Annual Report for 2006

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 Miriam Keen (Curate), Rev Tim Edge (Non-stipendiary Minister), Rev Penny Joyce (Associate Minister); Mr Keith Harwood and Mr Colin Johnson (Churchwardens); Mr Nick Pike, Mr David Smith and Mr Richard Young (Licensed Lay Ministers); Mrs Julia Bee^[1], Mrs Barbara Eaton and Mrs Judy Poole^[2] (Representatives on the Deanery Synod).

Elected members

Mrs Jenny Allen, Miss Jackie Archer, Mr Lawrence Bee, Mrs Tessa Cox^[2], Mrs Gill Curwood, Mr Nigel Everett, Mr Jonathan Fisher, Mr Malcolm Harper (PCC Secretary), Miss Elizabeth Knowles (PCC Vice Chairman), Mr Harvey Leach, Mr David Lockwood, Mr Richard Middleton^[3], Mrs Jennifer Osman (PCC Treasurer^[3]), Mr Richard Osman^[3], Mr Anthony Sayles^[3], Ms Mary Tyler^[3], Mrs Hilary Warner^[2] and Mr Nigel Williams.

^[1] Until 18th May; ^[2] From APCM; ^[3] Until APCM.

Church attendance

There were 138 people on the Church Electoral Roll at the 2006 APCM, including 60 who were not resident in the parish. The previous Roll contained 134 names. The average Sunday attendance at St Mary's Church was 22 at the early communion service, 215 at baptism services and 207 at the confirmation service, and 141 at other main morning services, 47 at the monthly evening celebration service and 8 at most other evening services although higher for a few special evening services (including 73 at an evening service for Churches Together). These figures may include some people attending more than one service. Attendance at festival services was 167 at the Easter Sunday family service, 170 at the Christingle service, 222 at the Crib service, 274 at the Christmas Eve carol service, 103 at the first communion of Christmas and 144 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, 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 Missionary Team and subgroups on aspects of our Vision statement.

Review of the year

The PCC decided at its January meeting to reduce the number of full PCC meetings to five each year (replacing the May and July meetings by a June meeting), and there were also five meetings of the Standing Committee. The average attendance at the PCC meetings was 72%.

Property

St Mary's Church was closed from the beginning of May until the beginning of September so that contractors could remove the organ and pulpit and the old wood- block floor, and install an under-floor heating system, new stone floor and new oil- fired boiler. The communion rail was moved into the Blake Chapel, which has been transformed into a beautiful space for use in the smaller services, while there is more space for bigger services which are now led from the west end of the church. The restoration project also included a new electronic organ and new chairs throughout the church. It was not possible to include a ground source heat pump, although this remains an intention for the future.

While St Mary's was closed, the early morning communion service took place each week in the Cogges Church Centre, and the 11 o'clock service moved to the Blake School hall, with Junior Church continuing in the Church Centre. The monthly Celebration services were the only evening services. The PCC was very grateful to all members of the congregation for their patience and understanding, and to all those involved in the restoration project for all their hard work.

Further faculty applications were agreed, to move the war memorial to the west wall of the south aisle (rather than to the north wall at the east end of the Chancel), to install a screen for storage space at the east end of the south aisle (possibly incorporating the old organ screen), to install a new notice board and shelves on the south wall of the south aisle, to reduce the size of the communion table or replace it by a smaller table, to install six new loud speakers, to remove the pulpit and donate it to another church (rather than to relocate it within the building) and to erect a projection screen at the west end of the nave on a boom arm. Some of this work awaits completion.

Minor works identified by the quinquennial survey have been completed, although the PCC has deferred a decision on what to do about the condition of the lychgate.

The PCC reviewed the rents payable for use of the church centre, and agreed to make a small increase from September 2006. New loudspeakers have been installed in the Church Centre, mainly for use at meetings of the Cogges Seniors Group. The PCC approved a new rental agreement with the Cogges Under Fives Association for a further three years.

Minor changes to the churchyard regulations were agreed.

Finance

The PCC is responsible for all parish finance, and its management and control, and usually has appointed a treasurer to supervise this area. The PCC has been indebted to Mrs Jennifer Osman (who stood down as treasurer after the 2006 APCM) for very kindly maintaining all of the book-keeping while the PCC has tried to find a new treasurer, and to Mr Andrew Rendell for continuing to deal with payments and bank reconciliation. Mr Keith Harwood has kindly agreed to take on the role of treasurer for the coming year, and has also prepared the 2006 financial statements for presentation to the reconvened Annual Parochial Church Meeting, using the CashCall computer software.

The PCC approves an overall budget, which sets out expected income and expenditure for the year, and hopes to return to considering preliminary statements of income and expenditure regularly during the year. Mrs Osman kindly produced sets of preliminary accounts in November and in January 2007, and Mr Harwood produced draft financial statements for the APCM in April 2007.

The financing of the restoration project was the subject of several long discussions at PCC meetings early in the year. The PCC was grateful for all the gifts and offers of interest free loans for the project, but agreed that it was necessary to arrange for a bank overdraft facility before building contracts could be signed. Fortunately the overdraft facility was needed for only a few weeks, although this has incurred fees and interest of £495.

