Associate Minister’s report - 2021/22 Revd Peter Hillman, BD (Hons), Associate Minister May 2022
Introduction
Since our last meeting which was held this time last year we have seen something of a return to more normal life albeit with the oft recurring shadow of COVID rearing its head. As we met last year masks were still obligatory and we were still unable to enjoy corporate singing so were continuing to meet for blended worship services. These were a feature of our worshiping life until the Autumn of 2021 and served us well for a time. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported the life of the church by compromising their preferred style of corporate worship for the good of all by supporting our blended worship times.
By the middle of July we were able to reintroduce some sung worship into our gatherings and from September we moved back to our two Sunday morning service model with an early BCP service once a month. With a slight tweak to timings of our services we have now settled for a while on our 8:30 monthly BCP followed by weekly 9:30 more traditional style Holy Communion service with refreshments afterwards before the start of our 11:00 contemporary service.
We have continued our monthly prayer focus for both morning services which, with our mid-week livestreamed prayer time and Tuesday morning prayer time, has meant a significant increase in our regular corporate prayer times as a church.
An increased focus on accessibility has also been introduced with a monthly “guest friendly” 11am service with language at the 9:30 service also adapted to be accessible by newcomers too. These measures, with our new monthly family focussed Sundays will hopefully see our worship times adapted to welcome families with children at ease on Sunday mornings.
Of particular joy to me has been the way in which we have structured our Holy Communion services at 11:00 now described as Table Sundays where we focus on giving thanks for God’s hospitality as expressed in the Communion Table. These Sundays see an emphasis on bringing food to share with the needy via the feedback in the context of God sharing his bread with us. The flow of sung worship and contemporary liturgy leading us through our time together is always a joy to lead and I hope in which to participate.
Christmas 2021
Although Christmas of 2021 was a vast improvement on the previous year we were still in a very fragile state as a community and so, unsurprisingly, attendance was not as large as we would have hoped. The Christmas Festival was an excellent opportunity for us to throw open our doors and welcome children and adults alike to enjoy the grotto alongside craft stalls and refreshments.
Sadly the local schools were unable to make use of the church due to COVID spikes just before Christmas. However, the Chaos Round the Crib service was well received and most enjoyable and the Community Carol service saw us welcome guest readers from across the community participate in our festive worship. Guests included the local Member of Parliament, Local Council Members and the local Secondary Headteacher. All have said how much they enjoyed this community focussed service boosted as in previous years by the Christmas singers who once again surpassed themselves.
Outreach
With more of a return to normality both of our weekly outreach activities have recommenced. Toddlers has continued to see carers and children come together in the hall for fun and support and Senior’s Tuesday Club has also made a much welcome comeback. Both groups have had to implement COVID measures but life, which was interrupted so severely for so many members, is starting to resemble more normal times again. Huge thanks go as always to the volunteers who make both these much valued pieces of work happen each week. The lives of so many would be so much the poorer without your input and commitment.
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Messy Church has also made a welcome comeback and, though always in need of more helpers, we are starting to see good numbers attend and have plans for developing this flagship childrens’ ministry work. Next months’ Messy Church will see two baptisms and it will be exciting to see the congregation grow as we expend more effort, energy and creativity into its development.
Holy Week also saw a welcome return of holiday club. As with lots of children’s work here at St George’s the hiatus which COVID brought gives both challenge and opportunity. Challenge in that we have lost some of the children who were regular attenders as they have out grown the event during two years of break. But opportunity to reinvent ourselves and reach out to new groups of children who have no expectations or prior experience of church childrens’ work. Thanks again to those who made holiday club happen. I shall endeavour not to have flu next year!
Finances
As we heard from our financial report we continue to maintain a healthy reserve and our finances look to be in good shape to enable us to weather the storms of inflation and energy price increases. My thanks go to Dave Parmenter and the finance team for monitoring and reporting on an ongoing basis. Plus of course a thank you to all who continue to be faithful in your giving to God and the Ministry of this church.
Ministry provision
Having made our decision to adopt a half post model of ministry provision there has been slow progress on an appointment but an updated Parish Profile has been adopted by the PCC and submitted to the Archdeacon’s office in order to advertise the post. This will be an interim measure until such time as Andy Hudson at St Peter’s retires at which point a new appointment will likely be made to oversee both Parishes. It will be good for whoever is appointed here to begin the process of working more closely with Andy and the people at St Peter’s and St Michael’s in order to develop a close working relationship for the future.
Building development
It has been great to see the cladding work to the hall nearing completion with the installation of windows and now the new doors. Although the doors have been slow in coming they should all be complete soon at which point we will be turning our attention to the inside during the summer. At this point we hope to install a new heating system encompassing both the main hall and extension. Re-fitting the main kitchen and cladding the internal walls of the main hall for a fresh modern look to complement the outside and make it even more attractive to the local community as a facility.
