## **APM / APCM Agenda**
## Sunday 21[st] May 2023, 4pm St. Helen’s Church
## **Annual Parishioner’s Meeting (APM)**
1. Welcome and opening prayer
2. Elections of church wardens
## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)**
1. Apologies
2. Minutes of last APCM – Appendix 1
3. Election of Deanery Synod Representatives
4. Election of PCC members
5. Appointment of independent auditor of the PCC financial accounts
6. Fabric Report – Appendix 2
7. Electoral Roll Officer’s Report
8. Financial Report
9. PCC Resolution – length of service for elected members on PCC
10. Deanery Synod Report – Appendix 3
11. Safeguarding Review
12. Vicar’s Report – verbally delivered
13. AOB
14. Closing Prayer
# **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE PARISH OF ST HELEN’S AND ST EDMUND’S CHURCHES**
**Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31[st] December 2022**
Registered charity number 1186476
## **St Helen’s and St Edmund’s Churches**
## **Contents**
||Page|
|---|---|
|Annual report of the PCC|1 - 7|
|Legal and administrative information|8|
|Independent examiner’s report|9|
|Statement of Financial Activities|10 - 16|
## **Annual report of the PCC**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2022**
## **Aims and Purposes**
The Parish Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent Revd James Pinto (Vicar) in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of St Edmund’s and St Helen’s Church.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The PCC’s objective is promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church. In addition to Sunday services, our regular activities include:
- Children’s Sunday Club
- Weekly/fortnightly Connect Groups to help people grow in faith and godliness
- Fortnightly Music Connect
- Monthly Church Family Prayer Meeting
- Monthly midweek Communion
- Play and Stay Parent/Carer and Toddler Group
- Monthly Church Walks
- Evangelistic Courses
In September ‘22, Tuesday Connect divided, as the group was growing. This created 2 smaller groups (Tuesday Connect and Thursday Connect). From being 6 meeting together in September, numbers have grown to 11. As well as group meetings, we also have regular socials. A new Connect Group launched in April and there are hopes for at least 1 more group to launch later this year. In recent months the groups have moved to discussing questions from the passage looked at in our Sunday services. The sermons are available to watch on the church website with questions attached. These groups aim to help people in their walk with God, spend time in prayer together and enjoy socialising together.
Once a fortnight Music Connect meets for about an hour with between 6 and 15 people attending each session. We have learnt new songs and sung some ‘old favourites’. The aims of the group are to learn new songs, practice voices and instruments together regardless of ability, to encourage people to join the music group that plays on Sunday and to have fellowship with others.
1
## **Annual report of the PCC**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2022 - continued**
The St. Helens Stay & Play toddler group (formerly Play+SHED) has now been operating for just over a year. In that time, it has welcomed many new parents and carers with over 80 carers (with their children) attending since September last year. A wonderful team of regular volunteers helps to give the group the friendly and warm atmosphere that many parents and carers have noted. The group aims to provide a service to parents and carers who need support and friendship during their time looking after their children. Those running Stay + Play look to introduce carers and parents to the wider life of the church. At Christmas a toddler nativity service was held in the church – no-one was forced to attend but everyone did! The hope is to welcome these families to other events in the coming year, with the aim of breaking down barriers so that church, and St. Helens in particular, is seen to be relevant and a fun and welcoming place to be.
Since September we have launched a monthly church family prayer meeting. These have been well attended and are an important part of our life together as we grow together and look to God to go and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Eddie Jones leads our monthly walks on a Sunday afternoon. As well as providing an opportunity to enjoy time together it is an easy first invite to those outside or on the fringe of the church community. The walks have proved popular with a growing number joining us month by month. A particular highlight was dragon hunting in Longdell Hills Woods.
## **Review of the Year**
There are 81 people on the electoral roll of whom 58 live in the parish (compared to 67 people in 2022). During the year 18 were added and 4 were removed (3 deaths and 1 requesting to be removed).
