2022-12-31-accounts - The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St. Mary On The Hill, Chester

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The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary-on-the-hill, Chester known as St Mary without-the-walls PCC, Chester

Registered charity number 1132533

Parochial Church Council Annual Report 2023

Introductory overview
Churchwarden’s report
Incumbent’s report
Reports from Clusters
a. Buildings and Environment (incl. The St Mary’s Handbridge Centre)
b. Children and Young People
c. Communications
d. Community, Mission and Charities
e. Finance
f. Music and Worship
Additional reports

Accounts for the year ended 31[st] of December 2022 can be found on a separate document

1. Introductory overview

Public Benefit Statement (PB1)

St Mary’s is a charity. PB1 is The Charity Commission’s guidance on the legal requirement that charities provide public benefit. Public benefit is an essential part of what it is to be a charity. But it is not just a legal requirement that charities have to meet and that the commission regulates. It also provides charities with a positive opportunity to demonstrate the benefits they bring to the public, in return for the financial and other benefits that come from being a charity, such as public support.

The members of the PCC have complied with their duty as trustees having regard to the Guidance of Public Benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-benefit-an-overview/publicbenefit-an-overview

Governing Documents

The PCC operates under three documents. Two of these are Church of England Measures:

The Parochial Church Council (Powers) measure 1956 as amended
The Church Representation Rules 2020 (CRR, contained in schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 as amended): https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/legal- -

services/church representation rules/contents

The third document is a set of terms of reference, adopted by the Parochial Church Council, that guide St Mary’s operations and mission. Copies of this are issued to members of the PCC in electronic format (PDF), and can be requested from the Incumbent.

Objectives and Activities

St Mary’s PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the Incumbent in promoting the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, in the ecclesiastical parish. It also has responsibility for the buildings and environment of the site of St Mary without the walls, Chester and includes the St. Mary’s Handbridge Centre.

PCC Membership

In 2022 the PCC met 5 times, both on-site and online, with an average attendance of 77%. Members of the PCC are either elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (in accordance with the CRR), or are appointed ex officio, or are co-opted. In 2022 the following have served as members of St Mary’s PCC:

elected members Helen Brophy Catherine Jones John Scott Peter Collins Joanne Lewis Palmer Mavis Sellers Emma Degg Hailey Mason Guy Shapland Sue Fryer

ex officio

Revd Dr Richard Patrick Whaite (Incumbent/“Rector” and chair) Patricia Lynne Jones (elected as Church Warden for 3rd term at APCM 2022) David Gilbert (elected as Church Warden for 1[st] term at APCM 2022)

co-opted

Terry Coe (as St Mary’s representative on deanery synod until 2023) Klaus Armstrong-Braun (as St Mary’s representative on deanery synod, resigned 2022)

At the APCM in 2023 there are 3 PCC vacancies for elected members. The Standing Committee (composed of the Incumbent, Church Wardens, PCC Secretaries and Honorary Treasurer) is governed by paragraph 14 of Appendix II to the CRR. It has power to transact the business of the PCC subject to any directions given, and reports back regularly to the PCC (CRR, App. II, para. 14(b)). This is a wide power which enables the standing committee to carry on the routine work of the PCC between the meetings and to deal with most matters of real urgency.

Church Attendance

During 2022 the total number on the electoral roll was 206 of whom 61 were not resident in the parish.

The Ministry Team

Our regular pattern of services depends on members of St Mary’s who offer their time and talents on-site and on-line as cleaners, servers, readers, leaders of intercessors, choir members, zoom facilitators, chaperones, musicians, facilitators of refreshments, welcomers, and church minders. In addition to these people, younger and older, we also benefit from the care and insights of our Licensed Lay Minister (Reader Emeritus) Linda Manning and our assistant clergy John Carhart, Trevor Dennis and Maureen Pickering. During 2022 the Revd Bill Hamilton stepped down from formal ministry amongst us and did not seek to renew his permission to officiate from the Bishop of Chester. After a diagnosis of cancer during the summer of 2022, and treatment supported by friends around St Mary’s, Bill died on Saturday 22[nd] of April 2023. We will miss his warmth and wisdom amongst us, and remain grateful to him and his wife Maureen. Responsibility for home visits and regular home communions fall now on a very small number of individuals. This was not the norm before 2020, and places pressure on those called upon (as well as sometimes disappointing those who would like to be visited). We must hope and pray for a change soon.

PCC Clusters in 2022

In the report to APCM in 2022, one of the aims for the year was to develop broader participation in the life of St Mary’s, including making it easier for more people to shape the work and witness of St Mary’s. It also had the aim of enabling greater transparency in the operational and strategic life of the parish. The Cluster groups are composed of members of the PCC and wider church. They also receive input from the parish. Cluster groups have added to their membership this year, but are not yet at capacity. Please consider your own involvement: participation is not determined by expertise or a surplus of previous experience, only a heartfelt interest in learning, listening and deepening St

Mary’s witness across the six cluster areas. The overall aim would always be to enrich and diversify our fellowship, making us a listening and receptive community who seek to respond faithfully and compassionately to both God’s gifts and circumstances in which we live.

2. Churchwarden’s Report

The church’s inventory has been checked and found correct. Although many of our worship traditions have been restored to us, we have proceeded with caution bearing in mind the vulnerability of many in our parish family. Continuing to Zoom and stream many of our services has helped many in our parish family to continue to worship together. An unexpected consequence of this is a former resident of Handbridge who now lives abroad is able to join our worship.

Building Fabric

The most recent Quinquennial inspection happened in September 2021. particular praise was directed to the care taken in looking after the church building. However, a programme of maintenance, specifically the stonework, was recommended by the church architect. The report highlighted that incorrect mortar has previously been used for repairing the stonework and this needs to be replaced. During 2022 a meeting was arranged with the Stonemason to confirm the correct mortar mix for repairing the stonework and a programme of work will start in April 2023 to repair the stonework.

Hot water piping

During the year a heating pipe at high level in the church came detached from the wall. This was repaired and the other pipes checked to ensure they were safe and secure.

