2022-12-31-accounts

The Parish of the Solway Plain Annual Meeting

Sunday 21[st] May 2022 at 11am CHRIST CHURCH, SILLOTH

Agenda

Minutes of the last meetings

Annual Reports

Accounts

Vestry Meeting and Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Christ Church, Silloth - Sunday 21[st] May 2023 at 11.00am

Agenda

Welcome by the Chairman

The Meeting for the Election of Churchwardens

1. The Election of Churchwardens

2. The Admission of Churchwardens – Thursday 13[th] July at 7pm in St Kentigern’s Church, Aspatria

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting

		Page
1.	Minutes of last year’s Annual Meetings	2-5
2.	Matters arising from the minutes
3.	Reports
	a. Annual Report	6-8
	b. Chairman’s Report	9
	c. The Accounts for the year ending 31st December 2022
	insert
	d. Electoral Roll	9
	e. Report on the Parochial Church Council	10
	f. Reports from the church committees of the Solway Plain Parish	11
	g. Reports from Churches Together	14
	h. Solway Plain Mission Community	15
	i. Report on the Activities of Solway Deanery Synod	15
4.	The Election of the Parochial Church Council
5.	The Election of Deanery Synod Representatives (6)
6.	Review of Safeguarding policy	16
7.	Any other business / Matters of general interest may be raised and
	recommendations made for consideration by the PCC

Meeting of the Parochial Church Council

The PCC will meet on Tuesday 13[th] June 2022 at 7pm

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The Parish of the Solway Plain

Minutes of the Annual Meetings 2022 in the Parish of the Solway Plain held on 22[nd] May 2022 in St Mungo’s Church, Bromfield

The meeting was held after a United Service which was held at 10:00am

Welcome: - the Rector – Revd Canon Bryan Rothwell took the chair

The Rector on our behalf thanked the ladies of St Mungo’s for the refreshments after the service, and HG for the music.

The meeting started with prayers and a quick recap of the last year, again with the Covid pandemic affecting all of our churches in some way or other, including the loss or church members, reduced opening for some churches and the loss of revenue.

Present & Apologies: 26 parishioners were present, Apologies from 8 parishioners

The Vestry meeting for the Election of Church Wardens

Election of Church Wardens

The Rector thanked ALL those involved in the “running” of our churches, in whatever way they could. ALL have an integral part to play in the life of our churches. THANKS to each and every one of you!

Election of Church Wardens

Holme Cultram	Margaret Graham	Brenda Sim
	Ass. Elaine	Atkinson
Holme St Cuthbert	Joe Armstrong	Brian Bailey
Kirkbride	Josephine Jefferson	Stephen Sowerby
Newton Arlosh	Willy Bell	George Hill
Silloth	Margaret Graham	Jean Oliver
Westnewton	Christine Young	Mary Hodgson

The Rector commented on the names being the same as last year – and thanked them all for their work within all of our churches, which usually goes unnoticed.

Nominations were carried by all present

Election of Deputy Wardens (from our daughter church) Bromfield Shirley Holland-Reid Mary Douglas

Admission of Church Wardens

Will take place on Tuesday 28th July in Christ Church Silloth at 7pm

The meeting closed at 11:17 am

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Minutes from the Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Sunday 22nd May 2022 in St Mungo’s , Bromfield

Minutes of last year’s Annual Meeting

signed as a true copy

Matters arising from the minutes

The PCC – Officially, we welcomed Kirkbride and Newton into the Parish in September (although it has been nearly two years since we started working together)

Waverton Church – is now closed (the Diocese will be putting it up for sale shortly).

Reports in the booklet – to take home and read at your leisure

Rector’s report

Covid Restrictions eased. Worship on-line still going ahead (a virtual congregation!)

HUGE thanks to ALL involved in our churches. Thanks to Worship Leaders (the ordination of Andrew Callaway was very special as it was in HCA away from the Cathedral)

Looking after our historic buildings is no mean feat and are ALL assets to their communities.

Finances, are always the biggest burden – even more so now as the cost of living is increasing

Ended with ”May we be open to the Spirit guiding and leading us as we move forward together, safe in the knowledge of the Father’s love and care is revealed to us through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Treasurer’s report –The consolidated accounts for the Solway Plain PCC copy with the booklet

Parish Offer ALL paid in full with some managing to give more at the end of the year.

