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2020-12-31-accounts

Diocese of Winchester Deanery of Bournemouth

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

REPORTS FOR THE 2021 ANNUAL MEETING

THURSDAY 29[TH] APRIL 2021

AT 6:30PM VIA ZOOM

AGENDA ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING Thursday 29[th] April 2021

6.30pm, Via Zoom

1. Opening Prayers and Welcome
2. Present
3. Apologies for Absence
4. Approval of Minutes of the APCM Thursday 29th October 2020 (Pg 3-6)
5. Matters Arising
6. Financial Report (Pg 8-9)
7. Consolidated Accounts 2020
 (Pg 10-21)
8. Appointment of Independent Examiner (Pg 22)
9. Election of Officers and Representatives (Pg 22)
10. Electoral Roll Update (Pg 22)
11. PCC Secretary’s Report
 (Pg 23-24)
12. Church Wardens Report
 (Pg 25-27)
13. Team Rector’s Report
 (Pg 28-31)
14. Any Other Business
15. Close in Prayer

2

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

Thursday 29[th] October 2020 7:00pm - Via Zoom

1. Opening Prayers and Welcome

2. Present

3. Apologies for Absence

4. Minutes of the APCM 2019

5. Matters Arising

6. Financial Report – Mark Holiday (Parish Treasurer)

3

produce a combined report, which is just a total of all three individual church accounts and this, the Consolidated Accounts, is just an addition of those three sets, plus the PCC accounts, so they mean very little in terms of granularity.

7. Appointment of Independent Examiner (James Shutler - 17 Tax & Accounting Ltd)

8. Elections of Officers and Representatives

4

ELECTED OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES 2020

St. Peter’s St. Stephen’s St. Augustin’s
Jane MacDonald-
Parish Wardens Styslinger ---- ----
Chris Mayne
Deputy Wardens Ronalyn Bichard
Virginia Beck		 ---- Janet Lawrence
June Deedman
Deanery Synod
Reps		 Duncan Courts Helen Holmes
Stephen Chappell		 David Agar
Lisa Babb Paul Coote
PCC Members Mike Emsley Julian Davies Ruth Beasant
Pauline Burns Diana Shiner
Julian Davies
Mike Emsley Diana Shiner Ruth Beasant
Lisa Babb Paul Coote Jackie Uren
DCC Members Pauline Burns Adrian Scott Ros Atkin
Brenda Price Janet Taylor
Carol Claxton
Electoral Roll
Officers		 Colin Beck Paul Coote
(Parish)		 Barbara Sparling

9. Electoral Roll Report (to end April 2020)

2019 2020 New Died Left
St Augustin’s 43 43 - - -
St Peter’s 126 125 4 - 5
St Stephen’s 51 47 3 6 1
TOTAL 220 215 7 6 6

5

10. PCC Secretary’s Report (Lisa Babb)

• No comment

11. Church Wardens’ Report

12. Rector’s Report – Ian Terry

13. Any Other Business

14. Close in Prayer

SIGNED: _____________

The Rev’d Ian Terry - Team Rector

DATE: 29[th] APRIL 2021

6

REPORTS FOR THE 2021 ANNUAL MEETING

PCC FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 2020

CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS P&L

Incoming Resources

Unsurprisingly, given the mass closure during the second quarter of the year and the subsequent lockdown in November, income fell significantly since 2019, 33% from 2019 to 2020 and total £172,276, down from £254,953.

Voluntary Income donations fell by 15%, buoyed up by VAT and Gift Aid reclaims made by the church treasury team, especially those that were outstanding from St Peter’s from 2018 and 2019. St Peter’s are still to reclaim both the gift aid on donations and through the Small Donations Scheme for 2020, both sums will therefore hit the 2021 accounts.

Although St Peter’s did not, both St Augustin’s and St Stephen’s held Gift Days and raised in excess of £10,000 and £5,000 respectively from generous donations. Income from parking at Stephen’s fell by 47% but only by 13% at St Peter’s, maintaining a healthy income of £15,480. Hall lettings at St Stephen’s also fell by 47% compared to 2019, raising £15,907 compared to £30,095 the previous year.

Fundraising income generation saw a substantial decrease of 76% to only £9,773 in 2020, which was driven in the main by St Peter’s and also by St Stephen’s and the May Music Festival.

