ST OSWllUI'S SOWERBY Annual report 2023 Parochial Church Council of St Oswald's Sowerby Annual Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Incumbent: Revd David Biggs (Priest-in-chargej As51Stant Priest.. Revd Pauline Percy Independent Examiner: Mr Barrie Lross, ACA Bankers: FISBC Independent Financial Advisor: Ellis Bares Group ChurLh Architect: David Beaumont Website: www. sow Facebook: Administrative Information St Oswald's Church is situated in Sowerby in North Yorkshirc. It is part of the Diocese ofyork within the Church of England. The current correspondence address is: 162 Front Street. Sowerby Y07 IJG. Sowerby PLL is a registered charity; number 1135485. Members of the Parochial Church Coundl Members of rhe PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APLM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. In 2023 the APCM was on 14 May 2023. During the year the following served as members ofthe PCC: Churchwardens (ex offitio): David Tucker (joint Vice Chair) Simon Birkbeck O'oint Vice Chair) Revd David Bisgs Revd Pauline Percy David Brooke Cecily Rand5 (retired September 2023) Helen Irving Yvonne Bowlln8 Sue Binn5 Priesi-in-charge (ex oJficio}: Assistant Priest (ex officio): Reader.. Recognised Parish Assistants: (now known as Authorised lay Mini5ters] Deanery Synod (ex officio): Elected Members from 14 May 2023 Retiring 2024 PauliTre Alderson Morna Stoakley Yvonne Bowling Andrew MCCOrnCk lill Drew Gayle Hartley Helen Irving (Standing Committee) David Brooke lane lackson (Secretsry- Standing Committee) Cecily Rands Graham Merriam (Treasurer and Standing Commirree) Rachel Halkyard (Candy) from December 2023 Retiring 3025 Rvtirin9 ZO26 Co-opted Members Structure, governance and management The Parochial Lhurch Council (PLL) is a corporate body established by the Church of F.ngland. Registered charity number 1135485
It operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is registered as a separate charity with the Charity Commission. The method of appointment of PCC member5 Is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encourdged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for elertion to the pcc. In normal circumstances the full PCC meets six tlmes a year. or more as needed. The PCC is supported by the Standing Committee. consisting of Churchwardens. Treasurer and Secretary and Children and Youth Minister. In addition, there are a few working groups which report to PCQ Our Deanery Synod Representatives attend meetings during the year and report back to the PCC. Special combined meetings of the PCCS of St Oswald Sowerby. All Saints Thirkteby. St Marfs Kilburn. St Cuthbert'5 Sessay and Sr Matys Bagby took place on 25th February 2023 and 2]Ml September 2023. Obfrectives of the PCC St Oswald's PCC worked with the Priest-ln-charge. the Rev David Biggs. in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church. pastoral. evangelistlc, Social and ecumenical. The PCC is also responsible for the management and maintenance of Sowerby Parochial Hall and Annexe. The Church. the Parochial Hall and the Annexe are norn]ally well. used and valued community assets and a base for our service to metnbers of the congregation and wider outreach to the parish as a whole. Our Missfion At St Oswald's ourvision is that we seek to Love God. Build Communityand Serve Sowerby. Review ofthe year. Achievements and Perforniance 2023 has been a year of some growth and a return to some'normallty after the impart of the Covid pandemic. We held two joint PCC sessions with the otherchurches of the plurality to tryand bulld Mission Action Plans for each church to take forward. Locally. this was to build on our stated vision to Love God. Build Communityand Serve Sowerby. This work remains to be developed further. We attempted to recruit a new Children. Families and Youth worker. We took the process through a job and person description, advertisin& interviewing and offering the position to a person who would have been suitable. Due to personal circumstances however. she was unable to take up the post. Pauline Alderson agreed to continue her fonner role (on a reduced basis) in the interim working one day per week We also bought in the advice of a youth adviser from the diocese in order to plan the Sunday night youth groups. Towards the end of 2023. we appointed Rachel Halkyard (a member ofour church) to act as our interim Children. Families and Youth Worker. She started work in time to plan the Christmas family activities. We were very pleased to welcome back Sowerby School and Keeble Gateway Academy for their Natlvlty services in church before Christmas. We continued the new Warm Welcome. lunches on Fridays throughout the year. This has been appreciated by a fairly regular group of mainly older people. During the year our Registered charlty nutnber 1135485
