St Laurence Church, Frodsham
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Ecclesiastical Parish Church of St Laurence, Frodsham Charity No: 1130013
ANNUAL REPORT 2022
Aim and Purposes
The PCC role is to work with and support the incumbent, the Reverend Elaine Atack, and the wider Ministry Team, in promoting the whole mission of the Church - pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical – in Frodsham.
The PCC is further responsible for the repair and maintenance of two properties; the Grade 1 Listed Parish Church of St. Laurence, and the Parish Hall.
Frodsham has a linked Voluntary Controlled Church of England school, with which it works very closely.
Objectives and Activities
The PCC is committed to enabling the people of Frodsham to become part of our parish community at St. Laurence. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and supports the vision of being “the Church of every day”, providing different services and worship throughout the week to meet the needs of different groups.
When planning our activities for the year, the incumbent and the PCC have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:
Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel; developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus.
Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish.
Missionary and outreach work – recognising that wherever we are – church is there. Other organisations and initiatives wholly or partly supported by the PCC, include: Mothers Union (10 meetings a year)
Faith in Action (monthly)
Church Choir (weekly + special events) Church Bell Ringers (ditto) Toddler Praise (each Wednesday in term time) Messy Church (monthly in term time) Reading Group (weekly – with breaks) Walking Group (monthly/variable – weather dependent) Craft & Chat – (weekly)
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Still Point Reflective Service – (monthly)
Achievements and Performance
Worship and Prayer
We extend an open invitation to attend our regular services. We are an inclusive church. At present there are 145 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll.
As well as our Sunday services, we have a well-established mid-week Toddler service, a Tuesday evening Eucharist and a Friday afternoon Craft and chat, a monthly reflective service “Still Point” - we regularly welcome families seeking baptism; we welcome those who wish to be married in church; and we support grieving families at our funeral services
Church is open from 10.00am – 4.00pm on weekdays to allow visitors and locals to enjoy its peaceful ambience and have time for private prayer. Our Blessed Sacrament chapel has a votive candle stand and a prayer request board – both are well used.
Deanery Synod
Three members of the PCC can sit on the Deanery synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the Diocese of Chester.
Pastoral Care
A Pastoral Team was identified and given training by the Incumbent. The “Accompanied church” was established. These are the people who for whatever reason (permanent or temporary) cannot be part of our “Gathered church” in the actual building.
Each Pastoral Visitor is allocated people to visit and “take church to them”: sometimes just a visit and a prayer, a chat, or taking CD’s of the various services, newsletters with up to date information – so they feel that they are still valued and “in touch”
Pastoral care is always a high priority with our Incumbent and people are regularly phoned, visited as needs arise – including bereavement.
Mission and Evangelism
Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith and we feel that giving to Charity is an important part this:
Our Christingle gave all donations to The Children’s Society.
We help with on the street collections for Christian Aid and give the collection from the services during that week towards the work of Christian Aid
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Our Harvest service encouraged people to give generously to the Foodbanks and again donations from that service were given to the Charity.
A prayer diary was sent out once a month with the newsletter which is also available online to develop our knowledge and trust in Jesus and a regular framework for daily Private Prayer.
A “spin off” from our Faith in Action group was to create “Bee Friends” which works with people in our community to tackle loneliness etc. It established in 2022 a weekly Coffee morning in our Parish Hall to create a safe and warm space to meet and have free refreshments. Our incumbent and other members of our church family regularly visit to meet with the people both socially and pastorally – sharing the love of Christ.
“The Sanctuary” was created at the Parish Hall as a quiet place of prayer and reflection and where small acts of worship can take place in the heart of the town.
Occasional Offices are recognised as great opportunities for Mission and during 2022 many new young families attended services at our church.
A group from our church visited Austria and attended the Oberammergau Passion Play.
In November 2022, we held a Confirmation service where 9 of our young people and 4 adults were confirmed by Bishop Julie.
Our Incumbent visits school regularly for weekly acts of worship. Pupils are regularly brought over to church for services or an informal “look around”
Our Incumbent helps the Headteacher each year to deliver the Christianity Module and children can then decide whether they would like to be admitted to HC. In October 2022 we held a special service where 18 were formally “Admitted to HC” – a valuable opportunity to welcome families to church.
