CliaT￿ty iegisli'atioii iiumbei.: 1130082
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish
of Sherborne with Castleton
Annual Report and Fiiiancial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 Deceinber 2023
Lanliaiii & Pi'ancis
ChaFtei¢d Accouiilaiils
ChuTch Hoiise
CIILltcli SlIEcl
Yeovil
Soinersel
BA20 IHB

The Pai'oehial Chureh Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Sherborne with Castleton
Contents (continued)
Trustees, Report
I to40
liidepeiidenl Audit013' Report
41 to44
St8teinent of Fiiianeial Activities
45
Balan¢e Sheet
46
Cash Flow Stateinent
47
Notes to tlie Finai)cial Siatenieiits
48to64

ThL Paroehial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Pai'ish of Sherboi'ne with Castleton
Trustees, Repoi't
Tlie ti"usteeq pi'esent the ￿T￿ul( I report together with the financial .%tateineiits and k)udilors' repoi't of the charity for the
year ended 31 Deceinber 2023.
ObjectlVQS And activities
Objects uii¢l lliiii&
I'1)e object of tl)e charity is to pi'oinote in the ecclesiastical pai'i%h the wl)ole mis5ioI) of tl)e Church.
Objective.s, .flJ'file¥le5 uLlivilie.%
'riie objectives and 8117te¥ies of the Lharity iiiclLidc:
The advanccinent of the Cl)ur¢li of England by ineaiJs of broadcasting mesqabFes of a teaching naluTe, witiiin oiir five
chui'ches and tknEe pari%lJe4.
To see a gi'eaier celebtation of diver%ity aiid a wider integi'ation of all God's people into his fainily.
The provision of facilities for the celebration of Christian worsl)ip. Also, the maiiitenance and impiDveinent of those
facilities foi. futurc geiierations to carl'y on the C￿lS1]art li'aditions.
Tlie incllllt¢nance aiJd support of i'tctoi%, team vicai's and otliei's engaged in charitable works. Speciic I consideiation
to developiiig lay mijiistry aci'oss tlie beiiefice, eJicoui-agii)g and facilitating greatei. lay involveillent with Pii%loral
cai'e, miqEioii and iniiiistry.
Tl)e support of all Charitable works carried out within the Slierborne Abbey commiinity.
The continued %upport of Ioc11 l. national 2É nd iiiternatsonal oi'ganisaiions eng&ged ill Christian or other pliilanthropic
activity, IhroiiLFlI our Paith in Action Committee.
Oiilside of Covid-19 restl'iLtions the Holy Eiichiirist is offered daily in the Abbey, and at least twice on Sundays.
There i8 at lec1St one service in botli Casilcton CIILirch and llt the Gryphon School - STPAULS@THEGRYPHON
every Sunday. Castlelon Cliurch us&8 only the Book of Corninon Prayer for tlie Eucharist and Mattsns.
The PCC also hns maintenance responsibililic% for the Digby Memoi'ial Church Hall. the Sherboixe Abbey Shop, 2
Abbey Close and 'The Cottage, at 4 Abbey Clo8e. The PCC rents the Paiish Offjce nd 67 Aci"einaiJ Street fiDm the
Slierborne Castle Estates and h2)s a 50150 Bqiiity Sh2Ere Agrceincnt with the Dio¢eqe for 69 CJranville Way,
Shci'borne.
Fiiiidi'ui&iiig di5Llosiire
The chi2rtty bttnefits troni a nuinber of areil8, wliich enable Llb to i'aisc fiinds to meet oiir objeetives. nainely tlie
Abbey %hop, Ilie Cliurch Hall, the miisic coinmiltet and the 50¢ial coimnittee. We are coirnnittcd to iising these
asfets lo hell? Support oiir iiiission, locally kind oil a wider scale.
The an1ili￿] Abbey Music Festival ha5 8peoific objectives lo proinole music witliin the paL'isI), wilh any fiinds [￿ised
being￿ iised for Ihal ain), nainely Ilie fJnancinL7 01. the choir and gcneral mussc witl)ID the Abbey.
Any other specific lundraisinx requiitinents will be engh¥ed as necessaiy.
Ptibli6. beiiejii
The Iru.8lees Lonfii'in Ihal they havc coiiiplied with the i'equii'eineiils of scction 17 of tlie Cliai'ilies Act 2011 to have
due i'eg)ai'd 10 Ihc piiblic benefit L?iiidGinc¢ piiblis1)ed by tlic Cliarity Lojiunission for England and Wale8 and, in
parl1bul￿l, the spccific gLiidaiiLe oil chkiriti¢s for Ilie advaiiceineiit of religTrtoii.
Tlie i'ei)orlb Iliat follow Il)is iei)orl al'e l¢stainent to tl)e wide ran¥e of activilies caii'ied oiil in tlie Parisli for the
benefit ot the wliole of our coiiiiiiiinity.
Page I

The Parochial Church Council of the Eeelesiastieal Pai'ish of Sherboi'ne with Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
Refereiice aiid AdmiiTristrative Details
Pi'iiicipal Office..
Tl)e Pai'i5h o￿l¢C
3 Abbey Close
Sliei'boiiie
Doisel
DT9 3LQ
Auditoi.:
Laiiliam & fr8ii¢i5
Cliarteied Accountaiits
CliiiiEh Sti'eet
Yeovil
Soinei'set
BA20 IHB
Bai)kers aiid investment managers..
NAtWest Bcll)k plc
2 Hci)dford
Yeovil
Soin6J'set
BA20 ITN
Lloyds Blink plc
75 C.lieap Sti"eet
Slici'bome
Doi'set
DT9 3BD
CAF Bank Liinited
25 Kings Hill Aveiiue
KEngs Hill
West Malling
Kent
ME194JQ
CCLA Inve8111)enl Management Limiled
Senaloi. House
Londoi)
EC4V 4ET
M&G Securities Limited
Laiit'ciice Pounlney Hill
Lojidon
EC4R OHH
Page 2

Tlie Parochial Church Council of the Eeelesiastieal Pai'ish ol. Shei'borne with Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
Ti'ustee5 aiid oflieer5
Tlie trLislee.% aiid offiLei's qeiving dui'ing the year and since the year end weiE as follows..
Tlie Revd Hiigh Bonsey
The Ilevd Martiii Lce
The Ilevd Jaine¥ Edie
Mi's Sandra Gi"ave8
Dr David l-,ergusoii
Mr Neil Cjrenyer
Mr Robert l.lai"ris
Mr JoilL￿tIlaij Rodd
Mi. PaLII Boyd-Lee
Mi. Alan Cjillard (i"esigned 7 May 20231
Mrs Susan CJillai'd (iesigned 7 May 2023)
Mr Micliael Keatsnge
Mi'% Yvonne Libbey
Mr David Fifield
Mrs c￿theri1)e Gi'ahRin (resigned 20 Mal'ch 2023)
Di. Chi'i8tophei' Hainon
Mi. David Rciyner
Mi'% Sue Bi'adgl)aw
Dr Jolin Ci'os¥inaii
Mrs Jacqueline Bi¢ ker
Dr Jolin Biadsl)1c W
Mr% Sue Hawkett
Mr8 Joanne Hcigue (resigned 20 March 2023)
Mr Andrew Horscy
Mr Steve Drew
Mis Julie-Ann Soul
Mrs Jiilie Mllhony
Mrs Harriet Chappell
Mr Tini Farr
Mrs Rebecc£i McDonnell (appoii)ted 2 July 20231
Mr Nicholas Pas¢oe (appointed 7 May 2023)
'rriistees'.
Page 3

The ParoLhial Chui-ch Council of the Ecelesiastieal Parisli of Shei'boi'ne with Castleton
Ti'ustee$' Repoi't (continued)
Sti-ucture, governance aiid manttgemeiit
In 2023 their were Six Incelin&Fs, xiid two exli'aoi-diiiai'y tneelings of tlie fiill Coiijicil dui-211g tlie year cll)d &evcJ)
nieeliiig.s of tlie Siaiidiiig (".oinmiltee. Repoi'ls froin Cojninitleeb Woi'king Pai'lics were received by Ihe Council
aiid di%cussed where necess£liy. fabi'ic Inc111ei-s. coiiccI'nii)gT all the pi'opcities fol. wliicl) the PCC hds inaiiiteiiance
i'espoiisibiliiie%, were i'e¥ul<lf agTcnda iteins. The Coiiii¢il ib veiy gj'atcfiil lo the I,i'iends of Slierboime Abbey foi. their
finaiicial supi)orl in fui)diiig majni. i)rojeLt% and Ilie OiiLIOII)U IN)utitie inainleiiance ai the Abbcy,
Tlie Ani)ual Parochial Cl)urch Meetii)g foi" tlie Parish of the Abbey ChuTcli of St Mary the Vii"giii, St Mary
Magdalene. Castleton and St Paiil's Cl)Iii'ch was Iield 011 7 May 2023.
At the PCC meetii)g to elect CliurLhwai'dei)s held on 7 May 2023, the following ivere elected to serve as
ChurchwaTdeii%.' Ddvid Ferguson, Joi)Htliaii Rodd, Robei"i Harris, Fi'ances H&%tings, NiLk Pascoe and Sandr2¢ Gri2ve5.
Nick Pascoe was welcomed tlie new churchw￿￿en for Si. Pauls, ¢hui"ch.
At the first IneetiiigF of the new PCC on 15th June 2023, the followinLF decisiojis were made..
David Fifield was elected as Lay Chair aiid Julie-Ai)n Soul was elected as Secretary.
It was a8lEed th&t Nigel Chappell should take oi) the i'ole as Treasurer for tlie Abbey. This Post was agreed iii
princEI?le.
John CJDssinan, Ti]n Farr and Hari'iett Cliappell were elected to the PCC for 3 yeaiE.
Co-opted Ineinbers Rev. Hugh Bonsey, Jiilie Mahony and Julie Ann Soul weie elected to serve until 2024.
Elections were held foi. laity ro servc on the Sl)tTbon]c Deanery Synod for three years. Mike Keatinge. Yvorme
Libbey and Paul Boyd-Lce were elected, le£iving 4 vacancies.
Mike Keatinge was appointed Cliaii. of the Fabric Coinmittee.
In S¢ptenibei' 2023 bi'ancis Ha%ting8 and Robei'l l.lairis resigiied a.8 Chiirchwai'dens, both on tl)e giDunds of ill Iiealth.
Mr, Paul While lias been ai?i)ointed as Chui'chwarden of St. Mai'y Magdalene. Casilettsn.
Noliii'e ofgoiiÉriiiiig dociiiiiÉiil
Tl)e P(11-OLliial Cliurcli Council of tl)e ELcle8iastt¢cil Paiish of Sl)erborne with Clc Stleloii (Shei'boine Abbey PCCI is a
body Gorporatc eslabli%lied by Ihe Cl)Ul"Lh of Englalld. The PLC operates undei Ihe Parochial Cliiiirh Coiincil
Powers Mea%ure. The PCC'S liegistered Chai'ity Number i5 1130082.
The United Bencfice of Sliei'boi'ne wtih Castlelon and LillinL7ioti was cre£iled by ali Oi'cler in Council in 1927. It was
furtliei. expdiided in 20U6 with Ilie addilioii of the Paj'ish ot LoiibFburton. wliich was ti'ansferied fi'om the BencfiLe of
Dung>eon Flill by a Pic sloral Scliejne iiiade by the C.Iiurch CoIiiinissionLib in piir8uanLe ufthe l)astDral MeasuiE 1983.
I'lie Par]blie￿ of Lillinglon and Lon&?biii'ltsn i'etaiii theii. Pai'ocliial Cliiircli CoLincil% and piiblisli Ilieir own
Annual Repoi'ls.
Fi'oiii l Deceiiibei. 2016 the Benefice of Slierbornc willi Castleton, Lillington and LonbFburlon was eslablislied as the
Sliei'boTne Tcaiii Mini51iy by a Pasloi-al Sclieii)e Inade by Ihe Cl)iiicli Coininissionei-s in i)Ul'bil(Ince of Ilie P1( StOTal
Measiire 2011.
Iti Septeinbei. 2017 Sl Paul's Lliurch Idedicatcd iii 1957) was desi&71)Ated by Ilie Bisliop as # 'Parish Cenlre of
Worsl)ip" i'aihej. Iliaii a 'Missioii CliurLIi"
Page 4

The Parochial Church C(buncil of the Ecelesiastical Parish of Sherboi'ne with Castlet4)n
Ti'ustees, Report (continued)
Reciiiifiiieiit ftiid aijpoiiitiiEeiil of iritslees
Members of tl)e PCC al'e eithei. ex otyicio oi. elected at the Annual Pai'ochial Church M¢etii)B in accordance with the
Church Representation Riiles. A full list of meinbers of the CoLin¢il ss contained in this i'eport.
Tl)e PCC operates Ihi'oubFII d nujnber of cominiltees and working pai'lies betwceii full mectii)g% of the Council. The
reports of theii. woi"k duriii¥ tl)e year follow this repoi'l and should be l'ead as part of this rcport.
Thei'c ai"e iiiany diflerei)t bFI"OUP8 working witliin the pai'i%h for the benefit of chui'bh meinbei's and tlie wider
Loiiiiniiiiity. l-lieii. repoi'ls, wliich follow, should also be l'ead a5 Part of tliis report,
Reliiliuiisliips iVElli ielotedpui'lies
Sherborne LoLal TrJcum¥nlcAI Partiier5hip
The Pai'i8h is & full meinber of tlie LEP. operating as Sl)erborne Cliuiches Togetlier.
Mlljor I'i.8liJ uiid iiiuiiogeiiieiil oj'iliose I'isks
Risk maii4gemLlIt
The ti-lislees hav¥ examiiied tlie inajor stTategic. biisiiiess and operational risks wliich the chai'ity [￿￿Les. This
iiivolved pi'ioritisiiig th¥ poteiitial iinpact und likelihood of occurrence, togBther with identifying means of
itigation.
Tlie Ch￿l1.itY ¢ot]tinues to develop its policies and procedures to redii¢e fire and health llnd safety risk. and trdin all
personnel as appix)Pll<1te.
Our safeguaidin& policy conliniics lo develop i)rotection policies for children, young persons and vulnerable adults.
and mainliiins the Ir)ining of all engaged in(lividuals working withii) the cliai-ily.
Specific impoitaThce is i)14ced on events held within the Abbey's community. over and above noiinal worsliipping
services, wl)ei'e i)rocedur¢s and det1c iled iiisurance aiE reviewed to iniligatc any pvssible i'isk Ic l'eas.
Aeliieiieiiieiils oiidpcrfoi'iJiaiicÉ
Detc1ils of activities undertaken diiring the yeai., a% well as fiituiE plans are contained witi)in the iiidividual repoils
that lollow.
Page S

The Parochial Cliurch Council of the Ecelesiastieal Parish of Slierborne with Castleton
TJ'ustee$' Report (Continued)
R¢ctor's repoi't
In writiii¥ this report to you agaii), it doe5, as always. cause Ine to slop and i'eflect oli the year that has passed.
This yeai. I give Ihaiiks for the h"emendou% amoiiiit ofdedication giveji to our benefice iii such a Inyriad of way% aiid
tliei-e is iiiucli to celcbrate. Thi5 repoi't pi'ovide% a wviidei-fiil oppoitiiiiity l() i)ot only cclbbi-<lte tlic life of our ChurLII
in tlie pa8t year, but also, lo expi'e8s oli belialf ofthe pari%li tny Inust siiiccre ili&iiks foi. all tliat 1.% done and coiilijiues
lo be doi)e.
On a Jnorc personal note, l ain 5urc thai you will want lo joiji me in this, to expre%% our deep set]se of gTatitude to all
OUT I'elircd r>iiest8 wlio I)￿ve givcn ui)stintiiigly duriiig tlie past yeai.. 11 hd5 bceli very si)ecial to welcoiii¢ TIIE
Revejeiid RebeLLa Ma¢Donnell as oui. i)ew ciii'ate. In tliis diaconal year, Be¢ca IE alieady giving $0 much to u.%, aiid I
an) delighted lo have her as our curate ai)d look fonvai'd to workiiibF willi l)er oirer the 3 years. I woiild like also to
express oui" sinccie Il)diths lo all our Cl)ui'ehwcli"deii%, Vergers, aiid office staff, We have been delighted to Iiold
seivices in tlie Abbey witli the Dorset Couiity Couiicil this yeclr as wcll a5 Inany Ineinoi'ial servicts for people of
Dorset and of coiir5e fliiiei'als for 11)fflnbei's of our cliurch family.
It is alwdys dangei'oiis to pull out thiiigs in the past year tl)at have been pailicularly special. for you ea8ily mi
soJneiliiiibF, %0 I won't do that, but to all who have cojiti'ibuted to Ilie vdrious woiidei'fiil evei)ts in tlie past y&4r please
low how n)u¢h yoii al'e appieciaied. It 15 thoLigli, appi'opi"iate that we iemtmber duriiig tl)e last year the Inuineiitous
o¢casioiis as well as soine sadness.
Wliilst an aTmual report is veiy inuch a tiine to look back And reflcct. it is also a tiine to ponder foi. a Inoment on the
jOUTney that lies ahead of us. Fi'oin the many di.5CUSSiOllS that I have been Iible to have, l know that there is reic I
exLIlenieiit and enthiisia.%Jii for tlic fuiure. We continue to be vejy cictive iii endeavoiii'ing tu build a tvilet facility
Iiere in Ihc Abbey. It is oui. hope tliat this year will see Ilie project coini)lete, there are many thkiiik% owed to so inany
who hdve joined lis in our work to achieve tl)is pi'ojcct. ThttiE al'e m11 ny Ihillgs ahead. which I hope we will be able
to look back on next year with gjcat exciteineiit. It is a journey that we will take together., as a benefice we
tnd¢GlVOUI' to discern tlie dii'ection in wliich God is calling us and how he wants to serve hiin and tliose ètround us
in Ilie coinmuniiy in wliieh we ai"e so fortui)ate to live.
So, lo the year ahead, w¥ look foi'ward with cnthusiasm and excilemeiitj 11 nd I Iliank God that we will W£llk tliis
journey togethei., ￿ecking to ¥row in undei"5tanding ol the nature of God's abiindant love, and the grace he pours
Iipon us as we serve hijii in this beaut2tul placc.
Tlie Reveiendmai'iiii Lee
Page 6

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastieal Parish of Sherborne with Castleton
Trustees, Repoi't {eontiniied}
Psti'hsh Safegu#i'diiig Rei)ort
SitppoJ'I fiFidgiiidlliiee
'riie PCC is coininÈlted to tlic proinolion witliin the pai'ish of a safe enviro￿ne11t foi Ll)ildr¢n, youiig people and
adults ai)d to re&pond pi'omptly to safegjuai'ding coJ)cei'i)s ui" allegatiojiq. Thc PCC lTrds a managerial oveiEight of
Safeguai'diiig in Iheii. capacity as 'Fru&lees. Ineinbers are i'eqLiired to hold Eidianced DBS aiid cojnplete 'Basic"
SafegLiai'ding ti'ains11g.
In 2023 five safcguai'ding mttlter% arose wliich were of eiioiigh sigiiificanLe to reqiiire the advice and suppoil of the
Diocesan Safcgllai'diiig Tcam. wliicli i"tadily given. A fui'ther two malters were dealt with Iocc111y in accordancB
with the Abbey'8 policy and procedures.
Tl)e Choral scholar% heTE for 2023124 reLeived their iJcce.s8ary Safeguai'ding clearance froin their po%itioiis at
SlieTboTne Scliool. When tlie clioir sang at Westininster Abbey tliey were reciLiired to have a nominated oiialified
pci'%on (i.e. wilh Dt48 & Ti'aiiiinkl wilh thein. Oiir IhHnks go lo Graliain Be&t, a niembei. of tlie cl)oii", wlio agi'ccd to
fulfil thÉLt role.
In 2023 the Diocese asked PaTsshes to iise an online 'Parish Dashboard" to enable PCC'S to easily oversee rhe
curreiit position of Safeguai'dii)g i'eqiiireinents etc and to identify wlicre actsoiis iii'e iiecessaiy to COlTect oin15sions.
Wt did not %ign lip to this in 2023, but have discussed tlit inatter with tlie Dtoce%e. specifically ovci. the questiuii of
wlietlieL' St Paul's could have theii. own Dashboard whilst not having their own a PCC. A decision has beeli defeiTed
to 2024.
Tj'niniiig
'rhere is no aiitomated remindei. %ystein for Training renewals (diie Every 3 yeais) and theTefore PSOS througliout the
Diocese al'e reqiiijed to keep inanu?£ I records.
In 2023 seveial people renewed the tvdining aiipJDPI'iate to their roles. Most of these renewcils were done by
acces&ing the CotE Online sessions.
Diselo.siiJe Buiriiig Sepvicc (DBS) Siolislics
Tlie Chiirch of England's 'Safer Recriiitmeiit" praLtice giiidEince defiiie8 those Tol¥s for wl)ich Di%Llosui"e & Bai'l'ing
Service {DBS) Cei'lifi¢ate% are required.. The CotE policy is that CertifIcates must bc r¢newed Lvery 3 years if th¢
holdei. is 8till in a role wliich requii'es il. Witliin the PaTj5h the numbers during 2023 were 11 s follow8'.-
ND of DBS
t l Jan
43
Deletions
& expii'ies
Expiries
Renewals
New DBS No of DBS
at31 Dec
40
Abbey
Castleloll
St Paul's
(8)
10)
10
34
TOTAL
76
(22)
{18)
18
li
76
Noles..
Dcletions iilLliides llio.se no lonbFeT in roles, & Ihose willi roles no loiiger IEqiiirin¥ DBS.
Nurnber8 above EXCLUDL CleTby. Licei)sed Lay Minisiei"s (LLMS) and Lay Pasloi"al Assistants ILPAS) for whom
i'ecoi'ds al'e i1)an￿￿Ted Lenli?Ily by Ilie Diocese.
In addition to Parish DBS applicatiojs & renewals. Ihe PSO'S also continue to vei'ify api)licalions on
behalf of 8alisbiii.y Dioc¢se ii) respeLt of Clei'gy ILLMs/LPAs living iji tlie area.
Duvid uiid Lyii Rayiy¥i', Pai'ish Sllfegifal-dinx OfficeFS
Page 7

