Annual Report for 2004

Background

Cogges PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the vicar, the Rev Andrew Sweeney, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the parish church, St Mary's, and for the Cogges Church Centre. The PCC is a charity excepted from registration with the Charity Commission.

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:

Members ex-officio

Rev Andrew Sweeney (Incumbent & Chairman), Rev James Howson (Curate), Rev Tim Edge (Non-stipendiary Minister), Rev Penny Joyce (Associate Minister); Mr Lawrence Bee^[1], Mrs Gill Curwood^[1], Mr Keith Harwood^[2], Mr Colin Johnson^[2] (Churchwardens); Mr David Page^[1], Mr Nick Pike, Mr David Smith and Mr Richard Young (Licensed Lay Ministers); Mrs Julia Bee, Mrs Barbara Eaton^[2], Miss Elizabeth Knowles^[1], Mr David Lockwood^[2] and Mrs Pauline Page^[1] (Representatives on the Deanery Synod).

Elected members

Mrs Jenny Allen^[2], Miss Jackie Archer, Mr Lawrence Bee^[2], Mrs Gill Curwood^[2], Mr Nigel Everett, Mr Jonathan Fisher, Mr Malcolm Harper (PCC Secretary), Mr Colin Johnson^[1], Miss Elizabeth Knowles^[2], Mr Harvey Leach, Mr David Lockwood^[1], Mr Richard Middleton, Mr Martyn Miles^[2], Mrs Jennifer Osman^[1,3], Mr Anthony Sayles, Mrs Mel Sayles, Ms Mary Tyler (PCC Treasurer), Mrs Hilary Warner and Mr James Webster^[1].

^[1] Until APCM (Apr 04); ^[2] From APCM; ^[3] Co-opted from May 04.

Church attendance

There were 129 people on the Church Electoral Roll at the 2004 APCM, including 54 who were not resident in the parish. The previous Roll contained 121 names. The average Sunday attendance at St Mary's Church was 18 at the early communion service, 174 at Baptism services, 151 at Family Worship services, 128 at other main morning services, 9 at the evening service and 31 at the monthly evening informal service. Some of those attending evening services had also attended earlier in the day. Attendance at festival services was higher, with 178 at the Easter Sunday family service, 190 at the Christingle service, 221 at the Crib service, 214 at the Christmas carol service, 72 at the first communion of Christmas and 167 at the Christmas Day family service.

Committees

The Standing Committee is required to exist by the Church Representation Rules. It consisted of the vicar and curate, the churchwardens, the PCC Vice-chairman (Mr Page until the APCM, Miss Knowles after the APCM), the PCC Secretary and the PCC Treasurer. The Standing Committee has power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any directions given by Council. Its main activity is to set the agenda for PCC meetings, and to ensure any necessary preparation for the meetings is made.

The Ministry Group consists of those with the Bishop's license to minister in the parish (the clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers) and others at the invitation of the vicar, and shares with the vicar his pastoral responsibilities.

The Church Centre Management Committee was set up by the PCC to oversee the management of the Cogges Church Centre.

The Benefice Child Protection Committee was set up by the PCC (with South Leigh PCC) to oversee all aspects of child protection within the benefice.

There have also been a number of ad hoc working parties during the year, including the Cogges Welcome Group, the Missionary Team, and subgroups on the four aspects of our Vision statement.

Review of the year

There were six meetings of the PCC during 2004, and six meetings of the Standing Committee. The average attendance at the PCC meetings was 77%.

Outreach and activities

Aspects of outreach have been discussed at all the meetings of the PCC, with a number of activities: a Parentalk course, craft workshops, a summer holiday club, the traditional Children's parties on 31st October, a bonfire party on 5th November, and a Harvest service, a Crib Service and Carols in the Barn, all at the Farm Museum. Several events have been running in the Madley Park estates, including Discovery Days and Jigsaw, and the PCC supported plans to continue the Blake School's JAM Club group when the children move on to secondary schools. The PCC also gave consideration to activities which are starting in 2005: a Marriage Course, an outreach course such as Journeys and a youth group.

The quarterly colour parish magazine continued throughout the year. Other outreach activities have continued during the year, including the monthly meetings of the Cogges Seniors Group and the deliveries of the Welcome Pack to newcomers.

