2024-12-31-accounts

st. Pa￿L'S ch￿rGh Boxley Road Maidstone Trustees, Annual Report and Accounts 2024 Aim and Purposes St Paul's Church continued to be without a priest in charge throughout 2024. The Parochial Church Council has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent or during an interregnum, the churchwardens Mark Turner and Brian Beswick, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the church, pastoral. evangelistic, social and ecumenical. Rev Anthea Mitchell (our part-time non-stipendiary assistant curate) supported th the churchwardens until 29 September 2024. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the church and halls. which are all part of the same building at St Paul's Church Boxley Road, Maidstone. Objectives and Activities The PCC seeks to serve our parish and the wider community in Maidstone and beyond in various ways. Our Vision Statement reflects this: -Becoming Christion Community- serving the wider community. Through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. activity and silence, our worship is at the heart of who we are. We are committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at St Paul's and to become part of our church community. To this end, the PCC maintains an overview of our worship, and regularly dtSCUS5es our pattern of services. In line with the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. and the particular guidance on charities for the advancement of religion, we try to enable ordinary people to grow in faith and live it out as part of our church community. As well as providing opportunities for worship, we do our best to help people deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Christian faith, and their relationships with God and others. We offer pastoral care for those living in the parish and for others who are part of our church community. We seek to reach out in various ways, and to contribute to the needs of the wider world. One of the primary ways in which we serve the community is to make our premises available not just for worship. but for a range of artivities which contribute positively to people's quality of life. With two halls and a kitchen as well as the worship space itself, we have flexible facilities which we are continually seeking to irnprove. We are pleased that the church complex is in use every day of the week by 26 different groups of up to 50 people. Safeguarding The PCC has complied with the duty under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 where all authorised clergy, licensed readers and lay workers, churchwardens and PCC'S must have due regard to safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops {this will include both policy and practical guidance). Page1of6

st. PQkL's Chblrch Boxley Road Maidstone Achievements and Performance Worshi and Pra er We offer a range of services to suit people of different backgrounds, ages and temperaments. We continued to hold one seniice at 10:00am on Sunday mornings: Café Worship, Holy Communion and traditional Holy Communion and morning worship. We also the hold some services in the Celtic tradition. which makes it possible to refer to the natural world and our impact on the world around us. This was changed in March when the PCC agreed that the Sunday services would move to 10:30am to enable us to launch Bubble Church on the third Sunday of every the month at 9:30am. Those families that have joined us have been really engaged in this short puppet packed Jesus -centred service. We have even had a Bubble Church baptism and taken a modified service to one of the schools in the parish. Numbers have varied throughout the year but a total of 15 families have come to at least one Service. At present there are 64 parishioners on the Electoral Roll, of which 21 live within the parish. Three names were added during the year and one person moved away to be near his family. All are welcome to attend our regular services. The average Sunday attendance at the 10:30 am service was 35 adults and 4 children, but this number increased Significantly at Easter, Harvest and Christmas. We are also here to mark the milestones of life through worship. There has been l Baptism, no weddings and 3 funerals during the year. Each in their drfferent ways gives people the chance to thank God and ask for his blessin& so bringing human concerns before the divine. Those who no longer are able to come to church are not forgotten. A dedicated pastoral team visits the housebound in their homes. We have one care home in our parish which 55 visited when permitted, with residents being offered services at special tirnes. Home Communion is offered to our local housebound members. Our non-stipendiary assistant curate Rewd Anthea Mitchell (who is also a minister in secular employment) was very proactive in leading the worship team and irnplementing much of the worship. She also produced a weekly newsletter which covered a wide range of interests and concerns. Since Revd Anthea's licensing at St Andrew's Barming we have been reliant on a small team of visiting priests to preside at Holy Communion and the worship team has continued to produce a monthly newsletter. Gwyn McPherson ALM (Worship Leader) leads the Cafe Worship team and some lay seriices, and has significant involvement with Maidstone street pastors and Maidstone homeless. Jenny Clifton ALM (Pastoral Assistant) in addition to her pastoral ministry and assisting at Holy Communion co-led the Celtic services with Revd Anthea. She has continued to lead these services. Our prayer life continues to thrive. We hold a monthly after service prayer-time to pray for the life of the Church and for the needs of the local community. Jenny produces a prayer diary each week which gives the congregation and those who access our web-site a focus for their daily prayer. People are encouraged to include prayers for the environment and how the current situation is impacting the world around us. These prayers can also be included in Page2of6

