# **Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31 December 2020** (Accepted and approved by the PCC at a meeting on 25th March 2021) ## **Charity Number 1135051** 1 ## **CONTENTS** |Introduction from Chris Hobbs|4| |---|---| |Annual Report of the PCC|5| |Fabric Committee Report|9| |Electoral Roll Report & Safeguarding|11| |Reports on Church Life|12| |Financial Statements|21 – 36| 3 ## **Introduction** I know it seems only yesterday that we had last year’s Annual Meeting. That’s because it was delayed six months due to the pandemic. So we’re actually getting back on track with our timing. Nevertheless this year’s Annual Meeting will almost certainly be on Zoom again, to make sure that as many as possible can be there – and it seemed to work all right in November. These reports mostly cover what happened during 2020, which was an ‘unusual’ year (to say the least). I’ve no doubt that when the books are opened at the end of time we will discover how “God’s word [has not] been chained” (2 Timothy 2:9, NIV) even when we have felt chained. In these reports we get some idea of what God has been doing through the ministry of his word in many different ways (and some new ways). Enjoy! As we look back on a wearying year, let’s be encouraged by remembering that our God does not grow tired or weary and that whatever strength we have comes from him: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. Isaiah 40:28 (NIV) Yours warmly, in Christ, Rev Chris Hobbs Senior Minister/Vicar 4 ## **Annual Report of PCC for 2020** ## **Background** The parish has two church buildings, St Stephen’s and St Wulstan’s, with Rev Chris Hobbs serving as Vicar, Andy Martin as Associate Minister and Ben Wells as Assistant Minister. The PCC has a duty, with the Vicar, as stated in the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956, to consult together on matters of general concern and importance to the parish. The PCC also exists to co-operate with the Vicar in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. ## **Membership** Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the APCM in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the calendar year 2020 the following served as members of the PCC: ## **Clergy** Rev Chris Hobbs Vicar Rev Andy Martin Associate Minister Rev Ben Wells Assistant Minister ## **Wardens** Mr Ian Butler Mr Richard Griffith **Deanery Synod Representatives** Mr Christopher Barry from APCM 2020 Miss Helen Buckley from APCM 2020 Mr Matt Killen Mrs Judy Quaintance until APCM 2020 Mr Andy Walker **Elected Members** Mrs Elizabeth Barry until APCM 2020 Mr Rob Davies Mrs Pamela Devas Mrs Virginie Hannam Mrs Mandy Hughes from APCM 2020 Mr Adam Kendall Mr Tim Pearson Mr Michel Randrianandrasana from APCM 2020 Dr Anne Ruck Mrs Faith Sen from APCM 2020 Miss Naomi Stevens until APCM 2020 Mr Thom Wilkinson until APCM 2020 **Parish Treasurer** Mr Sam Allen until APCM 2020 Mr Matt Killen from APCM 2020 5 ## **Committees** The PCC operates through a number of sub-committees, which meet between meetings of the full PCC: ## **Standing Committee** This is the only sub-committee required by the Church Representation Rules. It has power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any direction given by the PCC. These are set out in the Terms of Reference agreed by the PCC in January 2012. ## **Finance Committee** This committee prepares the annual budget and monitors overall income and expenditure in the parish. ## **World Mission Committee** This committee maintains contact with the Christian workers whom we support outside the parish, both overseas and at home, and keeps the church informed about missionary matters. It recommends to the PCC the payments to be made from the World Mission budget. ## **Fabric Committee** This committee oversees the general maintenance and repairs of all church property, including the two church buildings of St Stephen’s and St Wulstan’s and the property at 103 Bournbrook Road. 6 ## **Financial Activities note for 2020** ## **Financial Activities** The PCC approved a balanced budget for 2020 of £295,305, an increase of £40,234 on the 2019 budget of £255,071. This reflects the Parish’s desire to ambitiously expand its ministry activities in key areas. However, the Parish was forced to dramatically alter the scope of its activities for the majority of the year, following the Prime Minister’s announcement in March 2020 of a UK-wide lockdown to combat the Coronavirus pandemic. ## **Financial Performance** Overall, giving to the Parish increased to £245,164 (2019: £244,066), and other income increased to £20,088 (2019: £18,134). However, total income fell short of the budgeted amount by £20,720, reflecting tighter personal finances and reduced scope for room hire and other services. The Parish was able to meet all of its financial commitments including the £64,362 (2019: £61,729) contribution to the Diocesan common fund as requested. It was also able to save in certain areas by virtue of the widespread Coronavirus restrictions, notably including clergy travel and expenses, utilities and cleaning costs. Total expenditure was £14,051 below budget. As a result of the above, the Parish General Fund incurred a deficit of £6,669 for the year ended 31 December 2020. The balance carried forward to 2021 was £51,131. ## **Restricted Funds** The Parish continued to operate a number of restricted funds in 2020. The total balance of restricted funds as at 31 December 2020 was £28,870. None of the restricted funds individually had a balance exceeding £10,000 at the year end. Two restricted funds are expected to conclude during 2021. The Youth Worker fund and Associate Minister funds are expected to be maintained by ongoing transfer from the General Fund until the current arrangements for these two roles come to an end on 31 August and 31 December respectively. ## **Charitable and Political Donations** The PCC continues to make gifts from its donated income and the amount given through the Missionary Fund amounted to £43,650 (2019 : £42,125). No donations were given for political purposes. 7 ## **Review of PCC Meetings in 2020** At its meetings in 2020, the PCC: ## **January** - agreed we could not afford to make the Admin Assistant appointment permanent - adopted a Policy for Recruiting Ex-Offenders - agreed to accept the Viscount Organs quotation of £32,641 for a new digital organ - discussed ‘Going for Growth’: reviewing 10am service and considering a second morning service ## **March** The meeting scheduled for March was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. ## **May (via Zoom)** - heard that David Li would be the Ministry Trainee for 2020/21, starting in September - heard that there had been a small surplus for 2018 - approved the 2019 Finance, Fabric and PCC reports to be presented to the APCM - adopted a Policy for Reporting Serious Incidents and a Policy for Video Conferencing with Children and Young People - agreed principles for making grants from the Discretionary Fund ## **July (via Zoom)** - agreed a Health and Safety Policy - agreed to spend up to £10,000 from the Building Fund on live-streaming equipment - agreed a resolution to suspend services in church until the end of August ## **September (via Zoom)** - agreed the revised document ‘A Vision for World Mission’ - agreed principles for 2021 budget setting - rehearsed basic safeguarding principles, and also the latest Zoom safety guidelines - agreed Sunday services from 4th October: 9am for households with children under 11, - 10.30am (moved from 10am, also live-streamed), 6pm at St Wulstan’s - discussed ideas for celebrating St Stephen’s 150th anniversary in 2021 - thanked and said farewell to those who were standing down from PCC at the APCM ## **November (via Zoom)** - welcomed new PCC members and elected officers for the year 2020-21 - agreed to retain Tom Bryant as Youth Worker beyond 31 August 2021 - agreed the proposed budget for 2021 - agreed risk assessments for a new Stay & Play Baby Group and for Church of the Light - agreed a pattern for Sunday services until 3 Jan 2021, including a second lockdown in November 8 ## **Fabric Committee Annual Report for 2020** The Committee continues to meet on a quarterly basis, and comprises: Tim Pearson Sally Hill Paul Coley The Committee wishes to record its tribute to the immense contribution to Fabric matters over many years by David Twiss, who served on the Committee until his death in 2020. The Spring and Autumn Maintenance Mornings did not take place in their usual form, nevertheless sessions were arranged in May and November over a number of days to reduce numbers of people present at any one time. Work took place in a Covid-safe manner. Thanks are expressed to those who helped. The 2020 financial summary is as follows: **Budget £12,047 Actual expenditure £12,194** The largest