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St. Mark’s Church, Barrow in Furness
Annual Report
and
Financial Statements
of the Parochial Church Council
For the year ended 31st December 2024
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 National Savings Kings Hill Avenue & Investments West Malling Glasgow Kent
Registered Charity No: 1139932
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St. Mark’s Church, Barrow in Furness Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31st December 2024
Administrative Information:
St. Mark’s Church is situated on the corner of Rawlinson Street and Buccleuch Street, Barrow in Furness and 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.
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. The co-option is until the conclusion of the next APCM but without prejudice to them being co-opted on subsequent occasions for a similar term. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.
PCC members who have served from 1st January 2024 until 31st December 2024 are:
Priest in Charge Revd Tony Ford Chair LLM (Reader) Mr David Nelson Wardens Ms Lisa Miller First elected as Warden 2022 APCM Mr John Sherratt First elected as Warden 2023 APCM Deanery Synod Reps Mr Jason Dobb Elected 2023 APCM Mr Graham Hodgson Appointed by PCC April 2023 - Joint PCC Lay Chair from July 2021 Community Pastor Mrs Gillian Grisedale ex-officio Elected Members Mrs Susan Benson Elected 2023 APCM, Secretary Mr Richard N. Carrick Re-elected 2024 APCM Mrs Christine Carruthers Elected 2022 APCM Mrs Liz Currie - Joint Lay Chair from July 2021 - LLM from 2016 Mrs Rose Hazlehurst Elected 2022 APCM Mrs Linda Lawrence Elected 2023 APCM - Treasurer - LLM from 2013 Mr Alan McCracken Elected 2023 APCM Mrs Heather Sherratt Elected 2023 APCM
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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 Ms Lisa Miller Mr John Sherratt PCC Members Mrs Christine Carruthers Mrs Liz Currie April 2023 until March 2024 Mr Alan McCracken Community Pastor Mrs Gillian Grisedale 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.
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 2024, was 71, including 7 under the age of 16, For the mid-week Communion Service the average was 34. We have continued to Live Stream the Sunday morning Services making them available via YouTube, Facebook and the Church web site.
Electoral Roll: The year began in January 2024 with 115 names on the Roll and ended in December 2024 with 116 names on the Roll. During the year 1 member died and 2 people joined the Roll. In accordance with the Church Representation Rules a new Electoral Roll will be created for the 2025 APCM.
PCC Attendance: The PCC met 9 times during 2024 (January-December) for ordinary meetings and one additional special meeting. The average attendance was 13.
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2024 - Vicar’s Review of the Year:
2024 another year that has flown by and overall been very positive for St. Mark’s. So many things to celebrate but the Clothes bank and Café serving their 50,000th client is in one way fantastic that as a church we have helped so, but then so sad that there is so much need that hasn’t been addressed by successive governments. It was nice to celebrate the amazing work of Gill and all those who volunteer week in and week out – Thank you!
We also have so many other people who serve the church faithfully, I am deliberately not going to name them in case I miss someone out but thank you to you too. We just wouldn’t function as a church without all you do. Also, a huge thank you for your financial support, we again increased our Parish offer and are able to keep the Community Pastor role going for another year. We have also been blessed by financial giving from external agencies for our community work.
Sadly, we have lost brothers and sisters over the last 12 months, as painful as that is, we have a sure and certain hope through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lots of things to enjoy, Anniversary weekend with Songs of Praise and Dalton Brass Band, The Maundy meal was a special occasion, Lent course, Christianity explored and lots of events e.g. The Easter Walk, with games and picnic, Boogie night etc all well received.
We must not forget the Chaplaincy work done by St. Mark’s, Barrow Raiders has continued to tick over but I have not been as often as previous years due to the new Chaplaincy at BAE which has been amazing blessed by the Lord. This needs to kick on the 2025 but will need support from the diocese and I have promised to continue working full out on the 3 fronts of Rugby, Church and BAE until March 2025 by which time if no support is forthcoming from the diocese I will have to cut back. Assurances have been made but then again, we were promised a curate in 2018 and still waiting! By December 2024 I had spoken to well over 5000 people at BAE about Faith and Chaplaincy and supported many individuals going through a huge variety of difficult times. This isn’t Tony’s ministry; this is St. Mark’s ministry and please continue to pray for it.
