THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Trusts•s Reverend Louise Taylor-Kenyon Mr Andrew J. Bardgett Mrs Sara E. Herring Reverend Paul A.V. Knox Mrs Linda M. Kirby Mrs Avril Gillian Bardgeti Mrs Sheila M. Sumrners Mrs Evelyn Elliott Mrs Wendy K. Am)stTong Mr Eric J. Robinson Revèrènd Phyllis Alison Carrulhe PCC treasurer Ms Ros Gray Charity number 1207560 Prlncipal address St Aidan's Church 20 Raddiffe Park 8amburgh Northumberland NE69 7AN Indepèndent examlner Rithard Ayre 17 Walkergate BerwiGk-upon-Tweed Northurnbertand T015 10J THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH PCC MEMBERS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 The PCC members present their report and ac￿u￿t5 for the year ended 31 December 2024. The accounts have been piepared in accord8nce with the Parochial Church Council of the Ecdesiastical Parish of Sl. Aidan. Bamburgh IPCC'S) goveming do¢ument and the Charities Act 2011. Aim and Purposes The PCC has thè re5ponsibilily of co-operating with the incumbent, the ReverÈnd LoU￿e Taylor-Kenyon, in promoting in the Ecclesiastical Parish thè whole rnission of the Churth, Pastor81, Social and Ecumenlcal. As well as the Church Building, which is Grade I Ilsled. il also has the responsibility for the rna1nlenan￿ ol Ihe surroundSng graveyard. Administrative Information. St. Aldan's Churth is situated in the villagè of 8arrthurgh, Northumberland.11 is part of the DI￿Se of Newcastle within the Churrh of England. The correspondence address is 20 Radeliff8 Park, Bamburgh, NE69 7AN. The members of the PCC are the Trustees ol the charity. Structure, 9overnance arbd management The PCC is a registered charity wtth the Charity Commi55iun {Nurnber.' 12075601 and is govemed by the Parochial Church Council PDwefS Measure119561 as amended and Church Representation Rules thal camè into force on 2 January 1957. The PCC M￿berS who $eNed during the year were.. Reverend Louise Taylor-Kenyon Mr Andrew J. Bafdgett Mrs Sara E. Herring Reverend Paul A.V. Knox Mrs Linda M. Kirby Mrs Avril Gilllan Bardgett Mrs Sheila M. Summers Mrs Evelyn Ellioit Mrs Wendy K. Arrnstrong Mr Erfc J. Robin$on Reverend Phyllis Alison Carrulhe Ms Ros Gray ffreasurerl (Appointed 16 May 20241 {Appointed 14 April 20241 Ms Lucy Herbert attends meellng$ 8s Secretary lo the PCC. THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH PCC MEMBERS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 The method of appointment ol PCC rnember5 15 sel out in the Chur¢h Representation Rules 2020 aulhorised as Schedule 3 to the Synodical GovernrneTht Measure 1969 8$ amended. All churth altendees are encouraged to reg15ter on the Electoral Roll and to stand for eleclK*n lo the PCC. The PCC members afe responsible for making decisions on all matter5 of general concern and importance to the parish, induding deciding on how the funds ofthe PCC are to be spent. New members ￿ceIve induction training into Ihe workings of thg PCC. During the year the PCC met ten Ilmes, wth an average attendance of 65Yo due lo ongoing illness. Mlnul¢s of all PCC meetings have been ￿cOrded and kept. Objectlves and Activlties The PCC is ￿mmItted to enabltng a5 people as possiblèto worship at our Church and to become part of our parish comrnunily. a5 well as lo be an open and welcoming space for visitors and the general public. When planning our 3divities, the PCC has considered the Charity Gommission's gui*Jance on public benefit, and in parti¢ular the spedfic guidance on charities for the advancernent of religion. Our services and worship wt faith into praclice through prayer and scrtpture, music and sacrament. We try to 8nable ordinary people lo live out their fwth as part of our parish family. through:_ Worshlp and pT3yer, leamkng about the Gospel, growing in lailh, daveloping knowl¢dge and trust in God - Responding lo human need through loving 5￿ce - Offering 8 pr8y•rful and hospitable Spa￿ for all th￿se who enter the churth bthlding Be¢oming a resource for the whole community To lacllilate this work, 11 is vital that we maintain Ihe fabric of the St Aidan's and man8ge the upkeep of Qui thurchyard trffe¢liv81y. THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH PCC MEMBERS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 Achievements and Perfomiance Church Attendance durlng 2024 There weie 5812023.. 