Treasurers all do a great job – keeping the books and the churches “heads” above water.

Our Treasurers need our support

Margaret P will be moving to Carlisle – and will continue being the PCC treasurer

A/c were signed off by Rector Bryan (a copy has to be sent to the Charities Commission)

From the Secretary of the PCC , with Electoral Roll report– membership is currently 282 (as at 07-05-22)

From the Parish Churches – in the booklet

Churches together - in booklet

Mission Community – in booklet

Deanery Synod - in booklet. NB Canon Rev Bryan Rothwell is now Rural Dean

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The Election of the Parochial Church Council

Nominations from each church were received before the APM they are:-

Bromfield	Shirley Holland-Reid	Susan Roberts	Susan Shardlow
Holme Cultram	Margaret Graham	Judith Bryan	Elaine Atkinson
Holme St Cuthbert Brian Bailey		Barbara Stephens	Pauline Stagg
Kirkbride	Josephine Jefferson	Stephen Sowerby	Ann Little
Newton Arlosh	Ruth Pinguey	Sarah Whitaker	Robert Heywood
Silloth	Margaret Graham	Marjorie Harrison	Margaret Pickering
Westnewton	Christine Young	Mary Hodgson	Jane Launchbury

All nominations were carried by all members present

Date of next Full PCC meeting 22nd June in Holme Cultram at 7:00pm

The Election of Deanery Synod Representatives

As we now have 7 churches within our Parish (but for the formula for membership, only 6 count as one is a chapel of ease. We should have 9 Deanery members

Membership at present - those that were elected in 2019 - 2023

Tim Barker Silloth Arnold Kyrke Kirkbride (was in Carlisle Deanery) but as in our Parish Membership has moved over to Solway Deanery Jane Launchbury Westnewton Francess McIntyre Abbeytown Anita Norman Abbeytown Peter Wardle Westnewton Brian Bailey (Holme St Cuthbert) wishes to stand

Nominated by Francess McIntyre seconded by Peter Wardle Carried by all present

Review of the Safeguarding Policy

Report on file from Francess McIntyre; Parish Safeguarding Officer

Thanked all who have completed their training. Most have completed the B.A. module

Recap: Everyone in the Church has a Duty of Care

New modules can be completed on line, But we have had “in-house training for Basic Awareness level and we will be doing some more” in house” training for Foundation level on 6th July

AOB None

From the floor – Thanks to Bryan for all his help and support to all the churches throughout the past year

The meeting closed with the Grace (meeting closed at 11:47am)

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The Parish of the Solway Plain in the Diocese of Carlisle

Registered Charity No. 1187312

Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2022

Administrative Information

Addresses

Christ Church, Criffel Street, Silloth CA7 4BZ St Mary, Holme Cultram, Abbeytown CA7 4SY Holme St Cuthbert, Mawbray CA15 6QZ St Matthew’s, Westnewton CA7 3NT St Mungo’s, Bromfield CA7 3NB St John’s, Newton Arlosh CA7 5ET St Bride’s, Kirkbride CA7 5HY

Correspondence Address

The Vicarage, Wigton Road, Silloth CA7 4NJ

PCC Membership

PCC members are Trustees of the Registered Charity.

Revd Canon Bryan Rothwell (Rector) Chair Revd Andrew Callaway (Curate) Mr Tim Barker (Reader & Deanery Synod) lay vice-chair Mrs Christine Young (Licenced Lay Minister)

Mrs Shirley Holland Reid (Bromfield) Mrs Sue Roberts (Bromfield) Mrs Janet Sharp (Bromfield) Mrs Margaret Graham (Holme Cultram) Mrs Elaine Atkinson (Holme Cultram) Mrs Judith Bryan (Holme Cultram)

Mr Brian Bailey (Holme St Cuthbert) Mrs Pauline Stagg (Holme St Cuthbert) Mrs Barbara Stephens (Holme St Cuthbert) Mrs Josephine Jefferson (Kirkbride) Mrs Ann Little (Kirkbride) Mr Stephen Sowerby (Kirkbride)

Mr Robert Heywood (Newton Arlosh) resigned 2022 Mrs Ruth Pinguey (Newton Arlosh) Mrs Sara Whitaker (Newton Arlosh)

Mrs Margaret Graham (Silloth) Mrs Margaret Pickering (Silloth) Treasurer Mrs Marjorie Harrison (Silloth)

Mr Peter Wardle (Westnewton & Deanery Synod) Mrs Mary Hodgson (Westnewton)

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Mrs Jane Launchbury (Westnewton & Deanery Synod) Mrs Francess McIntyre (Deanery Synod) Secretary Mrs Anita Norman (Deanery Synod)

Structure, Governance & Management

The Parish of the Solway Plain came into being on 1[st] November 2018 under a pastoral scheme which united the parishes that formed the Solway Plain Team.

