The Annual Parochial Report for the Parish of St Cyprian Clarence Gate within the Diocese of London for the year ending December 31[st] 2022
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Reference and administrative information
The Parish of St Cyprian, Clarence Gate, Glentworth Street, London NW1 6AX is in the Diocese of London.
The Parochial Church Council of St Cyprian is a charity registered with the Charity Commission as number 1176918. PCC members who served from 1st January 2022 until the date this report was approved are:
Clergy: Reverend Michael Fuller Church Wardens: Mr W Nye Mrs S Daniels Members: Ms M Ashwin Miss C George Mr R Gwynne Ms S Johnson ( Secretary) Mrs C Mayor (Electoral Roll Officer) Mr W Parry (Deanery Synod Rep) Mrs A Prakas Mr M Carr ( In attendance) Operations Manager Mr J Collings (In attendance) Director of Music:
Structure, governance and management
The parish is normally governed by the priest-in-charge working with the Parochial Church Council (PCC). All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll of the parish, and the PCC is elected by Electoral Roll members. The churchwardens, who are elected at the Annual Parish Meeting by Electoral Roll members and residents of the parish, are members of the PCC.
Trustees are recruited based upon their skills, sector knowledge and experience. The Trustees confirm that they have had regard for the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit when reviewing and planning activities in 2022 and for future years.
Objectives and activities
The objective of St Cyprian’s Clarence Gate is to provide a community to enable people to worship God, to develop their faith and to build up a sense of community within the parish of St Cyprian’s.
To this end, it provides:
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worship – a Sunday Parish Mass, monthly Choral Evensong, Thursday low Mass, Zoom evening Prayer, and Mass on major feasts of the church;
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pastoral support from clergy and laity; other activities such as Bible studies, occasional lectures, and occasional other social events.
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It is continually looking for new ways, within its capacity and resources, to build up its parish life.
In addition, to finance these activities of St Cyprian’s as a worshipping community, St Cyprian’s makes use of its main asset, its church building, to provide a space for community groups and others to use, for concerts, for rehearsals, for classes and for other purposes.
In addition, the church is used for worship, prayer and community activities by the London City Korean Church. Its License under Faculty is reviewed biennially. Francis Holland Church of England Girls’ School uses the church for worship and for rehearsals, art exhibitions and concerts.
To maintain its ability to support both parish activities and the letting of the church building for other community uses, the parish regularly undertakes work to maintain and, where possible, enhance the church building and its facilities.
Achievements and performance
The benefice of St Cyprian’s remains suspended. Conversations are continuing with the Diocese to establish how the church’s future and its contribution to the local community might be secured.
Priest’s Report 2022 – The Revd Fr Michael Fuller
This year has been as challenging as the previous ones though without lockdown, as we continued to move through and out of the pandemic. We have continued, both streaming on Zoom and in person.
During the average week, I have continued to engage in most of the work generally associated with a priestly responsibility. This includes:
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Services, occasional offices and preparation for these.
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Pastoral care and fellowship that has arisen from occasional offices.
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Parish PCC meetings.
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Chapter and Deanery Synod meetings.
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Undertaking continuing professional development.
I’ve had ample opportunity over the last few months to reflect on the state of the church, locally and nationally. It seems important to me that being Church in the 21st Century requires us all to be clear about where our Tradition meets the needs of modern life – and where it doesn’t!
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The future of our churches, their survival and development, are intrinsically bound up with our own personal growth in faith, beginning with a personal conversion experience and continuing with our ability to inspire all with whom we live and work and our willingness to embrace change.
I believe this is what Christ calls us to embody and to this end, I will continue to work with you all and pray for the life of our Parish in the coming year as I am able, considering my advanced age and state of health.
We walk with Christ, with our fellow Christians, and all the heavenly host who have walked this way before. Not one step has been in vain, not one step unaccompanied. In faith we step out into a new future, firm in the knowledge that the best is yet to come.
My thanks for the support of the congregation over the year. I must single out Clare, our Area Dean, in her capacity as sequestrator to the parish: her unstinting support has been invaluable. Donna the Curate has offered amazing support. Having Martin join us as our Business Administrator and Office Manager has literally been a Godsend. Not sure what we would do without our amazing duty warden, Paul Roadnight?
My thanks too to our wardens, William Nye and Sarah Daniels, and to the members of the PCC. Will Parry carried on for part of the year as Acting Treasurer whilst we found a replacement to Kyle and I am most grateful to him. Sarah Johnson has bravely continued as Hon Sec.
There are many others to thank for so many things, please be aware that whatever you do for St Cyprian’s is greatly appreciated.
