DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **Annual Report and Financial Statements of the** ## **Parochial Church Council** for the Year ended 31 December 2021 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council** The trustees of the Parochial Church Council of St Nicholas’, Marston (the members of the PCC) present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021. ## _**Incumbent**_ The Revd Elizabeth (Skye) Denno ## _**Charitable Status**_ All Parochial Church Councils in the Church of England are recognized as charities by the Charity Commission; PCCs such as ours, with a gross income over £100,000, are required to register with the Commission. The members of the PCC are the trustees of the charity. _**Registered Charity Number**_ 1138507 ## _**Legal Name of the Charity**_ The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Nicholas Marston ## _**Working Names of the Charity**_ St Nicholas’ PCC PCC of St Nicholas, Marston ## _**Address of the Charity**_ The Vicarage, Elsfield Road, Marston Oxford OX3 0PR ## _**Independent Examiner**_ Professor David Nowell C.Eng., F.I.Mech.E. 16 Jack Straw’s Lane, Headington, Oxford OX3 0DL ## _**Bankers**_ The Cooperative Bank, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester. 1 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## _**Officers**_ |**_Officers_**|| |---|---| |Incumbent (Vicar)|Revd Skye Denno| |Curate|Revd Andy Gosler| |Assistant Priest|Revd Stephanie Bullock| |Licensed Lay Ministers|David Cranston| ||Joel Denno| ||Neil Barker| ||Geoff Hale| |Churchwardens|Eileen Palayiwa| ||Judith Piggott| |PCC Chair|Skye Denno| |PCC Secretary|Judith Piggott| |PCC Treasurer|Geoff Hale| ## _**Representatives on Cowley Deanery Synod**_ Skye Denno Maureen Davis Millius Palayiwa The clergy are members of Deanery Synod _ex officio_ ; the other members are elected to serve until May 2022. ## _**Members of the PCC**_ In accordance with the Church Representation Rules, members of the PCC are either elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, are co-opted by the PCC, or are members of the PCC _ex officio_ . The following served as members of the PCC during the calendar year 2021: |Helen Barker (from 18 April)|Skye Denno|Emily Meredith (from 18 April)| |---|---|---| |David Black|Andy Gosler|Eileen Palayiwa| |Jane Burd|Geoff Hale|Millius Palayiwa| |Jane Campbell (to 18 April)|Colin Harris (to 18 April)|Judith Piggott| |Maureen Davis|Duncan Hatfield (from 18 April)|Ian Ross| |Isabel Fenton|James Lawrie|| Elected PCC members serve for three-year terms. The current terms of office of the elected PCC members are as follows: Serving until 2022 Serving until 2023 Serving until 2024 David Black Jane Burd Helen Barker Ian Ross Geoff Hale Duncan Hatfield James Lawrie Isabel Fenton Emily Meredith 2 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **Objectives and Governance** The parish of St Nicholas, Marston, is one of the parishes in the Deanery of Cowley, within the Diocese of Oxford. It shares a joint benefice with the separate parish of St Thomas of Canterbury, Elsfield. The Parochial Church Council (‘the PCC’) is governed by the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure (1956) as amended, and by the current version (2011) of the Church Representation Rules. Its responsibilities include that of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical. The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at St Nicholas’. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. When planning our activities for the year, the incumbent and the PCC have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and specifically the guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through: Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel; and developing knowledge of and trust in Jesus Christ. Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish. Missionary activity and outreach work. Facilitating this work depends on the voluntary work of many people, and the PCC very much appreciates their service to the church and to the local community. The incumbent receives a stipend paid by the Diocese. The curate is unpaid. No other trustees are paid for their services. A connected charity is Marston Church Properties Ltd (‘MCP’), which is both a registered charity, no. 1085739, and a company limited by guarantee. Four of the five directors of MCP are members of the PCC, and the vicar is the chair of the company by virtue of her incumbency. 3 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **Vicar's Report** 2021 began in a similar vein to much of 2020 with a surge of Covid cases and an unknown January ahead of us. We had a desire to keep to outdoor services as much as possible with a promise to remain online when services were indoors. The approach to the whole of 2021 was very much ‘take each month as it comes’, not really knowing who would be attending and how successful the livestreaming would be. It has been a year of change and activity; planning has been almost impossible. For our Churchwardens, Leaders and Ministry Team there have been times when it’s been a tiring and exhausting journey, involving moments of frustration when the wifi disappeared at the last minute, or the struggle to find readers and trying to decide what services to put on week to week. I think we all forgot what Sunday it was occasionally, but in the midst of this there have been many moments of bright hope and new growth. To name a view, our youth group has grown, the Eco Hub has flourished and we have new people in our church. These