The average weekly attendance counted during October 2022, was:
St Helen’s Church **52** (compared to **22** in October 2021)
St Edmund’s Church **18** (compared to **16** in October 2021)
2
## **Annual report of the PCC**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2022 - continued**
## **Church Graft**
2022 was a year of significant change for the parish. Edward and the family left in March moving to a new post in Bungay. There was a relatively short interregnum. In April James was appointed as Priest-in-Charge for an initial 3 year period. This is standard procedure in Norwich Diocese. James, supported by the Diocese and Bishop Graham, are committed to remaining in post far behind the initial 3 years.
James was licensed at the end of September 2022 with 30 joining them mainly, but not solely, from Holy Trinity Church. The church graft has been a great boost to the church family – there has been immediate growth, new people serving, a ‘critical mass’ of families and children at St Helen’s Church, increase in giving and a general sense of excitement about a new season of ministry in the parish.
## **Corporate Worship**
During 2022 we have been able to enjoy corporate worship with only minimal ongoing disturbance from the COVID- 19 pandemic. At both St Edmund’s and St Helen’s Churches it has been encouraging to see members of the parish who were not previously regular churchgoers or had not been attending for some time finding a home and becoming integrated within the life of the churches.
The church graft saw 4 families with 9 children joining the church family. In September we relaunched children’s groups running 3 out of 4 Sundays a month. 2 groups run in the hall and in the church office. At the end of 2022 we went through a consultation period considering our church service times. The PCC agreed to make a minor tweak to service times:
- 9:30am service at St Helen’s Church
- 11:15am service at St Edmund’s Church (previously 11am)
## **Church Staff**
Through a grant from the Church Planting & Regeneration (CPR) fund the Parish was able to employ a Youth & Family worker, Andrew Bruce. His role enabled a focus on young people in church and in the Summer he was able to obtain the help of a team of young people through the Princes Trust. Sadly, Andrew’s health has prevented him from continuing in this capacity and he left the employ of the Diocese in October.
3
## **Annual report of the PCC**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2022 - continued**
Hilary Jarrett has been working voluntarily in a part-time capacity as Church Administrator. This has been a great help to James in relieving some of the administrative work of the parish. A weekly team meeting is held with Hilary Jarrett, Bill Salmon and David Thompson attending.
## **Outreach & Events**
As we look to be ‘family on mission’ we have put on a variety of events to raise our visibility and build ongoing connections with people living locally. We have seen encouraging numbers at these events which include:
Brass Band Concert at St Edmund’s Church organised by the Friends of St Edmund’s (FOSE)
Heritage Open Day in September at St Edmund’s Church
Christmas Craft Evening with short talk by Libby
Carol & Christingle Services
Carol Singing outside the Co-Op
Operation Christmas Child – thanks to Andrée and her helpers 119 boxes were produced
Remembrance Sunday Service supported by the Royal British Legion & youth organisations
Quiz evenings at St Helen’s Church
Lynda Jones has relaunched Costessey News. This has been hugely popular with local residents. Each month on page 2 there is a short devotional thought. It provides the opportunity to let people know of events taking place in the church and in other churches in Costessey.
## **Building for the Future, St Helen’s Church Refurbishment**
St Helen’s Church building has been a great blessing over the last 50 years helping us to reach the parish with the good news of Jesus. We are currently considering how the building may continue to serve us and the parish for the next 50 years. As a church family we want to help people meet Jesus. We want our buildings to be good servants to do that - facilities that serve us to help people to meet Jesus.
4
## **Annual report of the PCC**
## **For the year ended 31 December 2022 - continued**
Concept drawings by Amy Tyrrell were presented in September. Since then we have undertaken a wide consultation with both the church family, wider community and the Diocese to ascertain the needs and priorities of the work. David Thompson will be chairing a newly formed ‘Building for the Future’ group as this project moves forward. Further details can be found in appendix 2.
## **Safeguarding**
Throughout the year, the PCC believe they have complied with the duty to have ‘due regard’ to the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance.