Our plans for the main building are also progressing and we hope to present these in their final form in the next couple of months. These will encompass a new entrance close to the road, a suite of toilets, new entrance doors on the traditional entrance. New glass doors from the carpark at the rear with a glass airlock to prevent heat loss and wind cutting through when they are opening. We will also be looking to improve the cafe space to make it inviting and comfortable. All this with a view to reopening our cafe as a community space as part of our Vision 22.
In conclusion
Looking back over the last 12 months we have clearly begun to return to a sense of a new normal. The ongoing COVID situation has taken some adapting to and as a community we have demonstrated our ability to rise to extraordinary challenges which have come our way. I am deeply encouraged by the way in which so many have begun to re-engage with the life of the church though I am also conscious of that fact that we still have so far to go. Some have fallen out of the habit of coming to church and participating in our life and that is a shame. We must always keep the door of welcome wide open to all who would return. Most in our community continue to have little or any idea of the good news of the gospel and so our mission must continue to be to find ways of engaging with them by stepping outside our walls whilst at the same time ensuring that the welcome people receive when they do come is warm and inclusive.
Just as with COVID was at the start of 2020 there will undoubtedly by unknown challenges ahead. But these are just as much opportunities as they are threats. I am filled with confidence that here is a community, a family who long to see Jesus shared with our neighbours and who seek to be a blessing to this community among which we are called to live. Let us resolve to redouble our efforts to live and work to the praise and glory of Jesus in this place filled afresh by the Holy Spirit into 2022 and beyond.
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New Thundersley St Georye Charity No . 1134854 Receipts and payments Selected period.. 01 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 From 01 January 2021 31 December 2021 01 January 2020 31 Oecember 2020 Alole Gèneral - General fund IUnrestri¢tedl Fund Incomo and gndowments Donations ano legacies Gift Aid- Bank Gift Aid- Envelopes Other planned giving Loose plate CO1CtiOnS IGASOSI Loose p13te collection5 (Non GASDSI One-off Gift Aid 91fts Donations appeals elc Donations- Flowers Donations- Sum up Tax r8coveraDk on Gift Aid Grft Aid Small Donations Scheme IGASDSI Legacies Other funds gènerated 42.677 00 7,855.90 3,424.00 2.797 56 700.00 252 00 990 63 1156.601 68.24 12.445 48 629.89 44.17900 3.575 00 1.883.11 562.00 2W 3.094 36 13,024 45 886 57 5 200.00 37.11 653 49 Toiol DOnStnS and leg&¢$ 72.337 S9 80 OT8 60 Income from charil8ble activitie$ Fees for weddings and funerals Book5ts11 sales lo promote objectives Coffee Shop 203 00 235.00 359.95 217.00 8.910.68 8.962 12 Total Income from chsnt8ble activilies 9.400. 12 70.529.63 Other trading activities Book8tall 88le$ fund raising 50.00 Tot81 Otharirading 8Ctivities 5000 Total income and endowmonts 81,787.71 90,608.23 Exponditure Ra151ng furKI$ Cos15 of fetes & olhef events Costs of Coffee Shop 250.46 6445 3628 Tot&1 Rsising fun¢ts 250.46 100.7) Expenditur8 on charitable 8ctivili&s Mission 9Ing Min15try parish share eic Parish Administralor Working expensès tsf incumbent Vi¢arage 8xpenses Parish outreach Church funning- Insuran¢e ChuTch office- tephOne Church maintenance Church runTring de2ning Upkeep of services Adrninistralion Church running electric Church running water Hall running - management Hall Tunning electricity 8.628.25 10.862.00 29,638.50 4,866.21 37,653.70 4.16754 35451 108.10 453.30 1,100.60 1.307.47 1.192.19 1.874.45 703.83 1.394.05 1.695.11 102 70 241 34 447 43 1,092 31 1,245.86 1.C69.25 1,486 62 731.41 1.928 91 2,602.60 188.46 1.800.00 738.27 1.800 00 1.424.35 21 19 March 2022 Page I