st. PQ￿L'S Chblrch Boxley Road Maidstone our Sunday intercessions. We continue to encourage small church groups to pray for current 155ues and for anyone known to them who is in need of God's love and care. We are very fortunate that we have been able to maintain the life of the church during the interregnum but wish we could do more. Another round of interview5 took place at the end of November 2024 and at the end of this reporting period we were still waiting to be told the outcome. St Paul's and St Nicholas held joint prayers asking that after this long wait we would be welcoming a shared prie5t-in-charge early 2025 and our prayers have been answered. Ecumenical Relationshi We are open to ecumenical partnerships Wlth non-Anglican groups and churches. Maidstone Street Pastors continues to hold their licensing service at St. Paul's. Deane Two members of the PCC sit on the Deanery Synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the Church. St Paul's is also represented on the Deanery Environment Group. All churches in the deanery are working towards net zero carbon and the Maidstone Mission Mosaic concept: 'together we are more than the sum of our separate parts,. Church Fabric Maintenance of the buildings and equipment has continued to be our main drain on funds after the Parish share. Significant repair costs were incurred during the year for boiler repair and for attention to per51Stent electrical fault5 including power feed to the forced convection heaters, one of which needed a full motor rebuild. Water leaks from some of the flat roofs have been patched and the external baptistery wall has been partially repaired by a builder recommended by our new inspecting architect. We hope this relationship will develop in the future so that small and large repairs as they become necessary can be addressed quickly. St Paul's registered as an Eco Church through the charity A Roche UK, and this year gained its Bronze award. Following the Church of England's drive towards net zero by 2030 will prove to be challenging but we hope to explore steps towards reducing our carbon footprint wherever we can. Mission ond Evan elism Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. Members of St Paul's have continued to support Maidstone Homeless Care food bank through prayer and donations of food and money. We are grateful that a husband and wife from the congregation have continued to allow their house to be used as a collection point and they deliver the donations to food bank Also the Penenden Heath Uniform Bank, organised and run by another member, continues to operate from the church hall. A wide range of uniform items suitable for the local primary and secondary schools is available at no cost. Page3of6

st. pakL's ChbLroh Boxley Road Maidstone We endeavour to keep in touch with our worshipping community, hall users and the wider community by a variety of means. A weekly update is available by e-mail. as hard copy (in church and taken to those without electronic access) and on the church website. The website is a vital means of keeping everyone up to date and of passing on notices and news of events and is expertly managed by our Parish Administrator. Importantly there is a designated email link to our Parish Safeguarding Officer. Social Fundroisin and Outreach Events A number of church groups meet regularly providing full and varied programmes. Everyone is welcome and details are posted at church or on the church website. The social committee has provided a programme of social events for church members and the local community. These have been well supported and provided much needed funds for the church. The monthly baby and toddler group organised by three church rnembers has become firmly established and provides a safe play space for the toddlers and fellowship for the adults who bring them. The Craft group, Fellowship and Mothers, Union all continue to rneet monthly. A weekly Home Group provides an evening of fellowship. bible study and discussion and prayer. Planned Giving Planned giving occurs in different ways, by standing orders, bank transfer and in envelopes. There are few envelope givers remaining. We are very grateful for all methods of supporting the church financially. In 2024 the total for planned giving was £28,861 of which £2,515 was in envelopes. We have been able to claim gift aid on nearly all this sum. Using the Gift Aid Small Donation Scheme, we were also able to claim on anything in the open collection, including cashless giving, which is an individual gift of £30 or less. This is a very good scheme, but we encourage regular givers who are taxpayers to give using a standing order or envelopes. We are very grateful to all who give. Financial Review Planned giving reduced to £28,861 from £29,550 a reduction of 2.3% {2023 increase 6.6%). Collections at sendices increased from £2,542 to £3,447 an increase of 35.6%. The total for giving was £32.308 cornpared with £32,092 in 2023; an increase of 0.7%. Gift aid and gift aid on small donations receipts banked were £ £6,258 (2023 £8,524). £1,768 12023 £626) was outstanding on donations received in the year. Hall Income was £33.220 {2023 £32,912); a 9.4% increase. We are very grateful to our social/fundraising committee whose efforts raised a net amount of £1,480 {2023 £1,421). The most significant item of expenditure is the Parish Share, which was paid in full, at £34,859 (2023 £34,457). The cost is for ministry and central costs within Canterbury Diocese. Page4of6

