THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BISHOP AUCKLAND
REGISTERD CHARITY NUMBER 1180703
ANNUAL TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR 2022
Aims and Purposes
Bishop Auckland Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent, Revd Matthew Keddilty, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The PCC is also responsible for the maintenance of St Andrew’s Church, South Church and St Anne’s Church, Market Place, Bishop Auckland.
Objectives and Activities
When planning our activities for the year the incumbent and the PCC attach great importance to public benefit, and we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through
-
worship and prayer, learning about the Gospel and developing their trust in Jesus
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provision of pastoral care and practical support for people living in the parish
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missionary and outreach work
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship in our two churches and to become part of our parish community. Our services and worship are based around prayer, Bible reading, preaching, music and sacrament.
PCC members also provide input into the parish Mission Action Plan as they consider how we can best serve our church members, local community and the wider world through our services and activities.
Achievements and Performance
Worship and Prayer
The PCC are keen to offer a range of services during the week and over the course of the year which our community find both beneficial (especially for those who are socially isolated) and spiritually fulfilling. We try to provide a range of services: from a traditional Holy Communion service (liturgically led and with traditional hymns) in St Andrew’s each Sunday morning; a quieter Holy Communion service in St Anne’s each Thursday; and our contemporary Sunday Gathering service (of an inter-generational and interactive style, with contemporary music) in St Anne’s.
All are welcome to attend our regular services. In 2022 our parish worshipping community consisted of 105 people (17 children aged 0-10, 7 young people aged 11-17, 48 adults aged 18-69 and 33 adults aged 70+).
After the last revision of the Electoral Roll in May 2022 there were 76 people on the Church Electoral Roll.
As well as our regular services, we enable our local community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life and offer appropriate pastoral support. In 2022, 23 baptisms, 10 weddings and 35 funerals (of which 11 were conducted at a crematorium or cemetery) took place in our parish. On 30[th] October we held a service for All Souls in St Anne’s Church for the relatives of those whose funerals had been conducted in the parish during the past year so that they could light a candle, listen to a short reflection and remember their loved ones.
Work with Children, Youth & Families
During 2022 our work with children, young people and families recovered from the impact of the Covid pandemic and resulting restrictions. We undertook our weekly, term-time, activities of: Blessed Beginnings (our group for babies and toddlers and their parents / carers); Kingdom Kids (our group for 5-11s and their families) and Youth Group (for young people aged 11 -18 years). During school holidays we ran a range of activities including a free family film club (with a hot meal included) and Stay ‘n’ Play where we also distributed a week’s worth of lunches to children that attended.
Our Children & Families Mission Leader continues supporting local primary schools by delivering a programme of weekly assemblies and RE lessons. We also worked with local primary schools to produce a large colourful display in St Anne’s during the weekend of the Food Festival and a similar display of paper baubles at the Christmas Tree Festival in St Anne’s which coincided with the town’s Christmas Lights Switch-On. On both occasions many families came into church to see what their children had made in school. We also invited local primary school children to attend our free family film club, the summer holiday club and our Christingle service in St Andrew’s Church.
Ministry to the Elderly
Lay pastoral visitors visit twelve parishioners once a month and spend time talking, listening and giving communion to these people, who have been regular long-term church worshippers but who are no longer able to come to church. The pastoral visitors also visit anyone who has been in hospital and needs time to
recuperate before returning to church. Those receiving visits all say how much they enjoy them, and that they feel better afterwards.
Town Events
Once again, the Bishop Auckland Food Festival took place in April and St Anne’s Church was open throughout the weekend providing refreshments and toilet facilities as well as a place for children to play. Following the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, one of the parish’s patrons, St Andrew’s Church was the venue for the town’s civic memorial service; St Anne’s Church opened to screen Her Late Majesty’s funeral, and both churches were open daily for prayer and the leaving of condolences. On Remembrance Sunday, the church and various members, led the town’s Civic Parade at the memorial, followed by a service in St Anne’s Church. After opening for the weekend of Bishop Auckland Christmas Town with a Christmas Tree festival in St Anne’s Church, on the Saturday before Christmas, we held a carol service in the Market Place.
Helping people in need
In late 2022 we opened a Warm Hub for people to attend. It is open from 10:30am to 1:30pm each Wednesday. A warm drink and biscuits are offered on arrival with a simple lunch being served from noon. Newspapers, puzzles and crafts are available, and there is always someone around with whom to chat.
