ELECTORAL ROLL REPORT

Following a personal review of the Electoral Roll in August 2022, historical errors were found. Having corrected these, no names have been added and no names have been removed at the APCM 2023 so the number on the roll now stands at 24.

Jan Carnell Electoral Roll Officer

Annual Report Of The Pcc

With meetings back in full swing following the restrictions of the pandemic it was good to be able to get back together once again on a regular basis. Many of the things that had been put on hold could now be moved forward and put into action.

Safeguarding has been a major talking point for members following the appointment of Marcia Singleton as Benefice Safeguarding Officer. Marcia has worked tirelessly to get everything up to date and in place, undertake training, oversee the training now required by members and maintain our Safeguarding dashboard. All of this is important work ensures that our church is a safe place for all. Thank you, Marcia.

Developing our vision for our work in the community has also taken a front seat in our discussions. Being able to engage once more with the community through special services, social events and fundraising activities has proved very successful. A highlight being the Posada around the village during Advent. Plans continue to engage church and community on a regular basis. Watch out for more services, events and activities coming your way in 2023.

On a more serious note, our Quinquennial Inspection was due this year and we received a comprehensive summary of the architect’s findings. Thanks to Roger many of the items needing attention have been sorted but the more serious things still need to be addressed. However, lack of funds may prevent us moving forward with some of the repairs and so some creative thinking around fundraising and getting money into the pot will have to take place. However, the PCC are determined to ensure that this vital work is carried out so that we can preserve the church for future generations.

We are also grateful to Steve Wilkinson for taking on the role of our Environmental Officer and he has been engaged in some very interesting research and work to comply with the Diocese wish that all churches become carbon net-zero by 2030 which he has been presenting at meetings. We look forward to seeing how this will affect change in the coming months and years.

The PCC continue to reflect on our future vision for St John’s and the opportunities this may hold. I look forward to some interesting, challenging and future-making discussions at forthcoming meetings.

Jan Carnell PCC Secretary

TREASURER’S REPORT

May I take this opportunity to thank those people who are members of our planned giving scheme. Your donations accounted for just over half of St John’s total income in 2022 and the church’s running expenses could not have been met in full without your generosity.

In July I registered us with the Parish Giving Scheme and by the end of the year four of those who were giving by standing order into the church’s bank account had moved over to the PGS. The advantages of giving by the Scheme are twofold. Firstly, it reduces the Treasurer’s workload by reducing the number of monthly transactions I need to record to two – one when everyone’s donation is paid into the church’s bank account and another when all of the Gift-Aid that the PGS claims on our behalf is also paid into the bank. Secondly, donors are given the opportunity to allow their donations to rise in line with inflation once a year.

The Quiz Night held in Bellerby Memorial Hall in September was a great success, raising £668 which was shared between St John’s and St Matthew’s. Donations for the tea and cakes that the church provided at the ‘Made in Bellerby’ event came to £262 and the Christmas Fair in St Matthew’s raised another £500.

Total receipts were £11,713 but total payments were £18,162 which meant that our reserves were reduced by £6,449. This was partly due to the PCC’s determination for the Parish Share Request, given to the Diocese to help pay clergy stipends and their housing costs, to be paid in full. However, with reserves as low as £10,826 by the end of 2022 I’m afraid that unless there’s a substantial increase in church income it’s highly unlikely that this will be achievable in 2023.

May I take this opportunity to encourage all those who attend St John’s and all those on the church’s Electoral Roll who do not already give to the church to consider joining our regular givers, preferably by joining the Parish Giving Scheme. I’d be more than happy to provide details on request.

Paul Carnell Treasurer

Churchwarden Report

Every year the world seems to send out fresh challenges to the Church – both Internationally, within the UK and within the parish of Bellerby – and the last twelve months have been no different. Whilst the impact of Covid has reduced, other issues raise their presence and again the parish of St Johns have coped very well giving a healthy, consistent presence and excellent emotional support.

The five yearly ‘Quinquennial’ survey raised a number of issues identifying work required on the structure of St Johns Church – varying by ‘urgent’ and ‘priority’ to advisory or recommended. The major work was undertaken, and comfortably completed within detailed timescales and included essential upgrading and repairs to the electrical installation and for major faults and standard maintenance in the roof structures.

Regular modernisation and upgrading of the church fabric and internal decorations have been undertaken including revamps within the nave kitchen/ vestry, cellar and churchyard areas and some fire and theft security ‘issues’ have also been addressed. All – generally – very well received.

The reinstalled bell has been rung to greet worshippers at every Sunday morning service and was rung daily following the Queen’s death and up to her funeral. During Spring, Summer and Autumn periods the church was open daily for private worship and for personal reflection and prayer.

