# **2020 Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St Martin’s, Hereford Part of the Benefice of South Wye, Hereford** _1_ **2020 Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St Martin’s Hereford** ## _**Page**_ - 1 Parish and PCC Information 2 PCC Membership and Policies 3,4 Electoral Roll 5 Treasurer’s Report 6,7 Rector’s Report 8 Churchwardens’ Report 9,10 Return of Parish Finance 11,12 Assets and Liabilities 13,14 Income and Expenditure 15,16 Independent Examiner’s Cert 17,18 Team Rector’s Report 19,20 2020 Lockdown Timeline ## _**Parish Information**_ St. Martin’s Church is situated in Ross Road, Hereford. It is part of the Diocese of Hereford within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The Team Office 89 Ross Road, Hereford, HR2 7RJ The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006) and a charity registered with the Charity Commission. St. Martin’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent, the Reverend Anne Dowdeswell, 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 Centre complex of St. Martin’s, Ross Road, Hereford, and our investment properties. ## _**St Martin’s PCC**_ 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 St. Martin’s. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. In particular, we try to enable the people of South Wye to live out their faith as part of our parish community through: Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel; and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus; Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish; Missionary and outreach work. To facilitate this it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church of St. Martin’s and the Church Centre. _1_ ## _**Membership**_ PCC members who have served at any time from 1st January 2020 until the date this report was approved are: _Ex Officio:_ Reverend Anne Dowdeswell _Team Rector Churchwardens_ Bruce Freeman (Jan 2020 - Oct 2020) Julia Ware Irene Goodman (Oct 2020 - present) _Deanery Synod Reps_ Bruce Freeman (Jan 2020 - Oct 2020) Bev Merrett _Secretary_ John Eden _Treasurer_ Gillian Farlow _Elected Members_ Bev Merrett Geoff Rawcliffe John Eden Clive Wilce Gillian Farlow Julia Ware Irene Goodman The PCC meet bi-monthly, during 2020 meetings were suspended during lockdown periods and essential business transacted by email. The Standing Committee has authority to transact business between meetings. ## _**Reserves Policy**_ It is the policy of the PCC to hold a minimum of £10,000 as a General Reserve to cover running costs in the event of a major problem, another £10,000 in a Restricted Building Fund to meet anticipated building maintenance costs and unforeseen repairs, and yet another £8,600 (3 months staff pay) to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and meet emergencies. ## _**Church Workers Pension Fund**_ The Scheme is considered to be a multi-employer scheme as described in Section 28 of FRS 102. This is because it is not possible to attribute the Pension Builder Scheme’s assets and liabilities to specific employers and that contributions are accounted for as if the Scheme were a defined contribution scheme. The pension costs charged to the SoFA in the year are contributions payable by and on behalf of the only eligible member of staff (2020: £1,410). _2_ ## _**2020 Electoral Roll**_ 1. AUER Frances Alexandria Ruth 2. BAYLISS Brenda Rosemary 3. BELL Daphne N 4. BISHOP Ann 5. CHILD Joanne Michelle 6. COCKROFT Susan Catherine 7. DAVIES Gwendoline May (JEAN) 8. DITCHFIELD Margaret Rose 9. EDEN John 10. EDWARDS Geoffrey Charles 11. ENGLISH Marion Rose 12. FARLOW Gillian Elizabeth 13. FREEMAN Bruce Howard 14. FREEMAN Jill 15. GILBERT Dorothy Zoela 16. GITTENS Catherine Grace Elizabeth 17. GITTENS Sarah Joan 18. GOODMAN Susan 19. GOODMAN Irene Elizabeth 20. GWYNNE Caroline Ellen 21. HACKETT Glenys 22. HAMMETT Sarah Jane 23. HARDING June Dawn 24. HARWOOD Pauline Heather 25. HARWOOD Victor 26. HEALEY Irene Dorothy 27. HYDE Leslie Martin 28. JOSEPH Joan 29. KENNETT-WISE John Duncan 30. KENNETT-WISE Pamela Jean 31. LEESON Nora Betty _3_ 32. LEWIS Sarah Louise 33. MC.CARTHY Claire Deanne 34. MERRELL Michelle Lynne 35. MERRITT Beverly Anne 36. MORRIS Ann Elizabeth 37. MUSSELL Irene Christabel 38. PEGLER Yvonne 39. PEMBRIDGE Elizabeth Mary 40. RAWCLIFFE Deanne Elizabeth 41. RAWCLIFFE Geoffrey Norman 42. RICKERS Barbara Joan 43. RICKERS William Kendall 44. SAUNDERS Beris Pamela 45. SEYMOUR Janet Ethel 46. SHARLAND Joan Margaret 47. SHARPE Pamela 48. SPICER SCOFIELD Andrea Joy 49. SPICER SCOFIELD Marie Louise 50. TALBOYS Margaret Edith 51. TREHERNE Dianne Margaret 52. WARD Gillian Mary 53. WARE Julia Dawn 54. WATKINS Debra Georgina 55. WIGGINS Barbara Ann 56. WIGGINS Gaye Clare 57. WILCE Clive Anthony 58. WILCE Marion Elsie Jean 59. WILCE Susan Caroline 60. WILCOX Sarah 61. WILLIAMS Heather Elizabeth 