**Agenda for the Annual Meeting of Parishioners** The Parish of Felixstowe, St John the Baptst with St Edmund (Also known as the Annual Parish Meeting or Easter Vestry Meeting) Diocese of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich 1. Apologies for Absence - _‘Open to God …… Open to All’_ - 2. Minutes of the Annual Meeting of Parishioners held on 23rd May 2021 - www.FelixParish.com Reg. Charity No. 1135596 - 3. Matters Arising from the Minutes 4. Election of Churchwardens ## **Agenda for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting** 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting held on 23rd May 2021 3. Matters Arising from the Minutes 4. Reports of the PCC to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting: - (a) Electoral Roll - (b) Secretary to the PCC - (c) Financial Statement of the PCC for the year ending 31[st] December 2021 - (d) Fabric Report - (e) Deanery Synod Report - (f) Church reports 5. Elections A minimum of 5 members to serve for a period of 3 years on the PCC Agenda and Reports 6. Appointments for the Annual Meetng of Parishioners Independent Examiner and the 7. A.O.B Annual Parochial Church Meetng any items to be raised must be notified in writing to the Chairman no later than 12 noon on Saturday 2nd April 2022. Sunday 3rd April 2022 at 11.15 am 8. Closing Prayers 3 ## **Structure, governance and management** The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church representation rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. Under the Church Representation Rules, the PCC is able to have a maximum of 12 elected lay members, and during the last year has been made up of 8 elected lay members; there are 5 vacancies to be filled at the APCM in 2022. ## **Objectives and activities** The purpose of the PCC is set out in the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, and it states: (1) It shall be the duty of the minister and the PCC to consult together on matters of general concern and importance to the parish. - (2) The functions of parochial church councils shall include— - (a) co-operation with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the - Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical; - (b) the consideration and discussions of matters concerning the Church of England or any - other matters of religious or public interest, but not the declaration of the doctrine of the Church on any question; - (c) making known and putting into effect any provision made by the diocesan synod or the - deanery synod, but without prejudice to the powers of the council on any particular matter; - (d) giving advice to the diocesan synod and the deanery synod on any matter referred to the council; - (e) raising such matters as the council consider appropriate with the diocesan synod or - deanery synod. - (3) In the exercise of its functions the parochial church council shall take into consideration any expression of opinion by any parochial church meeting. ## **Reserves policy** The Reserves policy was agreed by the PCC at the meeting on 15th June 2017. £60,000 is currently set as the level for the Parish Reserves. This will be reviewed by the PCC at the first meeting of the new PCC after each APCM. (This money will only be touched in great need.) ## **Church attendance** As of March 2021 there were 126 members on the electoral roll. ## **Review of the year** The report of the Secretary to the PCC is included within this report ## **Financial Review** The report of the Treasurer to the PCC is included within this report 4 # **PCC information for the APCM The Parish of Felixstowe, Saint John the Baptist with Saint Edmund Annual Reports of the Parochial Church Council for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2021** ## **Administrative Information** Saint John the Baptist’s Church is situated on the corner of Orwell Road and Princes Road within the Felixstowe Conservation Area; and Saint Edmund’s is on Langer Road. It is a part of the Colneys Deanery within the Ipswich Archdeaconry of the Diocese of Saint Edmundsbury and Ipswich. The correspondence address is The New Vicarage, 54 Princes Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 7PL. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a registered charity number 1135596 PCC members who have served from 1 January 2021 until this report was approved are: |Priest in Charge:|Reverend Andrew Dotchin|Chairman|| |---|---|---|---| |Associate Priest;|Reverend Penny Brinkley|Ex – Officio|| |Associate Priest:|Reverend Philip Young|Ex – Officio|| |Wardens:|Mr James Lumley (from APCM 2021)||| |Representatives on|the Deanery Synod||| ||Reverend Penny Brinkley|Ex-Officio|| ||Mrs Jan Hickman|Ex-Officio|Vice Chairman| ||Mrs Gillian Berry|Ex-Officio|| ||Mr Garath Jones|Ex-Officio|| |Elected Members:|||| ||Diana Barnard *||| ||Barbara Bown **||| ||Penny Brookes ***||| ||Sheila Donald *|Secretary to|the PCC| ||Kath George* (until APCM 2021)||| ||Denis Heath **||| ||June Heath **||| ||Sharon Hume *|Parish Administrator|| ||Kate Prewer **||| ||***Term expires at APCM 2022||| ||**Elected in 2020 for 3 years||| ||*Elected in 2021 for 3 years||| ANNUALHEEllNG OFPARISHIONEPS 231D MAY2021 Apolw'es for absence: sheda Donald John and ZeJD Mullet¢ Revd PwBnDklry.ADlla￿ phthpyouyrlalle Pearn. Catherine Bond MaryBJngW Teny obb Minutss frnm the ADuUalMeetsDgofparL4uo￿T5he￿I OD iith OLtobu 202Tr. ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CIIURCH MEEfiNG 23ID MAY 2021 Apologies for absence: shelia Donald John and Zem MulletL Revd PwBnDkky.kn and pbthpYouD&JaDe Pear5e. Catherine BOll(LmayBJD8b￿ Terry Gibb L4zWatson Reprts ofthe PCC. b) Andrew extended h13 thankry to PCC Seartary sheda Donald forcopmgvAth PCC Secretarywith the added ￿UeS ofzoom meetsngs and fxemaskn dj Fabric Report (as 8Then in e) DeaDerySynod Report (u gwen inpx*) fj church Report PuShd￿]r Rtsknp: The Pansh PAThtyw￿ contKnueto run The Belb: there be 2 simulatoruutawto aidlear￿fOrbejhnge 6 ## **SECRETARY’S REPORT TO THE APCM 2021 – 2022** There have been 8 full PCC meetings, and 1 brief meeting since the last APCM. Matters most discussed have been;- - Pushchair Pitstop’s growth - Parish Pantry financing - How and when to lift Covid restrictions - Church finances - The Vestry flooding - Church roof maintenance - Tower pointing - Electrical work - St John’s garden - New Social events and fundraising Sheila Donald March 2022 ## **Finance Report 2021-22** The detail of ‘what’ can be seen in the accompanying statement of accounts that 2021-22 has not been a great year, but has considering all circumstances not been a bad year either. The headline is, we have spent £21,243 more than we made over the 12 months. The notable differences is a 26% increase in general expenditure against 2020, but keeping in mind C-19, with lockdowns it is likely not a true comparison of normal year, like for like. The bottom line is, we spend with caution and consideration to allow the church to function and offer services to parishioners and benefit the wider parish at need. The fact that our internal income growth over the last 24 months does not match our external cost increases is a concern. Despite all courageous efforts of those who donate time and services for free, those who organise and attend fundraising endeavours and legacies received. We need to turn our -£21,000 into +£21,000 over this next 12 months, finding an additional +£42,000 to enable both the fabric and the wellbeing essentials to sustain future need. The PCC will continue to act with due diligence to mitigate unnecessary spend, ensuring the sustainment of fabric and services within a backdrop of rising inflation and demand through 2022-23. James Lumley Church Warden March 2022 T¢rt¥ E¥s.M o)m £a8&53J E2.8242) £2T1614 E2.11624 E49m17 eijyJ￿) tlljy) ¢1.W*77 El59I77 J.Tr £IAhY.7T roL7ts £3Y).17 £1& 3W.f7 35 1103 25.fo £iY).98 £l.rn.flJ £J.v￿.10 É4B2&.03 .oJ -VAT £*•J3.ry3 ¥5.4￿03 £aB.I0 X*.78 e.191• Oth•ri#Mm• Toiits E5T.531X EIS&M.O7 Exp•ndltur• charflable A¢lMU•$ £iM. onsh4Nr¥bl• •¢Nvlll*$ Tolils £WI.74T45 413T oth¢rexp¢néll¥r• w.o) q444.0) t3A21.10 2013.PYow4J 2D22. £WO.LY* fZ514rAI 23Q. F•tskp¥rtth .197.14 £iC*.70 £1.197.14 f•.TD D)7.￿p•r￿N £414. £tJ.4T .4T £zx&i• £)￿0.61 £4Mn75 ti.431.14 fZ6104 tt81Q4 .715. Zl.71 ei*L)n Jjro m8 £1W.7P 04•120 tXl•rexpendllirre Totsls li T*)111 ÉIW12(O U&Wkl.55 £t74OMOI Fabric Report 2021-22 12 This last year has seen numerous planned and un-planned projects and programmes completed and launched for the safety and betterment of the church properties ## 1.0 Vestry Flood Heavy rains and high winds combined to create a once a decade storm last May. The result was an ingress of water into the vestry, via (a) blocked flat roof gutters, (b) blocked overflow pipe, and (c) cracked & missing windows. The result was water damaged carpets, documents and garments and internal damp within the brickwork of the vestry. Through our insurers, swift action resulted in a drying program for the brickwork, with no lasting damage. This was accompanied by remedial works to clear blocked gutters, overflows and downpipes across all roofs and drains. The cost of the damage amounted to a £500 excess, without impact to our insurance premiums. All associated means of ingress have been repaired to mitigate future risk of occurrence. ## 2.0 Quinquennial Assessment The five yearly architects assessment was completed in May 2021. The findings of which highlighted structural matters requiring attention over the next 5 years, highlighting the urgency of works to be undertaken. The most abundant of which is the condition of the exterior brickwork and pointing, that requires attention. The most urgent of which has been addressed through point 3.0. The two main areas of attention are (a) the tower brickwork; to repair and replace structurally damaged bricks and re-point where necessary, and (b) address lover level re-pointing and damp on the Northern side of the church. ## 3.0 Guttering The church has a very large roof footprint, which amasses significant volumes of water when rained