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2020-12-31-accounts

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership

Annual Report for the year ending 31 December 2020

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Contents

West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Looking forward to 2021

Focus for 2021

Contents
...................... 2
Reference and Administrative Details .................................. 3
Charitable Objects ................................................................... 3
Administrative .......................................................................... 3
Credits ..................................................................................... 3
Structure, Governance and Management…………………………….4
Organisation ............................................................................ 4
Trustees .................................................................................. 4
External Representation .......................................................... 6
Safeguarding ........................................................................... 9
Achievements and Performance .................................................... 10
Areas of focus for 2020, reviewed………………………….….10
The Community………………………………………………….10
Ministry and weekly services ................................................. 11
Children and Young People’s work ....................................... 14
Oliver Tomkins CE Primary ................................................... 18
Pastoral and Occasional Offices ........................................... 19
Partnership Office ................................................................. 19
Financial Review .............................................................................. 21
Plans for 2021……………………………..……………………………..22
Areas of focus for 2021…………………………………………22
Prayer for our Partnership ..................................................... 23

This report should be read in conjunction with the reports from the 4 local churches, available at http://WSwinLyd.org.uk/council/report

Our Partnership Council Executive propose the following areas of focus:

Prayer for our Partnership

Lord God, we thank you for calling us into the company of those who trust in Christ and seek to obey his will. May your Spirit guide and strengthen us in mission and service to your world; for we are strangers no longer but pilgrims together on the way to your Kingdom. Amen.

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West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Finances

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Reference and Administrative Details

The restricted funds are being held against future building related work and the family work funds.

The individual churches and the partnership try to keep 6 months of expenditure as reserves. This is estimated to be £140,000. The current level of reserves is below this.

Our financial controls were reviewed to enable them to continue to be effective and adequate.

Katikama Sebamale Primary School, Luweroo Diocese, Uganda £1010 was collected in 2020 and this along with £1080 from previous year was transferred to them for their school building work and a piggery.

Charitable Objects

The purpose of our Partnership is to advance the Christian faith in West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze in accordance with the principles and practices of the Participating Churches. In achieving its purpose, the Partnership will engage in a range of activities, either on its own or with others, including (but not restricted to):

Administrative

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership is registered in England as a charity. Charity Reg no; 1141341. Our address is the Partnership Office, c/o Holy Trinity Church, Shaw Village Centre, Ramleaze Drive, Swindon SN5 5PY

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership is a registered data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act. Our registration number is Z2669468.

The Partnership is registered to claim gift aid enabling individuals to give tax efficiently either to the general fund or to the work of Emerge. Our Bank Account is with CafCash P.O. Box 289, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA. Our Independent Examiner is Steve Fraser, MHA Monahan’s, 38-42 Newport Street, Swindon SN1 3DR.

Credits

This report is prepared by, and with thanks to, Heather Benn, Claire Camm, Janet Clarke, Clive Deverell, Edward Glennie, Sue Green, David Hoar, Steve Kershaw, Jacqueline Kirwan, Angela Mak, Ed Poole, Mary Poole, Pete Rogers and Chris Scarisbrick

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West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Finances

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Structure Governance and Management

Organisation

The partnership comprises four churches, acting together: Holy Trinity Church, Shaw (HTS) St Mary’s Church, Lydiard Tregoze (SMLT) Toothill Church Westlea Church

We are a Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership, as described by Churches Together in England. The Partnership is part of the Baptist Union, Church of England, Methodist Church and United Reformed Church (URC), and looks to the Swindon Churches Together Sponsoring Body for guidance and oversight.

Our clergy comprise those who have been duly authorised and appointed by our participating denominations. Rev Capt. Clive Deverell is Team Minister (Church of England and Authorised to Serve in the Upper Thames Circuit of the Methodist Church and within the URC) with responsibility across the partnership and posted at St Mary’s Lydiard Tregoze. Rev Trevor Day is Assistant Minister (Church of England) working across the partnership. Rev Rachael Wilson is a Methodist Minister, working part time at Toothill and Rev Teresa Townsend is a CofE Curate working with Clive. Rev Lis Arnold (CofE) has Permission to Officiate in the parish.

Trustees

The trustees are the members of the Partnership Council (PC). Anglican Members also constitute the Parochial Church Council (PCC) when needed to conduct Anglican specific business, though the PCC delegates as much business as it can, to the wider PC

The charity trustees have had due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.

The Partnership Council (PC)

The PC is the main governance and representative body. Its responsibilities are Regulatory, Oversight, Governance and external partnerships. Other responsibilities, ministry / mission, buildings, pastoral care and local leadership, are delegated to the Local Church Committees (LCC) / Leadership Teams. A fuller description of the current functions of the PC, PCC and LCCs can be found in the Partnership Constitution (2015) and in draft Standing Orders.

Financial Review

The Partnership’s main source of income is the share from the churches. We get a few donations straight to the Partnership. We also collect money from weddings and funerals fees. Virtually all of the fees income is then passed back out to the diocese or clergy, organist, vergers, clerks and the churches for the use of the building. We do almost no public fundraising.

The Partnership’s main expenditures are contribution to the parent bodies, the administrator salary, the schools worker salary and staff expenses. This is where the bulk of our charitable aims are met, however an increasing amount is done by volunteers which is not financially quantifiable. A small amount is then left for general expenses including Hook cemetery maintenance.

