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2024-12-31-accounts

Charity Registration No 1140301

Annual Report & Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council of Central Telford for the year ending 31 December 2024

Incorporating the District Churches of Holy Trinity, Dawley St. Leonard, Malinslee St. John, Lawley St. Mary, Ketley

Contents
Section 1: Trustees Report................................................................................................................................. 3
1.
Objectives and Activities: ....................................................................................................................... 3
2.
Achievements and Performance ............................................................................................................ 3
Attendance at Services: ............................................................................................................................... 3
Baptisms, weddings and funerals: ............................................................................................................... 3
Report on buildings and churchyards: ......................................................................................................... 3
Team Rector’s Report .................................................................................................................................. 4
Parish churchwardens’ Report .................................................................................................................... 5
Deanery Synod ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Ecumenical Relationships ............................................................................................................................ 7
3.
Financial Review ..................................................................................................................................... 7
4.
Safeguarding ........................................................................................................................................... 8
5.
Reporting Serious Incidents.................................................................................................................... 8
6.
Reserves Policy ....................................................................................................................................... 8
7.
Fundraising ............................................................................................................................................. 8
8.
Volunteers .............................................................................................................................................. 8
9.
Review of the Year .................................................................................................................................. 8
9.1
Activities: ....................................................................................................................................... 8
9.2 Dawley CE School ................................................................................................................................ 11
9.3 Telford Christians Against Poverty ..................................................................................................... 11
10.
Reports from District churchwardens .............................................................................................. 11
Holy Trinity, Dawley ................................................................................................................................... 11
St John, Lawley: ......................................................................................................................................... 12
St Leonard, Malinslee: ............................................................................................................................... 12
St Mary, Ketley: ......................................................................................................................................... 13
11.
Structure and Governance ............................................................................................................... 13
12.
Reference and Administrative details .............................................................................................. 14
13.
Names and addresses of advisers .................................................................................................... 14
Section 2: Parish Mission Plan.......................................................................................................................... 15
Section 3: Shaping for Mission: Strategic Framework 2024-2030.................................................................. 16
Section 4: Independent Examiner’s Report..................................................................................................... 17
Section 5: Financial Statements....................................................................................................................... 18

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Section 1: Trustees Report

1. Objectives and Activities:

The Parochial Church Council of Central Telford (the PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Reverend Jo Farnworth, 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 churches.

The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our churches and to become part of our parish community at Central Telford. 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. Some powers and functions are delegated to each District Church Council, as set out in the Parish Scheme.

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 PCC 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 Central Telford 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.

When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.

We try to enable people to live out their faith as part of our parish community 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 by 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.

To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of our church buildings, St John’s church hall and our churchyards.

2. Achievements and Performance

Attendance at Services:

Total
attendance		 TOTAL HT St J St L St M
Average
Sunday		 97 35 22 25 15
Messy
Church		 37 37 - - -
Easter
Eve/Day		 166 55 27 60 24
Christmas
Eve/Day		 347 130 125 65 27
Carol
Services		 1238 *520 189 433 96

*Includes 135 from St James, Stirchley Carol Service Baptisms, weddings and funerals:

TOTAL HT St J St
L		 St M
Baptisms 53 17 16 14 6
Weddings 3 0 1 1 1
Funerals* 55 17 17 12 9
Interments** 26 9 4 12 1

*Includes funerals at crematorium for people living in the district

**Includes interments at St Luke, Doseley and St James, Stirchley

Report on buildings and churchyards:

In November 2023, each church had its Quinquennial Inspection by Geraint Roberts – some of the reports are still awaited at the end of 2024.

St Leonard’s condemned heating boiler was replaced with a gas boiler, funded by a grant from the Asda Foundation. Following being given a generous donation, the area where there were damaged floor tiles in the main worship space has now been carpeted. It has made a very well-received attractive improvement to St. Leonard’s. Items of work highlighted in the Quinquennial Inspection are being prioritised and quotes obtained for carrying out the urgent items.

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Various other minor repairs/regular maintenance items were carried out during the year.

Holy Trinity church also resolved the problems with their heating system and a new controller was installed early in the year. A leaking radiator pipe was discovered after the Christmas Fair, but prompt action led to there being only minor damage and a repair was carried out. At some point the building will need painting (including the ringing chamber) and research is being carried out to find an appropriate paint. An asbestos survey identified that there is asbestos in the boiler room that will need attending to. Various other minor repairs/regular maintenance items were carried out during the year.

St John’s has carried out various minor repairs and items of regular maintenance. This included repairing the failing wooden flooring in front of the chancel step. Some larger projects are being planned for the coming year, including the installation of secondary glazing and new carpets.

St Mary’s have had issues with a leaking roof, which we hope will be addressed once the QI report is received. One of the four heaters was repaired and funding for this was received from the Telford & Wrekin Councillors' Pride Fund 2023. Various other minor repairs/regular maintenance items were carried out during the year.

Team Rector’s Report

Our parish verse for 2024 was ‘Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint’ (Isaiah 40:31). These words were chosen for the encouragement that they offer. Whenever challenges discourage us, or fears gnaw away at us, or difficulties overwhelm us, we can put our trust in God’s promise to provide

us with all that we need. We don’t need to rely on our own strength and resources, but on God’s strength and provision.

As I look back at the past year, I can see God’s abundant provision in our parish and our churches. We have welcomed new people to our churches, seen people take on new roles, our financial situation is improving, and there seems to be a greater sense of stability in our life together as we seek to be God’s church in this time and in this place. There is much to give thanks for!

Throughout 2023 it seemed that God was calling us to have a time to ‘be still and know that I am God’, and this continued to be important throughout 2024. I think that this has been a blessing for us: to have a time to draw breath, to continue to rebuild postCovid, and particularly to make sure that we look after one another and don’t get over busy. This has also been a real help to me since being asked to become Acting Archdeacon at very short notice in October 2023 and having to continue in the role throughout 2024. Our Mission Action Plan (Section 2) continues to shape our thinking and planning. Following a presentation of the Lichfield Diocesan ‘Strategic Framework 2024-2030’ in the summer of 2024, we are also starting to consider how we can grow younger; be purposeful about evangelism; engage more with local communities; and be more diverse (section 3).

Revd Scott Edwards has become well-established as our Team Vicar and his ministry and gifts are much appreciated. Chris Prescott has similarly settled well as our Reader, offering ministry mainly at St Leonard’s but at time in other churches. I am grateful for all that they bring to the parish. I know that the occasionally ministry of my husband Revd Roger Farnworth has been appreciated, along with some other visiting clergy, Readers and lay ministers. We continue to be blessed with lay worship leaders who lead some Sunday morning services, evensong at Holy Trinity, Messy Church and other occasional services. It was also a delight to have Tam Sheehan from Telford Minster on placement with us in the autumn as she discerns her future vocation.

I am grateful to all those who volunteer in so many different ways – some in very public roles and others who are quietly doing jobs in the background. It is a great blessing to our churches and our wider communities that so many are willing to serve God in many different ways. It is wonderful to be part of a

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parish where it’s not expected that the Team Rector, or the Team Vicar, will do everything!

While we have said goodbye to some in our congregations, we have also welcomed new people into our church families. We have been able to pay our Common Fund in full and have been working hard to exercise good stewardship with our finances which is starting to move us on to a more secure footing. A lot of work has been done over the year to make sure that our churches are safe places, in terms of safeguarding, looking after the buildings and churchyards, and working towards having all the necessary policies and procedures in place.

We had a ‘Season of Creation’ in the autumn in which we focussed on God’s gift of creation and our role in treating our world well. In 2025, we hope to build on this by working towards becoming Eco-Churches.

Revd Scott has been running the Pilgrim Course as we seek to offer people more opportunities to grow in their faith, and a regular group of people have found this helpful.

It was particularly encouraging to see new links with our communities being made over the year. The Friends of St James church Stirchley was set up in 2024 with local residents coming together to care for the churchyard and promote the history of the building. We were asked to provide a Harvest Service and a Carol Service, and the latter saw the church packed with people singing carols, hearing the Christmas story and enjoying festive celebrations. Holy Trinity had a request from the Chipmunks Day Nursery to provide a Carol Service for parents and children – and we had another church packed with people who don’t usually come to church. The hope is that these links will continue to flourish in the coming year.

