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Christ Church
Flackwell
Heath
Annual
Report 2020
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opted members and be elected on a three-year rolling retirement. During 2020 elected members were Phil Bellamy (from APCM 2020), Sylvia Bourhill, Amy Carr (to APCM 2020), Tim Franklin, Denise Herschel, Reg Jaycock, Sammy Simpson (from APCM 2020), Bob Tibbles and Lynda Tibbles (to APCM 2020).
The PCC has three committees:
## **- Overview: 2020, Covid 19 and interregnum**
The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic took effect with a national lockdown in March which closed church buildings, but online services and our very active congregation ensured the Church was very much alive. We returned to the building for sociallydistanced services in church when restrictions were lifted between July and December, showing the livestreamed Facebook service followed by communion. Having been part-time Assistant Archdeacon, Revd Canon Christopher Bull was appointed full-time Associate Archdeacon of Buckingham with effect from 1[st] September.
The 2020 APCM was delayed from Easter until Sunday 25[th] October.
Our Churchwardens, Paul Churchouse and Phil Simpson, took on responsibility for the parish, in collaboration with the Leadership Team, during the interregnum.
1. The Standing Committee is required by law and has the power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any directions given by the Council.
2. The Missions Committee co-ordinates links with the five mission partners that the Church supports. It advises the PCC on missiongiving.
3. The Fabric Committee oversees the maintenance of the Church, Church Centre and grounds.
The PCC met 7 times during 2020 – twice in person, 5 times online via Zoom, and after the APCM in person. Apart from the normal business life of the Church, there was a regular focus on Mission, and agenda items on Data Protection, Safeguarding and GDPR compliance. The Section 11 meeting was held in November to appoint our lay representatives for the vacancy process.
Our Administrator, Debbie Woods, continued to ably support the Leadership Team, Churchwardens and congregation, working from home when not able to work in the Church Centre.
## **Background**
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of Christ Church Flackwell Heath has the responsibility, as stated in the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, of co-operating with the Vicar, the Revd Canon Christopher Bull (until 31[st] August 2020), in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church - pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the Church and Church Centre of Christ Church, Flackwell Heath. Christ Church is a Registered Charity, as required under Charity Law, with a Charity Registration number of 1132634.
Parochial Church Council Membership: Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. In addition members may be co-opted as necessary. During 2020 the following served as PCC members: **Ex Officio Members:** _Chairman_ : Revd Canon Christopher Bull (to August 2020); _Curate_ : Revd Isaac Knight; _Associate Minister_ : Revd Martin Courtney; _Licensed Lay Ministers_ : Sue Simpson _(Vice-Chair)_ & Debbie Fox; _Churchwardens_ : Paul Churchouse & Phil Simpson; _Deanery Synod Representative_ : Neil Bourhill.
**Elected Members:** It was agreed at the APCM in April 2004 that the PCC should consist of seven elected members in addition to ex officio and co-
Church Attendance in 2020: Due to the Coronavirus, Church buildings were closed by the Government with effect from Tuesday 17[th] March. Christ Church started to stream online services on Facebook from Sunday 29[th] March, with music, liturgy, readings, prayers, sermons and interviews recorded in members’ homes. Although the service is broadcast at 10.30am, members from 9am, 10.30am and 6.30pm congregations have all participated.
Following the lifting of national restrictions, services resumed in the Church building on Sunday 26[th] July, in line with Government guidelines, and this was Revd Canon Chris Bull’s final Sunday. The second lockdown closed Church buildings from Thursday 5[th] November to Tuesday 1[st] December. Although Churches were not forced to shut during the third lockdown, the decision was taken to suspend services after the Christmas Day service.
The Statistics for Mission Return for 2020 takes account of Covid-19. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Communicants numbered 19 (37 attending). In 2020 there were:
- ●No Baptisms, Confirmations or Weddings
- ●27 Funeral Services, including services at Christ Church and GreenAcres cemetery; Chilterns and West Wiltshire Crematoriums; and burials at Little Marlow Cemetery and Four Ashes Garden of Rest.
Electoral Roll: The Electoral Roll declared at the Annual Meeting in 2020 was 204 people, an increase of 2 compared with that declared at the APCM in 2019 (202). The Roll is made up of 142 resident in the parish and 62 non-resident. (Debbie Woods - Electoral Roll Officer)
## **Review of the Year**
Our Vision is of Christ Church as _“a welcoming community where everyone flourishes in life and grows in faith, equipped to show and share the goodness of God to all.”_
The five key areas of ministry are: Welcoming - Flourishing – Growing - Showing - Sharing Our three priorities are
(1) Growing deeper – making and growing disciples, with everyone able to find their place and use their time, talent and gifts
(2) Growing bigger - showing the goodness of God, with a confidence and willingness to invite (3) Growing up – ministry to children, families, parents and carers and young people
Sunday and midweek services and activities were very ably led by the Leadership Team and visiting Ministers while the Vicar was on sick leave, and at the end of January he eased back to work part-time.
