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Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the year ending 31 December 2022
St James’ Church Little Paxton
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| INDEX | |
|---|---|
| Pa | |
| The Reverend Canon Annette Reed introduces the | 3 |
| Annual Report for the year to 31 December 2022 | |
| Administrative Information and Charity Registration ………………………… |
4 |
| The PCC | |
| - Aims and Purposes ............................................................ |
5 5 |
| ..... - PCC members from May 2022 |
5 |
| ………………………………………………. | |
| Structure, Governance and Management | 6 |
| ……………………………………….. | |
| Achievements and Performance | 6 |
| - Electoral Roll |
6 |
| …………………………………………………………………… | 7 |
| ……. | |
| - Church attendance – some summary statistics |
|
| ………………………. | |
| - Some YouTube statistics |
8 |
| ………………………………………………………… | |
| Social Media outreach | 8 |
| …………………………………………………………………….. | |
| Benefce website | |
| …………………………………………………………………………… | 9 |
| .. | |
| KIT (Keeping in Touch) Newsletter | 9 |
| Quartet | |
| …………………………………………………………………………… | 9 |
| ……………... | |
| Community use of Church building | 10 |
| …………………………………………………… | |
| Events and special services in 2022 | 11 |
| …………………………………………………. | |
| Funding the Mission of St James’ Church | 12 |
| …………………………………………. | |
| Mission Giving | |
| …………………………………………………………………………… | 12 |
| ……. |
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Parish Giving
| Parish Giving | |
|---|---|
| …………………………………………………………………………… | 13 |
| ……… | |
| Church Fabric Report | 13 |
| ………………………………………………………………………. | |
| Safeguarding Report | 14 |
| ……………………………………………………………………….. | |
| Deanery Synod Report | 14 |
| ……………………………………………………………………. | |
| Churchyard Team Report | 15 |
| …………………………………………………………………. | |
| Tower Captain’s Report | 16 |
| …………………………………………………………………… | |
| Simply Saturday Report | 16 |
| …………………………………………………………………… | |
| Contact details | |
| …………………………………………………………………………… | |
| …… | 18 |
Appendix Balance Sheet for year to 31 December 2022
Income and Expenditure Accounts for year to 31 December 2022 are available to view in church
Canon Annette Reed introduces the Annual Report for the year to 31 December 2022
Thank you for the opportunity to look back to 2022; it was certainly a very busy year in all respects for the life of St James’ Church. Our service provision had returned to a regular weekly pattern in 2021 following the Covid pandemic and, as you will see from the statistics in the report, we held 120 acts of worship and occasional offices throughout 2022.
Side by side with Christian worship, St James offers a full programme of community and church events week by week which are very much appreciated by all who come along.
Some of the groups, like the Wednesday morning Tots and Carers Group and the Friday morning open church coffee mornings have been running since 2012 when the church re-opened with its flexible space. It was during the Covid pandemic that we were able to secure funding to purchase equipment to livestream services on YouTube. During 2022 many of the occasional offices, the funerals, weddings and baptisms were livestreamed, along with
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Sunday services, which of course enables people who are unable to get to church to engage with what is happening.
Social media has also continued to be a useful way of keeping in touch for those who use Facebook and online websites. We have over 700 followers on our Facebook Page and try to keep the page updated with news and pictures. The benefice Quartet magazine continues to be popular and is now printed by a local printer, enabling us to have some quality colour pages. The ‘Keeping in Touch’ leaflet, which was started during Covid, goes out by email (thanks Anita!) every Saturday evening to a large number of people on our mailing list as well as about 25 copies being delivered by hand. We also aim to have regular articles in the various village magazines.
2022 saw three very memorable occasions nationally and locally and for two of these events we were able to use our big screen to watch together; the celebration in church of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 and then, very sadly, the funeral service of Her Majesty the Queen on 19 September. We were also in church on 11 September to host the live reading of the Proclamation of the Accession of His Majesty King Charles III. It is at such national occasions that our bellringers are particularly appreciated as they rang both for the Platinum celebrations and the Queen’s passing.
It goes without saying that offering such a busy programme of events and services needs an energetic and efficient team to make sure arrangements are in order and everyone who comes into church is safe. Our annual meeting is an opportunity to thank everyone involved in enabling the St James’ community to flourish and who often go the extra mile to offer hospitality and kindness to everyone who comes through the south porch door.
It is never a very good idea to thank everyone by name as it risks missing someone out but the roles of Community Space manager and Benefice Administrator undertaken so well by Graeme Anness and Nicci Jones respectively are a vital factor in the efficient running of St James. Our thanks of course as well to Nicci and Helen Young, serving for a further year as our church wardens; to Kate Bywater for looking after our accounts and Anita Bailey for being our PCC Secretary.
No church community can thrive without steady financial support. We did have more challenges financially in 2022 which our treasurer Kate explains in this report, but we were well able to pay our ministry share for the year and cover all our other commitments. We give our ongoing thanks to everyone who supports us financially or supports essential fund raising activities including the 100 club.