531 on the ElectOTal Roll as of 31 Decernber 2024. We retained OLtrr usual pattem of Sunday services with an 11.00am Gommunion Service and a 5.15pm Evening Prayer, with a midweek Communion Service on Tuesdays al 30.00am. 5212023.. 511 Sunday $eNlces out ol a possible 52 wefe held, ¥￿th an average attendance of 36 over-165. (2023.. 401 whlch sncluded v1511or5 and people from across the benefice. 90 adults and 7 children attended on Easter Day.12023'. 98 and 14 respedivelyl. The Lights Switch-on se￿￿e at the end ol NovembeT was exceptionally well attended and about 400 people came lo the Christmas Eve Chrislingle 9ervice12023'. 350}. 92 peDple attended Church on Ctrwistmas Day12023.' 801. As well as our Tegular services we welcomed people from our local community and beyond to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of our life's journey. There have been 3 baptisms12023.' 41, 7 weddings12023.' 71 and 2 funerals and 2 memorial services after a funeral12023-. 91. The latter inclvded the funeral of Anne Kirton. a long standing and muth missed member of lhe Church Community. Worship and Pray•r Occasionally an alternatlVE sur￿￿Y evening seryice is offefed- for Passiontide in March, Choral E￿nsOn9 In May with the choir of 8fadford Cathedral. and special Advent evening services in Der£mber. Thè regular Wednesday evening prayef semce On Zoom is well established and Bener￿e services continue to be held when there is a 5th Sunday in the month. The addition ol lay led intercession5 to Sunday services from three different people have been well receNed. The Church is open for private prayEr every d8y, and it 15 exceptionally unusual to find that no votive candles have been lit. During Lent. joint Cross on the Coast serVi￿S were held on Wednesday evenings acro$$ the Benefice and In ihe 8enefice of Beadnell, Ellingham and North Sunderland, led by Reverends Phyl Carruihers, Paul Knox, Tony Macpherson and Louise Taylor-KÈnyon_ Thé theme this year was'Prophetic Vol￿S from the Old TeslaFnenY' and each service after Ash Wednesday locused on a diffefenl reading from the prophet Jefemiah. Reverend Paul led a devotional Stations of the Cross at St Mary's Belford evèry S8luTday afternoon. THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH PCC MEMBERS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 Reverend Phyl CamJlhers has finished her curacy and was Off￿la11y licensed as Associate Prfesl al a B8nefi¢e evening service al St Mary's Belford on March 10, Mothering Sunday, by the Bishop ol Be￿id¢, Bishop Mark. St Oswald was ￿lebraled on August 4. and Revwend Ric Whaite, the Diocosan Dirg¢tor of Ministry and Mission preached at our celebration of StAid8n on Septemb9r l. Generous hospitality was offered after each of these services. Harvest Festival look place on Odober 6 att81 a [l￿nIh of services foojsed on Creation, with fresh produce being given to Armstrong House and other goods going lo the loEal Food Bank, A cash collection was held to buy maYL$ for the village of Mlènga in Tanzania wilh which the benefice has a personal link Ihrough Janet Allen from Waren Mill, and a Benefice Hatvest lunch was held in the Pavilion. The usual Remembrance Sunday service was held at 11.OOarn on November 10, going strai9ht on to the cerernony at the War Memo¥ial afterwards,. 