ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BLACKMORE ST. LAURENCE Charity Number 1134161
Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council
For the year ended 31[st] December, 2020
Incumbent:
The Reverend Sam Brazier-Gibbs The Vicarage Church Street Blackmore Ingatestone Essex CM4 0RN
Bankers:
Santander plc Bootle Merseyside L30 4GB HSBC 91 High Street, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 4RU
CCLA Investment Management Limited COIF Charity Funds Senate House 85 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4ET
Independent Examiner:
Mrs. Clare E. Corby Farriers Blacksmiths Alley, Blackmore, Essex, CM4 0QU
The Priory Church of St. Laurence, Blackmore, Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the Year ended 31[st] December, 2019
Administrative Information
St. Laurence Church is situated in Church Street, Blackmore. It is in the Deanery of Epping Forest and Ongar and part of the Diocese of Chelmsford within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The Vicarage, Church Street, Blackmore, Ingatestone, Essex, CM4 0RN.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity, registered with the Charity Commission, No. 1134161.
PCC members who have served from 22[nd] April, 2019 until the date this report was approved are:
Incumbent: Revd. Samantha Brazier Gibbs Chair LLM: Mrs. Gail Hughes Warden: Dr. Stuart Jennings Vice Chair Warden: Mrs. Sandra Keeble Treasurer: Mrs. Brenda Leigh Secretary: Mrs. Gill Hall Representatives on the Deanery Synod: John Hughes, Liz Blackham, Kevin Wood Elected Members: Mrs. Jenny Dodd (12.3.2017 – APCM 2020) Mr. John Hughes (22.4.2018 – APCM 2021) Mrs. Margaret Laing (22.4.2018 – APCM 2021) Mr. Peter Mason (22.4.2018 – APCM 2021) Mrs. Carol Riley (22.4.2018 – APCM 2021) Mrs. Celia Hatt (28.4.2019 – APCM 2022) Mrs. Jane Marr (14.10.2020-APCM 2023 Mr. Kevin Wood (22.4.2018 – APCM 2021) Mr. Andrew Smith (28.4.2019 – APCM 2022)
Aims and purposes
St. Laurence’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Grade 1 listed Church building and churchyard.
Objectives and activities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at St Laurence. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament.
When planning our activities for the year we have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and in particular the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:
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Worship and prayer; learning about the gospel; developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus.
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Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish
Missionary and outreach work
To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the church of St Laurence.
Structure, governance and management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Laurence the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), the churchwardens, the reader and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the Electoral Roll of the church. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.
The PCC passed a resolution to rescind the Six Year Rule for electing churchwardens and will elect them every year.
The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including deciding how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. The full PCC met four times with the average level of attendance of 85%. However, due to the pandemic, only two of these were held in St Laurence, one in the vicarage garden and one on Zoom. There was also a meeting of the Standing Committee. Given the wide responsibilities of the PCC it has a number of Task Groups. Each dealing with a particular aspect of parish life.
These Task Groups, which include Mission, Outreach and Discipleship; Pastoral Care; Health and Safety; Children and Youth Work; Fabric and Finance; Worship Group and
Leadership Team are all responsible to the PCC and report back to it regularly with minutes of their decisions being received by the full PCC and discussed as necessary.
Worship and Prayer
Services have been disrupted during 2020 due to the pandemic, with long periods when the church was closed completely. However, during this difficult year, Rev Sam and her ministerial team have broadcast services two or three times every day via the internet and, when permitted, held Sunday morning services in the church for small ‘bubbles’ of people which meant there had to be two or three services each Sunday.
Church Attendance
There are 66 parishioners on the Electoral Roll, 10 of whom are not resident within the parish.
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synod met on zoom during the pandemic no new motions were discussed. It was a source of encouragement and discussion during the pandemic and emergence.
The Church Building
Due to the lockdown we have been unable to move forward with the work required on the tower and lychgate which were inspected earlier this year, nor with the heating, wi-fi, and re-ordering. Once restrictions are lifted we hope to proceed with these projects. There is to be a five year plan covering all the work that needs to be done and with which FOSL will be involved.
The memorial plaque for the USAAF airmen was installed in January but there could be no service due to covid restrictions.
Pastoral Care
We were sad to see Jenny Dodd stand down as leader of the Pastoral Care team as she is moving, and wish her and Alan every happiness in their new home. We would like to say a huge thank you for all the work she has done over the years.
The Prayer Chain has been much used and appreciated during this very difficult year.
Serenitea Café, Peaced Together and Create were unable to operate for most of the year.
Mission and Evangelism
Unfortunately, all the activities MODS had planned for 2020 had to be cancelled due to covid. However, we were able to hold a service for Harvest for which the church was decorated and there were photos, hay bales and flowers in the churchyard. Though we were unable to hold any services for Christmas we did have a ‘Christmas Trail’ round the churchyard and the porch was turned into a stable.
Children and Youth Work
Whilst all the Youth Groups started the year well by March everything was on hold due to the pandemic.
