st. Pa￿L'S chKrGh Maidstone Trustees, Annual Report and Accounts 2025 Aim and Purposes 5t Paul's 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, evangelistlc, SOCi31 and ecumenical. Our Priest-in-charge the Rev'd Claudette Gayle's licensing took place at St Paul's Church on 24th March 2025. 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 Boxley Road, Maidstone. Objertlves and Activities The PCC seeks to serve our parish and the wider community in Maidstone and beyond in various ways. Our Vision Statement ref lects thi5= -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 discusses 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 everyone to grow in faith and live it oiit as part of our church community. As well as providing opportunitiesfor 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 activities 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 improve. We are pleased that the church complex was in use every day of the week by some 27 different groups of up to 50 people. We are pleased that since the licensing of Rev'd Claude, we have been able to serve within the educational community in a more meaningful way. Rev'd Claude has become a governoi of the local affiliated primary schools, North Borough Junior and St Paul's infant schools. Her role is further expanded by the incrÈased numbers of assemblies and community events, such as World Book day, Summer and Christmas fairs. St Paul's scout group Ibeavers & cubs) have made use of our clergy and building to complete their "Faith" badge and this is likely to be a yearly event. Page1of6 st. pabLL's ch￿rGh Safeguarding The PCC ha5 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 PCCS must have due regard to safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops Ithis will include both policy and practical guidance). 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 service at 10.'30am on Sunday mornings: Café Worship, All Age Family Communion, 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 u5. On the third Sunday of every month at 9.'30am we continued to hold Bubble Church. Those families that have joined us have been really engaged in this short puppet packed Jesus -centred service. Numbers have continued to vary throughout the year. At present there are 46 parishioners on the Electoral Roll, of which 18 live within the parish. All are welcome to attend our regular services. The average Sunday attendance in 2025 was 3 1 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 have been 2 baptisms, no weddings and I funeral during the year. Our priest has also conducted one cremation for a local parishioner. Each service in different ways gives people the chance to thank God and ask for his blessing, so bringing human concerns before the divine. Those who are no longer 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 is visited when permitted, with residents being offered services at special times. Home Communion is offered to our local housebound members. Gwyn McPherson ALM Iworship Leaderl lead5 the Café Worship team and some lay services, and has significant involvement with Maidstone Street Pastors and Maidstone Homeless Care. Jenny Clifton ALM IPa5toral Assistant) in addition to her pastoral ministry and a551Sting at Holy Communion has continued to lead some services. Our prayer life continues to thrive. We have jointly held a monthly prayer meeting with St Nicholas Allington, with whom we share our priest in charge. We afe looking to re-imagine this in 2026. 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 Clifton produces a prayer diary each week which gives the congregation and those who acce55 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 our Sunday intercessions. We continue to encourage small church group5 to pray for current issues and for anyone known to them who is in need of God's love and care. Page 2 of st. PQbLL's chbLrGh Ecumenicol Relationshi We are open to ecumenical partnerships with non-Anglican groups and churches. Rev'd Claude attends the Maidstone Christian Leaders Group which is responsible for organising the town wide carol concert at All Saints Church. This year 250 copies of The Greatest Storv Ever Told by Bear Grylls were distributed amongst the congregation. Deoner Two members ofthe PCC 51t 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 continue to work towards net zero carbon and the Maidstone Mission Mosaic. Church Fobric Maintenance of the buildings and equipment ha5 continued to be our main drain on funds after the Parish share. Once again costs were incurred during the year for some minor repair work. Following the discovery of woodworm infestation beneath the stage a full clean and treatment process was