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2023-12-31-accounts

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Peter
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Vincula
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Coggeshall
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Annual
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Report
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2023-24
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The Parish Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Coggeshall, Essex

Annual report of the members and proceedings of the Parochial Church Council 2023-24

PCC Members

Ex-officio

Vicar and Incumbent of the benefice Revd Heike Prentice Assistant Curate Revd Melanie Shillito Churchwardens Judith Wargent (Fabric Officer) Ian Elliott Licensed Lay Minister Brian Meads

Elected Deanery Synod members 2023-26 Martin Bevan (also ex officio) Heather Semken Thomas Taylor (PCC Health and Safety Officer) Elected 2020- Janet Florence (PCC Secretary) 2021-24 Joanna Clark Susan Williams 2022-25 Derek Wilkins Stephen Beckett Lizzie Armour 2023-26 James Kneller Tim Butt Co-opted 2022-23 Justin Jeffs (Treasurer)

Although not members, the following are involved in various St Peter’s PCC responsibilities:

Parish Administrator Justine Kneller Communications / PA Adele Pye Bell Tower Captain Janet Edwards Electoral Roll Officer Revd Melanie Shillito / Lizzie Armour Parish Safeguarding Representative Joanna Clark Pastoral Care Team Leader Sarah Glossop Coggeshall Youth Project Worker Vacancy Richard Fox was appointed as Independent Examiner for the 2023 financial statements.

St Peter ad Vincula is part of the Coggeshall and United Parishes Benefice (CAUP).

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Foreword by the vicar

Once again it is a privilege to be able to commend to you the Coggeshall Church Annual Report as we look back over the last year, giving thanks for God’s faithfulness to our church community and the commitment, generosity and contributions of so many.

We’ve tried to keep individual contributions shorter, and once again are making the Annual Report available on-line, as it’s a more environmentally friendly and cost effective way of publishing.

I am particularly grateful to our wardens Judith Wargent and Ian Elliott, who together with Justine Kneller and Adele Pye in the office have ensured that the church in all its activities runs smoothly: the building is well cared for, we have again conducted a good number of baptisms, weddings and funerals, and now offer three very different services every Sunday morning: an 8am communion service, the 9.30 service with choir, and the slowly but surely growing family service at 11am, which, thanks to Melanie and Tim and Becky Butt now happens every week.

We may not be many, but our wonderful ministry team has again achieved more than most people realise. Most of all I value that we continue to meet every week to pray together. I am blessed by the depth and breadth of their ministry, support, friendship, resilience, hard work and wisdom. They are Revd Melanie Shillito, Revd Tayrina Ferguson, Revd John Richardson and our LLM Brian Meads.

Particular highlights and events have shaped this last year:

For the first time since the pandemic, at the beginning of June, Open Gardens drew people of all ages enjoying some of the horticultural delights of Coggeshall and raising money for the church in the process.

In May we joined in the Coronation celebrations and in June we hosted a confirmation service for the Braintree deanery, at which three of our own congregation were confirmed.

In August, once again picking up on the Coronation theme, we hosted another hugely successful and popular Flower Festival, aptly named ‘King of Kings’, more of that in the report.

In September two important events took place: at the beginning of the month Revd Tayrina Ferguson was ordained Deacon at Chelmsford Cathedral, then at the end of September we had the privilege of hosting the priesting service for the Colchester area, at which Revd Melanie Shillito and also our former Ordinand Natasha were priested. On this joyous occasion we were joined by previous incumbents and other colleagues, once again celebrating that we belong to a much wider and greater family than we often realise.

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In late November the church tower became again the focus for Memory on a Star. We marked the lighting ceremony with gentle fireworks and a confidence, that the light of those stars reminds us that light always overcomes darkness, never the other way round. And so in remembering loved ones, others are helped and receive hope.

It is a real joy that at long last we are again able to offer a group for the youngest of all: Susan Elliott and Jane Richardson started Little Seeds towards the end of last year - a group for pre-school children and their adults, who meets on the first Monday of the month.

Our midweek activities continue to thrive: the Knit and Knatter Group, Men’s Coffee Morning Drop in, the Thursday lay-led service and prayer group and of course Cosy Kitchen, all offering a warm welcome and a time to connect.

We continue to have strong links with St Peter’s Primary School, welcoming them to termly school services at the church. For the second time they joined us last year on Ascension Day to send prayers up the church tower on a string, and then receive encouraging bible verses written on hearts as messages from above. We regularly take assemblies at the school, and of course the Open the Bible group continues to enthrall the children by performing bible stories.

Once again we have worked hard to become more proactive in safeguarding God’s creation in the way we live, preach, worship and work. My thanks goes to Stephen and Audrey Beckett, who have helped us to steadily move towards the Eco Church Silver Award.

Of course church could not happen without the countless volunteers, who give so generously of their time and skills. Servers, readers, cleaners, intercessors, welcomers, flower arrangers, singers, musicians, sound and visual technicians, bell ringers, money counters, administrators, organisers, PCC members, pastoral visitors, hospitality providers, safeguarding representatives, flag bearer, librarians, gutter clearers and gardeners, a formidable army of people, thank you to all.

Thank you also for your continued generosity to our church, and please consider if you are able to increase your giving in line with rising costs. Generosity and kindness are characteristics at the heart of our community. We recognise that all things come from God, and when we give, we give back to Him.

I hope you enjoy reading our Annual Report as an expression of our love and service to God and our neighbour.

