INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS ... · Web viewDerek Holey proposed that Michael be...

Annual Vestry & Annual Parochial Church

Meeting

Sunday 25 October 2020

Vestry Meeting Agenda

1 Opening Prayers

2 Apologies for Absence

3 Minutes of the Vestry Meeting 2019

4 Matters Arising

5 Appointment of Church Wardens

Annual Parochial Church Meeting Agenda

1 Apologies for Absence

2 Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting 2019

3 Matters Arising

4 To receive the Electoral Roll

5 To receive the Annual Report of the Financial Affairs of the Parish

6 To receive the report on the proceedings of the Parochial Church Council

7 To receive the report of the Deanery Synod

8 To receive the report on the Fabric and Ornaments of the Church

9 To receive the reports of the Organisations of the Church and Vicars report

10 Election of 4 candidates to the Parochial Church Council 3 for a term of 3 years, 1 for 2 years.

11 Appointment of 2 Deanery Synod Representatives

12 Appointment of Sides Persons

13 Appointment of Independent Examiner

14 Questions taken under Article 9.7 of the Church Representative Rules

15 Date of the next APCM 2021

16 Closing Prayers

St Mary the Virgin and All Souls Bulwell

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting on 28 April 2019 at 11.50 in the Upper Hall

Members present: Fr Andrew Fisher (Chair) Nasreem Aslam, Valerie Butler, Ann Chappell, Rosie Cheer, Joyce Dobson, Elizabeth Dyer, Thomas Dyer, Anne Elphick, Carol Ezard, Ann French, Irene Gimson, Christopher Guy, Roy Hadfield, Pam Hickling, Derek Holey, Dorothy Holey, Carole Jackson, Zoe Jackson, Eleanor Lang, Doug Lang, June McDonald-Gibbon, Robert Naylor, Kerry Palmer, Paula Palmer, Maureen Pates, Cheryl Perrin, Alan Polkey, Mavis Polkey, Sam Reynolds, Ken Richards, Sheila Riddell, Richard Shaw, Peter Stanley, KA Stanley-Lau, Linda Tongue, Jessie Walker, Martin Walton.

1 Prayers and bible reading by Fr Andrew Fisher.

2 Apologies for absence were received from Olga Footitt, Freda Hamilton, Jillian Naylor, Teresa Guy, Jan Richards, Joyce White, Violet Irwin and Louise Fisher.

3 Minutes of the Vestry meeting 2018 were proposed as a true record by Thomas Dyer, seconded by Martin Walton and carried. There were no matters arising from the minutes.

Fr Andrew expressed thanks to all who support St Marys and to the Church Wardens Liz Dyer and Eleanor Lang for their support not only for the Church but to himself. Fr Andrew announced that Liz was standing down as Church Warden and extended a special thankyou to Liz for her years as Church Warden, especially for her support to St Marys during the interregnum.

4 Appointment of Church Wardens: Eleanor Lang and Roy Hadfield had both been proposed and seconded; both eligible to stand and duly elected.

The meeting closed at 12:05

St Mary the Virgin and All Souls Bulwell

Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting on 28 April 2019 directly after the Vestry Meeting

Members present: Fr Andrew Fisher (Chair) Nasreem Aslam, Valerie Butler, Ann Chappell, Rosie Cheer, Joyce Dobson, Elizabeth Dyer, Thomas Dyer, Anne Elphick, Carol Ezzard, Ann French, Iris Gimson, Christopher Guy, Roy Hadfield, Pam Hickling, Derek Holey, Dorothy Holey, Carole Jackson, Zoe Jackson, Eleanor Lang, Doug Lang, June McDonald-Gibbon, Robert Naylor, Kerry Palmer, Paula Palmer, Maureen Pates, Cheryl Perrin, Alan Polkey, Mavis Polkey, Sam Reynolds, Ken Richards, Sheila Riddell, Richard Shaw, Peter Stanley, KA Stanley-Lau, Linda Tongue, Jessie Walker, Martin Walton. 38 attendees, all on the electoral roll.

1 Apologies for absence were received from Olga Footitt, Freda Hamilton, Jillian Naylor, Jan Richards, Joyce White, Violet Irwin and Louise Fisher.

2 Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting 2018: There were no amendments to the minutes. A proposal to accept the minutes was raised by Derek Holey, seconded by Christopher Guy and carried.

3 There were no matters arising from the minutes.

4 To receive the Electoral Roll: Sam Reynolds as Electoral Roll Officer advised that the new Roll had a total of 93 members. Sam advised that this was with an addition of 7 and 2 off from the 2019 Revised Roll.

5 To receive the Financial Report: Treasurer, Peter Stanley presented the accounts focusing on the Parish Share and explained that it will be very difficult this year to achieve the required amount. Peter advised that historically St Marys have made bigger payments later in the year. Rosie Cheer pointed out that St Marys have £7,000 less to pay than last year.

Kerry Palmer posed the question of what would happen if we did not pay. In response, Fr Andrew explained that the Diocese could combine parishes. Ordained Ministry costs approximately £72,000 per year. This year St Marys is required to pay £25,000. Zoe Jackson asked that as Bulwell is classed as an area of deprivation, would this be taken into consideration. Fr Andrew confirmed that it was, hence, the reduction in Parish Share this year, but Fr Andrew stressed that he wasn’t sure how long we will get this help.

Fr Andrew expressed thanks to Peter for his work and to the Fabric and Finance committee.

6 To receive the report on the proceedings of the PCC: Carole Jackson gave a brief outline of the report included in the booklet - there were no questions.

7 To Receive the report of the Deanery Synod: In the absence of the Deanery representative there were no questions.

8 To receive the report of the Fabric and Ornaments and Organisations within the church. All reports were included in the booklet. There were no questions.

9 Appointment of Deanery Synod representative: Fr Andrew advised that there was one vacancy and one nomination, Jackie Bramford. As there were no further nominations, Jackie was appointed as Deanery Representative.

10 Election of Candidates to the PCC: 3 Vacancies, 2 Candidates, Liz Dyer and Sam Reynolds. As there were no further nominations and no objections, Liz and Sam were duly elected to the PCC for 3 years. Fr Andrew welcomed them both.

11 Appointment of Sides Persons: Eleanor Lang advised that anyone wishing to join the Sides Persons rota should speak with her.

12 Appointment of Independent Examiner: Fr Andrew reported that Michael Cartwright, our current Auditor had indicated his willingness to audit the account for the coming year. Derek Holey proposed that Michael be re-appointed, this was seconded by Thomas Dyer and carried.

13 Questions taken under Article 9.7 of the Church Representative Rules: Fr Andrew read the Article to the meeting and asked for questions:

- Kerry Palmer requested that all literature pertaining to the APCM be made available 2 weeks prior to the meeting.

- Maureen Pates advised of her resignation as Senior Sides Person.

14 Date of the next APCM: Suggested 26 April 2020. This was proposed by Thomas Dyer, seconded by Liz Dyer and carried.

Churchwardens Report 2019-2020

St Marys has had another busy year with lots happening on the inside and the outside.

Updated the terrier, inventory and log-book. Chaired the fabric and social sub committees. Continued to support social events. Supported the priest. Monthly Church Warden meetings Obtained a list B faculty to install a New PA sound system and hymnal. Updated the fire, health and safety policies. Yearly checks on the lighting conductor, pat testing and fire extinguishers. Arranged for roofer to clear the gutters and drains of leaves etc. Rota completed for senior side persons and side persons. Ongoing meetings with the architect with regard to the Tower Roof. Churchyard spring clean with the council. Monthly monitoring on outside building of church and churchyard. Squires Avenue Insurance for church and Squires Avenue. New Boiler fitted in the upper hall.

Ongoing Projects -

Addressing damp and plaster loss in the church, Pew cushions Dustbusters. Application to Nottinghamshire Historic Churches Trust funding for church roof

alarms. Places of Worship Grant Application. List B faculty for new PA Sound System. 170th Anniversary of the Consecration of the Present Church Building.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support

Eleanor Lang and Roy Hadfield

Parochial Church Council Report 2019

The PCC have met ten times during the year, meetings held at the Rectory: June, July, September, November and February 20, with the addition of standing committee meetings and extra ordinary meeting on Sunday after the morning service, the last meeting in March 20 to agree the accounts.

A meeting was held immediately after the APCM 2019 to elect Officers, Standing Committee and Co-opted members.

The PCC 2019/2020 consisted of:

Churchwardens: Eleanor Lang and Roy Hadfield.