The URC SW Synod held funds on deposit relating to the West Swindon Manse, however the Manse was sold in 2020 and this money reverted back to the URC to be split between the URC, Methodists & Baptists, as it was for repairs and maintenance of the property.

Emerge’s restricted fund received a second grant from the Wiltshire Community Foundation of £5000 in the early part of the year. This money was used to run the after schools’ group, training and workshops for young people with special needs, and covers salaries, expenses and equipment. This fund has now been wound up and voluntary youth work will come under the general fund.

The Family Work restricted fund was used on equipment.

Our building funds, generated from grants, donations and fund-raising events, though consolidated into the Partnership’s accounts, are held and administered locally in each of the relevant churches. Responsibility for these funds is delegated to the individual churches’ treasurers. For details on these and the churches general funds see the individual Churches’ Annual Reports.

In the consolidated accounts the total unrestricted income was £109,279 and restricted was £57,596. The unrestricted income was only down £21k on last year due to church temporary closures.

The total unrestricted expenditure was £129,002 and restricted was £420,795. The unrestricted expenditure was down £18k on last year, this was mainly due to less building work and church temporary closures.

The reserves being carried forward were £88,058 for unrestricted and £128,040 for restricted.

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West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Structure Governance and Management

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

Each local church is responsible for local publicity – this is through their Monthly Magazines, Weekly Notice Sheets, Christmas cards etc.

Local Church activities

There is much more that happens in each of our local churches, well described in their local Annual Reports, available online at http://wswinlyd.org.uk/council/report

Clergy (ex officio) Clergy (ex officio) Revd Capt. Clive Deverell
Rev Trevor Day
Rev Rachael Wilson
Rev Teresa Townsend		 Revd Capt. Clive Deverell
Rev Trevor Day
Rev Rachael Wilson
Rev Teresa Townsend		 Revd Capt. Clive Deverell
Rev Trevor Day
Rev Rachael Wilson
Rev Teresa Townsend
Partnership Council Chair Steve Kershaw
Treasurer Sue Green
Secretary Chris Scarisbrick
Churchwardens and
Synod reps (ex-officio)		 Sue Green
Steve Kershaw (till Oct)
Jacqueline Kirwan		 Mary Poole
Pat Watson
Angela Mak
Elected Members Gayle Bryon
Claire Camm
Janet Clark		 Peter Gilder
David Hoar
Pam Ray
Edward Poole
Circuit Superintendent Minister,
and Circuit Steward (ex officio)		 Rev David Perkins
Andrew Fleet
URC Synod Pastoral Adviser Rev Gerald England

The PC met 3 times in 2020, in February, March and July, in addition to the delayed Annual General Meeting for 2019, finally held on 13 October. The July and October meetings were virtual (held using video conferencing) During the rest of the year, day to day operations and decision making was delegated to the Partnership Executive, with some major decisions being circulated for email vote. Main PC topics during the year were:

The Partnership Executive met 10 times in 2020, mostly using video conferencing facilities.

Appointed Sub Groups handled specialist areas of work on behalf of the PC, and gave reports on progress. Most of the meetings in 2020 were virtual. The groups were:

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West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Structure Governance and Management

Risks

The Partnership has a number of risks to its activities which have been assessed at either PC or the Executive. These include:

We have identified four risks that are beyond our direct control.

The Conservation Project Board (professional specialists plus St Mary’s clergy and lay members) have met regularly on Zoom to oversee the project. New appointments have also been made to co-ordinate and support our Volunteers Guides and Stewards, and to undertake copywriting for various published items.

Continued work to secure matched funding gifts has helped to keep the finances on track, and the Project has repaid £20k of the £30k generously loaned from the Partnership. The balance (2 x £5k) will be repaid in the first half of 2021.

Despite the severe disruptions faced during the year it was still possible to open the Church to visitors on Heritage Open days in September, and on some Sunday afternoons for private prayer.

The Project Board’s thanks go to the Partnership and everyone who has worked hard and served to keep things going during an exceptional period. NLHF has noted this!

Pastoral and Occasional Offices

All risks are monitored within the Partnership’s governance processes.

Baptisms/Thanksgivings, Dedications, Marriages/Weddings, Funerals

Have all been impacted by Covid 19, taking funerals and working with the bereaved has been our biggest piece of occasional office work in 2020, even then limited by the context.

Induction and Training of Trustees

There is no formal training process for trustees, however all PC members are formally inducted and made aware of their role and responsibilities at the first PC meeting after the AGM, and through discussion and briefing before and at meetings.

In 2020 we have been challenged in several areas about the responsibilities and delegations that exist in our decision-making bodies. It has consumed significant effort, and has been uncomfortable at times. We will make special efforts in 2021 to ensure our responsibilities are clear.

External Representation

Anglican Deanery and Diocese

Revd. Captain Clive Deverell stepped down as Area Dean in February 2020. Sincere thanks and best wishes to Clive.

Also thanks to Revd. Raymond Adams who took on Acting Area Dean.

A new Area Dean has been appointed in January 2021 The Revd. Trudie Wigley. Please remember her in your prayers

Pastoral Home Visits & Communion

It is always a special time, to be with those who are no longer able to get out of their homes and it’s been a privilege to be able to share Holy Communion with several people. However, this has been impacted by Covid 19 and the rules around visiting we hope to return to some form of norm in the future.

