## The Annual Report 2023 ## 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. ## Objectves and actvites: - Provide regular worship services, home communions and occasional bible study. - To offer a warm, welcoming, hospitable, safe environment for all. - To hold events in conjunction with other local groups in the Church. - To offer our resources to hold deanery and diocesan events - To hold social, fundraising entertainment events on a regular basis - 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. ## 2023 This has been another year of up and down. The highlight must have been the coronation of King Charles III, no country does pageantry like the UK, images of the celebrations will remain in our minds for a long time. O how we all concentrated when singing the national anthem for the King the first time! Again, the war in the Ukraine has impacted on fuel prices, luckily the winter to date has been mild but wet. This has reduced the gas bill (the temperature is kept at 17°C) but unfortunately our consumption of electricity has increased. You may wonder why we switch off some lights during services this is because we have not managed to switch to LED lamps throughout the Church. LED lamps cost only pence per hour to run whilst the others cost considerably more. Perhaps one day we will be able to replace them all. One piece of equipment that had to be replaced was the sound system, the cost of which, thanks to your generosity was funded by donations. Again, the Town Council decided to hold the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph instead of the Church disappointing to many people. The British Legion loses out on the money which we collected at this service about £450 each year. As treasurer my focus must be financial, we have survived another year but I am acutely aware that the utility price increases may lead to some difficult decisions in 2024. ## Achievements and performance: (Number of Average attendances at the regular services in brackets) bold brackets 2022. Services held. Sundays 8.00 am Holy Communion BCP twice monthly. (4) ( 5) 9.30 am Parish Eucharist weekly. (47) (37) 6.00pm Evensong weekly. (18) (10) Thursday 9.30am Eucharist weekly. (16) (16) NB. Some individuals may attend more than 1 service on Sundays. The 8.00am services have now been cancelled due to numbers attending. Normal Communion has been resumed but the choice of taking wine is optional. 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 2023 the Occasional Ofces were as follows: 8 Baptisms. 6 Weddings. 16 Funerals. Compared to: 2022: 11 Baptisms. 5 Weddings. 37 Funerals. 2021: 7 Baptisms. 4 Weddings. 30 Funerals. 2020: 3 Baptisms. 1 Weddings. 38 Funerals. 2019: 16 baptisms. 4 weddings. 21 funerals. ## School visits 31[st] March C of E, 21[st] July C of E year 6 leavers, 4[th] Oct C of E harvest festival, 18[th] Dec New Bolsover school Christmas service, 18[th] Dec Bolsover school Christmas service. 20[th] Dec C of E Christmas service. ## Visitors No. of overall visitors to church in 2023: 3,519 adults and 1,273 children. Compared with 2022: 3,198 adults and 1,179 children 2021: 228 adults and 408 children. 2020: 372 adults and 21 children. 2019: 4,250 adults and 958 children. ## Fund raising and social events The year began with a concert by Pete the Plonker aka Peter Gouldthorpe, entitled ‘Covid, the Musical’. It well attended and enjoyed. This was followed by a ‘Coronation’ brass band concert in May by the Dronfield Brass Band. In May, the Phoenix singers performed their first concert since Covid and a concert arranged by the Chesterfield Guilbert and Sullivan Society singers was held in Church end of May. A return of the BeVox choir was held in June (always much anticipated and well attended and enjoyed!). This was followed by a concert by the Peak Wind Orchestra in July. We helped with the refreshments at the Fame, Fashion held in September and this was followed by a concert by the acapella and all female choir, ‘Aurora’. In October we welcomed Rachel Abbott who gave a most enjoyable concert and much appreciated by the audience. The Winter Festival was held 2[nd] December where we had stalls selling various items and the entertainment was provided by youngsters from the North East Derbyshire Music Centre in Chesterfield and Rachel Abbott. The year concluded with a Christmas concert by the BeVox choir. Refreshments are served at all these events. We would like to say a huge thank you to Oven Door in Bolsover for kindly and generously providing hundreds of scones free of charge for our events over the last year. Their support and generosity have been very much appreciated! During the year the Church is open (most) Saturday mornings for tea and coffee and for visitors to have a look around. Twice a month ‘Make Do and Mend’ meet. We were successful in obtaining from NE Derbyshire a grant for £1,000 for ‘Warm Spaces’ which has helped towards