items of expenditure in 2019 were: - £2,640 Repair of nave ceiling near old porch, after cracks were found in plasterwork. This needed extensive scaffolding to be erected. - £1,100 removal of large, dying Corsican Pine tree near shed at St. Stephen’s - £888 Repair to flaking paint to another part of nave ceiling earlier in 2020, together with high level gutter cleaning. - £792 BT line used for intruder alarm monitoring - £763 replacement of control panel for underfloor heating - £753 supply and fitting of new lighting in foyer at St Wulstan’s - £642 Intruder alarm maintenance and 24 hours a day, 366 days a year. All costs are inclusive of VAT, and rounded off to the nearest pound Matters worthy of comment: - The largest and third largest items of spending were repairs to the nave ceiling, which were necessary on safety grounds, and aesthetically desirable. Due to reduced activity levels in the nave, disruption was minimised. Although the larger of the two repairs took place in early 2021, the order was placed during 2020 but contractors were delayed due to the pandemic. - No further progress is reported in respect of providing an organ. It is envisaged that the Fabric Committee will work with David Hoare after the pandemic to consider the various options for repair or overhaul, and for the possible introduction of an aesthetically and acoustically sympathetic electronic organ. - No major electrical repairs took place in 2020, although electricians attended on more than one occasion to repair lighting and switches installed under ‘Building for The Future.’ It is becoming apparent that many electrical fittings are reaching an age where failures are starting to occur. In particular, due to low usage levels in 2020, it was not necessary to replace any uplighters in the 9 - nave. By contrast, in 2019 several replacements were needed. However we expect to need to replace uplighters in 2021 as usage levels increase; in fact a number of units are now noisy and one has failed entirely. - Church of The Light, attended mainly by Christians from the Middle East, continues to use St Wulstan’s when lockdown rules allow, in return for a monthly fee, and is keeping it in tidy condition. However the Parish is still responsible for repairs. - St Wulstan’s is still heated by a gas-fired, blown air heating system which is believed to be as old as the building. Its reliability in recent years has proved inconsistent, and the system may be approaching the end of its life. Replacement of the heater is likely to cost approaching £10,000. - Experiments took place in late 2019 and early 2020 to assess the effectiveness of various shapes and sizes of acoustic baffles in various positions in the foyer, in an attempt to address complaints about excessive noise and echoing. Some configurations were found to show benefits. It is hoped during 2021 to present the data to PCC, and to discuss the aesthetics of various options, with a view to buying a number of effective but aesthetically unobtrusive panels. However this can realistically only happen when PCC is able to meet physically in the building and consider the appearance of various panel shapes, sizes and colours. - The unsafe, dying Corsican Pine tree near the shed was felled early in 2020. Prior consent was obtained from Birmingham City Council due to the location being a in a Conservation Area. - The ambience of the foyer at St Wulstan’s is now more inviting due to new, brighter and more energy-efficient LED lighting being installed. - We incurred the £360 cost of hiring a skip for only one of the maintenance sessions. In most years this cost is incurred at both the Spring and the Autumn Maintenance Mornings. - Weekly inspections of St Stephen’s and St Wulstan’s buildings have taken place throughout the pandemic, with the dates being logged. All water outlets are regularly run to prevent the build-up of Legionnaires’ Disease bacteria. ## **Tim Pearson Chairman, Fabric Committee 11[th] March 2020** 10 ## **Electoral Roll Report** The electoral Roll was revised in **April 2021** . The numbers for the last three years are shown below: **2019 : 165 2020 : 158** **2021 : 170** 1 person came off the electoral roll 13 people came onto the electoral roll ## **Safeguarding** The council has complied with its duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have due regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. 11 **Reports on Church Life** ## **Evangelism** We are committed to making disciples of Jesus out of those who are not yet disciples by speaking God’s word to them. The pandemic has made this harder to do as a church family together, though it has opened up many opportunities for individuals with neighbours and family members. Our services were taken online and these have been made available to the widest possible audience through YouTube and on our website. In the build up to Christmas we planned a series of services around Jesus’ invitation to come to him. These were a mixture of normal services and interviews. We interviewed two members of the church family, Paediatric Palliative Consultant, Dr Yifan Liang, on grief, and Chris Stonehouse, a retired teacher, on weariness; in each case we explored what Jesus offers us as we experience these two realities. Our carol services happened partly in person and partly online so that lots of different people were able to enjoy them and hear the good news of Jesus explained. We were also able to take our evangelistic courses online which has meant that we have had guests from much further afield. We held Christianity Explored online in June/July 2020 with a dozen guests, of whom one is now professing faith and involved in a Fellowship Group. We held CE again in the Christmas term with seven guests, five of whom continued into the Identity course after Christmas; three have now become Christians and started attending church near them (Holy Trinity, Old Hill); the other three have all grown in their faith and are part of a Fellowship Group or reading the bible with someone else. It has been tremendously exciting seeing what the Lord has done. Andy Martin ## **Sunday Services** It seems appropriate to report on what happened with our Sunday services last year. It will be clear that there was a lot of change as we adapted to the changing conditions. With the first lockdown in March, we began with a pre-recorded service for people to watch from Sunday onwards. We did try a couple of weeks having Zoom services, but decided not to continue with those. We did, however, start having a Zoom gathering after the morning service, which has continued. From Easter Day (April 12th) we resumed using a pre-recorded service. From the end of June we began posting DVD’s of the service to those who did not have online access. In July we started encouraging people to watch the service with another household under the ’two household’ rule. From late September we invited those who wished to watch the pre-recorded service in church, and also re-started the 6pm service at St Wulstan’s. We began live-streaming the 10.30am service from church at the start of October, with the new 9am service beginning mid-October, while we continued to open both St Stephen’s and St Wulstan's to those who wished to come. For the second lockdown in November, church was closed and we live-streamed the 9am and 10.30am services, with 6pm on Zoom. When the lockdown ended in December, we went back to having a congregation present at 9am and live-streaming the 10.30am service with a congregation present, and that continued to the end of the year. All of this shows how much change there was. It would hardly have been possible, and would certainly have been much more traumatic, without the inventiveness, effort and flexibility of all those involved in delivering, editing and live-streaming the services and the patience, adaptability and understanding of the whole congregation. Thank you. Chris Hobbs 12 ## **Fellowship Groups** Fellowship Groups remain central to our vision of ‘making disciples of Jesus … by prayerfully speaking God’s word’ especially with the aim of ‘establishing' and ‘equipping' us as God’s people. They were especially important this past year in keeping people connected, cared for and prayed over during the pandemic. A few new people joined groups, and many of the women from the Tuesday Morning Group joined their husbands in evening groups, which became possible when fellowship groups started meeting on Zoom in March. There are still 15 groups (10 meeting on Wednesday evening, the Tuesday Morning Group for women, two on Tuesday afternoon, one early morning Wednesday for men, one on Thursday evening), and over 150 people involved. The Bible studies continued to follow the morning sermon series, with studies in Equipped to Serve, Psalms, Mark 7-8, Psalms (again), Acts 13-14 and