One of the most amazing things to have witnessed is the way that everyone has continued to support us financially. Having not returned yet to pre-pandemic levels of the lettings income, we have managed to struggle through the year thanks to your amazing generosity. Sadly, we lost our largest premises renter during the year and are working hard to replace that income. We are still on a perilous knife edge financially!
We seem no closer to formulating plans for the major works programme: burying our heads and pretending it’s not urgent will not make the work that is needed to be done go away. This has not been helped by the sad and untimely death of our great architect, Roderick Maclennan. May he rest in peace.
Thank you to all who contributed to our life in these challenging times.
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Fabric Report – William Nye and Sarah Daniels
The principal development in the fabric of the church in 2022 was the completion of works at the liturgical west end to create two new spaces under the organ loft: one a disabled-access toilet, and one a small kitchenette. These have been designed in a muted yet sensitive style by our architect Roderick MacLennan and fit very well into the church. Sadly, they were among Roderick’s last works, as he died, much before his time, in the course of the year. The new toilet and the kitchenette both contribute to making the church a much more accessible and flexible space.
As well as benefiting members of the congregation, especially the disabled or elderly, they are much valued by those seeking to hire the church for concerts, rehearsals or events; hirers expect disabled facilities as standard now. The spaces are created with a light oak wood paneling that sits well in the church without detracting from the unity of Comper’s vision for the church interior. We are very grateful for donations towards the cost of this work from members of the congregation, from the Diocese of London, from various charitable trusts who have kindly supported our work, and from the late Patrick Graham, who left a generous legacy to St Cyprian’s for the fabric of the church.
We were also able to purchase a set of robes for our choir, following successful fundraising for this purpose, including a memorable Hymnathon in the autumn of 2021.
Music Report – Julian Collings
I am pleased to report that it has been another good year for music at St Cyprian’s with some exciting developments - not least the appointment of Alex Wilson as our first Assistant Director of Music back in November.
Choir membership has remained steady with a pleasing influx of new singers over the course of the year. We continue to target recruitment at university graduates moving to London as well as those already singing in London looking for a high quality choir without the excessive commitment of most similar groups.
Our second annual St Cyprian’s Festival Concert was unfortunately cancelled following the death of HM the Queen. We are however looking forward to the rescheduled date of 20 May this year. Original funding remains in place and we will be once again joined by the English Sinfonietta and some top soloists.
Monthly Choral Evensong has continued to attract a small but dedicated congregation but there is much scope for further development and this is under discussion with the PCC.
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Looking to the future, we are continuing to develop our Sunday evening offering to include a chamber music series. This will begin after Easter on the third Sunday of the month with Alex as the artistic director.
A report on the condition of the organ has recently been commissioned and some work recommended to preserve the instrument in workable condition for the next 20 years. A sub-committee has been formed to investigate fundraising for this essential work.
Outside of St Cyprian's, the choir continues to develop its reputation singing at Coventry Cathedral in July last year with a future trip to Chester Cathedral planned for April 2023.
Electoral Roll Report – Chan Mayor
Following the annual revision process, the electoral roll stands at 71 members in March 2023. Two names were deleted, and five added. A full revision of the roll is pending in 2024.
Deanery Synod Report – Will Parry
Deanery Synod met on three occasions during the period under review.
24 March 2022. Rev Dr Peter Anthony from All Saints Margaret Street was welcomed to the Deanery. The first main topic for discussion was Living in Love and Faith (LLF). With feedback due back to the National Team by the end of April 2022, Rev Rosemary LainPriestly spoke about ways of engaging with and taking part in the ongoing conversation, including LLF Discussion Groups. The meeting moved on to discuss different modes of support for Ukrainian refugees, including via the Sanctuary Foundation. A vote was undertaken to replace one position on Diocesan Synod.
27 June 2022. Bishop Sarah presented her reflections on the Church in London in a postCovid setting, having recently visited a good number of churches and schools in the Deanery, including St Cyprian’s. She noted the ongoing legacy of the pandemic over two years after its start, with the impact of missed community life and changed patterns of attendance. She noted the importance of the 2030 Vision for London in negotiating the way ahead, and said that bishops were considering how they should support churches in the new situation. There was an opportunity for questions. Bishop Sarah also touched on the two Independent Enquiries currently ongoing in the diocese, one a fraud investigation and the other relating to the death of Fr Alan Griffin. The meeting concluded with the annual summer party.
5 October 2022. The main presentation was given by Martin Carr, LLM and Two Cities Eco
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Church Champion, on Eco Church. The overall aim of the project is for congregations to integrate care for the environment into daily church life, and for churches to achieve carbon net zero by 2030. A tool was available to churches to help them determine their progress in a number of different areas. Details were given as to how churches could participate. St Paul’s Rossmore Road had already achieved gold standard status. Following on from this, Rev Christina Andreassen of St John’s Wood Church made a presentation on the Warm Spaces initiative, and how churches might best join with other community spaces to offer hospitality over a winter of rising fuel prices.
