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Reg. charity no: 1196804
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST ANDREW, TAUNTON
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended 31 December 2023
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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST ANDREW, TAUNTON ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Administrative information
St Andrew’s Church is situated in Taunton. It is part of the Diocese of Bath and Wells within the Church of England. The correspondence address is St Andrew’s Parish Office, Greenway Avenue, Taunton, Somerset, TA2 6HU.
Parochial Church Council (PCC) members who have served from 1 January 2023 until the date this report was approved are:
Incumbent The Revd Robin Lodge Chair (ex-officio) Curate The Revd Richard Kelley (ex-officio, February-August 2023) Churchwardens David Budd Vice Chair (ex-officio, from APM 2023) Tony Blackshaw Vice Chair (ex-officio, until APM 2023) Deanery Synod Stephen Grimshaw (ex-officio) Representatives Henry Haslam (ex-officio) Darren Chalmers (ex-officio) Elected members Ali Aish (until APCM 2024) Steve Bull (until APCM 2026) Carol Dimmer (until APCM 2025) Sue Goodman PCC Secretary (until APCM 2024) Mervyn Jones (until APCM 2023) Ali Perry (until APCM 2025) Bill Perry (until APCM 2026) Di Ruff (until APCM 2024) Co-opted member Antony Yeo PCC Treasurer Permission to attend Lesley Gold Parish Administrator and speak
[APM = Annual Parish Meeting APCM = Annual Parochial Church Meeting]
Structure, governance and management
The PCC is a registered charity, numbered 1196804. It does not have any other related trusts or charities.
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules (2020). All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and to stand for election to the PCC. The PCC meets approximately bi-monthly to conduct church business. Sub-committees of the PCC exist for the management of St Andrew’s Church Hall, Fund Raising and to progress the New St Andrew’s Project. Limited life working parties are set up occasionally to fulfil specific tasks and consist of PCC members and others by invitation.
The ministry of the parish is sustained by its Parish Priest, the Revd Robin Lodge and two Readers: Mrs Ruth Cook and Dr Jeremy Harvey. The Revd Richard Kelley joined us as Curate from the Wellington & District Team Ministry in February 2023 to complete his curacy, which ended on 31 August 2023. There is also a small team of Lay Pastoral Assistants and several other teams of volunteers covering a wide range of church life, which report regularly to the PCC.
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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST ANDREW, TAUNTON ANNUAL REPORT 2023 (CONTINUED)
Objectives and activities
The PCC (Powers) Measure 1956 summarises the charitable objects of the PCC as “cooperating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.” St Andrew’s PCC sees this as a calling to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as it has been received by the Church of England by the nurture of faith among the community by word, pastoral care and practical service. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the church and the church hall.
From 1 September 2013, St Andrew’s Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School converted to academy status and became a member of the Bath & Wells Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) and was renamed St Andrew’s Church of England School. The Revd Robin Lodge and Mrs Dawn Booth, both former foundation governors, continue as members of the Local Governing Committee as MAT appointees but once again known as foundation governors. Mrs Booth is currently Chair of the Local Governing Committee. Robin Lodge stepped down from his post in July, at the end of his current term of office. No replacement was found from among the St Andrew’s congregation.
Achievements and performance
Church attendance & Statistics for 2023
The number on the Electoral Roll at 31 December 2023 was 102 (100 at 31 December 2022).
The average Sunday attendance including children, counted in October was 63 (78 in 2022) but larger numbers attended for special services, such as at Christmas and Easter. In 2022 the number of baptisms was 4 (10 in 2022). There was one wedding in 2023 (1 in 2022). In total there were 6 funerals both in church and at local crematoria (9 in 2022).
Review of the Year
The year 2023 saw the first whole year of freedom from the rigours of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is now possible to assess the long-term damage caused by that grim episode. Many members of the congregation are yet to be convinced about physical contact during the Peace at the Eucharist as well as the safety of the Common Cup in spite of repeated reassurances. There has also been a change to the make-up of the congregation, with some members, having taken the opportunity to reassess their lives, coming less frequently if at all. On the plus side there has been a complete renewal of our children’s group and the joy of receiving a significant number in our midst of Indian, African, and in one case Iranian heritage. The economic downturn was also felt during the year, with some reduction in planned giving, and an increase in our costs.
The PCC met six times in 2023. Average attendance was 85% (77% in 2022). The Standing Committee (five meetings), the Hall Committee, and Fund Raising Group met between meetings There were no meetings of the New St Andrew’s Group in 2023, work having halted as the renewal of the heating system needed to be the main focus of the PCC. Minutes of their meetings were received by the full PCC and discussed where necessary. Other focussed groups, teams and officers regularly report to PCC meetings.