st. Pa￿L'S oh￿￿0h Boxley Road Maidstone The payments for utilities at £9,961 include £1,424 as a deposit for electricity and gas. We have a fixed term contract for both until May next year. The notes on page 3 show details of collections for charities. interest and dividends, being split between unrestricted, restricted and endowment funds. The fabric fund is a designated fund rather than a restrirted fund. Repairs and maintenance to the property and boiler were £3.515 compared with £18,168 in 2023 when the car park was resurfaced. We are always alive to the fact that our 1970's building requires repairs and maintenance and when this is needed the costs can be substantial. We do not have sufficient unrestricted funds to enable improvements to be made. Excess receipts were £9,278 {2023 exce55 payments £3,177). The second page of the accounts identifies the movement of funds. At 31 December 2024 there was £48.508 {2023 £39,230) in current and deposit accounts. Fortunately the value of our investments increased to £80,475 (2023 £78.674) an increase of 2.3%. Adding gift aid recoverable and some delayed interest from CCLA. our total assets at 31 December 2024 amounted to £131.111 {2022 £118,696). Volunteers Members of our congregation take an active role as volunteers in many aspects of church and local community life. In particular we would like to mention our Churchwardens and the worship team who have taken on extra responsibilities during the interregnum. Structure, governance and management The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The council comprises the Incumbent. the Churchwardens. Assistant Curate. those elected to the Deanery Synod, and other members who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church meeting by those on the electoral roll. The PCC co-opted one member onto the PCC. AII church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance in the parish and for all financial matters. The full PCC met seven times during the year with an average level of attendance of 71%. Given its wide responsibilities the PCC has a number of sub-committees dealing with a particular aspect of parish life. These groups met between meetings and minutes of their deliberations were received by the full PCC and discussed where necessary with particular emphasis on worship, finance, fabric (including Eco church) outreach and mission. Administrative information St. Paul's Church is situated in Boxley Road, Maidstone. It is part of the Diocese of Canterbury within the Church of England. The correspondence address is St Paul's Church, Boxley Road. Maidstone. ME14 2AN. Page 5of6

st. p[i￿L'S Ch￿rGh Boxley Road Maidstone The PCC is a body corporate established by the Church of England. (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2￿6) and is registered with the Charity Commission. Registered Charity Number 1131270. PCC members who have served at any time from l January 2024 until the date this report was approved are: Ex Officio Members: Priest-in-chorge Re¢d Claude Gayle Chair from 24 March 2025 Assistant Curote Rewd Anthea Mitchell until 29 September 2024 Churchwordens Mr B Beswick Mr M Turner Vice-chair Deanery Synod Mrs R Riepma Elected members: Mrs J Clrfton Mr C Gillespie Mrs J Hud50n Mr P Hudson Mrs A Lewis Parish Safeguarding Officer Mr5 G McPherson ALM Worship Leader Mr A Riepma Mrs M Thomas Mrs J Turner ALM Pastoral Assistant Gift Aid Secretary th Reader Emeritus until 12 May 2024 PCC Secretary Co-opted Member: Mrs S Willmott Treasurer Non PCC member: Mrs C Kirrage Parish Disclosure Officer Approved by the PCC on 23 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by CthQ( ¢-wrr pcc Irice-chair PCC Treasurer Page6of6