Financial Report – Martin Carr
We ended 2022 with approximately £15k in our NatWest accounts, and £103k in CCLA reserves. The year shows a deficit of around £23k, largely due to money contributed to the accessible facilities project.
The Patrick Graham fund has been moved from a deposit to investment account with CCLA. As a designated fund for fabric projects, I recommend identifying work on which this money can be spent, thus maximising our unrestricted reserves.
The launch of the Parish Giving Scheme as our main congregational stewardship tool has been moderately successful. Can I urge all church members who are not currently signed up to do so?
We have not yet transferred from NatWest to CAF Bank as agreed by the PCC. This will happen in 2023.
The full figures for the year are to be found at the end of this annual report. I am grateful for the support and attention to detail of our Independent Examiner, Christina Shiatis of MASY Associates for her collaboration to finalise these.
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Ecochurch – Martin Carr
Thanks to actions taken since the last APCM (gaining Fairtrade status, twinning our toilets and highlighting eco-issues in the newsletter) we have achieved a bronze award. Much remains to be done however!
We are working towards feasibility studies for solar and heat pump energy for our building (the latter to replace our 17-year-old gas heating system), and though these will be expensive, significant funding is becoming available from Westminster Council and the GLA to progress such schemes. I look to the whole congregation for support as we seek to transform our church to protect God’s gift of creation, working with the Church of England to achieve the ambitious Net Zero Carbon target by 2030.
Bookings and Community – Martin Carr
While the loss of the FHS crypt hire is regrettable, bookings of the main space are encouraging. Concerts and music rehearsals are the mainstay of these, though we have had some annual meetings, speaker events, and dining functions.
One-off bookings are time-consuming and sporadic; our long-term aim should be to increase regular users of the building. The Pinstripe Highlanders (a bagpipe group) who now meet on a Tuesday, are one valuable addition.
While the main church is an attractive space to hire (very much more so since the addition of the accessible facilities) the crypt room due to its size and layout attracts few independent bookings.
Wine tasting and opera evening in St Cyprian's
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Parochial Church Council of St Cyprians Clarence Gate Clarence Gate, Glentworth Street, London, NW1 6AX
31st December 2022
MASY Associates Ltd 23a Craven Terrace London W2 3QH
Parochial Church Council of St Cyprians Clarence Gate
Independent Examiner's report to the member/trustees of St Cyprians Church, London NW1 6AX
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022, which are set out on the following pages.
Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner
The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to
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[examine the accounts (under section 43(3) of the Act);]
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follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 43 (&)(b) of
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-[the Act); and]
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[state whether particular matters have come to my attention ]
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 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 management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
Independent Examiner’s Statement
In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention
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which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements.
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a) to keep accounting records in accordance with s.41 of the Act; or
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b) to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have to been met; or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
MASY Associates Ltd 23a Craven Terrace London W2 3QH
| Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 Dec Receipts and Payments Accounts Note Receipts Voluntary Receipts: Planned Giving Charitable Giving Collections at services Giving via Goodbox Sumup donations All other giving/voluntary receipts Gift Aid recovered TOTAL Activities for generating funds 4a Investment Income 4b Church Activities 4c Total Receipts Payments Church Activities: Parish Share Clergy and staffing costs 4d Church running costs 4e Mission giving, expenses, hospitality 4f TOTAL Bank charges Total payments Excess of payments over receipts (receipts over payments 2021) Investment - CCLA shares Cash at bank 01/01/22 Cash at bank 31/12/22 Movement of Funds |
