Parochial Church Council of St Peter and St Mary Fishbourne
Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2021
Administrative information
Church of St Peter and St Mary Fishbourne, Fishbourne, West Sussex, PO19 3XT
Incumbent: Revd Canon Moira Wickens: The Rectory, 31 Caspian Close, Fishbourne, West Sussex, PO18 8AY (Until 31[st] July 2021) Readers: Dr John Sheppard Mrs Jenny Blamire Independent Tom Earl FCCA 107 Salthill Road, Fishbourne, West Sussex, Examiner: PO19 3PZ Bankers: Santander Business Banking, Bridle Road, Bootle, L30 4GB Parish Office: Alison Stirling, St Peter and St Mary Church. Tel: 01243 784283 Email: fishbournechurch@btinternet.com Website: www.fishbournechurch.org.uk
Structure, Governance and Management
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity and is registered with the Charity Commission Number 1131277
During the year the following served as members of the PCC:
Ex officio members
Rector: The Revd Canon Moira Wickens (until 31[st] July) Churchwardens: Mrs Marie Mayor Mr Simon Juggins (until 30[th] June) Casual Churchwarden Mrs Jennifer Christie (from 30[th] June) Deputy Churchwardens Mr Simon Juggins (from 30[th] June) Mrs Jennifer Christie (from 16[th] May until 30[th] June) Mr Ken Strudwick
Representatives on the Deanery Tessa Cox Synod Pauline Young
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Elected Members Mrs Pauline Young Secretary Mr Robert Christie Treasurer Mr Richard Bates Mrs Susan Brown Mrs Jenny Blamire Mrs Tessa Cox Mr Alan Frost (Until 16[th] May) Mrs Caroline Sheppard Mrs Amanda Stapleton Mr Tim Gleeson (from 8[th] June)
Membership of the PCC is determined under the Church Representation Rules and consists of certain ex-officio members (the Incumbent, the Churchwardens, members of the Deanery Synod) and up to 12 members of the Church who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. The PCC has previously passed a resolution that all members of the PCC should be elected annually, and this was last renewed in April 2018. Members of the congregation are warmly encouraged to stand for election to the PCC and we try and ensure a balance of skills and experience where possible.
2021 was another difficult and challenging year because of the continuing effects of the Covid pandemic and the introduction of the second national lockdown between 1 January 2021 and 4 April 2021. Simon Juggins had been appointed as a Churchwarden at the 2020 Annual Parish Church Meeting which took place on 4[th] October 2020 and re-elected at the APCM held on 16[th] May 2021. He subsequently concluded that for personal reasons he could not continue in the role. As a consequence, Jennifer Christie was appointed as a Casual churchwarden in his place on 30 June 2021.
The PCC was not able to meet physically in early part of the year, but then met in June, July, September (twice) and November. The PCC usually operates a Standing Committee which comprises the Incumbent, two Churchwardens, the Treasurer and one of the deputy Churchwardens. The Standing Committee normally meets when required between the regular PCC meetings. In fact the Standing Committee only met once, in October. The PCC is normally supported during the year by a Church Hall Committee, which looks after the Church Hall, St Peter’s Place, and a Social and Fundraising Committee. However neither of the groups were able to meet during the year.
Objectives and Activities
The primary objective of the PCC is the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England.
The PCC has agreed that its mission should be “To be a vibrant community Church with a welcoming heart, sharing Christ’s love by serving the Parish of Fishbourne and beyond”.
The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating fully with the Rector, the Revd Canon Moira Wickens, in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, and co-operating with our neighbouring parish of Apuldram, with which we shared our incumbent, who sadly had to retire on ill-health grounds at the end of July. The Parish then faced an Interregnum, and the appointment of a new Rector was put in suspension by the Bishop.
The PCC has considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and the specific guidance on “charities for the advancement of religion”.
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Achievements and Performance during 2021
Church Attendance
There were 153 parishioners on the Church electoral roll as at 31 December 2021, 44 of whom were not resident within the parish.
