## St Luke’s, Newcastle Annual Report 2022 ## Church Warden's Foreword 2022 has been a year of interregnum for us at St. Lukes. We have had several people leave us in the last year which has been sad and a few have joined us. It feels like we have been pruned back and it has not always been easy to cover all of the required responsibilities. We have had two changes of Administrator which has been difficult and our caretaker has left us. In addition, our only church warden has been in poor health for most of the year (me!). However, God has given much grace and members of the church and the PCC have worked hard to keep things running. As a church we have been determined not just to hold the fort until a new vicar has arrived, but to move forward in our zeal for God and His Kingdom. Some encouraging moments have been; new people stepping up to preach; new people taking on responsibilities for the first time; a very united PCC and most of all- news of a new vicar for St. Lukes. We give thanks to God for the way He has helped us move forward. ## David McRae ## Churchwardens Report God has given us the blessing of a united and loving PCC. We have worked together this past year to keep the church running effectively in spite of many difficulties. The church buildings (apart from the sanctuary which you can read about below) have been lovingly cared for by our caretaker and then, since he left, by members of the church. It has not been easy functioning without a caretaker so we are hoping to have another in place when the new vicar arrives. We have used our Hall for many hires and have installed a hive system to help with central heating to save people coming in and out. We were also able to fix a long-standing leak in the roof which took some time to solve. I have sought to involve church members in services as much as possible and we have a real feeling of family amongst us and of shared responsibility. Thanks be to God! ## David McRae ## Buildings - Church Restoration Restoration work to the Sanctuary took place throughout 2022. £10,000 was received from National Churches Trust which paid for a large part of the Toilet block facilities. The Faculty, which is the Diocese legal permission for us to carry out work to our building was extended to 25 May 2025. St Luke’s Annual Report 2022 Page **1** of **6** In September 2022, all building work on the Sanctuary was paused. Although there were several reasons for this, the main factor was a shortage of monies for further work. As a consequence, the employment of the builder was terminated. The PCC asked Jane Dawson and Robin Seymour to take a lead in the further development of the Sanctuary. We were fortunate to have made contact with the Diocesan Surveyor (Chris Elder) and a meeting was arranged between the Architect (Chris Blackburn), Chris Elder and the appointed PCC representatives. The main outcome of the meeting was the need to engage a Quantity Surveyor to identify what further work was required to complete the Sanctuary (in line with the Architect’s plans), costs involved and the possibility of doing such work in phases. Thorton Firkin Quantity Surveyors were approached and they have been commissioned to produce the aforementioned report. Once the Surveyor’s report has been received then it is up to the PCC to decide how best to proceed. ## Jane Dawson & Robin Seymour ## Buildings – Hall Throughout 2022 our building has been hired on a weekly basis by Sage Gateshead Chamber Choir, whose choir practice in our main hall on a Monday evening and Jenny Tabori, who uses the upstairs green room twice per week to deliver counselling sessions. These two companies have been a blessing to St Lukes and we continue to work together as we head into 2023. Our building is also hired on an annual basis by Childsplay Nursery. We are the Nursery’s evacuation building, so should anything happen to their building our building provides refuge to the staff and the children under their care. In the winter season our hall was hired by The Newcastle Caledonian Society and the Wilderness Medics Society who both hosted a Ceilidh. The hall was also hired for a 50[th] Birthday celebration event. All events went very well and the hirers were really pleased to be able to utilize the great facilities at St Lukes. ## Jo McRae ## The Spitler Group The Spitler group continues to meet fortnightly in the Community Centre, Spital Tongues. This past 12 months we have continued to support each other in prayer and other means. Whilst most activity has focused on the Word we have also enjoyed the occasional social event. The group felt moved to study