**The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Luke with St Bartholomew** **Reading Reg. Charity No. 1158694** **Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 21 May 2023, 12 Noon, In-person at St Luke’s Church and via Zoom** **Agenda Minutes of 2022 Meeting Parish Reports including Parish Accounts** ## **Sunday 21 May 2023, 12 Noon, In-person at St Luke’s Church and via Zoom** **Meeting of Parishioners for the Choice of Churchwardens** _**(Anyone on the electoral roll of the church, OR resident in the parish may vote in this meeting)**_ ## **AGENDA** ## **1. Election of Churchwardens** ## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting** _**Only those on the electoral roll of the parish may vote in this meeting. Others may ask questions and join in discussion at the discretion of the Chair**_ ## **AGENDA** **1. Apologies for absence** **2. Minutes of the 2022 APCM** **3. Confirmation/Elections of Deanery Synod Members** **4. Elections of PCC Officers and Ordinary Members** - I. Election of PCC members - II. Appoint independent examiner if necessary - III. PCC Secretary ## **5. Outline of the Annual Reports:** - I. Chair of PCC Report - II. Warden’s Report - III. Electoral Roll Update - IV. Treasurer’s Report **6. Feedback, Questions and Any Other Business** (Items to be considered for AOB to be sent to the Chair no later than 19 May 2023) **7. The Year Ahead** **8. Closing Prayers** **9. Dates of PCC meetings** – to be agreed by the members of the PCC APCM report May 2023 ## **Minutes of the Meeting of Parishioners and APCM Sunday 22 May 2022, 12 Noon, via Zoom and in person** **Present in person** : Rev’d Ross Meikle (Vicar), Rev’d Christine Blackman, Jane Kenyon, Kirsten Bayes, Libby Stroud, Elizabeth Rebbeck, Alan Tonkyn, Shelagh Tonkyn, Chris Wakelin, Melanie Shrubsall, Sylvia Rayner, Mary Evans, Barbara Walton, Sally-Ann McDowell, Julian Pratt, Janet Davis, Francis Jakeman, Gillian Lyne, Ola Cassels-White, Lynne Webb, Hilary Jakeman, Sarah Collins (PCC Secretary) Present on zoom Marion Pitman; Dianne Tavares ## **Meeting of Parishioners for the Choice of Churchwardens** Meeting commenced at 12.03pm 1. Election of Churchwardens Two nominations were received so Jane Kenyon and Kirsten Bayes were duly elected. Meeting concluded at 12.11pm ## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting** Meeting commenced at 12.13pm 1. Apologies for absence Bridget and Leslie green; Veronica and Roger Cox; Barbara Blakey; David and Helen Ewers. 2. Acceptance of the Minutes of the 2021 APCM was proposed by Kirsten Bayes, seconded by Lynne Webb and passed unanimously. ## **3. Elections of PCC Officers and Ordinary Members** - I. Leslie Green, Hilary Jakeman, and Sally-Ann McDowell will continue on the PCC and as representatives on Deanery Synod. Marion Pitman will step down from Deanery Synod and become an elected member of the PCC. - Paul Carnell, Gillian Lyne, Roger Cox and Lynne Webb will continue as members of the PCC. Janet Davis was elected as a new member of the PCC and welcomed to the team. APCM report May 2023 Sarah Collins will continue as co-opted as Acting PCC Secretary. If you know anyone who might be interested in taking on this role, please speak with Ross or Sarah. Steve Allen is taking a break from the PCC after many years and was thanked for his commitment. The PCC Membership is as above plus The Rev. Ross Meikle (Chair), The Rev. Christine Blackman and the two Churchwardens. II. **The appointment of an Independent Examiner** . It will be necessary to appoint a new Independent Examiner. Not able to provide one at the moment but if anyone has any suggestions please contact Sally-Ann. There are some possible candidates, and these are being investigated. The work involved reviewing the accounts usually available from February to be ready for APCM in May. Does not take too long. As we are a charity, we do need someone competent to undertake this but we do not need a full audit so not necessary to be a qualified accountant although there are rules for who is able to inspect. A fee would be payable for this service – previously this has varied between £100 and £1500 (provision of full accounts). May be done electronically so could be someone working remotely. Could it be done electronically. An outline of what is required will be made available. ## **4. Outline of the Annual Reports:** The APCM report was sent out in advance of the meeting. Rev. Ross invited comments and questions. - I. Chair of PCC Report was accepted with no questions. II. Warden’s Report was accepted with no questions. Kirsten Bayes offered thanks to everyone who volunteers for the church. In Japan they say the meal is the work of many hands and this is true of the church. Thanks also to Sarah and clergy. III. Electoral Roll Update was accepted with no questions. The Electoral Roll will be open to new applicants after the conclusion of the APCM. The PCC are responsible for reviewing and making decisions on applications. IV. Treasurer’s Report. Nothing to add nothing to add but if any questions after final accounts have been issued, please get in touch with Sally-Ann. The Independent Inspector has reviewed the accounts but final accounts not ready yet, but no issues raised so far. ## **5. Feedback and questions were invited as each report was considered.** Alan Tonkyn – The Vicar’s report mentioned the vision meeting and raised again at the parish weekend considering where St Luke’s wants to be by the 150th anniversary. Can you give us any idea of what came out of that meeting please? Ross – going to park as that is going to come up under next item – The Year Ahead Gillian – Safeguarding – we are now on level 2! Ross - huge strides made in the last year and Gillian has done a fabulous job of moving us forward on this and putting us in a APCM report May 2023 fabulous place. We are fully committed to looking after the most vulnerable in our community. Alan Tonkyn – We had a bit of a shock during the year with the accounts showing we are way over our income – how are we going to survive? Sally-Ann - Biggest expense was the boiler replacement at St Bartholomew’s. The work on the roof didn’t use money we had coming in but was funded from the sale of an endowment. There was about 15-20k extra which partially covered the boiler. We have used our deposit fund for the rest of the boiler and the emergency heating. Hopefully going to get people donating by resurrecting the plate. The biggest factor will be Read College themselves as although rent is low it is now covering utilities plus the bulk of the insurance costs and their rent coming in will make a big difference. Alan Tonkyn - will it cover maintenance on the building? SAM yes for small amounts but would have to fund raise for larger amounts. Ross put in an application for a contactless donation machine which was approved, and he attended webinar. Joshua from the diocese was talking about ways to encourage generous donations and fundraising. Also looking at options for people to give donations on a Sunday. He had a good meeting of people who are going to be Welcomers on a Sunday and there was discussion about what can be done as part of that. The bulk of fund raising comes from regular giving. Looking at fundraisers to give to the work of the church. Thank you to Sally Ann for holding us through this difficult period. Libby Stroud – asked whether projected huge rise in energy cost will impact us or being part of the diocese will we get some remission. SAM – the church is part of a scheme where buy in bulk so not affected so far but after October the fixed rate will end, and costs will rise. The Finance Group will be looking at what we can do. Ross is working with the buildings committee to look at how we manage some of the