The Church normally holds regular Sunday services at 8.00 and 9.30 a.m. and on the fifth Sunday in each month holds a 9.30 a.m. communion service jointly with the neighbouring parish of Apuldram. The Church also normally holds a weekly communion service on Thursdays at 10.30 a.m. but such services have not taken place since February 2020.
However, the year 2021 again has been exceptional and it has not been possible to set out meaningful figures for the year. In common with other Churches the Church building was required to be closed in a second lockdown from 1[st] January until 4[th] April. During this time Online Services were placed on the web by Moira each Sunday. Reflections for these services were written by: John Sheppard – 1[st] Sunday of the month Moira – 2nd Sunday (14[th] February – a reflection by Bishop Will) Jenny Blamire – 3[rd] Sunday Moira – 4[th] Sunday On the 5[th] Sunday in January Moira produced an online act of remembrance for all affected by Covid These continued every week until Moira left in July.
After Moira’s retirement the online services were dropped to just the 2[nd] and 4[th] Sundays in the month. This has continued throughout the rest of the year. Moira also broadcast an online service on Ash Wednesday, 17[th] February.
For Lent John headed 6 sessions each looking at an aspect of Jesus’ Life from the point of view of Mark’s Gospel. These were all on Zoom and around 6 people joined in the sessions.
The first services to be held in Church resumed on Easter Sunday, 4[th] April with an 8am at Apuldram and 9.30am at Fishbourne.
On 9[th] April the death of HRH Prince Philip was announced. Prayer spaces were set up in the Garden of Remembrance at Fishbourne from 11[th] April and were taken down after his funeral on 17[th] April. Moira held a short open-air service at 12 noon before the funeral. On 6[th] June a special meeting was called for the PCC members of Fishbourne and Apuldram when Moira announced that she would be retiring at the end of July due to he continued ill health.
Interregnum
Notice of the vacancy was sent to the Patron of the Church, the Lord Chancellor, and with the retirement of Moira we went into Interregnum. The Archdeacon, Father Luke, and the newly appointed Rural Dean, Reverend Martha Weatherill, ensured that a priest was available for services and help for the Churchwardens and PCC.
The Churchwardens, Marie Mayor and Jennie Christie, were appointed to act as the Parish Representatives. A rota was quickly drawn up by Revd Martha detailing the Readings and the Priests who would be taking the services from 1[st] August 2021 through to the 1[st] May 2022. The services would remain as only 2 in the month – 9.30 a.m. Eucharist on the 1[st] and 3[rd] Sundays in the month. Later an 8.00 a.m. service on the first Sunday of the month was added.
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Gradually restrictions were lifted and there was music and singing during the service, wearing of face masks were a personal choice, but Communion remained in one kind only for the congregation.
On 26[th] September the lay readers took the first monthly Family Service at 4.30 p.m. This had been planned previously before 2020 Covid lockdown.
Soon after the start of the Interregnum, the Churchwardens, with help from some parishioners, produced a new Parish Profile and this was ready to be sent to Father Luke by the middle of September.
8[th] October we were advised that the Bishop of Chichester had decided to put Fishbourne Benefice into a 5-year Suspension of Presentation. This meant that any Priest appointed in the first instance would be a priest-in-charge and not the Incumbent. Also on the 8[th] October, Mrs Helen Dimmock MBE. Crown Ecclesiastical Secretary, visited the Parish and met the Churchwardens.
An interview with a prospective candidate, Reverend Jessica Reid was set for 13[th] December and following this Jessica was appointed as Priest-in-Charge to Fishbourne and Apuldram.
Grateful thanks go to Reverend Martha Weatherill for all her help during the Interregnum. Her knowledge and advice were invaluable.
Weddings, Funerals, Baptisms
The national guidelines that were introduced also imposed severe restrictions on the number of people that could attend weddings, baptisms and funerals at various times in the year. In spite of this, during the year six weddings took place, four baptisms took place, four funerals were held in in the Church, two interment of ashes, and one scattering of ashes. The annual confirmation classes followed by confirmations again did not take place this year.
The Church is normally kept open during the daytime for anybody who may wish to visit and a specific prayer space is maintained inside the Church as a place of quiet and peace. We were able to open the Church in the summer months but closed it again from the 1[st] October.
