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2025-12-31-accounts

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF TAVISTOCK Registered Charity No. 1130516

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31 December 2025

Incumbent: The Reverend Matthew Godfrey

Bank: TSB Bank plc Bedford Square, Tavistock

Independent Examiner: Simon Hirst,

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Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants

in England and Wales

www.tavistockparishchurch.org.uk

Sunday 19 April 2026

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS

And

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

Contents

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS.....................................................................................4 AGENDA..............................................................................................................................4 ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING................................................................................4 AGENDA..............................................................................................................................4 REPORTS.................................................................................................................................5 Rector.................................................................................................................................5 Parochial Church Council (PCC)...........................................................................................7 Standing Committee............................................................................................................9 Safeguarding.......................................................................................................................9 Data Protection..................................................................................................................12 Public Benefit....................................................................................................................12 Electoral Roll.....................................................................................................................13 Finance Report (Year Ending 31st December 2025):............................................................13 Tavistock Parochial Church Council Reserves Policy...........................................................20 Notes to the Financial Statements......................................................................................24 Independent Examiner's Report..........................................................................................29 Charitable Giving Group.....................................................................................................30 Fabric Report:....................................................................................................................31 P700..................................................................................................................................32 Tavistock Bellringers..........................................................................................................34 Bereavement Group...........................................................................................................35 Churchwardens.................................................................................................................36

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Choir and Music.................................................................................................................37 Deanery Synod..................................................................................................................38 Flower Arrangers................................................................................................................39 Friendly Friday Coffee Mornings.........................................................................................39 Friends of St Eustachius.....................................................................................................40 Handicraft Group...............................................................................................................41 Intercessors Prayer Group..................................................................................................42 Little Deers........................................................................................................................42 Messy Church....................................................................................................................42 Recording and Live Streaming of Services...........................................................................43 Lent Group.........................................................................................................................44 Prayer and Stillness Group.................................................................................................45 Pastoral Care Team............................................................................................................46 Breaking Bread...................................................................................................................47 St Rumon’s and St Peter’s CE Schools................................................................................48 St Eustachius’s Storytellers................................................................................................49 Vestry Group......................................................................................................................50 Vintage Green....................................................................................................................50 Warm Welcome.................................................................................................................50 Signatures.........................................................................................................................51

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ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS AGENDA

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

AGENDA

1 Apologies for absence

6 The annual report

7 Any other business

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REPORTS

Rectors Report for 2025:

I would like to being by thanking each one of you for all that you do, for the myriad ways in which you are salt, yeast and light among the people of Tavistock.

On 1st July 2025, Tavistock formally became part of a new Benefice called the Benefice of Bere Ferrers with Bere Alston, Brent Tor, Gulworthy, Mary Tavy, Peter Tavy, Tavistock and Whitchurch. The working name for our group of parishes is the Tavistock Area Mission Community (TAMC).

In the Diocese of Exeter, a mission community is a group of parishes that work together to further the church’s mission and ministry in a given area, forming a critical mass that can offer the life of the Church of England in all its fullness in a particular place.

Importantly, the Benefice is a Team Ministry, which means that we now have two stipendiary clergy, The Rev’d Matthew Godfrey, as Team Rector, and The Rev’d Nicholas Law, as Team Vicar. Alongside them, we have three Assistant Curates, The Rev’d Hazel Butland, The Rev’d Judith Blowey and The Rev’d Karen Sharland. Moreover, this core team continues to be supported by a wider team of clergy and lay ministers, many of whom are familiar faces, while some of whom we will get to know as we move forward.

In practice, we stand now at the start of a new chapter in the life of this parish. It also signals a new, collaborative way of working, in which the seven parishes work together to share the good news of God’s transforming love across the area. Being part of something bigger offers us opportunities for pooling resources and sharing skills will generate energy and momentum in all our parishes. An example might be how we can develop our ministry with children, families and young people – as we seek to do what the Archdeacon of Plymouth challenged us to do at her Visitation in 2024, notably “to grow the Church younger”.

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Eight months into this new set-up, it is clear that there is no map for this journey and no certain destination. All we can do is to start to see how together, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we might follow where the Lord seems to be leading us and find new ways of making disciples, of deepening our faith and of joyfully serving the people amongst whom we live.

One vital step we have already taken is to start worshipping together. Thus far, we have gathered to worship at St Andrew’s, Bere Ferrers, in Tavistock and in Peter Tavy. It has been really encouraging to see people from all our churches at all three of these services and to see the smiles it has generated to find ourselves in full churches. We now look forward to celebrating Easter at St Paul’s, Gulworthy, on the Sunday after Easter Day.

I would like to thank each one of you for all that you do, for the myriad of ways in which you are salt, yeast and light in the world. It is sometimes said that God works in mysterious ways. This process of being legally joined together into a new grouping may seem an unlikely, even mysterious, way of the Lord leading us forward. The Holy Scriptures, however, show us that the Lord can use far stranger means to speak, Balaam’s donkey springs to mind (Numbers 22). The question we need to explore together now is how we will respond to God’s call, leave behind the comfort of what we ‘have always done’, fix our eyes on Jesus and step out in faith.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Matthew+ Team Rector

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PCC Report:

Tavistock Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It is governed by the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as amended, and by Church Representation Rules. It has maintenance responsibilities for the Parish Church of St Eustachius and for the Parish Centre, 5 Plymouth Road, Tavistock.

Membership:

Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM).

Team Rector: The Reverend Matthew Godfrey (Chair) Ex Officio Team Vicar: The Reverend Nicholas Law Ex Officio Assistant Curates: The Reverend Judith Blowey Ex Officio The Reverend Hazel Butland Ex Officio Churchwarden: Mrs Pamela Hunter (2025-2028) Acting Churchwarden: Mrs Catherine Sherlock (Co-opted 2025) Licensed Lay Ministers: Mrs Elizabeth Bastin Professor Robert Owens

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Mrs Wendy Roderick Deanery Synod Representatives: Mr Charles Herbert (2023-2026) Mr Matthew Hibbert (2023-2026) Mrs Catherine Stoate (2023-2026, resigned 2025) Mrs Jennifer Moore (2024-2027) Elected Members: Miss Nichola Heathman (2023-2026, resigned 2025) Mrs Julia Hurle (2023-2026) Mrs Roma Keogh (2023-2026) Mrs Catherine Sherlock (2023-2026) Mrs Ann Townsend (2023-2026) Mrs Suzanne Littlewood (2024-2027) Mrs Joy Loader (2025-2028) Mr Martin Pendle (2025-2028) Mr Peter Rowan (2025-2028) Co-opted Members: Mr Nicholas Clark (2025) Mrs Sarah Hackel (2025) Mr James Teague (2025)

Meetings: The PCC met 6 times during 2025.

Suzanne Littlewood PCC Secretary

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Standing Committee Report:

The Standing Committee met 6 times during 2025. This is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any directions given by the PCC.

Members:

The Reverend Matthew Godfrey (Chair)

Mrs Pamela Hunter Mrs Suzanne Littlewood (Secretary)

Mr Martin Pendle Mr Peter Rowan Mrs Catherine Sherlock Mrs James Teague

Safeguarding Report:

Introduction:

The Bible contains many verses that relate to safeguarding, including the following: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” - Proverbs 13:18; “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” - 2 Thessalonians 3:3; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength ... love your neighbour as yourself” - Mark 12. These verses from scripture emphasize the importance of caring for and protecting vulnerable people. As Christians, therefore, our PCC is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities to protect children, young people, vulnerable adults (including the elderly) who are involved in our worship and events at St Eustachius’s, Tavistock.

