THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
for the
YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022
Charity Commission Registration Number 1131324
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Administrative Information
The parish church of St Thomas Garstang is situated in Church Street, Garstang. It is part of the Diocese of Blackburn within the Church of England. The correspondence address is:-
St Thomas Parish Hall, Church Street, Garstang, Preston, PR3 1PA
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) registered with the Charity Commission on 24[th] August 2009. PCC members who have served during the year are:-
| Vicar of St Thomas Garstang | ||
|---|---|---|
| Diocese of Blackburn | Revd. M Hutchinson | Appointed 3 February |
| Churchwardens | Dr T Sperring | |
| D Brewin | Resigned 10 July | |
| Deputy Warden | D Holmes | |
| Diocesan Synod Representatives | ||
| Dr T Sperring | ||
| J Matthew | ||
| Deanery Synod Representatives | ||
| J Matthew | ||
| J Sawyer | Resigned 18 October | |
| K Sperring | Resigned 31 March | |
| Elected Members | J Blakely | |
| N Brown | ||
| C Cunnane | ||
| C Gibb | ||
| J Gray | ||
| M Grimsey | Treasurer | |
| J Hewitt | ||
| J Matthew | ||
| J Osborne | Appointed 24 April | |
| J Sawyer | Resigned 18 October | |
| K Sperring | Ordinand | |
| Resigned 31 March | ||
| Reappointed 18 October | ||
| By Invitation | Revd. E Gray | Resigned 24 April |
| Reappointed 16 May |
Page 1
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2022
Structure and Governance
The method of appointment of members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent, churchwardens and members elected by members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the parish. All members of the congregation are encouraged to be listed on the electoral roll.
The PCC met 10 times in the year including the Annual Parochial Council Meeting (APCM). All the meetings this year were in person, with an average attendance of eleven members per meeting.
The PCC has complied with the duty to have regard to the House of Bishops' guidance on safeguarding.
Aims and Purposes
St Thomas' PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Reverend Michael Hutchinson, who took up his position in the church on 3[rd] February 2022. Together they promote the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelical, social and ecumenical, in the ecclesiastical parish.
The PCC aims to maintain a close relationship with Garstang St Thomas' school. The PCC also has the responsibility for the maintenance of St Thomas Parish church, St Thomas' Parish and Community hall and the car park in Church Street Garstang.
Objectives and Activities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at St Thomas'. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament.
When planning our activities for the year, The PCC have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance for the advancement of religion.
In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:
Worship and prayer; learning about the gospel; developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus
Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish Missionary and outreach work
To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the church of St Thomas,
Page 2
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
the community hall and the car park. It is also important that we maintain a close relationship with St Thomas' school.
Achievements and performance
Worship and Prayer
This year the church has focussed on working together to encourage parishioners to return to the church after the Covid 19 pandemic and reaching out into the community to welcome new people into the church. This has been brought about by establishing strong links with local schools and encouraging parents and children to attend church and the Sunday Club.
We started the year with two regular weekly traditional services on Sunday and Thursday and an all age worship service once a month in place of the tradition Sunday service. From September we commenced a weekly, contemporary worship service on Sunday afternoons, which includes all age worship once a month. Sunday Club is available during both the morning and afternoon services, except during the all age services when the children are included and involved in the worship.
In addition to the regular services, there have been special services at the major festivals of Easter and Christmas and other occasions such as baby loss awareness week. These have been of both a traditional and contemporary style, the intention being to meet the diverse needs of the wide age range of our congregation. The church continues to serve the community and parishioners with wedding, baptism and funeral services.
All are welcome to attend our services. At present there are 189 (2021 - 186) parishioners on the church electoral roll. Attendance has risen gradually over the year with a good increase in both adults and children. Weekly average attendance when only two services were being held was 104 adults (2021 – 119 unrestricted and 60 during restrictions) and 16 children (2021 – 10). This increased to an average of 151 adults and 42 children when the new contemporary service began on Sunday afternoons in September. Weekly attendance figures are adversely affected by bad weather and boosted by Baptisms during services and additional services held mid week at Christian festivals. In addition to services in church, some services are recorded and available on You Tube. Links to these are emailed to people on request or they can be found online. This is of great service to those who cannot get to church services for any reason. Online services often get over 60 viewings. A small group meet for Morning Prayer in church on two or three mornings per week. Details of services both in church and online are advertised on the church website, social media and the Parish Magazine which is on sale through subscription or in church.
