The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Oswald, Durham Registered Charity Number 1196296 Independent Examiner's report on the accounts for the year ended 31 Decernber 2024 This report on the accounts of Ihe PCC for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on the attached pages, is in respect of an examination carried out under Regulation 3(3) of the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 and section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner As the members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('The Act.). I report that, in carrying out my examination of the PCC'S accounts pursuanl to section 145 of the 2011 Act, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515)(bl of the Act. Basis of this Report My examination includes a review of the aGcounling records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent Examinerfs Statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have Come to my attention in conneGtion with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. 1. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the PCC as required by section 130 of the Act.. or 2. The accounts do not accord with those records. I have no Goncerns 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 to be reached. {Signed) Name Address diG41 ,IlboLLIFfL Date 2025 Page l of 12
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Oswald, Durham Registered Charity Number 1196296 General Account Summary of Receipts and Payments for Year Ending 31st December 2024 Receipts Notes 2024 2023 Incoming receipts from donors Planned giving Collectionsldonations 01 48,113 41,536 02 3,979 5,508 Grants 03 23,563 538 Institute income 04 from King's Church 12,782 11,940 from Main Hall 9,123- 7,038 other activities 05 10 830 2 12 374 Total receipts 108,390 78,934 Z Payments Ministry Other activities 06 22,036 25,598 07 29,290 18,736 22,610 Music 08 14,506 Institute costs 09 22,475 12,338 Other costs 10 Total payments 106,294 88,198 Balance 01101 Surplusl(Deficit) for year Balance 31112 1,796- 11,060 2,096- (9,264) 3,892 - 1,796 Totals may not addlbalance exactly due to rounding. Page 2 of 12
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Oswald, Durham Registered Charity Number 1196296 General Account Receipts for Year Ending 31 December 2024- notes (and refer to note numbers given on page 2 above) st 2024 2023 standing orders Envelopes 30400 30760 4830 1527 Other gift-aided donations, including yellow gift-aid envelopes 2914 1943 Gift-aid recovery 9969 7306 48113 41536 Loose cash collections 1845 320 Sundry donations 1167 2717 Bequest 1000 Church boxlsum-up 967 1471 3979 5508 County Council Listed Places of Worship Scheme 20000 1463 438 Diocese of Durham- energy costs grant 1100 Lord Crewe Charity 1000 100 23563 538 Institute income from King's Church 12782 11940 Institute income from Main Hall 9123 7038 21905 18978 Magazine Weddingslfunerals Concertslrecitals in Church 720 545 6369 7990 1170 1322 Fundraising Bank interestlrefunds 711 422 125 360 Shincliffe oontribution 1735 1735 10830 q2374 Page 3 of 12
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Oswald, Durham Registered Charity Number 1196296 General Account Payments for Year Ending 31 December 2024- notes (and refer lo note numbers given on page 2 above) st 2024 2023 Ministry Regional church conlribulions, including Share Missions and Charities 17596 21213 1960 1330 Vicarage costs Clergy working expenses 526 471 1417 1211 other clergy 537 1373 22036 25598 Church 2024 2023 Gas 3017 1525 Water 133 122 Insurance 6514 6379 Cleaning 2760 2376 Electricity 1389 985 13813 11387 Church maintenance 8331 6233 Support of church services 3390 3676 Churchyard and Bow Cemetery 3756 1344 29290 22640 Music Organ playing and choir direction 9170 8550 Organ and piano tuning Music purchases 1982 1392 845 903 Music scholars 6739 3661 18736 14506 Page 4 of 12
2024 2023 Instilute Main Hall electricity 1134 1666 Gas {whole Institute, of which 500/0 recouped from King's Church) 2366 1466 Insurance 1528 1496 Water (of which 500/0 recouped from King's Church) 358 327 Cleaning {part recouped from King's Church) 3132 3095 Waste collection1670/0 recouped from King's Church) 713 693 Sewerage (of which 500h recouped from King's Church) 238 412 Appleby electricity (1 OODlo recouped from King's Church) 2083 2094 maintenanrepairS 10923 1089 22475 12338 other 10.1 Administration 12033 12291 10.2 Magazine 990 825 10.3 Miscellaneous 734 13757 13116 Page 5 of 12
General Account Notes There have been significant increases by individuals in planned giving by standing order, and also in giving by envelope, which are very much appreciated. There have also been a number of one-off gift-aided payments. Gift aid obtained from planned giving and one-off donations is an extremely important part of our annual income.. £9,969 in 2024. Gift aid was therefore 9 % of the total income into the General account. If you can gift aid your donations, therefore, please do. Grants are extremely variable from year to year. In 2024, thanks to the hard work of Roz, Sheila and Andy, we oblained a grant of £20,000 from the County Council towards the work on the Institute, and a grant from Durham Diocese of £1,100 towards the cost of insulation for the Institute. We also recouped £1,463 from the Listed Places of Worship Scheme. It is encouraging to see that Institute income increased in 2024. up to £21,905 (compared to £18,978 in 2023), notwithstanding the ongoing improvement work. It is good to see the income from concerts in Church.. £1,170. Please do support these concorts, which are publicised in the weekly calendar. You will enjoy yourself and, in doing so, you will support not only the wider community, including the talent in the student community, but also St Oswald's. In 2024 we paid our total Parish Share of £40,000 from income into our General account (£16,500) and the balance (£23,500) from the Combined Charities account. Charitable giving.. as you know, our congregation, guided by our Appeals Committee, raised thousands of pounds in 2024, and the amounts will be separately summarised by Bob Layton. Most of the money raised does not pass through the PCC accounts at all, but is sent directly to the chosen charities. A proportion of the money raised does go through the PCC accounts because it has been donated via our CollecTin at the North door of the Church. We made various other small donations, including to Durham Churches Together and Royal British Legion, and also for bibles for St Oswald's School leavers. You can see that the cost of gas and electricity for the Church increased in 2024, as expected. Note the contribution of King's Church to the cost of utilities in the Institute {above, page 5 of 12). Page 6 of 12
