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2021-08-31-accounts

Gracious Street Methodist Church KNARESBOROUGH Annual Report 2022

‘Your church for your whole week’

The Annual Report of Gracious Street Methodist Church (Knaresborough) Published April 2022

Registered name: Gracious Street Methodist Church Registered Charity Number: 1133967 Address: Gracious Street, Knaresborough, HG5 8DS Office Telephone: 01423 860166 (9am-1pm Mon-Friday) Email address: graciousstreetmc@gmail.com Website: https://graciousstreetmethodist.org.uk

If you would like to know more about the church and our activities, please contact:

Rev Gordon Hay Tel: 01423 863298 / 07852 817475 Email: gordon.hay@methodist.org.uk

INTRODUCTION and MISSION STATEMENT

Gracious Street Methodist Church is one of fourteen churches in the Nidd Valley Methodist Circuit

GRACIOUS STREET METHODIST CHURCH

A growing church with a friendly welcome in the centre of Knaresborough

Believing that God has shown his love for all in Jesus Christ we seek to be a:

MINISTER: Rev Gordon Hay
 01423 863298
CONTACT STEWARD: Ms Anna Cooley
 01423 868983
CHURCH NOTICES: Mrs Hilary Wilkinson
 01423 865545
BOOKINGS: Mrs Juliana Caukwell 01423 860166
LEADERSHIP TEAM: Mrs Libby Cook
 01423 867077
Mr Nick Garrett 07753 167190
Mr Graham Taylor 01423 541870
Mr David Rochester 01423 865816
Mr Bill Rodham (Treasurer) 01423 865846
Miss Sue Walkington 01423 547086
Mr James Wright 01423 869588

MINISTER’S REFLECTIONS

Dear friends,

March 2020 will be a time etched into all our memories. While I write I am flooded with memories about the societal and personal impact of the instruction ‘you must stay home.’ I am sure our minds are filled with a vast array of memories and emotions.

Like us all, Gracious Street needed to adapt quickly to a world that we were unprepared for. In the months that followed Gracious Street continued to adapt due to you. Gracious Street has been, and always will be, defined by the amazing people who make up the community. Though we were dispersed we remained a connected community through house groups, Creative Writers, Advent@Home, Thought for the Week, prayer chain, morning prayers, online services, Taize services, dial a phone services, paper services, Carols by Candlelight, Good Friday Pilgrimage, Easter Trail, Playbox, Messy Church, Easter Club, Back to School initiative, Godly Play videos, Noah’s Ark, Resurrected Bites, Project Bob, Knaresborough Connectors, cards and flowers, pastoral and postal visits, Coffee & Chat at 11am, WhatsApp groups and many more personal pastoral conversations. Through all the challenges Gracious Street remained a community that cared for one another, worshipped together and served the town. So I wish to express my gratitude to you.

Through listening to the different voices of Gracious Street we began to develop a story board that acts as a vision document for the direction of Gracious Street. In March 2021 the Church adopted the Story Board and it has become Gracious Street’s document for our direction of travel (see below).

Your Church for Your Whole Week

Methodism has a The recent context Gracious Street is in a We will need to reoriWe will be an ener- has been a story of To develop our identify strong heritage and has made a real im-pact on society. must not be taken celebration that for granted. liminal period, creating space to reflect on our identity and purpose. refocusing our culture. and purpose means and structure to pursue entate our priorities our purpose. munity that lives faith gised in action.learning com- Methodism has had a Gracious Street has The pandemic has reWe need courage and We will invest in people We will be an inclusive massive impact on the spent a number of leased Gracious Street creativity to re-shape and resources so we can connexion that perspiritual and social years in developing a from busyness to creatGracious Street to be a equip one another. ceives all people to be fabric of our society. building to assist the ively re-think its identity learning Christian comvalued rather than church in serving the and purpose by reflectmunity so that we can We will reimagine worneedy. We will emPeople gathered tolocal community. ing on environmental, live faith in action. ship through diverse exbrace the differences, gether to support and socio-economic, technopression so we can congifts and experiences challenge one another The combined relogical and political A key narrative is that nect with God and be of new and existing to live faith in acton. source of an excellent changes. our whole lives matter motived. people. They left with ‘fire in building and willing to God. This narrative their bellies’ to be people has led to Through this process will move our focus from We will build confidence We will be a connexion pioneers in education. many celebrations, Gracious Street is devela building to people and in our stories and speak of people who will They were also insuch as the Bridge oping a shared vision of communities so that we out on socio-economic support, pray and disvolved with the aboliCafe and Messy being a learning Christican all live faith in acand environmental iscover together the love tion of slavery, prison Church. an community that lives tion. sues. We will develop of God, as well as the reform and supported faith in action. and balance our online joys and challenges of the poorest in society. While there is much We will be shaped by our and offline content so living faith in action. to celebrate we must To this end Gracious connexion with one anwe can learn and share This social impact has not take our sucStreet is identifying other where we will the Christian story. We will be a connexion continued into 21st cesses for granted. technological opportunmake room for all. So of people filled with century through early Due to busyness, nuities for learning and we can support and We will develop our fire in our bellies to years education and merous meetings and communicating the challenge one another to wider connexion in order bring hope and transdementia. a lack of shared vision Christian message, furlive faith in action. to support learning and formation. there has been limthering its engagement living faith in action. This was a connexion ited growth. Some with families and the We will need a spirit of We will be a connexion of ordinary people people are tired, elderly, working with experimentation and We will remove unneof good news who were shaped by there are financial people who experience reflection as we discover cessary bureaucracy, storytellers who are the love of God and concerns and a socio-economic chaltogether of how we deand be smart about govenergised to share our shared the love of God weakened expression lenges and reducing our velop as a learning ernance and risk so we faith stories and enwith others. of connexionalism. carbon footprint. community that lives can release people. courage others to exfaith in action. plore faith. Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six

The doors of Gracious Street’s building were never closed for long. After the initial lockdown Noah’s Ark re-opened and then remained open during the pandemic. So a massive thank you to the staff of Noah’s Ark. At the same time Resurrected Bites began to use the Castle Room in order to provide meals for people living in food poverty.

In May 2021 the building began to be used for onsite worship, as well as other groups such as Project Bob and Playbox. We were able to re-use the building due to the hard work of a wonderful team who ensured Gracious Street was a Covid secure building.

It has been wonderful, as we emerge out of the pandemic, to see the number of people who have volunteered their time in order to start or re-start groups that have significant impact upon the lives of people in Knaresborough. Thank you to everyone.

While Covid has not disappeared, we are beginning to see other great societal challenges such as an increase in the number of people living in poverty, refugees and let us not forget the ecological crisis. Through the centuries we hear the words of John Wesley echoing into our world: “Go not only to those that need you, but to those that need you most.”

So Gracious Street has developed a partnership with Resurrected Bites by opening a Community Store, as well as the café, on a Tuesday and Friday. Both these ministries are a response to the ecological crisis because the food is intercepted from being wasted in order to feed bellies not bins. At the same time the Community Store supports people in Knaresborough as they can purchase a basket of food

I would like to end this section of the report with a reference to my Sabbatical. Between May and July 2021 I was a gifted a sabbatical. Thank you. My reflections from the Sabbatical focused on God’s open friendship to us and how we are called to live in open friendship with one another. While we continue to navigate out of the pandemic let us ensure that we keep an open friendship between God and people at the heart of our community.

Peace Rev Gordon Hay

WORSHIP

The Church exists to increase awareness of God’s presence

and to celebrate God’s love

WORSHIP

The last two years have had a significant impact upon the worshipping life of Gracious Street. The pandemic thrust us into online worship. We began to discover some of the challenges but also the opportunities of online worship.

Gracious Street produced weekly online services, as well as being involved in circuit and ecumenical online services. Online worship was a wonderful opportunity for the diverse inclusion of many people. In addition to people offering prayers, readings and sermons there were opportunities for people to share images and videos of their lives that helped us to be connected. Many people were also involved in producing worship videos. While challenging, these music videos were a fun way for people to connect and offer their gifts to the community. We also produced two online Carols by Candlelight services that were very popular.

During the pandemic we developed a live Taize service on Zoom where people could see one another and engage in a reflective style of service. We also trialed other live services, including Singing our Faith and Sunday Night Live.

