BIRKENHEAD PRIORY PARISH CHRIST THE KING CHURCH AND BIRKENHEAD PRIORY CHAPEL ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2022
VICAR Reverend Paul Bentley
CURATE Reverend Deborah Wilkinson
BANKERS
NATIONAL WESTMINSTER BANK PLC 6 GRANGE ROAD WEST CHARING CROSS BIRKENHEAD WIRRAL CH41 4DF
CHARITY NUMBER
1196140
Birkenhead Priory Parish - Annual Report for APCM 2023
Aims and purposes
The Birkenhead Priory PCC has the responsibility of cooperating with the Vicar in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the church and community centre at Christ the King, Beckwith Street, Birkenhead and the Chapter House, Birkenhead Priory.
Objectives and Activities
The PCC is committed to reaching out to as many people as possible with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We seek to do this is practical ways, meeting the various needs of those within our parish where we are able, and by sharing our life-changing faith in Jesus with our community wherever we can. When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We continue to abide by the Safeguarding Policies and Procedures of the Church of England for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
We seek to organise our life and worship in such a way as to be faithful to our identity as children of God, whilst welcoming all within our community to become part of our worshipping family. We are committed to helping people not only find faith, but also to live out their faith through:
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worship and prayer together, studying God’s word and growing deeper together in our faith
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providing various points of practical help for the community through The Oak Community Project and other forms of outreach, as an expression of gratitude for the love we have received from God which we pass on to our neighbour
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providing pastoral care for all those in our parish and church family
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working with and supporting other organisations that seek to bring benefit to our local community, including our local schools.
To facilitate this work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of our two buildings, and we are grateful to those who help with their ongoing upkeep, particularly our church wardens.
How we’ve been doing
We continue to live with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the life of our church in many ways, as with the world around us. In all of this we have continued to grow, and God’s grace and kindness has been evident amongst us as we have continued to minister to each other and to our community.
This has included:
Worship:
We began the year meeting each week in our main worship space with our children meeting in the adjacent St Mary’s Room for their time of learning – but beginning and ending the service all together with the rest of the congregation. We are grateful to those who continue to lead the children’s work each week and encourage them in their faith, and for the space this gives to parents to engage in worship themselves. We have continued to stream our services via Zoom each week, as there are those who for various reasons are only able to join us in that way. We continue to post these services on YouTube each week.
We continue to share communion by intinction rather than the common cup, and to use the screen for worship with printed materials available for those who prefer. We use mostly iSingWorship for our music.
However, as the cost of living crisis hit in late summer, it became clear that we were going to have to adapt again. We considered various options for ways to cope with the enormous rises in energy costs which would cause us severe financial problems. One such adaptation was the decision to move our worship from our large worship space into St Anne’s Room – our Community Room (smaller and easier to heat) – and began meeting in there on Sunday 23[rd] October. We made some small alterations to the room to make it feel more of a ‘worship’ space and started to get used to the layout of gathering round small tables rather than in pews. Naturally, some liked this, and some struggled with it. However, through it all we learned something about ourselves and what it means to come together in worship. We made some improvements to the PA system to facilitate our services and to enable us to continue to stream our services via Zoom.
ON the 20[th] November Bishop Julie visited us and as part of the service three members of our church family were confirmed, which was a great occasion for us all.
We have enjoyed meeting regularly once again for worship in the Priory Chapel. We celebrated an Easter Sunrise service there on Easter Morning, and commenced monthly services in the chapel in May 2022, a said BCP Holy Communion services that takes place on the first Sunday of each month at 9am. This traditional style of service has been appreciated by a good number of people from with our church family and by some who are new to us. We have also used the chapel for weddings and funerals during the year.
In June we joined in national celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Sadly in September we held a number of services to mark her passing and made our church available for those who wanted a space for prayer and reflection.
