OUR MISSION
We are a growing community of faith seeking to discover the face of Jesus Christ in our Church, in our Community and in our Commitment.
OUR VISION
1. To act as a beacon for Christ’s mission and maintain a safe and welcoming haven for all within the community of Topsham;
2. To recognise the centrality of worship in all our activities, ensuring that it is relevant to our mission and engages the whole congregation;
3. To offer strong and timely pastoral and prayerful support to our members and others who may be in need;
4. To work ecumenically with the other Christian churches in Topsham, thus celebrating our membership of the wider body of Christ;
5. To engage with the needs of the wider world, in Exeter and beyond, especially towards the relief of suffering caused by poverty, deprivation and political strife.
INTRODUCTION
by the Minister, the Revd Paul Collings
The year September 2022-2023 has been one of consolidating our return to some sense of normality following previous years of lock-down. Yet, as well as the return to our programme of worship, study and fellowship, we give thanks for the growing number of folk finding a spiritual home amongst us.
Sadly, the year has seen the start and continuation the Russian/Ukrainian conflict that has disturbed our sense of equilibrium. However, through our Monday to Saturday daily devotions we have explored Discipleship, pondered the wisdom of the book of Proverbs, asked the question, ‘What does the Spirit say to the churches?’, reviewed the promises of God and tried to understand what these say to us in our current context.
As we review this past year, we might well ask whether that which we call normality is just a figment of our imagination.
Jesus was once questioned whether disciples should look back. His answer was that they should simply follow him. The Message puts this dilemma in this way. ‘Then another man said to Jesus, “I’m ready to follow you, Master, but first excuse me while I get things straightened out at home.” Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”’ (Luke 9:61-62) We perhaps know this verse better in the King James Bible as, ‘No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’
As we review the last year through the medium of this annual report, we may ask, what does Christ’s pronouncement mean for me? In the words preceding these verses, we see three apparently generous individuals who are ready to become followers. Jesus, in each case, seems to make things more difficult for them. A reading of this passage can raise questions, ‘What is Jesus up to? Does he sense a false note in their offer?’
If Jesus is calling his followers to give without the slightest reservation or hesitation, is he perhaps telling us something about himself? A disciple can only learn to love God unconditionally when they have first experienced that kind of love from God.
I wonder, do we find ourselves hesitating or holding back in our following? How does this sit with the guarantee of God’s unconditional love for us?
So, how are we to review, take stock and spring forward in faith. One writer put it this way:-
Look back and thank God,
Look forward and trust God,
Look around and service God,
Look within and find God.
Our calling is summed up in our Mission and Visions Statements stated above and at such time of our annual review we need to focus on the one who calls us.
Perhaps the writer Lee Camp, in his book Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World points out that, ‘Jesus of Nazareth always comes asking disciples to follow him – not merely “accept him,” not merely “believe in him,” not merely “worship him,” but to follow him: one either follows Christ, or one does not.’ Is that what Jesus meant by not looking back?
Blessings,
Paul
WORSHIP
Sunday morning worship at St Nicholas during 2022-23 attracted an increase in the congregational numbers attending (towards an average of 30), with several folk new to the town coming to join us on a regular basis. The genuine warmth of welcome on which the Church has placed much emphasis over the years is undoubtedly one supportive factor. While we continue to benefit from an enriching variety of worship led by ordained and local preachers, increased preaching constraints within the local Methodist Circuit have meant Church members taking more responsibility over the year in leading local arrangement services; it is a joy that there seems little reluctance amongst many members, when asked, in coming forward to participate.
Another valued contribution to worship at St Nicholas were the fortnightly morning fellowship meetings led by the Minister on a variety of topics.
YOUNG CHURCH
At present, St Nicholas has no Junior Church. The Church however, makes provision for any youngsters who may visit, with puzzles, books and soft toys available.
PASTORAL ACTIVITIES
Our third vision statement says that St Nicholas Church, ‘.. offers strong and timely pastoral and prayerful support to our members and others who may be in need.’
Over the past year we have continued to grow our pastoral network whereby natural groups develop a concern for one another. This organic approach has proved successful, although we have identified that care will need to be exercised as the Church continues to grow to ensure that all needs are catered for. A key element to this pastoral network is the celebrating of personal events (through cards, visits, telephone conversations, etc) so ably co-ordinated by Jeanette Brooks.
Another element of this pastoral care network is the constant use of our prayer board with names and situations remembered during our Sunday services. Our pastoral outreach to those beyond our Church family is enhanced by our regular coffee morning were access to the Church for prayer is made available and the weekly opening of the Church for those who wish to seek a place of quietness. For the latter occasions, the Minister is in attendance for those wishing to share their concerns.