The budget set for all five phases of the project (described in more detail in the leaflet The 21st Century Challenge which is available from the church office) was £350,000. The first three phases were the installation of the new stone floor and under-floor heating (phase 1), the removal of the Victorian organ and replacement by an electronic organ (phase 2) and the replacement of the wooden chairs (phase 3), and most of this work was completed during 2006. The total expenditure on the project in the year was £211,262, and total income was £129,896 including £61,896 in gifts and gift aid. The funds received for the restoration project include £38,000 in interest free loans, repayable within six years, and the budget for 2007 includes provision for the repayment of one sixth of this. There is also a further interest free loan of £30,000 (given for the new church seating) repayable after the other loans have been cleared, but any gifts for the "purchase a chair" appeal will be used to repay this. The PCC had in earlier years earmarked funds for expenditure on the church building, and £16,000 was transferred to the project. The organ fund of £824 has also been used (£212 was transferred to the restoration project; most of the remainder was for organ hire until the new organ was installed). At the end of 2006 this still left a deficit in the restoration project of approximately £66,000 in addition to the £68,000 liability for loan repayments. Some applications for grants toward the project had been sent to trusts and charitable bodies and were still being considered, and the PCC had also discussed other avenues of fund raising.

The general fund budget for 2006 had shown a £10,467 deficit, based on a conservative estimate of income. Actual income during the year was almost as high as in 2005, and expenditure was marginally lower, so the general fund has ended the year with a surplus. However, the financing of the restoration project has required the use of all of the church's financial resources, including balances covering other restricted funds, and this surplus will be needed to reduce the deficit.

The budget for 2007 has again used a conservative estimate of income (ie it only includes income which has already been promised by bankers order or envelope scheme, plus an amount in plate offerings based on actual receipts in 2006) and on that basis it shows the need to increase income by £17,000 (ie by 18% or £327/week).

The PCC received reports on the scheme for allocation of Parish Share within the Deanery, and has agreed on a revision of local fees for weddings and funerals.

The other main financial item considered by the PCC was the distribution of grants to charities and other causes working in mission and relief at home and overseas. The PCC has an agreed policy to give away at least a tithe of its general fund income (in addition to any earmarked donations). The PCC agreed to continue support for Pascal Bigirimana's work in the Diocese of Bujumbura in Burundi, and gave a grant from the general fund together with amounts collected through earmarked donations. The PCC has agreed on the gradual reduction of the grant to Pascal starting in 2008. The agreed distribution of grants also included a further £1,750 to support overseas mission in four other areas, £1,900 for overseas relief in Lebanon, Afghanistan and northern Nigeria, £1,800 to Adventure Plus to support Jonathan and Tessa Cox, a further £2,230 for home mission (all local activities) and £1,900 for home relief and support. A grant of £500 was given to Graham and Hilary Warner to support their visit to Burundi.

The total of earmarked donations in 2006 was £4,740 including receipts for the Vicar's Discretionary Fund and Pascal. The PCC agreed that people should be offered the opportunity to earmark a tithe of anything they give for the restoration project for a project overseas.

Outreach and activities

Aspects of outreach have been discussed at all the meetings of the PCC, with a number of activities: the Marriage course, Alpha, a summer holiday club, the traditional Children's parties on 31st October, 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. The monthly opportunity for those at the early morning communion to stay for "coffee and croissants" started in November, and a children's choir started in October and took part in the Carols by Candlelight service. The PCC also received reports on new teaching materials for Junior Church, new leadership for CYFA, the continuation of "Lights, camera, action" (under a new name) in Junior Church, and the JAM Club.

A new pattern for the Sunday evening services has been agreed, with Evening Prayer on the first Sunday each month, a celebration service on the second Sunday, a joint service with other churches on the third Sunday, a contemplative service on the fourth Sunday and a healing service when there is a fifth Sunday.

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, the weekly Toddler group and the deliveries of the Welcome Pack to newcomers.

Strategy and Vision

PCC members took part in a 5-yearly "Diocesan health check" by completing individual questionnaires, and the Area Dean and Lay Chair of the Deanery Synod visited the PCC in September to discuss the results.

The PCC has continued to receive reports arising from the work of the working groups, particularly the "Cogges Neighbours" group (pastoral care team training and community care practitioners' forum), the fellowship development group (Pastorates) and the practical action group (Besom and Fairtrade).

Other activities

Following revision of the Blake School's instrument of government, the PCC appointed Tessa Cox, Paul Langley, Janet Leach and Jonathan Noel as governors.

The Vicar told the PCC of his plans for sabbatical leave from June to August 2007.

The PCC was pleased to hear about the extension of Penny Joyce's archdeaconry post for an additional three years until 2011.

Publicity for the Child Protection policy was discussed.

The PCC received regular reports on meetings of the Deanery Synod and of Churches Together in Witney and District. The Vicar, Curate and Associate Minister reported to each PCC meeting on matters of interest or concern. The arrangements for festival services (at Christmas, Easter and Harvest) were also reported and discussed.

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, for which it receives a rent of £1,200pa, and has minor income from fee simple farm rents totalling approximately £15pa. The Trustees are the Incumbents and Church Wardens of the Parishes of Cogges and Witney, plus others from time to time appointed.