The usual regular Home Communion services, held for people at home or at Cornelius House or Manor Barn, care homes in the parish, could not take place after February 2020 due to CV-19 restrictions. John Dent, who has carried out this service for very many years, has decided it is time for him to step down and no Home Communion services were held in 2021.
The Church website
The website has become an even more important asset as the most effective means of carrying out the Church’s mission during the imposed lockdowns, communicating information about the parish activities. Thanks are due to Alan Frost for all his work on enhancing the role of the website. In May Alan announced that he would be resigning from his work on the website, so it is with regret that we thank Alan for all his work on enhancing the role of the website.
Since May, Jennie Christie has been putting notices on the website. The PCC are actively looking for someone to take on the role of its maintenance.
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During “lockdown”, Moira also published occasional services on the local website “Fishbourne Vibes” which were welcomed and enjoyed by people in the community, many of whom were not Church attendees.
Magazine
The Church previously published a monthly Parish magazine jointly with its neighbouring Church at Apuldram which had a monthly circulation of approximately 250 copies. Because of the restrictions imposed by the national lockdown it has not been possible to continue with its publication, and all information has instead been published on the Church website. The PCC will need to reconsider the future of the magazine. The previous Editor has stated that he no longer wishes to continue in the role.
Involvement of Children
Children are welcomed at and encouraged to take part in all services although the Church does not have a specific Sunday School. However, the Church had established and developed a “Messy Church” The concept of the Messy Church is intended as an opportunity for people of all ages and especially families, to meet and worship together in an informal environment. This enables people who might have limited experience of attending a Church service to have fun and learn about Christianity and experience a Christian Community. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to continue with these services during the lockdown and no sessions took place in 2021. It is hoped to resume Messy Church early in 2022.
Once again this year, children leaving Fishbourne C of E Primary School were given Bibles. No presentation service could take place. The cost of the Bibles was met through special donations by members of the congregation.
As previously mentioned, a monthly Family Service was started in September led by the Lay Readers.
Safeguarding
The PCC includes safeguarding as a regular standing item on the PCC agenda and has approved appropriate policies which reflect the guidance published by the Diocese. Marie Mayor is the designated Safeguarding officer.
The Church in the community
At the start of the lockdown in March 2020 a number of groups in the village, including the Church, school and parish council, encouraged by a parishioner, Jak Dyer, had came together to establish a team of volunteers (the “Fishbourne Volunteer Squad”) to identify and support any vulnerable people in the village or people who were unable to travel to shops for food supplies, prescriptions, medical appointments etc because they were vulnerable and self-isolating. The Incumbent, a Churchwarden, a Deputy Churchwarden, and the Treasurer were all on the Committee and the Church helped set up appropriate financial procedures to enable people to pay for their shopping in confidence. This scheme operated very effectively during the lockdown and provided support to many people who would otherwise have encountered great difficulties. The FVS was wound up in 2021. Many of the volunteers had bonded with individuals in the Fishbourne community and continued to support them without the FVS structure.
The Rector was a governor at Fishbourne Church of England Primary School until her retirement. The two additional foundation school governors, Jenny Blamire and Jennie Christie, are also nominated by the PCC.
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The Social and Fundraising Group
The Social and Fundraising Group did not meet in 2021. However the sum of £2042.13 was raised for Church Funds involving metal recycling, Harvest cream teas, book sale, Christmas cards, Advent Tea, Church pens as well as two hirings of the Church for professional recordings.
The lack of fundraising has had a significant impact on monies raised for our Church as well as other charities.
Community Fundraising
During the first three months of 2021 it was decided to resurface the entrance to the Church as well as repair certain areas of the carpark and improve the entrance to the Hall at a total cost of £13,784.65 which was raised by inviting donations from the community as well as successfully applying for appropriate grants.
At the end of July 2021, we said our goodbyes to The Revd Canon Moira Wickens who retired on ill health. Together with St Mary the Virgin Church, Apuldram we marked the occasion with a farewell service in St Peter & St Mary’s Church on 19[th] July followed by cakes, tea and coffee in the grounds of St Peter’s Place where Moira was presented with a cheque for £3,518.75 together with the rose ‘Blessings’ from the two congregations.
