## **Holy Trinity Church** _**without-the-walls**_ **Blacon** Norris Road, Blacon, Chester. CH1 5DZ www.holytrinityblacon.org Registered charity number 1180853 ## **ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** **Name of the charity:** The Parochial Church Council of The Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Trinity, (Without the Walls), Blacon. Known as Holy Trinity, Blacon ## **Charity number:** 1180853 **Principal office:** Holy Trinity Church Office, Norris Road, Blacon, Chester, CH1 5DZ ## **Trustees:** 1. Rev Christina Upton 2. Mrs. Lynn Wakefield 3. Mr Clifford Jason Clarke 4. Mrs Patricia Hughes 5. Mrs June Middleton 6. Mr Kenneth Pemberton 7. Mr Jim Middleton 8. Rev Anina Thomas 9. Ms Ashley Marshall 2 ## OBJECTIVES & ACTIVITIES ## Aims and Purposes The PCC of Holy Trinity Church Blacon has the responsibility, together with its incumbent 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 adjoining Church Hall and a bungalow at 44 Southway, Blacon, Chester. ## STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as amended and Church Representation Rules that came into force on 2 January 1957 The appointment of PCC members is governed by and set out in the Church Representation Rules. The PCC is made up of individuals voted by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, for a three-year term and also ex-officio members comprising clergy, licensed workers and Deanery Synod representatives. ## ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE (INCLUDING PUBLIC BENEFIT) 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 Holy Trinity Church. 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. When planning our activities, we have considered the Commission’s 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 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 work it is important that we maintain the fabric of Holy Trinity Church Blacon and its Church Hall. 3 ## SUMMARY OF THE YEAR _We are blessed to have a strong and very gifted ministry team supporting the Rector, Associate Minister Rev Anina Thomas, Readers Sarah Dutton and Lindsay Tanner, and Canon Christopher Burkett who was ‘Assistant Curate’ at the start of the year, and by the end of the year, with Permission to Officiate. Anina summarises some of the highlights here:_ I have been asked to share some highlights and remember God’s goodness to us in 2023. The outlook for 2023 was good, although we were still recovering from the after-effects of Covid. We retained our socially distanced peace, less people were choosing to receive the cup; but otherwise the feeling was that we were moving towards a post-Pandemic reality. Ill-health and personal circumstances did impact some of our congregation this year sadly, but it was wonderful to see people cling on to Jesus in the midst. Similarly, finances continued to be tight but our faith continued to be unwavering and by the grace of God, by the end of the year, we were still standing. _“put on the full armour of God, so that… you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand”. (Eph 6:13)._ We witnessed moments of God moving profoundly amongst us, in both tangible and invisible ways. He has blessed us with His beautiful presence, given us wisdom in making difficult decisions and sustained us through another year. He prompted Ashley, a young Mum of three to be involved in leading our cafe and then later joining PCC. We have been led in inspiring worship through our organist John. More visitors started to attend and it has been wonderful to welcome new families into our worshipping core. Chris Burkett left Samantha Carter with Bishop Julie at her confirmation his Honorary Curacy with us and was promptly granted PTO, so we still had him amongst us, which was a real gift. A stand-out event this year was Sam's confirmation, taken by Bishop Julie where we saw her share her testimony 4 powerfully. This service was really profound for me as well, as I was licensed formally as an Associate Minister, having sort of graduated from being a Curate. I continue to learn though and grow and you continue to be gracious towards me as a church so a personal thank you for this. Almost as soon as Chris had said 'goodbye' in his previous capacity, he stepped up