## **St Paul’s Church, Penketh** ## **Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council** **For the year ended 31[st] December 2022 A member of the West Warrington Church Team** Annual Report 2023 ## **1. Reference and Administrative Information** The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Paul, Penketh is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Charity registration number: 1128300. St Paul’s Church is located on Warrington Road, Penketh, Warrington, WA5 2RX. The parish is part of the Diocese of Liverpool. Official correspondence should be sent to the Rev. Sarah Peppiatt at 89 Westbrook Crescent, Warrington, WA5 8TN For the period 1[st] January 2022 until the date of approval of this report, the following people served as members of the Parochial Church Council: Team Rector: Rev. Jeremy Tear Team Vicar: Rev. Sarah Peppiatt (Chair and oversight minister) Team Vicar: Rev Martin Thorpe Churchwardens: Margaret Bennett (to April 2022 and from April 2022) Elected members: Margaret Sanderson Marise Seville Lesley Ratcliffe Joanna Cottrell Karen Howard Derek Cook Bill Sanderson (Vice chair from April 2021) John Murray (Deanery Synod to and from Oct 2020) Rev. Jeremy Tear was appointed team Rector and Rev. Sarah Peppiatt was appointed team Vicar with responsibility for the oversight of St Paul’s, by the Bishop of Liverpool. They and the churchwardens are each ex-officio members of the PCC, along with Rev Martin Thorpe as the third team vicar and the Deanery Synod representatives. The Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance acted as Custodian Trustee for the inalienable property of the church. The Oaks is technically owned by the PCC but because PCCs are currently not allowed to hold property, ownership has been vested in the LDBF. ## Bankers – All accounts are now with Lloyds, Horsemarket Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 2LP from Jan. 2015. Independent Examiner – D Carty FCA, 234 Manchester Road Warrington, WA1 3BD Page 2 Annual Report 2023 Day to day management of the Church was delegated by the PCC to the Standing Committee: Rev. Sarah Peppiatt (from Oct. 2015), Margaret Bennett (from August 2016), Marise Seville (from APCM 2016), Elaine Briers from APCM 2021, William Sanderson (from APCM 2021) The Standing Committee can be contacted by telephone as shown in the Church directory, Sarah Peppiatt can be contacted by e-mail at revsarahpep@sky.com or telephone on 01925 569733. Page 3 Annual Report 2023 ## **2. Structure, Management and Governance** St Paul, Penketh, PCC is a body corporate and operates under the _Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956_ and the _Church Representation Rules 2020_ . The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All church members are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and welcomed to stand for election to the PCC. The PCC operates two sub-committees: the Standing Committee and the Operations Group and a working maintenance group to support the Operations Group. _Standing Committee:_ Rev. Sarah Peppiatt (from Oct. 2015), Margaret Bennett (from August 2016), Marise Seville (from APCM 2016), Elaine Briers from APCM 2021, William Sanderson (from APCM 2021) _Operations Management Group:_ The Vicar, Centre Manager (Karen Howard), Julie Harrop, John Nolan (to Sept 2022) Bill Sanderson, Margaret Bennett and Marise Seville. Individual PCC members receive external training as and when deemed appropriate by the PCC. The Old School Café at the Oaks Centre has a 5-star Food Hygiene Rating from Warrington Borough Council, and 5-star rating for the nursery meals provision. All catering volunteers undertake level 2 food hygiene training. ## _**Risk Assessments**_ The PCC undertook a programme of risk assessments to identify their major risks. Procedures were then put in place to manage those risks and minimise their impact on the life of the church. In the Oaks Community Centre, risk assessments were carried out on the kitchen, café, main hall and shop; and also on the external footpaths and car park. Additional risk assessments for individual rooms were completed during 2016. A fire risk assessment was also carried out. ## ● _Financial Risk_ An annual budget is prepared to ensure short term viability. Actual results compared