## **The Parish of the Solway Plain Annual Meeting** **Sunday 19[th] May 2024 at 11am Holme St Cuthbert Church** ## Agenda Minutes of the last meetings Annual Reports Accounts **Vestry Meeting and Annual Parochial Church Meeting** Holme St Cuthbert Church - Sunday 19[th] May 2024 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 – **Wednesday 3[rd] July at 7pm in All Soul’s Church, Netherton** ## **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|5-7| ||b. Chairman’s Report|8| ||c. The Accounts for the year ending 31st December 2022|| ||_insert_|| ||d. Electoral Roll|9| ||e. Report on the Parochial Church Council|9| ||f. Reports from the church committees of the Solway Plain Parish|10| ||g. Reports from Churches Together|13| ||h. Solway Plain Mission Community|14| ||i. Report on the Activities of Solway Deanery Synod|15| |4.|The Election of the Parochial Church Council|| |5.|Review of Safeguarding policy|15| |6.|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 17[th] July 2024** at 7pm 3 ## **The Parish of the Solway Plain. Minutes of the Annual Meetings 2023 in the Parish of the Solway Plain held on 21[st] May 2023 in Christ Church, Silloth.** The meeting took place after a united service held at 10am. **Welcome.** The Rector, Rev Canon Bryan Rothwell took the chair. He gave a “big Thank You” to all who took part in the running of our churches but pointed out that our united work as witnesses to Christ was not just about what happens in our church buildings. ## **Vestry Meeting for the election of churchwardens.** ## **Nominations for Churchwardens** |Holme Cultram|Margaret Graham|Brenda Sim| |---|---|---| ||(Assistant Elaine Atkinson)|| |Holme St Cuthbert|Brian Bailey|Lynda Bailey| |Kirkbride|Josephine Jefferson|Stephen Sowerby| |Newton Arlosh|Willy Bell|Sherry King| |Silloth|Jean Oliver|Margaret Graham| |Westnewton|Christine Young|Mary Hodgson| |**Deputy wardens**(from daughter|church Bromfield)|| ||Shirley Holland-Reid|Mary Douglas| Nominations were carried unanimously. Admission of churchwardens of the Solway Plain Mission community will take place on 13[th] July at St Kentigern, Aspatria at 7pm ## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting** - **1 Minutes of last year’s annual meetings** were signed as a true copy. - **2 Matters arising** None - **3 Reports** Written reports were in the booklet distributed at the meeting. - **a. Annual Report** as booklet - **b. Chairman’s Report** as booklet - **c. Accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2022** Consolidated accounts were in the booklet. The Chair noted that, though the overall result for the year looked good, much of the surplus income was from generous legacies and could not be counted on in the future. Church treasurers had met with Diocesan representatives to discuss Parish Offers from the Mission Community. It had been explained that these paid for the clergy in our parishes. Our community cannot afford to pay the full cost of our clergy and is actually subsidised by other communities who pay more than their own clergy require. The Diocesan budget requires a 5% rise in the over-all offer. 4 Bryan thanked all the treasurers who do a demanding task. Silloth was looking for a new treasurer. He thanked Parish Treasurer Margaret Pickering who has moved to Carlisle. She is standing down as Parish Treasurer but will continue to advise and support her successor and all church treasurers. ## **d. Electoral Roll** The roll had been updated and had 290 names. Sadly, Bryan had just received news that one person named had since died. - **e. Report on the Parochial Church Council** - **f. Reports from Church Committees of the Solway Plain** - **g. Report from Churches Together** - **h. Report from Solway Plain Mission Community** - **i. Report on the activities of Solway Deanery Synod** as booklet as booklet as booklet as booklet as booklet ## **4 Election of the Parochial Church Council** Each church may nominate up to three representatives to the PCC. **Nominations** Bromfield Susan Shardlow Holme Cultram Margaret Graham Judith Bryan Elaine Atkinson Holme St Cuthbert Brian Bailey Barbara Stephens Kirkbride Josephine Jefferson Anne Little Sindy Harrap Newton Arlosh Ruth Pinguey Ian King Sarah Whittaker Silloth Margaret Graham Marjorie Harrison Westnewton Christine Young Mary Hodgson Jane Launchbury Nominations were carried unanimously. ## **5. Election of Deanery Synod Representatives** New arrangements of Deanery Synod allow up to six representatives from this parish. **Nominations** Brian Bailey Holme St Cuthbert Tim Barker Silloth Jane Launchbury Westnewton Francess McIntyre Holme Cultram Anita Norman Holme Cultram Peter Wardle Westnewton Nominations were carried unanimously. ## **6. Review of safeguarding policy.** ## **7. Any other business.** None As in booklet The meeting closed with The Grace. 