undertaken leaving the area free of woodworm. Patching of the flat roof above the meeting room has not proved successful so we are pursuing a competitive tendering process for a more substantial repair. This is ongoing at present. The energy audit subgroup has met with Alyne Godfrey (the carbon net zero advisor for Canterbury Diocese) and Kevin Tucker (the DAC secretary). They are providing information and advice to allow us to continue our drive towards improving the heating reliability at St Paul's church while taking advantage of any and all financial help in pursuing these goals with due regard to the diocesan aims of carbon reduction. Mission and Evon 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 gratef ul 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 the 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. 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 published by e-mail, as hard copy lin 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. Socityl Fundruisin ond 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. Page3of6 st. pa￿L'S oh￿rGh Maidstone The social committee has provided a programme of social events for church members and the local community. These have been well supported and have provided much needed funds for the church. The monthly Baby and Toddler Group organised by three church members 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 meet 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 supportin8 the church financially. In 2025 the total for planned giving was £25,003. 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 nything 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 giver5 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 £25,003 from £28,861 a reduction of 13.4%. Collections at services reduced from £3,447 to £2,911, a reduction of 15.5°A. The steep decline is of concern as we are not seeing new givers to replace those that have either passed away or left the area. Gift aid and gift aid on small donations receipts banked were £ £7,49812024 £6,258). An amount of £54912024 £1,768) was outstanding on donations received in the year. Hall Income was £34,99312024 £33,2201- 3 5.3% increase. We are very grateful to our social/fundraising committee whose efforts raised a net amount of £1,48012024 EI,4801. The most significant item of expenditure is the Parish Share, which was paid in full, at £36,53212024 £34,859). The cost is for ministry and central costs within Canterbury Diocese. The paynients for utilities were £5,662. The total of £ 9,960 in 2024 included £1,424 as 3 deposit for electricity and gas, which has been returned in 2026. We had fixed term contracts for both until May 2026. We have renewed with Octopus which provides competitive pricing alongside a greater proportion of green energy than many competitors. The notes on page 3 of the accounts show details of collections for charities, interest and dividends, being split between unrestricted, restricted and endowment fund5. The fabric fund is a designated fund rather than a restricted fund. Page4of6 st. Pa￿L'S ChKroh Repairs and maintenance to the property and boiler were £4, 170 compared with £3,515 in 2024. 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 £6,33112024 £9,278). Volunteers Many members of our congregation take an active role as volunteers in different aspects of church and local community life. In particular we would like to mention Brian Beswick who although he stepped back from the formal role ol churchwarden this year, willingly continues to carry out many of the duties and tasks. 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 Churchwarden5, those elected to the Deanerv 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. All 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 700kn. Given its wide responsibilities the PCC has a number of sub-committees each 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 emphasi5 on worship, finance, fabric (including Eco church) outreach and mission. Administrative information St. Paul's Church is situated in 8oxley 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. The PCC is a body corporate established by the Church of England. IPCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 20061 and is fegistered with the Charity Commission. Registered Charity Number 1131270. Page5of6 st. Pa￿L'S ChbLrGh PCC members who have served at any time from l January 2025 Ltntil the date this report was approved are: Ex Officio Members.. th Priest-in-charge Rev'd Claude Gayle Chair from 24 March 2025 Churchwordens Mr B Beswick Mr M Turner until July 2025 Vice-chair Deanery Synod Mrs R Riepma Elected members.. Mrsj Clifton Mr C Gillespie Mrsj Hud50n Mr P Hudson Mrs A Lewis Parish Safeguarding Officer Mrs G McPherson ALM Worship Leader, Parish Disclosure Officer from 21" May 2025 ALM Pastoral Assistant until Il, May 2025 Gift Aid Secretary MrA Riepma Mrsj Turner PCC Secretary Co-opted Member: Mrs S Willmott Treasurer Non PCC member.. Mrs C Kirrage Parish Disclosure Officer until 21, May 2025 th Approved by the PCC on 20 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by PCC Chair PCC Treasurer Page6of6 Pa¥el THE PARIXHIALCHURCHCOUNCILOFTHEECCLESIASTICAL PARISHQFSTPIUL. MAIOSTONEIChaiityAeii5tiationNo. 