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← The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Wrington

2023-12-31-accounts

Benefice of Wrington with Langford and Redhill, Burrington and Butcombe

Wrington PCC Annual Report 2023

We strive to be a Christ-centred Church and wish to be welcoming, compassionate, inclusive and prayerful, . playing a full part in village life, willing to embrace change

Section 1: Introduction

2023 was the fourth of a five-year commitment by the PCC to concentrate on the four following mission objectives (developed by the PCC in 2019). So much has changed since we set those goals and yet they remain an important indicator of the health of our churches in the parish. However, as we come towards the end of this five-year cycle, no doubt we will want to look again at the kind of presence God wants us to be as we go into 2025 and beyond.

Spirituality: attend to our own spiritual life, becoming increasingly dependent on God’s grace so that we live and tell Christ’s story

We now have three established housegroups who meet regularly within the benefice. These play such an important part in our growth as disciples offering us an opportunity to come together to study, pray and reflect on our lives as Christians. As well as our regular Lent groups, we also enjoyed an Advent experience together. In addition, there were a number of study courses through the year on topics as varied as Reading the Psalms and a rule of life.

Fellowship – enjoy a varied diet of worship, prayers and teaching so that we may grow in faith in God together

The arrival of St Mary’s within the benefice broadens our depth of service provision as it tends to approach Sundays in a rather less liturgical style and more contemporary choice of hymnody. Sue’s departure in the Spring will, however, mean that across the benefice we will need to think about how we can staff the range of services we have. Generally, congregations have remained stable with some growth at St Mary’s. We are also delighted to welcome Revd David Jewell

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as Pastor at the URC and we look forward to working closely with him in the coming years. Early in the year, we also had a very successful morning for those who lead intercessions across the benefice. This is something we are keen to develop as we move into an era of increased shared local ministry.

Community by discovering where the Spirit is already moving in our parish, affirm and develop new ways of joining with the work of God’s love

A particular highlight in the year was the baptism of two of our asylum seeker friends on Easter Day. Not only was it a day of rejoicing for them and their friends but also for our local community. Many of those with whom we had contact have now been recognised as refugees and are now making their lives elsewhere in the UK – though others are still waiting for their claim to be assessed. However, they have left a profound effect on many of us, not least a much more international understanding of what it means to be a Christian. As from December, the Holiday Inn in the parish was no longer part of the Government scheme for asylum-seekers.

We have continued to show God’s love in the local community, the most obvious being Coffee and Company at Redhill, pastoral teas at All Saints’, joining with the Golden Lion’s community day, Collective Worship in all three schools (including Churchill Primary, which is now part of the parish, the advent of Wriggly monkeys and the Animal Nativity. The arrival of St Mary’s as part of the parish means that we also now have Jumblies within our Church family. St Mary’s also hosts a number of user groups including a foodbank and Singing for Fun (though we are not responsible for these).

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Stewardship – ensure that our building and finances play an integral part in the mission of the Church

As forecast, last year, the repairs of the chancel roof and the East wall at Christ Church have now been completed. We are keen to pursue refurbishment of the Reading Room and agreeing plans for the toilet at All Saints’. In St Mary’s, we look forward to the completion of the new floor. However, our expenditure continues to exceed our income – something which is simply not sustainable.

D.R. Gent

Rector

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WRINGTON PCC

Chair:

Chair: Revd David Gent Vice-Chair: David Marsh (co-opted) Sue Lamburne (from July 2023) Secretary: Margaret Barker (until February 2023) Treasurer: David Barker until February 2023) Andrew Whiting and Churchwardens: Gabrielle Wilson Chapelwardens: Deirdre Taylor, Lindy Wood Christ Church Catherine Hemming Treasurer & Secretary Revd Andrew Hemming Associate priests: Revd Sue Hoskins Deanery Synod reps: Sarah Pearson, Gabrielle Wilson and Jeanette Farrow (from May 2023) Margaret Barker (until Feb 2023)

Elected members :

2020– 2023: Sue Lamburne, Katy O’Connor

2021-2024: Jill Bagnall, Sue Titman and Roger Vincent

2022-2025: Jane Watson and David Barker (until Feb 2023) 2023 – 2026: Mike Barnfield and Grenfell James

The PCC has six committees in operation (as well as other working parties as and when appropriate): Standing Committee, Finance committee, All Saints’ committee, Christ Church committee, St Mary’s committee and the WC committee. Membership of these committees are determined at the July meeting of the PCC.

