St John’s Church, Flixton
Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022
Priest in Charge: Debra Blair
Bank : The Royal Bank of Scotland, 9 Crofts Bank Road, Urmston, Manchester, M41 0TZ.
Independent Examiner: Mr John Holdsworth
The Parochial Church Council of St. John’s Church, Flixton, (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the priest in charge in promoting within the parish the mission of the Church of England.
Membership
The PCC is a registered charity, no. 1180125. Members are either ex-officio or elected by the annual parochial church meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.
During the year the following served as members of the PCC:
Neil Barnes churchwarden Geoff Andreassen, church warden Pat Beale, reader emeritus Joyce Gardner, reader emeritus Carol Cosham, deanery synod representative Janice Mortimer, deanery synod representative The Rev Rodney Green, OLM, associate minister The Rev. Nick Watson from 5.6.21
Elected members up to APCM 2022 : Brian Allsop, Neil Barnes, Michelle Byrne, Graham Dey, Sue Thatcher, Andrea Lester, Matthew Thorne, Angela Easdon Elected members from APCM 2022 : Michelle Byrne, Eileen Kelly, Gill Hampson, Sue Thatcher, Robert Beale, Graham Dey, Andrea Lester. Angela Easdon and Matt Thorne were co-opted on in key roles.
The Treasurer was Michelle Byrne The Secretary was Angela Easdon The Vice-Chairman was Geoff Andreassen
The PCC has complied with the duty under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016.
| St Johns Financial Statement 2022 Category Unrestricted Mission & General Fund Ministry Fund Receipts £ £ Tax efficient giving (Gift Aid) 1 22997.52 8720.00 Other Planned Giving 2 2988.00 0.00 Other Cash Collections at services 3 5989.81 0.00 Recurring giving, donations gift day 4 0.00 0.00 Non-recurring Donations 5 149.31 3000.00 Tax Recovered from Gift Aid 6 2286.33 0.00 Total Direct Giving 34410.97 11720.00 Other Income Diocese's energy grant, 8 1250.00 0.00 Interest from bank - current a/c 10 90.15 0.00 Interest from bank - deposit a/c 10 0.26 0.00 Interest from bank - CCLA a/c 10 667.06 0.00 PCC fees 11 392.00 0.00 Income from trading - Hall rents 12 24046.50 0.00 Income from trading - Book unit 12 290.63 0.00 Other income: loans, book sales etc 13 0.00 0.00 Total Receipts 61147.57 11720.00 Payments Tithes & donations 18 7194.74 0.00 COVID appeals (Barnabas & Christian Aid ) 18 0.00 0.00 Parish Share 19 30920.00 0.00 Clergy expenses 21 106.23 0.00 Printing, publicity & mission expenses 22 2027.84 0.00 Church running expenses 23 11623.35 0.00 Utility Bills (Church & Hall) 24 4433.15 0.00 Cost of trading Church Hall 25 5694.34 0.00 Cost of trading Book unit 25 230.54 0.00 Governance costs 26 200.00 0.00 Major repairs to church 27 0.00 0.00 Other major repairs 28 5190.00 0.00 Total Payments 67620.19 0.00 Surplus/deficit -6472.62 11720.00 |
Total funds 2022 £ 31717.52 2988.00 5989.81 0.00 3149.31 2286.33 46130.97 1250.00 90.15 0.26 667.06 392.00 24046.50 290.63 0.00 72867.57 7194.74 0.00 30920.00 106.23 2027.84 11623.35 4433.15 5694.34 230.54 200.00 0.00 5190.00 67620.19 5247.38 |
Total funds 2021 £ 31412.00 2677.00 5198.02 360.00 16144.97 11379.53 67171.52 0.00 24.08 0.03 22.21 456.00 11420.00 196.80 0.00 79290.64 5684.00 4500.00 30322.38 174.25 189.00 14243.87 3084.17 2660.96 157.13 150.00 10042.11 8107.20 79315.07 |
|---|---|---|
| -24.43 |
Note: Church and hall expenses and utility bills are bound up with each other because of shared items (insurance, cleaning, gas, electricity, water, fire extinguisher servicing, PAT testing), but if hall expenses were to be stated separately we estimate that £3,546 would be added in 2022 to Hall Costs of Trading and subtracted from Utility Bills, and a further £3,224 would be added to Hall Costs of Trading and subtracted from Church Running Expenses