positives make all of the hard moments worthwhile. A big reason for the positives is the great support I have received through the Church Wardens and Ministry Team and I want to say thank you to them for all their commitment and hard work as we moved through this year jumping between online and in-venue and covering services at last minute when I had Covid in November. We really do have a wonderful Leadership Team! Eileen Palayiwa will be stepping down this year as Church Warden, but remaining on the PCC and will continue in her role as Pastoral Care Officer which proved to be a vital role in 2021, with an increasing number of our congregation feeling isolated and having restrictions on mobility. Over 25 people are now visited in their homes for Holy Communion or for conversation and support and we believe this number may go up in 2022. A big thank you to David Black and James Lawrie for all their efforts on the PCC as they step down and have a rest from PCC duties. Geoff Hale, who was already our dedicated treasurer, was also licensed as Lay Minister on the 6th of November and is helping Joel Denno (another LLM) with live-streaming. I know this has been a huge task and a lot of extra work. I think you will all join me in saying thank you to them both for making services inclusive and flexible. It really has been appreciated. Throughout the year, we have been blessed by our musicians, bell ringers and singers! Whether leading us in outdoor worship at REFRESH, singing in the choir stalls, or braving the rain for carol singing, our Music Director Neil Barker and 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 Choirs have kept our spirits high! Thank you to you all. I would also like to thank John Collier who has played for so many funerals this year and continues to support me in 2022. It has been wonderful to hear the bells again and for a team to be so flexible with ringing for each service, changing times to suit us. Thank you for your care and dedication! It has not been an easy year and I know the uncertainty has affected us in different ways; the changes in worship patterns combined with a yearning for things to be as they were bringing some anxiety and worry. Making sure we have clear and good communications therefore has been vital - thank you to Alison Gray our Administrator, Duncan Hatfield for the improved website and Jan Lawrie and the Marston Times/Messenger Team. I know with the hundreds of posters and notices it is so easy to feel out of the loop and feel that church may not be what it was and that perhaps you cannot belong in such a place. But — wonderfully — nothing eternal has changed. God is still faithful, Jesus is still our Saviour, the Bible is still true, forgiveness is still available, grace is still free, and our future is still secure. In such changing and challenging times, it is good to remind ourselves of these truths. _Skye Denno_ . ## **Curate's Report** As my four-year placement draws towards its close, this is my last annual report as your curate. What a hybrid of a year it was, with times of lockdown, or at least restriction, and too short times of freedom. The lockdowns saw me continuing to record sermons and occasional services from home. I have learned that there is a curious intimacy in praying the Compline service online in one’s study or bedroom at home with a candle and an iPad. But the more complex services involved us all working collectively to edit together the principal liturgy with the hymns, intercessions, sermon and readings. Whether we were actively involved in editing these services together, or just contributing our part, I think we became yet more aware than usual of what a community activity is our worship, and that, in itself, was a blessing. But no such blessing can compare with that experienced by our times of freedom, when we could pray together without the intervention of internet technology. Freedom for me included my being able at last to conduct my first wedding and baptism services, both high points of my year. An ongoing joy for me also was the success of the Green Church outdoor services, launched on St Francis Day (4 October) 2020, partly as an activity to reconnect with creation, and to be visible serving the community, but also to have a simple and regular outdoor service we could continue through the pandemic. I know that for some, for whom health concerns meant they couldn’t risk an indoor service, this has been the only live service they could attend, so for this also I am thankful that we 5 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 could do this. I am delighted also to be leaving the service in safe hands, largely lay led, and giving it the freedom to evolve. I hope the service will grow in popularity, and that you will support its new leaders with ideas and suggestions as you have supported me. Thankfulness brings me, if I may, to my last points. Covid notwithstanding, I have enjoyed this time of curacy immensely, and that is largely thanks to the warmth, friendship, love and support, not to mention, at times, tolerance, of you good people in Marston and Elsfield. You have taught me so much of real lasting value, beyond the technical details of where not to start Psalm 119, that I know I go on from here with the best training. That is in no small measure thanks also to Geoff, Neil, Joel and Stephanie, from whom I learned much, especially about evensong! In Skye, though, I have not only had the best TI (Training Incumbent), but the best possible mentor and role model, far more friend than colleague, though