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Parish of All Saints' Wrington with Christ Church Redhill and St Mary's Langford Parish of All Saints' Wrington with Christ Church Redhill and St Mary's Langford Parish of All Saints' Wrington with Christ Church Redhill and St Mary's Langford Parish of All Saints' Wrington with Christ Church Redhill and St Mary's Langford Parish of All Saints' Wrington with Christ Church Redhill and St Mary's Langford Parish of All Saints' Wrington with Christ Church Redhill and St Mary's Langford Parish of All Saints' Wrington with Christ Church Redhill and St Mary's Langford Parish of All Saints' Wrington with Christ Church Redhill and St Mary's Langford
Statement of Financial Actvites for theyear ended 31 December 202 3
Receipts and Payments All Saints St Mary's Christ Chur ch
Receipts
Donatons - tax recoverable 44,236 5,022
Other planned giving 3,310 100 8,854 35,805
Collectons at services 6,104 1,401
Gif Aid 8,605 2,218
Other giving 805 3,498 26,951
Legacies 5,000
Total 68,060 12,239
Church Actvites
Fees for weddings and funerals 16,491 2,835
Benefce contributons 3,947
Friends of Churchyard grants 6,480
Other grants 2,590
Fundraising events 142 775
Church and Reading Room hire 1,244 5,416
Funds raised for charites 2,954
Insurance claim 5,749
Other income 2,350 13 370
Total 41,947 5,429 3,980
Investment income
Investment fund dividends 7,211 431
CCLA bonds dividend 3,511 765
Bank interest 352
Sale of investment - Stmson fund 40,000
Total 51,074 765 431
Total income 161,081 18,433 40,216
Payments
Parish share 60,961 12,931 10,391
Wedding/funeral fees to DBF (2022) 4,542
Clergy expenses 3,326
Visitng clergy fees 46
Total 68,875 12,931 10,391
Church running expenses 5,428
Churchyard maintenance 6,841 840
Gas & electricity 9,557 1,194
Water rates 331
Insurance 4,539
Weddings/funerals - third party fees 1,765
Music fees - Sunday services & licences 4,350 793
Cleaning 275
Supplies for services 2130 1,275
Flowers 302
Other expenses 86 538 50
Total 29,019 2,827 6,318
Administraton costs 3,410
Staf salaries 8,131
Printng, statonery, telephone, wif 4,652
Total 12,783 3,410
Mission
Children & Young people 956
Local mission & evangelism 1,788
Charitable donatons 3,279 2,130
Total 6,023 2,130
Repairs and maintenance
Repairs & maintenance 4,621 3,969 373
Tower stair lightng & heatng repair 7,925
Professional fees 4,053
Total 16,599 3,969 373
Other payments
Stmson share to Redhill 21,409
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All Saints’

The Church continues to face a challenging position in balancing diminishing income with increasing costs. The fixed cost of meeting the Parish Share of £60,000 takes about 50% of the church’s income, meaning that all other costs – administration, gas and electricity, repairs and maintenance, etc, have to be met from the remaining 50%. In 2023 a sum of £40,000 was drawn from the Stimson Fund, with half being passed to Christ Church for building repairs, and the balance retained for potential repairs to the Reading Room. It is difficult to envisage how day to day costs will be met in future without drawing on the church’s reserves, unless there is a significant increase in regular giving by church members.

Gabrielle Wilson

Christ Church

Over 2023 Christ Church recorded Total Receipts of £40,216 and Total Payments of £22,622, with a Closing Balance of £42,632. However, This included an exceptional Receipt of £20,000 for the Chancel Roof Works of which only £373 was paid out on that project in the year, the “Running Accounts” should be considered as Receipts £20,216, Payments £22,249, showing a Deficit on the year of £2,033 against a Balanced Budget.