We continue to support our local food bank (part of a crisis intervention project based in Woodhouse Close Church Community Centre) through donations of food and hygiene products, in addition to financial assistance.
Throughout the year we have given to other registered charities in this country and overseas. These currently include Christians against Poverty, Compassion UK (through whom we sponsor a little boy in Kenya), The Message Trust, Medaille Trust, Mercy Ships and Prison Fellowship.
We have also supported local families by holding a baby clothing event and a school uniform event with items of clothing available free of charge or for a small donation. Grants of £1000 each from the Barbour Foundation and local Community Development Trust were used to purchase school uniform. We also keep a supply of used children’s clothes to offer to anyone who asks us for them.
When deciding which charities to support and for how long, the parish Global Mission Committee will bear in mind some of the stated priorities of the Diocese, namely poverty, children and the environment. We also continue to provide practical assistance to individuals who approach the church directly for help, and where necessary we signpost them to the appropriate agencies when longer term support is required. In our care for the wider world, we seek where possible to use Fairtrade and environmentally friendly products.
We have also helped some Ukrainian families with clothes and given practical help and support to help them with their new life in our town.
Ecumenical Involvement
Bishop Auckland Parish is a member of the Bishop Auckland Fellowship of Christian Churches (BAFCC), a grouping of local churches from various Christian denominations. Two performances of a Passion Play, organised through BAFCC, were staged on Good Friday in the Market Place outside St Anne’s Church, in which an open live screening of the event took place, as well as it being used as an ‘off-stage site’ and a first-aid station. Other BAFCC events in which the Bishop Auckland Parish were involved included the weekly Lent lunches and the ‘Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity’.
Parish Website and Facebook Page
Information about safeguarding and contact details for the parish are available on our website (www.baparish.church), and our Facebook page (Bishop Auckland Parish) is regularly updated.
Buildings
To facilitate our work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of the churches of St Andrew (Grade I listed) and St Anne (Grade 2) and ensure that all equipment is serviced and inspected as necessary.
A programme of building works is being developed to provide St Anne’s Church with more appropriate facilities needed to serve the local community. The south roof of St Anne’s Church is in need of repair / replacement, and we are currently looking into the possibility of installing solar panels or slates. A consultancy project to provide options for passive and active energy measures in St Anne’s Church, has been jointly funded by the PCC, Historic England and Durham County Council.
The heating system in St Andrew’s Church has worked very well following the installation of a new burner in 2021, and work to upgrade lighting and AV equipment was started at the end of the year.
Hire of Church Premises
St Anne’s Church has a number of spaces available for hire at reasonable rates, subject to the completion of a hire agreement which includes compliance with health and safety and safeguarding regulations. Since the easing of COVID restrictions external groups have been permitted to resume meeting on our premises.
Financial Review
In 2022 total receipts into unrestricted funds were £67,614: unrestricted voluntary donations amounted to £58,278, of which grants totalled £6,769 (comprising an energy grant of £5457 and £1312 from the DCMS (Listed Places of Worship VAT recovery); a further £9,563 was claimed as Gift Aid. Receipts from church activities, principally fees for weddings and funerals, contributed £8,956.
Of receipts into restricted funds of £22,972, grants accounted for £12,120. Most of these grants were for work with children and families.
Regular giving was very slightly down on the previous year (£35,876 - down from £36, 555 in 2021).
At £90,586, total Parish receipts were considerably lower than the £161,507 received in 2021, due mainly to a substantial decrease in grant funding.
A total of £98,282 was spent from unrestricted funds to provide the Christian ministry from Bishop Auckland Parish, including the contribution of a Diocesan Parish Share of £35,000, (£5 000 more than in 2021). Other major costs were in respect of insurance, utilities, and buildings maintenance.
Payments from restricted funds amounted to £50,043; much of the youth and children’s work was funded by grants from the Scotto Trust, with a significant additional proportion coming from Parish reserves in the form of the St Anne’s Old School Fund, which is available for application for educational purposes.
Total payments in the year were £148,325, down from the £166,098 in 2021.
The net result for the year was an excess of payments over receipts of £57,739 overall.
