The Church in Wales
Diocese of Monmouth Netherwent Ministry Area Annual Report
Year Ending 31[st] December 2023
Charity Number 1152418
The trustees take pleasure in presenting their report and financial statements for the charity for the year ending 31 December 2023.
Structure and Governance
The Netherwent Ministry Area is a grouping of 19 churches in the Diocese of Monmouth in the Anglican province of the Church in Wales. The ministry area contains the three ministry areas/groups of churches which existed within the old Caldicot Benefice, Magor Ministry Area and most of the Wentwood Ministry Area.
The following church communities form the ministry area:
Bishton – St Cadwaladr
St Brides –St Bridgit Caerwent – St Stephen and St Tathan Caldicot – St Mary Goldcliff – St Mary Magdalene Langstone (redundant since 2023) Llandevaud – St Peter Llanmartin – St Martin Llanvaches – St Dyfrig (Dubritius) Llanvair Discoed – St Mary Llanwern – St Mary Magor – St Mary Nash – St Mary Penhow – St John the Baptist Portskewett – St Mary Redwick – St Thomas the Apostle Rogiet – St Mary Undy – St Mary Wilcrick – St Mary
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 acts a Parochial Church Council and Trustees for the entire ministry area. It is not a body corporate and its composition, procedure and
powers a regulated by the Constitution of the Church in Wales. Trustees are elected annually: the trustees met 4 times during 2023.
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:
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Conducting regular Christian worship the Holy Eucharist, marriages, funerals and baptisms
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The provision and maintenance of the fabric of each of the 19 churches, churchyards and associated buildings
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The maintenance of Christian burial places
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Promoting the study of Christian teaching, practices and Scripture
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The provision of means and encouragement to promote fellowship within the membership of the Churches and the wider community
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Pastoral care and visiting the sick and dying
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Fostering ecumenical links between the differing Christian denominations
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Supporting the work of other charities
Monies are raised by freewill offertory, fund raising activities and specific appeals. These were used to support the work and administration of the churches and wider mission. The churches expect to continue with their acts of worship and pastoral care during 2024 and will continue to actively seek 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 and the ministry area is grateful to all those who freely give of their time on a voluntary basis.
The Trustees
The trustees who served the charity during the period from the Annual General Meeting in April 2023 until the end of the year were as follows:
Canon Jeremy Harris (Ministry Area Leader), Rev Dan Frett, Rev Peter Letson, Rev Hilary Prest, Rev Gilly Hubbard, Rev Samuel Patterson, Rev Kay Denly, Rev Mandy East.
Paul Glover (Lay Co-Chair), Ian Benton (Ministry Area Leader’s Warden), Catherine Watts (Ministry Area People’s Warden)
Elected Members: Roly Arthur, Fay Baxter, Louise Blackmore, Christine Cocklin, Steve Drowley, Kevin Gunn, Sarah Hedgecox, Robert Kenny, Sue Kent, Gethin James, Mike John, Collin Payne, Beryl Pugh, Ann Reynolds, Bryan Smith, Chris Tawton, Racheal Warfield, Tryphena Williams
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 a property assists in this and advises the ministry area council.
The ministry area has adopted the Church in Wales safeguarding and GDPR policies. Thera 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 Commission but have not.
Fabric
Eighteen of the church buildings within the ministry area are listed buildings and each church congregation is encouraged to regular inspections and maintenance as required. Quinquennial inspections are carried out by an independent architect.
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 ministry share, clergy expenses etc. 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.
Auditors
Green & Co, Pembroke House, Ty Coch Ln, Llantarnam Park Way, Cwmbran NP44 3AU.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by the Reverend Canon Jeremy Harris, Chairman.
