2022-12-31-accounts

BRANKSOME, ST. ALDHELM’S CHURCH

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

- www.st aldhelm.com

PARISH REPORT &

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS together with reports from church organisa�ons

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2022

VICAR

Rev. Philip Mar�n

CHURCHWARDEN

Ian Gray

HONORARY TREASURER

Peter Sharp

HONORARY SECRETARY

Samantha Waldron

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BRANKSOME ST ALDHELM’S CHURCH

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS

AND

THE ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

SUNDAY 30TH APRIL 2023 HELD AFTER THE 10AM SERVICE

AGENDA

MEETING OF PARISHIONERS

1. Welcome and Apologies

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

1. To receive the updated Electoral Roll and Report

2. To receive the Annual Report and accept the examined Accounts for 2022

3. To receive the Treasurer’s Report

4. To receive the Churchwarden’s Report

5. Vicar’s Report & Memorial to the Departed

6. To receive the Deanery Synod Report

7. To elect members of the laity to the PCC & Sides Persons

8. To accept the minutes of the APCM for 1st May 2022

9. Ma�ers arising from the 2022 minutes

10. Closing Prayer

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MINUTES FOR THE ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS

AND THE ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING HELD ON 1[st] MAY 2022 FOLLOWING THE 10AM SERVICE

MEETING OF PARISHIONERS

The mee�ng began at 11.05am and minutes were kindly taken by Chris�ne Shaw.

Churchwardens – Peter Sharp stepped down as Churchwarden but will con�nue as the Hon. Treasurer. Ian Gray will con�nue as Churchwarden; a second Churchwarden can be chosen later in the year. The Crisis Commi�ee will con�nue as a backup to the Vicar and Churchwarden. Thanks were given to both Ian and Peter.

ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

– To receive the report and accounts proposed by Clair Eaton and seconded by Graham Wright. Unanimously agreed.

Treasurer - Reply: improvement. Expenditure on the building to come of necessity. £6000 deficit in Unrestricted funds. There will s�ll be a deficit this year, more needs to be raised. Christmas Tree Fes�val – it was substan�al but not much profit. Pip was disappointed by the response to the renewal of Giving. Annual invita�on needs to be made to encourage this.

Churchwarden- Ian said many projects could be undertaken. The next Quinquennial Inspec�on is not that far away, 2023 and some progress is needed. The report suggested that photos should be taken of all the windows to form a record both for the archives and as a working document to assist with maintenance/vandalism. For the right person, this job would be rela�vely easy. The es�mate for the glass repairs was £15,000.

– Safeguarding Rona has undertaken training. All PCC members have been appropriately ve�ed. There have been no safeguarding issues in the past year.

PCC Members – members already will con�nue with the expectance of Jackie Ree and Peggy Ellio� who are standing down.

Nomina�ons for new PCC members – Heather Brown, Jennifer Hamblin, Charlie Kendrick

– Sidespersons All exis�ng sidespersons to con�nue with the excep�on of Donna Noonan who is stepping down and Dave Marsh -RIP.

Ian Clothier and Jane Rosewarn are to become sidespersons.

Acceptance of the minutes from the last mee�ng – Clair Eaton – proposed, Diane Eaton – seconded, unanimously voted, no ma�ers ongoing.

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Other Ma�ers –

Ann Balle� – asked if PCC minutes could be available for everyone, it could be helpful to get more – involvement. Pip replied could be put on next newsle�er/email/website. Everyone agreed.

John Smith – asked about Po�ery Junc�on – – Pip didn’t really want PCC minutes in a community document, copies of the magazine go to school & local families.

Fr Stephen is leaving a�er June 2[nd] .

– Live Streaming work in progress, Diocese involved, will con�nue.

– Andrew Dray asked if the agenda for the PCC could be available at least a week ahead of mee�ngs.

Ann Balle� – Christmas Tree Fes�val – need to bring in more of the community, then more money will follow.

Father John – thanked everyone for their welcome.

– Wendy Brooke we need to return to ge�ng the uniformed units back to church. All Age services to be revived? Need to get the school back more.

Someone asked if we could start reusing the service books again.

– Jane Rosewarn/Ann Balle� said they hadn’t received the Parish Report by email.

Ann Balle� – thanked Pip for his leadership – this was unanimously agreed by all.

– – – – Pip we need new hymn books updated they need to be fully inclusive larger print versions needed – for those with impaired vision though united a discussion is needed.

