## **The Annual Report Including the Financial Statements of**
‘’The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Castle Bromwich’’
## **Year ending December 2023**
(Registered Charity No. 1146681)
## **Promoting in the Ecclesiastical Parish**
**the whole mission of the church**
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**Structure, Governance and Management**
The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956. as amended and church representation rules.
St Mary and St Margaret is registered with the Charity Commission as ‘’The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Castle Bromwich’’ Charity No. 1146681
The method of appointment of PCC/Trustee members is set out in the Church Representation Rules.
All regular attendees at the church are encouraged to register on the electoral roll which enables them to vote and to stand for election to the PCC.
The PCC/Trustees of
‘’The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Castle Bromwich’’
_ex officio_ 1 Rector (from 2[nd] October 2023) Revd. Fiona Harrison-Smith MA, BA(Hons) BMus(Hons)
_ex officio_ 2 Churchwardens
Mrs Lisa Wakeman Mrs Anita Low (elected 21[st] May)
_ex officio_ 3 Deanery Synod representatives Mr Dennis Jorden (resigned 21[st] May) Mrs Karon Ward (re-elected 5[th] July) Mrs Deborah Bates (elected 5[th] July) Mrs Jackie Harris (elected 5[th] July) Mrs Lisa Wakeman (elected 5th July)
_ex officio_ 4 Mrs Alyson Rickus Lay Reader
12 elected members
Mrs Elaine Jeffs (Treasurer) Mr David Greaves (Lay Chair) Mrs Shirley Middlemass Mrs Susan Bates Mrs Laura Fallows Mrs Margaret Grady Miss Laurie Fisher Ms Helen Giles Mrs Mary Jones Mrs Tricia Richards Mrs Deborah Bates (elected to Deanery Synod 5[th] July)
Bank Lloyds Bank, High Street, Sutton Coldfield
Independent Examiner Martin Lawrence, 213 Station Road, Stechford, Birmingham, B33 8BB
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## **Aims and purpose**
The aims and purpose of the church remains undiminished where the mission, outreach, thanksgiving, and celebration are at the heart of the ethos in our parish. We are an open and inclusive Church and warmly welcome everyone at St. Mary and St. Margaret, whatever their background or previous experience of Christian worship. We are looking to grow every individual as a Child of God through close ties with the Church school and in our wider Church community.
**Our Mission** is to be relevant in this community and beyond, through loving Christian service.
**Our Aim** is to be a living, vibrant, witnessing Church at the centre of our Community.
## **Vision for the Future**
In 2019 we started our Transforming Church journey to grow our Church and meet the needs of an everchanging society. We embarked on a journey of reflection to consider who we are, who our community thinks we are and where God is calling us. With the arrival of our new Rector we have begun to look at what this could look like for us and the next steps to achieve all that God is calling us into
## 1. **To be a prayerful and Christ led Church: centered on the needs of the congregation, and wider Community. Caring and compassionate to all that live** . **and work in Castle Bromwich, regardless of age, culture, needs, or background**
2. **To Support our Church School family, fostering a mutual spiritual and pastoral partnership with Children, Teachers, and parents** .
3. **To be Open, welcoming, and hospitable – sharing the Love of Jesus with everyone, regardless of who they are or why they join us. Whether new, of long standing or visiting, make everyone feel at home and included as we seek to** .
**broaden the diversity of our outreach and grow new disciples**
4. **To provide worship that satisfies the needs of all ages, abilities, and lifestyles, meeting people where they are in their Christian Journey.**
## 5 **. To be mission led – taking the word of Jesus out into the Community. Linking up with people, other communities and Churches on joint ventures that** . **strengthen connection and unity between our different congregations**
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## 6. **Provide a regular programme of activities to support Christian journeys. Creating a Discipleship Pathway particularly for new Christians, Children, Youth,** . **and families to grow their faith**
## 7. **To be an Environmentally responsible Church – committed to being stewards of God’s Creation**
The PCC is looking at ways in which we can become carbon neutral.
## 8 **. To provide a thriving Christian Ministry for Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) – in the belief that children and young people can follow Jesus and be full members of the Church and are integral to church growth.**
## **Objects and Activities**
We have a thriving and inclusive all-age congregation from many walks of life. While many people come from the local community – the village setting of Castle Bromwich with its Hall and Gardens – many others are drawn from further afield and from different Christian traditions. By providing a variety of services and worship styles we hope that most needs are catered for while creating the conditions for discipleship and spiritual growth, development and wellbeing. We also have an excellent relationship with our local church school, St. Mary and St. Margaret CE Aided Primary School, where children participate in weekly clergy led worship, both in the school and in the church setting. Our family church team are working hard to improve these links.