Bell Tower

During 2022 there was water ingress to the bell tower, dripping through to the ringing chamber. Steeplejacks were brought in to identify the source, which turned out to be a hole in a high level internal rainwater drainpipe which they repaired, but this is not a permanent fix. A replacement section of drainpipe will be required in the near future.

Whilst the steeplejacks were with us, they cleared out the internal and external drainage gullies, made a visual inspection of the high level stonework, made a photographic record and removed a loose finial which was at risk of falling from the tower on to anyone unfortunate enough to be standing below. Their observation of the high level stonework was that it is in a reasonable state of repair, with some local repointing required to open joints in sills and ledges.

Acknowledgements

Our thanks to all involved in the Cluster Groups who help organise so many things behind the scenes. This is a great way to use your skills to help support the Church and Centre.

Our warmest thanks go to the team of cleaners, the flower arrangers, the working parties, the gardeners and all who make St Mary’s a labour of love; also to the Director of music and his team of volunteers including choral scholars who contribute to the worship

each week: the sidespeople, the bellringers, the intercessions team, the readers and servers and not least those who undertake the backroom tasks of administration, usually unseen but essential to our existence as a community. 2022 has seen a revision to the role of parish administrator. We are very grateful to Doris Keen for helping to reshape the role to better reflect the new responsibilities it includes. We are fortunate to have her as our Centre Manager and Parish Administrator.

And last but by no means least our thanks to the Rector for his passionate and devoted leadership and to the retired clergy who give so much of their time to make St Mary’s such a wonderful place to worship.

3. Incumbent’s report

There has been much to celebrate in 2022 around St Mary’s. Whether it has been welcoming new worshippers alongside us, the relaunch of a Baby and Toddler group reaching 45+ households each week, the support of refugees arriving in the parish, or a broadening of our musical offering (both in and beyond regular worship). I am grateful to each of you for your prayers and support, offering your time and talents, in ways that envisage our life together as something more than volunteering. There have been glimpses in the fellowship we have shared this year of those who give receiving much more than they envisaged and being blessed in seeking to share.

Like the 2022 report we maintain the structure of this annual report using the PCC clusters responsible for coordinating different aspects of St Mary’s life, operational and strategic. The sections of what follows were composed of submissions from different groups, including staff members, but were included under the broad areas covered by each cluster. I hope that reading what groups working within each cluster have been doing, and are planning to do, might encourage you to speak with one of the current members about getting involved. A sincere thank you to those named and un-named in what follows for your taking time to reflect and write for our APCM.

The year has not been without its setbacks. The planned audio-visual renewal has taken longer than we hoped, in part due to supply-chain issue but also those challenges that emerge when trying to put 21[st] century technology in a 19[th] century building. This upgrade will provide stability for our online provision, which in turn supports our desire to care for those who come to participate in prayer and worship at St Mary’s. On-site attendance at services has increased both weekly (especially at 8am on Sunday, 10am on Thursday, and monthly Choral Evensong) and also during Christian festivals. It remains a challenge, with fewer clergy and visitors, to follow-up when newcomers seek to know more about St Mary’s and what we care about. Money has been set aside for a Children and Families worker to serve alongside the wonderfully devoted members of St Mary’s who work with younger people at church. Appointing to this role (and roles like it) is proving difficult across many dioceses in the Church of England at the moment, but integrated intergenerational fellowship is what we are hoping for; a church that shares in the gifts and delights in the different ways God is at work with us. The increasing frequency of time spent with staff, parents and students at Queens Park High, Belgrave, Overleigh St Mary, and the King’s School means this is a particular priority for prayer.

I am grateful for the opportunity of the APCM report to offer particular thanks. The 2023 APCM sees both wardens seeking re-election and looking to continue in their responsibilities. As part of the Standing Committee of St Mary’s I am glad David and Lynne continue to champion the PCC’s vision through the work of clusters, our staff members, community partners, local businesses, schools, the ministry team and all who participate in prayer and action.

Finally, my thanks turn to the body of Christ that is gathered around St Mary’s. Your support continues to enable our parish church towards the goal of sustainable Christian witness, where not only do we focus on our costs and initiatives being met by our planned giving scheme, but we also seek to prioritise charitable giving to local, national and international causes. As I remarked last year, just as our giving requires regular attention, so too our sharing requires spiritual attention. We are grateful to those who continue to undertake to regularly review their own giving according to both circumstances and conviction.

4. Reports from Clusters

4a. Buildings and Environment

Alison Mclellan, John Parkin, Helen Pritchard, John Scott, Guy Shapland

The Buildings and Environment cluster is now well established and is making good progress in developing strategies, plans and proposals to enable the PCC to make informed decisions.

Eco Church:

In 2022 we set out an ambitious target to obtain gold status by the end of the year (there is only one church with such accreditation in the diocese at time of reporting). After submission early in 2023, St Mary’s has been awarded an Eco Church silver award. This award recognises the parish’s priority for working in sustainable ways. The remaining ground to be made up before a gold status is awarded is largely concerned with intergrating community users with these ecological priorities. This has begun in 2022 via our Christian Aid representatives, but needs to consider how we publicise our creation care and encourage it locally with partners in the educational and charitable sectors.

Buildings:

The Church Wardens have detailed work during 2022 on the fabric of the church site, above. We aim to complete any necessary repair work undertaken on the St Mary’s Handbridge Centre under the terms of the warranties and guarantees provided by the contractors used when the building was completed in 2018. We continue to closely monitor and manage, with the PCC treasurer, the rising costs of heating and lighting around St Mary’s. As part of this, the cluster has explored the costs involved with installing Solar PV panel on the Centre, along with the relevant electricity storage on-site. Though the costs were considered highly competitive (being offered at a rate reflecting

our position as a community asset), the capital outlay was high (c£26k) when weighed against the PCC’s medium-term priorities.