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Oswald, Durham Registered Charity Number 1196296 Combined Charities Account Summary of Receipts and Payments for Year Ending 31 December 2024 st Recei 2024 2023 Grants from Vicar and Churchwarden charities Caldcleugh income account Ternent income accounl 15000 3000 Caldcleugh invested funds 2. Transfer from CCLA Ashton funds to cover Ashton Distributions 55000 50000 129 Distributions from the Cock Charities Non-educational 55 55 Educational Ex gralia payment from Barclays Total receipts 73066 50245 Pa ments Parish Share 23500 20000 Fees paid to Diocese Missions and Charities (Cock and Ashton distributions) 354 120 166 Support of Church services- music 95 MusiG scholars 334 Institute 72451 12803 Total payments 96071 33752 Balance brought fonmard on 1 $1 January Surplusl(DefiGit) for year Balance carried forward on 31. December 25083 8589 {23005) 16493 2078 25083 Totals may not addlbalance exactly due to rounding. Page 7 of 12
Notas The PCC did not have sutficient income into the General account lo pay the whole of the Parish Share pledged to the Diocese in 20241£40,000), $0 £23,500 was paid from the Combined Charities account. Page 8 of 12
RESTRICTED The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Oswald, Durham Registered Charity Number 1196296 The Rev. John Cock's Charities 2024 2024 2023 Non-educational (alc 3395) Current assets (from dividends) held in Combined Charities account. brought fOard 0110112024 608 559 Receipts (BLK Charities UK Bond Fund A Inc} 55 55 Payments Current assets held in Combined Charities account at 3111212024 663 608
Capitsl fund at 3111212024 1302 1362 Education (alc 3396) Current assets (from dividends) held in Combined Charities account, brought foward 0110112024 Combined Charities alc 137 126 Receipts {BLK Charities UK Bond Fund A Inc) 11 11 Payments Current assets held in Combined Charities account at 3111212024 148 137
Capital fund at 3111212024 269 281 Page 9 of 12
RESTRICTED The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Oswald, Durham Registered Charity Number 1196296 Ashton Bequest 2024 (transferred to Adamson CCLA deposit account in February 2019) 2024 2023 Current assets brought forward in Combined Charities alc 0110112024 120 51 1310312023 payment from CCLA deposit alc Distributions from Combined Charities account 129 (120) (60) Current assets in Combined Charities alc at 3111212024 120 "Note: a withdrawal will be made from the Adamson CCLA deposit account in early 2024, so that there will be a positive Ashton balance in the Combined Charities account from which to make Ashton distributions in 2024. CCLA deposit account Brought fOard 0110112024 1310312023 payment into Combined Charities account to cover distribL(tions 3173 3168 (129) Interest (see breakdown below) Deposit account at 3111212024 163 134 3336 3173
Breakdown of interest accrued J2nuary February March April May June July August September October November December 13.89 13.90 13.01 13.91 13.46 13.97 13.51 13.98 13.62 13.12 13.49 12.71 Page 10 of 12
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Oswald, Durham Registered Charity Number 1196296 Record of restricted funds 2024 2023 General account Ayton Trust Choir Fund (robes) Social Committee funds (following closure of Social Committee alc) TOTAL 462 462 2813 2813 52. 302 3327 3577 'Note: owing to a banking error, the bulk of the profit from the Much Ado About Nothing evening (£316), will be included in the record for 2025. Combined Charities account Cock Charity 3395 Cock Charity 3396 Ashton 663 608 148 137 120 TOTAL 811 865 PaEe 11 of 12
Record of funds in the PCC General account restricted to the use of the Social Committee Balance Funds restricted to Social Committee @ 0110112024 302.00 Less £100 donation to Daft as a Brush 202.00 Plus £132.35 - St Matthew Passion 334.35 Less £22.42 reimbursement for St Matthew Passion expenses Less £189.48 reimbursement.. 72 plates 311.93 122.45 Less £29.20 reimbursement.. evensong 1610612024 93.25 Less £63.82 reimbursement for Harvest Tea 29.43 Plus Much Ado £22.50 payment, bringing balance @ 3111212024 to: 51.93 Note". owing to a banking error, the bulk of the profit from the Much Ado About Nothing evening (£316), will be included in the record for 2025. Page 12 of 12
(J <u
00¢00{01C>
Ixoowo
0(0(90
OOnr(O
OG>
0{0
(5> (7)
cfj
ST OSWALD'S CHURCH DURHAM- REPORT ON OUTREACH COMMITTEE CAMPAIGNS ADVENT 2024 AND LENT 2025 for 2025 AGM International appeal, Advent-christmas.. The Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) is made up of 15 leading UK aid charities, including Action Aid, Care, the International Rescue Committee, Christian Aid, Islamic Relief and Save the Children. The funds raised by its Middle East appeal will be mainly spent in aid to Gaza and Lebanon, but with some spent in the surrounding region including the West Bank. The UK Government has undertaken to match donations received by the Committee up to ten million pounds. Although DEC'S relief activities were primarily focussed on Gaza at the time our appeal was launched, it also works in Lebanon and the West Bank, so we can be sure that our donations were put to good use, even if the Israeli blockade prevented them from being delivered to Gaza. At the time our appeal was launched, over I million people had been displaced in Lebanon, and many needed emergency access to food as shelters could not keep up with demand. Before the conflict with Israel escalated, 800/0 of the population was living in poverty and many families were already facing hunger daily.
