ST. JAMES CHURCH, BREAM
Annual Report 2022
Aim and Purposes
St. James Church Parochial Church Council (PCC) had the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent, the Reverend Canon Chris Maclay, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
Following the resignation of Rev. Maclay in the summer of 2022, the PCC has shouldered the full responsibility of continuing, maintaining and developing the whole mission of the Church.
Objectivities and Activities
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The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our Parish Community at St. James. We seek to serve the community of Bream in a variety of practical ways. We have a particular emphasis on encouraging children and young people from the community to engage and participate in Sunday worship. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament.
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Initiatives / vision for this year include:
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1) To continue to prioritise and resource Youth and Children’s ministry.
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2) To develop and maintain a variety of ministries aimed at combating poverty in all its forms in the community.
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3) To carry out and complete any outstanding repairs to the church building (following surveyors inspection 2019)
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4) To support mission partners in the Czech Republic, Uganda, UK & Overseas.
When planning our activities for the year, the incumbent and the PCC have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific 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:
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Worship and prayer; learning from the Bible; and developing knowledge and trust in Jesus.
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Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish, young and old.
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Missionary and outreach work in the UK and further afield.
To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church of St. James and of the Church Centre.
Achievements and Performance
Prayer and Worship
Prayer is seen as an essential key to all our outreach and activities at St. James. The Parish Prayer meeting meets once a month and the men meet weekly, both on Wednesdays, in the Church Centre.
Sunday Worship seeks to be accessible to all, young and old, regular and newcomers. Morning worship is aimed at all ages, with activities for children (who then go off to their own activities). Separate facilities are being developed to support parents with very young children allowing them to still be part of the worship, and for older teenagers, to support their specific spiritual development. As College-age students continue their education away from Bream, the Evening worship is becoming a lower key activity but still focused on young people (age 11-25)
Deanery Synod
Three members of the PCC sit on the Deanery Synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the Parish and the wider structures of the church. A report from the Deanery Synod is regularly brought to the PCC.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care has an important emphasis in the life of St. James with the incumbent and other volunteers visiting the sick and housebound in the village and taking home communion as required. In 2020/21 the PCC agreed to second a member of staff to a number of hours of pastoral work in the community. This is a developing ministry and includes the training and commissioning of further volunteer pastoral support workers, in conjunction with the Gloucester Diocese. Care for the bereaved is also an important part of the work at St. James’.
Mission and Evangelism
Mission and Evangelism continues to be part of the historic ‘life blood’ of St. James.
We support work in the UK – Viney Hill Adventure Centre, Ugly Duckling Company, Teens in Crisis, The Bible Society, The Christian Institute along with work in Uganda, the Czech Republic and other countries.
Evangelism and challenge are a regular feature at our guest services around the festivals and a part of our youth and children’s ministry.
New ventures established in 2016, Caleb’s Mountain and Linking Lives Forest of Dean, are still continuing in 2022. Caleb’s Mountain employs a Children and Families worker to work with ‘at need’ children and families based especially around the local school community, but is also widening the support and involvement in other nearby schools.
Linking Lives is a befriending scheme combating loneliness and isolation in the Forest of Dean. The Church supports the Linking Lives Coordinator.
This year, through contacts established by our Youth & Families worker, a team of 7 adults and 10 teenage young people visited a ‘Youth With A Mission’ (YWAM) centre in Recife, Brazil. The team was fully involved in supporting and being part of all the activities of the centre.
Bream Church of England School
With Bream School converted to an Academy and part of the Severn Federation Academy Trust (SFAT), Rev Chris Maclay continued as a Trustee of SFAT and was joined by other members of the Church as trustees.
A team goes into the school weekly with an ‘Open the Book’ presentation and the school comes to the Church building for Christmas and Easter services as well as at Harvest Festival and the end of the summer term. These activities have resumed following the Covid 19 pandemic..
