## **ST GEORGE FATFIELD**
## ANNUAL
## REPORT
BOOK
2022
## Published for the Annual Parochial Mee�ng On 9th May 2023
## **Parishioner Mee�ng & APCM Index**
page number 3 AGENDA 4 - 9 APCM Trustees Annual Report 10-15 Vicar’s Report, Biddick Academy Ministry & Schools’ Ministry 15-16 Church Finance Statement For 2022 & World Giving 17-18 Church Wardens Report 19 Warm Space 20-21 Safeguarding, Meet&Eat, Cuppa Cake n Company 22-23 WCFP, Administrators Report 24 Mothers Union & Cleaning Team 25 Youth Group Report 26 Building Group 27-28 Annual Church Report For Toddlers 29-30 Children’s Group Sunday 10am Service 30-31 Christmas Gi� Bags 32-33 Service of Prayer for the Sick & Pastoral Team 33 Electoral Roll 34-38 2022 Income & Expenditure Accounts 39-45 Minutes of the APCM 2022
Registered Charity 1190509
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## **Parishioner Mee�ng & APCM Tuesday 9th May 2023**
## **AGENDA**
## **Annual Mee�ng of Parishioners** (formerly known as Vestry Mee�ng)
1. Opening prayer and worship
2. Minutes of the last mee�ng
3. Ma�ers arising
4. Elec�on of Wardens
## **APCM Trustees Annual Report**
## **2022 Report & Accounts for the PCC at St George's Church, Fa�ield**
## **Aim and purposes**
St George's Church Fa�ield, Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the - responsibility of, co opera�ng with the incumbent, the Reverend Nick Barr-Hamilton, promo�ng in the ecclesias�cal parish (and beyond) the whole mission and gospel of Christ in his church, pastoral, evangelis�c, social and ecumenical.
## **Objec�ves and Ac�vi�es**
## **Annual Parochial Church Mee�ng**
## 1. Opening prayer
2. Apologies
3. Minutes of the last annual mee�ng on 10th May 2022
4. Ma�ers arising
5. Presenta�on of the Electoral Roll
6. Presenta�on of Reports (circulated previously)
- Wardens' report (including comment on fabric of the church)
- Safeguarding
- Deanery Synod report
- Treasurer's report, including acceptance of accounts.
## 7. Elec�ons
- PCC (4 persons for 3 years)
8. Appointment of External Examiner
9. Chairman's report.
10. Any other business
The PCC is commi�ed to the Charity Commission guidance to exist for the public benefit as it carries out its aims and purposes. Within this document is a broad selec�on of the many ac�vi�es that take place within the church carried out by volunteers and open to all people inside the parish and beyond.
The PCC works to enable as many people as possible to worship at St George's and become part of our living community. The PCC takes responsibility for important policies, including safeguarding, data protec�on, health and safety as well as others required by either the law or the diocese. The PCC aims to support the incumbent with sugges�ons on how to reach people across the parish from many different backgrounds as well as help guide the vision for the future and ensure good financial management of the resources available through:
- worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel and deepening faith
- and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
· provision of pastoral and prac�cal care for people living in the parish. This includes suppor�ng and serving as a food bank outpost, offering bereavement support, providing ac�vi�es for young people, families and elderly people, including (but not limited to) community drop in coffee mornings, a lunch club, a toddler group, a youth club, a
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warm space ini�a�ve and a number of other community groups.
## **Financial Review**
- Missionary and outreach work.
To facilitate this, it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church building and there is a vision to extend the church building to be�er enable us to achieve this given the limita�ons of the exis�ng building and its facili�es.
The Financial review produced by our treasurer and independently examined is available later in this financially to support the ministry and mission in the parish.
## **Reserves Policy**
## **Achievements and Performance**
Within this document are some of the many ministries and services that the PCC supports throughout normal �mes, along with the way - it supported the local community through the COVID 19 pandemic. - On top of these regular ac�vi�es, there are numerous one off events that take place to enrich our community, including a Jubilee celebra�on cream tea, an Autumn Faire and a Christmas cra� cafe
In addi�on to our regular services and groups, we normally conduct numerous bap�sms and occasional weddings, as well as various one- off services such as our annual memorial service and our healing service.
Our Easter and Christmas services were much more normal in 2022, but there remain some changes that will probably be permanent. The church con�nued to hold many funerals and burials in 2022 and the churchyard now only has a few new plots remaining.
The church looks beyond its immediate needs in its world giving, where 10% of our free income is �thed to chari�es suggested by church members that also fit with our mission and vision. Through the autumn and winter, the church func�oned as a warm space several days a week suppor�ng dozens of people with a warm place to meet and socialise. We are grateful for support from Sunderland Council and The Coalfields Trust to support this ini�a�ve.
It is the aim of the PCC to maintain free reserves that cover 3 months of fixed costs to ensure essen�al bills can be paid in the event of an unexpected drop in income or unexpected costs. This 2018. Policy was ra�fied by the PCC on November 6[th]
## **Plans for future period**
Our separate vision document contains plans for where we feel God calling us, but 2023 will see us con�nue to take the church forward in a very changed world. With hea�ng costs substan�ally increased, efforts will con�nue to be made to seek con�nued funding for our warm space ini�a�ve and keep fuel costs down. he reality is that it is difficult to heat our big old Victorian church building, but inves�ga�ons will be made regarding insula�on possibili�es. . The new community annexe and café designs, which were granted planning permission and faculty in 2021 has gone out for tender. At �me of wri�ng we have over 80% of the full cost in place and expect to enter a period of value engineering with the successful contractor to ensure we can deliver the bulk of the project within the current budget available.
This new annexe, if it is built, will be�er enable the Aims and Purpose of the church and its need has been made much more apparent through the COVID crisis. The annexe will also help us reduce our carbon footprint and provide a modern efficient space that is easy to heat. We will need to think more about our ecological creden�als in 2023. Infla�on remains the biggest risk to
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the new annexe project, but a phasing of the project may ensure best value for money in a very difficult period for the construc�on industry.
With all this work poten�ally going on later in 2023, we must also keep focussed on the primary objec�ves of the church that this new annexe would enable.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is registered with the Charity Commission (Charity no. 1190509).
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the standing orders of the church (available from the church office or the incumbent) and complies with the Church Representa�on rules. The PCC includes, the Incumbent, the wardens, the readers and APA's, any members of CofE Synods on the electoral role along with those members elected at the APCM and those co-opted by the PCC.
The Full PCC (trustees) meets 9 �mes a year and makes decisions on ma�ers of importance to the parish, agrees and implements required policies, sets the budget and monitors how funds are spent. New members receive an induc�on into the role of trusteeship and the func�oning of the PCC.
