## **2023 Report and Accounts** # **for the Parochial Church Council of St Nicholas Hornsea** **Presented to the Annual General Meeting on 29[th] April 2024** ## **Aims and Purpose** St. Nicholas’ Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent, the Reverend Tina Minett Stevens, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC of St Nicholas is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the St Nicholas Parish Hall at 1 Newbegin Hornsea HU18 1AB ## **Objectives and Activities** The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish communities. The PCC maintais an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through: - Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel; and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus - Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish - Mission and outreach work To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of our Church building and Church Hall. ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **Annual Safeguarding Report** ## **Training** Due to the illness of our Safeguarding Officer during 2023, we are working with the Diocese to ensure all volunteers, Church Wardens and PCC members have completed the required Safeguarding courses within the past three years and hold a DBS where necessary. ## **Policies and notices** We have a policy approved by all the PCC and publicly displayed along with the information poster recommended by the diocese. We are not aware of any safeguarding issues or concerns within the benefice at present. Tina Taylor Interim Safeguarding Officer 2 ## **Worship and Prayer** The PCC is keen to offer a range of services during the week and over the course of the year that our community find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. All are welcome to attend our regular services. Attendances on a Sunday morning are holding steady. As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life, in marriage public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and to commend the person into God's keeping. Being able to livestream these services has been a blessing for family members unable to attend in person.St Nicholas Hornsea has re-introduced a monthly Sung Evensong giving more opportunities for traditional worship. Our worship online has continued and a faithful number attend Morning Prayer each weekday: numbers are lower but a core of 4-6 remain. Morning Prayer reverted to online only during the winter months. Others join on Sundays for Communion, which has now dropped to 1 or 2 attending worship online. Midweek St Nicholas offers a shorter service of Holy Communion, which moved into the parish hall for the winter where worship was more comfortable in the colder months. A small but faithful congregation of around 12 value this opportunity for worship and fellowship, with a local care home bringing a resident when possible. At the request of two local care homes, the Vicar celebrates a monthly Communion service with hymns for the residents, many of whom have been unable to attend church for years due to their infirmities. We have continued to develop and continue our online offering alongside our social media presence through shared posts and our own team producing memes and short videos teaching about the festivals and our faith. All our services and events are promoted through our Facebook page _Hornsea Benefice serving the people of Hornsea, Atwick and Skipsea_ . There have been more opportunities to engage with the local schools and it has been a joy to welcome all three local primary schools into their local parish church, with Hornsea Burton school coming for Harvest, Christmas and Easter. The Vicar has been invited in to lead assemblies in the schools as well as attending classes to speak about the Christian faith and festivals as part of the Religious Education local syllabus. Garden church has attracted new people to worship in the Pollinate Eco Garden – see separate report. ## **Pastoral Care** Some members of our parish are unable to attend church due to various circumstances. Reverend Tina has visited all who have requested it, to celebrate communion with them either at their homes or in hospital. The provision of online services has greatly helped our ‘at home’ members be part of our worship together. Informal care is offered by members of the congregations to one another, with lifts to church being particularly valued alongside the deepening of relationships. Revd Tina 3 ## **Electoral Roll Report** We started the year with 108 on Roll. Three people no longer wish to be included. No person no longer qualifies as they are non – resident and no longer worship at St Nicholas. No