St Laurence Church, Frodsham
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Ecclesiastical Parish Church of St Laurence, Frodsham Charity No: 1130013
ANNUAL REPORT 2024
Aim and Purposes
The PCC role is to work with and support the incumbent, the Reverend Elaine Atack, the Wardens, Wardens team 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 Church Hall.
Frodsham has a linked Voluntary Controlled Church of England school, with which it works very closely.
During 2024 the Incumbent has made regular visits to other schools in Frodsham: Frodsham Manor and Frodsham Academy school who also have visited our church.
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 with something for everybody”, providing different services, worship and activities 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. Thought for the Day on our Facebook page
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)
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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) Still Point Reflective Service – (monthly) School visits A visible presence in town by the Incumbent Social activities
The Incumbent and Fabric Committee are working with our new Architect & Heating expert to make our building fit for purpose – lighter / brighter / more cost effective and Eco friendly for this generation and those to come – a process which has many “hoops to jump through” but we are making good progress in that a faculty has been approved and grant funding being sought.
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” and a monthly Messy Church. We regularly welcome families seeking baptism; we welcome those who wish to be married in church. We support grieving families at our funeral services and they are invited to our Annual All Souls Service.
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
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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”
This continues and Pastoral care is always a high priority with our Incumbent - people are regularly phoned, visited as needs arise – including bereavement.
This continued throughout 2024.
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
Our Harvest service encouraged people to give generously to the Foodbanks: helping people locally; and donations from that service were given to the Charity Christian Aid to help worldwide.
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. This has been a huge success and we now have many regulars as well as increasing newcomers. During 2024 “spin off” groups were established: a bereavement group and Craft Group.
“The Sanctuary” at the Parish Hall is 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 2024 many more new young families attended services at our church.
Toddler praise and Messy Church have become very popular.
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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 at our church school each year to deliver the Christianity Module and children can then decide whether they would like to be admitted to HC. In October 2024 we held a special service where 5 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 2024) a joint service was held at Frodsham Methodist Church and was well attended by all, especially from St Laurence, and was well received.
– St Laurence Frodsham Parochial Church Council main unrestricted account
Income
Total receipts on unrestricted funds in 2024 were £153,591.24 – this is £34,000 up from the previous year.
£66,258.54 came from regular and occasional giving, including Gift Aid; this being an increase of around £10,000 when compared to the 2023 total. This increase is due to the launch of the Giving in Grace campaign – ably championed by Rev Elaine. This has led to both increased giving by the existing contributors and an increased number of contributors as the campaign has been addressed to all the visitors to church services as well as the school and wider community. One further impact of this will be an increase in the Gift Aid refund in the current year.
£24,207.86 was received from other voluntary receipts see 3a on page 2 of the Receipts and Payments Account. This was £12,000 up from the previous year as we received a legacy, and donations were up by £5,000 in part due to increased use of contactless donations. During the year a new contactless device was purchased and commissioned. This is available whenever the church is open and has resulted in more frequent donations.
£3,145.20 was received from other activities; see 3b on page 2 of the Receipts and Payments Accounts this shows it was from Fundraising activities and was over £1,000 more that the previous year. The breakdown of fundraising is shown under under 3g. The Hotpot, Open Weekend, Organ Concert, Shared Lunch, Haus Music and Christmas Fare were our Fundraising events.
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£58,706.19 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. Fee income was slightly down Parish Hall lettings were slightly up. There was a transfer from the Maintenance Fund to pay for building work and a transfer from other Church related funds to ensure we could pay our Parish share.
The Charitable donations total received is £1,273.45.
Expenses
Our total expenditure from our unrestricted fund for 2024 was £153,359.68 – slightly down from the previous year.
£75,344.40 was spent to support the Diocese in providing Christian ministry through the parish share, this compares to £71,756.64 for 2023.
£473.88 was spent on Fundraising; the breakdown is detailed under 3h on page 2 of the Receipts and Payments Account.
£77,541.40 was spent from unrestricted funds to maintain and repair the Church Buildings and manage and resource the work of the Church within the town. The breakdown of this total is shown on page 2 of Receipts and Payments under 3e and includes a breakdown of other expenses (£224.83) under 3f. Church expenses were lower as there were no major repairs to the church and less expenditure on the Parish Hall.
The net result for the year for our unrestricted fund was an excess of receipts over payments of £231.56. This however was due to the using up of other church related funds – now we have to increase our income to match our expenditure. The balance carried forward into our unrestricted fund at 31st December 2024 totalled £6,856.32.
- Restricted Fund (St. Laurence Repair Fund Main Account)
Income
There was no income for 2024.
Expenditure
£4,519.25 was transferred to the main church account to cover the 2023 church repairs.
The net result for the year for our restricted fund (1) remained unchanged. The balance carried forward into our restricted fund at 31st December 2024 totalled £7,257.02
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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), the 2 churchwardens, treasurer, Safeguarding Officer 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 2024 - sub groups continue to be given “structures” agreed by the PCC. In 2024 these included:
Events Committee; Childrens team; Pastoral team; Finance sub group; fabrics committee; Parish Hall Committee.
Safeguarding is taken seriously and during 2024 our Safeguarding officer has been attending courses and we have appointed a Lead Recruiter to ensure that DBS’s are carried out as required.
