2023 Report and Accounts for the Parochlal Church Councll of St Lawrence with St Paul iongridge Alm & purposes St Lawrence with St Paul Parochlal Church Council IPCCI has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, in the promotion of the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is responsible for the upkeep of the two churches in the Parlsh, St Lawrence and St Paul. Objertlves and Artlvltles The PCC is committed to enablin8 a5 many people as possible to feel welcome at our churches and to become part of the worshiping community at St Lawrence with St Paul's. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our servlce5 can involve the many groups that live withln it. Our services and worship put falth into practire through prayer, scripture, music and sacrament. When planning our activities for the year, we have consldered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charStles for the advancement of religion. To facllltate this work, It Is Important that we malntaln the fabrlc of the two churches within the parish. Achlevements and perfomian¢e 11 Worshlp and Pray•r The PCC supports and offers a wide range of services, actlvltles and events of spiritual, social and mental health benefit our Longridge Community- To Supplement this Facebook continues to be used for those who for many reasons con't attend Sunday seiCe5. We hold 3 servSces on a Sunday, a 9.30am Formal Holy Communion Service, a 11.15 Informal Servlce wlth Children's Church and a 6.30pm Evenson8 servlce. We also hold a 10am spoken Holy Communion Service at 10am on a Thursday. Then on the 2nd Sunday of the month we hold an All Together Servlce. Thls range of Services offers lots of opportunities for people to choose a worship style that they most en8a8e wlth. We held 10 Weddings, 11 baptisms and 33 funera15 in 2023. One of the additional courses we were able to offering Q4 of this year was the Bereavement Journey Course whlch was well attended and very valued by those with recent or past griefs. All the key Christian festivals were celebrated and we continued to be active in the community through a host of events organised to welcome in a wider group of people. The PCC firmly believes that the Church can be an or8anisation of hope for all age groups and this includes the fostering of faith in God and love for the local community among the younger generation. We therefore continued to work closely with the local Church of England primary school. 2) Deanerysynod Parish representatives are on the Deanery Synod. This enables the PCC to have an important link with the larger church.
3) Fabric ot the church The maintenance and safety of our two church buildin85 involves making sure routlne maintenance and servicing checks are performed annually, for example on the gas boilers, fire extinguishèrs, the electrics, the oan5, the roof alam) and lightening conductor at St Paul's, Church and the clock at St Lawrence Church. Any issues arising from these checks are then discussed by the PCC on a timely basis and a course of action agreed. The PCC can confirm that these checks were performed in 2023. As a matter of good practice to prevent problems in the future we now perform annual maintenance at both churches to keep 8Utters, pipes and drains running freely. Expenditure on repairs and maintenance in 2023 totalled £32,233 compared to £91,974 in 202215ee note 5fl. The bulk of thls, £23,321 wis paid to Heritage Property Repairs, and a further £3,283 was paid to Cassidy & Ashton, re the works detailed below at St Paul's church. Turnlng to the major repalr work at St Paul's Church in 2023, the final work on the project to repair the tower roof and pinnacles, whlch had been started in August 2022, was completed in the flrst quarter of 2023. Once the new steel beams were fltted to the tower roof, Heritage Property Repairs were able to erect the new fla8pole and it was great to see it standing proud again at the top of the tower. The Ilghtening conductor was then re-fitted and then a specialist roofin8 company came to lay the new weather resistant roof covering. The whole work was completed by the end of March 2023.The Structural Engineer carrled out a follow-up vlsit in October 2023 to inspect the tower roof deck. The total costs of the work across 2022 and 2023 totalled almost £70,CKJO of which E24,076 was incurred In 2023 (see note 4 to the accounts). Fortunately, as St Paul's is a grade 2 listed buildin81 the PCC can reclaim the VAT on the eligible costs. We had some legacie5 from prior year5 which were in held in unrestricted funds and these paid for part of thls work, the balance of £35,CM)2 being funded by general funds. Any project involvin8 older buildings Is never easy and we are 8rateful to all those involved in delivering this major project. During 2023 a faculty was obtained to install o new boiler at St Paul's Church and to re-configure the pipework. Thi5 work was completed in January 2024 with a great improvement to the temperatures in the church. The expendltvre wlll be included in the 2024 account5. Faculties are to be obtained to prune the two large sycafflores in front of the church and to perform other tree work around the car park. This tree work is due to be performed in 2024. After the completion of the major work on the tower and roof repalrs and the Remembrance Chapel and transept at St Lawrence church In 2022, there was no expenditure on major repair work in 2023. A traditional style lafflppost was installed on the path leading to the Church to assist parishioners attending evensong in the winter rnonths. Quinquennial Suryeys are also performed for both churche5 by our surveyors. whlch identify any repair issues which need attention. The Quinquennial Surney at St Pauls was performed in November 2022 by Cassidy and Ashton and In 2023 the PCC approved an amount to complete the most urgent painting and re-pointing rnaintenance work. This work15 Included In the budget for 2024 and should be completed by summer 2024. The last Quinquennial SuNey for St Lawrence was performed in May 2020 by lubb Clews and most of the major repair work has now been completed. During 2023 an issue with the retaining wall of the churchyard was identified. Some tree stumps are causing cracking to the retaining wall on Chapel Brow and work is planned to remove the stumps and repair the wall in 2024. A second issue was identified in 2023 wlth rot and water ingress in the wood of the Lychgate. Remedial work to repair the Lychgate is now a priority for 2024. The surveyors have provided a methodology, and the work is being planned. The PCC are presently considering how to finance this work. In the longer term the dampness in the east and west walls wall of the church will r)eed to be addressed.
