**Wallingford Parochial Church Council Annual Report & Financial Statements 2022** **Registered Charity No. 1129240** ## **Table of Contents** **1. Aim and Purpose ............................................................................................................................................................. 3 2. Objectives and Activities .................................................................................................................................................. 3 3. Financial Review .............................................................................................................................................................. 4** 3.1 Financial Summary ..................................................................................................................................................................... 4 3.2 Reserves Policy .......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 Grant making policy ................................................................................................................................................................... 4 3.4 Stewardship ............................................................................................................................................................................... 4 **4. Churchwardens’ Report ................................................................................................................................................... 5 5. Report from Parish Safeguarding Officer ........................................................................................................................... 5 6. PCC Vision Groups & Sub Committees .............................................................................................................................. 6** 6.1 Worship & Spirituality Group .................................................................................................................................................... 6 6.2 Outreach & Nurture Group ........................................................................................................................................................ 8 6.3 Social Responsibility Group ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 6.4 Standing Committee ................................................................................................................................................................ 10 6.5 Communication Group ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 6.6 Choir Committee ...................................................................................................................................................................... 11 6.7 Bellringers ................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 **7. Cherishing God’s Earth ................................................................................................................................................... 13 9. Plans for the Future ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 10. Structure, Governance & Management ......................................................................................................................... 14 11. Administrative Information .......................................................................................................................................... 14 12. Wallingford Team Ministry ........................................................................................................................................... 15 13. Wallingford Deanery Synod........................................................................................................................................... 16 14. Annual Financial Statements ......................................................................................................................................... 18 15. Independent Examiner’s Report .................................................................................................................................... 27** Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 2 ## 1. Aim and Purpose The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Mary-le-More’s (St Mary’s) and St Leonard’s has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent to promote the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. As a parish, we aim to become a living and loving example of Jesus Christ in our community, to be **open to God, open to all** . The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of St Mary’s Church and St Leonard’s Church. ## 2. Objectives and Activities Revd. David Rice retired in December 2022 after 22 years’ service as our Team Rector. Therefore one of the main objectives of the PCC for 2023 will be to create a Team Profile, which is a crucial part of the recruitment process for a new incumbent. The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our churches (in-person or online) and to become part of our parish community. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament whilst our outreach activities strive to look beyond ourselves to share the love of Christ as we serve and connect with the community. When planning our activities and priorities for the coming years, we identified three main priorities in 2017, which we have continued to progress: - Development of our provision of worship, taking into account people’s busy lives and their requirements for alternative forms of worship - Development of ways to encourage local residents to be part of our church, whilst nurturing our current congregation. - Development of the role of a Children and Families Worker to further attract, support and encourage young people to be lifelong Christians. To deliver these priorities, the PCC has a number of Vision Groups and sub-groups: **----- Start of picture text -----**
Worship & Spirituality - to
include sustaining what we
have and looking to the
future
Outreach & Nurture - to
Social Responsibility -
include reaching out to
to include collections &
new and current
donations to charities,
members of the
both home and abroad;
community, the
this group raises
ongoing nurture of our
awareness of the needs
current congregation
of the wider world
and activities of the
locally, nationally and
Children and Families
globally.
Worker
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In addition: - the responsibilities of the - **Standing Committee** include finance, buildings and stewardship, • the **Choir Committee** focuses on the musical aspects of our worship, and • a **Communication** stream runs through all groups. These sub-groups meet independently and report back to the PCC when the council meets. A new focus in 2019 involved ‘ **Cherishing God’s Earth’** and is inspiring us to think about how we can express our care for God’s world in our lives and through our worship and teaching, buildings and land, our local community engagement and our personal lifestyle choices. This mission aspect of our church continues to run through all our vision groups and resulted in our churches being given an **Eco Church Silver Award** by the A Rocha foundation in 2020. Our parish offers many services and activities to reach out to as many people as possible. Services normally include two Eucharist services every Sunday and another on Thursday mornings; sung or choral Evensong on Sunday evenings and a monthly Family Service. In addition, online Morning Prayer is via Zoom from Mondays to Fridays and on Wednesday evenings we have a service for contemplative prayer and reflection, also via Zoom; this service was introduced during Covid when in-person attendance was difficult, but it has proved so popular we have kept it in this format. See Section 6.1 for more details on our worship. Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 3 Activities include a robed choir (both adults and juniors), a music group, Emmaus and Bible Study groups, bellringing and various children’s activities (Children’s Church, JAM - Jesus and Me; Tiny Toes Toddlers’ group and Baby Singing) as well as social groups such as The Fellowship, and coffee mornings twice a week. The hiring of St Mary’s helps to make the church a vibrant focus of life in the town. The ability to remove the chairs in the church allows it to be a very flexible space and our diverse hirers in 2022 included the Country Market and Local Producers’ Market, monthly meetings for U3A and The Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society as well as weekly choir rehearsals, for an additional two choirs to our own, and several concerts and recitals. We aim to keep St Mary’s open daily for both parishioners and visitors, for anyone who wants to find peace at the heart of bustling, everyday life; a place for quiet contemplation and prayer as well as enabling an understanding of the church building in the history of the area. Finally, we provide two buildings, where life events such as weddings and baptisms are celebrated with joy and thanksgiving, and funerals with respect and compassion, allowing us to give thanks for the loved one, time to reflect and think, and to entrust him or her into God’s care. In 2022 there were 164 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll. We celebrated 27 baptisms and five weddings as well as six confirmations. Thirteen funerals were held in our two churches during the year; in addition, our parish clergy officiated at a further ten funerals, either at a crematorium or at a cemetery. The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, fully recognising its duty to have due regard to House of Bishops' guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. See section 5 for a report from our Parish Safeguarding Officer. The PCC has considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and works to provide a welcoming atmosphere and suitable facilities for all people. St Mary’s, in particular, is available for wider community