The Annual Report 2022
St Mary & St Laurence Parish Church Bolsover
Aims and purposes:
The primary object of the PCC is the promotion of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practises of the Church of England.
The PCC is to co-operate with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
Objectives and activities:
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Provide regular worship services, home communions and weekly bible study.
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To offer a warm, welcoming, hospitable, safe environment for all.
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To hold events in conjunction with other local groups in the Church.
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To offer our resources to hold deanery and diocesan events
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To hold social, fundraising entertainment events on a regular basis
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To be open every Saturday morning for visitors, craft group and fellowship and enable the Church to be open where practical outside of normal worshipping times.
2022
The impact that the Government movement restrictions have had on the Church were not just financial. At the beginning of the year social distancing regulations had been relaxed but we still kept our distance. This meant offering a gesture for the peace, no wine at communion. The impact that self-isolation has had on the mental wellbeing of us all is immeasurable. However, things did improve at Easter, we are now able to sing along to our hymns, enjoy fellowship following the service, bells now being rung again and whilst writing this the sun is shining with blue skies but cold. Spring is in the air and hopefully we can emerge from this dark place into more happier times. We must look forward and use all of our skills and experience to rise up again. This year had its highs and lows. Her majesty Queen Elizabeth 2nd celebrated her platinum jubilee which was celebrated throughout the UK as only we can do, images from these celebrations will surely remain in our memories for a long time but then later in the year we had the sad news that her majesty had died. The mourning period and funeral was conducted in a reserved and dignified way and she will be long remembered and missed. It was mid-summer before the Church was able to resume some social activities, a BBQ at the Vicarage and a Historical project in the Church attracted many visitors
sadly this coincided with her Majesties death, a memorial book was made available to anybody and the provision of candles. In October we were informed that due to the war in the Ukraine effecting gas prices we would be facing a 100% price increase. The Remembrance service was held in Church but the Town Council had decided to hold its own service around
the Memorial in the square disappointing to many people. Social events rounded off the year including a BeVox concert and a play called Star Safari, these attracted many visitors.
As treasurer my main focus has to be financial, we have survived another year but I am acutely aware that the utility price increases will lead to some difficult decisions in 2023.
Achievements and performance:
(Number of Average attendances at the regular services in brackets) bold brackets 2021.
Services held. Sundays 8.00 am Holy Communion BCP twice monthly. (5)
9.30 am Parish Eucharist weekly. (37)
(39)
6.00pm Evensong weekly. (10)
Thursday 9.30am Eucharist weekly. (16) (16)
NB. Some individuals may attend more than 1 service on Sundays. Communion being wafers only.
8.00am & 6.00pm services resumed in2022.
In 2022: 598 adults attended other services and 731 children. (Under 16)
In 2021: 107 adults attended other services and 408 children. (Under 16)
In 2020: 68 adults attended other services; no children’s services due to Covid restrictions.
In 2019: 1,181 adults attended other services and 1,042 children. (Under 16)
During 2022 the Occasional Offices were as follows:
11 Baptisms. 5 Weddings. 37 Funerals.
Compared to 2021: 7 Baptisms. 4 Weddings. 30 Funerals.
School visits
We had a year 3 class visit to Church to talk about Christianity especially advent and Christmas on 8[th] December. The Bolsover school (secondary) came for their Christmas service on 19[th] December. The Bolsover infant school came for an Easter service on 29[th] April and their harvest service on September 30[th] .The C of E school came in for Easter, End of school year, Harvest and Christmas.
Visitors
No. of overall visitors to church in 2022: 3,198 adults and 1,179 children. Compared with 2021: 228 adults and 408 children.
2020: 372 adults and 21 children.
2019: 4,250 adults and 958 children.
Fund raising and social events:
After a long absence due to Covid, the Social and Fundraising committee resumed meeting at the beginning of September. We helped with the refreshments at the Fame, Fashion and Fortune event in September, The Church was opened for the winter festival on the 26[th] November where we had stalls in Church and served simple refreshments. In December we enjoyed a BeVox concert and an excellent play entitled “Star Safari” by the Headland Theatre Company, festive refreshments were served at both events. In 2023, we are planning more events including a “Covid 19 the Musical” and other daft songs by Pete the Plonker (aka Peter Gouldthorpe). Not to be missed… watch this space. We desperately need help to organise and run these events. Any offers of help i.e., setting up, serving refreshments, washing up etc would be gratefully received.
Please speak to Rev Rachel G.
The organ restoration committee were eventually able to meet. The Advent festival enabled a stall selling jewellery and other gifts and they resurrected the coffee morning held in the parish rooms. This has been renamed as Coffee and More and is held once a month in the parish rooms. Please visit and taste all that is on offer. £1,733.50 was raised in 2022 towards the restoration fund.