Deanery Representative: Jackie Bramford Seven elected members: Thomas Dyer, Louise Fisher, Kerry Palmer, Carole

Jackson, Martin Walton, Liz Dyer and Sam Reynolds. Co-opted Members: Zoe Jackson and Jacky Habegger.

Again, a special thank you to Louise who makes us very welcome for our meetings at the Rectory.

The Sub Committees that were formed during the previous business year, continue to meet and report to the PCC.

Children and Young People Outreach/Mission and Evangelism Social Worship / LLM Finance and Fabric / Treasurers report Pastoral Care

In addition to receiving the sub-committee reports each meeting, Peter Stanley outlines the state of finances in particular, our Parish Share. In addition, inclusion on the agenda each month is the Vicar’s and Church Wardens Report plus, Deanery, Electoral Roll and Safeguarding.

During the year the following have been agreed and implemented:

Repairs to the Tower, installation of a new PA system, Internet access, new locks and welcoming of Philip Miles our organist.

Carole Jackson, PCC Secretary

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31st DECEMBER 2019

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN & ALL SOULSREPORT OF THE PCC FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2019

Administrative information

St.Mary the Virgin and All Souls Church is on Highbury Road, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 9AD. It is part of the Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham. The correspondence address is The Rectory, Station Road, Bulwell, Nottingham, NG6 9AA.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity excepted from registration with the Charity Commission.

PCC members who have served from 1 January 2019 until the date this report was approved are:

Incumbent: Fr Andrew Fisher

Churchwardens: Liz Dyer (until April 2019)Eleanor Lang From April 19 (re-Elected)Roy Hadfield from April 2019

Representatives on the Deanery Synod:

Julian Hendy-Ibbs Until August 2019Jackie Bramford from April 2019

Elected Members:

Rosie Cheer (retired 2019)Sam Reynolds (retiring 2022) re-elected 2019 retiring 2022Joyce White (retired March 2019)Peter Stanley (retiring 2020)Thomas Dyer from April 2018, retiring 2020)

Louise Fisher (from April 2018, retiring 2020)Kerry Palmer (retiring 2021)Carole Jackson (from April 2018, retiring 2021)Martin Walton (from April 2018, retiring 2021)Liz Dyer (from April 19 retiring 2022)

Co-opted Members: Michael Anthony Until April 2019Lisa Perkins (Until April 2019Zoe Jackson from April 2019Jacky Habegger from April 2019

Structure, governance and management

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.

Objectives and activities

The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the Vicar, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has financial and maintenance responsibilities for St Mary’s Church.

The number of parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll was 88 at the end of 2018. The previous year, at the end of 2017, it was 97.

The average Sunday attendance in church in 2019 was 62 (55 adults and 7 children). In 2018 the average was 67 (59 adults and 8 children). In 2017 the average was 51 (48 adults and 3 children).

In addition, we need to remember the other regular Church Services taken in the parish, but not in the church building: Collective Worship in Bulwell St Mary’s CofE School every Monday during term time; the monthly Krafty Kids at Bulwell St Mary’s CofE School (formerly Messy Church at Crabtree Farm School); the monthly Communion Services at High Fields Care Home, Fairway View Care Home and Hall Park Care Home, and the monthly Communion Services at Highbury Hospital (as from Sunday 26th April 2020).

Review of the year

This is in the annual reports which are in a separate document distributed with these accounts prior to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.

Reserves Policy

At present, it is the PCC’s policy in its bank current accounts at the end of each month, to ensure that its bank balances remain in surplus, and that it can meet all routine expenditure in the following month, and any unexpected situations that may arise from time to time.

Financial Review

Parish Share is paid to the Church of England (Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham) and is mainly to pay for the cost of vicars across the deanery and diocese. In 2019 we paid £25,515 in Parish Share, which was 102% of the amount due of £24,996. This means that we made a contribution of £519 in addition to our own target, which contributes to the shortfall paid from other churches in the deanery. This compares to the previous year, 2018, when we paid £26,501 which was 85% of the amount due.

Approved by the PCC on April 2020 and signed on its behalf by:

Fr Andrew Fisher, Vicar and PCC Chairman

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

I have examined the financial statements on Pages 5 to 11 and the accounting policies set out on Page 7.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL & EXAMINER

The Charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:-

Examine the accounts (under Section 145 of the Act) To follow the Directions given by the Charity Commission (under Section 145(5)

(b) of the Act) and:- To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

In the course of my examination no matter has come to my attention:

i) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that:-

Proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with Section 130 of the Act) and

Accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act or

ii) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Michael Cartwright

19 Chetwynd RoadTotonNottinghamshireNG9 6FW

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN & ALL SOULS

BULWELL NOTTINGHAM

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED

31 DECEMBER 2019

RECEIPTS NOTE UnrestrictedFund

RestrictedFund

Total2019

Funds2018

Incoming resources from donors

3 (a) 24,392 - 24,392 19,841

Other voluntary income resources

3(b) 1,649 - 1,649 2,411

Incoming resources from operating activities- To further the Councils objectives

3(c) 11,379 - 11,379 12,908

- to generate funds 3(d) 4,222 - 4,222 4,762Income from investments

3 ( e) 8,104 1,970 10,074 9,035

TOTAL RECEIPTS 49,746 1,970 51,716 48,957

PAYMENTSCharitable giving 4(a) 522 - 522 1369Activities directly relating to the work of the Church

4(b) 45,076 18,519 63,595 54,685

Church management & Administration

4(c) 4,447 - 4,447 2,197

Cost of generating funds

4(d) 528 - 528 276

Governance Costs 4(e) 368 - 368 67

TOTAL PAYMENTS 50,941 18,519 69,460 58,594

NET RECEIPTS/ PAYMENTS

(1,195) (16,549) (17,744) (9,637)

Cash, bank & investment accounts at 1 January

17,463 316,804 334,267 343,904

Cash, bank & investment account at 31 December

16,268 300,255 316,523 334,267

(Accounts statement page 6)

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2019

FIXED ASSETS Note Unrestricted Funds

Restricted Funds

Total2019

Funds2018

Tangible Fixed Assets 6 145,000 - 145,000 145,000Total Fixed Assets 145,000 - 145,000 145,000

CURRENT ASSETSDebtors 7 - - - -Short Term Investments

9 300,255 300,255 316,804

Cash at Bank & in hand

16,268 - 16,268 17,463

Total Current Assets 16,268 300,255 316,523 334,267

CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year

8 (9,414) (1,704) (11,118) (9,938)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

6,854 298,551 305,405 324,329

Total Assets less Current Liabilities

151,854 298,551 450,405 469,329

CREDITORS: Amounts falling due after one year

8 - - - -

NET ASSETS 151,854 298,551 450,405 469,329

Approved by the PCC April 2020 and signed on its behalf by

Fr Andrew Fisher, Vicar and PCC Chairperson.

The Notes on pages 7 to 11 form part of these accounts.

(Accounts statement Page 7)

NOTES TO AND FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

Basis of Accounting

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 using the Receipts & Payments basis. This basis is allowed because our income is below £250,000. It is considered easier to understand and has been recommended by the Association of Church Accountants & Treasurers (ACAT).

There has been no change in the basis of accounting since last year.

Funds

General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.

The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body or those that are informal gatherings of church members.

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Income and Expenditure

Income is only accounted for when received. Expenditure is only accounted for when incurred. In particular:

Parish share is accounted for when paid to the Diocese. Any parish share to be paid at 31 December, but not yet paid, is not included in expenditure. It is included as a creditor, an amount owing, in the Assets & Liabilities statement.

Income tax recoverable on Gift Aid donations is received directly by the Diocese and does not go through our accounts, as shown in note 10.

Income and expenditure are accounted for gross, which means for example that the income from fundraising events is included in income, and the costs incurred are included in expenditure.

Fixed Assets

Consecrated and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by Section 10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011.

The only item currently in fixed assets is a house on Squires Avenue, which is included at the trustees estimated market value. There has been no other spending, such as on furniture or equipment, which is considered significant enough to include as a fixed asset in the accounts.


