ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Year ended December 31st 2003

Background
Chiddingly PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the Rector, Rev’d Peter Clark, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

Membership
Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the year the following served as members of the PCC:

Rector:  
The Rev'd Peter Clark

Churchwardens:
Mr Peter Clerehugh
Mr Frank Gearing

Assistant Churchwarden:
Mrs Sue Andrews (Non Voting)

Representatives on the Deanery Synod:
Mrs Sue Andrews
Mrs Elaine Cornford

Elected members:
Mrs June Walker Hon Secretary
Mr Robin Symington Hon Treasurer
Mr Tim Waterman Tower Captain
Mrs Sharon Benz
Mr John Chatfield
Mrs Elaine Cornford
Mr David Young

Co-opted member:  
Mrs Elizabeth Clerehugh (Village Hall Rep)

Committees
The PCC operates through a number of committees, which meet between full meetings of the PCC:

Standing & Finance Committee
This consists of the two Churchwardens, the Hon Secretary, the Hon Treasurer and the Rector chairs it. It has the power to transact the business of the PCC between its full meetings, subject to any directions given by the Council. It also oversees the general financial dimension of the work of Chiddingly Church by monitoring income and expenditure, budgeting and co-ordinating the annual review of the Christian Stewardship of money through planned giving and Gift Aid. It also attends to matters relating to the stewardship of plant, such as the church building and fabric, the churchyard and the Rectory.

Worship Group
Attends to matters relating to all aspects of the worship in the services.

Social Committee
Attends to the social needs of the Church and fund raising events.

Church attendance
There are 71 on the Church Electoral Roll, 15 of who are not resident within the parish. 10 were removed either through death or because they moved away from the parish. The usual Sunday attendance, counted during October was 33, but this number increased at festivals and major services, i.e. Carol, Christingle, Midnight Mass, Remembrance and Easter Day.

Review of the year
The full PCC met six times during the year with average attendance of 88%. The Standing/ Finance committee met six times and the other committees met between those meetings.

The ongoing problem with water penetration into the spire and tower following the Lightning Strike that hit the Church on Friday November 22nd 1996 seems still to be with us. English Heritage is helping us with grant aid to address this problem. The initial inspection has been carried out and we hope English Heritage can find additional funds. We have raised the entire amount originally specified by them. We now have the Glass Screen in the archway between nave and Ringing Chamber, which keeps the church warmer. The brick pathway from the main gate round to the Churchyard has been completed, as have the metal bars on some windows. This has helped by cutting down the draughts from the said windows in the Chancel. All of this work was carried out in 2003. Other small work on the Quinquennial list we hopefully shall be able to complete over the next two years. We also have a ten-year plan for the major work.

Our pattern of worship with three Sunday services still seems to be going well. We have a NSM in the Benefice, Rev’d Phil Hodgins, plus a lady Sharon Benz in her second year for Reader Training. Also help from Rev’d Richard Sweet-Escott and Bob Snelling.

Both Parishes are still having their magazines copied with the photocopier, which is in the Rectory study. The Rector also has secretarial help for four hours a week.

On behalf of the PCC:
The Rev’d Peter Clark           8 January 2004

Financial matters
It has been a very successful year financially, largely due to the overwhelming generosity of very many people. Those who give regularly under the FWO scheme have contributed much; many others have given frequently during the year, and there have been a number of individual substantial donations. We are also very grateful that so many parishioners use the Gift Aid scheme, which enables us to claim substantial tax refunds.

The year has seen the Church spend money previously received on some major projects. The brick-paved footpath around the west front of the Church was relaid - approx £11,000. Several windows were repaired - about £3,500. The glass screen was installed - approx £13,500. The church’s audio system and hearing loop was updated - £1,680.

We are now starting on major repairs to the stone tower. We have raised the sum initially required by English Heritage, but a full inspection of the tower and subsequent received tenders indicate an increased overall cost to about £115,000. At today’s date we need a further £30,000. It looks as though when/assuming all the work is finally done, the Parish here will be contributing about 25% of all the total costs, and the rest will come from grants.

Finally as usual, a very grateful word of thanks to all the unsung heroes and heroines who maintain the church and churchyard, dust and sweep, arrange the flowers, play the organ and ring the bells. Thanks to them Chiddingly Church is a very lovely house of worship.

On behalf of the PCC
Robin Symington, Hon Treasurer.            11 January 2004

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2003  This is an Acrobat file of 4 pages, and may take a few moments to download.