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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 repa1rslrep1a￿Ment (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 Ne￿Ork (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 repla￿ment
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 Perfom1an￿S
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-