8 short ¢erèmony was also hèld at the War Memorial al 81.00am on the 11 November. The Lights Switch on Carol Service at the end of November and Ihe Christmas Eve Christingle Service look place as usual and attracted hi9h numbers of worslNppers. Gmwing in Falth Sludy groups have been held during the year across ihe benefice,. during Lent the Christian Aid study series 'Act on P()vety' took place, and a core group has continued to meet and discuss is6ues of both local and global poverty. The Pilgrim course on The Creed took place during the late spring and summor, and St M8rk's Gospel was the theme for study groups in the aulumn- 811 of these, along wilh additional seasonal services serve lo deepen arKI grow our faith. R•spondlng to Human Need The cleryy ragularfy visit and give Comrnunion lo people at home, and during Ihe year a small group has been Sel up to co-ordinale visits from members of the congregation to those who for various reasons are no longer able lo cA)me to Church, or who are unwell. We hope this will continue to grow $0 that, ev¢n in thi$ very supportive cornmunity, we can be confident th* no-one is left out, and that everyone is kept In touch with church lrfe. Untrf reGentty. resident$ al Amstrong House have had regular vlslts from Reader Emeritus Carole Field. THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH PCC MEMBERS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 On the wider scale there have been several ￿$h collections for different charittes. to¢al, national and global, including over £1,000 for Ihe Children's Society on Chrislrnas Eve, £350 for Ihe Royal British Le9lon on Remembrance Sunday and £200 for Harvest for Ml3n9wa following Harvest Festival. RegL*lar donattons ar8 made lo Berwick Food sank. Offering a Prayerful and Hospltable Space lorall thosè who enter the Church Bvllding St ￿d3￿,$ Church and Crypl continue to attract many visitors tr)roughoul the year, and appreciative comrnent5 8rÈ frequently found in ths visilorfs book. Volive candles are lit every day of the year, and prayer requests are made. St Oswald's Chapel has become a more obvious worship space, and the mu&c sy5teffl In the Chancel has beon designed to emphasise its PUFpose as a space for prayerful reflection. By the end of 2023, after the PCC had Spent a lol of time considering the possibility of installing an accessible toilet, an ordinary toll&l, Improved kitchen facTlities and faculty had been granted and other permissions were being soughl. An Environmental Agency perrnit was granted In June 2024 and work began in September An archaeologist was engaged lo be present whlle all exterior digging took place and the trench arch was constructed without any 5ignificanl archaeologica disc￿Ve{be$_ The work wa5 cornpleled by the end of November, and has greatly enhanced our ability to offer hospilality to visitors at services and events. During the year the regular maintenance programme continued. which ensores that the Church building remains a safe spacè for all. Additional WO￿ was catyied out to the 5tonewor* as specffjied in the five yeaty building report (Quinquennial Report} frorn our architect. A resource forthe Whole Community During the year St Aldan's hosted a variety of different events, irKludin9 several concerts, belkringer vidls and lunch lor a p05t-wedding party. The Church and Crypt are open every day. and are visited by louiists and pilgrims. school groups and loeal people who come in for a few moments ol prayer and slillne$5. Both the visitors, book and the Prayer book show rnany appreoative comments. The Accessing Aidan project attracts individual and group vi$itor5 and hosts talks and school visits. The addition of tollel and upgraded kitchen fatilibes wlll significantly improve our capadty lo offer hospitsllty to people at events, services and p￿-arranged visits. THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH PCC MEMBERS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 None of this w04Jld rnt be possible wilhout the many people who hglp look after St Aidan's. especially Gilllan Bardgett. our Churchwarden, as well as the flower le3m, the 58cri51an5. the sidesteam, those who read, and who serve lea and coffee after the servi¢&s, thanks are due to everyone who volunteer5 in these ways. It