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← The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Peter Chippenham

2024-12-31-accounts

AGM/APCM REPORTS ST PETER’S CHURCH, FROGWELL FOR YEAR 2024

(Registered Charity No 1131473)

Journeying together to share our Christian faith and the love of God with all’

May 2025

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODCTION BY REVD SIMON DUNN, PRIEST-IN-CHARGE PCC ANNUAL REPORT TO THE APCM

Appendix A – FoodBox Report Appendix B - Electoral Roll Report Appendix C - Church Warden’s Fabric Report Appendix D - Pastoral Care Report Appendix E - Financial Report & accounts Appendix F - Free Will Giving Report Appendix G- Deanery Synod Report Appendix H - Safeguarding Report

INTRODUCTION

In Matthew 16:18 you’ll recall that Jesus said over Peter “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

And in the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32 we read 3 “For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! 4 The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he”.

The latter is a poetic tribute to the greatness and faithfulness of God in which Moses eloquently articulates the character and works of God, laying a solid groundwork for comprehending His divine nature and picked up in this hymn by Don Moen:

Ascribe greatness to our God, the rock, his work is perfect and all his ways are just. {repeat}

A God of faithfulness and without injustice, good and upright is he. {repeat}

The former (Matthew 16:18) reminds us that the church is God’s idea. God’s plan. That HE will build it. And that the world around us will not overcome it.

This is the God we worship, respond in love to, serve and obey.

I remain overwhelmed by the welcome my family and I have received since arriving Feb 24. And I know Jason and Fran feel the same when they arrived in the summer.

You remain faithful, accepting, caring, and even “content” with my challenging a few things and stretching some of our ways of being. Thank you. I trust you value my willingness to listen, share and include too, as we prepare and act together for a positive future that includes newness, whilst also retaining much of what makes us who we are.

Our communities are served by a solid and faithful ministry team, for whom I am very thankful. Together we work hard in leading you and encouraging wide and shared engagement in both worship and missionary endeavours. You have reason to rejoice and be hopeful. There are WONDERFUL and BEAUITFUL and GODLY things and people all around us in both parishes. And you are included.

A small selection of what we have all achieved together in 2024.

✓ Fellowship and fun times with community events, fetes, BBQs, and shared lunches.

✓ Reimagining of worship and mission with the realignment and usage of our worship spaces, ECO Church, LIFE Groups, School connections, Mission Area involvement, accessible community worship and community engagement initiatives.

✓ Our dependence on prayer with the introduction of Sunday 9am prayers in St Peter’s and with more to come for 2025

You are PLAYING YOUR PART. Bless you. Thank you.

As we continue into 2025 and beyond. Bring it on Lord! I am, and we are, ready!

Yours in Christ

Si

Revd Simon Dunn Priest-in-Charge

Annual Report 2024 of the Parochial Church Council of St Peter's Church, Frogwell

Aim and Purposes

St Peter’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) and the Priest-in-charge, Reverend Simon Dunn (from February 2024), shared the responsibility of promoting the whole mission of the church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical in the ecclesiastical parish of St Peter’s, Frogwell. Simon’s installation as priest-in Charge for St Peter’s and also for Lacock and Bowden Hill ended the inter-regnum that started in March 2023 and thus the dissolution of the PCC Transition Team. Although we no longer have a priest solely dedicated to St Peter’s, we now have additional resources in both a self-supporting minister and a curate that ensures that we remain committed to enabling as many people as possible to ‘journey together to share the Christian faith and the love of God with all’. We want to keep in step with God’s Spirit in our worship, activities and future plans. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of St Peter’s Church and Church Community Centre, Lords Mead.

Objectives

Any person is welcome to worship at our church and to become part of the St Peter’s community. Our site brings people together for Christian worship, education and fellowship from diverse Christian cultures, including liberal, evangelical, sacramental/catholic and charismatic traditions or none.

Led by the priest-in-charge, church wardens, and leadership team, the PCC maintain an overview of life at St Peter’s Church to better serve our wider community. Acts of worship include prayer and scripture, music, sacrament, preaching and interaction. In the rest of our Church’s activities, we seek to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our Christian community through:

Achievements in 2024

Activity in 2024

Worship and prayer

St Peter’s Church has offered a range of services on a weekly, monthly and seasonal basis:

Anyone is welcome to attend any services. In 2024 there were 115 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll. The full revision of the roll in 2025 has resulted in a roll of 82. A full report is at Appendix B. Attendance at Easter stood at 56 and Christmas at 76.

