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2023-12-31-accounts

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of North West Swindon and Lydiard Millicent

Trustees Annual Report

for the year ended 31 December 2023

The Vicarage

The Butts Lydiard Millicent Swindon SN5 3LR allsaints-online.org.uk Tel 01793 772417 Reg. Charity no. 1182788

Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 28[th] April 2024

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1 Organisation and Trustees

1 Organisation and Trustees
PCC Member Retirement Reason Note
Tina Wheeler
(Treasurer)		 March 2024 Elected Member
NickyIddon(Vice -chair) March 2023 Elected Member
Bev Kauppinnen March 2026 Elected Member/Deanery
Syno
Beverley Belcher
(Secretary)		 March 2024 Elected Member
Heather Benn March 2023 Elected Member
John Lindsay March 2025 Elected Member
Vacancy March 2022 Elected Member
Vacancy March 2022 Elected Member
Vacancy March 2022 Elected Member
Rev Tudor Robert
(Chair)		 Ex Officio Incumbent
Rev Tricia Roberts Ex Officio Minister Licensed to
Parish
John Halstead Ex Officio Churchwarden
Andrew Roberts Ex Officio Churchwarden
Julian Wright Ex Officio(2025) DeanerySynod

2. Aims and Objectives

3. Activities and Achievements

3.1 Church Membership

The electoral roll currently stands at 89 and will be revised in full in 2025.

(Beverley Belcher)

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3.2 Worship

During 2023 we continued to offer an 8am Holy Communion Service along with a 10.30am service with Holy Communion on 2[nd] and 4[th] Sunday of each month. The monthly Communion moved to twice a month at 10am on a Thursday.

3.3 Annual Sunday Attendance

Year
Service
Attendance		 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
8.00 Adult Ave 13 12 13 12 12 12 11 9 10 9 7
7
4		 5
8.00 Adult Norm 13 12 13 12 12 12 11 9 10 9 7 7 4 5
9.30 Adult Ave - - - - - - 14 11 12 11 9 2
9.30 Adult Norm - - - - - - 14 11 13 10 10 2
9.30 Child Ave - - - - - - 12 9 10 11 6 1
9.30 Child Norm - - - - - - 12 9 11 12 6 1
10.30 Adult Ave 61 62 59 54 52 52 52 50 47 47 45 28 25 25 26
10.30 Adult Norm 54 59 57 49 47 45 43 48 49 50 41 30 23 25 26
10.30 Child Ave 23 22 21 19 17 15 12 10 9 5 4 1 1 2 5
10.30 Child Norm 21 20 20 17 16 14 13 11 7 6 2 1 1 2 5
6.30 Adult Ave 15 15 19 13 15 5 - - - 15 9 -
6.30 Adult Norm 12 9 8 6 5 5 - - - 15 10 -
6.30 Child Ave 0 -
6.30 Child Norm 0 -
Thurs Com Adult 4 7 8 7
Thurs Com child 4 7 8 2
YouTube* Total
number of views		 3195 1281
YouTube* average
weeklyview		 80 53

The figures for 2009 to 2014 6:30 services include large figures at Partnership services. The 6:30pm began to be reintroduced in 2019 but due to low numbers stopped again mid-2019.

*The YouTube numbers are the viewing figures as listed on YouTube on 11/3/2021. We do not know how many people may have viewed the service as a household or the age of the viewer.

The Monthly Communion Service was stopped completely in March 2020 and did not restart until mid-2021 due to Covid restrictions.

The 8am Holy Communion Service did not take place during 2021 due to Covid restrictions and restarted in February 2022.

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3.4 Christmas Services

Year
Service
Attendance		 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2022 2023
Christingle 81 86 87 85 60 81 92 121 150 75* 27 - Jan
28		 Dec
3		 n/a
Children 40 40 55 31 29 57 53 63 75 30* 18 - Jan
22		 Dec
3		 n/a
Carols 121 87 121 113 119 134 128 109 109 128 100 - 57 51 54
Children 20 20 23 21 25 34 69 19 37 12 7 - 6 5 2
Christmas Eve 86 89 146 65 85 81 92 121 150 146
*		 92 - 42 95 100
Children 63 46 48 15 35 57 53 63 75 40* 44 - 16 50 40
Midnight
Comm		 60 61 57 62 48 52 60 55 55 50 54 22 20 29
Children 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 1 3 3 5 0 1 0
Christmas Day 77 66 74 52 73 60 35 54 66 54 45 17 26 26 22
Children 24 22 26 17 18 7 12 15 9 5 9 2 1 3 2
Youtube Carol
Service		 59
Youtube
Christmas Day		 51

In 2021 we did not hold a Christingle Service in December but it was held on 3[rd] January 2022. In 2023 we did not hold a Christingle Service in church but facilitated this to be held at Lydiard Millicent School as part of a school assembly.

In 2022 we held a Christingle Service in January and again in December.

In 2021 there was no Midnight Communion Service. YouTube services were stopped mid-2021.

