St. Mark’s Church, Barrow in Furness
Annual Report
and
Financial Statements
of the
Parochial Church Council
For the year ended 31st December 2022
Priest in Charge:
The Reverend Tony Ford St. Mark’s Vicarage Rawlinson Street Barrow in Furness
Banks:
Barclays Bank plc Dalton Road Barrow in Furness
CAF Bank Limited Kings Hill Avenue West Malling Kent
National Savings & Investments Glasgow
Registered Charity No: 1139932
St. Mark’s Church, Barrow in Furness Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31st December 2022
Administrative Information:
St. Mark’s Church is situated on the corner of Rawlinson Street and Buccleuch Street, Barrow in Furness. It is part of the Diocese of Carlisle within the Church of England.
The correspondence address is St. Mark’s Vicarage, Rawlinson Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria LA14 1BX.
The Parochial Church Council became a registered charity on 19th January 2011.
PCC members who have served from 1st January 2022 until 31st December 2022 are:
Priest in Charge Revd. Tony Ford Chair LLM (Reader) Mr. David Nelson Wardens Mr. John Messenger Until 2022 APCM Mrs. Christine Carruthers Until 2022 APCM Miss Lisa Miller Elected 2022 APCM Deanery Synod Reps Mrs. Susan Benson Appointed June 2021- Secretary Mrs. Liz Currie Appointed September 2021, - Joint Lay Chair from July 2021 - LLM from 2016 Mrs Kath Raven Re-elected 2020 APCM Community Pastor Mrs. Gillian Grisedale Elected Members Mr. Richard N. Carrick Re-elected 2021 APCM Mrs. Christine Carruthers Elected 2022 APCM Mr. Mark Fisher Elected 2020 APCM, resigned Apr. 2022 Mrs. Brenda Harrison Elected 2020 APCM Mrs. Rose Hazlehurst Elected 2022 APCM Mr. Graham Hodgson Elected 2021 APCM - Joint Lay Chair from July 2021 Mrs. Linda Lawrence Co-opted May 2022 - Treasurer - LLM from 2013 Mr. Alan McCracken Co-opted May 2022 Mr. Graham McTavish Elected 2020 APCM, resigned Jan. 2022
- 1 -
Committees:
Standing Committee:
This is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any directions given by the Council.
Committee Members:
Priest in Charge Revd. Tony Ford Chair Wardens Mr. John Messenger Until 2022 APCM Mrs Christine Carruthers Until 2022 APCM Miss Lisa Miller From 2022 APCM PCC Members Mrs. Gillian Grisedale Until May 2022 Mr. Alan McCracken Mrs Christine Carruthers From May 2022 Community Pastor Mrs. Gillian Grisedale From May 2022 Treasurer Mrs. Linda Lawrence Secretary Mrs Susan Benson
Support Groups:
These convene at need to discharge duties regarded by the PCC to be within their remit.
Fabric Committee:
The wardens gather skilled church members as and when necessary.
Structure, governance and management:
Members of the PCC are either (1) ex-officio , (2) elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules, or (3) co-opted onto the PCC at its members’ discretion. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.
Objectives and activities:
St. Mark’s PCC has the responsibilities of co-operating, with the Priest in Charge, the Revd. Tony Ford, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church: pastoral; evangelistic; social; and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the church buildings of St. Mark’s Church, Barrow in Furness.
Achievements and performance:
Church Attendance: The average weekly attendance on a Sunday, counted during October 2022, was 81, including 5 under the age of 16, for the mid-week communion Service the average was 30. We have continued to Live Stream the Sunday morning Services making then available via YouTube, Facebook and the Church web site.
Electoral Roll: At the end of the year there were 111 names on the Roll.
The PCC met nine times during 2022 (January-December) for ordinary meetings. The average attendance was 15. There were no special meetings.
- 2 -
2022 - Vicar’s Review of the Year:
I look back at 2022 as a year of joy in many ways mixed with some sadness.
Joy that we have been able to meet together again weekly on Sundays and Wednesdays.
At the start of the year I have to admit I was really concerned in the drop in numbers attending church Services. Knowing how Carlisle Diocese are having to make severe financial decisions I was worried about the legitimacy of St. Mark’s continuing as one church with one minister.