with budget are reported to the PCC every month. The charity has two main sources of income; namely the giving by members to the Church and commercial trading in the Oaks Centre and from hire of the church building. The PCC review their investments regularly. Investments are only made in approved low risk funds. Page 4 Annual Report 2023 All assets are insured. A major review was carried out at the end of 2012 to ensure cover at an appropriate level. The PCC has approved internal and external controls for annual accounts. ## ● _Compliance with Law and Regulation_ Health and safety reviews have been undertaken during the year. The PCC was appraised of the risks and the necessary compliance requirements and adjustments made. ## Safeguarding The PCC has adopted the national safeguarding guidelines laid down by the House of Bishops. Our safeguarding policy is reviewed each year at the first PCC after the APCM. ## Safeguarding at St Paul's Over recent years our Diocese has become increasingly aware of Safeguarding what is a concern and what could be with this in mind how we can keep ourselves and each other safe. Online training and also 3yearly DBS and Safer Recruitment documentation assist with this. However a listening ear not only allows concerns/worries to be taken seriously but if further advice from the vicar or the Safeguarding team at the diocese is needed it can be accessed Margaret Sanderson(meg) ## **3. Objectives and Activities** The general functions of the PCC are stated within section 2 of the _Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956._ At St Paul’s over the years we have had a variety of mission statements, with the most recent being- **The heart of God at the heart of the community.** When planning our activities for the year, the PCC gave consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance to charities concerned with the advancement of religion. Our objectives for 2022 were to provide the following public benefits: Open to God. - Regular public worship open to all. Both the Church and the Oaks are totally access friendly. - The provision of sacred space for personal prayer and contemplation and praying for those who ask for assistance. Page 5 Annual Report 2023 - Lifetime, running on a weekly basis on Thursday mornings, providing alternatives to more formal worship. - Sunday Lunch, a new family focused congregation meeting monthly on Sunday lunchtimes, intended especially to reach school age families and working parents for whom Thursday mornings would be unsuitable, but open to all Open to the community. - One community centre, the Oaks, offering food and friendship and much else to any who choose to come - Pastoral work, including a bereavement support group hosted in the church and a much valued support group for those with dementia and their carers. - Taking of religious assemblies in local Primary Schools, through the medium of Open the Book. - Youth activities for various age groups. - Supporting other charities in the UK and overseas with gifts from our regular income, plus special collections. Also, practical support for the night shelter and Food Bank in Warrington. - Support offered to the new and Hong Kong community around us, including an informal language class, trips out to build social links, craft groups and a Hong Kong Bible study. Much of this is run through the extended Lifetime team. Open to each other. - Teaching of Christianity. - Home Groups. - Lent Groups. - Alpha course for those interested in knowing more about the Christian faith. - Bible Studies. - Working with 8 West Warrington Churches. We are currently working as a team with the three neighbouring Anglican churches. ## _5 year Vision_ The plan originally was to form a vision statement in June 2022. The PCC initially identified three key areas for our vision: our collaboration with St Mary’s and YFC to employ a youthworker, deepening the work of Lifetime Page 6 Annual Report 2023 and Sunday Lunch, and building closer links with the pastoral work run through the Forget Me Not Café and bereavement group. These were to be linked to some numerical targets for growth. However by July, when the PCC came to finalise this vision, God had already been moving ahead of us. Lifetime had started attracting significant numbers of Hong