The PCC will continue to explore ways of making sure our income is sufficient to enable us to be a church which interacts in a compassionate and creative way to the ever expanding village community.
Our thanks to Licensed Lay Minister Mel Eyeons for her dedicated support and input into our Sunday worship with her insightful homilies and worship leading. Unlike most of us, Mel has to travel from Papworth and is always on time!
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At this point I would also like, on behalf of us all, to formally record our sincere thanks to Leslie Tennant for his many years of dedicated service to St James’ Church as a churchwarden, PCC member and Lay Minister.
In April 2022 our archdeacon Hugh McCurdy retired having been a regular visitor to St James’ Church and giving us much encouragement. Our new archdeacon, The Venerable Richard Harlow was appointed and he was introduced to the Diocese at his collation at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Wisbech in September 2022. We look forward to working with Richard in the future.
Thank you to everyone who is part of the St James’ story; it has been especially good to welcome some new people who have more recently moved into the village.
As I write, it is nearly 17 years since I came to the village. The time has gone by so quickly. But, in all the very many wonderful times and occasional challenges, it has been a great privilege to have been part of the village community at Little Paxton and to have seen exciting growth in all aspects of church life.
Thank you to everyone for your love and support and we look forward to continuing to share the Good News of Jesus Christ during 2023.
I will round off this introduction with the Ely Diocesan Prayer.
We praise and thank you, God of the journey, for all your gifts to us in the past.
We look to you as fellow-traveller and faithful companion on the way ahead. Shelter and protect us from all harm and anxiety.
Give us grace to let go of all that holds us back.
And grant us courage to meet the new life
You have promised us in Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Canon Annette Reed 26 February 2023
Administrative information
St James’ Church of England parish church is situated in the village of Little Paxton, Cambridgeshire. It is within the Deanery of St Neots (Diocese of Ely), and is part of a benefice of four churches with St Laurence’s Church, Diddington; Holy Trinity Church, Great Paxton; and St Leonard’s Church in Southoe and Midloe. The Pastoral Scheme creating this benefice came into force on 1 June 2015.
Charity Registration
During 2011, the Church registered with the Charity Commission. (Registration No. 1144292)
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The PCC
Aims and Purposes
St James’ Church PCC has the responsibility of working with and supporting our incumbent, The Reverend Canon Annette Reed, in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of St James’ Church.
The PCC members who have served from 1 January 2022 until the date this report was approved are as follows: (please note * denotes an ex-officio member):
Incumbent:
The Reverend Canon Annette Reed* Chair
Churchwardens:
Helen Young Elected from APCM 15 May 2022 Nicci Jones ( Safeguarding Officer ) Elected from APCM 15 May 2022
Deputy Churchwardens:
Ken Heley
Leslie Tennant (Church Army Evangelist Officer Ret’d) Stepped down 14 February 2022
LLMs
Mel Eyeons
Leslie Tennant (Church Army Evangelist Officer Ret’d) Stepped down 14 February 2022
Representatives on the Deanery Synod for three years from their election date:
Anita Bailey (PCC Secretary) Elected from APCM 20 September 2020 Nicci Jones* (Churchwarden) Elected from APCM 20 September 2020
Elected PCC Members:
Leslie Tennant Stepped down w.e.f. 14 February 2022 Ken Heley Elected from APCM 15 May 2022 June Griffin Elected from APCM 15 May 2022 Lyn Harris Elected from APCM 15 May 2022 Jean Matheson Elected from APCM 15 May 2022 Anita Bailey Elected from APCM 15 May 2022 Graeme Anness Elected from APCM 15 May 2022 Glen Doick Elected from APCM 15 May 2022 Iris Slade Elected from APCM 15 May 2022
Co-opted Members:
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Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At the APCM on 21 April 2013 it was agreed that all PCC members should stand for a period of one year only and then stand for re-election year by year. This policy will be reviewed by the APCM at least once every six years and will be reviewed again by 2025.
A new Benefice Administrator, Nicci Jones, was appointed in 2017 and due to the continual growth in the benefice, the PCC of St James’ Church, (meeting on the 20 March 2019), with the support of Diddington, Southoe and Great Paxton PCCs, agreed to increase the hours of this role to 12 hours per week with effect from 1 April 2019 and this arrangement continues.
The Community Space Manager for St James’ Church, Graeme Anness, was appointed in April 2021 and is now a strategic member of the St James’ team.
In 2022 PCC meetings held on:
Standing Committee meetings held
on:
14 February 2022 9 March 2022 27 June 2022 17 October 2022 27 November 2022
14 January 2022
In 2016 the Diocese of Ely encouraged PCCs to work closely with their ministers to create a Development Action Plan (DAP). The plan was for growth in all areas of church life within the Diocesan Strategy ‘Towards 2025’. The Development Action Plan (DAP) Group was set up and have continued to organise events and activities in line with the Diocesan Strategy.
