## **PARISH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, GREAT MEOLS** ## Annual report of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) for the year ending ## 31st December 2024 The principal function of the PCC is “to promote, in the parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical.” The PCC members are also Trustees, and, therefore, stewards both of the mission and the resources of the Church, ensuring that it is solvent, well-run and delivering its charitable outcomes. In addition, the PCC is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Church Centre. PCC members were: |PCC members were:|| |---|---| |Vicar|Gillian Rossiter| |Readers|David Moss| ||Lesley Young| |Churchwardens|Steve Symes (Assistant Treasurer)| ||Martin Hodson| |Representatives on|Lesley Young| |Deanery Synod|Claire Barnard, Daniel Branch, Eunice Moss| ||Sheena Wilson| |Pastoral Worker|Chris Branch| ||Andy Liston| ||Alex Calvert| |Elected members|Steve Austin (Treasurer)| ||Clive Burgess| ||Gill Childs| ||Rowan Connell| ||Sue Dutton (Secretary)| ||Jean Hodgson (until September 2024)| ||Hazel Moon| ||Clare O’Connell| ||Adele Sedgwick| ||Steve Symes| Both the PCC and Standing Committee met on six occasions each in 2024, without having to resort any virtual meetings as in previous years. Safeguarding is a constant agenda item, and a Safeguarding team led by Rev Gillian with Chris Branch and Sheena Wilson were appointed. A designated safeguarding email account was set up for the team to share confidential information and to alert the Diocese of any concerns. The ministry team and all members of the PCC have completed safeguarding training which they have to renew every three years. By the end of the year the team had completed the first two levels of the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard which required the PCC reviewing and updating our Safeguarding policies, the final level will be complete in 2025. We continue to err on caution with regard to coronavirus, and although the shared chalice has been reintroduced, many parishioners continue to opt to intinct. We continue to offer hand gel before communion. In January, the roll out of the Diocese’ new finance package ‘My Fund Accounting’ eagerly awaited by our treasurer, was delayed and was not actually implemented until October. Despite teething problems, the finance team, Steve Austin and Steve Symes have been able to upload our 2024 figures on to the new system in time to produce our end of year accounts. Church finances continue to be a cause for concern especially as the shortfall between Planned Giving and our Parish Share forever widens. Church fundraising projects such as the Summer Fair, the Take-away Afternoon teas, the annual church barbecue, the ‘Vicars Surprise’ evening and the Advent Fair, which are all always well supported, not only bring people together but provide the extra that we need. However, these are dependent on people’s good will, and we cannot guarantee being able to maintain long term. We were fortunate this year to receive two legacies from parishioners, which have helped to keep us solvent and without which we could have had a deficit of £24k. Despite the ever-increasing costs of energy and the ongoing running of the church, St John’s is in a better financial position than many churches, and we are thankful for the incredibly support we receive from so many people not just our church members, but also the wider community. St John’s continues to grow as the heart of the local community, together with links with the neighbouring churches of St Catherine’s, St Andrew’s, and St Hildeburgh’s and of course St Chad’s in Leasowe. Members of the local community who are not members of our church community have continued to help with the making and delivering of soup and sandwiches to the housebound, joined in church activities, donated, and washed and ironed clothes for the Swap Shop at St Chads, donated pyjamas at Christmas, together with financial contributions to the causes we support. We are extremely thankful for their continuing support. Links with Great Meol’s Primary school have also continued, and the children have enjoyed Easter and Christmas Experiences organised by our church volunteers together with Harvest Festival and Christmas Concerts organised by school in church. They joined with the Community Choir in October for their annual charity concert and the School Ambassadors returned to help pack bags for our Soup & Sandwich deliveries. Children have also enjoyed an evening of Pancake Fun on Shrove Tuesday, Messy Church events, a week-long Holiday Club based on ‘Beauty and the Beast’, a ‘Light Party’ in October, and a Christmas Fun Day. This year also saw the relaunch of our Sunday School and although numbers are small at present we hope to see them grow in 2025. The numbers attending our Monday Café and Young at Heart group continue to increase both offering food, friendship and a ’Warm Space’. The Café held a fund- raising Cake Sale, together with a fundraiser for Christian Aid. The three ‘Men’s Breakfast’ held throughout the year and the Patronal lunch in June, were all enjoyed by those who attended. St John’s hosted the Lent Lunches & Reflections this year. The Meol’s Community Choir performed a very moving Passion play on Palm Sunday. Easter Sunday saw the annual early morning pilgrimage to Hilbre Island, following a short service it was back to St John’s for coffee and bacon butties. At our confirmation service In October, Bishop Julie Conalty confirmed six of our members, together with others from St Hildeburg’s. The end of the year saw our usual Christmas Toy service, with donations of new toys to Charles Thompson Mission, our ever-popular Christingle services and our service of Nine Lessons and Carols. Thankfully, we have had no major building projects this year, the west and east wall repairs being complete. However, there are always repairs and maintenance jobs to do, including replacing the metal shed with a wooden one that does not leak, replacing the Emergency doors in the hall and replacing the heaters in the Vestries. Our thanks to Steve Symes for overseeing and organising these jobs as well as being on hand to solve every maintenance and computer problem that arises. Constant rain and then storm damage and a blocked drain pipe gave cause to a series of leaks round the church resulting in the resurrection of scaffolding so that repairs could be carried out. In July, Sheena suggested we got involved with Eco church, a scheme run by A Rocha UK equipping churches to care for God’s creation through their worship, buildings, land, community engagement and individual lifestyles. By December having completed the questionnaire we received a Bronze level Award with some areas far exceeding the level required. We look forward in 2025 to building on this, so watch out for a Wilde Messy Church as the children start to create a wild garden. Throughout 2024 we have continued to support Tanzanian Church (£600), SAT-7 (£600), the Bible Society (£500)) and Childrens Society (£600). Carols on the Green raised £250 and Café fundraiser £455 for MIND, £500 went to the Charles Thompson Mission and Jig saw sales raised funds for KIDS CONNECT. In September we were sorry to see Sheena Wilson step down as a Reader and will miss her contributions to church life. We were also devastated to learn that Rev Gillian was retiring in January. Her leadership over the past 18 years has been exemplary and we will miss her enthusiasm, boundless energy, friendship, and support to all in so many ways. This news raised so many questions about the future and how we prepare for the appointment of a new incumbent. Thankfully, Gillian laid the foundation of the work the ministry team and PCC needed to do in preparation for her successor. 2024 continued to provide challenges for everybody at St John’s but it is thanks to Rev Gillian’s leadership, with the support of the Ministry team, the Wardens, Steve and Martin, the PCC, and the army of ready volunteers that we continue to strengthen our church community at St John’s and its impact on our wider community by being a ‘Place of Welcome’ and sanctuary. You can keep up to date with all that goes on at St John’s at the website www.stjohnsmeols.co.uk **Sue Dutton** Salnt John the Bapdst R•ceipts and Payments kcount For the period from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 14t6328 1&S34.79 352.17 1&45794 161.1x18 1a(6328 1W.79 352.17 1&617ffj8 s.1￿.74 41A74 2)752 134.716AX 207J2 139th5.11 9229Ag 4mJJ7 14V1325 mJ7 17*5UO 17h 2184171 73 151589.15 174￿n 151￿07J12 15W.15 1￿.616.11 2tD515B X¢.9gJS1 16 MthXQ57.9) kvn) P4E 1 d1 To¢al General D•¥lgnatsd Ro8tr5ct•d Ettdo*mtrnl Thls ￿ar Last ￿ar Recelpts Don•¢lons l•gBdes 0101-FI￿ gNrosknthr¥J(•Jws o110-(IftAd.&￿ek 47.491&1 1.037flJ 653A4 47h94. 1,037. 0SX.CrtrdfGftlidg* 2,(6&LhJ 10N40.95 7.970 11b3B.75 425X). 10,440 7870 I1￿.75 42AX) 0701. L￿￿e% 1012.75 101275 12405328 129.053.28 Incom from charitatr+le •¢¢lvilies 0519.79 8W7fl) £0 519.79 1ZKI.ClvJth hall*.￿.￿ &397. Incon* from ¢harll•ble •clviities Totals 1&3X79 18,334.79 Inv08tmonts 35117 17 Investm•nts Totsl 35117 352.17 Oth•r Incom• 7,￿￿) 7￿1.￿) l2&3.￿1n*restre￿￿wj 15C6. Glan PLsstrtyJ*Lt(r &1*.74 &159.74 Othor Incom• Totsl* 14457J4 s.1￿.74 18,617.6B l>and tots 161.198.18 &159.74 16Q35T.92 PaynRnts Ralslng fundjs I7￿).