3.5 Easter Services

3.5 Easter Services
Year
Service
Attendance		 2020 2021 2022 2023
*YouTube Maundy
Thursday		 42
*YouTube Good
Friday		 58 43
Good FridayService 18 7 49
Children 6 2 27
Last hour at the cross 15 8
Children 0 0
Easter Day 42 41 47
Children 3 4 13
*YouTube Easter Day 90 61

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*The YouTube numbers are the viewing figures as listed on YouTube on 11/3/2022. We do not know how many people may have viewed the service as a household or the age of the viewer.

In 2020 there were no Easter Services in Church due to Covid.

Due to Covid there was no Service on Maundy Thursday in 2021. Once again this was available on YouTube. In 2021 a Good Friday service was held outside church along with a YouTube pre-recorded service.

In 2023 the Good Friday 10.30am service was planned and run by Bev Kauppinen (Schools and Children’s Worker) and the young people.

Occasional Offices

During the year, there were five Weddings, four Baptisms, Tudor conducted eight funerals and one memorial service.

3.6 PCC Secretary

During 2023 the PCC continued to meet regularly mainly at the vicarage. During the year we held 9 meetings and continued to follow the pattern of opening with a Bible reading and a prayer, a more focused section for prayer in the middle and ending with prayer. I am pleased to report that attendance has been good and if we have had to miss a meeting it has only been one over the year.

This year we have, continued to work on reordering plans as well as looking at our response to Eco church and the Transforming Church plan from the Diocese. In the coming year will be continuing to work on the reordering and the plans for moving out of the church while the roof is replaced.

Once again, I am grateful to Tina Wheeler who kindly proofreads for me. As always, we work on behalf of the church members so please speak to any of us about any concerns or ideas. Currently there are vacancies on the PCC so if you would like to be involved, please talk to one of us – you would be most welcome.

( Beverley Belcher)

3.7 Deanery Synod Report

2023 was a year when a new Deanery Synod was elected on the three-yearly cycle. The clergy remain the same as they are on Deanery synod as part of their role, but all the lay members of synod were re-elected at the APCMS. 15 members stood down, including John Bishop from New Town after 50 years on Deanery Synod, and 10 new members joined, while 22 continued in role. The Deanery is very grateful to everyone who serves on Deanery Synod and helps us to work together as parishes with a shared commitment to seeing God’s Kingdom come across the Deanery.

Deanery Synod met four times during the year, with the Deanery Leadership team (DLT) meeting between synods to plan the agenda and work on the Deanery Vision. The Deanery vision was kicked off by the DLT in May, with input from the clergy chapter and we are hoping to develop and begin implementing the plan that flows from it parts of it during 2024.

In February we met at St John’s Haydon Wick with Archdeacon Christopher to hear the progress on the Diocesan Vision, Transforming Church Together (TCT) and to discuss what it might mean for our parish and how we can work together across the Deanery.

In May, at St Philip’s Upper Stratton, Chris Dobson came in his role as Adviser for Parish Discipleship and Evangelism to follow up one of the strands from TCT, developing discipleship and evangelism. He was keen to hear of our experiences of discipleship and evangelism to inform his work.

In July, with the new synod elected, we had a barbeque as one of the final events at Legge House. This helped us to get to know one another better and we received feedback on the draft Deanery vision. David Cain was re-elected as Lay -chair and Helen Watt as Deanery synod Secretary. We were grateful to Chris Pope for his years as Deanery treasurer and elected Anthony Slack in his place. The house of laity elected James Greenslade, Abby Scott and Dave Templar as members of DLT and the clergy elected Toby Boutle, Elveen Mead and Lydia Morey.

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The final meeting of the year was at St Michael’s Highworth in November when the Deanery vision was presented and there was discussion about the way forward under each of the nine headlines. You can find the Vision document presented to the November Synod here https://nschurch.org.uk/swindon-deaneryvision.php.

At every meeting we heard updates on local and diocesan priorities, including Racial Justice, eco church and the cost-of-living crisis, as well as worshipping in a variety of styles and enjoying the hospitality of the host church.

We have had one meeting in 2024 on 6th February at St John Church Parks when we were introduced to the new Bishop of Swindon, Rt Rev Neil Warwick. The rest of the meeting focused on Education which included: Open the Book Assemblies (Heather Benn and Team), Experience pilgrimage, Chaplaincy in secondary schools and a Young person’s perspective by Joanna Ibitoye a very eloquent and wise 14-year-old.

Swindon Deanery encourages anyone with an interest in the wider deanery and the topic under discussion to come to our meetings. Please speak to your Deanery Synod reps if you would like to know more. As well as Tudor they are Bev Kauppinen and Julian Wright.

(Julian Wright)

3.8 Worship and Music Team

With a few notable exceptions, 2023 was a relatively quiet year for our musicians. Whenever possible we provided live music at the 10.30 Sunday morning service, usually a mix of organ, piano and guitar. This was backed up by the use of Worship Lyric Videos when musicians were not available. We aim to provide a mix of traditional hymns and more modern worship songs.