and helped cover services on Sundays whilst Tina took a leave of absence to care for Clive. Whilst Tina was away, we needed to adapt how we did things.... leading to some more unexpected highlights - encouraging whole congregation participation in sermons and more interactivity in general. More local Christians musicians have come forward to help us with our services. Our Readers have continued to serve us by preaching, leading services and supporting Tina with community endeavours. Messy Church has continued to meet. In some ways it probably looks a little noisy and messy, with people coming and going, children playing around the whole church and a wonderful mix of people, ages and stages. But my goodness, how powerful that these families, children, carers can all come together and explore faith whilst being welcomed and allowed to ‘come as you are’. Other activities have continued, such as the Summer Fair and then Christmas Fair which remain popular in the community. We continue to reach out into our local schools, seek to work with other local Christians, take Holy Communion to those who can’t get to church. ## OUTREACH PROJECTS The Community Outreach of the church has continued to thrive, with Ashley Marshall overseeing the running of the cafes. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays they have a good number of regular customers, Tuesday being much busier than the Wednesday due to the other organizations and support available. The café is a great way for people in the community to get together, socialize and get support for various things when needed. It has been nice to see positive feedback coming through from people who use the café, especially from those who have been weekly regulars since the start of my role in 2022. We still offer toast, fruit and biscuits, with the occasional cake and are continually taking other ideas on board. 5 Our Thursday café has seen a significant rise in customers over the last year, some travelling from further away to meet up with friends and meet in a “nice environment with really good bacon butties”. The café seen an increase in prices, due to the rising costs of food but we very much still pride ourselves on delivering good, affordable food in a place that customers feels welcomed and supported. Ellie Knight runs the Baby Buddies group, in its third year of welcoming new mums and their babies into Holy Trinity Church. It’s been another wonderful and successful year as we have continued to provide a warm welcome and emotional wellbeing support to new parents/carers and their little ones. Baby Buddies at its very core aims to create a safe, relaxed, friendly and caring environment for new parents and their babies to meet other new parents and their little ones and to support their emotional and social wellbeing and mental health. The group meets during term time and creates opportunities for new parents/carers to share their thoughts, feelings and experiences surrounding being a new parent/carer, whilst also enjoying a cup of tea and a piece of cake! It has been lovely to also welcome grandparents into our group this past year where mums have originally brought their babies and, due to returning to work, grandparents have continued to come along. This has added another dimension to our group and it’s been lovely to hear their voices and stories. During our sessions a plethora of themes arise that create supportive dialogues between the mums and carers, including sleep deprivation and sleep routines, feeding, weaning, baby play, communicating with babies, feelings of isolation and loneliness, support systems, self-care, hormones and expectations around being a new parent. Playtots for parents or carers and toddlers had a change of leadership during the year. Ellie had to step back in the summer, and in late autumn Cat Davis took over the role. , Playtots continued to provide a welcoming and nurturing space for children and their parents/carers to play and meet others, with the aim that God’s love will be known and felt during their time at Holy Trinity. Playtots runs during term time and is aimed at children from 0 to preschool age. During our sessions, children were given opportunities with their parents and carers to make a themed craft, experience