THE CHURCH IN WALES
## DIOCESE OF MONMOUTH
## **MAGOR MINISTRY AREA**
## **ANNUAL REPORT**
## **Year Ending 31st December 2020**
_**‘Becoming the people God calls us to be…. Looking Upwards, Inwards and Outwards’**_
**Charity number: 1152418**
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The trustees have pleasure in presenting their report and financial statements for the charity for the year ending 31 December 2020.
## **Structure and Governance.**
The Magor Ministry Area is a grouping of ten churches in the Deanery of Netherwent, part of the Diocese of Monmouth in the Anglican province of the Church in Wales. It comprises of the churches of St Cadwaladr Bishton, St Mary Magdalene Goldcliff, Langstone, St Martin Llanmartin, St Mary Llanwern, St Mary Magor, St Mary Nash, St Thomas Redwick, St Mary Undy and St Mary Wilcrick. In 2019 the trustees agreed to stop regular services at Langstone church, but it remains available for occasional use.
The Representative Body of the Church in Wales holds the land and property of the Church in Wales, they are an exempt Charity set up under Section 13(2) of the Welsh Churches Act 1914. They act on behalf of the province in paying the stipends of the full-time clergy and administering the Church in Wales’s scheme of gift aid.
The Ministry Area Council act as Parochial Church Council and Charity Trustees for the entire Ministry Area. It is not a body corporate, and its composition, procedure and powers are regulated by the Constitution of the Church in Wales. Trustees are elected annually; the Coronavirus pandemic prohibited trustees meeting in person for most of 2020 but three meetings were held via Zoom.
The clergy team consists of the ministry area leader (Canon Jeremy Harris); a stipendiary curate (Rev Samuel Patterson) June 2019) and two non-stipendiary priests (Rev Allan Davies and Rev Hilary Prest). In addition, there are two Licensed Lay Ministers (Graham Lynch & Paul Williams) and a Lay Eucharistic Minister (Ian Benton). Canon John Heales, Rev Susan Collingbourne, Rev David Collingbourne also regularly led services. Mandy East and Rachel Nelmes are ordinands for non-stipendiary ministry and are on placement within the ministry area.
The ministry area has voluntary administration support from Louise Blackmore and Jacki Jones; Louise Blackmore is the secretary and Kevin Gunn the treasurer for the Ministry Area Council. The ministry area leader appointed Colin Paine as his ministry area warden and the AGM elected Ian Benton as people’s warden.
During the latter part of 2020 the Diocese of Monmouth announced plans to merge the existing Magor Ministry Area with Caldicot and most of Wentwood. This is expected to take place from early in 2022
## **Summary**
The Coronavirus pandemic significantly impacted on the life and work of the ministry area for most of 2020. Whilst congregations were unable to meet in person and most regular activities suspended for several months the church continued to serve God and the local communities by way of on-line services and providing pastoral care and support by way of telephone or ‘garden’ visits.
The pandemic has impacted upon the finances of the charity but with support from the Representative Body of the Church In Wales and significant increases in regular/ direct giving amongst most congregations the payment of parish share was made in full, and all other financial liabilities have been met. Significant levels of expenditure have been identified in the short to medium term to be spent on church buildings, most of which are grade 1 or 2 listed.
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## **Objectives and Activities**
The objectives of the charity are achieved by promoting throughout the ministry area the whole mission of the Church and includes the following:
- Conducting regular Christian worship including the Holy Eucharist, marriages, funerals and baptisms;
- The provision and maintenance of the fabric of each of the ten churches, churchyards and associated buildings;
- The maintenance of Christian burial places;
- Promoting the study of Christian teaching, practices and Scripture;
- The provision of means and encouragement to promote fellowship within the membership of the Churches and the wider community;
- Pastoral care and visiting the sick & dying; Fostering ecumenical links between differing Christian denominations;
- Supporting the work of other charities.
Monies are raised by freewill offertory, fund raising activities and specific appeals. These are used to support the work and administration of the churches and wider mission. It is recognised there will be considerable work to be done in rebuilding church attendances and re-opening other activities in the aftermath of the Coronavirus pandemic. The church continues actively to increase its attendance and outreach through its mission work in the community. Many of those involved in the main functions of the churches are volunteers. The ministry area is grateful to all of those who freely give of their time on a voluntary basis.
## **Activities**
Activities within the ministry area can be split broadly into three categories: (i) worship, prayer and pastoral care (ii) fundraising and social events and (iii) mission and community outreach.