Holme Cultram Abbey, Holme St Cuthbert, Christ Church Silloth and St Matthew’s Westnewton are Parish Churches in the benefice. St John’s, Newton Arlosh and St Bride’s, Kirkbride became Parish Churches within the Parish of the Solway Plain on 1[st] August 2021. St Mungo’s Bromfield is a chapel of ease (daughter churches) and was licenced for the reading of banns and the solemnization of marriages by the Bishop on 19[th] November 2018.

The incumbent of the benefice, the Rector works with a ministry team including a Reader, a part time Curate and other licenced lay ministers. A retired priest also helps out in the parish.

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 Parochial Church Council (PCC) registered with the Charity Commission at the beginning of 2020.

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The PCC has prepared Terms of Reference for Sub-Committees of the PCC to oversee the day to day management and finances of the six churches.

Regular members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.

Finance

The PCC sub-committees of the seven churches in the parish hold the delegated responsibility for their church’s finance. Accounts are prepared in accordance with the Church accounting procedures.

Expenses relating to the whole parish are administered in a Parish Account by the PCC treasurer.

The magazine committee holds accounts for the running of the parish magazine.

The PCC receives regular updates at its meeting from the churches in the form of a consolidated account.

The end of year accounts presented to the Annual Meeting are a consolidated account for the Parish. The individual audited accounts are available for inspection from the committee treasurers.

• St Mungo, Bromfield – Shirley Holland-Reid 016973 61805 shirley.holland [e-mail] Holme Cultram Abbey – Laura Sim 016973 61007 [e-mail] Holme St Cuthbert – Barbara Stephens 01900 881411 [e-mail] Christ Church, Silloth – Elaine Holmes 016973 26736 [e-mail] St Matthew, Westnewton – Peter Wardle 07824903420 [e-mail] St Bride’s, Kirkbride – Ann Little 016973 51254 [e-mail]

St John’s, Newton Arlosh – Willie Bell 016973 51311 (retired end of 2022) new treasurer appointed January 2023 – Gwen Hopkinson 016973 51345 [e-mail] Magazine Account – Leila Wilson 016973 61200

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Solway Plain PCC – Margaret Pickering 016973 33068 [e-mail] Objectives and activities

The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, social and ecumenical.

The Parish is part of the Ecumenical Solway Plain Mission Community and is supportive of the Diocesan Vision “God for All”.

The PCC has the legal responsibility for church buildings, finance and safeguarding. Local responsibility is delegated where possible to the sub-committees of the PCC.

There are six open churchyards in the Parish (Abbeytown, Kirkbride, Newton Arlosh, Holme St Cuthbert, Bromfield and Westnewton), one closed churchyard (St Paul’s Causewayhead) and an area for the burial of ashes (Waverton).

There are five primary schools and one secondary school in the parish, the ministry team has good links with all the schools and is involved with regular Collective Worship and other support for the schools.

Holm Cultram Abbey School and St Matthew’s School, Westnewton are church schools, and the PCC appoints foundation governors.

Safeguarding

The PCC has adopted the national policy “Promoting a Safer Church” and Francess McIntyre acts as the Safeguarding Officer for the Parish 016973 44756 [e-mail] Training for clergy and lay people has taken place over the past year and the PCC ensures that updates to the Policy are implemented. The Safeguarding Officer gives regular reports to the PCC and annually at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.

The Electoral Roll

The Electoral Roll was renewed in 2019 and updated in preparation for the Annual Meeting.

GDPR

The parish has an agreed policy for the General Data Protection Regulations and a copy is displayed in all the churches and on the parish website.

Communications

The Parish Produces a Magazine which is distributed throughout the churches monthly for 10 months of the year, joint editions are produced in July/August and December/January. A committee formed from representatives of all the churches oversees the production. The committee meets twice a year.

A notice sheet is produced and distributed at services every Sunday.

