2021-12-31-accounts - The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Cowley, Oxford

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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 inthe 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 (to July 2021)

Anglican Asian Living Church: Zeenath (Sunita) Masih

Church Wardens: Maureen Stone

Christine Woodman

Deanery Synod Representatives (2020 – 2023):

Christine Lee

Maureen Stone (from June 2021)

Christine Woodman

Elected Parochial Church Council members:

Joan Coleman (Treasurer)

Sheila Collett

Sally Hemsworth (Secretary)

Marie Patterson

Norah Shallow

Maureen Stone

Andrew Swallow

Margaret Weller

Lesley Williams (Electoral Roll Officer and Safeguarding Officer)

Mrs Zeenath (Sunita) Masih – co-opted member representing AALC

Additional Active Ministers

In addition, there are the following Self-Supporting Ministers (formerly called Non-Stipendiary Ministers) who are not members of the PCC:

Revd Mark Oxbrow

Revd Max Diaz Butron

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

St Francis Church Committee

These committees attend to all matters relating to the ministry, mission and maintenance of their churches. In addition, St James Church Committee deals with matters relating to St James Church Centre.

Church Statistics 2021

2019 figures in [ ]

It is difficult to give an attendance figure for 2020 because of the pandemic and lockdown. The figures given compare 2019 with 2021.

The average Sunday attendance in 2021 was 90 [107] – 31 [34] at St Francis and 59 [73] at St James.

There were 2 marriages (2 at St James, 0 at St Francis), 4 baptisms (4 at St James, 0 at St Francis), 11 funerals held in church (11 at St James, 0 at St Francis) and 2 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 2021 was 61 [85] (48 at St James, 13 at St Francis), with 53 [43] communicants (40 at St James, 13 at St Francis).

The number attending worship on Easter Day 2021 was 44 (15 at St James, 29 at St Francis), with 41 communicants (15 at St James, 26 at St Francis). A joint service was held at St Francis on Easter Day, with an 8 am service at St James.

PCC Review of the Year

There have been four PCC meetings since the last APCM Meeting – June and October 2021 and February and March 2022. In addition, a Special Parochial Church Meeting was held on 13 June 2021 at St Francis Church to appoint Maureen Stone as a Deanery Synod Meeting.

Parish Accounts:

The meetings during 2022 have concentrated on the Parish Accounts. It considered the draft accounts in February, where there were detailed discussions on the financial position. No changes were made to the accounts. The accounts were then sent for inspection when it was reported everything was satisfactory, and the final accounts were agreed at the March meeting.

Ministry Team/Service Times:

The PCC continues to be concerned at the reduced size of the Ministry Team, and the Rector has been asked to investigate the possibility of Self-Supporting Ministers in the Parish, in addition to the work being done on Lay Training. The PCC agreed to support the people who were investigating training – Jo Duckles, Elwira Lubos, Selina Masih, and Robin Ajit.

It understood that the team, consisting of Mark Oxbrow, Max Diaz Bruton and Alison Lockhart, were doing well. The addition of Lesley Williams, Jo Duckles and Elwira Lubos leading services added to the team, and Jo Duckles and Elwira Lubos were also doing some preaching. The PCC were delighted to learn that Liam Cartwright would be joining the Parish on the 2 July 2022 as a Curate and, in a small way, Joshua Hordern would also be working in Cowley as a Curate from the same date, although he would be shared with Grace Church and would continue his full-time employment.

There have been Preaching Placements from Wycliffe Hall throughout the year.

Two important events took place:

• Gemma Beesley’s last service took place on 13 June 2021. Unfortunately it was not possible to hold a farewell party for her, David Benskin or Richard Chand because of the restrictions.

• Max Diaz Butron was licenced to the Parish at the 8 am service on Sunday, 27 June 2021.

The timing of services has been altered to an 8 am service at St James Church, a 9.30 am service at St Francis Church, and a 11 am service at St James Service. Sometimes joint services are held. This is reviewed at each PCC Meeting. It is appreciated that the times of services do not suit every one and this is being kept under review.