11.43am. 5 **The Parish of the Solway Plain in the Diocese of Carlisle** Registered Charity No. 1187312 # **Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2023** ## **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** Mrs Cornelia Noghiu (Curate) from November 2023 Revd Andrew Callaway (Curate) moved to Patterdale September 2023 Mr Tim Barker (Reader & Deanery Synod) **lay vice-chair** Mrs Christine Young (Licenced Lay Minister) Mrs Sue Shardlow (Bromfield) Mrs Shirley Holland Reid (Bromfield) stepped down after the Annual Meeting Mrs Sue Roberts (Bromfield) stepped down after the Annual Meeting Mrs Janet Sharp (Bromfield) stepped down after the Annual Meeting Mrs Margaret Graham (Holme Cultram) Mrs Elaine Atkinson (Holme Cultram) Mrs Judith Bryan (Holme Cultram) Mr Brian Bailey (Holme St Cuthbert) Mrs Barbara Stephens (Holme St Cuthbert) Mrs Pauline Stagg (Holme St Cuthbert) stepped down after the Annual Meeting Mrs Josephine Jefferson (Kirkbride) Mrs Ann Little (Kirkbride) Mrs Sindy Harrap (Kirkbride) Mr Stephen Sowerby (Kirkbride) stepped down after the Annual Meeting Mrs Ruth Pinguey (Newton Arlosh) Mr Ian King (Newton Arlosh) Mrs Sara Whitaker (Newton Arlosh) resigned October 2023 Mrs Margaret Graham (Silloth) Mrs Marjorie Harrison (Silloth) 6 Mr Peter Wardle (Westnewton & Deanery Synod) Mrs Mary Hodgson (Westnewton) Mrs Jane Launchbury (Westnewton & Deanery Synod) Mrs Francess McIntyre (Deanery Synod) **Secretary** Mrs Anita Norman (Deanery Synod) Mrs Margaret Pickering **Treasurer** ## **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. Two retired priests 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 07592031263 shirley.holland reid1@virgin.net Holme Cultram Abbey – Laura Sharp 07879403442 lozs1984@btineternet.com Holme St Cuthbert – Barbara Stephens 01900 881411 barbara.stephens@btconnect.com Christ Church, Silloth – Margaret Graham 016973 31452 margaretgraham70@gmail.com 7 St Matthew, Westnewton – Peter Wardle 07824903420 pajwardle@btopenworld.com St Bride’s, Kirkbride – Ann Little 016973 51254 kirkbridehouse@googlemail.com St John’s, Newton Arlosh - Gwen Hopkinson 016973 51345 gwen.hopkinson@btinternet.com Magazine Account – Anne Little (as above) Solway Plain PCC – Margaret Pickering 07884135781 marbigroc@gmail.com ## **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 frannymac55@gmail.com 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. 8 ## **Rector’s Report** Looking back over the past twelve months, we have much to be grateful for, and I wish to pay tribute to the many people who have continued to support the churches of the Solway Plain Parish. Our success is largely due to the dedication of our churchwardens, PCC members and congregations who week in, week out give their time and energy to supporting the life and ministry of our churches. Thanks especially go to our Ministry Team who lead our worship. With their commitment, we maintain our regular pattern of services as we try to inspire, challenge and learn together how to live faithful Christian lives in our communities and in our homes. We have been pleased to welcome Cornelia Noghiu as curate and the enthusiasm and joy which she brings to our services. The generous giving over the past year helps to keep our churches in good order. We benefit significantly from all the fund raising that goes alongside our financial stewardship. Our church treasurers do a fantastic job looking after the accounts, and I am pleased we have once again been able to maintain our Ministry Offer and raise it in line with inflation. In the present climate, with rising costs, we have to make wise decisions. It is important for us to review our stewardship of all that God gives us. It is all too easy to think of our churches to be a burden, with three Grade I, one Grade 2* and one Grade 2 listed buildings, we have a great responsibility and legacy to maintain. But standing in the midst of our neighbourhoods, they bear witness to the faith we have in the Lord, “the same, yesterday, today and for ever”. At their heart is the community of faithful, prayerful and spirit filled Christians. The church is always growing, changing. It is our life, witness and worship that brings the light of the Gospel into the world. Together with Christians from other congregations in our Mission Community, we are reaching out beyond the doors of our churches to discover new opportunities for reaching out in Mission. Sometimes this falls on the shoulders of just a few people, but it is the calling of all Christians to share the good news. We need each other to take their part in using their gifts, time and energy to be able to fulfil our calling. “ **[4 ]** There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. **[5 ]** There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. **[6 ]** There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” _1 Corinthians 12:4-6_ When we come together