## **Parochial Church Council**
## **of the**
## **Ecclesiastical Parish of Alvechurch**
## **Charity Registration Number: 1131783**
**Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts for 2022**
Page 1
## **Annual Report 2022**
## **Objectives and Activities**
The Parochial Church Council (‘PCC’) is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church, and regularly reviews how our services can appeal to and involve the many groups that live within our parish. We strive to put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music, and sacrament. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:
- worship and prayer, learning about the Gospel, and deepening their knowledge and trust as disciples of Jesus Christ
- provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish, and missionary and outreach work.
The church hall (The Ark) is an important asset to us in achieving our objectives. When planning its activities, the PCC has regard to the Charity Commissioners' guidance on public benefit, and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.
## **Achievements and Performance**
## **Worship and Prayer**
The PCC aims to offer a range of services each week, and over the course of the year, that our community find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. For that reason, the PCC is keen to continue the full range of Sunday services which provide both intimate and reflective worship, and more outgoing forms of worship.
Rev Gail Rogers, who was appointed to St Laurence at the end of 2021 is also vicar of St Leonard’s Beoley. Many of the activities of 2022 were aimed at facilitating her time sharing between the two churches and helping the two church communities to work and worship together. Sunday worship times at both churches were adjusted (for a trial period) to enable Rev Gail to attend both churches every week. Eucharist was held on the first Sunday of the month at 9.15am and on the second and third Sunday of the month at 11.15am at St Laurence. Joint services were held for both churches at each site at Easter, Pentecost and Christmas.
Everyone is welcome to attend our regular services. At the end of 2022, there were 95 parishioners on our Electoral Roll. Our worshipping community numbers some 140 including 25 children and young people.
We celebrated 2 baptisms, 7 weddings, and held 12 funeral services in our church (and 2 at the local Crematorium), 2 graveside burials and 14 interments of ashes.
Page 2
In addition to praying for those mentioned on our Prayer Board, there is a confidential prayer chain for private prayer requests.
## **Deanery Synod**
Two members of the PCC, together with our Vicar, sit on the Deanery Synod. This provides an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the church.
## **The Fabric of the Church**
Phase Two of our Capital Projects — repairs and refurbishment of the church tower and clocks was granted a faculty in 2021 and work will start once we have secured sufficient funds, from a combination of asset sales and grants, for which we shall shortly be applying. The sale of land in School Lane Alvechurch to provide some of the funds, was finally completed during the year.
We have carried out essential repairs as they have arisen and most of the remedial work arising from the Quinquennial Review has been completed except that on the tower as mentioned above. The churchyard continues to be maintained by a dedicated team of volunteers, and tree surgery has been performed to deal with any trees that might have presented a hazard to visitors or the general public. A dead tree stump was carved into an angel by a local artist to serve as a place of memorial for still born or neo-natal babies.
## **Pastoral Care**
The Mother and Toddler Group continues to operate. The children's Sunday Club has run during the Sunday morning Family Service and remains popular, with adult helpers bringing considerable skill and imagination to this activity. All who work with children have been DBS checked.
A Baby Loss Awareness service was held in October when The Angel was dedicated to the memory of those lost locally.
St Laurence's is a caring community. The pastoral care group and others endeavour to visit or keep in contact with those who are no longer able to come to church due to sickness or infirmity or covid restrictions. Regular services in local residential homes at The Lawns and The Leys have resumed after they were suspended during the pandemic.
## **Mission and Evangelism**
Helping those in need is also a demonstration of our faith in action. Financial, practical and prayer support was once again given to those we are linked with in the churches in Peru. We have also supported the work of the orphanage at Montgomery Heights Christian Care Centre in Zimbabwe, together with Faith at Work in Worcestershire - four members of our congregation are workplace chaplains in Alvechurch and Redditch. We give on a regular basis to the food bank run by New Starts in Bromsgrove, with donations also to Birmingham City Mission.