We continue to be blessed in worship by a ministry team comprising Paul our vicar, Debbie our curate, Laura our reader, Nigel our retired priest, and a growing number of church members who lead prayers and bible readings and who facilitate worship taking place online and in our church building through welcome and organisation. We are grateful to Mark for managing our technology each week. We look forward to welcoming a Placement Student from Emmanuel College in January 2023 who will be with us for his contextual placement as part of his ordination training.
Our Wednesday Café Church worship Bite Nites has not reopened yet.
Through Lent we followed Stephen Croft’s ‘Experiencing God’s love’ in online and in person bible studies. During Advent we began The Prayer Course (24-7 Prayer) which we would complete in the New Year. This latter course took place at the Vicarage in order to save putting on the heating in our church building. Similarly, Women’s Group relocated to the vicarage over the winter, taking advantage of the wood-burning stove!
In 2022 we completed a programme of reading through the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs together as a church, with a plan provided each month to guide us through the readings.
We currently have 79 members on the electoral roll of the parish, of whom 27 are resident within the parish and 52 are resident outside the parish. We have sadly lost two members of our church family this year who have been removed from our roll. This represents a growth of 5 from the previous year.
Prayer:
We continue to meet online (Zoom) for Evening Prayer each Thursday. This has been much appreciated by many from within the congregation (and wider afield online) who were previously unable to get to an inperson prayer meeting.
The Priory Night Watch group continues to meet once a month in the Priory Chapel to pray for Birkenhead and the needs of the parish.
Community Outreach:
Our Community Project has continued to serve many from within our community and further afield in a variety of ways but principally at this time through food provision. We are so grateful for the many volunteers who make this ministry possible under the guidance of Denise, our Community and Family Worker. Our Community Hub welcomes in member of our community and partner organisations on a Tuesday and Wednesday and continues to grow busier and busier. Please see the Community Project report for more information.
We continue to minister in our local schools, Priory School (our church school), Cathcart school and more recently Kilgarth School. It is a great privilege to share faith with the children and their families wherever possible, both through participation in the life of the schools and in welcoming them into church for services and other activities. Please see our schools report for more information.
Our Friendship Group, Women’s Group, Churches Together involvement, Social and Fellowship group all continue their ministry.
At Christmas and Easter we distributed small gifts to 800 households in our community - a bag of sweets with a message from the church, which were well received.
In April we began a Men’s Breakfast at Christ the King church meeting on the first Saturday of each month. This incorporates a great breakfast, chance to chat together and someone sharing their experience of the Christian journey.
In April we also began to welcome Narcotics Anonymous to use our building for a meeting once a week.
In December we held a Community Christmas Fair at Christ the King which was very well attended by the community and we welcomed stall holders from local charities.
Pastoral :
Our visiting the bereaved, sick and housebound and Home Communions has continued through the year.
During 2022 we celebrated seven children being baptised at Christ the King church. We have celebrated two weddings during 2022, both at the Priory Chapel. We have led eight funerals during the year and supported families through their different experiences of grief.
Looking Ahead
As we have journeyed through 2022 we have continued to navigate a difficult time of change and transition together, but one that continues to be full of opportunity. We continue to welcome a growing number and diversity of people to our worship times, and through worship outside and other activities become more visible to the community around us. Our ‘Family Room’ continues to develop and provide a platform for us to welcome more young people into our church family. We continue to think and pray
through the wider activities of our Community Project as we continue to grow our provision in line with God’s guidance and needs within our community. We care for our buildings and grounds so that they can be a place of welcome and hospitality to all who God brings to us. We continue to grow in prayer, in ministry, and in outreach and are grateful for all that God is providing for us as we serve in his name.
We continue to go through a period of change and growth and with that come many challenges as well as many joys. We trust that through obedience and faithfulness and remaining rooted in God with our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, we will continue to be blessed and to bring blessing to those around us as we seek to love God and love our neighbour, to the glory of God.