Safeguarding, Safer Recruitment, Health & Safety, Lone Working, - - Social Media, Recruitment of Ex offenders, Whistle Blowing, An� fraud, Domes�c Abuse, GDPR compliant Privacy No�ces and Staff Handbook with grievance procedures.
## **Volunteers**
None of what takes place would occur without the dozens of volunteers that give of their �me and effort each week. Over 50 people are involved in volunteering at St George’s. There are too many people who give sacrificially to men�on them all by name, but you work in service of Christ and we thank you for making St George's a vibrant and Christ centred church that serves so many different people.
## **Administra�ve informa�on**
St George's Church is found at Vigo Lane, Harraton, Washington NE38 9AH. It is an Anglican Church of England church within the diocese of Durham. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representa�on Rules 2006).
PCC members who have served from the APCM of 2022 (10[th] May 2022) are:
- Incumbent: The Reverend Nick Barr-Hamilton (Chair)
The Buildings group is an authorised commi�ee empowered to implement decisions of the PCC regarding works to the fabric of the church.
The Standing Commi�ee has authorisa�on to transact urgent decisions between PCC mee�ngs and report back at the next mee�ng. the PCC.
- Wardens: Mrs Chris�ne Hope
- Readers: Mr Maurice Taylor & Mrs Pat Ma�hews
- APA: Mrs Eve Winstanley Deanery Synod: None.
Elected Members
- Mr Len Adams
- Ms Jo-Anne Cohrs
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- Ms Tara Etemadi
## **Vicar's report**
- Mr Doug Green (Treasurer)
- Mrs Lucille Hutchinson
- Mrs Andrea Pritchard
- Mrs Leslie Stevens
- Mrs Gail Watson
- Mr Peter Watson
- Mrs Lynn Wya�
Mrs Ruth Forster serves as the PCC Secretary.
through 2022 with Mr Doug Green as the deputy safeguarding officer. Sadly, Kate passed away a�er a short ba�le with cancer early in 2023. Mr Doug Green has agreed to take over as lead with Mrs Leslie Stevens serving as deputy.
The PCC of St George’s have adopted and pay due regard to safeguarding guidance given by the Church of England, the House of Bishops and Durham Diocese. The Safeguarding policy is available on the church website, on the porch no�ce board and in the church office, along with contact details for relevant officers.
The Independent Examiner appointed at the APCM of 2022 is Mr Charlie Forster.
The day to day management of church ac�vi�es is delegated to the Incumbent and the Church Wardens supported by the church administrator Mrs Lorraine Cook, who we thank for her diligent and effec�ve work in keeping the organisa�on of everything running smoothly. Accounts approved by the PCC on 4[th] April 2023 and signed on their - behalf by the Reverend Nick Barr Hamilton (PCC Chair).
2022 has been another turbulent year across the globe, but we have seen the Lord con�nue to work in and through us in our community. The year began with COVID fears star�ng to wane. But with one global challenge ending, another arose. Russian threats to Ukraine were realised by the largest invasion in Europe since world war II. Infla�on, that had already picked up post COVID suddenly leapt as energy prices went through the roof and those without fixed price contracts found themselves paying 4 or 5 �mes more for energy than they were in 2021.
The church, however, con�nued to serve and support our community and many ministries returned to a more normal pa�ern a�er 2 years of disrup�on, although we s�ll struggle to find volunteers to work with young people. Our community coffee mornings con�nued to work with WCFP and went from strength to strength, some days seeing nearly 60 visitors and I cannot thank our volunteers enough for the work they put in to make these so popular. We could always do we some extra help if you are free on Friday mornings in par�cular.
With the war raging against Ukraine causing the largest refugee crisis in Europe since WWII and with close links to a project in Moldova, the church geared up and expected to host a number of Ukrainian families. The plan was to use our middle floor room and facili�es as a lounge and safe space for Ukrainians hosted by local people and church members, but over �me it became apparent that most Ukrainians preferred to stay closer to home than come to the UK.
Our Easter celebra�ons were much more normal this year and our Good Friday ac�vity morning was incredibly busy, with around 60 young people and their families enjoying an Easter hunt, games and ac�vi�es.
Mr Charlie Forster .
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Our summer food and ac�vity week, however, was not as well a�ended this year, but we did make a new partnership with Ac�ve Families North-East who ran some of the sports while our volunteers cooked lunches and ran other ac�vi�es for young people.
In the Autumn, having postponed my Sabba�cal for two years running due to COVID, I was finally able to take it. I do want to thank Rob & Margaret Bianchi, Doug & Lynn Green and Maurice Taylor, who took on much of the responsibility of the church while I was away on my three month Sabba�cal. They already do so much to support me and the church in normal �mes. In par�cular, I thank Chris Hope who always carries substan�al responsibility for the church and serves above and beyond as our only (currently) church warden and chaired the PCC in my absence. It was a wonderful �me of rest as well as �me spent studying and visi�ng places that engage in sustainable farming and ecology. I came back thoroughly challenged about how we really need to help people live sustainably in an affordable way (which is not easy) and look a�er God’s crea�on be�er. The one phrase that arose again and again is that we are a community of crea�on with all God’s creatures.
St George’s was also awarded several warm space grants enabling us to run the church as a warm safe space through the autumn and winter. We thank God for the Coalfields regenera�on Trust and Sunderland City Council for their generosity in this. These have again widened our community links and partnerships with other local VCS organisa�ons.
During the year, one of our long serving APA’s, Mrs Pat Davis re�red from her formal role. I thank her personally and on behalf of the church and community for her friendship and many years of faithful service as an APA and her con�nuing ministry with people in the church.
Schools work also returned to a more normal pa�ern as I began visi�ng Fa�ield Primary each month, Rickleton Primary occasionally and we restarted the lunch�me club in Biddick Academy.
This year, Christmas returned to its usual pa�ern and felt quite busy, although the Chris�ngle was renamed as a Family Christmas Celebra�on. The cost of living crisis did have one impact though in that Biddick Academy was unable to hire coaches to bring the young people to their carol services, so we recorded the service in church with their music group, choir and readers and streamed it back to the school.
At the end of the year we sadly said goodbye to our dear friend and sister Kate who moved to Devon to live with her family, knowing she would be unlikely to return.
Through the year, our Community Annexe project con�nued to progress. We were now in a fundraising mode, looking to raise just under £680,000. Following the humbling generosity of our church family in 2021, we were now going out to numerous grant awarding bodies seeking to raise the rest. I would like to thank Anna Snell for using the gi�s God has given her in doing much of this work. By the �me I got back from Sabba�cal we were progressing at a good pace, although with infla�on in the construc�on industry running a mock we had had to add 23% to the original price provided by the Quan�ty Surveyor.