Note: transactions by PCC as agent
| Receipts Fees to Diocese Scargill Payments Fees to Diocese Scargill Inclusive total receipts Inclusive total payments Inclusive surplus/deficit |
2667.63 0.00 771.00 0.00 3088.63 0.00 300.00 0.00 64586.20 11720.00 71008.82 0.00 -6422.62 11720.00 |
2667.63 771.00 3088.63 300.00 76306.20 71008.82 5297.38 |
2284.91 0.00 2495.53 0.00 81575.55 81810.60 |
|---|---|---|---|
| -235.05 |
| Sponsorship Fund (restricted) 2022 Receipts Standing Orders Deposits Gift Aid Reclaim Interest Total receipts Payments Compassion Sponsorship Other Total payments Surplus/deficit Balance as at 1st Jan Balance as at 31st Dec |
£ 802.00 0.00 49.50 1.39 852.89 808.00 30.00 838.00 14.89 656.97 717.61 |
2021 £ 782.00 13.00 25.00 0.30 820.30 |
|---|---|---|
| 742.00 742.00 |
||
| 78.30 578.67 656.97 |
Note: £45.75 paid into this account had been received in 2021
| NOTE: Book Unit bank account 2022 Receipts Income from sales Total Receipts Payments Maranatha Total payments Surplus/deficit Cash In hand & current account 1st Jan Cash in Hand 31 Dec Current account 31st Dec Total at 31 Dec Value of stock at year end |
2021 £ £ 290.63 196.80 290.63 196.80 230.54 157.13 230.54 157.13 60.09 39.67 1422.78 1383.11 18.22 0.00 1464.65 1422.78 1482.87 1422.78 500.00 500.00 |
2021 £ 196.80 196.80 |
|---|---|---|
| 157.13 157.13 |
St John's Church, Flixton. Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2022
| s Church, Flixton. Statement of assets and | liabilities as at31 | December 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | |||
| UNRESTRICTED FUNDS | Current | High Interest | CCLA | Book Unit | Totals | Totals | |
| Assets | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Bank accounts total | 28846 | 172 | 51384 | 1465 | 81867 | 90506 | |
| Cash in Hand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0 | |
| Stock | 500 | 500 | 500 | ||||
| TOTAL | 28846 | 172 | 51384 | 1983 | 82385 | 91006 | |
| Liabilities | |||||||
| Uncashed cheques | 1294 | 1294 | 3312 | ||||
| Cash held as agent | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Gift Aid due to Sponsorship A/C | 0 | 0 | 46 | ||||
| Loans | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Sequestration (incl. fees due to diocese) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| TOTAL | 1294 | 1294 | 3358 | ||||
| Net Assets | 27552 | 172 | 51384 | 1983 | 81091 | 87648 | |
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | M&M Fund | Sponsorship | Totals | £ | |||
| Assets | |||||||
| Bank Account | 12080 | 718 | 12798 | 1017 | |||
| Debtors | 0 | 0 | 46 | ||||
| TOTAL | 12080 | 718 | 12798 | 1063 | |||
| Liabilities | 0 | ||||||
| Creditors | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| TOTAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Net Assets | 12080 | 718 | 12798 | 1063 | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS | |||||||
| Net Assets | 39632 | 172 | 51384 | 1983 | 718 | 93889 | 88711 |
Review of the year 2022
We were able to start the year with Holy Communion together on the 2[nd] January, chairs remain spaced out and communion is the wafer dipped in the wine to limit the spread of infection still, but we are so thankful to be able to worship together in person. On-line church has continued alongside normal services. As covid restrictions were reduced on-line church was reduced to monthly and then to reflect the seasons of the church.