The Pai'oehial Church Council of the EeelesiastlLal Pai'isli of Sherboi'ne with Castleton
Trustees, Repoi't (continued)
8hei'boi'iic Abbey ChurcliwArdeiis
2023 was a very busy yeai. in the life of Sl)erboriie Abbey.
In Januaiy, we celebi'ate(l Epiphany aiid marked Ploii¥h Suiiday. In Febiiiaiy. we cclcbiated Cai)dlEmas and had oui.
arn)UGII Sknx)ve Luiich in the Cliiiicli Ilall. Wc heai'd abolit the Foolpi'inl% prujeLI, wliich woi'ks with offejiders ajid
ex-otfendei's to help them re-eslablish theinselves on release. Our i)vei'sea5 pix)jeet was the Chei"Jiobyl Childirn's
Life Liiie.
In March, we celebrated Motheriiig Siiiiday and ladie.% iii the congreglcilion weiE given beaiiliful polyaJiil)u8, kii1(Ily
pi'epai'ed by ineinbers of the Niotlici's, Union. lil Api'il, we wel¢vineol The Bishop of Salibbuiy to Ilie PJrisl)
F.uLharEst for Easlei. Day. May saw inany people coinin¥ to the Abbey lo enjoy coiicerts and recitJls as part of the
Sliei'borjie Abbey Festival.
In July, we welLoined oui. As51Staiii Ciiri£ le. The ReveiEiiil BEcca McDoiiJiell aiid her fajiiily, following liei.
Oi'dinalion to tl)e Diaconate in Salisbui'y Catliedral. Dui'ing Aug115t, we wclcoined soine visitijig Cl)oii's duriiibF oui.
own Clioii's su1]￿e1. bJEak.
In Septeinbei., we celebrated Harvest Festival. The colleclioii supported both the Sudaii Medical Link and C]ll'istian
Aid, aiid the tre5h food, lilis aiid packets wci'c given lo Ilie food Bank. After tlie 5ei'vice, Inatiy people tnjoyed
Harvest Luiich in the Digby Memorial Cliurcli Ilall wlii¢h was prepai'ed by the Social Coniinittee.
In OLtobei', theTe was a Fi'iends. Coffee Moiying iii the Cliui'ch H811. Once again, tliere was a PaLk Muiiday Café.
This year. £1 shoTt Pack Monday seiviL¥ Wa.% Iield in tlie Abbey at 2.301)Jn. -Ihe inoiith ended with our annual Day of
Pl'ayer and Gift5.
During Noveinber, we had the United Service of Reinetnbrance and Toy Sui)day. Thaijks to W015hippers'
generosity, we were able to don1c te inany new toys, puzzle5 and games to the Nortli Doi'set Women's Refuge.
Decembei. was an eKIIEmttly busy inoi)thl The Abbey hosted inany Carol Services for local schools, the Mothers,
Uiiion and the Freciniisons. The Adveiit Carol ServiLe was well alteiided and was preceded by d inulled wine and
Inince pies recei)tion for tlie Fi"ieiid% of Slierboi'ne Abbey. Tlie Shoppers, Carol Services were Pciiliciilarly popyl£ir
th￿S yeai. and allracled even Inore i)eople. There wa% Jio steam ti.ain tlii% year, but <1 diesel locomotive fiom
Pettrborough bruugFlIt niany i)assengei's to SlierboTne fol. a Cai'ol Sei'vice led by The Revei"end Ilugh Bonsey. The
Abbey Carol ServiLe Wi15 ijopular evEr dnd held in candlelight. Both Cj'ib Services were packed with
appix)xiinalely 900 al the fir%t and alinosl ab at tlic second. Tlie Midniglit F.uGh<lTi5t drew another laT¥e
congregation. In addition to tlic fniinal serviLes. Inaiiy peoplc giiil)ei"ed iii the Lady c11a￿l once again for an eveninb
of iiiiilled wine and Lai"ol siiTrging and it was good to welcoinc people of (ill age%.
We owe a huge debi of ￿lItitUde to the Clergy teani foi. all of their hard work diiring Ihe year. In addition. we mU￿t
thank the Vergers, Sidesinen, belli'inbFeJ's and llower ai'i"angei's for (ill of their hai'd work. Svii)e peoplL Inay only
conie to the Abbey once a year oi. Inay have beei) visitiiig foi. Ilie fiibt liikne - we hoi)e that Ihiough the Littii'gy. Ihe
wondei'ful Inilbic and Ilie hospit81ity, that they iiiay have experienced tlic gylory of God. entering a% visitors. pel.li1￿ PS,
but leavingi ds Pilgr￿IllS.
Daiiid Fei¥ii3017 uiicI.Joiidihaii RodrfAbbey ChLlI'cltw41'deiis
Page 8

The Paroehial Chui'ch Council of the El eclesiastieal Parish of Sherborne with Castlcton
Trustees, Report (continued)
bric Coinmittee Report
We i'eLogiiisc a naliDiial i'esponsibility foi. the care of Sherborne Abbcy and Castleton Chui'¢h as iinpoilant listed
building5. Gi'adcs l and Il* rc%pectively. ELule%iaqtical exeinption genei'ally frees u% li'om Local Authority contToI
aiid tlie alternative of Fatyiilty Jiii'isdiction, wliile %oinetimes tedioii% and fi'uslTclting, does at leaqt keep lis in the
nds of people who iinder%tai)d cl)urches. We retain exLelleiit i'elations with tlie r)loce￿n Advisoiy Committee
IDAC.) wliose tncnibers incliide both oui. ciin'ent Sn%peLling ArchiteLt and his immediate predeccs%oF. We weir
pleased to be named as runncr-up tor ihe DAC Envii'onineiiial Awai'd in recogJi)ition of tl)¢ 2022 Heating Pi'oject.
We slailed 2023 with two majoi. projects carried over froin tl)e pj'evious yeai.. The new Air Soui'ce Hcal Pun)ps
awaited installiilion of a new ¢able across the Clobe and iiew 5Witcligear to givc lis Ilie requii'ed inLreased electi-ical
capacity. Aftei" nunJei'oiis admini%tr&live issues, tl)e ¢able was finally laid in hlay. Our airhaeologi%t collected a
Loupl¢ of boxes of raiidon) liiiinan boneq. wliich wci'e decently reinterred by tlie R¢clor. The switchgear was
cnclosed in an elegant nem, Lupboard in Septembei". We wei'e therefore able to use the ASHP8 for the %tart of the
heating season.
With much less hussle. the iipgiaded liBhiing was completed in Februai'y with energy-efficient LED bulbs and a new
coi)trol syftein wl)ich gives lis miich greater flexibility. The resLilis have been widely applauded.
Arising from the 2022 Qiiinquennial Survey. we undertook tliEeE sinall conlixcts to addi'ess defects in C¢lSt-iro
downpipe5, dccayiiig mic soiiry Aiid various leadwoi'ks. The biiildinbF is ba.qlC7￿ Ily sound, but we must i)lan for soine
Inajoi. i'oof renewals in il)e next 5-1 U yeais wilh Potential cost of soine £200k. We havc also beei) advised that the
tnoioi. foi. the oi'gat] blower is showing its age And may need to be rewound.
Tl)e main issue of the year has been planning to provide toilets in tlie Abbey. 'fhe pi'oposal for a new wing on the All
Hallows site rec¢ived kipproval in prin¢iplc. But witl) a gi'Eater recognition of the time requii'ed for archaeological
investigations cind i)otential objections, attenliDn tuiiied to a revised brief to provide toilets wiiliin the Existing
building. Our Arcliitect, M<lrcus Chalilrey, developed ali iinHginative sclieme to convert tlie existing vestry block to
toilets, with a new vestry created in the north tl"12nsoi)t iindtr tlie oi'gaii lofi. As part of tlie overall project, we plan io
move the l.101"sey Monuinent lo a intsre promintnt i)oEition in the north 4uire aisle, to create a hospitsility unit in tlje
Lady Chapel and to inst#ll a lift to give wheclLlillir access to the Anibiilatoiy. 'I'he proposals have been on displkly in
the Lady Cliapel since Augiist and cominents have becn welcuined. Tliere £ire nutnei'ous issu¢s of details, appiovals
and, not leic St, funLling to btt addi¢8%ed; but we liupe to be able tu sl¢irt work duiing 2024.
Appi'oval for such Major work is continKent on oiir commissioning a Conservation Management Plan (CMP).
Ariangements have been Jnade with Exetei Univei'%ity undcj. wliich Mr Fi'ancis Brown einbarked in Januaiy on a
3-ycar PIID i)rojcct to i)rovidc a coinpreliensive record uf the Abbey. ils history and ils fiitiiiE developinenl. He has
pi'odiiced (lelailed 8lLidies of arca5 affected by the Tnilets Project and will be giving ii talk on his work to the Fiiends
of th¢ Abbey. who al'e kindly funding this, as ihey do for so much of our fabi'ic expenditure.
The Abbey close is valued as a green space in the eenlre of the town. Under the provision¥ for closed chiii"Lhyards,
il 1% niainl&ined for by qherbome Towii Council. It has featiiiEd an avenue of lim¢ ti￿C% al le1& St Siiice 1729, but
Ihe Siirvivors air now heavily decayed and piogre&sively becoJiiinbF unsafe. Approvals havc been obtained to replant
wsih sixteen new lin)e li'ees to reii)slale tlie his101.ic avet]ue.
Tlie F#bric Coinn)iltee also ovei'qee% work oi) olhei pai'ish properli¢s. Much work was done on a proposal io convert
the foni)er Sliop and Il)e H(lja¢ent Lullilgie into a lea I'ooiii, biii Ihis was shelved iit]lil a possible altei'nalivc in tlie
AliiislioLlS¢ is delerinined. Qiiinqiiennial work, niosily external, was I'ried oiit on the Digby MenioTial Hall; and
Irnewèil of Ilie office Ix)of al St Paiil's de1110nslrated Ihe valiie of good insiilk)lion. AL Castleton wc disLovered Ilial
burial of aslies in a closed Lliuirliyai'd reqiiij'cs faLiiliy appix)val. A(icr In￿l11Y yeai's of teclinical infi'ingeiiienl, we
have applied for Casilelon Cliiii'chyard lo be appi'oved as a 'Garden of R¢ineiiibi"ance' for tlie parisli.
Mike Kealingg
PabFe 9

The Paroehial Chureh Council of the Eeclesiastiei& I Pai'ish of Sherborne with Castleton
Ti'ustees, Report (continued)
Castletoii Chui-chwArdeiis
It has been an eventfijl and fast-moving year at Casilelon.
We began Ihtt yeai. with fi?iiees Ha%ting JEsigi)ing as Churcliwarden atier many yEars of faitliful seiviee. Mucli
gi?litude WA% expi'essed by tlie ¢ongi'egatioii at a ii)o%t happy occasioji.
Robert Hai'ris was i'e-elected as Cliiii'chwai'den at tlie Aiii)ual Meelink. Due to ill health, Robert stepped back fi'ojn
his duties Cliurcliwai'den in the Siiininer. Threc people stepped iiilo tlie brccich li) Sepleiiibei.: Paul Whitc as
Cliiiirhwai.deii, who was accoinpanied by Roger Billiiigs and SaTali Wliite a% Deputy Cliiii'cliwordens. Our Ili()iiks go
especially to Rogei. for his help in rui)niiig the pai'ish duriiig the Autujnn and Wiiiter.
A150. duriiig the Suminer, in Jiine. we welcomed Goj'don Taylor as our new Vergei.. Goi'doii has takcii oli tlie role of
Verger with PlDfes5ionalism aiid dedication. He bj'ings with liiin a wealtl) of expei'icn¢e li) Cliurcli Inaiiagcnienl,
includiiig work in ctLthedrals aiid liaviiig been a Cliurcliwarden ful- tell year5. Goi'don's iiitei'est and suppoit in
higli-quality, effective Anglican worsliip stands 115 in good stead for tlie flltt]re.
As mentioned in last yeai s report, Owen Fliiider has stepped down froin beii)g oui. Hoiiorary Ti'easurer, but he has
been workiiig tireleqsly all ye<ir.%upportiiig Alan Gillard, appointed iji May. who has had to re.8igii diie to ill he(Jlth.
Additionally, Owen has assi%tcd our new Treasui'er. Nigel Cliappell froin the Abbey. Our Church accout]ts al'e now
Inanaged Lenti'ally at the Abbcy by Nigel since his appoinlinvnt in the Autunin.
In the late Autlll]￿, we were sUPPOrted by tFllEe oi"ganists, who assisted iii oui. worship wliile our excellei)t Johii
Matl)ew was Eiidisposed briefly. Our thank% go 10 Huw Ridgeway, Louis Fletehcr (a Clioi'al Scholar fi'oirj the Abbey)
and Jon Riding for tlieii. inuncdiilte dnd williiig l)eli) iii ensuring that our worship was aLcoJni)anied by tlie orgcin. We
owe Jolin (iii enoi'tnous debt of gi(Itilude for his regular Iniisical accoinpanijncnt., espccially sung Mattins. John's
expertise and knoivledge sptins a i)eriod of over 40 year%, wliiLh has JEsulted in faultless and fully siippoj'live oi.gan
playing al the healt of all oiii. services. We air pmiid lo knDW tliat we Are ain0ng￿ a hèiiidful of Churches in our
Dioccse and beyond who ekl)erience Such splendid Anglici¢ n wor%hip froin the Book of Coinjnon Ptayej..
Tlie Cliuith Committee met four times during the year. In addition to noi'inal ninning Ilctivities, three speeial
pJDjects were discussed..
l. Defibrillator. The i)rojecl WRS put on huld dui'ing tlie year and will be brougl)t to completion in 2024. A
defibi"illatoJ' will be installed on the wall of the Chuirh, Subject to the i'elevant penni.%sions. to serve both the Church
and local eoininiinities.
2. Tlie Cliurch Cominittee ha5 been Branted pern)issioii to refui'bish the bi'a55 chandelier. Fiiuncial systetn.% hdve
been i)ut in i)lace to eiiable the woi'k to be undejtaken and cojnplettd during the early pai't of 2024.
3. Tlie Cliurcliyard ha.% been Il)e siibject of a reli'ospcclive Faculty, lo eiiable aslies lo be intei-jed it) the fiiture, and
for its closure to be i'eLognised toi"Inally. The inanageineiit of our ChuiEhyard l)dS beci) overseeii by the CuJ)iinillLe,
with piii'liculai. work having bEen undeJ't¢lkeii by Bj'ian Pliillips and Mike Ke1c tingFe, wliich has been ci-ULial tn Ihis
i)roject. The upkeep of tlie Cliui"chyai'd will suoii be suppoi'led finanLially by llie Town Ctsuncil lo oiir consideiable
advantabFe.
Tlie 'flower ladics, have worked effeelively willi notable comi11￿tInen1 and expeilise lo enable visilor5 and
worsliippeib lo enjoy theii. beauliful crealions.
Special sei'vices in 2023 witli allcndc1nLe hibFI)ei' Ih£in Iioi'llldl were as follows..
9 April F.aslei" Day. Fesldl M&llitis + Holy Coinii)iinioii SO,
30 Apj'il Pe.%ldl Mallins suiig by I'he BeLkei Consoi'l 55.
23 Jiily Pali'onal Festival. Tlie Revcrend MHI'liti Lee 34.
12 Noveiiib¢i' Reiiietiibrance Sujiday. Tlie Rcveiend Robert Cjreeii 45.
25 Deceii)bei' Chi"islinas l)ay. Lessons & CaTols + Holy Coinjiiiiiiioii 47.
Page 10

The Paroehial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Sherboi'ne with Castleton
Ti'ustees, Repoi't (eontinued)
Diirin¥ th¢ year there wei'e five Baplisins, 12 Fiiiiei'als l Memoi'ial sei"VlLe% aiid one Weddiiig. We had tlll'ee Giie8t
Preachei'.% on six occasions.. The Revei'en(Is Clii'i8tophei' Huitson, Jolin TowiJend and Robert GTeen. 'I'he Reverend
M2¢ I'lin Lee officiated aiid preaclied al Ilie PatTon#l F¢%lival iii Jiily.
The les%ons at Mattiiis have been l'ead tliroiighout the year by the following people.. Roger Billings. Frances
Hastings, Owen l.liiidei", Nityk Kettlewell. Elizabeili Pi'ieliÉl1.d. Jean 'l'homson. Paul Wliite aiid Sai'ah Wliite. The
i"eaders' diligence and Lommitinent are appiECltited enom)ously by the Mattins boi)gi'egalion.
There wcre six Fellowship Sundays, oi) wlijLh ineinh¢rs of the Congregation enjoyed excelluit refirshinents
Inanaged inost effici￿}11Y by Roger Billings and his helpers.
Hiig17 Roii.gey É717d Robei'l HIIFI I,$. Cliiii'chw¢ii'deii.s
St. Mttiy Magduleiie, Cu.%ileloiT
Page I I

The Parochial Chureh Council of the Eccleqiastical Pai-i5h of Shei'borne with Castleton
Ti'ustees, Report (eontinued)
St Paul'5 Cliurcliwllrdeiis
What ai) action-pdLked year 2023 has beeii.
St Paiil's coiitiiiue.£ to be a welcomiiig coininunily of people froin diffei-eiit walks of lifc and diffeiciil LhuTcII
Iraditioiis who Loine togethei. to ineet with God in wor%liip ai)d lo 'do life., willi all ils challcnges. logethci., Aloii
witli oui. regFulai' gi'oupb Tea & ("l)at. Meet & Eat, Tums Tols & Tinies we have enjoyed ¢liui'Lh lunches aiid a
Newcojrei-b Slll?pcI'. 11 gFoes withoiii sllyiiig tliat none of our eveiits would have liappened if it hddn'l be¢ii foi. tlie
dedicated baiid of voluiiteers who so genei'ou%ly gFive of their liine week 011 week. 2023 saw the laiijicli of 5eveTal
new initjdtives pione¢r¥d by Jiin Edie vui. vicai. to engagc with our local COiLlliElt]ity, it feels as though he, Becca and
the cliildien liHve been with u8 years i)ot Jnojiiliql I
lil February tlie decision w&.% Jnade to eiid tlie warm space pmvi5ioiI following vei'y POOT Llptake, howevcr Il)is led to
a Iciigiliy discussion as to how we iniglit belter serve those iii iieed in our area. A5 a iEsult, we iiow P1( rliiei. with
F81eslidTe to provide a weekly lai'dei. oii a Fi'iday inoi'jiiiig M,liere people c￿n obiaiii food t a l)eavily qubsidised l'ate.
In addilioii, tlieie 15 ali oppoi'lunity fni. those wlio coine to enjoy a bacDn biitty witli tea aiid coffec when they collect
theii sliopping. This lia% proved to be hiigely 5ucces8ful with nuJnbeiB bFI'owiiig so inueh anoiher larder l)a5 Stai'ted iii
Ilie West Eiid ofilie town.
Apiil a chdiige in the leadej'sliip leaiii a5 several coinmittee membeiE, ijicludiiig Neil Greiiyer our
Cliurcliwai'deii. stepped down. We are giateful for all the tEine alid eKpeili8e they have so willingly given to Si Paul's
ovei the yeai's. and we ale Ihankful foi. those wlio have stepped up lo replace thein oji the team, iii i)artiCL]IL3r Nick
Pa5coe who has replaced Neil a% CliurcliwaTden.
su1)￿]el. launched with Ilie Coi'onatioi) of oui new King Cliarles 111 on 6th of Mlly followed by a flurry of activities.
As p￿11't of tl)e Aichbisl)01) of Cantci'buiy'5 Vlslt tn tlie Dioee8c iii June. Jiin Wlc s partieulai-ly dcltghied to have Ihe
opportunity to work with Cliri.E Andrew in Slierboiije Pi'iingL iy Scliool and Slierboriie Abbcy Cb. Priiiiary School.
Cl￿1,8 is one of tlie Arcl)bisliops' College of Evangelists alid WOEks across the UK in delivering si)01ls ministiy in
schools. On the l Oth Jiine, thioiigh tag i-ugby gaines. CIITI5 and Jim %i)cnl iiine willi Yedr 5.% looking at values nd
teain woi'k and iii PL2rticulai how we can learji good value% thiDLEgh si?ort. Iii each setting èi Lhei'iy ti'ee was 1)l¢inled to
n￿rk a space set aside for prayer in scliool.
Tlie Community Fun Day in early Jiily was very succe%bful. blc5sed by the weather it was a wondej'ful opportunity
to ge with people in our drea and build relatlOll81iipb. Following on fi'om this at the end of July we hosted a
Di'eain Sclieme for 3 ddys, l)arlnei'ing with our local i)i'iinLgly scliool we siiijpoi'led ¢hildFeii to ledl-ll new bkills. %erve
the eoiThnunily and providc si)a¢e for pl'ayer and i"eflection. Over tlie 3 dHys theJE Were opportiinities to biiild bird
and insect hoiise%, pldllt oiit flowers, Inftkc biintinbF and api"on5 for the new scliool Lafé, bake, Icain how to
upcycle oldlworn Llullie% trj naine £7 few. The childreii earne(I poit]Is for their efforts wliich were coiivci'led lu cash
wlii¢h they COLild then Spend on a ti-eat oli the fii)Hl day. Thi5 ended up beijig a PiLniL wjih I'i£za froin Tambiii'ino
and ice Licaiii froiii Ecco Cjelalo towii. Diii'ing July, we also hosted IneiiibeJ% fi'om t]ie C'hiirLh Mission SoLiety to
leai'n of Ihtir woi'k in Sudan, theii. le%tiinoJiies wei'e i118piring dnd wc look foThvai'd 10 511PPOJ'ting tliein in Ihe futlTre
IhiDugh FIAC.
Aiiliiinn caine dnd 60 1)lus lrnvelled lo Ainincrdowii ReliEal Lenli'e to spend a iiiiie of fellowsl)ip, sliidy and
i'eflection on oiii. hop&8 for Ilie fiittirc of St Paul's gFoing foTwai'd. It was woi)dei'fiil to welcoine back Ilie RevcJEnd Dr
Jolin Rennie dnd hEs wife Sheelagli a% facililalors and we were blessed lo liave Lwo Yoiiili woi'kci% fi'on) Yoiitli foi.
Clu-isl to lead our younL l)¢ople in Ilicii. study iiiid w01311ip. A greal liiiie wag lidd by all, a higlhliglii being the 'St
P1( ul's got 'falenl' concet't ably Iiosled by Master of Cereinoiiies cl)Lircliwai'deii NiLk I'asLoe. PeedbaLk was so
positive we l)ave ali-eady booked a repeal for Ilie Spi'ing of 2025. At Ilie eiid of Oclobcj. biiil(liiibJ oil Ilie siicccss of
last Hallowccii .Tiiii aiid Becca liosled aiioiliei ligFlIl .4top' witli l)ot ¢lioLolalc, ILILky dip and sliellej., tlje Vicaiage
oil KiiibFs Road. All wlio SUPPDFted were LiIMa£ed by the 200 plus visitois iiisi)ilc of dppalling weaihei., a redl blcssing
lo Ihe Coinmunily. in particulai. tlie soddei) pareiils.
Page 12

The Pai'ochial Church Council of the Ei celesiastical Parish ol. Shei'boi'ne with Castleton
Ti'ustees, Report (continued)
In Novembei., we Were delighted to welcoine ail aii)bassador froin the AILheimer Society. This was an open inecting,
facilitated by tl)e Pastoial l-eam to wl)ich soine 30 people attended from local cliui'ehes &iid Lommunity. This
interaLlive se88ion deinon%trnled how we caii siippoi1 those in our coininuiiity living witli Demeiitia. All wlio
Ilended feli th¢y leanied a great deal abolit the cliallengres of the conditioii and how we cali, with knowledge,
gi'eatly inipi.ove Ilie Quality of life ol. Ihose who I'e affeLted.
RcineinbTance Day 2023 was n)arked foi. the fir%t tiine in a joint servi¢¢ with Cheap St Church led by Jiin and
Reveiend Kate Conrad the Metliodi%t niinistei. in chaygc of Cheap St. This provided a l&%s fuiinal oppx)rtiiJiity foi. our
faniilic% aiid our pan(ling Yoiith groups to give thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives
for Ille freedom we enjoy today.
A.s thc end of the yeiir appi'oael)ed the ce picked lip as we 1105ted vur ani)ual Ci'afis aiid Ct)i"ols. a resoundit)g
siiccess packed to capaLily. Our Cosmic teani delivered a wondei'ful Nativity service and thi.% ycaT we held a service
of quiet rcflection on Christma% Eve in addition to OLir family celebration on Christmas Day, all were well attended.
Looking back over tl)e year we have 50 Inuch to be thankful for, our chiiirh family has incirased (with average of
87 peoplc atteiidsng beiween 8ept and Dec) and we have up to 20 childreii attending on a regulai. basis. They are an
absolute joy and keep us adul18 on our toes. In order to b¢8t suppoi't o￿T yuung people, th¢ Co%inic (children on
Sunday meeting in cliiii"Lh) Team and Jim'% work as Cliaplain of the Gryphon School it is our hope to appoini a
youth worker in 2024.
Tlie PiistDral Te1¢ m ¢Olltiiiue theii work in .Rupi)01ling, encoui'agingy aiiil bcfrieiidiiig people in variety of places and
settinLFs. This is undergirded by pr1( yer and a desii'e for people lo feel Lai'ed for and to know 11 nd walk with Jcsiis
mole closely. Over 2023 tliey made 786 contacts visiting in hoines, caie l)omes, hospital, phone &ills. coffee shop
visits and walking. One member is also t￿rt of the hosi)ital chaplk)incy teain.
Ovei. 2023, a number of individuals have also taken on lay training, including two people undertttking Diocesan Lay
Pioneei. courses, a sooii to be new Lay Pastoral Assistant {LPAI who has joined the Pastoral ream and the same
pei'son considering Local Lay Minister (LLM) training.,
People have been genei'ous in their giviiiK wl)ich has enablcd us to siibsidise our Weekend Away, replace the office
roof, 8uppoI'I i?rojects through FIAC, purchase new A V eqiiipment wliich has includ¢d a new projector und 1( PSiino
and miLIDphone8 foi. our Worsliip gi'oup. Moving forwai'd, due to the inci'ea%e in Lhurbh Ctivity it is our aim to
Iipdklte oui. adinini8trative systein and inci'ease our admin 1101113 early iii the New Yeclr. On the hoi'izon for thtt
coming yeill. 18 Alplia. New Wine nd a repeat of the Dream Scl)eine to iiaine but a few, ￿ls they say 'Watch tliis
Worshi
Disci
In 2023, Sunday sei'viccs al Si Paiil's havo ¢onliJiiied (iii general) the usiial patteill of one All Age, one Holy
Coi)iiiiiinion and two Moinin¥ Woi3hip %erviees each nionlh.
Thci'e weie several i)IEftchinbF series over Ihe yeaT, some that {roughlyl followed the leclionaiy reading% of Year A
(Maiihcwl and oihei's that dTrdn'l. In parliculic I. were the series on Ron)an8 8. Mission, Ciillurc and Chiii'ch, All Age
service Ilial fociised on St Paiil in Ilie siiinii)ei' liolidays and fiDni SeplLlI)bei' lo Advenl a sci'ies called Liiile Book,
Big Mes%age wliich helped us exploiE sume of tlie (often) less exploTed books of the Biblc. Fiii'iher leacliingr was
ieLeived iii Life (iroups (see Irpoi'l), biit over Lent gi'ollps were encoiii.uged to run thc LeLtio course by Pete (sreig.
Jiin also ran Ilie course virtually which was cltlended by St E>aul's Chiirch inembers and otlici￿ fix)ni Ll)e Paiisli.
P&ge 13