Philippians. ## Chris Hobbs ## **Equip** Equip is a one-year in-house training course designed to equip ordinary Christians to be ’self-starters’, able to get on with gospel ministry without needing to be asked. In its first four years a total of 18 people have done the course, and they are mostly involved in some kind of gospel ministry now. Equip did not run in 2019-20 while the Vine Project was running, and it did run during 2020-21 due to COVID-19. ## Chris Hobbs ## **World Mission** “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news….!” (Isaiah 52:7) As a church we are committed to mission locally and globally. The task of the World Mission Committee is to keep the vision of World Mission fresh in the life of our church, and to support those the church has commissioned for the mission field. The Committee met three times in 2020. We prepared a paper entitled “A Vision for World Mission”, setting out our church’s commitment to world mission, and the practical steps we need to take. This was approved by the PCC in November 2020. We were given a budget of £43,650, which we shared between our Mission Partners, although we are aware that a number of our Mission Partners are not sufficiently funded. Mark and Rebekah Fox were adopted as “Candidate Mission Partners” while they are studying at Oak Hill prior to applying to serve with OMF in East Asia. Because of the Covid situation, we were not able to have our usual World Mission Sunday programme. Instead, we were able to hosted a well-attended Zoom meeting with all our Mission Partners in which they shared valuable insights. Our Mission Partners are each linked with a Fellowship Group, and each month one of our Mission Partners is featured in the church prayer meeting. Vaughan Thomas from Open Doors spoke again at our Suffering Church Sunday in November, and we have established a regular prayer breakfast for the Open Doors and the suffering church every two months or so. 13 Our Mission Partners, like all of us, faced particular challenges in 2020 because of the pandemic, but this has also provided new opportunities, particularly through online platforms: - John and Ruth McNeill, completed four years in Denmark and returned to UK, John to head up digital media strategies for Agapé Europe, Ruth to head up the Agapé support office in Birmingham. - Phil and Ceri Keates had to shift their FamilyLife workshops online, with some encouraging results; Phil’s Bible teaching for Agapé staff also went online. - Mike and Linnet and their family have spent much of 2020 here with us as they were not able to travel back to their workplace, but this has provided opportunities to meet with Muslims here. - Lyn and Andrew Griffin’s digital media work for Agapé Italia could continue unabated, finding new ways to connect with students, and helping Agapé teams in other countries to do the same. - Mike and Rachel Hill had to make significant changes to connect with international students online and other ways consistent with the Covid restrictions, opening ways to share the gospel. - Jomo Nderitu’s youth ministry in Kenya was also somewhat constrained but still managed to hold training and outreach activities across Marsabit Diocese. ## Nick Devas, ## Chair, World Mission Committee ## **Men’s Ministry** Men’s ministry has continued slowly this year due to the pandemic. There have been two Men’s Breakfasts with everyone providing their own food, in May on Loving your body where we considered what the bible says about our bodies and the implications of that for a wide range of topics; and in July on serving God in the workplace. Some of us attended the Midlands Men’s Convention online in November with John Stevens speaking on living for Christ in a changing, risky world. Blokes with Books also met online to discuss Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman, The Good God by Mike Reeves, and Gentle & Lowly by Dane Ortlund. A couple of online gatherings for a drink and a chat happened. ## Andy Martin ## **Children’s Work** 2020 has been a crazy year, full of chaos and confusion and change. But several things have remained the same… God is still in charge and Jesus still loves his church and the children that are part of it. It was good to remember that even though we have been separated, some of us here and some of us there, God is with us. Our vision to partner with parents and carers to make disciples of Jesus has also stayed the same – it’s just looked a bit different in lockdown! January started off with thoughts of holiday club, plans for children moving up into Sunday Club and ideas for all sorts of activities. Then… lockdown! We were concerned to make some sort of routine and structure for children who might be feeling a bit bewildered and confused. We also wanted to create a place where children could connect with one another. And we wanted to keep reassuring them of the unchanging and good truths of the Gospel. Therefore, we moved Explorers (7 to 10 year olds) to Zoom (still on Thursday evenings at the usual time). 14 This has been a constant source of joy! The children have largely remained enthusiastic and keen to take part. We’ve continued to look at the Bible together, learning about King David, remembering the joy in Luke’s gospel and learning skills that will help us read the Bible for ourselves. We’ve also played EVERY SINGLE ZOOM GAME that has ever been invented! During the first lockdown we ran a mid-week Zoom group for the Climbers aged children. This was a lovely time of sharing news, singing together and hearing Bible stories. As the way we did services changed we had to adapt the children’s work. We started a weekly “Family Bible Time” that was available for people to watch as households at any point in the week. Christy Fung (our then Ministry Trainee) and I recorded sessions that included a Bible talk, chat, a game and something to make and do. These were great fun to put together (though the technology was a challenge at times). As lockdown ended and we could meet in person again, we launched the 9am service (aimed at households with under 11s). In order to make it COVID secure, numbers were limited and households sat on spaced out picnic blankets. This service has been really lovely. It’s been a delight to see households chatting, praying and learning together. We have been looking at the same parts of the Bible as the 10.30 service. I’d like to say a massive thank you to the Explorers Zoom team who have faithfully served this group every week. They have sung, played, made and taught the Bible with cheerfulness, enthusiasm and real love and concern for the children (even amongst difficult work and home situations themselves). Thank you too to the wider Children’s team who have hosted Zoom meetings, served as stewards and led in other mid-week or one off groups. They have been adaptable and servant- hearted. Thank you to parents and carers who have worked hard to enable the kids to have access to devices, encouraged them to come, joined in to help their child and have persevered through really tough times. And thank you to the kids. You’ve been fab! We thank God for you. ## **Work in schools** Unfortunately, we have been unable to go into schools to deliver assemblies. However, with Allan Ooi’s help, I was able to record and package a harvest and Christmas assembly to send to schools for them to show in classrooms. Andy Martin and I were also invited to take part in a pre-recorded Carol Service for Raddlebarn School. Please pray that we will be able to continue with schools work in the near future. Helen Buckley Children’s Worker ## **Stay and Play** In common with many other church activities Stay and Play was affected by Covid 19. We met for the first 3 months of 2020 but closed our doors just before the lockdown in March 2020. In the Summer term we sent out postcards to all those who were registered with us in an attempt to keep in touch. 