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2022-12-31-accounts

DIOCESE OF CHESTER

ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF

’ ALL SAINTS THORNTON HOUGH

Charity Commission Number 1131417

ANNUAL REPORTS FOR 2022

All Saints’ Parochial Church Council The Parish Office, The Parish Hall, Church Road, Thornton Hough, Wirral, CH63 1JW

Part 1: Trustees’ report to the Charity Commission

1. Aims and Purposes

Our aim is

‘To promote the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical’

Our purpose as a church is to worship God through our regular services and through the fellowship of our loving community. We share the love of God with those around, serving the community and witnessing to others about the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

All Saints’ Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the legal responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish of Thornton Hough the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the church building and churchyards on Raby Road, and the Parish Hall on Church Road.

2. Objectives

Statement of Vision and Goals for 2017 to 2022

Vision

Our aspiration for All Saints’ Church is:

Goals

1. Spiritual Growth

To promote a deepening of love and spiritual growth.

To develop and grow our knowledge through study of the Bible, through prayer and through teaching at our services and other events so that we are better able to apply the Bible’s teaching in today’s world.

2. Mission

To share the good news about Jesus Christ with others so that they too may receive and enjoy the grace and blessings of God in their lives.

To support others who also work to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

3. Care for others in the church and in the community

4. Worship

To use our talents to make our worship more meaningful.

To ensure that our worship and events are worthy offerings to God, that they meet the needs of our existing members and are attractive and accessible to those outside the Christian community who are interested in what we do.

5. Organisation

To promote the smooth running of the church we need to:

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6. Communication

To improve our use of appropriate communication channels to support and enhance all of our activities at All Saints’.

3. 2022 Activities, Achievements and Performance

2022 marked a return to a full suite of services without any public health restrictions. We introduced some new events and activities during the year

Sunday Worship

Our regular pattern of Sunday worship is:

It has been good both to welcome new people to the congregation at all three services and to have old friends return.

The South Transept of the church has been set out with small tables and chairs for children’s activities during the service at 10.30. There are a range of crafts, puzzles and colouring set out each week which relate directly to the day’s readings as well as other toys. This has been well-received and continues to offer interest to younger visitors during the week.

The mean attendance at the 8.00 Holy Communion service for the year was 9. This service offers a valuable quiet space for people wishing to come to church at the very start of the day and has a very committed congregation.

The mean attendance at the 10.30 service was 38.

We continue to be grateful to all who assist with offering a cheerful welcome as part of the sidespeople team, and particularly to Pam Machin, Tim Allan-Price and Alan Splitt for their presence and oversight.

Festivals and Occasional Offices

We have been able to celebrate many special occasions together at All Saints’ throughout the year.

We commenced Lent with a very moving Ash Wednesday Communion service which included the imposition of ashes. 23 people attended.

Our Mothering Sunday service was attended by 31. The Thornton Hough Rainbows and Brownies helped to create special cards for the occasion, which accompanied the gifts of pots of primulas. The Vicar took some of these to housebound ladies once she had recovered from Covid.

38 attended the Palm Sunday service, 14 came to our evening Communion service on Maundy Thursday, 19 came to our Good Friday meditation and 52 attended the services on Easter Day.

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Our evening Communion service on Ascension Day (26th May) was attended by 15 people.

Whit Sunday, 5th June, coincided with the national celebrations for Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. There were 9 at the Holy Communion service at 8.00am, and 87 at a special Service of Thanksgiving at 10.30am. The choir sang an anthem especially composed for the occasion. Despite miserable weather, some hardy souls went from church to join in the festivities on the Village Green which followed the service.

The joy of commemorating the Queen’s Jubilee was turned to sadness with the news of her death in September. We placed a Book of Condolence in church for all in the community to sign and said special prayers for her and for all the Royal Family in our services on 11th September.

Our Harvest Week began on Sunday, 18th September, concluding on 25th September with a Harvest Thanksgiving service attended by 49 people, followed by a splendid and joyous Harvest Lunch in the Parish Hall. We invited donations for the Wirral Foodbank during the week and the Vicar took 184.20kgs of goods to their warehouse in response to the appeal.

We were delighted to welcome the Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, to Choral Evensong on 9th October. He enjoyed meeting people at a special tea before the service and the congregation enjoyed his thoughtful sermon.

We marked All Saints’ Day, our patronal festival, on 30th October. 46 people attended. We held our Service for the Faithful Departed in the afternoon, at which all families who have lost a loved one in the past year are particularly invited to attend. We welcomed 71 people. Families continue to value this event, with the simple candle-lighting to remember each person, hymns, prayers and choral music.

Remembrance Sunday was on 13th November this year. We made an Act of Remembrance as part of our morning service at 11.00 with 40 in attendance. Amongst the commemorative decorations in church were poems and poppy wreath collages created by the Thornton Hough Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. The afternoon Civic service, with the procession led by the Port Sunlight Silver Band, began with a gathering for an Act of Remembrance by the village War Memorial and then processed to church for the service. 94 people came.

Advent began on 27th November with a special service of seasonal readings and music led by the choir. 49 people attended.

We held a special Christingle service at 4pm on 11th December, raising money and awareness for the work of The Children’s Society. It was attended by 61 people.

The Service of Readings and Carols for Christmas took place on 18th December, with 114 people. We followed the service with festive mince pies and wine in the Parish Hall.

The “Midnight” service of Communion on Christmas Eve proved to be very popular this year – so much so that we ran out of service sheets. 69 people came on this crisp, starry night to welcome the coming of the Christ-child. The 10.30am service on Christmas Day, our final service of 2022, was attended by 37 people.

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Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals

We welcomed 9 people into the church family through baptism in 2022. We celebrated a wedding blessing which also included a family baptism.

5 weddings were solemnized at All Saints’ in 2022.

There were 9 funerals in church and 4 burials of ashes.

Regular Midweek Worship and Fellowship at Care Homes

Our Wednesday Holy Communion service offers a more informal service followed by hot drinks and refreshments in church. The mean number of attendees was 8.

Rev Vicky has been able to visit Westwood Hall Care Home on a monthly basis to sing hymns and pray with residents and some family members. Many of those attending the service have been there since before Covid and the group has become a very wellestablished fellowship group within the home. There have been between 12 and 15 people at each session.

A new monthly programme of visits to sing and pray with residents at Elderhome on the Clatterbridge Hospital campus in partnership with Rev Eunice Blackmore from Christ Church, Higher Bebington, began in September. Numbers attending have risen to 10 with the arrival of a new Activities Co-ordinator.

The Vicar, Director of Music and some members of the choir were able to sing Christmas Carols with residents at Brimstage Manor Care Home in December. This is the first time we have been able to return to the Home since Covid struck. It is hoped that this marks the beginning of further fresh links with the home.

Children and Families

Sunday children’s activities have consisted of focused craft and colouring activities provided in church to enable children to enjoy a more “hands-on” response to the Bible readings and themes of the day’s service.

Toybox, our new group for babies and toddlers with their carers gave us an opportunity to share the real Christmas story with them.

Rev Vicky continues to work with the staff and pupils at Thornton Hough Village Primary School. She has attended assemblies and taught three afternoon sessions for Year 4 children on The Bible in June. Key Stage 1 children have learned more about churches with a visit to All Saints’ led by Margaret Gamble. The pupils and parents of Year 6 came to church for a very moving Leavers’ Service in July and the whole school came for a Christmas service at the end of term in December. Her role as a Governor continues.

Pastoral Care

The Prayer and Pastoral Care group continues to share concerns and prayer points about individuals on a confidential basis via email and telephone. The Vicar has been visiting housebound individuals and some resident in care homes to offer home communion. Other members of the congregation visit housebound individuals on a social basis.

Lenten Meditations

We had a series of reflections which enabled people to use responses to pictures, words and music this year. We began with an invitation to “Come to the Table” by looking at Rublev’s Icon and shared a short Holy Communion service together at the end. Our second meeting was led by Caroline Lancelyn-Green, and the final one was led by Iain Stinson.

