St James, Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31 December 2015

Contents (Sections 1 and 2 contain required reports; Section 2 provided by the Treasurer) Section 1 1 Administrative information 2 Review of the Year Section 2 3 Financial Review 4 Independent Examiner’s report 5 Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015 Section 3 6 Reports of activities relating to the life of the Parish

1 Administrative information The parish of St James, Riding Mill is situated in the civil parish of and Riding, in the County of . It is part of the within the Church of . The correspondence address is The Vicarage, Riding Mill, Northumberland NE44 6AT.

PCC members who have served since the Annual Meeting of 2015 are: Priest in charge: Revd Canon Alison White / Vacancy from June 2015 Vacancy Ex-officio members: Peter Ryder, Reader Wardens: Lynda Padgett Joint Chairman Sandy Gardner Joint Chairman Elected Deanery Synod Alice Bryant Representatives: Elaine Ryder Secretary Elected members: Val Barnes Jean Blair Ena Clark Janet Proud Susan Law Jenny Mathers Susan Ramsay John Goddard Paula Stienlet Colin Dickinson Co-opted member (1 year) Jon Greenwood Officers, but not PCC member: John Squires Hon Treasurer Alan Scott Electoral Roll Officer

1.1 Structure, governance and management: The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the . The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is exempted from registering with the Charity Commission. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All who attend Church are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.

1.2 Objectives and activities St James Riding Mill PCC has the responsibility of cooperating with the Priest in Charge of the parish in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the Church of St James, Church Lane, Riding Mill; and the Church Cottage, Church Lane, Riding Mill.

1.3 Electoral Roll: At the end of December 2015 there were101 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll, 35 of whom were not resident in the parish. (Alan Scott, Electoral Roll Officer)

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2 Review of the year – January to December, 2015. 2.1 Worship Weekly services Sunday 8 am – said Holy Communion with homily – Book of Common Prayer Sunday 10 am – choral Parish Eucharist – Common Worship – followed by coffee and fellowship Wednesday 9.30 am – said Holy Communion with homily – Common Worship - followed by coffee and fellowship. Worshipping Community Please note that the figures shown in italics are last year’s figures for comparison.  The average Sunday attendance on a normal Sunday in 2015 was 70 69 adults and 3 5 children (up to the age of 15) - a ‘normal’ Sunday is one which is not a major festival or contained in a peak holiday period.  The average attendance at the Wednesday morning service was 15 17.  The total number attending worship at the two services on Easter Day, and including the vigil service on Easter Eve, was 177 163. The total number of Easter communicants was 128 119.  On Ash Wednesday evening an ecumenical Riding Mill Churches Together service took place in church. This service included the Imposition of Ashes.  The total number attending worship at services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was 355 363, which included 98 112 communicants on Christmas Day.  There were a number of special services held in the church building, or involving church members, during the season of Advent - e.g. carols in the village, school carol services, Christingle – see separate reports  We continue to hold a monthly Communion Service at Wentworth Grange – also special Easter and Christmas services (see additional note in ‘Ministry’).  Home Communion has been administered by the Vicar, a warden or a member of the ministry team on 34 22 occasions during the year – this figure does not include the monthly communion services held at Wentworth Grange.  There have been a total of 6 8 baptisms in 2015.  During 2015, 1 5 couple has been married in church.  There have been 7 7 funerals held in church during the year and 4 3 funerals conducted, on behalf of the church, at the crematorium  Our children attended Sunday school in the Millennium Hall during the early part of the year (see Sunday school report on the changes in children’s work and activities).  The Sunday school team invited us to join with the children in their Christingle activities and church service on the 13th December, when the retiring collection was donated to the Children’s Society. 20 children and 38 adults attended the service.  The 3rd Order of Franciscans held a service during March.  The annual choral Bywell Evensong, preceded by an organ recital, took place on 26th July. 66 59 people attended and the service was followed by wine and light refreshments. Sadly, this year, it poured with rain and refreshments had to be served in church. However, the weather did not dampen the occasion and everyone had a splendid time.  43 22 people attended an All Soul’s Evensong Service in church on Sunday, 1st November at 5pm.  Broomhaugh First School have attended church for 5 5 whole school services. Paula Stienlet is liaising with school during our vacancy.  Our church organist is Robert Laws. He has been assisted on occasions during the year by Di Dickinson, together with Peter Ryder, playing reflective music on his guitar while the choir receive communion.  We have an active four-part robed choir who sing the Parish Eucharist service, including an anthem, and are led by Choirmaster, Michael Pritchard.  On the 1st March, 2015 the Choir of University College, Durham, visited and sang the service.  On the 4th October, Bishop Alison visited St James’ and presided at both Sunday services.  There are three PCC Governors of Broomhaugh Church of England First School, including Elaine Ryder who is Chairman of Governors. During our vacancy, the Revd David Wood, Vicar of Snods Edge, has been appointed by the Diocese as the ex-officio governor.  Also, a number of our fellowship regularly work voluntarily in the parish, on behalf of the church, with children and young people.