Thankfully we have gradually grown and now with several new members we are roughly where we were before lockdown.
We have had some fantastic outreach events including “Out of The Ashes” and Jonathan Viera and have also been blessed by “Furness Churches United Choir” performing concerts at St. Mark’s also.
We have also been blessed by the ministry of those who serve the church in so many ways both upfront and behind the scenes. I am thankful to everyone who serves the church in everyway and I am reluctant to pick out individual ministries.
But to mention a few, the huge help received from the Audio Visual team, during Services, Weddings, Funerals, Baptism, special events and regularly streaming services for those unable to attend in person has been a real blessing.
The Music Group who quietly get on with rehearsing most weeks and help select songs for Sunday and enhance our worship.
Our wardens, John Messenger and Christine Carruthers who have served in those roles since I arrived in 2018 and have been a huge support, I am also thankful to Lisa standing as warden this year and for the support she has received from others, although I have to admit to being a little disappointed that from a congregation of our size that we couldn’t manage to fill both wardens positions, perhaps something to pray about as we approach a new year.
The Clothes Bank and Café has also been a huge encouragement and has supported our community and asylum seekers magnificently this year. As a church we have blessed so many people through this ministry and I want to thank Gill for struggling on despite her own health issues and all the team for their hard work but also their love and service to others. God has blessed this ministry and through it we have seen many people come to faith and been baptised in the Wednesday and Sunday Services. The Wednesday Service has been quite a success in attracting people who wouldn’t perhaps normally come to church and is acting as bridge to Sunday worship.
- 3 -
And please don’t think we are not thankful to all those who contribute massively in many other ways, including prayer, effort, time, and financially, we couldn’t do what we do without you and your ministries and support.
I did say the year also brought some sadness, we lost some very dear brothers and sisters over the last 12 months, church family members and personal family members and it hurts but we must hold on to the promises of God that all who die in faith in the Lord Jesus will be raised to everlasting life.
Sadly we have also had several brothers and sisters who have not made it back to church (yet!) since lockdown, this does not mean they are still not loved, prayed for and welcome back whenever they are able to and via the streamed services.
The other great sadness is the turning away in many churches from the teaching of Jesus and the apostles. The issues around human sexuality are really quite clear in the Bible and if we truly believe the Bible to be our authority and God’s breathed out word, we should adhere to it faithfully. This certainly does not mean we should ever stop loving those who struggle with same sex attraction or with their sexual identity but we must remain faithful to God first and also remember that we are all sinners saved by grace alone.
The Church of England has some huge decisions to make in 2023, in February General synod will meet to discuss whether it should change its stance on sexuality. Our Bishops have a huge role to play but so do all on General Synod, please pray for them, especially our Bishop’s James and Rob who thankfully remain biblical and faithful on this issue.
And so 2023 will have its challenges but that is nothing new and Jesus has promised “to build His church and that the gates of Hell will not prevail” and I am truly excited about what God is and will do through the faithful ministry of St. Mark’s Church and other faithful churches in Barrow and beyond.
I should have been taking my first ever sabbatical in 2022 which I postponed because it just didn’t seem right to leave the fellowship as we were coming out of lockdown. This is now planned for May to July 2023.
The only major building work in 2022 was the block paving at the front of church which is such an improvement and more importantly no longer a trip hazard. Thanks to Graham Hodgson for his work with the council planning department and contractors and for taking on board the vicar’s idea of having a cross in the paving near the doors.
Personally I am excited for 2023 as we continue to grow and serve as a church and hold tight to biblical truth.
Yours in Christ Tony
- 4 -
Safeguarding Annual Report to the PCC
1. Our Parish Safeguarding Officer
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Jason Dobb
2. Safer Recruitment, and Training
Our parish supports the following groups working with children and young people, and with adults who are vulnerable:
Ark Music Group Clothes Bank Rock Solid Sunday Prayer Team Pastoral Care Team
The leaders and volunteers working with our groups are in the process of being safely recruited according to the Church’s national guidance, including the agreement of role profiles. We are ensuring that all leaders and volunteers have received the level of training required by the Church. DBS checks are complete for all but two of the personnel who need them, and these are approaching completion.
