StE SEA MILLS yths COOMBE DINGLE THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST EDYTH'S known as St Edyth's Church, Sea Mills ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER 2024 Charity Number 1141128 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Contents Pages Trustees, Annual Report Reference and Administrative Information Independent Examiner's Report Receipts and Payments Account io Statement of Assets and Liabilities li TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT Objectives, Values and Activities Objettives Our objective5 as followers of Jesus at St Edyth's are to invite others and urge ourselves on to: Belong- to the Way of Jesus BelSeve- in the Truth of Jesus Become- filled with the Life of Jesus As a church community, our calling to be the Body of Christ in this place means that, following a vision planning process in 2024, we are now walking forward together with.. A renewed attitude to receive newcomers as precious in God's eyes- actions focus on our welcome process, accessibility and community engagement. A renewed boldness to share our faith with others in the power of the Spirit and under the authority of God's Word- actions focus on new and existi ng outreach, teaching and training. A renewed commitment to whole-life discipleship that impacts every part of our daily lives actions focus on small groups, prayer and learni ng alongside each other. Values Our key values, which help describe how we turn plans into action are.. Loving all, above all, despite our differences Offering generous hospitality Being a place of sanctuary for the lost, lonely and broken Having our roots deep in the Word of God Being empowered by the Holy Spirit Giving prayer a top priority Being authentic in our relationship with God and each other. Activities Church Services We have a regular pattern of Sunday services which play a key part in achieving our objertives outlined above. The Early Service (8.45am)- alternates between communion Isatl usually led by the vicar, and Word, Worship and Prayer- usually led by lay members of the congregation. On average, 8-10 people attend. The Main Service {10.30amJ- also alternate5 between Holy Communion and Morning Worship. The fourth Sunday is an All Together Service, and this is often followed by a church family meal. On average, 55-65 people attend this service. TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT Deeper (5pmJ- an informal joint service on the first Sunday of the month with St Andrew's Avonmouth and St Peter'5 Laurence Weston Isome of our partners in Avonside Mission Areal. This alternates location and leading between St Edyth's and St Andrew's. Tuesduys (IOaml- Holy Communion service. On average 14 people attend. In Autumn 2024, a conversation began about a change to this service, which would incorporate a Life (Bible study) Group. Staff Teom (poidj This primarily consists of our Parish Administrator (Katharine Wiltshirel and our Children and Families Minister ljemima Downing) who was appointed during the year and started work in early July 2024. Jemima has made an excellent start in her role and is developing our ministry to children and their families in exciting new ways. Our Sunday provision for children is now called The Lighthouse Club and has on average 7-8 children. Our toddlers group, Seedlings, is thriving and Jemima has taken various initiatives to help children feel welcomed and accepted at St Edyth's, as well as enEaEing with them beyond our walls. We a150 have a paid cleaner for a few hours per week, who has taken on the cleaning of the church in addition to that of the church hall premises and we are grateful to the small team of church members who cleaned the church so willingly over many years before that. Leadership Teom (voluntary or placement role5J We continue to benefit from the ministry of our Permission to Officiate retired minister (Hartmut Kopschl and our Licensed Lay Minister IElizabeth Fry). We are also blessed by a large number of the congregation in leadership roles. Strategic direction is initiated by the 'Standing Committee, (which comprises the Vicar, Treasurer and Churchwardenl, which presents its proposals to the Parochial Church Council for consideration. We miss having two wardens and acknowledge our gratitude to Heather Daw who stood down at the APCM in April 2024. Our worship in music has been developing over the last year or so. and Neil Thomas who carries the leadership of this ministry has been assisted by a number of musicians and singers in leading our worship on Sundays and at other times. Nearly twenty members of the congregation helped to lead the singing at our Carol Service. A number of individuals lead our home/house groups, which are now renamed Life Groups, to reflect our core objectives, as they are groups to help people become full of the Life of jesus. Most groups are flourishing, despite some setbacks due to ill-health