both are true, and I feel truly blessed to have been able to serve my curacy here with you. Thank you. _Andy Gosler_ ## **Deanery and Diocesan Synods Report** Meetings for both were held on Zoom. Elections were held for both synods for the next Triennium. The Deanery synod consulted on the Parish Share Review 2021. The consensus was that, although little change was necessary, some adjustments might be made to the current system rather than start from scratch. It was decided that the Deanery would keep the Parish share allocation for 2022 the same as for 2021. The Diocese was doing the same. Both the Diocesan and Deanery Synods welcomed and stressed the importance of the ‘Living In Love & Faith’ report and encouraged parishes to positively engage with it. During the year, the Archbishops’ Anti-Racism Taskforce produced a report ‘From Lament To Action’. The Diocese has set up a group to advise the Bishop and Diocese how to take forward and implement its recommendations. The Diocese also produced a report on Addressing Poverty and Inequality. The theological imperative is connected to Jesus’ words in John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” _Millius Palayiwa_ ## **Elsfield** Our sister church of St Thomas of Canterbury at Elsfield continued to hold services in-venue and online through the year, supported by the churchwardens, lay ministers and organist. Despite the challenges of Covid new people joined 6 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 the congregation and a steady and committed number come each month to worship together with other connections through by Facebook and Zoom. Highlights included the village decorated with colourful bunting and flowers at Easter, Hymns and Pimms service on 22 August, Harvest Festival on 22 September and a brilliant Christmas Market, raising much-needed funds and enjoying time together, seeing some in person for the first time that year! 2022 is looking brighter, with Easter around the corner, St George’s Day in the diary and more planned - bringing back ACE with Cassandra, coffee mornings and a picnic in July. _Skye Denno_ ## **Committees and Working Groups** The PCC operates with committees and working groups, which meet and report to it as appropriate. Participation in these groups is open to all church members. However, meetings and activities were greatly curtailed during the year ## _**Standing Committee**_ Elected annually, this comprises the Vicar, churchwardens, treasurer and such other members as the PCC agrees. It exists to conduct essential business between full meetings of the PCC. ## _**Pastoral Care - Prayer and Support Network**_ The Prayer and Care Groups have continued to play a vital role in providing pastoral support throughout 2021. Each member has a leader whom they can approach if they need help and there is also a great deal of mutual support happening within groups. They have helped to counter the feelings of isolation experienced by many during these difficult times as well as helping people to find practical support and information. Especial thanks are due to all the group leaders for their commitment. _Eileen Palayiwa_ ## _**Communications**_ The Elsfield and Marston Messenger continued monthly online production for the first half of 2021. However, as we emerged from full lockdown strictures it was decided to produce a quarterly eight-page printed Marston Times, to be circulated to the whole parish, free of charge. After an initial July edition, the MT was printed in September and December. Editions in March, June, September and December are planned for 2022, with the online newsletter format of the Elsfield and Marston Times to appear in other months. _Jan Lawrie_ 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## _**Other committees**_ Due to the pandemic, the Welcome and Pastoral Care, Worship and Faith, Mission and Hospitality and Social Justice and Environment committees were not able to operate as usual. ## _**Churches Together**_ St Nicholas is a member of Churches Together in Marston and Northway (CTMN). Our representatives are Skye Denno and Geoff Hale. Our usual joint events were curtailed by the Covid pandemic, but we were able to enjoy a great time of celebration at ‘Love Marston Love Life’ in September. Meanwhile, member churches adapted to online services in different ways and we were able to join together for Lent and Advent courses. _Geoff Hale_ 8 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **Review of the Year** ## _**Church attendance**_ The new roll presented at the annual meeting contained 119 names (2020: 122), of whom 45 were non-resident (2020: 43). ## Attendance at Sunday services during October was as follows: |||In church|Online views| |---|---|---|---| |October|3|40|30| |October|10|73|35| |October|17|69|N/A| |October|24|56|29| |October|31|110|13| |Average||70|27| Due to the pandemic, attendance in person was restricted and services were live-streamed. The situation was very different from normal. ## Comparison with Sunday Services in October 2020 |||In church|Online views| |---|---|---|---| |October|6|42|226| |October|13|38|147| |October|20|38|118| |October|27|36|69| |Average||38.5|140| Statistics for occasional offices: baptisms, weddings, and funerals Baptisms. There were 4 baptisms (2020: 06) Confirmations. There were 5 confirmations (2020: 0) Weddings. There were 2 weddings. (2020: 2) Funerals. The clergy conducted 23 funeral services. (2020: 20) ## _**Ministry Team**_ The team is led by Revd Skye Denno, assisted by Revd Stephanie Bullock (assistant priest), and