## **Annual Parochial Church Meetings:**
## **St Peter’s Walsden – 27th April 2025 and**
**St Mary’s Todmorden, with St Michael’s Cornholme Sunday 27th April 2025**
## **A: Cross Benefce Reports:**
## **1: Vicar and Chair of PCCs of St Peter’s Walsden and St Mary’s Todmorden**
**Annual Report for 1[st] January to 31[st] December 2024 – St Peter’s Walsden and St Mary’s Todmorden with St Michael, Cornholme**
## **Charity Names: The PCC of St Peter’s Walsden - Charity No. 1208728 and The PCC of St Mary’s Todmorden with St Michael’s Cornholme - 1208288**
## **Addresses:**
## **St Peter’s Church, Church Walk, Walsden OL14 6QU St Mary’s Church, White Hart Fold, Todmorden OL14 7BD**
**Constitution:** Both Charities are established under the PCC (Powers) Measure 1956[1] and governed according to the Church Representation Rules[2] as revised from time to time in accordance with the Synodical Governance Measure 1969.[3] Although they are each independent charities each PCC is also a part of a combined Benefice, meaning that they share a vicar.
Both parishes are also part of the Church of England Diocese of Leeds, with intermediate oversight by the Bishop of Huddersfield, the Archdeacon of Halifax and within the Deanery of Halifax and the Calder Valley.
## **Trustees: The trustees elected at the Annual meetings in 2024 were:**
**St Peter’s:** Mark Johnstone elected as Churchwarden, Rachel Grey, Kieran Turner, Andrea Parnell, Suzanne Oulton, Bethan Wallis. The vicar is an ex officio member and chairs PCC meetings. Rev Nancy White was an ex officio member, as an NSM priest until she chose to resign in July 2024.
Rachel Grey is the PCC secretary for St Peter’s and Suzanne Oulton is St Peter’s Treasurer.
**St Mary’s with St Michael’s** : Jonathan Greenwood and Janette Murray elected as Churchwardens; John Tattersall, Karen Windle, Mike Tull, David Jackson, Wendy Green, Lynn Stansfield, Mike Fiddling, Derek Underwood, Luke Greenwood and Diana Tremayne were elected as PCC members, although Diana is also an ex officio member as a member of General Synod. Rev John Flood is also an ex officio member as a PTO priest. Janet Milner was co-opted as PCC Secretary, with support during the year from Luke Greenwood and Jan Murray. The Vicar is an ex officio member and Chairs all PCC meetings. David Jackson served as Treasurer for the full year.
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Lynn Stansfield serves as the Parish Safeguarding Officer across the Benefice.
Rev Dr Catherine Shelley was licensed as Vicar for both parishes in January 2024, meaning that she chaired PCC meetings for the whole of 2024.
**Neither PCC has any employees** but both St Peter’s and St Mary’s have engaged cleaners on a sessional basis. The cleaner for St Peter’s finished her role in July 2024, after the closure of St Peter’s Church building. St Mary’s cleaner, Bobbie Smith, retired in December 2024 and was replaced by a team from Calderdale Cleaners.
Each parish also engaged organists on a sessional basis. Chris Tait played each Sunday at St Peter’s Walsden until the closure of the Church. Tim Benjamin played for most services at St Mary’s, with back-up when absent from Chris Sawer, Matthew Murray and Chris Tait.
In addition to the parish priest across the Benefice the parishes are also served by Rev John Flood, Rev Nancy White, Rev Sandy White as clergy and Mark Johnstone and Jan Murray as Readers.
Richard Storah has continued to serve as **Quinquennial Architect** to both parishes.
## **Policies, Risk Assessments and Training:**
St Mary’s PCC continued a process of policy development and accompanying risk assessments during the year and policies are now in place for:
Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Policy. Food Safety procedures, particularly with reference to the Crypt Café. Equal Opportunities Lone Working Finance and Risk Management Maintenance Volunteering Environment
St Peter’s PCC has been dealing with the aftermath of the closure of their building so there has not been the capacity for Policy Development but the Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment policies remain in place.
