St Oswin's Church, Wylam www. ontandl nechurches.Gom Registered Charity No. 1187983 Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31 De￿mber 2023 Priest in charge: Revd Tom Birch Bank: Barclays Bank UK PIC Leicester LE27 2BB Independent Examiner: Ms Beth Ramsden R•forence and admlnlstrativo information l#m St Oswin's Church is situated on Church Road adjacent lo the centre of the village of Wlam Northumberland. 11 is part of the Deanery of Corbridge and the Diocese of Ne￿aStIe-UpOn-TYne. CorrespondenGe for the PCC may be addressed to Th• Vicarage, Church Road, Wlam, NE41 8AT. Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church meeting IAPCMI, together with CO•oplions. in accordance wrth the Church Representation Rule5. The ftsllowing seNed as members of the PCC from I￿ January 2023 until the date shown (The tw$tee$l'. Incumbent Revd Tom BirGh, Vi¢ar Ichaimian) Wardens.. Mrs Fiona Oomes Mrs Enikeye Gosling (Secretary) Representatives on Deanery Synod (& PCC Members).. Prof Lestey Twomey Other Members.. r Philip Appleby Mrs Rosemary Cook Mr Andrew Major Mrs Judy Marr Revd Angus Palmer Mrs Janet Palmer Mrs Robin Plette Mr Peter Tayler Mrs Jane Tèasdale Mrs Karen Webster (died 24th June 2023) Idled 15th December 20231 (Treasurer) Structur•. govemg4n¢e and mon•g•m•nt The Parochial Chuf¢h Council is a corporate body estsblished by the chU￿h of England. The PCC operal*s under and is governed by The Paroehial Church Councils (Powers} measu￿ 1956 as amendèd. (This defines the principal function, or purpose, of the PCC as'promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church"). It is also subject to The Church Representation Rules {contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Govemmenl Measure 1969 as amended). Wlth effect from 14th FebfU?ry 2020 the PCC ig now registered with the Charity Commission {No. 11879831. IndNiduals when completing th•ir self-as5e$sment tax TetUTn may ntrminate Wylam Sl Oswin's PCC under reference AAG59JG to receive any refund. This Is In addition to the Gift Aid scheme. The methtxl of appointment to the PCC 1$ sel out In the Church Representation It 1$ an impotsnl policy that all church communicants lover 16 year51 rellects.ng the diversity of the congregation are encouraged to gister on the Electoral Roll and may then Stand for election lo the PCC. Committees.. The PCC operates through a number of committees that meet betsveen full meetings ofthe PCC. Slandlng Committee-. This is the only committee required by law. It has the power lo transact the business of the PCC betsveen its meetings subject to any directions given by the Ctsuncil. Meets on a regular basi8. Arranges to visrt those in need and the administration of Home Communion. Meets on a¥ requirèd basis and generally indudes Wardens. Treasurer, Incumbent, Jane Teasdale and John Teasdale Ic(popted to committee for career experience in property) Parish Prayerlcare Committee-. Church Hall Management Commlttee.. Saf•guardlng Phillip Appleby was the Parish Safeguarding Officer until hi$ passing in June 2023. Enikeye Gosling, thereafter. A link lo our Safeguarding policy and the Diocesan training provided can be found on our website onland nechurGhes.