3. Church Policy and Guidance
All parishes are required to have agreed a formal statement of adoption of the House of Bishops ‘Promoting a Safer Church; safeguarding policy statement’, and of Church of England safeguarding policy and guidance. This statement has been signed on behalf of the PCC and displayed in our church.
Approved by the PCC on 13th March 2023 & signed on their behalf by Revd. Tony Ford (PCC Chairman)
Signed ………………………………. Date ………………………..
- 5 -
St. Mark's Church, Barrow-in-Furness
Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st December 2022
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st December 2022
| General | Designated | Restricted | Reserves | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fund | Funds | Funds | 2022 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Monetary Assets | |||||
| Barclays Community - Current | 15,744.32 | 15719.77 | |||
| CAF Cash - Current | - | 8,544.52 | 8,544.52 | ||
| Total Monetary Assets | 15,744.32 | - | 8,544.52 | 24,288.84 | |
| Investment Assets | |||||
| CAF Gold | 102,736.29 | 102,736.29 | |||
| Barclays Premium | 12,973.71 | 12,973.71 | |||
| National Savings & Investments | 1,036.55 | 1,036.55 | |||
| Total Investment Assets | 14,010.26 | - | 102,736.29 | 116,746.55 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st December 2021
| General | Designated | Restricted | Reserves | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fund | Funds | Funds | 2021 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Monetary Assets | |||||
| CAF Cash - Current | 23,537.21 | - | - | 23,537.21 | |
| Barclays Community - Current | - | - | - | ||
| Total Monetary Assets | 23,537.21 | - | - | 23,537.21 | |
| Investment Assets | |||||
| CAF Gold | 11,650.00 | 12,178.83 | 145,721.11 | 169,549.94 | |
| National Savings & Investments | 1,035.59 | 1,035.59 | |||
| Total Investment Assets | 12,685.59 | 12,178.83 | 145,721.11 | 170,585.53 |
Approved by the PCC on 13th March 2023 and signed on their behalf by Rev Tony Ford (PCC Chairman)
Signed …………………………………………..
Date ……………………………………………..
March PCC
- 5 -
General Fund Receipts and Payments Account Receipts 2022 2021 Incoming resources from donors Pledged Giving 45.069.90 48,742.18 Cash Collections Sundry Donations Git Aid Reclaimed Sub Totals 2,516.83 4,869.35 19,424.24 71,880.32 1,156.93 16,095.53 65,994.64 other voluntary incoming resources Legacies Special events income Sunday Night L Thie Sub Totals 153.00 153.00 0.00 Income from charitable and ancillary trading Contributions for use of Church building Fees Sale of Bible notes & HomegroLJP books Sub Totals 1,486.00 1,402.00 340.00 913.12 2,888.00 1,253.12 Other ordinary incoming resources Insurance claims Photocopying Repayments Misc Sub Totals 20.00 4,699.63 50.00 4,769.63 3.34 3.34 Messy Marks Total Receipts - Unrestricted Funds 74,924.66 72,017.39 Restricted Income Mission Giving lo Societies Collections for charities Gift Day - 2022 Gift Day- 2021 Gift Day- 2020 Reslri¢led Donations Sub Totals 9,797.17 1,079.55 2.131.00 441.25 440.00 19,369.41 33,258.38 7,674.57 535.62 2,177.42 11.357.08 21,744.69 Total Receipts 108,183.04 93,762.08 Excess of Receipts over Payments (Unrestricted Funds) 432.37 9,629.87 Transfer of Deficit Allocation from Legacy 0.00 0.00 March PCC
