11[th] May 2025
Annual Reports and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St. George’s, Jesmond, for the year ending 31[st] December 2024
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Parochial Church Council of St. George’s, Jesmond Registered Charity No. 1132758
Aim and Purpose
St. George’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent, the Reverend Debbie Loughran (since October 2024), in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church, the Church Hall, Tower House, Close house, and the Green.
Objectives and Activities
St George’s seeks to be an Inclusive Church and has set the following areas of focus for our energies:
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Open and welcoming church community
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Inclusive and traditional worship
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Questioning and nurturing faith
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Relevant and engaged in the wider world
PCC Members who served during 2024
Ex Officio
Incumbent: Reverend Debbie Loughran (from October 2024) Curate: Reverend Oliver Dempsey (to April 2024) Interim Minister: Reverend Canon Clare MacLaren (to March 2024) Lay Reader and Anna Chaplain: Joan Grenfell Churchwardens: Enid Pearson (2023-2025), Janet Wilson (2023-2026) General Synod: Canon Izzy McDonald-Booth
Lay Representatives on Deanery Synod: Mike de la Hunt (2020-2026), Kay Plumley (2020-2026), Alex Walker (to February 2024) Treasurer: Mike Ranson
Elected Members
Hilary Cullingford (2022-2025) Donald Gaze (2023-2026) Lana Liu (2023-2026) Alison Mattinson (2024-2027) Ian Ness (2022-2025) Nigel Russell-Sewell (2023-2026) Brent Swinburne (2024-2027) Sue Vernon (to April 2024) Margaret Vane (2022-2025)
Administrative Information
St George’s Church is located on St George’s Close, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 2TF. Correspondence should be sent to the Vicar at St George’s Vicarage, St George’s Close, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 2TF; or The Parish Office, St George’s Close, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 2TF.
Secretary: Nigel Russell-Sewell
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Contents
Electoral Roll Report ............................................................................................. 2 Vicar’s Report ...................................................................................................... 2 Parochial Church Council Report .......................................................................... 3
Seeking (discipleship)
Inclusive Church Statement .................................................................................. 4 Bellringers’ Report ................................................................................................ 4 Eco Group Report ................................................................................................. 5 Environmental Policy ............................................................................................ 7
Sharing (evangelism) Children and Young People Report ........................................................................ 8 Anna Chaplain Report ........................................................................................... 9 Community Hub Steering Group Report ................................................................. 10 Charitable Giving Group Report ............................................................................. 12 Music Report ........................................................................................................ 13 Sending (vocation)
Churchwarden’s Report ........................................................................................ 14 Building and Grounds Report ................................................................................. 17 Deanery Synod Report .......................................................................................... 18 Safeguarding Report ............................................................................................. 19 Safeguarding Policy .............................................................................................. 20 Friends of St George’s Report ................................................................................ 21 Refugee Support Report ........................................................................................ 21 Treasurer’s Report ................................................................................................ 22
Appendices Minutes of the 2023 meetings ................................................................................ 25 Selected pages from the accounts ........................................................................ 30
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Electoral Roll Report
The revision of the Electoral Roll was completed on 14th April 2025. The roll contains 159 names; 80 are resident in the parish and 79 are non-resident.
In April 2024 the roll contained 206 names - there have been 17 additions and 64 deletions since then.
The secretaries of the Diocesan and Deanery Synod have been duly informed of the current roll numbers.
Margaret Baron, Electoral Roll Officer
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Vicar’s Report
Jeremiah 29:11
‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
In January 2024 I was happily serving 6 parishes in Telford, Diocese of Lichfield as Vicar and more parishes as Area Dean. I was engaged in many Diocesan committees and serving as a Bishop’s Advisor for Ministry. If you had told me then that 10 months later I would have moved 218 miles north and have been licenced to 2 parishes in Jesmond, Diocese of Newcastle I would have laughed. But here I was, licensed on 7th October 2025 to St George’s and St Hilda’s Jesmond.
It was an amazing call from God to move and an amazing service to arrive to, thank you for all the work that went into making it all possible.
Since then I have sought to get to know people, if we haven’t already met please do drop me an email and let’s arrange a coffee.
We have done so much, shared so much, laughed a lot and gathered together. We have planned and executed those plans, we have done things which were tried and tested and have tried new things too; trusting that God would meet us where we were.
And this will be the story of 2025 too. There will be successes and things which don’t work out as we hoped or expected; but through it all we hold on to the Gospel, which doesn’t promise us it will be easy, but does promise that it will be worth it.
A short Vicar’s report this year, next will be longer as we explore together our call to love and serve the people of our parish.
May we know the guiding of the Holy Spirit as we step out in faith into the future trusting in God to lead us.
Rev Debbie Loughran
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Parochial Church Council Report
A lively discussion on “getting out of fossil fuels in our church” was held January 2024 in preparation for the Eco Group presentation to the congregation held in February. PCC received the designs for the lectern steps, prepared by Ian Ness, and requested these be submitted to the Diocesan Advisory Committee for approval.
News was received in February that the first round of advertising the vacancy for Vicar had not been successful along with a revised timeline for advertising, shortlisting and interviews. Now that PCC no longer had to spend time on the vacancy, meetings reverted to one every two months. The PCC also received Alex Walker’s resignation as Deanery Synod Representative due to his new role in the Diocese of Durham, thanked him for his contributions to the PCC and wished him well.
March saw a special meeting of the PCC with the Estates Group, and the Hub Steering Group where we heard from the Jesmond Community Forum Treasurer on the importance of St George’s estate to the community. Our fundraising consultant, Paul Baird, introduced himself and presented an overview of fundraising strategy for the project. Progress to date was received along with an opportunity to review the architect’s plans.
The April meeting received the annual accounts in preparation for the Annual Meetings and received news from the Archdeacon that Ian Ness’s plan for the lectern steps had been approved.
Following the Annual Meetings, PCC welcomed Alison Mattinson and Brent Swinburne to their first meeting in May. Officials were appointed: Janet Wilson (Lay Chair), Nigel Russell-Sewell (Honorary Secretary), Mike Ranson (Honorary Treasurer). PCC approved amended Lone Worker Guidance, the Legacy Policy and the Conflict of Interest Policy.
PCC greeted the news that The Reverend Debbie Loughran had been appointed Vicar to the Benefice of St George and St Hilda with great delight at its July meeting. Thanks were given to the Representatives of St George’s who played an important role in the selection and interview process. PCC received a report on the Diocese of Newcastle Net Zero Action Plan. PCC also agreed the Memorandum of Understanding with the United Reformed Church to enable the organ project to commence.
The focus of the September meeting was the installation of the new Vicar. A new Safeguarding Code for Bell Ringing was received and formally adopted by the PCC. Repairs to the boiler had been made. Ian Ness designed and commissioned the new lectern steps, in memory of Miss Ann Biles. Thanks were given to Geoff White who retired as Bell Captain after many years’ service. John Markham was welcomed as the new Bell Captain. It was agreed that Smarties would be paused due to numbers attending, and would be reviewed when the new Vicar is in post.
The final meeting of the year, in November, heralded the first of the Vicar as Chair. PCC had been considering the signage on the Green regarding “no dogs” for some time. After
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considerable discussion, it was agreed that signage be removed and reviewed annually each May. It was agreed that a Gift Audit be carried out in early 2025 to discern talents in the church community. Discussion of the Parish Share paid annually to the Diocese concluded with PCC agreeing to pay the full amount of £97,200 requested in 2025.
Every PCC meeting has ‘standing items’ on the agenda that must be considered at each meeting: Safeguarding; Finance; Building and Grounds Group; and St George’s Community Hub. Minutes are published on the St George’s website following approval and can be read at: https://www.stgeorgesjesmond.org.uk/about/#the-pcc.
Dr Nigel Russell-Sewell PCC Secretary (Honorary)
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SEEKING
Inclusive Church Statement
“We believe in inclusive church – a church which celebrates and affirms every person and does not discriminate.
We will continue to challenge the church where it continues to discriminate against people on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality .
We believe in a Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.”
https://www.inclusive-church.org/the-ic-statement/
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Bellringers’ Report
The band of Bellringers has remained largely unchanged throughout the year thus enabling us to meet our ringing commitments. In addition to regular Sunday service ringing, we have rung for four weddings, the D-Day 80th Anniversary and the Jesmond Festival and the Vicar’s licensing.
Geoff White, tower captain, stood down after 15 years of service but continues to support ringing each week. I was asked to take on the role and took over in September 2024. I have been ringing for nearly forty years and joined the band in the previous year when my personal situation allowed.
A number of our ringers help out at other local churches and in particular ring at St. James and Basil Fenham, on Sunday mornings after ringing at St George’s. The bellringers
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enjoyed a day out in the summer when they visited four churches in the Tyne valley and rang the bells. This was a first for some of the band. It was not all work as food was also involved.
Training plays an important role in developing the skills and knowledge of the band as a whole. Some additional practice sessions were organised towards the end of the year and that continues. Bells, as with any musical instrument, take several months to master and then followed by a lifetime of learning. I am pleased to say that we have recruited a new member to the band who was taught from scratch in the latter part of the year.