use and during the year is normally used by several groups unconnected with the church; further details of activities for the public benefit are given throughout this report. ## 3. Financial Review ## 3.1 Financial Summary In 2022 the church finances continued to return towards a pre-Covid situation, with a noticeable increase in plate collections and some recovery in income from coffee sales and church lettings. Expenditure was close to budget, slightly lower than in 2021. Overall, the value of church funds was very close to the 2021 value: a decline of around £22,000 in the value of investments held by Oxford diocese on our behalf was balanced by increases in value of the other funds - in particular the General fund which is used for the running costs of the church. This will allow us to start rebuilding reserves. However, there will be some extra costs this year. If we continue using energy at the same rate as previous years, our utility bills will triple from around £7,000 in 2021 to £21,000 in 2023. But significant savings have been made by adjusting heating levels and timings in St Mary's which will reduce the impact of high bills. There are also some fabric works to be undertaken in 2023 on both our churches for which we are still assessing the costs. We are fortunate that, due to the generosity of our congregation, we are in a good position to face these challenges. I am very grateful for the support I receive from Jenny Harden and Judith Pengilley: without their help and encouragement it would not be possible for me to look after our church finances. ## 3.2 Reserves Policy It is the policy of the Wallingford PCC to maintain as a reserve approximately three months of general running costs (amounting to £30,000) plus a further amount as contingency for quinquennial and other works arising. The target level for this contingency is £90,000 giving a total target for reserves of £120,000. ## 3.3 Grant making policy The total of donations made by the PCC, plus collections taken at special services (including Christmas, Easter, Harvest), should approach 10% of the PCC's unrestricted income. The management of this giving is delegated to the Social Responsibility Group. The current practice is to support at least one UK charity and one overseas charity. One of the charities must be Christian based. Collections for emergency disaster appeals and one-off charities are agreed by the PCC. ## 3.4 Stewardship There was no stewardship campaign during the year. _Stephen Harrison PCC Treasurer_ Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 4 ## 4. Churchwardens’ Report In 2022 we finally started to emerge from the restrictions of the Covid pandemic. Our Team Rector, Revd David Rice, had steered the path with compassion and dedication to the community he served. He planned his retirement only when he was sure that the life of our church could finally move forwards with more freedom. As churchwardens, he prepared us carefully, taking the time to reflect on lessons learnt during his 22-year tenure as our priest and also from the adaptations demanded by the pandemic. So, with him, we reflected on the plans required for the interregnum, keeping the positive outcomes from Covid such as Zoom meetings and live streaming of our services. We divided the responsibilities between us and, in broad terms, Emma took on worship planning and Jacquie the oversight of all pastoral activities. David had depended on information provided by leaders of the parish network groups during Covid, to support and inform him. We seek to continue this pastoral care as we continue to support and care for each other. Towards the start of the year, we received the Quinquennial Inspection reports for both churches. The actions resulting from the inspection by our newly appointed architect highlighted several immediate challenges that required careful understanding and navigation before they could be investigated and progressed. This has taken-up a considerable amount of Emma’s time, as she leads on church buildings (and churchyards). Emma is very grateful to the support, guidance and encouragement provided by David, and Wendy, Jacquie and Steve – as members of the Standing Committee It has been wonderful to see the numbers of people in church gradually increase throughout the last year. Easter was such an example – it was a joyful celebration. In August, we welcomed Bishop Gavin to Baptise and Confirm members of our church family. In October, we held our first Harvest Supper since before the pandemic – it was an uplifting experience to come together. At Christmas we were moving towards the pre-pandemic figures at services. In addition, there is a small but consistent number of our congregation who watch the services on the livestream. Life, including the life and work of our church, is feeling more normal again but at the same time we are not losing the flexibility introduced during the pandemic. During the interregnum, Hannah, supported by Emma, has been doing a fantastic job with our children and families. She worked hard during Advent with a number of different outreach activities and the Crib service she planned and led was “bulging at the seams”. Kevin, together with our retired clergy, lay ministers and visiting clergy have all offered themselves willingly and regularly to enable our services to continue in David’s absence. We are enormously grateful for the time they have committed to help us to keep a sense of normality and enthusiasm for worship together. We have been buoyed by the love and support of so many others who work tirelessly behind the scenes to help us stay efficient in our work and resilient through all the challenges that an interregnum brings. So, thank you all for drawing to our attention the important practical issues, for sharing the load in important decisions, and for being willing to step in and help when we are feeling stretched to fill in the gaps. We have also received help and guidance from David Tyler (Archdeacon of Dorchester). He has outlined and explained the process towards reappointment, informed us prior to the decision we had to take around keeping or selling the Rectory (we are keeping it) and he has always been available to us concerning any pastoral matters and quick to respond. We would like to record our thanks to him for all that he has done to date in pointing us in the right direction. Linda Hull was appointed as our Parish Safeguarding Officer prior to David’s retirement. She has been invaluable in her role: visible, efficient, approachable and professional in all she does. We are grateful to have her in post and we continue to work closely with her to ensure a safe environment for all. The Choir, as well as enhancing our own church services, found many exciting outreach opportunities during the year. We continue to work closely with Judith and share the joy of our wonderful musical heritage and we hope and plan to continue its development under her inspirational leadership. As we look towards appointing our new incumbent, we give thanks for all that David has done and meant to each one of us. We commit ourselves to continue working hard on behalf of the Parish of Wallingford and the Benefice.... And to keep smiling. _Jacquie Hughes & Emma Cross Churchwardens_ ## 5. Report from Parish Safeguarding Officer Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 5 Linda Hull took up the role of Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) in June 2022. Her first jobs were to understand the current issues and development areas, and to ensure her own training was fully up to date; this included undertaking basic, foundation and leadership training, as well as PSO induction training and modules on both safer recruitment and domestic abuse. A full handover of safeguarding information took place on David Rice’s retirement, with a report made to the Diocese. Safeguarding is a standing item on PCC agendas, and at each meeting Linda provides an updated Action Plan taken from the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard. The PCC continues to comply with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and clergy discipline measure 2016 (duty to have due regard to House of Bishops guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults) and to ensure both policy and practice are set in line with the most recent guidance from the Church of England and Diocese of Oxford. **Safeguarding Policy, Guidance and Information** : Our Parish Safeguarding Policy is reviewed annually following the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) and is in line with _Promoting A Safer Church_ . A policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, based on the Church of England model, was agreed in November 2022. We make good use of materials provided both by the Diocese and by the Church of England in ensuring our Safeguarding procedures are appropriate. We are currently auditing safeguarding training held by volunteers in our churches – many people completed training prior to the pandemic and so need to review that training. All PCC members are required to undertake basic and foundation level training. For most other roles within the church, basic training is appropriate. **Safer Recruitment and People Management:** This is a significant piece of work with which we are making progress. Hannah Smith, our Children & Families Worker, has produced some volunteer role descriptions and we are able to ensure that correct procedure is followed for new appointments, both paid and voluntary, such as the taking up of references. Our focus for development is on broadening the range of role descriptions, ensuring the correct training is in place for volunteers, and ensuring appropriate checks are in place for all new appointments. We also need to ensure paperwork and procedures are as straightforward as possible to meet safeguarding requirements without being so onerous that genuine volunteers are discouraged from stepping forward. Hannah, Emma Cross (Churchwarden) and