The St Mary’s Handbridge Centre (Doris Keen, Parish Administrator & Centre Manager): The Centre has continued to flourish over the past year, and the income from bookings has reached, and at times surpassed, pre-Covid levels. It has been especially encouraging to see the wide variety of groups using the centre and enjoying the beautiful, light rooms and atmosphere.

Our Centre continues to fulfil its function as a hub for the community, playing host to groups like Luncheon Club, Brighter Lives Handbridge, Chester Flower Club, WI, Chester Hillwalkers and Ramblers, Handbridge History Group, Handbridge Community Organisation and Incredible Edible Handbridge, to name but a few. In addition, the Centre is used for Art, Yoga and Pilates classes, Choirs, Student activities, Charity groups and events and Music Exams on a regular basis. Not to forget a number of activities and classes for babies and toddlers, including our own St Mary’s Baby and Toddler Group which is hugely popular on a Friday morning. We’ve also been delighted to welcome new regular groups to the Centre, for example U3A, the charity Hong Kong in Chester and Grosvenor Art Society.

It has also been a year of ‘firsts’. We were pleased to host our first wedding reception, a Persian New Year celebration and a very well-attended documentary screening for Hong Kong in Chester.

A big thank you to our Centre staff Joanna Polanczyk, Michael Mitchell, John Rose, Sheila Jones and Lisa Jones for their continued hard work, commitment and support.

4b. Children and Young People

Molly Degg, Kelly Davies, Sue Fryer, Sharon Johnson, Lynne Jones, Alison Mclellan, Maureen Pickering

The provision for children and their families at St Mary’s consists of a variety of services and activities. Let’s keep in mind the outcome of the church survey organised by the Rector: your wish that engagement with children and families was the number one priority for St. Mary’s.

St Mary’s Baby and Toddler group , which meets on Friday mornings at 10-11.30am, has been running now for one year and has been a huge success, attracting numbers of up to 80 children and 70 adults in a single session. We have a core group of twelve regular, loyal volunteers who have all completed safeguarding training. Although it is supported by the church, it attracts a wider audience than a solely church-based activity. The group is a welcome opportunity for parents/carers and babies/children to meet together in a spacious, toy-filled venue, which is much appreciated by all. People have come forward for Baptism from this group and have attended Storytelling.

Storytelling for children aged 0-6 years is at 9.30am on Sundays in term time and is led solely by Ric who offers a story, song and snack each week. Attendance is up to five families and is much appreciated by both parents and children.

The Well for children aged 7 upwards meets at 10.30am on Sundays. It started 18 months ago as it was felt there was a need for provision for older children, and ideally to include children with disabilities such as autism. It mirrors the church service but with a craft and fun element. At the end of the session the group attends church during Holy Communion, to receive the sacrament or a blessing. The Well is led by leaders and helpers on a rota basis. Although about 12 children have attended sporadically, regular attendance is usually between 3 and 5. It is a natural step from the Storytelling service. There is no specific person organising the group as a whole and we hope that with the appointment of a family worker this important initiative will flourish.

Messy Church is held on the third Sunday of each month, apart from August and December, and it continues to thrive. It is well-organised with two planning meetings a year to choose themes and activities. It has a regular loyal band of volunteers. It is a popular service and generally has good attendance. MC is a great opportunity for church to welcome children and adults alike to a more informal, simple, inclusive service. The food always goes down well!

Church Without Walls (CWW) service is a simpler, shorter communion service which has taken place on some occasions/feasts this year. There has been discussion with the Music and Worship Cluster to consider implementing a CWW service on the same Sunday each month from September 2023. This has previously been discussed at the CYP cluster. The recommendation is that on the chosen Sunday the youth choir would participate with the church choir in the service. There would be no Storytelling or Well meetings, hopefully to encourage parents and children to attend the CWW service. On the evening of the chosen Sunday, the full choir (church choir and choral scholars) would participate in an evening service appropriate for the liturgical season: Choral Evensong/ Advent carols/ Nine Lessons/ Epiphany Carols.

Other Services/Activities

Baptism preparation continues and is led by Ric. Links with local schools: We have two Overleigh governors in the cluster group. Holy communion for aged 8 plus children. Nine children were prepared and admitted last summer. We hope to continue this initiative this year.

Uniformed organisations continue to bring together young people from different schools and backgrounds. They significantly enhance the life of the parish. We are grateful to those who give their time and talents to help initiate these groups. We are fortunate to have two ex-leaders in the cluster. We presently welcome the uniformed groups to three services at church during the year.

At St Mary’s we are fortunate to have a raft of faithful, talented volunteers for which we are extremely grateful. We look forward to welcoming a family worker to assist in organising and augmenting the above aspects of this valuable ministry for children and young people.

4c. Communications

Stuart Bull, Catherine Jones, Joanne Lewis-Palmer, Christine Dukes, Jack Ninnes

The Communications Cluster has grown in 2022, adding assistance from Christine Dukes and Centre Assistant Michael Mitchell with respect to St Mary’s social media presence and, at the request of the Community, Mission and Charities Cluster, Jack Ninnes who will help coordinate any notices St Mary’s wishes to circulate in the local press. The criteria for involvement in clusters remains a willingness to learn and try to discern the overlap of St Mary’s hopes and vision with the circumstances we seek to serve in. Other foci for the quarterly meetings have been:

Re-writing the content of the website and migrating it to a new provider.
Re-formatting the parish magazine, now being published on a bi-monthly basis
Revising the layout of information, including photos and orders of service (Choral Evensong, “church without walls”, encouragement for parents of younger children), at the entrance to St Mary’s church. The photo board remains incomplete at the time of reporting to this APCM.

These foci will remain priorities over the remainder of 2023 either because they are aspects of St Mary’s that need regular attention and updating or because they have had to be deprioritised in the light of other demands over the course of the year. We appreciate those who help with communicating what goes on at St Mary’s, and would welcome suggestions about ways to encourage one another to be more invitational towards those in our circles, and streets, who aren’t regularly reached by what we offer.

