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## **Annual Report** 

**For the year ended 31[st] December 2024** 

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## **Parochial Church Council (PCC) 2024** 

**Chair** The Reverend Nigel Prior[1] **Vice Chair** Mr Stephen Cole[1] **Churchwardens** Miss Veronica Howe (to May)[1] Mrs Michelle Bullard (from May)[ 1] Mr David Sharples[1 ] **Through the Diocesan Synod** Mrs Penny Bird **Deanery Synod Representatives (until 2026)** Ms Rita James Ms Patricia Ford Mrs Alison Davis **Churches Together in Woodbridge and Melton** Mr Stephen Cole Mrs Barbara Stear **Honorary Treasurer** Mrs Annie Lines[1] (to May) and to July as a trustee of the PCC **Honorary Secretary** Mrs Catherine Eaden (to February) Ms Katharine Turner (from February)[1] **Elected Lay Members To 2026** Mr Stephen Cole Mr Philip Poole Mrs Margaret Davidson (resigned) Mr Jeremy Hawksley (resigned) Mrs Barbara Stear Mrs Annie Lines (resigned) **To 2027** Ms Katharine Turner **To 2028** Mr David Berridge Mrs Catherine Eaden Mr Simon Morris **To 2029** Mr Darren Darby Mrs Ann Eve Mrs Priscilla Steed Miss Veronica Howe 

1 Members of the Standing Committee 

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## **Annual Vestry Meeting** 

## **Held on Tuesday 14th May 2024 at 7 pm in St Mary’s House, Woodbridge** 

1. **Welcome and introduction** : Fr Nigel opened the Meeting at which there were about 40 parishioners in attendance. He spoke of the election of Matthias as the twelfth apostle. The Rector expressed his wish to say very publicly that Veronica Howe had come to the end of her six years as Churchwarden. Indeed, as she has served twice, she has served fantastically for twelve years. He said that she was not, however, leaving Woodbridge. David Sharples reinforced this in a heartfelt and emphatic speech of thanks. Veronica was stepping back and not away. He would gratefully continue to seek her wise counsel. Veronica has, in the footsteps of her late mother, served the Benefice with a charismatic and generous commitment. She had served as Churchwarden throughout the interregnum, the pandemic and Father Nigel’s joining the Benefice and shown care, panache and astuteness. David Sharples thanked Veronica for being his personal anchor and thanked her on behalf of the meeting. 

Veronica returned with an elegant reply and described the great privilege of serving as Churchwarden and the very special body of people that make up the congregation of St. Mary’s Woodbridge. She then received a present. 

2. **Apologies for Absence** were received from Sandra Schur, Bob Pegnall, Heather Marshall, Jill Richardson, Stanley Workman, Jennifer Workman and Geoff English. 

3. **Minutes of the Annual Vestry Meeting** held on 14th May 2023 were considered. The Rector proposed that the minutes be approved and they were unanimously approved by the meeting. 

4. **Churchwardens’ Accounts** – Veronica Howe introduced the accounts which Michael Bizzey had kindly examined. She gave examples of the distributions during the financial year 2023 which included a fund for St. Mary’s School for school clothes and footwear for pupils. Distributions are often made at Christmas time. She asked the meeting to keep the Rector and the Churchwardens informed of any cases where payments could be made to anyone in the parish with needs that would fulfil the charitable purposes of either the John Sayer’s Charity or Walter Bloxsome’s Gift. The objectives of the charities are so similar that work is in progress to seek the help of the Charities Commission to merge the two accounts. All present were invited to sign the ancient ledger at the end of the evening.  Andrew Bullard proposed that the accounts be approved and Rita James seconded. 

5. **Election of the Churchwardens –** David Sharples was proposed as Churchwarden by Barbara Stear and seconded by Veronica Howe. Michelle Bullard was proposed as Churchwarden by Barbara Stear and seconded by Stephen Cole. Their nominations were unanimously approved by the meeting. 

## 6. **Any Other Business** – none. 

The meeting closed. 

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## **The Churchwardens’ Accounts -** 

## **St Mary's Church Woodbridge Churchwardens' Accounts** 

## **for the Year Ending 31st December 2024** 

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## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting Held on Tuesday 14th May 2024, following the Annual Vestry Meeting** 

**1. Election of Lay Members to the Parochial Church Council** – two nominations had been received to reelect two members of the PCC namely David Berridge (proposed by Margaret Harper and seconded by Veronica Howe) and Simon Morris (proposed by David Berridge and seconded by Veronica Howe). They were unanaminously approved by the meeting. Four other lay members were proposed and nominated as follows: 

      - Veronica Howe: proposed by Katharine Turner and seconded by David Berridge. 

      - Darren Darby: proposed by Michelle Bullard and seconded by Barbara Stear. 

      - Ann Eve: proposed by Romy Hills and seconded by Janet Moore. 

   - Priscilla (Cilla) Steed: proposed by Sue Smith-Lyte and seconded by Janet Symons. 

   - The elections were unanimously approved. 

**2. Election of Lay Representatives on the Deanery Synod** 

   - Alison Davis : proposed by Barbara Stear and seconded by David Berridge. The election was unanimously approved. 

3. **Parochial Church Accounts** – Annie Lines in her capacity as Treasurer reported that the accounts showed that the financial position for the year was sound. Excluding legacies, voluntary income was higher in 2023 at £119,657 than for the previous year. Fund-generating activities brought in over £11,000 (£8,000 for the previous year). Income from investments was significantly up from £3,000 to over £23,000 as a result of increased interest rates, but also because of prudent allocation and management of funds. The outgoings of £14,000 are lower than for the previous year (£c. 18,000). The Treasurer thanked Michael Holland, Linda Rumbold and Hannah Pauly for their invaluable assistance during the year. 

Jeremy Hawksley congratulated Phil Poole, who had served as Treasurer throughout 2023. He asked how much had been spent in the first four months of 2024 on the restoration and refurbishment of St. Mary’s House. The Treasurer would review the 2024 accounts accordingly. The accounts were proposed by David Sharples, seconded by Patricia Ford and unanimously approved. 

4. **Appointment of Independent Examiner -** the re-adoption of the LB Group for the coming year was recommended by the Treasurer.  The resolution was proposed by David Sharples, seconded by Annie Lines and unanimously approved. 

5. **Report from the PCC –** Katharine Turner, as Secretary to the PCC, reported that the 2023 Annual Report summarized the work of the PCC during the year. Suffice it to say that the year had involved a great deal of work by many. The PCC had met on a monthly basis and sustained much change. A great deal of time had been taken up developing the thinking on enhancements to St. Mary’s House, the church building and the churchyard. This would continue into 2024 and beyond. The PCC is fortunate to have so many dedicated participants who have contributed a great deal during the year. 

6. **Report on the Fabric and Ornaments of the Church –** Barbara Stear updated the meeting on the developments since the end of the 2023 financial year. The Quinquennial work, which is an obligation, is likely to cost c. £80,000 in 2024. The biggest cost will be the scaffolding necessary to effect the required repair work on the Church Tower. The Committee has been diligent in balancing the need to cut costs and ensure the work is done well. A lightning conductor will also be installed. The Rector said that the commencement of the work on the gates and piers remained challenging. The wall between the Prep School and the churchyard must be repaired before the gates can be repaired. The challenges are exacerbated because the wall is listed. 

7. **Chair’s report –** the Chair read his report which is reproduced here verbatim.  “You will see my report from last year on pages 8-10 of our Annual Report. For me, it is a bit like reading an ‘old sermon’ – good in parts! If you look at the second paragraph when I am talking about our outreach to young families and a First Communion programme in particular, I have to say that I am sorry that this just hasn’t happened. I think the PCC needs to dedicate a whole meeting really and invite others in, to see how we can actually grow a younger congregation in very practical, step-by-step ways, over the next 3-year period.  And separately, if someone calls themselves a ‘St Mary’s Brownie’ for example, how can clearer 

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links be forged so that our children make more regular contact with our regular worshipping life? They surely need to be not only encouraged, but also to have particular church dates and occasions in mind when we expect them to attend and take part? 

As you know, we did finally appoint a new Music Director back in February (courtesy of Sainsbury’s in the end!) and we all very much hope that James will stay with us after his 6-month probationary period concludes at the end of August. He has already made a huge difference to the discipline, standards and happiness of our choir and long may that continue. I also want to say a big thank you to Katharine for taking up the PCC reins as Secretary so conscientiously, and to Annie as our new Treasurer. These are very demanding volunteer roles but we are a new ‘team’, so to speak, and with a new Churchwarden also, please support them whenever you can and keep us in your prayers! I also thank Peter for being such a kind and helpful colleague and Linda in our Benefice Office who really has ‘grown’ into another demanding role, as our Benefice Administrator. There is a huge team of shop volunteers and stewards to thank also in the past year, who give up many hours of their time. We certainly attract a large number of tourists (although it is not monitored as such) and we should be proud of our ‘open church policy’ (despite a recent burglary) and the regular welcome we provide. 

This past year has been dominated by finalising plans for renewing our facilities for SMH and Church, working closely with our professional QS, Connor Baker-Elliott, and specialist architect, Henry Freeland. They really are the best! I am also pleased to report that the plans for SMH have now gone in for Planning permission at ESC and although tweaks will undoubtedly be needed or made (single sex or unisex toilets for example), we are committed now to making a Public Appeal at the end of June – as well as following this up with serious Grant and Trust applications in addition to our approaching the wider community here to our residents, colleagues and businesses for financial help. We will also soon be hosting our own ‘Gift Day’ in SMH, so that our faithful congregation and our families and friends, can donate as generously as possible - and really make a difference to our hopes and plans for the works actually beginning. I really pray that we will be patient with one another in our planning and delivery of a big two-phase Project, and that we will attract ‘hands-on’ help from as many as are willing and able to encourage and practically, help us. There really is support out there for us to succeed - because improving and extending our community outreach really is, I believe, a prompting of the Holy Spirit to help us develop and grow as Christians in our shared mission & support to so many varied groups. I think we will also need to renew old acquaintances, people who were baptised and married here (however many years ago), as well as former parishioners and benefactors who still hold St Mary’s and Woodbridge close to their hearts. For those newly elected to our PCC tonight, welcome as friends, as well as co-Trustees. You will not be bored! One new thing we are trying in the coming year is to have less official PCC meetings and, on different days, because we think this will be more focused and effective for people with very full diaries of their own. In terms of our very tentative involvement with Great Bealings to date, we will need to build in at least one shared, Benefice PCC meeting per year, so that we can feel more ‘connected’ and supportive of one another. 

