2012

 

WORCESTERSHIRE & DUDLEY HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST

 

Patrons

 

Mr. Michael Brinton, Lord Lieutenant of Worcestershire

Lord Sandys, DL. Mr. John Berkeley, DL.

The Right Reverend Dr. John Inge, Bishop of Worcester

The Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham

The Right Reverend David Walker, Bishop of Dudley

The Reverend John Howard,

Chair of the Wolverhampton & Shrewsbury Methodist District

The Reverend William H. Anderson,

Chair of the Birmingham Methodist District

Mr. Michael J. Wall

 

Trustees

 

Chairman

Tim Bridges

3, Severn Drive, Upton upon Severn, Worcs. WR8 0JL

Tel: 01684 593257

 

Secretary

John Davies

Yarringtons, Alfrick, Worcester WR6 5EX

Tel: 01886 884336  E-mail: [email protected]

 

Treasurer

Jean Crabbe

Fetterlocks Farm House, Fetterlocks Lane

Shelsley Beauchamp, Worcs. WR6 6QS

Tel: 01886 812373

 

John  Bailey, M.B.E.                       Richard J. Slawson

John Colley                                     Michael Thomas

Andrew Grant, DL.                          Sam Driver White

Annette Leech                                                                    

 

Officers

Cycle Ride Event Organisers

John Colley, Autumn Cottage, Sandlin, Leigh Sinton, Worcester WR13 5DN

Helen Peberdy, 79, Corbett Avenue, Droitwich Spa, Worcs. WR9 7BH

 

Hon. Publicity/Fundraising Officer

Stephen Dowling

 

Committee Secretary

Jacci Hunt

 

Front Cover Photograph:  The Ascension, Malvern (internal)

Back Cover Photograph:  Old St Martin, Worcester (internal)

 

Chairman’s Report

 

This is my fifth year as Chairman of the Trust. We continue to make grants towards a wide variety of repair works at some of the numerous historic churches, chapels and meeting houses to be found across Worcestershire and Dudley. These buildings are much loved landmarks, which are valued places of worship and reflection, and range in date from the the present day back to Anglo-Saxon times. In this period of economic recession many congregations find it increasingly difficult to keep their buildings open, running and well maintained, and so there is ever increasing pressure for assistance from grant making bodies such as ours. TheWorcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust has used its limited resources to support places of worship as far as possible, and our grants for the year are listed in this annual report. We have participated further in the National Churches Trust’s partnership grant scheme, and a further £5,000 was distributed from this during 2012 in Worcestershire and Dudley. We continue to contribute financially towards the post of Historic Buildings and Communities Officer in Worcester Diocese. Recognition for this valuable work in helping to secure increased use and better care of church buildings has come with renewal of the contract for three years and further funding from English Heritage. Effective maintenance to hold back decay is of course a better solution for our churches than having to undertake expensive restoration projects.

 

The Trust continues to be served by diligent and enthusiastic trustees and officers and I am extremely grateful to each of them for all that they do to help and encourage. Sadly we have to record the passing in January of John Bailey, one of our longest serving trustees, whose kindly guidance, huge knowledge and love for our places of worship is greatly missed by us all. However, it is a pleasure for me to acknowledge the hard work of both John Davies our Secretary and Jean Crabbe our Treasurer, who ensure we are able to function efficently and effectively. Jacci Hunt continues to provide expert secretarial support with meetings and the annual report, which is much appreciated.

 

‘Ride and Stride’ is our main fundraising event, and I would like to thank John Colley who has now retired as both organiser and trustee for all that he has done over the years to make this so successful. Our thanks also go to Jean Colley for all her support. I am very grateful to Helen Peberdy for taking on ‘Ride and Stride’ in 2013 and for continuing to collate and distribute paperwork, organise the day in September, and process both forms and the collected funds afterwards. In 2013 we will be linking up with the Churches Festival, a major initiative in the Welsh Marches to widen the scope of ‘Ride and Stride’ on the weekend of 14th and 15th September, and we hope to be more involved with this in future years. We are always keen for more people to support the work of the Trust through ‘Ride and Stride’ in whatever way they feel able. If cycling is not for you, then contributions on foot and horseback, amongst other interesting modes of getting around, are extremely welcome, and of course sponsoring the participants or ensuring churches are open and welcoming on the day – and maybe hosting an extra event or activity in the building – are also vital roles in enhancing this event!

