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2021-12-31-accounts

St Mary the Virgin Alveley Annual PCC & Trustee Report for year ended 31/12/2021

The church of St Mary the Virgin, Alveley, is a Grade II* listed building within the village conservation area. The church dates back to 1140 and is of considerable architectural beauty and historical interest. The United Benefice consists of the churches of St Mary the Virgin, Alveley, and St Andrew, Quatt. It is in the Bridgnorth Deanery within the Diocese of Hereford and situated in the county of Shropshire.

The address for correspondence is:

Mrs H J Fleming, 6 Honeybourne Road, Alveley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire. WV15 6PP Email: hilaryjfleming@hotmail.com

Members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) are either ex-officio (Clergy, Readers, Church Wardens, Deanery Synod Representatives, Alveley Old Chapel Manager) – the latter because Alveley Old Chapel is under the ownership and jurisdiction of the church. Others are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with Church Representative Rules.

During 2021-2022 the following have served as PCC members: Incumbent: Rev Neil Dunlop (until Nov 2021) Retired Clergy: Rev Dr Wendy Rylance Reader: Mrs Sue Chidwick Church Wardens: Mr Peter Fry Mrs Jenny Sirrell Deanery Synod Reps: Mrs Kirsty Ritzenthaler (Safeguarding Officer) Vacancy Vacancy Alveley Old Chapel Manager Mr John Lowe Elected Members: Mr Dale Chidwick (Deputy Churchwarden / Electoral Roll Officer) Mr Fred Cooper Mrs Pauline Cooper Mrs Julie Fry Mrs Hilary Fleming (PCC Secretary) Mr David Hampson Mrs Jackie Hampson Mrs Anne Simms (PCC Treasurer/Gift Aid Officer) Mrs Penny Jenkins Mrs Lynn Madden Mrs Jean Marshall Prof Paul Rylance Mrs Carol Wall (Deputy Churchwarden) Other Officers: Ms Lisa Dhillon (Independent Examiner) Mrs Vickie Dunlop (Parish Administrator until Nov 2021)

Aims and Purposes of the PCC: St Mary’s PCC has the responsibility for co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It is now a Registered Charity.

We have continued to enjoy working with Rev Neil Dunlop and his wife Vickie within the joint benefice. We have been blessed by his ministry and that of Vickie, not only to regular churchgoers but to the whole community. They have been greatly regarded by the whole parish. Vickie continued in the role of Parish Administrator; on an informal basis again this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and closure of Alveley Old Chapel for the period of the

pandemic. We were saddened to hear of Neil’s decision to move on to the Chaplaincy of Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust in November. We are immensely grateful to them both for all they have contributed to parish life in their time with us and wish them and the family well for the future. We will be holding an open parish meeting to discuss our pastoral needs on May 14[th] in the Old Chapel and hope to hold interviews for a new incumbent in September. Our Retired Clergy, Rev Dr Wendy Rylance, has undertaken to cover services at both Alveley and Quatt and for this we are extremely grateful to her. We are also grateful to Reader Sue Chidwick and others who have stepped forward to lead and take part in Sunday services so that worship can take place in church each Sunday. They have also been responsible for providing online worship when we were not able to gather in the church building due to Covid19 restrictions. We have not yet been able to reinstate Sunday 8am Holy Communion and the popular Wednesday Holy Communion services. We have recently begun to operate the full 20/20/20 and Family Services along with refreshment provision. We have recently been greatly saddened to learn of the death of Reader Emeritus Barrie Jenkins and remain very grateful for his service to our church.

Objectives and Activities: The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship and become part of the parish community of Alveley. To facilitate this work it is important to maintain the fabric of the church. The Quinquennial Report highlighted various issues to be addressed and these continue to be attended to by the Churchwardens. This year has continued to be challenging and demanding on all levels. Services and worship have had to continue online as buildings have been closed again due to Covid regulations and online services have been aired via our website and Facebook page and these have reached a world-wide congregation. These have been led by Neil and Vickie and various members of the congregation to whom we are very grateful. As regulations allowed sociallydistanced services have been held in the Church with consequent extra cleaning duties. We are indebted to the Rector and Wardens for carrying out this task. An online prayer meeting continued to be held each Sunday evening with grateful thanks to Vickie for leading this. Funerals and weddings have continued to take place as regulations have allowed. All other outreach and social activities have been curtailed including those at Alveley Old Chapel which has had to remain closed throughout the period of the pandemic. JL has been appointed as the new Manager following the retirement of SP. Full opening resumed at the beginning of March 2022 and we hope that use of the facility will grow.

The PCC has been able to meet in person following lockdowns although it has not been able to adhere to the regular pattern of bi-monthly meetings.