In addition to worship and prayer in church, there are two home groups where members of the congregation can meet regularly for bible study and prayer. There are other short term bible study courses throughout the year. There is also a group of church members who pray confidentially for the sick.
A book of condolence was made available in church and a presence maintained to support the community at a time of national grief upon the death of her majesty Queen Elizabeth 11. Page 3
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Deanery and Synod
Three members of the PCC were sitting on the Deanery Synod at the beginning of the year, but two resigned during the course of the year, as shown on page 1. Two members sit on the Diocesan Synod. These provide an important link between the Parish and the wider structures of the church.
The Church and the St Thomas Parish and Community Hall
We like our church to be open to our community for private prayer but it had been kept locked since the Covid 19 restrictions were in place and electronic equipment installed. It became possible to open it again each day from May, when a lockable cover was made for the electronic equipment. It is open from 9 am to 3:30 pm on weekdays.
In June the church was inspected for the quinquennial report. It was found that urgent repairs were needed to the vestry roof and these have been carried out. Other work of a less urgent nature was mentioned in the report and is to be carried out at a future date. The church hosted a Christmas tree festival and provided teas and a craft stall for visitors.
The fire regulations for the community hall have been updated, appropriate signage obtained and all users notified. Small maintenance work has been carried out by volunteers.
The St Thomas Church food bank has grown at a steady pace this year. There were about 100 people from 32 households being supported by the end of the year, including all ages and some with disabilities. There are over 40 volunteers made up of people from all the churches in Garstang and non church members. Food and cash is donated by local supermarkets and individuals. The Community hall was registered as a designated warm space towards the end of the year, on Monday mornings when the Food Club is open and a grant has been awarded by Lancashire County Council to support this.
Two fund raising events have taken place in the hall which brought in revenue for the church and welcomed people from the wider community. There were also two community fund raising events which benefited both church and community.
Church groups such as PCC, Sunday Club, Mothers Union and the Second Wednesday (ladies fellowship) make use of the hall for meetings and it is also hired out to local groups and individuals. The hall has become self financing again.
Pastoral Care
Those who are sick in the parish can request a visit from the Reverend Michael Hutchinson or a member of his team, who will celebrate communion with them. A small group went out into care homes in the town, towards Christmas to sing carols and celebrate communion with the residents. This was welcomed by the residents and the team intend to build on this in the coming year.
Page 4
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Garstang St Thomas School
Garstang St Thomas school has continued to thrive in 2022. The headteacher serves on the PCC, which helps to maintain a close working relationship between school and church. The school has extended the age range it caters for by opening a nursery for preschool children from the age of two. This opened in September for the start of the new school year and is doing well. This means that the school age range is now 2-11.
Children from the school have taken an active part in the new contemporary service on Sunday afternoons. They also held their nativity plays and carol services in the church. The Open the Book team have continued to go into school on Wednesday afternoons. Bible stories are read involving costumes, drama and participation by the children, to give a better understanding of the Bible.
Ecumenical Relationships
The church is an active member of Garstang and District Christians Together. They held a carol service in December which was intended to be outdoor but the weather prevented it. A small sum was collected and donated to the local RVS lunch club for elderly single people. The church bank account is still holding in trust the funds belonging to the group.
Page 5
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2022
Financial Review
The PCC authorised the use of online banking facilities from January for the main church bank account to facilitate easier monitoring of the account and speedier online payments. The PCC also decided to join the Parish Giving Scheme in July and to purchase a contactless giving station in October. These in addition to Standing orders, envelopes and cash have enabled the church to offer a diverse range of giving opportunities to the existing and new congregations and to visitors.
Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £121500 (2021 - £104178) including designated food bank funds of £5284. This is almost at the pre-pandemic levels. The voluntary receipts including gift aid totalled £71029 (2021- £57805) an increase of almost 23%. An anonymous gift of three gold coins was made to the church in July, which were sold for £4293 to help pay our Parish Share.
£117996 (2021-£88127) was spent from unrestricted funds to provide the Christian ministry from St Thomas Church. This includes £3734 of funds designated to the food bank.
In this accounting period £70000 (2021 – 55000) was paid to the Diocese in respect of parish share. We were awarded £20035 in Parish Share Support so fully met the amount requested by the Diocese again this year.
The liability owing to the Diocese remains at £234613. Note 17.
The diocesan Parish Share mainly provides the stipends and housing for clergy and support for parishes in lower income areas.
The mission and donations as noted in Note 11 has been enhanced by the payment of £505 to the Children's Society from collection boxes and the boxes collected at the Christingle service. There was also a collection after a service of prayer for Ukraine for the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine appeal of £104.
The net result for the year based on cash receipts and cash payments was an excess of income over expenditure of £3504 (2021-£16051). £2125 of the excess relates to grants received to support heating the church and the designated warm space in the community hall, which have been carried forward to pay winter heating bills.
The total cash at bank and held as cash at 31[st] December 2022 (note 13) was £38553 (2021£35049), which includes reserves of £17354 (2021 - £13890) held in Natwest PCC Building Fund and the CBF Church of England deposit Fund. £4901 of the total money is held by or on behalf of other groups within or connected to St Thomas Church.
Reserves Policy
The above mentioned £17354 is the amount we currently hold in reserve, plus a float of about £2000 in each of the Hall account and Churchwardens account. We were saving £750 per month until June, when the PCC decided that we held enough for our potential needs. We aim to hold;-
Three times the average hall income - £2900 Three times the regular out goings from the Churchwardens account - £7350 Three times the average sum for regular maintenance bills - £600 Page 6
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
A sum for potential bills of around £8000, for quinquennial repairs and because our heating boiler is quite old. An extra 10% for inflation Total required £20735. This is reviewed as necessary throughout the year.
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2022
Approved by the PCC on and signed on their behalf by Revd. M Hutchinson (Vicar) ….............................................. M Grimsey (Treasurer) …..............................................
Page 7
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Receipts and Payments Account
| Receipts and Payments Account | Receipts and Payments Account | |
|---|---|---|
| Notes Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment Fund Fund Fund Fund Receipts £ £ £ Voluntary Receipts Planned Giving 39675 Collection at Services 7050 All other voluntary giving 1 14053 Gift Aid Recovered 10251 71029 Legacies 1000 Sale of Assets/Investments 14 4986 Activities for generating funds 2 6273 Investment Income 3 34 Church Activities 4 24011 Other Receipts 5 6217 Mission 6 651 4784 Grants received 7 2015 500 Total receipts 116216 5284 Payments Church Activities Parish Share 70000 Other ministry costs 8 5609 Church running Costs 9 20088 Parish Hall running costs 10 10630 Mission giving and donations 11 1372 3734 Other payments 12 6563 Capital Expenditure 0 Total 114262 3734 Excess of income over payments 3504 Cash at bank and in hand 1 January 2022 35049 Excess of receipts over payments 3504 Cash at bank and in hand 31 December 2022 38553 |
Total Total 2022 2021 £ £ 39675 33041 7050 5629 14053 8037 10251 11098 |
|
| 71029 57805 1000 5000 4986 0 6273 3761 34 32 24011 21314 6217 3666 5435 2765 2515 9835 |
||
| 116216 5284 |
121500 104178 |
|
| 70000 52000 5609 3407 20088 20481 10630 5451 5106 2639 6563 4149 0 0 |
||
| 114262 3734 |
117996 88127 |
|
| 3504 35049 3504 38553 |
Approved by the Parochial Church Council on
and signed on its behalf by
Revd. M Hutchinson (Vicar)
….....................................................................
Mrs M Grimsey (Treasurer)
….....................................................................
The notes on pages 10-13 form part of these accounts.
