The Parish Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas of Canterbury, Bovey Tracey
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023
AIMS AND PURPOSES
The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Revd. Graham Hamilton, in promoting the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical, within the boundaries of the ecclesiastical parish. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church and the Church Rooms.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The following Mission Statement was agreed in 2008:
'We believe that God's great purpose is to bring all creation to enjoy the peaceful rule of Jesus. We believe that as a network of churches in the Bovey area we are called to:
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Enable people of every age and background to become disciples of Jesus Christ
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Engage with God through the Bible, Prayer, and Sacrament
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Encourage one another to live Christ-like lives
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Enhance loving unity among Christians at every level
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Empower every disciple to fulfil their calling, exercise their gifts in God's world and thus
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Exalt God's name in our lives and our praises.'
A shortened version of this Mission Statement is:
'Our mission is to enable all people to know Jesus and to enjoy His rule in their lives.'
When planning our activities, our incumbent and PCC seek to enable as many people as possible to live out their faith as part of our benefice's community through i) worship and prayer, learning about the gospel and developing their knowledge of, and trust in, Jesus; ii) provision of pastoral care for people living in the benefice, and iii) mission and outreach. This is in accordance with the guidance from the Charity Commission on public benefit and particularly the specific guidance on the advancement of the Christian faith. To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church of PPT and the church Room which provides facilities for many people and meetings.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR
2023 was not as tumultuous as 2022, though the war in Ukraine continued to impact the economy, and the conflict in Gaza provoked by Hamas has raised tensions in the Middle East. Charles III was crowned on 6 May. The Church of England is increasingly divided over questions of sexuality, following the vote at General Synod in February 2023. The congregation was polled for their views of the vote in March 2023, and of the 105 who responded, 66% disagreed with the Prayers of Love & Faith , 26% welcomed them, with 9% undecided.
The Wardens and PCC submitted a faculty application for glass doors to the south porch and accepted a tender for a new lighting system in church.Some repair work was done to the Vicarage. The PCC met 4 times in 2023. An average of 14 PCC members attended, with 2 apologies. The issues that dominated our discussions were relations with the Diocese and Church of England, progressing work on the glass doors and installing new lighting, electrics, and heating, while continuing to provide pastoral care and public worship. The APCM was held on 20 May 2023.
WORSHIP and PRAYER
We have sustained a regular pattern of three Sunday services (9.30am, 11am & 5pm) throughout the year, as well as midweek Communion and Morning Prayer on Monday and Fridays via Zoom. The monthly prayer meeting is held on the first Wednesday of each month, but attendance remains low. A special service was held outdoors at 9.30am for Easter, and a St George’s Day service for uniformed groups was celebrated on 23 April. A Service of Thanksgiving for the Coronation of King
APCM 2024
20 April 2024
Charles III was held on Sunday 7 May, and well attended, as was the Remembrance Sunday parade service. Seven Weddings, eleven funerals and four baptisms were conducted in church. During the year we have continued our practice of expository sermon series. We started a two-year series through the gospel of John, Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians and a lively series in Exodus. The Church hosted superb concerts by the Brodsky Quartet and the classical guitarist David Jaggs
CHURCH BUILDINGS
The church building and church room have been in full use throughout the year, and the Monday maintenance group have worked hard to keep the grounds and buildings in good order. Mrs Cheryll Newport is employed to clean the church room.
Several projects have been completed. The Church Room was repainted (in February 2024) and a Defibrillator has been installed outside the church room. Mr David Horton created a moveable ramp to enable Mr Michael Wigney to play the organ from his wheelchair.
The marquee provided valuable service for the summer season, especially for Sunday Club and First Steps, though the church room grass is hard worn.
PASTORAL CARE
Camilla Matheson has run the First Steps Mothers & Toddlers group each Friday for 14 years with great warmth and hospitality but stepped down at Easter 2024.