4d. Community, Missions and Charities

Veronica Bull, Trevor Dennis, Christine Dukes, Alice Jones, Helen Pritchard, Mavis Sellers

The purpose of the Missions and Charities Cluster (‘the Cluster’) is to make recommendations and work with the Parochial Church Council (‘PCC’) as to which community enterprises, missions and charities St Mary’s should support. It also coordinates activities that help clarify the best ways we can offer support, including amplifying causes via social events. This is alongside encouraging the responsible use of the resource of the St Mary’s Handbridge Centre, and where necessary liaising with the local residents’ associations and community groups, alongside interest groups and charities (such as Christian Aid and St Mary’s Parochial Charities/The Llay Estate).

St Mary’s involvement in fundraising for West Cheshire Foodbank and Christian Aid’s Chester Branch emphasises the parish’s longstanding ecumenical partnerships, both to Churches Together in Chester and to Open Table Chester an inclusive, ecumenical initiative with Wesley Methodist Church (where the Rector sits on the Steering Committee). St Mary’s is also fortunate to have members of our community involved again in the Chester Mystery Plays. In addition to financial and in-person support, since April 2022, St Mary’s has collected and donated 1.146 Tonnes of provisions for the Foodbank.

Activities this year

The knitting project has proved a valuable activity to all involved, both the knitters and receivers; To date 309 hats,75 hats, and 28 blankets have been supplied to the Countess of Chester and Arrowe Park neo-natal unit and a further project to knit for Afghan refugees and Liverpool Women’s Hospital Maternity Unit is ongoing.
Cake Sunday has been well supported with profits going to Overleigh Pastoral fund most months except May[Christian Aid], November[Poppy Appeal] and July [yet to be chosen]
The Big Coffee Morning for McMillan Cancer research was well supported and will be repeated in 2023
• The Christmas Fair was a merry occasion, financially very successful, and plans are in hand for 2023.
The termly Bring and Share Lunches after the conclusion of the 10:30am service have been well supported and will continue.
Thai fundraising meal. Much enjoyed by all who attended and requests for a repeat
Bacon Bap Sunday, monthly after the 8am service on Sundays. A new departure for the benefit of those who attend the 8.00 a.m. service and much appreciated!
Warm Space. Begun to provide people with a refuge from the cold but evident that most attendees came for the company. Future plans are under consideration
Christian Aid Lent lunch in the Centre exceptionally well attended [66 in all]
Street collections and bucket collections organised for Christian Aid Week
A Christian Aid Climate Justice Event booked for 14[th] April 2023.

Charities being supported by funds allocated by the P.C.C. this year include Blood Bikes, Toilet twinning, and BIRD. These were selected by the cluster group initially but the feeling was that the congregation should be invited to nominate charities in future. The criteria are: 1 local, 1 national, 1 international.

4e. Finance

Helen Brophy, Peter Collins, Emma Degg, Michael Fondop, David Gilburt, John Grout, Lynne Hutchens

The Cluster meets regularly in advance of Standing Committees and PCC meetings for an in-depth review of the Church and Centres finances so that PCC meetings do not have to devote a disproportionate amount of time on money matters. We are all enormously grateful to the PCC Treasurer for all her hard and patients in answering our questions. During the year we have welcomed Mike Fondop, John Grout and Lynn Hutchings who bring their valuable experience to the Cluster.

The insurance of the church building, the contents and the boundary walls is effected under a Parish Plus policy with Ecclesiastical Insurance. The policy covers also other liabilities including Employer’s Liability, Public Liability and Legal expenses. The total annual premium is £7,657 and this is paid by monthly instalments.

The St Mary’s Handbridge Centre is insured under a separate policy, also with

Ecclesiastical Insurance. The current premium for the year is £1,483 and this is paid by monthly instalments. There were no claims under either policy in 2022 and there is no current claim or circumstance known to us which is considered likely to give rise to a claim.

Total Incoming Resources for 2022 were £241,218, ie £26,762 less than 2021 income. Total Resources expended were £205,900, ie £5,940 more than 2021 expenditure Incoming resources exceeded expenditure by £35,318.

The year ended with cash balances of £147,491, of which £46,043 is held in restricted funds and £23,896 has been designated for specific expenditure, leaving £77,552 available cash balances. This is an increase from last year end of £15,136.

Included in the available cash balances is £20,500 remaining from legacies received in the last 3 years which have not yet been allocated to a specific purpose, as per the PCC’s legacy policy (page 3 of accounts summarises the legacy policy).

Income

Reduction in 2022 largely a result of there being no Coronavirus grant funding. In 2021 this had been £18,563. Also a reduction of £21,000 in general donations. Last year’s figure included a donation of £10,500.

A number of donations in 2022 were for Choral Scholarships. These are included in the accounts in the restricted funds income, not in the general donation income. Grants received in 2022 were £900 from the Diocese (DBF Energy Grant) and £500 from Chester Community Council for the Warm Spaces initiative.

Grants were also received from the Ousley Church Music Trust (£2,000) and the Pilling Trust (£3,600) for the Choral Scholarships and are included in the restricted fund income shown for Choral Scholarships.

The regular income streams have all increased (Planned Giving, Gift Aid, Cash collections, wedding and funeral fees, Centre lettings).

Planned Giving has increased by 6% and is sufficient to cover Parish Share. It still does not cover the total Church running costs of £145,446 (excluding Parish Centre running costs). When Gift Aid is taken into account, together with cash collections, the shortfall is £7,437.

The shortfall is more than covered by unplanned donations, event income, wedding and funeral fees.

Cash collections includes cash donated from all sources: wall safe donations, magazine donations (excluding subscription income), baby and toddler donations, contactless giving donations, coffee donations, cake sales. Gift Aid will be claimed on these donations under the Gift Aid Small Donations category.

Expenditure

Running costs for both Church and Parish Centre continue to be closely controlled. The increase in overall expenditure has been held down at 3%.

Highest single cost is Parish Share. Up by £1,682 to £76,302.

Rectory costs lower than 2021 because 2021 included 2 years of Council Tax

Church running expenses. Main increase is in service costs, up by £2,143. All the service booklets have been reprinted in 2022 and there has been replenishment of stocks of wine, wafers, candles, worship items, now that on site attendance is increasing.

