2024-12-31-accounts - The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Mary, Attenborough.

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ljanuary 2024to 31DeGembir2024 Unr•strlct•d R•itrlctod Funds Funds Fund$ Endowm•nt Funds Total Funds 2023 GIVING ACIWITIES WEDDINGSANDFUNERALS INVESTMENT INCOME DIOCESE GRANT MISCELLANEOUS INCOME 110,983 13,267 3.529 15,000 126.983 13,267 3.529 8.408 10.000 2.648 100,145 12,922 10.424 10.594 215 io.ooo 2.648 Toi•l Il•c•lpli 138,820 25.000 215 183,835 135.084 PAymoniL.. ACT1VITIES AND FUND RAISING COSTS EMPLOYEES MANAGEMÉNT AND ADMINISTRAT1014 MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS UPXEEPOFTHECHUACHYARD RUNNINGCOSTS TPAINING OUTREACH DIOCESAN FEE PARISH SHARE 1.079 ie,874 S.545 3,$77 791 1.079 16,874 5.545 3.577 11,327 10,511 2.011 12,ITT 4.293 16,237 2,173 8,628 1,500 5,725 2.721 67.224 3.434 295 10,536 10,511 5.901 203 5.901 203 70,572 3,156 70,572 3,158 4.308 2,343 SEAVICES MISCELLANEOUS POSTBOX 2.343 Total Ptyments 124,858 10,536 lJ5,394 126,416 Net ol RecelplsllPaymèntsi 13.762 14.484 215 28.441 8.668 Cash Funds Last Year 42,180 Cash Funds Thls Yeav 13.762 14,484 215 79,046 50.854

lJanuary2024to 31 Docemb•12024 Cuirent wr Lastyeai 2024 l- Glvlni In¢lude$ pianrted SI$ & rnls¢ don•tlon$ both 8fft &14Jed and not Ilft alded. gifiald payments ftom HMRC and CAF payments 124.858 100,145 2-ACtltI•l Ifundr8lslng) Includa8 Income such as TuesdayC8fé. Summer Falf. Bazaar,mom rentsl,us• ol fléld, VH land renl 10,800 12.922 3.W•ddlngi& Funorali 3,529

StitomentJfAssots at 31D¢oornbor2024'. Unrestrlcted R•strlct¢d Funds Funds Fundi Endowment Funds Total Funds 2023 DoposltAccount 61.801 81.801 12,323 Smaii Purcha$g Accouni 883 683 377 Curroni A¢¢ount 12,679 12,679 34,23S ChancelA¢¢ount 3,884 75,162 3,884 79.046 50.605 Unr•strlcled Reitrlcled Funds Fundi Fundi Endowm•ht Fund4 Tot•1 Fund• 2023 Eden Tree Invesiments- Hl8her Income 111.831 111.831 113.019 Inwrn•nts AmltySierUn8 Bond Fund 115,221 Eéen Tile Responslbie & Su8talnab Fund 114,498 114,498 Chapman Gwaves 7.853 7.853 7,482 Chancel Fund. 138002121S 3.449 3.449 3,372 226,329 11,102 237,431 239.094 $18ned bylwo tiusto?s on behall of the trugte¢s Slgnaluro Prlnt Nam• D81• I Is12 '211512}

