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2022-12-31-accounts

< Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council of The Parish of Bilston

For the year ended 31[st] December 2022 Registered Charity Number 1138955

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The Parochial Church Council of The Parish of Bilston

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2022

Charity registration number 1138955

Objectives and Activities

The Parochial Church Council of Bilston (the PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the Acting incumbent, the Reverend Simon Skidmore, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelical, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also spiritually responsible for the maintenance of the church

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 all of our three Churches – St Leonards, St Chads and St Mary’s. 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, scripture, music and sacrament. Also, through non-sacramental activities of hospitality and fellowship we aim to reach non churched members of the community.

Public Benefit

The trustees of the Charity are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit and have had regard to it in their administration of the Charity. The trustees believe that, by promoting the work of the Church of England in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Bilston, it helps to promote the whole mission of the Church (pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical) more effectively, within the Ecclesiastical Parish, and that in doing so it provides a benefit to the public by:

• Providing facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for its members and for anyone who wishes to benefit from what the Church offers; and

• Promoting Christian values and service by members of the Church in and to their communities, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.

Vision Statement

“We, the congregations of Bilston Parish, seek to grow as the family of God and the people of God.”

Mission Statement

“We are committed to serving God and our community to the very best of our ability day by day”.

Mission Action Plan (MAP)

Discipleship

What we are doing now:

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- What was planned for the 12 month period:

What we hope to do in 3-5 years:

Evangelism

What we are doing now:

What was planned for the 12 month period:

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What we hope to do in 3-5 years:

Vocation

What we are doing now:

- What was planned for the 12 month period:

What we hope to do in 3-5 years:

Following the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 & 2021, The Parish was able to better resume gathered worship and other events in all 3 churches this year. There is still an element of ‘caution’ with the congregations in receiving the wine from one chalice at Holy Communion but all the churches are still following the national church and diocesan guidelines around Holy Communion and the impacts of Coronavirus.

Since July 2022, The Parish has reduced its number of clergy to one full-time stipendiary post. This has resulted in the loss of the “Team Vicar” post. The hope with one incumbent in the Parish is to further increase co-operation and commitment over the congregations to each other but this is of course subject to the formally appointed incumbent in the Parish under the current vacancy.

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Achievements and Performance

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Our Normal Pattern of worship in 2022.

Sundays

St Leonard’s Church

Wednesdays

10:30am - Shoppers Communion

Occasional Saturdays

St Mary’s Church

St Chad’s Church

2[nd] Saturday of the Month.

As of July 2022 with the reduction of clergy posts in the Parish, Communion by Extension was removed in consultation with the Bishop of Wolverhampton and Archdeacon of Walsall.

Other Services and events.

Lent Bible Studies at St Leonard’s and St Chads Weekly Bibles studies at St Leonard’s and St Chads

We regularly visit Bushfield Court Nursing Home, The Elm’s and Glenthorne House to do a monthly service and for special events such as Easter, Christmas and Remembrance Day.

Wave of Light Service - October - in St Leonard’s as part of Baby-loss awareness week.

School Services for Easter, Christmas, Harvest and end of year, in St Leonard’s for Bilston CofE and Villiers Primary Schools.

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St Leonard’s have had visits from Jumping Jo’s Nursery, Bilston CofE Primary School, Villiers Primary School, Green Park School, Field View Primary School.

Baptism, weddings and funerals policies

Baptisms take place on the 2[nd] Sunday and 4[th] Sunday of the month at St Leonard’s, following the main service and with prior arrangement at St Mary’s and St Chad’s, baptism will take place in the main Sunday service. Baptism families are required to attend a church service prior to the baptism a minimum of 3 times, one being their first visit to the church and the last time would include a Baptism Rehearsal. Baptism families and godparents are required to attend a Baptism Preparation Session on a Saturday morning or Monday evening. Baptisms are now being filtered in order to cope with demand and enable mission. This means if those who seek baptism outside of our Parish will need to consult the incumbent or equivalent authority of their own parish where they live before seeking baptism in Bilston. It is offered freely once all the expectations are met and we seek those who are baptized to become members of our churches.

All who live within the parish are welcome to get married at the church of their choice. Those who do not live within the ecclesiastical parish must meet the criteria for a qualifying connection. We have adhered to the new marriage legislation that has changed the registration of marriages. All Marriages will be registered with the Local Registry Office and any copy of marriage certificates can only be obtained from the same authority.

Baptism and Marriage enquiries/bookings are made on Monday evenings 6pm-7pm & Saturday morning 10am-11am in St Leonard’s church for the whole parish.

All who live or die in the parish are entitled to a funeral service and burial/interment of ashes. Bookings are made and confirmed through the Parish Funeral Co-ordinator along with the incumbent (or equivalent) who will then distribute the request of a funeral service to an appropriate minister. To help with demand, we have and continue to seek support from colleagues in neighbouring parishes for the number of funerals we do have in the parish.

Mission activities through community events

  1. Churches Together - Good Friday March of Witness, Hope in the Park, Carols in the Town Service and World Day of Prayer.

  2. Jacob’s Well café in St Leonard’s, run by an excellent team of volunteers. It is open on a Monday, Thursday and Saturday. On a Wednesday, the Lunch club still functions to provide an affordable lunch for those who are lonely or seeking friendships/fellowship. The Café has been distributing Food Parcels to those who have needed support.

  3. All 3 churches in the Parish have been open as Warm Spaces in order to provide a place for the local community to gather in warmth, providing comfort, friendship and refreshment.

  4. The Parish continues to offer support to our local care and nursing homes. We are still active in ‘The Elms’ “Glenthorne House’ and ‘Bushfield Nursing home’, providing a church service and pastoral care.

  5. St Mary’s continues to offer coffee mornings and is hoping to launch a community café initiative. They have held several fayres which have been supported well.

  6. St Chad’s continued to offer a weekly Parent and Toddler Group for families on the estate. It launched a ‘Places of Welcome’ along with Transforming Communities. St Chad’s continues to be a collection point for ‘The Well’ Foodbank in Wolverhampton and also ‘Coats for Kids.’ St Chad’s continues to support ‘Leprosy Mission’ and had a visit from in October to report back the charity work that the church had been supporting.

  7. St Leonard’s hosts a craft club group on a Thursday and a slimming class on a Friday and both groups continue to meet. On a Wednesday, St Leonard’s hosted a Veterans Group from Age UK who found a home with us for a few months but has moved to new premises. The Parish of Bilston, with Bilston British Legion, helped in the planning and organising of the Civic Remembrance Sunday Service in Bilston and continues to have strong links with the legion.

  8. The Parish Centre continued to be used for private and community hire, supporting a over 60’s group who meet weekly. It hosted a local charities Christmas Fayre. Tip Top Nursery took lease of the majority of the Centre and are hoping to open Easter 2023. We have had to review our hire policy to reflect this. St Chad’s and the Nursery are developing a healthy relationship.

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  1. The Parish has held several social events over the year including 2 barn dances. At Christmas, St Leonard’s, in partnership with the Bilston & Willenhall Lions Club, organised the Christmas Tree festival and we had several trees from local community groups, schools, businesses and organisations. The Christmas Tree festival coincided with the light switch on in the town. St Leonard’s hosted the annual memorial service for a local funeral director.

  2. The Parish of Bilston is very active in our local schools. We support assemblies in our own church school - Bilston Church of England Primary, Green Park Special School and Villiers Primary School and have had visits from Field View Primary School.

  3. All 3 churches orgainsed and hosted events to celebrate Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee and marked her passing. Plans have been formed to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III.

Parish Mission Priest (Team Vicar/Acting Team Rector’s) Report

I would you like to begin by saying a huge thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me this year. The changes that the Parish have gone through are huge and I wouldn’t be able to write most of this report without those who have dedicated their time and effort while the Parish continues to go through uncertain times. I’ve now been in the Acting Team Rector role for nearly 2 years and during this time, the PCC have had meetings to talk about the vacancy. These meetings, including one with the Archdeacon of Walsall also talked about the future of the Bilston Team ministry and the Team Rector/Incumbent vacancy in the Parish. Due to the financial strain on the Parish it was decided not to replace the vacant post and from July 2022, the Parish was to function with one full-time Incumbent. This has been very, very hard to accomplish. The demands and expectations from each church in the Parish are still too high and further changes are going to be needed in order for the Parish to have a sustainable future and productive vicar who won’t face burnout and the need for the Parish to seek outside help and support to cover services. This is not sustainable.

In my current role, I still seek to fulfil my initial appointment as Parish Mission Priest, to seek growth in our churches, to have a heart for evangelism and mission and to pray for new disciples to find faith in Jesus and to grow in love for God’s Word and to serve him through our churches in Bilston.

Buildings and Personnel.

All of our churches in the Parish have gradually removed a lot of the COVID restrictions but hand sanitisers and mask wearing are still an option. St Leonard’s and St Chad’s have returned to using the communion rail while St Mary’s still prefer to keep the COVID guidelines in place. All 3 church buildings need work which can be found in each district wardens report. I would like to thank Mark Bircher and John Arnold as Parish Wardens for the help and support they have given in helping to co-ordinate some of this work across the Parish, including the on-going concern with the increasing prices of the utilities.

St Chad’s

St Chad’s still has problems with it nave floor but funding to have this corrected has now been agreed and the hope is this will be done by the end of 2023. The fire exit ramp is still on-going. Quotes have been received but the church is now waiting on the process for DAC and approval from the Architect. The men’s toilets in St Chad’s need improving and we hope this will be done in the new year. St Chad’s have recently had a cleaning company come in to regularly clean the church. This has been received very well. The grounds of the church have had little maintenance and a gardening company is being sourced since Community Payback have not returned to the site. I would like to thank Pat and John Arnold as church wardens for the ways they have maintained the church this year. I would like to thank Diane Woodberry for her help and support as lay-reader in conducting Service of The Word services, Family services, support with Fusion@4’s and the work with Places of Welcome and the Pastoral Team. I’m very grateful for the work that you have all done. I’m grateful to Rev Kate Watson for being a part of the patronal festival this year too.

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St Mary’s

St Mary’s continues to have some building work that is needed. The fallen plaster in the chancel area is still on-going due to funds and there are still many cracks in the plaster work. There has been a fall of plaster above the external North-East door and quotes for the work are being sought. The graveyard continues to be maintained by a willing group of local volunteers and my gratitude to them for how pristine the grounds are kept throughout the year. I would like to thank Eber Carter and Christine Mills as church wardens for their hard work and dedication in the maintenance of St Mary’s. We are saddened by the death of Veronica Britton and Brian Wood this year, both loyal and active members of St Mary’s, for their hard work and dedication. I’m grateful for the ministry of Ade and Mandy Mallen who have supported St Mary’s this year and we hope and pray that they have settled well in Bloxwich for Mandy’s curacy. We are grateful to Revs Mark & Carol Hathorne for their support to the Patronal Festival this year. I’m very thankful to Rev Kate Watson and Rev Foluso Adedipe for your support in service cover and pastoral ministry.