on, the dispersement of which away from the building is critical to the health of the brickwork. Add to this the position of the church, it’s height and lack of sheltering buildings, when water is added to high winds, the impacts if unattended can amount to sustained and unseen water ingress, affecting the structural fabric of the building. In October a full and comprehensive work was undertaken to clear and repair all means of water dispersal from the building, resulting in a twice annual programme of works, in May for a light clean and October a deep clean, post autumn leaf fall. At the time of Octobers works, a full visual assessment was made by our builders, using an access platform to review all suggested areas of investigation in the quinquennial. ## 4.0 Ground Works The exterior grounds of St John’s did not do justice to the beauty of the internal fabric of the church. In September we employed a professional gardener to undertake a programme of works, likely to run through 2022 into 2023, to restore the outside to a standard becoming of the church and its place as a responsible exemplar of how to thrive within a conservation area. The South side has been cleared, cut-back and re-ordered to act as an invitation. Other works of consideration are the management of the trees within the covenants of protection and conservation, the boundary wall and its potential replacements and how the East and North side can grow to attract wildlife and become a focal point for all the right reasons. ## 5.0 Electrical Works We have replaced old energy hungry lighting for new LED’s where we can, as a like for like change, negating the need for faculty agreements (i.e. as would be needed within the main body of the church), the benefit is seen in the meeting room, kitchen and vestry’s. The safety of the parish pantry food store (Andrew’s garage) has also undergone professional attention and actions to ensure mitigation of fire, personal safety alongside food defence, supporting the fridges and freezers under constant use. On grounds of health and safety, additional lighting is being added to the tower stairs, to avoid shadows and allow for light above the ringing chamber and the belfry doors. The exterior lighting, the flood lights in particular are also under review, to replace with energy efficient alternatives. 6.0 Heating Works 13 It proved more of a challenge to find heating professionals, who were either available, willing or affordable to undertake the service and repair of heating in both St. Edmunds and St. Johns. The outcome has been the need for a new boiler in the meeting room / kitchen as the old unit was uneconomical to repair. I’m sure, as all buildings of their age, heating will remain a focus and challenge of the years to come as we work towards being both environmentally greener and seek more economical options amidst growing fuel prices. The 6 points above show the headlines of this last year, the coming year has many challenges and opportunities to be undertaken… - The re-pointing of St Edmunds front porch for structural safety - The replacement of St John’s boundary wall with low-cost, greener, more enticing alternative - The refurbishment of St John’s external doors, including repair of iron works - The re-pollarding of the Elm’s and cutting back along the North and East side trees - All essential re-pointing and brick repair, on the tower, and Northern walls. - The planting of grounds… all your extra garden plants welcomed to make St John’s bloom. What we need to do and what we can afford to do, regrettably are not in congruence with each other. Ensuring all buildings are safe and add benefit to all who use them is our priority. We need to generate more revenue than we spend to ensure continuous use and growth to the betterment of all. ## James Lumley Church Warden March 2022 ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Safeguarding Report 2021-2022. The year 2021 was the year that when Basic Awareness was started in 2018 it was valid for three years hence a surge in renewals. Everyone had to be contacted and it was their choice as to carry on or not as the case may be. Sadly some of these people willing to serve were because of health reasons or that they were no longer with us prevented a hundred per cent renewal. These are the figures:13 renewals 23 new applicants The high number of new applicants is mainly due to the young women that help at the Parish Pitstop. My sincere thanks go to Sharon Hume who as administrator had phone numbers to contact those concerned. Jan Hickman Parish Safeguarding Officer 14 ## Report From Serving Team I think everyone rejoiced when servers were once again a part of the Sunday morning Eucharist, the bells ringing out at the consecration bells being one more step towards ‘normality’ whatever that may turn out to be. We are gradually re-introducing our involvement in the Eucharist, moving from pre and post service duties while maintaining all sensible precautions to protect our fellow worshippers from infections and illness.