Achievements and Performance
Electoral Roll
The Electoral Roll is the foundation of the whole structure of synodical government in the church. It contains the names and addresses of everyone who can vote at the Annual Parochial Church meeting (APCM). As at 31 December 2022 there were 108 people on St James’ Church Electoral Roll. The Electoral Roll is revised annually. A notice announcing the revision of the Roll is displayed on or near the church door for at least two weeks before the commencement of the revision. The only people required to fill in an application form are those who have recently moved into the parish, joined
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the church or reached the age of 16. The revision should be completed between 15 and 28 days before the annual meeting.
The PCC would like to thank Nicci Jones for her work in this role in 2022.
Church attendance
The world opened up again in 2022 and the total footfall rose to 3734 adults and 719 children. The numbers at All Age Worship are particularly encouraging and we were very busy with occasional offices and special services such as the Platinum Jubilee and then the Queen’s commemoration service. We began livestreaming our Sunday services in January 2022 with Annette and Mel doing some additional YouTube videos during the year. Mel also carried out 4[th] Sunday bible study sessions on-line.
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| *Attendance which was limited by various Covid restrictions |
201 8 |
20 19 |
202 0 |
202 1 |
202 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of services | 167 | 157 | *64 | *91 | 120 |
| Total footfall of adults attending services | 500 4 |
469 2 |
*150 3 |
*223 2 |
373 4 |
| Total footfall of children attending all services |
109 7 |
102 7 |
*54 | *359 | 719 |
| Average number of people at main 9.15 am Holy communion service (only 5 were held in 2021) |
39 | 38 | *31 | *26 | 29 |
| Average number of communicants at main 9.15 am Holy communion service |
38 | 36 | *31 | *19 | 28 |
| Number of home communions | 47 | 30 | 5 | *0 | 0 |
| Number of weddings | 8 | 3 | 4 | *1 | 5 |
| Number of funerals | 5 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 13 |
| Graveside service | - | - | - | 1 | 0 |
| Services held at crematorium | - | - | - | 5 | 11 |
| Interment of ashes | - | - | - | 7 | 7 |
| Memorial Services (*for the Queen) | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| Number of children baptised | 10 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 15 |
| Average number of adults at 1stSunday All Age Worship) (only 2 held in 2021) |
37 | 32 | *40 | *30 | 39 |
| Average number of children at All Age Worship |
6 | 6 | *7 | *0 | 3 |
| Number of Morning Prayer services on Sundays |
- | - | - | 27 | 13 |
| Average number at Sunday Morning Prayer services |
- | - | - | 23 | 28 |
| Christingle, Christmas Eve & Christmas in-person services(2020 & 2021 include viewing fgures for YouTube Christmas services and 2022 for Outdoor carols) |
312 | 290 | 260 | 213 | 270 |
| Easter Day attendance(+viewing fgures for YouTube Easter Sunday 2020 & 2021. (2022 without YouTube) |
42 | 70 | 231 | 213 | 72 |
| Wed a.m. Holy Communion average attendance (2021 from June) |
8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
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Church Attendance Cont’d ..
Some random examples of YouTube statistics for numbers engaged with our livestreaming/ recordings during 2022 in comparison to those attending Holy Communion or Morning Prayer in person. You will see from the figures that our on-line presence is highly valued.
| Date | Service | In person | YouTube Viewing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 January 2022 | Morning Prayer | 28 | 121 |
| 13 March 2022 | Holy Communion |
35 | 120 |
| 25 September 2022 |
Holy Communion |
30 | 60 |
| 23 October 2022 |
Holy Communion |
21 | 82 |
| 11 December 2022 |
Holy Communion |
24 | 51 |
During 2022 our livestreaming facility was used frequently for Baptisms, Funerals and Weddings together with many services having photograph presentations being projected onto a screen.
YouTube mid-week services produced by LLM Mel Eyeons
During 2022 Mel produced some more mid-week YouTube services for us – all of high quality and with regular viewing figures of 20-25. Mel’s services come with downloadable/readable resources and are very well planned and delivered. We are very grateful to Mel for providing this invaluable way of reaching out to people online.
Social Media outreach
The Paxtons Benefice Facebook Page
The Benefice Facebook page was created on 21 October 2012. It first appeared just after the CHUFT Project was completed and St James opened again after the re-ordering.
Since then, the Facebook page has reported on hundreds of benefice events and services, offered some prayer space and reflections and frequently shares thoughtful pictures from across our four churches.
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As mentioned in Annette’s introduction, we now have over 700 followers and, for reasons which are hard to fathom, some posts reach over 1000 people and others just over 200! We, naturally, have to be mindful of obtaining permission from people to post their picture and hope that we are always sensitive to this important safeguard.
We are always pleased when we receive positive comments about the page. It is a very good vehicle to use when commending our YouTube videos and we are grateful that there is no cost in having a Facebook Page account.
If you do engage with our Facebook Page, please do post or comment on something and say ‘hello’! Address for our Facebook Page is on Page 17.