We thank God for his generous provision as well as the many people who believe in this project, both inside and outside of St George’s. God certainly likes to surprise us with his goodness. Quite suddenly, in the last 6 weeks of the year we were awarded 3 substan�al grants that brought us close to the infla�on affected target. All of a sudden our professional team had to move from working on the project steadily to ge�ng a full tender pack together to go out before Christmas. It was a huge amount of work for everyone involved, but with much prayer it was achieved. By God’s grace we will start construc�on work in 2023. But we remained concerned about the level of infla�on impac�ng building materials and labour shortages.
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worked so hard to enable so much to take place this year gone. Our building has remained a hub of ac�vity, at �mes so busy we have struggled to find �mes to hold funerals. Again and again we see the need for addi�onal inclusive space and proper facili�es/kitchen. In all you do for this community and each other, you show that you are faithful Chris�ans who love and serve in a sacrificial Christlike way and follow Christ’s call no ma�er what the world throws at us.
- Our volunteers and teams who do so much to serve others and sacrifice �me, effort and money to support Christ’s church and his ministry here.
The progress in the Community Annexe project. Finances to enable us to do so much.
Many answered prayers through the year. Growth in rela�onships and
## Pray for:
I also thank God for the generosity of so many people, who enable us to pay fixed costs for the ministry we have done to serve young people, families and elderly, vulnerable and isolated people.
I thank our Readers and Pastoral team who take on much of the personal work. There are too many others to thank by name, but I am humbled by all your sacrifice and give thanks to God for you and all you do, from cleaning, maintenance and administra�on, to music, worship and outreach. I am also grateful to Doug, our Treasurer, and Lynn Wya� who ably supports him. Finally, I want to thank our administrator, Lorraine, who does an amazing job in the office and con�nually goes above and beyond.
## Thank You All.
We press on into 2023 with hopes and fears, but we do so knowing that we have a sovereign God who can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. We con�nue to serve people in need in many different ways, bringing the good news of Jesus in word and deed and look forward to what the Lord brings in the year to come.
## Give thanks for:
- Our mission and evangelism through the year.
- That our community annexe project would come to frui�on
- despite infla�on.
- A second church warden to support Chris and the church. New
- trustees to step up as others re�re.
- Church growth in number and in depth of faith.
- Volunteers to help out where we are needing more help, in
- par�cular roles with young people and on Sundays.
- Nick to be sustained in leading our busy church and for him to
- remain healthy.
That all of us would con�nue to have our focus on Jesus and trust his sovereignty and faithfulness, no ma�er how difficult it becomes.
## **Biddick Academy & Schools’ Ministry**
## Give thanks for:
- Restar�ng the Biddick Academy lunch club with a Chris�an
- ecological focus.
- Ongoing Assemblies, Christmas Services and work as a governor.
- Answered prayers.
-
The Lord Jesus Christ, who is at the centre of our ministries, mission and people.
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## Pray for:
- That the lunch�me club would develop and point young
- people to Christ even as we think about saving His planet.
- That assemblies would con�nue to build rela�onships and
- other opportuni�es in the school would develop.
- The Chris�an faith to be seen as a good thing for young
- people and opportuni�es to share the gospel more widely
- Teachers, pupils and their families might come to salva�on
- Ongoing good rela�onships and posi�ve influence as an Academy Trustee.
## **Church Finance Statement for 2022 & World Giving**
2022 has been a very challenging year mainly due to the a�ermath of the Covid Pandemic and the Cost of Living Crises, with the Church having to respond to a range of financial issues. However, it is important that we praise God that he has guided and indeed supported us in establishing some new opportuni�es.
not include restricted money such as grants from Warm Space) Earlier in the year I was sure that there would be a deficit, mainly due to the different pa�erns of giving that developed over the previous year. The deficit is much smaller that I first thought, but the stalwart members of this church and faith in God proved me wrong. This year, giving was slightly up on the plate and some of the envelope giving was also up. We are thankful for grants from Sunderland Council, Durham Board of Finance and The Coalfields which has allowed us to develop our Warm Spaces Programme since September 2022. This has allowed many members of our community to par�cipate in a range of ac�vi�es within the church building
## -38……..
Thank God for the many pledges, gi�s, grants and dona�ons that have
· the work in very difficult financial �mes.
· community over 2022
- For the award of a number of grants that has helped to develop our
- church as a community warm space
More grants and gi�s towards the new build will con�nue to c
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## **Wardens report 2022 -23**
It’s hard to believe but March ‘23 marked the third anniversary of the first covid lockdown. We are s�ll living in a changed world, but praise God, as a Church, we have con�nued to serve Him and our community. Over the past twelve months, the services have con�nued much the same as they always did. The 8am service is held monthly, and consists of a small but devoted group. The 10am and 4pm services are well a�ended, and most of the congrega�on have gradually returned to take part in the services, and praise God we also have new people too.
The outreach ministry to our local community con�nues. On Monday and Friday mornings we have coffee/tea and cake groups, which are well a�ended. There is also Wednesday lunches, the Tuesday morning Toddler Group, a�ernoon Ukulele Group, and the Monday a�ernoon Bereavement Support Group, bringing in regular members. All of these are able to con�nue thanks to a dedicated number of volunteers. Also, there is, currently, a Strength and Balance Class, run by Sunderland council, mee�ng on Thursday mornings. The majority of the people who a�end belong to the Church family, but it does also bring in a number of local people; so as well as keeping the congrega�on physically fit, it too is a sourse of outreach!
As warden I have much to thank God and the congrega�on at St. George’s for. I found last Summer to be challenging due to health problems. I was so well supported, I find I cannot name everyone – personally. We have a marvelous Chris�an fellowship the congrega�on at St. George’s are truly wonderful people, and I am grateful to all of you. Also, as warden, I praise God for the support of Terry Wya�, John Thomas, and Eileen Fletcher.
These lovely people literally took over warden du�es, and delivered stern, regular pep talks to me, apropos of my needing to be obedient to my surgeon and oncologists’ instruc�ons. I’ve discovered It’s a fact that gentle people can be scary some�mes.
month sabba�cal. I emphasize a sabba�cal is certainly not to be confused with a holiday! During this �me, along with many other churches, we did have a crisis – owing to the rapid escala�on of fuel bills. Rob Bianchi, Doug our treasurer, and the building group, did sterling work regarding finding a means of being economical with our hea�ng, and also by obtaining a Warm Spaces grant. We managed to weather the 3 months without any major mishaps, principally by everyone pulling together. As a congrega�on, admi�edly we’re far from perfect, but we worked together recognizing that only one person is in charge, and that it God Himself.
There are a number of points for prayer and praise.