 

Haydn Rhodes and Jan Gill organised two further very successful car tours last June and July to two groups of churches in the Teme Valley and South Worcestershire. Look out for details of the 2013 tours. The coach tour last August was to a number of historic churches in North Herefordshire. This coming October Annette Leech and I hope to lead a walk around some of the historic places of worship in Bromsgrove, which had to be postponed from last year. I am very grateful to Steve and Carol Dowling for all their help with bookings and arrangements for these tours, and we extend our thanks to them for all their support to the Trust in recent years.

 

Further details of all our events and how to book are posted on our current website www.worcestershirechurches.blogspot.co.uk. We are extremely grateful to Annette Leech for all she is doing to enhance and update our new site, which will go live in June. Look out for further details of this exciting new development. Please visit it to see information on the work of the Trust and sources of funds, as well as historic pictures of local churches and links to other useful websites.

 

During the year I have continued to attend meetings in London of the Historic Churches Liaison Group (HCLG), which I currently chair and on which I have represented this trust and those of Staffordshire, Herefordshire and Shropshire. These meetings and the annual conference hosted by the National Churches Trust, which was at Lumen United Reformed Church in London, enhance links between the Worcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust and other county and national churches trusts, with whom we work closely.

 

I conclude with a plea to all our supporters to continue to help our work with the historic churches, chapels and meeting houses in Worcestershire and Dudley. In the future you may consider making a bequest to the Trust, or by acting now to become a Friend and encourage others to do the same. If you are able to make a donation to the Trust by using the form at the back of this report, you will help the Trust with its valuable work. Don’t forget ‘Ride and Stride’ in September, our tours and keep an eye on our website for information on other Trust events.

 

Thank you for any help you are able to give us. I look forward to seeing you during 2013.

 

Tim Bridges

 

The Ascension, Malvern

 

During 2012, the Trust was able to give a significant grant of £7,000 to help with vital restoration work of the fabric of this unusual church. Although there was a major grant from English Heritage towards the work, this covered just over half of the total cost of more than £75,000. Our grant has helped to make up the shortfall.

 

The Ascension can be found at the top of Somers Park Avenue. It was constructed in 1902-3 in memory of the Venerable Arthur Livingstone to designs of Walter Tapper, one of the country’s leading Arts and Crafts architects, and this is his first complete church design. The tall building has a plain but impressive exterior, enhanced by Cotswold Stone details and a small gabled west tower. The interior is a delight, with high whitewashed walls rising up to lancet windows in the Early English style and a simple vaulted ceiling. Fine Arts and Crafts furnishings include a rood from Oberammergau, metalwork screen, the font with its elaborate cover, stained glass and a painted triptych. As with many buildings of the date, much attention was given to the design of detail throughout the building, such as door or window furniture and cupboards, and including the attached church hall, as well as to the principal fittings in the church.

 

The Trust is very pleased to support this major restoration of the Ascension just over one hundred years after it was first built. Through the grant, we hope that the Trust has helped to secure the future of the church building in this community between Malvern Link and North Malvern, so that it can continue to perform a very valuable role for at least the next hundred years.

 

Tim Bridges

 

 

Historic Churches Car Tours 2012

 

June Tour:   Luckily, road works which denied direct access to St. Peter and St Paul’s Church, Eastham were completed two days before our tour. The church is Norman and many of the original features have survived; the two major structural changes being the 14th Century extension of the nave and the 1830 replacement of the original wooden bell turret with a brick tower.  We moved on to the Church of St. Michael at Knighton-on-Teme which stands alone on the site of a deserted village with panoramic views of the surrounding hills. Inside there is a wonderful 12th century chancel arch.  The church at Mamble is dedicated to St. John the Baptist.  Attached to the church is a ruined brick chapel built by the Blount family, recusant Roman Catholics, circa 1560.  With the prospect of a cup of tea and refreshments, we set off to St Peter and St. Paul’s Church at Rock.  This is an impressive church.  There are Norman features in abundance and some 1861 restoration by Frederick Preedy. The highlights of the day were the opportunity to climb the tower and a scrumptious tea!