persons have moved away. Seven people have died. No names have been added to the Roll and the total at April 2024 is 98. Electoral Roll Officer ## **Benefice Deanery Synod Report** At the Synod Meeting on 22.11.22 discussions took place on key actions of the proposed Deanery Plan. To recap, Hornsea & Aldbrough benefices (comprising 7 churches) are now in North Holderness Coastal mission community, and Skirlaugh, Beeford and Leven, in North Holderness Rural. It is a two year plan in which we need to grow, challenge ourselves, and work collaboratively. It was agreed that a ‘Launch Evening’ (involving food), would be a good way of getting everyone together going forward. ## 20.4.23 John Halliwell from Skirlaugh (where the meeting was held), spoke briefly about improvements made to the church building, which is a 3 year project. Revd John Day based at Northallerton, spoke of his Advisor role which involves helping churches to grow. We worked in groups to put in order what we felt was important for our own churches to grow. Afterwards, he recommended a book to help, entitled ‘How Village Churches Survive’. ## 12.7.23 The Revd Suzanne Cooke was announced as Priest In Charge of Leven& Brandesburton, and Andrew Pearson of Aldbrough, Mappleton, Goxhill & Withernwick. Mr John Robinson stepped down after 5 years as Lay Dean, and the Revd Shirley Hebden as Area Dean. An account of Free Will Offer was given. All parishes were asked to prepare a Deanery Plan to show how they would achieve the payment of their ministry costs by 2026. Revd David Messer and his wife then gave an insightful talk on their visit to Cape Town. ## 24.10.23 As it was the first of the Deanery year, it began with a service of Holy Communion, conducted by Revd Tina. 4 On their retirement from office, Shirley and John were both thanked by Rev David, for their hard work, and their valuable contributions to the DLT. The Deanery plan was discussed. ## **Church Wardens Reports** ## **Formal** I am pleased to report the moveable items contained in the Terrier are in good order and repair. There has been no visitation by or on behalf of the Archdeacon this year. Angela Wear, Church Warden ## **Informal** It is customary for the church to have four churchwardens. There were two until September when sadly Keith Rhodes died. There was then only one churchwarden. If anyone is interested in becoming a churchwarden, please contact the churchwarden or the vicar. The Parochial Church Council was elected at the Annual General Meeting. During the year one member resigned and a member was coopted on during autumn. The PCC meets 8 times a year and if anyone would like the opportunity to be involved with the running of the church, there are vacancies. During 2023 church attendance has been on a par with 2022 and there have been a number of events where visitors and families have been able to experience aspects of the church and its worship. The church held the Deanery Confirmation Service on the 17[th] September where kneelers for the Lady Chapel altar steps were blessed by the Bishop of Hull. ## Fabric Report During the Quinquennial inspection of the church building by the architect and the builder Matthias, structural defects to the tower pinnacles and parapet which required further investigation, remedial work and scaffolding access were discovered. The work has been agreed and scheduled for completion in 2024. The PCC engaged The Revd. Matthew Askey an artist, to produce a set of Stations of the Cross with scenes from around Hornsea as the backgrounds. The work is being financed by a legacy from a former member of the church and completion is expected in early 2024. Lights to the west side of the outside of the church have been fitted and are working. A new notice board has been erected at the Parish Hall entry to the church grounds. Angela Wear, Churchwarden. ## **Ecumenical Relationships** The church is a member of Christians Together in Hornsea and our relationships continue to develop. It has been a joy to welcome and work alongside friends in our sister churches in many events and services this year. Revd Tina 5 ## **Parish Hall Committee Report** I am pleased to report that, once again, the hall has been well used this year. We are gradually increasing our number of hall hirers; including local groups, national charities and private individuals. I am being kept very busy with bookings. I sent out nearly 40 invoices last year. As some of you may know, we sadly said good bye to Steve, our care taker at the end of September. I am extremely grateful for the countless hours and unwavering commitment he has dedicated to maintaining both the hall and garden. His presence is greatly