Draft Annual report 2024

Annual Report and Accounts 2024

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish
of Barnard Castle with Whorlton: Diocese of Durham

1. Introduction
This Report has been drawn up in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.

2. Aims and purposes
St. Mary’s Barnard Castle with Whorlton Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, The Revd Canon Alec Harding, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

3. Objectives and activities: We have discerned the parish’s overarching aim to be

Celebrating God’s Love

We seek to do this by:
1. Working in partnership with those who bring life to the community.
2. Celebrating God’s gifts in His creation, His children and His work in this place.
3. Creating space, time and opportunities for people of all ages to grow in faith and worship.

Our priorities in 2024 were discerned to be:
1. Growing our work with Children and young people and connecting church, schools and families together.
2. Healing and wholeness.
3. Offering ‘Living water’ through our worship and common life so we might grow.

Communication:
We communicate our activities through an e-letter and/or a hard copy newsletter, through the church pew sheet, through the church website and through FaceBook.

Achievements and performance
1. Growing our work with children and young people:

The parish continues to work extensively with children and young people with volunteers involved in the weekly under-fives group (Smuffies), offering Junior church provision at Barnard Castle, weekly Big Story sessions, hymn practice and church school choir sessions and (occasional) Prayer spaces at Green Lane School. Clergy conduct weekly collective worship at Montalbo and Green Lane Schools alongside involvement at Barnard Castle School and the Prep school. Barnard Castle church hosts school visits and termly school services. Uniformed organizations visit Barnard Castle Church.
However: we continue to struggle to connect those who come for baptism into the life of the church and to give a sense of direction to the considerable amount of work that is being done with Primary School children.
What have we done?
The PCC created a small working group to investigate possibilities for increased work with local schools and uniformed organisations. Some tenuous links with Teesdale School were pursued resulting in an invitation to our curate to attend the school’s ‘Religion & Philosophy’ club with young teenagers.

We invited the Diocesan Children’s Officer to attend worship to speak to the congregation about the Diocesan priority of growing work with children. Unfortunately, Diocesan reorganization of staff roles meant this visit could not take place.

A cause for concern: Whilst the parish ‘Four o’clock’/ Celebrate service had run out of steam (and not resulted in any greater involvement in church life beyond occasional attendance) its demise has de-churched some younger families who had attended (including some members of the Praise Band) The movement of the ‘Celebrate’ service to the 10.30am worship time offers a different style of worship on these occasions but is not itself a tool for growth.

Baptism families who previously had been asked to attend the Four o’clock service are now asked to attend at least one service at 10.30am prior to a baptism. This has been appreciated by the congregation. The Vicar has played a part in scoping the role for a chaplain to be engaged at Barnard Castle School. It may be possible for this role to be shared with a parish role in the deanery but decisions rest with the school and the diocese.

The PCC supported the creation of Panthers: a music group for children. This is led by Peter Lovatt and involves a small band of teenagers enjoying music under the church’s ‘umbrella’.

It was decided against holding a service of admission to communion at Green Lane CE School this year as the timetable did not permit enough preparation.

The dedication of the new porch windows at Barnard Castle (by + Sarah the Acting Bishop of Durham, on December 8th offered the opportunity for an event entitled The Christmas Family Drop in: a mixture of all age craft activities, music, Scalextric (!), refreshments, storytelling and engagement with the windows proved popular. It may be that a structured series of ‘feast day’ events arranged for families might enable the church to engage with a younger demographic.

2. Healing and wholeness
Healing and wholeness sits within the church’s provision of pastoral care to the town. At its widest level this includes ensuring that the parish safeguarding procedures are robust; supporting people to meet together and find strength and fellowship in community through the many groups that use the Parish Hall; promoting church social activities and events; hosting concerts and continuing to offer care home services and pastoral visits (not least those surrounding the occasional offices of baptisms, weddings and funerals).
What have we done?
The ministry of healing has been incorporated into the regular service pattern at Barnard Castle and members of the congregation have taken part in online training through the Go Health organization.

Members of the congregation serve on the Parish Nursing Trustees.
The church Safeguarding Officer (Harriet Hargreaves) moved abroad with her work. A safer recruitment process saw Mr David Ewart appointed to this role. David has spent the year getting to grips with the National Church’s Expectations, helping to bring the PCC ‘dashboard’ up to date, talking to group leaders and ensuring that the PCC fulfils what is expected of it concerning Safeguarding.
The PCC has complied with the duty to have ‘due regard’ to the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance.