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Pilgrim

We began following a six-week module from the Church of England’s Pilgrim Course on The Lord’s Prayer in September. The sessions took place at the Vicarage, accompanied by tea and cake. The pattern of short video and audio reflections, discussion starters and Bible meditations encouraged people from different parts of the parish and congregations to come and participate. Although not everyone could come to each session, between 9 and 12 people attended through the course and said that they enjoyed the informal, open-ended discussions. No prior reading or knowledge was needed, and conversations were wide-ranging and thoughtful.

Pilgrims will be encouraged to join in another module of the course in 2023.

Revd Vicky Barrett

4. Governance and PCC Membership

The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is a Registered Charity.

The appointment of PCC members is governed by and set out in the Church Representation Rules (2020). The PCC at All Saints’ consists of: the incumbent (our Vicar), the Churchwardens, elected representatives to the Deanery Synod and elected lay representatives.

In 2022 the PCC membership and Standing Committee membership was as follows

Elected Members of the Laity Elected Members of the Laity Other Members Other Members
Mrs L Arch From June 2022 Revd. V Barrett* Vicar (Chairman)
Mrs P Baker From June 2022 Dr P Machin* Churchwarden
Mrs M Gamble Mr A Splitt* Churchwarden
From May 2021
Mrs D Hughes* Dr E Macbeath Deanery Synod
representative
Mrs L Russell Mr G Allan Price Deanery Synod
representative
Mr R Singleton From June 2022 Mrs S Stinson*
(PCC Secretary)		 Deanery Synod
representative
Mr I Stinson*
(PCC Treasurer)
Mrs Helen
Tankard		 * Members of the Standing Committee

Members were also elected to the sub committees dealing with Finance, Fabric and Health and Safety, Remuneration and Three Churches Together. The committees exist to discuss and, for more major issues, make recommendations, which are then taken to the full PCC.

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In 2022 PCC meetings were held on 8[th] February, 15[th] March, 5[th] April, 24[th] May, 6[th] June, 12[th] July, 13[th] September, 11[th] October, 8[th] November and 6[th] December.

The Standing Committee met on 30[th] August in 2022.

The Annual Meeting was held on 15[th] June 2022.

5. Safeguarding

The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding and vulnerable adults). (Church Representation Rules 2020 p76)

6. Activities of the PCC in 2022

At the beginning of the year 2022 the PCC heard that positive progress was being made towards repairing the boundary wall which had collapsed some months previously. Once permission had been granted by the local council the work could proceed.

On a more celebratory note, the PCC looked forward to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June. As part of the celebrations a sculptural bronze porch with ceremonial glass doors for the west end of Chester Cathedral was to be unveiled. This was welcomed by the PCC and we discussed the photographs that we could submit ‘ of a significant and meaningful element from your church’ to be encapsulated in the glass within the artwork. The photographs etched in the glass provided a way of linking all the churches in Chester Diocese together. A section of the west window was submitted and has now become part of the design on the doors.

At a more local level we discussed a Thanksgiving Service for Queen Elizabeth II and our desire to work with the community and take part in the village celebrations.

Throughout the year regular reports on the Finances, Safeguarding, Health, Safety and Fabric, the Electoral Roll and Deanery Synod meetings were brought to the PCC and discussed. Dangerous trees, tarmac, remedial work at Hirst Cottage and new noticeboards for the church were regularly on the agenda. Maintenance on the church and in the graveyards was brought to the attention of the PCC and faculties were applied for when needed.

Permission to affix a small plaque on the readers’ desk, chair and kneeler donated to the church by Edith and Les Shepherd (in memory of Bez. Trepess, Joyce Anderson and John Mayhew), was discussed and a faculty was applied for and granted. The items are in regular use in the church and much appreciated by the congregation.

In February we heard about ‘ Living in Love and Faith’ , a national initiative by the Church of England which was launched in November 2020. As a church we need to be

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respectful of others and to bear in mind the fundamental Pastoral Principles. Everyone should feel welcome in the church.

Following on from that we noted that our Vision Statement for the five years from 2017 to 2022 was coming to an end and we needed to start looking to the future. This was picked up again later in the year and the meetings in April, June and July gave the PCC an opportunity to discuss this, to reflect on what we do well and put forward their ideas on our future direction. Many good ideas came out of this, some of which we have already acted on. These discussions continue as we look ahead and plan our way forward.

The Pastoral Principles were discussed again during the June meeting. It is good to have diversity in the PCC and the church but sometimes tensions can arise, and we need to learn to work together if that happens.

In July we heard about the Pilgrim Course and discussed how this could be introduced and publicised. We also considered how we should celebrate Harvest.

During the year the Church Architect, Mark Pearce, resigned and the PCC members were involved in the appointment process. In July they voted to appoint Jennifer Chambers as the new Church Architect.

The Standing Committee met in August to discuss the financial situation. This was reported to the PCC in September. At that time the deficit on the General Fund was running at about £1,893 per month and it was predicted that we could breach our reserves target by the end of the year and by March 2023 the General Fund could negative.

The PCC passed two resolutions in September

  1. By the middle of November, sell shares/units in investments to realise £40,000 to improve our current financial position, to support the work of our church and meet our responsibilities, including carrying out the essential work on Hirst Cottage.

  2. Standing Committee will review the details of the proposed sale and if appropriate approve this on behalf of the PCC

In October the financial situation in the country was in turmoil and it was not a good time to sell. It was agreed that we needed to think carefully when we do sell, and the PCC passed the resolution to:

It was reported that the Bishop’s visit had been very successful. Bishop Mark had felt very welcome and had enjoyed Choral Evensong.

In October and November we discussed the plans for Advent and Christmas (including sending out Christmas cards to people in the parish), the new pew Bibles and the need for a new church noticeboard.

One of the main points of discussion in November was which charities the church should support this year. The PCC members were asked for suggestions and voted for their preferred options.

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It was agreed that the charities we support in 2022 should be

The main focus for the December meeting was the end of year financial report for 2022 and the budget for 2023.

The Remuneration Committee had been discussing the remuneration of the employees and the fees paid and their recommendations were put to the PCC.

The Remuneration Committee recommended the following fees for 2023:

Fees for Weddings and Funerals

These are paid by those “using the service”.

Weddings Funerals
Verger Organist Heating Verger Organist Heating
Current 2022 £70.00 £110.00 £30.00 £45.00 £70.00 £20.00
Recommended
2023		 £75.00 £115.00 £35.00 £48.00 £73.00 £30.00

The Verger, the Director of Music and his wife withdrew while the PCC discussed all the recommendations and accepted them.

Sue Stinson (PCC Secretary)

7. Charity Information

Contact details All Saints PCC,
The Parish Office,
The Parish Hall
Church Road
Thornton Hough,
Wirral,
CH63 1JW		 All Saints PCC,
The Parish Office,
The Parish Hall
Church Road
Thornton Hough,
Wirral,
CH63 1JW
www.allsaintsth.org.uk 0151 245 4986
Church of England Diocese Chester
CharityRegistration Number 1131417

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Part 2: Reports from the PCC

8. Electoral Roll Report

On 1st January 2022 there were 93 names on the Electoral Roll, 53% resident, 47% nonresident.

At the Annual Meeting it was reported that there were 95 and on 31[st] December there were 93.

9. Fabric, Goods and Ornaments

The Fabric, Health and Safety (FHS) Committee co-ordinates works to the church buildings and grounds, focusing on maintenance, refurbishment and Health and Safety concerns. Graham Tongue has spearheaded the team, offering insight and support even after his departure for his new home in rural Oxfordshire. We continue to be most grateful for his assistance.

Our Church Architect, Mark Pearce resigned from his position following the successful completion of the reconstruction of the collapsed church wall on Church Road. Graham Tongue, Alan Splitt and the Vicar interviewed two candidates for the role and Jennifer Chambers, an architect from Tattenhall, Cheshire, accepted the invitation to be our new Church Architect. She has an interest in building conservation and particularly Victorian architecture and family connections to the Wirral. She is also a member of the Chester Diocesan Advisory Committee, which oversees and approves church building and fabric developments.

