2022-12-31-accounts - The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Swaythling

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Parish of Swaythling St Alban’s Church and St Mary’s Church

Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the Year 2022

St Alban’s Church, Tulip Road

St Mary’s Church, South Stoneham

The Parish of Swaythling was created in 1992, combining the parishes of St Mary, South Stoneham and St Alban the Martyr, Burgess Road, Swaythling.

The Vicarage is 357 Burgess Road, Southampton, SO16 3BD. This address also covers St Alban's Church where the Parish Office is situated.

St Mary's Church and the Parish Hall (renamed during the year: St Mary's Community Hall) are situated in St Mary's Church Close, off Wessex Lane, SO18 2ST, about a mile from the Vicarage.

The Parish Website is http://www.swaythlingparish.org.uk and the Parish Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/#!/SwaythlingParish?fref=ts.

The Parish registered with the Charity Commission on 5 February 2010 with the title ‘The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Swaythling' (registered charity number 1134132).

Members of the PCC

The members of the PCC during the year 1 January to 31 December 2022 were as follows:

Ex Officio Revd P Dockree, The Vicar (Chair) Revd D Eisentraeger

Churchwardens (St Alban) Mr J Moore (until May) Mr G Card (from Sept)

Churchwardens (St Mary, South Stoneham) Mrs J Hales (until May) Mrs J Trussler

Deanery Synod Representatives

Ann Lewin Mr G Stone (Diocesan Synod) (Secretary)

Elected Members Mr J Saunders Mrs S Harvey Mrs T Harrison (until Sept) Mrs J Hales (from May) Mrs M Mew (Treasurer) Dr K Piggott (until May) Mrs O Wilson Mr G Card (from May to Sept) Mrs J Barry (from May)

In attendance Revd Canon B Hartnell Mrs R Wadhawan (until May) Mrs L Hewitt (from May)

Parish Hall / Community Hall

The hall is well used by a range of groups such as the Beavers, Scouts, Brownies, Westfield Players, Lace Group, German Church, and Pilates Group.

The roof on the hall will require replacing soon, and external funding options are being explored.

Friends of St Mary’s and Friends of St Alban’s

Friends of St Mary’s as part of the launch of fundraising appeal for the roof held an enjoyable cream tea during which John Moore gave a talk about how as the City of Southampton grew numerous new Churches and Parishes were formed out of the ancient parish of South Stoneham (including of course St Alban’s but now reunited).

There were no Friends of St Alban’s activities during the year – reflection on how to relaunch and engage with the changing wider community around St Alban’s is needed.

Deanery Synod

The Synod met on three occasions during 2022. Presentations included Warm-spaces, Front-line Debt Advice, and Youth Ministry. Updates on the Living in Love and Faith process were also given.

Membership note

vacancies from May for 3 Churchwarden, 1 Deanery Synod Rep vacancies from Sept for 2 Churchwarden, 1 Deanery Synod Rep, 2 Elected Members of PCC

Electoral Roll

At the end of the year 2022 there were 84 people on the Electoral Roll (87 in 2021)

Approved by the PCC and signed on their behalf:

Rev Peter Dockree (Vicar)

The annual clearance of the grounds with the pruning of shrubs and other vegetation did not take place during the autumn as intended but it is hoped that it can be done in the early part of 2023.

As well as the Parish activities the Church and Community Room are also well used by a range of other community groups, such as City Life Church, Frontline Debt advice, Heart and Voice Choir, Fitness Class, and as concert venue for Southampton University Music Group and others.

St Mary's Church

Report on the Fabric, Fixtures and Grounds

We are looking for ways to publicise the availability of St Mary's Church building for Away days or days of Quiet reflection throughout the Diocese to raise some income.

As noted in the finance section the replacement of the roof is the major focus, with much planning and preparatory work being undertaken with a view to actual work on the roof happening during 2023.

Churchyard

A loyal band of helpers meet each week on a Tuesday morning to tend to the churchyard.