I report lo the Paio¢hl41 Church Councll on my examln8tlon ol the Fie¢elpts and Payments Account, Slalemlnt olAsset$ and Ilabllllles and Notes lo the Recelpls ancl Payments Ac¢ount ol the church lor [hear 8nd8d 31 De¢omber 2024. whlch are Sel out on pages 110 3. fl•ip•¢iive r8ion$lblllll81 ol tho TruM••i and Indap•nd8nl Examln The charlry'stfustaès ar4 r¢spon$lble lor th8 piepwatlon ollho accounts In accordBnee wllh th& ieqJlremenis ol the Charllles Acl 20111'ihe Act'i. rhe ¢arltys truste0s ¢Mslderthat an audlc 1$ not roqulredfoethlsyeai Unttersvcllon 144121 ol the C11¢$Act 2011 Ilh¥ 2011 Acll and Ihal an Independent examlllatlon Is needed. Its myrepson6lbllltyto exbmlne the accounts under sgctlon 145 otthfr 2011 Act.. followthe pro¢¢4ures lald down In Ihe General Olreciions glwjn by the charttycomrnlssl¢n• sèctlon 14SISlb otthe 2011 Act'.¥nd Statè wheih•r the partlculai fftatters have come lo rny aiiantlon, Basls of Ind•pandenl Éxamln•r8 Siatlment My oxamlniiion wa3 c8rrtedoui In 8¢cordance th thi General Dlrecllons 8fveh by tho Charlty Commlsslon. An ex8mlnatlon In¢lu(ies a reth8woflh4 accountlng record3 kept tythe chaAtyand è Gomparfsorl olthe J¢counts pr8s8ntid wtth those IoIds, It a180 Includes con81der8llon of 4nyunusuol Items or dlsc103uieJ In (he accounts an4 seeklngèKplanaiions from the mana8ernenl commltt8e concearlngany such rn&iters. The proceduii$ und8rta#•n do not pro1£ all( e¥Sdence thai would be requlred In a lull audll,and consequeniiy I do notexpre$$ •n auOltoplnk*n OTh the accounts. Ind•pend•nt Examlnèi'i Stat•m•nt In connectlonwtlh myexAmlnatlon, no motlor$ have come lo myatlentlon whlch al me rei$onable cause to belle¥ that In any maierlal re5P8Ct rhe requlrem8nl$.'. to keep ac¢ountlng recordsln accofd4nGewllh 8.130 01 Ihe 2011 Act.'or to prepare accouniswhleh accord ¥th these accountin8f8cords have not been met.or lowhlch, In my oplnlon attentlon should be ijrawn In ordef lo 8nable a proper understandln8olthas• aceoynls to be reached. Gayle Hastlng5 FCCA Gregory Priestley & Stewart Lyndhurst I Cranmer Street Long Eaton Nottinrfham NGIO INJ Date:.

St Mary’s Church Attenborough Annual Report 2025

Welcome

This APCM booklet gives an overview of the different areas of active mission and ministry at St Mary’s Church Attenborough. The booklet not only offers important information about the running of the Church but shares all that God has been working amongst us as we seek to follow and serve Him together. I hope with me you will be encouraged to read about all that the Church has been able to do by the grace of God in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Most importantly this has been centred on sharing the Good News of Jesus, growing in depth and maturity of faith, reaching out to our wider community and growing new disciples of Jesus.

Rev’d Toby Artis Vicar of Attenborough

A endas g

Welcome and Opening Prayers

Annual Meeting of Parishioners

Election of Churchwardens

Note: The Church Representation Rules state that nominations for this election must have been received by the chair of the meeting before the start of the meeting.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Voting restricted to those on the Church Electoral Roll

Electoral Roll Report
Annual Report on the Proceedings of the PCC
Financial Report
Report on the church fabric, goods and ornaments

A copy of the accounts is available on request; there is also a copy on the noticeboard in church

Report of the proceedings of the Deanery Synod
Vicar’s remarks
Election of eight Parochial representatives of the laity to the PCC (3x 1 year, 4x 3 years)
Appointment of independent examiner

Closing Prayers

Contents Welcome ................................................................................................ 2 Agendas ................................................................................................. 2 Contents ................................................................................................. 3 Electoral Roll Report .............................................................................. 4 Annual Report on the Proceedings of the PCC ....................................... 4 Aim and Purposes .................................................................................. 4 Achievements and Performance ............................................................. 5 Worship and Prayer ................................................................................ 5 Church Attendance ................................................................................. 5 Children, Youth and Families ................................................................. 5 Pastoral Care ......................................................................................... 6 Community Connection and Outreach .................................................... 7 Church Activities ..................................................................................... 8 Future Plans ........................................................................................... 9 Structure, Governance and Management ............................................. 10 Administrative information .................................................................... 10 Staff ...................................................................................................... 10 PCC Committees .................................................................................. 11 PCC Membership ................................................................................. 11 Financial Review .................................................................................. 11 Reserves policy .................................................................................... 13 Annual Fabric Report ........................................................................... 13 Deanery Synod..................................................................................... 14 Vicar ..................................................................................................... 15