Kong Chinese and a door of opportunity for pastoral and evangelistic work seemed to be opening. We agreed to defer until September and to pray for further insight. By September it had also become plain that the cost of living crisis was only going to get worse and we began to wonder if God was calling us to some ministry of justice and social support. Finally the youthworker project came under question when we failed to attract any applications for the post. With all that in mind, we decided that rather than set a vision, we would call the church to a year of prayer and discernment, beginning in October 2022 and seek God’s wisdom so that a vision could be set beyond. ## _2022 summary_ After all the disruption of the previous two years, 2022 felt like the first ‘normal’ year in a long time. Our congregation numbers have now begun to approach pre Covid levels again, and most people have now returned to regular worship, with many new faces too among us. Almost all our activities have re-started now, including the community choir Singing for Pleasure who joined us for the carol service for the first time in two years. Lifetime has continued to grow from strength to strength. The new Hong Kong people have been a great blessing with their willingness to help out and we’ve also seen more older people join us which was always part of our vision. Two families have come for baptism from Lifetime, which was a great joy to see. Sunday Lunch launched in 2022 and has thrived during 2022 and is now an important part of our families’ outreach. Alongside that the All Together service on the first Sundays experimented with a new format round tables that has worked well and seen growth there too. Our community outreach also remains strong. We haven’t yet managed to get the Oaks Café back open five days a week, but the menu has largely recovered to pre Covid levels and numbers coming through our doors rose steadily through the year. We began a winter warmers project in the autumn, and this saw little take up, but we did see much higher numbers attend the various clubs and groups running here. The Forget Me Not Café has grown and grown, to the point that by the end of the year we needed conversations about moving it over to church to give it more space. The bereavement group is well embedded now and drawing in people from across the area and not just those who’ve gone to Forget Me nots either. All in all it’s been an encouraging year with many things to praise God for. Page 7 Annual Report 2023 ## Charitable giving policy Charitable giving continues to be an important part of St Paul’s financial plans. As budgets have become tighter, we now review the amount given from year to year rather than setting a fixed percentage. The charity review, which was introduced at the beginning of 2018, has meant that we now give to 10 charities who each have a representative in our congregation. The external charities supported in 2021 were Bible Society, Christian Aid, Light for children, Child bereavement charity, Sounds of life, Global Care , Barnabas Fund, Local Penketh Scout groups, Penketh Primary School PFA and Cinnamon Trust Cinnamon Trust On top of this we agreed that our last act to finish the building project would be to give away 5% of the total cost of the project to other charities so they might be blessed as we’ve been. That amounted to £45’000. We held a gift day on the third anniversary of the church opening and asked congregation people to give. That raised £13’000 and the PCC immediately committed another £17’000 from our cash reserves, allowing us to give away £30’000. Half of that was given to a school building project in Kenya being overseen by David Brown who oversaw our project, and half was given to Global Care for similar capital projects oversees. We agreed that the remaining £15’000 would be given in three tranches to Scargill House over the next three years, taken out of our income each year, again directed to their major re-building project. ## **4. Achievements and performance** ## _**Electoral roll**_ There are now 96 people on the electoral roll. ## _**Worship**_ Average attendance has continued to increase during 2022 from the lows of the pandemic and now averages around 55 on a usual Sunday. Children’s numbers varied quite a bit, but by the