Parish of St Maxentius Bradshaw
Annual report and financial statement.
Year ended December 31st 2024
St Maxentius Church
Bolton Road, Bradshaw, Bolton, BL2 3E Diocese of Manchester, Bolton Episcopal Area
Bolton Deanery
The parochial Church Council of the parish of St Maxentius, Bradshaw
Registered Charity Number 1132522
Year ending December 31st 2024
Presented to the Annual Parochial Council Meeting
Sunday 18th May 2025
This report is compiled by members of the Parochial Church Council.
Background and general information.
The Anglian Parish of St Maxentius is part of the Turton Moorland Ministry, together with the parishes of St Anne, Turton, St Peter Belmont and Christ Church Walmsly.The team is on the northern edge of the Manchester diocese, consisting of suburban development moorland villages and extensive rural areas. St Maxentius Church is situated on Bolton Road, Bradshaw, and serves a settled and stable community based on the village of Bradshaw on the northern outskirts of Bolton. Many of the local population have links with the church and and many of the congregation have longstanding church connections,
The address for all correspondence is : St Maxentius Church, Bolton Road , Bradshaw, Bolton, BL2 3BW.
Administrative information.
The parochial Church Council , known as St Maxentius PCC, is a registered charity, no. 1132522. church officers who served since the last APCM are: Team Rector: Vacant
Team Curate: Rev Hannah Lane Ordinand in training: Jan Bennett Team Administrator: Chris Sutcliffe. Deputy chair: Joyce Armstrong ALMs, Jo Haslam, Chris Sutcliffe. Churchwardens; Joyce Armstrong, Chris Sutcliffe.
Deputy wardens: Bryan Goodall , Don Taylor, Margaret Heaton, Tom Heaton, Ruth Scorah, Carol Carr, Sam Dale, Karen Greenhalgh PCC: Joyce Armstrong, Chris Sutcliffe, Carol Carr, Sue Usher, David Houghton, Bryan Goodall, Don Taylor, Jo Haslam, Nicola Waring, Matthew Pearson, Mark Pearson, Katie Eckersley, Sam Dale.
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the church representative rules . All church attendees are encouraged to register on the electoral roll and stand for election to the PCC at the next APCM. A third of the PCC will be elected every year to serve for 3 years. Elected members are limited to 15, plus exofficio and co-opted members.
Two Churchwardens are elected every year at the annual Parishioners meeting immediately before the APCM. Any person on the electoral roll may attend and vote. Churchwardens are officers of the Bishop’s, and exofficio members of the PCC. The PCC has responsibility for a wide range of matters affecting the Parish including compliance with health and safety, disability discrimination, child protection and safeguarding. Day to day management is done by the Rector, delegated as appropriate to the team vicar, Churchwardens, PCC and team administrator
Area Dean’s Report for APC
please see separate Document,
Church Report
During the past twelve months we have had some trying times and we appreciate the help we have had from retired clergy and clergy from the Mission Community. Our Area Dean Simon Cook helped us out with advice and assistance in staff team meetings and was a valuable source of information and support.
we were delighted when our curate Rev Hannah Lane secured the post of incumbent ar Bolton Parish Church and we were very pleased for her although it left Angie Foster and myself without a supervisor for our ordination training. Many thanks to Rev Marcus Bulcock and Rev Lee Higson for stepping in and supporting us.
Training has gone well and I have been able to get a lot of experience which some of my colleagues have not had. So, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. I would like many members of the congregation for their support and encouragement and for filling in the feedback forms for college. You have given me a lift in the difficult times and have gone Out of your way to help in any way you can and I really appreciate this. We are a great team here at St Maxentius church, using our God given skills and talents to the good. Even even without a priest us we have pulled together without negativity and have done the best we can. The first Sunday of the month now has an all age service of the word, and the Tuesday morning reflective service continues to flourish, as does WOW on Wednesday. We remained a growing church throughout Covid, the interregnum and throughout the illness and death of Rev Peter. With the guidance of our new team Rector, Rev Ian Hepburn, we will continue to be God’s disciples through our friendships and actions and keep our wonderful church flourishing. Jab Bennett (ordinand).
