2020-12-31-accounts

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR ELECTORAL ROLL OFFICER

The Electoral Roll annual update was successfully completed on time – the second year after the sixyearly Revision carried out in 2019 in time for publication on the occasion of the APCM.

Last year, although the work was completed on time, publication was held back until the APCM on 26AUG20, postponed due the government restrictions placed on public gatherings as a result of the pandemic.

The number of Electors on the Roll of 2020 was 129 and this year, although we have lost some parishioners the Roll has increased to 131 – an increase of two! In these difficult times, we can count that a huge success.

Mary Morrey,

Electoral Roll Officer

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR REVD STEPHEN EARL

‘In Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others

(Romans 12: 5)

I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3: 14)

‘Community’ and ‘perseverance’ sum up these verses and also what has been so important over many difficult and challenging months since our lives were turned upside down a year ago.

Volumes could be written on ways responses to the pandemic have brought out the very best in people making huge sacrifices for others, and churches have rightly played their part. Although for much of the time unable to meet together in person as we previously enjoyed, churches have found other ways to maintain and even strengthen their sense of community as we have done here in Lavenham and Preston St Mary.

All of us have been through an emotional roller coaster with so many disappointments and sadnesses, losses and frustrations, worries and uncertainties: for many too deep or painful to dwell on. We have borne one another’s sufferings. But we have had to keep going

somehow, for ourselves and for our loved ones, with an inner strength and resilience. As Christians we have that inner resource in our faith in Jesus Christ who triumphed through the gravest adversity, even the Cross, to give us hope and the promise of eternal life whatever the present challenges and afflictions. A faith to which the saints and martyrs through the ages have given witness and whose examples help sustain us. May our prayer be that we never lose hope because “hope does not disappoint us” (Acts 5:5), and so press on with perseverance… onwards and heavenwards.

The last year has meant inevitable changes to all aspects of our lives and we have leaned to adapt including, for many of us, mastering a method of communication we’d never even heard of at the start of 2020. There have been more changes in how we do things in church over the last 12 months, than I recall in all my years of church-going put together! And where many of us would before have been uneasy about change, we have accepted different ways of doing things over these months as they have been somewhat forced upon us. We’ve made the best of them and on reflection can see some things have in fact changed for the better – both in church and secular life.

So, it’s one of the good things emerging from this unfortunate time that we have reset the compass in how we do things and maybe thinking ‘let’s not just go back to exactly how it was before’. Our bishops are encouraging us all to look to the future mindful of what useful lessons have been learned that may guide our future plans so as to be more effective in our mission and ministry and not to be ‘tied to the past’; and also in terms of pacing ourselves. ‘Re-imagining’ seems to be the in-word. Not automatically going back to what we used to do previously but, reflecting on what we’ve learned through these difficult times, to be considering how this might re-shape our thinking and doing, looking ahead. There are lots of things I’d imagine we could usefully hold on to liturgically, pastorally and organisationally – a good example, how we have been functioning more closely as two parishes within the one benefice.

As we celebrate the Easter season of Resurrection, new life and new beginnings, let us look forward to the months ahead being far brighter than those we have left behind. Exactly how this will work out we need not speculate. One thing the pandemic has taught us is that our best laid plans can easily fall apart, and that we can only take each new day as it comes, be thankful for it and rejoice in it, and to simply ‘trust and pray’. Our Lord himself, in his Sermon on the Mount, exhorts his hearers, “ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” . So whilst I might comment on our churches’ financial ‘nose-dive’ as a result of the pandemic, let’s leave this aside and place it in God’s good hands, and heed the words of Jesus from Matthew 6:27 just quoted.

Let us be grateful too for the many bright moments of the last year alongside its struggles: times when we have experienced the unexpected kindness of others, time to appreciate and enjoy more deeply the beauty of the countryside all around us, more time for reflecting and praying, and importantly for re-assessing what we value most in life. Also for the many heroines and heroes of the pandemic, praying that God will bless them for their generosity and compassion.

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Now we rejoice that services in church and in person from Easter Sunday have resumed – and what better way to have celebrated the Day of Resurrection! Sunday 10.15ams as before, 8ams on 1[st] & 3[rd] Sundays, and Weds 10ams remaining mostly on zoom.

