2020-12-31-accounts

For the year ended 31st December 2020

Revd David Page The Vicarage 2, Taxmere Close, Sandbach

Registered Charity No. 1130803

Contents

		Contents
2.	The P.C.C.
3.	Vicar’s Report
4.	Church Wardens’ Report
5.	Treasure’s Report
6.	P.C.C. Report	The Church Office
7.	The Foyer	Welcome team	Church Attendance
	Church Organisations
8.	Lego	Junior Church	Crèche
9	Baby Group	Lego Church
10.	Xplore	Xplore+
11.	Out of School Club
12.	ABC	All Age Team
13.	Elworth C of E School	Chaplaincy at Elworth C of	E
14.	Coffee Stop	Book Club
15.	Mission Support Group	Church Choir
16.	Nexus	Slavic Gospel Association
17.	Church Prayer Life	Fair Trade
18.	Worship Group	Shoe Box Appeal
19.	Messy Church	Sewing Machine Group
20.	Churchyard	Speak
	Home Groups
21.	Monday House Group	Lighthouse	Kairos
22.	Monday Small Group	Koinonia
23.	Fuyin	Middlewich Road Group	Philia
24.	Thought for the day	Advent Windows
		Accounts
25.	Examiner’s Statement
26.	Statement of Financial Activities
27.	Balance Sheet
28.	Reserves Policy	Notes to Financial Statement
36.	ABC accounts

1

The Parochial Church Council

The Parochial Church Council Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the year the following have served as members of the PCC.

Incumbent: Rev David Page Curate: Rev. Anthony Rigby (From October 2020) Church Wardens: Mr Stephen Parfitt (Assistant Chairman) Mr Paul Savvides (Deanery Synod representative) Mrs Helen Jones (Assistant Warden) Mr Ian Cooper (Assistant Warden until October 2020) Treasurer: Mr Mark Barker Secretary: Ms Jen Paddison Elected Members: Mrs Miriam Astley Mr John Cargill (Assistant Treasurer) Mrs Norma Chapman Mrs Fiona Cooper (From October 2020) Mrs Helen Coppenhall Mr Stash Podhorodecki Dr Ruth Pollard Ex-officio: Mr Bill Chapman (Parish Evangelist) Mrs Kath Cliffe (Diocesan Synod Representative) Mr Anthony Rigby (Deanery Synod Representative until October 2020) Mr Steve Thorley (Deanery Synod representative from October 2020) Mrs Michelle Walker (Pastoral Worker) By Office: Pastoral Workers, Lay Readers and Parish Evangelists are entitled to serve on the P.C.C.

2

Vicar’s Report

2020 didn’t turn out to be the year that we expected. So many hopes and plans were thwarted by the Covid-19 pandemic. We were forced out of our churches, confined to home and had to change in a myriad of ways. But yet, through all this, God has been faithful to us as we have walked in obedience to God’s Word and Holy Spirit as this Annual Report bears testimony to.

As I write my contribution, we have entered a third national lockdown and the vaccination programme has begun. Our context seems similar to the people of God throughout Bible times, living in a challenging and hurting world, but with a hope that is steadfast and certain in Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

Across the year, we have had to change and adapt many of our usual events. No longer able to gather face-to-face, we have engaged with new technology and formats to continue to worship, study and share fellowship. Zoom, YouTube, Facebook have all become platforms that we have embraced. Our on-line presence in 2020 has extended from our website to a YouTube Channel (now containing nearly 200 videos) of services and reflections, and an active presence with almost daily posts on the Church Facebook page. In December a new camera system was installed into the church and hall to enable us to record and transmit services as we adapt to the new Post Pandemic world in 2021. I would like to thank all who have contributed so much to enable us to continue to be the voice of God during this challenging time.

The overwhelming feeling of 2020 has been one of bereavement. Not only have we lost the ability to sing and pray together in church, but in so many other ways, notably the limitations on the occasional offices of Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals. Over the year a number of faithful members of the church family have died and we have (not yet) been able to gather together to thank God for all that they mean to us, and for their faith.

However, even in such a challenging year, there has been much to celebrate. We have learnt that we have a wonderful outdoor facility which can be used for open-air services and events. Cathryn’s role has extended and, through her appointment as School Chaplain at Elworth (CE) Primary School, our sharing of the Good News has been enhanced. Anthony Rigby was (eventually) ordained Deacon in October, and has now joined the ministry team as a self-supporting Assistant Curate. Our ecumenical relationships with the other churches in Sandbach have continued to develop. As part of the changes that have occurred in the Methodist Church, both nationally and locally, our formal LEP with The Church on Ettiley Heath came to an end in the Summer, although during the Autumn we have continued to share together in new ways.

COVID has hit our community hard, as evidenced by the doubling of the number of funerals that we were involved with in 2020, compared to previous years. Yet, as we enter 2021, there is a spirit of hope and trust in the God who has been so faithful to us in our fellowship, that I pray will impact our community and the wider world in the coming year.

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Finally, can I personally thank all of you who have prayerfully supported the work of the church, and also us as a family, over the last year.

One of the repeating phrases in the Bible is “Do not be afraid, I am with you.” (Isaiah 43 : 5). I hope that we can take this to heart this year as we remember that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.

David Page

Church Wardens’ Report

Despite all, it feels that our faith and our fellowship as a Christian community has sustained us through these difficult times of virus pandemic. In terms of care for the fabric and maintenance of our buildings and churchyard, the wardens can report that all is well. Significant items of expenditure have been where it was necessary to implement virus mitigation measures such as the camera system that will be used to broadcast services from the church to the hall and beyond, in 2021. Usage of buildings has been limited to those periods where lockdowns have been lifted during June to October and December but otherwise things were effectively mothballed, especially in the period March to May. The churchyard continues to be well looked after and the wardens would once again like to extend their thanks to the churchyard team.

The year has seen creative use of our assets to ensure that, where regulations allow, the Gospel has been preached and that worship has continued to take place. In this regard our thanks go out to those who conceived and facilitated the YouTube on-line services, buying appropriate equipment for people to make videos in their own homes and for sorting out broadcasting licences. Also thanks to the army of faithful church members who provided content for the services and Thoughts and to those who edited the videos and balanced the sound. As regulations allowed partial resumption of access to the buildings, we saw services restart in the church and the hall but with careful observance of social distancing, restrictions on singing, use of masks and availability of hand sanitiser. Three services were conducted outside the church, including a Christmas carol concert, making use of existing portable PA equipment.

Certain weekday activities in the hall were also restarted with similar provisions, but these were restricted to the children's services for Preschool (client) and Out of School (managed by St Peter's PCC) and, for adults, Slimming World (client), Cheshire Police PCSO public liaison and temporary collection and storage of items for the Sandbach food bank, which has greatly increased its provision during the year. The employment of our hall cleaner during these periods has enabled appropriate new standards to be deployed to keep mitigate the virus risk.

Our heartfelt thanks to all who have supported and continue to support the important work of keeping the Light of Jesus shining brightly in our community at this time.

Paul Savvides and Stephen Parfitt

4

Treasurer’s Report

The Lord has provided! When the first lockdown began in March it was clear that there was going to be a severe impact on the Church’s finances. In the event, this proved not to be the case with both income and expenditure falling, leading to a deficit of £12,563 for the year compared to over £23,000 in 2019.