15 Other than that we have relied on personal friendships to stay in contact with people. Plans for a 'baby group' were discussed in the Autumn term, but the second and third lockdowns have put those plans on hold for the time being. We are praying that it might be possible to start something up again after Easter. Helen Hobbs ## **Dad’s Stay and Play** This year sadly we have not managed any sessions of Dads’ Stay & Play because of the pandemic. In normal times a faithful team of men serve the younger men with their children this way, providing bacon butties and coffee and tea on tap, manning the welcome desk and chatting to the men who come with little ones. We were regularly getting around 20 men with their children/grandchildren and we saw many of the same faces returning each month. Over half of these are not regular church members and we are seeing relationships growing through it. We hope to be able to pick up these relationships once lockdown lifts. Andy Martin ## **Youth work** In almost every area of life, 2020 was a uniquely challenging year. Our youth work was not immune to the effects of the global pandemic, and much had to change at great pace. But through it all, God our Father has been faithful as we have continued to pursue our vision: “Partnering with parents in making disciples of Jesus”. **Pathfinders** began the year much as before: We met on Thursday evenings and Sunday’s at the 10am service. It is strange to think back to sitting together, sharing out the Gold Bars and opening our Bibles, but we trust that we will do it again one day soon! When lockdown started, we took a couple of weeks to ensure that we had properly considered online safety and safeguarding before launching Explorers and Pathfinders on Zoom. We have met on Thursday evenings to catch up with each other, play games and look at the Bible. We’ve studied The Lord’s Prayer, King David (1 and 2 Samuel), 1 Peter, and Luke 1-2 (Christmas!). Over the summer break we had chance to look at a devotional book called “Dig into Matthew” – working our way through Matthew’s Gospel. We met up a few times on Zoom to chat about what we had been reading and learning, which was really encouraging. Our leaders for Pathfinders in 2020 were Tom Bryant, Christy Fung, Charlie Robinson and Sophie Hobbs (from November). Sadly our annual weekend away in October had to be cancelled – we hope this might be possible in 2021, so keep your eyes peeled for details! **Cross Section** (for years 10-13) continued in 2020, at first meeting on Sundays before the 6pm service, when we ate toasties, studied the Bible and played bizarre games. We looked at some key doctrines of the Christian faith. We also met on Thursday afternoons for a more in depth Bible study, accompanied by cereal. We quickly started meeting online on Thursdays for a Bible study in Lockdown #1 and into the summer term, but in September were able to meet up in-person on Sundays at 4pm, using the Cranmer Room with chairs spaced at 2m distance. It was quite a strange experience, with lots of muffled mask mishaps, but we enjoyed being able to do it. Lockdown #2 meant that this was no longer possible, and we switched to meeting online again. We still had some fun times though – a particular highlight were our “bake-along” 16 sessions, where we each made brownies and sausage rolls under the instruction of our most talented bakers (Thanks Naomi Bryant and Helen Hobbs!). My apologies for the mess made of kitchens… I hope you were compensated satisfactorily with the baked goods in question! Examples of our Bible teaching this year are a series looking at the evidence for Jesus (Uncover:Luke), Genesis 1-3, Jonah, and 1 Peter. During 2020 Cross Section was led by Tom and Naomi Bryant, Helen Buckley, and Imogen Prasad, as well as Helen Hobbs and Ruth Griffith, who helped as interpreters for one of the members. I would like to record my thanks: - To God our Father, who has sustained our work amongst young people through this really difficult time. - To our leaders, who have worked so faithfully and diligently to love and serve the youth. - To parents and carers, who have continued to encourage their young people to log-on and join in whilst juggling jobs, furlough, home-schooling and making the dinner! - To the young people themselves, for persevering during this difficult trial, and especially to those who have continued to come despite not loving Zoom (who does!?) so that they can encourage others. Tom Bryant Youth Worker ## **Students** Life pre- COVID-19 seems a distant memory – so much has changed. ‘Disruption’ summarises much of our experience this year, with much happening online. ## **Autumn Term 2020** In September, Jess Stileman and David Li joined Ben Wells and Michael and Jill Webb as Rooted leaders, with Christy Fung stepping down. Evening Services briefly resumed at St Wulstan’s following strict COVID guidelines. Some students were able to visit during these early weeks. Tuesday Rooted began online, due to the restrictions, looking at the book of Luke, with other seminars such as “persevering through COVID-19.” A small but faithful group of students emerged throughout the term finishing with an online Christmas party: students received special Christmas ‘goodie boxes’ of mince pies, sausage rolls, Christmas hats and a talk about how Jesus is our true ‘comfort and joy’ (Luke 2:21-38). ## **Spring Term 2021** At Tuesday Rooted online, students studied the book of Acts together, whilst a book group also met to discuss “Stay Salt.” These envisioned and emboldened us to make Jesus known, strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Students also took part in the CU online Events Week ‘Story’ Birmingham (15[th] -19[th] February). Other topics looked at were the theme of ‘Suffering’, whilst a ‘Staycation’ was booked for March – a day of talks and activities to grow and encourage us as a group. We are unclear what the rest of the year will bring, but we trust that our Sovereign Lord will continue to grow us as Christians and use us in making Jesus known, in the power of His Spirit. Ben Wells 17 ## **International Students** In thinking about our church’s forthcoming 150[th] anniversary, I was struck by how different the composition of our church is compared to what it must have been 150 years ago, not least in how international we are now. One of the main elements of this is international students. Over the past three decades, thousands of students from all over the world have come to study in our city’s universities, and a great many of them live in our parish. This has provided a wonderful opportunity for the church to show Christian welcome and friendship, and that in turn provides opportunities for the gospel. The main elements of our ministry in this area are the Globe Café, which (under normal circumstances!) meets weekly at St Wulstan’s, and is run in conjunction with Friends International; home hospitality; and international Bible studies (mainly Chinese and Indonesian, but including internationals joining the Rooted student group). In addition, a number of international students are drawn to join our church during their time here. 2020 was, of course, unusual. Like everything else, Globe Café had to move online, but we are grateful to the Friends International team for enabling us to keep it going week by week. Home hospitality became impossible for much of the year, although new ways of connecting online and through socially distanced walks, etc. proved popular. With fewer international students arriving in the autumn, some of the regular activities were put on hold. But international Bible studies continued online, and new opportunities emerged for Bible studies with those who returned to their home countries, particularly China. It was a joy to share in the baptism of a visiting academic (held in our garden in the summer), and of two international students during the autumn. From September, Chris Stonehouse took on the leadership of Globe Café. We thank God for the great team of people committed to serving international students here. Nick Devas ## **Music** Like many areas of church life, music ministry looked somewhat different in 2020. As our services moved online, we had to find new ways of using music in our services – we tried various things including singing together on Zoom and pre-recorded videos from the writers of the songs themselves. In the latter part of the year, many of us really appreciated having ‘live’ music from our church music team again, even if we couldn’t sing along in the church building. Singing is a natural response to God’s redeeming work in our lives, so being unable to sing together has been hard for many of us. How we long to be able to sing together again! Through the difficulties of 2020, we have learnt some new songs that have really helped us reflect on our good God and all he does for us. Here are some of the words from the songs we’ve been learning. Can you recognise which song each lyric comes from? “Who holds our faith when fears arise? Who stands above the stormy trial? Who sends the waves that bring us nigh 18 Unto the shore, the rock of Christ?” “In the longest day, know the vict’ry is won; Do not fear the world, he has overcome, You are safe in him covered by his love.” “Upon His head, a crown of thorns. Upon His heart, a broken world. The wage of sin, the weight of our transgressions, Upon Him, upon Him.” ## Allan Ooi ## **Day Centre** Since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic our helpers have had weekly telephone contact with our members and report how resilient they all are. I have visited them from time to time with gifts and flowers and sent out newsletters. In these I include a brief gospel thought to encourage members to focus their thoughts on Jesus and our