Finance

The PCC is responsible for all parish finance, and its management and control, and has appointed a treasurer to supervise this area. The PCC approves an overall budget, which sets out expected income and expenditure for the year, and considers preliminary statements of income and expenditure three times a year, as well as approving the annual accounts for presentation at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.

The general fund budget for 2004 showed a £4,550 deficit. Income during the year was £17,003 more than budgeted and expenditure was £4,762 more than budgeted, giving a closing balance of £7,691. The budget for 2005 shows the need to increase income by a further £4,000 (ie by 5.3% or £77/week), although this excludes money needed to rent a house for our new curate (for which some earmarked donations have been promised) and to replace the church and church centre heating systems. Significant expenditure on reordering the church building is likely to be needed in 2006 rather than 2005, but there will be smaller amounts needed to try out possible schemes.

The other main financial item considered by the PCC was the distribution of grants to charities and other causes. The PCC continued to give away a tithe of its general fund income (in addition to any earmarked donations), giving £1,800 to Adventure Plus to support Jonathan and Tessa Cox, £1,950 to support overseas mission in three areas, £1,900 to TEAR Fund for overseas relief in Iraq, South East Asia (Tsunami appeal) and Africa (AIDS), a further £1,680 for home mission (all local activities) and £1,550 for home relief and support. The PCC agreed to continue support for Pascal Bigirimana's work in the Diocese of Bujumbura in Burundi until the end of 2006, and gave £1,401 from the general fund together with amounts collected through earmarked donations. A grant of £1,000 from the evangelism fund was given to Claire Warner to support her work with Alpha in Paris, and a grant of £500 was given to Jackie Archer for use during her visit to China.

The total of earmarked donations in 2004 was £16,456 including receipts for the Vicar's Discretionary Fund and Pascal. In total £26,738 was given away, 25% of our total realised income.

The PCC agreed to pay £100pa for seven years (from 2005) to the Historic Churches Preservation Trust, and also to become a member of Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, in recognition of the Trusts' generous financial support for the work on the chancel roof in 2003.

Property

Work arising from the quinquennial inspection of the church in 2000/2001 was nearly completed in 2003, but final reports were received by the PCC in the first two meetings of 2004.

The PCC applied for a faculty to permit work needed in the church to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, including improved lighting and a new path to the chancel door, and the work has been undertaken during the year. The faculty also gave permission to replace a dead elm tree in the churchyard.

A working group was set up to consider the reordering of the church in the light of experience with the experimental seating arrangement with chairs in the chancel facing west and services being led from underneath the chancel arch, and of the needs of congregations at all services. The PCC will be applying for an Archdeacon's license to permit further experiments.

New high-level cupboards were installed in the Ridley room in the church centre to provide archival storage, and two new wall cupboards were installed in the kitchen in the church centre.

Changes will be needed to the heating systems in both the church and the church centre because the oil tanks do not comply with oil storage regulations which apply from 1st September 2005.

The PCC reviewed the rents payable for use of the church centre, and agreed to make a small increase from September 2004. A small subgroup met with committee members of the Cogges Under Fives Association to discuss financial matters.

Strategy and Vision

Following consultation on the Vision document, the PCC set up four subgroups to address its four main areas: spiritual formation, parish support (Cogges neighbours), practical action and fellowship development. The groups reported to the July PCC meeting, but have continued working.

The PCC also revised the document Our Purpose and Priorities.

Other activities

There has been further work on child protection to ensure that the PCC's guidelines for working with young people are being implemented. The PCC received further reports on the plans for the Parish Weekend in June 2004, and reports from Julia Bee on the Fusion foundations course which she attended.

The PCC approved a revised list of laity submitted to the Bishop for permission for them to assist with administration at holy communion.

The PCC received regular reports on meetings of the Deanery Synod and of Churches Together in Witney. The Vicar reported to each PCC meeting on matters of interest or concern.

Related Trusts and Charities

Charities in the names of Henry White, William Wright, Simon Holford, Sarah Scott Pruce, and Edward Nourse were originally grouped together as the Cogges Ecclesiastical Charities, now in process of being wound up, and as the Cogges Non-Ecclesiastical Charities, now reformed as the Cogges Welfare Trust and no longer administered by the Church.

The Blake School Foundation holds the House at Cogges Church Centre in Trust, and has minor income from fee simple farm rents totalling approximately £60pa. The Trustees are the Incumbents and Church Wardens of the Parishes of Cogges and Witney, plus others from time to time appointed.