General Fund Receipts and Payments Account Payments 2022 2021 Actlvltles dlrectly relatlng to the work of the Church Mlnlstry Parish Share 48,330.00 40,000.00 Working Expenses of Cleryy Vicar Expenses Telephone Curate Expenses Telephone Visiting Speakers Sub Totals 1,440.00 736.76 1,440.00 656.11 2,176.76 2,096.11 Church Runnlng Expenses Eleclricily, Gas, Water Insurance Cleaning Sub Totals 7,864.51 2,796.13 5,628.46 16,289.10 3,940.34 2,632.72 5,183.25 11,756.31 Church maintenance General Organ Sub Totals 1,237.44 338.28 1,575.72 1,335.05 471.98 1,807.03 Upkeep of services Misc Catering Lay reader expenses Leaflets & LiteratLJre Copyright Licen Sub Totals 415.18 178.98 49.34 425.61 1,095.28 2,115.05 403.60 1,043.01 1.495.95 Support costs Training Sunday School Brownies Sub Totals 459.21 35.28 363.75 494.49 363.75 Building Work Major repairs Islruclurel Major repairslreplacemenl linstsllationsl Interior and exterior r&decoralion Sub Totals Honoraria Organist Special events expenses Sunday Night Live 108.84 100.00 Ancillary Trading March PCC
Payments (cont) 2022 2021 Church management and administration Stationery & Postage Photocopying Church TelephonelBroadband Computerlwebsite Expenses Architect Fees Misc Sub Totals 134.21 216.71 409.80 107.49 231.66 322.83 1,223.58 382.81 2,268.37 141.61 902.33 Messy Marks Internal Transfers Designated Funds General Reserves Fabric Reserves Legacy Reserves Sub Totals 2,500.00 2,500.00 2,500.00 2,5tX).tX) Total Payments - Unrestricted 74,492.29 62.387.52 Payment of Restricted Funds Mission Giving to Societies Charity CollectionslDonation Gift Day- 2022 Gift Day- 2021 Gift Day- 2020 Donations Sub Totals 9,797.17 1,079.55 2,131.00 441.25 440.00 23,003.72 36,892.69 7,674.57 535.62 2,177.42 4,980.00 13,979.09 29.346.70 Total Payments 111,384.98 91,734.22 Notes re General Fund Gift Aid Reclaimed 2021 General Pledged Giving. 2020 General Pledged Giving. 9,099.94 10,324.30 Church Runnlng Expenses Electricity Gas Water 2,570.06 4,808.49 485.96 1,432.91 2,030.66 476.77 March PCC
Mission and Charitable Giving - Restricted Receipts 2022 2021 Pledged Giving Cash Gift Aid Reclaimed Home Communions 6,145.50 7,054.57 3,013.88 9,159.38 7,054.57 HaNest Collections - TearfUndap Twinning 503.00 608.00 Gift Aid Reclaimed - Tearfund 106.25 Toilet Twinning Ilncludes Gift Aid reclaimed) 18.00 12.00 Leprosy Boxes 10.54 Total Receipts 9,797.17 7,674.57 Payments 2022 2021 Overseas Mission Fellowship IOMFI Wycliffe Bible Translators Church Mission Society ICMSI Church Pastoral Aid Society ICPASI Church Army Bible Society 2,137.19 2,137.19 2,137.19 915.93 915.94 915.94 9,159.38 1,646.07 1,646.07 1,646.06 705.46 705.46 705.45 7,054.57 HaNest Collections - TearfUndap Twinning 503.00 608.00 Gift Aid Reclaimed - Tearfund 106.25 Toilet Twinning Ilncludes Gift Aid reclaimed) 18.00 12.00 Leprosy Boxes 10.54 Total Payments 9,797.17 7,674.57 March PCC 10
Restricted Funds Balances 31.12.2021 Receipts Payments Balances 31.12.2022 Funeral CollectionslDonations for St Mark's.. In memory of Mrs D Jackson In memory of Mrs J Twyford 156.40 174.50 99.99 56.41 174.50 Gift Day 2021 Front Paving 2,177.42 2,177.42 Community Fund 3.046.15 1,878.51 3,955.65 969.01 Children in Poverty 322.12 322.12 Fabric Fund 561.08 561.08 Organ Donation 200.00 200.00 Audio Visual Fund Donations Technicians- Funeral services 1,400.00 180.00 1,400.00 1.031.34 1.211.34 Messy Marks 429.27 429.27 Homeless Fund (Buried in Barrow) 3905.72 500.00 3,405.72 Music Group 70.00 70.00 Community Pastor Role Fund 435.73 15,580.00 14,870.66 1,145.07 Inte$1 Totals at 31st December 12.178.83 19.369.41 23.003.72 8.544.52 Community Fund Donations includes Gift Aid reclaimed Transfer from Homeless Fund Nathan Clothe5 Savers IClolhe5 Bank) Clothes Bank Petty cash Clothes Bank Banner Snooker Table & Table Tennis Table Panlomine Tickets (Ramsden Infants) 718.75 250.00 188.40 600.00 76.85 648.94 408.50 Discretionary Fund Funeral Collection in memory of Lily Robinson Discretionary Fund 721.36 721.36 1,500.00 Community Pastor Role Fund Donations Transfer from Legacy IR Walsh) Salary Replacement Laptop 580.00 15000.00 14,390.66 480.00 Homeless Fund IBuried in Barrow) Furness Homeless Shelter Donation Transfer lo Community Fund 250.00 250.00 Funeral collection in memory of Dot Jackson Small portable communion set 99.99 March PCC
Designated Funds Balances 31.12.2021 Recelpts Payments Balances 31.12.2022 Childrens Work 1,019.93 1,019.93 Messy Marks IFamiliesl 7,500.00 1,500.00 9,000.00 Training 1.650.00 500.00 2,150.00 Future Evangelism 2,500.00 1,928.84 2,616.04 1,812.80 Interest 15.66 27.53 Totals at 31st December 12,685.59 3,928.84 2,616.04 14,010.26 Future Evangelism Out of the Ashes Jonathan Viera 708.88 719.96 1,504.11 1,111.93 1795.231 1391.971 Reserves Balances 31.12.2021 Recelpts Payments Balances 31.12.2022 Interest 508.59 463.76 972.35 General Fabric Legacy- John Hannah Building WorklRefurbishmenl Community Pastor Deficit ReserveslFabric Special Projects Technical Upgrade Other Sub Totals 0.00 0.00 3,474.89 4,190.77 6,511.00 480.78 3,474.69 4,190.77 6,511.00 480.78 14,657.24 14.657.24 Legacy- J Smart 500.00 500.00 Legacy- J K Harper Audio Visual Streaming Equipment 5,000.00 5,000.00 Legacy- E Roberts IPianol 437.84 437.64 Legacy- A Kaye Audio Visual Streaming Equipment 5.017.46 1,046.00 3,971.46 Legacy- R Walsh Building WorklRefurbishmenl Community Pastor Other Iunallocatedl Sub Totals 27,000.00 15,000.00 {42,000 001 22,402.58 15,000.00 4,597.42 119,600.18 119,600.18 77,600.18 82,197.60 37,402.58 Totals at 31st December 145,721.11 463.76 43,448.58 102,736.29 March PCC 12
Allocation of Restricted CollectionslDonations for Charities 2022 Funeral Collections St Ma$ Hospice (Anderson) St MaWs Hospice Imartinl Brf(Ish Heart Foundation lJa¢kson 50Y¢l British Heart Foundation (Hunter 50.101 Cancer Research (Hunter 50Y.I Cardiac Risk in the Young (Dwyer) 102.20 54.31 156.40 22.50 22.50 104.07 Retiring Collections Christian Aid Children Society- Christingle Childn Society- Carols by Candlelight Children Society- Gift Aid Rec181rned 116.00 93.00 50.21 12.50 Furness Churches United Choirs PerfornianS Tom Curtain - £257.61 Three Wise Camels- £72.00 Sovereign Music UK Christian Music Ministries Trust St Mary's Hospice 34.76 156.43 138.42 Children Society- Chrismas cards donations 16.25 Totals 1,079.55 Fees Account Receipts 2022 2021 Church Funeral Fees Crematorium Funeral Fees Interment Banns Wedding B8Ptism Certificate 2.390.00 206.00 30.00 50.00 480.00 814.00 199.00 138.tK) 969.(x) Totsl Receipts 3,156.00 2,120.00 Payments Organist Verger Technicians- Audio Visual Fund Retired Clergy C8rfisle Diocesan Board of Fin8nce St Mark'5 PCC 180.00 180.00 100.00 100.00 100.21 906.67 913.12 1,394.00 1.402.00 Total Payments 3,156.00 2,120.00 March PCC 13-