Resources Used

Resources used across the parish fell by 24% to £193,960. Much of this reduction comes due to the churches being closed for a large portion of the year and so running costs fell by 24% to £56,612.

The diocesan quota was down by £3,577 due to St Peter’s not paying their quota in full. This was due to the closure and reduction of services to only one service per week and a 50% reduction in footfall at that service meant their donations were more adversely affected and paying in full would have left them without sufficient funds in their account to cover general resources.

Routine maintenance of church buildings and churchyards decreased 73% from the previous year, mainly due to the high level of expenditure in 2019 on the St Peter’s Drains and glazing repairs post break in. The main works featured under this heading in 2020 was the £9,450 spent on the St Augustin Annexe Roof.

8

This is born out with a decrease in special expenditure during 2020 of £14,507 with the main components being the Annex Roof (St Augustin) and the boiler repairs to the back office (St Peter).

Please note that whilst the staff costs show full payment, due to several months of full and partial furlough under the Government’s Furlough Scheme during the pandemic, a rebate will be forthcoming to each of the DCC accounts, in the region of £3,000 per DCC, with money reclaimed from HMRC.

Net Movement in Funds

Overall funds have decreased by £82,677 from 2019 (32.5% decrease) made up of:

Balance Sheet

Investment assets have fallen by 32.5% to £152,196 from £225,221 in 2019. This is due to St Stephen’s moving their assets into other smaller accounts to fall below the banking protection threshold.

Overall, the net assets have decreased to £350,631 from £360,595, a decrease of 2.8%.

9

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

INDEX

Page No.
GENERAL INFORMATION 1
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT 2
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 3
BALANCE SHEET 4
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 5-12
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 13

10

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

Incumbent: Revd. Dr. Ian Terry The Parish Office Hinton Road Bournemouth BH1 2EE

Bank: Natwest, Bournemouth

Reviewer: 17 Tax and Accounting Ltd 17 Mortimer Road Bournemouth BH8 9HP

Independent Examiner: Worth Accountants LLP 26 Fairview Park Overbury Road Poole BH14 9JZ

1

11

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

Note
Incoming Resources
Voluntary Income
2(a)
Activities for generating funds
2(b)
Church activities
2(c)
Other incoming resources
Total incoming resources
Resources Used
Charitable giving
Church activities
3(a)
Costs of generating voluntary income
3(b)
Governance costs
3(c)
Total resources expended
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources
Gains on investments
Restatements to 2018 accounts
11
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Balance brought forward 1.1.20
12
Balance brought forward 31.12.20		 Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
101,648
-
9,773
-
50,325
-
10,530
-
172,276
-
301
-
193,060
-
-
-
900
-
194,261
-
21,985
-
-
10,981
1,040
-
-
11,004
-
1,040
172,250
188,345
161,246
189,385		 Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
101,648
-
9,773
-
50,325
-
10,530
-
172,276
-
301
-
193,060
-
-
-
900
-
194,261
-
21,985
-
-
10,981
1,040
-
-
11,004
-
1,040
172,250
188,345
161,246
189,385		 2019
2020
118,658
101,648
40,001
9,773
86,576
50,325
9,718
10,530
Total Funds
172,276 254,953
172,276
301
193,060
-
900		 1,905
301
253,494
193,060
12,554
-
900
900
194,261 268,853
194,261
- 21,985

10,981
-		 13,900
-
21,985
-
20,191
12,021
16,215
-
- 11,004

172,250		 22,506
9,964
-
338,089
360,595
161,246 360,595
350,631

3

12

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2020

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets
4(a)
Investment assets
4(b)
Current assets
Stock
Debtors
6
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities: Amounts falling
due within one year
7
Net current assets
Net assets
Funds
5
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total church funds		 2019
£
250
17,725
131,138		 2019
£
28
225,221
225,249
135,346
360,595
172,250
188,345
360,595		 2020
£
250
12,893
203,683		 2020
£
28
152,196
152,224
198,407
149,113
13,767		 216,826
18,419
350,631
161,246
189,385
350,631

Approved by the Trustees on …...........................................................and signed on their behalf by:

…........................................................

…........................................................

…........................................................

4

13

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

1 Accounting policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, the Charities Act 2011, together with applicable standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" (SORP 2005).

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention except for the valuation of investment assets, which are shown at market value. The accounts consolidate the figures for St. Peter's, St. Stephen's and St Augustin's Churches.

Funds

General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.

