St. James the Less Tath ParochAal Church Council. Inde endent Examiner s Re rt for Calender Year 2023. Havin8 checked and vuified Nailh"¢si bank statements against th¢ Rettipts and Payments spreadsheets {together ￿1th cheque I￿k stubs, paying-in counterfoils, electronic transfer Shee￿ invoices and various receipts). l am satisfied that the inforn]ation submitted to m¢ reflects an accurate account ot the PCC activities during the c￿endar year 2023. I can also wnfirni accurn¢y of the CCLA Capitsl values itemiwj on a separate schedule. l understand that an Income and Expenditure account and Balance Sheet are not required this year and I have, therefore, handed copies of my WOTkinB papers to the Tre&surer for his ietentjOD. If, how¢ver, there are issues to discuss my conlact deLwls ar¢.'- School House, School Lane, 11 ra).: Lancaster, L.42 ISQE. Tel.. 01524-221660. Derek Cwkson I￿le[￿Ddenl Examiner 12 Febnwy 2024. T•th•m P•rochMI ￿￿(h Cour Unrest￿￿ed Intomo FuDds Fund5 EndowThent As 31112 Inun)e from i)onors Collectlons- GftAk4ed non Gfft Akle(t 'StandI￿Order$- Gfft Ajded ISped•ltoleth>ns 3.Q)3.05 4.024.36 om 3.480.tXI 2,391.15 3,110.0) Income tax retovtred (Gfft Ahj itsted Placesof Worshlp Gront- DCMS Scherne- leqUfvU￿nt to .VATon lrnpfovernents Isundry donatbns IL•8•¢￿$ 'P•dsh CouncllGrani (Tatharn & ',Wennlngronl IAOS.73 I￿5.73 1.389.59 1.230.40 L2X*.40 2,050. 15.CW.(I) sL￿c 5C¢).Q) 450. 1.624.58 Headley Trustfjrnrt IDonatlons- useof chur¢h ,'FlethOsof St J•mesThe Le55 Donatlons 682.C 682K ¥76. 15.099.33 21,524.53 Intome from •pern￿n 659.lyj Fets. Weddlnp & ¢hrtstenknL.-...- FuDernls 419.IX) Churchy•rd 166h) 151kn ofurd5. p*tur•4 cushkns. Ibook 659.C•) 419.LXI 166.fJ) 1.052.WJ 142.c￿. 57.rxii 1,244 1,251.D) Incorn• From fvnd rltskni Bicon Wr•y F•ty J•ii l Str•*ten*es & F SummerS￿pp￿r Flo**r Fest￿11 lurnble ￿1￿ H•rve5t Sll Lo¢kdo** J•m 39.60 1,426. 39. L426.CQ 1.985.35 L642.62 1,361.82 122m 51.fX) 3.230.22 3,438.57 Incomefrom InvestmeTrts CBF bank Inttreit CCLA Dep05tt actount 'CCLA F4brlc Jccovnt CCLA School•¢¢tyunt .C¢LA Investment dhhjends General General F4brfE 253.55 -1.305.25 18,934.62 6.175.85 27.072AI oth•r ￿n￿me ttLA. Sthool•¢couDt Renewab￿ Heat Incent￿t SJle ol En￿>t￿ House I,WJ.16 3,478.11 3.478.11 2.875.54 49.433.63 21.051.66 1.309.16 36.089,64 Frorn banki transactKins From knfestrnefftts 22,360.82 27.072.81. 36.089.64 49.433.63 36.089.64 Stsr• 31112 Cost of Parish Mlnl Parlsh Share Wa 5.45&74 r's ex IB•refKel 1.2flJm I.2￿.¢￿) 5,2fO.(J) Churth r￿￿1￿¥XpVrf•5 El¢¢triuty IWoDd(Npf¢r ￿t￿¥s5￿Cl￿r 257Ql 257.U2 4,120.63 13,788 17 810.oj riuiwueDniil Sur -￿IrS & FIefLy￿shm1Tht%- Blomas* ￿DI￿r .'R4palrs & R•fl￿￿￿ments. Genw•l ir5 & Refurbithments- Roof Ic￿￿Ch¥•rd M•iffl•narv& Ext*rdl•A Grwn Bln Ors•nlst I ie•ll rlnw.ry f••% DBF 810.o) 2.%2.27, 1.536.% 920.47 2.934.[￿1 578.(X) 13.182.07 Fund It•l¥ni EAWI CostsfDr Swnu c￿t$for bacon bJtt1•5 Cost5for Wri F•lruterfr• Cojtsfor Chrlstrn•scak•s CostsforJ•zz & Flzi Costsforjurn￿•sI1• Costslor H•r¥uiLu 20J.O) Support cotts Newshtter 225.C ',Vlslllnud•ry IB•n•fi¢•j nsorsNp ol Ih• Bell. 0.0) AthnlnlsLr&tlon 5t&U0nvy.￿$.1￿•& wAbth• costs Churth Hlrtory bookl•ts/cardslor 'Lyl fws IAr)5.25 3.689.65 Mid M*rk•t .' V•lu• 3.689.65 Muffli>erof Num￿1 Of 5harn5 d hl•rket ' V41u• CBF Iri¥qstm•ntt 603037(X)IM COF investm•nts- Geher4141¢ 603037W2S CBF Investments- F•bric alc 603037(X)15 2L392.63 ' 124267.65 124?67.65' 21392.63 105,333.03 3.177.C 7U17.94 3.177.04 5,641.(P3 129.45 5.106.79 5.186.79 279575.18 . 229.45 4.740.76 283264.J3 , Om , 3.689.65 O.LJ) '. Z64,531.79 Oebttsr5 283264.83 264.53L79 Le55.' Crethtors 283.264.83 ." 279575.18 1 0.