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 for the year ended 31 December 2021
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 are seeking.
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Index
Legal and administrative information for the year ended 31 December 2021 ............................................... 2 Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021 .................................................................................... 5 MISSION AND OUTREACH ............................................................................................................................................. 5 SHARING OUR RESOURCES ......................................................................................................................................... 14 FINANCE ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16 CONCLUSION FROM THE VICAR ................................................................................................................................. 17 Independent Examiner’s Report to the Members ......................................................................................... 20 Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2021 ..................................................... 21 Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2021 ......................................................................................................... 22 Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 ................................................... 23
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Legal and administrative information for the year ended 31 December 2021
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 of the 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 2021.
Weekly attendance 59 adults, no children Messy Church No services held Church at Home (until April 2021) 67 listeners
Electoral Roll Data
As at 31 December 2021 the total number on the Electoral Roll was 99.
Structure, governance and management
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham was registered with the Central Register of Charities on 15 April 2009. The trustees of the charity are members of the PCC and decisions of the trustees are made at PCC. New trustees are appointed on personal recommendation of the PCC.
2
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Legal and administrative information for the year ended 31 December 2021
New PCC members are encouraged to attend diocesan or other training courses to help them in their responsibilities, and given access to previous PCC minutes and documents and to Charity Commission guidance for trustees.
Trustees
Members of the PCC are the trustees of the charity and are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.
The members of the PCC who served during 2021:
Ex Officio
Debbie Oades Vicar Peter Binns Associate Priest (co-opted 11[th] July 2021) Roger Leslie Church Warden Roland Gillott Church Warden
Elected Members
Rachel Wilcox Treasurer Ann Beattie Kiki Connor Cathy Franklin Ian Guest Rachel Hill Rosie Marciniak Rolande Mélisse-Merrifield
Deanery Synod Representatives (ex officio )
Cathy Franklin Hazel Miller
PCC meetings continued to be via Zoom throughout 2021. The Council met four times between the 2020 APCM in the October of that year, and the 2021 meeting the following July. The average attendance was 12.25 out of a possible 13. At the start of the year, formal motions put to the meeting were voted on subsequently by e-mail and the outcomes of such votes recorded in the minutes, until this rule was relaxed in the second part of the year, allowing voting online.
The agenda for all meetings included an item on Vision, focussing on the gradual opening up of services and church activities as lockdown ended. Reports from the Treasurer; the Buildings Committee, on matters relating to fabric and hire of the church and hall; the Health and Safety Officer and the Safeguarding team also formed part of the standard agenda. Other matters requiring annual attention such as confirmation of appointments to various roles, review of policies and approval of recommended mission-giving allocations were dealt with during the course of the year.
3
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Legal and administrative information for the year ended 31 December 2021
An online ‘Away Day’ took place in February providing an opportunity to look at specific areas. The PCC divided into sub-groups to address the following topics: - the building; engagement and community; communication and use of technology. Results of these discussions started to show during 2021 and continue to drive planning into 2022.
The Standing Committee met online as and when necessary between PCC meetings, with any urgent matters being resolved by e-mail or telephone. 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 2021 were:
Revd Debbie Oades – Vicar Roland Gillott Rachel Hill Roger Leslie 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.
4
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
MISSION AND OUTREACH
Our central purpose is summed up in our 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 are seeking.” This report seeks to show how we have interpreted this mission during the year under review.
Looking inward, looking outward
Mission Action Plan
Our Mission Action Plan (“MAP”) sets out our vision for 2018 – 2023.
Inevitably, the pandemic over the last two years has caused an interruption to our plans. However it has also opened up new opportunities.
One of the greatest of these opportunities has been the introduction of live broadcasts of services over SoundCloud. These not only linked us up with existing members of the congregation but also past members who have now moved away, and others who have not previously known about St Michael’s. These broadcasts came to an end soon after we returned to holding services in church at Easter in 2021. However, later in the year, a new form of broadcasting began, the livestreaming of services over YouTube.
Zoom, which few of us had heard of prior to the pandemic, has also enabled us to meet up and keep in touch at a time when it has not been safe for us to gather together in person in a crowded space.
In February 2021, the PCC had an AwayDay on Zoom to talk about three different themes: our Building; Engagement and community; and Communication and the use of technology.
Taking Communication and the use of technology first, reference is made above to the introduction of livestreaming, which is enabling us to involve in our worship those whose mobility is limited, or who do not yet feel ready to return to our services in church.
Combining our Building (which includes the area at the front, St Michael’s Square) with Engagement and community, a lot then happened during the remainder of the year.
A group looking for somewhere to bring together parents with young babies now meets in church on a weekly basis. Called “Nappy Days”, St Michael’s building is able to provide an area with plenty of floorspace for babies to play on and a parking area for push chairs and other equipment. We also arrange the refreshments for those who come.
Three groups which are open to members of St Michael’s and to others within the community meet in the building on a monthly basis: “Pop in and Paint”, “Wise Choices Film Club” and “Crafty Cuppa”. The names of the first two are self-explanatory. “Crafty Cuppa” is an opportunity to come along with a piece of craftwork for a hot drink and a chat, or just come along for the cuppa and the chat.
5
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
In July we held a Community Post-lockdown Service in St Michael’s Square, a service of lament for those who had died as a result of coronavirus, thanksgiving for deliverance from the virus and for all who worked hard (key workers, all who had voluntarily raised money or helped others); and restoration (looking to the future and rebuilding after the pandemic). People were invited to place a butterfly on the board in front of the altar, a purple one in remembrance of someone who had died, an orange one in thanksgiving for a key worker or volunteer.
