PAROCHIALCHURCH COUNCILOF BLENDWORTH, HOLYTRINITY ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31" DECEMBER 2023 Administrative Information Full Parochial Name: Blendworth, Holy Trinity. Benefice: Blendworth with Chalton with Id5WOrth Diocese: Portsmouth Location: Blendworth Lane, Blendworth, Hants, P08 OAB Beneflce Office: The Church Centre, Blendworth Lane, Horndean, Hants, P08 OAA 2. Members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) 'Standing Committee members During the year 2023 the following served as members of the PCC: Priest-in Charge.. A5SlStant Priest." Licensed Lay Minister *The Revd. Victoria Morgan (resigned end 2023) he Revd. Joy Wind50r (Chair) Mrs Dawn Jenkins Church Wardens.. *Mrs. Gill Hill Church Warden (Chair of PCC during Interregnum) *Mrs. Jo Jackson Church Warden Elected Members." 'Miss Janet Laws Benefice PCC Secretary & Safeguarding Officer Mrs. Annie Reeves Diocesan Synod Representative Mrs. Veronica Brice Deanery Synod Representative (stood down os Deanery Synod Rep May 2023) Miss Rebecca Goss PCC member *Mrs. Val Griffiths Treasurer Mrs. Sue Wilson PCC member Mrs. Helen Orsmond PCC member Miss Emma Brickell PCC member {resignedJune 2023) Elertoral Roll Officer.. Miss Rebecca Goss 3. Structure, Governance and Management The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules as published online by the Church of England General Synod www.churchofen land.or more oli -and-thinkin church- re resentation-rules church-re resentation-rules-online). All regular church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The Roll was last revised in 2019, prior to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. The PCC is the body of Trustees for the Parish. 4. Charitable Status The PCC is a Charity and is registered with the Charity Commission. 5. Safeguardlng Safeguarding continues to be an important part of our work at Holy Trinity Blendworth and the policy statement which was agreed by the Benefice PCCS is displayed in each of our churches and at the Church Centre. In the Autumn 2023 a second Diocesan Safeguarding Conference,was held which was attended by Bishop Jonathan, Clergy and Parish Safeguarding Officers, hearing from several specialised speakers about keeping children, young people and vulnerable adults safe in our parish churches. It is planned that this will now be an annual event. All those who serve on the PCC or hold an office within the parish are required to undertake a DBS check and undertake online safeguarding training. Checks now need to be renewed every three years rather than the original five years and across the benefice a large number of our PCC members have been undertaking re-checks in the last couple of months as anniversary dates have approached. Anyone accepting a new office within the parish will be asked to complete the safeguarding procedures before taking on the office. Janet L(ws Porish Safeguording Officer 6. Review of artivities Holy Trinity was able to offer services throughout 2023 with increasing numbers in the congregation. The new Toddlers Group on Friday lunchtimes was not successful and after several weeks the decision was taken to put it on hold. Revd. Joy is taking Collective Worship at Horndean Junior School on a regular basis. 12 Whilst we have used recorded music for most of our services, we have been able to have an organist for special occasions. George. our young enthusiastic organist. played at our Nine Lessons and Carols Service and Richard Martin (the regular organist at St. Huberfs} has played at other services. Plenty of fund-raising events have taken place, concerts, fair, plant sales and summer fete - unfortunately road works reduced attendance at the fete on this very hot day. We thank our Fundraising Committee for their efforts on our behalf. Our annual Remembering Loved Ones service was well attended again this year. There was a special service at the Cathedral for the Anna Chaplains in the Diocese which included the Anna Chaplains from Holy Trinity. Our Christmas Tree Festival took place just before Christmas. We had a large number of beautifully decorated trees on display and welcomed many visitors to our church. A full Christmas programme took place including our Crib Service where we welcomed a lot of new faces and enjoyed the participation of adults and children from the congregation. Finally, at the end of the year, our Priest in Charge the Revd Vickie Morgan relocated to the Ise of Wight to take up a new position. This has placed the BCI into interregnum; we are grateful to the clergy team for keeping BCI running smoothly. Gill Hill and Jo Jackson Church Wardens 7. Baptisms, Marriages, and Funerals In 2023, Holy Trinity was able to offer baptisms, weddings as well as funerals and burials. During the year we did not have any weddings but we had 4 baptisms, and 2 funerals together with interment of ashes. 