We received the final completed Faculty Approval for the work on the wall and also for a plaque for the Reader’s Desk in October 2022. This process has taken a very long time and it was with much joy and not a little relief that Les Shepherd was able to put in place the small brass plaque to commemorate the lives and care of those Readers who have helped encourage members of the congregation in their faith over the years.

Pam Machin has continued to maintain the Church Log Book to ensure that all the maintenance records and details of works completed are in good order.

It was gratifying that Bishop Mark commented on the well-kept appearance of All Saints’ Church when he came to Evensong in October.

There are many maintenance tasks which continue to be carried out by individuals: thanks go to Brian Morris for his care in repainting the edges of the steps into the churchyard, to Scirard Lancelyn-Green for work on the lights both in church and in the church grounds, to Iain Stinson for his monitoring of the boilers and to Margaret and Victor Gamble for their time and care in “going the extra mile” in keeping the whole church precinct and interior clean, safe and secure.

Revd Vicky Barrett

9A. Church

Maintenance of the roof and rainwater goods has continued to be a significant part of the works on the building. Routine maintenance has been carried out and an electrical inspection has been undertaken.

Revd Vicky Barrett

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9B. Church grounds

The large stump from the holm oak tree and its roots were ground out prior to the wall on Church Road being repaired.

We have approached several contractors to repair the tarmac at the entry to the church drive, however we continue to wait for their quotations.

The contractors for maintaining the churchyard grass and shrubs have continued to keep the precinct looking tidy, despite challenging weather conditions which meant that the grass continued to grow well into November after the dry summer. The gardener for the Raby Road graveyard has also been working on levelling and re-seeding areas where the ground has sunk and is sowing wildflower seeds in a border to enhance the area to the left as you enter the graveyard.

Revd Vicky Barrett

9C. Parish Hall and Hirst Cottage

Routine servicing of boilers and safety checks have been undertaken. Replacement emergency lighting was fitted in the Parish Hall in response to the electrical inspection.

Significant works to tackle damp and improve insulation in the ground floor of Hirst Cottage were completed in December, along with a replacement window.

Revd Vicky Barrett

10.Wirral South Deanery Synod Report

Regular meetings of the Deanery Synod resumed again in 2022.

The first meeting was on Wednesday 23[rd] February at St Mary’s Church, Eastham. Vanessa Layfield, the Engagement and Inclusion Advisor in our diocese gave a general overview and invited questions and comments on ‘Living in Love and Faith’.

The next meeting was on Wednesday 25th May, at St Thomas & All Saints’ Church, Ellesmere Port. The main item was ‘Healing Ministry’ led by Fr Timothy Hupfield (the Chester Diocesan Healing Adviser).

During the year Chester Diocese sponsored a number of events to consider how local churches can encourage people to live out their faith in everyday life. The event for Wirral South Deanery and Frodsham Deanery was on 6th October at St Paul’s Church, Helsby.

The final meeting took the form of a Vision Café (with a fish and chip supper) on 26th October. We met in the Church Centre at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Eastham.

The meeting was part of the ‘Casting the net wide’ consultation launched by Bishop Mark to establish a collective vision for the diocese. It was hosted by Harriet Roberts, Director of Development (Vision & Strategy) in Chester Diocese.

The Diocesan website explained that: ‘A Vision Cafe is an inspiring drop-in event to share ideas in a fun, creative way’. There were many interactive activities and the ideas shared were reported back to the parishes afterwards.

Sue Stinson Wirral South Deanery Synod Rep

The Trustees’ report to the Charity Commission was approved by the PCC on 7[th] February 2023.

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Part 3: Reports on activities

11. Worship, Prayer and Pastoral Care Report of the Vicar

“With God’s help.”

2022 has been the first full year in which we have been able to gather without restriction since 2019. With God’s help and the enthusiasm, generosity and commitment of many people, there are signs of growth in our church: in terms of numbers, new groups beginning, and new enquiries for baptisms and weddings.

We are growing as learners about our faith and how we learn. We had three Lenten talks which were designed to appeal to different interests: art, literature and music. As well as the joyous celebration of Mothering Sunday with families and gifts in the morning, we also had a quiet, reflective service in the afternoon for those who find this day difficult. The Pilgrim course exploring The Lord’s Prayer used a range of features to encourage us to respond: short video and audio presentations, discussion, and using the Lectio Divina method of reflecting on a Bible passage.

Our Harvest celebrations in October garnered an impressive quantity of gifts for Wirral Foodbank and concluded with a delightful lunch in the Parish Hall. The decoration of the window sills in church by individuals giving thanks to God for a particular aspect of their life was a new way for people to offer worship in a creative way.

The steady rhythm of Holy Communion using the traditional language of the Book of Common Prayer at 8.00 am on 1st and 3rd Sundays each month and at Evensong makes a connection with generations of Christians who have gone before us who have celebrated these services in the same way. Our evening choral services have become a feature on the second Sunday of most months. It was a particular joy to welcome Bishop Mark Tanner to Choral Evensong in October. Our service of Readings and Carols using passages from the Authorised Version of the Bible recounted the Christmas story afresh to families young and old.

We have developed a suite of seasonal orders of service for Holy Communion at our 10.30 services so that the particular themes and tone of periods such as Lent and the lengthy run of Ordinary Time can be marked and the liturgy used has greater variety. Our choir continues to enrich our worship by supporting congregational singing and through anthems and in special services such as our Hymns and Readings for Passiontide and Advent.

It is good to see people joining the welcoming team of sidespeople, the rota of readers, those who make refreshments after the service and those who brighten our church with

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Arrrr Harvest Thanksgiving 2022 EL. 14

flowers. These activities also enhance our capacity to worship and enable us to grow in fellowship together.

Two new ventures have commenced this year. Toybox, our monthly group for young children and their carers, has proved to be a great success. The sight of children entering the Parish Hall and looking excitedly at the varied array of toys and puzzles, learning to play and sit to eat together accompanied by the buzz of conversations amongst their parents and carers, has been a delight. Sue Stinson has ably led her team to establish a very happy group.

A new worship group has been established at Elderhome. The residents enjoy singing and provide cheer to other staff and residents along the corridors.

As well as sharing many joys through the year, we have also accompanied families in the sorrow of losing a loved one. Our joy at marking Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was turned to sadness and thanksgiving as we opened a Book of Condolence for people to sign after her death in September. We held our annual service for the Faithful Departed in October. We remember especially Brian Jenkins, Charles Elphick, Anne McTigue, her daughter Janet Green, Don Colley and Maria Bland, who passed away in the course of the year.

Relationships with younger people have been maintained through the Vicar’s visits to the Thornton Hough Rainbows, Brownies and Guides and school liaison. The Rainbows and Brownies created Mothering Sunday greeting cards and the Guides and Brownies devised some striking descriptive writing and wreaths which were used to decorate the church as part of our acts of remembrance.

Pupils, parents and staff have come to church to mark Easter, Year 6 Leavers and Christmas in 2022, and the Vicar has been able to teach Year 4 children about the Bible again. They responded through discussion, drama and some written work.

The Vicar has continued to visit the housebound to offer prayer and Holy Communion at home. Members of the congregation have also extended their friendship through visits and regular prayer. The Vicar also completed a Mental Health First Aid training course in September.

Heartfelt thanks go out to everyone for their part in the life of All Saints’ church this year. The continued support, prayer and hard work of churchwardens Pam Machin and Alan Splitt, Margaret Gamble, Iain and Sue Stinson and the ever-watchful, willing presence of Tim Allan-Price are invaluable.

With God’s help, we look forward to the next chapter in the life of All Saints’ Parish Church.

Revd Vicky Barrett

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Report of the Churchwardens

This year Pamela Machin and Alan Splitt were elected as churchwardens for 2022-23 by the parishioners at the church AGM (2022) and later sworn into office at an Archdeacon’s Visitation service in Ellesmere Port.

Both churchwardens have completed their basic Safeguarding Training.