With the growth experienced in 2022, Safer Recruitment has continued with many more volunteers, including the relaunched Children’s Groups at St Helen’s Church.
Andrée Taylor continues in the role of Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO). We have ensured that our Safeguarding Policy is accessible on the front page of the new website and on boards in both churches.
The PSO continues to present a safeguarding report to the PCC each month and is pleased to report full support from the Incumbent, Wardens and PCC. We continue to be committed to creating and maintaining a safe, caring, open and transparent environment in which survivors and the vulnerable can hear and experience for themselves the love offered to them by their Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
## **Financial Review**
## _**Overview**_
The easing of the lockdown restrictions enabled both churches to return to some normality. However, this was disrupted somewhat when the Rev. Edward Land left in March. Following a relatively short interregnum Rev. James Pinto joined in September, bringing with him several people. This had the effect of not only boosting numbers in the congregation but also increasing giving, although this only had an impact in the final 3 months of the year. Income was also boosted by re-instating the Costessey News (see below).
5
**For the year ended 31 December 2022 – continued**
## **Annual report of the PCC**
## _**Receipts**_
The General Fund Receipts for 2022 showed a significant increase in comparison to 2021. Up to £80,209 from £42,904 in 2021. This included various gifts from FOSE and members of the congregation (£23820) to cover some of the expenditure. £1125 was transferred from the Deposit Account to cover the purchase of the "Hobbit House" and to pay for the organ maintenance. £3098 was claimed from the Church Planting and Revitalisation funding and there is a claim currently being processed for £1846.36. The Gift Aid rebate was £4801. St Helen's Hall Hire increased significantly (£1583). The PCC agreed to increase the hourly hire rate for 2022. It is still used regularly by the Brownies and Zumba (2 Classes per week). There is potential to increase the usage but it will require some significant refurbishment. A gift of £441 was received and is set aside for Community/Outreach Projects. We have also received a very generous gift of £800 per month, over the next 3 years to be used for mission. This is also Gift Aided and the total amount should be in the region of £30,000. There was no Gift Day during 2022.
## _**Payments**_
The parish share request for 2022 was £36497. £28500 was paid towards it during the year, leaving a shortfall of £7997. The parish share request for 2023 is set at £37956 as per Diocesan email 17/01/23. The direct debit for the Parish Share has been increased to £2500 pcm for 2023. Gross Payments from the General Fund were £86,814. £21,692 of this were covered by gifts received from FOSE and members of the congregation and £4902 was claimed from the CPR Grant. The "Hobbit House" was purchased from the pre-school at a cost of £800 and payment for this was taken from the Deposit Fund. A piano was purchased for £2183 and payment for this was covered by a gift from a member of the congregation.
## _**St Edmund’s Church**_
Heat, light and water costs have increased significantly from £1446 (2021) to £2491. Insurance costs increased by 7.5% from October and the total for the year was £1801.
## _**St Helen’s Church**_
Maintenance costs were £2079 of which £1063 related to repairs/servicing of the boiler. Heat, light and water increased significantly from £1451 (2021) to £4549. The cleaner costs are £1413 which also includes cleaning the church as well as the hall. The weekly cost is £34. As with St Edmunds, insurance costs increased by 7.5% in October and the total for the year is £817.
6
**For the year ended 31 December 2022 – continued**
## **Annual report of the PCC**
## _**Magazine**_
Lynda Jones restarted Costessey News in April 2022 at a cost of 50p. Sales are in the region of 300 per month, with some issues printed in colour. Total income for the year is £4368 (Advertising £3313, sales £1055). Total expenditure was £2920 making a profit of £1448. However, due to the cost of printing it was agreed at the last PCC to increase the cost to £1 per copy from Jan 2023. Thanks must be given to Lynda for all her hard work this year in making the Costessey News a success.