Revd Heike Prentice

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Reports from Church Activity Groups 2023-24

Baptisms

Throughout last year we have continued to welcome young children into our church family through baptism, which usually take place during our family service on the third Sunday of the month. All enquiries are handled by Justine and either Melanie or Heike visit the family beforehand to prepare them for baptism. The baptism families are frequently joined by a good number of godparents, family and friends who consistently tell us how much they enjoy the joyful, relaxed and creative format of our family services. Especially those who do not normally come to church comment on how the positive experience is changing their perception of church.

Heike, Melanie and Justine

Bellringers Report

Bellringing at Coggeshall has had a varied year with many of our ringers, at times, being out of action for a variety of reasons. We again had a presence at the Coggeshall Festival and from that we gained two recruits who, together with another, started training in September. They all made excellent progress and were able to join our main practice at the beginning of 2024. I was delighted that we were able to ring for both the Midnight Mass and Christmas morning services. During the year we rang a quarter peal for the King’s coronation. We entered the annual striking competition and were placed in the middle of a field of 12 teams. A creditable performance. When not ringing, we enjoy social activities and this year we have adjourned to The Chapel after practice, held a Garden Party courtesy of one of our ringers and enjoyed a Christmas meal at The Bell Inn, Feering. Our bells continue to be used by the Essex Association and visitors during the year. We are able to ring for Sunday services and hold a practice every week. Many towers are not that fortunate. Therefore I believe that Coggeshall bells and ringers are in a healthy position at the moment and we look forward to the future with confidence.

Janet Edwards

Braintree Area Foodbank

Braintree Area Foodbank has been providing to people in food crisis for eleven years. Since the pandemic the Foodbank has seen a huge increase in the number of people who are accessing its services. Without the food that is provided, these individuals and families would be unable to manage to feed themselves or their families. The foodbank provides a minimum of three days’ nutritionally-balanced emergency food to people who have been referred in a time of crisis or who find themselves locked into longer term poverty. Many of those who access the service have experienced difficulties in their lives, and some are in low paid employment and are unable to keep up with the increased costs they face. The Foodbank has many volunteers who work in the warehouses, distribution centres, and who greet clients and welcome them and assist them. They also take time to listen and provide pastoral support to help take away any embarrassment or guilt they may feel.

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We have been supporting Braintree Foodbank for eleven years now and the volunteers I meet are thankful and aware of how much our church supports their clients who find themselves so dependent upon the kindness and generosity of othesr. The donations of items and money are so needed. A shopping list is on the notice boards outside church and on our Mailchimp message. The donations are now taken on the first Monday or Tuesday of each month. Last years report mentioned that a facility for distribution was being considered for Coggeshall. This is not likely to happen as in the coming weeks a distribution point will be set up in the centre of Braintree on a Saturday morning. I can only thank everyone who supports either through item donation or monetary donations or giving time to assist in the centres for your help. It is indeed very humbling that we can support those in need in some small way.

Joanna Clark

Braintree Deanery Synod

The Synod

Braintree Deanery Synod is a council of church members drawn from the clergy and congregations in each of the Deanery’s parishes. It provides the communication link between congregations, the Diocese of Chelmsford and the Church of England nationally. During 2022, St Peter ad Vincula was represented in the House of Clergy by Revd Heike Prentice and Revd Melanie Shillito and in the House of Laity by Mrs Heather Semken, Mr Tom Taylor and Mr Martin Bevan, Martin Bevan serving as Treasurer. The Synod met three times, chaired jointly by the Area Dean, Rev’d Rod Reid, and the Joint Lay Chair, Canon John Turton. In July, the Synod welcomed a new Lay membership (with some familiar faces) following the triennial elections of representatives in May. Revd Tayrina Ferguson and Revd Nikki Horsley joined the House of Clergy in October following their ordinations. Members congratulated them both, together with Revd Melanie Shillito on her ordination as priest.

Issues considered in 2023

In October, the Synod was delighted to welcome Michaela Southworth, Chief Executive and Secretary of Chelmsford Diocese, who gave a helpful and interesting presentation on giving and Diocesan finances. Synod members were encouraged to engage with the budgetary process and to feel able to propose alternative approaches. The Synod appreciated the insight into the Church’s finances provided by Ms Southworth, as well as her detailed and open assessment of the ongoing challenges facing the Diocese. The Synod has received updates throughout the year on progress regarding the motion it passed in 2020 concerning the management of issues around lay officer conduct. By the end of 2023 it was being considered by the (General) Synod office as a potential item for referral to General Synod. It is heartening to note that even a small Synod like ours can make a difference by bringing issues of concern to the attention of the national Church. Members would like to thank Rev’d Dr Sara Batts Neale (a Member of the House of Clergy, elected by the clergy of Chelmsford Diocese) for advocating so effectively on our behalf.

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Other issues considered by the Synod included:

Martin Bevan, Heather Semken, Tom Taylor

Choir and Music

After many changes in 2022, 2023 has been a year of settling down. Our focus remained on worshipping the Lord, while maintaining the highest possible quality of music. We have been constantly refreshing the repertoire of the choir, maintaining a balance between traditional hymns and contemporary songs. The most enjoyable hymns and songs were those arranged for this particular choir, adapted to our set-up and abilities. In comparison with the previous year there has been a slight increase in the number of singers, which is encouraging. However, the most exciting thing, beyond worship through music, has been seeing and experiencing our growth in faith within the choir and the congregation.

Mátyás Bacsó

Church Flowers

Thanks to our talented and dedicated Church Flower Team, beautiful flowers continue to be arranged in church throughout the year. We have a two weekly rota for regular church flowers, but often do more than that to decorate the church for festivals, weddings, funerals and other special occasions. Whilst trying to maintain our high standards, we are mindful of being very careful with expenses. We slightly reduced the number of arrangements last year and our policy of mixing artificial flowers in amongst fresh flowers and foliage works well. Most of the foliage comes from our gardens. We are always looking for new flower arrangers to join the team and would be delighted to hear from anyone who might be interested in joining us.