Partnership Office

Our admin office is no longer staffed. We can be contacted electronically, but appointments must be made to visit the office. This is partly as a response to COVID-19 shutdowns, but also driven by long term financial pressures. Most of the day-to-day administrative burden will fall on our clergy

Our web site https://WSwinLyd.org.uk is somewhat static, but a helpful central point of information. During the year we migrated to using secure encrypted communications to the web site. This is almost invisible to our users, but a wise precaution.

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West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Structure Governance and Management

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

calls within the Diocese with Lucy Moore and the Church Army researchers where we fed back our observations.

Feedback from families has been patchy but the team as a whole has gained in great deal through keeping in touch with one another and we have also learnt some new technological skills.

Throughout this difficult time the Messy Church organisation has provided constant inspiration and is starting to encourage groups to think and pray about what re-opening will mean. www.messychurch.org.uk

Oliver Tomkins CE Primary Link with Katikamu Sebamale School, Uganda

In the last year, Clive Deverell and Rahel Dams have acted as Foundation Governors at Oliver Tomkins school. The School has been like us heavily impacted by Covid 19 and will look at doing more in 2021.

St Marys Lydiard Tregoze NLHF Conservation Project

The final phase of the internal conservation started in January 2020. Despite the impact of Covid-19 was completed before Easter, to finish work on the newly discovered niche and other areas.

Contractors continued to work on site within the limitations of Covid-19 restrictions. Refitting the Vestry and installing new heating and lighting systems were among the achievements. A new improved sound system was also now installed; and the font pedestal has also been lowered to floor level, making access a little easier for future baptisms!

So, the physical work on the conservation is almost complete – with new noticeboards, display cabinets and interpretation panels to be fitted in early 2021. The newly opened up welcome area by the main door will look very different! That leaves the community-based project activities to complete - important links with the many Visitors to the Church, and activities with local Schools. These have been delayed in 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions, but hopefully now taking place in 2021.

– Deanery Synod February 2020 key notes

Growing Leaders - Phill Harrison led evening meetings one a month and a full day session. 31 people signed up with much diversity in ages and background.

Exploring Christianity - Some 13 people are attending the present course. There is a requirement to write essays and this can lead to the appointment of further LLMs and in some cases the ordained ministry.

– Deanery Synod July 2020 key notes

£3000 raised for our Uganda links

Bishop Viv’s address - Much pain but also steadfastness in the Diocese. She reflected on Job, and how he found hope in facing up to reality and facing his emotions honestly with God. “Job’s “resurrection” was a signal of new life.”

We will have to face up to the challenges and changes, and be responsive and sensitive to the poverty of many, the despair hiding behind closed doors, and the desolation of the young as a result of the pandemic.

Diocese struggling from considerable loss of income during the pandemic.

Much praise for the way in which churches have responded to the changed world, reaching out to their members, and adapting to virtual contact and worship.

A question to pose is how do Christian communities react with our neighbours and those who have never known Jesus?

Archdeacon Christopher - There is a possibility of money being available for digital equipment – Chris Priddy in the diocese is the contact.

Transforming Church - The Diocese is launching a wide-ranging engagement and listening exercise, ‘Transforming Church. Together’ This process will help us to understand what we do well, what we can change for the better and how we can create a positive way forward together in the way of Christ. The aim is to obtain responses from as many people as possible, not just those involved in leadership.

https://www.bristol.anglican.org/transformingchurch/ is the link to fill in the questionnaire and find out more about Transforming Church.

Diocesan Synod

The Covid 19 situation meant that the last two Synods were held on line, the one we met in person in early March focused on DAC and environmental issues. The first online we focused on prayer, with Bishop Viv leading us. The second we received feedback from General Synod, the HTB plants and Mission areas within the Diocese. Most importantly, it passed a negative budget for 2021, which in the long term is unsustainable so decisions will need to be made in due course about how to balance the books post covid.

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West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Structure Governance and Management

Baptist Area

During 2020 WEBA sent out a survey to churches asking for age profile of the group, what had helped the group – we chose following Holy Habits, how we deliver the gospel to over 65’s or minority ethnic groups and how we developed leadership skills. We sent the response sheet from Westlea church back to WEBA. Westlea might be the only church in our partnership where membership has increased over lockdown. One question on the survey asked about help required to deliver the Christian message and we chose ‘Availability of suitable training resources and ideas that would assist us.’

During 2020 several Baptist churches began live streaming services on YouTube. Chipping Sodbury Baptist church has done this. Leadership teams seem to be meeting in some churches many of the churches were collecting items for the ‘box of hope’ project and they are still doing this as we go through 2021. As well as food and games these now contain pens and exercise books. The scheme works with local schools. Gorse Hill Baptist in Swindon is part of this scheme. Gorse Hill has also recorded many sermons from 2020 which can be downloaded or borrowed on CD.

At the end of 2020 grants were distributed to churches with planned activities to advance the gospel. Gorse Hill received £10,000. Baptist churches were still producing newsletters with a whole year summary in the December issue informing folk about the listening project now on video, coronavirus guidance and the prayer days. Baptist churches all join together to pray for their missionaries the last one was January 31[st] , 2021. Each Baptist church supports a missionary linking them into work back home.

In summary, everyone is working flat out making resources, packing boxes of hope, recording listening to God videos, or working on ideas to relieve poverty.