But work goes on – and we constantly look to make our church more attractive and welcoming – continuing to serve the parishioners as well as visitors.

Congregation numbers represent a healthy proportion of the village population and, particularly on ‘special occasions, congregation numbers have been very healthy and pleasing – but we accept that we are ‘ageing’ and we must continue to investigate ways of introducing and retaining new church attendees – particularly younger representatives – otherwise there is a risk to the future of the church.

Gillian - our new Curate – was welcomed during the year and everyone is so pleased with how she has settled in to church and village life. She is a real star asset and the partnership with Stephen has really blossomed during the year.

Our dedicated congregation continue to raise sufficient funds to maintain our ‘parish share’ but it has not been easy and we constantly seek ways to raise funds to continue to pay our dues without having to dip into emergency reserve funds. We thank the local Open Gardens Committee for their recent, generous assistance in paying for the roof repairs (as they did previously for the repair and reinstallation of our bell).

We enter a new ‘business’ and financial year in a good place but there will be challenges ahead and we must be best prepared to address these as they arise.

Hilda and Roger St Johns Bellerby Churchwardens

A Report On The Proceedings Of The Wensley Deanery Synod

This year has been dominated by a discussion of net zero carbon and environmental issues. The aim was to allow the subject to be thoroughly discussed with feedback from PCCs, and actions undertaken. The actions needs to continue if we are to reach net zero by 2030 and the feedback was patchy and so the relationship between deanery and PCCs needs to be worked on.

This year has seen us continue with a nearly full complement of clergy. The only gap being the curate post in Lower Swale which remains unfilled.

Throughout the year the Deanery Synod met four times

4th May 2022 in person at Chantry Hall in Bedale for a prophetic talk by Bishop Helen-Ann

7th June 2022 in person at St. Michael’s Church, Kirklington

14th September 2022 in person at St Matthew’s Church, Leyburn

15th November 2022 by Zoom

The Standing committee has continued to meet by Zoom.

10th May 2022

3rd August 2022

18th October 2022

There have been presentations by:

Bishop Helen-Ann

Reverend Jeff Payne and Jemima Parker, Diocese Environment Officer on the

Diocesan Environmental and Zero Carbon Plan.

Dave Bookless from A Rocha International on the Theology of Environmental Care

Anne Readshaw about biodiversity

Jude Smith on Barnabas encouraging confidence

There have been discussions on:

Environmental and Zero Carbon Plans

Feedback from PCCs on the environment

Safeguarding

Focus for 2023 on The Barnabas initiative ‘encouraging confidence

All other business was of a routine nature.

The Finance Task Group has visited the following benefices to support them in meeting Parish Share

Upper Wensleydale

Penhill

Jervaulx

The Finance Task Group aims to visit other Benefices over the next year

The following Deanery events were undertaken:.

Ascension Day Open Air Joint Service with the Methodists at Jervaulx Abbey 7pm, Thursday 26th May 2022

Members of the Deanery supported the Wensleydale show with the Church on Show stand

Deanery Prayer meetings have continued in the churches around the Deanery, but attendance has been limited to a few dedicated individuals.

Bob Matthews Lay Chair, Wensley Deanery

During the year I have been reporting on the activity of the Deanery Synod for both the parishes of the Benefice and as St. Matthew’s lay representative. I passed on to the Deanery St. Matthew’s response to the objective of making our church carbon net zero. We now have a Parish Environmental Officer to take our environmental concerns forward.

It was interesting for the Deanery Synod to hear the insights of our area Bishop on mission as seen from an episcopal perspective, although these insights turned out to be closing remarks as she has moved on to become the new Bishop of Newcastle.

The Deanery Synod starts its year in January and so the last meeting mentioned in Bob’s report is the first of four in which the resourcing of the church’s future mission is going to be addressed as part of what has become known as the Barnabas Initiative. I will continue to report on this to the church councils during the rest of this synod, whose three-year term finishes at the end of this calendar year. Lay representatives for the next three years are due to be elected at this Annual Parochial Church Meeting.

Robin Newsam Lay Representative

Environmental Report

Since appointing an environmental officer at last year’s PCC we have made good progress in our aim of carbon net zero by 2030. We have audited our church using the Diocesan tool “A practical path to net zero carbon—A checklist for your church”; have agreed a PCC environmental policy; and developed a plan for carbon net zero. We have already implemented changes to improve energy efficiency heating the church, and declare the related carbon footprint in the annual Online Parish Return, offsetting our small residual carbon footprint. We are working towards measuring and offsetting our carbon footprint consequent upon travel. We have begun to make modest changes, acceptable to the local church community, to the church yard environment with the aim of improving biodiversity. A Climate Sunday Service is planned for the autumn in conjunction with harvest festival and we are exploring the possibility of an ECO day.