Revd Andy Gosler (curate). Preaching is shared with licensed lay ministers David Cranston, Joel Denno and Neil Barker and Geoff Hale (from Nov 2021). Neil Barker continued to serve as 9 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 Director of Music, Organist and Choir Master and to lead our informal evening services. Gill Hale continues to coordinate the Junior Church and other children's activities. Alison Gray was appointed as Parish Administrator. ## _**Music**_ This year has again seen some challenges to keep the live work going of our choirs and musicians. We were pleased to welcome during the year some younger choristers to the Junior Choir and we have been to carry out more live singing at practices and services. However, we did have another significant period earlier in the year when we had singing practices online and provided recorded music for our YouTube services. We were very pleased that we were able to sing at the Love Marston Love Life event which was a well-attended outdoor community event after we had come out of a time of restricted gatherings. We also enjoyed a Choral Evensong with the joint choir of ourselves at Holy Trinity, Headington Quarry in October and also an earlier than usual Nine Lessons and Carols service before gatherings were restricted again at the end of December. Once again, we appreciated the support of Old Marston Parish Council with a grant of £300 towards music resources for our Junior and Youth choristers. I have again been grateful for the joyful commitment that choristers and musicians have shown throughout the year and the welcoming atmosphere in our times together. We look forward to more live music making in 2022. _Neil Barker_ ## **Mission in the Parish** ## _**Messy Church**_ Messy Church has been on hold during 2021, thanks to Covid restrictions. We are hoping to start up again in Spring 2022. Watch this space! _Jane Burd_ 10 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## _**Baby and Toddler Group**_ Gill, Geoff, Margaret, Joel North and Joel Denno were all very pleased to be able to open our Baby and Toddler group again in June 2021 and it has been very well attended since then. We have enjoyed indoor and outdoor play (we have had a lot of healthy fresh air to improve distancing and ventilation!). Each week we have refreshments, crafts, seasonal activities, lots of chat and a time together for songs at the end. The group has been a great resource for babies and toddlers who missed the usual early social activities because of the lockdowns and restrictions. We particularly enjoyed our Christmas party with special songs, the Christmas story and some unseasonal out door giant bubbles! _Gill Hale_ ## _**Junior Church**_ By the end of lockdown, a number of our Junior Church members were too old for the group, and with very small numbers we decided that instead of meeting in the church hall we would have tables in the church where younger members of the congregation could find new activities each week, along with creche toys for those under three. _Gill Hale_ ## _**Holiday Club**_ This year we ran a one day ‘Bank Holiday Club’ on the August bank holiday, taking the theme of the fruit of the Spirit. After a ‘Fruit beauty contest’ drama, a fruity treasure trail and some songs and stories we enjoyed a picnic lunch and games together followed by crafts in the church hall. _Gill Hale_ ## _**Coffee Pot**_ We resumed Coffee Pot meetings in July this year. The first meeting had a small attendance, however numbers attending subsequent meetings rose and are almost at pre-pandemic levels. We have a number of new members and everyone is very glad of the opportunity to meet others after the long period of restrictions. _Eileen Palayiwa_ ## _**Pulse Youth Group**_ Pulse is a friendly and welcoming youth group that meets every second and fourth Saturday for secondary age young people. Skye, Joel and Brian North lead the group. For the first part of 2021, Pulse was online and proved to be very successful, with roughly 15 young people attending at a time. We started with a Bible chat on 11 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 the Sunday Gospel reading, followed by a quiz or game organised by one of our young people. This was then concluded with a time of prayer. In September the Youth Group moved back into the building and there were concerns around the transition, but in fact it went very well and now has grown in numbers. The first half an hour is our Bible chat and then the remaining time is given over to free play and activities. Moving back into the building meant we could meet for the two hours again and give more time to games and food! Both of which are a highlight with volunteers as well as our young people! _Skye Denno_ ## _**Community events and outreach**_ The Spring Fun Day was cancelled due to Covid, but we had a very successful ‘Love Marston, Love Life’ in June where the Community came together and Churches across different denominations worshipped under one banner - our theme was Caring for God’s Creation. At the end of October, we hosted our Autumn Fun Day across three venues (church, hall and Eco Hub) and thanks to our fab volunteers, this was the most well attended fun day yet; it included pumpkin carving, bread making, egg hunts and harvest prayer stations. Linking with St Nicholas Primary School, and their home link officer we started a new project called Blessing Boxes. These are full of toiletries (toothpaste, nappies, shampoo and sanitary towels etc) to give to families and individuals at the school and in