Joint services of Holy Communion have been held each Thursday morning with our friends from St. Michael’s alternating between the two churches. A group of approximately 12 attend and some of these go to Taste and See for coffee and cake and a chat after the service. Monday evening prayers in the side chapel recommenced on the 7[th] February, these prayer meetings, led by Sue Thatcher have continued throughout the year.
We hosted a World day of Prayer service on Friday the 4[th] March, the theme was God knows His plans for us, Jer. 29 and the countries represented were England, Wales and Ireland.
Daniel Eduardo from the Message came to talk to the people of St John’s and Flixton Fellowship on the 15[th] February to tell us about the exciting plans for Festival Manchester. Sue Thatcher became our prayer co-ordinator for this event. The Rev. Graham Smallman and Carol Hatton launched a new website designed to raise and discuss topical subjects and relate modern-day issues to Christianity. It signposts people to organizations where help can be obtained in relation to various problem areas. Also, people are invited to ask for prayers, listen to worship music, obtain links to Christian websites or to contribute their own personal faith testimony. Go to exploretoinspire.uk for full details.
Matt Thorne and Graham Dey started a new football club with a Christian message on the afternoon of Sunday 27[th] February at St. John’s. They are being supported in this exciting venture by Ambassadors Football(ambassadorsfootball.org). It is for boys and girls age 7-11
House groups have met regularly throughout the year run by Revd Rodney Green, Revd Graham Smallman and Revd Debra Blair, all groups have studied the book of Nehemiah.
A Lent course was held in church on Thursday 24[th] March, 31[st] March and 7[th] April at 2.30pm led by Rev. Debra and led by Rev. Debra, Rev. Rodney and Graham Smallman at 7.30pm. The theme this year was “Sit here while I pray” A booklet version of the Lent course was available on-line for those who were unable to attend any of the meetings. Housegroups, did not meet during this time.
There were services at St. Michaels and St. John’s for us to attend during Easter. There was a healing service at St. Michaels on Tuesday 12[th] April.
We celebrated Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday (14[th] April) at 10.30am at St. John’s, and in the evening, there was a special liturgy with washing of feet at St. Michael’s. It was a humbling experience to have my feet washed by the Revd. Huw.
On Good Friday (15[th] April) there was a Family Service at St. Michael’s. We gathered for a Walk of Witness at St. John’s, moving via The Ark on Ambleside Road to St. Michael’s, followed by An Hour At The Cross at St. Michael’s. We held a Meditation for Good Friday evening at St. John’s entitled “The things He carried” . On Holy Saturday there was an Easter Vigil at St. Michael’s.
On Easter Sunday we held our Family Communion service. During the service the children enjoyed an Easter egg hunt in the hall and field. Covid restrictions were further lifted meaning we were able to sing without masks. We held our Annual Parochial Church meeting on the 1[st] May.
Workdays were held in May and September and were well supported; a lot of work was completed.
Mission Community Prayer meetings commenced on the 31[st] May at 1.30pm and repeated at 7.30pm. This meeting has been held monthly in a different church in our Mission community. We hosted the prayer meeting in December.
On the 5[th] June we held a very successful Platinum Jubilee party with our friends from Flixton Fellowship. It was a free event open to the community. We had games, crafts, a football shoot out, bouncy castle, face painting and afternoon teas. It was very well attended and enjoyed by all.
We hosted the Archdeacon’s visitation for the 1[st] time at St. John’s on the 9[th] June. It was a well-attended service.
On the 11[th] July Revd Rodney and Elisabeth celebrated Revd Rodney’s 70th birthday with an Open house. It was a beautiful sunny day, everyone attending enjoyed the fellowship and wonderful food.
An Alpha course was jointly run by churches in our area. It took place at The Gallery on Brook Road on Tuesday evenings, from the 13[th] September through to the 22[nd] November. The Alpha evenings began with a light meal followed by watching a video on a topic. The 1[st] topic was “Is there more to life than this?” It was followed by a group discussion, with all opinions welcomed and respected, and finally brief reporting back. Members of St John’s helped facilitate the course. The participants went to in Llandudno in North Wales for a weekend of fellowship together .
Our Harvest Thanksgiving service was held on the 2[nd] October and tinned donations were collected for the Booth Centre, Manchester.