Social events
Social events this year have included the Castle Players’ production of These things do happen (promoted by the Friends of St Mary’s).

Barnard Castle hosted ‘Organ world’ for an exhibition
The Northern Dales Richard III group held their bi-ennial conference at Barnard Castle.

The Windows for the King project led by Kim Harding was brought to completion with additional fundraising through a Quiz Night, Garden Party and a Ceilidh. The new windows were installed above the porch door by the artist Rachel Phillips. Their unveiling on November 6th took place before a full church by Dr Fiona Hill, Chancellor of Durham University.

The Castle Players transformed the nave at Barnard Castle for a stunning performance of the play ‘Dickon by Josephine Tey which sold out its 4 performances.

Barnard Castle School Choral Society performed both the St John Passion and The Armed Man at Barnard Castle church.
Hymns and Pimms at Whorlton was well attended. Whorlton church promoted a display under the title of ‘Whorlton Parish memory Project’ in November which invited villagers to share memories of the village, the church and the Bridge.

The church bellringers’ activities have seen local teams grow in Staindrop and at Cotherstone. The Tower was opened for Heritage Open Day. A small group of handbell ringers rang at Christmas services at Barnard Castle and Whorlton.

The church’s ministry through music continues to flourish. Performances have taken place at a café style cheese and wine event; a Sunday ‘afternoon tea’, a Celebration of Song (involving local schools); a joint event with Barnard Castle Band; music making at the Bowes Museum, a Harvest event; a concert promoted alongside the Rotary Club; an evening event is support of work in Ukraine; a sparkling Christmas concert and involvement with the church’s Christmas Carol service.

Fundraising included a book sale and an increasingly popular ‘wreath making event hosted by the Flower Guild.

3. Offering ‘Living Water’ through our worship and common life so we might grow:

We always seek to offer the very best we can in our worship involving the gifts of as many people as possible and being true both to ourselves and our inheritance of faith through the celebration of the Liturgical Year, and the use of a liturgical approach to worship. Whilst we are not growing as a church in number we continue to welcome new members to the congregation.

What have we done?

This year we have:
Used the Celebrate service at Barnard Castle to learn about the Diocesan Priorities
Enabled those trained through the Wings for Worship scheme to lead worship.
Held special services: for All Soul’s tide at both churches and marked the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings
Welcomed ‘members of ‘Gather church’ for a service to end their pilgrimage from Gainford to Barnard Castle
Welcomed the Revd Dr Ana Moskvina as our curate following her ordination on 30th June 2024.
Supported merchant Navy Day and Aviation Day ceremonies.
A special service dedicated to the son of a previous vicar of the parish, Ian (Tint) Porteus was held at Whorlton
We used ‘Generosity week’ material to promote Christian Giving
Barnard Castle hosted the County Durham WI Carol service.

The PCC decided to support the Vicar in opting to offer (in limited circumstances) the General Synod’s ‘Prayers of Love and faith’ for same sex couples. It was with sadness that 4 members of the congregation decided that this and other decisions made by General Synod meant they could no longer worship in Anglican churches.

We offered opportunities for study/discipleship through a number of activities:
Two ‘discernment events’ were held in church.
A Lent course over Zoom looked at the Gospel for the week.
A course on the Book of Romans from the Bible Society was offered through the summer.
In the Autumn a course looked at what could be learned from the saints portrayed in the new window at Barnard Castle

Church Officers and Staff:
• Revd Dr Ana Moskvina was welcomed to the parish as assistant curate after her ordination on 30th June 2024
• Mr Astley Fenwick stepped down from his role as Reader.
• Mrs Frances Stenlake served on the nominations’ committee for the new Bishop
• The parish mourned the death of Revd John Moore. Revd Moore had served churches throughout the dale since his retirement from his role as Chaplain at Barnard Castle School. He died on 29th September 2024.