Page 3
A “Places of Welcome” was introduced in The Ark to provide a warm place where people could meet informally over light refreshment. The church itself is also open during this time for private prayer and contemplation.
Our monthly parish magazine, The Grapevine, has been available free of charge across the parish this has continued through the pandemic after the first month of the initial restrictions. As well as giving information about the village of Alvechurch, the magazine deals with matters affecting the church, and reminds readers of our activities, as well as seeking to develop knowledge and trust in Jesus Christ. Special services, including our recorded services, are advertised across the parish. During the year the printing of this magazine was brought inhouse with a considerable saving in cost.
## **Ecumenical Relationships**
St Laurence is a member of Churches Together in Alvechurch and Rowney Green with joint events held during the year including Advent and Lent courses, reading of St Mark’s Gospel, Christmas light switch service.
St Laurence members were active in the setting up and operating of the ecumenical Alvechurch Larder which provides near sell-by food at a greatly reduced cost to local people, thereby reducing food waste and helping those in financial need.
## **Safeguarding**
The PCC has due regard to the House of Bishop's guidance in relation to safeguarding. DBS checks are up to date, as is mandatory safeguarding training for those who deal with vulnerable parishioners. The yearly Toolkit for the Archdeacon is now an online dashboard which is coloured red, orange, green depending on whether or not we are compliant with the requirements and if not our action plan. We are green in all areas. There are no outstanding safeguarding issues.
## **Financial Review**
Income for Unrestricted Funds in 2022 was £127,813 (2021 £111,720). Income for Restricted Funds was £7,392 (2021 £10,682).
Expenditures from Unrestricted Funds in 2022 were £104,687 (2021 £117,264). Ministry Share of £50,000 was paid, equalling that paid for Parish Share in 2021. Expenditures from Restricted funds in 2022 were £6,220 (2021 £9,011). Cash reserves of General Unrestricted funds stood at £46,980 at the end of 2022, representing less than 6 months' expenditure.
During the year the Parish Room (disused since 2006) and the land on which it stood were sold. The £275,991 which this raised is to be used for future maintenance of the church building.
Page 4
## **Reserves Policy**
It is PCC policy to maintain a balance in the General Unrestricted Fund which equates approximately six months' expenditures, excluding Ministry Share payments.
## **Administrative information**
During the year Mr Ian Price, the Parish Administrator, resigned his post and was replaced by Mrs Lynda Lewis. We thank Ian for his many years’ work for us and wish Lynda every success in the role.
Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.
During the year, the following served as members of the PCC:
Rector Rev Gail Rogers Churchwardens Mr Graham Clark, Mr Mick Fletcher Lay Readers Mrs Sue Philips-Wardle, Mrs Helen Ayling Members Mr Colin Bennett Mr Andrew Notley Mr Roger Wardle Mr Michael Davenport Mrs Janet Wright (Treasurer and Electoral Roll Officer)
Dr Martin Allen Mr Peter Freeman Mrs Sue Lambert Mrs Sarah Linton Mr Mark Linton Mrs Lysandre Notley (Secretary)
## **Aims and purposes**
St Laurence PCC has the responsibility of promoting the whole mission of the church - evangelistic, pastoral, social and ecumenical - within the ecclesiastical parish of Alvechurch and seeking ways to grow mission and ministry locally.
## **Structure, governance and management**
Appointment of members to the PCC conforms with the Church Representation Rules. Everyone attending church is encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and to stand for election to the PCC Committees.
Page 5
The PCC operates through several committees, which meet between full PCC meetings, and which met as necessary on Zoom following the start of the pandemic:
1) Finance and Standing Committee
This is the only committee required by law. It has powers to transact the business of the PCC between meetings, subject to directions given by the Council. It oversees the general financial dimension of the work of St Laurence by monitoring income and expenditure, budgeting and co-ordinating the review of planned giving.