WEBA churches will all support Fairtrade fortnight, Spring Harvest, Christian Aid week and the Christian Resources exhibition in 2021 just as they did in 2020. They are still following the ‘72’ Listening, Looking, Living and Learning.

Methodist Circuit

Our relationship with the Upper Thames Circuit has seen some strains this last year. The proposed withdrawal of the Circuit from the LEP is significantly delayed. With the installation of a new Circuit Superintendent Minister and the complexity of shared buildings we now understand this will take several years to implement. It has caused awkward questions for all of our parent denominations and no answers are yet evident. We intend to keep being and doing partnership, and to explore new ways to partner even if our LEP may not have formal existence in future.

Pete, Clive, Heather, Gill and Liz. We welcomed Marie from HTS and Ann and Judith from ASLM which helped replace members who had stepped down (Gayle and Sue). The new members had a brief taste of our COVID-19 secure filming set up at HTS before we went into further lockdowns where they gamely rose to the challenge of tackling home filming! Here is one of our first home filmed assemblies as a new team together. Double Your Money Open the Book Assembly I hope you enjoy spotting some familiar faces/voices and promise Edward (the rich man) is not nearly so scary in real life!

The Open the Book Team have received a lot of positive feedback from schools saying how important and valuable these assemblies have been to learning in the pandemic and how they would like to continue receiving these assemblies for as long as possible. Even before lockdown Peatmoor and Westlea schools had expressed a desire for an in person OTB assembly so naturally we were very pleased to be able to offer the weekly online assemblies to them. Looking ahead to 2021 the team and churches need to be thinking how we might “go back” when in person teams are able to return to schools, perhaps in late summer or September. Could the current team be expanded or new teams formed to serve Peatmoor and Westlea schools? What would the other schools and our Freshbrook friends like to see happen? And what is a sustainable way forward for all?

If you would like to find out more about Open the Book, the Bible Society/Get involved/Open the Book Website is a good place to start or you could talk to an open the book team member or school contact at your church and watch Gayle’s Open the Book Partnership Promotional Video .We would welcome new members to join us and can provide a happy team environment both virtually and we hope soon in person!

Messy Church

After the March lockdown the Messy Church team wanted to ensure that we continued to meet in some way. Fortunately, the worldwide Messy Church team has worked hard to support groups meeting across the globe and helped with resources that have enabled us to contact families at least monthly. As a result we have:

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West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Structure Governance and Management

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

Open the Book Assembly. Little did any of us realise the challenges that lay in the months ahead.

Heather’s first recollection of helping make an “online” Open the Book Assembly was early summer when Gayle organised for the team to work together with Freshbrook Open the Book Team to create weekly online assemblies that schools could use in their classrooms and send home for children to use at home with their families. Gayle started by producing these at home in lockdown using her family as the actors and learning how to use the Movavi editing programme.

Gradually she got both OTB teams involved in filming and working together to produce these. And so, we went from one partnership and friends OTB team giving one in person monthly assembly at Shaw Ridge School to working with our Freshbrook friends OTB Team to produce weekly online assemblies for 8 primary schools across West Swindon! These are Peatmoor, Brookfield, Shaw Ridge, Tregoze, Hazelwood Academy, Oliver Tomkins, Westlea and Millbrook.

Our new found joy was overshadowed for a while with the news of Gayle’s redundancy later that summer. Gayle continued to train, recruit, encourage and steer the OTB work until her handover to Heather in November. Heather became the Open the Book Team Leader for the Shaw Ridge Team and took on the role of Coordinator for the online assemblies, organising the filming, editing (with help from Tim at Freshbrook Church) and sending of the weekly assemblies into the schools.

As the pandemic pushed us into 2 further lockdowns, we had to think of new ways to film alone at home. The team have learnt how to film with our phones, how to use green screen technology to place a scenic background behind someone, how to send footage via WhatsApp and We Transfer and lately how to film using zoom! This has been a steep learning curve for everyone but has also allowed our confidence to grow and honed our miming and technology skills!

Gayle also made provision for non-open the book schools work, decentralising that work to each local church who now have “responsible church contacts” to steer this for each of the schools they serve. Within the partnership these are Clive, Angela, Rachel, Edward and Stephanie.

In the Autumn, Gayle got everyone involved in the wonderful Advent calendar initiative, both from across the partnership and from other local churches. This was a blessing not just for the children and schools but to everyone in the churches who got involved and then used the calendar personally through advent.

The circuit look forward to Sept 2021 and the new Super. In preparation they have asked our leadership to meet with the Circuit leadership to chat about mission priorities.

URC

SW Synod cancelled the meetings for March and October and was conducted by Zoom for the principal people only.

The URC left it up to each church to decide to open when government allowed and gave out a set of guidelines to follow which were updated regularly according to government policy. URC also allowed Communion in the Zoom services by its churches as well as producing a recorded weekly service which goes out every Sunday at 10.00 am. Guidelines on how to look after a closed church were also sent out to prevent water leaks and waterborne diseases from occurring and to ensure weekly checks are made on the empty buildings.

Safeguarding

The number of people we have working with children or those who may be at risk varies, but at the time of reporting was 74. We have had one incident of safeguarding concern in 2020. It was an issue of inappropriate behaviour, no-one was at risk. We consulted with our URC safeguarding advisor and the issue was dealt with privately in a meeting with them and one of our community. It was unnecessary to refer this any further and we believe the matter is closed.

