# **APCM Report 2025 Sunday 18th May 2025 The Parish of St Mary the Virgin, Strensall** _We are here to worship, praise and thank God through our Lord Jesus Christ. In the power of the Holy Spirit to take Christ’s love and peace into our community._ _Priest in Charge: (Licensed to St.Mary’s on 11[th] November 2024) Rev. Nikki Eastwood. The Vicarage, 10 York Road, Strensall, York YO32 5UN_ ## _Distinctive Deacon:_ _Rev. Dot Hicks. 111 Moor Lane, Strensall, York YO32 5UG_ ## _Additional Minister with PTO:_ _Rev. Dr. Judith Palmer. 6 Portisham Place, Strensall, York YO32 5AZ_ _PCC Chair until 11[th] November 2024, Vice Chair thereafter: Janet Mountain. 49 Wilkinson Way, Strensall, York YO32 5ZA_ ## _Treasurer:_ _Pauline Chambers. 11 Netherwoods, Strensall, York YO32 5WE_ ## _Independent Examiner:_ _Kanako Whapples. 19 Heath Ride, Strensall, York YO32 5YW_ ## _Church Architect:_ _Andrew Wiles. Wiles and Maguire Ltd. The Danesmead Wing, York YO10 4PB_ ## _Parish Safeguarding Officer:_ _Jane Atkinson. 1 Brunswick Close, Strensall, York YO32 5ZT_ ## _Parish Administrator (until 3 April 2025):_ _Victoria Haworth. c/o The Vicarage, 10 York Road, Strensall, York YO32 5UN_ ## _Bank:_ _Santander UK plc. Account Number 95929403. Sort Code 09-01-51_ The following served as PCC members as from the APCM 2024: Gordon Moore Churchwarden (Re-elected at APCM 2024) Janet Irish Deanery Synod (Elected 2023 for 3 years) Gordon Moore Deanery Synod (Elected 2023 for 3 years) Janet Mountain Deanery Synod (Elected 2024 for 2 years) Term ends in 2025 Pauline Pillai (Elected 2022 for 3 years) Wendy Robinson (Elected 2023 for 2 years) Peter Bayliss (Elected 2024 for 1 year) Term ends in 2026 Shirley Bamford PCC Secretary (Elected 2023 for 3 years) Jane Atkinson Parish Safeguarding Officer (Elected 2023 for 3 years) Daniel Pillai (Elected 2024 for 2 years) Term ends in 2027 Jean Cooper (Elected 2024 for 3 years) Terry Atkinson (Elected 2024 for 3 years) Pauline Chambers Treasurer (Elected 2024 for 3 years) Alison Bayliss Co-opted to PCC in 2024 for 1 year Rev Judith Palmer Co-opted to PCC in 2024 for 1 year Rev. Dot Hicks Ex-officio member (Clerk in Holy Orders) Rev Nikki Eastwood joined the PCC as Chair from 11th November 2025. **Those elected to the PCC at the APCM are on a rolling 3-year term.** **Three councillors are to be elected each year with a total of 9 elected members. Any ex-officio and co-opted members will be in addition to this figure. Members are eligible for re-election at the end of their term of office.** **For re-election in 2025** Wendy Robinson, Pauline Pillai, Peter Bayliss **For re-election in 2026** Daniel Pillai, Shirley Bamford, Jane Atkinson **For re-election in 2027** Jean Cooper; Terry Atkinson, Pauline Chambers It was agreed that Victoria Haworth, our Parish Administrator, should act as a Minute Secretary for the PCC. Victoria does not have any right to vote at a PCC meeting. In 2024, Victoria attended, and minuted, all PCC meetings. Victoria has now stepped down as Parish Administrator. ## **Deanery Mission Partnership** In 2017, the Deanery Mission Partnership was entered into and means that all clergy in the deanery are issued with licences enabling them to officially minister in all parishes of the deanery. This legally means that each PCC in the deanery acquired new clerical members. It was agreed that these additional clerical members will not attend any PCC meetings other than those in the parishes they are directly responsible for. These clerical members also agree to forfeit any voting rights. All future clergy licensed in the deanery will be appointed on the same basis of cross licensing. Names of these clergy will not be recorded in APCM Reports. ## **PCC Meetings in 2024** The full PCC met 8 times in 2024. This includes the first meeting of the new PCC which was held immediately after the APCM. All meetings were in person. In 2024, the Standing Committee met twice. There were two PCC groups that continued to meet regularly, these were the Environment Group and the Finance Group. ## **Background** The PCC at St Mary’s Church Strensall has the responsibility of co-operating with the Incumbent, the Rev Nikki Eastwood, in promoting the work of the Church of England in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Strensall with Towthorpe. This responsibility includes financial management