The Paroehial Church Couiicil ol. the Eeelesiastical Pai'ish of Sherborne with Ca5tleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
Aftet. Easter Becca Edie took ovej. Ilie coojyliiialion of tlie Woi'.%liip Gi'oup aiid liclS wul-ked to offer inorc of a breadtli
of niiisic froin all age action %oii88 to Iraditiviial wor%liip. Rcgulai. piacliLe5 Outside Siii)day inoriiiilk Iiave been
difficult to a￿ange due lo people Vdiliibility, but they have Inel twice. The gi'oup lias %cei) one pianist sland down
dftei. m3iiy year% of playing bul 15 51111 i'ea%oiiably well I'esourced with people. Saying tliis, new mii%iciaii8 aiid
singers ale alivay.% welcoine to find out liow tliey iniglit get involved.
WoJEliip at St Paul's on a Siii)day woiild not happeji without the inany people who lielp, Tlierefore, to all tliose who
welcoine, -Eet up ai)d pack (luwn, prei)are aiid %erve irfiesliineni8. pray, lead, ssiig, play iiisti'unients, Tull tlie AIV aiid
live streain, prea¢h, run COSMIC, hoover up the cake ci'umbslll and open aiid lock lip a BIG Il)aith you!
Revei-eiidjiiii Edie. M15 Stiiidi'a GI￿11eS, Mi. Nick Pll.Ycoe
Chap18incy at the Gryplion Secondary School
2023 has not been the inost straigl)t-fonvai'd year foi. the Gi'yphoii Secoiid81y School, with Jim &Fetting to gi'ips with
scliool life Ibalanciiig tlie two role% of vicar and chai)laiiil and providiiig pa%loral Support of staff. Becoiniiig fainiliar
with tlie gFoveinance of a secoiidary 5¢1i001 tl)at sils in a Inlilti-acadciny Iru.%t has been at the forefj'oiit of Jiin's work
froin eai'ly March to the suii)mei' holidays. Along with Iliis, Jim htLS been iiivolved in tl)e Ineiiloi'iiig and suppoit of
young rjeople. ruiiniIig Acts of Woi'.%liip ai)d launching a lledgFliiig Clin.￿tiall UiJioii. He maiiaged to LFct awoy 011 one
of the (iuld Duke of EdiiibLlI'gh trainijig weekends and hopes to do Inore in 2024.
Tlie new academic year brought an inci'ease in the Atts of Woi'sliip iequested at the Gryphon. Thcse have had a
focu5 ori 'the Key teacliing of Jesus, and have looked at thcin&% of coinp&s5ion, jiistice, inclusivity, radical love.
genei'osity, <ilong witli tlie usiial focuses on Harvest. Advent at]d Christinas.
In the summei. tenn, Jiin stal'led working with soine of tlie Sei)ior Leadei%hip Teic In (SLTI aroiiiid a.8tl'3L tegic pl2£ n for
chaplaincy at the Gryplion. This has involved consultation with a iiumber of dep1( ilnients iii scliool that provide
Pastoral siippoi't, plus working with a small Lhaplaincy teain. I'he i)laii sets a visioii for ehaplain¢y of 'M1c ke Jesiis
known thi"ougli word8 aiid actions. and bre1c kb. chciplclincy iTTrto thiEe stiands., Spirituality, Pa8tOl'lL I Caie and oiiii.eic ch
and looks at nieasuring the iinpacl in varioiis areas uf %cliool wlTrei'e Ihese dre iinpleineiited. Along witl) this, Jim
woi'ked with sojne in scl)ool lea￿￿'S111p to think about wliat it me¢ins to be a Churcli of England school.
ReveieiidJiin Edie
Page 14

The Pai'ochial Chureh Council of the Ecele.siastical Pai'ish of Shei'borne with Castleton
Trustees, Repoi't (continued)
Bible Study
Eciiipieiiicrtl Hil)l¢ Siiidy
Oui. two bible study gi'oiip% ]net ikn'oughout the year. eithei. on Wednesday eveniiig or Friday aftei'nooji, and we were
joined in Epii'it by a niiinbei" tsf peoplc acj'oss the coiintry who alsn i'cccive Ilie notes. We look to undeistaiid and
apply the bible in oui. everyday lives. aiid to cover inost sections of the bible ovei. a iiuiiibei. of yeai's.
We slailed 2023 willi a Etiidy of l and 2 The.qqaloiiians, applying Paul's posltivity and teacliing to oiir owli cliiii'ch
situatioiis. Thi5 was followcd by a biief excui'sion iiito tl)e early chapters of 18aiali, concenlnling oji God's
¢ommitinenl 10 hi% people ai)d IoDkiiik forwai'd to the coining of Jesiis. In thc aiituii]n tenn Joi) Ridiiig again
cliallenged us deeply with a %ei'ies on fèiith developing tlie themtt froin the Old Testament into the New, with an
empl)asss on God's faithful Inve foi. us. a tlieine a¢i'os8 all tl)ree teiins teally.
We are vciy grateful to Rev Martin Lee for leading our sumjner house communion and enjoyable afternoon lea at
the Vicarage. We are always open to new ineinbEIs.
Johii CF'O.g.lJ1l￿1t
Si Puiil's Lijé Gi'oiips
Tl]roiigh its life giDiips, St Paul's provides the oppoi"tunity for fellowship, bible study. prayer and pastoral care for
its own ineinbei's ai)d folk fi.oni other chui'ches too.
We have %everal life-gJDiips, eacli ineLliiig at diffei'et]t tiines and on vai'ioiis days in thE week. Some meet weekly,
otheJ% fortns¥hily. Ciiiyently group Icèidtti's steer thcir %tudy tOPiCS to ineet the needs in tlitir groiip.
Tlie ¢iii'renl leaders have all been volunteering their time and gifting for quite solne time and there is a need for
sii¢ce$8ion plcinning altl)ough none have indicated a desii'e to step down I'iglit now.
The groups al'e mostly at fiill capacity so if anyone feels called to start qoinething new there is certainly %cope to do
so. l)lease have a non-¢ointniltal chat with Jim or ouisclves in the fii'st instanc¢.
We like to think that, with encoura¥ement. more chiirch rnernbers would participate in a group with the obvious
benefit% lo thc Clii'istian jouiney of tlie individual and an enriched chiiirh family as relatsonsliip% fire deepened and
strengthened.
If anyone is interested in joining a life-gix)up, they should please make tl)einselves known to Natalie or Adiian
Morgan.
Nalulie a17dAdiitin Moigll
Page 15

The Parochial Chureh Council of. the Ei eelesiastical Pai'ish of Sherborne witli Castleton
Ti'ustee5' Repoi't (continued)
St Paul's @ The Gryphon 'Cosmic" {Siiiid#y School) aijd Creche
With the exception of the Inoiithly All Age SeiviLes aiid othei. speciMI scasoiidl All Age Services, COSMIC
I'cliildien on Siiiid8y Mcetitig in Cliurch") Ineets evejy Suiiday Inon)ingF al St Pauls@'l-lieGryphuJi. We have 22 oti
the I'egi8lei' between the ag&8 of 2 aiid 15. Atleiidaiice varies between 8 and 15 eacli week. l-liis Seplenibej. we Iiave
been ablc to incTease to thjee giDUPS Ifroiii two).. Roekcls (%Lliool yeai's Reception to year 3), EKcel (School yeai's
4-6) aiid Revelalson (scliool yeai's 7+}. We al%0 ruli a ci'èche, a.% requirEd.
In Septembei. we began iisiiig some i)ew. on-line, Inaterial called Energise, pradiiced by urba￿ Saiiits. Using this
matei'ial we l)ave covei'ed, fni. the older cliildi-eii. tlieinatic topic% such ils tenii)talioii, ai)gei', image (liid self-woi'ili,
fiieiidship and anxiety. Tlie younger gi'oup hali been lookijig al Old Testaineiit chaiacters. Frvin liine to tiine
ii)einbers of COSMIC take part in the ii)oiitlily All Age seivi¢es ai)d Conunuiiioii Servi¢es, aiid iieai'ly all of our
childi'en and young peoplc took a role in this yeai"'s Nativity.
As always, we al'e indebted to oui. dedicated teain of leadeis aiid helper5 who devote their tijne, eiiergy and
entliiisiasin week by week to givE the cliildrcii aiid young people a well-founded aiid biblical uiiderstaiidiiig of the
sci'iptui'es and of wliat it n1eal￿ to bc a Clij'islian.
Ki131 Duiiniiig diidHeslei- GIEel7.Ylo¢k
Page 16

The Parochial Chureh Council of the Ei cclesiastical Pai'ish of Shei-borne with Castleton
Ti'ustees, Report (eontinued)
St Paiil's Cliurch Community Groups
Meet aiid F.at LuiiLIIc%
TIIE lunch club ha.% oiice again been providing hot, two-coui'se meals on tern)-tiine Mondays thi'oughout the year and
we have %lill JnanaLie(I Iv mdll)tain the price at £4 a head. The meals inclLI(led Celebration lunches in the suminer and
befoi"e Cl)ristinas wliiLh wei"t n)uch appi'eciated.
We liave a wonderful, fi'iendly gi'olip of cooks and helpei"s but we would welcome anyoiie who enjoys cookiiig to
jojll our teain. Thi% noi'inally mefins helping out al foitr sessions each terin, We Iiave had a i)umber of new inembe13
joiiiing u5 diiring the yeai. So at pi'esent we liave Jio vacaiicies for further inembers. but ai)yone wisliiiig lo go on the
waitii)g lTrst should contact Sarah at St Paul's Churcli Office.
We would like to th1( nk all our voliinteers for giving their time and energy to ensure that Mcet and Ept is able to
Lontinue to offer food and chat in a warni and relaxed settiiig.
Ki117 Dunjiiiig lliidHe.¥lei- Gi'eejislock
Tea and Chat
Tea & Cliat i% a giDiii) for over 60,%. We meet evel'y Moliday afternoon betwccn 2 & 4pm at St Paul's Church
(except for Augiist & a couple of weeks arouiid Chi'istma£ & EasteT.
Tl)e group started in November 2007 alld has & health & activity focus. On average l 0 - 20 people attend.
We begit] each Ineetiiig with a cup of tea or coffee & then vn¢e a forlniglit Norma Pumell leads us in an hour of line
dancing. On the Itemate weeks wc pftrticipate iii a variety of activities, iii 2023..
* Tlic ukulele blind Laine to enteilttsn us twice and great fun was had by all.
We have heard f¢T%CjI)atitJg & enlerlaining taLks iiboLiI Dor%et with Bollny Sarlin, Lepro4y Mi5SSOn WltlI Chris
Stratta, how to avoid coinputei. sLHms with Clive Miller, New 7.ealL2nd wsth Cathy Broailley, bcing a prison govemor
with Nick Pascoe, tr¢ivelling witli Cl)ris Cain, Riissia with Jim F_die & Latvia with Sandi'a Cutting.
We did Lhair exercis¢8 Wlth Connie and heard froin the social prescriber Vicky Moi"land.
We madc Easter Lnfts witli Ileletj Isbell & cl1ri8tn￿S deLoi"ations with Cliristine Howes
We were deli¥hled to have an outin¥ again this year, visiting Lytes Cary for the aftenioon. And we ulso enjoyed
afternoon tca at Ihe home of the Bruadley's.
We concliide our aftei'noons with a 8econd cuppa & a delicious slice of cake, siipplied by Pam Taylor.
Evel'y week we have our books to borrow, a jigsaw puzzle to have a go at. And there is always a word search or quiz
to get the brain cells working.
l aiii helped in the kitchen by Becky Brake & Pat Batten.
We charge £21week. Do come and join us, we'd love to see you.
We'd als(> love lo hear from you if yoii would like to coine k)nd spe8k to about what ytsu do or an adventure
you'vc been on. or if you have pliolos or newspaper cuttings for the St Paiil's ai'cliive.
Scii'ali Fi'ickei.
Page 17

The Parochial Church Council of tlie Ecclesiastical Parish of Shei'boi'ne with Castleton
Trustees, Repoi't (eontinued)
Tiiins Tinies aiid Tots
it ib a joy aiid delighi to have pai'enL%, grandparents and caiers an'iviiig with their pi'e-SLhool children, to enjoy 2
hours of play aiid inlei'actioii.
Eveiyoi)c is welcoine to atleiid the whole session, wlii¢h starts at IOL2Jn. TedlCoffEe aiid toast 1% offeied until
10.30ain wl)en tlie Mothcis Ujiion La(lies iii Ilie kitclicn have d break fi'oin servingF to pi-epai'c tlie %iia¢ks for latei..
Tlie moiiiing ¢oJJiii)ues with a tlieined ¢raft aLtivily offcJEd froin I lain, iii 2023 tlie Ilieme5 were The Weathei., Food
& Counting.
Snack tijne or fresh frL]it & loa%1 follows For the children and the adults ai)d after fiiiiher fiEe play the session eiid8
witl) 15 Iniiiutes of singiiig aiid stoiy tiine.
At the ￿)d of tlie suinmer lenn. we Iield Ihe.%ession oulsidE Wlth a bouiicy Castle.
Tlie leaders and helpers, wliilst pi'oviding peer support, as well as a slioulder to lean on when needed, continue to
eneoui-age tlie fainilie& to speak to their health visitors if Iliey have aiiy concerns abolit thesi. cliildren. Mol'e
volunteeis are alwdyb being SOiiLFlit to help spi'ead the woi'k, (tliis Ldn be fi'om lialf ai) houi to all inoi'iiiiig), aiid so if
anyoiie is Intel￿￿ted in joiiiiiig thc group plec19e do get iii touch.
We regulai'ly pass on baby aiid toddler clotliing plus toy5 and equii)ment lo fainilies iii need, so donatioii8 are always
gratefully received at tlie St Paul's Cliuirh Office.
T&￿￿ks, as always, Iniist go to all the volunteErb who lieli) before, during and after the session, to the Shei"borne
MothcJ% Uiiion voliinteeiE who work iii the kitclien tvely week pi'oviding hot drinks. toast and healthy snacks
tlllY)iighout the morninb.
In May of 2023 we weTe vcjy sad to lose Doix)thy Daviilson, who liad been a veiy mucli-loved Inembei. of t]ie
volunteer leain for inany yeai's. She is muLh ini%sed by tl)e Lliildi-eii and their cai'ers.
As Tn ei)ters its ei￿lteentll year we give tlianks to CJod for all the fainilies tl)at have passed thJDugh St Paul's doors
since it fii3t 5tai.led and we place tlie continued succ¢sq of the gTOUP into His hand5. We alway.% value PTayer for the
group, especially on Wcdnesday InoTnings during teilln time.
Soiah Fl-icker
Fareshdre Larder and Dro
In
In Januaiy 2023, in Piirlnei'sl)ip with North Doi%el Povei'ty Actioii Gi'oup and Fareshare, St Paul'% Church becaine
the localioii for a weekly Icll-dei. %upiJlicd by ili¢ n<ilional cliai'ity Fareslicll-E. Aloiigsidc ihis in March, Si Paul's
Cliui'ch also becoine a drop-iii pi'oviding free refiesliinenls and hdcon oi. sausage l'oll% and pdsli"ie&. On average, the
lardei" piM)vide% between 20-25 hou%eliolds a week. It is run as a meinbeiNhip sclieiiie, wliere meinbers provide a
bmall conli'ibulion (which bFoe% to I",ai'ehai¢ to Luvei- theii. costs) depei)dingi oil Ilie f ile of tlieii. household and in
reluin ieceiv¢ a Idrk)e SLipply of food. The food is Ubually end of shelf Dr pj-oducts siii)¢i'iiiai'kels ar¢ iinable lo sell
and would otlierwise bFO Iiilo laiidfill. Alil)ougli Fare%l)arc liave liad soine logi.8li¢al bhallenbF&% ovei. tlie la¥t yeaJ-,
tliere is uqiially d bFood siipply of fi'esli, aTI)bienl and lonL life food. lil the July, a becond lai'dcr was sel ui) in the
West Lnd of Slieibui'ne, al Ilie Wesl End Community Flall and, alilioiibTh it Is iiol pi'ovidingT refj'esliinents etL. It is
aLFaiii providing￿ foi. 20-25 Iiouseliold a week. Tlie lai'dei's are starred with volunteerb fi'oiii Si Paul's Chui'ch tlie
widei. coinii)unity.
Revei-e17dJi131 Edie uii£lMaggic IVL71kei'
Page 18

The Pai'ochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastieal Parish of Shei'borne with Castleton
Trustees, Report (eontinued)
Sherboi-ne Deaiicry Synod
Tlie Deanery Synod mel thrice dursilg the year. twicc face to face and oiice by Zoom. On 20th Api'il they gathered at
Thornford School a few day& prioi. to the Coi"onation So ineJnbei"5 were encourabFed iiot only to inai'k the occasion
with music and l'eadings on the day following, but also to do soinetliing else iii th¢ii' cominRiiiilies sucl) as
bellringing. Tlie Bi8hop of Sali£buiy had been pir%eJit al a recent meoting of Lay Cliairq where he remiiided
IneinbeT% that a piEvioiis DioLesan Plan had iEceived a low i'atiiig 111)d needed to be iinproved. Towai'ds this end he
intei)ded to meet with civic orbFanisatlOllS to work together iij Jneeting our objectives.
Tl)e Deaiiery Treasurer i'eported that the level of giving tlii% year ii) the Deaiiery wa5 toward the bottom end of
giving in the Diocese. He pointed out that a major shoFtf1<11 iii this respeLt inay lead to a rediiction in ¢lei'gy i)UTnbeis
and ¢ven larger numbers of parislies in a bencfice. Georgie Moody gave tt pi'esei)tation oil the Living in Love and
F1£ lili Irport. He pointed out tliat tliere is gl'owing pi'essure 011 the chiiiEh to offer blessiii&% to ssme-sex couples biit
equally lo maintain tl)e orthodox positioii of Inari'iage between oli¢ Inaii aiid one woinan, in fact a conli?diclory
position. He coininenied fiirihci. tliat 'Bles5ing sei'vices often look 8iinilar to wedding ceiemonies, biit the liturgy is
oi. sl)ould be dsffei'ent,. Following ihis talk the Deaneiy broke iiito discussion groups after wl)i¢h inembeiE
confidentially piit their opinions oli 'post it, notes wliich enabled tlie ChaEI' to pi'oduce a snapshot of opinions wl)ich
has been fent ot] to Il)e Dioce%aii Synod. This snapshot showed that 5 people were against same-sex blessing.% andlor
airiage, 12 were in favoiir aiid 14 were undecided.
Thei'e di8cu88iot] about valuii)g voliiiiteers and it was pointed out that iinlike other orgii llisi¢ tion￿, tlie cliurLh
i'arely acknowledge% theii. service Bisliop Isaac aiid his wife Nora froin the Siidan had visited the deanery recently
and had expresscd bj1￿t￿lUde for making them so welcomc. Back hoine their siluatiotj was now in a state of civil war
but collections at Melbiiiy nd a fund-raiqiiig conLert at Caltistock had raised several thousand pounds towards the
churcli's aid there. It is hiiinblin¥ that wlieji the Synod ineets there, they pray for us.
Tlie 17 Jiine meeting wa% held at 61anvilles Wooton Village l.lall wliere the subj¢ct of volunteeis continiied lo be
discu88ed. It is thoiight that %iiivttys will show the huge iiuinber of volunteerb in ei2¢h paj'isl), sorne noi considering
themselves a5 iegulai. chitrch¥oei"s. The thinking is that the Rural Churcli is not failing as it is siipported by so inany,
both directly and indtrectly. lil fi£ Ct, in JLily tlie Three Valleys Benefice htld a serviee, with Bishop Karet] in
Ilendaiice, to celebrilte th¢ work of voluntccrq.
A mcijOI' part of the Deanery meeting was Mark Addi%on leading a %tiidy on PrAyer: why we shoiild do it, how to
prt)y 1£ nd how to eiicoiii'<ige othel's to du likewise. 'fhe meeting then broke illto a nuTnber of di%¢u%sion bFI'OUPS who
latei. provided usefiil feedback to Ihc whole meeting. This inLliided that Prayer 51ioiild be consiqtent thoiigh not
eon%tiicled by what 'are the right words to Scly,. It should also top the agenda befoi'e Eneelings £uch a% PCC% for
withoiit prayer it's not worth tuining lip. Silent prayer ha% valiie as well as other people's faith cind praycrs.
Tl)e final ineeting of the year on 2nd Noveinber was held by zoom and attracted a suipiisingly good niiinber of
attejidees. During Ihis, Jaines Cowan gave a Power Point pi.esent￿lI10i] oil the woi'k of the Halo Trusl who de8cribe
their work as, helping 'countries recover afler cont]Èct. Clearing land miTres. to save lives, is at IhE hearl of what we
do. We woi'k wilh COn￿n￿nitIES that al'e too often lurgollcn once the fighling has endcd.. As faT the Deanery are
Conccrned, Iheir necd% are sevei31: prayer for Ihe mine clearer8, publiLlty for their work, appi'oaches to MPS and the
GovLrninct]I beLklUS¢ Ilie OveTseas Aid budget ha.4 been cut resiiliing iii a rediiLtiun in Halo Ti'LlSt's fundink.
Disciissson nexl luri)ed lo a 'Makiiig Jesiis Knowi). woi"kshop atteiided by Ihe Lay Chaiijnan. Tliis had stressed the
need foi. widei. enkFag*eii)ciit and likllSOI) Wlthim ihc Benefices leading to incorpoTrition into tlic Deanery Plan. It was
pointed out that by inclking Jesiis kiiown widely a benefit woiild hc an ijici'ease in chiii'ch attejidance and conbe(iuent
rise in fiinds thoiibFli il wa% also said Ihul it slioiild not jllst be seen a.£ a way to inLrease revenue. In iEspect ol'tliis a
coininenl Siib&Tesied Ih31 Iliere was Vkiliie in ¢realiiic parltjei-bliips willi education and Ilie wider coi)Iniunity.
Page 19