Links with schools are deepening with Revd Scott and I having taken assemblies, helped with RE, and hosted events in our churches for Dawley Church of England, The Meadows, Lawley Primary, Lawley Academy, Old Park, Aqueduct, Captain Webb, Thomas Telford and Telford Langley schools. We are grateful to the teams who have enabled us to invite schools to Experience Christmas and Easter events at Holy Trinity and St Mary’s.

I hope that as you read through the reports from our wardens and group leaders, that you will recognise the number of different opportunities that are offered to help people to grow in faith and to worship, to share in the love of God through practical

actions, to have fun and build friendships. My prayer is that in 2025 we continue to be aware of God blessing us by enabling us to be a parish where prayer and worship is at our heart, where we care for one another, where we see growth in our numbers and in our faith, where all have confidence to use their God-given talents, where all are welcome and where the good news of Jesus Christ and the love of God is encountered in all that we do.

Revd Prebendary Jo Farnworth

Parish churchwardens’ Report

On initial consideration 2024 was a quiet, settled and prayerful year but upon further reflection there is plenty to say and we will try to keep it succinct for this report.

Sunday Worship is now in a consistent pattern in all four churches thanks to our two hard-working clergy, Chris Prescott our Reader and a number of licensed Lay Leaders, with other local ministers stepping in when needed. This latter support is particularly appreciated in coping with the large number of funerals across the Parish. Revd Jo has had to work twice as hard in her long-extended role of Acting Archdeacon alongside Revd Mary Thomas.

We welcomed Bishop Sarah in July for a confirmation of three candidates, one from Holy Trinity and two from St Leonard’s, and again in the Autumn to confirm two candidates from St John’s and one from St Leonard’s. In the Autumn we were pleased to welcome Tam Sheen on a Lay Ministry placement. Tam was a delightful help and appreciated her time with us. Revd Scott organised and led two Pilgrim Courses at his and Judy’s home - one in the early summer and one in the Autumn. He also introduced ‘Stations of the Cross’ to the Parish, one session in Lent and another during the Holy Week programme.

Scott is our representative at Christians against Poverty (CAP) and organised a talk by Lizzie Brown from CAP at the United Service in October.

We celebrated a Creation Season from the beginning of September to the beginning of October. As well as Creation being a continuous theme for Sunday Worship, additional activities included: a Parish Walk with Picnic; an outdoor Messy (Muddy) Church; a Pet Service; a service to celebrate St Francis of Assisi with Italian-style refreshments. Unfortunately the weather did not comply on the Sunday when services were planned to be held outdoors! Harvest Festivals concluded the season with produce going to Dawley

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Food Bank, which we support throughout the year with donations and with volunteers from the parish.

The usual Christmas services took place across the Parish with a difference in the timing of Christmas Eve Communions. With a current shortage of clergy in the Deanery to provide cover at 11:30pm, Jo and Scott could not be in two places at once so an earlier Communion at 9:30pm was held at St John’s and St Mary’s enabling all four churches to have a service with our own clergy.

There has been welcome community development in Stirchley & Brookside focusing on St James’ Church in Stirchley Village. Local residents have formed a “Friends of St James” group and are keen for this ancient building to be open more often. As well as opening on Heritage Weekend as usual, there was an Evensong in August and a Harvest Festival in September. The Christmas Carol Service was reinstated and the church was packed with many standing which was truly amazing. The Friends’ Group also served refreshments afterwards.

Eco church is one project Jo was hoping to develop in 2024. A significant step forward was the introduction of Swift Boxes to the towers of Holy Trinity and St Leonard’s. This happened in May and Ross Bray from RSPB gave a presentation about Swifts. We also watched for the bats flying around Holy Trinity in the twilight. In time we hope that Swifts will choose the towers as ‘hotels’ attracted by the recorded Swift ‘call’. A small group of Parish members are prepared to help take the Eco-church project forward in months to come.

Relationship with local primary schools continued to develop, with Jo and Scott increasing communication through School Assemblies. Primary classes visited Holy Trinity and St Mary’s for Easter Experience and Christmas Experience (although the school cancelled at short notice for St Mary’s at Christmas due to the lack of adult school helpers).

Without going into further details, many of these activities or developments reflect the Mission Priorities presented to the PCC in April 2024 and which are ongoing. One area not mentioned so far is Pastoral Care. As far as their time allows, Jo and Scott have encouraged us to ask for home visits/home communions for Parishioners who are sick or vulnerable. This level of care had been lacking in recent years so this opportunity has been greatly appreciated.

Shaping for Mission - Strategic Framework 2024 - 2030

All parishes in the Deanery were invited to All Saints’ Church, Wellington in July to a consultation to help shape this strategy. It was led by Bishop Sarah, Revd Jo and Revd Mary Thomas (as Acting Archdeacons).

Under the heading “ Come follow Christ in the footsteps of St Chad” came four sub-headings:

After worship and a presentation we were asked to discuss, in our Parish groups, which areas/goals we thought would best fit with our Parish and it’s current priorities and activities. Then we were asked to consider what challenges might arise in order to address these goals. There was much to discuss on this and it presented food for thought. Later our feedback was sent to the Bishop and no doubt we will be spending more time discussing the issues in months to come.

Other administrative activity went on through the PCC, including the revision and/or development of a number of Policies required by HMRC.

On a final brief note - all our buildings have experienced problems during the last year which will probably be reported in the individual church reports. At the end of the year we awaited the final Quinquennial Reports to assess the Architect’s view of the state of our churches. And financially, we managed to pay our Common Fund to the Diocese once again, but helped by the fact that a generous allowance was made for Revd Jo spending so much time away from the Parish in her role as Acting Archdeacon. Thanks to God who works in mysterious ways!

Doreen Dyson & Mary Richards (Parish Wardens)

Deanery Synod

The Deanery Synod met four times during the year, twice online via Zoom and twice ‘in person’. Meetings always start with a short act of worship and include

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reports from Diocesan Synod and General Synod when available.

In January the Guest Speaker was Simon Foster, a Chaplaincy and Mission Team Leader. His presentation led us though four main topics: Parish vocation, Growing faith, Pioneering parishes, and Gospel reading. Group discussion and feedback followed.

In April the Guest speaker was Angela Bruno on Safeguarding. Angela is the Deanery Verifier and Diocesan Data manager for Lichfield, alongside her day job as an executive assistant to the director of Ordinands. Safeguarding is something in which we all have a role to play in the protection of those who are vulnerable in our churches – this includes ourselves, those who have been in the position of being abused, or indeed those who have been the abuser. She covered the importance of record keeping and what is required – Records of those working with vulnerable adults and children; records of DBS checks done and dates for renewal and of the safeguarding training which has been completed. Also Records of Insurance cover and this information needs to be kept for 75 years. It is important that DBS Checks are done through the diocese so that any blemishes are noted by the diocese. Of course the access to the records is restricted to a small number of staff within the diocese. Angela then talked through some of the common issues which arise from the ID supplied and the errors on the applications. She then continued to explain the safeguarding training and where to access it and how it is completed. She also talked about the roll out of the safeguarding dashboards and what information they hold and the website details where more information can be found https://safeguardingdashboards.org.uk/

Revd Debbie Loughran has been Area Dean for several years and thus Chair of meetings. Debbie was on Sabbatical in the Summer and subsequently moved from Telford to a new position in the Northeast. Revd Stuart Howes, Vicar of Wellington Christchurch and Hadley Holy Trinity, was Assistant Area Dean and has covered the role of Chair since then. The annual social gathering took place in July, this time at All Saints’ Parish Centre, where church members provided delicious refreshments. Revd Stuart hosted the October meeting at Hadley Holy Trinity. The Guest Speaker was Jill Corp from West Mercia Women’s Aid. She spoke about her role, the definition of domestic abuse, and was keen to make it clear that they also support men. She outlined the complex nature of domestic abuse and its impact on

families. Resources were made available for future reference.

The Future of Deanery Synod:

Stuart asked the members of synod what they would like to see in the future, suggesting we might think of being a Deanery Church, reflecting on the

individuality of each worshipping community and perhaps supporting one another in specific services only held in that church or joining together where particular seasonal services are poorly attended. Stuart gave the examples of Ascension Day held at Christ Church and Holy Trinity and the service for baby loss held at All Saints. Are there perhaps other services held in your church that could be advertised widely and become deanery services? Other practical questions posed related to meeting times and places, and suggestions of topics and content. Stuart also spoke of the impact of vacancies on parishes and called for support for one another and prayer for the right appointments to be made.