2) Buildings, Fabric and Churchyard for Mission Committee
This committee is responsible for the general maintenance and upkeep of church property (the church, the Ark, and the churchyard). It also now plans, co-ordinates and budgets both capital and maintenance projects. It is also responsible for work arising from the Quinquennial Inspection and the Asset Management Plan.
3) Children and Youth Work Committee
This committee is responsible for overseeing Church groups which are dedicated to helping children develop faith. It also considers the wider work of the church and community in relation to children and young people.
- 4) Mission Committee
This committee fosters the links with the Anglican Church and Christians in Peru, and the orphanage at Montgomery Heights Christian Care Centre in Zimbabwe, and other missionary work, including Faith at Work in Worcestershire.
## **Statement of Responsibilities of members of the PCC**
The PCC is responsible for preparing the Annual Report in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the PCC to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity, and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements the PCC is required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent,
- state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements,
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
Page 6
- the PCC is responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that they comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations
- The PCC is also responsible for safeguarding the assets and taking reasonable steps for ne prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Page 7
## **Annual Accounts 2022**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
|Notes
Incoming
Resources
Incoming resources from generated funds
Voluntary income
Activities for generating funds
Investment income
Incoming resources from charitable
activities
Total incoming resources
2
Resources Expended
Charitable activities
Total resources expended
Net incoming resources before
other recognised gains and losses
3
Profit on sale of
land
Adjustments
Transfers
Net movement in funds
Accumulated funds b/f
Accumulated funds c/f
5|2022
2021
Unrestricted
Restricted
Funds
Funds
Total
Total
86,807
4,884
91,691
86,378
1,115
-
1,115
2,755
29
1,676
1,705
5,545|
|---|---|
||87,951
6,560
94,511
94,678|
||39,862
832
40,694
32,907|
||127,813
7,392
135,205
127,585|
||104,687
6,220
110,907
130,327|
||104,687
6,220
110,907
130,327|
||23,126
1,172
24,298
(2,742)
34,991
241,000
275,991
-
-
-
(100)
100
-
-|
||58,017
242,272
300,289
(2,742)|
||23,954
232,948
256,902
259,644|
||81,971
475,220
557,191
256,902|
There were no recognised gains or losses except as shown above.
Page 8
Balance Sheet
Notes
2022
2021
Fixed Assets
Tangibl68
100,000
Current Ass
Cash al bank and in hand
Investments - restrlcted funds
111,864
445,327
23.954
132,948
557,191
156.902
Net Current Assets
557,191
156,902
Net Assets
557.191
256.902
Reserve
Unrestiicted funds
Restr6cted funds
81.971
475,220
23,954
232,948
Total church funds
557,191
256,902
These financial statements were approved by the Parochial Church Council on
and slgned on Its behaw by :"
Rev G8il
ers Chalr of the PCC
Page 9
**Notes to the Accounts**
## 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
## Accounting Convention
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with the the Charities Act 2011, on the receipts and payments basis.
## Incoming Resources
Voluntary income is received by way of donations and gifts and is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when received. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included. Grants are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are received, and the church has fulfilled all conditions for its receipt. Investment income is included when it is received.
## Outgoing Resources
Resources expended are recognised in the year in which they are paid.
## Funds
The Unrestricted fund are incoming resources which are used for the objects of the church, without any specified purpose or further restriction. Restricted funds can only be used for the specific purposes as decided by the donor, within the objects of the church. Designated funds are unrestricted funds, which have been earmarked by the PCC for particular purposes.
## Fixed assets
Consecrated and beneficed property of any kind are excluded from the accounts by the Charities Act 2011. Freehold properties are stated in the balance sheet at cost.
The depreciation rates used are :-
Freehold property Nil.
Investments
Investments are stated at cost.