– starting with preparation and clearing of the altar, use of bells at the moments of consecration, and more recently assisting clergy in the Sanctuary and offering the chalice. I would like to pay tribute to Jean Leitch and Kate Prewer for their support and dedication to re-establishing step by step the usual rituals which make our services so reverent and comforting – in a world of turmoil The Usual is very reassuring and calming. I would also like to offer my thanks to John Cardy for his sustained and very valuable services behind the scenes, and to Leslie-Anne Dotchin for her continued interest although not in a position to re-join the rota at present 15 As we are currently a very small team this might be an opportunity to consider extending the group of people willing and able to join us as servers, as regularly or infrequently as convenient. Full training will be offered and we are very non-judgemental in our attitude to inexperienced colleagues – whatever mistakes you may feel you might make I certainly will confess to having made them myself many times over the past years I have had the privilege of being a server. Anyone interested in joining the team, please speak to myself, Jean or Kate and we can arrange a short meeting, without commitment, to discuss details. Many thanks for all the support our small team has received over the last trying year. Thanks be to God Sue Toomey 16[th] March 2022 ## St. John’s Mothers Union Our group of loyal members have continued to keep in touch and met when restrictions allowed a few times informally and once in October for a rescheduled talk from Alan Peats that had been booked for spring 2020! Now we are back meeting together each month on a Tuesday evening at 7.30pm in the Church meeting room do come and join us for a varied programme of talks and topics. You will made most welcome, with refreshments to round off the meeting! 16 Gillian Berry Secretary ## **Choir Report** It is lovely to have positive choir news to report after the Covid restrictions of last year. At the time of the last report in May 2021, there was no congregational singing, and the choir was restricted to singing during communion. We first sang a full service on 1[st] of August, and to make it extra special there was a baptism that day. The importance of hymn singing was celebrated by Andrew inviting the congregation to nominate their three favourite hymns, and over the next few weeks these were included in the services. As choir leader, I do worry about our aging choir; bereavement and sickness (including Covid), have limited attendance, and there have been a couple of Sundays when we have not been able to provide a choir. The Carol Service was less ambitious than in previous years. The choir is still observing reduced social distancing, and this prevented us having additional singers. However, a visiting brass band at the Carol Service made it a joyous occasion and lifted all our spirits. The next great Festival (no service in 2020, and no singing in 2021) is Easter. Then we’ll really know we’re back! Alleluia! Liz Watson – March 2022 ## Social Report It really hasn’t been much of a year socially but we have been grateful to have done anything. When we have to cancel events it’s not just the disappointment of not gathering to share the occasion with friends, church misses out on the much needed financial support social gatherings bring. We managed a small coffee morning in September alongside Ride and Stride both bringing essential funds in . We also enjoyed a snifter outside on Merchant Navy day and the Harvest lunch was a great success we all seemed rather pleasantly surprised to be out enjoying ourselves. Messy Church has been quiet. During lockdown several of our long term participants moves up to senior school , several travelling out of town. Sadly this means they are seldom back in Felixstowe in time to join us. Work is in hand to do more in the holidays and to find a winning formula. The simple family supper we serve remains popular. A few concerts were enjoyed, especially the Last Night of the Proms in September We have a small social committee planning all sorts of events for this year. Anyone is welcome to join us and help. Keep an eye out for upcoming events . We have a lot to look forward to including coffee mornings, lunches and quizzes. 17 Thank you for all your help and support. ## Diana Barnard **Pushchair Pitstop.