IHEPARfKHIALCHUKHC(NMILI>IHEmESASIULPAAtyIc￿￿PAu￿mAlDsvL¥IE￿IW1tyReA￿t￿Qfft Ilo. 1131270} RECBPISANDPAYMBirs ForUye¥eryled31DEcenthr2024 Page I Note ilnre5tritte Fund5 Restricted Endowin Fun(ts Funds 2024 2023 REC&PTS Volunt¥yr¢ceiptsrewlw8t¥lt¥ Plann￿gIVIng Collectlon5 services Gift Pdd r￿0v￿￿￿ Gift Aid Small Donion Schwne £?8￿61.1￿1 £3.447.40 £5.491.84 £766.61 £38,566.85 £28,861.00 E3.447.40 £5.491.84 £766.61 £38.566.85 £29,550.00 £2.541.80 £7.932.88 £590.92 £40,615.60 otherTffjIU#￿Wlpts Sundrydonations and Leg&ie5 Dontionsforflowers 3a) £7￿.(KI £303.09 Im3.09 £790.thJ £2,515.50 £296.50 É2.81Z.00 £303.09 £1.093m eCelptsfromMtFesfory￿rn1twIUrnls Fund f￿￿n% SaleofHymn Book5 Hall Income 1.918.80 £2.570.(KI 33.219.92 £37.70&72 1.918A) £2.570.IJ) £33.219.92 £37,708.72 £1.551.10 £1,681.01 £32.912.04 f36.144.15 Recelptsfromthurchaethhies Parochi Fees& Charges Collectlon(slfDich¥ity £448.00 É448.LKI £80.60 £279.00 E48.00 £327.00 3bl £80.60 £80.60 £448.00 £528th0 Incomefrominvestrnents Interest Dividends 3cl 3d1 £1,375.21 £123.38 £IA9&59 f45.15 £2,060.51 £4105.66 f41_39 £1.461.75 £2,183.89 £3.645.64 £442.68 £2.150.50 £2.593.18 £4139 G¥ant 3el £2.100.00 Total recelpts £79.315.25 2,186.26 £41.39 £81.$42SO £84.591.93 PAYMEfiTS Parish Share Cler8y expense5 Miwon ￿¥￿￿￿andchaltydor1IOnS Oministration and(l&￿tneStaff1 Organist, Choir, etc. En￿¥V Audit Upkeep of￿}￿ceS Children'swork Flower5 Gift515ubsidies Fund raisn8ixp￿ses He3tin& Li8htiTh& etc Insur￿Ce Repairs& manIen￿te Hal Expense5etc F5for contac1less￿wnÈ￿d sdlinBbc4)ks minisrration & sundrie5 Parith web&te Independ￿t £34%59.IXI £34￿59.￿7 £34.457.00 3fj E3.130.50 £11.516.16 £620. £80.60 f3.211_10 £11.516.16 E620.(KI £2,687. £11.031.42 769.00 414. £557.10 £1,879.28 274.80 f 1.296.36 E148.99 £56.70 £101.34 £438.99 £9.960.85 £3.082_61 3.514.80 £1.780.00 f308.63 £926.91 £142.53 £300.00 £72,184.37 £1.296.36 148.99 £56.70 £101.34 £438.99 £9.960.85 £3,082.61 £3.514.80 £1,780.CKI £308.63 £926.91 £142.53 £300.00 £72264.97 3 £129.77 £10,020.20 £3,035.82 18,168.04 £2,783.62 £238.01 £905.28 £142.53 £276.00 £B7.768.87 3hl £80.60 ExcessofRecelptswerP••Mn £7.130.88 É2.105ffj6 £4139 £9277.93 1£3.176.941

P￿2 Note Re5trittwJ EndrF•mient nds nd5 Fund5 2024 2023 OpeningbalancÈs Mo¥un￿t abo4 Endowrn￿tfiJnd Clo%ngBal•ces £29.995.53 f 7.130.88 £41.39 £37.167.80 £8.439.00 £2.105.66 £795.06 £41.39 IE41.391 £795.06 £39.229.59 £9.277.93 £42.406.53 1£3.176.941 £10.544.66 £48,507.52 £39.229.59 Staiement DfAstsa￿ Llabilities Cash Funds CUrr￿lACcoUnt Le55fvndsheld on behalfofFeJlO￿thlp Cath in Hand Fabric Fund CoTrtinEfficy R￿erVeFVnd Ba15ton EndowmwLtFund ViC¥￿d Church w￿d￿j.$￿c0￿Trt LloydsdEPOYtxcount £6.626.03 (£131.42) E6.626.03 1£131.421 £2,322.62 1£131.421 £849.55 £27.871.94 £849.55 £27.871.94 £795.06 £895.92 £11.600.44 795.06 £ 48,507.52 £754.76 £26.635.66 £795.06 £850.77 £8,002.14 f39.229.59 £795.06 £895.92 £1.055.78 £10.544.66 f37.167.80 £ 10.544.66 £ 61ftAld ¥JGASDSre¢o%rablt CCLA Interestd Dl¥ldends £1.767.52 £340.96 £1.767.52 £361.04 £626.34 £165.44 £10.64 £9A4 IrThstmertA￿tsat mbEtvalue Assistant CILY8yand Randal Funds Fabric Fund continwcy ReserveFund £75.928.24 f 75.928.24 £1.995.95 E2,550.67 £8Q,474.86 £74.229.25 £1.951.29 £2,493.59 £78.674.13 £1.995.95 E2.550.67 £4.546.62 £75.928.24 NetAxeis £ 43.822.90 £ 86,483.54 £ 804.50 E 131.110.94 118,695.50 Appro¥•d by the PCC on 23 Apwll 2025 and sign•d on th•r b¢hall by Mark Tum•r PCC Vice Chaimi SwAn Wlllm(rtt

