Tha Parlsh of St Mary's, Hlgher Brlxham In the Mission Community of Brixham, Churston Ferrers, Galmpton and Kingswear Annual Report and Flnanclal Statements of the Parochial Church Councll For the year ended 31st De￿mber 2024 Team Rector: Revd. Dr Philippa Bellows (appointed Novemb8r 24) Team Vicar: Vacancy Bankers: Santsnder plc. Bootle, Merseyside Independent Examiner Mr l A Webb ACMA. CIMA. MCIM Grosvenor House, 1 New Road. Brixham, Devon TQ5 8LZ St Mary's Church is a registered charlty with the Charity Commission No: 1208262 The Parochial Church Councll of St Mary's Church, Hlgher Brfxham Annual Report for the year ended 31•t Decembèr 2024 Alm and Purpose St Mary's Parochial Church Councll (the PCC) has, since August 2023, the responsibilty of promoting, in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, during this period of interregnum. As well as the Church itself, which is a Grade l Listed Building, the PCC is also responsible for maintaining the Church Hall. ObJectlvés and Activities The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our Church, and to become part of our parish family. When planning our aclivities, the PCC ha$ Considered the Charity Conimission's guidance on public benefits, and particulady the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. Our services and worship put faith into practi through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. We ty to enable ordinary peopk to live out their faith as part of our park8h family, through: Worship and prayer: learning about the Gospel and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus. Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish; and Mission and outreach work. To facilitate this work. it is vital that V￿ mainlain the fabric of both the Church and the Hall. Achievements and Perfom7ance Worshlp and Prayer The PCC is keen to offer a range of 8ervi¢e8. not only on Sundays, but also during the week. that our community will find both beneficial and spirrtually fulfilling. For example, Wednesday morning services of Holy Communion or Morning Worship provide a traditional form of service, Morning Prayer on Monday mornings provides a tbme of refiection, whi18t the main Sunday Service is livelier. We have been SUC￿$sful in wel¢oming new members to our Church, and every set>)nd Sunday of the month we have a Family Worship Servi￿. At present the new electoral roll is being re-done and the number of pari8hSoners on the Electoral Roll is not known. As well as our regular services, we enable our communty to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. There were 2 weddings and 28 funerals during the year. Those who are no longer able to come to Church are not forgotten. There is a team of trained pastoral visitors to take communion to these congregants. We also have several li￿nSed lay readers. Some of our LLM'S and congregation members have trained, as Anna Chaplains and Anna Friends to offer spiritual support in later life to our more elderly parishioners. Deanary Synod Two members of the PCC sit on the TO￿aY Deanery Synod. Mrs. Susan Francis and Mrs. Lesley Roberts. This provides the PCC with a link with the churches around us and wrth the Diocese as a whole. It also receives reports from General Synod which usually meets 34 times per year. Church Fabric The fabric of the building still needs considerable repairs. but plans have been drawn up for major alterations and VIE are currently still going through the prO￿sS of fund-raising and obtaining permission for these allerations to take place. Our ChurGh is a Grade 1 listed building so any repairs or alterations must be carefully considered. Mlsslon and Evangellsm Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. The Mission Action Plan includes opportunities for fund-raising efforts, and we regularly consider ways of supporting charities, both local and overseas. This year for our Lent appeal we raised over £600 for Shelterbox. We are now the main collection point for the Qperation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal each year. and this year we have received, checked and packaged 725 shoeboxes. This is over 100 more boxes than 2023. Parishioners, schools & local colleges donated a considerable amount of money and filled boxes as well as items to fill empty boxes such as warm cbthing, personal care items and toy8. Many people volunteered to help fill, check and pack boxes which will go to war-torn or third world countries. Our thanks go especially to Lindsay Wlliams and Hilary Hyde for all their dedication and hard work in organising Ihis very special event. Pastoral Care Our Messy Church organisers