Despite not being able to meet in person for much of the year, we have been able to continue working with our children and vulnerable communities, if online. During lockdowns we have continued to improve our documentation tracking, though at a reduced rate.

In doing our work of safeguarding the Partnership Council have followed the advice and guidance of the United Reformed Church Synod Safeguarding Officer. According to section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, the PCC have given due weight to the House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

Gayle also made a short Open the Book promotional video (see below) to help raise awareness in our churches of what the Open the Book teams have been doing, usually do and how we really need your help going forward. Happily, this resulted in 3 new members joining the existing Shaw Team of Edward, Stephanie,

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West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

Areas of focus for 2020, reviewed

people to have contact with each other and provided a source of stimulating activity and challenge, as well as boosting their self-esteem through seeing see their ideas and photos on the site.

The other main activity which has been developed in lock-down has been a weekly ‘Zoom’ session at the same time as our normal group session on Mondays. Through zoom, we have been able to enjoy ‘meeting up’ as leaders and young people each week, sharing noisy chat and also having fun with a weekly quiz which myself and different young people each week have organised and led. This has been extremely successful and parents have told me how much the young people have enjoyed it and that it has reduced their isolation and improved their mood.

Summer: After discussions with volunteers and parents, Claire decided that as a project we would venture into reality and start a 2-hour weekly group session outdoors of 6 max (adults and young people) at Lydiard Park. These began in July and ran through until the end of August. We had 4 adult volunteers (plus myself leading) who alternated, allowing 4 young people (again alternating) to attend. For the young people and families, these sessions were extremely important, as many were not able to go on holiday and other activities and groups were limited. Some of the children were shielding or from families with shielded members, so parents were very reluctant to let them go to more crowded groups or settings. Obviously, our activities were fairly limited compared to normal sessions, due to covid restrictions; however, we were able to provide meaningful and fun activities, as well, of course, as very important socialisation and respite opportunities. All activities were risk-assessed, as per normal. We also continued with the weekly Zoom sessions as not all the children chose to attend the park sessions.

Our last park session was in October and by then it was clear that we could not go back to meeting indoors so we returned to our ‘lockdown group’ – meeting on zoom and using the website as a means to keep in touch. We had a wonderful Advent, with activity packs which were sent to each child, including an Advent candle. Each week on zoom we lit our candles and completed a craft together from the pack then read part of the Nativity story together and prayed. Our final session was an online Christingle session and carols.

The Community

Membership is expressed through the Local Churches, and each congregation is responsible for encouraging regular attendees into membership. Within our different church traditions there are slight differences in understanding of membership, but this causes us no problems apart from explaining to our parent denominations.

Schools Work

On Friday 20[th] March the prime minister announced the first closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Easter schools work was cancelled as children (and parents) embarked on their first experience of home learning in the remaining two weeks of the Spring term. That week was the last time Shaw Open the Book Team went in person to Shaw Ridge Primary School with their Monthly

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West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

For the summer term we are planning to study the Bible Society Course on the Bible. It’s an eight session study and gives a very good overview of the book.

We still study, worship and pray for the first hour and then afterwards we have a time of virtual coffee, tea, biscuits and a chat. Members appreciate the informal nature of the study and chatting afterwards.

With tongue in cheek, if you are thinking of join us, don’t just think about it join us! We will love to see you. It doesn’t matter if you can only join us once month or every other month, we still love to see you.

Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Children and Young People’s work

All of our local churches support children and young people on Sundays, and some midweek groups. These are described further and reported in the local church annual reports at http://WSwinLyd.org.uk/council/report, here we consider our joint efforts

Emerge group 2020

Following national lock-down the Emerge Project became a virtual youth project, with a recommissioned website as the main tool for communication. This enabled the young people and families to keep in touch with each other each week, with the young people sending me their weekly news and photos of activities to upload. We have also encouraged social interaction through competitions and challenges, such as growing sunflowers; creating artwork; making Easter cards and gifts; and participating in a 6-week charity fundraising challenge with minichallenges to do each day from 3 categories: ‘Be Active’; ‘Be Kind’; ‘Be Creative’. The young people voted to donate their money raised (£150) to the local wildlife rescue charity ‘Oak & Furrows’.

The website also provided weekly creative, educational and physical activity ideas (again often suggested by the young people). Through our ‘ Thoughts for the Week’ webpage we have provided a spiritual focus; each week looking at a theme from a Biblical perspective, with questions to think about and a short prayer. Additionally, we offered all the young people the gift of an appropriate Bible, with choices of different translations and styles to meet their needs. Out of the group, 3 young people were very keen to take up this offer and I was privileged to take these round to them, engaging in positive conversations with parents.

Through the website, therefore, we have been able to continue with the main aims of our project which are: to improve socialisation; develop skills and confidence; grow in community awareness; explore faith . Parents have been very supportive and appreciative of the website which has enabled the young

Membership Summary

2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
St
Mary’s		 61 61 69 67 66 73 75 76 74 70
Holy
Trinity		 23 25 30 27 28 28 33 31 36 42
Toothill 31 31 31 28 35 34 36 32 39 42
Westlea 34 34 31 31 31 27 30 31 26 26
Total 149 151 161 153 160 162 174 170 175 180

(Figures before 2013 adjusted to reflect altered organisation)

Ministry and weekly services

The worship rota is arranged across the Partnership. Clergy, Local Preachers, Lay Ministers and our team of trained lay people lead services and preach in their ‘home’ church, in the other partner churches and some across the Methodist Upper Thames Circuit. The Circuit also contributes worship leaders.