In line with diocesan policy, the PCC sets its priorities and expressed them in its Mission Action Plan (MAP). In November 2023 a parish conference was held to build on our set of values used to govern the choices made about our priorities. These were simplified by being summed up in 5 words: Welcoming, Caring, Growing, Responding (to God and community) and Nurturing. This year’s plan resolves to ensure that no one arrives at St Andrew’s without a welcome, to improve aftercare in our funeral ministry, to nurture and grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, to continue with the next phase of the New St Andrew’s Project and to underpin all our work together by ensuring that we align our financial resources to match our priorities. The MAP sets out specific, timed and measurable actions for the year under each heading, naming the designated lead in each case. These will be reviewed in the Autumn and a new MAP prepared for 2025.
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We were pleased to see a return to formal provision for children during worship. Simple creche-type facilities continued to be made available for very young children, from October in a new designated Children’s Area in the South Aisle, staffed by two leaders each Sunday, who began to provide appropriate activities and teaching. Church Mice and Messy Church, the latter in conjunction with Rowbarton Methodist Church, continue successfully.
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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST ANDREW, TAUNTON ANNUAL REPORT 2023 (CONTINUED)
As noted above, schools work continues to be an important part of our work with children and young people. As well as involvement in governorship at St Andrew’s School, the Vicar shares weekly acts of collective worship in school with the Revd Deborah Kirk and the Revd Annie Deche of Rowbarton Methodist Church, one of our own Readers, Ruth Cook, our Curate and the Revd Debbi Turley, Vicar of St Peter’s, Lyngford. The Vicar is also a member of the Ethos Committee at The Taunton Academy, a church secondary school and part of the Richard Huish Academy Trust, which lies in our parish. Ongoing support for Collective Worship, Religious Education and Chaplaincy is available on request. “Easter Cracked,” a dramatic presentation of the Easter story for children from schools in the area run by members of MINT (Mission in North Taunton), successfully ran in 2023, along with Nativity on the Green in December. MINT is a federation of ourselves, Rowbarton Methodist, Oakwood Community Church, Wellsprings Chapel and St Peter’s, Lyngford. Our work with Priorswood Primary School, which also lies within the parish, returned to inviting local clergy in to lead occasional acts of Collective Worship in person.
St Andrew’s has a Safeguarding Policy for the protection of children and vulnerable adults in line with diocesan guidelines. It is reviewed and updated annually. A copy of the policy is displayed in church. Names of all volunteers and their roles, not just those with Disclosure & Barring Service clearance, is available to the PCC as the body legally responsible for running the church. Full Job Descriptions have been formulated for each post, and training is regularly undertaken at an appropriate level for all those working for the PCC in a volunteer capacity. The PCC also has a Lone Worker Policy for employees and volunteers who need to work alone in church or in the community on its behalf, an Employee’s Complaints & Grievance Policy, and a Data Protection Policy. The PCC also has a range of other policies governing aspects of parish management. As 2023 drew to a close, our long serving Parish Safeguarding Officer began to hand over responsibility to her successor, Mr Stephen Grimshaw.
Home Communion is now fully available to both the housebound and those indisposed or recovering from surgery for a longer period. Work with care homes consists of providing end-of-life spiritual support when requested, as well as a monthly hymn singing service at Aspen Court.
A full programme of public fund-raising events ran in 2023 providing both enjoyment for all and a much needed boost to church funds. Donations sponsoring the spire lighting continue. Finances grew tighter in 2023 so that all financial decisions need to be made with great care. This situation is set to worsen in 2024, not least with a 15% increase in the Parish Share, our contribution to the Diocesan Board of Finance, which goes towards maintaining the clergy and central services that support us all. The PCC has a Financial Reserves Policy which ensures that we always have enough cash to cover all essential commitments for a minimum of 3 months in case of emergency.
St Andrew’s continues to be represented at meetings of the North Taunton Partnership and now the North Taunton Development Group, alongside practical assistance given to Taunton Food Bank, Arc (formerly Taunton Association for the Homeless) and Taunton Welcomes Refugees. Support in kind was also given to Pyrland Academy (previously North Taunton Academy) for a breakfast club for students.
The grouping of the four churches of the Local Ministry Group has effectively ended, but informal support and sharing continues with many churches in the deanery, focus on which our Bishops feel is the best way to work together in mission for the good of our communities. Joint services with our neighbours at Rowbarton Methodist Church continue to be values part of our programme, and with whom we also now work to deliver Messy Church four or five times a year.