The Church of England is still in turmoil and we have been seriously let down by the majority of Bishops and our archbishops, who are denying the plain teaching of the Bible that sex should be between one man and one woman in the confines of marriage, unfortunately they are in favour of being led by the world around them, we should not be surprised, Jesus did warn us. There also seems to be weekly revelations of abuse by
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leaders in the CofE and as shocked as we are, our hearts and prayers must be for the victims who have suffered at the hands of their abusers.
We should give thanks to our two archdeacons and acting diocesan Bishop for standing for Biblical trust, please pray for God love and protection for them and their families.
As we come to the end of 2024 St. Mark’s is in a good place with a lovely diverse mix of brothers and sisters in Christ, loving and serving one another, it is St. Mark’s that is keeping me in the Church of England and I love being the pastor of this church. And thank you to all those who prayed for and supported Denise and myself when we suffered 3 bereavements within a week, one being my sister Sue. God is good!
Finally, I am sure I have missed lots out of this report but so much goes on at St. Mark’s. A huge thank you to the PCC and Wardens for all they do, managing the church through these difficult times isn’t easy but the unity around the gospel has been amazing and stands us in good stead for what God is going to do in and through us in 2025.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21
2024 - Wardens Church Fabric Report
At the time of writing this (and probably also when you read it) we are having extensive work undertaken to the front and rear elevation of the church at a cost of approximately £31k. This should preserve these areas for the foreseeable future. Similar work is however required on both side elevations and also the boundary wall adjoining Rawlinson Street which is not in good order and does not give a good first impression to visitors. How this further work can be funded may however be an issue.
During the year further work has again been undertaken to the central valley roof with the installation of 2 new sump drains and adjusting the rear down pipe hopper and therefore hopefully catching the majority of the rainwater.
Unfortunately, this has not solved the long standing problem of water penetration particularly into the clothes bank which still occurs after heavy rain and during periods of snow melt. Our builder thinks that the cause of this is due to the roof slates not being bonded on to the lead in the valley resulting in water rising up behind the slates but the cost of such remedial work will not be cheap and there is no guarantee that this will solve the issue.
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All other standard servicing and checks have been undertaken in respect of the fire equipment, central heating and electrical PAT testing. The mandatory 5 year test of the electrical system has also been carried out and thankfully found to be in good order.
The Organ has been fully serviced and the full keyboard is again in place and it is ready to be played.
A new colourful Banner is in place in the prayer corner thanks to the hard work of various ladies in the church with hopefully some more contributions to follow.
The old florescent light tubes are gradually being replaced with LED tubes and the type of lighting is being considered in various areas which will hopefully making us more ecofriendly.
The self fill hot water boiler/urn has been replaced in the kitchen as have the old free standing ones. These should give us good service for not only the café and weekly services but also all other events which we host over the year.
In December we were visited by Archdeacon Vernon Ross for the 3 yearly visitation and not only did he go through all our documents and records which he found to be in order but he was extremely enthusiastic in respect of the “brilliant work” undertaken by the church making specific reference to BAE and that he “can’t help but be impressed by the great variety of the community who use the buildings and your ministry to some of the poorest people in the town”.
Having been built in 1878 with only a anticipated life span of approximately 50 years it is only to be expected that some 147 years on the fabric may be somewhat cracked and crazed in places with a few groans and plumbing issues but whilst the building is still standing by far the most important issue is that the number of people who make up the church continues to grow and is welcoming folks from all over the globe and the church continues to hold fast to the word of God and to proclaim the Gospel and the good news of God’s love to the needy and the lost. Long may that continue.
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Safeguarding Annual Report to the PCC
1. 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
Sunday Prayer Team
Pastoral Care Team
Church members who particate in wider church initiatives (eg. Network Youth Church and Open the Book) are also covered by the parish’s Safeguarding arrangements.
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 in the early stages of using the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard, which should make simpler the task of what needs doing. The training of all leaders and volunteers is being checked and updated in connection with the use the Dashboard. DBS checks are complete for all personnel who need them.