of the church and the care and maintenance of church buildings and fabric and the wider mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. ## **Membership** The PCC (The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Strensall with Towthorpe) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. Registration Number 1162095. (First registered 10th June 2015). Members of the PCC are either ex-officio, co-opted or elected by the APCM in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. The Incumbent, along with any other licensed clergy to St. Mary’s and the Churchwarden(s) are ex-officio members of the PCC. It is agreed that no more than 9 members be elected to the PCC on a proportional three year rotating basis. Any members of St Mary’s Strensall who are elected as members of the Deanery, Diocesan or General Synods are automatically members of the PCC for the duration of the Synod. The PCC may appoint co-opted members in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. ## **Standing Committee** The Standing Committee comprises of the Incumbent, Churchwarden(s), PCC Secretary, PCC Treasurer, and PCC Vice Chair. This committee of the PCC is required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the PCC between meetings subject to any direction given by the council. ## **Safeguarding Statement** St Mary’s PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishop’s guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). Our Safeguarding Group meets regularly in order to support our safeguarding officer and to ensure we are up to date with current practices related to safeguarding. ## **Fundraising** Fundraising is the responsibility of the full PCC. ## **Electoral Roll and Church attendance** Membership of the electoral roll is open to all lay people who are baptised, over the age of 16 and have signed a declaration that they are either a member of the Church of England or of a church in communion therewith and: Resident in the parish OR Not being resident, has habitually attended public worship in the parish during a period of six months prior to enrolment, OR Is a member in good standing of a church which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity (not being a church in communion with the Church of England) and also prepared to declare themselves to be a member of the Church of England having habitually worshipped in the Parish Church for a period of six months prior to enrolment. ## **St.Mary’s Church Electoral Roll Report from Wendy Robinson, Electoral Roll Officer** We remember the following members of St. Mary’s Electoral Roll who have passed away since the APCM 2024 Anna Allan, Ruth Cockerill, Patricia Kirk, and Shelia Leah. In 2025, we are required to prepare a completely new Electoral Roll as governed by the Church Representation Rules. The renewal of the Roll happens every 6 years. During all other years the Roll is only reviewed in preparation for the APCM. Numbers on the Electoral Roll at the end of 2024 = 110 Number on the new Electoral Roll prepared for APCM 2025 = 76 ______________________________________________________________________________ _______ ## **The following reports are presented to the APCM:** ## **Statutory Reports** - PCC Vice Chair - Vicar - Treasurer - Independent Examiner - • Churchwarden - PCC Secretary - Deanery Synod ## **Non Statutory Reports** - Safeguarding - Parish Administrator - Bell Tower - Little Fishes - ACTS 435 - • Open the Book Assemblies ## **PCC Chair Report APCM 2025 Sunday 18th May 2025** ## **The Vacancy** Having entered a time of Vacancy in September 2023 the PCC continued to follow the various processes of appointing a new Priest in Charge for St Mary’s. We were advised and supported in these matters by the Archdeacon and were successful in advertising and interviewing for the post in May 2024. As a result a candidate was selected and offered the post, however before a full appointment could be made there were a number of processes and Human Resource checks to be finalised. Until this was completed the PCC could not provide any information to the congregation, but all were asked to continue to pray that the will of God fulfilled. There was need for discernment and wisdom in all decision making, together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we moved into a very important phase. In October we