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2022-12-31-accounts

Papers for Annual Meeting of Parishioners and Annual Parochial Church Meeting to be held on Sunday 21[st] May 2023 after the 10.00am service. You are welcome to read and print the attached Agendas, Minutes and Reports of our Church & Parish activities and to bring these with you when you attend the Annual Meeting on the above date.

GREAT BURSTEAD with RAMSDEN CRAYS

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS AND ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

Sunday 21[st] May 2023 at Great Burstead Church (following 10.00am Service)

AGENDA

Opening prayers.

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS

Close of Annual Meeting of Parishioners

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Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Parishioners (AMP) held on Sunday 15[th] May 2022 at 11.45am.

Present: Fr Michael Hall (Chair) and 27 other parishioners.

Action
1 Welcomeand opening prayer from Fr Michael Hall.
2 Apologies for absenceCaroline Blore, John Campbell, Sheena Cope, Pat Davis, Bert
French, Micki Lake, Kelly Shearer, Tamsyn Taft, Jeanne Wiggins and Joy Woods.
3 Approval of Minutes of previous meeting held on 16th May 2021.
These Minutes had been previously circulated and were proposed as a true record by Mary
Edwards and seconded byThom Simons and agreed bythosepresent.
4 Election of Churchwardens
Mary Edwards has agreed to stand again, nominated by Nigel Blore and seconded by David
O’Connell and agreed by all present. This was the only nomination received. Mary thanked
Thom Simons for his introduction to Churchwarden duties and for his work as
Churchwarden during the past year. MH added his thanks to ME and TS for their joint efforts
as Churchwardens during the previous year.

Meeting closed at 11.50am

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

Sunday 21[st] May 2023 at Great Burstead Church (following 10.00am Service)

Sunday 21st May 2023 at Great Burstead Church (following 10.00am Service)
1 Welcome and apologies for absence
2 Notification of any items to be included under AOB.
3 Approval of Minutes ofprevious APCM held on 15thMay2022(page 3)
4 Matters arisingfrom above Minutes.
5 Appointment of Tellers(2)
6 Churchwarden’s Report(page 4)
7 Annual Report of the PCC(pages 6-8)
8 Electoral Roll Officer’s Report
9
10		 Election of 2 Parish Representatives to Deanery Synod.
Election of Parochial Church Council (PCC) Members – 6 PCC members (3 for 3
years, 1 for 2 years and 2 for 1 year) – [The new PCC will meet briefly, immediately
after the APCM]
11 Election of a DeputyRepresentative to Churches Together in Billericay.
12 Treasurer’s Report and Accounts – separate document
13 Appointment of an Independent Examiner
14 Basildon DeanerySynod Report(page 5)
15 Reports of Church and CommunityActivities/Organisations (frompage 8)
16 AnyOther Business(i.e. anyissues to be brought to the attention of the PCC)
17 Vicar’s Report(page 16)
Closing Prayers

Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) held on Sunday 15[th] May 2022 at 11.50am.

Present: Fr Michael Hall (chair) and 27 other parishioners.

Action
1 Welcome –Those present were welcomed to this meeting by Fr. Michael. Apologies for
absence were received from Caroline Blore, John Campbell, Sheena Cope, Pat Davis, Bert
French,Micki Lake,KellyShearer,Tamsyn Taft,Jeanne Wiggins and JoyWoods.
2 Notification of any items to be included under AOB– none
3 Approval of Minutes for previous APCM held on 16th May 2021.These were proposed
by Mary Edwards (ME) and seconded by Thom Simons and accepted by those in
attendance.
4 Matters arising from the Minutes of theprevious APCM- none
5 Appointment of Tellers –MaryEdwards and MaryLatham agreed to this dutyif required.
6 Churchwardens’ report– This was widely circulated prior to the meeting and ME was
available to respond to any questions. Thom Simons mentioned that although he was
stepping down as Churchwarden, he still intended to maintain a supporting role, particularly
in respect of the Church Hall. Both Mary and Thom were thanked for their work and support
as our Churchwardens over thepastyear.
7 Annual Report of the PCC– Again, this report was widely circulated prior to the meeting
and there were noqueries or requests for clarification from the floor.
8 Electoral Roll Officer’s report– ME has been in temporary control of the ER since Peter
Bowyer moved away and advised that since last year there had been 8 names added and 8
that needed to be deleted. We therefore still have a total of 72 registered names, of whom
31(43%)are Resident within the Parish and 41(57%)are Non-Resident.
9 Election of Parochial Church Council (PCC) members.We had a total of six vacancies.
The following agreed to be elected to the PCC:
Fola Olukoya - proposed by ME and seconded by Peter Furness.
Carole Heywood – prop.by Colin Heywood and seconded by Nigel Blore.
Fola was re-elected and Carole will be new to the PCC. Both to serve for 3years.
10 Election of Churches Together in Billericay representatives
Both Margaret Flack and Mary Lazarus offered to continue as our representatives and they
were accepted unanimously.
11 Election of Billericay Schools Ministry Rep
Margaret Flack agreed to continue in this role which was agreed unanimously..
12 Treasurer’s Report and Accounts
ME apologised that the accounts had only been circulated a few days beforehand, but the
last 3 years of financial computer data was unexpectedly lost and needed to be
reconstructed. ME thanked those who had made extra donations to help minimise the loss
of income due to the pandemic and she also asked for a letter of thanks to be sent to Ian
Rudkins (Examiner) for his prompt audit. There were no questions and MH thanked Mary
for all her hard work which and which drew applause from allpresent.
13 Appointment of Independent Examiner
Ian Rudkins had kindly indicated his willingness to continue and he was proposed by ME
and seconded byDavid O’Connell and agreed byallpresent. .
14 Basildon Deanery Synod Report
This was circulated widelybefore the meetingand its content noted.
15 Reports of Church and community activitieswere all circulated prior to the meeting and
there were no comments. It was noted that five reports had been omitted where there was
little or no activityduringlastyear due to thepandemic.
16 AOB– no items were submitted.
17 Vicar’s report– Fr Michael referred to his written report that had been circulated prior to the
meeting and wished to emphasise his thanks to all who had contributed to the work of our
Church during the last year that had remained challenging due to the continuing effects of
the pandemic. In particular, he wished to thank ME and TS as our churchwardens and the
work undertaken by Emma and the choir. (ME wished to include Jo Hall who had organised
the strict cleaning routines that were required to enable the church to be used as often as
possible duringthepandemic)
Fr. Michael closed the meetingwithprayer at 12.10pm.
Churchwarden’s Report for 2022