In the period from the middle of November up until the end of the year, St Michael’s Square played host to a range of activities: a climate change event arranged by Amersham Town Council, following the COP 26 conference in Glasgow; the launch of a local community radio station, Chiltern Voice 107.4 FM; our own Christmas Tree Festival, both in the church and outside in the square, with 25 trees altogether and sponsorship from a wide range of local groups and community organisations, which raised a substantial amount of money for Wycombe Homeless Connection; the Amersham Christmas Festival arranged, both in the church and on the square as well as in the road outside, by Amersham Action Group (AAG), the prime function of which is to promote and progress the revitalisation of Amersham-on-the-Hill; Music on St Michael’s Square arranged by Kiki Connor with Alan Jarvis providing “sound” and featuring different choirs, including our own, singing festive songs and carols; and Christmas Carols on the square sung in the afternoon on the Sunday before Christmas by Amchor, a long-established choir which strives to promote music across the Chilterns.
After all that, it has been appropriate to take a breath, and then see what we might do in 2022.
Worship and Liturgy
Regular services
Following the third lockdown early in 2021, we planned for the Holy Week services to be delivered over the Soundcloud audio system, but were able to hold the main Easter morning service live, and services have continued in person since then. Audio services continued until the end of April 2021, attracting an average of 67 listeners. At this point the decision was made to suspend the audio services to encourage the congregation to return in person if possible, though the readings (on the usual notices sheet), sermon and intercessions continue to be circulated for those who cannot attend.
We were able to resume our pattern of two Sunday services – the early spoken Eucharist, now at 8.30am and the main 10am sung service – and a Tuesday morning said Eucharist from Easter Day, (4[th] April 21) and attendance at these has continued to grow. It was a joy to return to hymn singing, even through masks, and the choir returned, singing one service a month from September, and the informal ‘Gathered Round’ service resumed from October on the 2[nd] Sunday of each month.
The graph below headed ‘Attendance’ shows the impact of the reduced capacity of the church, rather than reflecting a dramatic fall in the congregation. It is comforting to see numbers increasing again, as services have restarted, and this year the number of people leaving the congregation has been matched by an equal number joining us.
6
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
Private Prayer
We have now set aside the Lady Chapel for private prayer; it is no longer hired out as a community space. The votive candle stand, which was in the body of the church, is now there. The church is normally open from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and there are notices directing people to the Lady Chapel for private prayer.
Baptisms, weddings and funerals
We welcomed three families for baptism during the year, bringing five children in all, after the suspension of the services due to Covid. It is a joy to be with the families as they start their Christian journey.
It is also 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 twelve families as we conducted funerals or burial of ashes for their loved ones both in services at St Michael’s and at the Crematorium.
Easter, Harvest, Remembrance
Having very much missed the services of Holy Week and Easter during the first lockdown, being unable to hold the services in person for a second year was another blow, but the audio services, for all the main holy days, provided at least a partial substitute, and we were able to celebrate together on Easter Sunday. We look forward with joy to holding the services in church in 2022.
Harvest coincided with the first ‘Gathered Round’ informal eucharist, and donations were collected for Chiltern Food Bank. In addition, a financial appeal for The Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted was made, with donations going direct to the charity.
However, our customary Lent Appeal for St Anne’s Hospital, Liuli, raised much needed funds, continuing our support for that valuable local institution.
7
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday were more small steps on our way back to ‘normality’. There was a Service of Remembrance in St Michael Square, including the two minute silence at 11am, on Armistice Day, led by St Michael’s clergy and the Amersham Branch of the Royal British Legion. On Remembrance Sunday we marked the occasion in the usual way with the reading of ‘We will remember them’ and poppy petals falling into the sanctuary.
Advent & Christmas
Our Advent and Christmas celebrations included the choir’s attendance on the first Sunday of Advent, a live service of Nine Lessons and Carols, and a choral Midnight Mass – all more than we could manage in 2020. We had hoped to reinstate the Crib service as well, but with rising infection numbers, particularly among children, this was felt to be too risky.
Advent Course
Our Advent Course was ‘A Chequered Legacy’ by Nick Fawcett. This is a two part course, the first part for Advent entitled ‘The Good’ looked at the effect on church and the world of William Wilberforce, The Earl of Shaftesbury, Florence Nightingale, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. Twelve people followed the course, six reading the book at home for themselves and six attending a study group via zoom, which was very thought provoking. The second part of the course ‘The Bad and the Ugly’ will follow for Lent.
Choir music, servers, welcomers
Once again it has been another disrupted year for choral music at St Michael’s.
Lockdown 2 (or was it 3!) started just before Christmas until the beginning of April so services went back to the on-line audio version with some pre-recorded contributions from the choir. Small groups were however permitted to meet in church for the purposes of preparing services so this did allow the choir to meet occasionally in small groups to record hymns and anthems for inclusion in the audio services. Once again we were indebted to Rachel and Stephen’s portable recording equipment to make the Lady Chapel into a very effective studio.
We recorded a lot of the usual music for the Easter Services so that this year we were able to hear our own on-line St Michael’s Services – as near as we could get to normal under the circumstances. Covid cases had fallen enough by Holy Week that it was deemed safe enough to have the congregation back in church again for a joyous Easter Sunday celebration.
After Easter, as services became regular in-person events again, it was decided that to keep choir members as safe as possible and to more effectively use our dwindling numbers that we would have one full Choral service a month and we aimed to have these as far as possible on important liturgical Sundays. From September onwards the congregation were permitted to join in singing the hymns wearing their masks and this also coincided with the start of live streaming services for those unable to attend church. In this way we had 9 Choral services celebrating Pentecost, 2 ordinary time services, Patronal, All Soul’s, Advent Sunday, a Nine Lessons and Carols with augmented choir, Christmas Eve and Epiphany. The resumption of regular services has enabled our organists to return to playing regularly – Stephen plays twice a month with Andrew covering another week and Rachel accompanying the Gathered Round service.
8
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
In addition the choir sang at two Community events in St Michaels Square. In July there was a Covid Postlockdown Service to remember all those lost to Covid and to give thanks for community efforts during the previous year. The second was a Charity Carol Singing event in December involving ourselves and other local choirs/groups.