The condition of the bells and fittings remain largely in good order with little work being necessary throughout the year. It is important to check the bell fittings regularly, only a few bolts had to be tightened and a couple of Ash stays replaced. The bell ropes do have a limited life, typically 8 to 10 years, and currently there are no spares in the tower. Next year will see us having to start provisioning for replacements, if a large cost is to be avoided in a single year.
As we move forward, we plan to develop the band’s ability further, which will hopefully lead to more positive comments from all those who stop and listen to us. My thanks to all the band for their attendance and their support in my first year as St George’s church tower captain.
John Markham, Tower Captain
Eco Group Report
Having already achieved “Silver” level in the Eco Award scheme we have, during the past year, carried out further work to maintain our Silver status. In particular, we have tidied the area on the eastern side of the car park, removing old undergrowth and replanting. Bug hotels have been positioned on the boundary wall. A policy of “no mow May” has been adopted on the Green to encourage biodiversity.
During the year awareness events on sustainable transport and “Net Zero in Church” have been held during coffee after the 9.30 service, also greater prominence is given to environmental and sustainability issues as part of the general activities of the church.
We have received a number of budgetary proposals for electric heating in the church. As indicated in last year’s report we consider the future heating system will feature a combination of under-pew electric heaters and low temperature electric heating panels appropriately located around the building, essentially heating the people rather than the building. We have conducted a series of visits to other churches to consider what they are doing.
A key issue is power supply, the present electricity supply is inadequate for electrical heating. A new power supply will also be required for the proposed church extension. Until the proposed extension is a reality further work on electric heating is in abeyance.
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We have a further five years before we need to meet “net zero”, giving us time consider and review technologies and cost, in what is a developing market.
A more recent development to reduce energy consumption has been to replace the lighting in both the church and hall with low energy LED bulbs. We received from the Diocese a grant of £2,800 to cover the costs of the church pendants. The installation was organised by Building & Grounds.
Other items include:
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We looked at the provision of runner cushions for the pews but the PCC was not in favour.
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The church gas meter has now been changed to a smart meter, making monitoring simpler.
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The provision of electric car chargers in our parking area was discussed with the PCC but the loss of parking spaces v’s the income was not attractive.
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The recycling signage/bins in the Hall are much clearer and the bins are now better used (although Hall users are still not great at recycling).
John Clark, on behalf of the Eco Group
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St. George's Jesmond Eco*cHURCH AN A ROCHA UK PROJECT Environmental Polic St. George's Church accepts responsibility for its effects on the environment and is committed to reduce them. As your local Church of England (Anglican) church, one of our Five Marks of Mission is to strive to safeguard the integrity of Creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth. The key points of our strategy to achieve this are: a. Frequently emphasise God's love for Creation and our stewardship of nature, through our worship and teaching. b. Understand and minimise the impact of our church activities, land and buildings on the environment, especially on the climate and biodiversity. c. Implement an awareness program for our congregation, volunteers and staff to enlist their support in improving the church's impact on the environment. d. Measure our carbon footprint and set targets for ongoing improvement which achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Understand what would be required to reach this target and draw up an economically sensible action plan to achieve it. e. Use future plans to reduce our environmental impact. f. Engage with other churches, the Diocese of Newcastle, the Church of England and other local and national partners to understand and follow best environmental practice & guidance in the context of listed church buildings, to secure their help and partnership to get the work done and to hold the national Church to account. g. Collaborate with people and groups from our local community on environmental initiatives. h. Establish and maintain an Eco Group, chartered by the Parochial Church Council to bring environmental issues and concerns forward to them on a regular basis. with agreed membership, accountability and resources. Follow the Eco Church programme, aiming to achieve Gold certification by 2030 j. Ensure compliance with all relevant environmental legislation. Signed: Dated: April 2025 Chair of the Parochial Church Council Review: This policy will be reviewed each year at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting
SHARING
Children and Young People Report
Background: What the PCC has chartered the CYP to do/ team members this year
The purpose of the CYP is to ‘Help to deliver the Church Vision for children & young people, especially to meet their spiritual & worshipping needs’. Team members throughout the year were Alison, Kay, Lana and Sarah, with Sue Vernon keeping in close touch in an advisory capacity as Safeguarding Officer. Canon Clare left the parish during the year, with much gratitude for her work with children, while she was with us. Rhona Watts, Sue Melbourne and of course Debbie Loughran joined the team during the year.
Highlights
All Age Worship
Who can forget the many all-age worship services this year? Canon Clare led a car journey on Mothering Sunday with contributions from the Junior Choir and many members of the congregation. Malcolm Railton was in charge for Pentecost, with members of the congregation speaking in tongues – no shortage of foreign language speakers at St. George’s. We were delighted to welcome Debbie into the CYP group in October. She organised Christ the King Sunday in November, with a retelling of King Josiah’s story – Floyd stealing the day as the young King Josiah inspecting the church and the people. The teamwork during those services reflects the strong connections between different age groups in our congregation.
Smarties
After the person who organised the rota for Smarties stepped down in the summer, a questionnaire was circulated to affected young people and their parents about whether to continue having 2 people available each Sunday to run the Smarties group. As a result of the general feeling that the young people we have are involved directly in the services (serving, live stream etc), a recommendation was made to the PCC to discontinue Smarties. This was accepted with regret. We would be delighted to reinstate it if it makes sense. As we do have quite a few very young attendees, offering a creche in the Hall was considered as an alternative. This idea will be easier to organise once the church extension is built, as part of the Community Hub project.
Business as Usual, punctuated with Special Events
We would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who run regular activities with children and young people. Especially to Christine’s team running Little Saints, the volunteers helping Drew with the Junior Choir, the people who were running Smarties until the summer and all of the people involved in All Age worship.
Events with outreach to children & young people in the community this year included the Good Friday ecumenical event outside the Boiler House and the annual Easter Egg hunt on the Green.
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Lana agreed with the PCC that we should have a table tennis table available for anyone in the congregation over the age of 8 to use. The de la Hunts kindly donated their table for church use and it is now in the Middleton Room.
The Advent and Christmas season was particularly busy, with the Christmas Market , including many well received activities for children in the Mitchell room; the Living Nativity , featuring Honey the Donkey, with stops in the local area including both St. Hilda’s and Cestria House, followed by refreshments for about 70 people in the Hall; and the Nativity Service . The Christingle Service was moved to Candlemas in February 2025.
Housekeeping & Maintenance
This year, we decided to tidy up the glory hole in the Middleton room which houses all of the crafting materials used by various groups. We reviewed the Children’s Corner, asking for input from those who use it and updating the layout.
We would like your practical help – it doesn’t need to be a huge time commitment! We can use your help and skills in all sorts of ways: Getting materials together for a craft activity; Running an activity during a church event; Making Christingles; Encouraging children and young people to join our Junior Choir or Bell Ringers; Joining the Smarties rota. Do contact us!
Kay Plumley, on behalf of the CYP
Anna Chaplain Report
The need continues in the Care Homes in Jesmond. The need to be remembered, to be listened to, to be accorded worth and dignity. The work of the Anna Chaplain is to meet and respond to such need, and that is what I have tried to do during the past year.
There are a range of emotions attached to the work of an Anna Chaplain. Certainly sadness as I observe the progress of Alzheimer’s Disease taking its toll on residents, but also a sense of satisfaction (if that is the right word) at the difference it can make when someone is noticed, acknowledged with a smile and given time to be heard.
So, I continue to go in weekly to Craghall and Cestria House, and am also visiting (with others) members of our congregation who are resident now in Melton House and Fleming Court, as well as taking Home Communion where it is needed.
I continue what I call the ‘outreach’ of my ministry as I am invited to join Anna Chaplain Training courses to share my experiences with those in the first stages of taking up the ministry.
Crucial to what I do is to ensure that major festivals are remembered: Candlemas, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, Harvest, All Souls Day. This is important for those who have been regular church members and who now find themselves in residential care.
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So, there you have it. That is what I have done... and will continue to do as long as I am able.
Joan Grenfell, Anna Chaplain
Community Hub Steering Group Report
2024 saw the continuing progress of the St George’s Hub Community Scheme. At the start of the year the fundraising total was £156,100 and our fundraiser was able to return to some initial trusts which entailed 25 fresh applications for grants, all of these being targeted at the additional Church building.
During the first quarter of the year full tender documentation was prepared by Messrs Simpson & Brown Architects and the associated consultant team on the Church facilities. Tenders were sought from six contractors and tender submissions received on 22nd March. Following full review of costings by the Consultant Quantity Surveyors and members of the project element of the Hub group, a Value Engineering exercise was undertaken to reach a final target total cost. This represented an optimum balance between retaining the original design concepts and the constraints of realistic funding expectation.
At its July meeting, the PCC approved the revised costings for the Church extension and instructed the Fundraiser to proceed to raise funds on this basis. The current revised total therefore for the whole site project then stood at £1.478m. This is likely to see some further increase when comparable updated costings are obtained for the provisional hall plans in spring 2025. This uplift was essentially unsurprising, given the national recognition of substantial increases in raw materials, transport and labour costs.