On the bright side too we have Graham Naylor’s ordination to the priesthood to be greatly looking forward to on Sunday 4[th] July, and we hold him in our prayers as he prepares for this very important next step in the fulfilling of his vocation and his time with us, for which we are so grateful.

Finally an immense thank-you to all who’ve worked so hard in helping maintain the life of our church and church community over the past very challenging year, especially I’d like to single out our dedicated, hard-working Churchwardens, our Curate Revd Graham Naylor, Reader Pete Postle, our impressively efficient new PCC Secretary Moira Dickson, our superb organist and choir leader Kevin Slingsby, now with the well earned title of ‘Director of Music’, and not least my wife Abigail for her tremendous help and support.

A special thank-you to outgoing Churchwarden David Boast who has served us so well with such unwavering commitment over the last 3 years. We owe him a debt of gratitude especially for his helping us have in place, as we should these days, both a raft of church policies and a comprehensive health and safety manual. We wish him well as he now steps down to pursue various other projects.

Together we “press on towards the goal…” !

With every blessing,

(Rector) Stephen.

APCM 2021

Report prepared by: Revd Stephen Earl Date of Report: 18 March 2021

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR ASSISTANT CURATE REVD GRAHAM NAYLOR

After being on attachment since November 2018 at Lavenham, as part of training for ministry at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, 2020 started following the recent announcement that I would be staying at Lavenham for curacy; the next stage of ‘vicar training’. The expectation was for residential training at Ridley to end with the traditional Leavers’ events and services in early June, with ordination as deacon in the cathedral following at the end of June. How different things turned out!

From mid-March we went into lockdown and studies were completed remotely from home and inperson services ceased in Lavenham. Ordinations could not take place in the cathedral until September and only with limited people present. From June to September, I functioned as a Licensed

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Lay Worker, following licensing in a very surreal online service from my lounge in full robes on a very warm day!

Although what had been expected turned into something very different, it has been good to help worship and pastoral care continue with the introduction of online services, something it is hoped will enable folk to engage with church beyond the lifting of restrictions on in-person services.

In August, we hosted the drive-in service and community picnic following the kind offer from John Hessenthaler to use the infrastructure for OEP Live’s drive-in concerts. A first for Lavenham and the Diocese which was featured in a short item on ITV Anglia News. Despite the short lead-in time to prepare and publicise the event, a number of folk enjoyed attending the event during what seemed the only dry time that weekend.

Still having many restrictions at Christmas meant adapting the usual Crib service, which this year involved pre-recorded carols and the Christmas story projected on a big screen and simultaneously relayed to those watching from home. Being able to secure a grant from the Diocese to purchase additional audio-visual equipment made this possible and the equipment will be used to enable relaying services and other events to those unable to attend in person. [Note re 2021 – the equipment is currently being used to record videos for use in online children’s activities]

At this point I would like to express my gratitude for the support I have received from Rev Stephen, the Churchwardens, the PCC and the wider congregation, as I have moved from being ordinand-onattachment to being assistant curate in such strange circumstances. I thank you again for the generous gift towards my ordination stole.

I look forward to continuing my training and role as assistant curate, with the hope of more being done in-person than has been possible so far.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR PCC SECRETARY

My first PCC meeting was in July 2020 during lockdown and social distancing. The next meeting was the Annual Meetings held in August 2020, also during social distancing however we were able to meet in church and all papers had been prepared by the previous PCC Secretary – Paul McLachlan for which I send my thanks.

For the remainder of the year, we have held our planning meetings and PCC meetings via zoom with 1 or 2 exceptions.

During 2020 we held 5 PCC meetings

January July August

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September November

The Annual Meetings were held on 26[th] August 2020 (delayed from April).

The standing committee met once during 2020.

The PCC discussed a variety of items ranging from:

• Church business

• Charitable donations to other organisations

• Church arrangements during Covid

• Online Services

• Harvest Services – Tools with a mission

• Safeguarding training and certification

• Church Policies

In 2021 we expect the church to gradually re-open and we look forward to the community and visitors returning to Church from Easter Sunday and thereafter.