3 RECEIPTS Unrestricted Funds

Restricted Funds

Total2019

Funds2018

3(a) Income from Donors

Giving by standing order and gift-aided envelopes

9,996 - 9,996 9,500

Collections at services 6,555 - 6,555 6,422Donations 7,841 - 7,841 3,919

24,392 - 24,392 19,841

3(b) Other Voluntary Income

Grants 500 - 500 1,500Polling Station Income 400 - 400 -Collections for other charities 749 - 749 911

1,649 - 1,649 2,411

3(c) Income from Operating Activities to Further the Councils Objectives

Fees for Services(weddings, funerals etc)

11,379 - 11,379 12,908

11,379 - 11,379 12,908

3 (d) Income from Operating Activities to Generate Funds

Fundraising Events 4,222 - 4,222 4,7624,222 - 4,222 4,762

3(e) Income from Investments

Gross Net Received 3 1,970 1,973 1,784Rental Income (Squires Ave) 8,101 - 8,101 7,251

8,104 1,970 10,074 9,035

TOTAL RECEIPTS 49,746 1,970 51,716 48,957

(Accounts Statement page 9)

4 PAYMENTS Unrestricted Funds

Restricted Funds

Total2019

Funds2018

(4a) Charitable givingCharitable giving 522 - 522 1,369

522 - 522 1,369

4(b) Activities Directly relating to the Work of the ChurchMinistry: Parish Share (note 10)

21,797 - 21,797 23,742

Fees paid to the Diocese 5,015 - 5,015 5,711Fees to visiting Clergy 306 - 306 847Wages, Salaries & Honorarium (note 5)

2,995 - 2,995 2,915

Clergy Expenses 3,370 - 3,370 3,404Church Running Expenses 8,015 809 8,824 10,722Kitchen Consumables & Equipment

130 - 130 456

Church Maintenance 92 17,710 17,802 3,504Fixtures & Fittings 59 - 59 42Upkeep of Services 1,742 - 1,742 1,725Sunday School/Whiz Kids 280 - 280 754Mission & Evangelism 1,125 - 1,125 863Leaving Gift 150 - 150 -

45,076 18,519 63,595 54,685

4 (c) Church Management & AdministrationPrinting, Stationary & Website

2,489 - 2,489 1,472

Costs, house on Squires Ave 1,841 - 1,841 674NYC Expenses 117 - 117 51

4,447 - 4,447 2,197

4(d) Costs of Generating FundsFundraising Events 528 528 276

528 528 276

B4(e) Governance CostsPCC Expenses (Treasurer & Secretary

14 - 14 67

Training 354 - 354 -368 - 368 67

TOTAL PAYMENTS 50,941 18,519 69,460 58,594(Accounts statement page10)

5 STAFF COSTS2019 2018

Wages, Salaries & Honorarium:Organist 2,335 2,080Bellringers 600 600Junior Choir 60 85Verger - 150

2,995 2,915

6 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

The only fixed asset is freehold land and building, a semi-detached house on Squires Avenue, Bulwell. Its purpose is to be used by an Assistant Curate, but when we do not have an Assistant Curate, as at present, the house is rented out. It is stated in the accounts at its estimated market value of £145,000 when it was last valued in 2018. It is not being depreciated in the accounts.

7 DEBTORS 2019 2018- -

8 CREDITORSa) Amounts due within one year:

Creditors for Goods and Services 3,813 2,697Diocesan Loan (for house on Squires Avenue) 2,000 2,000Nov & Dec Parish Share paid in January 5,250 5,052To be paid to Leprosy Mission 55 189

11,118 9,938

b) Amounts due after more than one year: - -


9. RESTRICTED FUND

The only restricted fund is the David Atkinson Legacy. In 2001 David Atkinson left £633,523 to St Mary’s Church for the upkeep of the building, bells and churchyard. At31 December 2019 there was £300,255 in this fund. This balance is shown as a short- term investment in the accounts and is held in the following investments or bank accounts.

Cater Allen Bank Reserve Account for Charities 30,977

Leeds Building Society 89,159

Mansfield Building Society 91,651

Virgin Money 8,468

HSBC Current Account 80,000

Total 300,255

The £80,000 above in the HSBC Current Account was transferred out of the Virgin Money account just before the end of the year, because the funds will be needed for planned work on the church tower.

10. PARISH SHARE

The ‘parish share’ is paid to the Church of England (Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham) and is mainly to pay for the cost of vicars across the deanery and diocese. We paid Parish Share of £25,515 to the Diocese, compared to our target of £24,996. This means that we made a contribution of £519 in addition to our own target, which contributes to the shortfall paid from other churches in the deanery. This is how the payment is reflected in these accounts:

2019 2018Amount paid in the year 2019 21,797 23,742

less final 2018 payments paid in January 2019

(5,052) (5,256)

plus final 2019 payments paid in January 2020

5,250 5,052

Plus Income tax recovered on gift-aided donations. This was received directly by the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham and so does not appear in our Receipts and Payments account.

3,520 2,963

Total 25,515 26,501

Fabric Sub-Committee Report for APCM 2020

Members:Roy Hadfield (Chair), Barbara Hansford, Jillian Naylor, Robert Naylor, Doug Lang, Lindsey Andrews, Peter Stanley, Liz Dyer.

Matters Addressed: Leaf removal from guttering, etc. and damp in vestry chimney. Plaster loss in Mary’s Chapel; by the children’s corner; and in the Vestry. Pew cushions. Dustbusters. Routine Maintenance of Church and Grounds. Notts. Historic Churches Trust: funding for church roof (lead theft) alarms. Places of Worship Grant Application. PA Sound System installation. Tower Works and Replacement Car Park Lighting. Upper Room Heating Boiler Replacement. 170th Anniversary of the Consecration of the Present Church Building.

Whiz Kids & Youth Sub-Committee

We are a team of six, Zoe Jackson, Kerry Palmer, Carole Jackson, Louise Fisher Martin Walton, Jillian Naylor and Liz Dyer with help from Sian Blount and Sophia Fisher and Sophie Elliott as young helpers. Whiz Kids continue to have a small core of children who attend regularly on a Sunday morning. We now offer snack and drink on arrival and aim to enthuse the children with the Christian message. We follow the lectionary where possible and aim to make the sessions fun and diverse so that children enjoy and want to return. We now have the use of the TV and internet which has been a great addition to our resources. We have competed one session preparing children for communion before confirmation, this was a successful first session and we are planning another one very soon as we have children in Whiz Kids who are curious and asking the right questions about Communion.

There are plans to relaunch the youth group in the very near future. Hopefully this will be open to the wider youth community.

The Children and Youth Sub Committee continue to meet to discuss how we can attract families, and young people into St Marys. We have committee members are linked with the Brownies, Guides and Scouting groups. Guides visits by Carole are especially enjoyed as George dog is a favourite visitor.

Pastoral Sub-committee

CARE HOMES

Fr. Andrew Fisher and Jackie Bramford have continued from April 2019 to April 2020 to visit care homes within the parish on Thursdays, either to hold Holy Communion service or administer Holy Communion to individual residents.

Highfields ( Nursing Home ) has been visited on the second Thursday of the month. Individual residents have received Holy Communion . There have been between 2-5 communicants. In January Holy Communion service was held and with support from the Activities team and this will continue.

Fairway View ( Residential Home ) has been visited on the third Thursday of the month. A service of Holy Communion has been held in the small lounge with attendance between 5-19 residents. Not all receive Communion but still participate in the service.

Jackie Bramford continues to visit Fairway View on the first Thursday of the month. She liaises with the Manager and visits either new residents to see whether or not they are settling in or visits residents, who do not have visitors or infrequent visitors eg if family do not live locally.

Hall Park ( Residential Home ) has been visited on the fourth Thursday of the month. Holy Communion service has been held either in the Bar Room or Sixties Room with attendance between 14-16 residents with exception of one service with 2 residents present,as the service clashed with a residents One Hundredth birthday party ! Generally 10-12 residents receive Communion.

Attendance at the services in all three homes is dependant on the support of the Activities teams in the homes. Fr. Andrew Fisher sends the homes posters detailing dates, times & themes for the services for the full year well in advance. ,

At the end of 2019 , Anne Elphick ( LLM) and Angie Hall ( congregation member ) joined the team. It is hoped that the new team will continue the ministry in all three homes 2020-2021.

HOME COMMUNION

Fr. Andrew Fisher, Anne Elphick ( LLM ), Roy Hadfield ( Trainee LLM), Derek Holey, Maureen Pates & Jackie Bramford continue to support members of the congregation and parishioners unable to attend church with home visits and communion. Numbers fluctuate but are small at anyone time.

Jackie Bramford 24th February 2020

Deanery Synod Report

Deanery Synod representative's report

Father Andrew Fisher & Jackie Bramford, North Nottingham Deanery Synod representative for St Mary's have attended the three meetings held between April 2019--April 2020. (Roy Hadfield attended meetings on 7th November 2019 & 13th February 2020. Peter Stanley attended on 7th November 2019. These were open meetings.)