Compliancy:

Following a review of the processes and procedures of the PCC and the implementation of appropriate changes, the PCC is satisfied that it has complied with its duty under

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Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have due regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults).

Tavistock Parish Church Council acknowledges that safeguarding is everyone’s business and, as such, is of the utmost importance. During the past year much work has been undertaken as we have sought to make our church as safe and as welcoming as it possibly can be for all people. The support of the Team Rector (Rev’d Matthew Godfrey) and PCC, as well as Rev’d Judith Blowey and Mrs Sarah Pendle, in ensuring that we are compliant with our duties has been appreciated, as has the time allocated to our safeguarding work and discussions. Our policies and procedures have been reviewed this past year, and our safeguarding work has been considerably enhanced as a result of using the Parish Dashboard consistently as a monitoring tool. While we are pleased with the good progress made, there is no room for complacency, and we have identified that further work is now needed in respect of our response to survivors and victims of abuse.

Safeguarding culture: as a church family we seek to be both vigilant and transparent in our safeguarding work to help create and maintain a culture which encourages safeguarding concerns or incidents to be raised. We aim to provide support for and safeguard victims in a timely manner, in liaison with the Diocese of Exeter’s Safeguarding Team. Our collective vigilance will help ensure appropriate support and help is provided when needed. In terms of updating the PCC as to our safeguarding work and compliancy, the Parish Safeguarding Officer and Team Rector ensure that safeguarding is an item at each PCC meeting and relevant information shared with PCC members. In terms of next steps, we will make use of the relevant Safeguarding Dashboards’ worksheets for further discussions on the health of our safeguarding culture and ways forward.

Parish Dashboard:

The Tavistock Parish Dashboard is consistently used as a tool to monitor and support our safeguarding work. Both the Mandatory Requirements and Safeguarding Standards sections are regularly reviewed by the Parish Safeguarding Officer and Team Rector.

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Furthermore, the Tavistock Hub has relevant data uploaded onto it; this aids our monitoring of training and DBS compliancy. We have made very good progress this past year and we are currently at 83% on the Dashboard – from a low starting point at the beginning of the year. Further work needs to be undertaken in due course in respect of Church Activities and Risk Assessments; leaders of some activities need to better understand their role in relation to safeguarding.

Disclosure and Barring Service:

My thanks go to Rev’d Judith Blowey for her support in ensuring DBS checks are completed in a timely manner. We ask for DBS certificates to be renewed every three years for all involved in church activities where contact with children, young adults and / or vulnerable adults will take place. We continue to monitor DBS certificates’ dates to ensure our volunteers have a valid DBS clearance and the Dashboard Hub is particularly useful in this respect. Where DBS checks are concerned, this is an ongoing part of our work.

Training:

This past year has seen a real push to ensure that all our volunteers have completed the required safeguarding training for their role as per the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Training Portal and the Diocese of Exeter’s requirements. My sincere thanks go to Mrs Sarah Pendle for her support in getting our volunteers to complete their training in a timely manner and with little or no complaint. There is further work to be done in respect of training, however.

Safer Recruitment:

This is will be a priority area for us over the coming 12 months, both in Tavistock and across the Benefice.

Referrals:

During the past year and up until the date of this report, two referrals have been made to the Diocese of Exeter’s Safeguarding Team by me, and a further referral made by the Team Rector, following concerns raised.

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Oversight:

We continue to maintain an oversight on all church activities, including specifically those which involve children, young people, vulnerable adults and the elderly.

Finally, in due course, the PCC will need to appoint a Parish Safeguarding Officer to undertake this role on their behalf.

Wendy Roderick, LLM

Interim Parish Safeguarding Officer, Tavistock – 10th February 2026

Data Protection:

We are conscious that personal information which we as a parish hold on church members must be kept securely and that we must comply with Data Protection legislation. Personal information, mainly in the form of the Electoral Roll, is held securely on the Parish computer system, with access only by password. A printed copy of the Electoral Roll is held securely by the Electoral Roll Officer.

Public Benefit:

The PCC has considered the Charity Commission’s guidance and public benefit. It considers that it meets this guidance through the following activities:

  1. Making available facilities for any member of the public to worship God in the Christian context.

  2. Making available the church for funeral services for any resident of the parish.

  3. Supporting the pastoral care work of the incumbent

  4. Making available the church and parish centre for hire by public groups.

  5. Contact details of the PCC:

Telephone: 01822 616673

Email: parishofice@tavistockparishchurch.org.uk

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Electoral Roll Report:

The number on the Electoral Roll is 157. Of those people, 109 are residents in the Parish, while 48 are non-residents who are on the Electoral Roll by virtue of worshipping at St Eustachius's for the last six months.

Jenny Moore

Electoral Roll Officer

Finance Report (Year Ending 31st December 2025):

I am delighted to present to Financial Statements for Tavistock PCC for the year to Dec 2025.

2025 has been a good year as far as finances are concerned despite being unable to go ahead with the Galley & Toilets project in its original form. Overall in our general day-today budget income has exceeded expenditure by over £10,000 and we have had £94,000 of unrestricted legacies.

Our income has performed very closely to budget although our Giving has dropped slightly by around 4%. On the positive side our income from lettings of the Parish Centre is up 39% this year and nearing pre-Covid levels. My sincere thanks to Jo Barton our Office Administrator, who left us at the end of August, for her hard work to secure new bookings over the last few years. We are grateful too for the contribution Mount Kelly make to the church in recognition of the chaplaincy service we provide to the college.

Our fundraisers have been busy – Friendly Fridays raising over £4500 and The Friends’ raising over £25,500. I am personally so grateful for the continued work of both these groups. We simply couldn’t be the church community we are without them. Some of these Funds raised have been allocated to the purchase of altar cloths, altar carpets and kneelers and church insurance.

On the expenditure side we continue to keep a close eye on everything we spend, assuring best value and tight budgeting for all areas of church life.

This has put the church in an excellent position for 2026 allowing plans to go ahead for the appointment of a benefice administrator, renewal of office equipment potentially a part-time youth worker (building on the success of Messy Church).

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I may not be able to answer every query immediately but I am very happy to talk to anyone about any area of church finances. You can contact me on 07760 or via james.teague@tavistockparishchurch.org.uk.

I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in supporting the finances of our church over the last 12 months – Finance Committee, Finance Team, Giving and Gift Aid Officers, Counters, Budget Holders, Rector and Vicar, Jo Barton and Mandy Reynolds in the office and Neil Williams and Simon Hirst for their wise counsel. I would especially like to thank Ann Townsend for all her hard work and tireless attention to detail throughout the year.