Tlie Pai'oehial Church Council of the Ecclesiastieal Parish of Sherborne witli Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
LaEtly the Deaneiy was told oftlie Three Valley8 Benefice that had hcld a 8tudy Day oi) Makijig Jesus ￿)oWn. With
IE&Tdrd to cliiii'ehes providing a Social Hub, tlie Ldy Cliiiir liad itiitialeil d 'Buildinb?% c.ommillee' di.%cus8ii)g Cliuirli
buildiiibFs bcing used foi. noii-churcli activities. The %ubject of the fiiiaiicial report ai'ose agaiii revealijig Iliat
SlierboTnc Deanery was the worst iii thc DioLese for payiiig Pari%h Shaie wliicli is likely lo have an iinpact 011 dny
reqiiest foi. IEplaciiig clergy who inay iiiove oi. IEtiie. The £75,000 aiiiiual cost lo fuiid a slipendiary pi'iest lia% lo be
seeii in the light of Inost of the Deaiiery not beii)g able to remit a full Pai'ish Sliare.
On a inoi'c pnsilive note Lesley Mccl'eadie desLribed the giEal SULcess of Longburlon Café Chuich Ineeliiig
foi'lnig]itly on 'l'uesday inoi'iiings. It% oj'igiiial focus was un inviting noi)-cliurch inei) but has gi'own beyond that.
es5eiice it now i)rovides a coiniiiuiiity liub without uvei'l cliuiih activities. To aid it, various llgencies qucli as
CO]￿￿u￿7ty Police. WeldiDai' 14ospice &f well as work&liops have beeii part of its progranm)e.
A fvrtliei. outi.each was the setliiig up of a Men's Breakfast Club in the Three Valleys Benefice wh¢re 25 inen now
meet inontl)ly. Fiiially, at the 17 July nieeling Jenny Nelsoii quei'ied whether there woiild be iiiteirsl in fonniiig a
Deanery Cliniate gi'oup. Since IheiTr thi% lias borii fiuil and now ail Eco gi'oup exisls. It% fii%t Jneeliiig cuiisideTed what
was already be2iig doiie %u¢h as clinidle chaiigc awareness, Recyclsiig aiid the Eco awards for chuirhes wliich oiie
Inenibei. coininejited was not h<lTd to acliieve. There is a need tlioiigli, not oiily to tie tIic5e activities in with the
Dioceban visioii, but in order for it to be a truly l)eanery Group, foi. all beiiefice5 to liavc a represeiilative on tlie
group.
PaulBoyd-Lee
Page 20

The Parochial Chllreh Council of the Ecelesiastical Parish ol. Shei'boi-ne with Castleton
Trustees, Repoi't (continued)
Shei'boriie De%kii¢i'y I'reii surer'5 Report
Tlie Deaneiy Iicld ils llsual Im'ee nieeliiigs in the yeai.. A numbei. of iEnPOi'lk)nt topics w¢re discussed.
Livii)
in Love and Faith
In April thi% issiie was fully covered in a piesentalion by the Revd George Moody and discussed at soine lengtli,
both in %inall gi'oups aiid by the Synod as a whole. PCC% wcrc eiicoui'&byed 10 ctsiitinue Ilic di8CLlqSlOI). We were
reininded that Bishop Steplien has said that 'uiiily does iiot iinply unifonnity, and that we could staiid together 'in
differciice,.
Pra
In Jiijie the Revd Tiin Greenslade rejninded us all of tlie centnliiy of pl'ayer. following his pi'e5eniatson. small Broup
dis¢u%8lOllS WCI'C qiiite &iiimaled. leading to a geiiei'al disciission. Wl)ilst we all uiider%taiid tlie impui-lanLe of pi'ayci.,
Lt was reLognis¢d that cliiireh coinmiltees loo often get bogged dowii by the business of riiiining the cliiii'ch, aiid it is
not always obviou% that our faith ss as promineiit as p¢rhap% it ought to be.
Ezo Diocese South Sudan
The DEaneiy contiiiucs to have ￿ close relci1ion%hip with Bisliop Isaac. We conliniie to send fiiiids to asslst, priinarily
with educatiun at Masiiinba SLhuol. It has 700+ pupils. In addition. fiinds were sent to as.%i8t with iiitel￿d1]Y
displaced people, by ijnproving facilities in camps where they liave sought sheltei.. -I'he secui'ity situation in South
Sudan detei'ioTcltLd during the yeai.. It is lllways huinbling to hear that they hold us in their pi?yers, we do ththn.
Aiidi'ew Tomkins continue% to bc our entrgeiic link.
Makin
Jesiis Known
Tl)ere was an ongoing discussion during the year on Bishop Stephen's initiative to 'make Jesus known,. The Synod
eiicoui'<lged PC.C8 to discuss Bishop gtephen'.8 viliion. It Wils geneially reeognised th&t this plan is encoiiraging us to
reinvigorate our pi'esent congiegalions, to %eek i)ew ineinbers c1nd gen¢rally to bring a gi"eklter awareness of Jesus
Cknist in parts of oiir eominunity wlJich have little or no Cljristian understanding.
Eco Grou
This ye&2r the Revd Jenny Nelson 8larted J Deat]eTy Eco GroLlP both to encourage and coordinate environmental
awareness in all chiirclies within the D&?neiy. Tlierc lias beEn ongkoing di%cussioii as regards reducing energy costs
as well as highligliling siistainability prnclices witliin vaiioiis Lhui"Lhes. e.g. thc wild flowei. meadow at tl)e Chyr¢h
of tlie A%%iimption of the Blessed Vir8in Mary, Holnest. All PCCS have been encoui?ged to complete the survey
towai'ds aLhieving an Eco awai'd.
Finance
Church finances Lontittue to occupy a core Part of the Deanery's discussion. Many of our sinall rul'al pai'ishes are
sIrLt￿￿1lftg to Jncet their pai'ish sl)cire request as theii congreg<ilion niiinbers coiilinue lo decline. Sherborne Deallery
ha5 continued lo undei'ptiy ils collecliv¢ pai'ish sliai'e significantly, althoiigh thc %iliiaLion in 2023 was improved
compiired to 2022. Our small nLiiiiber of clei'gy (81 spread over a large nuiiibLr of chuEches {42} make% for infreqiient
service¥. Fewer Scivices niakes li hlirdcr lo giDW congregalions and to incrca8e iEvenue. Undttrpayinenl of pai'ish
sl)are will uliimatcly foi'Le Ihe Diocese lo rediice clergy nuinbers still fiiriliej.. We al'e ￿￿teful io many rctii'cd ¢lei'gy
aiid LLMS who slioiilder a.%ibFnificant workload.
In conclusion. I would like il noted that the Revd 'fony Gilbert. oiir Rural Dean, retires in the middle of 2024. We
are LFI"atefiil for his efforts and wish hili) and Nicola health and serenity in their iEtiiEinenl.
.Joliii Bl'lldsliuw
PAge21

The ParoLhial Church Collneil of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shej'boi-ne with Castleton
Trustees, Report (Lolltinued)
Faitli iii Actioii Committee IFIAC) 2022
FIAC is the sub-cominiltee of the Paix>chial Cl)ui'ch Council i'espon%iblc foi. hai)dliiig our giviiig. espeLially oui.
suppait foi. cliarities, botli Cliristiaii ai)d seciilar, IDbally, i)dljviidlly aiid iiiteniatioiially, ai)d which aTticiilates OUI.
Chi'istian love aiid suppoi-l foi. people in iieed. Tlie thI￿e clJui'Llieb in the pari%li allocate teii percei)l of theii- iiicoine to
this purpose. We are i'e%i)on%ible foi. ideiitifyiiig .%uilable oi'&Tiillisaliuii% tu %uppoi'l. evalualing application5, 11)akiiig
donations. biiildii)g pailner%hips aiid uiidei'staiidii)g willi Il)ose WE sui)poil aiid Iieai'ing aboiil l)vw oui- doiiatiojis have
been used. Any parishioner is welcoine to joii) us.
FIAC hos long-standiiig relation￿1]ipS with pailiculai. organisdtioiis at local, iiational aiid ii)leiiiational level, Inakiiig
regulai. donatioi)s 10 %upi?ort theii), as well aq supporting oihei-s engaged li) Clijistiaii or oihei. pliilanthropic aetivity,
oi. supportii)g iiidividuals in need.
Oui. work 1.% oiily pos.4ible because of the gFenerosity of pi'csciit aiid earliei. members of the pai'i8h aiid the iiillnenbe
woi'k doi)e by 8laff and volunleeiE in ciealisig inconie, cspecially Ihrougli the Abbey and shop. Wl)ile we hHve iiot
recovered to pre-covid income levels we al'e still able to inake significanl eoi)tribiilion5.
Our 2023 gJ?iit was l41.000, the same a5 2022. Of tl)is £7,000 was paid by St Paul's Church £1.358 fi"0]n the
coiigrcgatioji at St Mary Ca511eton, witli tlie balaiicc froin Abbey cenliMI flind5. It was an unusiial yedl as is reflected
in thc figui'es. We stal'led tlie yeai with higlier than usiTral reserves, wl)iLh iiicluded exti'a payjnenls fi'oiii St Paul,
Cl)ui'cli, a reserve fund for suppoi"t foi" Ukraiiie, aiid a number Df delayed i)ayineJits fi'oin 2022. The (Ippaitnt loss of
£14.800 is a rcEult of in3king Ihebe exlia and delayed paymLJits. Addilioi)1< I giviiig this yeai. wa% veiy generous. but
i'athtti. le%.5 than in pievious years. Pdrtly this wa8 becaus¢ w¢ had no special appeals, but also I thiith the fiiiaiicial
simation is having an effect.
Using our revised guidelsnes we focused on supporting fewer, sinall and inediuin sized charities but givitig them
Jnoi'e. I'lle deinandb on all charities in the UK and for Africa l)ave gi'omryi at]d we have Iried to oiir siipport for
oui. key Pi1rtners Ic nd causes, wliile also iiicluding a few new ai'eas of siii)port. For ex1c Inple. we have iiici'eased or
Inaintained oiii" donationE to Sudan-based recipients. CMS, kind Socal youth charitieb but also inade new donations lo
charities working with prisonciB and ex-offenders.
Heleii Ki5akye, oui. CMS Pcirlnei. retired in Augiist after ten year.8 of bervice. We Iiave been in touch with her.
wishing hei" the Very be8t for tlic future and theiE are plan& foi. hcr lo visit 8li¢rborne soon. We liad a wonderful visit
froni tknEe senior members of CMS in August, Joaii Bu%olo, CMS RegFional Manager for Africa, based in Nc111"obi,
the Revd Canoii Mo%es Bushendi¢h Direcloi" of CMS Afi'ica, and Kai'tsbi1c Njogii cross cultui'al mission mdnagci.
in CMS Afi'ica. 'I'hcy spoke wiiih passion c1nd at St Paul'% during d Sunday sei'vice. We have now a¥i"eed to
SIIPPOTt Sain Malisli, as our new Inission P<irln¥i". he a incinber of the LMS Africa team working li) refuge¥ Laihps
foi. South Siidane5e people in Aru1c, Ug£inda. Thi.% approach is in keepingF with tlie shift ovcr Jnany years by CMS to
train and einpower local i)eople lo be effeciive in Iheir Omrn coinmunities. Please pray foi. Sam and the CMS AfiiLèI
teain and for the longevity of this P1( rlneiship.
We continue to suppoi't the Diocesaii work it] South Sudaii and are extreniely grateful for the infomied coininithnent
of Robej't Hayward, who was itbFain able to visit Juba and Ihe DiocesHii Model Sccojidary School. A% pi'evioii
yea13 we have supporled Ihe cont￿niling training of n1113¢5, the Bisliop Alli8011 I'heological CollEbFC and tlie Dioccsan
Siidan CJeneJ'al Fund. Tl)is year wc also siippoi'ted tl)e SlJei'boi'ne Dec1nery Cl)Tislii)as ai)pedl for die EZO d￿0ceSe and
have decided to 11)dke Ihis Ihe firsl of a coiilinuingy sui>poI'I foi. Iliat diocese, wliich is one of Ilie POOTesl iii S. Sudan,
itself in Ihe tive puoresl Lounli'ies ill tlie woi'ld. Willi avei'age inGoine of less Ihaii Sl,000 pa and ilie kibsoliile lowest
human dcvelopiiienl index of <iny Loujiliy, ISS=0.385.. UK 0.941, Soiit]i Sudan's licalih 8nd ediicatioii i'esources
aiid slandai'd of living di'e Ilie luwest in Ilie world.
St Saviour's Iliga, Ldlvia, and Iheii. 11i111isiei- Eli£a Kikinane, Conlinue lo be iii oiir pl'ayers. We now pay Iliein ojie
liijiip suii), Jcducingi Ii'dllbfei- Losls and dllowiiib Ihciii to divide li beiweeii cliiii'ch, sei)i01s club and soiip kilLlien as
besl.%uil% ilieir need. Please pl'ay foi. Ilieiii as Iliey face tl)e ihieat of Iheir bellibFerei)l i)eigliboui's.
Page 22

The Parochial Church Council of the E¢elesiastical Pai'ish of Shei'boi'ne with Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
IAC. eai'inai'ked £4000 10 suppoi't Ilic victiins of the war iii Ukiciiiie. We used £1 000 of thi% to assi&1 SHARFS to
iippoi't it.% work with Uknainian Fainilies in oiii. town and sent £3000 to d Lharity delivei'ii)g lioiisehold iteIns (beds
wliite good etcl to I1108c di%pos4essEd as a result of tho conlijiiiiiig war iii tliat counliy. Oiie special donation this year
was the £5,000 %enl lo the AiibFIiLan Pruvince of Siidai). Tliiq w&s to help with the relocation fi'om Khaitoum to Port
Siidan followiiig the scizuie of chiii'Lh dsseis in the capital by i'ebel foires. We cilso siipported St Jol)ii's Chiii'ch
Grenada. so they could biiy a keyboard for their woi%hip gi'oup.
Nationally we continue to suppoi't cliai'itieg ii)cluding tl)e Bible Society, tlie Chui'ch Homeless Ti'ust and the Faiiniiig
Coin]niinity Network. Locally we 8uppoiS SAYCC (Tini)ey's), Ilendezvous and Futui"e Roots all working with
yoiing people in the town. We have inciEtk%ed Dui. ¥iving to CAP (Cliureh Action on Poverty), based in Yeovil,
wliich has a case worker in our town and 11118urprisingly is extretncly busy, Euccessfiilly helpii)g people budget and
manage theii. finances.
Wsih ihe re%erves we had at the beginning of the year and awareness of the finaJicÈal pitS8uIEs on local fainilies
{Food Bank iise in Shei'borne at i'ecord levels at the end of 20231, we Lommitled £5,000 as a local cost-of-living
fiilld to help out. 'fhis was used to SUPPOrt the Slierborne Pi'i]nary School Christma% box appeal, iiiitiated by lan
Bic Itle, now liead of both Slierborne Primary Schools, benefittingT nee(ly fic Inilie% at both scliools. Furtliei Inoney was
used to help a local iEsideJ)t with no caiyets and the balance of £3000 has beeji donated lo enable priintiiy cl)ildi'en
whose pai'¢Jit% cannot affoi'd it. to go on their aiiiiiial scliool residei)lial ti'ip. We believe tliis to be an important
contiibution as mi%sing out on bonding experiences like this is a vei"y real forn) of social deprivation.
Our Lent project foi. 2023 was launched at a veiy successfiil Slirove lunch, foi wl)ich we tliank all tliose who helped
oi'gani.%e it - And wl)ich made a profit of £455 for FIAC1 Oui. lioine Lent project for 2023 was Footprints, working
with offcnders and ex-offendci'.% lo lielp tliein i'e-estllblish Ihemselvc% oil IElease. We will Lonlinue to %iipport work
like thi8, now fundiiig tlie FrieJid% of Guys Marsh Pi'ison. Work of thi.% natllTe i5 hiigely iinporlanl a% 80 Jnany
siipport seivsee% IiavE been lost, Our overseas project W1cS CCLL Cliei'nobyl Children's Life Line. a Ioc1c Ily baEed
Lhai'ity whicli used to bring families affected by the IklSting health effects of tlie di%aster in 1986 to the Ul<, but since
the pandeinic is now working lo %upport families in thesr home environincnt, witiiin Uktaine. near the bol'der with
Beloi'ussia,. e4pecially we supporl¢d the re-eqiiippin¥ of the local scliool, damaged in tlie war.
We extend our thaTdL% to all who orgciniscd and participated iii Ic very successful 14arvest lunch and the appeal raised
over £1070. Inadvcrtently this money wa% split unevenly, FIAC sent £740 to the Diocesan Siiilan MediLcil Fund, and
the centrnl fund sent £331 to ChrislÈdn Aid, 'I'hi% iinbalaiice will be redressed by a liiithcr FIAC donation to
Cliristian Aid early in 2024. Other chc11"itable donations made by the parish and recorded ¢lsewhere include WeldTll£ir
Hospice £1741and £2000 from St Paul's to the Bai'nabas Trust.
FIAC ends the year with £20,892. Some of this is eannarked.. £2,000 for Juba Diocesan Model School, £1,200 for
Ihe discrelioiiary fund and expenses, ancl £5000 for Uknine relief. That leaves a reserve of £6,000 and £6,700 to
allocate before oiir next regular income iii late 2024.
We extend our heai"Ifelt thanks lo all those whose regulai. and occasional conti"ibulions to the paj'ish enable us to
ruriliei. suppoi'l all these excellent caii%es. I wish alsu io expre88 my tl)atths for the siipport FIAC and I personally
have i'eceived frojn the clei'gy. officers and c.%pccially lo ineinbetT of tlic Faith in ALtioii Coinmittee. FIAC is only
one aspecl of the woi'k that Ilie pai'ish doe% iii siippoi'ling Ihose in neLd. Many other aelivilies lielp people directly oi.
fund-raise, Miich pastoral work goes on i)rivately and evely act of kindncs% and siii)port for thosc who ai"e ill or need
is impoi'lanl. FIAC is pioud and deliglitcd to be pai'l ol. Ihal rich lapesti'y of love and witness.
,JohF3 CIYp,ssiiiuii
Cliaii. Fuiili iii Aciioji Coijiiiiiltee
Page 23

The Parochial Chui'ch Council of the Ei eclesiastieal Parisli of Sherborne with Ca5tleton
Ti'ustee5' Report (continued)
Donatioii% InternRtioiial
Cliurch Mission Socsety Sain Malish CMS Afi'ica pailnei.
EZO deaiiery cM'i￿1]n￿$ appeal (will be iegulai.)
Latvia St Savioiii s Cliurcli, Riga (liic 2022 payinent £4,500)
Leprosy Mi%sioii
pai.ish of Si Jokni, Greiiada, West liidies -woi3liip I'esouires
PIDvince of Siidan cmergency syppoi'l (loss or0￿1¢C Etc)
Salisbui"y Dsocese- Sudan Gejicial Fund
Salisbuiy Dioce.£e-Bisliop Allison 'l'raii)ing Coll.. S, Sudaii
Salisbiiiy Dioccse Siidan Medical Link (Nurse Iraining)
S. Sudaii.. Confi(leiit children our of Conflictljuba SLI)ool)
Ukraii)e suppoi"I12022 reserve) Hope and Aid direct
5.500
1,000
9.220
500
1,088
5,000
1,100
1,200
1.400
3.000
3.000
TOTAL
32,008
DongtÉons National
Bible Society
ChildiEn's Society
Chuich Hoineless Trust
Fai"Ining Community Nelwork
Family Counselling Trust
350
350
350
1,100
1,100
TOTAL
3,2SO
Doiiulions Loeal
Cl)ristians Agclinsl Povety
Dorset Historic Cliui'ches Ti'ust
Finends of G15ys Marsh
Sl)erborne Piimary Schools {CIITjStmas Boxes Aijpeal)
Futuit Roots
Open House Shtiftesbury (Slierbort]e Resident)
Rendezvous Slierborne
Re%Dui"ce% for RE Teacliing
SAYCC ITiiiney% Youth CentlE)
SAST Slierborne Pi'iinaiy chool residentials
Sliei'borne Area Re￿gee Siii)port
Shei'bornc Opcn Cjale
Shci'borne Pai'i.%h Sliop books for Abbey Scliool leavers
Shci'borne l)riinai'y Schools . residentldl bllPPOL't for 2024*
Weldinai. Hosi)ice
Yeovil Street PastOlS
1.200
550
500
1.500
2,400
500
2.400
78
2,400
2,000
1,000
1,000
149
3,000
1,200
300
TOTAL
20,177
Page 24

The Paroehial Church Council of the Ecelesiastical Parish of Sherborne with Castleton
Trustees, Ileport (continued)
The Abbey Shop
The Abbey Shop has had a much bettei. yeai. with more loiii'isls aiid visitoi'.E. cai.ds still seem to create the biggest
sales, Eaqler & ChristTna% Lai'ds nearly all sold as did Adveiit C&lenddrs. All of the Advent Candles went ihis yeai..
I was fortunate to Ket a new range of Eco cards froikn a Company in CoiThwall, they have been a gi'eat siiccess. Other
n¢w lilies, cliurch iniCE ai)d dooi%tops carved in s1151ainRble wood from Indonef ia, tliese just keEP selling.
As we inoved nearer to Christmag. we had two 4lioppers' weekends with carol% in the Abbey plus the aniiual ttain
Ii'ip with a Cai'ol service in the Abbey, 'fiiis yeaT they started out from Pclej'boi'ougl). The i)ew Choir Chi'istmas CD
sold around 300 copies, all helping bLimper f￿tive sales.
As you read this report I I￿ve retired fi'om the shop aft¢i' around 15 yeats, my successor is Mai'k Prideaux, please
siipport hi￿ in his new role.
Pliilii) J4'out, Sliop Maiiagei.
Digby Memorial Chuych
Anothei" very busy year foi. The Digyby Memorial Cliurch Hall with a'Turn Ovei" of over £33,000.
It has taken a wliile to get evei'yonc's confidence back to Ine¢ting larger iiumbeis, after Covid.
On thc Inaintenance fiDnt all the building work, recommended in the Quijiquennial Report has been completed this
year.
Most remaining lights are now LED and have automatic switch offs. as do the sound %ystem and the water heaters,
all in order to keep our energy bÈlls to a Ininimiiin.
Duiing the summer the Studio floor was sanded at]d oiled and the chaii's in The Grififiths Room have been
I'CLovered.
Plans for next year include the upgrade of the kitchen with a n¢w Di%hwasher and Cooker.
Olice a¥ain we would like to thatth the Pai'ish Office and David Fei'gusoii for their support over the year and we look
loiward tu anotliei. year.
Kale Ili'ay, Muiiager
Page 25

The Pai'oehial Church Council of the Ei eelesiastical Pai'i511 of Shei'boi'ne with Ca.%tleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
Sherboriie Abbey Mother's Unioii
MU Sherborne Braiich Repoi'l120231 for the PCC
MU Coiiiinillee
Se¢i"EtHiyILeadcr.' Jo Higgs
Treaburei.: Cliii%linc Byfield
Ch&plcli118.' Leslcy McCIEadie
otliei￿.' Elain¢ Little aiid Mai'ilyn Davie5
Me!n_bei'8liip.
Staited with 34 finislied with 33.
Eni'ollcd 2 {included in the 341 at the beginning of th¢ year and l at the ei)d.
Deaths - 2. Mr and Mi"s Rowe
Ri'aiich Aclivilicb
A full prograinine lattachedl iiicluding talLs and activities. We have 8trengtl)ened our links with The Sudaiis, aiid the
o Woin#ii'5 Refiiges in our area.
Once again we wqapped 100 pottcd prijnulae for Motherin¥ Sunday. IPui'¢hased froin the Garden CenliE who kindly
gave a siknall rediictioii)-
Suinmei. Lunch was held at St.Paul's Cl)urch and this year was 1)rovidcd by our Syrian fi'iend5 who ii)troduced us to
their delicious Syrian food.
Craft day was lead by Sliirley Fooks who liad us all Inaking Christinas Cai'ds with varied sllcces5.
Our Caix)I Service followed by Christingle inaking (150 OTanges purcl)a&ed at Market Town Garden) was a liappy
occasioji. Oncc again. we were in the Lady Chapel and the Ainbulatoiy. Thire visitois frojn Dorchester MU joined
us. Unlike the pi'evious year the Ckn'i%tinglc Seivice on the Sunday was well attended, due largely to the fact that
Lesley M¢Cieadie pi"oinoted it in the %clioo15 and all oianges weiE taken.
We booked a tJEe for Tlie ChTiStmas Tree Fe%tival held in Clieai) Street ChLirch. Two of our members decorated it
with our Usual wliile angles and added l'ed stars with YFC (Yoiith For Clllisl) and OpL'n Qiate Club written on tliem..
these were the charities suppoited by the Festivol.
Tuins Tols and Tinie% at St.Paul's Cliurch.. We continue our involvement in this venture by at least two of oiii.
Inembers helping in tlie kitchen.
Aclion and OulTeaLh
Tht MU board 2ll tlie Abbey.. as in previoiis yeiirs Elizabeth PTicliai'd has kept the MU in the piiblie eye with
wondeiful and vai'led displays (a total Df nine iii 2023). This boai'd .4tands in il)e Soiiih Isle and 18 well worth
sludying. We hope that visitors to the Abbey and meinbers of oiir c(>ngi'egalion will lake tiille to read, enjoy and
reflecl on these displays.
Involveinenl in our local ¢oiDii)unity. In additiuii to the &bove-Jiieiilioned aclivilies oiir meinbcr.% cojiltrue lo be
involved in Ilic eoininunity in vai'ious ways. paitiLiil&i'ly by voluiileci'ijig in tl)e exislinbF Lliai'ilablc ni'L7ani7.81ions - to
naine a few, Food Bank, 'fiie Pod. Open Ihe Buok, the Abbey Sliop, Abbey Guardians, SHARE and refugees.
Soi'optiinisls, vi8ilingT tliose ui)well or house bound etc.
Page 26

