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2020-12-31-accounts

Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill

Registered Charity No. 1129139

ANNUAL REPORT and

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS of the

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

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for the year ended 31 December 2020
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St Michael's Vision Statement:

As a Christian community we seek to engage with the world around us and to be a place of welcome and acceptance for all on a journey to God — believers, doubters and those who ave seeking.

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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Index
Legal and administrative information for the year ended 31 December 2020 ...........ccccccccccccsssssssssteeeeseeessees 2
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020...........cccccscccccccessessnsssececeeeceesessaeseeeeeesseesssseaeeeeeeseessessee D
Independent Examiner’s Report to the MEMbESS ........c.ccccccccccssssssscececececessssssseseceecesssessssssesessesesssssstssssseesees 2O
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2020 ...........cccccccccccsessessstteeseeseessssssteeeee 21
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2020 ...........eeeeccccesssneececeenececesseeecseseecececseaeeecseaeeecesseesecessesseesssssasessessstee 22
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 0.0..........cceesesscsececeeeseesssttteeeeeeeeeees 23
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Legal and administrative information
for the year ended 31 December 2020
Name of the charity
The full name of the charity is The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Michael and
All Angels, Amersham. The charity is registered with the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales and
its registration number is 1129139.
Objects
The objects of the charity are as set out in the governing document issued by the Church of England. The
PCC has adopted the objects clause of that governing document, the wording of which is given below.
Promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church.
In adopting and applying these objects, the trustees have regard to the guidance ofthe Charity
Commission on Public Benefit.
Incumbent Bank Independent Examiner
Revd Debbie Oades TSB Bank plc Mark Blackwell (ACMA)
St Michael’s Church PO Box 373 MHR Consultancy Ltd
70 Sycamore Road Leeds Minster House
Amersham 126a High St
HSBC Whitton
Sycamore Road Twickenham
Amersham Middlesex TW2 7LL
Principal office
The principal office of the charity is 70 Sycamore Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire HP6 5DR.
Average Church Attendance
The figures are calculated on average attendance during October 2020.
Weekly attendance 24 adults, no children
Messy Church No services held
(The above figures are significantly lower due to the restrictions placed on us in making the services Covid-
safe, which reduced the capacity of the church.)
Church at Home (audio service online) Approximately 60
Electoral Roll Data
As at 31 December 2020 the total number on the Electoral Roll was 106.
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Legal and administrative information
for the year ended 31 December 2020
contribute to delivery of the MAP. Planning for ways of marking the centenary of the establishment of St.
Michael's Church (the first service being held in December 1920) was part of the agenda for each meeting.
Regular updates from the Treasurer on financial issues, and reports from the Buildings Committee on
matters relating to fabric and hire of the church and hall also featured on the agenda of each meeting.
Other standard items requiring annual attention, such as confirmation of appointments to various roles
and review of policies were dealt with during the course of the year.
A standing committee of trustees has power to transact business of the PCC between its meetings, subject
to any instructions given by the PCC.
The members of the standing committee who served during 2020 were:
Revd Debbie Oades — Vicar
Roland Gillott
Rachel Hill (elected 11 Oct 2020)
Roger Leslie
David Rafferty (resigned 11° Oct 2020)
Rachel Wilcox
The PCC is also the Managing Trustee of the St Michael Charity. The Custodian Trustee is Diocesan
Trustees (Oxford) Ltd. The property of the Charity consists of St Michael’s Square fronting on to Sycamore
Road together with the buildings thereon, namely, the Church, the Church Hall and the Vicarage. The
Charity also has investments, the income from which may only be applied to the upkeep and repair of the
property owned by the Charity.
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
Week, organised by a group of Amersham artists and craftspeople, with displays from three painters
drawing a good — socially distanced — attendance in October.
The ‘Cards for Good Causes’ pop-up shop opened in November, only to have to close almost immediately,
but extended its dates in December and provided a chance to buy Christmas cards supporting a wide
variety of charities. Sadly, neither the Amersham Community Carol Service and part of Amersham Action
Group’s Amersham Christmas Festival could take place, but we worked with Amersham Free Church and St
John’s Methodist Church, our COTHA partners, to make an online service of Nine Lessons and Carols,
which was widely enjoyed and broadcast on the popup ‘Radio Christmas’ station.
We did still manage to hold our Christmas Tree Festival, with community groups among those sponsoring
trees, though again this was only open for a limited time. The sum of £625 (paid over in 2021) was raised
for Wycombe Homeless Connection — an excellent result under the circumstances. Following our
Christmas services, the crib was placed at the glass doors of St Michael’s to be visible to passers-by.
Worship and Liturgy
New service booklets
One new booklet, for Transfiguration, was produced in 2020, for use both on the Sunday next before Lent
and on the Feast of the Transfiguration in August. The pattern of these services books has settled well.
Regular services
Our pattern of two Sunday services — a spoken 8am Eucharist and the main 10am sung service — and a
Tuesday morning said Eucharist was only possible until the Covid lockdown began in March 2020. Easter
2020 fell during the first lockdown, so no services were available. The Diocese provided links for streamed
services, which were welcomed, but specific St Michael’s services re-started in May with an audio service
of the word provided via Soundcloud. The readers and intercessors provided their contributions to add to
the service material recorded by the clergy, members of the choir provided hymns, and each week’s
sermon was both recorded and circulated electronically. The text of the service, including the hymns, was
added each week to our website for the congregation to follow. With the exception of Sunday 27%
December, when we all took a well-earned holiday, this audio service has been provided for each Sunday
of the year, and listened to by an average of 76 people. We have continued these even when live services
restarted in July, as restrictions on capacity in church meant that we could not welcome the whole
congregation back at one time, and we anticipate that the total listeners — from 19 separate countries —
will pass 4,000 by Easter 2021.
The live services, beginning with a service of the word and later incorporating communion, were a
welcome chance to be back in our building and meeting together, albeit in a socially distanced fashion.
Much thought went into making these events as safe as possible, and also linking to the audio services: the
readings and intercessions recorded for the audio services were played in church, so the virtual and
physical congregations heard the same things. The second suspension of services in November was a
disappointment, but less of a practical challenge as the system was by that stage running well, and we
could at least look forward to being back in person for Christmas.
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020