Thom Simons resigned as churchwarden at the APCM in May 2022. Since then, I have had to manage on my own due to lack of volunteers. Fola Olukoya kindly helped with quotes etc for the Oak tree at Ramsden Crays.

2022 has been yet another difficult year, storm Eunice in February, took down the lightning conductor and the rooster weathervane yet another insurance claim on top of the lightning strike in late 2021.

We eventually got the organ back in June but we are still waiting for a new processor so it can be temperamental to start.

While getting the quote for the weathervane, it was found the spire was suffering from wear and tear and all the shingles need replacing at an estimated cost of £45,000.

Have had to apply for a faculty to do the repairs to the weathervane and replacing the shingles.

We had 4 trees removed from the churchyard to help rectify the damage to the NE corner of the church. We obtained the faculty in 2021.

The veteran Oak Tree at Ramsden Crays Churchyard, has caused us more problems and expense. We have had an ecology survey done and we received the report just before Christmas. It is now in the hands od our insurer’s lawyer to decide the way forward.

In February a young lady (Hannah Pitt) approached us to see if she could do a litter pick in the churchyard for her Duke of Edinburgh award. Having considered it we didn’t think it suitable but suggested she built/established a memorial garden for all the children’s graves we cannot find as they do not have headstones. She could create a project with start middle and end photographs for her teachers. The garden can be found south of the church by the side fence. From the comments we have received it has been much appreciated by mourners as somewhere they can focus on long lost family.

In spring we purchased 3 new benches for Great Burstead churchyard. They were paid for by donations from the congregation in memory of their loved ones. The comments we have received indicate that they are well used.

We purchased a free-standing hymn board from Patrick Lockhart’s legacy, as we thought this would be an appropriate memory of him.

We have also purchased some equipment and borrowed other more expensive units so that we can record some services on YouTube. We tried it successfully at one of the Christingle services. Comments imply it was well received.

Thanks to all who have helped to keep the church going.

Mary Edwards 31/12/22

BASILDON DEANERY REPORT for 2022

Meetings are chaired by either the Area Dean - Revd. Jane Richards, or the Lay Chair - Christine Coe. Other officers of note are the Secretary - Marion Marshall; and the Treasurer – our own Mary Edwards. One of the Assistant Area Deans is Fr. Michael. Elected representatives from our parish were Nigel Blore and Peter Furness. (Mary Edwards also attends as an ex-officio member due to her being elected to Diocesan Synod)

Apart from the normal business at each meeting which regularly involves a financial commentary on contributions to the Parish Share and the exchanging of news and experiences from all the parishes, each meeting usually has at least one main theme which is usually supported by an invited speaker.

The meeting on 16[th] February was held at St Martin’s Basildon included an address by Nikki Schuster, a qualified psychotherapist and who is the CEO for Bridge Counselling, an organisation operating mainly in West and Central Essex and which sees about 400 clients per week from a range of occupations and industries. They have a contract with our Diocese and provide counselling for clergy and others and seek to provide time and a means by which interviewees may explore, repair, forgive, and heal in a nonjudgemental setting.

The meeting on 19[th] May was superseded by the licensing of Jonathan Evens as Rector for the Wickford Team Ministry at their church at St. Andrew’s. (Jonathan has now become our Area Dean as from 12[th] March 2023, replacing Jane Richards who has moved to a new post in the Barking area)

At Emmanuel, Billericay, on 20[th] September, Mike Power – Archdeacon for Southend – attended for a discussion on a revised formula to be applied to parish contributions to Parish Share in 2023. It generally means that the four

parishes in the more wealthy areas of the Deanery will pay an increased share, whilst the five parishes (including Great Burstead) in the less wealthy areas will see a reduction.

The final meeting of 2022 was held on 16[th] November at St. Andrew’s at Basildon, at which our own Fr. Michael spoke of his additional role as a Spiritual Director (SD). It soon became clear that there was little general awareness of this role which is designed to enable any person who so asks, to receive advice and direction on spiritual matters on a one-to-one basis. All SDs have training (a two-year course) and once an enquirer has been successfully matched with a SD, a course (for which a fee is paid) usually lasts for 2 years.

On Wednesday 7[th] June 2023 there will be a meeting at St. Gabriel’s, Pitsea, at which Bishop Guli will be present and available to answer questions. This will be an ‘open’ meeting to which all Church members are invited.

Peter Furness – An elected Parish Representative

Annual Report of the Great Burstead with Ramsden Crays PCC for the year ending 31st December 2022

The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent Priest-inCharge, Fr. Michael Hall, in providing for this parish the whole mission of the Church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. We have been grateful for all that Fr. Michael has achieved for us and we have also valued the assistance of Fr. Peter Clark, a retired priest who also continues to lead a Church within our Deanery for people with hearing difficulties. Peter Knatt remains authorised to exercise a local preaching ministry in our parish, but ill-health has meant a recent pause in his ministry, but we hope that it may resume when his health improves.

The PCC also has maintenance responsibilities for the church and church hall at Great Burstead, as well as the burial ground at Ramsden Crays where interments continue. However, the churchyard at Great Burstead is operated on a ‘closed’ basis and its upkeep and maintenance is ultimately the responsibility of the local council, although we continue to rely upon a small team of volunteers to help attend to immediate needs and in keeping the area surrounding the church neat and tidy.

