## **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:
- Safeguarding - Diane Chew gives regular updates on safeguarding which have included the online portal, DBS updates and safeguarding training renewal.
- The Parish Centre - we have received several grants (£20,000 from Believe housing, £4,000 for the emergency doors) Which has allowed improvements to be carried out including 4 windows being added, new emergency doors and shower cubicles being turned into storage. Further grants are going to need to be sourced to ensure the centre is maintained specifically for guttering, painting, floors and outdoor paving.
- Children and Youth Work - Gareth Gladman, the youth and community worker, has reported on how the main groups he runs are going including Jolly Tots and Busy Bees. Gareth has presented other ideas to ensure we are maximising his time and the resources church has, especially around being a ‘Warm Bank’. Gareth has also completed work to make ‘The Ark’ an NHS hub which has benefits for all groups that use the Ark including funding and training.
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**
- Soak-away drains cleared, drain pipes and roof gullies checked January and November.
- Fire extinguishers checked and serviced.
- Roof alarm system serviced.
- Gas boilers repaired and serviced and gas certificate issue.
- The external lights at ground level which are now obsolete were replaced with energy saving fittings in March 2022- (works still yet be competed).
- Organ tuned twice during the year.
- The church is heated through the week from October to April by the under-floor system to protect the fabric of the building and the organ.
- Church doors treated with Osmo oil.
- Boiler repaired in the Ark.
- The Ark alarm repaired.
## **Pastoral review**
## **The main pastoral work in a normal year at of S. Helen’s includes:**
- Daily Mass and offices.
- The needy, sick, dying and bereaved were visited at home or in the hospital by the Vicar, curate and Eucharistic Ministers.
- Members of the parish received home visits and the housebound received communion at home
- St. Helen’s and Devonshire House nursing homes visiting was put on hold due to the pandemic and this has not been restarted.
- Growing Durham Adult Learning group v i s i t e d church and members of the congregation joined the group for coffee or tea.
- A full programme of social events was held enjoyed during the year.
- Parish pilgrimage to Walsingham each August. Some members of the parish attend the National Pilgrimage each late May bank holiday.
- A weekly Lent lunch is normally held in aid of a charity
- Fr McTeer and members of the church serve the wider church by attending; Deanery Synod, Forward in Faith Chapter, Society of the Holy Cross chapters, Forward in Faith National Assembly and attended various Patronal Festivals around the diocese. The Vicar also serves as a Trustee to Durham Historic Churches Trust and Local Vicar of the Society of the Holy Cross.
- Fr McTeer serves on the Governing Body of Copeland Road School. He stood down from St Helen’s School. Fr Edward is a governor of Oakley Cross School. School work along with assemblies accounts for quite a large proportion of clergy time. Durham County Council present Fr. McTeer with a Long Service Award for over 25 years of service as school governor.
- Members of the congregation are involved in many social and community activities within the parish including fostering of children, school governors, visiting the sick, providing transport for the elderly, providing meals for the lonely on Christmas Day, W.I. meetings, helping with Sunday School and youth work.
- The parish maintains its own website, Facebook page and weekly notice sheet.
- We meet for coffee and cake on Sunday and Wednesday after Mass in the new extension.
- A community lunch take place on Wednesday in the Ark. This provides a warm space for people and free food.
- Quiz night each month.
- Computer skill classes for all age groups.
- Warm spaces were opened in the Ark and Parish Centre over three days of the week.
## **Provision for young people**
- Jolly Tots pre-school meet weekly with lunch provided.
- Busy Bees preschool meet weekly with lunch provided.
- Messy Church meets once per month.
- The parish provide Beavers, Cub and Scout Groups.
- Copeland Road, Oakley Cross and S. Helen’s school visited on a regular basis for assemblies and church visits.
- School services and visits of children for course work take place in the church.
- Fr McTeer is Vice President of Bishop Auckland District Scouts.
- Around six children attend Sunday Club which runs in the Ark during the first half of the parish mass
- Two children are members of our junior choir. This is down from six as a result of the pandemic.
- Our serving team has ten members of mixed age including four children under 10 and two teenagers.
- A monthly teenage group of 15 meet once per month in the Ark or for nights out.
## **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**
- Weekly Coffee and open church.
- Warm space three times a week.
- Community lunch on Wednesday-pay what you can.
- Monthly quiz nights.
- Silver surfers.
- Local history club.
- Coffee after services.
- Book Club.
- Choir practice.
- Funeral and baptism teas.
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**
- Children 25.
- Young people (11-17) 10.
- Adults (18-69) 66.
- Adults (over 70) 45.
- Baptisms 25.
- Weddings 1.
- Funerals 24 conducted through the ministry of S. Helen’s.
- Easter attendance was 118 (259) school service attendance.
- Christmas attendance 577 (250 which schools services).
- Average Sunday attendance in 2022 60 Adults and 12 Children making an average Parish Mass attendance of 72.
- Average weekly communions including weekday masses in 2022 were 110.
- Wednesday Mass 2022 Mass has an average attendance of 38 with other weekdays from 5 to 12 depending on the day.
- Monthly attendance at Messy Church of 35 people in 2022.
- Jolly tot average attendance is 45
- Busy bees average attendance is 20
## **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:
- Gas boilers serviced
- Fire extinguished serviced
- Sensory room crested out of old office
- Store rooms crested from old shower rooms
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:**
- Jolly Tots
- Busy Bees
- Scout, beaver and cub groups
- Guide group
- Slimming World
- Church social events
- Children’s birthday parties
- Funeral and baptism teas
- Community events
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 resk*ct:
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