sensory and fine motor play and explore imaginative play through a wide variety of toys. A _Creating fun in the holidays_ 6 popular point in the sessions was a free lunch and hot drink provided in the café area which supported many families. We came together at the end of each session with singing time and sensory experiences including bubbles, playing with the parachute or relaxing under a sensory blanket. The children loved taking part in singing ‘What’s in the bag?’ and enjoyed choosing different nursery rhymes each week. Throughout the term, Playtots was well attended, with a core of families who came along most weeks. We enjoyed welcoming new parents and their children, including those from Blacon Baby Buddies. For many families it continued to be a safe and enjoyable space for them to meet and socialise with other parents/carers and children which, in turn, has supported emotional wellbeing and mental health and has helped prevent social isolation. Opportunities to support the development of positive attachments through play between parents/carers and their children were seemingly experienced and consequently supported children’s self-esteem, confidence and sense of value, as reported in feedback obtained. During every school holiday we provide holiday activities, one day a week, for families, and Sue Mountford oversees the plans for these. These sessions are well attended, often around 100, and the children along with their parents/carers begin with a nourishing meal in the church hall before heading over for activities in the church and gardens (weather permitting!) We have a theme for each session and the crafts and activities are based around this. They are usually linked with the season along with other topics and this past year includes Bugs and Bees, Outer Space, My World, Seaside Fun, Trains and Exploring Nature. We’ve made mobiles, painted wooden animals, butterflies on sticks, bead bracelets, sand pictures, 7 wooden trains to name a few as well as clay modelling, seed planting and food activities which always go down well! Chocolate apples were very popular during autumn half term! There is also a quieter corner with toys for babies and an area with jigsaw puzzles and games. Garden games and football activities took place outside as well as some of the more messy play crafts when the weather allowed. We had Chester Zoo and Blacon Children’s Centre attending most sessions and they provided great entertainment with the activities they brought along for the children. Blacon Library also attended and read stories to the children. We had great fun watching a travelling Panto at Christmas, we were entertained by a Puppet theatre and families enjoyed a trip to Colwyn Bay at the end of the Summer holidays. There is a group of faithful volunteers who come along to help the children with the activities and my grateful thanks goes to them all. There is a lovely and buzzing atmosphere as the activities take place providing fun and opportunities to chat with one another. ## SAFEGUARDING REPORT I am very pleased to report that we have not had to deal with any incidents this year. It is now a requirement that any member of the PCC undertake safeguarding training and am happy to report that all members of our committee have completed it, as have all our Ministry Team. Here at Holy Trinity we are caring and supportive of each other and this is so important that people feel there is someone to go to. I would ask that anyone has any concerns that they speak to myself or Tina. Very many thanks for your support. _June Middleton Parish Safeguarding Officer_ ## FINANCIAL REVIEW ## Reserves Policy The PCC discussed the following factors in arriving at their reserves policy: Money should only be kept in reserve for specific reasons – whilst the Bible clearly indicates that we should not hoard it is also clear that sensible planning for known events and responsibly for others is important. It was felt appropriate to keep three months general running costs (£23,000) in reserve to cover unforeseen emergencies. This policy is reviewed annually. Current free reserves stand at £7,729, therefore PCC have urgently reviewed its outgoings and incomes in January 2024. 