With regard to Receipts, the significant deviations to Budget include:Planned Giving down by £2,800 Tax Recovered down by £2,500

(2022 & 2023 Tax Recovered in 2024 £7,696 would suggest £3,800 should have gone into 2023 Accounts)

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Parochial Fees Income up by

£1,300

With regard to Payments, the significant deviations to Budget include:Charitable Donations down by £ 800 Music costs down by £ 600 (Due to use of electronic

musical accompaniments)

Christ Church is committed to extensive use of the Diocese ‘Generous Giving’ scheme, which will assist in increasing general giving and move Gift Aid Recovery to a quarterly basis. The Gift Aid change alone would have rendered a Surplus of £1,800.

Christ Church Chapel Committee commend these Accounts to the Wrington APCM as an example of careful budgeting and prudent cost control, whilst spending generously on all the things associated with the mission of this church.

Cathi Hemming

SECTION 3: FABRIC, ORNAMENTS AND GOODS

All Saints’ :

  1. Subsequent to the Quinquennial Report of October 2018, the “Items For Attention”, the “Desirable Improvements” and the “Maintenance” have all been addressed. Some changes had to be made in response to advice from other experts, such as Wells Cathedral Masons, plus further developments due to severe weather conditions etc. We look forward to the next inspection, which is planned for 22[nd] May (that will make it a Sextennial Report).

  2. In autumn we had severe gales, and checking the interior of the church I was unable to detect any water ingress. The spring in the floor of the crypt did seep up, but was successfully pumped away by the pump in the sump. Past problems with this, plus the water

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pouring down from the spout on the north side of the tower, led to a deep sink hole suddenly occurring in the footpath. That was reported promptly by a member of the congregation and we filled it and repaired the tarmac.

  1. Wet weather caused rot to increase in the sign by the north gate. It fell over, plus had damage to the panel carrying the lettering. The legs were replaced and a new panel put in. Hairline cracks developed on the west and east walls of the south transept, due to softening of the ground under the south side of the church.

  2. A number of the fluorescent lights in the tower stairs developed faults. These proved to be impossible to repair, so the fittings were replaced with LED ones, that are providing clearer and safer views of the steps and masonry walls. Floodlighting of the tower had to be inspected, and faults were repaired.

  3. Due to a voltage surge, the electric system of the central heating was damaged. All items had to be replaced, and surge protection was added. The system now appears to be working well.

  4. Philip Kinsman

Christ Church:

Christ Church did all the groundwork for the big spend in 2023. The project is to renew the north roof of the chancel. This work included fund raising, the architect, inspectors, quotations and contracts. These repairs are following the quinquennial recommendations.

We have had the organ serviced twice, and had a new cover for the boiler room door. Apart from having the grass cut , we maintain the churchyard ourselves.

The heating system continues to be problematic, requiring constant attention . Dee Taylor

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St Mary’s:

St Mary's is due a Quinquennial in 2024, the last being completed in 2019. The 2019 report reassuringly assessed St Mary’s to be 'generally in good condition and well-maintained'. The findings were fairly minor in nature. The WC was refurbished, as identified in the QQ report. We have also kept on top of minor matters arising, comprising annual maintenance and grounds work. The only major project completed was an upgrade to the sound system and loop which had stopped working.

We anticipate any minor works identified in the 2019 report not already completed to be re-assessed and included with the 2024 Quinquennial.

SECTION 4: LOCKING DEANERY SYNOD REPORT

Locking Deanery, of which Wrington is a part, stretches from Mendip to the Severn Estuary at Weston-super-Mare. It comprises:

16 Benefices, 25 Parishes and 28 Churches.

14 Stipendiary Clergy, 2 Self Supporting Priests, 2 Stipendiary Curates and 1 Self Supporting Curate

21 Readers, 2 Lay Church Leaders and 1.5 Lay Pioneers

This is a sizeable asset, which exists for our mutual benefit through the sharing of experience and resources, and through representation amongst the Diocesan Support Services.