It has been good to recover some of the richness of worship, in liturgical vestments, that we have so missed during the pandemic. Having the votive candle stand back also gives both regular worshippers and visitors a focus for prayer and reflection.
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
Although regulations permitted it, it was decided not to re start Messy Church in person. A number of reasons made up this decision – the remaining COVID restrictions, the growing number of cases and a general feeling of wanting to wait longer.
Messy Church packs were sent to 30 families from September to December, and thanks go to Cathy Franklin who led these activities. It was then felt that, as it was very difficult to vary the contents and as Revd Debbie has contact with many of the children who were now, due to the time lapse, in primary school, that Messy Church would require a full new restart. A recommencement of Messy Church is hoped for, but dates and times to be discussed.
+INSPIRE+
+INSPIRE+ is St Michaels youth group. Due to Covid restrictions this too has had to be suspended. Revd Debbie keeps in contact with the members and their families and two of the INSPIRE members are now regularly working the sound and video elements of our services providing ‘inspiration’ to us all.
Working with the local community
COTHA
Churches on the Hill Amersham (COTHA) is currently a covenant between three churches: Amersham Free Church (AFC), St John’s Methodist Church (St John’s) and ourselves at St Michael’s.
Sadly, at the COTHA Annual Meeting (AGM) held in November, St John’s let us know that they would be closing for worship after the Easter Services in April 2022. After Easter 2022, therefore, the covenant will be between two churches: AFC and St Michael’s. The hall and other rooms at St John’s will, until further notice, continue to be available for hire as a community facility, but there will no longer be any services.
9
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
Each year, one of the churches takes it in turn to be the COTHA “lead church” from one AGM to the next, with responsibility for organising events such as the AGM. In 2020/21 it was AFC which was the lead church, and St John’s were due to take over from them. In view of the position with St John’s, AFC kindly agreed to continue as the lead church in 2021/22.
There were two COTHA United Services during the year. The first was on Sunday 24 January, towards the end of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This was due to be at St John’s. However, as we were not holding services in our churches at that time, the service was broadcast over SoundCloud, led by St John’s, with other Ministers taking part. The second was on Sunday 18 July at AFC (as by then we were holding services in church), led by AFC, again with other Ministers taking part.
The Ministers of the three churches met on three occasions during the year, on Zoom in view of the pandemic.
Christmas Tree Festival
This year's Christmas Tree Festival, raising funds for Wycombe Homeless Connection, grew to a total of 25 Trees inside and outside the Church, bringing together local community groups, small businesses and individuals who sponsored and decorated the Trees, and many visitors supporting the event in true and generous Christmas spirit.
The grand total raised during the event was £2,250 which included £670 from sponsorship donations, £300 collected at the Angel Tree during the AAG Christmas Festival, £1,000 on Street Collection during the Music Event on the Square, and £280 from the on-going bucket collection in Church.
Wycombe Homeless Connection offered great support by decorating a Tree and sending 8 volunteers to boost the St Michael's team of Street Collectors throughout the day. Thanks are due to Kiki Connor and Ann Beattie for all their hard work on making this event such a success.
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. Heatherton House took part in the Christmas Tree Festival. Woodside School attended St Michaels Church for their Christmas services, these took place without parents attending (due to restrictions) on the 16[th] December 21 with Key stage 1 in the morning with 96 attending and in the afternoon Key stage 2 with 134 attending. It was lovely to have the children and staff back and we look forward to welcoming them all along with students’ parents this year. Restarting of assemblies will commence as soon as they feel it is possible.
Report of School Governor Activity for St Michael and All Angels – Woodside School
In November 2020 Dr Robert Oades was appointed a skills governor for Woodside Primary School. This followed a request from the school to St Michael and All Angels PCC if it could put forward suitable candidates. This coincided with the plan for Woodside School to move from Local Authority management
10
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
to the Oxford Diocesan Bucks Schools Trust (ODBST). This fitted in well with the links St Michaels already had with Woodside School and that had been developed further by Revd Debbie.
Dr Oades is the schools link Governor for Science and Art provision in the school and has held discussions with the teaching focal points to discuss the work programmes. Both are in excellent shape. He is also on the team that looks at the management of the school budget.
Over the last 18 months the role has been challenging to fulfil due to COVID 19 restrictions, but 8 meetings have been attended using zoom.
Deanery Synod
Amersham Deanery Synod met three times in 2021. There are 16 parishes within the Deanery. These meetings provide an opportunity for representatives from each of them to come together to learn about, and discuss, matters of mutual interest.
The first meeting in March took place via Zoom. Officers were elected to serve for the next three year term. Lawrence Tebboth from Gerrards Cross, was re-elected as Lay Chair and Mrs Julie Dziegiel of Chesham, as Treasurer. Mrs. Dorothy Potter (St. Mary’s Amersham) agreed to stay on as Secretary for one more year. Revd. Peggy Ludlow, recently returned from Australia and now serving with her husband in Latimer, was introduced as a new Assistant Area Dean. A meeting of the Amersham Deanery Trust (the body which gives legal standing to the Synod) followed to receive the annual accounts and the budget for the next year. Towards the end of the meeting, members had a short time in break out groups to talk about how churches could move forward as the pandemic appeared to be drawing to a close. At the end of the meeting, presentations were made to Revd. Tim Harper, the outgoing Area Dean, prior to his retirement and Revd. Cassa Messervy, the Assistant Area Dean, who was moving to a new parish outside the deanery.
The second meeting took place at the Fitzwilliam Centre in Beaconsfield and provided the first opportunity for St. Michael’s new representatives to meet their opposite numbers from other churches, in person. Following the decision of Revd. Martin Williams to step down from his position as Co-area Dean, it was announced that Revd. Peggy Ludlow would take on the full responsibilities of this role. The main theme of the meeting was ‘Continuing the Re-building’. Revd. Brian Ludlow, who has a background in the area, gave a presentation on the public and occupational health aspects of the pandemic from a faith perspective. This was followed by a second presentation by Revd. Gill Lovell, Parish Development Officer Buckingham Archdeaconry, on the topic of learning and questions for our churches as we rebuild.
