# ST JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH CHURCH OF BLISWORTH ## Annual Report # And ## Financial Statements # For the year ended 31[st] December 2022 Incumbent ## Rev Canon Richard Stainer Churchwardens Fiona Mckenzie Angela Cheesbrough Treasurer Jonathon Murray Bank Cooperative bank plc 65/65a Abington St Northampton Independent Examiner John Dorwood Barn Owl Close East Hunsbury Seeking to be welcoming to all and to extend the love of Christ to the wider community ## ST JOHN THE BAPTIST ## PARISH CHURCH OF BLISWORTH ## Annual Report for 2022 ## Background Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. Since the last Annual Meeting the following have served as members of the PCC. Chairman: Rev Canon Richard Stainer Churchwardens: Fiona McKenzie Angela Cheesbrough Representative on the Deanery Synod: Helen Halson Elected Members: Jim Aveling Peter Banks Jenny Cahill Angela Cheesbrough Edith Green Marian Hancock Pat Masterman Jonathon Murray Hilary Spurrier Church Attendance: There are 47 on the Electoral Roll. Review of the Year: There were three PCCmeetings during the year, two in church, one in a member’s home It was good to relax covid restrictions of mask wearing and handwashing and being able to offer communicants the opportunity of sharing the cup or dipping the wafer. With help from a grant of £750, roofing work advised by the quinquennial inspection, was completed. Courtesy of a local grant of £2,000, the lighting problems were dealt with for the time being. Following the unauthorised removal of ivy from the High Street wall, despite our efforts, our insurance claim was rejected resulting in a final settlement of £800. Due to the relocation of our organist, new hymn books, common across the benefice and a disc of tunes were purchased. In June, a flower festival to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum jubilee and involving most village organisations, was a huge success. The Art Trail was hosted in October, the Christmas coffee morning in November and we continue to be indebted to Pat and Mason Masterman for their regular fundraising coffee mornings. Routine maintenance of the boiler, fire extinguishers and organ continued. Volunteers continued to mow the church grounds, provide refreshments, clean the building, maintain the flag and pole, read and do intercessions. Thanks to generous donors, the church path has been resurfaced. The bellringers met for weekly practice and rang regularly throughout the benefice. They were honoured to ring in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June. Following the passing of her majesty Queen Elizabeth, two ringers tolled the tenor bell 96 times, one for each year of her life. Muffled bells were rung before her state funeral. ## Accounts: 2022 was a challenging year for the church as international instability and uncertainty in the financial markets gave rise to inflation and price rises that impacted on us all. Income for the year was £36,898, £767 more than 2021. Giving by covenant through the Diocesan scheme raised £13,649, £785 less than2021. Service collections, donations, Gift Aid, grants and other fundraisers amassed £17,433. Dividends and interest amounted to £4,047 and fees and other income totalled £1,769. Expenditure was £47,133, £9,669 more than 2021. The largest single item was the Parish Share which was paid in full at £34,227, only possible with a transfer of £12,000 from our reserves. £7,500 was spent on maintenance and £3,021 was spent on utilities and insurance. Other expense amounted to £2,385. The card reader has been a limited success, generating only minimal additional funds, but is an essential tool in the long term as more people cease to carry cash. Tha Diocesan scheme for planned giving with gift aid continues to be the main source of income. We face a difficult year ahead with the challenges of an inefficient heating system and the precarious condition of our boundary wall. Our sincere thanks are due to Helen Halson for administering the Gift Aid scheme, Pat and Mason Masterman for their continued fund raising, John Dorwood for auditing the accounts, but mostly to our congregation for their continued generosity. The accounts for 2022 have been audited. Rev Canon Richard Stainer (Rector) Jonathon Murray (Treasurer) Examlnèrf5 Report ThÈBllsworth Parothlalchurth Coundl Accwnts For th• Year Er￿qd 31° D￿mber 2031 I have Independently examlred the accounts of St. John the BaptSst, Bllsworth, Parfsh CPrtJrihCouncll a55et outon thef011￿n￿Page% The PCC has elected to prepare the accourt50nthe Retelptsand Payments ba55s, and the requlrement for Independent examlnètlon allows me to report under Regulatlon 7 of the Church Accounting Règulatlons Instead of under Regulation 25. 11 Th••ximlnerfs respon51bnitles are to... Identfy whether or not proper accountlng records for the Bllsworth Parfsh Church Councll have been kept. Checkth•tthe Bllsworth Parf5hChurchCoun¢llaccountsa8reewlththeaccountl record5. Look for posslble slgnlfl¢ant errors In th¢ accounts of the Bllsworth Parfsh Church Councll. Check th* the Bllsworth Parfsh Church Councll a<¢ounts have been pr¢perly prepared In accordance ￿th the Church Accountlng Regulat1ons In $0 far as these apply to the Aetelpts and Payments bas1& Where matters arfse from th15 txamlnatlon th* Ive uuse for con