62. WOODCOCK Alison _4_ ## _**Treasurer’s Report on 2020 Accounts**_ I think everybody is relieved to see the end of 2020. In spite of the lockdowns and associated COVID restrictions however, the Church finances are not as bad as we had expected. Although our Income dropped by more than £12,500 our expenditure was £18,000 less giving us a very healthy surplus of £9,672 at the end of 2020. To more accurately reflect the Fixed Assets of the PCC we have now included the rental properties, using the Insurance values of the houses; the Parish Centre building and flats above was independently valued by a qualified Valuation Surveyor. For the sake of clarity, Item 01 on the Return of Parish Finance includes all planned giving and Item 14 is the total number of planned givers. We received a grant of £5,000 from Herefordshire Council to compensate for the loss of income from hall lettings whilst the building was closed. The Missioners received a grant of £1,456 to cover the cost of the distribution of food via the FareShare Scheme. Our staffing costs were nearly £6,000 less than 2019 partly due to the HMRC furlough scheme and partly due to the reduction of hours worked when the office was closed. Incidentally, in line with Church of England ethical policy, we increased the staff pay from the National Minimum Wage to the National Living Wage during 2020. Our Plate collections were more than £4,000 less and our receipts from Fees were £6,700 less. These were both due to the lack of regular services in church, especially the “Life Events” (weddings, funerals and baptisms). Whilst the Gift Day was an undoubted success it did not make up for the loss of all other fundraising events which are such an important part of our social calendar. All 5 rental properties were occupied for virtually all of 2020 and no major repairs were required. We must bear in mind, however, that several routine maintenance projects will soon need attention. The regular income from our rental properties kept us afloat when other income sources were decimated. Furthermore, the regular income and tax back from the Parish Giving Scheme has been invaluable. Please join up if you haven’t already. _5_ Church running expense were, in comparison, £5,500 less than the previous year with expenditure slightly down in each area. Hall running expenses showed a similar reduction. The surpluses of £1,200 from the Bonus Ball Scheme and £400 from the sale of the Aspiration magazines have been applied to the cost of the Missioners. In conclusion I want to thank each and every one of you for your patience and support during this difficult year. I cannot do it alone. I am hoping, as I am sure you are, that 2021 will see us enjoying a “new normal”. _Gillian Farlow_ PCC Treasurer _**Team Rector’s Report on 2020 for the South Wye Benefice**_ I usually try to shape this report around areas of the Church’s work - mission, services and so on, but this year has changed so much of our work, other areas have merged or ceased altogether and so I have laid this out differently. Difficult though it might be to believe, the first part of 2020 was relatively predictable and familiar. In January and February our regular groups met, our regular services continued and we planned for Lent and Holy Week. Looking back at our February edition of _Aspiration,_ the annual programmes for Silver Threads, Lovely Lunches and other groups are laid out. Hindsight, in this case, really is 2020, isn’t it? During this early part of the year we held very successful Superstars sessions and Messy Church and started to plan to increase meetings of the Tea-Time Praise service at Belmont to two services a month. The floods in February hit large parts of the parish and lead to the Church being used as a collection point for donations from the community to support those in need. This lead to a brief appearance for the Church on Songs of Praise. At the beginning of March we had new guidance about new hygiene practices in Church services including hand washing and receiving in one kind only. Services continued for a while, and it was a huge privilege to host a Rainbow Service with the LGBTQ+ student group from the Hereford Academy and a meeting of the Hereford Diocese Inclusive Church Forum for an evening of discussion and prayers. For a couple of Sundays we were able to hold Communion Services in Church, supported by John Eden and Theo and worked out ways to make these available online. On the 26th March I emailed the PCC following the Lockdown announcement from the Government. No services, including weddings, funerals and baptisms _6_ could take place. Funeral ministry became very challenging as only graveside and crematorium services are still permitted with only a spouse/partner, children and parents present). Through the year, Church funerals became possible although with very restricted