** This year has seen the Pushchair Pitstop move back to St Edmunds Church after being at St John’s throughout ‘lockdown’. It is now open Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning 9.30am to 12.30pm, alternate Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 4pm and once a month on a Thursday evening 5.30pm to 7.30pm. We have to say a big thankyou to the St Edmunds congregation who are supporting us, allowing Pitstop to take over most of the church, with a ‘shop’ area down one side and play and coffee areas down the other side. We have had a couple of joint events with Messy church one in the vicarage garden in the summer and the other in St Edmunds Hall in November when Father Christmas visited. We will be having an Easter event in the Vicarage garden weather permitting on the 20[th] April. A big thankyou to the generosity of those who brought donations for the ‘Ukraine Appeal ‘ to the Pitstop and all those who continue to give so generously not only baby clothes, equipment and toys but also of their time enabling us to open as much as we can. Rev Penny and the Pitstop Team March 2022 ## MESSY CHURCH 2021 We cautiously restarted Messy Church in July, making it a Covid safe occasion by holding it in the Vicarage garden. Families booked in online and we had 4 or 5 of our regular families attending, pleased that we were able to meet up again after all the pandemic lockdowns. We arranged the activities so that each family kept to their own table as much as possible and Diana and her team served an alfresco tea. During August, a combined Messy Church and Pushchair Pitstop garden party with BBQ was held over a lunchtime, proving very popular. A raffle was held and raised well over £100 which more than covered the cost of the event. Messy Church sessions were held during September, October and November, with a Get Messy for Christmas session held in December. We were blessed with good weather for the September session which we were able to hold in the Vicarage garden again. However, with the return to school and with Covid cases rising again, attendance was lower for the end of 2021. Hopefully, by arranging more combined Messy Church and Pushchair Pitstop events this year, and by holding the sessions during school holidays, we will be able to increase our Messy Church attendance to pre-Covid levels again. With a view to returning to monthly sessions as before. 18 The Messy Church Team ## Mrs J. Savage. Tower Captain, St John’s, Felixstowe. 3rd March 2022 2021-22 has been another year wherein very little happened. The easing of restrictions this year has allowed more ringers to ring for Sunday services - following the guidelines. The lack of available ringers meant that we didn’t manage to ring any bells for Christmas. The Suffolk Guild of Ringers installed a simulator in the tower in June to enable practices for new ringers without disturbing the neighbours. This has been used a number of times through the year. I am happy to report that there have been quite a few practices and we started Sunday ringing on 1st May. Unfortunately, the dirth of ringers has meant that we had as few as 2 bells ringing on occasion, 5 maximum with our own ringers, but we had 8 bells one Sunday when a visiting band augmented our numbers! This was much appreciated by the congregation. We have rung for two weddings, with 8 ringers for one and 4 for the other (by request). Our ringing band is still very small, despite a lot of interest when we had a “Have-AGo” morning on 11th September. Three people showed a keen interest, but only one is a regular learner at the moment. One learner will be rejoining us in March and another hopefully starting in April. In the autumn a request was made to be allowed to buy a half-set of muffles for all eight bells, and a quotation was submitted to the PCC for approval. The lighting in the spiral staircase will be improved, an engineer has investigated the noisy emergency light box and a decision was made to safeguard the tower against unauthorised access. A problem was reported regarding the Belfry door, which has a faulty lock and is stiff to open. ## **Book Club** Book club meets on the 2[nd] Monday of each month at 2.30 in the church or when the weather is nice in the vicarage garden. We enjoy cake (usually homemade) and a drink as we discuss the book we have read during the preceding month. 19 We have read a diverse set of books including, Hell’s Angel by Brian Greenaway, God of Surprises by Gerard W Hughes and for Lent we have read Dear England by Stephen Cottrell. The book is always chosen by the group with all suggestions being noted as we try and read through everyone’s choices. Usually the person who’s book choice we have read writes a short review for the Parish Magazine, which includes the next book to be read. We always welcome new members, we are friendly diverse group, so don’t be shy just come and give us a try. Rev Penny 20 John's Fkrn•cr T8am ro Z021 Dewte the CobT519 8nvgwy. bjikjw 8t ts)TT*" adv￿. Juthy &l]*liiiT 8t¥J mysell ha¥e mainlaitwj the Crtat kntSDme Iftyther tre ciJtch y&¥. brlck *orFJ_ P1ts3se cwA8cI rf54W WC intrs*d n ¢3￿ a wmth¢jWaywU￿r arrar￿mer￿¢ r 2022. assumTrJ IIL4I drix￿star￿li i>TrYf¥l. .￿r TO￿ aNorth klay I Ihat the rKyTh i8 A t1(￿iq￿a1￿￿ omergpnty Axt afid not lo IEavc Jnv a'r-nqwKnts otrer bis and piec￿ kn Ihore. Pbase take a￿V any fintshod dEpkys ryJt cf Ihc trMilth"DJ •d Fusblo to It* matwk* usol Y(￿. rry Hol,￿ 2t' 202? r Fund Acco Y•ar•Trd•d RECEIPTS Date PAYi&rit8 DC￿lS kn)unt Amount £14 15 Tthal Total 1&15 Fe¥efile¢J Ifi Numra St Jt*iri'¥ Fk￿r F￿￿AC￿L Ex￿S paiments w. c4￿.ng b8lan¢e 31.'12:'2021 £￿9.15