Rev Ruth Parry has been producing a wonderful online Thought of the Week that goes on Gracious Street’s Facebook group.

In more recent times Gracious Street has started to produce My Story as a form of online discipleship content. These are live streamed conversations on Gracious Street Facebook Group where people share their story. We have discovered that our whole lives matter to God and are encouraged to live faith as we share our stories. Gracious Street is currently looking to create a secure web page on Gracious Street’s website in order to increase accessibility of the stories while maintaining a level of privacy as people share their stories.

Gracious Street is currently developing an Online Team in order to help develop online content as we maintain online and onsite worship.

While online made worship accessible for many people, it inevitably excluded others. Gracious Street attempted to provide opportunities for worship that were not online through weekly paper services that were delivered by hand. Gracious Street also produced Advent@Home and Easter@Home which created opportunities for our homes to become sacred spaces.

Once we were able to gather onsite Gracious Street formed a Worship Development Group to help create a reflective and pragmatic space in order to develop the onsite worship. It is wonderful to see many people returning to onsite worship, including a number of new people. We do hope each person has received a warm welcome.

In addition to Sunday morning services we have started on Sunday evenings the Feast (1st Sunday of the month), a traditional Sunday evening service (2nd Sunday of the month) and a Taize service (3rd Sunday of the month). We do hope in the near future to re-start a service on the 4th Sunday of the month.

Gracious Street, with the support of the circuit, has recently invested in equipment for live streaming services and other events. This will help to create a hybrid model of church that will enable us to connect onsite with online worship. The team who operate the screen have suggested they are willing to learn how to use the equipment.

It was also wonderful to re-start Messy Church on a Saturday afternoon that offers an alternative opportunity for families to worship. Libby, later in the report, will speak more about Messy Church.

Sarah Darvill, with Mike Hughes, is helping to organise the music at Gracious Street. They have consulted with the musicians and singers at Gracious Street as to how they would like to contribute to the ministry of music. This will help to increase the inclusivity and diversity of music as we maintain the richness of including traditional and modern songs.

Gracious Street is fortunate to have the support of many supernumeraries and a number of people who have responded to the call to be Worship Leaders and Local Preachers. So we are delighted that Sue Whalley is now an accredited Local Preacher, and Sharon Wright and Sue Walkington have also completed the worship course. Congratulations.

We were greatly shocked and saddened by the death of Gordon Smith. He enriched our community through his faith and music. Gordon is deeply missed and Janet remains in our love and prayers. Rev Gordon Hay

STEWARDS TEAM

As a stewards team our aim is to assist the smooth flow of worship services and ensure that all who come to worship are warmly welcomed. Since the restarting of worship services our main focus has been keeping people safe, from ensuring track and trace is complete, to aiding ventilation and sanitising. Worship services are slowly returning to what we might call normal, with many restrictions lifted, singing and coffee reintroduced, and plans for more evening services too. We are however still encouraging the congregation to wear masks when walking around the building and when singing. We are really enjoying welcoming new and old faces to worship, and we thank everyone for their patience and understanding over the past two years. The steward’s team

PRAYER AT GRACIOUS STREET

I am aware that many from our community take personal prayer seriously and people can testify to knowing that others have been praying for them.

Rachel Watson has been working diligently in updating Gracious Street’s prayer diary. This is a great way for us to pray regularly for our community. If you would like to find out more, please contact Rachel Watson.

In addition to personal prayer we do have opportunities for communal prayer.

Pause for Thought is an opportunity to gather at Gracious Street in order to pray for individual needs, church, society and the world. It offers a space that gives strength and encouragement to those who attend. Pause for Thought happens every Wednesday from 11.15am.

We also have a prayer chain where prayers are circulated by telephone or email amongst those who have signed up to the prayer chain. If this is something in which you would like to participate or if you have a need for prayer, then please contact Joyce Hoare.

Gracious Street has also been involved in the circuit morning prayers that are live on Facebook every weekday morning.

On a Sunday we have a prayer book where we can write our prayers in order for them to be included in the service.

Leslie Newton, the Chair of Yorkshire North & East Methodist District, has a weekly prayer gathering on Facebook. You can join with others across the district every Thursday evening at 6.30pm for a time of prayer – focusing on seeking God’s renewal for our lives, church and world. You can find the online prayer on Facebook at Yorkshire North & East Methodist Group.

I recall hearing a few years ago at Methodist Conference that some people from Cuba prayed for revival of the church. Cuba is now one of the fastest growing Methodist churches around the world. I do believe prayer should be the heartbeat of every church and I think the prayer life of Gracious Street is something important that we could develop further.

Rev Gordon Hay

GRACIOUS STREET PRAYER CHAIN

There are about 100 people on the Prayer Chain – Alan Middleton telephones 9 and I email around 90.

Since the first Covid lockdown in March 2020 the Prayer Chain has become noticeably busier. We receive at least one or two prayer requests each week for individuals, families and situations and some are updated several times becoming long term prayer concerns.

Alan Middleton and I are happy to continue contacting folk by telephone and email but would appreciate some help particularly for times when I might be unable to forward prayer requests because of illness or lack of internet connection when away.

We need another email person, please.

However, please keep sending prayer requests for yourselves or others (with their permission) and please keep us updated. All requests however received are passed on to everyone. We would be glad to add new people to the email or telephone Prayer Chain.

Joyce Hoare (joycehoare@sky.com) and Alan Middleton 01423 863780

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT AND PRAYER

Pause for thought and prayer is a half hour oasis every Wednesday at 11:15am when we gather round the cross of Jesus. Each week one person shares a 5-10 minute reflection on a Bible verse or verses followed by a time of prayer in which everyone is welcome to share. Holy Communion is shared once a month which this year included Ash Wednesday and Passion Sunday. Rosemary Coggrave

LEARNING & CARING

The Church exists to help people to grow and learn as Christians, through mutual support and care.

PASTORAL

No organization, nor church, is more important than each individual. We are all equally important. In response Gracious Street aspires to be a community that welcomes all, cares for all and encourages us all in our faith.

To assist in this aspiration Gracious Street has developed a Pastoral Team that includes Rev Gordon Hay, Rachel Watson (Pastoral Secretary), Debbie Wilson (Ministry at Home), Vicki Taylor (Families), Rev Ron Hicks (House Groups) and Rod Moxley (Welcome). I am thankful for this team and I am also thankful to Dot Rodham who has stepped down from the team but is still significantly involved with Ministry at Home.

The Pastoral Team meets regularly to reflect on the pastoral life of Gracious Street and make pragmatic decisions to develop the welcome, care and discipleship of Gracious Street. This team also oversees the ministries of the pastoral visitors, home visits, welcome stewards, house groups and the flowers team.

We are thankful for everyone who is involved in the pastoral life of Gracious Street. You have worked extremely hard during the pandemic to care for our community.

However, the welcome, care and encouraging of one another in our faith is the ministry of the whole community. While these roles are deeply significant the learning and care is the reflection of the whole community because the collective ‘us’ is Gracious Street.

While many people have felt welcomed and cared for, I am aware that a few people do not feel they have had the same experience. I am deeply and sincerely sorry. Gracious Street desires to learn from our mistakes so we can improve our welcomes care and encouragement. So I would be grateful if you could share, with grace, your story with the Pastoral Team.

It is also with great sadness I report that several people in our community have died since the start of the pandemic. At the same time people within our community have suffered the loss of loved ones. Their death is a great loss to us all. Our prayers are with those in our community, as well as the friends and families of those who have lost loved ones.

House Groups at Gracious Street are central to the learning and caring of the community. I am pleased that Vicki Taylor has recently started a families’ house group that meets fortnightly on a Monday. We also have another family group that meets on a Friday after Playbox.

At the same time we need a smorgasbord of groups that reflect the diversity of our community. They need to be of different styles and sizes in order reflect our needs. Some may be small groups but others need to be networks or support groups of three people. I also believe there is a value in developing a rule of life that can help sustain our faith even when we are dispersed.

Social events are also another important opportunity to welcome and care for one another. I was pleased that Gracious Street organised in March 2022 a Beetle Drive which was a wonderful

intergenerational evening of fun and laughter. We need to organise other social events that help us reconnect and to have fun.