The Kingfisher Messy Church initiative remains suspended at present, but the hope remains for its reinstatement if resources permit. However, relations with the neighbouring St Peter’s Academy have regained vibrancy through monthly services in church and special experience days as well as the introduction of Class assemblies, where each class receives the vicar once a fortnight within their classroom for an act of worship. The relationship with the Lordsmead Playgroup has also been renewed and reinvigorated.

With the departure of Revd Alice Kemp to other Diocesan duties, Simon has also taken over responsibility for the LIGHT (monthly worship led by an ecumenical team for people with special needs) with attendance of 20-30.

Again, there were no weddings in the church, although we read banns for weddings in other churches. There were 3 baptisms and 10 funeral services conducted in the church in 2024.

Cornerstone Project

The PCC has continued to monitor all developments relating to the significant challenges of concrete cancer throughout the church structure. More detail on this is contained in the Fabric Report of the Church Warden at Appendix C.

Partnerships and Centre Users

The Lordsmead Playgroup has maintained its operations in both the Hall, Harris Room and the meeting room when required. It had 76 children enrolled as of July 2024 and is looking to expand its hours to meet community demand.

The ‘Distinctively Christian’ input to St Peter’s C of E Academy continued with Collective Worship in the church led by clergy and a reinvigorated presence in its activities. Clergy participation in the governance of the academy has been renewed with Simon’s appointment as a governor.

Our hirers have included CLOGs, WWT, Deanery & Diocese, as well as parents & toddlers, uniformed groups and exercise classes as well as family community events. Unfortunately we saw the departure of the Chippenham Male Voice Choir and a keep fit class from our hirers.

Pastoral care

A separate report on our pastoral care activities have been submitted for the APCM (Appendix D). Other groups who contribute to our pastoral support, such as Friendship Lunch and the Ladies Guild, men’s activity over meals, coffee and walking; and the Choir remain active. Other pastoral initiatives included the church BBQ, held in the vicarage garden for the first time in many years which was blessed with excellent weather and was appreciated by all concerned. A Harvest Lunch funded by donations was also held and a Poems and Puddings Night which contributed to church funds.

Mission

In a continuing demonstration of our faith, we responded directly to need this past year, exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis, through our award-winning FoodBox initiative. We also maintained support for many charities: Leprosy Mission, Christian Aid, Send-a-Cow, Stroke Association, Doorway, Food Bank, Cancer Research, Sightsavers, Embrace the Middle East and Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust.

Ecumenical Relationships

The church remains a participating member of Chippenham Churches Together (CCT), but it remains a fragile structure. The Chippenham Mission Area Plan will seek to engage more closely with CCT as it develops its various initiatives.

Volunteers

We thank all who have worked so hard over the interregnum and the successful appointment of a new Priest-in-Charge. The pool of those able to actively support events and initiatives currently remains limited but they have given freely of their time and energy, maintaining the welcoming and friendly character for which the church is particularly noted and encouraging a positive attitude to change in order to achieve growth. We remain ever hopeful and expectant for what the future holds. We greatly appreciate all involved from: administrators, rota members, cleaners, flower-ladies, sacristy/servers, the PA team, welcomers, music & arts, treasury, and other unnamed contributions that are so essential to community. Thank you all for what you do.

Charitable Status

The PCC takes note of the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion in setting the framework of its public accountability, and in particular this annual report.

Financial Review

A full Financial Report together with Audited Accounts for 2024 have been submitted and are incorporated at Appendix E . These represent the translation of church activities into financial terms. The Freewill Offering Report is at Appendix F.

We have maintained our policy of keeping a £8,000 minimum reserve in line with Diocesan and Charity Commission guidance. Following a return to relative normality post Covid and the removal of some future uncertainties, we reviewed our previous decision to restrict our Parish Share to the diocese. The decision was taken to meet our 2024 requested pledge in full given the much-reduced request was made, reflecting the fact that the church would now be part of a benefice and share ministerial costs with Lacock and Bowden Hill.

Structure, governance and management.