costs associated with our buildings. ## **7. The Year Ahead** RM – in October the Ministry Team (Ross, Christine, the Wardens and Sarah) stayed overnight at the Caversham Premier Inn overnight in Caversham, turning a bedroom into a study to spend time looking at scripture to try to discern what god is doing with us as a parish. We discussed the image of a bird bath – this theme continued at the PCC away afternoon at St Nicolas. Thinking about water and the bible verse the parable of the mustard seed. The idea being who are the birds within our community? Who does not come and rest in the Kingdom of God in our parish? Thinking about the communities we are and are not in touch with. This was framed at our weekend away in Bournemouth – water, birds, birth bath. What if we look at church as bird bath? Some really good discussion and questions emerged such as - who is going to clean the water? what do we do if rats or squirrels chase the birds away? Matt Andrews asked if bird baths are just for our own sense of comfort, don’t serve a purpose but just make us feel better about ourselves. I want to run with the image of the bird bath and see where that might take us. I would like, over the next couple of years, having bird bath sessions - conversations about who are the pigeons we don’t want, who are the squirrels? We also did some great craft activities and encouraged great conversations as well. Jane and I have discussed birdsong - where is the role of music in who we are and where we are going? We will be appointing a new music leader and we can see how music fits into the life of APCM report May 2023 the church. Where is Christ in all of this. Space to breathe. Would like other people to take the idea and run with it. We will all need to own this if there is something in there. Longer term would like to draw out some of those conversations and embedding them in the work of the parish and seeing if they might grow. Separate to this is The Year of Wholeness and Healing but there may be some overlap between the two. I have been looking at Psalm 23 - still waters that birds come to for restoration and for wholeness and healing. There may be overlaps but the Year has an endpoint next June which may steer us in a whole different direction. Feedback and questions invited. Alan Tonkyn – who we are and not engaging with – what conclusions did you draw? RM – for examples students, non-Christian community, ecumenical interfaith, Christine – the logo jane painted and the orange rectangle of bricks in church give a good idea of them. Challenges - one says restart Sunday club every Sunday – who is going to come forward and say I have seen this good idea and I want to run with it – it is easy to come up with ideas but expect someone else to do it, for example the Jubilee Tea Party. Who is going to say that’s my bag and I am going to run with it. The risk is a cloud of warm thoughts without actions. Gillian Lyne – At the Parish Weekend we discussed phrase “enemy of apathy” which was really challenging. Ian Collins really challenged us and made some very good points. (Ross chatted with Ian too. One thing to think about is to invite him to lead one of these sessions to do a deep dive). We have something already there with our Spaces for Life which is a place we could start/continue with if that is a framework we want to buy in to. Shelagh Tonkyn – REinspired – we engage with two primary schools and it would be great if people could be a presence, welcome them or even join in with reinspired. If anyone felt they could contribute to this as currently no one from the church there. Could we help them financing. ST primary AT secondary. Right on our doorstep in our community. Ross said that REinspired borne out of St Nicolas. Have had them in the church and RM intends to be there to meet and greets. Preparation help or being there would be great. Ross - One last thing about presence in church. Once of conversation at PCC and Welcomers meeting is having people in the church during the week, trying to build a presence in the church so it can be open to the community. There was no other business raised. ## **6. A closing prayer was offered by Christine.** **7. Dates of PCC meetings** will be agreed by the members of the PCC using an electronic calendar. The meeting closed at 12.50pm. APCM report May 2023 # **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST LUKE WITH ST BARTHOLOMEW FOR THE YEAR ENDED APRIL 2023** ## **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST LUKE WITH ST BARTHOLOMEW FOR THE YEAR ENDED APRIL 2023** ## _**Administrative information**_ St Luke's and St Bartholomew's are two churches joined into one parish, situated in Reading, Berkshire. They are part of the Diocese of Oxford within the Church of England. The correspondence address is _**The Parish Office, St Luke’s Church, Erleigh Road, Reading, RG1 5LH.**_ The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity which is registered with the Charity Commission. Members of the PCC from the last APCM (22 May 2022) until the date this report was approved are: The Rev’d Ross Meikle, Vicar, Chair The Rev'd Christine Blackman, Associate Priest Kirsten Bayes, Church Warden, St Luke's Jane Kenyon, Church Warden, St Bartholomew's _Deanery Synod representatives (until 31[st] May 2023)_ Leslie Green Hilary Jakeman Sally-Ann McDowell, Treasurer ## _Other elected members_ : Paul Carnell Roger Cox Mary Evans Lynne Webb Marion Pitman ## _Co-opted members_ : Sarah Collins (Parish Administrator and PCC Secretary) ## _Officers newly elected at APCM 23 May 2022_ Janet Davis APCM report May 2023 ## _**Structure, governance and management**_ 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 on the PCC. ## _**Objectives and activities**_ St Luke with St Bartholomew's PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the Vicar in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has the maintenance responsibilities for the Churches of St Luke's, Erleigh Road, Reading; St Bartholomew's, London Road, Reading; and the Parish Hall, Erleigh Road, Reading. ## _**Church attendance**_ The number on the Electoral Roll at 9 May 2023 is 87. We continued to provide zoom links for services which were appreciated by people who were unwell or out of Reading. The average weekly in attendance in October was 49 (of which 5 was under the age of 16) at St Luke's and _**0**_ at St Bart's. A family service was held at St Bartholomew’s just before Christmas. This was attended by 14 Adults and 6 Children. On Christmas Day 70 adults and 12 children attended the services in person with a number of others joining via Zoom. ## _**Review of the year**_ The PCC has met on 7 occasions since the last APCM. ## **Chair to PCC** This year, the PCC have shown good governance across the life of our parish and made decisions that will enable us to move forward as a safer and more conscious church. Here are some of our key decisions and discussions: - **Policies** - We ratified several policies relating to Safer Recruitment, Health and Safety, and Safeguarding. - **Hall Manager** - It was decided to split the role of Parish Administrator with a separate Hall Manager role, to have a stricter handle on our finances and to enable each role to flourish. - **Safeguarding Training for PCC Members** It was agreed that new PCC members need to have completed their Safeguarding training within 6 weeks in order to stay on the PCC. - **Gambling** We explored the topic of 'gambling in church', what the Bible and Christian tradition say on the matter, and discussed what our expectations are of ourselves at, say, the Christmas Fair, and others who use our buildings. - **Read College response** - I was mightily impressed by the response of the PCC and the good levels of governance