The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members.

Restricted Funds are those which are donated for a particular project or purpose and are transferable for other uses only with a prior agreement of donors.

Incoming resources

Voluntary income and capital sources

All collections, planned giving, donations and legacies are accounted on an accruals basis. Income tax recoverable on gift-aided donations is claimed during the year that the income is received.

Other ordinary income

Rental income from the letting of church premises is recognised when rental is due.

Income from investments

Dividends and interest are accounted for when receivable.

Gains and losses on investments

Realised gains or losses are recognised when investments are sold.

Unrealised gains or losses are accounted for on revaluation of investments at 31 December 2020.

5

14

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

Resources used

Charitable donations

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the PCC.

Activities directly relating to the work of the Church

The diocesan quota or parish share is accounted for on an accruals basis.

Fixed assets

Consecrated land and buildings and movable church furnishings

Consecrated and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by 10(2)(a) and (3) of the Charities Act 2011.

No value is placed on movable church furnishings held by the Vicar and the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal since the PCC considers this to be inalienable property. All expenditure incurred during the year on consecrated or benefice buildings and movable church furnishings, whether maintenance or improvement, is written off as expenditure in the SOFA and separately disclosed.

Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment

Equipment used within the church premises is depreciated on a straight line basis over four years based upon the anticipated life of the assets concerned.

Investments

Investments are valued at market value at 31 December 2020.

Current assets

Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December 2020 in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors less provision for amounts that may prove uncollectable.

Short-term deposits include cash held on deposit either with the CBF Church of England Funds or at the bank.

6

15

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

2
Incoming resources
(a) Voluntary Income
Planned giving:
Bank orders, weekly envelope scheme
and other regular giving
Income tax and VAT recoverable
Collections at Services
Church boxes
Donations, appeals, etc.
Insurance claims
Legacies
(b) Activities for generating fund
Fund raising events
Sponsorship donations
Parish events
(c) Church activities
Church hall lettings and car park
Wedding and funeral fees		 Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
51,162
-
20,348
-
6,447
-
4,085
-
14,559
-
45
-
5,002
-
101,648
-
9,773
-
-
-
-
-
9,773
-
48,085
-
2,240
-
50,325
-		 Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
51,162
-
20,348
-
6,447
-
4,085
-
14,559
-
45
-
5,002
-
101,648
-
9,773
-
-
-
-
-
9,773
-
48,085
-
2,240
-
50,325
-		 2019
2020
53,101
51,162
22,071
20,348
10,765
6,447
7,448
4,085
21,388
14,559
3,613
45
272
5,002
Total Funds
101,648 118,658
101,648
9,773
-
-		 40,001
9,773
-
-
-
-
9,773 40,001
9,773
48,085
2,240		 85,203
48,085
1,373
2,240
50,325 86,576
50,325

7

16

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

3
Resources used
(a) Church Activities
Ministry - diocesan quota
- clergy expenses
Church and Church buildings
- Running expenses
Church buildings and Churchyard
- Routine maintenance
Church service costs
Parish Administrator's salary costs (see note 3e)
Books, postage, telephone and advertising
Parish office costs
Accountancy fees
Professional fees
Bank charges
Sundry expenses
Special expenditure (see note 3d)
(b) Costs of generating funds
Costs of generating voluntary income:
Fundraising events
Parish events
(c) Governance costs
Independent Examiner's fees		 Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
51,340
-
1,810
-
56,612
-
10,484
-
24,755
-
17,140
-
1,360
-
1,076
-
3,359
-
2,168
-
40
-
8,409
-
14,507
-
193,060
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
900
-
900
-		 2019
2020
54,917
51,340
4,698
1,810
74,469
56,612
38,972
10,484
28,407
24,755
18,659
17,140
2,099
1,360
271
1,076
7,692
3,359
-
2,168
502
40
4,999
8,409
17,809
14,507
Total Funds
253,494
193,060
12,554
-
-
-
12,554
-
900
900
900
900