￿ 3.689.65 264,53L79 co nu 3VII 3J112 ovoi )JJYK)IC* TIthNn.s*J•￿eS*￿LUlfvrC.InJ9Tr C24731.07 £IU.163I* E2.56LOI £2.179.19 Éaoj £1>￿25 4LWS.15 1.21&31 EJ5.94 *A)3D33WYD T4thim 5tJwnNthDLM•PCC. JJth65 E3AJ&IO É25*55 £14J& £3J51.13 EIM97 l(L 11)3037OJJ Tilh•rty SIknNth•LwPCC FCI￿tt￿&Er•￿bJGkts1EQ1￿F￿￿fft 124J$PM É105JiaAIJ £iv31th1 £10&333n3 £JIgJ51AI 41)￿1.14 £tstt) fQX37OJJS T•th•r•,stJ￿Mlh•L1I$￿{-*1￿rk￿￿Wrt 1SJ1*79 44.7*Xh El•&OJ £l7•176 15J73.JA &42.52 £oK) 371WS StJwmsthrLth ICc.Gtr￿¥*C￿l tIiJ17.91 É6Xfj12 E&175.05 £65.6•2.tr4 £7IMK114 4•,758.15 1191,61029 t219ASI.61 -t20O31.35 £o.tsJ St. James the Less Tatham Parochial Church Council. Inde endent Examiner's Re ort for Calender Year 2023. Having checked and ¥'erified Natll'est bank statements against the Receipts and Payments Spreadsheets (together w'ith cheque book stubs. pa)"ing-in counlerfoils. elcctronic transfer sheeis, In￿'01c¢S and i'arious receipts). l am satisfied that the infomiation submitted to me reflects an accurate accoulli of the PLC aclivilies during the calendar year 2023. I can also confirni the accuracy (Trf IhL CCLA Capital i'alues itemised on a separate hedul¢. T understand ihai an Income and Expenditure accouni and klalance Sheet arc not required this year and I hatre, therefore. handed copies of my working papers lo the Tre&surer for his r¢iention. If, howev¢r, there are issues to discuss. m). contact dethils are.'_ School House, School Lane. IA'ra%'. LanLasier, L.42 8QE. Tel: 01524-221660. Derek Cook50n J* aA_ IndeE¢ndent Examiner 12 February 2024. ## **St James the Less, Lower Tatham** ## **Annual Report for the Parochial Church Council for the year ending 31[st] December 2023** St James the Less is located on Monk’s Gate, Lower Tatham, Lancaster LA2 8NH and is one of six churches within East Lonsdale Benefice in the Diocese of Blackburn. The incumbent of the East Lonsdale Benefice is Rev Jane Lee, appointed in February 2022, . The Parochial Church Council is exempted from registration with the Charity Commission. The Parochial Church Council is a Trustee of a small, registered charity: Tatham Charity – registered number 224735. The following parishioners served as members of the PCC during 2023: **John Parkinson** , **Linda Kirkby** (churchwarden and bellringer), **Paul Whatmough** (treasurer and bell ringer), **Elizabeth Atkinson** (sidesperson), **Dennis Lund, Lucy Leather, Helen Bramley, Stephen Robson** (churchwarden and Deanery Synod representative), **Margaret Wilson** (secretary) and **Kate Warburton** (Vice Chair and sidesperson). Resigning from the PCC was **Phyllis Holt** – churchwarden (not sworn in) and Deanery Synod representative and Sue Marsden. ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The PCC have complied with the duty with regards to the Guidance on Safeguarding. ## **Objectives and Activities** The PCC supports the incumbent of the East Lonsdale Benefice (Reverend Jane Lee). The responsibility for the maintenance of the Church building, churchyard and car park remains with the PCC. ## **Achievements, performance, and attendance** There are 36 names on the Electoral Roll. Average attendance at the 11.15 am fortnightly services is 14. During 2023, services have been held regularly. Special services were held for Plough Sunday, Mothering Sunday, the coronation of King Charles III, Harvest Festival and Remembrance Sunday. There was one baptism, one funeral and one wedding. A packed church enjoyed Wenning Voices annual open evening/ carol concert at Christmas. ## **Review of the year** In May, the PCC again provided catering on the first Sunday of Wray Festival week, generously supported by many of the Friends of St James the Less who provided baked goods and help on the day. This was followed