2023-12-31-accounts - St Mary The Virgin Alveley Parochial Church Council

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Annual PCC report for the year ending 31[st] December 2023

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:

David & Jackie Hampson, 23 Daddlebrook Road, Alveley, Bridgnorth, Shropshire. WV15 6PT

Email: david.hampson2025@gmail.com and jackie.hampson@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 2023 the following have served as PCC members:

Incumbent: Reverend Jon Aldwinckle Reader: Mrs Sue Chidwick Church Wardens: Mrs Penny Jenkins Mr Peter Fry - stood down during the year due to family circumstances.

Deanery Synod Reps:

Mrs Kirsty Ritzenthaler Mrs Sue Chidwick Mrs Alison Pearson

Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Jackie Hampson

Alveley Old Chapel Manager: M/s MM

Elected Members: Mr Dale Chidwick

Mrs Julie Fry - stood down during the year due to family circumstances

Mr David Hampson (Joint PCC Secretary) Mrs Jackie Hampson (Joint PCC Secretary) Mrs Anne Simms (PCC Treasurer/Gift Aid Officer) Mrs Kirsty Ritzenthaler (Electoral Roll Officer) Mrs Penny Jenkins Mr Colin Taylor Prof Paul Rylance Mr Paul Walford

Mr Keith Pearson

Aims and Purposes of the PCC: St Mary’s PCC has the responsibility for cooperating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It is a Registered Charity (No. 1185217).

During 2023 our new incumbent has engaged well with the PCC, congregation and wider village residents.

JA is a great benefit to St Marys and St Andrews and has built on the successful existing services and events and introduced many new initiatives for worship, fundraising and fellowship.

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 last 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. A new Quinquennial Report is due in 2024.

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

Pastoral Care and Visiting: JA has recommenced pastoral care with hospital and home visits. Holy Communion is provided at home for those unable to get to Church and is also planned for Bower Grange, the home for the elderly in the Parish.

Prayer Ministry: praying with and for people at any time. Suggestions for daily prayers are now given out each Sunday.

Worship and Music: Our music group plays frequently at 20/20/20 services. Full congregational hymn singing, choir and the playing of the organ continue to be the main method of worship in the other services.

Children and Youth: Sunshine corner, our parent, carer, baby and toddler group continued on Monday mornings through 2023. However, the future of this in 2024 is uncertain due to the resignation of the leader (to pursue other activities within the village). Messy Church has been reintroduced and Youth Club provision is planned.

The Open the Book sessions at Alveley Primary School have also continued and are very well received by Alveley School.

Small groups: held in homes, draw adults to explore the Christian faith and lead them to learn more from Bible study and discussion.

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 has unfortunately not yet resumed, though there are plans for 2024.

Alveley Old Chapel: a church-owned and governed establishment in the redundant Methodist Chapel is popular within the village. Coffee, tea, cakes and light lunches are available on two days a week and there is a lovely garden to sit in on sunny days.

MM took over as manager at the beginning of 2023 and has made a number of improvements to the running and legislative compliance of the operation.

AOC is supported financially by a bequest fund and St Mary’s Church. 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 and AL. During the year, Jon Aldwinckle and Penny Jenkins also joined the committee. 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 has used the office facilities. AOC is also available for private hire.

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.

Our support is currently being used to help provide food, clothing and other essentials. We receive regular news and updates at PCC meetings. 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 83, entitling us to 3 Deanery Synod representatives. Church services averaged around 50. We continue to work with and share events at St Andrew’s, Quatt.

Fundraising and Social Events: 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.

Additional fundraising events during 2023 were:

Christmas Tree Festival

Alveley Band Concert

Organ and violinist recital by Andrew Crabtree

Many members of the congregation and PCC 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.

David & Jackie Hampson May 2024

St Mary's Financial Review for Year Ended 31/12/23 Financial Review

Total receipts on unrestricted funds amounted to £84,000 of which £58,234 related to unrestricted voluntary donations. There were no restricted donations received. The freehold property, Alveley Old Chapel, continues to be used primarily as a tea room.

The planned giving through banker's orders unfortunately decreased during 2023 by 9%, primarily due to the death of a major contributor. Total income, excluding legacy and gift aid, increased by 4% compared to last year, mainly due to an increase in income at Alveley Old Chapel, which included a grant of £973. The arrival of a new incumbent early in the year has led to the reintroduction of fund-raising events. Recovered Gift Aid amounted to £18,536 as a result of two claims made during 2023, after one had been delayed from 2022.