Rosie Stephens has worked hard as Family worker, supported by many volunteers, especially Shirley Codner, and is developing stronger links with Bovey Primary School and Bovey Baptist Church and their family worker, Abi Evans, as well as supporting the Mums’ Bible study on Tuesdays, First Steps group on Fridays, and the Explosion Club on Tuesday evenings. She also led a group to the Spree Festival
Angie Blanche has continued as Youth Worker. She runs two groups each week, which have grown steadily under her leadership: the Sunday evening group for 14-18s, and Wise Guys for 11-14s, meeting in the Town Youth Café on Monday evenings. She also offering mentoring with individuatls, and plays an active role in the Bovey Youth Café.
Sunday Club is co-ordinated by Shirley Codner, who also co-ordinates the volunteers at 9.30am Sunday Praise
Jill Hosford continues to develop her role as Anna Chaplain, with a team of Anna Friends to care for the housebound and elderly. The vicar and staff team members have sustained a programme of home communion visits to the housebound and local residential homes, and the monthly Friendship Lunch, now held at the Stover Golf Club.
A new Ladies’ Pudding evening meets bi-monthly in the Church Room, co-ordinated by Sarah Margetts, and the Men’s Curry night, organised by John Evans, alternates between PPT and Bovey Baptist in the winter months. Dawn Hamilton started a Ladies’ sewing group in September which meets weekly on Thursday mornings in the Church Room and has a small but dedicated following.
There are now eleven small groups meeting regularly for bible study, fellowship and prayer including the men’s weekly 7am prayer breakfast.
MISSION AND EVANGELISM
The PCC considers that the church exists to make disciples for Jesus Christ, each of whom has a responsibility to give a reason for the hope that is within them. A small team of volunteers worked with the vicar to visit local residents in April 2023, and were well received. The vicar ran a ‘Hope Explored’ course in the Church Room in Autumn 2023 with several participants.
DEANERY SYNOD
The new Newton Abbot Deanery met twice, At Ipplepen in January, and again at Ipplepen in November to welcome the members newly elected for the next Triennium. Rev Andrew Down is the current Rural Dean.
ECUMENICAL RELATIONSHIPS
Bovey Baptist Church and PPT continued to work together in shared youth and children’s events, but the ministers have not met so regularly this year. The vicar maintains contact with other church leaders in the town and area.
APCM 2024
20 April 2024
FINANCIAL REVIEW Roy Pilchford has served throughout the year as Church Treasurer. Using existing software re-setup with the support of Mrs Clare Lillington he is now able to provide detailed financial reports month by month. The accounts for 2023 were independently examined by Mrs Clare Lillington. Total receipts on general (unrestricted) funds were £146,859 (£129,879 in 2022), including £24,415 from GiftAid, and legacies of £15,000. Total expenditure on general funds for the year was £124,4341£113.581 in 2022). This year we continued the policy for outward (charitable) giving dedicating all cash and contactless payments received on Sundays land any BACS payments so markedl to the mission focus for the month. This raised £11,881 {£6,710 in 2022) - a commendable increase in generosity. The final accounts for 2023, when compared with 2022, show a slight increase in planned giving and a reduction in fee income for weddings and funerals. Without legacies of £15,000 this would have produced a small surplus of £7,425, but in fact we ended the year with a surplus of £9,622. The Common Fund contribution requested by the Diocese for 2023 was £83,831 1£86.278 in 2022}. The PCC renewed its resolve to pay at least the cost of clergy figure, and in 2023 we paid £65,040 (the estimated cost of a Vicar's stipend, pension, Nl, and housing, and share of central costs). With income from funeral and wedding fees and Hennock's contribution of £7,433, this still makes us a net contributor to the Diocese, though giving £18,791 less than requested by the Common Fund fomiula, which is calculated as a flat rate of £11.93 a week for each participant (defined as any adult worshipping monthly), after an allowance for buildings and a socio-economic modifier, and functions as a regressive tax upon growing churches. As a protest against the Diocesan endorsement of the Prayers of Love & Faith, after correspondence with the Bishop the PCC paused its regular payment of share from July to November but paid the monies held back in December. Total cash reserves at 31 December were £157,004. We expect the installation ofglass doors to cost £6,000 