In the West Bank, the World Food Programme had estimated that the escalation of violence could push at least 600,000 people into food insecurity. Thanks to your generosity, St Oswald's raised £1,943.50, of which almost all was gift aided, giving a potential total of £2,373.50 Local appeal, Lent-Easter 2025 Our local campaign was for St. Cuthbert's Hospice. We had already supported them once before, the hospice was currently facing a deficit of £ 1.3 million and had recently had to cut 18% of its workforce including 11 clinical staff and 5 from income generation. You generously donated £1,820. With gift aid this represented a potential total of £2,147.50. There were one or two small problems to be sorted out (such as cheques made out to St Oswald's rather than St Cuthbert's), but I took our donations over to the hospice earlier this week. They were warmly received and I was photographed holding a large "cheque" of which they will send a copy that can be displayed on our Outreach information board inside the south door. Bob Layton
The Parish Church of St Oswald, Durham MEETING OF PARISHIONERS TO ELECT CHURCHWARDENS and the ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING The meeting will be held on Sunday 18th May 2025 after the Parish Eucharist AGENDA l. Opening Prayers 2. Apologies for absen¢e. Minut¢s of the Meetiiig of 28 Api'il 2024 4. Mattel's arising fiom the miniites 5. Election of Cliurchwardens 6. Electoral Roll Report 7. Ai)nual Repoit 8. Financial Stateinents for 2024 9. Report on th¢ Goods and Fabi'i¢ of die Chuirli 10. Report on the proceedings of Deanery Synod I l. El¢¢tion of PCC members. 12. Appointinent of Independent Ean]Iner 13. R¢newal of Health and Safety and Safegiiarding Policies 14. Any questioiis about churcli m8ltei's.
Minutes of the St oswald's Church, Durham Vestry Meeting and Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 28 Aprll 2024 l) Apologles for absence Apologies.. Alan Middleton,. Alice Wort- Alison Shambrook. 31 Approval of the mlnutes of the last Vestry Meeting and APCM held on 30 April 2023 The minutes were approved as an accurate record and signed by the chairman. 4) Matters arlsing from the Minutes There were no matters ari5inB. Vestry Meeting 51 Election of churchwarden5 There were tWD nomination5 for churchwardens.. Gill Aubrey was nomlnated by Sheila Hingley and Mark Davies. Andy Jones was notninated by Sheila Hingley and Roz Layton. Both were duly elected as churchwardens for 2024125. The meeting thanked Sheila Hingley for her work as churchwarden during the last seven years. Annual Parochial Church Meeting 61 Electoral roll report The report was given by Sue Pitts, Electoral Roll officer. On the roll in 2023 there were 64 names, one person had resigned from the roll and two more have been added. Three people have died. A copy of the roll with ihe names only has been displayed in the church porch. Sue was thanl(ed for 815 her work in preparing the roll. 7) Annual report Rectorf5 Re ort The Rector's report was circulated with the papers for the meeting. Peter added some points to the written report.. Mark Davies was graduating in the summer and would be leaving Durham after his wedding in St Oswald's to Nell Guthrie. We were very grateful for his services to St Oswald's during his three years in the University, incltjding being a member of the PCC as well as playlng a central role in the sanctuary team. And there had been an excellent confirmation service at which Andrew and John Wort had been confirmed. Peter also thanked those who had helped to maintain a BCP Communion service on Wednesdays Outreach A eals A full written report was provided by Bob Layton on the 2023124 appeals. Al the meeting he praised the generosity of the con8regation for the amounts raised in additlon Sarah Knight pointed out that the E3,000 raised in the annual Christian Aid appeal was not included in the report. st Oswald's Outreach Committee: report on Advent/Christmas 2022 and Lent/Easter 2023 appeals For our 2022-23 outreach programme the St Oswald's Outreach Committee agreed, with the support of the PCC, to hold two appeals, the first over Advent and Christmas 2022 for a local charity, the second over Lent and Easter 2023 for a natoal or international charity. Advent and Christmas appeal The St Margaret's Centre is a well-established local charity in Durham that works to promote people's mental health. The Centre houses a well-equipped woodwork department and an arts and crafts room where instructors teach a wide ranEe of skills such as paintlllE, drawing, sewing and
model making, and a café. The appeal raised a total of £1,317.50 (including gift aid). We received a warm letter of thanks from the Deputy Manager and a donation of four bird boxes plus two bat boxes for us to erect in St Oswald's churchyard. Lent and Easter appeal122 nd February to 16 th April) This appeal raised £2,050 for the reconstruction of the Ukraine and the support of refugees and was channelled through th Disaster5 Emergency Committee. Music Re ort The Director of Music, David Harris, had supplied a written report circulated with the papers. He highlighted the extra music that had been performed during the year because of the contribution of the choral scholars. David was thanked by the meeting for hi5 work and that of the choir. Safeu uardin Re ort Gill Aubrey, Safeguarding Officer, had provided a written report circulated with the papers. she said that it had not been noted in the repori for 2022 that the safeguardinE policy was agreed at the 2023 APCM. She reported verbally that all safeguarding training had been completed by members of the PCC and she would continue to remind people when they needed to update this. She was thanked for her work as Safeguarding Officer. 