In addition, both PCCs are aware of the need to develop policies for the management and maintenance of the churchyards for which they respectively bear responsibility, namely St Peter’s at St Peter’s, Walsden and Cross Stone and Christchurch at St Mary’s. Work with their respective Friends organisations is ongoing on policies, maintenance and managing the churchyards.
## **Training:**
PCC members at St Mary’s have been undertaking the relevant Safeguarding training for their roles and DBS checks are now complete for St Mary’s PCC. Crypt Café volunteers have also undertaken safeguarding and food safety training. **Objects, Activities, Achievements and Partnerships:**
Each PCC is established for the benefit of the public both within its parochial area[4] and for any from further afield who wish to visit the churches or attend
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activities in the churches and ancillary areas eg the Crypt, the Churchyards and wider communities.
The purposes of both PCCs are Christian Mission as part of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion. We seek to live out the mission priorities of the Anglican communion by welcoming and baptizing new members; proclaiming and living out the Gospel, serving our community, seeking social justice and living sustainably in creation. Both parishes also aim to live out their mission through a commitment to inclusion and welcome for all who wish to attend worship, services (including baptisms, weddings, blessings and funerals) and a range of community activities.
St Peter’s has the bronze Eco-Church award as evidence of living out their commitment to sustainability. During the year St Mary’s has achieved an EcoChurch Silver Award. St Mary’s is a member of the Inclusive Church network.
Regular weekly activities across the parishes include:
## **Normal Weekly Services in the Benefce:**
|**Sunday**|**8:00am**
**9:30am**
**11:00am**|**8:00am**
**9:30am**
**11:00am**|Said Holy Communion at St Mary’s Church
Holy Communion Service at St Peter’s
Church, till July 2024, then at various venues
but now at The Mill, Walsden
Holy Communion Service at St Mary’s Church
and online|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Tuesday**|**10:00am**||HolyCommunion at St Mary’s Church|
|**Wednesday**|**2:00pm**||Holy Communion at St Michael and All Angels
Church|
|||**Regular Weekly Events in the Benefce:**||
|**Monday**|
**9:30am**
**12.00**||
Playgroup at St Peter’s Church, to July 2024
Now at the Mill, Walsden
Family Dinners, fortnightly at St Mary’s|
|**Tuesday**|**2:00-4pm**||St Mary’s open,stafed byvolunteers|
|**Wednesday**|**10:30am**
**7-9pm**||Hymn Practice in St Mary’s Church
Narcotics Anonymous|
|**Thursday**|**12:00-2:00pm**
**6:30pm**||The Crypt Café @ St Mary’s
Independent Living Night Life in St Mary’s
Crypt|
|**Friday**|**8:00pm**||Bell ringing practice in St Mary’s Church|
The Mission Statistics for both parishes, as reported to the national church and Diocese, are included in this Annual Report.
## _**In addition, there have been further benefice activities as follows:**_
- 9 Lessons and Carols
- Crib Services at St Mary’s and the Mill, Walsden
- The Town Carol Service
- Labyrinth for the town during Holy Week
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- Oktoberfest, Hymns and Pimms and a Christmas Fair
- School services for St Peter’s School (at St Peter’s) and Todmorden Church of England School (aka National at St Mary’s) each term for Christmas, Easter, Ash Wednesday, Harvest etc and since the closure of St Peter’s school services at St Mary’s as well.
- The Dementia Friendly carols bringing together schools across the town and older residents, particularly from the nursing homes.
- R.E. visits by National, St Peter’s, Shade, Castle Hill and Ferney Lee
- Christmas services, performances and carols by National, St Peter’s, Shade, Ferney Lee and Castle Hill
- Weekly meetings of Narcotics Anonymous
- Monthly meetings of the Trefoil Guild
- Quarterly Antiques events
- Concerts by the Folk Festival, Todmorden Choral Society, Music for the Many, the Summer Orchestra, Hebden Brass Band, Medical Aid to Palestine
- Home Communion is taken to several parishioners when they are either ill or housebound for the longer term and Communion is also taken to residents of the Waterside Care Home and Mill Read Nursing Home
The commitment to developing the use of church buildings has borne fruit in St Mary’s; sadly at St Peter’s the closure of the building has prevented this development.