individual books from the Bible and Romans was the first book of choice. It soon became clear that our understanding of this book would benefit from guidance and hence we turned to David Pawson’s commentary. This was provided via video link (you tube) and each session was followed by a group discussion. St Luke’s Annual Report 2022 Page **2** of **6** On completion of Romans the members wanted to explore the book of Revelation in the same format and this is near completion. All members of the Spitler group have benefited from being led by David Pawson through these 2 books of the Bible. The Spitler group has continued to support community activities. David McRae is now a Trustee of the Spitler. All members were actively involved in the Carol Singing and the cream tea to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee. Finally, I would like to thank all members of the Spitler group for their loyal support over the past 12 months. Robin Seymour ## Connect Meeting every Tuesday evening with attendances staying steady between 30 & 50 each week. There’s a constant stream of newcomers, some just the once and some come back for weeks, even months at a time. We had baptisms back end of the summer, 6 people baptized in the sea at Longsands Tynemouth. We linked up with City Church who sent us their interns to help out and be a part of the Connect outreach. The desire being to challenge these men and women in all things serving others. This is a work in progress as we build relationships with the wider Church. We’ve also had St Thomas’s connect with us and their worship team take part. We’ve continued to supply food and fellowship with speakers from far and wide attend to bring a message of hope for those attending. God has been good to us and continues to bless the evenings. Steve Phillipson ## Loving the Parish As is common practice at St Lukes an Easter Card was delivered to all residents of the local Parish inviting them to join us on Good Friday and Easter Sunday to take part in our service and decoration of the Easter Cross with flowers. At Christmas time we held Carols in Spital Tongues and invited the local residents to join us for mince pies and mulled wine to finish, organized by the Spitler group. Kim and Catherine arranged for a Christmas Day lunch and food hampers to be delivered over the Christmas period. The food hampers were resourced from a local charity, Feeding Families were distributed from St Lukes to support families over the Christmas period. Jo McRae ## Worship team As our numbers have decreased so has our worship team. In most of 2022 we functioned as worship leaders on piano or guitar alone with no backing team. On special celebrations like Christmas we had a small team involved. Occasionally we have brought in a guest worship St Luke’s Annual Report 2022 Page **3** Page **3** of **6** leader if necessary. We look forward to the arrival of the vicar and his team and the opportunities it will bring to expand once again. Having described a seemingly discouraging situation we have continued to have vibrant Spirit led worship. The people of St. Lukes value worship highly. We continued to hold worship evenings every month and see them as very important to who we are as a church. ## David McRae ## Morning prayer We have met on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings to pray. At each meeting we study a portion of scripture and pray. These meetings are valued by those that attend and provide a focus for our spiritual and devotional life at St Luke's. ## Family’s/Children’s Work In March the children’s space was created upstairs. The introduction of toy and book storage, a multi games table and prayer space with cushions and a brightly colored welcoming rug. The room has been used by children visiting the church for Sunday service. We look forward to welcoming more children to use this new space in the coming year. ## Visiting Speakers and Events We have continued to invite visiting speakers once a month to help us celebrate communion and we have been very grateful to have Reverends Sheila Hamil, Robert Ward, Mark Wroe and Adam Smith to help us with Holy Communion and preaching. Many thanks to all of them. We also had two missionaries to Paraguay participate in our Sunday morning service in November, Peter and Evie Ratcliffe who thrilled us with their real life testimonies of God at work among the lesser privileged people in Paraguay. We had special events at Christmas and once again ministered to the needs of the runners in the Great North Run in September. ## David McRae ## Church Weekend Away This year we decided that we would