Note5 Page3 Thefin￿(la stwnentso1thePCCh￿be￿ prq)￿ed in &cOrd￿CeW1th theChurchkcountinE R4ulions2tJ)6 usingtheR￿￿1pts3nd Paym￿tsba5i& The￿(ovntshaVeb￿ pr￿￿1 unduthehistOTi(alcostcon¥thtionacg)tfDrihev4uifY) ofinwmeii aÉsEts. whl£h we OWft marketv4ue. TheEnd0wM￿1fvThd hasto beranLJ353c¥it31 fijnd. buttheincomei5fDrordinwychuith purwI5e5￿d Isp•d totheCurr￿t¥COUnt. FurthWPnalyysof￿e1pts￿d PMnwts Re¢elpts 3a) Therewereno14xle5r￿Va4 in2024 (2023 f Imll Unrtstricted Funds Rtstrictoj Endowmwt Funds Funds 2024 2023 3bl CollLrtionsloTchar¢tiÈs DEC Earthq￿ke appeal The Children's 5r￿iety £41.00 £7.00 E48.00 Unrict&J Funds Ratrirtat End0wm￿t Funds Funds 2024 2023 3cl Faric Fund ID&w)at& hjndl ContinKwcyRes¥veFund ston Endowmtnt Fund VScara)d Church Wden'sA£count Lloydsdw05itxcount 40.63 £1.236.28 £40.63 £1,236.28 £41.39 £45.15 £98.30 £1.461.75 £22.38 £361.33 £30_41 £26.42 £2.14 £442.68 £41.39 £45.15 £98.30 £1.375.21 £45.15 41.39 3d) Dividends sgstantclugy Fund & RTrdl Mucer Fabric FuTrd fijndl Contin￿¢vR￿￿veFund £2.060.51 £2.060.51 £54.16 £69.22 £2.183.89 £2.029.00 £53.33 £68.17 £2.150.50 f 54.16 £69.22 £123.38 £2.060.51 In previousyearsintffeA dI￿d￿d$•n theFa)ric Fund hebew includal in R¥trirtvJ FundL HOWe￿these￿?Y￿ts#reDeS1gn3t￿ Th than R￿trIcted in 2024 h3webew thown in iknreAfici&I Funds 3el Pknvants￿er￿￿yttI in 202412023 aGT•to1£2.1(M)wasrffei¥ed fr0m1heBththtTrL￿to￿￿dsthÉcost0fTepWrst0thec¥p#rkI Pownents Lknrestrirtftl Funds Rertriual Endowmwt Funds FvTrd5 2024 2Q23 3fl MI￿On &wn8and chaitydonion5 The Childrens S(xiety tEC- Earthqltske appeal Friends of Canterbury Cathedral k)melÈss Ca Maidstone Street Pasto (hurch Amiy Printe55 Project Matdstone Churthe5 Winter Shelter Family Tnist (Fndwiing CAST) Vinters valley ParkTnJst The United Soclety IUSPGI £105.50 f80.60 E186.10 £201.00 f41.00 £25.00 £i,000.(K> £250.00 £250.QO £250.LKI £250.(KJ £250.00 150.00 £20.00 £2.687. £2S.IJJ £1.250.(MJ £250.(KI £25.00 £1.250.00 £250_LX) £250.00 £5￿).￿] £S00.(MJ £250.(XI £250.00 £500.00 £500.LX) £250.￿) £3.130.50 £3.211.10 381 Children'swor lTrdudes£137for equipmentft¥ Bubblechurch P023ificlude5£1.762.38lane wv1cewhithctynm￿Ced0n Sunday 171031241 3hl Heatln8d Lightin8PWlthtsin clude£l.424.67 hdd bYCttopusEner￿Ltd•jrel￿trI(lty￿d rs& mant￿￿e Car parkrtsurfxin8d making Roofreparsandle EILYtrical repairs Wallingwd buildlnEreprs Boiler reprs £16,368.64 £1,408.20 £391.20 £2.068. £1.446.IX) E3.514.80 £2.068.80 £1,446.IKI £3.514.80 18,168.04 lfttere%t andd1￿d￿Dd9frQrn theknfjstam R•d41 Fund4hÈbuiltupin thecurr)txcountd h￿ebe￿ includd in the Lloyd5deposit x(ount mofwhich hIsbe￿¥10¢3t￿l torittal hjnds

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ST. PAUL’S CHURCH, MAIDSTONE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

I report on the accounts of St. Paul’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) for the year ended 31 December 2024, which comprise the Receipts and Payments Account and Statement of Assets and Liabilities and related notes set out on pages 1 to 4.

Respective responsibilities of members and examiner

The members are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The members consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

• examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;

• to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioner under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and

• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioner. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Parochial Church Council and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanations from you as members concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and, consequently, no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that in any material respect:

• the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

• the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or

• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of the accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement to show a ‘true and fair’ view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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

61 London Road J A GRIGGS FCA Maidstone LEVICKS Kent Chartered Accountants and Business Advisers ME16 8TX

25 April 2025