Judy Crawford and Janet Florence

Church Library

The Church Library, established by Fr Chris and in memory of Fr Bill is situated in the Lady Chapel by the organ. It is easy to borrow books. Sign the large blue book with your first name, title of book borrowed and date of borrowing and return on the same line. There really is something for everyone from faith stories to Bible guides, prayer, vocation, poems, art and history. There are 6 versions of the Bible and a large print copy. Do take time to look at the stock and enjoy the books. A great way to grow and encourage your faith.

Audrey and Jane

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Churchwardens’ Report

Thanks to our Ministry team, the church continues to thrive with a wide variety of services for all, most notably the now weekly Family Service, the monthly Little Seeds, and the fortnightly school assemblies taken by Heike, Melanie and Brian in St Peter’s School.

The Churchwardens are grateful to the many members of the congregation who organise the myriad of meetings, lay led services, working parties, groups and activities which have all contributed to the wider life and ministry of the church and whose reports can be read in this year’s Annual Report. In addition our thanks go to the many who work silently behind the scenes with untold acts of kindness.

Our work could not continue without the generous contributions from Adele, Glenda, Justine and Alistair who work tirelessly, quietly, week in, week out – thank you! Several projects are ongoing: Fire Risk Assessment and accompanying action plan; discussions with the Parish Clerk about Church parking, green rubbish collection for the Churchyard gardeners, charitable support for selected charities,

Judith and Ian

Coggeshall Churches Together

Coggeshall Churches together no longer meets on a regular basis. After more than forty years of shared activities between our local churches only two events survive. On Christmas Eve 2023, hundreds of people gathered near the Christmas tree for Carol singing. We were able to use new Carol sheets supplied by Christ Church so that there were plenty to go round.

On March 1st 2024, we held a service for the ‘World Day Of Prayer’. This service was put together by Christians from Palestine before the present conflict and the views of three women from that area were expressed. The meeting was held in Christ Church and thanks are due Rev. John Prothero who gave us permission to use their worship area and also to those who supplied drinks and cakes etc for us to enjoy after the meeting. A total of £122.00 was collected from the small congregation of 20 people and sent to the organisers of WDP to help pay for materials to be used at future meetings. It is hoped that we will be able to continue our connection with Christ Church and St. Bernard’s so that the Christian presence in Coggeshall will be strengthened. Next year’s meeting will be held in St.Peter’s.

Janice Burges (Secretary/Treasurer)

Coggeshall Youth Project

Youth clubs have not run since March 2023 as the Coggeshall Youth Project (“CYP”) Youth Worker resigned from his position. The CYP Trust has considered the future of CYP and whether the format should be changed. All are in agreement that it should continue, which the churches of Coggeshall are all supportive of, and steps are now been taken to review the job description and advertise for a new Youth Worker.

Revd Melanie Shillito

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Concerts at St Peter’s

2023 saw another strong programme of concerts at St Peter’s. The lunchtime concerts ran on the first Thursday of the month from April to October. As usual, we built a programme which included some long-term favourites, such as Christine Stevenson and Martin Dobson, and some incredibly talented young musicians such as harpist Adelaide Jang and the fantastic Albizia Trio.

A January concert by Colchester Chamber Choir is rapidly becoming a tradition at St Peter’s! In January 2023, the theme was “A Restless World – English sacred music from Henry VIII to James I.” The church was lit by hundreds of candles and the music was, as ever with Colchester Chamber Choir, sublime.

In April, the Kelvedon Singers gave a fantastic performance of Handel’s Messiah to celebrate the 80 th birthday of their director, Christopher Phelps, complete with period instruments. Over 200 people attended and it was a fitting celebration of Christopher’s special birthday.

We were also delighted to welcome back the Roman River Festival for the grand finale of their September 2023 festival – a performance of Mozart’s Gran Partita, featuring clarinettist Sacha Rattle. We are very proud to be one of the favourite venues for this prestigious annual event, welcoming audiences from across the region. So far in 2024, we have already enjoyed a return visit from Colchester Chamber Choir and Colne Philharmonic Orchestra, and the programme for the rest of the year is looking very promising!

The concerts provide a useful income stream for the PCC, but perhaps more importantly, they bring people into this beautiful church to share the experience of listening to great live music. But we urgently need more helpers! If you would like to get more involved in the concerts, perhaps as a steward or helping with refreshments, I would love to hear from you.

Sarah Wickens

Cosy Kitchen

After the initial idea of forming a warm hub for the village in the winter of 2022, the Cosy Kitchen has gone from strength to strength. We now have a regular group of visitors, including their well behaved dogs.

I am very pleased to say that the Cosy Kitchen has done exactly what I envisaged from the start. It is a warm and cosy place to meet and make friends while enjoying hot food and drink. Many thanks go out to my marvellous team of volunteers who turn up every week come rain or shine, not only to make and serve the delicious bacon rolls and coffee, but also to chat and make everyone welcome.

I firmly believe that the Cosy Kitchen is meeting a need in the community and making a difference to the lives of those who join in.

Julia Ibbotson

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Eco Church

The Church of England’s Fifth Mark of Mission is “To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth”. The Eco Church Project helps us to fulfil this vision. The reward scheme is there to encourage us as a church and as individuals. Having gained the Bronze award last year we are now working towards Silver. We have advanced in two of the five areas, namely “Community and Global Engagement” and “Lifestyle”. Some more work on the “Buildings” topic will be done this year and we are hoping to apply for the silver award before too long.

