CHURCHES TOGETHER IN LICHFIELD AND DISTRICT
ANNUAL REPORT
for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2025
Organisational Name: Churches Together in Lichfield and District, also known as CTiL.
Governing Document: CTiL is an unregistered charitable organisation governed by a Constitution adopted on 30 April 2014, amended 25 February 2025.
The Enabling Group is considering the implications of charity registration.
Management Group: The churches shall appoint an Enabling Group whose functions shall be to enable the member churches to make decisions in common.
The Enabling Group shall comprise the officers of the Forum, up to four lay representatives, and up to four clergy or ministers appointed by the member churches with regard to an appropriate representation of the various Christian traditions and denominations in membership. The Forum shall meet not less than three times annually and all members of member churches are welcome to attend the Forum.
Officers shall be elected/re-elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Forum.
Officers serving during the period:
Clergy Co- chair: Rev'd Canon Patricia Maguire to 18/6/2024
Rev'd Sharon Greensmith from 18/6/2024 to 24/12/2024
Lay Co-chair: E. Lilas Rawling
Honorary Secretary: David Mason
Honorary Treasurer: Elizabeth Ridler
Minute Secetary: David Clarke from 10/9/2024
Members of Enabling Group:
Richard Henshaw Rev'd Abigail Walsh
Diana Pearson Rev'd Sharon Greensmith
Hugh Ashton Rev Danielle Leigh from 7/5/2024
John Preece
Objects of the organisation:
(a) to enable the churches, as pilgrims together, to explore the Christian faith together, to develop mutual relationships, to seek a common mind, and to make decisions together;
(b) To encourage churches to worship, pray and reflect together on the nature and purpose of the church in the light of its mission - each church sharing with others the treasures of its tradition;
(c) To enable the churches to live and share the Gospel, to evangelise together and to take further steps towards fuller unity;
(d) To enable the churches to respond to the needs of society and to witness to the Gospel together.
Address:
Wade Street Church
Wade Street
Lichfield WS13 6HL
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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN LICHFIELD AND DISTRICT
ANNUAL REPORT
for the period 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2025
In particular Churches Together in Lichfield and District shall seek to -
i) Serve as a means of communication between churches and other Christian groups within its area;
ii) Provide a focus for relating to the local authority and other statutory or voluntary bodies;
iii) Co-ordinate church involvement in town twinning schemes;
iv) Co-ordinate mission and evangelism as appropriate across its area of operation;
(v) Develop further links with other faith communities within its area.
Achievements during the year:
i) The website was updated, with improved access and navigation.
ii) The Constutution was reviewed and updated with a change of year end to March and clauses on Not for Profit and Dissolution inserted.
iii) On Christmas Day, volunteers delivered oven-ready Christmas meals and seasonal gift bags to those isolated or living alone, and chatted to the recipients. An in-person meal was also held at Wade Street Church.
iv) A group has been formed to consider outreach in the new housing areas.
v) Good Friday Walk of Witness and the service at the Methodist Church were well attended, as was the evening service in the Cathedral.
vi) Several were stewards at the Greenhill Bower Day, collecting donations, resulting in a gift of £168.
vii) Late Night Listeners continued to support people on the streets of Lichfield twice per month. CTiL continues to hold the funds for this group.
viii) Carols in the Market Square took place, with members from several churches attending.
ix) Wade Street Church received a grant of £200 for their summer outreach activity, a Baseball Camp for children and young people 7 to 18 years.
Financial Review:
Total cash received during the period was £2,933, a major item being membership subscriptions of £836. Restricted funding received during the period was £1,899. Total Cash Payments for the period were £4,677 of which £920 related to payments for Late Night Listeners and £2,806 for Christmas Day Together in 2023 and 2024. Unrestricted payments for the period totalled £951. A further £1,329 was transferred from General Funds to cover shortfalls in the restricted funds of Late Night Listeners and Christmas Day Together.
At the end of the period, total funds available were General Unrestricted Funds of £2,349.
Public Benefit:
The Enabling Group has had due regard to the relevant public benefit guidance when exercising its powers and duties.
David Mason Honorary Secretary
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