Since then, with the emergence of new variants of Covid, live services have again been suspended, this time by a decision of the Vicar and Wardens. The situation is under review as things develop, with the hope of at least one live Easter service in 2021.

The graph below headed ‘Attendance’ shows the impact of the reduced capacity of the church, rather than reflecting a dramatic fall in the congregation, though the second graphic does show that a small number of people have left the congregation.

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Attendance Age profile, joiners and leavers
120 180
160
100
140
100
60
80
40 60
20
0 0 — =
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
—— Usual Sunday October average mu 0-17 mum 18-69 70+ Joiners —@®=—Leavers
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Baptisms, weddings and funerals The suspension of baptisms came early in the year, and so we had no such services in church. We look forward to being able to share this part of the Christian journey with families when it is once again permitted.

It is a privilege to support and be with families at a time of loss and grief, and so the limitations on the way services could be conducted were a great sadness. This year we walked alongside 11 families as we conducted funerals for their loved ones both in services at St Michael’s and at the Crematorium.

Easter, Harvest, Remembrance

As a church with a strong sacramental tradition, Holy Week and Easter have a very special place in the St Michael’s calendar, and so it was a great loss that this fell during the first lockdown, with no services possible, and before we had been able to put other arrangements in place. Easter 2021 will again be very different to our normal practice, but online audio services are being prepared which we hope will in some way fill the gap.

We took the hard decision that, given the financial position (of which more later), we could not make an appeal for funds for a chosen charity at Harvest. However, our customary Lent Appeal for St Anne’s Hospital, Liuli, raised £3,520 — a truly magnificent sum.

Remembrance Sunday fell during the second lockdown, and restrictions on gathering prevented us even from holding an act of remembrance in St Michael Square.

