OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2020-12-31-accounts

The Ecclesiastical Parish of Potters Bar St Mary the Virgin & All Saints Church

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2020

Registered Charity Number: 1174737

www.stmaryspb.org.uk

Reports / 1

ANNUAL REPORT OF POTTERS BAR PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

St Mary the Virgin and All Saints Church is situated in The Walk, Potters Bar. It is the parish church of the town and is part of the Diocese of St Albans within the Church of England. The correspondence address is the Church Office, The Walk, Potters Bar, EN6 1QQ. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2020) and is a Registered Charity with the Charity Commission (number 1174737).

PCC MEMBERS who served during 2020 were:

Ex Officio members Vicar The Revd Stefan Chrysostomou (Chairman) Churchwardens Mr Mark Jones Canon Richard Osborn (also Licensed Reader & PCC Vice Chairman) Deanery Synod Mrs Christine Daneski (until 22nd October 2020) representatives Mr Geoffrey Foster Mrs Sue Loader (from 22nd October 2020) Canon Richard Osborn

Elected members

Ms Beverley Ashdown (from 22nd October 2020) Mrs Shirley Baker (until 22nd October 2020) Mrs Christine Beland-Hancock (Honorary Treasurer) Ms Lyn Galbraith Mrs Mandy Hedley (until 22nd October 2020) Dr Gillian Hilton (Safeguarding Officer) Mrs Anne Holt Mrs Elizabeth Liney (Honorary Secretary & Electoral Roll Officer) Mr David Miller (Health & Safety Officer) Mrs Pearl Shepherd

The PCC met five times during the year with an excellent average attendance. The following sub-committees are in place:

Apart from the Standing and Finance Committee, all committees draw on people from the wider congregation for their membership.

The method of the appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Mary the Virgin and All Saints Church, the membership of the PCC consists of the Vicar, Churchwarden, and members elected by those members of our congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. All those who attend our services/members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and to consider standing 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 spent. No member of the PCC has received any remuneration in relation to their duties as members of the PCC.

Reports / 2

AIMS AND PURPOSES

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Potters Bar has the responsibility of cooperating with the Vicar, The Revd Stefan Chrysostomou, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church and Hall of St Mary the Virgin and All Saints, The Walk, Potters Bar, EN6 1QQ.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our Church and to become part of the parish community. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can reach and involve the people of the parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament and encourage us to express our faith in practical ways in our day to day living.

When planning our activities for the year, the Vicar and the PCC have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:

To facilitate this work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of St Mary the Virgin and All Saints Church and Hall to a high standard. We also take responsibility for the Health and Safety Policy and the Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

2020 was a year like no other. The year began as normal, though as the weeks progressed, we were conscious of the health crisis emerging across the world due to a new coronavirus, Covid-19. As the virus began to spread across the UK, and especially in London and surrounding areas, on 23rd March the UK Government and Church of England decreed that churches should be closed for public worship and not used for any purpose, even private prayer by clergy. All worship moved online, using Facebook Live as our platform, with the Vicar conducting services from the Vicarage and using the camera on his mobile phone. This made for a very different Holy Week and Easter, but the usual liturgies were celebrated, with increasing numbers joining in from their homes. The Sunday Eucharist was celebrated each week by Fr Stefan, assisted by his wife Meryl as the camera operator; we are very grateful to them both. Our new organ, which had been inaugurated with a gala recital by Paul Hale just before lockdown, came into its own, as our organist Dave Miller was able to record hymns which were then played via a tablet as accompaniment to Fr Stefan’s singing from his home. From late April, our Reader Richard Osborn was able to assist with services from his own home, notably Sunday Evensong.

Morning Prayer and Compline took place online on four days a week and many people joined these acts of worship – many more than would have attended in person in church – and we noted worshippers joining us from much further afield than Potters Bar, in the UK and other parts of the world. Such trends were also experienced by other churches.

Reports / 3

In June, churches were permitted to re-open for private prayer, and worship returned to the church building with a small team supporting Fr Stefan for the Sunday Eucharist. Eventually, on the first Sunday in July, churches were allowed to welcome back worshippers in person. The 8am and 10am Eucharists on Sunday and the 9.30am Eucharist on Wednesday were celebrated and the numbers attending were most encouraging. We were delighted to welcome a number of new people to St Mary’s, which meant our Sunday attendance was much the same as in 2019, even slightly better, despite 15-20 continuing to shield at home in accordance with government guidelines.