Our Community Hall provides for our own needs while broadening our community outreach by offering a broad range of services and activities that have both deepened and strengthened our local ties while fostering and developing community cohesion.
## **Worship and Services**
Until October we were in vacancy and relied on visiting clergy to lead our worship. We are very grateful to everyone who helped to ensure we continued to have a Sunday Communion Service each week. We are extremely grateful to all the visiting clergy who have led us in our worship. Visiting clergy were ably helped by our small band of loyal servers and administrants who supported them, their help has been an invaluable resource and they continue to support our rector.
We were able to continue our Wednesday morning services, twice monthly. When we had no clergy cover, these services were led by Mary Jones and Lisa Wakeman with a spiritual communion. A class from our church school join us at the Wednesday service.
Revd. Fiona Harrison-Smith has been with us since 2[nd] October. Our Sunday Communion services are now at 9:30 or 11:00 and we have a communion service on alternate Wednesdays. Café Worship services take place once a month.
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In 2023, the parish undertook
- 9 church funerals,
- 20 baptisms
- 5 weddings
Our current service patterns are as follows:
- Sunday: Holy Communion Service at 9:30 or 11:00am
- Baptism every 1[st] Sunday of the month11:00 am
- Café Worship every third Sunday 11:00 am in church community hall
- Family Communion on alternate Wednesdays of the month at 9:30. During term time, a class from our church school join us.
## **Pastoral Care and Counselling**
There are 11 members on the Pastoral Team. We held 6 meetings during the year. Summer Outing was on 22nd July by coach to Nottingham, for a River cruise with meal on the River Trent. We had 50 people attend. It was very successful and all enjoyed the outing .
We held 4 Luncheon Club meals in the Church Hall Which were all well attended . Our Christmas Meal was held at Castle Bromwich Hall Hotel on12th December, 72 people attended from both Church and the community.
Coffee Mornings were held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.
Bereavement Group meets on the 2nd Monday of the month 1.30 -3pm and continues to be well attended.
All Souls Service was held 2pm on November 5th In Church with tea and coffee after the Service in the Church Hall. All who came appreciated the Service , but attendance numbers were low, so we have decided to make it later in the afternoon next year in the hope more will attend .
The Pastoral group continue to send Thinking of You Cards to the sick and those in need of support. We also visit the sick and Housebound , and take communion to those unable to attend Church .
## **Baptism Team**
Lisa Wakeman and Shirley Middlemass look after baptism arrangements. There were 19 Baptisms during 2023. Thanksgiving and Preparation Services have resumed and are held every 3 months, with additional Baptism’s taking place prior to Thanksgiving service.
## **Café Worship Team**
Café Worship is informal All Age Worship that takes place monthly in the hall on Sunday mornings. It consists of refreshment, songs, prayers, games, activities, and
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crafts all based around a Bible Theme. Our mission is certainly messy, and people and relationships take priority over formality and structure. Children learn from the adults and adults can learn from the children.
In 2023 Café Worship remained popular with families and was well attended, and in addition to the regular Sunday Café Worship sessions we organised the following activities.
- Palm Praise,
- Epiphany Party
- Light Party
- Harvest service and Flowerpot Trail
## **The Mothers’ Union**
We continue to run our well attended Wednesday monthly friendship afternoons. All ages are welcome.
Highlighted meetings, March - Mothering Sunday we once again made and distributed daffodil posies and bookmarks.
In June we held our messy church with year 3 from our church school and the young families from church. Young and old sharing in song, prayer and fellowship, and working together on a craft to take home, this year it was about Gods creation, it was a joy to spend time together, truly echoed in our reading ‘and God said it was good’(Genesis).
Later in the year thanks to the MU Birmingham trustees and the generosity of the late Pat Law we were able to present to Hope on Smiths Wood Rainbows, much needed items, how wonderful that we were able to help this little local group and it gave us as a group encouragement to share what we as the Mothers’ Union stand for by helping to build a future where children thrive and can share fun and joy with each other. Finally in December we held our annual afternoon Carol service which was well attended, we enrolled and welcomed 3 new members including our eagerly awaited new Rector and we once again collected an amazing amount of goods for women’s aid. Our members continue to be very active within church life and have been delighted to serve our new rector, the congregation and community during the past year and we are eagerly looking forward to what 2024 brings.