PPC Secretary 1 March 2021

– 2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR CHURCHWARDENS FABRIC COMMITTEE

Quinquennial Inspection

Date of inspection 6[th] September 2017 and 22[nd] May 2018. Report received in 19[th] October 2018. Previous inspection 25[th] August 2011 and 18[th] April 2012.

Our architect has started putting together the specification for the repairs under consideration and has met with a structural engineer from The Morton Partnership to investigate the damage to the stone spiral staircase in the tower.

Since the Quinquennial Report was first reviewed it was decided at the Fabric Committee meeting on 6[th] November 2019 that we would instruct our architect to proceed with investigations and costings of selected items of work originally totalling between £73,396.95 and £103,680.05. We have resources to cover the lower figure but would only proceed with the greater amount of work if we can secure enough in grants.

The original architect’s recommendations were:‘A’ priorities total estimated cost £100 only. ‘A/B’ priorities £2,500 ‘B’ priorities £38,555 to £40,555 ‘B/C’ priorities £117,700 ‘C’ priorities £25,500 Overall, we still consider that the general condition of our church fabric remains satisfactory as verified at the last Quinquennial with the low cost of category ‘A’ and ‘A/B’ recommended repairs estimated at £2,600.

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The foregoing was the situation this time last year but as a result of Covid-19 restrictions there has been little progress apart from some further pre-contract schedules of works and specialist inspections from a structural engineer, stone conservator and glazing specialist all fitted in between ‘lockdowns’.

Routine Inspections and Tests

The following have been completed:-

Annual inspection and testing of all fire extinguishers. Testing and maintenance of church roof alarm system. Testing and maintenance of church internal alarm system Inspection and testing of Lightning Conductor Heating system boiler service and Gas Safety certification.

Repairs

No significant fabric repairs were recorded during 2020 except for storm damage to a tracery panel which occurred in February, The foregoing was the situation this time last year but as a result of Covid-19 restrictions there has been little progress apart from some covered by our insurance.

We had several electrical problems throughout the year all concerning lighting. We had problems with the flood lighting and a number of the roof mounted lights on the South side together with the ground level Southwest lights. Unfortunately, due to the dangerous effects of the excessively weather it was not safe for the electrician to go onto the roof which delayed repair. Most of the problems appear to be due to old age and dampness. Various minor internal lighting problems were dealt with and due to accessibility it was necessary to employ the electrician to replace high level light bulbs. During the festive period there were difficulties with the path lights arising from a fault with the underground cables; this was awaiting repair at the year- end by Turner Electrical who continue to give us a very satisfactory service.

High Level Cleaning

This has been deferred again until after any significant Quinquennial internal repair work had been completed.

West End Church Re-arrangements

The Fabric Committee in conjunction with the ladies running the second-hand bookstalls have had several meetings and casual discussions involving the re-location of the second-hand books sales area into the tower area using new mobile book shelves, storage facilities and lighting with the same capacity. The area vacated would be used for the storage of church service books and literature and therefore the earlier circular design for this has been discounted. Additional mobile cupboards with attached notice boards for day-to-day church ‘administration’ would also be located in this area and the children’s play area moved slightly to allow one or two additional spare pews to be installed. The nave altar would be kept, ‘dressed’, in the war memorial area and the chest re-located to remove all the random literature to the church ‘administration’ area.

The foregoing was the situation this time last year but as a result of Covid-19 restrictions there has been little progress apart from a site meeting which was held with James Halsall in February. His subsequent review of our documented presentation and discussion with the DAC resulted in favourable feed-back.

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There has not been any further progress with designs of the storage units and budgeted costs because of other distractions but it is hoped that this can move forward in 2021. David Deacon and David Boast Churchwardens

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR CHURCHWARDENS

Contactless Church Shop Payments

A SumUp contactless payment device was purchased during December to take advantage of a ‘special offer’. We were finding that during the various Covid-19 lockdowns fewer people were paying with cash, preferring to pay for shop items with contactless cards, and with the shop being so infrequently manned those who did wish to pay with cash then could not get change. We also found that the existing Contactless Giving device which has proved successful for donations and offertory contributions was also being used to purchase shop items which caused an accounts administration inconvenience. Furthermore after a satisfactory trial period of the shop device we may purchase another device for the second-hand bookstall.