Church maintenance down by £7,448 as no stonework repairs carried out in 2022. Parish Centre running costs up by £5,113. Most of the increase is in repairs to, and maintenance of, the alarms, the CCTV system, the emergency lighting, and the heating and ventilation system. Also shelving has been fitted in store cupboards and the main rooms have been redecorated.

Parish Centre running costs are more than covered by its letting income. On the accruals accounting basis under which our accounts are drawn up, it has generated a surplus of £11,620: Parish Centre Lettings £51,266 Less Centre Running Costs £33,280 (excludes £20,485 staff costs covered by Lottery funding) Less MCA Loan Interest £6,366 Surplus £11,620

It has also generated enough cashflow to meet the annual repayment of loan capital of £12500. (actual letting income on receipts and payments accounting basis was £55227)

In line with the PCC’s resolution in March 2022 to allocate 10% of any surplus made by the Parish Centre to planned charitable giving, £1162 has been put into the 2023 budget for charitable donations. The Community, Mission and Charities Cluster will arrange distribution to the 3 nominated charities.

The PCC manages the funds to ensure there is a sufficient reserve to cover the Church’s basic running costs in difficult times and to cover essential church building maintenance. These costs are about £12500 per month. The available cash balances at the year end represent about 6 months church running costs.

The PCC is mindful that it is part of our Christian mission to give charitably. It is also one of our stated activities in our registration with the Charity Commission under Public Benefit Statement 1. (see above in report to APCM) It is a number of years since St Mary’s has undertaken planned charitable giving. The giving from the Centre’s surplus in 2022 resumes our planned charitable giving. The PCC aspires to increase our giving from this base level in future years, so that St Mary’s is engaged in consistent giving from all the resources we are blessed to receive.

4f. Music and Worship

Guy Hirst, Michael Reynolds, Jane Williams, Joanne Das, Alison McLellan

Looking back over the last 12 months, there are many reasons to feel very positive about the music at St Mary’s. We were successful in applications for the following grants:

The Pilling Trust £3600
The Ouseley Church Music Trust - £2000

• The Prayer book society - £1200 (to pay for organ lessons for 2 organ scholars) As a result of these, in addition to the money raised from the Christmas concert in December 2021, we were able to go ahead with the Choral Scholarship programme. In June 2022 we held auditions for Choral Scholars and appointed 8 senior (aged 14-18) and 1 junior (aged 11). These represented 4 sopranos, 1 treble, 1 alto, 2 tenors and 1

bass. We how have a choir of more than 20 singers (including the voluntary members) who lead the sung worship at 3 morning services and 1 evening service each month. The evening services have been Choral Evensong, as well as Advent, Christmas and Epiphany carol services.

The addition of the Choral Scholars has boosted the confidence of the voluntary singers and enabled us to learn some more challenging music, as well as some unaccompanied anthems and motets. On Sunday 26th March 2023, we hosted a performance of Stainer’s ‘Crucifixion’, together with Vox Vocavit and The King’s School Choir, for a combined total of around 75 singers. The performance was very well received by a congregation of 130 people.

The 4th Sunday of the month is the Choral Scholars’ morning off, and the sung worship is led by the Youth Choir (20 children aged 7-11) in the Church Without Walls service. Many members of the Youth Choir are keen to become Choral Scholars when they reach the appropriate age, ensuring the future of the scholarship programme.

The cluster group have reflected on the choices of hymns to be used at the Church Without Walls service to ensure a greater balance between thematic and familiar. Our series of Friday evening concerts (Music by the Bridge) have been very successful, and helped to maintain the fundraising for the Choral Scholarships. So far, we have had performances by The King’s School, Deva Winds, Local Vocals (with the Youth Choir), Deva Brass, Piano Duets, as well as some solo performances.

In the summer, we will be losing 2 of our scholars who will go to university, but we will be opening auditions to the older children in Youth Choir for Junior Scholarships.

St Mary’s was very fortunate this Lent to receive a series of talks from its own congregants during services of Said Compline (Night Prayer). The common theme across the evenings was discerning God’s story in our stories over five Wednesday evenings. We are grateful to those who put so much time into reflecting on the journey in faith that has sustained the. More broadly, the provision within the parish for education and faith formation is enhanced by the diversity of voices offered on Thursday and Sunday mornings and during the monthly service of Choral Evensong. Both the ministry team and the music and worship cluster would be glad to hear from those who can suggest ways of broadening the appeal of the offering we make, especially making our events invitational for those not currently regularly involved at St Mary’s.

5. Additional Reports

Safeguarding

Our Parish upholds a clear Child Protection Policy and we follow the safeguarding guidelines for good practice as set out by the Diocese, which in turn is based on the Church of England’s safeguarding policy. A culture of informed vigilance, care for the rights of all and safer recruitment and role management for both paid staff and volunteers remains at the heart of updated safeguarding arrangements for the vulnerable.

We will continue to ensure that new volunteers are given the correct information required as they start their role within the church. As ever, it is important for us as a Parish to ensure we have a robust system that provides a level of contact between all new workers at St Marys and the PCC. By providing this level of contact, we can ensure that the safe environment that we have worked so hard to achieve over the years can be maintained. During 2022 the parish was glad to appoint Gemma Parisi as our safeguarding officer. The year has brought with it many incremental changes around safeguarding, including the parish taking more responsibility for documenting basic training, alongside more advanced DBS checks. We are grateful to Gemma for agreeing to serve.

Health and Safety

During the period since the last APCM, the PCC has not received a regular dedicated report regarding H&S. With the help of the Parish Manager, the Wardens and Incumbent have ensured that regular walk-rounds and testing/certifying of equipment has taken place. Equipment that is old or faulty and is not used has been disposed of with the help of the Building and Environment Cluster.

