OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2022-12-31-accounts

The Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2022

Incumbent

The Revd. Canon Robert McTeer The Vicarage Manor Road St Helen Auckland Bank

Barclays Bank Business Park Bishop Auckland

Independent Examiner Mr Joseph Kellett FMAAT

S. Helen Auckland is a Society Parish under the Episcopal care of the Bishop of Beverley

REPORT OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[st ] DECEMBER 2022

S Helen’s P.C.C. has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent of the parish, in promoting the ecclesiastical parish, and the whole mission of the Church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for S Helen’s Parish Church and S Helen’s Parish Centre.

Membership

Members of the P.C.C. are either ex- officio members or are elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the year, the following served as members of the P.C.C.

Incumbent: The Rev’d Canon Robert McTeer (Chairman) Curate The Rev’d Edward Gunn Churchwardens: Mr. John Bake Mrs Anne Skillcorn Lay Chairman: Mr John Bake Deanery Synod Representatives: Mr Gareth Gladman Mrs Anne Skillcorn Miss Vannessa Pearson Elected Members: Mrs Pat Bake Miss Claire Bake Miss Marjorie Brodie Miss Marion Curtis Mrs Dianne Chew Mrs Joan Johnson Mrs Kay Richardson Mr Ian Skillcorn Miss Alyson Smith

P.C.C. Treasurer: Mrs Pat Bake ACMA MAAT. P.C.C. Secretary: Mrs Emma Gunn

Church Wardens and members of the Deanery Synod are ex-officio members of the PCC

1

Constitution

The constitution is that of the Constitution of the Church of England, which can be found in “A Handbook for Churchwardens and Parochial Church Councillors” Mowbray ISBN 0-264-67411-1

Committees

The P.C.C. operates through a Standing Committee, which can meet between full meetings of the P.C.C. It is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the P.C.C. between its meetings, subject to any direction given by the Church Council.

Electoral Roll

The Electoral Roll was fully in accordance with church representation rules which states the roll has to be fully revised every six years. The current role consists of 125 persons.

Review of the Work of the P.C.C.

The Parochial Church Council has met three times this year. Gareth Gladman stepped down as PCC secretary and Emma Gunn was elected during the 23.5.22 PCC meeting. Many thanks for all Gareth’s hard work and dedication shown during his time as PCC secretary.

The work of the PCC has mainly centred around the roof issues this year. This has included reading through the Quinquennial Inspection, and a report from the Quantity Surveyor which detailed the costing for the repair work. From this a ‘roof committee; was formed to discuss funding, grants and projects that would allow us to apply for lottery heritage grants as well as other grants. The roof committee have met a further 3 times and have decided on a project that will hopefully satisfy the heritage requirements of the lottery grant. It was approved by the PCC to employ the architect to complete the grant process to ensure we stand the best chance of receiving the money. The proposals for the work have been sent to Diocesan Advisory Committee for a faculty approval but at the last PCC meeting (9.1.23) we had no update about this.

Further areas included in PCC meetings this year have included:

Emma Gunn

Secretary to the PCC, Auckland St Helen

Deanery Synod Report

Vanessa, Anne and Gareth are the representatives for St Helen at Deanery Synod. There have been four meetings in the last 12 months. The usual format of the meetings is coffee, formal part of the meeting and a guest speaker. The guest speakers have included a youth worker and climate action worker. The deanery leadership team meets between the meetings. Currently the leadership team are working on Facebook and Instagram pages to allow a wider understanding of the work of the Deanery Synod.

Treasurer’s Report

Planned giving was slightly down on the previous year but as the year picked up it did improve but we must hope that some increases will occur for 2023

Funerals, and weddings were financially about the same but there was an increase in general alms giving.

Fund raising was really god last year and also the heat and light events i.e. the monthly quiz did extremely well and is now nearly at capacity so thanks must go to the team who have maintained and developed that.

We did well with Grants for the Youth Work and the Parish centre which has meant that neither the parish centre or youth work are self supporting

The quota was paid in full and we also paid the Architect for the both the Quinquennial and the Roof Renewal quotation and specifications.

The fourth instalment of the Leech loan was paid leaving a balance of £5000 to be repaid in August 2023

Overall total cash funds were down by £5000 but considering the Architects initial bill was paid a good result for 2023

Families, youth and Community Worker Report

This year has seen most of the significant work focus around the Parish Centre, and what we can offer in the way of Mission to people in these uncertain economic times, and with the cost of living crisis.

