## **ANNUAL REPORT ON PROCEEDINGS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PARISH GENERALLY** ## **Cowley Team Ministry** ## **Background** The Cowley PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the Team Rector in promoting the whole mission of the church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It is responsible for the Church of St James the Apostle, Beauchamp Lane, the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Hollow Way and St James Church Centre, Beauchamp Lane. ## _**Our Vision**_ “To live out God’s purposes for us, make Christ known in Cowley and to raise up a new generation to love and serve the Lord." ## _**Our Core values**_ _**Prayer:** Prayer is conversation with God in which we speak from our hearts and listen to God’s by the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is a central element of life in the parish of Cowley. Nothing will happen without prayer_ _**Bible:** God has spoken to his people and to the world through the Bible. It contains basic instructions for life and is an essential element in knowing God and learning to live a life worth living._ _**Community:** We are called to live in community. We are called to serve one another, to be an encouragement to those who are having a hard time, to sing and laugh and cry together in the journey of life. We are called to be brothers and sisters in our lives together._ ## **Membership** Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the year the following served as members of the PCC |Team Rector:|The Revd Canon Dr Geoffrey Bayliss| |---|---| |Curate:|The Revd Gemma Beesley| |Apprentice Priest:|David Benskin (to 17 June 2020)| |Anglican Asian Living Church:|Revd Richard Chand (to 31 October 2020)| |Church Wardens:|Nick Dewey (resigned 17.3.2021)| ||Christine Woodman| |Deanery Synod Representatives|(2020 – 2023):| ||Nick Dewey (resigned 17.3.2021)| Christine t£e Christine Woodman Elected Parochial Church Council members: Joan Coleman (Treasurer) Sheila Collett Gwen Denny Sally Hemsworth (Secretary) Norah Shallow Maureen Stone Andrew Swallow Margaret Weller Lesley Williams (Electoral Roll Officer; Safeguarding Officer) Mrs Sunita Masih – co-opted member representing AALC ## **Additional Active Ministers** In addition, there are the following Self-Supporting Ministers (formerly called NonStipendiary Ministers) who are not members of the PCC: Revd Mark Oxbrow Miss Alison Lockhart (LLM) ## **Church Committees** The PCC operates through a number of committees, which meet between full meetings of the PCC. **Finance Committee:** Oversees the general financial dimensions of the work of the Parish by monitoring income and expenditure. **Standing Committee:** Membership consists of Team Rector, Vice-Chairman of PCC, Church Wardens, Treasurer, and the PCC Secretary. It makes decisions if required between PCC Meetings. **St James Church Committee:** Attends to all matters relating to the ministry, mission and maintenance of St James Church. It has not been possible to hold the St James Annual Congregational Meeting, and the Committee members appointed in 2019, continue in post: Joan Coleman Val Goodall Sally Hemsworth Christine Lee Jill Ling Margaret Martin Margaret Weller Lesley Williams Christine Woodman **St Francis Church Committee:** Attends to all matters relating to the ministry, mission and maintenance of St Francis Church. It has not been possible to hold the St Francis Annual Congregational Meeting, and the Committee members appointed in 2019, continue in post: Lydia Barker Sheila Collett Shirley Costar Gwen Denny Faith Hunter Lyn Lord Norah Shallow Maureen Stone Andrew Swallow ## **Church Statistics 2020 2019 figures in [ ]** It is difficult to give an attendance figure for 2020 because of the pandemic and lockdown. When the churches opened the figures were restricted by social distancing and attendance by ZOOM and other type of communication was possible. [The average Sunday attendance in 2019 was 107 - 34 at St Francis and 73 at St James.] There were 4 marriages (4 at St James, 0 at St Francis), 12 baptisms (12 at St James, 0 at St Francis), 9 funerals held in church (8 at St James, 1 at St Francis) and 21 services conducted by members of the Parish Ministry team at the Oxford Crematorium. The