St Michael and All Angels, Somerton Annual Report and Accounts of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2023 Priest in Charge Vacancy Registered Charity no 1168799
2023 Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Somerton Alms and Purposes St Michael's Parochial Church Council (PCC) primary purpose is the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church or England. During the vacancy it h&8 the responslbxlity in promoting, in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, p&sloral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the use and maintenance of the parish Church and its environs. The PCC is also responsible for making known and putting in to effect any provisions made by Diocesan or Deanery Synod and bringing to those synods notice any matters OT advice which the Council deems necessary. Oblectjves and activlties The PCC is comrnitted lo enabling as many people as possible to become Disciples of Christ and join our church family at St Michaels. We ty to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our church communlty through: Worship and prayer The provision of pastoral support for people livin8 in the parish Children and Youn8 People's work Specific outreach activities. Church Refurbishment Ecumenical relationships Charitable giving Achievements and performance AIthou8h the Vacancy continued throughout 2023, a full schedule of services and meetings was held, led by a combination of retired clergy, visiting clergy and lay worship assistants. A reor8anisation of the Benefices in the Diocese was discussed and debated durin8 the first balf of the year. Somerton will shortly be part of a wider Benefice with the addition of Pitney and Long Sutton with Long Load. A group from the Somerton PCC worked with members of the other PCCS in the expanded Benefi¢e, to produce a profile detsiling the qualities and skills required by the new Priest. Interviews for the post were held in early 2024.
Worship and Prayer We try to offer a range of services each month on both Sundays and weekdays which benefit our community and provide spiritual input. The Sunday service consisted of a mixture of Eucharistic and non-Euchartstic worship at I l am. During tbe week we again hold a mixture of Communion and Worsbip services. Du]Ing the Saturday morning prayer meetings, a group meets together to pray for the needs of the parish and the world. We also held fellowship groups which met regularly and provided bible study) teaching, prdyer and discussion to build up ow faith. A Prayer Circle is made up of 57 members from the Congregation, Benefice and the town. Urgent requests are circulated to these members requesting Prayer for needy individuals and their friends and families. The Monday Prayer Hour to pray during the vacancy continues to be beld on the first Monday of each month. A]1 are welcome to attend our regular services. At present there are 109 Parishioners on the Church electoral roll. In thc last year sadly 5 have died, 2 have moved but 3 have joined. The average weekly attendance countcd through oCber was 55, slightly down on the last year and the membership has also decreased to 71. As well as our regular services we like to enable our community to celebrate and thaT]k Cyod at the milestones of the journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life, in marriage public vows are exchanged with God's blessin8 and through funeral services friends and family express their 8rief and give thanks for a life now complete in this world and to commend the person into God's keeping. We have celebrated 3 baptisms, 4 weddin8S, and supported families througb 17 fijnerals during 2023. Pastoral Care There is a team from the Benefice who help prepare families for Baptism and Weddings. Our retired clergy SUPPOrt the Bereaved. We also have the Caring Hands group who provide lifts to medical appointments or other needs and the Shepherding Scheme which provides pastoral care for those on the electoral roll. We run tea and chat sessions in conjunction with the other churches in the Benefice for those who find it difficult to get out. Children and Young People's Work We work regularly with the King Ina C of E Academy, who are now firnily established in their single building. We provide collectiv¢ worship through the clergy and the Open the Book Team. Foundation directors sit on the Academy's board. We were again pleased to welcome the Academy into church for their Christmas carol serYi¢e.