The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is a Registered Charity. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Peter's the membership of the PCC consists of the clergy, churchwardens, any licensed lay minister, deanery synod representatives and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. All the baptised who attend services at St Peter’s are encouraged to register on our Electoral Roll and are welcome to stand for election to the PCC.

PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the church and parish. New members receive initial briefing and support as to the workings of the PCC and sign standard terms of reference. All are required to undertake the national church’s mandatory safeguarding training.

Officers of the PCC include a church warden, treasurer, and parish secretary and they are ably assisted by other members of the Leadership Team, that in addition to clergy, can consist of other nominees of the PCC each year.

Given its wide responsibilities, the PCC has various ways of dealing with particular aspects of parish life. Groups and individuals address worship, safeguarding, Cornerstone, finance, premises, outreach and pastoral issues, all responsible to the PCC and reporting back to it as necessary.

The PCC and the Leadership Team each met 6 times in 2024. The AGM/APCM was held on 12[th] May 2024.

Links

The Priest-in-charge participated in Diocesan and Deanery life as well as in Chippenham Churches Together and following his induction was the PCC’s link as ex-officio Governor for St Peter’s C of E Academy.

Deanery Synod

The church had no Deanery Synod representatives during the year. Our Church Warden remained in her role as Deanery Secretary and member of the Deanery Leadership Team. This continued to ensure necessary information flows and co-ordination with wider deanery thinking and planning, especially in regard to the development of the Chippenham Deanery Mission Area Plan. The work of the Synod is covered in a separate APCM report (see Appendix G).

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and Inclusion informs all aspects of our ministry at St Peter’s as we have ‘due regard’ to the House of Bishops’ guidance. Information of who to contact in case of a Safeguarding Concern, or for advice about procedures and good practice in the parish and the diocese, is published in the foyer of the Church. St Peter’s Church operates with both a Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO), Bev Webb, and an Assistant Safeguarding Officer, Joan Taylor-Gunston. Caroline Masters continued as our DBS Validator.

St Peter’s PCC has agreed policy guidance for parish safeguarding, safer recruitment, and response to safeguarding concerns or signs of domestic abuse. The PCC has also adopted the national statement of the House of Bishops ‘Promoting a Safer Church; safeguarding policy statement’ in our parish safeguarding policy. Safeguarding is a standard item on all PCC agendas. ( A safeguarding report for the APCM is at Appendix H).

St Peter’s PSO input to the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard to monitor performance and progress against national standards and requirements. Progress continues to be made and this year we raised our standard from level 2 to level 3. All PCC members have completed the mandatory basic and foundational training on safeguarding. We shall continue to work towards full compliance in 2025.

Administrative Information

St Peter’s Church is situated at Frogwell, Chippenham. It is part of the Diocese of Bristol within the Church of England. The correspondence address is St Peter’s Church, Lords Mead, Chippenham SN14 0LL. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006) and a charity registered with the Charity Commission (Reg No. 1131473)

PCC members who served at any time from 1 January – 31 December 2023:

Ex-Officio members:
Priest in Charge:
Associate Minister
Curate
Church warden:
Deanery Synod
representatives:
Elected members:
Co-opted Member		 Revd. Simon Dunn (from February 2024)
Revd. Lynne Godfrey (from April 2024)
Revd. Jason Lee (from August 2024)
Mrs Vivienne Fuller
No representatives.
Mrs. Daphne Brindle (Deputy Chair)
Mrs Sue Burt
Mrs Elisabeth Davies
Mr. Ivan Hurcum
Mr Matthew Hurcum (Treasurer)
Mr. Christopher Gough
Mrs Gill Perkins (from May 2024)
Nigel Fuller (Secretary)
Bev Webb (Safeguarding Officer)

Approved by the PCC and signed on their behalf by Revd. Simon Dunn (PCC Chair)

==> picture [482 x 47] intentionally omitted <==

Revd. Simon Dunn

25 April 2024

Appendix A

FoodBox: Review of 2024

Background:

The FoodBox project collects surplus food from local stores, supplements this with purchased food, and distributes to those in need throughout the area. The project runs under the auspices of the PCC and operates in partnership with the wider community across Chippenham and its surroundings. It is wholly run and supported by volunteers from many churches across the area, as well as volunteers from the local community with no church affiliation. The FoodBox Strategy Team are required to submit 6 monthly reports to the PCC on their activities. This review is composed of the two reports submitted in 2024.