or injury. Following a Vision Day in March 2024, and subsequent planning and prayer by working parties, three members of the PCC led us in preparing vision plans for Belong, Believe and Become, which were presented at our Vision Action Day in September 2024 and have been preached on in that term. These groups are tontinuing to meet for prayer, planning and leading us further on in these objettives. New signage has been designed and rolled out across our publicity and website to reflect these objectives. We are grateful for the work of the Fabric Team, at a time when there are Significant and expensive issues to address regarding weather proofing our building. As ever, we are helped enormously by the time and effort of Barrie Haven in numerous practical ways. TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT We are extremely grateful for our Hospitality Team, led by Barbara Hewer, and acknowledge what a strength this brings to our community. It is through them that we are able to help people feel truly welcomed. Following the ordination of our previous ordinand (Graham Baker), we have been delighted to welcome two new ordinands on placement with us from Trinity College- Archie Torbett and Steffanie Nantes. We are enjoying the different contributions they bring to our community. Implementation of Objectives Belong We have introduced a new Welcome Pack, a term card and other materials, and are growing an enlarged Welcome Team, with different responsibilities to enable newcomers to be made as welcome as they would like to be. We are reviewing new ways to help people have a real sense of belonging and of entering a place that is safe and a real sanctuary for those who need that. Belleve Alongside the Alpha course which is beginning in the Spring term 2025, we are encouraging prayer for revival, for our community and for our outreach in the broadest sense. We are looking ahead to our centenary in 2028 and praying about ways to celebrate this which will increase our contact with and our mission to our neighbours. A new team is meeting to consider how we support mission beyond our own doors- the External Mission Team, led by Rebecca Cross. Become We have taken various steps towards deepening our discipleship at St Edyth's, including helping our Life Groups to find appropriate material to study, encouraging prayer triplets to spring up- there are now several meeting monthly or more frequently- and reviewing our prayer ministry and pastoral care, as well as developing our prayer life further. There are plans for three termly extended prayer times in 2025. Partnerships ASMA We continue to enjoy the fellowship and support of the other Avonside Mission Area IASMAI churches. We have been able to offer a venue for a Bereavement Course, have appreciated the ministry of the two ASMA curates and the new ASMA Ministry Experience Scheme student, and we have provided, via our Parish Administrator, some joint safeguarding training for others in the Mission Area. Two or three times a year, we have joined in celebrating our partnership and some of us have appreciated taking part in the ASMA Lent course. SMCI SMCI (Sea Mills Community Initiative) activities (including the Café on the SqLJare, whose bakers use our kitchen on a regular basi51, Kintsugi Hope, Dancercise, and Transforming Lives for Good which offers a free breakfast once a week during school holidays on the premises at Sea Mills Primary School, have all been thriving as extensions of our mission to our community in Sea Mills and Coombe Dingle. TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT Highgrove Our relationship with Highgrove Church is flourishing as we work together in various ways, including leading assemblie5 and lessons at Sea Mills Primary School, and for a joint service at dawn on Easter Day. The vicar of St Edyth's and the leaders of Highgrove meet regularly to pray with one another. Diocese of Bristol We have a helpful partnership with the Diocese of Bristol and appreciate the support of our Archdeacon IRev Becky Waringl who preached at our 2024 Remembrance Day service. Two members of our PCC are on Deanery Synod. The vicar and another member of the PCC (Elizabeth Marks) became members of the Diocesan Synod in 2024. The Diocese provided a Triennial Inspection by the Archdeacon as well as a Quinquennial Inspection by our newly appointed Church Architect. This raised a number of issues regarding our fabric which are being addressed by the Fabric Team. Community outreach Our premises are available to the community and in February 2024 we were able to respond to a tragedy that unfolded in a property within the parish, offering a space for grieving to the whole of the neighbourhood and to the school staff who were dramatically affected by this,. we appreciated the support from Bristol City Council. We have also provided space for the local health centre to help their patients access the new online