CHURCH NEWSLETTER
The monthly Church newsletter was published in electronic format throughout the year and was widely distributed within the Church family. Each edition benefits from a reflection by the Minister as well as keeping Church members and friends informed of services and other events.
OUTREACH
(a) Ecumenical Links
The annual meeting of the Topsham Ecumenical Group, of which St Nicholas is a part, is an important occasion for planning local ecumenical activity with friends from St Margaret’s and Holy Cross Churches. A regular pattern of events and services has evolved over recent years, involving the three churches in a Remembrance Sunday service at St Margaret’s, ecumenical carol singing on Chapel Platt shortly before Christmas, joint meetings to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January, a series of Lent lunches shared between the churches, and a Good Friday walk of witness starting at Holy Cross and winding its way through the town to St Margaret’s. It is also customary for our friends at St Margaret’s to join us at St Nicholas for a service around the time of Trinity Sunday. Other collaboration during 2022-23 included St Nicholas members assisting a ‘Big Brew’ coffee morning at St Margaret’s which raised £320 for Transform Trade’s work helping communities in the Global South.
(b) Community
During 2022-23, the St Nicholas premises were used for meetings and performances by a number of local groups, bringing much appreciated income in support of the work and maintenance of the the Church. There was a wide variety of such users, including various singing groups, a rock school, a patchwork group, Topsham History Group, the local Allotments & Gardens Society, and Blue Vanguard Jazz. The Saturday coffee mornings organised at St Nicholas extended further the Church’s outreach within the town.
(c) Charitable Giving
ACTION FOR CHILDREN
It was such a pleasure to promote Action for Children through the Christmas Tree Festival at St Nicholas in December 2022 and we were able to send £1,000 to AFC following that event. Additionally, the envelope collection in July realised £344 and so the grand total of £1,344 was forwarded to AFC – a splendid amount.
JUNIOR MISSION FOR ALL (JMA)
For the moment, the Church’s support for JMA, dependent in the past in the existence of a Junior Church, is in abeyance.
ALL WE CAN
It is a tradition of the six ecumenical Lent lunches shared by St Nicholas with St Margaret’s and Holy Cross that the hosting church chooses a charity for donations. Arising from the two lunches hosted in March 2022 by St Nicholas, £422 was raised for All We Can, the Methodist Church’s international development and emergency relief organisation.
EASTER OFFERING
The sum of £92 was donated by church members in support of the Methodist Church’s annual Easter Offering initiative.
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
St Nicholas continued its support for Operation Christmas Child organised through Samaritan’s Purse UK by collecting cash donations towards the filling of shoeboxes on our behalf. The 2022 collection raised £276.
EXETER FOODBANK
The Church’s support, begun the previous year, of the Exeter Foodbank through regular donations by the congregation of groceries, etc continued throughout 2022-23. The Foodbank also benefited from the generous giving of goods by members of the congregation at the Harvest Festival in October.
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Regular social activities at the Church revolve around the lively conversation at Saturday coffee mornings as well as that which takes place after Sunday services. Reintroduced during the year post-pandemic was the annual tea party and concert which was a great success. The hall was packed for an enjoyable quiz and a bring and share tea, after which, moving into the Church, we enjoyed a variety of performances. As we have welcomed new folk to our congregation during the year, it was a good opportunity for them to meet longer-standing members and share fun and laughter together.
FINANCES
Expenditure for the year ending 31 August 2023 exceeded income by £6.8k. The average weekly offertory for year 2022-23 was £229.
Our funds, the majority of which are held on deposit at Methodist Headquarters in Manchester, stand at £13,053.
The £6.8k deficit in this financial year is attributed to both emergency and essential repairs to the stonework of the Church. St Nicholas is a Grade 2 Listed Building and, with that, repairs and ongoing maintenance to the beautiful Church are inevitable. We are custodians of this Church, and have to take responsibility for its upkeep, particularly as the building is adjacent to a retail business.
Despite these works impacting on our reserves, the unwavering support of members and friends of St Nicholas, has enabled us to meet the cost of these repairs. Their regular contributions, along with lettings, gifts, coffee mornings and other income streams, gives confidence that the finances will recover and stabilise.
St Nicholas commits to an annual contribution of £12,000 to the Circuit.
Members and friends contributed £1,344 to Action for Children, £514 to World Mission Fund, and £276 to the Shoebox Appeal at Christmas. The Christmas Tree Festival raised £1,000 for Exeter Food Bank.
We look to balance our necessary day-to day finances with funds to cover our outreach, our fellowship, and our Christian presence in Topsham and beyond.
Thanks are due to everyone for their continual, and very generous, support of the finances at St Nicholas.
Full details of all income and expenditure, along with plans associated with Church reserves, can be found in the St Nicholas’ Treasurer’s reports. Please contact the Treasurer, Helen Brooks, if you have any questions regarding finance.