Safeguarding (Child Protection & Vulnerable Adults)
In consultation with the Diocese of Gloucester this area is taken extremely seriously, with regular training and advice given by the Diocese, and a Child & Vulnerable Adults protection policy formulated for the church. We have a policy of ‘safer recruitment’ for volunteers and staff and DBS checks are made for those who work regularly with children and vulnerable adults. One key member of the PCC provides the overall coordination of the safeguarding activities and training in conjunction with the Diocese of Gloucester
Financial Review
Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £136,547, of which £30 was investment income. Restricted/Designated income of £20,422, including £11 of investment income, was also received and is detailed in the Financial Statements. Income from general giving dropped by 6.5%. Total income decreased by 1.03%. We are grateful to Sylvanus Lysons for a grant of £3,250 towards the cost of the Caleb’s Mountain project, The Anchor Foundation for a grant of £4,000 towards the cost of the Linking Lives project and the Gloucester Rural Community Council for donating £250 towards the fitting of sound panels in the Church Centre.
£144,801 (including repairs to the church roof) was spent to provide the Christian ministry from St James’s Church, including the contribution to the diocesan parish share which totalled £72,000 for the year and largely provides the stipend, house and pension costs of the incumbent. The sum that the churches in the deanery have to find is based on the actual ministry costs of each parish. St James’s has historically and consistently met the full cost of its ministry as assessed by the diocese, and contributed slightly above this figure, so contributing 'mutual support' to other churches in the diocese. It is the church’s policy to donate approximately 10% of its unrestricted general income, to support Christian mission work in the United Kingdom and overseas.
The net result for the year before revaluation of fixed assets was an excess of expenditure over income of £8,254 on unrestricted funds and an excess of expenditure over income of £36,861 on restricted funds. A large proportion of the latter was money previously donated for building costs and was used towards the cost of the roof repairs.
Reserves Policy
The balance of £79,549 on unrestricted funds equated to just under seven months unrestricted payments. The current reserves policy states that we should keep 3 months of general expenditure, an extra 1 month of wages plus monies pledges in
support of Linking Lives and Caleb’s Mountain in reserve. This is currently in the region of £46,500.
A balance of £22,255 held on restricted/designated funds consisted of £15,363 for the work of Caleb’s Mountain and £6,892 for the befriending scheme (Linking Lives).
It is our policy to invest funds not required for immediate use with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund.
Volunteers
Our volunteers give much of their time and energy helping out in many of the areas of church life – perhaps 80% of the work and service is done by willing volunteers. Some of these include work with the children, young people and the elderly, working with the local school, buildings, music and many more. Special mention would be to our Church Wardens Matthew Rees and Dave Chappell and our Treasurer Shirley Robinson who has done a sterling job on the church’s accounts and finances. Also to all the members of the PCC for their valuable contribution to our ministry here at St. James, enabling the church to run smoothly.
Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St. James the membership of the PCC consists of the Incumbent, Church Wardens and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the Electoral Roll of the church. All those who attend our services/members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. Where relevant, staff members are coopted as non-voting members.
Decisions that need to be made on matters within the church and the parish itself become the responsibility of the PCC. Part of their role is to decide where the funds of the church are to be distributed.
The full PCC met six times during the year and all meetings were quorate.
Administrative Information
St. James Church is situated in Bream in the Forest of Dean. It is part of the Diocese of Gloucester within the Church of England. The correspondence address is St James’ Church Centre, Coleford Road, Bream, Lydney GL15 6ES.
The PCC is a body corporate, PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006. (and a Charity excepted from registration with the Charity Commission.)