A big thank you again to everyone who has written reports on behalf of their different ‘interest groups’ if I may call them that - all the many and diverse ways in which the body of the Church is alive and well. There are also people who do fantastic pastoral work behind the scenes, visiting the sick or housebound, extending their own unique gift of friendship and Christ-like care. Thank you to them! I want to end by saying how sorry I am that our Deanery has seen clergy come and go in quick succession for a variety of reasons and that many of our smaller churches are even struggling to put on regular services. That is not true for us. However, if I may speak more personally – I feel people are more relaxed with my own ministry here (and no longer comparing me to the last incumbent). Most, if not all, are getting used to my own particular priestly style as well as my ‘idiosyncrasies’!  It is a privilege to serve you in my ‘more mature’ days of ministry – in the continuing hope, of course, that Our Lord will persist in blessing our joint and joyful ‘pilgrimage’ in the months and years ahead. My prayer is, I feel sure, yours also: ‘Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.’ 

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8. **Report from the Deanery Synod** – All were referred to the Annual Report. 

9. **Report on the Electoral Roll** – Veronica Howe said that Margaret Davidson, formerly Electoral Roll Officer, had moved away from the parish and she was stepping in. There were 218 names on the Electoral Roll which is an increase of two from last year. 

10. **Any other business** – Barbara Stear showed the meeting the Trinity new burse and veil. 

The meeting closed. 

## **Reports for 2024** 

The PCC has complied with its duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016. 

## **Safeguarding** 

2024 has been a year of steady progress with safeguarding in the parish. We have made some progress in ensuring that all volunteers have undertaken their required safeguarding training, but due to the age of many volunteers, there remains a group of people who are resistant. With this in mind, the PCC have introduced a simple ‘Volunteer Agreement Form’ which existing and new volunteers are required to sign. This states that the volunteer will undertake all necessary training/induction including safeguarding training. 

In May I attended a Diocesan drop-in session for parish safeguarding officers (SOs) and met with the diocese’s safeguarding staff. They provided advice as to what is defined as a safeguarding concern, and other procedural matters. This advice has been very helpful. I continue to receive occasional reports of safeguarding concerns and pass these onto the Diocese. 

Just before Safeguarding Sunday on 17[th] November the Makin Report on historic abuse of teenage boys was published, which then led to the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. I referred to this in my talk to the congregation on Safeguarding Sunday to emphasise the need for us all to understand the need for safeguarding procedures and training. I believe this is now happening in the Benefice and am pleased that we are following the ‘Parish Dashboards’ system to check our progress, and that we have reached Stage 3 on this system. 

I am grateful for the support of the Deputy SO, Barbara Stear, to the members of the PCC, the Rector, Rev Nigel Prior and the Parish Secretary, Linda Rumbold for assisting in my role.  In May I resigned from the PCC as I had served on it for 6 years, but I make regular reports to each meeting and attend at least twice a year. 

## _**Jeremy Hawksley**_ 

## **Charities supported by St. Mary’s in 2024** 

During 2024, we supported: 

- Kagera (during Lent) 

- Christian Aid Week 

- Suffolk Historic Churches Trust (through ‘Ride ‘n’ Stride’) 

- Disasters Emergency Committee (Middle East Humanitarian Aid) 

Donations are increasingly offered online, so we are unable to keep records of total or individual donations to these causes. Donations in kind from the 'Toy Service' in December this year went to the Suffolk Refugee Association and East Anglian Children’s Hospices. _**Linda Rumbold**_ 

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## **Christian Aid Week 2024** 

Churches Together operate a delivery only system whereby we deliver envelopes to as many letter boxes in Woodbridge and Melton as possible. Each envelope has details of where donors can drop off their envelope and how to donate online. Our e-news and website offer the opportunity to donate via our local dedicated portal. Some 25 parishioners delivered envelopes which triggered banked donations of £1493.44, online donations of £747. Gift aid added £293.07. Grand total £2533.51. That is £16 more than 2023. There will have been further donations made direct to Christian Aid about which we know nothing. Looking ahead I anticipate delivery only again in 2025, plus e-envelopes to our e-contacts I would welcome your views on this trend. 

## _**Tony Waller**_ 

## **St. Mary’s PCC Secretary’s Report 2024** 

Michelle Bullard, a long-standing member of the PCC, became Churchwarden during the year and Veronica Howe stepped down from her second term as Churchwarden. The benefice has been blessed both by Michelle’s appointment and Veronica’s continuing on the PCC. Annie Lines resigned as Treasurer and then later as a member of the PCC for personal reasons. After several years playing a key role to help the Treasurer and the PCC manage our finances professionally and effectively, Michael Holland also retired. The PCC owes them great gratitude and thanks for their service. The responsibility for the prudent financial management rests with all the members of the PCC as trustees led by the churchwardens and David Sharples, as a former Treasurer has played a crucial role in the absence of our Treasurer, as have Linda Rumbold, James Francis and Ross Beard. Catherine (Cath) Eaden stepped down as Secretary to the PCC on health grounds and Katharine Turner has since then served as Secretary on an interim basis. 

Darren Darby and Ann Eve joined the PCC as lay members as did Priscilla (Cilla) Steed, who was also appointed an Elder. Alison Davis also joined as a representative of the Deanery Synod. 

The PCC met eight times during the year. One meeting was an exceptional meeting which took place on a Saturday in February to seek the approval of the PCC that full planning approval should be sought for the muchneeded refurbishment of St. Mary’s House.  The latest designs on the reordering of the West End of the church building were discussed. As a reminder, the building work is three-phased development relating to: 

- (1)the conservation, repair and refurbishment of St. Mary’s House; 

- (2)the enhancement of the facilities in the church building; and 

- (3)enhancing the access to and biodiversity 0f the churchyard and its natural habitat. 

A full planning application was submitted during the year for the work on St. Mary’s House. We believe that the last hurdle is to satisfy East Suffolk Council’s Planning team and their Conservation team that the work on St. Mary’s House will not bring harm to nesting bats. 

As foretold in the 2023 Annual Report, the advancement of the building work has required a great deal of time and energy from a great many people.  The PCC has received some generous legacies and even so a great deal of fundraising is still required. The PCC was gratified by the very positive response from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to the PCC’s Expression of Interest. Since then, following a fundraising workshop in June, led by Naomi Russell and a Discovery Day, a sub-committee of the PCC was formed called the Buildings Oversight Group. It reports to the PCC and is chaired by Stephen Cole. The Group comprises the members of the Standing Committee of the PCC, Andrew Pickthorn, Neil Logan Green, Veronica Howe and Patricia Ford. The Group has been working with Julia Holberry Associates (Julia Holberry at JHA) and Gill Associates (Connor Baker) with support from other members of the wider community to build the grant application for the NLHF. Veronica has also led the work with members of the PCC, Andrew Pickthorn and Neil Logan-Green to work on applications to access 

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other key sources of funds. Further, Veronica and Michelle have master-minded a programme of social activities which create opportunities for people to meet, to enjoy time together and also to raise funds. 

The quinquennial work started on the church tower and this has necessitated a great deal of skilled work by the craftsmen in the team retained by our quinquennial architect able supported by Simon Morris whose expertise is so important to St. Mary’s. The scaffolding has been an eyesore and obstructive but necessary. Progress continued to be slow on the work on the gates and piers at the top of Church Street because the site is difficult and the restrictions numerous. The PCC is responsible for the cost of the work on the church tower but not on the piers, which is a matter for East Suffolk Council. 

The boilers in the church were out of use for several weeks towards the end of the year. We all owe thanks to David Sharples, Simon Morris and our wonderful electrician, Alan Hunter, for springing into action to set up temporary heating. The longer-term answer may not be as speedy but a great deal of research, thinking and work is being done in the background. The aim is to ensure that decisions can be made well and rapidly to ensure that we have a warm church building in time for winter in 2025/2026. 

Rita James has continued the amazing work she does on the Eco Church project. She and her team are working towards our Silver Award and part of this has involved ensuring that all cleaning products in the church and St. Mary’s House are eco-friendly. 

The Church Record (a three-volume Record of St. Mary’s Church) was completed in 2024 and presented to the Rector. It is a wonderful record of the heritage and history of the church building and took five years to complete. 

## _**Katharine Turner**_ 

## **Altar Guild, Dusting and Brassware Care** 

This past year has seen a steady flow of work by my wonderful team of Altar Guilders who have responded by being in church every Friday morning. The care of the silver and linen used at the services has been well maintained and the cleaning of the High Altar area. Great care of the Epiphany chapel has been taken to maintain a quiet chapel for prayer and meditation. The South East, Pickford chapel, has been cared for during the year. 

Please may I thank Janice Poulson and Gillian Gurdon; Judy Foster; Anna Jenkins and Lesley Whitehead; Kirsten Berridge and Annie Lines for their continuing service to the Altar Guild over the past twelve months. Grateful thanks as you make my job such a pleasure. I am looking for one more helper. 

During 2024 the care of the church pews has been done by five ladies on the dusting rota who have kept our wooden areas in the church beautifully clean. They work independently and are responsible for their own section of the church to dust twice monthly. 

May I take this opportunity to thank Gillian Gurdon, Michelle Bullard, Caroline Hawksley, Anna Jenkins, and Sandra Schur. 

Four times during 2024 the brassware in the church has been cleaned and polished by three workers Judy Foster, Jenny Harris and Bernard Chambers. The cleaning is done before big Festivals.     Thank you so much to you all. 