April was an undoubted fundraising highlight: our largest single donation that of £50,000 from the Dame Margaret Barbour Foundation. The Hub steering group was very grateful to PCC member Brent Swinburne, St George’s chief liaison with Dame Margaret. We have also benefited from a number of other generous Legacies. Numerous further grants have been applied for and received through the constant endeavours of Paul Baird our professional fundraising consultant. We owe Paul a great debt of gratitude for his perseverance, dedication, practical, and professional support and enthusiasm. Indeed he personally has been a regular contributor to our funding pot. Paul has provided constant advice and suggestions for the group to action in terms of Community outreach and marketing, alongside undertaking his own many visits to the area, meeting various users and groups and providing invaluable oversight during our period of interregnum. We have also been very grateful for the ongoing support and encouragement of our patron Prof Sir Alan Craft.
The Church Hall planning permission time scales were secured by the replacement of the 3 existing rooflights in the current main hall with new electronic opening Velux windows. These have been received very favourably for the difference they already make
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to the hall, and form part of the overall Hall refurbishment scheme. Further review of the original plans for the Hall were also undertaken over the year in order to provide updated internal layout plans for consultation in 2025.
St George’s Hub fundraising and wider profile raising events in 2024 included
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Burns night
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Library talk on Hub nature and aims (JW)
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John North Lecture on the context of the building of St George’s
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Anna Chaplaincy talk and discussion as to how to better include care home residents in the Community by Joan Grenfell
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Summer Music Night with Elvis during the Jesmond festival
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St Andrews Night Ceilidh
Since her installation on 7 October, the Hub Steering Group has been re-energised by the leadership of our new incumbent Rev Debbie. She has given her whole-hearted support to the scheme and provided new energy, fresh ideas and above all encouragement to refocus on the vision and purpose of the redeveloped St George’s site, as it is this vision which will both engage the local community and appeal to fundraisers.
At her first meeting Debbie came up with the following –
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Rev Debbie conceived and led an Advent appeal to raise a sum of £15,000 from Parish and Community by Candlemas. At the start of Advent, our total Hub funds amounted to almost £300,000. By year end, it was clear that the Advent Appeal launched by Rev Debbie would overshoot its target. As a result, our fundraiser is able undertake applications to grant bodies for match funding, a huge step forward in potential revenue stream into 2025. We hope and pray to have sufficient funds for ‘spades in the ground’ behind the church by the end of the year.
A massive thanks to all who have given so generously in both time and financial support to the Hub project.
Derek Nicholson, Janet A Wilson
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Charitable Giving Group Report
The group met in early June 2024. There are many well-supported events throughout the year including:
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Children North East rolling collection
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February, Children’s Society Boxes
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May, Christian Aid Appeal and Fete
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July, Christ Church School / Children North East Uniform appeal
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September, People’s Kitchen Harvest Festival
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November, WERS Christmas Gifts
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December, Christmas Market
All supported the idea of setting out these events together with the Annual Fete and Christmas Market in a calendar format so that people could be prepared and plan their personal contributions. An article was prepared for the Lance.
The 2023 recipients from church funds were reviewed. It was agreed that we should focus more on local needs. The PCC approved the donations on the list below.
Louise Chapman, Joan Grenfell, Hazel Jones-Lee, Margaret Vane, Janet Wilson
| Angel tree Christmas gifts for offenders'children |
600 | https://prisonfellowship.org.uk/our-work/angel-tree/ | https://prisonfellowship.org.uk/our-work/angel-tree/ |
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| Christ Church C of E Primary School |
400 | http://www.christchurch.newcastle.sch.uk/ | |
| Dementia Matters - Newcastle and Northumberland |
300 | https://www.dementiamatters.net/ | |
| West End food bank | 300 | https://newcastlewestend.foodbank.org.uk/ | |
| Friends of Jesmond library | 100 | https://jesmondlibrary.org/ | |
| Jesmond Street Pastors | 300 | https://streetpastors.org/locations/jesmond/ | |
| Jesmond CommunityForum | 150 | https://jesmondcommunityforum.org/ | |
| Newcastle Branch of Samaritans | 300 | https://www.samaritans.org/branches/newcastle/ | |
| People's Kitchen | 300 | https://peopleskitchen.co.uk/ | |
| Caring Hands - supports independent living for vulnerable elderly Newcastle residents |
300 | https://www.caringhandscharity.org.uk/ | |
| Support for local refugee families | 300 | ||
| St Oswald's Hospice | 300 | https://www.stoswaldsuk.org/ | |
| Shieldfield Art Works- contemporary art, theological reflection and community activism - under the auspices of the Methodist church |
100 | https://www.saw-newcastle.org/ | |
| Open Doors movement to support persecuted Christians worldwide |
250 | https://www.opendoorsuk.org/ | |
| **Total ** | 4000 |
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Music Report
Parish music making has enjoyed a busy time, with the choir working hard throughout the liturgical year. The promotion of additional concerts and events has continued, and much work has been going on behind the scenes on long-term fundraising solutions for the organ.
The beginning of the year was notable for a concert of Indian Classical music, organised by Professor David Clarke from Newcastle University, and the first broadcasts of hymns recorded for BBC Songs of Praise. These recordings featured a capacity congregation, the parish choir and Kris Thomsett at the organ. In March, the choir sang a Lenten Meditation with the Choir of Hexham Abbey, a performance of Fauré’s Requiem, conducted by Drew. On Easter Day we welcomed brass players to the 9.30 Mass, and their festive contribution was a highlight of a musical Holy Week and Easter. Likewise, our Pentecost evensong featured instrumentalists, supported by financial contributions from Friends of Music. The Andrelli String Quartet accompanied our own singers with members of the Royal Grammar School Community Choir in a performance of Lotti's Credo. The annual Kids’ Organ Prom featured organist Jonathan Scott, who would go on to play a magnificent solo organ recital in the 2024 BBC Proms (ours came first!).
An organ recital by David Hill (formerly of St John’s College, Cambridge, and now Director of the Bach Choir) dedicated to Frederick Peacock began our autumn programme of events, and was followed by a moving performance of the Duruflé Requiem with Vox Populi for All Souls Day. Quickly we found ourselves in the hectic run up to Christmas, with the choir singing a highly atmospheric Advent Procession and the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. During this period we learned that our application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to establish a heritage trail between St George’s and Jesmond United Reformed Church had been successful. This project is stage one of a larger initiative to restore both our pipe organ and the Lewis-Willis instrument at JURC and interesting collaborations will now take place between the two churches. There will be many opportunities to get involved, with volunteering at the heart of the project.
My sincere gratitude to all who have encouraged our music making over the past year, with special thanks to donors to the Peacock Choral Scholarship Fund and the Organ Fund. Personal thanks must go to Nigel Russell-Sewell (an able deputy for me when I’m away), Bryony Cowell (librarian), Alison Mattinson (robes), Derek Nicholson (too many jobs to mention!), Hilary Cullingford, Maggie Paczek and Sue Melbourne (Junior Choir), and Roy Large (Hon. Assistant Organist), and to Jonathan Richards for his invaluable administrative support.
Drew Cantrill-Fenwick, Director of Music
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SENDING
The Churchwardens’ Report
The year began with a succession of festivities! An Epiphany party during Parish coffee on 14 January followed by a Burns Night sell-out Community Hub fundraiser, Darling Dollies performance in aid of the Friends of St George’s - all culminating in the very successful annual pantomime – The Prince, the Pauper, the Princess and the Peas. In February the ECO group gave a thought-provoking presentation on getting rid of fossil fuels, looking towards Net Zero. The Ministry Team preached from a book on the Psalms by John Bell in Lent and weekly groups each also reflected on a different Psalm. Father Ollie organised weekly Stations of the Cross services at St Hilda’s as part of his ongoing ministry there. In March, The Shiney Row Male Voice Choir gave a popular performance in aid of the Friends of St George’s.
Very sadly March 2024 was principally marked by the loss of our dear Emeritus Organist, Frederick Peacock, who had served St George’s for so many decades. Frederick would have truly appreciated the Capella Messiah, the “Come and Sing” Lenten meditation, and the outstanding singing of St George’s Choir leading Choral Eucharist at Durham Cathedral in April. Loved and respected in equal measure, Frederick is missed by all who knew him.
Services on Easter day were attended by 185 worshippers. Then, at Parish coffee, we said farewell to Canon Clare and presented gifts in appreciation of all the work she had done in the Benefice during the six months of her secondment, and to wish her well in her new position as Provost of Sunderland Minster. Some parishioners were able to attend her joyous licensing on 14 April. Only a week later we were saying farewell again - this time to our wonderful Father Ollie who had provided such continuity, patience and wisdom before and during the interregnum. His licensing followed in mid-May at Haydon Bridge – a service of great celebration and rejoicing, conducted by Bishop Mark.
Following the departure of Canon Clare we were very grateful for services of several priests and curates to lead our worship on Thursdays, on Sundays, and who conducted occasional offices. Members of our own Ministry team – Bryan Vernon, and Readers Joan Grenfell, Malcolm Toft and Izzy McDonald-Booth were supported by some familiar faces notably Chris Wardale, Sue Wilson, Rachel Wood, some less familiar faces – Malcolm Railton, Peter Sinclair and Ruth Birnie, and curates - Ruth Stradling, Miriam Jones and Alison McCarthy. Bishop Mark chaired the shortlisting panel, which met to consider five applications following the re advertisement of the Vacancy. Interviews were arranged for three of the applicants on 4 June. Bishop Mark led our April service of Confirmation and Baptism during Choral Evensong.