Linda have completed the Safer Recruitment training pathway. A number of concerns and queries have been raised to the PSO, with advice and support sought from the Diocese as required. On occasions it is simply a matter of checking guidance on the Diocesan website; for example whether a particular role requires a DBS check. However, where a safeguarding concern is raised/shared, it is expected that advice will be sought directly from the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, and it is for them to discern whether further action is needed. _Linda Hull Parish Safeguarding Officer_ ## 6. PCC Vision Groups & Sub Committees ## 6.1 Worship & Spirituality Group We began the year with planning and preparing for Lent and Easter. As part of this, we reflected on the importance of coming together in Lent as a benefice to encourage each other on our own faith journey and to remember the Christian life is one which is shared. With this in mind, we came-up with the idea of a Lent course looking at pilgrimage and the importance of journeying in faith. This was inspired, in part, by the _Sacred Places_ series of ‘Prayer with the Heart’ services. - Session 1 – What is a pilgrimage? The Worship and Spiritually group was very grateful to Clare Stephenson for putting this idea - • Session 2 – Why do we into fruition through the development of our Team Ministry _The Pilgrim Path_ Lent course. _The_ make a pilgrimage? _Pilgrim Path_ focused on Jesus’ last and most important journey made with his disciples from - • Session 3 – How do we Galilee to Jerusalem in the days leading up to the crucifixion. change when we make a pilgrimage? _The Pilgrim Path_ was delivered over five weekly sessions (see - • Session 4 - Where is God left) and offered on Zoom during the day and evening on a when we make a pilgrimage? Thursday. The sessions built on the format of previous years and - • Session 5 - Who are our included time for learning, sharing, and reflecting on scriptures companions on the road? through art. Each session was led by members of the Worship and Spiritually group using materials developed by Clare but allowing for flexibility and the incorporation of their own faith - experience. _The Pilgrim Path_ was very well attended and received. To accompany _The Pilgrim Path_ , we developed a display board in St Mary’s for parishioners to share their ‘Sacred Places’ - places significant to them in their faith journey. The Worship and Spiritually group was grateful to Luke Whitcomb for this idea and for making this hugely popular expression of faith happen in our church. During Lent, _Prayer with the Heart_ , held on Wednesday evenings by Zoom, followed their own journey of the soul through poems written by George Herbert. This series was entitled _The Sour-Sweet Days_ of George Herbert. The idea was borne out of a George Herbert anthology book written by Mark Oakley, My Sour-Sweet Days. Since Easter, _Prayer with the Heart_ has continued to meet using readings set for the previous Sunday as the theme for each Wednesday evening service. We’re so grateful to those that lead these services. Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 6 Over the summer, we re-focussed on planning for the future by re-visiting our vision developed in 2019 using the Diocese of Oxford’s Parish Planning tool. The group came to a decision that it would re-run the planning tool in light of Covid. The planning tool is a process that aims to help a church appreciate the strengths in what they are already doing, and to discover new opportunities and directions for God’s call. Through this process, we developed the following shared vision: ‘ _We enable people to be the best they can be in God_ ’. The change envisaged by the Worship and Spirituality group for the future was incremental and evolutionary, building on what we do well now. The over-arching goal developed by the group was ‘ _to sustain the mature and varied ministry of St Mary’s and St Leonard’s over the next three years’_ - especially given the interregnum. Helping to achieve this goal, the following three emphases were identified in addition to maintaining the pattern and rhythm of public worship in our parish: - _The offer of ‘personal discipleship plans’_ - _A church-wide small group course_ - _Fellowship opportunities to enable people to get to know each other_ At the same time, Janine Bailey and the Outreach & Nurture Group ran a small groups survey, with the help of David Rice, to better understand how we can support parishioners in their faith journey. Using the information gained from this survey, coupled with the goal of this group, during the Autumn, David Rice put into motion The Bible Society's _The Bible Course_ and gathered the support of Clare Stephenson, Gavin Wood and Jonathon and Susie Wilmot to lead three groups between them. We are so grateful to them for their support and commitment – again these groups were very well attended and received, and provided opportunities for followship. David handed over the leadership of the Worship and Spirituality group to Emma Cross, group member and Churchwarden leading on worship during the interregnum, approaching his retirement in November. The group offered their sincere thanks to David for his wisdom, encouragement and enabling in everything he had done with supporting the life and work of the Worship and Spirituality group over so many years. The attention of the group was drawn to Advent and Christmas. We reflected on the Church of England’s theme for Christmas, _Follow the Star: the Great Invitation_ , and in response decided to continue with our familiar pattern of worship but make close links with the Outreach and Nurture group. As part of this, Clare Stephenson and Luke Whitcomb, kindly agreed to plan and prepare the Longest Night service this year due to the interregnum – our thanks to them. We are so grateful to all clergy and laity who led and supported our services over Advent and Christmas – especially as this concurred with the start of the interregnum. Behind the scenes, Emma Cross, had to make several changes to the planned clergy rota due to sickness. This included two tier standby cover for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! Advent and Christmas showed the importance of lay ministry within our parish through, for example, the Family Service, Christingle, Crib service and Longest Night service. It was a joy and delight to witness the church bursting at the seams at the Crib service – and thanks to Hannah Smith, our Children and Families worker, for preparing and leading this service. The following table explains our service provision: |**St Leonard’s**|Every Sunday|08:00|Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer)| |---|---|---|---| |||18:30|Sung or Choral Evensong (Book of Common Prayer)| |**St Mary’s**|2ndSunday|10:15|Family Service, preceded by crafts at 09:45| |||11:30|Said Communion (Common Worship)| ||All other Sundays|10:00|Parish Communion (Common Worship)
with Children’s Church JAM(Jesus & Me)| ||Every Thursday|11:00|Holy Communion (Common Worship)| |**Zoom**|Every morning (Mon - Fri)|08:30
or
09:00|Morning Prayer (Common Worship) on Zoom;
also in person on Wednesdays & Fridays
at otherchurchesinthe benefice| ||Every Wednesday|20:00|Prayer with the Heart| _Emma Cross On behalf of the Worship and Spirituality group_ Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 7 6.2 Outreach & Nurture Group ## 6.2.1 Outreach & Nurture Group - General Early in 2022, we completed our work on the Parish Planning Tool and determined that: _We are a church which looks outwards to draw others in, where a diverse range of people of all ages worship and have a sense of belonging._ Based on this, we developed four priorities for the group for 2022: - _Review and develop the provision of a Bible study/prayer group across all ages and needs_ - _Review provision of activities or events for older children/teenagers_ - _Plan & develop a regular pattern of events to welcome newcomers_ - _Develop a regular pattern of activities linked with town and community events._ Under these priorities, a number of activities took place throughout the year including an afternoon tea for newcomers, a parish picnic followed by Evensong held outdoors, and four trails for children including one at Easter, one in the summer (in partnership with “Wild about Wallingford”) in St Leonard’s churchyard, a Light Trail at the end of October in St Mary’s church and one in Advent around the town. See the next section for more information on these. We also organised a Harvest Supper in October, our first since before Covid, which was very enjoyable. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Parish Picnic