¢omlsafe uardin -Irainin Vicar's Report St O$win'$, Wylam, 2024 It is with joy that I reflect on the events of the year that has passed in our parish life. APCMS whilst on One hand a 'boring' and 'proceedural' event in the church year do give opportunity for us lo reflect together both on what happened but also our hopes for the coming years. The asped of ministry in our chLJrch that l am Constantly brought ba¢k lo is ils collaborative nature. This church could simply not function as it does without the efforts offered In love of so many individuals. I am constantly aware that whilst as Vicar l am 'Priesl-in-Charge' lo the churches of this benefice l am nol Priesl-in-conlrol. Wilhoutthe support and consent of the con9regations my ministry cannotflourish. Conversely a significant part of my role as vi¢ar is lo encourage and supportothers in their lay ministries. Sharing. supporting. eru)ur8ging are ministn'es gifted lo us all as we seek to mutually build up the Body of Christ in this pla￿. Active lay ministiies are v11al lo the flwrishing of this church. The Wami hub has again this winter been a wonderful point of meeting, where individuals become aware of the needs of others and minister lo them. INe mourn the death of Rosemary Cook who provided such energy and leadership to this ministry bul also delight that this was a shared ministry and that others continue this good work, in part in her memory. The model village again was created providing much joy and delight lo people of all ages this Christmas. The Open the Book group, comprising not only of people Irom thi5 congregation but also friends from other chur¢he$, Gonlinues lo prepare dramatic retellings of Bible stories to be acted out in local schools. All these ministrie5 are primarily directed and lead by lay people wlh the enthusiasti¢ support of the Vicar. The links between the parishes of this grouping continue to deepen. Par￿h Eye is circulated lo them all as well as individua15 further afield. Regular meetings throughout the year of the church wardens land other usual suspects) in the benefice allow greater COOfdinats"on and affection between the parishes. Some '¢ross parish. ministries are beginning to emerge, for example Kate Halford of Ovingham becoming wedding coordinator, looking after a whole lot of details of organisation for the season's weddings. We ¢ontsnuè to share a regular worshipping life together. On Thursdays and Sundays we gather lo share Eucharist together These services are often Iiveslreamed allowing many people physi¢ally not present to join in. 18m struck, particularfy on Thursdays, that after the serV￿e the con9re9ation take this opportunity to catch up Mth each other and plan the next thin9 in ¢hurch lrfe. Our worship and our ministry are deeply bound togeiher. This year saw Michael Gibbney retlre from his many roles within St Oswin's and move to Nottinghamshire. It is testimony to how mLJth he did by the number of people who have taken on roles and jobs that he served in. Particular thanks go to Andrew Major for becoming Parish Treasurer, John Teasdale for taking on buildings and insurance matters and Howard Fenwick for organising the Noble Army of Grass Mowers. In each moment God is Calling us into new life together. Our focus now, as ever, should be Ou￿ard in mission and fowrd looking Its 8 bright future God calls us into. New lrfe, by definition, is changed lrfe and lrfe by its nature is dynamic. not static. We expect our life togethèr to change over lime as some die, others are drawn in and God calls us into new way$ of being. I remain deeply grateful to be priest lo these parishes and lo live among and mini51er with you all. Tom Bir¢h, Vi¢ar. 3rd March 2024 Acdvltles St. 0s￿n8 PCC ha$ the resw)sibility of ¢o-operatln9 wth the incthnbenl. Reverend T¢¥n Birch Mi promoting in th• •ccl8siastical parish the %thole mkssiDn ollhe Chu￿. pasloral, evan9¢1$tic, gocial 8od 