There is great concern about the low attendance numbers, particularly at St James Church, and this is continually kept under review with contact being made with people who were once regular attenders but who have not returned since the pandemic.

COVID-19 Re-opening of Churches: There has been a continual review of church use and procedures to take account of changing advice.

Projects:

Provision of Toilet, St James: The tenders for this project were agreed by the PCC in June 2021. Fund Raising took place, with grants received from the Diocese, the Oxfordshire Historical Churches Trust, and AllChurches Trust as well as generous contributions from members of the congregation. Site meetings took place to meet builders from Richard Ward Ltd with the architect before work began, and there were several meetings during the construction period.

Provision of Digital Projection, St James: It was agreed that this project would be undertaken with the help of one of the Church members, Duncan Vivian, who undertook this sort of work as part of his job. It was confirmed that the scheme would be very similar to that agreed under the Faculty so that there was no need to request any amendments. Support shelves have been installed and the electrical work has been undertaken very sympathetically. Discussions are now taking place on the provision of screens.

Provision of new Notice Board, St Francis: This was agreed in June 2021, and was in place within the month.

Policies:

The following Polices were reviewed:

Data Protection – Cowley Parish Audit Data

Health and Safety

Safeguarding and Parish Mission Prayer and Giving Policies would be reviewed at the May 2022 PCC meeting.

Archdeacon’s Inspection, 23 September 2021: This three-yearly event went well. All the formal books and documents of the Parish were inspected, and at the end the Parish was asked to do two things – put No Smoking Signs in the church buildings and provide a fade proof pen at St Francis.

Team Rector’s Annual Report

A Rectors annual report is always a ‘strange beast’. Our financial accounts run from January to January. But this report really runs from spring 2021 to now May 2022. Then, we were in the early steps of the ‘roadmap out of lockdown’. A year ago, we were running live face to face Sunday Worship, but most of our life together was very limited, and very much online. It is only in the past few weeks that we have sensed a ‘getting back to normal’. Most of us admit that it is a journey still running. Nowhere near having reached the finish line. A lot of this current experience has to do with the lifting of restrictions, but there has also been a growing confidence in the science. The current virus mutations might be very contagious, but they seem much less likely to push us into a hospital bed. And we give such thanks!

At the centre of church life has been a growing core of members who have enabled us to continue. We are so thankful for each and every one. Whilst a few of us have been the visible face of the Church, so many more have been the infrastructure that have enabled it to happen. To this bunch of ‘unsung heroes’ I say a big thank you on your behalf. You have been present and appreciated in every part of Church life!

A word about finance: These have been difficult days. Income from funeral and wedding fees, have decreased, as have the weekly collections taken in services. We are thankful for each of you who is signed up to the ‘Parish Giving Scheme’, have been using bankers’ orders, or the green giving

envelops. Also, to those who have made periodic one-off payments, in place of weekly giving. There have then been a group of saints who have carefully put aside weekly donations so that they can be passed on when possible. It has been your generosity that has enabled us to continue. I am sure we will review the use of ‘passing the giving plate’ in services in coming months. On the horizon we have an electronic donation point. Watch out for it in future weeks and months! Looking into the future? Within the deanery, finance is an ongoing challenge. Our generous hearts have enabled us to support some of our brother and sister congregations in this, and past, years. Across the diocese, it seems challenges and changes will increase this pressure. God has been Good in the past, and so have his people. I am sure we will find his path through.

Children’s and families work: Before Covid we had a programme that brought together our Schools work, Little-Stars and Seashells groups, Messy Church and Sunday morning activities. The first 3 have been bouncing back well. We are again busy with schools, Preschool groups and Messy Church. Sunday morning activities are more of a challenge. It was a challenge as we approached Covid. There has for some time been a shortage of leaders. Regular attendance of families has been poor. Before Covid we were in the process of reviewing the provision. The diocese has been encouraging us to think about how we might wish:

... to connect with schools
... to nurture faith at home
... to connect with young people
... to connect with families
... to work intergenerationally
... to support families with under fives

We have strength in many of these. In coming weeks and months, we need to consider how we can better work intergenerationally. Currently we have a Sunday morning children’s’ table being led at most 11 am services in St James.