Ex Officio: Chris Maclay Rhys Phillips Wardens: Matthew Rees Dave Chappell
Deanery Synod: Annie Hemsley Lorna Theophilus Sergio Nascimento
Elected Members: Jane Simpson Dorothy Haworth Shirley Robinson Andy Ewens Louisa Small-page Mitchell Sergio Nascimento Christine Ely
Co-opted Members: Claire Phillips (co-opted as Parish Administrator & Electoral Roll Officer) Barry Stevens (co-opted as Children’s and Family Support Worker)
Summary of PCC Report approved at the Annual Church Meeting of May 8[th] 2022
St James Church, Bream Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Statement of Income and Expenditure for the year ended 31 December 2021
| Note Incoming Resources Donations, legacies and similar incoming resources Luncheon Club/Under 5s Other income generated from activities of the church Income Tax Recovered Charitable Trusts Caleb's Mountain 10 Linking Lives 11 New Centre 8 Interest Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Parish Share Wages and Expenses 1 Property and Office Costs Mission and Charity Donations 2 Caleb's Mountain 9 Linking Lives 10 Church Building Repairs Total Expended Resources Net incoming resources before revaluation of fixed assets Gains andlosses on revaluation of fixed assets for the church's own use Net Movement in Funds Total funds brought forward Transfer of General Funds to Projects Caleb's Mountain Linking Lives Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 107,625 892 6,610 21,140 250 30 136,547 72,000 33,608 18,006 15,702 5,485 144,801 (8,254) (9,044) (17,298) 496,318 (3,300) (2,000) 473,720 |
Restricted/ Designated Funds £ 0 1,571 14,218 4,162 480 11 20,442 26,560 1,394 627 28,722 57,303 (36,861) 0 (36,861) 53,816 3,300 2,000 22,255 |
Total 2021 £ 107,625 892 6,610 22,711 250 14,218 4,162 480 41 156,989 72,000 60,168 18,006 15,702 1,394 627 34,207 202,104 (45,115) (9,044) (54,159) 550,134 495,975 |
Total 2020 £ 116,538 839 6,357 23,586 0 8,956 999 980 367 158,622 72,000 49,161 19,944 14,540 1,275 625 0 157,545 1,077 (9,327) (8,250) |
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St James Church, Bream Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2021
| Note Fixed Assets New Church Centre Tangible Assets 3 Total Fixed Assets Current Assets Debtors and Prepayments 4 Cash at bank Total Current Assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 5 Net Current Assets Net Assets Income Fund Total Funds 11 Total funds |
Unrestricted funds £ 393,911 260 394,171 19,095 62,700 81,795 2,246 79,549 473,720 473,720 473,720 |
Restricted/ Designated Funds £ 0 0 1,322 22,427 23,749 1,494 22,255 22,255 22,255 22,255 |
Total 2021 £ 393,911 260 394,171 20,417 85,127 105,544 3,740 101,804 495,975 495,975 495,975 |
Total 2020 £ 402,382 833 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 403,215 | ||||
| 18,673 129,881 |
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| 148,554 | ||||
| 1,635 | ||||
| 146,919 | ||||
| 550,134 | ||||
| 550,134 550,134 |
Signed on behalf of the PCC on by:
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St James Church, Bream Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost (except that buildings are shown at market value) in accordance with UK accounting standards and with the Charities Act 1993
In accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2007) and the Charities Act 1993, these accounts have been prepared using the accruals basis of accounting. There have been no changes in accounting policies since last year.
Accounting Policies
Incoming resources are recognised when the church becomes entitled to the resources, the members of the PCC are virtually certain that they will receive the resources, and when the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Grants and donations are only recognised when the Church has unconditional entitlement to the resources.
Incoming resources from tax reclaims are included in the accounts at the same time as the gift to which they relate.
Fees for examining the accounts
No fees were paid for examining the church's statutory accounts. (2020:£nil)
Tangible Fixed Assets
Fixtures and fittings are depreciated over 5 years on a straight line basis. Only purchases in excess of £1000 are capitalised. Buildings are presented at their estimated current market value and amortised over a period of 50 years Computers are depreciated over a period of 4 years
The church building does not belong to the PCC though it is their responsibility to maintain it. In 2021 £32503 was spent on repairs to the roof.