Page 10
|2
3|INCOMING RESOURCES
Voluntary incoming resources
Planned giving
Collections
Donations and legacies
Worcs. CC grant for churchyard
National Churches Trust grant
Alvechurch Parish Council grant
Advent purses/Bibles for Schools
Fundraising
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Ark café
Fees for special services
Church and annex lettings
Fund raising
Investment income
Rent from field
Dividends and interest
Others
VAT recovered
Model railway exhibition
Grapevine and website
Total incoming resources
NET INCOMING/OUTGOING RESOURCES
Depreciation
Independent examiner's
remuneration
Salaries
Average number of employees
Council members'
expenses
Council members' remuneration
There were no related party transactions.|2022
54,040
20,007
16,517
500
-
-
627
-
91,691
958
15,336
22,788
1,612
40,694
29
1,676
1,705
-
-
1,115
1,115
135,205
2022
-
900
1
-
-|2021
58,216
18,115
8,027
1,500
-
-
520
-|
|---|---|---|---|
||||86,378|
||||608
20,298
12,001
-|
||||32,907|
||||80
890|
||||970|
||||205
-
2,550|
||||2,755|
||||123,010|
||||2021
-
900
14,528
1
-
-|
Page 11
## 4 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
## For charitable use
|Cost or valuation
Balance b/f
Additions
Disposals
Balance c/f
Accumulated depreciation
Balance b/f
Charge for the year
Balance c/f
Net book value b/f
Net book value c/f|Freehold
Property
100,000
-
(100,000)
**-**
-
-
**-**
**100,000**
**-**|Total
100,000
-
(100,000)|
|---|---|---|
|||**-**|
|||-
-|
|||**-**|
|||**100,000**|
|||**-**|
## 5 MOVEMENT ON ACCUMULATED FUNDS
|Unrestricted Funds
General Unrestricted Fund
Ark Café Designated
Restricted Funds
Churchyard
Ark Fittings
Youth Fund
Fabric Fund
Bells Fund
Clock Fund
Others
Restricted Funds Invested
Capital Repair
Stipend
Recoupment
Churchyard Maintenance
Restricted Assets
Ark/Church Car Park|B/F at
the
C/F at
the
Start of
Incoming
Outgoing
End of
year
Resources
Resources
Transfers
Adjustments
The year
23,874
162,804
(104,687)
(100)
-
81,891
80
-
-
-
-
80|
|---|---|
||**23,954**
**162,804**
**(104,687)**
**(100)**
**-**
**81,971**|
||305
1,843
(1,465)
-
-
683
2,441
100
(717)
-
-
1,824
7,764
121
(382)
-
-
7,503
260
451
-
-
-
711
1,300
583
(389)
100
-
1,594
2,242
594
(60)
-
-
2,776
14,310
3,700
(3,207)
-
-
14,803|
||**28,622**
**7,392**
**(6,220)**
**100**
**-**
**29,894**|
||241,000
100,000
341,000
4,562
-
-
-
-
4,562
58,881
-
-
58,881
40,883
-
-
-
-
40,883|
||**104,326**
**241,000**
**-**
**100,000**
**-**
**445,326**|
||100,000
-
-
(100,000)
-
-|
||**100,000**
**-**
**-**
**(100,000)**
**-**
**-**|
|||
||**256,902 **
**411,196**
**(110,907)**
**-**
**-**
**557,191 **|
The 'Others' Fund holds donations restricted to specific church and charity uses on a short term basis
Page 12
## 6 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN THE FUNDS
|General unrestricted fund
Designated funds
Restricted funds
Restricted investments
Restricted assets|Invest-
Fixed
Cash at
ments
Assets
Bank
Total
-
-
81,891
81,891
-
-
80
80
445,326
-
445,326
29,894
-
-
29,894
-
-
-
-|
|---|---|
||**475,220**
**-**
**81,971**
**557,191 **|
Page 13
## 7 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
|Incoming Resources
Planned giving
Collections
Donations and legacies
Worcs. CC grant for churchyard
Alvechurch Parish Council grant
Advent purses/Bibles for Schools
Ark café
