**The Parish of St Mildred Tenterden Annual Report 2021** **(Registered Charity 1130113)** ## **Aim and Purpose** The Parochial Church Council of St Mildred Tenterden, has the responsibility of co-operating with the Incumbent, the Reverend Canon Lindsay Hammond, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical. The PCC is also responsible for the maintenance of the two church halls in Church Road, Tenterden. ## **Objectives and Activities** The PCC is part of the Church of England, and its objectives are contained in the PCC Powers Measure. We are committed to enable as many people as possible to become part of the Christian community at St Mildred’s. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and tries to adapt and evolve services to involve as many people as possible. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer, reading of scripture, music, and sacrament. We are part of the Diocese of Canterbury, the Deanery of Romney and Tenterden and the Tenterden, Rother and Oxney Benefice. To facilitate our aims and objectives it is vital that we maintain the fabric of the church building and halls. Plans continue to be formulated to enable the premises to cater for wider public needs. Maintenance of the 800-year-old building is a constant task and further reordering (Transformation) and remedial works are planned. ## **Achievement and Performance** _Worship, Prayer and Pastoral Care._ Church services, both formal and informal, provide a wide range of styles of worship. However the second year of the Coronavirus Pandemic and consequent lockdowns and restrictions meant the church building had to be closed for some of the year. The live streaming facility installed in 2020 was invaluable in providing services during closure and for reaching those who were unable to attend in person or felt vulnerable in meeting with others. Weddings were postponed and funerals restricted by regulation. The ability to live stream has proven to be a blessing to those unable to attend funerals. In some cases, several hundred people have been able to participate in the service from home. Communications continued to be enhanced by a daily email (+hand delivered hard copies) providing contact and support to members of the congregation and the wider community. Personal contact provided pastoral care through testing times and practical support was delivered through food bank donations and financial help for school meals. Weekly acts of collective worship are now held for the local primary school, and where possible, children have come to the church to mark significant moments in the school year. All are welcome to attend our services. At present there are 203 parishioners on the Electoral Roll. The normal Sunday attendance in 2019 was around 150 adults and children with larger numbers at festivals. However during 2020 the impact of Covid meant attendance in person varied from nil to a little over 100 dependent upon Government and church guidance during 2021. The introduction of online services enabled many more to participate from home. Numbers at Christmas were limited by the guidelines with a total of 137 attending in person a number of services. Many more attended online. Page 1 In addition to the regular services, we welcome those who wish to celebrate important events in life. During the year 4 baptisms, 4 marriages were held at St Mildred's, and 51 funerals were held, either at the church or at the crematorium. Baptisms and weddings were much reduced due to Covid. ## _Missionary and ecumenical work._ The pandemic limited the work of the part time Outreach and Children's Minister who completed her term of employment at the end of the year. The retirement of two part time clergy and the move of another from within the Benefice of 9 churches , which St Mildred's is part of, has required considerable reorganisation of resources particularly for services . The Team Rector and Curate (subsequently appointed Team Vicar in 2022) have worked tirelessly with lay members of the 9 churches and with the help of a number of retired clergy and readers to deliver the changes and provide a smooth transition. ## _Deanery Synod._ Two members of the PCC represent St Mildred's on the Romney and Tenterden Deanery Synod and the Synod of the Diocese of Canterbury, thus linking us firmly with the wider church. ## _Outward Giving._ We regard outward giving as a practical demonstration of faith. Our policy is to give 11% of the previous year’s offertories. This is distributed to 10 organisations for a five-year term to enable them to plan for the longer term. These include local organisations for the elderly and homeless, counselling services, national and international relief, and mission agencies (including