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2021-12-31-accounts

ANNUAL REVIEW 2021

ANNUAL REVIEW 2021

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, CHILCOMPTON

THE PCC OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CHILCOMPTON CHARITY NO 1178808

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ANNUAL REVIEW 2021

Contacts

Parish Office 01761 502068 office@stvigorstjohn.church

St John's Church, Coach Lane, Chilcompton, Radstock BA3 4HP

Facebook: StJohnTheBaptistChurchChilcompton Sermons available on the church website: www.stvigorstjohn.church

Rector

Revd. Esther Smith

01761 233401 rector@stvigorstjohn.church

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Welcome from Revd. Esther Smith

What a joy it is to see the first signs of Spring in 2022 after what has felt like a long, grey winter. The restrictions of Lockdown in 2020 were replaced by the uncertainty and constantly changing goalposts of 2021, which I think we all found equally as tiring. Like every church in the land, we have been sad to lose a number of our older members who have died and gone home to greater glory. Joan Turner and Wallace Moon at St John’s and John Padfield and Val Letcher at St Vigor’s will be sadly missed and will leave a great hole in our fellowships. Our prayers remain with their families.

As 2021 progressed things gradually began to open up and return to a semblance of normal. St John’s is now open daily in the hours of day light for those who would like to pop in and appreciate a few moments of quiet reflection and we have been delighted to see just how many people do pass through its doors. At St Vigor’s the space is now opened up after the rehoming of the old pipe organ and several of the monuments have been professionally repaired and refurbished. (Thank you, Nigel for all your hard work behind the scenes in supervising these tasks.)

Not everything that we layed down began again in the same form and we were sad to see the demise of Memory Café after many years of service to a precious section of the community. It has been replaced, however, with Monday Café, which we hope will serve a wider audience once it establishes itself on the first Monday of each month. Midweek Holy Communion now meets at a slightly later time to accommodate the thriving Tea & Toast Toddler ministry on

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a Thursday, and we now have two weekly services of Morning Prayer at 9am (Tuesday @ St Vigor, Wednesday @ St John) Wednesday often also sees visitors from our church school who enjoy learning in a different environment. These ministries owe a debt of gratitude to the faithful band of volunteers who have worked hard to refresh the facilities in St John’s Hall which now offers a warm and hospitable welcome to all who meet there. Tony Pook manages a booking system for the facilities via the website (thank you, Tony!) but needs the support of a team of volunteers to open and lock up after any outside lettings. Perhaps this occasional service is something God might be calling you to in the future?

Our Staff team was enriched this year by the arrival of Revd. Steve Miles as our Curate (accompanied by his wife, Jenn) and Sarah Crosse as our Parish Nurse who work with our teams of dedicated volunteers who give their time and their energy to further Kingdom ministry to all in our Benefice. Thank you to you all for your care and practical service of those around you in Jesus’ name: this is what it means to Live and Tell the Gospel Story. Also new to our team has been Connie Moore who has done a magnificent job in encouraging us all to update our Safeguarding Training – an important expression of God’s love to the more vulnerable members of our community.

A huge thank you has to go to all who have worked tirelessly in ministry to children, families and young adults over the year, finding creative ways to maintain contact and share Hope in Jesus’ name. The Powerhouse team (Maureen, Rachel, Jess and Tony) have stepped back to allow our young

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people to blossom as Adults in their own Home Group and the Messy Church Team led by Tina, continue to inspire us with their boundless energy and creativity. Although these congregations rarely join us on a Sunday Morning, they are a precious expression of Kingdom Ministry in our Church Family and we are grateful of all the hard work of those who serve in them.

The year ahead (2022) will doubtless bring with it its own challenges, but 2021 has shown us that in big things and in small, God is faithful. We start the new year full of hope for the new things that our heavenly Father will do amongst us for His glory, and I remind you of the verse from Habakkuk 3 (18) that the PCC propose to take as our memory verse for the year ahead:

[v17, Though the fig tree does not bud

and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,]

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

Thanks be to God, for all of his goodness.

Every blessing

Esther Smith

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NB. Due to the lateness of Easter this year the APCM for St John’s will be on Wednesday 27[th] April at 7.30pm following a short act of worship (in person at St John’s and via Zoom).

Contents

ontents
Worship 7
ThursdayMorningCommunion 7
Discipleship 7
Contemplative Prayer 8
Childrens’ Groups and YoungPeople 9
Mission 14
Lunch Club 14
MondayClub 15
MemoryCafe 15
Safeguarding 16
St John’s Church
Churchwardens’ Report 17
Electoral Roll Report 21
PCC Report 21
Sidespersons Report 22
Bellringers 23
Treasurer’s Report 24

With grateful thanks to Tina Collins and Messy Church for the photos.