on display as we discussed the situation regarding Read College. There have been some requests for better communication between the PCC and the wider APCM report May 2023 church congregation. This has been noted and the incoming PCC will be given the opportunity to discuss how to develop this in the year ahead. ## **The Reverend Ross Meikle** APCM report May 2023 ## **Churchwardens’ Reports** ## **St Luke’s Church** This year saw much of the activities in the Parish return to something resembling their pre Covid form. The year of Wholeness and Healing, and all the work on remembering our history, including the pantomime (tribute!) brought great joy, and the work of the volunteers on the healing garden will provide a place where we can continue to reflect. Thank you to all involved. I’ve hugely appreciated the work of our Clergy, Welcomers, Chalice bearers, Refreshment providers, Servers, Choir, and Flower Arrangers who have worked so hard to make our services so special, and all those who give so much of their time to run the Toddler Group, Coffee Mornings, Craft Group, Sunday Club, Community Garden and all the other groups and clubs that make the Parish such a brilliant place to be. Special thanks also to Gillian and all those working on Safeguarding, and Sally-Ann and the finance team, who make much of the above possible, and to the PCC who devote so much time to making sure the Church governance is all it should be. Buildings have been especially challenging over the last year, with the boilers in our churches and hall all deciding to misbehave during the cold spell, so again huge thanks to all those who have been so devoted to this work. And finally thank you to Sarah our Parish Administrator; Jane, as fellow Warden; Ross, and Christine, who have helped us all navigate the journey of the last several years. The Church finds itself facing a number of challenges: financial, infrastructural, and the need for more pairs of hands to help with its many activities as it grows its mission in the Parish. If you have been wondering “how can I help?” there are many opportunities: please do ask. ## **Kirsten Bayes, Churchwarden** ## **St Bartholomew’s Church** In my last year of being Churchwarden we held a successful St Bartholomew’s Day event with the retelling of the story of Lazarus which involved lots of toilet paper and drama! The Christmas celebration introduced a new character in the form of Thomas, the Stable Cat, who made guest appearances at other services over Christmas. Amongst many enjoyable and innovative social events, we restarted our Scrabble Club in the Autumn and it has gone from strength to strength with three tables of players. APCM report May 2023 The DAC finally gave permission for the creation of the Healing Garden for the community on the land around the church. Grant funding from the Diocese and a generous gift from RG Spaces enabled the commission of a beautiful bespoke bench. It is temporarily residing at the back of church where it is much admired and enjoyed as a comfortable perching place. Five native trees have been planted and are thriving and a notice keeping the community up to date with our plans is proudly displayed in a beautiful bright pink wheelbarrow donated to us by Sun Street Community Garden. I can hardly believe that I have been Churchwarden for fifteen years. There have been moments of great joy but also of sadness and the church is in good heart as I pass the responsibility to my successor. My new role as Hall Manager promises to be challenging and rewarding. **Jane Kenyon, Churchwarden** APCM report May 2023 ## **Annual report from PCC Buildings Committee** The maintenance of our three buildings remains a challenge. Fuel prices have soared. The trees continue to grow, now overhanging the public highway and need lopping. The valves and pumps on our heating systems approach the end of their useful life and need replacing. Next year the Quinquennial Inspections are due but by good governance over the past years I do not expect any major items of expenditure. All of the statutory inspections and annual maintenance contracts on our three properties are up to date. We still pay respect to the restrictions brought about by the Covid 19 pandemic but are pleased to see our buildings once more starting to serve our community. When, on 30 November 2021, we signed the 25 year licence with Read College, allowing them to use St Bartholomew’s church as their main operational home, and in December 2022, the College received DAC approval to fit a sound proof wall around the Rood screen so providing two distinct useable spaces of the Chancel and Nave, we had secured the church’s future. Sadly, the College has run into financial difficulties and has informed us of its pending closure. Storage in the Hall is being addressed and a review is being carried out as to how to provide a toilet accessible directly to garden users. New phone lines and Internet contracts have been set up for the church and hall. This has improved Wi-Fi performance and is expected to save money. To improve security in the church office a new door-bell video system has been installed. The sensory Healing Garden has received Archdeacon approval, the bench and trees purchased and planting begun. We again owe a huge thank you to Roger Cox for project managing and, in many cases, undertaking the tasks involved in maintaining and refurbishing our three properties. I am mindful of Roger’s desire to step back from this role. The Buildings Committee would also like to thank Sarah and Jane for the day-to-day management of the Hall and the Church. May I conclude this report by thanking all members of the congregation who have assisted the Buildings Committee in maintaining the fabric of the buildings. **Leslie Green, Chair of the Buildings Committee** April 2023 APCM report May 2023 ## **Finance** ## **Treasurer’s Report** ## **Finance** ## **Treasurer’s Report** This report is based on the accounts produced by the treasurer directly using the accounting software. At the summary level, in 2022 our income was greater than our expenditure. ## **INCOME** Total Income was about £106,000 (compared to £99,500 in 2021 and £100,000 in 2020). ## _**Income from donors, collections and gift aid**_ In 2022, we received about £43,600 via the bank (compared with £33,700 in 2021 and £37,500 in 2020). The gift aid recovered from giving and one off donations (for tax year 2021-2022) was just under £10,000 (in 2021 this was about £7,500). There were additional donations via the contactless device and the hole in the wall plus other generous donations amounting to about £12,200. ## _**Income from buildings rent (hall and churches):**_ In 2022, income from building rent was about £34,350 (compared with £33,700 in 2021 and £37,500 in 2020). The hall income was higher than in 2021 (about £7,200) but sadly the NHS Holiday club is no longer operating due to costs and so we have had to find alternative hirers. This is proving hard but Sarah has found some new groups and so we are hopeful we can continue to increase rental income to a level similar to before the pandemic. Read College continued to rent St Bartholomew’s, but they had a cash problem towards the end of the year and so the PCC agreed to a 3 month rent holiday to allow them to recover which they seem to have done. During this period, though they continued to cover the costs of utilities as per their agreement. ## _**Other income:**_ Coffee mornings occurred regularly again in 2022 and about £2,300 was raised for various charities at these events. The Christmas Fair also raised £1,100 and there was about £650 for weddings and funerals. ## **EXPENDITURE** Total expenditure was about £161,300 (compared to £253,500 in 2021 and £115,200 in 2020). ## _**Major