an Aids village in Zimbabwe). The total sum sent in 2021 was £14600 _._ Other funds were received for local charities including the food bank, Christmas Cheer which supports financially challenged families and Fegans who provide counselling to children and support for parents - £18771 was paid out during the year. ## _Ecumenical Relationships._ St Mildred's is a member of Churches together in Tenterden, the forum that coordinates the activities of Christian churches in the town. ## _Building Upkeep & Development._ St Mildred's dates back over 800 years and requires regular maintenance. There is a planned programme of refurbishment in place for the next 5 years which will be carried out subject to funding being available. The next major task being replacement of the shingles on the roof at a cost of around £90 -£120K. Proposals for the Transformation of the church continue to be developed. This aims to provide a building to meet the 21[st] century needs of the church and community. The first phase to replace pews with chairs and for the redecoration of the inside of the building was completed by Easter 2021. We are grateful for a generous donation to help fund this phase and for Ashford Borough Council's encouragement and financial support. Hopefully, work on subsequent phases will begin in 2023/24. ## _Financial Review._ Total receipts of unrestricted funds amounted to £205000 including a one off receipt of £29994 from the transfer of land to the Town Council. Restricted receipts of £150009 materially related to the Transformation Project but also included donations received for the foodbank, Christmas Cheer, Fegans etc. Page 2 Payments included Diocesan Parish Share of £84092 which provides clergy training, stipends and pensions. The sum is based broadly on the size of the congregation, thus as St Mildred's has a sizeable congregation makes a proportionate contribution. Building maintenance and improvement work amounted to £4885 with a further £128007 paid out on the Transformation Project in the year. The net result for the year was an increase of £40781 in general funds and a reduction £15466 in restricted funds. This resulted in an increase in General funds and Other Reserves to £173414 at the year end before allocating £40000 for future roof repairs, £2000 for future redecoration and a £20000 contribution to the Transformation Project. The agreed reserve policy is to maintain a minimum of 6 months general expenditure. The balance of £108687 in general reserves represents around 8 months. ## _Employment._ St Mildred's employs a part time administrator, an organist and a director of music. Minimum wage legislation is observed and exceeded. ## _Structure Governance and Management._ The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Mildred's the PCC consists of the incumbent, churchwardens, deanery synod representatives, licensed ministers, and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. All those who attend services and members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance of the parish including how the funds of the PCC are spent. The full PCC meets four times a year with an average attendance of over 80%. Given its wide range of responsibilities the PCC has a number of teams which deal with particular aspects of parish life. Teams include Worship, Mission and Ministry, Buildings, and Finance. These report to the full PCC where their deliberations are discussed, recommendations reviewed, and approval sought where required. Safeguarding, Health and Safety, and Financial Reports are standard agenda items. ## _Administrative Information._ St Mildred's Church is situated in the Centre of Tenterden and is part of the diocese of Canterbury within the Church of England. The correspondence address is: The Vicarage, Church Road, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6AT. PCC members who have served during 2021 are: **Incumbent** ;- The Reverend Canon Lindsay Hammond, **Assistant Curate** : Jeanette Kennett all year **Churchwardens:** Chris Brown and Caroline Salmon (from May) Chris Cheesman (up to May) ## **PCC Members who served all year:** Nick Hudd, Neil de Villiers, Robin Lovell, Pat Curtis, Steve Curtis, Mary Monckton Heinrich Richheimer, Rob Easto **,** Chris Northen. ## **Members who served until the Annual Meeting in May:** Karen Edgar, Terry Norrington. Helen Whitehead, Gail Clarkson, Caroline Salmon ## **Members who served from the Annual Meeting in May** Shirley Docker, Katie Ray, Chris Cheesman **Rev Canon Lindsay Hammond 12/10/2022** Page 3 St Mildred's Tenterden Registered Charty 1130113 Financial Ststements for Year Ended 31112121 Receipts Voluntary Receipts Regular Giving Plann8J Giving coll￿tIOnS etc. Tax Re(fJver￿l Totsl