father God. Sadly, Margaret Brown, a founder member of the Day Centre and a longstanding member of St Stephens, died in the last 12 months. Although none of us could attend the funeral the cortege stopped outside the church so Chris Hobbs could pray for Margaret’s family and those of us who were present to mark her passing. It is hard to imagine what the future ministry to this group will look like when we are free to meet again. We are few in number so it may be time to reflect on how the church might continue to meet the needs of older people in the church and the community. Jean Phillips ## **Christians Against Poverty : Birmingham South Debt Centre** Covid has had a huge impact on the service Christians Against Poverty can provide. Clients can no longer be visited in their homes and all advice is given over the phone or internet which has proved challenging. However new systems have been put in place and the charity continues to offer the best possible service to its clients whilst adhering to Covid and FCA regulations. Christians Against Poverty (CAP) is a debt counselling charity which partners with local churches to tackle the root causes of poverty right in the heart of the community. St. Stephen’s is one of five local churches which finance and support the South Birmingham Debt Centre. Our centre is managed by Judy Ward, a member of Christ Church working alongside Nicky Sammons. Each client self-refers to CAP Head Office where the appointments are allocated. Nicky then arranges to visit each client in their home to gather financial information, offer support where there often is none, and give them the opportunity to hear the gospel (95% of clients respond positively to prayer). All information gathered goes to head office where a budgeting plan is drawn up enabling the client to become debt free if they implement the recommendations and work in partnership with CAP. The path is rarely straightforward and many clients require a lot of additional support as they go through the process as in many cases they are struggling with other issues as well as debt. These can including physical and mental health issues, job loss and abusive relationships. We have been greatly encouraged to see how God can provide even in the most difficult of situations. Nicky is always accompanied on each visit by a volunteer from one of the partner churches, who can offer 19 friendship, support and prayer as appropriate. There is a constant need for more volunteers who can help in this way, especially anyone who is free during the day. Despite Covid restrictions seven clients became debt free in the last year. And at Christmas time all our clients still received generous food and gift hampers either donated by a local business or purchased with donations. And at half term families were given vouchers to buy toys or crafting materials for their children. This has been a challenging time for CAP and our prayer is that we would continue to look to God’s strength for the best ways to serve people in our community and ultimately point them to Jesus. If you would like to know more, or might be interested in helping with this work, do please speak to me, Richard or Helen. ## Nicky Sammons ## **Churches Together Winter Night Shelter** The Covid pandemic has prompted national and local government to provide extra facilities for night shelter for homeless people, including those who do not qualify for benefits. The result is that there are fewer people sleeping rough although with less or no help in the evenings from volunteers. In order for St. Stephen's to keep in touch with developments, Maurice Sinclair has continued as a member of a Churches Together committee. Current restrictions do not make it possible to create a new night shelter, and so the committee has taken the decision to transfer its funds to Birmingham City Mission, Reach Out Network Ministries and Tabor House, dividing them equally between the three. The committee will remain alert to any new possibilities of helping the homeless. Maurice Sinclair January 2021 20 ## **Financial Statements** ## **2020 General Fund Income** **----- Start of picture text -----**
2.4%
5.6%
2.7%
17.0%
4.4%
67.9%
Gifts - Standing Orders
Gifts - Other
Income Tax on gifts
Diocese re curate
housing
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **2020 General Fund Expenditure** **----- Start of picture text -----**
0.6
2.7
5.5
7.5 22.9
13.9
7.0
11.1 10.9
15.9
1.9
**----- End of picture text -----**
Diocesan Common Fund Clergy costs Office Salaries Ministry Trainee Missionary Fund/Gospel Causes Buildings & Maintenance Children's Work Salary & Ministry Youth Worker Office and Ancillary costs Evangelism 21 ``` STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 01 JAN 20 TO 31 DEC 20 ``` |**`01 Jan 19 -`**|
**`01 Jan 20 -`**| |---|---| |**`31 Dec 19`**|**`31 Dec 20`**| ||**`Unrestrd Restrict Endowmnt Total`**| |**`All Funds`**|**`Funds Funds Funds Funds`**| |**`£`**|**`£ £ £ £`**| |**`Incoming Resources`**|| |**`302,294 Incoming resources from donors`**|**`246,033 58,274 - 304,307`**| |**`4,375 Grants received`**|**`7,630 - - 7,630`**| |**`19,205 Income from operating activity`**|**`12,167 1,199 - 13,366`**| |**`48 Activities to generate funds`**|**`- - - -`**| |**`386 Income from Investment`**|**`289 - - 289`**| |**`-------`**|**`------- ------- ------- ----------`**| |**`326,310 Total Incoming Resources`**|**`266,119 59,473 - 325,592`**| |**`Resources Expended`**|| |**`461 Cost of Generating Funds`**|**`- - - -`**| |**`44,716 Grants`**|**`2,182 54,577 - 56,759`**| |**`286,104 Expenditure on church work`**|**`214,717 67,430 - 282,147`**| |**`556 Buildings development`**|**`- 391 - 391`**| |**`344 Governance costs`**|**`100 - - 100`**| |**`-------`**|**`------- ------- ------- ----------`**| |**`332,183 Total Resources Used`**|**`216,999 122,398 - 339,397`**| |**`-------`**|**`------- ------- ------- ----------`**| |**`(5,873) NET RESOURCES BEFORE TRANSFERS`**|**`49,120 (62,925) - (13,805)`**| |**`Transfers Between Funds`**|| |**`- Miscellaneous Transfers`**|**`(56,267) 56,267 -`**| |**`-------`**|**`------- ------- ------- ----------`**| |**`(5,873) NET INCOMING/OUTGOING RESOURCES`**|**`(7,147) (6,658) 0 (13,805)`**| |**`Gains and Losses on Fixed Assets`**|| |**`-------`**|**`------- ------- ------- ----------`**| |**`(5,873) NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS`**|**`(7,147) (6,658) 0 (13,805)`**| |**`495,134 Fund Balances Bt Fwd 01 Jan 20`**|**`453,730 35,530 0 489,260`**| |**`-------`**|**`------- ------- ------- ----------`**| |**`489,260 FUND BALANCES CD FWD 31 Dec 20`**|**`446,583 28,872 0 475,455`**| |**`=======`**|**`======= ======= ======= ==========`**| 22 ``` BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DEC 2020 ``` ||**`BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DEC 2020`**| |---|---| |**`31 Dec 19`**|**`31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**|**`£`**| ||**`FIXED ASSETS`**| |**`392,245`**|**`Buildings at Cost 392,245`**| ||**`CURRENT ASSETS`**| |**`13,368`**|**`Income tax reclaimable 4,405`**| |**`893`**|**`Other debtors 480`**| |**`8,378`**|**`Prepayments 6,761`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`22,640`**|**`Total Debtors 11,646`**| ||**`Cash At Bank and In Hand`**| |**`16,769`**|**`Lloyds Bank Current Account 8,157`**| |**`10,753`**|**`Lloyds Bank Treasurers Account 16,663`**| |**`1,000`**|**`St Stephens Building Fund CBF 1,000`**| |**`338`**|**`Cash 80`**| |**`51,000`**|**`St Stephens/St Wulstans CBF 51,000`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`79,861`**|**`Total Cash At Bank and In Hand 76,900`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`102,501`**|**`88,546`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| ||**`CURRENT LIABILITIES`**| ||**`Creditors Due Within One Year`**| |**`106`**|**`Diocesan Fees Payable -`**| |**`1,312`**|**`Other Creditors -`**| |**`251`**|**`Accruals - Missionary Giving -`**| |**`3,637`**|**`Accruals - Other 5,337`**| |**`180`**|**`Lloyds Bank Credit Card -`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`5,486`**|**`Total Creditors Due Within One Year 5,337`**| |**`97,014`**|**`NET CURRENT ASSETS 83,209`**| |**`489,260`**|**`TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 475,454`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`489,260`**|**`NET ASSETS 475,454`**| |**`==========`**|**`==========`**| ||**`Represented by Funds`**| ||**`Unrestricted Funds`**| |**`57,800`**|**`Parish General Fund 51,131`**| |**`392,246`**|**`Property Fund 392,246`**| |**`-`**|**`PCC Reserve Fund -`**| |**`3,685`**|**`Discretionary Fund 3,207`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`453,731`**|**`Total Unrestricted Funds 446,584`**| ||**`Restricted Funds`**| |**`3,542`**|**`Missionary Fund 4,887`**| |**`11,664`**|**`St Stephen's Building Fund 4,045`**| |**`7,255`**|**`Day