Audrey and Stephen Beckett

Fabric

Fabric - St Peter ad Vincula

The 2023 Quinquennial Inspection for St Peter’s was completed in June/July by our architect, Christopher Barker. The major works to be addressed concern the deterioration in the external masonry of the church and an ongoing repair/restoration plan has been agreed, to be completed over the next five years.

As with any house, the house of God requires ongoing minor maintenance; leaking taps, broken hinges, chipped plaster etc., and these are constantly addressed and repaired by the churchwardens and other more skilful members of the congregation. Careful husbandry has meant that the fabric fund has maintained a healthy balance over the year, and will thus allow of some plaster and decorative repairs inside the church over the forthcoming year. Repairs to broken glass have been completed. Damage to parts of the organ, caused by water will be repaired in the next two months. The cost of this will mostly be covered by insurance. Despite extensive examination, the source of the water ingress has not been located.

Fabric - St Nicholas Chapel

The 2023 Quinquennial Inspection for St Nicholas’ Chapel has been completed by architect Christopher. No urgent repairs are required, but some external decorative, preservative work to the window surrounds and doors is recommended.

Ian Elliott and Judith Wargent

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Flower Festival 2023 - ‘King of Kings’

We think we can proudly say that this year’s 35 th Flower Festival was a great success with over 1500 people attending from far and wide. The theme this year, ‘King of Kings’ told stories of Kings and Queens from the Old and New Testaments, culminating in a moving depiction of the ascension of Jesus, The King of Kings. Huge thanks are due to all those who helped in so many ways, firstly to the core team and also to Heike, Melanie and the Church Wardens, who have all been so supportive throughout. We had 32 flower arrangers working this year, using their skill and artistry to create wonderful displays to illustrate the stories so vividly.

However, none of this would have happened without generous help with publicity, sponsorship, finances, donations and all the practical help. Our visitors comment every year on the warm welcome they receive from our stewards and how much they enjoy the delicious refreshments, all so beautifully presented. The Card Stall was a great success. The Preserves and Produce Stall, outside in a tent, overflowed with kind donations of wonderful fruit, vegetables, plants and preserves, and featured the usual fun and banter. Music, including piano recitals, the choir singing favourite hymns and a very enjoyable concert given by Martin Dobson’s Midnight Oil are always an important part of our festival weekend. It was a huge community event that our visitors from near and far embraced and thoroughly enjoyed, thanks to the generosity of spirit, the many talents shared, the enthusiasm, cooperation and hard work of all who helped to bring it to fruition.

We are absolutely delighted to announce that a profit of £10, 615 has already been raised and when the remaining £550 of sponsorship comes in, the final figure for St Peter’s will rise to £11,165. Thank you all so much!

Judy Crawford and Janet Florence

Knit and Natter

After a very trying 2 years of COVID this past year has seen our group gradually build up again to a healthy 15-20 ladies. We continued to be a vibrant group knitting for - Women’s Refuge, Colchester Maternity Wing and the Seafarers at Felixstowe. We have all missed Mary, especially me, who sadly died last summer.

Valerie King

The Link

The Link Magazine is produced thanks to the goodwill of those who regularly send articles and information, those who deliver faithfully each month, Designsweet, our very supportive printer and our advertisers who help with our production costs. Our grateful thanks go to each and every one. At present we are asking for a volunteer to replace John Gospage who co-ordinates all deliveries and by the time you read this we hope to have someone in place. John has done a wonderful job with this for several years and we are very grateful to him for all his hard work.

Val Lewis (Link Editor)

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Media Desk

The same team has continued to serve faithfully throughout the year and we are very grateful for all that they do. We do need new team members though so as to give a bit more flexibility covering both regular and special services.

Two new headset microphones were purchased during the year and have led to improvements in sound quality, but we do still have issues with clarity which are being addressed.

Alistair Prentice

Memory on a star

Christmas 2023 was the eighth year of Memory on a Star, and was the first year that all the stars were sold on our first selling date. Money raised was divided between two local groups and St Peter’s church. We hope that this can remain a community event and are grateful to the church to allow us to utilise the tower.

Kate Burmby

Men’s Coffee Drop-In

The Men's coffee mornings continue every Wednesday from 9.30 to 11.30 and provide a great opportunity for relaxed conversations with a wide range of fellow enthusiasts. Numbers have remained steady at close to 20 each week, slightly lower than before lockdown but, nonetheless very encouraging. Occasional groups and casual visitors are always welcome.

Roger Tattersfield

Open Gardens 2023

At last, after several years break, on Sunday 1 st June we celebrated Coggeshall Open Gardens once again with 16 glorious gardens on show and a theme of “Through the Garden Gate”. Over 900 visitors enjoyed a spectacular afternoon of walking around the wonderful gardens, taking tea in the churchyard, and making purchases from the plant stall – a grand sum of £8,300 was raised. As always, we are extremely grateful to all the hardworking and generous gardeners and volunteers involved in the event, and to the Community Bus who very kindly provided transport. We are now planning for Open Gardens 2024 which will be held on Sunday 2nd June 1 – 6pm.

Verity, Jo and Sarah

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Open the Bible

In September we began the tenth year of Open The Bible, presenting dramatic bible stories to St. Peters School. Starting the three year programme for the fourth time. In the Autumn term we covered the lives of Abraham, Noah, Jacob and Joseph. During the Spring term we followed the early life and ministry of Jesus. In the Summer term we will continue with stories from the New Testament, mainly of the parables of Jesus. The positive response of the children makes the commitment of our team to share the bible with them a real pleasure. We generally get a few children to take an active part, this is always very popular. Thanks to the school for letting us present God’s word to them. We would always welcome more people to join us; it really is a lot of fun!