Unrestricted Restricted Funds Funds Total 2021 Total 2020 107294 10T294 12655 27495 147444 111498 11919 28802 152219 27495 147444 Other v￿Untary rewpts Fund g￿rats"ng ath"wb"es ReLEipls from church a(*vities Other Income Total 15201 137253 152454 233477 11520 20983 240 418439 3168 30219 127 15924 30219 355009 150009 Pa￿nents Church Activiiies DiO￿n Parish Share other Paym& Total 82985 223149 306134 80127 164219 165475 165475 245602 329694 Excess Receipts over Payments Bank Accounls1101r21 Bank Accounts 31112121 40781 67 108687 25315 268072 293387 112305 155766 268071 2￿166 18471h) ststement of Assets & Liabilities Cash Funds B8nk Hall Bank Account Total 108687 178157 264507 3564 268071 6543 293387 18471KI Other Assets CBF Investm￿ Church Hall 211[ 59824 19716 5%24 Page 4 Notes on Financial Statements 1. Prepared on Rec￿pts and paym￿ts basis under Churth Acn)unting Rgjs 2. CBF inveslmerrt rdates lo the Hukin's Bw4uest for Chur(* Fabn"c 3. Hall on 999 year lease from 2710211995 4. Reswves Policy is lo retain a minimum of 6 months gweral ex[￿SeS in reserves. curr￿llY they Stand at appr0￿Mat￿Y 8 months of projec1￿ 2022 SPWKI. 5. Receipts & Payments Analysis Unrnstrictod Restricted Fund5 Funds Tolal 2021 Total 2020 (al Other voluntary re￿Ip1S Legacies Donations Choir For Foodbank For Christmas Che For Fegans Reordering ITransforrnation} Live Streaming Other Total 133ff2 13362 64746 &310 12039 7315 103934 520 8135 137253 3310 12039 7315 103934 520 9974 152454 168731 1839 15201 233477 (b) Fund generating activities Bookstsll Magazine Sundry Evwts Total 1300 3755 4347 3755 4347 8968 6230 11520 (cl Re(*ipts from a￿1Vil Fees Hall Hire Total 3168 3168 127 15924 3810 17173 20983 12756 12756 3168 Id} Investment & Othw Inu)me Interest CBF Dividend Contribution frThn sale of land Total 29 211 216 29994 30219 216 29994 30219 240 le} Church Actiwties PaYm￿ts Charitable Giving Other Charitable Giving For Foodbank Choir For Christmas Cheer For Fegans Mission & Ministry Church Expenses Building Repairs Reordering (Transformation) Hall EXp￿se$ Bookstall Magazine Youth Administration Live Streaming Deposits Paid Other Total 14600 17310 3510 7(X) 12TTO 2491 3510 12TTO 2491 4542 36419 4542 36419 33718 17843 97695 17099 128(K17 9777 128(M)7 9777 5703 7240 5616 5703 7456 5616 5234 1750 2142 245602 5584 7140 5900 216 5234 1750 1020 165475 1122 80127 195 223149 Page 5 6. Funds (x)IlryAed and held in the bank acc¥)unt on behalf of Its r&ipiats are induded in the Mov￿￿ent of Funds statement for the first b"me. Receipts Pawnents Transfer5 2021 2021 Movement of Funds Choir Fund Vicar Youth Reordering ffransfomalion) Foodbank Chrislrnas Cheer Live Streaming Fegans Redecoration Fund Roof RepaiT Fund Other Charity Receipts Deposits Paid Hall Total 71XJ 140 140 216 128(X)7 3510 12770 5234 2491 115734 2447 3199 103934 3310 12039 520 7315 111661 2247 2468 773 4824 400(X) 9842 -1750 6543 184700 8135 1020 1750 9777 165475 2727 12756 150009 135439 64727 Movement of General Reserves Opening Balances 1101121 General Account Other Reserves Total 679C6 64727 132633 Increase In General Reserves in Year 40781 Transfe￿ to Restricted Funds Reordering (Transfomalion) Redecoration Fund R(￿ Repair Fund -2727 -200 Closing &ilance 108687 Total Cash Funds at 31112121 293387 Invested Funds at 31112121 Hukin's ￿Uest & Wi¢2rage Upkeep Restricted ￿)te 2 Market Price 21106 Page 6 Independent Examinerfs Report to St Mildred's PCC Tenterden This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2021 is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2(M)61"the regulations-l and s.43 of the CharitiesAct 1993 {"the AcV}. As members of the PCC you are responsible forthe preparation of the financial statements; you consider that the audit requirement of the Regulation5 and s.43 of the Act does not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations. My examination was carried out in accordance with the General direttions given by the Charity Commission under s.43171(bl of the Act and to be found in the Church guidance 2(X)6 edition. That examination includes a review of accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It alw includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees concernin8 such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequentEy I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. In connection with my examinatson. no matter has come to my attention.. l.which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act: and to prepare financia5 statements, which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations have not been met; or 2.to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in orderto enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Kevin Hayman FCA 3° May Z022 Page 7