Centre Fund 7,021`**| |**`104`**|**`Stay and Play Fund 253`**| |**`1,096`**|**`Winter Night Shelter 1,096`**| |**`(2,647)`**|**`Youth Worker Fund 7,245`**| |**`12,169`**|**`Associate Minister Fund 1,439`**| |**`2,345`**|**`Ministry Trainee Fund 1,131`**| |**`-`**|**`Maduk Fund 1,753`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`35,529`**|**`Total Restricted Funds 28,870`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`489,260`**|**`TOTAL FUNDS 475,454`**| |**`==========`**|**`==========`**| 23 ``` SUMMARY OF MOVEMENTS ON ALL FUNDS 01 Jan 20 TO 31 Dec 20 ``` ``` BALANCE FUND INCOME EXPENSES TRANSFERS BALANCE 01 Jan 20 /GAINS 31 Dec 20 £ £ £ £ £ UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 57,800 Parish General Fund 265,252 216,154 (55,767) 51,131 392,246 Property Fund - - - 392,246 - PCC Reserve Fund - - - - 3,685 Discretionary Fund 867 845 (500) 3,207 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- 453,731 Totals of Unrestricted Funds 266,119 216,999 (56,267) 446,584 RESTRICTED FUNDS 3,542 Missionary Fund 1,551 44,306 44,100 4,887 11,665 St Stephen's Building Fund 2,104 391 (9,333) 4,045 7,254 Day Centre Fund 798 1,031 - 7,021 104 Stay and Play Fund 401 252 - 253 1,096 Winter Night Shelter - - - 1,096 (2,647) Youth Worker Fund 17,328 28,436 21,000 7,245 12,169 Associate Minister Fund 27,826 38,556 - 1,439 2,345 Ministry Trainee Fund 5,962 7,176 - 1,131 - Maduk Fund 3,503 2,250 500 1,753 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- 35,528 Totals for Restricted Funds 59,473 122,398 56,267 28,870 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- 489,260 TOTALS FOR ALL FUNDS 325,592 339,397 - 475,455 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ``` |**`NET MOVEMENT IN TOTAL FUNDS IN THE YEAR`**|| |---|---| |
**`01 Jan 19-`**|**`01 Jan 20-`**| |**`31 Dec 19`**|**`31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**|**`£`**| |
**`3,119 Parish General Fund`**
|**`(6,669)`**| |**`1,628 St Stephens Building Fund`**|**`(7,620)`**| |**`(4,700) Youth Worker Fund`**|**`9,892`**| |**`6,268) Associate Minister Fund`**|**`(10,730)`**| |**`3,685 Discretionary Fund`**
|**`(478)`**| |**`(3,337) Movement on other funds`**|**`1,800`**| |**`----------`**|**`--------`**| |
**`(5,873)`**|**`(13,805)`**| |**`==========`**|**`========`**| 24 ## **`INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT AND FUND MOVEMENTS 01 Jan 20 TO 31 Dec 20`** ``` Parish General Fund (Unrestricted Fund) 01 Jan 19 - 2020 Budget 01 Jan 20 31 Dec 19 12 Months - 31 Dec 20 £ £ £ Income 5,329 Gifts - Loose Cash/Cheques 3,040 1,765 1,206 Gifts - Envelopes 1,150 294 185,399 Gifts - Standing Orders 183,024 186,501 5,784 Gifts - CAF/UKET 4,800 4,400 45,527 Income Tax on gifts 45,489 46,664 - Payroll giving / GYE - - 820 Gifts - Giving Response 35,927 5,540 470 Bookstall sales 500 53 863 Wedding/Funeral Fees 1,000 3,276 480 Other income/sales(excl books) 3,000 2,310 11,565 Room Hire Income 9,500 6,660 4,375 Diocese re Curates Housing 7,500 7,500 380 Interest 375 289 ---------- ---------- ---------- 262,200 TOTAL INCOME 295,305 265,252 ---------- ---------- ---------- Expenditure 61,729 Diocesan Contributions 62,799 64,362 27,357 Admin & Finance Salaries 40,478 30,762 2,356 Ministry Trainee Costs 6,600 5,436 7,240 Clergy Expenses 6,250 5,789 1,067 Staff Expenses 1,300 217 380 Speakers Expenses 700 - 5,371 Office 5,500 5,208 36,063 Children's Worker - Salary 36,922 35,847 928 Youth work 1,500 857 1,252 Children's work 1,500 1,220 6,299 Insurance 6,500 5,556 14,937 Buildings/Maintenance 12,407 12,194 10,670 Heat, Light and Power 11,000 8,869 6,068 Cleaning 6,200 4,220 344 Consultancy and Inspection 250 100 32 International Student Worker - - 8,679 Curates Expenses 16,000 14,020 750 Midlands Gospel Partnership 750 750 - Weekend Away / at Home - - 861 Music 949 898 730 Student Work 800 913 3,521 Evangelism 2,500 1,818 1,581 Parish Computer Systems 1,060 2,178 98 PA Systems Equipment 500 9,660 461 Bookstall Costs - - 2,642 Miscellaneous Expenses 2,250 3,088 7,446 Unbudgeted expenditure - - 133 103 Bournbrook Road 900 419 935 Kitchen 1,000 121 1,531 St Wulstans restart 400 219 - Associate Minister - - 2,000 CAP Contribution 2,000 1,433 41,800 Transfer to Missionary Fund 43,650 44,100 3,812 Transfer to Youth Worker Fund 21,000 21,000 - Transfer from Building Fund - (9,333) - Contingency 2,000 - ---------- ---------- ---------- 259,081 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 295,305 271,921 ---------- ---------- ---------- 3,119 SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) - (6,669) 54,681 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20 57,800 ---------- ---------- 57,800 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20 51,131 ========== ========== ``` 25 ## **`Missionary Fund (Restricted Fund)`** ``` 01 Jan 19 - 2020 Budget 01 Jan 20 31 Dec 19 12 Months - 31 Dec 20 £ £ £ Income 41,800 Transfer from Parish General 43,650 44,100 314 Specified Gifts - 1,301 50 Income Tax on gifts - 250 ---------- ---------- ---------- 42,164 TOTAL INCOME 43,650 45,651 ---------- ---------- ---------- Expenditure 1,215 Chris Hobbs trip to Myanmar 1,000 256 2,200 Friends International re Hills 2,200 2,200 10,600 Agape re McNeills 10,800 11,000 8,700 Agape re Keates 9,650 10,000 10,300 Reach Across re Harveys 10,600 11,900 6,200 Agape re Griffins 6,500 6,500 251 Specific Gifts - Open Doors - (50) - Short term assignments 500 - 2,000 Support for Foxes 2,000 2,000 500 Crosslinks re Marsabit youth 500 500 - Weekend at Home costs 400 - ---------- ---------- ---------- 41,967 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 44,250 44,306 ---------- ---------- ---------- 197 SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) (600) 1,345 3,345 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20 3,542 ---------- ---------- 3,542 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20 4,887 ========== ========== ``` 26 ## **`St Stephen's Building Fund (Restricted Fund)`** |**`01 Jan 19 -`**||**`01 Jan 20`**| |---|---|---| |**`31 Dec 19`**||
**`- 31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**||**`£`**| ||**`Income`**|| |**`1,419`**|**`Donations - Cash`**|**`-`**| |**`280`**|**`Donations - Standing Orders`**|**`1,691`**| |**`432`**|**`Income tax reclaimed`**|**`413`**| |**`48`**|**`Income from events`**|**`-`**| |**`5`**|**`Bank Interest`**|**`-`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`2,185`**|**`TOTAL INCOME`**|**`2,104`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| ||**`Expenditure`**|| |**`-`**|**`Professional expenses`**|**`-`**| |**`180`**|**`Storage and equipping`**|**`-`**| |**`-`**|**`Transfer to Parish General Fund`**|**`9,333`**| |**`377`**|**`Sundry maintenance & repair costs`**|**`391`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`557`**|**`TOTAL EXPENDITURE`**|**`9,724`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`1,628`**|**`SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT)`**|**`(7,620)`**| |**`10,036`**|**`Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20`**|**`11,665`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`11,665`**|**`Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20`**|**`4,045`**| |**`==========`**||**`==========`**| ## **`PCC Reserve Fund (Unrestricted Fund)`** |**`01 Jan 19 -`**||**`01 Jan 20`**| |---|---|---| |**`31 Dec 19`**||**`- 31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**||**`£`**| |**`-`**|**`Income`**|**`-`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`-`**|**`TOTAL INCOME`**|**`-`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| ||**`Expenditure`**|| |**`6,000`**|**`Transfer to Youth Worker Fund`**|**`-`**| |**`----------`**||
**`----------`**| |**`6,000`**|**`TOTAL EXPENDITURE`**|
**`-`**| |**`----------`**||
**`----------`**| |**`(6,000)`**|**`SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT)`**|**`-`**| |**`6,000`**|**`Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20`**|**`-`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`-`**|**`Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20`**|**`-`**| |**`==========`**||**`==========`**| 27 ``` Day Centre Fund (Restricted Fund) ``` |**`01 Jan 19 -`**||**`01 Jan 20`**| |---|---|---| |**`31 Dec 19`**||**`- 31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**||**`£`**| ||**`Income`**|| |**`4,158`**|**`St Stephens Day Centre Income`**|**`798`**| |**`12`**|**`Donations - Cash`**|**`-`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`4,170`**|**`TOTAL INCOME`**|**`798`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| ||**`Expenditure`**|| |**`1,646`**|**`Milk, Food, Cooks wages & Cake`**|**`330`**| |**`-`**|**`Christmas meal`**|**`-`**| |**`2,204`**|**`Shencare Transport`**|**`580`**| |**`158`**|**`Other Sundry expenses`**|**`121`**| |**`80`**|**`Contribution to oven cleaning`**|**`-`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`4,088`**|**`TOTAL EXPENDITURE`**|**`1,031`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`82`**|**`SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT)`**|**`(233)`**| |**`7,172`**|**`Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20`**|**`7,254`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`7,254`**|**`Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20`**|**`7,021`**| |**`==========`**||**`==========`**| ||**`Stay and Play Fund (Restricted Fund)`**|| |**`01 Jan 19 -`**||**`01 Jan 20`**| |**`31 Dec 19`**||**`- 31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**||**`£`**| ||**`Income`**|| |**`1,669`**|**`Stay and Play - Income`**|**`401`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`1,669`**|**`TOTAL INCOME`**|**`401`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| ||**`Expenditure`**|| |**`1,631`**|**`Stay and Play - Expenditure`**|**`252`**| |**`----------`**|
|**`----------`**| |**`1,631`**|**`TOTAL EXPENDITURE`**|**`252`**| |**`----------`**|