1.2  Members of the congregation play an active part in all aspects of community and church life – caring for the secretarial, financial and stewardship administration in our church; as crucifer, acolytes, servers, Parish Eucharist assistants, lectors, sacristan & care of church linens, sound- system operators, pew sheet writers, Newsletter editors, sidesmen and ‘welcomers’ together with church flower arrangers, the church and cottage cleaning rota teams, the churchyard team and the after-church coffee teams. There are also those who regularly assist with the ongoing ‘housekeeping’ jobs, offer helpful advice and respond to our cries for help in emergencies. In particular, during our vacancy, we give thanks to you all for your support, and precious time and talents, given in service to our church and community. It is greatly appreciated Lynda Padgett Churchwarden

2.2 Ministry  In March it was announced from 10 Downing Street that the Queen had approved the nomination of Alison, our priest, to be Suffragan .  A coach party of parishioners travelled down to York on Friday, 3rd July, together with many more who travelled independently, to support Bishop Alison at her Service of Consecration in and share with her in such a memorable and joyful occasion.  During our vacancy, the parish is in the care of the Area Dean of Corbridge, the Revd David Hewlett. He arranges a rota of local active and retired clergy to preside at our Sunday and weekday services and we are grateful to them all for their encouragement and support.  The Ministry Team began meeting monthly with the Church wardens during the vacancy. The team consists of George Proud (the retired Ordained Local Minister who has the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate in the parish of Riding Mill) and the Readers - Peter Ryder; Inger Mosbery and Dorothy Dryden (who are both retired and have the Bishop’s Permission to Officiate in the Diocese). Dorothy is also the Agricultural Chaplain for both Hexham Mart and The Northumberland and Durham group of the Farming Community Network.  Cynthia Wood is a Reader Emeritus.  George Proud and Inger Mosbery visit Wentworth Grange on a regular basis, in addition to the monthly service of Holy Communion, to minister pastorally to the residents.  Dorothy and Lynda regularly take Home Communion into some nursing homes outside the parish (with permission from their local clergy) ministering to members of our church family who are now resident.  The Responsible Caring Group, led by Gill Birkby, continues to protect and safeguards the welfare of our children, young people and vulnerable adults.  Prayer and study o A Home Group meets fortnightly in the parish. o There are two active Cursillo reunion groups. o A small prayer group (drawn principally from a local business) utilizes church facilities to meet regularly to bring God more fully into their work and business lives.  St James is an active member of Riding Mill Churches Together (see report).  The Baby and Toddler Group continue to meet every Thursday morning, supporting young families and sharing together in friendship and fun. During the Cottage refurbishment, they have been meeting in the Supper Room by kind invitation of Pam Pryor and the Village Hall Trust. Lynda Padgett Churchwarden