Mary Richards

Ecumenical Relationships

We value our relationships with other denominations in Telford, particularly with Dawley Baptist Church and our Methodist friends at Dawley Christian Centre. During 2024, we said farewell to Revd Ian Olliver who moved from Dawley Baptism Church to Ross-on-Wye. The Dawley Foodbank continues to be a very successful and much needed ecumenical endeavour. We continue to look to deliver Experience Christmas and Easter ecumenically to schools and to build on this in the future.

3. Financial Review

Thank you to everyone who works to ensure the smooth running of finances within the parish. We recognise the hard work and commitment of our PCC Treasurer (Margaret Cartwright), and DCC Treasurers. We also recognise the contribution of those who help with: collecting and counting monies, banking and administering Gift Aid. We also express our thanks to Jonathan Hill, and his colleagues from the Lichfield Diocese Finance Department for their expertise and support. The full accounts can be found in Section 5 of this report.

The consolidated accounts show a total income of £139,343 and expenditure of £131,508, giving an excess of income over expenditure of £7,835.

The requested Common Fund for 2024 was paid in full and we are grateful to all those who made this possible through their generous donations. We are

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also thankful for the Special Agreement from Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance to enable St Mary’s to increase their contribution of Common Fund, and for the two month ‘payment holiday’ in recognition of Revd Jo’s role as Acting Archdeacon during the year.

The hard work to improve our financial situation has started to bring about some financial stability but this needs keeping under constant review due to the increased expenditure due to high fuel costs. The cost of living crisis continues to have an impact on our income, as does the loss through death/moving away of some of our regular givers. We continue to seek to improve financial stability though reviewing the use of Gift Aid, cashless giving, income generation, central purchasing, reviewing energy and maintenance providers/contracts, and careful expenditure.

In late 2024, we looked at a legacy policy and in 2025 we will find opportunities for providing information about legacies to congregation members. We will continue to promote the message that the use of money and faithful Christian living go hand in hand.

4. Safeguarding

There have been no safeguarding incidents reported in the parish in 2024.

The Diocese has produced an online Dashboard to help keep track of training and DBS checks, Rev Jo Farnworth and I have been slowly transferring the information over. Once everything has been moved over it will help with reminders about policy review, training dates and DBS checks.

After the awful attack in Southport each church looked at its on security in order to be able to secure parts of the building if necessary.

Thank you to everyone who has completed or renewed their safeguarding training this year. The Safer Recruiting work is ongoing with each church activity and any new helpers.

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).

Hannah Yapp, Parish Safeguarding Officer

5. 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.

6. Reserves Policy

The PCC aims to keep approximately three months running costs in reserves, in the event of a major problem. In 2024 we reviewed our reserves to ensure that they are correctly allocated (ie general funds, designated, restricted). We will be working at developing a strategy to build up reserves where necessary to ensure that they are in line with our reserves policy. An important value is one of mutual support between district churches, so that if one faces a major problem, others will respond with generosity.

7. 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.

8. Volunteers

We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard in many different ways across the parish to provide ministry, enable worship to take place smoothly serve as church officers or as DCC/PCC members, lead/help at the many different activities, care for our buildings and churchyards, providing food and drinks, etc. Thanks also go to those who faithfully serve in unnoticed ways, and who pray for the life of the church.

9. Review of the Year

9.1 Activities:

Monday Food bank drop in – St Leonard’s

Food Bank continues serving the needs of an average of ten people, weekly on a Monday morning. It provides an opportunity for those attending to have a warm place and some social time and being given a warm drink. Those attending also appreciate the chance of being able to chat knowing they are being listened to. There are a group of five volunteers running this activity with a usual two attending each

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week. One of the helpers every week collects the food donations from local supermarkets and delivers it to St. Leonard’s plus other organisations. A huge thanks goes to all who help with this giving care to those in need within our community. As with last year Food Bank is still in great need of more volunteers to help.

Coffee and Company – St Leonard’s

During 2024 we continued Coffee and Company which was held on a Saturday morning and open to all. This was a time where anyone could come to church and have a drink and biscuit. It was popular with a few regular parishioners. It proved popular during the ride and stride event where those who were taking part could have a ‘rest break’ before continuing. Once the idea of holding an afternoon tea was suggested it was decided that Coffee and Company would be merged.

Afternoon Teas – St Leonard’s

This is a new social/fundraising venture which started in October. At the time of writing there had been three afternoon teas. There are five keen and dedicated members of the organising team. One of these is not currently a member of St. Leonard’s, but willingly and kindly gives her time to this venture. This is very appreciated. Tea is a sit down affair with real China plates etc! Sandwiches, minus crusts, are served and followed by cakes, scones and cream. Tea and coffee is served. Also using China pots! There is a very friendly atmosphere and it is great to see people chatting and enjoying a break while being served tea. So far this has been successful with approximately twenty persons at each tea. Tickets are £5.00 each plus a £1.00 if anyone wishes to take part in a raffle. As it is a new venture we are still learning and are working on ensuring we always provide a vegetarian option where needed. We are hoping the teas continue on a bi-monthly basis. A grateful thank you to everyone who voluntarily provides homemade cakes for this

Exercise Class – St Leonard’s

This continues each Wednesday morning with an average of 7-10 people attending.

Baby Babble – St Leonard’s

This group is run by Great Dawley Town Council and they meet on the last Tuesday of each month from approximately 13.00-15.00. The number of families attending averages 15 each month, but there has been as few as four and as many as thirty. Light

refreshments are provided for the children and parents and there is a themed activity at each meeting e.g. Pop up Play Town, Soft Play and Mrs. B’s Storytime.

Trinity Tots – Holy Trinity

Tots is going well. We still get between 15-25 most weeks. We still operate by word of mouth without any advertising. We are still financially self-sufficient.

Tots has become a valuable service to the community for both children and adults alike and is a fine tool for outreach. The adults get as much from these meetings as the children.

As a result....

Some children have now graduated to Messy Church. Some adults still pop in for a cuppa and a chat, after they have taken the children to school.

Some adults are now attending various other church activities.

After some Tots progress to school, we then eventually get any newer younger siblings.

I want to give a big thanks to all who help. Both to any church members and the parents/guardians. Without them, I couldn't do what I do

Helen Pallett

Messy Church – Holy Trinity

We met up 11 times in 2024 taking August off for the summer holidays. We tried to support the families that come to Messy Church with their Christian journey by looking at prayer and encouraging prayer in their daily life and as a craft at Messy Church. We would then acknowledge those prayers during the celebration at Messy Church. We celebrated Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as well as Harvest and Christmas. This year Easter was a little different as we held an All-age Good Friday Service using the Experiencing Easter Stations which some of the families came to and found moving. At the Christmas Messy Church, we made Christingles and any donations from that service we donated to The Children’s Society. The Crib Service was really enjoyed by the Messy Church families that came.

We have sadly seen some families move on as the children have become older and got weekend jobs, but we have had the joy of welcoming families who started at Trinty Tots and wanted to do more in the Church. Along with some families who have moved to the area and were looking for children’s activities linked to a church. Also, some families have started supporting Holy Trinity at the fairs by making cakes for sale and attending. It has been a joy seeing all the

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families that come to Messy Church getting involved with all the crafts (especially the messy ones), singing along to the songs, sometimes getting involved in the story telling and saying the Lord’s prayer together.

I would like to thank everyone who is involved with helping at Messy Church. The welcome that all the families get, ones we know and new ones where it is their first time is a huge part of why they come back because they feel safe, welcome and accepted. Thank you to everyone who braves leading a craft activity whether that involves paint, glitter, glue, colouring in, making things or is food related. Thank you to everyone who helps in the kitchen and always manages to feed everyone no matter the dietary requirements and supply a constant stream of tea and coffee to the parents, grandparents, foster parents and helpers.