by a PCC stall on Wray Fair Field day, with bric-a-brac, goodies for sale and games. These two initiatives, together with the annual Grand Jumble Sale held in September at Hornby provide significant financial support to Church funds. In June, the annual Benefice Service was followed by a picnic and games in the garden of the Old Rectory, by kind permission of Mrs Phyllis Holt. In October, we were saddened by the loss of Dorothy Lund. Following a private committal at Beetham, Dorothy’s funeral service was held at St James the Less, with the Church full to capacity and Wenning Voices leading the singing. The PCC held 5 meetings in 2023. One issue of the Church newsletter was circulated. It was resolved to discontinue the Parish Church newsletter and replace with regular updating to the St James the Less website and an entry in The Bell. 1 ## **St James the Less, Lower Tatham** ## **Annual Report for the Parochial Church Council for the year ending 31[st] December 2023** ## During 2023, the following actons have taken place: Boiler and boiler house monitoring with significant boiler repairs being carried out. Regular mowing, strimming, and tidying in the churchyard. Fire extinguisher check was undertaken in August. Lightning conductor check is due in 2024. Electrical equipment check – last complete inspection 2019, with the next planned in 2024. Two members of the PCC continued training as bellringers. A sub-committee was convened to direct and oversee - in conjunction with HPA architects - the proposed repairs to the church roof and the churchyard extension. It was agreed to delay further work on the churchyard extension until the full financial implications of the roof works were known. However, the transfer of the land for the extension from the PCC to the Incumbent (as required by the Diocese) was registered in September. The roof repairs contract was sent out to tender in October. In December, of the five firms who received documents, only one returned a valid tender. The construction contract will progress in 2024. The Quinquennial Inspection and report were undertaken by HPA Architects in July. The most urgent works to the north facing roof, tower roof and other stonework repairs are included in the contract referred to above. Other works will be reviewed during 2024 when the costs of the contract works are known. The Churchyard trees were inspected in Summer 2023, including the mature Lime tree covered by a Tree Preservation Order. Urgent works to remove basal growth from the Lime and dead wood from the Pine Tree in the car park are to be undertaken in 2024. The Friends of St James the Less continue to generously support the building with events and fund raising. In June, the Friends invited Lancaster Singers, who gave a well-attended Musical Medley concert (delayed by Covid 19 from an original date in 2021). The Friends’ 100 Club continues to raise valued funds to maintain and enhance the Church facilities . Groups continue to meet in Church – Wenning Voices rehearse weekly, and Stitch and Chatter meet monthly. Wennington Parish Council meets bi-monthly and Tatham Parish Council alternates their meetings between St James and the Church of the Good Shepherd at Tatham Fells. A decision was taken during the year not to close the Church after autumn clock change and we now welcome visitors by opening the church daily throughout the year. Volunteers organise regular cleaning days and together with the PCC and the Friends, these groups combine to ensure the church is well-decorated with flowers and foliage for special services including Easter, Harvest Festival and Christmas. The end of year accounts are attached to this report. 2