2022 started as 2021 ended with us all wearing masks due to the Omicron variant of the Covid19 virus pandemic that first brought the UK to an almost standstill – including the closure of churches - back in March 2020. The Omicron strain was unknown and untested, but it gradually became clear that the previously administered mass vaccination programmes were generally good enough to prevent severe illness resulting from this variant. With further booster vaccinations made available, confidence returned with most people voluntarily dispensing with masks although a minority – those mainly with existing underlying health issues – decided to continue wearing them, with some choosing to do so throughout 2022. We were able to provide a full programme of services throughout the year, although

communion in one kind was retained for the first half before the cup was reintroduced thereafter. However, many remained very cautious of this development and in respecting individual views, we were able to administer communion in a variety of formats to satisfy individual preference. The sharing of ‘The Peace’ remained at a distance. Attendance at our services had expected to gradually recover as the initial effects of the pandemic became more distant, but statistics indicate a reduction of about 30% during 2022 compared with 2021. During the early part of the year, meetings were either abandoned or held virtually with the zoom technology, but latterly a full programme of meetings resumed and which were held in person.

In July we were able to hold our first Annual Church Fete for 3 years and although needing to be on a much reduced scale, it nevertheless came close to obtaining the same financial surplus that was achieved in 2019. This provided a welcome replenishment to our depleted funds and enabled us to continue to pay our Parish Share in full. We remain very grateful to our Treasurer, Mary Edwards, for her expertise, care and control over all aspects of our finances. Our thanks are also due to all who have continued to give regularly and have increased their contributions through our Planned Giving Schemes.

…………… continued……………

We are particularly grateful to those members who have managed to make one-off donations to alleviate some of our financial hardship caused by the pandemic, but above all we again thank Martyn and Kathy Heald for their ‘garden stall’ (open all hours and all weathers!) and which provided over £2,350 for Church funds during this year! Our thanks also extend to the hard work of their small but dedicated team of willing helpers.

The PCC

Members of the PCC are either ex-officio, elected by the APCM, or co-opted, in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. The PCC usually meets 6 times a year and a list of its members for this year appears below:- Ex-officio Members Revd. Michael Hall Priest in Charge and Chair of PCC. Mary Edwards Churchwarden, Vice-chair of PCC, Treasurer and member of Dioc. Synod. Thom Simons Churchwarden – until 28.06.22. Nigel Blore Member of Deanery Synod Peter Furness PCC Secretary and member of Deanery Synod. Elected Members Margaret Flack Carole Heywood (from 15.05.22) Derek Oakley (up to 15.05.22) Fola Olukoya (Electoral Roll Officer as from 15.05.22) Kelly Shearer Carol Simons (up to 15.05.22) John Simons Tamsyn Taft (up to 15.05.22) Co-opted member John Ward (up to 15.05.22)

Committees

The PCC is supported by a number of sub-committees, which meet as

required between full meetings of the PCC. Standing Committee

This is the only committee required by law. It has power to transact business on behalf of the PCC and is subject to any specific directions given by the council. It is composed of the Incumbent, Churchwardens, Treasurer, Secretary and appointed members from the PCC, but with a maximum of 7 in all.

Church Hall Committee

Attends to all matters relating to the Hall including lettings, maintenance and repairs and financial records. Communications Committee

Reviews all Church communications – verbally, in print and on social media platforms.

Social Committee

Plans, organises and advertises Church social occasions. Church Fete Committee

Plans and organises this traditional and annual extravaganza held in the grounds of the church and liaises with exhibitors, entertainers and stall holders.

……………… continued……………..

Churchyard Maintenance Team

This is a small team working all year to maintain the beauty of our church grounds and Glebe Field. More regular volunteers would be welcome as well as the many additional helpers required to clear leaves during late Autumn and early Winter.

Finance Group

Usually meets in November annually, chaired by the Treasurer and recommends the amounts of fees and honoraria to be paid by the PCC for the following year. Also recommends to the PCC donations to be made direct from Church funds to Missions and Charities for the current year. This group includes the Vicar, Churchwardens and appointed members from the PCC.

The work of this Church in making Christ known to all who visit and to all in the communities within our parish, is a huge but rewarding task. Besides the spiritual dimension, there is always much else that needs to be achieved, some of which can be gleaned from the above quoted responsibilities of the PCC and its supporting committees, but also from the reports of the organisations and various groups that support our worship and outreach. It is essentially a shared responsibility of everyone working together in partnership and new volunteers are always welcome, either through the sharing of new ideas and experiences on a committee, or by fulfilling a task – big or small – that will enable our work to continue. All offers of help will always be appreciated and gratefully received.

Peter Furness PCC Secretary. January 2023.

Garden Stall 2022

In February 2022 the weather was kind enough to enable us to set up the Garden Stall again outside our house. At first it was marmalades and a few spring plants soon to be enhanced by golf balls donated by a neighbour who collected them from the rough in his daily walks across Burstead golf course (he washed and bleached them all for us!). Donations were modest at first but passers- by became more frequent as plants became more varied and plentiful, and donations of bedding plants, perennials, garden tools, terracotta and ceramic pots, house plants, and, later in the season, excess fruit and vegetables contributed to the grand total of £2,351.69 for church funds. Marmalade was very popular again and we are indebted to Mark and Mary Lazarus and Brenda Munns for their hard work in making it. Our thanks go to all who contributed in both cash and kind.

Martyn and Kathy Heald

Annual report on the Church Fete 2022

The church fete was held on Saturday 1 July, 11am to 4pm, following a break of two years due to the Covid epidemic and restrictions on daily life. The fete had previously been held in June which can be a busy month for events. It was decided that a July date, before the end of the school term, would be preferable.

The fete was an opportunity for the local community to return to a sense of normality and it was a fundraising event for the church. Over the past 2 years the church had received limited donations and repair work was needed on the building. The fete made £3110, only £394 less than the total for 2019.

