St Michael and All Angels, Somerton Annual Report and Accounts of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2024 Priest in Charge Revd Judith Swan Registered Charity no 1168799 2024 Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St Michael and All Angels, Somerton 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 of England. The highlight of the year was the licensing of Judith Swan as the Priest in Charge for the Benefice of Somerton, Kingsdon, Pitney, the Charltons and Long Sutton with Long Load. The PCC has the responsibility to work with the Priest in Chage in promoting, in the ecclesiastic￿ parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, 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 or advice which the council deems necessary. The PCC is committed to 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 community through: Worship and prayer The provision of pasto￿1 support for people living in the parish Children and Young People's work Specific outreach activities. Church Refurbishment Ecumenical relationships Charitable giving Although the Vacancy continued until July, a fu]1 schedule of services and meetings was held, led by a combination of retired clergy, visiting clergy and lay worship assistsnts.. Somerton is now part of a wider Benefice with the addition of Pitney and Long Sutton with Long Load and discussions have commenced with the additional Parishes on how to work effectively &s an enlarged Benefice. Worship and Prayer We ty 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-Eucharistic worship at I lam. During the week we again hold a Mixtu￿ of Communion and Worship services. During the Saturday morning Pfdyer 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 provides bible study, teaching9 pfdyer and discussion to build up our faith. A Prayer Clrcle is made up of 60 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. All are welcome to attend our regular services. At present there are I I I Parishioners on the Church electoral mll. In the last year 3 have joined but we have lost l. The average weekly attendance counted through October was 64 an increase on the previous year and the membership has also increased to 74. As well as our regular services we like to enable our community to celebrate and thank God 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 blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for a life now complete in this world and to cornmend the person into God's keeping. We have celebrated 8 baptisms, O weddings, and supported families through 21 funerals during 2024.. Pastoral Care There is a team from the Benefice who help prepare families for Baptism and Weddings. Our retired clergy SUPFK)rt the Bereaved. We also have the Caring Hands group who provide lifts to rnedica] appointsnents or other needs and the Shepherding Scheme which provides pastoral care for those on the electora] roll. We run tea and chat sessions in conjunction with the other churches in the Benefice for those who find it difficult to get OUL Children and Young People's Work We work regularly with the King Ina C of E Academy, who are now firn]ly established in their single building. We provide collective worship thmugh 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 aqrol and Easter services. 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.. The Church hosted concerts to raise revenue and entertain people in the town. Church Refurbishment During the second half of the year major repairs to the m&gonry of the tower were completed to rectify the issues identified in the Quinquennial report. Ecumenical Relationships The Church is part of Churches 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, collecting during Christian Aid week, services during the week of prayer for Christian Unity and Worship services at Wessex House. Joint Benefice services are held on the fifth Sunday of each month. Charitable Giving Durin8 2024 we have supported Churches Together in Somerton, the people of Ukraine, the Salvation Arniy and Arc. We have Strong connections with our link Parish of Chibondo in Zambia. Members of the congregation funded an ablution block for benefit of the congregation in Chibondo.. Financial Review 2024 has again been a difficult year financially, our regular income has again fallen by 4.340/0.. We are grateful to the congregation who continued throughout 2024 to rnaintain their regular giving. In the Summer the PCC took the decision that the Parish Share cou]d no longer be paid each month. Payments were restarted in November. The unrestricted 2024 receipts were £86,009 against payments of £82,618 meaning that we have a 2024 unrestricted surplus of £3,391. Discussions are on-going with the Diocese