8

17

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

3
(d)
(e)
4
(a)		 Special expenditure
St. Peters:
Architect's fees
Roof repairs
Glazing repairs
CCTV
Drain repairs
Boiler repairs
Lightning conductor service
St. Stephens:
Architect's fees
St. Augustins:
Architect's fees
Roof for annex
Staff costs
Wages and salaries
Average number of employees
Fixed assets
Tangible
Written down value 1.1.20
Additions
Depreciation
Written down value 31.12.20		 Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
-
-
942
-
-
-
-
-
82
-
2,667
-
1,366
-
-
-
-
-
9,450
-
14,507
-		 Unrestricted Restricted
Funds
Funds
-
-
942
-
-
-
-
-
82
-
2,667
-
1,366
-
-
-
-
-
9,450
-
14,507
-		 2019
2020
867
-
436
942
3,667
-
680
-
12,079
82
-
2,667
-
1,366
-
-
80
-
-
9,450
Total Funds
14,507 17,809
14,507
18,659
17,140
1
1
2019
2020
28
28
-
-
General Equipment
28
28
-
-
28
28

9

18

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

4
(b) Investments
The investments comprised of the following:-
UNRESTRICTED
CBF Investment Fund
CBF Fixed Interest Fund
CBF Deposit Accounts
RESTRICTED
CBF Investment Fund
Total Market Value of Investments
5
Analysis of Funds
Restricted funds
Parochial Chuch Council
St. Peters Church
St. Stephens Church
St. Augustins Church
Unrestricted Funds
Parochial Chuch Council
St. Peters Church
St. Stephens Church
St. Augustins Church
Total Designated Funds		 Market Value
2020
101,682
7,117
31,420
140,219
11,977
152,196
-
-
177,408
11,977
189,385
93,923
63,588
32,397
-
36,132
161,246
350,631		 Market Value
2019
94,965
6,876
112,503
214,344
10,877
225,221
-
-
176,958
11,387
188,345
76,737
67,114
11,961
-
40,360
172,250
360,595

10

19

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

5 (Cont'd)

Restricted Funds

The Restricted Funds of St. Stephens Church consist of the Organ Fund and Fabric Restoration Project.

The Restricted Funds of St. Augustins Church consist of the Ivy Payne Trust Fund and the Ethel Vass Trust Fund.

The income received from the St. Stephens Vicarage Trust has been treated as restricted income and it has been used for general Church expenditure. The income from Ethel Vass Trust Fund has been treated as restricted income and it has been re-invested in the CBF Investment Fund.

6
Debtors
Prepayments
Other debtors
7
Liabilities: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
Sundry creditors and accrued expenses		 2020
332
12,561
12,893
2020
18,419
18,419		 2019
351
17,374
17,725
2019
13,767
13,767

8 Fund Details

There are the following funds which are not included within these financial statements:-

St. Peter's Church
2020
St. Peter's Bellringers Society
923
St. Peter's Flower Guild
489		 Fund Value
2019
992
518

11

20

BOURNEMOUTH TOWN CENTRE PARISH

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2020

9 The Friends of St. Peters

This is a separate registered charity which produces its own accounts and reports to the Charity Commission and operates for the benefit of St. Peter's Church.

10 St. Peter's Church Development Project

This fund is a separate registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation and produces its own accounts.

11 Restatements to 2018 Accounts

Restatements of £16,215 were made to the St Peter's Church 2018 accounts. These adjustments were carried out to amend the opening debtor and creditors. The outcome of the adjustments is to increase the net funds that were brought forward to 2019.

12

21

ELECTION OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER 2021

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES 2021

St. Peter’s
St. Stephen’s
St. Augustin’s		 St. Peter’s
St. Stephen’s
St. Augustin’s		 St. Peter’s
St. Stephen’s
St. Augustin’s		 St. Peter’s
St. Stephen’s
St. Augustin’s
Parish Wardens Jane MacDonald-
Styslinger
Chris Mayne		 ---- ----
Deputy Wardens Ronalyn Bichard
Virginia Beck		 ---- Janet Lawrence
June Deedman
Deanery Synod
**Reps **		 Duncan Courts Helen Holmes
Stephen Chappell		 David Agar
PCC Members Lisa Babb
Mike Emsley
Colin Beck
GodfreyFrench		 Paul Coote
Julian Davies
Diana Shiner		 Ruth Beasant
Jackie Uren
DCC Members Mike Emsley
Colin Beck
Godfrey French		 Julian Davies
Diana Shiner
Paul Coote
Adrian Scott
Brenda Price
Carol Claxton		 Ruth Beasant
Jackie Uren
Ros Atkin
Electoral Roll
Officers		 Colin Beck Paul Coote
(Parish)		 Barbara Sparling

ELECTORAL ROLL UPDATE (to end March 2021)