community %ocial activities included a 'Coronation Big Lunch. on the Hall field and also'coffee Cakes and Cr2fts' in the Autumn in the Hall. Our Lent Course was on the subject of'unanswered Prayer,. This was well attended and appreciated. We were excited to be able to hold a full-immersion adult baptism in church. The buildings remain in good repalr and we arranged fora full digital survey of the church and churchydrd to enable the Architect to advise on possible future developments to make the buildings more accessihle and to improve our facilities. Grdteful thanks are due fo Rev Sandra Howells and other visiting and retired clergy for assisting in conducting serv5ces in church. Children and Youth After the sad loss of laura Damulira at the end of 2022. Paullne Alderson returned In january for one day a week to keep the children and family work going. We held several Messy churLh session.s. including an Easter themed one on Good Friday which was very well attended. This attraLtL'd new familie5 who hdd not had any previous connection with St Oswald's. With help from volunteers from Thirkleby, Kilburn and Bagby we held a Messy Church in Thirkleby on 22nd April, The families who attended were all new to Messy ChurLh and appreciated the event. We returned on the 14th October ro hold a second Messy Lhurch using a Harvest theme. Some ofthose who attended then camc along to our Follow the Light Nighi event at.%r Oswald's on 315t October and our Messy f.hristingle service in December. These events, along. with the Crib Service on Christmas Eve, always attract and are appreciated by many families in the community. The Open the Book teams continued to visit Sowerby. Sessay. Keeble and Topcliffe primary schools to share Bible stories twice each half term. The children and the statfalways look forward to our visits. Holiday Club took place during the first week of the summer holiday with an'under the.Sea' theme. We shared stories from both the Old and NewTestaments with the children. The team ofvolunleers once again excelled themselves. working together to deliver a fun-filled. action packed week for the children. Many members of the youth group took on roles. responsibilities and leadership wilh great enthusiasm. Lots of families attended the Iloliday Cluh service on the Sunday mornin& Kids Club continued throughout the year with Godly Play each Isi and 2nd Sunday. This is always very popular. We greatly appreciate members of£owerby Methodist church who lead this with support from .%t Osw31d's helpers. Rev David introduced a Family Communion service each 4th Sunday of the month, where the children are involved in setting Ihe communion table. There is a shortened Kids Club session during this service so the children can attend communion. l.ittle Wonders baby and toddlergroup met every Monday morning in tern) tAme and we welcomed many new families throughout the year. The group is well attended and continues to grow. Thanks are due to the team of volunteers who work hard to make peoplL, feel welcome and provide a range of activities and refreshments. Several families enjoyed a joint vuting to Monk Park Farm in August with Little Ark c.lub from St Mary's. Registered charity number 1135485
The youth group has continued to meet in 2023. and continues to be well received by the young people. We started a new p31tern of having a session every Sunday in terni time with one session being a youth small group. Youth group would not be possible without the committed team of volunteeryouth leaders who continue to invesi in ouryoungpeople. In December there was a trip 10 The Oakes. a Christian activity centre. The young people had a great time. t2king part in acts"vities and engaging in Sessions explorin8'The First Christmas, and Who is Jesus7. In lune two families from St Oswald's attended the family weekend camp at Wydale Emmaus Centre which was organised by York Diocese. Adults and children thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and are looking fonvard to attending in 2024. At the beginning ofDecember we were delighted to welcome Rachel Halkyard as the new Children, Youth & Family worker. Parish and Community Events As described in the review of theyear, a'coronation Big Lunch, on the H1 field was held on 7th May and also 'Coffee Cakes and Crafts. on 18th November in the Hall. Alongside these a summer fair was held on 15ilE July. The church building was used for a number of different concerts throughout the year. A publlc service on Remembrance Sunday. 