Ecumenical Relationships
The church is a member of Churches Together in Frodsham and they hold regular meetings.
During the week of prayer for Christian Unity (Jan 2022) a joint service was held at St Laurence and was well attended and well received.
– St Laurence Frodsham Parochial Church Council main unrestricted accounts
Income
Total receipts on unrestricted funds in 2022 were £134,025.35
.
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£58,111.12 came from regular and occasional giving, including Gift Aid; this being a decrease of around £3,500 when compared to the 2021 total. This continues the decrease seen over the last couple of years due to loss of a number of regular givers due to them moving away or sadly dying.
£45,539.92 was received from other voluntary receipts see 3a on page 2 of the Receipts and Payments Account. This was significantly up from the previous year due to legacies, donations towards the roof repairs and associated insurance claim.
£1,293.50 was received from other activities; see 3b on page 2 of the Receipts and Payments Accounts and the breakdown of fundraising under 3g. The Platinum Jubilee Lunch and Christmas Fare represented the starting of Fundraising events again.
£27,307.11 was received from church activities inclusive of other income which is detailed under 3c and 3d on page 2 of the Receipts and Payments Account. This was boosted by a full year of Fee income, increased Parish Hall lettings and a VAT refund.
The Charitable donations total received is £1,773.70.
Expenses
Our total expenditure from our unrestricted fund for 2020 was £166,562.38.
£69,666.60 was spent to support the Diocese in providing Christian ministry through the parish share.
£462.08 was spent on fundraising.
£96,433.70 was spent from unrestricted funds to maintain and repair the Church Buildings and manage and resource the work of St. Laurence's within the town. This was significantly higher than the previous year due to the expense of replacing the stolen lead on the church roof and refurbishment of the Parish Hall. The breakdown of this total is shown on page 2 of Receipts and Payments under 3e and includes a breakdown of other income under 3f.
The net result for the year for our unrestricted fund was an increase of payments over receipts of £32,537.03 compared to a decrease of £42,324.83 in 2021. The balance carried forward into our unrestricted fund at 31st December 2022 totalled £42,768.70.
- Restricted Fund (St. Laurence Repair Fund Main Account)
Income
Total receipts for 2020 was nil.
Expenditure
Total expenditure for 2020 was nil.
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The net result for the year for our restricted fund Main Account was no change so the balance carried forward into our restricted fund at 31[st ] December 2022 totalled £29531.97.
Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St. Laurence’s the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), churchwardens, the readers and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the Church plus the members of Deanery Synod. All those who
attend our services are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and identified to stand for election to the PCC.
The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent.
The PCC met regularly during 2022 as we moved from Covid restrictions.
Sub groups were created and given “structures” agreed by the PCC. In 2022 these included:
Events Committee; Childrens team; Pastoral team; Finance sub group; fabrics committee; Parish Hall Committee.
Safeguarding is taken seriously and during 2022 our Safeguarding officer has been attending courses and working to ensure that DBS’s are carried out as required – along with relevant training.
Administrative Information
St. Laurence’s Church is situated in Frodsham, Cheshire. It is part of the Diocese of Chester within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The Vicarage, Vicarage Lane, Frodsham WA6 7DU.
The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006) and a charity excepted from registration with the Charity Commission.
Names of current members of the PCC are:
| Chairman | The Vicar | Reverend Elaine Atack |
|---|---|---|
| Vice-chairman / | Deanery Synod / Wardens Team | Canon Prof Elaine Graham |
| Churchwarden | Dr Joanna Ayliffe | |
| Wardens Team | Betty Rutter | |
| Treasurer | John Wharne |
Acting Secretary Rev Kath Williamson Safeguarding Officer Mary Lamb.