Specific outreach activities During the year the Saturday coffee mornings on the first Saturday of the month continued, providing both a source of revenue and fellowship for people in the town and Benefice. A unique event for many w&8 held in May to celebrnte the Coronation of King Charles III. Tbe Church hosted concerts to rnise venue and entertain people in the town. Church Refurbishment During the second half of the year major repairs to the m&8onry of the tower were completed to rectify the issues identified in the Quinquennial report. Ecumenical Relationships The Church is part of Chuwhes Together in Somerton whose regular activities include joint Lent groups, a walk of witness on Good Friday? a Dawn service on Easter Sunday, a Carol concert, collectin8 during Christian Aid week, services during the week of prayer for Chrislian Uniiy and Worship services at Wcssex House. Joint Beneflce services are held on the fifth Sunday of each month. Charitable Giving During 2023 we have 8UPPOrted Churches Together in Somerton, the people of Ukraine, Turkey and the middle Easl the Salvation Arniy Toy Appeal and the Trussel trusL
Flnancial RevRew 2023 has been a difficult year financially* our regular income has fallen by 15.120/0. The PCC invested in a card Teader to take donations from the people do not have cash. The card reader was installed on I" July 2023 and for ihe 6 months a total of £735.50 had been donated mostly unrestricted donations from visitors to our church and for social events including coffee mornings, We are grate1 to the congregation who continued throughout 2023 to maintain their Tegular giving. The unrestricted 2023 receipts were £91,135 against payments of £104,515, meaning that we are in a 2023 unrestricted deficit position of £13,380. The major concern is at the current level of receipts the reserves will be exhausted somelime in 2024. The PCC will examine what action can be taken to reduce the deficit in 2024. We 'e also extremely fortunate to have Church Lands Trust who for 2023 covered payments such as insurance/energylrepairs and maintenance to a tal of £23,387. We were grateful to the Doris Cooper legacy which covered the repairs to the masonry of the tower at a cost of £129,739. Reserves Policy Our current reserves policy aligns with the Diocese view that reserves should be set at 3 months expenditure. From our 2023 accounts that fi8ure will be £26,128. Our unrestricted balance sheet reserves are at £9,586. Risk Management Potential Risks to the Charity have been identified as: . l. Damage to the Buildlng The building 15 insui'ed: and thei'e aLe othei. potential halls foi. hii'e in the vi¢inily to enable woi'ship to continue whilst I'epairs al'e caii'ied out. 2. Less Funding - fewer publlc donations We 'e holding a regul giving i-eview encouraging member5 to ieview theii. giving, we also hold fund i'aising events to suppoi1 incoine. 3. Damage to Charity's reputation We attempi to build our reputation by the excellence of service to oiir cominunity, by advertising our activities and by ensui-ing thoughi is given to avoiding all potential safeguarding risks.
Volunteers We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard in so many different ways to make our Church wmmunity, the exciting and welcoming place it is. strurture Governance and Management The Parochial Church Council is a corpordte body established by the Church of England, The PCC opera$ under the Parochial Church Council Measure. The church 18 a charity and registered with the Charity Commisslon, our charity number is 1168799. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church representation rules. At St Michaels th¢ membership of the PCC consists ofour Priest in ChaT8e, the churchwardens and members who are elected by those who are on the electoral roll of the church. Other licensed clergy and our benefice reader are also entitled to attend and if they do so, have full voting rights, All those who attend church or are linked in some way to the church are encowaged to register on the electoral roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be used. The fvll PCC met eleven times during the calendar Ye with an avera8e attend8mce of 9/0. Given its wide responsibilities the PCC h&5 a number of committees which deal with particular aspects of church life. These committees are all responsible to the PCC and report back to it regularly. The Committees a. Worship which supports the Incumbent in reflecting upon worship services held and helping to plan those in the future Social who are responsible for planning and organising social events for the fellowship. Administrative Information St Michael and AII Angels Church is situated in the maet Square Somerton. It is part of the Benefice of Somerton, the Charltons and Kingsdon, the deanery of Ivelchester, tbe archdeaconry of Wells and the Diocese of Bath and Wells within the Church of England. The COespOndence address is The churc Market Place, Somerton TAI I TNB.