St Mary’s Church Attenborough

Church Lane, Attenborough, Nottinghamshire, NG9 6AS

www.attenboroughchurch.org.uk

Registered charity number: 1131889

Electoral Roll Report

Total number on the roll is 102 and it consists of 35 resident in the parish and 67 non-resident. This is down an overall total of 20 from last year 19 less resident in the parish and 6 less non-resident.

Maria Batchelor, Electoral Roll Officer

Annual Re ort on the Proceedin s of the PCC p g

Aim and Purposes

Reach out to our communities with the transforming love of Jesus, giving people the opportunity to respond to the Gospel.
Pioneer new ministries and spaces for children, young people, young adults and families.
Grow in spiritual maturity as a family on a mission, where everyone can grow in the gifts God has given us.

Objectives and Activities

St. Mary’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the Vicar, the Reverend Toby Artis, in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical in the ecclesiastical parish. The PCC is also responsible for providing a safe environment for all and the maintenance and upkeep of St Mary’s Church and the churchyard. The PCC aims to enable as many people as possible to worship at St Mary’s, to become part of the Christian Church and become involved in the wider community.

To help in this aim the PCC ensures the following are provided:

Public worship open to all
A place for personal prayer and contemplation
Pastoral care – including visiting the sick, infirm & bereaved.
Teaching of Christianity through sermons, talks, courses and small groups, including groups for young people
Supporting specific charities in the UK and overseas
Promoting the mission of the Church through provision of activities for the community

The ancient church of St Mary features significantly in this work. The PCC endeavours to maintain it as a welcoming place for all.

Achievements and Performance

Worship and Prayer

The PCC and worship team are committed to providing a range of services which are accessible to all. Sermons are made available, for those who can’t make it to church for any reason, in an audio format.

The range of regular services continues to be broad and includes:

Sunday 9am traditional service followed by time for coffee, brioche, and chat before the

10.45am contemporary service with Kids’ Church. Communion alternates between the two services.

4.30pm Youth Church which includes games, bible study and prayer

Midweek Holy communion is held on the first and third Thursday of the month at 10am.

Prayer:

Engine room, a time of prayer and worship to hear from God and to fuel our mission takes place on the first Wednesday on each month at 7.15pm.

The church is regularly open for personal reflection and prayer.

Special services:

Christmas Services include carol services, midnight communion, nativity and a Christmas morning celebration. Easter services include a Maundy Thursday family meal with communion, Good Friday crafts and ‘an hour at the cross’ in the afternoon. Easter Sunday opens with a sunrise service in Attenborough nature reserve followed by our main Easter celebrations.

Each autumn the bereavement service is a peaceful and supportive space for those suffering grief to pray, worship and find support.

There are many significant times in people’s lives and, frequently, the Church has a major role to play in these. Often support, advice or assistance is needed, on other occasions a sense of community helps make a celebration go well. The church choir helps to lead the music for our traditional service and is made up of and open to choristers of all ages. We have a range of worship leaders who lead our 10.45am contemporary musical worship.

Church Attendance

Sunday Church attendance continues to increase and averages around 110 people over the two services.

Children, Youth and Families

It’s been wonderful to see the kids and youth ministry continue to grow and thrive over the last year. We’ve seen new families start attending Kids Church on a regular basis and forming connections with other members of the congregation. We are also very fortunate to have a strong team of volunteers who regularly give up their time on Sunday morning and for other events to support, teach, and engage with the children in our community. Kids Church takes place during the 10:45am contemporary service. We play games, read bible

stories, watch videos, make crafts and pray together. It is a fun and vibrant group that we hope will continue to grow and reach more families.