Mee�ng ended at 12noon with prayers.

_________ Vicar 30th April 2023

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BRANKSOME ST. ALDHELM’S CHURCH

Annual Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council

for the year ended 31st December 2022

Administra�ve Informa�on

Branksome St. Aldhelm’s Church is situated in St. Aldhelm’s Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset. BH13 6BT

and is part of the Diocese of Salisbury within the Church of England. Correspondence should be addressed to The Parish Office, 401 Poole Road, Branksome, Poole, Dorset. Bh12 1AD.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission. Charity Number: 1130874.

PCC members who have served from May 2022 un�l the date of this report was approved are:

Licensed Ministry Team

Incumbent Rev. Philip Mar�n, Chairman Curate Rev. Robyn Golden-Hann (joined in Sept 2022) Licensed Lay Reader Rona Orme Pastoral Team Joy Warne, Jackie Ree, Tim Mitchell Churchwarden Ian Gray Deanery Synod Reps Andrew Dray, Gary Waldron Elected Members of PCC Samantha Waldron, Clair Eaton, Diane Eaton, Ian Clothier, Tim Mitchell, Jennifer Hamblin, Charlie Kendrick, Denzil Sheppard

Ofcers of the PCC Hon. Treasurer Peter Sharp Hon. Secretary Samantha Waldron Diane Eaton Electoral Roll Officer Tim Mitchell Health & Safety Officer Rona Orme Safe Guarding Officer Elected Sides Persons Chris�ne Shaw, Ray Beverley, Lin Beverley, Isobel Woodbury, Lisa Stroud, Diane Eaton, Ian Clothier, Rona Orme

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ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2022

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Branksome St. Aldhelm’s PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure 1956. The method of appointment of PCC members is governed by and set out in the Church Representa�on Rules. All church a�endees are encouraged to register on the electoral roll and stand for elec�on to the PCC.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

• St. Aldhelm’s PCC has the responsibility of co opera�ng with the Incumbent, Rev. Philip Mar�n, in promo�ng in the ecclesias�cal parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelical, social and ecumenical. It has maintenance responsibili�es for the Church, the Branksome St. Aldhelm Centre and its surrounding grounds.

systems or procedures established to managed those risks.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

CHURCH ATTENDANCE

There are 142 Parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll, 54 of whom reside within the parish and 88 from outside the parish boundary. During the past year 2 parishioners have passed away and 1 has moved out of the area.

REVIEW OF THE YEAR

At the last Annual Parochial Church Mee�ng Mr Ian Gray was elected as Churchwarden for a further - term of office. Mr Peter Sharp was re elected as Honorary Treasurer.

The PCC held mee�ngs in church throughout the year with the Crisis Commi�ee mee�ng in between these mee�ngs (Crisis Commi�ee was the former name of the Standing Commi�ee), minutes from the Crisis Commi�ee mee�ngs were taken to full PCC mee�ngs for discussion where necessary.

SAFEGUARDING

no safeguarding issues during this past year.

LINKS

Ecumenical links con�nue within the Deanery (Poole East Churches Together) as do our links with Busy Bodies Pre-School and Bishop Aldhelm’s C.E. Primary School and our interna�onal links with the Anglican Church in Ecuador. The Parish supports the work of Poole Food Bank and regularly donates food which is then passed onto those in need within the Poole area.

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Branksome St. Aldhelm FINANCIAL REVIEW FOR 2022

This stability con�nued throughout 2022; Unrestricted Funds broke even. However, within that bald statement there were many differences from 2021 as normal life resumed a�er the pandemic.

Planned giving and collec�ons, along with the concomitant gi� aid, increased and came close to covering our diocesan share but the corollary of this is that nothing would be le� for the day-to-day running of St. Aldhelm’s. These costs are largely covered by the income we receive from hiring our premises which rose by 70% in the year. Our fundraising is important, too, with fairs and the Christmas tree fes�val back in full swing.

Apart from the inevitable increase in diocesan share, there were a number of major changes in our costs. Personnel expense rose sharply mainly due to the cessa�on of furlough payments. A reduc�on in the amount paid for hea�ng was largely due to our successful applica�on to the diocese’s warm spaces fund. As the buildings get older, more is being spent on their maintenance. In 2022 this included such diverse items as the centre doors and the church drains. In 2023 we have already re-lit the church.