Hannah Yapp

All Friends Together / Mothers’ Union – Holy Trinity 2024 was the first year of the Dawley All Friends Together group. Glen continued as

Events Organiser, her Mothers Union role, and as always had worked hard to deliver an interesting and diverse programme for our monthly meetings. Among the year’s items were: Indian dancing and cooking, good fun both afternoons. Scott gave an entertaining talk and there was an interesting item about animals threatened with extinction which was concerned with building gene banks by collecting DNA from endangered animals. There was an article about how to stay safe from scammers and really appreciated was the afternoon with Jassica singing spirituals and soul music. Helen held a coffee and cake fundraiser for the Grail Trust and we enjoyed a game of Bingo and also a Beetle Drive.Our Christmas dinner at the Valley was lovely again and Scott helped us begin our Christmas worship by preparing a very enjoyable Carol service. Numbers at our meetings have grown slightly and it has been good to see new faces, some from other churches in the Parish and some from non-church people. In 2024, the committee stayed as it has been for a long time! Glenis Watkins - Events organizer, Jean Heighway - Treasurer Helen Pallett - Secretary, Barbara Crawforth – Group Leade. In 2025, when we hold our AGM it would be good to have a discussion about our aims for the future now we are no longer “Mothers Union” Barbara Crawforth

Bell Ringers – Holy Trinity

2024 was an excellent year for bell-ringing at Holy Trinity. We currently have 7 new learners plus 2 more who came to the open day at the autumn church fair and have decided to have a go. We have managed to ring for most Sunday services and lately without having to borrow ringers from Coalbrookdale. We also practice on a Monday. Myself and one the ringers have begun doing some long overdue maintenance on the bells themselves.

We are hoping to have the ringing chamber redecorated at some point, and it would be wonderful if some improved form of heating could be looked into, as it gets very cold there in winter.

Simon Rice, Tower captain

Lawley Smallies – St John’s

Our current team of helpers are Cathy Parker (leader), Bill & Eileen Robertson, Carole & Warwick France, Des Pritchard and Jan Williams (when she is available). Lawley Smallies is toddler group which was started in 2013.

Prior to the start of each session the team gather together for short prayers which are led by Cathy and/or Carole. These prayers are generally for the Smallies session ahead and for our team. Sometimes they also include prayers for people and situations concerning members of the team.

On Tuesday mornings in term time we open from 9.30am to 11am. We cater for children from very young babies to when they start primary school. We have, amongst the adults who bring them, parents, grandparents, carers, foster parents and child minders. During the sessions we provide unlimited teas and coffees for the adults and, towards the end of the sessions, drinks and refreshments (usually biscuits) for the children.

Cathy Parker regularly does crafts for the children and they are often joined by some of the adults. We always end the session with some singing which is also normally led by Cathy.

In 2024 we have averaged just over 10 adults and 18 children per session. We are still gradually increasing in numbers since the pandemic. Though the children’s carers are responsible for their children at all times, our team are also very conscious of their responsibilities under the Church Safeguarding Policy.

Eileen Robertson

10

9.2 Dawley CE School

At Dawley C of E Primary Academy we are proud to have strong relationship with our local church and are supported with this by Revd Jo and Revd Scott. This relationship is positive and with the support of both we ensure that our Christian Distinctiveness is embedded in all that we do at Dawley. We are a loving and caring school in a challenging community, but we live out our core values of Love, Peace, Hope and Trust through our daily life and ensure these values are embedded in all that we do. With the support of both Jo and Scott, we successfully achieved a successful SIAMS inspection in January 2025, which clearly showed the caring, peaceful and unique and stated ‘Dawley is living up to its foundation as a Church school and is enabling pupils and adults to flourish’.

Nick Andrews, Principal

9.3 Telford Christians Against Poverty

Having opened in December 2015, Telford CAP will be 10 years old this year. It has to date helped 127 people to be set free from the heavy chains of debt, which equates to almost £1.2 million pounds worth of debt being repaid or written off. In 2024 we have seen 14 clients go debt free and a number of others start a debt management plan. In addition to helping people out of debt, Telford CAP also runs a number of money coaching courses to help people to manage their finances to prevent them getting into debt or to avoid going back into debt. This year we were able, with your help, to provide 50 Christmas food hampers to families at what can be a very difficult time of the year.

In addition to giving thanks for Ann (Debt Centre Manager) and Lizzie (Assistant Manager & Safeguarding Lead) we have been blessed to have Hugh (a recently retired minister who worships at All Saints, Wellington) train to become a volunteer debt coach. Finally, but importantly, the Telford Cap Debt Centre is seeking to become an independent charity in 2025 as it is currently set up under the umbrella of All Saint's Church. Please do pray for the Telford CAP as we seek to continue to support and provide hope to people who face what can feel like an impossible burden.

Revd Scott Edwards

10. Reports from District churchwardens Holy Trinity, Dawley

At the AGM In 2024, Barbara Crawforth, who has been churchwarden for at least ten years, decided it

was time for her to step down and Janet Yapp was elected to replace her. We thanked Barbara at the time for her wonderful, faithful service to Holy Trinity and we would like to acknowledge her again. She will be a hard act to follow (and Jan is glad she is still around to encourage her!) We wish Barbara many happy years to come to church and just feel free to worship and just “be”.

Our DCC work very well together. We enjoy each other’s company, usually finding something to laugh about. As well as getting on with business, of course. Our new DCC secretary is Lynda Chugg. She replaced Janet Yapp. Lynda is very efficient and the minutes are always prepared on time and always make sense.

Everyone at Holy Trinity works so hard and cheerfully. We have had very successful church fairs for Spring Summer and Christmas. The Treasurers report will give the amounts raised. Dawley people, and others from further afield, are always very generous to us. Thank you to all who by their efforts made these things happen. We must just make a mention of Hannah Yapp who dons a fancy dress for the Christmas Fair as Mrs Christmas, We have learned that some of the very young children find the big man with the beard quite scary. Hannah, who is our Messy Church Leader is a welcome face for them and the older children are happy too. Thank you, Hannah!

We now have a list of 15 readers who are willing to read the Bible passages each week. Brenda Dyoss and Hannah Yapp have trained Alison Baines and David Kasl as Eucharistic assistants. They are proving to be an asset to the church by their attitude and commitment and have increased our number of assistants to seven making planning for our communion services much easier. We would like to say than you to Brenda and Hannah for passing on their expertise and also thanks to all our readers and all our Eucharistic assistants for their commitment to Holy Trinity and to the work of the Church for our God and Father.

The flowers in Church always look so lovely. Many thanks to the wonderful and talented ladies who give their time and talents to arrange the flowers so beautifully. Also, they will come into Church at different times of the week to make sure the flowers keep looking special .

Our Trinity Tots group goes from strength to strength. The future is secure…people keep having babies! The biggest thanks goes to Helen Pallett for her tireless commitment to Trinity Tots. She is the mainstay and has a good team to help her. Thank you to all who help to keep the Tots group going

11

Messy Church is also flourishing. Hannah Yapp is the Messy Church Leader and she has a good team to help her with crafts, both tidy and messy and also a good team in the kitchen to keep everyone going with cups of tea or coffee.

The Churchwardens would like to thank everyone who attends Holy Trinity. We all get stuck in and make this church a very happy and blessed place to worship in.

Jan Yapp & Glenis Watkins

St John, Lawley:

We have been blessed this year as we have had more people joining us.

We continue to host services for Easter, Harvest and Christmas with classes from Lawley Primary school.

We are very lucky that we have Rev Jo and Rev Scott and are able to take Communion almost every Sunday despite Jo doing about three jobs! Scott has been doing a series of Bible study in his home for the parish, six people have been there from the parish and it will be starting again in the Spring

At the start of 2024, the DCC was only me Bill and Des (a small but select band). Then I went on holiday and when I got back there were 6 more people on the DCC. It was both surprising and amazing!

The Quinquennial Inspection recommendations, which had dragged on from 2023 to late 2024, have started to get plans. Two jobs have been done, one was cleaning the Church guttering, and the second was repairing the floor at the front of the church by completely removing the rotting chipboard and replacing it with much more substantial plywood flooring.

The Church Hall is still used every weekday and quite a number of weekends too. A new Lawley Rangers group started in September and joins the existing Lawley Guides and the Scouts and Cubs as our main community-based groups. There is some work to be done on the roof inside but that will be done very soon. We had two Fairs in Summer and Christmas and raised £979.74 for the church.

As I said last year, we want to be a Church where everyone really is welcome. I believe that our whole congregation embrace this aspiration. I hope this continues and strengthens us so that more people coming to our Church feel they have become part of a family, and feel like they have come home.