Although Income was down £21,000 overall on last year, Voluntary income, especially planned giving remained strong increasing by more than £10,000 on last year which is most encouraging. A donation of £5,000 to support childrens work was received, with others amounting to £3,500 to create a Benevolent Fund to help people facing financial problems due to the pandemic. A grant of £2,000 were received from Chester Diocese, and a useful £4,000 incentive payment was received for switching our bank account from RBS to the Co-operative. Not surprisingly, church hall letting income was halved, as was support from other parishes due to the end of the Local Ecumenical Partnership with Ettiley Heath. PCC fees for weddings and funerals held up well. Our hall cleaner was furloughed for several months on full pay for which we received an 80% grant from HMRC.

Expenditure decreased by over £31,000. Principal areas of reduced expenditure were Admin staff costs following reduced numbers from March, by £5,000, utilities by £3,000, hall repairs & maintenance by £8,000, Church repairs by £1,500, churchyard maintenance by £800 and stationery by £750. Mission & Evangelism was also down by some £3,800 but activity has been maintained online by YouTube and Zoom. Three issues of Nexus were produced and one outpayment made from the Benevolent Fund.

We invested £7,123 in a camera system in the Church and Hall including a cabled link between the two buildings and wifi in the church. This will enable us to stream services in the church to the hall to create an ‘overflow’ facility there. Events in both church and hall can be streamed live via the internet using platforms such as YouTube. This was mostly funded by the bank account switch incentive and the Diocesan grant.

Out of School Club were severely affected by the pandemic, being closed from late March to early September resulting in Fee income being more than halved. Staff were furloughed on full pay for varying periods resulting in Job Retention Scheme payments from HMRC amounting to almost £13,000. The contribution from OOSC to the Family & Child Worker’s employment costs was stopped during the year. Overall, a deficit of just over £15,000 was recorded, but a substantial balance remains to see OOSC through 2021 if needed.

So Church finances remain sound, and in much better shape than could have been expected last Easter. We have over £250,000 in reserves with which we can fund the appointment of an associate minister for an initial period and begin to make changes to the church including replacing the heating system when the time is right, provide support to the needy in our parish and continue our outward giving programme.

Maintaining the church’s finances needs team work and I would like to thank Helen, Michelle and Allan for banking, which has required more work as we have adapted to new banking arrangements, John as my assistant for looking after the utilities, Jim for managing the Envelope Scheme and the Gift Aid claim to HMRC and Carolyn for her support at home.

Mark Barker

5

PCC Report

This year, one new member joined the PCC, replacing one member who stood down. There remain two spaces on the PCC membership for the year. Both Paul Savvides and Stephen Parfit were re-elected as Church Wardens, with Helen Jones continuing in the role of Assistant Warden for another year.

The PCC continues to encourage members of the church congregation to prayerfully consider if they could be a part of the decision making body of the church; the PCC aims to represent all age groups and the breadth of worship and acts of service that the church offers and so all are encouraged to join us.

The global pandemic has meant that for most of this year, the PCC has met virtually, via zoom, as did the APCM which was exceptionally held in October this year. This however has not impeded our work and we have continued to discuss a broad range of practical issues that have needed attention, agreed funding for works, such as the new audio visual installation, as well as receiving training on safeguarding and hearing about the encouraging and inspirational role Cathryn Houghton is playing in her role as School Chaplain at St Peter’s Church of England School.

Although it has been a difficult year for many reasons, the PCC has been able to continue working together to serve the church and the Lord in these difficult times and we look forward to doing so again in 2021.

Jen Paddison

The Church Office

For the first couple of months of 2020, Church Office activity continued in much the same way as previous years, supporting David Page, the Treasurer, the Church Hall Bookings Officer, the Church Wardens and the Children and Families Outreach Worker, as well as the whole church family at St Peter’s and The Church on Ettiley Heath and, even though the way that the office has functioned since March has changed, it continues to be ‘the Hub’ for church communication and to deal with day to day enquiries.

As soon as the first national lockdown was announced, we moved the Office to our homes. Carolyn Barker had already decided to step down at the end of March 2020, we are immensely grateful to Carolyn for all her hard work, and she continues to support the Office and the church family in many activities. Kate Page has worked a reduced number of hours since April providing support as necessary. To some degree the work has changed, but some tasks remain, rotas are still needed to ensure a variety of people carry out tasks for the on-line activity of St Peter’s!

The Church Office has adapted to the different situations and restrictions that have been imposed on us as a nation over the year, but we look forward to returning to some degree of “normality”, being able to share fellowship as a church family and to welcome people to the church hall once more.

We thank everyone for their patience and understanding during a challenging year.

Carolyn Barker and Kate Page

6

The Foyer

The Foyer provides a wonderful space within the Church Hall a place where we can all take the opportunity to meet with others. It is well used on Sunday for fellowship together between the two morning services and on a Friday home to our popular Coffee Stop Café, although since March this year we have been unable to meet together in either setting.

There is also the opportunity to browse through or order from the Fairtrade catalogue and several Christian publications are available.

The Foyer is open as the ‘Foyer Café’ on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings between 10.00 – 11.30am for the use of the wider local community, and for the opportunity to enjoy fellowship together perhaps with a friend, neighbour or with your small / home group.

This coming year may provide more opportunities to use the Foyer Café / space as we look forward to being able to reconnect with one another.

Michelle Walker

Welcome Team

The Welcome Team, along with the sides-people, maybe the first contact for those who come into Church, may that be to a newcomer or those who attend regularly. We are currently a small team and would ‘welcome’ any who feel called to this particular Ministry,

We are usually just inside or at the Church Porch for Sunday Services and at the front door or in the Foyer when services are held in the Church Hall. We have been able to be present this year at the arranged Outdoor Services.

How we Welcome is much more than Sunday. We provide a welcome in many areas; our personal and pastoral contacts, the Office Team providing a welcome to Church Hall users and the Church grounds team to those visiting the churchyard. And by outreach with the distribution of Nexus, Publicity and Communication be it a Poster, our website or Facebook.

Michelle Walker

Church Attendance

Since the size of the congregation in church is so limited the figures for this year do not bear any significance at all. So they are not recorded.

Jim Watson

7

Church Organisations

Lego

Lego, for children ages 3-6, met on a Sunday morning in the Church Hall during the 10.30 service (term-time only).

We managed to have a few months before coronavirus stopped our regular Sunday meetings. During that time we had introduced an all age Sunday school, collaborating with the other groups, one Sunday a month which was working very well. We were doing craft and activities based on different characters from the Bible.

We hope everyone is safe and well and that we will be able to welcome children back to Lego soon.

Karen Wright

St Peter’s Junior Church – Adventurers (Age 6 – 11)

The year began with a program of bible story based sessions. Since March, with the suspension of services, we have not met. Instead, support has been given to the collective arrangements for children’s outreach by the St Peter’s children and family worker, Cathryn Houghton.

Paul Savvides on behalf of Martin, Fiona and Cherie.

Crèche

Cr è che is a facility offered under normal circumstances to parents/carers with babies and toddlers up to the age of two years who attend the 10:30 am morning service at St. Peter’s. It takes place in the church hall and offers age appropriate play using a range of toys with a short bible story. We have a small group of people who support the delivery of cr è che and I would like to extend an invitation for more people to join this team. A small number of babies and toddlers attend. Since March 2020, Cr è che has been unable to operate due to Covid-19 restrictions, but as soon as is appropriate, this service will once again be offered to church family and visitors.

Cathryn Houghton

8

Baby Group

St. Peter’s Baby Group was set up in February 2016 in response to the growing number of parents/carers in the local community with babies under the age of 12 months. Under normal circumstances, (pre Covid-19 restrictions) it would take place on a Wednesday morning from 10:00 am to 11:30 am and during half term in the church hall.