## _**Barbara Stear**_ 

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## **Bell Ringers** 

The Woodbridge Society of Ringers, alias ‘The Twiglets’ has had another successful year. Our membership has now increased to sixteen, which means that we ring for every Sunday morning Eucharist service, when we regularly have at least nine or ten ringers present. We ring for the major church festivals and, as is our custom, we ring the bells half muffled on Remembrance Day before the town's civic service of remembrance. 

During the summer months we are frequently asked to ring for weddings. On New Year's Eve, at midnight we again rang the old year out, and after striking 12 on the tenor bell at midnight, we rang the new year in. For our Annual Spring Ring, this year we went to Cambridge where we rang the bells in three different churches. Later, in the autumn, we had a ‘mini ring’ when we visited two local churches, namely Hollesley and Orford, and rang on their bells. We must thank the Rector and Liz for again hosting our summer barbecue at the Rectory on what was a glorious warm summer evening. On most Saturday mornings, several of our band travel to Campsea Ashe to ring on their lovely, light, easy-going ring of six bells, and to support the ringers there and boost their numbers. 

## _**Bruce Wakefield**_ 

## **Church Music and the Choir** 

Music at St Mary’s has been well cared-for and resourced in recent years by Sarah Dodds, members of the choir, and external musicians; following my appointment in February 2024 we have maintained a full diary of choral commitments. 

The choir continues to help lead the liturgy on Sunday mornings in Woodbridge and events in the last year have included a Come and Sing Evensong on Sea Sunday, a jazz Mass for the Patronal Festival, a joint concert with Woodbridge Choral Society for the Friends of St Mary’s, special services for Advent Sunday and Christmas, and most recently an Evensong of Tudor music with the Ravenscroft Consort at Woodbridge; it has been good to sing at Great Bealings for the Easter Vigil, Patronal Festival, and a much-appreciated carol service. Weddings and funerals are also occasions when the choir is invited to enhance the worship and it gives us much pleasure to be a part of these special occasions in the life of St Mary’s. 

A great deal of work behind the scenes has gone into ensuring a good flow of information and enhanced safeguarding protocols; choir members continue to work hard to present a good turnout each week; new members are always welcome and we offer an affirming educational experience at every choir practice and service. The open-mindedness of the singers to new repertoire and different ways of approaching music-making has really enhanced our corporate performance in services. A recent highlight has been the addition of a plainsong antiphon at Communion where the choir sings unaccompanied in an ancient musical form with a text relevant to the day: a moment of reflection and repose at a sacred point in the service. 

The choral singing each week sounds bright and energetic and congregational singing continues to play an important role in services and the services include plenty of music for both choir and congregation. It has been very good to have several visits from members of the Chelmsford Singers to join our choir, and we continue to welcome occasional members of the choir on a regular basis. 

We have welcomed visiting choirs too, for services and for concerts; other successful musical events have taken place during the past year - we are hugely grateful to Romy Hills for her work as concert coordinator, from which she has now stepped down, and to all our performers for their offer of beautiful music in this special building. 

After many years of regular service, the organ needs some important work undertaking but is significantly down the list of funding priorities. Much of the issues to be addressed are out of sight but 

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are nevertheless important; crucial items of safety improvements have already been carried out and the organ already looks and sounds brighter in the hands of the new tuner, Andrew Stevens. 

Many thanks to Fr Nigel and Fr Peter, the churchwardens, staff, servers, Friends, and congregations for their support of the music, to the singers regular and occasional for lending their voices to our worship; our grateful thanks go to Sarah Dodds for her dedicated work each week and for having worked so hard to keep the music running in previous years. 

## _**James Davy**_ 

## **Christian Meditation Group** 

The Meditation Group has now been meeting weekly on a Tuesday evening for five years. Fourteen people are now regular attendees. We seem to have found a formula that works for us all, beginning with a prayer and a short reading before we meditate together for half an hour. We are all agreed that meeting weekly supports and encourages us in our meditation practice and that the effects are felt in how we approach daily living. New members are always very welcome. 

## _**Alison Davis and Caroline Hawkesley**_ 

## **The Church Shop** 

The running of the Church Shop by a ‘Management Team’ with the various responsibilities shared between us, continues to work very well and, thanks to the support of our loyal band of willing volunteers, the Shop has been able to open every day over the last year. Greetings cards continue to be our ‘best sellers’, closely followed by church mice and soap!  We aim to keep a consistent stock of Fairtrade coffee, tea, chocolate and so on, but also an evolving range of sustainable, fairly traded or locally produced gifts and other items. The purpose being to encourage returning customers who hopefully find something different to buy each time the come in. The Shop also continues to be a place of welcome, where people can call in, maybe just for a chat, or to buy tickets for concerts and other events at St Mary’s. And, of course, profits from our shop sales also help to maintain our beautiful building. 

## _**Jackie Shipley**_ 

## **Churches Together** 

During 2024 church representatives from our churches in Woodbridge, Melton & Great Bealings have met four times. 

The churches are St. Mary the Virgin (Woodbridge), St. John’s (Woodbridge); St. Andrew’s (Melton); St. Mary’s (Great Bealings) all CofE; St. Thomas’s (Woodbridge) Roman Catholic; Methodist (Woodbridge); Quay Street (Woodbridge) Baptist; Salvation Army (Woodbridge); Warwick Avenue AEC (Woodbridge). 

**Good Friday 2024 Walk of Witness and service in Elmhurst Park.** We were reminded that the walk is both a witness to the town and a Christian unity. The walk was in silence with pilgrims carrying crosses. The Methodist church provided hot cross buns and drinks after the service which were very well received _._ 

**Sunrise Service. Easter Morning 31st March 2024** It was estimated that 50 people gathered at dawn to watch the sun rise over the river Deben. They said, “There is no better way to start the Easter celebrations”. 

**Big Family Day Out 7th July 2024** on Kingston playing fields went well. As the event is from 10. 30a.m difficult for some churches to attend when their own services are taking place. 

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**Hustings in St. John’s Thursday 13[th] June 2024** all the parliamentary candidates attended apart from the Reform party candidate. A questions and debate session took place chaired by Lyn Spall and Nick Cottam prior to the general election in July. The Hustings started with a prayer and there was a prayer group running at the same time. Well attended, standing room only. 

**CTWA Christmas Cards** were delivered. However, limited information about the Christmas services on the CTWA website which was printed on the card. At St. Mary’s we struggled to deliver all the cards. **Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.** Celebrated Sunday 19[th] January 2025 at the Methodist church. Beautiful service led by Rev Saul Tadzaushe calling for Christian unity whatever denomination. Unfortunately, there was a clash of a service at St, Mary’s Woodbridge for the anniversary of the burial of Thomas Seckford.   Thanks to Lyn Spall, our chair, for her energy and support which has kept our events ‘on the road’. 

## _**Barbara Stear**_ 

## **Communications** 

Our e-News and website are the principal ways of communication within our Benefice. The weekly e- News contains all the notices about parish life and forthcoming events, and is emailed from the Parish Office to a long list of recipients every Friday. It is also downloadable via the website, and printed copies are available in church. Our website provides a comprehensive source of news and is easily accessed by our church family, visitors and the wider community. It is regularly updated with news of special services, events, sermon transcripts, contacts and links, and information about our Building Project Appeal. St Mary’s Facebook page, our social networking site, plays an increasingly important role in getting news out to the local community. It has over 250 followers and is regularly updated with photo news of recent activities and upcoming events. Our posts are regularly shared by others and within Facebook groups, which means they extend to a wider audience. When our posts attract occasional comments, we respond to all of these, as we do to the private messages received, which ask a variety of questions. Contributions from a wider circle of people (including from those attending events in person) of information that can be incorporated into news items for blog posts or Facebook would enable us to reach out more regularly and with more interesting content, as this is currently provided by a very small number of people. Similarly, information on various groups could be updated more often to provide fresh website content, with contributions from those involved. Well positioned A-boards around the town centre, and posters in residential areas, have played an important outreach role in welcoming the wider community to St Mary’s House and Church events. The Nativity Trail took the Christmas story out into the Market Hill area through a series of twelve posters in windows. 

## _**Rita James & Linda Rumbold**_ 

## **Deanery Synod** 

The Synod met on three occasions. 

## _**8[th] February 2024 at St Mary’s House Woodbridge**_ . Reverend Giles Tulk, Rural Dean, led. 

Archdeacon Rich addressed Deanery Vision, Issues, Engagement – followed by questions /discussion.  The Rural Dean, Revd Giles Tulk was to leave as Team Rector of Wilford Benefice at Easter and Reverend Katrina Dykes had resigned as Team Rector in Carlford Benefice. The discussion included ‘the strategy for tiny churches,’ the future organisation of the vacant benefices, encouraging risk taking, help for parishes via the Lightwave Bishops’ Mission order and Live-streaming. 

2023 had concluded with the Deanery reaching 92.5% of Parish Share. 

Rita James updated the Synod on Eco Church with 11 of 36 churches in the deanery having registered resulting in 3 silver and 2 bronze awards. 

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_**6[th] June 2024 at Ufford Parish Hall**_ . Mrs Mary Hare, Lay Chair led the meeting. 

Mr Clive Willetts, Deanery Organiser reported there was £300 in Deanery Synod Funds to cover hall hire and expenses.  PCCs may need to contribute to ongoing running costs in future.  The Synod agreed that when due, the renewal of the license for the Woodbridge Deanery Website will be covered by Deanery Synod Funds. Elections to Diocesan Synod were underway with Reverend Many Reynolds presiding officer for the lay election and Mrs Mary Hare for the clergy election.  Synod members were encouraged to take part in the public consultations regarding the Vacancy in See and the appointment of a new Bishop. Burgh PCC submitted a resolution concerning the issue of the C of E paying reparations for past involvement in slavery.  This motion was passed on to the Diocesan Synod for debate but the Church Commissioners pre-empted discussion for legal reasons. 