The church membership figures as of 31st October 2018 (the period in which Methodist Church membership figures are collated) was 172 members and over 400 (adults and children) on the community pastoral role.

Peace

Rev Gordon Hay

PASTORAL CARE

First, I would like to thank everyone in the church family who has taken care of people in so many different ways during the past two years. It has been such a difficult time for all of us. During this time a core Pastoral Team has been set up, as set out in the previous report from Gordon.

We thank those people who have delivered weekly notices and other papers and also those who have delivered cards. We have produced and delivered approximately 2000 cards covering two Christmases, two Easters, two Remembrance Sundays and two general cards. Such a lot of essential caring has been done, for which Gracious Street is so thankful.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.

Rachel Watson

FLOWER TEAM

Due to Covid all flower deliveries were stopped until the end of August 2021. Instead of flowers cards, designed by Jeanette Mowat, were sent.

Since then the Flower Team have been taking out flowers to those people in our church family who have been ill, bereaved or are celebrating special birthdays or anniversaries.

This is such a special ministry both to those who deliver flowers and to those who receive them.

people to ‘arrange’ flowers. Just buying them (money provided) and putting them in a vase would be very welcome and helpful. There are just two people at present arranging flowers in church on a regular basis.

We thank everyone who has provided money for flowers during the past months.

Rachel Watson

SAFEGUARDING

The members of the Safeguarding Team are: Rev Gordon Hay, Juliana Caukwell, Bill Butler and Anne Thickett.

The aims of the group are to provide a safe culture where all can meet for worship, social activities and work.

We follow the Policies and Guidelines of the Methodist Church and work closely with the District Safeguarding Team.

Juliana is maintaining the database of volunteers and checking compliance with checks, training required for the roles and sharing with other team members who can then take action as needed. Future plans are to review policies in line with changes by the Methodist Church in February 2022 and to offer Foundation Training Courses.

Anne Thickett

EASTER CLUB

For the last two years Easter Club has had to take place on-line so it is very exciting to be able to do a ‘live’ Easter Club once again in 2022. Easter Club is organised by Christians Together in Knaresborough and is for primary school aged children. As I write this report we are preparing this year’s club, ‘Easter Detectives’ which will run for two mornings in Holy Week. We will be discovering more about the Easter story as we hunt for clues! The church will be decorated and the mornings will be action-packed with clues to search for and codes to break as well as videos, songs, games, craft, quizzes, lots of fun and of course learning more about God’s love and the adventure of following Jesus. Bookings are going well and we have a team of enthusiastic leaders from churches in Knaresborough so we can’t wait to get started!

Libby Cook

MESSY CHURCH

Messy Church is church on a Saturday where families can learn about the Christian faith in a very relaxed and fun way with crafts, games, drama, stories and songs and sharing a meal together. Over the last year Messy Church has taken place once a month on a Saturday at 4pm with 8 or 9 families each time. Due to Covid we had to make changes to the way we run Messy Church with families sitting at their own tables in the church and we are now trying to discern the way forward. It’s about finding the balance between attracting more families by having more crafts as we used to do while not losing

We had a wonderful session at Christmas when everyone explored the Christmas story by visiting the different characters around the church with Mary and Joseph outside in a candle lit stable in the courtyard! We are now planning our Easter celebration.

We are looking forward to the future and hope to attract more families to come along so that we can share God’s love with all who come.

We have a small but dedicated team of helpers and we all enjoy planning and running the sessions. Libby Cook

NOAH’S ARK PRE-SCHOOL

Our pre-school work is fully integrated into the work of our Methodist Church. It continues the long Tradition of involvement in education since it very beginnings in the first half of the nineteenth century.

We have some thirty children on the register; ten of these have special educational needs. A number have English as their second language. We aim to provide for the needs of all our children, and to this end we have small groups working closely with a staff member who helps improve spoken language and confidence in making friends.

The six staff all in part-time positions use their various skills in preparing children for their primary education. We have good contact and communication with all the local schools. During the summer term work is undertaken by the staff to forward information on our children to their chosen schools. Visits are arranged to help the transition and settling in process as our children move on in their educational journey.

The pandemic was a very challenging time but the work continued and the children were made aware of “keep safe” rules. The staff were testing regularly, constantly adjusting in a professional and caring way to this unprecedented situation. They deserve our deep gratitude and respect.

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

Thank you for your prayers and continuing support. Doreen Whittaker

PLAYBOX TODDLER GROUP

Playbox Toddler Group continues to meet every Friday during term-time in the church hall run by Sheila Bradley-Smith, Helen Carass and Vicki Taylor. The aim of Playbox is to provide parents, carers and grandparents with a place to meet new people and have fun with the children, have a coffee, share problems and provide a Christian outreach into the community. We hold short child-centred services for Easter, Harvest, Christmas and summer for our families and the children at Noah's Ark. We currently have around 32 families with places at Playbox although we only usually have between 15 at each session.

During the pandemic we met originally in the Castle Yard over the summer months as there was a real need for families to see each other again. In the winter we moved into the church to meet, stopping for the lockdown but open apart from that. When we started up again there were several concerned parents whose children were not speaking with people outside of the family or interacting with other children. After a few weeks those fears were eased.

We are working well with Resurrected Bites to share resources; they make our hot drinks and dishwash our cups as we only have access to a small kitchen area now and no helpers.

Our aim for the future is to keep doing what we are doing, to provide a welcome place for families with young children to experience church. Vicki Taylor

SUNDAY CLUB

It was lovely to re-start Sunday Club in September. It takes place every Sunday morning for 3 – 11 year olds and enables families to come to church together. Everyone worships together for about the first 10 minutes before the children leave for their own group where they can learn and have fun in a way that’s suitable for them with a Bible story, prayer, crafts and games. At the moment we have a fairly regular group of about 9 or 10 children who are really getting to know each other and the leaders and feeling part of the church family. There are challenges – the group is small and they don’t all come every week and there’s quite a wide age range. Also we only have the bare minimum of leaders and helpers. In particular we need people who would be prepared just to help occasionally. However, I think we have made a really good start and our hope is that we can build on this and that the children can grow up learning about Jesus, developing their own faith and playing their part in the church community.

Libby Cook 10.

YOUTH

Before the lockdown GS Youth Club began to get established with a small group of young people. We then began, at the beginning of the pandemic, to transition the youth club onto Zoom but struggled to get the group established online. Sadly the youth group ceased to be.

This was a cause of concern and Gracious Street started to explore options for youth work once we re-emerged out of lockdown.

Gracious Street recognises there is limited youth work in Knaresborough and is keen to be part of a wider conversation as to how we can support the young people of our town.

We are pleased to note that two youth clubs have started at Gracious Street. Since March we have restarted, on a Monday evening, Gracious Street’s youth group. We have eight young people who regularly come. The group reflects on current issues such as Ukraine and Mental Health. We are also exploring Youth Alpha. The conversations always involve food, mainly pizza. The group is also looking at organising social events and being involved in the Methodist District residential weekend.

On a Tuesday evening North Yorkshire County Council have a drop in youth club that meets in the Castle Room.

Rev Gordon Hay

CAMEO

We started CAMEO again in October 2021 after an eighteen month gap. We held three meetings before Christmas ending with a Christmas party.

This year we commenced in February, starting to meet regularly every fortnight.

Gordon Hay started our programme this year with reflections on his Sabbatical; we have had pictures of Australia; a talk about estate planning (wills, not vast acres of land!); a look at Knaresborough Connectors and a talk about the convict history of Tasmania. After Easter we will learn about Resurrected Bites and ask the question “What is a refugee?” We end on 6[th] June with a Platinum Party.

You are all very welcome to come to CAMEO, a very relaxed and friendly evening. We meet every other Monday at 7pm in the Bridge. Do come and join us. Rachel Watson.

COGS CREATIVE WRITERS

Cogs Creative Writers continues to thrive, meeting every 4-6 weeks to share our stories and to learn and develop skills and focus. The fellowship, care and opportunity to express what is on our hearts, especially during challenging times, has been much valued.