2020 2021 New Died Left
St Augustin’s 43 40 2 2 3
St Peter’s 125 124 1 2 --
St Stephen’s 47 45 3 2 3
TOTAL 215 209 6 6 6

22

PAROCHIAL PARISH COUNCIL SECRETARY’S REPORT 2020

The full BTCP PCC met on two occasions this year:

Monday 28[th] January 2019 - in person Monday 19[th] October 2020 - via Zoom

And then discussed various matters via email on four occasions:

30[th] March 2020 5[th] October 2020 18[th] November 2020 30[th] November 2020

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting for 2019 was delayed, due to Covid restrictions, and held on Thursday 29[th] October 2020, via Zoom at 7.00pm.

During the past year, the PCC has continued to review and improve its governance of the whole parish, increasing its levels of monitoring and scrutiny of finance and all buildings of the parish.

We continued the strive to move to a more digital, cashless system across all things financial, encouraging those who continued through 2020 to hire our various venues to pay via BACs and the parishioners who continue to contribute to our church funds using cash, to change their giving to monthly Standing Orders or via the Parish Giving Scheme. As the Covid restrictions brought closure of our churches, this highlighted the vulnerability in our finances, still relying heavily on cash payments during service attendance.

Having set up St Peter’s on the WAVE accounting system in 2019 and spending weeks trying to reconcile the errors from the previous year, 2020 gave the St Peter’s team the ability to have total transparency of finance at the push of a button that balanced to the penny. The PCC would like to formally thank both Mark Holiday and James Shutler, our Independent Examiner, for their hard work and diligence in assisting the church treasurers in keeping our parish financially in order.

Through lockdown, swift measures were taken to protect our parish finances, with the turning off of all possible utilities, furloughing of staff where possible (Parish Administrator and the Music teams) and the review of the churches Insurances, the greatest expense for each church next to the Common Mission Fund (CMF) payments we make to the Diocese. Through careful negotiation we managed to secure savings of circa £5,000 compared to our 2019 cover, and we will continue to negotiate this each year to ensure savings are made wherever possible.

23

Our CMF payments were paid in full by both St Augustin’s and St. Stephen’s, with St Peter’s able to pay 50% of their £39,000 quota, during the months the church was open, despite only one church service taking place (instead of the usual 5 per week) and total café closure and cancellation of their full programme of musical fundraising, all of which would have enabled them to pay in full. The PCC formally instructed each church to set up monthly standing order payments for 2021 ensuring we are not in breach of our obligations to the Diocese and have complete transparency of our finances, knowing that committed expenditure is paid out monthly and therefore allowing complete visibility of available funds on a monthly basis. We remain hopeful that musical and other fundraising events will begin again during May, when Government restrictions are set to be lifted further and there will be no more lockdowns and thus enable all three churches to pay full CMF in 2021.

Key repairs to all three of our church buildings were discussed throughout the year, mainly roof and boiler repairs at St Peter’s, tree works at St Peter’s and St Augustin’s and the ongoing review of the Hall at St Stephen’s. The huge costs that all repairs incur, along with the large fall in income due to in-person worship being halted, has brought stewardship issues into sharp focus for the PCC and this will be on the main agenda to address during 2021.

Lisa Babb - PCC Secretary

24

PARISH WARDENS’ REPORT 2020

If only we had known at the beginning of 2020 what we know now. A truly uniquely difficult, saddening and worrying year due to the invasion of COVID-19.

The most important thing has been keeping our loved ones and ourselves safe from this often-deadly disease.

In more positive news all three churches adapted and kept careful stewardship of themselves -with our folks all looking out for and after one other. October saw the addition of Chris Mayne to the Parish Warden team, and I thank him for joining to help shoulder some of the workload.

CRIME/ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR/GROUNDS

Rev’d Dr Ian Terry and I expressed our commitment at the end of last year to see the our “St Peters Grounds Re-Imagined “Project a reality in 2020 and despite COVID -19 and various back and forth with the DAC over a sixth month period to secure the Faculty that was needed, our fundraising initiatives saw over £40,000.00 raised .Our thanks to Dorset Wildlife Trust who started this off with a grant for £10,000 and to BCP Council - in particular Cllr’s Hazel Allen and Mike Greene for supporting us in a successful bid for £20,000.00.Our dear friends at Bournemouth Rotary gave us a grant as did AFC Bournemouth and also individuals.