Volunteers were essential to the running of the fete and it was recognised by the fete committee that more help was needed to get the layout and stalls set up. Billericay Army Cadets was approached for their support with this task and also to manage the car park. Everyone was very impressed with their support and management of the set up as well their polite and professional attitude. Thanks were later given to the Commander and in February 2023 a private donation of £125 from volunteers was made to the unit.

The fete committee agreed to keep expenditure to a minimum. This included inviting performers who would give their time free of charge. Some performers were unable to attend as they were catching up on examinations and other commitments, stopped during the pandemic.

The fete was planned along similar lines to previous years although on a smaller scale. We were unsure how many volunteers we would have and also the number of visitors. In the week leading up to the fete, some volunteers had to withdraw due to illness and this meant that the BBQ could not be offered and no alternative food stall organised at short notice. Volunteer roles on other stalls were able to be covered. There was more activity in the church this year as it was ideal to place the refreshments and cakes inside and a short organ recital from Emma

Griffin Olukoya, Director of Music.

Local businesses generously supported the Grand Draw and offered prizes. Tickets were sold on the day using raffle tickets. Previously, a printed ticket was available weeks beforehand however this was an additional cost. A number of new volunteers offered their time. Other groups attending were the South Green Village Councillors, Billericay Community Archive, Woodcarvers and vintage car owners. Thanks are given to everyone involved on the day or in the planning stage, Jane Markscheffel for liaising with local businesses for prizes for the Grand Draw, Gillian Maxwell for organising the performers, Colin Heywood, Jim Mills, Peter Furness and Derek Oakley for electrical, set up, arena and ground maintenance. Everyone involved was vital to the success of the day.

For 2023, the date is set for Saturday 8 July. Volunteers are essential to enable planning and requests for more people will be made. Discussion with local military cadets has started. More local interest groups will be invited and ideally more stalls for children. With the cost of living impacting families, pricing will be decided at the fete meeting.

Alison Ingleby – Chair of the Fete Committee 2022 8 March 2023

Prayer Circle

With various members of the Prayer Circle leaving, this group ended. Prayer, however, remains a critical part of our church, and the Prayer Circle may revive in the future.

Fr. Michael

Communications Committee

Last year, the biggest challenge for us as a committee was finding someone willing and able to look after the vital ministry of communicating what our church was doing via social media. Fortunately, in Anna Spalding, we have found someone currently doing a brilliant job for us in this ministry. From now on, this committee will meet periodically to overview the communications around our church, recognising that members of our church and the outside community must know what we are doing and what we are about.

Fr. Michael

Church Hall Report 2022

Life goes on at the hall.

The young ones hire it twice a day for pre and post school activities during term time. The council hire it for the local elections in May.

Our thanks to John and Thom Simons for keeping this important asset well maintained and for the groundsmen who keep the grass cut.

The PCC have agreed that the fencing around the hall can be replaced.

MJ Edwards January 2023

Church Cleaning Report

The pattern of weekly cleaning, either on Friday or Saturday, has continued throughout 2022. There are currently 10 people on the rota who work in pairs and another pair is due to start in 2023. I would like to thank everyone who has helped with the church cleaning during the year, as many hands make light work!

Jo Hall

Church Cleaning Coordinator

Great Burstead Mothers’ Union

(MU) 2022

MU is a global Christian organisation that has supported marriage and families worldwide for 145 years. Started by Mary Sumner in her local parish, it has grown to an international charity with over 4 million members in 84 countries. Membership is open to anyone, male or female, single, married or divorced who has been baptised. The subscription is £30 for a year for members but we welcome all of our congregation to come to meetings. Our branch meets on the first Thursday of the month in church at 2.15pm and we go out to lunch on the third Thursday.

We began the year with a social house meeting. In February one of our members, Brenda, together with her friend, Shirley, spoke about their work in the Prison Service. Our March meeting was taken by Pauline Randall from Billericay MU. We had a discussion about Transformation Now, our Theme for the Year. In Lent we collect for Make a Mother’s Day and sent £250 to the appeal. It was our AGM in April chaired by Father Michael and attended by Merrill Knight, our Diocesan Vice President. In May we were entertained by Doreen Potter with songs, stories and piano pieces. We had a picnic in the church grounds in June to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. In July Michael and Sue Ginn talked about Aquaboxes, sent out to disaster areas by Rotary Clubs, and they demonstrated how they worked.

We had an extra meeting in August, a very hot day, in the church hall, attended by Billericay and Wickford MUs to raise money for the Summer of Hope MU appeal to support women in leadership. We sent £250. Our Harvest Service in September was taken by Father Michael and we collected items for the Billericay Food Bank. We had an excellent Ukelele Concert by

Rumatica Band in October, well attended by our Deanery MU members. We collected £350 for English for Women, a project in Chelmsford to help immigrant women speak English. In November Rev. Margaret Fowler from Christchurch Billericay spoke about the sponsorship which their church gives to Ciamanda and Ena primary school children in Kenya to allow them to attend Secondary School as this is not free in Kenya. Several children have gone on to University. We ended the year with Carols and Readings and sent £160 to The Childrens Society.

Three of our members moved away in 2022 so we now have 15 members and would like a few more. I would like to thank our members for their generous support of all our projects.

Margaret Flack

Social Committee Report

Having not met for some time due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid pandemic, the Social Committee held a meeting on 18th October 2022 to generate some ideas for events. A Christmas lunch was held at the Retreat House, Pleshey on Sunday 11th December.

Ideas put forward for 2023 include a Tea Dance; Coach Trip Day Out; Afternoon Tea in the Vicarage Garden; Coronation Bring and Share Lunch; Summer BBQ and a Harvest Supper.

If anyone would like to join the Social Committee or would like to put forward a suggestion for an event, please let me know.

