIC AND C¥1&4N FUND BALANCE AT 1 ST JANUARY DONATICfftIS CfiGAN TUNING ORGAN REPAIRS PIANO TUNING MOVING PIANO AND ORGAN TRANSFER FORM GENERAL FUND BALANCE AT31ST DECEMBER 423 90 1936) {570) 395 107 {79) (482) 1h75 423 OVERSEAS MISSK*4 BALANCE AT 1 ST JANUARY DONATI(hN TO CHURCH IN GHANA 302 (302 BALANCEAT31STDECEMBER NIL CHILDREN'S SOCIETY BALANCE AT 1ST JANUARY BOXES DONATI(JN TO CHILDRENS SCLIETY BALANCE AT31ST DECEMBER 123 (123 NIL Puge 16

PARISH OF ST MARYCHURCH ACCOUNTS FOR THEY YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 202 STATEMENT OF FUNDS 2021 BASIC GENERAL FUND 20244 21,996 BAREWELL FUND 89.099 91,892 COMMON FUND ACCOUNT 27,802 41.687 FABRIC FUND 23212 17.891 OVERSEAS MISSION OR(MN AND MUSIC FUND 423 CHLDRENS, SOCIETY TOTAL FUNDS 160,357 173.890 REPRESENTED BY CURRENT ACCCXJNT UN8ANKED INCOME UNPRESENTED CHEQUES 164,652 610 (4.905) 174.535 384 (1.029) TOTAL FUNDS 160,357 173,890 Puge17

The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch, Torquay, TQ1 4PZ

Notes to the Financial Statement for Year ending 31[st] December 2022

1. Accounting Policies

Basis or Preparing the Financial Statements

The accounts are produced on a Receipts and Payments basis. As a small charity, it is not obliged to follow the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

Taxation

The Charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

2. Fund Accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accoradance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular purposes.

3. Trustees’ Remuneration and Benefits

The Trustees received no remuneration of other benefits for the year ended 31[st] December 2022.

There were no Trustees’ expenses paid for the year ended 31[st] December 2022.

4. Staff Costs

One cleaner/caretaker was employed during the year.

5. Debtors and Creditors

All Debtors and Creditors are due within one year.

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The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin,

St Marychurch, Torquay, TQ1 4PZ

Independent Examiner Report to the Trustees of The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary the Virgin, St Marychurch, Torquay

Charity Number: 1128269

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General Reports for 2022

Deanery Synod ‘Highlights’ for 2022

Christine and I are St Mary's Deanery Synod representatives. Each session commences with opening worship. Our role is to be prepared to contribute to the meeting, bringing views, experience and expertise from our parish to debate and discuss at Synod.

Thursday 9th June 2022

Prior to this meeting all parishes were asked to report on what was going well, what the challenges were that we would be facing in the coming months and what our next steps were. Our feedback was as follows:

Things to celebrate

• Yarn bombing the Lych gate. A serious amount of work is going into this and the rest of the precinct to celebrate the Jubilee.

• Street party with St Marychurch Church of England Primary and Nursery School for the Jubilee

• New incumbent starting in July and the planning of the service to welcome him.

• Joining forces with St Martin’s, Barton - joining of community events

Challenges

• Find a second churchwarden

• Encouraging more families and younger people to come to church

• Encouraging greater participation from all members of the congregation

Next Steps

• Need to develop fundraising activities to keep church viable- possibly a craft exhibition/ fayre in the hall in September/Christmas Tree Exhibition

• Continue to build stronger links with local schools

• Develop plans when Fr Nick Debney is in post

A Report from the Area (Rural) Dean was given and Lay Chair including a Report on Ukrainian Refugees in Torbay. There was an update from the Deanery Treasurer and an introduction to the Exeter Diocese Director of Finance, Neil Williams. We were advised that an appointment had just been made of a Net Carbon Zero Officer, Sophie Phillips whose role is to advise and support churches to work towards the Church of England's goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

Thursday 13th October 2022

Prior to this meeting parishes were asked how has your parish grown in prayer this season, how have you continued to make disciple makers and in what other areas are you serving the people of this deanery with joy? Our feedback was as follows:

How have St Marychurch grown in prayer?

• It has been a fallow season for us awaiting the arrival of Fr Nick where we have just continued to continue to

• be nourished by the sacraments and trust that there has been unseen growth underground which will become visible in the springtime of the new incumbency. (We have been well looked after by the retired clergy)

How have you continued to make disciple makers?

• The number of weddings, funerals and baptisms has continued to increase.

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In what other areas are you serving the people of this deanery with joy?

• We continue to support PATH, the community choir while it lasted, staffing Cornerstone, work with the

• school, opening the church and being there for the community grieving the loss of HMQ and the services in that period.

There was a discussion about the cost-of-living crisis and the need to introduce more warmer spaces and food banks across the bay. A 'Growing Good' course was suggested and a finance update was provided which discussed that by the end of August, 88% of the Common Fund payments due to the diocese had been paid.

Nicola Hall and Christine Hinchliffe

Deanery Synod Representatives

Forward in Faith and Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda Report for 2022

Forward in Faith is the organisation which funds the work of the Society of St Wilfrid and St Hilda, the Society. It is important that as a church affiliated to the society those members of our congregation are also; should they wish to be. They should also be encouraged to be members of Forward in Faith.