The money enabled us to partner for the three day a week initial clearance for three months with Fresh Start and Mark Richmond. This saw between 10-15 folks doing a mammoth task of clearance of overgrown neglected areas used as hubs for antisocial behaviour. The wonderful Cherry Tree walk will be planted in March 2021 to be followed closely by the butterfly walk., nature and heritage trails. Locals and visitors have expressed delight at the open safe feel of these grounds where now we are tackling reclaiming overgrown graves and restoring dignity to the same. A huge shout out to Bournemouth Rotary who have supplied many volunteers every week (Maurice, Roy, Ted and Mike in particular) and to the St Peters folk, in particular Colin and Virginia Beck, Mike and Carolyn Emsley and Steve Jones. We have local residents and an ex rough sleeper coming every week now on our ground’s days of Tuesday and Thursday to help as they have felt inspired to be part of this transformative work. To all of you who have even come for a few times, bless you as you have each made a positive contribution. Katie Wilkinson at DWT and our designer Janine Patterson have given selflessly of their time to make this vision become a reality.

We hope to partner with Faithworks Wessex and the local community payback team to provide a similar transformation at the back of St Stephens in 2021.

25

Our priority in 2021 is to capitalise on this and replace security lighting and roll out a new CCTV at St Peters

FINANCES

I am delighted to report that the BTCP Common Mission Fund has been paid in full by St Stephen’s and St Augustin’s this year. St Peter’s (which depends hugely on events and congregational giving) saw an over £20,000 reduction in this and so were unable to meet CMF in full, but we thank the Diocese for their understanding, having always paid its share in full before but we feel we must no longer go into any reserves to pay this as we need to safeguard these funds for all three churches for the future.

I would like to thank Neil Sissons and Duncan Courts for sacrificing salary to help St Peters in this financial crisis when we were unable to furlough them. Truly humbling. We thank the treasury team at St Peter’s including Lisa and Ronalyn, Ruth at St Augustin’s and Brenda at St Stephen’s for their dedication and careful stewardship of precious funds. Janet and June at St Augustin’s and Ronalyn and Virginia at St Peter’s, continue to be amazing wardens and a delight to work with. You are very lucky to have them.

I will re-iterate the sad fact that congregational giving is the only way to sustain our churches. The Parish Giving Scheme is truly the only way that we can manage our budgets and finances so thank you to so many who have joined or set up direct debits in the last year. Giving this way makes all our treasurers lives so much easier and is clean and simply and avoids volunteers having to count and bank cash, and physically have to submit a form to claim gift aid on every single envelope handed in. You can change the amount you give at any time under this scheme by making a quick phone call. It is also anonymous, so please all parishioners consider going onto this scheme if you haven’t already made the switch. Leaflets are available from the Parish Office and any warden or the Parish Administrator can help you fill it in.

FABRIC

We thank Adrian Scott, Janet Lawrence and Ruth Beasant for their continued efforts for St Stephen’s and St Augustin’s in this regard.

We face into a new boiler for St Augustin’s annex in 2021, heating improvements along with CCTV and security lighting at St Peter’s, and changes with the Hall at St Stephen’s.

MUSIC

We thank all our musicians - Jackie Uren, Sean Tucker, Duncan Courts, Caren Courts and Neil Sissons - for their perseverance during ever-changing government guidance and for

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their wonderful support when we were able to open. It has been a lifeline to hear hymns sung once more and participate in one or two outside.

GENERAL

We would also like to thank those who count the money at all three churches, Stephen Chappell and Paul Coote at St Stephen’s, Janet Laurence and Rosemary Carter at St Augustin’s. I personally miss my counting counterpart and dear friend, Rosemary Larkin, who we continue to pray for as she walks the slow road to recovery. Also, a big thank you to Marion Trimby, who continues to run the Souvenir Stall in St Peter’s remotely and Chris Mayne and his team who ran Parry’s café until the end of March 2020 when national lockdown forced its closure. Paul Coote must have a special shout out for his unstinting hard work in running the St Stephen’s hall and flat and we hope for clarity for the hall’s future in 2021, thanking Rev’d Dr Ian Terry for all his hard work in brokering a viable and mission led future for it.