A number of parishioners continue to exercise their ministry by volunteering in the wider town for example as school governors, with the foodbank, in local choirs and with Cancer UK.
There is still scope for greater use of the space for activities, both those run by the churches themselves and those run by other organisations, to generate increased revenue to sustain activities and maintain the buildings.
In addition, grant funding has been sought by both parishes, both from the Diocese and from other grant making trusts in the community. During the year grants have been received by St Mary’s from the Bishops Development Fund to develop the Crypt and the Household Support Fund, for family meals.
St Peter’s has drawn down Windfarm funding for benches in the churchyard, a large donation for a noticeboard and Bishop’s Development Funding for Volunteer Development. Further fundraising from grant makers is also anticipated in the coming year, for environmental improvements and IT development, as well as continued project work.
During the year both charities have been registered with the Charity Commission and signed up to the Parish Giving Scheme. Both charities seek to maintain reserves of three months running costs and to manage their finances through regular financial reporting and monitoring of income, expenditure, cashflow and restricted and designated funds.
## **The future:**
The closure of St Peter’s Church building has now thrown into doubt the continued separate existence of St Peter’s parish. It is hoped that there will be the option to continue to worship in Walsden, at the Mill, but consultation is
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ongoing about the best time to attract new members. However, a separate worshipping community does not necessarily need a separate PCC. So consultation is ongoing about the future not only of the building but also of the PCC.
This consultation will also need to take into account St Mary’s with St Michael’s and their capacity to take on any new responsibilities. The process of developing sharing of functions, experience, expertise and resources will continue either way.
## **Trustees Responsibilities:**
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Report and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity ( Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the trust deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those Financial Statements, the trustees are required to:
- a) Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
- b) Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
- c) Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- d) Prepare the Financial Statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Church will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose, with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enables them to ensure that the Financial Statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity 9 Accounts and Reports) Regulations and the provisions of the governing document. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the church and all financial information included on the website.
Rev Dr Catherine Shelley Vicar and Chair of Trustees
19[th] March 2025
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## **2: Joint Benefice of Todmorden with Cornholme and Walsden Safeguarding Report for the Parish Review 2024 St Mary’s Church and the Joint Benefice of Todmorden with Cornholme and Walsden Safeguarding Report for the Parish Review 2025**
St Mary’s and St Peter’s take safeguarding seriously. We want everyone to feel welcome and safe. The care and protection of children, young people and adults involved in church activities is the responsibility of everyone who participates in the life of the church. Safeguarding is always an item on the agenda at both PCC meetings.
The PCC have adopted and signed the policy statement Promoting a Safer Church (House of Bishops’ 2017) which is reviewed and agreed annually. Information recommended by the diocese is also displayed in church.
During the year PCC members have undertaken Basic and Foundation training, either online or in a face to face session held with Crypt Café volunteers and led by Rev Catherine. Sunday School and Family Meals volunteers have also undertaken online safeguarding training. PCC members and some volunteers, eg Sunday School and the new Family Meals project, have been DBS checked as well.
All licensed leaders have undertaken the Leadership Level safeguarding training with the Diocese and have also had DBS checks renewed where needed.
We are looking for a new PSO (Parish Safeguarding Officer), there is lots of information on the Diocese website and there are different levels of on-line training available, it is a useful way of allowing more people to increase their knowledge.
With plans and strategies in place there are still areas for ongoing work, as follows:
- Review parish procedures to continue identifying areas for improvement
- Encourage more volunteers to do on-line training
- Embed safeguarding into the day-to-day activities of the church
## _**Lynn Stansfield, Benefice Safeguarding Officer**_
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## _**SAFEGUARDING Policy for Review and Approval**_ **St Mary’s Todmorden with St Michael’s Cornholme and St Peter’s Walsden SAFEGUARDING POLICY: PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH**
**Safeguarding Policy:** The following policy was reviewed at APCMs held on 14[th] (St P) & 21[st] April 2024 (St M) In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy our Church is committed to: Promoting a safer environment and culture
- Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church
- Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
- Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons
- Caring pastorally for all members, staff and volunteers as well as project beneficiaries
- Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons
- Responding to those who may pose a present risk to others.
