Church Report 2021
Christ Church, Fulmodeston NR21 0LZ
Annual Church Report on the activities of the PCC for the year ending 31st December 2021, prepared by the PCC on behalf of the Priest in Charge, The Revd. Francis Mason (Vacancy since August 1st)
Churchwarden: Andrew Lee
Bank: NATWEST 4 Market Place, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 9BA
Treasurer – Robert Smith
Independent Examiner: John Davies, Fulmodeston Hall, NR21 0LY
PCC Members: Christopher Sharpin, Elizabeth Sadler, Gillian Lee, James Woodfield, Stephen Miles
Secretary: Carolyn Thomas
Christ Church, Fulmodeston is ‘Committed to providing a Christian Presence in Fulmodeston’
Mission Statement: to continue to provide cohesion and a focal point to the local working rural community and to use the church building for as many services and special events as possible, including concerts, art fairs, book sales, lectures, etc., as part of the church’s outreach both to the locality and beyond; to provide all the above free at the point of entry so that anyone may be included and contribute to the work of the church both in religious and secular activity; to help all feel needed and valued and to provide in a considerate and compassionate way for Baptisms, Marriages and Funerals.
2021 - The congregation of Christ Church, Fulmodeston has worked tirelessly throughout the year to raise funds in order to play its full part in diocesan life and pay the Quota in full as part of its agreed responsibility in conjunction with its sister church at Fakenham. We continued to work closely with Francis Mason and Reader, Amanda Sands, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and friendship. We said goodbye to Francis and Gill Mason on August 1<sup>st</sup> and thanked them for their ministry and friendship and presented them with gifts.
Christ Church has mounted 33 services this year in spite of a period of lockdown and restrictions and the church has always been open for private prayer. The average attendance was 15 in 2021. The Church fête, Coffee at the Crossroads was held again in August. In October, we welcomed the Bishop of Lynn to a special service of Holy Communion and the baptism of twins.
Charitable donations in 2021 were made to E.A.C.H, The Royal British Legion, and Water Aid. Donations of produce are being collected in the church porch in aid of the Mid Norfolk Foodbank. Over 200 kilos of goods have been collected. Fresh produce has also been donated to Heritage House Daycare Centre.
We are grateful to Robert Smith for returning as Treasurer to oversee the church finances.
The Benefice Quota has been paid in full. There was an APCM for 2020 (held retrospectively) on February 17th. PCC meetings were held both online and in person on June 13<sup>th</sup> and September 9<sup>th</sup>. Elections normally held at the APCM (not held in 2021) were conducted at this last meeting.
A Church Near You website continues to provide valuable information about the church and its activities, and Christ Church has a page on the Fakenham Parish Church website and also a page in the Beacon magazine which went to print again at the end of the year after an hiatus during the pandemic. These provide avenues of communication and advertising for church events.
Thanks to the ‘sidesmen’ who are always present to greet the congregation with a smile. Thanks to James and Neceda Woodfield who keep the church open every day from dawn until dusk.
Thanks to Stephen Miles for helping to prepare the structure and content of the worship at Christ Church in conjunction with Francis and Amanda, and for playing the organ.
Special thanks to Chris Sharpin for his care of the churchyard which always looks tidy and well kept and is a wonderful focal point for the village. The church bell would not sound so good if it were not for his skillful knowledge of campanology! The Parish Council also donates £150 each year for the upkeep of the churchyard for which we are immensely grateful.
We would also like to thank our Methodist friends for continuing to provide us with a voice in the village newsletter free of charge. The editorship of the magazine now resides with James Woodfield.
In an ever-increasing regulatory world, Christ Church seeks to fulfill all of it obligations concerning health and safety and safeguarding. We are grateful to Dave Webb for checking all of the electrical equipment.
Highlights of another difficult year were the Remembrance Service held outside and the Carol Service, also held outside. We also remembered the death of the Duke of Edinburgh the night before his funeral in a moving service of prayers.
We thanks Peter Day and Christine Wheeler for their ministry to us during the vacancy.
Christ Church Fulmodeston Parish Safeguarding Policy
The care and protection of children, young people and adults involved in church activities is the responsibility of everyone who participates in the life of the church.
In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy ‘Promoting a Safer Church’
Christ Church is committed to:
• Promoting a safer environment and culture.
• Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church.
• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
• Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
• Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
• Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.
The Parish will:
• Create a safe and caring place for all.
• Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures4.
• Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
• Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
• Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
• Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
• Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser(DSA)5 and statutory agencies immediately.
• Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
• Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
• Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed periodically.
• Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Protection Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.
This policy was adopted by the Christ Church PCC at a meeting on July 9th 2018
Safeguarding Officer: Amanda Sands 07789225011
Bishop’s Officer for Safeguarding Sue Brice on 07958 377079 or email [email protected]
Christ Church observes all Covid-19 safety measures and is aware of the latest updates and protocols.
January 1 2022
Christ Church Services 2021
The year started with Lockdown 3
28th March Palm Sunday
2nd April Good Friday
4th April Easter Day HC
11th April Easter1
16th April DofE Prayers
25th April Easter I IV
2nd May Easter V
9th May Easter VI HC
23rd May Pentecost
30th May Trinity
6th June Trinity 1
13th June Trinity II HC
27th June Trinity IV
4th July Trinity V
11th July Trinity VI HC
16th July Wedding
25th July Trinity VIII
1st August Trinity IX HC
8th August Trinity X
22nd August Trinity XII
5th September Trinity XIV
12th September Trinity XV HC
23rd September Funeral
26th September Trinity XVII
3rd October Trinity XVIII
10th October Trinity XIX
24th October Harvest
31st October All Saints HC & Baptism
7th November Trinity XXIII
14th November Remembrance
28th November Advent I
5th December Advent II
12th December Advent III HC
19th December Carols at the Crossroads
25th December Christmas Day HC