51 Mission and Evangelism Our parish magazlne, The Log, Is produced and distributed to parishioners ten times during the year. Several courses Such as the Alpha Course and the Bible Course were held durirTrg the year which allowed regular and new people to access the church and the message of the Christian faith. Local and national charities such as The Children's Society, Home for Good and Safe Families have benefited frorn retiring collections, special event5 or specific donations throughout the year. We continue to 5UPPOrt the Diocese Vision 2026, 'Local Churches, Transformlng Communities, and we have our own church vision, 'Followin8 Jesus in Loving Communitl which supports this. Finally, thi5 year special adverts were produced to go into local Lon8rid8e publications to advertise our different Church 5ervice5 and 5ea50nal event. 61 Ecumenlcal Relatlonshlps The church Is a member of the Churches Together Sn Longrldge and Distrlct and a number of joint services were held throughout the year, including the Remembrance Sunday service, held at St Paul's and the Good Friday cenotaph seThlce, which has multi-denominational input. The Food Bank Is staffed by volunteers from all the churches, and is run from the Centenary room at St Paul's. 7) F5nanclal Revlew In 2023 the total receipts were £194,197 of which £22,627 was received as restricted funds, E2,305 was designated funds and £169,265 was received a5 unre5trlcted funds. This represented an increase in total income of £16,705. Planned Biving, however, was £6,932 lower than in 2022, and collectlon5 at services ontinued to fall. The PCC continues to promote the Parish Giving scheme alongside 'card machine, 8ivin8, and Clergy will continue to promote 'giving through grace, Other voluntary receipts fell by £17,489 from £31,183 to £13,694 with a fall in donations. In 2022 donations had been made to fund the major repairs to both churches. Gift Aid claims were higher than in the previous year at £39,198 compared to £8,610 in 2022, due mainly to the Parish Giving Scheme IPGSI, where eligible donations through this route automatically have Gift Aid reclaimed by PGS, and is received in the same month as the donation, as well as outstanding Gift Aid claims relating to prior years being brought up to date. Fundraising revenue was roughly the same and facilities rental income increased to £2,905. Fee5 for weddings and funerals increased by £6,353 to £20,324. Investment income was in line with the prlor year. £189,271 was spent in total, to provide the Christian mlnistry from St Lawrence with St Paul, including the contribution of £91,780 to the dlocesan parish Share which larBely provides the stipends and housin8 for the clergy. Expenditure was down on 2022, by £74,845. Thls decrease is mainly due to less being spent on Repair5 and Maintenance in 2023- £32,233 as opp05ed to £91,974 in 2022. In 2022 major building work was undertaken at both churches. Expenditure on energy, churchyard and running costs decreased. Clergv and 5taffin8 Costs were mainly in line with the prior year. The net result for the year was a surplus of £4,926 for the year.