During 2023 the Deanery Synod met three times; to agree the Deanery Deployment Plan that sets the budget for how many Stipendiary Priests each Benefice can have; to welcome and introduce to each other the newly-elected Parish Representatives for the new triennium, and to elect the various officers and committee members; to consider the value to, and role of, our Benefices in supporting Clarence House, an independent living retirement home that is owned by the Deanery.

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Clergy across the Deanery meet monthly over an informal lunch as a means of promoting the network of information and support across the Deanery, and to ensure churches and church leaders receive all necessary pastoral support.

The Deanery Leadership seeks to keep benefices informed of any initiatives or changes coming out of the Diocese, and to represent the interests of our benefices at meetings with our Archdeacon and the Bishop’s Staff.

Revd Andrew Hemming, Area Dean for Locking Deanery

SECTION 5: CHURCH LIFE

ELECTORAL ROLL REPORT

Since last year’s report, there have been 11 additions, made up of 7 in Wrington and 4 in Redhill. Removals during this year were a total of 14, being 7 from Wrington and 7 from Redhill. The result of these changes was that there were a total of 128 on the Roll, being 111 for Wrington and 17 for Redhill.

A note was put in the Village Journal, asking for anyone who wants to be on the Electoral Roll to contact The Electoral Roll Officer.

It is anticipated that St Mary’s, Langford will shortly be incorporated into this Electoral Roll. Roger Vincent

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SAFEGUARDING REPORT

In response to the National Safeguarding Training Framework 2021, in September 2023 Jacqueline Keir-Bucknell came to All Saints, Wrington to delivery our first required Safeguarding Training, i.e. the Basic Module. Subsequently, persons in office, following Diocese guidelines have completed the Foundation Module and some have gone onto complete their Leadership Training.

A start has been made using the Church of England Dashboard which will give an informed framework to bring our Benefice up to date with Safeguarding Requirements for the Church.

Also, in accordance with Diocesan requirements, we have received training and started using the Thirty-one eight DBS Providers. Subsequently with the Diocese DBS and Training Matrix we have passed 9 DBS Certificates including Enhanced Child, enhanced Adult and some with Adult Barring.

At the end of 2023 a new Safeguarding Lead was appointed. Jill Bagnall

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH CHOIR

The church choir has managed to continue to sing at all services as requested. We continue to be very fortunate in having our gifted and very tolerant choir mistress, Alison Blundell, who gives us constant encouragement. Sadly, in December, Michael Taylor, our previous organist, succumbed to the cancer that had led to his resignation as full-time organist. Michael had been able to return on a part-time basis for a while. Alison has continued to take on the organ-playing duties while leading us in rehearsing and directing our singing.

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We are sadly depleted in all the lower voice parts and would love to have more singers. We meet as and when required to rehearse for about an hour, often early on a Thursday afternoon before the sung eucharist service, or during the afternoon before the monthly sung evensong.

Simon Medd

FOUNDATION REPORT FOR WRINGTON AND BURRINGTON CofE

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

At the beginning of the year the schools joined the Lighthouse Schools Partnership (LSP) Multi Academy Trust, 26 primary schools based around North Somerset. School visits by LSP staff have been helpful but at times too critical of the challenges of teaching mixed age classes in small classrooms at Burrington.

The schools were flourishing last year with full rolls. Pupils at Burrington had weekly services in their church whereas Wrington had whole school services about once a term due to the more difficult logistics. These services involved full pupil participation, both spoken and with music making and choral singing.

Belinda Kumpel, Foundation Governor

JUMBLIES

Jumblies is an established weekly meeting for 0s – 4s with their carers, led by Zoe Maitland-Round. Meeting in St Mary’s, the group is a haven for parents and carers drawn from Langford and beyond.

MESSY CHURCH

Messy Church has met 10 times this last year, led by a wonderful team of helpers whose time, energy and wholehearted commitment are so appreciated.