In October Carol Cosham restarted the Handbell Ringers, they now meet on a Tuesday evening at St John’s.
On the 10[th] October there was an evening meeting starting with a meal at the Bent Brook pub for those who wanted to eat 1[st] . this was followed by a talk in church by Carol Cosham about her recent visit to Iona
We have held six baptisms at St John’s, 2 of which have been in the service. On Sunday the 23[rd] October at 6pm at St. John’s a special service was held to license the Revd Debra Blair as the incumbent of St John’s, led by the Bishop of Middleton. It was a wonderful and joyous service; the church was full of members of our church family past and present, representatives from the community and friends and family of the Revd Debra, all there to show their love and support for her in her new ministry. After the service everyone congregated in the hall for refreshments which had been lovingly prepared by members of the congregation. Revd Debra also had a beautiful cake to cut, this was made by Janice Robb. It was a very happy occasion enjoyed by all who attended.
Three funerals were held at St John’s for members of our congregation, Jacqui and Albert Reeve and Joan Stanicliff.
We collected shoeboxes again for Samaritan’s Purse shoebox appeal, members of the congregation also donated to the on-line appeal.
Three special joint housegroup Advent evenings were held in Dec under the title- The great invitation. There were Bible readings, music, and reflections about many of the different people in the Nativity story.
Monthly morning services were held on the 2[nd] Tuesday of each month at DeBrook Lodge. There are normally around 9 residents who join with us for this act of worship. We held a joint service of Carols and Holy Communion with St Michaels on Thursday the 16[th] Dec. A service of Carols by Candlelight was held at St John’s on the 19[th] Dec with Flixton Fellowship. The choir sang some carols they had prepared. A Crib service was held on Christmas Eve and was attended by 18 children and 40 adults. We were pleased to be joined by people who are not regular attenders at St John’s. Family Communion was held on
Christmas Day. Again we give thanks to God as we were joined by people who were not regular attendees. We believe they came in response to the Christmas invites that we posted through every door.
St John’s Church, Flixton
Annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2022
Priest in Charge: Debra Blair
Bank : The Royal Bank of Scotland, 9 Crofts Bank Road, Urmston, Manchester, M41 0TZ.
Independent Examiner: Mr John Holdsworth
The Parochial Church Council of St. John’s Church, Flixton, (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the priest in charge in promoting within the parish the mission of the Church of England.
Membership
The PCC is a registered charity, no. 1180125. Members are either ex-officio or elected by the annual parochial church meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.
During the year the following served as members of the PCC:
Neil Barnes churchwarden Geoff Andreassen, church warden Pat Beale, reader emeritus Joyce Gardner, reader emeritus Carol Cosham, deanery synod representative Janice Mortimer, deanery synod representative The Rev Rodney Green, OLM, associate minister The Rev. Nick Watson from 5.6.21
Elected members up to APCM 2022 : Brian Allsop, Neil Barnes, Michelle Byrne, Graham Dey, Sue Thatcher, Andrea Lester, Matthew Thorne, Angela Easdon Elected members from APCM 2022 : Michelle Byrne, Eileen Kelly, Gill Hampson, Sue Thatcher, Robert Beale, Graham Dey, Andrea Lester. Angela Easdon and Matt Thorne were co-opted on in key roles.
The Treasurer was Michelle Byrne The Secretary was Angela Easdon The Vice-Chairman was Geoff Andreassen
The PCC has complied with the duty under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016.