Page 9
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31 December 2022
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | Unrestricted | Designated | Restricted | Endowment | Total | Total | |
| Fund | Fund | Fund | Fund | 2022 | 2021 | ||
| Cash Funds | 13 | ||||||
| Bank Current Accounts | 17920 | 3279 | 21199 | 21159 | |||
| Deposit Accounts | 17354 | 17354 | 13890 | ||||
| Other Monetary Assets | 16 | ||||||
| Income Tax recoverable from gift aid | 4077 | 4077 | 5159 | ||||
| Investment Assets | |||||||
| Investments at market value | 14 | 475 | 475 | 1218 | |||
| Assets retained for church use | 15 | 805704 | 805704 | 811767 | |||
| Liabilities | 17 | 234613 | 234613 | 234917 |
Approved by the Parochial Church Council on and signed on it's behalf by
Revd. M Hutchinson (Vicar)
Mrs M Grimsey (Treasurer)
…................................................... …...................................................
The notes on pages 10-13 form part of these accounts.
Page 10
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2022
Accounting Policies.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 and the Charities Act 2011
The financial statements have been prepared on a cash basis and providing a statement of assets and liabilities as at the 31[st] December 2022.The financial statements include all cash 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.
Funds.
Endowment funds are funds, the capital of which must be maintained until the capital project for which the endowment was donated is complete. The income arising from the investment may be used as unrestricted income as required.
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 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. Unrestricted Funds are general funds which can be used for PCC ordinary purpose.
Incoming resources.
Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received. Tax refunds from gift aid are recognised when received. Grants and legacies are accounted for when received and only included in the Statement of Assets when the PCC is legally entitled to the amounts due. Dividends and interest is accounted for when received. All other income is accounted for when received. All incoming resources are accounted for gross.
Resources expended.
Grants and donations are accounted for when paid. In the Statement of Liabilities significant expenditure is recognised when due and is accounted for gross.
Fixed Assets
Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the statement of assets and liabilities in accordance with the Charities Act.
Movable church furnishings held by the vicar and churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are inalienable property, listed in the church’s inventory, which can be inspected at any reasonable time. Valuations have been included as at 31[st] December 2022. (Note115)
Investments are valued as at market value at 31[st] December 2022 and are listed in note 14.
Page 11
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Financial Statement for the year Ended 31[st] December 2022
Notes to the Accounts Receipts
| 1 All other Voluntary Giving Donations Churchyard Fund Car Park receipts Memorial Garden Notice Sheets Decorating appeal 2 Activities for generating funds Parish Magazine Fundraising Events Sale of surplus equipment 3 Investment Income Bank Interest Dividends 4 Church Activities PCC Fees (net of BDBF Fees) Parish Hall Lettings 5 Other Receipts Flower Fund Church Groups Miscellaneous Refund of Utility Bills fr. BDBF Garstang Christians Together 6 Mission Bishop's Harvest Appeal Ordination Fund Foodbank 7 Grants received Warm Space grant foodbank Listed P of W Heating Grant All Churches grant Wyre Council Covid19 Support |
2022 £ 4736 2725 6592 0 0 0 14053 1401 4743 129 6273 12 22 34 12405 11606 24011 317 3118 1664 1061 57 6217 385 266 4784 Designated 5435 500 Designated 390 1625 0 0 2515 |
2021 £ 2037 668 3947 50 30 1305 |
|---|---|---|
| 8037 | ||
| 279 3482 0 |
||
| 3761 | ||
| 5 27 |
||
| 32 | ||
| 15727 5587 |
||
| 21314 | ||
| 190 1539 865 0 1072 |
||
