PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. MARY AND ST. CUTHBERT, BOLTON ABBEY
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR 2022
1. Administrative information
The Priory Church of St Mary and St Cuthbert is situated in the village of Bolton Abbey
and is part of the Diocese of Leeds. The correspondence address is Church Office,
Bolton Abbey, Skipton, BD23 6AL.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission.
PCC members who have served since the date of the last report, 26 January 2022, until
the date of this report are:
Clergy
Rev N. J. Mercer Rector, Chairman
Churchwardens
Mr M. J. Hey
Mrs D. J. Simpson from 22 May 2022
Diocesan Synod Representative
Deanery Synod Representatives
Mrs S. Barker
Mr P. Lambert (non-voting)
Honorary Member
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire Patron
Elected Lay Representatives
Mrs E. Adams-Lambert Environment Officer/Village Hall representative
Mrs S. Barker
Mr B. J. Cody
Mrs E. Crabtree
Mrs J. Crawford
Mrs R. Fisher Electoral Roll/Friends
Mr M. J. R. Heatley PCC Treasurer
Mr P. Lambert (non-voting)
Mrs K. J. Templeton PCC Secretary /Guides organiser
Mr G. Yates
2. Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules.
All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for
election to the PCC.
3. Mission Statement
A community seeking to live well with God, gathered around Jesus Christ in prayer and
fellowship and committed to welcome, worship and witness.
4. Church Attendance
a. There are 124 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll. Of these 90% live outside the
Parish.
b. During 2022 there were 13 baptisms in the Priory Church and 22 couples were married;
There were 14 funerals at the Priory (1 burial) and 1 internment of ashes. Once again,
there were no confirmations this year.
1.
5. Review of the Year
The beginnings of 2022, at last, saw the Church emerging from the pandemic and able to
resume “ordinary” church once again. Indeed, 2022 has been the first year since 2019 which
has been largely unaffected by the pandemic.
In my 2021 report I mentioned that it was anticipated that Church congregations would fall
by 20% as a result of the pandemic. However, I am pleased to report that the Church has
continued to hold together and numbers sustained. Most of those who were nervous about
returning to Church have come back and, at the same time, we now have a regular on-line
community of worshippers who have swelled our ranks. The Church mould has been broken by
the pandemic and we are the legatees. However, we are currently unable to interrogate the
on-line figures so our new worshippers are largely unknown at this point although we have
been joined by people from South America, South Africa, Switzerland and Singapore!
Three main events punctuated 2022.
The first was the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee which we celebrated on Whit Sunday (5[th] June).
We had a special service of Holy Communion to mark the Jubilee and the Reverend Joe Moesel
CF QHC preached at the service. 126 people attended the service and the Parish held a tea
party at the Rectory in the afternoon at which over 100 parishioners attended.
The next major event was the death of Her Majesty the Queen on the 8[th] September 2022 at
Balmoral Castle. As a result of Her death, there was a period of national mourning where
the Priory held a service to commemorate the death of Her Majesty on the 11[th] September
and was attended by 142 worshippers. A special service of Holy Communion during the
mourning of Her Majesty the Queen was held the day before the State Funeral on the 18[th]
September. 118 people attended this service. Bells were rung at the Priory to celebrate
the formal accession of His Majesty King Charles III on the 10[th] September (after the
meeting of the Accession Council) and muffled bells were rung for two hours on the day of
Her Majesty’s funeral.