Church Warden’s Report
We all felt the loss of Peter when he sadly passed away in February after a short but rapid diagnosis that his cancer had spread. The support from retired clergy,wider team,and mission community has be much appreciated to keep our weekly services on a regular pattern. As wardens we are very grateful for all the help they have given us.
Don, as usual has overseen all the fabric requirements , including the replacement of the lighting system due to the bulbs no longer being available. The reordering requirements are being perused in accordance with Diocesan regulations. One of the reasons we need to reorder the church space is to accommodate our growing Little Church and and Young People’s worship on Sunday Morning. We are so lucky to have Jo Haslam bringing her
expertise as Diocesan Growing Faith and Early Years Advisor to develop the children and youth worship within our church and the team.
Our vision is to have a better bathroom facility,a kitchen and a better area for refreshments. Our future hopes and inspirations are to be able to offer a space for toddler groups and luncheon clubs.
We would like to thank Matthew for leading the choir as they have supported the congregation weekly during services and once again have sung some beautiful anthems at special festivals.
The Monday group led by Alan Hamer have worked relentlessly to tidy and clean the gravestones and churchyards. They have also created a wildflower area which is both beautiful and ecological. We are very grateful for all, they have done and continue to do in a weekly basis. We appreciated the help of the PCC in preparation for the Team Rector’s appointment. We were delighted when Ian Hepburn accepted this position and we are sure he will be an asset to the team.
As Churchwardens we would like to thank the clergy, Jan our ordinand, who will become a deacon on on 29th June 2025, and Jo our ALM, for children and youth worship, the PCC, and the congregation for their continuing support.
Joyce and Chris, Churchwardens.
PCC report.
The PCC began the year coming to terms with the loss of Rev Peter Reiss. Joyce Armstrong continued to chair our meetings, and support from Area Dean Rev Simon Cook was always available.
The PCC met 6 times in 2024. At our first meeting after the APCM Carol Carr was reelected as Secretary and Mark Pearson was elected as treasurer. Bryan Goodall, who had been treasurer for many years decided it was time to step down. He had been a real asset to the PCC in that role ,and we thank him for everything he has done over the years. but we know Mark will do a good job too. Mark was also co-opted on to the PCC. Arthur and Alison Greaves also stepped down from the PCC after over 20 Years, and our thanks to them for their long service.
All work on reordering the church had to be put on hold as we now have no incumbent, but the new lighting was installed in January and is looking good. We then spent time looking at out parish Profile for the advertisement for the new team rector. Chris, Joyce, Carol, David and Jo formed a subcommittee to oversee this and make sure our parish was well presented. After interviews Rev Ian Hepburn was appointed, and hopefully we will now be able to advertise for a new team vicar. Social events continued, including a very successful afternoon tea in Chris’s garden which raised money for the MacMillan charity. The monthly Saturday morning coffee mornings continued. The Christmas Fair once again was hugely successful and our thanks to icola Waring and her helpers for this.The Safari supper had to be
cancelled due to lack of support and we may try to schedule this at a different time of year. We looked at other fundraising events for the future, including a treasure hunt either in cars or on foot round the parish.
We did manage to pay our parish share after the wardens and treasurer, plus Bryan m had a meeting with Carolyn McGloughlin which ended up with a good reduction so we managed to pay the parish share in full.
The church had to have it’s quinquennial inspection, which was done by Fish Associates of Bolton. Their report is awaited.
Matthew discussed the possibility of purchasing an LED screen big enough to screen words of songs at Wow services and first Sundays, he did find one that was also interactive but it had gone, but he will continue to look. I would like to thank the Churchwardens, everyone on the PCC , Jan, ,Rev Viv Masters, Rev Marcus Bulcock, Rev Alan Pierce, Rev Simon Cook and everyone else who has kept our church to come successfully through this difficult time.
Carol Carr, PCC secretary.
Parish report
The new electoral roll has been published and stands at 78 which is a huge drop from the previous roll. We have lost a high proportion of our congregation, but our church members now are fully committed to our church and most have been with us for many years, although we also have many new members especially at the WOW service. Our Sunday congregation is around 80 per week, plus around 16 children, but these numbers do fluctuate. The Wednesday service has around 120 children and adults. The Tuesday morning reflective service continues to flourish, with 10-14 people attending. There have been 3 weddings, 29 baptisms, 6 funerals and 8 burial of ashes. Carol Carr, electoral roll officer.