Stephen Beckett

Pastoral Care

The team continues to be busy visiting people both in care homes and in their own homes. We also take Communion to those who are not able to get to Church. The team is happy to be contacted regarding the provision of pastoral care and also sends out Get Well and Sympathy cards.

Sarah Glossop

Recycled Greeting Cards

There are so many really lovely cards that just get used once only, so at St.Peter’s we like to give them another go round. We have been recycling cards for years now and it has been a brilliant way to reuse any greetings cards that are donated. The cards are cut, remounted and packaged, then displayed in the church for purchase at only a pound each. Not only does this mean that the cards are not wasted, but the money raised goes to the church.

I recycle all types of greeting cards ( except Christmas ), so consequently have a huge range of recycled cards for any occasion to choose from. If you have any cards that you would like to donate please put them in a bag beside the display unit for me to collect, then keep an eye out for your card to reappear, born again! Thank you for your donations.

from Julia Ibbotson

Safeguarding

The care and protection of children, young people, adults who attend services and church activities must be a priority for us all. The PCC follows safeguarding guidance from the House of Bishops and the Diocese of Chelmsford. They review policies and procedures annually, and ensure that guidelines are displayed prominently in the church and on the website. This year we have undertaken an audit of safe working practices and recruitment for the National Church Safeguarding Team.

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Safeguarding is a regular item on the PCC agenda. Changes to procedures do occur both nationally and locally and we are guided by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and Thirty One Eight (the Christian organisation which process Disclosure and Baring Service applications). Where required, volunteers leading or taking part in activities within the church, are DBS checked and trained. Both checks and training are updated every three years. The DST also requires us to complete activity plans and a risk assessment annually. All documentation relating to safeguarding is kept securely following GDPR guidance.

I am very fortunate to have a committed team of volunteers, a supportive ministry team in this vitally important side of church life Not only do they give of their time to training and running activities, their vigilance and care is essential to making our church as safe and welcoming for those who visit to worship or take part in activities.

Joanna Clark

St. Nicholas Chapel

It is lovely to report that a full complement of monthly services (March to December) took place with the majority taken by our Vicar. In September the decision was taken to revert to services on the first Sunday of the month with these being taken by the Curate. Melanie also took our usual traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols.

Once again the opening of the Chapel on Sunday afternoons in July and August proved a great success with over 250 visitors and donations to the Bonton Fund, used for the maintenance and upkeep of the place. Enormous thanks to those who organised and stewarded these openings. We hope to continue this in 2024.

It is most disappointing to record damage to both the East and West windows at the time of the Coggeshall Beer Festival which takes place on adjacent land. The windows have been beautifully repaired and we hope to recover some of the costs. It is planned to work with the organiser of the Festival to try to eliminate this vandalism.

In November a Vigil for Bill Gore was held in the Chapel prior to the service in St Peter ad Vincula. He was a regular supporter and lesson reader. We are also sad to record the death of Michael Horne who likewise was a regular attender and read lessons with great enthusiasm. He loved the history of the place and will be missed.

The small band of parishioners continues to ensure the Chapel is in good order for each service and the surrounding area tidy.

Julian Prideaux

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St Peter’s Church of England Primary School and Pre-School

‘Let your light shine before people so that they can see the good things that you do’. Matt 5:16.

Of major importance to any school, its pupils, staff, parents and governors, is the outcome of their latest Ofsted Inspection. St Peter’s was inspected on 28th and 29th March 2023, too late for me to report on last year, but I am pleased to confirm now that in the opinion of the inspector ‘St Peter’s continues to be a good school’. This outcome was in no small part due to the leadership skills over 10 years of Headteacher Alison Cole, whose retirement at Easter 2023 I was able to report on last year, but whose replacement was still undecided upon. I am therefore equally pleased to report now that after a rigorous appointment process Miss Sam Wilding took up the position in September 2023, having previously been Headteacher at St. Andrew’s Church of England Primary School in Marks Tey.

From my observations, under Sam’s leadership, St Peter’s School continues as an excellent, happy and distinctively church school, with staff, parents and governors working well together to the benefit of our children and of our community. St Peter’s School stated Christian vision is that all children will flourish and develop a love of learning in a caring and supportive environment, and that all associated with the school will aspire to walk in Christ’s footsteps by showing patience, forgiveness and kindness to one another.

Brian Meads – Foundation Governor

St Peter’s Welcomers

We continue to attract visitors from across the UK and also the world, including from Western Australia, and North America. Comments have been made saying what a beautiful church we have and how lovely that we are open and people can walk around and enjoy it. Names have joined us and some have left, so we still have spaces when a friendly face in church would be welcome to talk with them. If you would like to meet and chat to these visitors, then please see me when I can allocate you a period. That means we may be always providing a presence here. Many thanks if you can spare the time.

Derek North

Sunday Welcomers (Sidespersons)

We are grateful to those who greet people on Sunday mornings for our services at St. Peter’s and also at St. Nicholas’ Chapel. Anyone who would like to join the rota should please contact the office, we would be delighted to hear from you! Alongside those who continue to provide a warm welcome at our regular services, we would also like to express our thanks to everyone who has volunteered for the additional services around the main church festivals.

Justine Kneller (Parish Administrator)

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ST PETER AD VINCULA CHURCH, COGGESHALL, PCC

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Page
Treasurer’s Report 17-18
Independent Examminer’s Report 19
Statement of Financial Activities 20
Balance Sheet 21
Notes to the Financial Statements 22-27

Registered Charity number 1126947

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Treasurer’s Report 2023

After a challenging couple of years which saw cumulative losses building during COVID and into 2022, I am pleased to report that 2023 has been a much better year financially for St Peter’s.