All meetings follow a similar format having the welcome followed by open worship. The main content of the meeting takes up the majority of the time. General notices are

announced and the meeting closes with either prayers or the Grace. Meetings start at 7.30pm and close at 9.00pm.

4th June 2019 the Deanery Synod meeting was hosted by Holy Trinity, Kimberley. The focus was on prayer as part of Thy Kingdom Come. We had to choose four prayers for our parish writing them onto "post its" and then placing them your own parish on a map of the deanery. The next part of the meeting was interactive with various work stations related to different forms of prayer. This was a good way of meeting members of the Synod and for sharing ideas.

7th November 2019 the Deanery Synod meeting was hosted by Bestwood Park Church. Karen Hanford, Curate from Wollaton led a session to review all that happened during the One Life Mission (12th--15th September 2019 ). This involved group work and feedback from the churches within the Deanery.Activities included picnics, visits to schools, youth events, concerts.

13th February 2020 St Leonard's, Wollaton was the venue for the Deanery Synod meeting. James Halstead was the guest speaker giving a presentation Whole Life Discipleship. His presentation was thought provoking asking what it means to follow Jesus. He used St Mark's gospel for several references. He used a model of learning divided into three parts namely understanding, attitude, behaviour and how one can progress to the next. He explained that to be a true disciple one needed to follow in the path of Jesus that is living,dying and then rising to lead to a new life. We need to equip ourselves to take churches forward to develop discipleship. It was also announced at this meeting that all the churches within the Deanery has paid the Parish Share in full. ( A gift of chocolates was given to each church to share with their congregation )

The Deanery Synod has welcomed Denise Watkinson to Bilborough and Sue Pendeque to Sherwood. David Baguley has been licensed as Associate Priest at Sherwood. Andy & Debbie Lord have left Awsworth, Cossall & Trowell. June Kirkham has left Broxtowe.

St Mary's has a vacancy for a second Deanery Synod representative following the resignation of Julian Hendy-Ibbs.

Jackie Bramford 20th Feb 2020

Nottingham North Deanery APCM Report for Jan – Dec 2019

Deanery Synod has met three times during 2019.

On 28 February 2019 we went to St Martin’s, Sherwood where we were joined by Rev’d Tors Ramsey, the Diocesan Church Growth & Planting Enabler, to think about planting and grafting into our churches.

On 4 June we went to the newly re-ordered Holy Trinity, Kimberley for an evening of prayer as part of Thy Kingdom Come.

On 7 November we went to Bestwood Park Church to give thanks for all that had happened during the One Life Mission and to think about how this could inform our mission in the future.

There were some amazing stories from the One Life Mission and it was wonderful to see so many of our churches engaging and reaching out to their communities with picnics, fun days, Messy Church, quizzes, school visits, food, camps, concerts and much, much more. It was also encouraging to hear about the follow-up events and nurture courses.

As always, we welcomed some new people and said some fond farewells. We said goodbye to Andy and Debbie Lord at Awsworth, Cossall and Trowell and June Kirkham at Broxtowe. We also welcomed Denise Watkinson to St Martin’s Bilborough and Sue Pendeque to St Martin’s, Sherwood. David Baguley was licensed as Associate Priest at Sherwood and the Woven Team has continued to emerge and develop around Aspley, Bilborough and Strelley. In 2020 we look forward to more exciting plans around Woven, Basford, Broxtowe and Cinderhill.

Our Deanery Prayer meetings have also continued on the first Tuesday of each month at Christ Church Cinderhill.

2020 is a new triennium and new Deanery Synod Representatives will be voted in at our Annual Parochial General Meetings. We would like to thank all of you for support and input over the last three years. We are in the process of producing a ne Deanery Handbook which will be circulated in the near future.

For the first time since its creation the Deanery has paid 100% of its share allocation. A huge thank you to you all for your generous and faithful giving!

Peter Huxtable, Area Dean Sue Dunster and Anne Walters, Lay Chairs

Social Committee 2019

A bit thank you to all the social committee team and supporters, who put on our great social events and continue with the social mission of our church.

Thank you to all the helpers and to everyone that comes along to the Social events, without you the events would not happen.

The following events have taken place over the year:

Quiz night – the events is always popular and a sell-out. Summer fayre – a great event and always well supported 29th June – Pye Hill Male voice Choir – supported with refreshments and a

raffle. 13th July - Cool Jazz this event was part of the Bulwell Arts Festival –

supported with refreshments. 21st September – Alfreton Male Voice Choir - – supported with refreshments

and a raffle. 12th October – Mamma Mia sing-along. A fun relaxed evening.

30th November - Christmas Fayre – a great event and supported will by the wider community.

13th December - Band Concert – this event went well. Refreshment went very well, and the raffle was a success.

15th December - Carol Service –with supported with refreshments. Mulled wine.

Thank you

Eleanor Social Chair

Safeguarding Report

There are 27 people who have an up-to-date DBS's . There are 2 that need to complete a DBS (some of these may be in the process of completing this). There is 1 person from December that is in the process of renewing his DBS. During 2020,7 people will need to renew their DBS.

With regards to C0 and C1 courses, 7 people need to do these courses. However, 5 people are already booked on the courses in the next few months.

Maureen Pates,

Safeguarding Officer.

January 2020

The Mirror

The Mirror is published each week and is given out at the beginning of each service. It is also distributed more widely by Fr Andrew via email, on our Church website and Facebook page

The first issue was published 17 September 2017 and has been well received since then, as it is a means of communicating information to the congregations, both on Sundays and weekdays and further afield.

It is intended as a ‘take away’ leaflet and some members of the congregations, need to be encouraged to do this as leftovers are wasted.

The information for the following week is set out, usually, on page one and the reverse side is now filled with information of a wider nature both for our own church, the Diocese and other..

The editor has support from Fr Andrew and Robert, who prints no less than 50 copies weekly.

Jillian Naylor – Editor

Tower Captain’s Report for 2019

The progress reported last year has continued. Now, with rather more available ringers and very regular attendances, we are managing to ring all eight of our bells more often than in previous years.

No. of bells

8 6 5 4 1 0 Average Efficiency

2018 46 52 2 4 2 6 6.3 81%

2019 63 36 6 1 4 4 6.9 86%

Compared with 2018 the increase in eight bell ringing is matched by a decrease in the use of six bells – the effect of two extra ringers being present.

We continue to be indebted to Peter England, whose help is an invaluable aid to progress particularly in the training of new recruits, although none have joined us this year. We always gladly welcome new volunteers. Wedding ringing has taken an upturn with a total of six against four last year. I tolled for the funeral of Irene Daley. In addition, we rang for St George’s Day, 3 choral evensong services, given by The Torkard Singers, for the fiftieth wedding anniversary of Kerry and Paula Palmer and the Bulwell Christmas Festival.

We were visited by the Linslade Ringers and the Trent Valley Association, the latter for a full peal of Spliced Surprise Major. Socially, the summer barbecue and Christmas supper were both cancelled, due to my indisposition. The annual ringers’ dinner at The Willow Tree did take place, our thanks go to Violet Irwin for organising this event.

Technically, the problem with the sixth clapper, reported last year, became acute and received prompt attention from T.L B. Services. Nottingham City Council have changed their clock engineers, so our clock is now being serviced by Clockwise Restorations.

Early in the year the PCC decided to address the problem of the leaking tower roof. The work necessitated our ceasing ringing after Christmas Day. The bell ropes were removed, and the bells covered to protect against water and debris. The tower will certainly need a good clean when the work is finished.

Finally, I sincerely thank all our ringers for regular attendance on Sundays, for practices and for special services. We are now endeavouring to keep the team together during our enforced silence by joining the practices of neighbouring towers.

Robert Naylor – Tower Captain

The Hill – Report for 2019

The Hill is the main means of communicating information to our congregation, parishioners of Bulwell and further afield. The editor would welcome more contributions from the PCC, St Mary`s School and all other organized groups in the church.

2019 was the 148th year of continuous publication of The Hill and the normal 12 editions were printed. The year saw a change of production method from a printing machine to a photocopier. Many difficulties were experienced and overcome in converting to the inconvenience of the new equipment. The main one being the relatively slow speed of the photocopier and the extra time taken in managing its operation. This has resulted in publication dates of the Hill being somewhat variable throughout the year.

Circulation also remains very variable with take-up ranging from 249 in January to 198 in July. We continue trying to avoid wastage of paper by predicting next month`s take-up so that the minimum number of magazines are left over.