- Thanks be to God for Nick’s faith and dedica�on. May he and Lucy be blessed in their work.
- For our local community – praise God that we have strong local support. Praise God that the ministry and outreach of this Church is con�nuing, including the groups men�oned above. We ask for His blessing upon those who faithfully give their �me. May this work con�nue, and more volunteers come forward.
- environment for those who worship, and those who a�end our outreach projects.
- May our fellowship and outreach con�nue through the coming year. As Mar�n Luther so aptly said, ‘So highly privileged are we who believe in Christ. Amen.’
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## **Warm Space**
Since September 2022 as a Church, we have received grants that has enabled us to con�nue and develop a range of ac�vi�es in suppor�ng the local community. We are thankful for the support from:
Sunderland City Council Diocesan of Durham Financial Board Coalfields Regenera�on Grant
Monday Cuppa, cake and company Bereavement support group Tuesday. Parents and Toddlers Ukulele Group
Wednesday Bite to eat.
Thursday. Ac�ve Families Friday. Cuppa, cake and company
This has seen over 200 community members on a weekly basis, taking part in our community programme.
**Safeguarding**
At St George’s we take safeguarding young people and vulnerable adults seriously and we have the relevant policies in place, which are reviewed and updated on a yearly basis.
## **We give thanks for:**
- Our beloved deceased sister Kate Grimwood, who worked in various roles within the church over many years, including Designated Safeguarding Officer.
- No issues regarding Safeguarding
- St George’s being a safe place for those that seek peace.
- PCC members who have undertaken safeguarding training and accredita�on.
## **We pray for:**
- The Diocesan Safeguarding team – who con�nue to support us.
- Con�nued vigilance by the St George’s community in being aware of safeguarding issues.
## **Doug Green**
## **Give thanks for:**
The volunteers who give up their �me to support these ac�vi�es. Those who provide food and drink.
The funding agencies for their con�nued support - Gods’ blessing in allowing us to develop a wide ranging programme.
## **Pray for:**
The well-being of all who volunteers who support our programme. For more volunteers to come forward to enable us to sustain and develop the programme
All community members who take part in the programme, that they con�nue to feel safe and warm but also may come to know Jesus as their Saviour.
## **Meet and Eat**
church. We are blessed to have a rota of volunteers to cook, to - help share the load. We have about 15 20 guests each �me. In October we had another visit from the food hygiene inspector and were very pleased to maintain our 5* hygiene ra�ng. During the winter we opened every Wednesday as one of the warm spaces - 20 and offered a simpler lunch, con�nuing to have at least 15 guests, but have now returned to being twice a month. We pray that we reach more people in the local community and they will come to know Jesus.
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## **Cuppa, cake and company (CCC)**
now (star�ng in April 2021) and con�nue to flourish as we welcome both old and new guests. We have been a�rac�ng from about 30 to more than 50 people to each Monday and Friday event. Together with our close link to St. George’s nursing home (providing easy access to visitors), we also have regular visits from the carers and residents at West Lodge Penshaw and some of the staff and pupils at Harry Wa�s Academy in Harraton. The above visitors give rise to a varied age range with mixed abili�es which as a church is a huge blessing to all involved especially as an outreach into the community. Most of the cakes and scones are either homemade or donated by church members with other dona�ons coming from surplus stock from businesses (via Washington Community Food Project). This keeps some of the running costs down with any monetary dona�ons being used to supplement other church costs (tea, coffee, etc).
## **We give thanks for:**
- All the volunteers who give their �me and use their gi�s on a Monday and Friday
- The people from the community who come to support these mornings
## **WCFP partnership with the St George’s Church**
Once again, our grateful thanks go to the people of St. George’s Church for their con�nued help and support of Washington Community Food Project.
2022 was a demanding year for the charity. The Cost-of-living Crisis has resulted in the number of parcels we issue rising by over 55% compared to 2021. Our dedicated volunteers have had to work _extra_ hard to ensure dona�ons are collected, shelves are filled and food parcels are packed and handed to our clients. We have had to top up the stock dona�ons we receive by purchasing a _considerable_ amount of food, as well as toiletries and detergent. This would not be possible without the generous cash gifts we receive from supporters such as yourselves.
Your kind dona�ons have also enabled us to expand the services we provide to include access to computer equipment as a free community Digital Hub, opening our doors three days a week as a Warm Space, supplying free packed lunches for children during the holidays and sponsoring Key Stage 2 fruit and A�er School Club snacks in local primary schools.
- The warm safe space in which we meet
## **We pray**
- Con�nued faith and strength for all our volunteers that they would know how much they are appreciated
- Expansion of commi�ed volunteers to help spread the load of this work (especially on a Friday)
- By this �me next year, we are running our community café CCC and more out of the new annexe building.
We con�nue our drive to combat food wastage by collec�ng surplus bread, cakes and fresh supplies and distribu�ng it first to clients and then to local groups/ins�tu�ons. We firmly believe in filling bellies not bins so it is wonderful to see perfectly good food that was des�ned to be thrown away being enjoyed by groups within our community.
- Gail Watson and the CCC Teams
of contact to locals who may find accessing the service at our main
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St. George’s enough for their dedica�on in providing a warm first welcome to the WCFP and ensuring that no one leaves without the help they need.
With no sign of the current economic crisis aba�ng, we an�cipate that this next year will prove similarly challenging as the need for our service con�nues to increase and we see more - and more local people experiencing ‘in work poverty’. We look forward to con�nuing our successful partnership with the people of St George’s Church to ensure residents of
Washington and Springwell Village receive the support they need during these difficult �mes.
Many thanks from all at the WCFP
## **Administrators Report**
I am now in my fourth year as the administrator for St George’s Church and I can truly say I absolutely love my role, it can be challenging at �mes, emo�onal, but it is also very rewarding . I am now part of the pastoral team which I feel is a huge part of my role here at St Georges.
I am so thankful to God who has put people in my path that lead me to St Georges.
Nick, Chris, Doug, Lynn and Joanne.
I am thankful for all the volunteers who help with ac�vi�es at St George’s.
I pray for Nick and Lucy and all our church family here at St Georges.
I pray that God will answer our prayers for the annexe to be built this year so we can con�nue His work throughout the community and people will come to know Him.
## **Mothers Union St Georges Fatfield**
Our membership stands at 6 with 1 more lady expressing desire to join us.
We meet on the second Monday of the month at 1pm until 2.30 pm. We organise our meetings as a committee, not having a leader, sharing out tasks as a team.
We are missing 2 meetings April and May owing to bank holidays and meeting up again in June.
We will be presenting Long Service Awards to 5 members then.
We give thanks to our long serving members who have kept this branch going for so long.