The third major event of the year was the hosting of the ”Museum of the Moon” from the
10[th] to the 31[st] October. The “Museum of the Moon” is an art installation by the artist
Luke Jerram and was installed at the Priory for three weeks in conjunction with the Bolton
Abbey Estate. Although the exact number of visitors is not known, it is estimated that
there were approximately 8,000 over the three-week period with 3,000 attending in the last
week alone. A new team of guides was recruited for the event by Kate Templeton as the
exhibition needed to be manned throughout the day. As well as the daily opening to the
public, there was also a lecture series which accompanied the event. On Saturday 15[th]
October, Dr Franziska Kohit from Leeds University spoke in the Village Hall on “The Moon,
the microscope and us”. On the 22[nd] October the Reverend Dr Rodney Holder spoke on “God
and the Big Bang” and on 29[th] October the Reverend Professor David Wilkinson spoke on “From
the James Webb Telescope to Stephen Hawking – the search for God in cosmology”. Nearly
300 people attended the lectures and each speaker preached on the Sunday morning attracting
nearly 100 people to each service. The event was an enormous success and, perhaps, a
model for mission and evangelism in the Church going forward when the traditional activities
such as a Village Show or a Passion Play are, inevitably, falling away.
Liquid Worship was also able to resume once again at the beginning of the year and,
although the numbers were down from the previous year, they picked up considerably towards
the end of the year and we have been joined by some new families in the meantime. Once
again, we held a joint service for Harvest Festival with art contributions from the Boyle
and Petyt School and, for the first time, from the Montessori School who created a pod of
whales! 96 people attended this service. Given the difficulty of the migration of our
junior Church to adult worship, it is proposed to have more joint services in 2023. In
addition to the Liquid Worship, the Boyle and Petyt School held their carol service at the
Priory on the 13[th] December and 350 people attended. There was no Nativity play this year
but Christingle was held for the first time since 2019 attracting 330 people.
As well as the weekly services, during the course of 2022 the Priory conducted 13 baptisms,
22 weddings, 2 blessings of weddings, 14 funerals and 1 interment of ashes. The concert
series resumed with three concerts being held. In addition the St Cuthbert’s lecture was
given by the Rt Honourable Dominic Grieve KC PC.
2.
Music continued to play a pivotal part in the life and worship of the Priory under the
Director of Music, Dr Tim Raymond. The choir numbers held up very well and the Honourable
Margaret Lumley-Savile joined the choir in October. The new organ scholar, Amelie Chaduc,
made great progress in the year playing both hymns, versicles and responses as well as
singing in and conducting the choir. At the service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Amelie
played the organ for the carol “Qui creavit coelum” by Philip Mead which demonstrated just
how much progress she has made over the past year.
The outreach of the Priory continued. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine and a
collection for Ukrainian refugees was started in the Church and this became the Priory
Lent Appeal. On the 14[th] July, we hosted a visit from St Paul Manningham when a group of
mainly Muslim women visited the Priory as part of the Sharaket Project. We also held
weekly lunches during Advent to help allay the cost of living/heating crisis. Donations
to the Skipton Foodbank, Afghan Refugees and Baby Basics continued and donations were made
at the end of the year to Climate Action (Ilkley), Shine (West Bowling), Upper Wharfedale
Fell Rescue Association, the Faraday Institute and Skipton Food Bank.
Finally, it was, once again, a difficult year for the Church management and governance.
After a very turbulent first quarter of the year, we were able to gather for the APCM in
the Village Hall on 22[nd] May 2022. Chris Ray stood down as Church Warden in March and we
welcomed Joyce Simpson as the new Rector’s Church Warden along with Matt Hey.
It has been the first full year back together since 2019 and I am pleased to report that
the Church held together very well despite all the trials and tribulations we have had to
endure. Although we suffered some damage to our finances during COVID, we managed to pay
our Parish Share in full for 2022 and we still have a strong base of parish giving. As
mentioned in my last report, this decade is likely to see continued decline in Church
numbers and we need to prepare for the transition and the inevitable succession that will
follow. It is incumbent on the current generation to equip Bolton Priory for ministry and
mission for the coming decade and beyond. This is our challenge. We have a Gospel to
proclaim to this and future generations.
6. Financial Review
Total receipts on ordinary unrestricted funds during the year amounted to £184,527 (2021
- £185,408). Total expenditure from those funds amounted to £189,543 (2021 - £179,817).
The net result of this was a deficit for the year of £5,016 (2021 – Surplus - £5,591).