Team Council Report
The Team Council has continued to meet regularly throughout the year. I. Additional to the successful activities of Turton Youth Church the central administrative function provided by the Team Administrator , Christine Sutcliffe, has been invaluable in what has proved to be a a particularly challenging year.
Starting the year with,effectively,only one stipendary priest in the team,Rev Hannah Lane gained a much deserved elevation to become Vicar of Bolton in October , leaving no stipendiary clergy in the team over the Christmas period. Our thanks must go to the retired and other clergy, and also to the licensed lay lay readers and ordinands who enabled us to continue services in this period .Much team activity was devoted to the successful recruitment and appointment of our new Team Rector who took post in February.
We look forward to the coming year which will bring developments both locally and with the further establishment of the Mission Community. Alan Hopkins, Lay Chair.
Mission Community Report.
Rev Viv Masters who acting MC leader continued in the role, and the whole MC is suffering from shortage of clergy, but Viv has filled in for Sr Maxentius once a month. The clergy meet regularly, and an information afternoon for all churches in the MC was organised which St Maxentius could not attend as it clashed with our brine to Remember service.
Financial Report
Total receipts on ordinary restricted funds were £63,316 and are detailed in the financial statement. £66,553 was spent to provide the Christian ministry from St Maxentius Church, including the contribution to the Diocesan Parish Share which largely provides the stipends and housing for the clergy.
The sum that the churches in thevDeanery have to find is shared between the churches according to a formula that is based mainly on a head count of the congregation, By using £3,238 from reserves brought forward we were able to pay our parish share in full.
The net result for the year was a deficit of receipts over payments of £3,238 from reserves brought forward from the beginning of the year , the balance carried forward at 31st December for unrestricted funds not designated by the PCC totalled £8,324
Reserves policy: The PCC aims to retain a balance of unrestricted “free” reserves to provide working capital and to meet any future shortfalls in receipts or unexpected payments , at least equal to three monthly payments . At 31st December 2024 those reserves fell short of the target by approximately £8,300.
Mark Pearson, treasurer.
Fabric Report
2024 saw the installation of of the new internal LED lighting, although most of the cost for this 2023 final accounts. A significant amount towards the total cost of the installation was met by individual donation for which we are extremely grateful. No major repair works were undertaken to the church building other than the redecoration of external timbers and the building remains generally wind and watertight. Some minor repairs and decoration were undertaken to the church tower by volunteers at little cost to the church and the tower clock I returned to working condition. Major works of repair to the tower were held in abeyance.
The church quinquennial inspection was undertaken late in the year and we are awaiting their final report which will highlight the future repairs needed.
No final decisions have been made regarding any reordering of the church and facilities.
There have been continued improvements to the churchyard by a limited number of volunteers to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. More volunteers to help with this work would be greatly appreciated.
Don Taylor
Safeguarding Report
Safeguarding training is ongoing, and there have been no safeguarding issues during the year. We need to get on board with DBS checks but there have been issues with the portal. It is hoped to get this up and running this year.
Choir report
The choir at St Maxentius has remained stable in the last year and membership is unchanged.We continue to sing at all Sunday services, with 4 part harmonies for hymns. (Where appropriate) and support for the all age worship held one a month. We have continued our practice of singing anthems for high days including Christmas services, Palm Sunday and of Course Holy Week and Easter: In the last year around 30 new hymns from our Hymn Book(Hymns old and New) have been introduced to worship with the aim of using the hymn book to its fullest and widening the range of hymns we sing.
In June a Hymns of Praise service was held. This proved very popular and although the impetus for this was simply the lack of a priest to hold a conventional service, many have asked if this could become an annual event, so we will hold this again in the summer on a suitable date.The congregation can nominate favourite hymns for inclusion in the service. Theist Max choir continues to go from strength to strength supporting the worship in the church weekly, and providing a musical focal point. We are, as always, keen to have new members, so please chat to Matthew or anyone in the choir if you would like to know more. You don’t need to be able to read music, just have an interest in singing.