0¢Umen￿al. 11 *so has maintenance responsibilitl8s fv the Cmrch, th¢ Church H¥ll and the chU￿h gr0￿d8. Reverend Birth 18 088tst4d by cuTrtÈ Revwend Lynne Dean and they shar¢ responsi￿lilIeS 3 churches -Sl Oswy1'5. St Mary's Ovingham and St Andrew's Heddcn v*lh addilksnal Ints Vlith St Mary thfr Virgin. stoMf￿dh8M and Holy Trinity, Mailen. Sl 0g￿n.5 ha$ weewy $er¥ices on &sndays at 10 am all of whth are Pa￿sh Communion SerV￿es except for every se￿d Sunday Trknith is by a lay member of th8 congragalion. Every lirsl and third week thè sernces are Iw0stre￿ed to a ¥b1ual Coftgregatlon averaglno 5. In &Jditron. there Is a bweekly Sunday seNKe •18am a we8kly Cowmuni)n SorvKe at 9.30am evory Thw$day. St Oswift's •neour$ge$ ¢harlt*bl• glvSng to the Vrfider coNwnunlty/Dd ha$ raised £6.9Sg this year wtih relreshed list of tharilies and wll¢ctions at tha 4 lunerats we have had in 2023. A Thotsb ttvent in 2023 was a creamlea in S¢ptember whi¢h raised £446 split betsveen Sl Oswin e and the Briugh Heart Foundalon, part of the 2022 'We can make it happen, inib"g1ive. Tharth5 to Judy Marr for organi8ing this. A contactle$s Iwminal w4$ in$t8lled In Jarvjary to meei t￿ needs of thos& that do not have cash on Sunday$ or al events,. £738 has been rased ￿sfing this. Within our parish communrty, Ihe 8nnua Jump for Joy èvent iaised a nel figure of £1,4241o Pjjay lor lam's youth V￿rk Inot Induded in abov8 charitatle giving tolaD. Thank yw to the manythal cortinu lo assist 91 Jump lor Joy Inc￿￿￿19 Ihe Unilormed Oigaoi$atkJ)s. Opon th• gook conllnued durKw 2023 wh￿h 8-10 actlve members provlthng theatrtcal irtorprotslions "bl8 51ories lo 2 local sGhoob, e8d) with e150 pupils aiièn¢l&Kg. The group meets 8TrJ perfonn$ morthly d(th9 school Iwm Ume. Tho FNg11 Is an al￿age wor8h4) inilialNe wh￿h has ts Tools in a decis(on made by the congregation thrwgh Gan mak¥ il happen." It is hosted al St Oswin's Hall every Ihird Sunday ofthe month vthere ¢15 - 20 engaoe in fun. wayer and a delciou¥ le8. The highl¥ht 012023 was a "Bring your Pe¢g-. SeNl¢e Sn October. The idèa of a Warm Hub ¢amè fr¢yn the lir$t mgeling Df°We can make * happen.. It in its second year and 1$ atten¢eU by an ayorage 0125 people 1115 ho$led at Sl 05wn's Churfjh Hall from NoVel￿)￿r until Ma￿h and is open to people from Wlam and surroundsng villages. People olherfs ¢ornpany. gel ￿VolV8￿ in a variety of a￿l¥l￿e$ and indulge in a sow lunch. A variely gf people. tell by Rosemary Cooke, who dièd in Decèmbèr, gwé thétr lina and onergy to this inilialwe whi¢h appears to b• gtyng from str￿91h lo $lrenglh. Tho WYl￿n Chrl#tfflas Model. anolher product of Ihe We w nNike il happen. Inltlaiive was a great $uc¢gss again Ihi$ year and 18 proving 8 novèl way to irnht8 people through tho dows of Sl O$wln's. It 1$ very mu¢h a Seed $ewing 8pproo¢h where the aim is t¢ dissofve barrier$ and help people to become full and active members ofour w(*shipping ¢omrrwrtity. Thankyou lo DavldAtkinson ano Sam McGiver for Iheir time and ￿adershiP of Ihi$. Falxl¢ R•port- This y•ar, regulgr malnlenarKe has takgn pioc¢ al 11￿ Church gnd Hall- alar￿ firw gxlinguish•ws and vaii?u3 ropairs. Two ni$pec￿On reports were made followin9 visits by thè In￿re[s and a heanh and Safety ¢onsuKant. Many recommenda￿)rtS are still to Oe implemented. Our Ihanks John Te3sdaL7 lor hlg le8dership In this area. Tho wcykingg of the clock have be8n restorèd followng a tony wriod ol bts mawunctionlng and lrte ees8atksn, the clock iestarted In August 2023. the repaif being funded by Wam Parish Coun¢d, for which we extremely graleful. It