Deanery and Diocesan Synod

Chester Deanery Synod met in October 2022 (with Peter Froggatt, the Diocesan Director of Outreach), and January 2023 (with Harrier Roberts, as part of the diocesan-wide vision consultation). Diocesan Synod, where the Rector serves as an elected member of the house of clergy, met on November 5th 2022 at The Fuse Partington. The meeting was focussed on the 2023 diocesan-wide consultation around a collective vision for Chester Diocese (now know as “casting the net”). This was followed on 25th of March 2023 with a second synod at St Michael’s Coppenhall. This meeting attended to the details of General Synod’s discussions around the Living in Love and Faith project and related draft material for liturgy and pastoral measures.

The St Mary’s Parochial Charities

The Trustees of St Mary’s Parochial Charities, who are the Rector, the two Churchwardens, and two representative trustees elected by the Vestry meeting of the Parish, continue to administer the Parochial Charities in accordance with the Charity Commission Scheme of 1889. In 2022 the newly appointed warden, David Gilbert, joined Lynne Jones, Chris Schofield and Helen Brophy. Chris and Helen will serve as elected representative trustees until 2025. The clerk to the trustees is Colin Pickering. Chris Schofield kindly produces the accounts.

Monies were donated on various dates from about the year 1600 to St Mary on the hill for the relief of the poor and for other charitable purposes. The income for the year ended 30th of April 2022 was £5951.13, which was an increase of £108.57 compared with the figure for 2021. We were able to make donations amounting to £5800. The donations during 2022 have been to The Baby and Toddler Group, Soul Kitchen, Chester Samaritans, the Wednesday Lunch Club, West Cheshire Food Bank and the Pastoral Fund at Overleigh St Mary Church of England Primary School.

The unit trust investments of the Parochial Charities had a value of approximately £118385 as at 30th of April 2022. Most of this value represents capital which cannot be spent under the terms of the Scheme.

Registered Charity No.. 1132533 THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY-ON-THE HILL, CHESTER KNOWN AS ST MARY WITHOUT-THE-WALLS PCC. CHESTER ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022 st Mary Chester C? McLintocks x6iM(kn GttyJP

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST mARyN-TE HILL, CHESTER KNOWN AS ST MARY WITHOUT-THE-WALLS PCC. CHESTER NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDEO 315t DECEMBER 2022 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT I port on the accounts of the Parochi81 Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2022. which are set out on pages 1 to 7. R•spo¢tlvo responsibilltlès of trustees and •xamlner As the members of the Parochial Churc4) Courril you are rasp0ble for the preparation of the accounts: you consider that an audit 15 not required f¢y this year under ReguL91ion 3131 of the Church Accounling Regulations 1997 and sect¥ 144 of the Chatilies Act 2011 (the Chaiities Acll and that an independenl examinallon is required. It is my rasponsibility to= - examine the accounts under Section 145 of the Charit$ Acl. - to follow the procedures laid down in the General Diredions given by the Charity Commission {und8T Section 14515llbl of the Charities Acll. and - to stat8 wh8th8r particular matters have come to my attention. Bas15 Qf indopendent •xamlnerfs roport My examinalion was carried out in accor(J8nce th the General Oirections given by the Charity Commission. An examlnauon Includes a review of Ihè acLxJunting records kept by the Parochial Church Council and a comparison of trbe accounts presented with those records. 11 also includes Consideration of any unusual ilerns or disdosur8s in th& accounts. and the seeking of oxplanations from you as Iruslees concerning any such matters. The procedures urKlertaken do nol provide all th8 evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as lo whether the accounts present a 'liue and fair view, and the report Is limitetl to those matters sel oul in Ihe slatsments below. Indepondent •xamlnér's slatem•nt In connection wlh my examination, no matter has come to myattention: 1 Which gives me reasonable cause to bdigve that in any material respect, the rgquirnments.. 181 lo keep accounting records in ac(x)rdance th section 130 of th8 Charities Acl.. and Ibl lo prepare accounts whlch accord with th6 accounting rerdS a1 comply ¥wth th8 aceounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been mel- or 2 To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in ¢yder to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Alastair J Joff¢ott BA FCA Mcllntocks INWI Ltd Chartered Accountants 2 Hllllards Court Chester Buslnè$$ Park CHESTER CH4 9PX 20th March 2023

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARk8H OF ST mARY11.THE HILL. CHESTER KNOWN AS ST MARY WTMOVT-THE-WALLS PCC. CHESTER STATEMENT OF FINAl4CIALACTIVlEs FOR THE YEARENDED 3181 DECEIIBER 2022 2021 2021 GBneral Reskncteil Oeswnotsd Tot81 unds Fvnds Incomln4 Rere•S Ints)mlng Irtym Other VoluntarycIn ru[S A¢llvllbs tor generatkng Diwldends and Inlei8s1 Don&0$. Grants. Events IrKcmo 137.919 11.005 85.920 351 138.( 11.005 6S.9>) 3S1 4923 123239 58.119 48.475 343 123.350 58.119 48.475 25.3 37,693 37.693 T4tal In¢oMlng resour¢os 215.205 25,923 241,218 230,176 37,693 287,980 R•8our¢•8 Ewnd Grants Olrecuy R6L8bn9 10 Ihèwoth ofth& Support costs Church m*)89em8rit & 8dmiNstration Inlprfrsl on Loan Fxperndiivio from R8stri¢t8d Funds Exp8ndiWi8 from Dasigna16d Fuj Tolal r•8ourc•s oxpondad 323 1eA).147 24.958 185. 156.374 178,381 400 14,764 6.41S 13,S¥)S 13.WS 14.76¢ 6,415 180.741 24 958 201 179,953 199.980 Not l0utgolrylllro9 V•8•Urt•• I•it y•ar 34.464 35,318 SO.Y23 IT,666 8B.020 Balan¢es Broughtforward at 1st January 2022 129.336 45.078 19.( 1WJ,421 YS.472 27.392 2.537 125.401 RealkJcal& IBgawfund ggngral lund $1yE rwl9nat8d forAV systom Bal4nt88 Carrl•d Forwa¥d at 31sl DeCemr 2022 iio.(x)01 162591 10.000 6.359 158.8(K 48.(b13 23.896 228 739 45.078 193421