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Worship

The Music Group is meeting in church on a Thurs 4.155.30/45pm. One member has let me know they are not going to rejoin us, and another couple may not be able to make every week. I have encouraged those that can’t make a Thurs to come and help us lead the singing on a Sunday anyway.

Linda Van Peborgh

Thursday Mornings Communion and Coffee

The communion service is now held at 11a.m. following Tea and Toast. A time to pause, reflect discuss and pray. It is followed by a time to socialise with a cup of tea or coffee.

Margaret Holcombe

Discipleship

I am sure many of us were hoping that this year would have been more ‘normal’ but as we know we have continued to operate under COVID restrictions for much of the year.

We continued to have to meet on Zoom for much of the time for most groups although there has been a gradual return to in person meeting as the restrictions have allowed. Despite the difficulties I am pleased to say that groups have continued providing much needed support and

encouragement for their members as we strive to journey together on our walk with God.

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After Easter last year we looked at Acts as we explored what a new beginning might look like as we began to meet in church in person. We have also studied Joshua in the summer before going on to looking at a series about experiencing the living God.

Following a request from one of the home groups we started the autumn by looking at the Holy Spirit; looking at who He is and what He does and how He enables us to follow God more effectively.

We ended the year by looking at how we can experience God in our everyday lives before returning to the Lectionary readings from Luke in the run up to Christmas.

As ever I would like to thank the home group leaders for all their hard work and prayerful dedication as they have continued to lead their groups and maintain contact with those who have found the technology challenging and the anxiety of the general situation trying.

Kristin Marshall

Contemplative Prayer

Contemplative Prayer : I have booked a face-to-face meeting for 10am Tues Feb 15th 2022. We’ll just see who is able to come and wants to meet once a month or so. Nigel has asked that just my contact details and a ‘sample resource’ remain on the church website ie I will continue to circulate the monthly resource by email attachment to my list of participants (circa 30; 15 in our church and 15 others),

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otherwise it can be obtained by contacting me through the church website.

Linda Van Peborgh

Youth Groups and Young People

Powerhouse

2021 was another memorable year as Powerhouse started with Zoom meetings, met in real life over the Summer and then transitioned into a new group in the Autumn. So, a year of repeating lockdown, endings as members and leaders moved on and new beginnings.

We met on Zoom until May 2021 studying the bible, joining in online worship, being creative in prayer, marking birthdays with brownies, doing drama and even doing an online team escape room (we did save the planet from climate change, sadly in fiction rather than reality). We worked through Rachel’s list of online games to play on Zoom including scavenger hunts, numerous quizzes, memory and picture games, Where’s Wally and bingo. We also said farewell to Maureen White after decades of involvement with youth work at the church and sent her on her way with lots of memories particularly those that Powerhouse spent in her garden.

From May we met outside and honed our fire making, marshmallow toasting, pizza eating and keeping warm skills. We did surprisingly well with the weather although the

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Movement worship summer celebration was moved inside to St Cuthbert’s in Wells. Leaders old and new joined us in the form of Hannah Smith, back from Uni and then Steve and Jenn as we began to prepare for the transition from Powerhouse.

Our last official Powerhouse session was on 12[th] September which was quite emotional as we looked back and forwards.

“ Although we were sad to see Powerhouse officially end, we had a brilliant time over the Summer and the new direction has been great”

Rachel Grant

Messy Church

Messy Church has had a very challenging year in terms of COVID. The government restrictions meant that we were only able to meet in person three times.

At Easter we did an online event where families were encouraged to go on an Easter egg hunt around the village. When they found eggs, they scanned the QR code to discover the next part of the Easter Story. This appeared to be a success.

We met in person for the first time, in 18 months, during September. We were really encouraged to see some of our old families returning and pleased to welcome a number of new ones. In the three months between September and November we met a total of 26 different families with 39 different children.

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Each time the atmosphere was very relaxed, and the feedback was positive. We have a dedicated team of 21 regular volunteers who are passionate about Messy Church and very committed to planning, preparation and attending each month.

Our biggest disappointment, due to Covid numbers rising, was the cancelling of our Nativity at Christmas.