Jan to Jun 2024

Highlights

Headwinds

Timeline

Operational numbers

Finances

July to Dec 2024

Highlights

Chair people - Cath, Caroline, (Charlie in support) Collections - Jill - Buying Linda & Angie Packing - Caroline Delivery - Cath Admin - Alex Finance - Iain

Operational Details

Finances

Arnold Clark Wiltshire County Council Chippenham Borough Lands Wessex Water Wiltshire Community Foundation

On behalf of the FoodBox Strategy Team

2024

Appendix B

REPORT ON THE ELECTORAL ROLL FOR ST PETER’S, FROGWELL AGM/APCM 2025

Every 6 years, all Church of England churches must complete a new electoral roll. The purpose of this refresh is to ensure each church is accurately reflecting its membership. 2025 is the start of the next 6-year period.

Over the previous 6 years, St Peters had counted 116 people on its electoral roll. However, by the end of the period, 6 people had passed away or moved away from the parish. This left 110 people remaining on the roll. Of these 110 people, some where not expected to reenrol due to changes in their personal circumstances.

The new roll was conducted between 23[rd] February 2025 and 6[th] April 2025. In line with the requirements of the Church of England, all 110 people were contacted, and announcements were made in service between 23[rd] February and 5[th] March (inclusive). As a result of the invitation to re-enrol, St Peters now has an electoral roll of 82 people, including 5 new members.

Of the 82 people on the roll, 58 people are a member of the Church of England, or of a church in communion with the Church of England, and resident in the parish. This represents 70% of the members.

Inline with the Church of England rules, the full list of people (names only), has been posted in the narthex since 19[th] April 2025.

Mr Christopher Gough Electoral Roll Officer

April 2025

Appendix C

APCM CHURCH WARDEN’S (PREMISES) REPORT: INCLUDING CORNERSTONE – 2024

Introduction

This has been another year in which I, as a singleton church warden, have been blessed with the support of many within our church community in ensuring the maintenance, safety and – when possible – the improvement of our facilities. I am most grateful to that dedicated band of volunteers who have gone above and beyond in offering their time, energy and expertise to benefit others both with regards to our congregation and the wider community.

The Peter Window

When I last reported to you on this issue we had just undergone the tender exercise to replace the Peter Window mullions on a like-for-like basis. This had resulted in a single compliant bid, but with uncertainties about the sole specialist concrete caster being able to achieve the requirement and coming in at an unaffordable price - £300K+. We therefore sought guidance from the Diocesan Advisory Committee in January on the way ahead. To achieve a more affordable solution we obtained their agreement to explore the possibility of using alternative materials to concrete for the replacement, such as steel/aluminium, stone or wood. Specialist bodies – Historic England the Church Building Council and 20[th] Century Society – had to be approached due to the church’s heritage listing to see if they would be content with such an approach. This took some time, but no adverse comments were received. We had concurrently asked our architects to do some preliminary work and then commissioned a full feasibility exercise in June.

Due to the slow response time of certain suppliers, the study was not completed until September. The results were not conclusive as to a best option although stone offered perhaps the best option. However, the PCC were concerned at the use of a material not found elsewhere in the building and at the still high cost involved of £200K+. We shared the conclusions with the DAC and sought informal guidance on the way ahead. As a result, we decided to explore a curtain wall solution with an aluminium frame, coloured to match the current décor, as this appeared to offer the best chance of affordability and longevity. High hopes of finding a commercial frame maker to meet our requirements were soon dashed with few being prepared to take on the complexity of our task when simpler, quicker and equally profitable options were available to them elsewhere in the marketplace. Nevertheless, we did find two potential contractors prepared to pursue the scheme. However, it soon became apparent that a major cost driver was the removal of the glass by conservation approved contractors and the need for bespoke frames given the glass’ nonstandard size. To get costs back to a level where the majority of the funding can be found from within our own resources will probably require that we replace the peter Window with a

standard frame and double-glazed units and store the Roper glass for display in an alternative way at a later date. We are currently exploring this option with the Diocese. The only alternative would otherwise appear to be the removal of the window and its boarding up. However, we remain hopeful that we can convince all concerned that the proposed solution is viable and that we can generate the lower level of grants necessary for its achievement.