St Leonard’s

St Leonard’s chancel work following water ingress is still on-going but should be completed in 2023. The falling render from the parapet wall is still to be resolved. The church has gone through several changes to make it more energy efficient including the replacement of lights. The light in the clock faces has been repaired and it produces a great light at night. St Leonard’s have created a new chapel space which will be dedicated by the Bishop of Wolverhampton in 2023 and a new children’s space has been created in the church which seems to be well used. The church has received a sofa and chairs to create a more relaxed meeting space for meetings and groups. The print room has become a storage space and the copiers are now kept in the vestry to create a better office space.

I’m grateful to all who have helped and supported the running of St Leonard’s this year, to Mike and Sue Shelly-Smith for the support they have given, to Joyce Grocutt, Clive Travis and others who have supported in the roles of vergers for occasional offices, to Phil and Jane Dooley and their hard work and dedication, Jane for Jacob’s Well, children’s / youth ministry and the work with the Lunch Club and the confirmation group and Phil for his support as a lay-reader with the development of the family service, service of the Word’s and with the Bible Study group, to Mark Bircher and Remi Hodister, for the general maintenance and work they have both done in the church, to Kerry Bircher for her role in safeguarding and keeping us up-to-date with DBS’ and training, to Tammy and Kim, Linda, Karl and all the volunteers in the Jacob’s Well Café, for Maxine Gentle who edits the Parish Magazine and has been very flexible with my deadlines once again this year. We appreciate all the work you have done. I am thankful to Rev Chris Thorpe and Sarah for returning to St Leonard’s and conducting the Patronal Festival for us this year too.

Projects

There were many key projects that I wanted to focus on this year which all relate to the MAP. One of the priorities was to encourage a deeper level of discipleship and biblical knowledge. This led to the establishment of 2 additional Bible study groups on a Wednesday morning and Tuesday lunchtime. The Wednesday group is following the same studies on a Tuesday evening but the Tuesday lunchtime called ‘Soup & Study’ is an entry level group for those who are starting out in studying the Bible.

This desire to grow more Bible knowledge also reflects in the Theme’s for Fusion@4 and the family services at St Chad’s through “Old Testament Bible Explorers.” This helped to develop our Summer Holiday club which saw a good number of children from the estate come and learn about Old Testament characters. In January, we launched again ‘Hope Explored’ and it was received well by those who attended. We hope to begin a time of Morning and Evening Prayer every week into the churches in order to bring more prayer into the Parish and grow the congregations to have more faith in their prayers.

Another project that happened this year was to encourage more fellowship following the ongoing impact of the lockdown period. We were able to do several social events from Beetle Drives, Barn Dances, Bingos and to encourage after-service fellowship in all 3 churches. I’m so delighted to see that all 3 churches have invested more in spending time together at the end of their Sunday services.

It has been so encouraging to see the growth of our Pastoral Team this year. This is a needed team in the Parish noting the need to minister to those who cannot return to our churches for whatever reason and to be an outreach to others. The Pastoral Team help with the Care home’s ministry at The Elms, Glenthorne House and Bushfield Court, Funeral, Wedding and Baptism ministry, assist at Parish surgeries, visit members of the congregation at home or through phone calls. They are being trained to distribute Home Communions. I have been able to delegate some of the responsibility of this team to Diane Woodberry. I am still investing

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time in Baptism Preparations as a means to bring others to the Christian Faith. We are still planning to do more outreach work including having outside stalls, prayer walks and mission weekends.

Another key project of this year was to strength our schools work. I continue to take assemblies into Villiers school on a weekly basis and to Bilston CofE Primary school. I am still very active in Bilston CofE school and spend Wednesday afternoons with pupils to develop the Christian distinctiveness within the school. It has been very encouraging to see our local schools come to St Leonard’s. Bilston CofE Primary have visited for school services and for trips to help R.E. lessons, Villiers School have visited for Harvest and Easter services, Field View Primary brought two classes to the church in order to help with their R.E. and Jumping Jo’s Nursery came for a Christmas story. I still serve as a governor in 2 schools in the Parish. I hope to see further development in our schools work with a hope to launch ‘Open the Book’ in the new year. It was great to be a part of linking our church school to Bushfield Court that has produced the start of intergenerational work.

As a Parish, we have developed further our engagement with other community groups and charities. We are delighted to welcome Tip Top Nursery at the Parish Centre and we are excited to see a fruitful partnership growing in the Centre. It was a delight to welcome Susan Parker from Samaritans Purse and David & Ann Harris from The Leprosy Mission to visit our churches to launch our support to their charities. We were humbled to do the Wave of light service again this year and to raise funds for SANDS.

I have continued to serve as a Vocation’s Advisor for the Diocese and have met with candidates exploring their call to ministry. It has been a blessing to encourage Alison Bruton as she prepares for her ordination in 2023 and there is still a great hope for the Parish to training a curate and be a place for future Ordinands or student placements to happen.

Worship and Growth.

The patterns of worship in the Parish this year have been a struggle to maintain due to the persistent demand for Holy Communion. Following the definitive decision to reduce to 1 incumbent, it was also agreed at PCC that Communion by Extension would be removed from Sunday Services and only used if necessary during the week. It has been my intension to provide each church at least 2 Communion services a month and the other services would be either a Service of the Word or Morning Prayer to encourage the ministry of our lay-readers. This is certainly a pattern which will continue into the future.

It still grieves me to not have the opportunity to lead a non-communion service/family service and I hope this opportunity may happen in the new year. It is still noticed that during communion, many still refuse or hesitate to receive the common cup and we hope many will have the confidence to start receiving the wine in this form into the new year.

Since the development of the chapel space in St Leonard’s, the Mid-week communion has grown in number and in fellowship. During the services that I am able to, I have tried to introduce new songs which I believe are being received well.

It has been encouraging to see new faces appearing in our churches while also coming to terms with the loss of those who have died this year. All 3 of our churches have seen both decline and growth in services including many moving to different churches in the Parish as we all still recover from the lockdown years. There has been an increase in our home visits and home communions over the year and I pray the Pastoral Team will be ready to support this ministry into the coming year.

As a Parish, we were able to mark the Death of Her Majesty and offer pastoral support at the time. We are planning for the coronation of His Majesty in the coming year and hope the Parish will mark this special occasion in a positive way. Our Fusion@4 services continue to strive forward and we pray that inspire praises will resume in the future.

It’s been a tough year personally but I couldn’t have done it without the strength and blessing of the Lord and for the support of you all. May the Lord continue to bless the work of our Parish as we continue to seek to serve him and our communities to the very best of our abilities.

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:36

Rev Simon Skidmore

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Deanery Synod Report

Synod met on the 15[th] June 2022 at St. Martins Church and discussed a project known as LEADING CHURCHES INTO GROWTH. There was a Shaping for Mission update and various diocesan initiatives were noted.

There was a proposal to hold a deanery conference. However there were no firm conclusions regarding a subject.

The next meeting was on 21[st] November2022. The scheduled September meeting having been postponed. The ongoing Shaping for Mission issue was discussed again. The issue relating to a Deanery conference could not be finalised.

A further meeting is due to take place before the 2023 A.P.C.M. However, no date or agenda has yet been announced.

Philip Dooley

Report on the proceedings of the P.C.C.

The Parochial Church Council (P.C.C.) has the responsibility of cooperating with incumbent in the mission of the Church. As with all churches in the Church of England, the parish is a charitable body and therefore P.C.C. members are also trustees and hold responsibility for the financial affairs in the parish and care for buildings.

At the time of writing the P.C.C. has met on five occasions since the last A.P.C.M. including an extraordinary meeting involving the Archdeacon. At every P.C.C. meeting in the Parish of Bilston, a number of matters are dealt with. These matters include minutes of the previous meeting and any matters arising, the state of the buildings, the financial position any health and safety concerns or Safeguarding issues. Additional matters are addressed as they arise. Annually, the P.C.C. must approve the contents of the annual report and accounts to be presented to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (A.P.C.M.). At the time of writing, that particular meeting is yet to take place.

In the previous year the P.C.C has considered the following additional matters. The P.C.C. agreed to the establishment of a children’s day nursery at the Parish Centre, the Mission Action Plan, the cost of living crisis, the sustainability of mission and our three churches. Following an extraordinary involving the Archdeacon, the P.C.C agreed to petition the diocese to reduce the amount of Parish Share (Common Fund) in exchange to moving to a single full-time clergy post.

Philip Dooley

Parish Warden’s Report

In addition to all of the good work done by the individual churches and the tribulations each faces, there have been a few things which have affected the whole parish.

The major issue within the parish this year has been the reduction from having 2 priests to only having one. This had to be done for financial reasons, the parish no longer being able to afford the cost of a second post. Simon is doing an excellent job of managing this change as Acting Rector, but the post will still need to be advertised and officially filled. We all need to pull together to support this move. This is a permanent situation and not a temporary one, should we ever want to return to more than one post we would have to become far more financially stable in the long term.

One of the major consequences of this reduction to one minister will mean that we will have more times when we will need to come together to hold parish services rather than each church wanting their own.

All 3 churches have been upgraded to have smart meters fitted (St Leonard’s are still awaiting one as the engineer was taken ill). This makes managing the fuel bills much easier.

Mark Bircher has begun to look at all of our energy costs, which will rise massively when current contracts run out in April. He is trying to identify the best deal available. Mark is also looking into our current contracts for things like maintenance of heating systems, alarms, photocopiers etc. to ensure that they are the most competitive we can get them.

In the coming year we will need to work much more closely together to ensure the smooth operating of the parish as a whole.

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All of us at St Chad’s would like to thank Mark Bircher for all the work he is doing for the parish, and wish him well for the future after his health scare last year. We also thank Phil Dooley and Diane Woodbury for their efforts in these trying times with only one Minister. We must all pull together to sustain the parish.

Let us all march forward with God’s help into the future.

Mark Bircher & John Arnold.

St Leonard’s District Warden Report

Last year Mike Shelley-Smith announced his intention to resign in April 2022, we thank him for his many years of service and for all of the hard work he has put in during those years.

As a consequence Jane Dooley joined Mark Bircher as warden for St Leonard’s.

Following two fairly disastrous years of the effects of COVID19, 2022 has been a year of trying to climb back to some semblance of normality. Unfortunately, the previous two years have depleted our numbers as many older church members have become housebound and others have just got out of the habit of attending church so regularly. However, on a brighter note we have seen new members joining us, some regularly and others on a more intermittent basis.

Unfortunately, when the parish had to make the difficult decision to reduce to only one priest, communion services had to be reduced to two per month. However, this gave an opportunity for some different services and allowed for the opening for visitors to take services. We were able to contact several retired clergy, one of which was Glynn Watkin who agreed to join us for the first Sunday of the month on a bi-monthly basis for one year. We are very grateful to Glynn.

With the closure of Stowlawn Church, we were invited to receive some of their furniture for use at St Leonard’s. The communion table and two chairs, along with a carved wooden cross, have enabled us to create a side chapel which has been very well received by the Wednesday Communion and 8.00am service. The chapel will shortly be dedicated by the Bishop, but remains a moveable space which can be used for other purposes.

A request was finally made to the DAC to dispose of the surplus pews. This was not immediately accepted and a specialist was sent out to view the pews. His advice was that the two pews which had formerly been part of the vicar’s stalls were by a different designer and were more valuable. He advised that these should be kept, so they were replaced at the back of the choir. The rest of the pews are ‘nothing special’ and so they would not object to them being disposed of. This was good news but still requires that we re-apply to the DAC. This will be done shortly.