Following a very generous grant from the Housing Association, Believe, we have improved our storage facilities, replaced much of the tired play equipment and created a new sensory space in the old Parish Office. This last has meant that what we offer in the Centre twice a week is more attractive to carers with very young children, and has provided a play space for children with additional needs away from the hubbub of the main hall.

The Tuesday Jolly Tots, and Thursday Busy Bees groups remain popular. There was less growth on a Thursday, but we have recently begun offering a free cooked meal at that group also – which is already seeing a positive impact. We continue to offer a small children’s clothing stall, and have been responsible for making reading books available for children to take home and keep over the

activities we offer, and a number of people now regularly attend on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to eat with us. These range from older people to some younger people who are long term unemployed or suffer anxiety.

I am shortly to leave post so want to take this opportunity to thank the entire worshipping community for everything they have provided in support, prayer and friendship over the 14 years I have been part of St. Helen’s. But special thanks must go to Father McTeer, for all he has done for me, and his support, over this time. I will be back soon!

Fr Edward and Emma Gunn now run a youth group called ‘Ark Youth’ which has grown in the space of three months to include up to 15 teenagers, with others expressing an interest to come. They enjoy activities such as bowling and learning circus skills! From this group (who are not all Church kids) a group of eight are attending the week long ‘Youth Pilgrimage’ at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in Norfolk in August. The young people did an amazing job of helping to fundraise for this!

Fr Edward is also chaplain to Bishop Auckland ATC and visits once per month. The Air Training Corps also attended church a couple of times per year.

Safeguarding

Mrs. Dianne Chew is our parish safeguarding office. All those involved in children’s work or working with vulnerable adults are DBS checked and a role of the names is maintained. Safeguarding training took place for all officers, PCC members and some members of the congregation in 2019 and training is due once again in 2022. Our policies are displayed with contact numbers on the church and centre notice board web site and face book page Safeguarding is on each PCC Agenda.

The Report of the Fabric and Ornaments of the Church

The building is well looked after and major works have been completed over the last 20 years including a major restoration of the church, including a new floor, under floor heating, damp protection, new pews and other associated works, the organ has been restored and added to the church has had a full rewire and new lighting scheme with external floodlighting. Two new entrance doors with glass installed along with stonework repairs to the porch. The vestry has been completely refitted including a new access staircase. A new extension including a toilet and meeting room was completed in 2018 after 10 years of planning and fundraising. Minor repairs are undertaken as and when necessary.

The church is cleaned each week along with brass, silver and linen. The Guild of S. Martha’s team work hard every week to keep the church in first class order.

The roof and drains are cleared twice a year, the boilers services, organ tuned, and fire extinguishers serviced. All electrical and gas certificates are up to date

The under floor heating is in constant use during the winter months, enabling background heat to the building all day to help preserve the fabric of the building and create a warm environment for daily worship.

The Ark extension built during 2018 it is now in full use most days for a variety of events

for the local community.

The Quinquennial inspection was undertaken on 8th March 2021 and was received on 18th November 2021. The report highlights some issue with re-pointing stonework, the chancel roof, and chancel coping stones. A facility has now been granted for the total work which needs to be carried out in the QI at an estimated cost of £370,762 and will be approaching charities and trusts for grants during 2023 and beyond.

Additions to the ornaments of the church during 2022

No additions to the fabric were made this year

Works to the Church during 2022

Pastoral review

The main pastoral work in a normal year at of S. Helen’s includes:

Provision for young people

The Ark

Post pandemic Ark events have really taken off with the extension in use most days which also allows for the church to be open for a good period most days

We were able to continue employ a Youth and Community Worker during 2022 for 20 hours per week and this has produced a good number of community and children’s projects and we support our community through difficult times. Gareth will leave this post in 2023 when he is ordained deacon to serve at S .Andrew Tudhoe with Christ the King Bowburn

Parish statistics for 2022

The Worshipping community including Messy Church is 146 consisting of

The Parish Centre

A Health and Safety Policy has been agreed and a Fire Policy is in place. A Policy for the Safeguarding of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults is in place.

Works to the centre in 2022

Windows were installed via a grant for the parish centre main hall and lounge area achieving natural light into the building.

Other work included:

The centre is to be painted internally as a community project by Believe Housing. Grants are being applied for the repair guttering at a cost of £11,000.