PCC Membership
Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules 2006. During the year the following served as members of the PCC:
Revd. Paul Bentley (Vicar and chair) Revd. Debbie Wilkinson (Curate)
Gill Dillon (Churchwarden) Dot Davies (Churchwarden)
Mary Evans (Deanery Synod) Susan Wilks (Deanery Synod)
Elected Members:
Sue E. Blaylock (Secretary) Laura Brough (Safeguarding Officer) David Dillon (Treasurer) Sue J. Blaylock Chris Earnshaw Mark Fisher Leanne Hellon Nathalie Madjire Djerayo Rebekah Shields
The PCC held 6 meetings during the year.
Committees:
The PCC operates through a Standing Committee (when required) and a number of working groups which meet as and when necessary.
Standing Committee: The Standing Committee carries out the routine work of the PCC between each PCC meeting, subject to any directions given by the Council. The Standing Committee consists of the Vicar, churchwardens, Treasurer, Secretary and one other PCC member (elected annually by the PCC). The Standing Committee is responsible to the PCC and reports back through minutes. Other working groups are convened as and when appropriate and dissolved when no longer required. They are made up of both PCC and non-PCC members.
The working groups this year have been: Social and Fellowship Group
Management Group (overseeing Community and Family Worker and The Oak Community Project)
Birkenhead Priory Parish
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (by code) As at: 31 December 2022
| Class and nominal code | General (Unrestricted) Designated Restricted Endowment Total Last year |
|---|---|
| Current Asset - Cash At Bank And In Hand 6501: Bank current account BPP 19,130.45 - 7,538.35 - 26,668.80 15,313.82 6502: Bank Reserve Account BR 5,280.71 - - - 5,280.71 5,269.24 6503: Bank Reserve Account CL 43,731.35 - (7,040.00) - 36,691.35 46,649.61 6504: Bank Current account LIFE SKILLS (TOCP) - - 32,051.16 - 32,051.16 9,804.73 6506: CAF BPP CURRENT ACCOUNT 951.32 - (80.00) - 871.32 - 6507: Deposit Account CDBF 191,711.85 - - - 191,711.85 214,120.63 6510: CCLA (CBF) deposit account 3001D 3,660.97 - - - 3,660.97 3,613.45 6511: CCLA (CBF) deposit account 4001D 4,579.96 - - - 4,579.96 4,490.24 6591: TOCP PETTY CASH - - 553.80 - 553.80 - Total 269,046.61 - 33,023.31 - 302,069.92 299,261.72 Current Asset - Investments 6508: CCLA (CBF) Investment CMS/AC - - 2,763.80 - 2,763.80 3,042.72 6509: CCLA (CBF) Investment 146 Shares 3,016.56 - - - 3,016.56 3,419.04 Total 3,016.56 - 2,763.80 - 5,780.36 6,461.76 Net total assets 272,063.17 - 35,787.11 - 307,850.28 305,723.48 |
19,130.45 - 7,538.35 - 26,668.80 15,313.82 5,280.71 - - - 5,280.71 5,269.24 43,731.35 - (7,040.00) - 36,691.35 46,649.61 - - 32,051.16 - 32,051.16 9,804.73 951.32 - (80.00) - 871.32 - 191,711.85 - - - 191,711.85 214,120.63 3,660.97 - - - 3,660.97 3,613.45 4,579.96 - - - 4,579.96 4,490.24 - - 553.80 - 553.80 - |
| Represented by General (Unrestricted) 272,063.17 - - - 272,063.17 292,876.03 Restricted - BPP-CTK Restricted - - 3,182.15 - 3,182.15 3,042.72 Restricted - TOCP - - 32,604.96 - 32,604.96 9,804.73 Total 272,063.17 - 35,787.11 - 307,850.28 305,723.48 |
272,063.17 - - - 272,063.17 292,876.03 - - 3,182.15 - 3,182.15 3,042.72 - - 32,604.96 - 32,604.96 9,804.73 |
(25 April 2023 12:06 pm) Page 1 of 1
Birkenhead Priory Parish Receipts and Payments Account
For the period from 01 January 2022 to 31 December 2022