## **The Family Church Team**
Family Church is a group, made up of volunteers with a commitment to promote faith in our community.
Our Aim is to create an environment that nurtures faith and promotes a welcoming relationship – especially with those Seeking, new Christians, young people, and families: And to provide worship that is varied, interactive and engaging – to help families understand better and grow in faith. We appreciate the challenges of bringing children to Church and strive to make it easier.
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We draw on the skills and talents across a wide range of Family Church volunteers – and provide a platform where we support one another, share, discuss and explore new ideas.
Café Worship, Baby and Me and Wayfarers are an important part of Family Church – and will have submitted their own reports. In addition - Family Church volunteers came together to organise the following events in 2023.
- Community Pancake Race
- Community Rounders in the Park
- Community Games in the grounds
- Community Harvest All Age service followed by Flowerpot Trail in the grounds.
- Harvest School visit for Nursery and Reception children from Church School
- Community Carols under the Stars and Nativity Trail
Christmas Craft Time was organised by Laura and Jackie. A day of family fun and crafts – including a visit from Santa. This was very popular and a sell-out support event for families. They also organised the Autumn Craft Fayre that also proved very popular.
## **Wayfarers**
Wayfarers is the Sunday School for primary aged children ( 4-11 years) and we met in the Community Hall, after the Gospel during the 10.00a.m. service, on the first and third Sundays (term time only).The children on our roll enjoy the group, learning about the Bible and the Christian faith in a fun and interactive way, often including messy church elements.
Our two main activities during the year were enacting the events of Holy week at the Good Friday Children’s service and the presentation of the Nativity at the Children’s Christmas Eve service.
Our Good Friday Service this year was a Messy church craft workshop with the congregation moving around church and the hall to five stations making 5 items depicting elements of the Easter story (a palm leaf, chalice, prayer leaf, cross and Easter basket/nest). A retiring collection was taken for The Leprosy Mission. Following discussion with Revd Fiona we opted to do a Christmas Eve interactive service again with children and some parents from the congregation dressing up and acting the parts as our two narrators read the story. The service was well attended. A retiring collection was taken for The Children’s Society.
Further discussions were held during the year between Family Church group members and Rev Fiona regarding the way forward for Wayfarers due to continuing low numbers. The outcome was that we trial a Messy Church approach, meeting once a month on the 3[rd] Sunday. September saw the launch of a 3 month trial of Messy Church. It was decided to allow 3 year olds to attend if accompanied by one adult. Format to include Bible story, prayers, game and crafts. Café Worship team members volunteered to help out on a rota basis, many thanks go to them all for their support. The first session attracted 13 children and the 2 subsequent sessions 19 children. When asked if
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they were enjoying Messy Church a positive response was given by children and parents.
When I met with Rev Fiona in November to discuss the Family Christmas Eve Service we also discussed my wish to stand down as Wayfarers leader. After 27 years I felt it was time to finish. My decision to stand down was not a sudden or an easy one. It was agreed I would finish after the January session. I have many fond memories of my time as Leader and thank all the helpers over the years for their help and support with special thanks to Mary Jones and Julie Fisher. I wish Messy Church every success in the future.
Maralyn Guise
## **Baby & Me Friendship Café**
2023 saw Baby & Me celebrate its 5th birthday with moms attending the twice monthly sessions as part of their regular routine. Attendance peaked and troughed but there was an average attendance of approximately 10 parents per session. Feedback for the group continues to be encouraging and supportive of the safe environment we are trying to create for new parents.
We also hosted our second Wave of Light Service in aid of Baby Loss Awareness Week in October, with an improvement of attendance from the previous year with some repeat visitors who used the service to remember historic loss. We included more religious content following feedback from the previous service and this was gratefully received by those in attendance.
The grass roots function of the group has also been proven by the attendance of parents and their families at other church community events such as the summer fete, harvest festival and Christmas festivities.
In the winter of 2023, Leigh tendered her resignation as leader of the group, with the last session to be held in March 2024. This is due to a change in work and family commitments.
## **Bell Ringers**
This year has been a year of inclusion and community for CBB! In this year we welcomed many new faces as well as some old friends. Not only have our great successes been in extending our community outreach but also in our bell ringing progress and general ability.
