Wrexham Mission Area
Registered Charity 1199546
Annual Report 2023
Our Churches
We maintained ministry across seven churches together with our support for St Mary’s Church, Bersham, overseen by its own charitable trustees. All churches reported continuing challenges resulting from the covid pandemic but growth in numbers and activity was seen in many areas. St Giles’ has seen good congregations for its mixed menu of worship alongside the many events it hosts for the city and its pastoral activities. Greater numbers of visitors have been received because of Wrexham’s media exposure in the light of the renaissance of the football club. Late in the year, the possibility of St Giles’ becoming a ‘Hub Church’ in the diocese was explored and this has now been assured in 2024 with the appointment of an associate minister with responsibilities to develop musical worship.
Caia Food Club at St Mark’s, supported by the MA, has become well established, All Saints has seen growing congregations and St Margaret’s developed some innovative events which have attracted many beyond the congregations. Prayer, bible study and outreach groups have taken place across the churches. Sadly, a number of factors and events began to point towards the closure of St James. Reports for individual churches can be found at: https://ur0.jp/hUsOa
Shared Mission Area Events
An Easter vigil for the Mission Area was held at St Giles’ when the Paschal Candles of all the church were first lit. An open invitation was made to an early morning Ascension Day service on the tower of St Giles’ followed by a cooked breakfast. Bishop Gregory presided at a confirmation service at St Mark’s and commemorative reflective books were purchased for the Coronation of King Charles 3[rd] . In the autumn, a clergy swap around was well received.
Mission Area Conference
The MAC is both the PCC and the Board of Trustees for the Mission Area. It met on six occasions during 2023 together with an ‘Away Day’ facilitated by Mat Ineson from CPAS held in Gresford. This helped the MAC focus on the changing culture in which our churches operate and consider what steps to take to be better prepared for our ministry in today’s world.
Other topics discussed have included a new Mission Area Action Plan, the possibility of St Giles’ becoming a ‘Hub Church’ financed directly from the diocese and the viability of
our churches. The MAC also has the responsibility to sign off faculty applications for the Mission Area Churches and discuss significant building projects, notably at St Mark’s and Giles’. A considerable amount of time was given to the appointment of an Administrative Assistant and developing a post for Shaun Davies, our Hall’s manager. We are delighted to welcome Karen Reynolds to the post of Administrator. Both roles began formally on January 1[st] 2024.
Personnel
During 2023, the MA has supported four stipendiary clergy alongside 3 curates in the earlier part of the year. Luke Bristowe left St Mark’s and St Margaret’s at Easter to minister in Ruthin and Patrick Williams moved from St James’ and St John back to St Mary’s, Johnstown. Marcus Pipe was ordained priest and continued to serve in St Giles’. It has also been good to support a number of placement students from St Padarn’s Institute.
Church Army Centre of Mission & Hope Street
The Ministry Team works closely with these other expressions of Anglican ministry in Wrexham. The Mission Area Leader line manages the Centre of Mission which runs the Tin Can Youth Centre providing a Christian witness to many young people with no church background. In turn, the Centre of Mission works collaboratively with Hope Street on projects such as the Coleg Cambria Chaplaincy and Bridge the Gap football ministry. Links are also maintained with St Giles’ school and St Joseph’s school, its chaplain and chaplaincy services at HMP Berwyn.
Finance
Since the Mission Area was formally constituted in its present form as a single parish and registered charity, the accounts of all the churches are required to be consolidated and professionally examined. They are also required by the diocese to be uploaded to a software package. This has involved a huge amount of work, and we are indebted to Carol, our treasurer assisted by Sue Williams and Karen, our administrator for completing this task for the 2022 accounts and now 2023.
We have managed to pay the Mission Area share to the diocese in respect of our clergy and support services for 2023, but all our churches are struggling to maintain these obligations alongside the maintenance of our buildings. In 2023, the diocese provided £25,000 of support and is doing so again in 2024, but this is not sustainable. Financial considerations are part of the reason for the discussions around the viability of our churches noted above. Going forward, it is inevitable that the shape of the MA will change. Our prayer is that this reshaping will enable new growth to emerge.