The wider church:
This year: The Bishop of Durham (Rt Revd Paul Butler) retired
a. Barnard Castle Deanery.
Barnard Castle and Stanhope Deaneries merged to create a new ‘Durham Dales Deanery’. A service to mark the merger took place at Barnard Castle in Easter-tide.
Revd Brian Whitley retired from his position in the Gaunless Valley parishes (Cockfield, Evenwood and Lynesack)
b. Churches Together
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service took place at Barnard Castle Methodist Church.
Members of the different churches held Lent and Advent lunches in support of Christian Aid

Wardens’ reports
St Mary’s Barnard Castle
Major work at Barnard Castle included the removal, repair and restoration of the ‘Dugard’ window from the south transept. Work was carried out by Jonathan and Ruth Cooke under the direction of the church architect. The opportunity was taken to address in situ problems with the secondary glazing of the ‘Sinclair’ window at the south west corner of the church. Both windows look magnificent following professional cleaning. Thanks go to Robert Stenlake for his work in fundraising for the work and guiding this project to completion.
Astley Fenwick has continued to replace the low level ‘uplighters’ on the pillars of the church. Towards the end of the year a number of high level spot lights began to flash intermittently. These were removed at considerable cost but a long-term solution to replace the ‘drivers’ in the units is still to be found. Two of the flood lights illuminating the tower need to be replaced and quotations are being sought.
In August several square metres of tiling beneath the pulpit became inexplicably dislodged and rose up from the floor. The church architect oversaw the process of obtaining a report on the problem from specialists. A quotation for repair of over £12000 was deemed unacceptable and permission sought and obtained for a more ‘local solution’. Thanks go to Revd Canon Geoff Lowson for his work in removing the tiles, cleaning, repairing and relaying them – a long and arduous task.
The Windows for the King project was brought to a successful conclusion with etched and coloured glass windows installed above the inner porch doors of the church commemorating the 550th anniversary of Richard III being made Lord of Barnard Castle. Designed by the Pembrokeshire artist Rachel Phillips, the windows present the saints to whom Richard’s College (based at St Mary’s) was to be dedicated: the Virgin and child, Ss Ninian and Margaret of Scotland. In addition, Ss Catherine of Alexandria and Helen are portrayed: there had been a chantry of St Catherine in the church and a chapel dedicated to St Helen at Lowfields (Westwick Road). The whole is flanked by Ricardian boars based upon the stone effigy near the font which had come from the College buildings on Amen Corner.
An attempted break-in, in daylight hours, from the chancel into the vestry was foiled by the arrival in church of a parishioner. Two criminals escaped empty-handed having caused £1200 damage to the vestry door. The door was made good by Revd Canon Lowson and then professionally restored by Antony Nixon furniture. Our insurers provided prompt assistance. One of the criminals was apprehended by the police within weeks of the event having left fingerprints at the scene (and in other churches targeted for theft in the area). He immediately received a custodial sentence. The Health and safety implications of the event were discussed with those who open and shut the church and protocols agreed to minimize risks to individuals.
Ongoing problems with blocked drains from the church toilet and servery have necessitated repeated callouts of professionals. The architect’s plans are being sought and a camera survey commissioned to seek a permanent solution to these issues.
Progress towards addressing the next stage of major works (east window of the south transept and repointing of the transept wall and the chancel on the south side) has stalled through lack of funds. That said, the churchwardens received a generous legacy of -£28,000 from the estate of Miss Alcock and have designated it for this project. It is clear that the funding of church projects nationally has been severely curtailed as grant sources dry up and there is an increase in the number of parishes bidding for the limited funds available. The PCC has repeatedly asserted to the Diocesan Advisory Committee its belief that the Ricardian Boar on the exterior of the transept window should be brought into church to preserve it and that a plain stone should replace it on the exterior of the church. The DAC are of the opinion that a ‘carved’ representation/reproduction should replace the original: this is contrary to modern heritage guidelines. As and when faculty permission is requested the Chancellor will make a binding decision on the matter.

Barnard Castle Parish Hall
The Parish Hall is in the care of the Parish Hall Association (PHA) under a lease from the PCC. A request to extend the lease of the hall was made by the PHA to the PCC. Extensive conversations about new terms have not produced agreement. The current lease expires in 2034.
The committee have overseen the refurbishment of the Guild Room to make it a much more comfortable space. A new boiler and new windows formed part of the refurbishment: the cost of works exceeded £24,000 with over £20,000 of this being obtained through grant applications. Thanks are especially given to Clare and John Trevett for overseeing this project.
Emergency lighting throughout the building has been replaced.