- Revd Steve Whitmore returned to assist with communion following Chris’s departure in the summer.
- Revd Isaac Knight was ordained as Priest in a small, socially-distanced service at St Mary’s Church, Wendover on Saturday 19[th] September. He presided at his first communion on Sunday 27[th] September.
- Sue Simpson (LLM) serves as Archdeaconry Advisor for Licensed Lay Ministry.
- Philip Lancelotte decided to stand down from his training for Licensed Lay Ministry (LLM).
- Phil Bellamy and Sylvia Bourhill (Authorised Preachers) preached regularly as part of the preaching team.
The Church Safeguarding Policy was kept up- todate, despite various legislative changes. Enhanced Disclosures from the Disclosure and Barring Service were obtained for all who need them for work with children and vulnerable adults. Confidential records are held securely. The Church Safeguarding Team consists of the Vicar, Denise Herschel and Jane Franklin.
The Fabric Committee: The Church and Centre benefited from a small but dedicated team of volunteers, particularly the Grounds Working Party which, despite the pandemic, continued to meet socially-distanced each month to carry out general garden and building maintenance. Main fabric items for 2020: professional tree surgeon work to 2 trees in the car-park; updating some electric breakers; re-
pointing following quinquennial report; Church office redecoration and new carpet fitted; a new centre cleaner was appointed; risk assessments and ensuring we were Covid-19 secure. The Church and Church Centre continued to be cleaned to a high standard, the Centre professionally and the Church by volunteers. The PCC discussed Health and Safety regularly. A regularly updated Church Website is maintained as part of the Church’s commitment to provide information on its life, activities and services.
Worship: Debbie Fox continued as Director of Worship, supported by Ruth Dobson who provided the administration for a talented team of musicians, singers and AV technical support, organised into five worship teams for the 10.30am services, with additional pianists for the 9am and 6.30pm services. Our sung worship is complemented by Bible Readers and Pray-ers and the Flower Team. A team of trained Servers and Chalice Assistants helped each Sunday.
In January a ‘Burn’ worship event was held in conjunction with the Community Church. We are grateful to Revd Isaac Knight who quickly responded to the Churches being closed in March and launched an online service on Facebook on Sunday 29[th] March, which continued weekly with pre-recorded services of a very high quality. In September, ‘Dwell’ was launched, a new monthly evening service with modern worship and space to dwell and connect with God.
Discipleship: Sue Simpson co-ordinated the small group work at Christ Church, with termly meetings for the small group leaders. Some 15 small groups meet, in homes and the Church Centre, and include a monthly pub-based discussion group (CU@ThePub) to discuss Christian perspectives on contemporary issues and a teenage Bible study group for girls. Many groups were able to connect online through the lockdowns, others kept in contact via phone calls. In the summer, smaller groups were able to meet in person in the Quiet Garden.
- Sunday teaching concluded the series ‘A Story to Tell’, followed Lent themes and then followed the Lectionary when services went online. Teaching was led by Revds Chris Bull, Isaac Knight and Martin Courtney; Sue Simpson and Debbie Fox (LLMs); Phil Bellamy and Sylvia Bourhill (Authorised Preachers); with additional ministry from Revd Jane Chaffey and Ven Ray Pentland.
- Sharon Howard oversaw the Junior Church, leading a great team of volunteers when meeting in person and producing material which was emailed to families in lockdown. A small crèche was run in the Rotunda during 10.30am services. The online Nativity Play was a particular highlight of Christmas.
- Schools work was able to go ahead online in the autumn.
- In November the PCC affirmed Leonie Cowlard as our Family Support Worker.
- Christ Church holds a ‘Family Friendly’ Award from Oxford Diocese.
- Revd Isaac Knight co-ordinated the youth work and leaders, who delivered a great programme of teaching in person and continued to meet online. Young people were involved in the ‘No Strings Attached’ puppet theatre, and regularly served in Worship Groups and AV teams, in Junior Church and on the post-service refreshments rota. One young adult member used her gap year to work with Rock UK, a Christian outdoor activity charity.
- New Wine and Lighthouse children’s event provided opportunities to worship and learn online.