Our Diocesan Share for the year was set at £97,930 and we paid this in full despite the
fact that this resulted in the deficit mentioned above. Our Share for 2023 has been set
at £93,034 made up of Baseline Parish Share - £72,480 and Capping Adjustment - £20,554.
We have told the Diocese that we will pay the Baseline Share in full but only so much of
the Capping Adjustment to keep us out of deficit for the year.
7. Reserves Policy
It is the PCC policy to maintain adequate reserves in unrestricted funds to cover any
eventuality for the maintenance of this ancient church. As a consequence, at the year
end, we held £35,833 in a general reserve account. This account is held by the Central
Board of Finance.
8. The PCC greatly appreciates and thanks all those from the congregation who contribute so much to the work of the Priory Church, its worship and mission:
-
a. The Standing Committee: The Rector, the Churchwardens, the Secretary and the Treasurer.
-
b. The Serving Team led by Mr Michael Vineall.
-
c. The Liquid Worship team led by Mrs Joan Mason.
-
d. The Administration Department led by Mrs Margaret Cody assisted by Mrs Betty Nelmes.
-
e. Mrs Kate Templeton our Secretary and our Treasurer, Mr Michael Heatley.
-
f. The cleaning teams organised by Mrs Pippa Ridley,
-
g. The Choir and the Priory Director of Music, Dr Timothy Raymond.
-
h. The floral teams co-ordinated by Mrs Lorna Freegard,
-
i. The magazine team and its editor, Mrs Val Middleton.
-
j. The Welcome Team led by Mrs Kate Templeton.
3.
-
k. The Voluntary Offertory and general money counters.
-
l. The Sacristan, Mrs Jen Hardaker.
-
m. The coffee team led by Mrs Liz Hornby.
-
n. The Priory Verger, Mr Peter Lambert.
-
o. The Sidesmen led by Mrs Susan Whittaker,
-
p. The Friends of Bolton Priory under their Chairman, Mrs Jill Riley.
-
q. Our webmaster and Facebook administrator, Mr Paul Middleton.
-
r. The concert organiser, Mr Paul Middleton.
-
s. The Skipton Food Bank team led by Mrs Lyn Bartlett
-
t. Our Baby Basics contact, Mrs Mary Vineall.
-
v. Last, but by no means least, our Churchwardens, Mr Matt Hey and Mrs Joyce Simpson.
On behalf of the PCC
N. J. Mercer
31 January 2023 Rev N. J. Mercer
4.
PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. MARY AND ST. CUTHBERT, BOLTON ABBEY
Registered Charity No 1129541
ANNUAL REPORT
AND
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OF THE
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
RECTOR:
Revd N. J. Mercer
The Rectory
Bolton Abbey
Skipton
BD23 6AL
BANKERS:
Santander UK plc
Bootle
Merseyside
L30 4GB
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER:
T. A. Barker
Chartered Certified Accountant
Barnhill
Wetherby Road
Collingham
LS22 5AY
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. MARY AND ST. CUTHBERT, BOLTON ABBEY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
Note
INCOMING RESOURCES
Incoming resources from
donors
2(a)
Other voluntary incoming
resources
2(b)
Income from ancillary
trading
2(c)
Income from investments 2(d)
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
RESOURCES USED
Grants
3(a)
Activities directly
relating to the work
of the church
3(b)
Church management and
administration
3(c)
TOTAL RESOURCES USED
NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING)
RESOURCES
9
BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT
1 JANUARY
BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD AT
31 DECEMBER |
Unrestric
ted Funds
£106,159
33,633
43,716
1,019
184,527
4,000
150,443
35,100
189,543
(5,016)
99,409
£ 94,393 |
Restricted Total Funds
Funds 2022
2021
£ 6,695
£112,854
£150,559
-
33,633
17,692
-
43,716
23,179
1,922
2,941
113
8,617
193,144
191,543
-
4,000
4,000
8,725
159,168
139,333
-
35,100
43,595
8,725
198,268
186,928
(108) (5,124)
4,615
150,889
250,298
245,683
£150,781
£245,174
£250,298 |
|
|
|
5.