12 November. took place at the warmemorial and the church wa5 beautifullydecorated with flowers and the outside walls with knitted and crocheted poppies. Many thanks to Barbara Thornton and her team for continuing to provide flower arrangements and to Kath Reynard for tending the outdoor planters, Carol Singing around the Sowerby Christmas Trtt took place on Tuesday 19th December and was led by Rev David Biggs. Givin& Mfssion and Communlty We continued to support jigsaw Kids Ministries in the Philippines through regular gifts to CMS (to supporr their mission partner Tim Ie} and to jigsaw directly. We were inspired to hear from Tim Lee at a service on 5th November about the ways in which Jigsaw was serving the communities around them in the Philippines and about lives that were being transformed through this ministry. We have continued to host Warm Welcome Lunches. These take place on Friday lunchtlmes from 12 noon in the Parochial Hall. These are intended to provide a place for people to come where it is warm and welcoming and to have a simple lunch. The lunches are free. A rota of helpers is organised by Pauline Alderson to ensure this happens. Special thanks are due to Penny Merriam, Sandra Howells and occasional others who cook the soups and source the ingredients. We regularly support Thirsk Community Works (CW) in their service to the wider community. Our harvest gifts and occasional offerings on special services (e.&. ChrSstrnas) have been given to them. We have a box in church available for non-perishable food donations towards their food bank Our Christmas offerings this year were split three ways between Red Cross- Israel and Occupied Palestine Territory Appeal, Church Army and Salvatson Army (local). Registered chariry number 1135485
The Parochial Hall is a valued community asset. There are many groups who regularly meet throughvut theyear as well as privaEe events. The 100 Llub which raises funds towards the running costs was able to continue and increased its contribution to the Hall's incomc. Pastoral work: Our pastoral Recogni5ed Parish Assistsnts (RPA), Cecily Rands and Yvonne Bowling iontinued their support ufelderly and vulnerable people. Cecily is standing down from being an RPA but she is still involved in pastoral work The Mothers. Union continued their meetings during the year. The Prayer Circle continued to operate throughout 2023 to support those in particular need of prayer. Many thanks to lill Drew for coordinating this. Monthly Singing for loy sessions continued for residents of Orchid House and the bungalows and surrounding community. Farming chaplaincy.. Yvonne Bowling continued her work as an assistant chaplain working under RLIV Dianne Garnble to provide support to the farming community at the Auction Mart located in the parish. Ecumenical relations: St Oswald's values the covenant with rhe Methodist Church. A joint Christma¥ card with the Methodist Church was distributed using the delivery team. The children and youth team have continued to work ecumenically and joint.services were planned to celebrate festivals through theyear. We especially enjoyed the Easter Messy Church, Summer Holiday Club. and our Christingle and Crib service& safeguarding Elizabeth Allen continued as our Safeguarding olcer until the APCM in May 2023. Amanda Wo()d was appointed as parish Safeguarding oificer, taking over from F.lizabeth. All PCC members are DBS checked and musi complete a Confidential Declaration Form and complete an on-line safeguarding training course. St 05wald's PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 ofthe.5afeguardin8 and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have regard to House of Bishop's guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Financial review ()ur VoluiilLiry Income has been maintained through the generosity of many people and has allowed us to raise our Freewill Offering to the Diocese trom £60.000 to £62,400. 2023 has been a year of transition as we await the appointment of a new Candy worker but still continue to benefit from much of the Voluntary Income that partially supports the role. Although, on the face of it, our total income appears to be much reduced at £149,635 (2022- E167.120) most of this is due to the large grant for the refurbishment nf the Hall in 2022. There were also significant donations from other parishes in 2022 to support the full-time C2ndY post which we hope will return in 2024. Overall, we generated a surplus of £8,551 (2022 - £55). A part of this is ilttributable to the performance of the Parochial Hall which raised its inLome from lettin8s to £20.105 (2022 - £14.350) and its net surplus to £2,525 (2022 - £5,241) having Piiid for the carpark and fencing. This leave5 the Hall in a much healthier place with residual reserves of £10,822 - there Is still work to do in the carpark and the exterior painting of the whole building has now become essential. The Soup Lunches have continued throughout the year producing donations of £4,511 of which El,250 has been given collectively to the Lambert and Community Works. All surpluses Registered charity number 1135485