• staging and part payment for the new no�ceboards. St. Aldhelm’s Players have deposited £950 for the - church to hold should they wish to re form. If they have not done so within two years, then the money goes to the General Fund.

Once we have upgraded our equipment, the costs involved will not be too severe.

Peter Sharp—Hon. Treasurer

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BRANKSOME ST. ALDHELM CONSOLIDATED FUNDS YEAR TO 3111212022 Unrestrictgd Funds R￿triCted Funds Actual to Actual to Change 3111212022 3111212021 2021>>2022 $3 487 Rgsgrve$ al 1 January 39,678 10,105 11,177 3,167 6,175 1,875 30,518 2,386 P18nned Glvlng Collections Gift Received 1.060 Bequests & Donations 7,149 Fundraising Income Fees Received Hlre of Church & Hall 1,OC¥J Sundrle$ 42,066 10,105 11,177 4,227 13,323 1,875 30,518 1,681 35,160 8,178 11,867 10,562 11,846 2,889 17,777 268 6,906 1.927 4,334 1.477 -1.014 12.741 1.413 103 378 11 $96 Total Incom• 114972 61,824 283 Oiocesan Share Fundraising Costs 1,000 Grants Given 61,824 283 1,000 58,878 55 1,705 -2,946 -228 705 15,971 1,421 1,023 2,142 214 Personnel Costs 88 Travel & Expenses Postage & Telephon• Printing & Stationèry Bank Charges 15,971 1,507 1,023 2,142 214 9,565 727 1,007 1,877 ,406 -780 -16 -265 -214 2,562 4,818 1,864 814 Gas, Electrlcbty & Walor Insurances Services & Relreshmenls Cltsanlng & Bin8 2,562 4,818 1,864 814 6,566 4,452 1,674 1,124 4.004 -366 -190 310 8,171 69 Repairs & Maintenance 11,335 Equipment P￿rchase$ 8,241 12,179 S,875 -2.365 -11,297 293 275 Llcences 3,S02 Sundrles 293 3,777 302 382 -3,415 102.518 15,992 Totsl Expondllurn 118,510 95,051 .23,459 Tran#f•ri 49 091 Ros•rv95. 31" 00￿Mb9r HS8C CurrentAccount HSBC Dèposit Account COE Dep03rt Account Petty Cash 4,228 22,010 35,512 Page 113 io

BRANKSOME ST. ALDHELM Unrestricted Funds, Year to 3111212022 Genoral Fund Parlsh Contr• Vl¢arfs Fund TOTAL R•Hrv•• a11" January 232 Planned Giv7ng Collections Gift Aid Received Bequ85t5 & DonaJon$ Fundraising Income Fees Received Hire of Church & Hall Sundries 39,678 10,105 11,177 3,027 6.175 1,875 5,122 672 39,678 10,105 11,177 3,167 6,175 1,875 30,518 672 140 25.396 Total Incomo 77,830 140 103,366 Oiocesan Share Fundraising Costs Grants Given 61,824 283 61,824 283 Personnel Costs Travel & Expense8 Postage & Telephone Printing & Slation•ry Bank Chargès 10,341 1,421 1,023 2,142 214 5,630 15,971 1,421 1,023 2,142 214 Gas. Eleclrldty & Wal8r Insurances Services & Refreshments Cl&8ning & Blns 247 3,854 2,315 2,562 4,818 1,864 814 814 Repalrs & Malnlenance Equipment Purchases 4,909 3,262 8,171 Licences Sundries 231 275 82 293 275 Total Exp•ndlturn 102 518 Rourvgs. 31" Docgmbgr 372 Page 213 li

BRANKSOME ST. ALDHELM Restrlcted Funds, Year to 3111212022 Church Maroy Energy Fund Organ Ecuador Fund Fund Frlondl Playor• TOTAL Ro88rvo8 at 1 January Planned Giving Collections Glft Rece￿e￿ BèqLJest5 & Donatlon$ Fundraising Income Fees Received Hire of Church & Hall Sundries 1,800 408 2,388 1,000 6,114 1.060 7,149 1,035 50 950 1,0¢)0 Totsl In¢om• 468 960 Dlocesan Shartr Fundraising Costs Granls Given 1,C(10 1,000 Personnel Costs Travel & Expenses Postage & Telephon• Printing & Stationery Computer Bure Gas, Electricty & Water Insurances Services & R8fre8hments Cl&aning & Blns Repairs & M8inlenan¢o Equlpmenl Purchases 69 11.335 69 11,335 Llcences Sundries 3,502 3,502 Total Exp•ndltur• 3,502 1,000 11,404 16,992 •t R•i•rv••. 31 D•¢•mb•r 950 Page 313 12