Writing improves mental, emotional and spiritual health, whether communicating personal concern, joy, memoir, prayers for private or public use, sharing the richness of God’s creation, or lamenting our failure to take care of it. We cry, laugh and give thanks together in a safe space, while finding time to rest in the Lord. During Covid lockdown/s we met regularly on Zoom and shared much of our frustrations, hopes and fears which resulted in the joint venture, ‘Love Faith and Fear in A Time of Covid’. This was well received locally and further afield. The motivation to write has been strong. From time to time our work is shared on our Facebook page. Sue Whalley is going to be leading a Creative Writing Session at MWiB Swanwick weekend; best wishes for that, Sue! Hilary continues with her long-

term project about ‘sense of place’; Jeanette and Karin have been concentrating on life writing.

Since Autumn 2021 we have tried to meet in person, at Hilary Hughes’s or Sue Whalley’s, with coffee and chat before prayer and writing challenges. There is no compulsion to ‘produce’ pieces of work, but there is ‘fuel for the fire’ and enthusiasm even if writing is unfinished. Writers have their own ‘flow’ and this is recognised. There is an energy, a warmth and deep respect for each writer.

I encourage members to write in familiar and unfamiliar genres, to enter competitions and to read the poetry and fiction of other authors both ‘Christian’ and secular.

Last time we met, we spent time considering and reflecting on ‘a sense of place’, especially in light of the refugee situation. We held a short vigil for Ukraine and began composing pieces for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

The group is a cohesive unit but welcomes other writers, and also commissions or challenges. We are grateful for each other and for the considered and encouraging comments from people at Gracious Street; we thank God for our gifts and being able to use them as we have and we look forward to future meetings and ventures.

To finish, here is an example of some recent work by Elizabeth Ali:

A Home?

(Considering what is ‘home’, in the context of current happenings.)

Another country? Another place?

No! Let me stay here; let me BE here.

Do not interfere with this fragile peace, This life of calm, of gentleness, That even when the wind blows Or the snow falls thick and silent, We feel secure with daily patterns Curbed, not gone. Not completely…

But should we go? Leave our home? The threat looms large, more fierce, More ferocious than any winter storm. How will we go? On foot? Oh! God forbid!

How many people can you fit in a car? It used to be a joke to pile into a Mini. The dog? No… leave him here, One more could fit into his space.

Belongings? Only what you wear, And food and water for the journey,

Pray for us, as we pray for you, And may God grant a blessed homecoming.

Hilary Hughes 12.

MEN’S BREAKFAST

2022 is the 20[th] year of operation of the Men’s Breakfast in its present form. Sadly during the Covid lockdown three of our long term members have died. We remember with love and grateful thanks the lives of Angus Dobbie, Peter Harrison and most recently our Treasurer Gordon Smith.

Duncan Murray and Geoff Rogers (my long time co-chair) were no longer able to attend because of our starting time of 8.45am. So we lost five of our long term members for the reasons outlined above.

We were, however, one of the first church organisations to re-commence after the Covid restrictions were lifted. Re-Starting in September 2021 we have followed stringent health precautions, with kitchen staff and servers wearing masks whilst cooking the food and serving it. We have subsequently held 8 meetings with average attendances of 14 which is very encouraging considering the losses outlined earlier.

Our aim continues to be to share in fellowship, grow in our faith, and work for God’s kingdom here on earth.

After 20 years of involvement with the organisation and management of the Men’s (and Women’s) breakfasts I will be stepping aside after the May meeting. Alan Middleton

MONTHLY BIBLE STUDY

Shared by Anglican and Roman Catholic on the third Thursday of the month, 9.30-10am in the Priory Room, we have started to look at the messengers and messages of the Old Testament, currently studying the eighth century prophets – Isaiah, Amos, Hosea. We analyse and apply the scriptures, in lecture format. It is freely open to anyone to attend. Colin Lake

HOME GROUPS

Alpha Plus 2022

The Alpha Plus group has now resumed actual monthly meetings after keeping in touch during the pandemic by phone, email, doorstep chats etc. We have twelve members who attend regularly although a couple have not yet returned because of Covid which we quite understand.

Having used the Forest Room for a couple of social events over more recent months, we met there again in February and March using material from the ‘Surprised by Generosity’ Lent Course. The room is comfortable and spacious and seems ideal during the restrictions. We plan to meet at church for Maundy Thursday Holy Communion as we have done previously.

We enjoy the friendship and fellowship our group provides and hope we can continue to meet faceto-face during the coming year.

Joyce Hoare 01423 860750 & Alan Middleton 01423 863780

Baker’s Dozen Home Group

Baker’s Dozen have continued to meet fortnightly over the past year. We have enjoyed being able to meet in person at Christine’s house while still having the option of Zoom for those who prefer it. It was especially good to be able to enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner together at Ron and Diane’s

house. During Lent we are meeting weekly and studying the Lent course ‘Surprised by Generosity.’ Libby Cook

Charlie’s Angels Home Group

During the Covid pandemic we met occasionally on Zoom although not all were able to access that. However, over the past few months we have met face-to-face several times socially in the Forest Room at church and have been pleased to welcome two new members (newcomers to our church) to the group, bringing our total number up to thirteen.

During Lent this year we have been able to hold two meetings at church to study the ‘Surprised by Generosity’ course produced by the diocese of Exeter, and we look forward to being able to meet again more regularly in the coming months.

Brian Hoare

3 Dogs and the Pilgrims Home Group

3 Dogs and the Pilgrims is a new house group which started in January 2022. We meet alternate Mondays at 7:30pm during term time (as most of us have children). Our group was started to encourage families to join a house group as there were not many families in groups.

We have 7 members and a few people whom we have invited who may join later. We are currently working through the Keswick resources booklet, “The whole of life for Christ” and having some stimulating discussions and supportive ideas from it.

Our evening starts with a drink and cake and a chat to make sure everyone is ok (which gives people the chance to get there after work or putting children to bed) and then we follow the booklet and end in prayer.

Two of the parents of younger children in the church said the time was too tricky for them and they now meet on a Friday after Playbox, for lunch and some discussion and time together.

The aim of both groups is to make sure the parents in the church can support each other and grow in their faith.

Vicki Taylor

King James’ Class Meeting

After a period of meeting in the garden and in groups of six we now all eleven are grateful that we can use the Priory Room where we sit more distanced than in a lounge. We have been again looking at the texts we shared daily during lockdown. Everyone shares and we listen carefully to one another, strengthening our faith and praying freely.

Colin Lake

Learning Curve Home Group

Our pattern is to meet monthly; however, during ‘lockdown’ we kept in touch by phone and visits as Zoom meetings would exclude some of the Group. There are nine of us which includes Barbara Wake who is not well enough to meet with us.

During the summer the Group was invited to my home on two occasions for afternoon tea in the garden. Marion King came to the first and Barbara was able to attend both for which we were all pleased. 14.

From October we have been reflecting on the ‘I am’ sayings with some discussion prompted by a ‘Life Builder’ book.

Our aim is to know and love God’s word and learn to stand on His promises as we share together in fellowship and friendship.

Rosemary Coggrave

New Shoots Home Group

The focus of New Shoots is to meet regularly to encourage and support each other in our discipleship by sharing stories and open discussion on a variety of topics in an informal setting in each other’s homes.

The aim is to meet monthly, but our activities were curtailed last year because of Covid restrictions. We kept in touch by email and phone calls only. I took the decision not to use Zoom as I felt it would be divisive as some of the group were uneasy about using it. We eventually met up again in July 2021 with a ‘good to be back together’ social! Meetings then continued monthly from September until January of this year when we had a break due to fear about Omicron.

Meetings have now resumed monthly and we have dates in our diaries until August! Sue Whalley

Open Doors Home Group

During the period of Covid lockdown one of our members, Joan Raybould, has withdrawn from the church and our home group. We now have 14 members, four of whom are unable or do not wish to attend, but with whom we maintain regular contact, through visits/phone calls.

Meeting monthly (on Monday afternoons), at Shirley Shepherd’s home we re-commenced in December 2021. We have met five times up to April 2022, using Brian Hoare’s booklet “By the way”, a series of six studies in the application of God’s word for today. These studies have been well received and much appreciated by all.