A highlight of the year was the celebration of our Patronal Festival when we welcomed Fr Julian Laurence, Vicar of Holy Trinity Taunton, as our guest preacher and his wife Jane, daughter of Fr Jeff and Barbara Stratton. During the service, Fr Julian and Jane presented an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help to St Mary’s in memory of Fr Jeff and Barbara. Fr Jeff was Vicar of St Mary’s from 1982-1994; he died in September 2017. Barbara passed away just before Easter 2020. We also enjoyed distanced drinks outside on the church forecourt after the service.

Shortly after this celebration the second wave of Covid-19 began to take hold and churches were again closed for public worship during November due to a second lockdown. We reopened on the Second Sunday of Advent, but the infection rate continued to increase and sadly Fr Stefan and Meryl tested positive on Christmas Eve, leading to the cancellation of Midnight Mass and our Christmas morning Eucharist in church, though Fr Stefan still celebrated a Christmas morning Eucharist online from the Vicarage.

Thanks to Zoom, the PCC continued to meet and the delayed Annual Meeting also took place on this online platform in October. At the start of the first lockdown, we launched a weekly email bulletin using Mailchimp with a message from either Fr Stefan or Richard, links to the weekly news sheet and readings, prayers and other relevant information. This has been much appreciated and is likely to become a permanent feature. Currently there are 123 subscribers, reaching almost 150 individuals when couples are taken into account.

We look forward to our worship and activities returning to something more like normal, probably in the second half of 2021.

Worship and Prayer

The PCC maintains a range of services during the week that our community will find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. In 2020, we have offered:

Reports / 4

All are warmly welcome to attend our services. At the 2020 Annual Meeting, there were 133 members on the Electoral Roll, of whom 51 were non-resident in the parish - an increase of 15 people on 2019. We are sad to report the deaths of David Daniels, Eileen Field, Brian Parsons, Dennis Terry and Hazel Thurgood during 2020. Among past worshippers, we were sad to learn of the deaths of Gregor Ross, Lilian Stout and Barbara Stratton.

The usual Sunday attendance was 77 adults (an increase of 2 on 2019). Due to Covid-19, the number of families with children attending regularly on Sundays fell (in common with most churches) and we had to put on hold our plans to re-start Junior Church. Only one Parade Service took place in 2020, in January. We are grateful to those people who decided to make the Sunday 8am Eucharist their main act of worship from July onwards, thereby easing the pressure on numbers attending the Parish Eucharist. With social distancing required, the maximum capacity in church is approximately 75.

From a survey undertaken for the national Church of England statistics collection, we calculated that an average of 35 people had watched services online each week in October, in addition to those attending services in person in church.

We are appreciative of the high standard of our music at our Sunday services and at festivals and are indebted to our organist Dave Miller, choir director Julian Zerfahs and assistant organist Oliver Matley.

As well as our regular services, we warmly welcome the wider community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of their journey through life. Through baptism, we thank God for the gift of life; in marriage, public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing; through funeral services, family and friends express their grief and commend the person into God’s keeping. During 2020, we celebrated 1 baptism (6 in 2019), 0 marriages (0 in 2019), and held 5 funerals in church (6 in 2019), with a further 27 funerals conducted in local crematoria (11 in 2019). Our annual Memorial Service held close to the Feast of All Souls took place online in 2020.

Barnet Deanery Synod

Three members of the PCC sit on the Deanery Synod. This provides the PCC with a link between the parish and the wider structures of the Church of England. Richard Osborn was re-elected as Deanery Lay Chairman and will serve in that capacity until 2023.

The Church

Thanks to the work of the Watchers and Welcomers, the church has been open (when possible due to Covid-19 restrictions) on three days a week from 10am to 12 noon for people to drop in, to pray or light a candle. We are grateful to Heather Hawkes, our Watchers and Welcomers Co-ordinator.

The church continues to be in a good state of repair and we are meticulous at keeping on top of items of maintenance.

The Church Hall

2020 was a quiet year for the church hall. Some of our regular bookings returned when government guidance permitted in September, but their activities were curtailed again in November. We look forward to a better year in 2021.