| 3666 | ||
| 75 0 2690 |
||
| 2765 | ||
| 0 0 0 1500 8335 |
||
| 9835 |
Page 12
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Financial Statement for the year Ended 31[st] December 2022
Notes to the Accounts Payments
| e Accounts | |
|---|---|
| 8 Other Ministry Costs Other Fees Organist Vicarage Costs:- Council Tax Water Telephone/broadband Old vicarage Heat and Light Travel Costs: Clergy Others 9 Church Running Costs Electricity Gas Water Insurance WIFI Cleaning Repairs and Maintenance Equipment Churchyard Maintenance Upkeep of Sevices Car Park Parish Office 10 Parish Hall Running Costs Running Costs Repairs and Maintenance 11 Mission Giving and Donations Bishops Harvest Appeal/Ordination fund Afrinspire Brittish Legion Childrens Society Garstang Deanery Other Charities Foodbank payments St Thomas School/outreach Christians Together payments 12 Other Payments Parish Magazine Stationary and Consumables Fund Raising Costs Sundries Flowers Church Groups |
2022 2021 £ £ 72 1162 325 195 2844 896 572 9 506 680 916 465 374 0 0 0 |
| 5609 3407 |
|
| 1654 481 1794 1562 1057 1288 2279 2515 119 0 0 300 3822 8419 643 0 4097 2839 2468 1575 2155 1358 0 144 |
|
| 20088 20481 |
|
| 9937 4402 693 1049 |
|
| 10630 5451 |
|
| 651 75 60 0 0 125 0 32 18 43 210 0 3734 Designated 1173 356 247 77 944 |
|
| 5106 2639 |
|
| 983 1064 85 300 381 263 2404 857 395 194 2315 1471 |
|
| 6563 4149 |
Page 13
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Financial Statement for the year Ended 31[st] December 2022
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Notes to the Accounts
| to the Accounts | |
|---|---|
| 13 Cash and Bank Funds PCC St Thomas Churchwardens Account PCC St Thomas Parish Hall Account PCC St Thomas Choir Nationwide BS Sunday Club Closed Royal Bank of Scotland – Second Wednesday Natwest – Mens Fellowship Mens Fellowship – cash Flower Fund – cash Youth Club – cash paid into CW acc Sub Total PCC St Thomas Building Fund CBF Church of England Deposit Fund Total |
2022 2021 £ £ 14124 12406 5442 7657 60 60 0 160 1147 439 296 296 67 0 63 91 0 50 |
| 21199 21159 15729 12265 1625 1625 |
|
| 38553 35049 |
| 14 Investments at Market value R Dunderdale Charity Charifund Charinco 29 Units 87.659 Units Market Value at 01 January 2022 451 161 Revaluation -15 -24 Value when sold on 24 August 2022 436 137 2 ½ Consolidated stock sold 5 July 2015 – cash reclaimed 13 May 2022 Three Gold Coins – value when sold on 3 November 2022 Value of Investments sold - at date of sale Held by Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance CCLA CBF deposit fund (Bennet C&CY) St Thomas Sunday School 75 Shares Value of Investments at 31 December 2022 |
2022 2021 £ £ 612 571 -39 41 |
|---|---|
| 573 612 120 120 4293 0 |
|
| 4986 0 |
|
| 373 368 102 118 |
|
| 475 1218 |
Page 14
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG
Financial Statement for the year Ended 31[st] December 2022
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Notes to the Accounts
| 15 Assets Retained for Church use Freehold Inalienable Church Total Land & Historic Equipment Buildings Assets £ £ £ £ Book value at 1 January 2022 801751 10016 811767 Additions Written Down 6063 -6063 Book value at 31 December 2022 801751 3953 805704 Freehold Land and Buildings comprise New Parish Hall Cost of Land in 2010 100245 Cost of Construction completed 2016 626506 Cost 726751 Car Park 75000 At Book value since 2010 801751 2022 2021 16 Debtors £ £ HMRC re Gift Aid submitted 4077 5159 17 Liabilities Blackburn Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd Balance at 31/12/2021 per Diocesan statement 234613 Add Parish Share request in January 2022 90035 Less Allowances made by Diocese in 2022 -20035 Less Parish Share paid in 2022 -70000 Ballance at 31 December 2022 234613 Water-Plus 304 Total Liabilities 234613 234917 |
Freehold Inalienable Land & Historic Buildings Assets £ £ 801751 |
Church Total Equipment £ £ 10016 811767 6063 -6063 |
|---|---|---|
| 801751 | 3953 805704 |
Page 15
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST THOMAS GARSTANG