uncover and share the gold God that has placed in the people of St Lukes. And so, responding in faith to the description of the Church in Ephesians chapter 4, we decided that we would seek the Lord together for two things - We would ask: What are the gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to the church at St Lukes? & And who have these gifts been wrapped up in? All of those happy faces at the conclusion of our two days together, implies what we discovered – that is, that the Lord has indeed blessed us richly in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, in many different forms and expressions. And that we were able through prayer and testimony to discern how these gifts were being carried faithfully by others in our fellowship. St Luke’s Annual Report 2022 Page **4** of **6** The experience of together praying and then describing to each other “I see these gifts in you, and these are the ways I see you expressing them”, was a great builder of trust between us and faith in our ability to do good things for God, and to love other people in many different ways. We ate, chatted, and laughed together, played board games together, sang together, and on our traditional Saturday afternoon activity time took part in a number of different outdoor activities. Our children with us and some older ones added their youth, enthusiasm and energy - always a pleasure and a tonic! As always, we had much for which to thank the staff and volunteers of the Minsteracres Centre; caring for us so well, the good food, and their warm welcome. It's always such a privilege to come to this house with its history of faith and prayer, and to enjoy its beautiful grounds and woods. We look forward to our next special weekend together. ## Kim Simpson ## Financial Review The expenditure for the year is slightly less than last year, £138,755 from £148,142(2021). The income has reduced to £83,322 from £117,171(2021) due mostly to reduced membership and hence less giving. It took a while for hall hire to pick up after Covid also. The total in funds has reduced to £27,531 from £82,964 (2021) mostly because restricted funds have been used for projects. By the end of the year monthly income was exceeding expenditure by approximately £1000 so funds are growing steadily. ## David McRae (Treasurer) ## Safeguarding Many of us at St Luke’s will remember our dear brother Andrew Hodgson, who went home to the Lord this year. One of many ways in which he blessed the fellowship at St Lukes was as our safeguarding officer. Thank you Andrew, and thanks also to Ruth, who supported him in carrying out this role ably and diligently for many years. Jane Dawson took over from Andrew in 2022 and kept us up-to-date on the developing requirements for training in safeguarding awareness prepared by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. I volunteered to take on the role from November 2022. It’s something of a busman’s holiday as I have been working in social services safeguarding roles in children and adults social work since 1988. The work of keeping people safe in all our activities, and where others are using our buildings, is an important one in a number of ways. The family of the church should be both a welcoming place and safe place for everyone - and that does of course mean everyone. There are no exclusions in the Love of God expressed in the invitation from Jesus to all people. So for us, we need to be unlike the many organisations who exclude people on the basis of what they have done or might do. St Luke’s Annual Report 2022 Page **5** of **6** This does leave us with a unique challenge, and one I am proud that we have. We must care for each other according to every persons needs - so protecting children and those who may be vulnerable to coercion and exploitation, goes alongside welcoming as brothers and sisters people who may have hurt others in the past, and could be tempted to do so again. And being vigilant that those who seem above reproach may fail, if we are not realistic and wise in the ways we support one another. Kim Simpson ## Deanery Synod Every Deanery in the Diocese of Newcastle has been asked to work towards a three year plan for its development. A Deanery is a family of parishes working together. We are in Newcastle Central Deanery. This encompasses 15 parishes (including 18 churches), as well as the resource church and the Cathedral, and chaplaincies to the two Universities and the city centre. A new Diocesan plan was introduced which covers 5 areas: - Leadership & Governance; Mission & Pastoral Care; - Buildings fit for purpose; - Development of lay