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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
Christmas
In an extraordinary year, extraordinary efforts went into making our Christmas celebrations as rich as
possible under the circumstances. Our biggest attendance of any year would normally be the Crib service —
impossible in 2020. But a superb video production, featuring members of the +/NSP/RE+ group and edited
by Rae Gillott, was put together and watched online at least 140 times.
A similar cooperative effort, between the COTHA churches, produced an audio service of Nine Lessons and
Carols. Clergy and readers from all three churches recorded their contributions, and the joint choirs
provided the music, with additional help from singers in Beaconsfield and further afield. Amersham Band
graciously allowed us to use music from their Christmas CD, and the result was listened to by 130 people.
A Zoom video call to listen to this as a community was attended by over 50 people.
With services permitted from the second Sunday in Advent, we were able to hold two Christmas services:
a First Mass of Christmas at 8pm on Christmas Eve (earlier than usual, to allow for cleaning the church) and
the usual 10am service on Christmas Day. Both had live organ music, and some singing from the choir, to
lift the spirits.
Choir music, servers, welcomers
Not surprisingly a global pandemic of a respiratory virus was not going to be good news for an activity such
as group singing! Thanks largely to the ingenuity of Rachel and Stephen Wilcox we have not been entirely
silent.
Audio church services at St Michael’s got going just after Easter during the first lockdown and the Wilcoxes
embarked on a mission to include music every week using organ voluntaries on the home organ & Rachel
singing a few familiar hymns recorded on the laptop and the tracks added into the audio service sent out
every week to listeners at home. Over the course of the summer this was expanded by sending out
backing tracks so that choir members could record their contributions on phones or iPads and email them
back so they could be added into the audio service. This provided a more congregational feel to some of
the hymns & the chance to do an anthem. As the Covid measures eased a little we were able to meet in
small groups of 6, socially distanced in the church after the morning service and to rehearse and record
items for the weekly services and any upcoming events. For 3 glorious months the church rang to the
sound of music again and we revelled in being able to raise our voices once more. We managed to record
hymns, anthems and many carols for an on-line COTHA 9 Lessons & Carols Service brilliantly
masterminded by Rachel and Stephen. This was a real highlight in an extremely hard and difficult year
involving a huge amount of work not only in terms of overseeing the recording process but many hours
editing and merging multiple tracks into one track for use in the Lessons & Carols and for other services
over Christmas. These audio services have not only been a lifeline for members of own congregation
because we know people in the wider community who would not normally come to church are listening in
thus enabling us even in the most trying of times to fulfil our outreach mission.
We are now in lockdown again and once more relying on recording separately in our homes where this is
at all possible. It has been difficult for all of us to join in with this due to either difficulties with the techie
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
stuff or simply just having enough time and quiet enough homes eg. those with children and babies. We
are hugely indebted to Rachel and Stephen for keeping the music going and we all look forward to happier
times to come when we can make music together once again.
For a church which tries to appeal to all our senses, it has been a thin time. We have been unable for most
of the year to enjoy the liturgical colours, with vestments not being used (for hygiene reasons) and no
flowers. The votive candle stand has also had to be removed, but a candle always burns in church to
symbolise all our prayers. While the church is closed, this is placed at the door to be visible to anyone
passing.
We also thank the team of welcomers and sidespeople, who may be our first point of contact with new
visitors. This year, those volunteers had additional duties: ensuring contact details were recorded for the
test and trace system, and helping the congregation to comply with social distancing guidance for the
services, including the administration of communion — and all the while continuing to be a friendly face,
even behind a mask.
Messy Church
Messy Church continues to be a great link with the wider community and is in itself forming its own
community within St Michaels. Over the last year we have not been able to meet due to the Covid
restrictions but we have maintained contact with the families via online cards and activities concluding
with a great response to the Christmas Envelope Decoration Packs sent out. The great response meant the
Messy Church Christmas Tree for the Festival was totally covered with the children’s decorations. Thanks
go to Cathy Franklin who has during lockdown continued to lead on Messy Church Activities.
+INSPIRE+
We are delighted to say that 2020 saw the continuation of +INSPIRE+, our Youth Discipleship Group. As per
Covid restrictions once again meetings had to cease but contact maintained via phone and online
communications. We are also delighted to say that many of the children and their parents got involved
with our Online Filmed Crib Service both in front and behind Camera. Many thanks go to all those involved
in a fun filled Covid secure day!
Working with the local community
COTHA
COTHA (Churches on the Hill Amersham) is the group of three churches (Amersham Free Church, St John’s
Methodist Church and St Michael’s) which have signed a Covenant together. During the year there were
two COTHA Combined Services, but only one which happened ‘live’, in January at St Michael’s. The July
service was a combined online service, with contributors from all three churches providing recorded items.
The Ministers’ Fraternal has continued to meet during the year, albeit online, an opportunity for the
Ministers to plan the Combined Services and to have an informal discussion. Each church now takes it in
turn to be the Lead Church for COTHA for a year. During 2019/20 St Michael’s was the Lead Church, with
Amersham Free Church taking on this role for 2020/21.
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
Christmas Tree Festival
Knowing that many community events would be curtailed, St Michaels felt it was important to maintain
the momentum of the Christmas Tree Festivals from 2018 and 2019. We had 13 very enthusiastic and
creative local community groups sponsoring and decorating trees, giving them an opportunity to shine a
light on their own activities. The ever-popular ‘Angel Tree' was decorated by visitors choosing a bauble to
hang up and making a donation in support of the chosen charity, Wycombe Homeless Connection. The
start of the festival was delayed by the second lockdown, and we were unable to open after Christmas, but
the total raised, £625 (with an additional £50 donation made direct to the charity) was good under the
circumstances.
Local Schools
Contact with our local schools: these include Woodside Junior, Heatherton House, and Dr Challoners
Grammar School, has of course been affected by the pandemic, though Revd Debbie has kept in touch
with all the schools. During the year the link with Woodside School was further strengthened when Dr Rob
Oades was elected a Governor as a representative of St Michaels. No school services in church have been
possible, but Heatherton House still took part in the Christmas Tree Festival. We look forward to
welcoming the schools back, and restarting assemblies, when it becomes possible.
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synod provides us with a valuable opportunity to learn from, and share with, other local Anglican
churches.
The first meeting of the year was scheduled to be held at St George’s Church in Little Chalfont with
presentations by Matt Fulford an energy adviser on practical solutions to make churches sustainable in a
net zero carbon world and by Stephanie Summerell of Amersham Deanery, on how churches can meet the
challenges of the environmental crisis and better steward God’s world. The meeting was unfortunately
cancelled because of the impending lockdown. The remaining meetings of the year were held on Zoom.
At the June meeting the main topic was a presentation by Rev’d Martin Williams on ‘Church Next —
Emerging from lockdown’. What is church going to look like in the coming months and years? People have
been happily going to church on Sunday’s and some weekdays, but with the lockdown the church
congregation has been scattered. Many parishes have been able to provide online Sunday services, and
some have found that they had grown their congregations, by as much as 50%, as people had joined
digitally, who would not normally attend a Sunday service. When we emerge from lockdown, how do we
keep connected with these people? Will the older members of the church be happy to return? The
Deanery Synod broke into rooms to discuss what key lessons have been learned, and what processes can
be used to go forward.
The third meeting of the year in September included a video presentation by Mrs Nicola Flower, head
teacher of Gerrards Cross School, on the challenges of being head of a Church of England Primary School
as children return for the first time since lockdown in March. Nick Cuthbert a Lay Canon and the founder of
Lead Academy gave a video presentation ‘Before You Go Back’. This looked at churches and why we do
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
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what we do. Churches are scattered during lockdown and this should be seen as an opportunity to consider doing church differently in the future. The final meeting of the year included a discussion on Living well through the next 6 months, using material that Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford had recently released as part of two webinars on the themes of ‘Rebuilding ministry with children’ and ‘Working with adults coming to faith’.