Church Hire and Events

What happened to 2020?

All we managed to achieve was an income of £200 for the hire of the church in October for a ‘video shoot’. The normal wide variety of special services, concerts, art exhibitions and other events were so badly missed , not just for lack of essential income but for the absence of coming together as a community and drawing in visitors.

Faculties

Under the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2015 an application for works to be undertaken under List B was made for the installation of a memorial bench to be sited on the North side of the church overlooking the ashes area. This wooden bench, paid for by donations, was installed in the Spring, in memory of Gill Burnford who was a church member for 16 years serving on the PCC and as a sidesperson for many years, organising Lent lunches and other church events.

Health & Safety

The delayed work on a Health & Safety manual was started in February courtesy of the first Covid-19 lockdown which allowed time to be spent in preparation. Although most of the requirements set out by our insurance companies were met there still remains some work to be done for completion, but with a further lockdown planned for early 2021 it is expected to complete all the documentation ready for the remainder of the implementation by March / April. We will need to appoint a Health & Safety Officer to oversee the smooth running of this activity.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding matters have been dealt with in a separate Safeguarding Officer’s report.

Covid-19

Since we went into the first lockdown we learned much about how to deal with the Coronavirus and saw many changes to the church arrangements and activities including closing and opening of the church shop and second-hand book stalls, cleaning requirements, quarantining areas, setting up track and trace records, sanitising and much more, all of which has been achieved by the dedication of many helpers re-arranging furniture, topping up sanitisers, tying tapes, putting up notices etc One of the greater difficulties was meeting the requirements for bringing in our contractor for pre and post service cleaning at very precise timings for weddings and funerals. We feel that although we have had many helpers that fitted into the bigger picture we must mention Mary Jackson who has provided great support, spending many hours buying and making supplies. A heartfelt thank you to you all.

Thanks

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A further thank you to our two assistant churchwardens, Graham Pattrick and Clare Santer for all their advice and support throughout the year together with thanks to all the other church sidespersons and helpers too numerous to mention.

David Deacon and David Boast

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE TREASURER

Treasurer’s report

The PCC has a duty to ensure accounts are prepared and independently examined in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 which incorporate the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities published by the Charity Commission (the SORP). The PCC also has a duty to approve the accounts and to present them to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM).

Financial Review 2020

There was a reduction of income in the General Unrestricted Fund for the year of £30,500 being a further decrease to income of £25,587 over the previous reduction of £4,913 in 2019. The incoming resources decreased by £44,790 from £122,390 in 2019 to £77,600 in 2020. As you would expect, this drop in income was primarily due to the restrictions placed on the country during the Coronavirus pandemic throughout 2020. Expenditure also reduced during the year as there was less activity, however some costs remain whether the Church is open or closed. Costs reduced by £19,203 from £127,302 in 2019 to £108,099 in 2020. Our contribution to the Dioceses was assessed at £63,434, however it was decided in the November PCC meeting that we should maintain our voluntary Diocesan quota at £64,860 to aid in a small way some of the smaller parishes in our Deanery and Diocese. Moore Green provided the Church with an excellent service as Independent Examiner of the accounts at the end of 2020 and it is proposed that they continue in this role for 2021. Their fee for examining the accounts for 2020 has been maintained at £780.00 including VAT. The General Fund Balance at the year-end was £45,254 , which included liquid assets of £38,385, shop stock £6,473 and fixed assets £396.

The Restricted Fund balances have increased by £7,457 over the year to £106,078. The Fabric Fund stands at £93,550. The 2016 quinquennial report has previously been received and assessed and a budget of expenditure up to £50,000 was set. This still stands; however, we are also investigating the possibility of external funding for part of the cost of the work required. The Bellrope Fund is £1,880 , the Music Fund £4,810, and a new restricted fund for AV Equipment stands at £1,244 although it is expected that this will be used in early 2021. Likewise, a new restricted fund for Children’s activities funded by the Co-Op stands at £1,141 and this is also likely to be put to good use through 2021.

The Endowment Fund balance is now £29,189.