PCC members who have served at any timc from 1st January 2023 unttl 3 Ist Decemb¢r 2023. Ex Officio mernbers: _ Priest in Charge: Vacant Wardens: Mrs MaryAnn Pike Mr Rodger Calderwood Synod Members Mr James Turner (Deanery Synod and Vice chaIrnl) Elected Mcmbers Mrs Patricia Alfi Mr Geoff Bryant Mrs Jacky Calder+vood Mrs Susan Cave (until May 22 ) Martyn Cave (witil May 22. ) Mr Alan Hilbome (unttl May 22.1 Mrs Joy Rattenbury Mr Joljn Saundcrs Mrs Pauline Saunders Mr David Speed (PCC secretary) Mrs trene Stone (freasur¢r) Mr Grtham Taylor Mrs Jan Turner Mrs Rowena Wallace Also entitled to attend. Read¢r.' Mrs Jenny Gollop Approved by the PCC on I" May 2024 and signd on their behalf by the Jamcs Turner (PCC Vice Chainnan) ( CHAIL
ST MICHAEL AND ALL AN6ELS CHURCH SOl•lERTON Not¢s 2(23 FIXED ASSETS In¥estmÈnts £ 406,054 £ 504,129 CLRRENT AssEfs St¢xk 36 11,649 4.549 Short Term Dep¥ £ 12.308 12,158 Cosh at Bank Ca¥h in Hond £ 34,658 £ 35,013 £ 58.651 £ 51,765 LTAUILTTie3 ¢r¢ditor¥ 1.085 1.114 £ 57.366 £ 90.6Jl TOTAL NET ASSETS £ 463,620 £ 554,780 PARISH FVNDS Unwtrrttd 9.586 £ 22.966 kotrict¢d £ 490.378 £ 528.607 IMignoted 3.657 3,207 £ 463.620 £ 554,760 Approved by the Papochk?l tsjrrtll on 13th lkny 2024 ond $*3rrtd oh thelr behalf by the Vlu Jome• Turntr.
MICH A TON Th¢ f ¥tot¢meJ Iwe b¢¢n prewed under the Church Accwntirg Rel4tOoty¥ 2006 QC¢LTthrKe with applicablE occwntir9 #tdkthr& the ojrrtnt Stat¢m¢nt of Re¢ommerKled Prtt¢tl¢¢ on Accwntiry and R410rtirg by Chopitw (FR5 102) The fiTrJrthil ¥ot¢ments hovt been prepyed under the hixtorical Cost conVentTr Th¢ f IrrtjIQ1 sfotements in¢We all rafJctioni, assets aTr4 liobilitiu for whleh the PCC 18 re8poNYible in law. Th¢y do not inckth the acctyJnl# Of inforrMI 9ththerirgty vf church ffber kestricted Futh tomwix re¥er•Je doMti0 or wants far o JPEcif K Pccoctivty irtterd¢d by the donw. Dejigmted fvndi we wrr¢l fvnd¥ 8•t ulde by thé PCC for in the futLW¢. Urr¢#trlctd furth are Incom¢ whkh ape to b¢ jwt on he PCC'# gera1 puppo8es, Exyrditwe r¢lotin9 to the upkw) ard moint•Mnte of th¢ Chwch lId19 l• by thurch Lttnd# Trurt. The Dk)ctJhin Heod of Fimnce su99Srted an altermtive way of ihowtry the costs rEimbwsed by CknLYth Lk)rrfls. It is the mtthod lldopted by the in their de0• and hfjlps the hywson with the underJt•ndir9 01 to whot the oKroll expenditure wtyjld b¢ If St Alicho•ls to tw¢ to receive th¢ Church Larrtkn St Ml¢hoel¥ dected the Chwch of En9lard p¢roior+ •cheme P¢19n &Jlklor 2014. The pension provider iswed o #dtwEnt For the yeor tndir9 f>•c¢mbw 2023 as follow.' roft FR5102 worditr9 Jpecif led the pe10n costs char9ts to the SOFA o follo.. 