8. Review of the Year- PCC The first half of the year PCC meetings were held as simultaneous meetings with the PCCS of St Michael's and St Hubert's but after a review in July last year, the PCCS reverted to sole meetings. Meeting as one group enabled us to learn from one another, gave us better awareness of our obligations particularly in regard to discussing buildings and be more aware of what was taking place in the other two parishes but on occasions it was difficult to make decisions for one parish and with time constraints a full discussion on a particular agenda item proved difficult with large group of people. Since July 2023 Holy Trinity PCC have held three meetings and the Fundraising Group have met twice. At each meeting the ongoing concerns for the Church roof repairs 13 have been discussed and looking at ideas for fundraising, put forward by the Fundraising Committee, along with the payment of our annual Parish Share to the Diocese. The Bishop had indicated that he wanted all parishes across the Diocese to hold a Generosity Week at the end of September to help parishes focus on generous giving. The Ecumenical work continued with the other local churches, the regular Prayer Breakfasts with Catherington and Clanfield, St Edmunds and the Baptists. The Prayer Stations for Thy Kingdom Come were held in the Church Centre Chapel and it was hoped this would be repeated in 2024. Revd Joy regularly updated the PCC about the work she was doing on a Thursday each week with Catherington and Clanfield {completely separate from her days working for Blendworth) but she was hopeful this might also give results for Blendworth as well. The Grandparents & Toddlers Group continued to be hugely successful and the work of the Anna Chaplaincy Team was going from strength to strength but we were reminded that the spiritual growth of the church in the future and how Holy Trinity was kept going needed further discussion. Blendworth currently has no representative on the Deanery Synod and it is hoped someone may be willing to take on this role from 2024 and would automatically become a member of the Blendworth PCC. The Synod report for our Annual Report has been provided by Jackie Butt at Idsworth who is currently representing the whole Benefice on Synod along with Revd Joy. Annie Reeves continues to represent the parish on Diocesan Synod. Revd Vickie Morgan, before her resignation at the end of last year, had been off work for various periods of time and the PCC were concerned for Revd Joy as to whether it was realistic for her to be able to cover all three parishes and also St John's Rowlands Castle in the three days she worked each week. Much of jO￿S time was spent on administration and the PCC discussed a proposal put forward by Revd Joy for the Administrator at Catherington and Clanfield to do four hours a week for our 8enefice, to assist with the weekly sheet and the booking of weddings, funerals and baptisms, working one hour a day for four days, out of Catherington and Clanfield parish office. This was agreed with the cost of the four hours a week being shared by Blendworth, Chalton and Idsworth. It was also agreed, to assist Revd Joy, that Janet Laws would take on, on a voluntary basis, the photocopying of all service sheets or other parish documentation in the parish office, when required. Updating of the WiFi in the parish office and the resurfacing of the Church Centre car park were discussed. st Vickie Morgan resigned as priest in charge from the 31 December with the parish then moving into interregnum. The PCC had initial discussions about the way forward, with an open meeting with the Archdeacon in December, followed by a joint PCC meeting. It was agreed, moving forward, the Benefice of Blendworth, Chalton and Idsworth would no longer be linked with St John's Rowlands Castle and the Benefice PCCS have been working on a new Parish Profile and during 2024 it is hoped the Bishop will make the appointment of a new 0.5 Priest-in- Charge to serve our three parishes. Janet Laws PCCSecretary Church Centre During 2023 we had minor maintenance costs at the hall. We have been active in looking for other regular hirers but with little succes5 as most groups are looking for evening availability and the Centre is fully booked every evening in the week. However, we have had some private bookings for parties which have helped our finances. We are currently renting six spaces in the car park to local businesses during working hours. The project of installing a ramp and back door in the back room was finally completed as we found it very difficult to find tradesmen willing to undertake the work. 50Yo of the cost was obtained from a grant from one of the local Parish Councillors. Normally the Centre would be able to pay a lump sum to the church at the end of the financial year, however we were unsuccessful in obtaining grants for the resurfacing of the car park, and it was deemed that on health and safety grounds the car park resurfacing should take place as soon as possible. Therefore, no money was paid to Holy Trinity. Resurfacing work will take place at the beginning of April. At some point we will need to consider work on the roof as during high winds and heavy rain the roof leaks and water comes through into the main hall. We have fixed the gas & electricity bill tariffs so we can minimise our costs. The hall has hosted several fund-raising events for the church and church roof fund, including band concerts, plants sale, Christmas fair & quiz night. Geoff Hill Centre Manager 10. Fabric Report During 2023 we have kept up with the minor maintenance required at Holy Trinity with the help of the Rakers & Scrapers. 