ember 2022 Unrestricted Unrestricted Designated Restricted Fund Fund Fund Total 2022 £ £ £ £ £ 16,304.40 £ 16,304.40 £ - £ - £ 1,048.57 £ 1,048.57 £ 3,421.48 £ 3,421.48 £ 3,160.29 £ 3,160.29 £ 2,628.98 £ 2,628.98 £ 7,759.18 £ 7,759.18 |
Total 2021 £ £ 14,549.00 £ 24,767.00 £ - £ 3,350.00 £ - £ - £ 7,883.00 |
|---|---|---|
| £ 34,322.90 £ - £ - £ 34,322.90 £ 36,521.00 £ 4,850.00 £ 41,371.00 £ 1,086.57 £ 1,086.57 £ 88,575.16 £ 88,575.16 |
£ 50,549.00 £ - £ 62.00 £ 77,072.00 |
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| £ 160,505.63 £ - £ 4,850.00 £ 165,355.63 £ 26,000.00 £ 26,000.00 £ 39,076.82 £ 39,076.82 £ 115,053.48 £ 1,500.00 £ 5,097.60 £ 121,651.08 £ 446.38 £ 446.38 |
£ 127,683.00 £ 25,000.00 £ 22,172.00 £ 59,266.00 £ 3,613.00 |
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| £ 180,576.68 £ 5,097.60 £ 187,174.28 £ - £ 199.07 £ 199.07 |
£ 110,051.00 |
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| £ 180,775.75 £ - £ 5,097.60 £ 187,373.35 £ 20,270.12 £ - £ 247.60 £ 22,017.72 £ 96,083.73 £ - £ - £ 96,083.73 |
£ 110,051.00 £ 17,632.00 £ - |
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| £ 118,101.45 Current Acc Savings Accs Investment Accs TOTAL £ 27,286.67 £ 11,149.84 105,134.85 £ 143,571.36 £ 11,022.09 £ 4,321.24 10,126.58 £ 25,469.91 £ 118,101.45 |
£ 17,632.00 |
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cash Funds Bank Current Account Bank Reserve Account Notes Investment Assets Deposit fund (Reserve) 2A Deposit fund (Patrick Graham) 2B Investment Fund Shares at market value 2C |
U £ £ restricted Funds (£) 11,022.09 4,321.24 Designated Funds (£) Restricted Funds (£) Total 2022 (£) £ 11,022.09 £ 4,321.24 |
£ £ Total 2021 (£) 27,286.67 11,149.84 |
| £ 15,343.33 £ - £ - £ 15,343.33 |
£ 38,436.51 |
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| £ 687.29 £ 358.52 £ 8,760.40 £ 9,806.21 £ 320.37 £ 320.37 £ 93,161.11 £ 93,161.11 |
£ 9,678.90 £ 95,455.95 |
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| £ 687.29 £ 93,840.00 £ 8,760.40 £ 103,287.69 |
£ 105,134.85 |
Notes
1 The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts & Payments basis.
2A CCLA deposit fund 623252001D
2B CCLA deposit fund 623252003D
2C CCLA investment 623252001S - 4512.33 shares at estimated value £93161.11 (Patrick Graham fund)
3 The movements in restricted and designated funds during 2022 were:
| RESTRICTED Music TOTAL DESIGNATED Patrick Graham Fund TOTAL |
Bal B/fwd Receipts Payments Bal C/fwd £ 9,008.00 £ 4,850.00 £ 5,097.60 £ 8,760.40 £ 9,008.00 £ 4,850.00 £ 5,097.60 £ 8,760.40 £ 95,340.00 £ - £ 1,500.00 £ 93,840.00 £ 95,340.00 £ - £ 1,500.00 £ 93,840.00 |
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| £ 104,348.00 £ 4,850.00 £ 6,597.60 £ 102,600.40 |
4 Further Analysis of Receipts and Payments
| Receipts a) Activities for generating funds: Toilet/kitchenette fundraising Other (Music fund grants, utility grants) b) Investment Income: Interest on CCLA Investment Funds Bank Interest c) Church Activities: Fees for weddings and funerals Church lettings Sundry refunds and sales DCMS Recovery Fund Payments d) Clergy and staffing costs Salaries Tax and NI and pensions Staff expenses/costs e) Church running expenses: Organ and piano inspection/maintenance Costs of services Office costs Church building running expenses and insurance Church refurbishment, repairs & maintenance Professional fees Assigned fees to LDF Sundries (including refunds) f) Mission giving and donations: Hospitality |
Unrestricted General Fund £ Restricted Fund £ Total 2022 £ Total 2021 £ |
|---|---|
| 33880.00 33880.00 2641.00 4850.00 7491.00 |
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| 36521.00 4850.00 41371.00 - |
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| 1075.46 1075.46 11.11 11.11 62 |
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| 1086.57 0.00 1086.57 62 |
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| 769.00 769.00 707 76076.43 76076.43 52,862 11729.73 11729.73 - 0.00 0.00 23,503 |
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| 88575.16 0.00 88575.16 77,072 |
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| 28491.80 28491.80 15,762 20.85 20.85 10564.17 10564.17 6,410 |
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| 39076.82 0.00 39076.82 22,172 |
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| 1455.50 1455.50 - 16209.83 16209.83 5,555 2441.87 2441.87 8,434 20421.84 20421.84 23,342 77187.40 77187.40 11,964 1958.55 1958.55 9,971 0.00 0.00 1976.09 1976.09 |
|
| 121651.08 0.00 121651.08 59,266 |
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| 446.38 446.38 3,613 |
|
| 446.38 0.00 446.38 3,613 |