the heating costs for the Saturday meetings and towards the refreshments. The total amount raised by these events over the last year was just over £4,000 thank you all. Any offers of help i.e., setting up, serving refreshments, washing up etc would be gratefully received, especially on Saturday mornings. Please speak to Rev Rachel G or one of the Church Wardens. The organ restoraton commitee . The Winter festival enabled a stall selling jewellery and other gifts. The Coffee and More is held once a month in the parish rooms and is well attended and enables other items to be sold. Please visit and taste all that is on offer £6,055 was raised in 2023 towards the restoration fund. (Includes donations and a legacy of £300 from Edie Mitchell. The current fund stands at £92,065. ## 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 £7,000 but we are endeavouring to increase this to 3 months. Our reserve account currently has a value of £16,028. Our income is derived from weekly donations at services, other voluntary donations, fund raising events, reclaiming Gift Aid and VAT refunds in the 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 £30,155 which generated £820. 2022 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 £6,208 and VAT refund of £950. 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 £77,431 and total payments £73,390 in 2023 Compared to: £73,531 £67,005 in 2022 £35,078 £35,281 in 2021. £42,064 £46,454 in 2020 £72,587 £46,454 in 2019 Total receipts include £19,926 a lottery grant for the Fame, Fashion, Fortune project and donations of £2,873 towards the disabled toilet project which is a restricted fund. Total payments also include £14,172 from the FFF project. |Income:|2023 2022 2021 2020 2019| |---|---| |Planed giving|£2,078 £15,885 £5,354 £10,361 £11,940| |Other giving|£3,996 £3,440 £8,445 £3,830 £4,692| |Gif aid|£13,871 £5,854 £2,819 £936 £2,188| |Plate & other|£5,436 £4,363 £1,236 £1,171 £4,271| |Gif Aid/VAT|£7,158| |Total:|£25,381 £29,541 £17,854 £16,298 £23,091| |Total in Bank:|£26,825 £24,466 £15,531 £15,656 £20,045| Total in Bank includes: £2,873 Disabled Toilet fund, £9,906 Fame, Fortune, Fashion both of which are restricted funds and £1,216 unpresented cheques. Actual £12,830. Reserve account: £16,028 £13,515 £14,003 £12,432 £11,281 Common fund we made 3 payments of £227 which is 10% of the expected amount and 9 payments of £345 which is 15% of the expected amount. Total payment for 2023 was £3,786 2022 was £1,589 2021 was £4,286 2020 was £2,018 2019 was £1,890 The request for: 2024 will be £26,696. This is £2,225 per month. (decrease of £49/month) The PCC endeavours to pay as much as we can. There are currently plans to install a new disabled toilet in the south west corner of the Church. This will cost in the region of £30,000. We will be pursuing any grants available. The hinges of the crypt cover are damaged beyond repair which is why the crypt is closed until further notice, estimated cost to replace the cover is approximately £1,000. We still have a problem with rain ingress above the south aisle this will be addressed when or if it stops raining, cost yet unknown. We need more than £185,000 (a new estimate is required) to fully restore the organ. ## 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, Mrs S Abbott, 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 95.6% possible attendance. ## – - PCC membership April 2023 (for electoral roll between 50 100) PCC Membership (under Church Representation Rules 2020- part 9: section 2) (9 members plus clergy, church wardens, treasurer, deanery synod reps) ## Clergy Rachel Gouldthorpe (Vicar) Rachel Williams (Associate Priest) Treasurer Safeguarding Ofcer Mike Joyce Mo Coupe Church Wardens Deputy Wardens Julie Potter, Sue Abbott Diana Newey. Janice Tilly. Pam Woodhouse Vice Chair Andrew Yeomans ## PCC Members Pam Johnston Sue Slatcher Mary Revill Diana Newey Joan Taylor Glen Hodkinson Pamela Woodhouse Andrew Yeomans Andy Johnston Deanery Synod Janice Tilly Mo Coupe ## Standing Commit t ee Clergy, Vice Chair of PCC, Treasurer, Church Wardens, 2 PCC members. 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. ## Administraton informaton: 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. Bank: TSB Chesterfield, 27 Market Place, S40 1PN Auditor: Mr R Tooth. Castle Lane, Bolsover. MSG Joyce. Treasurer Jan 2024 ## The Annual Report 2023 ## 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. ## Objectves and actvites: - Provide regular worship services, home communions and occasional bible study. - To offer a warm, welcoming, hospitable, safe environment for all. - To hold events in conjunction with other local groups in the Church. - To offer our resources to hold deanery and diocesan events - To hold social, fundraising entertainment events on a regular basis - 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. ## 2023 This has been another year