Magazines have been available from the box at the back of church and also from the table in the base of the tower (these are regularly taken by parents, friends and carers who are visiting or collecting children or young people from the uniformed groups). Deliveries to Riverside, Colin Broughton Court, St Mary`s School, a Knit & Natter Group, Hazelhurst Gardens and other sheltered accommodation, have continued. The regular handing out of copies to visitors at services has been and must continue to be enthusiastically carried out. Three e-mail copies and one by post, are sent monthly to former church members, on request. A large print version is available to order and currently three copies are distributed to appreciative readers, each month. Copies of our magazine are also lodged in the Nottingham Local History Library and an archive set is retained in the church.

We wish to record our thanks to all our readers, who continue to support us, and to our magazine team, which consists of editor, proof - reader, printer & finisher and the distributors, who all ensure regular and efficient production and distribution each month.

Jillian Naylor – Editor.

Bulwell Churches Together Report - 2019

Bulwell Churches Together is an association of all Trinitarian churches in Bulwell. It exists to facilitate local Christian activities, which are better done in unison than alone. It is governed by a committee of clergy and lay people, who arrange a pattern of activities, extending throughout the year. 3 general meetings were held in 2019, with 2 further meetings for specific planning of the Good Friday procession of witness and the Christmas carol service.

In January, at the Baptist Church, we held a special service to mark the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. On Good Friday the Cross was carried in procession, with the Churches Together Banner, from Our Lady’s Church to Main Street for the Good Friday Act of Witness and then processed to Bulwell Baptist Church for safekeeping until 2020. A Christian Aid service was held in May at St Mary’s. For the Bulwell Arts Festival a Songs of Praise service was organised at St Mary’s Church, in honour of General Booth. The service was compered by Vicki Paling, who is a Church Assistant Leader in the Salvation Army. The East Midlands Youth Band of the Salvation Army provided the musical accompaniment. In December

the annual carol service took place on Main Street, when we gathered to celebrate the Christmas message with the passing shoppers.

Stalls were held at The Bulwell Academy at both the Summer and Christmas fairs, Fun on the Forest and also in Bulwell Market for the Bulwell Christmas Festival. Bulwell Churches Together sponsored Nick Harding, who ably presented the Christian Christmas message to the gathered crowd.

Each church gives a voluntary donation which funds Christian literature, given out from the stalls. A Christian counselling service is provided at the stalls by both clergy and laity, much good work being done in this respect. Thanks to the Gideons, many New Testaments have been handed out during this last year. More volunteers to help with the stalls are always welcome. Please respond, if you are able.

Robert Naylor – St Mary’s representative.

Bestwood & Bulwell Foodbank (2019)

In 2012, Bestwood & Bulwell foodbank was launched as a registered charity. A year later, St. Mary’s the Virgin & All Souls PCC decided they wished to support the local foodbank as one of their mission strands, helping local people in crisis.

During 2019, you donated 440kg** of food, (304kg more than the previous year, which is brilliant). You have helped provide nearly 1/60th of food that is needed ie 30 tons of food is given out during the year.

The foodbank opens 3 times a week (Tues, Thurs & Sat) and provides an out of hours service to referring services. (Arnold foodbank is open on other days ie Mon, Wed & Friday) The idea being to provide clients access for the majority of the week. Since its’ original inception there are now 5 other foodbanks serving the greater Bulwell area.

Bestwood & Bulwell foodbank is sited at St. Philip Church in Top Valley and currently: Has fed over 3,200 people in 2019 Has over 60 volunteers per month providing up to 164 hours per week or the

equivalent of 4 full time employees Works with over 20 schools Supported by business, community groups, and other faith groups across the

whole of Nottingham Has the support of 25 churches Is the biggest sustained ecumenical project in this part of Nottingham Distributes over 30,000kg of food a year Hosts drop-in services to provide advice and support on welfare & housing

issues Working with 120 agencies across Nottingham to provide support for the

community

Is supported entirely by donations Supports a number of other projects, including those dealing with

homelessness, domestic violence and debt in the area Works closely with other foodbanks in the city to ensure effective working and

adequate coverage.

A number of other projects have sprung out of the foodbank, including a clothing charity and a community eating project.

Bestwood & Bulwell foodbank is the busiest foodbank in the city (the figures are 30% higher than other local foodbanks). The data also indicates that the average number of times an individual will visit this foodbank is1.5%, which is low. We continue to see more families and people being referred to us on low income. Overall main reasons for the use of the foodbank range around sickness, disability, mental health, low wages and universal reform. Unfortunately, it looks like we may be even busier in 2020.

Please give yourself a pat on the back for your continued support. I would also like to commend Thomas Dyer for his help every Saturday at the foodbank.

THANK YOU Rosie Cheer

(**St Mary’s, Bulwell 2019 figs - Regular giving 307Kg + Harvest collection 133Kg)

The Flower TeamThe flower team, Ann French, Pam Hickling and Carole Jackson continue to meet in church each week to arrange and care for the floral displays. Floral arrangements are an integral part of the church. The altar arrangement is changed weekly, with the exception of Lent and Advent; during this time there are no flowers in church.

Many people request and contribute for a floral arrangement to commemorate a special anniversary, remembrance, celebration and a date personal to them and for festivals such as Christmas and Easter.

The Team are always happy to accommodate these requests and if we can help in this way, please speak to Ann French.

Knitting GroupsSt Mary’s Knitters and Knit & Natter at Basford LibraryThe groups have now been running for 6 years. During that time, we have knitted thousands of baby items, blankets, shawls, premature baby items for all 3 hospitals, twiddle muffs for people with dementia, also items for fundraising. In addition to baby items we’ve knitted items for older children and teenagers that go on the police convoy. For Operation Orphan we’ve been knitting large blankets for teenagers plus bags and mittens. The most needed items are big blankets. Fonda and Carol are our “outworkers” as they can’t get to meeting. Fonda produces most of our big blankets, which are lovely, also the mitts and hats. Freda brings them to church. Carol does the twiddle muffs and big scarves. Many, many thanks girls for all your hard work.

Aspley Methodist also knits now. They’ve just delivered 2 bags of small blankets 36 inches x 36 inches which go to Africa and baby cardigans, small sizes. Helen Dexter produces large amounts of beanie hats for operation orphan. Dave drops them off as fortunately he lives near the H.Q of operation orphan (which is at Attenborough).

Items urgently required, wool (of course), sewing needles with big eyes, buttons, bows and baby buttons. Thank you Joyce White

87th Nottingham Guides Our Guide unit has 20 guide members aged 10 to 14. There are 8 leaders running the unit – Eleanor Lang, Jo Redmile, Lindsay Kilcullen, Donna Ginger, Zoe Illingsworth, Jessica Britton, Ellechia Jay-Cole and Bethany Sharp. Our guide unit is open to new members. Register your interest at www.girlguiding.org.uk?information-for-parents/register-your-daughterWe make a monthly contribution to church and have helped at both the summer and Christmas fayre. Leaders helped to marshal the Robin Hood marathon for which we then received a donation. We are very grateful for all the donations we receive. We have also received additional funding from Oakleigh Lodge Sunday draw- £200. Thomas Edward Clarke Fund £250. We have also held bag packing events at Tesco Bulwell and Morrisons, Bulwell with the rangers and brownies. We pay our yearly census to Girlguiding Uk. For 2019, including leaders we paid £871.00.Changes have been made to the guiding programme, we now have unit meetings activities, skills builders and new interest badges. We also included in our programme cooking outside, silly sports, camp fires, Chinese New Year, hair and beauty nights, sweet and biscuit making, girls night in, chilling and chatting, dvd night, crafts, jewellery making, party nights and Zumba nights. We held our annual Macmillan Coffee evening and raised £158.00. The event was supported by parents and church members.

We attended community events, Fun on the forest, Deptford crescent fun day and the Bulwell Christmas light switch on to help raise funds of our unit and share that guiding is happening in Bulwell. March saw us back at the Theatre Royal for Gang Show 2019 with 1 guide, 1 ranger and 2 leaders performing on stag every night for a week. We had leaders helping with back stage, make –up and Front of House. A very busy week! We also enjoyed watching the show on the Saturday with the 87th Brownies and parents.The Guides, rangers joined with both of our brownie units for their first visit to PGL Adventure at Caythorpe. They had a great time with lots of activities, giant swing, problem solving, Zip wire, fencing, rifle shooting , wide games and the leaders favourite Aeroball.Summer camp took us to Midlands Region Mega Mix Camp at Beaudesert camp site. This was a festival type of camp, with activities in the day, zip wire, zorbing, crafts, circus skills, zedge ways and lots more. Bands played in the evenings. With a silent disco one

http://www.girlguiding.org.uk?information-for-parents/register-your-daughter

evening which was fantastic. The leaders also managed to cover some training whilst there.We had a good attendance at this year’s Remembrance Sunday parade.We had also a great evening at the Nottingham playhouse in December when we sent to see the pantomime Sleeping Beauty.We have lots of great events to look forward to in the coming year.ThanksEleanor

87th Nottingham Rangers We currently have 9 girls and 3 leaders. This year we have completed fundraising by attending the summer fayre, bag packing at Morrison’s and Tesco and the Christmas fayre. Our rangers have enjoyed activities such as cake decorating at a local cake shop, we have completed escape rooms to build confidence and promote team building and completed a scavenger hunt at IKEA! We also completed a think resilient night with our rangers where a spokesperson came to speak to us about current stereotyping and why it is important not to discriminate. We have completed other fun activities that have been enjoyed by both ourselves as leaders and by the rangers.