Jo Hall

Sacristan

We were please to resume serving at Services during 2022 but have a reduced number of servers at present so only have two at the 10.00 Service. Thank you to Andrew and Anne who serve at the 8.00 Service and prepare for 10.00 and to Peter who covers for them.

Thank you to Jim, Jo and Peter who serve me on a rota at 10.00. We would welcome more people to be trained as servers. Thank you to Mary for ordering supplies and helping to prepare for Services and change the altar frontals.

Margaret Flack

Licenced Lay Assistants at Communion

The following members of the team were available or able to assist at our communion services in 2022 and we were very grateful for them during the year.

Margaret Flack Andrew Lingard-Kay Peter Furness Anne Rudkins Jo Hall Joy Woods

Special mention is again due to Anne who has continued to give admirable support in covering for Andrew at our 8.00am services. We are also grateful to Margaret, our Sacristan, for always being willing and able, even at short notice, to assist at any communion service and more recently giving regular weekly assistance at our 10.00am services.

We are now short of regular available helpers at both of our communion services and additional volunteers would be most appreciated. If you feel that you may like to assist us in this way please see Fr. Michael.

Peter Furness Feb.2023.

Grounds Maintenance Team 2022

During 2022, the Grounds Maintenance Team (Paul Butterworth and I) were joined by Roy Rudland (and, occasionally by a young member of Paul’s family) and later by Colleen Spooner, (who had regularly walked to, and around, the Churchyard for exercise and kindly offered to help). Between us, we have worked hard to keep the Churchyard and Church Hall well tended, and to cope with the challenges of cutting the grass in the Glebe Field. (I should mention that our Team does not deal with the Crays Hill Open Cemetery, the maintenance of which is also within the remit of the PCC).

Special mention should also be given to the work of Hannah Pitt, who, as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award project, has created and tended a small area on the southern side of the Churchyard, as a memorial to the graves of children buried there without a headstone or marking.

With mild Winters, the grass keeps growing but is impossible to easily cut over Winter. Come Spring, the Glebe Field desperately needs a first cut, but, despite our best efforts in 2021 we were not able to deal with it. In 2022, the Churchwarden managed to organise a professional cut but, unfortunately, the cut was not as successful as we had hoped and the cut grass was not removed. We were therefore unable to continue the cutting as the machinery continually clogged up, despite trying all sorts of height settings. (The garden machinery that we have is just not built to cope with this type of heavy work). It took a very dry Summer and a lot of effort and man-hours (using the strimmer, rakes, the petrol mower and the ride on mower) to collect and remove the old grass and then cut the grass to an acceptable and usable height. But even then, we have only been able to work on the front half of the Field – the area which is used for parking during the Fete and for big events. It took all Summer to get to where we are and we

have been trying to keep this section under control ever since. The rear section of the Glebe Field remains uncut, but we are hoping that it will produce a good display of wildflowers in 2023.

The Church Hall grass is regularly cut and swept, to try to ensure that this area is suitable for use by Hall users.

The disposal of grass from the Churchyard is now mostly to the rear of the Church Shed. Unfortunately, the storms in 2021 and in the early part of 2022 left a considerable amount of debris and fallen branches throughout the Churchyard. Some of the clearance work was undertaken by Basildon Council, but some was undertaken by members of the Church and the debris was removed to the rear of the Church Shed or to the concrete Bunker on the southern area of the closed Cemetery that we also use. Eventually, this will need to be cut and taken away as it is limiting the space that we have to dump cut grass.

The removal of 4 trees from the Churchyard (some of which were causing subsidence to the NE Buttress of the Church) was finally undertaken, but we have yet to see any improvement in the Buttress – indeed, the very dry Summer may have contributed to the damage. One of the trees that was felled (a False Acacia) still has a stump that will need to be treated. It is still producing a large number of new saplings appearing over a large part of the surrounding area. These are mostly being pulled up by hand.

………………….c ontinued………………………

The two Mayflower Memorial apple trees planted in the southern section of the Churchyard are still surviving (despite an attack on one of them, possibly by badgers looking for worms) and they are regularly inspected by the Billericay Tree Wardens and by the Grounds Maintenance Team. (During the hot Summer months, the Tree Wardens and members of the Team helped with their watering). There is also now a Memorial Plaque in place in respect of them.

Usually, the Autumn fall of leaves is over by mid December, but, again, mild Winters are delaying the fall and we will still be picking up leaves well into 2023. Picking up leaves is time consuming. Any help from the congregation in this respect next Autumn would be greatly appreciated. (Collected leaves, put into black plastic bags and stored for a year make excellent leaf mould for the garden!)

Derek Oakley Grounds Maintenance Team

Churches Together in Billericay (CTB)

CTB Services were not held in 2022 except for the Civic Service in the Chantry Hall. It is hoped to resume Services in June and October in 2023. There have been regular prayer evenings for Love Billericay and there was an outreach event for Love Essex held at Sun Corner in July. The Soap Box Derby run by the Rotary Club was supported by CTB with a marquee for children’s activities and a prayer space.

At the CTB AGM we received reports on the work of the activities affiliated to or financially supported by CTB. The Food Bank based in the High Street is well supported by individual donors and businesses and thanks were expressed to them

and the volunteers who prepare the food bags and deliver to over one hundred households. The Street Pastors work from the hub in the High Street on Friday evenings and a prayer group prays for them twice a week. The Community Market was held monthly in St. Mary’s in the High Street and a team of MU members from several churches serve refreshments. At the Rotary Christmas Market in the High Street, volunteers from different churches served 600 drinks and mince pies and biscuits. Donations amounted to £557 for St. Luke’s Hospice. Candles were lit with prayer requests and carols were sung. Emmanuel church hosted a very successful Christmas Day lunch with the help of many volunteers. It cost £900 but so many donations were received that there is money set aside to pay for a lunch this year. Forging Men has been active for eight years and meets monthly with a speaker or an activity. The aim is to engage more men with church by Christian men inviting their non-church going friends. They held a very successful carol singing in the pubs and railway station.