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On average, 15 children attend with their parents. Each occasion is carefully and thoroughly planned, offering a range of stimulating activities and Bible-based teaching. This teaching adds to the invaluable work undertaken by the Open the Book team in the Primary School.

Pauline, who has led Messy Church so devotedly and ably for many years, supported by Katy, has decided to step back. Her contribution over this long time could not be over-estimated and her legacy will endure.

Rosemary Barrett

MOTHERS’ UNION

Wrington Mothers’ Union continues to meet each month in the Reading Room, with over twenty members we are one of the largest groups in the Diocese. We have a range of speakers to provide something of interest and information at each meeting. We also hold an annual coffee morning to raise funds for the work of Mothers’ Union throughout the world, along with a garden tea party in July and an outing in August. Details of meetings are included on the pew sheet, and visitors are always welcome.

Gabrielle Wilson

OPEN THE BOOK REPORT

We meet up at my house on Tuesday mornings where each ‘actor’ is delegated a specific part to play in the Bible story for that day. We then try on our costumes (taking some to school for the pupil volunteers) and practise our acting skills.

At Wrington School there is usually a question time and a prayer.

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The pupils love to participate and we always have more volunteers than parts available! There are about 10 of us in this group and I would like to thank everyone for their commitment.

I think we enjoy ourselves too! If anyone is interested in joining us, please let me know.

Pat Milne

PASTORAL TEAM

The Pastoral team have continued to meet regularly and discuss those who need visiting for any reason. They have also organised the tea parties which are highly valued by those who are elderly, lonely, vulnerable and many more!

All team members are trained and observe complete confidentiality.

Fiona Densham

TOWER

We have practised most Thursdays and rung most Sunday mornings, partly with the support of visitors from other local towers. We have recommenced teaching new bellringers, and welcome further volunteers who would like to develop the skill.

The leading Chew Area 10 bell ringers have practised in our tower bimonthly throughout the year, led by Bec Cox from Backwell.

We rang for a large number of weddings and were able to recruit some excellent ringers from across the Diocese to make it possible. We also rang for Pat Ledbury’s funeral, to a good standard.

For our practice we ring a range, from more advanced methods such as Cambridge, Stedman and St Clements, to simple rounds and placemaking, depending on which ringers are available.

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We have yet to return to teaching new ringers since the end of Covid lockdowns, but have secured funding to supplement the Diocesan Young Bellringers Scheme and intend to recommence recruiting young ringers next year. Meanwhile, we have been depending on trying to persuade those who can already handle a bell to join us, at least in the short run.

Philip Kinsman, Tower Captain

WRIGGLY MONKEYS

Wriggly Monkeys was launched in October as a monthly time of songs and stories for 0s – 4s with their carers. Over 20 toddlers and their Mums have come in the initial three months. We’re indebted to Helen Griffiths, Terri Patch and Mary Barnfield for taking this on.

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCHWARDENS’ REPORT

A huge variety of events have taken place this year in church. Increasingly, we are inviting the local community into church which is a delight to see. A great example of this was the annual All Saints’ Nativity Festival, playing host to the village lantern parade’s ‘Norman, the dove’. Norman sat very patiently by the font, all 12-foot wingspan with lights, a symbol of peace and unity. Very fitting. He was widely admired.

We are very fortunate in our Parish, having such a dedicated ministry team comprising David Gent our rector, Andrew Hemming (Christ Church associate priest) and Sue Hoskins. Of course, they are ministering not just to our Parish of three churches, but the Benefice comprising a total of five churches: a tall order. We thank them for their time and diligence, from both a ministry and pastoral view, we are blessed indeed, and

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in the case of David and Andrew, we thank their ‘other halves’ for the support they provide, a true vocation if there ever was one!

We have come to know a number of asylum seekers based at the Holiday Inn over the last few years, and were sad when they left in December on the closure of the hotel for this purpose. Happily, a number had received news of their asylum acceptance, enabling them to look for work and accommodation - no easy task with language and cultural differences to contend with. We feel we have been enriched by their friendship and faith, and we wish them well on the next stage of their journey, and hope they find welcoming churches wherever they decide to settle.