Dr Matthew Pearson
Mother’s Union Report
As a group we meet on the second Tuesday of each month March to December in church at 2pm. In January and February we meet at 10:30am for shared morning prayer or Holy communion. In March we celebrated Lady Day with a short service followed by the AGM. in April we had a Bible market, and in May we welcomed David Lloyd from Turton History Society followed by a games afternoon in June. We enjoyed an excellent talk from Rev Marcus on walking the Great Glen in July and in August hosted the Archdeaconry festival led by Rev Alan Pierce and speaker Kath Hilton,
former MU President in Manchester, Later in the month we enjoyed a coffee evening at Helena and Mike’s’ house. This is always an excellent social evening. In September Chris spoke about her great holiday Down Under, and in Octobervwe welcomed Kath Hilton as our speaker, and in November we enjoyed lunch at Summerseat Garden Centre. At the Christmas Fair we had our usual stall and manned the cafe, Out Christmas meeting included a short service, Bingo and a quiz, followed by seasonal refreshments.
Many of our members are involved in church life, and throughout the year we support Deanery and Archdeanery events.
June Lowe
16th Bolton Guides Report
Over the past 12 months we have had a regular membership of 10 Guides and 4 Guide Leaders,
We continually struggle financially to keep,our Company running, With so few Guides paying subscriptions the running costs of the Tables ( electricity m insurance, fire certificate and extinguishers and building repairs ) plus the annual census fee tomHQ (currently £50 per membership year) mean that we are in a constant battle to remain financially viable. Fortunately this year our Local Guiding County have sent us a donation which means we can keep open till at least this summer. Our financial position and viability Will then be reviewed,
Guide Leaders continue to commit their time and efforts into providing a varied and fun programme of activities for the Guides to enjoy and we have planning meetings in advance of each new term,
Since April 2024 we have been busy following out Girl Guiding programme as well as enjoying other activities. We have completed the Be Well , Adventure and Know Myself programmes as well as building bird boxes through our contact at Friends of Longsight Park. Last summer we had a walk through the park and spotted our bird boxes in the Millennium Wood. We were thrilled to see some blue tits flying in and out of a couple of boxes as this meant we were able to see the impact of our contribution, The guides have also worked hard to produce some lovely window displays for the various church festivals, and have had fun cooking pancakes , making s’mores and enjoying a cookout after collecting wood and (always a highlight of the year) learning how to make fires to cook on and how to safely clean the environment afterwards, A small group of our Guides also joined Guides from across the county in an Adventure Activity Day, and we are hoping to join with other Guides in our County in the coming year. Sam Dale, Guide Leader
37th Brownies Report
The 37 th Brownies meet on Monday night. We have 14 Brownies, 4 Guiders and a young leader.
This school year we have been busy having fun, making new friends doing badges, playing games and making crafts. During the Autumn term we had a bonfire, Halloween party went to watch the pantomime at the Little Theatre, made Christmas crafts and , helped Father Christmas at the School Fair, and completed our innovate badge. We also made Chinese Lanterns for Chinese new Year, celebrated Thinking Day by bringing in holiday souvenirs and learning about Guides in those countries. We completed our Zero Waste badge , learnt all about recycling, and some of our Brownies Bronze award, Future plans include 3 days in Silverdale for Pack Holiday, with 9 brownies and 4 leaders, and we are also going to Leighton Moss for the day. Deborah Rushworth
St Maxentius Church, Bradshaw Financial Statement for Year Ended 31st December 2024
Charity No 1132522
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endownment Funds Funds Funds Funds £ £ £ £
Receipts & Payments Accounts
Receipts
| Voluntary Receipts Regular Giving Receipts from donors Planned giving Collections other than giving Income Tax recovered Other voluntary receipts (note 4a) Activities for generating funds (note 4b) Receipts from Church Activities (note 4c) Investment income (note 4d) Payments Church activities Diocesan parish share Other payments (note 4e) Excess of Receipts over Payments Transfer between funds Bank current & deposit accounts 1st Jan Bank current & deposit accounts 31st Dec STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES Cash Funds Bank current accounts CBF deposit fund Other deposit funds Other Monetary Assets Investment Fund shares at market value Assets retained for Church use Liabilities - Investment Assets( note 2 ) |
35,748 - - - 5,226 - - - 10,171 - - - |
|---|---|
| 51,145 - - - 588 - 10,159 - 4,013 - - - 5,222 - - - 2,346 - - - |
|
| 63,315 - 10,159 - | |
| 38,000 - - - 28,553 307 8,477 - |
|
| 66,553 307 8,477 - | |
| (3,238) (307) 1,682 - - - - - |
|
| (3,238) (307) 1,682 - 11,562 22,432 13,806 - |
|
| 8,324 22,125 15,488- | |
| 8,324 22,125 15,488 - - - - - - - - |
|
| 8,324 22,125 15,488 - | |
| - - - - | |
| - - 86,459 - | |
| - - - - | |
| - - - - |
The attached notes on pages 2 & 3 form part of these financial statements
Approved by the PCC on 18th March 2025 and signed on their behalf by Rev. I Hepburn and Mr M Pearson (PCC treasurer) St Maxentius Church, Bradshaw Charity No 1132522 Financial Statement for Year Ended 31st December 2024