Young Believers, the newly renamed Youth Church, continues to meet weekly at 4:30pm on a Sunday. We have a core group of young people that attend and we hope this number will continue to grow. It is a fun and faith-filled group and it has been a joy to get to know and spend time with the young people that attend. Our sessions consist of food, games, and bible/thematic studies that follow the sermon series from the main congregation. We have a small team of leaders that is also steadily growing, but we hope to see that number grow more.

We’ve hosted several community events over the past year that have seen a large number of families come through our doors. We’ve had, to name a few, Scarecrow Festival, Light Party, Pancake Party and the Easter Activity Morning. It’s been such a joy to connect with families in our community and in some cases we’ve seen new families start attending church after coming to these events.

We are very hopeful that our kids and youth ministries will continue to grow and thrive over the next year, along with the volunteer team. It is still our hope to set up a midweek toddlers and carers and we are slowly forming connections at Chilwell School in the hopes of having a larger presence there. We are very thankful for the teams who work hard to keep these ministries growing each week and we pray for their ongoing success.

Abi Blane, Rising Generations Pastor

Small Groups

Small groups continue to be an important part of both community and worship at St Mary’s. They are formed from a mix of people who have done Alpha and existing worshiping members of the Church. The groups have gelled well together and have become a meaningful space for continued discipleship and communal life. Small groups ministry includes socialising, bible study and prayer and follows the Sunday preaching series. This is a significant part of our vision for growing deeper in our faith together. We pray for the continues growth of small groups, and continued integration from the whole Church as part of belonging to St Mary’s Church Family. Our vision is to continue to grow small groups across the whole community so that everyone has the chance to be a part of Church midweek and to grow together in faith and as a spiritual family.

Pastoral Care

There is a support group which has been very active with a particular focus on caring for the ill and elderly, including those in nursing homes. This group meets every six weeks or so, to discuss some of the needs of our Church Family, particularly those who are no longer able to attend Church. This has been well appreciated and continues to be an important part of our care for the wider Church Family. They are always looking for new members if this is an area in which you feel you could serve.

Ministers within the Church offer 1-1 pastoral support for adults of all ages, and Abi Blane our Rising generations pastor takes a lead on pastoral care for under 18’s.

Community Connection and Outreach

A key part of the wider diocesan vision is to enable commitment and integration into the life of the Church. Alpha is a core part of church life which helps enable this at the local level.

We’ve been able to use the events and opportunities above to invite people to Alpha. This is a safe and relaxed space to explore faith, find community and belonging in the Church Family.

Alpha has become a regular feature at St Mary’s with a programme being run in the Autumn and Spring each year. Each of them has been very fruitful and we have heard wonderful testimonies of transformational faith in people’s lives and some baptisms. We will continue to run Alpha courses at St Mary’s and pray that people will find community, nd time, and space to grow in the knowledge of God’s love for them and to commit themselves to following Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.

We have more recently launched a new rhythm of Church family meals called ‘Eat in, Eat out’. Each month we alternate between sharing lunch together after our morning Church services and offering hospitality in our own homes by inviting people to lunch. This is a keyway to build Christian community through the model of the Early Church and deepen relationship.

A regular activity that has been taking place more recently in the community is ‘Rise and Shine. This is a monthly community gathering at Church which includes Family Crafts, a walk around the nature reserve along with breakfast sandwiches, pastries and drinks. This has helped build community beyond the Church walls for a variety of people of different backgrounds and ages.

Tuesday Café has been a growing initiative, supported a growing team of volunteers. It continues to grow and is outgrowing the space we have in Church with the current seating arrangement. We’ve met many new people who have found community, friendship and belonging. The quality of hospitality and refreshments has only increased and has been much appreciated by all.