## **The parish will:**
- Create a safe and caring place for all,
- Have a named Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the Incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures
- Safely recruit, train and support all with responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse
- Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities whether involving children and/or adults undertaken in the name of both Parishes
- Display on the premises and on all websites the details of whom to contact with safeguarding concerns or support needs
- Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse
- Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following all relevant guidance including that of the LADO and statutory authorities, the House of Bishops’ guidance, notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and making all appropriate referrals
- Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse and when or where it occurred
- Care for and monitor any member of the community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties
- Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually
- Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practice at least annually at the Parish APCMs
Each person who works within this Church Community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this Church.
For **This Benefice has appointed Lynn Stansfield as the Safeguarding Officer.** queries or to raise **Safeguarding concerns please contact Lynn on stansfeld6@gmail.com or the Vicar on Catherine.Shelley@leeds.anglican.org or 07711 611201**
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**OR** you can contact the Diocesan safeguarding team on: **safeguarding@leeds.anglican.org** OR Office number: 0113 353 0257 **3: APCM reports – Deanery/Diocesan/General Synod**
## **Deanery Synod**
Three meetings are held each year across different churches in the Deanery. The Area Dean is Rev Robb Sutherland from Holy Trinity in Mixenden and Rev Jen Middleton has recently been appointed as Assistant Area Dean. There has been information sharing across the Deanery about training materials, community outreach projects and support across parishes.
_NB we currently have …. vacancies for representatives on Deanery Synod. This is a valuable way to get more involved across the Deanery, for more information speak to Rev Catherine or any of the current reps Jan Murray, Diana Tremayne or Mark Johnston._
## **Diocesan Synod**
Diocesan Synod meetings are also held three times a year. Currently two are online and one in person. Given the size of the diocese this is a sensible option to allow people to participate more easily.
## **The Church Overseas:**
Bishop Nick has spent some time in The Sudan, another war-torn country with a large Christian and Anglican population. He asks for our prayers for the Sudan as the current war there is damaging lives, livelihoods and the environment.
_**The environment**_ has remained an issue on the agenda, with proposals from Pontefract Deanery to challenge General Synod to invest more in poorer parishes who can’t match fund to apply for the church’s environmental grants.
## _**Barnabas Project:**_
Regular updates are given on the Barnabas project, a Diocesan project aimed at building confidence in parishes develop their mission, ministry and sustainability, in ways that are prayerful, intentional. Training of various sorts is provided within the Episcopal Areas and Rev Catherine has, at Bishop Smith’s invitation, undertaken the leadership training provided. The Benefice decided that it was not the right time to join the Re-Weave Barnabas training for Huddersfield Area as progress was beginning on LYCIG. More information about Barnabas can be found at: https://www.leeds.anglican.org/barnabas-encouraging-confdence
## _**General Synod:**_
General Synod sessions have continued to focus on changes needed around Safeguarding, Clergy Discipline, Governance and the National Church Institutions and a new Mission and Pastoral Measure and changes to committees that select new Bishops. Reports have also been received about Prayers of Love and Faith, Racial Justice, Working Class ministry and Younger church members. All are
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complex, generate challenging headlines and will involve ongoing work before the next meeting of General Synod in July.
Rev Catherine has been asked to serve on the Revision Committees for the guidance to go with the new Clergy Conduct Measure and the new Mission and Pastoral Measure. The latter invitation is because of frontline experience of closing churches in this benefice!
If you would like to talk more about General Synod matters please do speak to Rev Catherine or Diana Tremayne.
_Catherine Shelley and Diana Tremayne,_ _**General Synod Representatives**_
## **B: Reports for St Peter’s, Walsden**
## **1: Church Wardens’ Report: St Peter’s, Walsden**
This has been the most challenging year in any wardens life. To have your church building condemned is a significant blow.
It has been difficult to re-establish a worshipping community hence our decision that when the church closes, the Parish will also close.