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST mARyN-THE HILL, CHESTER KNOWN AS ST MARY YdlTHOUT.THE-WALLS PCC. CHESTER BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31$t DECEMBER 2022 2022 2021 Noie Flxed A8$ets Pan5h Centre 2B4,789 284,789 Current A8Set6 Sundry Debt015 Cash at Batlk and in hand 2,448 147.491 149,939 2,309 126,501 128,810 Llabllltles: Amountg falllng due wrthln One Year Sundry Credilors Loan Tep8ymenls 10 11 8.989 12.500 21.489 7,676 12,500 20,118 N•t ¢urr•nt Assets 128.450 108.632 Llabllitlgs.. Amounts falllng duo after Ono Year Loan rgpayments 11 184,500 200.000 Ngt Asset5 228,739 193,421 Funds IUnr•strl¢t•dl D•slgnat•d Funds Rèctory Malnlenanc& Fund Designateil for AV Choirfs fund for music purchases 2.537 21.359 2,537 16.359 111 Gonwal Fund 158.800 129.336 182,696 148,343 Restrlct8d Funds Veslmenls (le1 Comer Fund Handbridga Community Cow&19 RèliBf Ftsnd Lollery Funded Grant re- costs of ¢entre managemenl All Churchès Twst Co op Local Community Granl Choral Scholarshlp fund Grounds 8nd Gard8r15 fund Bablos aThJ T¢yJdlers 229 344 1.120 30.533 6,250 3,859 2,333 410 344 1.120 23.153 5.651 3,859 10.480 46.043 45,078 228,739 193,421 Approved by the Parochlal Church Cwnol on 201h March 2023 Chairman Rev Dr R P Whaile Hon Tr*asurer Mrs H Brophy

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIAsficAL PARISH OF ST MARY-ON-THE HILL, CHESTER KNOWN AS ST MARY WITHOUT-THE-WALLS PCC. CHESTER NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022 1. Accounting Pollclo$ The flnancial slalemenls have been prepared in accor¢Jance ¥th the Churd) Accounting Regulat#)ns 2006 log8th8r with applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP. The financial slatemenis have been prepareij under the historical cost corwention. The financial 8tatem8nts include all Ir8nsaclions, assgts and liabilities for which Ihe PCC is responsible in law. Thoy do not include the auntS of Church groups that owe their main affiliatKJn to another body nor Ih)se that are informal gatherings of church members. Funds General Fund and D6gnated Funds ara avai18ble for applic8tK>n on any of the general purpos&s of Ihe PCC. Reslriclive Funds are only available for the purpose or purposes for whh Ihey wefe established. In¢omlng Resourc•s Planned giving, collectlons and donations aré rwnlsed whèn reeeivèd. Tax refunds are recognlsed when they are claimed. Granls and Iogacios lo th8 PCC ar8 account1 for wh8n recw¥&l. 1 oth8r inwme is recogniseil when il is r4Vable. All incoming resources are acLounted for gross. Resour¢e$ expendod Grants and donations are accounted for vthen paid ovw. or when award1. rf that creates a binding or conslructlve obligation on the PCC. The diocesan parish share is accounted for when due. All other expenditure is generally recognised when il is incurred and is aUnted for gross. Flxed Assets Consecrated and Beneficed property is excILKiJ from accouT)ts by S.9612}Ic) of the Charities Acl 1993. No valuo Is pla¢ed on movabl& church furnishings hald by the ChLJrchwardens on sp8cial Imsl for the PCC and which require fa¢ully for disposal since the PCC considers this lo be Inalienab property. Al expenditure incurred during the year on consecrated or benefic8d buildings arKI movable church fumishing, whether maintenance (K improvement, is written off. Other land and buildings held on behalf of the PCC for ils own purposes is valued at cost. No d8pr8cialion is charged against such properties but any èxpènditure ¢)n maintenance or improvement is written off as incurrtd. Legaclo$ The policy of the PCC is to use legacies lo hdp fund signtficanl development projec15 in the parish, whether buildings, equipment or staff. As Circumstan chaThJe over the years. it may not possibl& lo fulfil specific donor requests so church members are enraged to leave legacies for the general pUr8S of the parish.

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PAR18H OF ST mARyN-THE HILL. CHESTER KNOWN AS ST MARY WITHOUT-THE-WALLS PCC, CHESTER NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 318t DECEMBER 2022 2. Incomlng Resource¥ 2022 Genèral Fund 2021 General Fund Notes Inc¢)mlng resour¢e$ from donors Planned Giving.. Stewardship Income Tax Recoverable orb Gift Aid Cash Collectlons Collections Funerals Weddings etc. 102,363 25,503 9,221 922 138.lJJ9 96,479 22.022 2,971 1.878 123,350 Othor voluntary In¢omlng r•souiGes Grant DonalKins- General Ev8nis Coronavirus grants 1,400 6.598 3,007 9,543 27,659 2.354 18,563 58.119 11,005 Activities for 9en•rating funds Magazine Parish Centre lettings Donations for usa of Church Fees 1.691 30,028 6,695 10.061 48,475 51.266 1.900 10,720 65.930