Hospitality

Hospitality, like so many activities, had to be put on hold in March 2020, and we do not know when we may be able to restart even our Sunday coffee and biscuits. While there have been some virtual gettogethers on Zoom on Sunday mornings, these simply are not the same. We could not hold our Patronal lunch, nor provide mince pies, and the Wheeler Coffee Pot also had to shut its doors.

One joy, before the first lockdown, was sharing a cake in celebration of Betty Adam’s 100* birthday — particularly lovely as it coincided (roughly) with the church’s own centenary celebration.

Chiltern Community & Policing Forum

Revd Debbie continues to attend these meetings — virtually, of course — which help the Council and Police to decide their priority foci for the local areas in relation to crime and public concerns. St Michaels is the Amersham community collection point for written suggestions to these meetings. (Remember this is not for reporting crimes). The dates of these meetings are posted on ~~www.chilterncommunityforum.org.~~ The suggestion box is situated in the Narthex and is another way of maintaining St Michaels at the heart of the community.

Chiltern Foodbank

With services suspended and issues over infection control, collections at the church have not been possible. However, as noted further on in this report, the congregation continued to support those in need through the link between the Traidcraft representative and Chiltern Foodbank.

Food bags

We continue to see a rise in the number of people in extreme need who come to us for help. Some bags were provided before lockdown, and when it was clear we could not continue the service ourselves, the supplies were donated to Wycombe Homeless Connection so that they could still reach those in need. The wider world

Missionary giving For many years, St Michael’s has allocated 15% of its regular income to a selection of domestic and overseas charities which are recommended by the Mission Giving committee to the PCC for approval. With our finances badly affected, through loss of letting income from the buildings, the PCC took the very hard decision that we could not continue this for 2020, and that it would need to be carefully reviewed thereafter.

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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
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A smaller sum of £1,248 was approved (compared to £12,284 given in 2019). As in the past, this was divided between several charities: the committee felt that dividing this between three recipients was more beneficial than supporting more charities with smaller sums.

Mission giving 2020 £ Embrace the Middle East £416 WorkAid £416 Hospice of St Francis £416 Total overseas mission £1,248

These amounts are in addition to the Lent and Christmas Tree appeals, which are mentioned elsewhere in this report.

It is of course a great sadness to us to have to suspend the more generous Mission Giving of our recent past. The PCC are grateful to the Mission Giving committee members — present and past — for their work in this area, and would like to celebrate the fact that, in the 22 years up to 2019, the church gave over £300,000 to other charities.

Traidcraft Stall From January to March we were able to hold stalls in church as usual. When the first lockdown began in March, Traidcraft goods were still available to order through our local representative, Margaret Dykes. She could even deliver toilet rolls directly to our homes!

Following the closure of churches (and other collection points) at the start of the pandemic, donations to the Chiltern Food Bank in Chesham decreased just as demand was rising rapidly. Margaret and her husband Bill invited us to sponsor food boxes and have been supplying Traidcraft goods to the food bank weekly for many months. In the autumn we were invited to sponsor Advent calendars and by December 165 calendars had been delivered to the Food Bank — providing a real chocolate treat for the children of families receiving parcels in the lead up to Christmas.

Margaret and Bill send their thanks to St Michael's members for their support which has contributed to the sum of over £17,000 being raised by December. As a result good nutritional food — ethically sourced and least harmful to the planet — has been made available to local people in need throughout this exceptionally difficult year.

