ST NICHOLAS, ISLIP, a parish in the Ray Valley Benefice. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR TO 31 st DECEMBER 2017

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1 ST NICHOLAS, ISLIP, a parish in the Ray Valley Benefice ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR TO 31 st DECEMBER 2017 Highlights of the Year Popularity of the first Café Church Good Friday procession and outdoor service at Millennium Wood Use of church for Coull Quartet Recording and Gosford Hill School Christmas Concert Visit of Rev John Bell from Iona Community Big Bike Ride from Westminster to Islip Welcome drinks in church for new villagers Facebook presence was developed with 141 posts and a 10% increase in followers St Nicholas website received 3097 visits, an increase of 41% this year INCUMBENT The Revd Steve Hayes, The Rectory, Church Walk, Ambrosden OX25 2LY. PRIEST RESIDENT IN ISLIP The Revd Lucy Thirtle, 3 The Rise, Islip, Oxford OX5 2TG The Members of the PCC during 2017 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: Clergy The Revd Steve Hayes The Revd Lucy Thirtle Churchwardens Mr David Hughes Mr Tony Esau Lay Chairman Mr Wilf Stephenson Basis of Appointment Ex officio Ex officio Ex officio Ex officio 1

2 Secretary Mrs Sue Carter Treasurer Mr Christopher Lowe Replaced due to ill health on 5 th November by Mr Graham Davison Deanery Synod Representative Mr Tony Esau Members Mrs Sue Carter Mrs Teresa Carter Mrs Jane Currie Dr Graham Davison from April APCM Mr Christopher Lowe Mrs Alison Smith Mrs Johanna Stephenson from April APCM Mr Wilf Stephenson Ex officio Bankers: National Westminster Bank, 17 Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxon OX5 2BP Independent Examiner: Dr Simon Bayly, 16 Bletchingdon Road, Islip OX5 2TQ Committees The Standing Committee, comprising the Clergy, Churchwardens, Secretary and Treasurer, meets when necessary to transact urgent business or to prepare for the next Council meeting. It has delegated powers to make decisions while keeping the full PCC informed. PCC Meetings The PCC met 5 times during the year. Topics discussed included how to make the church more welcoming, developing a 5 year plan and vision, the upkeep of the church and churchyard, Dr South's School, fundraising, charitable giving, health and safety, deanery and benefice issues. 2

3 Objectives and Activities in 2017 The objectives of the PCC, as defined by the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956, are to co-operate with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also responsible for maintaining the church and churchyard. It is a charity currently excepted from registration with the Charities Commission. Electoral Roll At the APCM in April, there were 62 names on the electoral roll, 3 of whom live outside the parish. Johanna Stephenson is the Electoral roll officer. Services and Church Attendance The regular pattern of services at 10.30am on Sundays was Parish Communion on 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd Sundays with a Family Service on the 4 th Sunday followed by the Liturgy of the Eucharist at 11.45am, 5 th Sunday United Benefice Communion in one of the parishes in the benefice. An 8am BCP Holy Communion was held on the 4 th Sunday of the month. This was discontinued from November owing to very low numbers. This will be reviewed during A Tuesday morning service of Holy Communion was held twice a month at 9.30am, usually on the 2 nd Tuesday in the church and on the 4 th in a private home to which others are invited. Regular attendance is 4 at the church service and 5-7 at the house communion. Dr South s School held five full school services in the church during the course of the year (Passiontide Service in April; School Leavers in July; Harvest in October; Christingle service and Christmas Nativity in December). This sees the church full with the 100+ children from the school plus staff, parents, grandparents, friends and siblings. There were 3 weddings, 4 funerals and 2 baptisms. The average attendance on normal Sundays for Communion was 28 adults and at Family Services 30 adults and 8 children. There is much higher attendance for festivals, notably for the Remembrance Service and the Christmas services and when there is a baptism in the main service. Lay Ministry The churchwardens continued to fulfil their role in terms of being present for Sunday services, ensuring that rota responsibilities are all covered; counting the collection at 3