Work to establish closer community relations is the foundation of the Community Hub project and has led us to participate more fully in the Jesmond Community Forum and Festival. We were delighted that Chris Clarke, the community Forum Treasurer, a
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member of the Hub steering group, saw the 2024 St George’s Spring Fete as an appropriate opening event for the Jesmond Festival. Bishop Helen-Ann very kindly accepted Father Ollie’s invitation formally to open proceedings, which were able - despite rather damp weather - to take place with many, varied musical contributions. A total of £4,500 was raised to support the work of St George’s. The first bank holiday in May was however on reflection not perhaps the ideal timing for the event going forward, being too early for the plant stall and due to the absence of some regular stall leaders. All agreed next year it should be later in May or in June, ideally avoiding bank holidays. Tom Furness was commended for all his work. St Georges featured in many other events as part of the Jesmond Festival. Summer weekly organ recitals started and there was an extremely popular ‘Kids’ Prom’ – Carnival of the Animals - complete with animated film which brightened up an otherwise wet afternoon in Whit half term. Equally popular were the Friends of St George’s “Singers’ concert” and the “Summer Night with Elvis”, featuring Gary Jay, a well-known tribute artist. Such events raised funds for the Organ Restoration Project, Friends of St George’s and the Community Hub.
The carefully planned interviews for the Vacancy on 4 June allowed the three shortlisted applicants an opportunity to meet multiple members of the congregation from both parishes to discuss the range of issues currently facing the Benefice. The appointment of Rev Debbie Loughran, Rural Dean of Telford, to the Benefice of St George and St Hilda was greatly welcomed. When the announcement was made public on 30 June, everyone was delighted that we were to be led by such an experienced and popular priest.
June was also marked by the most moving and special Service of Thanksgiving for Frederick Peacock. The church was full of so many people who held Frederick dear in their hearts over a lifetime of his devotion and commitment to St George’s, and there also to support Barbara and the family. A turnout of musicians, worshippers and former choristers and pupils from far and wide filled the church, with the service led by Bishop Nick and with a most moving Eulogy from Derek Nicholson. The attendance was further extended by the ability to live stream for many who were unable to attend, with messages of love and appreciation coming immediately after the service via social media from all over the UK, and even as far as Canada. The music chosen by Drew, complemented by Frederick’s own favourite hymns, was so suitable for the occasion, and beautifully sung by the choir; a truly appropriate way to demonstrate Fredrick’s lasting legacy. We all miss him greatly.
During National Heritage Open week, Barbara Peacock offered the unique insight of her historic and heritage tour. Visitors also enjoyed the organ playing of Rev. Dr Roy Large. The. Harvest Festival on 6 October was inevitably low key, being on the eve of the Licensing service the following evening. Nonetheless the congregation as ever contributed a very generous haul of donations for the People’s Kitchen. In late November, there was a similar generous response to the request for Christmas Gifts for those supported by the West End Refugee Service.
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The 7 October 2024 Licensing was a day of great celebration across the Benefice, in a beautiful service led by Bishop Helen-Ann, Archdeacon Ven. Rachel Wood and Area Dean Revd. Paul Baker – well over 100 were present and enjoyed a feast for the senses - magnificent music from Director of Music Drew and the choir, Vera’s stunning flowers and many community warm wishes, followed by a delicious buffet courtesy of the indefatigable catering team under the watchful eye of Linsley de la Hunt. Rev Debbie, interviewed for The Journal expressed her intention to “hit the ground running”. And indeed – she did!
Within a few months, Rev Debbie’s presence was beginning to make a palpable difference to the life and work of the parish. At the end of November, the St Andrew’s Night Ceilidh raised £600 for the Community Hub and attracted many from out with the church congregation including several student groups. The Christmas Market raised £4,500, despite the most atrocious weather of horizontal cold rain. The weather was kinder for the Open House at the Vicarage on 15 Dec - a brilliant afternoon of conversation and warm hospitality appreciated by everyone.
We had many very popular worship events spearheaded by Rev Debbie through Advent, boosting the reach and funds of the Community Hub Advent Appeal. Over 1,500 people attended Advent services for schools and civic organisations, including the ever- popular service of lighting St George’s Christmas tree, sponsored by the annual generosity of the Watson Family Trust. The Living Nativity promenade led by Honey the donkey attracted a good number of followers, and was particularly appreciated by the residents of Cestria house when the procession including Honey entered the lounge to spread glad tidings. Rev Debbie held a scratch Nativity in the afternoon of Christmas Eve which was attended by 120 including many non-regular churchgoers – an event of great good humour and children’s participation - the embodiment of the spirit of Christmas. In all 1,194 people attended services on Christmas and Christmas Day.
The Benefice gives thanks for the blessing of Rev Debbie Loughran. For her joy, and good humour; her insight and industry. She has renewed a sense of confidence and optimism as we look forward to 2025 and all that it will bring to the life of St George’s and St Hilda’s.
Janet Wilson, Churchwarden
It has been my pleasure and privilege to serve as warden during the interregnum, when we have benefited greatly from the ministry of Father Ollie, Canon Clare, and many visiting clergy. The successful appointment of Reverend Debbie as our incumbent for St Hilda and St George was the highlight of 2024. Being warden gives one the opportunity to "meet and greet", to get to know new members of the congregation and to smile and laugh with the children at the back. I would recommend it! Furthermore, it also helps one to realise just how many people contribute to the life of the church, in many diverse ways. Finally, it has given me the opportunity to work alongside Janet, who has always been a great friend, and now is even more so.
Enid Pearson, Churchwarden
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Buildings and Grounds Report
Thankfully, no major issues beset the church, hall or grounds through the course of 2024.
The primary concern over the last 12 months has been various problems with the main church boiler system. Ultimately the system has finally been put back to full working order with additional remote timing controls located in the tower vestry. Two of the hall convector heaters were replaced with much quieter and more efficient models and two defective convectors in the church were repaired. The ECO group continue to explore the most environmentally friendly way of keeping people warm in the great space of St George’s.
Other minor repairs and making good have taken place as necessary. The delicate repair of damaged floor mosaics (tesserae) by specialist conservation firm Messrs Skillington Ltd. was funded by the generosity of the Friends of St George’s. Improved security has been installed for main hall (keypad) and lone workers in the office (buzzer intercom entry). In advance of Rev. Debbie’s arrival, the clergy vestry and part of the tower vestry were redecorated, and the rear vicarage garden partially cleared. The church hall had modest improvements made at the beginning of the year with the introduction of 3 new electrically operated rooflights.
The five-year Quinquennial inspection (QI) was due this year and has been duly undertaken in November complete with drone survey. Some initial observations concerning the church tower slate louvres were logged and were scheduled to be rectified early in 2025.
Following competitive tender for new QI services, the inspection and report were undertaken by Mr Tristan Spicer of Doonan Architects, Hexham. Tristan replaces Ian Ness to whom we are extremely grateful for his custodianship over several years.
Indeed, it was Ian’s design that was used to create the new major piece of furniture in the church, the new wooden lectern steps that now afford much better access assistance with a double handrail in place. We are grateful for the very generous legacy bequeathed by Miss Ann Biles which made this beautiful new addition to our interior possible.
The Parish benefits enormously from the “Tuesday Group” who do a sterling job every week in undertaking a myriad of gardening, housekeeping and general maintenance jobs and we are extremely grateful to them all. Special thanks to Ian Spencer who never has a “dull” moment with all the electrics and lighting on the site.
Similarly, all those who wield a duster or mop each month in cleaning of the church to keep it looking so good deserve mention herein – thanks to one and all.
Derek Nicholson and Janet Wilson
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Deanery Synod Report
This has been a transition year for the Central Newcastle Deanery Synod, as the Revd. Pauline Pearson retired as acting Area Dean in the spring and Revd. Paul Baker took over in summer.
St. George’s Synod representatives this year were: Elected reps: Mike Delahunt, Kay Plumley Ex officio: Clare MacLaren (until Easter), Izzy McDonald Booth (as Lay Chair of the Diocesan and now General Synods), Debbie Loughran (since October)
The focus of the work this year has been in 3 areas:
Worship
Every Deanery Synod meeting starts with a short act of worship. As a particular focus since October 2024, our Bishop, Helen-Ann, has invited us all to a “Year of Seeking”. This is part of a 3 year ‘Seeking, Sharing, Sending’ process. This focus would prioritise prayer and discernment - as individuals, small groups, parishes, chaplaincies and deaneries - and seek to pay attention to where God is at work in our communities and contexts.
Deanery Development Plan
The Deanery Development Plan aims to share people, time and resources across the churches and parishes in the Deanery, including clergy, lay leaders and retired clergy. It has 5 focus areas:
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Leadership & Governance
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Mission & Pastoral Care
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Buildings fit for purpose
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Development of Lay Ministry
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Generous Giving
The Environment ran as a common thread through all of these and it was noted that our Deanery has the highest % of churches signed up for Eco church in the Newcastle Diocese (St. George’s has a silver award).