Fees for special services
Church and annex lettings
Fund raising
Rent from field
Dividends and interest
VAT recovered
Grapevine and website
Total incoming resources
Profit on sale of land
Resources Expended
Fundraising
Ark administration/Diocesan Fees
Charitable giving
Diocesan parish share
Church and annex running costs
Church and Ark maintenance
Major repairs
Worship
Churchyard upkeep
Grapevine
Administration
Equipment repairs
Organists', Choir, Bells fees
Other expenses
Ark café
Independent examiner
Available Surplus/Deficit for the year
Interest received not yet available
Recoupment fund
Churchyard Maintenance fund
Overall surplus/deficit for the year|2022
54,040
20,007
16,517
500
-
627
958
15,336
22,788
1,612
29
1,676
-
1,115
135,205
275,991
411,196
1,793
5,882
6,323
50,000
20,785
537
-
900
5,465
1,168
14,771
984
615
-
736
948
110,907
**300,289**
-
**300,289**|2022
54,040
20,007
16,517
500
-
627
958
15,336
22,788
1,612
29
1,676
-
1,115
135,205
275,991
411,196
1,793
5,882
6,323
50,000
20,785
537
-
900
5,465
1,168
14,771
984
615
-
736
948
110,907
**300,289**
-
**300,289**|2021
58,216
18,115
8,027
1,500
-
520
608
20,298
12,001
-
80
890
205
2,550
123,010
-
123,010
124
3,692
10,992
50,000
17,342
2,091
13,432
514
8,998
4,753
16,074
36
945
42
344
948
130,327
**(7,317)**
-
-
-
**(7,317)**|2021
58,216
18,115
8,027
1,500
-
520
608
20,298
12,001
-
80
890
205
2,550
123,010
-
123,010
124
3,692
10,992
50,000
17,342
2,091
13,432
514
8,998
4,753
16,074
36
945
42
344
948
130,327
**(7,317)**
-
-
-
**(7,317)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||135,205
275,991||123,010
-|
|||411,196
110,907||123,010
130,327|
||||-
-||
|||**300,289**
-||**(7,317)**
-|
||||||
|||**300,289**||**(7,317)**|
Page 14
IndoperKlant gxamln•rf8 report to the membors of the PCC of the Eccl•$la$tical
Parl8h of Alv•church for t •r èndad 31st Dtcomber 2022.
I report on the accounts of th8 PCC of the E¢clpsiastical Parish of Afvechurch for the year ended
31st December 2022, whith are set out on pages 8 to 14.
Res
res
nsibi1it68s of PCC and the examiner
The PCC is responsible for the preparallon of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. They
consider that an 8udlt Is Mi Tgqulred for this year under section 144 of the Chat8 Act 2011 and that an
Independent examlnalron is needed.
Bosis of inde
dent examin9r's ro ort
I report in resp6Ct of my 8xaminalKJn of the PCC'S a¢¢ovnts carTi8d under S9ction 145 of the Charllles
AGI 20118nd In carrylng out my examination, I have follow9d the appllcable dirgctions given by the Charity
c0fflmbsn under section 14515llbl of Ihe Charttiès Ad 2011.
Inde
dent examinels statement
I havg completed my gxamlnation. I confim that no materlal matters have ccKne to my attention in
connedion
Wbth the examination whkh glves mè cause lo belSeve that in, any material rg$pecl:
accounting records were not kept in acCdance with sg¢lDn 130 of the Ad or
the accounts do not accord wlth thè ¥GountlrKJ records
I have no concems and have come across no olh&r matters in nn8¢1)n with the examlnation lo which
att8ntSon should be t1r8wn in order to enab a propel undorstandlng of the accounts to be reached.
M.A. Edwards
For and on behalf of :.
M. A. Edwards Accountants Llmlted.
Chartor8d Accountants,
26, The Green.
Klngs Norton,
Birrningham,
B38 8SD.
Page 15