A range of soft play toys is normally provided and refreshments are offered to the parents/carers who attend. This format provides a great opportunity for new parents to connect with each other and to form lasting friendships. Christian hospitality is a real driver for those serving at Baby Group. Pre March 2020 the group comprised of between fifteen – twenty two adults each week together with their little ones. It was anticipated that this number would grow during 2020 due to the increase of new housing developments in the local area.

During the first lockdown of 2020, and continuing to date, a virtual Baby Group meeting has been offered to the local community. Between two and four mums have met up on line with myself for a chat and catch up each week via zoom. One of these members is a new mum who has had her baby during lockdown.

The group is staffed by Matthew Dell and myself and it is a privilege to serve the local community in this important outreach.

Cathryn Houghton

Lego Church

Lego Church was initially trialled at the end of 2019 with a couple of sessions before the Christmas period. The sessions ran once/month on a Wednesday in the church hall from 3:30pm – 4:30pm and was open to primary aged children attended by a parent/carer. It is a free club.

The first half hour of the club involves free building with Lego. After that there are refreshments and then a Lego bible story, a song and a prayer. The children are given a challenge to build something from the story which they have just heard. On our first taster session nine children attended and six adults and on our second taster, eighteen children attended with nine adults. It is anticipated that when restrictions are lifted, the club will become an established outreach to families in the community.

Since Covid-19 restrictions, Lego Church has become an online activity. Each month, Stephen Parker-Aiken and I produce a video session of the club and invite our families to send in photos of their Lego builds which are then displayed on our church website and Facebook page with prior permission from parents/carers. The session also goes out to the children of Elworth C of E School and so far, there has been a great response from the children at school producing Lego builds. It is hoped that when circumstances return to normal, those children who have engaged with the club from school might like to join the club over in the church hall on a Wednesday hence providing a great outreach opportunity.

Cathryn Houghton

9

Xplore

Xplore is a children’s club for primary aged children which, pre-Covid-19 restrictions would normally meet each Friday evening during term time. The club was set up in April 2013 and is now nearly eight years old. Each week, the children take part in a range of activities based around a bible theme. This includes a bible story, a time of singing and sharing of news plus crafts, games and a time of prayer. Simple refreshments are also provided.

Under normal circumstances, we would have a regular attendance of between twenty two - thirty children many of whom do not attend church. It is a real privilege to be able to forge positive relationships with local families and to engage them in other church related events such as Messy Church, Schools Projects and the Light Party.

During Covid-19 restrictions, every endeavour has been made to keep in touch with our Xplore families. This has included invitations to our half termly virtual holiday clubs where up to thirty three children have joined us for games, challenges, songs and stories. Craft packs have been delivered to members’ homes prior to the club week so that those children taking part could have the necessary materials needed to complete the craft tasks set during the clubs.

Contact has been maintained with our Xplore families via regular email updates, phone calls and also by providing the children with a summer holiday gift from Xplore and a Christmas gift from the church delivered in a socially distanced manner. As restrictions continue, it is anticipated that the half termly holiday clubs will continue and the first one is already being planned for 2021.

Xplore can only happen because of a very committed team of three adult helpers who come along each Friday and serve the Lord in this very important outreach to the children in the local community. We do need at least one more adult helper going forward, and when restrictions permit.

If you feel that you can help out at Xplore, please contact the Church Office on 762213.

Cathryn Houghton

Xplore+

Xplore+ is a group for eleven to fifteen year olds which would normally meet in the church hall on a Friday evening from 7:45pm – 9:15pm term time. The group was set up in 2014 to provide fun and creative activities for those young people who were moving on from the Xplore group age range. There is always a theme for the week and a short discussion based upon the Christian message. Under normal circumstances, we would take our young people on an activity based trip each term. The last trip we were able to do prior to Covid-19 restrictions was back in February 2020 when we visited ‘Laser Quest’ in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Prior to Covid-19, we had between 15 - 25 young people who attended on a regular basis.

Since March 2020, Xplore+ went ‘virtual’ and has been meeting on a Friday evening

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Since March 2020, Xplore+ went ‘virtual’ and has been meeting on a Friday evening for quizzes, games, challenges and a gospel message via zoom. The number of young people attending has ranged from seven to twelve young people but we now regularly have seven who join zoom each week plus two adult helpers. We have made it our aim to engage with the Xplore+ families as much as possible through regular email updates, delivery of fun activity packs etc. A couple of our members volunteered to be part of the St. Peter’s Virtual Crib Service this year, which was very encouraging, and they made a valuable contribution to this event.

This year our virtual Christmas Party was a great success with party bags being delivered beforehand and which included: a cracker, a gift, chocolate, a craft activity and, most importantly a short gospel message. We then met online for fun and games.

Xplore+ can only happen because of a group of committed voluntary helpers some of whom attend each week and some on a rota basis. These people have continued to support during these unprecedented times and my thanks goes out to them.

If you feel that you could support the work of Xplore+ please contact the church office on 01270 762213.

Cathryn Houghton

Out of School Club

St. Peter’s Out of School Club has now been in operation for over eighteen years and continues to offer afterschool care for the children from Elworth Hall, Elworth Church of England and Wheelock Primary Schools. We also offer a Breakfast Club. The addition of offering our services to Wheelock School during 2020 has proved to be a successful venture and one which meets the needs of our local families.

We have on average fifteen children/day registered in Afterschool Club and eight children/day registered for our Breakfast Club. We also have ten extra places for occasional use by children for morning and afternoon sessions. This year has been challenging due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Consequently we were closed from April until September 2020 with staff furloughed. As I write in January 2021 we are currently closed due to lockdown restrictions. However, we look forward to a time in the near future when the club can get up and running again.

St. Peter’s Out of School Club offers a full range of fun activities and games. We have a Gardening Club which includes a small garden, and also a Bird Club. We encourage the children to be part of our planning of activities. In addition and under normal circumstances, we arrange visits from local community workers e.g. the Fire and Police Service. Reverend Page and St. Peter’s Outreach Worker also visit the club.

I would like to thank all of the St. Peter’s Out of School Club staff for their continued support. Our Club continues to be a success because of the hard work of the staff, their dedication to the club and the backing of the church and community.

Nicola Broomhead

11

ABC

St. Peter’s ABC is a Parent/Carer Toddler Group which under normal circumstances would take place each Thursday from 10:00 am – 11:30 am term time in the church hall. Between thirty five and sixty children and their parents/carers are normally welcomed through the doors each week. This very important outreach provides an opportunity for the children to experience different types of play opportunities including role play, dressing up, small world play and there is always a craft activity available for the children to complete with their parent/carer. It also provides an opportunity for the adults to catch up over coffee. A healthy snack is provided for the children and toast is available for the parents/carers to purchase at a small cost. Each session is concluded with a singing time when nursery rhymes are chosen by the children and the singing of these is coordinated by a mum volunteer helper.

A team of regular helpers would normally come along each week to set up the hall with toys and a craft and our refreshments team works hard to provide refreshments from the hatch. ABC can only happen because members of the church family are willing to give up their own time to help out with this very important work.

During the first Lockdown, a virtual ABC session was set up and attended by one of the mums and myself. Parent/Carers expressed the view that for this kind of group, face to face contact is what the children really needed and so they preferred not to join via zoom.

The current situation is that we cannot meet together, but as soon as restrictions allow, it is hoped that the group will resume and continue to flourish as before.