is one of the features of Sl Aidan's th81 many peop￿ from the village and beyond who do not attend services ao involved 8s volunteers in a number of ways and their help is greatly appreGiated. Deanerysynod Two mernber5 of the PCC sil on the Bamburgh & Glendale Deanery Synod. Thi6 provides the PCC wilh a link with the Chur¢he$ around us, Bnd also with the Diocese as a whole. It also recewes reports frc>M the General Synod. Amongst the items discussed this year has been the Deanery Plan, a￿d the challenges posed by the Diocese's need lo reduce clergy nurnber5. However. the Dèanery as a whole has become more cohesive and Synod 16 also discussing ways of worshipping arml working logether. Safeguardlng The PCC has cornplied with the duty to have due regard lo the House ol Bishop's guidance in safeguardlng children and vulnerable adults, under section S of the Safeguardin9 and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 This includes Policy and PraCt￿e 9uid8nce. St Aidan'5 Bamburgh has had no Safeguardlng Issues lo report for 2024. Safeguarding 15 on every PCC meeting agenda. The national Safeguarding Dashboard is in use. and policy fequiremenls are brought to the PCC on a regular basis. As requested by the Newcastle Diocese. St Aidan's has maintained ihe Safeguarding Dashboard at Level 3. 'Promolin9 a Safer Church. infomalion is displayed as required, givlng names and contact detail5. THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH PCC MEMBERS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 Financial Review In 2024, lor the General Fund, total incorne amounted to £74,04112023". £76,7(￿) and lot31 expendilvre lo £63,871 {2023'. £e1.046}, iesulb.ng in a surplus for the year of £10,17012023.' surplus of £15,e61}- As the figures indicale, foi the General Fvnd. income in 2024 was £2.665 le55 than 2023. Some of this reduclion is attributable lo 3 decrease in planned giving (from £13,500 10 £12.7401. with the number of planned givers reducing from 23 to 21 during the course of the year. The amounl received via collecllons from Church SeNices also fell from £9,734 to £e,363. of whi(* £3,054 was from the contactless plate. Part of Ihe reduction is because the accounts for 2023 included the Christmas Coll8¢lion for 2023. whereas the Christmas Collection for 2024 w35 banked in 2025. The amount of other non-reeurring giving increased 19 £17,154 from £15,592. The primary source$ of this income are."- {al the eonta¢lless machine in the Church from which income increased again Ilrom £8.845 to £11.3881 despite a new ¢onla¢lless machine being installed so that ¢onta¢Ale55 receipts could be distinguished donations lo the Church and donotions received in exchange for items from Ihe btTrDkstall-, {bl direct donations, which in¢reased lo £4.474 from £3,709 (which includes a don*lon of £98910 fund the purchase of the new conlacN855 rnachinel.. and 1¢) the revenue from the automaton m8chino Iwhith reduced from £1,610 to £1,292) The in¢ome tsx recovered was higher than last year (from £6,557 10 £7.3131 and il 15 hoped that Ihis amounl can be in￿eased as the new contactless machine lakes gift aid inforrnation land this will hopefully not adversely impacting our ability to daim the maximum available amount under Ihe Gift Aid Small DonatK)Tr Scheme IGASDSII. There wa5 also a legacy of£2.500 {2023.' £Nill. Ihcome w8s received lor 812023.. 71 we¢Jdings an¢J 612023.. 