Based on the bank and deposit balances brought forward at the beginning of the year, the balances carried forward at 31 December 2022 thus amounted to £106,535 of unrestricted funds and £91,917 of restricted funds, that is, £198,452 in total.
The PCC wishes to thank John L Griffiths BA (Hons) Econ F.C.M.A. for once again carrying out the role of Independent Examiner of the accounts, and for requesting that his normal fee be waived in favour of a charitable donation being made.
Reserves policy
It is PCC policy to maintain a sufficient balance from unrestricted funds in its current account to cover day to day running expenses and to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time.
It is our policy to invest our funds with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund.
Staff Team in post in 2022:
Vicar - Revd Matthew Keddilty
Children & Families’ Mission Leader for 0 - 11s – Mrs Alison Keddilty
Parish Administrator – Mrs Angela MacDonald
Ministry Experience Volunteer (to 03.04.2022) – Miss Mary MacDonald
Volunteers
All our volunteers have been safely recruited and undergone appropriate training.
Safeguarding
The PCC has endorsed and operates in accordance with the House of Bishops Safeguarding Policy for children, young people and adults. Safeguarding is a standing agenda item at all full PCC and Standing Committee meetings.
Mrs Marilyn Weerasinghe continues to act as Parish Safeguarding Officer and has worked with staff members to ensure that the above safeguarding policy is being adhered to.
All our activities are risk assessed, and all paid and voluntary workers are safely recruited. DBS checks and safeguarding training are renewed every three years.
Contact details for local safeguarding officers are clearly displayed in both churches, as well as a list of emergency helplines.
Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The membership of Bishop Auckland PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), lay reader 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 to the PCC.
The PCC is responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including decisions on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. During 2022 the PCC met six times to discuss church matters. During 2022 a Finance Committee was created whose terms of reference were approved by the PCC. We also have a Global Mission Committee which meets periodically throughout the year to discuss our support for other charities and organisations at home and abroad. The Global Mission Committee is responsible to the PCC and reports back to it regularly.
Two members of the PCC sit on the Deanery Synod and Diocesan Synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the Parish and the wider structures of the Anglican Church.
Administrative Information
Bishop Auckland Parish consists of two churches: St Andrew’s Church, South Church, Bishop Auckland DL14 6FR and St Anne’s Church, Market Place, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NP. Bishop Auckland Parish is part of the Diocese of Durham within the Church of England.
The Parish Office is based in St Anne’s Church and is open Monday to Friday, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm when the Parish Administrator is available to respond to enquiries from members of the public.
The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006) and became a registered charity (number 1180703) in November 2018.
PCC members who were in office in 2022:
Ex-officio Members
Incumbent: Revd Matthew Keddilty Chairperson
Other Ministers:
Revd Eileen Harrop (until November 2022)
Reader: Mrs Catherine Taylor Vice Chair
Wardens : Mr Anthony Coulls (Warden until 15 May 2022; PCC Member thereafter)
Mr James Masters
Mr Martin Wood Representative to Deanery Synod and Diocesan Synod
Elected Members:
Miss Isobel Coulls (until 15 May)
Mrs Angela MacDonald (until 15 May 2022)
Mr John Waine
Mrs Marilyn Weerasinghe
Mr Nicholas White (until 15 May 2022)
Co-opted Members:
Mrs Jane Armstrong (Woodhouse Close Church, until November 2022)
This report and associated accounts were presented to the APCM of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Bishop Auckland on 21 May 2023.
Signed Revd Matt Keddilty
Vicar of Bishop Auckland (PCC Chairman)
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Bishop Auckland Page 1 Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
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Not Unrestric Restrict TOTAL TOTAL
e ted ed
Funds Funds 2022 2021
£ £ £ £
RECEIPTS
Voluntary Receipts:
Planned Giving 8 31,676 4,200 35,876 36,555
Collections at Services 7,192 1,254 8,446 5,981 The
Other voluntary giving 3,078 626 3,704 5,069
Gift Aid and GASDS Recovered 9,563 1,125 10,688 10,666
- -
Legacies 1,500 1,500
Grants 6,769 12,120 18,889 96,108
58,278 20,825 79,103 154,37
9
- - - -
Activities for Generating
Funds
Investment Income 1,355 592 1,947 120
Church Activities 5 7,401 1,555 8,956 7,0
a. 08
Any other income 580 - 580 -
TOTAL RECEIPTS 67,614 22,972 90,586 161,50
7
PAYMENTS
Church Activities:
Diocesan Parish Share 35,000 - 35,000 30,000
Contribution
Salaries & Honoraria 8,385 29,524 37,909 66,127
Clergy & Staff Expenses 13 1,732 - 1,732 10,5
88
Mission & Evangelism 3,447 17,963 21,4 15,555
10
Mission Giving & Donations 5 4,921 - 4,921 2,136
b.
