2020-12-31-accounts

The Parochial Church Council of The Ecclesiastical Parish of St Luke, Formby

Registered Charity Number 1130493 St Luke’s Church Road, Formby, Liverpool L37 2DF Parish No. 505

Annual Report for year ended 31[st] December 2020

ADMINISTRATION

Official correspondence to Parochial Church Council (PCC) Secretary at the above address.

Trustees (PCC members) are:-

Vicar	Rev Dr Matt Davis (from September 2020)
Readers	Prof Allan Hobson
	Mrs Anne Dixon
	Mrs Jean Watts
Reader Emeritus	Mr Colin Trollope
Churchwardens	Dr Peter Griffin (Chair until September 2020)
	Ms Andrea Brown (until April 2020)
	Mr Steve Ginn (since April 2020)
Deputy Churchwardens	Ms Andrea Brown
	Mrs Sheila Rodger
	Mr John McGibbon
Deanery Synod Representatives	Mr Andrew Cox
	Mr James Patterson
	Mrs Christine Payne
	Mr David Moore
Elected members	Mrs Gwyneth Croft
	Mr Ken Davies*
	Mrs Maggie Elkington
	Mrs Barbara Baker
	Mr Colin Trollope
	Mrs Rachel Patterson
	Mrs Jean Watts
	Mr Steve Ginn
	Mrs June McGibbon (Data Protection Officer)
	Mr Allan Hobson
	Ms Andrea Brown
	Mrs Ann Dixon
	Mr Peter Griffin
	Mrs Sheila Rodger
	Mrs Ann Dennison
Co-opted Members	Mr Hugh Dixon* (Treasurer)

Officers

Parish Safeguarding Officer Mrs Joyce Eddlestone (also Child Protection Officer) Vulnerable Adults Officer Rev Dr Matt Davis (from Sept 2020) Bankers: HSBC Bank plc Independent Examiner Mrs Hillary Griffin Magazine Editor Mrs Margaret Cooke Health & Safety Officer Church Wardens

Day to day management control of the Church is exercised by the PCC Standing Committee: Rev Dr Matt Davis (from Sept.), Dr Peter Griffin, Mr Steve Ginn, Mr Hugh Dixon and Mrs Christine Payne, contactable via the above address.

STRUCTURE, MANAGEMENT & GOVERNANCE

St. Luke’s Formby PCC is a body corporate and operates under the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 and the Church Representation Rules. The PCC is a charity registered with the Charity Commission: Charity number 1130493.

Other related Trusts:

Shyira Trust – Registered Charity Number 1118979. Two members of the PCC, indicated by an asterisk (*) are Trustees.

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All church members are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.

The PCC operates one committee: Standing Committee.

Standing Committee: As above.

Risk Assessments

Procedures are in place to manage risks.

Financial Risk

The PCC has implemented internal controls for annual accounts, cash and cheque handling. Some cash handling controls were suspended from late March onwards due to Covid-19 restrictions and infection control.

Health and Safety

A review has been undertaken by the Church Wardens and necessary compliance requirements have been met. Fire and accident procedures are reviewed annually.

Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection

The PCC and all other church members involved in work with young people and vulnerable adults are required to have DBS clearance. (We follow and adhere to the Liverpool Diocese Safeguarding Matters 2015 guidelines.)

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The general functions of the PCC are stated within section 2 of the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956.

St. Luke’s has a mission statement which confirms our mission to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England, both through the Word and our deeds, to love the Lord our God and to love his children – our neighbours – and to love each other in our fellowship.

Our Statement of Public Benefit is:

1. Regular public worship open to all

2. The provision of sacred space for personal prayer and contemplation

3. Pastoral work, including visiting the sick and bereaved

4. Teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups

5. Taking of religious assemblies in schools

6. Promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and meetings, and the distribution of literature

7. Promoting the whole mission of the Church through provision of activities for senior citizens, parents and toddlers, young people and other special needs groups

8. Supporting other Christian charities in the UK and overseas

During 2020 we achieved the following:

• Our regular public worship is open to all and was led by retired Clergy and Readers during the Interregnum before the appointment of Rev Dr Matt Davis as Vicar in September 2020.

• We have had varying worship styles – from traditional organ and choir to music group – until the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns began in March 2020.

• During the lockdowns, we successfully transferred online to ‘Zoom’ for our Sunday services, with facilities for those without Zoom to participate by telephone.

• As restrictions eased and in line with pandemic restrictions, we arranged Private Prayer and then services in Church.

• Our regular Sunday activities for children restarted in October, though limited by pandemic restrictions.

