Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council of Holy Ascension, Upton by Chester
For the year ended 31[st] December 2020
Registered Charity Number: 1131069
Revd Paul Newman
What a strange year it has been for us all as we have had to make changes and accommodate living with Covid in our community. It’s meant for us as a church that we have had to change the way that we run things. Lots of our Church groups have had to stop meeting or changed the way they are run with reduced numbers in attendance or via zoom. With this in mind it was decided at a PCC meeting that our Annual report for this year would be a shortened version, with no reports from any groups, this is not to say that the groups and its members have not been active in their support for each other. It’s been very encouraging for me as the Vicar to hear all of the wonderful ways that people have found to support each other and the amount of phone calls, cards and little chocolate gifts and cakes that have always arrived just at the right time to keep the spirits up. I always find it amazing how God’s timing always seems just right.
We have met as a PCC on Zoom which has meant that some of our members have not been able to join us, but we have tried to make sure that they are informed of what has been discussed and if decisions had to be voted on sought their opinions.
We have over the past year for most of it run our services on the digital format of ‘Zoom’, these being on a Sunday Morning at 10.00am and Wednesday evening at 8.00pm. The numbers on a Sunday morning have never dropped below 50 people meeting together and we have even had new people join.
As you will see, financially we have been able to meet our outgoings.
A big thankyou goes out to EVERYBODY who has enabled us to keep being the body of Christ, his church around Upton and the wider area, there are too many to mention here but thank you.
As I write this I am looking forward to the summer when all the adults will have had their vaccine and we hopefully will be able to get back to some normality.
Our stated purpose
To be the people of God in this place, committed to Christ, to one another and to service in the community: Together we worship God with Joy and Love, with an openness to the renewal by the Holy Spirit.
Administrative Information
Holy Ascension is in Church Lane, Upton, Chester and is part of the diocese of Chester within the Church of England.
Correspondence address is: The Parish Office, Holy Ascension Community Hall, Demage Lane, Chester, CH2 1EL
Incumbent: Revd Paul Newman
Curate: Revd Dave O’Brien
Reader Emeritus: Mrs Barbara Capstick
Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator: Angela Blundell, safeguarding@holyascension.org.uk
Bank: Unity Trust Bank, Four Brindleyplace, Birmingham B1 2JB.
Independent examiner: John McLintock FCA FCCA
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Ascension is a charity
registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, charity registration number: 1131069.
When planning our activities for the year, the PCC gave consideration to the Charity
Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance to charities concerned with the advancement of religion.
The PCC is a body corporate and operates under the Parochial Church Councils Powers
Measure 1956 and the Church Representation Rules 2020. 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 has 18 members and normally meets on the second Monday of each alternate month at the Vicarage.
Members of the PCC:
Elected: Colin Attwood, Graham Barley, Michael Curtis (Churchwarden), Rob Evans,
Jane Eaton (resigned 6th September 2020),Colin Foden (Churchwarden), Sharon Forsdyke (appointed 6[th] September 2020), Vera Gerrard, Jean Machan, Sally Powell, Glenys Sherwin, Liz Squire, Sheila Taylor, Margaret Whaley.
- Co opted: Colin Bain.
Ex officio: Sue Burgess, Barbara Capstick, Paul Newman, Dave O’Brien.
Electoral Roll Report
In line with Church Representation Rules, a new Electoral Roll was prepared in 2019.
In March 2020 there were 125 names on the roll.
Jean May
Fabric Report
As a Church we are blessed with our buildings and we continue to look after these in a number of ways.
Overall our church is in good condition, there are a couple of areas that need some attention and we are in the process of getting some quotes for the work that is needed.
Finance
The Receipts and Payments accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2020 are set out at the end of the Annual Report.
Unrestricted Fund
Despite the exceptional circumstances during 2020 planned giving actually increased by
£2,149 to £57,014. Several regular givers switched to donating by standing order which helped our cash flow during the year and the PCC would like to encourage more people to donate by standing order in the future.
As the church was closed for a significant period of time, collections at services were considerably down at £4,079, 41% of the 2019 total. This decrease in collections will adversely affect our cash flow in 2021 as it reduces the amount of Gift Aid we can claim under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme so it would be beneficial if more regular plate givers joined our planned giving scheme especially if they are taxpayers willing to sign Gift Aid forms.
During the year we received two legacies totalling £5,500 which helped our cash flow and we intend to look at ways of encouraging more people to leave a gift to the church in their wills in future.
In 2020 we again paid our Parish Share of £67,624 in full which together with the Finance Committee’s decision on 7[th] February 2020 to write off our arrears means that we owed £nil at 31[st] December 2020. We would like to express our thanks to the Finance Committee for their decision.
The majority of other expenditure fell due to the reduction in church activities.
Unrestricted Designated Funds
The Musical Tots designated fund was set up to ensure that the fees from the weekly sessions will cover any future costs associated with running the group.
The Hall fund represents money allocated by the PCC to pay for future improvement works on the community hall such as a new boiler and kitchen.
Restricted Funds
The movements on restricted funds are set out in note 2 to the accounts.
Reserves policy
It is the PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds which equates to a level they consider necessary to meet forthcoming needs.