The Parish has a website www.solwayplainchurches.org.uk which includes information about all the churches in the parish and has a diary which is updated regularly with services and events taking place across the area. Individual churches have Facebook pages where information is publicised to the wider community.

Signed by the chairman:

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Rector’s Report

We pay tribute to the many people who take an active role in our churches in various capacities, and especially to our churchwardens, PCC members and church committees. We are grateful especially to Joe Armstrong and George Hill who have retired as churchwardens.

The committees have continued to support and maintain our churches, and we are grateful to all those who do so many of the jobs behind the scenes to ensure the churches continue to be wonderful places of prayer and worship, and welcoming to our communities and visitors who join us for many special activities and events.

Our buildings are a precious resource. Christ Church, Silloth has hosted many events, and increased demand from organisations wanting to use the new facilities. Events such as the new Men’s Breakfast have seen many coming who wouldn’t be regular attenders joining us. Holme Cultram has seen a busy year with its regular activities and visitors, and it was wonderful to finally get the lighting and electrics completed and have recently achieved the eco-church Bronze award, giving a challenge to other churches to look at our environment and energy use.

Many of the activities that were suspended during the Covid1-19 pandemic have started up again. The fundraising events have been welcome in boosting our often fragile accounts. Thank you to all who generously give to the mission and ministry of the church, and we are grateful to the treasurers, supported by Margaret Pickering who carefully look after our finances.

Increasing costs of energy has been a challenge as are the costs of maintaining our buildings. But I am pleased that all our churches have been able to meet the Parish Offer and looking ahead are seeking to raise this and keep in line with inflation over the coming years.

I am greatly indebted to those who lead our worship. We are one of the few multi-church parishes that have been able to maintain our regular pattern of services. This is in no small part due to the team we have, helped on occasion by local retired clergy.

We are grateful for the ministry of Revd Andrew Callaway as he comes to the end of his three year Curacy here in the Solway Plain. The new initiatives that he has been instrumental in getting up and running alongside others have been a welcome addition to our outreach and mission. We wish Andrew & Carol every success and blessing as they move to Patterdale.

The challenge for us all as Christians is the call Jesus gave to his disciples at his Ascension is to “go and make disciples” Matthew 28:19. Together with our colleagues from across the Solway Mission Community we need to pray that, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we may be witnesses in word and deed, as we reach out to the lost & lonely, the suffering and the needy with God’s love and forgiveness, healing and peace.

Bryan Rothwell

Electoral Roll

The combined Roll in 2022 was 282, the Roll was updated in preparation for the Annual Meeting and there are now 290 members. The Roll is available for inspection.

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Report from the Secretary of the PCC

There has been some lively debate within our five full meeting of the Solway Plain Parish in 2022, with all the churches contributing.

Covid is still with us, in all its variations, but we are learning to live with it. With our clergy still having to test themselves (and be negative) in order to administer the sacraments to those in our nursing homes.

As a Parish we have been cautious about the giving of “the peace” with a handshake and as yet we haven’t started using the common cup in a Communion service, but we have discussed this at intervals throughout the past year.

All the churches are beginning to re-energising themselves within their own communities, seeing our churches come alive has been a milestone within the Parish. Fundraising for the maintenance and upkeep of the buildings started again in earnest.

Bryan Rothwell our Rector became Rural Dean in June after the retirement of Rev Tim Herbert.

Waverton Church is still going through the stages of being sold, with Allerdale Borough Council passing the plans to allow the new memorial area to the side of the church.

With the arrival of the Revd Canon Robert Saner-Haigh (Suffragan Bishop of Penrith) the God for All initiative has been refreshed with Roadshows around Cumbria hosted by our two Bishops. The focus being for the Diocese to centrally give the churches help, support and resources (with churches being able to gain a start-up grant for new ways of being church) to enable for every church to get out into their communities. Also our Network Youth Minister Yvette Ladds will now be paid for by the Diocese rather than the Deanery Synod having to find her salary.

We now have one of our Archdeacons (Revd Stewart Fyfe) - living in our Parish and he now heads up our Mission Community. Stewart started with having two roadshows earlier in the year, talking about “How we would like to shape our Community and what is our shared Mission”? Both being well attended, by all our partner dominations, clergy and parishioners.