Many individual church members use household collecting boxes for the Children’s Society. There remains no planned giving from PCC funds, apart from an annual contribution to the Chaplaincy at Pyrland School.
The church’s Health and Safety Officer post is currently in vacancy. However, a Health and Safety policy statement approved by the PCC is on display in church. Health and Safety is a standing PCC agenda item along with the reporting of any entries in the Accident Book as to whether any action is required, and the policy document regularly reviewed and updated.
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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST ANDREW, TAUNTON ANNUAL REPORT 2023 (CONTINUED)
The most recent Quinquennial Inspection was made by the PCC’s now former architect, Mrs Jo Hibbert, in December 2020, and although a number of modest actions were needed, priority has had to be given to the reordering of the heating. After lengthy research and the appropriate faculty application, a new infrared electric system was installed during the year, consisting of three chandelier-style heating and lighting units and wall-mounted heaters in the side aisles. A series of ceiling-mounted heating panels was fitted in the Narthex. Due to difficulties with their effectiveness in relation to height fitted the system has been a disappointment. Nevertheless, the PCC believe that, with some modifications, it remains the best option for a church wishing to contribute to the Church of England’s aim for Net Zero emissions by 2030.
Following some delay caused by a necessary focus on this issue, the PCC progressed its plans for a refurbished Narthex. A faculty application was submitted to remove the pews from the South Aisle area (granted in early 2024) so that the church building can be used more flexibly for congregation and community alike.
The Hall Committee has continued to oversee the use of the building and implement planned improvements. In July, our Hall Manager, Lesley Jones (alongside husband, Merv) and Hall Cleaner, Annie Garland, retired and Cherry Hingston and Grace Thistlethwaite appointed in their respective places. Both have made an excellent start. Ms Hingston was encouraged to make the marketing of the Hall a particular priority, building on the improvements made by her predecessors, and this is already having a positive effect.
No replacement for our monthly magazine, “Inspire,” was made during 2023, but we hope that will change in 2024. A weekly electronic and postal mailing, a recently refurbished parish website, a Facebook page and an Instagram page are the other main means of communication, while there was a return to the provision of a weekly newsletter in paper form on a Sunday during the year.
St Andrew’s continues to work on its response to changing world and, with it, a changing church. As with climate change, many of the problems noted coming down the line are now far closer to coming home to roost. Some have already done so. Nevertheless, we maintain our faith in a faithful God, who constantly equips his people to serve the communities to which we are sent. Inevitably that involves change, which for many does not always come easily. It might be that a smaller, leaner, and so more effective Church, is what will evolve in the coming years. The implications that will mean for St Andrew’s are still uncertain, but we will continue in our endeavour to respond faithfully.
Financial review
Total receipts on funds were £167,478.52 and are detailed in the financial statements.
£152,478.44 was spent to provide the Christian ministry from St Andrew’s Church, including the contribution to the diocesan parish share, which largely provides the stipends and housing for the clergy. The parish share paid this calendar year was £50,606.04.