in worship and witness, it not only strengthens our own faith, but bears witness to those around of the God who loves us, the God who gave himself for us, and the God who walks alongside us every day. The temptation at an Annual Meeting is to look back, when instead we need to look ahead, to look for signs of God at work in our world, to join him on the journey of discovery where he is leading us. Will you? _Bryan Rothwell_ 9 ## **Electoral Roll** The combined Roll in 2023 was 290, the Roll was updated in preparation for the Annual Meeting 2024 and there are now **282** members. The Roll is available for inspection. ## **Report from the Secretary of the PCC** All the churches are continuing to re-energise themselves within their own communities, and although not back to pre-Covid levels of attendance, there is a feeling of hope within the Parish. Old and new events within the churches show the level of commitment from all the sub committees, with fundraising for the maintenance and upkeep of the buildings being always on people’s minds. During the year the Diocese completed the sale of Waverton Church. With the inside memorials going to St Mungo’s, Bromfield, and the War Memorial re-sited in the memorial garden, to the side of the church. There is still some work to do with making the memorial garden accessible to the public. Mission Community events during the year, started slowly – with the Men’s Breakfast now firmly established as a monthly event in Christchurch Silloth; Prayers for our mission occurring regularly; The Alternative style of worship/service at the Rugby Club in Aspatria drawing others that would not normally go to church, saw its last meeting with over 100 people. The Ministry Team has had its ups and down during the year. Gaining the Revd. Geoffrey Ravalde (who is with us for 3 Sundays in the month), losing the Revd. Andrew Callaway (and Carol) after he completed his curacy in July and heading for the Parish of Patterdale. A new curate Cornelia Noghiu coming towards the end of the year All promised Parish Offers (Mission Offers) were paid in full (which pays for our full-time stipendiary clergy) but we still have a shortfall for the actual cost of having a vicar in a full time post. We as a Parish are so lucky to have a FULL-TIME vicar. But I feel within the next few years we will only get the percentage of a vicar that we can pay for like other denominations – something to think about? Over the year as the churches get back into their rhythm, the Solway Plain is slowly becoming more united - Our fifth Sunday united services now have a choir; different styles of worship are emerging, Eco Church Certification has been awarded, as more are opening the churchyards to nature, It is a privilege to see - God for All in action within OUR PARISH! Well done and again thank you to all those who work quietly behind the scenes keeping this Parish alive. _Francess McIntyre_ 10 ## **Reports from the PCC church committees** ## **St Mungo, Bromfield** We currently have 1 member serving on the PCC and a local church committee looking after the everyday business of the church. 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 replace our oil tank. 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, and we have already agreed increased amounts over the next three years. Our quinquennial inspection recommendations continue to be carried out and the church building is in a fair state of repair. An outstanding inspection of the roof needs to be completed and sandstone tiles have been lost and need replacing. In addition, it has been verified that the land adjacent to the church does belong to us, and ultimately will be used as addition burial space. Further checks are needed in order to progress this aim. Our congregation numbers remain small, but we remain positive that numbers can increase. Westnewton pre-school group meet at the church on Friday mornings, hopefully parents will become familiar with our activities and become more involved. We held our second 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 and a Carol Service. 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_ ## **Christ Church, Silloth** Christ Church served the community for another year with all the usual services. The Committee has met six times during the year with Church Warden Margaret Graham taking on extra responsibility as Treasurer again. In order to maintain the Church and all it does the responsibilities are falling to a diminishing number of people, The Rector and Church wardens and other volunteers are having to do more, with an aging congregation and the numbers attending church falling there is a smaller pool to call upon. On a more positive note Andrew Callaway took his final service as Curate in July before moving to his own parish. Cornelia Noghiu was ordained in November and is now the Curate with Christ Church having