Pastoral Care Healing ministry

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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
Due to the Covid situation, the ministry team were only able to offer the monthly Wednesday healing
sessions for two months in 2020 — January and February. The Healing service was cancelled in March, and
no Healing services offered after that for the same reason.
Prior to the lockdown, in January 2020, after much discussion the team had reluctantly come to the
conclusion that we would not be able to continue with Wednesday Healing sessions after September 2020,
unless new members joined the team. Given current circumstances the future is uncertain for this part of
the ministry.
In 2020 we gave £200 to St Michaels from donations received during on Wednesday Healing sessions.
We hope to continue with Healing services when it is possible. However, Joy Johns has decided to stand
down as team lead.
Safeguarding
Appropriate safeguarding training for all those who may come into contact with vulnerable adults and/or
children, within the work of the parish has been brought up to date. As mentioned last year this is a
Diocesan requirement; an insurance requirement and a necessity for St Michael’s safeguarding policy.
Many thanks go to Ann Beattie, our Safeguarding Officer and Alan Jarvis our Safeguarding Assistant who
work to ensure the training is done by those who need it. Thanks too to Hazel Miller who oversees the DBS
checks. These requirements are an ongoing process and will require constant updating.
Office and communications
The Office
At the start of the year Nicola Petrou-Amerikanosjoined us in the new role of Office Assistant, initially
concentrating on supporting the room hire programme. The start of lockdown in March led to the closure
of the Church Office with staff working from home. The phone was redirected and a full back-up of the pc
files retained by the Administrator. The sudden reduction in external users of the premises brought
additional challenges. Nicola was still working through her induction programme at the time then had to
suddenly to take on new tasks remotely. Since then communication between the team has been mainly by
phone, with pCloud used to share documents.
From March onwards, we concentrated on improving our online communication with emphasis on the
development of St. Michael’s website, and expanding our use of the IKnow database which stretched our
technological skills beyond what we would have previously thought possible. Our entry in the ‘A Church
Near You’ directory was also monitored regularly and updated as appropriate. While most of this was
carried out by the Office, it was encouraging to see increased engagement with IKnow from members of
the congregation, which we hope to build on in 2021 and beyond.
During the course of the year, there was an increase in the number of people able to receive copies of the
weekly notices and monthly newsletters by e-mail, along with the various series of reflections produced by
the clergy while face-to-face worship was not possible. Paper copies of all these documents continue to be
provided for anyone who does not have email. The audio services have been complemented by a text
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Newsletter

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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
Tuesday Club
Apart from meeting up in January for our Christmas lunch, the Tuesday Club has been effectively
suspended for the year. We have missed each other, and the pleasure of attending cultural events
together, but hope that 2021 will allow us to restart.
Pop In and Paint
Obviously we have not been able to have our lovely Pop In And Paint sessions since the beginning of last
year. We have however, set themes each month for our members. Many of them have enjoyed taking part
in these challenges and have sent us photographs of their paintings which we have then shared by email
with all members. It has been a great way to keep in touch with everyone and it has really brightened all
our lives seeing all the super work that was accomplished! Some of these photos were also sent to the
Church Office and have been featured on the website gallery.
Simpatico
As a result of the cancellation of Bucks Art Weeks in June due to the pandemic, a group of local artists
decided to set up a similar event at the end of September once lockdown rules had been relaxed. We held
a very successful exhibition in the Church 28 September until 4 October. We were unsure how well it
would go what with all the mask wearing, sanitising and number limiting rules we had to apply. It went
very well though and was wonderful to see familiar faces alongside new visitors to the exhibition. A real
success! We also managed to raise £280 for the Church as well as a similar amount for the charity MIND
Buckinghamshire. We look forward to being able to hold our Bucks Art Weeks exhibition in June as usual
this year - keeping all our fingers crossed!!
Buildings — church, hall and St Michael’s Square
Our buildings, situated in the centre of Amersham-on-the-Hill, are an important resource for the local
community. We were delighted to welcome to the church once again the Simpatico art exhibition for a
week at the end of September; and Cards for Good Causes, selling Christmas cards on behalf of a wide
range of charities during the run-up to Christmas. Both attracted a substantial number of visitors — and
purchasers. We look forward to welcoming these groups again in 2021.
In a typical year we have regular groups who use the hall and church, including a number catering to pre-
school children. As well as the Beehive Montessori School, there are more informal groups such as Drama
Stars, Cha Char Chimps and Jacq’in the Box. The large space in the hall is used by badminton, fitness
classes and dance schools. It is popular for children’s parties, especially at weekends. An increasing
number of groups, offering similar activities, meet in the Glover Room behind the main hall. Local music
groups use various rooms in the church and hall for rehearsals and performances. In line with government
advice, both the hall and church were closed to external hirers for several months during the year.
St Michael’s Square, in front of the church, is frequently used for community events, and for sales in aid of
local and national charities. For more than twenty-five years the regular flower stall has been a spot of
bright colour and generated for us a steady income stream to support our other activities. Sadly, Michael
Carter, who ran the stall, has decided it is time to bring it to an end.
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
But if our buildings are an asset, they also require constant care and maintenance. We are custodians of
these buildings for the future and take this responsibility seriously. The Quinquennial Inspection (in
December 2015) identified major works, which were dealt with over the five-year cycle, and other tasks
are undertaken as necessary to comply with regulations. The next Quinquennial inspection is planned for
2021. All essential work is overseen by the buildings committee, to whom we are indebted for their time
and expertise.
FINANCE
Review of the year
St Michael’s receives the majority of its income from voluntary giving, church and hall lettings and various
other fundraising activities. The reduction in income from lettings, due to the Covid lockdowns and
restrictions, had a significant effect on our income stream. This was identified early on, and the PCC
decided to try to mitigate the effect, both by the suspension of most of our Mission Giving, and by
appealing to the congregation for financial contributions.
The response we received was truly wonderful, bringing in over £28.5k including Gift Aid, including some
donations from hall and church hirers, and passers-by outside the church. This, together with two legacies
received or notified in the year, and £6k of support from the Government’s Job Retention Scheme, has
resulted in a small surplus for the year. One word of caution is needed, however: this appeal was a one-
off, and we know that 2021 will still be significantly affected by Covid restrictions.
Although this part of our report focuses on money, we also receive significant contributions from the work
of volunteers, which cannot practically be quantified in financial terms but for which we are very grateful.
This practical support has been a key factor in maintaining the life of the church through sucha difficult
year.
Details of the breakdown of income are shown in note 2.
Expenditure for the year has supported the key objectives of St Michael’s to be a church at the heart of the
community of Amersham on the Hill, while at the same time contributing funds to the Church of England
through our Parish Share and to charities through our Missionary Giving, even though that was so curtailed
this year. Note 3 shows how our expenditure breaks down.
As mentioned above, we finished 2020 with a small surplus, which puts us in a much stronger position to
weather the continued difficulties of 2021 and the future. Thanks go to all those who contributed to this
result, whether through financial donations or voluntary help.
16
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
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2020 2019 £ £ 458 (16,539) 14,000 1,000 (3,837) - (6,583) 8,268 4,038 (7,271) £0.5k on on general activities £’000 £’000 26.2 3.5 (24.0) ~~(2.3)~~ 3.4 10.0 ~~3.6~~ 13.6 17.0

