WELCOME

To the Webpage of the Parish Churches

in the Communities of

Austwick, Clapham, Eldroth and Keasden

Vicar

The Reverend Ian Greenhalgh

Webpage updated  14/11/2008

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

For more detailed information please contact the Vicar.
 

The Vicarage, Austwick, Lancaster, LA2 8BE
Telephone 015242 51313

or  E-mail : iangreenhalgh@austwick.org

  The Vicar and Church work closely with

Austwick Church of England Primary School.

To view the School Website

please click on the link below

School Website

Church Services

In addition to Sunday Services, Holy Communion is normally held at Austwick Parish Church every Wednesday at 10.30 am.

For more detailed information on any of the events please contact Ian our Vicar at

The Vicarage, Austwick, Lancaster, LA2 8BE
Telephone 015242 51313

or  E-mail :

iangreenhalgh@austwick.org

Our Minister the Reverend Ian Greenhalgh sitting in the cockpit of a Tucano single engine training aeroplane based at RAF Linton-on-Ouse. The pilot's seat is fitted with a 'catapult parachute'.

ANNUAL REPORT

Church of the Epiphany, Austwick,

Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council

for the Year Ended 31 December 2007.

Administrative Information:

The Church of the Epiphany is situated in the middle of the village of Austwick.  It is part of the Diocese of Bradford within the Church of England.  The correspondence address is The Vicarage, Clapham Road, Austwick, Lancaster LA2 8BE (Tel: 015242-51313).

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity excepted from registration with the Charity Commission.

PCC members who served from the last APCM until the date this report was approved are :

The Parochial Church Council (PCC)

The Minutes Secretary to the PCC is Sheila Gooch.

Structure, governance and management

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules.  All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.

Objectives and activities

The Church of the Epiphany’s PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Revd Ian Greenhalgh, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral,  evangelistic, social and ecumenical.  It also has maintenance responsibility for the Parish

Graveyard.

Achievements and performance

Church attendance

The Average Sunday Adult Attendance during the year was 49 at Austwick and 20 at Eldroth.  At Austwick 47 services were held on Sundays and at Eldroth 25. 
 

Review of the Year

 Parochial Church Council

The full PCC met six times during the year with an average level of attendance of 12. This represents  60 % attendance (excluding the Eldroth representatives who have separate meetings).  Apart from ‘normal’ PCC business the Council continued its  focus on  :

(a)   developing and implementing plans to appeal to young people

                 and

(b)  Fostering deeper collaboration with the other churches in the benefice.

Young People

The 'after school' club continues to thrive with a solid core of 25 children.  A small group of mothers have now joined Ian and Melanie Greenhalgh to run this programme.

A series of 'children friendly' Sunday morning services has also commenced, which will be developed and extended in 2008.

Collaboration

During the year this has been largely restricted to a regular quarterly United Service for the whole benefice and the fellowship group which continues to meet regularly. 

Outreach

The parishes of Austwick and Clapham acted as hosts for a week to an American couple who came to us through the 'Parish Holidays' scheme run by the Highway trust Organisation.

We have also formed a link with St John's, Bowling and visits have been made.

In April a 'Meet and Greet' party was held in the Vicarage for all recent newcomers in our community.

In August a two-day and four-day Summer Holiday Club  was run, in conjunction with Clapham PCC, at Ingleborough Hall. We also see our programme of social events as an essential part of our outreach activities, as many of these attract local people who are not regular churchgoers.

Fabric  

Following our Quinquennial Inspection in November 2006 a significant amount of work was identified which needed urgent attention.  In particular the roof trusses at the west end of the church needed sleeving, due to wet rot, and the coping stones on the outside west wall needed lifting and relaying. The total cost of this work amounted to £6,288.

An appeal was launched to every household throughout the parishes of Austwick, Lawkland and Eldroth and a sum of £5,399 (including Gift Aid) was donated.

A new ride-on mower was purchased for use in the graveyard at a cost of £3,000.  This was paid for from the Burial Ground Fund.

 Charitable Giving

£3,596 was donated to charities and local organisations during the year.  This figure includes collections arising from funerals where the Church acted as a ‘conduit’ to pass on the donations to a nominated charity/organisations.   The major categories supported by this were :

·        Children (including Austwick School) -   £1, 516.00

·        Local Health Centres                                 655.00

·        Christian Charities                                    627.00

·        Eldroth Church                                         621.00

·        Miscellaneous                                           177.00

Fund Raising

Total fund raising during the year was circa £5,900 (including the triatholon). 

The major events were :

·        Street Market                            £   789.00

·        Gardens Open                                613.00

·        Italian Evening                               540.00

·        Christmas Fair                             1,495.00

·        Vicar's Triathlon                          1,131.00

·        Parish Holidays                              619.0

Financial Review

Total income for the year was £47,245.  Total expenditure for the year was £45,865, thereby leaving a surplus of £1,380 which has been added to reserves.  This compares with a surplus of £7,746 last year, which included a £5,000 legacy.

Parish share for the year was £31,573 (an increase of 15% on 2006) which was paid in full on a regular monthly basis.  Parish share will increase in 2008 by 2.5%. to £32,362.    The gap between Voluntary Giving and Share has widened significantly and the PCC has decided that a Stewardship Campaign will be run in 2008 to address this issue.

At the year end the balance on General Fund stood at £20,808 (£19,428 in 2006) and the combined balance on Restricted Funds stood at £44,818 (£37,548 in 2006) out of which we owed £6,288 for the major fabric repairs.  Most of this money is invested with the Central Board of Finance.

Approved by the PCC on 27^th March, 2008 and signed on their behalf by the Revd Ian Greenhalgh, PCC Chairman.