The DAC has granted a faculty to enable us to increase the size of the Garden of Remembrance, but work on this is being delayed until work on the roof is completed, so that roofers will be able to get their scaffolding up and have access to the East end of the church more easily.

PCC

The PCC met seven times during the year. The PCC was also able to decide some formal business by correspondence. Some business was conducted through sub committees and groups.

Important elements of standard business considered by the PCC during the year included:

regular reports on the Parish's financial situation.
matters relating to the church buildings (primarily as reflected in the reports on each church, as given in the relevant sections below).

Parish of Swaythling Finance Report 2022

It has been encouraging that the Parish finances have shown some resilience in the face of the current national economic situation.

The General Account was in credit at the end of the year as opposed to some £5k deficit last year. This is due mainly to an increase in donations; the refund of an overpaid Parish Share last year; and a refund of the VAT element of the cost of building works undertaken at St. Albans. Post-COVID, the bookings for the Community Room have increased and the income is approximately 50% more than that for 2021.

Despite keeping a tight rein on expenditure, the total for the year was only marginally less than last year. This was due mainly to increases in the cost of wages for the administration and cleaning staff and, as predicted, increases in energy and insurance costs. Some of our energy contracts are due for renewal in 2023 and it is hoped that we will be able to negotiate favourable rates. However, it is unlikely that prices will fall in the foreseeable future.

Income from users of the hall has risen slightly. This is welcomed as the boiler needs repairing and the flat roof needs repairs or replacement.

We are grateful to Southampton City Council who once again provided a grant towards the cost of maintaining St. Mary’s Churchyard.

Building works to prepare ‘The Cave’ at St Alban’s for youth activities were completed and thanks are extended to Southampton City Council and Arnold Clarke for their contributions towards the cost.

Our major funding project – to raise £200,000 to replace the roof at St. Mary’s – reached a total of £35,000 and we are enormously grateful to those who have contributed. In addition, we have been awarded a Cornerstone Grant of £10,000 from the National Churches Trust. It is vital that the roof is replaced in the near future before the interior of the church begins to deteriorate more than it already has.

Following the interruption caused by COVID, we were pleased to hold Christingle services at both churches, raising £197.34 for The Children’s Society.

Overall, the financial situation is stable but we must bear in mind that considerable expenditure is imminent.

Finally, we are most grateful to R G Paulley and Associates who have once again agreed to independently audit our accounts at no cost to ourselves.

Parish Life 2022

We were delighted to celebrate the Priesting of Daniela Eisentraeger at Winchester Cathedral in July.

The only death of a regular worshipper recorded during the year was that of Glenys Kirby.

St Alban's Church

Report on the Fabric, Fixtures and Grounds

The main item to report relates to the Cave Project and the refurbishment of the former choir vestry as a youth centre. As previously reported, diocesan permission for the work to upgrade the room and the adjacent cloakroom was obtained in 2021 and the work was carried out during the early part of 2022.

The main contractor was B&M Clark, who had previously carried out repair work in various parts of the church.

The electrical work was done by Quayside Electrical Ltd. Final checks with the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) in connection with fire and safety issues remained to be completed at year end.

There was no other major activity on the fabric of the church during 2022 following the completion of repair work in 2021, the details of which were included in last year’s annual report.

During the latter part of the year permissions from the DAC were sought to dispose of more of the old wooden seating and to install a post box for the Parish Office and responses were still outstanding at year end.

The project to replace the flat roof above the clergy vestry and back stairs was put on hold with the expectation that it would be taken forward following the next quinquennial inspection, due in 2023.

A breakdown of the heating system occurred in early December, unfortunately at a critical time pre-Christmas with a number of concerts and other activities arranged to take place in the church. The system was repaired within a fortnight, with the annual boiler service being carried out at the same time, and the heating was back in action well before Christmas itself.

Crafternoons In the lead up to Christmas, we offered 3 standalone sessions on a Thursday afternoon in the community room at St Alban’s, for people to come and enjoy a warm space to chat and meet people, work on a craft project if they wished to or have a go at a new

craft.

These proved very popular and were a wonderful mix of people from different groups within the church family and from the local community.