James Teague Chair of Finance

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Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
Total
Prior year
funds
funds
funds
funds
funds
total funds		 Incoming resources from generated funds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Voluntary income
103,531
94,039
-10,060 -
187,510
143,908
Activities for generating funds
14,970
5,056 -
-
20,026
22,298
Investment income
9,029 -
1,110 -
10,139
7,425
Incoming resources from charitable activities
9,407
495 -
-
9,902
13,825
Other incoming resources
919 -
30,199 -
31,117
23,673
Incoming resources		 137,856
99,591
21,249 -
258,695
211,129
Cost of generating funds
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cost of generating voluntary income
1,121 -
-
-
1,121
730
Fundraising trading cost of goods sold and other costs
-
-
-
-
-
-
Investment management costs
-
-
-
-
-
-
Charitable activities
128,829
1,641
10,970 -
141,440
144,514
Governance costs
-27 -
-
-
-27 -
Other resources used
988 -
10,247 -
11,235
13,347
Total income
Resources used		 130,911
1,641
21,217 -
153,769
158,591
Total expenditure		 6,944
97,950
32 -
104,926
52,538
Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer		 13,400
7,860
11,795 -
33,055
23,636
-18,502
-400
-14,153 -
-33,055
-23,636
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers:
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
Other recognised gains / losses
Gains/losses on investment assets
Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's own use		 1,842
105,409
-2,326 -
104,926
52,538
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds		 59,488
57,607
168,944 -
286,039
233,501
Total funds brought forward		 61,331
163,017
166,618 -
390,965
286,039
Total funds carried forward		 There may be minor discrepancies in the totals if the pence are not being shown

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Tavistock PCC

Balance Sheet detailed

As at As at
31/12/2025 31/12/2024
Fixed assets
6430: Millennium Bells 45,877 45,877
6431: Millennium Bells Depreciation -12,364 -11,905
6432: Church Centre 11,407 11,407
6433: Church Centre Depreciation -11,407 -11,407
6434: Fixtures & Fittings 83,327 83,327
6435: Fixtures & Fittings
Depreciation -83,327 -83,327
Total Fixed assets 33,513 33,972
Current
assets
6501: Bank current account 7,522 5,856
6502: Bank book account - -
6503: Choir Fund 1,684 6
6505: Bank deposit account TSB 4,408 36,219
6510: CCLA (CBF) deposit account 272,086 185,291
6511: CCLA Friends 46,164 8
6515: Friends 26,263 21,539
6520: Cash in hand 404 404
6555: Other Debtors 10,069 8,561
655O: Income Tax Recoverable - -
Z05: Accounts Receivable 563 1,251
Total Current assets 369,163 259,133
Liabilities
6650: Income Received in Advance 160 1,260
6655: Current Creditors 11,389 6,237
6699: Agency collections 162 -431
Z04: Accounts Payable - -
Total Liabilities 11,711 7,067
Net Asset surplus (deficit) 390,965 286,039
Reserves
Excess/(deficit) to date 104,926 -68,420
Z01: Starting balances 286,039 354,459
Total Reserves 390,965 286,039

Represented by Funds

General (Unrestricted) 61,331 59,488
Designated 163,017 57,607
Restricted 166,618 168,944
Total 390,965 286,039

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Tavistock PCC

Analysis of income and expenditure Selected period: 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

Total
General Designated Restricted Thisyear Lastyear
Incoming resources
Incoming resources from generated funds
0101 - Standing Orders 10,639 - - 10,639 11,228
0102 - Parish Giving Scheme 46,050 - - 46,050 47,449
0110 - Gift Aid - Envelopes 5,482 - - 5,482 6,238
0201 - Other Planned Giving - not Gift Aided - - - - 259
0301 - Loose plate / service collections 6,974 - - 6,974 7,304
0401 - Mount Kelly (Chaplaincy) 4,500 - - 4,500 4,500
0402 - Vicar's Mission - - - - 200
0403 - Donations for Bibles - - 149 149 517
0410 - Church Boxes 4,632 - - 4,632 5,399
0501 - One-off gifts 2,472 - 5,085 7,557 2,864
0504 - Card Machine Receipts 4,291 - - 4,291 3,591
0505 - Vestry Refurbishment - - 433 433 500
0507 - Breaking Bread - - 113 113 -
0601 - Tax recoverable on Gift Aid 18,488 - 2 18,491 19,382
0701 - Legacies - 94,039 - 94,039 9,000
0801 - Grants - - 250 250 -
0806 - Messy Church - - 590 590 471
1224 - 700 - Galley & Toilets - - -16,684 -16,684 25,000
0902 - Coffee & Social 476 - - 476 568
0903 - Friendly Fridays - 4,656 - 4,656 3,619
0904 - Choir - 400 - 400 3,039
0910 - Other Fundraising 447 - - 447 1,564
0911 - Live Streaming 500 - - 500 3,000
1230 - Concerts 3,362 - - 3,362 3,183
1240 - Church Centre Lettings 10,183 - - 10,183 7,322
1020 - Bank Interest 9,029 - 1,109 10,139 7,424
Incoming resources from generated funds Totals 127,530 99,095 -8,950 217,675 173,630
Incoming resources from charitable activities
0802 - Holiday Lunch Club Income - 16 - 16 -
0803 - Warm Welcome Donations & Grants - 270 - 270 243
0804 - Litte Deers Donations - 207 - 207 148
1101 - Fees for weddings 2,023 - - 2,023 4,116
1102 - Fees for Funerals 5,624 - - 5,624 7,378
1103 - Fees for Verger - - - - 500
1105 - Fee for Travel Expenses 1,760 - - 1,760 1,440
Incoming resources from charitable activities 9,407 **494 ** - 9,901 13,825
Other incoming resources
1304 - Contr to Clergy Exp - Gulworthy 459 - - 459 495
1305 - Contr o Clergy Exp - Brentor 459 - - 459 495
1306 - Friends of St Eustachius - - 30,198 30,198 22,681
Other incoming resources Totals **918 ** - 30,198 31,117 23,673
Incoming resources Grand totals 137,855 99,590 21,248 258,695 211,128