missed by all of us. I am now very ably assisted by Jo and Paul, whose efforts are making my job so much easier. My thanks to everyone who helped in the big clear-out during October half term; and while a tip run was unavoidable, many of the items we no longer required were either recycled or donated to charity. We even managed to sell the heavy old trestle tables, which was a bonus. We have now purchased lighter, more practical folding tables, making life easier for everyone. It would be remiss of me, at this point, not to thank Jan and Ivor from the Hornsea emporium of Crafts for their invaluable assistance in unpacking the tables and disposing of their cardboard packaging. I am also grateful to Nerys, whose hard work and expertise have been instrumental in moving the hall forward. In November the PCC commissioned Stuart Turton to carry out a full structural survey of the hall. Since the building dates back to the 1960s, he inevitably came back with quite an extensive list of repairs. Largely thanks to Helen, our Multiply worker, an application has been submitted for grant funding to cover the cost of the work, most of which we hope will be carried out in August 2024. As you can see, making are hall fit for generations to come is proving to be quite a monumental task. I pray to God that he will give me the strength and stamina to see it through. Nicky Dixon Chair of St Nicholas Parish Hall Management committee ## **Choir Report** It’s been a busy year for the choir, as we have now reverted to singing an anthem during most Sunday services. We were delighted to welcome some new temporary members to sing in the special coronation service in May. A great deal of hard work and practice went into preparing for this service, which included learning a new anthem written especially for the occasion. The service was a resounding success, culminating in the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah. In addition, we have a monthly choral even song service, which involves learning numerous new psalm, Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis settings, together with the responses. It is hoped that the lighter evenings will encourage more people to come and join us. There is usually the tempting incentive of hot soup or crumble! At Christmas, as well as the usual church services, we sang carols in two care homes, Summer Court and Mere Hall. At Summer Court, the staff presented Marley with a toy and some edible treats; and at Mere Hall we were offered a welcome hot drink and freshly baked mince pies. In both cases, the residents and staff were delighted to see us; the singing was enjoyed by everyone, particularly John, who accompanied us with immense enthusiasm. The choir is growing from strength to strength. We practice on Friday evenings at 6.30 in church, with an additional session on Thursday mornings for those who are able to 6 attend. It is hoped that we will be able to encourage new members to join our happy band of choristers in the future. Nicky Dixon On behalf of Leonie Creswell ## **Pollinate Eco-Garden Growth Report** The Pollinate Eco-Garden project has been running for one year, with the initial aim being to create: ‘An ecumenical community garden project, through which the Christian community supports and connects with the people of Hornsea in a caring and non-threatening environment, drawing people to Christ and enabling spiritual growth, whilst taking a positive approach to caring for the environment and improving biodiversity.’ During the past year, we have achieved the following: - Developed a small, committed team of 4 leading volunteers from 2 churches - Engaged regularly with 26 members of the local community through weekly gardening sessions, with 19 of these volunteers regularly attending gardening sessions and workshops to December 2023. The 19 include 9 under 18s. - Developed ‘Garden Church – Praise In The Garden’, which ran monthly on Saturday’s May to October 2023. Of the 4 families attending garden group, 3 of the families regularly attended Garden Church. 2 of these families were not already connected with any church. Numbers attending Garden Church ranged from 15 to 30, depending on weather, and also drew in tourists during the summer season. - Held two ‘Music In The Garden’ events. The first of these events took place in June 2023, hosting a young band from the local secondary school and welcoming approximately 60 visitors to the event. The second event, which was held in October, hosted several young bands from the secondary school and 2 adult musicians from a neighbouring village. This event attracted approximately 100 visitors throughout the day, with many families and teenagers attending. - Held a successful ‘Natural Wreath Making’ community workshop in December 2023, attended by 20 members of the local community. 