The Benefice Website
Another source of news and events is the benefice website which is maintained by our administrator, Nicci Jones. There is a wealth of information about our benefice churches along with publicising the many activities which happen across the benefice. Among the pages, you will find a calendar with benefice events and a library of the Keeping in Touch weekly newsletters and back issues of the Quartet magazine. (Website details on Page 17)
KIT (Keeping in Touch) Weekly Newsletter
Keeping in Touch (KIT) was another product of lockdown. The first edition came out on 28 March 2020 as a way to keep in touch with one another as we faced what we hoped would be a few weeks of restrictions on meeting together.
Covering four sides of A5 in a leaflet format, originally produced to accompany the Sunday YouTube service, it contains prayers, readings, reflections and news. Distributed via email to folk on our parish database and, indeed, to anyone who expressed an interest in receiving it! 25+ copies are also hand delivered to folk in Little Paxton. We developed the design and incorporated some colour pictures and generally followed the bible themes of any particular Sunday.
KIT was produced throughout 2021 and 2022 and was particularly helpful in keeping in touch with those who were needing to stay at home.
Thank you to those who have written articles for the KIT and Helen Young for formatting the Vicar’s text and printing off the colour copies. At this point I would also like to thank Helen for preparing our Pews News during 2022.
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In March 2022 we hit the 100[th] edition, and we have no plans to stop its production and appreciate the positive feedback we have received.
Quartet – Monthly Benefice Newsletter
Several people contribute to the magazine regularly from across our benefice for which we are again grateful. Our thanks go to Ken and Alison Bowles who kindly distribute Quartet to the deliverers and for the efforts of those delivering around Little Paxton. Quartet is delivered to folk in Little Paxton who have signed up to receive the Newsletter at a cost of £5 per year. It can also be read on our benefice website. It is also sent out to households in our other three church communities and 450 copies are produced each month.
Community use of Church building
Throughout the year St James’ Church is used by many different groups and we frequently receive requests for new bookings.
The Groups who beneft from use of the church are :
Line-dancing group (Tuesday mornings) Tots and carers group (Wednesday mornings) Chair Pilates (Wednesday and Thursday afternoons) K-fit group - Pilates (Thursday mornings) Bell Ringing practice (Thursday evenings) Tea, Coffee and chat group (Friday mornings) Local History Group (monthly) Fish and chip lunches (monthly) Jubilee Knitters Group (monthly) (discontinued before the end of 2022)
Little Paxton W.I. (3[rd] Monday of the month) Little Paxton Pictures Cinema (last Tuesday of the month) Coffee Pot Memory Café members – Film (every 5[th] Wednesday of the month)
Simply Saturday – for those who like company on a Saturday (1[st] Saturday of the month)
SWITCH Group – Film shows when their timetable allows Little Paxton Pre-School Committee Meetings (every six weeks) Occasional choir practice nights Children’s parties for church linked families One off meetings for village groups, e.g. AGMs, Brownie events Deanery Synod meetings Deanery Chapter meetings Diocese meetings and trainings
Our community space was additionally used for the following events:
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15 January 2022 – Hosted the Gransdens Group for their annual awayday
11 February 2022 – Hosted the Grandparent Quilt display to raise awareness of grandparents unable to see their grandchildren.
March 2022 – Hosted as collection point for donations for the people of Ukraine. This was wonderfully supported by all in the benefice and a shipment was sent on Sunday 6 March.
As you can see from the extensive list … our church is busy on most days! With this in mind, at the PCC meeting on 9 March 2022 it was agreed that our Community Space Manager be able to claim up to 40 hours per month during busy times in the booking calendar.
All bookings are managed by our Benefice Administrator (Nicci Jones) and there is an on-line calendar which can be viewed on our benefice website.