New Projects to Improve Facilities

Once again, we have sought to improve our facilities for the benefit of our community users. This has included:

Regrettably we did lose a major user of our facilities with the departure of the Chippenham Male Voice Choir who moved their rehearsals elsewhere – not due to any shortcoming on our part, but purely the geographical convenience of their current members. Similarly, our hirer for keep-fit moved premises. We wish them all well. However, it does emphasise the need to ensure that our facilities remain attractive to potential hirers given its considerable contribution to church funds.

Ongoing tasks

Other ongoing significant areas of maintenance covered during the year included:

contractor in, the following day a violent storm revealed that the flat roof leak that we thought had been fixed, had not and we were back where we started. There have been other storms since and further flat roof repairs. Hopefully we will see matters resolved in 2025.

We will continue, wherever it is justified, to seek to reduce or maintain our costs to ensure that we are getting the most from the resources available to us.

Conclusion

The cost of general maintenance over the course of 2024, not including Cornerstone, amounted to nearly £10K. Total running expenses including maintenance came to nearly £38K. We have incurred more costs to get us to the current stage with the Peter Window where a solution is tantalisingly close. This considerable expenditure over many years has, however, been necessary to convince the powers that be that options are indeed limited and that the threat to the Roper heritage is a real and present danger.

Looking after this complex will not, I am sure, see the number of challenges it poses reduce. However, I am hopeful that at the coming APCM I will not be left to face them alone. My prayerful hope is that, during 2025, we can at long last see our anxieties over the Peter Window removed. Its artistry has been both a blessing and a burden and its drain on our resources an inhibition to growth.

April 2025

Vivienne Fuller Church Warden

Appendix D

Pastoral Work at St. Peter’s Church Chippenham for year 2024.

At St. Peter’s the Pastoral Team aim to co-ordinate the care of the St. Peter’s Church Family.

During the year our team has comprised six members. We welcomed Rev Lynne Godfrey and Rev Simon Dunn to our team. In compliance with Diocesan requirements, all have completed the necessary courses and checks.

What do we do?

We meet each month to review and plan our actions. Communication between, commitment to and support for each other is essential for us as a team. Confidentiality is most important.

Our work is very varied. We aim to respond promptly to those who contact us. People may need support for a short while or it may be over a prolonged period, or just need someone to talk to. We continue to support those who are no longer able to attend church services, our message being ‘we the church still care about you and have not forgotten you’. The important ministry of Home Communion is available, monthly, to those who ask.

As we can spend a considerable amount of time, visiting people in their own homes, it is vitally important to be able to develop ‘trusting relationships’ not only with them but also with their families/carers.

We take people regularly for Doctors’, Dentists’ and Hospital Appointments.

Wherever possible we visit people in hospital and inform the Hospital Chaplain of their stay.

Visits have been made to Cepen Lodge, Middlefields and Avon Court Care Homes

Our ‘card ministry for a diversity of occasions’, expresses our care to many.

We provide support where necessary for bereaved families by visiting and sending cards of condolence. In November we organise a ‘tea’ (immediately before a Remembering Service) for families who have held a funeral in church or at the crematorium during the previous 3 years. This is well received.

We thank you for your continuing support and appreciation of our ministry both in practical ways and in prayer.

March 2024

Daphne Brindle Pastoral Team Leader.

Appendix E

St. Peters Church

LORDS MEAD, CHIPPENHAM, SN14 0LL

Journeying together to share our Christian faith and the love of God with all.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Year ended 31 DECEMBER 2024

CHARITY NUMBER 1131473

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity name: St. Peter’s Church Chippenham
Charity number: 1131473
Principal office
address:		 St. Peter’s Church
Lords Mead, Chippenham, Wiltshire
SN14 0LL
Charity trustees at
date of approval:		 Ex-Ofcio members:
Priest in charge:
Associate Minister
Curate
Dep. Chairperson:
Church wardens:
Treasurer:
Deanery Synod
representatves:
Elected members:
Co-opted members:		 Rev. Simon Dunn
Mrs Lynne Godfrey
Jason Lee
Mrs. Daphne Brindle
Mrs. Vivienne Fuller
Mr. Mathew Hurcum
none
Mrs. Daphne Brindle
Mrs. Sue Burt
Mr. Ivan Hurcum
Mr. Chris Gough
Mrs Gill Perkins
Mrs Lis Davis
Mr Nigel Fuller (Secretary)
Bev Webb (Safeguarding Ofcer)
Former charity
trustees who served
during the financial
year:

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Financial Review

Summary:

“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.”