our parish. They have proved to be a great help in showing love and care to all. Under the ethos of Caring for God’s creation, we also hosted two Eco Markets in July and September and plan to hold three in 2022 from 11.30 am to 3 pm on the third Sunday of May, July and September. The Eco Market’s 'eco-friendly' label can be understood as meaning products that have no (or minimal) plastic content or packaging (no single-use/disposable plastic); items that are up-cycled, second-hand, handmade, biodegradable, home-grown/edible (especially vegetarian or vegan); or those that contribute to helping us live a less wasteful, less consumerist lifestyle. Stall holders are often local to Marston or Oxford and subsequently we have enjoyed meeting many new people in our parish and introducing them to the St Nicholas Church family. _Skye Denno_ ## _**Marston Eco Hub**_ It amazing to see how this joint community adventure - the Church and Marston Community Gardeners - has grown in 2021! The Sesi refill has continued to be well supported by the community with 18 products available from fabric conditioner to olive oil. A big thank you to Jane Patten for her co-leadership with this. Book swap shop was started in July and looked after by Ginny Ross and we 12 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 had successful plant swaps through 2021 with the community space around the Marston Eco Hub being used for church services and Eco Markets. The Giving Garage was open, although a full launch is happening in Spring 2022 and the Community Larder over the Summer proved to be valued by a wide range of parishioners. My hope is for this to return in 2022. I continue to be grateful to all those who help and volunteer at the Eco Hub and to everyone who uses it! _Skye Denno_ ## **Mission in the World** ## _**Divya Shanthi Mission Support**_ DSMS supports for the work of Divya Shanthi Christian Association and Trust in Bangalore India providing education, shelter, medical and family support for impoverished children and families. Over the past year, they have continued to focus their work on support for families affected by the pandemic, providing medical care, food and pastoral support for those in need. Teaching at the school has been mostly online, with a return to in-person teaching in the Autumn and the challenge of persuading families to send their children back to school. The monsoon season was longer and more extreme which has caused extra hardship, particularly for families living on the streets. A nearly new shop (inspired by the Giving Garage in Marston) has provided household items and clothes for those on low or no income and has been a great success. DSMS continued to receive financial support from our regular donors and sponsors with the number of children sponsored rising to 38, 23 having a named sponsor. Our outdoor Christmas Market in December raised over £1,400. _Judith Piggott._ ## _**Church Mission Society**_ Our link partners Andy and Kati Walsh continued their preparations to work among prisoners and socially excluded people and started intensive training with CMS in September 2021. We were delighted to welcome them to a service in December prior to their return to Brazil in February 2022. _Geoff Hale_ ## _**Baptist Mission Society and International Nepal Fellowship**_ Pippa and Toby Vokuhl returned to Kathmandu in Spring 2021. Toby is a construction engineer and is guiding and training local people to rebuild homes and community buildings destroyed by the earthquakes. Pippa is a 13 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 physiotherapist and is able to use her skills to help mentor local practitioners. _Geoff Hale_ ## _**Christian Aid**_ Christian Aid Week was hit again by Covid. We didn't manage any door-to-door collections, but Skye did run a special online service about the work of Christian Aid. The church gave a donation to Christian Aid of £500. _Jane Burd_ ## **Church Fabric** At the end of 2020 we had a Quinquennial Inspection which identified a number of items of maintenance which needed to be completed. Much of this work has been done, but we are waiting for permission from the Diocese to complete the other items which are mostly indoors and of less urgency. The heating and lighting project was completed in 2021 and we are very pleased with the end result. We are still adjusting the settings of the new storage heaters to try and find a balance between comfort and economy! The lights on the lychgate which were rather unsightly have been replaced. A section of the Memorial Garden wall has been repointed. After long delays due to Covid, the report on the Church Pews was received. It contains a lot of interesting history and concluded that the pews at the back of the North Aisle were a rare survival of Children’s Pews and that the significance of the Aisle pews is low to medium. The PCC is now considering removal of pews at the back of the North and South aisles and how best to use the space. We have obtained permission from the diocese to permanently site the Wifi router outside the church under the eaves. This will mean that the stand at the altar rail which was holding it as a temporary solution will be removed. This was completed in early 2022. _Eileen Palayiwa and Judith Piggott_ ## **Safeguarding** No Safeguarding issues or concerns have been reported during the year. We have kept abreast, as much as we could, with safeguarding issues posed by COVID – 19 and the resultant lockdowns; being mindful of dangers posed to children and vulnerable adults. Lockdowns have left some