We pray for the future of St George’s Fatfield Mothers Union as times change and finding volunteers to take on positions becomes difficult
## **Cleaning Team**
Cleaning team consists of 5 or 6 dedicated workers, Len & Betty Adams, Avril Winship, Brenda Ridley and Sharon Lamb and Donna our Romanian member of St George’s who comes when she can. We meet on Friday’s at 1pm for a couple of hours and are always Grateful for any extra help. We give a special thankyou to Roger Thornhill for cleaning the chairs, and always be willing to lend a hand.
We give thanks for everyone who gives us their time and energy to do this important job.
We pray that we will all be blessed with good health and strength in the coming year.
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## **Youth Group Report**
At the �me of wri�ng the youth group has nine members aged between 11 and 15. Numbers aren't everything by any means, but we are so thankful that a�er the years of covid and so many parts of life taking a while to go back to normal, that we have such a wonderful regular group of people mee�ng for bible study and ea�ng together around a table.
a Diocesan youth event in April which was a new experience for us, and was very encouraging to be among so many young Chris�ans from the local area.
Please give thanks to God for bringing young people together around his Word and the shared experience of ea�ng together.
Give thanks for those young people who gave their �me and energy to serve on Maundy Thursday in the kitchen, and on Good Friday at the cra� cafe.
Please pray that each of them would con�nue to be blessed by coming along, and would grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord.
- in them, preserve them in a hos�le, post Chris�an world, and give them hearts to love Him and love their neighbour as themselves.
## **Building Group**
2022 was another year where we worked hard just to stay s�ll. We were coming out of the restric�ons imposed by the Coronavirus and we used the �me to catch up on necessary repairs and improvements.
Likewise new lights at high level were installed in the side Chapel. The boilers in the main building and the upstairs rooms were serviced and found to be in good working order. A new thermostat
hea�ng system.
The lightning protec�on system was tested and found to be in good working order as were the fire ex�nguishers do�ed around the building.
- A thorough clean up of the building internally was carried out in the Spring and Autumn working days. On the same days in March and November a working party restored the graveyard and other outside areas to their proper standard a�er the Winter and Summer periods.
The Building Group members who maintain the graveyard throughout the year, Peter Watson, Nigel Heppell and Keith Robson, once again did an admiral job. Our external areas are always in �p top condi�on. The Group was ably assisted by Norman Fatherley, John Adams, Roger Thornhill and Brian Pritchard and we thank them for their huge contribu�ons.
Prayers of thanks for the apprecia�on shown by the congrega�on for our work, and prayers also for the �me and effort put in by the Group members who made it possible.
Prayers of hope that there may be an interest shown by other members of the congrega�on in joining the Group to help us in our tasks. Please talk to Len Adams or Peter Watson if you can help.
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## **Annual Church Report for Toddlers March 2023**
The Church Toddler Group con�nues to meet downstairs in the church. Storing the toys and furniture downstairs has proven to be very beneficial for the quick se�ng up of the toys each Tuesday morning, ably assisted by Len and Doug.
The toddler group runs from September to July. We also are closed during any school holidays e.g., Easter.
We are now a team of six, Lucy has recently joined as a volunteer and each of us have a key role in ensuring the session runs effec�vely and provides the children who a�end with opportuni�es to play safely and engage with other children, and the adults who come have chance to chat to each other and us. We try to make certain that we are available to provide help or a listening ear for anyone who needs it.
We currently have 24 children on our list to a�end and have a wai�ng list because we are at capacity. The parents/
grandparents and children who come all seem to enjoy their �me with us and many people who contact us to put their name on the wai�ng list tell us they have heard posi�ve comments and recommenda�ons about this session. The cost of the session has increased to £2 to help support the increased cost of u�li�es. We have also had monetary dona�ons from parents/ grandparents at Christmas and when children have moved into nursery/school.
The children con�nue to enjoy the opportunity to play with the toys alongside their adult and the volunteers for the first part of the session, we stop around 10.15 for a story followed by juice and biscuits. The children can then play again or join in the cra� ac�vity we plan each week to link to the story we have shared. We finish the session with songs and finally our ‘goodbye bubbles’.
We also celebrate special events during the year such as Christmas, Mother’s Day and we always finish the year with a – party last July we enjoyed our ‘Pirate’s Party’. Children’s birthdays are recognised and when the children finally leave us, – we present them with a children’s Bible filled with all the stories we have shared with them. We hope this ‘link’ will bring them back to St George’s Church – we do invite them to come along to any outreach events such as the Good Friday Cra�s and we have been so happy to welcome them when they have come along with their grownups.
_**We thank God and feel blessed that we are able to introduce these ‘�ny people’ to Jesus and we hope and pray they will come to want to know more about him and St George’s church. We pray that each of the volunteers will be blessed as they carry out God’s work and that further people might join our group.**_
Finally, can I thank all who come along every Tuesday to serve our community in this way. We are a happy, friendly team who enjoy the company of each other and the children who a�end.
Lynn Green
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## **Children’s Group Sunday 10 AM service**
The weekly Sunday Children’s Group con�nues to be led by Lucy and I each Sunday. The numbers of children remain consistent 6 younger children and 6 older children.
We were approached to include younger children/toddlers but this has been difficult because of lack of volunteers. We have however set up a box at the back of church containing toys, figures, animals, jigsaws, and books that can be accessed by children under parents’ supervision.
## **We have much to be thankful for:**
The groups are split into two small groups with Lucy leading the older group (Key Stage 2 +) and me leading the younger group. I con�nue to use the Click material with the younger children, this allows the children to explore a theme with linked Bible passages and we always include a crea�ve ac�vity before concluding our session with a prayer. The children take home the cra� to support discussion with parents.
The older children explore Bible passages/themes with Lucy, seeking answers and asking challenging ques�ons as they explore their own growing faith.
We always make �me to discuss children’s lives outside of church celebra�ng their successes and suppor�ng them in coping with any challenges.
Lucy and I would love to see more people volunteering to share their faith and understanding of the Bible with our children, Lucy and I enjoy our �me with the children but it is some�mes difficult to maintain and grow the children’s church on our own.
When Lucy and Nick were on Sabba�cal the only way to manage the Children’s, church was to set up a table at the back of church which gave the children access to materials linked to themes/ Bible passages currently being covered in the main service.
The children who a�end our church seem to enjoy coming and it is truly wonderful to see their faith and love of Jesus growing. Their ques�ons and curiosity certainly support Lucy and I and keep us on our toes.
## **Please con�nue to pray for:**
More volunteers who would help with our children’s groups – it is a great act of service but also helps grow your own faith.
Finally, I would ask that everyone prays for every child who comes in through our church door, they are our future congrega�on and followers of Jesus.