are or will be given away. Huge thanks are due to the volunteer team that manages the Hall. rhe Soup Lunches, 100 Club and maintenance. Reserves Policy It is the PCC'S intention 10 spend those Reserves that are Restricted on their defjned purposes. in due course. Unrestricted Reserrfes include an amount that is Designated for the Parochial Hall and the PCC aim5 to safeguard these foran ongoing plan of refijrbishment The remainder of Unrestricted Reserves represent approximately three months income which the PCC feels is the minimutn that it should aim to hold for normal levels of activity. The Church buildln& fabric. ornaments and furnishing& The buildings team continued to organise the management of the buildings. A number of working parties undertook maintenance tasks throughout theyear. A separate report on the building fabric, ornaments and furnishings is available. Thanks Grateful thanks are expressed to all at St Oswald's who have worked so hard, sometimes in different Ways from normal. and with so much dedication for the benefit of the church and wider community. May we continue to love God and our neighbours near and far as we seek to serve Christ in this place. We remember that our hope Is always in lesus ChriSL oursaviour. roved by the PCC on 25 March 2024. and signed on their behalf. David Chu er warden Simon Birkbeck Churchwarden Rev David Biggs Priest-in-charge Build Community. Serve Sowerby. Registered charity number 1135485
ST OSWlllDI SOWERBY Registered charity number 1135485 Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 Independent Examiner's Report Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet Notes to the Accounts
Independent examlnerfs report to the Trustees of The Parochial Church COU01 of The Ecclesia5tkal Parish of St 05wald Sowerby I report to the trustees on my exarnination of the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 which are set out on pages 2 to 7. ResPOn51blll¢les and basls of report As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparatlon ol the accounts In accordance with the requirewnents of the Charities Att 20111Ihe ACV). I report In respect of my examination of the Trustee's accourrts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions Elven by the Charity Commission under section 1451511b) of the 2011 Act. Independent emamlnerfs ststement I have completed my examlnation. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention In connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any materSal respect: (11 accounting records were not kept in respect of the as required by 5ectFon 130 of the Act: or 121 the accounts do not accord with those records,. or (31 the accounts do not comply wlth the applicable requirements concerning the forni and content of accounts set out in the Charitie5 IAc¢ount5 and Reports) Regulations 2CQ8 other than anv requirement that the accounts Er¥e a 'true arNJ fair view. which is not a matter consldered a5 part of an independent exarnlnation. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connettion wath the exarnination to which attention sl)ould be drawn in this report in order to enable o proper understandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Barrie Cross ACA The Barker Partnership Chartered Accountants 17 Central Buildin8s Markei Place Thir5k North Yorkshire Y07 IHD Date- 1414
20 TrAal Funds Fun TO¢al Voiuiiiwy Incom• 46.162 14.959 46.162 47.898 Ta¥ Rets¥l¥ 1.7 1743 1.967 s.sor 2.f29 7.n3 783 6Z34 6.519 534 7.370 Dona$ mlo Cwdy 8 Grfl 6234 W811 Dox 8 &xsial 119 1784 91.996 wjo pcc Or9th91 & Bell RrewB 9.891 8.982 910 270 3,975 140 Inc(ffi• from 8y Coffee FWMI & Sa 370 3.on Cther Iwe 975 R•currfng Grnnl WaYéa¥e 8 122 2.4LX 2.4LY) Iwr trndlty •r¢hS110¥ PwrLthI Hai Irm InLe 121 ParrK41 Hal Eatrnw 1fy) CAJ 1.105 20.1th5 1.2 28.774 4.511 876 9Z3 IGrwsi & INeMt 1.4 1.Tr37 l.W7 141359 149.$35 117.119 E4dIfr• on charmab nots Ji 7.007 14125S 114889 Il•1 IrmItlr•l Ixf¢)re 7.132 N•ty1(lo8W on In¥wlwbl 1,5$1 Baian¢•i 1 &nry X123 46.714 11S3 49.867 49M13 Balan 31 D•e•mbw 23
21 2021 ro Fund¥ Fund¥ Ff••llS Oll•rtng S¥larf•6, Hon¢Jrnrf• VDBF YO8F 6WO 3.975 21.743 Athin Sthry 1150 ly) IQ214 2.150 I25 270 15.214 .913 VuFwJe Costs 1.12Q 874 1.120 874 1.921 43 57S 1,132 GftlÉ 797 787 &n4 Church RnIng ae•wwJ 1.818 1.895 531 471 477 183 2.873 gJ17 2.873 9.817 2.212 ¢hurth Ulllhh• 3221 180 3.221 2.867 VlatwR 915 44 Chw¢h Almknhl 3.474 3.474 3n 231 373 238 352 1.853 37$ 375 Dok)alkn¥ to Chwltl• 4,191 050 2.714 7,814 Co•ts ofgenwaurwj fund Parttfu81 H811Th)te 12) Cwr¥J c(dts 16.(O2 16.082 11314 27.793 JWJ LutKth Costs 4.013 27h61 F•brk Costs eci'6 F0•9 .287 .287 4.737 4.731 Tdal ¢h•rtwbl•¥cllvMI•s 135.22T IK235 164619
Paro¢hial Church Coun¢il of St Oswald's Sowwby Balance Shè•t as at 31 Decernb•r 2023 2023 2022 Fixed Ag$0ts 2,033 Curr•rrt Assets Invesltnenls Debtors Bank Accrnts Prepayments Cash BalarKes 33,192 2,794 22,125 31,176 3,729 14,575 271 200 49.951 200 Cr¢ditors Sundry Cre(Ji1rys l(Kl Club Deposi15 for followirg year 314 2.208 2.522 1.980 N•t Curr•nt Ass 58.418 49,867 R•pr•8•nt•d ty. Unrèstnetttd Fuf Restn¢ted Funds 10 11 46.714 3,153 3.422 Net Funds 58,418 49.867 Approved ty Ihe Paroehial Churth 25 IAarch 2024 and signed on its behall by Rev David 8iggs PTiest4n-chargo Simon Birkbeck ChLwchwarden