## _**10[th] October 2024 at St Felix Church, Rendlesham**_ . Mrs Mary Hare, Lay Chair led. 

Reverend Katie de Bourcier, the Diocesan Mission Enabler gave a presentation on support available to help churches grow. Leading Your Church into Growth (LYCIG0 had held a Conference attended by members of Melton St Andrews parish who confirmed the positive outcomes for their parish from the conference.  The paperback ‘How village churches thrive,’ Church House Publishing, ISBN-10: 1781402191 was recommended. 

Later in October Reverend Mandy Reynolds was appointed Rural Dean. 

## _**Mandy Reynolds**_ 

## **Eco Church** 

Each church within the Church of England is encouraged to register with the Eco Church scheme run by A Rocha UK. The scheme provides a free online survey and supporting resources designed to equip our churches to improve our care for God’s world as an integral part of our everyday work and witness: in our worship and teaching; in how we look after our buildings and land; in how we engage with our local community and global campaigns; and in the personal lifestyles of our congregations. 

Having achieved the first level Bronze award in January 2023, St Mary’s has made, progress towards Silver but all significant actions to improve the environmental sustainability of St Mary’s House and St Mary’s Church are currently on hold as we await the refurbishment work. However small changes have already been made - for example: 

- Using recycled stationery and other paper products like kitchen rolls, loo paper and hand towels. 

- Continuing to purchase only Fairtrade tea, coffee and sugar, for after services use. 

- Purchasing environmentally sustainable cleaning products. 

- Switching to 100% Green electricity tariff with Octopus energy. 

- Replacing traditional light bulbs with LED bulbs in the church. 

Similarly, the development of the churchyard to increase its biodiversity and enhance its role as a haven for nature and heritage and a place of quiet reflection on God’s creation is largely restricted or on hold. The railings cordoning off the southern boundary wall and the barriers around the tower during essential quinquennial works have made areas of the churchyard temporarily unaccessible. But some of the easier tasks have already been put in place - for example: 

A small team of volunteers are feeding the birds and keeping the water bowls topped up. 

- Bird nesting boxes and a bat box are in place. 

- A recently defined path provides improved access to the west end of the churchyard and in particular 

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John Clarkson’s tomb. 

- The porch planters contain flowers to attract bee and butterfly pollinators. 

Unusually high temperatures, wild fires, drought and floods have made all of us more alert to the fact climate change is not something far off but happening right now and on our doorsteps. The results of an Eco Church survey carried out in church in May ’24 show there is concern within the congregation over the effects of climate change and a belief that the Church of England should be taking positive measures to address the issues. 

- 88% of the congregation were either very worried or somewhat worried about the effects of climate change 

- 82% of the congregation agreed we should be using sustainably sourced and recycled/recyclable paper. 

- 80% agreed that wherever possible we should be using Fairtrade and/or other ethically sourced goods. 

- 74% agreed that we should be supporting biodiversity in our churchyard. 

- 72% agreed we should avoid environmentally harmful cleaning products and procedures. 

- 70% agreed that we should be striving to reach Net Zero Carbon as part of the new plans for St Mary’s House and Church 

The work continues. Please get in touch if you would like to get more involved with our Eco Church plans. 

## _**Rita James**_ 

## **Elders** 

Currently our ‘team’ consists of 10 Elders, some of whom visit local Care Homes as well as those in ‘supported living’ accommodation (Grove Court, Haughgate House, Seckford Care, Tanyard Court and Woodbridge Lodge). Here they administer Extended Communion, take Morning Prayer and lead services at Christmas and Easter. Elders also undertake home visits and will administer home communion to members of our congregation who are too unwell/infirm to attend church in person. Elders welcome people as they arrive in the church building for worship, prepare and lead the intercessions, administer the chalice and may also be on the rota to read the Lesson. From time to time, Elders take Evening Prayer and Compline, and occasionally act as Verger at funeral services. Several Elders are on our team of Servers. Last October an ‘Elders Celebration Service’ was held at St. Edmundsbury Cathedral, our parish was represented by five of our Elders. During this service Bishop Martin thanked all the Elders in the Diocese for their ministry and those present were invited to take part in a ‘Rededication for Elder Ministry’. Several Elders, along with other members of the congregation, regularly attend Saturday Morning Prayer, which is conducted on ‘Zoom’. Elders have been informed of the requirement to complete Diocesan Safeguarding Training on Domestic Abuse and all are in the process of undertaking this training. At a recent meeting, while discussing ‘succession planning’, the need to invite members of our congregation to consider becoming Elders was recognised. 

## _**Alison Davis**_ 

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## **Electoral Roll** 

Margaret Davidson guided the parish through the annual updating process, at the end of which the total registered was 218, a net rise of 2. We wished her well as she left for pastures new. 

For 2025, an entirely new roll is to be compiled, in keeping with the Church Representation Rules, which require a clean slate every five years. The new membership number will be advised, in line with the required timetable and at the APCM. 

## _**Veronica Howe**_ 

## **Fabric Committee** 

The Fabric Committee, consisting of eight members of the church, including the Rector and the two church wardens, have met for five meetings during the past year. The main areas of discussion are the Quinquennial Report, the lightning conductor and the church heating failure of the gas boilers. The Quinquennial work on the tower to be finished by March 2025 Excellent work has been carried out by Lodge & sons specialist stone masons. The second lightning conductor is to be installed whilst the scaffolding is up for the tower repairs. The Friends of St. Mary’s are paying for this and the repair of the Buttresses. The Churchyard design and structural details for St. Mary’s gates being reset are underway and root excavations of the London plane tree have taken place, so the position of the roots is known before the gates are placed. The Church yard South wall repairs have gone out for approval. The failure of the Church Heating has taken priority, and electrical heaters have been bought with an upgrade of the electricity supply capacity to the church. Solar panels are being looked at on the church and SMH. 

## _**Barbara Stear**_ 

## **Health and Safety** 

Over the past year all the usual checks have been carried out on fire extinguishers; electrical systems; gas appliances in church and SMH. In the light of the advice we received, following the gas boiler service for the church, the boilers have been shut down as they were no longer up to standard. In August, our local fire station came to have a look at the tower and discuss emergency evacuation procedures with the bell ringers. It was acknowledged by all that it would not be easy to bring an injured person down the steps. Access from above the north porch seemed the best option as the fire brigade could reach anyone there by ladder. This is also the evacuation assembly point for the bellringers should there be a fire in church. Over the next month I shall be updating the lone working policy and try and find a way forward for all our lone workers to feel comfortable and safe whilst working or volunteering.  All risk assessments for both the church and St. Mary’s House (SMH) will be kept up to date and our health and safety policy also updated. 

## _**Michelle Bullard**_ 

## **Flower Group** 

We have fulfilled the requirements of the church calendar providing flower arrangements for Christmas, Easter and Harvest, as well as Patronal Day and Pentecost. There were few requests for wedding arrangements.  We have been asked to provide flowers for funerals.  In many cases clients have recruited friends and family to provide and arrange the flowers, with practical help from us. We have £962.31 in our current account.  If we continue to lose income, we may have to come to the PCC for help. Since September Sue Smith-Lyte has had to step down from leading the flower group due to 

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ill health.  The very able Penelope Bartlett and Judy Dowse have taken on the supervisory role.  Christine Bizzey is the first port of call and will, in future, be reporting to the PCC.  We have managed to recruit a few more people who have been invaluable as well as talented, so things look bright for the future. 

## _**Sue Smith-Lyte**_ 

## **The Friends of St. Mary’s Church** 

Another busy year for the Friends and, as always, a delight to run events which attract people outside normal worship and raise some money into the bargain. One of the highlights of 2024 was an Autumn Concert, featuring a new work by the composer Ben Ponniah, performed by the Woodbridge Choral Society and the St Mary’s Church Choir under the charismatic direction of James Davy. The event raised well over £1,000. Also featuring in over the year was a ‘Words and Music’ cameo (thanks to Sue Smith Lyte and Sir Nick Young); a royally connected guest speaker, Sir Stephen Lamport, (thanks again to Sir Nick) and the ever popular Joyspring (thanks to Romy and Darrell). At the AGM in March, Friends Treasurer Michael noted £14,000 of unspent restricted Friends funds in the church account and this has been earmarked for current Quinquennial refurbishment items, including tower restoration and a muchneeded new lightning conductor. In addition to funds raised at events, the Friends also received a very generous donation of £4,000 from the late Bertie Fried who having been ‘caught short’ during the 8 o’clock requested that this money be spent on putting a toilet in the West End. Watch this space! 

## _**Nick Cottam**_ 

## **Girlguiding - 2[nd] Woodbridge (St Mary’s) Rainbows** 

2nd Woodbridge Rainbows reopened on Monday evenings in June 2024. Ellie Phillips and I became involved as Leaders in Training, supported by long-term Guide Leader, Veronica Howe. We have been off to a fantastic start, with excited, enthusiastic and sociable girls, and incredibly supportive parents. We introduced our initial cohort to the world of Girlguiding and arranged their Promise Ceremony, which parents also attended, at St Mary's House. The girls completed a bonus badge, Cardboard Box Fun, early on in the programme, and also took part in the District Campfire – which ended to their tune of 'is it over already?!' We then welcomed another helper, Sophie Benton, who has also now begun her Leader training, as well as new, and equally keen, Rainbows! We have enjoyed the use of St Mary's House to complete a range of activities together, including making fruit salads, learning about first aid, completing an abundance of arts and crafts, and making an obstacle course entirely of cardboard. We are most grateful to the church for their continued support. The girls also did a fantastic job of representing the unit at the Remembrance Sunday parade in Woodbridge. We are all very keen to give the Rainbows a wonderful experience with the unit, and this delightful group make it easy! 