81 Financial Statements for 2024 There have been increases in planned giving by standing order, and giving by envelope. which are very much appreciated. There have also been a number of one-off gift-aided payments. Gift aid obtained from planned giving and one-off donations is an extremely important part of our annual income= £7,306 in 2023 lie. nearly IOYO of our total income). Grants are variable from year to year. It is good to see the increase in income from concerts in Church. We are hoping that the recently irlstalled CollecTin will make a difference to Chltrch income in future. Imany thanks are owing to Gill Aubrey for overcoming all the obstacle5 to its Installation.) Note that Parish Share has been paid as follows: 50%1£20,0001 from our income, and 50%1£20,0001 from the Comblned Charities account (havin8 been granted to the Combined Charities account by the Vicar and Churchwarden at the time from the Vicar and Churchwarden charities). Charitable giving.. remember that the bulk of our giving, which is Co-ordinated by the Appeals Committee, raises thousands but that none of the money passes through the PCC'S accounts. The amounts raised are sent directly to the charities concerned. The charitable giving of £1330 noted at section 5.2 of the accouts includes donations made by the Social Committee from the profit5 on social activities.. £359 to the Turkev/Syria Earthquake appeal., and £100 to the Durham Food Bank. INote that a further £100 donated by the Social Commlttee to Daft as a Brush will appear in the 2024 accounts, because the payment did not clear before 3111212023.1 These charitable donations highlight the hard work and importance of our Social Committee. There were various other small donation5, Including to Durham Churches Together, Royal Brit15h Legion and for bibles for St Oswald's School leavers. For those who are interested in how much we spend on utilities, you can for the first time see a breakdown of the running cost5 of Church and Institute. 91 Fabric and Goods of the Church The churchwardens, detailed Fabric Report was circulated with the meeting papers, including reporl on the churchyards by Roz Layton. The postponed Quinquennial Inspection was done during 2022 by our new architect Chloe Granger. We are awalting the final report. The main preoccupation was with the heating which was causing problems and needed replacement parts. It included a
report on the Institute Development Group'5 work with details of the completion of Phase I where secondary glailng was added to the Institute windows. It is hoped that this improvement will reduce heating bills and support the sustainability of the building in future. It is hoped Phase 2 will be carried out in the summer of 2024. 101 Deanery Synod Peter reported on the activities of the Deanery Synod in a paper circltlated with the meeting papers. Sue Pitts and Sheila Hingley were St Oswald's representing on the Synod. 11) Electlon of PCC members Peter thanked all the members of the PCC for their hard work this year. The member of the PCC who has finished her term was Fenella Wright but she ha5 been renominated for another term. She was duly elected. Sheila Hingley would remain on the PCC after standing down as churchwarden since she is a Deanery Synod representative. Mark Davies has resigned as he is moving away from Durham 50 there were three vacancies now. IZ) Appolntment of independent examiner for the accounts The meeting thanked Andrew French for his work in this role, and reappointed him for 2024125. 131 Health & Safety and Safeguardlng The meeting formally affirmed the Safeguarding polity and the Health & Safety policv. 141 Any questions Roz Layton asked if lay communion servers would be recruited again, as before Covid. Peter hoped to do this in the future. Anne Glen asl(ed if it would be possible to pay anything to the sanctuary party. Peter said this would be considered. The meeting c105ed at 1:00pm with the Grace
PAIUSH CHURCH OF ST OSWALD DURHAM ANNUAL REPORT And FINANCIAL STATEMENTS of the PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL for the yeai. ended 31 December 2024 Reetor The Revd Peter Kashouris St Oswald's Vicarage, Churcli Street, Durham DHI 3DG Bank Barelays Bank plc, 6 Market Pla¢e, Durham City, DHI 3ND Independent li xaminer Mr AP French, 49 An¢1ft Gaith, Higli Shincliffe, Durham DHI IUD
The governanc¢ of Il)c Chiii'ch of Englai)d now ¢oines ui)dei' Ilic Cl)ui'ch Representation and Miiiisters Measui'e 2019, and the Chuirh Representatioij Rules 2020. These are i)ew, and simplified rules. PCC Membership The PCC has the responsibility of co-opei'ating witli tlie Rector, the Rev.'d Peter Kaqhouris, in proinoting in Ihe pai'isli the whole mission of tli¢ Chui'ch, pastoi'al, evangclistic, social and e¢umenical. The PCC meinb¢rslii PCC Membership May 2025 Name comi iiilo the aiinual meetitE 2025 is.. Capacity on PCC (and position) Term of Office Peter Kashouris Rector (Chaimanl Ex-officio Andy Jones Churchwarden Ex-officio Sue Pitts Deanery Synod 2023-2026 Ex-officio Fenella Wright Elected member (Treasurer) 2.2024-2027 Sheila Hingley Elected member 1.'2024-2027 Peter Shambrook Elected member 1.2023-2026 David Harris Elected Member (Director of Music) 2.'2022-2025 Roz Layton Elected member 2.2022-2025 Gordon Mitchell Elected mernber 2."2022-2025 LEI GAL RE, QUIREMLNTS Data protection- GDPR, May 2018 Thc cliui'ch has complied witli th¢ new GDPR I'egLilation, usinLr a form to seek tlie consent of its chiiicli meinbers lo l)old conta¢1 details and to be in touch with tliem foi. limited irasons, to whicl) they coiild a'Ce or not. Safeguarding The PCC has coinplied with the diity under sectioi) 5 of the Safegliardiiig and Clei'gy Disciplinc Measiii'e 2016 {duty lo have I'egard to Hoiise of Bisliops, guidan¢e on ihe saf¢giiarding of ehildi'ei) and vuliiei'able adults). Safeguardliig and Health & SAfety appear on every PCC agenda.