## _**Gifts to Missions & Agencies**_
The following collections were made in the year:
Childrens Society £27
East Anglia Children’s Hospice £56 Christian Aid £100. British Legion £113
A leaving gift of £301 (from a church collection) was given to Rev Edward Land
7
**Legal and administrative information**
**For the year ended 31 December 2022**
## **Structure, governance and management**
The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is registered with the Charity Commission.
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the church representation rules. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the electoral role.
## **Administrative information**
PCC members who have served at any time from 1 January 2022 until the date this report was approved are:
Ex Officio members:
Incumbent Rev James Pinto (Chair) – since September 2022 Incumbent Rev Edward Land (Chair) – resigned March 2022 Warden Denis Collen Warden Libby Glover Treasurer Michael Gill
Elected Members:
Irene Hill
Mark Lusher
Margaret Chamberlain
Michael Gill
Janet Betts (resigned April 2023)
8
## Independent Examiners Certificate
Report to the trustees/ members of: Costessey PCC
On accounts for the year ended: December 2022
Charity no (if any): 1186476
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 12 / 2022
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
• the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or • the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed:
Name: Marie-Anne Edwards
Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): AATQB
Address: 156 Fakenham road, Briston, Norfolk, NR24 2DH
Date: 26 March 2023
Approved by the PCC on 17 April 2023 and signed on their behalf by:
Rev James Pinto, Incumbent and PCC Chair
9
## **Costessey PCC**
## **Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2022**
Receipts and Payments Accounts
|Receipts and Payments Accounts|||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Unrestricted
General
Designated|||Restricted
Funds||Total
2022||Total
2021|General Fund
Total
Total
2020
2019||Totals
2018|
|Receipts||£|£||£||£||£|£|£|£|
|Planned Giving||24050|||||24050||19405|18959|18752|11342|
|Good Box||229|||||229||476||||
|Plate Collections||6538|||||6538||4490|5775|6140|3340|
|Donations||375|||||375||857|9054|6741|336|
|Gift Aid Rebate||4801|||||4801||4901|4526|3540|3961|
||||||||||||||
|Fees(Gross)||8070|||||8070||7726|6936|6364|5446|
|Admin & Organ Fees||510|||||510||||||
||||||||||||||
|Fund RaisingActivities|||||||||||||
|Magazine Adverts||3313|||||3313|||1415|4553|3515|
|Magazine Sales/Misc||1055|||||1055|||741|1684|1576|
|Hall Lettings||1583|||||1583||755|169|6041|8866|
|Other Fund Raising|||||||||2986||||
||||||||||||||
|Social Functions||426|||||426||138|100|1454|1475|
|Youth Events||477|||||477||120||||
|Flowers||130|||||130||||||
|SundayCoffee||243|||||243||31|65|370|295|
||||||||||||||
10
|Endowment Dividends|||||518||518||20|152|282||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Bank Interest|||123||187||310||300|290|366||
||||||||||||||
|Legacies/Bequests|||2841||||2841||2250||20913||
|Grants - CPR||3098|||||3098||1000||19487||
|Insurance Claims|||||||||||||
|Gifts towards Gen Fund Exp||23820|||||23820||||||
|Transfer of Funds||1125|||||1125||||13788||
||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||
|Sundry||366|||||366||19|505|1853|1082|
||||||||||||||
||Totals|80209|2964||705||83878||45474|48687|112328|41234|
Mission/Charities 2021
|Mission/Charities 2021|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Collected||£
Forwarded
£|||||
|Jan-22
Jan-22
Mar-22
Apr-22