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Resources used
Cost of generating funds
1731 - Social Costs 10 - - 10 -
1734 - Fundraising Other 311 - - 311 214
1735 - Sound & Vision 199 - - 199 274
1736 - Sum Up Fees 122 - - 122 80
1737 - Guide Books 478 - - 478 160
Cost of generating funds Totals **1,121 ** - - 1,121 729
Charitable activities
1801 - Charitable Giving 3,560 - 300 3,860 3,342
1803 - School Bibles - - 167 167 500
1910 - Common Fund 69,500 - - 69,500 74,958
2001 - Cleaning 5,008 - - 5,008 2,377
2002 - Verger Salary - - - - 340
2004 - Organist Salary 3,001 - - 3,001 3,050
2005 - Director of Music Salary 3,000 - - 3,000 -
2050 - Office Administrator Salary 6,324 - - 6,324 5,981
2053 - Holiday Lunch Club - - - - 80
2054 - Warm Welcome - 539 - 539 602
2055 - Litte Deers Expenses - 569 - 569 186
2056 - Vestry Group - - - - 30
2101 - Ministers' Expenses 3,946 - - 3,946 3,919
2102 - Vicar's Mission Fund - 511 - 511 124
2103 - LLM Conference & Training 320 - - 320 569
2104 - Safeguarding 58 - - 58 18
2203 - TACT Subscription 200 - - 200 200
2270 - Messy Church - - 1,402 1,402 698
2271 - Youth & Schools Ministry 50 - - 50 1,351
2272 - Catalyst Youth Worker 1,500 - - 1,500 -
2301 - Insurance 7,293 - - 7,293 7,183
2311 - Office Costs - Stationery 779 - - 779 765
2313 - Office Sundry Costs 67 - - 67 135
2314 - Office Costs - Phone and Broadband 558 - - 558 548
2315 - Bank Charges 73 - - 73 86
2320 - Choir Expenses 137 20 - 157 3,039
2330 - Tree & Altar Rail - - - - 944
2332 - Church & PC Fabric Maintenance - - 7,991 7,991 3,158
2333 - Organ & Piano Tuning & Maintenance 1,005 - - 1,005 858
2340 - Candles, Santiflex & Hosts 2,038 - - 2,038 1,845
2341 - Upkeep of Services (Churchwardens) 514 - - 514 635
2343 - Church Music Licences (CCLI) 332 - - 332 315
2345 - Church Broadband 451 - - 451 403
2346 - Website Hosting 351 - - 351 153
2347 - Hymn Books & Service Booklets - - - - 2,938
2348 - Altar Cloth 247 - 650 897 -
2350 - Tree Felling Exp - - - - 996
2401 - Church Electricity 6,487 - - 6,487 7,327
2430 - Church Gas 7,008 - - 7,008 9,469
2440 - Church Water 172 - - 172 476
2520 - Church Centre Gas 1,791 - - 1,791 2,265
2530 - Church Centre Electricity 1,306 - - 1,306 1,388
2560 - Church Centre - Maintenance - - - - 42
2580 - Church Centre Consumables 675 - - 675 326
2709 - Churchyard Trees 63 - - 63 420
2711 - Church Publicity - Noticeboards 480 - - 480 -
2712 - Benefice Reordering 521 - - 521 -
3001 - Depreciation of Millenium Bells - - 459 459 459
Charitable activities Totals 128,829 1,640 10,970 141,440 144,513
Governance costs
2130 - Vacancy Costs -28 - - -28 -
Governance costs Totals **-28 ** - - -28 -
Other resources used
2303 - Grounds Maintenance - - - - 525
2304 - Locks 988 - - 988 -
2352 - Vestry Refurbishment - - 658 658 5,769
2600 - Friends of St Eustachius - - 4,574 4,574 -
2707 - 700 - Galley & Toilets Expenditure - - 5 013 5 013 2 801

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Fund balances
Carried Forward		 61,331 15,515 8,959 4,345 87,039 - 33,635 - 52,694 71,676 1,241 49 662 284 574 1,143 437 321 544 7,837 419 - 167 1,683 2,000 113 85 5,000 -300 33,513 390,965
Transfers -5,102 515 402 177 - 2,991 2,644 - 2,233 -13,000 53 2 34 12 25 49 55 514 22 236 18 214 8 899 2,000 - - 5,000 - - -
Outgoing Resources 130,911 - 435 - - 7,991 - - 5,014 5,224 - - 539 - - - 1,402 512 135 - - 658 168 20 - - - - 300 459 153,769
Incoming Resources 137,856 7,000 - - 87,039 5,000 - -25,000 8,319 31,308 - - 271 - - - 840 - 208 4,656 16 433 150 400 - 113 85 - - - 258,695
Fund balances Brought Forward 59,488 8,000 8,991 4,168 - - 30,991 25,000 47,155 58,592 1,188 47 896 272 550 1,094 944 319 449 2,944 385 11 178 404 - - - - - 33,972 286,039
Fund General - General fund General D - General Fund (Designated) 2 - PEGGY SALMON LEGACY (DEVELOPMENT) 2a - PEGGY SALMON LEGACY (WORSHIP) 2b - Sunny Babbage Legacy 3 - FABRIC FUND (Restricted) 4 - GALLEY & TOILETS (Designated) 4a - GALLEY & TOILETS - GRANT INCOME 5 - GALLEY & TOILETS (Restricted) 6 - FRIENDS' FABRIC FUND (Restricted) 7 - VESTRY GROUP 8 - MELANESIAN BROTHERS (Restricted) 9 - WARM WELCOME (Designated) 10 - FLOWER FUND (Restricted) 11 - BELLS (Restricted) 12 - ORGAN RESTORATION FUND (Restricted) 14 - MESSY CHURCH FUND 15 - VICAR'S MISSION FUND - Designated 16 - LITTLE DEERS 18 - FRIENDLY FRIDAY 19 - FAMILY LUNCH CLUB 20 - VESTRY & SACRISTRY REFURBISHMENT 21 - Bible Fund 22 - Choir Fund 23 - Risk Register 24 - BREAKING BREAD 25 - PATH FUND 26 - Noticeboards Oxley - OXLEY TRUST Bell - Bell Appeal Totals

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Tavistock Parochial Church Council Reserves Policy

1. General policy

2. Calculating reserves

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3. Using reserves

If the charity has excess reserves, the trustees will consider how these funds might be effectively used in the future.

4. Reporting the reserves policy

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5. Adoption of this policy

Signed: MFG

Date: 11 / 03 / 2026

Review Date: March 2026

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Notes to the Financial Statements

For the period from 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

1. Accounting framework and accounting policies

Accounting framework

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102) as amended by Bulletin 1), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

Advantage has been taken of disclosure exemptions as set out in FRS102.1.12 and FRS101 1A.7 from the requirement to produce a cash flow on the grounds it qualifies as a small charity.

Basis of preparation

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes. The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.

Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, which are described in this note, the PCC is required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historically known factors and experience. Therefore, the PCC does not perceive there to be any critical areas of

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Judgement or key sources of estimation uncertainty in the formulation of the financial statements.

Going concern

Based on the monetary assets and human resource available on 31 December 2024, the PCC believes that it is a going concern.

Funds

Restricted funds represent (a) income from trusts or endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust or bequest and (b) donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the PCC for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. The PCC does not usually invest separately for each fund. Where there is no separate investment, interest is apportioned to individual funds on an average balance basis.

Unrestricted funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.

Income

Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received. Tax refunds are recognised when the income to which they relate is received. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the PCC is legally entitled to the amounts due. Dividends are accounted for when received, interest is accrued. All other income is recognized when it is receivable. All incoming resources are accounted for gross.

Expenditure

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the PCC. The diocesan parish share is accounted for when due. Amounts received specifically for mission are dealt with as

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restricted funds. All other expenditure is generally recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross.

Fixed assets

Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts in accordance with s. 10(2)(a) of the Charities Act 2011.

Movable church furnishings held by the Rector and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are inalienable property, listed in the church's inventory, which can be inspected (at any reasonable time). Individual items of equipment costing £2,000 or less are written off when the asset is acquired.

The Millennium Bells are being depreciated at the rate of 1% per annum.

Financial Instruments

Classification: The company holds the following financial instruments:

Recognition and measurement

The charity has chosen to apply the recognition and measurement principles in FRS102. Financial instruments are recognised when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument and derecognised when in the case of assets, the contractual rights to cash flows from the assets expire or substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to another party, or in the case of liabilities, when the charity's obligations are discharged, expire or are cancelled. These instruments are initially measured at transaction price, including transaction costs, and are subsequently carried at the undiscounted amount of the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received, after taking account of impairment adjustments.

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Reserves Policy

It is the current PCC policy to maintain unrestricted/undesignated funds which equate to two months' unrestricted expenditure, to have adequate cash flow.

It is PCC policy to invest surplus funds to achieve a return. This with the TSB Business Deposit Account and CBF Church of England Deposit Fund.