| St Johns Financial Statement 2022 Category Unrestricted Mission & General Fund Ministry Fund Receipts £ £ Tax efficient giving (Gift Aid) 1 22997.52 8720.00 Other Planned Giving 2 2988.00 0.00 Other Cash Collections at services 3 5989.81 0.00 Recurring giving, donations gift day 4 0.00 0.00 Non-recurring Donations 5 149.31 3000.00 Tax Recovered from Gift Aid 6 2286.33 0.00 Total Direct Giving 34410.97 11720.00 Other Income Diocese's energy grant, 8 1250.00 0.00 Interest from bank - current a/c 10 90.15 0.00 Interest from bank - deposit a/c 10 0.26 0.00 Interest from bank - CCLA a/c 10 667.06 0.00 PCC fees 11 392.00 0.00 Income from trading - Hall rents 12 24046.50 0.00 Income from trading - Book unit 12 290.63 0.00 Other income: loans, book sales etc 13 0.00 0.00 Total Receipts 61147.57 11720.00 Payments Tithes & donations 18 7194.74 0.00 COVID appeals (Barnabas & Christian Aid ) 18 0.00 0.00 Parish Share 19 30920.00 0.00 Clergy expenses 21 106.23 0.00 Printing, publicity & mission expenses 22 2027.84 0.00 Church running expenses 23 11623.35 0.00 Utility Bills (Church & Hall) 24 4433.15 0.00 Cost of trading Church Hall 25 5694.34 0.00 Cost of trading Book unit 25 230.54 0.00 Governance costs 26 200.00 0.00 Major repairs to church 27 0.00 0.00 Other major repairs 28 5190.00 0.00 Total Payments 67620.19 0.00 Surplus/deficit -6472.62 11720.00 |
Total funds 2022 £ 31717.52 2988.00 5989.81 0.00 3149.31 2286.33 46130.97 1250.00 90.15 0.26 667.06 392.00 24046.50 290.63 0.00 72867.57 7194.74 0.00 30920.00 106.23 2027.84 11623.35 4433.15 5694.34 230.54 200.00 0.00 5190.00 67620.19 5247.38 |
Total funds 2021 £ 31412.00 2677.00 5198.02 360.00 16144.97 11379.53 67171.52 0.00 24.08 0.03 22.21 456.00 11420.00 196.80 0.00 79290.64 5684.00 4500.00 30322.38 174.25 189.00 14243.87 3084.17 2660.96 157.13 150.00 10042.11 8107.20 79315.07 |
|---|---|---|
| -24.43 |
Note: Church and hall expenses and utility bills are bound up with each other because of shared items (insurance, cleaning, gas, electricity, water, fire extinguisher servicing, PAT testing), but if hall expenses were to be stated separately we estimate that £3,546 would be added in 2022 to Hall Costs of Trading and subtracted from Utility Bills, and a further £3,224 would be added to Hall Costs of Trading and subtracted from Church Running Expenses
Note: transactions by PCC as agent
| Receipts Fees to Diocese Scargill Payments Fees to Diocese Scargill Inclusive total receipts Inclusive total payments Inclusive surplus/deficit |
2667.63 0.00 771.00 0.00 3088.63 0.00 300.00 0.00 64586.20 11720.00 71008.82 0.00 -6422.62 11720.00 |
2667.63 771.00 3088.63 300.00 76306.20 71008.82 5297.38 |
2284.91 0.00 2495.53 0.00 81575.55 81810.60 |
|---|---|---|---|
| -235.05 |
| Sponsorship Fund (restricted) 2022 Receipts Standing Orders Deposits Gift Aid Reclaim Interest Total receipts Payments Compassion Sponsorship Other Total payments Surplus/deficit Balance as at 1st Jan Balance as at 31st Dec |
£ 802.00 0.00 49.50 1.39 852.89 808.00 30.00 838.00 14.89 656.97 717.61 |
2021 £ 782.00 13.00 25.00 0.30 820.30 |
|---|---|---|
| 742.00 742.00 |
||
| 78.30 578.67 656.97 |
Note: £45.75 paid into this account had been received in 2021
| NOTE: Book Unit bank account 2022 Receipts Income from sales Total Receipts Payments Maranatha Total payments Surplus/deficit Cash In hand & current account 1st Jan Cash in Hand 31 Dec Current account 31st Dec Total at 31 Dec Value of stock at year end |
2021 £ £ 290.63 196.80 290.63 196.80 230.54 157.13 230.54 157.13 60.09 39.67 1422.78 1383.11 18.22 0.00 1464.65 1422.78 1482.87 1422.78 500.00 500.00 |
2021 £ 196.80 196.80 |
|---|---|---|
| 157.13 157.13 |
St John's Church, Flixton. Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2022
| s Church, Flixton. Statement of assets and | liabilities as at31 | December 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | |||
| UNRESTRICTED FUNDS | Current | High Interest | CCLA | Book Unit | Totals | Totals | |
| Assets | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Bank accounts total | 28846 | 172 | 51384 | 1465 | 81867 | 90506 | |