The exceptions were All-Age services led by our Children’s worker, Bev, and young people from three local schools, one on Good Friday, one in July and one on Christmas Eve. A drum kit was borrowed and squeezed in, and the young people played, sang, danced, acted, preached and prayed, with some gymnastics and puppets thrown in for good measure. They wrote new words to well-known tunes (eg ‘We will, we will listen’) and performed a completely new song, ‘Mary’s Song’ written by Alison Spencer.

Other notable services during the year were two Sunday morning services including baptisms, and Coronation Sunday on 7 May. At Christmas we held our usual Carol Service using the nine lessons and carols format, with singing led by a small choir.

Thanks go to Karen for putting together the slides for our services and to the Sound Team for making sure it all works on a Sunday morning.

( Anne Dwight and Ginnie Heads)

3.9 Open the Book Assemblies in Primary Schools

Open the Book is a bible story telling programme in primary schools and part of Bible Society. In 2023 The Open the Book team has established themselves in four primary schools, Shaw Ridge, Peatmoor, Tregoze and Westlea. We have increased our provision in Westlea and Peatmoor schools to fortnightly (three assemblies per term) in line with Tregoze. Our founding school Shaw Ridge continues to receive monthly assemblies (two per term).

In 2023 we gave a total of 61 assemblies on Wednesdays with a team of 20 people from five different churches (All Saints Lydiard Millicent, St Mary’s Lydiard Tregoze, Holy Trinity Shaw, Westlea and Freshbrook). We value the relationships that have been built up between the churches working together which has enabled the team to serve these schools so well.

Schools are very encouraging and supportive of the team and appreciate the message the stories bring. Our relationships with schools remain good with a change of two new school contacts for Shaw Ridge (Natasha Halliwell) and Westlea (Claire Wright).

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We have been given a resource room at Holy Trinity Church, Shaw to meet in and store our costumes and props. We have signed up to the new Bible Society membership scheme (a requirement from Sept 2024) and trialled some of the new stories in all schools. We have welcomed Lindsay from All Saints to the team and said goodbye to Bob and Wendy from Holy Trinity. It has been a tough but enjoyable year. In 2024 the challenge will be to nurture the doors opened to us with deepening commitment and relationship.

( Heather Benn 03/04/24)

3.10 Children’s Church and Schools’ Worker Report

My second year in post started with a wonderful trip to Uganda, courtesy of church members; the generosity of whom, I will never forget. It was a truly wonderful experience, filled with incredible moments of growth, learning, and connection. The trip allowed me to witness the beauty of the people but also the incredible poverty, that I had never seen the like of before. A real juxtaposition.

BASH - Bible And Sharing Hour (and a half) our Friday evening youth group, has been thriving with a consistent attendance of between eight and twelve children. The enthusiasm and engagement of the children during our sessions has been inspiring.

While the BASH Friday evening youth group has been flourishing, I would like to request prayer for the SPOT Sunday school. The attendance numbers have not been that high. However, I firmly believe in the power of prayer and know that with God's guidance, we can see a positive change in the numbers. Please join me in praying for increased attendance and for SPOT to become a place of joy and spiritual growth for the children.

I am so grateful that Judith Mumford has become a regular helper at SPOT, especially with the departure of Alison Spencer. Her contributions are invaluable, she has a wonderful way with the youngsters and is a font of knowledge. Thankfully, she is also very flexible and adaptable and copes with whatever I throw her way!

I have continued to work actively in Lydiard Millicent, Ridgeway Farm, and Peatmoor schools. Working with Tudor is a delight, in spite of the health issues with both of our spouses we have managed to have meaningful times of joy, laughter, prayer and reflection. Tudor is unique in his approach and brings an infectious energy and enthusiasm that the children love. He has allowed me autonomy and freedom to make the role my own and I am very grateful for that.

The response from all three schools has continued to be incredibly encouraging. I have been able to build meaningful relationships with both the students and staff, creating a safe and welcoming environment for young people. We have discussions about faith and their challenges, anything from friends falling out to a boy who wasn’t sure he could cope with an RE lesson last week, because the dog walker had lost his dog. Sadly, the dog got trapped in water and died. It is, genuinely a privilege to be allowed into these youngster’s lives.

As well as teaching in Ridgeway Farm, Peatmoor school have asked me to deliver some lessons to years four, five and six, this year. This should have happened in January but due to my back issues, which meant I was not able to work for almost three weeks, this will now happen in term five.

Our Christmas all-age service saw a wonderful attendance, with families and children coming together to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It was a fabulous occasion filled with love, laughter, and a true sense of community. It was brilliant to see the church full of so many youngsters and their families.

We are now rehearsing hard for the Good Friday service, and I am pleased to share that the script has been written. I am excited about Easter. Christmas is fun and it was a large undertaking but helping them to understand the real significance of Easter - Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection, is so important to me.

Therefore, there is not the same joviality in this script as at Christmas, it wouldn’t have been appropriate, not on Good Friday. We are using puppets and will have four interactive stations; I just pray that the Good News message really hits home. I am being lifted on a weekly basis by the youngsters singing, ‘I have decided to follow Jesus’ at the tops of their voices!