Reserves Policy
At the March 2020 PCC meeting the following policy was agreed: The Reserves Policy of the PCC of St James Bream is that we should hold money to cover 3 months of general expenditure plus 4 months of wages. Additionally, monies committed to other projects eg Caleb's Mountain and Linking Lives should be held in reserve. Expenditure is expected to be £12.5k per month for 2022 (including wages) but will be continuously reviewed.
Additionally at the beginning of 2022 it was agreed that, should funds allow, the sum of £5000 per annum wil be transferred to a building fund to offset further major repairs.
Notes to the accounts
1. Staff Costs and Expenses
| Staff Wages Staff Expenses Casual Number of paid employees during the year |
2021 £ 59,428 565 175 60,168 5 |
2020 £ 48,706 375 80 49,161 4 |
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St James Church, Bream Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
2. Charitable Donations
During the year the Church made the following charitable donations:-
| Jane and Hans Koebele and family (OM) Ugly Duckling Company Bible Society Sam and Chloe Mutton Teens in Crisis Viney Hill Adventure Centre Christian Institute Turkey |
Overseas 6,600 1,000 500 8,100 |
Home 1,645 500 1,000 500 500 4,145 |
Total 6,600 1,645 500 1,000 1,000 500 500 500 12,245 |
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The balance of the figure shown at '2' relates to local mission such as lunch club, under 5's, youth and children's work along with monies donated from special collections. £645 of the money paid to UDC was from the Harvest Offering.
3. Tangible Fixed Assets
| Cost or Valuation Balance brought forward Additions Disposal of Assets Balance carried forward Accumulated Depreciation Balance brought forward Depreciation for year Balance carried forward Net Book Value at 31 December 2020 Net Book Value at 31 December 2021 4. Debtors and Prepayments Income Tax Recoverable - Church Income Tax Recoverable - Linking Lives Income Tax Recoverable Church Centre Income Tax Recoverable Caleb's Mountain |
Freehold Land & Buildings £ 423,560 0 0 423,560 21,178 8,471 29,649 402,382 393,911 Unrestricted £ 19,095 0 19,095 |
Fixtures & Fittings £ 14,565 0 0 14,565 13,732 573 14,305 833 260 Restricted/ Designated 0 1,322 1,322 |
Total 2021 £ 438,125 0 0 438,125 34,910 9,044 43,954 403,215 394,171 Total 2021 £ 19,095 0 0 1,322 20,417 |
Total 2020 £ 438,125 0 438,125 25,866 9,044 34,910 |
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St James Church, Bream Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
5. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Admin Diocese - Pastoral Fees Wages/Expenses HMRC Retentions on Roof Repairs |
2021 £ 12 379 723 922 1,704 3,740 |
2020 £ 85 175 529 846 1,635 |
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6. Restricted and Designated Funds
| Church Building Fund 8 Caleb's Mountain 9 Linking Lives 10 |
Fund Total 2021 £ 0 15,363 6,892 22,255 |
2020 £ 28,231 18,631 6,954 53,816 |
Movement 2021 (28,231) (3,268) (62) (31,561) |
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Above figures have taken accruals into account
7. Related Party Transactions
During the year, a number of payments were made to parties related to the PCC.
Rev. Chris Maclay, Vicar and Chairman of the PCC, received payments of £142 (2020:£331) as re-imbursement for his out of pocket expenses incurred in his activities for the Church.
It is the policy of the PCC to reimburse the Vicar for his out of pocket expenses in full.
One full members of the PCC (and two co-opted) were employees of the church.
The vicar's wife is an employee of the church as she heads up Linking Lives. She is not a member of the PCC. Similarly the wife of a PCC member is also employed by the church as a Children's Youth and Families Worker.
8. Church Building Funds
| Opening Balance Donations/Grants Received HMRC Gift Aid Accrual Gift Aid Received Interest on Funds Expenditure Closing Balance |
2021 28,231 480 11 (28,722) 0 |
2020 27,002 980 105 32 112 - 28,231 |
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St James Church, Bream Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021
| 9. Caleb's Mountain Opening Balance Donations Grants (Sylvanus Lysons) Gift Aid Received inc Accrual Tfr From PCC Gloucester CC Expenditure Closing Balance 10. Linking Lives Opening Balance Tfr from PCC Grants (Anchor Foundation) Other Income Expenditure Closing Balance 11. Movement in Reserves Reserves at 1 January 2020 Net gain / (loss) for the year Transfer of Funds Movement in Tangible Fixed Assets Reserves at 31 December 2021 |
2021 18,631 7,964 3,250 1,571 3,300 3,004 (22,357) 15,363 2021 6,954 2,000 4,000 162 (6,224) 6,892 Unrestricted funds £ 496,318 (8,254) (5,300) (9,044) 473,720 |
2020 26,771 6,360 1,250 1,617 3,300 1,346 (22,013) 18,631 2020 10,376 2,000 750 249 (6,421) 6,954 Restricted/ Designated Funds £ 53,816 (36,861) 5,300 0 22,255 |
Total £ 550,134 (45,115) (9,044) 495,975 |
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Independent examineVs report to the trustees of THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST JAMES. BREAM. DIOCESE OF GLOUCESTER (Charity number 1133851) I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31st Dember 2021. which are set out on pages 1 to 6. Respective responsibilibes of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accoLbnts The tharrty's trustees cOnser that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed It is my responsibilty to- • examine the accounts under sedton 145 of the 2011 Ad . to follow the procedures latd down in the general Directions given by the commission under section 14515}(b) of the 2011 Act . to state vthether partI13r matters have come to my attentton Basls of Indendent oxamiMrfs rnport My examinatton vrds carried out in aCrdance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the a¢¢ounts presented wrth those records. M also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concming any such matter5. The prOdureS undertaken do not provKle all the evidence that would be required in an audit arKI consequenUy no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair ¥. and report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement. Independent examinorfs statement In connertion with my examination, no matter has come to my attention.. (1 } which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.. . to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Ad and • to prepa accounts thich accord with the accounting records arml comply with the accounting quirements of the 2011 Ac* have not been met or {2) to vthich, in my opinion. attention shouhj be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached Name: Derek Broom FCCA Relevant professional qualFfication or b(MJy: Association of Chartered certffd Accountants Address.. Faitways, Lansdown WalK Bream. Lydney. GIOuterShirÈ GL15 6NE Date: 20° April 2022
Independent examiners report to the trustees of THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST JAMES. BREAM. DIOCESE OF GLOUCESTER (Charity number 1133851) I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31st Dernber 2021, which are set out on pages 110 6. Respective responsibilitios of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the acts)unts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my reswnsibilty to: ' examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Ad • to follow the procedures la (lown in the general Directions given by the commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act • to state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basis of independent examlnerfs report My examination was caffled oirt in accordano with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accx)unting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wrth those records. M also includes conshleration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanatM)ns from you as truslees conceming any such matters. The proodures undertaken do not provide all the evidence Ihat would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts presenl a 'true and fair view, and ttrE report is limrted to those matters set out in the next stalemenl. Independent examlnerfs statement In connection with my examination, rm) matter has come to my attention: {1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements." • lo keep a¢¢¢)unting records in ardarth with section 130 of the 2011 Ac# and . to prepare accounts which accord with Ihe accounting records and comply wth the accounting requirements of Ihe 2011 Act have not been met or (2) to vthich, in my opinion, attention shouhj be drawn in order to enabfe a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached Name.. Derek Broom FCCA Relevant professional qualification or bcKly.' Assouation of Chartered certif Accountants Address: Fairways. Lansdown WalK Bream, Lydney. Gloucestershire GL15 6NE Date: 20 April 2022