We achieved a positive operating result for the year of £13,408, compared to an operating loss of £16,541 in 2022. This meant that we were again able to pay our full parish share in 2023 and did not need to sell any investments. At year end, we retained a positive cash position of £31,055. Overall, this was an excellent achievement during a period of rising inflation and increased energy costs.

There were three primary reasons for this improved performance:

  1. One-off events including the Flower Festival, Open Gardens and Concerts

  2. The generous giving of the parishioners

  3. Reduced repair costs

In addition to providing essential income to the Church, the events continue to put Coggeshall on the map and make it a desirable place to visit and live, thereby also providing benefits beyond the Church.

On the downside, due to some turbulence in the markets and the overweight position in real estate, the value of Church’s investments reduced by £2,352 / 1.8%. The good news is that this is only a notional loss which will not crystallise unless the investments are sold. The value of these investments at year-end was £129,988. A sub-working group has now been established to enable the PCC to agree and implement a more active approach to their management.

In total, the value of the Church’s assets increased by £11,056 to £161,043 during 2023.

Looking ahead to 2024, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. Income needs to be protected and grown, and costs need to be closely managed. The importance of staging successful fund-raising activities remains key to the financial health of the Church. We hope that the Open Gardens and Flower Festival can again provide significant boosts to our income. Attracting younger parishioners into the Church is also essential to maintain long term sustainability.

While energy costs have stabilised and are now reducing, our bills remain high and are not immune to future shocks. Keeping the Church building warm and welcoming is essential, and thus we will continue to look for additional revenue opportunities and cost savings to mitigate these costs, including an investigation into the installation of solar panels on the church roof. No major repairs are currently foreseen and the investments should be retained and grown to deal with any material one-off expenditures.

17

Treasurer’s Report 2023 cont’d

In summary, a good year with many positives to take and for that I would personally like to extend some well-earned gratitude.

Firstly, we should all extend a huge thank you to those who gave their time and money during 2023 and continue to do so to enable the important work of the Church to continue and the village to thrive.

I’d also like to extend a special thank you to Justine, Judith, Heike and the PCC.

Justine, our administrator, has been simply brilliant since joining in 2022. She has automated our bookkeeping and handled all manner of other financial and nonfinancial duties without which my role would have been impossible. We are all sad to see Justine and James leaving shortly but wish them all the very best on their new adventure.

Judith, our Church Warden, continues to handle all manner of Church fabric and operating queries and is also a general wise head. In addition to her day to day, she is playing a key role as we explore the possibility of installing solar panels on the Church roof (out of sight of course!) thereby reducing our operating costs and improving our sustainability.

I would also like to thank Heike. Her energy, drive and ability to get things done in the right way are inspiring. I know that I echo the feelings of all when I say that we are very lucky indeed to have her in the Parish.

Finally, I would like to thank the members of the PCC for their support and commitment during 2023. The Church could not operate without your hard work and dedication.

Well done all and thank you all!

Justin Jeffs

18

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

I report on the financial statements of the St Peter ad Vincula Church, Coggeshall, PCC for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out on Pages 22 to 27

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER

As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements; you consider that the audit requirement of section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT

No matters have come to my attention during my examination of the accounts:

have not been met; or

Address:

27 Lancaster Road Rayleigh Essex SS6 8UP

Name: Richard Fox Certification: AAT

19

ST PETER AD VINCULA CHURCH, COGGESHALL, PCC

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Funds Total Funds
Funds Funds Funds 2023 2022
Notes £ £ £ £ £
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies 2a 112,264 1,728 113,991 101,827
Income from charitable activities 2b 17,543 17,543 10,406
Other trading activities 2c 14,513 28 14,541 11,070
Investments 2d 5,994 5,994 5,461
Other income 2e 7,494 7,494 5,322
Total income 157,807 1,755 159,562 134,086
Expenditure on:
Raising funds 3a 10,192 109 10,301 7,002
Expenditure on charitable activities 3b 130,024 763 4,503 135,289 143,626
Other expenditure 3c 565 565
Total expenditure 140,780 763 4,612 146,155 150,628
Net income / (expenditure) resources 17,027 -763 -2,857 13,408 -16,541
Transfers:
Gains/losses on investment assets 6e -3,009 657 -2,352 -11,783
Net movement in funds 17,027 -3,772 -2,200 11,056 -28,324
Total funds brought forward 10,967 77,642 61,378 149,987 178,312
Total funds carried forward 27,994 73,870 59,179 161,043 149,987
(Note 9) (Note 10)

The notes on Pages 22 to 27 form part of these financial statements

20

ST PETER AD VINCULA CHURCH, COGGESHALL, PCC

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes General
Designated
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
2023
Total Funds
2022
£
£
£
£
£
Unrestricted Funds
5
6b
7
8
Unrestricted - General Fund
Designated - Fabric Fund
Designated - Roof Renewal Fund
Restricted - St Nicholas Chapel Trust (Bonton)
Restricted - Eve Crawford Fund For Elderly
Restricted - Bill Howes Library Appeal
Restricted - Youth Project & Ministry
Fixed assets
Tangible Investments
Investments
Current assets
Debtors
Cash At Bank And In Hand
Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due In One Year
Designated
Restricted
Fund Totals
Net current assets less current liabilities
Total assets less current liabilities
Liabilities
Total net assets less liabilities
Represented by
Unrestricted		 70,174
59,814
129,988
132,341
70,174
59,814
129,988
132,341
4,485
27,994
3,696
-636
31,055
17,112
27,994
3,696
-636
31,055
21,597
3,950
27,994
3,696
-636
31,055
17,647
27,994
73,870
59,179
161,043
149,987
27,994
73,870
59,179
161,043
149,987
27,994
27,994
10,967
6,530
6,530
7,255
67,340
67,340
70,388
19,792
19,792
18,657
36,135
36,135
38,114
153
153
153
3,098
3,098
4,455
27,994
73,870
59,179
161,043
149,987
(Note 9)
(Note 10)

The notes on Pages 22 to 27 form part of these financial statements

21

ST PETER AD VINCULA CHURCH, COGGESHALL, PCC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1. Accounting Policies

1a Basis of Accounting

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible by law.