numbers present. There was a period between stricter Lockdown when Weddings were possible with restricted attendance and some of our postponed Weddings took place then, although most have postponed until 2021 or 2022. A few small baptism services took place during the same window in the late Summer and Autumn. Sunday services were at first not allowed to take place in Church, but over the year restrictions lifted so that services could be recorded in Church, at first by the priest alone and then later with the help of a small group, for distribution on -line. On-site services later became possible for a while, before being suspended once again. We held on-site services at St Martin’s on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the team who have made our on-site and online services possible, especially Theo, Jo Child and John Eden. Keeping in touch with members of the congregation and the wider community became a priority through the year. A weekly newsletter was distributed by email and post and our pastoral care leaders and other members of the congregation checked in with people at home. An on-line coffee morning proved very popular. Moving so much of our service and mission work online caused real issues for some people without internet access, but also created opportunities for some people to join our services who have been excluded by health or other issues. Morning and Night Prayer on Facebook Live have been very popular, and are attended by many more people than had ever attended onsite, which seems to reflect a national pattern. During the year we worked to ensure that we continued to support the Messy Church and Superstars families. This evolved into monthly resources bags offering bible stories, related crafts and activities delivered to over 60 children. The Advent Course ‘Why Christmas’, written by members of the team, linked these resources with preaching, online reflections and teaching, encouraging a whole church approach to Bible study. Community engagement continued in new ways, with the use of the hall during Lockdown 1 for a community group to provide hot meals to the vulnerable, the restarting of Monday Meals on a takeaway basis and the start of a FoodShare _7_ scheme, amongst other things. The ‘Lockdown Timeline’ on pages 17 and 18 gives more details of some of our activities during 2020. I cannot finish without thanking the whole congregation for your prayers and support over the last year. In particular, Gillian has worked tirelessly as treasurer to ensure that we survive this crisis financially. Jo and David have done amazing things in the area of mission. Christine and Sharron have balanced furlough with working from home. Our church wardens have been hugely supportive and helpful. Thank you all. _Anne Dowdeswell Team Rector_ ## _**Churchwardens’ Report 2020**_ This report is going to be very different to previous reports. The pandemic struck early in 2020 the church was kept open for a while with various restrictions. But then we had to close down completely which meant no social gatherings or fundraising for the near future. But we did manage to organise a very successful St Martins gift day and a Christmas draw which kept everyone involved. The church doors may have been closed a lot this year but Rev Anne, Jo and David have made sure the love of God is still reaching us all and many more people who don’t come to church in person. Technology has played a big part in the church this year. We have been able to see our Sunday services on-line as well as Bible studies for Advent & Lent. There have also been Reflections on Thursdays, Morning and Evening prayers and even coffee mornings on Zoom. We said a sad farewell to Theo our Intern at the end of his placement with us, he was such a lovely person and joined in with us all very well. We had some very sad news at Christmas that Sian one of our former interns had passed away. She was a lovely person and would have done great things. At the delayed 2020 APCM. Irene Goodman was elected Churchwarden and Julia Ware was re-elected.Irene and I would like to thank Rev Anne, Jo & David for all their hard work and dedication to us all and everyone else who has taken part in the services. _Irene Goodman Julia Ware_ Churchwardens _8_ Return of Parish Finance parish ref -. 