# **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 1 ## **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|| - **1.1** The trustees of All Saints Church were the Parochial Church Council (PCC), which had the responsibility of cooperating with, and supporting, the Vicar in promoting the work of the Church within the parish. - **1.2** A Standing Committee, comprising the Vicar, two Churchwardens, the PCC Secretary and the PCC Treasurer, met regularly, and as necessary, to conduct urgent business. The Standing Committee also managed some of the day-to-day business which otherwise would take up time at PCC meetings. The Standing Committee reported on all its activities to subsequent PCC meetings. - **1.3** The trustees are governed by the contents of Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as Amended and Church Representation Rules that came into force on 2 Jan 1957. - **1.4** The trustees also have had a regard to the Charity Commission’s Guidance on public benefit as directed in section 17(5) of the Charities Act 2011. - **1.5** The trustees are elected for a term of 3 years at the AGM from the membership. At the end of this period the trustee may seek re-election if they so wish. - **1.6** There are currently 8 trustees who have met 8 times during 2020 with good attendance at each meeting. **2. Aims and Objectives** - 2.1 All Saints Church’s objective is Promoting in the Ecclesiastical Parish the Whole Mission of the Church. **2.2 All Saints Church aims to make known and share the love of God within our communities "Be Family, Make Disciples, Serve Others" means that we seek ......** 1. To be an integrated church family united through our faith in Jesus. 2. To encourage people into discipleship by demonstrating our relationship with Jesus. 3. To express our love for God in the service of others. ## **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)_ 2 ## **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. 3 **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||||| * NOTE: In previous years the Christingle and Crib Services have been the same service held on Christmas Eve. From 2018 there were two separate services so the attendances should be added together for each year; 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||| 4 *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. 5 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). 6 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! 7 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. 8 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 - people obtained or renewed a DBS check. - people completed Foundation Safeguarding Training. - Two people competed Basic Safeguarding Training. - Lindsay Shaw was safely recruited to the Open the Book team. - Karen Johnson was safely recruited to work with Children and Young people as required. - Our Safeguarding policy was reviewed and accepted. 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 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: - The vicarage was fitted with Solar panels which has been fantastic. - The reordering of the Church and the submission of the faculty application as well as dealing with submissions from Historic England and SPAB. - We planned a concert with Royal Wootton Bassett symphony orchestra which took place in July and also involved the youth group choir and music group. - A meeting with Revd Chris Dobson resulted in plans to take a team to Uganda in October 2023. Four people had a wonderful time and returned with stories to tell. It’s great to see our Church widen its missionary focus. - As with all incumbents of churches in the Diocese of Bristol we were asked to attend meetings where changes to church theology and prayers on human sexuality were talked about. Interestingly this affected the planned Uganda trip which the Diocesan Bishop allowed, in the end, to go ahead. I found the prayer meetings with the Uganda link group were a major source of strength over this period. Our link is still strong despite challenges. 12 - Everything involving children’s work got busier as Bev K stepped into her role as ASLM children’s church and school worker. This meant that Easter in a box, Christmas in a box, collective worship and the beginnings of our youth group all began to take shape. - At the same time, I and others got involved more in Open the Book assemblies at Peatmoor Assemblies. 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. - Bishop Lee retired, and we welcomed Bishop Neil to be the new Bishop of Swindon. - Lydiard Millicent School had a SIAMS inspection (statutory inspection of Anglican and Methodist schools). They did very well and hopefully this lays down good foundation for any possible Ofsted inspection in the next year. - Hosting the Thursday group here in the Vicarage, seeing the Mid-Week Holy Communion services grow ever so slowly has been a real encouragement. - In the wider Church, the Transforming Church Initiative has taken up quite a lot of time in an effective way, as it has made Churches think about how they might be missional. I am proud of the way our PCC has discussed these things through. - I want to thank people personally at the AGM rather than list names in this report but suffice to say each member of the PCC and the whole Church has been great in their various roles, Andrew and John as wardens and Andrew as Verger have complimentary gifts as does Tina and all the rest of the team. - Last year as every year we have handed out year six Bibles on behalf of the Lydiard’s Educational Trust to children at Oliver Tomkins School, Lydiard Millicent and Ridgeway Farm Church of England primary schools, and at Peatmoor Community School. 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)_ 13 ## **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