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. MARY AND ST. CUTHBERT, BOLTON ABBEY
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2022
CURRENT ASSETS
Stock of books and postcards
Debtors
Short term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS FALLING
DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
NET CURRENT ASSETS
NET ASSETS
FUNDS
Unrestricted
Restricted |
Note
2022
2021
£ 9,719
£ 14,475
6
3,561
3,369
226,429
224,599
11,595
11,225
251,304
253,668
7
(6,130)
(3,370)
245,174
250,298
£245,174
£250,298
5
£ 94,329
£ 99,344
150,845
150,954
£245,174
£250,298 |
|
|
Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 31 January 2023 and signed on its behalf
by:
Revd N. J. Mercer Michael J. R. Heatley
Rector Honorary Treasurer
The notes on pages 6 to 9 form part of these accounts.
6.
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. MARY AND ST. CUTHBERT, BOLTON ABBEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
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
PCC’s, and with the Regulations’ “true and fair view” provisions and is prepared
under FRS102(2016) as the applicable accounting standards and the 2016 version of
the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities
(SORP(FRS102)).
ASSETS
Consecrated and benefice property
In so far as consecrated and benefice property of any kind is excluded from the
statutory definition of ‘charity’ by Section 10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities
Act 2011 such assets are not capitalised in the financial statements.
Short term deposits
These are the cash held on deposit with the CCLA.
FUNDS
Unrestricted Funds
These represent the remaining income funds of the PCC that are available for
spending on the general purposes of the PCC, including amounts designated by the
PCC for fixed assets for its own use or for spending on a future project and
which are therefore not included in its ‘free reserves’ as disclosed in the
trustees’ report.
Restricted Funds
These are income funds that must be spent on restricted purposes and details of
the funds held and restrictions provided are shown in the notes to the accounts.
7.
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. MARY AND ST. CUTHBERT, BOLTON ABBEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
2. INCOMING RESOURCES
2(a) Income resources from donors
Planned giving
Gift aided
Income tax recoverable
Not gift aided
Collections at all services
Votive candles
Donations
Grants
Legacies
2(b) Other voluntary incoming resour
Church boxes
Fund raising events
2(c) Income from ancillary trading
Bookstall
Magazine
Fees – see note
2(d) Income from investments
Bank interest
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
Note: Fees
Fees due to the PCC
Weddings
Funerals, cremations etc
Video/Streaming/Photography
As shown above
Heating/Cleaning
Fees passed on to:
Diocese
Organist
Choir
Verger
Total fees received |
Unrestric
ted Funds
£ 63,144
18,281
1,603
17,724
1,888
3,519
-
-
106,159
ces
27,702
5,931
33,633
23,947
3,882
15,887
43,716
1,019
1,019
£184,527
£ 7,232
3,055
5,600
15,887
4,115
20,002
6,872
5,475
3,300
2,360
18,007
£ 38,009 |
Restricted Total Funds
Funds 2022
2021
£ -
£ 63,144
£ 64,033
-
18,281
18,015
-
1,603
1,004
-
17,724
11,610
-
1,888
1,261
6,695
10,214
24,454
-
-
23,182
-
-
7,000
6,695
112,854
150,559
-
27,702
15,048
-
5,931
2,644
-
33,633
17,692
-
23,947
9,902
-
3,882
3,256
-
15,887
10,021
-
43,716
23,179
1,922
2,941
113
1,922
2,941
113
£ 8,617
£193,144
£191,543
£ 6,072
2,519
1,430
10,021
3,950
13,971
7,166
5,395
2,500
1,665
16,726
£ 30,697 |
|
|
|
8.