The ParoLhial Church CouDciI of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Sherboi'ne with Castleton
Trustee5' Report (continued)
Activity in the Diocese
g and Autumn Councils
Oiicc tkgain these wei'e pooi'ly alleiide(l. Thi8 is partly due to the age of our ikneinbership in the Diocese and th¢ ts?vel
involved. PiibliL Ii'an8port 1% not bFuod and inany Jneinbei-& do iiot waiit to di-ive gTieai distai)ces. These Ineetin&R al'e
however an enLourageinei)t aiid a reminder that we are not alone.
Salisbu
Cathedral Servic
Dui'ing 16 days of Aclivisjn agaiiisl Geiider Based ViolenLe. Only two of its atleiided fi'ojn tl)is BTaiieli. It was
generally well allended howevei. and followed by aji excellent ILinch in Sai'um College. Giftq for tl)e SalisbLIry
Woineii's Refuge were collected.
Aw
Fi'om It All Holida
AFIA
The Laiavan in Rockley Pai"k was very well booked with wailing list& fur the holiday slots. The finance% are in fine
order. However. the existiiig caravan will need replacing. probably this yetti..
Tl)e Virtiial ]3ab Pro
ect
Tl)e MU in Sc11isbuiy Diocese owns 12 babies which are taken into nine schools. Youngsters leam what it is to have
a cryii)g baby who needs feeding, nappy changes and attention over a weekendTI
Annual Conference in YoTk
Thi8 was atten(ied by 770 + delegates frojn UK and Ireland. Our World Wide Pieqident, Shei'an Haiyer of
LTuatemala and our Cliaplaitj, Einmll Innes, both Spoke ineinorably. Sheraii still.￿d her piescntation with 'Don'l give
up the habit of meeting together" Slie then took on a wurld tour.. Tlie MU is thriving ovcrscas and making 11 big
dilTeren¢e in people's livc%. Emina based her talk on the Cross of Wales oi) the back of which is written in Welsh
Be Joyful, Kcei) Ilie Faith. Do the little tliings.
So l end this report with a reminder that we the conllnittee and (ill the inembers are in this together as we ty to
follow Mary Sumnei s exc1ini)le. We live in very diffcrent times. face diffeiEnt problems, but our pi'ayei. is the
satne.'-
'All thi5 dc1y O Loi'd, let us touch many lives as possible for Thee and every life we toiich do Thou by Thy Si)irit
qUIGken, whethei. throiigh the words we speak, the PTayers we breatlie or the lives we Live"
Jo Higgs Br(7nclJ Leddei.
Page 27

The Parochial Church Council of the li eclesiastical Parish of Sherborne with Castleton
Trustee5' Repoi't (eontinued)
The SoeiRI Committec
2023 bebFdP 11 for us wilh the oi'gaiiisatioi) of food foi. the v￿Y successful pai'ish paity with eoiii)lry daiicii)g iii the
Dis,by Mcjnorial Hall on Satiii'day 21st Jaiiuai'y. Wc weiE very gi?teEul for the coiitributi011s of deliciou% puddings
brougl)t to tlie party.
On Saturday, 28th Janu1£ iy we seived tea, coffee and biscuits to Ilie couple5 wlio attended the Wedding CoiifelEI)Le
in tlie Abbey.
Tlie Slirove Lui)ch on Sunday, 19th Fcbruaiy was well atteiided ai)d with aiiother successful taffle we were able to
contribute £500 to FIAC foE the lent PiDjects.
On Tuesday April 4th wc served lea, coffee aiid cakes during the delightful Messy Church holiday activity iii the
Digby Meinorial Hall.
I'l)e Revei'eiTrd Robcjt (il'een celebi'ated the 50tli anniversary of l)is priestii)g on Sujiday 4th June. Wine aiid finger
food wa5 sei'ved outside the Abbey iii tlie sunshiiie after tlie nioi'jiing Eucharist.
P1( i.ish bai'beciies were oi'gaiiised for July, August and Seplcinbei.. Unfortuiiately,Ihe fjibt barbecue had to be
caiicelled because of stonny weathej., biit the Augiibt and Septcinber barbecues wejit aliead veiy suLcess￿lIy. The
coiThnittee wa% extremely grateful to Tijn Lee for his skill on the barbecLIe.
We fed a record 90 people at the Haiv¢st lunch on Suiiday 24th September. In aji ¢ffoi'l to bope with rising food
prices, we opted for a roasted vcgetoble las1c gntr, whicl) tl)ankfully wab popiilar, 80 we were plea.8ed to be able to
Inake a donation of £400 to the Sudaii Medical Link.
We werc able lo run the Pack Monday Café <igaiii this year tl)cinks largely to the band OF williiig volunteers who
signed ui) to help. It wa.% a long and busy d1( y, but a liapi)y occasioii as everyone worked togethcr enthusia%tiLally.
We were thi'illed to inake just over £1,000 pi'ofit aiid to be able tu donate £1,000 towai'ds tlie new Abbey toilets
scheme.
Coffeq tea and bi%cuits were served during the Abbey gift day on Satui'day, 28th October.
We would like to thank the Parish Hall Co]￿nittee for their decision to provide tlie Digby Memorial Hall kitcl)en
with a coi)mieTcial dish washer and a Iiew gas cooker. It will be a huge benefil to us.
Fi-ances WalkÉr (Chai1177an tTndSeci'elciiy)
Jo Hogue (Ti-ea.Iiii'Li)
Heleii Cooiiibe.g, JaiiE Coliiille, FrL717CES Gf)iJinie-DIiiico17, Ettll Siickluiid, Siizaiipie Shoj'l, Anne Cave-Bi'owne-Cave
PauFe 28

The Pai'oehial Chui'ch Council of the Ecclesia8tical Pai'ish of Shei'borne with Castleton
Trustees, Repoi't (continued)
Directoi. uf Miisie'5 Report
2023 tuined oiit to be an even bettei. yeai. foi. the Abbey Choii. thaii the prcviuiis one, wliich I would not have thought
pos%ible. Tlie boy choi'istei's, inLreasing in number again. wei'e on pai'ticulai'ly good foi'in-.%oiindiiig, in m05t Lases,
stroiigei" and more musiLlll than 01) many Iladio 3 Choral Evctisong bi'oadLasts froin cathedrals aroiind the UK. Two
CD recoi'dings (one of Chi"islmas inusic and the othei. to be lauiiched for Easter 2024) were Inade in addition to
sevei'al new settin&TS of the Renaissance era being inti'odiiced for Suiiday Wul.￿hJp. No clioi'istei's left iii 2023. This is
uiiusual and is & key faetoi. in the high quality singing that they provide foj. us.
'I'l)e Abbey Girls, Clioir also started at the beginning of 2023 and qiiickly inci'eased in iiiiinber beyond that of the
boy%. By Septejnber their forlni¥htly Clioi'al Evensongs on ThuiBdays involved tlie back rows the standard
achieved is definitely begiiiiiing to approi1ch ihat achieved by the boys. A rotation of weekeiids aiid Thursdays,
reducing the comtnitJn¢nt £0 often discussed by pllrents, to someihii)g certainly easier if not more managcabl¢, Inight
well be an option for ihe future.
Tlie Abbey Choir's visit to We8lininstei' Abbey over a long weekend in ek)rly Aligust was a resounding success and
Inuch enjoyed by all. it was rather magical to be singing within yard5 of the spot where the King had been crowned
jiist weeks earlier. PdrtiLularly toiichiiig wa% the enojinous support i'eceived from tl)e Abbey Family in the fonn of a
Loach load of Ilie CORgFregation and Inany iiidividuals fi'oin Sliei'boi'i)e attendiiig ull foul services. The ambitious
Miisic List was received with acclaim by the Westininster Abbey clergy aiid staff who were fulsoine in their praise
of the Iniisical standards Achieved by Sherborne Abbey Cl)oir-ai)d there weTe vei'bal rtiid written invilatioi)s for a
IEturn visit.
A fii'st for the Abbey Clioir was a conceit slot in the Abbcy'8 own Feqtival. 'Byi'd 400"
celebTating tlie music uf
William ilyrd, received a lai'ge audience and, beL(ILise it W1( S 11 tickcled concert that was largely cost-fiEe, created
¥ood feeling in being able to rai%e soine reveniie for the PCCIAbbey Festival tliat doe.& 80 Jnuch to support the
Choir's development.
Tlie back rows deserve special inention for tlie very high qualsty singing they have produced during 2023, with a
wondei.ful blend and phrasing to inatch. We couldn't do it wiiliout theml Lcligely volunteers, they giv¢ m?L ny hours
to the Abbey's inusic. I'lie gap-year Organ Scholar and three Clioi'al SLholar&-a suheIne that I personally put in pli1ce
back in 2005. and wliich Slierborne Scliool ha.% unfailingly and enlii.ely funded for Kill of that time40 much for the
quality of Ihe back row singing. Kotaim) Blake reniained in Slierbome Choral Scholar and iq now at Royal
Holloway: Joe Travis (the bciritone wlio featurcs extensively on both CDS) is ￿0W singring clt Jesus College.
Cambridge ￿nd reading Music., Elliot Flampton is reading Music at Manchester and Guy Hepher is te£icling History
as an Organ Scholai. in Durham. The VL Awai'd-Holder8 inci'eased in niiinber by one (thei"e weTe two in 2023 iintil
Sepleinberl when old Lhoristei Oscar Boswall returned a% a bas%.' he ]% also a Ivliisic Scholar next door in the school.
Tl)e VE Aivards, wliich arise froni interest on the legacy left by VinLent Evan.%, pi'ovide siiperb oppoiliinities for
choristers to Colltinue inlo the back rows when their voices have bi'oken. We cot]linue to be very gTaleful for both
scheines.
l ali) biraleful to Pel¢r Bi'ay wlio, with the dssislance ofsome highly talented Organ Scholars, needs ¢onlinu¢d that)ks
fui. his oi'gan playing-particularly each Septeinber and October when the gap-year Organ Scholar is very much on a
ledi'ninLJ cui-ve.
Clioi'isler sinbFing lebsons foi. gil'ls and boys, PTovidcd by tlie sin¥in¥ iet)eliei-s iii Sherboine School MLISIC Scliool,
and paid for by Ilie PCCIAbbey Festival and Sliei'boi'ne SclioL)l ilself. ￿Te as kilivays very much appreciated and
undoiibledly have a very posilive effect on tl)e qiiality of tl)e choristers, sinbFjng.
.Juiiies Hejideison
DipecloF' ofmiisic & OigaFti.¥i
Page 29

The Parochial Church Council of the Ei celesiastical Pai'ish of Sherborne with Castleton
Ti'u5tees' Repoi't (continued)
Fe5tivhl 2023 Report
Foi. the first tiine, a wondei'ful lie-in with the Sl)ei.bonie Tiine8 Ineaiit that the Loluiirful Feslival biDchui'c was
artfully desigi)cd and baiided logetlier witli tlie iiiain magaziiie ai)d disli'ibiiled throublioul 6000 letlerboxc.% ai)d
COT]unuiiity iiifoiination poiiits in the town and suii'ounding village%. The desigji) aiid pi'inl of tlie new-%tylc
pro￿.al￿ne wa8 also in conjuiiction with Ilie Slierborne Tiines aiid we celebrate this building of lllths with local
busiiiesses.
Tlie conceit perfomie(l in the Abbey by The Sixteen directed by Harry Cl)ristophers was sold out soine tiine in
advaiice and those wlio got tickets wei'e cerlrtiiily iiot di.%api?oiiitedl Yet aiioiher ti-eilt was the perfoniiaiice by Steven
Issei'li.% of Saiiit-saens Cello Concertts iio I with the luvejituq Chainbei. OrLhEstiu led by Festival Artistic Adviser
Ruth Rogei's. The Abbey Clioir, wliose coinmitineiit to the Inustc iii the Abbey is heaTd every Suiiday tliroughoul the
year, perfonned a gloi-iuus concert as p3rt of tlie Fcstival for tlie first tiine and tlic luiiclitiine oi'gaii recilcll by
Matthew Owens was hugely well attended and enjoyed.
Tlie Festival eveniiibF concert8 were bookended by a rousing opening conceTt pcrformed by the Sl)erbomE Festival
Chorus aiid a welcoine Irtui'n to the Abbey by the wondei'fully cliarisinatic clarinettist Julian Bliss and Frieiids.
Another h]￿lI1ght was the stuniiiiig pei'fonnaiice of Parisian jazz, laiigo aiid latin ai'rangemenls by Vockilist Gabi'ielle
Duconible at tlie GraJisdeiTr Hall, Having raised Ilitt fiii)ds to piii'chase tlie bcautiful new giniid piano for the Abbey iji
2022, the recital to ccl¢bi?te the arrival ofthe piano by Ilie legendary piaiiist Jolii) Leiiehaii was simply breatlitakijig.
Tl)e Fe%liv￿lI 18 1)roud to offer inany free performances and oppoi'lL]llitics for local eiisembles to pei"foi'in. As ever. we
are iininensely pleased ai)d graleful that some of the local schools took part in tlie FestlV(Il' the Gryphon School,
Sliei'bome S¢liool. SheTborne Scliool foi. Girls, aiid Leweston School offered woiideTful performances froin many
varied ensembles showcasing tlie talent alld liai'd work that is obviously tl)riving iii tlie schools.
Sllei'bome Town Band and Wessex Strings both i?erfornied fabulous conctrt& too. There wa8 a wonderful buzz of
enei'gy and excitement around the Abbey t1you￿o￿t the wliole week the inany voliinteers who help to run the
festival, froin stewarding Pl￿￿'aMine selling to pi'oof-reading and copy-WTjting, contributed their inviiludble
lime with enthiisia51ll and ran between tlie seveTal venues iiivolved in the busy festival. Our th?I nL8 go to each and
every Dne of them as it also does to tlie staff of the Abbey.
As well as the many varEEd concerts Ill the Abbey itself, thi5 year we were hosted for two concerts in the beciutiful
chuich of St Aldhelin and tlie Sacrcd Hcart and we air most ￿￿teful to Father Robert Dr£ip#r for his 5UPPOrt with
this. Othei" veiiues included CIIcdP StJEet Church, Sl)erborne SLliool Cliapel and the CTrandsen Hitll at Shei'bome
GiT15, not forgetting tlie two fijial 01)¢ra dinners pi'oviding enlei'luining evening.s at'l'l)e Pluine of Feathers.
Given tliat tlic aim of the Festival is lo support mii%iL making ill the Abbey and the local area, tlie Festival was
delighted lo conlijiuc ilieir financial support of tlie youth %eLlion of tlic 8li¢rbome Town Band, and award a gJ'anL to
award-Wi￿]I]Ig young coii)poser Elliott Pai'k, as well as paying foi. Abbey Cliorislers singing le550ns and fces.
Sllniuiitho HÉiideiso
Page 30

The Pai'ochial Church Couneil of the Ei cclesiastical Pai'ish of Shei'borne with Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
Coneerts In The Abbey
Weekly orgidn iecilals havc run in the Abbey thToiighout the year during temi time on Monday lunchtiTnes. gFivert by
the Abbey's Mu%1¢ %laff, local and vi%ilin¥ oi'¥anists. They aitra¢t a loyal, IEgulai' and entliusiastiL aii(lience. along
with TllGilly Vi%itoi's to the Abbey, who have eiijoyed an added bonii% of heai'iiig the Abbey's oi'gan dLiring theii. visit.
Thei"e have also been a nuinbej. of liiiiclitiine i'ecitals by visiling en5emble5, including St Andi'ew5 Mcidrigal Group
and Fainborough Hill Clioir.
In Febi'uary the Schuols, Choi?1 Society gave its pei.fortnance in the Abbcy and a large choir of 170 singeTS
wliicli flowed into the Digby Chap¢l was accompanied by orchestra to perfomi Mendel.%sohn's Elijah. conducted by
Dan Mai'ks.
In Mai'ch Sl)erborne Chainber Clioir gave its fortieth annIve￿ary concert (postponed fiDm March 2020).. a
pei"fomance of Ilach's gi'eat Mass in B minor. lo a P<2cked Abb¢y, accoinpanied by a period oi"cheslra. The
conductor was Paul F.Ilis and 8010ists incliided Robin Blaze ai)d Moi'gan Peaj'se.
In May Sherbome Abbey Festival took place. I'ge udien¢e8 enjoyed a wide vai'iety of concerts aiid recitals,
includiiig concei'ts by T]ic Sixteeii, cellist Steven Isserlis with luventus Ch&inbei' Orchestiz, claTinettist Jillian Bliss.
or¥aiiist Mattl)ew Owens, and Shei'boi'ne FestlV7￿ I Chorus, as w¢ll as perfonnanceE by IoLal ensembles. A more
detftiled report is elsewhere.
In JLine Sherbome Abbcy Clioir performed its nnual concei't to a large audicncc, with a selection of anthems from
the Choir's repertoire. The choir was directed by J￿lleS HEndErson. with Peter Bray at the organ.
In July Slierborne Cliamber Cl)oir perforn)ed tlie Bralims Requiem, in its pillno duet accomp¢?niment forn), 11sing the
Abbey's new piano, as part of a Gnnd Tour of European inusic. The following week South W&%t Baroque Orchesti
pei'foi'ined in the Abbey for the fii3t time, with a tea-tiine programme of (iiand Concerti of tlie Bai'oque.
In S¢ptember thc band of the Grenadier (yuards proved very populai., with a fundrnising concert in aid of Pan¢reatte
C£incer UK and Tlie Colonel's Fund Grenadier Guai'ds. Latcr iii the inontl) the London WLlsh Male Voice Choir
caine to perforn) in aid of chai'ity, the Rotary Club of Sherboi'ne Castles and Hidden Needs Ttust being the
benefiLiaries.
Shei'borne Clic1mber Clioir gave its re&7ulai Advent concert on the ev¢ of Advent Suiiday, with a PiDgramme ranging
fiDEn plainsong Lhanl to Ilie pirsent day, condiiLied by Paiil Ellis, with Siinon Clarksoii, oi'ganist.
In Deceinber, in addition to the Inany carol seivices, the Salainic nca Band of thc Rifles fiDm Exeter perfonned a
Cliri8tJnas concert, directed by Bandinasler WOI Ricliai'd Ci'egan. The Abbey's own Christinas conc¢rt al%0 look
place, with peTfonnances from Sliei'borne Abbey Clioii., the Gryplion School and Sherlx)rne Town Band.
Rocliel Gj'eaiye
CoFicei'l,¥ Adiiiivi.flJ'ttloi-
Page31

The Paroehial Church Council of the Ecclesiastieal PAI'ish of Shei'borne Ivith Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
The Bellriiiger5
2023 hiiS beei) an exLCPtionally busy year, the maiil fealuirs beinL the Kiiig's Coroiialion on 6th May and the
coiJtinuHI flow of new peoplc wanting to leani lo riiig or improve. The Abbey baiid is thi'iving. Although Caiheriiie
Coopei.. sadly, hds not i'etui'iied to rijiging ssiicc tlie deaili of her mother aiid Heleii l.litcliiii.% is conceiiti?liiJg her
effoi.ts now in Stalbridge where she has takcn ovei. a% Tower Cdplain, 43 ineinber% i)aid a 8ubs¢i'iplioii to tl)e
Salisbury Guild and two tiiore 5choolboy.s an'ived iii Septeinber from the Boys School. 'I'lici'e are 17 lean)ei's 01) our
Isst, %oiiie of wlioin w¢re elected at the West Dorsel Biancli AGM in inid-NoveJnbei' as full Ringing Meinbei"%.
Othei'.% sl)ould follow in 2024. 1 ain very g7rcileful for the Iielp provided by Rieliai'd, David and youijg Tiin li) teacliiiig
them aiid to the otlier% wlio help regularly.
Tlie events ai'oui)d tl)e Coi'onalion wei'e filmed by a TV CIEW makii)g the second prograinnie in the Serie5 'Dorset'.
Country and Coast" whiLh aii.ed oli Chtjnnel 5 on 2nd August. 1'h¢y filmed Thvo session8 one, piactice 011 tli¢
Thuisday before aiid the secoiid on the Gi'eat Day, whei) no less than 27 rin¥ei'5, 1 giiest and 3 film cr¢w ¢rowded
into the towel.. The Stai. of the sliow, Sue, has eontinllcd to pi'ogress but sadly has had to take a break froin ringing
which we all hope will be teinporary.
We have also welcoined many visitoi's over the year, a few of whom retun) faiTly regulai'ly. Wl)tther it i.s the
exciteinent of iingiiig our bells or the refreshineiit afterwai'ds is difficult to judge. but a friei)dly atrnospliei'e aiid
ringii)g so ably inanaged by Nick Iielp no eiid.
Apai't from the Abbey, we Iiave, tlll'oiigh Ricliai'd, been able to suppoi't Sunddy ServiLe ringing at Loiighurlon loo.
Perhaps in years to coine, we niay be able to ext¢nd that to Lillingloll, wliere we ar¢ always Inade so welcome
anyti]ne we ean ring for them.
We l'ang for 9 weddings, including two at LongbLlrton, and for four funerals, tl)ree of which were at the Abbey, the
first of a good fi'iend and neighboui. of Inine, the second for Mai'bFarLt'% liusband, Steve anil the ihii'd foi Bi"idget l.lill,
an Abbey Server. We also rang at Queen Ccimel for Ron Reptoii'% fuiicral, a real gentleinc1n and 1( foFiher Woi"cestei'
Catliedi'al l'inger, who rang with us for inany yeic 13 pre-covid. All are very sadly Inis%ed. Several quarters were i'llng
including one for Ron. a few at the request of the Bath Abbey band, and three peals, two of wl)i¢h were successful.
The Doubles and Minor Group has made good progres.% with several successful attempts to ring Kent and
Cainbi'idge.
Book salttb have beeii libht inost al'e iiow sold thri)iigh the Abbey Sl)op. but £50 has been realised and we have
just 13 LopEe5 reiknainiiig iinsold fiDin tl total of 769 £25 has beeii distributed to ecich Chai'ity.
The SOLial side of life foi. the Abbcy band followed a by iiow fainiliar pallern, with oui Clii'istinas" meal in Janiiary
al the Rose & CTom￿ in Lot]gburton, a Ringers Supper in Holy Week, oiir 5111niiiei' bai'beeue at Richard's new home
in Longbui'lon wheiE Nick again did his iiiagic with the barbie and nias5es of salads and puds skilfiilly made by
seveFal of our ringers wei'e eagej'ly coiisuined, and a couple of infoi"Jiial gaiherit]gs in Gainsboi'ough Drive in
Deceniber.
A final hi￿)1]g11t has been the new ropes wilh sally Colours designed by Jan. The ringying room has iieveT looked
b1'i￿￿le[ il Es so good not to have tn hoover ui) tlie woolly bils froin tlie caipet evejy oilicr weekl
May l end by expressinbJ Jny gi?titllde to you all for your SLIPPOI'I practical help over the yeai.. This band would
not be doing so well without the coii)Jnitm¢nt of all of you, foi. wliicli l ani very tliaiikflll.
Tiin Pliilllps
Page 32