Reports / 5

Pastoral Care, Outreach and Education

Music plays a significant part in church life at St Mary’s and is an important element of our outreach to the local community. The well-established lunchtime recitals on the first Tuesday of the month took place when possible and continue to be well supported. Sadly, it was not possible to offer the usual lunches when the programme resumed in the summer. Thanks are due to Dave Miller for co-ordinating the programme of recitals.

During the year, study groups led by the Vicar and Reader met during Lent and Advent and these were much appreciated. The Advent course took place on Zoom. We recognise the need to expand the opportunities for study and exploration of the faith and this is noted in our Mission Action Plan.

The Pastoral Care Group had a busy year. Members of the group took responsibility for keeping in touch with church members who are frail and housebound and also those without access to the internet, so unable to take part in online worship. Home and hospital visits (including for communion) have been severely limited due to Covid restrictions. Likewise, it has not been possible to visit our three care homes in the parish since March.

Due to Covid-19, it was not possible to host school services or visits in church in 2020. The Vicar did take part in some online teaching sessions with Ladbrooke School children. We hope that it will be possible to resume most activities during the second half of 2021, including school Christmas services and concerts in church.

Mission and Evangelism

Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. We continue to actively support USPG, Christian Aid and the Children’s Society, as well as other more local charities and organisations. We support the Potters Bar Foodbank with donations of food and other essential goods.

We are very grateful to Dave Miller for his work on the website and social media. Our number of Facebook followers increased considerably during 2020. Our intention is to inform as wide a circulation as possible of the important matters affecting our Church and the Christian Faith.

Our current “Mission Action Plan” (MAP), agreed in June 2019, is included on page 8 of this report. The PCC did not review it during 2020 as planned, but will do so in 2021.

Ecumenical Relationships

The church is an active member of Churches Together in Potters Bar. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, most Churches Together events were cancelled, including the Good Friday Walk of Witness and the summer Holiday Club. The Vicar is an active member of the Ministers’ Fraternal group which meets on a regular basis and the Reader has continued to lead services and preach for the United Reformed Church on several occasions during the year.

Financial Review

Total incoming resources in 2020 were £145,576 and total expenditure was £110,817 resulting in a surplus of £34,759.

We are pleased to report that we have completed the expenditure on the project for the replacement of the church organ leaving a small balance in our Organ Fund of £2,197 which will be used for ongoing maintenance.

Reports / 6

We have been fortunate to receive a legacy of £25,000 from the estate of our late Honorary Assistant Priest Fr Gareth Randall. After discussion at a PCC meeting this money has been set aside towards a new lighting project. We have also received a very generous donation of £10,000. £7,000 of that has been apportioned to the lighting project, £2,000 has gone to the Organ Fund and the remaining £1,000 has gone to the Robes Fund.

The PCC is very grateful to Christine Beland-Hancock our Honorary Treasurer, assisted by Liz Nethercott our Stewardship Secretary, for their work and is also grateful for the generous giving of our church members during this difficult year.

The PCC remains committed to the ongoing promotion of stewardship. We currently have around 80 members enrolled in Planned Giving, most of whom now give by standing order and are able to Gift Aid - a course which we actively encourage. We did not hold a Commitment Sunday in 2020 but plan to do so towards the end of 2021.

Risk Review

The PCC does not consider that there are any significant financial exposures. It is the policy of the PCC to maintain wherever possible sufficient reserves in the General Fund to cover three months unrestricted expenditure. At the year end, the PCC was in compliance with this policy.

Safeguarding

The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, with regard to the House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. We are grateful to our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Gillian Hilton, and Richard Osborn, Lead Recruiter for DBS checks. All PCC members and church officers have been DBS checked and undertaken training (either face-to-face or online) as required by the diocese.

Data Protection

New General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) were introduced in May 2018 which have an effect on how the PCC maintains, stores and uses information held on individuals. The PCC has acknowledged the impact of these new regulations and taken appropriate steps to conform to them. This is an ongoing process.