were able to confirm the appointment of Rev Nikki Eastwood who would be joining us from St Mary’s Church in The Wirral in November and her Licensing Service was held on November 11th. This was a service of great joy and was supported by the Diocese and the local community. Welcome Nikki! With her appointment Nikki also takes up the role of Dean for the Easingwold Deanery and we offer her our full support in this challenging role. I can now stand down as Chairman of the PCC and give my heartfelt thanks to all members who have found this period challenging and rewarding. Thanks to all who has worked tirelessly to provide leadership and support during some demanding and sometimes stressful situations. I also thank Victoria who has, in her usual dedicated manner, supported the PCC alongside her other church commitments. ## **Staffing** We have received the resignation of Margaret Berg as Church Warden and would like to offer our thanks for Margaret’s tireless work over the past few years. We pray she will be blessed in her service for God. ## **Services and Ministries** We continue to be grateful to Rev. Dot Hicks (Distinctive Deacon) and Rev. Judith Palmer (Additional Minister with Permission to Officiate) for their dedicated efforts to ensure services are provided and to Judy Smith (Eucharistic Minister) in her support of them. Many thanks also to all who support the services. The PCC continue to be indebted to a team of visiting clergy who have supported and upheld the spiritual wellbeing of the church during this time. Thanks to our Churchwardens whose efforts have enabled the ongoing provision of services alongside organising marriages, funerals, and baptisms. We have said farewell to a number of our congregation this year and our thoughts and prayers are with their families. I would also like to thank those who have dedicated themselves to prayer throughout this year both through our dedicated prayer teams and in overseeing prayer requests. In addition the congregation has supported our community projects which continue to be successful. ## **Home Groups** Our Home Groups continue to meet and successfully support many of our congregation through bible study, prayer and social conversation. Thanks to all those who lead and organise these. ## **Children’s Ministry** Little Fishes continues to be well attended and supported by many families. Our Open the Book Team, together with the Methodist Church, continue in their ministry to local schools including Robert Wilkinson Academy. ## **Events** With the help and support of church members and members of the community we have organised some successful events not least of all an outstanding Light Trail which saw up to 450 people attending. ## **Environment** Our Environment Team has continued to look after a range of practical, ecological and environmental issues, with a number of these being both costly and challenging and thanks goes to all who have supported them. ## **Finance** Our Treasurer and her support team have met a great many challenges this year and have worked hard at looking at the various options that may help us meet this issue in the future. We were delighted to receive a legacy which will support us in looking at how we can improve access to the church. Grateful thanks go to them. (See Treasurer’s Report) _Report prepared by Janet Mountain, PCC Chair until November 2024, now PCC Vice Chair April 2024_ ______________________________________________________________________________ ____ ## **Vicars Report APCM 2025 Sunday 18th May 2025** In January 2025 we adopted a verse for the year: _May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13_ It’s been an important verse as we’ve planned services and activities to Live Christ’s Story by being God’s people in Strensall. I was licensed 11[th] November 2024. Thank you all – and the community too for the welcome of that service. I have a dual role in both the parish and as Area Dean of Easingwold Deanery. We don’t have a verse for the year in the deanery, but we do seek to live with hope, joy, peace and trust in the powerful plans of God. We have had some good deanery synod events – including one on helping churches to move together towards net zero 2030. We’ve been busy. We’ve had a good Christmas and Easter when we began to see people join us – perhaps after a time of being away. All are