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Also, in partnership with Wallingford Deanery, a Pilgrim Path walk was organised, which included a visit to the church in the neighbouring parish of Cholsey, and this was followed by a Deanery Evensong where choristers from across the Deanery came together, along with the Area Dean and the Associate Archdeacon, who preached at the service. We also reviewed the services and activities leaflet given to new arrivals to Wallingford by the Harvest Supper Tourist Information Centre and now ensure that they have always have a good supply. Responding to feedback from a number of parishioners, an online survey was carried out in the summer to discover how we can support people in our parish in their faith and to discover if the groups currently in place met people’s requirements or whether they needed to be developed further. The results of this survey clearly demonstrated that there was a demand for a small study group and this initiative was then passed to the Worship & Spirituality group for implementation. Following the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II in September, a Book of Condolences was provided in St Mary’s, as well as the opportunity for grievers to light a candle. This was welcomed by people in the town. For the first time since before Covid, we were able to plan a full programme of services and activities during Advent and Christmas. We decided to follow the Church of England’s theme for Christmas, _Follow the Star: the Great Invitation_ . All our promotional material (posters, flyers etc) included this theme at its heart. St Mary’s was decorated with lights and stars, including a huge star over the font - these were much appreciated by everyone, from visitors to the church to those attending the special services and events throughout the season. A framework was created and fixed outside St Mary’s, to which people could add stars, and corner boards with large posters were attached to the church for the attention of passers-by and drivers. The charity Style Acre was able to return to St Mary’s for their Christmas Service, which a real delight. The Tree of Remembering was in the chancel from the start of Advent and throughout December, giving everyone the opportunity to light a star for their loved ones who are no longer with them. Other outreach opportunities included participating in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, BunkFest and the Christmas Shopping Event. I would like to record my thanks to Revd. David Rice who led us through 2022, as well as the other members of the group and also thanks to those beyond the group who support this vital aspect of our church life. _Wendy L Muggeridge On behalf of the Outreach & Worship Group_ ## 6.2.2 Children and Families This year, our Tiny Toes Toddler Group and Baby Singing have grown significantly in number, with over 80 total visitors each week towards the end of the year. On the second Sunday of each month, we continue to hold our Family Services and on all other Sundays, we offer our Jesus and Me (JAM) group for children during our 10:00 Parish Communion; both of these have maintained stable numbers. Our weekly family newsletter reaches out to those who cannot join us with reflections and crafts, as well as keeping all up to date with upcoming events. We have continued to work with our local schools and community groups and have warmly welcomed them to our wider church activities. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Our JAM Sunday Group
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Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 8 In March, our local Brownie group helped us to assemble posies for the Mothering Sunday service. The Brownies were invited to our upcoming services, and were given an activity booklet to talk them reflectively and engagingly through the Easter story. In April, our toddler group enjoyed an Easter party in church, with a treasure hunt, themed games and an Easter story gift, together with invitations to our Easter activities in church. This year, our Easter trail followed our main church theme and took the form of a short, reflective ‘pilgrimage’ around the church. Visitors required beady eyes to spot the signs that they needed to find on their journey. They would then find a QR code to scan to hear an audio reflection. For those a little less technologically equipped, there were written reflections available too. In later April and May, we held a weekly craft lunch time drop-in for children of St Nicholas’ School. These crafts were themed on Christian based values and children were also invited to our church services and crafts. At the beginning of June, we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with craft activities for children in Castle Gardens, as part of the larger local Jubilee activities. Participants received invitations to upcoming church activities. We also held our annual Wildlife Discovery event in St. Leonard’s churchyard in June in collaboration with the Wild about Wallingford group. This was a popular event again this year and feedback from participants was very positive. In July, we held a Teddy Bear’s Picnic in the Castle Gardens for our baby and toddler groups. There were bubbles, games, treasure hunts, toys, music and stories. _Jubilee celebrations_ We kickstarted this year’s parable themed Family Services in September with a Lost Coin hunt and picnic in the Castle Gardens after our first service. September also saw a busy Bunkfest, and we offered crafts and refreshments in church on the Sunday afternoon after our Parish Communion. _Bunkfest crafts_ In October, we had our Harvest Festival Family Service, with pre-service crafts and also our annual Light Trail. This trail took a more reflective and prayerful approach this year, with five engaging and prayerful reflection stations around the church. Children enjoyed poppy themed crafts at our Family Remembrance Service in November. Also in November, we said goodbye to Revd David Rice, and the children suggested words describing him for an art piece keep-sake from the children. After David’s leaving, Hannah Smith, _Light Trail_ our Children & Families Worker, picked up the roles of planning and leading Family Services, working more closely with the local schools and supporting families with the preparation for Baptism. _Gift from the children_ The Nativity Trail this year took the form of windows, created by our congregation, that told the story of the nativity as they ‘followed the star’ map around the town. Participants would collect letters from each window to unscramble and make the title of a Christmas carol. Our toddler group had a Christmas party, with games and crafts, as well as a visit from Santa, who brought each of them a Christmas story gift. We also held an afternoon craft session in December to decorate clay stars and create star-wands as part of the Wallingford Christmas Shopping Day. The local schools received invitations to all of our family activities, which they could include in their newsletters. St. Nicholas’ School received a pre-Christingle assembly to introduce the theme, and to invite children into the church for this special service. The Christingle service began with pre-service Christingle-making. The Crib service was themed on this year’s starry-theme, with some speaking roles. Actors did exceptionally well with these, and every attending child was welcomed to dress up and join in with the service. Thank you to all who supported our work with children and families this year. _Hannah Smith Children & Families Worker_ ## 6.3 Social Responsibility Group The Social Responsibility Group aims to raise awareness of social and justice concerns of the wider world locally, nationally and globally, linking this with our charitable giving. The PCC endorsed our commitment to support one local charity (Refugee Resource) and one overseas charity (The Sharp Memorial School for the Blind, India) and £1,500 was given to each charity from Parish funds. A long-term relationship helps strengthen our links and understanding of the charities’ work. We receive regular updates from the Sharp Memorial School via a member of the congregation who used to work there; Refugee Resource also send us regular news letters. Pat Griffiths continues to take the lead for Christian Aid Week. She organised speakers to tell us about their current project at the morning service in St. Mary’s and at Evensong in St. Leonard’s and a collection was held for the charity. Pat is keen to find someone to take over the leadership role in 2023. During the year the Group also organised special collections for the following charities: Fair Trade Foundation, Children on The Edge, The Porch Oxford), Cruse, Combat Stress, The Children’s Society, See-Saw, and Parents and Children Together (PACT). Harvest produce was given to The Wallingford Food Bank and to Style Acre. A Christmas collection for the Food Bank was carried out during November so that the needy could be given their Christmas goods in time for Christmas, and our annual ‘Reverse Advent Calendar’ collected more “day-to-day” supplies during Advent for delivery in early January. In addition the Group was proactive in highlighting worldwide issues including the situation in Ukraine when we responded to the appeal by UK for UNHCR to aid refugees fleeing from the conflict. We also held a collection in response to the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Appeal to help those in desperate need following the floods in Pakistan. Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 9 In total £9,654.66 was donated to charitable causes in 2022. This does not include donations made direct to the charities via their websites by members of the congregation. Gift aid envelopes are not used by many charities nowadays so donating direct is the only way to add the gift aid element to the amount donated. We are delighted to welcome Liz Gordon, Charlie Hughes and Jo O’Reilly as members of the Group. _Philippa Bomford_ _On behalf of the Social Responsibility group_ ## 6.4 Standing Committee ## 6.4.1 Fabric ## 6.4.1.1 General As reported in the annual report for 2021, we appointed Henry Sanders of Hestia Architects as our Quinquennial Inspector for St Mary’s and St Leonard’s churches. The inspections were carried out in early autumn 2021 but we did not receive the reports until early 2022. We met with Henry Sanders to discuss the priorities in March (St Mary’s) and May (St Leonard’s). Progressing the priority actions from the Quinquennial Inspection has formed the focal point of the work of the Standing Committee over the last year. Alongside, routine activities such as, the six-monthly checks of the emergency lighting and the fire alarm took place in St Mary’s; fire extinguishers at both churches were checked and the annual PAT testing carried out at both churches. We’re very grateful to Charlie Hughes for co-ordinating these checks. ## 6.4.1.2 St Leonard’s Henry Sanders reported that the building is in reasonable condition reflecting the care undertaken by the PCC for the church. The priority 1 (urgent) actions have been carried out and we are now well underway with the priority 2 (within 12 months) actions. One of the actions relates to cutting