Nov-22|Childrens Society|27.00||Mar-22||27.00|
||EACH|56.25||Mar-22||56.25|
||E Land Gift|301.00||Apr-22||301.00|
||Christian Aid|100.00||Apr-22||100.00|
||British Legion|113.00||Dec-22||113.00|
||Totals|597.25
597.25|||||
11
## **Costessey PCC**
## **Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2022**
|Receipts and Payments Accounts
Payments||Unrestricted
General
Designate
d
£
£|Unrestricted
General
Designate
d
£
£|Unrestricted
General
Designate
d
£
£|Restricted
Funds
£|Restricted
Funds
£|Total
2022
£||General Fund
Total
Total
Total
2021
2020
2019
£
£
£|General Fund
Total
Total
Total
2021
2020
2019
£
£
£|General Fund
Total
Total
Total
2021
2020
2019
£
£
£|Totals
2018
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Parish Share||31500|||||31500||18000|24000|25000|20000|
||||||||||||||
|Altar Requisites||0|||||0||0|28|180|75|
|Admin/Accounts||775|||||775||254|1295|1514|1572|
|ClergyExpenses||241|||||241||569|2173|856|145|
|Worship||3|||||3||247||||
|Fees to Diocese||4494|||||4494||5023|5152|2112|3730|
|Fees to Verger etc.||0|||||0||0|0|0|286|
|Services & Events||1070|||||1070||773||||
|Flowers||149|||||149||50|0|0|51|
|Resources & Education||434|||||434||||||
|Organists||620|||||620||790|240|1241||
|Organ/Piano Maint||520|||||520||439|0|1416|1216|
|Subs/Licences||673|||||673||296|516|446|322|
|Youth Events||309|||||309||468||||
|CPR Expenses||4902|||||4902||||||
|Expcovered by gifts||21692|||||21692||||||
||||||||||||||
|Fund RaisingExpenses|||||||||||||
|Magazine Expenses||2920|||||2920||0|541|1479|1771|
|Social Functions||245|||||245||0|0|545|5|
12
|Hall Management|||||||0||0|0|0|100|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||||||||||
|Church RunningCosts|||||||||||||
|St Edmund's|||||||||||||
|Heat,Light & Water||2491|||||2491||1446|1647|1721|653|
|Maintenance||20|||||20||172|1215|289|579|
|Car Park Rent|||||||0||10|10|10||
|Supplies||0|||||0||273|118|194|15|
|Insurance||1801|||||1801||1729|1549|1647|1976|
||||||||||||||
|St Helen's|||||||||||||
|Heat,Light & Water||4549|||||4549||1451|1276|3777|3737|
|Maintenance||2079|||||2079||5871|665|369|3177|
|Caretaker||1413|||||1413||216|300|1216|1173|
|Supplies||114|||||114||209|484|84|131|
|Insurance||817|||||817||781|697|742|724|
||||||||||||||
|St Edmund's Bell Project|||||||0||0|0|18945||
|St Edmund's HLF Project|||||||0||0|0|0||
|St Edmund's Chancel Wall Project|||||||0||0|0|3401||
|St Edmund's HeatingProject|||||||0||0|0|2469||
|St Edmund's Oak Cupboard Project|||||||0||0|0|3539||
|St Helen's Hall Roof/Refurb Project|||||||0||0|0|36319||
|Michael Richardson/Alpha 2020|||||||0||0|0|900||
|Transfer of Funds|||2964||187||3151||0|0|13788||
||||||||||||||
|Sundry||2983|||||2983||315|1373|4297|1157|
|Totals|||||||||||||
|||86814
2964
0
187 0
89965
39382
43279
128496
42595|||||||||||
13
## Movement within Funds & Balance
|Movement within Funds & Balance|Movement within Funds & Balance||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Opening
Balance
01/01/22||Receipts||Payments||Closing
Balance
31/12/22||Closing
Balance
31/12/21|Closing
Balance
31/12/20|Closing
Balance
31/12/19|
|Endowment Funds|||||||||||||
|Chancel||913||71||||984||913|856|798|
|Churchyard||3011||265||||3276||3011|2793|2572|
|Clive James||403||33||||436||403|375|349|
|St Helen's Fabric||3664||47||||3711||3664|3662|3648|
||Sub-Total|7991||417||||8408||7991|7686|7367|
||||||||||||||
|Restricted Funds|||||||||||||
|Bells||1429||18||||1447||1429|1428|1422|
|Choir(St E)||213||3||||216||213|213|213|
|Choir(St H)||368||5||||373||368|368|365|
|Curson Legacy||1283||17||||1300||1283|1282|1276|
|Fabric(St E)||1148||15||||1163||1148|148|148|