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 / Church Warden | Canon Prof Elaine Graham |
| Church Warden | Betty Rutter |
| Treasurer | John Wharne |
| Secretary / Wardens Team | Glenda Boyd-Williams |
| Safeguarding Oficer | Mary Lamb |
| PCC Oficer / Deanery Synod | Pauline Sharpe |
| PCC Oficer | Pauline Reece |
| PCC Oficer | Nick Smith |
| PCC Oficer | Veronica York |
| PCC Oficer | Ann Woodhouse |
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heetlof2 General Fund 2024 General Fund 2023 Receipts and Payments Account Rocelpts Voluntary Re¢wpts Regular Giving collett*? aThd OtherGi¥lln IncomeTax refftrEd £54,391.54 £44,785.59 £11,867.00 £11415.25 £66.258.54 £56.200.84 Othervohjntary rIpts Inote3al ActNities lor generntinB funds Ir>ote3bl Receipts from clmjrch actiVitie$13cl ivdusNeof 'OtherirKo"l3d) £24.207.86 £12,219.64 £3.145.20 £1.925.00 £58,706.19 £48.610.20 Charftable Dona1v) ReceN £1.273.45 £865.17 £1S3,591.24 £119.820.85 Payments Chuth activities D[oEn p3rsh share Fundralslng Experses (see 3hl Church Activit¢es payments InotÈ 3el indu5NE of'otherÉYwditure'13f) £75.340 £71.756.64 £473.88 £617.09 £77.S41.40 £84.204.46 £153.359.68 £166,678.19 Excess of Receipts Ovgr Payments £231.56 -£36.757.34 General Fund 2024 Genernl Fund 2023 STATEMENTOF ASSEfsAND LIA8ILmES Cash Funds Bank currentaccount Bank DepositAt£tyJnt C8F deposicfvnd £6.858.32 £0.00 £0.00 £6,856.32 £6,011.36 £0.00 £0.00 £6.011.36 InvestmentAssets CBF FrAed Intert Fund CBF Investment Fund £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 Total CashAssets £6,858.32 £6,011.36 Assets retsined for Church use Church Hall (Ir1r3rv8Ille1 £400,000.00 £400,000.00 £400.000.00 UOO.000.00 Gurrent Account Previous Year Reconciliations Accounts 1 Jan 2024 Minus 2024 Exwnditure Plus 2024 Income £6.014.36 £153.359.48 £154204.44 £42.768.70 £156.S78.19 £119.820.85 Accounts 31 De¢ 2024 £656.32 £6.011.36
Notes Gan•ral Fund 2024 Gon8ral Fund 2023 3a 3a. Olher Voluntary81f$ £6M000 É17,728A6 £1rt79.00 £0.00 £0.00 £24207.88 £0.00 £11,926.64 £294.00 £0.00 £0.00 £12.219.64 Don?on$ Grnr IrIreC BènkMjuJtrneDt 3b 3b.Acbviti95 forgerUlfiMds. rwts Patsh MaBazine-sale5andathrt5 FUrxlAlr¥ Retyos Isee dEtad5 Èo.oo £1,92S.OD £1,925.00 £3.14S20 ,145JO 3¢ 3¢. Rpts from ChwchACbtsS 9.526.00 £10.919.60 £63UO £1.06U4 £27.17425 £S9J19.J9 £20.003.80 £10.716.00 £o.o £0.00 £17,831.40 £48.610.20 RefuThJ5 othrIrK(¥ne15eedÉaI1S1th#(d5I £86.672.46 £62.754.84 G•neral FyDd 2024 G•neral Fund 2022 BiE4eRe&4rFÈWsh t•lWOepo e10&00 Trnrthrfrorn M4irtwarKeP&tfarW VkarsTran¥ Trartrfrorn¢Jtheffvnts £151525:. owo.00 £27.t7425 838.28 2.997.45 £491103 £14,Srn73 £44T.94 £6.793.39 £6,96) .00 £2,SX71 £11.659.10 £D.00 £74150 Chw£h Ew5es Hal Repaws a&788J9 607 £1409D.g £64116 £7,232.Q4 £7.425.58 £thDO £5.266.99 £11.578.10 £0 £224A3 £7TNtAa Costs Churthyard Intenat C05t OfS Ph Expw8S Bank Chwg8s 1)t&per88lg dEitsIDI ChurChyaFd0euFrt Bible Read1 Feifsh4> VlcarsTtsl 53 £224AJ £57&74:: 3Lii. 5. Shared Lun( Mvsk ChrthTrw Fa £477ts%J 14S20 ot (k83nConcert StrTed Lts 25 £37.75... £473.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of .1" tscfrtri C/trtrdllci* ceL(K)il l L O FTrfI- 6A OF sr On accounts for the year ended Slsf DFCEfvL6F Charity no (ff any) 113oDIJ Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charty {Yhe Trust.) for the year ended Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Ihe Acr). 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 followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5}{b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examlnerfs statement I have no COnmS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brnckets rf they do not apply. Signed: Name: Ef<1 O RWNI Relevant professlonal quallfication(s) or body (if any): F&pu>W IttrE I or C4fftRfEA Address: FR&b.9 tl- IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32. Independent examination of chanty accounts.- directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018