Prayer: Christ Church continued to hold prayer as a core value, with Jane Franklin as Key Leader. Church members are involved in prayer partnerships and prayer takes place in homegroups and other groups that make up the life of the Church.
- A 24/7 Prayer Room ran in Lent (theme: ‘Deep Water Fishing’) with a Quiet Morning before the Church had to close.
- Daily Prayer (Mon-Fri) was held in the Rotunda with a community Prayer Diary until lockdown, when pray-ers communicated with each other and prayed at home. There were also monthly Prayer for Everyone, an emergency email prayer chain and a team of confidential intercessors.
- Christ Church took part in the 20:20 Prayer initiative from Hope Together and the Thy Kingdom Come calls to prayer. There were opportunities to pray with Flackwell Heath Methodist Church and with other local churches online, particularly during Thy Kingdom Come and on 1st December for an Advent Day of Prayer.
- Prayer was also focused on High Wycombe, with Christ Church committing to prayer on the 4th of each month with 35 churches in a 24/7 365 prayer-net for our town and district. From September this moved to the first Sunday of each month at 6.30pm.
Fellowship: We were able to host a comedy evening and one round of Dinner Parties in February before the pandemic restricted our meeting together. Occasional Zoom coffee mornings were held after the Sunday live-streamed services.
The Men’s Group (Fellaship) ran regular events and breakfasts with speakers, in person and then continuing monthly online. The Women’s Group (Sister Act) enjoyed occasional breakfasts with speakers online.
Ministry: The Pastoral Network, under the Key Leadership of Sue Hill, continued to oversee and develop pastoral care at Christ Church, particularly through the ministries of Welcoming, Pastoral and Bereavement support, Meals on Wheels, Baptism Welcomers and Pastoral Prayer Ministry.
- At the beginning of the year a group participated in a pastoral training course at St Mary’s Church, Beaconsfield.
- Once lockdown was enforced, members of the Pastoral Team identified lonely and vulnerable members of the congregation and continued regular contact by phone throughout the year, with help such as shopping given to those who were isolating. Each Friday the Link email was printed and delivered to all those not on email and tablets pre-programmed with the Sunday service delivered to some.
- Follow-up to funerals and bereavement was provided by the Bereavement Visiting Team and Oasis self-help bereavement groups. The Oasis teams also ensured that their members were contacted on a regular basis throughout the year. Oasis affiliated to the Good Grief Trust and participated in the National Grief Awareness Week (2[nd] – 8[th] December).
- Prayer Ministry sadly had to cease in March due to restrictions.
- A number of Church family members have moved away or died during the year and we have not been able to say proper farewells.
Outreach and Evangelism: Online services have enabled us to connect with many people in the local area who have never been into the Church, as well as reconnect with people who have moved away. We continued to work with local Churches including Flackwell Heath Methodist Church, enjoying termly joint services (on Zoom), and sharing with the Community Church in Wooburn Green for CAP Money courses.
- The spring term Alpha course was only able to run for a few weeks before lockdown.
- Coffee Stop remains a key part of our community involvement and outreach but sadly had to close in March due to the restrictions.
- Trained facilitators Leonie Cowlard and Liz Gordon ran ‘Care for the Family: Time Out for Parents’ courses and were able to continue the monthly support group for parents of children with additional needs, You-Nique, in person and then online.
- Christ Church members were also involved with High Wycombe centred activities: One Can Trust, Wycombe 24/7 Prayer, Wycombe Youth for Christ and Wycombe Homeless Connection. We supported the work of One Can Trust, the High Wycombe based
Mrs Sue Simpson 4th March 2021
emergency food bank, with regular collections throughout the year at the home of a church couple, and supported Christian Aid with 2 socially-distanced plant sales.
(Vice-Chair of the Parochial Church Council)
- Christ Church is a Fairtrade Church, using and promoting fairly traded products.
- Sue Simpson represented Christ Church on the Flackwell Heath Coronavirus Coordination group organised by Councillor Dave Johncock in March.
- Other community involvement included school assemblies, first in person and then online in the autumn; supporting the Royal British Legion, including services to commemorate the 75th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day, participating in a Peace Walk on the anniversary of VJ Day with local churches, ringing the Church bell on the centenary of those named on the village War Memorial and leading the village Remembrance Sunday Service at the War Memorial.
- The Charity Fayre, raising funds for many local and national charities, went online this year.
- In December we assisted St Peter’s Church, Loudwater, to help deliver ‘Boxes of Hope’ to needy families during the Christmas holidays.
- Church members are encouraged to serve in many village groups and activities.