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Future events include the church yard plant, save in the nave, confirmation classes and the end of the academic year, all age service.

I want to finish by saying how grateful I am to have the opportunity to engage with youngsters in various activities within school and the church. It is a contrast to my home life with Ron’s illness, whilst he continues to be amazing, the role really is a blessing. I am so pleased there is money to extend the role for another six months.

Moving forward, my prayer and I hope everyone’s in the church is, for transformation in terms of filling the church with youngsters, and hopefully their parents every Sunday. I believe that through our continued efforts, prayer, and God's grace and Holy Spirit, we will see a positive change and a wonderful youth presence in our church.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. My biggest thanks has to go to Nicky Iddon, she really is my right hand person and without whom all that has happened with SPOT and BASH would not have happened. In addition, she has the children’s vote as the best cheese and ham, or baked bean, toasties maker ever!

(Bev Kauppinen)

3.11 Bell Ringing

In May 2023 we had the privilege of ringing for the Coronation of King Charles 111 and Queen Camilla – a truly historic occasion. Documentation to record this is displayed in the tower. A Quarter Peal was also rung in honour of the event.

We also rang for four weddings and for the funeral of a local man who loved the sound of church bells. Money from this and also from visiting bands gave tower finances a boost and we have a healthy budget to invest in a few tower essentials to aid our ringers to learn and progress.

We usually have around 8-9 ringers on Sunday mornings and also at our weekly practices. A couple of regular visitors support us to enable ringing of a few more advanced methods and to progress the abilities of our local band. This is good as several other churches regularly have to cancel Sunday ringing as there are not enough people to ring.

We have also hosted three or four visiting groups over the year, and this enables us to learn from them.

Sadly, two of our long-standing ringers have retired this year, we will miss their support and it also leaves us with an immediate problem for regular maintenance. However, discussions are ongoing with a couple of people and we expect this to be resolved in the next few weeks.

Overall, we have had a good year, numbers are steady, and learners have progressed well. Our thanks to the church wardens, vicar and congregation for ongoing help and support. It is good to know we are appreciated.

(Ann Hutchinson and Jeanette Ferris (joint Tower Captains ))

3.12 Saturday Men’s Breakfast and Bible Study

This group meets each first Saturday of the month at 8am in Church. We normally finish by about 9am. Hot bacon is prepared at the Vicarage and brought down to Church, along with bread rolls, tea and coffee etc. Then everyone helps get the tables up, plates out and the coffee and tea on. We use church mugs which then go back to the Vicarage to go in the dishwasher.

Anything from six to ten men turn up and having had a hearty breakfast we then turn to a short Bible study which is designed to be particularly helpful to the challenges, stresses, and joys that man may find in their Christian walk. Many studies show that men are more likely not to talk so easily about issues, particularly of mental health, as women might do, as well as open up about what turns up in the Bible. We have tackled some challenging passages this last year from the book of Judges, Revelation, and the gospels.

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I think that many men who come find it helpful to be able to chat things through in a safe setting, and to hear about each other’s lives. We are all looking forward to the day that a servery may get installed in the Church as this would make serving breakfast so much easier, but in the meantime, its good, early on Saturday morning, to meet in Church and relationships are built as we all clear up afterwards.

Jesus spent considerable time with small groups of men as well as with women like Martha and Mary. There is something about setting aside one morning per month to meet. I am grateful to all the men that sacrifice a morning in bed to travel out to what at first is a cold church before it heats up.

We welcome anyone that would like to join and can guarantee it’s a friendly an open group that wants to help each other be disciples, share friendships and grow closer to God as well as enjoy a bacon butty. We are now an international group with men from Ukraine, Germany and Wales!

(Tudor Roberts)

3.13 Thursday afternoon Bible Study Group

We meet at the Vicarage, the Butts Lydiard Millicent each Thursday at 2pm.

Some good news! At times, this term (spring term) we have had to put out extra chairs. In one sense we don’t do anything radical. We have been looking at Mark’s Gospel, at first with a guidebook and recently without, as we study Mark chapters nine to sixteen. This group first started as a place where anyone could come that wanted to have fellowship, drink tea, and look at something from that Bible that will get us talking. Each session begins with a sharing from each person about something good and something challenging during the week, then following prayer, we read a section of the Bible e.g. the first part of Mark’s gospel chapter nine. People value an open and safe place where questions can be talked through, when we can relate scripture to our daily lives, and then pray at the end of the session for our week ahead and anything that came up in the bible study. We start at 2pm each Thursday and finish around 3.30pm. When everyone comes there are about eight people, most Thursday’s there are about six or seven people. Soot’s, the Vicarage cat, enjoys sitting on peoples’ laps and on occasions raiding the milk jug. If this sort of group and meeting appeals to you, why don’t you come along, or if you want help in setting up a similar group on a different day then just ask.