We have been helped by the kindness of the cricket club and the Mill in holding services in the parish and village of Walsden.
It has been a bit of a roller coaster of emotions, a high point was we had a good attendance at the crib service, a low when when we had to decide not to have an Easter Service. Another high point was the birdwatch, not many of us but some great birds seen.
The community group offers some long term hope for the building though not for the parochial structure.
The future is quite opaque as to the time frame as the byzantine processes of the wider church grind on to the inevitable formal closure.
We have no real idea as to what levels of worship we are able to offer to our village or what the village needs so prayer and thought needs to happen.
## School Governor: St Peter’s
The school has done well over the last year or so with a positive Siams inspection after the positive Ofsted one the year before.
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The school has started doing a couple of all day RE events each focusing on the primary festivals of each term, these have been really good to be involved in. They are adapting to the lack of our building in various ways.
As a governor I have been involved in recruitment of staff which has been an interesting experience.
I also have a regular booking with year 6 where they ask all the hard questions!
## **Mark Johnstone**
## **2: St Peter’s Walsden, Electoral Roll Officers Report –**
7 members have returned forms to be entered onto the new electoral roll
## **Mark Johnstone**
## **3: Treasurer’s Report: St Peter’s Walsden**
## **To Follow Suzanne Oulton – Independent Examiner: TBA**
## **C: Reports for St Mary’s Todmorden**
## **1: Church Wardens’ Report: St Mary’s, Todmorden**
It’s difficult to believe that we’ve come to the end of another year in our church life, but our annual meeting gives us chance to take stock after a busy year at St. Mary’s. As always, our thanks go to everyone who has contributed or helped over the last year; your input, whether great or small, helps us to safeguard and grow this church for the worshipping community and social events.
Massive thanks to Rev. Catherine for her mammoth dedication and service. We can all appreciate just how much energy and effort she puts into everything she does. Coupled with her huge practical knowledge of the faculty system and canon law, she is an inspiration with her work ethic.
## Fabric
We’ve continued our programme of upgrades and maintenance work during the year. The building, whilst still needing work, is in good condition. Major works undertaken during the year are;
- Replacement of the crypt water feed
- Replacement of the ceiling lights and installation of a new plastered ceiling in the crypt
- Replacement of the range in the crypt, after a productive lifespan of 25 years!
- Repointing of the nave and other areas & clearing of the gutters.
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- Works to be undertaken this year include;
- Installation of new Wi-Fi cabling - faculty approved and funding received from the BDF
- Replacement and improvement of the nave and vestry lighting – faculty approved and funding received from the BDF
As last year, the future of the church organ will have to be tackled at some stage. it is currently working (of a fashion), but we will have to look at it, when the time comes.
## Congregation life
Our congregation is happily beginning to grow, with an increase a few Sundays ago, of over 50% on our interregnum congregation size! With new people come new rewards, skills and challenges, we welcome them and hope to grow in faith as a community. Our range of services is widening , with our monthly joint LGBTQ+ service attracting steady numbers as well as providing an outlet for worship for those who wouldn’t or don’t feel comfortable attending our other services. Our reflective service is also attracting a regular group of worshippers.
There has been a lot of work preparing for delivering quality children’s work and the team is working together and we are looking forward to growing this ministry. Sam Johnston is now working with St. Mary’s to develop volunteering and ways of being involved in the community of our beautiful church, We are signed up to Rest Less, an age inclusive approach, all are welcome and you don’t need to be a church-goer to help. We are now also an Eco-Church and have achieved the A Rocha Eco Church Silver Award.
## Fund raising
We’ve had many fundraisers and social events over the past 12 months, all have which have been a great success! From Hymns & Pimm’s to Oktoberfest and the Christmas Fayre, we had a lot of visitors and lots of fun!
We’ve many more planned for this year including all of the above, as well as a Summer Fayre in June and Haunting Tales in October. Details will be published nearer the time for all our events.
We both take pride in being your church wardens and the progress we have all made this year. As we move forward, we thank you for your love and support and look forward to working together and sharing the gospel message with all.