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 20th April 2025 & signed on their behalf by Revd. Tony Ford (PCC (PCC Chairman) Chairman) Signed ………………………………. Date ……………………….. Signedae Date alt las...
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St. Mark's Church, Barrow-in-Furness
Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31st December 2024
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st December 2024
| General | Designated | Restricted | Reserves | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fund | Funds | Funds | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Monetary Assets | |||||
| Barclays Community - Current | (3,842.28) | (3,842.28) | |||
| CAF Cash - Current | - | 15,931.67 | 15,931.67 | ||
| Total Monetary Assets | (3,842.28) | - | 15,931.67 | 12,089.39 | |
| Investment Assets | |||||
| CAF Gold | 66,767.66 | 66,767.66 | |||
| Barclays High Interest Business | 12,383.74 | 12,383.74 | |||
| National Savings & Investments | 1,036.55 | 1,036.55 | |||
| Total Investment Assets | 13,420.29 | - | 66,767.66 | 80,187.95 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st December 2023
| General | Designated | Restricted | Reserves | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fund | Funds | Funds | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Monetary Assets | |||||
| Barclays Community - Current | 10,543.62 | 10,543.62 | |||
| CAF Cash - Current | - | 17,140.81 | 17,140.81 | ||
| Total Monetary Assets | 10,543.62 | - | 17,140.81 | 27,684.43 | |
| Investment Assets | |||||
| CAF Gold | 83,489.57 | 83,489.57 | |||
| Barclays High Interest Business | 12,202.13 | 12,202.13 | |||
| National Savings & Investments | 1,036.55 | 1,036.55 | |||
| Total Investment Assets | 13,238.68 | - | 83,489.57 | 96,728.25 |
Approved by the PCC on 20th April 2025 and signed on their behalf by Rev Tony Ford (PCC Chairman) Signed ………………………………………….. Signedt/a Date …………………………………………….. Date BWW 2E
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General Fund Receipts and Payments Account Receipts 2024 2023 Incoming resources from donors Pledged Giving 50,236.18 46,451.91 Cash Collections Sundry Donations Git Aid Reclaimed Sub Totals 3,564.69 5,590.02 11,164.01 70,554.90 1,945.18 6,425.44 9,294.11 64,116.64 Other voluntary incoming resources Legacies Special events income Sunday Night Live Sub Totals 317.17 656.27 317.17 656.27 Income from charitable and ancillary trading Contributions for use of Church building Fees Sale of Bible notes & Homegroup books Sub Totals 2,217.25 794.23 50.00 3,061.48 1,767.00 1,310.00 3,077.00 Other ordinary incoming resources Insurance claims Photocopying Repayments Misc Sub Totals 84.38 10,646.05 10,730.43 0.00 Messy Marks (Families) Total Receipts - Unrestrictsd Funds 73,933.55 78.580.34 Restricted Income Mission Giving to Societies Collections for charities Gift Day - 2024 Gift Day - 2023 Gift Day - 2022 Gift Day - 2021 Restricted Donations Sub Totals 14,528.23 3,329.76 2,557.71 195.00 8,671.53 1,877.15 825.00 347.50 21,780.45 42,391.15 25,114.84 36,836.02 Total Receipts 116,324.70 115,416.36 Excess of Receipts over Payments (Unrestricted Funds) {12,590.80) (12,914.40) Transfer of Deficit Allocation from Legacy 0.00 0.00