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shei-borne with Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
Abbtry Gllides
With the siiccess of nJi)ning loiirs fi'om Eastei. to the end of Novembei. in 2022. it was decided to 11 dopt the same
ai'rangeinent foi" 2023. TlTris incliided the weekend toui"s on Satiii"d(Jys and Sundays during July, and edrly
Septembei..
Tlie figuits in brackets ai"e 2022 numbers.
Between April 4th and November 28th 2023 tours were offered on Tuesdays and Fridays.
In total 335 (2031 visitOi"s attended these toiirg, with 186 1106) on Tuesday mOTnEngs and 149 (971 on Fi'iday
aftenioons. This was an incTease of 132 visitoiE when compaiEd to 2022. The iiicrease iii niiinbers inay be a
coii.%equence of the Cliannel 5 sei'ies DoiEet= Country and Coast. EpiEode 2 was tTai)%mitt¢d on 2nd Aiigust 2023,
and featiired the Abbcy bellJingei'.%. Iii L?dditioti, a leaflet adverti.%iiig Abbey tours designed by Liz Murray was
disli'ibuted to toui'ist st)formalioll C¢Jltres, hotels and tourist atti'actions such as Milton Abbey and the Bovinglon
Tank Museum. L would like to that￿ the guideq aq they took an active role in the distribution of these leaflets.
Our tours on Saturdays and Siindays during July, August and the first weekend in September were successful. with 9
(71 loui's on Satiirday mornings bi'inging in 60 (22) visitoi's, and 6 (1 I I tours on Sundays after the 9.30 service
attended by 36 {46) visitols. The redu¢tioi) in the nutnber of Sunday tours is a plec18ant consequence of an inci'e11 se in
the niimber of baptisms taking place in the Abbey in 2023. Whei'e possible the Sunday morning tours were moved to
the afternoon. But on sev¢ral occasions th¢ afternoon session had to caiic¢lled as well, due to both moming and
afternoon baptisinal services.
16 (17) private booked tou1% took place during the yeAr with a total of 277 (278) visitois.
In addition to the above..
l. Gutdcs have also a8si8ted with scl)ool and yniith organisation visits to th¢ Abbey. 250 young visitors attended
these 5 visit%. The largest gi'oup consisted of 120 children fro1￿ a lo¢al Roman Catholic school. The dlÉ y was enjoyed
by all. and the guide.s were compliinented iiot only on their knowledge bul also on iheir skills in managing such a
large group. Por the first time the local Beavers gi'oup visited the Abbey <ifter dark nd had cl floodlit toui of the
building. Seveiil paiEnts in attend?Lnce asked that we consider offering evening tours. Full-time employment
together with busy weekend schedules dirninisl)es their opportiinities to visit the Abbey.
2. Finner IiTth have been established with Sherborne Museum by offering Abbey touro for museum volunteers, with
recipToLal tour of the inuseuin tsffercd to Abbey guides.
3. On 16th Oclober 2023. as parl tsf the Pack Monday Fair celebratitsn&, giiides were on diity within the Abbey to
welcome visitols, sliow prople amund or generally rtnswer any qiiestions.
4. Mrs. Joan Biles visited Trinity Manor CaTe E.loine and gave an illusts?ted talk to the residents on the histoiy of
Sl)¢rborne Abbey.
I would like lo Ihaith all Ilie giiides for Ilieir conliniied siippori dLiring Iny first year as Head Guide and for iheir
PIDfessional ajid eniliusiaslic approocli to their roles as Sl)erboi't)¢ Abbey (iuides.
I would al%0 regi8lci' ii)y appre¢ialion for th¢ siippoi'l re¢¢ived from ilie all Ihe vei'gers. and Joanna Sains and Sue
Lee in the P¢ll'islI Office. Also, tlie (iU#I'dians wlio aLtively proii)ote OLir tours.
Hui-olil Clai'ke
HL(i(l (yiii(le
Page 33

The Parochial Church Council of tlie Ecclesiastical Parish of Sherboi'ne with Castleton
Trustees, Repoi't (continued)
Abbey Sei'vers
"We al'e the sei'vanls ofihe servants of God" St Gregoiy
The seiving teain are pi'ivileged to have a role iii the prepai'alioii of woiEhip ai)d assistiiik Il)e clerical teain dLirii)g
seivices.
Tlie teain started the yec11" with 15 Ineinbers. I'he thi'ee youngci. IncinbcrE who wejc uiider Iraii)ingF at the eiid of 2022
liave becoine a very valued additioii to tl)e serviiig teain. Dui'iiig 2023 Deiinis Porter left us at EasteT when he moved
away to be neai. fainily. Dapliiie Fui'ey decided to leave the tcain a.% shc li&% becoine more iiivolved with her local
church aiid was fiiidiiig it iiici-ea&iiigly difficuli lo get to the Abbey foi. 5civices. Sadly, Bi'idget Hill died li)
Noveinbcr havit]g sln]ggled bi'avely witli caiicer for a number of years, They are all greatly 2nis8ed as they liad been
valued servers foi. mai)y y¢ais.
We welcomed one new adult server to the teain, Alex Wandless, who ha5 beEn r¥gularly acting as Crucifer for
Evensong aiid is gettiiig involved in other services.
As in previou￿ years, we struggled to pi'ovide a full teani foT all the Chribtlncls services due to illness aiid membei'5
of the team being away with family, in the end we inaiiaged to provide a full leain for every service.
We have one young nian cutrently being ti'aiiied but would ask anyone who WOLild like to join the teain, even if they
can oiily 5ei.ve occasioiially. to contact us (Rectoi. or Pai'ish Office). Full tiaining will be given and there is no age
baii'ieT, cun'ently the 2024 leain age ianges fi'om 9 to 80 plusl I
As a team we would not be able to function without tlie suppoil of tlie verger% wlio work tirelessly behind the scenes
and for that we thank thcin. I would also tlTrnk tny fellow beryeJ3 for their 8upport L2nd comjniljnent tliToughout the
ye8r.
John Keiiiing
Hecid Seiwei.
Page 34

The Pai'oehial Church Council of the Ei eelesiastical Parish of Sherboi'ne with Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
Abbey Guai'diaiis
l am delighted to be able to repoi't that this yeai. has seeii the highe.&t aiinual Iiumber of visitoiE since 2013{excluding
the year of Luke Je27'ain's inoon exliibilion) reaching ovci. 56,000. Thank you Jennifer HLiirson for anothei. yeai of
Ineticiilous nuniber cniiicliing. The inci'ease in visitOl'S tlll'oughout 2023 ]% in pai't due to exira publicity, improved
handouts and new posters. A visitoi. siii'ge followed the ineinoi2blc BBC television pi'ogiamrne in Aiigust wliich
featuiEd the Abbey bell ringers. The Monday oi'gaii recitals have also becji vci'y popiilai.. The Visitoi's book has been
reinstalled and tliis has given an indication of the appreciation of visitor.q from both home and abroad.
The numbei. of Guai'dians has reinained steady at around 85. This Covers the houi's from 10am to 4pm. We need
furtlier voliii)teers lo coinpletely cover tlie final hour iit]til spin, $0 far tl)iq lia% proved vejy hai'd but we live in hopel
It is always a joy to welcoine familie8 Wltli young childi'en aiid this year Guardians are reporting a significk)nt
incrcasc in thesc. 'nic larg¢r than evcr trcc this Chiistmas lias been a gi'eat dnw. 'Betler thai) the one in Ti"afAlgar
SqU£ll'e 11 one small boy atll)ounced. Guardians have appi'eciated having the Abbey shop Jlongside tl)em ajid to be
able to point to publiclltions that can enhance a vssilOI s experience.
Guai'dians continue to welcoinE and rtdvise visitois when 8peciRI services are in progirss, weddings, funerals, school
service% and concei't.8 re%tTiLt the geiiei'al aLces% to visitors wlio cali decide wl)cthcr to 8it quictly at Ilie back or relum
later. Guaiylians have also been able to assist as sidesmen duriiig the Gil'ls Ch0121 evensong service%.
As evei. over the yeai., we liave had tlie inevitable iEtii'ement of %evcial loiig %tanding and valued Guardians wl)ose
expei'ienLe and knowltdgt are much ini&sed. New appointees al'e very welcoine Iiowev¢r as they take over the
Cjuardiaii's medallion.
We have enjoyed two so¢ial afternoons in the newly renovated Digby in￿norIal hall. Firstly. in April, our head
guide Harold Clarke gave us a veiy original and colourful look at the embleins Eised 011 the King'5 Coronation
invitation caiyl Telating them to designs seen around the Abbey. Evei'yone much appreciated this most oribFinal and
unusual talk.
November Liike Mouland. Chftirn)an of she￿oI7)e Museuin, tmted us to A very entertaining and enlightening
look at tlie history of the museuin with soine fascinating accoinpanying photos. This was veiy well received. Luke
also disciissed the ongoing coopei"ation betweet) Abbey and Museiim and encoui'aged everyone to Il8Q the Museum
to extend their knowledge of the histoi'ical relationbhip between town and Abbey. Both meetings were followed by
an excellent tea generoiisly provided by the Gii&rdians.
Our sincei'e that&s as ever to the Vergers for their support and encoui'agement over this year. To the Parish Office
staff for a huge ainoujit of tireles8 assistaiice. Lastly, to our many visitor%, who bj'ing with them such an inspiring
interest in the Abbey. It 1.% hopod that the welcoine given to thcin by the (iiiardians fLlrther enhances their expersenctt
of this wondei'ful Cl)Lirch.
Slig Moigan.
Head Giiai'(lian.
P&ge 35

The Parochial Church Council of the Ei celesiastical Pai'ish of Sherborne with Ca$tleton
Ti'ustees, Report (continued)
Head Verger's Repoi't
2023 has been ￿lother busy yeai. foi. the team of Vergei's.
Tl)e electi'ical upgi'ade took pl8ce in May, which incliided iiew melei3 and a 200 aiiip cable. Tlie six air-%oui'ee
puinps on the roof al'e fully operational, thougli kLt thi& poii)t it 1% ui)kJiowii liow much they are saving us, biit thc gas
aiid ele¢tr&b bill8 al'e expectcd to be lowei.. We are awaitiiig a iicw bWItLh (11)d iiitei'faLe for the heatiiig systein. Tlie
ele¢li'i¢ity consuiiiption for the iipgi'aded lightiiig systein is expected to be i-EduLed by up to 50D/o. We al'e still
awaiting inore pi.ok￿l.aminIt1k￿ ai)(l additioiial seltiiigs for tlie liglitiiig. The einei'gency liglTrtiiig now fully coinpliant.
the fire alarni is checked aiid serviced regularly, as are tlie fji'e extinguisheiE.
All safety equipment is checked i'egjularly, we are Health & Safety eoinpliaiit, and all electrical equipment has been
PAT te%led. All the eleclriL inelei's aiid cabl¢s iii tl)e SE corner have beeii Iiiddeii by pu4)ose-built cupboards. A
supcrb job was done by Fiillers, tlie eLclebiastival church furnis11￿￿, bcautifully cojistiucted in oak. We iiow await
the next niajoi. works wliich will be Ilie insldllalion of long-ovei'due toilct% wliere the CUJTeJit Vestry is aiid a new,
odeill, ve&try in tht N Transept. Much woi'k ha8 ali'eady beei) carried out iii pi'epai'alion, and the latest plaiis are
available lo see in tlie Liidy Chapel. We look foiward eagcrly to the i)ext cliapter iji our iiew pui'pose-built honie.
Tlic clcaiiiiig of tlie Abbty is a never-ending lask for ihe vergcrs, but a.% a leajn we are pleased to i'eceive Inany
coinplinicnt.% aboiil how beautifully it is cai'ed for. We liiiise cloqely with Ihe'l'eajn of Guardians, soine of whom are
veiy suppoitive in this resi)ect.
Tlie Vergers continu¢ to oversee approximately 1000 services a Y￿r, some of wliich have s¢¢ii uiipircedcnted
numbers, such as the two Crib Services at Chi'isttnas, wliich saw a coinbiiied congrekFation of around 1600.
Conceils continue to play a large part in the Abbey calendai., 501ne of the highlights being The B£ind of tl)e
Gi'enadier Guards in SepteiDbeJ' and The Band of the Rifles in Decembei.. We nDW have il leain of stewards i)rei)ared
lo volunteer lor these events, wliich is a huge support for tlie vei"kFers. A5 Usual, the Abbey FestlVc11 Wi2S 1¢ huge
SU￿esS bul is a big undertaking for tlic vei'ging team. Thaiths to San]my Hendeison for liaising with us so
effectively, and all the volunteers who worked so haixl to make it the success it is.
One of tht main events of the year was the Civic 8ervice for tlie Coronatson, atteiided by tlie Loi"d Lieutenant and
local dignitai'ies. We were, with difficulty, able to sliow the Coronatioii on a big screen in the Abbey, wlisLh
enjoyed by thost who canie.
The teain has rejnained unchanged apai't from the fact that Tiin Lee has joined us on a part-tiine basis. and we are
lucky to 118ve our volunteei's Stuart Mccreadie, Alex Wandless, Bill McDeimott and Rick Churchill, all of whojn
step in to help busy tiines.
It is always a privilege to serve this beauliful Abbey Cliurch and ils cDinii)unity, and we look foiivard to a biisy year
ahead.
AndrEiV Cross
Page 36

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shei'borne with Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
Abbey Floivcr Arraiigers
The Abbey Flowei. team continues to number about 16 ladies and enoimous thanks go to them foi. keeping the
Abbey flowe1% lookiiig good each week and for W￿tel.]ng daily.
Mol'e bespoke arrangements were done for memoi.ial ￿e￿iCes than for wedds1)gs dui'iiig the year, but we had the joy
of the Coi'onalion flowei's.
Julie Mahony, our Chttirnian. ha& worked very hard for the tea￿￿. l.lowever, she has deeided to staiJd down and her
quiet etTieien¢y will be missed.
Many Ihai)ks are due to Andi'ew and his teain of Vergers for always beiiig so lielpful.
We air aliEady in touch with 2024's brides and look forward to all the special services the year w511 bring.
Julie Mahtsny
PAge 37

The Parochial Church Couneil of the Ei celesiastieal Parish of Shei'borne with Castleton
Trustees, Report {colltinued)
Trcasui'er's Report
2023 has beeii a challciigiiib yeai. ii) lei'jns of the Ti'easury I'ole iii the PCC. Jo Hague left the role officially 111
Febi'uary but ¢otilinued to pi'ovidc adliuc siipporl foi. wl)iLh we wei'e gi'atcful and expi'es% our tlianks. It wus1)'t until
the ei)d of Suiniiiei. that I wa% fi]Ily in posl. dl)d it has beei) a sleep Icaixii)g cuive gelliiig to uiideiEtJiid ihe nuances
of the fiiiancial opei'atlOllS that coii%litiile the i'LinningF of the PCC. l utidcjtook thi% i'ole oii tlie basis of beiiig k)ble lo
appoii)t an Accountancy Pii'in to Support the inlroduclioii of the Xei'o Accoiiiitiiig packagc willi the aijn to stieainlii)e
the currEiit voluines of paperwoi'k ai)d bcttei. siipport the auditlllg process. It is fair to obsei've Iliat this has been
miich bigger task than fir%1 anticipated but hnpefully the work will prove woiihwhile in the long run. I believe it will
mdke this role easier io adopt for any otlicr persoii takiiig lip the Tredstirer Pobltion in Ilie fiiture. Having iiot liad
fiill yeai. in pobt. there is still work on tiiy pai't iiiidcr8landiiig tlie trei)d5 aci'oss tlie year that Inake up Ilie full pictiire
of the PCC finaiices, so I still fiiid myself in leai'iiing Jnode, but l ain now hopeful tlial there are no furihei. 8puriouq
accoui)ts to coine out of tl)e woodwoi'kl
sn t￿.￿n$ of tlie audit, it was ideiitified quite early on that their was a gap in 501ne of the paperwork for the period
wliere the TIEasuTei's role was VaLallt. In ihat respect, it was a knowji issue going iiito tlie audit pi'ocebs. This
priinai'ily relates to the i'ecoi'diiig of tlie weekly ¢ollectioiis from the Abbey. Moiiie8 were being banked diiringF that
pei'iod ai)d tlie payiiig in books provide records to Ihal level of detail. Tliere is now 8 inucli more robust pi"ocesb in
place to reeord collection values wliich has also been observed as part of tliis audit.
Dui'ing 2023, the PCC foiined a Fti)aiice Coinmittee wliich Ineets monthly to review expejiditui'c. At this tiiiie, it is
quite focussed on the day to day runiiing of the PCC with a Inediuin tei'in oim to produce a inultiyear plaii to include
d conlingenuy planlres¢i'v¢s i)olicy for continued opei'Ation in the event of the ui)foiEseen.
There has been inuch focus on the financial iinplicalions concerning two si¥nifiLant project opportunities. the Toilct
Project and the Ah115house Proje¢t. Tlie fornier being tlie inost likely to bFO iihtad first. The Faculty has been
submilted with d build bost of £715,000. The plan is to rtii5e kls mucli as possible through fo¢ussed fLind-rai8iiig
activities. At yeai" end and including a significant contribution pledged by the Friends of Sherborne Abbey, thc fund
stands at £112.600 incliiding Gift Aid. Thi% rtPlEsents a %ignificant corltributioii to what would be the first plia%e of
thi% project and providts time to focus oli vai'ious fund giving budies to delerniine what gi?nts might bc
fgrthcoinsng. There is going to be a requiirment to draw dowii on the inveslinent poi"tfolio 11 nd it is anticipated tliat
this may be requii.ed to Support up to 500/0 of the i)roject costs. The Alinshouse projeLt supporting Outreach into the
local cominunity will not probFress further until 2024 and fiDm a finanLial pei"spective remains under review.
2023 Finances
Tlie nuinbers Sui￿na￿sed later in thss report detail the financial position of the PCC, so I will just highlight a couple
of areas.
Tlie Parish Sliare was paid in full at]d continue5 to be the inajor cost. The reluim oi) the investJnent5 was significant
in covering Ihis due. At the lin)e of wriliiig this report the PCC has nol yet received Ihe official letter froin the
Diocese bul does have an understanding that there will be an 8°/D inLI'ease on ihe pievi0115 year wliich rcpi'esents an
ncrease close lo £18.000.
Tlie PCC wa5 fortunate lo receive bequests lotalling £68,517 which provided a significant conlribLilioii lo the overall
incorne and helped lo balance soiiic of Ilie exlrHoi"diTllc ly Losts inLiirred. One su¢h eosl was for tlie reiiiedial woi'k
Ca￿led OEII tsi) Ilie Meinorial Hall al a liiile oveT £38,000. The PCC Pcissed a resolutlOi1 lo coiJiinit up lo £30,000 to
suppoj'l inilial relaling lo Ilie Toilet i)rojeci foi. the Abbey. By the end uf 2023 £28.503 of il)at budget lias been spent.
Siiiiilai.ly, Ihei'e ha5 been exi)ense inciii'iEd exploi'ing t]ie p055ibility of adopling the Almshouse in support of
coiiijniinity oiili-eacli objectives 01£3,620.
Tlic Fi'ieiids uf Slierborne Abbey coiilijiue to pi'ovsde tlieEr fiiiancicll siippoi-l iii In8inlaining the fabric of tlie Abbey
wliich of course is Iiii¥ely beneficial to Ilic overall deinands oil tlie liinds of tlie PCL and for wliich we express oiii.
gi?titude.
Page38

The Paroehial Church Council of the Ecelesiastical Parish of Shel'borne witli Castleton
Trustees, Report (continued)
Looking al)ead to 2024 tlie prioi'ities will continue to fucus ai'oiii)d the fiJiai)cial ijnplications for the Toilet Project
and the Alin8hoiise project and Iheir associated onguing costs. We are aiiniiig to b¢tlcr undei'sland the iinpact that
the ali. l)eat sourLe piimps are liavit]g on our utilities expcnditui'cs. This is very much woi'k in pi'ogi'ess with Sue
Bi'adshaw provin¥ ￿ &FI'eat deal of support and aiialy8jE Wlth more to come un thi5 in fiitlllE I'epoi'ls. General giving
ieintiiiis tlie b￿Lkb0]le of PCC ii)coJne and as with the geneicll Pobltion in Chureh il ebbs aiid flows making it
difficult lo prediLt and tliercfoie plan for financially. 1.lie Finance Committee will have pai'liciilai. focus in this aira
with the aim of tnaxijnising fui)d-Taisiiig opportujiities in support of the full objectives of tlie PCC.
Finllly. I woiild like to offer my sincere tlianks to Jill Thoi'ley for all the tireless work she does iii Irlation to
Llaimin&F Gift Aid froin HMRC. This eleinent of incoinc 18 significant and SLippoils mucli of the opeTtitional costs. I
Am very giateful fur Iier suppoil.
Nigel Chappell. Ti'ea.¥ui'er
FinanciAI revieiv
Tlie pai'ish accoiiiits sliow a net surpllls in ￿ndS for 2023 of £239.543 (2022 .. deficit of £579,674). This suiplus is
solely due to a i'ise in the value of investments at 3 1 Deeember 2023 of £265.820.
At 31 Decemb¢i' 2023 total funds amounted to £7,635.828 (2022 .. £7.396,285). Of tliese funds £433,460 12022
£400,393) were resli'icted fuiids. I'he spwific use of these funds is outlined in note 22.
Tlie total ￿ndS also include ¢ndowiDent funds of £3,402.82612022 £3.191,666), which compi'ise investments held
by the Diocesan Board of Finance. as Lustudidn tiuslee, for any fiitui'e Abbey investment- namely for the upkeep of
tlie Cl)ancel the Abbey. Funds froin those investtnents are used during the year to cover directly related
expenditure, mainly tlie insuTance of the Abbey.
Uniestricted fund5 hie #V£1ilable for the PCC to use within its charity policies.
Policy oil reserves
It is the charity's policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds. These reserves allow interest and dividends t
form a major part of the income generated in any given yeai.. wliich is essential to cover core expendihire incurred.
The i'e.serves held also allow maintenance and improvement of the bLiilding5 linder tlie charity's control.
Pi'iiieii)4lJiiiidiiig.soiiree.w
The principal funding sources of the Charity cire donations throLigli piii'ish Lollections, plant]ed giving and other
donations and legacies. The chi£ rity also benefits froin gift id relief on ceiiain doiiations.
TheiE are 514 iiieinbers of the Church Eleclorl£ l Roll.
liivestiiiepilpolicy oiid tsbjeciives
The invesljnent assets coinpj.ise iinits / shares in the CBF Cliiii'eh of England Investment Fund and the M&G
Cliarifund and M&G Charibond chai'iLy funds, These fiinds aim lo generate Lcipil#l aPPTeLiatioii and rising incoine
aDd a tolal retujn in excess of their b¢nchii)arks. wliilst adopting an appi'opriale Ethical Investmeni Policy.
Page 39

The Paroehial Church Collncil of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shei'borne with Castleton
Trustees, Repoj't (Continued)
Statement Df Trustees, Respoiisibilitie5
Tl)E tIUbleEb al'e i'esponsible foi. piEpai'ing tlie trustees, i"eptsi"t and the financial statements iii accordance with the
United Kingdoin Accounting Standard% (United Kingdoin Generally Accepted Accoiintiijg Pi?clice) and applicable
law i"ebFulLttions.
The law applicable to chaiilies I'equires tl)e ti'ustees to pi'epai'e fjiiancial statements for each financial yeai. whicli
give a tiuc aiid fail. view of the stale of dffairs of the cliarity and of the incoiniiig iegources ai)d appliGation of
I'esources of the charity foi. that pei-iod. In piepai'iiig the%¢ fiiiaiicial %lateineiits, tlie Iru%tee.% are requii'ed to..
selcct suitable accouiitiiig policies dl)d then apply Ilieiii coiisistently..
ob5ervc the Inetliods and priiiciples in the Cliai'ilies SOIIP.,
make judgcinciit8 aiid e%tiniates tliat ai-E I'easonable and prudejit.
state whethcr applicable accouiiting sland()i'ds have beeii followed, subject to any inatErial departures disclosed
and explained in the fii)an¢ial statcineiits. and
prepare the fJnaJicial statcineiits on the going Goi)cern basis unless it is inappi'opriate to pi'esume that the charity
will continue in buslllCS%.
The trustees are responsible for keepiiig proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any
time ilie fii)ancial position of the chaiity and eiiable thEn) to ensure that Ilie fiiiai)cial .8tatemeiits coniply with the
Cl)￿[11les Act 2011, the Cliai'ities IAccniint% and Repoils) R£￿TillationS 2008, and the provisioiis of the con%litution.
The trustees are also i'espoiisible for safeguaixliiig the assets of the cliai-sty c1nd he11¢e for lakiiig reasoi)able .%tep8 for
the prevention and detection of fraud and otlier iiTegularities.
The ti'ustee& are responsible for the Inaintetiat]cc aiid inlegi'ity of the cotporate and financial inforniation iiicluded on
the chai'itable coinpaiiy's website. Legislation govcming tlie pi'epai'atioii and disstminalion of finan¢ial stateinenL
Inay diffei. from legislation in otlier jui'isdictions.
Disc105ure of informatioii to audltor
Each trubte¥ has taken steps that they oiight to have taken as a trustee in order to Inake themselves aware of
i'elevant audit infonnation and to establish that tlie chai"ity'& auditDr is aware of tliat infoi'mation. The trustees
confiTm that thei'e is no relevant infoJll]ation that they know of and of wl)i¢h they know tlJe auditor is unaware.
Tl)e annual report was approved by tlie trustees Df the cliarity on
and signed on its behalf by..
Di. Cliristoi)hei' Hainon
Trustee
Page 40

The Parochial Church Council of the Eccle5ia5tical Paris'h of Sherborne with Castleton
l￿dePendent Auditor's Report to the Member8 of The Parochial Church Council of the
Ecclesiastical Parish of Shei'boi'ne with Castleton
In oiir opinion, except foT the possible effeLts of the matter desci'ibed in the basis for qualified opinion section of oiir
repoit, the fJi)ancial statements..
give a ti'ue und fllii" view of the state of the chai'ity's affaii's as at 31 December 2023 aiid of its incoming resouiEes
and appliLiltion of resoui'ces, including its iiicoine and expendilure, for the yeai. then ended.
have been properly prepai'ed in accoi'dance with Uiiited Kingdoin Gertei'ally Accepted A¢coiinting P12Ctice; and
Iiave beet] pi'epaird in accoi'dance with the irquireineiits of the Cliarities Act 2011.
Basis lor qualified opii)ioii oil financial 5tatementS
'Fl)e fit)ancial stdteinellts include revenue of L50.745. for which no recoi'd.% were avMilt)ble prsor to the cash received
being recoi'ded in the cliarity's electronic dccounting 8Dftwarc. Specifically, this rel￿te& to weekly Abbey service
collections (luring the fii'st quai'ler of the yeHI'. There were no piactical procediire% availdble to tu confiim the
coinpleteness of this revenue. and accordiiigly, we were iinable to obtain sufficient appropi'iat¢ audit evidence in this
regai'd. Consequently. we were unable to deteiiniiie wliether any adjustment to the amount of donations revenue
i'ecoi'ded Wk)s necess1( I'y.
Qualifjed opinson on the financial statements
In our opinion, except for the effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qiialified Opinion paragrapl), the
rinaiicial slatejnents..
give a ti'ue and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs a5 at 31 Deceinber 2023 and of its incoming resources
ajid ai)plication of resoiii'ceg. including ils incoine and expenditllrc, for the year tlien ended;
have beet] piDperly pi"epared in accordance with United Kiiigdom Genei'ally AcLepted Accounting Practice. and
have been piEpared in accordance with the requircmcnts of the Cl)aritie8 Act 2011.
BA8is for opinion
We cunducted our audit in aceordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) IISAS (UK)) and applicable
laiv. Our iesponsibililies under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of
the financsal stlltemenls section of our report. We are independent of the chcirity in 11 ccoI'dance with the ethical
requireinents that are ielevllnt to our audit of the fjnancial %talement5 in the UK. including the FRC'S F,thical
Standai'd, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in a¢cordance wsth these requirements. We believe
that th¢ audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appiDPI'iatc to provide a basis for our qualified opinion.
Coiiclusioiis relating to gDing concern
In aiiditing the fin&incic11 st¢1temcnt%, we have concluded that the trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting
in the pittparation of tlie financial %tateineiits is appi-opriate.
Based un tlie work we have p¢rfoimed, we have not identified any material uncerlainlies relating to event8 or
conditions that. individually or collectively, Inay cast significant doubt on the Lhai'ity's ability to Continuc as a going
concei'n for a period of at least twelve month8 froin wlien the oi"iginal fjnancidl bt(Ilemenls were autliorised for i%sue.
Our responsibililsE8 and tlie responsibiliti¢s of the Iruslees with respect to goiThbF conceim are des¢i'ibed in the relevant
sections of this report.
Other informatloii
Tl)e Iruslees are responsible for the other infotmalion. The oiher inforination coinpi'ises th¢ inforniatlOi1 included in
tlie anniial report, other than the financial slalenienl.% and oiii. auditor's i-epLirl theTeon. Our opinion on the finarcial
slateiiienls does nul cover Ilie otl)er inform&tion aiid, excepl lo Ihe exient otliei'wise eKpIiLltly sialed in our report, we
do not express any foi"In of assurance conclusion Ilicrcon.
In conJiecliotJ with oiir audit of the financial statcmcnls, oiir responsibility is to read the other infornilition and. in
doinbF so, consider whether the othcj. iiifoi'malioii is materially inconsislenl with Ihe financial slatemenl% or oiir
knowled¥e obtained in the audit or oilierwise appears to be niaieiially misslic led. If we idenlify such mal¢rial
inconsistenLies or apparent iiiatei'ial misslateinenls, we are i'eqiiii'ed to delennine wlieiher there is a mal¢rial
niisstateinent in Ihe fjnancial staleni¢nls or a inalerial misslalenienl of the otlier infoiincilion. If. based on the work
we have perfoiined, we conclude that there is a inalerial misstaleinent of this oiheT infonnalion. we are required to
rcpoi'l that fact.
Page41

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Pai'ish of Sherborne with Castleton
Independent Auditol 5 Rei)ort to the IVlember5 of The Parochial Church Collncil of the
Ecclesiastical Pai-ish of Shei'boi'nc with Castleton (continued)
We have nothing lo report in this regard.
MsLtters on which we are required to i'ei)oi't by exeeption
Except for tlie inaltci. dcscribcd in Ilie basi.% foi. quolified opiiJion section of our report, in the liglit of our knowledge
and understanding of the Chai'ity aiid its eiivii'oninent obtaii)ed in the Louise of Ilie audit, we IIiivE not identified
Inalerial mibsldlemei)ts in tlie Trustees, Repoi'l.
We have nothing, 10 report in i"especl uf the followin¥ inattei's where the Cliai'ities (Acco￿1}t$ and Report)
Reuiilatioiis 2008 1-equire& u& to report to you if, iii Our opinioii..
adeqiiltte accountin¥ i"tLords have not been kept, or return& adequate for OUT audit liave not been received froin
bi'anLlies not visited by us., vr
the fiRat]cial %lateniLnts are not in agrecinei)t with the accounting i'ecoi'ds aiid returns,. OT
certait] di%clo.8uJEs of tru$tee% reinui)ei'atiot] specified by law aie not made. or
we have not received all the informatlon aiid cxplaiiations we reqiiire for our audit.
Respoiisibilities of trustees
As explaii)ed inort fully ill tlie Stateineiit of Trustees, Respon.%ibiliti&s (set out on page 40), the trublee5 are
Fesponsible for tlie preparatEon of tlie fIJiaiicial stateEnents aiid for beiiig 8ati.%fJed that Ilicy give a true and fair view,
ai)d foi. Such interi)al control as the Iruslee% detei'inEiie 18 iiece$8ai'y to ¢iiable the prepai?tion of fii)ancidl sldtEmenls
that aie free fi'on) Inatci'ial Jnis8tatcinei)t, wl)etliei' due lo fraud oi. ei'ror.
In pi'eparing th¢ finai)cial staleinents, the trustees are responsible foi. assessing the charity's ability to coiitinue a
goiiig concem, disclusing, as applicable, Inatters related to concern and usi1￿. the goiiig concern ba81.% of
accounting unless tlie Iru5tee5 elther sntend to liquidate the cliarsty or to cease operations, or have no realistic
alterndtive but lo do so.
Auditor Rcspoiisibilitics for tlic gudit of the fiiiaiicial Statcmeiits
Our objectives al'e to obtain reasonable assui.ance abolit wl)eilier tl)e financial statements as a wl)ole are free froin
aterial niisslatement, whether due to fraud oi. e￿Or, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion.
Reasoiiable assui'aiiee is a high level of assuraiice, but is not a guai2Eilec that an 1¢ udit conducted in a¢coi'di¢ nce wilh
ISAS (UK) will always detect a Jnaterial ini%statemeiit when it exists, Misst1¢ leinents can iirise froin fnud or eiTor
and are considcj'ed m¢lt¢rial if, individllally or in the ggr¢gate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the
economic decisions Df users taken on the basis of tliebe financial slalemenls.
The extent to wliicli our procedures al'e cai)able of detecting irreg7ulaiitieb, including fi'aud is detailed below..
We I￿ve considered the nature of the sector, control envii'oninent and financial pei'foi'inaiice.
We have considered the results of enquiries Wlth mana&Fement and meinbers in relatioi) to their own identification
and assessinent of the risk of ii'regularilies witliin the entity and
We have iEviewed the docuinet]tation of key processes and controls and pei'forjned walkihroughs of transa¢(ions to
confs1.in that the sy5teins ai"e opernting in line with doLuinentl£ lion.
For any inatters identified we have obtained and reviewed the cliai'ily's docujnentalion of their policies dnd
procedures relating to:
Idenlifying, evaluating, and eoinplying with laws and i'egulalions wl)eilier Ihey were aware of any itts1ances ot
non-coinpliance.
Delecling and respondtng to the risk of fraud and whether tl)¢y have knowledge of 8clual. suspeLted, 01 allebred
fraud.,
and of Ihe inlei'nal conli'ols eslabltslied to n)iligale Ili¢ I'isks of fraud or ntsn-coinpliaiice with laws and regFula(ions.
Page 42

The ParoLhial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shei'borne with Castleton
Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of The Parochial Church Council of the
I cele5ia5tlLal Parish of Sherborne Ivith Castleton (continued)
We have consideird the mEttter% discussed among the eudit engagement team regai'ding how and wliere fraud might
occui. in the fiiiaiicial stateJnei)ts aiid potential indicaloi's of fi'aud. As a resiilt of th¢ge procediircs, we have
Lonsidered the oppoi'liinitie% aiid iiiceiitives that may exist within tl)e oi'gaiiisalson for fiaud and identified the
higlicst ai'ea of ri&k lo be in relation to revenue reLogi)ilion. In cojijunction with all audits under ISAS (UK) we are
also i'equii'ed to pei'forin %p¢cifie pix)cediires to respond to the ri.%k of management ovBI'ride.
We have also obtained undei'standiiig of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the charity operates in, fo¢usiiig
oti pi'ovisioris of those law% and Irgulalioi)s that had a direct effect on the determiiiation of Inilterial amoiint% and
disclosuiES the finclnciic l 8tatcineJits. The key laws and regulations we considei'ed in this context iiicluded the
Cliarities Act 2011. C111c I'lly SORP 2019, fRS 102 and the tei'ms and cotiditioiis attacliiiig to inAteri&l gr1c nl8 received
by the charity-
In addition, we considered the pi'ovi%ioiJq of other laws and regulations that do not have a dii'ect effect on the
rinancial statcineiits but compliance with wliicli may be fiindamenlal to the charity's abilEty to operate or avoid R
millerial penalty. These included d1cta protection regiilation%, health and safety regulationq and einployment
i8lation. Our pro¢ediires to respond to risks identified incliided tl)e following:
Reviewing the financial statetnent disclosures and teRting to suppoi'ting dociimenthtion to assess compliance with
provisions of relevant laws ai)d regulations desci'ibed as having a dii'ect effect on the financial stateinents.
Perforining analytical procedures to identify unLisual or unexpected relationships that tnay indicate risks of material
Jnisstatement due to fraud.
Reviewing Trustees, meeting ininutes,.
Enquiring of inanagement in relatiot] to actual and potential iins or litigations,.
Perforning detailed lrnnsactional testing in relation to the recognition of revenue, specifically grants, and..
In #ddi'essing the risk of fraud throLigh management ovei'j'ide of controls..
testing the èippi'opriic teneq% of joui'nal entries and other k)djustments',
assessing whether the jiidgments Inade in aCLounting estimates are indicative of potential bias and,.
evaluatingF the bu%in¢ss rationale of sibTnifiLant trnnsactions that arc unuEual or oiilside the nOTmal coiirse of business.
We also cominunicaled identified and regulations and potential fraud risks to all rneinbers of the engagement
teain and ieinlc illed alert to possible indieatois uf fraud or non-coinplianc¢ with laws and regulatEon5 tliroughoiit the
A ￿rI1]er description of our responsibilities is avk)ilable on the Financial liepoi'ling Coiincil's website at=
www.frc.org.Iiklc1Liditoisresponsibilities. This descriplion forn￿ parl of oiir auditoi % reporl.
Page 43

The Pai'oehial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shei'borne with Ca5tleton
Independent Auditor's Repoi't to the Members of The Paroehial Chllreh Couneil of the
Ecelesiastieal Parish of Sherborne with Castleton (eontinued)
Use oloiii. report
This i'¢port is made solely lo Ilie cliarity ti'ustees, as a body, s11 accordance with section 144 Df the Cliai'ities Act 2011
and i'egulalions made undei" sectioii 154 of that Act. Oiii. aiidit woi'k ha.s been undeilaken so that we might slate to
the Irusleeb Ihtsse mJttei% we are i'equii'cd to %tate to ti'u%te&% iii an duditors, repoi't aiid for no olhei. pui'pose. 1.0 the
fullest exteiit pennitted by law, we do i)ot accept or assume IEsponsibility to anyoiie othei. th￿1 tl)e charity and its
"uslees as a body, foi. our audit work, for Illis ieporl, or for the opsnioi)s we have fonned.
lan Dodds (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of Lanham & FrclllLiS, Statutoiy AuditDr
Cliurch 14ouse
Cliiirch SiiEet
Yeovil
Soinerset
BA20 IHB
Page 44

The Paroehial Chui'ch Council of the Eeclesiastical Parish of Sherborne with Castleton
Statement of f4inancial Activities for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
Unrcstricted Restricted Endowinent
t'uiids
funds
Total
2023
Total
2022
Note
Income aiid Iidowments frnm:
DoJiatiaii% aiid le&yaLie&
Chdritable aciivitie
Other lixding activities
Inveslinent illCOTne
692,821
96,256
139.441
218,521
17.897
18,123
45
8,494
710.718
114,379
139,486
227.015
834,345
65,022
118,308
213.874
Total ii)come
1,147,039
44,559
1,191.598
1.231.549
Expeiiditure on..
Raising funds
Charslable activities
{153.603)
{1,027,591
(153,6031
1174,354}
(1,064,272) {1.077.016)
36,681
Total expeiiditUTe
Gainsl(lossesl on investrnent
assets
(1,181,194)
(36,6811
(1,217.875) (1.251.370)
28,173
26.487
211.160
265,820
559,853)
Net {expendilLire)lincome
Nct trglnsfers between funds
{5.9821
34.365
211.160
239,543
(579,674)
22
Net moveinent in funds
{4,6841
33.067
211,160
239,543
(579.674)
Reconciliation tsf funds
Total funds broug]it fonvai'd
3.804,226
400.393
3,191,666
7,396,285
7,975,959
Toti11 funds carried forwai'd
22
3,799,542
433,460
3,402.826
7.635.828
7.396.285
All of the charity's activities derive froin continuing operations during tl)e above two periods.
The funds breakdown for 2022 is shown in note 22.
Tlie notes on pages 48 10 64 form ali intcgral pllrt of these financial stateinenls.
Page 45

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecele5iastieal Parish of Sherboi'ne with Castletijn
(Registration number: 1130082)
Jlalance Sheet as at 31 Dccember 2023
2023
2022
Note
Fixed Assets
Taiigible assets
Inveslinents
14
15
1.506.245
5,554,118
1.498,988
5,288,298
7,060,363
6.787,286
Cui'reiit assets
Stocks
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
16
17
18
11.935
25,378
594,816
14,396
82,799
589,378
632,129
686,573
Creditors., Amouiits falliiig duc withiii one year
19
156.664)
177.574)
Lyct currcnt assets
575.465
608,999
Net a5setS
7,635,828
7,396,285
Fund5 of tlie cliarity:
Eiidowment fuiid5
22
3,402,826
3,191,666
Restricted iii¢ome fuiid5
Restri¢ted funds
22
433,460
400,393
Uiirestrlcted iiitome funds
Unrestricted funds
22
3,799,542
3,804,226
Total funds
22
7,635.828
7.396,285
The financial statements tsn pages 45 t(> 64 were approved by the trustees, and autliorised for i58ue on
and siglned on their behalf by..
Ollathan Rodd
Trustec
Mi. David Fifield
Trustee
Tlie notes on paLyes 48 to 64 foi'm an integral parl of lliese financial btateinents.
Page 46

The Pai'oehial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shei'boi'ne with Castleton
Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
2023
2022
Note
Cash flows from opei'atiiig acliyities
Nct cash incurnel(expendilure)
Adjllstmeiits to ca511 flDiYS fi'om nonveasli items
Depreciation
Inveslment incojne
Revaluk)tion of investments
239,543
(579,674)
1.210
(227,015)
265.820)
(213,8741
559.853
(252,082)
{233,695)
Worlung capit#l adjiistments
De¢reasel(increllse) in stoLks
Decreasel(incJ'case) in debtOlS
{Decrease)lincrease in creditors
16
17
19
2,461
57,421
20,910
(1,696)
(53,986)
65,633
Net cash flows fr(>in opei'aiing activities
(213,110
223,744
Casli tIow8 from investing actlvltles
InteiE8t receivable and siinilai incoine
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
227,015
8,467
213,874
14
Net cash flows from investing activities
Net increaselldecrease) in cash and cash equivalents
218,548
213.874
5,438
(9.870)
Cash and cash equivalents at l January
Cash and cash eqiiivalents at 31 December
589,378
599,248
594,816
589,378
All of the cash fltsws are derived from conliniiing opei'ations during the abuve two periods.
T]ie notes on pagFe.% 48 10 64 foiin an inlestal pari of these financial slalemenls.
Page 47

The Paroehial Chureh Council of the Eeclesiastical Parish of Shei'borne with Castleton
r4lotes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023
l Accouiiting policies
Statement of compliaiice
Tlie fiiiancial staten)ents l)ave be¢n pi'¢pai'ed in accoi'dai)ce with the secojid cditioii of the Cl)ai'ities Sialeinenl of
Recoinineiided PJ'acli¢e issued in Oclobei. 2019, 11)e fiiiancial Repoitiiig Staiidai'd applicable li) the United Kin¥don)
alld Republic of Irelai)d (FRS 102) aiid the Cl)Arilie5 Act 2011.
Basis of preparRtioll
Tlie Parochial Cliurch Council of the Ecclesiatical Parish of Slierbui'ne with Castletoii ineets the defiiiition of a
public benefit eiitity under FRS 102. 'fhe aecouiil8 Ifinan¢ial stalein¥iits) hiive been pi'epaiEd iindci. tlie historical
cost convention with itcJn% JEcogiiised al cost oi. liJnsa¢lioi) value uiiles% othcrwisc Stated li) the relevant nole(s) to
these accounts.
These fjiiaiicial stateinents al'e prepared in Sterling, which is the fuiictional currency of the Ch￿lty. Monetary
amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £1.
GDii)g coiicern
Tlie ti'ustees consider that there al'e no inaterial uncertainties about the charity's ability to Colltinue as a going
concetn.
Income and endowments
Voluniaiy incoine incliiding donations, gifts. legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nattire
is recognised when the charity has entitlemeiit to the iiicome, it 18 probable that the income will be received and the
amount can be measured with suffscient reliability.
Doiiftlioiib uiid legffcies
Donations and legacies are reCO￿lSed oil a receivable bA%is when receipt is probable and the ainount can be reliably
measured.
Glft aid
Incoining iE8our¢es frojn tax reclaims are included in the Statement of Fiiianeial Activities at the same time a5 the
gift to which they relate.
Dividends are reco￿lS¢d once the dividend has been declai'ed and notification h&% been received of the dividend
due.
Expenditiire
All Expcndilure is recognisEd once their is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, il is probable
seilleineiil is i'eqiiii-ed and thc ainouiil Lan bc inea6ur¢d reliably. All cosls are allucdted to tlie applicable exi)cndiliire
headinLF that abbJiEgTate siinilai. costs lo Iliat calegTroiy. Wliere costs cannot be directly attributed to pai'liciilar Iieadings
they have been allocalcd on a l)asis consistent willi tlie use of resoiirceb, wilh cential staff costs allocaled on the
basis of lijiie spciil, dnd depiEClation ¢liarges allocated on the portion of tlie asset's use. Odier support costs al'e
allocafrd based on Ilie spi'ead ot staff costs.
Rlli.fEpig]iiiirfs
These al'e costs inciirred in allracling volunlaiy incoine, the m£ina¥eineiit of invesli]Trcnts and tliose incun'ed in
lizding activities that i'aise fvnds.
Page 48

The Pai'ochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Shei'borne with Castleton
r+lotes to the Financial Statement5 foi. the Year Ended 31 December 2023 {continlled)
l Accouiitiiig policÉes {eontiniied)
Cliui'iluble cic¢ivilie.s
Charitablc expenditui'e compi'ises Iho8e costs incuTI'ed by the charity in the delivery of its activslies and service% for
itq bencficiaTjC%. It inLludes both cost.4 that Can be allocated dii-ectly lo such a¢tivitses and those costs of an indirect
nature necessary to %upport Ihein.
GovernRnce costs
These incliide the co8t% attributable to the charity's compliaiice witli constitutional and statutoiy requirernents,
including audtt, sti'ategic inaiiagement clnd irustees, meetings aiid reimbuTSEd expen8cs.
Taxatlon
The charity is considered to P£lSS the tests set out iii Paragizph I Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it
Ineets the d¢fit]ition of tl charitcible company foi. UK coipoi"ation tax purposes, Accordingly, tlie charity is potentially
exempt from taxatiot] in respect of incoine or capital gaiiis reLeived witl)in categories covered by Chaptei 3 Part I I
of the Cotporation 'l-ax Act 2010 or Section 256 of th¢ Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to tl)e extent that
sucl) incoine or gains are applied exclusively to chllrilable purposes.
I'angible fixed assets
Congecraied and bciieficed land and property and snalienable LhuFch furnishings and equiprnent are excluded fi'om
the finanLsal statements. All expenditure incurred on maintenance or iinprovement of such pi'opeity oi. fuiTrishings is
written off in the financial stateinents.
Other land and buildings sn the beneficial ownerqhip of the ch&rity k)re included in the financial stAtements at cost.
Under the Iransitional riiles of FRS102 paragrapli 35.10, the Ikind buildings wer¢ revaliied At the dAte of
liansition. Tl)e basis of thi.8 valiiation was mclrket valuc, wliich was estiiblished by the chai'ity. This valiie has been
arried forwkll'd as the deemed cost. Anniièil reviews of the propej'tics &re undertc1ken to determine wliether or not
Iliei'e has been any iinpaimjent, which would reduce th¢ inarket value of tlie land k)nd biiildings.
Tl)e value of all office and mis¢ellaneoiis equipment is written off in the financial yehr in which it is acquired,
exLepl for a.sseLq costing in excess of £5,000, wliich are capilalised <ind depreciated. The value of consLimable goods
in hand is considered immatei'itil.
Depreclatton And aniortisation
Depreciation is provided at the following Rnnual rate in order to write off each assEt over its expected iiscful life..
Asset elA5S
DeprecÉi)tion method aiid r&t¢
iiillilure and filting5
7 yelirs straight linc
¢ixcd as$et investmeiits
Fixed J%8el iiivestinenls, other than i)roLJi'ainine related inveslinenls, ar¢ iiicliided at market value at the balance sheet
dale. Realised gains and lo¥sses on inveslinenls are calculaled c1S Ilie diffcj'once betweeii sales proceeds and tlieir
n]￿l.ket value al the start of Ihe yeai.. or their subseqiienl cosL and are charged or credited to the Staieinenl of
FintinLl£il A¢tivitses in Ilie peTiod of disposal,
Uiirealised gain% and losses represent the iiioveinent in market valiies diiring ihe year and are credited or charged to
the Slalejneiil of Fiiiajicial ALtivilies based oti the market valiie at the ye£ir end.
Page 49