of up and down. The highlight must have been the coronation of King Charles III, no country does pageantry like the UK, images of the celebrations will remain in our minds for a long time. O how we all concentrated when singing the national anthem for the King the first time! Again, the war in the Ukraine has impacted on fuel prices, luckily the winter to date has been mild but wet. This has reduced the gas bill (the temperature is kept at 17°C) but unfortunately our consumption of electricity has increased. You may wonder why we switch off some lights during services this is because we have not managed to switch to LED lamps throughout the Church. LED lamps cost only pence per hour to run whilst the others cost considerably more. Perhaps one day we will be able to replace them all. One piece of equipment that had to be replaced was the sound system, the cost of which, thanks to your generosity was funded by donations. Again, the Town Council decided to hold the Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph instead of the Church disappointing to many people. The British Legion loses out on the money which we collected at this service about £450 each year. As treasurer my focus must be financial, we have survived another year but I am acutely aware that the utility price increases may lead to some difficult decisions in 2024. ## Achievements and performance: (Number of Average attendances at the regular services in brackets) bold brackets 2022. Services held. Sundays 8.00 am Holy Communion BCP twice monthly. (4) ( 5) 9.30 am Parish Eucharist weekly. (47) (37) 6.00pm Evensong weekly. (18) (10) Thursday 9.30am Eucharist weekly. (16) (16) NB. Some individuals may attend more than 1 service on Sundays. The 8.00am services have now been cancelled due to numbers attending. Normal Communion has been resumed but the choice of taking wine is optional. 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 2023 the Occasional Ofces were as follows: 8 Baptisms. 6 Weddings. 16 Funerals. Compared to: 2022: 11 Baptisms. 5 Weddings. 37 Funerals. 2021: 7 Baptisms. 4 Weddings. 30 Funerals. 2020: 3 Baptisms. 1 Weddings. 38 Funerals. 2019: 16 baptisms. 4 weddings. 21 funerals. ## School visits 31[st] March C of E, 21[st] July C of E year 6 leavers, 4[th] Oct C of E harvest festival, 18[th] Dec New Bolsover school Christmas service, 18[th] Dec Bolsover school Christmas service. 20[th] Dec C of E Christmas service. ## Visitors No. of overall visitors to church in 2023: 3,519 adults and 1,273 children. Compared with 2022: 3,198 adults and 1,179 children 2021: 228 adults and 408 children. 2020: 372 adults and 21 children. 2019: 4,250 adults and 958 children. ## Fund raising and social events The year began with a concert by Pete the Plonker aka Peter Gouldthorpe, entitled ‘Covid, the Musical’. It well attended and enjoyed. This was followed by a ‘Coronation’ brass band concert in May by the Dronfield Brass Band. In May, the Phoenix singers performed their first concert since Covid and a concert arranged by the Chesterfield Guilbert and Sullivan Society singers was held in Church end of May. A return of the BeVox choir was held in June (always much anticipated and well attended and enjoyed!). This was followed by a concert by the Peak Wind Orchestra in July. We helped with the refreshments at the Fame, Fashion held in September and this was followed by a concert by the acapella and all female choir, ‘Aurora’. In October we welcomed Rachel Abbott who gave a most enjoyable concert and much appreciated by the audience. The Winter Festival was held 2[nd] December where we had stalls selling various items and the entertainment was provided by youngsters from the North East Derbyshire Music Centre in Chesterfield and Rachel Abbott. The year concluded with a Christmas concert by the BeVox choir. Refreshments are served at all these events. We would like to say a huge thank you to Oven Door in Bolsover for kindly and generously providing hundreds of scones free of charge for our events over the last year. Their support and generosity have been very much appreciated! During the year the Church is open (most) Saturday mornings for tea and coffee and for visitors to have a look around. Twice a month ‘Make Do and Mend’ meet. We were successful in obtaining from NE Derbyshire a grant for £1,000 for ‘Warm Spaces’ which has helped towards the heating costs for the Saturday meetings and towards the refreshments. The total amount raised by these events over the last year was just over £4,000 thank you all. Any offers of help i.e., setting up, serving refreshments, washing up etc would be gratefully received, especially on Saturday mornings. Please speak to Rev Rachel G or one of the Church Wardens. The organ restoraton commitee . The Winter festival enabled a stall selling jewellery and other gifts. The Coffee and More is held once a month in the parish rooms and is well attended and enables other items to be sold. Please visit and taste all that is on offer £6,055 was raised in 2023 towards the restoration fund. (Includes donations and a legacy of £300 from Edie Mitchell. The current fund stands at £92,065. ## 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 £7,000 but we are endeavouring to increase this to 3 months. Our reserve account currently has a value of £16,028. Our income is derived from weekly donations at services, other voluntary donations, fund raising events, reclaiming Gift Aid and VAT refunds in the 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 £30,155 which generated £820. 