welcome – and we look forward to welcoming more. It was good too to bring back the shared communion cup on Easter Sunday. Thank you to all who have volunteered and served through the vacancy and continued into my time here. A particular thank you to Victoria Haworth for faithful service in helping the church and ministry teams through many years. I’m grateful for the strong community, school and Methodist links we have. There are many opportunities to strengthen those links and invite more people to join in with God’s plan for us. We had a good Lent course based on Les Mis, and we look forward to an Alpha course and the Bishop of Selby leading a deanery confirmation course. There are many opportunities to invite people to hear more of the Christian story, and find their place in it. Let’s use every opportunity this year to invite people to join in with what God is doing here. I look forward to continuing to get to know you and all those God brings to us. May you and your families, friends and neighbourhoods know God’s abounding grace and peace. Rev Nikki Eastwood April 2025 ______________________________________________________________________________ ____ ## **Financial Report for Year End 2024 APCM 2025 Sunday 19th May 2025** The Finance documents are included over the next 5 pages. They are: - St. Mary’s Accounts 2024 - St. Mary’s Current Bank Reconciliation 2024 - Treasurer’s Report for APCM 18th May 2025 - • Budget 2025 _(page 8/9) (page 10) (page 11) (page 12)_ St M*ry'$ Chur¢h Stren$*ll PCC Bank R¢¢onelll&tloll FIn•ne￿I Ye*r 1st J4llu*ry 2024 to 31$t December 2024 Restricte Fund Tota 2024 RESOURCES EXI Costs of genera Fund Rai5in8 1 Little Fishes 537.39 Openin8 Bank 8alance @ Istjanuary 2024 16,719.08 1.154.17 Donotlons grni Opening 83nk 8alance @ Istjanuary 2024 CCLA Donations to I Donations to. Openlng bank balance @ Istjanuary Z024 5￿ptOn Funeral Collec Total Income 19,627.87 41.800 1,291.36 185,134.30 1,291.36 Activities direct Totsl Expendlture Freewill otteri C105in8 Bank Balance per Cash Book Working Cost! Mission & Eva C105in8 Bank Balance per Statement @ 31112124 186.866.52 195.363.74 46.662. 3,031.75 15.512.33 49.693.75 thurch Runnlns ClosSnÉ Balance per COA dlgftal portal 31.12.24 Church Insurd Church cleanii ClosSnÉ Balance persklpton statement 31.12.24 Church Admin Church Mainti Upkeep of Chkn,.,, 136.645.94 2,186.62 2,233.20 6,428.97 1,078.12 43,205.46 Dlfferentr in Bank Balances 14,447.31 14,447.31 Upkeep of Sernlces Altar Requisites Organist 3,566.95 3,566.9S 3,666.95 3,666.95 Church Utility Bil Electricity Water Gas 1,280.85 1,280.85 2,134.36 3.762.15 2,134.36 3.762.15 Cort OA Trndlng Stock Purchases 638.41 638.41 Govemon¢e Costs 0.00 Major expendlture Major repairs to church buildings 0.00 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 74.654.10 74.654.10 Surplu5 of Income over expenditure 4.668.84 500.(M) 113,124.78 118.293.62 ono Fun Current Account at SANTANDER Deposit A¢¢ount at SKIPTON Deposit A¢¢ount at CCLA Total Assets INTEREST 15,512 112,061 112,061 76,939 Other bank accounts CCLA accounts Reserve account for general expenditure Balance @ 31/12/23 19,627.87 Deposit from Halliwell legacy (restricted upkeep / maintenance of church) 16/4/24 99,999.00 11/11/24 2,061.92 13/11/24 10,000.00 Total Interest 4957.15 (£1043 to Gen reserve; £3813 to legacy) Balance @ 31112124 Reserve account for general expenditure 20,670.00 Legacy 115,975.00 Total @ 31/12124. 136,645.00 Skipton Building Society Balance @ 31/12123 41,800.00 Interest 1405.46 Total @ 31/12124. 43,205.46 C & YW 17,974.73 Interest £583 Speare legacy £24,504 Interest £817 2023 £6773.73 from Speare legacy to Gen.maintenance 2024 £10,675 from Speare legacy to Gen. maintenance Both retained in Skipton account to accrue interest. ## **Treasurer Report APCM 2025 Sunday 18th May 2025** At the beginning of January 2024, the balance in the Santander account was £16,719.08, and at the end of December 2024, was £15,512 with £136,645 in the CCLA account (of this £19,627+ interest) is contingency and £43,205 (inc Children and Youth work) in the Skipton Building Society (restricted) account. Both of the latter deposit accounts are receiving interest. ## **Income** 28 people are giving regularly via the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS), which is also used for one-off gifts and 9 people are giving by