FRIENDS OF ST LAURENCE, CHORLEY
Agenda Item 3 Annual Meeting of 23 January 2022
Binding Church and Community Together
Minute of Chairman’s Report for 2021 (presented verbally by Michael Welsh Chairman and Trustee)
Review of the year 2021
FoSL activities remained suspended at the beginning of the year, as we continued with Covid – 19 restrictions. Communications and updates have continued with Friends throughout the year, mainly by email and newsletter.
Our book, ‘Chorley St Laurence, the Story of a Parish Church’, published in December 2020, continues to be distributed. A second book is in preparation, Paul Turner providing the text, to be published later in 2022.
Our committee continues to oversee our objectives, and project groups are charged with specific tasks, prioritised by the PCC, namely:
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Organ Chamber Roof repair, followed by Organ restoration, Window restoration
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Fundraising
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Website development, Crowdfunding/Just Giving and providing web content (a series of short videos about the Church which would create a library of films, attracting the ‘traffic’ we need for future investment)
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Communications, conveying St Laurence’s Church and Friends’ activities into the public domain, promoting the Website, and contacting other Groups
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Sponsorship, both business and private
Organ Chamber Roof
The £40,000 tender figure (ex VAT) has increased from the earlier estimate. We have £10,000 available from FoSL funds therefore for the next few months our entire focus will be on the challenge of raising £30,000 by the end of May so that we can carry out the work to repair the roof over the organ chamber, and then go on to repair and upgrade the organ itself. The intention is not to let the Contract Works until we are confident that we have the available funds. This will leave a working balance of £2,500 in our account.
Our approach shall be to Charities (matched funding through grants £20,000), Business and Individual Sponsorship (15no @ £1000), leaving a funding gap of £5000. To date we have received £3,800 in donations.
The task is an enormous challenge, but one I believe we can fulfill. By renewing our membership subscriptions; signing up one more Friend; and by identifying local contacts who may assist us with fundraising ideas, sharing our ambition, or making a significant donation.
It is important that we act sooner rather than later as damage to the organ affects the other uses of our Church building.
Since October 2021 we have applied to the diocese for the necessary Faculty, had a very constructive meeting with the Deputy Leader of Chorley Council and notified the contractor that we intend to proceed with the work in June provided we raise the money required. Jane (Morwood) has researched the application procedures for our three selected charities so the way is now clear to embark on this major fund-raising effort. This AGM will mark the “kick off.”
Subscriptions/Fundraising
Obviously, there is no question of our raising funds of this magnitude from subscriptions but the income you provide remains extremely important as it gives us the wherewithal to finance our fund raising operations and most importantly to maintain the web site. It also strengthens our case to charities and business sponsors that we can point to an active and committed membership which is a significant source for funds. The fact that we can contribute £10,000 from our own resources to the project testifies to the importance of your generous support so I very much hope you will feel able to renew your membership and encourage others to join.
Subscriptions for 2022 are due by end January, the individual subscription is £50, couples £75. A number of you pay by standing order for which many thanks; otherwise, you can make a bank transfer or send a cheque to me at 181 Town Lane, Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley, PR6 8AG. Details of our account at Barclays are:
Account Name: The Friends of St Laurence, Chorley
Sort Code: 20 51 08
Account No: 90936820
JA50 1659 15000 145. I• loi 5001 11.isj lJJg•ts0 11.1*0 iJJ••Jo JJ 7- 1£ /w AA(>L•J Iil,('
Frfends of St laurence's Church Chorley- Charftable Trust Re8lstered Charlty Number 1186760 Treasurers Report- Year Ended 31" December 2021 Dear Friends, As we approath thls yearfs Annual Genera5 Meetin& I have prepared the accounts statement for last year which has been independently reviewed by James Laidler. Whilst the Covid Pandemic has continued to disrupt events and 8atherln8S this year, our finance5 have increased in the year. lar8ely from donations and subscriptions. The lar8est portlon of our Income has been frorn donatlons, whlst some have come through different channels and for different purposes, donations have totalled £3,837. The bulk of which is In aid of the Organ fund. Subscrlptions are our second largest Income stream which total £3,028. Our last source of income thls year has been from the sale of the St Laurences's hlstory book whlch the Frlends have complled and had printed whlch has ralsed £250 this year. In tem)s of Gfft Ald on donations we have received, an application has been made to HMRC to re8lster the charlty for thls purpose. Once approved a clalm will be submitted and bac dated to the opening of the charity whlch should result in a substantial contrlbution th+$ year. ,¥ ,5 In terms of expenditure. we have contrlbuted 1,048 to e Organ Roof project to pay for Architerts Fees. and insurances which total £105-for the year. We started the year wlth £7.428.93, have had income totallln8 £7.115.47. expendlture of {£1.153.80) which leaves a closlng balance of £13.390.60. I would Ilke to record thanks to all our frlends for their contlnued financial support, particularly In contlnuln8 subscrlptlons and also to all those who have made donations to our cause. Towards the end of last year I Indlcated to our Chalrman that I wished to step down as Treasurer after 3 years which is at this AGM. I'm pleased to say Brian Clarke has 38reed to take over as Treasurer which will be put to this Annual General Meeting as a motion for approval. l extend my thanks to Brian for offering to take up the position and to Michael for facilitatln8 a transfer. Mar Baybutt Treasurer Ihon} Frlends of St Laurence's Churth 21 January 2022