Schools Ministry in Billericay (SMB) There are four part time staff members, each responsible for a specific area of ministry and they are assisted by volunteers and the School Pastors. They serve 16 schools and deliver assemblies, lunch clubs, lessons and mentoring, plus transition sessions for Year 6 pupils preparing them for Secondary School. SMB celebrates 30 years in 2023. The highlights of 2022 have been a return to full participation in school life: the newest member, Sally, has trained to present Old Testament walk-through- the-Bible sessions to Year 5 and 6 Juniors; the new “Live Club” at Billericay School was launched and is growing and thriving.

Margaret Flack and Mary Lazarus

Readers and Intercessors

Readers

Listed below are those who were available and able to read scriptural passages for our Sunday services during 2022

8.00am 10.00am 6.30pm
Kathy Heald Dorothy Barber Dorothy Barber
Martyn Heald Caroline Blore Graham Bruce
Colin Heywood Nigel Blore Margaret Flack
Anne Rudkins Graham Bruce Mary Latham
Margaret Flack Jeanne Wiggins
Jo Hall
Carole Heywood
Colin Heywood
Micki Lake
Mary Latham
Norman Maxwell
Jim Mills
Mothers’ Union
Members
Jeanne Wiggins

Intercessors

Listed below are those who volunteered in leading prayers for our 10.00am services during 2022.

Margaret Flack and Mothers’ Union members. Carole Heywood Peter Knatt

I wish to thank all those who have continued their commitment to read and/or to lead in prayer for our corporate worship, including the members of the Mothers’ Union on the first Sunday monthly. We could do with many more volunteers in order to provide for a richer variety in the composition and delivery of prayer. If anyone would like to read or to lead in prayer, he or she will be warmly welcomed and advice and guidance will always be readily available if needed. Anyone wishing to help in this way should speak with either Fr. Michael or me.

Peter Furness Feb 2023

Micki Lake - Micki’s very recent death has come as a great sadness to us all. She was one of our best and most regular readers at our 10.00am service and we will all miss her contributions as part of our team and Church family.

Vicar’s Report

I recall from a film about Churchill that when questioned about what year he would like to return to, he said it would be 1940 when we were alone.

Looking back to 2022, we may feel, as a Church, the same.

We had quite a few struggles as a Church that we needed to sort out for ourselves. Included within them was the damage caused to our building and organ by the lightning strike, the damage caused to our facility by the storm and the dispute at Crays Hill about the oak tree that the present owner of the property is convinced has been damaging his property. We have been left to get on with things for ourselves in all these matters and more. But impressively, with love and hard work, we got on with what needed to be done and made progress.

There were some highlights of 2022. I think of the pastoral services such as Weddings and Baptisms where I officiated. I remember the success of the Church Fete and all involved in organising and running that. I rejoice that new members have joined us, including Dean, who became our Parish Safeguarding Officer. But most of all, I take heart from the fact that our Church met regularly for worship, did our best to look after one another, and strove to make our Church as good as possible.

In 2022 my workload increased. Instead of just maybe preaching one or two sermons a week, this increased to about three or four times most weeks. Also, in the absence of two churchwardens, I have seen my diary filled with many new things to do. Like in previous years, I did my best to keep in contact with the local schools. I made sure that those requiring home communions received them, and I also made sure that the administrative side of our Church ran smoothly.

Outside of my immediate Church duties, I also got on with other roles, such as being a Spiritual Director, a member of the Diocesan Synod, the Assistant Area Dean and others. Last year was a busy year for me, but it was also a busy year for others, and I must express how grateful I and everyone should be to Mary, our Churchwarden. She has worked tirelessly for the good of our Church, and I think I can say, hand on heart, that our Church would not be the same without her and her ministry.

Also, I am very thankful for others who have helped our church in other matters. The cleaning, creation of rotas, maintenance of things, the coffee and teas at the end of service, the arrangement of church furnishings and flowers and much more do not come about by magic but at the hands of people who work hard for our Church. I am thankful for Thom, who managed and maintained our Church Hall. I appreciate Fola, who looked after the weekly pew sheets, worked with me to live stream some Christmas worship and agreed to monitor the situation regarding the tree at Crays Hill. I am also very grateful for our most talented organist Emma and our fantastic choir, who help enhance our weekly worship. I’m sure many other people do much, including Fr Peter, who helped lead worship last year, that I have not yet mentioned. But I am grateful to everyone who had a hand in helping out our Church last year.

As a Church, I’m sure that in the future, there will be more tests and adventures for our Church. Still, like last year, I believe that if we can continue to pray, read our bibles regularly and try to keep upbeat, there is no challenge alone or with others that we cannot square up to or overcome.

It was a privilege to be your priest last year.

Thank you for all your love and your support.

Fr Michael

The Parish Church St. Mary Magdalene Great Burstead with Ramsden Crays Regist¢red Clwity :_ 1132012 Reports for 2022 Incumbent: Father Mic1￿e1 Hall The vicarage Church Street Great Burstead Billericay CMI12TR Bank: Barclays Bank lan Rudkins 14 Upland Road Billericay CM12 OJP