Within the 5 areas is a long list of all of the things which we might do. Parishes were asked to choose priorities for themselves, which we reported on last year. There has been good collaboration mainly in the area of children & young people, with a Good Friday youth event and a Lifepath event in summer run by Holy Trinity (with many other churches), which attracted 160 Year 4 children.
Deanery Finances
Every meeting included an update on Deanery finances (Parish Share). Much of Parish Share is spent on clergy stipends and clergy housing, as well as training across the whole of our Diocese. In 2024, Parish Share offerings from the 20 churches in the Deanery were enough to support 22 clergy positions, insufficient to fully support ministry in areas which cannot afford to pay for their clergy. We learned that the Diocese, which funds shortfalls,
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has been running a deficit since Covid, now totalling £1.5 million. As this is not sustainable, all parishes were urged to help and support ministry and mission in our Diocese, including sharing the funding of the work. Specifically, we have all been asked to increase our offering to Parish Share by 8%. In parallel, the number of clerical positions in the organisation design across the Diocese will be reduced. Please note that Parish Share does not pay for the Bishop, although it does pay for central support staff in areas like Safeguarding and Children & Youth work.
We continue to work together and support one another in the Central Deanery in a positive and constructive way.
Mike de la Hunt, Debbie Loughran, Izzy McDonald-Booth, Kay Plumley
*
Safeguarding Report
The new databases from the Diocese have made it easier to maintain easy records of DBS and training: prior to this there was no centralised system.
This year has been relatively quiet with mercifully no safeguarding incidents of any significance I am pleased to say.
It will not have passed anyone that the church of England sadly finds itself in a safeguarding quagmire, with several major historical safeguarding incidents. The Jay report was clear in its recommendations which have failed to be endorsed by Synod. Bishop Helen-Ann has been clear and outspoken in her support of the abused. After a period of uncertainty, when our previous safeguarding team resigned a new Diocesan Safeguarding advisor has just been appointed; I am sure she will give direction and clarity to safeguarding in the parishes.
As a parish we continue to endeavour to put into action important checks and training - the parish has been very supportive in taking part in checks and training. In my time on the Diocesan Safeguarding board we have finalised guidelines for Children and the Media. I hope St Georges will ratify them. It is noteworthy that the need for them has become even more urgent as the danger/misuse of the media has grown.
After over ten years being PSO at St George’s, through two major safeguarding incidents, I will be retiring at the Church Meeting in May.
Dr Sue Vernon, Parish Safeguarding Officer
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Parish Safeguarding Handbook Parish Safeguarding Policy Church of England THE PARISH OF ST GEORGE'S JESMOND SAFEGUARDING POLICY PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH folknYiNJ was agr1 at the Parochial chu Cour1 (PCC) meetiThJ held on 9hl April 2024 In ¥Cordar with tr£ Church of EnglaThfj SafeguardirKJ Po[Y our church is committed to.. Promoting a safer environment and Clthre. Safely recruitiThJ and supp)rbng al tIK)se th any resp)r6ibility rdated to chikjren, l¥j people and vulnerable ajults within the church. RestM)nding promplly to every safeguardiry c0M or allegation. Caring pastorally for victs'mslsutwvors of abuse and other affected ysorts. Caring pastorally forthose wtho are the subjectof coemS orallegations ofabuse arKI ottpraffected Fersons. ResFrf)nding to those that may pose a present risk to others. The Parish will: Create a safe and cariro pla for all. Have a named Parish Safeguarditu Officer (PSO) to M)rk the incumbent aThl the PCC to implement tM)licy and pr[dUreS. Safely recruit, tra'n arKI SUPFQrt all those any reswnsibilty for thiklren, youTrJ peop aThJ adults to have the confidertt skills to recognise arbj resFM)ThJ to abu. Ensure that there is appropn insurartt cover for all &tsvitses invofvirvj thiklren and ajults undertaken in the narne of the parish. Display in church premises arKI on ts Parth Ebsite trE details of lK) to cont&t rf ttwe are sabjuarding corM$ or supwt needs. Listen to and take sefK)usty all those M) dith alxw. Take steps to protect children and alults en a satsguardiTrJ concem of any kind ati5es, follo.j House of Bishops gUidare. irudityj Mty"ng the DM)xan Sthguardirvj Adr (DSA) arxj slatuw aJencies immediately. Offer support to vlmS}SurvIV0 of abuse ardkn of ts type of abuse, when or WIre it occurred. Care for and monitor any member of the church community WFM) may tKEe a risk to children and adults whilst maintaJ'nirvJ appropnate confidents'alty arKI the safety of all patties. Ensure that health arKI safety )1y, prctedures ar risk aSsesSn are in Pl aThJ that these are revieEd annually. ReVW the implernentatM)n of the safegUa1rj Poly, PrclreS &KI PtiCeS at least annually This policy is revie¥%Ed Jear by ts Parhla1 Clwrch and rwffinned at Annual Meeting Each person who wotks wittw'n this church fflUnty ill agree to abide by this policy aNI the guthlines estsblished by this church. Thbs church apwnts Dr Sue Vemon {s Incumbent.....V.GLQCLW. .. ............................ OLNJ.com as the Pish SafeguardirMJ OfficEr. Churchwardens ....... This policy is to be reviewed annually and re-affimed at the APCM 20
Friends of St George’s Report
Another busy year in which we have tried to put on a good variety of events appealing to people across the board.
2024 started with the ever popular Darling Dollies in February, as always very well attended and with a fine selection of the best songs from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. A sumptuous tea was served in the interval and huge thanks are due to those volunteers and bakers who put this together.
In March the Sunderland Male Voice Choir entertained us in church – an excellent evening.
The Friends year starts on St George’s Day (appropriately enough) and we held our AGM on that day with (for the first time) a raffle draw – everybody knows how much I love raffles! In May The Singers’ offered a Spring Concert for us during the Jesmond Festival, most generously giving us all the proceeds. They are repeating their great kindness at the start of this year’s Jesmond festival for which we are very grateful. At the start of June
we held our Annual Dinner, always starting with lashings of fizz on the Green - sometimes in warm summer sunshine, sometimes not - followed by an excellent meal with a mixture of congregation and community, chatting away in a relaxed and fun-filled evening. Newcastle Concert Band gave a concert later in June, now a regular event and we very much look forward to hosting them.
An innovation on the four Sundays in July from 2-4pm was to provide TEA ON THE GREEN (and Pimms on the final Sunday). It was well advertised and very popular, with people just dropping in - so popular that we are repeating it again this year, but avoiding a clash with the Wimbledon Final and also extending it to five weeks.
Friday and Saturday the 6th and 7th September were Heritage Open Days, with a tour of the church on offer and an exhibition detailing the history of St George’s from its consecration in October 1888.
In October the Felling Male Voice Choir gave a concert, a second appearance for them. We had a stall at St George’s Christmas Market, a good opportunity to sell some of our merchandise and we rounded 2024 off with the very welcome return of The Singers’ and their superb annual Christmas Concert.
Barbara Peacock, Hon. Chair of FOSG
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Refugee Support Report
This has been a busy and challenging year. More recently a Ukraine family have taken possession of a property in Gosforth. They are working hard making it a home for their family and extremely hard in a challenging garden! I suspect we may see their produce as nurture and nature takes its course. Coming to terms with such changes in their lives cannot be underestimated. We wish them well.
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Families from Persia, Syria, and Afghanistan, whom we have supported through to ‘move on’ mode, have and are setting up homes in Gateshead and Newcastle. A hard task with very little to their name but their dignity, thankfully, and without family support. We also anxiously await news of one family’s asylum application which is long overdue.
All of these families are very supportive of one another and are very happy to assist us on occasions.
In the last weeks we have been approached by two people living in a place of safety in Jesmond.
The agencies we have been fortunate enough to be involved with over these past three years are now assisting, and hopefully they will find their situation regularised and then dispersed into secure sustainable accommodation as soon as possible.
In the meantime we shall continue to support them throughout this difficult time in what continues to be a very distressing period in their lives.
Currently we have 42 folk actively on our radar including children from ages 2 to 18. They are coping! War and persecution behind them but still impacting their lives.
There have been a great many more who have been dispersed moved on and some likely facing deportation. However whilst seeking support from St George’s we have done what we can to alleviate as much of their very obvious needs and their sadness during life changing times.
Pauline Magnay
Treasurer’s Report
The Financial Statements for 2024 form part of this overall report and there is a detailed financial review included with those accounts, so in this Treasurer’s report I will focus my attention on the headlines and main issues.
Total unrestricted income for the year was £199,735, including a proportion of a generous legacy. This is a reduction from 2023, of which the most significant part is attributable to a decrease in Planned Giving, which is so important to the continuing prosperity of the Church. It must be recognised that so many of our parishioners also generously contribute additional sizeable sums, large proportions of which have been made to the Hub and Organ Restoration Projects, which are restricted funds.
Other income has been virtually static. Income from trading activities has shown a small increase of 3.1%; Church Hall letting and Church hire have increased by £1,886 but income from our houses in St. George’s Close has not increased, whilst their maintenance and insurance costs have risen. Unrestricted income from fund-raising
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events, primarily the Summer Fête and Christmas Fayre, was almost identical to the previous year.