88 th Nottingham Brownies 2019/20 We are the 88th Nottingham Brownies and we meet every Thursday during term time between 6.00 – 7.30pm at Bulwell St Mary’s Church. Our unit has increased slightly in numbers by 2 during the last year and we now have 26 girls and 3 on the waiting list, the ages of the girls’ range between 7 and 10. Our volunteer numbers have also increased, and we now have 2 leaders, 3 volunteers doing their Leadership qualification, a unit helper and also a volunteer who is helping out as per of her Duke of Edinburgh award. We’ve been really busy with trips to Twin Lakes, Clip n Climb and the Playhouse Panto, where one of our Brownies got to go up on stage, this continues to create a lot of excitement amongst the girls, especially as we’ve managed to do this for 3 years in a row and is now becoming an annual tradition.Coming up in 2020 we have a number of girls going to the Midlands Guiding event at the NEC for Thinking Day and also have a Pack Holiday planned for the end of March, where we will be visiting Hanson House in Linby. This is allowing one of the leaders to do their Going Away With qualification and the other is doing their Catering qualification. The girls are really getting into the new programme that we started at the end of 2019, with at least half the unit being awarded with badges for their achievements.Fundraising to help Brownie funds took place in the form of bag packing at Morrisons with the other Guiding units based at St Mary’s and also completion of the Smarties challenge where girls earned 20 pence for doing a good turn/ random act of kindness both of these events raised a total of £300. Our Subs have remained the same at £2.50 per week.Sarah Anthony – Unit Leader

Annual Report for 87th Nottingham Brownies

Leaders: Lynne Burns, Victoria Robinson-Smith, Sarah Hastings, Caroline Turner, Joanne Keen, Jessica Britton, Emma Swaby, Ann Berry, Georgia Stevens also two occasion helpers who have just started with us.

Another Busy year for us our numbers have increased and we currently have 26 Brownies on our Go and two on the waiting list. We currently have no spaces available.We meet on a Tuesday 18.15-19.30.

We did donate £20 per month to church but due to our number increase have now increased this to £25 a month.

We are going again to the Clip and climb centre and the girls also visited Red Kangaroo trampoline park which was a massive hit.

We Have started doing the new programme which has taken a bit of getting used to but the girls are now starting to enjoy it and have been earning the badges and some have gained the Bronze award.The girls now do interest badges at home and bring in the finished product to Brownies for it be signed off. some of the girls have chosen the baking badge which was good for the leaders as we got to taste them!

We visited Hanson house for our Pack Holiday in January with the theme being Frozen the girls took part in the duck challenge and earned the Badge, we also went swimming at Hucknall leisure centre and had a frozen party which ended in us watching the frozen dvd.

Sarah and the Brownies wrote letters to the girls in the Cayman Islands again and we sent them some videos for Thinking day we are also in the process of sending them all a Thinking day badge. Some of the girls will be going to Birmingham NEC to celebrate thinking day with lots of other Brownies and girls from the guide association.

We have done some fundraising to help with the Levy costs by doing Bag Packing and also having a Tombola stall at the Bulwell Christmas Light switch on this was a huge success.

We currently have Georgia who is about to start her leadership qualification.

Lynne Burns

Annual Report for 48th Nottingham Beavers Annual Report for 48th Nottingham Beavers 2020 We currently have 8 Leaders / Helpers and Young Leaders, leading a Beaver Colony of currently 17 Beavers ranging in ages from 6 – 8 years. When the beavers reach the age of 8 years they move on to Cubs. Beaver Scout Leader – Andy Cumberpatch - (Also ADC Beavers for the City of Nottingham) Assistant Beaver Scout Leader – Deb Cumberpatch (Also ADC Cubs for the City of Nottingham Assistant Beaver Scout Leader - Lynne Burns Assistant Beaver Scout Leader - Danielle Ward-Bailey Assistant Beaver Scout Leader - Hannah

Walker Assistant Beaver Scout Leader - Charlotte Johnson Assistant Beaver Scout Leader - Harry Redmile The group is open to and welcomes new members. We have decided that the maximum number we will have is 24. We do operate a “Joining in List” where a child's name can be added to at any age and when a place becomes available, they can start. We also often have enquiries from other children, who are already beaver age. We carry out activities that are in line with a balanced programme, these vary from skills nights, creative / artistic to science and nature. We visited Bulwell Forest garden and plan to go back there soon. There were two district events that some of our beavers attended. A camp and a water activity day We had a visit from the Royal British legion to help the beavers understand about the war and what Armed Forces Day is about. We always make a big effort to take part in the remembrance parade and service with other local uniform groups. Due to leader commitments we have not yet been able to attend uniform / family church services. Our aim is to make the nights enjoyable and fun. We also give every Beaver the opportunity to achieve their Chief Scout Bronze Award, which is the highest award they can achieve. We currently do not do very much fundraising, but were very lucky again this year to receive a donation from KPMG We make a donation to Church each year for allowing us to meet here and help towards the electric and heating etc. We also make a capitation payment to the Scout Association based on our numbers each week. This is currently £45.50 per Beaver annually. Report compiled by Andy Cumberpatch BSL 48th Nottingham Scouts.

64 th Nottingham Scout Group We meet on Wednesday evenings Cubs and Beavers 6.00pm to 7.30pm and Scouts following until 9.00pm. In the three sections we have 20 young people attending. Boys and girls ages 6 to 17.

The Leaders of our Group are Anita Whysall, Ian Cotterill, Jim Driver, Chris Driver, Sam Atkin and Pat Clark.

Young Leaders, Rebecca Clark-Whysall, Emily Pashley, Jasmine Garrett, Rosario Rodriguez-Fernandez, Jack Purdy and Peter Mahata.

The Beavers and Cubs took part in Disability Awareness, Global Issues, Gardeners, Scientist, Emergency Aid, Badges. Craft activities. They also went to Red Kangaroo.

The Scouts took part in Games and Quiz, Nights. Communicator and Chef Badges. They have also been Shooting and to Clip and Climb and made Wreaths for Christmas and Christmas decorations for the Church.

As a Group we helped planting flowers and bulbs around the Church in the Bulwell big clean up afterwards took the young people to McDonalds for a treat. We took part in the Remembrance Day parade and a trip to the Arts Theatre to see the Pantomime. We attended the Church Harvest Festival Service.

We Paid £783 to the Scout Association for membership fees and made a donation of £25 to the Church toward the TV and DVD player and £500 for the use of the Church hall.

We are open to new members in all sections.Contact for Group Pat Clark [email protected]

6 th Nottingham Trefoil Guild Annual report 2019The age range in our Trefoil Guild is 60-80 there are 20 people in all and we are an open group.We all pay subs which covers the cost of our activities, we also have to pay a yearly census amount to the Guide association in London. We support various charities - Baby bundles being one the bundles are sent to Malawi to encourage the mothers to attend the baby clinics.In January, lunch was provided by Joyce and team after which we had quizzes.February was thinking day where we decorated candles.In March members met and chatted over lunch after which we had a beetle drive every round being won by the same table.In April 15 of us including visitors went to Highfields, where we played crazy golf then it was either a walk or back to the café for coffee.In May Eve came to speak about and demonstrate how baby bundles for Malawi are put together. It`s amazing how much can be wrapped in a small bundle.In June some of us visited Attenborough nature reserve, where we were given a guided walk by Wendy-jean Hurst, a small group of us did an extra walk to a bird hide whilst some went back to the café for drinks, we all ended the visit in the café, a really enjoyable afternoon and the weather was good.In July we watched a DVD of Brownies and Guides from a county in the south of the country performing their version of the gang show. August Jillian gave us a talk and demonstration on bell ringing, we all had a go on the hand bells, it was a very interesting talk. August was also a very sad time as we lost one of our members Barbara Lea who died not many months after her husband Derick, she will be sadly missed by us all.September was our annual review which was also attended by our members.In October it was Christmas crafts were we made wire and bead stars and candy cane umbrellas.November, we played board and card games as well as chatted.It December it was our Festive celebration, we brought different food to share, sang carols and had a secret Santa.As well as a full programme some members also attended the Thinking day lunch at Portland college and the national AGM in Southport.Glenda Trueman (Chair)

mailto:[email protected]