Events, Films and special services that took place in 2022
| 25 January | Film – Finding your Feet |
|---|---|
| 22 February | Film – Brief Encounter |
| 29March | Film - Downton Abbey2019 |
| 30March | CofeePotCaféFilm – Doctor in theHouse |
| 12 April | Easter Film - Risen |
| 24 April | All Age Worship with Puppeteers Glenn and Maggie Coiley |
| 26April | Film – TheMan Who Shot LibertyValance |
| 13 May | Spring Concert with Stewartby Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society |
| 31 May | Film – Miss Congeniality |
| 3 June | Screenusedto showQueen’sPlatinumJubilee service |
| 5 June | Special service with Parish Council, Southoe singers and flm screen used to show photographs of the Queen in celebrationof her PlatinumJubilee |
| 28 June | Film –Sense and Sensibility |
| 29 June | CofeePotCaféFilm –Somelikeit Hot |
| 9 July | PAXFEST – VillageFetetheme |
| 26 July | Film – DirtyDancing |
| 30August | Film – Deathon theNile |
| 10 September |
Book of condolence for her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II availableinchurch for villagersto sign |
| 11 September |
Villagers invited to hear live the reading of the Proclamation of the Accession of His Majesty King CharlesIII |
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| 18 September |
Service in commemoration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II |
|---|---|
| 19 September |
Funeral service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II shown live onbig screen |
| 21 September |
1stnight of Deanery fve week evening Course discussing‘Livingin Love andFaith’. |
| 27 September |
Film – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy |
| 30 September |
Quiz night |
| 3 October | HarvestServicesfor LittlePaxtonSchool |
| 25 October | Film -OceansEleven |
| 26 October | Film - Monsters Inc (frst specifc flm for children since pre-covid) |
| 31October | Annual AllSoulsBenefce Service |
| 11 November | Tombola Stallat TheAnchor to supportCysticFybrosis |
| 13November | Annual Remembrance Service |
| 29November | Film –SleeplessinSeattle |
| 30November | CofeePotCaféFilm – It’s aWonderful Life |
| 7 December | Christingle-Scouts |
| 11 December | Carols by Candlelight |
| 22 December | Carols around the Christmas Tree supported by Little Paxtonpre-school |
| 27 November | Christingle– DistrictGuides |
Funding the mission of St James’ Church – Treasurer’s Report
From a financial perspective, 2022 has not been a good year. Although we managed to meet all our commitments (including paying our Ministry Share) this meant that our expenses for the year were £11,000 more than our income. Obviously this is not a pattern that can continue so we must either increase our income or reduce our expenditure to ensure future financial stability.
Our regular givers continued to give generously and we received a grant of £600 from the Diocese towards rising energy costs. The grants relating to Covid have all ended so we could have expected to be £18,500 down in 2022 but with our User Groups returning to pre-Covid usage, the income they provided was significantly higher than in 2021 and together with small increases in collection monies, fee income, Gift Aid and rent we have managed to reduce the loss to £11,000.
We are hoping to encourage the whole community to help us balance our books as so many are using our building and I look forward to delivering a more positive statement next year.
The Balance Sheet can be found in the Appendix to this Report. Please feel free to view the Income and Expenditure Report – copies are available in church.
Kate Bywater
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Treasurer
A big thank you to:
-
Kate Bywater for her much appreciated work as our Treasurer.
-
Alison Bowles for completing the Gift Aid returns.
-
Helen Young for running the 100 Club and to everyone who subscribes to
-
it – it
-
continues to provide a valuable source of income for the maintenance and upkeep of the church building, appliances and equipment. The 100 Club had 96 members by the end of 2022 (after some moved away during the year). The total profit for the year was a brilliant £2,805.
-
Sarah Symonds for auditing our accounts.
Mission Giving
In 2022, we were very pleased to donate a total of £1000, split between Little Paxton Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, Little Paxton Scouting, Caring for Cambridgeshire’s Homeless Project, Ely Diocesan Association of Bell Ringers, Save the Children, St John’s Hospice, Moggerhanger, Church Army Explore and Cambridge Emmaus.
However, as can be seen in the accounts, additional donations were made to:
-
Jimmy’s Night Shelter (£120 from the Harvest Service)
-
St John’s Hospice, Moggerhanger (£186 from the All-Souls Service)
-
Children’s Society (£115 from the Christingle Service)
Thank you to everyone who contributed to these charities.
Parish Giving Scheme
A small number of our regular congregation have signed up for the Parish Giving Scheme - a form of tax efficient giving by Direct Debit - and we are hoping to expand this during 2023 by involving our local community in a new way. Watch this space! All applications can now be completed on-line.
Church Fabric Report
In February 2022 a new water heater for making drinks and washing up was installed in the kitchen with funds from the 100 Club being used to help cover the cost.
2022 saw the PCC begin investigating and considering a suitable replacement for the South Porch Door which has become warped and
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difficult to lock. This is an involved process with architects, the Diocese Advisory Committee and Huntingdonshire District Council, including a Faculty application to the church. As this Annual Report is prepared, we have submitted a Faculty application to the Diocese and the Registry and we hope to have a new door in 2024!
| Item(s) inspected |
Inspectio n Frequenc y |
Inspection Date |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clock | Annual | 6 May 2022 | Maintenance survey carried out by Ken Heley, Eric Young and Alan Smith. PCC keeping under annual review the possible need for a professional inspection. |
| Efuent Pump |
5 yearly | 12 June 2019 |
Due in 2024 |
| Bells and Bell Frame |
25 May 2022 |
Service not required annually |
|
| PAT Testing | Annual | 21 June 2022 |
|
| Gutters | Annual | Feb2019 | To be donein 2023 |
| Electrics | 5 yearly | 17 Sept 2018 |
Due in 2023 |
| Boiler Service |
Annual | 21 Feb 2022 | New boiler installed 6 February2021 |
| Lightning Conductors |
5 yearly | 7 June 2021 | Due in 2026 |
| Fire Extinguishe rs |
Annual | 23 Feb 2022 | Also carried out 25 Nov 2022 |
| Drains, Gulleys & lighting |
Unofcial | Not inspected |
Drains and accessible gulleys cleaned 22 February 2022. Thank you to Ken Heley, Eric Young and Alan Smith for looking after. |
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Safeguarding Report for the Benefice of the Paxtons with Diddington and Southoe
Our work is based on the House of Bishops statement:
The Church of England safeguarding policy statement is based on five foundations and offers six overarching policy commitments:
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Promoting a safer environment and culture
-
Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young
people and vulnerable adults within the Church
-
Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
-
Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons
-
Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other
affected persons
- Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others
Nicci Jones kindly agreed to be our named Safeguarding Officer. During 2022 Graeme Anness has been assisting Nicci in carrying out the required three yearly DBS checks for benefice PCC members. We continue to use the Diocesan website Safeguarding Dashboard for monitoring and recording safeguarding practices required of each church community. The team endeavours to keep up-to-date and deal with any action requests from Ely Diocese.