Each of our meetings includes singing (2 hymns/worship songs) using a CD for music, times of prayer, as well as the time of study. We have been unable to have any social gatherings or meals out during the lockdown but are looking forward to doing so this summer. Our aims continue to be to support each other and grow in our faith & understanding of God’s will for us. Alan Middleton

SERVICE & EVANGELISM

The Church exists to be a good neighbour to people in need, to challenge injustice and to make more followers of Jesus

ALL WE CAN

During the past year we have continued to support the vital work of All We Can as a Partner Church. As they help vulnerable communities to take their next steps towards recovery and resilience, they have encouraged us to be part of that change.

We were grateful to have Peter Blanch from All We Can take part in our online Harvest service and we

hope that Tim Baker will soon be able to take part in worship in our church building.

All We Can produces some excellent resources and we used some of them in our in-person Harvest service. Currently some of our congregation are following their “Let Wisdom Speak” booklet as part of their personal Lent devotions.

At Christmas we raised £1,303.75, including Gift Aid by making donations to All We Can instead of giving cards to friends we regularly see at church. We were able to buy 3 x wheelchairs for children with disabilities in Ethiopia, 4 x bikes to help students in Uganda get to school, 5 x goats for families in Zimbabwe and 3 covered toilets for communities in Zimbabwe.

More recently we organised a retiring collection to support All We Can with their emergency appeal in response to the situation in Ukraine which raised £1,611.50.

Thank you for your generous support over this year last year and please do remember All We Can in your prayers.

Sharon Wright

ALPHA

Gracious Street did not run an Alpha last year but I helped to facilitate a course on Zoom led by Christians Together in Knaresborough from September until early December 2021. Sue Whalley

FAMILY EVENTS

Family Film Nights

We were really pleased to be able to start having Family Film Nights again last autumn after a long break and they seem to be as popular as ever. They are held on Saturdays at 5pm starting with everyone enjoying hot dogs, drinks and popcorn. We have held three film nights including ‘Peter Rabbit 2’and ‘Encanto’ but next season we hope to hold them more regularly again. The film is shown in the church but also in the Bridge where we have a few toys and this is really appreciated by families with young children who can opt in and out. Film nights are free but we have a donations box which more than covers our costs.

Libby Cook

Thula Mama

Thula Mama is a weekly informal singing group for mums and their babes in arms. It takes place every Friday morning mainly in person in the Dales Room but there is also an option for mums to join in via Zoom. The mums have an opportunity to chat before learning and singing beautiful songs and lullabies from around the world in a-cappella harmony. The group provides mutual support and many new friendships have been made with some of the mums staying for lunch in The Bridge afterwards. The aim is to nurture and empower mums, find new ways to bond with and soothe their babies, and celebrate motherhood together. See www.thulamama.co.uk for more information. Jenny Cook

16.

Who Let The Dads Out?

WLTDO is a stay-and-play session for dads/granddads/male carers and their pre-school children. PreCovid it ran on the second Saturday of each month from 10am-11:30pm upstairs in the Dales room. There were toys, crafts, refreshments and a short story-time, usually with an interactive Bible story. The aim of the group was to reach out to dads, particularly those with no other church contact, and to help them have fun with their children, to provide a support network and to introduce them to other aspects of the GS community, such as Family Film Night or Messy Church.

Since March 2020 I have attempted to keep in contact with the dads through email and Facebook, posting craft videos and links to other GS events. On 26[th] March 2022, after a two-year break, we reopened. I’m very grateful to new helpers – Karl Camenzuli, (one of our previous dads), Ed and Eliza Walton and Gordon Hay. Those who came to our first session (six dads and ten children) were full of enthusiasm and keen to see it continue. Hopefully it will return to a monthly format. The next session will be 30[th] at Aspin Academy at the Knaresborough Community Festival; this will be a good chance to spread the word about the group.

Liz Rochester

FUN and GAMES FOR SENIORS

What used to be called ‘Silver Bowlers’ changed its name this year when we found that setting out and rolling up the indoor bowls mat was getting too much to cope with. The group is now ‘Fun and Games for Seniors’ and includes a mixture of both standing and sitting down games suitable for seniors of all abilities. They include ‘New Age’ bowls (soft rubber bowls aimed at a target), bean bags thrown into target holes, bagatelle, table skittles and shove ha’penny. We have about fifteen regular attenders, both church members and others, and meet in The Bridge for coffee from 10.30am each Monday before going into the Castle Hall to play games for an hour. All are welcome – no charge, but a donation of £2 is suggested to cover coffee and room use. Brian Hoare

GRACIOUS STREET BOOK CLUB

There are sixteen members in the Book Club but usually about eight attend, so we now have one group instead of two and meet in The Bridge at 10.30am on the fourth Thursday each month during term time.

We have changed our format from everyone reading and discussing the same book each month to each sharing a little about a book we have enjoyed recently or a while ago. This means we have a number of books and authors to dip into each month introducing us to different genres we might not normally choose ourselves. The monthly list is emailed to all sixteen members.

We are always pleased to welcome visitors or new members, so please either contact me or just come along.

Joyce Hoare 01423 860750

LUNCH LINK

We restarted in September 2021 after what seemed like a long time. Many of our clients we had seen during this time and many were ready to come back and had missed the lunch and seeing their friends. We continue sending Christmas, Easter and birthday cards to all our clients.

We started with about 20 guests and now have over 30 coming every Tuesday. We have five teams of volunteers to prepare five different meals over five weeks and we are very grateful to all the helpers who really enjoy working together. We are always looking for more helpers on a regular basis and also for the reserve list if that suits you better. Please contact me if you would like more information about us, telephone 862345.

Eleanor Borkett

MEMORY CAFÉ

I am pleased to report that the Memory Lane Café resumed towards the end of 2021. Numbers are depleted compared to pre-pandemic levels, and sadly we have lost a number of members over the last two years. The group is re-building and has enjoyed some great sessions in recent weeks, including a St David’s day Quiz followed by pancakes with pancake tossing, and a games afternoon. We are also currently planning the sensory garden which will be planted in the raised bed near the entrance to the Bridge. Members have really enjoyed choosing appropriate plants and sharing memories that will feature in the garden. They will be helping to plant it up at a future meeting. The group are very grateful for the support of the Church and are keen to build a strong relationship with Gracious Street.

Dot Rodham

PROJECT BOB

I am sure we are all aware of the impact of the pandemic upon the emotional well-being of our society. This was reflected within ‘Project B ’ - people who were still struggling with existing challenges found their lives further intensified by the pandemic. However, this community continues to be an immensely inclusive community that supports an eclectic mix of people with their mental well-being. Project Bob is essentially a support group that actively listens to one another’s stories. It is the telling of one another’s stories that offers encouragement, strength and wisdom. Project Bob is a community that is rooted with Christianity and often ends with the serenity prayer. While people continue to experience many struggles there has also been real transformation in people’s health and for some a journey towards faith.

Rev Gordon Hay

RESURRECTED BITES

Resurrected Bites’ partnership with Gracious Street Methodist Church began in Jan 2020 when the first pay as you feel café and shop were opened. The focus of the cafés and shops is to ensure that good quality food goes into bellies and not bins. We focus on the food waste aspect as it is a huge issue environmentally and morally. The secondary benefits are that this also enables us to provide affordable, delicious, nutritious meals and a welcoming environment to everyone. The pay as you feel donation enables all to eat, no matter what their budget. Resurrected Bites run these cafés in churches as it is an opportunity for church members to get to know non-church members, to share their faith and to invite people to church if the non-church member seems interested.

In March 2020 Resurrected Bites closed the cafés due to the pandemic and moved to offering free

home deliveries. In June 2020 Resurrected Bites moved into the Castle Room and began distributing food from there. Between 18 Mar 2020 to end July 2021 15,808 people received 3-7 days’ worth of free food, non-food items and flowers delivered to their door. Many members of Gracious Street church were involved in this mammoth task.

In September 2021 the café reopened at Gracious Street and now runs on Tuesdays and Fridays. There is still a pay as you feel (now known as Give As You Can) shop with each café and these are open to everyone to use. We rely on the donations from those that can give to help to cover our costs.