It is planned that these will continue into the new year in response to their success and to provide a place where people can connect, build friendships and experience a warm welcome.

Open Church for Halloween At the end of October, we joined with

members of City Life Church to open the community room at St Alban’s

on Halloween.

Thanks to the generosity of local supermarkets, we were able to offer hot food and drinks to anyone who fancied a break from trick or treating or who were just looking for somewhere to be away from home that evening – over 100 people engaged with the event which provided a great opportunity for the church to be a place of light on what can otherwise be a dark and difficult evening for many.

Thank You We are immensely grateful to the huge number of people who give their time and energy to all of the activities and events which happen in the Parish – whether playing music at a service, keeping the kitchen stocked up, preparing crafts for family events or being at present activities and so many more roles besides – we couldn’t have the impact we do as a Parish without the commitment of so many. Thank you.

Although by the end of 2022 Parish activities were virtually free of COVID related constraints it is worth recalling that the early months of the year were still dominated by it.

Worship As a Parish, we are continually seeking to be a diverse, vibrant, inclusive and open worshipping community, where those who come feel welcome, connected

and met by God’s grace, whether they

have walked in having never been to church before or joined us as a result of another of our church activities, or as a lifelong church goer. In 2022 this has been realised in both established and new, innovative ways and it has been wonderful to welcome people to all our different forms of worship.

The 8am BCP service at St Mary’s on a Sunday morning continued to offer quiet traditional worship for those who attend, while the main Sunday 10:15 morning worship at St Alban’s saw a growing and ever more diverse congregation as we went through the year.

We have welcomed new people joining us from the local community, some coming along after being part of our Thursdays Together community and others moving into the area and joining in our worship.

Early on in the year we met together after one service, to hear from each other, acknowledge our differences, to own the changes that the pandemic had thrust upon us and to explore what this service could look like going forward.

Over the year, we have continued to develop our musical worship, seeking to incorporate traditional and more contemporary hymns and songs as we connect with our diverse congregation and are particularly grateful to all those who have been part of making this happen.

Our Fresh Expressions gathering “Threshold” which seeks to offer a weekly inclusive space for reflection, questions, breaking bread together and community, underwent a period of revisioning and reflection and took a break over the Summer of 2022.

It relaunched in the Autumn initially with very small numbers but an increasing sense that such a space is both needed and valued, with this being reflected in the growing attendance as we started the new year.

It is hoped that this space will continue to provide a valuable opportunity for people to come together and wrestle with their own big questions, whether new to faith or having journeyed with a faith for many years, whether they feel part of the church or very far from it.

Across all of our Sunday services, we have seen an average attendance of 41 adults and 5 children.

Once a month, St Alban’s is filled with up to 20 families exploring faith together through a variety of crafts and activities as part of our Messy Church service.

An energetic celebration at the end of each session brings together the theme or biblical story of the afternoon along with songs and prayers.

Almost everyone who comes then stays on for a home cooked meal and further conversation around the tables.

Over the year we came together for various special services and worship activities to mark special or significant occasions and aimed at being both a comforting presence for those familiar with these services and a missional opportunity to reach those in the community who may be new to them.

One of these was our annual All Souls service which offers to space to remember those who have died, to hear names read and to light candles as we come together to remember.

Mini Marvels In Feb 2022, Mini Marvels was started after a vision to see a baby and toddler group provided in the area again after lockdown and which could help us connect as a Parish with families in the community, especially those living in the Mansbridge area.

The group has welcomed between 8 and 20 families each week throughout the year for play, snacks, crafts, stories and songs and many of these families have then come along to other events as well. Changes in leadership have provided the challenge of how to continue to provide this weekly group but we are hopeful that these can be overcome and the group can continue to grow and thrive with new volunteers over the coming months.

Messy Mornings In the summer and Christmas holidays, we held a series of “Messy Mornings” as an opportunity to connect with families known through Messy Church and Mini Marvels during the holiday periods.

These have proved hugely popular with 70-100 people attending each one.

