Trinity Methodist Church (becoming Penarth Methodist Church), Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan Trustees Annual Report for Year ending August 2020.
Aim and Purpose
The calling of the Methodist Church of Great Britain is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission. It does this through worship( increasing awareness of God’s presence and celebrating God’s love), Learning and Caring (enabling people to grow and learn as Christians through mutual support and care), service (being a good neighbour to those in need and challenging injustice) and evangelism (making more followers of Jesus Christ). Our church makes local the outworking of this calling in Penarth and the surrounding area. Included in this is the upkeep and maintenance of the Trinity buildings on the corner of Stanwell Road and Woodlands Place which are Grade II listed.
Objectives and Activities
The church is committed to enabling worship and service (as above) and to wider pastoral care of those within its membership and beyond in Penarth and the surrounding area. An overview of these activities is undertaken by the Church Council that meets 2/3 times a year and delegates the day to day responsibilities for running the church to its Stewards who are elected annually by the General Church Meeting. The Covid-19 pandemic and associated restrictions since March 2020 have significantly impacted on all areas of the church’s life and activities. Since that date church life has been a mix of online and on site , depending on the restrictions current at the time. Throughout the unusual year the guidance on public benefit and the advancement of religion have been observed.
Review of the year.
At the end of the previous year (see Report for year ending August 2019) Albert Road Methodist Church made the decision to close following the failure of its building. Much energy was expended by the Presbyter in charge of both churches and their lay leadership to enable a growing together of two congregations into one. The formal closure of Albert Road had to take place under the significant Covid restrictions in place during July 2020. To enable activities deemed permissible and safe considerable time and energy was expended by church members and particularly by the Church Lay Administrator producing and implementing Risk Assessments. This was made more complex by the constantly changing nature of the guidance. For significant periods the community use of the buildings had to cease. This reduced the “service” aspect of the Church’s life and had a major impact on the finances of the church. The Presbyter in charge did magnificent work creating online worship materials, so that the worshiping life of those in the congregation who were able to access these was both enabled and enhanced. Telephone and online communication enabled the continued pastoral care of the congregation as well as continued (but reduced) support for Penarth Foodbank, Penarth Cytun and other projects the church supports in pursuing its calling (see above).
Due to the restrictions limiting physical access to the buildings maintenance work was much reduced and Occasional Offices other than funerals off site ceased.
In July the Presbyter in charge retired, and in August two part-time Presbyters (from the Barry part of the Vale of Glamorgan Circuit) were appointed to oversee the church during the 2020-2021 year. A major review of the pastoral care and membership lists of the united church, now termed “Penarth Methodist Church” began in August, giving the following statistics: Membership 162; many with a more tenuous connection to the church have agreed to their inclusion on our contact list.
During the year Safeguarding policy has continued to be implemented, GDPR regulations followed and appropriate Health and Safety observed. In all this the volunteers of the church have given of time energy and money unstintingly.
Finance and Reserves Policy
The reserves policy has continued to be observed. Finance was negatively impacted by the pandemic and associated restrictions (see the accounts posted separately)
Structure Governance and Management
The Church Council comprises members of the local church and a rep from the Circuit. All are elected annually by the General Church Meeting, some by virtue of their office others to ensure that the Council is as representative of the congregation as possible.
Being a Methodist Church we function under the “Constitution, Practice and Discipline of the Methodist Church” revised and published annually by our national governing body the Conference.
Signed:
Phil Challis Catherine Brobbey Joint Presbyters in Pastoral Charge of Penarth Methodist Church
23 June 2021