During the autumn the Manor Room was re-purposed in order to create a Community Grocery to people who are in financial hardship. The grocery is managed by Carolyn Aitken who is a member of Hope Church. She has a chat with people wishing to join the grocery and assesses if the grocery would meet their needs and if the person is in food poverty. Whilst we would love to help everyone, we need to focus the remit of the groceries on people who are in food poverty otherwise we would not have enough food to meet the need. People who are not in food poverty can shop at the Give As You Can shop in the Bridge on a Tuesday and Friday. The grocery members can shop up to twice a week. A 1-2 person household pays only £3 per shop for a set number of items which is worth around £30. A 3-4 person household can have twice as much and it costs £6 per shop. A 5 or more household can get three times as much and pays £9 per shop. The price includes a set number of items from each category including chilled, frozen and non-food items.

All of our grocery members will have free access to courses and activities such as:

We currently have several volunteers from Gracious Street helping us to run these services and we are very grateful for their time, energy and support. If you would like to find out more about what we do or would like to support us in some way, please visit https://resurrectedbites.co.uk Michelle Hayes

SATURDAY WALKING GROUP

I took over from Sue Whalley a few years ago with the assistance of Alan Middleton. Since then walks were planned for each month with a break during December – February. Unfortunately during the period of the Covid-19 it was only possible to have three walks during the short periods lockdown was lifted.

It is known walking in the countryside close to nature is good for your mental well-being. This together with the physical activity and socialising within the group is our aim. Having your packed lunch sitting on a log, rock or in a farmer’s field, and if you’re lucky a picnic table, amongst all the camaraderie adds to the enjoyment.

With the return to a new normal I feel the time is right for a new leader to take over with fresh ideas, so if someone is interested please contact me. Alan J Harby

19.

LEADERSHIP, PROPERTY & FINANCE

LEADERSHIP TEAM

The Leadership Team (Gordon, James Wright, Sue Walkington, Graham Taylor, Bill Rodham, Nick Garrett, Libby Cook and myself) has continued to meet on a roughly 6-8 week basis throughout the various lockdowns we have experienced recently, sometimes online, more recently in person.

Firstly, please may I say on behalf of the LT, a big thank you to absolutely everyone involved with our church and how proud we all are to be part of GS. We have been thrown some very difficult challenges over the last 2 years, and we have risen to them superbly. We have kept many, many different groups going – sometimes virtually, sometimes outdoors – despite this being tricky, and despite everyone having more challenges to cope with in their personal lives at the same time. Thank you and well done everyone.

Over the past year or so we have been gradually getting back to normal in terms of physical worship. We have regular Sunday morning services, a mixture of more contemporary styles on most Sunday evenings, and also Thula Mama, Noah’s Ark, Messy Church, Sunday Club, Youth Group and Pause for Thought on Wednesday mornings too. As well, online services, such as My Story, are continuing and are much valued. We are also making significant investment at present in our digital capability. What a diverse church we are for a small town!

One idea that we will be progressing is that of Quarterly Celebrations. This will be a quarterly occasion on which everyone involved in GS, whether a regular Sunday morning attendee, or a person who perhaps just comes to a club that meets in the building, feels welcome to join together to celebrate our broad community. There will be music, food, and a lot of chatting. We are planning for the first occasion to be around Harvest, followed then by a cycle of Advent, Palm Sunday & Pentecost/early Summer. Further details to follow.

We also regularly discuss our wider ministry to the town in which we live. We will all by now be aware of Resurrected Bites café and the Community Store at GS. This is an important part of our support to our community at a time when, as we all know, bills and other prices are going up and hardship is returning to the UK. We follow Jesus, who asked that “I was hungry, and you fed me”.

We also provide many other activities for important conversations, support and socialising, at a time when we have all felt a bit lonely. Family Film Night, Lunch Link, Project Bob, Refugee Sanctuary

Support, the upcoming Jubilee, House Groups, Knaresborough Connectors – the list goes on. If I have missed one of your groups – I do apologise – please take it simply as a sign of how much we provide at GS.

The year ahead will bring ongoing challenges. At GS, we continue to aim to meet our vision of “Your Church for Your Whole Week”.

David Rochester

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Management Team has continued to meet regularly throughout the Covid pandemic, and has worked extremely hard to make sure the building remains safe for all our users. We are pleased to have

from Dot Rodham who served over 12 years in the role. Our standard agenda covers bookings, property, items raised by the worship stewards, finance, and planning for future events. Over recent weeks Dot has been clearing out and tidying our various storage areas to maximise the space for internal and some external groups. As the majority of groups have now returned to the premises we would ask for the cooperation of all groups to leave the rooms in a neat & tidy condition for the next users.

Our main focus recently has been how we can develop our culture of welcome for people using the Bridge. We are keen to ensure all people who come onto the premises receive a warm welcome, working alongside Resurrected Bites on a Tuesday and a Friday, and currently Henshaws on a Wednesday. We are also looking for opportunities to open the Bridge on other days. We are keen to hear from anyone who enjoys meeting people to form a welcome team.

We would also like to strengthen the Management Team to increase its resilience, so if you are interested in ensuring we maintain and develop the mission of the Church through the use of our premises please have a word with me about how you could be involved.

The Management Team works extremely hard behind the scenes to keep our premises in good order and to ensure the smooth running of the building and I am grateful to them all for the great work they do.

Bill Rodham Chair of Management Team

TASK FORCE

Gracious Street Task Force consists of three members: Phil Mason, Alan Shankster and Hugh Mowat and meetings have taken place in November, January, March and April, with various ‘ad hoc’ meetings in between. The Task Force undertakes a variety of general maintenance works around the church and its buildings.

Maintenance work undertaken includes: replacing light bulbs, dismantling and cleaning hand sanitisers, replacing soap dispensers, attending to sticking doors, loose carpets, door handles, bin store handle, maintenance on the Bridge dishwasher, plugging possible entry points for mice in Res Bites and repairing hall pillar tape.

We are currently repainting the bin store and plan to clean Noah’s Ark strip lights, replace broken coat hooks in the Forest room, attend to the leak in the Forest room boiler and investigate installation of the Bridge door entry sensor.

An electrician will be required to attend to unserviceable hand dryers upstairs and in the Castle Room, plus a fused and charred spur to the Forest Room boiler.

Our expenditure has been: £50 (tools £15, materials £35), plus light bulbs via church admin. Income has been a donation of £50.

Phil Mason

TREASURER’S REPORT

The accounts for 2020/21 were signed off by the examiner in December 21 and were agreed by Church Council at the March 22 meeting. It was pleasing to note that for the last connexional year we made a surplus of £22,180. This was mainly due to a reduction in our assessment of £10,000 and minimising our discretionary expenditure on the expenditure side of the equation. On the income side members have continued to respond generously to the financial situation through continued regular giving by standing orders directly into the bank and Table 1: Opening Position 01-Sep-21 through the envelope scheme as well as a Virgin Money £8,246 continuing stream of additional donations. We Trustees for Methodist Purposes £884 also continued to receive rental income from our two properties and from Resurrected Bites and Central Finance Board £98,722 other external groups like Slimming World and Schofield Foundation £10,400 Thulamama who continued to meet whenever Cash £354 Covid restrictions allowed. Our opening position on our general funds as at 1[st] September 21 is Total in General Fund £118,606 shown in Table 1.

Since September we have invested the surplus in 3 key areas. We have invested just over £15,000 in the Community Store, but we were able to offset a significant proportion of this cost by a grant from Knaresborough Town Council of £7,000. We

have contributed £8,000 to the Church’s Pension Fund following a request from the Connection and we have invested just over £8,000 to date on equipment and infrastructure to allow live streaming of services and events from the Church. We also recently made a grant of £2,000 from the Schofield Foundation towards the education of Johnny Huy in Vietnam. Our current Position is summarised in table 2:

**Table 2:Current Position ** 29-Mar-22
Virgin Money £9,827
Trustees for Methodist Purposes £884
Central Finance Board £66,853
Schofield Foundation £8,400
Cash £354
Total inGeneral Fund £86,318

A summary of income and expenditure for the year to date is provided in the shape of two pie charts is given overleaf.