(Wilkins Macawber, David Copperfield by Charles Dickens)

Last year’s summary was overshadowed by the reporting of declines in our income from both renting out our rooms and of voluntary giving, resulting in an overall decline in our funds. I am happy to report that over the course of 2024, we are £1,581 better off (approximately 1%) and we have met the Diocese Parish Share request in full. The increase in the regular giving seems to be continuing in 2025. Clearly this should result in happiness according to Mr Macawber!

A note about Restricted and Unrestricted Funds

A Restricted Fund, of which we have six, can only be used for the purpose of that fund. For example, if a donor gives money for Foodbox, that money is credited to the Foodbox Restricted Fund and can only be used for buying food for Foodbox. Unfortunately, wo(men) cannot live on bread alone, the insurance premiums, and waste collection, along with a multitude of other necessities, also need to be paid. For this we need to rely upon the faithful generosity of those who give unconditionally (unrestricted) to the church. To those people, thank you very much.

Although on initial inspection of the figures it may look as if we have a lot of money, the vast majority of it is tied up in various restricted and designated funds (96%), leaving only £6,188 with which to do as we please.

Over the past few years it has been common practise to allocate 5% of rental income to the Fabric Fund. Despite also allocating 10% of the sale of Sheldon Road to the Fabric Fund, this has proved to be an inadequate amount, even just to cover essential repairs, such as the boiler failure or the repair needed to the back door. Consequently, we have decided to start allocating 10% of rental income to the fabric fund.

During 2024 we also started an Energy Designated Fund. This was in response to wildly inaccurate estimated bills from our Electricity provider, irregular billing from our gas supplier and the usual seasonal fluctuations in energy usage. We prudently allocated £700 a month, now that the full year has completed, £4,000 has been returned to unrestricted funds and the monthly allocation reduced to £550.

Income: Our income sources are primarily from voluntary unrestricted giving (£38,583 (£38,295 in 2023)) and the renting out of our rooms (£34,190 (£32,150 in 2023)). Encouragingly, we have not seen so many people leave us this past year and indeed have added to the number of people contributing. Hence I remain upbeat regarding our income for 2025.

Expenditure: As last year, our big expenditure items were Parish Share (£42,861 (£39,600 in 2023)), electricity (£1,330 (£9,700 in 2023), repairs and maintenance (£10,327 (£16,200 in 2023)) and cleaning costs (£15,473 (£13,400 in 2023)). The outlook for the coming year is to increase our income from room rentals, and our giving, to give us a little extra finance to share our Good News throughout the community, providing a vibrant and attractive focal point for our work.

Parish Share :

Last year we pledged to meet the Dioceses request for £42,860 in 2024. We met this target. 2025’s request is for £43,003, a very reasonable 0.3% increase. We intend to pay in full again this year.

FoodBox at St. Peter’s : It is unfortunate to report that this service remains necessary. Indeed, a waiting list has developed. Income from grants and donations topped £28,900 in the past year with expenditure at£27,964. Mr Macawber is happy for them.

Cornerstone Fund : The Cornerstone fund has remained static over the year, earning a modest amount of interest (£6,504), largely balanced by various professional fees (£3,547). The looming expense of the Peter Window will be our biggest financial concern for the foreseeable future.

Conclusion: There are signs that we may have started turning a corner. Last year my conclusion to the annual report was ‘concerning’ as we were running a slight deficit. This year we turned a modest surplus and I am full of hope. How fine is the line between misery and happiness to which Mr Macawber alludes.

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

I would like to thank all those who have helped the Treasury team this year, with particular thanks to Ivan Hurcum for his continued weekly processing of any income to St Peters and the annual Tax Reclaim from the taxman. But my biggest thanks goes to those of you who contribute to the life of St Peters, not only those

who give financially so generously, but also those who give their time, talents and prayers to this community. Without this we would be poor, no matter what our balance sheet states.