The PCC constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

The PCC considers that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

The financial statements are rounded to the nearest £1 and are prepared in Sterling

1b Funds

General Fund represents the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.

The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.

1c Income

Regular giving is recognised when received by the PCC. Income tax recoverable under Gift Aid is included when that income is recognised.

Grants and legacies to the PCC are recognised when the PCC is notified of its legal entitlement and the amount due.

Parochial fees are now an integral part of the activities of the PCC.

Fee income from the letting of church premises is recognised when the rental is received.

Investment income and interest are accounted for when receivable.

Fundraising income is recognised when received by the PCC.

Unrealised gains or losses are recognised on the revaluation of investments at 31 December. Realised gains or losses are recognised when investments are sold.

1d Expenditure

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded if that creates a binding obligation on the PCC.

Expenditure on activities relating to the work of the church and the Diocesan Quota are accounted for when payable and include irrecoverable VAT where applicable. Governance costs comprise those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the PCC, this includes the preparation and examination of these financial statements.

22

ST PETER AD VINCULA CHURCH, COGGESHALL, PCC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

1e Fixed Assets

Consecrated and benefice property is excluded from the financial statements by Section 96(2)(a) of the Charities Act 1993. The church extension has been built on benefice land and, being a physical extension to the church, is subject to Ecclesiastical Faculty Jurisdiction; it, like the church, is therefore not included on the PCC Balance Sheet.

No value is placed on movable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC, and which require a faculty for disposal, since the PCC considers this to be inalienable property.

All expenditure incurred on consecrated or benefice buildings, and movable church furnishings, whether maintenance or improvement, is written off as expenditure of the year in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment are depreciated to write off their cost on a straight line basis over five years, at the rate of 20% p.a. Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £1,000 or less are written off when the asset is acquired.

1f Investments

Investments are valued at market value at 31 December where materially different from cost. Investments comprise investments in unquoted equity

1g Financial instruments

Financial instruments are classified and accounted for, according to the substance of the contractual arrangement, as either financial assets or financial liabilities.

The PCC only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments.

1h Cashflow

The accounts do not include a cashflow statement as the PCC as a small reporting entity is exempt from the requirements to prepare such a statement under the Charities SORP (FRS 102) Bulletin 1.

Unrestricted Funds

2a

0101 - Gift Aid - Bank
0110 - Gift Aid - Envelopes
0201 - Other planned giving
0301 - Loose plate collections
0410 - Giving through church boxes
0415 - Online Giving
0501 - One-off Gift Aid gifts
0550 - Donations appeals etc
0601 - Tax recoverable on Gift Aid
0701 - Legacies
08A1 - Non-recurring one-off grants
0901 - Other funds generated
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
Donations and legacies Totals		 General
Designated
Restricted
Total
Funds
2023
Total
Funds
2022
£
£
£
£
£
48,400
48,400
50,853
5,228
510
5,738
7,724
14,216
207
14,423
3,365
4,241
496
4,736
3,731
1,895
1,895
1,704
5,570
5,570
6,688
3,090
3,090
9,128
515
9,643
3,720
15,959
15,959
19,156
5,006
5,006
1,782
855
855
-1,323
-1,323
3,104
112,264
1,728
113,991
101,827

23

ST PETER AD VINCULA CHURCH, COGGESHALL, PCC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted Funds
1230 - Church hire - objectives
1240 - Church hire - fund raising
1260 - Parish magazine sales & advertising
1290 - Fees Income Weddings
1295 - Fees Income Funerals
0902 - Flower Festival
0910 - Sales of cards, mugs and teatowels etc
1210 - Bookstall sales to promote objectives
1220 - Bookstall sales - fund raising
1001 - Dividends
1250 - Broadband income
1270 - Other Income
1280 - Fees for Vicar's PA
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
1701 - Fees paid to fund raisers
1730 - Fundraising costs
1731 - Flower festival expenses
2502 - Cost of cards, mugs and teatowels etc
Other trading activities
Other trading activities Totals
Investments
Investments Totals
Income from charitable activities
Income from charitable activities Totals
Other income
Other income Totals
Income and endowments Grand totals
Raising funds Totals		 General
Designated
Restricted
Total
Funds
2023
Total
Funds
2022
£
£
£
£
£
605
605
148
3,625
3,625
5,038
2,613
2,613
2,894
7,864
7,864
2,305
2,836
2,836
21
17,543
17,543
10,406
13,362
13,362
9,438
1,006
1,006
1,525
110
110
103
35
28
63
4
14,513
28
14,541
11,070
5,994
5,994
5,461
5,994
5,994
5,461
600
600
600
3,364
3,364
627
3,530
3,530
4,095
7,494
7,494
5,322
157,807
1,755
159,562
134,086
General
Designated
Restricted
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
£
Unrestricted Funds
302
302
911
5,097
109
5,206
1,632
3,910
3,910
4,098
883
883
361
10,192
109
10,301
7,002