2022- £328 ttr 2023 £468. Th¢ f vJup¢x repre•¢n ¢mphyerA pemion contriknion# of 4% ond Ilfe cover ol dEQth in ivvice of 0.50%. Pknnned 9lvln9, colle¢tioM ond swnilar dor#JtioM tyt r¢¢pgni8ed whe rtcei¥ed. Tox refurdrt art r¢¢o9niJ when the IMir9 re8tyJrte to which they relotz ij r¢uived. dnd Wc4e• ore acCted for the PCC I• ¢Trtlled to the of h¢ re8¢NtrYU. 6ronts and doMt10M qr¢ a¢¢tyJTrrted for wh¢n ld ¢r when Qrded, If thot oward cpedtss tt bindi obll9ation onthtPCC. The diocesan wish share expeted to be over •ttaurted for when du
ST CHA LS CIWRCH 50 TOM Z022 e JO.It2 É 3J037 4.246 £ 1.843 9J• JO.122 •.116 £ 0.301 £ J.674 £ J503t £ w £ 9.476 772 Trz 1.490 £ edFEÉNER6Y6NANT j.lso £ ath) £ 64 15 77.)W £ OTJ99 £ 70.ON £ 09.124 2b 6.012 0.012 £ J.¥ZT 6.ov £ i.ui 1.3ti CBfD•pwbtVura 106 £ 116 f 41 CRP Sh#r 79 * V.OSY .É £ J.J90 .E .401 2A1 ¥.gJO £ 2.19 2.7J4 £ J,&J 6.461 £ 4.9?P 4,919 £ 91.13D £ 70.4JJ eJ2.067 -£ 49.xo £7rii £ n9 J43.952 £ 2T.OJ4 aE501P¥ES EXFfWEts T•i•l 1012 ¢0.•46 £ 4oJo3 i.wi JO.•93 J28 J.J24 St&ff <oxllt Er64wJtofl Cort 14.jij £ 4a1 £ .740 £ i.jui 1.•15 £ ).Jéo £ Jo,•ps 328 .740 £ J.324 D.Div £ 24 419 £ 175 £ 207 419 E 170 £ ZOT Cccorts Ji ) £ 12X 4$ £ 474 421 E e 12P.069 129.069 £ £ T TZZ 101.Dl$ £ a9?7 £ IJO.197 £ b)7 374 190 190
- M0vM In Restrict and De5igna*4d Funds Intepest Sift Aid B/Fwd 1.033 17.729 1,676 4.000 38 Recelpts C/Pwd alurch ytsrd L)oris Cooper Chibondo Fabric Ukraine Archies Xtra Church Lands 1.033 17.677 1,278 78 130 428 30 107 145 24,478 £ 215 £ 557 24.136 r)E516P4ATEb Bel s/Tower maintenance Music Flower Fund Ministry Christmas Lights Ted a Chat B/Fwd 61ft Ald Receipts Paynwnts C/Fwd 2.489 443 162 2.489 H3 112 50 21)0 300 28 140 3,207 £ 28 140 3.656 50 £ 700 £ 300 £
- Flx•d Assets Market Value Purchases t)isposols Mkt Value Revaluation Mork¢t value Doris Cooper Bequest C8F Inv Fund Shar 31.01.23 31,12.23
- Cwmnt Ais•ts . D¢btws £ 150,CKIo 354.129 406,054 51,925 £ Gift Aid - December Church Lands Mid Wessex Ringers OPUS 6as Somerton B¢nefic¢ F Total Restricted 2,010 £ 2.010 6.242 £ 6,242 160 £ 160 2.291 £ 2.291 945 £ 945 11,649 £ 11.648 £ Restricted
- Curv•n* liabllltles Cp•ditors Total Rettricted Fiestricted DEC Middle East £ DEC Turkey DEC Ukraine NNJt West Bank Pension costs 42 374 221 15 £ 77 £ 357 £ 1.085 £ 42 374 221 15 SSE 357 449 £ 637
- Trst¢< donations During 2023 the total monies donated by the Trustees (i.& PCC members) are included in the voluntary income (note 2a ) eq¢Als £8,70) before 9ift aid.