a share of her busy schedule. A number of fundraising events were held in the Church Tims Quiz, concerts and coffee mornings. Raising funds is an ongoing challenge. The Church was also used as a warm space and continues to be well used by various community groups. _Liz Elliott_ 11 ## **Holme St Cuthbert** We have had 4 subcommittee meetings during the year, With all the members completing their Safeguarding training including the Basic Awareness of Domestic Abuse 2023 has been the year in which Holme St Cuthbert got “everything sorted” from revising and ensuring all of the church’s paperwork was fully up to date; gaining grants for the painting; LED lighting. We also have lovely new curtains for the vestry. There is still some work on the roof to complete which will hopefully be completed in 2024 (weather permitting!) The Parish Hall is still up for sale, but now it can be sold as a dwelling – being a long drawn out process. The hall finally closed the latter part of the year, and the Mawbray Hall or Church will now host our larger community events. On a sad note we lost Mike Coke a long standing member of the Church Committee. Joe Armstrong, another long standing member of 35 years, gained the title of Warden Emeritus. Thank you for all your work Joe **�** Outreach is very important to our church with the annual events such as Lent Lunch; Harvest (where the school are fully involved); Christingle and Carol Singing around the area. This year the church started a new tradition of the Remembrance Tree during Advent – it was a lovely event with parishioners coming into church, having time for a cuppa; to reflect and chat about their loved ones and put their names on the tree. The Church committee would like to thank all those far and wide who have helped us in anyway during 2023. _Francess McIntyre_ ## **St Bride’s, Kirkbride** St.Bride’s has continued in much the same vein as the previous year. Attendances have remained at similar levels, neither increasing or declining significantly and never fully recovering since the pandemic. Annual services however such as Harvest Festival and the Carol Service are well attended. The number on our electoral roll has not altered. It has been encouraging to see the relationship between St.Bride’s and Kirkbride Primary School developing and the whole school have attended on various occasions such as their Harvest Festival Assembly to use and enjoy the church. Fundraising to support the church has been ongoing and at the end of the year finances finished with a very small surplus to accounts. Our Quinquennial Inspection has been conducted this year. The condition of the building is good and there were no urgent works required. However, a breakdown of works for the longer-term including maintenance of the roof, ceiling repair and external pointing has shown several necessary tasks which will require further fundraising to finance them. The committee are, as ever, grateful to all those within the parish and further afield who support St. Bride’s in so many different ways. They continue to do so with care and diligence out of a fondness for and bond with our church. _Craig Thompson_ 12 ## **Holme Cultram Abbey** We have had 5 subcommittee meetings during the year. As usual this has been another busy year in the Abbey both inside, outside and fundraising. **Inside:** continuing to update the Abbey, notably the revamp of the Ambulatory: rewiring and decorating and discussing which “finds” should go into new or re-ordered display cabinets. Then wanting to tidy up the Memorial Chapel the ordering of custom made cabinets, which will be in place soon. **Outside** : the wilding of the older part of the churchyard continues with a couple of volunteers giving of their time to sow and care for wildflowers and trees and Eco Church continuing to get the community involved – the making of bug and insect houses, joining the national churchyard count on nature in June and with the school doing eco displays in the bus shelter, and a “spruce-up” of the outside toilets. **Fundraising:** has its own cycle within the life of the Abbey, with the monthly munches, still going strong, and the usual big events on the calendar - Strawberry Tea weekend in July and the Christmas Fayre in November, with the ever increase in popularity of the Tea and Talks and other church events of christenings; marriages and funerals also being catered for. The Church committee would like to thank ALL those involved in any way for their help and support throughout the year. Finally we are very lucky to still have our organist (Bill). It is lovely to have “live” music every week in the Abbey, and an added bonus of having Stewart, the Archdeacon living in the village, his wife Carolyn has also been seen helping with the music on several occasions this year. Like most of the churches in the Parish, this year we have lost more loved ones and