Our links with neighbouring towers has grown much stronger this year. We have been visited by numerous towers and are clearly part of the bell ringing landscape. We welcome frequent and weekly visitors from Sheldon and Coleshill Belltowers, these friends and ringers are no longer visitors but instead an important part of our ringing family at CBB. They have not only enriched our Wednesday evening rehearsals but also our open days, heritage days, weddings, and Sunday morning rings! For their support and company we are very thankful! Along with the captains of Coleshill we organised our first joint tower tour, visiting three new towers all in one day. This day was a
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massive success culminating in a pub meal in Coleshill. Plans for another tour of new Belltowers in Stourbridge are already in hand for 2024!
We have welcomed our new vicar, Fiona, and her family this year. We met on a few occasions and thoroughly enjoyed inviting the family to our bellringers' Christmas Curry. This saw current and alumni ringers meet Fiona and her family in a wonderful social event with some smashing food! At the same event our three best ringers also got to know the band even better too.
We continue our links with local girl guiding groups and have welcomed many young ladies on tours of the tower and church. Jean and Ben have lead some tours based on the late Bill Dargue's famously fun and informative tours. The band have given demonstrations and tours of the bell towers and roof space to girl guides as well as on multiple Heritage Days and the Summer Fete.
With the addition of new learner bell ringers and the support from Coleshill and Sheldon, we have progressed greatly in our ringing ability. The band ring numerous new methods and can now ring 60 changes of Bob Doubles with bobs as well as many other Doubles, Minimus, and a few Minor methods. Our rate of progress and general ability has not only improved, this only adds to our already happy tower that value our fun and enjoyment in equal measure to our ringing.
## **Choir and Organ**
From January 2023 Stuart Jeffs joined the organist rota, playing for the second Sunday of each month and by March, leading the choir for practice on a Thursday evening. The choir is a little depleted in numbers at the present time with four Sopranos, Two Altos, one tenor and one bass totalling eight members. It is hoped to increase the membership during 2024 by holding a number of ‘open’ sessions.
The choir sang anthems for the Easter and Holy Week services and a wedding in July with thanks Margaret Croucher for playing the organ and piano.
From September 2023, Stuart Jeffs became the ‘full-time temporary’ organist having left a position in Handsworth, with the possibility of becoming the permanent organist and musical director in the future, and the choir have continued to meet on a Thursday to rehearse hymns an anthem for services.
The choir supported the singing during our ‘9 Lessons and Carols’ service in December and it was a thoroughly enjoyable event, they had worked hard to learn some Christmas pieces including one written by Stuart.
The organ has continued to be a fine instrument since it’s rebuilding and is now regularly tuned and minor tweaks made when Rodney Briscoe from Boggis & Co visits. It is hoped that 2024 will be the start of an exciting new period for music at St Mary and St Margaret’s church and there are a number of plans for events in the near future to raise the profile of our music and worship.
We are appreciative of the input and efforts of every choir member who turn up each week and we look forward to future growth.
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**The Flower Arrangers** bring both beauty and colour into our worship. We are thankful that we have this small and yet willing band who work hard to produce their excellent and stunning floral arrangements. We had beautiful floral displays for Easter, Patronal, and Christmas services. Thanks must go to all those who contributed to the cost of the flowers.
**Church Cleaners** another small but willing band of loyal volunteers who have the thankless task of cleaning our beautiful old church, their efforts are very much appreciated. However, more volunteers would be welcome.
**Gardening Group** we are pleased with the success of the church and hall garden, it provides a tranquil and relaxing area to refresh the Spirit, however as it becomes more mature it is harder to keep tidy but thanks to the tireless work of our small group of gardening volunteers it remains a lovely place to sit and reflect.
## **Charity Fund Raising**
We have resumed support Malawi through Lent collection boxes, Children’s Society collection at Christingle Service and St Basil’s collection boxes during Advent.
## **Hall Management Team**
The Community Hall is run by the Hall Management Team who report to the PCC. Policies and Procedures are kept up to date.
The Community Hall office is staffed by a part time Parish Administrator who deals with all hall enquires and bookings as well as supporting the worship team with administration.
The Hall has both a music licence and alcohol licence.
The are several regular paid bookings for the hall, with Yoga classes and courses, Pilates classes, Baby Massage/Sensory Courses, Dance Classes, Mother & Baby exercise class and Martial Arts groups.
Wayfarers and Café-Worship use the hall for their worship.
