## **ST JOHN the BAPTIST** ## **PARISH CHURCH of BLISWORTH** ## **Annual Report for 2023** ## **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:** Angela Cheesbrough Fiona McKenzie ## **Representative on the Deanery Synod:** Helen Halson ## **Elected Members:** Tina Alexandrou Jenny Cahill Angela Cheesbrough Pat Masterman Fiona McKenzie Jon Murray Marian Paton Hilary Spurrier **Church attendance:** There are 48 on the electoral roll. ## **Review of the year:** There were 3 PCC meetings, held in a member’s home. During the year, we have been fortunate not to require any major repairs, but we are very aware that we have not addressed any items mentioned in the Quinquennial other than the north aisle leaks. Basic maintenance has continued. The inside tap was replaced and the fire extinguishers serviced or replaced as necessary. Despite only occasional use the organ continues to be tuned. Following the re-location of our organist, Mission Praise was replaced by the Anglican Hymn Book, which has the advantage of being used throughout the benefice and has discs which, thanks to our volunteers, may be played successfully through a laptop. We have applied for faculties, firstly to upgrade the electricity supply so that it could bear the combined heat/light chandeliers mentioned last year. There are many stages to go through before we have permission to proceed. We need to apply for grants. We hope to make progress with the removal of the back pews, requiring dropping the floor. This project too will need grants and considerable fundraising. Meanwhile, a small sitting area has been created by the font and an attractive children’s area made by the Wake tomb. Due to an increasing demand for burial of ashes, a previously muddy, uneven area by the mower shed now has a path and weed and sapling clearance has been carried out, courtesy of a donation to offset the cost. We were pleased to welcome the annual Art Trail in October and the Christmas coffee morning took place in November. Thanks go to the Mastermans for hosting the monthly coffee mornings at their home. The historic churches Ride and Stride took place in September. All worthwhile, regular, fundraising events. Sadly, Angela Cheesbrough, a warden for many years, is leaving the village. She will be greatly missed. Graham Brack has been our curate since July and will be ordained in Peterborough cathedral in July 2024. Helen Halson, a good ordinant, will be moved on in summer 2025. A Mission Plan is being formulated for each church in the diocese. The Deanery also has a Mission Plan, to which all the parishes will contribute. This will review the roles and placement of the clergy. Our bellringers continue to ring regularly throughout the benefice. All 26 bells in the Benefice were rung within the week of the coronation of King Charles 111 in May. One of the Blisworth ringers, Elizabeth Woodrow, being one of only a few ringers in the country who, as a teenager rang for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11 and for our current king, 69 years apart. ## **Accounts:** The total income for 2023 was £37,126, an increase of £278 on 2022. Expenditure was £38,859, giving a deficit of £1,753 for the year. Direct Giving by the congregation totalled £22,677, £5,840 less than 2022. Fund raising events generated £2,151 and interest and dividends raised £4,958. Service fees contributed £766 and we received Inland Revenue rebates and grants totalling £6,608. We paid 80% of our Parish Share, £27,400 and essential costs of insurance. Utilities and maintenance were £7,190. The total cost of the new hymn books and sound system was £1,283 and ministry costs for the year were £2,947. The Standing Order Scheme is now closed. Our new parish giving scheme opened in November 2020 and has 20 registered donors giving regularly. The average receipt over 6months, including GA is £1,113. Yellow envelope giving in the first 6 months of 2023 earned £117.50. Thanks are due to Helen Halson for administering the GA scheme, to Pat and Mason Masterman for their continued fundraising, to John Dorwood for auditing the accounts, but mostly to our congregation for their continued generosity. The accounts for 2023 have been audited. _Rev Canon Richard Stainer (Rector) Jonathon Murray (Treasurer)_ For thèyw Erwlod 310 Docerrkn203J I Irdependerrtly ￿(O￿nts d SL Jthn the 8apii5t. Bils**tr4 The PCC ￿￿e￿rted to prep¥e the 4¥covrrts on the Recwpts aThl Payffsents basi& arKE the roqthmefrt tor ittyndtnt eXa￿n￿l0￿ avows me to rewrt Regulation 7 of the CIKffthk