Lynn Green
## **Children’s Christmas Gi� Bags**
Covid can be blamed for many things - most of them not good - but in 2020, Covid was responsible for something rather special - the idea of - giving away Christmas gi� bags to 100 children many of them from local families with no established connec�on with the church. S�ll living with intermi�ent lockdowns and restric�ons, a similar event — - took place Christmas 2021 but by Christmas 2022 we thought we would ‘shake it up a bit’ and try something new.
Almost by accident, however, I ended up pu�ng together approxi- - mately 40 gi� bags for ages 5 7 and ages 8 11, with extra gi�s for toddlers and older children. As in previous years, the gi� bags were filled with books, s�ckers, play pu�y, so� toys, packets of sweets,
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ery items, ac�vity booklets, bunches of bangles and pocket games. Costs were minimal as The Children’s Society provided the ‘Chris�ngle’ bags and most of the items were donated.
As children made their way home a�er a�ending the Christmas Eve Cra� event, one by one, they came to collect their gi� bag. In no �me at all a long queue had formed, extending across the room and - beyond many asked for extra bags for their siblings!
There were lots of familiar faces but also quite a number of new ones, all eagerly wan�ng to know what they might discover. I was delighted with the response but could not have been more surprised - - or concerned that some might go home disappointed and empty - handed. God was truly with me that day there were just enough gi� bags and extras to go round!
Many thanks to The Childrens’ Society, WCFP, Books & Bread for Kenya and anyone who kindly donated items.
## **Points for Prayer and Praise**
- Praise God for our children and young people - pray that St George’s helps draw them closer to Him
- Praise God for all our volunteers who serve the church and the wider community in so many way
- each and every day - pray He strengthens & encourages them and pray for new volunteers
- Praise God for sustaining St George's church throughout the -
- Covid pandemic pray He con�nues to provide as we face other challenges
Andrea Pritchard
## **Service Of Prayer For The Sick**
Our dedicated group of prayers con�nue to meet monthly for our service of prayer and pray daily for those who have requested our
prayers. We have two members added to our group during the past year and we support one another in prayer as we pray for those who are sick or in need.
We have been blessed with answers to our prayers and thank God for his con�nued blessing. We know how much people appreciate the knowledge that they are supported by our prayers. May God bless us and those for whom we pray.
## **Pastoral Team Report 2023**
At the �me of wri�ng the 2022 report I men�oned our pastoral team had started a 6-session training programme, “Exploring Pastoral Care” with an extra session to cover Prayer Ministry. It was a great privilege for the current pastoral team, Pat Ma�hews, Pat Davis, Chris Hope and myself to deliver these sessions. The programme helped us share God’s word and learn how our Great Shephard “Jesus” cares for us all. We are greatly blessed to now have a pastoral team of 13 people.
Following on from the training we have had number mee�ng of on how best to take the team forward and now have a plan that is star�ng to be implemented where we can help our church family and the wider community.
Also, during this �me, the new members completed DBS checks and Safeguarding training.
Our Bereavement Support Group con�nues to meet every Monday 3pm to 4.30pm, except bank holiday Mondays. This is a lovely group where we share friendship and fellowship, and have a caring understanding of how difficult grief can be.
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**2022 Accounts—Income & Expenditure Independently Examined**
In the past our BSG had a day trip to Wallington Hall. This year we have organised a trip to Holy Island and have invited the church and wider community to join us, we currently have almost 30 people going.
Our Memorial Service of Thanksgiving on the 5[th] May 2022 was the first one we have been able to hold since the covid pandemic and was a�ended by almost 100 people, a number of whom had been unable to have a proper funeral and say goodbye to their loved ones as they would have wished.
The service was greatly appreciated and all who a�ended spoke of how meaningful it was and how much it had helped them. The St Luke’s Day healing service in October was also much appreciated by those who a�ended.
During the past year we have also been able to take Home Communion to anyone who is unable to get to church. Pat is now able to visit St George’s Care Home again and chat to the residents, some of whom get to the 10am Sunday Service and Cuppa, Cake and Company mornings from �me to �me, and the monthly service has been re-instated a�er the pandemic restric�ons. We thank God for his calling and the love that He has for us all, we ask that he will con�nue to bless our team in their ministry.
## **Electoral Roll**
The Electoral Roll has been updated and there are 120 names on the new roll (revised on the 11th April 2023).
Two names were added during the year and following the pos�ng of the public no�ces, no further names were added.
No-one has been removed. Sadly 2 names have been removed by reason of death. A copy of the new roll is available in the church
||**Income**|**Actual 2022**|budget 2022|Actual 2021|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Giving**||||
||Gift Aided|**34813**|35500|35383|
||HMRC tax refund|**9612**|10000|10890|
||Other Planned Giving|**9557**|12000|10161|
||Loose Plate|**2717**|2000|1362|
||Donations to Church|**3169**|2000|1119|
||PCC Fees|**5486**|6500|6100|
||Hire of Rooms|**0**|250||
||**Other Income**||||
||Photocopying
Refreshments|**14**
**0**|40
750|6
700|
||Memorial Service|**0**||250|
||Wednesday Lunches|**0**||416|
||Book of Remembrance|**400**|||
||Commonwealth war graves|**12**||12|
||Quninquennial|**0**||7|
||**Restricted Income**||||
||DDBF Assigned Fees|**3594**|4000|3289|
||Fees Organist/Verger|**940**||594|
||Income to be paid on|**0**||88|
||Meet & Eat/Boxing day|**0**||184|
||Toddlers|**53**|||
||Monday club|**0**|120||
||Craft Days|**70**|100||
||Book sales (Lent & Christ-||||
||mas)|**89**|150|132|
||Specific donations||||
||Faculty Fees|**630**||552|
||Packed Lunches|||794|
||Specific grants *|**_10711_**|12|475|
||Smith Roddam (Solicitor)|**_90_**||816|
||Refund|**_71_**||40|
||Coffee & Cake|**_4346_**|3000|3570|
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**Actual 2022** budget 2022 Actual 2021