16) funeral or sirnilar servi￿$ in 2024. In 2024 we managed to regularise the reimbursement of fees due to the Diocese in respect of weddings and funerals as Ihe money was receivèd. so these matched receipts and payments have been excluded from the accounts, a5 required by accounting practices. This has resulted in a reduction In fees retained by the PCC Irom £8,705 10 £4,549, with a'balancing reduction, in 'Oiher payment8, from £5.971 to £655. THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH PCC MEMBERS, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 Monpy put in thè box built into the bookshelves, money raised that is difectly attributable lo the Paiish Magazine and incom8 from th*'Easy Fundraising, web service is allocated to fundraising activitie5. This mount reduced from £2,157 to £1,309. All receipts into Ihe'black bo* that are rhot in a gift aid envelope are attiibuted as trading activiiies from the 'bookstall' on the tables by it. Trading activiiies also includes receipts from the Castle 5ellin9 copies of the Fur5ter Family Tree together with receipts specified for this purpose from the new conl¥clless rnaGhine. This amount reduced from £12,369 to £12,149 in 2024. Fund¥ held with Brewin Dolphin generated investrnenl income of £10.91212023= £9,2831_ For the General Fund, expenditure in 2024 was £985 morE Ihan 2023. The significant reduction in the Mission Giving amount (from £2,118 10 £5501 is partly because the 2023 accounts included the donation5 to the Children's Soaety following the Christingle ServiTr in 2023 which have historiGally been paid by cheque. The donation related lo the Christingle Service in 2024 was rnade by bank transfer in 2025. Donations in 2024 were made to Harvest for Mlang81£20DI and Royal Brittsh Legion1£3501. The Pafish was able to increase ils parish share ¢ontribution to £40,000 from £36,000. The vKarage costs are higher (from £949 to £5.2981 rnainty because we did not receive ihe balancing payments from tho other parishes until 2025. Mission and evangelism costs relate to the costs of servi¢es and ￿mained stable (from £1,241 to £1.5221. as did the Church running expenses Ilrom £3,320 to £1,582) and the Church ulilily bills {frorll £8.896 10 £8,4751_ As mentioned above, the other payments amount was signrficanlly reduced because of the ex¢lu$ion of th8, reimbursernents to the Dio¢ese. The cost Of fundraising activities relates to the costs for Ihe Parish Magazine {£1701, the cost of wine purchased for fund raisin9 events1£1841 and TENS licences for events {£631. The costs of trading ￿lateS tr) the printing costs for the items for sale in the bookBlall, where rnore stock was required as it had been Tun down in 2023 (from £2.179 10 £3,932). In 2024, £116 wa5 recefved into the ChuT¢h Fabri¢ Fund from the Bamburgh Heritage Fund in connection with some costs inGurFed in respect of the bell ringer. The remainder of the Church Fabric Fund was used to cover part of the costs of the Ouinquennial repairs. This work was undertaken between April and October of 2024 and involved repairs to the Tower battlernenl parapets and west wall buttresses and the east and north external wall faces of the ToweT, the Bell Chamber openings, th6 Chancel west gable upsland wall and east gable, the Nave upslarld wall$, the Sijulh Transept gable wall, the South Aisle south wall and we51 wall buttress, the Boiler Hovse, thè North Aisle wall head and the Entrance gates. The lotsl ¢ost ol thè works w85 £109,268, inclusi¥e of VAT, to the slone mason5. Cla551¢ M8sonry ltsf which 811 but the final instalment ol £2,732 was paid in 20241 and a further £3,420 In Architect's fees lol which all but £700 was paid in 2024}. A application for a grant undef the DCMS listed places of worship scherne in respect of 99% 01 the VAT paid has been successful in 2025 THE PARISH OF ST. AIDAN, BAMBURGH PCC MEMBERS. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 In 2024, the Memorial Fund had a total income of £4.78412rJ23.. £5.4551 and total expenditure of £5,629 12023'.£7.9331 resuhing in a deficit of £84512023-. defiot of £2,478). All income from the votive stands in Ihe Church is attributed lo the Mernorial Fund and this incume fell in 2024 (from £5,415 10 £4,664). A further £120 was raised frorn the memorial book. The votive costs decreased significantty (from £2.480 10 £1.2191 a5 Gill and Andy have done an excellent job of sourcing these from the supermarkets ol Northurnberfand. The c05tS ol cutting the grass In the ehurthyafd a￿ paid by the Memorial Fund and these increase