Parochial Church Councll of St Oswald'• Sowetby Notes to the Financlal Ststem¢nts for the year ended 31 De¢emIr 2023 Accountlng Pollcles Ac¢ountlng Convontion The accounts are prepared ufftr Ihe hislDrtal cfjst convention 2nd in ac¢crdance wilh the Church Accounting Regulations 20Lb and the Accounbng ant1 Rewrttng by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice appluble lo Chartls preparing their a¢counts in aCcdare with FRS 102 Ichanbes SORP IFRS 1021 and the ChanhesAct 2011. The financ1 slatements have been prepared under the historlcal c•st conventson except for the ValUatK of investment assets which are shthvn at mthet value. Funds Gene lunds represent the fuNJs of Ihe PCC Ihat are not subpd to any restricons regarding their use and 8re available lor appIatiOn on Ihe general pu)SeS of tha PCC. Funds desi9nated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unresthcted. The lnts indude all transactions, assets and liabilrb.es for whth the PCC Is reSP)nsib in law. They do not include the xcounts of church groups that owe theK main affiltats.on to another body or Ihose that are infoml gatherings ol church mernbe. Ineomlng Resourcos Voluntary incomo and capal sour¢es Collectsons are recognised when received by or on behall of tho PCC Planned glving receNable under Grft Aid is recognised only when recewed. Ir tax rècoverable on Gift AKI donatK>ns Is rEcognised when receive<l. Grants and lewEs to the PCC are Counted for when receNed. Funds raised by events are aeeounled for gross. Sales ol tcoks and rnagazines are accounted for gross. Other income Inrne from the Paroch1 Hall rs recogni8ed when due. Incorne from bank Investments Bank interest enuuements are accounted for as they ac4Jve ano appear gross. Ro8ources oxpended The dtocesan pansh share is accounted for th il IS . The PCC has paid its lull share wlthin Ihe year. Balanc• Sheet- Fixed Assèts Consecrated property and moveable church fumlshlngs Consecrated and beneficed W0rty ol any kind 15 excluded from the accounts ty S10(2al of the Charibes Act 2011. Moveable church furnishings held by thè VKar 8nd Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and whh require a faculty for disFx)sal, are accountefj as wlIenable property unless consecrated. They are list&J in the church's inventory whth can be inspected at any reasonable time. For inaliènable propety acquired pnor to 2000 there is insuffic1 ¢¥5t 1nfcffitr0n availab and therefore such assets are not valued In the accounts. Expendrture incurred in the year on consecrated or beneficed buildings, indivual ite under £1000 or on the repaw of rrthiabk church items awuirtsj befo 1 January 2C is wrrtten off. Other Fixtures and FittÉngS Depratiofi is provided al 10% ol cost on Hall Furniture arKI EqUry)Enl is calculated to write off the tosl less residual value ol exh asset over its uselul life. Indrvidual Items of equipnwl with a purchase pnce of £1000 or less will b& written off as the asset 1$ •)4uired. Not Incomiryloutgolng R•sour¢e This is staled after charging.. Depreciabon and other amounts wntten off tsThJible ed assets Reporbrs ac¢ounlanl'8 fee8 2023 2022 405 250 250
Investmenis During 2009 the Church enlilknl to Ihe Arthur tkwheller Thompson Trust Fund following the death of the resKluary life tenant The Inve5trnents are quoted in the accounts al market value as al 31&t De¢wnb8r 2022. The use ol U)Is lund unrestrted Employm•nt costs Included in employment costs are salaries pa to PCC n*mbers in their ro as the Charity's Child and Youth Minislers No employee of PCC wnber weived 8m0luftts of nx)ie than £60,000 12022 .' None). Debtor5 2023 2022 Hall Hire Due from B8nefre panshes & others lor ajnwnistralive costs & copyin9 2.463 331 2,794 3.298 431 3,729 Bank Accounts Church Paro¢hial Hall Deml 'Scweity Candy (Note 121 704 1.851 11,524 1.634 427 10,642 1,872 14,575 22.125 Credttor6." Falllng due within one year and more Gas bills for Church and Hall Hall 10CClub- 2022 Subscriptions 314 2,208 1522 1,980 1.980 Analy818 ol N•t Assets by Funds unrestrlrt Restrlctad Total Fixed Assets Cuent Assets Current Liatmlit Fund Balanc• 2.033 54,943 1,980 2.033 58,365 1.980 58818 3.422 3,422 10 Unrestrlcted Funds DesKJnaled funds a Included in unreslricted lunds and aro frjr lh8 maintenance and Improveffent of Ihe Parh1?1 Church Hall. See rKite 13 11 Anatysl8 ol Rgstricted Funds 111r2023 Movement Movement 3111212023 Bells Chanty Saints Aivè Mexico 2021 Trip Soup Lunches 2,764 2.764 750 1,168 337 1153 750 4.512 7,276 4,063 7.007 3N22 SaintsPJivè is the resKdue of money handed ovw from the old joint Saints Alr account. The Bells account is a lon9-Standing fund from whNth repairs are tsken over time. Mexicn 2021 is dep05tts taken on a proposed youth trip n(AY defefrod and held for gerwat youth acbvity. 12 Sowerby Candy This account is a ioint Ventu belween St Oswald's Churth and S(rwerby MethcKllst Churth. It. vehKk foi rai3ing neY 10 5UPWrt chikjren's and youtfi wort The acifvty t8 rellected In St Oswald's accounts as a restricted fund for ConVennce and Irwency.