Surplus/(deficit) on church activities and fund raising 458 (16,539) Legacies 14,000 1,000 Noticeboard project (3,837) - (Losses)/gains on investment assets (6,583) 8,268 Net surplus/(deficit) 4,038 (7,271) Key items contributing to the move froma deficit of £16.5k to a surplus of £0.5k on on general activities and fundraising were:

Additional voluntary giving through the 2020 Appeal: Additional grant income: Reduction in rental income: Reduction in other income: Change in income (excluding legacies): Reduction in Mission Giving: Other cost savings: Change in expenditure (excluding projects): Change in result on general activities (approximately):

Reserves policy

The PCC aims to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds which is sufficient to meet expenditure for the following 6 months, taking into account planned maintenance, commitments to employees and the expected level of the Parish Share. The level of reserves at 315‘ December 2020 is considered adequate for this.

Risk management The PCC has conducted a review of the major risks to which St Michael’s is exposed. A risk register has been established and is updated at least annually.

As part of this, our safeguarding policy is reviewed and approved annually in line with diocesan requirements and guidelines. DBS checks are reviewed annually for all those coming into contact with vulnerable adults and children, and are renewed ona rolling four year cycle. Appropriate training is given from within the parish and through external providers as deemed necessary.

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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2020
CONCLUSION FROM THE VICAR
A big thank you to all of you for all your efforts for the parish, the people we serve, and for all the work,
prayer and both personal and financial sacrifice we as a community in Christ’s name have born witness to
over the last very difficult and demanding year!
There has been a surprising and challenging consequence on a practical level to the Covid situation. This
has resulted in new skills acquired by many within our community that | seriously doubt would have
occurred without the pandemic. This has been within the communication and media realms. Our use of
Zoom has been a revelation and indispensable in communicating with one another for PCC and Standing
Committee meetings alongside meeting for post service online Coffee time. The use of Sound Cloud has
enabled us to worship together as a congregation, a local community and on a global platform thereby
proving to be a marvellous Missional tool. (From May to the end ofthe year, our Sound Cloud services
clocked up 2,844 ‘listens’!) Special thanks must go to those teams providing the music tech and the
delivery of the Sound Cloud services, to those in the office providing and sending out online support and to
those delivering paper copies to those unable to access online provision.
The sense of dislocation has continued to be felt during the year of 2020. The happenings of the Covid 19
global epidemic and the concomitant effects of national lockdowns have of course caused this. At the
moment of writing this there is a more positive note and glimmers of the ever-present light now more
perceptible in the distribution of vaccination programs, despite still living in what is being called ‘the new
norm’ of social distancing. It must be remembered that as we move forward there will be many people
who have borne the loss of family and friends, an experience, which the congregation of St Michaels has
sadly not been exempt. This will inevitably have an impact on our community going forwards.
St Michael and All Angels has been a centering point, holding out the light, hope and love of Christ to the
community it serves in its brokenness and in its healing. This need will continue as we move forwards, but
we also need to acknowledge and be thankful too by recognising the blessings of and witnessing to so
many giving of themselves in service to the needs of others. Special thanks go to Fr. Peter Binns for his
unending support and humour, to office personnel, Church Wardens, and PCC. And to every one of you for
everything that is happening to keep our community here at St Michaels going forwards despite the
challenges.
“Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.”
(Romans 12:12)
Revd Debbie Oades.
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill

Statement of Council Members’ Responsibilities

The members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the PCC’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing accounts giving a true and fair view, the members should follow best practice and:

The members of the PCC are responsible for keeping accounting records which both disclose with reasonable accuracy and enable them to ascertain the financial position of the PCC and which enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Statement of Recommended Practice on Accounting and Reporting by Charities SORP (FRS102) and the Church Accounting Regulations 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the PCC and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

FOR AND BEHALF OF THE PCC

Roger Leslie Roger Leslie Church Warden Church Warden ……………………………. Kogeclaxt

19

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Members of the Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill

This report on the accounts of the Parochial Church Council (‘PCC’) for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on pages 21 to 33 is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 (‘the Regulations’) and section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

Respective responsibilities of the PCC and the examiner

As members of the PCC, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Act and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as members of the PCC concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

Mark Blackwell ACMA MHR Consultancy Ltd Minster House 126a High St Whitton Twickenham Middlesex TW2 7LL

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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2020
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Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Note Funds Funds Funds 2020 2019 Income and Endowments £ £ £ £ £ Voluntary giving 2a 129,076 - - 129,076 87,601 Activities for generating funds 2b 16,747 - - 16,747 40,755 Church activities 2c 4,665 - - 4,665 26,899 Income from investments 2d 1,454 2,698 - 4,152 5,214 Other incoming resources 2e - - - - 376 Total income and endowments ~~~~~ 151942. £42,698 &4154640 160,845. Expenditure Grants - Mission giving 3a 2,390 - - 2,390 12,477 Church activities 3b 140,936 695 - 141,631 163,907 Total expenditure ~~~~~ 143326 ~~695~~ - 144021 176,384 Net income and incoming endowments before investment gains and losses 8,616 2,003 - 10,619 (15,539) Gains & losses on investment assets, on disposals and on revaluation 5b 1,416 (8,068) 70 (6,582) 8,268 Net movement in Funds ~~~~~~ 10,032..~—(6,065)=——i“‘<‘é«7«x72#~~~~<“«CSOZT~~O~«T«27I*Y Transfers between funds - - - - - Balances brought forward 146,148 278,002 2,524 426,674 433,945 Balances carried forward "156,180 271,937. 2,594 430,711 426,674

Notes 1 to 24 form part of these accounts

21

Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill

Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2020

2020 2019
Note £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible fixed assets 5a 271,704 271,986
Investment Assets 5b 102,543 109,126
374,247 381,112
Current Assets
Debtors 6 8,259 6,557
Short term deposits 25,958 39,815
Cash at bank and in hand 27,493 6,198
61,710 52,570
Liabilities
Creditors - amounts falling due within one year 7 (5,246) (7,008)
Net current assets 56,464 45,562
Total net assets 430,711 426,674
Parish Funds 9
Unrestricted 156,180 146,148
Restricted 271,937 278,002
Endowment 2,594 2,524
430,711 426,674

Approved Approved by the Parochial Church Council on and signed on its behalf by: by the Parochial Church Council on (o 6. 202 and signed on its behalf by:

Debbie Debbie Oades, Vicar Oades, Vicar

Roger Leslie, Church Warden Roger Leslie, Church Warden

Notes 1 to 24 form part of these accounts

22

a)

b)

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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels,
Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2020
1. Accounting Policies (continued)
Gains and losses on investments
Realised gains and losses are recognised when investments are sold.
Unrealised gains or losses are accounted for on the revaluation of investments on 315t December 2020.
c) Expenditure
General Expenditure
Expenditure is included on an accruals basis, inclusive of VAT, which is not recoverable.
Grants
Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding
obligation of the PCC.
Activities directly relating to the work of the Church
The parish share is accounted for when payable.
d) Land and buildings
Land and buildings are included at cost less depreciation of the buildings over fifty years. The church, hall,
vicarage and site are held by the Diocese of Oxford as Custodian Trustee of St Michael Charity, a
permanent trust established in 1973 of which the PCC are managing trustees. Under the terms of the
Trust, land and buildings must be used as they currently are being used. Information as to the cost of these
buildings and site is not available. As the land has been held for ecclesiastical purposes for many years and
the buildings constructed in 1966 would now be substantially depreciated, the property is included in the
financial statements at a value of f£nil. In 2007 an extension was added to the vicarage. This is included in
the financial statements at a cost of £34,916 and is not depreciated as the residual value of the vicarage at
31 December 2020 is expected to exceed this sum. In 2013 work was completed on developing St
Michael’s Square and this is included in the financial statements at a cost of £235,940 and is not
depreciated as the residual value at 31 December 2020 is expected to exceed this sum.
e) Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment
Equipment used within the church premises is depreciated at 25% reducing balance. Individual items of
equipment with a purchase price of £1,000 or less are written off when the asset is acquired.
f) Investments
Investments are valued at market value at 31 December 2020.
g) Current assets
Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December 2020 in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as
debtors less provision for amounts that may prove uncollectable. Short term deposits include cash held on
deposit either with the CBF Church of England Funds or at the bank.
24
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Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020