4 the end of services as well as ensuring the church building and contents are compliant with statutory legislation, and maintained in good repair. This year, they met on two or three occasions with Rev Lucy to ensure that things were being attended to between PCC meetings. With the support of others they ensure minor repairs, replacement of light bulbs, maintenance of the heating and sound system, as well as other necessary work to keep the building safe and in good order, are carried out. Annie Brooks, Sue Carter, Jane Currie, Maggi Davison, Kathryn Grant and Wilf Stephenson were the authorised Eucharistic Assistants and filled this role through the year. Reija Fanous, Jane Currie, Sue Carter, Maggi Davison and Wilf Stephenson acted as sacristans. Many more served as sidesmen, read lessons or led intercessions. A small choir practised regularly and aimed to sing on the first and third Sundays of the month; it also sang for some special services and, much enlarged, for the Christmas Carol Service. We are indebted to our organist, Ben Heffer, for his commitment to Sunday services and organising choir practises. A team of church members provided refreshments after the am service each week. Bell Ringing The tower and its ringers are affiliated to the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell ringers and are part of the Bicester Branch. We endeavour to ring for every Sunday service at Islip. Our practice night is Tuesday and we have regular visitors who come along to help with the progression of our fairly new members. Branch practices take place at Islip a couple of times a year and we always try to accommodate visiting bands, if we can. New recruits are always welcome. Youth and Children s Work Children s Church on the 2 nd Sunday of the month was discontinued through lack of support but Family Services continued to be popular with the children reading and sometimes joining the musical band. The ABC (Adults, Babies & Children) services on the 3 rd Friday continued monthly and attracted a small but regular core of attenders with many more attending from time to time. Those that do come give very positive feedback on behalf of their children. 4

5 The link between the church and Dr South s School, which is a Church of England Aided Primary school, continued to be strong. The school now belongs to the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust, which means that governors are now appointed by that body. However, a number of governors, originally nominated by the PCC, continue to be an important link including Tony Esau, Emily Cohen, Calum Miller as well as Rev Steve Hayes, who is ex officio member. Also, the PCC has negotiated a procedure for consultation when new governors have to be appointed. Meanwhile Rev Lucy, as well as being a parent, was a regular visitor and led school services in church as well as occasional Collective Worship in school. Care of the church and churchyard In addition to the care given by the churchwardens and others mentioned above, thanks are due to a small band of quiet and often unsung volunteers who clean the church and decorate it with flowers. Phil Jackson's work in maintaining the churchyard has won much praise. During 2017, Gary Hicks did a good job of tidying up the cross tree beds and a couple of productive churchyard working parties made progress in clearing ivy. Christopher Lowe was no longer able to fulfil his role of oversight. The burial plan has temporarily been handed to Rev Lucy while a volunteer is sought to maintain this important document. It remains policy to encourage wild flowers in one small area of the churchyard. The Quinquennial inspection took place this year and the report was received. The PCC will be acting on the priority items. Social Justice and Outward Giving The PCC has committed itself to being a Fairtrade parish. It supports the Bicester Food Bank and donations of items are regularly taken from the box in church to the collection point in Ambrosden. A satisfactory year allowed us to make a gift 1500 from unrestricted income to organisations engaged in mission of a different kind was given to USPG in Tanzania and 500 to a local charity, Oxford Winter Night Shelter. A number of church members collected for Christian Aid Week, collecting together with Noke and Woodeaton a total of over 1,500. 5

6 Finance In October, Christopher Lowe retired as Treasurer after 30 years service to St Nicholas. The PCC would like to thank him for his help and advice for the incoming Treasurer. Financially this was a satisfactory year. The general fund, churchyard fund and restoration fund are all in surplus, the latter being helped by a substantial legacy and limited spend. Tax efficient giving by standing order was down but that from collections was up. Both the Parish Share and Benefice Support were paid in full. Gifts of 3.7% of unrestricted income were less than the policy of 5%. It is planned that this will be corrected in this financial year. 6