Charitable donations
The reduction in fund raising activities greatly reduced the Church’s ability to support external charities in 2021.
However it was still possible for support to be given to: The Church Missionary Society The Apuldram Centre Stonepillow.
In cash, a total of £640 was donated during the year to the various charities supported by the Church.
The Hall
Unfortunately, it was necessary to close the Church Hall, St Peter’s Place during the first quarter of the year. Strict limits on number of attendees were introduced when it reopened, which were slowly relaxed. Gradually usage built up over the rest of the year.
Church fabric and maintenance
Appropriate regular routine maintenance checks were conducted during the year
Financial Review
2021 was another difficult year financially for our Church, although two significant fundraising activities (£13,750 for the carpark, £3,518.75 for the farewell thankyou gift to Moira on her retirement), and £2,978.49 income from the Job Retention Scheme (the “Furlough”), meant total income and expenditure were higher than in 2020. In addition a bequest of over £10,000 was received, which was “expended”, along with a major donation to the upkeep of the Church, Hall, and environs, in a transfer of over £21,000 to reserves. Consequently, overall PCC income totalled £101,746.25 and PCC expenditure totalled £105,432.23, and it would appear that income and expenditure almost reached pre-pandemic levels, although our Parish Share fell well short of what it
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should have been. The Parfsh sha contributes to the cost of clergy and their houslng and pensions and the costs of training new ordinands across the Diocese. However the difficult financial situation the PCC faced in December 2020 meant that It COLsld not commtt to meet the potential Parish Share for 2021, which in normal times would have amounted to £59,440. Instead the PCC decided to continue with a pledge to pay £18,000, representing 30.28% of the full figure but agreed to add any surplus left in the bank account to that figure. In the end £29,600 was paid. presentIng 49.80% of the target amount. It is important to note that there has again been a further decline in the amount of regular planned giving during the year as parishioners have sadly passed away or have moved away from the area, a severe drop in -open plate. collections, and reduction in the income from the hiring out of the Church Ha51 (which ran at a small loss of £16.03 in 2021) causing traditional sources of income to drop by a considerable amount. The PCC commltted Itself In November 2021 to slgnlflcantly Increase Its Parfsh Share In 2022 as a sign of its keenness to "pay its war. Banking and Reserves Policies In 2021, the PCC continued to bank with Santsnder Business Banking for the main undesignated funds. The PCC has a policy of maintsining a balance on the general undesignated funds equating to approximately two months. worth of payments as a contingency against unforeseen situatlons. It remains PCC policrf to invest unrestricted and Church fabric fund balances with the CBF Church of England Deposit fund. Signe(l on behalf of the PCC end Jessica Reid, est-in-charge 2nd May 2022
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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report members of The Parochial Church Council of the EGGlastiCal Parish of St Peter and St Mary Church Fishboume {'PCCI On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021 Charity no lif any) 1131277 Set out on pages *-13 I report to the trustees on my examination of th8 accounts of the above charty (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 31112 12020. Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the pParation basis of report of the accounts in accordan the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (Yhew. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's aGGourts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I ' have followed the applicable 01ctiOnS given by the Charity Commission under section 14I5)(b) of the Ad. I have completed my examination. l confimi that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in. any material re8t. accounting re(¥xds were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act or the aGcounts do not accord the accounting rerdS Independent examinerfs statement I have no conM8 and have come across no other matters in connedion with the examination to which attents'on should be drawn in order to enable proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. . Please delato the words in the brdGkets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: 15 May 2022 Name: Thomas Edward Roy Earl Relevant professional qualification(s) or body {if any): Fellow of the ASSoallon of Chartered CertiF(ed A¢untants under Registration Number 1118450 Address: 107 Salthill Road. Fishbjume, Chichester, West Sussex, P019 3PZ. IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of tharity accounts.. directions and guidall for examiners). Glve here brief detalls of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose. IER October 2018