Cathryn Houghton

All Age Team

The All Age team was only responsible for one service in 2020 and that was the Christingle service at the end of January. Everyone had the opportunity to make a ‘Christingle’ to use as a visual prompt of the different elements represented, with ‘Jesus Light of the World’ at the centre. The work of the Children’s Society was featured and this important work was briefly outlined.

The All Age team is looking forward to resuming the opportunity to plan and share the services for all ages in the months to come. We pray that it will not be too long before the following verse from Psalm 145:4 is once more at the heart of these services – ‘One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.’

Rebecca Douglas, Nicola Hathaway, Jenny Drain, Paul Savvides, Denise Shone, David Page, Helen Jones

12

Elworth Church of England Primary School

The year started off as any other year did, full of expectations, school residential, preparation for SATS, The Easter Story. It seemed that before the year had really started, BANG, it stopped, the school was thrown into chaos, and schooling as we had known it for decades had ceased to exist.

As a Governor at Elworth C of E for many years I have never been involved in so many email correspondences and all off sudden new technology was taking over, ZOOM was the buzz word.

Elworth C of E is so blessed to have such dedicated staff from the Head Teacher to the staff who ensure the school is spick and span ready for the next day.

Governors have been very limited to visiting the school and much of my communication has been done through social media.

March through to August my communication to the school was that of support where and when and whenever until things became a little easier and I found out how I could be of better use to the school through social media.

In October Half Term I, along with other lay workers and Cathryn, set up a Holiday Club online via youtube with a Zoom meeting to follow later. This was run over three days, the title being Mission Possible. It was great to meet with some familiar faces from the school. During December we produced an online Meet the Characters. Usually this is done in church, however COVID changed this. 60 yr 1-2 children watched this and later met with some character via Zoom for a Q and A time.

2021 has seen the school in a tough situation. There is a fantastic team fighting very hard to keep school open and teaching flowing. More than ever the school needs your prayerful input and understanding during these difficult times.

Stephen Parker-Aiken, Foundation Governor

Chaplaincy at Elworth C of E

Since September 2020 I have had the privilege of serving Elworth C of E School as its School Chaplain. This extension to my normal Children and Families Outreach Work has been introduced to extend and hopefully enrich the outreach work of the church within the local school community.

The role involves a six hour commitment to school and includes a range of outreach activities ranging from collective worship (all either pre-recorded or live via Google Meet), to the school community; smaller group worship activities, coordination of charity events between school and church; one to one work with those in need of spiritual encouragement and support; leading the children of the Worship Council to coordinate their active input into the development of Christian based activities around school and opportunities (under normal circumstances) to walk alongside staff, parents and children and to offer pastoral support where appropriate.

Cathryn Houghton

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Coffee Stop

Coffee Stop Café is enjoyed by a steady, regular clientele. We are delighted that the local volunteers from the former St. Luke’s Fund- Raising Group are willing to contiue to open the café on the first Friday of each month.

Fair Trade goods are available on the third week of each month, when items can be bought or ordered with grateful thanks to Carolyn Barker for making this possible.

It has to be said that Coffee Stop is much more than ‘just a Café’. It is a place where the bustle of everyday life can slow for an hour or so whilst relaxing over refreshments of choice. A place where relationships can be strengthened and new friends made. Someone is always there to have a chat or alternatively it is somewhere to sit and gather thoughts in peaceful surroundings.

Then in March with the impact of the Covid:19 virus the Coffee Stop Café, like so many, had to close for the ‘foreseeable future’ what will that future be like and what will it mean, we do not know. Our hope is for the Coffee Stop Café to re-establish itself as a meeting place within the community.

There is perhaps an opportunity for a time of reflection, for new ideas, a new way of communicating and connecting or even a new name! All ideas are welcome.

As always, the age-old cry will go out for more and new volunteers. Please give serious consideration to whether you have an hour or so to spare on Friday mornings, however often or infrequently, or would you like to bake occasionally, to help with this invaluable outreach into our community.

When we are able to open our doors once more and you would like just to come along and see if it would be something you would enjoy then please do.

The Coffee Stop Team

Book Club

This year has definitely been a year of adapting, changing and then adapting and changing again! We are a steady 6 of regular readers and have read a wide variety of fiction books this year. As always some books are more successful than others but I think that is the joy of a book club. We read things that are sometimes a challenge, maybe because it's not a subject we would normally choose to read about, a different style or just something we haven't heard of before.

When we were in full lockdown we met over Zoom and then once restrictions eased off we were able to meet outside, nicely distanced and grateful for the large garden of one of our members. We carried this on for as long as we could, wrapping up against the cold, but once again we find ourselves in lockdown. We will persevere though, and I will get choosing the next book!

Thanks.

Lucy Kelly

14

Inter-Church Mission Support Group

The Inter-Church Mission Support Group consists of Church Family members who represent and support different charities. The Group determines how our Outward Giving budget is spent – and ideas for this are always welcome. Our policy is to ‘tithe’ St.Peter's voluntary income, with the amount accrued in one year being spent in the next to give some clarity in our budgeting. Each year we are supporting some charities on an ongoing basis to give certainty of funding to them for particular projects. Thus £2,000 was given to Compassion UK's project for pregnant women and babies under a year old in Delmas, Haiti .£1,000 was given to each of Cornerstone Church, Crewe, Lifeline Debt Advice in Sandbach, SYCAM in India, Dalit Freedom Network to sponsor the education of Dalit children, and Slavic Gospel Association to sponsor a church and its pastor in Vilengrad Bulgaria. £500 was given to North West Partnership for church planting and evangelism. The rest of our £10,758 budget was shared between Christian Aid and Tearfund (£750 each), WaterAid (£338), Scripture Union, Bible Society, Barnabas Fund, Christian Vision for Men (£330 each) and Samaritans Purse for Christmas shoebox transport costs (£100). Any ideas for sponsorship of worthy charities, particularly those that are Christian based will always be considered.

Mark Barker

Church Choir

As you are all aware, this year has been one of the strangest and most difficult years we have ever had to contend with, certainly in my lifetime, and I am not going to tell everyone at this stage how long that actually is !!!! Because of this the Choir Report this year is quite short.

We only managed to sing together at the evening service until mid-March, when we entered the first lockdown. However, as the year progressed and we all came to terms with the legal requirements of our situation, the on-line services began, and David Page asked us to prepare some hymns to be sung at the end of these services. So a much reduced choir, comprising of Helen, Steve and myself, and enhanced by our two organists, Karen and Barry and Paul Savvides, met several times to record various hymns in the Church, from which David could choose the one which would most suitably enlighten his message.

Naturally this year, we were unable to sing at any weddings. We look forward, therefore to a much better year, God willing, in 2021.

Margaret Taylor

15

Nexus

The majority of 2020 saw us in lockdown and fighting against the COVID-19 Coronavirus, which completely turned everything on its head. As Nexus is St Peter’s outreach to the local community, we saw it as even more important at this time to let our Parish know we were still here for them, and give them information of how they can still get involved with our Church.

We have always struggled to get articles written for Nexus, and so the team decided the format needed a re-vamp; a new style ‘card’ version was created with less articles and a more in-depth testimonial. The ownership also transferred as a joint publication with The Church on Ettiley Heath to a sole St Peter’s offering.

Our Christmas edition was a blend of the new style with a traditional Christmas card, and this worked well to re-emphasise that we continue to live in faith and to be there for our community.

As always thanks go to the team the help compile it; David Page, Anthony Miller and Bethany Jones. Our thanks also go to Stephen Parker-Aiken who has been a part of the team for some years now from The Church on Ettiley Heath.