NOTES
1 The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Acco 2006 using the receipts & payments basis.
2 All the funds are invested in CBF Church of England Investment Fund shares.
3 The movements in designated and restricted funds during the year were:
| Designated: Church Building Fund Little Church Restricted: Church Fabric Fund Church Building Fund Church Organ Fund Flower fund |
Bal b/fwd Receipts Payments Tax Rec 20,000 - - - 2,432 - 307 - |
|---|---|
| 22,432 - 307 - | |
| 8,296 5,243 7,517 - 5,279 4,178 0 - 150 105 255 - 81 633 705 - |
|
| 13,806 10,159 8,477 - |
The fabric fund represents accumulated donations, appeals and monies transferred from Inve Assets which can only be spent for fabric maintenance.
The restricted building fund represents accumulated donations, appeals and monies transferre Assets which can only be spent on the church building
The organ fund represents accumulated donations which can only be spent for organ mainten
The flower fund represents accumulated donations and monies spent on flowers for the churc
| 4 Receipts and Payments analysis a) Other voluntary receipts Legacy Donations b) Activities for generating funds Book of Remembrance Donations - Votive Stand Events - Bonus Ball Events - Christmas Fair Events - Pancake, BBQ etc Events - Safari Supper Events - Quiz Magazine Sales Magazine Adverts |
Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds 2024 £ £ £ £ - - 2,000 2,000 588 - 8,159 8,747 |
|---|---|
| 588 - 10,159 10,747 | |
| 40 - - 40 161 - - 161 - - - - 2,415 - - 2,415 589 - - 589 - - - - - - - - 380 - - 380 275 - - 275 |
| Ground Rent Misc |
153 - - 153 |
|---|---|
| 4,013 - - 4,013 |
c) Receipts from Church Activities Fees 5,222 - - 5,222 Charity No 1132522
St Maxentius Church, Bradshaw Financial Statement for Year Ended 31st December 2024
| d) Investment income Bank Interest Dividends on CBF Investments e) Church activities - payments Vicar expenses Vicarage Upkeep Team Expenses Gas/Electricity/Water Insurance Repairs/Maintenance Service Consumables Cleaner Magazine Ground Rent Organists Event Expenses Bonus Ball Little Church Designated Fund transfer Sundries Flowers |
- - - - 2,346 - - 2,346 |
|---|---|
| 2,346 - - 2,346 | |
| - - - - 714 - - 714 2,460 - - 2,460 13,154 - - 13,154 3,345 - - 3,345 736 - 7,772 8,508 1,349 - - 1,349 2,390 - - 2,390 995 - - 995 5 - - 5 3,120 - - 3,120 228 - 228 - - - - - - - - 307 307 57 - - 57 - 705 705 |
|
| 28,553 307 8,477 37,338 |
5 The expenses paid to clergy may include a small immaterial proportion, which relates to their PCC members. One member of the PCC received payment for cleaning the church on a week One member received payment as our organist.
Financial Review
Total receipts on ordinary unrestricted funds were £63,315 and are detailed in the financial st
£66,553 was spent to provide the Christian ministry from St. Maxentius Church, including the to the diocesan parish share, which largely provides the stipends and housing for the clergy.