The summer ones were held in various locations to reach different people including Octavia Park in Mansbridge, the parish hall and St Albans.

They have also provided an excellent opportunity to chat to people about activities which go on during term time.

At many of these events we have had repeated feedback that people are drawn to the community atmosphere and welcome that they have experienced and

we are keen to build on this as we get to know families and encourage them to connect regularly with the church in whatever way works for them.

We work closely with Frontline Debt Advice and Dom Williams is present most weeks to chat to people as needed, which has proved a vital service for many who come.

We are excited at the opportunities this ministry provides as we move into another year and are continually reviewing whether we are using our resources in the most effective way and providing the very best welcome and assistance that we can, that builds people up and supports them to reach their potential.

Youthwork and “The Cave” In March we were able to open the rear

car park at St Alban’s for 3 evenings, inviting local young people to come and play games and enjoy free food and drink, as well as share their ideas about how they would like to see a youth space in this community develop. In August, we were able to have a weekly presence on Daisy Dip, linking in with Friends of Daisy Dip’s annual community picnics “Dipnics” and offering activities and games to older children and young people, as well as having the opportunity to chat to parents as well.

In December we welcomed over 30 young people to a Christmas BBQ and firepit evening in the car park where it was wonderful to see young people we knew and those we hadn’t met before coming together to enjoy a fun evening just before Christmas.

Friday Lunch Club for over 50s continues to welcome 25-30 people every month from the local community for a home cooked meal and warm welcome.

It has been great to see numbers growing and several new people coming along.

We continue to deliver meals to a few people who are unable to get to the lunches.

Our observance of Remembrance Sunday continued to engage more widely in the community, with active involvement of the local Beavers, Cubs and Scouts and representation from the nearby Gurdwara.

In September we opened the church following the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II and welcomed various people from the community in to watch the funeral service together at St Alban’s – this was especially valued by several people who commented they would otherwise have been alone for this momentous and sad occasion.

During Holy Week we offered various opportunities for worship and reflection with a blend of traditional and newer services: a creative and reflective service to mark the last hour at the cross, a Taizé service, the church being open for the stations of the cross and the traditional Maundy Thursday communion and Holy Saturday vigil.

During the Christmas period it was a joy to be able to hold services fully again after all the restrictions of the last few years. 137 adults and 61 children attended the Christingle service at St Alban’s (with a

similar number at the St Mary’s service) and there was a wonderful atmosphere of community with almost everyone who came being already connected to the Parish in one way or another – whether through attending RE clubs, Thursdays Together, Sunday church services, Messy Church or other community events.

At St Mary’s it was great to see more people attending again, with families coming back to reconnect with the church after several years when that has been difficult.

This was also seen at the carol service at St Marys and the midnight communion on Christmas Eve.

Community carols on Daisy Dip were well attended with support from City Life Church and also happened in Mansbridge on the green with

the support of Abri Housing. These events did not engage with the community beyond those already involved in church activities in the way we had hoped– something we will reflect on for next year.

The members of our congregation with Bishop's Commission for Mission continued with in their various ministries within the Parish.

Pastoral Care continues to be offered in many and varied ways, across our church family and across the many activities in the Parish, with people from different groups both seeking out and offering support and care to one another. Home communion continued to be celebrated with those unable to get out, both by the clergy and lay visitors. We are continually challenged by the need to get the balance between a formalised and safe structure to oversee this and a flexibility to be responsive to need as it arises. A new structure is being gradually developed, alongside a new Bible study group and other ways of offering and co-ordinating ongoing pastoral care.

Schools Work Throughout the year the clergy have been invited into

all 3 local primary schools – Mansbridge, Swaythling and Bassett Green to take assemblies, as well as the local secondary school, Cantell. In addition we have welcomed several year groups from Swaythling School into St Alban’s for visits as well as a group from Year 7 at Cantell

who visited to learn more about Christianity and its impact on the community as part of their RE curriculum.

