The Parish of ALVESTON Annual Report 2014 1 THE PARISH OF ALVESTON ST. JAMES WITH ST. PETER’S MANOR RD. STRATFORD- UPON-AVON Registered Charity Number 1132864 Trustees, Advisors and Helpers MINISTRY TEAM Vicar The Rev’d Canon Richard Williams 292777 Reader Canon Lisle W. T. Sharp 293019 Hon. Treasurer Julie Bellamy 295569 Hon. Secretary Kathryn Whittlestone Parish Administrator Currently Vacant Music Organist & Choirmaster Mr. Edward Goldsmith 01926317050 Junior Choir Director Mrs. Alex Williams 292777 PCC and Trustees Rev’d Canon Richard Williams J Cobley Appointed 6 April 2014 D J Johnston Dr D Derbyshire P Garner P Fox Resigned 6 April 2014 M Grubb A Denby J Dale H Lucas Resigned 6 April 2014 L Sharp Resigned 6 April 2014 Prof N Johnson B Smith S Coton G Millard H Mills-Baker J Bellamy J Scrimshire Appointed 6 April 2014 E Goldsmith Appointed 6 April 2014 Independent Examiner Rosemary Hyde, Fern Bank, Alveston. Bell Tower Mrs. Julia Lucas Captain Mr. Stephen Kaye Secretary Mrs. Liz Green Treasurer Southbank Club Mrs. Erica Johnston Leader 840802 Mrs. Alex Williams Helper 292777 2 VICAR’S PREFACE In the past year our main focus has been on building up the Church, the Body of Christ, of which we are all members. I have included in this preface the report from those responsible for taking forward our vision and aims for the future. As a consequence my own comments will be brief. We have continued to see a growth in attendance, particularly at the 10.30am service, and last year overall 500 more communions were made than in 2013. This is welcome news, it doesn’t just signify more people but people wanting to make their communion more regularly and frequently, strengthening their own spiritual life and, as a result, the strength of the Church. We have always been lucky here to have competent and able people to take over key roles in the running of the Church ad our thanks must go to Dave Johnston for all that he brought to the role of Churchwarden in his time. At the Annual Meeting last year he had to stand down and was replaced by Mrs. Jenny Cobley who has stepped into the role admirably and keeps us all organised at the back of Church. Julie Bellamy has proved to be an excellent Treasurer and has not allowed us to shirk from the very real financial challenges facing us as a parish. We must continue to rise to those challenges and build a Church for the future of this ancient and growing parish. Richard Williams, Vicar. March 2015 Parish Vision and Mission As a result of the away days held over the last 2 years and supported by the Vicar and PCC a number of people have come together to develop a parish vision. The ideas generated on the away days have shaped the next steps and led to theidentification of some key areas of development The vision identified was THE CHURCHES OF ST JAMES’ ALVESTON AND ST PETER’S MANOR ROAD SEEK TO FULFIL THE COVENTY DIOCESAN MISSION TO WORSHIP GOD MAKE NEW DISCIPLES AND TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES The vision for our churches is that we offer a warm, open and inclusive welcome , inspiring worship which strengthens and challenges and the nurturing of spiritual growth. We seek to care for one another and serve our local communities. Below is what people told us both at the away days and in subsequent meetings. Welcoming – there was a strong message about the importance of welcoming everyone in all our services and activities. It is clear people recognise that welcoming happens both at the beginning, during and at the end of our contact with others. There is an understanding that welcoming is the responsibility of us all. Caring – it was recognised that as a church community we are uniquely placed to offer care. There are particular times when people seek us out and also an everyday need for care. There was an emphasis on caring for those who may be lonely, 3 infirm, anxious or distressed and an acknowledgement that we must be clear about the ways in which it is appropriate for us to offer care. Nurturing – supporting peoples spiritual development was raised as both essential and challenging. It is recognised that people need help identifying and using the gifts they have and exploring spirituality. There was a desire to provide worship in an accessible and appropriate way to try and meet a wide range of needs. Visible – making the church relevant and at the heart of our communities means offering a variety of opportunities for people to be involved and benefit from what we do. It is recognised that our activities need to mean something and are a way of gradually preparing the hearts and minds of people for Christ. Sustaining – we want to have enough money to do our work of mission and worship and pay the bills . It was clear that