Use by community groups, such as Baby and Me, along with Wednesday coffee mornings, Bereavement Support Group, Mothers Union meetings, Luncheon Club and Soup and Rolls Lunches are popular with church members and community alike . These events provide important opportunities for outreach, as they are attended by many people from the wider community, as well as Church regulars.
## **Safeguarding**
We work to provide a safe and caring community, through respectful pastoral ministry, for all our parishioners and congregation. Our clergy, Reader and all volunteers, who work with children, young people and vulnerable adults, are DBS checked and attend the relevant diocesan run safeguarding training courses. The majority of members of the PCC have also renewed their safeguarding training using the new sessions available online from Birmingham Diocese and, in compliance with the directive from the Church
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of England, are also DBS checked. Our safeguarding policies and procedures are discussed and approved annually at PCC meetings. The PCC has also appointed a children’s advocate and an adult’s advocate, who sit on the PCC to represent the interests of these vulnerable groups.
The PCC has complied with its duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have due regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. St. Mary & St. Margaret is using the Parish Dashboard which gives us visibility of all policies, procedures and training for our church, related to keeping our church community safe. Our Parish Safeguarding CoOrdinator reports at each PCC meeting and presents a Parish Dashboard action plan at regular intervals for PPC approval.
## **Church/Hall Fabric**
During 2023 we needed to have some of our light fittings repaired and ensured that the bulbs were replaced with LED bulbs as part of our drive to cut our carbon footprint. Everyone was pleased to see the lighting in glass panel near the South door, which dates back to the 1700s, successfully repaired.
The Remembrance chapel had been used for storage of the Christmas stage and grotto. These became surplus to requirements and permission was granted for removal and safe eco recycling, allowing us to restore the Remembrance altar with candles and a cross for all visitors to appreciate the beauty in time for the Remembrance service at the beginning of November.
Following the annual service, the boiler was condemned and needed a vast amount of work to bring it back to use to safely heat our church building. A new pump, PCR board and fan were replaced and thankfully the boiler is now working and the church is a warm welcoming place. Next year we will need to deal with the ingress of water through the cellar walls where the boiler is sited.
## **Building & Heritage Committee**
It has been a busy year for the Building and Heritage Committee with the following projects being considered:-
1. External Storage facility
2. AV upgrade in the church and community hall
3. New Boiler and making the boiler room watertight so we can continue to use this area in the future.
4. Investigation into renewables i.e. solar panels, heat pump, under pew heating
5. Looking into the Quinquennial work needed to maintain our building.
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Regarding items 1, 2 and 3 we have sent faculty applications or preview applications to the DAC which are all still under consideration.
Item 4 is a much longer project requiring a lot of consultation with the DAC and Council Planners. We have an estimate cost of between £50k to £70k for this work to be done. The PCC has agreed to invest 50% in this project with other outside funding required. We would hope to save a substantial amount of our present energy cost giving a good return on our investment. This initiative stems from the C of E policy to reduce our carbon footprint to zero by 2030.
Item 5 has just started and we are in the process of costing the urgent repairs needed.
All the above will require us to apply for grants including the Heritage Lottery Fund.
We are actively involved in the C of E backed Eco Church initiative. This comprises three awards Bronze, Silver and Gold. We were fortunate to be granted our bronze award and we will be trying to move to the next level. However, this requires our church to embrace all aspects of eco church including the reduction of our carbon footprint and develop a Biodiversity policy. Its all about how we care for God’s earth in different areas of our church life and work.
We applied and received two grants £10k from Awards for All and £10k from Heritage Lottery development. The Awards for All mainly related to funding an energy advisor, video of the church history and promoting warmer church initiatives. The Heritage Lottery development grant related to the sharing and interpreting our heritage. This covered Heritage events, improving the web site, energy and environmental consultation report, Architectural fees (Quinquennial building work) and community consultation and Fund-raising strategy.
Many thanks to all Committee members for their help over the past 12 months.
## **Coleshill & Polesworth Deanery Synod**
There were 3 Deanery synod meetings held in 2023
The 9[th] Coleshill & Polesworth Deanery Synod meeting was held in February 2023 by Zoom.
The Diocese’s finance director and finance manager explained to Synod what the finance team can do for parishes.
The main focus of the meeting was Eco Church, Net Zero and Environmental Focus. Revd Patrick Gerard welcomed the synod to the discussion. Information was given about how we are all facing a crisis with Climate Change, Justice Issues and the release of Carbon gasses into the air – Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Coal, Oil and Gas.