The final meeting of the year was held at the St. James Centre, Gerrards Cross. Elections to serve on the Deanery Mission and Pastoral Committee for the next three years took place before Steve and Lindsey Poulson, who work with street-connected and vulnerable children and young people in Honduras, gave a presentation about the Proyecto Alas project which they run, which provoked a number of requests for further detail about their work.
11
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
Copies of all the presentations made during the year, can be found on the Deanery Synod website, https://www.amershamdeanery.org.uk/ddocuments.html
Hospitality
For much of the year, due to the pandemic, it was not possible to have any kind of catering in church. However, in September it was decided to have a small celebration for the Patronal festival. We bought canapes and prosecco and these were served in the north transept after the 10.00am service. This seemed to be much appreciated by the congregation.
It was agreed that we would then try serving coffee on alternate Sundays rather than every week, as numbers of those able to help are now quite low. We did this a few times, but the resurgence of the pandemic shortly before Christmas meant that we had to stop. The plan is to start again in April. We are certainly in need of more helpers and if anyone would like to join the team Di Bacon would be delighted to hear from them.
Chiltern Community & Policing Forum
Because of the changes in council/civic arrangements within the Amersham and Buckinghamshire areas, the nature and format of these meetings Revd Debbie no longer felt these appropriate for her to attend. 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.
The wider world
Missionary giving
Mission giving had again to be limited in 2021 because of the Covid impact on the Church’s finances. Nonetheless three charities shared £1,248. We aim to have a balance between both international and domestic charities and try to support those with whom we have had a connection in the past. We chose The Leprosy Mission, USPG – United Society Partners in the Gospel and New Hope, Watford. The Leprosy Mission is a global Christian organisation leading the fight against leprosy in 28 countries. USPG are an Anglican mission agency that partners churches and communities worldwide to enliven Christian faith and champion justice. New Hope provides three homes for people in recovery from alcohol and substance misuse, has an emergency helpline and offers advice and support to those facing homelessness in the local area. They also encourage people to prepare for employment through training and volunteering.
The Lent and Harvest Appeals went ahead as usual with donations, including gift aid, made directly to the Friends of St Anne’s Hospital, Liuli, Tanzania and the Hospice of St Francis, Berkhamsted respectively. The congregation gave generously to both charities and had the benefit of a presentation in the church at Harvest time from Helen Robinson, one of the hospice’s fund-raising volunteers.
12
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
| Mission giving 2021 The Leprosy Mission USPG Total overseas mission New Hope Watford Total home mission Total mission giving |
£ £416 £416 |
£ £832 £416 |
|---|---|---|
| £416 | ||
| £1,248 |
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 and Foodbank
With the resumption of the Gathered Round services in October, the regular stalls returned to church. In addition, Traidcraft goods were still available to order through our local representative, Margaret Dykes.
In terms of the Foodbank, the need remains great and growing. Over the last 25 months, members of the church and the wider community have donated collectively £50,000 which has been spent buying ethically- sourced and fairly-traded quality goods requested by, and delivered to, the Food bank. The original challenge around the first covid lockdown was superseded by the second and third, and then new cost of living challenges driven by rising costs, inflation beating fuel price rises and (in 2022) the consequences of the terrible tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, for food and fuel prices. Margaret and Bill send their thanks to St Michael's members for their continuing support for this essential service.
Pastoral Care
Healing ministry and Prayer Chain
There have been no healing services or Healing and wholeness sessions this year. At the time of writing, no further plans have been made.
However, St Michael’s Prayer Chain members have continued to pray, in our own homes, for people who have requested prayers (both St Michael’s members and for people who are known to them). This ministry has been continuing throughout the last two years on a confidential basis. We would welcome new members.
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
13
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
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
For much of the year, the office staff worked from home, gradually returning as lockdown eased. A normal service continued to be provided with the phone redirected and full access to e-mail and electronic files.
Web-based resources remained important with a transcript of services together with readings, intercessions and a sermon published weekly until October to complement the audio services. The website also featured a series of images under the heading of ‘Our Creative Community’ produced by members of Pop In and Paint working at home while the group were unable to meet in person.
With the gradual resumption of services, a new task was added to the weekly list – ensuring that separate sets of service booklets and check-in sheets were prepared for each of the three regular services, the former to minimise the risk of transmission of infection through touch, and the latter to conform to track and trace requirements.
The IKnow database continues to play an important role in communication between members of the church community. Over 100 people now receive weekly notices and monthly newsletters in this way, as well as reminders of rota duties and agenda for meetings, where appropriate. Gradually more people are engaging with this software, and hopefully more will do so as time goes on.
A new module was added to the system in 2021, the Life Events Diary, developed by the Church of England, with the intention of making it easier streamline the administration of Baptisms, Weddings, Banns, and Funerals.
Once restrictions on social gatherings started to ease during the summer, many of the regular users of the hall restarted their activities, meaning a transfer of resources to the managing of bookings and invoicing, and to ensuring that the internal and external noticeboards were kept up-to-date. Demand for one-off bookings gradually picked up during the autumn as people felt more confident about getting together.
In November, Nicola Petrou-Amerikanos, who had held the role of Office Assistant since the start of 2020 decided it was time to move on, leaving the Church Administrator as the only regular member of staff.
SHARING OUR RESOURCES
Amersham Deanery
As part of the established church, St Michael’s benefits from the support of the wider church, through Oxford Diocese and Amersham Deanery, and we are glad to give support back in our turn.