We have had several wider community events over the year. These include our annual pancake party and good Friday crafts, light party, step into Christmas and the scarecrow festival. These are all free events, with the aim of helping integrate our community into the life of the Church and offer a clear path to exploring and responding to the Gospel of Jesus.

St Mary’s summer festival is a popular standing event which brings together the local community and the church family for an afternoon of fun with a very popular BBQ, bouncy castle, local stalls and family races.

At Christmas the local community gets involved in the advent window trail, with a new window each day created by parish residents. The Christmas Market attracts the local community and is a great social space for the community to gather and enjoy refreshments and provides free crafts and activities for children. Carol services are also very popular with the local community and are packed with standing room only. ‘Beer and Carols’ has been a great success in bringing the local community together. On Christmas eve, the younger church family gets together to perform the nativity story, many of the local families join in to make this come to life.

Church Activities

Bellringing

St Mary’s team of bellringers continues to grow in strength. We now regularly ring all eight bells on Sunday mornings, to tell the whole parish that the Church is alive and active.

Our young ringers, Lucy & Samuel, joined a team from across the Diocese to win their category of the National Youth Contest in London – this year they are ringing again, this time in Birmingham and we wish them luck. Also, in March, our team won the Nottm District heat of the Crawford Cup striking competition – well done – the team now goes to the final on May 10[th] at Harby on the Lincs. Border, to compete with bands from across the Diocese.

Last summer Esther organized an enjoyable day out ringing at three churches just into Staffordshire, and later this year she’s taking us off to four in NE Leicestershire.

We are always happy to welcome new ringers (returners or never touched a rope) – if you’d like to learn more contact Jim Crabtree bellringing@attenboroughchurch.org.uk or see me in church.

Thanks go to all the ringers for their continued commitment. Jim Crabtree, Ringing Master

The Choir

Throughout the year the choir has supported the worship at St Mary's primarily in the 9am service, for weddings and funerals and special services. It has augmented singers at Southwell Minster at the Emergency Services Carol Service and more locally at St John’s Beeston for their Patronal Festival and we retain strong links with musician friends at Beeston Methodist Church. We are also blessed with a small number of instrumentalists for which there have been many opportunities to play in regular worship and on other occasions.

Church and Churchyard Working Group

The fairly small team carries out all sorts of jobs to keep St Mary’s looking good. Most meet on Wednesday mornings to mow, strim, cut edges and bushes, tend borders, dust & polish, de-cobweb, treat woodwork, clean silver and windows, and much more. But, some come at

different times to work on their own or in pairs in the peace of the church and churchyard. Thank you to everyone!

There is more that could be done if the team was bigger. You don’t need to come every week or have a particular job – just come along and lend a hand. When we meet on Wednesdays there is a time to chat and have a drink. All equipment is provided so no need to bring anything.

Please come and join us – Jim Crabtree – bellringing@attenboroughchurch.org.uk

Tuesday Café

Tuesday cafe is going from strength to strength with an average of 80 people attending each week. We have new people coming on a regular basis all age groups. Tony Galloway and Graham Shenton help with myself and Gill every week.

Tony, Gill ,Graham and myself have all completed the Level 2 Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering course. This is a very comprehensive course and we now all adhere to the rules and regulations set out in the course.

Gill, myself and Joy Dixon- Smith donate all the cakes, milk and sundries. The café donates approximately £150 to church funds every week. We try to open every Tuesday throughout the year.

The four of us feel this is a very important part of our outreach into the community and we feel blessed that we have been given the opportunity to engage with so many wonderful people.

Lin Walters, Tuesday Cafe

Future Plans

Our Vision at St Mary’s Church is to be a growing community of committed followers of Jesus Christ, who reach out to our whole parish and beyond, proclaiming and living out the good news of Jesus Christ.

We want to pioneer new ministries for children, young people, and families, cultivating a growing and flourishing intergenerational community. We want to be a vibrant, fun, and infectious community which not only draws people in, but where everyone is spiritually nourished, taught, and discipled, to live as Jesus calls, and to fulfil His good purposes.