Every three years, all Church officers are required to repeat their highest level of training course completed and training is taking place in the Spring of 2023. Safeguarding is on every agenda of all benefice PCC Meetings and APCMs to ensure we are all very conscious of this important caring responsibility. Safeguarding contact details are available in all four of our benefice churches.
The PCC would like to take this opportunity to thank Nicci Jones and Graeme Anness for their work in the essential roles of Benefice Safeguarding and DBS Checker. We would also like to thank Nicci Jones for being our interim named Benefice Safeguarding Officer.
The PCC are currently looking for a person (or persons) who might like to be involved with this very important work of safeguarding. If you are interested, or know of someone who may be interested, in being our DBS Checker or Safeguarding Officer, please do get in touch with one of the team.
Deanery Synod Report
In 2022, St Neots Deanery Synod met on the following dates:
8 March at Great Staughton Church
The main topic was social media and how we are now using it, including live streaming.
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Other issues included the forthcoming visit of Bishop Stephen to the Deanery in April and how we were handling Holy Communion post lockdown.
25 May at Buckden Church
Mike Kelly, Youth and families development officer, led the main topic ‘Growing Faith with young people’. Lay Chair Janet Perrett introduced Prof Nigel Baston who had taken on responsibility for co-ordinating parish responses to the St Neots Deanery Plan process.
13 July at Little Paxton
Martin MacFarlene, Deanery Treasurer, gave a thorough financial report. Martin was presented with a farewell card and the Deanery’s thanks for serving as Deanery Treasurer.
Rural Dean Nicki Bland advised people of when the Living in Love and Faith Groups would be running in Little Paxton Church. There was an opportunity for parishes to share what was going well and Annette commended the September 2022 CHCT Ride and Stride event.
9 November at Gamlingay Church
The Rural Dean explained that there was currently a shortfall in the total amount that Deanery parishes had paid in ministry share. Various solutions to this problem were discussed.
Regarding the Deanery plan, there was now an extension till September 2023 for each Deanery to submit their findings. Nigel Bastin gave an update on the planning process.
On 2 April, 2022, Little Paxton hosted a meeting for Clergy and Deanery Synod members with Bishop Stephen to discuss the Deanery Plan and the best way forward with that process.
Ven Hugh McCurdy retired in April 2022 as Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech and a Deanery Farewell Service was held for him at Great Paxton Church with a gathered choir from across our four churches. Rev Nicholas Thistlethwaite was appointed as an interim archdeacon until the Ven Richard Harlow was introduced to the Diocese at his collation in September 2022.
St James’ Church, Little Paxton, hosted five weekly meetings in September and October for PCCs and Electoral Roll members to discuss ‘Living in Love and Faith’ which explored identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage in the contexts of the Christian faith, changes in society, and disagreements in the church. A response from the General Synod was due after their meeting in February 2023.
Our thanks to Nicci Jones and Anita Bailey for serving as our representatives on the Deanery Synod during 2022
Churchyard Team Report
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After the record breaking temperatures of the summer of 2022, the churchyard grass is now back to its luscious green, and has already had a couple of trims.
Whilst the grass was dormant, the team kept on top of the fallen leaves and Mary continues to keep the graves tidy and free from weeds.
The team has unfortunately gotten smaller yet again. Mick left last year, and I have had to give up, due to ill health. Dave and the boys will soldier on, keeping our churchyard a pleasure to walk through. Roll on spring! Frankie Lovelock (Jan 23)
The PCC and congregation have been extremely grateful to Frankie, Barbara and the team and for the wonderful way they have looked after our churchyard. We shall really miss Frankie and Barbara as they have worked so hard for so many years. Thank you Frankie and team. Thanks and all good wishes to Dave Gutteridge and the team. The churchyard gives much pleasure to us all.
Tower Captain’s report
2022 has been a busy year for the bellringers. We have rung for most Sunday services and continued with our practice sessions on Thursday evenings.
The 3[rd] of June saw the Platinum Jubilee celebrations begin and we joined in with the rest of the country in ringing the bells to mark 75 years on the throne for our Queen, Elizabeth II. The bells were also rung on 5[th] June to end the celebrations.
On 9[th] September, the half-muffled tenor was tolled for 1 hour, in mourning for our Queen, Elizabeth II. 3 of our ringers took it in turns to toll.