PROPERTY REPORT
St Nicholas is a Grade 2 Listed Building and, as such, requires on-going attention to maintenance and repair.
The Church was faced with two principal challenges to the maintenance of its fabric during the year. A small section of ceiling panelling in the south transept fell during Christmas week and that part of the building had to be cordoned off to await repair (which involved scaffolding) in January. On inspection, there appeared to be no sign of damp in the affected area, with the fall more likely attributable to the age of the building. Fortunately, there was no interruption to our services during the repair period.
More significant was the major maintenance work to the north side of the building highlighted in last year’s annual report and on which work commenced in July 2023. At the start, it was envisaged that the project would comprise the repair and repainting of the external guttering and down pipes on that side of the building, hard up against the premises of the adjacent chemist’s and therefore difficult to access. However, the work took on a wider and more urgent nature when serious safety issues were identified with some of the stonework of the north transept where the deterioration of the under-pinning of several parapet coping stones, together with a bramble root complex behind the adjacent facia, made the stones potentially unstable and liable to fall into the pharmacy courtyard below. A complex scaffolding structure had to be erected to enable the work to proceed and it was not until late September that the repairs and repainting were completed. The local contractors undertaking the work, led by Gerald Ridgway, completed what was a difficult project to a high standard.
These two projects have led to unexpected demands on the Church’s financial reserves. At the time of writing, applications for support are being investigated at Circuit level.
Inevitably, the urgent work described above had taken precedence over consideration of the implications of a quinquennial inspection of the building, much delayed by the COVID pandemic, which took place in April. The resulting, thorough report identified a range of issues, some more urgent than others, that will require attention over the next five years. Although some issues can be addressed through in-house repairs, those relating to external stonework and painting will require professional input and careful financial scheduling.
Externally, the rear garden is subject to an annual early-year clean-up.
GOVERNANCE
The immediate management of the Church falls to its minister and its trustees, who normally meet twice a year as the Church Council. An opportunity for wider input by the congregation to the Church’s affairs is provided by the Annual Church Meeting held in May, to which all members and friends are invited.
The trustees are responsible directly to the Methodist Church for the good governance and upkeep of the Church, in effect through the Exeter, Coast and Country Circuit to which St Nicholas belongs. The Circuit has responsibility for over 20 churches, and it is the Circuit that Ministers are invited to serve, each responsible for one or more churches.
Formally, as at May 2023, membership of the Church Council at St Nicholas comprised:
Superintendent Minister – Revd Julian Albrow
Minister – Revd Paul Collings*
Other Circuit Ministers in Pastoral Charge
Circuit Steward – Heather Gould
Church Stewards – David Batty*, Jeanette Brooks*, Neil Gaylor*, Kathy Niklaus*
Secretary to the Church Council – Jenny Davis*
Treasurer – Helen Brooks*
Pastoral Secretary – Jeanette Brooks*
Up to 15 members as representatives of areas of Church life:
Pastoral – Jeanette Brooks*
Property – Church Stewards
Ecumenical matters – David Batty, Kathy Niklaus
Appointed by the General Church Meeting – Steph Dunleavy, Jill Gullidge, Jean Mansell, Rosemary Stephenson
As at May 2023, appointments at St Nicholas were as follows:
All those marked * above, plus:
Pastoral Visitors – Jeanette Brooks, Jill Gullidge, Rosemary Stephenson
Communion Steward – Jenny Davis
Ecumenical Representatives – David Batty, Kathy Niklaus
JMA Treasurer – Helen Brooks
Action for Children – Jenny Davis
Organist Rota Co-ordinator – Steph Dunleavy
Examiner – (currently vacant)
Hall Bookings – Paul Hicks
Flower Team – Jeanette Brooks, Jenny Davis, Ann Manning, Jean Mansell
Newsletter – David Batty
Bible Reading Co-ordinator – Steph Dunleavy
Coffee Morning Co-ordinator – Jenny Davis
Representatives to the Circuit Meeting – David Batty, Helen Brooks, Neil Gaylor
This annual report was compiled thanks to contributions from the Revd Paul Collings, David Batty, Helen Brooks, Jeanette Brooks and Jenny Davis.
Further information about Church activities can be obtained from the Minister (01392-206229) or from any of the Church Stewards, ℅ St Nicholas Methodist Church, Fore Street, Topsham EX3 OHQ.
St Nicholas Methodist Church has its own web pages attached to the Circuit website. These include a monthly diary of services and other events. The main Circuit page for Topsham can be accessed at: http://exeterccmethodist.org.uk/topsham/.
The Minister also maintains a church blog at: http://st-nicholas-methodist.blogspot.com/