The net result was a surplus of £15,000.08 including Restricted Funds.
It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds (if possible), which equates to approximately three months unrestricted payments, to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. It is our policy to invest our fund balances in the CBF Church of England deposit funds.
Approved by the PCC on 12 March 2024 and signed on their behalf by
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Rev'd Robin P. Lodge. PCC Chair
Independent Examinerfs Certificate for the PCC Accounts Report to Ih¢ trustees ot. J >1 thb ParoGhial ChurGh CounGil On accounts for I yearend•d". Chanty Numiw IWopplK8blel". 119680 Sot out ott mponbIlItIe of tru•ts•• •nd •Mmingr The clwty'$ trustees ar• resFthbl8 for Ihe ryeparnbon oftho accounts. Th• tharity's truste85 omsiderthat an audrt r6 not requlred for thi8 year undor ts"on 144 01th8 Charbtre6 2011 (the chant Act) and that an Ind8pendent It rd fty respx&lfy to." mine the ¥counts under gectKJn 145 ofthe Chanties Act, to lC4kth8 pr(t&rtUrnS in tha ggrw81 Directions gw•fi by Ihe Chanty C¢ThiLSSkJn lunder sectn 14515llbl of the Charilio$ and to 8tsie whtrther partKuL4r m?tter8 have o)nw to my att¢nts"on. Ba•1• of Indopgnd•nt My 8xarninathon w48 carrl&J oul In arxordancg wrth general Directions given by th8 •¥•mln•rf• •tst•m•nt Chanty cunmo8)ft An &xornination indud•s a r•vv ofth• aecovnting rècords kepi by the charty and a ct)mpan8on ol lh8 atnts pr8sont8d wtth thosè records. It abo Includ•¥ ¢onsdoratson olarry unusual iierns or di$ureS In the accounts, d 88¢'n9 exPn81• fram the tru6ts08 uJnc8mlng any uch mgtter&. Th• lures und¢rt&4en do not pr¢)vth 811 the evid•n thai would ba Mquir8LI In an •udrt and corwuonty no opinN)n is giv as to whether tha accgunts presenl Irue ortrJ fair and the f•PYt Is limited to Ihog¢ mgttars set out In th8 ststsmènt Ind•p•nd•nt •x•rnln•f• In eofinectre Iwth ry •xammatr)n. no ¢r h•8 comè to ry •tt•ntK>n lolh•r •t•t•m•nt whKh givos reasonable cause to boliève that In, any ma18rkg1 resm. accounthng rd$ wgr• not k•pt Ml wth 8ectKJn 130 ofth• Chai Ador tha aCCnIS do notocc4Yd wth the accovnb'r¥J records I hove corn? aw68 no othor m•tten in conne¢bon the examin8tron to which 8tt8nbon should be drw•m In order lo enable a proper understsndlng of the accountr tyd8 Laek¢ts rflh•ydo nol opply. 81gn•d: 06-03-2 N•m•: ÉJ Blil*£s R•l•vant pmlM•ional guallllcatk)nl•l or body Ill •nyl: 01bL¥ STA<LE(rtD
Parish Finance Return, for January – December 2023
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TAUNTON Fr ANDRE¥Ys Receipts & Payments Account
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FURThER SUBDIVISIONS OF ACCOUNTS FOR IMFORMATIOM 2023 2022 RECEiprs Donations in for Garden ol Rem8mbra Coffoè time donati5 Donallons In for Messy Chw Mon8y rerAwl fr)r Transfer to charfues Ukrn5n& Mrm8y ferAived or spent on Draw tyckets 3910 41. Hall r8eoipls Wall Sale He81ing In PAYMENT8 19.067.57 277.30 15.716.95 13,016.19 Young Ctsjrch Gas 4hurch He81in9 Oul Elactiitsty- Clwr¢h Hall haalmg and IKJhbri Musical Direclor P8nsh AdMIntrator Pl*)ne18dmin} po$tsg8 COStB Pnnting cosls Ukraine fund raiBirvJ Website cost Vkars axpèn HtIng donat1 Messy church tsxp8nso8 Hall ynts tol81 970.79 55,207.72 1,511.05 1.109.69 1.382. 7.016.80 526.08 3.574.85 5.11 7Tr).22 I,ofy).fy) 204.Q) 4.4190.15 21,507.11 253.52 3,97Q42 li
Statement of Assets and Llablllties Op•nliig Natsvesl CurMtAccrMJnt u rcath? CBF Fabiic Fd D Ifash") CBF Gtntra u rcas) CBF Bèll Fund R Ifa5h'l HALL CURRENT ACCOUNT Ifashi NEW ST ANDREWS CURRENT AC £3,309.04 £23.155.89 £31.392 51 £209.121.46 £74.562.88 £1.fTh.11 £47.97 £212.42? $1 £54,CW. 43.71&77 £914.93 £3.L¥JJ.38 £7.815.32 £19,151.32 £l,528.eI f20,577 70 E3,413.05 £1.57&1XI ts,930A7 TOTALS £29)M1826 12