180075 January to December 2020 INCOMING RESOURCES parish Hereford: St Martin UNRESYRICTÈD AESTRICTED 01 Tax effictent plannbd 9￿ill9 19846 03 04 Collootions at sèrvices All olher giving ond voluntary recaipls, including appeal$ Iracurrfng And ono.off) Glfl AKI recovered Legaole$ receNed (capital value) Grants (includt reourfihg and on￿ffl 1079 318 08 07 08 8238 57n 1456 $8929 1774 ¢ross Iticome from fundro15ing aclivilies 6982 207 1Q DivlderAls, inleresl, inromo from propgrty 81c 34085 11 12 Stsiutory fees rotlined by Ihe PCC (weddinB8. funerals elo) Gross Incom9 from Ir8dinu lè.g. h811 Itttings, mogazlne, bookst811>. NOT fundra15ing. 15070 8611 13 Othèr Incty*ing r8source5 1 re¢eipls not alr6ady118ted Unrestrlcted R¢$trlcted TOTAL 103676 1981 1096ts7 14 Numbor oflgx èfflolenl planned givers 16 Number of new18gAcies rocelved Your diocose con supply notes to exHain what each saclion is. Th6$9 arn GQllSlStent with the guldanc8 prov￿0d in PCC acGountabWty, 2017. Contact (Phone Dr Looklng back across 2020, were there any exceptional circumstan¢es or slgnlflcant change The COVID 19 pondemits has $i9nrficanlly impactad bolh Inoome and Expendiluto acro85 all Bsnk Aocounls. To fully rgfiecl Ihe As$815 Of thg PCG th¢ curTent v@lue of each of our propertlès has been Ihcluded thi¥ y A SO￿ ellolble memter of sl4ff is onrDllgd in Ihe CWPF Pension Builder Scheme viilh penslon oosts of£1,410 cl We are roglslered wkh the Chaiity Commission, kegi51ralion Numbér 1179658. If Ihis forn is MOT Gompleled on behalf of ihe ontire parish, plvase Ilsl below Iho Bhurc￿S included. Deanery '. Hereford 618075Hereford'. St Martin Diocese '. Hereford RESOURCES ÈXPENDED UNResTRICTEts RESTRICTED 17 Fund-raisinu adivilies (cDs1s and paymonlsl 1157 18 Mission giwng and dDn911on8 Dlocesan parlsh %har& ¢onldbullon Salarfes, wages and honoraria Clolgy and staff expenses 30 23000 15306 19 20 21 476 8750 22 23 24 25 Church expenses.. Mlsslon and evangelltsm costs Ch￿￿h running expan8è8 CbuKh ulilily bills Costs of trading 564 23119 2872 19930 27 28 Major Tèpair$ lo tl)e ohuich buildlng Major repairs lo tha ohuroh h811 or other PCC ploperly, Including rodeooration Now burlding work lo the church, ohuroh hall, clergy housing any olhei PCC property 725 29 8$194 97 other outgoing resources I paymonls Unreslrl¢t•d Reslrl¢ted TOTAL 86195 9790 9S985 31 32 Cash and d8tThit b&18nce 8$ al 31st Dacgmb&r Invè8lments as ot 31st DÈcernbtrr 40B07 4090 REQEIPTSAND PAINENTS Date 23 Mai 2021 Name GILLIAN FARLOW Positiun HON TREASURER Ir E-malll AQCRUALS ies that may have led to ￿nusUal figures? Please provide details in the box below. '98r for Iho flrsl lime.. har9ed lo the SOFA in 2D20. 10 8 8 8 &1 Il Il èl 11 1 8 E l 1 1 8 1 8 8 12 ryj a• 13 +d Eu Q J ¥5f ég121 su u 15 I ## _**2020 Covid 19 Lockdown Timeline**_ ## **March** - Churches closed to public worship 17th March - Benefice Continuity Plan Completed - 1st online South Wye service 22nd March - Churches closed nationally - 1st Newsletter 27th March - 1st ‘Rectory service’ 29th March - Online Messy Church – resources shared with Leominster - Cosy Cuppa and Chat Facebook - online coffee morning and online Bingo - At Home with Faith - online resources for families ## **April** - 5th April Youtube Channel launched - Holy Week MTW Compline; Experience Easter Outside; the Easter Altar Online - Maundy Thursday: Service and Meditation online - Good Friday: All Age Service; Meditations on the Cross; Last Hour - Easter Sunday: Dawn Service; Easter Eucharist - Online Morning Prayer and Compline/Night Prayer M-S, 8am and 8pm - April 15th Online Souperstars - Rectors Rambles around St Martin’s and Churchyard ## **May** - May 3rd Sunday service audio available over telephone - May 10th Online service from Church again! - Prayer Requests offered in Church - My Perspectives, Daily Offices, Cosy Cuppa, At Home with Faith online ## **June** - 13th June Churches reopened for private prayer - My Perspectives, Daily Offices, Cosy Cuppa, At Home with Faith online ## **July** - 2nd July My Perspectives – an online weekly reflection - launched - 5th July – onsite public worship - online services continue - My Perspectives, Daily Offices, Cosy Cuppa, At Home with Faith online _17_ ## **August** - 26th August Gift Day and Grand Draw - Churchyard trails for families - Onsite public worship - online services continue - My Perspectives, Daily Offices, Cosy Cuppa, At Home with Faith online - Pilgrim Paths online ## **September** - Introduction of Rule of Six - compliant coffee groups - Onsite public worship - online services continue - Harvest Festivals held outside - PCC resumes meeting onsite - My Perspectives, Daily Offices, Cosy Cuppa, At Home with Faith online - Pilgrim Paths online ## **October** - Delayed APCMs held onsite - Onsite public worship - online services continue - My Perspectives, Daily Offices, Cosy Cuppa, At Home with Faith online - Pilgrim Paths online - _Superstars_ craft bags distributed ## **November** - Lockdown reinstated - Onsite Remembrance services cancelled - online provision - Onsite Sunday services suspended - online provision - _Superstars_ craft bags distributed - linked to _Wye Christmas_ - _Wye Christmas_ Advent course and linked online services ## **December** - Onsite Sunday services suspended - online provision - Christmas Day and Christmas Eve onsite services - Grand Draw online - _Wye Christmas_ Advent course and linked online services _18_