It has been good this last year that our church has been able to remain open for all our services and we have gradually removed most of the Covid restrictions. The sidespeople have been most helpful to us in the services and it has been good to see some more of our congregation volunteering to take further parts. Of course, due advice and assistance has been given by us to the ‘newbies’ in this respect.

We still meet with our Vicar about every three weeks – as well as at services – to keep up with matters of importance to the church and the church family. By the way it has also been good to see many of the sidespeople helping us by helping the Vicar at communions.

The Terrier, Inventory and Log-book have been kept up to date and suitable faculties have been acquired for any change or additions. We particularly mention the new plaque on the Readers Desk/Seat which names some of those Readers who have put much into this church and parish. The moveable furniture and ornaments are in good order.

Perhaps we should mention here what churchwardens are? Although elected by our parishioners we are actually officers of the bishop and it is our duty, on the Bishop’s or Archdeacon’s Visitation, at the end of our year of office, to answer such questions as may be put to us about the state of the parish, and report whatever may be amiss. We will be glad to say nothing (or very little) this year, apart from the fact that it has been a pleasure to assist our Vicar.

Please note that we are readily approachable by any of our parishioners if they have church related concerns.

Pamela Machin and Alan Splitt Churchwardens

Verger’s Report

There were 5 weddings, 9 funeral services and 4 interments of ashes in 2022. The Verger was present at most of these, handing out service booklets and making sure all was in order at the back of the church.

Parish Hall

Thank you especially to Gill Woods (Stepping Out), Weight Watchers, Thornton Hough Fishing Club and Birkenhead North Cycling Club for their support over the last twelve months.

We were able to have the ACF meetings, Coffee Mornings, Coffee after the Sunday Morning services, Harvest Lunch, Tea with Bishop Mark and a new venture Toybox in the Parish Hall. All of these were well supported.

Margaret Gamble Verger

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12.Safeguarding

We continue to give high priority to Safeguarding at All Saints Thornton Hough. Posters are on display in Church and the Parish Hall, giving current local and Diocesan safeguarding contact details. In addition, safeguarding information can be easily found on our website. Safeguarding is an agenda item at all PCC meetings.

During the last year, no new DBS checks were required, but 4 DBS renewals have been processed successfully. It is now necessary for DBS checks to be renewed every 3 years.

Similarly, safeguarding training courses should be repeated after 3 years. For this reason, I have personally completed 3 different online safeguarding training course and I am pleased to report that a steady stream of parishioners with a range of roles within All Saints have been completing the online Basic Awareness safeguarding training course. This course is very user-friendly and is recommended for all parishioners, not only those with a designated safeguarding role. A link is on our All Saints’ website.

In my last annual report, I mentioned that Revd Vicky Barrett and I had been in discussion with the Diocese of Chester about safeguarding training for those who have a strong preference for “face-to-face” (in-person) learning. Towards the end of the year, these courses were starting up within the Diocese.

Linda M Arch Parish Safeguarding Officer

13. Families ministries

Children in church

The South Transept of the church has been set out with small tables and chairs for children’s activities during the service at 10.30. There are a range of crafts, puzzles and colouring put out each week which relate directly to the day’s readings as well as other toys. This has been well-received and continues to offer interest to younger visitors during the week.

Toybox

In September 2022 we launched Toybox, our group for babies and toddlers with their carers (parents, grandparents, nannies etc). After periods of lockdown and reduced social interaction this was welcomed by the local community and the sessions were well attended.

We meet from 10am to 11:30am on the second Monday of each month. After a period of free play, while the carers chat, the children sit down for a snack and then a craft activity. The sessions end with a story and singing.

It has been lovely to see friendships forming and the children enjoying themselves. A huge thank you to Vicky and all the other helpers for making Toybox a success.

Sue Stinson Toybox coordinator

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14.Choir and music

During 2022, the choir has continued to help lead the worship at our services. At the end of 2022, there were ten (eleven with the Vicar) regular members the choir: five sopranos (six with the Vicar), two altos and three basses. Our tenor, Brian Jenkins, sadly died in July and, although he had not been able to sing regularly for some time, he is greatly missed. We are thankful for his long and faithful service to All Saints’, latterly as a chorister but also as organist and choirmaster in earlier times.

Although services have continued on each Sunday in 2022, there have been occasions where illness, (Covid-19 and other “seasonal” illness) have reduced the number of choristers able to take part in the service. I was absent due to a Covid-19 infection for the end of Holy Week and Easter Day. The choir did a grand job of leading the worship using recorded accompaniments, and continued to provide a firm lead when the sound system failed and the carefully recorded music could not be heard!

Evening Services (usually on the first Sunday of the month) have continued during the year – we try to make these a little more “choral” with settings of the responses and canticles, anthems and congregational hymns. Bishop Mark (Bishop of Chester) joined us for the October service of Choral Evensong.

As well as the regular Sunday services, the choir lead the Passiontide service of readings and music (using parts of Bob Chilcott’s St John Passion), the service of Readings and Music for Advent and the Christmas Carol Service. We were joined by two tenors, Tim Barrett and Brian Moate, and two sopranos (Ann Hughes and Pat Moate) for the Christmas Carol service. This service included two new carols, one by Bob Chilcottt and another by Peter Nardone. For the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Service in June, we sang the special anthem composed for the occasion – “In Our Service” (words and music by Thomas Hewitt Jones taking inspiration from speeches by HM The Queen). Sadly a few months later, on September 18th we sang for our service giving thanks for the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

I would like to thank all members of the choir for their support, commitment and patience (with me); without the active participation of each chorister, our ability to lead the worship at All Saints’ Church would be significantly reduced. I would particularly like to thank Val Splitt, ably assisted by Alan, for all her work as our music librarian.

If you are interested in being in the choir, please get in touch. We practise for about an hour each Friday evening and sing each Sunday at the 10:30am service (and once a month at 6:30pm). The choir is a great place to share and enjoy fellowship.

Iain Stinson Director of Music

15.Bible Study Group

We were pleased to be able to meet up again from March 2022.

We continue to meet on the second Sunday of the month in members’ homes. We are a small, friendly group and anyone who would like to join us as we continue studying Acts from the book by John Stott would be most welcome.

Shirley McEvoy

18

16.Events

Many things had been put on hold during the Covid lockdowns and, as the year progressed, people welcomed the opportunity to meet up again socially. The ACF Coffee Mornings have returned as a regular monthly social event.

The Harvest Lunch in September was very much enjoyed by all who attended. This was followed by a tea in October to welcome the Bishop of Chester, Mark Tanner, when he came to be with us for Choral evensong. It was his first visit to the parish and the congregation welcomed the opportunity to meet him and tell him about All Saints’ Church.

In November the church hosted the Service of Remembrance for the local community and afterwards the Brownies took over the Parish Hall and served tea.

In December we got together for the ACF Christmas Lunch; we had sandwiches, a mince pie and cake then sang Christmas Carols.

Finally, we celebrated the coming of Christmas with (more) mince pies and wine (or tea and coffee) after a well-attended carol service.

Our thanks go to Margaret Gamble, Vicky Barrett, the Brownies and all the others who helped to cater for these events and make them a success.

The Vicar with the Bishop of Chester

19

IL -Tr V41 lrt The Harvest Lunch 20

Practical Ministries

17. Parish magazine

The editors, Brian Morris, Iain Stinson, Patsy Baker and Revd Vicky Barrett have tried to produce a magazine which is interesting and informative to its readers and especially to members of the parish. We have kept the parishioners informed of what is happening at our church through the events page, the diary and articles written on church life. At the same time, we have brought everyday stories from individuals about events which have happened in their lifetime and of interest. Our thanks go to regular and occasional contributors who make the magazine so interesting. We hope that the readers gain comfort and enjoyment from the articles in the magazine.

During 2022 six editions of the magazine were printed and circulated as in previous years and placed on the website.