Eileen Robertson

St Leonard, Malinslee:

While reflecting on 2024 in preparation for this report it became obvious it has been a busy year for St. Leonard’s, but also very apparent God has been at work with us and for us. A lot of the ‘busyness’ has taken place behind the scenes and would not have happened without the work, support and encouragement of Rev. Jo and Rev. Scott. We hear it said that church is not just for Sundays, therefore nor are our clergy. Jo and Scott’s ministry needs them to work tirelessly throughout the week. So, on behalf of the congregation of St. Leonard’s we extend heartfelt thanks to Rev. Jo and Rev. Scott for the hard work they do for us all at St. Leonard’s. Sincere thanks go to Chris, our Lay Reader, who has spent another year serving us and St. Leonard’s.

Again, as last year, thanks must be given to those who support St. Leonard’s so regularly with their time and commitment helping to ensure our Sunday services run smoothly and helping with fundraising. Again, a lot of this work is done ‘behind the scenes’.

We continue our Eucharists each Sunday while the first Sunday of the month is dedicated to Family Worship with Holy Communion. Where there are five Sundays in a month the last Sunday continues to be a united service rotated between the four churches within the Central Telford Parish. Congregation numbers are slightly lower than last year with between twenty five to thirty people each Sunday and we still have children attending! It is a positive

12

too to see our congregation is made up of regular and committed members. It is also encouraging to see, that during the year, the numbers of those who may only attend an isolated service has increased.

Chris Prescott and Lorraine Granger

St Mary, Ketley:

We at St. Mary’s wish to begin our report by thanking Rev. Jo and Rev. Scot for their hard work during the year, and for making sure we have a service every Sunday morning, particularly Jo who has had to fit her Acting Archdeacon duties in too. Also, the Lay ministers who have been involved in co-leading services alongside the Vicars. Many thanks to them.

We were pleased to have the children from Meadows school in church for Easter experience. As always, they took interest in the service and did their school proud. a total of 55 attended.

A service of Stations of the Cross took place at Holy Trinity during Holy week and members of St. Marys attended.

Ecumenical Prayer Group used St. Mary’s for quiet mornings twice during the year.

Ascension Day service this year took place at St. John’s Church, Lawley, Members of St. Mary’s attended.

Ride and Stride took place in September, some are regular visitors, it’s nice to meet those we have not met before, and show them around, they always comment how lovely and welcoming the church is.

Harvest Festival service took place, all produce was donated to the Dawley food bank. Many thanks to those who donated food.

10th November Remembrance service took place, starting at the memorial outside. Parish Councillors, and local parishioners laid wreaths. Some passers-by stopped and joined in, the service continued back in church.

Sadly, the children from the Meadows School were unable to attend church for their annual Xmas Experience, as there was not enough assistants available to bring them safely to the church. Thank you to those who came to take part in the event, set it all up and then unfortunately we had to take it all down again, so we made the most of it and had a nice cuppa and a chat.

Our annual Carol Service was well attended. Many thanks to Hugh Richards for playing the organ for us. The Crib service took place on the 23rd December. Sadly, fewer than previous years attended.

Christmas Eve service took place at 9:30pm this year, (first time we have held the service at that time.) Jo and Scott did an amazing job of dealing with the difficulty of ensuring all four churches were able to hold their Christmas Eve service. Many thanks to Kevin Hood for playing the organ for us.

As always, we thank everyone for the support Ann and I have received during the year as church wardens, especially those who make tea after the services, and help keep our church clean and tidy.

Fund Raising Events: Feb. Valentines theme / fish and chips. March. Easter Egg Raffle. April. Judy’s open house. Fish and chip/Bingo. July. Strawberry tea. August. Fish and Chip/bingo. Doreen’s Garden Party. Sept. Judy’s open house. Oct. Harvest Supper with Bingo. Nov. Fish and Chip / Bingo

Ann Broadhurst and Doreen Dyson.

11. Structure and Governance

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 2nd January 1957, and the Church Representation Rules (contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 as amended).

The Parochial Church Council (PCC is the governing body for the Parish. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules and the Parish Scheme. The Council comprises the Incumbent, the Churchwardens, 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 also retains responsibility for the churchyards of St James’ Church, Stirchley (church building now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust) and St Luke’s, Doseley (church building now in private ownership), and St John’s Church Hall.

The PCC met six times during 2024. The agendas included:

Inclusive Church: all four churches have agreed to join the network and await final approval

13

Living in Love and Faith: Revd Jo and Revd Scott confirmed their wish to use the authorised prayers Use of Contactless giving Policies – existing policies have been reviewed and additional policies have been agreed Shaping for Mission Planning of services and events Season of Creation

There are four District Church Councils (DCCs), one for each District centred on the churches of the Parish. All the DCCs met regularly during 2024.

There were 135 names on the electoral roll at the time of the 2024 Annual Meeting

Deanery Synod Reps: Chris Hicks, Jean Heighway, Mary Richards (also Churchwarden)

Nominated Members

Doreen Dyson (St Mary, District Warden); Ann Broadhurst (St Mary, District Warden), Jan Yapp (Holy Trinity, District Warden), Lorraine Granger (St Leonard, District Warden), Eileen Robertson (St John, District Warden), Hannah Yapp (Holy Trinity)

Co-opted Members

Margaret Cartwright

PCC Treasurer: Margaret Cartwright PCC Secretary: Lorraine Granger Parish Safeguarding Officer: Hannah Yapp

12. Reference and Administrative details

The Central Telford Parish is part of the Diocese of Lichfield within the Church of England. The correspondence address is: The Vicarage, Church Road, Dawley, Telford, TF4 2AS. The Parochial Church Council of Central Telford is a Registered Charity No: 1140301.

The churches of the Parish are: Holy Trinity Church, Dawley: Old Vicarage Road, Dawley, Telford, TF4 3NH

St John’s Church, Lawley: Dawley Road, Lawley, Telford, TF4 2PD

St Leonard’s Church, Malinslee: Brunel Road, Telford, TF4 2DS

St Mary’s Church, Ketley: Shepherd’s Lane, Red Lake, Ketley Telford TF1 5EG

The PCC also retains responsibility for the closed churchyards of St James’ Church, Stirchley (church building now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust) and St Luke’s, Doseley (church building now in private ownership), and St John’s Church Hall.

Members of the PCC in 2024, and other officers of the Parish:

PCC members who have served from 1[st] January 2024 until the date this report was approved were:

Ex Officio Members

Incumbent: Revd Prebendary Joanna Farnworth (Chair)

Team Vicar: Revd Scott Edwards Reader: Chris Prescott Churchwardens: Doreen Dyson and Mary Richards (also Deanery Synod rep)

District Church Officers,

District Wardens: Ann Broadhurst (St Mary), Doreen Dyson (St Mary), Lorraine Granger (St Leonard), Chris Prescott (St Leonard), Eileen Robertson (St John), Glenis Watkins (Holy Trinity), Jan Yapp (Holy Trinity), District Treasurers: Roger Farnworth (St Leonard), Alison Baines (Holy Trinity), Brian Richards (St Mary), Bill Robertson (St John)

13. Names and addresses of advisers

Quinquennial Architect: Geraint Roberts Associates, 2 Maes Derw, Llanfechain SY22 6XN

Banks: Lloyds Bank, Telford; TSB, Wellington

Independent Examiner: Stephen Hendy, Data Developments (UK) Ltd, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT

Approved by the PCC on

…………………………. 2025 and signed on its behalf by: 17th April

…………………………………. Revd Preb Jo Farnworth (Chair)

………………………………… Margaret Cartwright (Treasurer)

14

Section 2: Parish Mission Plan ¥￿>000 Good Communlcation a)JnosaJ Aiqeui&soS £Co£ 15

Section 3: Shaping for Mission: Strategic Framework 2024-2030

16

Section 4: Independent Examiner’s Report

Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees/members of The PCC of Central Telford

Registered charity number: 1140301

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 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 independent 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: 10[th] April 2025 Data Developments (UK) Ltd Fryer Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1HT

17

Section 5: Financial Statements

Parochial Church Council of Central Telford Parish Statement of Financial Activities For the period from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024