It is hoped that as regulations have eased we will be able to resume our usual activities. We acknowledge that this will not be an easy task and that many of our community have endured loss and loneliness and suffered in many ways. Hopefully we can retain some of the technological methods of communication we have come to rely on during the pandemic. We have been cheered by the fact that several younger people in the congregation have recently come forward to take on responsibility for elements of our worship.

To ensure that all are cared for safely, we have a Safeguarding Officer, Mrs Kirsty Ritzenthaler, and any concerns over personal welfare and safety should be addressed to her.

Worship Planning: has continued to take place to plan Sunday services, making the best use of gifts and learning from each other.

Pastoral Care and Visiting: has had to take place technologically and at a distance but is now resuming in person.

Prayer Ministry: praying with and for people at any time. People in need are considered at each PCC meeting and a prayer meeting has taken place place online on Sunday evenings.

Worship and Music: This has been limited to a small music group at services and the use of recorded music. Full congregational hymn singing and the playing of the organ has resumed along with occasional participation of the Choir

Children and Youth: Sunshine corner, our parent, carer, baby and toddler group has resumed on Monday mornings and it is hoped to reintroduce Messy Church and Youth Club provision. The Open the Book sessions at Alveley Primary School have resumed.

Small groups: held in homes, draw adults to explore the Christian faith and lead them to learn more from Bible study and discussion. These have continued with appropriate Covid precautions and personal contact has been maintained informally.

Men’s outreach: “Breakfast in the Old Chapel” a meal and an outside speaker to present men with the message of Christ outside the church and a regular “Chaps’ Lunch” in local pubs, fostering fellowship and social needs, have been very popular pre-pandemic but sadly these activities have been casualties of the pandemic. However it is hoped to recommence them when possible.

Alveley Old Chapel: a church-owned and governed establishment in the redundant Methodist Chapel which had continued to grow in strength and popularity with the whole village. Coffee, tea, cakes and light lunches are available on three days a week and there is a lovely garden to sit in on sunny days. AOC supports itself financially and a system of joint accounting with church has been established so that the Treasurer can easily oversee finances. A joint Management Committee has been established, consisting of Jenny Sirrell, Kirsty Ritzenthaler, SP and AL. We are very grateful to the team of volunteers who work so hard for its success. Other village organisations (Chapel Crafters, Music Club, Alveley Singers) and the Be Cafe have used this as a venue as well and other social events have been held here. The PCC has held its meetings here and the Parish Administrator used the office facilities. AOC is also available for private hire. It is hoped that all these activities will be able to resume as soon as possible. This has become a wonderful use of a redundant building and we continue to be grateful for the generous legacy which enabled the Chapel to be purchased by the church, thus providing the whole community with hospitality and fellowship and a continuity of life for a much-loved building. Plaques recording the legacy and giving the mission statement are on display

New Life Nepal : We continue to support this charitable trust, along with supporters in Thame, Tupsley, and another parish in Hereford diocese. We receive regular news and updates at PCC meetings. We are endeavouring to strengthen the link with NLN and regular meetings are held with representatives of the supporting parishes. Penny Jenkins has continued to maintain our contact with the trust and we thank her for this, although the main management is based in Thame.

Church Attendance: The Electoral Roll is currently 84, entitling us to 3 Deanery Synod representatives. Church services averaged around 30 with a similar number sharing online services when they were shared. We continue to work with and share events at St Andrew’s, Quatt. Online services were a shared provision.

Fundraising and Social Events: We are still very aware of our ambitious parish promise made a few years ago and had to reduce our offer last year as it was felt that the sum promised previously could not be sustained and we have continued this this year. We are very grateful to those in the congregation who have arranged to make their offering by Direct Debit thereby ensuring a regular income from these sources which has helped enormously in ensuring regular income. Obviously there has been no opportunity for additional fundraising again this year.

Compiling this report has made so obvious the varied and vibrant activities in which our church family has engaged. We hope and pray that steadily through the coming year we are able to resume these activities with renewed enthusiasm and commitment. Many members of the congregation have continued to help with ongoing practical tasks of maintenance and caring and we would again like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who plays a part in our church life. Without everyone’s efforts in countless ways, our church would not be the spiritual, caring and loving community it is, seeking to make God’s kingdom here in Alveley. Thank you so much to you all for all that you do, especially during these difficult times.

