PARISH OF ST. THEODORE, PORT TALBOT

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2007.

Situated within the County Borough of Neath Port Talbot the Parish of St. Theodore is situated on the eastern side of Port Talbot running parallel to the Corus Steelworks and docks to the south, incorporating Goytre to the north beyond which it shares a border with the Parish of Maesteg while its eastern boundary is with the Parish of Margam and its western boundary with the Rectorial Benefice of Aberavon.
The Parish is part of the deanery of Margam, the Archdeaconry of Margam and the Diocese of Llandaff within the Church in Wales and is under the additional pastoral care of the Provincial Assistant Bishop.
The Parish has three churches:
St. Theodore's Parish Church, situated on the A48.
Holy Cross Chapel of Ease, situated at Junction 40 of the M4.
St. Peter's Church, situated in the Goytre.

OBJECTS & CONSTITUTION

The Parish of St. Theodore Port Talbot is part of the Diocese of Llandaff within the Church in Wales. The Church in Wales is a province of the Anglican Communion and, as such, exists to advance the Christian religion through world-wide mission. The object of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) is to ensure that the life and work of the Church within the Parish helps to fulfil that mission, both locally and more widely.

The PCC is not a body corporate. Its composition, procedure and powers are regulated by the Constitution of the Church in Wales, as amended from time to time by its Governing Body, set up under Section 13(1) of the Welsh Church Acts 1914. Elections are held at an Annual Vestry Meeting which must take place on or before 30th April. All persons whose names are entered on the Electoral Roll are entitled to vote and stand for election. Before assuming office, every member of the Council must sign a declaration that he or she will be bound by the Constitution.

The Representative Body of the Church in Wales holds the land and property of the Church in Wales, including St. Theodore's, Holy Cross' and St. Peter's Church buildings, their contents and the churchyards. The Representative Body is an Exempt Charity and was set up under Section 13(2) of the Welsh Church Acts 1914. It acts on behalf of the Province in paying the stipends of full time clergy; and administers the Church in Wales Clergy pension scheme.

The PCC is responsible inter alia for promoting the mission of the Church, the parochial budget and all expenditure thereunder, the care and maintenance of the church fabric and the churchyard, and for action on any other matter referred to it in accordance with the Constitution. The Council is also the normal channel of communication between the parishioners and the Bishop of the diocese.

The Parish of St. Theodore, Port Talbot was established on 15th June 1901 its roots being in the ancient Parish of Margam. The faith and order practised and upheld in the parish before and since its inception is that of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which maintains the threefold order of Bishops, Priests and deacons as received, and acknowledges, as its supreme authority in matters of faith and order, the Holy Scriptures as interpreted by the Catholic Creeds and the historic Anglican formularies, that is, the Thirty Nine Articles of Religion, the Books of Common Prayer and the Ordering of Bishops, Priests and Deacons as published in 1662 and 1984.

The parish endeavours to ensure that its life and mission is based on the worship of God being central to our life, where all people are welcome, are encouraged in the Faith and Sacraments of the Church and find their role and ministry within the Body of Christ in this Parish.