total number attending worship in the Parish on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2020 was 85 [137] (78 at St James, 7 at St Francis), with 43 [113] communicants (38 at St James, 5 at St Francis). Churches were closed during Easter 2020 so although there were ZOOM services the number “attending” was difficult to determine. [The number attending worship on Easter Day 2019 was 170, (132 at St James, 38 at St Francis), with 123 communicants (96 at St James, 27 at St Francis)] ## **PCC Review of the Year** There were four PCC meetings during 2020 and three during 2021. The majority of these meetings have been held on ZOOM which, unfortunately made it difficult for some members to participate. Paper copies of the agenda and accompanying papers have been circulated giving members the opportunity to raise matters before the meetings. The following items have been discussed: **Parish Accounts:** The meetings during 2021 have concentrated on the Parish Accounts. It considered the draft accounts in February, where there was detailed discussion on the financial position of the Parish following almost a year of lockdown. No changes were made to the accounts and these were agreed at the March meeting of the PCC after being inspected and agreed by Maureen Thomas. **Mission Giving 2020:** At the March meeting the PCC was delighted to agree the distribution of grants under Mission Giving 2020 and was grateful to everyone’s generosity to allow this to happen. A detailed report on the distribution is included in the report. ## **Ministry Team/Service Times:** - **Reduced Size of Ministry Team** : There has been discussion on the reduction in the size of the Ministry Team following the departure of David Benskin and the death of The Revd Tony Beetham. Help is being given by Max Bruton. The archdeacon is very aware of the staffing position at Cowley Parish, which would be further reduced by the loss of Gemma Beesley in June 2021 and the likelihood that the Parish would not get another curate for at least a year. The PCC agreed that the Rector should investigate the possibility of Self-Supporting Ministers helping in the Parish. In addition, the Rector and Curate were working on Lay Training. - **Timing of Services** : Suggestions were made on the Service Times so that services could be held at St James and St Francis on a Sunday morning with the reduced Ministry Team. **COVID-19 Reopening of Churches** : An update is reported at each meeting – PCC were delighted when limited church services were possible after the first lockdown and a paper, which has been circulated widely in the Parish, on the roadmap out of lockdown, prepared by the Rector, gave a lot of hope to the gradual return to a “normal” way of life. **Parish Vision Day:** The need for a Parish Vision Day has been highlighted at PCC meetings and will be on future agenda. ## **St James Church:** - **Provision of Toilet and Digital Projection:** Faculties for both these projects were agreed in December 2020, and detailed plans and estimates are available. Fund-raising has been ongoing for some time and grants are being sought. You will see from the Rector’s report the amount of money needed and what funds the Parish has. - **Provision of New Notice Board:** The plans for this were agreed by the PCC via email and telephone calls in October 2020, and the lovely new notice board has been in position since the end of 2020. - **Provision of Internet** : The PCC agreed that a grant should be applied for to get internet into St James Church. **Policies:** The Parish Council has reviewed the following policies: - Data Protection – Cowley Parish Audit Data - Health and Safety - Parish Mission Prayer and Giving Policy - Safeguarding **Appointment of Sidespersons:** The appointment of Sidespersons is now the responsibility of the PCC, and the following were agreed for 2020: |**St James Church**|**St Francis Church**| |---|---| |Rosanne Butler|Sheila Collett| |Pat Chambers|Shirley Costar| |Joan Coleman|Jane Coutache| |Valerie Goodall|Gwen Denny| |Alan Howell|Esme Forbes| |Christine Knevett|Faith Hunter| |Christine Lee|Lyn Lord| |Margaret Martin|Elwira Lubos| |John Simmons|Norah Shallow| |June Smith|Maureen Stone| |Carmelyne Strzelecki|Andrew Swallow| |Margaret