ministry; - Generous Giving; - Environmental concerns as this seemed to be a cross cutting theme which was important to the diocese. We have looked at questions covering the issues listed below: - Working together to promote net zero (diocese plan to reach net zero by 2030) - Building a deanery 'directory' and identifying ways to share resources/expertise (e.g.youth, children, fabric, heritage, finance, music) - Considering how we might offer more prayer together as a deanery e.g. Prayer walking especially with other parishes - Addressing local needs collaboratively ie looking at Ecumenical Partnerships - St Thomas works in Partnership in Mission with churches from a variety of traditions across the diocese - Churches came together for a vigil on Ukraine; - Churches in Wallsend pooled their resources to start ‘Walking With’ the refugee charity - 2 working groups have been set up to look at: 1. City Centre: Sheila Turnbull 2. Children, schools and young people: Gerard Rundell Jane Dawson St Luke’s Annual Report 2022 Page **6** of **6** ST. LUKE'S CHURCH SPITAL TONGUES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022 stLukes NEWCASTLE IIPON TYNE Worshipping God Enjoying His Preseiice Sharing H2s Love CONTENTS Page Church information Independent Examiner's Report Statement of Financial Activities Balance sheet Notes to the accounts Movement in funds Page1 of8 ST. LUKE'S CHURCH SPITAL TONGUES CHURCH INFORMATION Charity Commission Registration Number 1174238 Church Address St Luke's Church Claremont Street Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4AH Bank CAF Bank Ltd. 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill Wesl Malling Kent. ME19 4JQ Independent Examiner Mrs L Armslrong 68 Leander Drive Henley Grange Boldon Colliery NE35 9LS Page2of8 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT To thè PCC of the St Luke's Church, Spital Tongues This report on the financial statements ofthe PCC for the year ended 31 December 2022, which a￿ set out on pages 3 to 7, is in respect of an examination carried oul in accordan￿ with Ihe Church Accounting Regulations 2006 and s.43 of the Charities Act 1993. R8SP8Ctive responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Acl, to follow the prO￿dureS laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5}Ib} of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of independent examinerfs statement My examination was carried out in accordance with general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, view and the report is limited lo those matters set oul in the slalement below. Independent examine￿$ statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attenlion'.- 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect. the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accofdance with section 130 of the Charities Act., and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met. Signed Mrs L Amistrong 68 Leander Drive Henley Grange Boldon Colliery NE35 9LS Independent Examiner 27 April 2023 SL Luke's Church Spital Tongues Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st December 2022 Page3of8 Income and expenditure account INCOMING RESOURCES Unrestrict8d D8signatsd Funds funds R8Strlctsd Total Funds T¢)tsl Funds Nots Funds 2022 2021 Voluntsry receipts Planned Giving Income Tax Recovery Open Plate collections Other voluntsry receipts Donations and Appeals Legacies 39,760 6,813 593 1,380 41,140 6,813 2,545 55,308 7,517 467 1,952 583 1,488 3,167 5,238 13,788 47,749 1,488 6,499 55,736 77,080 Activities for generating funds Fetes Bazaars, other fund raising events Church Hall lettings etc Sundry income 11,173 11,173 9,544 165 9,709 11,173 11,173 Investment income Interest 10 24 24 16 16 50 50 Income from church actlvitles Grants Gifts Insurance claim Church weekend Sundry Re￿ipts 1,822 10,000 11,822 22,667 849 6,860 3,099 690 3,789 3,099 1,441 16,362 751 2.573 10,000 30,376 Total Incoming rosources 61,505 5,301 16,515 83.322 117,171 Excess of income over expenditurg Transfers b8tw8on funds Balances brought forward 1 January 22 Balance carried forward at 310ecember 22 8,708 -583 32,517 40.641 -16,939 593 47,203 -55.434 40,971 50,449 3,236 82.965 27.531 113,935 82,964 -16,346 St. Luke's Spital Tongues Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st December 2022 Income and expenditure account Page4of8 RESOURCES EXPENDED Unrestrlcted Deslgnatsd Funds Funds Rvslrl¢t¢d Total Fund5 Total Funds Not8 Funds 2022 2021 Church activities Mission and charitsble giving 1,066 1,066 300 300 1,100 1,100 2,466 2,466 1,909 1,909 Actlvltles . related to church work Ministry Parish share Clergy