A word about our buildings: We continue to be blessed by our wonderful buildings and are thankful to the team who keep them going. The space is an ongoing resource to us but also to many other organisations in the area. There are a great number of hirers who find them blessing. These spread from the uniformed organisations, through clubs and societies, to other ecumenical brothers and sisters who are part of the Church of Christ. Our links with the Anglican Asian Living Church (AALC) have continued to grow. It has been a joy to share leadership of worship with them. We celebrate with them the recent set of ‘Bishops’ Mission Orders’ that formally make them members of the Diocese and Anglican Church.

The new toilet, installed in St James Church, continues to be an amazing blessing. I believe I am fair in saying that it gets much more use than most people thought. A knock-on effect has been the opening up of the building for broader use. It is now used longer on a Sunday and has 2 weekly singing groups that use it as home. Praise the Lord!

Developing Ministry Team: As the years have passed our team of ministers has continued to flex. We are thankful for each and every one of them. Whilst we are always sad when colleagues move onto other posts, it is a joy to celebrate as they take up new God given challenges. Revd Richard Chand moving to an Incumbency post in Essex and Revd Gemma moving on to a Rector’s post in the Bernwode Benefice are the two most recent examples. We have been blessed by Revd Max formally

joining us. He has been with us a while, but in this last year, has been licensed as an Associate minister. We are ever thankful for Revd Mark, and our sister Alison, in their ongoing ministries. This July, we gain two new Curates, Liam Cartwright and Joshua Hordern. It will be great to welcome them. From within the church family new roles in liturgical leadership have been taken up by Lesley Williams, Elwira Lubos, and Jo Duckles. Within the AALC the new team of worship leaders have been doing a great job. Krishna Singh, Robin Ajit, Salina Chand, and Sunita Masih. It is great to see God’s people seeking his will and discovering new and developing gifts and talents. Praise God!

More general comments: Mary and I continue to take joy in serving in this beautiful place called Cowley. We are so thankful for the support and care we receive. As Rector of Cowley, I am blessed to be part of a church family that knows what it is to be followers of Jesus . As Area Dean, I am privileged to lead a committed and skilled group of clergy and laity, working to build God’s Kingdom in the streets, Homes, School, centres of care and nurture, and Offices of this wonderful community. As Chair of the House of Clergy for the diocese, I am blessed, and supported, by an even wider community of faith. All this works, because we each look to follow God’s call. To respond faithfully to privileges and responsibilities that come with being part of the family of Christ. St Peter writes:

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. [1Peter 4 verses 10 to 11]

Serving God, Cowley and Headington Cowley Team Ministry St. James, and St. Francis, Churches Financial Report 2021 I11{ Tr1 1 ( )F C )NI I YKI ? Ingdoin Contemplative J:. rnourn thirst r•8lte•41$ness . r-n e rc Vfilleii rT¥r' Compassionate . h•4vEf i)iJre ii) li-_ rP•ildrL-1l ol Cod . Courageous i)ryk-. TOWARDS A COMMON VISION

Registered Charity number 1153602 weLGoMel Cowley folks have been worshipping at St James, Church for nearly a millennium and at St Francis, church for almost a century. The work in our church community and our beautiful buildings constantly needs funds. Donations can be made by Cash or cheque ["made out to Cowley (Oxford) PCC] Weekly envelopes Standing order at a bank Direct debit using the "Parish Giving Scheme" Payments into our bank account [Name: Cowley (Oxford) PCC Sort code.. 30-12-51 Number: 01000840] By card using the QR code on our website By leaving a legacy Please ask if you would like further information