11312701 RECEIPT5AND PAYMEN ForthR year•nd•d310•c•rnbpr2025 Note Unf￿triCted R85tricted Endowment Fund5 2025 2024 ftECEIPTS olu￿tat¥re¢eimsrepJIw￿y1n8 £25.003.50 £25,003 50 £2.91L 30 £6.729.9S E28.861 £3.447.40 £S.491 84 £76661 fjift Aid iecovwe Gift Aid knall Dohation Scherne E6.729 95 £768 01 É35.41Z.76 É35,411.76 £38.565.55 OthÈrvoluntaryr•¢elpts ndiydonations and Legoties DontlOD5torllow¥S £205 00 £166 00 E20S.00 E790 00 f 166.00 £371.00 E371.00 El.093.09 Recelpt5tromarESvStlEsPJr8ener*ihgfvrtds El.678.OQ 1,678.00 El.025 00 £34.993 68 £37,696.68 EI.91B.$0 É2.570 00 SalÈofA¥mn Books Holl In(0411¢ 34 995.68 £37,696.68 £37,706.7Z £169.00 £169 00 l93 30 £448.00 £8Q.$0 £528.60 £169.00 £19a.30 £362.30 Incothefromlnvestrnents £L.408.08 £126.63 £1,534.71 É40.55 £35.39 £1.48fj.D2 É2.236.41 £3,720.43 E2.109.78 f2.150.33 E2.183.89 £3.64S.64 £JS.39 MISC￿laneOUS £35.00 £35.00 10t￿ receipt5 £75,219.15 E2,343.63 f35.39 E77.598.17 £81.54Z.90 PAYMENTS £36.531.99 £34.859.00 £374.32 £3,144.20 E12,384.79 E687 00 £3.337 50 AdministiJliDDandcle3nih8pwsonnel Or%anlSt.Choii. Organ etc. £687.00 620.00 UpkÈÈp0fS￿V1Ce￿ El.296 36 Ei4899 5670 £122 44 É25.00 2500 £198.24 £438 99 £9.)60 85 £5,661.65 £5.661 65 R¥air51 MaiThlen)Dt* H311 E￿￿enses£t¢ F*foi contactl￿SElvIn￿￿d sdlingbotsks £3.S14 £0 El.780.00 £308 63 £926 91 £1399 E706.SI £706.52 lfideppndÈfii ExamineTtee Tor4 payffjenls E30000 É72,264.97 É71.L73.36 E193.30 É71.266.66 ExtÈssofRoc*7iptsoverp*iikl¢nts E4,145.79 E2.L50 31 E35.39 E6.331.$1 £9.277.93 Prfe2 Note Unre&triited Re5trictod Endowmenl 2025 2024 OpfninBbdli)n¢ès MDvemeAEabove 37.167.8Q £10.544 66 £79$ 06 £35.39 E48.507.$2 £39.229 59 (lo￿ng￿lanCeS £41,348.98 É12,E94.99 E7Y5.06 ES4.139.03 £45.507.52 5tatementofA5Sèts*)d Llabllltles cash Funds £1.453.16 £6.626.03 £943.94 £943 94 £849.95 c¢ThtinR*lCV Re5erveFun B31&toTr Endowm￿11 Fynd VicarandChur¢h Warden'&Account Lloydsdep051t ￿count £29.133.30 £795 06 £936 47 E27.87l.94 E795.06 E895.92 ÉII.GOO 44 E48.507.52 £795 06 É41,348.9È £ L2.694.99 £ 795.06 E 54.839.03 GIftAldindGASDSreco¥erablE CCLA InterE5t Dlvldend5 É549.12 E549.11 Éa22.Q8 £1.767.52 £361.04 £304.55 £9.48 £8.05 Inve5tmEtItAs*tsat mwketv•lue £72.892.78 £72.892 78 £75.928 24 CotsiinEoncyRe5erveFund £2.448.69 É4,364.85 E2.448 bg É77.157.63 E72,892.78 £80,474.B6 NetAs5ets E 46.567.50 £ 85,597.25 £ 803.11 £ 132.967.86 Approved by thg PCC 20 Aprtl 2026 and signed on Ihelrbeham by Rev C Gayl• P¢C Chairrnan Sv5an Wlllmott Treasurer Pè8e3 Notés Thefinancial 5t3tEfftentsolthePCChavpbeenprep3fed InaccordaThrevJith theChuTchAECDyntiThgRegul&tions2ll06u￿￿gEheR¢cQ1pt53r Payments￿515 Thev3luatlDnolinve5tmenta55et53feiliown at maikelvalue TheEThdowmentfund ha5toberetapnedasacapilèl tund. bul theivcorneI5foiordinarychurch purp05e53ndispaidta thEcurrEnt account FuriherknalyysolRLfEiPtSandP¥vnWts ThErpweienO le8xiE%IEf wved In 202512024Nill Rostrictel Endowmefflt 2025 2024 £20.00 E140.00 £20 00 £14000 ftide and stride The Children'g s(￿let¥ E33.30 £193 30 UnfeStricted Re51ricted EDdowmpDt 2025 2024 |nlue51 f3¥ 64 E38 64 £1.26t 36 (35 29 E40 SS 63 CtyThtIn%QffttYR￿￿Dj0FUnd 8451on Endowm¢Tht Fvnd VichranttChufchWaiden'5kcouDg lloydSd￿4It atCDunt £35.39 141.39 40.55 £ios os £1.408.08 f9S 3 £40.55 L,484 Q2 E2.109.7E £2.iog y E2.060 51 CoiiliThgeficyRe5erve FUD £70.88 £12661 £70 88 £2.109 78 t2.183 89 Paymènts vnr￿￿r1Ct￿d tricled EDdowmenT FuThds 2025 2024 96.70 £317S0 E20D.UO E25.00 £s.w £850 E500.OD E130.00 E337 50 É2th) 00 E25. £145 Ih) £850 £500. £186 10 120 rAI MaidslonE Dv2nefY Friends of (anter)￿ry C3thedral Aide and Stride H¢mÈlÈss Care £25.00 £14D £1,250.00 £250 00 f250 90 prin￿$$ Project rvlaid5tone Churches Wintershelter E250.00 £250 00 E250.00 £250.00 Ésuo 00 E500 00 E250.00 £250.00 250 00 £150.00 £250.00 13,144 20 tiso.00 250.00 £3.337.50 Growini Hwe Maid510ne £193 30 3n Repairs& m￿ntenance1￿clUde5 Hiid5on Advitp. £900.00 £1,683 60 £292.92 £900.00 E292.92 £2.068 80 £1.446 00 Boilwrep￿rS f 1.293.63 1Thter￿taTrd￿IYldend5fvorntheA5￿Slanfc1eWw￿d Bandall MprcerFvnJs.andiht2r#StoAtheViciraThdchuiihwBrden5fundh4v¢bvilt ￿p1￿￿h￿ IINI)F.PF:N'I)F,NT F.XAMINER'S REPORT TO THF. mE.￿lRF.Rs OF ']". 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