We continue to work with Southampton City Mission to support their provision of an after school club at Mansbridge school each week. The vicar continues to be a part of the governing body at Bassett Green School and our PCC secretary continued as chair of governors at Mansbridge School. These connections and opportunity to build

relationships with our local school communities have been pivotal in facilitating the growth of other activities for families in the parish. We have also continued to work closely with the family liaison workers at each of the local schools as we seek to support some of the same families in the local community at different times.

Builders and Trekkers For the first 2 terms of the year, Builders and Trekkers continued at the 10:15 service for children of primary school age, with usually 3 children regularly attending and occasional visitors. In September it was decided that this may not be

the most effective way of integrating children into the church family at this time, given their low numbers. Instead, the children’s area in church was reimagined and crafting materials provided so that any children coming to the service could engage in relevant material whilst being part of the main service with their parent/carer. Going forward we will continue to evaluate this and adapt to changing patterns of attendance as needed as well as continuing to encourage families we meet to connect with our monthly Messy Church if Sunday church doesn’t work for them.

Thursdays Together Every Thursday morning we continued to welcome people to St Alban’s for hot drinks, conversation and to offer various items of food to support those finding it difficult to make ends meet. Many came each week, some from time to time. From January – August we saw 25-30 people most weeks, between September and December this rose to 40-50 people each week. At a practical level we provided a range of fresh and long-life foods, laid out on tables so that those visiting could select what they most needed.

Each week limits are suggested based on what stock was available and to ensure fairness. Those attending could enjoy a hot drink and snacks, with many people often staying to chat and catch up with others.

WAYTHLING PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL STATEMEN'f OF FUNDS AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2022 FIXED ASSETS..- CURRENT ASSETS:. C.B F Deposit AcLounl 122365.23 Nat. WÈsi 8ank Account 64071 63 186436 86 NET ASSETS:. Representèd By".- Nole5 Unrestricted Funds Reslricled Funds Reserves 13174.69 163930.76 9331.41 188436 88 I have examined the books, records elc. presented lo MÈ and logethei with the appropriate explanations.. Irtity1 lai18 herein represent a true record of the curfenl financial affairs. R G P2uIIEy. F.C.P.A, A.T.T. Dale

SWAYfHLING PAROCHIAL C14URCIq COUNCIL STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2022 GENERAL ACCOUNT 2022 RECEIPT Gift Aided Giving Tax RÈlunds Non-Gill Aided 9iving Oonalion5 Church Colleclions Refund of Par15h Share ov@rpay 21919.68 4116.41 260 00 9044.23 147622 4951 14 41767.68 18383.22 2845 84 2095.00 5258 19 156658 30148.83 Fees FundrasiTrg Use of Sl Mary'5 Cofflfflunili Room Rent ol Ollice Refund QI Afchilect Relvnd from Talk Talk HMRC Furlough Refund of Income lax 5307.00 180.60 5000 6006 62 1195.00 2610.00 988.50 3273 00 720 00 708.14 854 502 27 3351.31 150.00 In5ur30ce bonu8 Ton5fer from Sl Albans Build 12889 22 54656.90 5000.00 47310 59 Less EXPENDITURE..- Clergy expenses New Computer Lighl,Heal,Walei,Insurance Insur2nce Mainlon2n Adminislralion FÈÈS elc Upkeep ol ServiLes Pansh Share Organisls & Choirs Mainlenance & SM Cleaning SlalionerylTelephone Major Repairs Expenses Re Fundraising Community Room Expenses Pafish Office Childrens work & oulfeach Income Tax Tran5fei ID photocopier New refriger3101 739.41 1187.07 270 00 3440.43 4492.65 1409.24 498 13 225 63 29706 84 150.00 1771.05 1021 84 210893 394 76 3947.01 4667.94 1303.24 184991 970 53 25625 64 400.00 1724 83 1074 56 94.80 156.54 8258 46 435 30 382.00 561588 14586 365.60 51630.17 52803.91 SURPLUS INCOME OVER EXPENDITURE Tr3nsler lollrom RLisorve 3026.73 54656.90 -5493 32 47310.59