Receipts
Donations and legacies
Income from charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other income
Total income
Payments
Raising funds
Expenditure on charitable activities
Other expenditure
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure) resources before
transfer
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
Other recognised gains / losses
Gains / losses on investment assets
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Represented by
Unrestricted
General fund
Designated
CBF Deposits - Inactive
CBF deposit account
CTP Parish Share Squirrel Fund
Compassion Designated Fund - St J
Easy Access Account
Sheila Kemp Legacy Designated Fund - St J
St John's Church Building Fund
Restricted
Agency collection
Anonymous Restricted Legacy - St J
Barbara Mason Graves Restrict Legacy - St J
Barbara Mason Roof Restricted Legacy - St J
Betsy's Legacy Restricted Fund (Holy Trinity)
Book Sacks Restricted Fund - St J
Carpet/Lighting
Children Work (formerly SaFE)
Christian Aid Restricted Fund (Holy Trinity)
Churchyard Maintenance Restricted Fund
Food Bank Restricted Fund (Holy Trinity)
Hall Refurbishment Restricted – St J
Heating System Restricted - St Leonard
Interior Decorating Scheme -IDCENT011
LDBF Church Bldg Fund
Leonard Bryce Smith Restricted Fund - St J
Organ Restricted Fund - St Mary
Restricted Fund
Special Projects fund
St Johns - Buildings Special Fund – Inactive
Welcome Spaces Restricted - St Leonard		 70,658
—
17,499
—
88,158
83,671
38,991
0
560
—
39,551
41,019
—
—
—
—
—
475
1,661
3,787
391
—
5,839
6,532
1,665
—
4,130
—
5,795
—
112,976
3,787
22,581
—
139,343
131,696
382
—
—
—
382
105
112,927
—
18,130
—
131,057
119,728
—
—
69
—
69
182
113,308
—
18,200
—
131,508
120,015
(332)
3,787
4,381
—
7,836
11,681
105,652
28,353
220,602
—
354,607
31,106
(133,311)
(51,160)
(170,135)
—
(354,607)
(31,106)
(56)
—
—
—
(56)
836
(27,744)
54,848
54,848
—
7,780
12,517
121,164
24,075
69,822
—
215,061
202,544
93,420
5,054
124,670
—
222,840
215,061
93,116
—
—
—
93,116
121,164
—
—
—
—
—
2,116
—
—
—
—
—
21,723
—
234
—
—
234
234
—
97
—
—
97
—
—
—
—
—
—
2
—
937
—
—
937
—
—
3,787
—
—
3,787
—
—
—
40
—
40
—
—
—
2,200
—
2,200
—
—
—
500
—
500
—
—
—
30,000
—
30,000
—
—
—
10,850
—
10,850
—
—
—
410
—
410
—
—
—
1,000
—
1,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2407
35
110
54
—
—
—
—
2407
35
110
54
10
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2,527
(2,443)
—
—
2,527
(2,443)
—
—
—
—
—
—
4,130
800
—
—
4,130
800
—
—
—
—
66,742
—
66,742
—
—
—
592
—
592
—
—
—
60
—
60
25,412
—
—
4,224
—
4,224
4,224
—
—
—
—
—
431
—
—
—
431
40,176
—

18

Parochial Church Council of Central Telford Parish Balance Sheet for the year ended 31[st] December 2024

Total funds Prior year funds

Fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due in one year
Net current assets less current liabilities
Total assets less current liabilities
Total net assets less liabilities
Represented by
Unrestricted
General fund
Designated
CTP Parish Share Squirrel Fund
St John's Church Building Fund
Compassion Designated Fund - St J
Easy Access Account
CBF Deposits - Inactive
CBF deposit account
Sheila Kemp Legacy Designated Fund - St J
Restricted
Anonymous Restricted Legacy - St J
Churchyard Maintenance Restricted
Food Bank Restricted Fund (Holy Trinity)
Hall Refurbishment Restricted - St J
Heating System Restricted - St Leonard
Interior Decorating Scheme -IDCENT011
Leonard Bryce Smith Restricted Fund - St J
Agency collection
Organ Restricted Fund - St Mary
LDBF Church Bldg Fund
Restricted Fund
St Johns - Buildings Special Fund - Inactive
Special Projects fund
Welcome Spaces Restricted - St Leonard
Revaluation reserves
Barbara Mason Graves Restricted Legacy - St J
Barbara Mason Roof Restricted Legacy - St J
Betsy's Legacy Restricted Fund (Holy
Book Sacks Restricted Fund - St J
Christian Aid
Carpet/Lighting
Children Work (formerly SaFE)
Christian Aid Restricted Fund (Holy
Funds of the church		 2,092
2,148
2,092
2,148
221,402
214,474
221,402
214,474
654
1,562
654
1,562
220,748
212,912
222,840
215,061
222,840
215,061
93,116
121,164
234
3,787
234
—
97
—
—
2
—
2,116
—
21,723
937
—
2,200
110
54
2,527
(2,443)
4,130
—
—
—
—
—
—
66,742
—
40
—
592
800
—
—
60
25,412
—
40,176
4,224
431
4,224
—
—
—
500
—
30,000
10,850
—
—
410
—
—
1,000
—
—
2,407
10
35
—
222,840
215,061

Approved by the PCC on ……………………… 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

…………………………………………………… ………………………………………….. Reverend Prebendary Joanna Farnworth (Chair) Margaret Cartwright (Treasurer)

19

Parochial Church Council of Central Telford Parish

Notes to accompany the financial statements

for the year ended 31 December 2024

Notes to the Accounts

The PCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCCs, and with the Regulations' "true and fair view" provisions. They have also been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102).

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. They do include the transactions, assets etc. of each of the four churches, which make up the single parish of Central Telford. The names of those churches are listed elsewhere within this document.

The Parochial Church Council of the Central Telford Parish has approved the format and layout of these accounts. The PCC is made up of representatives of all the member churches.

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

Cashflow Statement

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

Going Concern

There are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The parish paid the requested amount of Common Fund for 2024 in full.

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.

Funds

Unrestricted funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the Council. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.

Restricted funds comprise of two elements:

a) income from trusts or endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust or bequest

b) donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the PCC for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. The PCC does not usually invest separately for each fund. Where there is no separate investment, interest is apportioned to individual funds on an average balance basis.

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2024 2023
Central Accounts £42,406 £39,820
HolyTrinity £31,786 £29,995
St Johns £131,748 £132,768
St Leonards £9,694 £8,450
St Marys £5,768 £3,441
Total £221,402 £214,474

Team Consolidation: The accounts also show a total income of £139,343 (2023: £131,696) and a total expenditure of £131,508 (2023: £120,015). Giving a surplus for the year, before revaluation of investments, of £7,835, (2023: £11,681).

Church Name INCOME EXPENDITURE
Central Accounts £23,809 £20,398
HolyTrinity £35,018 £33,228
St Johns £27,400 £28,419
St Leonards £38,247 £36,921
St Marys £14,869 £12,542
TOTALS £139,343 £131,508
Difference £7,836
Gain/Loss on investment asset (£56)
B/F frompreviousyear £215,061
Carried forward £222,840

Incoming Resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy and there is certainty of receipt.

Voluntary Income and capital sources

Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC.

Planned giving receivable under Gift Aid is recognised only when received. Income Tax recoverable on Gift Aid donations is recognised when the income is received.

Grants and Legacies to the PCC are accounted for as soon as the PCC is notified of its legal entitlement and the amount due.

Funds raised from fetes, fairs and similar events and the sale of books and magazines are accounted for gross.

Other ordinary income

Rental income from the letting of Church premises is recognised when the rental is received.

Income from Investments

Dividends and interest are accounted for when receivable.

Gains and losses on investments.

Realised gains and losses are recognised when investments are sold. Unrealised gains or losses are accounted for on revaluation of investments at 31 December.

21

Resources Used

Expenditure is included on the accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the SOFA category. Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is conveyed to the recipient except in those cases where the offer is conditional on the recipient satisfying performance or other discretionary requirements to the satisfaction of the Board. Grant offered subject to such conditions, which have not been met at the year-end, would be noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure.

Grants

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded if that award creates a binding obligation on the PCC.

Activities directly relating to the work of the Church

Common Fund is accounted for when payable. Any Common Fund unpaid at 31st December is provided for in these accounts as an operational (though not a legal) liability and shown as a creditor in the balance sheet. Common Fund was paid in full in 2024.

Fixed Assets

Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts by s.10 (2)(a)&(C) of the Charities Act 2011. No value is placed on movable Church furnishings held by the Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal since they are inalienable property.