Ecumenical Relationships
St Laurence continues to have a good relationship with the Blackmore Bapist Church.
Gill Hall – Secretary.
Financial review
Receipts totalling £75,804, details of which are shown in the Financial Statement, were mostly placed throughout 2020 in our General Account with Santander plc, the exception being interest on other accounts, which was retained with them.
Payments in 2020 amounted to £60,384, which means there was a surplus of £15,421. This was quite remarkable as the pandemic meant that our fundraising activities were severely curtailed throughout the year.
I would like to thank the many church members and friends who made additional donations to the church over the year. These donations, including one that was triple matched by Netflix, contributed to the surplus.
I would also like thank the ingenuity of the members who ran an online Christmas Market in place of the main event that was cancelled. A tea dance at the start of the year was the only in person event we were able to hold during the year.
We paid our parish share of £41,924. The parish share largely provides the stipends, housing and training for the clergy and the necessary legally required administration of the Diocese as the Church of England is the state church. The Diocese allocates the specific costs for the provision ministry, training of future ministry and Diocesan services to each Benefice, along with grants from the Church Commissioners and a Fee Credit in support of the occasional offices undertaken in the previous year.
It is difficult to compare items of expenditure against the previous year because of the pandemic. One key expenditure that we now incur is for grass cutting in the churchyard which was previously covered by the parish council. The Friends of St Laurence made a donation to help pay towards these new costs.
We have continued to support our Romanian Charity, Children in Distress and the Brentwood Schools Christian Workers Trust although we have not been able to run any additional fundraising events. We also supported the British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
John Hughes – Treasurer
Independent Examiner's Report to the PCC of The Priory Church of St. Laurence, Blackmore. This report on the accounts of the PCC for the year eniled 31" Dember 2020 is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance wlth general dlrertions glven bythe Charity Commission. Respe¢tlve responslbllities of trustees and examlner As members of the PCC. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. You consider that an audit is not required for this year under settion 144121 of the Charitles Act 2011 Ithe 2011 Actl and that an independent examination Is needed. It 15 my responsibility to.. Examine the accounts under 5ertion 145 of the 2011 Charlties Art To follow the procedures lald down by the general directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 14515llbl of the 2011 Charities Act. To state whether particular matters have come to my attention Basls of Independent examlne¢s report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An exarnination includes a review of the accounting retords kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual item5 or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanatlOn5 from the PCC concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an 3udit and consequently no oplnitsn is given a5 to whether the account5 present a'true and fair view, and the report is lirnited to those matters Set out in the statement below. Independent examlnerfs ststement In connettion wf(h myexarnination, no rnatter ha5 come to my attention- Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any materlal respect the requirements.. To keep accountlng records In accordance with settion 130 of the 2011 Charitie5 Art and To prepare accounts whlch accord with the 3ccounting records anit complv with the accountlng requirements of the 2011 Charities Act have not been met, or To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in orderto enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. aare E Corby Farriers, Blacksmiths Alley, Blackrnore, Essex CM4 (KIU 6 March 2021
Financial Statements for the Year ended 31[st] December 2020
General Fund Receipts and Payments Account
Receipts
Notes
| Voluntary Receipts Regular Giving Planned giving Plate Collections Gift Aided Income Tax recovered Other Voluntary Receipts Gift Day Donations Receipts from activities for generating funds Teas in the Tower Cafe Serenitea Tea Dance Harvest Supper Big Band Evening of Illusion Ploughman's lunches Christmas Market Quiz Evening Receipts from Church Activities Fees Church Users Parish Magazine - sales and advertisements Merchandise - Bookstall Receipts from cash and Investment funds CCLA Deposit Account Interest Business Tracker Bond Interest Other Receipts Children in Distress Stondon Gift Day Memorial Plaques Sundry 3 Total Receipts ents Church Activities Giving 4 Diocesan Parish Share Ministerial Expenses 5 Church Running Expenses 6 Churchyard Expenses 7 Children and Youth 8 Office Expenses 9 Other Outgoings 10 Total Payments |
2020 2019 £ £ 21040 21548 4187 2718 8027 3939 8375 5937 7272 7032 20320 3950 0 1326 1772 3324 226 716 1262 827 200 315 954 47 764 2531 2655 800 2365 0 1295 120 223 69 71 355 729 126 221 150 1787 |
|---|---|
| 75804 63772 |
|
| £ £ 1730 3911 41924 42218 7140 7702 6412 5769 1130 799 184 464 973 1910 891 810 |
|
| 60384 63583 |
Payments
Surplus/Debit
15421
189
Notes to the Accounts for the year to December 2020
1 Accounting Policies
The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2011 using the Receipts and Payments basis.
2 Funds
The general fund usually represents the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any special restrictions regarding their use and are available for application to the general purposes of the PCC unless specified otherwise.
The fabric fund consists of unrestricted and restricted funds designated for the maintenance of the Church building, tower and churchyard. The accounts include monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC can be held responsible. They do not include the accounts of other Church groups that owe an affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members.