15 Our main concern is still the church roof; however, this work cannot commence until we have the funds in place. We are currently looking into where we can obtain grants following a recent Diocese Fundraising presentation. The netting remains in place inside the church and will do so until the external work is completed. Our current Church Architect/Surveyor retires in April so we must find another to replace him. The list of Diocese approved surveyors is shrinking so it might not be easy to find a replacement. Several of our events in 2023 raised funds towards the roof repairs. All annual inspections have taken place ie fire extinguishers, clock, automatic door release etc. The organ will require work as it has some problems caused by damp and irregular use. Gill Hill Churchwarden 11. Deanery Synod Report The Deanery Synod met three times during the year. As a Deanery within the Diocese of Portsmouth, parishes continue to work towards Bishop Jonathan's key aims of his Strategic plan, namely 'to grow the Church young, and to honour and recognise what older people bring to our Diocese. Much of the work within BCI churches has been towards these aims, for example Kidsworth at St Huberfs, Grandparents and Toddlers group at Holy Trinity and the ongoing development of Anna Chaplaincy established by Coleen Jackson and continued by Joy Windsor, Dawn Jenkins and the Anna Friends. Joy's work towards a Horndean Church Plant and Horndean Churches Together is raised at each meeting. In June 2023 the focus wa5 'Leadership' led by Canon Dr Anthony Rustell, Diocesan Director of Ministry and Mission. He explained the roles of lay leadership, the training and support available he proposed and expressed the need to encourage people to come fon4vard. In November, Coleen Jackson (newly ordained) was duly elected to stand as member of clergy at Diocesan Synod. The topic for the ineeting was Eco Church. 16 Synod was reminded that as Christians, we are all 'stewards of creation,. Our aim, overall, is to be carbon neutral by 2030. In March, we were introduced to Archdeacon Kathryn Percival who gave an update on the introduction of 'Prayers of Love and Faith, to the Church of England. There will be discussions within each parish after the appointment of our new priest-in- charge later this year. Jackie Butt Benefice Representative to Deanery Synod. 12. Anna Chaplaincy The Anna Chaplaincy team in the BCI Churches has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of our Anna Chaplain, Coleen Jackson. Together with Anna Friends we held regular monthly seniices at: Pear Tree Court, Acacia House, and Wisteria Lodge In the later part of the year a new residential home, Bere Grove, opened its doors as part of a Retirement Village, Blendworth Hills, and ser￿IceS started there monthly. Upon their invitation, it was also decided to hold our Advent Course at Bere Grove which was attended by residents and parishioners, building a unique community with the home. The week leading up to Christmas saw well over 100 residents in the Care Homes take part in our Christingle Carol Services. The Anna Chaplaincy team attended a Messy Vintage serdice and education session at Peter5field in the latter part of the year with Rev Jill Phipps with a view to holding a Messy Vintage Service in the parish in 2024. The team also met the Archbishop of Canterbury who has shown great interest in our work. Our Anna Friends have become part of a formidable team and many thanks go to Jo Jackson, Annie Reeves, Veronica Brice who were joined by Joanna Brown. Dawn Jenkins was also licensed as an Anna Chaplain during the year. Sadly, at the end of the year we said goodbye to coleen.when she was ordained. She has been very much missed. but her teaching and guidance has allowed the Anna 17 Chaplaincy team to continue to meet the spiritual needs of the elderly within our parish. Coleen Jackson and Dawn Jenkins Anna Chaplains 13. Treasurers Report on 2022 Accounts for APCM 2023 The accounts have been prepared and presented to Portsmouth University for Independent Examination. The income from donors of £27,832 is a slight increase due to the generosity of parishioners signing up to the automatic increase in Parish giving in line with index link. £4641 in the restricted account was raised for the roof as follows:_ Donations £1049. Band Concert £2205; Buy a Tile £545; and £842 for Plant sales. The Church Centre lettings increased slightly to £19,166. Fees this year were only from funerals. Our fundraising increased to £9,765 and much of this is due to the sum-up machine installed for the last six months of the year. We received grants of £IOOO from Horndean Parish Council towards the upkeep of the Churchyard; £500 from the Diocese towards the cost of the electricity. The Church Centre did not receive any grants