Financial review:
We use Receipts and Payments Accounting. Our current bank is TSB. We also have a reserve account which holds unrestricted funds. Our current
reserve policy is to have at least 2 months average payments currently £8,000 but we are endeavouring to increase this to 3 months. Our reserve account currently has a value of £13,515. Our income is derived from weekly donations at services, other voluntary donations, fund raising events, reclaiming Gift Aid £5,357 and VAT refund £496 in this year. We do receive interest on money invested by Derby Board of Finance with CCLA. This money is from the sale of Church property and is held as a charitable trust. This means that we can never have the capital sum only the annual interest. Current value £27,562 which generated £820.
2021 value £31,239 which generated £793.
2020 value £27,330 which generated £766
2019 value £25,571 which generated £743.
Covid had a major impact on our finances! I must thank all those who managed to add a little extra to their weekly envelops and their one-off donations, this certainly helped. We also benefitted from reclaimed Gift Aid £5,357 and VAT refund of £496. With the tax reclaimed we managed to offset some of the loss of income from fundraising and the fees for weddings and funerals. These sums added together basically kept us on an even keel but meant that our monthly payments to the common fund were reduced. A PCC meeting agreed that we should pay 10% each month and more if we were able.
Total receipts from all sources £73,531 and total payments £67,005* in 2022
Compared to: £35,078 £35,281 in 2021.
£42,064 £46,454 in 2020
£72,587 £46,454 in 2019
Total receipts include £26,904 a lottery grant for the Fame, Fashion, Fortune project and also a donation towards the disabled toilet project which is a restricted fund. *Total payments also include £25,065 from the FFF project.
Income: 2022 2021 2020 2019 Planed giving*** £15,885 £5,354 £10,361 £11,940
Other giving £3,440 £8,445 £3,830 £4,692
Gift aid £5,854 £2,819 * £936 **** £2,188 * Plate & other £4,363 £1,236 £1,171 £4,271
Total: £29,541 £17,854 £16,298 £23,091
Total in Bank: £24,466 £15,531 £15,656 £20,045 Reserve account: **£13,515 £14,003 £12,432 £11,281
Some gift aid in planned giving
** Decrease in amount due to share price decrease, nothing extra invested in 2022
* Includes planned giving through the bank
Common fund we made 7 payments of £227 which is 10% of the expected amount.
Total payment for 2022 was £1,589
2021 was £4,286 2020 was £2,018 2019 was £1,890
The request for: 2023* will remain as 2022 that is £27,289. This is £2,274 per month.
The PCC endeavours to pay as much as we can. * DDBoF may increase this mid-2023.
There are currently no major building or repair works under consideration.
But a committee has been formed to apply for grants in order to progress the organ restoration fund. We need in excess of £185,000 to fully restore the organ and so far, volunteers have raised £77,875.44.
Risk management:
The principal risks and uncertainties facing the PCC are physical and financial.
(a) Physical condition of the fabric of the Church.
A management plan for repairs is in place and overseen by M/S J Potter and Mr A Johnson. Any repairs as highlighted in the quinquennial report are acted upon as per their priority in the report. All electrical systems and equipment are tested annually (PAT) also all fire extinguishers, the lightening conductor is tested every 2 years as required by law.
- (b) The financial risks are reduced fundraising from the public, a decrease in the weekly voluntary donations and fluctuations in investment values.
The social and fund-raising committee have in place a varied programme to raise funds for the Church. An appeal by the treasurer for the congregation to increase their weekly donations was successful but the PCC have to be mindful that not everybody is in a position to keep increasing their donations. The monies invested with the CCLA are held in a fund of well diversified investments. The fund follows an ethical investment policy. (See Auditors report Jan 2020)
The PCC have given consideration to the major risks to which the PCC is exposed and satisfied themselves that systems or procedures are established in order to manage these risks.
Structure, governance and management:
The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is a Registered Charity. The appointment of PCC members is governed by and set out in the Church Representative Rules. Parish Safeguarding Officer Mrs Mo Coupe.
Currently we have the following policies: Health & Safety, safeguarding policy, electoral roll & GDPR, GDPR privacy notice, social media use, lone working, recruitment of ex-offenders, working from heights and a fire regulation.
In the last year the PCC met 5 times with a 95% possible attendance, also one zoom meeting for a consultation regarding re opening the Church.
Administration information:
Bolsover Parochial Church Council
St Mary & St Laurence Parish Church, Church Street, Bolsover, Derbyshire, S44 6HB.