Building works and repairs**_ The final works related to the replacement of St Bartholomew’s roof was £12,900. The boiler replacement at St Bartholomew’s also cost £39,500. ## _**Utilities and insurance (excluding water)**_ Insurance in the two churches (and hall) increased to £15,500 from £12,400 in 2021. Read College covered a portion related to building and contents at St Bartholomew’s as per their agreement. Electricity in the two churches was about £4,200 which is about £1,800 more than the previous year which is not surprising as the buildings were more in use. We had an increase in our energy prices from October 2022, so we were fortunate to keep our fixed prices for a few months after the general price rise of energy. APCM report May 2023 Heating costs were about £15,350 on the two churches, though this includes about £11,100 emergency heating costs for St Bartholomew’s while the boiler was broken. Gas usage at St Bartholomew’s is covered by Read College and due to previous years overpayment is currently simply reducing the credit that we have built up, but Read College pay the value of the invoice. The amount they have used in 2022 was about £5,000 (not included in the figure above). Hall gas was about £2,650 so considerably more than in 2021 (£1,300), but this was due to greater use of the hall. In 2022, electricity was about £850 compared to about £500 in 2021. ## _**Charitable giving:**_ As in recent years, we did not give 10% of our planned giving to charities in 2022. Our plan had been to continue to donate to some local charities regularly (which we continued to do) and then do one off fundraising for others throughout the year. Due to the coffee mornings restarting and other charitable events, we managed to give about £4,600 to charities which is considerably higher than 2021 (£2,500) and 2020 (£2,600) and puts us back at a level similar to before the pandemic. ## _**Parish Share:**_ Our Parish share was £45,800 in 2022 compared to £47,250 in 2021. ## _**Parish Administrator:**_ Costs for Parish Administrator reduced slightly to about £11,750 including tax, national insurance and pension compared to just over £12,700 in 2021. ## **BALANCE OF FUNDS** Our usable funds have dropped even more than last year to £33,866. These were £86,700 in 2021, £103,300 in 2020 and £119,000 in 2019. This has been due to a reduction in income from rent and the recent increase in energy prices but mainly due to the final spend on St Barts roof plus the costs associated with a new boiler and emergency heating at St Barts. We do also have some untouchable funds, which were valued at £268,620 on 31 Dec 2022 compared to £301,512 on 31 Dec 2021. These are the Lawrence Bequest, the Curacy fund, the Schoolrooms fund, and the Cockburn Bequest. ## _**Reserves Policy**_ The usable funds that we hold in reserve reduced due to a decrease in the value of the investments plus the major works and repairs at St Barts. The reserves policy was not discussed in 2022, however our accounts show that we still meet the reserves policy as set in 2011. The reserves policy is still to maintain reserves of at least £5,000 per building for emergency maintenance to the buildings. The maximum amount to be held in reserves was agreed to be £100,000, although we could potentially hold more if the PCC determined there was a valid reason for doing so. All reserves are held as funds invested with the Central Board of Finance of the Church of England for the time being. ## _**Finance Committee**_ The finance committee regrouped in 2022 and started to hold regular meetings to ensure the finances are regularly reviewed. If anyone has an interest in joining, please do let me know. APCM report May 2023 Due to the recent financial issues the parish has been seeing, the finance committee would like to suggest that coffee mornings for the next year raise funds solely for the church. This will allow the church to hopefully build up funds so we will be able in the future to support other charities. A suggestion would also be for individuals from the congregation using the hall to consider providing funds to cover extra gas and electricity whilst they are using the facilities. ## **Sally-Ann McDowell Treasurer** ## **Safeguarding report 2023** ‘For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you’ Jeremiah 29:11 The importance of creating a safer environment and culture within our church, where all will prosper and none will be harmed _,_ continues to be of the utmost importance. An awareness of the safety and appropriate interaction with vulnerable individuals within our community is essential as we seek to create an environment which is welcoming, respectful and enables safeguarding concerns to be raised and responded to openly, promptly and consistently. As safeguarding continues to be an important aspect of church life there are frequent reviews of training, DBS checks and it is a standing item on each PCC agenda. An Action Plan following the Diocesan Safeguarding Dashboard has seen various policies brought before the PCC for approval. New policies on the recruitment of ex-offenders, whistle blowing and a list of church activities that require safeguarding checks have all been approved by the PCC as well as an annual review of the Safeguarding Policy. We are now on level 3 (last year it was level 1) of the Dashboard and have now completed 78% of the requirements of the Diocese. Two new members of staff have been recruited in the past year following the guidance of the Diocesan Safer Recruitment and People Management framework. Many thanks to Jenny Page for all her work as DBS verifier and to all those people who have undertaken the online training and recruitment process. I am also grateful for all who contributed to the role descriptions and person specifications for the various jobs advertised. ## **Gillian Lyne** APCM report May 2023 ## **Vicar's Report – The Reverend Ross Meikle** Most of this year past year has included our Year of Wholeness and Healing - an opportunity to mark and celebrate the time between the 140th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of St Luke's and the 140th anniversary of the consecration (which will be in June 2023). I have found it a helpful phrase for reflection throughout the year, and it's been exciting to see how different groups across our church community have embraced the idea, especially as we have increasingly enjoyed opportunities to be together in-person after the COVID-19 restrictions. We have had a series of social events - Pimms & Hymns; Soups & Puds; Graves & Gelato; Panto & Punch; - which have given us opportunities to regather and enjoy the company of friends, old and new. There has been a series of displays and materials produced about the history of the church, thanks to Ola, Gillian, and Gordon. Along with the Lent group 'Secrets of the Sanctuary', this year has also reconnected us with our building and the worshippers who have come before us. Furthermore, the House Group have looked at the healing miracles of Jesus; wholeness and healing were the theme for our Parish Weekend; and work has begun on the healing garden on the corner of Donnington Road. The Year of Wholeness and Healing will conclude on 6th June, and for me its legacy will be a year of **re-gathering** in our church, hall and garden; of **re-discovering** of our shared identity in Christ across the generations; and, of **re-finding** our feet together as we seek to bring God's message of love, healing and wholeness to the parish around us. We continue to serve the kingdom of God through baptisms of children born to families in our local parish or who have a historic connection to St Luke's. Furthermore, off the back of my engagement with the University Chaplaincy, we have brought