hard eath month running the group for over 30 children, arranging activities, and giving them and their parents a meal prior to going home. Thanks go to Lindsay Imlliams and Lesley Roberts, the organisers, as well as all the other helpers for continuing this work for our after-school children. All are CRB checked There is a180 a weeldy meeting for the Mummy and Me group, mothers With young babie8, and we have a Youth Group which meets monthly. The thurch looks after our adult members with a weekly social meeting in the ChurGh Hall on Saturday morning where drinks and usually cake are available plus lots of chat. Financlal Revlew The net results for the year were an overall excess of re￿[ptS over payments of £11,620. There was a loss of (£8,737) in our General fund and the Church Hall Fund made a loss of (£2,119). The ChU￿hyard Fund. Mission & Charty, Restoration Designated and Restricted fijnds plus the Sundry Fund accounts all had an eX￿s8 of receipts totaling £22,477. We were pleased to hear mid-year we were to be one of Ihe main recipients of a legacy from Bob Bell, part of which has been received and invested by the Diocese. Bob Bell was a former Churchwarden and treasurer who sadly passed away years ago. The contribution to the DÈocesan Parish Share was increased again and f￿ed at £34,035. This payment helps towards the cost of stipends and housing costs for the clergy. This year we have been able to maintain again the full payment, despite the heavy draln on our finance8. Reserves PolScy It is our policy to invest any S￿￿luS funds with CCLA, through the CBF chU￿h of England Deposit Fund. their Investment Fund units, and their Property Fund units. The Financial statements which foltow have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations. Our grateful thanks go to lan Webb Accountants for their work on our accounts. Safeguardlng The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to comply with the House of Bishops, guidan￿ on safeguarding chiklren and vulnerable adults). Voluntsers The members of the PCC would like to thank all our volunteers who work so hard to make our Church a lively and vibrant communty. Thanks go especially to our two Churthwardens, Mr Roger Holtom and Mrs Susan Francis, for all their exceptional hard work during this year. The PCC also wishes to express grateful thanks to the retired ctergy who have stepped into the breach during the interregnum. including Revd Canon Chris Malkinson. Revd Pam theeler, Revd Steve Betson, Revd lan Blyde and Revd JOY￿ Williams. Thanks also go to our Associate Priest, Revd Angela Sumner, and Licensed Lay Ministers, who have done much to help keep the Church moving forward. Structure, Govemance and Management We were extremely delighted to V￿lcOme Revd. Dr Philippa Bellows as our new Team Rector in November 2024, following a tengthy intsrregnum. The method of appointment of PCC members 18 set out in the Church Representation Rules. The Council Comprises the Incumbent, the Churchwardens, a representative of the Licensed Lay Ministers, those elected to the Deanery Synod, and other members who are elected at the Annual Parothial Church Meeting by those on the Electoral Roll. Members of the congregation are aNvays 8ncouraged to join the Electoral Roll. and to Consider standing for election to the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concem and Importan￿ in the parish, and for all financial matters. The full PCC met most months during the year. and they have a number of sub committees. each dealing with a particular aspect of parish life. These include Worship. Mission and Outreach, Buildings and Finan￿. and Youth Work. Each report to the full PCC with th8 minutes of their meetings. Adminlstratlve Inforniation The Church is situated in Drew Street. Higher Brixham and is part of the Brixttam Mission Community within the Diocese of Exeter. The Corresponden￿ address is via Mr David Roberts of 13 Smardon Avenue, Brixham TQ5 8JN who is the PCC sec￿tary. The PCC is a body corporate {PCC Powers Measure 1956. and the Church Representation Rules 2006) and a Charity excepted from registration with the Charity Commission. The following PCC Members were elected on the 21 April 2024. All previous Members stood again for the PCC. and three new members were elected. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powe￿ Measure 1956, and the Church Representation Rules 2022) and a Charity registered with the Charity Commission under No: 1208262. Team Roctor Revd Dr Philippa Bellows (instituted on 18 November 2024) Team Vlcar Vacancy Self&upporting Revd Angela Sumner Churchwardens Mr Roger Holtom - Vice