Analysis of Fund Movements

1 Jan 2020 Income Expenditure ‘Transfers Gains/ 31 Dec 2020 (losses) Unrestricted Funds: £ £ £ £ £ £ Designated Tuesday Club 3,327 1,253 (1,306) - - 3,274 St Michael's Vicarage 34,916 - - - - 34,916 St Michael's Square 42,643 - - - - 42,643 Pastoral Support 25,186 707 - - 708 26,601 Buildings and Projects 25,185 708 (3,837) - 708 22,764 Youth Activities 4,208 63 (163) 101 - 4,209 Sabbatical 209 - - 200 - 409 Music 2,395 6 (112) - - 2,289 138,069 2,737 (5,418) 301 1,416 137,105 Undesignated General Fund 8,079 149,205 (137,908) (301) - 19,075 Total Unrestricted Funds 146,148 151,942 (143,326) - 1,416 156,180 Restricted Funds: Trust Income 14,784 355 - - 349 15,488 Spiritual Development 6,230 89 - - - 6,319 St Michael Charity 61,765 2,250 - - (8,417) 55,598 St Michael's Square 193,297 - - - - 193,297 St Michael's Project 1,926 4 (695) - - 1,235 Total Restricted Funds 278,002 2,698 (695) - (8,068) 271,937 Endowment Funds: Ellen Motion Fund 2,524 - - - 70 2,594 Total Endowment Funds 2,524 - - - 70 2,594 Total of all Funds 426,674 154,640 (144,021) - (6,582) 430,711

29

i)

iii)

ii)

iv)

v)

vi)

vii)

viii)

ix)

x)

xi)

xii)

xiii)

xiv)

Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020

  1. Accruals All amounts included in the financial statements are shown on an accruals basis. Where amounts have been received in advance such as for rental income, the amount relating to future periods has been deferred. Amounts invoiced but unpaid at the year end are included in creditors and estimates for costs relating to the year are included in accruals. At 31 December 2020, the PCC had a claimable income tax rebate of £982 (2019: £584). A summary of all debtors and creditors at the year end is shown at Notes 6 and 7 to the Accounts.

  2. Tuesday Club The Tuesday Club plans its events each year to break even with revenue from participants intended to meet the costs of such events. Revenue for the year was £1.253 (2019: £24,398) with costs for the year of £1,306 (2019: £23,637).

  3. Ex-gratia payments In addition to the missionary and charitable giving listed in item 3a) of the accounts, ex-gratia payments valued at £nil were made during 2020 (2019: nil).

  4. Staff costs During the year, the PCC employed a church secretary, an assistant administrator, a warden and a church cleaner. The average number of employees was 4. The organists were self-employed and payments to them are not included in Staff costs. 17. Incumbent’s expenses The vicar Debbie Oades was reimbursed expenses totalling £906 (2019: £1,327) as follows:

2020 2019 £ £ Travel expenses - 273 Vicarage telephone and internet 906 946 Other expenses - 108

£906 £1,327

Expenses of £974 (2019: £2,422) were reimbursed to other curates and clergy.

  1. Insurance The PCC has insured itself with the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group for many years and the policy is inflation linked. From March 2020 cover of the buildings was provided at the following levels:

Church £5,600,000 (2019: £5,408,000) Hall £2,800,000 (2019: £2,704,000)

32

Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020

  1. Mission Giving As noted in the Annual Report, in 2020 the PCC took the hard decision to suspend the policy of allocating 10% of its voluntary income to Overseas Missions and 5% to Home Missions. A flat sum was instead allocated. This policy will be kept under review.

  2. Loans and guarantees No loans or guarantees have been secured against any of the PCC’s assets.

  3. Contingent liabilities There are no contingent liabilities.

  4. Related party transactions The church benefits from the services of family members of the PCC, whose skills are used in various roles as noted below. In each case the connected PCC member takes no part in setting specific terms for the appointment and the terms of such appointments are no better than those offered to unconnected parties. Further details are given in the table below.

Person Role Connected to Nature of connection £ Andrew Leslie Organist Roger Leslie Son £230 Stephen Wilcox Organist Rachel Wilcox Husband £1,240 Rachel Wilcox Organist PCC member £30 Hazel Miller Administrator Ex officio PCC member £3,148

No other payments or expenses were paid to any other PCC member, persons closely connected to them or related parties.

  1. Grants

2020 2019 £ £

Towards the cost of other projects IBM HMRC Job Retention Scheme ‘Furlough’ claims Total grants

33