£70,426 was spent from unrestricted funds to provide the Christian ministry from St Mary's Church, including the £40,000 contribution to the diocesan parish share, unchanged from 2022, that largely provides the stipends and housing for the clergy. Even though we had reduced clergy expenses in 2022, overall unrestricted costs represented an increase of 23% compared to 2023, partly due to the reintroduction of clergy expenses and increased church running costs, but mainly due to a sizeable investment of c£8k in an improved sound system within the church.

The net result for the year was an excess of payments over receipts of £5,370 on unrestricted funds, a similar figure to the excess of payments over receipts of £5,630 in 2022. The balances carried forward at 31st December 2023 on unrestricted funds totalled £135,533, of which £9,936 relates to the Chapel bank accounts and cash floats.

Reserves Policy

It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds which equates to at least three months of 'usual' unrestricted payments. Currently there is nobody salaried in the church accounts, and the Chapel bank balance is still sufficient to cover the manager's salary. We also maintain a higher reserves figure to cover anything urgent that may come up on the church's quinquennial review, which looks at the condition of the buildings, as suggested by the Church of England guidance on reserves.

Anne Simms Treasurer May-24

Ji? ST MARY THE VIRGIN ALVELEY PAROCHW CHURCH COUNCIL Registered Chty Number 1185217 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

ST MARY THE VIRGIN ALVELEY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL CONTENTS Page Legal and Admlnlstsllve InfomF3Uon ML Independent Examlnerf$ Report Statement of R8celpts and P4yment8 Statemont of Assets and Llabililles Notes to the ACcnts

ST MARY THE VIRGIN ALVELEY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL LEQAL AND ADMINISTrATIVE INFORMATION IAINISTER Rev Jon Aldwlnckfe CHURCH TREASURER ne Simrr CHARITY NUMBER 1185217 PRINCIPAL ADDRESS St Mary'8 Church Awey VINage Shropshire 156ND BANKERS Barclays Bank PLC Le1$tOr Leicester3hirn LE87 2BB INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Davt(I Price FCCA Wallace Crooke Chartered Accountants College House St Leonards Close Bridgnoth Shropshira WV16 4EJ

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ST MARY THE VIRGN, ALVELEY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL IPCC) I report Cd 8¢counts of the tharity for lh• yoar ond8d 3111 Decemb•r 2023. vthSth are attach. R•8p•ctlv• r•sp0nslblllil ol tho M•mb•rs and Ex•mln•r As the Charbty's ITUStees, who are members ol lh8 PCC you are responsible for the preparatk)n of the a1JnIs.' you nder that the audit requirement ol section 144121 of the Charile8 Acl 2011 (the Act) does nol apply. It15 my respon$lblllty to state, on the basls of pn)cèdures speclfied In the General Direclions giv by Ihe Chaflty Comrni¥siMer8 under Secuan 145(5Xbl of the whether particulw m8tters hav¢ ¢i)mg lo my att8nVon. of Ind•p•nd•nt Ex•mln•V• R•port My examln8tlon was ¢8rrled tyjt In a¢cordanc8 vAth the Gener81 Dwections given by the Charbly CommlssSoners. An ex8min8tH)n indudes a révlow ol lh8 8ttounling records kept by thè Charlty and a comparison of the accounts presented with those re&yds. 11 also Indudes conslder8lion ol any unusu81 ilams or disclosures in th8 accounts, and seeklng ex anatn8 from you as Iruslees concemlng Any Such mattern. The procedures undèrtaken do not provkle Bll tho evldence Ihat would be rnquired in an audit and. cSeqUent1Y I do not express an #udit opinlon on the eW given in the a¢rAwnts. Ind•p•ndont ExamIn0¥ $14tsm•nt In connectk)n wilh my 6x8min81ion. no matter has to c(*no to my attenlbn (8) Whkh glves me reasonable cau86 lo b¢llev8 Ihal in 8ny maleri81 respoct tho requlremonls: To keep accounllng records in accordance with SeGtion 130 of the 2011 Act To prepare accounls whlch accord the accounllng records and to compty wllh the occountlng requlrements under lh8 2011 have noi been met,. or (b) Ta %thl¢h, In my oplnion, 8ttenUon should be drown in olar lo 6nable a proper und8Tstandlng of the accA)unl8 lo be reached. D Prfce FCCA Wallace Crookè Ch8rtored Accountsnt8 Colleg8 House Sl L8onard8 CltJ8e Brldgnorth Shropshlre IM116 4EJ Data,.