Plne &rth, 23 Unduy Road, Pool• BH13 6AN T•1 . 01202 751553 -AA I have ex￿Ined the bank stalemenls, receipts and payments for the yew10 31 DKemter 2022 d t￿ recwdl hove been well mainl8ined by the Church Treasurer. . I can cryffimi Ihal. In my vthy. the accounts present th stat￿ ol the pwmh fmanc8S Ihe year eTrJ8d 31 December 2022. John Sprackling 23 Lindsay Road, Poole BH13 6AN 02 March 2023 13

VICAR’S REPORT

St Aldhelm’s Church seems to shelter a diverse and rich assortment of God’s people. During the past year we heard from Ruth Wilde, na�onal coordinator of Inclusive Church. The organisa�on exists to encourage Churches in welcoming all people regardless of age, gender, sexual iden�ty or neuro diversity. Every church describes itself as welcoming but I hope our affilia�on to Inclusive Church will help us evaluate and to extend our welcome to those on the margins.

We are both venue-provider and partners to both St Thomas’ Indian Orthodox Church and also the Mustard Seed Chapel with its roots in the African Pentecostal movement. More integral to our life as a - - church is our ministry to the Spanish speaking community, chiefly in the form of twice monthly Eucharists celebrated on Sundays at 1pm. Palm Sunday saw all three communi�es worshipping at the same �me, variously in the Hall, Hall Lounge, Church and Jubilee Garden, each with their dis�nc�ve worshipping and musical style. Jesus said, ‘In my Father’s house are many rooms…’ and in this respect at least St Aldhelm’s is perhaps a good foretaste of heaven.

• Our Spanish bi-lingual and recently completed a course of prepara�on in Lay Pioneer Ministry to equip her to serve - beyond the usual or familiar remit of parish churches. This box our ministry to Spanish speakers most certainly �cks. Later this year we hope to arrange an occasion when these communi�es and others who are – literally or metaphorically – ‘under our roof’ can meet and celebrate together.

Other partnerships enrich our life as well. Our Church Hall is venue for a wide variety of local and community ac�vi�es. These provide a modest but helpful source of income to the church and at the – same �me enable much good to be done in the locality. In this as in so much that pertains to our Church – we are indebted to Sam Waldron whose cheerful and innova�ve forbearance as well as administra�ve acumen keeps the show on the road. Within the church the Orchestra, and the Tuesday lunch�me recitals, provide rich and mutually beneficial opportuni�es. I want in addi�on however to here honour and celebrate the con�nuing contribu�on of our organist and choir: they combine a constant commitment to good music with cheerful and pa�ent good humour. I love to join them for the easy bit of their weekly prac�ce when they run through the upcoming hymns.

During 2022 we sadly bade farewell to Fr Stephen Fla� a�er he and his partner moved to re�re up north. Rona of course remains a mainstay: her though�ul, succinct, powerful sermons are a model for all who a�end to the cra� of preaching. She also gives a lead in iden�fying and welcoming strangers, and her wisdom and honesty are a frequent help to me. But in addi�on the past 12 months has seen a remarkable influx of others willing to support our ministry. I have already men�oned Beatriz. Two recently re�red priests, Karen Kriwald and Belinda Marfli�, have found their way to us; Bishop Mark Santer , formerly Bishop of Birmingham (and a College Principal in Cambridge in the distant days when I was there as an undergraduate) brings his combina�on of modesty and immense experience; and Gary Waldron has embarked on training for ordained ministry (although this last is a mixed blessing for St Aldhelm’s because while his ministry is intended ul�mately to serve our parish he in the mean�me must undertake training that gives less �me for his ac�vity here and then a curacy that will of course be at another, fortunate, church for perhaps a further three years.)

