All Saints, Stranton Church Hartlepool: Annual Report of The Parochial Church Council For The Year Ended 31 December 2013
All Saints, Stranton Church Hartlepool: Annual Report of The Parochial Church Council For The Year Ended 31 December 2013
All Saints, Stranton Church Hartlepool: Annual Report of The Parochial Church Council For The Year Ended 31 December 2013
HARTLEPOOL
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
PRIEST IN CHARGE AND CHAIR OF THE PCC REPORT
2-3
ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
ELECTORAL ROLL
FINANCE REPORT
5-6
6-7
SAFEGUARDING REPORT
PASTORAL GROUP
MUSIC GROUP
MOTHERS UNION
8
8-9
9
9
10
10-11
UNIFORM GROUPS
RAINBOWS
GUIDES AND BROWNIES
BOYS BRIGADE
12
12-13
13-14
BELLRINGING
14-15
BURBANK REPORT
15-16
16-17
17-18
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The third priority was to establish and support the YFC gap year team in its first year. We applied for
and received a very generous grant from the diocese of 10,000. This enabled us to employ a
coordinator, Angela Hall, for the first year of the project. Working in partnership with three Baptist
Churches we welcomed 4 YFC volunteers in September. Jess Woody and Stephen Bell are linked
with Stranton and Burbank respectively. They have been a great help supplementing our existing
ministries to children and young people, alongside the work they do with the team in local schools.
PCC have committed to two further gap year workers in the coming year as part of a second
Hartlepool team.
On a personal note Julie and I moved to the new vicarage in early December. The move itself went
very smoothly, but getting ready for the move and coping with the delays produced significant
demands on both of us as a couple. We would like to thank the church wardens, staff team and
authorised ministers, including Alison Stewart Smith our student, for their support during that time.
Working together they enabled all the services through advent and Christmas to go well. The
diocese is now moving forward with the process to sell 34 Westbourne Road and any remaining
items in the house or den will need to be cleared.
The next few months will be a time of transition for all of us. Clive and Angela Hall have been part of
the Church here for the last 11 years. They now feel that God is calling them to move on in the
summer. They have used their gifts to do an amazing job mainly in Burbank but also across the rest
of the church and town. Im sure we all want to thank them for their contribution to our community
life and we will miss them when they go. PCC has already discussed what to do when Clive leaves
and we have committed in principle to replacing Clive. This is a long term commitment for the PCC
and as a Church we will need to continue to fund this post as a priority. In June we are also looking
forward to welcoming Nick and Bekah Moore as Nick begins his curacy. Nick is originally from
Durham but has completed his training at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford. Nick and Bekah will live in the
diocesan house in Browning Avenue. As a church we anticipate working together to make them
welcome in their new home. Andrew Craig after working for the last 15 months in Billingham is
currently on sabbatical and we look forward to welcoming him and his ministry amongst us from
mid-June.
At times the complexities of this parish and demands of ministry in our post-Christian culture can
become overwhelming. Lets resolve together to continue to give thanks for and value the variety of
contributions that different folk make to our community life, worship and witness. Once the period
of transition is over I believe the time will be right to prayerfully seek God for a fresh parish vision
setting our priorities in line with that vision. Remembering that God can do more than we can ask or
imagine, may he clarify the direction in which he wants us to travel and enable us to walk that road
in a way that honours and glorifies him.
Norman Shave
April 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
All Saints, Stranton Church is situated in Church Row, Hartlepool TS24 7QT. It is part of the Diocese
of Durham within the Church of England. The correspondence address is Stranton Church Office, St
Matthews Community Centre, Arncliffe Gardens Entrance, Hartlepool TS26 9JF.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity excepted from registration with the Charity
Commission
PCC members who have served from 1st January 2013 until the date this report was approved are:
Priest in Charge:
Reader:
Mr Alan Robertson
Wardens:
Chairman
Elected members:
Mrs Maureen Anderson
Mrs Barbara Busby
Mrs Barbara Butcher
Mr Ian Campbell
Mrs Angela Craig
Mr David Craig
Mr Frank Endean
Mrs Diane Greenwood
Mrs Jeni Hart
Mrs Joan Herbert
Mrs Cheryl Mills
Mrs Lynda Parvin
Mrs Catriona Robertson
Miss Mary Robinson
Mrs Jacqui Rogers
Mrs Faith Barton
Secretary
(until 12.10.2013)
(from ACPM 2013 - 21.04.2013)
Treasurer
Staff members:
Revd Andrew Craig
Revd Sarah Jay
Mr Clive Hall
The full PCC met seven times during the year with an average level of attendance of 72%.