Over the year it has been a privilege seeing our churches come slowly back to life and the Parish of the Solway Plain becoming more united - Our fifth Sunday united services now have a choir; different styles of service being tried; opening the churchyards to nature ; Warm Spots and getting out there into our communities. God for All - in action!

Well done to you all.

Francess McIntyre

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Reports from the PCC church committees

St Mungo, Bromfield

We currently have 3 members serving on the PCC and a local church committee looking after the everyday business of the church. We welcomed 2 new members to our local committee and a new chairperson. We received very generous donations from Bromfield Parish Council, several parishioners and Aspatria Charity Shop which enabled us to maintain a grass cutting programme and undertake necessary electrical repairs. Funds remain steady and in a fairly good state but like others we would wish for more. Regular reminders are given to donate via Gift Aid where possible. Our Parish offer was paid in full, although we had to reduce the amount paid in previous years. We hope to increase this amount in the coming year.

Our quinquennial inspection recommendations continue to be carried out and the church building is in a good state of repair. An outstanding inspection of the roof needs to be completed.

Our congregation numbers remain small, but we remain positive that numbers can increase. Westnewton pre-school group now meet at the church on Friday mornings, hopefully parents will become familiar with our activities and become more involved. We held our first Nativity service involving the children which was very well attended.

We also undertook a programme of events to raise funds which included a Big Breakfast, Harvest Bingo, Carol Service, and an Afternoon Tea. All were well supported and raised a significant amount to church funds.

We look forward to another year and hope that you continue to support our events.

Shirley Holland-Reid

Holme St Cuthbert

We have had 5 subcommittee meetings this year

With all the members completing their Safeguarding training

Like other churches we have slowly come out of the pandemic, basically starting afresh – with a new lease of life trying to get the church to become the heart of the community. The first step is more school involvement, as the new Head wants us to work more closely with the church – their efforts were seen at the Queens Jubilee: Harvest and Christingle (and hoping again in Lent). We started with grant applications for the painting of the church (to commence in spring 2023)

The Parish Hall has now become a liability – so during the year, the long slow process started. Going through the hoops required before the for sale notice appeared, Having to offer it as a community building first, before being able to put it on the market as a private dwelling (thank you Brian for all your hard work on our behalf)

We continue to give every household a copy of the Parish, our parish magazine as part of our mission and outreach.

We thank all those far and wide who have helped us in anyway during 2022

Francess McIntyre

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St Matthew, Westnewton

Another year of post Covid improvement, no new growth in terms of congregations, but gradually returning to some semblance of normality. The sub-committee met 7 times formally, we made nearly £2000 from the Summer Fayre, over £1000 from the Christmas Fayre and over £300 from Dominoes. A big thank you to all our helpers. We were fortunate to receive grants of £1000 from ADCCA (Aspatria Charity) and £600 from Westnewton Parish Council.

We were pleased to welcome the Niece and Nephew of Miss Sheila Rankin- our generous benefactor- to a service of dedication of a commemorative plaque to Miss Rankin.

The Rev’d Malcolm led our Lent course again- open to all, excellent content and presentation and, of course, excellent hospitality from Martha.

We had 2 concerts- ZING and Abbeytown Community Choir; neither was very well attended but both were excellent.

We had to have our big Ash tree cut down due to Dieback. It was over 100 years oldunsurprisingly no-one could remember the church without it- and we were sad to see it go. It was also our Quinquennial year; thankfully the report wasn’t too alarming and work continues.

We paid our Parish Offer in full. We were unable to increase the offer for 2023 but have since agreed an increase of 10% for 2024..

Peter Wardle

Christ Church, Silloth

Another year in life of Christ Church with services and activities very much back to the usual routine after the pandemic.

The Committee has met regularly although members have gone down with the loss of some key stalwarts. We are desperately trying to find a new Treasurer and more volunteers are needed help with caretaking and other church activities.

The church has had to replace the heating pump and had repairs to the Lightning Conductor which was an expense we were not expecting.

The problems experienced by Christ Church reflect the issues in the wider Church but on a positive note the opening up of the Church to community groups and activities continues to flourish, with regular bookings from Causewayhead WI, the Nursing Home Coffee morning, Walking Football. Silloth RNLI has held concerts in the church, the Christmas Light’s Switch on Event took please in the church again, a Craft Sale weekend in October, and we had a well supported concert with Dalston Male Voice Choir.