Our General Unrestricted Fund All donations to the Parish, that are not specified for a particular purpose, go into the General Fund which is used to pay our contribution to the cost of ministry and to 5UPPOrt services in our two churches. 2021 was the second year that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected our church community. Donations by Parish Giving, bank standing orders and envelopes remained static but overall donations were down by 200A from 2020 from £61,151 to £50,712. The cash giving at services has continued to be low reflecting the fewer numbers attending church. The income from donors did, however, cover our Parish Share which was £47,975. Parish Share is paid to the diocese to cover clergy stipends, housing. training, pensions and administration. A contribution to our income 15 Gift Aid. This is claimed from HMRC by the parish on donations from individuals who have made a Gift Aid declaration and from anonyrnous small cash donations. This is a 25% uplift on money given. Apart from the Parish Share, the General Fund is used for all the expenses relating to our two churches from gas and electricity to such other essentials as fire and electrical safety, insurance, office costs, communion wafers, light bulbs and hand sanitiser amongst many. Income from other sources to help pay all these bills includes that from lettings at St Francis, Church. This was similar to 2020 and we also received a Government grant via Oxford City Council of £1,500 compensating for lost letting income due to Covid. Parochial fees from Weddings, funera15 etc were similar to the previous year. Expenses were lower due largely to a new contract for the photocopier. We did not go in for a new machine at the end of the lease but kept our current one with the regular supplier at a much lower rate.

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Fabric Funds St Francis, Church Fabric Fund A legacy of £2,000 was received from the late John Shreeve. This fund also received half the interest from the Church Centre investment account which amounted to £1.368.31. Expenses included a new noticeboard, 6 new chairs with arms and the replacement of a sink. At the end of the year this fund held £12,183.24. St James, Church Fabric fund There was no spending from this fund in 2021. It also received the half share from the investment interest and held £11,675.6 St James, Le Fund There was no movement in this fund which holds £1,676.19 Bell Tower Restoration Fund Annual maintenance cost £228 and the fund stands at £855.04. The Flush Fund - for the installation of an accessible toilet and an audio-visual s stem in St James, Church. This fund held £32,554.04 at the end of 2020 and it was augmented by some very generous donations both large and small. We also received a legacy of £2,000 from the late Connie Uren and a grant of £20.000 from the Diocese and grant of £3,600 from the Allchurches Trust. We have paid £6,776.16 in architect fees and a first payment to the builder of £49,999.90. We are awaiting a final invoice and we had £18,070.43 in this fund. Further donatlons will probably be needed and use of St James, Fabric Fund. The audio-visual system is in abeyance. The diocese have awarded £IO,OOQ in a grant which we will lose if we go beyond June 2022 for its installation.

St James. Church Centre Tradin Fund Most of the usual activities at the Centre resumed, albeit socially-distanced, in the second half of 2021 and letting5 income has started to flow in. We did receive government grants totalling £9,907.43 via the City Council to compensate for lack of income due to the pandemic. We also had rates cancelled at the beginning of the year and a refund from our water Supplier. Total income was £20,381. Utility bills and cleaning are up from last year because of increased use of the building. Expenditure was £8,968. We had a healthy £29,091 at the end of 2021. St James, Church Centre Endowment Fund The capital in this fund is to be used only on the Church Centre Building. £50,000 was placed in the CCLA CBF Church of England Investment Fund. On st 31 December 2021, this was valued at £107,834.96. Interest from this investment is paid quarterly and can be used for other purposes. It is placed equally in the Fabric Funds of St Jame5. and St Francis, Churches. In 2021 this totalled £2,736.61. Feed- In tariff ments The 39 solar panels, on the roof of St James, Centre building, brought in £1,105 in 2021 making a total income so far to £6,719. It was a higher figure than usual because we were not Using the building as much and, therefore, not using the free electricity when the sun was shinin& so more went to the grid.