53,485 47,487 100,9 124,40
72 6
Church Running Expenses:
Insurances 10,463 - 10,463 10,084
Church Maintenance 10,4 1,0 11,499 5,3
67 32 28
Administration Costs 6,821 - 6,821 3,882
Utilities 7, 1,43 8, 5,754
554 0 984
Other Church running expenses 5 c. 7,760 86 7,8 4,209
46
Major Church Repairs & - - - 12,007
Maintenance
Costs of trading - - - 234
96, 50,035 146, 165,90
550 585 4
Cost of Generating Funds 23 8 31 194
- -
Other Payments 1,709 1,709
TOTAL PAYMENTS 98, 50,0 148,3 166,09
282 43 25 8
EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER (30,668) (27,071) (57,7 (4,592)
PAYMENTS 39)
Transfers between funds (2,8 - -
74) 2,874
-
Adjustment to closing 7,5 8,480
balance 925 55
-
Prior year adjustment
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (32,617) (16,6 (49,259 (4,592)
42) )
Cash in hand & Bank Balances 139,152 108,559 247,711 252,30
at 1 [st] Jan 4
Cash in hand & Bank Balances 106,535 91,917 198,452 247,71
at 31 [st] Dec 1
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Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Bishop Auckland Page 2
Statement of Assets & Liabilities at 31 December
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Not Unrestri Restric TOTA TOTAL
e cted ted L
Funds Funds 2022 2021
£ £ £ £
Cash Funds
Cash in hand and bank current 3,515 15,426 18,94 31,31
account 1 5
HSBC Deposit accounts 2,924 5,791 10,75
2,867 0
-
C.B.F. Deposit funds 73,624 73,62 102,2
4 50
-
C.B.F. Trust Fund (Lightfoot 100,097 100,0 103,3
Institute) 97 97
106,536 91,9 198,4 247,
17 53 711
Other Monetary Assets
Debtors 160 - 160 151
Gift Aid Recoverable 10 - 10,50 10,68
,500 0 8
Assets retained for Church Use 2 - - - -
Liabilities
Creditors 11 1,045 -- 1,045 450
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NOTES
-
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis.
-
Non-monetary assets retained for church use but not valued for the Statement of Assets and Liabilities include fixtures & fittings and AV & office equipment.
-
The movements in restricted funds during the year were as below:
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Restricted Bal Receipt Payme Transfe Bal
B/fwd. s nts rs C/fwd.
St Anne’s Restoration Fund
68 - - - 68
St Anne’s Old School Fund 101,77 1,252 (29,88 73,1
2 5) 39
The Scotto Trust Fund 1,5 5,600 7,187 - -
87
Lord Crewe’s Charity for Relief in Need 660 7,5 8,7
641 86 55 70
-
Lord Crewe’s Charity for Relief in Need 7,555 (7,55
(See note) - 5) -
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- -
Durham County Council Bishop Auckland 3,899 1,032 2,867
Heritage Action Zone
- - -
Heritage Lottery Fund Cultural Recovery 3,490 3,490
Grant
Youth & Children - 5,543 28,772 29,885 6,656
Parish Administrator Fund - 5,625 5,625 - -
- - -
Heating Charges 1,430 1,430
The Friends of St Anne 417 417
-
115,95 23,581 47,622 91,91
8 7
Unrestricted 103,39 1,355 - (4,655) 100,0
Lightfoot Institute 7 97
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The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Bishop Auckland Page 3
St Anne’s Restoration Fund is for the restoration of St Anne’s Church.
St Anne’s Old School Fund is for educational purposes. £29,885 was used for youth and children’s work.
The Frank & Phyllis Scotto Trust Fund contains grants towards equipment and materials for children’s activities.