 

July Tour:   We assembled at St. Peter’s Church , Pirton where the view of the Malvern Hills is splendid. The church itself is picturesque with a 16th century half –timbered tower. The north door has some fine Norman ironwork. Sadly,    the medieval south door had been damaged by intruders a few days before our visit.  Local knowledge took over at St. Denys’ Church at Severn Stoke. A churchwarden gave an interesting insight into the church and its history.  At St. Mary’s, Kempsey a complimentary cup of tea and a slice of cake was appreciated on arrival.  The church itself is a 12th century foundation. Two impressive   monuments,  a 13thcentury piscina and triple sedilia and 14th century stained glass were enough to make the visit worthwhile. The wonderful tea at St. James the Great, Norton-By -Kempsey rounded off two successful and well attended tours. We would like to thank the vicars, churchwardens and ‘tea ladies’ for their support and efforts on our behalf.  The full details of the 2013 tours will be sent out before the end of March.  The dates for your diary are Sunday, 23rd June and Sunday, 21st July.

 

Haydn Rhodes  &  Jan Gill

                       

                       

Sponsored Ride and Stride, 8 September 2012

 

This year’s cycle ride took place on a lovely Saturday, with Worcestershire looking at her best!  I set off on my very elderly bicycle (40 years old) with my even more elderly legs, having promised my husband to stay fairly close to Droitiwch and phone to tell him my whereabouts.  He was confined to home with a bad back, so could not have come to my rescue if either bike or I decided we had had enough!

 

Having reached Dodderhill, I decided to continue northwards, where I think the pick of the countryside lies, but was disappointed to find few churches with ‘Welcome’ notices, and hence even fewer with sheets for signing in.  So I couldn’t tell how many visitors had been out and about.  I saw plenty of cyclists, but they were not on ‘our’ ride – perhaps they were practising for the next Olympic games.  The most rewarding open church for me was Rushock, right up at the top of the hill, just where a greeting and refreshment was most needed.

 

I find the lack of churches being open very disheartening.   Those that take part work really hard and raise a lot of money, but there are not enough of them.  Many churches told me they had not received the information pack with sponsor forms, but they were sent to everyone in the same way, so I cannot understand what went wrong.  Suffice it to say that income from the Cycle Ride has not reached £9,000, which means that funds available to help churches will be very limited.

 

Anyone with bright ideas for increasing awareness, please let us know!  I would like to say ‘Thank you’ to those who did support the day – we need more like you!

 

Finally, another thank you, to John Colley, who having been associated with the Cycle Ride for many years, has decided to call it a day.  I shall miss his help, but have persuaded a new volunteer to join me next year.

 

Helen Peberdy

 

 

 

 

WORCESTER AND DUDLEY HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST

 

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

For Year Ending 31 December 2012

 

 

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

         
             

2011

               
         

£

 

£

INCOMING RESOURCES

         
 

Voluntary Income

         
 

Donations  :

R.D.Turner Trust

   

 

5000

   

Grimley Charity

   

 

1000

   

Others

   

 

85

 

Donations from Grant Aided Churches

   

2403

 

2313

 

Friends’ Subscriptions and Donations

   

1415

 

1139

 

Gift Aid recovered

   

256

 

286

 

Sundry Income

   

23

 

234

         

4097

 

10057

 

Activities for Generating Funds

         
 

Annual Ride & Stride

   

7575

 

10500

 

Gift aid recovered

   

1138

 

1443

         

8713

 

11943

 

Investment Income

         
 

Bank and deposit interest

   

995

 

980

               
         

 

 

 

TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES

   

13805

 

22980

               
               

RESOURCES EXPENDED

         
 

Costs of generating funds

         
 

    Ride & Stride fund raising costs

   

403

 

330

 

Charitable Expenditure

         
 

   Grants paid to churches 

   

38000

 

33500

 

   Refunds to churches and chapels – Ride & Stride

3536

 

4807

         

41536

 

38307

 

Governance Costs

         
 

   Trustee secretarial and administration

   

879

 

1030

 

   Support for English Heritage inspired programme

2000

 

2000

 

   Trust Web Design

   

2472

   
 

   Independent Examiner’s fee

   

200

 

200

         

5551

 

3230

               

TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED

   

47490

 

41867

               

NET OUTGOING RESOURCES

         

FOR THE YEAR

   

-33685

 

-18887

               

BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD

         

AT 1ST JANURY 2012

   

67754

 

86641

         

 

 

 

BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD

         

AT 31ST DECEMBER 2012

   

34069

 

67754

               

 

 

             
                 

 

WORCESTER AND DUDLEY HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST

 

BALANCE SHEET

As at 31st December 2012

           

2011

             
     

£

   

£

CURRENT ASSETS

           
             

Debtors and Prepayments

   

269

   

390

             

COIF Charities Deposit Fund

   

2732

   

6188

             

Market Harborough BS Deposit

   

25796

   

49846

             

Cash at bank and in hand

   

5667

   

13841

     

 

   

 

     

34464

   

70265

Creditors : Amounts falling due within one year

         
             

Accruals

   

395

   

2511

     

 

   

 

             

NET ASSETS

   

34069

   

67754

     

 

   

 

             

INCOME FUNDS

           
             

General Fund – Unrestricted

   

34069

   

67754

     

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: A further 7 grants totalling £20,000 have been authorised for payment by the Trustees subject to the appropriate faculty being obtained, a satisfactory report from the visiting Trustee, and work starting within twelve months.