this year but used the remainder of the 2022 grant to install the ramp to the disabled door. Our Shares increased by £3298 to £29538 in the Fabric Fund. Our expenses are very similar to the previous year, other than the Parish Share. The difference being that the Diocese wrote off our Parish Share debts from 2021 & 2022 amounting to £32,022. The staff costs shown relate to the water rates on the House for Duty and Vicarage. Our creditors at the year-end totalled £18,114 with another £1,488 worth of Accruals and our debtors totalled £2,964. It is normal practice to transfer excess money from the Church Centre account to help with payment of the Parish Share. However, as the Centre car park and drive is badly in need of repair the money has been left in the account and at the year-end there was £14,460. 18 Deposit account Restricted account Current account Cash Tota I £16,639 £12,993 £ 5,922 £ 106 £35,660 Valerie Griffiths Treasurer 14. Accounts - Will be sent separately 15. The Future To pray for the appointment of a new priest in charge To pray for growth and renewal at Holy Trinity and the benefice too. Continuing to fundraise for the church building. To work together with Catherington and Clanfield to bring the church into Horndean. 19 Page 116 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF HOLY TRINrrY. BLENDWORni STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 December 2023 Vnrtstriutd Funds Re51rSaed Funds TOTAL FUNDS 2023 2022 INCOMING RESOURCES Incoming resources from donors Other voluntary incoming resource5 Zlal 27.832 4.641 32N72 29.202 21bl 1.500 1,140 2.640 7.142 Income resources from operailng aaiviiies to further the Council's objects to generate funds Income from Imies1ment 21C) 20.045 20.045 9.765 19,700 21dl 9.765 ,202 523 523 212 her ordinary Incoming resources 21f) TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 59fi65 5.ni 65N45 64.458 RESOURCES EXPENDED Costs of generating funds Grants 31d} 2.770 2.770 2.292 31a) 1.140 1,140 1,126 Aaiviiies dlreaty relailn9 to the work of the churth 31b} Church management and admini51ration 31C) TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 29.570 871 30.441 63,317 1.073 1.073 S61 33.413 2MII 35024 67.296 NET INC0MING/I￿TGOImCl RESOIJRCES 26252 3.770 30P21 {2￿38) GAINS/(LOSS£S) ON INVESTMEKrs 51bl 3298 12.6291 NET MOVEMENT IN FUN05 26252 7,067 33.319 15fv671 BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT I JANUARY 2023 (3.586) 35.464 3)￿78 37.344 ALANW CARRIED FORWARD AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 22ffi6 41531 65.197 31,877 Page 2/6 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF HOLY TRINITY, BLENDWORTH BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 2023 2022 Note FIXED ASs￿s Tangible Fixed Asset¢ 5{a) Investment Assets 5(b) 29,538 26,240 26.240 29,538 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash al Bank and in hand 2,964 52,298 55.262 1,663 56,512 58.175 LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE ' Creditors Accruals (18.115) 150,747) (1,488) (1,791) (19,603) NET CURRENT ASSETS 35,659 5,638 ASSETS 65,197 31.878 FUNDS Equipment Unrestricted Restricted 22.666 42,531 65,197 (3,719) 35,597 31,878 Approved by the Parochial Church Council and signed on its behalf by: Gill Hill (Church Warden) Rev J Windsor (Asst. Priest) Date Pagè 316 PAROCHIAL CH15RCH COUPICIL OF TrNXY TRiiirrY. BLENDWORTh NOTES TO THE F114ANCLAL STATEMENT5 For iht year ended 31 O•¢*mbtr 2023 I ACC(WNTING POUCIES ThE flnan(ial siatoments ha¥t blen wepared In accovdance wilh the Church Regularion$ 1997 as amondèd bv Ihe Church Acttsunti119 (Amendmenil RegulatTrons 21)01 together with applK•ble 4¢¢ownting standard5 and Ihe Charltles SORP. 2 INCOMING RESCrfJRCES Unre5trknod Re*rfaed Fund5 TOTAL FLINDS 2023 2022 2W IncorDithg resource5 from don•fs Planned gNin9'. Gift Ald do￿atIOnS Incomè lax r•(ovewJble 15.6B6 15,686 5.156 14.734 5.156 4.732 Other planned glvln9 CollotTlons lopen pl*e) ai all service5 3.274 1.274 2,509 Gffts Sundry donatvJDs 2.374 32 4.641 7.015 499 27 4￿7 21b) Other ¥d￿nI￿ry resourres Gr4nt5 1.500 Mlscellanetws 150 Dofi*iong, appèals *TC legacies 1.140 1,140 1,020 21Q Income from DpÈratlng acrfvitits." to further Ehe councll's objec15 Chufch CeffltrE IErtiry5 Fo 19.166 19,166 879 7.473 879 2Q045 IQO19 21d) Income from operatlng to 9enErat* funds Magazines and bfy>k5 65 FEtes, bazaars. oihÈt tund-valslTrq eyenis Xmas Card5/Cakes Coffee Shop ProducÈ *all/Card51Re(￿lp* Book5 8.297 8.297 3.831 884 884 474 474 542 765 4.539 2(Èl Income from Investfflen15 Dfvldtnds and interest IhcludlThg any retldmable rax S23 523 2(f) Oth*r otdlDary incomlrtg iesouT(e5 Insurance voucher Scheme Insurance d¥ms Fltsw*lS 2$ 25 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 665 &781 65.445 4a049 Page 416 pAR￿H￿L CHUICH COUNCIL OF HOLY TRINITY. BLENirw( NOTES TOTHE FIlIANC￿L STATEMENTS (CONn￿lED> For the year ended 31 O*tembtr 2023 3 RESOUKCES EXPENDED ihbrtstrkted lle51rk￿d TOTAL WJND5 Fund5 F¥nds 2023 2022 3(al Gruts and charttabk gIVing.' urch over5e45.' - 14ISSkinary 50aet￿ / Reli and D¢¥*kn￿eTht A9enr*es 209 209 Horne Mi55iws other Chur