Most importantly, of course, our Ministry Team, and our life as a church, have been transformed by the arrival of a curate. I constantly remind myself, and others, that Robyn is here primarily to learn and to be formed for lifelong, sustainable and sustaining ordained ministry. In the process, however, Robyn’s ministry here has already brought, and been, a huge blessing to us. One of the reasons I wanted to become your vicar was the hope of working with a curate. Once here I quickly sensed both

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from such an experience. Mother Robyn’s ordina�on as priest takes place in Salisbury Cathedral on Saturday 1[st] July at 4.30pm and I hope we will be there in numbers. Her First Mass next morning will be to lead us in our annual Dedica�on Fes�val, remembering the occasion of our Church’s consecra�on by Bishop Wordsworth in 1894. The shared lunch to follow will, I hope, be a celebra�on of the diversity of St Aldhelm’s Church and community.

wonderful to welcome a former vicar, Fr Stephen Lake, as our new diocesan bishop, when he came in December. Other visitors of note were Fr Carlos Villacis and Reverenda Gina Angulo, helping give a real face, and smile, to our link with the Anglican Church in Ecuador.

We face challenges: a lack of volunteers able to support several important roles within the church, and collec�vely our financial giving to the church is inadequate. I avoid saying what we ‘ought’ to do. The root of generous giving is not any ‘ought’. The root of generous giving is thankfulness. For where there is a thankful heart, there is usually a generous as well as glad heart. The PCC Interim Commi�ee will focus on the need for a concerted a�empt to encourage such thankfulness and generosity among all our supporters, but always according to people’s means (so that some may rightly even if reluctantly reduce their giving to the church while others will I trust gladly increase theirs.)

– Finally, a big challenge is this wonderful building: a challenge and an opportunity and a privilege. We are so fortunate to be the stewards of such a magnificent, awesome place pf prayer and worship and fellowship. The challenge is for us to be good stewards who can pass it on to the next genera�on in an enhanced state. The Parochial Church Council recently came up with a dream list of wishes for the building. They were asked to be ambi�ous but not fanciful, to think big but to think realis�cally as well. They came up with the following thoughts but it is not an exhaus�ve and certainly not a final list. We won’t agree with all and nor do I agree with them all. I read it however to encourage you to dream a li�le bit as well. For only if we are all excited by the possibili�es will any of them come to frui�on.

I quote from the minutes of the mee�ng and these items are not in any order of priority or importance: Cleaning or renewing the curtains behind the altar…hea�ng system…pain�ng the walls…washing the flags above the war memorial…solar panels…toilets…sink with hot water…glass ves�bules…clean the stained glass windows…repair loose windows…insulate in some way…destra�fica�on fans… variable ligh�ng…external ligh�ng…storage areas…new clock…extend set of altar frontals…cleaning the stonework of the font…sanding the floor…ligh�ng above each of the sta�ons of the cross pictures…more plugs and sockets…pain�ng the bosses on the ceiling (no two are the same)…scaffolding tower.

What is on your (ambi�ous but realis�c) ‘dream list’? How can you play a part in caring for and enhancing this house of God? Will we be faithful stewards of what he has entrusted to us?

We have doors open to all.

We have minds open to ques�ons, to tradi�on and to the challenge of the new.

Let us most of all be open to the God whose human face is revealed in Jesus, let us trust in and be faithful to him who calls us now to trust and follow him. Amen.

Rev. Philip Mar�n

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MEMORIAL TO THOSE DEPARTED

Names of those departed since the last Annual Mee�ng

Adele Josephine Northway - John Na�on Grainger

Muriel Clarke

Heather Anne Brown Thomas Fredrick Vennell Stuart James Banks

Iris Mist

Jean Margaret Chapman Shirley Kilgore June Louisa Lewis Jeanne Clark Rowan Bagshawe

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CHURCHWARDEN REPORT

face many changes and challenges. I hope that I have addressed what I can, but there is always more to do.

A number of maintenance projects have been successfully completed. Remedial work has been undertaken to the paths and car park area. The vestry window has been restored. Much work has been undertaken to prepare for replacement of high level lights and the restora�on of an outside light missing since an act of vandalism some �me ago. The store has had new doors and frame replacing badly worn fi�ngs. Work has con�nued apace in the garden leading to its dedica�on during the Queen’s Jubilee - celebra�ons in June 2022, re naming it ‘The Jubilee Garden’. It was subsequently entered into the local authority blooms compe��on.

The Friends purchased new more manageable stage equipment along with new no�ce boards.

Work undertaken by Mr. D. R. Smith a number of years ago on the history of St. Aldhelm’s and those churches carrying the dedica�on has been submi�ed to the small group on a project in Sherborne. A special day is to be held on Saturday 20th May 2023.