With the creation of the chapel space, the children’s play area was moved to the back on the north side of the church. This remains incomplete at the moment as we are hoping that the sale of the pews will raise a little money towards improving this area.

In the summer we held a ‘Jam Jar Flower Festival’ as part of our celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll. Members of the public were invited to take part and produce a small flower arrangement. This was generally well received and the church was adorned in a wide variety of arrangements.

On a Tuesday lunchtime a group have been meeting for ‘Soup and study’, they have been looking at some of the Christian basics like prayer and the bible over a welcome bowl of soup and crusty bread. Food for the body and for the soul!

Wednesday is a very busy day as the 10.30am midweek communion continues, followed by a bible study at 11.30am and lunch club at 1.00pm.

The ‘Knit and Natter’ group continue to meet on a Thursday morning and have grown in number. They have ‘adopted’ one of the window ledges and create some wonderful knitted displays for us to enjoy. They also create a cheerful addition to the café and boost sales with the purchase of drinks and snacks.

Five members of the slimming group continue to meet on a Friday morning where they enjoy a weigh-in, encourage one another and have a good chinwag.

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St Leonard’s is certainly a well-used church.

Water damage which occurred on October 3[rd] 2021 remains an ongoing concern. The insurance company has agreed to cover part of the necessary repairs but we continue to await a specification from the architect which will determine the extent of the cost to us. The urgency for the work is increasing as the plaster in the sanctuary is crumbling and falling regularly.

The system for recording the finances has been updated and is reported and returned to the Parish Treasurer on a regular basis in line with her request. Unfortunately our expenditure, despite being cut as far as possible, continues to be greater than our income. Our intention for the coming year will be to encourage more people to manage their giving by Standing Order where possible; this has the double benefit of helping us to know what our income will be and also reducing the amount of cash which has to be carried to the bank regularly. Last year our expenditure appears to have averaged about £4,280 per month with monthly income averaging only £3,415. As you can see this is a very big shortfall, however this will be reduced a little in the coming year by the reduction in Parish Share (now called Common Fund).

Our heating system is somewhat less than efficient for the size of the building. In the coming year we will be looking for quotes for a more efficient heating system and also seeking to update the controls of the current system for a wireless control which can be better managed.

The alarm system in St Leonard’s has had to be updated and a service contract taken out. This had to happen because it came to light that the insurance company had been given inaccurate information regarding the alarm and had we had a break in we would probably have been inadequately covered. We now have an annual service contract and are trying to create a list of keyholders as a previous list could not be found.

Due to problems with the computers and the software system used for our 10.30 services it became desirable to have internet access. This had been looked at by the DCC a number of times but had been rejected due to the cost which we could not afford. However, when Mark Bircher discussed this with a BT engineer he informed Mark that as we were already paying for a phone line used only by the alarm system, a package for broadband internet would be available to us at only £1 per month extra! We therefore jumped at this opportunity and purchased this. The laptop computers were upgraded by means of a generous donation from a member of the congregation.

Jane Dooley & Mark Bircher.

St. Mary’s District Wardens Report

Last year we were delighted to welcome back members of our Congregation who had not returned to Church since the pandemic but now feel comfortable to do so. Unfortunately, we also lost two of our long serving and dedicated members, in April Veronica Brittain died who had attended St Mary’s for many many years and then in August Brian Wood died who had served as Church Warden here for over twenty years. He had been a tireless worker for St Mary’s not just as Warden but in many practical ways including painting the interior of the Church and also the outside railings. Both of these long serving members are greatly missed by us all.

During the year we welcomed several new members of our congregation who have become part of our family at St Mary’s, they have not only participated in social events but also in the mundane tasks such as cleaning, we are very grateful to them all.

Our social and fundraising events have included a Platinum Jubilee garden party, an Autumn Fair and a Christmas Fayre where we welcomed Father Christmas as well as a Jumble Sale. All of these were very well attended by members of our local community. We advertised them by members delivering leaflets to our surrounding areas and also on our own dedicated Facebook page, which was launched last year. This has enabled us to communicate with both our close neighbours and those members who live further away.

In May, Amanda and Ade Mallan organised an Open Day which was very well attended, it gave visitors an opportunity to not just look around the building but to also learn more of the history of our beautiful Church.

Following the death of Her Majesty the Queen in September, the Church was open for several days to enable anyone who wished to come and sign the book of Remembrance, light a candle, lay flowers or say a prayer in her memory could do so.

We were delighted to welcome Mark and Carol Hathorne to our Patronal Service in September, it was lovely to have them back in St Mary’s.

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There was a fall of plaster above the external door at the rear of the Choir Vestry. We have received a quotation from Crofts Building Company for the repairs but we are awaiting further instructions from the insurance company.

Members of our congregation continue to clean and maintain our Church building on a regular basis, and our grounds and Churchyard are kept immaculate by our group of volunteers, we are very grateful to them all.

Eber Carter & Christine Mills

St. Chad’s District Wardens Report

1. Fabric Report

2. Equipment

a We are still looking to update our sound system and projector at St Chad’s.

3. Events/Church uses

     - a) We are repeating the events we had in 2022 when we held a Bingo afternoon with Fish and Chips.

     - b) We had a Bonfire Barn Dance in November a Barn Dance is planned for Shrove Tuesday.

     - Also, we held a Skittles event and a Christmas fair in December with a visit from Santa

  - Claus. A fusion, Christingle, and a Messy Christmas Combined, which was very well

  - attended.

  - c) Our congregation is holding up with an increase on Sunday 15[th] Dec When we had 17

     - adults and 6 Children in Church.

g) Chad’s Place has recommenced on Thursday mornings along with Places of Welcome.

ERIC BARKER

Pat and John Arnold

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General Data Protection Regulation Report

There is nothing new to report about the privacy of personal data within the Parish over the last 12 months. May I remind everyone that if you wish the church to keep any personal information about themselves they must fill in a form which should be available at every church. If you want information about yourself removing please contact me. I can be found on 0789 494 151.

Diane Woodberry and Kerry Bircher

Safeguarding of Vulnerable Children and Adults Report

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, protecting them from abuse or maltreatment and preventing harm to their health or development. As a parish we want to ensure that the children and vulnerable adults in our community are protected and recognise the calling and duty to love and care for the vulnerable and protect all from abuse. For this reason, we have taken guidance from Lichfield diocese on how best to protect those in our community. These are the following advisories that we have followed:

  1. We have a designated safeguarding team which is led by Rev. Simon Skidmore and Kerry Bircher. The role of the Safeguarding Officer is to be the named person volunteers and church members would report any disclosures or child protection concerns to. If required, the Safeguarding Officer will refer on any disclosures or child protection concerns to the appropriate organisation e.g., The Local Authority in which the vulnerable person/child lives, social services or police.

  2. All parish members who may take responsibility within their church such as PCC/DCC members, church/parish wardens or those who are responsible for children or vulnerable adults as part of their role within the church MUST have a current DBS issued by the diocese which must be renewed every 3 years.

  3. All parish members who may take responsibility within their church such as PCC/DCC members, church/parish wardens or those who are responsible for children or vulnerable adults as part of their role within the church MUST have completed basic awareness and foundation safeguarding training (previously C0 and C1.)

Over the past year, Kerry Bircher has taken a lead in ensuring all PCC/DCC members have current DBS certificates in line with our new safeguarding policy by becoming a diocesan verifier to streamline the process and avoid the need to rely on external verifiers. St Leonard’s has also facilitated safeguarding training evenings to ensure all members can complete the training as well as have sufficient opportunity to ask questions as they arise.

Going forward into 2023, as a parish we need to be more aware of our communities and the challenges they face and take safeguarding more seriously due to the impact it can have on people’s lives. We need to ensure that any concern is reported to a safeguard lead no matter how small we feel the issue is. We need to ensure that all members of the parish who are in these roles do hold a current DBS and have completed safeguarding training. Although most have met these requirements there are a small few that have not. We intend on making it mandatory that any future member of PCC/DCC, church/Parish warden must have completed basic awareness and foundation safeguarding training prior to being appointed into one of these positions. And a current DBS will be required within 8 weeks of appointment.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Acting on your concerns or seeking advice is rarely a bad idea. People often question ‘What if I’m wrong’ but we have to ask ourselves ‘what if I’m right’. We can’t assume that someone else has seen what we may have seen or will pass on concerns.

Proverbs 31v 8 says ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.’

Kerry Bircher

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St Leonard’s Family Service- Service of the Word Report

In 2022 the Service of the Word family services have continued once per month throughout the year. This takes place on the 3[rd] Sunday of each month.

The format for the services remains similar but can be adapted to the theme of the month. Generally we will have a short introductory liturgy with confession followed by between two and four readings. Each section usually consists of a reading, a reflection, a prayer and a song or hymn.

Themes this year have included The Gifts of the Spirit, Creation, the Prodigal Son, Watershed moments (we’ve had a few of them this year), Persecuted Christians, Persistence and Expectations amongst others.

We have continued to mix the old with the new in terms of music and try to include a variety of activities including various videos, quizzes, paper cup ping pong and other challenges.

The music this year has been enhanced by the return of the band. Joanne, Mark and Kerry Bircher, sometimes accompanied by Dale Stroyde and using a variety of instruments has provided a welcome and refreshing addition to the service. We all look forward to learning together in 2023.

Phil & Jane Dooley

St Leonard’s Sunday School & Young People’s Report

Once again this year has been a difficult year in Sunday school. Attendance has been very irregular with some of the older young people choosing not to come at all.

Since taking on the responsibility of Churchwarden, managing the Sunday school has been even more difficult due to me needing to be in the service at various times. This has sometimes meant that the children have needed to remain in the service, I believe that this may have affected attendance of some of the families.

Despite these issues we have managed to do some good work this year, mainly picking out themes from the lectionary readings but sometimes picking up topical themes like the Platinum Jubilee, joining in with the jam-jar flower festival.

Jane Dooley

The Children of St Chad’s (Sunday School)

There are on average 5 children who attend St Chads on a regular basis. These children are aged between 1 year and 15 years. There are a number of children who have complex needs. On a normal Sunday morning the focus is to keep the children comfortable and engaged with the church family. The children spend the service sat at tables at the back with age appropriate activities, often relating to the teaching of the day.

The children are more actively involved in the family services where they prepare and read the prayers and intersessions. The family services this year have been following the old testament characters that we have been looking at in the fusion services. We have recently started a new topic “King of Kings” looking at the kings in the bible using the upcoming coronation as a hook.

Kim Skidmore

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HOPE in the Park

This event was planned for 2022 and all was going reasonably well. We obtained a little funding towards the hire of equipment and as this is a Churches Together event more churches than previously were keen to take part. The theme for this year was to be ‘Come Together’.

Just over a week before the event was due to take place we had the devastating news that the stage had not only been vandalised but had been completely destroyed by fire, leaving it fenced off with a big cordon around it meaning that the whole area was unusable.

A cry went out – firstly up to heaven for some divine intervention as we would not accept that this was the end of HOPE! Then we appealed to others, with the TV and radio stations picking up our plea. Quickly offers of help came in, the most significant of which was the loan of a portable stage, the type used for outdoor events. The owner of the company was a Christian and when he saw our plight did not hesitate to offer it’s use free of charge, which would have cost over £1,000 if we had hired it commercially. Several smaller offers of help were also forthcoming along with lots and lots of publicity.