This year saw Fr Nick Debney serve his fifth year as Clerical Chair, Mrs Sue Way as Lay Chair and locally Fr Peter March as members of the council as the clerical representative for our Archdeaconry. There is currently a vacancy for a lay representative. Meetings were all held by zoom and we hope to resume face to face meetings in 2023.

Fr Nick Debney Clerical Chairman of Forward in Faith

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Structure, Governance and Management

This parish is a constituent member of the Torbay Deanery. The parish is within the Totnes Archdeaconry in the Diocese of Exeter of the Church of England. This parish receives episcopal oversight from the Bishop of Ebbsfleet and latterly from the new Bishop of Oswestry and has passed a resolution under the House of Bishops’ declaration on the ministry of Bishops and Priests.

This parish is affiliated with The Society under the Patronage of Saint Wilfrid and Saint Hilda and remains a member of Forward in Faith. Our services are of the Anglo-Catholic tradition with our worship is enhanced by the use of incense, candles, music, altar servers, and vestments.

This parish is registered with the Charity Commission – Charity Number 11282569.

The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The Parochial Church Council operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. Members that make up the Parochial Church Council are either elected, ex-officio or co-opted and are all trustees.

Locally the parish is governed by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) which reports its activities to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) of all laypersons who names are entered into the electoral roll of the parish and all those clerics licensed to the parish or who have the Diocesan Bishops Permission to Officiate. The APCM meets once a year and has a report on the work of the Parochial Church Council, reports from officers and leads on activities and an update on the fabric of church buildings and their use. At this meeting the elections of the Church Wardens and members of the Parochial Church Council are held.

Church Wardens are ex-officio members of the Parochial Church Council. Two Church Wardens are elected by the annual meeting of the parishioners (during the APCM). This consists of members of the parish by local government electoral roll by reason of them residing in the parish and by those on the parish electoral roll.

Licensed Clergy are Ex-officio members of the Parochial Church Council, the Priest in Charge is the Chair of the Parochial Church Council. Retired Clergy or Readers with the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate do not have places within the Parochial Church Council.

At the first Parochial Church Council meeting after the APCM the Officers of the PCC are elected (Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer). Co-opting of members can be undertaken at any Parochial Church Council meeting.

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The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin St Marychurch, Torquay, TQ1 4PZ

Sunday 8[th] May 2022 in the Church Hall after the Parish Mass

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING MINUTES

Chairmans Welcome

Jeremy Aspinall as Vice Chairman chaired the meeting, he opened the meeting with prayer. He thanked Christine Hinchliffe for all her hard work over the past year.

Minutes for Meeting held on 9th May 2021

Jeremy asked if minutes of last meeting were correct, Nicola Hall proposed they were accurate, and Neville Stanford seconded them. The minutes were recorded as a true record.

Election of Churchwarden/s

There were no further nominations for churchwarden, Christine Hinchliffe agreed to continue for a further year. All chorused their thanks, but Christine did say there was a great need for a second churchwarden. Wendy Piddlesden and Angela Lee agreed to continue to support Christine as Deputy Churchwardens, there were no objections. Jeremy reiterated we all had a responsibility to help and support Christine.

Jeremy closed the meeting with prayer.

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING MINUTES

Jeremy Aspinall Chaired the meeting as Vice Chair, he opened the meeting with prayer.

1. Apologies

There were no apologies received.

2. Minutes of last meeting held on 9th May 2021.

The minutes were confirmed as correct, Nicola Hall proposed, and Wendy Piddlesden seconded. Minutes recorded as a true record.

3. Introduction

Jeremy Aspinall publicly thanked Rev Roger Carlton for all his hard work over the last year and delaying his retirement. To Fr Tony Oswin, Fr Geoffrey Richardson and Fr Anthony Lane our retired clergy. He thanked Christine Hinchliffe for her hard work as Churchwarden, Wendy Piddlesden and Angela Lee for supporting her in various guises, Peter Gaston for being our Treasurer, all PCC members and Ian Barrett our Examiner. He thanked all who have kept our church going, flower ladies, catering team, Val Oswin and Jan Condict for cleaning, Neville Stanford for great music week after week, Cora for printing and every volunteer who reads or supports St Mary the Virgin in any way.

4. To receive Annual Report

Christine Hinchliffe had nothing to add to her report, Nicola Hall as Secretary and Deanery Synod had nothing to add, Peter Gaston as Treasurer reiterated thanks that the congregation continued to be generous during interregnum and covid. Margaret Roper advised its quicker to received gift aid if we all subscribe to Parish giving. Jeremy asked if we accepted financial statements Cora proposed and Angela seconded so recorded.

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5. Electoral Roll

Margaret Roper advised we have 58 on our electoral role at last count, we lost 1 member as deceased, and 3 new members.

6. Appointment of Independent examiner Peter Gaston confirmed current examiner Ian Barrett will be happy to continue. Any other business

Peter thanked Jeremy for Chairing the meeting. Jeremy confirmed Janet Morgan would be standing down as time served on PCC, and that Margaret Roper would stand for another year.

7. Meeting closed with the Grace.

Signed……………………………………..………… Date…………….……………….

Fr Nick Debney, Priest in Charge

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