Centre users:

The centre is well used a excellent facility for the parish and community

The Vicarage

The Quinquennial Inspection took place in October 2021 by the diocesan surveyor, It was reported, “The property is particularly well maintained and cared for and has no apparent structural defects”.

The size of the vicarage along with no double glazing means it is a struggle for the incumbent to heat it adequately with very large heating bills to heat a selection of rooms to 15 degrees for part of the day. A wood burner helps heat the main reception room during the evening.

The gardens continued to be well maintained with the help of a gardener who works two hours per week.

Works to the Vicarage

No works were carried out to the vicarage during the past year

Conclusion

Part way through 2022 we started to feel that normal worship attendance and social events had reverted to pre-pandemic levels. We were only closed when ordered to do so and remained open while many other parishes closed. This is reflected in our bounce back.

In June 2022 we celebrated the late Queen’s Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee with a

wonderful Last Night of the Proms and a civic service of celebration. Following her death on the 8[th] September S. Helen’s was open daily for prayer and the signing of a Book of Condolence. A Civic Requiem Mass was celebrated for the repose of her soul and in thanksgiving as our longest serving monarch. We look forward to HM King Charles III coronation in May 2023.

Some patterns of attendance have changed from Sunday to weekdays. Some people are simply out of the habit of coming to church at all, some are less regular and some have

found other things to do on Sundays. However, we have an increase of 15 new people worshipping with us, some Sunday and some weekday which has brought us to just about back to where we were attendances before 2020.

It was a great joy to welcome the Mr. Edward Gunn to serve his curacy with us from July 2021. He is self supporting (Fr Edward receives no stipend and works part time- 25-30 hour a week, which is far beyond the expectation of self supporting ministers). Fr Edward has settled into the parish well along with his family and has had an excellent two years with us and made quite a commitment to our parish life. We had a wonderful time celebrating his ordination to the Sacred Priesthood and the offering of Mass for the first time in July 2022.

Mr. Gareth Gladman is our Youth and Community Worker (20 hours per week). He has made great progress in developing our youth and community work, working with partners in the parish. His report is included in this Annual Report.

One of the great strengths of S. Helen’s is the large number of people taking on responsibility and doing some work or service in the parish. A lot of people doing something small achieves great results. I am extremely grateful for this sharing of responsibility, commitment and collaboration of so many to the parish and our service and mission. A new leadership team was in place by the end of 2021 with people taking responsibility for key areas of mission, service and growth. Over half of our PCC are under 45; a good sign for future growth and I have every confidence with God’s help we can continue to grow in opposition to the national trends of the Church of England.

The improvement of our choral tradition is still a major objective. We will continue to work to become a centre of excellence in worship, prayer and service to our community and the wider church. This in itself can lead to growth. Our Director of Music, Mrs. Joan Johnson is outstanding in her commitment to the music of the parish.

It is interesting that young people and young adults and children seem to be attracted to traditional teaching, ceremonial, prayer, worship and music. As a parish we will continue to remain faithful to the catholic faith and practice that comes to us from the apostles and of which the Church of England is part, working and praying for the re-union of the Church of God, celebrating the Mass and offices each day, trying to order our lives to the teaching of our Lord in Holy Scripture, proclaiming the word of God, building up our faith, baptising our children, caring for the sick and the poor, providing for our young people, serving those in need, burying the dead, caring for the bereaved and proclaiming Christ crucified, died and risen.

We are committed to worshipping God, teaching and nurturing our people, serving our community in Christian love and joy, with a passion for mission and conversion using the Sacraments of the Church and Holy Scriptures, confident that THE MASS IS THE GREATEST ACT OF MISSION OF THE CHURCH

and the ability of the Mass and good worship to build the discipleship of the congregation and convert people to the Christian faith and a living relationship with Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

A number of our people are members of the “Save Parish Church Movement”. The traditional parish system is by far the best way to stop the decline of the Church of England. We are committed to simply being the Parish Church in West Auckland, St

Helen Auckland and Tindale Crescent. To celebrate the Mass and daily offices which deepens our discipleship and inspires us to go out and serve our community and bring more people to experience the life changing love of God.