of our most vulnerable in society lonely, isolated and open to abuse and exploitation. The 14 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 Diocesan Team has kept us informed and up to date with developments and policy changes. During the year we had a Safeguarding “training session” with the Prayer & Care Group on: Safeguarding Older People from Abuse and Neglect. A factsheet is available from the Safeguarding Officer or the Administrator. It explains the law to help you decide what to do if you think an older person may be at risk of abuse or neglect. A new guidance policy on Safer Recruitment and People Management Guidance (2021) was introduced. Its aim is to raise awareness of the C of E Safer Recruitment and People management, and its implication for parishes and churches across the Diocese. It is focused on roles that include substantial contact with children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Everyone, in the church/PCC who may interview for a position, either paid or voluntary must do the course. It is compulsory for all those recruiting and supervising postholders in roles within the scope of the Guidance It is to extend the “safer “element” into “people management” systems. We intend to run a short training session during 2022. During 2021, there were some key changes to safeguarding policies: - DBS Renewals are to be every 3 years. Currently it is every 5 years. - DBS Portability. People must use the DBS Update Service. You must register for that. - Confidential Declaration Forms are to be used ONLY for roles eligible for and Enhanced DBS check. The implementation date for these changes is 1st January 2022, with the DBS changes offering a two-year window from the implementation date. _Millius Palayiwa_ ## **Financial Report** ## _**Receipts**_ There was a small increase of 2.6% in planned giving, but there were no loose cash collections for most of the year as the church was closed and additional donations were reduced as the special projects of 2020 had been completed. We received grants from Old Marston Parish Council of £300 for the Junior Choir, £300 for Messy Church and £500 for the Eco Hub. We received £500 from 15 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 Brett's Trust and £2,000 from Oxford City Council for the Eco Hub. We received a grant of £222 from Oxfordshire Historic Churches for the church fabric and £150 from Old Marston Charities for the Coffee Pot group. Net parochial fees were about 26% higher than in 2020, partly because some volunteers waived their fees. Investment income was further reduced as we had raided our reserves for the rewiring project. The rent on 1B Mill Lane was increased by 1% in line with inflation. Overall, there was a 17% decrease in receipts, but the 2020 total had been higher due to fundraising for the rewiring project ## _**Payments**_ Our Parish Share assessment was reduced, but we voluntarily maintained the same level as in 2020 to support other parishes in the deanery. Our charitable donations increased by 8%. With the church starting to open up again, running expenses and the cost of ministry increased by 19%. The PCC reimburses the vicar for telephone and broadband costs. The Marston Times was not distributed for most of the year. The PCC agreed to waive subscription fees in 2021. During 2021 we completed the rewiring project, purchased new equipment for livestreaming and made a good start on repairs recommended in a quinquennial review. ## _**Investments**_ There was a net growth of £13,264 in our CBF investments. ## _**At the Year End**_ At the end of 2020 we had a balance of £44,321 in the General fund (unrestricted), equivalent to about five months expenditure. There was a balance of £18,027 in the Bell fund and £50,374 in other restricted and designated funds. ## _**Looking Ahead**_ Our Parish Share in 2022 was to have remained the same, but we volunteered to contribute an additional £1,000 to support other parishes in our deanery. In general, our basic income and expenditure is anticipated to be similar to that in 2021. _Geoff Hale_ 16 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **Independent Examiner's Report** I report on the accounts of the PCC for the year ended December 31, 2021, which are set out in the following pages. ## _**Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**_ The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention ## _**Basis of examiner’s report**_ My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement. ## _**Independent examiner’s statement**_ In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act 17 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 have not been met, or (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached 11-Apr-2022 | 15:22 BST (Signed) Professor David Nowell C.Eng., F.I.Mech.E. 16 Jack Straws Lane Headington Oxford OX3 0DL 18 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST NICHOLAS MARSTON** ## **Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 Dec 2021** ## **Receipts & Payments** |**2020**
£|**RECEIPTS**
**Note**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
£
£
£|**Total**
£| |---|---|---| |67,949
18,546
878
0
9,788
0
11
397
0
95
14,300|**Voluntary Receipts**
Planned giving
62,094
7,650
Reclaimed from HMRC
3
13,703
745
Loose cash collections
90
Collections & donations for charity
811
Donations
621
1,167
Legacy
1,000
Sunday morning coffee
Wall safe
802
Junior Church
Sundries
88
Grants
4
3,972|69,744
14,448
90
811
1,788
1,000
0
802
0
88
3,972| |111,963|78,308
14,435
0|92,743| |3,542
4,167