Liz Elliott

Holme Cultram Abbey

We have had 5 subcommittee meetings during the year. With all the subcommittee completing their Safeguarding training

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With caution (after Covid), the church reopened fully, from Dawn to Dusk rather than just for services. During 2022 - it has been getting back to the next phase of the Abbey restoration (the lighting) and other facilities like the outside toilets ready for the summer events and the old church yard getting a new lease of life with “Get Cumbria Buzzing”, with the school and members of the community involved in the revamp: clearing the old and planting with native flowers, hedges and tree saplings.

The new lighting system is now up and running, the outside toilets can be used again and the old churchyard is a lovely place to walk, relax and reflect and now used by many within the community.

Other events included: Becoming an Eco Church starting slowly and trying to get the community involved – going for a Bronze award; A Community choir; the Cathedral going out and about with a day called “ Journey and Rest” for Children. In July the Abbey hosted the Lord Lieutenants Dinner to name just a few events. Our mission, underpinning our fundraising.

The subcommittee would like to thank all those who have been involved with the Abbey in anyway during the past year.

Francess McIntyre

St Bride’s, Kirkbride

Church attendance has remained much the same this year, never fully recovering from the reduction due to the pandemic. Church life however has fully recovered, and the year has been a busy one. We have seen an organ recital to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and a Service of Commemoration for her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Annual Harvest Festival and Christingle Services were conducted as was Kirkbride Primary School's Carol Service, though very icy conditions led to the cancellation of the village Carol Service. The Church Institute hosts a few regular weekly events such as the Craft Club and Coffee morning. A successful MacMillan Coffee Morning and Lent Lunch have raised welcome funds as has the Parish Monthly Draw.

St.Bride's is due its Quinquennial Inspection in the coming months, repairs and maintenance have of course been ongoing through the year. Of note, the organ has been renovated, though an organist is not always available, and services often now utilise smart speakers. Damp ingress through the West End Gable Wall has been an ongoing problem and the first stage of maintenance work to prevent this is now planned. A potential structural problem with the Church Institute has been investigated and is being carefully monitored though it poses no risk. We are grateful to the Parish Council for helping to financially support grass cutting in the churchyard and this work is supplemented by the churchwardens.

The committee are as ever, grateful to the many members of the village and parish who use their skills and time to support St.Bride's Church in a multitude of different ways

Craig Thompson

St John the Evangelist, Newton Arlosh

During the year we had 5 meetings plus the Annual committee meeting.

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We now have 21 members on our Electoral Roll,

All the jobs to be with the church were all attended to by PCC members and parish helpers.

Our money making this year was our monthly drawing tickets which sold very well, also our Sale of Harvest gifts of all kinds of produce, homemade preserves, cakes, vegetables, flowers, potatoes, hay and straw, very ably auctioned by John Graham. This included a raffle.

The New Notice board has been put back up in the church yard, our thanks to the Harrison Family

The Parish Council are looking to put up coloured map of Newton Arlosh village this will be put up as and when.it comes

A thank you to George Hill for his services he has been on our PCC for about 50 years he held the post for church warden for 39 years a great asset to St John’s Church and for all his dedication to the work that needs to be done for our church.

The Electrics in church have all been tested and in good order.

The 1st & 3rd Sunday Services are HC.10-45am Taken by The Solway Plain Ministry Team. 2nd Sunday 10-45am Family Service taken very ably by Frazer Clark and David Ross.

We do now have tapes of Hymns so that we can have singing in Church all going very well.

Ruth Pinguey

Waverton

The church was declared closed for worship in October 2021. The Carlisle Diocese has been negotiating the sale of the building and has received Planning Permission and Faculty for moving the War Memorial to the West end of the church, creating a new gate and pathway to create a memorial garden including the Ashes Memorial Garden. A Faculty application to has also been made to move the internal war memorials to Bromfield Church.

Bryan Rothwell

Other Reports

Churches Together in Silloth and Aspatria

In January 2022 a united service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at St Andrews Church was well supported and we donated £70 to Christian Aid.

At Easter, 2022 united ministry included Lent Bible Study in St Andrews church followed by Our Door's Open” lunch. £100 was donated from the lunch collections to Christian Aid.

On Good Friday the united service was held in Christ Church rather than Greenrow as planned. It was followed by a walk of witness and planting of the cross on the green. Tim Barker guided worshippers through the Stations of the Cross in the new worship space created in the Roman Catholic church. On Easter Day members met for the Sunrise Service followed by breakfast butties in Christ Church.