|Organ Maintenance||359||1||325||35||359|359|358|
|M H Richardson Family||8647||112||||8759||8647|8642|8606|
|M H Richardson St H Roof & Boiler||8265||107||||8372||8265|8261|8226|
|Curson Bequest re G & M Munday||1008||13||||1021||1008|1008|1004|
|Unrestricted Funds
Designated|Sub-Total||||||||||||
|||22720||289||325||22684||22720|21709|21618|
|Bell Fund||27||0||||27||27|57|57|
|Church Linen(St E)||182||2||||184||182|182|181|
|Education||286||4||||290||286|285|285|
|Equipment(St E)||490||6||||496||490|490|487|
14
|Equipment(St H)||79||1||||80||79|79|79|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Fabric(St E)||3760||48||||3808||3760|3758|3741|
|Fabric(St H)||700||9||||709||700|700|697|
|N.Chamberlain(St H)||263||3||||266||263|263|263|
|Printer/Copier||649||8||||657||649|649|647|
|Muriel Webb(St H)||1007||13||||1020||1007|1006|1002|
|N&J Vitkovich re Youth and Children||1250||7||800||457||1250|||
|R Rouse Community/Outreach/Projects||||446||||446|||||
|M Hulme - Gift re Mission||||2415||||2415|||||
|Sub-Total
General Fund
Total All Funds
Total Funds Represented By||8693
2964
800
10857
19607
80209
87064
12752||||||||8693
7469
7439
19607
16085
11119|||
|||59011
83879
88189
54701||||||||59011
52949
47543|||
|||£|||||||||||
|Natwest Current
Account
CCLA Deposit Account
Clergy Expenses Float|12702
41949
50
54701
0|
|---|---|
## Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Cash Funds:
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Total Total Total General Designated Funds 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 50 50 300 250 250
15
|Bank Current Account
|12,702||-|12,702||19307|15809|11,732|12,087|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Bank Deposit Account||10,858
|31,091|41,949||39404|36864|35,561|51,624|
||12,752|10,858|31,091|54,701||59011|52923|47,543|63,711|
|Other Monetary||||||||||
|Assets||||||||||
|Liabilities||||||||||
|Charity Donation to||-|-||||20||-|
|be forwarded.||||||||||
|Investment Funds Market Value||||2022||2021|2020|2019|2018|
|at 31st December||||||||||
|2022||||£|£||£|£|_£_|
|**Chancel Fund - 126001310S**||||||||||
|94.92 income shares in the CBF of the Cof||E Investment Fund||1961||2223|1945|1,820|1,533|
|**Churchyard Fund - 126001195S**||||||||||
|365 income shares in the CBF of the Cof E||Investment Fund||7541||8548|7478|6,997|5,894|
|**Clive James Memorial Fund**|**- 126001304S**|||||||||
|45.37 income shares in the CBF of the Cof||E Investment Fund||937||1062|930|870|733|
16
## **Appendix 1 – APM & APCM Minutes**
## Monday 25[th] April 2022
## **Annual Parishioner’s Meeting**
1. **Apologies.** There were no apologies.
2. **Minutes of Annual Vestry Meeting 2021** . These were approved by all present as a true and accurate record.
3. **Automatic Disqualification of existing churchwardens shall not apply.** The secretary of the PCC, Irene Hill stated that she had received two nominations for churchwarden. These were from :
- Libby Glover
- Denis Collen
She then explained that under the Churchwarden Measure 2001 both nominees are actually disqualified from holding the Office of Churchwarden for the coming year as they have individually served as Churchwarden in this Parish for six consecutive periods of office. They should therefore stand down from office for at least a year. However, there is provision under the Measure for the meeting to resolve that this section shall not apply this year. Irene therefore proposed that the automatic disqualification after 6 years does not apply in the Parish of Costessey for this year. The proposal was seconded by Margaret Chamberlain. The proposal was unanimously agreed by all present.