Denominationally Appointed Ministers Denominationally Appointed Ministers
Rev Capt. Clive Deverell CofE Minister. Authorised to Serve as
Methodist. Authorised URC Minister
Rev Trevor Day CofE Assistant Minister
Rev Teresa Townsend CofE Curate
Rev Rachael Wilson Methodist Minister
Rev Lis Arnold CofE Ordained Minister (Permission to
Officiate)
Mrs Angela Mak CofE Licensed LayMinister(LLM

We are grateful to the following members of the Partnership who are authorised by our denominations to lead services across our churches:

Denominationally Authorised Ministers Denominationally Authorised Ministers
Rachel Dowling Methodist Lay Preacher
Mark Dowling Methodist Lay Preacher
David Hoar URC LayPreacher

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West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

West Swindon and the Lydiards Church Partnership Annual Report 2020 Achievements and Performance

Hazel Davis is training for ordained ministry within the Church of England. Two have had to stop worshipping with us, in order to continue their training to be Local Preachers in the Methodist Circuit.

Locally Appointed Ministers Locally Appointed Ministers Locally Appointed Ministers
Claire Camm Youth Work manager
Gayle Bryon
Schools Work manager (until Dec 2020)

Mary Poole
Messy Church Leader


Lay worship leaders
Heather Benn
Gayle Bryon
Ian Bryon
Janet Clarke
Wendy Deverell		 Sue Green
Stephen Kershaw
Jacqueline Kirwan
Ed Poole
Mary Poole		 Mark Taylor
Pat Watson
Sarah Wilmott
Richard Williams

Other Groups: St Mary’s & Holy Trinity Shaw Worship team Westlea Leadership Team Team Toothill

Our partnership’s main services take place on a Sunday Morning with each of our Churches having a thriving and enthusiastic congregation, several with crèches, children’s and young people groups also being provided. The communion services generally vary between Anglican order and Free-Church styles.

Messy Church is a missionary congregation aimed at families with young children. It is lay-led and resourced from the other “Sunday morning” churches.

Partnership activity “Encounter” (monthly study and exploration of faith) at Holy Trinity Shaw

One of the initiatives to grow out of Holy Habits has been the ‘Day Group for Jesus’ sessions run by Pete Rogers and Edward Glennie which meet fortnightly.

A growing number continue to meet for Morning Prayer on Fridays at Holy Trinity (during School time).

Administrative and Support Administrative and Support
Mr Graham Stockill Partnership Administrator (until Oct 2020)
Mr Steve Kershaw Partnership Chair
Mrs Sue Green Partnership Treasurer
Mr Chris Scarisbrick Partnership Secretary and
Joint Safeguarding Coordinator
Mrs Julie Scarisbrick Joint SafeguardingCoordinator
Mrs Maricon Alojado Manager and supervisor for Claire and
Gayle

Usual Weekly Attendance

2020 2020 2019 2019 2018 2018 2017 2017 2016 2016 2015 2015 2014 2014
Adult Child A C A C A C A C A C A C
St Mary’s 23 2 55 9 63 9 68 10 57 9 59 12 72 12
Holy Trinity 20 2 31 8 32 4 33 8 34 8 36 8 36 16
Toothill 24 3 24 3 24 7 25 8 29 9 25 5 27 5
Westlea 27 2 24 4 24 5 22 5 26 6 24 7 25 9
Total 94 9 134 24 143 25 148 31 146 32 142 31 160 42

Figures adjusted to include Messy Church other non-weekly services etc

Joint Partnership Worship

We just held one joint services in 2020, our commitment service on Jan 26[th] . For much of the year meeting together in person was not possible. We continued to circulate written services, share online services, and continued to meet over telephone and video conferencing facilities.

Prayer continues to be an important part of our lives within the Partnership and we believe this has deepened during COVID-19 lockdowns

Day group for Jesus

We started in May 2019, meeting twice monthly at Holy Trinity Shaw and we now have some 35 meetings under our belt. Meeting on Monday’s in the afternoon has worked well and 7 of us regularly attend. We are a mixed lively bunch, from Shaw, Westlea and Toothill. The pandemic (plus a medical emergency or two) initially thwarted us, but with thanks to Zoom plus some stents, we were able to resume and carry on as normal.

We have been studying Spiritual Charisms and so far we have studied 27 of them. Learning from the likes of Tim Peake, that a bag of flour and two thunderflashes (second set with a delay) is not the wisest of counsel.

13

12

THE CHURCH PARTNERSHIP OF WEST SWINDON AND LYDIARD TREGOZE

Consolidated

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
For the year ended 31 December 2020
Note
INCOME & ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Donations & Legacies
2(a)
Other Trading Activities
2(b)
Income from Investments
2(c)
Charitable Activities - church activities
2(d)
Other Income
2(e)
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising Funds
3(b)
Fundraising Costs
3(c)
Charitable Activities - church activities
3(a)
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT
1 JANUARY 2020 (2019)
BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD AT
31 DECEMBER 2020 (2019)		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
91,306
-
81
17,892
-
109,279
-
-
129,002
129,002
-
(19,723)
(19,723)
107,778
88,056		 Restricted
Funds
£
57,574
-
22
-
-
57,596
-
-
402,795
402,795
-
(345,198)
(345,198)
473,239
128,040		 Endowment
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2020
2019
£
£
148,881
252,650
-
3,728
103
328
17,892
28,367
-
-
166,876
285,073
-
-
-
-
531,796
567,372
531,796
567,372
-
-
(364,921)
(282,299)
(364,921)
(282,299)
581,017
863,315
216,096
581,016
TOTAL FUNDS