## **Income**
|Salary
|||773|
|---|---|---|---|
|Comp Screen
|||30|
|Streaming|**30**|||
|Interest/Credit|**155**|||
|Lent/Advent||||
|**TOTAL INCOME (Church)**|**86559**|76422|77743|
|New Annexe restricted income|**49,734**||127,511|
|
**TOTAL INCOME**|**136,293**||205,254|
|**Specific Grants details**||||
|Warm space grants|Spent||Received|
|Sunderland Council|1215||5150|
|Durham Diocese|||3561|
|Coalfields Trust|||2000|
||||**10711**|
**Note: a heating bill of over £3500 was paid out in early 2023 that these funded**
|**Details of Annexe fund Income**||
|---|---|
|capital appeal|16,206|
|regular giving|11,595|
|Gift aid reclaim|16,342|
|interest|593|
|grant awards received|4,999|
||**49,734**|
**Expenditure Actual 2022** budget 2022 Actual 2021
|**Church Costs**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Parish Share|**41000**|41000|37500|
|Upkeep of Services|**1048**|1000|714|
|Licence renewal|**828**|800||
|Technology|||474|
|Reimbursed Meet & Eat||400||
|Headstone||200||
|**Church Building Costs**||||
|Insurance|**2650**|2700|2547|
|Heating & Lighting|**4258**|4400|3935|
|Water|**107**|100|753|
|Boiler Service Contracts|**625**|900|935|
|Church Maintenance|**1075**|2000|872|
|Fire Safety Maintenance||250||
|Cleaning|**180**|150|306|
|Churchyard Maintenance|**250**|300|314|
|Water Rates|**898**|550||
|**Administration Costs**||||
|Administrator salary|**9799**|9727|10826|
|Telephone & Broadband|**330**|370|371|
|Photocopying|**71**|600|1042|
|Stationery & Postage|**370**|500|838|
|Web Page|**50**|80|179|
|DDBF Assigned Costs|**3744**|4000|4936|
|Donations paid on|**744**|0|163|
|Fees Organist, Verger|**900**|580|610|
|Sundry Office costs|**191**|||
|Book of remembrance|**89**|||
|DBS checks|**5**|||
|Warm Space|**_1215_**|||
|Streaming|**30**|||
|Xfer to CAF|**50**|||
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|**Mission Costs**
||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Study Group||100||
|Monday Club||100||
|Tracts & Printing|**88**|250|110|
|Study Books||250|523|
|DBS checks|**22**|50|15|
|Refreshments|**875**|500|766|
|Lunches|**120**|240|681|
|Childrens's work & craft|**130**|400|63|
|course fees||200|94|
|WORLD GIVING|**5516**|5000|5020|
|Garden Party||200||
|Travel exp.|**312**|||
|Vicar's expenses|**0**||437|
|sundry expenses|**190**||64|
|Books|**257**|||
|Fac for graves||200|1409|
|Headstone app|||165|
|Christmas on Van||200|361|
|**TOTAL EXPENDITURE (church)**|**78017**|78297|77,023|
|**Balance Sheet**|Dec 31st 2022|Dec 31st 2021|
|---|---|---|
|Unrestricted Cash at Bank|17,987|18941|
|Unrestricted|||
|Designated Funds|15,000|15000|
|Restricted Funds (Warm|||
|Spc)|9,496||
|Restricted Funds (Annexe)|175,675|145,226|
|Total Funds|218167|174,167|
Expenditure for ongoing operations of the church excluding the warm space grants was in deficit by £954, however the surplus from all funds for day to day running of the church was £8542.
The annexe Fund rose by £30,449, but in 2022 we were also awarded £457,500 of grants that will be paid when we reach the total required to start work and contract has been signed. The total available for the annexe project, including the Fatfield fund, funds held by the diocese and other future regular giving pledged by local people at year end was £777,481.
**Expenditure Annexe Project (restricted)**
|Jasper Kerr (Civil & Structural)|870|
|---|---|
|Howarth Litchfield (Architect)|8,960|
|360 deg (surveys)|1260|
|S R solicitor|1481|
|Archaeology report|552|
|bank/sumup fees|6|
|TGA (M&E Engineering)|6,155|
||**19,285**|
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE 97,302**
We are grateful to the Lord for the generosity of every one of our church family, our community and external funders. We are also grateful to God for the wisdom and prudence of those spending to enable us to cover our costs during a year when many churches and charities have struggled significantly.
Inflationary pressures and increased fuel costs mean we do pray that people will continue to generously help us meet the challenges of the coming year.
These accounts were independently examined by Mr Charlie Forster and approved by the trustees (PCC) at their meeting on April 4th 2023.
Signed by Chair and Vicar, Rev Nick Barr-Hamilton
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## **Minutes of the A.P.C. Mee�ng held on Tuesday 10[th] May 2022 ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS**
## **(formerly known as the Vestry Mee�ng)**
## **1. Opening Prayer & Worship**
NBH opened by welcoming all a�ending to the mee�ng & read a passage from Ephesians 4, the reading set for Evening Prayer tonight. He commented that we would be thinking about some of the words from that passage later through both mee�ngs. He finished by leading all in prayer, with other prayers offered by those in a�endance, ending by commending both mee�ngs into His hands.
## **2. Minutes of Previous Mee�ng**
Commen�ng that he hoped all there had received their Report Booklet which contained the minutes from last year’s mee�ng. to parishioners. GW queried the posi�on of Deputy Church Warden & wondered if Michael Hepworth could be approached for this post. NBH commented that this would be something to be discussed in a PCC mee�ng. The minutes of the previous mee�ng having been published were accepted as correct, this being proposed by GW & seconded by EF, with 16 votes for & 3 Absten�ons.
GW queried the posi�on of Deputy Church Warden & wondered if Michael Hepworth could be approached for this post. NBH commented that this would be something to be discussed in a PCC
mee�ng. The minutes of the previous mee�ng having been published were accepted as correct, this being proposed by GW & seconded by EF, with 16 votes for & 3 Absten�ons.
## **3. Ma�ers Arising**
There were no ma�ers arising.
## **4. Elec�on of Wardens**
NBH thanked CH for her work over the last year, she was doing an amazing job, with the assistance of various people who, whilst not appointed as Deputy Wardens, are doing a sterling job. He commented that it was wonderful to have others willing to help & if anyone felt called by God from the floor in the mee�ng, they could be put forward for elec�on as Deputy Warden.
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He thanked her again for taking on the role which is ac�ng in a posi�on of legal responsibility to the Bishop. It was proposed by KB & se- conded by HE that we re elect CH which was carried unanimously. The mee�ng closed with prayer, in par�cular for CH, & members of the PCC, at 19.55 p.m.
## **A.P.C.M.**
## **1. Opening Prayer**
NBH opened the new mee�ng with further prayer.