All expenditure incurred during the year on consecrated or benefice buildings and movable church furnishings, whether maintenance or improvement, is written off as expenditure within the Statement of Financial Activities and separately disclosed.

The Parish has overall responsibility for one other building, the Church Hall at St John’s Lawley. The hall at St. John’s is run and maintained by the District Church Council at the church and was valued at £216,000. It is in a good state of repair as it has been recently refurbished. This value is below expected market value.

Investments

Investments are valued at market value at 31 December 2024 £2,092 (2023 £2,148), and held within Hill & Smith Holdings Plc

Current assets

Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December in respect of fees or other income are shown as debtors less provision for any amounts that may prove uncollectible. No such amounts are due for 2024.

Short-term deposits include cash held on deposit either with the CBF Church of England Funds or at the Bank or Building Society. At present monies are held in a deposit account with the Central Board of Finance by three District churches as well as an amount held centrally.

Investments are held as a part of the Central Accounts. These include shares in Hill & Smith PLC. Details of this are held centrally.

All dividends and interest received on these investments are included in the accounts under the heading of “Investment Income”.

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.

22

Parochial Church Council of Central Telford Parish Analysis of income and expenditure Selected period: 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and Legacies
Gift Aid Envelopes/Donations
Direct Giving Envelopes - non gift aid
Payments received from other CTP
accts
Plate Collections
Sundry Donations
Donations appeals etc
Recoverable Income Tax
Legacies
Grants
Non-recurring one-off grants
Other funds generated
Other Income
VAT and other refunds
Total
Income from charitable activities
Other funds generated
Fees received
PCC local fees
Gross income from fund raising
Special Appeals gross fundraising
income
Christian Aid income
Special Restricted Projects income
Children and young people
Church Hall lettings and rent
Total
Other trading activities
Sale of items
Total
Investments
Bank/Building Society Interest
Dividends & Trust Income
Total		 Total
Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
This year
Last year
34,296
—
1,000
—
35,296
32,858
8,381
—
—
—
8,381
7,756
—
—
—
—
—
—
9,110
—
—
—
9,110
7,434
2,745
—
2,602
—
5,347
3,077
150
—
—
—
150
383
15,796
—
—
—
15,796
22,557
—
—
—
—
—
5,000
180
—
1,700
—
1,880
1,700
—
—
12,197
—
12,197
2,750
—
—
—
—
—
45
1,395
270
—
—
4,130
—
—
—
5,525
270
110
—
72,323
—
21,629
—
93,953
83,671
8
15,980
—
—
—
40
—
—
8
16,020
—
19,021
1,350
—
—
—
1,350
1,175
10,614
—
—
—
10,614
9,748
1,458
—
—
—
1,458
1,922
130
—
10
—
140
60
—
—
500
—
500
17
—
—
10
—
10
190
9,451
—
—
—
9,451
8,886
38,991
—
560
—
39,551
41,019
—
—
—
—
—
475
—
475
1,644
3,787
391
—
5,823
6,517
17
—
—
—
17
15
1,661
3,787
391
—
5,839
6,532
INCOME TOTAL 112,976
3,787
22,581
—
139,343
131,488
EXPENDITURE
Raising funds
Bank Charges
Total		 102
—
—
—
102
105
102
—
—
—
102
105

23

Parochial Church Council of Central Telford Parish Analysis of income and expenditure (continued) Selected period: 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024

Expenditure on charitable activities

Christian Aid donations
Ministry Common Fund etc
Donations/Gifts
Payments made to other CTP accts
Training
Other working expenses
Fees paid to the Diocese
Housing costs / Rents
Clergy Working Expenses
External Clergy Expenses
Lay Parish Working Expenses
Quinquennial inspections
Payment of parish share to the
Diocese
Running cost (inc Gas,Water,Electric)
Repairs/replacements/new items
Church Maintenance
Church Hall costs
Churchyard maintenance
Insurance
Flowers
Children and Young People
Church items purchased
Costs of fund raising
Printing / Copying / Publicity
Audit Fees
Licence Fees
New Building or other major works
Other Payments
Church major repairs – structure
Church major repairs
Total
Other expenditure
Special projects payments as
required
Total		 158
—
—
—
158
200
60,166
—
—
—
60,166
—
2,733
—
—
—
2,733
2,875
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
204
—
723
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
723
1,446
95
—
—
—
95
322
2,893
—
—
—
2,893
2,981
—
—
—
—
—
95
—
—
—
—
—
22
1,150
—
—
—
1,150
1,524
—
—
—
—
—
65,452
17,976
—
—
—
17,976
22,116
6,519
—
1,400
—
7,919
1,053
1,212
—
—
—
1,212
1,284
3,893
—
—
—
3,893
4,428
1,124
—
1,590
—
2,714
2,848
10,357
—
—
—
10,357
9,735
190
—
—
—
190
98
724
—
—
—
724
651
441
—
—
—
441
249
356
—
—
—
356
820
180
—
—
—
180
255
595
—
—
—
595
500
946
—
—
—
946
534
—
—
—
—
—
—
125
—
—
—
125
37
648
—
—
—
—
15,140
—
—
648
15,140
—
—
112,927
—
18,130
—
131,057
119,728
—
—
69
—
69
182
—
—
69
—
69
182
EXPENDITURE TOTAL —
—
—
—
—
120,015
GRAND TOTAL 113,308
—
18,200
—
131,508
120,015
Analysis of Assets – 2024 General Designated
Restricted Endowment
Thisyear
Lastyear
Fixed assets - Investments
Hill & Smith Holdings Plc -
Totals
Current assets - Cash at bank and in hand
Bank current account -
Interior Decorating Scheme -IDCENT011
LDBF Church Bldg Fund QFDAWL011
LDBF Church Bldg Fund QFKETL011
LDBF Church Bldg Fund QFLAWL011
LDBF Church Bldg Fund QFMALI011
Bank deposit account -
CBF deposit account -
Compassion bank account -
Bank current account -
Totals
Liabilities - Agency accounts
Agency collections -
Totals
Grand total		 2,092
—
—
—
2,092
2,148
2,092
—
—
—
2,092
2,148
48,085
234
6,781
—
55,099
61,226
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
4,380
200
200
200
200
—
—
—
—
—
4,380
200
200
200
200
—
—
—
—
—
2,558
—
—
—
2,558
2,528
35,450
4,724
112,770
—
152,944
147,183
(44)
97
—
—
53
97
4,975
—
592
—
5,568
3,441
91,024
5,054
125,324
—
221,402
214,474
—
—
654
—
654
1,562
—
—
654
—
654
1,562
93,116
5,054
124,670
—
222,840
**215,061 **

24

Parochial Church Council of Central Telford

Fund movement summary

Selected period: 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024

Opening
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers Gains/losses
Closing
Anon Res - Anonymous Restricted
Restricted
Sub-total for Anon Res
Barbara M - Barbara Mason Graves
Restricted
Restricted
Sub-total for Barbara M
Betsy's Le
Restricted
Sub-total for Betsy's Le
Book Sacks - Book Sacks Restricte
Restricted
Sub-total for Book Sacks
CTPShare - CTP Parish Share Squ
Designated
Sub-total for CTPShare
Carpet/Lig
Designated
Sub-total for CTPShare
Children - Children Work (forme
Restricted
Sub-total for Children
Christian
Restricted
Sub-total for Christian
Church Bui
Designated
Sub-total forChurch Bui
Churchyard
Restricted
Sub-total for Churchyard
Compassion - Compassion Designate
Designated
Sub-total for Compassion
EAA - Easy Access Account
Designated
Sub-total for EAA
Food Bank
Restricted
Sub-total for EAA
General - General fund
Unrestricted
Sub-total for General
Hall Refur - Hall Refurbishment R
Restricted
Sub-total for Hall Refur
Heating - Heating Restricted F
Restricted
Restricted
Sub-total for Heating
IDS - IDCE - Interior Decorating
Restricted
Sub-total for IDS - IDCE		 —
—
—
2,200
—
2,200
—
—
—
2,200
—
2,200
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
500
—
500
—
—
—
30,000
—
30,000
—
—
—
30,500
—
30,500
—
391
—
10,459
—
10,850
—
391
—
10,459
—
10,850
—
—
—
410
—
410
—
—
—
410
—
410
234
—
—
—
—
234
234
—
—
—
—
234
—
1,000
—
—
—
1,000
—
1,000
—
—
—
1,000
10
70
—
2,327
—
2,407
10
70
—
2,327
—
2,407
—
10
—
25
—
35
—
10
—
25
—
35
—
3,787
—
—
—
3,787
—
3,787
—
—
—
3,787
—
1,700
1,590
—
—
110
—
1,700
1,500
—
—
110
—
—
—
97
—
97
—
—
—
97
—
97
2
—
—
(2)
—
—
2
—
—
(2)
—
—
—
—
—
54
—
54
—
—
—
54
—
54
121,164
112,976
113,004
(27,659)
(56)
93,116
121,164
112,976
113,004
(27,659)
(56)
93,420
—
—
—
2,527
—
2,527
—
—
—
2,527
—
2,527
—
—
500
12,697
500
15,140
—
—
—
—
—
(2,443)
—
13,197
15,640
—
—
(2,443)
—
4,130
—
—
—
4,130
—
4,130
—
—
—
4,130