14 of those who attended were already connected with the garden project. Remaining materials were taken to Skipsea Church for the Wreath Festival and to Hornsea School and Language College to be used for wreath making by the nurture group and 6[th] form students to de-stress following exams. - Held a ‘Carols Around The Firepit’ event in December 2023, attended by approximately 20 people. - Received support to construct the garden from several local businesses: Martin Airey Construction (construction of herb wheel), Woods of Hornsea (donations of sand and cement), Hornsea Garden Centre (donation and delivery of pallets), Lucien’s (donation of picnic benches), KCOM (construction of prayer labyrinth). Plans for the year ahead include: - Relaunching Garden Church in late spring, following a feedback survey - Creating a reflective space in the garden through the completion of and planting of the prayer labyrinth 7 - Organising a range of community workshops, including connecting with other organisations and community groups, such as Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, PATT Foundation, Groundwork Yorkshire, Men In Sheds, etc and local artists and horticultural experts - Organising community events such as ‘Music In The Garden’ and fun days - Hosting the Hornsea area Volunteers Celebration Day in June - Making the garden fully accessible to all with the construction of footpaths and seating areas - Further develop connections with the secondary school through inviting the Year 10 nurture group to design a natural play area for Families@3; inviting the art department students to design a welcome board for the garden; continuing to connect with students and families through music events ## **Funding Awards** During December 2023, we submitted three Expressions of Interest for the UK Shared Prosperity Funding through East Riding of Yorkshire Council. All three of these applications were further developed to full application stage and we have been successful with the funding of two: 1. ‘Community Cafe and Outreach Plan’ to carry out essential upgrading works within the Parish Hall and to employ a Community Development Worker to enable the setting up of a community cafe and community outreach activities. Total awarded £64,200. 2. ‘Pollinate Eco-Garden' to construct a fully accessible footpath and covered seating area, purchase outdoor mobility gardening equipment and tools, install outdoor electrics for events, and funding to run community workshops. Total awarded £14,400. ## **Financial Review** Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £77,307 of which £30,371 was unrestricted voluntary donations, £31,550 VAT reclaim on repairs paid in 2023, £4,864 reclaimed under Gift Aid, £4,309 in fees and £682 from fundraising. £77,955 was spent from unrestricted funds to provide the Christian ministry from St. Nicholas Church, including a £30,250 contribution to the diocese as our Freewill Offer; £5,500 was spent on insurance, and £11,190 on heating and lighting. The Freewill Offer should be seen in the context of the cost of our incumbent, stipend and housing, notionally £51,000 shared across the Benefice. The Parish Hall took £7,255 in rents and £10,820 was spent, including one-off costs of £2,016 to install internal safety glass and £1,672 on new tables. The net result for the year was an excess of payments over receipts of £4,213 on unrestricted funds. Adding bank and deposit balances brought forward at the beginning of the year, the balances carried forward at 31st December on all funds totalled £36,284 of which, £19,139 is held in restricted funds. 8 ## **Reserves policy** As of 31[st] December 2023 the PCC held a balance of £36,284 of which £17,145.58 is in unrestricted funds. The PCC aims to keep approximately four months running costs in reserves. This is also to cover emergency work needed on the Parish Hall. To achieve this we will keep a reserve of £20,000. This amount to be reviewed by the PCC annually and increased at least by inflation (whichever is the greater of C.P.I* and R.P.I* at the time) This policy was adopted by the PCC on 18[th] February 2021 and will be reviewed during 2024. ## **Structure, governance and management** The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St. Nicholas the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), churchwardens, and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. All those who attend our services are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. ## **Administrative information** St. Nicholas’ Church is situated on Newbegin, Hornsea. It is part of the Diocese of York within the Church of England. The correspondence address is 9 Newbegin, Hornsea, HU18 1AB. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006) and a charity registered with the Charity Commission. PCC members who have served at any time from 1st January 2023 until the date this report was approved are: ## **Ex Officio members:** ## **Vicar** Revd. Tina N Minett Stevens ## **Churchwardens:** Keith Rhodes (To September 2023) Angela Wear (from APCM 2022) ## **Elected Members:** (and other positions held eg Deanery Synod rep and dates of leaving for those who left after the 1[st] January 2023). 9 ## **PCC Secretary** Nerys Johnson to December 2023 Nicky Dixon from December 2023 ## **PCC Treasurer** Vacant (role split between the Vicar and Churchwardens) ## **Deanery Synod Representatives** Nicky Dixon ## **The Parochial Church Council** Nicky Dixon Nerys Johnson (resigned December 2023) Tina Taylor John Moss Paul Gadie ## **Co-Opted Members** Jo Gadie from February 2024 10 # **ST NICHOLAS’ CHURCH HORNSEA** **Registered Charity Number 1132888** **Accounts for 2023** **PRESENTED TO THE ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING ON** **Monday 29[th] April 2024** 2023 Treasurer: Vacant (Role undertaken by the Vicar & Churchwardens) Examiner: Mr Mark Elvin, Count on Us Bookkeeping & Accountancy Ltd 11 HORNSEAPAAO¢HIALCHURCH COUNCIL STATEMENTOF INCOME ANO EXPENDITURE TO 3111212023 INCOME Siandingorders Parlsa GI￿n9ReCeipts Collections Donat￿n5 iothe General Fund RÈsiricted Funeral Colleciion5 Resiricred Donations Recelved 8888.00 3625.94 5053.88 12603.58 143%.09 2402.30 kj_ GiftAid Received Fund Raisin8Evenis Generallncome Wedding5 & Funeral Fees PaTish HallRenis Otherlncome 4864.03 82.38 39J17.13 18482.00 T255.00 2372.27 117842.58 IncL¥me 117842.58 EXPENDITVRE Events and Ni5c Expenses Misc Fee5 FreewillOff&ring clergy & Staff Cos15 Church Insurance 5724.33 184.90 302SO.00 $504.71 5500.64 1897.55 Printiaglslationeryloflice Church RunningC05ts 1626.28 11190.32 10475.78 184.42 Church Repaiis&N3inienante Bank Charges Vicarage Cosi$ M135i0TrKMin15try Parish Halllnsurènce Parish HallM15C P311sh Hallmèintenance 1747.54 2668.04 2301.78 3049.82 4249.58 1168.75 50.00 Renial Refunds Restricted Funera1CoUecl￿￿s Diocese Feesweddings and Funer., 1372S.22 6879.00 109379.68 Expendiiure 109379.66 EXCE5SOF INCOME OVER EXPENOITURE 6462.92 NOTES.. Donaiions tolhegenerallfund Include £10.346.42 from the Feolles. 12 REPORTTO THE TRUSTEES ON THE UNAUDITED ACCOUNTS OF HORNSEA PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL In attordance with instructions given to us we have Compiled the annual accounts of Hornsea Parochial Churth Council which comprise of an Income and Expenditure Account from the records. information and explanations provided to us. Our work has been undertaken so that we may compile the accounts, report that we have done so, and report any matters to you which we consider materials and necessary. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the trustee5 for our work or this report and such responsibility for liability will be limited to an amount equal to that which has been charged for the said work being carried out. In carrying out our work, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the annual accounts do not give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity as of 31st December 2023 and of it's surplus or defitit for the year then ended. Furthermore, there are no matters which we consider should be brought to the attentr'on of the Trustees. You have accordingly approved the atcounts for the Year Ending 3151 December 2023, and have acknowledged your responsibility for them and for providing all explanations necessary for their completion. DATED. Mark Elvin MICB PM. Dip Count on Us Bookkeeping & Accountancy Ltd 13 ## **Statement of Restricted Funds** ||**Carried forward**
**1.1.2023**|**INCOME 2023**|**EXPENDITURE**
**20223**|**CLOSING BALANCE**
**31.12.2023**| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||| |||||| |**RESTRICTED FUNDS**||||| |Organ|£10,503.00|£0.00|1196.00|£9,307.00| |Clock|£1,664.00|£0.00|0.00|£1,664.00| |Lady Chapel|0|0.00|0.00|£0.00| |Music/ youthwork|£1,057.00|£360.00|1524.50|-£107.50| |Families @ 3|£1,082.00|£2,584.00|806.84|£2,859.16| |JubileeFund|0|0|0|£0.00| |Evangelism Fund|£54.50|£1,053.00|161.10|£946.40| |Eco Garden Fund|£474.00|£385.76|520.25|£339.51| |Funeralcollections||£14,194.17|14080.21|£113.96| |Other Fees, Organist & Veerger||£3,110.00|2855.00|£255.00| |Diocese Fees||£7,808.00|4047.00|£3,761.00| |||||| |||||| |||||| ||**£14,834.50**|**£29,494.93**|**£25,190.90**|**£19,138.53**| 14