|**`----------`**| |**`38`**|**`SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT)`**|**`149`**| |**`66`**|**`Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20`**|**`104`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`104`**|**`Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20`**|**`253`**| |**`==========`**||**`==========`**| 28 ## **`Youth Worker Fund (Restricted Fund)`** |**`01 Jan 19 -`**|**`2020 Budget`**|**`01 Jan 20`**| |---|---|---| |**`31 Dec 19`**|**`12 Months`**|**`- 31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**|**`£`**|**`£`**| |**`Income`**||| |**`295 Gifts - Loose Cash/Cheques`**|**`-`**|**`-`**| |**`11,270 Gifts - Standing Orders`**|**`13,583`**|**`9,728`**| |**`500 Gifts - One Off`**|**`-`**|**`4,351`**| |**`1,500 Gifts - Annual`**|**`1,875`**|**`-`**| |**`3,366 Income Tax on gifts`**|**`300`**|**`3,249`**| |**`- Grants received`**|**`-`**|**`-`**| |**`3,812 Transfer from Parish General`**|**`21,000`**|**`21,000`**| |**`6,000 Transfer from PCC Reserve`**|**`-`**|**`-`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`26,743 TOTAL INCOME`**|**`36,758`**|**`38,328`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`Expenditure`**||| |**`23,638 Salary and pension costs`**|**`24,198`**|**`23,655`**| |**`4,894 Oak Hill Fees`**|**`5,094`**|**`4,261`**| |**`1,795 Travel costs to Oak Hill`**|**`2,400`**|**`335`**| |**`1,116 Other Expenses`**|**`1,175`**|**`185`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`31,443 TOTAL EXPENDITURE`**|**`32,867`**
|**`28,436`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`(4,700) SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT)`**|**`3,891`**|**`9,892`**| |**`2,053 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20`**||**`(2,647)`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`(2,647) Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20`**||**`7,245`**| |**`==========`**||**`==========`**| |**`Associate Minister Fund (Restricted Fund)`**||| |**`01 Jan 19 -`**|**`2020 Budget`**|**`01 Jan 20`**| |**`31 Dec 19`**|**`12 Months`**|**`- 31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**|**`£`**|**`£`**| |**`Income`**||| |**`125 Gifts - Loose Cash/Cheques`**|
**`-`**
|**`-`**| |**`20,838 Gifts - Standing Orders`**|**`22,452`**|**`18,877`**| |**`250 Gifts - One Off`**|**`-`**|**`466`**| |**`2,000 Gifts - Annual`**|**`4,000`**|**`500`**| |**`5,586 Income Tax on gifts`**|**`6,443`**|**`4,543`**| |**`3,000 Gifts - Stewardship`**|**`3,000`**|**`3,440`**| |**`960 Gifts - CAF`**|**`960`**|**`-`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`32,759 TOTAL INCOME`**|**`36,855`**|**`27,826`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`Expenditure`**||| |**`36,813 Salary and pension costs`**|**`37,804`**|**`36,738`**| |**`2,213 Council tax`**|**`2,065`**|**`1,818`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`39,026 TOTAL EXPENDITURE`**|**`39,869`**|**`38,556`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`(6,268) SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT)`**|**`(3,014)`**|**`(10,730)`**| |**`18,437 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20`**||**`12,169`**| |**`----------`**||**`----------`**| |**`12,169 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20`**||**`1,439`**| |**`==========`**||**`==========`**| 29 ``` Discretionary Fund (Unrestricted Fund) ``` |**`01 Jan 19 -`**|**`01 Jan 20`**| |---|---| |**`31 Dec 19`**|**`- 31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**|**`£`**| ||**`Income`**| |**`3,098`**|**`Gifts - Discretionary Fund 700`**| |**`587`**|**`Income tax on gifts 167`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`3,685`**|**`TOTAL INCOME 867`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| ||**`Expenditure`**| |**`-`**|**`Grants 845`**| |**`-`**|**`Transfer to other Funds 500`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`-`**|**`TOTAL EXPENDITURE 1,345`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`3,685`**|**`SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) (478)`**| |**`-`**|**`Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20 3,685`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`3,685`**|**`Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20 3,207`**| |**`==========`**|**`==========`**| ||**`Ministry Trainee Fund (Restricted Fund)`**| |**`01 Jan 19 -`**|**`01 Jan 20`**| |**`31 Dec 19`**|**`- 31 Dec 20`**| |**`£`**|**`£`**| ||**`Income`**| |**`1,950`**|**`Gifts - Bank Transfers 5,030`**| |**`395`**|**`Income tax on gifts 932`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`2,345`**|**`TOTAL INCOME 5,962`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| ||**`Expenditure`**| |**`-`**|**`Disbursements 7,176`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`-`**|**`TOTAL EXPENDITURE 7,176`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`2,345`**|**`SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) (1,214)`**| |**`-`**|**`Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20 2,345`**| |**`----------`**|**`----------`**| |**`2,345`**|**`Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20 1,131`**| |**`==========`**|**`==========`**| 30 ## **`Maduk Fund (Restricted Fund)`** ``` 01 Jan 19 - 01 Jan 20 31 Dec 19 - 31 Dec 20 £ £ Income - Gifts 2,765 - Transfer from Discretionary Fund 500 - Income tax on gifts 738 ---------- ---------- - TOTAL INCOME 4,003 ---------- ---------- Expenditure - Grants and disbursements 2,250 ---------- ---------- - TOTAL EXPENDITURE 2,250 ---------- ---------- - SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) 1,753 - Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20 - ---------- ---------- - Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20 1,753 ========== ========== Winter Night Shelter Fund (Restricted Fund) 01 Jan 19 - 01 Jan 20 31 Dec 19 - 31 Dec 20 £ £ Income - Gifts - - Transfer from Discretionary Fund - - Income tax on gifts - ---------- ---------- - TOTAL INCOME - ---------- ---------- Expenditure - Grants and disbursements - ---------- ---------- - TOTAL EXPENDITURE - ---------- ---------- - SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) - 1,096 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 20 1,096 ---------- ---------- 1,096 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 20 1,096 ========== ========== ``` 31 ## **Parish of St Stephen and St Wulstan, Selly Park, Birmingham** ## **Notes to the financial statements 2020** ## **Accounting policies** These are given in a separate paper and are based on the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, prescribed by the General Synod. ## **Unrestricted, Restricted and Endowment Funds** A list of funds can be seen in the detailed balance sheet at the bottom of page 3 of the financial statements. The Parish General Fund is used to pay for the running costs and maintenance of the two centres, non clergy staff (including Children’s Worker and Administrative staff), the Diocesan common fund, buildings insurance, clergy housing and other parish expenses. All running costs associated with the Day Centre are held in a separate fund as these were in the past subject to funding from Birmingham City Council. The PCC approved a transfer of £44.1k during 2020 to missionary and charitable causes. This giving is reflected in the Missionary Fund. To emphasise the commitment to this purpose, the PCC has deemed this to be a restricted fund. This Fund also records where individuals have made specified gifts via the parish, which have been or will be passed onto the recipients concerned. St Stephen’s Building Fund is regarded by the PCC as a restricted fund. The Fund was established for the purpose of the Building for the Future project to renovate the church building, the majority of work being completed in 2015 and a small