2b Income from charitable activities

2c Other trading activities

2d Investments

2e Other income

3 Expenditure on:

3a Raising funds

24

ST PETER AD VINCULA CHURCH, COGGESHALL, PCC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

3b
3c		 1801 - Giving to missionary societies
1830 - Giving - relief and development agencies
1850 - Home mission
1854 - Relief for the Elderly
1855 - Coggeshall Youth Project Donations
1870 - Secular charities
1901 - Diocesan quota (Parish Share)
2001 - Salary of Vicar's PA
2050 - Salary of parish administrator
2060 - Honorarium
2101 - Working expenses of incumbent
2150 - Vicar's telephone
2170 - Education
2201 - Parish training and mission
2301 - Church running - insurance
2305 - Church running - Roof Alarm
2310 - Church office - telephone
2320 - Choirmaster, organ and music
2329 - Property repairs - vicarage
2330 - Property repairs - general maintenance
2331 - Cleaning
2340 - Upkeep of services
2341 - Flowers
2345 - Upkeep of Family Services
2350 - Upkeep of churchyard
2360 - Office Administration
2361 - Website
2370 - Visiting speakers / locums
2401 - Church running - electric
2410 - Church running - gas
2420 - Church running - water
2501 - Magazine expenses
2510 - Bookstall costs
2601 - Governance costs examination/audit fee
2701 - Church major repairs - structure
2710-Church major repairs- installation
Expenditure on charitable activities		 General
Designated
Restricted
Total
Funds
2023
Total
Funds
2022
£
£
£
£
£
Unrestricted Funds
110
110
860
78
78
25
1,470
1,470
4,000
2,000
6,000
8,000
400
400
64,470
64,470
67,755
7,215
7,215
7,605
8,952
8,952
9,352
5,670
5,670
4,850
191
191
406
82
82
1,064
1,064
7,504
1,033
8,537
7,998
1,379
1,379
1,272
1,206
1,206
526
1,955
1,955
2,022
300
300
516
339
855
11,668
1,901
1,901
1,521
2,463
2,463
932
1,755
1,755
800
80
80
96
800
800
2,053
2,053
2,770
2,020
2,020
1,920
60
2,925
2,925
3,107
7,015
7,015
3,573
218
218
84
2,870
2,870
2,338
160
160
273
670
670
424
424
2,985
829
Expenditure on charitable activities Totals 130,024
763
4,503
135,289
143,626
2306 - Church running - Fire
Other expenditure
Other expenditure Totals
Expenditure Grand totals		 565
565
565
565
140,780
763
4,612
146,155
150,628

25

ST PETER AD VINCULA CHURCH, COGGESHALL, PCC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

4. COMMITMENTS

5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS

Cost
as at 1 January 2023
additions
as at 31 December 2023
Depreciation
as at 1 January 2023
additions
as at 31 December 2023
Net Book Value
as at 1 January 2023
£
as at 31 December 2023
£		 Equipment
£
2,675
0
2,675
2,675
0
2,675
0
0

The tangible fixed assets are held for charitable use by the PCC

6. INVESTMENTS at market value

From 2011 it was agreed that all investment assets, short term deposits and bank balances should be considered to be 'Pooled Assets' and all interest and dividends received should be allocated to the different funds in proportion to the assets held by that fund at the end of the month before the payment or revaluation was realised.

Investments at Market Value
BontonChapelTrust - St Nicholas Chapel Trust (Bonton)
CrawfordElderly - Eve Crawford Fund For Elderly
FabricFund - Fabric Fund
RoofFund - Roof Renewal Fund
Youth&Ministry - Youth Project & Ministry
Total Variable Investments		 Restricted
Total
Total
General
Designated
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
£
Unrestricted Funds
19,250
19,250
18,727
31,466
31,466
31,975
2834
2,834
2,796
67,340
67,340
70,388
9098
9,098
8,455
0
70,174
59,814
129,988
132,341
Variable Investments at Market Value
As at 31 December 2022
Sale of Investments
Purchase of investments
As at 31 December 2023
Gain/Loss on Revaluation		 Restricted
Total
General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
73,183
59,157
132,340
70,174
59,814
129,988
Unrestricted Funds
-3,009
657
-2,352

26

ST PETER AD VINCULA CHURCH, COGGESHALL, PCC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

7. DEBTORS

Nil

8. CREDITORS

Nil

9. DESIGNATED FUNDS

SIGNATED FUNDS
As at 1 January 2023
Investment income
Interest received
Gain/Loss on revaluation of investments
Donations and related Gift Aid
Library Appeal
Fund Transfers
Expenditure
As at 31 December 2023		 Total
Fabric
Roof
Fund
Renewal
Fund
£
£
£
77,643
7,255
70,388
-3,009
38
-3,047
-763
-763
73,870
6,530
67,340
(a)
(b)

The initial investment was a transfer of £50,000 from the Fabric Fund.

10. RESTRICTED FUNDS

RESTRICTED FUNDS
As at 1 January 2023
Investment income
Gain/(loss) on revaluation of investments
Interest received
Donations (Inc Gift Aid)
Other income
Expenditure in year
Transfer of funds
As at 31 December 2023		 Total
Eve
Bonton
Bill Howes
Youth
Crawford
Fund
Appeal
project
& Ministry
£
£
£
£
£
61,378
38,114
18,657
153
4,455
0
657
-508
522
643
0
0
1,755
1,755
-4,612
-1,470
-1,142
-2,000
0
59,178
36,136
19,792
153
3,098
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

27