8,820
2,249|**Other Receipts**
Fees (net)
5
4,410
55
Interest & investment income
2,690
Rent
8,904
Marston Times
6
21|4,465
2,690
8,904
21| |18,777|7,100
55
8,925|16,080| |130,741
0|Total receipts before transfers
85,408
14,490
8,925
Transfers
-5,000
5,000|108,823
0| |130,741|**Total receipts after transfers**
80,408
14,490
13,925|108,823| The Notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 20 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST NICHOLAS MARSTON** ## **Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 Dec 2021** ## **Receipts & Payments (continued)** |**2020**
£|**PAYMENTS**
**Note**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Designated**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
£
£
£|**Total**
£| |---|---|---| |50,770
9,270|**Payments outside the Parish**
Parish share
50,770
Othercharitable donations
7
9,026
1,026|50,770
10,052| |60,040|59,796
1,026
0|60,822| |3,704
3,344
4,970
1,251
1,109
3,632
524
1,930|**Church running expenses**
Heating & lighting
5,230
Insurance
3,093
Maintenance
2,478
458
Cleaning (net)
8
1,585
Cost of services
1,147
Organists
3,650
Choir (including Junior Choir)
194
296
Gardening
1,784
2,500|5,230
3,093
2,936
1,585
1,147
3,650
490
4,284| |20,464|19,160
3,254
0|22,414| |1,465
3
208
0
895|**Ministry in the Parish**
Clergy expenses
1,702
Junior Church
0
Youth Work
527
Eco Hub
802
Mission withintheParish
9
1,002
965|1,702
0
527
802
1,967| |2,571|2,704
2,295
0|4,999| |8,541
2,400
116,206
-869
0
0|**Fabric**
Memorial Garden
0
WiFi and Livesteam
1,763
Rewiring project
5,511
138
Photocopier (depreciation)
0
Quinquennial repairs
1880
2,047
Churchseating
3,401|0
1,763
5,649
0
3,927
3,401| |126,278|0
9,154
5,586|14,740| |5,498
1,026
1,081
0|**Other Expenditure**
Administration (net)
10
4,756
Marston Times
6
899
Maintenance of 1B Mill Lane
2,062
Flowers
59|4,756
899
2,062
59| |7,606|4,756
59
2,961|7,776| |216,958
0|Total payments before transfers
86,417
15,788
8,547
Transfers
0
0|110,752
0| |216,958|**Totalpayments after transfers**
86,417
15,788
8,547|110,752| |||| |-86,218|**Surplus / Deficit**
-6,009
-1,298
5,378|-1,929| |183,113
4,491|Balance b/f at January 1
50,330
21,596
29,461
Changein value of investments
1,453
11,811|101,387
13,264| |101,387|Balance c/fatDecember31
44,321
21,751
46,650|112,722| 21 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST NICHOLAS MARSTON** ## **Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 Dec 2021** ## **Summary of Funds** |**Fund**|**Fund type**|**31 Dec 2020**|**Net**
**Receipts**
**Net**
**Payments**
**Uncleared**
**payments**
**Change in**
**investments**|
**31 Dec 2021**| |---|---|---|---|---| |General
Flowers
Choir
Choir Treats
Fabric
Fabric
Bells
Memorial Garden
Projection system
Marston Times
Charity
1B Mill Lane
Youth Work
Music Events
Messy Church
Eco Hub
Coffee Pot|Unrestricted
Restricted
Restricted
Restricted
Designated
Restricted
Restricted
Restricted
Restricted
Designated
Restricted
Designated
Restricted
Designated
Restricted
Restricted
Restricted|50,330
60
4
-
-
20,385
1,943
17,033
250
369
1,745
13
-
7,066
1,792
264
167
-
-|80,408
86,417
-
59
300
296
30
-
10,000
5,586
11,811
7,209
9,154
-
458
1,453
2,350
2,500
-
-
21
899
939
1,026
3,904
2,062
150
527
-
-
300
-
3,063
1,617
150
150|44,321
2
-
30
36,610
2
-
18,027
100
369
868
100
-
8,908
1,414
264
467
1,445
-| |**Total**||101,387|108,823
110,752
13,264|112,722| |**Summary of Accounts**||||| |**Account**||**31 Dec 2020**|**Net**
**Receipts**
**Net**
**Payments**
**Uncleared**
**payments**
**Change in**
**Investments**|
**31 Dec 2021**| |Coop current a/c General
CBF investment a/c Bells
CBF investment a/c Fabric||8,671
10,154
82,563|108,823
110,752
1,453
11,811|6,742
11,606
94,374| |**Total**||101,387|108,823
110,752
-
13,264|112,722| 18 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST NICHOLAS MARSTON** ## **Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 Dec 2021** ## **Statement of Overall Assets & Liabilities** |**31 Dec 2020**
£|Expendable
Funds|**31 Dec 2021**
£| |---|---|---| |8,671
92,717|**Monetary Assets**
Bank Current A/cc
6,742
CBF Investment A/cc
105,980|6,742
105,980| |**101,387**|**Total**
**112,722**|**112,722**| |230,915|**Other Assets**
Freehold house at 1B Mill Lane (insured value)|231,145| |**230,915**|**Total**|**231,145**| Signed: Elizabeth Denno (Chair) Geoff Hale (Treasurer) 19 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST NICHOLAS MARSTON** ## **Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 Dec 2021** ## **Notes to the Accounts** ## **1. Basis of Preparation** **(a)** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, the Charities Act 2011, together with applicable accounting standards. **(b)** The accounts are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis, as permitted when the annual income is less than £250,000. **(c)** The financial statements 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, nor of those that are informal gatherings of church members. ## **2. Accounting Policies** **(a)** The funds of a charity, under charity law, have to be categorized in one of three ways. **Unrestricted funds** : these contain money that can be spent in any way the PCC chooses (within general charity law) **Designated funds** : these contain money that the PCC has allocated to a specific purpose. They include funds designated for maintenance of church property. Money in a designated fund can be undesignated by a subsequent decision of the PCC. **Restricted funds** : these contain money that has been given for a purpose specified by the donor. Such money can only