## **(i) Worship, Prayer and pastoral Care**
## _**(** Figures in brackets are those for 2019_ _**)**_
- As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic in-person services were suspended for several months of 2020. The Church In Wales has decided not to measure weekly attendances for 2020. In 2019 the average Sunday attendance was 157 (including 12 children) and midweek average attendance was 40. On-line service have proved to be popular and attracted a significant number of worshippers who would not normally attend a church building.
- 2 (45) Baptisms were performed and there were no Confirmations (7). The Ministry Area has fully adopted the Church In Wales policy of allowing all baptised people to receive communion if they wish.
- 5 (18) couples were married in the churches of the ministry area.
- 28 (31) funerals took place in local churches, with a further 37 (19) conducted entirely in crematoria/ private chapels.
- The Electoral Roll was updated during the year and includes 232 people (232).
- The ministry area continued to actively support its church school (Magor Church in Wales Primary School) through the provision of a weekly on-line act of collective worship. Half of the governing body are foundation governors and appointed by the church/ diocese. On-line worship was provided to the other 4 primary schools within the ministry area i.e., Glan-Llyn, Langstone, Llanmartin and Undy. The Ministry Area Leader also serves on the Governing Body of the new primary school at Glan Llyn.
- A number of ad-hoc study and prayer groups were held online.
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- Activities for children including a weekly ‘Club Rock’ (Magor Church), ‘Messy Church’ and a number of All-Age services were not held for most of 2020 due to the pandemic.
- The Mothers Union, church choir, bell ringers were unable to meet for most of 2020.A ‘Digital Worship Band’ was formed to provide music for on-line services.
- The ministry area is linked with the parish of Germiston in the diocese of the Highveld (South Africa) and the link continued to develop during the year.
- The ministry team endeavored to support those who were bereaved or sick at home or in hospital. For much of 2020 this took place by way of telephone, ‘garden’ visits and by utilising hospital chaplaincy services.
## **(ii) Fundraising & Social Events**
Nearly all fundraising and social events were suspended during 2020 due to the pandemic. Some remote events such as raffles, 50/50 clubs did take place.
## **(iii) Mission & Community Outreach**
The ministry area attempts to reach out to our local communities through organisations and events such as: schools work, uniformed organisations; Mother & Toddler Groups; Magor Munchies: lunch club; coffee mornings; Cake Saturday; support and practical assistance to various charities including: Caldicot & Newport food banks, Raven House Trust, Mothers Union, Christian Aid etc.; The Magor Churchmen/ Events Group and the provision of church and church hall premises for a number of social and charitable purposes e.g. coffee mornings, craft groups, senior citizen clubs etc.
As a result of the pandemic many of these events were cancelled for 2020.
## **The Trustees**
The trustees who served the Charity during the period from the Annual General Meeting in October 2020 until the end of the year were as follows:-
Mrs Bethan Louise Blackmore Co-opted (Secretary) Canon Jeremy David Harris Ex-officio (Ministry Area Leader and chairperson) Rev Samuel Patterson Ex-officio (Stipendiary Curate) Rev Allan Randall Davies Co-opted (Focal Minister) Rev Hilary Prest Co-opted (Focal Minister, from May 2018) Mr Kevin Gregson Gunn Co-opted (Treasurer) Mr Ian James Benton Co-opted (Benefice Warden) Mrs Gwen Hurford Goldcliff Mrs Florence Mary Levi Nash Mr Colin Edward John Paine Undy Mr James Robinson Llanmartin Mr Bryan Paul Smith Wilcrick Mrs Susan Jane Waters Nash Mrs Susan Jean Waters Redwick Mr Paul Frederick Williams Magor Mrs Christine Cocklin Bishton
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## **Risk Review**
The ministry area council is responsible for ensuring that reviews of all major risks are conducted and that wherever possible systems have been established to mitigate these risks. The risks facing the Charity include the state of repair of the churches, churchyards, church halls and the financial requirements to meet its stated activities. Each local church is encouraged to conduct a review of its own risks and this is periodically an agenda item for the ministry area council.
The ministry area has adopted the Church in Wales safeguarding policy. Paul Williams is the safeguarding officer for the ministry area. A General Data Protection Policy (GDPR) was adopted in 2018 and the ministry area fully complies with GDPR legislation.
The full impact of the Coronavirus on the charity’s ability to fulfill its objectives, church attendances and finances remain highly uncertain. There have been no serious incidents or other matters relating to this charity over the previous financial year that we should have brought to the attention of the Charity Commissioners but have not.
## **Fabric**
Nine of the ten churches in the ministry area are listed buildings (3 grade 1, 6 grade 2). Each local church congregation is encouraged to carry out regular inspections and maintenance as required. Quinquennial inspections are carried out by an independent architect.