on the level of our monthly payments. The major concern is how our income can be increased to meet the level of expenditure. We are also extremely fortunate to have Church Lands Trust who for 2024 covered payments such as insurance/energy/repairs and maintenance to a total of £21,748. Reserves Policy Our current reserves policy aligns with the Diocese view that reserves should be set at 3 months expenditure. From our 2024 accounts that figure will be £20,655. Our unrestricted balance sheet reserves are at £12,977. Risk Management Potential Risks to the Charity have been identified as.. - l. Damage to the Building The buildin8 is insured, and there are other potential halls for hire in the vicinity to enable worship to continue whilst ￿paIrS are carried out. 2. Less Funding- fewer public donations We are holding a regular giving review encouragin8 members to review their giving, we also hold regular fund raising events to support income. 3. Damage to Charity's reputation We attempt to build our reputation by the excellence of service to our community, by advertising our activities and by ensuring thought 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 community, the exciting and welcoming place it is. Structure Governance and Management The Parochial Church Council is a co4)orate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operdtes under the Parochial Church Council Measure. The church is a charity and registered with the Charity Commission, our charity number is 1168799. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church representation rules. At St Michaels the membership of the PCC consists of our Priest in Charge, 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 encourdged 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 filll PCC met 6 times during the calendar year with an average attendance of 830/0. Given its wide responsibilities the PCC has 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 are: 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 fellowship. During the year we have increased our safeguarding procedures to protect the vulnerable members of our society. Administrative Information St Michael and All Angels Church is situated in the Market Square Somerton. It Is part of the Benefice of Somert0￿ the Charltons, Pitney, Long Sutton with Long Load and Kingsdon, the deanery of Ivelchester, the archdeaconry of Wells and the Diocese of Bath and Wells within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The Church, Market Place, Somerton TA I17NB. PCC members who have served at any time from I st January 2024 until 31 st December 2024, Ex Officio members: . Priest in Charge: Rev Judith Swan (from 25 July) Wardens: Mrs MaryAnn Pike Mr Rodger Calderwood Synod Members Mr James Turner (Deanery Synod and Vice Chairman) Elected Members Mrs Patrftcia Allen Mr Geoff Bryant Mrs Hilde Buckell (from 4 November) Mrs Jacky Calderwood (until 13 May) Mr David Harrison (from 13 May) Mrs Beth Hutchin8s (from 4 November) th Mrs Joy Rattenbury (until 13 May) Mr John Saunders Mrs Pauline Saunders Mr David Speed (PCC secretary) Mrs Irene Stone (Treasurer) Mr Grnham Taylor Mrs Jan Turner (until 13 May) Mrs Rowena Wallace (until 13 May) Also ¢ntitled to attend. Reader: Mrs Jenny Gollop Approved by the PCC on 20thMay 2025 and signed on their behalf by the Judith Swan (PCC Chairman) VJ ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS CHURCH SOMERTON N4)tes 2024 2023 FfxED ASSETS £ 426.783 £ 406.054 CURkENT ASSETS Stock 21 36 Debtors 12.144 11.649 Short Term Deposrts £ 12.549 £ 12.308 Cash at Bank Cash in Hand 8.665 £ 34.658 £ 33.379 £ 58,651 LIABILITIES Creditors 2.452 1.085 £ 30.927 £ 57.566 TOTAL NET A55ETS £ 457.710 £ 463,620 PARISH FUNDS Vvrnstricted £ 12.977 9.586 Restrirted £ HI.076 £ 4XJ,378 Desi9Thrted 3.657 3.657 £ 457710 £ 463,620 Approved by the Porochial Churth Cr*J￿11 on T• 29 Awil 2025 and on their behalf ty the Revd Judtth Swan. ST MfCHA LAN ALLA LS CHUIICH SOM TON k￿rICted To*al Totsl 2.024 Z023 2024 2013 2024 ZOZ3 Z023 V￿L￿ IKomt d91ry'. knk Ord*•4 30.eJ7 £ 30.127 3.m7 £ 4.240 8.438 8.251 £ 4.997 3.074 JO.C07 £ ).0￿ £ 30JZZ 4.246 T(￿ r¢co*rdb Wall 4.997 £ 3.674 2.4J4 £ 1.458 £ I.(￿) 2,¢X4J £ 2. 21.74 20.253 3.6)4 £ 1.456 mIN￿ry 21.748 £ 20.253 n.303 £ T?3￿ £ 1.25J £ 7 74.803 £ 78AI 6.424 6.424 6,04? 6.olz ¢ 102 6.526 £ 6.520 e 102 £ 6.042 S￿42 1.32J 34 526 £ 4J £ 190 £ 20.729 £ 21.497 1.321 34 C8r￿ 14 54] £ 51.925 1.32P £ zo.N £ 52.067 £ 51.925 53.390 frw chw¢h d¢ti%7t 2.930 dao ¢fic¢ Ir¢ fto8 2.9A) 1.909 i.oij 100 .742 £ 0,404 £ i.aop É i.olj -742 2.r54 6.464 lES0￿￿5 EYPENtsED 86.fXIP £ 91.13J £ 22.206 £ 52.067 £ 108.567 £ 143,9J2 *rtrict*d 20Z4 TL¥tdl 202J 2023 36,242 £ ￿.94¥ 2.726 £ 3.Il8 10.406 £ 14.31) 483 £ Z023 Stofl