This year, we welcomed St Mary’s to our Parish, we have enjoyed a number of Benefice services together, helping us to get to know each other. All credit to St Mary’s for coping so long with no minister.

Churches would not function without the support of countless unsung heroes, a wonderful example of true team work. We, as churchwardens, would like this opportunity to thank you on behalf of the churches and local communities we live in. It is often said, many hands make light work, and it is particularly so with church life. We would encourage anybody to ‘get involved’. We all have God-given talents, and it’s wonderful to be able to use these talents to benefit both the church community, and in truth ourselves, no matter how insignificant we think the offer may be. Andrew Whiting and Gabrielle Wilson

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CHRIST CHURCH, REDHILL CHAPELWARDENS’ REPORT

The church continues to play an active part at the heart of Redhill village life, bringing the good news of the Gospel to all.

Membership of the church at regular Services of Worship remains at 19, which includes connections with eight families with primary school-aged children, or younger. In order to serve the needs of these families, and those of the rest of the congregation, each month we have two Holy Communion Services and two Family Services, one more musically-based and one more action-based. We also maintain a weekday service of Morning Prayer at which we pray for our community and the wider world. We did lose two long and faithful members of our church family during 2023; Barbara and Brian Gillard. They are sadly missed, but their spirit of hospitality and joy lives on in the work of the church.

Coffee and Company, the church’s pop-up café, continues to be a major link with the wider community, regularly receiving 20 to 25 local residents. We were also delighted to host two weddings during the year for couples within the church family, that were very much whole village events, emphasising the position Christ Church holds in the life of Redhill.

Our service for the King’s Coronation was also a great community event with a service followed by a Coronation picnic.

The farmers of the village are often difficult to reach as they work every day, so we strive to take the church to them. A Plough Service held at a local farm in October was very well

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received. One community event that has had to be put on hold though, is Singing for Fun, an initiative meant to address loneliness in particular. Having run for several years it has appeared to come to a natural end. Nonetheless, we are immensely grateful to Tina, Bill and Shaun for running this for so long. Christ Church also supports a number of charities, but ‘Somewhere to Go’ in Weston-Super-Mare is particularly close to our hearts. We support them both practically, financially and spiritually. It is a great joy to us to be a part of their work.

We seek to grow in faith through our special events and our Bible Study Group, which is shared with Butcombe church. The Family Passover Meal during Holy Week was a new initiative which allowed young and old to remind each other of our past heritage and future hopes. The Easter Morning celebration was not a Communion Service but an Agape of shared bread alone. This enabled us to have an amazing celebration of Easter Day with all the ‘Bells and Whistles’ in an inclusive Service.

Churchyard clean-ups still take place, thanks to the assistance of Tina and Bill Hillis and Dee and Barrie Taylor. Tina continues to be in charge of church flowers and, as usual, thanks are due to John Lee for mowing the churchyard grass, and to Dawn Lee for opening the church every day and keeping it clean. Cathi Hemming has continued to do a sterling job, in the face of great technical difficulties, with our finances, for which we are most grateful, and we have been fortunate to have had visits from David, Janet and Sue Hoskins.

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Finally, our heartfelt thanks, as always, must go to Andrew, who has led us, inspired us and been a wonderful spiritual example to the whole of the community of Redhill.

Dee Taylor and Lindy Wood

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To be held in All Saints’, Wrington at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8[th] May 2024

  1. Opening Prayer

  2. Minute of 2020 Annual Vestry Meeting

  3. Election of two churchwardens and chapelwardens for St Mary’s and Christ Church

  4. Apologies

  5. Electoral Roll Report and applications for a Cathedral parish pass

  6. Rector’s reflection and questions

  7. Consideration of Annual report

a) Section 2: Financial Statement 2023

There will be a short meeting of the PCC, starting roughly 5-10 minutes after the APCM has concluded.

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