25

LDBF - CBF Deposits - Inact
Designated – St J
Designated - HT
Sub-total for LDBF
Leonard BS - Leonard Bryce Smith
Restricted
Sub-total for Leonard BS
None
Restricted
Sub-total for None
Organ
Restricted
Sub-total for Organ
QFDAWL011
Restricted
Sub-total for QFDAWL011
QFKETL011
Restricted
Sub-total for QFKETL011
QFMALI011
Restricted
Sub-total for QFMALI011
QFLAWL011
Restricted
Sub-total for QFLAWL011
Restr - Restricted Fund
Restricted (PCC)
Sub-total for Restr
Sheila Kem - Sheila Kemp Legacy D
Designated
Sub-total for Sheila Kem
Spec-BLDG - St Johns - Buildings
Restricted
Sub-total for Spec-BLDG
Special - Special Projects fun
Restricted
Sub-total for Special
Special - Special Projects fun
Restricted
Sub-total for Special
Special - Welcome
Restricted
Sub-total for Welcome
Grand total		 2,116
—
—
(2,116)
—
—
21,723
—
—
(21,723)
—
—
23,839
—
—
(23,839)
—
—
—
—
—
66,742
—
66,742
—
—
—
66,742
—
66,742
—
40
—
—
—
—
—
40
—
—
—
—
—
1,492
900
—
—
592
—
1,492
900
—
—
592
—
—
—
200
—
200
—
—
—
200
—
200
—
—
—
200
—
200
—
—
—
200
—
592
—
—
—
200
—
200
—
—
—
200
—
592
—
—
—
200
—
200
—
—
—
200
—
200
25,412
50
—
(25,402)
—
60
25,412
50
—
(25,402)
—
60
—
—
—
937
—
937
—
—
—
937
—
937
40,176
—
—
(40,176)
—
—
40,176
—
—
(40,176)
—
—
4,224
—
—
—
—
4,224
4,224
—
—
—
—
4,224
4,224
—
—
—
—
4,224
4,224
—
—
—
—
4,224
—
500
69
—
—
431
—
500
69
—
—
431
215,061
139,343
131,508
—
(56)
222.840

26

Fund Description Designated Funds

Restricted Funds

Transfers between funds 2024

2023

27

Parochial Church Council of Central Telford Parish Fund movement summary Selected period: 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024

Allocation of Support Costs

Support costs comprise Trustee Training and Governance Costs etc. Due to the nature of the financial activities of the PCC, these would be allocated across Charitable Expenditure which comprises the majority of its expenditure and as such are automatically charged there.

Staff costs

2024 2023
Wages & Salaries £- £-
Average no. of employees 0 0

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

Trustees’ Expenses

2 trustees were paid £1,852 in respect of reimbursement of travel and phone expenses during the year (2023: 3 trustees paid £1,688) .

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 £6,881 for the year 2024 (£10,138 for the year 2023). This is the total of all giving/donations made by PCC members who served during the year ie includes planned/regular giving as well as any one-off donations.

Fees for the examination of the accounts

2024 2023
Independent Examiner’s
fees		 £595 £500
Other fees (eg
accountancy services)
paid to the Independent
Examiner		 £ - £ -

Creditors due within one year

Creditors due within one year
2024
£		 2023
£
Agency (restricted) 654 1,562
Total Creditors 654 1,562

28

Parochial Church Council of Central Telford Parish Fund movement summary Selected period: 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023

Prior Year Comparative Reports

Statement of Financial Activities – 2023

Unrestricted Designated
Restricted Endowment
Total
Prior year
funds
funds
funds
funds
funds
total funds
Receipts
Donations and legacies
Income from charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other income
Total income
Payments
Raising funds
Expenditure on charitable activities
Other expenditure
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure) resources before
transfer
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
Other recognised gains / losses
Gains / losses on investment assets
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 83,571
—
100
—
83,671
79,631
40,932
—
87
—
41,019
45,889
475
—
—
—
475
—
5,577
955
—
—
6,532
72,205
—
—
—
—
—
845
130,554
955
187
—
131,696
198,569
105
—
—
—
105
147
119,728
—
—
—
119,728
138,448
—
—
—
—
182
—
—
—
—
—
120,015
138,595
10,540
955
187
—
11,681
59,974
30,925
100
81
—
31,106
500
(181)
(21,271)
(9,655)
—
(31,106)
(500)
836
—
—
—
836
(699)
42,119
(21,216)
(9,387)
—
12,517
59,275
79,044
44,290
79,209
—
202,544
143,263
121,164
24,075
69,822
—
215,061
202,544

Analysis of Assets – 2023

General Designated
Restricted Endowment
Thisyear
Lastyear
Fixed assets - Investments
Hill & Smith Holdings Plc -
Totals
Current assets - Cash at bank and in hand
Bank current account -
Bank deposit account -
CBF deposit account -
CTP Share account -
Compassion bank account -
Easy Access Account -
Totals
Liabilities – Creditors Due in One Year
CBF deposit account -
Totals
Liabilities - Agency accounts
Agency collections -
Totals
Grand total		 2,148
—
—
—
2,148
1,313
2,148
—
—
—
2,148
1,313
164,861
(26,845)
(73,349)
—
64,667
60,856
(1,752)
—
4,280
—
2,528
8,762
(44,310)
51,039
140,453
—
147,183
140,725
—
—
—
—
—
232
97
—
—
—
97
193
119
(119)
—
—
—
—
119,015
24,075
71,384
—
214,474
210,768
—
—
—
—
—
3,532
—
—
—
—
—
3,532
—
—
1,562
—
1,562
6,005
—
—
1,562
—
1,562
6,005
121,164
24,075
69,822
—
215,061
202,544

29

Fund Movement Summary - 2023

CTPShare - CTP Parish Share Squ
Designated
Sub-total for CTPShare
Children - Children Work (forme
Restricted
Sub-total for Children
EAA - Easy Access Account
Designated
Sub-total for EAA
General - General fund
Unrestricted
Sub-total for General
LDBF - CBF Deposits
Designated – St J
Designated - HT
Sub-total for LDBF
Restr - Restricted Fund
Restricted (PCC)
Sub-total for Restr
Spec-BLDG - St Johns - Buildings
Restricted
Sub-total for Spec-BLDG
ZReval – Revaluation reserves
Restricted (Dawley)
Sub-total for Restr
Lewis – Nellie Lewis
Restricted (Dawley)
Sub-total for Spec-BLDG
Special - Special Projects fun
Restricted
Sub-total for Special
Grand total		 Opening
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers Gains/losses
Closing
232
2
—
—
—
234
232
2
—
—
—
10
—
—
—
—
10
10
—
—
—
—
10
2
—
—
—
—
2
2
—
—
—
—
2
79,044
130,554
120,015
30,744
836
121,164
79,044
130,554
120,015
30,744
836
121,164
2,116
—
—
—
—
2,116
41,941
953
—
(21,171)
—
21,723
44,057
953
—
(21,171)
—
23,839
25,242
170
—
—
—
25,412
25,242
170
—
—
—
25,412
40,176
—
—
—
—
40,176
40,176
—
—
—
—
40,176
(81)
—
—
81
—
—
(81)
—
—
81
—
—
81
—
—
(81)
—
—
81
—
—
(81)
—
—
13,781
17
—
(9,574)
—
4,224
13,781
17
—
(9,574)
—
4,224
202,544
131,696
120,015
—
836
215,061

30