On 11[th] September we rang open (i.e. no muffles) rounds on 4 bells following the Proclamation of King Charles, successor to the throne.
On 18[th] September the half-muffled bells were rung for the service of commemoration for our Queen and also on 19[th] September preceding the state funeral, which was shown in the church.
A bell has been tolled for 10 funerals and bells rung for 4 weddings.
We had 3 visiting bands, 1 of which rang a quarter peal.
In May the bells, frame and working parts had their service by Taylors, and everything was passed as good.
Once again, I would like to finish by saying thank you to all the ringers who support St James and dedicate their time to the Thursday practice and service ringing. It is important to keep the art of ringing alive and to give service to the church in this way.
Mary Parnham Tower Captain/Ringing Master
18
The PCC and congregation are extremely grateful to Mary and her team.
‘Simply Saturday’ Report
2022 was very busy for ‘Simply Saturday’ as we returned to normal meetings.
We had a stall at Paxfest to reintroduce ourselves and the group and we had a ‘Guess the sweet game’ and a raffle to win a Tesco £15 voucher. This event gave us the opportunity to let people know who we were and the entertainment coming up for the rest of the year.
Meetings started in January with a porcelain flower demonstration. We had a full programme of entertainment for 2022 and had a busy couple of months which were well attended and, to name a couple of the entertainers …. Sandy Ukulele Group and Chris Bylett Ventriloquist towards the end of the year. We had our Christmas lunch at the end of November with a solo singer singing Christmas songs.
We have a full packed programme of events booked for 2023!
Simply Saturday Report Contd ..
Simply Saturday meetings are usually held on the first Saturday of each month, 12.30 – 2.30pm, and start with a ‘bring & share’ lunch followed by some entertainment or games/activities from around 1.30pm. Posters are displayed and information shown in various publications, detailing any variations to the meeting dates and what entertainment and activities there will be. You are welcome to come for the activity time only if you prefer. We ask for a £2 donation towards costs, and also usually have a raffle which costs £1 per strip.
We have been very grateful for various grants to help towards providing entertainment and for our Christmas lunch this year we were fortunate to receive a grant from Kingfisher Funeral Services and we were very grateful to have had a Parish council grant to help provide funds for our entertainment from the start of the year.
Leisa Hunt
19
Contact details:
The Reverend Canon Annette Reed
The Vicarage, 24 St James’ Road, Little Paxton, PE19 6QW Tel: 01480 211048
Email: canonannettereed@gmail.com
Churchwarden
Helen Young
10 Little Paxton Lane, Little Paxton, PE19 6EP
Tel: 01480 216255
Email: young_paxton@ntlworld.com
Benefice Administrator (Churchwarden and Safeguarding Officer)
Nicci Jones
c /o The Vicarage, 24 St James’ Road, Little Paxton, PE19 6QW
Tel: 01480 877215
Email: admin@thepaxtonsbenefce.org
Treasurer
20
Kate Bywater Email: kbywater.church@gmail.com
PCC Secretary
Anita Bailey Tel: 01480 535002 Email: ajlbailey@aol.com
15 Jubilee Close, Little Paxton, PE19 6QG
Community Space Manager
Graeme Anness Email: graemeanness@gmail.com
Benefice Website www.thepaxtonsbenefce.org
Facebook www.facebook.com/ThePaxtonsBenefce
(All information contained in this report is correct at the time of printing)
Appendix
21
St James Llttle Paxton PCC A¢counts for Year to 31 DeCoMr 2022 2022 2021 Income Collertlons sunday Worship Weddin Funerals and Mem SYC 4.515.47 10.00 0.00 817.39 291.10 172.96 191.10 3.998.09 43.93 572.81 376.56 Harvest Chrlstmas S,998.02 2.434.90 9.488.70 5.039.79 34.273.08 9,880.SO Donatn5 Covenants IRe Loans reteived EI DB Gift Aid RefvTrd CBF In¢ome Fund 4,158.76 841.69 3,918.96 624.56 Net Gross Net Gross ecial Events Bedford Bra$5Concert Chrlstm¥$ 8azaarlMarket Am4zon Smile P3xfÈ# Co- Local tommuni Quiz Night Gilbert & Sulllvan 5ocle Recycle 4 Charit Tombola at The Anchor Tower Fund Books 0.00 696.67 91S.96 34.11 1.636.30 1.274.65 18.09 1.475.62 1.24a.48 24S.00 412.70 2.so 168.00 18.09 1,475.62 1,241.48 245.DD 565 (X) 34.11 1,237.45 1,274.65 Fund Concert 0.00 i68.) 0.00 4.27 21.80 6.25 iO.