Independent Examiner's Certificate for the PCC Accounts Report to the tnjstees of.. Sè rTU.ml s)1 All Parochlal Church Councll On accounts for the year ended: io.aoa8 Charity Number Irf aPplble1.. //6f799 Set out on pages Respective responsibilltSe8 of trustoes and examinèr Tha charitys trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audlt is not required for this yèar under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charltles Act) and that Sn independent examlnation needed. 11 is my responsibility to.. examine tho accTrJnts under section 145 of the ChariliBs ACL to follow the procedures laid down in the gen8r81 Directions given by Ihe Charity Commission lund&r section 145{5)Ibl of the Charilies Acl, and to stale wh8ther particular matters have come to my attenllon. Basil of Indop•nd•nt My examlnation was carriod out in accordance with general Dlredons gfven by the &xamIn•8 statom•nl Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the ac£ounling records kept by the Gharily and a comparison of tha accounts presenled wSth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or dlsclosures in the accounts, ond seeking explanations from the trusle8s concernlng any such maliars. The procedures undertaken do not provid8 all the evidence that would be requir8(J in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as lo whether the accounts present a 'Irue 8nd fair, view and the report is limlted to those matters set out In th8 statement below. Indepondenl examln•¢s In connection wilh my ex8mination, no matter h88 com8 to my attention (4lb• 8tat•m•nt whlch gives me re8sonabl& cause to believe that in, any material respect, accountlng recc*ds were nol kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or the accounts do not accord wmh the accounllng records I have com8 across no olher mallers in connection with the 6xamlnatlon lo which attention should be drawn In order to enable a prop8r understandlng of the accounts to be reached. ' ease d818t8 the words in Ihe brackets rfthey do nol apply. Slgn•d: 0s/of 2d2 Namo: fouhj SHQ Rolpvant professlonal qualifitiOn<s) or body (If any): Addr8BS: ctss Lsi 11 64F
Disclosure Only completè rf the examiner needs tr) highlight mai8ri81 problems. Give here brief details of any items that the 8xaminerwishas to disclose. 794du$p Trd4J43 Ll *IE LI&6.Ar/Q, 144r Ui•J¢ SY£4AY 7Q 04J i£f '£¥( 17S &6UG&rio, IJ A Ilts thg osIAE.
DIOCESE OF Bath&Wells Llvlng the story Telllng the story. PCC Accounts and Returns Checklist Thls checkllst is designed to enable the PCC Treasurer to ensure all year end responsibilities have been C¢xnpleted. Accounts have been prepared on: Receipts & Payments basis OR Accruals basis (If income Is greater than £250k, your accounts must be prepared on an accruals basis) The accounts have been approved prior to the APCM, received at the APCM & sl8ned bv the PCC Chairman. All the following should form part of your accounts pack. Tick to confirm this. rfpcc annual rewt approved prlor to the APCM rfsigned independent examiners reporL Model report cun be downloodedfrom <statement of Assets & Liabilltles / Balance Sheet as approprlate. The Return of Par15h Finance totals agree vAth the accounts lattsch thls or submlt onllne) Is PCC Income Itotsl Includln8 all restrlcted furKls and excludlnB transfew5 beeen funds) above £IOOk for the year ? (YeslNo} If YES , the followin8 further confirmation is required .. Either IZ The PCC is re8iStered with the Chari The reglstration number Is PCC accounts and annual return have been filed at the Charity Commlssion Iwill be filed before the deadline {31 October WIS} it The PCC is currently applylng for registration This year is a 'one off & the PCC ha5 applied to the Charity Commission for dlspensation not to register this year. Commission //6t799 202 pl Or Please return thls checklist with your Accounts and Flnance returns to: Janine Lavery at the Hnance Department. Flourish House. Cathedral Park. Wells BA5 IFD or by email to returns@bathwell&anglican.org If you have any queries regardingthe completlon of your accounts or returns there is guidance on the Diocesan website www. well uk and Parish Resour. www.