Vicar’s Report APCM 2020

2020 has been and continues to be an unprecedented year both in the life of St Mary’s and in the lives of churches and communities up and down the country. However, before we consider 2020, let’s not forget the special services and events that have happened since our last APCM, including:

2019

5th May – Churches’ Together in Bulwell Christian Aid Service. 14th May – First new Messy Church at Crabtree Farm Primary School, working with

the Salvation Army. 28th May – Clean Up Churchyard. 29th May – Churches’ Together in Bulwell Deptford Family Fun Day9th June – 4pm Choral Evensong with the Torkard Evensingers11th June – Second new Messy Church at Crabtree Farm Primary School, working with the Salvation Army. 11th June – I became the new rep. for Churches’ Together in Bulwell ‘Bestwood, Bulwell and Bulwell Forest Area Committee’.18th June – New hall user - Family Learning (Futures for Business) taster session; looking at Coping with Stress. 23rd June – Dedication of new Royal British Legion Standard at end of service.29th June – Pye Hill & District Male Voice Choir Concert raising funds towards the repairs to the Tower and to celebrate 50 years of Colin Dutton’s singing. 2nd July – Bulwell St Mary’s School Summer Fayre/Messy Church on Tour 7th July – Messy Church (Bulwell Arts Festival)

Philip Hague takes on looking after website following death of our former webmaster, David Crout.8th July – Bulwell Churches’ Together Songs of Praise Service with East Midlands Salvation Army Youth Band (Bulwell Arts Festival).9th July – ‘Music for All’ organ recital with Michael Anthony (Bulwell Arts Festival).9th July – Messy Church at Crabtree Farm School13th July - Cool Jazz Quintett (Bulwell Arts Festival)22nd July – Bulwell St Mary’s School Leaver’s Service (and farewell to Headteacher, Daniel Farthing. Clare Godfrey appointed as the new Headteacher). 3rd August – Friends of Bulwell Bogs Event (Bulwell Churches’ Together) 11th August – Last service with Julian preaching; family moved to Lancaster.25th August – Greg Cowley (Deanery Treasurer) preached re: giving/parish share.7th Sept – Fun on Bulwell Forest Event (Bulwell Churches’ Together)

Roy begins his training as our LLM.13th Sept - ‘One Life’ Mission visits Bulwell Academy with Bulwell Churches’

Together. Marc Williamson (Methodist Circuit Youthworker/Hucknall National Academy Chaplain) and I offered to lead assemblies and chaplaincy outreach under the Bulwell Churches’ Together banner (we are still awaiting a response from the Academy!)

21st Sept – Heritage Open Day: Michael Anthony and the Alfreton Male Voice Choir. Last day with Michael Anthony as Organist 22nd Sept – Patronal Festival - First Sunday with Philip Miles Organist, Anne E

officially welcomed in as our new LLM (Reader)27 – 29 Sept - Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham (with St John’s, Carrington).

1st Oct – Anne E takes her first funeral at St Mary’s7th Oct - Promise Project launched re: Giving and Parish Share. 8th Oct - Crabtree Farm School Harvest Festival in church9th Oct - Bulwell St Mary’s School Harvest Festival in church. Gifts of packets/tins of food donated to the Bulwell & Bestwood Foodbank. 12th Oct - Whiz Kids ‘We All Share’ Event re: Holy Communion

Harvest ‘Abba Evening’ 20th Oct - Kerry & Paula’s 50th Wedding Anniversary Renewal of Vows4th Nov - ‘Now We’re Cooking’ project started in church7th Nov - Fairway View Care Home Remembrance Service17th Nov - Choral Evensong with Torkard Evensingers & Philip Miles18th Nov – Work started on tower (scaffolding)25th Nov - Christingle making at Crabtree Farm School (school invited congregation to help)4th Dec – Bulwell St Mary’s School Christingle Service in church5th Dec - ‘Messy Church on Tour’ at Bulwell St Mary’s School Christmas Fayre 9th Dec – Crabtree School Carol Service in Church11th Dec – Cherubs Nursery Nativity in Church13th Dec – Royal Engineer’s Concert in Church15th Dec – Carol Service in Church16th Dec – Cantrell School KS1 Carol Service in Church17th Dec – Cantrell School KS2 Carol Service in Church21st Dec – Carols on Main Street (Bulwell Churches’ Together)

2020

13th Jan – ‘Krafty Kids’ Club at Bulwell St Mary’s School with PTFA19th Jan – Service for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Bulwell Churches’ Together, at The Well)22nd Jan – Crabtree School Mock Wedding in Church3rd Feb – ‘Krafty Kids’ Club at Bulwell St Mary’s School with PTFA25th Feb - Lent Course started, led by Roy1st March - Pet Blessing Service. 14th March - Lenten Quiet Day (in church)

In addition:

Assemblies at Cantrell School, St Mary’s School and Crabtree School continued.

Visits to the Royal British Legion (3rd Tues of the month) continued.

Monthly Communion Services continued at Hall Care Home, Fairway View Care Home and Highfields Care Home, led by Jackie B and Anne E. Jackie B visited first Thursday of the month at Fairway View

I continued to offer Spiritual Direction to folk in/for the Diocese. And then… the Coronavirus struck!

Mar 18th: Following the announcement made by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and after taking advice from the Diocese, all public services in

church were suspended with immediate effect, except for weddings and funerals. I began praying the daily office and Angelus each morning in church at 8.30am; congregation invited to join in at home. St Mary’s remains open for private prayer during the times of our normal weekly services. I write to all on Electoral roll. Resources posted online and mailed out to all on Electoral Roll.

Mar 22nd: Mothering Sunday during private prayer (gift for mums, grans, aunts etc to pick up from church)

Mar 24th: All churches closed as part of the coronavirus lock down. I organiseElectoral Roll members into ‘Prayer Partners’ for mutual prayer and support during the pandemic; letters and emails sent to all Electoral Roll members. Jackie Bramford arranges virtual visits to Fairway View Care Home and keeps in touch with Highfields and Hall Park Care Homes. Roy, Anne E and Fr A’s volunteering at Highbury Hospital is put on hold. Meetings of the Royal British Legion are also suspended.

April 9th: Further resources posted out/emailed to Electoral Roll members.

April 23rd: Further resources posted out/emailed to Electoral Roll members.

May 4th: Further resources posted out/emailed to Electoral Roll members. Fr A is given tech by the Mathete’s Trust and a friend to record services/assemblies from the Rectory. Anne E and Roy also begin to record online.

May 21st: Further resources posted out/emailed to Electoral Roll members.

Scaffolding removed form tower and all external works completed. Philip M and Colin Dutton post songs online each week, and Philip H updates the church website to include its own YouTube channel and means of donating online.

May 31st: Roy leads first of the new monthly Evening Prayer services online. June 3rd: Further resources posted out/emailed to Electoral Roll members.

June 11th: Further resources posted out/emailed to Electoral Roll members.

June 17th: Further resources posted out/emailed to Electoral Roll members. Ursula, Colin and Glamour take over the roll from Fr A.

June 18th: Following the announcement made by the Archbishops of Canterbury

and York, and after taking advice from the Diocese, St Mary’s reopens for private prayer during normal service times. Resources continue to be posted out/emailed to Electoral Roll members, and assemblies and services posted online.

July 1st: Further resources posted out/emailed to Electoral Roll members.

July 5th: In line with Government advice and Church of England guidance, St Mary’s re-opens for public worship 10 – 11am on Sundays and 9.30am – 10am on Thursdays, beginning Sunday 5th July. Weddings and funerals can also take place in church, but within very carefully laid out guidelines and with a minimum of people present. Services continue to be posted online.

15th Jul - Final postal mailshot sent to Electoral Roll members not on the internet; resources covering services up until and including 1st August when the Government advice and guidance for folk to shield is lifted (after that, the parish magazine, notice sheets etc can be picked up from church as normal). Prayer Partners and Fr A and Anne E are keeping in touch by telephone with folk not on the internet.