Our total net loss for the year at £21,329 (described as “Net Movement of Funds” on page 3 of the annual accounts), is down considerably compared to an income of £9,773 in 2019. More specifically, income that is reliant on visitors being physically present in the Church has been particularly affected, such as, Book sales (down £10,496 compared to last year), the Church Shop (down £6,864), Wedding and Funeral Fees (down £9,636), Concerts (down £12,631), Event fees (down £7,145) and

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other general collections, whereas donations from Planned Giving, the Parish Giving Scheme and Contactless Donations actually saw a small increase in the year of £3,242. This was mainly due to some very generous individual donations. Again, as with last year, there were no legacies in the year we were however able to make donations totalling £5,500 (£9,820 in 2019) to a number of charities.

The contactless donation terminal has proven to be an excellent way of raising funds when we were able to open back in August and September as people have been carrying less cash. We intend to install a similar terminal in the Shop ready for when we are able to re-open later in 2021. The Parish Giving Scheme will be further promoted during the year and we intend to maintain our enhanced Parish Share payments during the year subject to approval by the PCC next November.

April 2021

John Knight- Treasurer

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR DEANERY SYNOD

Deanery Synod was not able to meet for most of 2020. In common with so many other institutions, the Church in the wider sense as well as the local sense, moved online and signed up to the services of Zoom.

The first meeting held on Zoom by Deanery Synod was on the evening of 24NOV20 and after some initial false starts and judicial use of sons and daughters to align the delegates with the technology, the meeting got under way and was, I think, enjoyed by all. Zoom is a wonderful way of connecting people who have perhaps been isolated in their homes and everyone seemed to have a real feeling of participation. The meeting was ably conducted by the Rural Dean, the Reverend Tiffer Robinson and hosted by Lavenham Benefice. Robyn Lloyd Hughes, Preston St Mary delegate, opened the meeting with some excellent prayers for guidance and support in these difficult times and Rev Stephen gave a lively, illustrated ‘News from the Benefices’ on all the ways the pandemic has affected Lavenham and Preston St Mary and how we have risen to the challenges.

The second meeting on Zoom was held on 22MAR21 and everyone, now more familiar with the technology, navigated their way to the meeting and Rev Tiffer was able to open on time. Rev Peter Goodridge of Elmswell benefice gave an interesting illustrated talk on his five-week sabbatical in Cambodia, reporting on the extraordinary work of the Christian Missionary groups in the country.

Rev Tiffer gave his heartfelt thanks to all the parishes who had struggled so hard to raise their Diocesan Share this year. He thanked those parishes, who had been able to offer more than their Share in support of those smaller and more isolated parishes who had not been able to meet the sum in full.

The Deanery Plan was accepted by Synod and passed forward for adoption.

A motion bought to Synod by Woolpit benefice asking that the Diocese consider taking on some Fund Raising throughout the Diocese as such a move might enable much larger sums to be raised thereby alleviating the pressure on the parishes who find themselves calling on the same pockets to bring forward the Share was carried with three abstentions.

Mary Morrey, Deanery Synod Delegate

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2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN’S TEAM

Open the Book- (we take a Bible story to the school assembly, acting it out with narrator and involve several children to help us. 10-minute drama) We endeavour to put on twice a term in Lavenham school. Due to Covid we have not been able to do so during this last year.

We would like to give a huge thank you to Julian & Celia Baldwin , who have been our leads. Always keen for more ‘actors’ to join us when we set up in the future.

The Crib service. For all ages.

Curate Graham Naylor arranged a video of the Bible society Christmas story, with activities. We ran this in the afternoon of the 24[th] and a few people attended & enjoyed. It was successful & can be used another year when folk feel safer to attend.

Easter 2021- Spring up to Easter with Fun

As we were not able to meet together in church for our craft and Bible story this year, we decided to provide individual craft bags to be collected weekly from church by families who signed up. Our thinking was that children/carers who were now at home, possibly would enjoy a craft and story each Saturday morning. 15 children have signed up, five from Long Melford. All primary school ages. Fortunately, our curate Graham Naylor is proficient in cameras/recording and Zoom, so that side is taken care of. The Co-op have enabled us to provide individual bags of crafts with the grant we applied for.