2. (a) Staf costs

Wages and salaries Unrestricted 2025

2024

£ £ £ 12,325 12,325

9,829

The charity employed three members of staff : Parish Administrator, Cleaner and Organist. No employees received employee benefits over £60,000.

2. (b) Payments to PCC Members and related party transactions

No payments or expenses were paid to any PCC members, persons closely connected or related parties. No transactions with related parties were undertaken during the year.

3. Fixed Assets

As at 31[st] Dec 2025 all fixed assets have a book value of 0 except for the Millennium Bells whose net book value is £33,513.

4. Funds

Unrestricted funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their uses and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.

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Restricted funds represent income from trusts or endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust or bequest, and donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the PCC for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. The PCC does not usually invest separately for each fund. Where there is no separate investment, interest is apportioned to individual funds on an average balance basis.

The main restricted funds are as follows:

Millennium Bell Appeal: An appeal to assist with the purchase of two new bells in 1998. This is a non-cash fund as is being depreciated at 1% per annum.

Friends’ Fabric Fund: A fund to “beautify and maintain” the church provided by the Friends’ of St Eustachius’.

Galley & Toilets Fund: A fund from the Friends of St Eustachius’ towards the cost of the Toilets Project.

5. Unrestricted Planned Giving by PCC Members (Trustees)

During 2025 Tavistock PCC received £14,179 in donations from trustees (PCC members) and their close relatives. The donors did not attach any conditions to their gifts which required the charity (PCC) to significantly alter the nature of its existing activities.

6. Charitable Giving

In addition to the 2.5% of income set aside for missional and charity giving the PCC wishes to record that other congregational giving goes on throughout the year. In 2025 this totalled £3560.

Independent Examiner's Report to the PCC of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Tavistock.

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I report to the PCC on my examination of the accounts of St. Eustachius's for the year ended 31[st ] December 2025, which are set out on pages 1 to 9 of the Financial Statements Section in the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending 31[st ] December 2025. I note that the Annual Report and Financial Statements were unanimously approved by the PCC at its meeting held on 11[th ] March 2026.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As members of the PCC, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act").

I report in respect of my examination of the church's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent examiner's statement

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

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

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Simon Hirst. Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

4 Ordulf Road, Tavistock, Devon PL19 8NE.

Date

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Charitable Giving Group Report:

The charitable giving group has met twice in the last year and, reporting back to the PCC, the primary focus of the group has been to make a proposal regarding the distribution of the charitable giving for St Eustachius’s Church. The group members are Natasha Griffiths, Hilary Johnson, Angela Jowett, Joy Loader, Ann Townsend and Jenny Tremaine.

At our recent meeting we discussed the allocation of £3,284.00 relating to the giving in 2025. It was felt that the charities selected in the previous year should benefit from a further year of funding.

As a result, the PCC approved the following payments:

Mary’s Meals £821.00
Open Doors £821.00
Mercy Ships £821.00
Tavistock Make a Diference £821.00

The PCC also gave approval for any monies raised through Lent to be donated to TASS in recognition of the work they do within and around the community of Tavistock.

Going forward the group hope to look across the Benefice to see what parallels there are and become more aware of local initiatives.

We are committed to raising the profile of the group within the congregation in order to fully reflect the wishes of our church in all aspects of our charity outreach. To this end please do not hesitate to speak to any of us with your thoughts and ideas.

Ann Townsend

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Fabric Report:

The following significant tasks were completed in 2025:

Nick Clark

P700 Report:

How it Works:

A scheme of work for this programme, now in its eighth year, is used by the Standing Committee and PCC, in which all of the prioritised findings from Quinquennial Inspections which require fixing have been merged into a programme with other major maintenance projects and projects for the modernisation of the church. Recognising the resource limitations that we have, the categorisation of the projects in the programme are divided into:

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The programme is agreed as an overall plan by the Standing Committee and PCC, but the individual projects within it all need to go through pricing, funding and a tendering process before gaining full approval by the PCC, and subsequent placement of contracts. Martin Pendle acts as the overall programme manager and coordinates the funding of Active Projects. He also writes and submits the bids for external funding. The larger individual projects have dedicated project managers – all volunteers.

Funding for the projects within the programme comes from a variety of sources: private donations, PCC, Friends of St Eustachius, grants from external trusts and direct local fundraising.

Projects Completed or Discontinued in 2025:

Sacristy Refurbishment: This commenced in 2024 and completed in January 2025. Work included replacement of the wardrobe and lights, re-plastering of the ceiling and repairs to the walls, painting and carpet replacement. This has been entirely funded by a single anonymous donor. Project Manager: Martin Pendle

Galley and Toilets: Further success was achieved in fundraising in the early part of the year, bringing the total awarded or approved funding from trusts to £51,900. In addition, a competitive tender process was conducted and four bids were received. However, the lowest viable bid was over £50,000 higher than the estimated project cost and took the overall cost of the project to a level that the PCC considered was too extravagant to justify. Accordingly, the PCC took the decision to abandon the project as it stood and instead pursue a project to concentrate on the provision of toilets as a priority. Unfortunately, all of the trust funding was donated or promised on the basis of the original intent, so it had to be returned. Project Manager: Nick Clark

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Potential Projects

On our list of Potential Projects, there is one that will require external scaffolding around the church. This scaffolding will enable the completion of multiple items of repair and maintenance, including replacement and repair of guttering and downpipes, rendering repair, replacement of damaged roof slates, repointing of granite coping, refurbishment of window fixings and many other smaller items. Whilst none of these are urgent, they have all been picked up in Quinquennial Inspections over the years as work that has to be done, and they will need to be addressed in the medium term. The church will need to build up funds in order to do this work.

Active Projects at the end of 2025:

Provision of Toilets: As mentioned above, this project replaces the Galley and Toilets Project. It is working on the design of a toilets unit and the ideas for the provision of catering facilities if affordable, though the priority is on provision of toilets. In January 2026, the PCC approved the recommendation from the project team that the toilets should be provided within the shell of ‘Dora’s Cupboard’. Further work continues. Project Manager: Peter Rowan

Tree and Shrubbery Management in the Churchyard: During the year, the necessary approvals were obtained for the trimming work of trees within the churchyard, with the exception of the Weeping Beech, which required Faculty approval from the Diocese. The Faculty being sought is to fell the existing Weeping Beech, due to professional advice that it will otherwise grow sufficiently large to totally dominate the view of the church and potentially cause foundation damage due to the size of its root system. There was a view that the existing tree could be dug up and transported elsewhere for re-planting, but this would involve disturbance to the earth beneath, where there is a high probability of archaeological and human remains, and this would drive excessive cost. The tree trimming is expected early in the new year, and the felling of the Weeping Beech will await the Faculty approval. Project Manager: Richard Crawford

Martin Pendle

P700 Programme Manager

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Tavistock Bellringers Report:

My thanks to all fellow ringers for another enjoyable year of ringing at Tavistock and other Devon towers via some lovely outings.

It’s been a quieter year as regards ringing for weddings (5 at Tavistock), possibly an indication of the economic climate together with the wide variety of scenic secular venue options now available to marrying couples. Though, among these, we were delighted to ring for the daughter of one of our own ringers. Not so many funerals to ring for either (just the one, according to my records) although tolling the years has become a regular request along with half-muffled bells.