4. **Election of Churchwardens.** Irene proposed that: Libby Glover & Denis Collen be elected as Churchwardens in the Parish of Costessey for the coming year. This proposal was seconded by Jon Hill. The proposal was unanimously agreed by all present.
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## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting**
1. **Vacancy update.** Edward Land, the previous Priest In Charge has left the Parish of Costessey to take up a new appointment in Bungay. The Bishop of Norwich has agreed to appoint a Priest in Charge of the Parish for another three years but this is the last time he will be allowed to do so. A candidate has been found and interviewed by the Chair of the Deanery Synod, the Archdeacon, Denis and Libby but the name of this person cannot be announced until the Bishop has given his approval.
2. **Minutes of APCM 2021.** These were read and approved by all present as a true and accurate record of the APGM held in 2021 and signed by the Chair, Denis Collen.
## 3. **Matters arising.** None.
4. **Electoral Roll.** There are at present 67 names on the Electoral Roll which is updated every six years. The last update was 2019. However, any of the congregation can add their name to the Roll during this six years should they wish to do so. Kate Reeve oversees the register and Denis thanked her for her input.
5. **Annual Financial Report and Accounts.** All present were given a copy of the Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Receipts and Payments Account. A copy of this is in the file. The Treasurer Michael Gill, gave an overview of a very difficult year due mainly to the ongoing effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic. The parish share request for 2021 was £36,000 but it was only possible to pay £21,390. Even though the Diocese have kept the parish share to £36,000 for 2022/2003. Mike also warned of a difficult year ahead with the massive rise in utility bills. However, it wasn't all doom and gloom with two years of the CPR (Church Planting and Resuscitation) money remaining with which to carry ut church growth and the publishing of a new Costessey News thanks to Lynda Jones. Mike asked people to consider giving to the church by Standing Order which would give a more accurate picture of money coming in each month. Reg Harvey proposed that the accounts be accepted and the proposal was seconded by Sandra Gill. This proposal was unanimously agreed by all present.
## **6. Reports from Parish Organisations.**
- _**Churchwardens Report:**_ A copy of the Churchwardens Report was given to everyone present and a copy is in the file. Denis gave a synopsis of the report and emphasised how lucky we are to have the Reverend Bill in the Parish and how much we all appreciate his very considerable and valuable contribution to both churches. Projects which have been started during the last three years will continue, as will the times and styles of services at both churches until the new Priest in Charge is in post.
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- _**Vicar's Report:**_ Edward's report was given to all present and a copy is in the file.
He outlined the work done to promote Height, Width and Depth within SH+ED Church.
## Height
- Employment of a Children and Families Worker
- Live streaming of services
- Children's creche area at St Helen's
- Different styles of service at each church to suit the personal preference of the congregation.
## Width
- Church Planting and Revitalisation Course attended by PCC members and members of the working groups.
- PCC away Day
- Holiday Club
- Play SH+ED Toddler Group which actually began in February 2022
- Garden SH+ED
## Depth
- Establishment of two Connect Groups
- Bring and Share Lunches
- Various Groups that continue to meet
The report ended with a verse from 1 Corinthians 3
- _**Buildings Working Group Annual Report:**_
St Edmunds:
A report was read by all present and a copy is in the file.
- The vestry doors have been completed and the PCC has sanctioned the appointment of an architect to draw up a scheme and obtain prices for refurbishing the vestry.
- The decluttering of the the rear of the Nave is substantially completed.
- Fence to Church Farm Building- no action, awaiting planners
St Helens:
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The merits of three architects are being assessed so that when money is available the project to turn St Helen's church and hall into a community hub can begin. The group is mindful that the new vicar will want some input on this large project and also smaller projects such as signage to both churches and kitchen improvements at St Helen's.