two young adults to confirmation, who have from time to time worshipped with us as St Luke's. We have also held funerals - not only for our own dearly departed (especially Tim Baker, Barbara Walton, and Heather Stratford) but also for others within the parish. It was a privilege to lead the funerals of a couple who were married at St Luke's and lived in the house next-door to Tutu's in Palmer Park. Over the past year, the phrase "we have everything we need" keeps coming up - from rope used to suspend the hymn boards from St Bartholomew's to the fabric used to make a river from the altar for our Mothering Sunday service. It has become something of a joke between us and God that as we imagine something that we want to do, we find the very thing we need to do it...! This past year, we have become a poorer church financially through factors outside our control. Sally-Ann's finance report goes into more detail. However, we have become richer in discovering the gifts that we already have - either by what we have found in cupboards or by the generosity of the church to specific projects and needs. APCM report May 2023 I've been your vicar for over two years now, and as I reflect on those years with others, I am reminded that most incumbents haven't dealt with half of what I've been confronted with: from managing lockdowns, to HR, and our current financial situation... These are things that theological college just doesn't prepare you for! It hasn't been an easy or straightforward two years, but I want to thank you for your support, your encouragement, and your kindness which have been invaluable in keeping me grounded. Thank you. ## **Ross** ## **The Year Ahead...** At our Candlemas service and my second anniversary as vicar, I identified three areas for the development of our life together as a parish: ## 1. **Reflecting our globality** We are a multicultural congregation, but that isn't reflected across our groups or our worship. Let's look for ways to develop this together. ## 2. **Deepening our inclusivity** We have signed up to Inclusive Church, and it will be good to become more aware of how we can better support those who do not feel as if church is available or accessible to them - especially people who are discriminated on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality. ## 3. **Strengthening our parish relationships** - Part of our Anglican identity comes from our commitment to bring before God the needs and prayers of the people of our parish. I hope that over the coming years, we can build stronger relationships with the local residents, communities, and businesses across Redlands Parish. Thus, enabling us to better pray and serve, and to become known as place of safety, kindness, and love for those who need it. These are some long-term goals for us as we grow and seek to be more Christ-like, in accordance with the Diocese of Oxford's vision. More short-term, it will be good for us to take the next year **to stabilise our finances** . This report has highlighted the severity of our financial situation and some of the ways this outgoing PCC has sought to mitigate our losses. The Ministry Team with the new PCC will need to make some difficult decisions, and some of recommendations have been made throughout this report. There's an old proverb: "Necessity is the mother of invention." It isn't biblical but I find a kernel of wisdom within it: as someone with a theatre background, I know that limited resources are not necessarily a hindrance, but rather can inspire and create something all the more powerful and striking. As we learn to live and worship as a much poorer church, let us use what we have to the glory of God and allow the Holy Spirit to inspire us. APCM report May 2023 ## **The Inclusive Church Statement** _“We believe in inclusive church – a church which celebrates and affirms every person and does not discriminate._ _We will continue to challenge the church where it continues to discriminate against people on grounds of disability, economic power, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, learning disability, mental health, neurodiversity, or sexuality._ _We believe in a Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.”_ ## **Ross** ## **Sunday Club Report** Sunday Club meets on the last Sunday of the month during the 10.30 am service. There are five leaders who take it in turns to run the sessions and about eight children attend each session although fifteen children have attended over the last year. Each session has faith teaching, prayers and a song, games and craft activities. Highlights over the past year have been growing seeds, decorating biscuits and making stained glass windows. We are aware of the safety and wellbeing of the children with all leaders having completed Safeguarding training and having DBS clearance, and working in pairs. ## **Christine** ## **Music report** At the time of the last APCM, we were saying goodbye to Gemma and in a time of interregnum as we began the process of appointing a new Music Leader. I'm ever so grateful to Gordon Cox and Tim Hora for supporting the choir and congregation during that time, and again to Gordon for his helpfulness in the appointment process. We were delighted to appoint James Bryant as new Music Leader who began from the start of September and is a wonderful new addition to our community. After consultation with the PCC, the decision was made to invest in hymnbooks that matched the choir's. We launched a fund-raising appeal called 'Singing from the Same Hymnbook' which allowed us to buy 10 large print and 60 regular print hymnbooks through a local Christian bookshop in Wokingham. Thanks also to Janet Davis who sourced the very smart crates that the hymnbooks 'live in' and fit like a glove on the back pew! ## **Ross** APCM report May 2023 ## **Pastoral Care Team Report April 2023** The Pastoral Care Team and supportive parishioners, have tried to provide Care and Support to members of the congregation. The Team consists of Christine Blackman, Mary Evans, Everette Marshall, Ross Meikle and myself, Sheila Cox. I'd like to thank all members for their support and visits during this year. Church Members have been visited and given lifts to church and other events, as required including to the monthly coffee mornings. Shopping support is available to those who need this help. We have sadly lost some church friends this year, Tim Baker, Mary Manning, Heather Stratford and Barbara Walton. Some people might also remember Les Whitehead (Cynthia’s husband) who died last month. Sheila tries to keep the prayer list up to date of those members who need praying for. Please contact her or Sarah if names need adding or taking away from the weekly sheet. The teas for Senior Citizens have re-commenced. Thank you to the hosts and those who supply refreshments. It is wonderful to be able to have contact directly with others following a difficult period during the Covid Years. ## **Sheila Cox - Pastoral Care Leader** ## **Parish Toddler Group** The Toddler Group is a part of the church's outreach into the community, and as such is very much appreciated by people who live locally, and also by those who travel in from further afield. It depends completely on the regular work of the team - Melanie, Janet Shield, John Starr, Francis & myself. In addition, we have our wonderful group of helpers who turn up, on a rota basis, to make the refreshments - Shelagh, Libby, Elizabeth Andrews, Janet Davis & Bridget. Without them the group would not function as well as it does. The hall is a very pleasant venue. We are known as a friendly group apparently. Do you know how long it has been running? One young lady who attends, with her little boy, told us that she came to the group when she herself was a toddler, & she