2022 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 £6,208 and VAT refund of £950. 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 £77,431 and total payments £73,390 in 2023 Compared to: £73,531 £67,005 in 2022 £35,078 £35,281 in 2021. £42,064 £46,454 in 2020 £72,587 £46,454 in 2019 Total receipts include £19,926 a lottery grant for the Fame, Fashion, Fortune project and donations of £2,873 towards the disabled toilet project which is a restricted fund. Total payments also include £14,172 from the FFF project. |Income:|2023 2022 2021 2020 2019| |---|---| |Planed giving|£2,078 £15,885 £5,354 £10,361 £11,940| |Other giving|£3,996 £3,440 £8,445 £3,830 £4,692| |Gif aid|£13,871 £5,854 £2,819 £936 £2,188| |Plate & other|£5,436 £4,363 £1,236 £1,171 £4,271| |Gif Aid/VAT|£7,158| |Total:|£25,381 £29,541 £17,854 £16,298 £23,091| |Total in Bank:|£26,825 £24,466 £15,531 £15,656 £20,045| Total in Bank includes: £2,873 Disabled Toilet fund, £9,906 Fame, Fortune, Fashion both of which are restricted funds and £1,216 unpresented cheques. Actual £12,830. Reserve account: £16,028 £13,515 £14,003 £12,432 £11,281 Common fund we made 3 payments of £227 which is 10% of the expected amount and 9 payments of £345 which is 15% of the expected amount. Total payment for 2023 was £3,786 2022 was £1,589 2021 was £4,286 2020 was £2,018 2019 was £1,890 The request for: 2024 will be £26,696. This is £2,225 per month. (decrease of £49/month) The PCC endeavours to pay as much as we can. There are currently plans to install a new disabled toilet in the south west corner of the Church. This will cost in the region of £30,000. We will be pursuing any grants available. The hinges of the crypt cover are damaged beyond repair which is why the crypt is closed until further notice, estimated cost to replace the cover is approximately £1,000. We still have a problem with rain ingress above the south aisle this will be addressed when or if it stops raining, cost yet unknown. We need more than £185,000 (a new estimate is required) to fully restore the organ. ## 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, Mrs S Abbott, 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 95.6% possible attendance. ## – - PCC membership April 2023 (for electoral roll between 50 100) PCC Membership (under Church Representation Rules 2020- part 9: section 2) (9 members plus clergy, church wardens, treasurer, deanery synod reps) ## Clergy Rachel Gouldthorpe (Vicar) Rachel Williams (Associate Priest) Treasurer Safeguarding Ofcer Mike Joyce Mo Coupe Church Wardens Deputy Wardens Julie Potter, Sue Abbott Diana Newey. Janice Tilly. Pam Woodhouse Vice Chair Andrew Yeomans ## PCC Members Pam Johnston Sue Slatcher Mary Revill Diana Newey Joan Taylor Glen Hodkinson Pamela Woodhouse Andrew Yeomans Andy Johnston Deanery Synod Janice Tilly Mo Coupe ## Standing Commit t ee Clergy, Vice Chair of PCC, Treasurer, Church Wardens, 2 PCC members. 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. ## Administraton informaton: 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. Bank: TSB Chesterfield, 27 Market Place, S40 1PN Auditor: Mr R Tooth. Castle Lane, Bolsover. MSG Joyce. Treasurer Jan 2024 St Mary and St Laurence Church Accounts Auditors Report February 2024 The Accounts presented are clear and indicate a true and fair position of the finances of the Church. Like previous years, this again has been an extremely challenging year for all types of organisations and the Church has had to face and deal with rising energy costs The Church has made very sensible efforts to manage and reduce its costs eg by using LED lights wherever feasible Both the total income and payments for the year have increased Church members have undertaken many social events in the year which have very effective at increasing revenue and are also valued and enjoyed by many in the community eg The Bevox Choir very generously provides a number of concerts free of charge which are good fund raisers and very enjoyable The Winter festival was also an effective fund raiser with very entertaining contributions from the North East Derbyshire Music Centre and Rachel Abbott My thanks go as always to the Treasurer for providing me with all the relevant information in an easy to access format Reg To Auditor Feb 2024