## Jan & Jonathan
## **Jonathan Greenwood and Jan Murray**
## **2: St Mary’s Todmorden, Electoral Roll Officers Report –**
Electoral Roll figures for the APCM as at 13[th] April 2025 are 88 names who wish to be entered in the electoral roll.
Since the last APCM there have been 6 deletions, two of whom have moved away and 4 of whom have sadly died. There have been 6 additions during 2024.
## _**Sheila Fiddling, Electoral Roll Office St Mary’s**_
## **3: St Mary’s Church, Todmorden**
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## **Treasurer’s Report for the year to 31 December 2023**
St Mary’s Church, Todmorden End of year Accounts 2024 Treasurer’s Report
During 2024, total receipts on our unrestricted funds were £51897. The total spending from these funds amounted to £45501.
The net result for the year is an excess of receipts over payments of £6396. In comparison, the net result for 2023 was an excess of payments over receipts of £6227.
In 2024 there was a small increase in planned giving, a significant increase in collections taken at services, and a notable contribution via digital giving on line and through Sumup. No tax for the fiscal year 2023/24 was recovered in 2024 but will appear in the accounts for 2025.
Other activities which generate funds display an increase of 64%, due to a major increase in funeral fees received and the contribution made by our fund raising activities (including rental of our building by other organisations, and our own social events). Payments from unrestricted funds over 2024 show an overall reduction of 15%, with a large reduction in our energy costs compared with 2023. General running cost and maintenance have been less in 2024.
We continue to pay for insurance and utilities costs in respect of St Michael’s but this is regularly refunded by the Diocese.
Our Parish Share payments to the Diocese, which contribute to clergy stipends and general diocesan expenses, continue as a fraction of the requested annual amount, about one third in 2024.
Receipts into our restricted funds totalled £23532, and payments £7984. During 2024 there has been an increase in the number of individual restricted fund accounts, with some previously separate funds being brought into our church accounting system while other funds have been established in relation to new activities which are part of our work within the community. The individual funds are detailed in the accounts. 2024 has seen a major change in our banking systems, with a transfer from Virgin Money to The Co-op Bank and the adoption of on-line banking which gives significant advantages in ease and efficiency. With the change we now have a single bank account which includes both non restricted and restricted funds.
There were some changes, in late 2023, in the management of our CCLA Investment account which have resulted in our displayed investment income during 2024 being for only three quarters of the year, hence a small reduction in comparison with 2023.. This situation will automatically correct in 2025.
It is pleasant to be able to report on a currently improving financial situation but I continue to appeal to those who pay Income Tax to be sure to register with us for Gift Aid
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tax refunding wherever possible. This refund will continue to be a substantial contribution to our annual income.
David Jackson
## **St Mary’s Todmorden, End of Year Accounts for 2024: Sent Separately**
## _**David Jackson, Treasurer St Mary’s; Independent Examiner David Yao**_
## **Summary of the Visioning Day Feedback:**
**Attendance:** 56 people attended in all, including 13 members of the PCC **;** the three other PCC members gave apologies because of work, family commitments or illness. In addition, the following attended for all or some of the day:
18 members of the wider congregation ie not PCC
2 members from St Peter’s
- 4 members of the Methodist Church; 1 member of the interfaith group
1 Town Councillor,
The Town Crier,
- 2 non-church foodbank volunteers, who also volunteer for the Family Meals
- 2 members from the Refugee group meeting down the corridor
2 relatives of church members
1 Folk Festival volunteer, who is also involved in Incredible Edibles And a number of other individuals with no known affiliations.
Four other people also gave apologies as they were injured or away with work.
Four people gave feedback via questionnaire or in response to the Church exhibition
**Discussion Groups:** There were over 12 people for each of the Discussion groups and the largest group, discussing Inclusion, had over 20 people involved at its peak. All the discussion groups were energetic, with lots of ideas and each ran over time.