Committees met between meetings and minutes of their deliberations were received by the full
PCC and discussed where necessary.
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ELECTORAL ROLL
There are 140 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll, parish. 1 name was added during the year
and 6 were removed.
FINANCE REPORT
Overall the church accounts show a breakeven position for 2013, with a small deficit from Church
activities compensated by a small surplus on St Matthews Community Hall.
Highlights of the year have been a well supported Gift Day which supported both mission support
and local activity, and also some additional expenditure on repairs and maintenance.
The Church met its Parish share contribution to the costs of the diocese, amounting to 1,000 per
week, which helps to cover not only ministerial stipend pension and housing costs but also the
mission educational and pastoral support provided by the Diocese: in this regard we received back
a 10,000 mission support grant for the Youth For Christ Team who are with us until July 2014: two
thirds of this grant is treated as deferred income to the 2014 financial year.
Planned giving increased slightly, with a small number of donors significantly increasing their regular
direct financial support. We also received specific donations for support of music development and
a small legacy.
St Matthews Community Hall is now fully paying its way, meeting all of its insurance and running
costs and charging back the use of the hall for the Church office and other meetings: I value very
highly the work of the Hall Committee which continues to develop and maintain the facility in
partnership with the Residents Association, attracting grants for major repairs and improvements
and ensuring the hall continues to meet the needs of the whole community. On a cash basis the
hall payments exceeded its receipts, but the payments included two years insurance premium, one
of which was a prepayment for 2014, therefore the hall returned an accounting surplus.
The main new challenge in the future is to maintain the Burbank and youth work with sustained
increases in the current level of giving required once the short term Grant has expired this summer
The accounts were approved by the PCC on 31st March 2014 and signed on their behalf by
Revd Norman Shave (PCC chairman)
A Log Book is kept and all alterations, additions and repairs to the church are entered. A complete
inspection of all articles belonging to the church has been carried out.
Sadly, during the year we had part of the lightning protection conductor system stolen together
with lead from the part of the roof that was repaired in 2011. A temporary repair was carried out
immediately on the roof to stop water getting into the organ. Since this has happened, we have
met with an architect and in 2014 will see us having a new lightning protection conductor and the
roof having the permanent repair.
Work has been carried out on the bells and bell tower and our thanks should go to the bell ringers
as they did much of the work themselves.
Norman and Sylvia had a look around 41 Arncliffe Gardens and there were a number of small jobs
to be done on the house, but unfortunately, the fence blew down in December and will have to be
renewed. There is a very good tenant in the house who keeps the property well looked after.
At the end of 2012, the gas fires in the Burbank Street house were condemned and in January 2013
a fire surround and gas fire in the front room and a gas fire in the dining room was fitted.
The Churchwardens would like to thank especially Andrew Rogers, Mike Weimer and Ken Shepherd
for the support they have given, as well as the teams of people who regularly turn out to clean the
church and tend the flower borders at the front of church.
Kath Webster and Alan Robertson, Churchwardens
Janet also suggested an Out & About Day when we could visit other churches to get a feel for
their communities and styles of worship. There was general agreement but concerns over the
practicalities.
Graeme Buttery gave a report on the General Synod in his customary wry, witty and incisive manner
In last Novembers Synod, the Revd Ray Simpson lead a reflection about the community of Aidan
and Hilda of which he is a guardian. The community aims to encourage people of all denominations
to live the depth of monastic traditions in the midst of modern life, following Hildas call to all
people. 5 characteristics of Hilda still resonate today; being, a light in a dark place, giving hope in
exile, showing warmth in a cold place, creating growth in a deserted place and being a bridge
builder in a place of conflict.
2014 is the 1,400th anniversary of Hildas birth. St Hildas Church is anticipating running a series of
events to mark the anniversary.
Andrew Rogers
PASTORAL GROUP
See chairs report.
MUSIC GROUP
Our aim as a team is to enhance and deepen our worship at Stranton, to encourage us all to draw
closer to God and be open to his Holy Spirit.
This year has not been without its difficulties, and my own illness meant I had to take leave for a
month in November. Thanks to Julie who led in my absence.