Lay Reader Andrew Rudd PCC Officer Tom Cameron
PCC Officer Veronica York
PCC Officer Pauline Reece
PCC Officer Wendy Rudd PCC Officer Chris Wilding PCC Officer Pauline Sharpe PCC Officer Pam Garner
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Genoral Fund 2021 Fund 2022 Recelpts and Payments Account R•colpt8 Colknthn5 aThYOtherGMrd £4478114 £49,396.86 12.327.98 £1 27&34 Efj8.111.12 1.673.19 OthErVdvntary re£eW5 Ir¢ts3al Aokntkfor8Wr¥funthln3b1 Aettipts fvom thurthath513¢)ffttrr.OtrerinEQrne.¢3dJ £46,6Jg.92 £16,991.46 £1,291SO £470.00 £27,307.11 £13,672.07 £i.n170 £0.00 £134,026.36 £91.806.72 Pwm¢nts aclfvlUe$ Dkn5an wbhsharp Fundpt%AtyExsts(Set3hI Churchktlvttles paymonts InrtÈ3È}IKiof'otl¥ WUrE.1sfj £69.866.10 £68.131.56 £462.08 £606.64 £96,433.70 £66A93.35 £116,S62.38 E134.131.66 Exc•ss of Rffolpts over Paymonts 3Z537.Q3 442,3X83 G•neral 'Fund 2022 Fund 2021 srATEmENTOFASSETSAND11101LlES Bank(rrE&l¢wnt ankoewsit CBFdepD5ttfiJnd 4.323.10 17.630.18 £0.00 £0.00 4,323.10 £117.830.$6 InvesbnentAss8ts C8F Flxed Interest Fund C8F Ith*sbMThtFund £oAo 0.00 £0.00 £00 £0 Totalcash Assets £44.323.10 £117.830.$6 ChurchHl{lrnnCevlUeI £400.000.00 £400,000.00 £400.000.00 £400,000.00 Rttoncllll0nfy CurrortA¢¢ount Pr•¥10 Y A¢o)unts 1 Jan 2022 2022 Exp81)dKu P8 2022 Inujft £7I30&73 66.56130 £134.02&35 £117,6X56 £1X131.56 £91.801.72 A¢eA)unl$ 31 2022 t42.770 £75,Joo.n
2022 2021 t11.17 £11.1M.29 £21,1365 £1.28•.77 tsr4nts In¥Lvr¢eCLTI £oAo Paitshmt1n•.5d•54rd•rt5 £OA•) £47•ts FÈ £g,M4J)O É3,12Q LetUr4s t120.0 £6,141J6 E44175 £ZT.J97.11 £402.07 £581.00 el5,1727 £74140 t30,133.63 G•nfftl G•ThI fvjnd 2421 ILIReathFelfthp £102.76 £i)o. vkanTrI lorFur&S £11L E2ni.46 £28? £10.0170 £372 E•,2M02 EO.21&31 00 £170.45 E7W. 7.•04 1.140.67 £9AO&U1 EJIOA2 £7J33.04 £6W.27 £Tr. HdlRwJ Co E972.40 £•WJ.7• ChthnwiFir•
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Iiideperldeiit Examiiier's Report Report to the Irusteg81 members of ?FtriiDei i AL OF CCCkES c On accounts for the year ended 31gf CEM6££ 2022 Charlty no (if any) 113E£)14 Sot out on paga• I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above chartly {°the Trusv) for the year ended Responslbilities and As the charlty trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report acGounts in a¢¢ordance Vth the Charities Act 2011 Ilhe Acf). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts Carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have follt)wed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent tThe charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am quallfied to examlnerfs statement undertake the examination by being a qualffied member of linsert name of applicable listed body]J. Delete I l if not applicable. I have completed my examination. I Confi that'no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed telow ") in connedion with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,: the accounting records were not kept in accordan wrih sedion 130 of the Act: or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements Concerning the forni and content of ac¢A)unts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2CQ8 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fair, view whith is not a matter considered as part of an independent examinats'on. l ttave no concems and have Come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention shoukl be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understarKling of the accounts to be reathed. . Please del8t8 the words in the bckets rfthey do not apply. Slgnod.. Dats". 9. 4 13 Name: Relevant professional quallficatlon{s) or l)ody (if any): ffGft ( IlUTI IiEb FJLC)hJ e)F i KSfiTbiTE Cjf t) Prfv wk6g IER October 2018
Address: 9 CL£8K lil ithL) 1ti C4£9rt1 L6 Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to hhlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounls.. directions and guidan for examiners). Give here details of any that the examiner wlshes to dlscloso. IER October 2018