Weller|Elsie Tshabalala| |Lesley Williams|Elaine Ulett| ## **Anglican Asian Living Church:** - **Bishop’s Mission Order (BMO):** The position on the BMO is continually reviewed, and members appreciated that it was still under discussion. - **Running of Church:** The AALC was an independent church so was not formally part of the Church of England. At present there was a leadership team within the church, and **GB,** Mark Oxbrow, **GBy** and Jasmine Masih from the AALC leadership team met on a monthly basis at the ministers’ meeting to arrange rotas. **GB** was a trustee, Mark Oxbrow was an Adviser, and, together with **GBy** they contributed to the ministry of the church on a week-to-week basis. It was hoped that some members within the congregation would come forward for training to assist at services and through this, some would work towards ordination. **Grace Church:** The BMO had been agreed, and there were now discussions on whether weddings could take place at Grace Church. Sally Hemsworth Secretary to the PCC ## **Team Rector’s Annual Report** In many ways, as an organisation, this may have been the hardest year for the Church of England since the reformation in 1517! Yet, God remains good in all he does. Locally, we have been kept from meeting together in person but have managed to keep fellowship and worship together in other ways. Our wonderful team of deliverers have weekly popped nearly 70 notice sheets, and a collection of nearly 20 DVDs, through letter boxes. Our team of readers, intercessors, singers etc. have enabled us to put together, stream and deliver a weekly, high quality, recorded service. It is amazing what the people of God can do when stirred by his Spirit! You are an awesome bunch! Work in schools has needed to be reshaped. Moving online has meant that assemblies, Open the Book, governors’ meetings, etc. have all become a bit more technical. You are an amazing bunch demonstrating in new ways what it means to be the family of God with diverse skills. Our local schools have felt well supported and cared for! Thank you each and every one. A thank you goes to everybody who has enabled our halls and churches to be used during these difficult months. The extra cleaning, sorting etc. have been a labour of love. It has blessed not only our church family but many others. Massive thanks need to go to all of you who have been ‘keeping’ an eye on neighbours, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. It is impossible to overestimate the impact that a telephone call or knock on the door has in lifting one’s spirit and enabling daily life to continue. Amidst all of these challenges, we have sadly said farewell to some of our respected and loved senior members: John Shreeve, Molly Oliver, Connie Uren, Cynthia Retter, Revd Tony Beetham, Val Davies, Margaret Randle, Ranford Atkinson, Elizabeth Yeatman, Irene Betts. Our sadness is Heaven’s gain. May they rest in peace and rise in Glory! Such a large number in such a short time! Amidst all the challenges other projects have progressed. Installing a toilet, and projection in St James is so close to getting going. We have made a good start on fundraising. About £100,000 is going to be needed in all. We will start work on the most expensive part, the toilet. The rest will follow! Thank you for everybody’s generosity so far and for any future giving as well! The generosity of the people of God has meant that financially, our Team ministry has finished the year in a stable position. We have had vastly reduced income but also reduced costs and some generous government grants. Our work with families has suffered over these months. As we come out of Covid we need to consider how we can truly be a church for all ages. New shapes in ministry are developing. David Benskin has moved on to be ordained and to take up a Curates post. Revd Richard Chand has moved on, from being selfsupporting, to the role of Incumbent in Braintree, Revd Gemma is soon to move on to be incumbent in the Bernwode Benefice. We have been so blessed by them all. Our eyes are open as we look to discover who God is calling to work with us in coming months and years. Revd Mx Dias Burton has been helping us out over past months. He will soon be licensed to us as an Associate Self-Supporting