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Pai'ish of Sherborne with Castleton
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 Decembei. 2023 (eontinued)
l Accountiiig policie5 (continiied)
Stock 18 valued at tlie lowei. of cost ai)d estiindled selliiig PTice less costs to coii)plele and sell, aftei. due i'egard foi.
obsolcte aiid slow moviiig stocks. Cobl )b deteijniiied iisiiig tlie fiJ'81-in, fii'st-oul (FIFO).
Trade debtoi's
Ti'dde debiors ate amounts duc frojn customers for mercl)ai)dise sold or services peTformed iji the ordinary course of
businesb.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the tt'ansaction price. They al'e %ubseoueiitly measured at ainortised cost
usiiig the effective intei'est method, less provision for i211painnent. A pi'ovisioii for the impainkntri)i of lixde debtors is
established wlien there is objective evidei)¢e that the chai.ity will not be able to collect all amounts due acLording to
tlke orsginal tci'jns of the receivables.
Cash and ca511 equivBlentS
Cash and cash equivalciits coinprise cash on hand and call deposit5. and ollier short-terin highly liquid iiivestmei)ts
that air readily convertible to a knowii ainount of cash dl)d are Subject to ali insignificant risk of change ii) value.
Borrowliigs
Interest-be<iring boi'rowings are silitially recorded at fair value, iiet of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings
are siibsequently can'ied at ainortised cost, with the diffe]￿nce between the proceeds, iiet of ti'ansaction ¢osts, and the
amount due on redeniption being recognised as a charge lo the Slateinent of Financial Activities over the period of
the relevant borrowing.
Intei'est expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable c1nd
similai. charges.
Bon'owings aiE cla8%ifJed as current liabilities unless the chaTity has an unconditional right lo defer settlement of tl)e
lability for at least Iwelve months after the repoiting date.
riuiid structure
Un]esti"icted inCOEne ￿1]d9 air geneJ71 funds that are available for use at the trnstees, discretion in fUrth￿.￿nCe of the
objectives of thB cliarity.
Designciled funds are u￿.estrICtCd funds set asidc for sp¢cifiL purpose5 al tlie di.%crelioii of the trustees.
Restricied income fund5 are those donated for use in a particuldr drea or for specific pujyoses, Ilie use of wliich is
reslricied its ihal aiEa oi. pury)ose.
Pcnsi011s aiid othcr post rttirtment oblTgation5
Tlie chai'ity operales a define(l Lonlribulion pension SCI)￿ne which is a pensioii plan under which fixed contribulions
are paid iilto a pension tuiid and tlie cliarsty has no legal or conslru¢tive oblibialioi) lu pay fiij'ihcr contributions even
if the fund does not hold sufficieiit assets lo pay all einployeeb ilie bei)efil& itlulinL to einployee sei'vice in tl)e
cuii'enl and prior period5.
Contributions to defIned conti'ibulion plans al'e recognised in the Stdlemenl of Financial Activities when they are
due. If conti"ibutjOll payinenls exceed ihe conli'ibulioi) diie for sei'vice. tlie excess is recogni5ed as a PlEpayinenl.
Page 50

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecelesiastical Parish of Shei'borne with Castleton
Notes to the FinanLial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
l Aecollntlng policie5 (continuod)
FinAiieial in5triiments
Cla.ssifEclllioii
Finaiicial k)s%ets and financial liabilities Al'e recognised when the chai'ity becomes a party to the contrttctual
provisions of the iiisiruinent.
Finaticial liabilitie% and equity instruments are clasbified according to thc %iibstance of Ilie coJitra¢lual ai'i'angeinents
enteird int(J. An equity inslrument is any contract that evidences a residual intei'est in the assets of the chai'ity after
Ilcductit]g all of ils liabilities.
Recogiiilioii uiid iiieo.fiii.eiiieiil
All finaiicial a￿etS and liabilities are initially measured at transactioi) pi'ice {includin¥ transaction costs), except for
tliose finaiicial a%sets classified (is at fair value Il)roiibFh profit or loss, wliich are initially measiired at fair value
(which is normally tlie ti'ansaction price excluding ti?nsactioTh costs), unless Il)e ai'12ngement con&titules a financing
ti'aiistLclitsn. If an arrangcinent Constitute￿ a financing tian.%aclion, the fin£ll)cial 11SS¢t or fiiiancial liability is measured
at the present value of the future payments discounted at a rnarket rate of interest for a ssmilar debt instrument.
FinHJiLial assets and liabilities are only offset in the statement of finaiicial position when, ai)d Ollly when theie exists
a legally eiiforceable right to set off tl)e reLognise(l amounts and the charity intends either to settle on a net basis, or
lo i'cali%e the a%set and settle the liability simuliuneously.
Financial as%ets are derecognised when and only wlien a) the contractiial rights to ihe Ci1sh flows fix)rn the financial
asset expii'e or are settled, b) the chaTity tric nsfei's to another i)arty substaiitially all of the risks and rewurd% of
ownoi%hip of the financicll aq%et, oi. cl the clilli"ity, (lespite having retained some. but not all, significant risks and
rewards of Om￿C1Sh1p. has transferred conli'ol of tlie clsset to anotlier party.
Financial liabiliti￿ are derecognised only wliet) the obligation spe¢ifJed in the conttact is discharged, Gancelled or
expires.
Iiivesliiieiils
Investment% in non-convertible preference shares lind non-puttable oi'dinaiy 01 pieference %l)ares (wheiE shaTes llre
publicly traded or their fciir value i% reliably measiirable) are me1E siircd at fas1. valiie thivugh profit or loss. Where fail.
value canDOt be ineasiired reliably, investiiients are measured at cost Ic%s impainnent.
PabFe 51

The Parochial Chureh Council ol. the li cclesiastical Parish of Sherboi'ne with Castleton
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
2 Income from donations and legacies
Uni'estrlcted funds
DesiEI)ated
CJenorg1
Restri¢ted
funds
Total
2023
Donations aiid legacies,.
Paj'iqh giving
Cliurch Collecting
Doiiativiis to appeals
Festival spon%oi'sliip
Gift aid reelatined
Regular givii)g and capital donatioi)s
Otl)er income from donations and
legFdcies
57,321
1.133
410
199,452
67,944
950
256,773
73,537
12.265
30.126
55,396
50
4.460
10.905
30,126
18,761
36,635
50
2,397
277.692
2,482
282,571
110,148
582.673
17,897
710.718
Uiirestritted fuiids
Desigiiated
CFeTrerAI
Rcstricted
funds
TotRI
2022
Donations and legacies.
Pai'ish ¥sving
Cliurch collecting
Donations to appeals
Legacieb
Festival 8ponEorship
Gift aid reclaimed
Othei. income from donations and
legacies
54,390
1,094
9,537
94.291
91.269
30.078
148.681
100,452
40,008
(375)
20,033
43,996
8,089
393
(375)
20,033
12,772
31.224
1,315
473,742
6,493
481.550
99,141
720,604
14,600
834,345
Page 52

The Parochial Chureh Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Sherborne with Castleton
Notes to the fiinaneial Statements for the Year Ended 31 Decembej. 2023 (continued)
3 Income from eharitable activltles
Unrestricted fuiids
DesiEiiAted
General
Resti'ieted
Total
2023
Fees foi. weddings, fuiierals and
relaled incojne
St Paul's Cojnmiinity Pi'oject
455
15.905
79,896
18,123
98.474
15,905
16,360
79,896
18,123
114,379
Uiirestricted fuiids
Desl¥ii8ted
General
Restricted
flliids
Total
2022
Fecq foi. weddii)gs, funerals and
relalcd iiicoine
St Pc1uI's Coinmuiiity Project
32.327
24,948
57,275
7.747
7.747
7,747
32.327
24,948
65.022
4 Ineome frorn otlier trading RCtivitie$
Ujirestricted
fuiids
De51g¥ll*ted
Restricted
ruiids
Totftl
2023
Ti£ding income;
Sales of good% and services
8v¢nts incoine-
Othcr events income
Digby Mejnorial Cliurch Hall
Concerts
35,227
45
35.272
70,162
32,286
1,766
70,162
32,286
.766
139,441
45
139.486
Uiircgtricted
futids
Designated
Restricted
funds
Total
2022
Triiding iii¢oine'
Sales of goods and services
Evenls incoiiie.
OLhei" events income
Digby Meinorial Cliur¢h Flall
Concei'ts
26,355
411
26,766
60,766
28,486
2,290
60.766
28,486
2,290
117,897
118,3011
Page 53

The Parochial Church Council of tlie Ecclesiastical Pai'ish of Sherborne with Castleton
Notes to the f<inancial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
5 1nve5tmeiit iiicome
Uiirestricted funds
DesigiiRted
General
Restrltted
ruiids
I'ot21
2023
liiterest i'eceivable and siinilai. income,.
Iiitei'est receiv<ible oil baiik dcposits
Oihei. incorne froin fjxed asset
liivestineni
5,805
235
257
6,297
204,981
7.500
8,237
213,218
7.500
Incoine fioin TeJ)ts
5,805
212,716
8,494
227.015
Uiii'e5ti'icted funds
Desigjiated
General
Resti-icted
fuiids
Total
2022
Intci'est receivable and siinilar income,.
liiterest receivdble on bank deposits
Othei. ii)come from fixed asset
iiive8tinei)ts
Income froin rents
1.434
95
1,529
193,874
8.425
10.046
203,920
8.425
1,434
202,299
10.141
213.874
Pftge 54

The Parochial Chureh Council of the Ei ccltsia8tieal Parish of Shei'boi'ne with Castleton
Notes to the fiinancial Statement5 foi. the Year Ended 31 December 2023 {continued)
6 Expeiiditui'e on r%klsiiiE fuiid$
Unrestricted
fuiids
Desi#iiated
Total
2023
Fundi8ising trading costs.,
Cost of goods sold
Sl)op overhedds
Digby MemoTial Cl)ur¢h Hall
restivtil event expenditure and grai)tS
Mu%ic Committee
18,756
1,874
18.780
94.191
60
18,756
1,874
18.780
94,191
60
Staff ¢ostg
19,942
19,942
153,603
153,603
Unrestricted
t'uiids
Dcsigiiated
Total
2022
Fundrai%ing 112ding cost5:
Cost of good8 sold
Shop ovej'heads
Digby Memorial Cl)urch H1£11
Festival event expenditure and grdnts
Miisic C.ominitiee
15.675
4,478
21.997
117,901
768
15,675
4,478
21,997
117,901
768
Staff costs
13,535
13,535
174,354
174,354
Page 55

The Parochial Church Couneil of the Ecelesia5tical Pari$h of Shei'borne with Ca5tleton
Notes to the f4inancial Statements for the Year Ended 31 Deeembei. 2023 (Continued)
7 Expeiiditure 011 cliai'itable Activities
Uiire.strictcd fund5
Desigiiat¢d
General
Reslrieted
funds
Total
2023
Tl)e Miiiistiy
Woi'sliip
Faith in Action Cominittce - graiits paid
Chiii'ch in ihe Coinmuiisty
Fabric
Maiiagement and Admii)istration
Flowei. ari'angers
Other events
Staff costs
Goveniance costs
2.885
1.671
64.097
22,048
17,692
1,863
221.654
24,471
983
16.915
225,522
43,057
64,097
22,048
477,799
61,845
2,680
505
447,548
56.943
12,559
3.039
2,680
505
6.209
141,348
19,I()2
147,557
19.162
116.465
911,126
36.681
1,064,272
Uni'estrieted fuiid5
Designated
GenerRI
Resti'icted
fuiJd5
Total
2022
T]ie Minisliy
wor.￿1)iP
Faitli Action Con)Inittce grants paid
Cliurch in the Coiwnunity
Fabtic
Management and Adininistration
Flower arrangei's
Otliei. events
Staff costs
Govemance costs
2.901
252,209
29.848
255,110
50,791
38,966
6,268
540,335
48.318
3,409
1,634
117,142
15,043
20,943
38,966
5,534
12.075
449
734
511,371
45.036
16,889
2,833
3,409
1.634
108.578
15,043
8,564
68,489
964,453
44,074
I,V77,016
Page 56

The Parochial Church Council of the El celesiastieal Pari8h of Sherboi'ne witli Castleton
Note5 to the fiinanLial Statements for the Yeai. Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
8 Aiialy515 of governante aiid support eosts
Govern9Jice eosts
Unre$ti'icted
I'unds
Gencrfil
Total
funds
Audit fees
Audit of the financial statejnenls
Otliei. fees paid to Luditor
Other governance costs
9.162
2,000
8,000
9,162
2,000
8,000
Total for 2023
19.162
19,162
Total for 2022
15,043
15,043
9 Net Tncomingloutgoing re$Trurces
Net outgoingF resouircs for the year include..
2023
2022
Audit fees
oihw. non-audit services
D¥preciatlDll of fixed assets
9,162
2,000
1,210
15,043
10 Trustees remuneration aiid expenses
During the year the chariiy made the following transactions with trustees..
Mrs Joaniie HAgue
Mr.E Jotinne Hague received remiineration of £1,966 (2022.. £11,419) during the year.
She was rernunerated for accounting seivices provided to the charity i)i'ior to her resignation in March 2023.
Dr Christoplier H#mon
Dr Cliristoi)her Hainon received remuneration of £13,364 {2022-. £22.428) during the year.
He was paid for hig sei'vsees as a vergei..
Payinent for these services 1% pennitted linder the Parochial Cliur¢h Council Powers Measure.
No IrLi&lees have received any iEiinbui%ed expenses or any other benefits from tl)e chaTity during the year.
Page 57

The Paroehial Church C(huncil of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Sherborne with Castleton
Notes to the f4inancial Statements for the Year Ended 31 Decembej. 2023 (continued)
11 Staff costs
Tlie a￿￿￿g￿le PR￿￿1] costs weiE a% follows..
2023
2022
Staff costs during the year iwere:
Wagcs ai)d salai'ies
Social seLurity costs
Pension costs
156,717
8.533
2.249
126.364
2.551
1.762
167,499
130,677
T]ie rllonthly average number of pei%oi)s {in¢luding senioi. Inai)dbFement / leadersl)ip team) employed by the chai'ity
dui'ing the yeai. exprc8%cd as fLIII tiine eqiiivaleiils was a8 follow5..
2023
No
2022
No
Worsl)ip
Management aiid admiiiists'atioii
4 (2022- 4) of the above einployees i)arti¢ipaled in the Defined Conlributioii Pen%ion S¢l)emes.
Contributions to the employee pension 5cI)eme% for the year totallcd £2.249 {2022- £1,762).
No employee received emoluinents of more than £60,000 duiing the year
12 Auditors, remunei'ation
2023
2022
Audit of the financial stalenients
9,162
15,043
Otlier [cL￿5 to auditors
All othei. non-audit s¥i'vices
2,000
13 TaxatioRJ
Tlie chai'ily is a registered charity and 1.8 Ihei'efoi'e exempt froin taxation.
PabFe 58

The Parochial Church Council of the Ei celesia5tical Pai'ish of Sherboi'ne with Castleton
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
14 TanLFlble fixed a$5ets
Land %iid
buildings
Furniture and
equipment
Total
Cost
At l January 2023
Additions
1,498,988
1.498,988
8.467
8.467
At 31 December 2023
1,498.988
8.467
1,507,455
DepreCI￿tIO11
Charge for the year
1,210
1.210
At 31 December 2023
1,210
1,210
Net book value
At 31 Decemb¢i' 2023
1,498.988
7,257
1,506,245
At 31 Decembei. 2022
1,498,988
1.498,988
15 Fixed asset investments
Other inve$tmtnts
Listcd
iiivestments
Cost or Valuation
At l January 2023
evaluation
5,288,298
265,820
5.288,298
265,82U
At 31 December 2023
5,554,118
5,554,118
Net book vAlue
At 31 Deceinber 2023
5.554.118
5,554.118
At 31 Deceinbei. 2022
5,288,298
5,288,298
16 Stock
2023
2022
Slocks
11,935
14,396
17 Debtor
2023
2022
Other debtors
25,378
82,799
Page 59

The Parochial Chui'ch Council of tlle EcelesiastlLal Parish Df Shei'borne with Castleton
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2023 (eontinued)
18 Cash and cash equivalents
2023
2022
Cash on hand
Cash at baiik
Slioi-t-tei'jn deposits
536,959
5C).546
501.924
86,338
594,816
589,378
19 Creditor5: amounts falliiiii due within one yeai.
2023
2022
Othei. taxation and social SECUI"ity
Other cJEdilors
Accruals
2.629
36.035
18,000
69,574
8,000
56,664
77,574
20 Oblig2tions under le%ses Aiid liire pui'eliase coiitrActs
OperRtiiig lease commitments
Total future IninEmum lease i)ayments under iioii-cancellable operating leases are as follows..
2023
2022
LaDd aiid buildings
Witliin one yeGir
Between one and fjve years
2,288
3,050
2,288
2,288
5,338
21 CoMmit￿ents
Otlier financial commitment5
Tl)e total ainounl of tsther fInancial cominilmenls not Provided in the finat]cial slalement5 was £Nil (2022- £68,906).
Page 60

Tlle Parochial Chureh Council of the Ecelesiastical Parish of Sherborne with Castleton
Notes to the f4inancial Statements for the Yexr Ended 31 DeLember 2023 (continued)
22 Funds
Balaiice at
31
rceogiiiscd December
Ti'ansfers gaiiislllosses)
2023
Balanee at
l January Incomiiig Resources
2023
resoiii'ces
expeiided
Uiirestricted fuiid5
Geiiei'&l
Pai'ish Central Fund
3,514.889
875,285
(911.1261
1962)
28,173
3,506.259
De.figiiiiled
St Paul's Church
Digby Memorial Church Hall
Sherbom¢ Abbey Sliop
Sherborne Festival
FIAC
122,062
22,554
28,762
76,692
35.693
3,574
98.014
32.605
35,313
102,859
1,197
1,766
(52,285)
(32.296)
{27.056)
{94.191)
164.180)
601
(45,000)
122,791
22.863
43,654
75,518
20,970
7.487
6,635
(9,8421
48.260
2.2(17
Music fund
289,337
271,754
(270,068)
2,260
293,283
Total unrestricted funds
3,804.226
1,147,039
1,181.194}
1,298
28,173
3,799,542
Restrieted fuiids
Ca5tlelon Church
Abbey Clioir Fund
Abbey Floral Fund
Slierborne Abbey Bellrin¥eis
Toilets Fund
377,926
17.988
1.827
2,652
20,296
8.473
2.236
2,684
10,870
(17,780)
(13,918)
(2.721)
(2,262)
11,971)
472
401
(200)
26,487
404,958
13,015
1.743
2,874
10.870
Total restricted funds
400,393
44.559
(36.6811
(1,298)
26,487
433.460
Endowment luiids
Periiioiieiil
Endowment Fund
3,191,666
211,160
3,402,826
Total tvllds
7,396,285
1,191,598
1.217,875)
265,820
7,635,828
Page61

The Pai'ochial Chureh Council of the Ecclesia.stieal Parish of Shei'borne with Cxstleton
Notes to the fiinaneial Statements for the Yeai. El nded 31 Decevnber 2023 (eontinlled)
22 FuiJd5 (continiieil)
Balanee at
Othcr
31
recngniscd Deceinber
Transfers gAiiisl(losses}
2022
Balance at
l Janiiary Incoming Resourees
2022
'e%nurces
expejided
Unrestricted fiiiids
GeiRerul
Parish Central Funds
3,733,643
955,230
1964,453)
14,872
{224.403) 3,514,889
De.¥igiifiled
St Paul's Church
Digby Memorial Cliurch Hail
Slierbome Abbey Shop
Slierbonie Festival
120,179
23,152
33.858
122.843
11,737
3,552
77,151
28,616
26,375
82,250
9,537
2,290
(29,339)
(29,214)
(26,471>
(117.9011
(39.1501
768
(45,929)
122,062
22,554
28.762
76.692
35,693
3.574
(5.000}
{10,5001
53,569
(1,5001
Music Fund
315,321
226,219
1242,843
9,360)
289,337
Total unrestrlcttd funds
4,04R,964
1,181,449
1,207,296
224.403
5,512 ￿ 3,804,226
Restricted
Castleton Cl)ureh
Abbey Choii. Fund
Abbcy Floi'al Fund
Sliei'boi"ne Abbey Belli'ingeJB
Central Fund
412,290
14.925
2,026
1,805
8.242
28,179
13,108
3,210
5,603
(18,914)
(16,9951
13,4091
14,7561
(4.220)
6,950
(39,409)
377,926
17,988
1,827
2,652
8,242
Total restricted fuiids
439.288
50,100
144,074)
(5,512)
{39,409)
400,393
Endowment fiinds
Periiiftiieiii
Endowinent Fund
3,487.707
296,041
3,191,666
Total funds
7.975,959
1,231,549 {1,251,370}
(559,8531 7,396,285
Page 62

The Paroehial Church Council of the Ecelesiastieal Paj-ish of Shei'boi'ne with Castleton
Notes to the Financial Statement5 for the Year Ei nded 31 December 2023 (continued)
22 Fiiiids {eontlnued)
Tlie specific PUTposes for which the fiiiids are to be applied al'e as follows..
Ca￿tlet0n Cl)ui'ch
Fund i'estri¢ted to the general purposes and objects of the Castleton Committee.
Abbey Clioir Fund
Fund I'estricted to the general purposes and welfare of the Abbey Choir.
Abbey Floi'al Fuiid
Fund restriLted to PUTposes associated with the floi?I decoration of the Abbey.
Tlie company of Sl)eibornE Abbey Bellringei
Fund restricted to thc geneial purposes of the company of ringers.
Toilets Fund
Fuiid res11'icted to the project to iiistsl toilets in the Abbey. If the project does i)ot proceed, these donations are to be
Irfunded.
Th¢ dcsignated funds al'e shown sepantely to highlight tl)e cot]tributioii of each fiind. The funds held may be U5Ed
for any purpose deemed suitable by the knistees.
23 Aiialysis of net assets betiveen funds
Total fund$
t31
December
2023
Endoiv￿ent
fuiids
Permd2nent
Unrestricted funds
General
Designated
Restricted
fllnds
Tangible fixed assets
Fixed a&set inve%tments
Cun'ent as%et8
558,965
2,739.175
257,153
49,034
947,280
2.455.546
1,506,245
5.554.118
632,129
56,664
359,397
75,828
(1,765)
299,148
5,865
Current liabilities
Tottil net assets
3,506,259
293.283
433,460
3,402,826
7,635.828
Tot211'uiids
at31
December
2U22
I ndowment
I'unds
Permanent
Uiirestricted fuiids
Gcneral
Dcsignated
Restricted
fiiiids
Tcll)gible fixed assets
Fixed asset inveslinents
Ciiij'enl assets
LLirrenl liabililies
551,708
2,711,002
318,535
166.356)
947,280
2,244.386
1.498,988
5,288,298
686,573
177,5741
332.910
71,606
(4,123)
296,432
7,0951
Tolal nel assets
3.514,889
289,337
400,393
3,191,666
7,396,285
Page 63

The Parochial Church Council of the Eeelesiastieal Parish of Sherborne with Castleton
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Yeai. Ended 31 December 2023 (continued)
24 Analysis of nel fiiiids
At31
At l .lanuary
2023
FiJianciiii¥ eash
floiv5
December
2023
Cash at bank and in hand
589,378
5.438
594,816
Net fuiids
589,378
5,438
594,81 ()
At31
Dccember
2022
At l January
2022
Fiiianciiig CASII
floiv5
Cash at bank and in haiid
599,248
9,8701
589,378
Net funds
599,248
9,870
589,378
25 Related party trfinsgctioii$
DurinbF the yeai. the charity made the following rel&ted paty traiisactioiis..
Mr8 Su$211 Lee
(Mr8 8usan Lec 18 the wifr of the Reverend Martin Lee, a ti'u%tee.)
During the year Mi'.% Lee received remunei'dtion froin hcr ejnployment as the rectOT'S PA llmounting to £17,745
(2022 £17,114).
MrTimothy Lee
(Son of the Reverend Martin Lee, a tru%tcel
DuTiiig the yecll. Mr Lee received reniuneTation from his employment by the chai'ity iL Inounting to £4,360 (2022
£nill.
Page 64