wa$ nokd that furthèr repaks were required in September Ihtr qu8rt¢r and h¥W hour chime8 ceased. this was 5¢heduled for 2024 and indfjed has n¢)w begun w Curnbrh C￿cK Company remoMng the motor9 on Febtuary 24 Regarding electrlclty at the Hall. a wort(in9 9roup h8$ been ¢onsldering PV panels and the dethsbns to erectthe mlnlmum number ofpanels {14) was made as the ￿easo[ linking in the church movin9 to ebGtrK heating in erther Hall or Chur¢h havo been dismissed on cogt grounds. The 9a$ boler in the Church al least 15 years ohj and provlng temperamental. We vlll need to piovNle an aKernaiive boll•r $yslom for hèating for wlnter 2024 ahead ol Its fallure. Remote heatin9 managemnt 'Hive' 8$ beerr nstsled In Ihe HJI and Church. There re￿nS sorn$ capacity for new lettings of the Hall. *Ithr￿ph tt iy very well usel by our as8ocialed unrformed organlsation8 arNJ cornmuniiy groups - keep fil, yoga. karate elc. Renlal rate$ have been addressed wllh all hSrors In 2023 wNch asslst in balancing ovl Ihe hik¢$ in el￿t￿ty and ¥Js 8swe corne off our [￿ed rate8 in 2024. Woik to th• lower step$ lo Improvo safely and vedu¢t ri$k r8ma¢ns pendlng ai for a su¢table 8tonem880n. (VVordoiiJJ Garden and Groundi~ The CINJrch garden continues to be like the Forth Road Brhlge- the Is never finlshe¢ll Thè last twe￿ Months ha¥e b8eTr challenging. Parfs ofthe summ•r were very hot and dry Inol Ihatthe weed$ n)ifidedl. and il fèels like11 ha8 ralned for the re31 of Ihe lime Inol that the weeds mlnded), Gr￿$eQUentlY I have not done as much as in previws yeafs. During last year. R03ernary ¢ook•, strmmlng from the We can makè it happen. Initiallve Crea1￿ awild fi￿v*r garden and the PCC and I wll strive lo maintaln il as She woukl have. I wanl to thattk the"Grass Cutters" Ytho regulady (xrt gr89s vmch goes a long way to maklng our gr0￿d5 look 80 ni¢&. And 8 thank you to everyone el$¢ vtho he¥)s in Ihe garden. (Jane T68sd&le1 Mothora. Unlon - The St 08￿￿.$ MU Branch currently hag 13 membeig vtho colleclNely orgathse me6thg$ and manage the group, meeting mmthly either In church or mern￿tr5 homes. A suc¢8s¥ful Afteinoon Tea was h*￿ last July whkh ralsed lund8 tr&r work at home and overse85. and MU members ¢ontribute In a variety ofway5 Kl svpwrt oflhe file of $1. 08win'$. (K8f8n Wgbslor) B•ll Rlnuèrs . During the year in addition to Sunday seNKe ringing w• have rung for 3 weddin95 ar lolted for 3 funernl$. We have had a v16it from a ¥Is￿n9 baNJ wnd rung 3 quarter peals lono in memory of Ihè laté Slan Smf(hl IKe￿ Webster) Treas￿1?￿$ R•port 2023 totsl reVel￿s £103.135 ￿th £93.700 01 ¢08ts nettmg a ¥urplu¢ of £9,435. fN$. * more, has beert translerred lo our reseNes account %thich now siands al £25,CQO 1£10.Q)O in 2tr221. OLf rosffts policy ramalns to have 6 monlh$ of ￿$t£ in cash, ￿ Temain £15.000 $hort olthis goal. P18nned G￿Ing remains the viial source of OUT Income arsd in 2023 this detlined by £4.745 Or 11%. Other irryacls on revenue can be igrK)red as they Gome out In ¢08t8 (Jump lor Jw ard Clock gr8nll bul nolobty we fortunate lo reCe￿e An anonymous gfft adgd donati¢n of £5,000 dudng th8 yg8r. W• have urwJert8ken a drwe lo m¥JTrle peoplè on to the Parish Givirw Scheme- vthlch enob￿S Infiation proofirvJ and slr8amline$ ¢a$hflcw', we have add¢d to revenues by getbng a contaetlèss termin81 91 the back ol thurth and are always happy to ￿￿n up new (knncn. My Ihanks lo K•ren WebsteT corfnues to keep our Gift Aid maximi$4¢1 ¥nd In order, The Church ha8 bo•n bugy ￿th 9 fvnerals {inclJJding a$h•$ and uemilon sorvic¢$} and 3 wothiryJ$ T*thlch sh