With the portable stage the event was able to move to the football field of the park, a much bigger area. More churches than ever booked space for a stall to engage with people and the weather was set reasonably fair. Five local schools had agreed to take part this year and assemblies and school visits were done by a small group.

On the day the wind tried it’s hardest to defeat us, with gazebos becoming kites and ‘paper chase’ the main activity! But more people than ever turned up due to the publicity, it was hard to estimate the number but possibly more than 2,000. And so it was that despite Satan trying his best to defeat us more than double the usual numbers of people were reached with something of the gospel and once again Jesus triumphed. Planning for 2023 is already underway.

Jane Dooley

Jacob’s Well Café Ministry Report (formally known as the Melting Pot).

The café at St Leonard's reopened on the 5[th] of January 2022 after the Christmas break. We welcomed back our regular lunch club members alongside a few new ones.

We have been able to do several events this year, some of these events include; funeral buffets throughout the year, of which the largest was for sixty people; Mother’s Day afternoon tea on the 26[th] of March; a 25[th] wedding anniversary buffet in May; bingo afternoon in July and a private Cream Tea for 20 in September. These events, along with a couple of small grants have enabled us to raise the required funds to look at hiring a part time manager.

We have developed a regular order for the Bilston Town Hall Film club where we provide sandwiches for the organising committee every 2 months, this helps boost the overall profits. We also have the ability to open the café to teas, coffees and toast on Wednesdays due to the dedication of our volunteers and the increase of volunteer staff.

We have built a great community feel within the café where everyone feels welcomed and included. On the 23[rd] of August we did a trip to Weston-Super-Mare which many of our customers, lunch club members and church family attended, 51 people in all. The cost of the trip was subsidised by a grant from Bilston Relief In Need Charity which enabled us to offer the children’s seats at a much reduced price. This trip gave the opportunity for people to talk to different people and make new friends and to feel a sense of belonging. Many had not had a holiday for several years if ever.

Thanks to the generous donations from the harvest Festival we have been able to provide about 14 families with food parcels, with volunteers having basic training on how to put the parcels together by assessing the family’s needs. This is becoming an increasing need in Bilston but we do not have the space to become a full food bank, however this work will continue into the future and donations are welcome.

Staff and customers are always encouraged to attend the Wednesday services and bible study which a few customers are attending and staff can attend once their jobs are complete. This helps and enables us to strengthen our bond with the church and gives the volunteers a better understanding of the mission of the church. We continue to work around funerals and other church events, encouraging due respect from customers.

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Throughout the year we have celebrated many birthdays of the lunch club members and volunteers. This has included several big birthdays, enabling isolated members to feel a sense of belonging, especially since several of the members are bereaved and often have no other family. Being able to celebrate as part of a much bigger ‘family’ is special.

We have now been able to open the café three times a week; Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays whilst continuing with lunch club on Wednesdays. With the growth of the volunteers training, development and confidence that has come with the experience of working the regular three days a week (including lunch club) we have been able to open for a couple of hours on Saturdays, run by two of the volunteers; this is slowly developing a customer base.

To end the year we again provided a Christmas dinner to which all church members, customers and lunch club members were invited. Twenty-five attended on the 22[nd] of December, a little reduced due to illness, a further three or four take-away meals were provided. It was a successful day with all enjoying the cuisine and the company. In order to subsidise the meal a little we raffled a Christmas food hamper which was donated by Hazel Robinson to the café.

We took a short break in order to recuperate over the Christmas and New Year period, ready for the year ahead.

In 2023 our aim is to open a warm space to people of the community where they can be warm; play games; make new friends and have a hot drink. We also aim to advertise and hire a part time manager so that the café can be opened to customers five or 6 times a week.

Tammy & Kim Eglington.

World Day of Prayer Report

2022 World Day of Prayer centered around the countries England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The service this year took place in St Leonard’s Church. As this was the first one since COVID we did not get the same numbers as we have in the past. 2023s World Day of Prayer is focused on Taiwan and will take place at St Chad’s.

Kim Skidmore

Bible Study and Prayer Groups Report

The Bible Study groups have really developed this year. The Tuesday evening group continues to meet on Zoom with the opportunity for members to meet in person at St Chad’s. The majority of the group still preferred to meet virtually so we stopped an in-person meeting from September and the group became a complete virtual group. The group has about 8-9 regular attendees from across the parish and beyond. The group have studied the books of Judges, Nehemiah and Galatians. We looked at separate studies for Lent and Advent. In Lent, we followed “Passion” by Mike McKinley, looking at Luke 22-24 and an Advent Book, “Repeat the Sounding Joy” by Christopher Ash, looking at the birth narrative of Luke 1-2. Each session had about 1 ½ hours studying and ½ hour of prayer.

It was exciting to see the development of the Wednesday morning group that meets after the shoppers communion in St Leonard’s. This group has about 5-6 different members to that of a Tuesday. The Wednesday group is an in-person meeting and I’ve been so encouraged to see the spiritual growth of the members of this group. The Wednesday group have been following the same studies as the Tuesday group.

Following the MAP for the Parish, we have tried to launch a Tuesday day time group called “Soup and Study”. This is an entry level Bible Study group for those who are starting out in their knowledge and study of the scriptures. This started well but due to diary clashes there have been many cancelations. We hope to have a greater consistency in the coming year.

In 2023, we hope to look at new studies on the Letter to the Romans and possibly a large Old Testament Book or even the Book of Revelation. The Lent Course we hope to launch will be “Talking Jesus” which wasn’t completed in 2020 due to the COVID lockdown.

It is really encouraging to see how all the members of the groups have grown deeper in their knowledge and faith in the scriptures and how they had been applying it to their lives. The groups have also developed their ability and reliance in prayer. The prayer lists keep getting longer each week and we have shared many examples of answered prayer. The dynamics of the groups are great

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but we always open for others to join us. All our Bible Study groups are not exclusive and open for everyone in the Parish to join us and we hope to allow members of the group to help in leading sessions as they grow and mature. Please do contact me if you want to find out more about what we are doing and I pray for a very productive new year.

Rev Simon Skidmore

InSpire Praise Ministry

Our hopes of restarting inSPIRE Praise events was dealt a blow at Easter last year when Mark Bircher was taken ill following the Good Friday event in the town. Following a triple heart by-pass he made steady progress and was eventually able to again pick up his guitar. He and the family began by leading a couple of songs in our monthly family service and we planned toward our annual Reclaiming Christmas Service at the beginning of December.

Reclaiming Christmas was threatened in the end by a certain World Cup match! We made the decision to bring the service earlier (5.00pm instead of 6.00pm) so that people could return home in time for the match; then high levels of illness in the schools taking part also began to threaten. Thankfully Bilston C of E Primary managed to muster a choir and entertained us admirably, Villiers Primary were unable to attend but despite this we had a good turnout and a most enjoyable evening. It was great to hear the band in full swing again and to have a full church raising the roof. Links with children and parents were renewed and the Christmas story retold with the help of a giant jigsaw puzzle and suitable carols and songs.

As most of the congregation hurried off the crew rapidly packed away before enjoying jacket potatoes for tea whilst watching the match on the big screens!

It was a good end to another struggling year, but we are planning to do at least four inSPIRE events during 2023; I hope we will see you there.

Jane Dooley

Pastoral Care Team Report

This year has seen the pastoral team reform. At present it's main focus is keeping the link between the church and the housebound and the church and people in homes. We hope to include hospital visits in the future but at present COVID rules still apply there. We communicate with the hospital chaplains instead. This link is kept by pastoral visits and also taking Holy Communion to them. Consequently interesting conversation goes backward and forwards. During the course of our monthly team meetings we look at baptism, wedding and funeral ministries, showing Gods love in the midst of their joy or sorrow. Sometimes it is difficult to understand why a worshipper has not been seen at church for sometime. Please could I ask that the church is contacted either through Simon or me on 07890 494151

Diane Woodberry

Places of Welcome Report

A new initiative by the Transforming Communities, a charity between the Diocese and Church Urban Fund. It’s aim is to be a nonjudgmental meeting place for anyone regardless of faith and to make friends. This might help with peoples mental frame of mind. Initially we met on Tuesday afternoons between 2-4pm but this was found difficult for parents with children at school. We moved to Thursdays mornings 10am-12noon. Usually we have a piece of cake and a hot drink of choice. We have games on offer and people bring their knitting and crafts.

In March, a friend of Linda’s is coming to give a talk on Elizabethan life and have invited people from across the parish to come.

If you are interested in joining us you will be very welcome, please contact Diane on 07890494151.

Diane Woodberry

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- Fusion@4 Fresh Expression

Fusion@4 is our Fresh Expression of church that happens on a 2[nd] Saturday of the month. It is still primarily aimed at those who have no contact with church and live in the vicinity of St Chad’s. From the start of 2022, we continued the ‘I am sayings’ of Jesus which we completed by May. We started a new series in June called ‘Old Testament Bible Explorers’ that focuses on several main people in the Old Testament from Adam & Eve to Hezekiah. We plan to finish this series by the middle of 2023. Every Fusion there is a character profile that is created so those who come create a fact file of the people we have been exploring. We continue to offer a variety of activities including crafts and challenges, a focused time of worship with story-telling, prayers, puppets and dramatic songs, then we finish with a time of food and fellowship. We have started to put a donation plate out to cover costs for the church. We still have a range of different children and families each month but with a new regular family who is benefitting from it.

We still did a Messy Easter and Messy Christmas with a Christingle, having over 40 attending. During the Summer, we did a Fusion Holiday club which went down well with children coming from the estate and the hope is to do something similar in 2023. We are very thankful to the volunteers who give their time to help this initiative, especially Diane Woodberry, Alison Spencer and Linda Stockall. We are still looking for more volunteers to help us and we pray for more families to come and bring their children to find out more about Jesus and the hope that he brings.

Rev Simon & Kim Skidmore

The Parish Centre

The biggest change in the Parish Centre this year is the Tip Top Nursery, which is currently ready to go with a large waiting list, just awaiting Ofsted approval. They have made some wonderful changes to the centre and courtyard including painting the back rooms and laying new weather proof flooring in the courtyard at the back.

Regular hire has all but stopped with just the over 60s bingo group using the centre now on a Friday afternoon.

We have had a few parties this year, a couple of which have led to problems, mess and complaints from neighbours. We have there for decided to change the policy and hire arrangements. From now on the centre will take booking for children’s parties only, these will take place on a weekend only and all parties must be finished by 6pm.

I am currently looking for a cleaner for the centre, and will possibly talk to the ladies who have started cleaning in St Chad’s church.

Kim Skidmore

Chad’s Place (Coffee morning and toddlers)

The regular numbers at Chads place have been decreasing faster since covid and currently one really have one boy who attends on a regular basis and one girl who has started coming recently. As Simon’s day off has now changed to a Friday, the day for Chad’s place has also changed. Chads place now takes place on a Thursday morning alongside the Place of Welcome. The toys have been recently sorted and cleaned and the old choir vestry is being used as the storage of these toys. This area has been organised, and new policies have been put in place to ensure that this area stays organised and tidy.

