Finances

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is responsible for our financial affairs. It takes guidance from the finance team, who manage matters so that St Mary’s remains viable and complies with fiscal regulations and our own ethical commitments. Its leader is Amanda Bailey (01782 326048 abailey@ucb.co.uk). The financial officer of the PCC is the honorary treasurer, Geoff Heath (01270 878284 g.heath@mngt.keele.ac.uk).

The church accounts for 2010 are complicated by the fact that we are in the midst of an expensive building programme. However, the key figures are the predictable, annual costs and the predictable, annual expenses. We are at present running at a deficit. The Finance Team has targeted the cost of the parish share (the annual tariff exacted by Chester Diocese for the provision of a fulltime, residential vicar) as representing the figure we would like our regular giving to hit by the end of 2011. This figure, just over £50,500 could be achieved if all our regular givers were to increase their giving by £5 per month.

The policy at St Mary's is that the costs of ministry and maintenance should be met by congregational giving, fees income and collections. Any fund-raising activity, then, can be for the benefit of causes outside the church, who receive no guaranteed donations from us. Amongst those who have recently benefitted are Christian Aid disaster funds, The Children's Society and the USPG St Francis Hospital in Katete, Zambia.

Administered through our Open Door Project, we offer our facilities free of charge to charities who want to use them for fund-raising activities.

If you would like to become a regular contributor to St Mary's, please contact the treasurer (see above) or the Giving Secretary, John Green (01270 875863 j.green@ssesurf.co.uk) The preferred method is by direct transfer through a standing order.