We have continued to receive many complimentary comments from those who have enjoyed not only the content but also the format we have used. The magazine is distributed free to anybody who wishes to have a copy, but we do ask for a donation towards the cost of printing. We are indebted to our advertisers and to the voluntary donations given by our readers which meet most of the cost of producing the magazine. The printing and co-ordinating the distribution is done by Margaret Gamble and we are indebted to her for continuing with this task as she has done for many years. Our thanks also go to the distributers who deliver the magazines.

We feel it is important that the magazine continues to bring to the attention of the parishioners the various articles, events, quizzes and stories in paper form as not everybody has a computer for the online version. 220 copies of the magazine are printed every two months and are distributed to homes in Thornton Hough, Raby Mere, Brimstage and Raby. Magazines are also posted to homes outside the parish: to Heswall, Neston, Oxton, Willaston, Chester, Port Sunlight, and as far afield as Evershot, Hornby (near Lancaster) and Broadstone (in Dorset). Our editorial team welcomes contributions, so if you have a story or know of an event which you feel might be of interest please send it to us for consideration with all the other articles.

The Editors

18.2023 Thornton Hough Calendar

Following the successful previous calendars, a 2023 Thornton Hough Calendar was produced and printed with thanks to the support provided by Sue and Iain Stinson. Contributions of photographs of our beautiful village and neighbourhood were requested via the pulpit and through the bi-monthly magazine. After much deliberation, Revd Vicky and I selected twelve photographs from a large group depicting views of our beautiful parish at different times in the year. Once again over 200 copies were printed and sent to many parts of the country and far-off lands.

We were indebted to 12 local businesses and companies who each sponsored a month thus covering the printing costs and to those people who sold the calendars to friends and relatives. Thanks must also go to Margaret Gamble who once again sold many calendars to friends and family. We are delighted to report that the calendars made a handsome profit of £1,325 for church funds. We look forward to producing another calendar for 2024 so we hope that many new and old photos will come to light during the Spring and Summer of 2023 and sent to us for consideration.

Brian Morris on behalf of the Calendar team

21

19.Website report

The church website provides information about our church, contact details and includes a calendar of services and events taking place at All Saints’. We announce any lastminute changes to planned events and services on our home page. We publish copies of

The Magazine on the website for those who prefer to read online; this also provides a growing record of our activities over recent years.

The website is an important communications tool. Comments and suggestions about the website are always welcome.

Please look regularly at www.allsaintsth.org.uk – you might be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

Iain Stinson

20.Church Flowers

Margaret Gamble has set up a rota for flower arranging and for people to donate money to help with the purchase of flowers in remembrance of loved ones or special anniversaries. She has used seasonal flowers from the family’s allotment to create displays and helped new volunteers build up skills and confidence. More people have signed up to join the rota and discovered new talents and friendships by “buddying up” to get started – more helpers would be very welcome. There are funds available to help buy flowers. Very many thanks to Margaret and all those who have helped make the church look so beautiful.

21.ACF Report

Afternoon Meetings

These are held once a month on the second Wednesday except for August.

We had a very successful year of ACF meetings in 2022 and only missed the January meeting due to an increase in cases of Covid. We averaged 14 members throughout the year with increased numbers at our summer tea (21 members) and Christmas lunch and Carols (39 members).

This is the first time we have done a Christmas Lunch and it proved very successful. ACF members and friends enjoyed sandwiches, mince pies and home-made cake; I think this may become a regular on our calendar. There was plenty of chatter and good hearty singing of Christmas Carols accompanied by our Musical Director and several members of All Saints’ choir.

We had a range of speakers throughout the year that included Claire House, North West Air Ambulance, Christian Aid, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the Leprosy Mission of England and Wales. We also had an Easter talk from our Vicar Revd Vicky Barrett, a talk entitled “Singing the Psalms” from our Musical Director, Iain Stinson and Dr Ian Cubbin took us on a journey exploring Central Africa in the time of David Livingstone.

We have a very varied programme arranged for 2023 which includes delights such as beekeeping, hedgehog rescue and Merseyside & Cheshire Blood bikes. We also have three charities for 2022 which are all local to the Wirral and each received £100 and they have provided a speaker for 2023.

22

They are:

Other speakers are offered £30 and travel expenses if they have travelled a distance. Our members are also very generous in donating to the charity on the day of the talk.

Prior to the meeting we hold a short service consisting of a hymn, reading and prayers. In 2023 we are hoping to make our meetings more informal in style and attract new members. It will also give us more time to talk with our speakers and each other over a cup of tea or coffee.

Helen Tankard

22. Coffee Morning Report

These are held once a month on the fourth Wednesday except August and December.

Coffee mornings are well attended each month and as well as a hot drink and a biscuit, there is an excellent raffle and sales table of home-made goods.

Helen Tankard

23

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of

All Saints, Thornton Hough

Registered Charity number 1131417

End of Year Financial Statements (Receipts & Payments)

Year ending December 31[st] 2022

Contents

Financial review page 2 The Accounts page 4 Balance sheet page 5 Statement of Assets and Liabilities page 6 Statement of Financial Activities page 8 Analysis of income and expenditure pages 9 Notes on the accounts page 12 Approval page 13 Independent Examiner’s report page 14 Appendix: Accounting policies pages 15

March 28[th] 2023 Page 1 of 16

Financial review

Overall receipts in 2022 were £111,915, £16,922 less than in 2021.

The results for 2022 show that there is £20,243 in the General Fund (unrestricted) at the end of the year, £2,691 less than when the year began. This indicates that our income in not sufficient to cover our regular outgoings.

Total receipts of unrestricted funds were £105,795 of which £45,749 was voluntary giving through standing orders, weekly envelopes, and open plate collection; we received £6,605 in unrestricted grants and gifts.

We received £3,414 of designated funding, including a donation of £3,000 towards the completion of the wall repairs.

We recovered a total of £11,078 through the UK’s Gift Aid schemes on qualifying gifts and donations.

Income from investments (Permanent Trust Income) was £18,259; this is higher than the return received in 2021 (£17,264). The value of the investments owned by the PCC has decreased by 7.94%.

The PCC’s investments are controlled in partnership with the Diocese of Chester, the Diocese taking a role like that of a custodian trustee. The Diocese needs to support any resolutions made by the PCC about its investments; in some cases, The Charity Commission’s permission may be required. The PCC has established an Investment Committee to monitor the performance of its investments and, should it deem necessary, make proposals about these to the PCC. If the PCC wished to take any such proposals forward, the PCC would have to pass a formal resolution setting out the actions to be taken. Any such resolution would be passed to the Diocese of Chester for review, approval, and implementation. The Diocese of Chester does not provide any financial advice to PCCs.

In September, the PCC considered items of work which needed to be progressed, and its overall cash flow for the next couple of years. This showed than unless some additional income was available, there was a small risk that the PCC could runout of money. After careful consideration, the PCC passed a resolution to sell some of its investments (up to a value of £40,000 depending on the requirements for funds); the resolution specified that the sale had to take place by the end of March 2023. It is highly likely that this sale will have to proceed in 2023.

There were some social activities during 2022; though their focus was not on raising funds, all of these (at least) broke even. The income from calendar sales and sponsorship was £1,540, of which £10 was late receipts for the 2022 edition. The approximate cost of producing the calendar was £205 (for the 2023 edition) and the net benefit from the 2023 edition of the calendar was about £1,325.

During 2022, donations towards the cost of the Magazine were £669 and revenue from advertisers, including some advanced payments for 2023, was £700. This approximately covers the cost of producing six editions of The Magazine during the year.

The rental for use of the Parish Hall by outside organisations generated £10,971 during 2022.

There were fewer weddings and funerals in church during the year and consequently the fees collected (£4,057) were significantly less than in 2021 (£8,212).

The Parish Share for 2022 was £69,666 (2.08% higher than in 2021) and was paid in regular monthly instalments to the Diocese. This meets the cost of clergy salaries, pensions, clergy housing and training; it also provides support for the Diocese of Chester and the central organisation of the Church of England.

Whilst the salary for the Vicar is met by the Diocese, the PCC pay the Council Tax and water charges for the vicarage and the expenses incurred by the vicar in carrying out her role in the parish.

