# **All Saints Church Ripley, Derbyshire** # **Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31[st] December 2022** ## **Administrative information** All Saints Church is situated on Church Street in the town centre of Ripley, Derbyshire, postcode DE5 3BU. It is part of Derby Diocese within the Church of England. The address for correspondence is All Saints Church Office, Moseley Street, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3DA (Telephone 01773 570011). The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission, registered charity number 1150371. The following were PCC members during 2022: Clergy: The Revd John Wigram _Vicar_ The Revd Marian Brookes _Associate Priest with Permission to Officiate_ The Revd Pam Macnaughton _Associate Priest (from 27[th] February 2022) Wardens:_ Bill Newcomb Tony Michael _Deanery Synod:_ Mark Vale Elaine Bestwick Sue Wilford _also Secretary Elected members:_ Phil Bestwick _Lay (vice) chair_ Christine Blackman Jim Brookes Jill Crooks Stella Edwards John Flemming Naomi Hopwood Nigel Lane also _Treasurer_ Jenny Roberts _Parish Administrator, Parish Safeguarding Link_ Martin Turner _(Until 24[th] April 2022)_ ## **Structure, governance and management** All Saints’ Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a corporate body established by the Church of England and operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The full PCC met seven times in the year, including once as part of the Annual meeting. On 30[th] January 2022 the Revd John Wigram became Priest in Charge of the neighbouring combined benefice of Swanwick and Pentrich, while also remaining Vicar of Ripley. ## **Aim and purposes** The PCC has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent, the Reverend John Wigram, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of All Saints Church, Church 1 Street, Ripley and management of the old Police Station site, in Moseley Street. The All Saints vision is to be a church that is ‘transforming lives and communities through the love of Jesus’. ## **Objectives and activities** The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at All Saints. Our services include scripture and teaching, prayer, music and sacrament, and aim to help people put faith into practice. The Covid pandemic required development of online worship services which have expanded the number of people able to worship with us. We aim to enable everyone to live out their faith as part of our parish community through: - Worship and prayer; learning about the gospel; and developing knowledge and trust in Jesus. - Provision of pastoral care for members of the congregation and people living in the parish. - Mission and outreach work. An important part of facilitating this work is the maintenance of the fabric of the Church of All Saints. ## **Church Attendance** All are welcome to attend our regular services. During the Covid pandemic we developed online services, and now attendance is both in-church and online. Numbers in church gradually increased through the year as the impact of Covid reduced, so that by the end there were around 60 in church and 10 online each Sunday, with more people catching up with the online service later in the week. Festival services were held in church again in 2022 and livestreamed, except for Remembrance Sunday when we held a large outdoor service for the second year running. In 2022 there were 2 weddings and 1 renewal of wedding vows, 6 baptisms and 9 thanksgiving services for children. We held 16 funerals in church, 6 at the crematorium only, and 1 burial of ashes. There remains a drop in requests for church and minister-led funerals since Covid. ## **Electoral Roll** At the time of the Annual meeting reviewing 2022 (April 2023), there were 110 people on the electoral roll, 73 female and 37 male, 44 of whom are not resident in the parish. Since the last APCM (April 2022), 9 people were added to the electoral roll and 2 removed. ## **Worship and Prayer** We have a single morning service each Sunday at 10am, which is also livestreamed on Facebook. Service style varies on different weeks, with a more traditional Holy Communion service and hymns on the first Sunday of the month, an informal service with Young Church meeting during the service and more modern songs (sometimes with a band) on the second Sunday, a liturgical healing service on the third Sunday, and an informal communion service with Young Church meeting (sometimes with a band) on the fourth Sunday. This way our congregation have a choice of online or in-building worship, and enjoy a range of worship styles. We also have ‘Jam!’ monthly on Saturday afternoons for families learning about faith together in a creative way, with an encouraging mix of regular and new families. ## **Young Church** Children coming to church can join Young Church during Sunday services on the 2[nd] and 4[th] Sundays each month, where the leaders aim to provide fun-filled sessions to help the children get to know Jesus in practical ways. This challenges and blesses the leaders in equal measure as they try to provide ageappropriate activities and teaching for a wide age range of 4 to 16 year olds, often using the ‘Mosaic’ materials. This requires flexibility and extra planning for all eventualities, and whenever possible the children split into groups, although this depends on the mix of children on the day. As of April 2023 there are 4 or 5 regular primary aged children and 6 secondary aged children. The hope is that some of the young people will have preparation to take communion from the end of May. The leaders are praying for new friendships and growing fellowship in this group. ## **Home Groups, Residential Home Services and Pastoral Care** The church has a number of Home Groups, enabling worship and Bible study and encouraging discipleship in small groups, and providing practical and pastoral support. 