## _**Eleanor Phillips and Anna Gallagher**_ 

## **Girlguiding - 3[rd] Woodbridge (St Mary’s) Rainbows** 

3[rd] Woodbridge Rainbows continued to support 2[nd] Woodbridge Rainbows after it was suspended in the Spring term 2024 due to lack of leaders. We were very grateful to the church for allowing us to hold the first six meetings of the summer term in the main hall downstairs, as one girl had broken her leg in the Easter holidays and was in a wheelchair. Two new ladies came forward to run 2[nd] Woodbridge Rainbows they were both new to guiding so they came and assisted on Wednesdays to observe meetings before re-opening the Monday unit. At half-term 2[nd] Woodbridge Rainbows opened up again with new leaders and new girls plus one of the originals. Both units followed the same programme for the rest of the term, finishing with a teddy’s picnic.  We completed our Be Well skills builder, which involved first aid; the girls learnt how to mend a friend and assist to kill the germs. The Rainbows went 

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out and about to complete a survey of Market Hill. The girls had lots of fun with the Cardboard badge making mazes, obstacle courses, butterfly wings, musical instruments and marble runs. We learnt a couple of new games which the unit love and ask to play over and over again, such as Eagle eyes and Hedgehogs. The Autumn term consisted of activities around ‘Adventures in the Dark’ and spent an evening at Foxburrow Farm with Suffolk wildlife trust hunting for bugs in the dark. We joined the other uniform organisations for the Remembrance parade and were honoured to join the Rector by the War memorial, the girls really felt like part of the parade.  Badger, Squirrel and Rosie have been joined by a new leader Evelyn (Rabbit) who had been a Guide and Ranger and has been a great addition to the unit, along with 6 new rainbows in the Spring term. This term we are working on skills builders Live Smart stage 1 and Reflect stage 1. Recently we all tried out some different fruits and make ourselves a fruit salad. 

## _**Alison Lavender**_ 

## **Girlguiding - 3[rd] Woodbridge (St Mary’s) Brownies** 

The unit faced a number of changes last year, with two mums taking over the unit as brand new leaders. 3rd Woodbridge Brownies have enjoyed an eventful year, which included a sleepover at St Mary's, this was most definitely a highlight for all. There are a number of girls who are nearing 10, so we have been busy ensuring they meet all the milestones to achieve their Gold awards, and in the summer we celebrated with a Gold party. In the later part of the year we enjoyed working on Knowing Myself and Taking Action. This included the girls learning about important causes locally and nationally. The girls were keen to focus on anti-bullying with many taking their good work to their schools and sharing the importance of this cause with their peers. 

The highlights of the year were planting crocus bulbs with the Trefoil, Thinking Day celebrations with the District, taking part in the Poppy Appeal in the town centre as well as the Remembrance Day events. The girls also enjoyed watching the Christmas light switch on, where they were lucky enough to be able to go on a fairground ride. Following this the girls enjoyed a Wartime Christmas party where the learnt about how Christmas was celebrated during this difficult period of our history and many enjoyed trying Spam for the first time. We look forward to what the next year brings the unit and the fun we will be able to have. 

## _**Gemma Lea and Leila Rogers**_ 

## **Girlguiding – 2[nd] Woodbridge (St Mary’s) Guides** 

After over forty years of running the unit Veronica (Howe) retired from Guides just before Easter 2024. She is continuing with Melton Brownies and Rainbows and offering support to the new leaders of 2[nd] Woodbridge Rainbows. Meg, Lana and I took over from Veronica and decided to work on the RNLI badge, which was linked to their 100 years celebration. Meg arranged a pudding funding-raising evening, where the girls made puddings  and invited family and friends to try them; some of the money raised was donated to the RNLI. This concluded with a visit to Aldeburgh lifeboat station, the girls took the bus from Woodbridge and after the tour spent a lovely afternoon on the beach by The Shell.  The Autumn term started with a group of six new Guides moving up from Brownies and a couple of other girls who had not been Brownies. We completed lots of different activities introducing them to Guides with activities such as cooking sausages wrapped up in newspaper placed in cartons. This was part of ‘Adventures in the Dark badge’, other activities included learning about the moon, stars and night animals. We had a great visit to BT, Adastral Park, Martlesham which included a tour of the control room and then the girls had a go at programming small robot cars.   The Guides assisted with the Royal British Legion, Poppy Appeal in the Thoroughfare, Woodbridge and then took part in a sleepover at St Mary’s House ready for the parade on Market Hill. We ended the term by assisting at the church fair, Toy service and had a Christmas party.  The Spring term 2025 

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is busy with work on their First Aid Stage 5 badge, a sleepover at Hollesley village hall to celebrate Thinking day and a visit to PHQ Martlesham with a tour of the police museum. We are also planning a session on selfprotection skills. 

## _**Alison Lavender**_ 

## **Junior Church - Children and Families** 

The work and contact with children in the parish and in St Mary’s School has continued in a similar pattern, with our themes following the liturgical and seasonal year. Our outreach to children and families provides a welcome and a place within our church community. Activities on Sunday mornings are available weekly, including during school holidays, and are based on the Gospel of the day, the appropriate feast or a specific time of the year. The children enjoy story, scripture, discussion and sometimes role play, as well as plenty of creative activities such as book making, candle making, stained glass window activities etc. The children participate in the service whenever possible; they take part in procession, carry up the offertory gifts, and now regularly read the Sunday intercession prayers. They are developing a good knowledge of the Sunday worship and how it is put together. We welcome and encourage families and children to every weekly Sunday Eucharist; however, we have tried to make the monthly 11am service a focus for families where they can read the intercessions and gather together for refreshments afterwards. The numbers of children attending fluctuates, though we do have 3 or 4 families who are regular attenders. I have continued to work in the school weekly, teaching choir, and through this bridging between school and church, we are able to see our numbers supplemented now and again, especially for special occasions.  We were able to gather a mixed group of children together from school and parish for Messy Church on two occasions during this year. These Messy activities are dependent on many more helpers and resources and my thanks go to the parents and parishioners who have come in to help. We have two parents who have shown an interest in leading Junior Church activities on Sunday mornings; my thanks to Nicola Hopwood and Jamie Symons who have led an activity or two …hopefully they may continue to be part of a rota, and inspire a few more parents to take a leading part too…watch this space. 

Some highlights of the year include: 

- Advent Messy 2023… “Follow the Star” was well attended and the theme was set by the Diocesan initiative for all churches. 

- The School Wednesday choir gave a performance to parents and also in church at the end of term service. 

- Christmas Eve Crib and Christingle… more than 200 children present were treated to a ‘Follow The Star’ Nativity. 

- February, Candlemas 2024…the children took part in a role play of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple; they also led the intercession prayers. 

- Lent Messy Church… ‘Jumping into Lent’, activities in preparation for Holy Week and Easter. 

- Palm Sunday…  with Orlando the donkey again and a decent group of children and parents waving their palms. 

- Easter Sunday…the children processed with their Alleluia banner and each received an Easter Egg. 

- June…the children in the Wednesday school choir gave a performance of their work to parents. 

- July… the children in the Wednesday school choir sang at the end of term service in church. 

- September… quite a few children attended the 11am service to support and witness a baptism; they received ice cream after the celebration! Parents enjoyed it too!! 

- Advent Messy Church ….  ‘Treasure’, very well attended with approx. 20 children. 

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- December, end of term…the Wednesday school choir children gave a lovely Christmas performance of ‘Sheik, Rattle and Roll’. Thank you to Dr Sarah Dodds for her piano accompaniment, help and support. 

- School end of term service in church…the choir children performed. 

- Christmas Eve…a wonderful crib and Christingle service, with Sarah’s playing and great help from the parents; a cast of approx. 20 children led the Nativity and 180 Christingles were taken home! 

- The children have led the Sunday service intercessions for: 

   - § Candlemas 2024 

   - § Mothering Sunday 

   - § All Saints Day 

   - § 1st Sunday of Advent 

   - § Epiphany 3 

For 2025 we are still hoping to get the Wednesday choir to put on a performance in church and we need further developing a help rota for Sundays. With many thanks to Rachel Wade for her help, encouragement and support, and also to the parents and parishioners who have helped with the children and more importantly to the children themselves! 

## _**Liz Prior**_ 

## **Maintenance** 

The successful renovation of the floor in The Main Hall of St Mary’s House was a major accomplishment during the year and has really enhanced what is essentially a fantastic facility that helps to generate revenue for the Church.  We all have an interest in the continuing improvement and upkeep of St. Mary’s House. In November, SES Mechanical Maintenance Engineers advised us to shut down the Church’s 2 Keston C110 Gas Boilers owing to safety concerns caused by the corrosion to the boiler undercasing and to the heat exchangers. The direct replacement with modern gas boilers is not possible as a result of the Faculty Jurisdiction Amendment Rules (2022) which require churches to have due regard to the Church Building Council's advice on net zero carbon. This has meant that we are required to develop a heating scheme which complies with these rules while, at the same time, taking into account the needs of the fabric and people who use the Church. This is not straightforward. The PCC is lucky to be supported by the Quinquennial Architect, Nick Jacobs and David Sharples and Simon Morris as we find the best and most cost-effective answer.  In the meantime, we are very grateful to the Diocese which has funded the supply of two temporary 20kW electric blowers, and a 200amp electrical supply upgrade to enable the same. The emergency heating has brought its own challenges, not only because of costs but also because of the need for the consequential necessary electrical upgrades to ensure a both safe and sufficient supply of electricity. To balance the need for security and convenience, I remain of the view that only the keys essential to the work of contractors and/or volunteers should be shared. Security remains a high priority especially since the burglary on the Church.  Many of the changes I have recommended have been implemented. We all have a role to play in keeping a keen eye open and reporting any concerns we may have, however small they may seem. 

We have yet to appoint a contractor to keep clean the gutters and drains. We had once again a beautiful Christmas tree in the Church. My plea for 2025 is that we develop early a plan for the Christmas tree delivery, erecting and decoration. Smartcall have given us their continued support and provide speedy responses to our requirements. They were supportive and sympathetic after the burglary offering fast response with competitive pricing. Please report any maintenance issues or concerns to: maintenance@stmaryswoodbridge.org. My sincere thanks go to them and also to Simon Morris, David Sharples and Michelle Bullard in particular for all the support. 