Much of the financial activity in the year has focused on restricted funds, primarily for the Hub and Organ Restoration projects. Altogether, £252,513 has been received although that, of course, can only be spent on the projects for which it was raised; the PCC is required by law to ensure that all restricted funds remain ring-fenced for their specific purposes.
Total unrestricted expenditure for the year was £212,172, representing an increase over 2023 of only 0.2%. That was achieved in the face of rising inflation and, whilst the PCC takes care to control costs, there is still some room for further savings. Fortunately, this included a reduction on utility bills for the Church and Church Hall, compared to the large increases in the previous year but this was offset by the need to spend significant amounts repairing and improving the Church boiler and bird-proofing parts of the Church Tower. Parish Share payments to the Diocese remained at £90,000 amounting to 45% of all unrestricted income.
As a result of these many factors there was a net deficit in 2024 of £12,959 on unrestricted funds, much of this is due to the cost of vital repairs to the Church. Leaving aside the need to spend significant amounts on such repairs and maintenance, there has been some return to stability. Problems persist, particularly in the face of declining income from planned giving and the likelihood that expenditure will be required in 2025 to address issues raised by the quinquennial inspection, so careful financial control and management of costs will need to continue, if free reserves are to be restored to an acceptable level.
Of particular benefit during the year were the generous donations of £22,342 from the Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust to provide support to the PCC in maintaining and running the Church and its buildings.
Restricted funds have been referred to above and the amount of work on these projects has been considerable. The net total of £110,529 standing to the Credit on The Hub fund does not include pledges made but not yet received and in 2025 some expenditure will be required to keep the project going. After several successful fundraising activities, the Organ Restoration Fund stood at £25,883 at 31st December 2024.
The 1888 Project is a partnership established with Jesmond United Reformed Church and, towards the end of 2024, a grant for the heritage trail element of the project was agreed by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, the first phase of the which of £81,800 is being held in a restricted fund, to be kept on behalf of the partnership.
Despite the achievements in the year, there is some way to go to restore financial strength and, since the year-end, it will be necessary to continue striving for improvement in Church income and control of costs. The PCC intends to honour its commitment to increase Parish Share payments to £97,200 in 2025 and will necessarily
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keep the position under review to identify an appropriate fair share for the future, in an endeavour to make payments that are both fair and affordable.
As I am standing down as Treasurer after nearly four years in the role, I would like to thank everyone who has helped me and contributed to the financial management of the Parish, particularly the Churchwardens and Jonathan, without whose efforts my task would have been much more difficult. Brian originally asked me to serve for two years and I was happy to extend that, especially during the interregnum, and it is so pleasing to see how Debbie has brought a transformative approach to so many aspects of the Parish’s activities. During those four years fortunes have been mixed but the overriding successes must be the development of the plans for the Hub and the Organ Restoration projects. When it comes to everyday activities that keep the Church running, the PCC is not out of the financial woods and the priorities must continue to be to increase income and keep costs firmly under control. I believe that the financial position now is stronger than when I took over and I wish Debbie, the new Treasurer and the PCC as a whole well for the future prosperity, in every sense, of St. George’s Church.
Mike Ranson, Treasurer
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Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Parishioners and Annual Parochial Church Meeting held on Sunday 28th April 2024
The Parish Church of St George, Jesmond
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The Electoral Roll: 206 names recorded, an increase of five from last year. Noted: the Roll renews in 2025 and everyone will need to register afresh. The list of Sidespeople circulated was noted, with the addition of Sue Melbourne. Election to Deanery Synod: there is a vacancy following the resignation of Alex Walker. No nominations were received. The vacancy may be filled at a later date. Election to the Parochial Church Council: there are two vacancies on the PCC. Two valid nominations were received: Brent Swinburn (proposed: Jack Burn" seconded: Graham Rutt) Alison Mattinson (proposed: Hazel Jones-I£e' seconded: Barbara Peacoek) Both were duly appointed to serve on the PCC for a period of three years. The following reports were received: the proceedings of the PCC" Churchwardens" Fixtures and fittings" and Proceedings of Deanery Synod. An amendment was made to the Churchwardens, report: the reference to Children Northeast receiving 400 items of school uniform in the September entry should be amended to say that -the 400 Items of school uniforni were donated equally between Children Northeast and Christchurch School Shieldfield". An overview of the Honorary Treasurer's Report and Accounts for 2023 was presented by Rachel Oswald, representing the Independent Examiner. The very positive impact of the generous recurring support from the Catherine Cookson Foundation for our day-to-day expenditure was highlighted. Thanks were offered to the Honorary Treasurer for all his work. Why did we pay £450 in bank Chaes? We have a business account for which monthly Charges and transaction charges apply. Is all the money that has come in for The Hub shown in the accounts? Yes. Donations and grants received since end-DeTnber 2023 do not appear in these accounts. Who is looking after our investments? CBF Investment Fund and Epworth Investment Fund. What do we see as the impact on Diocesan activity of our redlld Parish Share. The Charity Commission requires organisations to have a reasonable period of running costs in an accessible fund. For us this means £45,000. We are now at £30,000 thanks to the industry of the Honorary Treasurer turning around several years of SucsSive losses. Furthermore, the Honorary Treasurer identified historic inconsistencies in the derivation of what had been our Parish Share until a few years ago and he will be happy to discuss his research one to one on his return. John Oswald of Stephenson Coates was appointed Independent Examiner (proposed: Izzy McDonald Booth" seconded: Geoff White" approved unanimously). 26
io. The Safeguarding report was received. The Safeguarding Policy was reaffirnled unanimously. The Inclusive Church Statement was reaffirnied unanimously. ii. 12. RertS from St George's community committees and groups were received. Noted: the Children and Young People's group would welcome further support. The accounts show just over £12k in a restricted fi]nd for the Family and Youth Worker. Can we not use this to support the group. The group is not in a position to appoint a worker. Activity is low at the moment. The group is thinking through options for long-term support. The Environmental Policy was reaffinned. The Hub Steering Group will have a public meeting in the Coming months. The Chair made some remarks (see below). 14. 15. 16. The meeting closed with The Grace at 12.07 pm. Chair's Remarks Vacancy Enid and I are on the Appointments Committee together with the wardens from St Hilda's, Bishop Mark (the Bishop of Berwick) and the Venerable Rachel Wood (Archdeacon of Northumberland). We are now in a position to interview in early June. We cannot really say much more about it than that so please do not embarrass us and yourselves by asking! Although we have clearly identified potentially applicants following our re-advertisement, the fact that we are interviewing does not necessarily mean we shall make an appointment after this first round of interviews. We agree with Bishop Mark that it is much better to spend a little longer on the search than to rush into a suboptimal appointment. At its last meeting the PCC considered a newspaper article in The Times, Friday 9 February, the headline is Wicars being hounded out by bulljryng parishioners" Strapline 'aggressive behaviour and harassment campaigns prompt calls for Church of England to bring in code of conduct to protect priests and lay members,. Copies of this article are available on request from myself or the PCC Secretary. In the article, the Venerable Mark Ireland (Archdeacon of Blackburn) said he had been inundated with distressing correspondence from der and clergy spouses who have been subjected to bullying and harassment. At the same time there are many disturbing examples of lay officers bullying other members of the congregation. A second motion been presented to Synod calls for a new code of conduct for PCC metnbers. What is perhaps depressing is that looking back you can see that in 2008 very similar parishioner bullying was reported by the BBC. The PCC had a very open discussion about this problem and sotne very interesting points were forthcoming. We agreed the best thing perhaps would be to open up this discussion with yourselves as representing the parish at large and I welcome your comments. 27
Notedfrom thefloor.. ifsomeone has a eomplaint about the Wiear they should go to the Churchwordens in thefirst instance. The Churchwardens haue a duty of care towards the Vicar. This will be highlighted in The Iance. Thanks At about this point in every APCM the Chair offers thanks. I am a new warden and Enid is an experienced warden and I think it's wonderful that we have very complementary areas of specific interest and think we would both agree that we have had a tremendous amount of support from all sorts of people who are working very hard. In fact, it seems that it would be easier to mention people who aren't doing anything than to thank all of you who are. If you feel that you are not working very hard you are in the minority and please step forward and jobs will be found! For the willing majority I think all that Enid and I could say is 'thank you. and draw on the Comfort that the IK)rd loveth a cheerful giver. I feel I am duty bound, however, to mention the band of church cleaners. We are an enthusiastic band of assorted sexes. If we have a reasonable turnout it is a relatively quick job - each person has a task: somebody polishes the pews. others deal with windowsills. the ehoir stalls or steps. As we have a borderline quorum, if one or two people don't turn up then the job for those who are left becomes quite big. People have commented, "don't you have cleaners to do that?-. Obviously we pay for Hall cleaning and I'm sure you all agree that Gosia does a first-class job considering the level of foot-fall. Due to the size of the church were we to hire in a team of professional cleaners Oll a month even if we could find a team guaranteed to handle the fragile elements of our heritage respectfully, the bill would be hundreds if not thousands per annum. Please do consider joining the team at 9.30 am on the third Saturday of the month getting the church ready for the next day when we have Choral Evensong. It is a privilege to get very up close and personal to the fabric of our arvellous building. The other thing I must mention is the annual fete. Tom Furness and Tom Klenka, leading on organisation and health and safety among many other committnents in their lives, are doing a fantastic job. Thank you for everyone who has helped or will help. Planned giving It has been the policy of the PCC not to embark on a fonnal stewardship campaign when we do not have a vicar. Nonetheless Planned Giving has been falling in real tenns year on year. Caroline has put a lot of work preparing the Planned Giving doeuments. I thank her enormously, having stood down as Treasurer after a long term of office, for carrying on with GiftAid management. One of the things that makes Caroline's life a lot more simple is the use of Planned Giving because of the way GiftAid is reclaimed. This is all set out with Caroline's customary clarity. Please read carefully her short summary and consider whether rf you're not using this form of donation it might work for you. Or if like myself you find that your quantum has become rather stagnant consider giving it a nudge if you are able. Charitable giving This appears as a £4500 expenditure in the calendar year 2023 however this is because there was late payment of the donations from 2022. £2500 is new so to speak for 2023, representing a £500 increase on 2022. The PCC were keen rther to 28