2 Pastoral care happens both formally and informally in the church, with pastoral coordinators and many people involved in supporting others. During the year a team of people have ensure that vulnerable or potentially lonely people have had contact from the church. We held carol services in 4 care homes at Christmas, and hope to re-establish more regular services there. ## **Mission Giving** The church regularly supports four charities from its annual income, as chosen by the PCC: Links International, SAT-7, Betel and Valley CIDS. Speakers from the charities spoke by recordings in our Sunday services through the year. We also ran specific appeals through the year for current needs around the world, with money being directed through Tearfund. ## **South East Derbyshire Deanery Synod** Our church has an allocation of three places on the deanery synod, and those who take that role also become part of the All Saints PCC. The deanery synod continued to hold broadly quarterly meetings of clergy and lay people appointed from parishes within the deanery, with a mix of online and in-person meetings. This link with the deanery is a valuable connection between the parish and the wider structures of the church. ## **The Church Building** It was good to be able to start the year with almost all our pre-pandemic events and services able to happen in church again. The safety of the use of the building, and procedures for keeping infections at bay, were assessed regularly. Use of the church by outside organisations for occasional or regular meetings was also possible again, with two organisations making regular use of the church. During the year the church was kept in generally good repair, the Quinquenial inspection from the end of 2020 not having reported any major problems. Works required and recommended in the inspection, and other problems that developed, were gradually carried out during the year. Further information about work on the church buildings can be found in the Churchwardens’ report below. The gardening and flower teams tended the outside and beautified the inside of the church with care and consideration, especially enhancing the celebrations of festival times. The church continued to be a hub for various kinds of recycling through our ‘Rubbish Campaign’, although the scope has reduced due to other facilities now being available nearby. ## **Churchwardens’ Report for the Year 2022** _By Tony Michael and Bill Newcomb_ As part of our report last year, we gave a pictorial representation of the unstinting contribution of many volunteers who, together, form a crucial part of the 24 teams serving our church community. We are pleased to report that their enthusiasm and support continues to grow in ensuring safety, the maintenance and upkeep of the grounds, fabric and building and, alerting us when they find matters of concern. As wardens, we see and appreciate the generosity from people who have given time, skills, enthusiasm and support to the ‘body’ of the church. During the past year, the following repairs and maintenance work were carried out: replaced smoke detector in nave, replaced three fire extinguishers and three failed emergency lights, replaced the fire control panel by the side entrance, cleared the guttering around the church, replaced the lead flashing around the chimney and re-pointed the area, slates removed and re-seated to form a better seal, all the trees have been ‘pruned’, the rotting edging to the mosaics at the front have been replaced with concrete edging by volunteers. An emergency light has been fitted outside the ringing chamber and an extractor fan inside, following a request from the Tower Captain. It was planned to undertake a reordering of the Parish Room and install new cupboard storage/shelving, together with improved window insulation, but these require a faculty and this, as yet, has not been progressed. To all involved with the work of supporting the church, thank you. 3 ## **Activities and events, January – December 2022** The following events and activities are a flavour of the year: From Jan 2[nd] onwards: Regular Sunday services happened at 10am each Sunday throughout the year, with Young Church for children happening during the service twice each month. The services were also livestreamed, with a regular online congregation joining as well as those in church. From Jan 7[th] onwards: Open Door sees the church open for coffees and cakes each Friday morning, with people from church and wider community enjoying good company and support, and making friends. From Jan 10[th] onwards: The Squeals on Wheels toddler group transforms the church each Monday morning in term time, as chairs are moved and the church fills with toddlers and their carers. Running one session each week, rather than two as happened before Covid, proved to be a great way to get to know families better and for the team of helpers to remain refreshed. From Jan 15[th] onwards: On one Saturday each month we had Jam! in church, gathering families to learn about the Christian faith and drawing new people in as the year progressed – very encouraging. From Jan 9[th] onwards: Various church meals and outings encouraged the growth of fellowship, including whole church meals, ladies’ meals and men’s nights (all latterly including folk from our linked churches) Jan 30[th] : Revd John Wigram licensed as Priest in Charge of St Andrew’s Swanwick and St Matthew’s Pentrich while remaining vicar of All Saints Ripley. Feb 27[th] : Revd Pam Macnaughton licensed as Associate Priest for All Saints (part time), a ministry which has been much appreciated ever since, in All Saints and also Swanwick and Pentrich. March onwards: We had visiting speakers on Sundays from charities we support: Links International and Valley CiDS in March, SAT-7 in May, and lots of members of the Betel Community in July. April onwards: Our Holy Week services were shared across the three linked churches, also at Ascension and for Thy Kingdom Come. Summer Term onwards: Open the Book restart taking assemblies in schools, engaging primary school children with dramatized Bible stories and helping them become familiar with the Bible and the principles of the Christian faith. Other assemblies also taken in schools by Revd John Wigram. In May and October we