was curious to know how long it had run before she knew it. We can have as many as 25 children in the hall at once, but it is more like 15 each week. Some families attend almost every week, others more infrequently. The main publicity seems to be word of mouth, from a friend, family member or an acquaintance from nursery. APCM report May 2023 We have people attend the group who speak different languages - on any day we may have people who come from Italy, Poland, Pakistan, Brazil and Hong Kong. The children attend with their mother, or father, grandmother, grandfather, even a great grandmother, or a minder, nanny or family friend. We meet every Wednesday in term time, including the half term week. Many of the families who attend do not have school-age children, so their lives are not yet governed by the school timetable, & they are glad of somewhere to go on a Wednesday morning with their little ones. We still have a break in the main school holidays, though some people would like the group to function then too! We finish each Wednesday with clearing up time, when everybody lends a hand, followed by a sing song, which I lead, while the rest of the team sort the toys & put them away in order. Most of the children & their carers join in the singing & the action songs with great pleasure, but some of the little ones love it when the hall is suddenly clear & they can run up & down in a big space! We always publicise church activities, such as the coffee mornings, Christmas services, Mothering Sunday and so on, without putting anyone under pressure, of course. If you give people information, they can make an informed decision about whether to attend a church activity. Without information, they are excluded. It is rare for me to go out without seeing someone I know from the Toddler Group. I am starting to see children that I knew as very little ones who are now taller than I am! ## **Hilary Jakeman** ## **Monthly Coffee Morning** The coffee mornings continue to be held in the parish hall on the first Saturday of each month, from 11 am - 12 noon, the only exception being planned in May 2023 (at the time of writing) when the coffee morning will be held on 13 May, the coronation being on 6 May. We usually have a break in August, often also in January, and in December the church Christmas Fair is usually held on the first Saturday of December, so we all contribute to that. The coffee mornings have two equally important aims: 1. to bring together church members & people who live locally - a really valuable & fruitful part of our church outreach into the neighbourhood - and 2. to raise much needed funds. It has been a great joy in recent months to see members of the Toddler Group at the coffee mornings. As a result we always get out a few toys now, for the little ones. The coffee mornings depend on the team members who turn up so faithfully to contribute to the work - Sally-Ann who makes the tea, coffee & cakes, Libby & Margaret who run the raffle, Mary who sells preserves & other scrumptious goodies, Melanie on the cake stall, APCM report May 2023 Elizabeth with a constant variety of interesting bric-a-brac, and John & Francis, who put up the banner the week beforehand, & the bunting on the morning, taking it down afterwards. I have to find a substitute for the Traidcraft stall! There is room in the hall for more stalls, so if you have an idea, do please come & join us. We support a different charity each month, & I am always glad to hear from members of the congregation about a favourite charity which they would like to support. In the last year we sent money to : The Children's Society (formerly the Church of England Children's Society) The appeal for help for victims of the earthquakes in Syria & Turkey Church Action on Poverty (a UK-wide organisation) Reading's Food Bank The Chocolatada in Pilcomayo, Peru RE Inspired (work in Reading's schools) UNICEF USPG (an international mission organisation) The Jo Cox Foundation Medical Aid for Palestine Reading Refugee Council At the coffee morning in May we shall be raising funds for Christian Aid, as the annual Week runs from 14 - 20 May. The cakes & coffee every month are unsurpassed, and there is always a variety of goods to be seen on the different stalls. We look forward to seeing you next time! ## **Hilary Jakeman** ## **Traidcraft** Sales of Traidcraft's fair trade items were very good last year, I thought, helped by the fact that I took over another Fair Trader's contacts. So I ran a number of stalls apart from the regular ones at St. Luke's coffee mornings & in church. I went to Marlow Methodist Church, to St, Mary's in Henley & to St. James', Woodley, in addition to the Christmas Fair run by the Reading University chaplaincy. It was a shock to me, when I received the email in January, announcing the end of Traidcraft. It was started by Christians in 1979, aiming to help people trade their way out of poverty. If a producer can make a living from their work, in the place where they work, then they do not have to consider moving somewhere else in order to make a living, their children can go to school & they can plan for a happier future. I was a fair trader with Traidcraft for 20 years, and a customer for longer than that! The great bonus, with the Traidcraft catalogue, was that you could buy from a great range of products, all of them checked for quality & value for money. The craft items were all delightful, & the food items delicious! Reading remains a committed fair trade town, & if you want to keep buying ethically-traded goods, you should go to the World Shop in London Street. The supermarkets sell APCM report May 2023 some fair trade items, and it is always a good idea for customers to lobby for more fair trade in the supermarkets! I used to get Easter Eggs from the Traidcraft catalogue, & it was very good news this year that the Meaningful Chocolate Company managed to sell its wonderful products through direct sales to fair traders. It is encouraging that the manager of the World Shop has arranged a meeting in May, to which she has invited fair traders & all who are interested in trying to continue Traidcraft's work. We shall see what more the shop can do & whether we can do some sort of mail order work too. ## **Hilary Jakeman** ## **House Group/ Evening Lent Group report 2023** The Group comprised 11 regular (or fairly regular!) members, meeting, as before, at Alan and Shelagh’s house in Eastern Avenue, usually on the first Tuesday of every month outside the period of Lent. In Lent, as in the past, the Group was reorganised, with Francis and Hilary Jakeman leaving us to form a daytime Group and recruiting (mainly) new members, while the remaining members continued as an evening Group. Both of these Lent Groups met on a weekly basis. After Easter, from May to July, it seemed appropriate to study the first post-Easter church, by looking at the first three chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. We looked at Jesus’s commissioning of the disciples (‘You will be my witnesses’) and what it means to be a ‘witness’. We puzzled over the significance of the Ascension and the Second Coming. We discussed the gift of the Holy Spirit, and its effect on the Apostles, and especially on Peter as he boldly addressed the crowd at Pentecost and later in Solomon’s portico of the Temple, and on the impressive behaviour of the early church. What lessons could we learn from this? After a break in August, our September meeting focused on the theme of ‘Wholeness and Healing’ which Ross has set as the focus of our 140[th] anniversary year. We examined what we, and Ross (through a message), understood by those terms, and how the congregation had interpreted them via their postings on the prayer wall in church. We looked at a