We hold a recording session weekly in the back of the church when we tell a story from the Open the Book and then work on two crafts. One will be to do with the story and another is secular. June Linscott and myself have much fun doing this even though it has been freezing at times! We also have two puppets who help us, a husky, Buttercup and Beaver, Boris! Much loved by the children. Bags are packed on Thurs and many thanks to Sheila Bowman for

----- Start of picture text -----
helping.
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Key rings and word searches…….Parable of the Sower……..Baby Moses

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Here are a few of the crafts to give you an idea. This is also put-on Facebook church site afterwards and many people have shown an interest home and abroad! We also put it on the church website so that anyone can follow and make the crafts, as all ingredients are listed!

We are running these sessions weekly from February until start of Holy week, where they will be daily.

We have applied for a further grant to help us to be able to continue to provide an outreach to children and families over the following year.

Parish Safeguarding All helpers have DBS checks and safeguarding training, in date. More dates are on the website, http://www.cofesuffolk.org/safeguarding-training Please let me know when you have obtained your certificates for my records.

Mary Jackson Team Leader and Parish Safeguarding officer

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR CHOIR AND MUSIC

I begin my report by echoing words from the Rector… ‘Peter Tryon left Lavenham at the end of July to resume his retirement. Since his appointment in the latter part of 2015 Peter served the church here with passion, energy and dedication: forming and nurturing a wonderfully enthusiastic choir from scratch, in overseeing further enhancements to the organ, by initiating and directing very successful music events such as the ‘Lavenham Vox’ concerts and the ever popular Good Friday devotional ‘Come and Sing’ performances, not to mention his invaluable musical contributions to our Sunday worship and a range of other special services, so often going way beyond the call of duty.’

I was very pleased and honoured to be appointed as Peter’s successor in August 2020, and having met with the choir and other key church members before that, realised that he was going to be a hard act to follow! It was good to get to know some choir members at a socially-distanced gathering in July, before they were able to start singing at services again in September. We were able to start preparing for Christmas, and in particular we worked towards a recording session at the end of October, when we joined with the choir from Long Melford to record Christmas music for the Cathedral’s In Harmony project, which aims to use musicians from across the Diocese to make video recordings for churches’ online services.

In November we entered the second lockdown, and were unable to rehearse until we had just two rehearsals in December for the Carol Services – I am grateful to choir members for their hard work in preparing for those on such minimal practice! Choir members began to record hymns at home during the week, which I edited together for the Sunday Zoom service, and I am pleased that over the following weeks, continuing into the new year, a number of other congregation members have joined in with that as well.

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We now look forward to resuming services in Church, although initially only a small choir will be allowed, and we will still not be able to rehearse during the week for some weeks, but I know that we will all be looking forward to getting back to singing properly as soon as we can, currently 17 May!

I spent a day with the organ builder in November, starting to tackle a list of minor problems, and I fear there will be others in due course, as the organ has not really enjoyed the longer than usual periods of cold over the winter!

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR CHURCH SHOP

The Church Shop has had a very difficult 2020, along with all other retail businesses as it has been closed for the majority of 2020. There have been 2 separate occasions during Summer and Autumn when visitors were allowed to go into the Church.

The shop is quite well stock and we are looking forward to a better 2021.

Jane Orbell

2020 ANNUAL REPORT SECONDHAND BOOKSTALL

The Church bookstall has had a very difficult 2020, along with all other retail businesses. From April onwards, it was shut down during the Coronavirus lockdown. Apart from a small window late summer, it has been closed ever since. Our receipts are obviously down, this year providing £3,033 for Church Insurance. Owing to recent events (and age), I am sadly no longer able to help run the bookstall but I am pleased to say that Margaret Lillyman and Diane Page will be carrying on the good work, along with our recent recruit Julie Boast. My grateful thanks also go to Simon Lowe who sells our surplus stock at his Garden Centre for a charity providing facilities in hospital for teenage cancer sufferers – a worthy cause. Hopefully, the bookstall will re-open in 2021 – even more successfully in the future than it has been in the past.

Marjorie Newman

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR LAVENHAM BELL RINGERS

2020 – 2021 as with everything else subject to COVID – 19 restrictions proved a difficult year for bell ringers both here at Lavenham and nationally. During lock downs we are not able to carry out any ringing, and since the end of the first lockdown we have been restricted to a maximum of 15 minutes per session under Tier 1 and no ringing at all under Tier 2 or 4.