Tina Collins

Tea & Toast

After a gradual start, the Tea& Toast family has grown in size and confidence over 2021 . Half a dozen families returned after lockdown, some with subsequent babies and so even

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though some of our original little friends had headed off to school we still enjoy a morning of play and chatter together with their younger brothers and sisters. In recent weeks the babies and toddlers from The Learning Tree Nursery on the Farm have also joined us, filling the hall with their laughter on a Thursday Morning. It has been a delight to offer a ‘home from home’ with tea and toast and supportive chatter for the adults, and we are immensely grateful to the small but dedicated team that serve in this ministry: Steve, Sarah, Geoff, Margaret, Tony and Marion.

Esther Smith

School Report

“That they may have life, life in all its fullness” John 10:10

The ongoing impact of COVID has continued to make for a challenging time at St Vigor and St John Church School.

The second lockdown at the start of the year resulted in a return to online learning for many, with only keyworker children continuing to be taught on site. Although outbreaks of infection have occurred (including Chris Chorley testing positive) these have been managed with effectively and in accordance with all Public Health England advice.

During the past year, the school has acquired a minibus making access to local facilities, such as the church and Chilcompton Sports Ground, far easier. Although some opportunities have clearly been hampered by the ongoing pandemic.

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The school continues to build closer ties with the church, although restrictions have prevented the whole school from gathering in the church to celebrate significant events. The refurbished church hall is put to regular use by the school and Esther now serves as a Foundation Governor (the ex-officio Governor post for the Rector being discontinued when the school became part of the Bath and Wells Diocesan MultiAcademy Trust).

As we begin to move out of the pandemic, the leadership team has focussed on the opportunities that this brings; reinvigorating several aspects of the school setting and introducing four key principles:

The school is also aware that they were last subject to an OFSTED inspection in 2010 and is preparing for an inspection to occur imminently

Chris Chorley, the leadership team, teachers and support staff have shown exceptional commitment to continuing to provide as rich a learning environment as possible, either in school or virtually on-line, and ensuring the safety of all those attending the school and The Mill Nursery in person. We give thanks for their energy and enthusiasm as they continue to work tirelessly and we pray for the continued health and development of the pupils.

Tom Mayes

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Mission

The Leprosy Mission: ‘Fund-matching’ doubled our recent regular donation, which is mainly targeted towards setting up ‘Hub Groups’ for education and treatment in remote villages in Sri Lanka and India. It would be good to have a deputation visit in 2022. In the Autumn ‘New Day’ magazine there is an article by a Zimbabwean couple, now living in Taunton, who were both diagnosed with leprosy in the 1970s.

Linda Van Peborgh

In 2021 we donated £6864, broken down as follows.

Monday Café

Monday Café has replaced Memory Café on the First Monday afternoon of the Month.

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Memory Café

Chilcompton Memory Café was not able to resume meetings in the hall as Covid-19 restrictions gradually lifted in the middle of the year, albeit not sufficiently for us to be able to run the café according to the guidelines still in place at that time. Particularly and very sadly, some of our members had passed on or moved into residential care since we last met. We also found it difficult to put in place the volunteer support needed as other requirements within our churches took precedence. Therefore, our café formally closed in September 2021, and the balance of our funds were donated to the Writhlington Singing for the Brain group. They too have not been able to resume yet and are holding the funds, pending being able to resurrect their much-loved and beneficial bi-weekly sessions. We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has come along or supported our Memory Café in any way over the past four and a half years.

Nigel Wood

Lunch Club

Due to the pandemic Lunch Club did not meet in 2021. We are planning on restarting on March 17th and every following third Thursday of the month.

Margaret Holcombe

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Safeguarding

Since taking over the role of Parish Safeguarding Officer, there have been no reported concerns regarding Safeguarding.

There are currently 31 people who have in date DBS checks. From January 2022 all certificates will only last for 3 years and not 5 as previously.

There are ongoing online Safeguarding training programmes, which have been successfully completed by the majority of people required to do this training, that is, everyone who holds a role within the church, including all volunteers. Further online training is to be done within the next few months but this is for certain roles only.

There is further training specifically for Parish Safeguarding Officers taking place during the Sumer.

A mobile phone has been purchased solely for the purpose for people being able to contact the Parish Safeguarding Officer. This number is published on a poster in the Church Hall lobby and a link to the number is to be put on the website.