Our mission is to love, serve and worship Our Lord Jesus Christ

The Reverend Canon Robert McTeer SSC Vicar and PCC Chairman

18[th] April 2023

S. Helen Auckland PCC 2022 Receipts and Payment Account

Receipts Unrestricted
Funds		 Organ/Kibi
Parish Centre
Fund
Walsingham
Restricted		 Nicholson
Trust
Restricted		 Total Funds Last Year
Voluntary Income
Planned Giving 21471 21471 23796
Income Tax recovered 10803 10803 9198
Alms 3011 3011 2401
Christmas Appeal 0 0 416
Donations/Charities 2632 0 2632 2001
Heat and Light Appeal 3140 3140 1708
Receipts from Church Activities 0
PCC Fees 1860 1860 1871
Diocesan Fees 0 0 0 0
Lamps 544 544 682
Hall/Ark Lettings 13271 13271 7175
Organ Fund 100 70
Roof Fund 410 0
Activities for generating funds 0 0
Fund Raising 13874 1065 14939 9045
100 Club 0 0 539
Curate's House Rent 3375 0 3375 6283
Nicholson Trust Interest 2 4215 4215 3683
sub total 67466 8090 4215 79771 68868
Non-recurring receipts
Snowdon Youth Work Trust 0 10000 10000 0
Millbank Sale 0 0 0 2810
Tesco 0 0 100
Lord Crewe 100 100 100
DCMS VAT Refund 0 0 100
Scotto Food JollyTots 5200
DeaneryMessychurch 300
Warm Spaces 1000
Church Com H/L 0 4590
North East Churches 0 0 1500
Grants Youth Worker 6667 6667 6667
Grants Gaunless Gateway 0 0 0
Believe 19000 19000 0
Farm Rent 0 0 0 0
Total Receipts 68466 53947 4215 126628 80145

Payments		 0
Quota 28000 0 28000 28000
Administration 3442 3442 3974
Roof Fund 17072 17072 0
MessyChurch 65 65
Charities 1836 0 1836 1426
Church Repairs 0 0 0 1357
Fund raising 2451 576 3027 581
Maintenance/Insurance 10548 0 10548 11566
Youth Worker Exp 0 6564 6564 2286
Youth Worker 0 13195 13195 6496
Youth Work scotto 352 352
Believe 12416 12416
Parish Centre 10889 10889 8725
Heat and Light 4801 4801 5151
Cost of Services 3419 3419 3450
Support Costs 2281 2281 2441
ClergyExp 5655 5655 4979
Curates House 0 0 2295
West of 60 0 0 0 648
Curates Exp 980 980 341
Ordination 0 990 990
stationery 1210 1210 300
Walsingham 200 0 200 -178
Wm Leech Loan repayments 5000 5000 5000
Total Payments 75712 56230 0 131942 88838

Net receipts/payments		 -7246 -2283 4215 -5314 -8693
Transfers between funds 30000 -30000 0 0
Cash funds last year -15862 72022 33593 89753 98446
0
Cash funds this year end 6892 39739 37808 84439 89753
Total Actual
PCC Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds		 Restricted
Funds		 Nicholson
Trust
Cash Funds
Parish Current 6730 7917
Restricted Deposit Acc 22150
100club 0
Centre Current 9834
CCLA Investment 0 35500
CCLA Investment Diocese 0 2308
Total cash funds 84439 6730 9834 30067 37808
Restricted funds under the Nichol son Trust are as per the terms of the legacy under the contr ol of
the Vicar and Churchwardens and not under the jurisd iction of the PCC but have been include d in
these accounts for clarity purpose s only.
This trust money is available for t he upkeep of the fab ric of the Parish Church of S.Helen Auck land only
Investment Assets stated at cost
Nicholson Trust PropertyPoo l Shares 75000
Curates House 155000

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustoes Sl Helen Auckland PCC On accounts for the yoar ended 31 December 2022 Charlty no (If any) 1163265 Sot out on pag•• I report to the trustees Im my examination of the accounts of the above Charity (Ihe Trusy) for the year erKled Responslbllftles and basls of report As the chanty's trustees. you a￿ responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 I report in respect of my examination of the Trusfs accounts rArried out under sedion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the awicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under seGtion 145{5)(b) of the Act. Indep•ndent •xaminerf8 8tatement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attents'on in ￿nnectIOn with the examination which gives me cause to believ8 that in. any material reskct: the accourrting records ￿r• rM kept in accordance wrth section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not a¢￿[d with the accounting records I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in thrs reFth in order to ￿able a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned: Dat•: 27.03.2023 ph W Kellett Relevant professional qualificatlon(s) or body (if any): FMAAT AATQB Address: 12 Greenfinch Road Easington Lane H<)ugMon le Spring DH ( IER Oct 2018