| Cash in Hand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18 | 0 | |
| Stock | 500 | 500 | 500 | ||||
| TOTAL | 28846 | 172 | 51384 | 1983 | 82385 | 91006 | |
| Liabilities | |||||||
| Uncashed cheques | 1294 | 1294 | 3312 | ||||
| Cash held as agent | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Gift Aid due to Sponsorship A/C | 0 | 0 | 46 | ||||
| Loans | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Sequestration (incl. fees due to diocese) | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| TOTAL | 1294 | 1294 | 3358 | ||||
| Net Assets | 27552 | 172 | 51384 | 1983 | 81091 | 87648 | |
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | M&M Fund | Sponsorship | Totals | £ | |||
| Assets | |||||||
| Bank Account | 12080 | 718 | 12798 | 1017 | |||
| Debtors | 0 | 0 | 46 | ||||
| TOTAL | 12080 | 718 | 12798 | 1063 | |||
| Liabilities | 0 | ||||||
| Creditors | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| TOTAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Net Assets | 12080 | 718 | 12798 | 1063 | |||
| TOTAL FUNDS | |||||||
| Net Assets | 39632 | 172 | 51384 | 1983 | 718 | 93889 | 88711 |
Review of the year 2022
We were able to start the year with Holy Communion together on the 2[nd] January, chairs remain spaced out and communion is the wafer dipped in the wine to limit the spread of infection still, but we are so thankful to be able to worship together in person. On-line church has continued alongside normal services. As covid restrictions were reduced on-line church was reduced to monthly and then to reflect the seasons of the church.
Joint services of Holy Communion have been held each Thursday morning with our friends from St. Michael’s alternating between the two churches. A group of approximately 12 attend and some of these go to Taste and See for coffee and cake and a chat after the service. Monday evening prayers in the side chapel recommenced on the 7[th] February, these prayer meetings, led by Sue Thatcher have continued throughout the year.
We hosted a World day of Prayer service on Friday the 4[th] March, the theme was God knows His plans for us, Jer. 29 and the countries represented were England, Wales and Ireland.
Daniel Eduardo from the Message came to talk to the people of St John’s and Flixton Fellowship on the 15[th] February to tell us about the exciting plans for Festival Manchester. Sue Thatcher became our prayer co-ordinator for this event. The Rev. Graham Smallman and Carol Hatton launched a new website designed to raise and discuss topical subjects and relate modern-day issues to Christianity. It signposts people to organizations where help can be obtained in relation to various problem areas. Also, people are invited to ask for prayers, listen to worship music, obtain links to Christian websites or to contribute their own personal faith testimony. Go to exploretoinspire.uk for full details.
Matt Thorne and Graham Dey started a new football club with a Christian message on the afternoon of Sunday 27[th] February at St. John’s. They are being supported in this exciting venture by Ambassadors Football(ambassadorsfootball.org). It is for boys and girls age 7-11
House groups have met regularly throughout the year run by Revd Rodney Green, Revd Graham Smallman and Revd Debra Blair, all groups have studied the book of Nehemiah.
A Lent course was held in church on Thursday 24[th] March, 31[st] March and 7[th] April at 2.30pm led by Rev. Debra and led by Rev. Debra, Rev. Rodney and Graham Smallman at 7.30pm. The theme this year was “Sit here while I pray” A booklet version of the Lent course was available on-line for those who were unable to attend any of the meetings. Housegroups, did not meet during this time.
There were services at St. Michaels and St. John’s for us to attend during Easter. There was a healing service at St. Michaels on Tuesday 12[th] April.
We celebrated Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday (14[th] April) at 10.30am at St. John’s, and in the evening, there was a special liturgy with washing of feet at St. Michael’s. It was a humbling experience to have my feet washed by the Revd. Huw.