During 2020 Christ Church was committed to five Mission Partners: Jubilee Society (Mongolia), the Albanian Christian Centre (with New Beginnings Children's Home), London City Mission (LCM), Wycombe Youth for Christ (WYFC), and a work in East Africa. Each received a monthly sum as agreed by the PCC. Meg Scullion chaired the Mission Committee. Emmanuel Gill (LCM) visited in February and Erica Holt from Wycombe Youth for Christ came to speak in March. Four of the Mission Partners recorded Christmas messages for our online services. A monthly prayer bulletin was sent out and the Mission Noticeboard maintained.
Financial Review: The excess of incoming resources (£253,660) over expenditure (£156,085) was attributed to a large bequest (over £120,000) which offset the effects of reduced income during the pandemic. The major outgoings were the Diocesan Parish Share and the salary of the part-time Administrator. All general income was tithed and supported the work of our five mission partners. Reserves Policy: In November the PCC reviewed the current level of reserves and were happy with the level of reserves currently held at around £66,000, which is designed to cover the equivalent of two months' general running costs and an additional one month's salary costs, plus other anticipated expenditure.
## **Parochial Church Council of Christ Church, Flackwell Heath Statement of Financial Activities**
|**for the year ending 31 December**|**2020**|||Designated/|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||Unrestricted|Restricted|TOTAL FUNDS|TOTAL FUNDS|
||||Funds|Funds|2020|2019|
|||Note|£|£|£|£|
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**|||||||
|_Incoming resources from donors_||2(a)|109,027|22|109,049|120,272|
|_Other voluntary incoming resources_||2(b)|126,687||126,687|7,197|
|_Incoming resources from operating activities:_|||||||
|to further the Council's objects||2(c)|4,338|2,948|7,286|25,394|
|to generate funds||2(d)|22||22|68|
|_Income from investment_||2(e)|147||147|193|
|_Other ordinary incoming resources_||2(f)|4,974|5,495|10,469|14,879|
|**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**|||**245,195**|**8,465**|**253,660**|**168,003**|
|**RESOURCES EXPENDED**|||||||
|_Grants_||3(a)|27,445|5,585|33,030|21,603|
|_Activities relating to the work of the Church_||3(b)|98,446|8,558|107,004|128,526|
|_Church Management and Administration_||3(c)|16,051||16,051|17,054|
|**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**|||**141,942**|**14,143**|**156,085**|**167,183**|
||||||||
|NET MOVEMENTS IN FUNDS|||**103,253**|**-5,678**|**97,575**|**820**|
|Balances brought forward at January 1|||87,031|10,204|97,235|96,415|
|Balances carried forward at December 31|||190,284|4,526|194,810|97,235|
Page 1
**Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 December**
**2020**
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2020 2019
£ £
Monetary Assets
HSBC Current Account 6,689 5,424 2,500 2,894 -494
Barclays Account 3,849 4,317 0 142 587
HSBC Deposit Account 20,216 165,769 70,993
CAF 90 day account 120,000 85,000 85,000
Cash (Floats) 94 148 160
253,953 156,246
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## _Debtors_
There are no debtors.
## _Creditors_
There are no creditors
## _Liabilities_
The PCC holds £59,143 on behalf of the Jubilee Society of Mongolia
## _Moveable Church Furnishings_
Moveable church furnishings are valued at £0.00 for accounting purposes.
