Introduction
Reference and Administration
The full name of the church is St. James’ Parish Church, Higher Broughton, Salford, Lancashire which is in the deanery of Salford within the Manchester Diocese. St. James is also a member of the Broughton Team Ministry which is a team of two independent parishes. The church is located on Great Cheetham Street East near the junction with Leicester Road. The correspondence address is:
St. James Rectory, 396, Great Cheetham Street East, Higher Broughton, Salford, M7 4UH.
The ministry team during the year has consisted of:-Team Priest-in-charge Rev. Christine Threlfall Reader Emeritus Mr. F.S. Jones
The names of those people who have served on the Parochial Church Council during the year are:-
Warden Mr. S.N. Wood Lay-vice Chair Mr. S.N. Wood * Secretary Mr. S. Horrocks Treasurer Mr. S.N. Wood + Miss C. Hughes * Mr. S. Horrocks Mr. A. Matovu – deputy church warden Ms. Anne-Marie Smith – Safeguarding Officer – co-opted Mr. J.R.H. Byron – co-opted * Team Council Representatives + Deanery Synod Representatives ~ Deputy Church Warden
Electoral Roll Officer Mr.. S.N. Wood Health and Safety Officer Mr. D. Threlfall Gift Aid Secretary Mr. S.N. Wood
The Standing Committee of the P.C.C. consists of:
The Chairman; The Church Wardens; The Secretary; The Treasurer.
Independent examiner Ms. L.A. Durrington Church bankers The Co-operative Bank
Structure, governance and management
The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The P.C.C. operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The P.C.C. is a registered charity in its own right.
Membership of the P.C.C. is open to anyone who has been on the electoral roll of the parish for six months or more prior to the A.P.C.M. or who is eighteen at the time of the A.P.C.M..
During the year the P.C.C. met only twice in full session. There have been several P.C.C. meetings which have used electronic communication methods to reach a decision on some matter which had a degree of urgency about it. These meetings have discussed many, wide-ranging issues connected with the parish. Among these have been:
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The reports which make up the Annual Report presented at the A.P.C.M.;
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Financing the future of St. James’;
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The shifts and changes of the rules produced by Covid 19 Pandemic;
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Development of social outreach activities such as the lunch club and food pantry;
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The development of work with children and young people;
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The improving situation with regard volunteers for things such as sidespeople;
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Undertaking of only the most critical building work due to preparation of an ongoing plan for the future repair and refurbishment of the building;
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all the routine matters which a P.C.C. must deal with throughout the year just to ‘keep the place running’.
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People going forward for ALM training
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Objectives and activities
Our principal aim during 2019 was to develop the three themes of increased giving, growing our congregation and serving our community which are incorporated within the aims of a P.C.C. which are “to cooperate with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.” (P.C.C. Powers Measure, 1956)
In order to promote these aims the parish already offers:
Growing our Congregation: Bishop’s training course for youth leaders; ALM training; Certificate in children’s ministry;; Lent courses; Confirmation course; Access to foundation for ministry course. Improving electronic service assistance;
Serving our Community: Assemblies at five local primary schools; Sunday Club Collaborative projects with Community Groups including lunch clubs.
A Christmas Day meal for those who would otherwise have been on their own.
The supply of food parcels on a Social Services request basis; A food pantry using items obtained from the FareShare group and other much appreciated donors.
It is also a hope that in the future we shall be able to offer:
boys club/activities for those between 5 and 11 something appealing and sustainable for older teenagers additional support to those in need in the local community
Achievements and performance
In addition to those things mentioned above we also offer a wide range of services and times for worship on a monthly rota:
First Sunday 11.00a.m. C.W. Holy Communion 6.30p.m. Compline Second Sunday 11.00a.m. C.W. Morning Prayer (with Baptism) 6.30p.m. Compline Third Sunday 11.00a.m. C.W. Holy Communion 6.30p.m. Compline Fourth Sunday 11.00a.m. C.W. Morning Prayer/All Age Worship 6.30p.m. Compline Fifth Sunday 11.00a.m. C.W. Morning Prayer 6.30p.m. Compline
In addition there are special services held within the Team on other days – such as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc..
It should also be mentioned that on the First Sunday of Advent we hold a Service of Commemoration for the Departed to which we personally invite all those who have been bereaved in the recent past alongside a general invitation to everybody who wishes to attend. This service was always well attended and much appreciated by those involved.
There is a regular, ongoing charity collection which is the Children’s Society.
At the end of 2023 there were 25 people on the electoral roll. During a recent month the average attendance at church per Sunday was 20 of whom 2 were classified as children or young people under the age of sixteen.
Treasurer’s Report, 2024
“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”
2 Corinthians 9:6
First the good news that we, as a parish, are still solvent and we have paid our parish share in full – again! Hopefully we shall be able to do so again next year despite the repeated 10% annual increase. As at 31.12.23 we had no outstanding invoices and the several large ones connected with the heating reported in 2023 have all been paid.
It is also very pleasing to note that we have been able to raise and donate large sums of money towards the running of the lunch club and food pantry. In this connection we are also very grateful for donations – in both cash and kind – which we have received from other churches in the local area and from several private donors.
This year, despite the increasingly burdensome and stressful nature of the accounts, I have continued to use the online accounting system which is invaluable in keeping track of all the various funding streams.
This year has marked a significant change in the finances of the church in that we have now started obtaining grants for the repair and maintenance of the building itself. The first part of the this is the removal of the old heating system and its replacement with a new one. This also involved extensive asbestos removal. The heating system work has continued thoroughout the year and hopefully will be completed during 2025.