A diocesan survey has indicated that expenditure of approximately £1 million will need to be spent on church buildings in the short to medium term. Whilst most of the church buildings are considered to be in a good/ reasonable condition for their age four of the buildings (Bishton, Nash, Llanmartin and Llanwern) require significant expenditure in the short to medium term. Significant improvements are also required to the church hall at Llanmartin.
## **Investment policy**
The financial assets of the ministry area are maintained at a local church level, with a central bank account being used to receive and make payments with regard to parish share, clergy expenses etc. Each church committee seeks to achieve the best available interest rate from bank accounts. The ministry area council (trustees) retains overall responsibility for all the finances and investments of the charity.
## **Bankers**
The central bank account for the ministry area is held with Lloyds Bank, 42 Commercial Street, Newport.
## _**Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by The Reverend Canon Jeremy Harris, Chairperson.**_
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## **Magor Ministry Area**
## **Consolidated**
Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2020
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2020**
|General
funds
Restricted
funds
2020
Total
£
£
£
**Incoming resources**
Voluntary income
Planned giving
47,788
575
48,363
Loose collections
8,600
144
8,744
Donations
5,480
2,390
7,870
For Mission
57
0
57
Tax refunds
11,594
0
11,594
Legacy gifts received
0
0
0
Grants
2,080
4,445
6,525
Generated income
Money raising
7,622
0
7,622
Fees
7,326
7,708
15,034
Investment income
387
459
846
Other incoming resources
20,045
664
20,709
**Total incoming resources**
110,979
16,385
127,364
**Resources expended**
Support for Ministry
Parish share
63,478
0
63,478
Parochial expenses of clerics
3,821
0
3,821
Other
86
0
86
Parish activities
Maintenance of services
886
0
886
General parish expenses
11,911
42
11,953
Church property
Maintenance of churches
22,724
2,871
25,595
Maintenance of other property
7,917
11,076
18,993
Exceptional expenditure
0
0
0
Grants and financial support
Parish
0
0
0
Home/world
6,415
0
6,415
Other resources expended
Capital payments
920
0
920
Cost of money raising
1,468
0
1,468
**Total resources expended**
119,626
13,989
133,615
**Net Incoming/(outgoing) resources**
(8,647)
2,396
(6,251)
**Decrease in value of Diocesan Trust Fund**
46
0
46
**Transfers between funds**
5,265
(5,265)
0
**Movement in funds**
(3,336)
(2,869)
(6,205)
**Balance brought forward 1 January 2020**
Magor Ministry Area
355,795
151,317
507,112
Former United Parish of Bishton
34,532
68,663
103,195
**Balance carried forward 31 December 2020**
386,991
217,111
604,102|2019
Total
£
50,795
19,753
19,846
185
14,569
0
4,052
32,340
25,766
983
11,182|
|---|---|
||179,471|
||92,190
7,333
603
1,885
11,177
28,719
23,544
0
0
12,903
0
6,867|
||185,221|
||(5,750)
94
0|
||(5,656)
505,894
110,069|
||610,307|
## **Consolidated**
## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities as at 31 December 2020**
|General
funds
Restricted
funds
2020
Total
£
£
£
**Fixed tangible assets**
Freehold property
279,933
0
279,933
**Cash funds**
Cash balances
51
0
51
Bank current accounts
91,301
79,488
170,789
Bank deposit accounts
12,813
125,623
138,436
**Other monetary assets**
Debtors
2,294
0
2,294
**Investment assets**
Term deposits
0
0
0
Quoted investments
1,098
0
1,098
Other
1,101
12,000
13,101
**Total assets**
388,591
217,111
605,702
**Liabilities**
Creditors
(1,600)
0
(1,600)
**Net assets**
386,991
217,111
604,102
**_Represented by_**
**Accumulated funds at 1 January 2020**
Magor Ministry Area
355,795
151,317
507,112
Former United Parish of Bishton
34,532
68,663
103,195
**Movement for the year**
(3,336)
(2,869)
(6,205)
**Accumulated funds at 31 December 2020**
386,991
217,111
604,102|2019
Total
£
279,933
50
177,091
139,330
0
0
1,052
13,101|
|---|---|
||610,557
(250)|
||610,307|
||505,894
110,069
(5,656)|
||610,307|
The church buildings, their contents and the churchyards within the Ministry Area are vested in the Representative Body of the Church in Wales and do not form part of the assets of the Ministry Area.
## I **NDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO Magor Ministry Area**
I report on the consolidated accounts for the year ended 31st December 2020.
## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner**
The Ministry Area Council (MAC) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The MAC considers that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act);
• to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any 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 fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
• to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met;
or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Name Kevin Gunn Date 23/10/2021
Address 17 Pennyfarthing Lane, Undy Caldicot NP26 3NU