Sea Sunday was led by Mrs Margaret Gate. £40 was donated to each of four sea charities. Carnival Praise took place outside Christ Church with a good number of worshippers representing all the churches in Silloth.

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The church leaders recorded a series of daily Advent reflections to be broadcast on Facebook during December.

Thanks again to members of all the Silloth churches who helped to distribute a Christmas calendar to every household in the town.

A drive-in carol service was held at Aspatria Rugby Club and open-air carols at Christ Church followed by wine and mince-pies and a seasonal entertainment by Tim Barker.

Christ Church members are urged to take part in all the activities which Churches Together present, especially when they replace our own regular Sunday services. Christian fellowship is always a blessing and such events provide valuable “outreach” to non-churchgoers as a joyful and practical example of different church groups working together.

Members of many churches now collaborate actively in events organised through the Solway Mission Community.

Tim Barker

Solway Mission Community

The ecumenical community involving the Anglican, Methodist and URC churches in the Silloth, Aspatria, Wigton area continued to work together in 2022.

The first major event of the year was “Abbey Live”, an evening of food and home-made entertainment in Holme Cultram Abbey in April. Many took part including members of the youth cells and the evening was very rewarding. Special thanks to the caterers.

In August members of the Mission community joined a united service in Christ Church, followed by a bring-your-own picnic.

In September and October two Roadshows were held in Blencogo village hall to give people more insight into the Mission Community and to stimulate ideas on how we might use our united resources to support each other’s churches and bring faith to our communities. Very lively discussions and many suggestions for action. Requests for more united worship and alternative patterns of service have been considered and a series of fifth-Sunday-of-themonth services with “contemporary” music are about to begin, organised by Rev Matt Richards, pioneer curate of Aspatria.

Tim Barker

Deanery Synod

Deanery Synod has met on two occasions since last year’s Annual Meetings. A similar pattern of two meetings, one in Spring and one in the Autumn will become the usual format. In June the meeting took place in Silloth, with Archdeacon Stewart Fyfe introducing himself through his “Desert Island Disks” chosen to reflect the different stages in his life.

At the October meeting, Matt Richards talked about his role and the pioneering work he is doing as part of his curacy in Aspatria. Held in St John’s, Workington, they shared their achievements in gaining the Eco-Church award

Throughout the past year, the secretary has updated the synod on various matters via email.

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In addition, we have received regular reports about the Deanery Network Youth Church. Reports on the finances, Diocesan and General Synod have also been included on the agenda.

Revd Canon Bryan Rothwell took on the role of Rural Dean in May 2022 following Tim Herbert’s retirement.

Deanery Synod representatives

Safeguarding

Parish Safeguarding Officer: Francess McIntyre

Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor: Jo Van Lachterop

The safeguarding policy for the Solway Plain has been reviewed and was amended in line with the changes to the provision of safeguarding training.

During the Covid pandemic all safeguarding training ceased and most of the certification had lapsed so 2022 was the year of mass training for All of the church committees within the Solway Plain.

With ALL church committee members now having to undertaking the Basic Awareness module: PCC members doing the Basic Awareness and Foundation modules: Ministry and Leadership Team completing an extra Leadership module.

The Basic Awareness and Foundation modules are on line and the Leadership module a mixture of on line and face to face.

For those would didn’t have access to a computer or who liked the face-to-face interaction. Bryan (TR) and the PSO undertook to do in house training. With two sessions: Basic Awareness and Foundation

After badgering, cajoling, and pestering - I am pleased to say that all the church committees have completed the required safeguarding training for their respective churches

Training completed Basic Awareness 40; Foundation 22; Leadership 7 (with some leadership modules not starting until Sept22, these are still ongoing)

Thank you to ALL who have completed this training – we all have a duty of care and “due diligence”. You have all shown that you take your positions within the church community seriously.

Thank you once again Francess McIntyre (PSO)

NB All Parishes are required to have formally adopted the House of Bishops ‘Promoting a Safer Church; Safeguarding Policy statement’, and Church of England safeguarding policy and guidance. The PCC holds the full policy (Rector: PSO) With every church having: -

• a copy of your Parish Safeguarding handbook

• the poster recommended for parishes, “Promoting a Safer Church”

• the House of Bishops’ policy statement

• With the “Who’s who” in parish safeguarding in your church.

