Hamworthy Parish Churches, Poole Annual Report and Accounts of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2023
Administrative Information
St Michael's and St Gabriel's churches are situated in the parish of Hamworthy, Poole, part of the Diocese of Salisbury, within the Church of England. The correspondence address is: St Michael’s Church Centre, Blandford Road, Poole, BH15 4HR
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity registered with the Charity Commissioners - Registered Charity Number 1163697 PCC members who have served from 1 January 2023 until the date this report was approved are:
Incumbent:
The Revd Tessa Nisbet Rector (Chair) Revd Ashley Ross - Associate Minister (Maternity leave from July 2023) Revd Sally Taylor Curate in Training (until September 2023)
Wardens:
Joanna Maybury Christopher Trent
Deanery Synod representatives:
Viv Robertson (until May 2023) Dave Coates (PCC Treasurer) Elaine Sullivan Janet Davies (from June 2023)
Elected members
Jean Harrison-Barker Jeremy Irish (until May 2023) Andrea Johnson ( Parish Safeguarding Officer) until May 2023 Judith Perring David Reed Bryan Sullivan Until May 2023 Audrey Stayman
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 to the PCC.
Objectives and Activities
Hamworthy PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the Church Centre complexes of St Michael's and St Gabriel's in Hamworthy and governance responsibilities for St Gabriel’s Pre-School.
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Achievements and Performance
Electoral Roll and Church Attendance Note:2022 figures in brackets There were 119 (118) on the Church Electoral Roll-on 31 Dec 2023
The average weekly Sunday attendance at St Michael’s Morning service was 65 (64) adults, plus 13 (9) children. The average attendance at the midweek service was 29 (23) The average attendance at“The 4 O'clock” Service was 23 (20). Noticeably, a change in the pattern of church attendance has been that less people attend Sunday worship each week and more only once or twice a month. The attendance at the midweek service is more regular and continues to grow.
136 (115) people attended the Easter Sunday service (94 Communicants). The Christmas Eve service had a congregation of 139 (132) people and Christmas Day 94 (92), 26 of which stayed for Holy Communion. The highest attendance of the year was at the Carols by Candlelight service with a total of 246 people attending.
The Statistics for Mission return for 2023 recorded a “Worshipping Community” of 119 (116). This is the number of people (adults and children) who attended worship in church at least once a month during the year. Included are 4 people who were unable to attend due to serious illness.
There were 20 (7) baptisms during 2023 and 3 adults renewed their Baptismal vows. 3 (2) marriages were held in St Michael's and there were 4 (4) funerals held in church plus 2 conducted at crematoria by members of the ministry team. There were 5 (6) burials of ashes in the churchyard.
St Gabriel’s an Agape meal was held on Maundy Thursday, and an Advent Sunday Service was held at St Gabriel's. Regular prayer takes place every fortnight.
We have held monthly services at Dorset House and at Upton Bay Care Home also Tess has been asked to take assemblies in local schools.
Review of the year
The PCC met 6 times during the year with an average attendance of 77% (84%) Committees have met between meetings and have reported to the full PCC.
Matters discussed included: The appointment of a Parish Administrator. This post would be shared post between Poole Missional Communities (1day a week) and Hamworthy PCC (2 days a week) Naomi Whayman was appointed to this post during the summer. Re-ordering of the church by replacing the pews with chairs was agreed after much discussion and research. The floor will also need to be renovated. Chairs will make the space more flexible for different styles of worship and some other activities e.g. concerts. Also discussed were the Church of England initiative “Making Jesus Known”, the provision of new children's work, “Hillside” on Sunday Mornings and heating the office in a more eco friendly way.
Regularly work parties have helped to keep the churchyards tidy and we are thankful to Brian Master and Robert Stickland who have cared so faithfully for the New Churchyard.
We supported the work wider church including the Children's Society, WAU, Operation Christmas Child MAF and locally Routes to Roots, and MARS The Missions giving budget for 2023 was £7,100 - 10% of giving received.
The Green Team, with a team of regular volunteers, seek to improve our “green” credentials and to continue improvement Bluebell Wood with guidance from Dorset Wildlife. A plan has been approved by the PCC to have a sensory garden on unconsecrated ground in the church grounds. A crab apple tree was planted in the churchyard to commemorate the King’s Coronation.
A successful tea party was held at St Michael's to celebrate the King’s Coronation A happy time for all. Over 50 people came along.
St Gabriel's. “The Wednesday Thing” began to meet weekly for families to eat and chat and develop relationships. Also regular evening Prayer meetings were held. The hope is that we can open for more worship and develop more links with the community on Turlin Moor. We have continued to support Moor Community Food and also re-opened the Satellite Food Bank at St Gabriel's.
Thank you to Andrea Johnson who was our Parish Safeguarding Officer for over 18 years and also to Tracey Lee who has agreed to take on this important role. Thanks also to Marie Ward who has been responsible for organising the flowers in church for the past 5 or so years but has felt the time had come to pass this on. It would be great to have someone who would take this on.
And finally a huge thank you to our Rector, Tess, who has managed to keep us all going as the single minister with Reg and Viv have been ill and unable to do all that they would normally do.
Finances
Planned Giving
£54. 489 (£49,407) was given in planning giving. £14,278(£12,934) was received in Gift Aid tax recovered.
Financial Review
Total 2022 accountable receipts including restricted funds were £145,160(£117,522) The figures exclude St Gabriel's Pre-school funds.
The total accountable payments were £138,803(£127,931) (excluding Pre-School funds).
The total amount received from donations, collections and planned giving in 2022 was £70,362(£62,560 ). The PCC has one trust fund, the Keysworth Trust fund. At the end of 2022 its value was £114,278 (£129,398)
Income from venue hire for both centres was £29,011(£20,344) plus £17,400 (£15,200) from St Gabriel's Pre-School.
The PCC fees received from the churchyard account was £2612 (£2002)
The 2022 parish share of £ 46,947(£44,712) was paid in full.
Reserves Policy
The PCC retained £15,000 in its unrestricted Reserves Fund. The Pre-School also has a reserves fund of (£56,335) in a “Dissolution” Fund.
£9,943,01 (£4,282) is in the restricted St Michael’s Building deposit account. The foremost, but not restricted, use of this is for St Michael’s building and fabric.
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We have £52, 697.27(£52,013) in the designated St Gabriel’s Building deposit account. This is specifically for the upkeep of St Gabriel’s Church Centre building.
All of these deposit accounts are with the Church of England Deposit Fund.
VR March 2023
Approved by the PCC on 12th May 2023 and signed on their behalf by Revd Tessa Nisbet. (PCC Chair)
Signed...... T J Nisbet ................................................ Dated 12[th] May 2023 .....
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