We want to overflow with God’s love for everyone. We know God deeply loves the people of St Mary’s and our parish and we are open to being used in new and powerful ways to share His transforming love, that lives will be transformed.

There is a urgent need to be able to use the church building more effectively and in innovative ways. In order to achieve this the PCC have applied for faculty to remove our current pews, re-locate the font, re-locate radiators and improve the flooring. This will improve health and safety; increase flexibility and therefore variety of use. We want to make the worship space more inviting, to enhance peoples’ experience and serve a variety of uses for different styles of worship and outreach events.

The actions proposed are therefore to replace pews with stackable chairs, create an inviting entrance/welcome area, add space and comfortable furniture for Tuesday café and other events, improve Audio-Visual equipment and altering heating to move radiators out of the nave area.

Structure, Governance and Management

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 election of PCC members is governed by and set out in the Church Representation Rules. Safer recruitment practices are adhered to in the recruitment of PCC members and all members have a DBS check and undertake the appropriate safeguarding training as part of their induction process. The PCC has been working through the ‘PCC tonight’ series to expand its knowledge of the purpose and mission of the PCC.

The PCC has maintained its oversight of safeguarding, it receives regular finance and fabric reports. Health and safety remains a standing item at PCC meetings, regular reports are received and safety policies and fire risk assessments reviewed.

The PCC standing committee consists of the vicar, churchwardens, treasurer and another member (currently Liz Stewart), they are in place to make decisions in between meetings if they are time sensitive, for example funding training opportunities for worship leaders.

Since the 2024 APCM the PCC have met formally on seven occasions. Andrew Finlay is treasure, Liz Stewart has continued as secretary and Maria Batchelor as electoral roll officer. Liz Stewart is the parish safeguarding officer (PSO) and lead recruiter.

Administrative information

Staff

Rising Generations Pastor – Abigail Blane Cleaner - Sylvia Paling

PCC Committees

Currently there are two active subcommittees: finance and reordering. Each has been meeting regularly throughout the year as needed. The reordering committee (Vicar, Churchwardens, Emma Artis, Colin Baker, Jim Crabtree and Liz Stewart) has been meeting regularly to discuss the possibility of reordering the church building.

PCC Membership

Members of the PCC are those ex-officio (Clergy, Synod representatives and Churchwardens), those elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) and those co-opted by the PCC.

During the year the following served as members of the PCC: Vicar/Chai r: Rev’d Toby Artis

Churchwardens: Peter Stewart, Alex Worthington Diocesan Synod: Charlie Barber Deanery Synod: Alistair Langton Eileen Hartley Peter McKay Elected Members:

Liz Stewart (Secretary) Linda Stewart Malcolm Batchelor Andrew Finlay (Treasurer) Jane Ray Graham Shenton Maria Batchelor Jim Crabtree Keith Ball (until August 2024) Co-opt Hannah Towlson from May 2024

Financial Review

In addition to the accounts I have set out below a monthly breakdown of regular expenditure and income. The sums when multiplied by 12 will not give the same figures as the accounts as I have excluded one off items of income such as legacies or donations and one-off items of expenditure such as the repair to the church wall as well as miscellaneous expenditure.

This year we received two legacies totalling £27,000 and were also given a very generous £15,000 donation towards the reordering. Planned giving remains the major source of income and we are blessed by the generosity of those who run and attend Tuesday coffee, which is not a fund raising activity.

Over the course of 2024 we ran a deficit of about £1,000 a month, based on our known regular income and expenditure. We know that this expenditure will increase as Parish Share and utilities etc go up. Whilst the current bank balance is reasonably healthy, if we do not increase income then our reserves will be rapidly depleted over about 18 months. We have two large items of expenditure in the near future, the reordering, and then the roof and there is a need for a real focus on fund raising.