We are open to new members. Being an absolute virtuoso musician is not required, more important
is the desire to worship God and to serve. We meet Thursday evenings not only to practice music,
but to reflect together about worship and to pray.
With Luke at university we are missing a bass player in term time. We are delighted to have
welcomed Hannah and Melanie into the team recently.
We are grateful for a donation which has enabled us to purchase some vocal radio-mics, which will
give us more flexibility and reduce the number of cables needed.
Kevin Tones
Messy Church
Messy Church has grown steadily over the last twelve months, usually drawing in 20 children and 20
adults. We meet on the third Sunday from 4-5.30 pm in St Matthews Hall. After some table top
games, we go through to the large hall for a bible story, song and prayer. The children then choose
from the 6 crafts linked with the theme, enjoying as many as they can fit into the 30-40 minutes
available.
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We then enjoy tea together where there is more time to chat to the children and adults who come.
After tea the children enjoy a run around with Jess and Stephen.
We have a wonderful team who plan the sessions together and give their time to set up and help
with the activities on the day and the ladies who co-ordinate the food and man the kitchen are a
real blessing. There is always room for more help!
Julie Shave
Sunday Clubs
This year has seen one or two changes.
Firstly, the group has been split into 2, with children in school year 6 or over going into the choir
vestry whilst the younger ones remain in the Fulthorpe Chapel. It was felt that the older children
might benefit from a different style of teaching, enabling the leaders of both age groups to cater
better for their children.
There are also some new helpers on board, with some of the longer running leaders stepping back a
bit, but helping, gladly, as and when required.
Although both groups have about half a dozen children on their registers, the numbers that turn up
are normally between 1 and 4 for each group.
The leaders are aiming towards meeting more regularly this year, with one of the topics for
upcoming discussion being the split age groups.
Lynda Parvin
Matts Mates
Matts Mates meets weekly on a Thursday during term time from 3.20-5.00. Our aim is to provide a
group where primary school children can be part of the church, learning about how God wants us to
live as we spend time together.
We have a team of three church members Barbara Busby, Mel Hutchinson and Diana Wanduragala
and two members of the gap year team, Jessica Woody and Stephen Bell. We really appreciate the
work Jessica and Stephen do. Right from the start they have been excellent role models and
teachers and developed good relationships with the children.
At the moment we have about 10 children attending the sessions aged between 7 and 11. Until
Christmas our age range was 4-11, which is a very wide age range, and we took the decision to work
only with the older children. This means that we can all enjoy the activities better.
Each time we meet we have a bible story, games and a snack. We sometimes have a craft activity
or singing. During the summer we had some outdoor sessions in the Burn Valley and at Eldon Grove
Tennis Club. Our latest topic has been The Fruit of the Spirit and we have looked at these different
qualities week by week since Christmas.
Barbara Busby
Befree
Over the past year Befree has enjoyed an interesting programme. We have most recently enjoyed
our messy night, Angus quiz night and everyones favourite pancake night! We are currently
looking forward to Stephens 5 minute movies and an Easter eggstravaganza!
Our leadership team is very much the same with Mary, Angus, Mat and Alice, along with Stephen
and Jess from the YFC team. We are thankful for their help at Befree; they have a great amount of
energy and are loved by our young people.
As a leadership team we are the first to admit we are not the greatest at making sure we have
weekly bible studies or making sure we have something spiritual in our Thursday evenings, but what
we do have is a great fellowship with our young people. As we said in a signpost article a few
months ago, we believe it is through how we act as Christian role models, that our young people are
encouraged to develop a relationship with God and into the church.
Once again it has been great to see more and more of our young people attending churches all
across the town. Its always great to get another message on facebook or a text asking if we are
walking to church and can pick someone up on the way. It is a blessing to be part of their journey as
they move into the wider church.
Befree recently shared a great week away with YF at the Jonas Centre, Redmire. It was lovely
getting to know our young people more. We enjoyed a fantastic treasure hunt around Layburn
(even if it did involve getting lost and a trip to the tea pot factory for one team), a visit to Bolton
castle, some great worship around a campfire, a trip to the prayer barn and a number of great bible
studies. The theme of the week was fellowship and it was amazing coming back with a greater sense
of unity between our young people. The young people are asking for another trip away soon!
We ask for your prayers as we say goodbye to many of our older young people this year, for energy
for our leaders and another great year for Befree.