Connie Moore Safeguarding Officer

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Churchwardens’ Report

Services and Covid Restrictions

2021 was again a year of disruption of church activities due to Covid 19 Restrictions. The church building closed on 7th January and did not re-open until 21 May. Since we could not meet in person we continued Sunday services, initially led by Esther from the rectory using Zoom. This was a testing and sometimes stressful time as we all learned to adapted to the intricacies of using Zoom technology. It also enabled us to continue with Home Groups and other church meetings. Our 2021 Annual Parochial Church Meeting was also held using Zoom. Following the lifting of restrictions and considering local statistics, it was agreed that May would be safe time to re-open the Church for worship and activities. Given our experience with Zoom and the opportunity to reach out to the wider community the Sunday services, streamed live from the church via Zoom, allowed those in their homes to not only to share in the service but to interact and take part by bible reading and intersessions. An average twelve of the fellowship used Zoom to join Sunday worship, some would not have been able to come in person. We also continued with Home Groups and other meetings using Zoom during the winter months.

Fast Broadband Internet for the Church

Truespeed very kindly provided and installed, free of charge, fast broadband internet as part of their provision for Chilcompton. This gave a much more stable internet service for the streaming of live services.

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Statistics for Mission

As part of the Church of England’s collection of statistics about overall church attendance, we complete a questionnaire annually as of 31 January each year. Our average Worshipping Community (the number of people who attend a service at least once each month) was 65.

Leadership Team

Our Church Leadership Team, Esther, Freda, Kristin, and Peter (later joined by Steve) were confronted with regulations that required swift decisions. The organisation of live streamed Zoom services also presented additional preparation and challenges. Even so church life was able to continue. On behalf of us all we thank our splendid Leadership Team for their outstanding commitment to our fellowship and to God’s work in this benefice. To Esther for her spiritual leadership, pastural care and to Freda, Kristin, Peter, and Steve, for their spiritual support and teaching during what was an unusual year. Thanks also to Tom for maintaining the smooth running of the Zoom services and a special thanks to Nigel Wood for his work in the maintenance of our benefice website.

Our New Curate

It was exciting to learn that the benefice had been chosen to welcome Steve Miles, our trainee Curate, and his wife Jenn Miles to our benefice. We all offer them a very warm welcome to our Leadership Team and pray that God will bless their time with us. After some time living in Wells and commuting daily, they were finally given the date of Jan 22 to move to their new home in Chilcompton.

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Mission and Outreach

Unfortunately, all our normal mission outreach activities were disrupted for most of the year. The Messy Church Team were able to lead exciting activities for our young people with the acting out of the Zacchaeus story, supported by the tree climbing Steve, and at Advent the lighting of the star on the church tower. However, due to Covid numbers in our schools, the Messy Nativity service was cancelled. Lunch Club, Tea and Toast and Open the Book events were also suspended.

Church Hall

Refurbishment of our Church Hall was completed by the end of the year. We now have a splendid building to use for outreach and community use. Our thanks to the band of men who gave up their time week by week to achieve this amazing result.

Church Building

The usual annual maintenance of the Church Heating system and Fire Extinguishers were completed. Future projects will cover the modification of bell rope guides in the ringing chamber, update of our sound and visual aid system and refurbishment of the North Porch and wall.

St John’s Churchyard

The necessary work to rectify the crumbling North Wall is underway with our Architect offering solutions, including changes to the entrance pathways to make access for wheelchairs easer. Along with those mentioned above, these will result in significant costs.

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Downside Churchyard

After laborious investigation by the diocese solicitor, we are now clear about the complicated

arrangements/responsibilities of Downside churchyard following the sale of the redundant Church building by the Church Commissioners. The PCC is responsible for the maintenance of a specified area coupled with joint responsibility for other area with the Church building owner. Consequently, a survey of the trees in the churchyard indicated that the Ash Tree overhanging the roadway needed to be felled. Work is in progress complete this task. A programme of maintenance and tree lopping will need to be agreed over the next 2 years.

It is legal requirement for Church Wardens to maintain:

Thank You

In conclusion, the Wardens offer our thanks to all who have played their part in the continuing life and service of St John’s Church. To our treasurer Chris, PCC members, our PCC secretary Lesley, our Sides Persons, the Bell Ringers, Messy Church and Powerhouse Teams, Lunch Club, Missionary Groups, Home Group Leaders, Music Group and all who helped to clean and maintain our Church, Church Hall, and Churchyards. Your efforts were substantial and invaluable,

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and our Church could not function without your splendid effort and commitment. Thank you all once again. May we all strive to extend the kingdom of God in this benefice and surrounding area.

Tom Mayes and Tony Chivers Church Wardens

Electoral Roll

We currently have 82 members on roll, 54 female and 28 male. During the past twelve months we have bid farewell to Joan Turner and Wallace Moon who have passed from this world into God’s Kingdom, as well as losing three members who have left the area for pastures new. All will be greatly missed.