The repair to the boundary wall in Church Road, which collapsed in February 2021, was completed during the year. The total cost was £22,361 (including architects fees and VAT). This was fully met by donations received in 2021 and during 2022. We are most grateful to those donors for their support.

The maintenance of the churchyard and graveyard were £6,188 (11% more than in 2021).

March 28[th] 2023 Page 2 of 16

In 2022, a total of £2,634 was spent on maintenance of the church building. Minor work on the church roof cost £801, and the electrical safety inspection and remedial works required following the inspection, cost £1,272. Other maintenance work was minimal costing only (£560). Some work items remain to be undertaken during 2023.

An electrical inspection was carried out on the Parish Hall: this found that the emergency lighting needed to be replaced. The cost of the new emergency lighting, the inspection and other remedial work was £1,098.

The cost of employing two staff, the Verger and Caretaker and the Director of Music, was £10,564 in 2022.

The total expenditure for 2022 was £136,445 (including the work on the boundary wall).

The PCC meets the day-to-day costs of running the parish from Unrestricted Funds (General Fund). The amount of Unrestricted Funds at the end of 2022 was £2,691 less than at the end of 2021 (11.7% less).

Although energy prices have risen dramatically during 2022, the church’s gas and electricity contracts were set up for a period of three years before the prices started to rise: we shall only see the effect of increased costs after September 2024. In December we received a grant of £985, from the Church of England’s central funds (via the Diocese of Chester), to help with energy costs.

There remain concerns about our being able to meet the costs which are incurred in sustaining our regular activities. The level of income being received from planned giving and open plate giving (plus the Gift Aid on this) is less than half of the total annual expenditure. With income from the investments remaining low in recent years, we have been dependent on one-off donations and grants to meet our costs. This has been the case for the last few years.

The Designated Funds available to the PCC are £25,779 (at the end of 2022). The PCC can use these designated funds to address some of the maintenance and development projects that need to be undertaken at All Saints’. The restricted funds held by the PCC amount to £3,751 (discounting the unrealised values of the Parish Hall and Hirst Cottage) and this must be used for the purposes specified by the donors of the money.

In December 2022, urgent repairs were carried out to Hirst Cottage to address a serious problem with dampness. The cost of these repairs was £8,910. This and other urgent work on the cottage will have to be paid for during 2023.

We are very fortunate that we have some investments which we can sell to help provide money which is required to meet our obligations – though this is not something we can do regularly. Selling investments will reduce the income that they generated (as there will be less money invested to earn that income).

It is now very important that All Saints’ increases its income so that we can meet on ongoing costs and obligations, and so that we are able to continue to support God’s work in our parish.

March 28[th] 2023 Page 3 of 16

The accounts

This financial report is produced under the Church of England guidance for PCCs (Church Accounting Regulations 2006) adopting the Receipts and Payments method provided for by the Church and The Charities Act (2011).

This report consists of pages numbered 1 to 14; pages 15 and 16 do not form a part of the formal report.

This report shows all the PCC’s open bank accounts.

There may appear to be minor discrepancies in the totals in the reports as the pence are not shown.

All members of the PCC are Trustees of the registered charity.

Two PCC members (trustees), Mrs Margaret Gamble and Mr Iain Stinson are employees of the PCC. Mrs Gamble is the Verger and Caretaker and Mr Stinson is the Director of Music (posts they both held before first being elected or coopted as PCC members). Neither Mrs Gamble nor Mr Stinson receive any payment for their roles as PCC Members (trustees).

No payments were made to PCC members for their role as a member of the PCC other than as minor reimbursements for items purchased.

These accounts have been prepared using Data Developments’ Finance Coordinator (version 4.59) software package following the PCC’s Accounting Policies which are appended to this report. They have been prepared on behalf of the PCC by Mr Iain Stinson who does not receive any payment for undertaking the duties of Honorary Treasurer.

The following assets are recognised but not valued in the accounts: moveable church furnishings held by the vicar and trustees on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal.

It is the PCC's policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds (whenever possible), which equates to approximately two months unrestricted payments, to meet cash flow requirements and to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time.

The “Notes on the accounts” may be found on page 12 and 13.

March 28[th] 2023 Page 4 of 16

Balance Sheet as at December 31[st] 2022

As at
As at
31/12/2022
31/12/2021
Fixed assets
(note 1)
6430: Church Hall
£350,000
£350,000
6431: Hirst Cottage
£150,000
£150,000
(note 2)
6432: M&G Charibond
£139,228
£156,826
6433: M&G Charifund
£204,623
£216,693
£843,851
£873,519
Current assets
6501: CAF Current A/c.545
£20,662
£38,221
6502: CAF Restricted A/c.546
—
—
6503: CAF Deposit A/c.274
£18,701
£23,532
(note 3)
6505: HSBC Current A/c.163
£1
£1
6506: HSBC Current A/c.388
£10,422
£12,670
£49,786
£74,425
Liabilities
(note 4)
6699: Agency collections
£13
£111
£13
£111
£893,625
£947,833
Reserves
Excess / (deficit) to date
(£24,540)
£20,380
Z01: Starting balances
£947,833
£906,356
Z02: Other gains/(losses)
(£29,667)
£21,096
£893,625
£947,833
Represented by Funds
Unrestricted
£20,243
£22,934
Designated
£25,779
£47,915
Restricted
£503,751
£503,463
Endowment
£343,851
£373,519
Total
£893,625
£947,833		 £350,000
£350,000
£150,000
£150,000
£139,228
£156,826
£204,623
£216,693
£843,851
£873,519
£20,662
£38,221
—
—
£18,701
£23,532
£1
£1
£10,422
£12,670
£49,786
£74,425
£13
£111
£13
£111
£893,625
£947,833
(£24,540)
£20,380
£947,833
£906,356
(£29,667)
£21,096
£893,625
£947,833
Represented by Funds
Unrestricted
£20,243
£22,934
Designated
£25,779
£47,915
Restricted
£503,751
£503,463
Endowment
£343,851
£373,519
Total £893,625
£947,833

March 28[th] 2023 Page 5 of 16

Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at December 31[st] 2022 (1 of 2)

Class and nominal code General Designated Restricted Endowment Total Last year
Fixed assets – Investments(note 2)
6432 : M&G Charibond — — — £139,228 £139,228 £156,826
6433 : M&G Charifund — — — £204,623 £204,623 £216,693
Total — — — £343,851 £343,851 £373,519
Fixed assets - Tangible assets(note 3)
6430 : Church Hall — — £350,000 — £350,000 £350,000
6431 : Hirst Cottage — — £150,000 — £150,000 £150,000
Total — — £500,000 — £500,000 £500,000
Current assets - Cash at bank and in hand
6501 : CAF Current A/c.545 (£2,411) £20,287 £2,786 — £20,662 £38,221
6503 : CAF Deposit A/c.274 £12,232 £5,491 £978 — £18,701 £23,532
6505 : HSBC Current A/c.163 £1 — — — £1 £1
6506 : HSBC Current A/c.388 £10,422 — — — £10,422 £12,670
Total £20,243 £25,779 £3,764 — £49,786 £74,425
Liabilities - Agency accounts
6699 : Agency collections — — £13 — £13 £111
Total — — £13 — £13 £111
Net total assets £20,243 £25,779 £503,751 £343,851 £893,625 £947,833
Represented by
Unrestricted – General £20,243 — — — £20,243 £22,934
Designated – ACF(note 5) — £667 — — £667 £412
Designated – Bibles(note 6) — — — — — £1,000
Designated – Advance fees — £390 — — £390 £790
Designated – General Support — £7,902 — — £7,902 £10,000
Designated – Hall Improvements — £2,400 — — £2,400 £2,400
Designated – Kitchen improvements — £150 — — £150 £150
Designated - Legacies — £10,194 — — £10,194 £10,500
Designated – Quinquennial repairs — £1,000 — — £1,000 £1,000
Designated – Roof repair — £2,515 — — £2,515 £2,515
Designated - Projects — £560 — — £560 £560
Designated – Church Building — — — — — £18,587
Restricted – Choir Fees — — £200 — £200 £200
Restricted – Raby Graveyard improvements — — £1,085 — £1,085 £1,300
Restricted – Choir Music — — £599 — £599 £556