end of 2022 we were beginning to see much more stable numbers and often more than 10 children present. ## _**Finance, Giving and Fundraising**_ We have 29 people giving via the PGS, 5 giving via the Diocesan Gift Aid Scheme, 4 giving via standing order/ regular cheque non gift aid. The envelope scheme has been wound up. The money given to the General Fund is banked with Lloyds in a business account giving no interest. Page 8 Annual Report 2023 The money given to the Building for the Future Fund, which is a restricted fund, was transferred to the Newbuild Fund in June 2018 because of large outgoings in the construction of the Church. The people giving to this fund transferred their giving to the Newbuild Fund. The Building for the Future Fund was resurrected as the Life-Time account when we received a grant from the Diocese to start a new initiative group involving pre-school children and elderly adults working together to introduce young children to the Church. A second grant for this project has been received. The Newbuild Fund is a designated fund and can be tithed. This money is also banked with Lloyds in a business account, which draws no interest. This fund is for gifts towards the design and construction of the new church building which we began drawing down for this purpose during 2017. The PCC agreed in 2022 that once the final internal loans were repaid that the Newbuild fund should be closed by the end of the financial year. The money raised by running the Oaks is banked in the Oaks Centre Fund with Lloyds in a business account gaining no interest. The Church also has an investment held by the Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance of 42.13 shares. The share value increased in 2022 giving a year end value of £995 with dividends issued during the year. ## **5** . **Financial review** The main sources of income are through donations to the Church and trading in the Oaks Community Centre, including hire of the church building and the minibus. The operations budget showed a very strong performance this year with a significant surplus, although part of that was due to business grants from the government related to Covid. Nevertheless that gives us a healthy surplus for 2023. Mission funds ran a surplus too, despite generous giving to capital projects, as above. Our final loan payment was paid off in January 2022 and our internal loans were all returned by the end of the year, with the exception of those which were generously converted to gifts by the donors. ## **Reserves Policy** We designate a certain proportion of our free cash as reserves, to be kept back for emergencies. Ideally this should amount to three months running costs, for both bank accounts. The reserves at the end of 2022 were as follows: Unrestricted funds £ 19’684 Restricted funds £ 6628 (grant for Lifetime project) Lifetime - £6,629.12 Page 9 Annual Report 2023 General - £51,459.41 Oaks - £23,176.87 ## **6. Plans for the future** The emphases for 2023 are as follows: - Identifying our vision for the next five years - Investing in and developing the Lifetime project - Developing the Sunday Lunch daughter congregation Signed on behalf of the Trustees: Rev Sarah Peppiatt Chair Dated: Page 10 Paro¢hlal Churth Council of 5t Paul, Penketh Statement of Financial Artlvltles for the year ended 31 December 2022 TotJl Funds Total Fyn 10 111.886 52,110 26 111.886 52,110 26 59562 98.199 62.464 Income from thJrTiable and andllary tra I￿oMe frLwn Investmefits Other Incomfj￿ rewurces 54.2 5.302 54,553 io 5JO2 223J 215341 Aegwrt•s •xp•nd•d ActMtSes dlrertty rel*ed to churth work Charftable Activilies Cost of Gener¥tinll Funds 130J74 19.522 55.121 3.191 133,572 19.522 55.121 123,602 3.626 50.852 T¢>tsl reSoUrt￿ •xp•nd•d 20Sm7 191 178.th) 13.265 IL4711 2,104 15369 11.4711 37.161 11,8211 Depre¢lat6on Transfer between fur 15340 Galnsll1055es1 ¢)n Investments Prlof Year Adjustment 150 3S.322 •1 l janu￿ 2021 437336 Page 11 Ar￿Ual Report 2023 Par￿hla1 Church Coundl of St Paul. Penketh Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2022 2. Empl*)yee costs 2021 3. FIX￿ •ss•ts for use by the Freehold land & Fkntwe5 & Iwildinls T(tsl 20ZI Tanllble ftxed Grou book v¥1 At January 12022 AdditionslDisposals At 31 Oecember 2022 353.540 Is.c 37S,540 375.540 375 Al January 12022 