 

STATEMENT BY THE TRUSTEES

 

The preceding summarised financial statements contain information extracted from the full accounts and may not contain sufficient information to allow a full understanding of the financial affairs of the Trust.  For further information, the full accounts together with the Independent Examiners’ report on those accounts should be consulted; copies can be obtained from the Secretary.

 

The full financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 1st March 2013 and have been independently examined.  They will be submitted to the Charity Commission in due course.

The statement shown above was approved by the Trustees on 1st March 2013 and signed on their behalf by

 

T J Bridges  Chairman of the Trustees

 

STATEMENT BY THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF

WORCESTERSHIRE & DUDLEY HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST

In my opinion the summarised financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 are consistent with the full financial statements in respect of which I signed an unqualified independent examiner’s statement on 4th March 2013.

 

38 Lark Hill                                                                             Richard T Barnes

Worcester                                                                             

WR5 2EQ                                                                              

 

 

GRANTS PAID IN 2012

Church

Place

Project

Cost

W&DHCT

Grant

St. Nicholas                         

Dormston

Tower repairs & drainage works                                       

£59,806                 

£5,000 (+£5,000 NCT)

St. Peter                                

Powick

Stolen lead roofing replacement                                       

£13,520                 

£2,500

Old St. Martin                      

Worcester

Tower repairs and Bell frame fitting                                

£153,200

£3,500

Baptist Church                     

Alvechurch

Internal repairs and refurbishment                                  

£132,500

£5,000

Methodist Church                

Areley Kings

New floor                                                                          

 

£22,999

£2,500

(+£2,500 NCT)

All Saints                              

Bromsgrove

Tower, roof & wall repairs                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

£163,180

£5,000

(+£5,000 NCT)

The Ascension                      

Malvern

Chimney repairs and drainage                                       

£76,625

£7,000

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel      

Redditch

Interior redecoration, new heating, rainwater goods and outside wall repairs                 

£170,760               

£2,500

Holy Trinity & St. Matthew       

Ronkswood

General door and concrete repairs                                   

£24,724                 

£5,000

TOTAL

£38,000

 

GRANTS AUTHORISED IN 2012

St. Mary & St. Andrew           

Knightwick

Refurbishment of benefactor name boards                               

£3,660            

£1,000

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Redditch

Interior redecoration, new heating, rainwater goods and outside wall repairs

£170,760        

£2,500

St. Nicholas                             

Earls Croome

Reroofing, wall repointing                                                        

£38,244         

£2,500

(+ £2,500 NCT)

Friends’ Meeting House

Stourbridge

Wall repairs and internal refurbishment

£39,660         

£2,500

(+ £2,500 NCT)

Baptist Church                     

Alvechurch

Internal repairs and refurbishment                                  

£132,500

£5,000

TOTAL

£13,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORCESTERSHIRE & DUDLEY HISTORIC CHURCHES TRUST

 

Bankers:        Lloyds TSB Bank plc                          Independent              R.T. Barnes

                                    Malvern                                               Examiner:                  Worcester

 

                                    Barclays Bank plc

                                    Droitwich Spa

                                    (Cycle Ride Account)

 

            Registered Charity No. 1035156

 

            Constitution:

 

            Trust Deed dated 21 October 1993, as amended by a Deed of Variation dated 23 November 2005.

 

            Objects:

 

  1. The preservation, repair, maintenance, improvement, upkeep or beautification of any Christian church within either the Church of England Diocese of Worcester or the County of Worcester;

 

  1. The education of the public in the history and architecture of churches.

 

Trustees:

 

New Trustees are appointed by the serving Trustees. The total number of Trustees shall not exceed eleven. There is a sub-Committee for the running of the Cycle Ride that has one member who is not a Trustee. There is also a Sub-Committee for the arrangements of events. Decisions are made by the Trustees at their quarterly meetings. Administration is carried o