The Blackmore PCC have agreed to waive future contributions of Stondon Massey PCC Ministerial Expenses.
Where the PCC collects monies on behalf of other charities, both the Receipts and Payments are included in the accounts on a gross basis.
| 3 Sundry Receipts: Funds for Charities (various sources) Sale of Christmas Cards for Children in Distress VAT refund DCMS Children's Summer Club donation BT credit 4 Giving for overseas relief agencies: Disasters Emergency Committee Children in Distress Giving also included home charities: Brentwood Schools Christian Worker Trust British Legion Childrens Society Help for Heroes Flower Guild Norton Mandeville 5 Ministerial Expenses: Office duties/expenses Clergy Resources Telephone Fees Paid to C.D.B.F. Expenses paid to visiting clergy (in training) Face Masks Cross for LLM Community Outreach (R.Pub) Vicar's Dicretionary Fund |
2020 2019 £ £ 1358 32 236 113 48 |
|---|---|
| 0 1787 |
|
| 230 450 1223 1200 1200 80 80 100 439 439 200 |
|
| 1730 3911 |
|
| 5760 5730 56 124 415 570 293 100 640 60 63 138 138 255 500 |
|
| 7140 7702 |
Notes to the Accounts (continued)
| 6 Church Runnings Expenses: Insurance (Covered from 31.7.20 - 1.8.21) Utilities - water, gas and electricity Copyright Royalties (additional streaming licence) Church Consumables(wine, wafers, coffee, candles, gift aided envelopes, breakfasts. etc) Piano and Organ Maintenance (includes £228 for 2018 Organ Tuning) Church Maintenance (Heater Service & repair - SGWindow - Electrics) Traffic Cones 7 Churchyard Expenses: Grass Cutting Burial of Ashes Septic Tank emptied Tree Surgeon 8 Children and Youth Expenses: Bibles and Books for Blackmore School It's Your Move resources Children's Summer Club 9 Offices Expenses: Stationery & Postage Photocopier running costs Office Electricity for year DEMIC Licence 10 Other Outgoings Memorial Plaques Children in Distress Cards for resale Presents FOSL VAT refund Organist Fees Verger Fees Flower Tribute Expenses Book Purchases (monies recovered) Stondon Gift Day Refund for Stondon |
2020 2019 £ £ 2742 2711 1697 1739 327 269 258 343 408 60 930 647 50 |
|---|---|
| 6413 5769 |
|
| 1080 - 50 189 610 |
|
| 1130 799 |
|
| 158 343 26 121 |
|
| 184 464 |
|
| 273 371 399 1203 300 180 156 |
|
| 973 1910 |
|
| 155 447 37 40 236 170 100 100 - 145 221 50 |
|
| 891 810 |
|
| 60384 63583 |
THE PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. LAURENCE, BLACKMORE Financial Statement for the Year ended 31st December 2020
| Fabric Fund Receipts and Payments | Account | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2019 | |||||
| Designated | Restricted | Total | Designated | Restricted | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Receipts | ||||||
| Interest from C.C.L.A | 42 | 42 | 90 | 90 | ||
| Donations | 600 | 600 | 1500 | 862 | 2362 | |
| Transfer from Santander General A/C | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 42 | 600 | 642 | 1590 |
862 | 2452 | |
| Payments | ||||||
| Aquaheat Ltd. | 169 | 169 | ||||
| Kempster and Sons - tree surgeons | 890 | 890 | ||||
| Morgan Fire Protection | 196 | 196 | ||||
| M D Landscapes (Anglia) Ltd | 156 | 600 | 756 | |||
| Maljon (Timber Preservations) Ltd. | 84 | 84 | ||||
| Lodge and Sons (Builders) Ltd. | 778 | 778 | ||||
| 352 | 600 | 952 | 1059 |
862 | 1921 | |
Surplus |
-310 | 531 | ||||
| Bank current and deposit accounts at | ||||||
| 31st December 2020 |
14526 |
1655 | 16181 | 14836 | 1655 | 16491 |
THE PRIORY CHURCH OF ST. LAURENCE, BLACKMORE Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st December 2020
| General Fund £ Cash Funds Bank Current Accounts 24373 C.C.L.A Deposit Account 12667 Santander plc Deposit 62 Hampshire Trust Bank 58284 Total Cash and Bank Accounts 95386 Total Funds 95386 (£94,186 unrestricted General Fund, £1,200 restricted General Fund, £14,526 designated Fabric Fund, £1,655 restricted Fabric Fund) Other monetary Assets (all in respect of unrestricted funds) End of year Income Tax claim Other Assets Moveable church furnishings held by the Church Wardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal. Office Equipment used for Parish administration. |
Fabric Fund £ 216 15965 - - 16181 16181 |
2020 Total £ 24589 28632 62 58284 111567 111567 £6,392 |
2019 Total £ 14061 24563 62 57200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95886 | |||
| 95886 | |||
| £5,538 |