back a tree damaging the masonry of the Apse. The Standing Committee has gained Faculty List B consent from the Diocese of Oxford to complete this work. We are waiting for South Oxfordshire District Council to undertake the work as the maintenance of the churchyard sits with them, given that it is closed. When inspecting the church, Henry Sanders noted signs of water ingress to the fabric of the internal west wall. Through initial investigations, the cause is thought to be linked to failed verge leadwork relating to the nave roof, and its abutment with the tower. This remedial work will be incorporated into St Mary’s lead replacement project – see below. The Wallingford Green Gym continue to visit the churchyard twice a year to maintain it. We are also grateful to the St Mary’s churchyard working group who supplement their work when appropriate and to Wallingford Town Council who maintain the grassed areas. ## 6.4.1.3 St Mary’s Henry Sanders acknowledged that the church was well looked after, and this is a testament to the hard work of the PCC. The Quinquennial Inspection flagged concerns that require careful and thorough investigation and guidance from professional experts. We have, where reasonably and practically possible, completed the priority 1 (urgent) actions. This has included the removal of a piece of loose nave ceiling boarding on the south of the nave. Henry Sanders was able to access the nave and aisle roofs when inspecting the church as we had scaffolding in place for roof maintenance. The inspection showed that the leadwork is failing in the valley gutters on both the north and south aisles, and in the tower roof, causing water ingress into the fabric of the building. We now have in place the St Mary’s lead replacement project being led by Henry Sanders. In December, we received the initial designs, and are re-grouping in January to progress the tendering phase. The replacement of the leadwork will be very costly. It is hoped that we will complete, some or all of this work, in 2023 but this will be subject to cost and Faculty permissions. Henry Sanders also recommended that we employ a structural engineer to investigate the condition of the tower roof timbers (impaired due to water ingress) and the structural stability of the chancel (due to falling plasterwork). We completed a tendering process for this in the early summer and appointed William Morris of Ridge and Partners LLP our structural engineer. William completed the survey in August and provided his report in October. We are working with William Morris and Henry Sanders to progress the survey recommendations– including specialist monitoring and mitigation works to the tower roof timbers. We are grateful to the St Mary’s churchyard working group who do so much to maintain the churchyard throughout the year – including both the north and south areas of the church. We are also grateful to Wallingford Town Council for maintaining the grassed areas. Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 10 ## 6.4.1.4 St Mary’s Boiler The recommendation of the Building Services Engineer, that we had employed in 2021 to advise us on a replacement to the gas boiler in St Mary’s, was challenged by the Diocesan Advisory Committee. Further investigations needs to take place before we can agree a way forward. ## 6.4.2 Health & Safety (H & S) Weekly Health and Safety checks continued throughout the year. These cover floors, stairs, carpets - looking for anything in poor condition, trip hazards etc. A more detailed check takes place once a month to include fire extinguishers and paths and steps outside. Every three months a general check of the whole of both building takes place, including all plugs and sockets, as well as a review of the accident book. _Emma Cross On behalf of the Standing Committee_ ## 6.5 Communication Group The most significant change in communications during 2022 was the total rewrite of the church website by Jane Anderson. This was launched in November 2022, with a new name www.wallingfordcofe.org.uk, ready for promoting the services and activities during Advent and Christmas. The goal was to have a website which covered all three parishes in the Team (Crowmarsh Gifford and Brightwell cum Sotwell as well as Wallingford), which was modern & dynamic, and which met the needs of locals, visitors and newcomers. The Weekly News email was distributed to nearly 260 email addresses every week. This email details the services and events for the coming week and beyond. A handful of paper copies are made available at both churches for those who do not have access to the internet. Live-streaming of the Sunday morning service at St Mary’s continued throughout the year and this still attracted a number of regular viewers. However, significant issues with the internet signal meant that we had to halt the livestreaming of Evensong at St Leonard’s from April 2022. Along with Communion at St Mary’s, we have also livestreamed four funerals, which were watched by people from across the world who couldn’t travel to the funeral itself. We also ran Zoom sessions for U3A monthly meetings during the first half of the year and TWHAS (The Wallingford Historical and Archaeological Society) monthly meetings throughout the year, thus allowing people at home to join the presentation being held in St Mary’s. Huge thanks to those who volunteered to help with the livestreaming, without whom it would not be possible. Posters, flyers and invitations were produced throughout the year promoting special services and events, and articles were published in local magazines when appropriate. Thanks to an early start in our planning for Advent and Christmas (see Section 6.2.1 Outreach & Nurture Group), we were able to give those who attended our All Souls service, at the end of October, an invitation to The Longest Night service and the Tree of Remembering. Our social media platforms (Facebook and Twitter) continue to be used to communicate latest news and promote special services and events; and the TV screen near the door in St Mary’s provides visitors and congregation alike a glimpse at our diverse services and activities. _Wendy L Muggeridge On behalf of the Communications Group_ ## 6.6 Choir Committee 2022 was a year in which the choir began to get back to their pre-pandemic pattern of events, with a full range of services. We had weddings with full choirs again, allowing some younger juniors to sing at weddings for the first time. It was lovely to be able to sing evensong in the Well House garden and at St Peter’s again, as well as in St Leonard’s. Towards the end of the year the choir led the introduction of a mass setting for the congregation to sing in parish communion services, and most movements have now been sung. The choir resumed rehearsals of Pergolesi’s _Stabat Mater_ , which had been intended for Good Friday 2020, and performed it on Good Friday this year (see picture), accompanied by Gaby Clements on the organ. This was an arrangement for full 4-part choir and several choir members sang solo numbers. In May the choir teamed up with the choirs of St. Peter’s and All Saints churches from Didcot at a Deanery Evensong in St Mary’s. We were accompanied by Mark Stanley, the Director of Music at St Peter’s. This service was David Rice’s final service as Area Dean, and we marked the occasion with Stanford in Bb and Henry Ley’s choral setting of _The strife is o’er_ . Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 11 In August the choir sang a week of services at Durham Cathedral. We were joined by Mathias Herbst, who has accompanied the choir on several tours, and his wife Heike, together with a few extra singers. With limited time to rehearse in the cathedral stalls, we were fortunate to have access to the church of St Oswald (see picture to left). The walk between church and cathedral kept us fit and gave great views of the city and river. The choir received several compliments on their singing, with some congregation members expressing surprise that we were “only a parish choir”. We sang parish favourites _Lord, give me faith_ and _I give to you a new commandment_ , as well as cathedral-filling works such as _O quam gloriosum_ and Stainer in Bb. On the day off from Durham, while some went off to the beach and elsewhere, several went to sing evensong in Hexham Abbey, where Henry Hope (who had completed some of his ordinand’s training in Wallingford) is now a curate. We were treated to a tour and an excellent tea! Not long after returning to Wallingford, the choir marked the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a special service of prayer and reflection. This included the _Nunc dimittis_ by Gibbons and hymns from the service of thanksgiving held at St Paul’s Cathedral. On the evening of Remembrance Sunday the choir sang the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré in a communion service. Arranging the movements of the Requiem carefully within a pared-down liturgical framework created a moving experience for choir and congregation alike. Gaby Clements played the organ and solos were sung by Will Lidbetter, Emma Parr and David Boddaert. In November, we had to say farewell to Revd David Rice as our Team Rector. The choir has been very fortunate to have had someone so supportive of choral music. We held a drinks party for him after choir one evening to say thank you. For his final evensong, we sang a setting of _Even-song_ , a poem by his favourite poet George Herbert. David chose Brewer in D and Moore’s _The Song of Christ’s Glory_ , for which we were accompanied by Sue Huntingford-Ledger, the Director of Music in Wallingford parish for many years. The resumption of pre-pandemic events was particularly marked in December. We were able to sing carols in care homes and Wallingford Hospital for the first time in 3 years. There was a further event in the Market Place (see right), a carol service for Style Acre Charity and a service for the Longest Night, as well as the Advent Service of Light and the