Mission Giving in 2021 £2100 wa5 allocated by the PCC being equal to 5% of the Planned Giving in 2019. The 7 organisations that benefitted were: The Archway Foundation- £350 Be Space - £350 Church of the Holy Family, Blackbird Leys Project- £175 Innovista - Thrive - £350 St Mary's Church, Barton project- £175 The Icolyn Smith Foundation - Oxford Community Soup Kitchen - £350 Viva - Doorsteps- £350 In addition: £500 were given to each of the children's charities ROSY and Seesaw resulting from donations from The Christmas Tree Festival at the end of 2020. Water Aid benefitted from £164 from donation5 at Harvest. Donations in kind at Harvest, and throughout the year, were donated to the Community Emergency Food Bank that operates from St Francis, Church. Christian Aid week collections and other events raised a total of £1,561.25 for Christian Aid including a donation of £610 for the India disaster appeal largely from the Anglican Asian Living Church.

Cowley Team Ministy Balance Sheet detalled A8at 3111212021 Asat 3111212020 Current a55ets A1501: BankOJThEnt8rt A1509. 88nkdep)srtaLtsunl A1506.. 0sTsB trwtrnentknx Al51.CaA1nlmen1kn>jnI Al0.. Cashinh)d ..u¢S Rele 43809 41669 Jnio 150 2,024 166.71S 50,000 2024 Total Curent #$$*t5 102,702 U8bllltle$ 6693.'P9pwIethl55 651 11.3891 11.4541 11J891 {1.4541 Total Llablllli85 NetA%sèt surplus {deficltl 168.169 16<150 Re¥erv88 EX45¥1(fi1)ljdat8 Z01..Slth"ngb8larJ 4.012 164,#56 153,764 164,156 Totsl Reserves 168,169 Rewesented by Fund$ ILknresM&AI) IgrBted FStrided 2&214 67,146 20524 5327Q 164156 451 91922 53270 16B,159 17 3..46) PaJ8 1 d1

Cowley Team Minlsty Statement of Flnancial Activilies For the perlod from 01 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 F45CE0 T¢)tsl InL))ming S1rtrOM QherwlunkryinLY)miny resour 14b85 lnfvthar&Ofeirys%fjry ities tsgenwofjng fr¥5 Incomefrom in%e51men15 (wInrWes0ur Tcrtal Irwne 50.762 697 12,089 3.979 4fi76 ft,i&fj 172 2,772 10P)S 7B12 agT2 17251 2,736 36507 74783 138J23 100006 Cc6tselg8naOngfiJrvJ$ ts PLe5 rdatingtottEwxkofthe pwtwsts Churth managemÈnlandadffjirristr3tion 1.250 1,855 60.S59 122 2N46 64128 69A99 13Qf 122 83,411 121 4.696 432 71.181 t31 1N10 4012 10?92 1>055tr3nsth tEMEenlmd5.in t)D5S Iran5fws beeDnds.l CtrBrre¢redArts1106S85 Q¥lnsn055e5 cn Innenta8sets In5 onrpWu3tiuTr, fi%dass¥s,(*aIWsM use &ooo 173.7961 Is.o(ni Bs) n,397 4112 1CIA92 90361 S3270 154,1% 153,764 Trfaltt¥Kl8 cerrledfoThYard 91.922 161169 164.156 Therg maybe mlnordls¢repndes In the totals Mthopen¢e arenotbelngshown (T Fehw XQ2 &&4wil Pase I d1

Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the truste&sl members of The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Cowfey, Oxford On accounts for the year ended 31$t December 2021 Charity no (if any) 1153602 Set out on pages Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: exarnine the accounts under section 145 of the Chartties Act, to ft)Ilow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145{5)(b) of the Charities Act, and to state wheth&r particular matters have come to my attenlion. Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Dire¢tions given examine$ statement by the Charity Commission. An examination includ85 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 the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the eviden 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 Ihe statement below. Independent In connection with my examination. no matter has come to my attention examinerfs statement (other than that disclosed below.) 1. whiGh gives rne reas¢)nable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements: to keep accounting records in accordan wrth section 130 of the Charities Act., and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply wtth the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met", or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order lo enable a proper understanding of thè accounts to be reached. ' Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: Date: Name: THOM thg Relevant professional quallficatlon(s) or Ix)dy (If any): f¥J Ip IER -10- March 2012

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