and the new lighting scheme to cost £60,000 in the coming year. The General (unrestricted) Fund stands at £128,651. Restricted Funds {use specified by donors- cannot be changed) The Youth & Children's Fund has been reduced to £10, 984. The glass door fund stands at £1,216. the restricted Fabric Fund stands at £1,434. Designated Funds (use specified by PCC - can be changed) The organ fund stands at £4,989, and the Fabric Fund at £6,951. The vicar's discretionary fund is now £2,180. Plus small giving funds £598. Reserves Policy The PCC has resolved to maintain a balance on our general (unrestricted) funds which equates to at least three months, salaries for all our staff, Common Fund payments and regular bills, but to include funds in the Local Ministry Fund and Youth & Children's Fund to local staff costs. STAFF The PCC now employs four part-time local staff - the Family Worker, Youth Worker, Church Cleaner and OfficeAdministrator. Their purpose is to co-ordinate and support the work of the many volunteers who continue to provide the backbone of church life. VOLUNTEERS We are grateful to all those volunteers who continue to maintain the worship, mission, and community life of the church. The range of tasks includes visiting, supporting groups for young and old, playing or singing music, welcoming, reading, and leading prayers at services, cleaning and maintaining the fabric of our buildings and grounds, supporting the sick and housebound. We have APCM 2024 20 April 2024
endeavoured to ensure that all volunteers have access to the relevant health and safety policies and risk assessments and these are available to all on the PPT website, www.pptbovey.church. Regular support in leading services was provided by the Licensed Lay Minister (formerly known as Lay Reader) Mrs Carolyn Laycock, and the retired clergy with permission to officiate: Canon Michael Sansom, Rev Paul Reynolds and Rev David Harris.
We remain very grateful to the Monday Maintenance Group for keeping the church buildings and grounds in good condition and for undertaking all routine maintenance and repair work. This essential work is always carried out promptly and efficiently and saves much expenditure of the church's funds.
A new team of volunteers is now supporting the administration of the church, and the vital work of safeguarding (Shirley Codner, Tim Stephens) , organising rotas (Shirley Codner at 9.30am, Camilla Matheson at 11am and Mark Alexander at 5pm) , and printing and posting leaflets and service orders (Mike Limb).
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The method of appointment and election of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules 2020. At the APCM in 2020 the electoral roll renewed its decision of 2015 to reduce its elected representation on the PCC from 12 to 9. This took effect from the APCM in 2021. All those who regularly attend church are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and to stand for election to the PCC and to the Deanery Synod. A Revision to the way that PCC members are elected was approved by the PCC during 2017 as a result of the need for a postal ballot in 2017.
Safeguarding
Mrs Shirley Codner has maintained safeguarding administration, and Mr Tim Stephens has sustained the role of Safeguarding representative.
Administration
Mrs Camilla Matheson works as church administrator, producing weekly notice sheets, service sheets and updating the laptop for projecting services. She is also taking more responsibility in handling faculty applications. Mrs Jane Midgley has continued to serve as church room booking secretary.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
The parish church of St Peter, St Paul, and St Thomas of Canterbury (PPT) is situated on East Street, Bovey Tracey, Devon. It is a parish in the Diocese of Exeter, within the Church of England. The address for correspondence is The Church Rooms, Coombe Cross, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 9EN.
The parish website can be accessed via www.pptbovey.church
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2020) and has been registered with the Charity Commission (Charity #1128849, since 27th March, 2009).
At the APCM in May 2023 Mr Mark Alexander and Mr Michael Codner were elected as Church Wardens.
Mr Mike Limb and Mrs Jill Hosford were elected as PCC members, as they were stepping down as Church Wardens, and also Mr Roy Pitchford was elected.
Mr Jack Knightly, Mr Mathew Percy and Mr Roy White were elected as Deanery Synod representatives for the next triennium.
PCC members standing down at the time of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in May 2023 were Mrs Jane Midgley and Mr David Barlow.