Our incumbent, Revd Debbie Oades, serves on the Deanery Pastoral and Mission Committee, and is Sabbatical Advisor for the Buckingham Archdeaconry. Changes to service patterns in lockdown have meant
14
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
that our Associate Priest, Revd Peter Binns, has focused on St Michaels, and stepped back from his longstanding commitments at Trinity, Aston Abbots and Cublington, but still helps out at Penn.
The Sycamore Club
The Sycamore Club, a local charity based at Amersham Free Church, has for many years provided a day centre for the elderly, often those living with dementia. Fr Peter has actively supported and chaired this for 12 years. In the Autumn of 2021 at its AGM it was decided that due to the falling numbers, increasing age and demands of time on the volunteers it was time to close. Many thanks go to Fr. Peter, AFC and all the volunteers for their many years of service to the local community.
Social events and activities
Tuesday Club
Owing to the pandemic, the Tuesday Club has not arranged any activities during 2021 and so far in 2022. The holiday in Sudbury, Suffolk, which was due to take place in May, 2022 has been cancelled, as COVID is still around, and it was felt that it would be too much of a risk to undertake such an activity at this time. A final Tuesday Club holiday in Halifax is being arranged for 2023.
Pop In and Paint
As the pandemic continued Pop in & Paint were unable to hold any sessions for most of 2021, but we continued on line with our monthly challenges, setting a different theme each month. It was lovely to see how our members responded, sharing photographs of their paintings with each other, which definitely kept the spirit of PIP going!
We were able to resume our meetings again in September and it was great to welcome everyone back in person. We also sponsored a tree for the Christmas Tree Festival at St Michael’s and some beautiful art work was produced to hang on the PIP tree! We are celebrating 10 years of Pop In & Paint in September 2022 and we are so proud that many of our original members are still with us and we continue to welcome new members each month.
Wise Choices Film Club
The community film club restarted in September 21 and held four meetings up to year end. Films shown during this period were Second Hand Lions, Bohemian Rhapsody, He named me Malala and Downton Abbey the movie. All sessions were very well attended, and our thanks go to Isabel Wise for organising these events.
Bucks Art Weeks
In June 2021 the group of local artists known as Simpatico held another art exhibition as part of Bucks Art Weeks. It was wonderful to see many familiar faces again (albeit masked!!!) and meet new visitors! It actually felt like some normality was slowly creeping back into our lives! As a result of healthy sales and visitors’ generosity we managed to raise £656.50 for St Michael’s and the same amount for our chosen
15
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
charity, Horatio’s Garden. We look forward to being back to hold our Bucks Art Weeks exhibition 11 - 26 June 2022!
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. As lockdown eased, we were delighted to welcome once again the Amersham Photographic Society for the annual exhibition in August followed by the Simpatico art exhibition for a week in September. Both attracted a substantial number of visitors. We look forward to welcoming these groups again in 2022. The church played host to a number of concerts in the second half of the year with further similar events already booked for 2022.
We have regular groups who use the hall and church, The extended period of lockdown saw some changes with some groups closing or re-locating to larger premises, but new groups coming in to replace them. The large space in the hall is used by the Beehive Montessori School and for 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 being increasingly used for community events such as the Christmas Festival, for sales in aid of local and national charities and for awareness-raising events such as a Climate Change Action Day. We also hosted the Chiltern Voice radio launch and “Choirs on the Square”. In December, Father Christmas visited as part of the Amersham Action Group’s Christmas Fair. We look forward to hosting other events in 2022.
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 the year identified some works, which are spread over the five-year cycle, and other tasks are undertaken as necessary to comply with regulations. This essential work is overseen by the buildings committee, to whom we are indebted for their time and expertise.
FINANCE
Review of the year
It will come as no surprise that St Michael’s has run at a deficit for 2021. The astounding generosity of the congregation in response to the appeal in 2020 has, however, left us still in a reasonable position to go forward. Hall and church rooms hire has bounced back and contributed to our income, though this is still not back to pre-pandemic levels for the year in question, as it was affected by the various lockdowns and restrictions.
Details of the breakdown of income are shown in note 2.
16
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
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 2021 with a significant deficit. We hope that a return to a full year of activity in the hall and church in terms of hiring will help to make 2022 a better year.
| Surplus/(deficit) on church activities and fund raising Legacies Noticeboard project (Losses)/gains on investment assets Net surplus/(deficit) |
2021 2020 £ £ (26,938) 458 2,052 14,000 - (3,837) 1,460 (6,583) (23,426) 4,038 |
|---|---|
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 31[st] December 2021 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 on a rolling four year cycle. Appropriate training is given from within the parish and through external providers as deemed necessary.
CONCLUSION FROM THE VICAR
A big thank you once more 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 yet another difficult and demanding year!
The new skills acquired last year during the height of pandemic have continued to grow and develop and have now become significant parts of our daily church life particularly within the communication and media realms. Our use of Zoom has continued to be indispensable in communicating with one another for PCC and Standing Committee meetings and also our Advent Course.
17
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021
The sense of dislocation has continued to be felt during the year of 2021. The happenings of the Covid 19 global epidemic and the concomitant effects have of course caused this. This year there has generally been a more positive note but still a very cautious stance. Glimmers of the ever-present light now shine far brighter though with the success of the vaccination programme despite still living with masks and distancing in some situations and what was ‘the new norm’ reappears or dissipates as infection rates dictate. It must still 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 for many months and years to come. The tension between those wanting to move forwards and those wanting to be very cautious has been difficult and keenly felt by many. Our aim has always been to be and to operate in the safest way possible and thanks go to all those on the PCC, the wardens and clergy colleagues who have worked so hard to achieve this.
St Michael and All Angels has even more than before become a centering point, a place of stillness and presence, holding out the light, hope and love of Christ to the community it serves in its brokenness and in its healing. Community event requests to be held in church or the hall have seen a big increase for the year ahead, many events wanting to move forward with joy and positivity which is very much needed. However we also need to continue in acknowledging the loss and brokenness of lives and livelihoods lost which many going forwards will find very hard indeed. The need to hold our community in prayer continues as ever. We give thanks for all those who have proved a blessing in our lives and those around us and hold them up to God with thankful hearts. 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.