St MARY MAGDALENE Gt BURSTEAD with Ramsden Crays P.C.C. ACCOUNTS For the year anding 31 December 2022 Independent examinorfs report to tho PCC of St Mary Magdal•ne Gt BuTStead with Ramsden Crays P.C.C I report on the accounts of the PCC ts the year ended 31 December 2022. whKh are set out on pages 1 to 5. Rospectlve responsibilllle• of trustees and oxamlnor The chanty's trustees consider that an audit is not requir&J for this year under se¢b"on 144{21 of the Chanties Act 2011 {the 2011 Act) and that an indep8ndenl examination is need. 11 rs my r8SFonsibility to.. Examine Ihe accounts und8r Sectwi 145 of the 2011 A¢ Foliow procedures laid down In general directson$ given by the Charity CommissKM)ers in Section 14515)Ibl of the 2011 Act.. arKI state whether particular matters have com& to my attention Bagh of independent examiners. report My ex8rninat￿n was ¢aryi8d out in 8¢Cordar￿ with the (knl Dlrections given by tho Charity Commissioners. An examination indudes a review of the accounting r￿r￿S kept by the charity and a comparison of the axounts presented with those rectxds. It also includès consKJeratson of any unusual rtems or dthures in the &xounts, and seeking of explanations from the management commrtt* conceming any such matter5. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evmlence that would be required in a full audit and. consequently, I do not AynrfipA An Aninlnn nn lh& ￿￿lInIA Inde￿ndent •xamln•¢• •tat•mont In connection wrth my examinth"on, no matter has o)me to my attenlion.. which gives m& rea&￿able cause to bdieve tha( in any materAI respec( the requirements.. To keep accounting records n arcord￿ ￿1h S130 of the 2011 AGt or To prepare ac￿Unts whlch acwd with the acC￿n￿n9 records have not bo￿ met or to which. in my opinron. attents'on should be drawn to order to enable a propgr understanding of the acc￿nts to b& re￿hed. lan Rudkins FCA 14 Upland Road Billericay Es$ex Date 7 November 2023

St MARY MAGDALENE Gt BURSTEAD P.C.C. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTNMES For tho y•ar •nding 31 Dec•mbgr 2022 Totsl 2021 INCOMING RESOURCES FuTrd Fund• Fund• Funds 2022 Incoming resour￿ frcffj dor 49,463 51,984 Olharvoluntsry rwourc88 . to furth¢r￿ CouThS8 objxts 11.819 18.281 18,750 . to pn•rt• lur 3.243 43.748 17,285 425 21.156 en 22.254 19,145 3.243 70.808 673 107.514 RESOURCES EXPENDED Co8t8 ol g￿￿￿ti1vd fvrK 147 147 Gr4nl• A¢Uvltbs dirldty r•lthg to IINI k ol Iho olurch 47,679 110.862 TOTAL RE80UR¢E8 EXPENfED 47.179 128.261 111,822 NET1I4COMIN￿0uT￿1OiMal RE80UIKE8 ,979 673 7.307 14.3081 G•ln8 snd on Inve•bMnt• 145.73n 13.0201 148.7871 87,704 Tr•n•f•r• t•lwi Fur 15.447 13.0961 115.4311 13741 Nel Mov•rMnt in fvrth 13,9941 138.1891 12,7211 141M80) 83,396 801gnce• bowht fom At l J8nu8ry 2022 18.021 99,B52 535.124 22,0 075,087 675,087 B•l•n¢M ¢arvl•d foThva At 31 O•E•mb•r 2022 833.637 738,463

St MARY MAGDALENE Gt BURSTEAD P.C.C. Balan¢• Shoet as at 31st December 2022 2022 2021 FIXED ASSETS Flxed assets Investmen18 2.363 554,435 560.S94 CURRENT ASSETS DebtOT8. income tax recoverable D8blors- insurance dalm Doposlt a¢xounts Current ac¢))unts Cash in harml 556.798 1(000 11,748 145.197 17,966 98.$23 18219 CURRENT LIABIUTIES Crodilors- accrual$ 132,742 182,911 11,2281 NET CURRENT A88ET8 132,742 181,685 NeT ASSETS 697.185 738,483 RESERVES G•noMI FurKI. Ltnrnthct•d 10,743 14,737 Chlldren'l FurKI - d•8lgr F•¥lival at Byrst•ad - de8lgnat•d Flowar Fund - d081gnaled Mi88l¢Jn Actlvlties. Messy Churth. d•n•t•d 1206 2,675 2.575 Injurance Clalm - resldclad Hall Fund - Testricted Styr8 Fund - re8thct•d B¥nche$ Fund- re8trded Church Furnl8hlngs Fund- rMtrlct•d Capltal Fund- re8th.cted Jame8 Heman L•gacy Churchyard Fund - re#lrict•d Church Muwc Fund- r•th¢a•d Organ Fund- re8trictsd New Church Hall Fund- r88tr1 Church Building Trusl Fund- mtrx#ad {250} 86,949 96,722 1,975 24,188 434,572 94.313 740 21237 393,490 M123 793 4.882 108 44,989 6S8233 892,811 Ttthe Chancel- endowme Henry Ward . erKlowment 10.246 11583 9,813 12,477 22,8 25,550 TOTAL RESERVES 697,190 738,483 proved by the Parochial Chw¢h Coun¢￿ cffi XXXXXX 2023 s￿d its beholf by Thg Revd. Father Mkh¥l Hall {chainnan> dlA HJI .11.Z3 The notes on tho followiro pages f￿) part oftr* acxxAmts Pag• 2

St MARY MAGDALENE Gt BURSTEAD P.C.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ending 31 December 2022 I ACCOUNTING POUCIES a) Basis of accounting The financial ststements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations as amended by the Church Accounting (Amendment) ReguLqtion$ 2006 together applicab￿ a¢o)unting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice.. Accounting for charities. b) Funds General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restricthjns regarding Iheir use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds deS￿nated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestr￿. The accounts ir￿￿de all transact￿￿8, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do nol include the accounts of Church groups that their main affilialiort to 8nother body of those that are Infonnal gatherings ol church cl Incomlng resources Colleckn8 are recognS8ed receNed by or on behalf of the PCC Plann6d gmng re¢elvable under grfl aid is re(xinis•J onty wthen received Income tax recoverablè on grlt aid donat￿9 is recognised when the in￿rne 1$ recogni8&J d) Fixed assets Consscrated and benef￿d property of any kind18 exclud*l from the accounts ty s.96{21 ofthe Charities Ad 1993. For other fixed assets acquired pnor to 1st January 19￿ there is inSuffiC￿￿t cost information available and therefore such assets are not valued in th8 accaints. Other fixed ￿frts acquired after 1 January 1990 have been captsliwj and depwated in the accounts on a straight line basls over Ihoir currW anticlpated aconomic life of befyveen fwe and len years. e) Inve8tmerrt8 Investments are carrted at Ihwr market value a131 Deceffl￿r. Page 3