Lord Crewe’s Charity is to be used for Relief in Need purposes. £7 555 was brought into this fund from a closed account, omitted from 2021 financial statements.
- The PCC holds funds deposited on behalf of others with no control over the management of these funds. Donations are forwarded to charities. and the funds held on behalf of St Peter’s Chapel are segregated in a deposit account. The movements in funds held by the Parish during the year is set out below:
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Funds held as agent Bal Receip Paymen Transfe Bal
B/fwd. ts ts rs C/fwd.
(for) St Peter’s Chapel, Auckland Castle 2,905 300 - 2,605
Donations from third parties to charities 510 304 456 - 358
Fees and other payments to third parties (199) 869 8496 - 0
5
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Donations from third parties to charities contains monies collected during services for other charities and organisations.
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Bishop Auckland Page 4
NOTES (Cont.)
5. Further Analysis of Receipts and Payments
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Unrestri Restrict TOTAL TOTAL
cted ed 2022 2021
Funds Funds £ £
£ £
Receipts
a. Church activities
Fees for weddings and funerals 6,986 1,430 8,416 6,490
Trading activities:
Bookstall commission - 5 9
55 5 2
St Anne’s room hire receipts 2 - 29 238
92 2
Clothes recycling - 125 125 -
Scrap metal 68 - 68 -
Total receipts from trading 415 125 540 518
activities
7,401 1,555 8,956 7,008
Payments
b. Mission giving and donations
Albania Conference Travel 250 250 -
ANAZAO 5 50
00 0 -
Children’s Society 2 20 -
00 0
Christians Against Poverty 3 30 300
00 0
Compassion UK 3 33 336
36 6
Medaille Trust 3 30 300
00 0
Mercy Ships UK 3 30 300
00 0
Prison Fellowship 3 30 300
00 0
The Message Trust 3 30 300
00 0
Spark Ministries 2 25
50 0 -
Tearfund (Pakistan Flood Relief) 5 50
00 0 -
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-
United Society (for Ukraine) 1,0 1,08
85 5
Woodhouse Close Community 3 30 300
Centre 00 0
4,921 4,92 2,136
1
c. Other church running expenses
( N.B. These were not itemized in
2021 Financial Statements ).
Vicarage expenditure (water) 1, - 1,176
176
Church cleaning 1.040 - 1,040
Upkeep of services 762 - 762
Upkeep of churchyard 840 - 840
Governance costs 893 - 893
Ministry Experience Volunteer 3, - 3,049
housing costs 049
Warm hub - 86 86
7,760 86 7,846
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The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Bishop Auckland Page 5
NOTES (Cont.)
6 During 2022 spouse to PCC Chair was remunerated for employment as Children & Families’ Mission Leader (£23,285) plus travel expenses.
7 Verger fees are donated to PCC funds on request of the post holder.
8 Some planned giving is restricted to the parish administrator salary.
9 Independent Examiner fee is donated to Woodhouse Close Food Bank.
10 The remainder of the Cultural Recovery grant was used to purchase new tables and chairs for St Anne’s Church
11 The PCC Chair received an overpayment of expenses in December 2022 (£1,044.58) to be deducted from 2023 expenses.
12 £4,655 was withdrawn from the Lightfoot unrestricted trust fund (held by the Diocese of Durham as a Custodian Trustee)
13 No Trustees received any renumeration for services as a Trustee.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORTTO THE MEMBERSITRUSTEES OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF BISHOP AUCKLAND Registered Charity Number 1180703 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31 December 2022. Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Independent Examiner As trustees of the charity, the members of the Parochial Church Council are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The members consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (The 2011 Act)) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility.. to examine the accounts under section 145 of Ihe 2011 Act., to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)Ib) of the 2011 Act),. and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of Independent ExaMineS Statsment My examinationwas carried out in accordance with the General Directions given bythe Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented wth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent Examine$ Statement I have completed my examination. No matters have come to my attenlion in connection with the examination that give me cause to believe that in any material respect accounting records were nol kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act., and the accounts do not accord with those accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to 8nable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed.. Date: Name.. JOHN LLOYD GRIFFITHS Relevant professional Qualification(s) or body lif any) B.A. (Hons.) F.C.M.A. Address LIDO HOUSE, 22 NEW FOLD. HOLMFIRTH, WEST YORKS. HD9 2DQ