Hilary Fleming (PCC Secretary) March 2022

Financial Review for Year Ended 31/12/21

Based on the draft accounts, donations from regular giving, church collections & fundraising are up £4k compared to last year. We are very grateful to our congregation for continuing their financial support through such difficult times. In addition, fee income was up almost £3k, with the welcome return of a few weddings during 2021. However, overall income was down c£18k from last year. The main reasons being:

Costs incurred were £14k lower than the previous year, the main difference relating to a £10k drop in our Diocesan share from £50k last year to £40k in 2021. Our Diocesan share remains unchanged at £40k in 2022. Other ‘savings’ related to a £1k reduction in AOC running costs, reduced repair costs and fewer admin costs and rector expenses, with both Neil & Vickie waiving some of their costs.

Overall our excess of receipts over payments has dropped from c£7k in 2020 to c£3k in 2021.

Anne Simms Treasurer

STMARYTheVIHGIN VEifipfvJiocHIALOIVftal CCXJNQL sowi y AEQIPT5AIIDPAYMEFlfSAccouNr FOR THEYEAR IIIDEDal DEUMUft2021 VM•thlrtqd Dit•d •rtykl•d Fun Fur Funth iozi r9t•l Fundi io Volunt•ryVK￿￿ts 4nnod Co1￿￿0￿5 l o%her8Mwl¥dunwrn£•lpts Glft Ajd reco4rnd 368 4D.358 5.547 2.052 26,901 11,222 15,375 9,217 6,161 68,879 154 361 124 361 4&32 iy InveStr￿n1 Inmrne 573 31 ?￿3? IQ8&4 Sllrs 3.127 3,127 4,497 Totsl rcelpts Sg581 si 61.914 81.344 Pailsh shbre aEryyivnnlniexperM5 uich runnI￿•￿en$￿S •pel expthsls 4QfOJ 1.925 12.155 6.015 1.925 12.155 2.320 14,638 7.IPJ 6￿15 60.055 iio 74,119 289 AlyJ- C•rt¢fyn¢r•iiN iio 54.1 6,QlS 6D.105 74.41B 5.391 51 6,926 Fvnd%trrtouthtl4rynrd at IJIn￿￿ryl02l 174.134 19.710 3,021 139,969 Tr•nrftrabet•nfvA￿ Inihyn•t iuii 441 Fun05AnladtoThArd 1131 2021 1 17,448 3.0?2 149.604 146.895

VnEYP￿D£H1AL tHUA¢H¢WN PIiK>))A FOR￿VEAle￿￿E￿>l OEWI•ERIO Gofrnl fuTrd 21 69,621 .ifjn DÈbror5 •nh Ind r•Jh 17,4 55.580 0.019 fjJ.619 410 71.438 10.7 17.448 03.149 rrthlLIthIth• her uedllOII ?,167 1167 2,JOI 17.441 59.462 3.Qn 71.2n 17.4 IAg,604 146.89S •d iAO Nepal Nv Lrft Cburch•oDr FL4ry 371 853 51 n￿¥5£￿1 Choir Frkndi fund ThpaOChW i&e04 IY.740 6,1115 $.DlS 441 l6.Sg2 17.448 3.282 124134 59581 iy,1gJi

ST MARYThE VIRGIN ALVELEY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNaL CHAR￿1REGISTNAT1O￿ NUMBER: IS85217 NOTES FOR THE YEAR ÉNDÉ031 DÉCÉMBL9 2021 The flnanetal statements of the Parothlal Church Coun£ll have been prepared In accordance with the Church kcovntln8 Regulatlons 2(1)6 and the Charltles Ad 2011 uslft8 ihe Retelpts and Payment5 bas1& The accounts Iltclude Afveley Old Chapel. Althou8h the dayto day runnln81s under the Cgntrol ola manarferwho maSntalns its flnaAclal records, the ultlrnate re5ponslblllty rests wlth the PCC. The fixed assets are the freehold prernlses at Alvele¥ Old Chapel at cast. The Restrlcttd Funds are Ilsted below: The Nepal New Llfe Fund Is for dcnatlons Tecelved for the prolert whlth we support In Nepal. A separate chaTIty n¢)w exi5t5 to channel these fund5. The Church Roof Fund represents accumulated donattonslor malntenan¢È ol the thurth roof, whl¢h can onfy be spent lorihal PUfPOSe. The Fabrlc Fund represents acc¢Jmul8ied donatlons for mainien•nc• of the church fabdc. whlth can onty be spent for that purpose. The Uniestrltted Oesiinated Funds: Alveley Old Chapel represents the acc¥mulated In£ome and exptndlturo of Alveley Old Chèpel.Th4 are held sn a separate bank account. bul the Par¢xhlal Church Councll Is the ac£ouni•ble body for them. The Sunday School fund represents iccumul•ttd domtlons ftsr the Sunday khDDI. TraN￿eT5.. £441 transfer relate5 to Alveley Old Chapel's proportlon of the comblned Insurance pdlty pald for bv the PCC.

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