We hope that Nexus continues to reach out to all Parish residents and invites them to connect with St Peter’s.

Diane Noble

Slavic Gospel Association

St. Peter's has continued to support the Slavic Gospel Association including support for Stefan and Mira Zarev at Velingrad in Bulgaria.

Partnership with local churches has been restricted and has required careful planning around covid19 restrictions. Training and support for leaders and pastors has continued, sometimes in person, sometimes on line. The anniversary target of commissioning seventy new pastors is nearly complete and mission in Eastern Russia continues. S.G.A. and partner churches have responded to peoples different practical needs in different areas during the covid pandemic. Moldova has been badly affected by a poor harvest and covid outbreaks.

Stefan and Mira Zarev and the churches in Velingrad and Rakitovo have been affected by covid19. Worship services and meetings have been suspended from time to time and visits and contact between people have been restricted so that the fellowship has needed to adapt as we have at St. Peter's.

Bill Chapman

16

Church Prayer Life

There are a number of ways that the church prayer life has been more encouraging this year during this time of the Covid pandemic.

More people have joined in the monthly prayer meetings held on Zoom and led by different housegroups each month. Also there has been an increase in the numbers of people joining the Connect network and praying for other members of the church as well as outside of the church community. Because of the Covid Pandemic there has been a marked increase in the requests for prayer for individuals and families who have been affected and this increased awareness of needs within our community has, I feel, brought people closer together. People have said how supported they have felt by knowing that the church is praying for them and how helpful they have found this. The Archbishops of York and Canterbury have encouraged us to pray initially during November and then on going for our nation as a whole as we live together and support each other in community through this crisis. We also prayed for the appointment of a new Bishop of Chester who was appointed earlier in the year. Most of the housegroups now incorporate a time of joint prayer as part of their Zoom meetings.

When able to and around lockdown and tier procedures, the church building has been opened for private prayer on Sunday mornings and evenings as well as mid week on a Wednesday.

Private or group prayer is an essential part of our Christian Life in developing our relationship with God through Jesus.

Norma Chapman

Fair Trade

2020 was a very difficult year for everyone and especially Fair Trade. I traded until Mothers Day and then we were all in Lockdown. The remaining food items were then sold via the Church Facebook page. Everything was sold with some items being donated to the Sandbach Food Bank. I did not sell any more items until the two outdoor Church Services in August and September.

A final sale then took place at the Shoebox Service in November, selling gifts and Christmas Cards left over from last year. Consequently sales were substantially down on last year. I am just left with mainly gifts and non-food items. If, and when, I can resume any Fair Trade sales remains uncertain, but perhaps by the end of the year things will pick up. Thank you to everyone who has supported me during this difficult year.

Carolyn Barkerr

17

Worship Group

This has been an extraordinary year indeed for the worshipping life of St. Peter's Church and the worship group and its ministry has been affected in many ways that we would not have imagined a year ago but there have been so many things to be thankful for.

In March, with St Peter’s producing online services, each of us learned how to make home recordings and we are indebted to the Frobisher family for showing us how: Libby editing and adding the song words and Martin providing the equipment. Later, with Libby returning to her studies in Manchester, Steve took over the editing and Mitch provided useful expertise in sound mixing.

With a relaxation of rules, it was great to take part in safe outdoor events such as the Harvest service on the crocus lawn in September and the carol service at the front of church in December.

We have new faces and voices in the group and we wish to extend a huge thank you and a warm welcome to Lynda and Simon.

Please continue to pray for the group, for perseverance in the strangest of circumstances, that God will use this 'pause button' on our usually musical contributions to worship to help us to reflect on what is most important in supporting others to draw closer to Him.

Heather, for and on behalf of Paul, Greg, Pete, Stephanie, Libby, Martin, Steve, Mitch, Miriam, Matthew, Martha, Simon, Lynda, Carolyn and Bill.

Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box Appeal 2020

Despite the challenges of the Covid 19 global pandemic it was terrific to see the positive response to this year’s annual campaign. We are absolutely thrilled to report that with the 59 shoeboxes collected at Elworth C.E Primary School together with the contribution from St Peter’s Church family and the community of Elworth the total collected was 130 gift filled shoeboxes.

Thank you for packing an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox and standing by children in need in what has been such a tough time for families all across the World. Thank you for showing children around the World that love was not in lockdown.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions which resulted in delaying National Collection Week for England from November (9[th] -16[th] ) to December (5[th] -14[th] ) and not being able to have as many processing centres open, the processing of some shoeboxes this year took a little longer. As a result we may not receive our final destination emails until February 2021.

May I take this opportunity to report that in 2019 many of us got notification that their shoeboxes were sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

If you would like any further information please contact Denise Shone.

Denise Shone

18

Messy Church

Under normal circumstances, St. Peter’s Messy Church would take place twice each term in the church hall. It would usually be held on a Saturday afternoon from 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm. The ethos of Messy Church is to provide a relaxed craft and activities based approach to bible themes for the whole family. There is always a time of worship and celebration followed by a hot meal for everyone. For many people Messy Church is the only contact they have with church and so it is vital that the gospel message is presented in a clear and vibrant way.

We were able to hold one Messy Church session face to face this year before Covid-19 restrictions came into force. This was ‘Messy Mothering’, and attendance was normal for the time of year at ninety attendees. Our subsequent Messy Church sessions have been either online uploads on the church website each month for our Messy families to follow and share within their own homes, or they have been ‘Messy Church in a Bag’ where sessions have been pre-prepared and craft packs/ideas delivered to them or collected by families from church. In addition, I have been able to deliver one ‘Messy Christingle’ session with the Year 2 children of Elworth C of E School, as a face to face session under my new Chaplaincy role (see separate report).

A team of between ten and twelve helpers would normally support the provision of Messy Church on a regular basis and each event is heavily dependent upon people coming forward to serve God at Messy Church.

Cathryn Houghton

Sewing Machine Group

Making the most of your Sewing Machine

We are still a small group of enthusiastic sewers who unfortunately cannot meet at the moment. We do however still meet regularly on zoom (how would we have coped without technology over the last year?)

We do chat about what we have been sewing and how we try to keep busy but mostly we just put the world to rights.

Hopefully we will be able to meet again in the none too distant future. We like to think we are a friendly, welcoming bunch but the only way to find out will be to come along and join in.

We will meet more or less fortnightly on Monday evenings, from 7:30 – 9:30. There will be a notice on the board in the church hall giving dates.

We have been asked about the possibility of also meeting during the day for those who are not keen to come out in the evening. We hope to give this a try when we are allowed to get together again.

COME AND JOIN US

Gail Dell

19

Churchyard

Unfortunately there is not much to report this year due to the ongoing restrictions which we have to observe.

Early in 2020 Steve Jones was no longer able to assist us because of other more pressing family commitments. His help in organising and managing the work in the churchyard was a great asset and the other members of the volunteer team would like to thank him for all he has done and wish him well.

We also lost the help of the Community Pay Back team due to the Covid restrictions. Their input to the maintenance of the churchyard was also very much appreciated. Hopefully we may be able to welcome them back when things return to something near normality.

On a more positive note John Stables, Ken Lever and myself managed to keep doing grass cutting, hedge trimming and general maintenance whilst keeping social distancing. Jenny Haddon is also a valued member of the team. During the year she has tirelessly tended the flower beds and shrubs around the church and hall car park. She also does sterling work keeping the paths clear of leaves etc.