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY.ON.THE HILL, CHESTER KNOWN AS ST MARY WITHOUT-THE-WALLS PCC, CHESTER NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022 3. R¥3our¢os gxpgndèd Notes 2022 2021 Grnnt$ Mlsslonary and Chorftsbl6 Glvlng.. Home Mlsslons & olhw Chur¢h s(88$ 323 323 Dlrectty relatlng to the work of the thurch Parish Share Rectory C051s Assistanl Clergy Costs Church Running Expenses Church Mainlenan¢e Funeral & wedding ¢0s18 CDBF Fee$ Insuran¢6 Magazine Costs Parish Centre Running Costs Hoswlalily Costs Outreach Costs 76.302 s.3 1.523 19.097 9,006 3,922 2,653 7.715 3.451 53,765 74.620 8,678 1.522 16.425 16.454 2.920 2.456 7,970 2,416 44.920 3b 1.428 185,306 178,381 3aCh Eleclric4ty Gas Dir8fAor of music Wal Service Costs Sundries rc nnin 1.256 4,279 6,442 77 5.845 1.199 19.097 909 3,469 6.22Q 12681 3.702 2.393 16.425 nnin Cost Parish Adminislralor Cleaning malerials and reluse colkntion Wages Other staff costs Electricity Gas Water Repairs and mainlenance Irksuranc 8.982 1.821 25.965 605 3,115 1.363 1.396 9.071 1.447 53,765 1,011 25.514 3.083 1.409 561 3,958 1,389 44,920 Support costs Event Costs 400 Church manag•m•nt and administratlon Parish Administrator Prlnting, Stationery ¥nd asso¢i8ted office ¢(ksts Bank Chargès Audit 8nd AceiyJnl8n¢y Legal & professional {Archil8dl 8,982 2,565 1,010 1,348 7,995 2,898 935 1,736 1,200 14,764 13,5

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY-ON-YHE HILL, CHESTER KNOWN AS ST MARY WITHOVT.THE.WALLS PCC. CHESTER NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022 Restrl¢ted Funds Closlng Balance Balance Grants Tax Note Vestments Quiet Comer HandbTrJge Communlty Cod-19 R8llefFur Lottery FUre[s Grant re.. costs c8ntr8 manag8rNnl All chUrGS Trust Co op Lotal Corr¥nunily Gmt Chord S¢hdarshlp lurKI Ground$ and Gardens fund Babies TothJler$ 229 229 1.120 1,120 23.153 5.851 3.859 10.480 12.419 19,799 599 2.333 410 10.614 2.467 440 1.424 1.436 45,078 25,923 24.95B 46.043 Note 1. RepTestrnls tunds donalad for lh8 kYOVi5ton of cfwgy ¥e5tmenis. 2. Represents I$ donated for Ihe j0S8 of a Quiet CorrEr and aLI$. 3. Rtrprasènls fuThls donaied for tho pu058$ of erer$ ofihe ¢thwnunity thjriry and 8Rer the pandemi 4. Rgpres&nls periodicalty grantwj bythe Lottery Furmj fo wsl d safaties for 8 Pgrfrx1 of4 years. S. R&presenls funds granted for Ihe wrwse Ofpurchas¥ instdlwwJ AVequ4)tnèntinto th8 thwch. fj, R9proSl$ funds donated the pwkh)se of PL¥thasing ¥istalitwJ AV inlo Ihe chuh. 7. R£prèsÈnts funds donat Icrf the PL¥pose of scholar5Fw)$. In 2022 ThÈ Tru81 wovJed a granl uf £2,000 lo assist wlh the otyeclN85 of the Sclthrslw Fund. 8. Répre8ent8 funds doryal kn the pwpose of lan¢Jscapirw 8rKI rroin1•.ffj the church g8rd8n. g. Repre88nis lunds donated for pvrchase of toy5, craft materi&$etG to run Ihe %eklySt MaS 88by aTrJ Tothyler GroLP. other Funds Roclory Malntenanco Fund ID8slgriat•d1£2.537 Represenls funds allocat1 bythe PCC from its unrestskted tha makntonarth oltha Rectory. Fund forth8 pur¢hasfr & In5tallatlon of AV •qulr1énl (De9adI £21,3S9 r4epres8nls funds bythe PCC from tthjs the 11tb0fAV1lrneL Cholrs fund Iooslgnatedl £nil Represents funds 4localwl bythe PCC frotn tsgetwJ th8 purc*as8 of musk fwth8 chc¥r. G•n8r81 Fund £15WO Represents th8 balJr ofPGG funds. axcthg Restskted and aftwproviskjn ly DesyBted Fd9. e. Funds on Current A¢wynts. Oep051tAs¢ounts artd Cash Tolal NalWe51- CUrniAcCOun1- GeneRI Fut Nalwesl. Cur(enlAccounl- St.Mws HarKJbrl9e Cw Lloyds Bank- Current Account Paiish Office- Change Fk)at 7,581 14.511 79,331 25 101.448 17,911 28.132 25,492 42.643 79.331 25 147.491 46.043 7. Stsff Costs 2W22 21 Wages 8ThJ salarS ncludlng soci security co5ts1 P&n8ion costs 43219 40.145 710 43,929 1.360 41.505 Durlng tha year the PCC ernplol a part rne Partsh AdnMINstiati. 2 pt t4ne dear*¥ part lne Centre ASSISt$. Th)ne of èarrtd £80.LIJO r anwm cf rrKfe.

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY-ON-THE HILL, CHESTER KNOWN AS ST MARY WITHOUT-THE.WALLS PCC. CHESTER NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2022 8. Fixad Assets 2022 2021 Parish Centre 284.789 284,789 The Parish Centre was built for a lotsl cost of approximalely £1,61)0,000 mostly financed from reslricled funds (Grants and Don8bons elc.). The Balance Sheet value represents the build cust net of grants and donalv)ns, financed internally by loans and the use of available unrestricted funds. 9. Debtors 2022 Debtors and prepayments 2.448 2,309 10. Liabilill08: amounts falllng due wlthln on• yaar 2022 2021 Cr8ditors. accruals and deferred income 8,989 7.678 11. Prlnclpal Loan repayments due within Ono Year 2022 2021 Loan repayments 12.500 12,500 Llabllitles: Amounts falllng due after One Y8ar 2022 2021 Loan repayments 184.500 200.000 A £250.000 loan has been provided by Methodist Chap81 Ltd in order to complete the building of the Parish Cenlre. Repayable over twenty years at £12.5(MJ p.a. ttrJether wlh interest. The inltsrest r8t8 is variablè and al 31 December 2022 was 3.9%12021.. 2.9%). 12. Related Party Tran5acllon5 During the year no transactions wth related parlies outside the ordin8ry Pa of tho charills activitses were undertaken.