increase charitable giving in 2024. At the Dember PCC a further increment to £4000 to be donated in this calendar year was approved. The PCC were also keen to see a more even distribution of giving throughout the year rather than galloping to look for good causes in the late autumn or early winter. The bottom line is that we look to increase the number of people involved in choosing charities particularly now this sum is effectively doubled from what it was in 2022. If anyone is interested please contact the PCC Secretary or myself. Our recipients in 2023 were: Angel tree Christmas gifts for offenders children Open Door International Children Northeast Dementia Matters Trussell Trust F(x)d Bank United Society Partners in the Gospel Friends of Jesmond Library Jesmond Street Pastors Transforming Communities Together Tyne to Tweed People's Kitchen JesmoDd Community Forum Support for refugee children by Pauline Magnay Assistant Treasurer A related matter is the ongoing search for an Assistant Treasurer. We are all very grateful for the vast amount of work that Mike Ranson has put in together with Jonathan and the auditors represented today by Rachel Oswald from Stephenson Coates. When Mike agreed to become Honorary Treasurer the original pact was that he would serve two years. He has now served three years and very magnanimously has said he will not abandon us in an interregnum. Mike however plans to demit office a year from now and I think this advance notice is very helpful. It's obviously going to be difficult for us to replace him but if someone can step forniard now, and work alongside him as a defacto Assistant Treasurer, it would make the job much less daunting. So anyone who can manage an Excel spreadsheet and has a reasonable level of financial literacy might then please consider this post. John Oswald and Mike are not going anywhere soon so anyone who took on the job would have friends in the background. The relationship with the Treasurer and the PCC is that the Treasurer is an elected member of the PCC. Professor Janet Wilson Lay Chair St George's PCC 28 April 2024 29
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, JESMOND
I report to the members on my examination of the accounts of the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. George, Jesmond for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 8 to 17.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011(‘the 2011 Act’). You consider that the audit requirements of section 144 of the 2011 Act do not apply and that an independent examination is required.
Having satisfied myself that the accounts are not required to be audited, I report in respect of my examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
(1) accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
-
(2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or
-
(3) the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
John Oswald BA FCA Stephenson Coates Audit Limited Chartered Accountants
West 2, Asama Court Newcastle Business Park Newcastle upon Tyne
20 April 2025
NE4 7YD
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, JESMOND
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Note INCOME FROM: Donations and legacies Other trading activities Investments Church activities Other income TOTAL INCOME 1 EXPENDITURE ON: Raising funds Church activities TOTAL EXPENDITURE 2 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE INVESTMENT GAINS GAINS ON INVESTMENTS - unrealised - realised NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS 9 BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT 1 JANUARY 2023 BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD AT 31 DECEMBER 2024 |
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds Total Funds Funds Funds Funds 2024 2023 109,041 245,465 - 354,506 184,686 68,085 5,829 - 73,914 70,813 6,073 707 1,986 8,766 4,875 13,843 322 - 14,165 15,470 2,693 190 - 2,883 7,299 199,735 252,513 1,986 454,234 283,143 1,676 3,609 - 5,285 4,767 212,172 53,525 1,986 267,683 242,197 213,848 57,134 1,986 272,968 246,964 (14,113) 195,379 - 181,266 36,179 1,154 - 1,637 2,791 7,133 - - - - - (12,959) 195,379 1,637 184,057 43,312 22,342 (22,342) - - - 976,225 100,224 71,530 1,147,979 1,104,667 985,608 273,261 73,167 1,332,036 1,147,979* |
|---|---|
*The full statement of financial affairs for 2023 is shown in note 11 to the financial statements.
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, JESMOND
BALANCE SHEET
AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Note FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 4 Investments 4 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 6 Cash at bank and in hand LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 7 NET CURRENT ASSETS NET ASSETS FUNDS Unrestricted 8,9 Restricted 8,9 Endowment 8,9 |
2024 2023 861,036 862,205 98,451 95,660 959,487 957,865 111,392 11,959 278,342 185,578 389,734 197,537 17,185 7,423 372,549 190,114 1,332,036 1,147,979 985,608 976,225 273,261 100,224 73,167 71,530 1,332,036 1,147,979 |
|---|---|
Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 20 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
The Rev’d Debbie Loughran, Chair
The notes on pages 10 to 17 form part of these financial statements.
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, JESMOND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
INCOME
| INCOME | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Donations and legacies | |||||
| Planned Giving: | |||||
| Gift Aid donations | 76,971 | 20 | - | 76,991 | 79,066 |
| Tax recoverable | 19,971 | 5,317 | - | 25,288 | 29,802 |
| Collections (open plate) at all services | 1,201 | 3,054 | - | 4,255 | 4,528 |
| Sundry donations | 5,923 | 21,622 | - | 27,545 | 43,468 |
| Legacies | 4,975 | 22,000 | - | 26,975 | 2,000 |
| Grants | - | 193,452 | - | 193,452 | 25,822 |
| 109,041 | 245,465 | - | 354,506 | 184,686 | |
| Other trading activities | |||||
| Church hall letting | 23,826 | - | - | 23,826 | 22,285 |
| Church hire | 3,181 | - | - | 3,181 | 2,836 |
| Property rental income | 24,600 | - | - | 24,600 | 24,600 |
| Fund-raising events | 16,478 | 5,829 | - | 22,307 | 21,092 |
| 68,085 | 5,829 | - | 73,914 | 70,813 | |
| Investments | |||||
| Dividends | 810 | - | 1,986 | 2,796 | 2,752 |
| Interest | 5,263 | 707 | - | 5,970 | 2,123 |
| 6,073 | 707 | 1,986 | 8,766 | 4,875 | |
| Church activities | |||||
| Fees | 13,004 | 322 | - | 13,326 | 13,870 |
| Magazines | 839 | - | - | 839 | 1,600 |
| 13,843 | 322 | - | 14,165 | 15,470 | |
| Other income | |||||
| Insurance claims | - | - | - | - | 4,578 |
| St Hilda’s contribution (ministry costs) | - | - | - | - | 1,580 |
| Sundry | 2,693 | 190 | - | 2,883 | 1,141 |
| 2,693 | 190 | - | 2,883 | 7,299 | |
| TOTAL INCOME | 199,735 | 252,513 | 1,986 | 454,234 | 283,143 |
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, JESMOND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 (continued)
2 EXPENDITURE
| EXPENDITURE | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Endowment | Total Funds | Total Funds | |
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| Church activities | |||||
| Missionary and charitable giving: | |||||
| Church overseas: | |||||
| Relief and development agencies | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home Missions and other Church Societies | - | - | - | - | - |
| Charitable donations | 3,709 | 673 | - | 4,382 | 4,814 |
| 3,709 | 673 | - | 4,382 | 4,814 | |
| Ministry: | |||||
| Parish Share | 90,000 | - | - | 90,000 | 90,000 |
| Clergy expenses | 736 | - | - | 736 | 2,076 |
| Clergy housing expenses | (52) | - | - | (52) | 6,214 |
| Fees paid to diocese | 2,615 | - | - | 2,615 | 3,198 |
| Church – running expenses | 21,569 | - | - | 21,569 | 24,528 |
| Church maintenance | 29,349 | 55 | 1,404 | 30,808 | 22,378 |
| Upkeep of services | 4,364 | - | - | 4,364 | 3,573 |
| Parish magazine and publicity | 524 | 1,032 | - | 1,556 | 1,323 |
| Church Hall running costs | 12,892 | - | - | 12,892 | 12,879 |
| Church Hall maintenance | 2,748 | 10,700 | - | 13,448 | 1,238 |
| Other property upkeep | 2,669 | - | 582 | 3,251 | 3,830 |
| Whole site plan development | - | 30,657 | - | 30,657 | 10,805 |
| Flowers | 399 | 1,045 | - | 1,444 | 2,841 |
| Asset depreciation | - | 1,169 | - | 1,169 | 1,169 |
| Others | 4,885 | 1,146 | - | 6,031 | 6,172 |
| Organ and choir | 14,684 | 6,974 | - | 21,658 | 22,429 |
| Children and young people | 166 | 74 | - | 240 | 2,055 |
| Printing, stationery and office costs | 5,975 | - | - | 5,975 | 4,741 |
| Office administration | 12,791 | - | - | 12,791 | 12,792 |
| Bank charges | 430 | - | - | 430 | 453 |
| Professional fees | - | - | - | - | 1,026 |
| Independent examiner’s fees, including payroll | 1,719 | - | - | 1,719 | 1,663 |
| Total Church activities | 212,172 | 53,525 | 1,986 | 267,683 | 242,197 |
| Raising funds | |||||
| Costs of fund raising activities | 1,676 | 3,609 | - | 5,285 | 4,767 |
| TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 213,848 | 57,134 | 1,986 | 272,968 | 246,964 |
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, JESMOND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
(continued)
3
4
| (continued) | ||
|---|---|---|
| STAFF COSTS Wages and salaries Pension costs During the year the PCC employed an administrator and a director FIXED ASSETS FOR USE BY THE PCC Tangible fixed assets COST OR VALUATION At 1 January 2024 Additions Disposals At 31 December 2024 DEPRECIATION At 1 January 2024 Charge in year Disposals At 31 December 2024 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December 2024 At 31 December 2023 |
of music. Freehold land and buildings £ 1,161,787 - - |
2024 2023 £ £ 20,262 21,433 373 419 |
| 20,635 21,852 |
||
| Plant and office equipment Total £ £ 34,198 1,195,985 - - - - |
||
| 1,161,787 | 34,198 1,195,985 |
|
| 300,751 - - |
33,029 333,780 1,169 1,169 - - |
|
| 300,751 | 34,198 334,949 |
|
| 861,036 | - 861,036 |
|
| 861,036 | 1,169 862,205 |
The freehold land and buildings comprise the Church Hall, Tower House and Close House all located at St. Georges Close in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. The valuation in these accounts is based on the estimates made by the PCC for insurance purposes in 2007. The latest valuations for insurance purposes amounted to £5,261,000.