General Fund Receipts and Payments Account Payments 2024 2023 Activities directly relating to the work of the Church Ministry Parish Share 53,040.00 51,000.00 Working Expenses of Clergy Vicar Expenses Telephone Curate Expenses Telephone Visiting Speakers Sub Totals 1,666.00 633.82 1,571.70 618.73 30.00 2.329.82 2,190.43 Church Running Expenses Electricity, Gas, Water Insurance Cleaning Sub Totsls 13,255.17 3,079.85 7,062.15 23,397. 17 21,619.45 2,999.65 6,496.55 31,115.65 Church maintenance General Organ Sub Totals 1,408.45 1,283.76 2.692.21 1,625.78 513.28 2,139.06 Upkeep of services Misc Catering Lay reader expenses Leaflets & Literature Copyright Licence Sub Totals 423.16 299.57 520.88 200.39 698.05 1,240.48 2.661.26 523.86 1,180.10 2,425.23 Support costs Training Sunday School Brownies Sub Totals 760.73 145.19 218.97 75.73 905.92 294. 70 Building Work Major repairs {structure) Major repa1rslrep1aMent (installations) Interior and exterior re-decoration Sub Totals Honoraria Organist Special events expenses Sunday Night Live 546.75 931.73 Ancillary Trading
Payments (cont) 2024 2023 Church management and administration Stationery & Postsge Photocopying Church TelephonelBroadband Computerlwebsite Expenses Architect Fees Misc Sub Totals 368.56 394.32 437.83 402.48 188.34 951.22 557.63 1,397.94 Messy Marks (Families Internal Transfers Designated Funds General Reserves Fabric Reserves Legacy Reserves Sub Totals 0.00 0.00 Total Payments - Unrestricted 86,524.35 91,494.74 Payment of Restricted Funds Mission Giving to Societies Charity CollectionslDonation Gift Day- 2024 Gift Day- 2023 Gift Day- 2022 Gift Day- 2021 Gift Day- 2020 Donations Sub Totsls 14,528.23 3,329.76 2,557.71 195.00 8,671.53 1,877.15 825.00 347.50 825.00 347.50 16,518.55 29,412.23 23,086.21 43,696.91 Total Payments 130,221.26 120,906.97 Notes re General Fund Church Running Expenses Electricity Gas Water 3,701.43 8,645.91 907.83 9,290.17 11,550.25 779.03 Miscellaneous Payments Pole for Banner Bank Charges Sumup Card Reader 19.50 98.04 70.80 10-
Mission and Charitable Giving - Restricted Receipts 2024 2023 Pledged Giving Cash Gift Aid Reclaimed Home Communions 12,216.10 6,642.25 1.591.13 1,465.13 13,807.23 8,107.38 HaNest Collections - Tearfund 646.00 508.05 Gift Aid Reclaimed - Tearfund 60.00 21.25 Toilet Twinning (Includes Gift Aid reclaimed) 15.00 15.00 Leprosy Boxes 19.85 Totsl Receipts 14,528.23 8,671.53 Payments 2024 2023 Overseas Mission Fellowship (OMF) Wycliffe Bible Translators Church Mission Society (CMS) Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS) Church Army Bible Society 3,221.68 3,221.69 3,221.69 1,380.72 1,380.73 1,380.72 13,807.23 1.891.72 1,891.72 1,891.72 810.74 810.74 810.74 8,107.38 HaNest Collections - Tearfund 646.00 508.05 Gift Aid Reclaimed - Tearfund 60.00 21.25 Toilet Twinning (Includes Gift Aid reclaimed) 15.00 15.00 Leprosy Boxes 19.85 Totsl Payments 14,528.23 8,671.53
Restricted Funds Balances 31.12.2023 Receipts Payments Balances 31.12.2024 Funeral CollectionslDonations for St Mark's.. In memory of Mrs D Jackson In memory of Mrs J Twyford In memory of Mrs B Harrison (St Mark's Work in the community) In memory of Mr W Goslin (Part) 56.41 174.50 56.41 174.50 592.33 313.39 905.72 167.50 167.50 Communion Cups 66.88 66.88 Gift Day 2023 - Building Work 825.00 195.00 1,020.00 Community Fund 1.819.37 3,885.02 1,302.28 4,402.11 Children in Poverty 322.12 322.12 Fabric Fund 561.08 1,500.00 1,667.99 393.09 Organ Donation 200.00 200.00 Audio Visual Fund Donations Technicians - Funeral services 350.00 1.291.34 350.00 1,411.34 120.00 Messy Marks {Families) 429.27 429.27 Homeless Fund (Buried in Barrow) 3405.72 3,405.72 Music Group 70.00 70.00 Community Pastor Role Fund 6966.51 15.690.43 16,643.34 6,013.60 I nterest 6.28 9.73 16.01 Totals at 31st December 17,237.43 21,780.45 23,086.21 15,931.67 Community Fund Emmanuel Community Church PHX Training Cumbria Community Fund Furness Community NeOrk (WAF Council ) Anon Donation (ChildrenlFamily Events) Unite Barrow Nathans Waste Savers Yarn Bomb 600.00 551.00 500.00 1000.00 250.00 500.00 382.10 101.92 Petty Cash Accomodation for Asylum Seeker 600.00 702.28 Community Pastor Role Fund Donations Transfer from Legacy (R Walsh) Salary 690.43 15,000.00 16,643.33 12-
Designated Funds Balances 31.12.2023 Receipts Payments Balances 31.12.2024 Childrens Work 1.019.93 1.019.93 Messy Marks {Families) 9.(M)O.(M) 9.000.00 Training 2.150.(K) 2.150.00 Future Evangelism 930.21 930.21 Interest 138.54 181.61 320.15 Totals at 31st December 13,238.68 181.61 13,420.29 Reserves Balances 31.12.2023 Receipts Payments Balances 31.12.2024 Inlerest 2.725.63 1.985.94 1,475.85 3.235.72 General Fabric Legacy- John Hannah Building WorklRefurbishmenl Community Pastor Deficit ReserveslFabric Special Projecls Technical Upgrade Other Sub Totals 0.00 3.474.69 4.190.77 6.511. 480.78 3.474.69 1.958.77 6.511.00 480.78 2,232.00 14.657.24 2.232.00 12.425.24 Legacy- J Smart 500. 500.00 Legacy- J K Harper Audio Visual Streaming Equipment Legacy- E Roberls (Piano) 437.64 437.64 Legacy- A Kaye Audio Visual Streaming Equipment 3.971.46 3.971.46 Legacy- R Walsh Building WorklRefurbishmenl Community Paslor Other Iunallocated) Sub Totals 4.597.42 4.597.42 10,000.00 31.600.18 46.197.60 25.000.00 125.000.001 15,000.00 56.600.18 61.197.60 15.0(10.OQ Totals at 31st December 83.489.57 1,985.94 18,707.85 66,767.66 Notes re Reserves Interest Organ - Woodworn & Key replament 1,475.85 Fabric Sump Drains Unblock downpipes Electrical Inspection 1,260.00 480.00 492.00 13-
Allocation of Restricted CollectionslDonations for Charities 2024 Funeral Collections Hospice@Home (Westwood) St Mary's Hospice (Hargreaves 500A) Cancer Care {Hargreaves 500A) Abbey View at Furness General Hospital (Mccracken) British Heart Foundation (Sproxton) Water Aid (Meadows 50 /0) Save the Children (Meadows 50°/0) Dementia UK (Littl 455.25 61.49 61.48 361.00 406.80 46.50 46.50 35.00 Retiring Collections Christian Aid Children Society- Christingle Children Society - Carols by Candlelight CDBF Growth Fund - Firepit Confirmation SeNi 74.37 183.32 66.00 77.74 Furness Churches United Choirs Perfom1anS St Mary's Hospice (Pharisee 50 % ) CMM Trust (Pharisee 50°/ ) St Mary's Hospice (Gondaliers) St Mary's Hospi (Songs of Advent and Christmas 500kn) CMM Trust (Songs of Advent and Christmas 500/0) 117.83 117.83 459.77 79.73 79.72 Dalton Town Band St Mary's Hospi (Anniversary) 503.90 Children Society - Christmas cards donations 95.55 Totals 3,329.78 Fees Account Receipts 2024 2023 Church Funeral Fees Crematorium Funeral Fees Interment Banns Wedding Baptism Certificate 2,016.00 1,603.00 228.00 1,050.00 Totsl Receipts 2,016.00 2,881.00 Payments Organist Verger Technicians- Audio Visual Fund Retired Clergy Carlisle Diocesan Board of Finance St Mark's PCC 120.00 120.00 428.95 552.82 794.23 60.00 60.00 1,451.00 1,310.00 Total Payments 2,016.00 2.881.00 14-