Costs Clergy expenses Visiting speakers Support staff expenses Outreach Church running expenses Church maintenance Cleaning Major repairs Upkeep of church services Copyright Licen Connect costs and hospitality H05Pltality Children's resources Salaries Pensions Gifts Training and mission events Church weekend costs Sundry expenditure Depieciation Equiprnent purchased 6,000 25.012 3.830 soo 132 2,996 6.098 2,686 2,017 59,554 81 170 142 473 12,092 1,199 3.088 281 604 142 1,926 12,092 1.199 3.088 73.746 41 1.454 15.598 58.148 41 4.051 4,051 1.051 186 50 28,894 1,962 1.156 396 386 25.181 1,221 65S 109 635 357 1.458 1.567 49.172 115 501 25,181 1,221 1,200 109 4.004 1.038 1.458 1,567 133.565 $44 3.369 682 1,000 1.721 983 144,304 21.926 62.467 Generation of voluntary income Costs of fund raising events Governance Costs Accountancy Adminstralion fee Advertising piinling and stationery Website and software Subscriptions and licenses Telephone Bank and card charges 600 600 122 392 500 122 392 273 397 595 156 1,929 617 850 101 2,560 817 850 144 2,724 14 14 29 151 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 52,798 22,240 63,718 138,755 148,142 st. Luke's Church Spitsl Tongues Statement of Financial Activities Page5of8 BALANCE SHEET as at 31 December 2022 Unr&stri¢tsd Deslgnal¢d Fun¢ts funds Rfrstrl¢tsd Fund8 Total Funds Total Funds 2022 2021 Flxed Assets Tangible assets 8,125 8,125 9,583 Current Assets Cash al bank and in hand 33,117 41,242 -16,346 -16,346 3,236 3,236 20,007 28.132 73,882 83,465 Llabllltles Creditors 600 600 soo NET CURRENT ASSETS 40,642 -16.346 3,236 27,532 82,965 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABLITIES Creditors fallen due after one year TOTAL NET ASSETS 40,642 -16,346 3,236 27,532 82,965 PARISH FUNDS 40,642 -16,346 3,236 27.532 82,965 Approved by the Parish of Sl Luke's Church, Spital Tongues, and signed on its behalf by Mr D. McRae {Treasurer) Mr. D. McRae St. Luke's Church Spital Tongues Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2022 PageSof8 1 Awounting Policies The financial slalements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting RegLJlalions 2006 using the accruals basis. 2 Fixed Assets for use by the PCC Furnlshlng and ooulpmenl Fixture8 and Fittln9$ Musical ¢qUiPrngnt Tan9ible Assets Total Gross book value at 1 January 2022 revaluation surplus Additions during year 8131 December 2022 6,304 2,877 402 9.S83 6,304 2,877 402 9,583 Deprèciation for year 94S 432 80 1,458 Net book value al 31 December 2022 5,358 2,445 322 8,125 3 Equipment purchased 2022 2021 Printer Coffee machine Vacuum cleaner Hand dryer Hive heal control system Laptop Office phone Dehumidifier Various equipment 381 260 128 218 580 600 150 220 13 983 Fixed assets under £5,000 are written off in the year of purchase. 4 Major repairs 2022 2021 Sanctuary restoration Roof repair Carpenter's workshop Stone cross 73,746 48,994 240 3,210 7.110 59,554 73,746 St. Luke's Church Spital Tongues Notes to the Financial Ststements (Continued) For the year ended 31 December 2022 Page7of8 5 Grants received 2022 2021 Newcastle diocese Lyndhursl trust HMRC - VAT reclaimed HMRC Furlough grant Newcastle City Council - Covid 19 grant 1,822 10,000 8,000 1,064 3,884 9,720 11,822 22.667 Movements in designated and reslricled funds were'.- Unrestrlctsd Designat8d Rèstrtctèd Totsl Fund5 Funds funds Funds Excessl-Deficit of receipts over payments Transfers be￿een funds Balance al 1 January 22 Balance al 31 December 22 8,708 -583 -16,939 593 47.203 -10 -56.434 32,517 40.641 50,449 3,236 82,965 27,531 -16,346 At 31st December 2022 Connect Newcastle, removed their finances from St Luke's a¢counls. Their bank account balance of £1,698.69 was transferred at this dale. SL Luke's Church Spital Tongues Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31st December 2022 page8of8 Movement in Funds Opening Balance Closing Balance 08signated Re$trl¢tg11 Incorne Ex￿ndItU Transfers FUNDS Connect Newcaslle Sanctuary restoration- restricted Sanctuary restoration- designated Kingdom equality- restricted Kingdom equality fund designated Children's church Specific offerings- restricted Specific offerings- designated Outreach St Luke's events Weekend away Leaving gift Giving 4.405.52 44,594 01 0.00 1,162.81 -250 00 3,459.31 5.333 23 13.036.07 58.270.08 23.82 15.597.75 -500.00 640. 2,031.60 0.00 -15,573.93 -150 LX) 150.00 1,012.81 0.00 0.00 191.50 -10000 114.66 20.00 191.50 943.13 965.55 1.453 62 690.00 3,374.00 258.70 -22.42 649.27 249.02 -1,000.00 258.70 92.03 784.35 -249.02 690.00 3,624.00 o.oo -750.00 0.00 0.00 -92.03 50447.52 21816.33 85957.59 583 30 -16346.35 3235.91