Safeguarding
Holy Ascension takes its duty and obligation to protect all extremely seriously. We have adopted the national Church of England's robust procedures and guidelines. You can find out more about the national policies and procedures
If you have any safeguarding concerns or issues of a safeguarding matter then you can find useful contact information at www.chester.anglican.org/social-responsibility/safeguarding or you can contact our parish safeguarding co-ordinator at safeguarding@holyascension.org.uk
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Ascension, Upton-By-Chester Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2020
Note Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Fund Designated Funds 2020 2019 Funds Receipts £ £ £ £ £ Voluntary receipts Planned giving 57,014 - 320 57,334 55,168 Collections at services 4,079 - 80 4,159 10,800 Donations 585 - 7,625 8,210 1,471 Legacies 5,500 - - 5,500 5,000 Gift Aid recovered 13,044 - 1,250 14,294 12,201 Grants received 4,857 - 2,007 6,864 - Upton PCC Charitable Trust - - - - 7,530 85,079 - 11,282 96,361 92,170 Activities for generating funds 3 524 - - 524 5,252 Church Activities 4 17,622 407 1,508 19,537 37,755 Investment Income 5 2,269 - - 2,269 900 Total Receipts £105,494 £407 £12,790 £118,691 £136,077 Payments Church activities Parish Share 67,624 - - 67,624 65,975 Fees remitted 4,199 - - 4,199 5,828 Clergy and Staffing costs 2,568 - 6,441 9,009 13,924 Church costs 6 9,468 20 1,194 10,682 15,529 Vicarage costs 4,001 - - 4,001 4,058 Hall running costs 9,840 - - 9,840 11,064 Mission giving and donations 2,300 - 2,585 4,885 4,489 100,000 20 10,220 110,240 120,867 Cost of generating Funds 7 250 - - 250 2,779 Investment purchases - - - - 50,000 Total payments £100,250 £20 £10,220 £110,490 £173,646 Surplus of receipts over payments 5,244 387 2,570 8,201 (37,569) Transfer between funds 175 - (175) - - Cash at bank and in hand 1[st] January 2020 14,016 10,178 10,939 35,133 72,702 31[st] December 2020 £19,435 £10,565 £13,334 £43,334 £35,133
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Ascension, Upton-By-Chester Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31[st] December 2020
Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Fund Designated Funds 2020 2019 Funds £ £ £ £ £ Cash at bank and in hand Lloyds Current Account 14,257 367 2,036 16,660 6,146 Unity Trust Bank - Current Account 2,858 1,050 341 4,249 4,658 Unity Trust Bank - Deposit Account 1,167 4,130 7,138 12,435 16,938 CCLA – Deposit Account 1,037 5,000 2,500 8,537 6,302 CCLA – Building in Faith - - 17 17 16 Cash in Hand 116 18 20 154 80 Sunshine Tots Account - - 1,014 1,014 754 Flower Fund - - 268 268 239 £19,435 £10,565 £13,334 £43,334 £35,133 Other Monetary Assets Gift Aid Recoverable £4,004 - - £ 4,004 £4,956 Investment Assets 3,841.83 (3,841.83) Shares in The CBF Church of England Fund £78,709 - - £78,709 £73,644
Fixed assets retained for church use
The fixed assets retained for church use are Holy Ascension Community Hall, the Organ (refurbished 2013) and the AV system.
All assets belong to the unrestricted fund.
£ £ £ £ £ Liabilities Parish Share Arrears - - - - 49,068 Fees - - - - 312
On 7[th] February 2020 the Finance Committee of Chester Diocesan Board of Finance agreed to write off Parish Share arrears of £49,068 so that the PCC could focus on the future.
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Ascension, Upton-By-Chester Notes to the Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2020
1. The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts & Payments basis.
2. The movements in designated and restricted funds during the year were: Balance Receipts Payments Transfers Balance b/fwd. c/fwd. Restricted £ £ £ £ £ Caring & Sharing 30 - 30 - - Family Workers 5,084 2,007 6,441 - 650 Flower Fund 239 410 206 (175) 268 Sunshine Tots 3,274 342 82 - 3,534 Other 2,312 10,031 3,461 - 8,882 £10,939 £12,790 £10,220 £(175) £13,334 £ £ £ £ £ Designated Hall 6,515 - - - 6,515 Musical Tots 3,663 407 20 - 4,050 £10,178 £407 £20 - £10,565 Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Fund Designated Funds 2020 2019 Funds £ £ £ £ £ 3. Activities for generating funds Social events £524 - - £524 £5,252 £ £ £ £ £ 4. Church activities Fees for weddings and funerals 8,192 - - 8,192 13,276 Community Hall hire 9,080 - - 9,080 19,040 Magazine 350 - 756 1,106 1,641 Flower fund - - 410 410 991 Sunshine Tots - - 342 342 1,295 Musical Tots - 407 - 407 1,512 £17,622 £407 £1,508 £19,537 £37,755
3 .
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Ascension, Upton-By-Chester Notes to the Receipts and Payments Accounts for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2020
Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Fund Designated Funds 2020 2019 Funds £ £ £ £ £ 5. Investment income Dividends 2,205 - - 2,205 677 Interest 64 - - 64 223 £2,269 - - £2,269 £900 £ £ £ £ £ 6. Church activities Church running expenses 6,477 - 876 7,353 7,708 Cost of services 772 - - 772 1,233 Administration 1,787 - - 1,787 2,363 Magazine 412 - - 412 2,505 Caring & Sharing 20 - 30 50 224 Flower fund - - 206 206 876 Sunshine Tots - - 82 82 529 Musical Tots - 20 - 20 91 £9,468 £20 £1,194 £10,682 £15,529 7. Cost of generating funds Social events £250 - - £250 £2,779
Independent Examiner’s Report to the members/trustees of the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Ascension, Upton by Chester (registered charity number: 1131069).
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2020 which are set out on pages 1 to 4.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.