St MARY MAGDALENE Gt BURSTEAD P.C.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (¢ontlnuedl For the year endlng 31 December 2022 2 INCOME RESOURCES UnrntrI￿ 0•slgwtsd R••11k￿ Fund Fund• Fund• Totsl Total 2021 FI￿d• 2a In¢omlng frnm donorn Plpnned Gtha Incom8 tax r￿verabl• Othar Grfts & DtsTrattr 31.V 31.952 8,339 8,204 51.984 8,413 50.308 49.463 2b Oth•rvoluntsry In¢omlno rn•ouMA Ceniribubon to¥Arth MM81 Grants 3eo Hall R•nt4 Roc•wJ P•rochW F• 11.819 11,619 12.276 6.474 11,819 18.ts1 18.750 2d Incom• from 0￿1•11￿￿ acll¥lt5•• &) q•Mrts lund• Fund Raising Oth¢r Re￿iplI 3,243 6.703 37.038 37,038 17.231 3.243 43.74$ 17,285 DfvkJ•nd8 & ￿tar•ol 425 21,186 8n 22.264 19,145 Total In¢omkno R••ouv¢•• 173 136.66B 107,514 3 RESOURCES EXPENDED arnnt• Pamh GI￿r￿j Jb AcWvlUM dliyty v•l•ty to th• woth ¢hw¢h Dknc•8Bn Famity Purne Mmi8try Expen 05.3n 85,373 1222 62.902 1,237 Church Exper￿86 Church Mall Costs Outreach and Doar*ry Synod Churth•6 ttwhertrt Bif•k•y 12,715 $4.056 0,739 25.408 21,315 5.739 125 125 47,679 128.114 170,862 3c Co•ts d gonor￿￿9 Fundraisiw cosls 147 147 80835 147 47.679 128,281 111,822

St MARY MAGDALENE Gt BURSTEAD P.C.C. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEKfs (Cont1n￿d) For tho y￿r ondlng 31 Docomb•r 2022 4 FIXED ASSETS C￿reh Equnt Eq￿pm•rrt Tot•1 At 1 JiTrJary 2022 5A18 41.740 dlllons &981 3.•81 131 LK)tmbor2ts22 5,518 44721 DEPREcwnoM 1 J•r•Jwy 2022 S,1¢)J 313TI ¢h•rg•fors4r 245 1496 A131 Oecemt•r 2022 38.527 41,172 NEY BOOK VALUE At 31 Ooc•mt•r 2022 1rJ 849 131 O•c•mt•r 2021 418 6 INVESTMENTS Toi•l VALUAYIOM At 1 J•nuory 2 554,435 Pwth•se• •t c¢•1 $4,784 148,eosi 10.246 12.583 153.396 94.123 240.089 $0,157 CBF In¥eth￿ Fw*J. HwryWarFw#1 AMALY813 OF NET A38Ef3 BY FUND Fund Fund¥ 2022 2021 ln 3.849 IJIO,$99 16.1)00 98,523 18219 2.363 554.435 19.746 145.197 17,6 InvestmL￿ts 18.(XX) {12.9￿? Bank.. Oepostt Bank." GIKr￿ Aoxwrt Cash Sn hBTrJ Crodltord 11A.128 14.162 11,226) T¢)lal 14x743 4385 068333 4829 697.190 738,483

IIIFJ lil 11 ill 1,115 ZLO L)

zl l- 111] Ill 11112211 Illl!:

GREAT BURSTEAD with RAMSDEN CRAYS PCC REPORT ON 2022 ACCOUNTS

• Accounting Policy

The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2011 together with applicable standards of the Charities Act. They include the Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheets and a statement of Assets & Liabilities. We are a registered charity and our registration number is 1132012. When the Parishes of Gt Burstead and Ramsden Crays were merged on the 1 November 2011, we then took responsibility for their finances. The building (the worship centre) and land were sold on 19 December 2013 and the proceeds have been placed in 2 long term investments. (see note 3.11 below) St Mary’s Ramsden Crays was sold by the Church Commissioners in the late 1990s, but the churchyard is still open and is our responsibility.

• Funds

•

Various funds held by the PCC

for a specific purpose- This restricted fund was set up from donations from members of the congregation in remembrance of their loved ones. It is to be used for any project/furnishings in the church but not for everyday maintenance of the church.

I am very grateful to the parishioners that swapped their parish giving from weekly/monthly envelopes to standing orders, or put their envelopes through the vicarage door, this was a great help in keeping us afloat. I am also grateful to the parishioners who generously gave extra donations to make up some of the shortfall in the loose plate collections and loss of occasional offices (eg Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals). We are also fortunate that we can use the interest from some of our investments to help pay our general bills.

I pray that during 2023 we will have more occasional services and will be able

to fund raise to make up the shortfall. As we no longer have the 100 club or the C4C (change for cash). This will then enable us to move forward with some mission projects as unfortunately we have had to close the Messy church club as there was a lack of leaders and children.

In the autumn 2021 we had our quinquennial inspection. I am glad to say that the report did not throw up many expensive repairs. The NE Buttress is being monitored/ investigated as is the chancel floor, the damage could be due to tree roots. The offending trees were removed in February 2022, we now need to see if they make any difference. Since the inspection it has come to light that all the cedar shingles on the spire are either missing or in bad condition. The estimate is approximately £45000 . We will now need to start serious fundraising and applying for grants and faculties so that it can be done while the scaffolding is up to replace the Cockrel.

Mary Edwards Hon Treasurer October 2023