## _Non-Monetary Assets_
Assorted gardening implements and shed – valued at £0.00 for accounting purposes. The PCC owns assorted dvds, books and office equipment – valued at £0.00 for accounting purposes
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Funds Statement Balance
at 31/12/20
Restricted Funds
Relief 2
Designated Funds
Jubilee Society of Mongolia 59,144
Oasis 3,894
General Fund 61,788
Development Fund 129,125
Total 253,953
-
Represented by :
HSBC Current Account 2,894
Barclays Account 142
CAF 90 day account 85,000
HSBC Deposit Account 165,769
Cash (Floats) 148
Total 253,953
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0.00
Page 2
**Parochial Church Council of Christ Church, Flackwell Heath Notes to the Financial Statements**
**For the year ended 31 December 2020**
The funds for the Liz Hart bequest are no longer shown in these accounts, instead they are represented in the accounts of the Jubilee Society of Mongolia (UK charity 1144926)
|2 **INCOMING RESOURCES**
Unrestricted
Funds
2(a) _Incoming resources from donors_
£
Planned giving:
Gift Aid donations
75,003
Other planned giving
7,828
Income tax recoverable
20,959
Loose plate collections
2,389
Other Gift Aid donations
575
Other donations
2,273
109,027
2(b) _Other voluntary incoming resources_
Donations to expenses
2,816
One off Grants
-
Legacies
123,871
126,687
2(c) _Incoming resources from operating activities:_
_to further the Council's objects_
Bible Notes & Events
2,035
Church Centre lettings
1,927
Fees for weddings etc
376
Other
-
4,338
2(d) _Incoming resources from operating activities:_
_to generate funds_
Other funds generated
22
22
2(e) _Income from investment_
Bank and deposit account interest
147
147
2(f) _Other ordinary incoming resources_
Special collections
-
Use of photocopier
95
Assigned Fees
2,808
Cash Floats (eg. Coffee Stop)
2,071
4,974
**Total Incoming Resources**
**245,195**|Designated/
Restricted
Funds
£
22
22
-
2,948
-
2,948
-
-
5,495
-
5,495
**8,465**|2020
2019
75,003
77,384
7,828
10,057
20,959
21,490
2,411
9,729
575
805
2,273
807
109,049
120,272
2,816
2,197
-
-
123,871
5,000
126,687
7,197
4,983
15,555
1,927
7,845
376
1,968
-
26
7,286
25,394
22
68
22
68
147
193
147
193
5,495
5,754
95
261
2,808
2,909
2,071
5,955
10,469
14,879
**253,660**
**168,003**
TOTAL FUNDS|
|---|---|---|
**253,792**
Page 3
|3 **RESOURCES EXPENDED**
3(a) _Grants_
Missionary societies
Relief and development
Home mission
Special collections
Other
3(b) _Activities relating to the work of the Church_
Ministry: Diocesan Parish Share
Clergy expenses
Sanctuary
Music
Junior Church/Youth
Materials/books/services
Church running expenses
Church repairs/maintenance
Church Centre costs
Bible Notes & Events
Cash Floats (eg. Coffee Stop)
Assigned Fees
Training
Improvements
3(c) _Church Management and Administration_
Printing and stationery
Administrator salary & related costs
Office/administration
**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**|Unrestricted
Funds
£
26,780
-
600
-
65
27,445
76,835
1,601
49
907
738
143
5,149
1,696
2,352
1,397
2,700
2,808
245
1,826
98,446
2,385
12,041
1,625
16,051
**141,942**|Designated/
Restricted
Funds
£
-
90
5,495
5,585
8,558
-
-
8,558
**14,143**|0
2020
2019
26,780
13,800
90
600
600
900
5,495
5,759
65
544
33,030
21,603
76,835
69,894
1,601
2,797
49
207
907
799
738
492
143
634
5,149
8,111
1,696
2,369
2,352
5,982
9,955
15,566
2,700
8,871
2,808
2,909
245
697
1,826
9,198
107,004
128,526
2,385
3,662
12,041
11,513
1,625
1,879
16,051
17,054
**156,085**
**167,183**
TOTAL FUNDS|
|---|---|---|---|
Page 4
•xamln•rf8 V•POrt to th• PCC of Chrknt Chu, Flack*•ll Hth
Ths rerA)rt on the financial Statern d the PCC the yw ended 31st December 2020
ich are set out on pw 1 to 4 is in res of an examination carried out in
accordan V•ith the Church Acmunt Regulati 2( ('Ihe regulatiL") and
section 43 of ts Charities Act 1993 &f'l.
R08pectlvè r98pon•ibilltl88 of th• PCC and the Indep•ndenl Examln
The PCC is responsible for the wep*i(m of the &counts Consi an is not required
for this year and that an irvjependent examination is needed. It is my re$F#sIbl1ty to issue this
rek¥Jrt on those finan(xal Statern in aCCcrftse *ith the temis of the regulations
Bas18 of th1• 1ndad•fit Examlnefs Statama
This examinaiion was carried out in *ith the General 're¢ll0r given by
Charity Commissioners. It inclLths a revie4V of the x(J)unting records kept by the charity and
comparison of the acwunts wesented with those re¢d& It also indudes ¢onsrderation of any
unusual items or dI*losu in the a£counts, and seeking explanations from the PCC cg>ncemirtrJ
any such matter& The wrlUreS undertaken do not providè all the eviden that yuld be required
In a full audi( and ryXWqltIY I do not express an audit Opini the 4Xnts
Independant Examlnets Statem
In connection %Mth my examinati, rK> matters have come to my attentiC..
which gives me reanate cause to believe that in any material resp the requirements
have not been met,
to lCh, in my opinion, attention shId draMI in order to enable a woper
Mr lan Bickersiaffe
17 Ash Close
Walters Ash
High Wycomb8
HP14 4TR