people find talking about money uncomfortable. There was a request to not make fundraising too central and to see our purpose and vision as the driving force behind what we need and use money for. To take this vision and work of mission forward each of the areas is to be developed by one or two people working with the wider congregation. There has already been a meeting of those interested in taking a lead and the information discussed has been shared initially by the distribution of a flyer. The development of each aspect of the mission and vision is open to everyone and the steering groups welcomes offers of help both in the thinking and planning and in the doing. Please contact Neil Johnson [email protected] or Alex Williams [email protected] if you would like to be involved in any way. 4 ALVESTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING SUNDAY 19th APRIL 2015 10.30 A.M. AGENDA VESTRY MEETING Election of Churchwardens and Pro-wardens for 2015-2016 APCM: 1. Minutes of the APCM of 2014 (for approval) 2. Any Matters Arising from those Minutes 3. STATUTORY REPORTS : a) Electoral Roll b) Proceedings of the PCC – Hon. Secretary c) Financial Report and Presentation of Examined Accounts – Hon. Treasurer d) Fabric, Goods and Ornaments – Churchwardens e) Fosse Deanery Synod 2012-2013 4. Elections : PCC - three members for a three-year period 5. Appointment of Sidespersons. 6. Appointment of Independent Examiner of Accounts 7. Reports from Parish Groups KW (Hon. Sec. PCC) 5 6 7 8 Electoral Roll Officers Report 2 new names have been added to the Roll, both residents of the parish. Three people have sadly died over the past year and their names have been removed. There are now 125 names on the Roll, 90 are resident in the parish and 35 are not. 9 Report of the Honorary Secretary to the PCC There have been five meetings of the PCC since the last APCM and the following have been the topics for discussion. New Hymn Books for the Choir Organ Tuning Stratford Churches Together Pew runners/cushions New chairs for St. Peter’s and new vacuum cleaner Parish Vision and Action Plan Church in the Community Financial Matters and Stewardship Fundraising for interior works Churchyard Conservation Reports were received from the various groups dealing with different areas of the vision and action plan. A number of new endeavours have been tried. Kathryn Whittlestone decided to stand down from the role of Parish Administrator in October having taken up a full time post at Bridgetown School. The Vicar and PCC are grateful to her for all her hard work in shaping the role of the administrator and in managing and invoicing the lettings of St. Peter’s so efficiently. The PCC are enormously grateful to Anthony Williams for constructing and helping to maintain an excellent website, www.stjamesalveston.co.ok which helps us to keep in touch with people. They are also grateful to those who update the Facebook page regularly. The musical contribution to our worship is much valued by the PCC and their gratitude to Ed Goldsmith and Alex Williams needs to be recorded. Finally the PCC thanks those who contribute to the day-to-day running of the Church the cleaners, the sides persons, the flower arrangers, bell ringers and those on the coffee rota. KW March 2015 THE PARISH OF ALVESTON ST. JAMES WITH ST. PETER’S MANOR RD. STRATFORD-UPON- AVON Report of the Trustees for the Year Ended 31 December 2014 The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2014. The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of 10 Recommended Practice (SORP) Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ issued in March 2005. Structure Governance and Management The Governing documents of the PCC are the PCC Powers Measure (1956), as amended, and the Church Representation Rules. Day to day management of the charity is carried out by the members of the PCC all of whom are also trustees. Recruitment and appointment of new trustees Members of the PCC who are also trustees are nominated and put forward for election at the Annual General Meeting. Risk Management The trustees keep under regular review the risks to which the charity is exposed and seek to limit their impact by adopting appropriate measures and controls and monitoring their implementation. Objectives and Activities The primary objective of the charity is the promotion in the ecclesiastical parish of the whole mission of the church. Public Benefit The trustees have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Commission; the trustees consider that the charity meets the public benefit requirements of the Act by carrying out its normal activities Achievement and Performance The primary purpose of the charity is the promotion of the whole mission of the church.