The PCC aims to hold unrestricted reserves sufficient to cover a 4 to 6 month period of costs. If for any reason the income stream dried up this would give time to put arrangements in hand to defer or amend outgoings and to take steps to reverse the decline in regular income.

The PCC also holds restricted and endowed reserves. These are increased mainly by investment income, bequests and donations. They are held until needed for their specific purposes, e.g. building repairs.

Monthly Expenditure: Water £32.87 Electricity/Gas £468.44 Phone/ Broadband £125.25 All Utilities £626.56 Insurance £371.75 Parish Share £5,881.00 Accountant £45.25 Bank charges £25.43 Church Suite £45.50 Google G Suite £36.00 Monthly Fees £152.18 Salaries £2,219.23 HMRC TAX & NI £457.75 Monthly Wages £2,676.98 Maintenance £682.36 Outreach £200.12 Services £262.96	Monthly Income:
Water Electricity/Gas Phone/ Broadband All Utilities Insurance Parish Share Accountant Bank charges Church Suite Google G Suite Monthly Fees Salaries HMRC TAX & NI Monthly Wages Maintenance Outreach Services	PCC Fees incl PCC Expenses Funeral / Memorial Income Weddings & Funerals Plate Giving Planned Giving S Orders Planned Giving W Envelopes Yellow Envelopes Other Donations Total Regular Giving HMRC Gift Aid Bazaar Fete Income from field Tuesday Coffee Other Activities & Fund Raising Bank & Investments Diocesan Grant	£54.88 £239.17
		£294.05
		£201.85 £5,769.88 £106.50 £46.67 £151.94
		£6,124.91

		£977.79
		£58.73 £125.65 £100.00 £615.64 £205.68
		£1,105.70

		£682.77

		£833.33

Reserves policy

The PCC aims to hold unrestricted reserves sufficient to cover a four-to-six-month period of costs. If for any reason the PCC's income stream dried up this could give time to put arrangements in hand to defer or amend outgoings and to take steps to reverse the decline in income.

The PCC also holds restricted and endowed funds. These are increased mainly by investment income, bequests, and donations. They are held until needed for their specific purposes e.g. building repairs.

Annual Fabric Report

The inventory held by St Mary's is very comprehensive, and all major items have been confirmed to be in agreement with the inventory. All major services and goods were found to be generally in good order with one or two areas where attention will be necessary in connection with wear and tear.

We are pleased to be able to report that the church fabric is in general terms in good order, all necessary periodic testing has been undertaken. The temporary remedial work to the roof, carried out with our architect, has reduced the number of leaks and their frequency. A draft plan and specification has been drawn up for replacement of the copper covering. The 5 yearly inspection is due this summer and it expected that the architect will advise that the roof covering should be replaced in this next 5 year period and it is hoped to roll this work into a single project along with any additional work that is found to be required.

It must be stated that the church is totally indebted to the working group who keep various areas under control as well as keeping the grass mowed and the borders tended and in tidying everything up in the churchyard. The silver is cleaned, and other work undertaken without which the church would not be able to function in such a satisfactory way. Thanks, must be given for the work undertaken by all the volunteers because of whom we manage to survive especially with the difficulties of having no administrator for a long period of time. The music has been put together by Malcolm Batchelor who spends an enormous amount of time and effort in this area, for which we are very grateful.

Work on the storm damaged boundary wall has been substantially completed, and all other matters of relevance are looked at as necessary and when finances permit, all necessary equipment is acquired.

It must not go unreported that thanks must be passed on to Jim Crabtree who undertakes many of the duties and shares the workload even though he is no longer a church warden. Thank you, Jim, for all you do with all the necessary work within the church.

Peter Stewart and Alex Worthington, Church Wardens

Deaner S nod y y

Nottingham South Deanery 2024 Annual Report

This year we have said goodbye to Rev’d Christopher Harrison (Nottingham All Saint and St Peter), Rev’d John Blakeley (Sneinton St Stephen) and have welcomed Marsha Farmer (Sneinton St Christopher), Rev’d Lee Dunleavy (Sneinton, St Cyprian), Rev’d Sam WatkinsSmith (Trinity Church Nottingham) and Rev’d James Saunders (St Mary’s in the Lace Market).