During the year we took delivery of a new petrol hedge trimmer which has proved to be a huge help in keeping the hedges in check. All the machines have been serviced with new drive belts fitted to the ride on mower.

I think it only remains for me to thank the members of the volunteer team, especially Ken who still comes over from Holmes Chapel where he now lives. Without their help and continuing commitment the churchyard would not be as well maintained.

Bill Morrison and the churchyard volunteer team

Speak

What a strange year! We have still been producing Speak, which is our bimonthly church magazine and is distributed online, as often as possible.

• The magazine is for the church family. Please email office@stpeters elworth.org.uk to add your name and email to the distribution list.

Do you read Speak? Please let me know what you think. As ever, the magazine needs new material and someone to help put the magazine together, so contact [e-mail]. I would be more than happy to chat with you.

Bethany Jones

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Home Groups

Monday House Group

When the pandemic struck, we quickly switched from meeting at home to Zoom meetings once we had all got to grips with the new technology and in some cases, upgraded our internet connection. We also increased the frequency of our meetings in order to provide fellowship, support and prayer for each other which has been so necessary during these troubled times. We continue to seek inspiration from the Bible for living our daily lives by undertaking a number of Bible studies including 'Meeting Jesus', 'Psalms: Prayers of The Heart' and sermon series.

Mark Barker

Lighthouse Home Group

Lighthouse Home Group (formerly 18-30’s Homegroup) meets once a week on a Thursday. This year we have continued to meet, but from March onwards this has been virtually via "Zoom". On average 7 of us meet. We study the bible together and support one another in prayer. This "virtual" face to face contact has been so valued by us all as we have sought to support one another in an uncertain and difficult year. Some themes of our bible study this year have been Revelation, Promises: Kept the Whole Story of the Bible, The Cross. We have also maintained the social element of our group through Zoom quiz and game nights. Regular members are Miriam Astley, Ruth Dave, Bethany Jones, Jen Paddison, Chloe Page, Greg Savvides and Steve Thorley. New members are always welcome, just speak to any member!

Miriam Astley

Kairos

The group’s last face to face meeting took place early in March 2020. Since then circumstances have obliged us to meet on Zoom. We have continued to meet almost weekly throughout the year, sometimes just to keep in touch and support and encourage one another during this testing time. We have completed our six session study of ZECHARIAH: God’s big plan for struggling Christians. After this we took on the seven studies of ACTS: Building a people of Faith. This was followed by the seven sessions of PHILIPPIANS: Shining with joy. In July Kairos led the monthly Prayer Meeting.

We are all hoping that we will soon be able to meet again in person.

Christine Saucedo

21

Monday Small Group

This new small group was born digitally in September 2020, in response to interest from several ‘young parents’. We started by meeting weekly on Monday nights, via Zoom, tuning in at a slightly later hour to allow young children to be put to bed (they don’t always stay there, and we sometimes see small faces peering into the camera!). We also communicate frequently through our dedicated WhatsApp group, seeking to support each other through lockdown, sharing prayer requests and other information.

We started our studies by adapting the Alpha follow up material, based on the book of Philippians, and spent several weeks working our way through that encouraging portion of the Bible. Just before Christmas we used some seasonal material from Jeff Lucas, and we have recently embarked on a series of topical studies using web-based material from ‘The Bible Project’ by Tim Mackie. As we approached Christmas, all five households that make up the small group participated in the ‘Advent Windows’ scheme! We always make time in our meetings to pray together, and reserve one Monday gathering each month for social ‘chat time’. If you want to find out more about this group, please contact us through the St Peters church office.

Lynda and Simon Wisbey

Koinonia

Koinonia small group started the year as per usual on alternate Tuesday evenings at Paul and Heather's but, since March, this moved to weekly Zoom calls on line. It has been a tough year, but the weekly Zooms appear to be a source of comfort and focus for many in the group and, as COVID has taken us all by degrees through its twists and turns, we have certainly become closer to each other spiritually.

We started the year with There Are No Strong People (A Study of Samson) by Jeff Lucas (CWR) which took us up to the start of the first lockdown and into Lent and Easter, where there we one off studies around Holy Week: ‘What can we learn from the events in the last week of Jesus life?’

After Easter, a study on Pentecost heralded a series on the Book of Acts up to chapter 15 where Paul and Barnabas decide to part company. We drew on Spring Harvest online resources for this series and in particular on the videos of Malcolm Duncan. In 2021, matching the St Peter’s sermon series, we’ll be covering the later chapters of Acts.

After the summer holidays, we covered the Book of Ruth and then moved to some studies on Ecclesiastes, again matching the sermon series. We concluded the year by investing in a series on Advent made during lock down by Jeff Lucas and the Searchlight Theatre Co called All Wrapped Up (for Christmas).

Paul Savvides on behalf of Heather, Julia, Stephanie, Fiona, Simon, Lynda, Anthony, Kath and Kath.

22

Fuyin

Little did we know that January – March 2020 was “normal” compared to what the rest of the year was going to bring. The Global pandemic of Covid 19 required a rapid change to the way we communicated with each other. Enormous respect to the ladies in the home group. Either through phone contact, WhatsApp messaging or having mastered the art of the social platform Zoom we were able to maintain “virtual support” and continue our Bible Study. We met in the “virtual world” on Wednesday mornings and alternated between a “brew and natter” and study of the scriptures. During a brief period of the easing of restrictions (still adhering to social distance guidelines) we were able to enjoy meeting together in Mary’s garden which was a real joy.

Over the course of the year we have used an interactive Spring Harvest bible workbook – Trust: Enduring Hope written by Eric Gaudion. We studied Thessalonians 1 & 2 with the aid of Life Builder Study guide written by Donald Baker. We looked at a couple of standalone studies: “Perseverance” from a study guide called Christian Character by Andrea Sterk & Peter Scazzero and “Courage” by Penelope Wilcock. During Advent Helan shared a poem by Rachel Mann called “O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that mountains would quake at your presence” Isaiah 64:1. We also completed a few of the studies from the Advent resource “The Time is Now” written by Amy Orr-Ewing, part of the Cover to Cover material.

In June we took our turn to lead the monthly church prayer meeting which we facilitated through Zoom. As it was Pentecost we structured our prayers around Pentecost and four of the gifts of the Holy Spirit; Preaching, Healing, Hospitality and Faith.

With the challenges of the past 12 months the prayer support, encouragement and practical help that each member of the group has given has been invaluable.

If you would like any more information please have a chat to any member of our group.

Denise Shone

‘Middlewich Road’ Home Group

This group, unfortunately, has not been meeting since lockdown started at the beginning of the year. We look forward to renewing our friendship as soon as we are allowed to do so.

Jim Watson

Philia

The Monday evening group is now called Philia and is led by Jenny Drain and Pat Parfitt. We are a group of 7 with two further members joining us when they are not at at university. This last year has been particularly tricky due to Covid restrictions, but thanks to technology we have still met once a week via zoom. This also includes a member who now lives in Barbados!

This year we have studied: Ruth, Isaiah, James and are currently studying Acts.

Jenny Drain

23

Thought For the Day

Whilst Covid 19 has meant a different year for the church it did give us the opportunity to expand how we reach members of our community. One of the new initiatives was “Thought for the Day”. Members of the church family shared a “thought” with a Christian message. These were based around bible verses, poems and hymns and songs. They were filmed using smart phones and tablets and then shared via the church Facebook page and YouTube channel. The idea was to share encouragement with not only our church family members but also the local community. A wide variety of members of the church family shared a thought with participants ranging in age from nine. The Thought for the Day outreach still continues now and it has been a highly successful way of encouraging one another in our faith.