Steve Wilkinson

St John’s Environmental Officer

Safeguarding Report

We have progressed well throughout the year with making St John's a safer Church for all. All policies are now in place which underpin our practice. As discussed at last PCC meeting we have to progress this year with Domestic Abuse training and making sure my recruitment follows The Church of England guidance in recruitment, as all other Church groups now follow .

We can have many policies in place but it is caring for one another that brings safeguarding alive and makes it everyone's business.

Marcia Singleton Benefice safeguarding Officer

CURATE’S REPORT

It hardly seems possible but the time has just flown since I became Assistant Curate in the Benefice of Leyburn and Bellerby on Saturday 2nd July at Wakefield Cathedral. Curacy began with such a welcoming Joint Benefice Service held in St Matthew's Church, Leyburn followed by what can only be described as a feast. We have been made so welcome as a family and we are very very grateful for the support, kindness and friendship shown by everyone.

My first trip out as a brand new, slightly nervous curate was to Bellerby Open Gardens which was a great introduction to village life, and the connection has continued including the delights of being asked to bless the Queen's Jubilee Rose, and the Harvest Service in the Community Garden.

I can honestly say I have loved every moment of being a curate so far, with all the ups and downs of parish life. Who would have thought that in a few short months there would have been such variety (and in no particular order!)Remembrance Sunday events, the death of The Queen, the Leeds Diocesan Clergy Conference, Harvest services, Warm Spaces, Bellerby Ladies' Bible Study Group, Advent Group, Advent and Christmas services including Crib, the first Christingle in Bellerby, Lessons and Carols in both Leyburn and Bellerby, Carols in the pub, the lighting of the tree, PCC meetings, Soup and Pud, Leyburn Jazz Festival, the Christmas Fair, Christmas dinner, the Bellerby Quiz and Supper, Parent and Toddler Group, becoming Chaplain to the Cadets in Wensleydale School, visiting Wensleydale School and Leyburn Primary School, the Bellerby Posada, my first baptism, assisting at a wedding, several funerals, many Sunday Services, Morning Prayer in person and on Zoom, Evening Prayer, Compline and many many conversations, cups of tea and cake!

Thank you so much for such variety in the first few months, and a huge thank you to Stephen for his patience, encouragement and care.

Reverend Gillian Lunn Assistant Curate

VICAR’S REPORT

We have certainly had a great year, one in which we have finally been able to focus on our building of God’s kingdom in our parish and in our Benefice. We have had to work out ways to ensure that we have the finances to enable our church to run on a day by day, week by week basis as well as work to secure finances to enable us to do the vital work to repair and maintain our building. This is going to be an ongoing concern for the church nationally as well as us locally here in Bellerby.

This year we have really focused on how we can work within our community and how we can encourage the community to be part of the life of the church. We have looked at ways we can be involved in Made in Bellerby and had a successful day where we served coffee in church and this drew many people into our church building. We look forward to this being continued into the next year. We also held a fantastic quiz night which drew in a large number of people from the community and a good time was had by all.

It was amazing to see how the local community came into church during the 10 days following the death of The Queen and how good that we could offer this as a place of sanctuary for people.

We have been so blessed by Gillian joining us this year. The service and lunch on the day following her ordination as a deacon was a wonderful celebration and a great way to meet her and her family. Gillian has already brought so much to our Benefice and I know that her ministry is touching so many people. Please pray for her as she approaches her ordination to the priesthood and we look forward to all that she will bring to us during the rest of her curacy.

We have continued to run different groups during the week: Living in Love and Faith Course, the Bellerby based group looking at Women in The Bible, and the Advent Course based on the Archbishops of York’s Book, ‘Walking Backwards to Christmas’. It is so good to come together in these groups and reflect on different aspects of scripture and our faith.

We have a truly wonderful and welcoming church community which people who visit or who have moved into the town value when they come along. We have had many memorable services during the year and I am grateful for the ministry of others including Bob Mathews and Graham Dear which is an encouragement to us all. We have seen God truly working in our community and I will never forget the wonderful Harvest Festival in the Community Garden, followed by tea in church, the Remembrance Service and the services to remember and mourn the death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Please continue to pray for the building of God’s Kingdom here.

I would like to thank everyone for their love and faithfulness, for the offering of gifts and talents which are too numerous to mention and all who contribute to the life of the church.

Reverend Stephen Hanscombe