The Lunch Club and Food Pantry have continued throughout the year – lunches on an eat in or ‘take-away’ basis. As a result I thought I would include some interesting statistics about the Food Pantry and the impact of the food which has been distributed. These figures are based purely on the donations received from the FareShareGo collections and do not include the regular deliveries:
32652 kg 0f food collected 78300 meals equivalent 97779 kg of CO2 saved as a result
These figures are astonishing and a testament to the need within the area which we are able to help to serve. So, congratulations and thanks to all the volunteers who help to provide this invaluable and, unfortunately, increasingly needed service. It should also be mentioned that new volunteers
to join the work force would be much appreciated as, currently, all the work falls on the shoulders of only a few steadfast volunteers
We have continued to maintain a good ‘track record’ when it comes to spending grants responsibly on the purposes for which they were given which is one of the things which larger grant awarders look for in a project. We will also have little difficulty in proving social need for our building and the work which goes on inside it. The fact that we have been able to keep the projects running throughout the pandemic despite all the restrictions and regulations which this involved should also stand us in good stead when it comes to bidding for these larger building focussed grants.
However, despite some elements of gloom within the finance report it should be remembered that we are still open and serving our community despite the financial and other restrictions which we are all feeling
Stuart Wood - Treasurer
Independent Examiner’s Report
This is the first time I have been asked to independently review the finances of anything let alone one of the churches in the benefice. I received the files on 11th May 2025 and so have only had a short time to review them before completing this full report. I was asked by the treasurer on 5th May to consider the role for this year and possibly subsequent ones. I hope to review the opportunity in the very near future.
In order to review the finances I have been given what I believe to be a full list of transactions for the year 2024 which includes a number of credit transactions throughout the year of regular giving, grants, funding, etc ... though as with any establishment there are also a considerable amount of outgoings to keep the building functioning amongst other things. The church also boasts its' excellent food pantry which continues to bring an excellent source of comfort to the community though with the cost of living as it currently stands the level of donation may need to be improved if relative spend to item is not able to be so in order to keep the gift of it sustainable. A monetary donation would often be appreciated to maintain the variety the pantry would be able to offer though I'm sure donations of food items would also be gratefully received.
Your treasurer, Stuart Wood continues in his diligent work to keep a thorough and true record of the church income and expenditure and of course the work on the building; in particular the roof and the heating have taken a lot of precedence since you last met to discuss the financial position of the parish. As you may be able to appreciate spending time and money on these projects have been needed and have benefited from increases in funding and fundraising.
This being said, as you may be able to see for another year the overall balance has significantly dropped. You were made aware last year that a further £60,000 was required to complete the projects that were started in 2023 and although there have been large amounts of funds raised it could not in any way come close to the figure above required to complete the projects in full. Overall the balance has therefore dropped from £34,809 at the end of 2023 to £11,620 at the end of 2024. Another such drop would truly be unsustainable and I would fully urge the PCC to meet regularly to review this.
More happily the parish share continues to be paid which is significant in sustaining the future of the church and will aid the future of continuing to be so though I would recommend all contributions personal or otherwise to be reviewed to ensure the sustainability of any future plans. Time will not wait for funding to be secured.
I wish you all the very best success with 2025 and hope to continue with you in 2026 with a report of better news of the financial status. I would hope that with the completion of projects and the continuing hard work of the PCC, the reviews are already taking place to ensure a healthier report this time next year.
Regards
Laura Durrington, Miss (BA Hons)
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Broughton Team Council, 2024
| 2024 2024 2024 Total |
2024 2024 2024 Total |
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|---|---|---|
| Receipts: All expenses St. Clements St. James Other receipts Worker grant Sequestration Others |
£ 1,244.45 £ 1,244.45 £ 2,488.90 £ - £ - £ - £ - £ 2,488.90 |
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| Payments: Clergy expenses Incumbents Housing Assistant staff Printing expenses Other Expenses Reimbursements Sequestration Others |
£ - £ 3,295.61 £ - £ 3,295.61 £ 309.69 £ 309.69 £ - £ - £ - £ 3,605.30 |
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| Trading' balance for the year Brought forward Unpresented cheques Cash in hand Year end balance in bank Debtors Claims yet to be made |
-£ 1,116.40 £ 1,437.45 £ - £ - £ 321.05 £ - £ - |
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| OVERALL BALANCE | £ 321.05 |
SAFE CHURCH POLICY. 2024
The Team is fully committed to the Safe Church Policy, and follows the Diocesanapproved Policy Statement detailed below.
As a church community, we are committed to:
The care, nurture of and respectful pastoral ministry with all children and adults
The safeguarding and protection of all children and adults
The establishment of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment, where there is a culture of ‘Informed vigilance’ regarding the dangers of abuse, which:
For children and young people
values them for who they are, and nurtures their positive development
enables them to participate fully and contribute to their church community
protects them from actual or potential harm
For adults who may be vulnerable, including those suffering domestic abuse ensures that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse
encourages those who may be vulnerable
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to lead as independent a life as possible,
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to choose how to lead their life, and
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to be active contributors to the church community protects those who may be vulnerable from actual or potential harm
For all people
enables and encourages concerns to be raised and responded to openly and consistently
offers support and care for those suffering, or who have suffered, from any form of abuse
promotes respect, and the value of each person as a child of God.
We are therefore committed to best practice according to the national policies and guidelines of the Church of England, in the protection of children and vulnerable people; in the recruitment, training and supervision of all who exercise a pastoral ministry; and in responding to any allegations or complaints. This policy is reviewed each year by the Parochial Church Council and re-affirmed at the Annual Meeting.
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