MISSION

Our collaborations with the HealthBus at St Stephen’s Hall and Town Centre Pastors at St Peter’s are even more important than ever and we thank those at St Augustin’s who supported the wonderful work of Faithworks Wessex in allowing them to run their foodbank there, overcoming opposition from the few, this amazing initiative provided premises, storage and a lifeline to those most in need as a result of this pandemic. Your support was truly selfless.

The wonderful Sunday School at St Peter’s is a priority for our church in 2021.

As ever, Bournemouth Town Centre Parish is under pressure financially and is ever needing volunteers to help renew and refresh existing ones, both at the local church level and as part of our tireless commitment to mission in our town centre. It is true to say that our greatest, most powerful, most transformational resource remains its congregation. I thank all church openers and closers, but especially Richard Lambert, who is on duty at St Peter’s daily, ensuring there is always an open door in the town centre, to provide sanctuary to those who seek a quiet place to pray and just ‘be’. Thanks also to our sides people, coffee teams, sacristy assistants, servers, chalice assistants, welcomers, readers, intercessors, flower ladies, bell ringers, cleaners and all volunteers, in whatever role, for their unstinting hard work.

So very grateful to you all

Mrs Jane MacDonald-Styslinger Parish Warden

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TEAM RECTOR’S REPORT FOR 2020 TO BTCP ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

This report covers a period of five months of extraordinary human history, in which churches have been closed on Sundays for four of those five months, and everyone has been subject to a mixture of restrictions and lockdown. Although stewardship of an inevitability depleted financial income has continued, as has the stewardship of church buildings and churchyards, to the extent that this has been compatible with clear government instructions to ‘stay at home’, the core business of our PCC trust, public worship, evangelism, pastoral care and working in partnerships with others for the common good of our town, and the alleviation of the suffering of the poor, have been inevitably compromised to a very large extent. Online services, reflections and meetings have proved to be imaginative ways of keeping us in touch with each other and with God in a digital form of public worship. We have held funerals in church and at the crematorium with very limited congregations, and the pastoral care associated with those deaths has been personal but sometimes a bit more distant than was our previous custom.

We are adapting and have learned many lessons. All churches will be trying a range of creative digital ways of being church online, as well as in person in the future. Churches will not simply go back to where they were before the pandemic.

Whilst our confidence in God, as shown in Jesus, remains unchanged, there is much grief, bereavement and shock still to be processed. In due course, this will need many forms of liturgical as well pastoral and theological expression.

God always goes ahead of us, we learn from the Resurrection stories in the Gospels, and so our task over these coming months and years will be to be alert and listening to discern what God is doing, and where God is leading us, and to join in as best we can. It will take time, and, as with any process of bereavement and new beginnings, there are no short cuts, and we must be gentle with each other as we wait on God and continue to keep others and ourselves safe.

This report, then, quite properly and inevitably, echoes and repeats the gratitude of previous years, whilst registering that much needs to be not just regained but reformed, indeed, resurrected.

As we move forward in that spirit, I seek, therefore, your prayers and patience, for and with each other as we move into the future that God has prepared for us.

My personal gratitude to you all.

Ian

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Dear Friends,

Vision for Bournemouth Town Centre Parish 2019 and onwards:

(i) Our vision for Bournemouth town centre parish is simple and profound. It links with Winchester Diocesan priorities.

A: We want everyone to have fullness of life with God, through personal, passionate spirituality and diverse community relationship, with Jesus.

B: We want to join in transformational partnerships with others for the common good of our town, particularly working together to help the poorest and most vulnerable amongst us.

In a nutshell: it’s about (A) friendship with Jesus and (B) active solidarity with the poor.

In practical terms, our hopes are for developing increasing ecumenical and common good focused community partnerships in all three churches in Bournemouth Town Centre Parish.

(ii) Further, our vision is to be a beacon parish within the Diocese, to expand the outreach work, develop our mission and, with the established chaplaincies, provide contact with the young and the business communities that form part of the wider town centre ministry. We wish to maintain the strong link between the three churches which offer different but complementary styles of worship and to build on the links between other established churches in Bournemouth.

(iii) We have sought clarity, with Deanery leadership, PCC and DCCs, in establishing a bold strategic direction, predicated on strategic partnerships for the common good, with St Peter’s offering a range of activities (eg -ethics forums, homelessness & common good consultations, pastoral care for those involved with the 88 nightclubs in our parish, etc), for the whole BTCP and resourcing, as appropriate, the wider church and partners;

(iv) We have continued to prioritise St Peter’s Church Development Project, and we explored in 2019 several separate funding streams to renew heating in ecologically sustainable ways, and to bring our community café into the 21st century world of professional catering – as well as reconfiguring an Expression of Interest to HLF; repairs to the stone surrounds of the southwards-facing clerestory window remain an urgent priority.