The toys are put out in half the church on a Thursday and the children can play while their parents engage with the place of welcome activities, or they can join and play with the children. We have done this a couple of times and are slowly getting more children coming in again.

Thanks to Diane Woodberry and Alison Spencer for your help with this in recent weeks. Thanks also to the Place of Welcome team for welcoming the toddlers and parents into your group.

Kim Skidmore

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St Leonard’s Church, Parish of Bilston on Facebook

This is the name of our Facebook page which has been open for some time now. We currently have 538 people who actively ‘like’ our page and 601 who follow it. Whenever we share information – advertise services and activities etc. – we regularly reach about 800 people (whenever anyone else ‘shares’ our post it means that all of their friends can see it too) and we have, on occasion, reached over 1,000 people. As you can see, with figures like these the Facebook page is well worth having and enables us to reach far more people than we would otherwise be able to reach. If you are on Facebook you can find us and ‘like’ us, then you can help to spread the word about what is happening within the parish. We are happy to share events at any of the churches if you let us know about them and maybe send us a digital poster.

Jane Dooley

Young People’s Confirmation Group

In February 2022 we began a young people’s confirmation group with 8 young people from the parish aged 10 – 15. We met on a Tuesday evening at 5.30pm and ate tea together before some games and a time of learning. The group gelled well and all looked forward to their Tuesday club, none of them missing unless it was absolutely necessary.

We were in the end given quite short notice of the confirmation in November, unfortunately it was a date that I myself could not make. This led to some debate amongst the candidates and whilst 5 of them chose to go ahead, 3 made the decision to wait until the spring.

In November Tike George, Kunda George, Emily-Rose Senyah, Agneta Krieva and Ashley Booth were all confirmed at St Peter’s church by The Rt. Rev. Clive Gregory, Bishop of Wolverhampton. Congratulations to them all.

Sadly, one of the remaining candidates, Marats, has now found out that he has to return to his native Latvia in early February due to a family illness. We pray the he will one day be able to return and will continue in faith as he grows up. Isaiah and Malachi are hoping to be confirmed at the next deanery confirmation in the spring.

My thanks got to Kerry Eglington, Alison Spencer and Diane Woodberry who have all helped to keep the club going. The young people are all keen to resume their Tuesday Club and we already have 2 new youngsters who are looking for confirmation in September 2023. This could be a very exciting year!

Jane Dooley

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The Future

This year continues to be a time of uncertainty with instability. We are still awaiting the confirmation of the new incumbent for the Parish and until that appointment is made, I will continue to serve the Parish as best as I can. This will require more change and collaboration from all the churches in the Parish. As we look forward to celebrating the coronation of King Charles III and with the impending changes going on within the Church of England, we must continue to remain faithful to the scriptures and seek to outreach to our town and communities.

We hope to develop further our Youth program in the Parish along with more mission initiatives, social events and introduce more personal bible reading material. We need to develop better publicity for the events that we do and to seek greater unity in what we are doing. I hope and pray that the right incumbent is appointed to carry on the work that the Lord is doing in his church and that we never drift from our primary focus in making Jesus known and to know Jesus better in how we serve him.

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain”. 1 Cor 15:1-2.

Let us give thanks for all the Lord has done for us this year and to seek his wisdom and guidance in the year to come.

Rev. Simon Skidmore

Financial Review

End of year report for The Parish of Bilston 2022

Total Net Assets: £406,032 [£366,662 2021]

Excess £39,443 [Deficit: (£38,252) 2021] – Unrestricted Excess: £32,783 Restricted Excess: £39,443 – Before gains on revaluation

Parish and Parish Centre

Excess: £4,320 [Deficit £16,283 2021]

The Parish account is to receives income from the three churches to pay the Common Fund and Parish Expenses. It also holds the proceeds of the sale of the Curates house. In 2022 the investments were transferred from the General fund to Curate Endowment funds as this better reflects the situation. Whilst the income produced is unrestricted the capital can not be spent. All income from the investments will be used for the Common fund and/or Parish expenses to reduce the burden on the individual Churches.

The Parish Centre is shown within these accounts. In 2022 the Parish Centre Building was moved from Parish Centre Restricted to Parish Centre Building Endowment. Again, this better reflects the situation. Whilst the income in unrestricted the capital can not be spent. All of the income and expenditure was recorded under Parish Centre Restricted. This fund has been closed and funds at the end of 2022 transferred to Parish Centre Designated. It is the intention to build up a reserve fund for any work needed on the Parish Centre and would suggest £20,000 which would be shown separately on the balance sheet as Parish Centre reserve. Along with this working capital of £5,000 retained. Once this figure has been reached then any surplus can be transferred and used to pay the Common fund and/or Parish expenses.

The Parish Centre has seen the Parish centre hire increase from £4,067 in 2021 to £9,130 in 2022. This should increase further as Tip Top Childcare are now hiring the Parish Centre on a 5 year lease eventually at £1,000 per month.with contributions to the utility bills. The future looks bright.

I would like to thank Simon and Kim for their continued support and hard work to ensure that the Parish Centre runs so smoothly.

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St Chads

Deficit: (£189) [Deficit: (£1,228) 2021]

St Chads income has reduced from £19,059 2021 to £14,965 2022 and expenditure has also reduced from £20,287 2021 to £15,154 2022.

St Chads have paid their share of the common fund in full and will see a reduction in 2023 so hopefully this will help. The general fund is showing (£52) but there is £186 in the Flower fund designated which could be drawn upon. Any increases in income or expenditure have been balanced by reductions in other areas

At the time of writing St Chads are in receipt of a legacy of £40,000 which will greatly help their finances for some years.

I would like to thank John and Pat for their continued support and hard work throughout the year.

St Mary’s

Deficit; (£120) [Deficit: (£3,700) 2021]

St Mary’s income overall has increased from £8,8742 2021 to £10,080 2022. Gift aid collections, Non gift aid collections and loose plate collections have reduced but donations have increased. The reason for this is I did not receive the paperwork and envelopes in a timely manner, and it was not clear when I did receive the paperwork [months late] which envelopes related to which input sheet. The income was therefore posted against donations as St Mary’s could ill afford to fall foul of HMRC regulations.

The expenditure has reduced from £12,442 2021 to £10,200 2022 and the main reason for this is the common fund £6,353 2021 £3,553 2022. 2023 will see the Common fund split more evenly with St Mary’s request being £5,523.

I have yet to have confirmation that this will be paid monthly. St Mary’s don’t seem to understand that the Parish account is just a vehicle. The payments for their share of the common fund is paid into the Parish account and paid out to Lichfield. It is imperative that the Parish account is in receipt of the full monthly amount.

It is difficult to see how St Mary’s will remain a going concern without the other two Churches subsidizing them and from their accounts it is clear they are unable to.

St Leonards

Excess £35,432 [Deficit (£17,040) 2021]

Overall income has increased from £50,818 2021 to £85,638. This is mainly due to the receipt of an unrestricted legacy of £40,189. Without this St Leonard’s would be showing a deficit of (£4,757). Most notable there have been reductions in donations, fees for weddings and funerals but an increase in Melting pot food sales.

Expenditure overall has also reduced from £67,859 2021 to £50,205 2022. Most notable is the reduction in the Common fund from £36,240 2021 to £26,834. There will be further reductions is 2023 because of the overpayment of £9,000 from the CCLA deposit account held with Lichfield. Electricity has risen from £964 2021 to £2,180 2022 whilst gas has reduced from £4,143 2021 to £3,017.

Melting Pot are slowly building up funds again increasing from £6,832 2021 to £11,771 2022.

Not a bad year for St Leonard’s but a tight rein will be required moving forward.

I would like to thank Mark and Jane for their continued support and hard work throughout the year.

Kim Benton

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Reserves Policy

It is PCC policy to try to maintain a balance on free reserves (net current assets) which equates to at least three months unrestricted payments. This is equivalent to £21,290 [£28,511 2021]. It is held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies. The balance of the free reserves at the year end was £78,462 [£139,633 2021] which is considerably higher than this target. The reduction in the free reserves is due to moving the invested assets from General fund to an Endowment fund.

Investment Policy

The charity is granted power to invest in suitable investments under the PCC Powers Measure 1956 and the Trustees Act 2000. As a charity, the Trustees have a duty of care to take such advice as is appropriate before investments are undertaken. This advice is sought from the Central Board of Finance (CCLA) in London.

The charity’s investment policies are based on two key principles: -

Investment policy for long-term funds is aimed primarily at generating a sustainable income, with due regard to the need for the preservation of capital value, and the possible need to realise investments to meet operational needs. The charity does not have a policy of generating income at excessive or high risk – known as “purchasing income”, where high returns are guaranteed at the expense of capital.

In summary, the charity has an overall policy to maximise income while preserving the real value of its funds. Due to the nature of the charity, an ethical investment policy is taken into consideration when investments are made:

The charity follows the Ethical Investment Advisory policy as recommended by the Lichfield Diocese which includes the following:

Planned giving, collections and donations are the main sources of fund raising along with tax recoverable.

Safeguarding

The PCC believe they have fulfilled their duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have due regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults).

Reporting Serious Incidents

A Serious Incident is an adverse event, whether actual or alleged, which results in or risks significant harm to the charity’s beneficiaries, employees, office holders, volunteers or to others who come into contact with the charity through its work, loss of the charity’s money or assets, damage to the charity’s property or harm to the charity’s work or reputation.

The trustees are not aware of any Serious Incidents in the last year.

Fundraising

The PCC takes it fundraising responsibilities seriously and is very grateful to all donors – whether regular or occasional – for their support of the church and church events. PCC supporters are never taken for granted. The PCC take full responsibility for fundraising and do not use commercial organisations or professional fundraisers. All money raised is either by donations, fundraising events, special appeals or legacies for which the PCC are most grateful.

Volunteers

The members of the PCC would like to thank all of the 48 volunteers who work so hard to make our Church a lively and vibrant community.

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Risk Management

The Church Wardens carry out regular Health and Safety Reviews and regularly inspect premises for potential hazards. We have safeguarding policies in place for child protection and for work with vulnerable adults, including rigorous DBS checking of staff and volunteers. Our insurances are reviewed annually to ensure adequate cover. An informal review of any new risks which may impact the work of the Church in the Parish is ongoing.

Structure, Governance and Management

The PCC is a Body Corporate established by the Church of England and is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission. The PCC is governed by the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as amended that came into effect on 2[nd] January 1957, and the Church Representation Rules (contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 as amended).

The method of appointment of the PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The Council comprises the Incumbent, the Churchwardens, a representative of the Readers, those elected to the Deanery Synod, and other members who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, by those on the Electoral Roll. The PCC members receive training from courses run by the Diocese. Members of the congregation are always urged to join the Electoral Roll, and to stand for election to the PCC.

The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance in the parish, and for all financial matters. The PCC met 9 times in 2022

Related Parties –

The PCC does not employ any related parties or give contracts for work on the church to any related parties.

Donations from Related Parties

Donations from related parties during the year totalled £5,069 [£13,066 2021]. All of these donations were received without conditions.