we need to thank their families for legacies left to the Abbey, their loving support is ever present and Thank you to ALL _Francess McIntyre_ ## **St Matthew, Westnewton** The local committee met 6 times over the year- at Martha’s as usual, marvellous hospitality as always. We held 3 major fundraising events- a Soup Lunch, Summer Fayre and Christmas Fayre. Thankfully all were well attended. In addition we had a very generous income from Martha’s Table and from the Dominoes club. We agreed increases to our Parish Offer of 10% for 2024 and 5% for each of 2025 and 2026. Bible Crack continues on the 3[rd] Monday evening chaired by Malcolm. An excellent hour or so and open to all. _Peter Wardle_ 13 ## **St John the Evangelist, Newton Arlosh** We have held 4 meetings plus the Annual church committee meeting There are 21 members on our Electoral Roll. All the jobs were attended to by PCC members and parish helpers: cleaning, flowers sidesperson, church wardens. Our money making this year was the monthly drawing tickets which sold very well, also our Harvest festival gift sale plus Raffle also good selling all produce, home made preserves cakes vegetable and flowers. Was ably auctioned by John Graham. We are hoping to book the Harlequin choir to come and entertain us. We have purchased a new CD player to be used in church to play our hymns for our services. We have all the Electric Led lights changed and checked. The guttering needs to be checked when we get some dry days. The grass cutting, which is financial supported form Newton Arlosh Parish Council, ably assisted with a contractor cutting the church yard. We are now going to open the church for any visitors to have a look around. All our services were taken by the Solway Plain Ministry Team _Ruth Pinguey_ ## **Waverton** The building has been sold and a 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 was granted. A Faculty application to move the internal war memorials to Bromfield Church was granted and the war memorials have now been installed in the church. _Bryan Rothwell_ ## **Other Reports** ## **Churches Together in Silloth and Aspatria** On January 22[nd] a united service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Christ Church was well supported. At Easter, 2023 united ministry included a course of Lent Bible Study in Christ Church. Good Friday worship was held in the Pentecostal Church followed by a walk of witness and distribution of hot cross buns before planting the cross on the green. Tim Barker guided worshippers through the Stations of the Cross in the Roman Catholic church. On Easter Day members met at 6am 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 was planned to be an outdoor event but again threatening weather sent worshippers inside Christ Church. 14 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. An open-air carol service took place at Christ Church followed by wine and mince-pies. 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. Many events provide valuable “outreach” to non churchgoer. Members of many churches now collaborate actively in events with 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 2023. United services for all members of the Mission Community took place on April 30th at Holme Cultram, July 30[th] at Aspatria and August 20[th ] at St Mary's Wigton. A series of informal worship sessions with “contemporary” music were begun, organised by Rev Matt Richards, pioneer curate of Aspatria. These take place in Aspatria Rugby Club on the fourth Sunday of each month at 4pm. Men’s Breakfast began and take place in Christ Church on the first Saturday of each month at 9am. All men in the community are invited to eat a full breakfast and hear a variety of speakers. We are especially grateful to the ladies and some men who prepare and serve the breakfast. United prayer sessions took place during the year around the community. These continue at 3pm on various Sundays going to different churches in the area for a time of quiet prayer for any public or personal matters people are concerned about. . Walking football continues on Mondays with a group of about two dozen men and women players and others who join for refreshment and fellowship in Christ Church after the game. Volunteers from different churches continue to help at cell groups for young people in Aspatria and Silloth and with various activities initiated by particular churches. The Mission Community is organised by a steering group of the clergy and youth workers plus representatives from the different churches. Funding comes from various sources including church contributions, grants for specific activities and the Diocesan Growth Fund. _Tim Barker_ 15 ## **Deanery Synod** Deanery Synod has met on one occasion since last year’s Annual Meetings, the autumn meeting was cancelled at short notice. In June the meeting took place in Westnewton Village Hall, with Revd Peter Powell who introduced the session with a presentation of the huge variety of personal prayer and spirituality practices. He led an interactive session which provided points for reflection and participation. Two lay members then volunteered to talk briefly about their particular practices and informal sharing was encouraged in small groups. Throughout the past year, the secretary has updated the synod on various matters via email. 