Notes: These accounts bring together the Statements of Financial Activities for (a) Church Partnership of West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze,(b) St Mary's Church, Lydiard Tregoze, (c) Holy Trinity Church, Shaw, (d) Toothill Church, (e) Westlea Church, (f) Manse

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2020 2019
f
78,722 340,20;
37,314 51,590
111,963 246.298
598.095
(11,902) (17,079
216,496 581.017
216,096 581 ,0'17
88,056 107,778
124,040 473,239
216,096 581,017

Consolidated

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE CHURCH PARTNERSHIP OF WEST SWINDON AND LYDIARD TREGOZE

For the year ended 31 December 2020

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparation

The accounts (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 have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.

The trust constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £0.

There are no significant areas of judgements or key sources of estimation uncertainty.

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Legal Status - The charity is an unincorpoarted charitable trust constituted by trust deed.

Exemption from preparing a cash flow statement

The charity has taken exemption from preparing a cash flow statement under the charities SORP (FRS 102) as the charity constitutes a small charity.

Funds

Endowments funds are funds, the capital of which must be maintained; only income arising from investment of the endowment may be used either as restricted or unrestricted funds depending upon the purpose for which the endowment was established. Restricted funds represent a) income from trusts or endowments, and b) donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the Church/group 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 the year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. The Church/group 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.

Unrestricted funds are general funds which can be used for ordinary purposes.

Income

All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, there is sufficient certainty or receipt and so it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.

Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received. Tax refunds are recognised when the incoming resource to which they relate is received. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the Church / group is legally entitled to the amounts due. Dividends are accounted for when receivable, interest is accrued. All incoming resources are accounted for gross. Income from government and other grants are recognised at fair value when the charity has entitlement after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met then these amounts are deferred.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses, including support costs and governance costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings in the statement of financial activities. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the Church / group. The diocesan or other denominational share is accounted for when due. Amounts received specifically for mission are dealt with as restricted funds.

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Current assets

Amounts owing to the Church at 31st December in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors less provisions for amounts that may prove uncollectable. Short term deposits include cash held on deposit at the Bank.

Current liabilities

Creditors are recognised where the church has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

Financial Risk Management

The charity has minimal exposure to customer credit risk, liquidity risk and market risk. Please refer to the risk management section of the trustees annual report for information on how risks are managed. The charity does not have any non basic financial instruments.

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Consolidated

THE CHURCH PARTNERSHIP OF WEST SWINDON AND LYDIARD TREGOZE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2020

2 INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:

2(a)
Donations & Legacies
Planned giving:
Gift Aid
Tax recoverable
other
Collections (open plate)
Sundry donations
Tax reclaim on sundry donations
Grants
Donations, appeals, etc
Legacies
2(b)
Other trading activities
Fetes, bazzars, other fund-raising events
Rental Income
2(c)
Income from investments
Dividends and interest including any reclaimed tax
2(d)
Income from church activiites
Church hall letting etc - church groups
Church hall letting etc - other groups
Ministry Fees
Playgroup Fees
Bookstall
Government grants: coronavirus job retention scheme grant
2(e)
Other income
Insurance claims
Miscellaneous
TOTAL INCOME*		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
63,391
15,706
5,161
2,092
1,411
-
-
3,545
-
91,306
-
-
-
81
81
1,487
13,831
1,665
-
-
909
17,892
-
-
-
109,279		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
1,435
-
54,306
1,834
-
57,574
-
-
-
22
22
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
57,596		 Endowment
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2020
2019
£
£
63,391
63,322
15,706
17,539
5,161
6,653
2,092
5,680
2,845
17,808
-
-
54,306
130,114
5,379
11,534
-
-
148,881
252,650
-
716
-
3,012
-
3,728
103
328
103
328
1,487
5,985
13,831
19,436
1,665
2,946
-
-
-
-
909
-
17,892
28,367
-
-
-
-
-
-
166,876
285,073
TOTAL FUNDS

Total donations of £18,401 were received from trustees. These donations were all given without conditions. Trustees also donate via church plate collections. These amounts are not recorded separately.

*There were no unfilled conditions and other contingencies attached to grants that have been recognised in income, and the charity has not directly benefited from any other forms of government assistance

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Consolidated

THE CHURCH PARTNERSHIP OF WEST SWINDON AND LYDIARD TREGOZE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2020

3
EXPENDITURE ON:
3(a)
Church Activities
Missionary and charitable giving:
Ministry:
partnership share
other clergy costs
Church Running & Maintenance Costs
Staff Costs - Church Activities
Staff Costs - Administration
Printing & Stationery
Major Building Work
Bank Charges
Governance Costs
Independent Examination Fees
3(b)
Raising funds
Costs of appeals etc
3(c)
Fundraising Costs
Costs of fetes, bazaars, other fund-raising events
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
4
STAFF COSTS
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
7,135
57,817
2,267
44,183
9,371
2,119
-
5,000
-
-
1,110
129,002
-
-
-
-
129,002		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
3,098
6,847
-
-
392,850
-
-
-
402,795
-
-
-
-
402,795		 Endowment
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 2020
2019
£
£
7,135
7,738
57,817
58,183
2,267
4,578
47,281
75,053
16,218
14,780
2,119
10,795
-
-
397,850
395,183
-
-
-
-
1,110
1,062
531,796
567,372
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
531,796
567,372
18,337
24,793
-
-
-
-
18,337
24,793
TOTAL FUNDS