Oisposa15 Chir8e for year At 31 D￿rnbel 2022 9.043 15.733 11.912 578 5268 1,471 15.204 1.821 13.733 9.937 Net Boo* Valu• At 31 D•(*mber 2021 At 31 D•c•mb•r 1012 353.540 5957 io 1.733 361W)7 360J36 In¥estm•nts 20 2021 42.lJ sharns In Central Board ol Hn•n¢• of the Clwrch ol ln¥•stft￿ F￿￿ iaF 141351 995 845 We no lorqer hawè any term wNe5tn*nts Tfvlth Tcthl 361.331 85.624 12.1991 444.756 361.331 92.252 17,1991 451.384 Current Assets Liabilf(*S nd Bal•n¢• 6.628 6.628 6. Surpkn Is ststed ts th•ryl 2021 Audit Fee Depreciation 1,471 471 1.821 Page 12 Ar￿Ual Report 2023 Parochlal Church Councll of St Paul. Penketh Notes to the financlal statements For the year ended 31 December 2022 2022 2021 Tax rebate on dorths Loans Re￿[￿•ble 4,165 8. Creditors: amounts fallins due T*Athln one y•ar 2022 2021 PAYE and NIC due Creditors for goods and semces Mlsslonary & charitsble ￿Ving Loans payable within 12 months 199 214 7.281 199 9. Llabllllles pay•ble after ¢)ne y•*r 10. Fund detslls 2022 2021 Unrestrfri•d Funds Gehefal 35.010 360,661 2,673 46,412 24.645 368.575 1,184 38,408 432 - Mlni . N￿￿Id fetime Fund 6.628 Page 13 Ar￿Ual Report 2023 Parochlal Churth Councll of St Paul. Penketh Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2022 Fund movement by type Note 11 B'Fwd Incofflir¥ Outyol PIY Galrfs & CF*yl G•ner•l Fund Unrestrirted 23.81x1 113.248 1103.0331 34.015 CBFiaF 1413S Restricted 995 Ntw Bulldlni Fw Designated 22,494 114.49)) 46.412 Mlnl Bus Fw Oesignated 1.184 11.916) 2.673 Oaks Fund De518na 368.$75 79.135 187,0491 360.661 4.524 13.198) 6.628 Restrirted 437336 223.584 {209.6861 451,384 Page 14 Ar￿Ual Report 2023 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT (SORP 2015) TO THE PCC OF ST. PAUL PENKEfH I report to the Parochial Church Council IPCCI of SL Paul. Penketh on tr* accounts for the year ended 31° De¢ember 2022. a5 Set out on pages I to 19 of ￿ur Annual Rew)r¢ whkh comprtse of the Balance Sheet, Statement of Financial Artf4￿. and the related notes. Respecll¥e respomlblllts of Tnth •nd Exanlner The PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. Tlw consider that an audfjt Is not requlred for this year ertder the section 144 of the Charities Art 2011 (the Charities Actl and that an independent examinatk)n Ls needed. It is my responsibilrty to.. examine t￿ accounts under section 145 of the Charities ACL 2. to folbw the procedures laid down in thè GÈnefal OiretllM$8l¥en ￿ the Charlty Commlsslon (under sertK>n 14SISllbl of rhe Chorities Act. 3. to state whether particular matters have come to ffly attentlon. B•515 Ot inthp*ndert ￿•￿in￿￿$ My examination was carried oth in accordatKe t•Ath the 8enerdl dIrett￿n$ 8iven by the Charity Commlssion. An examinauon Indvdes a r￿l•W of the accounting records kèpt by the PCC and comparison of the accounts presented with those records. rt alw indudes ￿n$￿￿elatIon of anv unusual items or disclosures in the account5, aThJ seeking explanat￿n5 from the PCC mncerninB any s￿h matters. The pr¢xedures undertaken th• ￿t pffjwde all the ewdence that wouKI tx required in n audit, and con5equentfy opinion is given as to whether the aicounts present a ar)d fal view al￿ the report is Ibmited to tknse matters Set out in the statement bek)w. Independert Ex•mlne¢s ststement In connertion with my exarninatitin. no material matters have come to my attent￿n which me cause to belle¥e that In any material resb*rt: counting rKords ¥￿Te not kept in accorda￿e t*lth secvon 130 olthe Charlt*s kt or a¢counts do not acctyd wr¢h the accountir6 records I have come across no othèr matters in connertK)n with the examinat%in to which attention should be drawn in order to enabte a proper urk*rstanding of the accounts to be reached. CARTY & CO ACCOUNTANTS LTD 234 Manchester Road Warrington WAI 38D Dated: 13m3n023 Page 15 Ar￿Ual Report 2023 Page 16 Ar￿Ual Report 2023 Par¢xhlal Church Council of St Paul. Penketh Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2022 Flxed Asset Tangible Investments 360.336 995 Y61,331 361,807 562,652 Current Assets Debtofs Cash at Bank and Harnl 3,885 88,367 92252 4.165 79,914 84.079 wlthlfi oneTr*•r Its9 8395 90053 75.684 Totsl AssetslU• Ll•bllltles: 451.3 438336 451.384 437336 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Totsl fund5 444.756 6,628 451J84 432.812 4,524 437.336 io Page 17