Mary Robinson
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN ANOTHER GREAT YEAR FOR YF, with another increase in numbers. Our first night in
September started with over twenty people, including our new American friends. Though numbers
have dropped since then, weve consistently got around 14-15 young people each week, which is an
increase of two or three from last year. Weve also not had lower than ten during the year so far.
We have lost a couple of members over the past few months, with college work and busy lives been
responsible for the most part, but we are concerned about some of the lost members. We have a
couple of new members, one of whom started as a non-Christian but was invited by a friend and is
starting to come to faith. We are hoping this trend will continue during the year, and are planning to
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encourage more of it next term. The groups overall faith and commitment to Christ continues to
grow, and they are enthusiastic about sharing their faith and supporting one another.
This year, we have taken a long look at Jesus life; the September-December term was designed to
lead up to his birth, with topics such as prophecies, relationship with God, and why Jesus needed to
be born. The second term looked at his life, with sessions on his miracles and parables, leading up
to his death on the cross. Our next term will look at the effect his life had, focusing on Acts and the
Epistles. We were able to arrange a residential trip in February, four days in the Jonas Centre in
Redmire. Eleven young people went, including several from Be Free. We led six sessions on the
topic of fellowship, as well as praying around camp fires and playing worship music. The week was a
huge success, and we are already talking about a repeat adventure next February. We have a
sleepover booked for a few weeks time, with a Harry Potter theme.
The group continues to use Facebook to organise social night between them, and its a rare week
that there isnt at least one prayer request, blessing, edification or Bible verse posted on the groups
pages. The group really considers themselves to be family, and a church body to themselves.
This year, the group has started up our own band the Children of God who practice in Stranton
on Sunday afternoons and at Oxford Road Baptist Church on Mondays. The band has played at
several churches since they formed in December, including at Alices baptism and the Americans
commissioning service. They have also played at two YF-led church services, at Stranton Church and
at Burbank Church; these services have given the young people an excellent opportunity to lead,
pray and speak at church services. They have risen to the challenge and to the responsibility
admirably, and it is encouraging to see so many of them have potential to lead future services or
becoming youth workers and church workers in later life. I have spoken to several of the young
people about leadership training and one-to-one discipleship courses for those who are interested
in building their faith further. For the older members, the Tuesday night study group Seed is
continuing strongly, particularly with the help of Jess and Stephen. Seed usually has 6-9 people, and
takes a deeper look into the Bible than is suitable for YF, and deeper relationship-building than is
possible in the larger group.
As of March, we have also started collecting Bible study books, devotionals and prayer guides into a
YF library, which the young people can lend books from should they so desire. We hope to add to
our collection over time, to encourage home study or smaller house groups.
Finally, we have been grateful for the extra support provided by Stephen and Jess this year. With
the increased number of young people, it has been a great relief to have extra people working with
us and sharing the teaching. On Sunday nights, we now also have the ability to talk in smaller
groups, or for a leader or two to break off if a member needs to ask a question or pray. Both have
led several studies and sessions, and as we work together to plan next term we are keen to have
them lead more sessions. They bring a fresh approach, different perspectives and a clear
enthusiasm for the Word that makes the young people equally excited.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. We will, as ever, appreciate your
prayers.
Ian Taylor
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After a small dip in numbers at the beginning of the year, we are back up to our maximum capacity
with children coming from across the town to join us.
Over the past year we have done some exciting badges including Going on a bear hunt where we
learned how to read maps, looked at healthy eating and stretched our imaginations doing our own
bear hunt in the hall. We completed another Roundabout badge were we need to look, learn, laugh
and love and started to explore our new promise.
Girl Guiding hit the headlines not so long ago as they decided to drop God from the promise in
favour of thinking about beliefs on a wider scale. We however, as leaders of a church linked
Rainbow group feel it is important to continue to talk about our belief being in God and we
encourage the Rainbows to do the same. We continue to talk about Noahs Ark and the importance
of what a promise is and how once made we should do our best to keep it.
We are currently enjoying the book Gods wonderful world and are creating our own wonderful
world and exploring how we can keep it wonderful. We are looking forward to start a new series of
badges including Ready, Steady, Glasgow! in aid of the Commonwealth games and Girl Guiding
goes to Hong Kong for the Girl Guiding International Conference.
Mary Robinson
to walk around sightseeing then off to the gig, which was very good but noisy!!! (for the leaders).
We ate before the return journey on the train. We left home at 6.30am, arriving home at 12.40am
on Sunday. A long day but was good especially as the travelling was by train (3hrs) and not bus
(6hrs) as in the past.