Nine Lessons and Carols. Junior choristers played a big part in most of these and had their own services with Christingle and the Crib Service. The latter was enhanced by several junior soloists and other children performing carols as people arrived, which created a wonderful atmosphere. All in all, it’s been a year to celebrate singing again with greater freedom. One restriction that the choir has had to work around is the reduced space in the choir stalls in St Mary’s, due to loose plaster in the chancel ceiling. This problem has had a positive side-effect in that it has sometimes been necessary to sing next to the piano or on the dais. Most people have noticed that the choir sounds better in front of the screen! _Judith Ward Director of Music_ Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 12 ## 6.7 Bellringers We have had a successful year consolidating the ringing of the band following the lifting of all Covid restrictions. Mercifully, the band as a whole appears to have escaped any mass infection of flu or Covid (although one or two individuals have succumbed). We have rung for all services and extra ringing as requested. Numbers have stayed firm post-Covid. One person has stopped ringing for a while, but two others have returned to the band from a time away. We are also currently teaching two new learners to ring. Numbers at practice nights have been good with some ringing on all 10 bells taking place most practices and generally at least 12 people present. Sunday service ringing has also been well attended with ringing on 8 more often than not. We have rung 11 quarter peals during the year, each lasting about 45 minutes. These included one at the time of the Platinum Jubilee in June, one just after the death of Queen Elizabeth (half muffled on the back 6), and one for the proclamation of the new King Charles. There was also special ringing involving all members of the band both for the Jubilee and at the time of the Queen’s death. A peal attempt in June for the Platinum Jubilee sadly foundered half way (after 90 minutes), but a very fine quarter peal was rung afterwards. Unfortunately no peal attempts are currently allowed (on the advice of the structural engineer). It is hoped that we may be allowed to restart peals soon. A very enjoyable outing took place in August, visiting four towers in the Cotswolds, and finishing with a gargantuan tea (!). We are very grateful to Jo Gamester for making all the arrangements, and to the small corporate body which provided the tea. We entered the Branch 6-bell striking competition in 2022, held at North Moreton; the general standard was very high and we were placed a very creditable 4[th] . _Chris Tuckett Tower Captain_ ## 7. Cherishing God’s Earth This year has turned out to be a year where our focus has been on connecting with people, groups and networks and in doing so sharing our experiences and journey of cherishing God’s earth and learning how others have journeyed through theirs. I want to use this as an opportunity to share some highlights from the year. In the early part of the year, the Diocese of Oxford launched its Greenshoots Network. The aim of this network is to connect with others doing the same thing, for mutual support and information. Greenshoots meets monthly via Zoom and invites a variety of guest speakers to the event. Through sharing our Cherishing God’s Earth journey with Greenshoots. Emma Cross was invited to give a telephone interview with the Diocese’s communications team. This was shared on the Diocesan website and promoted on social media too. Following the success of our Children and Families’ Wildlife Discovery event at St Leonard’s churchyard last year, we were really pleased to work again with Wild with Wallingford (was called Wallingford Wildlife Group) in hosting the event for a second year. The event corresponded once again with the Churches Count on Nature week in June. It included another wildlife trail and craft activities, as well as a local moth expert and river ecology experts from the Environment Agency. The event took a different direction just before the planned date in that we were approached to be part of the Earthrise documentary series by Al Jazeera – which is an award-winning environment show. Earthrise were looking to explore the power of three global systems - the law, faith and the economy - to help enable positive environmental change. For the faith episode, they were looking to include a section on churches protecting their biodiversity – and our wildlife discovery event was a good match! They came across our work through discussions with the Diocese and reading our aforementioned article on the Diocese’s website. So we had a film crew present as part of our Children and Families’ Wildlife Discovery event! A Thank You needs to be extended to David Rice for his support and encouragement in agreeing to this opportunity. A couple of our church families took part in a recorded interview in St Leonard’s churchyard, as did David Rice and Emma. It was a super outreach day and it was well attended, some returning for a second year – which is great. I am grateful to Hannah Smith, the Wallingford Wildlife Group, local experts and our own volunteers who gave up their time to outreach into our community. Hannah and Emma were invited to share their experience of running the Children and Families’ Wildlife Discovery event at the July Deanery Synod meeting. However, this was cancelled due to the heatwave that we experienced. We look forward to returning in June 2023. _Emma Cross Cherishing God’s Earth Lead_ Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 13 ## 9. Plans for the Future Our main aims for 2023 and beyond include the following: - **Appoint a new Team Rector** – the Church of England process of appointment is a lengthy one, but the Team Ministry started the process before the end of 2022 and we very much hope that a suitable candidate will be steered this way by the Holy Spirit at the interviews, hopefully in mid-2023. - **Safeguarding** – we will continue to audit safeguarding training and ensure that volunteers have the basic training required, and continue to develop role descriptions, checking and induction procedures to ensure we are fully compliant with the Safer Recruitment and People Management guidance. - **Lent** – it is anticipated that a Lent study group will be run, either in-person or online via Zoom. - **Bible Study Group** – following the success of the Bible study course held in late 2022, a further group will be investigated, potentially to start after Lent. - **St Mary’s & St Leonard’s** –the programme of works resulting from the QI inspections of both churches in late 2021 will continue throughout 2023. We plan to set up a Fabric Committee to manage the various sub-projects of work. - **Choir Tour** –During August, the choir will be singing in Coventry Cathedral and it is anticipated that a parish outing will be organized for parishioners to attend a service. - **Communication** – following the successful introduction of livestreaming Eucharist and Funeral services as well as Zoom functions for some of our hirers, it is anticipated that broadband will be installed in St Mary’s to provide a more consistent service and to allow us the possibility of further developing what we offer via this technology. We will also try to resolve the connectivity problem at St Leonard’s in order to restart livestreaming Choral Evensong. - A programme of events will be planned, including a **Newcomers’ Morning Coffee** or **Afternoon Tea** to welcome new residents in early 2023. This was very successful in 2022 and we believe this helps them both to feel part of our community and also to integrate and build relationships. ## 10. Structure, Governance & Management The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. Membership of the PCC consists of the Incumbent (Team Rector) when appointed, two Churchwardens, Deanery Synod representatives, one Licensed Lay Minister plus lay members elected by those who are on the Electoral Roll of the church. All those who attend our services are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. Election to the PCC is for a three-year term, although immediate re-election is possible. We are permitted 12 lay members on the PCC, governed by the number of people on the Electoral Roll. Churchwardens are elected annually and serve for a maximum of six consecutive years. Re-election is possible after at least one year’s break. Deanery Synod representatives are elected every three years, according to a schedule set by the Diocese of Oxford and governed by the number of people on the electoral roll in the year preceding the elections. The next date for elections will be at the APCM in 2023. Based on the number of people on our electoral roll in 2022, we are entitled to 4 representatives. The members of Wallingford PCC are trustees of the charity and, as such, responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish as well as managing the parish’s finances. The PCC met five times during 2022, via a mixture of Zoom videoconferencing and in-person. Given its wide responsibilities, the PCC has a number of committees and groups, detailed earlier in the report, each dealing with a particular aspect of parish life. These committees and groups are responsible to the PCC and report back to it regularly with recommendations of their decisions when appropriate, for approval by the PCC. ## 11. Administrative Information The Parish of St Mary-le-More and St Leonard is situated in Wallingford, Oxfordshire. The churches are, together with those in Crowmarsh Gifford and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, part of the benefice of Wallingford, which is within the Wallingford Deanery in the Diocese of Oxford within the Church of England. Wallingford PCC registered as a charity on 21 April 2009. The details are: Charity Name : The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary-le-more and All Hallows with St Leonard & St