7 FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017 PCC General Fund Receipts & Payments Account Receipts Voluntary receipts Tax-efficient giving 15,740 17,118 Tax recovered 10,560 4,628 Collections 5,722 3,949 Other giving 1, Grants/Legacies Sale of pews Restricted collections for charity-christian Aid 1, ,633 26,668 Receipts from fundraising activities 3 Parishes Fair 1,050 1,373 Harvest Meal (restricted-farm Africa) 365 Spring sale (restricted-save the Children) 469 Other fundraising 2,234 1,125 3,284 3,332 Receipts from investments Dividends & interest Receipts from church activities Magazine 2,981 2,722 Lettings 630 Fees 2, ,796 2,946 Total Receipts 44,325 33,455 Payments Church activities Missionary & charitable payments 1,705 1,530 Restricted collections for charities 1,399 1,005 Parish Share 18,806 18,806 Benefice ministry expenses 2,391 2,401 Church running expenses 5,319 5,791 Church maintenance 1, Upkeep of services 1, Magazine 2,758 2,185 Organists 1,240 1,280 Fundraising costs 1, Bell Fund Overspend 195 Administrative expenses Total Payments 38,209 34,154 Excess (deficit) of Receipts over Payments 6,

8 Bank/CBF current & deposit a/cs at 1 Jan ,973 5,672 Bank/CBF current & deposit a/cs at 31 December ,089 4,973 PCC Restoration & Development Fund Receipts & Payments Account - Restricted Fund Receipts Interest 0 1 Tax recovered 801 1,045 Legacy 1,000 2,500 Other donations/grants 3,354 4,050 Total Receipts 5,155 7,596 Payments Clock 1,229 Total Payments 1,229 0 Excess (deficit) of Receipts over Payments 3,926 7,596 Bank current/cbf deposit a/cs at 1 Jan ,189 16,593 Bank current/cbf deposit a/cs at 31 Dec ,115 24,189 Churchyard Fund Receipts & Payments Account - Expendable Endowment Fund (This arose from a bequest to the Rector and Churchwardens for the upkeep of the churchyard by Mona Elizabeth Hunt, who who died 29 Jan. 1994, supplemented in 2013 by a donation in memory of Linda Susan Cooper.) Receipts Payments Dividends & interest Parish Council 1, Total Receipts 1,806 1,265 Mowing costs Notice Board 330 Floodlighting Repair 265 Path repairs 1,252 Tree Work 1,116 Renovating Borders Total Payments 1,080 3,523 Excess (deficit) of Receipts over Payments 726-2,258 Bank current a/c at 1 Jan ,040 6,298 Bank current a/c at 31 Dec ,766 4,040 Bell Fund - Restricted Fund 8

9 Bank current a/c at 31 Dec ,091 Three Parishes Christmas Fair Receipts & Payments Account Receipts Total Receipts 2,526 2,519 Payments Expenses Islip (1 half) 1,050 1,373 Noke (1 quarter) Woodeaton (1 quarter) Total Payments 2,526 2,519 Statement of Assets & Liabilities at 31 December 2017 General RestDvpt Chrchyd Permanent Bell TOTALS Fund Fund Fund Endow- Fund ments Cash & bank deposits Bank current a/cs 8,284 28,003 4, ,053 31,799 Deposit a/cs 2, ,907 2,494 Total cash 11,089 28,115 4, ,970 34,293 Other assets Investments (value at 31 Dec.2017) 12,459-22,060 6,150-40,669 37,449 Permanent endowments These comprise (a) the Land in Church Lane Trust, which arose from the sale in 1971 of land in Church Lane and (b) the capital of the former Gertrude Mullett Charity transferred to the PCC in 2002 They are invested in the CBF Investment Fund through the Diocesan Trustees, who automatically remit the income to the PCC for general ecclesiastical purposes. Non-monetary assets Freehold of Cross Tree Green (purchased 4 Nov from the Church Commissioners by the DBF on behalf of the PCC for ecclesiastical purposes). Church furnishings are included in the inventory and vested in the churchwardens in special trust. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT 1 Accounting Policies The financial statement has been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts & Payments basis. 9

10 2 Details of missionary and charitable payments Church overseas U.S.P.G. 1,000 1,000 Relief agencies Save the Children 1, Farm Africa 536 Home missions, church societies Oxfordshire Historic Churches Secular charities Daybreak 500 Bicester Food Bank 175 Oxford Winter Shelter 500 2,604 2,535 3 Insurance The church building is insured with EIG for 6,980,220, contents for 107, Transactions with members of the PCC No person connected with the PCC received any remuneration or benefit from PCC funds. This report was adopted by the PCC at its meeting on 8 April