8 ## REVIEW OF FINANCIAL POSITION Holy Trinity, Blacon accounts break down into nine funds in the year: ## **Fund 1 - Church General Account** (Unrestricted) This fund shows a deficit for the year of £41,842, and this accounts for the fall-off of the reserves. It has a balance at 31[st] December 2023 of £7,516. ## **Fund 2 - Outreach Project** (Restricted) This fund shows a deficit for the year of £4,229. The fund is restricted for the purpose of supporting the work of the community Outreach Project and has a balance at 31 December 2023 of £4,962. ## **Fund 3 – Church Boilers** (Restricted) This fund is restricted for the purpose of repairing the church boilers and has a balance at 31 December 2023 of £702. ## **Fund 4 – Blacon Baby Buddies** (Restricted) This fund is restricted for the purpose of running sessions for parents living in Blacon and their babies/young children. The balance on this fund at 31 December 2023 is £1,071. ## **Fund 5 – Warm Welcome Fund** (Restricted) This fund is for the running of our Place of Warmth, at the Welcome Cafés. The balance on this fund at 31 December 2023 is £9,300. ## **Fund 6 - Church Choir Fund** (Restricted) Other than the addition of a small amount of interest there was no activity on this account. The fund is restricted for choir use, and is used only at discretion of the choir. The balance on this fund at 31 December 2023 is £422. ## **Fund 7 Hall Alterations Fund** (Restricted) This fund was to provide for the improvement of the church hall. In 2023 the flooring was renewed. The balance on this fund at 31 December 2023 was £2,800. ## **Fund 8 Toys Fund** (Restricted) This fund was to purchase toys and equipment for use by Playtots and Baby Buddies. The balance at 31 December 2023 was £600. ## **Fund 9 Holiday Fund** (Restricted) This fund is to support the holiday meals and activities. The balance at 31 December 2023 was £1,748. 9 The Parnthl•l Chu￿h Councll ofThe Eccle*•stlc•l Parfsh of H*TthIty Iwlttthtthèwallsl, Olacon Retelpts *md P•yment$ Accountforthe y•ar ended 31 D￿Mber 2023 Plrfsh Acitvll Fund Fund5 r07 Gmng & Donatbins GiftAid PCC Fees I7￿36.5? 3J67.34 1477.62 8P17.95 6.973.20 569.60 IM38.17 8.10 437.co W81.67 3A67.34 U77.62 8.W.(¢ 6,973.20 17,950.75 3,297.99 2231A5 6.738.67 7.25&30 91&83 715.48 3.17170 446.xl 18.397.45 3,297.99 2,231.85 6.7x67 7,25&J) 916.13 Soufhway Rent Parlsh Mayzlne & PrSnti Other In¢Dme Outreach Prolertlnc Grants 1.038.17 2.W.84 16.541.44 1&661.66 5.4? 7￿95 574.99 33.349.60 37.C97.29 Total R￿elP1s A70.83 1987.07 1697U4 fjV36.34 41J4457 57&99 ￿￿.77 76.ni.33 Parish Share Mlnlstry Expen5e5 Otgani5t. Ch¢ir and Worshlp Church Costs Parish Admin 37.586.76 2J80.49 3M22.20 7.9)7.(fj 8,940.47 7.073.¥J 37,58&76 36AgZ.( 2.15353 2351.56 9A32.99 16.7flJ.68 IL168.53 55.Y l?A92.11 36.49ltY) 2.153.53 2351. 2,755A4 12588.83 I6.7￿.68 11.168.53 55.Y 574.99 10.167.89 23fi34.99 3.022.20 8.037.88 8.940.47 7M27.40 I4,￿￿.?9 i>J.&) 44 Southwaycosts Outre•¢h Protsert 3J65.83 2.m.62 20.769.98 27,4173. Tot•1 Plyh￿S 70.77622 1713.62 xnii8 IOL27&02 9L7(&94 57&99 1i9Z3.73 10520&66 5uTrlu5llDeficltlforTheYe•r 13OJOS.391 21145 11¥74*741 141A6 149J6U7J 128M&331 Fund Balances Brovtht FoThnrd Translors Fuftd Balanus Carrfed Fon¥ard 7￿15￿3 21*45 2139L75 I9.u￿￿ 37IZQ9Z 35.14L49 70J6141 Afft*WolFunds Church General Account Outreach Projetts Chur¢h Bo11ers Fund alacon eaby Buddies Fund warm welwme Fund Chufch Choir Fund 751553 7.515.53 4.%2.02 70112 37J20.92 37A20.92 13,604.76 I3.￿1.?6 270.12 170. 1.784.83 1.784.83 17.(60.19 I7.0￿.19 42LS9 421.59 4948.57 702.12 1.071.33 1.071.33 9.299.66 9.299.66 421.59 421.59 2￿￿.￿? 2,W.fX) fth.OJ 6fyJ.O) 2riJ.DJ L548.48 I.7￿48 TDYS oliday 21U5 21391.75 29.￿73 93.14L49 70.96141 St*emeniolNssetsaDd Uab Royal 8ankof 5¢4tlafid Curreni Account Church of Engla￿ Deposit Fund C¥5h held whichis repay•ble 119,918.011 2&354.54 I921.￿) 113.45 22336.42 2,63L86 421.59 2&776.13 11266.161 12287.26} 19.150.91 2V.153.59 li.￿.58) 19.150.91 33.141.49 S3.295.c 11.483581 751&53 U3.45 zi.ayL.7S 29,12th73 3?￿0.91 33.141.49 70.96141 Approved bv Board of Tustees.. . q.4-.e3 Date.. io Independent Examiner's Report Ii*p•nOgnt baminqfi R•port w thg Tnrntws ot Tho P¥rrt*l¥ Thtsrch COU￿11 rf Tl* E¢clesl¥lk•l P•rlsh ol Tr•oty Trlffj (Wlthtwl Tl* W•llsl Bla¢•fft. 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