Peter, Wallingford Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 14 Wallingford Parochial Church Council Noted Working Name: Registered Charity No.: 1129240 Charity Address: 30 Castle Street, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8DL Bankers: Lloyds plc., Market Place, Didcot, OX11 7LQ Independent Examiner: Caroline Webster. UHY Ross Brooke Suite I, Windrush Court, Abingdon Business Park. OX14 1SY Trustees of the charity (PCC members) who have served at any time from 1st January 2022 until the date this report was approved are: |Name|Office|Elected| |---|---|---| |**The Revd David Rice**|Team Rector_(retired 16/12/22)_|_ex officio_| |**Emma Cross**|Churchwarden & Deanery Synod representative|_ex officio_| |**Jacquie Hughes**|Churchwarden_(Chair since 20/11/22) due to interregnum_|_ex officio_| |**Stephen Harrison**|PCC Treasurer|2020| |**Wendy Muggeridge**|PCC Secretary & Deanery Synod representative|_ex officio_| |**Prof Amy Smith**|Deanery Synod representative_(resigned 15/5/22)_|_ex officio_| |**Gavin Wood**|Licensed Lay Minister|_ex officio_| |**Prof Helen King**|General Synod Representative|_ex officio_| |**Jane Anderson**||2022| |**Marie Amey**||2021| |**Philippa Bomford**||2021| |**Charlie Brampton**||2020| |**Oliver Garland**||2022| |**Peter Howarth**||_Co-opted 23/6/22_| |**Charlie Hughes**||2022| |**Amanda Simons**||2020| |**Hannah Smith**||2021| |**Helen Swan**||2020| |**Jane Tuckett**|_Resigned 15/5/22_|_2019_| |**Luke Whitcomb**||2021| ## 12. Wallingford Team Ministry The parish of Wallingford is part of the Wallingford Team Ministry, along with the parishes of Crowmarsh Gifford and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. The Team Rector, until his retirement on 16 December 2022 was the Reverend David Rice and the Team Vicar is the Reverend Kevin Beer. The Team Rector’s focus is mainly in Wallingford, whilst the Team Vicar focuses on Crowmarsh Gifford and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell; the aim is that once a month they officiate in the other parishes. The parish representatives of the Team Council are lay members of their PCCs and are elected at the first PCC meeting following the APCM. Licensed Lay Ministers are also entitled to be members of the Team Council. Membership of the Team Council during 2022 included the two clergy, Revd. David Rice and Revd. Kevin Beer, as well as the following lay members from each of the three parishes: Emma Cross & Jacquie Hughes (Wallingford), Margot Shawyer & Michael Drury (Brightwell-cum-Sotwell) and Margaret Foster, Eva Thompson and Linda Parker (Crowmarsh Gifford). In addition, the PCC Treasurers of the three parishes were invited to the meeting in October 2022 to discuss the Parish Share: Stephen Harrison (Wallingford), John Dowling (Brightwell-cum-Sotwell) and Frank Sadler (Crowmarsh Gifford). The Team Council discusses and acts upon matters of general interest to the three parishes and also any specific matter that might be delegated to it by the Parochial Church Councils. There were three Team Council Meetings in 2021. Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 15 ## **17[th] February 2022** – [Zoom Meeting] Brightwell reported that they had recently discussed fund-raising by a “Friends of” scheme and the closure of St James’, which although is a lovely church, has no amenities and no parking, but there is a steady, albeit small, congregation with a lot of affection for the building. They reported they may contact the Churches Conservation Trust to discuss. Crowmarsh reported on the difficulties of getting SODC to carry out necessary work to the churchyard and problems with overlarge trees. They also advised they would be reaching out to the “Wallingford Reach” new estate. Wallingford reported that their Sunday numbers had returned to pre-Covid levels, although the crib and Christmas services were not so well attended as in previous years. A Team-wide Lent series “The Pilgrim Path” was discussed. This would explore places that people had visited. The following Team Services were agreed: 2[nd] March 20:00 Ash Wednesday - Communion, St Leonard’s 16[th] April 20:00 Easter Eve - St Mary Magdalene’s 26[th] May 19:30 Ascension Day - St Agatha’s 4/5[th] June Jubilee W/End 19[th] June 09:30 Team Service - St Agatha’s 20[th] November 11:00 Christ the King - St Mary Magdalene’s ## **14[th] July 2022** – [Zoom Meeting] Brightwell advised that they were not happy with the last QI of St James’ and that they would be looking to find someone else to carry out a survey of the building. Wallingford have received QI reports for both St Leonard’s and St Mary’s and work is being planned on both churches. The Children and Families Worker had organised, as part of the Church’s Count on Wildlife initiative, a ‘Wild about Nature’ trail at St Leonard’s, in conjunction with ‘Wild about Wallingford’. She had also provided a craft activity for the Jubilee celebrations in Castle Gardens. Crowmarsh reported they had initiated a project to install a survery and toilets in St Mary Magdalene’s; this will require fundraising. David reported that he had received positive feedback following the Lent series - **The Pilgrim Path** and that people had enjoyed hearing of the favourite places of pilgrimage of others at the meetings. He added that the Team Service planned for the 20[th] of November may need a change of venue as that is his last day as Team Rector. An additional Team Service for the 1[st] of January 2023 was added to the list. He also briefed that the Team Council will be the coordinating body to appoint the new Team Rector and the first action was to create a Team Profile. ## **19[th] October 2022 -** [Zoom Meeting] Brightwell briefed that the Diocesan Buildings Team had visited St James’s in August and that careful thought will be needed, given the scale and number of issues that need to be addressed. The diocese has created a new formula to calculate Parish Share and this has caused some problems in the Deanery, so a ceiling of 2% has been applied. Kevin asked if it was possible to show the breakdown of the calculations as the new formula showed an apparent discrepancy between Brightwell and Crowmarsh. Subsequent to the meeting the following figures were agreed with the Area Dean and Deanery Treasurer: Brightwell cum Sotwell £ 32,579 24.97% Crowmarsh Gifford £ 29,247 22.42% Wallingford £ 68,630 52.61% £130,456 100% ## Interregnum Jacquie Hughes agreed to be nominated as the chair of the Team meetings during the interregnum; proposed Mike, seconded Margot. The following team services were agreed New Year’s Day 11:00 St Mary Magdalene’s 22 January 2023 10:00 St Mary’s, Wallingford, presided by Acting Archdeacon David Tyler 26 February 2023 10:00 St Mary’s, Wallingford, presided by Bishop Gavin 26 March 2023 10:00 St Mary’s, Wallingford David stressed that regularity and continuity of services will be important. Mike commented that we should do everything we could to encourage attendance at Team services. The new Team website was discussed and ratified and it was commented that it was very user friendly and easy to navigate _Margaret Foster, Temporary Team Council Secretary_ ## 13. Wallingford Deanery Synod The Deanery Synod provides PCCs with an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the church. Meetings are jointly chaired by the Area Dean and the Lay Chair. The Revd. Dr. Andy Lord is the Area Dean for the Wallingford Deanery and Gordon Gill is the Lay Chair. The Deanery includes St Peter’s Didcot, All Saints’ and Ladygrove Didcot, Great Western Park, Harwell, Chilton, Cholsey, Moulsford, Hagbourne, Blewbury, Upton, South Moreton, North Moreton, Aston Tirrold & Aston Upthorpe, Wallingford, Crowmarsh Gifford and Brightwell-cum-Sotwell. Two Deanery Synod meetings were held in 2022, though a third was scheduled in July but cancelled due to extreme heat. Five meetings of the Standing Committee were held. The Wallingford Deanery Mission Action Plan (MAP), which was approved at the end of 2019 by the Dorchester Mission and Pastoral committee, has four key focus areas: Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 16 1. **Development of ministry to children, young people & families** **2. Developing our outreach to new & settled communities** **3. Development of appropriate patterns of worship** 4. **Development of the Ministry in the Greater Didcot Garden Town area, both financially & structurally** - ********************************** The first Deanery Synod meeting in April 2022 began with a short act of worship with hymns. This was followed by the licensing of Revd. Dr. Andy Lord as the new Area Dean by Bishop Gavin Collins. The role of Area Dean is held for five years and appointed by the Bishop of Dorchester; the previous Area Dean was our Team Rector, Revd. David Rice who was thanked for all his care and hard work. The main focus for the rest of the meeting was the presentation of the Greater Didcot Garden Town Mission and Ministry Report and subsequent discussion of the Summary Proposal; both documents written by Revd. Dr. Andy Lord, who had been appointed in 2019 as the Vicar of All Saints’ Didcot but also as Bishop’s Advisor on Mission to the Designated Didcot Garden Town. This is the 4th focus area in the MAP. The report detailed a number of options, all seeking to be collaborative with space for growth and with an on-going process of evolution. The Standing Committee with guidance from the Associate Archdeacon, David Tyler, proposed that we adopt option GD2 : creation of a Wider Didcot group consisting of All Saints’ Didcot, St Peter’s Didcot, Ladygrove, Great Western Park, St Matthew’s Harwell & All Saints’ Chilton; to include incumbents but also other ministers and representatives from each church. The aims of this Group over the next 5-10 years will be to: - develop a prayerful mission vision for Greater Didcot - enable mission (with ecumenical partners) in the Valley Park development - encourage a greater sharing of ministry (ordained and lay) and