list of the healings of Jesus, and Group members spoke about their favourite healings, and the themes that emerge from the types of healing performed by our Lord. In October and November we turned our attention to the parables of Jesus. We considered what we understood by the term ‘parable’ and why Jesus had so often taught in this way. Group members had been asked to nominate, and discuss, two favourite parables. We looked at the main themes that emerged from Jesus’s parables as a whole, such as the need for action and repentance, and the dangers of pride and complacency. Our Advent session in December focused on the lead-up to Jesus’s birth as described in Luke, Ch. 1, looking at angelic visitations to Zechariah, Elizabeth and Mary, with closer attention to Mary’s and Zechariah’s hymns of praise, the Magnificat and the Benedictus. APCM report May 2023 In January and February, Francis proposed, and led, a discussion of 1 Peter, a book addressed to churches with congregations of low status people, referred to as ‘exiles and aliens’, and a text especially appropriate as we learn that Christians are now a minority in our land. 1 Peter gives suggestions as to how we can strengthen our faith in the face of incomprehension, apathy or derision, and shows how Christ’s suffering can inspire those suffering for their faith today. In Lent, the evening Group based its discussions on Bishop Steven Croft’s course ‘Deep Sea Fishing’, which looks at how the Church needs, like Peter and his fellow-fishermen, to leave the comforting shallows, and boldly go out into deeper, and more challenging, waters if we are to make a miraculous catch of men and women for the Lord. We followed, and learnt from, the account of St Paul’s second missionary journey in Acts 1620, as he travelled through Asia Minor, meeting triumphs and setbacks along the way. The major theme of the course was how to ‘do’ evangelism in today’s world, and how the Church can help and sustain us in this. (For a report on the daytime Lent Group, please see below.) Alan Tonkyn 11/04/23 ## **Report of the Daytime Lent Group 2022** A total of 10 people attended all or some of the 5 meetings held at the home of Francis and Hilary. We enjoyed a 4 week course written by the Bishop of Oxford, studying the four chapters of St Paul's letter to the Philippians. The first week was spent looking at St Paul's time in Philippi described in Acts 16. Written during Lockdown, the course encouraged us to give thanks and rejoice in the knowledge that Jesus is alive and present with us. His willingness to empty himself and become a servant, helped us to explore the theme of humility and its application to our own relationships. It became clear from the letter just how much St Paul valued the love and support he had received from the church in Philippi. This had helped him to see God at work, even in his time of imprisonment; such that his presence now in Rome had given the Christians there the confidence to ‘speak the word with greater boldness’. Finally, we remarked on Paul's repeated delight in the joy he got from knowing the Christians in Philippi, & for their love & support even in times that were difficult for them. We counted 13 occasions in which Paul told the Philippians to rejoice, & at our final meeting we listened to the beautiful anthem composed by Purcell - "Rejoice in the Lord always". We were delighted by the fellowship we experienced in the group and would like to thank all those who joined us. ## **Francis and Hilary Jakeman** APCM report May 2023 ## **Erleigh Road Community Garden** Thursday morning sessions at the garden continued over the winter this year and we were glad to be able to use the church for teas and coffee to warm up at the end of the session on the colder days! Now that Spring is here, the after-school club is starting up again on Fridays from 3.15-4.30pm and regular Saturday sessions start up on the 22[nd] April from 3- 4.30pm. The garden was open on Saturday 8[th] April for a special Easter session with Easter treasure trail, seed sowing and plant and seed sale. The damson, plum and pear blossom were out as well as daffodils, forget-me-nots, pulmonaria and primroses attracting lots of happy bees! Thanks to Mary for providing tea/coffee, cheese scones and Easter biscuits and also for providing refreshments throughout the year as well. Last year the garden won the Gold award in the Community Gardens category in Reading in Bloom. It's a lovely achievement for everyone who has been involved in the garden. As well as our regular community garden sessions we’ll be running a number of new taster workshops over the next few months such as willow weaving, yoga or Tai-chi, art and more. Please keep an eye out for these as they’ll be advertised in the notice sheet. ## **Naomi German** ## **Deanery Synod** Your Synod reps. are Sally-Ann, Leslie & Hilary The meetings of Reading Deanery Synod are of interest to us mainly for the chance to meet members of other churches in the Deanery. We also meet at other churches, so I am able to have a look at other buildings and church situations, at notice boards and other facilities, seeing how other congregations do things. The main business of the Synod is: 1. To agree the Parish Share for each church 2. To produce and update the Deanery Mission Action Plan 3. To assist parishes in new developments e.g. Reading Gateway and in Burghfield area 4. To maintain a two way communication between PCCs and the Diocese with the aim of influencing General Synod and Parish objectives on such things as climate change. Due to changes in the deanery leadership and management structure in the past year, the emphasis has been largely on item 1 and little on the Mission Action Plan There is usually a presentation of "good news" from one parish. At the last meeting, on 30 March '23, we spent a large part of the time in sharing news of how our congregations had changed, or not, in recent months. Most people said that their congregations had not returned the same from lockdown, with some members now permanently missing. But they had all found a higher than expected arrival of new members. Naturally the churches that offer consistent children’s activities have APCM report May 2023 experienced the biggest increase in numbers, because families were now joining them. There was some discussion about how to encourage people to volunteer for all the things that need doing! At the meeting on 23 November 2022 we had a fascinating presentation on the work of RE Inspired. Many members of the various churches, all volunteers, go into local schools, primary and secondary, to talk about what it means to be a Christian. The work is increasing and it sounds as if the schools are all really grateful to have people coming in to help with the teaching of religious education. The Rev. Richard Bainbridge is the new chair of Re Inspired. He is well known to some members of St. Luke's congregation, having taken services at times when there was no vicar. At this meeting there was also a presentation on "Citizens UK". Oxford Diocese joined this movement two years ago and Synod agreed to join now. This was followed up on 7 March 2023 with a meeting in Reading Minster, entitled "Reading Citizens Listening Launch". Members of Deanery Synod were invited and a very good number turned up, along with people from all sorts of other local organisations - everybody from the local Roman Catholic churches, the Reading University Students Union and University administration, women's groups, men's groups, and many others that I had never heard of before! We are committed now to having as many conversations as possible and listening to the answers, about "If you had the power to change one thing about Reading or the wider Thames Valley area, what