Inves�ga�ons are taking place to allow be�er safe keeping of the works of art s�ll held in the church. Successful seasons of concerts have been held under the leadership of Ray and Lin Beverley. A Jubilee Picnic was held to mark the Pla�num Jubilee and sadly in September special arrangements made to mark the death of Her Majesty.

A Fun A�ernoon was held in the summer which proved very popular. This year marked the 20th year of the Christmas Tree Fes�val, thanks to Ann and Terry Balle�.

A successful visit to Salisbury Cathedral on Sunday 19th June 2022 for the Inaugura�on of the Ministry of the Right Reverend Stephen Lake.

I would like to express my thanks to all those who volunteer for extra dates and responsibili�es. I hope

Ian Gray—Churchwarden

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CURATE’S REPORT

Since ordina�on as deacon last year and beginning my ministry at St Aldhelm’s on the 3[rd] July 2022, I’ve received a very walm welcome into this church and have felt fully embraced by the community here. There have been many posi�ve experiences to reflect upon from the past few months (it’s impossible to include everything in this report) but before men�oning a few key points, should like to offer a wholehearted thank-you for the generous welcome I have received and the kind pa�ence with which you have guided your new curate as I find my feet in order to be�er serve this community.

An open, inclusive, warm space

The ‘Open Door’ policy and ethos that St Aldhelm’s engenders is a considerable posi�ve in the life and mission of God’s church in this place, something we can be jus�fiably proud of, par�cularly as it is - increasingly un common among many parish churches. Keeping the building unlocked for the benefit of all speaks volumes about not only our approach to mission and ministry, but also that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is indeed Good-News for everyone. Building upon this open-door philosophy, we received a generous grant from the diocese last year to enable us to func�on as a community Warm Space, enabling us to do more of what we were already doing though with a more inten�onal approach. Currently we provide fee hot drinks daily (which are o�en taken advantage of) and whilst the weather is now ge�ng milder, we have begun something precious and valuable upon which to build next winter.

In addi�on, it seems only appropriate that St Aldhelm’s will become part of the Inclusive Church network, following discussions at PCC and input from the Inclusive Church na�onal coordinator Ruth Wilde who came as a visi�ng preacher in January this year. It is hoped that connec�ng with a na�onwide network of Inclusive churches will encourage us to be more conscious of inclusivity and to help us to no�ce where we might be uninten�onally exclusive. It has been a posi�ve experience to engage in discussion together and explore the issues of inclusivity as a church.

Homelessness

• There is a long standing record here of extending a welcome to the homeless, crea�ng an evident culture of tolerance, kindness and pa�ent generosity. A collec�on of blankets and other essen�als are kept on hand for ad-hoc distribu�on to rough sleepers as need arises; simple yet prac�cal resources which speak of the open nature of St Aldhelm’s. Given the endemic issues with homelessness in this area (and the o�en-a�endant issues of mental health problems) this is inevitably an important and challenging part of our ministry. Fr Pip and I also have some occasional contact with the charity St Mungo’s who are contracted by BCP council to provide prac�cal support for the rough sleeper popula�on.

Worship & Prayer

It is important to acknowledge the central role that prayer plays in the life of the church. The fact that prayer is said in the building daily and that space is provided for visitors to light candles and offer their own inten�ons, provides a solid rock upon which to stand. Further to the above, the open door policy enables the church to become a real powerhouse of prayer, crea�ng an atmosphere of devo�on and reverence; a fact o�en commented upon by casual visitors to this place. The church is greatly valued by many people in the community, even if they are not regular worshippers, or even consider themselves to be Chris�an!

Worship is reveren�al and tradi�onal yet manages to maintain a relaxed character to it. Crea�ve elements have found expression par�cularly within the First Sunday Mass of each month. I believe it is a par�cular challenge for St Aldhelm’s to keep a healthy and crea�ve tension between the tradi�ons we have inherited and the need to be adaptable and innova�ve in order to meet the needs of the 21[st] century. Nevertheless, there is an acute awareness that we need to revive a serving team who can be available at each Sunday Mass, and an awareness of the desire expressed by many to use the high altar on a more regular basis.