St. Mary’s Whorlton
The next quinquennial report is not due until 2026. Some minor filling, sanding and painting repairs were carried out to the window sills during April, also the usual cleaning and oiling of the main doors, together with the belfry and vestry doors.
During August, whilst engaged in work at Barnard Castle , Jonathan Cooke inspected Whorlton windows and highlighted which were in need of repair and the relative urgency of the repairs. Towards the end of the year, the gutters and downspouts were all cleaned and painted. Exploratory work was carried out on the drainage and soak aways. Work has been suspended to clarify necessary permissions and funding. Future work to do includes Organ repairs and work to the windows.

Whorlton Village Hall:
The Village Hall is in the care of the Village Hall Association under a lease from the PCC. The association continue to make changes and improvements to the building.

Some numbers (brackets indicate 2023 numbers)
Baptisms 16 (33) baptisms were conducted at Barnard Castle, 4 (2) at Whorlton
Weddings Seven (3) weddings were celebrated at Barnard Castle, none (1) at Whorlton
Funerals There were 20 (14) funerals at Barnard Castle and 3 (4) at Whorlton with a further 15 (11) conducted at the crematoria alone.
Clergy conducted 7 (3) funerals in neighbouring parishes Admission to communion
No candidates
Confirmation No candidates
Usual Sunday attendance
Based on the ‘October count’ the usual Sunday attendance at Barnard Castle is 76 (84) adults and 2 (5) children.
At Whorlton the figure is 10 adults
Easter
At Barnard Castle 126 (132) adults attended Easter worship: 114 (118) communicants.
At Whorlton 10 adults attended Easter worship (9 communicants)

Christmas At Barnard Castle 691 (611) people attended services on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve with 139 communicants (up 6 from 2023). Christingle attracted 135 (159) people and the church carol service 270 (152). In addition, two schools (approx. 400 children, 100 adults) and the Durham WI (250 adults) held their Carol services at church. The Carol singing and Christmas communion service at Whorlton was attended by 50 people (25 communicants)
The Worshipping community Those who attend ‘regularly’ in church, care homes, but excluding weekly Collective worship at two Primary Schools and occasional services at Barnard Castle School
At Barnard Castle 324: (111 under 10; 13 aged 10-17; 162 aged 18-69, 138 over 70)
17 adults joined the community, 25 left (moved away or died). 6 children moved away.
The worshipping community at Whorlton is 14: 1 aged 11-17) 4 aged 18-69; 9 over 70
Comment Shortages of clergy in neighbouring parishes account for the small increase in additional funerals outside the parish.
The Worshipping community number has been adversely affected by the decision to end the Four o’clock (Celebrate) service.

Structure, governance and management
Members of the PCC are either ex-officio, elected or co-opted by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting [APCM], in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. At its Annual Meeting in 2020 a motion was passed that came into effect in 2021:
a. Churchwardens be eligible to serve up to six consecutive years (this provision to be reviewed every six years as per the Church Representation Rules).
b. The balance between elected/ex officio members of the PCC be changed through
i. removing the automatic membership of Readers to the PCC
ii. replacing the existing ‘rolling election of PCC members’ with the election of 8 lay representatives (who for the purposes of continuity can serve up to 4 consecutive years).

As Charity Trustees PCC members are mindful of the Charity Commission’s Guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting was held at Barnard Castle on the evening of Monday 22nd April 2024. The Electoral Roll was reported to stand at 138. From the APCM there were 14 members of the PCC.

Members of the PCC: PCC Standing Committee elected 22.4.24 are marked *

Incumbent & Chair Revd Alec Harding*
Churchwardens
(Can serve 6 consecutive years) Mrs Joan Kemp Ambler (elected 2020) Mr Roy Long* (elected 2020)

Vacancy Vacancy

Ex Officio: Mrs Frances Stenlake* (Diocesan Synod) Lay Chair of PCC
Deanery Synod: Mr Keith Miles Ms Abi Littlefair Mr Astley Fenwick
(Three elected places to serve for 3 years from 2023)

Elected Members (8 places – can serve 4 consecutive years)

Carolyn Knott (2021)
Geoff Knott (2021)
Helen Goodman* (2021) Liz Burdon (2022)
Seonaid Walker-Jones (2023)
Catherine Wilkinson (2023) Merrion Chrisp (2024)

Vacancy

PCC Secretary Mr Geoff Knott
PCC Treasurer Mrs Frances Stenlake