Revd Debbie Oades.
18
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:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and
-
prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Church will continue in operation.
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 Church Warden
…………………………….
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 2021, 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:
-
to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
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:
-
1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
-
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; or
-
2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mark Blackwell ACMA MHR Consultancy Ltd Minster House 126a High St Whitton Twickenham Middlesex TW2 7LL
20
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2021
| Note Income and Endowments Voluntary giving 2a Activities for generating funds 2b Church activities 2c Income from investments 2d Other incoming resources 2e Total income and endowments Expenditure Grants - Mission giving 3a Church activities 3b Total expenditure Net income and incoming endowments before investment gains and losses Gains & losses on investment assets, on disposals and on revaluation 5b Net movement in Funds Transfers between funds Balances brought forward Balances carried forward |
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Funds Funds Funds 2021 2020 £ £ £ £ £ 81,827 - - 81,827 129,076 25,195 - - 25,195 16,747 3,326 - - 3,326 4,665 1,113 2,736 - 3,849 4,152 300 - - 300 - Total funds |
|---|---|
| 111,761 2,736 - 114,497 154,640 |
|
| 1,888 - - 1,888 2,390 126,961 10,534 - 137,495 141,631 |
|
| 128,849 10,534 - 139,383 144,021 |
|
| (17,088) (7,798) - (24,886) 10,619 (2,780) 4,378 (138) 1,460 (6,582) |
|
| (19,868) (3,420) (138) (23,426) 4,037 - - - - - 156,180 271,937 2,594 430,711 426,674 |
|
| 136,312 268,517 2,456 407,285 430,711 |
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 2021
| Note Fixed Assets Tangible fixed assets 5a Investment Assets 5b Current Assets Debtors 6 Short term deposits Cash at bank and in hand Liabilities Creditors - amounts falling due within one year 7 Net current assets Total net assets Parish Funds 9 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment |
2021 2020 £ £ 271,492 271,704 104,003 102,543 |
|---|---|
| 375,495 374,247 |
|
| 4,584 8,259 22,587 25,958 10,374 27,493 |
|
| 37,545 61,710 (5,755) (5,246) |
|
| 31,790 56,464 |
|
| 407,285 430,711 136,312 156,180 268,517 271,937 2,456 2,594 - |
|
| 407,285 430,711 |
Approved by the Parochial Church Council on and signed on its behalf by:
Debbie Oades, Vicar
Roger Leslie, Church Warden
Notes 1 to 24 form part of these accounts
22
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
1. Accounting Policies
The PCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCCs, and with the Regulations’ “true and fair view” provisions, together with FRS102 (2017) as the applicable accounting standards and the 2017 version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP (2017)).
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention except for the valuation of investment assets, which are shown at market value.
a) Funds
Endowment funds are permanent endowments and bequests of capital used to generate income for restricted funds.
Restricted funds are funds which can only be used for particular purposes as specified by the donor or funds raised for particular restricted purposes.
General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.
The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the financial statements of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members. The group for which the PCC are responsible in law is St Michael’s Tuesday Club.
b) Income and Endowments
Voluntary income and capital sources
-
i) Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC.
-
ii) Planned Giving under gift aid is recognised only when received.
-
iii) Income tax recoverable on covenants or gift aid donations is recognised when the income is recognised.
-
iv) Grants and legacies to the PCC are accounted for as soon as the PCC is notified of its legal entitlement and the amount due can be measured reliably and its receipt by the PCC is more likely than not.
-
v) Funds raised by events are accounted for gross.
Other ordinary income
Rental income from the letting of premises is recognised when the rental is due.
Income from investments
Dividends and interest are accounted for when receivable.
23
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
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 31[st] December 2021.
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 £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 2021 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 2021 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 2021.
g) Current assets
Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December 2021 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
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
| 2. Income and endowments 2a. Voluntary giving Planned Giving: Gift Aid donations Tax recoverable Other Collections (open plate) Donations,appeals etc Grants Legacies 2b. Activities for generating funds Lettings: Church hall Church St Michael Square 2c. Church activities Tuesday Club Fees for weddings, funerals etc Other income 2d. Income from investments Dividends Interest 2e. Other incoming resources Insurance claims Other income Total income and endowments |
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Total funds Funds Funds Funds 2021 2020 £ £ £ £ £ 60,170 - - 60,170 65,341 13,966 - - 13,966 13,564 - - - - 120 |
|---|---|
| 74,136 - - 74,136 79,025 80 - - 80 776 2,103 - - 2,103 29,276 3,456 - - 3,456 5,999 2,052 - - 2,052 14,000 |
|
| 81,827 - - 81,827 129,076 |
|
| 22,413 - - 22,413 14,795 2,707 - - 2,707 1,622 75 - - 75 330 |
|
| 25,195 - - 25,195 16,747 |
|
| - - - - 1,253 2,348 - - 2,348 2,022 978 - - 978 1,390 |
|
| 3,326 - - 3,326 4,665 |
|
| 1,108 2,727 - 3,835 4,023 5 9 - 14 129 - |
|
| 1,113 2,736 - 3,849 4,152 |
|
| - - - - - 300 - - 300 - |
|
| 300 - - 300 - |
|
| 111,761 2,736 - 114,497 154,640 |
Income for 2020 was received as unrestricted funds £151,942, restricted funds £2,698 and endowment funds £nil.