(Tudor Roberts)

3.14 Safeguarding

All Saints is committed to Safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk and as a result regularly reviews our Safeguarding Policy and follows safer recruitment practices. All appointments are approved by the PCC once the safer recruitment procedure has been followed. I also provide a Safeguarding report to the PCC every meeting.

It is a requirement that all who work with children, young people or adults at risk need to obtain a DBS check and this has to be renewed every three years. As well as this they all must undertake Safeguarding Training at a level appropriate to their level of responsibility, which again has to be renewed every three years.

In 2023

Both the Basic and Foundation Safeguarding courses are available online and can be completed by anyone at a time convenient to you. Should you wish to do so please let me know and I will organise this for you.

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I am also pleased to report that no Safeguarding concerns were bought to my attention during 2023.

Also, during 2023 the Diocese released their Safeguarding Hub and Dashboard for the recording of all training, DBS checks and monitoring of Safeguarding actions including job descriptions and risk assessments. I am gradually transferring all our records to these.

I wish to thank all those who have responded to my requests to complete training, provide references or renew DBS checks without complaint and so promptly.

In the coming year we shall continue to raise awareness of Safeguarding issues and review our policies and practices in line with government and Diocesan requirements.

(Beverley Belcher)

3.15 Churchwardens’ Report

The year has, in general, passed comparatively smoothly and may I thank John for his expertise with the practical matters.

At the time of writing, the Chancel walls are being plastered. The first coat was done a few weeks ago but, due to the very wet weather recently, the wall is still too wet for subsequent plasters.

I carry out quarterly checks of the interior and exterior and have not noticed anything untoward.

The Parish Council have continued holding their monthly meetings with us although this may once again change in the not-too-distant future.

John and I attended the Triennial Inspection which went successfully with a few administrative observations made.

May we thank Anne and Ginnie for their help with the music for Sunday services and to Sally Griffiths and all the flower arrangers for their colourful efforts throughout the year. We would also like to thank all those who have covered sides duties, readings, sound system and to Nicky Iddon for seeing to post-service refreshments on many occasions.

Due to the exhaustive efforts of Bev Kaupinnen and Nicky Iddon, regular children’s BASH and SPOT sessions have been held in the church and Parish Hall.

We will be having a PAT Test around June or July and I have managed to secure the services of a local man for this purpose.

We are currently discussing possible solutions to the water in the crypt area and a mouse in the vestry cupboard which has discovered a way of pinching the cheese and finding its way out of the humane trap. I did contact the local pest control person in Purton but, due to health issues, he is unable to help out at present.

(Andrew Roberts)

3.16 Reordering Project

Restoration and Renewal Report

The team includes Revd Tudor Roberts, Robert Bednarski, John Halstead, Nicky Iddon, Tina Wheeler and Julian Wright. We are committed to making our beautiful, ancient building accessible, hospitable and flexible so it can be used in all sorts of creative ways for God’s mission and provide a community hub at the heart of the surrounding area.

Renewal

Our faculty for the reordering of the church was submitted in May 2023 and included some changes from original for concessions to the conservation bodies. The main objections of the conservation bodies were the removal of all pews.

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At the end of 2023, the Chancellor approved the faculty application. He stated however that the case for the removal of pews had not been made and none could therefore be removed. He also set the conditions ;

  1. That no building work may commence until all funds are in place for the Works.

  2. That no building work may commence until the organ has been re-housed.

It has proved very difficult to rehome the organ as required and without the removal of at least some pews, it is impractical to install a servery, WC and storage, as this will leave no space in the church. The team therefore decided to submit a new faculty split into three phases to allow for us raise each tranche of money as needed.

Phase 1

  1. Removal of the pews in the south aisle only

  2. Installation of a wooden floor level with the pew bases of the remaining pews

  3. A revised heating solution (not including underfloor heating)

~~4.~~ Retaining the existing carved relief panel at the entrance, replacing the ‘green’ lobby doors with glazed doors

Phase 2

  1. Installation of a Servery at the west end of the south aisle

Phase 3

  1. Installation of a WC at the west end of the south aisle

It may be possible to carry out Phase 1 while the nave roof is being repaired.

The conservation bodies have stated that they would not object to the proposals above subject to full details. We are in the process of drawing up the detail of this new faculty.

Restoration

In Feb 2023 our architect’s Nave re-roofing Invitation to Tender was sent out. We received two quotes for the work and appointed Rixon, who carried out the work on the Chancel Roof.

We have permission to carry out this repair but can’t start the work until we have the bat surveys (scheduled to start May 2024), Natural England licence and the tiles have been delivered. We have raised £52,750 in grants with a further £25,000 in applications awaiting a decision. We also received generous donations of £5,600 (£7,000 with gift aid).

We are hoping the roof repair will commence in September this year. Once the work commences, we will be holding Sunday Services in the Parish Hall.

(Reordering team)

3.17 ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMPION REPORT

Activities and Achievements

Water Conservation : In May 2023, John Halstead installed a water butt next to the shed to collect rainwater, enabling the watering of wildflowers with natural resources. This initiative not only saves water, a precious resource, but also provides better nourishment for the plants.