The sum that the churches in the deanery have to find is shared between the churches accord formula that is based mainly on a head count of the congregation. By using £3,238 from rese forward, we were able to pay our contribution of £38,000 in full.
The net result for the year was a deficit of receipts over payments of £3,238. Reducing the ba brought forward from the beginning ot the year, the balance carried forward at the 31st Decem unrestricted funds not designated by the PCC totalled £8,324.
Reserves policy
The PCC aims to retain a balance of unrestricted "free" reserves to provide working capital and to meet any future shortfalls in receipts or unexpected payments, at least equal to three m At 31st December 2024, those reserves fell short of this target by approximately £8,300.
Total Total 2024 2023 £ £
35,748 36,971 5,226 6,023 10,171 10,113 51,145 53,106 10,747 6,211 4,013 5,940 5,222 3,128 2,346 2,310 73,474 70,695
38,000 36,113 37,337 38,884 75,337 74,997 (1,863) (4,302) - - (1,863) (4,302) 47,800 52,102 45,937 47,800 45,937 47,800 - - - - 45,937 47,800 - - 86,459 84,525 - - - -
ounting Regulations
Bal c/fwd
20,000 2,125 22,125
6,021 9,457 9 15,488
estment
ed from Investment
nance.
ch.
Total 2023 £
- 6,211 6,211
60 99 1,530 1,972 300 1,218 - 444 175
142
5,940
3,128 - 2,310 2,310
23 (677) 1,820 11,595 3,312 11,904 1,012 2,390 1,085 5 3,230 472 1,530 - 110 386 687 38,884
duties as kly basis.
tatements. contribution ding to a erves brought
.nk balance nber for nonths payments.
.'aiEG Mpysua¥ iaey 'pau?paJ aq 01 siunog?e eui Jo 6u!pueisJapun Jadojd p aiqpua 01 Jepjo U! UMPJP aq pinoys uoiiuaiiE 'uoiuido Aw u! '¥?!LIM 01 ' JO :PV 8yI Jo siuaLUaJ!nbaJ 6uiiunoJgE a4141!M dwo? puE spJoJaJ 6uiiunoaJe aLll UIIM aaJ6E pajpdajd ajp siunow pue :(iav aLII10 0£ L UO!laaS LIIIM uPpJa8 u!) Ida¥ ajp spJo?aJ 6uiiunoJJe JadoJd '.ie41 ajnsua 01 siuawaJ!nbaJ a41 law IOU 8APU saaisnji ayi 'wadsaJ IBiJaipLU AUE 'U! Ipyi anelieq 01 asnE? alqEUOSEaJ aw san16 4J!LIM ' uo!iuauB Aw 01 aw spu JauEW OU 'UO!IEU!wpxa Aw Jo asJnoJ gui ui luawaiS s.Jau!wpxa iuapuadapui "siunoggp aL41 UO uoiuldo y.pnp UE ssajdxa iou op i AiiuènbasU PUB 'W.pllE UE U! paJ!nbaJ aq pinom IEL41 aaU?P!Ae ayi lie ap!AoJd iou op ua¥eyapun saJnpaaoJd ayi "sJauELU ysns Aue 6u!uJaouo saaisnji aui WOJJ suo!IEueidxa 6u!¥gas PUB siunowE gyi u! saJnsoi?s!p Jo swai! iensnun Aup 10 UOIIEJaPlSUO? sapni?u! osie 11 'spJoJèJ asoiii Ullm paiuesajd slun0e 8¥1 Jo uosuedw PUE Mljey? aui Aq Ida¥ spJoaaJ 6u!iunogJE aui Jo Ma!AaJ e sapni?ui uo!IPU!WExa uy'uo!i!pa 900Z 'a?UEpin6 L4aJnL49 aul ui punoj aq 01 pup i?v aui Jo (q)(s)strk u011S Japun uolssiwwo? IJEU J 8L41 Aq uaAI6 suo!iJaJ!a IEJauag uilm asuppJo?)p u! Ino paiJJpJ SEM UO!IEUIWBX8 AtrN oz Jaqwaaaa 1£ ulpua JEa aui Jo4 swnoggE ugjnua snliuaxpw Is Jo uo4aa sui