25
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
| 3. Expenditure 3a. Grants - Mission giving Overseas - missionary societies Home mission & other societies 3b. Church activities Ministry: Parish Share clergy expenses Sabbatical other clergy costs Services Cost of organist, choirmaster & choir Parish magazine & bookstall Tuesday Club Fees paid over to the Diocese Other fees and licences Community outreach and events Church running costs Church repairs and general maintenance Planned maintenance projects: - New sign board Depreciation of equipment Hall running costs Support costs Bank charges Costs of generating funds Other costs Total expenditure |
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total funds Total funds Funds Funds Funds 2021 2020 £ £ £ £ £ 832 - - 832 416 1,056 - - 1,056 1,974 |
|---|---|
| 1,888 - - 1,888 2,390 |
|
| 72,361 - - 72,361 74,663 984 - - 984 905 - - - - - 1,299 - - 1,299 974 |
|
| 74,644 - - 74,644 76,542 1,486 419 - 1,905 866 1,465 - - 1,465 1,652 73 - - 73 - - - - - 1,306 2,690 - - 2,690 1,068 712 - - 712 784 383 - - 383 - 12,167 - - 12,167 13,799 603 7,500 - 8,103 5,482 - - - - 3,837 97 115 - 212 282 11,383 2,500 - 13,883 14,284 20,722 - - 20,722 21,330 211 - - 211 324 - - - - - 325 - - 325 75 |
|
| 126,961 10,534 - 137,495 141,631 |
|
| 128,849 10,534 - 139,383 144,021 |
Support costs include the salary of the parish secretary and the costs of running the church office.
Expenditure for 2020 was met from unrestricted funds £143,325, restricted funds £695 and endowment funds £nil.
26
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
| 4. Staff costs Wages and salaries Social security costs 5a. Fixed assets for use by the PCC Actual/deemed cost at 1 January 2021 Additions at cost Disposals at 31 December 2021 Depreciation at 1 January 2021 Withdrawn on disposals Charge for the year at 31 December 2021 Net book value at 31 December 2021 at 31 December 2020 |
Land and buildings £ 270,856 - - |
2021 2020 £ £ 30,232 29,891 - - |
|---|---|---|
| 30,232 29,891 |
||
| Other Total £ £ 5,009 275,865 - - - - |
||
| 270,856 | 5,009 275,865 |
|
| - - - |
(4,161) (4,161) - - (212) (212) |
|
| - | (4,373) (4,373) |
|
| 270,856 270,856 |
636 271,492 848 271,704 |
The church, church hall, vicarage and site are held by the Diocese of Oxford as Custodian Trustee of St Michael Charity which is a permanent trust established in November 1973. An extension to the vicarage is included at cost above as is expenditure on the redesign of the church entrance and on St Michael's Square. In both cases the cost is not depreciated. Otherwise information as to the cost of these buildings and site is not available and they are included at nil cost above.
| 5b. Investment assets Movements in the year CBF Fixed Interest Securities M&G Charifund Historical cost CBF Fixed Interest Securities M&G Charifund |
Market Sale Gain/ Market value proceeds (loss) value 1 Jan 2021 31 Dec 2021 £ £ £ £ 61,366 - (4,049) 57,317 41,177 - 5,509 46,686 - |
|---|---|
| 102,543 - 1,460 104,003 |
|
| Shares/units Cost Shares/units Cost £ £ 36,279 58,979 36,279 58,979 3,000 2,526 3,000 2,526 1 Jan 2021 31 Dec 2021 |
27
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
6.
7.
| Debtors Tax recoverable Prepayments and accrued income Other debtors Liabilities: amounts falling due within one year Accruals and deferred income Creditors for goods and services |
2021 2020 £ £ 811 982 1,688 5,956 2,085 1,321 |
|---|---|
| 4,584 8,259 |
|
| 2020 2019 £ £ (898) (1,512) (4,857) (3,734) |
|
| (5,755) (5,246) |
8. Analysis of net assets by fund as at 31 December 2021
| Analysis of net assets by fund as at 31 December 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Tangible fixed assets Fixed asset investments Current assets - debtors Current assets - deposits Current assets - cash at bank and in hand Current liabilities Fund balances |
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total £ £ £ £ 77,851 193,642 - 271,493 39,349 62,703 1,951 104,003 4,584 - - 4,584 10,226 11,855 505 22,586 10,057 317 - 10,374 (5,755) - - (5,755) |
| 136,312 268,517 2,456 407,285 |
28
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
9. Analysis of Fund Movements
| Unrestricted Funds: Designated Tuesday Club St Michael's Vicarage St Michael's Square Pastoral Support Buildings and Projects Youth Activities Sabbatical Music Undesignated General Fund Total Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds: Trust Income Spiritual Development St Michael Charity St Michael's Square St Michael's Project Total Restricted Funds Endowment Funds: Ellen Motion Fund Total Endowment Funds Total of all Funds |
1 Jan 2021 Income Expenditure Transfers Gains/ 31 Dec 2021 (losses) £ £ £ £ £ £ 3,274 - - - - 3,274 34,916 - - - - 34,916 42,643 - - - - 42,643 26,601 557 - (10,000) (1,390) 15,768 22,764 556 - (10,000) (1,390) 11,930 4,209 2 (278) - - 3,933 409 1 - 200 - 610 2,289 1 - - - 2,290 |
|---|---|
| 137,105 1,117 (278) (19,800) (2,780) 115,364 19,075 110,644 (128,571) 19,800 - 20,948 |
|
| 156,180 111,761 (128,849) - (2,780) 136,312 |
|
| 15,488 276 (10,000) 10,056 (685) 15,135 6,319 58 - - - 6,377 55,598 2,401 - (10,056) 5,063 53,006 193,297 - - - - 193,297 1,235 1 (534) - - 702 |
|
| 271,937 2,736 (10,534) - 4,378 268,517 |
|
| 2,594 - - - (138) 2,456 |
|
| 2,594 - - - (138) 2,456 |
|
| 430,711 114,497 (139,383) - 1,460 407,285 |
29
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
10. St Michael Charity
The St Michael Charity was established in November 1973 as part of a Scheme approved by the Charity Commissioners of England and Wales. As part of that Scheme, St Michael Charity acquired the land and buildings thereon, namely St Michael’s Church, St Michael’s Church Hall and the vicarage together with a share of the accumulated income allocated under the Scheme. The investments of St Michael Charity are included in these Financial Statements at Note 5b.