contingency balance left to meet unforeseen requirements linked to the project. During the year, a transfer of £9,333 was made from the Building Fund to the General Fund in respect of the installation of new equipment required to live stream services during the UK Coronavirus Lockdown. Although not envisaged in the original building project plans, the PCC considered these works to be wholly within the purview of the Fund and therefore deemed it appropriate to meet this cost with restricted funds. The Property Fund represents the purchase of 103 Bournbrook Road which took place in June 2010 as housing for the Assistant Minister. A Winter Night Shelter Fund was created in 2013 to help with the needs of homeless people. In order to ensure donations are only used for this purpose this is deemed to be a restricted fund. A Youth Worker Fund was created in 2017 in order to administer donations given specifically to fund the youth worker as well as his expenses. In order to ensure donations are only used for this purpose this is deemed to be a restricted fund. The PCC approved a transfer of £21.0k from the Parish General Fund during 2020 to ensure that sufficient funds were available to cover Youth Worker Fund costs. An Assistant Minister Fund was created in 2018 in order to administer donations given specifically to fund the Assistant Minister as well as his expenses. In order to ensure donations are only used for this purpose this is deemed to be a restricted fund. ## **Remuneration** The PCC’s employees are paid from the Parish General Fund, Associate Minister Fund and Youth Worker Fund as appropriate. 32 ## **Parish of St Stephen and St Wulstan, Selly Park, Birmingham** ## **Notes to the financial statements 2020** ## **Fixed Assets** This represents the purchase of 103 Bournbrook Road which took place in June 2010 to provide housing for the Assistant Minister. ## **Debtors and Prepayments** There are no significant debtors in the current year although a significant amount of income tax recoverable in respect of Gift Aid is due relating to unrestricted giving as well as donations to the various restricted funds. This balance was claimed in January 2021. Prepayments relate to a proportion of the annual insurance premium paid in 2020 which relates to insurance cover in 2021 together other smaller advance payments relating to Church activities in 2021. Following the end of the financial year, the PCC was made aware that the venue for its forthcoming church family weekend away has been placed into Administration. A deposit had been made of £500 as at 31 December 2020, which is currently recognised in Prepayments. The PCC understands that the Administrators are in discussion with a third party looking to acquire the venue as a going concern, which is likely to include the purchase of the current order book and recognition of payments made on account. Accordingly, no provision is deemed necessary in respect of this amount. ## **Current Liabilities** This primarily consists of amounts due for sundry items relating to the Parish General Fund incurred during the final quarter of 2020. All Parish Share (Common Fund) contributions for 2020 were paid in full during the year. ## **Income** Donated general income is recorded in accounts for the Parish General Fund. The proportion of tax efficient giving has increased to 96.1% of the maximum possible on the total donated income, excluding CAF and Payroll giving (2019 : 94.5%). Efforts to maintain this high rate of tax efficient donations / giving are part of a constant process in this area. ## **Related Party Transactions** The following members of the PCC had the following transactions with the parish during the year (other than the reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the two churches): - C Hobbs, A Martin and B Wells received the following non specific expenses: - mileage which was paid at Diocesan rates of 45p per mile (30p per mile outside the Diocese). - contributions to housing and IT costs in line with PCC recommendations. H Buckley was employed by the parish as a children’s worker and received a salary of £31,469 and pension contributions of £2,674 were made on her behalf. 33 ## **Parish of St Stephen & St Wulstan, Selly Park, Birmingham** ## **Statement of Accounting Policies 2020** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 together with applicable accounting standards and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. ## **Funds** The Parish General Fund, the Property Fund and the PCC Reserve Fund represent funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body (e.g. St Wulstan’s Brownies) nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members. ## **Incoming Resources** ## Voluntary income and capital sources Offerings are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving receivable under standing order is recognised only when received. Income tax recoverable on gift aid donations is recognised when the income is received. Grants and legacies to the PCC are accounted for as soon as the PCC is notified of its legal entitlement and the amount due. Funds raised from the church bookstall are accounted for gross, as are donations for missionary purposes. ## Other ordinary income Rental income from the letting of church premises is recognised when the rental is paid. ## Income from investments Interest is accounted for when received except for interest due from HMR&C which is recognised when notified of the amount due. ## **Resources used** ## Grants Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the PCC. 34 ## **Parish of St Stephen & St Wulstan, Selly Park, Birmingham** ## **Statement of Accounting Policies 2020** ## **Fixed assets** ## Consecrated land and buildings and movable church furnishings Consecrated and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by section 96(2)(a) of the Charities Act 1993. No value is placed on movable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal since the PCC considers this to be inalienable property. All expenditure incurred during the year on consecrated or benefice buildings and movable church furnishings, whether maintenance or improvement, is written off as expenditure in the Statement of Financial Activities. ## Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment Equipment used within the church premises will be depreciated on a straight line basis over four years. Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £2,000 or less are written off when the asset is acquired. A photocopier is leased by an agreement entered into in December 2016. ## Current assets Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors. Short-term deposits include cash held on deposit either with the CBF Church of England Funds or at the bank. 35 ## **Vicar:** Rev. Chris Hobbs 18 Selly Wick Road Selly Park Birmingham ## **Bank:** Lloyds Bank 142 Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham **Independent Examiner:** Dale Brusby 11 Woodstock Court Birmingham Chris Hobbs (Chairman) ____________________________ 36 CHARITY COMMISSION ! FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl m•mb•rs of St Stephen's and Sl Wulslan'8 Churches. Selly Park On a¢¢ounts for the year •nded De¢emtEr 2020 Charity no Ilf anyl 1135051 Set out on pag•s 23-37 I report lo the trustees on my examination of the accout)ts of the above ¢h8rity {￿he Trust.) for the year ended 31112 12020. Responsibilties and basis of report As the charty's trustees, you are responSi￿e for the preparab'on of the accounts in accordance with the r￿uIreMents of the Chari(ies Act 2011 (Yhe A¢t"i. I report in respect of rny examination of the Churches accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my ex8minalion, I have followed all the appliGable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Ad. Independent The charity's gross incorne exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of Chartered Institute Of Management Aecountants I have cornpleted my examination. I confirm that no materi81 matters have come lo my attention in connection with the examination which gives rne cause to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charrties Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting re¢ord8', OT the accounts did not comply with the app11cable requirements concerning the form and content of ac¢ounls sel out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regul8lions 2008 other Ih8n any requirem&nl Ih8t the accounts give a 'lrue and fair. view which is not 8 rnatter Conside￿ as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wi(h the examination lo which attention Should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slgn•d: 26 Namo: Dale Brusby R•l•vant professional qualificafjonl81 or body ACMA CGMA Address: 11 W¢)odslock Court, Kings Norton, Bimiingham B30 1 DX Oet 2018 IER 37