We’ve welcomed a few visiting bands during the year and special occasion ringing comprised marking anniversaries for VE Day in May and VJ Day in August. We also joined in the Devon Association of Ringers Centenary celebrations, ringing day on 31st May when at least 100 towers aimed to ring at, or around, 12.30pm.

In October, we hosted ringers taking part in Deanery Day with ringing, the service and tea at Tavistock. On 8th November, we were treated to a peal of Bristol Royal, rung as a birthday compliment for Ian Smith, who also rang, together with his daughter and grandson – 3 generations in one band, not bad!

As Artificial Intelligence and phone use continue to creep into more and more aspects of our daily lives and people spend hours staring at small touch-screens, I’m increasingly grateful that bellringing remains an activity requiring our own brainpower. It offers the feel of the bell through wheel, rope and sally, the pull and the swing, observation skills (rope-sight), teamwork and social interaction. It links us with the past brought into the present and is also an act of worship in itself for many ringers. A true skill and craft, “The Exercise” remains just that, both mentally and physically.

Sarah Hilton

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Bereavement Group Report:

The Bereavement Group which has been running for the past ten years continues to meet on the third Wednesday of the month at 2pm in the Parish Centre. Numbers fluctuate between seven and fifteen people come and join us.

It is a time for a short quiet reflection when together we will try and make sense of what we have heard and link it to how we are feeling in our own bereavement and loss undergirded by prayer.

This group together has helped so many people in the past and continues to do so today in a safe and confidential space where we can share our sadness, and our joys, there are tears and laughter, a lightening of the load of bereavement and a gradual looking forward into a different way of life.

You will be made very welcome; there are no pressures and you can join us and leave when you feel ready or just stay. Many come at times of anniversaries and birthdays; we care for each other. There is always tea and coffee and good cake and a time to chat, everyone is very welcome whether you attend church or not.

Jesus knows our pains and sorrows and gives us, as only he can give His comfort and His peace. With every blessing,

The Rev’d Sue Tucker

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Churchwardens Report:

The Churchwarden Team, myself, Cathy Sherlock and Ali Boulter (Deputy Churchwarden), have worked tirelessly to support Father Matt and the other ministers throughout the year, a year which has seen the establishment of the Tavistock Area Mission Community.

Our special services at Easter, Harvest, All Souls, Advent and Christmas have all been very well attended. In September it was a special joy to welcome the Bishop of Plymouth for a confirmation service at which, of the 16 candidates were confirmed, 12 of them under 25 years of age. In addition, we have had services for local schools at various times, civic leaders and our Ukrainian friends. Messy Church continues to grow and now has a group for older children.

The church is open daily, beginning with morning prayer and closing with evening prayer. Many visitors come during the day, either to look round the church, light a candle or sit quietly. We are grateful for those who steward during the summer months. Friendly Friday Coffee Morning continues to flourish and is appreciated by both regulars and visitors.

This year we have inaugurated a worship team organised by Bob Owens. We meet together to plan ahead for our major festivals. This has been invaluable and we thank Bob for this initiative. A great many people are involved in helping our services run smoothly and we are very grateful to both those who are seen and those who are unseen.

During the year we have welcomed quite a few new members to our congregation, including several families. We pray that this growth will continue as we strive to reach out and support our local community.

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Cathy Sherlock and I have been very appreciative of all the help, support and prayers given when we were both incapacitated. For a time, there was the unusual sight of both Churchwardens on crutches!

It has been a joy and privilege to serve as Churchwardens. We have endeavoured to be friendly, approachable and caring. This year has been challenging at times, but we end this report on a positive and optimistic note as we see real signs of God at work here at St Eustachius’s. We look forward to what the year ahead will bring as we see the development of the Mission Community.

Pam Hunter, Cathy Sherlock and Ali Boulter

Choir and Music Report:

The talented, dedicated, lively and friendly church choir at St. Eustachius Church.

The Choir continues to support and enhance the singing in weekly Communion Services, Choral Evensongs and many special services including funerals and weddings.

Members of the choir took part in a Choral Evensong for the Melanesian Mission in Exeter Cathedral. A highlight of the year was the Church Choir’s performance at Buckland Abbey as part of their celebrations. On Palm Sunday the Choir was joined by singers from various churches and organizations in a performance of excerpts from Brahms Requiem, Mozart’s Requiem and Karl Jenkins Requiem, with young soloist Rose Stanyer. Delicious refreshments, provided by Carolyn Anderton were shared by all.

The choir was joined by other singers and Sean Sweeney as organist to celebrate the musical Heritage of St. Eustachius’s in a special performance of sacred church music through the ages at the end of Heritage week. We also helped celebrate Harvest at Tavistock Hospital singing ‘All Things Bright’ by John Rutter.

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The choir participated in the Christmas Tree Festival event and many outside activities which involved singing for several residential homes and at Tavistock Hospital.

‘The Tree of Life’ by John Rutter was a lovely addition to the Advent Carol Service Sean Sweeney joined us as organist for the Christmas Carol Service with the music including ‘Rest in God’s Love’ by our resident composer Leslie Mazur-Park, ‘Shepherd’s Pipe Carol’ and ‘Unto Us’ from The Messiah.

A wonderful year filled with beautiful music. Mary Mazur Park

Deanery Synod Report:

There were three meetings of Deanery Synod in the year, and the reorganisation of the Benefice has been in the background throughout. The February synod covered environmental matters and followed on from the October meeting led by Sarah Chalker, Claire Diocesan Creation Care Officer. The June synod in Lamerton was addressed by Reynolds, Diocesan advisor on disabilities, talked about Disability and Additional Needs. She talked about different aspects of inclusion and reaching out. This was an excellent session. The October synod was addressed by Rev’d Dr Joel Love, Diocesan Director of Ordinands on Nurturing Others.

Throughout the year, finances have been a recurring theme but generally the churches of the deanery have done well in meeting our common fund commitments. Though after the year end, it is worth mentioning the February 2026 synod led by the Bishop of Exeter. This was an excellent Saturday morning session and very well attended.

Deanery Synod meetings are open to all and offer some useful talks as well as an insight into the workings of the church more broadly here as well as an opportunity to contribute to its growth.

Matt Hibbert

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Flower Arrangers Report:

A team of people have continued to provide flowers throughout most of the year in key places in the church. Many thanks to Liz Bastin, Ruth Glanville and Alison Watt for overseeing the major festivals of Christmas, Easter and Harvest We are still looking for someone to lead the team and provide a rota for next year.

Please see me if you can help.

Pam Hunter

Friendly Friday Coffee Mornings:

The Friday coffee mornings continue and seem to be as popular as ever. Many people come along on a regular basis, as well as many visitors to the town. There is always a warm welcome for everyone and someone to talk to. Viv Hutchinson gives her time each week to be there to greet all and to chat and to listen.

Ruth Glanville has a stall of beautiful handmade craft gifts and cards to sell.

We have an excellent team who run the kitchen and help with the lifting and shifting of tables and chairs.

This year we have has a raffle which raised over £1,000.00. The money raised is for the upkeep of St Eustachius’s, however, once a year we hold a special coffee morning to raise funds for children living in poverty in Harare. This money helps provide uniforms and pay school fees.

Barbara Miller

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Friends of St Eustachius Report:

The Friends of St Eustachius’ enjoyed a successful and financially productive year, enabling us to provide meaningful support to the church, particularly in relation to the fabric and beautification of the building.