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The 8am Prayer Book service is underpinned by faithful regulars; those who volunteer to read the lessons also reveal a depth of Scriptural knowledge in the though�ul and well researched preambles they deliver. Thursday evening Mass a�racts a good few regulars, (including those who prefer a quieter and more contempla�ve style of worship) and is especially helpful for those who cannot a�end Sunday Mass due to other commitments. The bi-monthly Spanish Mass has a strong core of regular worshippers and offers a very valuable (interna�onal) fellowship for Spanish speaking residents of the BCP area. The group has been further enhanced by the arrival of our newly commissioned Lay Pioneer, (and na�ve Spanish speaker) Beatriz Brooks.

Bap�sms and Funerals

Occasional services form an important part of the mission of the church, especially as they o�en allow us to minister to those who we would not otherwise come in direct contact with. I have experienced (and conducted) several bap�sms and funerals in the past eight months which have been a privilege to be a part of, though regre�ably, no weddings have come my way yet as in keeping with the na�onal trend, fewer funerals and weddings are conducted in church these days.

Pastoral Ministry

Pastoral visits to housebound parishioners and our regular ministry at Melton Court and Lindsey Care - have provided valuable opportuni�es to offer care for the emo�onal and spiritual well being of some of the older and most vulnerable members of our community; visits which I have found personally transforma�ve and a great privilege to undertake. However, the need is great, and we recognise the necessity of encouraging members of the congrega�on to consider training to become Lay Pastoral Assistants to help with this vital ministry.

Ministry to the Young

Busy Bodies have welcomed me into their childcare sessions on a regular basis to entertain the children by playing guitar and singing simple songs and have assisted with various cra� and art ac�vi�es. This is an area of ministry that is ripe for development as there is poten�al for bringing aspects of the Chris�an faith into this sphere in a gentle and respec�ul way, whilst being mindful of the mul�various backgrounds and faiths of the families whose children a�end Busy Bodies. The children have responded excep�onally well to engagement with music and take genuine delight in being allowed to have a go at ‘playing’ my guitar!

Bishop Aldhelm’s School are very pleased to welcome Fr Pip and myself to lead collec�ve worship for the whole school every Monday morning. The school leadership readily encourage ac�ve Chris�an engagement and involvement in the whole of school life, something to certainly rejoice in as we enjoy a good rela�onship with staff and children there. School engagement with St Aldhelm’s (with their various ac�vi�es and services held in our church building) is a valuable founda�onal investment in the lives of hundreds of young people many of whom may otherwise have li�le regular contact with tradi�onal church life. In 2022 I became a founda�on governor of Bishop Aldhelm’s and have now taken up the role of Co- Chair of Governors along with Fr. Pip and am looking forward to learning how best to fulfil this role in order to be�er serve the needs of the school and to further deepen our mutual rela�onships.

In Conclusion

I am conscious that there are many other aspects of life at St Aldhelm’s that I cannot do jus�ce to in this brief report, including our rela�onships with the Scou�ng and Guiding groups, the extraordinary musical life here (lunch�me recitals, orchestra, and other concerts) and of course the famous Poole Beer Fes�val and the even more famous Christmas Tree Fes�val, both beloved of so many people from far and wide! Therefore, I apologise to those people and for those ac�vi�es I have failed to men�on. Nevertheless, St Aldhelm’s is an open and friendly church with many vibrant and suppor�ve rela�onships across the local community, truly fulfilling its remit as a parish church; a Chris�an presence which exists for the benefit of

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the whole community. As a consequence over the past nine months, I’ve experienced a tremendous richness of life and ministry that o�en leave me exclaiming “they never taught me that at theological college!” and I trust this enriching and ever surprising paradigm con�nues throughout my curacy. This year, by the grace of God, I hope to be priested by Bishop Stephen Lake at Salisbury cathedral on the 1[st] July, and will then look forward to taking an even more ac�ve role in the Sacramentality of our worshipping life together.

Mo. Robyn Golden-Hann—30[th] March 2023

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THE FOLLOWING REPORTS ARE FROM CHURCH ORGANISATIONS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2022

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FRIENDS OF ST. ALDHELM’S

There are now 40 members and we welcome anyone who wishes to join us and is interested in partaking in our friendly and enthusias�c work in promo�ng our worship at St. Aldhelm’s.

The recitals con�nue and are very well a�ended and the lunches are very popular.

We have now been able to fund new staging which is much more versa�le and easy to move. New no�ceboards have recently been erected at four different sites around the church grounds.

We are very grateful to all the volunteers who support us at the recitals. Thanks go to Lin and Ray Beverley who work very hard to make the recitals such a success.