March 28[th] 2023 Page 6 of 16

Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at December 31[st] 2022 (2 of 2)

Class and nominal code General Designated Restricted Endowment Total Last year
Restricted – Parish Hall (value) — — £350,000 — £350,000 £350,000
Restricted - Flowers — — £589 — £589 £379
Restricted – Hirst Cottage (value) — — £150,000 — £150,000 £150,000
Restricted – Organ maintenance — — £677 — £677 £428
Restricted – Taxi / Transport to church — — £250 — £250 £250
Restricted – Vicar’s discretionary — — £350 — £350 £350
Endowment - Charifund — — — £204,623 £204.623 £216,693
Endowment - Charibond — — — £139,228 £139,228 £156,826
Total £20,243 £25,779 £503,751 £343,851 £893,625 £947,833

March 28[th] 2023 Page 7 of 16

Statement of Financial Activities from January 1[st] 2022 to December 31[st] 2022


 Unrestricted
Restricted Endowment
Total Prior year
funds
funds
funds
funds total funds
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
£66,848
£1,310
—
£68,158
£81,724
Income from charitable activities
£8,407
—
—
£8,407
£13,891
Other trading activities
£12,813
—
—
£12,813
£11,375
Investments(note 7)
£22,734
—
—
£22,734
£21,646
Other income
(£200)
—
—
(£200)
£200
Total income
£110,605
£1,310
—
£111,915
£128,837
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
£4,139
—
—
£4,139
£4,203
Expenditure on charitable activities
£131,089
£1,030
—
£132,119
£104,095
Other expenditure
£195
—
—
£195
£158
Total expenditure
£135,425
£1,030
—
£136,455
£108,456
Gains / losses on investment assets
—
—
(£29,667)
(£29,667)
£21,096
Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer
(£24,819)
£279
—
(£54,207)
£41,476
Transfers(note 8)
Gross transfers between funds - in
£5,903
£8
—
£5,911
£10,310
Gross transfers between funds - out
(£5,911)
—
—
(£5,911) (£10,310)
Other recognised gains / losses
Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's own use
—
—
—
—
—
Net movement in funds
(£24,827)
£287
—
(£54,207)
£41,476
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
£70,850
£503,463
£373,519
£947,833
£906,356
Total funds carried forward
£46,022
£503,751
£343,851
£893,625
£947,833

March 28[th] 2023 Page 8 of 16

Analysis of income and expenditure from January 1[st] 2022 to December 31[st] 2022 (1 of 3)

Totals
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment This year Last year
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies
1010 - Planned Giving SO (Gift Aid) £30,398 — — — £30,398 £29,789
1015 - Planned Giving Env.(Gift Aid) £9,093 — — — £9,093 £9,728
1020 - Gift Aid - Occasional £1,020 — — — £1,020 £3,760
1030 - Gift Aid - tax rebate £10,328 £750 — — £11,078 £11,084
1040 - Open Plate £6,258 — — — £6,258 £4,260
1052 - Planned G. SO (non Gift Aid) — — — — — £46
1060 - Wall Safe — — — — — £144
1070 - Donations - Sundry £4,550 £3,414 £1,310 — £9,274 £3,943
1100 - Grants - recurring — — — — — £2,000
1110 - Grants - non recurring £1,035 — — — £1,035 £16,966
Donations and legacies Totals £62,684 £4,164 £1,310 — £68,158 £81,724
Income from charitable activities
1120 - Events and Activities £233 £472 — — £705 £707
1121 - Mrs Hunnibuns — £72 — — £72 £33
1122 - Cots to Tots £138 — — — £138 —
1150 - Choir - Wedding fees — — — — — £230
1160 - Funerals - PCC £2,557 — — — £2,557 £6,456
1210 - Weddings - PCC £1,300 £200 — — £1,500 £1,756
1240 - Fees for weddings and funerals £2,075 — — — £2,075 £2,975
1400 - Magazine subscriptions £659 — — — £659 £668
1402 - Magazine - adverts £700 — — — £700 £1,065
Income from charitable activities £7,662 £744 — — £8,407 £13,891
Totals
Other trading activities
1140 - Halls - rentals £10,971 — — — £10,971 £9,421
1300 - Printing / Copying (commercial) £302 — — — £302 £348
1410 - Calendar Income £1,540 — — — £1,540 £1,605
Other trading activities Totals £12,813 — — — £12,813 £11,375
Investments
1130 - Hirst Cottage - Rent £4,380 — — — £4,380 £4,380
1500 - Permanent Trust Income £18,259 — — — £18,259 £17,264
1510 - Bank Interest £95 — — — £95 £2
Investments Totals £22,734 — — — £22,734 £21,646
Other income
1600 - Advanced payment of fees (£100) (£100) — — (£200) £200
Other income Totals (£100) (£100) — — (£200) £200
Income and endowments £105,795 £4,809 £1,310 — £111,915 £128,837
Grand totals

March 28[th] 2023 Page 9 of 16

Analysis of income and expenditure from January 1[st] 2022 to December 31[st] 2022 (2 of 3)

Totals
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment This year Last year
Expenditure
Raising funds
2400 - Hall - Consumables £140 — — — £140 —
2410 - Hall - Electricity £609 — — — £609 £457
2415 - Hall - Gas £801 — — — £801 £1,022
2420 - Hall - Insurance £896 — — — £896 £848
2425 - Hall - Fire protection & safety £104 — — — £104 —
2430 - Hall - Water charges £140 — — — £140 £36
2535 - Magazine & Bookstall £27 — — — £27 —
3010 - Printing - Copier rental & copies £1,418 — — — £1,418 £1,838
Raising funds Totals £4,139 — — — £4,139 £4,203
Expenditure on charitable activities
2000 - Parish Share £69,666 — — — £69,666 £68,241
2010 - Clergy and staff - expenses £1,391 — — — £1,391 £1,272
2015 - Clergy - locum costs £44 — — — £44 £158
2020 - Parsonage - Council Tax £2,217 — — — £2,217 £2,146
2035 - Parsonage - Water charges £187 — — — £187 £747
2100 - Church - Electricity £994 — — — £994 £818
2105 - Church - Gas £1,840 — — — £1,840 £2,085
2110 - Church - Water charges £347 — — — £347 £171
2115 - Church- Fire Protect. & Safety £27 — — — £27 £115
2120 - Church - Insurance £2,192 — — — £2,192 £2,031
2125 - Church - Cost of services £722 £1,385 — — £2,107 £324
2130 - IT & Web £305 — — — £305 £533
2200 - Church - Repairs — £24,434 — — £24,434 £1,492
2201 - Church - Ad hoc/minor maint. £350 — — — £350 £1,127
2202 - Church - Maint. contracts £210 — — — £210 £678
2300 - Church Yard (Church Road) £3,688 — — — £3,688 £3,388
2310 - Grave Yard (Raby Road) £2,285 — £215 — £2,500 £2,183
2440 - Hall repairs/exterior — — — — — £358
2445 - Hall repairs/interior £1,193 — — — £1,193 £70
2455 - Hirst Cottage - repairs £132 — — — £132 —
2460 - Property - upkeep £509 — — — £509 £463
2500 - Misson / Outreach £371 — — — £371 £430
2510 - Church Societies £430 £100 — — £530 £400
2520 - Relief agencies £800 £235 — — £1,035 £600
2530 - Secular Societies — £190 — — £190 —
2605 - Music - costs £110 — £56 — £166 —
2610 - Director of Music - Costs — — — — — £31
2611 - Fees paid out(note 9) £725 — — — £725 £1,325
2615 - Organ - tuning & maint. — — £758 — £758 —
2620 - Organist - Locum organists £134 — — — £134 £86
2700 - Office - telephone £70 — — — £70 £348
2701 - Office - Broadband £257 — — — £257 £318
2710 - Office - consumables £1,381 — — — £1,381 £758
3000 - Staffing Costs (Salaries) £8,112 — — — £8,112 £7,180
3002 - Tax & NIC payments £2,452 — — — £2,452 £1,996
3005 - Staffing fees(note 9) £1,295 — — — £1,295 £1,830
3300 - Miscellaneous — £100 — — £100 £200
4002 - Costs of stewardship £77 — — — £77 £68
4003 - Costs of Fetes/events £123 — — — £123 £111
Expenditure on charitable £104,644 £26,445 £1,030 — £132,119 £104,095
activities Totals

March 28[th] 2023 Page 10 of 16

Analysis of income and expenditure from January 1[st] 2022 to December 31[st] 2022 (3 of 3)

Other expenditure
4006 - Bank charges
Other expenditure Totals
Expenditure Grand totals		 £195
—
—
—
£195
£158
£195
—
—
—
£195
£158
£108,979
£26,445
£1,030
—
£136,455
£108,456

March 28[th] 2023 Page 11 of 16

Notes on the accounts

Note 1.