• Our email prayer chain has continued to help people seeking assistance and our Prayer Triplets expanded.

• Our Woodlands Workshop has continued to look after the beautiful woods and green area surrounding our church for people to visit.

• Our pastoral work, including regular contact with the sick, elderly and bereaved has continued, while complying with Government restrictions.

• We continue to organise telephone calls by members of the PCC to keep in contact with church members unable to come to Church. This was extended during lockdown.

• Teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups has continued.

• Three regular house groups have been held.

• We are continuing to have a close connection with St. Luke's school through Governors, assemblies, church services, and visits to the church.

• We have worked with Range High School in the production of our monthly Church Magazine (until the first lockdown), and the production of our Calendar, published every two years.

• We continue to offer an art prize for local schoolchildren.

• Since lockdown began in March 2020, one of our members has sent out a daily bulletin to all parishioners to keep everybody together and informed.

• We continue to keep our Facebook page and website updated.

• We organised activity packs for children and parents to pick up from the Vicarage at Halloween instead of a Light Party.

• Our Christingle service was online, and we offered packs beforehand to help children make their own Christingle.

• We organised a Walk Around Nativity in the Church Grounds, complying with social distancing rules which was well attended and warmly welcomed by all visitors.

• Working with Churches Together, we arranged a Drive-In Carol Service at Formby Pool car park.

• Although the Life Boat Tea Room was suspended this year due to restrictions, we offered a

one-off delivery service offering cakes and treats, which was highly successful raising £2030.

• The monthly Craft Mornings and fortnightly Tuesday lunches continued until lockdown began in March.

• Our monthly breakfast to link the 8.30 a.m. and 10.30am congregation continued until lockdown.

• We have continued our links with the Percy French Society.

• We continued our link with Shyira in Rwanda, by supporting them financially and in prayer, and working with Shyira Trust who have been supported by Range High School and others to expand the work of the Trust.

• Supporting other Christian charities in the UK and overseas, such as Southport Soup Kitchen and Operation Christmas Child.

• Dementia Awareness has been addressed and we have membership of the Dementia Action Alliance.

• We have continued knitting teddy bears for Teddies for Tragedy

• We took part in the Churches Together initiative in preparing packs of food for families in need.

• Our PCC and Standing Committees have continued to meet regularly via Zoom.

• We have continually renewed our Safeguarding and other policies in line with directives.

• We have continued to promote the Parish Giving Scheme.

PLANS FOR 2021

General Plans Include:

• Get to know and love Jesus better as he speaks to us through his word.

• Continue to offer quality services during lockdown and as restrictions ease, that are open and welcoming to all.

• Continue offering Sunday activities for children: online during lockdown, and then in the Meeting Room thereafter.

• To expand our use and knowledge of technology to permit online participation in services for those shielding at home.

• Continue to encourage prayer, e.g. at PCC meetings, and by starting a monthly prayer meeting.

• Focus on our network of “Prayer Triplets”.

• Appoint a Pastoral Visiting Coordinator in time for lockdown easing.

• To offer, when possible, a memorial service to those bereaved during the pandemic.

• Continue getting to know God’s Word better through sermon series covering the whole breadth of scripture, e.g. Esther, Joel, John.

• To run an Alpha course (or equivalent) for people seeking to know more about Christianity.

• To take part in the Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith discussions.

• Continue the strong links with St Luke’s Primary and arrange visits and services in church when pandemic restrictions allow.

• Grow the link with Range High School with enthusiastic co-operation from staff and new Head Teacher through RE, using Church premises for school activites and their support of the Shyira Trust.

• To arrange holiday activities for local parents and children based on Christian teaching.

• The re-opening of the Lifeboat Tea Room and midweek activities, such as the fortnightly Tuesday Lunches when restrictions allow.

• Continue support for the Churches Together and be involved in organising joint activities.

• Continue supporting our parish link with Rwanda.

• Continue support for other Christian charities in the UK and overseas through our mission giving, our Lent Project and our link with Shyira.

Membership

The Electoral Roll at 31 December 2020 stood at 128.

Weekly Sunday Worship Attendance (estimated) 75 adults and 2 children

FINANCES

Voluntary Giving

Voluntary giving to unrestricted funds decreased from £83,132 in 2019 to £79,170. There was a decrease in loose collections which was substantially offset by one off donations.

Reserve Policy

Cash balances for unrestricted funds total £69,558 which is more than the estimated expenditure for the first three months of 2021 of £25,000.

Custodianship

In addition to our Church, Meeting Room and Church Hall in Formby we are responsible for the upkeep of graves at Barnet and Bournemouth cemeteries.