Summary of Income & Expenditure to date

Based on our finances so far this year, ignoring the items of extraordinary income or expenditure and taking into account our anticipated gift aid income, our expenditure and income are broadly in balance. I am extremely grateful for the continued financial support of Church members and for the increasing number of people who pay by standing order which brings more certainty to our financial planning. I would also encourage all who are able to gift aid donations. Ed Walton is our gift aid secretary and can advise on how to do this.

I would once again like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved in looking after the Church finances: Ed and Eliza Walton, Jeanette Mowat, Alan Middleton and Dot Rodham who bank the money week by week.

Bill Rodham Treasurer 30[th] March 2022

Church Council Membership & Managing Trustees at April 2022

Office Holders

The Superintendent Rev Ben Clowes The Minister Rev Gordon Hay Circuit Representative Mr Don Rolls Church Council Secretary Mrs Hilary Wilkinson Church Finance Officer Mr Bill Rodham Pastoral Secretary & Flower Ministry Mrs Rachel Watson Safeguarding Officer Dr Anne Thickett Property Secretary Mrs Eleanor Borkett Health & Safety Officer Mr David Simpson

Leadership Team

Mrs Libby Cook (Families & Sunday Club Coordinator) Mr Nick Garrett Mr David Rochester Mr Bill Rodham Miss Sue Walkington Mr James Wright

Church Meeting Elected Representatives

Mr Michael Borkett Mr John Cook Ms Anna Cooley (Contact Steward) Deacon Ian Cooper Rev Diane Hicks Mrs Dorothy Rodham Mr Tim Webster Mrs Sharon Wright

Church Council Appointed

Alpha tba Contact Steward Ms Anna Cooley CAMEO Mrs Janet Smith Home Groups Rev Ron Hicks Men’s Breakfast Mr Alan Middleton Mission Team Rev Peter Whittaker Noah’s Ark Mrs Doreen Whittaker Mrs Vickie Wrigglesworth Playbox Mrs Vicki Taylor The Bridge Mrs Lynne Bullock Task Force Mr Philip Mason Who Let the Dads Out Mrs Liz Rochester

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Gracious Street Methodist

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Church
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FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 August 2021

Circuit
Circuit no
Nidd Valley
Registered Charity - Charity Registration number		 1133967
29/26

If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number

(The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242)

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Minister:
Rev Gordon Hay
Church Stewards:
James Wright
Sue Walkington
Libby Cook
Graham Taylor
David Rochester
Colin William Rodham
Nick Garrett
Treasurer:
Mr Colin William Rodham
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2021 church R and P.xls

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Gracious Street
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020 Church
Methodist
Unrestricted Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Funds year year
£ £ £ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered 94,433 0 94,433 89,970
Bank and CFB interest and
a3 Investment income 111 0 111 431
a4 Lettings 33,477 0 33,477 38,452
a5 Other receipts 15,151 68,651 83,802 114,998
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 143,173 68,651 211,823 (a7) 243,851
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 76,888 0 76,888 80,030
b3 Donations 355 0 355 3,882
b4 Repairs and Maintenance 15,419 0 15,419 24,734
Utilities (Insurances, water
b5 charges, heating & lighting) 13,861 0 13,861 14,985
b6 0 0 0 0
b7 Other payments 17,198 66,012 83,210 93,563
b8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 123,722 66,012 189,734 (b9) 217,193
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
c1 FOR THE YEAR (a6-b8) 19,450 2,639 22,090 26,658
Total funds brought forward from
last year
c2 76,928 59,854.04 136,782 (c6) 109,954
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 96,379 62,493 158,872 136,611
c4 Transfers and adjustments 9,600 -9,510 90 (c7) 171
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 105,979 52,983 158,962 (c8) 136,782 (c6)
SECTION D
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SECTION D SECTION D
d1
d2
d3
d4
d		 £
-179
2,101
2,078
-156
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID(d1+d2-d3)
Balance brought forward from last year
Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations
Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations
(these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures		 £
-370
3,621
3,430
-179
-179
2,101
2,078
-156

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2021 church R and P.xls

Gracious Street Methodist

Church

SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page

Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.

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INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening Closing
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances balances
e1 Noahs Ark 68,355 65,931 2,424 (7,910) 45,059 39,573
e2 Playbox 296 81 215 (0) 434 649
e3 Schofield Foundation 0 0 0 (1,600) 12,000 10,400
e4 Project Bob 0 0 0 0 2,361 2,361
e5
e6 0
e7 0
e8 0
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds 68,651 66,012 2,639 -9,510 59,854 (e11) 52,983 (e12)
Church accounts (totals
brought forward from page
e9 2 - totals column) 143,173 (a7) 123,722 (b9) 19,450 9,600 (c7) 76,928 (c6) 105,979 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD
e10 BY CHURCH 211,823 189,734 22,090 90 136,782 (x) 158,962 (y)
Continue on a separate sheet TOTAL
if necessary and bring the TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
totals forward
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SECTION F

f1
f2
f3
f4
f5
f6
f7
f8
f9
g1
g2
g3
g4
g5		 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2020
SECTION G
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES
Other Assets
Central Finance Board
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Other funds
Other Liabilities
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing
balance total from above) (e12)
Investments (include Endowments)
Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end
Bank Deposit Account
Land & Buildings (see notes re Insurance value)
SUB TOTAL - Church accounts
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH
Bank Current Account
Cash in hand		 OPENING
BALANCES
354
20,542
0
69,510
883
91,289
(c6)
45,493 (e11)
136,782
(x)
At
01 Sept 2020
0
4,343,025
237,762
0
0		 CLOSING
BALANCES
354
8,380
0
109,122
884
118,740
(c8)
40,222
(e12)
158,962
(y)
At
31 August
2021
0
4,347,340
237,998
0
0

f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board

f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes

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2021 church R and P.xls

DECLARATIONS

Treasurer

I confirm that I have prepared the accounts from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church Council

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Signature of Treasurer Date 06/11/2021
Name C W Rodham
Address 58 Aspin Park Raod
Knaresborough
HG5 8HG
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Presentation to the *Church Council for approval.

I confirm that the Accounts will be presented to the Church Council at a future meeting

Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Date

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

Gracious Street Methodist Church

This Report is on the Church Accounts for the year ended 31[st] August

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2021
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Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

R A Davill of Bulmer & CO

It is my responsibility to:

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2021 church R and P.xls

Basls of Ind4￿dent Examlnerfs Rwi examination indudes a revSew of the accountiry records kepl by thg (tsrity and a o)mpatison ol lh8 gccounts presented vAth knse records. tt also indudes ￿nsI￿rati¢￿ of any unusual iiems or ithsclosures in Ihe aci￿Jnts, and seekn.ng explanaborffj from the trustees C￿cerni￿3 any suth nK8llvs. The prct?￿re5 urKJerf8ken do not provSde 315 the ewderrE that wcmjld ￿ requir8d in an audjt. arKI Consequ￿ rK¥ opIn￿)n is as to wheth iha accounts presenl a 'lrue fairf ￿eW Iha is liThMled to ItrK)88 Matte￿ sat cwjt in thg slatem&tt Independent Examlnofs Statemert In c￿ne¢liOn with my 8X￿1n￿tiOti, nts m8tler has oyre io my attenlion {dhw Ikw tsl disc)sed belLW"I: {11 which grves ￿$(x)a￿le <wse to trdieve Ihal in any rthate￿ r8srd wuirements.. . to prepare aecounL$ 7IMth vrith ihe actsiunung r8cxwds aThJ compty wth th8 accwnlivKJ 12) to WWI. in my opinion. attention bg dram in cfder to enat48 a proper underntandlNJ 8cc(xints to be feach&Y. ' Pleas8 delele Ihe ￿)rdS in brxkets rflhgy do ep￿ty apprLV7 131 Iha ined I￿l￿denl ¥rlfication rl all inve5tnwts ¥hlh ￿ Trtthfjs ts Nl8thodi CW} or held in crther Tnjsts. Bank balan￿ and Funds at Central Finance Board ol Ihe M8thodisl Churth fcFB'k whw are indivKlu*ly in excess of £10.LKQ Ilen thousand at the balance Sheel date. Jama SvJnalwe Re￿vAnI Professw)nal qualification ￿ tKrtIy FCCA Address ULMEII ) CO IVIouthJr PA(I Date 07 3021 2021 Lthrth R ￿ P.y

CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS

THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS

Gracious Street Methodist

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Church
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FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 August 2021

Circuit
Circuit no
Nidd Valley
Registered Charity - Charity Registration number		 1133967
29/26

If not a registered charity Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs Gift Aid number

(The HMRC number is equivalent to a registered charity number in terms of evidence of charitable status and may be used to give to donors or grant funders wishing to see evidence of the organisation's charitable status. Methodist charities in England and Wales that are not registered charities are excepted from registration under Statutory Instrument 2014 No.242)

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Minister:
Rev Gordon Hay
Church Stewards:
James Wright
Sue Walkington
Libby Cook
Graham Taylor
David Rochester
Colin William Rodham
Nick Garrett
Treasurer:
Mr Colin William Rodham
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2021 church R and P.xls

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Gracious Street
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020 Church
Methodist
Unrestricted Restricted Totals this Totals last
SECTION A Funds Funds year year
£ £ £ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings and Tax recovered 94,433 0 94,433 89,970
Bank and CFB interest and
a3 Investment income 111 0 111 431
a4 Lettings 33,477 0 33,477 38,452
a5 Other receipts 15,151 68,651 83,802 114,998
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 143,173 68,651 211,823 (a7) 243,851
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 Circuit Assessment or Share 76,888 0 76,888 80,030
b3 Donations 355 0 355 3,882
b4 Repairs and Maintenance 15,419 0 15,419 24,734
Utilities (Insurances, water
b5 charges, heating & lighting) 13,861 0 13,861 14,985
b6 0 0 0 0
b7 Other payments 17,198 66,012 83,210 93,563
b8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 123,722 66,012 189,734 (b9) 217,193
SECTION C
NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
c1 FOR THE YEAR (a6-b8) 19,450 2,639 22,090 26,658
Total funds brought forward from
last year
c2 76,928 59,854.04 136,782 (c6) 109,954
c3 Sub total (c1+c2) 96,379 62,493 158,872 136,611
c4 Transfers and adjustments 9,600 -9,510 90 (c7) 171
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR (c3+c4) 105,979 52,983 158,962 (c8) 136,782 (c6)
SECTION D
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SECTION D SECTION D
d1
d2
d3
d4
d		 £
-179
2,101
2,078
-156
FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID(d1+d2-d3)
Balance brought forward from last year
Offerings/Gifts - received for external organisations
Offerings/Gifts - passed to external organisations
(these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments figures		 £
-370
3,621
3,430
-179
-179
2,101
2,078
-156

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2021 church R and P.xls

Gracious Street Methodist

Church

SUMMARY OF CHURCH ACCOUNTS AND INTERNAL ORGANISATIONS REPORTING TO THE CHURCH COUNCIL

SECTION E Please follow the Guidance Notes to complete this page

Summary of the Church accounts for the year ended 31 August 2020 and Internal Organisations reporting to the Church Council/Church Meeting. Note that the funds of an Internal Organisation would normally be Restricted funds unless it could be clearly shown that they could be used for any Methodist purpose. This section must be completed to arrive at the gross income and expenditure totals of the Church. If gross income exceeds the Accruals threshold, then the Accruals method of accounting AND A DIFFERENT FORM must be used to report the accounts (see Methodist website). Please refer to the guidance notes regarding transfers between the District and connected District Organisations.

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INTERNAL Net Receipts/ Opening Closing
ORGANISATIONS Receipts Payments Payments Adjustments balances balances
e1 Noahs Ark 68,355 65,931 2,424 (7,910) 45,059 39,573
e2 Playbox 296 81 215 (0) 434 649
e3 Schofield Foundation 0 0 0 (1,600) 12,000 10,400
e4 Project Bob 0 0 0 0 2,361 2,361
e5
e6 0
e7 0
e8 0
Sub total of Internal
e8 Organisations funds 68,651 66,012 2,639 -9,510 59,854 (e11) 52,983 (e12)
Church accounts (totals
brought forward from page
e9 2 - totals column) 143,173 (a7) 123,722 (b9) 19,450 9,600 (c7) 76,928 (c6) 105,979 (c8)
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD
e10 BY CHURCH 211,823 189,734 22,090 90 136,782 (x) 158,962 (y)
Continue on a separate sheet TOTAL
if necessary and bring the TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
totals forward
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SECTION F

f1
f2
f3
f4
f5
f6
f7
f8
f9
g1
g2
g3
g4
g5		 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
CHURCH - CASH FUNDS HELD at 31 August 2020
SECTION G
OTHER ASSETS and LIABILITIES
Other Assets
Central Finance Board
Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Other funds
Other Liabilities
Total funds held by Internal Organisations (the closing
balance total from above) (e12)
Investments (include Endowments)
Loan(s) - show amount outstanding at year end
Bank Deposit Account
Land & Buildings (see notes re Insurance value)
SUB TOTAL - Church accounts
TOTAL CASH FUNDS HELD BY CHURCH
Bank Current Account
Cash in hand		 OPENING
BALANCES
354
20,542
0
69,510
883
91,289
(c6)
45,493 (e11)
136,782
(x)
At
01 Sept 2020
0
4,343,025
237,762
0
0		 CLOSING
BALANCES
354
8,380
0
109,122
884
118,740
(c8)
40,222
(e12)
158,962
(y)
At
31 August
2021
0
4,347,340
237,998
0
0

f4 Include only Funds held at the Central Finance Board

f5 Include only Funds held at Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes

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2021 church R and P.xls

DECLARATIONS

Treasurer

I confirm that I have prepared the accounts from the records of the Church and that they include all funds under the control of the Church Council

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Signature of Treasurer Date 06/11/2021
Name C W Rodham
Address 58 Aspin Park Raod
Knaresborough
HG5 8HG
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Presentation to the *Church Council for approval.

I confirm that the Accounts will be presented to the Church Council at a future meeting

Signature of the Chair of the meeting Name of the Chair of the meeting Date

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the

Gracious Street Methodist Church

This Report is on the Church Accounts for the year ended 31[st] August

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2021
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Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

R A Davill of Bulmer & CO

It is my responsibility to:

4 of 5

2021 church R and P.xls

Basls of Ind4￿dent Examlnerfs Rwi examination indudes a revSew of the accountiry records kepl by thg (tsrity and a o)mpatison ol lh8 gccounts presented vAth knse records. tt also indudes ￿nsI￿rati¢￿ of any unusual iiems or ithsclosures in Ihe aci￿Jnts, and seekn.ng explanaborffj from the trustees C￿cerni￿3 any suth nK8llvs. The prct?￿re5 urKJerf8ken do not provSde 315 the ewderrE that wcmjld ￿ requir8d in an audjt. arKI Consequ￿ rK¥ opIn￿)n is as to wheth iha accounts presenl a 'lrue fairf ￿eW Iha is liThMled to ItrK)88 Matte￿ sat cwjt in thg slatem&tt Independent Examlnofs Statemert In c￿ne¢liOn with my 8X￿1n￿tiOti, nts m8tler has oyre io my attenlion {dhw Ikw tsl disc)sed belLW"I: {11 which grves ￿$(x)a￿le <wse to trdieve Ihal in any rthate￿ r8srd wuirements.. . to prepare aecounL$ 7IMth vrith ihe actsiunung r8cxwds aThJ compty wth th8 accwnlivKJ 12) to WWI. in my opinion. attention bg dram in cfder to enat48 a proper underntandlNJ 8cc(xints to be feach&Y. ' Pleas8 delele Ihe ￿)rdS in brxkets rflhgy do ep￿ty apprLV7 131 Iha ined I￿l￿denl ¥rlfication rl all inve5tnwts ¥hlh ￿ Trtthfjs ts Nl8thodi CW} or held in crther Tnjsts. Bank balan￿ and Funds at Central Finance Board ol Ihe M8thodisl Churth fcFB'k whw are indivKlu*ly in excess of £10.LKQ Ilen thousand at the balance Sheel date. Jama SvJnalwe Re￿vAnI Professw)nal qualification ￿ tKrtIy FCCA Address ULMEII ) CO IVIouthJr PA(I Date 07 3021 2021 Lthrth R ￿ P.y