booking system,. a local dementia support group has provided information to the community- various other groLJPS hire our halls for Pilates, Quilting and Slimming activities,. we receive a modest but helpful income from the hire of the hall for this and for parties and other occasional events. Financial Review The Financial Statements for 2024 have been prepared on the Receipts & Payments basis, in line with practice from prior years. The total income for the year was £ 146,50512023.. £155,850) and the total expenses amounted to £147,25512023.' £138.2921, resulting in a net deficit of £75012023.. surplus of £17,558). Our Parish Share Contribution for 2024 amounted to £53,14812023.. £53,148) and represents our major expense commitment. This contribution funds the salaries and other employment costs of clergy, payable by the Church of England. The other Designated & Restricted Funds, balances have also continued to track their balances, as expected, in line with planned activities and expected charges/liabilities during 2024. The Closing Balances for the various Main Funds were as follows: General Fund £47,10012023.. £57,925) Fabric Fund £36,79312023.' £29,527) CYFM Fund £40,20412023.. £36,831) The total Fund position as at 31" December is £129,76412023: £130,514). TRUSTEES, ANNUAL REPORT Reserves Policy The policy of the PCC is to retain sufficient cash reserves in the General Fund equivalent to between 6 and 9 months projected General Expenses. For 2025, this range is estimated to be between £45,000 and £67,500. The PCC had agreed to transfer £15,00012023.' £8,000) from the General Fund to the Fabric Fund to pay for planned (such as repointinEI or unforeseen expenditure on the fabric of the Church. The trustees have considered the going concern status of the charity and conclude that there are no material uncertainties affecting the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. This has also been considered in the context of the cash position at the date of Signing alonE Wlth future tash projections. Administrative Information St Edyth's Church is situated in Sea Mills, part of the Diocese of Bristol within the Church of England. The correspondence address is Avonleaze, Sea Mills, Bristol, BS9 2HU. The Parochial Church Council IPCCI is a charity which is registered with the Charity Commission No.. 1141128 as The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Edyth's" Strurture, governance and management The method of appointment of PCC members is Set out in the Church Representation Rules. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC members are the trustees of the charity. PCC members, responsibilities in respect of the financial statements The PCC members are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the parish and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trLJSt deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the parish and hence for taking reasonable Steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularitie5. Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 3rd March 2025 Signed on their behalf by.. Relr rho&ia Rev Sally Thomas, Vicar RFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Charity name The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Edyth's known as St Edyth's Church, Seo Mills Charity registration number 1141128 Principal office Avonleaze, Sea Mills, Bristol, BS9 2HU Reglstered offlce Avonleaze, Sea Mills, Bristol, BS9 2HU Trustees Officers Rev Sally Thomas Ivicarl David Spottiswoode Ichurchwardenl Heather Daw Ichurchwarden, resigned April 20241 Ex Offlclo Elizabeth Marks, Deanery Synod rep. Chris Wright, Deanery Synod rep Elerted members Teresa Goodall Zac Abraham Peter Marks (Treasurerl Emma Speakman Chris Woodhouse Graham Baker Mark Temple Co-opted members Elizabeth Fry ILicensed Lay Minister) Appointed 21" April 2024 Resigned 21" April 2024 Resigned 21 April 2024 Independent Examiner Joshua Kingston, BSC ACA Burton Sweet Limited The Clock Tower, 5 Farleigh Court, Old Weston Road, Flax Bourton, Bristol BS48 IUR INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT Independent examiner's report to the Trustees of The PCC St Edyth's, Sea Mills I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The PCC Sl Edyth's, Sea Mills Ilhe Charfcyl for the year ended 31 December 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity Iruslees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I'the Act'}. I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act. Independent examlnerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material mallers have come lo my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause lo believe that in any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Ad., or the accounts do not accord with those records,. or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements wnceming the form and content of accounts sel out in the Charities