Remuneration paid to Trustees

None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from employment with the PCC

Expenses paid to Trustees

One Trustee was paid expenses of £177 [£567 2021] for travel to officiate Funerals in 2021

Page 25

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity Name: The Parochial Church Council of The Parish of Bilston

Other names the charity is known by: N/A Registered Charity Number : 1138955

Charity’s principal address: St Leonard’s Church Walsall Street Bilston WV14 0AT

Correspondence address: St Leonard’s Church Walsall Street Bilston WV14 0AT

Website address: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/

PCC Members: Who Served from 1 January 2022 to the date this report was approved

PCC Members: Who Served from 1 January 2022 to the date this report was approved
Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
period
Ex-Officio
Revd. Simon Skidmore Acting Team Rector
Phil Dooley Secretary/Lay Reader/Diocesan Synod
Mike Shelley-Smith Deanery Synod Resigned as Church
Warden/Treasurer St
Leonard’s 10/04/2022
Resigned as Lay Reader
31/12/2022
Diane Woodberry Lay Reader
Pat Arnold Church Warden St Chad’s Resigned as Parish Warden
10/04/2022
John Arnold Church Warden St Chad’s/Parish Warden Elected as Parish Warden
10/04/2022
Mark Bircher Church Warden St Leonard’s/Parish Warden
Jane Dooley Church Warden St Leonard’s
Eber Carter Church Warden St Mary’s
Christine Mills Church Warden St Mary’s
Elected Members
Adrian Mallen Resigned as Lay
Leader/Assistant Church
Warden 31/12/2022
Kerry Eglington St Chad’s
Kerry Bircher St Leonard’s
Matthew Bircher St Leonard’s
Charlie Smith Assistant Church Warden St Leonard’s
Sylvia Hodister St Leonard’s Resigned 04/04/2022
Linda Pearson St Leonard’s Elected 10/04/2022
Kay Edwards St Leonard’s Elected 10/04/2022

Page 26

Joanne Bircher St Leonard’s Elected 10/04/2022
Ann Reaney St Leonard’s Elected 10/04/2022
Elizabeth Rice St Mary’s Elected 10/04/2022
Wendy Hawkins St Mary’s Elected 10/04/2022

Bank Barclays Bank PLC – Queen Square Wolverhampton WV1 1DS

Investment CCLA Managers Senator House 85 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4ET Independent Jonathan Hill Examiner Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance St Marys House, The Close, Lichfield. WS13 7LD

Approved by the PCC on 27/03/2023 and signed on its behalf by:

Revd Simon Skidmore Mr Philip Dooley

Page 27

Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees/members of The PCC of The Parish of Bilston

Registered charity number, if applicable: 1138955

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2022 which are set out on the following pages.

Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent 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 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independen t examination is needed.

It is my responsibility

Basis of Independent Examiner's Statement

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 the 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 statement below.

Independent Examiner's Statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed: ………………………………………….. Date: 19/05/2023 Jonathan Hill FCMA CGMA Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance

St Mary’s House, The Close, Lichfield WS13 7LD

Page 28

The Parish of Bilston Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31[st] December 2022

Accounting Policies

The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using Receipts and Payments basis.

There may be minor discrepancies in the totals as the pence are not being shown.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. 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 those that are informal gatherings of Church members.

Cashflow Statement

The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS102 from the requirement to produce a cashflow statement on the grounds that the income does not exceed £500,000.

Going Concern

There are no material uncertainties relate to events or conditions that cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Accounting Estimates and Prior Year Errors

No changes to accounting estimates have occurred in the reporting period. No material prior year errors have been identified in the reporting period

Description of Funds

Unrestricted funds are income funds of the PCC that are available for spending on the general purposes of the PCC, including amounts designated by the PCC for fixed assets for its own use or for spending on a future project and which are therefore not included in its "free reserves" as disclosed in the trustees' annual report.

An explantation of purpose of each Designated fund are as follows:

Page 29

Restricted funds comprise of two elements :-

An explanation of purpose of each Restricted fund are as follows:

Endowment funds are restricted funds that must be retained as trust capital either permanently or subject to a discretionary power to spend capital as income, and where the use of any income or other benefit derived from the capital may be restricted or unrestricted. Full details of all their restrictions are shown in the notes to the accounts.

Incoming Resources

Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received or when the PCC becomes entitled to the resource and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Tax refunds are recognised when the incoming resource to which they relate is received. Grants and Legacies are accounted for when the PCC is legally entitled to the amounts due and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Dividends are accounted for when receivable, interest is accrued. All other income is recognised when it is receivable. All incoming resources are accounted for gross.

Resources Expended

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the PCC. The diocesan parish share is accounted for when due. Amounts received specifically for mission are dealt with as restricted funds. All other expenditure is generally recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross.

Governance and Support Costs

Support costs should be allocated between governance costs and other support. Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the PCC and its compliance with regulation and good practice.

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources eg by allocating staff costs by time spent and other costs by their usage.

Page 30

Fixed Assets

Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts by s.10(2)(a)&(C) of the Charities Act 2011. Moveable church furnishings held by the Vicar and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are inalienable property, listed in the Church’s inventory, which can be inspected (at any reasonable time). For anything acquired prior to 2000 there is insufficient cost information available and therefore such assets are not valued in the financial statement.

No depreciation is provided on buildings as the currently estimated residual value of the properties is not less than their carrying value and the remaining useful life of these assets exceeds 50 years, so that any depreciation charges would be immaterial. Other tangible fixed assets are valued at cost. The assets are depreciated where applicable at 50% per annum.

Investments

Investments in quoted shares, traded bonds and similar investments are valued initially at cost and subsequently at market value at the year end. Investments held for re-sale are treated as current asset investments.

Debtors

Debtors are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount. Subsequently they are measured as cash expected to be received

Creditors and Accruals

Creditors are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts. Accruals are measured on best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date.

Page 31

Parish of Bilston year ended 2022

Receipts and Payments 2022

Unrestricted
Restricted
Endowment
2022
2021
Receipts and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
Receipts from charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other receipts
Total receipts
Payments on:
Raising funds
Payments on charitable activities
Other payments
Total payments
Net receipts / (payments) resources before transfer
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
Other recognised gains / losses
Gains / losses on investment assets
Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's own use
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 90,714
8,780
—
99,495
76,028
12,923
—
—
12,923
9,978
101
9,130
—
9,231
6,951
1,309
27
—
1,337
2,206
1,617
—
—
1,617
—
106,667
17,938
—
124,605
95,165
912
155
—
1,067
1,133
71,955
2,538
—
74,493
112,284
1,015
8,584
—
9,600
19,999
73,883
11,278
—
85,161
133,417
32,783
6,659
—
39,443
(38,252)
4,613
1,000
310,878
316,491
79,390
(92,199)
(224,292)
—
(316,491)
(79,390)
(12,796)
—
—
(12,796)
60,952
(1,420)
14,143
—
12,723
33,355
(69,017)
(202,489)
310,878
39,370
56,054
146,481
220,181
—
366,662
310,607
77,463
17,691
310,878
406,032
366,662

Page 32

Statement of Assets and Liabilities 2022

General
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
2022
2021
Fixed assets - Investments
CCLA (CBF) Lichfield TN733 -
CCLA (CBF) Lichfield TN733 [1] -
CCLA (CBF) Lichfield TN733 [2] -
Totals
Fixed assets - Tangible assets
2 x Inspiron Laptops -
Parish Centre -
Stow Lawn Land -
Totals
Current assets - Cash at bank and in hand
CCLA (CBF) Lichfield TN733 -
St Mary's DCC Current Account -
St Leonard's Flower Current Account -
Parish Centre Account -
PCC of The Parish of Bilston -
CCLA (CBF) St Leonards - Walford Legacy
-
St Chad's DCC Current account -
Flowers - Cash in hand -
Parish Centre Cash -
St Leonard's Choir -
The Melting Pot - St Leonards -
St Leonard's Church Current Account -
IDS Decoration Scheme DOVER STREET -
IDS Decoration Scheme CUMBERLAND -
Totals
Current assets - Debtors
Accounts Receivable -
LDBF Common Fund 2022 -
Overpayment to P -
LDBF Common Fund 2022 Overpayment
-
Totals
Liabilities - Agency accounts
Agency collections -
Totals
Grand total		 —
—
—
22,246
22,246
25,877
—
—
—
23,136
23,136
26,212
—
—
—
45,636
45,636
51,724
—
—
—
91,019
91,019
103,815
2,122
—
—
—
2,122
—
—
—
—
219,859
219,859
207,137
1
—
—
—
1
1
2,123
—
—
219,859
221,982
207,138
475
—
—
—
475
11,134
2,435
—
—
—
2,435
2,555
—
306
—
—
306
306
—
3,923
206
—
4,129
1,872
10,213
(1,000)
2,516
—
11,729
5,226
—
—
1,995
—
1,995
1,969
(52)
186
5,898
—
6,032
6,222
—
142
—
—
142
142
—
10
—
—
10
10
—
21
—
—
21
21
(715)
10,208
2,293
—
11,786
6,182
36,282
1,932
4,752
—
42,967
16,246
—
—
1,220
—
1,220
1,220
—
—
82
—
82
82
48,639
15,731
18,966
—
83,337
53,194
—
—
—
—
—
712
1,133
—
—
—
1,133
—
9,835
—
—
—
9,835
—
10,968
—
—
—
10,968
712
—
—
1,275
—
1,275
(1,802)
—
—
1,275
—
1,275
(1,802)
61,731
15,731
17,691
310,878
406,032
366,662

Approved by the PCC on 27/03/2023 and signed on its behalf by:

Revd Simon Skidmore Mr Philip Dooley

Page 33

Statement of Assets and Liabilities 2021

Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
2021
2020
Fixed assets - Investments
CCLA (CBF) Lichfield TN733 -
CCLA (CBF) Lichfield TN733 [1] -
CCLA (CBF) Lichfield TN733 [2] -
Totals
Fixed assets - Tangible assets
Parish Centre -
MONTPELLER 100CM DUEL FUEL RANGE
COOKER -
2 Russell Road -
Stow Lawn Land -
Totals
Current assets - Cash at bank and in hand
CCLA (CBF) Lichfield TN733 -
PCC St Marys Church Bilston Reserve -
St Leonard's Flower Current Account -
Parish Centre Account -
PCC of The Parish of Bilston -
St Mary's DCC - Reserve Account -
CCLA (CBF) St Leonards - Walford Legacy
-
St Chad's Church Current Account -
St Chad's DCC Current account -
Flowers - Cash in hand -
Parish Centre Cash -
St Leonard's Choir -
Melting Pot -
The Melting Pot - St Leonards -
St Leonard's Church Current Account -
IDS Decoration Scheme DOVER STREET -
IDS Decoration Scheme CUMBERLAND -
Totals
Current assets - Debtors
Accounts Receivable -
Totals
Liabilities - Agency accounts
Agency collections -
Totals
Liabilities - Creditors: Amounts falling due
in one year
Salaries - Parish Centre -
Salaries - Projects -
Totals
Grand total		 25,877
—
—
—
25,877
—
26,212
—
—
—
26,212
—
51,724
—
—
—
51,724
—
103,815
—
—
—
103,815
—
—
—
207,137
—
207,137
150,000
—
—
—
—
—
395
—
—
—
—
—
152,000
1
—
—
—
1
1
1
—
207,137
—
207,138
302,396
11,134
—
—
—
11,134
—
2,555
—
—
—
2,555
4,314
—
306
—
—
306
306
—
—
1,872
—
1,872
1,784
7,034
—
(1,807)
—
5,226
5,929
—
—
—
—
—
1,726
—
—
1,969
—
1,969
1,968
4,215
—
—
—
4,215
2,488
—
257
1,750
—
2,007
1,507
—
142
—
—
142
142
—
—
10
—
10
10
—
21
—
—
21
21
(149)
—
—
—
(149)
—
—
5,240
1,092
—
6,332
2,512
11,027
880
4,338
—
16,246
37,219
—
—
1,220
—
1,220
1,220
—
—
82
—
82
82
35,817
6,848
10,529
—
53,194
61,235
—
—
712
—
712
—
—
—
712
—
712
—
—
—
(1,802)
—
(1,802)
14,110
—
—
(1,802)
—
(1,802)
14,110
—
—
—
—
—
27,664
—
—
—
—
—
11,249
—
—
—
—
—
38,913
139,633
6,848
220,181
—
366,662
310,607