Wildlife Conservation : In 2023 the back of the church was left unmown to let the wildflowers through, because however the soil is too rich, the grass smothered these.

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The plan is therefore to plant wildflowers in the beds at the back of the churchyard, and to leave one or two circles of unmown grass where the vigorous wildflowers such as oxeye daisy exist. It will be possible to manage these circles so that the cuttings are completely removed to impoverish the soil.

Engagement with Young People : In collaboration with Bev Kauppinen, we showed 30 children (4–5-yearolds) from Lydiard Primary School around the churchyard in July 2023 and gave them a ‘Minibeast Hunt’ challenge to complete over the summer. The wildflower beds at the back of the church were planted with wildflower seeds with the help of nine young people from SPOT/BASH on Sunday 17th March 2024. They did a great job and were rewarded with hot chocolate, marshmallows and squirty cream.

Recognition : In addition to our current Eco Church Bronze Award, we received the Bishop’s Award for Good Management for Wildlife, in August 2023.

Energy Efficiency : In October 2023 the Diocese carried out an Energy Audit of the church and we received a report of their recommendations in February. We are entitled to a £10K grant if we invest to reduce our carbon footprint as per their recommendations. The report advises against all forms of heat pump that we were considering to replace the boiler. It strongly recommends against underfloor heating which was part of our reordering faculty. The main thrust of the report is to replace heating of the air within the building to radiant heating to warm people instead. John Halstead and I will therefore be exploring options for radiant heaters within the church and the underfloor heating has been removed from the new faculty.

Training and Collaboration : I completed the Diocese Carbon Literacy Training and am meeting monthly with the Eco Champions of Christchurch and Wroughton to pool knowledge and potentially collaborate on joint Eco events.

Promoting Sustainability : In November 2023 I gave a short talk on having a more sustainable Christmas.

Nicky (Eco Champion)

3.17 Vicar’s Report 2023/24

St Paul wrote to the Church in Ephesus in Ephesians 3:20-21 “ 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen”

It is remarkably interesting to mentally go back over the year gone and recall what happened and how God has been with us all. Last year we held Experience Easter in Church and on a recent governor visit at Lydiard Millicent school the children had pictures of this event in their RE books and showed them to me.

Last year as I went through my diary we were working on the following:

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It’s been great to see children want to get involved, want to get baptised and be confirmed. Of course, there are ‘still hills to climb’ as we rebuild the Church from the Covid period, and in this time pastoral contact with people has been as important as what happens in Church.

It’s been very encouraging to see Andrew Farmer accept his post as Headteacher at Lydiard Millicent Church of England primary School. It’s a great school that I have been going into for 18 years to take assemblies and serve on the Governing board. Equally Laura at Ridgeway and Libby at Peatmoor are great to work with.

Personally, this year has been one of joys and real struggles. Our Son Theo’s wedding to Elisa was a real time of joy, and Tricia’s diagnosis of Lymphoma Cancer, in late September, a sudden change for Tricia myself and the whole family and this continues to be a struggle as I write. Yet within this struggle we have met much kindness and realised how amazing the Oncology ward in Great Western Hospital is. With all this change it wasn’t surprising I made the decision to take some time off in November and hand over the Remembrance service and other services to a replacement minister for two weeks. Thank you to those who stepped up.

Looking back these were some other features of Church and parish life in 2023/24.

Looking at the verse I quoted at the Beginning I wonder whether as a church and a parish I/we really do realise that God can do more that we imagine. If you read the verse carefully St Paul draws the readers attention not to our own inner resources but to God working in us.

My prayer for this AGM is that we might realize more greatly and dare to believe with faith more courageously how great God’s plans are for those that trust in him.

As Hannah Whittall Smith said, “perfect obedience would be perfect happiness if only we had perfect confidence in the power we are obeying.” Thank you to all who make All Saints Church and the living Church the “Ecclesia” the body of Christ be one where people catch a glimpse of God’s glory and power.

(Tudor Roberts Passion week 2024)

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4.0 Financial Review

4.1 Financial Arrangements

Banking Facilities: Barclays Bank, Regent Street, Swindon Planned Giving Organiser: Tina Wheeler

Independent Examiner: Nikoleta Bates, King Charles Road, Swindon

4.2 Treasurer’s report 2023 Financial Report

At the start of the year the budget for 2023 predicted a £14,500 deficit at the end of the year, based on anticipated income and expenditure. Our income over the year was higher than expected and expenses lower therefore the deficit at the end of the year was £3,420. This deficit is due to the PCC honouring our 10% tithe to the usual organisations.

The PCC decided to move the funds for reordering and roof repair from the discretionary fund to a restricted Special Projects fund. This is because income to a discretionary fund is included in the diocese calculation for our Parish Share making the requested sum much higher than it should be. We currently give more Parish Share, than the requested amount, after removing the discretionary income from the calculation.

