2023 Report and Accounts for Parochial Church Council of Parbold, Christchurch.
Aims and purposes
Christchurch’s Parochial Church Council has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent Reverend Sue Timmins, 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 grounds of Christchurch, Douglas-in-Parbold.
Objectives and activities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at Christchurch.
Our services put worship and faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament.
When planning our activities for the year we consider the Commissions guidance on public benefit and in particular the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of the parish community through:
Worship and Prayer, learning about the gospel; and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus.
Provision of pastoral care
Missionary and outreach work
To enable this, it is important to maintain the fabric of the church and grounds.
Achievements and performance
Worship and prayer
There are normally a range of services, on a Sunday there is an 8am and 10.30am service and weekly there is a communion service on Wednesdays, this has moved into the WI hall in the village and is well attended. At other times a variety of services are offered which the community find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling including an informal Encounter service once a month in church.
Twice a month on Sunday evenings the youth meet at the church.
During 2023 Sunday services have continued to be recorded and offered to the congregation as recordings. Weekly faith moments are also recorded and sent out. Monthly prayer reflections are also sent out.
There are 2 family services each month, one outdoors and one in church. Junior church for children aged 4-14 year old and the under 4’s group has recommenced on 2 Sundays per month. Once a term, services are held at Parbold Douglas Academy. The Academy also holds an assembly once a term in the church. Assemblies in Parbold Douglas Academy are supported by the vicar.
All our welcome to attend our regular services. At present there are 132 parishioners on the church Electoral Roll.
As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life, in marriage public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for life and to commend the person into God’s keeping. We have celebrated 7 baptisms, no weddings and held 9 funerals in our church this year.
A thanksgiving services for families who have been bereaved was held in the scout hut due to problems with the boiler in church.
Deanery Synod
Two members of the PCC sit on the Deanery Synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structure of the church.
Church
We want our church to be open to community for private prayer, due to the geographical position of the church this is not always feasible. Unfortunately, this was not achieved in 2023.
General maintenance has been continued throughout the year both in the church and graveyard.
Pastoral care
Some members of the parish are unable to attend church due to illness or age. The pastoral team visit at times offering to celebrate communion with them as requested. Contact has been maintained with members of the congregation by phone calls and practical support as required.
Missionary and evangelism
Helping others is a demonstration of our faith. This includes supporting local and international causes through our tithes. This year’s harvest appeal enabled further funds to go to Iris Ministries Phnom Pehn and The Brick, Wigan.
A church newsletter is produced bi-monthly keeping people informed of the important matters affecting the church and articles that help and develop our knowledge and trust in Jesus. There are often updates from the organisations that the church support overseas keeping the congregation informed.
Ecumenical relationships
Rev Sue and the Ministers from Parbold Evangelical Church and Our Lady’s RC meet occasionally for fellowship and prayer.
Financial review
Total income for 2023 was £105,224 which was an increase on 2022 by £7205. The Gift Aid recovered was increased by £8,453 to £22,255 because we caught up with back dated annual claims. And although our loose plate and income from services was slightly reduced, we also saw more people donating via Online. We also received gift from the Peter Lathom Charity of £200.
Total expenditure was £106,852 which included full payment of our Parish Share (£61,786). Expenditure included: heating, Light and water rates: £3,308; Vicarage expenses of £2,422; Repairs and maintenance was £2,286. The wages for Parish Administrator and cleaner and payments to our
Worship Leader for 2023 came to £10,745. Our Tithe giving amounted to £8,825 and Harvest Appeal came to £2,160 which was divided between Iris Ministries Phnom Pehn and The Brick, Wigan. There was also £6,416 spent on the upkeep of the churchyard. The end of year saw a decrease in funds by £1628.
For 2024, we are again predicting a shortfall due to reduced congregations and increased costs. We are still trying to encourage our regular giving. The PCC is aware and is working with the Diocese and will closely scrutinise all expenses during the year to try to minimise the problem.
Reserves policy
It is the PCC policy to maintain a reserve balance on unrestricted funds which equates to 3 month’s general running costs plus one month’s salary costs and redundancy liabilities for paid employees. This was reviewed in November 2023 and remains at £25000 and will be reviewed annually. It is held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies.
The remaining total in the Land and Building fund of £20,530 will be for any further improvements needed in the maintenance of the building and graveyard – especially the heating system and safety concerns regarding some of the graves. We also continue to seek to carry out our refurbishment plans.
Optional information
Volunteers
We would like to thank to all the volunteers who work to make the church lively and vibrant community especially the people who have official positions.
Structure, governance and management
The method of appointment of the PCC is set out in the Church Representation Rule. At Christchurch the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), churchwardens and members elected by those members of the 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 stand for election of 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.
The full PCC met six times in 2020 year with an average attendance of 58 %.
Given its wide responsibilities the PCC has a number of committees each dealing with a particular aspect of parish life. These committees which include fabric, outreach and pastoral are all responsible to the PCC and report back to it at each PCC meeting with decisions being discussed as necessary.
Administrative information
Christchurch, Parbold is situated on Parbold Hill, just outside the village. It is part of the Diocese of Blackburn. The correspondence address is The Vicarage, 5 Tanhouse Lane, Parbold, Lancashire.
The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rule 2006) and a charity seeking registration with the charity commission.
PCC members who have served in 2022 at any time from 1[st] January 2022 until the date this report was approved are:
Ex Officio Members
Incumbent: The Reverend Sue Timmins
Associate minister: Mr John Mountain
Associate minister: Dr Michelle Briggs
Wardens: Mr Justin Stopford (until March 2023), Mr Derek Ashcroft.
Elected members:
Mrs Joanna Ashcroft, representative on Deanery Synod (until May 2023)
Mrs Barbara Long, representative on Deanery Synod
Mrs Sue Stopford, representative on Deanery Synod (until May 2023)
Mrs Lin Milne, Treasurer
Dr Brian McGucken
Mrs Angela Worthington
Dr Steve Higgins
Mr Gavin Rowlands
Rachel Vanstone
Mrs Michelle Mawdsley (from May 2022- May 2023)
Mrs Kim Woods
Dr Paul Plant (from May 2023)
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