11. Bankers
TSB Bank plc, Leeds, and HSBC, Sycamore Road, Amersham, are the PCC’s bankers. Additionally, Amersham branch of Barclays Bank plc acts as banker for St Michael’s Tuesday Club. The PCC also has funds on deposit with the Central Board of Finance of the Church of England.
12. Funds
The Charities Act distinguishes between ‘restricted’ funds, which are funds or endowments given to the PCC for a particular purpose and which can only be used for that purpose, and ‘unrestricted’ funds which are available for the general purposes of the PCC and may be designated by the PCC. The PCC make transfers between funds when expenditure of a restricted or designated nature is to be met from more than one type of fund. The maximum level of these transfers is agreed by the PCC prior to the expenditure. On 24 March 2006, the Charity Commission confirmed that the funds of St Michael Charity do not constitute permanent endowment but are restricted funds.
Unrestricted funds designated by the PCC:
i) St Michael’s Vicarage
This fund includes expenditure on the vicarage extension in 2007.
ii) St Michael’s Square This fund includes expenditure on the redesign of the church entrance and on St Michael’s Square met from unrestricted funds.
iii) Pastoral Support This fund is for support for the Vicar in her pastoral work, including outreach activities. It holds investments in CBF Fixed Interest Securities Fund and cash deposits.
iv) Buildings and Projects
This fund is for larger and capital projects relating to the church and hall buildings. It holds investments in CBF Fixed Interest Securities Fund and cash deposits.
v) Youth Activities
This fund is for support for youth activities within St Michael’s, including but not limited to Messy Church. It includes funds formerly held in the Spiritual Development fund and the Miss M.E. Blake legacy. It holds cash deposits.
30
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
vi) Sabbatical
This fund is to provide support for sabbatical study for the Vicar. A grant was agreed, and paid, in 2019. From 2020 onwards it will be gradually increased each year to provide for a future sabbatical. It holds cash deposits.
vii) Music
This fund was established with a designated donation, to provide for exceptional items required in relation to music in the church. It holds cash deposits.
Unrestricted Funds which have not been designated by the PCC
viii) General Fund
This fund holds the accumulated surplus in cash, deposits and CBF Fixed Interest Securities Fund and is used in conjunction with the PCC’s cash operating accounts. It also holds expenditure on fixed assets (other than buildings) and on investments acquired with unrestricted funds.
Restricted Funds of the PCC
ix) Trust Income account This fund receives income from St Michael Charity to be used for expenditure on the buildings in accordance with the trust deed. In 2021 a transfer was made to move income previously credited to the St Michael Charity fund to this fund.
x) St Michael Charity
St Michael Charity was established in November 1973 and is invested to provide income with dividends and interest being paid to the Trust Income account. As for some years the income had been credited to the St Michael Charity fund, a transfer (as noted above) has been made to correct this.
xi) Spiritual Development Fund
This fund is for the young people of St Michael’s and receives income from the Ellen Motion Memorial Fund from which it originated.
xii) St Michael’s Square
This fund represents expenditure on the redesign of the church entrance and on St Michael’s Square met from restricted funds.
xiii) The St Michael’s Project Fund
This fund was established in 2014 for restricted income, and matched expenditure, on specific projects – initially, for replacement seating, and then in 2015 and 2019 for the refurbishment of the church organ. In 2020 the fund was used for the hall improvement project, with matched expenditure charged to that fund.
Endowment Funds
xiv) Ellen Motion Memorial Fund
This fund is a permanent endowment invested to produce restricted income which is to be used for the spiritual development of the young people of St Michael’s. By an addendum signed on 17 November 1997, it was agreed that income from the fund could be used to support payments to a voluntary youth worker.
31
Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Amersham on the Hill
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
13. 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 2021, the PCC had a claimable income tax rebate of £811 (2020: £982). A summary of all debtors and creditors at the year end is shown at Notes 6 and 7 to the Accounts.
14. 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 £nil (2020: £1,253) with costs for the year of £nil (2020: £1,306).
15. 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 2021 (2020: £nil).
16. 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 £984 (2020: £906) as follows:
| Travel expenses Vicarage telephone and internet Other expenses |
2021 2020 £ £ - - 984 906 - - £984 £906 |
|---|---|
Expenses of £1,299 (2020: £974) were reimbursed to other curates and clergy.
18. Insurance
The PCC has insured itself with the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group for many years and the policy is inflation linked. From March 2021 cover of the buildings was provided at the following levels:
Church £5,600,000 (2020: £5,600,000) Hall £2,800,000 (2020: £2,800,000)
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 2021
19. Mission Giving
As noted in the Annual Report, in 2021 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.
20. Loans and guarantees
No loans or guarantees have been secured against any of the PCC’s assets.
21. Contingent liabilities
There are no contingent liabilities.
22. 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 | £90 |
| Stephen Wilcox | Organist | Rachel Wilcox | Husband | £1,170 |
| Rachel Wilcox | Organist | PCC member | £90 | |
| Hazel Miller | Administrator | Ex officio PCC member | £12,781 |
No other payments or expenses were paid to any other PCC member, persons closely connected to them or related parties.
23. Grants
| HMRC Job Retention Scheme ‘Furlough’ claims Total grants |
2021 2020 £ £ 3,456 5,999 3,456 5,999 |
|---|---|
24. Quinquennial examination
An Architect’s Quinquennial Survey was completed in March 2021, and the Report received in May 2021. The Buildings Committee is reviewing the report and will advise the PCC on a programme of works. A full electrical survey has also been completed and its recommendations will also be reviewed, with recommendations to the PCC. Specialist contractors will be engaged where necessary.
33