Jonathan Smith, Mission Area Leader
June 2024
Wnxham MlsshJnAr Forthear•Dthd tOth2021 Prforyear nd$ fvnds IL>endeIdWmtsft•m.' Donatlofis and lega(ies Income from dTlble octmlles OthertradinE aaivlt>es nvetheTrtS Otherirbcome 47&61l 29.474 ,888 IU, 759 .$41 21¥567 IQ218 4,541 Total I>0e 319,59) .072 376.519 Expendlurre on tharftsblt acb¥FtÈes Raisin8 funds Otherex endiiure endfture 326.145 .819 756 475,354 7,481 Totql e 251 Net Income Ilexpendtttsrtl rES(Jes boloRtbs[ IW6u X8,(61 1107, Tmnsftts.. GrosstransfÈts betweÈnfunds- In Gr0s5translers betrieenfund$- out 31316 1313J61 15.(M8) IIL5741 I622) Gainsllos5es OD InvÈstrnent&tsets 17.0 145,34 N•trThx•meht Infund¥ 1519341 RettJn171iotlon oAfvnds Total fvnds brou htfofW8rd 24Q989 .695 Ttt fvnrf¥Tr1•d fon¥anl 7,$ 5W,684 R•pr•8ert•d Llnrestrlcted General fvnd ,221 246.989 Restrlcted Cala Food Club Parish of Wrexham FabficFund StfAles 1Club Sr leS Bèbesln ibe PewsFw st Ules Sellrtngets st Giles Chancel RepolrFund St Glles F#brt¢ Fund St leS FlowerFund St (Sles Kitrthen Fund St Cale5 up¢ep fund StJames- Churth doorrefuwbishrftent StJames- Growrexham StJohn's- Evangelism Fund StJohn's-To•letAnd knlhtlw Fund St VAr8aret s- CapltalGift St M8Tgaret%- Churtth hall St M8rgèrÈt¥- Lodychapel St rgaret*-Ra0f Fvnd St tr[garet.$- Steeple Fund St rgaret%- Robes St kkrk's- lIdInglUnd st M8rk's- Edas project St Mafk'5- Hollday IngerPrJe Sunday Scho)l FuDd Wrexharn W- Adrnin Wrexham MA- FosterRd Wre)thaw MA- St Peter% 9A 3,679 824 322 3,415 .517 97 17 97 91 ¥512 12Y) 2 2? 14247 &8 47 21316 291 .251 18.291 ,251 7¥710 146Y 224 510.684
Wrexhn Misslon Area Balaft Sheet as at3tst Decenknr 3023 unrestrId Restsltted Funts Funds At At 3VW20J a¥w2022 Flxed assets Investments 13L634 173.666 305,3CO 327,750 Current assets Cash At Bank And In Hand 107.587 323, 182,934 Llabllltles Credltors:Amounts falling due within l year Totsl assets less current Ilabllities 497,548 7770 51Q684
Mo%rnent In Fund5 Forthe al ¢nded 3tst I)nr13 Trnnf¢rs beVeen funds In(omlr At OIJ01123 r05wrces Outgoin8 re54)ur$ GaInsd lossès At 3y12114 Uttr¢s(d funds 246, 319.5 33151 4,277 617 239,222 Restrltted funds Wrexham MA-Admin Wrexham MA- FosterRd Wrexham MA- St PeteVs StJames- Churth door refurbishment StJames- Growrexham StJohn's- Evange115m Fund StJohn's- Toilet And ghtIng Fund All Saints- Sunday Schwl Fund St Mark's- Buildlngfund St Mark s- Eelas prolÈrt St Mark s- Holiday Hunger Projert St Mark's- Caia Food Club St VArg•ret's- Capitsl Gift St Mar8aret'5- Church hall St Margaret's- Lady Chapel St Margaret's- Roof Fund StM8rgarets. Steeple Fund St Margaret's- Robes Parish of Wrexham Fabrlc Fund StGlles-IWClub St Glles- Babes In the Pews Fur St Giles- Belldngers St Gile$- Chan1 Repalr FurKI St Glle9- Fabrlc Fund St Gllés- Flower FurKI St Giles- Kltchen Fund St Glles- Upkeep fund TotaF FdS 4300 18,291 10,251 130 14,654 8,224 763 1974 112501 Z29) 1901 8.141 14,247 8,813 2tl0.2J2 I5,(6> 24,49) 23.316 9,8 12 590 95 17.(S7 13.IT2 34,841 4L821 3.101 IL 18,824 IZ(691 IL5101 L703 14468 322 3,415 9,5 33,152 261 %7 10,496 3Q517 97 98,512 9,972 17,OXI 108,485
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT Wrexham MSsslon Area I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023 Respectlve responslbllities of trustees and examln The Mission Area Conference (MAC) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The MAC wnsiders that an audit is not Tequired for this year under section 144(2) of the Charitles Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an Independent examination is needed. It 15 my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Art) to follow the procedures laid down in the General DIrlOnS given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Actl,. and to state vthether