There were 3 employees none of who were paid over £60,000pa

5 FIXED ASSETS

Nil

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Consolidated

THE CHURCH PARTNERSHIP OF WEST SWINDON AND LYDIARD TREGOZE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2020

6
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND
2020
Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
Fund balance
2019
Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Current Liabilities
Fund balance
7
DEBTORS
Income tax recoverable
Prepayments and accrued interest
Other debtors
8
LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Accruals and deferred income
Creditors for goods and services
Other creditors		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
92,875
(4,819)
88,056
-
141,271
(16,732)
124,539		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
135,123
(7,083)
128,040
-
738,841
(65)
738,776		 Endowment
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2020
£
7,529
1,408
69,785
78,722
1,160
3,149
7,593
11,902		 Total
£
-
227,998
(11,902)
216,096
-
880,112
(16,797)
863,315
2019
£
7,891
1,585
330,731
340,207
1,060
5,532
10,487
17,079

Deferred income comprises deposits for weddings taking place post year end

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THE CHURCH PARTNERSHIP OF WEST SWINDON AND LYDIARD TREGOZE

Consolidated

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

For the year ended 31 December 2020

9 FUND DETAILS

The Church Partnership and each individual church and sub-groups maintain a General Fund.

Some of the churches in the partnership have received funds for a specific purpose such as building. Any such amounts unspent at the year end have been included as restricted funds.

Transfers have been made from unrestricted to restricted funds where expenditure on a particular project has exceeded the funds available for that purpose. Transfers from restricted funds to the general fund occur when the expenditure has been identified through the general fund or to transfer unspent funds with the agreement of the donor.

The movements in the Restricted Funds in 2020 were:
Youth Fund
Family Work
St Marys Building Fund
HTS Buildings General
Toothill Tinies
Manse
consolidation
The movements in the Restricted Funds in 2019 were:
Youth Fund
Family Work
St Marys Building Fund
HTS Buildings General
Toothill Tinies
Manse
consolidation		 Balance at
01/01/2020
1,785
4,598
428,952
0
6,674
35,362
-4,132
473,239
Balance at
01/01/2019
3,213
8,523
698,350
0
182
32,640
-4,132
738,776		 Incoming
Resources
5,450
0
51,219
0
1,435
22
-4,030
54,096
Incoming
Resources
6,493
0
121,168
0
28,579
3,142
-4,030
155,352		 Resources
Expended
7,235
530
357,469
0
2,710
35,381
-4,030
399,295
Resources
Expended
7,921
3,925
390,566
0
22,087
420
-4,030
420,889		 Transfers
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Transfers
0
0
0
0
0
0
0		 Balance at
31/12/2020
0
4,068
122,702
0
5,399
3
-4,132
128,040
Balance at
31/12/2019
1,785
4,598
428,952
0
6,674
35,362
-4,132
473,239

10 OTHER NOTES

OTHER NOTES
Expenses paid to the following trustees during 2020 were as follows: £
Revd Clive Deverell 1,880
Revd Teresa Townsend 387
Sue Green 302
Mary Poole 18
Claire Camm 308
Gayle Bryon 110

All these payments are either expenses or part of fees for performing church services.

Trustees received remuneration of £16,218. None were paid for their role as trustee. Gayle Bryon got £7,729 as schools work manager and Claire Camm £8,489 as youth work manager.

Total donations of £18,401 were received from trustees. These donations were all given without conditions. Trustees also donate via church plate collections. These amounts are not recorded separately.

There were no related party transactions in the year.

There was no holiday pay to accrue at the start or end of year.

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Consolidated

THE CHURCH PARTNERSHIP OF WEST SWINDON AND LYDIARD TREGOZE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31 December 2020

11 COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 December 2019

Note
INCOME & ENDOWMENTS FROM:
Donations & Legacies
2(a)
Other Trading Activities
2(b)
Income from Investments
2(c)
Income from Church Activities
2(d)
Other Income
2(e)
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENDITURE ON:
Raising Funds
3(b)
Fundraising Costs
3(c)
Church Activities
3(a)
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
GAINS AND LOSSES ON INVESTMENTS
- realised
- unrealised
NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT
1 JANUARY 2019
BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD AT
31 DECEMBER 2019		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
100,440
716
198
28,367
-
129,721
-
-
146,483
146,483
-
-
-
(16,762)
(16,762)
124,539
107,777		 Restricted
TOTAL FUNDS
Funds
2018
£
£
152,210
252,650
3,012
3,728
130
328
-
28,367
-
-
155,352
285,073
-
-
-
-
420,889
567,372
420,889
567,372
-
-
-
-
-
-
(265,537)
(282,299)
(265,537)
(282,299)
738,776
863,315
473,239
581,016

NotesThese accounts bring together the Statements of Financial Activities for (a) Church Partnership of West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze,(b) St Mary's Church, Lydiard Tregoze, (c) Holy Trinity Church, Shaw,

(d) Toothill Church, (e) Westlea Church, (f) Manse

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