From To 01 January 2021 31 Dèeember 2021 01 January 2020 31 Decembèr 2020 Noto Hall running gas H811 running- insurance Hall funning- maintenanc8 Hall running ¢anIng 1.409 59 2,164 10 12000 2.069.38 279.10 15987 5000 1.657.73 535 34 1.913 09 H211 running water Governafjce ujsls exarnin8ti(>nlaudil fee 11485 50.00 Total EpendituTr on charit&b18 &¢tivities 68.21199 63,210 18 Total tr¥pendlture 68,462.45 63,310.91 Excess of Income and endowments over Expenditure Brought forward balan¢e Transfers lollfroml Total carried forward balance 13.325 26 34.393 55 130.000 001 17,718.81 27 297.32 7.098.23 34,393.55 NewHall - New Hall fund (Restricted) Fund Income and endowments Donation5 and legacS Donations appÈ31s alc Other funds gen8r21e(I 2935 744.00 Total Don8hons 3nd legè¢ies 29.35 7T4 00 Total In¢orn8 and endowments 29.35 774.00 Exc&ss of Income and endowrnents ovei Exnlture Brought fotward b818n Total carrl8d fonvard balanGe 2935 94.455.97 774 00 93 681 97 94,485.32 94,455.97 ChBuilding Chur¢h bullding fund (Restricted) Fund Income and ondowments Investments Bank and buildillg socly Interest 070 Tot81 Inv@stfflenls 070 Total incorne and endowrnent8 0.70 5.75 Excess of Income and endowlmenis over Expenditurè Brought forward balance Total ¢arri8d loard balance 5.75 1.351 22 1.356 97 1.357.67 1,356.97 eoy 19 March 2022 Page 2
From To 01 January 2021 31 December 2021 01 January 2020 31 December 2020 Nole PCCRè¥erve - PCC Restrrve Fund IDesignatedl Fund Brought forward balance Transfèrs lollfroml Total carried forward balance 30,000 00 30.000.00 eoy ¢1,// 19 Marth 2022 Page 3
New Thundgrsley St Georye Charity No- 1134854 Statement of Financial Activities - summary For the p9ri0d from 01 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 Unrestrlcièd D•slgnated funds Resblcted Endowment lut)ds Total funds Prlory4ar total lundts Total Incomo 81,7B7.71 81,817.76 91.387.9B Total expenditure 68,462.45 68,462.45 63.310.91 Nei In¢offlel i•xpeTrJ1r¥) re8our¢o¥ before trDsfer Gr055 llan51ers betVvn ftJDds. In Gros9 tr8nslers befveen funds- oul 13,325.26 30.05 13.355.31 2B,077.DT 30.OW 00 30.000 00 130.OOD WI 130.OOD WI rnoYem•nt In fund5 116,674.741 30,OW.th) 30.05 13,355.J1 25.on.07 TotAI fund5 brought for*ard 34393.55 9$,812.94 130.206A9 102.129.42 Total fvnda cwrrf¢d foAvard 17.718.81 30,000.00 95.842.99 143,561.80 130,206.49 Unresincled Geneial fun¢ gnaiell PCC Reserve Funa Resincted 34.393 55 30.000.DO 30,000 00 New Hail lund 1.357 67 94.485 32 1.357 67 94,485.32 1 356 97 94 455 D7 eoy 19 March 2022 Page 1
Ngw Thundersley St Georye Charity No- 1134854 Statement of Assets and Liabilitles {by fund) As at.. 31 Decemb9r 2021 Previou5 balance Balance Cash at bank and in hand 6501.. Santsnder 090155 34216706 Church Assot General fun(J Unresiricled New H811 fund Restricted PCC Reserve Fund Designated 17,718.B1 750 40 30,000 00 34.393.55 750.40 48,469.21 35,143.95 6503.. Natwest 600943 7963B074 Hall Fund- Asset New H811 fund Reslrici8d 93.734 92 93.705.57 93,734.92 93,705.57 6510.. CCLA ICBFI Building Fund 6083B1M1D. Asset Church building fund RÈ51ricted 1,357.67 1.356.97 1,357.67 1,356.97 Cash at bank and in hand f43.561.80 130,206.49 Grand Totsl 143,561.80 130,206.49 eoy 19 March 2022 Page 1
Independent examiner's report to the PCC of ,Yew Thunder51ey St George I report on the accounts of the PCC tor the year ended 31 December 2021. which are attached. Respective responsibilities of the PCC the examiner The charity s trustees consideF that an audit is not iequired for this year under section 144{2) of the C,harities Act ?0 I l (the ?0 I l Act) and thal an Independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to Examine the accounts under seciioF) 145 of the 201 l Act., Follow proceduFes laid down in the general directions gik'en by the Charity Commi ssioners section 1451 S)Ibl of the 2011 Act. and State whether particular mailers have corne to my attention. Basis of Independent Examiners Statement. My examination 'aS caTried out remotely this F ear and in accordance '1th the General Directions 8iken by the Charity c.ommission. Ali examii?ation includes a review of the accounting records k'ept b), the charity and a comparison ot the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accouiiis and seekin&1 eyplanaiioiis froin the managenient committee concerninsF an J. such mailers. The procedures undertaken do not proi'ide all the evidence thal would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an opinion on the accounts. Independent examiner's statement In conneclion with my e.¥ainination. no maller has come to m}, attention". which gyives me reasonable cause lo believe that in any material respect the requirements to k-eep accounlinsy records in accordance with s.130 of the 201 l Act.. or lo prepare accounts, which accord with these accounlingi records have not been (2} to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Danny Keech 38 Shepard Close Leigh on Sea SS9 SYR 19, March 202?