Electoral Roll Report Sue Pitts, tlie El¢cloral Roll Officei., lias put a Copy ofthe Irvised Roll iii the Cl)urch. with jiist ihe naines. in accordaiice witli the Data Protection Act. Report on the work of the St Oswald's PCC 2024. Shei-bui'm House Foitnigl)tly sei'vices liave begun, takcn by Peter and Jane Middleloii. Soun(1 System Following a nunibei. of engin¢ei- visits and tests, we now believe the sound systeiii to be worlciiig well Campers the Churchyards. Aiidy worked tirelessly to resolve ihis situatioii, winning tlie ti'ts51 of all paities. Ii was felt tl)at this has been handled as bcst as it ¢ould be, having never enlounlered this siliiation befar¢. Andy eiigaged and woi'ked alongside a number of agencies, Eiicliiding oui. local PCSO. St Oswald's lias now eircted signage to detcr and future such ¢v¢nt. Andy will continue to monitor the siluation. Ti'e¢s and lai'ge shriibs wfftll be maintaiiied by raising low growth to detei. rougb sleepers fiom sleepiiig uiid¢i'neatli. Inslitute Reilovation iyoi'ks 'L'he kitcheii wiiidow has been replaced. Secoiidaiy glaziiig has been installed to the staircase windows, aiid in th¢ Inain hall. The Ii)stitute iiow has ali accessible toilet and men's toilet. A 2 5toi.ey extciision acioss the sinall I'eai- y8rd has ¢r¢ated 2 toilet cubicles downstaii's and additional space iii oiii. cui'rent office area. Lintels have been ii)stalled in the hall lo allow a seiving liatch to tli¢ kilclieii (Phage 3) New cai'pets h&ve bccii laid up tlic stairg and thi'oughoul the upstairs. Boyd is produciiig fluoi. plans with new layout of Institute. Tlicse will b¢ placed in proiniiient places for Lis¢ iii ele1'ge1)¢y. Lychgate The remedial works to the Lychgate at Bow Cemetery has been a great achievement. ntiynce VIA tbe South Door. Work has been doiie lo inov¢ furi)itui'e around at the south door to functioii Inoi'c pi'a¢tically. and iinpiove fii'st impressioiis. Th¢ intentioi) to impiDve the l'amp led to fuither disciissioii as lo whether the reinoval of the inteJ])al eiili'ance would offei. a bettei. soliilioii to the l'amp placeinciit oi'laiid possible use of largcr glass doors. The cluttered fc¢l of tl)e Cl)ui'oh as you enter this dooi. was reviewed. It was ircominended to place tlie Ortliodox Icon in this place to enhaiice th¢ seiise of entei'ing a placc of pr&yei'. Conla¢tless Giving Gill Aubrey has doiie a great job g¢lliAg tliis up and i'unniiig and donatioi)s air steadily iiicirasing. Tliis is also provi1)8 a vci'y eff¢ctiv¢ collection tool for spg¢ifi¢ appeals. Bell Ringers Cnmmcmoi'ation PIAque Si Oswald's bell i'iiigei'5 aTe i'eqiiesling a plaqu¢ lo be erected in the ringing ¢hanibei' to cominemoi'ate spe¢ial peal they coinpleted for the Coronation of King Cliai'les Pcca i'ee to o halves on the cost. Notieeboards: All 4 noticeboai'ds have Iiow been iEplaced.
oi: Peler, Boyd and Andy waiked througli chui'cli with Maitin Howai'd, following this ineeting the i)ext fiv¢ year focElS will be the I'equired woi'ks to the Towel- roof and Masonry I'epairs. Safeguai'ding: Gill Aubi'ey stood down as Saf¢guardiiig Officer aiid Gordon Mitcliell has kindly taken on tliis t[¢. Cliurchyayd Bob Laytoii and Boyd Siii)s-Williams have pul up bii'd boxes and bal ¢oxes kindly donated by St Mai'garets Ceiitr¢ Churchyaixl ti'ee5 anil shrubs: In ordei. to best 11)ainlain tlie ¢liuirhyai'd several trees aiid shrubs have been reinoved The Rector's Repor¢ The Sunday Eucharist and Wednesday Holy Commiii)ion services coiitinued wcll; and weekly Sunday Evensong l)as IEsumed. I'hanks to Jain¢5, Hamish, John, AndiEw, foi. theii. help. and also Ilie Rev.'d Gavin Woil, Jolin McMannei3, Alan Middletoii for tlieii. supei. miiiisti'y. and to thos¢ who set up for the servi¢¢s aiid welcoille people. David ai)d the choir have given excellei)t warmtli aiid energy to the seivi¢es tli1-ou]oUt the year, and have added a lot to tlie woi'ship at St. Oswald'5. Higlilights weiE the joint Covei)ant Seivi¢e with Elvet Methodist chUh J joint Ash Wediiesday seivice witl) St Mary's College, Holy Mfeek and Eastei-, wl)en the Chui'¢h was beaulifully adorned with flowei's, Inany thanks to Wendy and Ann Stevenson, the Asceiision T)ay scivice al fincliale Priory, aiid ourAdvent aiid Christmas Carol service, S¢hool assetnblies and Se1¢¢$ at Cliurcli have bcen well attei)ded. Sevei*l weddings and funei'als look place. Tlie social committee havc genei'ously catei'ed for a iiuinbei. of occasions, ofteii responding at Irlatively sliort notice. There wei'e a record number of ¢oiicerts in Church. thanks very Inii¢h to Slie Pitts and all the welcoineE's. atn very thaiikful foi. thc generosity shown by so mai)y people in vtll'ious tasks tliat mak¢ the life and ministiy of St. Oswald's flourish, and eiiable it to contribiite to the wider mii)istt'y of the beiiefice and diocese. Petci. Kashou17S May 2025 Outreach Appeals= There wei'e a numbei. of siie¢essful appeals tliroiigli tliis period. A I'eport will I giveii separately. Fabric report 2024-25. Cliur¢h Maiiy thanks go first of all to Kelviii Appleby for liis tireless woi'k in I'¢paiiiling tlie sle¢1 bell fi?me. It is iiow a I'ich aiid clieei'ful shade of d, siiitably einbleniatic of tl)e joy aiid diyiity the bells ¢onvey, and looks quite stui)ning when picked oiit by shaft5 of suiilight tlirougl) th¢ window opeiiings in tlie tower walls.