mission across the area. This approach will be supported by FP1 (Financial Proposal 1), which sets out the mechanism to follow in an interregnum to determine the ministry available. The Summary Proposal was put to the vote and it was accepted. ********************************** The main focus of the second Deanery Synod meeting, in September 2022, was the new Parish Share formula for 2023 onwards. Anomalies in the new formula were discussed and the Area Dean briefed that a paper had been submitted to the diocese on behalf of the Deanery highlighting issues. The main implication of the new way of calculating the parish share is that the Deanery will not be able to pay its full share in 2023. After a great deal of discussion it was agreed that we would apply a 2% ceiling and a floor of 0%, compared to 2022 figures, to all parishes. Revd. Dr. Andy Lord commented that we cannot run forever in deficit and that ministry received by a parish or benefice is to be dependent on the share they contribute, effective as ministers retire or move on. Further discussion is underway with the diocese and finance team for a Deanery Future Plan. ********************************** Outside the meetings, a Deanery Choral Evensong was held in May 2022 with choristers from across the Deanery coming together at St Mary’s, Wallingford, and three Pilgrim Path walks were held between May and September. Three benefices ended the year in an interregnum: Cholsey & Moulsford, Harwell & Chilton and Wallingford (Wallingford, Crowmarsh Gifford and Brightwell cum Sotwell). Cholsey and Moulsford have appointed Revd Rebecca Peters and her licensing is on 20[th] February 2023. _Wendy L Muggeridge Wallingford Deanery Synod Secretary_ Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 17 14. Annual Financial Statements Waillnglord p￿al Church Coundl ReglstéY*d Ch*fty Number 1119140 INUJL REPORT FINANCIAL ￿ATE￿I￿r$ for the ￿ar *r￿d 31 Lknmber 2022 Statement of Financial Actfvltfes In¢om* •d Endtywmtnts frtsm: (Note Zl 131.361.01 139.ni.m 126.126.Z6 10,2KLS1 I&.ISL51 10,DJI.(*1 10.676.05 5.W.OJ 5.fJl.51 5.931.51 4.6sI.rJ Totslincome 164.2th.09 8.424. 1n.621.(* 146.1*.02 Expend6ture on: (Note 31 Ra*¥fLr45 1.41QM 129.898.81 1.410.M 145.037.64 149,141.B3 16.ID 15.138. Tofai end*u 131.]ce.95 15.13È.83 146.4o.n 149.164.51 t*tkn¢4mkn lou re>)urcesbefore irni*r 31.￿.14 6.718.J3 26.173.31 Tran5fer5 (Note 121 r*¢kncomkn kn before Qlhe n.89L14 6.71&83 26.173.31 3.014.51 Other rec￿tsed 8ansll10s5es} 11.6J8 931 i.￿.51) IZI.447.441 26.049.71 funds 16.718.851 120.8(6.511 3.ns.87 23.035.20 Reconcfjllatlon of funds Totaifundsbrou tftsr￿d 25B 2Q.44 4.B52.75 181 I￿.36 445 ￿5.55 422 Kn.JS Tot41fun¢s¢¥rhed 1.16S.(• 161.)31.￿ 418 961.4Z 415 135.55 Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 18 WallIn￿ord Churth COU￿11 ReqisterEd Chty Number 1129240 REPOftTaTrd FI11￿cl￿ sfATEKMTS lor the s*ar ended 31 L￿cember 2022 BalarKe Sheet Yjll Flxed ￿ets 4.Im57 1fr.rL57 177 571 Ol•.•) i#¢e$7•Jl4 152 172.53 210 369.yF Current assets 11.1É•. ifr.LkJ7 261.636 45 JI.33&97 R72.WS.Q 241.￿.31 L￿111t1t$ 0.017.13 fj.6￿76 266.rn.19 2]￿.￿5.5￿ .961.41 445.135.5S Represented by1tr4ote 121 UTrrestr6cted 184,II&QI I60,&1.32 62&ffi 4.19X 27.sthn kn.M70 4,1￿15 17.4OL62 ¥.4￿51 1,51&15 19.IZI.55 5,424.44 2,rn.44 2,651. 72gX• Z.1gX4) Endowmgnt 141,269.6J 159,*Y.3 Fthdsolthe thurth 418 961.Q ￿ 235.55 *rkniiFrCTro￿0r Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 19 Walllnelord P¥othlai Church Councbl Re8lstered Ch¥lty Number 1129240 ANNU￿ REPORT FINAACIAL STATEAENTS for the ended 31 f*cember 2022 Note 1- Accounting Policie5 JrnyX)19thEWIPIFRSI01}"1. *p4estments*tKhare5tthnat rn¥ketv￿￿. Funtjs Incomlni Resources Vobjntsrykncorne kncom• frDffl Gth5￿￿ kns6eson knve¥JTrents￿d otherftytd uets R￿￿UrceS Expended Flxed Assets Conyo(r*d knd buth Short temi deposits and c*h Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 20 Walllnglord P￿1&1 Churth Coundl R4lsterÈd ch￿ Numbèr 1129240 ANNUIL REPORT and FINANCIAL STATEKNTS for the ￿ar ended 31 Decefflber 2022 Note Z - Incoming Resources Donatfjons and iegxles ,719.Ql 3.819.01 719.r•J 78,774.Lll 4.M).32 3.819.01 4,411.67 4.411.67 195.16 1,655.67 .24 8,841. 7.170.ry) 16.011.83 15.771.25 Ta¥ rfftysaidewfthA&J 22.771.41 1.2YX(O 24.011.41 23.4IJ.68 5.IXI).iX) 5.((Kl.fy) 1,no.oi 3.882.91 1,720.r•J 3,882.91 DOna￿Tr5￿d smcome Jubtots 131.361.01 iJy.ni.01 CharftablÈ &tl**ltlès Cdfeesaies 6,373.Ql 5.651.th) 6,373. 5.651.(lJ 1,57B.LI> 4.611.1 n, ￿￿C￿mIee% 4,258. 4,25B.gJ 3,782. Charltabk act￿**$9￿b￿ts& Other tradlnq arti¥itles sales. r 10.626.05 ne fundsgJbioia15 Investment income 4,n4.JJ 1.147.11 4,n4.èJ 1,147.3f 4,613.74 knve51ment kncome subtots 4.658.rJ kncorne from nernted fundsrtsr 164,201.If) 8,420.ro I72,611.￿ 146,150.02 Other Incomlnl resources 1rGLyaKec￿￿5 Otherkncomkn resources9Jbtotab Incomln resources rand totals 164 201.IY) In 621.(Pl 146 19).02 Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 21 W•llfjwford P￿￿1•1 CIHYth Councll Regl#er¢d Ch¥lty Number 71 Z9240 INLI￿ PEPORT FINANCIAL STATEWENTS for the JExended 31 C*cembEr 2022 Note 3 - Resources Expended Ralslw fund5 1,41￿14 1,41D.14 1&7D endturÈgJbiot 16.70 3.rth.co 2,Xll.CO l5m¢ 2,(￿0? 67.WJ.7V •.63 61.Jfj.FJ 67.013.10 8.061.63 I.￿55 2.IXXtY) 11.IIB.83 11.53144 i.X6. 9.919.11 *.919.11 101.•J 7.91& 1,011.64 I.0￿4? 4a31.14 19.6*.45 50 36L rJx14 9.th5.62 &3) 165.35 165.35 yj.éo 6.543.&1 4115.77 S.￿.( 7.551.m 15.13&13 145.017.64 149.147.83 ftesourcesex nded d totals 146 4Q.11 1• 161.53 Note 4 - SLitement of Staff Costs tr*￿1¢rth￿￿￿VWm£￿.9￿512021. E6.Th1. Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 22 Waiilryford Parnthlai Chwch C(MW￿l A*￿el￿d Ch¥lty Numbtr 1129240 REPoRT￿d FIN*lIC￿ ￿ATEME￿i[S for the ended 31 (*cember Z022 Note 5 - Details of Certain Iterns of Expenditure Note 6- frants to Alissions Charities arKI Disposal of Special Collections Glvtnl. rellel dpveiawnent l.WJ(11 rcc Tot Home mls510 Tot Tot t#swl of speelai tollttho 52 53&n I.1￿19 333.73 74.J7 741.45 ¥40 638.14 RfLY1kn￿. 2Am￿h. 1.261.41 Toldfor 9.654.16 Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 23 Walllnglord P￿1&1 Churth Coundl R4lsterÈd ch￿ Numbèr 1129240 ANNUIL REPORT and FINANCIAL STATEKNTS for the ￿ar ended 31 Decefflber 2022 Note 7 - Flxed assets 30221rt•1 Co* 122,tW.62 6a*e(arr￿df£yWard 122.LW.62 111.n9. Ba&r￿e(arr￿￿forward MtrtbtsokVa￿• BWfixw¥d CarrvJf¢ywwd 10.IYX57 4.11)X57 hsrttrAN*va￿è1￿EÉnl￿lO1z￿ £4￿.5713￿1.. t9.31118TJ. Try￿*¢ (blll Ftspd aEetkntRs¢mentsisee f**le 14> )J,019.4) 122.4q.44 Gaincn Marketvakn*ateTh1 171 571.96 Note 8 - Debtors DebtOf5 J W* Gwt n.21 n.21 11,(n7.35 11,(n7.35 10,225.37 Dèbtsrstotai 11 CB7.35 Note 9 - Cash at Bank 2022 t￿1 1011 lat•1 Cash at B￿k 173.015.67 144,493.17 C8FI(n3 (R￿￿*7 CBFILYJ5 R￿MeM￿l 73.W.07 n.691.99 14.939.Tl Currentaxersto 161.636.46 231 336.97 Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 24 AINU￿ FIN•lIa￿ STAT￿1175 l*>te 10. Creditors YALIJ ]&o(o IISL JJX J.w Note 11 . Commftmerts Note 12 Funds T•XfjY.32 153.W.* 1>1.1•L• l*.T7UI 27.M7t 17.IAL41 IW.J5 i.Tr5.•J 751 )).[* Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 25 Walllnglord P￿1&1 Churth Coundl R4lsterÈd ch￿ Numbèr 1129240 ANNUIL REPORT and FINANCIAL STATEKNTS for the ￿ar ended 31 Decefflber 2022 Note 13 - Arbalysis of Net Assets between Funds Cuvrer•tsYar Tatal Fw Fw I6.2￿.11 179,577.4 77,258.6a 161.331.85 182.1n.53 2&S,78B.89 9,952.75 Totsi 184 178.01 93 418.79 9 ￿2.75 161 331.85 448 961.42 PrEvknu5 Trt41 Fw Fw F¢m lo.3￿.57 17.879.04 IX) 275.n 79 734.1* 182,140.36 110.369.97 4.852.75 Totsi I￿.629.￿ 97.613.12 4.852.75 Is2,1￿.]6 445.23S.55 Note 14 - Details of Investments 77.m.Y ll8,n7.45 (CLAS￿. 5t L£¥yw￿c 257.cg 65.313.1 St CCLISFwe5.St LecfwdsLJb* 5.LYI.70 5,7(*).15 CC￿5￿￿e5.JW￿L 14Z4).11 17,ITr.04 CCL4SFA￿5. lI￿tI￿ .￿.22 22,n8. ￿￿sIr￿ents$Ubt0f￿I In.571.96 2LI).019.4) .22 417.44 26 W. Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 26 15. Independent Examinerfs Report Wallin8ford ParcKhial Churth Council Reg¢stered Charity Number 1129240 Independent Examinerfs Rew)rt forthE yearended 31 December 2022 Independent Examinerfs Reporttothe Trustees of Wallin8f￿￿ hrothial Churth Counal I reportto the trustees on my examinatK*n of the accountsofthe charityforthe yearended 31 Decernber 2022. which are Set out on page5 18 to 26. Re5ponsibilitles and bas15 of report As the membets of the Pccwho are a150the tharitytrLthesyou are resw)nsiNe forthe preparation oftheaccounts in accordan￿ wrth the fequirements ofthecharities 20111-the Acfl. I feport in respect of my examinatvjn of the charitfs accounts carr￿d c￿t under section 145 of the Act and in carrying rHrt my examinath?Tr I have followed all the applicable DIrect￿n$ gNen by the Ctharity Commission ¥nder section 145lSllbl of the Independent Examlnerfs statement I have cornpleted my examination. I confirn that rnaterial matters have come to rny attention in ¢onJertion wr(h the examination RNing me cause to ￿lIeNt that in arty m*erial ￿$pert.. accounti￿ re¢ord5 were ntst kept in respert of the charityas required fy 5ertiDn 130 of the A(t: the accounts do Njt ac¢ord with th)se rewrds: or the accounts do not ¢ompfy wtth the appI￿able ￿quIreMents conceming the fomi and content of accounts sd out in the Charr(ies IAccounts and Reportsl Regulations 2LM)8 other than any requirement thatthe a(countsgive a'true and fairWe￿ whith is not matter Conside￿d as part of an iThJepenthnt examinaiion. I have no concerns and have co1￿ auoss no other matters in connection wr(h the examinath)n to which attention should be dravm in thi5 report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accountsto be reached. Caroline Webster FCA VHY R055 Brooke Windrush Court Abingdon OX14 ISY Date'...6 April 2023 Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 27 **Wallingford PCC Annual Report 2021** approved by the PCC on 26[th] March 2023 and signed on their behalf by the Jacquie Hughes (PCC Chair) **Jacquie Hughes, Chair Wallingford PCC** Wallingford Parish Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022 28