_**Darren Darby**_ 

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## **Mothers’ Union (MU)** 

As a branch we have again been able to contribute/send donations to those charities/organisations needing help, such as: Mission to Seafarers/Ipswich Hospital (neonatal unit)/Bags of Love for Baptisms/Ipswich Women’s Refuge/Hampers for St Mary’s Fairs and lastly raising well deserved funds for Mothers’ Union charities at home and overseas. Just a taster of what we do during the year. A new venture this year is to be involved and help raise a further 1,000 ‘home-made’ Christmas cards for 2025 (1,500 already made each year) for the prisoners of HMP Hollesley Bay/High Point and Warren Hill. During 2024 we remembered Ann Stent who after a short illness died in the July. Her funeral took place in Ely, Ann having moved to Cambridge some time before. But on a happier note, we have welcomed 3 new members to the branch. 

Finally…please take the opportunity whilst in Church to look at the MU Notice Board and to see what we are doing and what is planned for the coming year. There may be something of interest to you, especially at one of our meetings, you are always very welcome to attend. 

## _**Jean Cobb**_ 

## **St. Mary’s House Bookings** 

We continue to have regular weekly and monthly bookings, with some groups having been using the facilities at St Mary’s House for a number of years. Current regular bookings include our own Choir, Mothers’ Union, Christian Meditation Group, Time to Reflect, Friends’ of St Mary’s, Fabric Committee, Building Project Group, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides & Rangers, and external users such as Poppy’s Pantry, Browsers Poetry Group, Illuminati, two Yoga Groups, a Professional Development Group, a Women’s Recovery Group, and (new for 2024) children’s dance classes every Saturday during term time. 

The **Seckford Room** is used by some of the above, and for Bellringers and Flower Group annual meetings, planning meetings for the committee organising events such as the Summer Fair and the Christmas Market, Clergy Chapter meetings, and (new for 2024) an external group who have used the room for full days on a number of occasions (and booked ahead for 2025), whilst the Mothers’ Union committee use the **Small Hall** , as did Woodbridge 41 (charity card shop) for a short period before Christmas. Towards the end of 2024 we were approached by a third Yoga group who have booked weekly for 2025, and the Deben Climate Centre who have booked the **Small Hall** for their ‘Energy Hub’ for several days every week from January 2025. 

**Ad hoc bookings** have continued for use of the **Hall** for private parties and social events (including the Kesgrave & Woodbridge Ukrainian Hub), receptions following funeral and memorial services, AGMs and other meetings (including Woodbridge Youth Council, Deanery Synod, & Suffolk for Europe), paediatric first aid training, public consultation events for Active Travel Woodbridge, a Just 42 children’s activity day, and Girlguiding units have used the whole building for residential activities. During the winter months in 2024 we hosted weekly ‘Soup & Sarnies’ lunches as part of the national ‘Places of Welcome’ growing network of local community groups providing their neighbourhoods with places where all people feel safe to connect, belong and contribute. There were also a series of Lenten Lunches in the **Hall** . 

We were disappointed that Inspire Suffolk could not continue their 12-week rolling bookings for the **BP Room** in 2024, but there has been an increase in other bookings elsewhere. The BP Room continues to be used by five Girlguiding units weekly during term time, and from Autumn 2024 we have secured termly room hire fees from them (Girlguiding having used St Mary’s House free of charge for many years). We also receive an annual fee from Woodbridge Quakers for ‘storage.’ 

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|**Day**|**Hirer**|**Details**|**Room**|
|---|---|---|---|
|Monday|Time to Reflect<br>Rainbows<br>Guides<br>Rangers|10am-12noon<br>5pm-6.45pm<br>6.45pm-8.45pm<br>7.30pm to 9pm<br>(fortnightly)|Seckford<br>BP Room<br>Hall<br>BP Room|
|Tuesday|Poppy’s Pantry<br>Yoga<br>Christian<br>Meditation<br>Women’s<br>RecoveryGroup|9.30am-2.30pm<br>3pm-5pm<br>5.30pm-6.30pm<br>1st& 3rdTuesdays 6.30pm-<br>7.30pm|Hall<br>Hall<br>Hall<br>Seckford<br>Rm|
|Wednesday|Rainbows|5.30pm-6.30pm|BP Room|
|Thursday|Yoga<br>Mothers’ Union<br>Brownies<br>Choir<br>Illuminati|9.15am-10.30am<br>2ndThursday 2.15pm-<br>4.15pm<br>6pm to 7.30pm<br>6.30pm-8pm<br>8pm-9.30pm|Hall<br>Hall<br>BP Room<br>Hall<br>Hall/Church|
|Friday|Yoga<br>Browsers Poetry<br>Group|9.15am to 10.15am<br>3rdFriday 7pm-9pm|Hall<br>Seckford<br>Rm|
|Saturday|Children’s dance<br>classes<br>Professional<br>Development<br>Group|8.30am to 12.30pm<br>Bi-monthly 11am-2pm|Hall<br>Seckford<br>Rm|



## _**Linda Rumbold**_ 

## **Servers** 

The Servants of the Sanctuary have continued to faithfully support Fr Nigel and our parish clergy in the celebration of the Eucharist and at other liturgies and festivals throughout the year. We remain a small but dedicated team, and it continues to be heartening to see families serving together, sometimes at short notice, with commitment and grace. 

St Mary’s servers undertake a range of important roles, including: 

- Crucifer: carries the processional cross, leading the entrance and exit processions and the Gospel procession. 

- Acolytes: bear the candles in procession, illuminate the Gospel reading, and receive the gifts from the congregation. 

- Master of Ceremonies (MC): assists the presiding priest by preparing the altar for communion, washing the celebrant’s hands, and carrying or holding the Gospel Book during the proclamation of the Gospel. 

- Thurifer: offers incense, enriching our worship with symbolism that reflects our prayers rising to God, and contributing to the reverence and solemnity of our liturgical life. 

- Boat Bearer: carries the incense boat, ensuring the thurifer has the necessary incense throughout the service. 

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We are proud that the serving team reflects the diversity and vibrancy of our parish community. Serving is a ministry that fosters responsibility, attentiveness, teamwork, and confidence. It offers participants a deeper engagement with the Eucharist, and helps nurture a sense of belonging and shared purpose within the wider church family. 

I would like to express my sincere thanks to all our servers for their time, dedication, and enthusiasm over the past year. I look forward to welcoming new volunteers, and to the continued growth and development of this valuable ministry. 

## _**David Sharples**_ 

## **Sidesmen and Sideswomen** 

We have 19 regular helpers, plus 3 reserves, who carry out their duties monthly at the 8am and 10am/11am services and also at evensong, Christmas, Easter and any other extra services. 

They all have welcoming smiles, ensuring that anyone who comes into our church, through either door, is warmly greeted and given the correct hymn book and order of service.  Afterwards, they are frequently the last to leave the building as they tidy the pews and count the collection.  They are versatile people who also help in many other ways. I thank them all most sincerely for their assistance throughout the year. 

Jean Cobb Stephen & Jane Cole Geoff & Val English Margaret Harper Anna Jenkins Janet Laight Valerie Le Marchand Sarah Lines Andrew & Katherine Pickthorn Sandra Schur Cilla Steed Jamie & Lucy Symons + Emilia Katharine Turner Stuart Wade Lesley Whitehead 

Reserves: Roger Burgess Gill Cruickshank Gerry Toplis 

## _**Val English**_ 

## **Social Events** 

2024/5 has seen a number of very successful and enjoyable events. Most were organised as fundraisers for our newly launched building project, others to raise money for general church expenditure and some as non-profit events to bring the church community together. In June we started the month with the patronal festival lunch. In early July the heavens opened for our summer fair. A wet weather plan was hastily adopted and the majority of the stalls and activities moved inside church. The hardy holders of the Pimms stall and the BBQ quite literally did hold onto their gazebos as the wind and rain swept 

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through the churchyard. Undaunted, lots of people turned up. There was a lovely, warm atmosphere and lots of laughter. Also in July we held a buildings project information day. Refreshed with tea, cake and Adnams fizz, attendees were greeted by the building oversight group and offered guided tours of St Mary’s House. There were visual displays of the building plans as well as photographs documenting why we need to do the renovations. In August the weather played havoc with our planned garden party and at the 11[th] hour we had to change venue as the heavens once more opened and rain poured down. Thank you to everyone who supported us by coming along to St Mary’s House. Not quite the beautiful setting of Penelope and Martin Bartlett’s garden, but still a wonderful gathering. September saw the ambient music festival in church. For the event we ran a donation bar manned by Father Nigel. It was very well supported. Harvest festival was celebrated in October. Kirsten Berridge produced a fabulous lunch with her trusted assistants David and Gaynor. Later in the month teams of four turned out for the fish and chip quiz night. Tickets sold fast and takings were boosted by another donation bar. Fish and chips were delivered from Cumberland Street for a discounted price. Fun was had by all. Our Christmas Market at the end of November was well attended. Mulled wine provided by friends of St Mary’s as well as tea and coffee kept everyone warm. Martlesham Art Group exhibited. A variety of stalls and activities were spread throughout the church. December gave us a fabulous Christmas lunch provided and cooked by James Francis. Thank you to James and Neil who organised and staffed the event as a festive gift to the congregation. In January, Griff Rhys Jones performed his one man show to a packed Riverside theatre. The event had sold out as soon as it was announced and for those lucky enough to get a ticket he did not disappoint, even referencing Father Nigel in one of his amusing stories. Lots more events are planned for 2025 so please keep an eye on the e news and our website or Facebook page. All these events take a team to organise, publicise and host so thank you to everyone who helps and to all of you who come along and support. 

## _**Michelle Bullard**_ 

## **Stewards** 

The purpose of stewarding is to make visitors welcome, mainly during the summer months, i.e. April to September. We have nine people who offer their services as a steward. Duties consist of twohour slots, morning and afternoon, Monday to Friday. My aim during the year was to have at least one steward on duty each day during the week; this was nearly achieved. Sometimes stewards are encouraged to meet groups of people or a small number of visitors and give them a conducted tour of the church and talk about what we do. Visitors come from a wide range of backgrounds, but they can be categorised as holiday makers, churchgoers from other places, those interested in ecclesiastical architecture and those who normally live abroad. Some visitors are planning to move to Woodbridge to live or thinking about doing so. Interestingly a good number of visitors come from Holland, usually via Harwich, while others live in the London area. A good number of people visit the church to pray. All stewards are encouraged to complete a short entry, at the end of their session, in the note book provided. This is helpful in many ways to other stewards. 