Mai)y thanks al'e dLie, loo, to Boyd Siins-williams for his sterling mainteiiance woi-k on th¢ gate to tlie or an loft, and to Beth Rainey foi. otEaiiising th¢ PAT testi (and Inally other things). Regulai. sei'vicing lias also beeii cai'ried out on tlie rouf dlariii and tl)e fil'e extin uÉshers. The repoit of the uin uenniAI Ills ection cari'ied out by Crosby Gi'angei. iii August 2023 ai'rived in Suly 2024, tlie delay being caused by the voliiine of woi'k th¢ architects are expei'ien¢ing. (Conseivatioii ai'chitects ai'c appai'eiitly in shoi'l supply.) Apart fi'oij) a r¢inind¢r to keep on keei)ing the gutteriiig fl'ee of detritus, and a couple of poiilts about tlie mail) noticeboards and tree cover in tlie ¢hui'chyai'd, the ui'gettt IrcominendatioiJs coiicern the low¢i' ioof and stonewoi'k- Ibe Victorian leadwoi'k needs replacin& and tlje eroded stonework iieeds to be fixed. At one tiine il seemed t]iat the obvious next step woiild be to erect scaffoldiiig I'ound the towel, and do all the works at once, as s¢affolding comes at siicli huge cost. A clos¢i' look at the masoni'y, liowevei.. has i'evealed that a complex mixture of stone aiid moitai- types l)as built up ov¢i' decades oi. centuries of patch I'¢pai13, and the arGhitects' advice is tliat the ¢lieinical interactioiis betweeii these components need to be understood in dctail before a dui'able scheine of I'epair can be prepEd. The cui'i'enl plan is to ¢oiiiniissioii a dctail¢d surv¢y using a cliei'ry-pickei., before devising a schemc of woi'k aiid putting it out to teiid¢i'. Accordingly, the leadwoi'k was patched (again) in May 2025, which will hopefully stop tl)e minoi. water ingress tliat lias be¢n noticed over tlie winter, and Ci'osby Graiiger al'e working oil next steps. They will also be advising us on securing 'ant tuiidiiig. The li htnin conductor was inspected in Septeinbei., 8iid a new ¢artli electrode was recoininended at not ii)consid¢i'able cost. Sevei'al features of tlie i'eport caused disquiet (iiot least that tlie sam¢ firin liad installed tlie existiiig electrod¥ oiily six years ago), and a diff¢reIit fiiin was cominissioned to test the system in Deccmbei.. It passed. Swift boxe8- boxes, tliat is. for swifts to dwcll in al'e in contemplation for iilstallation in th¢ tower, aiid many thaiiks go to Mike Harris foi. sourcing grant fundiIig and voluiiteering to build and fit thein. Th¢i'e would b¢ liltle point, though, in atti'acting swifts iiito residence and then temiitially annoying thein by cai'rying 011 buildiiig woi'k around tliem, and so tl)e boxes. comniissionillg will need to wait until after wporks are concluded. a5 boil¥J continues lo raise COTkcerns. A new ¢onts'ol unit fitted b&clc in September lias kept it ninning quite well over the winter, Ihougli iiivestigation in Januaiy Bfter it failed to light aiitoinatically suggested that an ¢lecti'ical I'elay was failing, which WULild Cost upwai'ds of £1100 to rcplace. It seemed to cause diEfi¢ulty only in the coldest of weathei., and 80 the boiler has been checked on those pi'¢dictable occasions witli a view to lighiing it manually if needed. The problem seems to have ai'is¢n agatn just this week, tliough, and 80 a iEpaii' may have to be done. Some pi'eliminary work has been done on al(eYnative heatin stems. The Cl)ui'ch of England aiins foi. next zero carbon einis8ions froin its plant by 2030, and so electrical heating of one kind or Anoihci. is much iii vogue. perinission can be gained to instal i)ew gas boilei's, though. if a Case can be inade that tliey are tlie best available optioii. A i)earby cl)urch fitted with under- pew ¢onvector heaters has beeii visited, aiid the i'esults were not entirely iinpressive. aiiother visit to a cliur¢l) in Bradfvi'd witli infra-l'ed heate lianging fi'om the ceiling was mol'e encouraging. This looks set to bc a majoi. colice1 in the mcdiuin teiiii, aloiigside repairs to the towel.. Institute The main news is of coiirse thc su¢cessfiil completion of Pl)ase 2 of the devclo ment woi'k.. the upstaiis office lias be¢n divided into a snug i)ew olee and a meetiiig i'ooin, now witl) its own execiitive toilet,. the upslaii's loft space has been insulated. and th¢ 8iEa behind tlie hall has been reinodell¢d to ci'eate two new toilets, a cleanei s store, and a genei'al stoitrooin. Many Ihar)ks go to Bill Kalaky, oui. indefatigable architect, and to Slieila Hii)gley, Roz Layton. aiid Boyd Sims- Williams, tli¢ development group- especial thanks beiTrg due to Roz foi- negotiating grant support. Final building I'egiilations sigi)-off foi. the woi'k is being delay¢d by the iieed foi- an enhanced rire detection an(1 w#i'iiin stem.. the I'egiilatioiis liave cl)aiig¢d. it seems, while tlie pi'oj¢ct has beeii in pi'ogi'ess. A Fil'e Risk Assessment was obtained in April 2025, and teiidei3 are beii)g sought for a wirelcss fil'e alarin systein. Phase 3- tlie i'emodelling of tlie kitcben is in the planniiig stage Rt the moinent. Tlie Institute ccntral heati woi'ks, but th¢ pressui'e in the watei. circuit lias been di'opping