| Unrestricted | Designated | Restricted | Total | Prior year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | funds | funds | total funds | |
| Receipts | |||||
| Donations and legacies | 60,369.17 | 4,140.24 | 83,777.67 | 148,287.08 | - |
| Income from charitable activities | 2,783.00 | - | - | 2,783.00 | - |
| Investments | 6,143.09 | - | 152.64 | 6,295.73 | - |
| Other income | 130.00 | - | - | 130.00 | - |
| Total Receipts | 69,425.26 | 4,140.24 | 83,930.31 | 157,495.81 | - |
| Payments | |||||
| Raising funds | 987.20 | - | - | 987.20 | - |
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 47,341.24 | 2,691.98 | 80,834.36 | 130,867.58 | - |
| Other expenditure | 383.52 | - | 40.53 | 424.05 | - |
| Total Payments | 48,711.96 | 2,691.98 | 80,874.89 | 132,278.83 | - |
| Excess of receipts over payments before transfer | 20,713.30 | 1,448.26 | 3,055.42 | 25,216.98 | - |
| Transfers: | |||||
| Gross transfers between funds - in | 4,140.24 | 2,691.98 | 20,163.16 | 26,995.38 | - |
| Gross transfers between funds - out | (22,855.14) | (4,140.24) | - | (26,995.38) | - |
| Excess of receipts over payments before other gains | 1,998.40 | - | 23,218.58 | 25,216.98 | - |
| Net movement in funds | (20,812.86) | - | 22,939.66 | 2,126.80 | - |
| Reconciliation of funds | |||||
| Excess of receipts over payments at beginning of the year | 292,876.03 | - | 12,847.45 | 305,723.48 | 305,723.48 |
| Excess of receipts over payments for the year | 272,063.17 | - | 35,787.11 | 307,850.28 | 305,723.48 |
(25 April 2023 12:46 pm) Page 1 of 1
Birkenhead Priory Parish
Analysis of Receipts and Payments Selected period: 01 January 2022 to 31 December 2022
| Total General Designated Restricted Endowment This year Last year |
|
|---|---|
| Receipts Donations and legacies 0101 - Planned Giving - Bank GA 0102 - Planned Giving - Bank NON GA 0111 - Non Gift Aid - Envelopes NGA 0301 - Loose plate collections 0410 - Giving through church boxes 0411 - Giving through SUMUP 0501 - One-off Gift Aid gifts 0550 - Donations appeals etc 0551 - Other Donations-Missionary societies etc 0601 - Tax recoverable on Gift Aid 08A1 - Non-recurring one-off grants 0901 - Other funds generated 0902 - TOCP Income 0903 - C&FW Donations and legacies Totals Income from charitable activities 1101 - Fees for weddings and funerals Income from charitable activities Totals Investments 1001 - Dividends 1020 - Bank and building society interest 1030 - Rent from lands or buildings Investments Totals Other income 1310 - Insurance claims Other income Totals Receipts Grand Totals |
21,290.00 - - - 21,290.00 - 7,360.00 - - - 7,360.00 - 2,650.55 - - - 2,650.55 - 2,124.63 - - - 2,124.63 - 654.31 - - - 654.31 - 41.17 - 2.94 - 44.11 - 6,900.00 - - - 6,900.00 - 2,760.15 - 5,401.50 - 8,161.65 - - - 177.09 - 177.09 - 15,365.51 - - - 15,365.51 - - 4,140.24 8,340.00 - 12,480.24 - 1,222.85 - - - 1,222.85 - - - 60,856.14 - 60,856.14 - - - 9,000.00 - 9,000.00 - |
| 60,369.17 4,140.24 83,777.67 - 148,287.08 - 2,783.00 - - - 2,783.00 - |
|
| 2,783.00 - - - 2,783.00 - 5,113.86 - - - 5,113.86 - 171.73 - 152.64 - 324.37 - 857.50 - - - 857.50 - |
|
| 6,143.09 - 152.64 - 6,295.73 - 130.00 - - - 130.00 - |
|
| 130.00 - - - 130.00 - |
|
| 69,425.26 4,140.24 83,930.31 - 157,495.81 - |
|
| Payments Raising funds 1730 - Costs of fetes & other events Raising funds Totals Expenditure on charitable activities 1801 - Giving to missionary societies 1830 - Giving - relief and development agencies 1850 - Home mission |
987.20 - - - 987.20 - |