16th Jul - Roy leads first of the new monthly Evening Prayer services in church.2nd Aug - ‘Sammie the Covid Snake’ begins to wrap his way around the church.2nd Sep - Restoration works to tower signed off as complete by architects. 20th Sep - Harvest Mass with preacher/celebrant the Rt Revd. Bishop Paul Williams

the Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, with tins and packets of food being donated to the Bulwell & Bestwood Foodbank.

29th Sep - Covid-secure ‘Men in Sheds’ starts 10.30am – 3pm at St Mary’s. ‘Men in Sheds’ is a ground-breaking project for older men. Activities include woodworking, skills sharing and socialising and is for anyone who wants to get together, share and learn new skills. It also supports older men who are isolated or disengaged from their community or are experiencing major changes in life.

I have to give special thanks to Eleanor and Roy as Churchwardens who, with me,have borne the legal responsibility of keeping the church running and Covid-securethroughout the lockdown and the pandemic; Peter Stanley as our Treasurer; the members of our PCC; and Roy, Anne E, Philips M & H, and Colin for continuing to help keep our worship alive both in church and from their homes.

Occasional Offices

At the time of writing (28/9/20), since the last APCM St Mary’s have come alongside families for Occasional Offices: 4 Baptisms, 6 Weddings, 27 funerals and two burials of ashes. We especially remember and give thanks to God for former congregation members Paul Smith and Alan Polkey, and our former webmaster, David Crout.

Pastoralia

Darren Wilkinson (whose placement at St Mary’s over Holy Week and Easter was cut short by the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing lockdown) has been accepted by the Bishop for licencing as an Licensed Lay Minister (LLM) this Autumn. Darren’s LLM cohort will be licensed at Southwell Minster in October. Our prayers and blessings go with Darren as he begins this next phase of his ministry.

Laura Simpson (whose time with us at St Mary’s was also cut short by the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing lockdown) has been selected for training towards the priesthood and begun her ordination training.

New congregation members Karen Brett and Lee Nolan hope to be confirmed during the Deanery Confirmation Service (St Margaret’s Aspley 6pm November 15th).

Lee Duffield has joined St Mary’s church. Lee has been seeing me for Spiritual Direction for over a year and has been attending worship at St Mary’s on Thursday and Sundays (since before the lockdown). Lee is beginning to test his vocation and should be encouraged to gain more experience in leading aspects of worship and church life.

FAMILY 50

Our outgoings are exceeding our income, and we are nowhere near meeting our Parish Share for this year (£24996.00).

Compare the following figures:

March 2019 – End Sept 2019 Income = £27,116.78 Expenditure £29,381.84 – including £12,323 Parish Share

March 2020 – End Sept 2020 Income = £13,548.21 Expenditure £18,862.22 – including £7336 Parish Share

Our Income for this period in this year (2020) is already £13,000 less than last year. If the trend continues, we will only be able to make a Parish Share contribution of £12000 this year. And, If the current covid-19 related restrictions continue much longer, we may even struggle to make that.

We have suffered a loss of income because we have been unable to open up the Church building and function as normal. We have lost Income from:

8 weddings (postponed until 2021) No funerals in Church No services/plate collections for more than three months Reduced attendance at services, and subsequent reduced plate

collections No fundraising events since March (e.g Summer Fayre, Christmas

Fayre, Quiz Nights, Bingo night, Talks, Concerts, etc) No polling station income Reduced Hall usage Donations (e.g Now We’re Cooking etc) No Clothes Bank Income Envelope Donations (Planned Giving) much reduced (still down over

£1000, although some catching up seems to be happening)

Some of the Uniformed Organisations who contribute on this basis and would normally be using the Hall for their activities may well not be able to continue to support us if they are not allowed to operate.

In addition to the above lack of income, our expenses have remained high for various reasons:

We had a very large (£2,300) gas bill which was a catch-up from last year’s estimated bills.

We have had to pay more in postage and stationery, posting out service sheets communications etc.

We have had and still have some ongoing expenses on our Rental property (e.g carpets and kitchen repairs – latter of which is still to be paid for) which means over the full year our rental income will be down by approximately £3000.

On the positive side, our standing-order income has been steady. Thank you, everybody, in whatever way, who has been able to contribute financially to St Mary’s worship, mission and ministry.

However, it is obvious that we cannot continue to run the church at a deficit. To make St Mary’s solvent, it is incumbent open us to either:

Increase our financial giving Think of new ways to raise the extra money needed Consider where substantial cuts or changes can be made regarding how

our church building is used, and our present forms of worship, mission and ministry.

The last option is probably the one folk would least like to consider! So, with that in mind, I would like to launch ‘FAMILY 50’.

To help us meet our financial shortfall, I would like, please, to invite each church family or household to raise an extra £50 on top of their usual giving. This could be done in a variety of covid-secure ways, and I’ll leave the means and method to the individuals concerned! Some immediate ideas are:

It may be that £50 is an amount you can afford to give to St Mary’s as a gift

You could undertake a sponsored walk/shave/silence/Bible reading etc and ask friends and family members to sponsor you.

You could even take a bath in baked beans! You could collect loose change in some jam jars. You could collect loose change in a swear box! You could choose to give up something for Advent, and gift the money

you save to St Mary’s You could gift to St Mary’s what you might have spent at our Fayres/Quiz

Nights/Concerts etc Guess the weight of the Vicar! Sell unwanted items on Ebay

Organise an online Quiz Night via Zoom Make and sell fun quiz sheets Abseil down the church tower Anything else you can think of - you are bound to have much better

ideas than me!

Once raised, your ‘Family 50’ can be put in the collection plate in church, paid online our websites, or posted through the Rectory door.

Thank you for your attention in this matter, and I wish you well as you look to raise your ‘FAMILY 50’!

Mission and Vision Statement for St Mary’s, Bulwell

Before and during the lockdown PCC members and Sub-Committees have been encouraged to think about a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement for St Mary’s.

- A Vision Statement is a succinct, one-sentence statement encompassing all we want to achieve as a church.

- A Mission Statement, on the other hand, is longer and specifies the steps St Mary’s would be willing to take to achieve our overall vision.

All churches need to have a Vision Statement and a Mission Statement to clearly communicate the future of our church as well as our strategic plan about how we will get there. A Vision statement will help us acknowledge our past (who St Mary’s were when the church was established), identify our present situation (who we are now), and also prepare us for our future (who St Mary’s wants to be in one, three, or five years from now).I look forward to continuing working on our Vision and Mission Statements with our new PCC following the APCM.

Looking Forward The coronavirus pandemic, ensuing lockdown, and continuing changing guidance and restrictions have taken the wind out of the sails of many churches and many individuals.

Against that, there has been a recorded rise in the number of people praying and turning to religion during the pandemic. We have folk accessing church life through online means in a way that we could not have imagined possible six months ago. For instance, at Evening Prayer on Sunday 27th September, apart from those taking part in the service there was one person in the congregation, but, within one hour, forty-seven people had watched the service on the church Facebook page! The same can be said for our other live-streamed and recorded services. In the height of the lockdown, we experienced a renewed emphasis on every-member ministry. Ministry is not, and has never been, an occupation reserved solely for the clergy. Whilst our church building was closed, we had to learn to worship at home.

Everyone on the Electoral Roll was put into a Prayer Partner group to offer mutual support and encouragement. Unable to visit residents face-to-face at Fairway View Care Home, Jackie B took to visiting residents online via Skype. Church members went shopping for folk who were shielding. St Mary’s Guides took to meeting online. Folk kept in touch by regular phone calls and emails. Following the Government and Church of England guidance and advice, St Mary’s was one of the first churches in Bulwell, and in the Diocese, to re-open for individual prayer and public worship. When the pandemic is over, some parish churches will fold, never to be seen again. Others will flourish and come out of it stronger and larger. The reason for this will not just be their wealth (or lack of it), or their context, or their tradition, but rather the quality, drive and commitment of their church congregations and their ministers. Congregations and ministers that have gone to sleep during the pandemic will stay asleep. Congregations and minsters that have risen to the task will be ready for service and witness.We need to continue encouraging and building up our lay minsters and ministries. We need to continue to build up and develop our worship, and our ministries out in the parish. If our country is turning to its Church, now is not the time for us to withdraw and to manage decline. The pandemic has already shown us new patterns of ministry and mission which can enable us to reconnect with our parish and recapture folk with the Good News of the Gospel.As we come out of the coronavirus crisis, we need to shrug off any instinct for simply reverting to doing things how they were done before the lockdown. Instead, we need to be ready to risk everything — even our church bank balances — in the mission that Christ calls us to share with him. But then, since Jesus has already won the victory, what have we got to lose?“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1:2-6

God bless you all, Fr Andrew

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