(v) I have enjoyed talking in 2019 with Canon Mark Collinson, who was centrally involved as a participant in the Common Good Building Day that I organised for 24th April, 2019, sponsored by Bournemouth University, and a major part of the empirical research into homeless, and the church in partnerships, that I am conducting through Winchester University;

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(vi) The trustees of St Stephen’s Hall have explored with the Diocesan Registrar the legal (trustee) implications and liabilities of leasing that Hall to a local buildings management company to use, primarily, but not exclusively, as a hub of connectivity for work with the homeless. Dr Maggie Kirk (local GP)’s ‘Health Bus’ is at the centre of this development; bus loaned by YMCA; bicycles to be restored by homeless folk donated by Dorset Police (via Chief Constable James Vaughan); relationship brokered with local community by LA Councillor Hazel Allen; RC Church also part of this partnership equation.

(vii) We have further developed, alongside our strong BTCP missional emphasis on the Common Good, an authentic pattern of evangelism and discipleship within BTCP. ‘Sharp Edges’ discussion and discipling groups are now a growth point each Thursday lunchtime, following communion, 1- 1.45. As resource material we used Krish Kandiah’s ‘God is Stranger’, up to August, took a holiday break, and in autumn 2019 we used Michael Mayne’s book, ‘This Sunrise of Wonder’. Prayer, Bible-study, sharing of our journeys – all powerful tools for evangelisation and nurture.

(viii) Financial practice is now as it should be, online and transparent, throughout the team.

(ix) St Augustin’s now see their futures as a worshipping community which partners with others. It has established sustainable partnerships, of the Gospel, addressing social need, and of care for the Grade2 listed building, with Lansdown Baptist Church, New Creation Life Ministries and Bournemouth Korean Church. Other partnerships are both possible and desirable.

(x) Developing greater collaboration with Bournemouth University at all levels has very considerably moved forward. We have also developed good collaboration with the Arts University of Bournemouth, and with Winchester University, and with Bournemouth Collegiate School, where I chair the governing body. I am enjoying supporting the youth work as a trustee of the YMCA, and giving personal support to the YMCA Chaplain.

(xi) Canon Sue Wallace has helped us develop a monthly worshipping community at St Stephen’s on Saturday evenings at 8pm, ‘Lazy Compline’, which has a regular twenty-odd people.

(xii) Our BTCP LLM Emeritus, Roger Marley, has retired from regular active ministry after a very splendid 35 years of service. We must celebrate with him, with warm gratitude, once it is possible to have larger celebratory parties!

(xiii) Lucinda, as an active LLM for BTCP, is busy with preaching and with hospital chaplaincy. She is a tremendous asset to the Parish.

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(xiv) Our Wardens and church representatives, particularly Jane and Rob (for the first part of 2019), Virginia, Ronalyn, Janet and June, are a dedicated and gifted team, who with Lisa, our Parish Administrator, contribute great strengths to BTCP. Huge gratitude to them all.

(xv) I would be unable to keep worship going in our three churches without the gentle and generous contributions of a whole range of really excellent retired priests, to whom I am immensely grateful: Bryan Apps, Paul Collins, David Lund, John Staples, Stephen Holmes, Steve Parselle, John Turpin, David Wheeler, Angela and Graham Newton. Regular help has also been gladly given by Gareth Sherwood and Joe Smith. To this generous and gifted group of ministers, including Roger and Lucinda, my heartfelt thanks.

(xvi) In summary: There has been solid and sustained progress, with growth of both congregations and common good partnerships in St Peter’s, which is regenerating, growing and re-orientating itself towards serving all ages (including young people and children), and looking outwards with a desire to serve the town. The constraints are the demands of developing partnerships for all three of our BTCP churches. These partnerships need to be about furthering the common good of the town, as fundamental to the missio Dei, as our top priority, whilst nurturing our church community, caring for the needy and keeping our historic buildings in good order. Faith-sharing, common good building and fund-raising sit quite comfortably together, and they are a vision-led and pragmatic way of being an enthusiastic and mission-shaped church, which those in the wider community can readily understand and relate to.

Ian

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