APCM 2024
20 April 2024
Those who served from the Annual Parochial Church Meeting held on 20 May 2023 until the date of this report are:
Ex-officio Members (by right of office)
Incumbent Revd. Graham Hamilton Chairman Churchwardens Mr Mark Alexander Mr Mike Codner Diocesan Synod Mrs Dawn Hamilton Deanery Synod Mr Roy White Representatives : Mr Jack Knightly Mr Mathew Percy Elected Members Mrs Sharon Alexander Mr Mike Limb Mr Barry Newport Mrs Jill Hosford Mrs Sue Nickels Mrs Shirley Codner (Secretary) Mr Tim Stephens Mr Roy Pitchford (treasurer) Mr Peter Chesterman (Vice-Chair)
Approved by the PCC on and signed on their behalf by Rev Graham Hamilton (PCC Chairman)
APCM 2024
20 April 2024
PCC Bovey Tracey Fund Movement Summary 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023
| Fund | 01/01/23 | Incoming | Outgoing | 31/12/23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bell Ringing - Designated | 0.00 | 211.75 | 0.00 | 211.75 |
| Bovey Social Fund - Designated | 0.00 | 150.00 | 0.00 | 150.00 |
| Church Flowers Fund - Designated | 0.00 | 211.75 | 0.00 | 211.75 |
| Christian Institute - Designated | 0.00 | 50.00 | 50.00 | 0.00 |
| Compassion UK - Designated | 0.00 | 603.73 | 603.73 | 0.00 |
| Choices Pregnancy Centre - Designated | 0.00 | 397.76 | 397.76 | 0.00 |
| Fabric Fund - Designated | 8,472.40 | 0.00 | 1,521.00 | 6,951.40 |
| Fabric Fund - Restricted | 4,357.00 | 0.00 | 2,922.60 | 1,434.40 |
| Falcon Camps - Designated | 0.00 | 831.75 | 831.75 | 0.00 |
| Glass Door Fund - Restricted | 1,216.33 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1,216.33 |
| General - General Fund | 105,304.25 | 153,378.81 | 130,953.16 | 127,729.90 |
| Leprosy Mission - Designated | 0.00 | 1,713.57 | 1,713.57 | 0.00 |
| Open Doors - Designated | 0.00 | 973.27 | 948.69 | 24.58 |
| Outward Giving Fund - Restricted | 371.36 | 0.00 | 371.36 | 0.00 |
| Organ Fund - Designated | 5,222.75 | 0.00 | 234.00 | 4,988.75 |
| Peninsula Gospel Partnership - Designated | 0.00 | 499.09 | 499.09 | 0.00 |
| Royal British Legion - Designated | 0.00 | 463.39 | 463.39 | 0.00 |
| Sandels YWAM- Designated | 0.00 | 642.28 | 642.28 | 0.00 |
| Tear Fund - Designated | 0.00 | 2,602.00 | 2,602.00 | 0.00 |
| Vicar's Fund - Designated | 1,376.60 | 802.73 | 0.00 | 2,179.33 |
| Youth Cafe - Designated | 0.00 | 472.85 | 472.85 | 0.00 |
| Youth Work Fund - Restricted | 20,140.00 | 337.00 | 9,492.54 | 10,984.46 |
| Totals | 146,460.69 | 164,341.73 | 154,719.77 | 156,082.65 |
| Outward Giving - 2023 Christian Institute Compassion UK Choices Pregnacy Centre Falcon Camps Leprosy Mission Open Doors Outward Giving Fund Peninsula Gospel Partnership Royal British Legion YWAM Tear Fund Bovey Tracey Youth Cafe Total |
50.00 603.73 397.76 831.75 1 713.57 948.69 371.36 499.09 463.49 642.28 2 602.00 472.85 |
|---|---|
| 9 596.57 |
Parish Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas of Canterbury Charity number 1128849 For the year ending 31st December 2023 Receipts and Payments Accounts
| RECEIPTS Donations and Legacies Regular giving Tax efficient planned giving Other Planned giving Collections at Services Gift Aid recovered Donations Other Voluntary Receipts Legacy Sundry donations Deeper Youth Camp Special appeals Church Charity Diocesan Energy Grant Income from church activities Fees (net) Publications Church Room -Letting 1st Steps Office Fund Raising Receipts from Investments CBF funds Interest TOTAL RECEIPTS PAYMENTS Church Activities Parish Share Salaries-pastoral Salaries-non pastoral Staff Expenses Administration Church Fabric Worship Mission (Outreach & Nurture) Publications Church Room costs 1st steps Utilities Insurance Training Youth mission Youth Worker expenses Sundry expenses inc catering Sundry donations TOTAL PAYMENTS Net receipts (payments) Balance - 1 January 2023 Transfers Balance - 31st December 2023 |
Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2023 90876 90876 1033 1033 1211 1211 24415 24415 3584 3584 121119 0 0 121119 15000 15000 29 29 905 905 0 10600 337 10937 0 0 15934 10600 337 26871 5278 5278 251 251 1967 1967 0 0 0 0 1110 1110 8606 0 0 8606 772 26 798 428 428 1200 26 0 1226 146859 10626 337 157822 65040 65040 15756 7018 22774 6862 6862 1301 1301 8114 8114 7140 1755 2923 11818 2867 2867 3204 9225 371 12800 274 274 2043 2043 96 96 3857 3857 5210 5210 274 274 200 200 0 2474 2474 2196 2196 0 0 124434 10980 12786 148200 22425 (354) (12449) 9622 106226 15072 26084 147382 0.00 0 0 0 128651 14718 13635 157004 |
2022 87418 5984 1968 21442 40 |
|---|---|---|
| 116852 | ||
| 1300 6201 0 0 3365 1780 12646 |
||
| 6827 187 1807 740 501 71 |
||
| 10133 | ||
| 330 52 |
||
| 382 | ||
| 140013 | ||
| 65000 16090 1805 2902 8807 8239 3191 7016 0 3824 161 4825 4894 60 1300 0 0 200 |
||
| 128314 | ||
| 11699 135683 |
||
| 147382 |
Parish Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas of Canterbury Charity number 1128849 For the year ending 31st December 2023
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Cash Funds Lloyds Current account Lloyds Savings account Lloyds Fixed Term Deposit CBF Investment Funds CBF Vicar's Fund Cash Movements in Funds in the year Designated Organ fund Vicar's fund Fabric fund Bell ringing Bovey Social fund Church Flowers fund Christian institute Compassion UK Choices Pregnancy Centre Falcon Camps Leprosy Mission Open Doors Peninsular Gospel Partnership Royal British Legion Sandels YWAM Tear Fund Youth Café Restricted Fabric fund Glass Door fund Youth fund Outward Mission fund |
2023 Unrestricted Designated Restricted TOTAL 30630 30630 22242 0 0 22242 75766 2234 78000 11064 13635 24699 1420 1420 13 13 128651 14718 13635 157004 Bal b/fwd Receipts Payments Transfers 5223 0 234 0 1377 803 0 0 8472 0 1521 0 0 212 0 150 0 212 0 50 50 0 604 604 0 398 398 832 832 1713 1713 973 949 499 499 463 463 642 642 2602 2602 473 473 15072 10626 10980 0 4357 0 2922 0 1216 0 0 0 20140 337 9493 0 371 0 371 0 26084 337 12786 0 |
2022 TOTAL 43914 78134 0 23944 1377 13 |
|---|---|---|
| 147382 | ||
| Bal c/fwd 4989 2180 6951 212 150 212 0 0 0 0 0 24 0 0 0 0 0 |
||
| 14718 | ||
| 1435 1216 10984 0 |
||
| 13635 |
Accounts approved by the PCC on 9th March 2023
Signed by Rev Graham Hamilton
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St Peter, St Paul and St Thomas of Canterbury, Bovey Tracey, Parochial Church Council Charity number 1128849
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Church for the year ended 31[st] December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act").
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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(1) Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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(2) The accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Clare Lillington FMAAT Raddon, Station Hill Chudleigh Newton Abbot TQ13 0EE 18[th] April 2024