It is never too late to add your name to the Electoral Roll and Forms are readily available from the Church Wardens or myself should you wish to take this step. Once registered you are eligible to vote at the Annual Church Meeting and stand for election to the Parochial Church Council (PCC).

Richard Moon Electoral Roll Officer

PCC Report

The PCC met five times during the year, three times on Zoom and the rest face to face. At the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in April Chris Collins and Tony Pook were re-elected

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as Laity Reps and Tony Chivers and Tom Mayes were reelected as Churchwardens. The PCC from April 2021 therefore comprised Revd. Esther Smith (Chair), David Aldridge, Tony Chivers, Chris Collins, Tina Collins, Fred Corp, Tom Mayes, Tony Pook and Leisa Thorne (Deanery Synod rep), with one vacancy on the PCC for a second Deanery Synod Rep. In July 2021 the PCC welcome our curate Steve Miles to the PCC.

Lesley Close PCC Secretary

Sidespersons

During the period when the church building was open for public worship the sidespeople were :- Mr & Mrs F Corp

Mr & Mrs T Edwards

Mr & Mrs G Holcombe

Mr & Mrs D Jones

Their duties entailed welcoming people, the sanitising of hands, the checking the register of those attending and advising with regard to social distancing.

Sidespersons for 2022

Mr & Mrs C Austin Mrs J Churley & Mr R Singh Mr & Mrs F Corp

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Mr & Mrs G Holcombe

Mr & Mrs D Jones

Geoff Holcombe

Bellringers

Regular ringing was able to resume following lockdown earlier in the year, albeit with some restrictions still in place.

Practices on a Monday evening have resumed along with Sunday service ringing and regular quarter peal attempts on a Sunday evening. A learner’s session also takes place on a Wednesday evening.

Although ringing competitions and events were all suspended due to the pandemic, the National 12-Bell Striking Competition will recommence in 2022 and practices for the Chilcompton band to enter again have started. There are also plans being discussed to hold the final of the competition at Chilcompton in 2024.

A faculty has also been granted to replace the existing rope guide (a ‘temporary’ solution from the augmentation to 10 bells at the turn of the millennium) with a more suitable replacement structure.

We give thanks for the continued commitment of the band, and particularly to Adrian Beck, for ensuring that the bells of Chilcompton continue to sound.

Tom Mayes

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Treasurer’s Report year ended 31[st] December 2021

Summary

The finances have been transformed during the year from only having £869 in our bank account to now having £19,245. The reason for this change is principally down to three factors:

  1. Grant of £16,450 (Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage

Projects)

  1. Reduction in Parish Share of £10,130

  2. No longer employing a Parish Administrator £8,339

The PCC’s reserve policy is to set aside £13,710 for a “rainy day” to cover any future eventualities, leaving a working current account balance of £5,535.

During the year we have also carried out a significant refurbishment of the hall including the toilets, foyer, carpets, blinds, storage cupboard and painting throughout. The quick completion of this was made possible by the generous

donations of a number of individuals and the hard work of a small group of dedicated individuals.

Despite the sound position we find ourselves in we need to be mindful that the coming year will present a number of difficult challenges.

  1. The Parish Share will increase by £5,380 to £45,769.

  2. Increase in energy prices will add significant costs to our bills.

  3. Inflation and the effect on peoples cost of living could impact our income.

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  1. An initial quote for work on the trees at Downside churchyard has come in at £6,960

These could cause us to go into a deficit position so it will be important to ensure that expenditure is matched by income. We cannot return to the position where we lived beyond our means and drained the reserves.

Detail Analysis

Receipts

The Total Voluntary receipts on unrestricted funds (money for general use) were £75,917 of which £46,443 was donations, £13,024 from Gift Aid, and a Grant of £16,450 from the Governments Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage Projects.

The Restricted donations (money for specific purposes) of £20,791 includes Grants of £3,276. This is £2,000 from the Sperring Trust, £420 for upkeep of Downside churchyards and a further donation of £850 from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage Projects.

Payments

During the period £55,309 was spent from unrestricted funds to provide the Christian Ministry at St John’s, including the contribution of £40,389 to the Diocesan Parish Share.

The net result of this was a surplus of £18,376 on the unrestricted funds once the amount of £5,947 was allocated to Charitable giving

The PCC made donations of £5,215 from the designated Missional & Charitable Giving Account.

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Reserves

The balance carried forward at the 31[st] December on unrestricted funds totalled £25,728 of which £6,483 has been designated for Mission & Charitable purposes.

The Fabric account currently stands at £4,704.

Chris Collins

Treasurer, PCC of Chilcompton with Downside

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