2023 Consolidated Report
Receipts & Payments by Report Group
For the period from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023
| General funds |
Designated funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total **funds ** |
Last Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income and endowments from: (St Stephen and St Tathan Caerwent, St Mary Llanvair Discoed, St John the Baptist Penhow, St Bridget St Brides, St | |||||||
| Dubritius Llanvaches, St Peter Llandevaud, St Mary the Virgin, Caldicot, St Mary Portskewett, St Mary Rogiet, Langstone Parish Church, St Cadwaladr | |||||||
| Bishton, St Martin Llanmartin, St Mary Magdalene Goldcliffe, St Mary Llanwern, St Mary Magor, St Mary Nash, St Mary Undy, St Mary Wilcrick, St | |||||||
| Thomas Redwick, Ministry Area, Caldicot Benefice) | |||||||
| Donations and legacies | Tax refunds - GASDS | 3,109.52 | - | - | - | 3,109.52 | 2,698.50 |
| Donations | 27,034.93 | 5,707.20 | 21,207.51 | - | 53,949.64 | 50,656.32 | |
| Loose collections | 32,830.53 | 215.00 | 486.00 | - | 33,531.53 | 30,066.26 | |
| Planned Giving | 106,158.37 | 900.00 | 1,010.66 | - | 108,069.03 | 108,791.69 | |
| Tax refunds - Gift Aid | 33,800.20 | - | 2,500.00 | - | 36,300.20 | 23,924.66 | |
| For Mission | 203.00 | - | - | - | 203.00 | - | |
| Legacy gifts received | 11,287.48 | - | - | - | 11,287.48 | 10,100.24 | |
| Grants | 17,312.85 | 49,571.98 | 10,402.70 | - | 77,287.53 | 55,917.47 | |
| SubTotal Donations and legacies | 231,736.88 | 56,394.18 | 35,606.87 | - | 323,737.93 | 282,155.14 | |
| Income from charitable activities | Fees | 18,045.00 | 2,507.00 | 20,702.00 | - | 41,254.00 | 49,986.00 |
| SubTotal Income from charitable activities | 18,045.00 | 2,507.00 | 20,702.00 | - | **41,254.00 ** | 49,986.00 | |
| Other tradingactivities | Moneyraising | 38,701.84 | 64,864.02 | 8,323.87 | - | 111,889.73 | 84,613.04 |
| SubTotal Other trading activities | 38,701.84 | 64,864.02 | 8,323.87 | - | **111,889.73 ** | 84,613.04 | |
| Investments | Investment income | 3,799.89 | 104.92 | 6,455.42 | - | 10,360.23 | 4,120.70 |
| SubTotal Investments | 3,799.89 | 104.92 | 6,455.42 | - | 10,360.23 | 4,120.70 | |
| Other income | Other IncomingResources | - | 3,072.00 | - | - | 3,072.00 | 11,530.98 |
| SubTotal Other income | - | 3,072.00 | - | - | **3,072.00 ** | 11,530.98 | |
| Total Income and endowments from: | 292,283.61 | 126,942.12 | 71,088.16 | - | 490,313.89 | 432,405.86 | |
| Expenditure on: (St Stephen and St Tathan Caerwent, St Mary Llanvair Discoed, St John the Baptist Penhow, St Bridget St Brides, St Dubritius | |||||||
| Llanvaches, St Peter Llandevaud, St Mary the Virgin, Caldicot, St Mary Portskewett, St Mary Rogiet, Langstone Parish Church, St Cadwaladr Bishton, St | |||||||
| Martin Llanmartin, St Mary Magdalene Goldcliffe, St Mary Llanwern, St Mary Magor, St Mary Nash, St Mary Undy, St Mary Wilcrick, St Thomas Redwick, | |||||||
| Ministry Area, Caldicot Benefice) | |||||||
| Raisingfunds | Cost of moneyraising | 3,223.05 | 12,556.91 | 118.20 | - | 15,898.16 | 14,872.90 |
| SubTotal Raising funds | 3,223.05 | 12,556.91 | 118.20 | - | **15,898.16 ** | 14,872.90 | |
| Expenditure on charitable activities | Parish Share | 161,582.22 | - | - | - | 161,582.22 | 161,166.74 |
| Parochial Expenses of Clerics | 9,658.06 | 13,393.55 | - | - | 23,051.61 | 13,104.13 | |
| Other ministry support | - | - | - | - | - | 0.96 | |
| Maintenance of Services | 5,293.66 | 3,154.47 | 91.05 | - | 8,539.18 | 10,840.87 | |
| General parish expenses | 16,456.18 | (13,416.76) | 15.00 | - | 3,054.42 | 12,387.28 | |
| Maintenance of Churches | 56,772.80 | 4,307.26 | 3,418.75 | - | 64,498.81 | 89,972.34 | |
| Maintenance of other property | 10,914.59 | 20,085.30 | 37,066.47 | - | 68,066.36 | 61,192.58 | |
| Exceptional Expenditure | 52,702.88 | 56,145.53 | 37,084.83 | - | 145,933.24 | - | |
| Mission:parish | 1,648.47 | 1,386.98 | 385.00 | - | 3,420.45 | 2,312.84 | |
| Mission:home/world | 2,680.00 | 5,600.00 | 1,274.52 | - | 9,554.52 | 10,110.61 | |
| SubTotal Expenditure on charitable activities | 317,708.86 | 90,656.33 | 79,335.62 | - | 487,700.81 | 361,088.35 | |
| Other expenditure | Capitalpayments | - | - | - | - | - | 1,000.00 |
| SubTotal Other expenditure | - | - | - | - | - | 1,000.00 | |
| Total Expenditure on: | 320,931.91 | 103,213.24 | 79,453.82 | - | 503,598.97 | 376,961.25 | |
| EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS | (28,648.30) | 23,728.88 | (8,365.66) | - | **(13,285.08) ** | 55,444.61 |
(27 May 2024 7:52 pm) Page 1 of 1
Netherwent Ministry Area
the Trustees of Netherwent Ministry Area
I report on the examination of the accounts for Netherwent Ministry Area for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
the 2011 Act and in carrying out the examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent E
Statement
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I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008
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matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Green and Co Chartered Certified Accountants and Registered Auditors Pembroke House Llantarnam Park Way Cwmbran NP44 3AU 25/06/2024