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In 2020 the Church of England took a bold lead that they would be Net Zero by 2030. John Haywood explained how we can tie what we can do, to the Church of England’s “Five Marks of Mission”. John also explained to us the Eco Church tool that was available online and some tips for Parishes to use. By using the Eco Church Tool it will give churches a snap shot as to where they are currently sitting and what they can work towards.
Heather Holmes explained some ideas that could be implemented into Parishes as well as explaining the Practical Path to Net Zero Checklist.
Revd Patrick Gerard shared a video of what the Church of England are already doing and some of the ideas that could be implemented: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_zbx7_UU1k&t=7s
Marylin Hull explained what kind of support there was out there and what work was already going on. BACA have Zooms coming up in the year that would be very helpful to attend.
The following motion by the Deanery Synod was created and unanimously voted for by Deanery Synod Representatives
‘’This Deanery Synod recognises that our planet faces an environmental emergency. It welcomes the many measures and initiatives through which the CofE and CofE Birmingham respond to the emergency. Synod encourages the parishes of the deanery to play their part by seeking Eco Church accreditations and to moving towards net zero carbon by 2030, making use of the support and training that is available.’’
The 10th Deanery Synod Meeting was held at Church of St Peter and St Paul, Kingsbury in June.
Louise spoke about the Archdeaconry Explore Days which are to be about people Exploring where God is calling them and this theme of following God’s call would be a theme running through Synod as we had different speakers. Children Family Mission Enabler
Lee Millward introduced himself to the Deanery in his new role of CFME for the Deanery of Coleshill and Polesworth. Lee will be working hard to put Children and Families at the centre of his mission focusing on supporting clergy, lay and volunteers. His role has an Environmental focus.
Environmental Champion Update
Following the synod that took place in February, Linda Nugent put herself forward to be the Deanery Environmental Champion (DEC) for the Deanery of Coleshill and Polesworth. As a Deanery Environmental Champion Linda is there to support any Parishes within the Deanery with any environmental questions, to help the Parish Environment Contacts (PEC) and help Parishes with their Net Zero and Eco Church. DECs also meet with the other DECs in the diocese to share information and questions.
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Out of all the parishes in the Deanery, 8 are registered with Eco Church and 3 have bronze awards.
- Net Carbon Zero by 2030 is only 7 years away. How will the church get to that target?
· EFT – Energy Footprint Tool. The diocese uses these submissions to keep track of churches and how they are doing towards Net Zero.
· Linda referred to the Five Marks of Mission for inspiration – caring for creation and promoting justice for all as it is the countries with the least carbon footprint that are suffering the most.
## Archdeaconry Explore Days and Vocational Calling
Louise informed synod that there will be two Archdeaconry Explore Days Anyone is encouraged to attend. It is not solely about ordination or calling to be a Reader. Sue Round introduced herself to the Synod and spoke about her calling to curacy. Sue has been training at Queens for the last two years as a Self-Supporting Minister and will be ordained into Curacy on the weekend of the 24th and 25th June.
Sue’s passion was and is in the community, get out in the community and be of help. Sue had felt there was something else she could do, further to her being a Reader.
## Thank you
Louise thanked all the members of the synod that had been in their role for the past three years.
The final Deanery Synod meeting of 2023 was held at St Clements Church, Castle Bromwich in October.
Area Dean, Louise Shaw welcomed new members.
Finance Presentation
A presentation was given by Karen Preece from the Birmingham Diocese Board of Finance. The Diocese is in a poor state of finances and isn’t receiving the generous contributions it once received from The Church of England. Various areas were discussed and those present were encouraged to contact Karen to see how savings could be made throughout the diocese. Karen also spoke about the churches response to affordable housing which is called ‘ Coming Home’ and Sonia also spoke about Payroll.
## **Volunteers**
We must thank all our volunteers, many of whom work tirelessly in the background but without whom the church and hall would not run so smoothly. Each year we do lose one or two of our older volunteers and we particularly give thanks to these people for their many years of service.