During the year, we held two quiz evenings, both of which were sold out with waiting lists. These events continue to appeal not only to church groups but also to the wider Tavistock community and remain a firm favourite in our programme.

In May, David and Poppet Wixon very kindly opened their garden for a coffee and cake event, which proved extremely popular and well supported.

The Friends organised the annual Summer Fête, which involved many church groups working together. The event was blessed with fine weather and raised a record net total of £4,000. Our sincere thanks go to members of the Lions’ Club for their invaluable practical assistance in erecting and dismantling the tents, as well as transporting tables and goods.

Our Christmas Tree Festival was once again the highlight of the year, raising in excess of £16,000. The festival has become a centrepiece event not only for the Friends but also for the wider community of Tavistock and beyond. Sixty-nine beautifully decorated trees, extensive sales of homemade marmalade, chutneys, refreshments, and handcrafted items from Vintage Green and the Handicraft Group, together with thousands of visitors over the ten-day period, contributed to a truly outstanding result.

We have continued our commitment to funding the church’s building insurance, recognising the importance of protecting the fabric of the building. We work closely with the PCC and the Project 700 Steering Group, which oversees plans for church refurbishment. It is hoped that already committed funds may soon be used to support the installation of much-needed toilet facilities. In addition, we have contributed

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towards the replacement of the Sanctuary carpet and the kneelers at the communion rail, both of which have significantly enhanced the appearance of the church.

Our sponsors and members remain the backbone of the Friends, providing essential financial and practical support. We extend our particular thanks to our Vicar, Matt, for his tireless commitment, as well as to the wider ministry team and the church wardens for their continued support.

As Chairman of the Friends, I remain extremely grateful for the dedication and hard work of our talented committee throughout the year.

Anne Johnson

Chairman of the Friend

Handicraft Group Report:

We have ten members. So we had another good year of crafting and supporting each other. We are still doing a stall every Friday, the Summer Fair and the Christmas Tree Festival and raised about £2,000 for church funds. We cannot meet fortnightly anymore but still meet twice a month, so anyone is welcome to join us. Contact me on 01822 614770 if you are interested in joining our friendly group on a Wednesday afternoon.

Ruth Glanville

Intercessors Prayer Group Report:

We continue to meet in church on the second Saturday of most months at 10am. We have warmly welcomed new intercessors and thank all who provide such a valued ministry. Please contact sarah.pendle0@gmail.com if you feel called become an intercessor.

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Sarah Pendle

Little Deers Report:

Our delightfully named baby and toddler group meets every Tuesday during term time for play, snacks and singing, ending with a short interactive Bible story and prayer. Pastorally, it’s a great chance to speak with carers – sometimes things come up that we can help with even if it is just a listening ear. However, it is definitely flourishing with an average attendance of 30. If you would like to join our friendly team please contact sarah.pendle0@gmail.com

Sarah Pendle

Messy Church Report:

Messy Church will be celebrating its 10th birthday this year and we have really seen the Holy Spirit at work during this time, with a significant growth in numbers over the last 12 months. We have an average attendance of 72 each month, but in one month we had 102! We generally meet on the first Wednesday of the month for worship, hospitality, activities, and a delicious hot meal. Many families have been coming to Messy Church for several years and have encouraged their friends to come too. Since January 2026 we have been running a Messy Church Pilot Project, ‘Messy Momentum’, funded and supported by the national Messy Church organisation. The aim is to help children and young people over 9 years continue to grow in faith at what can be a difficult time in their lives. We have an amazing Messy Team of cooks, meeters and greeters and crafty helpers. Messy Church values are about being Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration. It’s a very different type of ministry: busy and definitely messy, but incredibly uplifting too. As we are growing, we do need extra help, so if anyone feels called to this special ministry by joining us please let me know. We are always grateful for help with food! Contact sarah.pendle0@gmail.com to find out more.

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Sarah Pendle

Recording and Live Streaming of Services Report:

Our live streaming and recording of services is now fully established within the Church and we record all morning services, special services ie Christmas, Easter, Harvest and weddings and funerals. When recording weddings and funerals, we offer a copy of the service on a DVD which most families take up and appreciate.

The whole system is run now by Bethan Godfrey, Natasha Jewell and Jayden Jewell and I assist when necessary. We are indebted to Harry James who over the last couple of years has been really helpful in setting the system up and operating it but has now moved to Bristol.

At present, the cameras are mounted on temporary poles, but the aim still is when finance allows to install smaller fixed cameras to the granite columns which will improve the look of the Church and will remove both the existing columns and wires that run across the floor.

Particularly with weddings and funerals, we really do need additional help with the recording of sound for the various events.

Natasha Jewell normally looks after live stream sound, but when she cannot attend additional help is needed and it would be really good if one or two people came forward to be trained on how to operate live streaming sound.

The Church also keeps on the website a library of services running back three or four years. It is interesting in talking to people how some go back over the years looking at services that have taken place in the past and that facility is going to remain on the system for those who want to use it.

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We are encouraged by people who regularly tune into our services and also the feedback we get from them. Many say how much they appreciate being able to worship in their homes or even on holiday when away from Tavistock.

Peter Rowan

Lent Group Report:

‘Aspects of the Passion—Hearing, Including, Carrying, Handing Over: Two Lent Days’. These linked Lent Days were held in the Parish Centre on Saturday 15[th] and 29[th] March 2025, 10.30am to 3pm. Attendance was open to everyone, and about twenty people attended each time. Most were from St Eustachius, but several were from other Christian communities in Tavistock and the surrounding area. The aim of each Day was to renew, deepen, and strengthen our faith during the period of Lent. Each one included Bible reading, small group discussion, shared reflection, and a short closing act of worship.

Day One began with the theme of ‘Hearing’. The disciples find it hard to ‘hear’ Jesus speak about his impending Passion. We explored how we might ‘hear’ what Jesus is saying to us. After lunch, the theme was ‘Including’. This focussed on the Gospel story of the woman with the alabaster jar, a key event in the Passion narrative. We asked ourselves what broader significance the idea of ‘including’ might hold for us, as followers of Jesus.

Day Two moved on to the theme of ‘Carrying’. Jesus carried his crown of thorns and his cross on the way to Golgotha. We reflected on what Jesus was ‘carrying’ on the cross for us, for God, and for the world. The final session was devoted to ‘Handing Over’. We asked ourselves what difference it made in responding to the Passion narratives whether we view Jesus as ‘betrayed’ or as ‘handed over’. We discussed what ‘handing over’ mean to each one of us in our own lives.

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Feedback on the two days was positive. People valued the opportunity to be with fellow-Christians for spiritual development in an informal setting where participants could hear and share a range of perspectives. We hope to be able to offer similar opportunities in future years.

Patti & Bob Owens

Prayer and Stillness Group Report:

This is an ecumenical group of Christians drawn from Tavistock and the surrounding area, affiliated to the national Julian Meetings network (https://thejulianmeetings.net/). It has been in existence for over thirty years.

The purpose of the Group is to provide an opportunity for people to spend an hour together in contemplative prayer and stillness. Each session includes some music, a couple of short readings and—at the centre of it all—shared silence. These periods of silent prayer and stillness offer a special way of being together with God and listening to what he has to say to each of us. We end with refreshments and a time of fellowship.