Francess McIntyre (Parish Safeguarding Officer)

16

Consolidated Accounts of the Solway Plain PCC 2022

1st January to 31st December 2022

Receipts Voluntary receipts Tax efficient planned giving Other planned giving Collections at services All other giving Gift aid recovered Legacies received (capital value) Grants (including recurring & one off) TOTAL Voluntary Receipts Activities for generating funds Gross receipts from fund raising Investment Income Dividends, Interest, receipts from property Church activities Statutory fees retained by the PCC Gross receipts from trading (not fundraising) Other receipts Other receipts not already listed TOTAL RECEIPTS COMBINED TOTAL Cash & investment balances Cash & deposit balance at 1st January 2022 Investments at 1st January 2022 TOTAL FUNDS	Unrestricted Restricted Payments Cost of generating funds 31,187 1,134 Fundraising activities 6,053 0 Church activities 15,863 0 Mission giving & donations 11,778 3,304 Diocesan parish offer 11,237 250 Salaries, wages & honoraria 12,632 50,632 Clergy & staff expenses 10,586 26,668 Church expenses 99,337 81,988 Mission & evangelism costs Running expenses (including governance) 33,402 4,142 Utility bills Cost of trading 429 756 Major capital expenditure Major repairs to church building 13,999 0 Major repais to chuch hall 10,967 668 New building works SUB-TOTAL of all expenditure above 15 720 Other payments not listed 158,149 88,274 TOTAL PAYMENTS COMBINED TOTAL Unrestricted Restricted Cash & investment balances 141,141 109,446 Cash & deposit balance at 31st December 2022 0 325 Investments at 31st December 2022 141,141 109,771 TOTAL FUNDS 246,423	Unrestricted Restricted 3,429 0 950 764 58,000 0 110 0 4,829 0 0 0 32,647 18,580 18,938 0 8,796 0 0 70,144 0 0 0 0
		127,699 89,488
		0 0
		127,699 89,488
		217,187
		Unrestricted Restricted 184,916 94,871 332
		184,916 95,203

the Solway Plain. R4¥stered Charity No. 1187312 The c#)mwnent parts ofThe Parish ofthe &)l#ay Plain are I￿r￿Jenty Examlned indiNidualty by Iheir ￿ appr•tsJ examinersvkno issue them they Indyrmlent Exaffline￿ reF I reFKH1 only on the ConsoMated Ar)￿nts of the Parish frff the year eThled 311t D8certhr 2022 whith have been produc&1 frorn aboNe records and whN are set out on 1 page. The chaiity's Irustees consider that an audit ts n(A rnquired for this year under section 14412) ofthe Charthes Aca 2011 (tho 2011 Art) arKI Ihai an Kthpernlerrt &￿an￿AtM)n 15 needed. It15 my responsibilty lo • examiie the ae£ounts under sedbn 145 ofthe 2011 Art: • folbw the proc&Yures laid in the Gener81 D¥￿1￿)￿S gl¥tn by the Charity Commissionefs seC￿n 145 {5){b) ofthe 2011 Acl. and • stale whether partulBr matlws ha¥• c(¥rn to my atterrtlon. My 8xaminatk•n was carrfed out In aC￿￿lan￿ wrth the Genernl Dlreciorts gfven ty the Charfty Cornmission. An eXaminatir￿ a rothv ofthe ￿ety￿1)g rncords keFI by the and comparison of the &C￿nts FKesented with those ￿¢1X￿$. 11 also irK4udes corts#Jeratk)n of any unusual ilen¥s Of dl%k)suTrs in the acwunts, and seekmg eWanatMs frcffn the prowje all the 9¥￿enCe that woukl be requi￿1 in a ful a￿111. afKI ￿nsequentlY I do not express an a￿111 opink)n on the 8￿c￿￿ts. 1. whlch gi￿ rne reasonatAe cause to bekn Ihat in any merial respect the requffErnents • to keep reco￿$ in aC(X)rdan￿ wilh s.130 of the 2011 A¢. or recAds ha￿ noi been rM( or 2. to whth, in opwi¥)n. aft￿110￿ shoukl be in othr to enable a wrrf)er underst*Klry ofthe a¢￿￿nts to be re￿. UrKJa Brown Field End Cottage ter5Kle gton Cuntria Iw- 5-25.