st M•ryTheVlr hlÈy Par¢hll ChLWth Coundl Staternort of Rec•Ws and Ptyrnents Forth•Yr Ended JI DeEembtr2023 2022 Total funds Tot•1 Fuhds re¢dpts Planned Elvl Collections 1 other 8ivifvdlvgluntsry receipts GIftd recovered ACtItIeS lorgeneratln4fund5 27.W9 8.728 435 18,536 2,018 726 27.(#19 8,728 29585 7,45S 52.648 1.509 18,536 2,018 58.235 669 9).357 1.509 Inve5trnent Income Churth acte5 Other income Sales 1,133 10.493 27 1.218 10.493 795 11,855 14.082 14, lo82 Totsl r•¢dpts 15.649 27 B4,028 114,B89 (Irth act141U•s Parish share aergy runnlng expenses Churth ru#nin8 expenses Chapel rnnninKexpEnses M45s1on ènd donatltsns 40.ODJ 1,1 24617 L196 28,617 18.945 17.278 14.684 1,853 73,840 120 18.945 69,813 613 88.7S8 613 castof8en2raThgnS Totsl payments 70,426 18,945 89.371 73,960 Excessof rec$ over paymernts 2,074 3,296 27 40,929 Funds browforward a l January 2013 114.655 16.248 49,630 19),533 149.604 Translers bttweenlund5 In theyear Ftsnds ¢arrledlorward at31 De¢ember 2023 12Z,581 12,952 49,657 185.190 19D,533

SIM•ryThi¥ FarthVwlr4•d JJ O•uthlOIY rhk¢1¥h JO.793 52 4•.657 oil 119.JO? io. 3.7 3377 N•i¢wrnnt•M•ts 49.657 115, 12Q911 49,6S7 5,1 rrf Ntp•l Newult Chuith Rot¢ Fabrtt FuDd SI b•qu•#) 371 Jn 48,195 4B,395 49.630 27 49,657 5yDday St Sun5hlTre ¢orner CPK¥lr Frtndsknd Th• Ch¥ol 856 2.160 1160 945 21.lr IQ?92 124.655 r4266 124,74J Tutsl 1g).syJ &).371 2•21tr •nd n•d w411S b•h•Mby.' Ar4J Ildn(-(bafrr

ST MARY THE VIRGIN ALVELEY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 311ÉftW2023 Accountlng Pollcl of pr•par•tlon The financial statements of the Parochial Church Coundl have b¥¥n prepare(I In gccLd3nce wlth the Church Accounung Regulatlons 2006 and the Charitses Act 2011. The finanaal statements have been prepared under the recelpts and paymants ba518. Flx•d A••ots Tanglble fixfjd assets cons181 of th8 freehold premlses at AFveley Old Chapd. whlch are belng held al historlc cost. Tax•tlon Th$ d)adty 1$ exempt from tsx on Its thaTllable advitks. RMtrlct•d Fund R8Stricted ftjnds can onty be usad for particular restrictèd PUTPO3&S Within th8 obj8cts of the charlty. ReslrSclons ase when spgcrfkd by the donor or when funds arg ralsod for p8rtlcular restrfcted purpos&s. Tho Nepal New Llfe Fund 1$ for don8llons rece1 for the Fffolect We SUPFQrt In Nepal. The balance of Ih& fund as at 31W D•c•mbèr 2023 is nil (2022.. nil). and a s•parats tharlty now exists. in whith to channel these fiJnd8. The Church Roof Fund r8pres•nts accumulated dOnaOn5 for malntenance of the church rts)f, Ic i¢h funds may onty bo purposed. The Fabric Fund represents accumul8t8d donations for m8intÉnance of the church fabric, for which funds may onty bè purpos6¢J. St Ma5 (Link Bequest). The bequest was left to th& var and Churthwardens of St Mary's ve1•y, for use by the )1 church. Funds are to be used for that purpose only. Unr••trl¢t•d Fund• Afvèloy Old Chap81 repmsèrts the aGcAJmulated ir*eome and expenditure ol Alveley Old Chapel. These are Sn a Separate bank acunt, but the Parochial Chur¢h Counal is the accountable body for them. The Sunday SCh(X fvnd represents accumulated donations for the &Jnd8y Schod. Th8 Choir fvnd represent5 aeKUmut8d donations for the Choir. During the yoar 8nd as agreed at th8 PCC meeting the opening balance of £2.160 wa3 8ubsequenUy tran8ferTed to a separat& Chotr lund to b8 hekl Outslde of th• PCC.