We hope to have a full season of recitals in the Spring and Autumn. Thanks to all the members who support us so faithfully.

Jackie Ree

MOTHERS’ UNION

Following on from the pandemic during 2022 we have enjoyed a full programme apart from an ou�ng.

This year we have con�nued with our monthly Mass and have moved back into the Lady Chapel for our services. Thank you to Father Pip and Father John for taking the services and Mother Robyn who joined us in June for assis�ng at the services

In the a�ernoons we have had talks from Mark from Poole Wau partnership. Janet O’Connor on the hymn All Things Bright and Beau�ful and also from Rona and Mother Robyn (part 2 to follow in 2023)

We hosted a soup lunch during Lent and enjoyed decora�ng our Christmas tree for the Christmas Tree Fes�val. In the summer we had a cream tea a�ernoon and a Christmas party in December.

We supported the Rockley Park mobile home by providing a Welcome pack for a family.

In December we said a sad Goodbye to Be�y Magnall as she moved to Bedford to be nearer to her family but we also said Hello to Barbara M who will be enrolled in the next few months and Barbara S who has move to this area from Bury.

Many many thanks to Faye for organising and helping at mee�ngs and Jane for keeping track of our Finances and all members for their con�nued support.

We are planning a full programme for 2023 and welcome you all to our mee�ngs.

come and be a Speaker at one of our mee�ngs.

Diane Eaton

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GUIDING AT ST. ALDHELMS

We have 4 busy and ac�ve groups here at St Aldhelms, Rainbows aged 5-7 Brownies aged 7-10 Guides aged 10-14 and Rangers aged 14-18.

We have enjoyed lots of varied ac�vi�es with all 4 sec�ons and have completed lots of badges throughout the year. The girls have achieved lots of skill builders and have gained Bronze and silver awards.

We took part in lots of royal ac�vi�es to celebrate the jubilee which included making bun�ng, crown jewels and royal games. We joined in the division Jubilee day at St Edwards school where over 200 girls came together and tried fencing, climbing, archery as well as cra�s, food ac�vi�es, toas�ng marshmallows around the campfire and comple�ng the Royal escape room. The highlight was definitely when the ice cream van turned up as I think we had picked the ho�est day of the year to celebrate!

Guide camp this year was in July and we took 18 Guides and Rangers to Buddens scout camp in Wareham. We had 7 ac�on packed day pushing the girls out of their comfort zones and trying new ac�vi�es, we tried mega sup, dragon boa�ng, high ropes, climbing, abseiling rifle shoo�ng and tomahawk throwing to name a few, as well as tradi�onal camp cra� and camp skills. We were extremely lucky with the weather, not a drop of rain all week, (dare I say it too hot at �mes) that’s unheard of at Guide camp!

At the start of October, we held our annual sponsored bike ride in Poole park in Memory of our dear friend Dave, we had a great turn out and for the sun shone which makes a big difference to the day. We were presented with a cheque from Tesco for £680 towards our floor fund which was a very generous dona�on!

The Brownies enjoyed 3 nights away at Dudsbury Guide camp taking part in lots of ac�vi�es with an under the sea theme, we made mermaids, jelly fish, had a treasure hunt and decorated treasure chests, we played glow s�ck Pic�onary, Bingo and made oyster shell biscuits. The Brownies have to help with the day-to-day tasks and learn life skills such as cooking, washing up and basic cleaning skills! Most importantly they have lots of fun with their friends.

Remembrance Day saw all the uniformed groups back in church for a full parade which was great to see.

We held our Christmas Fayre at the end of November and the girls put their singing voices to the test as they entertained everyone with a selec�on of tradi�onal campfire songs and some Christmas classics.

In December we enjoyed decora�ng our tree as part of the church tree fes�val which was very popular as always.

We took the Rainbows and Brownies to the Ugly Bug Ball at Dudsbury in March and took part in lots of bug related ac�vi�es, we made bug hotels, bead worms, spoon spiders, we played lady bird beetle and went on a bug hunt! The day finished with a sing song which was great fun and proved the highlight of the day!

now down! We have so many people to say thank you to for helping make this happen but the Biggest thank you has to be to Our Dear friend and biggest supporter Dave Marsh whose legacy is now complete, and the new floor has been laid in his memory. Our Huge Thanks go to Barbara and all the family who have con�nued to support the work of St Aldhelms Scouts and Guides and help us achieve Dave’s dream. Now onto the next project……

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