On Good Friday (15[th] April) there was a Family Service at St. Michael’s. We gathered for a Walk of Witness at St. John’s, moving via The Ark on Ambleside Road to St. Michael’s, followed by An Hour At The Cross at St. Michael’s. We held a Meditation for Good Friday evening at St. John’s entitled “The things He carried” . On Holy Saturday there was an Easter Vigil at St. Michael’s.
On Easter Sunday we held our Family Communion service. During the service the children enjoyed an Easter egg hunt in the hall and field. Covid restrictions were further lifted meaning we were able to sing without masks. We held our Annual Parochial Church meeting on the 1[st] May.
Workdays were held in May and September and were well supported; a lot of work was completed.
Mission Community Prayer meetings commenced on the 31[st] May at 1.30pm and repeated at 7.30pm. This meeting has been held monthly in a different church in our Mission community. We hosted the prayer meeting in December.
On the 5[th] June we held a very successful Platinum Jubilee party with our friends from Flixton Fellowship. It was a free event open to the community. We had games, crafts, a football shoot out, bouncy castle, face painting and afternoon teas. It was very well attended and enjoyed by all.
We hosted the Archdeacon’s visitation for the 1[st] time at St. John’s on the 9[th] June. It was a well-attended service.
On the 11[th] July Revd Rodney and Elisabeth celebrated Revd Rodney’s 70th birthday with an Open house. It was a beautiful sunny day, everyone attending enjoyed the fellowship and wonderful food.
An Alpha course was jointly run by churches in our area. It took place at The Gallery on Brook Road on Tuesday evenings, from the 13[th] September through to the 22[nd] November. The Alpha evenings began with a light meal followed by watching a video on a topic. The 1[st] topic was “Is there more to life than this?” It was followed by a group discussion, with all opinions welcomed and respected, and finally brief reporting back. Members of St John’s helped facilitate the course. The participants went to in Llandudno in North Wales for a weekend of fellowship together .
Our Harvest Thanksgiving service was held on the 2[nd] October and tinned donations were collected for the Booth Centre, Manchester.
In October Carol Cosham restarted the Handbell Ringers, they now meet on a Tuesday evening at St John’s.
On the 10[th] October there was an evening meeting starting with a meal at the Bent Brook pub for those who wanted to eat 1[st] . this was followed by a talk in church by Carol Cosham about her recent visit to Iona
We have held six baptisms at St John’s, 2 of which have been in the service. On Sunday the 23[rd] October at 6pm at St. John’s a special service was held to license the Revd Debra Blair as the incumbent of St John’s, led by the Bishop of Middleton. It was a wonderful and joyous service; the church was full of members of our church family past and present, representatives from the community and friends and family of the Revd Debra, all there to show their love and support for her in her new ministry. After the service everyone congregated in the hall for refreshments which had been lovingly prepared by members of the congregation. Revd Debra also had a beautiful cake to cut, this was made by Janice Robb. It was a very happy occasion enjoyed by all who attended.
Three funerals were held at St John’s for members of our congregation, Jacqui and Albert Reeve and Joan Stanicliff.
We collected shoeboxes again for Samaritan’s Purse shoebox appeal, members of the congregation also donated to the on-line appeal.
Three special joint housegroup Advent evenings were held in Dec under the title- The great invitation. There were Bible readings, music, and reflections about many of the different people in the Nativity story.
Monthly morning services were held on the 2[nd] Tuesday of each month at DeBrook Lodge. There are normally around 9 residents who join with us for this act of worship. We held a joint service of Carols and Holy Communion with St Michaels on Thursday the 16[th] Dec. A service of Carols by Candlelight was held at St John’s on the 19[th] Dec with Flixton Fellowship. The choir sang some carols they had prepared. A Crib service was held on Christmas Eve and was attended by 18 children and 40 adults. We were pleased to be joined by people who are not regular attenders at St John’s. Family Communion was held on
Christmas Day. Again we give thanks to God as we were joined by people who were not regular attendees. We believe they came in response to the Christmas invites that we posted through every door.