i'egularly ai)d irrilatiiigly siiice O¢tobei'. The fault appears to be a leak the pipewoi'k und¢i' tlie hall lias been inspected quite thoroiighly without finding one, which s¢¢ins to siiggest tliat th¢ piiiblein is iiiidei. the concIEte flooi. that's iiow part of tlie Iiew storei'oom. Iiivestigations 81.¢ ongoing... Churchyard Pai1i¢iilai' thanks go to Jacob Kniglit foi. tieating tlie David Knight memoi'ixl beiieh with wood prcseivative receiitly anyolle who frequeiils the clitiirhyai'd can testify to liow Inucli visitors use aiid valii¢ the benol). Gi'ateful tl)anks too lo Sieve Lindsay and Ro£ Layton for Ilieir qiiiet and uiisiing ii)ainteiiaiic¢ woi'k around the churchyai'd, to CaiY>l and St¢warl Foi'ster foi. clearing leaves, and many thanks also to the several stalwart citizens who regiilarly pick up litlei. on their way thi'oiigh. ]d tliaiiks, too, to eveiyoi)e who quietly does things 8nd wl)om I don't happen lo have bumped into aiid eaughi ii) tlie act! A gi'oup of I'ou h slee 2) look up residence on the wcsten) ¢dge of the churcliyard ii) May 2024, und tlle last of tiieill remined till July. Some of thei)I had been evicted fi'om Oswald Ci. foi. anti-gO¢ldl behavioui. and ctimiiiality, and one was on the streets aft¢r releas¢ from pi'ison. They all proved convei'sablc and I'espectful of ihe churcli itself, and DCC RoLigh Sle¢p¢rs Unit, the police. and the Piobation Sei'vice combined to fiiid tliein a¢wTllmodation iii tlie end. They did leave a series of messes, and DCC Clean and Greeii cleai'ed up after tl)em (along with volunleers). Wai'm tliai)ks al'e diie to the sei'vi¢¢s mentioned above for their cffectiv¢ liaison and assistai)ce. On t]ie advicc of Ilie Dio¢esaii RegistsTri', small notices liave goi)e up &t the eiilry points to this and the othei. CliUhyardS welconiiiig visitors, and foi'biddiiig tl)ein fiom camping oi. lighting fiirs. li) Jiine, a spare wl)eely biii was r¢movcd, and our free i'ubbish collectiuii was i'egUl.1Sed by agireiiient wid) tlic couii¢il. The Pei'spex-fronted notiLeboards in front of the vicai'age and tlie east end of tlie ¢hLircli have been meiided, aiid tlie two main noliceb0.dS Bt eitl)ei' end of the cliurchyai'd liave b¢ei) repaired. repainted, and rc-lettei'ed. Many thanks to Jolin Davies, t])e Ti'easurei. at St. Mary's Coxhoc, for linkiiig lis ivith the coiitra¢tors for tliis. Two lime Ii'ees aiE oausing tlie retainin wall noi'ih of the ¢hui'ch to biilge tOW81'ds tlie Cliurch St. pavement, and this lias ¢aused coiicei'ii to DCC Higliways Dept.. Dui'h21n Diocese. and to DCC Bci'eavement Sei'vices (l) who al'e respoiisible foi. the upkeep of tlie graveyard (it b¢ing closed to coffiii bui-ials). Tlie diocese aiid Bereavetnent Seivi¢es would gl<idly i'emove the trees- removal is also i'ecommended in the 2023 QI report- and Highways have bi'ought foiwai'd a cl)ai'ining vai'igly of schemes ovei. the months foi. both doing so and iiot doing so. A potential benefit of I'emoval would be the ability to widen th¢ paveinent at this, its i)ai'i'owest point. DCC'S Scnioi. Tree oificer is set against the tstes, d¢inise, Iliough, ai)d as Highways have now stated thal tlie wall is not in danger of collapse, nothing seeiiis likely to be done, paJti¢ularly as a Costly load cIosuiE would be iEqiiired for wlii¢h i)0 budget exists. A key ¢oiiservation f¢atuYe of tlie chui'Lliyai'd is tliat it has never be¢n Ircated witl) Inodeni feitilisei's, and so is in ¢ffect a relic of ancieIit Ineadow supporting ali a8s¢mblage of on¢e-coininoi) grrassland i)lants. For Inaiiy years, it Ilas beeii Inuiiaged wid) a Ciitting schedule tliat IniEnics old fasliioiied liay-cutting to try aiid PlEserve tliis thi'ealciied l)abilat. Over the past quartcr of a century, thougli, tl)e tree eover has grown to tlie point wh¢i'¢ it is starling to thi'eaten the Ineadowland by starving it of light, aiid a sindl workiiig group {'friei)ds of Si. Oswald's Chiirchyard,) Inet a few times in the autiiinii to coiisidei. how to Inanage it, using the latest DCC Tree R¢port on the ol)urchyard (2021) as a b¥is. In a sepai'ate convei'satioi), t]ie Senioi. TIEe Officei- lias notcd that most of tlie asli ts'ees are siifferii)g fioin ash di&back, and will need to be reinoved for safety i'easoi)s' wliile the 202J QJ recoinineiided di'astic i'eductioii of Ihe Iwo hollies whicli bloclc tlie south daoi.. Tlicse issues I'emain lo be taken forwlll'd. John Kii'kpatrick stepped down a5 occasional rouildsman iii Septeinber, and Tim Biddlecombe of Englisli Garden Laiidscapcs is iiow our coiili'actoi., though on a sliglitly more occasional basis as l)is ¢haig¢s a]'e oil a Inore piDfe5sional seale. OLir thaiiks go to John foi. his steadfast service over the yeais. Stockton Rd. Cemetery Stockton Rd. coiitinues to be maii)tained by volunteeis from Dui'l)ain Uiiiveisity ably and eneiEetically iiiaiiaged by Roz Layton. aiid Olir very best thaiiks are due to h¢r aiid to tl)ein.