PCC correspondence address : The Vicarage, Church Street, Bolsover, S44 6HB.
Telephone number: 01246 824888
Registered Charity number 1167268.
PCC Office holders:
Chairperson Rev R Gouldthorpe. Vice Chairperson Mr A Yeomans. Church Wardens: Ms J Potter, Mrs M Coupe. Deputy Church Wardens: Mrs D Newey, Mrs J Tilley. Secretary Mrs H Reaney. Treasurer Mr M SG Joyce. Covenant Secretary: Mrs S Slatcher.
Current PCC members: Rev R Gouldthorpe, Rev R Williams,
A Yeomans, A Johnston, M Coupe, S Slatcher, M Joyce, D Newey, M Revill, P Johnston, J Potter, J Tilley, P Woodhouse, J Taylor, G Hodkinson, Deanery synod representatives: Mrs M Coupe, Mrs J Tilley.
Organist & Choirmaster & Lay Reader: Mr A Yeomans. Sacristan: Mrs S Slatcher. Verger: Mrs P Johnston. Mothers Union: Mrs M Revill. Tower Captain: Mrs C Roe. Electoral Roll: Mrs D Newey.
Bank: TSB Chesterfield, 27 Market Place, S40 1PN Auditor: Mr R Tooth. Castle Lane, Bolsover.
MSG Joyce Treasurer Jan 2023
I rerth onthe 0nts for theyeai ended 3tsr tkomberTIMch arew Out( p4Es 2to 6. Astrustees ofthe charity. the rnemhèrs of thE Pccare reSponblef£the wqjrtlVIthe accounts. ¢l¥51Erthat an audr( isnot required forthi5 ar under sectron 144(21 of the ChaririesAct 2011 (the 2011 Attland that an independentÈxamination is needed. It is my re5porb5ibility to • examinethe accounts under[On 145ofthe 2011Actr. • follow the prodleS laKI down in the Gerberal iirectio5 bytheChaTity cornrni&Stry 5ertion 14515llbl of the2011 Art." and • state whether parla[ Matt5 have corneto my atter[t. Mye¥aminoti0Th wa5 rarried inaccordaKewiththeGerwal bythe Char5tyCommission. An ÈxaTpTnatK>n indudes a reviewof the afDuTrting reijxds keptthe drItyand a compari5fjn of theaccounts PTe5ented with those records. It also in(lude5 consKleration of any unusual ttems or disdtMre5 in thè at¢tKwts. and SeeknngÈxpIatioTr5fr0m the management committee concÈrnin8any suth matter5. The pr[e5 undertaken not V(Nide all the eYVJenth¥ would be requiTed In a full audit. and consequently I do not expressan auditwnion on the rouTrts. Independent Examiner'sstatemerrt lfi connecriot) wTth my examinatS0ts. rTranew5 have come to myatteniion l. whth eiye me r&isonabk cause to bdiv•*that any tnatewial respea the requirements •to keep accountSw records in accOlanCe wlth s.IXlofthe 2011 Actr. or . to prepafe accour¢ts whKth accoTd vjith thact¥£[oS ha¥e (beeTh met.or 2. tgwhich. in myopinion. attentton shoutrj be drawn itbord2rtoenable a¢wperUndts5kTwJirOt the ac¢tht0 be reached. Name.. Relevant professiooal qualtficati¢)n or Address.. Date: SS E£¥ S trIL Sylr 6QS 3D [4pight3014$11[fv[t TomCro(ths
Churth Ac(Wf5ts Auditors Report FeW 2023 The .Accounts prestted are aTKI In(lte a trIE and and fair position of the finan +4e nh4:n- This year has been another ethrpety cBllenging year for all types of organisations and the Church. tke many otr.ers in sooety, has had to fa large increases in ojsts partilarty en a4d general utslity costs The Church had to adNst its Wdctiw to le1b the restrKons but it is good to report that these restri are gradually bg reed in line with govemmental guidan It is pleasing that income from ne[l grving. after having experienced a reduction in 2021 Irom C40364 to &E354. Ke¥eil a l&ye in£rease in 2022 to £15885 It is a credit to the PCC that the )mmit managed to attract a large grant of £26904 the FFF PTDiec I repeat my comnErts from FYe4ious years in tPAt it ts dear that ttems of expenditure are s(xutinized by to ere best value Church member5, 1 appreciate.. will LE Icknng for ad(rrtional sources of Govemmental income and I would aUrage them in this task One final comment is that the CCLA 1rNest did ex[ErIen a reduction during the year but it is in the r£ture oFthese types of InVestr that volatility occurs These investments only fell by apprDX 3Yo. after a number ot years experiencing Reg Tooth Auditof Feb 2023