13 Paro¢hlal Hall 20Z3 2022 Incom• Letts'ngs Earniry from 100 Club Refurbishment GrantgDonalK)ns ReceNed Donat5 received Total Income 20.105 1.286 3.590 942 25.923 14,350 28.774 S40 Operatlng Costs lor th• year Caretaker & Cleaner canIng Materials Wndow Cleanw Gas EleclrKity Èter Insurance Miscellaneous repairs Gas certs"fKate and boiler repairs Fire Protection 8 PAT Tesb"ng PTofessh)nal Fees re Scout Hut ground rent Bank Charges Dewwatlcffj of Equirmment 7.072 538 316 260 1.337 797 437 870 8CQ 391 175 2.736 413 700 1.150 321 123 140 Total Operatlng Costs 16,062 11314 ExCePOnal Exp8nditure for thè year Tfee suTrJery on carpark trees Refurt>ishffont of Hall Intenor Car Park entryance and farKtng Annexe TV & Blind$ 420 27,793 6.348 Total Exceptlonal Costs 7,336 27,793 Surplus lor Ih? year 2.525 5341 Fund Batance at 1 January 2023 8.297 3,066 Ro8ldual Fund Balanu at 31 December 2023 10.822 8.297 This fund is deswnated but not restrthd.
ST OSWllUI'S SOWERBY Annual report 2023 Parochial Church Council of St Oswald's Sowerby Annual Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2023 Incumbent: Revd David Biggs (Priest-in-chargej As51Stant Priest.. Revd Pauline Percy Independent Examiner: Mr Barrie Lross, ACA Bankers: FISBC Independent Financial Advisor: Ellis Bares Group ChurLh Architect: David Beaumont Website: www. sow Facebook: Administrative Information St Oswald's Church is situated in Sowerby in North Yorkshirc. It is part of the Diocese ofyork within the Church of England. The current correspondence address is: 162 Front Street. Sowerby Y07 IJG. Sowerby PLL is a registered charity; number 1135485. Members of the Parochial Church Coundl Members of rhe PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APLM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. In 2023 the APCM was on 14 May 2023. During the year the following served as members ofthe PCC: Churchwardens (ex offitio): David Tucker (joint Vice Chair) Simon Birkbeck O'oint Vice Chair) Revd David Bisgs Revd Pauline Percy David Brooke Cecily Rand5 (retired September 2023) Helen Irving Yvonne Bowlln8 Sue Binn5 Priesi-in-charge (ex oJficio}: Assistant Priest (ex officio): Reader.. Recognised Parish Assistants: (now known as Authorised lay Mini5ters] Deanery Synod (ex officio): Elected Members from 14 May 2023 Retiring 2024 PauliTre Alderson Morna Stoakley Yvonne Bowling Andrew MCCOrnCk lill Drew Gayle Hartley Helen Irving (Standing Committee) David Brooke lane lackson (Secretsry- Standing Committee) Cecily Rands Graham Merriam (Treasurer and Standing Commirree) Rachel Halkyard (Candy) from December 2023 Retiring 3025 Rvtirin9 ZO26 Co-opted Members Structure, governance and management The Parochial Lhurch Council (PLL) is a corporate body established by the Church of F.ngland. Registered charity number 1135485
It operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is registered as a separate charity with the Charity Commission. The method of appointment of PCC member5 Is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encourdged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for elertion to the pcc. In normal circumstances the full PCC meets six tlmes a year. or more as needed. The PCC is supported by the Standing Committee. consisting of Churchwardens. Treasurer and Secretary and Children and Youth Minister. In addition, there are a few working groups which report to PCQ Our Deanery Synod Representatives attend meetings during the year and report back to the PCC. Special combined meetings of the PCCS of St Oswald Sowerby. All Saints Thirkteby. St Marfs Kilburn. St Cuthbert'5 Sessay and Sr Matys Bagby took place on 25th February 2023 and 2]Ml September 2023. Obfrectives of the PCC St Oswald's PCC worked with the Priest-ln-charge. the Rev David Biggs. in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church. pastoral. evangelistlc, Social and ecumenical. The PCC is also responsible for the management and maintenance of Sowerby Parochial Hall and Annexe. The Church. the Parochial Hall and the Annexe are norn]ally well. used and valued community assets and a base for our service to metnbers of the congregation and wider outreach to the parish as a whole. Our Missfion At St Oswald's ourvision is that we seek to Love God. Build Communityand Serve Sowerby. Review ofthe year. Achievements and Perforniance 2023 has been a year of some growth and a return to some'normallty after the impart of the Covid pandemic. We held two joint PCC sessions with the otherchurches of the plurality to tryand bulld Mission Action Plans for each church to take forward. Locally. this was to build on our stated vision to Love God. Build Communityand Serve Sowerby. This work remains to be developed further. We attempted to recruit a new Children. Families and Youth worker. We took the process through a job and person description, advertisin& interviewing and offering the position to a person who would have been suitable. Due to personal circumstances however. she was unable to take up the post. Pauline Alderson agreed to continue her fonner role (on a reduced basis) in the interim working one day per week We also bought in the advice of a youth adviser from the diocese in order to plan the Sunday night youth groups. Towards the end of 2023. we appointed Rachel Halkyard (a member ofour church) to act as our interim Children. Families and Youth Worker. She started work in time to plan the Christmas family activities. We were very pleased to welcome back Sowerby School and Keeble Gateway Academy for their Natlvlty services in church before Christmas. We continued the new Warm Welcome. lunches on Fridays throughout the year. This has been appreciated by a fairly regular group of mainly older people. During the year our Registered charlty nutnber 1135485