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. MARY AND ST. CUTHBERT, BOLTON ABBEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
3. RESOURCES USED
3(a) Grants
Missionary and charitable
giving:
Overseas mission societies
Christian relief agencies
Home mission and Church
societies
Secular charities
3(b) Activities directly relating
to the work of the Church
Ministry: Diocesan share
Clergy expenses
Organists and choir
Verger
Altar and books
Light and heat
Insurance
Repairs and renewals
Fund raising events
Bookstall
Magazine
Boyle Room
Flowers and requisites
3(c) Church management and
Administration
Rectory
Parish administrator
Parish office
Office equipment - running
costs
Printing, stationery,
postage, telephone
Sundries
Heating project
TOTAL RESOURCES USED |
Unrestric
ted Funds
£ -
-
-
4,000
4,000
97,930
981
6,735
2,100
1,624
2,547
5,304
9,468
3,586
13,803
2,540
3,825
-
150,443
5,713
12,600
8,625
3,682
3,126
1,354
-
35,100
£189,543 |
Restricted Total Funds
Funds 2022
2021
£ -
£ -
£ 1,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,000
3,000
-
4,000
4,000
-
97,930
89,084
-
981
385
2,060
8,795
6,019
-
2,100
1,248
-
1,624
672
-
2,547
1,960
-
5,304
5,081
-
9,468
19,747
-
3,586
782
-
13,803
4,951
-
2,540
2,376
-
3,825
2,702
6,665
6,665
4,326
8,725
159,168
139,333
-
5,713
6,244
-
12,600
12,000
-
8,625
15,231
-
3,682
3,126
-
3,126
4,296
-
1,354
778
-
-
1,920
-
35,100
43,595
£ 8,725
£198,268
£186,928 |
|
|
|
9.
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. MARY AND ST. CUTHBERT, BOLTON ABBEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
4. STAFF COSTS
4.STAFF COSTS |
|
|
|
Total |
Funds |
|
2022 |
2021 |
Wages and salaries |
£ 20,760 |
£ 18,192 |
Social security costs |
- |
- |
|
£ 20,760 |
£ 18,192 |
During the year the PCC employed a parish administrator, an organist and
a verger, one of whom earned over £10,000.
5. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND
Unrestric
ted Funds
Current assets
£100,459
Current liabilities
(6,130)
Fund balance
£ 94,329
6.DEBTORS
Income tax recoverable
Other debtors
7.LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Creditors for goods and services
Accruals |
Restricted
Funds Total
£150,845
£251,304
-
(6,130)
£150,845
£245,174
£ 2,991
£ 2,908
570
461
£ 3,561
£ 3,569
£ 5,130
£ 2,532
1,000
838
£ 6,130
£ 3,370 |
|
|
8. FUND DETAILS
The unrestricted funds comprise the main church account and part of the
restoration account.
The restricted funds comprise part of the restoration account, the music
endowment account and the flower account.
9. NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES
Church account |
|
£ (5,569) |
£ 4,569 |
Restoration account |
|
554 |
1,022 |
|
|
(5,015) |
5,591 |
Restoration account |
|
1,920 |
(1,845) |
Music endowment account |
|
(1,059) |
305 |
Flower account |
|
(970) |
564 |
|
|
(109) |
(976) |
|
|
£ (5,124) |
£ 4,615 |
|
10. |
|
|
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE PRIORY CHURCH OF
ST. MARY AND ST. CUTHBERT, BOLTON ABBEY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
I report on the accounts of the church for the year ended 31 December 2022 which are
set out on pages 4 to 9.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The church’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The
church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section
144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is
needed.
It is my responsibility to:
Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity
Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 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 trustees 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
Since the gross income for the year exceeds the amount provided in section 145(3) of
the Act, I confirm that I am qualified to act as Independent Examiner under the
provisions of that section of the Act and that my qualification is as shown below.
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 2011 Act; and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the
accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
2. to which, in my op[inion, attention should be drawn in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached
T. A. Barker
T. A. Barker
Chartered Certified Accountant
Independent Examiner
Barnhill
Wetherby Road
Collingham
LS22 5AY
1 February 2023
11.