- _**SH+ED Kids report:**_ Brucie's report was read by all present and a copy is in the file. Brucie, who has had a difficult year due to health and personal issues, thanked the church for its love, support and prayers. The report outlined the year's successes;
- The Holiday Club
- October Light Party
- Christmas family Fun Event
- Garden Shed
- Community Outreach events
7. **Election of members of PCC.** Names have been received. Jon proposed the names be accepted. Janice seconded this. There was unanimous agreement from all present.
8. **Examiner of Accounts.** Nerina proposed that Marie Edwards continue as Examiner of Accounts for Costessey Parish. Margaret seconded the proposal All were in agreement.
9. **Matters of General Interest.** David Thompson pointed out that the last three years had flown by. In the next three years we must address the issue of how to get people together to pray for growth in both churches and for the proposed refurbishment of St Helen's.
Bill thanked Libby and Denis and the PCC for their work during the past year.
The meeting ended with a prayer led by Bill.
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## **Appendix 2 – Building Working Group (BWG)**
On Revd Edward Land’s departure the BWG decided to carry on with overseeing the fabric of St Edmunds and St Helens, together with expanding the initiative of a major overhaul of St Helens.
At St Edmunds the installation of the vestry doors was completed and Ruth Blackman, Architect, was appointed to oversee a scheme to upgrade the rest of the vestry.
At St Helens; Amy Tyrrell was appointed as architect for Phase 1 which would include concept drawings and an outline specification, CCD Ltd were asked to make a services assessment of the property. With this information, Andrew Morton and Associates were to provide costings. There were informal talks with Saul Penfold, grant specialist.
Costs came in at £1.6million, reduced to £1million by the group. The high sums gave rise to a lot of soul searching, it was agreed that the costs represented our wishes, we needed to find out our needs through wider consultation. This was to be in the form of presentations to the church family and to outside interested groups and through a poll circulated by Rev James. This would bring an end to Phase 1 and, due to a generous donation and through the ProHelp initiative, there was no cost to the church.
The heating at St Helens was so unreliable that the PCC agreed to the installation of infrared quartz heaters in the church and hall.
New signage was installed at both churches thanks to a generous donation.
## **Update since January**
## _**St Helens Church:**_
The presentations have taken place. A new committee ‘Building for the Future’, chaired by David Thompson is to be chosen. The new heating is about to be fitted.
Thanks to all – particularly to David for the presentations and to Kevin Payne for the heating.
## _**St Edmunds:**_
The vestry upgrade is being tendered.
Mark Lusher
Chair
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## **Appendix 3 – Deanery Synod Report for 2022**
There were two meetings this year, the first in June, here St Helens, Costessey and the second in November at St Elizabeth’s, Earlham.
In June 2022 there was still concern supporting the churches after covid with congregations and clergy not back to full strength. Part of the aim of the meeting continued to be coming alongside each other, facing our difficulties together. We also had a presentation from Robert Culver, from the Diocese team, about the Parish Giving Scheme. This is part funded by the Diocese and aims to make things easier for PCC treasurers, and cut bank charges for individual parishes.
By November 2022 there was increasing attempted focus on discussions around the Living in Love and Faith material; Patrick Richmond, Clergy Chair, produced an excellent summary to help us. However, it was impossible to have any meaningful discussion, as fear of being called ‘homophobic’ as opposed to ‘progressive’ were too readily in people’s minds.
In January, as a response to the Living in Love and Faith material, the House of Bishops produced a book of draft worship resources – _Prayers of Love and Faith_ . It is a range of prayers and readings which could be used in a church service, such as a Service of the Word or a Service within a Celebration of Holy Communion. There are many concerns about the introduction of these prayers however the discussions are more measured and realistic with quieter voices being heard. Please continue to pray for our Bishop, +Graham.
Sandra Isaac
Lay Chair
Norwich South Deanery Synod
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