_The above report has been compiled by the PCC Secretary with input from the Rector, PCC Vice Chair, Church Wardens and Church Groups on behalf of the PCC/Trustees._
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_**Approved by the PCC on Wednesday 8[th] May 2024 and signed on their behalf by the Rector**_
## _**Revd. Fiona Harrison-Smith**_
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## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Balance sheet at 31st December 2023**
|**STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
**Balance sheet at 31st December 2023**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|||2023|2022|
||Note|£|£|
|**FIXED ASSETS**||||
|Property - Hall|4a|538098|538098|
|Fixtures & Fittigs - Hall|4a|0|0|
|Fixtures & Fittings - Church|4b|0|0|
|Bells|4b|52291|52291|
|Organ|4b|54600|54600|
|||644989|644989|
|**CURRENT ASSETS**||||
|Debtors|6|15000|15000|
|Short Term Deposits||410000|350000|
|Cash at bank and in hand||56230|111469|
|||481230|476469|
|**LIABILITIES; AMOUNTS FALLING DUE**|7|||
|**WITHIN ONE YEAR**||||
|Creditors||0|0|
|Provision for Common Fund||0|0|
|Diocesan Loan||0|0|
|**NET CURRENT ASSETS**||481230|476469|
|**LIABILITIES; AMOUNTS FALLING DUE**|8|||
|**AFTER ONE YEAR**||||
|**NET ASSETS**||1126219|1121458|
|**FUNDS**||||
|Unrestricted General||433020|427728|
|Restricted Legacy ( decoration Fund )||30000|30000|
|Restricted Interregnum Fund||0|0|
|Restricted - Hall (Captial Cost )||538098|538098|
|Restricted - Bells||13343|13874|
|Restricted Bells ( Capital Cost )||52291|52291|
|Restricted - Organ||4867|4867|
|Restricted - Organ ( Capital Cost )||54600|54600|
|||1126219|1121458|
|Approved by the Parochial Church Meeting on|and signed on its behalf by :|||
Revd F Harrison Smith Mrs L Wakeman
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **For the year ended 31st December 2023**
|**STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
**For the year ended 31st December 2023**||
|---|---|
|UnrestricteRestricted
Funds
Funds
Note
£
£
INCOMING RESOURCES
Incoming resources from donors
2a
40255
476
Other voluntary incoming resources
2b
16181
0
Income from charitable and ancillary trading
2c
16395
120
Other ordinary incoming resources
2d
710
0
Income from investments
2e
13387
0
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
86928
596
RESOURCES USED
Charities
3a
0
476
Activities directly relating to the work of the church
3b
71656
0
Fund-raising and publicity
3c
430
651
Church Management & Administration
3d
9550
TOTAL RESOURCES USED
81636
1127
NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES
5292
-531
TRANSFER OF ASSETS
Restricted
0
0
Unrestricted
0
0
NET MOVEMENTS OF FUNDS
0
0
BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD AT
1ST JANUARY
427728 693730
BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD AT
31ST DECEMBER
433020 693199|TOTAL FUNDS
2023
2022
£
£
40731
39767
16181
13575
16515
17225
710
530
13387
2332|
||87524
73429|
||476
763
71656
47778
1081
121
9550
0|
||82763
48662|
||4762
24767
0
-2984
0
2984|
||0
0|
|||
||1121458
1096691|
||1126219
1121458|
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)**
## **For the year ended 31st December 2023**
## 2 INCOMING RESOURCES
|2 INCOMING RESOURCES||
|---|---|
|UnrestricteRestricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
2a Incoming resources from donors
Planned giving
Covenants
21966
0
Income tax recoverable on covenants
5665
0
Collections (open plate) at all services
4426
0
Sundry Donations
8198
476
Legacy
40255
476
2b Other voluntary incoming resources
Fete & Christmas Fayre
4250
0
Heritage Funding
11681
0
Donation to Community Hall
250
0
16181
0
2c Income from charitable and ancillary trading
Community Hall Letting
10800
0
Fees ;- Weddings / Funerals
5595
0
Church Bells
0
120
Church Bells Donation
0
0
16395
120
2d Other ordinary incoming resources
Tea & Coffee Money
710
0
710
0
2e Interest from Legacy
13387
0
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
86928
596|TOTAL FUNDS
2023
2022
£
21966
23370
5665
2558
4426
3551
8674
10288|
||40731
39767|
||4250
3576
11681
9999
250
0|
||16181
13575|
||10800
9434
5595
7264
120
300
0
227|
||16515
17225|
||710
530|
||710