We are currently applying for grants and fundraising for the Nave roof. It is planned to start work on the roof in September 2024, after obtaining the necessary licences and roof tiles. We have already been awarded five grants, totaling £52,750, these can be claimed with supporting invoices when work has been carried out. Two of the organisations have actually paid the grant in advance and it is reflected in the accounts. We are awaiting the outcome on a further two grant applications. Any residue from the Nave roof repair, will be held for the reordering.

We are holding sufficient funds to continue to employ the Children’s worker until the end of 2024 when we will need to consider how to fund this work going forward.

The PCC will welcome any donations towards either of these funds.

The PCC have approved the reserves policy which states why we are holding reserves and how much. It is a requirement of the charity commission that members are aware of this policy.

Thank you to everyone who has helped our finances to remain healthy during 2023.

(Tina Wheeler)

4.3 Reserves Policy

All Saints Church Trustees Annual Report - Reserves Policy 2023

The Reserves Policy deals with our General Fund of £51,692 at the end of 2023.

Other funds which are NOT required to be included in our reserves are:

  1. Building Fund £3,659 (Restricted)

  2. Bell Fund £3,211 (Restricted)

  3. Special Projects £274,611 (Restricted)

  4. Children’s work £18,113 (Restricted)

Our Reserves

From an operational perspective, maintaining reasonable cash reserves represents good stewardship by allowing a church to be prepared for contingencies, such as unexpected large repair bills, a sudden and unexpected downturn in revenues, or other unexpected events. The recommendation is three to six months of operating expenses.

14

The PCC have agreed to hold sufficient money in our General Fund to cover six-months of expenditure (£47.681 budgeted for 2024).

The PCC has agreed that the balance of £4,000 held in the general fund will be transferred to the restricted building fund to cover the expense of the maintenance work carried out in 2023 and what is in hand for 2024.

Other Funds held for Specific Purposes

Restricted funds (building, bell, special projects and Children’s funds) can only be used for the purpose for which they were donated.

In 2023 the PCC decided to move the money in the ‘designated building fund’ into ‘restricted special projects fund’. This fund is for the planned refurbishment of our building and the repair of the Nave roof. If we continue to hold it in a designated fund then any income (from grants, donations etc) will be included in our general fund income when the diocese calculates our Parish Share.

The Puppet’s designated fund was transferred to the Children’s fund, in 2023, to be used by the children’s worker.

15

4.4 Accounts for the year 1 January 2023 – 31[st] December 2023

Nikoleta Bates

12 King Charles Road

Freshbrook,

Swindon, SN5 6NA

Tina Wheeler

49 Chestnut Springs Lydiard Millicent

SN5 3NB

16[th ] March 2024

Dear Tina,

All Saints Church Accounts 2023

Having examined All Saints Church accounts and reviewed the accounting records for period 01.01.2023 — 31.12.2023, I can verify that accounts have been kept correctly and accurately. Yours sincerely,

Bates

16

All Saints Lydiard Millicent - 1182788

Analysis of income and expenditure Selected period: 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023

Receipts
Planned giving
0101 - Gift Aid - Bank
0110 - Gift Aid - Envelopes
0120 - Gift Aid - Restricted
0201 - Non Gift Aid
Planned giving Totals
Collections and other giving
0301 - Cash GASDS
Collections and other giving
Totals
Other voluntary receipts
0501 - One-off G Fund
0510 - One-off Designated
0520 - One-off Restricted
0901 - Fund Raising Inc
Other voluntary receipts Totals
Gift Aid recovered
0601 - Tax Claim - GF
0610 - Tax Claim restricted
0620 - Tax Claim Designated
1001 - Dividends
1020 - Bank Interest
Gift Aid recovered Totals
Other receipts
08A1 - One-off grants
Other receipts Totals
Receipts from church activities
1101 - Ministry Fees
Receipts from church activities
Totals
Receipts Grand totals		 Total
Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
This year
Last year
56,308
—
—
—
56,308
54,409
3,501
—
—
—
3,501
2,847
—
—
616
—
616
924
820
—
—
—
820
676
60,629
—
616
—
61,245
58,856
2,802
—
—
—
2,802
1,607
2,802
—
—
—
2,802
1,607
2,233
—
—
—
2,233
2,802
—
2,350
—
—
2,350
41,395
—
—
408
—
408
27,025
—
458
—
—
458
—
2,233
2,808
408
—
5,450
71,223
16,245
—
—
—
16,245
15,502
—
—
2,790
—
2,790
1,546
—
28
—
—
28
216
—
—
25,473
—
25,473
(21,785)
665
—
—
—
665
266
16,911
28
28,263
—
45,204
(4,253)
—
—
5,250
—
5,250
—
—
—
5,250
—
5,250
—
2,644
—
—
—
2,644
1,622
2,644
—
—
—
2,644
1,622
85,220
2,836
34,538
—
122,596
129,055