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Social Distancing measures mean that we can only have 5 ringers instead of the usual 8, all wearing face coverings and using hand sanitizer.

Despite these restrictions we have kept the bells turning when possible, having rung for only one wedding in 2020. Hopefully, once restrictions ease, we will be meeting up to practice and ring for services and weddings to be held in the remainder of 2021.

We would be pleased to welcome any experienced or new ringers as none of us are getting any younger !

A copy of the Accounts for the year to 31[st] December 2020 are available separately.

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR LAVENHAM LIFE MAGAZINE

Magazine Sales

During 2020 we continued to be well supported by A R Heeks & Son, the Co-Operative Group and Lavenham Butchers and we would especially like to express our appreciation for their steadfast support to the community in general under the Covid-19 cloud. Unfortunately, the Salvation Army closed their hall and our church bookshop operated intermittently when government rules permitted. Church magazine copies are still temporarily placed on a table by the contactless giving unit and cash donation ‘tower’ by the entrance steps.

Magazine sales for the year totalled £1,941 compared with £2,621 the previous year, a reduction of £680. Printing costs were down by £1,362 because of the reduced number of magazines printed to match the reduced footfall in our village outlets. The net gain helped to offset the reduced advertising income. It is evident that the fewer we print the more we reduce costs because of the sale price of 50p per copy and the average printing cost of 78.30p although this is being subsidised by advertising income.

As a gesture to the community to relieve the pressure of Covid-19 in a small way, we distributed the April edition free of charge; this in addition to the traditional December free copies.

Magazine Subscription Postal and Delivered Copies

We ended the year with 20 subscribers although this is expected to increase in 2021.

Advertising

Advertising income took a knock from the effect of the virus on businesses; especially those in the entertainment and hospitality sectors. Income was down from £10,754 in 2019 to £9,342 in 2020, a drop of 15%. We raised 105 invoices for advertising and subscriptions and at the end of December we have forward-booked advertising of £2,773 for 2021 with numerous advertisers again renewing annual bookings. At the 31[st] December 2020, the first time since 2013, we had a year-end outstanding invoice due for £297 but we are confident that this will be paid early in 2021.

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We continued with our policy of securing payment ‘up front’ before our general copy deadline of the 17[th] of the month preceding month of publication. We have not had any incidents where advertisements have been withheld awaiting payment. 2013 advertising prices have been held during 2020 and it is recommended that they shall apply throughout 2021.

Printing

We continue to receive a very good level of service, both in printing quality and delivery, from Spingold. The four centre pages printed in colour in addition to the front and back covers continued at an increased cost to allow for the editor to include photographs of local interest but he would like to receive more villagers’ interesting photographs. The additional cost of centre-page colour printing has been covered by additional. colour advertising assisted by the option of colour half-page adverts. Because of Covid-19 we had to accept scheduled deliveries from the printer by a parcel service at a cost of around £20 rather than collection from Nayland which we hope to revert to when life returns to some sort of normality.

General

The magazine committee are most grateful to John Page for his work in compiling and developing the content of the magazine. He has suffered computer glitches and the many last minute late arrivals of advert layouts, probably resulting from the knock-on effect of Covid-19 that advertisers have had to deal with although it seems that Lavenham is blessed with a resilient group of business owners, contractors and handymen that have maintained faith in advertising with us.

David Boast

2020 ANNUAL REPORT FOR FRIENDS OF LAVENHAM CHURCH

The Friends continue to provide valuable support to the church and throughout the last year of the pandemic we have emphasised that we stand ready to provide help on any projects.

At the beginning of 2020 we made a grant of £498 to the church for electrical repairs and improvements to the contactless card terminal.

We had a Cheese and Wine Social evening with Terry Waite as speaker which regrettably had to be cancelled. The response for tickets had been favourable and we hope that it may be an event for the future.

We remain appreciative of the support of our members and despite losing some we have been able to recruit replacements to keep the membership level.

It is hoped that ‘normal activities’ will resume before too long and our AGM in July will go ahead.

Ian Thompson Treasurer

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