Matthew Hurcum PCC Treasurer

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM : Donations and Legacies Regular giving Receipts from donors

Unrestricted Fund Unrestricted Fund Unrestricted
Designated
Fund		 Unrestricted
Designated
Fund		 Restricted
Funds (Note
8)		 Restricted
Funds (Note
8)		 Restricted
Funds (Note
8)		 Total 2024 Total 2024 Total 2024 Total 2024 Total
2023
Plannedgiving £24,274 £1,125 £25,399 £24,464
Collectons other than planned
giving		 £6,092 £80.00 £6,172 £5,851
Income tax recovered £8,218 £1,206 £9,424 £8,105
Grants £5,478 £500 £5,978 £4104
£44,061 £500 £2,411 £46,972 £42,524
Other Donatons and Legacies
(note 2)		 £2,932 £27,037 £30,570 £19,434
Income from Charitable Actvites
(note 3)		 £2,979 £70 £3,049 £3,922
Other TradingActvites(note 4) £35,180 £601 £35,180 £34,074
£41,091 £70 £27,638 £68,799 £57,430
Total Deposited into Bank £85,152 £570 £30,049 £115,771 £99,954
Income from Investments (note
5)		 £352 £6,504 £6,856 £4,037
Total Income and Endowments £85,504 £570 £36,553 £122,627 £103,992

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

EXPENDITURE ON:

EXPENDITURE ON:
Unrestricted
Fund		 Unrestricted
Designated
Fund		 Restricted
Funds
(Note 8)		 Total 2024 Total 2023
Expenditure on Charitable Actvites
(note 6)		 £29,299 £29,2991 £2,754
Parish Share £42,861 £42,861 £39,600
Other Expenditure(note 7) £36,484 £7,882 £4,770 £49,137 £64,518
Total Expenditure from Bank Account £79,345 £7,882 £34,069 £121,296 £106,872
Unrestricted
Fund		 Unrestricted
Fund		 Unrestricted
Designated
Fund		 Restricted
Funds
(Note 8)		 Restricted
Funds
(Note 8)		 Total 2024 Total 2023
Net income/(expenditure) £6,160 (£7,312) £2,484 £1,331 (£2,880)
Transfers between funds £1,274 £9,900 (£11,174) £0
Net movement in funds £7,434 £2,588 (£8,690) £1,331 (£2,880)
Add back net movement in unpresented
cheques(note 8)		 £0 £0 £0 £0
Net Assets 1st January £4,703 £8,000 £141,298 £154,001 £156,881
Net Assets 31st December £12,137 £10,588 £132,608 £155,332 £154,001

Notes:

1 In previous years Foodbox expenditure was listed under ‘Other Expenditure’. This accounts for the shift in expenditure to ‘Expenditure on Charitable Activities’ from ‘Other Expenditure’.

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

~~re~~ Restricted &
Unrestricted
Funds
~~ee~~		 Total 2024
~~ee~~		 Total 2023
~~ee~~
Cash Funds
~~re~~		 ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~ ~~ee~~
HSBC current account
~~re~~		 £8,206
~~ee~~		 £8,206
~~ee~~		 £19,057
~~ee~~
HSBC deposit account
~~re ~~		 £19,102
~~ee~~		 £19,102
~~ee~~		 £11,250
~~ee~~
CCLA Investment Fund £128,339 £128,339 £123,759
Cash Floats £85 £85 £85
Total Assets £155,732 £155,732 £154,151
Liabilities £4002 £400 £1501
Net Assets £155,332 £155,332 £154,001

2 £400 held in trust for The Leprosy Mission.

The attached notes on pages 5 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

Approved by the PCC 24[th] April 2025 and signed on their behalf by Rev Simon Dunn (PCC Chair) and Nigel Fuller (PCC Secretary)

Rev Simon Dunn (PCC Chair)

Nigel Fuller (PCC Secretary)

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

1. Notes

The PCC is committed to maintaining an £8,000 minimum reserve representing three months essential expenditure, which is held within the HSBC current and deposit accounts. The level of the minimum reserve will be decided annually by the PCC. It is a requirement to have a contingency plan to restore funds to the minimum reserve level should ever the situation arise.