We met eleven times during 2025, at 2.30pm in the Parish Centre. Our day of meeting changed during the year. We used to meet on the second Monday of each month; now we meet on the second Wednesday of each month. We have a membership list of nearly thirty people, drawn from about five local Christian communities. Between twelve and eighteen people attend each month.

New members are always welcome. For more information about the Group, please contact one of us by phone or text, 07507 805 074 (Patti) or 07874 075 474 (Bob), or by email, pattiowens51@gmail.com or bobowensreader@outlook.com.

Patti & Bob Owens

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Pastoral Care Report:

The Pastoral Care Team has sixteen active members excluding our lay and ordained ministers.

Holy Communion Services are held at Blackdown House (Mary Tavy), Spring House (Peter Tavy), Parkwood Court, Chollacott House, Crelake House and Abbotsfield, all in Tavistock. Links with the care homes have developed well; we are made to feel welcome and services are looked forward to by residents, staff and ourselves. Pastoral visits also happen in the homes, around the services.

Much of what we do is done by ‘phone. Due to Elizabeth Maslen’s death, it has been impossible to replicate the number of calls that she used to make. I have tried to reach those who are most in need of contact and, as a team, we are trying our best to fill a very important role.

We continue to hold a bi-monthly team meeting to catch-up with each other. Attendance at these vary, we do encourage all who are able, to come. They are valuable times to remind ourselves of good working practice, to share experiences and to support each other.

Safeguarding and DBS have continued to dominate; I think that with Wend Roderick and Sarah Pendle’s hard work we are now compliant.

We are developing other links throughout the community:

Two team members work for Livewell, as Hospital Chaplain volunteers at Tavistock Hospital.

Links with Anna Chaplaincy (Anna Chaplaincy is a ministry that supports older people emotionally and spiritually in communities across the UK, a BRF ministry) is bringing more people into our remit.

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I visited a lady today who was looking for spiritual care, referred to me by Abbey Surgery.

Two things that I hope we can improve on this next year are::

Recruitment

We need more people who would like to be involved with pastoral work. They must be prepared to do a training course to raise awareness of good practice in pastoral work, undergo Safeguarding training and fulfil DBS requirements.

Develop PCT work for all

Our work centres mainly around the elderly. With increasing numbers coming to Messy Church and younger people coming to Sunday services and through links with local schools I feel that there must be people who could benefit from what we do.

Increasing awareness of PCT in this way might also encourage more people to join our team.

Diana McDowell

Breaking Bread:

On the first Friday of every month, a group of people who would usually eat on their own come together to share a simple meal in convivial surroundings. Tables are set with tablecloths, serviettes, tea lights and flowers which are given away afterwards. We usually serve a welcoming glass of sherry. We now provide about 25 meals for people who enjoy not only the food, but also the company and the opportunity to make new friends. Many thanks to everyone who helps in any way to make this possible, but especially to Jo Godfrey, Barbara Smart and Sheila Deacon.

Pam Hunter

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St Rumon’s and St Peter’s CE Schools Annual Report:

At St Rumon’s and St Peter’s we continue to work with dedication and purpose to deliver a curriculum and school experience that secures our vision: “Dream, Achieve, Inspire – John 10:10: Together we live life in all its fullness.” This vision remains at the heart of our daily practice, shaping the experiences we offer and the aspirations we hold for every child. Our school values of love, joy, forgiveness, truthfulness, respect and perseverance continue to guide our community. Alongside these, our Relational Spirituality framework supports children in their growth as compassionate, thoughtful human beings with a strong moral purpose. This framework helps us nurture relationships, encourage reflection and ensure that spirituality is woven meaningfully through school life.

With SIAMS pending at St Rumon’s, myself and Mrs Charlesworth, have taken the opportunity to reflect deeply on our provision across both schools. This has strengthened our commitment to ensuring that every aspect of our work is underpinned by the principles of our Christian vision and the Relational Spirituality framework. It has been a valuable process, enabling us to refine and reaffirm the distinctiveness of our ethos.

Our regular cycle of church services continues to be a highlight of the school year. This year we have gathered for Easter, Pentecost, our End-of-Year Reflection, Harvest, All Saints and Christmas. These services offer our children rich opportunities to rehearse, perform, share with others and flourish in a supportive, joyful environment. Their confidence and sense of belonging grow each time they step into the church community.

Members of our School Christian Ethos Group have played an important role in helping us develop and deliver a series of highly successful pop-up prayer spaces. These spaces have enabled children to reflect on significant moments such

as Remembrance and Transition to new schools or classes. They have provided calm,

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creative opportunities for pupils to express their thoughts and feelings, and to explore themes of hope, gratitude and change.

We are especially grateful to the members of the church community who supported these prayer spaces. Your time, your conversations with the children and your gentle guidance have made a meaningful difference. Thank you for helping our pupils feel heard, valued and spiritually supported. We hope to be able to repeat the success of these over the next year.

St Rumon’s and St Peter’s continues to be a place where children are encouraged to dream boldly, achieve confidently and inspire one another. We are thankful for the ongoing partnership with our parish community as we work together to help every child live life in all its fullness.

Suzy Dyter Headteacher

St Eustachius’s Storytellers Report:

The St Eustachius’s (Bible) Storytellers team continued to visit our church schools during 2025. The scripts, written by Mary Jane Traber, include drama, a time for reflection, prayer and lots of interaction with staff and students. The Bible stories are carefully chosen to reflect the schools’ Christian values for each half-term.

The Bible Story Team

Vestry Group Report:

Vestry Group has grown, now with four children who regularly attend, and one Sunday we had ten! We really love learning from the Bible, talking about Jesus, doing crafts and

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activities that enhance their understanding of God. If you know any young people who would like to join in, please bring them along as they will be very welcome.

Sarah Pendle

Vintage Green Report:A small team of dedicated sewers and some of their friends have continued to provide items for sale at both the Summer Fete and the Christmas Tree Festival. This year we have raised the amazing amount of £4,500. Part of our ethos is to recycle fabric when possible and we are also very grateful for donations.

We really enjoy making our various items which can be as small as a scented sachet or as large as a quilt! Requests and suggestions are always welcome. We have met and chatted with many people who seem to appreciate all that we do.

Pam Hunter

Warm Welcome Report:

In October 2025 changes were made to Warm Welcome. Instead of offering homemade soup, cheese, crusty bread, cakes and biscuits we are now offering a weekly coffee morning running from 10.00hrs to 12.00hrs throughout the year. This decision was made primarily due to the loss of two valuable volunteers and compounded by the difficulty in recruiting volunteers prepared to make lunches. It was a huge commitment by the volunteers to make the lunches which rested on a small team of people.

This change has had an impact on the numbers who now attend. Prior to the change between 12-22 attended but since the change the numbers vary between 6-9. There is an assumption therefore that the main reason for most attendees to Warm Welcome was for the food more than the companionship.

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There has been a big drive in recruiting volunteers and to date we have been very successful. This has enabled Warm Welcome to be run weekly throughout the year including the summer months. The challenge this year then is to promote this ministry, as there is a real need for this to continue. We will review this service on a regular basis.

Sue Eve

SIGNATURES:

The Reverend Matthew Godfrey (Chair of the PCC)

MFG

Mrs Suzanne Littlewood (Secretary to the PCC)

Suzanne Littlewood

Date: 22 March 2026

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