FURTHER ANALYSIS OF ACCOUNTS FOR TAUNTON ST ANDREW 2023 2023 2022 Total IncomelEx ndltur• 3019.22 R•¢eipts Tax •ffl¢l•nt plann•d glvlng oth•r plann•d glvlng oth•r lI•¢t10n• at MTvl¢ oth•r Gmng & DontloM. R•currfng Oth•r Omng & Donatlom. NoTrR•cunlng Spoclal App•al• All tax r•¢ov•red through Glft Ald L¢gacl•s r•c•lv Recurrfng Grnnts MoTrR•currlng Grnnts Fund Ral•lng Ev•nts Dlvld•nds & Int•r••t Incorn• from Prop•rtl•• 14 Total Parochl•l F••• Incom• 15 Bookt•ll, Magazln• •tc Hall Lettlng* Incom• from oth•r Church Actlvltl•• Insurnnc• Gl•lm• RelmburMm•nt of ¢ost• by ¢)th•r Parlsh Sal• of Fixed A8s•ts 38,604.62 5.884.32 2.478.48 38.098.42 2,745.78 21,694.40 11&96 17.769.19 21765.7B 10,268.S1 51,¢)00.00 11.068.19 12.922.66 10 1,000.00 4,459.12 3482.07 1,760.00 4,978.61 1129.37 11 12 13 8,235.00 1,409.IXI 5,474.00 1,034,00 444.63 16 18,261.35 51.80 12,508.00 17 18 19 20 21 3eThlc• F•• R•imbur4•m•nt by DBF Oth•r Incom• 22 735.00 495.80 Total R•c•lpts 167478.52 132174.42 her income nSISts main of fUnd$On amounts ove r others Confimed that the above a8ree with the accounts èxamined 13
Payments Fund Ralsing Costs Donatjons to Charitiw & Mlsslon Giving Parfsh Shar• Salarl•s & Ylages Cleryy EX$e# Other Expanses Clergy Houslng costs Local Mlsslon and Evang•llsrn ProJ•cts Chlldr•nlYouth Work Costs In•uranc• costs Cl•anlng Costs Mlnor R•palrWRoutln• M•lnl•Mnc• Admlnlstratlon costs 2023 2022 -162.95 -98.47 31 .2,500.00 -50,606.04 -180.00 49.614.00 44 -15,998.46 4,970.42 -90.47 -16.939.36 -5,663.89 -176.4 37 -275.34 -700.00 4,881.03 -739.93 4.390.62 -710.46 41 -1,783.26 4,107.27 -2560.29 4.206.39 4.082.95 -1220.92 42 43 oth•r Church Expensw S•rvlG•s Churchyard IAlnt•nanc• Flow•r• Muslc ¢o¥ts Hoatln9 & LlghtlwJ co•ts 48 V•at•r Rat•s -24.16 45 42.70 -1003.05 -1671.07 47 -10,630.35 -177.95 4,945.06 -103.00 49 Costs of Tradlng Gov•rnanc• Costs Parochlal F••s R•mlttanc• to DBF Parochlal F••s tg vl•ltlng Mlnlt•r Parochlal F8 to oth•r 3rd party Parochlal F••s R•mltt•d to oth•r PCC Serv1¢• F•• to vlsltlng Mlnl•t•r P8ym•nt of costs to oth•r Pawl•l D••n•ry Co•ts Sundry Exp•ns•s Malor R•palr4 to Church Bulldlng MaAor Ropalrs to oth•r prop•rti t•ratlonslExt•Mions to Church Bulldlng Total Payrn•nts -14.86 51 52 53 55 57 -2,626.46 47.490.27 -1.970.70 -1.904.21 -152478.44 -20,839.90 -13.698.02 -123.98 59 61 -129155.20 Confirnied that the abDve agree with the accovnts examined 14
Balance 8h••t 70 Loans rK•iv•d 71 Repayment of Loans 72 Alt•ratlonslExt•nsl¢)ns lo oth•r As••ts 73 Charlties whorn PCC acts Just an *9onl 78 New Fixed Assets I[t Investments) 79 Purchase of Investments Sale of Investments Total batance sheet Incomelexpenditure TOTAL IncomelExpendlturo 151MXI.08 3019.22 Conflrmed that the above agret wrth the accounts examined 15
FUNDRAISING DEfAILS RECEIPTS 2023 RECEIPTS 2022 Table top sal March Lunch Summor Fete Christmas Mark•t Ea$ylundTalslng Card Salgs Winter Wanner Har4081 Lunch Summer Lunch Splr• Ilghdno 255 362 934.67 17CO.03 151.79 Table top sal Toilet Twinnlng Summ•r F•ts Christmas Alark•t Easyfvnd¢alslng Card Sales Turkey & Tlnsel Harvest Lunch Summer Lunch Splre Ilghung 190.00 i.00 1495.46 1849.39 219.36 229 447.40 423.00 342.00 576.(KJ 5871.61 347.5 519.5 373.18 550 5193.67 16
The Parish Church of St John the Evangelist, Staplegrove. Taunton, TA2 6EJ Fmftn the Treasurer. David Brid8es GRSM ARCM ARCO Ai¥iiidAI., RLth)rv LI.. %laplegrove.'I"A2 6LW (Ir3 570742 da%iiLljl)ridg20186l,gma1I.itsM Sue Goodman PCCsectOry St Andre$ Church Office Greenway Avenue Taunton TA2 6HU Reciprocal Independent Examination for St Andrelrfs and Stjohn the Evangelist, Taunton 6 March 2024 Dear Sue I have carried out my examination of the St Andre$ Church PCC Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023. prepared by yourTreasurer Mr Antony Yeo and am delighted to confirm that, in my opinion, they accurately reflect the financial situation at St Andrew's Church. With all good wishes 17