Minister. Several members of our congregation have received training enabling them to take a liturgical lead on Sunday mornings. But I am sure God has more plans for us to discover ministries that are as yet undiscovered. Perhaps that is you? You are an awesome bunch and I know that we have untapped depths to explore. Where are our challenges for the future? - There are those linked with the task of rebuilding congregations that meet face to face. - We remain the family of God, but we have missed fellowshipping with each other! This needs to be rediscovered. - Isolation and separation have been hard on the life of discipleship. We will need to consider how we can best engage as Christians committed to lifelong learning. - There are significant challenges to be faced as we work with families and look to grow a new generation of worshippers. - 2020/21 has seen the first year I have been a minister with no local Christian Basics course. Where are we going from here? - Lock down has made it harder to prayer together. Let’s make 2021 a year where our focus on prayers becomes a key part of our family life. - We are a church who nurtures calling. We call out those with gifts. We offer help, support and training. We commission new ministries and support those involved. Lockdown has made this harder to do. As we move into the future we need to ask ‘Who has God called into new ministries and how can we support and commission them?’. - We need to rediscover our voices in worship. We have had a whole year without singing and we long to get back to it! - There is the work installing a toilet and projection at St James to be completed. - At St Francis we need to ask how we can make the building even more welcoming. - And yes, we will need to look at stewardship and ask how we can best respond to our generous God So, as I come to a close, I say, thank you for all you have been doing and all you will do. May God bless the good work of your hands. May you walk head held high. For we are the children of God. Revd Canon Geoff Bayliss Serviiig God. Cowloy and Headtngton Cowley Team Ministry St. James, and St. Francis, Churches Financial Report 2020 I IIC-M I 51. ( )1 C )11 { )Rii t114 rst Contemplativ .> rc Iffill•d Compassionate 13 li r c: children of Cod Lart •¥•1 Courageous TOWARDS A COMMON VISION Financial Report for 2020 Our accounts are separated into funds with the General Unrestricted Fund being the main one that receives donations from individuals to support the work of Cowley Parish and church services within the parish, Other sources of unrestricted income include the lettings of St. Francis, Church. Our other funds are restricted or designated by the Parochial Church Council IPCC) for particular purposes. This year several more people have been donating by Direct Debit using Parish Giving. The cost of this is absorbed by the diocese so the full amount given by monthly direct debit comes to Us as well as any Gift Aid associated with it. It also means that there is the option of an annual increase in line with inflation. You can go online or phone 0333 002 1271 with our Parish reference 270627190 to get started Till PARISH SCHEME General Fund This is our main working unrestricted fund that receives regular donations by standing order, Parish Giving, weekly envelopes and cash on the plate for all thing5 related to the churches and services. From this we pay the Parish Share which is our contribution to the Diocese to cover administration but mainly clergy pay, training, housing and pensions. This has remained the same as 2019 at £48,460.50. We also have to pay for both churches, insurance, gas, electricity, water, fire safety, music licence5, communion wafers and wine, candles, organ/piano tuning, organists, education both adult and children, administration, photocopier, stationery ..... the list goes on. Many of these bills remain the samei pandemic or not. 2020 has been such a turbulent year with four months when church attendance was not allowed under Covid lockdown rules and as many months with very small socially-distanced services. We are blessed by those who donate through their bank or with Parish Giving and have continued to do so. It is also heart-warming to see people who would normally come to services and