Page 34

Analysis of receipts and payments 2022

RECEIPTS

Donations and legacies

0101 - Gift Aid Collections
Bank/Envelopes
0201 - Non Gift Aid Collections
0201 - Non-Gift Aid Collections
0301 - Loose plate collections
0410 - Votive Lights/Church Boxes
0501 - One-off Gift Aid gifts
0550 - Donations appeals etc
0601 - Tax recoverable on Gift Aid
0701 - Legacies
08A1 - Non-recurring one-off grants
0901 - Other funds generated
0902 - Heating Weddings
Total
Receipts from charitable activities
1101 - Fees for weddings and
funerals
1210 - Melting Pot - Food Sales
Total
Other trading activities
1230 - Parish Centre Hire
1250 - Magazine income -
advertising
1260 - Parish magazine sales
Total
Investments
1001 - Dividends
1020 - Bank and building society
interest
1030 - Rent from lands or buildings
1030 - Rent from lands or buildings
1030 - Rent from lands or
buildings&Melting Pot
Total
Other income
1310 - Insurance claims
Total		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
2022
2021
11,556
—
—
—
11,556
16,911
1,062
—
—
—
1,062
1,455
4,209
—
—
—
4,209
4,729
7,380
—
—
—
7,380
7,722
335
—
—
—
335
39
—
—
—
—
—
400
12,654
1,108
1,611
—
15,375
27,613
5,156
—
—
—
5,156
5,614
40,189
—
—
—
40,189
1,109
1,400
—
7,168
—
8,568
8,597
4,760
—
—
—
4,760
1,837
900
—
—
—
900
—
89,606
1,108
8,780
—
99,495
76,028
4,691
—
—
—
4,691
5,780
—
8,232
—
—
8,232
4,198
4,691
8,232
—
—
12,923
9,978
—
—
9,130
—
9,130
4,067
90
—
—
—
90
—
11
—
—
—
11
205
101
—
9,130
—
9,231
4,272
1,052
—
—
—
1,052
771
77
—
27
—
104
2
—
—
—
—
—
1,353
—
—
—
—
—
1,353
20
160
—
—
180
80
1,149
160
27
—
1,337
3,560
1,617
—
—
—
1,617
—
1,617
—
—
—
1,617
—
RECEIPTS TOTAL 97,165
9,501
17,938
—
124,605
93,839

Page 35

PAYMENTS

Raising funds

1730 - Costs of fetes & other events
1740 - Bank Charges
Total
Payments on charitable activities
1910 - LDBF Common Fund
2001 - Salaries
2201 - Parish training and mission
2301 - Church running - insurance
2310 - Church office - telephone
2320 - Organ / piano tuning
2330 - Church maintenance
2331 - Cleaning
2340 - Upkeep of services
2350 - Upkeep of churchyard
2360 -
Admin/Stationery/Photocopier/Print
ing et
2361 - Parish Expenses
2401 - Church running - electric
2410 - Church running - gas
2420 - Church running - water
2420 - Church running - water
2518 - Melting Pot - Non Food Items
2519 - Melting Pot - Food Supplies
2602 - Licences & Subscriptions
2602 - Licences & Subrcriptions
2701 - Church major repairs -
structure
2710 - Church major repairs -
installation
2840 - Other PCC property upkeep
Total
Other payments
2320 - Organ / piano tuning
2333 - Cleaning
2360 -
Admin/Stationery/Photocopier/Print
ing
2401 - Church Running - Electric
2410 - Church Running - Gas
2530 - Parish Centre - Electricity
2540 - Parish Centre - Gas
2550 - Parish Centre - Insurance
2560 - Parish Centre - Maintenance
2570 - Parish Centre - telephone
2580 - Parish Centre - water		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
2022
2021
737
—
155
—
893
1,011
—
174
—
—
174
121
737
174
155
—
1,067
1,133
42,368
—
—
—
42,368
66,906
—
190
—
—
190
—
22
—
—
—
22
—
9,209
—
—
—
9,209
8,348
807
—
—
—
807
441
—
—
—
—
—
281
1,012
—
2,261
—
3,273
3,263
457
239
17
—
714
850
712
39
133
—
886
289
—
—
—
—
—
343
2,393
—
125
—
2,518
3,763
—
—
—
—
—
6,000
3,081
—
—
—
3,081
1,574
5,900
—
—
—
5,900
7,487
—
—
—
—
—
58
—
—
—
—
—
58
—
202
—
—
202
—
—
2,885
—
—
2,885
1,668
75
—
—
—
75
117
491
—
—
—
491
244
—
—
—
—
—
7,159
1,867
—
—
—
1,867
600
—
—
—
—
—
2,787
68,398
3,557
2,538
—
74,493
112,243
—
—
—
—
—
281
—
—
194
—
194
182
831
—
—
—
831
4,810
20
—
—
—
20
—
164
—
—
—
164
—
—
—
2,331
—
2,331
1,829
—
—
785
—
785
2,065
—
—
744
—
744
672
—
—
1,590
—
1,590
2,905
—
—
1,577
—
1,577
1,354
—
—
1,361
—
1,361
1,434

Page 36

2701 - Church major repairs -
structure
2840 - Other PCC property upkeep
Total		 —
—
—
—
—
7,159
—
—
—
—
—
2,787
1,015
—
8,584
—
9,600
25,483
PAYMENTS TOTAL 70,151
3,731
11,278
—
85,161
138,861
GRAND TOTAL 27,013
5,769
6,659
—
39,443
(45,021)

Fund movement by type 2022

Opening
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers
Gain/Loss
Closing
Belfry - Belfry
Restricted
Sub-total for Belfry
Bibles - Bibles
Restricted
Sub-total for Bibles
Bloom - Bilston in Bloom
Restricted
Sub-total for Bloom
Building - Building Fund
Designated
Sub-total for Building
Choir - St Leonard's Choir
Designated
Sub-total for Choir
Christmas - Christmas Festival
Restricted
Sub-total for Christmas
Curate - Sale Of Curate House
Endowment
Sub-total for Curate
Decor - Decoration Scheme
Restricted
Sub-total for Decor
Fair - Summer Fair Parish C
Restricted
Sub-total for Fair
Flower - Flower Fund
Designated
Sub-total for Flower
Flowers - Flowers Fund
Designated
Sub-total for Flowers		 1,723
—
1,598
—
—
125
1,723
—
1,598
—
—
125
—
111
111
—
—
—
—
111
111
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
880
1,082
—
—
—
1,962
880
1,082
—
—
—
1,962
21
—
—
—
—
21
21
—
—
—
—
21
—
2,500
—
—
—
2,500
—
2,500
—
—
—
2,500
—
—
—
91,019
—
91,019
—
—
—
91,019
—
91,019
1,303
—
—
—
—
1,303
1,303
—
—
—
—
1,303
206
—
—
—
—
206
206
—
—
—
—
206
449
—
—
—
—
449
449
—
—
—
—
449
257
—
70
—
—
186
257
—
70
—
—
186

Page 37

General - General fund
Unrestricted
Sub-total for General
Laptops - Laptops
Restricted
Sub-total for Laptops
Lighting - Lighting At St Leona
Restricted
Sub-total for Lighting
Manager - Manager Post
Restricted
Sub-total for Manager
Melting Po - Melting Pot
Designated
Restricted
Sub-total for Melting Po
Mission - Mission Work At St C
Restricted
Restricted
Sub-total for Mission
PCentre - Parish Centre
Designated
Restricted
Sub-total for PCentre
PCentreBui - Parish Centre Buildi
Endowment
Sub-total for PCentreBui
Project - Kitchen/Vestry/Toile
Restricted
Sub-total for Project
SoftPlay - Soft Play Area
Restricted
Sub-total for SoftPlay
Walford - Walford Legacy
Restricted
Sub-total for Walford
Warmth - Places Of Warmth
Restricted
Sub-total for Warmth
Welcome - Places Of Welcome
Restricted
Sub-total for Welcome
Grand total		 139,633
97,165
70,151
(90,699)
(12,796)
61,731
139,633
97,165
70,151
(90,699)
(12,796)
61,731
—
500
—
(500)
—
—
—
500
—
(500)
—
—
2,110
—
662
—
—
1,447
2,110
—
662
—
—
1,447
—
1,200
—
—
—
1,200
—
1,200
—
—
—
1,200
5,240
8,418
3,661
180
—
10,178
1,592
1
—
—
—
1,593
6,832
8,420
3,661
180
—
11,771
1,750
—
116
—
—
1,633
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,750
—
116
—
—
1,633
—
—
—
2,933
—
2,933
209,525
9,130
8,584
(222,792)
12,722
—
209,525
9,130
8,584
(219,859)
12,722
2,933
—
—
—
219,859
—
219,859
—
—
—
219,859
—
219,859
—
500
—
—
—
500
—
500
—
—
—
500
—
1,268
—
—
—
1,268
—
1,268
—
—
—
1,268
1,969
25
—
—
—
1,995
1,969
25
—
—
—
1,995
—
2,000
—
—
—
2,000
—
2,000
—
—
—
2,000
—
700
204
—
—
495
—
700
204
—
—
495
366,662
124,605
85,161
—
(74)
404,611

Page 38

Fund movement by type 2021

Opening
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers
Gain/Loss
Closing
Belfry - Belfry
Restricted
Sub-total for Belfry
Building - Building Fund
Designated
Sub-total for Building
Choir - St Leonard's Choir
Designated
Sub-total for Choir
Christmas - Christmas Festival
Restricted
Sub-total for Christmas
Decor - Decoration Scheme
Restricted
Sub-total for Decor
Fair - Summer Fair Parish C
Restricted
Sub-total for Fair
Flower - Flower Fund
Designated
Sub-total for Flower
Flowers - Flowers
Designated
Sub-total for Flowers
GenChad - St Chads General Fun
Designated
Sub-total for GenChad
General - General fund
Unrestricted
Sub-total for General
Lighting - Lighting At St Leona
Restricted
Sub-total for Lighting
Locks - Parish Centre - Lock
Restricted
Sub-total for Locks
Melting Po - Melting Pot
Designated
Restricted
Sub-total for Melting Po
Mission - Mission Work At St C
Restricted
Sub-total for Mission
PCentre - Parish Centre
Restricted
Sub-total for PCentre
Walford - Walford Legacy
Restricted
Sub-total for Walford
Grand total		 —
3,609
1,776
(109)
—
1,723
—
3,609
1,776
(109)
—
1,723
14,370
880
4,257
(10,112)
—
880
14,370
880
4,257
(10,112)
—
880
21
—
—
—
—
21
21
—
—
—
—
21
—
1,000
1,000
—
—
—
—
1,000
1,000
—
—
—
1,303
—
—
—
—
1,303
1,303
—
—
—
—
1,303
206
—
—
—
—
206
206
—
—
—
—
206
449
—
—
—
—
449
449
—
—
—
—
449
257
—
—
—
—
257
257
—
—
—
—
257
1,210
—
—
(1,210)
—
—
1,210
—
—
(1,210)
—
—
171,750
78,944
114,044
(7,151)
3,815
139,633
171,750
78,944
114,044
(7,151)
3,815
139,633
1,860
250
—
—
—
2,110
1,860
250
—
—
—
2,110
1,000
—
—
(1,000)
—
—
1,000
—
—
(1,000)
—
—
2,237
5,080
2,077
—
—
5,240
775
817
—
—
—
1,592
3,012
5,897
2,077
—
—
6,832
1,250
500
—
—
—
1,750
1,250
500
—
—
—
1,750
111,946
4,082
10,261
19,584
57,137
209,525
111,946
4,082
10,261
19,584
57,137
209,525
1,968
1
—
—
—
1,969
1,968
1
—
—
—
1,969
310,607
95,165
133,417
—
60,952
366,662

Page 39

Staff Costs

During the year the PCC did not employ anyone.