Standing Order (S.O.). SumUp is used by a small number on a regular basis, in particular at Little Fishes. SumUp was popular at the Colour and Light party, a free event but where several people requested to donate. The “yellow” envelopes can be used for oneoff Gift Aid donations or left blank if Gift aid is not appropriate. I would like to encourage everyone who can to use the PGS. Please see me for more details or search www.parishgiving.org.uk Gift Aid and GADS is still to claim for 2023, and 2024 but the figure received will be greatly reduced compared with previous years as the PGS claims GA in the same month the donation is received. During the year a restricted ( _for upkeep of St Marys Church)_ legacy of £112k and an unrestricted legacy of £920 were received and a grant of £700 was received from the Parish Council for upkeep of the churchyard. VAT of £893 was reclaimed under the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme. Spearehead hall is well used for church and community events, bringing in a steady income stream and goodwill. Thanks to those who ably manage the bookings. ## **Expenditure** Main areas of expenditure are the Free will offering, energy bills, churchyard upkeep, wages, cleaning and insurance. The FWO, orginally set at £40k in the budget for 2024, was raised to a total of £46,660, in recognition of a new incumbent starting in post and was fully paid up for 2024. A negative budget for 2025 was sent to the Diocese. During the year, St Marys Church has financially supported Acts 435, the Salvation Army, Christian Aid, York Foodbank and NewLife Church, Kathmandu, Nepal. Charitable donations amounted to £1291. _Regular expenditure continues to exceed regular income. The legacy for “upkeep and maintenance” of the church and Spearehead hall supports the shortfall._ Thank you to everyone who has supported St Marys over the last year, in whatever way. A special thank you to Denise Edmundson for her book-keeping. P Chambers March 2025 ______________________________________________________________________________ ____ ## **St. Mary’s Church Strensall, Budget 2025** |Expenditure|Expenditure|||| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Budget 24|to 10/24|to 12.24|Budget 25.| |Insurance|2112|||2400| |FWO|40,000|33,330|46,662|60,000| |VH wages|6000|||6,100 + N.I.| |Vicar expenses|0|||1000| |Service exp inc CCLI|2000|||2000| |Utilities (exc cleaning)|8600|||5000| |Church/hall Repairs/maint|6000|||4000| |Churchyard maint|inc in above|||1000| |Funerals/ weddings|2000|||2000| |Mission giving|1500|||1500| |IT resources|500|||600| |Cleaning.|3400|||3400| |Miscellaneous|2000|||2000| |Total|74112|56006|67200|91000| |Income||||| |Standing order (bank)|8000|4800||| |Other giving (plate)|2500|||2500| |PGS regular giving|26000|24,662||32000| |PGS Gift Aid reg|6000|5,737||7200| |PGS one-of inc GA|2600|2,330||2800| |GA envelopes|2000|0|0|0| |SumUp giving|1000|||1000| |Donations/ legacy|1000|112,062|112,062|0| |Gift Aid SO|2000|not claimed from 2022 /2023
||| |Gift Aid / GADS other|500|~~500~~
from SumUp / donations 500||| |Hall income|7000|||7000| |Weddings / funerals|5000|||5000| |Fundraising|1500|||1500| |Miscellaneous|3500|||3500| |Total|68,600|||68,300| ## **Independent Examiner Report APCM 2025 Sunday 18th May 2025** ## **Churchwarden Report APCM 2025 Sunday 18th May 2025** St. Mary’s is now blessed with the arrival of Revd Nikki Eastwood who was licensed as Priest-InCharge on Monday 11[th] November 2024 by The Bishop of Selby, the Rt Revd Dr Flora Winfield and installed by the Archdeacon of York, the Venerable Sam Rushton. St. Mary’s wholeheartedly welcomed Revd Nikki to our Parish and we eagerly look forward to a new chapter in the life of St Mary’s here in Strensall. The church is now open to visitors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays between 09:00-16:00. Thanks go to Terry Atkinson who has stepped up to ensure the doors are opened and closed each day. The annual inspections of the following were carried out with no issues to report: 1.Gas heating boiler 2.PAT inspections (Portable Appliances Test) 3.Church clock 4.5-yearly electrical inspection of the main breaker box circuits (box in the Vestry) 5.Lightening conductor 6.Church organ 7.All fire extinguishers in the church and the hall. Bookings for the use of the Spearehead Hall have continued to be a