particular matters have come to myattention. Basls of Independent examlner's report My examinatlon was carried out in accordancewith the general directK)ns given by the Charity Commlssion. An examination includes a ieview of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the aecounts presented with those records. It also includes consideratw)n of any unusual items or disc105ures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The PrcedureS undertaken do not prowde all the evidence that would be required in all audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and falr and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examlner's statement In connectlon wlth my examination. the following matters have come to my attention: l. Documentation of fund balances as the year end not being readlly awdilable. 2. Trivial differences between balances on finance co-ordinator and the supportlng do¢umentath)n. No arnendment has been made on these financkil ststements. 3. Evidence of funds provided where no such fund was induded on finance ctrordinator. Thi5 issue wa5 re501ved prior to the completion of these financial ststements. Therefore. the above prynts glve me no reasonable cause to befieve that in any materfal respect the requlrements: al to keep accounting records in accordance wlth section 130 of the 2011 Act; and bl to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting recor(ts and cornply wfth the accounting requirements of the 2011Act have not been met. (Nan) (OateJ_ (Qualrfi¢otlon, if any) (Add$$} (o_od
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT Wrexham MSsslon Area I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023 Respectlve responslbllities of trustees and examln The Mission Area Conference (MAC) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The MAC wnsiders that an audit is not Tequired for this year under section 144(2) of the Charitles Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an Independent examination is needed. It 15 my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Art) to follow the procedures laid down in the General DIrlOnS given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Actl,. and to state vthether particular matters have come to myattention. Basls of Independent examlner's report My examinatlon was carried out in accordancewith the general directK)ns given by the Charity Commlssion. An examination includes a ieview of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the aecounts presented with those records. It also includes consideratw)n of any unusual items or disc105ures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The PrcedureS undertaken do not prowde all the evidence that would be required in all audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and falr and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examlner's statement In connectlon wlth my examination. the following matters have come to my attention: l. Documentation of fund balances as the year end not being readlly awdilable. 2. Trivial differences between balances on finance co-ordinator and the supportlng do¢umentath)n. No arnendment has been made on these financkil ststements. 3. Evidence of funds provided where no such fund was induded on finance ctrordinator. Thi5 issue wa5 re501ved prior to the completion of these financial ststements. Therefore. the above prynts glve me no reasonable cause to befieve that in any materfal respect the requlrements: al to keep accounting records in accordance wlth section 130 of the 2011 Act; and bl to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting recor(ts and cornply wfth the accounting requirements of the 2011Act have not been met. (Nan) (OateJ_ (Qualrfi¢otlon, if any) (Add$$} (o_od