had our ‘Service of Light’ to remember people who have died – This year the May service was in Ripley and the October service in Swanwick. In May All Saints became a lively part of the Ripley ‘Yarn Bombing’ that ran for a number of weeks, with creative woolly designs around the churchyard. On June 5[th] we had a Platinum Jubilee Thanksgiving service followed by a celebratory picnic. On July 5[th] All Saints hosted a community meeting for local organisations and individuals concerned about the rising cost of living, for which invitations and organisation had begun in May. It was to explore what resources and opportunities were already available, and how support could be given by groups in Ripley. It was well attended and a network for sharing information was set up, as well as a later meeting for information led by Citizens Advice. In mid-July there were three concerts in the church in the week of the Ripley Music Festival. Our Remembrance Sunday service was again outside in 2022, a format which the town council want to continue in future. It was very well attended again by people representing many organisations in Ripley. November 20[th] we hosted the Ripley Town Council Civic Service From end of November through much of Advent we held weekly prayer meetings as we prepared to welcome people into church around Christmas, and as we looked ahead as a church. Advent began with a ‘Darkness to Light’ service for all three churches in Pentrich. Many schools resumed holding their Christmas services in church during Advent. Our Christmas services included Carols by Candlelight (on the day of the World Cup final!), a Crib service on Christmas Eve, and midnight and morning Christmas Communion services. All were well attended. 4 ## **Safeguarding** _By Jenny Roberts and Maureen Graham_ Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults remains integral to all our church activities at All Saints. We follow the framework laid down by the Church of England and Derby Diocese, and in October 2022 the PCC approved the All Saints Safeguarding Policy, which can be found on the noticeboard by the serving hatch. We are working in line with the Church of England Parish Safeguarding Handbook and “Promoting a Safer Church”. Maureen Graham and Jenny Roberts are the church Parish Safeguarding Officers. We have started to use the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard online software which provides an assessment of the progress of all aspects of safeguarding within the parish and generates an action plan for the PCC. Each PCC meeting receives a safeguarding report. We are constantly reviewing the renewal of DBS certificates for those in relevant church ministries, and encouraging all in church ministries to remain up to date with their safeguarding training, particularly with regard to the Domestic Abuse Awareness Course which is now face to face or on Zoom. During the year a small number of safeguarding concerns have been shared with the Safeguarding team and some have been referred to Diocese where appropriate. Thank you to all those who have supported us in this ministry this year. ## **All Involved** All Saints is very blessed to have so many people from within its community who have given generously towards the ministry of the church by using their time and gifts, their energy and resources, and often their ingenuity in serving God and others through the past year. We are very grateful to all who work hard to make All Saints the loving and lively community that it is, whether their contribution is visible or more hidden. As we have emerged from much of the impact and challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic we continue to be aware that some are still vulnerable, and endeavour to show care and thoughtfulness to all in our community, whether present in the church building or not. We aim to be a church community which values and enables all those with whom we are in contact, near and far. We look to grow in our faith together, and in our ability to do the things that God calls us to do, and to be who he wants us to be, even in uncertain times. ## **Approval by PCC** This report was approved by the PCC on 21[st] May 2023 and signed on their behalf: ## Rev J Wigram (Chairperson) 5 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO'THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (PCCI OF ALL SAINT5 CHURCH RIPLEY This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2022, set out on pages 7 to 13.15 in respect of an examlnatlon carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 20061'the Regulations'l and section 145 of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'l Respective responsibilities of the trustees and the examiner: As trustees of the charity. the members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The PCC considers that an audit is not required for this year under the Regulations and section 144121 of the Act, and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the financial ststements under section 145 of the Art, examine the financial statements in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission lunder section 14515llbl of the Actl,. and state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Independent examlnerfs report: My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from the PCC concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fairf view and the report is limited to those rWrs set out in the statement below. Independent Ex3minerfs statement: In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention whith gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect. the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; alld to prepare financial statements which accord with these accounting records and to complv with the requirements of the Act, as a150 contained in the Church AccoLsnting Regulations 2006, have not been met,. or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statement5 to be reached. 2G-s-23 L White For and on behalf of Hub 3 Ltd, Chartered Accountants Market Place Crich DE4 5DD LTD Ch