(M) 4.27 21.80 6.25 3820 38.20 Presèrves 10.00 383.681 189.91 Children'5 Worksho Film Shows Caro15 Around the Tree Total Other- Benefice contiibutsons Grant Grave rÈservatyoD fee DioEe5e fEes Statutory retained fees Heatin flowers etc Total IPartles 321.77 768.84 156.64 491.42 156.64 4.fffjO.IY) 4.679.a7 1,938.30 3,C•l.43 4,395.76 2,424.57 18.fAM).IM) 3(M).IKJ SunLI Fee5 5.385.00 3.60S. 350.co 2.878.00 2,526.00 210.00 9.341.Q) 797.50 2,284.35 825.00 4.089.54 5.614. 667.50 761.45 815.CQ 1,589.89 P3rlsh Councll Rent Quirtetl Church Use Villageviewsdelive Subtotsl 47A713 88,Y)5.06 General account balance at Istjanuary aank actount l at istlanua general al 21,47&77 1g.I04.32 Interes1 Transfers in Transfer out 111515.201 95.92 0.00 112,515.20 Projec5Account baLan¢eat 15tJanuary 95.92 Interest 0.00 0.00 9,5(D(K) 21.740.03 Transfer out 9S.92 SS.92 Restoration acrouni at 1st J3nua 61412003D 31.240.03 Transfer Injoonations Grants Payments Interest 31,240.03 31.240.03 100 Club balance at tstJ8Dua 13.715. 4.805.tyJ 480.WI 120.WI 12.980.001 10,90S.(K) S,810.Tr) DonatlOnS Transferout HDC Lottery Llce Draw mènts 12D.00 12,980.001 ,040.f 13,715.00 Thè Children's lety mone held b PCC &mptySaturd mone hÈld b PCC Total 115,315.85 140545.13 Pagelof2 Income & Expendliure 2022 221231 ¥2.. FlnalAcs
stjaM LIto Paxton PCC Accounts for Yrt0 31st D8Cgm 22 2022 Expenditure Minist share Virar'5 EM 32,783.81 963.48 32,23S.56 1.682.40 292.05 1,189 60 Ses se5 Co dm1n Quartet magazine 1,293.52 992. Wafer5lcandleslBlbles/CertslCr0s5es St Neots Deane Benefi GathÈrln Beneflce administrator 506.08 7.60 4.058.25 3,748.50 40,597.14 39.935.71 Fabric & Maintenance Restora0 Cayetaker Insurar¢e Churchyard Maintenance Elethcity a5 1.489.92 3,383.64 1,788.12 478.38 772.07 189.241 1,957.50 1.707.72 1.408.96 480.40 664.62 0.00 4,476.00 318.00 123.74 0.00 0.00 lJ21 84 20.78 170.(kl 269.34 672.36 252.(X) An lièn Water Sund Malntenance Housekeeping Bell Maintenanie Tollèt Evituatlon Service Co ierlToner Flowp Total 262.84 3.iKI 175.86 11 13429 11.223.56 5.OM.00 Loan re mpnts @x 599.37 120.IQ 185.74 1,454.33 230.fy) 125.ty) 35.00 255.00 50.00 Sund Donations Jimmy's Ni ht Shelte io Children'5 Socie Sue R der P105pice Camb5 Hisiorlc Churches Scout jamboree TempDrary SUP Parish Gr]n Total Fees £ DBF Culture Recovery Fund Grant ending 186.00 50. ort 12,430.651 1,535.00 1.070. l261.zl 1,2S3.6B Sund Payments 3.884. 2.878.00 12,707.70 i.99 307.31 Streamins Cupboard Tots Grou ment & expenses The GDodb¢x Co. & Surnup Flist Trainln Sundry T•tsi 450.70 2.59 130.(M) 358.61 152.85 4,467.Z9 58.459.93 IG,G04A6 7417A1 Subtotsl General Account balaDce Accruals Pro'e¢ts BaDkAccount CCLA Account 4- RestDrètiOn Fund 100 Club Account Total 10,958.69 1468.72 95.92 23.671.23 I2.2.46} 95.92 31,240.03 13.715.(N) 140.Y&13 31,240.03 15.040.(K) 115,3Z5.85 CheckTotsl.. CLAA¢¢ourt614142ts)IS-Chuv¢h L•nd$ 1.031 share5 at 2066.14 pence pershare pricel £21,301.90 Pa8e2of2 Income & EXpendVre 2022 221231 v2.. Flnal A¢$
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Independent examinerfs report to the PCC of St James Little Paxton This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31" December 2022. which are set out on pages l and 2, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 20061.the Regulations'l and s.43 of the Charities Act 19931'the Act'l. Respective responsibilities of the PCC and examiner As a member of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements,. you consider that the audit requirement of the Regulations and s.43121 of the Act doe5 not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations. Basis of this report My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under s.43171 Ibl of the Act and to be found in the Church guidance, 2006 edition. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examinerfs ststement In connection with my examination, no matter has cometo my attention- 111 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements a. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Att,. and To prepare financial statement. which accord with the accounting record5 and comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, have not been met.. 121 to which. in my opinion. attention should be drawn in older to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Sarah E Symonds 6 Elm Croft Little Paxton Date- 15 March 2023