2.3 Key PCC activities in 2015  Eleven meetings were held in 2015. The average attendance was over 12. In addition, members of the ministry team not usually attending (Revd George Proud, Inger Mosbery, Dorothy Dryden) joined the meeting when relevant, as did the Treasurer (John Squires).  The PCC received regular reports from the Cottage refurbishment group, coordinated by Ena Clark, during the course of fund-raising, the subsequent work on the cottage and the preparations for re-opening.  In response to discussions held between the Incumbents and Treasurers of Corbridge Deanery, the PCC agreed with the Treasurer that St James would be willing to offer additional monies towards the Parish Share that the Deanery is asked to raise, in order to support those churches

1.3 that are unable to raise their share. The Treasurer has kept the PCC updated on Finance matters.  The PCC coordinated the farewell arrangements for Revd Canon Alison White, and attendance at her consecration service as Bishop of Hull, in York Minster.  During the summer period, PCC meetings prioritised the preparation of the Parish Profile, to be seen by prospective candidates for priest in charge. An initial group and a second pair of PCC members worked hard to ensure that the profile would be comprehensive, interesting and reflect our parish accurately. External facilitation and guidance was provided by Revd Canon John Sinclair, and Ven Peter Robinson. After several iterations, the PCC forwarded the final version to the Diocese before the requested date.  The PCC considered proposals for afternoon events based around story-telling and response, and approved a trial of three months of ‘The Big Story’ in the Parish Hall between January and March 2016. (As a development during a vacancy, this was also approved by the Area Dean.)  The PCC received reports from Riding Mill Churches Together and encouraged the congregation to support shared events held during the year.  The PCC received reports from Corbridge Deanery, and members were able to attend the day held in October to consider potential Deanery Development.  The PCC elected members of the Parish Hall Trust, and Jenny Mathers (as their representative) has liaised with the Village Hall Trust over matters relating to the halls.  Charitable giving was again divided between three organisations from those proposed by members of the congregation and PCC, after prayer and voting by PCC members. This year they were Red Cross (Europe Refugee Crisis appeal), Barnardos, and the West End Refugee Service.  The PCC received reports of Fabric and Grounds, and authorised appropriate expenditure, including the completion of the lighting project, updating of the sound system, various investigations and works on the roof, and purchase of a new mower and strimmer (some funds being raised for this through organ recitals by Marc Bryant).  The PCC has kept abreast of updating our Health and Safety notices, Risk Assessment and Child Protection matters, including a number of members attending training in Safeguarding.  The congregation has been kept up to date after each PCC meeting through a digest of the minutes provided once the draft minutes have been circulated. Elaine Ryder PCC Secretary

2.4 Fabric report  The main activity on the Fabric front during 2015 was the comprehensive refurbishment of the Church Cottage. This major project is dealt with in a separate section of this Annual Report.  In February, the upgrading of the Church lighting system was completed to the delight of those members of the congregation who are of a mature age. The facility to dim the lights in sections of the Church was used to great effect during the Christmas services later in the year.  During the following month, the sound system was also updated and upgraded. Deficiencies had become apparent during the Christmas 2014 services. Now, problems with the sound system are usually due to inexpert handling by visiting clergy or, sometimes, to interference by mobile telephones brought into the Church by members of the congregation.  Over the summer months, a number of small repairs were made to the internal and external stonework of the Church including repair to the gate posts at both entrances to the Church which were causing safety concerns. The need for these repairs had been highlighted during a survey by the Maintenance group.  Towards the end of the year, a handheld information board for visitors to the Church was installed in the West Porch. This was donated in memory of Myra Dixon.  At the time of writing, we are experiencing problems with water ingress through the Church roof in two areas above the Nave, where the roof joins the South Transept, and along the ridge above the Apse, up to the altar. The former is due to storm damage and will be covered by our insurance, but the latter appears to be the result of age related deterioration of the decorative stone masonry along the ridge. This could be difficult and expensive to repair. Sandy Gardner Churchwarden

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