(iv) Assets recognised but not valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities include:

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

2. Other donations and legacies

2024 2024 2024 2023 2023
To Restricted Funds:
Cornerstone Fund donatons £160
AED Fund(from Wednesdaycofee income) £601 £495
LIGHT service £448
FriendshipLunch £100
Wiltshire Council for “Foodbox” £15000 £5,000
Borough Lands for “Foodbox”(3grants) £2700 £3,500
Chippenham Lions for “Foodbox” £1,520
Suton Benger Beer & Sausage Festval for
“Foodbox”		 £1,500
St Andrews PCC for "Foodbox" £500 £500
NeighbourlyGrant for "Foodbox" £1000 £1,000
Arnold Clark communityfund for "Foodbox" £2500
Wiltshire CommunityFoundaton for "Foodbox" £3000
Rowde CommunityShopfor "Foodbox" £637
Staton Hill Baptst Church for "Foodbox" £200
Other donors for “Foodbox” £1340 £2,654
£27,638 £16,717
To Unrestricted Funds:
Craf Day £37
Angela Hurcum(Marmalade sales) £57
Daphne Field(cards) £103
Bev Webb(Sale of Christmas Cakes) £165
Sale of Votve candles £91
Keynenburg& Morgan £100
Collecton for Andrew’s LeavingPresentaton £606
Bequests(TerryBate) £1,000
SundayCofee Fund net £485
Other donatons £73
Collecton from funeral of Z Williams £38
Donaton from Toddlers £96
Donaton from Lunch Club £200
Donaton from Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust £163
Donaton from St Cyriacs(Simon’sparty) £514
Remnants of Flower fund £22
In Memoryof…Pitchfords £400
In Memoryof…Tolcher £500
In Memoryof…Thompson £1000
£2,932 £2,717
Total £30,570 £19,434
3. Income from Charitable Actvites
2024 2023

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Fundraising forgeneralpurposes
Summer fete(BBQ) £998 £730
Funeral collectons for St. Peter’s Church
(Kath Bollen)		 £80
Use ofphotocopier £1
Poems,Puddings and Punch £330
Harvest Lunch £231
Rock Around the Christmas Tree £140
Wedding/Banns Fees £162
Funeral Fees £1,118
£2,979 £811
Fundraising for specifcpurposes
EnergyFund(part of Funeral Fee) £50
ClergyExpense Fund(part of Funeral Fee) £20
Christan Aid See Note
at end of
Accounts		 £25
Sight Savers £195
Send a Cow(The Ripple Efect) £409
LeprosyMission £308
Embrace The Middle East £75
Funeral donatons for charites £515
Wiltshire Historic Churches £236
DorothyHouse(D. Pitchford) £251
Guide Dogs Blind
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Insttute
McMillan Cancer
Acton on Poverty
Cancer Research £296
Ride & Stride £473
Alzheimers Research(V. Adcock) £278
Stroke Associaton £50
£70 £3,111
Total £3,049 £3,922

4. Other trading

4. Other trading
2024 2023
Lord’s Mead Playgrouprent £23,201 £20,052
Other Hall Letngs £10,989 £12,098
SundayCofee £797
Votve Candle sales £142
Homemadegoods £51
Wedding/Banns Fees £99
Funeral Fees £1825
£35,180 £34,074

5. Income from investments

Unrestricted

Restricted

2024

2023

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Designated
Funds		 Funds
Interest on CBF Account £6,504 £6,504 £3,894
Interest on Deposit Account £352 £352 £143
£6,856 £4,037

6. Expenditure on charitable activities

6. Expenditure on charitable actvites
2024 2023
Send a Cow(The Ripple Efect) See Note
at end of
Accounts		 £409
Sight Savers £120
Christan Aid £25
Embrace Middle East
Prostate Cancer UK(John Webb) £202
LeprosyMission £308
MacMillan Nurses £296
Wiltshire Historic Churches £473
Dementa UK(Jean Robbins) £55
DeanerySynod subscripton £30
Dorothy House (Jean Robbins/Dorothy
Pitchford)		 £306
Alzheimer’s Associaton(Violet. Adcock) £278
Wiltshire Air Ambulance(John Webb) £202
Stroke Associaton £50
Foodbox Expenses £28,758
Light Service Expenses (Transport for
Disabled)		 £541
Total £29,299 £2,754

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

7. Other expenditure

7. