The Parish of Ottery St Mary Address for correspondence.. Ottery St Mary Parish Church, Poternoster Row, Ottery St Mary, EXII IDP Annual Report and Flnancial Statements of the Parochial Church Councll for the year ended 31st December 2024 Rector: The Reverend Lydia Cook Bankers: Santander PO Box 1109 Bradford BDI 5ZJ Independent Examiner: Mr Nik Cross 32 Pavey Run Ottery St Mary, Devon EXII IFQ Our web site: www.ottervale¢hurches.or8 The Parochial Church Council is a Registered Charity no 1133945
The Parochial Church Council of Ottery St Mary the Vlrgin, and St Edward the Confessor Wiggaton Annual Report st for the year ended 31 December 2024 Alm and Purpose The Parochial Churth Counctl of the Ecclesla5tical Parish of Ottery St Mary {"the PC) has the respon5tbility of cooperating with the Incumbent, the Reverend Lydia Cook. in promoting in the eccle5125tical parish, the whole mtssion of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. As well as St Marfs Church, it also has responsibility for the Church of St Edward the Confessor, Wiggaton {Yiggaton'l which is licensed as a District Church, wlth Its own elected District Council and Deputy Churchwarden. Objertlves and Activities The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our Churches, and to become part of our parish family. When planning our activities, the PCC has consideredthe Charity Commisston's guidance on public benefit, and in partlcular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, muslc and sacrament. We try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish famity, through: Worship and prayer: leaming about the Gospel, and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus," • Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parlsh. and Mission and outreach work. Achlevements and Performance Worship ond Prnyer Ottery St Mary church offers a range of worship services on Sundays: a weekly service at 10.30am (3 x Holy Communion and I x Morning Worshipy and monthly BCP Holy Communlon and Choral Evensong, Fifth Sundays offer a more informal praise servitr often with input from children. On 2. Sundays there is an informal evening service to JunÈ 2024, Inspire- a café style seNice. and from July 2024 Praying the News- a discussion and prayer time based on the week's news. Wiggaton has 2 services a month, either 2 services of Common Worship Holy Communion, or one Holy Communion and Morning Worship with leadership shared between the Rector and John White. John retired as an LLM but continues to lead services at Wlggaton. The church had its annual Songs of Pralse, a well-attended carol service and services at the major festivals. Mldweek prayer Is offered in both Ottery and Wiggaton. Evening Prayer is offered in Ottery on Mondays and Tuesdays with Prayers for Peace on Wednesdays. Tots Praise worships weekly, MU Holy Communion is celebrated on the 1st Thursday and a "Becoming Whole" seriice is held on 3 Thursdays. At present there are 157 parlshioners on the Electoral Roll, 135 of whom live within the parish. The average Sunday attendance at the 10.30am Service on Sundays at Ottery was 75 (with a church family of 150+}. The average Sunday attendance at Wlggaton on Sundays was 12 (wlth a church family of 18). Lent fell very early in 2024 and was observed wlth an Ash Wednesday service of Holy Communion, and a weekly Lent course on prayer. The Mothering Sunday service was supported by singing from our children's cholrs. In Holy Week we held a simple service of Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday with the stripping of the altars. We joined in the Love Ottery Walk of Witness on Good Friday and had an afternoon Service of Reflection on the Cross. A children's Easter Experience was held on Holy Saturday. Easter Day was celebrated with a joyous service of Holy Communion. On Pentecost Sunday we welcomed all the churches of the OVMC together for a servlce of Holy Communion followed by a picnic.
The Remembrance services were very well attended by the town and uniformed organisations with the children afl singing an anthem together. We supported the bereaved through our annual All Soul's service and a Bue Christmas service both with significantly increased attendance this year. The annual Advent Carol service for the Mission Community was well supported. We welcomed the Guides and The Kings School for their carol services and held our own Carols by Candlelight. We were Invlted to sing carols at the Coffee 84nk and the children's Choirs led our Crlb-stlngle service which wa5 once more packed with over 400 people in attendance, As well as our regular seNices, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the mitestones of the journey through life. There have been 19 Baptisms, 8 weddings and 28 funerals (13 in church and 15 at the crernatorium) durtng the year. Those who are no longer able to come to Church are notforgotten: Holy Communlon is received at home or in a care home by 20+ people each month. Church attendance at l)oth Ottery and Wi8gaton Is increaslng. Groups House groups: Tuesday group. Explore, Gateway, Tumbling Weir and Tuesday Afternoon Group all met regularly. Other Midweek groups flourlshed in 2024: Tots, Time, Lighthouse Choir and Bright Star5, Coffee and Chat and Friendshlp Lunches. Deanerysynod Four members of the PCC sit on the Otter Vale Oeanery Synod. This provides the PCC with a link with the churches around us, and also with the Diocese as a whole. It also recelves reports from the General Synod. Church Fabric St Mary's church building Is vested In Ottery St Mary Church Corporation but from March 2024 the day tu day running of the bullding and its maintenance passed to the PCC under a new Deed of Covenant instituted by the Bishop of Crediton. A new Fabric Working Group (reporting to the PCCI manages the fabric maintenance and repairs. The PCC was dellghted to have been able to appoint a new Health and Safety officer. As well as routine and the on-going repairs to a building that is nearly 700 years old, the lightning conductors were services and overhauled. Wiggaton building maintenance is self-fijnded, wlth the year-end restricted fund for that purpose standing at £21k Mission and Evangellsm Outreach into the community continued with 2 Family Fun Days in Ottery, Carols in the Coffee Bank, and our work with children and families. Wig8aton Church held Its Christmas Dlnner and hosted a village concert. OtherArtlvltles In March each year the PCC publishes a separate document containing reports and detalls of the 20 organisations and groups that are part of our Church family. The PCC furthered the work of the reordering of the church (The Connect- Enhance-Engage project) which had a revamp under the tltle Shine A Llght. The faculty for the work was granted and an initlal tender was undertaken. A busy schedule of fundraising was undertaken. Safeguarding The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Méasure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishops, guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). Volunteers The members of the PCC would like to thank all the volunteers who work so tirelessly to make our Church a lively and vibrant community. Our especial thanks go to our Churchwardens and Deputy wardens. Structure, Governance and Management The method of appointment of PCC members Is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The Council comprises the Incumbent, the Churchwardens, a representative of the Readers lif so decided at the Annual Parochial Church Meetin8 ["APCM"]), those elected to the Deanery Synod, and other members who are elected at the APCM bythose on the
Elertoral Roll. Wiggaton's District Church Council is const4tuted such that, on an annual basis, a representative from one of Wiggaton's habitual worshippers shall be elected as a PCC member at the APCM. Members of the congregation are always encouraged to join the Electoral Roll, and, if so Qualified, to consider standlng for election to the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decislons on all matters of general concern and importance in the parish, and for all financial matters. The full PCC met 7 times during the year. The average level of attendance wa$ 80%. To facilitate its work, the PCC operates through a number of committees, which meet between full meetings of the PCC. Standlng Commlttee. Thls Committee met 11 times. This is the only committee required by law. The Finance Committee oversees the work of flnancial management and stewardship. Membership: John Maybery, Bruce Odlin. Paul Simmonds, Val Mclntosh, Rev Lydia The Safeguardin8 Team supports the PSR in all matters of safeguarding. Membership: Mell Kaye, kay Ouffii, Barbara Simmonds, Howard Clayton Rev Lydia The Charltable Glving Group recommends to the PCC those charities whlch the church might SUPPOrt and supplies ongoing Information to the church community at large. Membershlp: Dlana Gee, Sue Jeacock, Helen Atkinson, Rev Lydia The Fabrlc Worklng group meets every 2 month5 to oversee the Maintenan and repalrs to the church fabric. Membership: lan Godfrey, Richard Coley, Simon Lowne, Jan Fowles {H&S Officer), Rob Fowles, Jeff Wyldes, John Maybery, Val Mclntosh. Rev Lydia The Church Focus group meets every 2 months to offer challenge and support to the incumbent on the culture of the church and the opportunities for growth and congregational engagement Membership: Mell Kaye, Rosie Mclntosh, Sue Jeacock, Val Mclntosh. Jane Bennett Rev Lydia The Llnk sub-committee attended to pastoral matters, supporting existing and new members and as its work was belng replicated or superseded by other groups flnished Its work at the beginning of the year. The OVMC Eco Group meets 3- 4 times through the year offering encouragement and opportunities for engagement with eco church across the Misslon Community.
Admlnistrative Informatlon The Parish Church is situated at Ottery St Mary Parish Church, Paternoster Row, Ottery St Mary, EXII IDP. It is part of the Diocese of Exeter within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The Parish Office, Ottery St Mary Parish Church, Paternoster Row, Ottery St Mary, EXII IDP Wiggaton church is located at Sidmouth Rd, Wiggaton, Ottery Saint Mary EXII IPX. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, and the Church Representation Rules 20201 and a Charlty registered with the Charity Commission. PCC members who have served frorn l January 2024 until the date this report was approved were: Michael Farley (to Aprll 2024) Steve Klng (to April 2024) Rosie Hall (Churchwarden, to April 2024} Di Passey (Diocesan Synod. to July 2024) urrent Trustees: Sue Clayton. 2023-2026 Deanery Synod Rev Lydia Cook, joined 2021 (Incumbent) Kathryn Duffy, 2022-2025 Elizabeth Everett, 2023-2026 David Kerr, 2023-2026 (resigned 2024) John Maybery, 2023-2026 Deanery Synod Valerie Mclntosh, 2023-2025 Ichurchwarden) and 2023-2026 Deanery Synod Mark Rix, 2023-2026 Barbara Simmonds, 2023-2026 Melloney O'Brien Kaye, 2024-2027 Anitra Lockwood, 2024-2027 Howard Clayton, 2024-2025 (Churchwarden) Other Members {non-votlng): Sue Jeacock PCC Secretary Signed: Rector Date Ill yi'zr Slgned: Treasurer Date IJ
FINANCIAL REVIEW 2024 The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basi5. UNRESTRICTED FUNDS There was a welcome increase In receipts from fundraising, The May Fete was a great success, and the team who provide the catering at the Community Market raise at least £IOOO over the year. Some fundraising energy was, necessarily, diverted to funding the CEE Project. The shop has also continued to make good progres% and we are very grateful to those who rRake and donate items for u5 to sell. There was a slight reduction in Planned Giving overall, and the PCC plan to address this as planned, regular giving plus the Gift Ald generated by It is our most secure and rellable source of income. Our investment income benefitted significantly from the continuing higher rates of interest. The Diocesan Common Fund was again paid in full. The cost of gas and electricity is a continuing concern with usage and contracts being closely monitored. The payment for elertrlcity reflected a significant hangover from 2023 when the supplier was very late in sending an invoice. At Wiggaton the Standing charge far exceeds the cost of electrlclty used. 'Church routlne repairs, includes the regular servicing of various Items of equipment. The sl8nificant outlay was on servicing and necessary repair5 to our lightning conductors. Other expenditure kept reasonably close to budget leaving us with 3 small but important surplus. RESTRICTED FUNDS The CEE project deslgner and the architects for the project were paid during the year from grants received. Preliminary work also revealed the need for an asbestos survey, and the presence of bats in the roof spaces required a professional suryey and lInceS which cost about £3000 In total. The Give2GoGreen match funding project went brilllantly well and we were able to ralse the maxlmum £10,000 whith the Church of England then matched. This, too, was to help fund the CEE Project FIXED ASSETS None were acqulred in 2024.
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT Report to the Trnstees of Ottery St Mary Parochial Church Council on accounts for the year ended 31° December 2024 set out on the attaC]d pages. This is an Excepted Clwity. The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charitys Trustees consider that all audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Clwities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my r¢sp)nsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions Ven by the Charity Con]rnission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act),and to state whether particular matters have £])me to Eny attention. ' My examination was carried out in &cordance with general Directions given by the Charity CommissioL An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the cl]arity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Tnlstees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide au the evidence that would be required in an audiL aud consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'truc and fairfview and the report is limited to those matters set out in the stat¢ment below. tn connection with my examinatiory llo material matters have come to my attention which gives me cale to believe thaL in any material respect: accounting recorth were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drnwn in order to enabl¢ a prop¢r understanding of the aOUnts to be reathl. SICNED DATE NAME NIK CROSS RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION ADDRESS S£ kurj