Investments
| Investments | |
|---|---|
| 2024 At market valuation: £ 3,164.24 Units in the CBF’s Investment Fund 73,166 14,624 Units in the Epworth Investment Fund 25,285 98,451 The historical cost of the investments at 31 December 2024 is £51,916 (2023: £51,916). The movement in the year comprises: At 1 January 2024 Purchases Revaluation of investments At 31 December 2024 |
2023 £ 71,530 24,130 |
| 95,660 | |
| £ 95,660 - 2,791 |
|
98,451 |
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, JESMOND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
(continued)
5 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND
6
7
8
| Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Endowment |
Restricted Endowment |
Restricted Endowment |
Total Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undesignated | Designated | Funds Funds |
2024 | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Fixed Assets | - | 886,320 | - | 73,167 |
959,487 | ||||
| Current Assets | 87,768 | 28,705 | 273,261 | - |
389,734 | ||||
| Current liabilities | (17,185) | - | - | - | (17,185) | ||||
| 70,583 | 915,025 | 273,261 | 73,167 |
1,332,036 | |||||
| DEBTORS | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||
| £ | £ | ||||||||
| Gift aid recoverable | 4,020 | 4,614 | |||||||
| Legacy receivable | 24,975 | - | |||||||
| 1888 Project grant receivable | 81,800 | - | |||||||
| Sundry debtors and accrued income | 597 | 7,345 | |||||||
| 111,392 |
11,959 | ||||||||
| LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS FALLING | DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
| £ | £ | ||||||||
| Creditors for goods and services | 14,493 | 5,524 | |||||||
| Accruals and deferred income | 2,692 | 1,899 | |||||||
| 17,185 | 7,423 | ||||||||
| FUND DETAILS | Unrestricted | Restricted |
Endowment | Total Funds | |||||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2024 | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Property, Church Hall, Tower House, Close House | 861,036 | - | - | 861,036 | |||||
| Funds designated by the PCC - Buildings | fund | 53,989 | - | - | 53,989 | ||||
| General fund | 70,583 | - | - | 70,326 | |||||
| Bell Ringers fund | - | 1,177 | - | 1,177 | |||||
| Donations restricted by donors – access to capital | |||||||||
| and interest | - | 272,084 | - | 272,341 | |||||
| Donations restricted by donors – access to interest | |||||||||
| only | - | - | 73,167 | 73,167 | |||||
| 985,608 | 273,261 | 73,167 | 1,332,036 |
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, JESMOND
9 MOVEMENT OF FUNDS
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
(continued)
| Unrestricted funds Property Buildings fund General Total Unrestricted funds |
Balance Gains Balance 1 January Incoming Outgoing and 31 December 2024 resources resources Transfers losses 2024 £ £ £ £ £ £ 861,036 - - - - 861,036 52,025 810 - - 1,154 53,989 63,164 198,925 (213,848) 22,342 - 70,583 976,225 199,735 (213,848) 22,342 1,154 985,608 |
|---|---|
The PCC has designated the Buildings fund for use on property refurbishment projects.
| Restricted funds Bell Ringers fund Open Churches fund Fabric fund Flowers Family & Youth leader fund Choral Scholarships Director of Music Singing Group Music The Hub Organ Restoration project The Cookson Fund The 1888 Project Other grants and donations Total Restricted funds |
Balance Balance 1 January Movement in resources 31 December 2024 Transfers Incoming Outgoing 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 1,075 - 322 (220) 1,177 120 - - - 120 37,634 - 708 (1,169) 37,173 479 - 1,259 (1,045) 693 12,675 - - (147) 12,528 1,686 - 5,250 (3,950) 2,986 - - 1,571 (1,571) - 257 - - (257) - 294 - 2,117 (2,370) 41 23,556 - 130,185 (43,212) 110,529 22,117 - 6,286 (2,520) 25,883 - (22,342) 22,342 - - - - 81,800 - 81,800 331 - 673 673 331 100,224 (22,342) 252,513 (57,134) 273,261 |
|---|---|
The Bell Ringers fund was created to generate funds for the maintenance of the Church bells. It is administered by the bell ringers outside of the main PCC accounts.
The Open Churches fund was donated to ensure the Church would be opened to the public for specified periods in the year.
The Fabric fund relates to amounts raised for the purpose of capital repairs and maintenance work for the Church.
The Family & Youth leader and Director of Music funds are sums raised to support the work of those roles.
The Singing Group fund was donated by Jesmond Dementia Action Alliance, to fund a further 40 sessions of the singing group they established.
The Hub relates to the project to add an extension to the Church and redevelop the Hall and all associated activities (formerly known as the Whole Site Plan).
The Organ Restoration project relates to the full restoration of the St George’s organ which was built in in 1887.
The 1888 Project is a partnership established in 2024 with Jesmond United Reformed Church. It has the overarching aim to work together to restore the organs of the churches and includes the creation of a Jesmond Heritage Trail.
The Cookson Fund. The Trustees of the Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust have generously offered to make donations to support the PCC of St. George’s Church in maintaining and running the Church and its buildings. The PCC has established the Cookson Fund to hold this income and apply it in accordance with the purposes specified by the Trustees. During the year donations totalling £22,342 were received, all of which were used for those purposes and a transfer of £22,342 from the Cookson Fund to the general, unrestricted fund has been made at the year end.
The other funds have similarly been restricted by donors so that none may be used for the general running expenses of the Church but are to be applied for the purposes specified.
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. GEORGE, JESMOND
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
(continued)
9 MOVEMENT OF FUNDS (continued)
| 9 (c) Endowment fund Garden of Remembrance and Fabric Fund |
Balance Balance 1 January Incoming Outgoing 31 December 2024 resources resources Additions Revaluation 2024 £ £ £ £ £ £ 71,530 1,986 (1,986) - 1,637 73,167 |
|---|---|
The income from the fund is to be used firstly for the Garden of Remembrance if required and thereafter for the upkeep of the fabric of the church.
10 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During the year, Nigel Russell-Sewell was paid a £1,200 Choral scholarship. Other members of the PCC were reimbursed expenses incurred on behalf of the PCC amounting in total to £4,253.
11 COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
| INCOME FROM: Donations and legacies Other trading activities Investments Church activities Other income TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE ON: Raising funds Church activities TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE INVESTMENT GAINS GAINS ON INVESTMENTS - unrealised - realised NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT 1 JANUARY 2023 BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 |
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Funds Total Funds Funds Funds Funds 2023 2022 109,219 75,467 - 184,686 176,356 66,065 4,748 - 70,813 53,271 2,724 166 1,955 4,875 3,677 15,305 165 - 15,470 15,014 7,137 162 - 7,299 21,585 200,480 80,708 1,955 283,143 269,903 614 4,153 - 4,767 1,184 211,669 28,573 1,955 242,197 238,589 212,283 32,726 1,955 246,964 239,773 (11,803) 47,982 - 36,179 30,130 981 - 6,152 7,133 (12,097) - - - - - (10,822) 47,982 6,152 43,312 18,003 15,322 (15,322) - - - 971,725 67,564 65,378 1,104,667 1,086,634 976,225 100,224 71,530 1,147,979 1,104,667 |
|---|---|