Volunteers

We remain very grateful to all those who give an enormous amount of their time and talents to enabling our Church to both function and flourish – our Sacristan David Hancock, altar servers and those who care for the altar linen, our PCC Secretary Elizabeth Liney, our choir, our Intercessors and Lesson Readers, our Sidesmen, the Flower Arrangers, our Cleaning Teams, Gardeners, the Watchers and Welcomers, those who serve refreshments and organise social events – and many others. Of special mention are the Churchwardens, Richard Osborn and Mark Jones; Geoff Foster who continues to do so much to assist with the maintenance of our buildings; and Oliver Matley for his work as Hall Lettings Secretary. Oliver stood down from this role at the end of 2020 and we thank him for his work over the past 9 years. We are pleased that Jessica Hollings agreed to take on the role of Hall Lettings Secretary from January 2021. We are grateful to Richard Osborn who continues to offer a very active contribution to our worship and life as Reader.

Reports / 7

Conclusion

St Mary the Virgin and All Saints Church aims to build a stable and secure congregation and actively seeks to grow and, in particular, to ensure that newcomers are always quickly welcomed and encouraged to feel an integral part of the Church community. We thank God for his continued blessings richly given to us all, especially during this challenging year.

MISSION ACTION PLAN

How we want to be described in five years’ time

A welcoming, caring, inclusive and outward looking church with a mix of people of all ages and backgrounds, faithful in worship and prayer and serving the whole community

Our three key priorities for the next five years

  1. To reach out to new people and welcome them into our fellowship. (“Making new disciples”)

  2. To encourage each person to develop and grow in their relationship with God. (“Going deeper into God”)

  3. To become more involved, as a church community, in the life of our town. (“Transforming Communities”)

Our key SMART goals for the next year or more

  1. Build upon links with the Potters Bar Foodbank and encourage church members to make regular donations as well as considering whether we may contribute in other ways e.g. volunteering, offering storage space etc.

  2. Explore opportunities for a regular act of worship in another of the care homes in the parish.

  3. Extend the opportunities already offered for study and prayer during Advent and Lent to other times of the year, by establishing a regular study/discussion group, either for Bible study or for discussion of faith-related issues, and by offering a regular silent prayer group.

  4. Investigate options for better provision for children and young people during Sunday worship, and new initiatives in work with children and young people, e.g. Messy Church, children’s activity workshops at key festivals, all-age worship, both on Sundays and at other times.

  5. Review our publicity and communications strategy, including signage, external noticeboards and on-line presence.

  6. Explore the idea of opening the church for more hours per week, possibly without Watchers and Welcomers being in attendance.

The Revd Stefan Chrysostomou (PCC Chairman)

March 2021

Reports / 8

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2020

Receipts & Payments Unrestricted Restricted Designated Total Total
Funds Funds Funds 2020 2019
**Receipts **
Voluntary Receipts 60228 6767 33000 99995 72041
Tax Recovered 15613 2227 17840 18214
Investment Income 10851 2858 13709 14358
Rental Income
9463 9463		 18302
Fees 2318 2318 3344
Miscellaneous Income 2251 2251 4258
Loan from Parishioner 0 0 15000
_______________
100724 8994 35858 145576 145517
Sale of Investments 0 50000
Grant 0 20000
_______________
Total Receipts
100724 8994 35858 145576		 215517

Payments

Charitable Donations
2655 2655
5050
Church Expenses 22473 931 610 24014 63194
Hall Expenses
4003 4003		 8711
Parish Share 65816 65816 61821
Sundry Administration
4664 4664		 8377
Organ Replacement 9665 9665 127645
_______________
99611 10596 610 110817 274798
Repayment of Parishioner’s Loan 0 15000
_______________
Total Payments 99611 10596 610 110817 289798

Excess of Receipts over Payments 1113 (1602) 35248 34759		 (74281)
Cash at Bank 1 January 2020 32630 4760 2586 39976
Cash at Bank 31 December 2020 33743 3158 37834 74735

Reports / 9

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN & ALL SAINTS POTTERS BAR STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31st DECEMBER 2020

ASSETS Unrestricted Restricted Designated Total Total Funds Funds Funds 2020 2019 Bank Current Accounts 33743 3158 33197 70098 35178 Bank Deposit Accounts 317 317 3336 CBF Deposit Fund 4320 4320 1462 ___________ Total 33743 3158 37834 74735 39976 Investment Assets CBF Investment Fund (1) 101457 101457 94903 CBF Investment Fund (2) 384825 384825 359968 __________ Total 486282 486282 454871 ____________ Total Assets 520025 3158 37834 561017 494847 _______________

Non-Monetary Assets

Moveable church furnishings held by the Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal.