The Church Hall and Hirst Cottage are owned by the PCC and the valuation in the accounts was obtained some years ago. If the PCC wished to consider selling these assets, up to date valuations would need to be obtained.

Note 2.

The M&G Charibond and M&G Charifund investments are managed by the PCC in partnership with the Diocese of Chester for the PCC. The investments owned by the PCC are as follows:

Principal
donor		 Specified purpose Holding Number of shares Value 31 Dec 2022
Leverhulme M&G Charibond Inc 128,546.10 £139.228
M&G Charifund Inc 13,645.03 £200,516
Lever Churchyard maintenance M&G Charifund Inc 264.01 £3,879
Fernie Churchyard maintenance M&G Charifund Inc 15.46 £227
Total value of investments £343,851

The value of these investments has decreased from £373,519 at the end of 2021 to £343,851 at the end of 2022, a decrease in value of £29,667 (7.94%).

Note 3.

The HSBC bank account ending in 163 is used as a part of the standing order collection process and automatically transfers its contents, other than £1, into the HSBC bank account ending in 388 at the end of each month.

Note 4.

The PCC collects fees for weddings, funerals and cremation services on behalf of the Diocese. These fees are held separately from the church’s funds and paid over to the Diocese each month. The liability shown is amount of these fees in the PCC’s bank accounts which will be paid over to the Diocese.

Note 5.

The ACF Fund holds money generated by the church’s ACF group and is used to meet the costs associated with running the group and for donations the group may wish to make.

Note 6.

The Bible Fund was established in 2020 to hold money donated to buy new Bibles to be used in church. These were purchased in 2022.

Note 7 .

This Investment Income includes the rental for Hirst Cottage (£4,380), bank interest (£95) and receipts from the investments.

As well as the income from investments owned by the PCC, the investment income also includes income from a gift made in 1956 by Miss K.P. Fryer to the Diocese of Chester Board of Finance. The gift was made with a request that it be used for the benefit of All Saints’ Thornton Hough and that a portion be used to provide a memorial in the Church to her parents. The Diocese of Chester Board of Finance holds 6,304.15 shares in the CBF Investment fund as the remaining part of this gift; the value of these shares at 31 December 2021 was £147,433.

March 28[th] 2023 Page 12 of 16

The table below shows the income received from these investments during 2022.

Fund Income 2022 Yield
M&G Charifund £11,557 5.648%
M&G Charibond £2,828 2.031%
CBF Investment fund £3,873 2.976%
Total £18,2591

Note 8.

The following funds transfers have taken place.

Transfer(Funds) Amount Reason for transfer
GenSupport to Build £5,097 Move funds for fabric maintenance
General to Organ £8 Clear small deficit on the organ fund
Legacies to Bible £305 Move funds for Bible donation.
Advance Fees to General £400 Transferred when ceremonyhas takenplace.
General to Advance Fees £100 Transfer to advance feespayment
Total transfers £5,9112

Note 9.

Fees for the verger and organist for weddings and funerals, (and some grave digging fees) are recorded under code 1240; payments from this income made to employees are recorded under code 3005 and to others under code 2611.

Approval

Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:

Revd Vicky Barrett (Vicar)

Date: 29[th] March 2023

1 Difference in the total due to omission of the pence.

March 28[th] 2023 Page 13 of 16

Independent examiner’s report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of All Saints, Thornton Hough (Registered Charity number 1131417) (the Trust) for the year ended 31[st] December 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Name:

Relevant professional qualifications or membership of relevant professional bodies (if any):

Address: Hoylake, Wirral.

Date: 29[th] March 2023

March 28[th] 2023 Page 14 of 16

Appendix: Accounting Policies

Note: These are not a part of the formal Financial Report

1.

Accounting

The financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, together with applicable accounting standards and the SORP 2005. The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention except for the valuation of investment assets, which are shown at market value. The accounts include transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is held responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe an affiliation to another body nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.

2

Funds

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

Restricted funds represent (a) income from trusts and 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.

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

3

Reserves Policy

It is the PCC's policy to maintain a balance of unrestricted funds (i.e. a balance of funds excluding restricted funds), whenever possible, which equates to approximately two months unrestricted payments, to meet cash flow requirements and to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. For the purpose of monitoring the reserves balance, the two months unrestricted payments will be deemed to one sixth of 90% of the budgeted expenditure of the current financial year.

4 Incoming Resources

Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving receivable under Gift Aid is recognised only when received. Gift Aid recoverable on qualifying donations is recognised when the Gift Aid is received.

Legacies to the PCC are accounted for when the PCC receives them. Grants are recorded when received.

Rental income from the letting of Hirst Cottage is recognised when the rent is due. Income from Parish Hall rentals is recognised when the income is received.

Dividends and interest are accounted for when received. Tax recoverable on such income is recognised in the same accounting year as when claimed.

March 28[th] 2023 Page 15 of 16

All other income is recorded when received.

Realised gains or losses are recognised when investments are sold. Unrealised gains or losses are accounted for on the revaluation of investments at 31 December.

Wherever practically possible all incoming resources are accounted for gross.

5 Resources Used

Grants are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the PCC.

Salaries, pay, tax, NI, fees and exceptional expenditure are recognised in the accounts when they are due.

The Diocesan Parish Share is accounted for when due.

All other expenditure is generally recognised when it is incurred and, where practical, is accounted for gross.

Activities which involve regular and ongoing payments are handled through unrestricted funds. Where donations (and other income) are received to support a specific activity which involves regular and ongoing payments, these will be held in a restricted fund. Where funds are available, transfers will be made from the restricted fund to the unrestricted fund (from which the payments for the activity are made) as expenditure for that activity is incurred. Restricted funds do not go into deficit. Unexpended resources will remain in the restricted fund.

6 Fixed Assets

Consecrated land and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by s.96(2)(a) of the Charities Act 1993. No value is placed on movable church furnishings which are held by the Churchwardens, on special trust for the PCC, and which require a faculty for disposal and which are inalienable property. All expenditure incurred during the year on consecrated or beneficed buildings and movable church furnishings, whether maintenance or improvement, is written off as expenditure in the SOFA and separately disclosed.

Equipment used within the church and PCC premises is depreciated on a straight line basis over 4 years. Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £1,000 or less are written off when the asset is acquired.

7

Payments to PCC Members

Expenses paid to the vicar may include a small immaterial proportion which relates to the vicar’s function as a PCC member. No other payments are made to PCC members other than as reimbursements for items purchased.

Revised January 2020

March 28[th] 2023 Page 16 of 16

Independent examiner’s report

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of All Saints, Thornton Hough (Registered Charity number 1131417) (the Trust) for the year ended 31[st] December 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:

Name:

Relevant professional qualifications or membership of relevant professional bodies (if any):

Address: Hoylake, Wirral.

Date: 29[th] March 2023

March 28[th] 2023 Page 14 of 16