donate at the services with cash/cheques and envelopes, have been finding ways to get their donations in. Some have left money with Geoff or through the Treasurerfs letter box. Some have joined Parish Giving or have paid directly into the parish bank account. A "Give a Little" button has been added to the website for donations and it has been used but in a small way. Our bank is Lloyds in Cowley. If you wish to donate to the account, the name of the account is "Cowley (Oxford) Parochial Church Council" Sort Code 30- 12- 51 and the account number is 01000840. However our income from donations and Gift Aid is approxlmately 10 per cent less than the previous yearfs. Income from lettings at St Francis, Church is less due to closure to the groups and individuals that use the building. We did, however, obtain a discretionary government grant of £1,500 to cover losses like this to charities. The Community Emergency Foodbank has continued to use St Francis, with longer hour5 to collate food parcels for delivery. We also had less coming in from fees with our final total of income beingjust under £6000 less than 2019 at £74,848. All our costs totalled £71,024 which meant that we are in the black and retain a reserve of just over £24,000. As the pandemic is continuing into 2021, we will still be hopeful that we will be able to pay our way. 2020 GENERAL {Unrestricted} FUND INCOME - £74,848 EXPENDITURE- £71,024 [£48,460.50 of which was Parish Share 68%] iL* 15115111111,, Jt >￿(Y e) Tr- o) ' i )r gE338￿. 55 aoa Other Funds: St James, Church Centre (Trading) Fund The pandemic meant that all the usual parish activities and lettings that take place in the Church Centre were cancelled from the March lockdown. This has meant that our income for the rest of the year had been dramatically cut. However we did receive a discretionary Government Grant of £10,000 which is designed to help charities like ours. Also the monthly payments of 2020-21 year rates that we already had paid were refunded and the rest cancelled. We still, however, had to pay the ground rent, insurance, maintenance and utility bills. Without the grant, we would have had a loss of about £3000 but we had £22,687 in reserves to start another difficult year. St James. Church Centre Endowment Fund This holds £3,270 in the deposit account and the £50,000 in our CBF Church of England Investment Account. This was valued at £94,339.30 at the end of the year. This money is only to be used for the Church Centre building, but the interest need not be and that is added equally to the Fabric Funds for each of our churches. St James, Church Fabric Fund The Endowment Fund interest of £1,321.35 was the only addition to this fund in 2020 and it stood at £10,307.33 at the end of the year. A separate Legacy Fund held £1,676.19 after paying for a new noticeboard in the churchyard. St Francis, Church Fabric Fund A legacy of £IOOO from the estate of Maureen Chatterton wa5 added to this fund in 2020 as was the endowment interest. £400 was spent on repair5 to the boiler and the fund held £7,443.93 at the end of the year. The Flush Fund This is for creating an accessible toilet in St James, Church. There were some donations and a little fundraising, including a reduced Plant Sale, at the beginning of the year. The total at the end of 2020 was £32,554.04 after Architects, interim fees were paid. Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) Fund The solar panels on the Church Centre roof earned us £1236.12 in 2020 bringing the total to £5,614.02. Bell Tower Restoration With the replacement bell stay paid for, this fund holds £1,146.04. Mission Giving At the beginning of the year the money allocated, £2,200, in 2019 for Mission Giving was paid out to the 10 organisations. A150 the money raised at the 2019 Christmas tree Festival was paid, £750 to Seesaw and £750 to ROSY. £IOOO was raised from the 2020 Christmas Tree Festival and the £500 to Seesaw and £500 to ROSY was paid in February 2021. Lockdown prevented most fundraising but £60 was raised for Christian Aid. £52.50 was donated to the Children's Society from a 2019 Christingle service at St Francis, Church. A Harvest appeal on behalf of Water Aid enabled a donation of £319 to be made and £55 wa5 specific311y given for the Community