17

Missionary and Charitable Giving
1850 - Tithe Giving
Missionary and Charitable Giving
Totals
Parish Share
1910 - Diocese
Parish Share Totals
Clergy and Staffing costs
2002 - Organists & Speakers
2004 - Children's Worker Wages
2110 - Incumbent Expenses
2120 - Children's Worker Trv
Clergy and Staffing costs Totals
Church Running Expenses
2201 - Young Peoples Work
2210 - Church Groups
2220 - Outreach
2270 - Training
2301 - Church running - Ins
2302 - Admin - Licences etc
2303 - Admin - Printing etc
2320 - Organ / piano tuning
2331 - Gifts Misc
2370 - Sundries Expenses
2401 - Utility - Electric
2410 - Utility - Gas
2420 - Utility - Water
Church Running Expenses
Totals
Church Repairs & Maintenance
2310 - Church Minor Repairs
2311 - Church Furnishings & Eqp
2312 - Churchyard Maintenance
Church Repairs & Maintenance
Totals
New Building work
2901 - Architect's/Consultant Fees
2910 - Church Major Work
New Building work Totals
Other Payments
1701 - Fundraising Costs
Other Payments Totals
Payments Grand totals		 Total
Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
This year
Last year
8,346
—
—
—
8,346
6,731
8,346
—
—
—
8,346
6,731
63,732
—
—
—
63,732
56,100
63,732
—
—
—
63,732
56,100
2,439
—
—
—
2,439
2,552
—
—
9,989
—
9,989
—
1,925
—
—
—
1,925
2,323
—
—
1,005
—
1,005
—
4,364
—
10,994
—
15,358
4,875
651
—
—
—
651
2,619
173
—
—
—
173
21
785
—
—
—
785
—
115
—
—
—
115
—
2,387
—
—
—
2,387
2,218
774
—
20
—
794
780
70
6
—
—
76
717
162
—
—
—
162
162
384
—
—
—
384
57
2,934
—
—
—
2,934
901
727
—
—
—
727
757
1,132
—
—
—
1,132
752
201
—
—
—
201
241
10,500
6
20
—
10,526
9,231
90
—
—
—
90
9
375
—
—
—
375
1,095
627
—
3,277
—
3,905
120
1,093
—
3,277
—
4,370
1,224
—
220
164
—
384
28,913
—
—
—
—
—
544
—
220
164
—
384
29,457
—
18
—
—
18
25
—
18
—
—
18
25
88,037
245
14,455
—
102,738
107,644

10 February 2024

All Saints Lydiard Millicent - 1182788

Statement of Assets and Liabilities (by fund) As at: 31 December 2023

Balance Previous
balance
Cash at bank and in hand
6504: RO Account - Asset
Reordering
Designated
6505: Barclays Bank - Asset
General fund
Unrestricted
Building Fund
Designated
Building Fund
Restricted
Bell Fund
Restricted
Puppets
Designated
Special Projects
Restricted
Agency collection
Restricted
Children's Work
Restricted
Cash at bank and in hand
Debtors
Z05: Accounts Receivable – Asset
General fund
Unrestricted
Building Fund
Designated
Building Fund
Restricted
Children's Work
Restricted
Debtors
Investments
6501: CBF Deposit Account – Asset
General fund
Unrestricted
Building Fund
Designated
Special Projects
Restricted
Investments
Agency accounts
6699: Agency collections – Liability
Agency collection
Restricted
Agency accounts		 —
—
29,786.57
—
3,613.15
3,211.18
—
47,794.08
—
18,113.26
102,518.24
102,518.24
4,208.74
—
46.00
—
4,254.74
4,254.74
21,190.36
—
226,817.24
248,007.60
248,007.60
—
—
—		 40,100.00
40,100.00
30,912.82
588.20
5,630.55
3,031.18
313.68
—
153.22
25,594.79
66,224.44
106,324.44
3,968.70
108.00
36.00
650.00
4,762.70
4,762.70
20,532.32
201,344.08
—
221,876.40
221,876.40
153.22
153.22
153.22

10 February 2024

Previous Balance balance

Creditors: Amounts falling due in one year

6670: Cheques not cashed - Liability
General fund
Unrestricted
Z04: Accounts Payable - Liability
General fund
Unrestricted
Building Fund
Designated
Creditors: Amounts falling due in one
year
Grand Total		 —
—
2,836.07
—
2,836.07
2,836.07
351,944.51		 110.00
110.00
138.03
475.66
613.69
723.69
332,086.63

10 February 2024

All Saints Lydiard Millicent - 1182788

Balance sheet (Church of England) As at: 31 December 2023

Current assets
Debtors
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due in one year
Net current assets less current liabilities
Total assets less current liabilities
Total net assets less liabilities
Represented by
Unrestricted
Unrestricted - General fund
Designated
Designated - Building Fund
Designated - Puppets
Designated - Reordering
Restricted
Restricted - Building Fund
Restricted - Bell Fund
Restricted - Special Projects
Restricted - Children's Work
Funds of the church		 As at 31/12/2023
£
4,254
248,007
102,518
354,780
2,836
351,944
351,944
351,944
52,349
—
—
—
3,659
3,211
274,611
18,113
351,944

7/3/2024