The value of a Central Investment Fund ICIFI share increased from £20.6459 to £22.6053 over the course of the year, meanirbg that the value of our investments increased on the prior year by £26,070. While this gain is reflected in the accountslsee note 21, it is a 'paper increase, only as these shares cannot, as a general rule be sold, and it is the Income from them that supplements our incoming funds. The United Utilities share5 showed a gain of £2,403 following an Increase in the share price. Again this is a paper increase only. Overall there was an increase in the valve of our investments of £28,473. The breakdown of the income from these fund5 15 detailed within Section sc of the financial statements. 8) Reserve5 Poll¢v It is PCC policy to malntain an unrestricted reserve of £20,OCQ lin cash or unrestricted investments) in the event of needin8 to cover future shortfalls In income over expenditure. This pollcy was achieved in 2023 To clarify details of our investments in li8ht of the reseThes policy. The Investment Assets within the Flnancial Statements- that currently stand at £338,148, some are restricted, £55,225, which means that the income and any capital expenditure would be restricted as to their use. The remalnder are Endowed and may also be restricted, a5 such only the income from these funds is available for the PCC to use in line with the restriction5. 9) Voluntsers If a project requires a speciflc skill, volunteers may be co-opted onto the various sub-committee5, or indeed the PCC, for that speclfic project. None of the fund raisSng activltles of the PCC would be possible wlthout the dedicated help of volunteers, and the PCC would like to express its gratitude to all of those who have helped in any woy, over the course of the last twelve months. 10) Strurture. governance and management The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of En8land. The PCC operates under the ParochSal Church Council Powers Measure. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Lawrence with St Paul, the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent, curate, churchwardens, deputy churchwardens, secretary, treasurer, Deanery Synod representatives, Vision Champion, readers and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish. Including deciding on how funds of the PCC are to be spent. The full PCC met six times during the year. Given its wide responsibilitie5 the PCC has a number of committees each dealing with a particular aspect of parish life. These committees, which include but are not restricted to worship, pastoral, social and stewardship Ifabrlc and finance), are all responsible to the PCC and port back to it regularlyi minute5 of their meetings being received by the full PCC and discussed as necessary. The full PCC met six times during the year, with an average attendance of 78%. Given its wide responsibilities the PCC ha5 a number of commlttees each dealing with a particular aspect of parish life.
111 Admlnistfdtive information St Lawrence'5 Church is the Parish Church, and is situated on Lower Lane in Longridge. St Paul's Church is situated on Church Street. The parish is part of the Diocese of Blackburn within the Church of England. The PCC is a body corporate IPCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 20111 and is a registered charity, number 1134831. The members of the PCC serving durin8 the period of these accounts were.. Ex officio members.. -Incumbent= The Reveren(l Mike Barton Ichairl .Curate Reverend SSmon King -Reader'. Murlel Anderson -warden: Alethea Jane Ng -warden: Dorothy Ann Little -Deputy Warden.. Dorothy Laver -Oeputy Warden.. Graham Kelsall -Treasurer'. Graham Kelsall -Secretary'. Barbara Mccormlck -Deanery Synod Repre5entatSve'. Graham Kelsall -Deanery Synod Representative.. Karen Louise Ellen Boardman (also Vlslon Champion) -Deanery Synod Representative., Muriel Anderson -Deanery Synod Representatlve.. Dorothy Laver
Elected Members.. Annamarie Rogers-waterman Barbara Mccomlck David Hartlev Rosemary Lyons Valerie Wardlev Wendy Smyth Barbara Burton Michael Dawson Vernon Kinrade Helen Clements Philip Jones Stephanie Wlllan Robert Stephen Bretherton Andrew Filder- appolnted 23, Aprll 2023 19. 03.1+ . and s18ned on their behalf by the Reverend Mlke Approved by the PCC on.......... Barton IPCC chairman) Reverend Mlke 8arton...........
Independent ExomiTners Report to the MemlKrsnrustees oASt Lowrence ond St Pau15 Church Lonqrldpe Porochlal Church Councll I report to the trustees on my examinatlon of the attounts of the church for the year ended 31 December 2023, whlch are set out on pages 8-10. Re5ponsibilitles ond bosls olreport As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charbties Act 20111'the ACYI. I report in respect of my examination of the Trustees accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examlnation I have followed all the applicable directSons glven by the Charlty Commission under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Act. Independent Examlners statenrtt I have completed my examination, I can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention In connection wlth the examination giving me cause to believe that In any material respect.. 111 Accountlng records were not kept In respect of the Trust as requlred by sectlon 130 of the Act,. or 121 The accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examlnation to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Signed.. Christine Rlchards FCA McDade Roberts Accountants Ltd BTC House Chapel Hill Longrldge Preston PR3 3JY 71 Prl(J
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