Emergency Foodbank. Face to face PCC meetings were not possible for most of the year and the fund5 for Mission Giving for 2020 of £2,100 were to be allocated in early 2021. Cowley Team Minlstry Statement of Financial Actlvities For the perlod from 01 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 *￿￿65￿¢￿d Pkslrfcted W￿¥ment lun(t9 Tdal Irfa1ft￿J5 l￿￿re5￿JrCe¥ In￿mIng ￿50￿￿￿9 from dorws cth￿r￿AUnt￿YinO)mIft9I6sOur(ÉS kbiities infiJtheranc&LVtrÈoundls objecis biitie5 forgenerdtingftJnd$ I￿￿t￿PfrOrn in*strnenÈ (Jherin(xJrning Wes￿rr£S Total InGome 62.534.98 571.35 10,805.40 7.912.53 279.66 13225.00 95.428.92 1.029.70 997.20 63*4.68 1*8.55 1Q805AO 7.912.53 2,922.34 13,532A3 100,3W3 44,605.DD 22.6￿.12 20.513.79 20,161.20 Z888.71 29.971.14 1W0%36 2N2.6B 207.83 4,877AI P*$ourcesused Costs ofgenerabng funds its"eS￿l8bffyjto theworkofthechurth pport(y)sts churthrn8negernentar￿ athini5traton 1,6&fj.17 80,721.36 121.20 4218.79 5.3S).66 97.540fi4 163.86 5,877.CWJ 2,689.67 83,411.03 121.20 4,6*75 477. T(tsl Expenditure 84746.52 1167.63 89,914.15 108,932.16 8,682.40 1,70&7B 10.392.IB 3fO71.ZO rrartsfers.. I&os5 ￿$fer5 b&ween￿￿￿￿-In (>0ss trd￿Sfe￿ beiweenfunds-tyjl Iwrecr4ni5ed gainsllLESES G3in5rt055e5 on Inie5trnent8s$ets Gains ￿ r￿lua￿On, fi>Èd asse￿, tharftys oAnu88 tmthEmertt Infunds 2,260.QI 12260.001 8.682.40 1,709.7 10,392.18 31.071.20 onclllatl(￿o1fiMds 81,678.99 11814.89 $1270.13 153,764.Tr1 121,892.81 T(lallts￿ ¢aryiedfrrward 9Q.361a9 20,524.67 53,270.13 1fj4.156.19 153,764.01 *Note- totals include General Fund and Designated Funds. (7 Feiyiwy ￿21 12.03 PagB 1 d 1 CowleyTean Ministry Balanee Sheet (Summary) Asat 3111212020 Asat 3111212019 Fixed ass8tS Current assets CashAB3nkthd hPknd Deblats 1fA)fi7&C13 2,024.46 162,702.55 1Y)285.91 2.024.46 152.310.37 Uabllltles CFedibrs'.knwts F&lir¥JDA In (heyear 11,453.641 11.453.641 11,453.641 11.453.641 Net ¢urrent assets less current Ilabllltles 164,156.19 153,764.01 Total a55ets less Gurrent liabilities 164,1S6.19 153,764.01 Llabllitl88 Total net as$e¢$ le$$ Ilabllitl¢$ 164,156.19 153,764.01 Representel by Unre5tr1cted C*n8rd (Unr851ridaYI 23214ffj6 20.fj05.04 D851gnated 67TB8 16,875.15 1,146.04 &(yJ) 2￿1.1 4M77.90 45156 35.0￿￿.11 Desiwat8d-8ellT(M*rRe$tL*aOL*) E*signated-¢Jgan RestLYat( CES1￿*￿.sttsarneS Lryacy￿nd Designaied-FeÈ&inTBriff Pasrnen Oesign*ed.c￿treath Desigr41ed-Toiletln StJ8mes (￿urd) 3.090.00 1,676.19 &614.02 451￿8 Restri¢led Reslrfd&J. SlJames thurchFa￿0Dth- Re5tiided.StFRntssk*%*bes Resthded. SIFCtL¥thFa)kFuThJ Resknded- Msslon 10,30733 1.6SS.79 7.443.93 914.62 8,S8S& 1fi88.B7 4522. 2A17.44 R¢s￿￿e￿.yOu￿v Endowmont 53270.13 $3270.13 Funds of thg church 164.1S6.19 153,764.01 (7 %)211201 pm) 1 ofl Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section'A ¥.Independent Examiner's.Report Report to the trusteesl members of The ParoGhial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Cowley, Oxtord On accounts for the year endeii 31¥1 December 2020 Charity no (If any) 1153602 Set outon pages Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation ofthe accounts. responsibilities of The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act} and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the prO￿dUreS laid down in the general Directions grven by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordan￿ ￿th general Directions given examiner's statement by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review ofthe accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the 8ccounts presented wtth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disciosures in the accounts, 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 audtt, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a Irue and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent In connection wth my examlnation, no matter has come to my aitention examlner's statement lother than that disclosed below") 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 Charities Act,. and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply wtth the accounting requirernents of the Charities 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. ' Please delete the wonys in the brack8ts rfth8y do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): IER -10- March 2012