There were no employee benefits to key management personnel in the previous or current year.

Trustees’ Remuneration & Expenses

None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from employment with the PCC One Trustee was paid expenses of £177 [£567 2021] for travel to officiate Funerals in 2022

Related Parties

No other expenses were paid to any other PCC member, persons closely connected to them or related parties.

Donations from related parties [PCC members] totalled £5,069 [£13,066 2021]

Analysis of Transfer between Funds 2022

Debit Credit Description Fund Fund Type
- 22,246.15 Tfr General to Curate General Unr
22,246.15 - Tfr General to Curate Curate End
23,136.91 - Tfr from General to Curate Curate End
- 23,136.91 Tfr from General to Curate General Unr
45,636.07 - Tfr from General to Curate Curate End
- 45,636.07 Tfr from General to Curate General Unr
3,923.29 - Tfr from restricted to designated as income can be used
for Parish expenses		 PCentre Des
- 3,923.29 Tfr from restricted to designated as income can be used
for Parish expenses		 PCentre Res
1,000.00 - Tfr from Restricted to Designated as funds can be used
for Parish expenses		 PCentre Res
- 1,000.00 Tfr from Restricted to Designated as funds can be used
for Parish expenses		 PCentre Des
- 10.22 Tfr from Restricted to Designated as funds can be used
for Parish expenses		 PCentre Res
10.22 - Tfr from Restricted to Designated as funds can be used
for Parish expenses		 PCentre Des
219,859.00 - Tfr from Restricted to Endowment PCentreBuilding End
- 219,859.00 Tfr from Restricted to Endowment PCentre Res
180 - Tfr from 90303410 to 70201782 MeltingPot Des
- 180 Tfr from 90303410 to 70201782 General Unr
- 500 Tfr Laptops to General Laptops purchased and General
fund debited - see fixed assets		 Laptops Res
500 - Tfr Laptops to General Laptops purchased and General
fund debited - see fixed assets		 General Unr

Page 40

Analysis of Transfer between Funds 2021

Reference Debit Credit Description Fund Fund
Type
Tidy Up KB 1.00 — Per General PCentre Res
Tidy Up KB — 1.00 To Parish Centre Retstricte General
 Unr
Tfr from General fund to Parish Centre restricted — 12,664.57 to Parish Centre R -
Having paid off Salary		 General Unr
Tfr from General fund to Parish Centre restricted 12,664.57 — Per General having paid
of
 PCentre Res
Tfr from St Chads General fund - paid from Parish
Expenses		 1,210.85 — Per St Chads General fund PCentre Res
Tfr from St Chads General fund - paid from Parish
Expenses		 — 1,210.85 To Parish Centre GenChad Des
Tfr from General to parish centre - KB Tidy up 4,707.30 — Per General KB tidy up PCentre Res
Tfr from General to parish centre -KB Tidy up — 4,707.30 To Parish Centre KB tidy up General
 Unr
Tfr from Locks - Locks replaced and paid out of
Parish Centre fund		 1,000.00 — Per Locks fund PCentre Res
Tfr from Locks - Locks replaced and paid out of
Parish Centre fund		 — 1,000.00 To Parish centre - Locks
changed andpaid from		 Locks Res
Paid in 15/04/2020 - P Davies Solicitors Will
requests it ispaid into Belfryfund		 15,000.00 — Per General Fund Belfry Res
Paid in15/04/2020 - P Davies Solicitors Will
requests it ispaid into Belfryfund		 — 15,000.00 To Belfry Fund General Unr
Paid in 29/06/20 trfd as per Will - request to be
paid into Belfryfund		 9,791.62 — Per General fund Belfry Res
Paid in 29/06/20 trfd as per Will -request to be
paid into Belfryfund		 — 9,791.62 To Belfry Fund General Unr
Tfr from Belfry established that the legacy was
unrestricted		 — 24,901.08 To General Belfry Res
Tfr from Belfry established that the legacy was
unrestricted		 24,901.08 — Per Belfry General Unr
Tfr from Building to General Invoice paid from
General		 10,112.93 — Per Building fund General Unr
Tfr from Building to General Invoice paid from
General		 — 10,112.93 To General Building Des

Page 41

Fixed Assets

a) Tangible Fixed Assets

Freehold
Buildings
£		 Church
Equipment
£		 Total
Assets
Cost or Valuation
As at 1 Jan 207,138 0.00 207,138
Additions in the Year 0.00 0.00 0.00
Disposal in the Year 0.00 0.00 0.00
Revaluation[if any] 12,722 0.00 12,722
Value at 31 Dec 219,860 0.00 219,860
Accumulated Depreciation 0.00 0.00
As at 1 Jan 0.00 0.00 0.00
Charge for the Year 0.00 0.00 0.00
Disposals 0.00 0.00 0.00
Value at 31 Dec 0.00 0.00 219,860
Net Book Value at 1 Jan 2020 207,138 0.00 207,138
Net Book Value at 31 Dec 2020 219,860 0.00 219,860

Freehold Buildings

Parish Centre: £219,859 – Transferred from PCentre Restricted to PCentre Building Endowment as the Parish would be unable to spend the capital value.

Stow Lawn Land: £1.00

b) Fixed Asset Investments

At 1 Jan
£		 Additions
£		 Disposals
£		 Transfers
£		 Change in
Market Value		 At 31 Dec
£
Unrestricted funds
Investments 103,815 0.00 0.00 (91,019) (12,796) 0.00
Restricted Funds
Investments 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Endowment Fund
Investments 0.00 0.00 0.00 91,019 0.00 91,019
Total 103,815 0.00 0.00 0.00 (12,796) 91,019

CCLA (CBF) Lichfield 120002024L TN733 - £22,246.15 [2021 £25,877.67] CCLA (CBF) Lichfield 120002039P TN733 - £23,136.91 [2021£26,212.50] CCLA (CBF) Lichfield 1200021121 TN733 - £45636.07 [2021 £51,724.96]

Transferred from General Fund to Endowment Fund ‘Curate’ in 2022 as the Parish are unable to spend the capital.

Page 42

Summary of Assets by Fund 2022

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment 2022 2021
Unrestricted
General fund 61,731 — — 61,731 139,633
Designated
Building Fund 1,962 — — 1,962 880
Flower Fund 449 — — 449 449
Flowers Fund 186 — — 186 257
Melting Pot 10,178 — — 10,178 5,240
Parish Centre 2,933 — — 2,933 —
St Leonard's Choir 21 — — 21 21
Restricted
Agency collection — 1,421 — 1,421 —
Belfry — 125 — 125 1,723
Christmas Festival — 2,500 — 2,500 —
Decoration Scheme — 1,303 — 1,303 1,303
Kitchen/Vestry/Toilets — 500 — 500 —
Lighting At St Leonards — 1,447 — 1,447 2,110
Manager Post — 1,200 — 1,200 —
Melting Pot — 1,593 — 1,593 1,592
Mission Work At St Chads — 1,633 — 1,633 1,750
Parish Centre — — — — 209,525
Places Of Warmth — 2,000 — 2,000 —
Places Of Welcome — 495 — 495 —
Soft Play Area — 1,268 — 1,268 —
Summer Fair Parish Centre grant from Bussey — 206 — 206 206
Walford Legacy — 1,995 — 1,995 1,969
Endowment
Parish Centre Building — — 219,859 219,859 —
Sale Of Curate House TN733 — — 91,019 91,019 —
Total 78,462 17,691 310,878 406,032 366,662

Page 43

Summary of Assets by Fund 2021

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total 2021 Total 2020
Unrestricted
General fund 139,633 — — 139,633 171,750
Designated
Building Fund 880 — — 880 14,370
Flower Fund 449 — — 449 449
Flowers Fund 257 — — 257 257
Melting Pot 5,240 — — 5,240 2,237
St Chads General Fund — — — — 1,210
St Leonard's Choir 21 — — 21 21
Restricted
Belfry — 1,723 — 1,723 —
Decoration Scheme — 1,303 — 1,303 1,303
Lighting At St Leonards — 2,110 — 2,110 1,860
Melting Pot — 1,592 — 1,592 775
Mission Work At St Chads — 1,750 — 1,750 1,250
Parish Centre — 209,525 — 209,525 111,946
Parish Centre - Locks — — — — 1,000
Summer Fair Parish Centre grant from Bussey — 206 — 206 206
Walford Legacy — 1,969 — 1,969 1,968
Total 146,480 220,181 366,662 310,607

Page 44

Receipts & Payments Comparatives

Previous Year 2021

Receipts:
Donations and legacies
Income from charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other receipts
Total receipts
Payments on:
Raising funds
Payments on charitable activities
Other Payments
Total payments
Net receipts / (payments) resources before transfer
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
Other recognised gains / losses
Gains / losses on investment assets
Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's own use
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Endowment
Total funds
Prior year
total funds
69,836
6,191
—
76,028
96,596
9,978
—
—
9,978
9,146
2,884
4,067
—
6,951
5,908
2,205
1
—
2,206
123
—
—
—
—
19,237
84,904
10,260
—
95,165
131,013
133
1,000
—
1,133
171
110,508
1,776
—
112,284
116,725
9,737
10,261
—
19,999
25,092
120,379
13,038
—
133,417
141,989
(35,474)
(2,777)
—
(38,252)
(10,976)
35,014
44,376
—
79,390
1,956
(53,489)
(25,901)
—
(79,390)
(1,956)
3,815
57,137
—
60,952
—
6,318
27,036
—
33,355
64,491
(43,815)
99,870
—
56,054
53,515
190,297
120,310
—
310,607
257,092
146,481
220,181
—
366,662
310,607

Page 45