would you change, and why?" We need to be ready to report back by 15 June '23. The Synod comes to the end later this year of its current three- year run, so the members need to stand down or be re elected. ## **Hilary Jakeman** APCM report May 2023 St Luke with St Bartholomew, Reading End of Year Financial Statements Year ending 31 Dec 2022 Introduction As per last year. the accounts have been produced directly from the accounting system (Finance Co-ordinator offline version 11 and are rounding up rather than showing only the pound. ststement of Financial Activities R¢strliti d b'nd¢iM'ITIL'nt rvnfl Prlur yeJT Incomè and endowments Dona￿OnS and leg8C188 Income from charitable 8cllviliès Olher trading aeiivi1b85 Invesimenis Olher income Total Income rom.. 65,884 7,809 3,4S4 27,397 1,620 10fj,164 1.000 66.884 7.809 3.454 36.286 1.620 116.053 43,121 5,052 1,093 41,097 9,221 99,583 8,889 1,000 8,889 Expendlturo on.. Raising funds Expendiluro on ch8ri18ble activilig¥ Other expendilufe Total expendlture 161.038 250 161,288 1.261 8.889 171,188 250 171.438 253,382 1.261 253,382 Net in¢om• I 1•x￿ndI1urè) rèoourcei befofg transfer 155,1241 155,3851 1153,7991 Transfer Gross transfers between funds. in Gross tran$lers between lunds- oul Other rocognlsed galn8 110868$ Gain$ I lo$$es on inveslmenl assets Gain5 on revalualion. fixed as5815. charity3 own u¥e Net movement in fund6 130,000 1130,0001 43,208 (32.892￿. 188,2771 1110,5911 132,8921 132,8921 155,1241 12611 Total fund8 brought forward 72,013 292,257 365,177 475,768 Total lund8 carrled lorward 2S9,384 276.900 365,177 R•pr•$•nt•d by Unro$trl¢t¢d General fund 1 $.889 16.889 72,013 R•strl¢t•d Adminislralor Parish Weekend 1.000 13S31 1,000 13531 908 Endowment Cockburn Bequesl Curacy Fund Lawrence Bequest Schoolrooms Fund 138.489 7.986 25.212 87.678 138,489 7,986 25,212 67.678 157,003 9.020 26,858 99.376 P{Iii(' Balance sheet C.1#s1 code -hi5 l'ear L*$1 ear Fixed as$*t$ Schoolroorns Fun Cockbvrn Bequest Lawren￿ 8eque51 Curacy Fund Total Fixed a$$e15 87,677 138.762 34.432 7.748 268,620 99,375 157.276 36,079 8,782 301,512 Current a8se¢$ Nalwesi Sl Lukes Naiwe51 Hall Lloyds Sl Barts san￿nder Sl Lukes CCLA ICBFI Si Luke5 deposil account CCLA ICBFI Si earts d@P05118ccounl CCLA IC8FI Hall deposit accovni Cash in hand A¢counl8 Re¢eivabl& Total Current assets 5.069 715 6.473 32,312 2,646 11,146 1,430 31.144 1.964 2,199 37 3,832 86.709 13,036 1.989 2.228 37 4,317 33,866 Agency eolleclions Accounis Payable Total Llabllltles 25.58$ 25,585 23.044 23,044 Net A8581 $urplu5ldefl¢ltl 276,900 365.177 Exces5 1 Idelicill lo dale Slariing balanc89 Gain51llossesl on inveslrnenl as58t3 Gain51llosse51 un iiiveslmenl asseL8 Total Reserve8 155.3851 391.390 126.2131 132,8921 27fj,900 1153,7991 501.981 16,994 365,177 R¢pr¢sonted by funds Unre51riLlecl D8signalod Reslricled Endowrn8nl Total 16.889 72,013 647 259,364 276,900 908 292,257 365,177 P(IgN(. 3 ststement of assets and liabilitles Last egr FSxfrd ass¢ts Yangible 3s5etS hoolroorTlS Fund Cockburn 8equesi- Lawrence Bequ8s1. uracy Fund 87.677 138.489 107 7,748 234,022 87.677 138.762 34.432 7.748 99,375 157.276 36.079 8.782 301,512 273 Y,325 Totali 34,598 Currfrnt a$$$ts Cash at bank and Sn h8nd NalW¥si Si Lukes Nalwesl Hall Lloyd5 Sl Barts . Saniandei Sl Lukes CCLA ICSFI Sl Lukes d8posII 8ccouni- CCLA IC8FI Sl Barts deposll account- CCLA IC8FI H811 deposit 8ccounl Cash in hand 12,428 I66.￿7) 5.069 715 e,473 32,312 2.646 13.145 124.6411 3.468 270 30.844 13.4681 40.653 1.430 31,144 13.036 1.989 2.228 37 1.989 2228 37 28.15B 2,199 37 Tolal¥ 95 29.5 Current aBA•tB- Debtor¥ Accounts Receivable TolJl8 4,317 4,317 3,832 Ll•blllli•B Aggncy a¢¢ounl¥ Agency collection5 Tolal• Ll•bllltio1.Cr•dltors: Arnount•f¥lling du• In on• year Accounts Pey?￿e- 490 400 24.948 124,9481 25.585 Z5,5B5 Tot• 50,04J 23,044 Grond lolal 2S9 364 365 177 Fund movement by type Clos1 Admln - Admlnlstrator 1.000 sub.total ltsr Admln 1,000 Cotkburn Cockbum Bèquèlt Endowment 1fj7.003 157,OQJ 4.127 4,127 4.127 4,127 18.514 118.514 138489 138,4B9 $ub.tolal for Cockbum Curllcy. Curncy Fund Endowmbni 9.020 230 230 11.034 11.0341 7.986 sub.total lor Curacy L•wr•nc•. Lzwr•nc¥ B•qLt•xt Endowmbni 26.858 26,8$8 1.924 1,924 1.924 1,924 1.647 11,6471 Sub.lotal for L•wr•n¢e 25.212 PWE. P•rl¥h Wwk¥nd Re51ricled 908 908 1.261 1,261 353 13531 Sub-tot81 for PSVE School- Schoolrooms Fund Endowmenl 99.376 99.376 2.608 2,608 2.608 2.606 11,698 111,6981 87,678 87.678 Sub-total lol School Gener31. General fund Unre51ricled 72.013 72.013 106.164 106,164 161,288 161.288 16,8B9 16,889 Sub-total for General Grand total 365,177 116,053 171,438 276 900 PciA7I, 4 PARISH OF ST LUKE WITH ST BARTHOLOMEW, READING NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 ACCOUNTING POLICIES The financial slalemenls have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 10 2001 together with applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP IFRS 1021. The financial slalemenls have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the annual revaluation of listed investments lo market value. Funds General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject lo any reslriclions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes ol the PCC. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unreslricled. The accounts include all Iransaclions. assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups Ihal owe their main aflilialion lo another body nor those that are infomial gatherings of Church members. Incomlng Resources Voluntary income and capital sources,. Collecllons are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving receivable under covenanl is recognised only when received. Income Tax recoverable on covenants or gift aid donations is recognised when the inGome is recognised. Grants and legacies lo Ihe PCC are accounted for as soon as the PCC is notified of its legal enlillemenl and the amount due Income from fund raising events is accounted for nel of incidental expenses. Other ordinary income.. Rental income from the lelling of church premises is recognised when the rental is due. Income from investments.. Dividends and interest are accounted for when receivable. Tax recoverable on such income is recognised in the same accounting year. PciAFI. 5 Resources used Grants.. Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over. or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the PCC. Activities directly relating lo the work of the Church.. The diocesan quota or parish share is accounted for when payable. Flxed assets Consecrated land and buildings and movable church furnishings.. Consecrated and beneficed properly Is excluded from the accounts by s.1012llbl ol the Charities Act 2011. No value is placed on movable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust f¢Y the PCC and which require a lacully for disposal since the PCC considers this lo be inalienable properly. All expenditure Incurred during the year on consecrated or benefice buildings and movable church furnishings. whether maintenance or improvemenl, is wrillen off as expenditure in the SOFA and separately disclosed. Inveslmenls.. Inveslm8nls are slated al market valLJalion. Current assets.. Short-lerm deposits include cash held on deposit either with the CBF Church of England FLtnds or al the bank. Analysls of Income and expenditure TotAI 'ellr ear INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS DonatSons and legacles Gifl Aid Bank Otliar planned giving Loose plate coll8clion$ Oonaiions appeal$ elc T8x recoverable on Gifl Aid Legacies Non-18currlng on•-o119ran Other funds genera18d 42,570 1.652 689 7,590 9,987 1,000 43,S70 1,652 689 7,590 9.987 32,316 1.380 19 845 7,560 3,395 3,395 1,000 Toial 65.884 1.000 66,884 43,121 In¢om• from ¢harlt•bl• a¢tlvltlè8 Feès for we