## **2. A�endees & Apologies**
- The mee�ng was a�ended by: Len Adams (LA), Elspeth Baird (EB), Rev. Nick Barr-Hamilton (NBH), Clive Bowman (CB), Maureen Bowman (MB), Harry Ellis (HE), Eileen Fletcher (EF), Ruth Forster (RF), Doug Green (DG), Chris�ne Hope (CH), Pat Ma�hews (PM), Leslie Stevens (LS), Brian Tait (BT), Catherine Tait (CT), Maurice Taylor (MT), Marjorie Thomas (MTh), Gail Watson (GW), Avril Winship (AW), Eve Winstanley (EW), Barry Winstanley (BW), & Lynn Wya� (LW). Apologies were received from:- Be�y Adams (BA), Lucy Barr-Hamilton - (LBH), Margaret Bianchi (MB), Rob Bianchi (RB), Jo Anne Cohrs (JC), Pat Davis (PD), Tara Etemadi (TE), Mary Gorog (MG), Lucille
Hutchinson (LH), Audrey Rayner (ARa), Arthur Ridley (AR), Brenda Ridley (BR), Dorothy Sherrick (DS), Peter Watson, (PW), & Terry Wya� (TW)
## **3. Minutes of the Last Annual Mee�ng 11[th] May 2021**
The minutes of the previous mee�ng had been published and were accepted as correct being proposed by LS & seconded by GW with 17 votes for & 4 absten�ons.
## **4. Ma�ers Arising**
NBH said he had no issues to bring up & there were no ma�ers brought by the mee�ng.
## **5. Presenta�on of the Electoral Roll**
by Lorraine Cook, our Administrator. We now have 118 names on the Electoral Roll & have lost 2 members because of deaths. There were no ques�ons from the floor.
## **6. Presenta�on of Reports (as circulated previously)**
NBH told us that as these had been circulated previously, he did not intend to talk to each one. CH had nothing further to add to her wri�en report, & NBH was able to confirm that there were no reportable safeguarding issues. He asked that members gave thanks to God for this as this remained one of the greatest dangers, & we all need to be aware & diligent of the importance of safeguarding. He suggested we always be welcoming of anyone new but to be aware as well.
As we currently have no Deanery Synod representa�ves & he was not aware that anyone had a�ended any mee�ngs, NBH encouraged members to consider this role, & reported that the vicar at Birtley had re�red & gone to a church in Wales, so they were in interregnum.
NBH commented that he hoped everyone had had the opportunity to read the Treasurer’s Report from DG. Asked if he had anything further to add to the report DG remarked that we should thank God that in a challenging year we were in such a posi�on, although he had noted that loose plate giving was down from services, but the flip side was the income from our Coffee & Cake coffee mornings. He thanked LW for her con�nuing support to him. NBH also highlighted that the deficit of £3,000 was actually a noncash deficit & the ongoing opera�ons for the year were in surplus. There were no ques�ons from the floor regarding the report. NBH commented that he was grateful to DG, LW & Lorraine in the office for all the work they do, & thanked people for their generosity both to church & the annex project.
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He highlighted the grants we have been so fortunate in receiving & that the Lord is providing through the generosity of all. He asked for prayer with members remarking on people’s faithfulness to church & the project especially through Covid, & thanks were given for the PCC & their faithfulness too. NBH thanked our independent examiner, Charlie Forster, for the work he had done. NBH asked for a proposal that we accept the accounts as seen, & CH proposed that the mee�ng accept them, seconded by EF, & the mo�on was carried unanimously.
## **7. Elec�ons**
## **PCC – (4 persons for 3 years)**
NBH advised that at the moment we had only received one nomina�on for a posi�on on PCC, which was Len Adams, proposed by DG & seconded by GW. NBH commented that he did not intend to pressurise anyone, there should be no pressure to come onto PCC as a trustee, he believes it is important that we have the right people as trustees, to help lead the church, & keep everything in order for the Charity Commission. LW agreed to stand from the floor, commen�ng she was happy to stand as long as she was not on Deanery Synod, which was proposed by HE & seconded by PM, with both nomina�ons being elected unopposed. NBH thanked them both for their willingness to stand. He asked if 2 or 3 people would pray for them highligh�ng that PCC members have a spiritual responsibility as well as their legal responsibili�es as trustees.
## **8. Appointment of External Examiner**
NBH thanked Charlie Forster for his work this year advising the mee�ng that he has sent him an official le�er of thanks & a gi�. CF has confirmed he is happy to remain in the role & DG proposed, seconded by CT that we again formally ask CF to be our external examiner.
NBH thanked CF for agreeing to stand explaining that if we go over the £250,000 income mark CF would be unable to examine the accounts, & we would have to have an examina�on by a chartered accountant or other suitably registered person, but at the moment this is not likely.
## **9. Chairman’s Report**
NBH commented that he had wri�en many of his thoughts in the report booklet, which he hoped people had read. He would start his comments tonight with a big thank you, although he knew many from the whole church were not at tonight’s mee�ng. He told us that he had been comple�ng a report to the Charity Commission & one ques�on was that apart from the trustees, how many volunteers do we have; many of our trustees’ volunteer in other ways anyway, so he had sat down with the electoral roll & gone through it to try to count up the number of different people who are involved with various things & had got to 52. He believes that it is an underes�ma�on, but that is almost half the church family that are serving in different ways which is an incredible testament to what God calls us to & moves people’s hearts & he thanked everyone. .He con�nued commen�ng on the work being done through the further lockdowns in 2021 & also on people stepping forward when he had had his own struggles with ill health, thanking in par�cular RB & MB, & also men�oned that in the coming autumn when he & the - family were to take a 3 month sabba�cal, so many people were stepping forward to help & serve. He believes it is a joy to be here & a joy to serve everyone, & he is encouraged by how the church has flourished in this �me, especially through Covid.
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Some people have not returned but they are very few compared to many churches who have lost so many more than we have. He referred back to the passage he had read at the beginning of the Vestry Mee�ng, commen�ng that Christ took the way of the cross. NBH believes that what we think about affects what we do & we can all get bound up in our own thoughts, saying that the passage he had read is a reminder of this & the dangers of it.
the mee�ng of the grants we have received for the new annex, & what the PCC were discussing about this as the belief is it will not be as much to maintain but s�ll somewhere for people to come & meet. He men�oned that we are s�ll short of leaders for the young people but have been blessed with people coming to faith. He knows there is a limit to what people can do, but he is very encouraged at the plans in place for when he is away. Asking for any ques�ons from the floor NBH reminded everyone that he always here, ready to be challenged & encouraged. He asked that people used the Annual Report booklet in their prayers.
## **10. Any Other Business**
NBH had no further business for this evening. He commented that at next year’s mee�ng there would likely be a review of the Standing Orders as some are out of date & things have changed so they are not in line with the way church now func�ons. Before the mee�ng closed CT commented that she had received great comfort from MT, PM & EW & wanted to thank that we very blessed to have such a loving church family, & she thanked NBH & the family for keeping everyone going through the ‘Covid’ years. NBH agreed that we are blessed but as has already been men�oned it has taken its toll on him & the family & he has needed people’s help as he had already spoken about. He asked for prayer for all things discussed this evening & also to remember those we have lost over the last year.
The mee�ng closed with the Grace at 20.24pm.
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