The Deanery Leadership Team has continued to meet during the year to plan Synod and to discuss ways to support parishes in the Deanery – particularly those in vacancy. We have held three Synods:

On 13 February we met at St Mary’s in the Lace Market and we invited the Jericho Road Project, Transforming Notts Together, Refugee Roots and 100 Homes. We spent time praying for these organisations and also for the Deanery.

On 10 July we met at St Mary the Virgin’s in Attenborough. We were joined by Rev’d Canon Richard Kellett who shared about the new Diocesan Vision of growing disciples with Compassion, Confidence and Courage and led a discussion around ‘how can we as the body of Christ work across our parish boundaries to realise the Diocesan vision?’. We also received a report from General Synod.

On 21 November we met at Christ Church, Chilwell where Rev’d Canon Richard Kellett led us in prayer for the Middle East. Julian Hodgson, the Diocesan Safeguarding Lead, shared about the National Safeguarding Standards.

Our November meeting was also our AGM and a report was provided on the work of the Deanery Leadership Team during the past year.

Following the AGM the Deanery Leadership Team was made up of:

Ex-officio Members: Rev’d Jo Tatum (Area Dean), Kirsty Cowley (Deanery Administrator)
Lay Chair: Charlie Barber and Fola Sowunmi
Deanery Secretary: Peter Horne

Deanery Treasurer: Trevor Peel
DLT Members: Kirstine Buchan, Fi Shouler

We also voted the following people on to Diocesan Synod:

House of Clergy: Rev’d Jo Tatum, Rev’d Dr Mark Wreford, Rev’d Jonny Hughes and Rev’d Andy Tufnell
House of Laity: Christopher Gray

The Deanery paid 94% of its giving for ministry in 2024. Every parish is thanked for their generosity .

Vicar

As I write this report a year on from the last APCM I am very grateful for all that the Lord has been blessing over the last year. It has been a joy to see new people join the Church Family, and to see people of all ages come alive in faith.

I’m also very grateful to everyone who has been supportive of me as I lead with you in the mission that God has called us to. I am especially grateful to our Church Wardens, the PCC, fellow ministers and to all who lead and serve on teams. Ministry would not happen without you all.

We have been continuing to live by our vision which is to:

Reach out to our communities with the transforming love of Jesus, giving people the opportunity to respond to the Gospel.
Pioneer new ministries and spaces for children, young people, young adults and families
Grow in spiritual maturity as a family on a mission, where everyone can grow in the gifts God has given us.

Looking ahead there is so much potential for growth in numbers and in faith, and therefore more of the Holy Spirit’s work to get involved in. Playing our part in the wider Diocesan vision, I believe some areas that we need to focus on, in order to realise our vision are to: increase our generosity and enable more commitment for regular Church worship and serving. This is all part of our discipleship of being with Jesus, becoming like Jesus and doing as Jesus does, together as a community and Church Family.

As Pauls writes we are all different parts, yet we remain interconnected, and we all need each other, to contribute our gifts to partner with God in His mission. Serving and growing in our gifts is not only a necessity for Church life, but it matures us and leads us to ‘attain

the whole measure of Christ’ together (Ephesians 4). This is core to our whole life discipleship.

I hope that with me, you will be fuelled by the Holy Spirit in prayer, to play your part in the vision of the Church, and to be open to the new things God wants to do amongst us. Community life and mission are not always easy nor straightforward. However, the spiritual rewards of seeing God’s Kingdom grow in and around our parish are but a taste of the glory of heaven that is it come.

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)

I pray we will be strengthened by and ever more attuned to what the Holy Spirit wants to grow and build among us. I pray for an openness to new possibilities as we live and share the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ to our parish in 2025 and beyond.

Signed (Vicar) ………………………………….