be spent on the specified purpose (within the overall objectives of the PCC), or else returned to the donor. **(b)** The PCC uses a number of bank accounts and investment funds **General Account** : This holds current funds, including General (unrestricted), Designated and Restricted Funds. The PCC holds a current account with the Cooperative Bank **Investment Accounts** . Reserves are held in the CBF Church of England Investment Fund administered by CCLA Investment Management Ltd Investments are valued at the basic value (between bid price and offer price) on 31 December. ## **(c)** Fixed assets Consecrated land and buildings and benefice property are not included in the accounts. Movable church furnishings which are held by the vicar and churchwardens on trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are listed in the church’s inventory. Such assets are not included in the financial statements. The freehold property at 1B Mill Lane belongs to the PCC, with the deeds held on its behalf by the Diocese. It is included in the statement of overall assets and liabilities at its insured value. 20 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST NICHOLAS MARSTON** ## for the Ye ## **Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 Dec 2020** |**Note 3**
**Note 4**
**Note 5**|**2020**
£
**RECEIPTS**
17,414
Income tax reclaimed on Gift Aid donations
1,132
Money claimed under GASDS
**18,546**
**2020**
£
**RECEIPTS**
300
Old Marston Parish Council (for Marston Times)
300
Old Marston Parish Council (for Choir)
200
Old Marston Parish Council (for Messy Church)
0
Old Marston Parish Council (for Eco Hub)
500
Brett's Trust (for Eco Hub)
3,000
Allchurches Trust (for Rewiring)
10,000
Oxfordshire Historic Churches (for Church Fabric)
0
Oxford City Council (for Eco Hub)
0
Old Marston Charities (for Coffee Pot)
14,300
**2020**
£
**RECEIPTS**
7,337
Statutory Fees
104
Additional Fees (organist, flowers, choir, bells, verger)
7,441
**PAYMENTS**
3,562
Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance
337
Others (clergy, organist, flowers, choir, bells, verger)
3,899
**3,542**
**Surplus / Deficit (– )**
**Parochial Fees: Receipts & Payments**
**Money reclaimed from HMRC**
**Grants**|**2021**
£
14,401
47| |---|---|---| |||**14,448**| |||**2021**
£
0
300
300
500
500
0
222
2,000
150| |||3,972| |||**2021**
£
6,816
779| |||7,595| |||2,574
556| |||3,130| |||**4,465**| 21 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST NICHOLAS MARSTON** ## for the Ye ## **Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 Dec 2020** |**Note 6**|**2020**
£
**RECEIPTS**
1,581
Subscriptions and donations
668
Advertisements
2,249
**PAYMENTS**
710
Printing
316
Postage & stationery
1,026
**1,222**
**Surplus / Deficit (– )**
**Marston Times: Receipts & Payments**|**2021**
£
21
0| |---|---|---| |||21| |||721
178| |||899| |||**-878**| Production and delivery of the Marston Times was suspended in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The surplus was used to fund production during 2021 without charge to subscribers or advertisers 22 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST NICHOLAS MARSTON** ## **Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 Dec 2021** |**Note 7**|**2020**
£
500
2,090
1,000
1,000
500
500
0
0
25
500
6,115
1,000
0
0
0
1,000
0
500
0
0
250
250
155
500
500
2,155
**9,270**|**Other Charitable donations**
Overseas & worldwide
Church Mission Society
Divya Shanthi
Christian Aid
Viva
Link to Hope
Bible Society
Barnabus Fund
Embrace the Middle East
Lifewords
Water Aid
National
Christians Against Poverty
Scripture Gift Mission
Wheelpower
The Children's Society
Local
Oxford Churches Debt Centre
The Porch
Viva Doorsteps
Restore
Musical Youth Company Oxford
Oxfordshire Association for Blind
Cowley Deanery
Helen & Douglas House
Asylum Welcome
**Total**|Unrestricted
Restricted
**Total**
funds
funds
£
£
£
1,000
1,000
2,026
751
2,777
500
500
0
500
500
0
500
500
250
250
0
500
500| |---|---|---|---| ||||5,276
751
6,027| ||||500
500
250
250
250
250
113
113| ||||1,000
113
1,113| ||||500
500
0
500
500
250
250
250
250
0
0
500
500
750
163
913| ||||2,750
163
2,913| ||||| ||||9,026
1,026
**10,052**| 23 DocuSign Envelope ID: 02505B65-ECD1-4DA0-8F4E-A72DA12ED523 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST NICHOLAS MARSTON** ## for the Yea ## **Financial Statements for the Year ended 31 Dec 2020** |**Note 8**
**Note 9**
**Note 10**|**2020**
**2021**
£
**RECEIPTS**
£
0
Marston Church Properties (salary contribution)
1,755
0
1,755
**PAYMENTS**
1,083
Salaries and fees
3,315
168
Materials
25
1,251
3,340
**1,251**
**Net payments**
**1,585**
**2020**
**2021**
£
**PAYMENTS**
£
214
Advertising
375
647
Holiday Club and Fun Days
1,044
33
Messy Church
0
0
Eco Hub supplies
399
0
Coffee Pot expenses
150
**895**
**1,967**
**2020**
**2021**
£
**RECEIPTS**
£
2,274
Marston Church Properties (salary contribution)
1,581
2,274
1,581
**PAYMENTS**
6,691
Salaries
4,742
465
Licence and other fees
150
588
Photocopier
588
0
Computer
232
0
Bank card reader
410
28
Other
214
7,772
6,336
**5,498**
**Net payments**
**4,756**
**Administration: Receipts and Payments**
**Mission within the Parish**
**Cleaning: Receipts and Payments**
The PCC employs a Cleaner and supplies cleaning services to Marston
Church Properties at cost.|**2021**
£
1,755| |---|---|---| |||1,755| |||3,315
25| |||3,340| |||**1,585**| |||**1,967**| |||**2021**
£
1,581| |||1,581| |||4,742
150
588
232
410
214| |||6,336| |||**4,756**| The PCC employs a Parish Administrator and supplies administration services to Marston Church Properties at cost. 24