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. _Rural Dean_ ## **Safeguarding** Parish Safeguarding Officer: **Francess McIntyre** Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor: **Jo Van Lachterop** In 2023 – there have been no safeguarding issues _(throughout the Parish of the Solwa_ y) reported to me. Just when you thought my badgering, cajoling and pestering was a thing of the past,- I came back to ask PCC members; Church Wardens; Deanery synod reps to complete more training – but this time it is for Raising the Awareness of Domestic Abuse and I’m pleased to say that out of the 25 who were asked 14 have completed the training. Thank you for your due diligence Other training completed to date Basic Awareness 44; Foundation 25; and Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse 22 ( _inc. the Leadership Team_ ). Thank you to ALL who have completed their 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 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. PCC members reviewed and adopted the Diocesan Safeguarding policy 21-05-23 The PCC holds the FULL policy (Rector: PSO)_ _With every church having_ _**UP TO DATE COPIES** of the following for anyone to view within their church:-_ - _The 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 2023** 1st January to 31st December 2023 |**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 2023
Investments at 1st January 2023
**TOTAL FUNDS**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Payments**
**_Cost of generating funds_**
30,839
574
Fundraising activities
4,628
0
**_Church activities_**
17,531
0
Mission giving & donations
12,233
2,175
Diocesan parish offer
10,836
26
Salaries, wages & honoraria
12,000
0
Clergy & staff expenses
6,370
11,667
**_Church expenses_**
**94,437**
**14,442**
Mission & evangelism costs
Running expenses (including governance)
37,582
115
Utility bills
Cost of trading
815
2,074
**_Major capital expenditure_**
Major repairs to church building
12,971
0
Major repais to chuch hall
13,462
320
New building works
**SUB-TOTAL of all expenditure above**
682
0
Other payments not listed
**159,949**
**16,951**
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
**COMBINED TOTAL**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Cash & investment balances**
167,469
112,318
Cash & deposit balance at 31st December 2023
0
332
Investments at 31st December 2023
**167,469**
**112,650**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**176,899**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
3,706
0
2,097
0
57,750
0
0
0
4,888
0
0
0
38,559
6,466
26,401
0
10,103
0
4,374
8,651
0
0
0
0| |---|---|---| |||**147,877**
**15,118**| |||0
0| |||**147,877**
**15,118**| |||**162,994**| |||**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
179,770
113,912
342| |||**179,770**
**114,254**| tha Solway Plaln. R￿Ster￿1 Chwity No. 1187312 The component ￿rtS ofThe Parish ofthe Sol*ay pl￿ are Exami￿1 indiwlualty by their own 4y)inied examers wholssue Ihem wlh thèk Indep*￿rt Examinets reporL I report orfy on the Consohdated Am)unts ofthe Parish for the yow er￿1￿1 31st De(*m 2023 whith ha••E ieen produced from th6 abov8 re(x)rds and which aTr set oui Cm 1 page. The charity's trustees consKlerthat an •Jdf< is nd wu1[￿￿ for Ihis year ￿der sth)n 144(2) of the Chax*ios Act 2011 lthe 2011 and that an hthpendent exaThiTratw)n Is needed. ttls ffty rosponsiNly to examkne the 8Ctx)unts u￿18r se(*k)n 145 ofthe 2011 fv4' foll)w the wocwjures l&Yl down in th8 Gener81 Dtrethns gl%•n ty the Chaiity Cornrnissloners seciknn 145 (5)(b) of the 2011 Acl: and My examlnatlon was cathed tyjt In ac(xMdAn¢x w#h the Gonernl DlredloThs glven Charity Commlss*)n. An examlnatl(m Incknl8s a rèth of Ihe &(¥)untivJ reco￿ by the tharfty and compartson ol the ￿t￿nts preserrted wlh those reo)rds h also indud8s cor6ideralkJn of any unusual Iteffts ordisdosuTrs in the accounts, and seekng explanatknis frorn the manag8m8nt commliee ¢onceming any su¢h matters. Thè F¥O¢Odures undertaken do not pro￿￿18 all the evklence that woukl be requred In g ful a￿11( 8rMI ts)nsequently I do not ewess an audit opinion on the a[￿Ounts. 1. whkh give reasonablè cause to beknv that in any materlal res[￿￿ the r￿Ul￿ments • to keep ac(tsJntiry In ac(*rd8n(x wlth s.130 of the 2011 *' or rec4)rds h8¥8 not been Met" or I to whth. in nry opin￿. allention Sho￿ t* drw*n in othto en a woper Underst￿dIng ofthe aeL￿nts to be reached. Field End Cottago e￿￿le Curtiria