l-he ceineteiy had two of its owii i'ou ci% Api'il-Jun¢ and ALigust-October 2024, onc of them a pil biill ci'oss of iincei'tain eyesiglit dl)d temper. Kelvin and Dog Icft cqiiably foi. the second tiine aftei. it was rcpirsei)led to l)iin that thc University would not permit its voluiit¢ei's to work while lie and the aniinal were in I'esidei)co, and shoitly after that DCC Rough Sleepers Uiiit found hiin accommodation iii Sui)dei'land. On Iicither oecasioii was there any appreciable cleai'ing up lo be don¢ aftei'wai'ds, foi. which we al'e very graleful. Bow Cemetery Bow Cemeteiy is thc pai'ish's opei'atioi)al graveyai'd, and is sl)ai'ed with the University and the Catliedi'al Chapter. It continiies to see coffin bui'ials, and iiitei'ment of ashes with a h¢adstoiie has become quite popular. Boggy conditions i'eiider Inueh of the unused ai'ea iinusable. By the time Il)is report lands, Bow ill havc l)ad its owii Iins ection (it was iiiadvertently omittcd from the 2023 sui'vey), and this will perliaps from a basis foi. Iicgotiating a solution with our partner oi'ganisations. Andy Jones Safe uardin re ort 2024-5 Safeguarding means the action the Church takes to promote a safer culture. We need to promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, seek to protect those who are at risk of bein8 abused and respond well to those who have been abused as well as identifyinB where a person may present a risk to others and offer support to them while takinB Steps to mitigate any risks. Church Officers and anyone who comes into contact with children, young people and adults all have a ¥ole to play in safeguarding. Our annually revised Church Safeguarding Policy is on the ACNY website and is displayed in Church and institute with contact details. The Diocese of Durham has introduced Parish Safe uardin Dashboards to support Parish Safeguarding Officers, Clergy and PCCS in reviewing and monitoring their local safeguarding policies and procedures. The dashboard is rooted in safeEuarding actions which are necessary under the Church of England 'Promotin a Safer Church, policy and the Durham Diocesan Safe uardin Polic The Dashboard system is in use by over 7,000 churche5 across 38 dioceses throughout the Church of England. St Oswald's dashboard is currently showing progress at 100% with 'No action currently required" PARISH SAFEGUARDING POLICY The following policy was originally agreed at the Parochial Churcli Coiincil (PCC) meeting held in Mairh 2019 aiid iii subseqiieiit meetings, Inost recently by the Ai)nual Parochial Church Meeting in April 2024. In accordanee witli the Chiii'ch of England Safeguardiiig Poli¢y oiir chiii'ch is committed to.. Promoting a safer enviroiiment and cultuit. Safely Ircruiting and siipporting all those wiih any i'esponsibility related to cl)ildr¢n, young people and vulnei'ablc adults withiii the chiir¢h. Responding piomptly to CV¢ly s2fegiiai.ding conc¢rn oi. allegation. Caring pastorally for victiinslsui'vivors of abuse and othcr affected pei'sons. Caring pastorally for those who al'e the subject of con¢eiY)s or allegations of ablise and other affected persons.
Respondiiig to those that Inay pose a pi'esent I'isk to otlieis. The Parisli will: Ci'eate a safe and caring place foi. 811. Have a named P&i'isl) Safegiiarding oificei. (PSO) lo woi'k with tlie incuinbenl and the PCC to impleinent policy and pl.edl1res. Safely recruit, ti'aiii ai)d support all those with ally responsibility foi. cliildi'eii. young people and adults lo have tlie coiifidence and skills to recognis¢ and i'espond to abuse. Ensure Ilial there is appi'opi'iate insurance covei. for all activities involving childn and adults Iinderlakei) iii the naine of the parish. Display in church pi'einises and on the Parish website tlie details of wlio to contact if thei'e &re safeguardiiig coiicei'ns oi. siipport needs. Listen to and take sci'iOLisly all those wl)o disclose abiise. Take steps tt) pi'l)tc¢t Childrei) and adults wlien a safegLiai'dii)g ¥OliLerii of aiiy kind arises, following Hous¢ of Bishops guidance, in¢liidii)g notifyin8 th¢ Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) ld Statutory agenci¢s imihediat¢ly. Offer support to victimslsiirvivors of abEise r¢gai'dless of the type of abiis¢, when oi. where it occiiii'ed. Cai'e foi. aiid monitoi. aiiy member of the Chu[] commiinity who Inay pos¢ a risk to children and adults whilst Inaiiitaiiiing appiopriate confidentiality and the safety of all patties. Ensure that liealtli and safety policy, procedures and risk a5sessmerkts al'e in place and that these are rcviewed annually. Review the iinplcnieiitation of the Safeguarding Policy, Proceduits and Pi'8Cti¢es at least anniially. Each person who woi*s within t]iis chuirh coinjiiunity will agiEe to abide by this policy aiid the giiidelii1¢S established by this chuirli. This Church appoints Gordoii Mitcliell as the Pai'isli Safeguardiiig Officer. pso Gordon Mitchell 0191378 1014