Miriam Astley

Advent Windows

During the November lockdown, our home group discussed ways we could try and brighten up people’s Christmas. One of my suggestions was to have 24 different Advent windows around Elworth; it would involve the church family and would also get people out on walks to look at each window. Luckily, we had 24 volunteers, including a Pre-school window and a window created by the children at Elworth C of E. Although we kept the theme simple – Christmas – it was wonderful to see such different talents and ideas especially when children got involved. A new window was revealed each day and the address of each one was available on the church website as were the photographs of the windows.

The event also provided a great outreach opportunity and we were able to shine a light on the true meaning of Christmas.

I would like to thank every family who volunteered to create an Advent window and for everyone who supported us by viewing them and being so positive about the idea. This could become an annual event!!

Julia Cargill

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Independent examiner’s report to Elworth P.C.C.

This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2020, which are set out on pages 26 to 34, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 (‘the Regulations’) and s.145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

Respective responsibilities of the PCC and the examiner

As members of the P.C.C. you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements; you consider that the audit requirement of the Regulations and s.43(2) of the Act does not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations.

Basis of this report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under s.43(7)(b) of the Act and to be found in the Church guidance, 2006 edition. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the P.C.C. and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner’s statement

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

• a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and

• b) to prepare financial statements, which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act and the regulations have not been met; or

• (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should have been drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Mr S. Valentine ACMA Chartered Accountant

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Statement of Financial Activities

For the year ending 31 December 2020

	ent of Fina ear ending	ent of Fina ear ending	ent of Fina ear ending	3	ncial Activities 1 December 2020	ncial Activities 1 December 2020	ncial Activities 1 December 2020	ncial Activities 1 December 2020
		nt ar
Funds No Incoming Resources Voluntary income 2( Activities for generating funds 2( Income from investments 2( Church activities 2( Other incoming resources 2( Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Church activities 3( Cost of generating voluntary income 3( Fund raising trading costs 3( Investment management costs 3( Governance costs Total Resources Expended Net Incoming (Expended) Reso Transfers 1 Net Movement In Funds Total Funds brought forward Total Funds Carried Forward	t a b c d e a b c d	Un e ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )	restricte £ 119,313 18,358 1,008 30,779 17,695	d R	Endowment Total estricted 2020 £ £ £ 3.500 - 122,813 - - 18,358 - - 1,008 - - 30,779 - - 17,695		Total 2019 £ 112,605 31,988 1,654 65,555 30 211,832 233,081 104 1,689 - -
			187,153		3,500 - 190,653		211,832
			202,190 87 513 - -		425 - 202,615 - - 87 - - 513 - - - - - -		233,081 104 1,689 - -
			202,790		425 - 203,215		234,874
	u	rc			Transfers 3,075 - (12,562 - - - 3,075 - (12,562 22,622 3,943 1,333,866	) )	(23,042) - (23,042) 1,356,908
	0
		1,291,664			25,697 3,943 1,321,304		1,333,866

Balance Sheet at 31 December 2020

	Notes		2020	2019
			£	£
Fixed Assets
Tangible	6(a)		1,124,517	1,143,912
Investments	6(b)		-	-
			1,124,517	1,143,912
Current Assets
Debtors	7		16,639	12,722
Short term deposits	11		250,544	234,536
Cash at bank and in hand	11		49,090	61,517
			316,273	308,775
Liabilities
Creditors – Amounts falling due within one year
	8		11,945	11,280
Net Current Assets			304,328	297,495
Total Assets Less Current	Liabilities		1,428,845	1,441,407
Creditors – amounts falling	due after more	than one year
	9		107,541	107,541
Total Net Assets			1,321,304	1,333,866
Parish Funds
Unrestricted			1,291,664	1,307,301
Restricted	10		25,697	22,622
Endowment	10		3,943	3,943
			1,321,304	1,333,866

Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 17th March 2021 and signed on its behalf by

The Revd David Page (P.C.C. Chairman)

The notes on pages 28 to 34 form part of these accounts.

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Reserves Policy

It is the policy of St Peter’s Church Elworth to hold unrestricted cash in reserve for three months operating costs including salaries and parish share, anticipated building & equipment works within the next one-two years, for funding the employment costs of an Assistant Minister from autumn 2021 until end 2022 beyond what is held in the Assistant Minister Restricted reserve, and accrued Outward Giving payments. It will also hold restricted cash reserves for the Assistant Minister, Benevolent, Church Hall Development and Endowment funds.

At December 2020, the amounts to be held in reserve are as follows:

Unrestricted Reserves Operating Costs Outward Giving CEC Loan repayment 2016 – 2021 inc Building Work & Equipment reserves Assistant Minister provision 2021 Assistant Minister provision 2022 Restricted Reserves Assistant Minister Church Hall Development Benevolent Music Donation Endowment Funds Total Reserves	Item Total £35,000 £11,405 £33.600 £85,900 £5,000 £50,000 £220,905 £10,000 £12,022 £3,075 £600 £25,697 £3,943 £250,544

• Anticipated building & equipment works include repairs or replacement of the central heating boiler or re-ordering the front of church (£60,900), church hall renewals/repairs (£10k), Quinquennial anticipated repairs in next 18 months (£5k) and a contingency of £10k.

• The Church hall Development fund accounts were closed in 2019 and a balance

• of £12,022 transferred to a Restricted Fund in the main account.

• The cash reserves in the deposit account meet the Reserves requirement.

• The PCC will continue to hold additional funds within the Out of School Club,

• Fairtrade and ABC accounts. This policy will be reviewed every 12 months.

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 December 2020

1. Accounting Policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 together with applicable accounting standards and the SORP 2005.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. They include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.

28

1.1. Funds

Endowment Funds are funds the capital of which must be maintained; only income arising from investments of the endowment may be used either as restricted or unrestricted funds depending upon the purpose for which the endowment was established.

Restricted funds represent (a) income from trusts or endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust or bequest, and (b) donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the PCC for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. The PCC does not usually invest separately for each fund. Where there is no separate investment, interest is apportioned to individual funds on an average balance basis.

Unrestricted funds are general funds which can be used for PCC ordinary purposes.

1.2. Incoming resources

Planned giving collections and donations are recognised when received. Tax refunds are recognized when the incoming resource to which they relate is received. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the PCC is legally entitled to the amounts due. Dividends are accounted for when receivable, interest is accrued. All other income is recognized when it is receivable. All incoming resources are accounted for gross.

1.3. Resources expended

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the PCC. The diocesan parish share is accounted for when due. Amounts received specifically for mission are dealt with as restricted funds. All other expenditure is generally recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross.

1.4. Fixed Assets

Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts in accordance with s.96(2)(a) of the Charities Act 1993.

Movable church furnishings held by the vicar and churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which required a faculty for disposal are inalienable property, listed in the church’s inventory, which can be inspected (at any reasonable time). For anything acquired prior to 2000 there is insufficient cost information available and therefore such assets are not valued in the financial statements. Subsequently no individual item has cost more than £1,000 so all such expenditure has been written off when incurred.

Equipment, fixtures and furniture used within the church premises is depreciated on a straight line basis over five years. Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £500 or less are written off when the asset is acquired. The Church Hall building will be depreciated over 75 years with plant & machinery, toolstore and railings depreciated over 25 years.

