Parish of St Thomas and Kilvey
Annual Report 2020/21
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Team
Vicar: Rev Steven Bunting 01792 652891 / 07816421683 vicar@sts.church
Operations Manager: Rachel Bennett 01792 455671 Rachel.Bennett@sts.church
Office Administrator: Deborah Sharpe 01792 455671 office@sts.church
Café Manager: Rob Dawson Community Engagement: Ellena Bannon Parish Wardens : Rob Smith and Lynda Miners
Parish Website www.sts.church Facebook Site www.facebook.com/stthomasswansea
Weekly Services
Sunday: St Thomas 10.30am (free breakfast at 10.00)
Tuesday: St Thomas 11.30am (followed by free lunch)
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Introduction from the Vicarage
Greetings,
In March 2020 the world changed for ever with the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus which quickly spread across the world. Governments took unprecedented action to protect the lives of people in every country. On 23[rd] March the Prime Minister addressed the UK to announce the first national lockdown where businesses and organisations including the Church must close immediately and everybody had to stay at home. The government in Wales banned the gathering of people for communal worship and this continued for the remainder of 2020. As a church we used this unprecedented crisis as an opportunity to truly reflect our vision which is to love and serve the city in Jesus name. The remainder of this report will highlight the way our church came together with the community and City to try and relieve the consequences of this devastating pandemic.
The church continued to gather for worship online through newly learnt technology such as zoom and when it was possible small gatherings happened outside the church building. In total 66 online services were recorded before the church was allowed to gather again in person.
2020 also saw the continued redevelopment of St Thomas Church in preparation for its reopening, when restrictions are eased in 2021. I give thanks to God that none of our church family were seriously ill with Covid-19 and that they all remain healthy and able to attend worship when allowed. I always remain grateful to the many people who give up so much of there time to serve our wider church family, community and city, most of which goes unseen by other people.
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With Love and Prayers Steve loceso of Swansea and Brecon Deanuy Alon Tawe P¥sh ofStThxw Category INCOME VoluntGrylncLYne Subcatecory General Fut Restricted Funds 2020Total 2019 Totsl Manned Gmri Lc4w Cdlectior cvnat15 For 5tecial Mi5wn LegarKies GA Tax Refvnd5 GASD5 Grants £32,105.15 £677.85 £9,198.55 £32,105.15 £15,373.L £677.85 £2,370.CQ £9,198.55 £3,487.ci) £4,4.) £4,49).CQ £4,026.Cl) EO.CQ £o.c £5,828. £7,663.ci) E561.LKI £652.(P34.49 E652,094.49 £231,422.Cii £5,674.82 £10,996.CII £2,739.LbJ £3,502.CI) £8,165.18 £1,028.C E656,584.49 E720,973.94 £267,428.CIi £o.o) £5A28. Generated thcome £5,674.82 £2,739 C £8,165 18 £64,389 45 Fees Other Income TOTAL INCOME Expenditure Supportfor Ministy Parish Share CkrKs Expenses Money Rain8 Maintenance of Semces General Parish ExFer Mwntenance of Churthes M•ntenace cl Other Prcg Exceptional ExpeTrJiture Isalawl M5* in the Parish Mis51w ¥ross the Worfd £32K(fJ.51 £4,775.( £O.¢)J £3,385.32 £2371. £15A78.79 £893_57 £o.oJ £32,LV3.51 £17,917.C £4,775.08 £1,591.c¢i £o.co £17.C EO.CO £3,385.32 £2,774.co £2,371.% £3,664.ci) £6362EI).34 £652,139.13 £220,405.C E893.57 £5,838.Cl) £23,453. £23,453.88 £8,881.CQ £6,552.18 £6,552.18 £4,705.CI) £w.crf) £180.CQ £1,474.CI) £,446.40 £725,7.63 £267266.CI) Parish Admties Churth Property Grants and other £o.o) £59314_23 TotJl Expenditure Summary Balance trx(xJght forward 2019120 us 1cthe lor 2020 Expendrture for2020 £15,757.51 £720973.91 £ll5.7t41.63 Balance Cary Ftyw¥d £10970.82 CurrentAccnt ClosinE BalarKe Mi%sicfj Fur Friend5 of St Thomas House Fund I1,.13 13,.98 11,328.50 Acc aosed
Covid-19 Response
After the announcement of the 1[st] national lockdown in March 2020 the church quickly acted to support the local community and wider city. Our foodbank in St Stephens was closed and a new one opened in St Thomas Church Hall, open 5 days a week. A hub was created from where volunteers could collect and distribute food and donations, prescriptions could be collected and delivered, and wellbeing checks could be done on vulnerable people in our community. During the pandemic we were collecting and delivering over a tonne of food every week. The foodbank distributed standard food bank parcels and a mixture of fresh and donated food. We are grateful to all the supermarkets, organisations, pubs and restaurants, shops and the general public who donated so generously during this period to support us. We are also incredibly grateful to Admiral Insurance who donated a significant amount of money to support the work of the church during its covid response. We are indebted to the kindness of the local community who organised bingo, street parties and gatherings to raise money for the program. We also owe so much to the small band of volunteers who worked their socks of the whole time!
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During the first lockdown we sprung into action to support the families across the city who were eligible for free school meals. Volunteers from the church travelled all over the city to deliver to the doorstep over 10,000 bags of food to make sure not child went without. We delivered sandwiches, easter eggs and other treats to support the staff building the Swansea Bay Field Hospital and at Christmas blessed over 200 individuals and many families with blessing bags containing chocolate treats and gifts. We also supported several struggling individual families with furniture and other goods. Our volunteers collected food from supermarkets across the city every night to distribute to those who need it most, including through our porch in St Stephens. On Christmas Day we were unable to host our normal Christmas Dinner for those who are alone and instead we delivered 50 hot cooked dinners to doorsteps across the city to bless peoples Christmas day.
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During 2020 our Baby Basics programme continued to support families across the Swansea Bay University Health Board. We are incredibly grateful to all our volunteers who help keep this important ministry going. This work directly transforms the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our society including vulnerable mothers, those fleeing domestic abuse, teenage mums and tiny
Our BB and GA groups had to move online during 2020 because of the pandemic. Members got involved in lots of activities including a weekend camp from home, celebrations for VE Day, Harvest and Remembrance. We look forward to resuming all our childrens activities when we are allowed, including our school assemblies, toddler groups, youth and children’s groups and school activities.
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