## **Highlights of the day include:**
- Strong appreciation for the church’s welcome
- Statistic like the increasing interest in the Bible and religious books, which have seen the highest rise in sales in the past year
- Younger people are more open to religion than older generations
- The importance of reaching out to welcome people back to faith eg after a bereavement, or other things that have taken them away from church
- The value of Kindness and welcome eg from the Gospel choir
- The need to be People driven and constantly aware of inclusion and welcome
- The value of projects and partnerships that build a common purpose and mission, the café being a good example.
- Gaps identified are projects for young people, in whole town and the need for more strategic and expanded approach to pastoral care across all age
## **1. One exercise celebrated the church’s Partnerships, identifying the following:**
- **Crypt café** – partnership via volunteers, churches
- **Calderdale Council** – bereavement, education, conservation and planning, funding, Mayoral office,
- **Family Meals** – Calderdale, Crowdfunding and BDF funds – Foodbank
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- **Independent Living** – as organisation and with Saxons, Michael and Peter Kelly
- **Trefoil** – several St Mary’s members, plus other churches in valley and no church
- **Music:** Folk festival, Music for the Many, Orchestra, Tod Choral, 3VGC, Hebden Band, Bell Ringers, miscellaneous including Evensong group
- **Book Festival**
- **Faith:** Interfaith group, Churches Together, St James Hebden Bridge, Deanery
- **Church Schools –** National and St Peter’s
- **Other schools –** Christmas and RE could be developed
- **Nursing Homes –** Waterside and Millread
- **Partnerships to develop:**
U3A – 050 Calderdale – Local Business – Tourist Info – Incredible Edibles
**Misc:** Voices of Happy Valley, Park Run, Tod Support
## **Strengths identifed in the Wall Charts and Groups included:**
- Approachable vicar, always someone to talk to; welcoming and accommodating
- Crypt Café – Food - ecumenical work –
- Welcoming – mentioned by several people
- Building location and setting
- Town values of Kindness –
- Rainbow services –
- Choir/Music
## **Opportunities:** Chances to Join a variety of groups eg singing,
- Bible Study/Exploring Faith – and more chances for discussion groups
- Quiet time – contemplative prayer groups
- Baking and celebrating
- Potential for Youth Group(s) and Youth Music groups
- Fundraise for re-engagement and outreach – including a Youth Worker
- Inclusion – cater for more diverse needs and groups
- Develop openness, acceptance and valuing people
- Greater accessibility in terms of disability and overcoming other barriers
- More diverse ways of worship
- More empowered congregations – Audit of gifts and talents
- Spiritual development –
- Partnership working – other faiths and organisations
- Children - Youth Club and Youth Worker
## **Weaknesses:**
- Communications could improve to promote events better; one person attending claimed the Visioning Day was first time they had heard of events and open days
- Cliquiness – people worried about being judged
- Youth work and accessibility for children
- School links – Curricular and Extra curricular
- Engagement – Food?
- Lack of connection with strengths
- Communication via social media, other publicity and visibility
**Threats:** none noted on spreadsheets on walls but in practice threats include:
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- Age profile,
- Pressures on funding and volunteer resources;
- Vicar can’t do everything, risk of spreading too thin
- Respecting peoples’ spaces – Religiosity
- Lack of capacity – volunteers and vicar
- Lack of capacity due to lack of confidence, training or commitment
- Not using strengths of the congregation
- Rigidity eg baptism – could vary the service a bit
- Finance - National perspective shows all churches struggling
**– Perceptions** that very white, of a certain age and mostly female
- Consider how to redress the balance
- Non-judgemental - Less patriarchal
- Different congregations at St Mary’s could mean separate and divided or be a strength as have different types of service for different people – but need events that can bring together – and this can develop common purpose
15
## **Joint meeting of St Peter’s & St Mary’s, with St Michael’s: 2pm 27.04.25**
## **Note on the Future of St Peter’s Church and PCC:**
Decisions have already been made by the PCC, and Public Meeting on 25[th] November 2024, to close St Peter’s. The community group set up to see if it is possible to save the building for Community Use have also accepted that the Church can no longer repair, manage and run the building **.**
This decision has been notified to the Archdeaconry Mission and Pastoral Committee and will go to the Diocese as well, with a recommendation for closure of St Peter’s as a Church of England building and transfer to the Community Group in due course, if they can show that they have the capacity to repair, maintain and ensure use of the building.