530|
||13387
2332|
||87524
73429|
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS(continued)**
## **For the year ended 31st December 2023**
|3 RESOURCES USED
UnrestricteRestricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
3a Grants
Missionary and charitable giving:
0
476
0
476
3b Activities directly relating to the work of the church
Ministry: dioceasan quota
26500
0
Clergy expenses / Visiting clergy expenses
758
0
Church running costs / Domestice Services
8033
0
Telephone / Broad Band
1263
0
Church maintenance
1680
0
Church Materials
1802
0
Church Administration
7796
0
Community Hall Electric
2944
0
Community Hall running costs
14282
0
Upkeep of churchyard
1100
0
Organist fees / Maintenance
2700
0
Justice Security / Call outs / Roof repairs
2798
0
71656
0
3c Fund-raising and publicity
Costs of Fete / Fair
430
0
Bells
0
651
Organ
0
0
430
651
3d Heritage spending
9550
0
9550
0
3e Depreciation
Hall Fixture & Fittings
0
0
TOTAL RESOURCES USED
81636
1127|TOTAL FUNDS
2023
2022
£
£
476
763|
|---|---|
||476
763|
||26500
8000
758
691
8033
7488
1263
1527
1680
5820
1802
680
7796
5823
2944
2670
14282
8278
1100
1200
2700
4016
2798
1585
0|
||71656
47778|
||430
121
651
0
0
0|
||1080
121|
||9550
0|
||9550
0|
||0
0|
||0|
||82763
48662|
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) For the year ended 31st December 2023**
## **5 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND**
|UnrestricteRestricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
Fixed assets
644989
Current assets
433020
48210
Current liabilities
433020 693199
General Fund
Legacy;- Decoration fund
New Facilty Fund (Capital Cost )
Bells ( Capital Cost )
Organ fund
Bells Fund
Organ ( Capital Cost )
**Total**
**6 DEBTORS**
Income Tax recoverable
Prepayment and accrued interest
Other Debtors
**7 LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
a Accruals and deferred income
b Creditors for goods and services
c Other creditors|2023
2022
Total
Total
£
£
644989
644989
481230
476469
0|
|---|---|
||1126219
1121458|
||433020
427728
30000
30000
538098
538098
52291
52291
4867
4867
13343
13874
54600
54600|
||1126219
1121458|
||15000
15000
0
0
0
0|
||15000
15000|
||0
0
0
0
0
0|
||0
0|
|**YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023;- Additional analysis of major items ( for information only )**|**YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023;- Additional analysis of major items ( for information only )**|
|---|---|
|**Church Running Costs**||
|Insurance|3999|
|Utilities|4034|
|**Church Administration**||
|Stewardship Envelopes|58|
|Zoom|184|
|Café Worship|120|
|Challeging Thinking|937|
|Iknow Calendar|248|
|Website|162|
|**Maintenance & Repair**||
|Roof repair|870|
|Electrical work|260|
|Boiler|880|
|A V System|1547|
|**Hall Running Costs**||
|Manager|6801|
|Cleaning|1620|
|Window Cleaning|200|
|Licence|295|
|Bin contract|428|
|Legionella Risk Assessment|1290|
|Dishwasher|392|
|Freezer|244|
|Tables & Stackers|1242|
|Electrical work|840|
|General Maintenance|480|
|**Charities**||
|The Childrens Society|135|
|Leprosy|22|
|Sands|22|
|Foodbank|63|
|Pakistan Earthquake appeal|135|
|St Basils|150|
|**Fund Raising Events**||
|Garden Fete (G) 3042|2916 Net|
|Harvest Trail|103|
|Christmas Craft Fayre|100|
|Community Carols|224|
|Autumn Gift Fayre|812|
|Easter Raffle|158|
|**Donations - General Fund**||
|Dame Mary Bridgeman|1888|
|Baby & Me|190|
|Mother Union|50|
|Anon Don|5895|
M. LAWRENCE & CO.
ICAEW
CHARTERED
ACCOUNTANTS
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
213 Station Road
Stechford
Birmingham B33 8BB
Telephone . 0121784 5321
Fax: 0121785 0688
Email: admin@mlawrence.org.uk
Website: www.mlawrence.org.uk
Parochial Church Council of St Mary and St Margaret
Castle Bromwich
I have examined the Accounts, Statements and Invoices submitted to me, and have
found some minor differences, but they are so insignificant that they do not require
any adjustments to the accounts ot" the Parochial Church Council of St Mary and St
Margaret for the period 01 /01/23 to 31 /12/23.
Signed .
H Lawrence A.C.A.
Date .
lo
A. Lawrence LLB Dip LP
Solicitor
H. Lawrence ACA
Chartered Accountant
S. Lawrence ACCA
Certified Chartered Accountant