&￿ts clfe*s 2)722 207.32 PAlslng fund8 Tota 207J2 207.32 Exp•nOllure on charitabh aEtl¥llle* 1801.￿ing￿MI6￿ty￿wySr￿J¥jeS 1.17059 1.17059 {BIA•th 3Y25 &17 Fml W I c12 Tota GÈn•ral De51gnat•d ReBtrlct•d Endo*m*nt Th1$ 5gar Last ￿*r 3] 1870.SeryJ*thtie5 4053 4053 027ffj8 2170.EthKxI 70 1940.47 1rn)57 s￿.47 1,0205T 2w.ryj 2321.1)G*lstfB* IB75JXI 321798 3217S8 2331.Cts*lrg A1 .41 J4 7W24 7,011 487. 81&47 2410.C3thth rwriro. 7.01 615.47 2513. 1754.77 19 2.714.63 9974.78 9.974.78 4W21 4,289A7 4x21 Expondttur• on charltthl• a¢li¥ttl•s TotslB 134.776.Q4 139,065.11 Oth•r •xpehdfftur 25294 5231 970 Z94 52.31 970.77 2512.knkohwg8S 87 7332Th) 621.87 7.X12.tK) 9,229.89 C#hor oxpend61ur• Toi*l 229.89 14421325 1445f232 (6K+Jth3Y25&17wnl￿2rf2 Clas5 and no￿nal co 13•n8rat (Unrestrc¢¢dl D•8Sgnattd Restrict•d EndoMn2 Total Last par Flx•d A38et. kn¥tstm•nts I￿1)3428 f(4034.38 *rMe27 . 103,034.38 96.04&27 103.034a8 Irnnt IAS•t. C•¥h B￿k l￿d kn Hwfvd 11,767.rJ 14m19 37512.11 1751111 21¥2621 31￿.91 58721 314 a7￿1211 .781 I&rnB2) ,728A4 23P12 6J75D3 8WC8shin 2Z.364A2 72.09328 53N96.07 curre￿ *Aset. Debtors 1.101 1,101.68 Llablllty. *4•ncyknunts 173 67691 173.67 50324 676J1 Uablllty. Cr•dltor•: Falllng rkn kn (kn• Y•ar 1,037AK) 1,037.00 N•ttotsl assets 151589.15 21.861S8 . 174450.73 151.607.02 R•Pre￿nt*d by 15W.15 151S39.15 1X)b1&11 21￿1￿9 3)¥.91 - 174450.73 151.607.Q2 21th1 Total 151589.15 21,861ts8 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Reportto the trustseslm•mb•rn of Parish of Saint John The Baptist , Great Meols On accounts for tho yèar ended 31 Decembor 2024 Charity no (If any) 1131062 Set out on pages One to four l ￿port to the trustees on my examination of the attounts of the akyjve charity (fv Trusf) for the year end￿ 3111212024 Responslbllllles and As the charty trustees of the Trust. Y(￿ are respwjnsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in aCCordar￿e with the ￿u118ments of the Chartlies Act 2011 (Ihe A￿). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carTied out LAnder section 145 of the 2011Aci and in carnwng out my examination, I have followed the applicab￿ Diredions given by the Chanty Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Ad. I have complet&J my examinalion. I confim that no material matters have to my attention in ￿nneCtIOn with the examinatton whth gives cause to telieve that in, any materia respect: accounting recDrds were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord *ith the 8c£ounting recx)rd$ Independent examinerfs statement I have no cOn￿mS and ha￿ 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. Slgned= /l-f-Zf Name: RotErt S Relevant professlonal qualificationls) or body {if any): FCA Address: CIO St John The Bapb'st Great Meds Forest Road Meols , Wrral Only complete rf the examiner ne&Js to h￿hlIght matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of thatity &counts.' directions and guidance for examiners). CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report Report to the trustoeslmombers of Parish of Saint John The Baptist , Great Meols On accounts forth• yoar ended 31 December 2024 Charfty no Ilf any) 1131062 Set out on pages One to four I report lo the trustees on my examination of the a¢(xiunts of the a￿ve charity (Ihe Trusf} for the year ended 3111212024 Responsibilitses and As the tharity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible ￿ the preparation basis of report of the a￿unt$ in &wrdanc8 wth the ￿uIrements of the Charities Act 2011 fthe Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's acc£¢unts carried out under section 145 of the 2011Act and in orying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Dir8dions given by the Charity Commission under sectton 145(5)Ib) of the Acl. I have completed my examination. I corffinn that no material matters have come to my attention in COnn￿lI0n wTrth the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any materid resFect: aC￿unting records were not kept in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Ad or the accounts do not ￿COrd *ith the accounting re￿rdS Independent examinerfs ststement I have no cOn￿mS and ha￿ come xross no other matters in connedion with the examination to whith attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: /l-/-Zl Name: Robert S Relevant professional qualifi¢ation{s) or body {if any): FCA Address: CIO St John The Baptst Great Meds Forest Road Meols , Wrral Only complete rf the examiner n*s to highlight matters of C￿nceM (see CC32, Independent examinalion of oknrity accounts.. difedions aTrJ guidance for examiners).