| 987.20 - - - 987.20 - 10.00 - 80.24 - 90.24 - - - 80.00 - 80.00 - 273.90 - 711.90 - 985.80 - |
(25 April 2023 12:50 pm) Page 1 of 2
Total General Designated Restricted Endowment This year Last year
| 1909 - Chester DBF Fees-Weddings and funerals 1910 - Ministry parish share etc 2051 - HMRC PAYE 2052 - TOCP SALARY 2053 - CLEANER SALARY 2101 - Working expenses of incumbent 2120 - Council tax 2140 - Water rates - vicarage 2145 - Parsonage - water 2150 - Vicar's telephone 2201 - Parish training and mission 2301 - Church running - insurance Christ the King 2302 - Church running - insurance Priory Chapel 2310 - Church office - telephone/Internet 2320 - Organ / piano tuning /Speakers 2330 - Church maintenance 2340 - Upkeep of services 2341 - TOCP Expenditure 2360 - Administration 2401 - Church running - electric-BPP Christ the King 2402 - Church running - electric-Priory Chapel 2410 - Church running - gas 2420 - Church running - water-BPP Christ the King 2421 - Church running - water-4025561319 2501 - Magazine expenses/Books/Worships Resources 2701 - Church major repairs - structure 2710 - Church major repairs - installation 2910 - Curates Housing Expenditure on charitable activities Totals Other expenditure 2602 - Bank Charges Other expenditure Totals Payments Grand Totals |
1,958.20 - - - 1,958.20 - 16,587.24 - - - 16,587.24 - - - 4,492.55 - 4,492.55 - - - 21,010.10 - 21,010.10 - 1,974.24 - - - 1,974.24 - - - 261.40 - 261.40 - 2,655.58 - 1,881.71 - 4,537.29 - 785.48 - - - 785.48 - - - 727.95 - 727.95 - 216.00 - - - 216.00 - 156.00 - 172.56 - 328.56 - 6,292.50 - - - 6,292.50 - - 1,441.94 - - 1,441.94 - 689.86 - - - 689.86 - 2,287.72 - - - 2,287.72 - 2,524.44 - - - 2,524.44 - 477.99 19.90 - - 497.89 - - - 40,304.95 - 40,304.95 - 1,096.91 - 11.00 - 1,107.91 - 3,781.68 - - - 3,781.68 - - 1,230.14 - - 1,230.14 - 2,821.19 - - - 2,821.19 - 581.09 - - - 581.09 - 336.95 - - - 336.95 - 560.03 - - - 560.03 - 216.00 - - - 216.00 - 1,058.24 - - - 1,058.24 - - - 11,100.00 - 11,100.00 - |
|---|---|
| 47,341.24 2,691.98 80,834.36 - 130,867.58 - 383.52 - 40.53 - 424.05 - |
|
| 383.52 - 40.53 - 424.05 - |
|
| 48,711.96 2,691.98 80,874.89 - 132,278.83 - |
(25 April 2023 12:50 pm) Page 2 of 2
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Birkenhead Priory Parish On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022 Charity no lif any) 1196140 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3111212022. ResponsibilitSes and As the charity trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basig of report accounts in accordan with the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carrièd out nder section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under seGlion 145{5)Ibl of the Act. Independent The Gharity's gross income exeded £250,000 and l am qualified to examiner's Statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of ICAEW. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection with the exarnination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect,. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act,. or the accounts did not ac¢ord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Signed: Date: Name: Mrs J M Carr Relevant professlonal qualificationls) or body (if any): F.C.A Address: Riverholme, 18 Sandy Lane, Chester. CH3 SUL IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Give here details of any items that the examiner wishes to dlsclo$e. IER October 2018