## _**Peter Shipley**_ 

## **Time to Reflect Group** 

Time to Reflect has had a good year, with a steady attendance of 15 members, with up to 20 involved.  After Easter we wanted to finish the last four chapters of ‘Twenty Questions Jesus Asked’, by John Pritchard which included questions such as ‘Who do you say that I am’. This book generated plenty of discussion, often in small groups of two or three. For the summer term we read ‘Finding Sanctuary: Monastic Steps for Everyday Life’ by Father Christopher Jamison OSB. Drawing on the experience of the retreatants in the television programme, the book used the metaphor of building the sanctuary – its door, 

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its roof and so on – as a way of offering practical wisdom from the monastic tradition on how to create sanctuary in our own lives.  For the Autumn term we addressed contemporary issues in ‘A Manifesto for Hope: Ten Principles for transforming the lives of children and young people’ by Rev Steve Chalke. This was a book for government, public services, churches and charities highlighting the importance of joinedup, cost-effective, community-empowering initiatives based on 40 years of experience of tackling what really makes a difference for young people.  After Christmas we chose ‘Occasions for Alleluia’ by David Adam. This is a book drawing on the Celtic tradition which aims to help us recognize that there are moments in each day of our lives that are cause for thanksgiving, and to pause and praise God. This has proved to be a very nourishing book for our own, individual spirituality.  Time to Reflect organised a Quiet Day on Wednesday, 18[th] September at Framlingham College. The day was led by the college chaplain, Rev Brynn Bayman, who provided us with much to think about on the theme of ‘Our relationship with God, our relationship with ourselves, others’ – our story. We had lunch in the grounds with a wonderful view of the castle.  We celebrated the end of the Summer term with a lovely, relaxed garden party hosted by Caroline and Jeremy Hawksley. For Christmas we enjoyed a traditional ‘bring and share’ lunch after reflecting on key points of our book on young people. 

## _**Diane Milan**_ 

## **The Zingy Singers** 

Liz Prior has been going to St Mary’s Primary School regularly on a voluntary basis on Wednesday afternoons to do a choir, The Zingy Singers, as an after-school club.  Liz does games and fun exercises to develop their aural and vocal skills before teaching them a range of songs, all from memory.  Around Easter 2024 they learned some songs from Kagera, from diocesan resources.  In summer they put on a performance of the musical play, _The Selfish Giant_ and at Christmas a musical play about the three wisemen, _Sheik, Rattle and Roll_ , all in costume.  Sarah has accompanied the performances. Certainly some of the children have enjoyed singing their heart out and audience members have been struck by the sound the children can produce. A number of the children came to the crib service to sing a couple of the Christmas songs. 

## _**Sarah Dodds**_ 

For further information please visit our website: www.stmaryswoodbridge.org 

**Or contact: St. Mary’s Benefice Office, 11 Market Hill, Woodbridge, IP12 4LP** 

**parish.office@stmaryswoodbridge.org 01394 388820** 

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## **Financial Review** 

The PCC has been without a Treasurer and bookkeeper for several months of the financial year, and accordingly the Churchwardens, particularly David Sharples, has become the _ex officio_ treasurer and assisted in preparation of the end-of-year accounts, as well as the required submissions for the National Lottery Heritage Fund.  David has been actively supported by Linda Rumbold, our Parish Administrator, Louise Fletcher, our newly appointed bookkeeper, Phil Poole who continues to assist with our investment funds, James Francis, one of our congregation, and Mark Everitt, from accountancy firm, _Affinia_ , formerly LB Group, who still act as our independent external examiners. 

The accounts in this report are set out on three different bases: unrestricted or general funds, which can be used for any purpose; restricted funds that are legally tied, and can be used only for the specifically defined purpose the donor made, and designated funds that are technically unrestricted, but have been designated by the PCC for specific purposes, the most important of which relates to the project to refurbishment St Mary’s House. It should be noted that the designated fund for St Mary’s House is generally included in the unrestricted funds when considering the statement of financial activities, as these remain unrestricted and can be used for other charitable purposes if the trustees decide. 

Only activities and funds for which the PCC is legally responsible are included so, for example, the accounts do not include affiliated funds such as those for the bellringers or the flower fund (see note 19 for a list of funds that are included). The statement of Financial Activities which forms the first page of these accounts is a summary of the full picture and sums up to a net movement in funds across all the funds and activities for which the PCC is responsible. The detailed breakdowns of expenditure and income are set out in notes 2 through 6. 

We are fortunate that the PCC’s reserves and the balance sheet remain strong. The unrestricted funds available to the PCC (see note 20) show reserves of £742,196 as of 31st December 2024, and we preside over total funds of nearly £1.2M (including the endowment for St Mary’s House). The expenditure specifically on the refurbishment work of St. Mary’s House was £28,012. 

The income and expenditure account for the financial year 2024 shows a significant reduction in planned giving, and other donations and legacies (£107,428 compared to £122,599) from the previous year and, despite a pleasing year-on-year increase in shop sales (+29%), Income from the hire of the Church and St. Mary’s House fell to £8,877 from £12,722 (-30%). At the same time, our wage bill rose by 54% from the previous year (£30,669 compared to £19,994), and costs such as maintenance, repairs, office costs - such as the printing of materials for the building project appeal - have increased. The total unrestricted expenditure for the year was £193,297, an increase of 2.1% over the previous year. 

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We closed the year with deficit of c. £49,629 in 2024. This includes planned expenditures from our Designated Fund for St Mary’s House (which is included in the Unrestricted Funds Listed in the statement of Financial Activities). This includes a balancing expenditure of on the SMH House Project from the Designated Harper Legacy Fund, of £8,520 after interest received from the Flagstone investments. 

It should be noted that this is different from the figure of £38,149 (2023: £14,476) which includes the costs & income from the St Mary’s House Project. 

## **Reserves** 

It is the policy of the PCC to maintain a free cash balance on unrestricted funds to cover any unexpected expenditure that might arise. This should be at least equal to 3 months unrestricted expenditure (excluding Designated Funds) from the previous year (£37,570).  The year-end balance of free reserves (£91,995) is considered  adequate to maintain this policy. 

The trustees do not believe there to be material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue. 

## **Risk Management** 

The PCC examines major risks that the Benefice faces each year during its normal business and establishes policies where appropriate. 

## **Public Benefit** 

The Trustees have complied with the duty in section 4 of the 2006 Charities Act to have due regard to guidance published by the Charities Commission on public benefit. 

## **Concluding Remarks** 

The balance sheet shows that the total funds of the PCC stand at £1,148,738 compared with £1,198,364 for 2023 (-4%). 

The PCC’s goal of refurbishing St. Mary’s House and of making changes to the Church building impose on it the need to professionalise further our approach to financial management and the management of cash flow.  We also need a more predictable flow of income that will enable us to budget against expenditure and continue to balance our books on a day-to-day basis. Effective and efficient fund raising will continue to be central to the PCC’s work and remains essential if we are to fulfil our objectives and discharge our responsibilities as Trustees. 

The PCC would like to thank Michael Holland for his help over many years within the production of the PCC’s accounts. He retired during the year. 

## _**David Sharples**_ 

**==> picture [533 x 41] intentionally omitted <==**

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 December 2024** 

|**Total**||**2023**|**£**||122,599|35,890|11,619|23,649|23,649|193,757|193,757||208,332|208,332|208,332|208,332|208,332|208,332|||428|428||(14,147)||1,212,511|1,212,511|1,198,364|1,198,364|1,198,364||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted** **Endowment**<br>**Total** **Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted** **Endowment**|**funds**<br>**funds**<br>**funds**<br>**funds**<br>**funds**<br>**funds**|**2024**<br>**2024**<br>**2024**<br>**2024**<br>**2023**<br>**2023**<br>**2023**|**Notes**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**|**Income from:**|Donations and legacies<br>**3**<br>88,498<br>18,930<br>-<br>107,428<br>104,384<br>18,215<br>-|Charitable activities<br>**4**<br>38,914<br>-<br>-<br>38,914<br>35,890<br>-<br>-|Other trading activities<br>**5**<br>8,244<br>-<br>-<br>8,244<br>11,619<br>-<br>-|Investments<br>**6**<br>19,492<br>188<br>-<br>19,680<br>22,791<br>858<br>-||**Total income**<br>155,148<br>19,118<br>-<br>174,266<br>174,684<br>19,073<br>-||**Expenditure on:**|Charitable activities<br>**7**<br>193,297<br>30,595<br>-<br>223,892<br>189,160<br>19,172<br>-||**Total expenditure**<br>193,297<br>30,595<br>-<br>223,892<br>189,160<br>19,172<br>-||||||Net gains/(losses) on investments<br>**11**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>428<br>-|||**Net expenditure and movement in funds**<br>(38,149)<br>(11,477)<br>-<br>(49,626)<br>(14,476)<br>329<br>-|**Reconciliation of funds:**|Fund balances at 1 January 2024<br>780,345<br>103,476<br>314,543<br>1,198,364<br>794,821<br>103,147<br>314,543||**Fund balances at 31 December 2024**<br>742,196<br>91,999<br>314,543<br>1,148,738<br>780,345<br>103,476<br>314,543|||The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.|



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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE Balance Sheet** 

## **As at 31 December 2024** 

|||**2024**|**2024**|**2024**||**2023**|**2023**|**2023**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes**|**£**||**£**||**£**|||**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||||||||||
|Tangible assets|**13**|||335,543|||||336,998|
|Investments|**14**|||5,120|||||5,120|
|||||340,663|||||342,118|
|**Current assets**||||||||||
|Stocks|**15**|5,021||||5,035||||
|Debtors|**16**|11,559||||30,539||||
|Cash at bank and in hand||794,265||||834,366||||
|||810,845||||869,940||||
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within**|**17**|||||||||
|**one year**||(2,770)||||(13,694)||||
|**Net current assets**||||808,075|||||856,246|
|||||||||||
|**Total assets less current liabilities**||||1,148,738|||||1,198,364|
|||||||||||
|||||||||||
|**The funds of the charity**||||||||||
|Endowment funds|**18**|||314,543|||||314,543|
|Restricted income funds|**19**|||91,999|||||103,476|
|Unrestricted funds|**20**|||742,196|||||780,345|
|||||1,148,738|||||1,198,364|
|||||||||||



The notes to the Financial Statements form part of these accounts. 

Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 28/05/2025 and signed on its behalf by the Reverend Nigel Prior, PCC Chairman, and David Sharples, Churchwarden, acting as Treasurer under Church Representation Rules, Part 9 **,** Rule M20(3) 

**==> picture [524 x 45] intentionally omitted <==**

Reverend Nigel Prior, PCC Chairman                                                David Sharples, Churchwarden 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **1 Accounting policies** 

## **1.1 Basis of preparation** 

The PCC is an unincorporated charity, and public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCCs, and with the Regulations’ “true and fair” provisions, together with FRS 102 (2016) as the applicable accounting standards and the (2016) version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP (FRS 102)). 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the inclusion of investments at market value. 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 affiliation to another body, nor those which are informal gatherings of Church members. 

## **1.2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements** 

ln the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates. 

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods 

## **1.3 Funds accounting** 

## **Unrestricted funds** 

These represent the remaining income funds of the PCC that are available for spending on the general purposes of the PCC, including amounts designated by the PCC for spending on a future project and which are not included in its “free reserves” as disclosed in the trustees’ report. 

## **Restricted funds** 

These are income funds that must be spent on restricted purposes and details of the funds held and restrictions provided are shown in the notes to the accounts. 

## **Endowment funds** 

These are restricted funds that must be retained as trust capital either permanently or subject to a discretionary power to spend capital as income, and where the use of any income or other benefit derived from the capital may be restricted and unrestricted. 

## **1.4 Incoming resources** 

Incoming resources are recognised in the financial statements when the PCC becomes legally entitled to the benefit of use of the resource, the inflow of economic benefit is probable and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. 

Legacies are recognised when probate has been granted, the amount receivable can be reliably measured and the Executors have notified their intention to make a distribution. 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **Accounting policies (continued)** 

- Donations collections and planned giving are recognised when received. 

- Gift aid is included in the financial statements when the income to which it is related is recognised. 

- Grants are recognised when the formal offer in writing of the funding is received by the PCC and payment is certain. 

- Gifts in kind for the PCC’s own use are included at their estimated fair value on receipt and expensed over 

- their useful life. 

- Statutory fees for weddings and funerals are recognised when the office occurs. 

- Income receivable in return for selling goods or providing services is recognised either when goods are sold or the service provided. 

- Income from the hire of the Church or St Mary’s House is recognised when the hire takes place. 

- Investment income (interest and dividends) is accounted for when receivable. 

- Realised gains or losses on the sale of investments are recognised when the investments are sold and unrealised gains and losses on investments held at the year-end are accounted for in the Statement of Financial Activity. 

- Government grants are accounted for when entitlement is established and the event giving rise to the grant has taken place before the year end. 

## **1.5 Expenditure and liabilities** 

Expenditure is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation and settlement is probable and quantifiable. 

- 1 Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded where the award creates a binding obligation on the PCC. 

- 2 The Diocesan Parish Share is accounted for on an annual basis and reflects the allocation agreed by the PCC with the Deanery. 

## **1.6 Fixed assets** 

Consecrated and beneficed property of any kind is excluded from the accounts by Section 10(2) of the Charities Act 2011. Movable Church furnishing held by the Rector and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a Faculty for disposal, are accounted as inalienable property unless consecrated. They are listed in the Church's inventory which can be inspected but are not included in the financial statements. 

All expenditure on consecrated or benefice buildings and individual items costing under £500 are written off in the year they were incurred. 

Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity are capitalised at cost (or the estimated value of donated goods) and that amount, less any currently anticipated residual fair value, written off to the Statement of Financial Activities over their estimated useful lives as follows; 

Land and buildings and Church piano Nil (held at fair value) Church equipment - IT related 33% straight line Church equipment – other 25% reducing balance 

No depreciation is provided on freehold buildings and the Church piano as the useful economic life of these assets exceeds 50 years and residual values are so high that potential depreciation would be immaterial, and it is the PCC's policy to maintain these assets in a continual state of sound repair. Provision will be made if regular impairment reviews indicate there has been any permanent diminution in value. 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

**Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **1 Accounting policies (continued)** 

## **1.7 Fixed asset investments** 

Investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date and variations from the last valuation recorded in the Statement of Financial Affairs. 

## **1.8 Stocks** 

Stocks are stated at their acquisition cost, less any provision where sale is anticipated at a lower amount. 

## **1.9 Leases** 

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged as an expense on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease. 

## **1.10 Going concern** 

At the time of approving the financial statements the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **2 Income and Donations and Legacies** 

There was no income received by the Endowed Funds during the year. 

## **3 Income from Charitable Activities** 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **4 Activities for Generating Funds** 

## **5 Income from Investments** 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

**Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

- **6 Expenditure on Charitable Activities (2024)** 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

**Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

- **6 Expenditure on Charitable Activities (2023) Continued** 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **7 Net Movement in Funds** 

## **8 Staff costs** 

The average number of employees throughout the year was 4 (2023:2). 

No person received remuneration in excess of £60,000. 

The Charity contributes to a defined contribution pension scheme with NEST for eligible employees. The assets of the scheme are held and administered independently of the charity **.** 

## **9 Related Parties** 

None of the Trustees, or any person connected with them, received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year. Any sums received by the PCC for the benefit of other groups or organisations are passed to the relevant body and not reflected in these financial statements. 

Expenses paid to licensed clergy amounted to £2,250 (2023; £2,225). 

There have been no payments to related charities during the year, but the PCC has received financial support from the Friends of St. Mary’s (an independent charity) in respect of the cost of certain repair and building work to the Church. All donations are reflected within the relevant restricted fund. 

The Churchwardens are Trustees of two independent Trusts set up to relieve poverty in the Parish. There were no transactions between the PCC and these trusts during the year. 

From 1 January 2021 St Mary’s, Woodbridge and St Mary’s, Great Bealings were formed into a joint benefice. Each Church operates its own PCC and prepares separate accounts but, from time to time, transactions relating to one Church pass through the books of the other and such amounts are periodically settled with any amounts outstanding at the year-end included in debtors or creditors. The Parish Share for the joint benefice is allocated between each PCC but some smaller administrative costs are borne by the PCC since any attempt at quantification is considered out of proportion to any benefit. 

## **10 Governance** 

The Unrestricted Fund bears the cost of the Independent Examination of the financial statements. 

This amounted to £1,674 (2023; £1,750). 

## **11 Operating lease** 

The Charity is committed to a payment of £2,168 (2023: £2,845) per annum for Photocopier Services under an operating lease that expires in 2029. 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **13 Tangible Fixed Assets** 

The freehold land and buildings comprise St. Mary’s House, 11 Market Hill, Woodbridge and is stated at its 1997 fair value. A re _-_ valuation of St Mary’s House was conducted by Fenn Wright in December 2024 and a _draft_ report produced. As no final report had been received at the time of accounts preparation, the revised valuation was not included in these accounts. 

Consecrated and benefice property is excluded from these accounts. 

The PCC considers that the realisable value of the Church piano is in excess of the net book value shown above. 

## **14 Fixed Asset Investments** 

. 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

**15 Stocks** 2024 2023 £ Finished goods and goods for resale 5,021 5,035 **16 Debtors** 2024 2023 Amounts falling due within one year: £ Other debtors 11,559 30,539 **17 Creditors Amounts falling due within one year:** 2024 £ Other taxation and social security 638 Other creditors 2,132 13,694 2,770 13,694 **18 Endowment Funds** Endowment funds represent assets which must be held permanently by the charity. Income arising on the endowment funds can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity and is included as unrestricted income. Any capital gains or losses arising on the assets form part of the fund. 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

**Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **19 Restricted Funds** 

The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. 

Grace Howe Bequest - for Sunday School activities. Choir Fund - for the maintenance of choir equipment and music. Chapter Fund - for Churchware and plate to upkeep services. Fabric Fund - for major building works 

Vestment fund - for the repair and replacement of vestments. 

Church Sound System - for the maintenance of the Church sound system. Organ Fund - for repairs to the Church organ 

DOM Fund – to support specific paid roles within the Parish 

. 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

**Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **20 Unrestricted Funds** 

The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes. 

In 2020, the PCC received notice of a substantial legacy and resolved to allocate the funds to the St Mary’s House Project. The aim is to refurbish the building to better serve the community as a venue for meetings and events, while enhancing its heritage value and supporting the church’s long-term sustainability through increased use and income generation. 

By December 2024, a total of £788,108 (2023: 768,616) has been designated including a further legacy and interest on designated deposits. 

Of these funds £137,907 had been expended by 31 December 2024 (2023: £109,895) on professional fees and supporting costs to progress the project. Unexpended funds at 31 December 2024 amount to £650,201 (2023: £658,721 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE** 

**Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024** 

## **21 Analysis of net assets between funds** 

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## **PCC OF ST MARY’S WOODBRIDGE Independent Examiner’s Report** 

## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS/TRUSTEES OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARY’S WOODBRIDGE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** 

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of PCC of St Mary's Church Woodbridge (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011. 

## **Independent examiner's statement** 

Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared the financial statements in accordance with the relevant version of the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has now been withdrawn. I understand that this has been done in order for the financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act 2011. 

2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or 

3. the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

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 financial statements to be reached. 

**Affinia (Ipswich)** 80 Compair Crescent Ipswich Suffolk IP2 0EH UK Date……………………………. 

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