community %ocial activities included a 'Coronation Big Lunch. on the Hall field and also'coffee Cakes and Cr2fts' in the Autumn in the Hall. Our Lent Course was on the subject of'unanswered Prayer,. This was well attended and appreciated. We were excited to be able to hold a full-immersion adult baptism in church. The buildings remain in good repalr and we arranged fora full digital survey of the church and churchydrd to enable the Architect to advise on possible future developments to make the buildings more accessihle and to improve our facilities. Grdteful thanks are due fo Rev Sandra Howells and other visiting and retired clergy for assisting in conducting serv5ces in church. Children and Youth After the sad loss of laura Damulira at the end of 2022. Paullne Alderson returned In january for one day a week to keep the children and family work going. We held several Messy churLh session.s. including an Easter themed one on Good Friday which was very well attended. This attraLtL'd new familie5 who hdd not had any previous connection with St Oswald's. With help from volunteers from Thirkleby, Kilburn and Bagby we held a Messy Church in Thirkleby on 22nd April, The families who attended were all new to Messy ChurLh and appreciated the event. We returned on the 14th October ro hold a second Messy Lhurch using a Harvest theme. Some ofthose who attended then camc along to our Follow the Light Nighi event at.%r Oswald's on 315t October and our Messy f.hristingle service in December. These events, along. with the Crib Service on Christmas Eve, always attract and are appreciated by many families in the community. The Open the Book teams continued to visit Sowerby. Sessay. Keeble and Topcliffe primary schools to share Bible stories twice each half term. The children and the statfalways look forward to our visits. Holiday Club took place during the first week of the summer holiday with an'under the.Sea' theme. We shared stories from both the Old and NewTestaments with the children. The team ofvolunleers once again excelled themselves. working together to deliver a fun-filled. action packed week for the children. Many members of the youth group took on roles. responsibilities and leadership wilh great enthusiasm. Lots of families attended the Iloliday Cluh service on the Sunday mornin& Kids Club continued throughout the year with Godly Play each Isi and 2nd Sunday. This is always very popular. We greatly appreciate members of£owerby Methodist church who lead this with support from .%t Osw31d's helpers. Rev David introduced a Family Communion service each 4th Sunday of the month, where the children are involved in setting Ihe communion table. There is a shortened Kids Club session during this service so the children can attend communion. l.ittle Wonders baby and toddlergroup met every Monday morning in tern) tAme and we welcomed many new families throughout the year. The group is well attended and continues to grow. Thanks are due to the team of volunteers who work hard to make peoplL, feel welcome and provide a range of activities and refreshments. Several families enjoyed a joint vuting to Monk Park Farm in August with Little Ark c.lub from St Mary's. Registered charity number 1135485
The youth group has continued to meet in 2023. and continues to be well received by the young people. We started a new p31tern of having a session every Sunday in terni time with one session being a youth small group. Youth group would not be possible without the committed team of volunteeryouth leaders who continue to invesi in ouryoungpeople. In December there was a trip 10 The Oakes. a Christian activity centre. The young people had a great time. t2king part in acts"vities and engaging in Sessions explorin8'The First Christmas, and Who is Jesus7. In lune two families from St Oswald's attended the family weekend camp at Wydale Emmaus Centre which was organised by York Diocese. Adults and children thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and are looking fonvard to attending in 2024. At the beginning ofDecember we were delighted to welcome Rachel Halkyard as the new Children, Youth & Family worker. Parish and Community Events As described in the review of theyear, a'coronation Big Lunch, on the H1 field was held on 7th May and also 'Coffee Cakes and Crafts. on 18th November in the Hall. Alongside these a summer fair was held on 15ilE July. The church building was used for a number of different concerts throughout the year. A publlc service on Remembrance Sunday. 12 November. took place at the warmemorial and the church wa5 beautifullydecorated with flowers and the outside walls with knitted and crocheted poppies. Many thanks to Barbara Thornton and her team for continuing to provide flower arrangements and to Kath Reynard for tending the outdoor planters, Carol Singing around the Sowerby Christmas Trtt took place on Tuesday 19th December and was led by Rev David Biggs. Givin& Mfssion and Communlty We continued to support jigsaw Kids Ministries in the Philippines through regular gifts to CMS (to supporr their mission partner Tim Ie} and to jigsaw directly. We were inspired to hear from Tim Lee at a service on 5th November about the ways in which Jigsaw was serving the communities around them in the Philippines and about lives that were being transformed through this ministry. We have continued to host Warm Welcome Lunches. These take place on Friday lunchtlmes from 12 noon in the Parochial Hall. These are intended to provide a place for people to come where it is warm and welcoming and to have a simple lunch. The lunches are free. A rota of helpers is organised by Pauline Alderson to ensure this happens. Special thanks are due to Penny Merriam, Sandra Howells and occasional others who cook the soups and source the ingredients. We regularly support Thirsk Community Works (CW) in their service to the wider community. Our harvest gifts and occasional offerings on special services (e.&. ChrSstrnas) have been given to them. We have a box in church available for non-perishable food donations towards their food bank Our Christmas offerings this year were split three ways between Red Cross- Israel and Occupied Palestine Territory Appeal, Church Army and Salvatson Army (local). Registered chariry number 1135485