Brownies & Guides have had joint events for Thinking Day Celebrations in the hall and with the
Division at Throston School. Sandcastle building on the beach with chips after! We have run
Fundraising events during the year to subsidise activities for all the Brownies & Guides so that all
can enjoy the activities.. Thank you to all who have supported these events during the year, it is
very much appreciated.
Cheryl Mills
Boys Brigade
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the Company. Fund Raising - we are always collecting Bric a Brac for our Summer and Winter sales
and welcome any extra donations.
And finally I would like to our Friends at Stranton and at St. Matthews for the support they offer
the Company throughout the year.
George Bainbridge, Leader in Charge, 4th Hartlepool Boys Brigade
BELLRINGING REPORT
Recruitment and teaching
We are still recruiting new learners to try and establish two regular Sunday service bands, one at
Stranton and the other at St Aidan's. This year most of our new ringers are young people from
Stranton youth groups, especially the Boys Brigade.
ITTS is a national training scheme providing accreditation for ringing teachers and mentors. Two
ringers have attended the teaching course and our newer learners have been registered on the
"Learning the Ropes" course. Our learners are really benefiting from this. We now have 25 ringers
in Hartlepool who can handle a bell on their own and ring at least rounds as well as 6 newer
learners.
This year we have experimented with using different towers on our practice nights. On
Wednesdays we practice at Stranton, on Tuesdays at other churches in the town. We have had a lot
of support with the teaching from other ringers who have visited us on our practice nights.
Achievements
There have been lots of individual achievements over the last year. Several ringers have progressed
to the milestone of ringing for their first Sunday Service. Three ringers have rung their first quarter
and three others their first peal. Our biggest tower achievement was a quarter peal by an entirely
local band to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. We look forward to lots more local quarters
in the coming year.
Safeguarding
We are not a children's or young people's group but it is really important that we ensure that
younger ringers are safe during all our ringing activities. We have recently introduced some
changes that are in line with the PCC's new policy.
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Bell maintenance
The bells, frame and fittings are all in working condition but we have carried out some routine
maintenance this year. A new set of ropes has been fitted, the roof trapdoor has been repaired and
is now closing properly and the mesh over the louvers has been replaced to try to minimise damage
from the weather. We have swept the frame and the floor under the bells to remove stone dust
and sand. The bell frame will need cleaning and painting within the next two or three years but no
major maintenance tasks are planned.
Barbara Busby
teenagers praying. This group of youth are growing closer to each other and God at a steady pace all
great to see.
Bridge Builders This year we have continued with a steady number of about 16 every week. We
have used Bridge Builders almost as a training ground for the American team that work with Angela.
We have made them into the main leaders running the games and stories etc. We have watched
them develop from reading 15 minutes of scriptures into doing great up to date stories and dramas
and getting alongside the children that come along.
This training was really shown when Nate arrived with his team. Bethany had people over from her
home church and she worked with that team for the week. She came to Angela and excitedly told
her how she had been doing games and stories and helping the team do things in a certain way,
that she now understood was because of Bridge Builders.
Personal News I have now been working for Stranton Church for over 10 years. We believe God is
calling us to move on. I am in the process of looking for a new job.
When I reflect back over the years I have been here there have been just so many wonderful
experiences. I have enjoyed greatly my time here. I have personally grown and developed in lots of
ways. The amount of experience I now have with chairing meetings and groups and the amount of
community involvement and working with lots of service providers is amazing.
You might think that preaching 2 or 3 times a month you might a little tire of it. I personally still love
it and enjoy reading and preparing for every sermon. Not sure what the congregation think about
that one!!
I would close with an African saying which we used on an Explorers camp.
Ubuntu which means, I am who I am, because of you.
A lovely sentiment with is so true.
May God bless you all richly as you move on together.
Clive Hall
We are looking into repeating events like this and inviting all the church youth groups across the
town and making it a youth church event.
Each team member is also involved in individual church youth groups as well as the schools work so
please pray for protection and continued strength.
Angela Hall (Co-ordinator)
I would like to thank all the St Matthews Community Centre Committee for their hard work and
commitment over the past year; Trish Playfor, in her role as church administrator, welcoming
people into the building; and all those who help out in other ways in the life of the Centre.
Diana Wanduragala
Chair of St Matthews Community Centre Management Committee
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