SWAYTHLING PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOI'ES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2022 Surplus ICxcess1 8alance BIFwd CIFwd 11 SUMMAR Y OF UNRESTRICTED FUNDS: PARlSFt HALL'.- RECEIFI'S ReGeipls from users Donaiions Insurance claim 12926.82 12928.82 Less E¥penOilure-.- Lighl & He31 Mainlen8nGetruning Cleaning 2817.18 781.98 1505.83 1432.68 48.18 Tr3nsler l<) Gen Fund 6585.85 634D.97 4508.18 10B49.15 MAGAZINES:. Receipls' Suscriplions advertisements 000 Less Exp2ndilure'.- Photocopier C0515 Pos13ges o.oo 0.00 0.00 MEMORIALS=. Powell ivilson Walker Eddis Wakelield 200.00 250.00 625.54 250 00 100000 200.00 250.00 625.54 250 00 100000 2325.54

SWA YTHLING PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2022 Surplus (Excess) Balanre BIFw(I CIFwd MMARY F RESTRICTED FUNDS... FABRIC FUND..- Receipis- Giave Prep 20.00 Less Paytnenl Updale ffletnorial 2000 7757.85 7777.85 CHURCHYARD..- Re¢eipls. Payment for Inscription5 Inveslmenl Dividends Donation GrÈnl from Cily Council 340 00 1620.00 196CI.00 Less. ExpÈndilure.-. 738 36 9.48 Maintenance 1212.16 1101 33 231349 MAKE LUNCH..- Receipts Le55 Paymenis 955 00 531 22 423.78 1397.94 1821.72 FLOWER FUND..- Receipls' Le55 Payments- 20.00 -20.00 441 14 421.14 SPECIAL FUNDS..- Sl Albans Organ Sl Marys Organ 729 69 134.16 729 69 134.18 Roof Income Roof Expenditure 37547.52 5725 01 31822.51 3418.17 35240.68 MISSION & CHARITIES..- Receipts L)onaiions Less Paymenls".- Expen5e5 Charities 76.60 76.60 -76.60 258 81 182.21

SWA YTFILING PAROCbllAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS YLAR ENDING 31 ST DECFME3ER 2022 Surplus (Excess) 8dlance 8IFwd CIFwd PARISH OFFICE'.- Receipts Prinlin9 Service Sheets Transfer frorn PoliGe Grant Transler from Reserves 898.74 896.74 Less Payrnenis- Pholocopier Maintenance 413.49 483.25 -483.25 STEVENS SOUTH STONEHAM FUND:. Receipls' Oeposil Inleresi Dondlion 0.00 P8yrnenls' S¢ulplofs fee 0.00 23052.87 23052.87 FRIENDS OF ST MARYS FUND..- Receipls' Membership lees & events Rod Marshall 126.00 12600 Paymenls' P051age ConGert 0.00 126.00 71640.59 717fj8.59 FRIENDS OF ST ALBANS FUND..- ReLeipls Membership fees & tsVEnls G Stone Donation 1000.00 Payments". Trans lo Gen Fund 1000.00 3289 65 4289.65 YOUNG LEGACY..- Receipts Oulgoings Sl Albans Building Projecl 0.00 10000.70 10000.70

SWAYTHLING PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NO"fES TO THEACCOUNTS YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2022 ST ALBANS BUILDING PROJECT..- Receipts Refund of VAT 6317.32 Payments Seymouf & 8ainbiidgo Gene[81 lund 8&M Clark builders 10800 5000.00 774.76 5882.76 434.56 1219.84 1654.40 THE CAVE-.- Receipls Soulhamplon CC Arnold Clsrk 770.00 1000.00 177000 Expenses B&M Clafk Craft Materials 5130.00 3839 5168.39 -3398.39 3944 545.61 Flower5 of Justico Receipts 4000.00 4000 163930.76

SWAYTHLING PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUN'I'S YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 2022 31 SUMMAR Y OF RESERVES-. Bdlance brought lorwdrd CBF Inl@resl Tiansler lo Geneial Fund 8al8nce carried forward 10097.14 100.51 -5493.32 4704.33