The Parochial Hall is a valued community asset. There are many groups who regularly meet throughvut theyear as well as privaEe events. The 100 Llub which raises funds towards the running costs was able to continue and increased its contribution to the Hall's incomc. Pastoral work: Our pastoral Recogni5ed Parish Assistsnts (RPA), Cecily Rands and Yvonne Bowling iontinued their support ufelderly and vulnerable people. Cecily is standing down from being an RPA but she is still involved in pastoral work The Mothers. Union continued their meetings during the year. The Prayer Circle continued to operate throughout 2023 to support those in particular need of prayer. Many thanks to lill Drew for coordinating this. Monthly Singing for loy sessions continued for residents of Orchid House and the bungalows and surrounding community. Farming chaplaincy.. Yvonne Bowling continued her work as an assistant chaplain working under RLIV Dianne Garnble to provide support to the farming community at the Auction Mart located in the parish. Ecumenical relations: St Oswald's values the covenant with rhe Methodist Church. A joint Christma¥ card with the Methodist Church was distributed using the delivery team. The children and youth team have continued to work ecumenically and joint.services were planned to celebrate festivals through theyear. We especially enjoyed the Easter Messy Church, Summer Holiday Club. and our Christingle and Crib service& safeguarding Elizabeth Allen continued as our Safeguarding olcer until the APCM in May 2023. Amanda Wo()d was appointed as parish Safeguarding oificer, taking over from F.lizabeth. All PCC members are DBS checked and musi complete a Confidential Declaration Form and complete an on-line safeguarding training course. St 05wald's PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 ofthe.5afeguardin8 and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have regard to House of Bishop's guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Financial review ()ur VoluiilLiry Income has been maintained through the generosity of many people and has allowed us to raise our Freewill Offering to the Diocese trom £60.000 to £62,400. 2023 has been a year of transition as we await the appointment of a new Candy worker but still continue to benefit from much of the Voluntary Income that partially supports the role. Although, on the face of it, our total income appears to be much reduced at £149,635 (2022- E167.120) most of this is due to the large grant for the refurbishment nf the Hall in 2022. There were also significant donations from other parishes in 2022 to support the full-time C2ndY post which we hope will return in 2024. Overall, we generated a surplus of £8,551 (2022 - £55). A part of this is ilttributable to the performance of the Parochial Hall which raised its inLome from lettin8s to £20.105 (2022 - £14.350) and its net surplus to £2,525 (2022 - £5,241) having Piiid for the carpark and fencing. This leave5 the Hall in a much healthier place with residual reserves of £10,822 - there Is still work to do in the carpark and the exterior painting of the whole building has now become essential. The Soup Lunches have continued throughout the year producing donations of £4,511 of which El,250 has been given collectively to the Lambert and Community Works. All surpluses Registered charity number 1135485
are or will be given away. Huge thanks are due to the volunteer team that manages the Hall. rhe Soup Lunches, 100 Club and maintenance. Reserves Policy It is the PCC'S intention 10 spend those Reserves that are Restricted on their defjned purposes. in due course. Unrestricted Reserrfes include an amount that is Designated for the Parochial Hall and the PCC aim5 to safeguard these foran ongoing plan of refijrbishment The remainder of Unrestricted Reserves represent approximately three months income which the PCC feels is the minimutn that it should aim to hold for normal levels of activity. The Church buildln& fabric. ornaments and furnishing& The buildings team continued to organise the management of the buildings. A number of working parties undertook maintenance tasks throughout theyear. A separate report on the building fabric, ornaments and furnishings is available. Thanks Grateful thanks are expressed to all at St Oswald's who have worked so hard, sometimes in different Ways from normal. and with so much dedication for the benefit of the church and wider community. May we continue to love God and our neighbours near and far as we seek to serve Christ in this place. We remember that our hope Is always in lesus ChriSL oursaviour. roved by the PCC on 25 March 2024. and signed on their behalf. David Chu er warden Simon Birkbeck Churchwarden Rev David Biggs Priest-in-charge Build Community. Serve Sowerby. Registered charity number 1135485