29

2. Incoming Resources

2. Incoming Resources
	Unrestricted	Restricted Total		Total
			2020	2019
	£	£	£	£
2(a) Voluntary Income
Planned Giving	88,529	200	88,729	77,278
Tax recoverable	20,048	-	20,048	16,927
Cash Offertories	1,631	-	1,631	5,441
Other Donations	1,234	-	1,234	5,697
Specific Donations	5,010	3,300	8,310	6,001
Other Grants	2,861	-	2,861	261
Legacies	-	-	-	1,000
	119,313	3,500	122,813	112,605
2(b) Activities for generating Funds
Church Hall Lettings	13,704	-	13,704	25,665
Fair Trade Sales	646	-	646	1,650
Miscellaneous	4,008	-	4,008	4,673
	18,358	-	18,358	31,988
2(c) Income from Investments
Interest	1,008	-	1,008	1,654
2(d) Income from Church Activities
Wedding and Funeral Fees	4,718	-	4,718	5,607
Out of School Club Fees	21,128	-	21,128	49,666
ABC Door Collections	859	-	859	3,387
Income from other churches	2,686	-	2,686	5,371
Heat & Light, photocopying	1,388	-	1,388	1,524
	30,779	-	30,779	65,555
2(e) Other incoming resources
Bank account switch incentive	4,000	-	4,000	-
HMRC Job Retention Scheme	13,695	-	13,695	-
Others	-	-	-	30
	17,695	-	17,695	30

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3. Resources Expended

3. Resources Expended	3. Resources Expended
Unrestricted		Restricted	Total	Total
			2020	2019
	£	£	£	£
3(a) Church Activities
Outward Giving	11,476	-	11,476	11,058
Parish Share	67,668	-	67,668	65,975
Ministerial Expenses	541	-	541	843
Vicarage Rates	2,782	-	2,782	2,186
Assistant Staff	-	-	-	-
Family & Child Outreach	10,321	-	10,321	10,399
Church Running expenses	5,993	-	5,993	5,536
Church Repairs	623	-	623	2,156
Depreciation AV system & lights	1,246	-	1,246	1,246
Church yard expenses	786	-	786	1,592
Music and Service expenses	1,178	-	1,178	2,022
Administration and Publicity	13,968	-	13,968	20,923
Education and Training	237	-	237	333
Mission and Evangelism	4,008	425	4,433	8,239
Out of School Club – Wages	38,791	-	38,791	41,492
Out of School Club – Equipment	23	-	23	244
Out of School Club – Running costs	3,428	-	3,428	5,172
Church Hall Running costs	39,121	-	39,121	53,665
	202,190	425	202,615	233,081
3(b) Cost of generating voluntary income
Giving envelopes	87	-	87	104
3(c) Fundraising trading costs
Fair Trade Purchases	513	-	513	1,689
3(d) Investment management costs	-	-	-	-

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4. Staff Costs

Staff Costs
	Unrestricted Restricted Total			Total
			2019	2018
	£	£	£	£
Wages and Salaries	54,645	-	54,645	61,958
HMRC, Pension & Admin	6,156	-	6,156	7,712
	60,801	-	60,801	69,670

Five staff are employed by the Out Of School Club; a Manager, Deputy Manager and up to three assistants. A Church Hall cleaner, Family & Child Outreach worker, and up to two Office Administrator staff have been employed by the PCC throughout 2020.

5. Payment to PCC members

During the year various PCC members have at times purchased items on behalf of the church and have been re-imbursed by the PCC. The PCC therefore considers that these amounts are exempt from disclosure.

6. Fixed Assets

6. Fixed Assets	6. Fixed Assets
6(a) Tangible (all unrestricted)		Freehold land			Church & Hall
		and buildings			equipment	Total
				£	£	£
Actual Cost	At 1 January 2020			1,317,784	73,281	1,391,065
	Additions at cost			-	7,123	7,123
	Disposals at cost			-	-	-
	At 31 December 2020			1,317,784	80,404	1,398,188
Depreciation	At 1 January 2020			185,629	61,524	247,153
	Charge for the year			23,634	2,884	26,518
	At 31 December 2020			209,263	64,408	273,671
Net Book Value	At 31 December 2019			1,132,155	11,757	1,143,912
	At 31 December 2020			1,108,522	15,995	1,124,517

The freehold land and buildings now comprise the Church Hall, toolstore/garage, railings, car park gates and refurbished footpath. Church & Hall equipment comprises the Church AV system, new lights, a piano keyboard, a ride-on mower and other gardening equipment. In the Church Hall, the security system, interim PA, tables, chairs, defibrillator, acoustic panels, artificial turf, AV system, foyer furniture, replacement corridor lighting and dishwasher. This year a camera system was installed in the Hall and Church with a cabled link between the two and wi-fi in the church.

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6(b) Investments

All unrestricted Cost At 1 January 2020 Disposals At 31 December 2020 7. Debtors(Unrestricted Funds) Tax recoverable Insurance prepayment Other prepayments Other debtors 8. Creditors –Amounts falling due within one year DBF Creditor Outward Giving Accruals Rental prepaid Other Creditors 9. Creditors - Amounts falling due after more than on Church Hall Loan

The Church Hall Loan is repayable in equal annual instalments of £5,660 over a period of 22 years starting in 2013. The first three year’s repayments have been waived by Cheshire East Council and taken to account in 2016. A review regarding future payments was started with Cheshire East Council during that year, with no outcome at the time of publication of these accounts.

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10. Funds

The restricted funds comprise the Church Hall Development Fund, Organ Fund (now closed), the Churchyard Fund (now closed), and a music donation. The Endowment funds relate to four legacies on which only the interest may be used by the PCC for the upkeep of the churchyard. Out of School Club and ABC Group are accounted as Unrestricted.

Fund movements

Fund movements	Fund movements	Fund movements
Balance at Incoming			Resources	Balance at
1 Jan 2020 Resources Expended				31	Dec 2020
			Transfers
	£	£	£	£	£
Church Hall Development	12,022		-	-	12,022
New Minister Fund	10,000	-	-	-	10,000
Benevolent Fund	-	3,500	(425)	-	3,075
Churchyard Fund	-	-	-	-	-
Organ Fund	-	-	-	-	-
Music Donation	600	-	-	-	600
Total	22,622	3,500	(425)	-	25,697

11. Analysis of net assets by fund

	Unrestricted	Restricted Endowment	Restricted Endowment	Total
	Funds	Funds	Funds	2020
	£	£	£	£
Tangible fixed assets	1,124,517	-	-	1,124,517
Investments	-		-	-
Debtors	16,639	-	-	16,369
Short term deposits	220,904	25,697	3,943	250,544
Cash at bank and in hand	49,090	-	-	49,090
Liabilities:
Amounts falling due in one year (11,945)		-	-	(11,945)
Amounts falling due in over one year
	(107,541)	-	-	(107,541)
Total	1,291,664	25,697	3,943	1,321,304

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St. Peter's ABC Group

Income and Expenditure Statement for for the year ended 31 December 2020

£ Income Door Collections 858.57 Toast Donations 0.00 Expenditure Refreshments 182.51 Crafts / Equipment 89.22 Christmas Party 0.00 Donation to Water Aid 70.00 Other 0.00 Transfer Donations to St Peter’s PCC Donation 1,200.00 Net Income for the year Balance b/f 1 January 2020 Balance c/f 31 December 2020 Bank Balance as at 31stDecember 2020 Less unpresented cheque Total	£ 858.57 0.00	£
	182.51 89.22 0.00 70.00 0.00	858.57
		341.73
		1200.00 (683.16) 925.27 242.11 312.11 (70.00) 242.11

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