Today’s meeting is to consider the closure of Walsden as a separate parish, with a view to its transfer to St Mary’s, as has happened previously with Christchurch, Cross Stone and St Michael’s. St Mary’s would take no liability for the Church Building because the closure will mean the building transfers to the Diocese and potentially, in due course, the Church Commissioners.
St Peter’s Churchyard will, however, remain open and has about 5 years’ worth of burials remaining in the existing Churchyard footprint. Responsibility for the Churchyard would transfer to St Mary’s, along with the income from burials and reservations. There is also help with the churchyard from the Friends of St Peter’s.
The PCC also owns the field above the Churchyard, which would also transfer to St Mary’s in case of a merger of the parishes. There has been some interest in buying this land; a strip is being sold to the Old Vicarage and another strip at the other end may be of interest to another neighbour.
If both Annual Meetings are willing to consider this merger then a recommendation can also be made to the Archdeaconry and Diocesan MPC committees.
16
## **PCC of St Mary's Church Todmorden Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2024**
## **Receipts and payments Account**
|**Receipts and payments Account**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Notes**
**RECEIPTS**
**Voluntary Receipts**
Planned Giving
Collectons at services
Other giving/voluntary receipts
Gif Aid recovered
Sumup digital giving
Receipts into Restricted funds
**Actvites for generatng funds**
Church Actvites
**(a)**
Received from 100 Club
**Other receipts**
Mission donaton (bibles for school leavers)
Investment Income (CCLA)
Grants
From Diocese re St Michaels
From St Peters re benefce costs
Powergrid fault compensaton
**Total Receipts**
**PAYMENTS**
**Church Actvites**
Parish Share
Clergy Costs
Running Expenses
**(b)**
Mission Giving & donatons
**(c)**
100 Club fund to non-restricted fund
Other payments from Restricted Funds
**Other payments**
St Michael's Utlites (refund by Diocese)
Transfer non restricted to restricted fund
**Total Payments**
**Excess of receipts over payments**
**Cash in bank 1st January 2024**
**ADD**
**Excess of receipts over payments**
**Cash in bank and in hand 31st December 2024**
**Cash in bank (Co-op Bank & CCLA)**
**Cash in hand**|**Notes**|**Co-op**
**Deposit**
**TOTAL**
**TOTAL**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Current**
**Account**
**2024**
**2023**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Account**
**(CCLA)**||
|||21791
21791
20773
5862
5861
2609
3100
3100
3894
0
0
6694
1161
1161
12432
12432
3808
13347
13347
8122
1200
1200
270
270
2390
2390
2679
11100
11100
4347
4347
4470
600
600
600
220
220||
|||51898
23532
2390
77819
53649||
|||12000
12000
12000
1535
1535
921
26882
26882
40409
661
661
59
1200
1200
6784
6784
1268
4173
4173
250
250
(appeared in**"b" "running expenses"**in 2023)||
|||45501
7984|0
53485
54657|
|||6397
15548|2390
24334
(-1008)|
||||61063
92669
n/a
2390
24334
(-1008)
**{ 51652**
**63453**
**115105 }**
92669
**{ 1899**
**1899 }**
**53551**
**63453**
**117004**
92669|
|||18336
13270
(Virgin Money#1)
(Virgin Money#3)|61063
92669|
|||||
|||6397
15548
24733
28818||
**1 (a),(b),(c) Please refer to "Further Analysis of Receipts and Payments"**
- **2 Year 2024 began with the existence of two Virgin Money accounts, Virgin No 1 and Virgin No 3. No 1 was used for non-restricted funds and No 3 for restricted funds**
**Both Virgin accounts were closed during 2024 and funds were transferred to a single account with The Co-op Bank.**
**Notes**
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the PCC of St Mary’s Church, Todmorden**
I report on the accounts of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on the following pages.
## **Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner**
The church’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed,
It is my responsibility to:
- Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- To follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioner (Under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
- To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the
Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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