healthy source of revenue and thanks to Jean and Penny for managing all the related activities. Poppies Cleaners continue to clean both the church building and the Spearehead Hall every 2 weeks on a Monday morning. Additional cleaning of the hall is currently being carried out on a Thursday morning on a trial basis during the intervening weeks due to the increased footfall in the hall. Thanks go to the environment team and the churchyard maintenance team for their hard work keeping access open to the churchyard and graves, including the Commonwealth graves. The John Deere grass cutter broke down at the end of autumn 2024 but has been fully serviced in time for the grass growing season 2025. The acquisition of two additional powered grass cutters is expected to improve the ‘look and feel’ of the churchyard. Our thanks go to Peter and Alison Bayliss for their tireless work on the development of a Rest Area and wild flower areas in the churchyard. The many previously planted daffodil bulbs are a wonderful and cheerful sight during early springtime. Thanks go to Mike Cawthorn who continues to handle projection duties at our 11am services. We continue to enjoy live music in church. Thanks go to Paul Blenkiron and Alison Bayliss for playing the organ at our services. It is with sadness to learn that our Parish Administrator Victoria Hayworth will be stepping down from her job at the beginning of April 2025. St Mary’s owes much to her dedicated attention to detail in preparing all our policy documentation together with the innumerable activities she has diligently carried out, many of which happen in the background with no fanfare. Her work will be missed very much but hopefully she will continue to be an active volunteer member of St Mary’s church. _Report compiled by : Gordon Moore - Churchwarden April 2025_ ______________________________________________________________________________ _______ ## **PCC Secretary Report APCM 2025 Sunday 18th May 2025** ## **PCC Meetings and Organisation** The PCC met 8 times in 2024. The Standing Committee met twice. The PCC celebrated the receipt of a legacy, however recognised that there were still financial challenges ahead. The following areas continue to be covered by the PCC: - Safeguarding - Data Protection - Fundraising ## **Key Achievements in 2024** Two Sunday services continued to be held with the Primary Communion Service at 9.30am and the Informal Service held at 11am. Additional Services were held as appropriate. The PCC oversaw the vacancy period due to the resignation of the incumbent and were successful in advertising and appointing a new Priest in Charge (Rev. Nikki Eastwood) who was installed in November 2024. This marked the end of a challenging time, however the PCC looked forward to the future. Other notable achievements are: - The church continues links with York Foodbank and with various community groups, e.g. The Spearehead Café, Robert Wilkinson Primary Academy and with other churches in Strensall. - St Mary’s continues to hold Level 3 Status on the National Safeguarding Dashboard. - The PCC considered a project to alter the porch and entrance of the church and this will continue in 2025. - Support to Easingwold Deanery is ongoing. - St. Mary’s ran a programme of services and events for Christmas 2024. - Fundraising events included the Carnival café, charity bag collections, Carols with the Salvation Army band. Over the year we raised much needed funds for St. Mary’s, Christian Aid, Children’s Society, Salvation Army and our friends in Nepal. We are thankful to our community who support us in achieving these aims - Community events in 2024 included the very successful ‘Light Party’ and other children’s activities including Holiday Club, Little Fishes and Open the Book assemblies. - Home Groups are established, currently 3 meeting regularly. - The PCC supports the work of Acts 435. - During Harvest Festival, gifts were given to over 30 businesses to thank them for their service to the community, these were very well received. - The PCC met a number of environmental challenges regarding the trees within the church grounds. ## **Future Challenges 2025/6** The PCC looks forward to working with our new incumbent to grow the vision of St Mary’s and in see the mission of the church enlarged. _Report prepared by Shirley Bamford (PCC Secretary) March 2025_