Photocopier purchased 2011

LIABILITIES

Nil

Reports / 10

Restricted Funds

The movements on the Restricted Funds during the year were:


Bal. Brought Fwd Receipts		 Payments Bal. Carried Fwd

Flower Fund 783 1023
(931) 875
Organ Fund 3891 7971 (9665) 2197
Hall Equipment 86 0 0 86
__________
4760 8994 (10596) 3158

Designated Funds

The movements on the Designated Funds during the year were:


Bal. Brought Fwd Receipts		 Payments Bal. Carried Fwd.

Lighting Fund 0 32000		 0 32000
Office Equipment 1023 0 0
1023
Church Refurbishment 94 0 0 94
Robes 7 1000 610 397
Capital Fund 1462 2858 0
4320
____________
2586 35858






 (610) 37834

Reports / 11

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN & ALL SAINTS POTTERS BAR NOTES FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2020

Information re: Receipts & Payments



 Unrestricted Restricted Designated Total Total
Funds Funds Funds 2020 2019
Receipts
Voluntary Income
Planned Giving 49705
 49705 48997
Collections 4862 4862 11661
Donations & Legacies 5661 33000 38661 1897
__________ _____
60228 33000 93228 62555
Fundraising
Organ Restoration Fund 5744 5744 9870
Flower Fund 1023 1023 1999
General Fund 1884 1884 2658
_______________
1884 6767 8651 14527
Payments
Church Expenses 19475 19475 59824
Clergy Expenses 2998 2998 1397
Flowers 931 931 1973
Robes 610 610
22473 931 610 24014 63194
Sundry Administration 4664 4664 8377

Reports / 12

Notes

1. CBF Investment Funds

The number 1 investment represents units purchased in 1995. The last of the original investment of 11,744 units was withdrawn in 2015 but we still have a remaining balance of 4,962.02 units (2019 - 4962.02) which represents accrued income. The market value of this at the 31st December 2020 was £101,456.93 (2019- £94,903.59).

Following the sale of the house at Otways Close the sum of £410,129 was remitted to the DBF. £26,500 was sent to the PCC to repay the loans from parishioners and a further £34,239.30 was received to boost the General Fund. The remaining £349,389.70 plus accrued interest of £610.30 (total £350,000) was invested in a second fund with the DBF (investment no.2) with the intention of generating quarterly interest for the General Fund. It was agreed by the PCC that £50,000 of those proceeds would be allocated to the Organ Fund and the Organ Fund would also receive a prorata portion of the investment income generated. During 2019 that £50,000 was withdrawn and all income is now directed to the General Fund. At the 31st December 2020 the total value of this fund stood at 18,820.89 units valued at £384,825.09 (2019£359,968.34).

2. Charitable Donations

During 2020 we made the following donations to charities:

300.00 Christian Aid 1000.00 USPG * 300.00 The Children’s Society 600.00 Red Cross Appeal 455.00 Bishop’s Harvest Appeal

2655.00

With the exception of the payment marked * these payments were mostly, or entirely, funded by collections in Church.

3. Staff Costs

During the year the PCC paid small honoraria to the organists and choir-master and made small payments to the church cleaner but no payments were large enough to attract social security costs.

4. Payments to PCC Members

During the year, the sum of £2,012.50 was paid to the parish Organist who is a member of the PCC. £75 was also paid in Verger expenses to the husband of a PCC member. A small immaterial portion of the expenses paid to the incumbent may have related to his services as chairman of the PCC. No other payments or expenses were paid to any PCC member, persons closely connected to them or related parties.

Reports / 13

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN & ALL SAINTS POTTERS BAR

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

This is my report to the members of the PCC on my examination of the Accounts for the year ended 31st December 2020.

Respective Responsibilities of the PCC Members and the Examiner

The church’s PCC members are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and they consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the church and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as PCC members concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statements below.

Independent Examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination no matters have come to my attention:

  1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act and

  3. to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met, or

  4. to which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.

Oscar Dodd FCA 27 Richardson Crescent West Cheshunt EN7 6WZ

Reports / 14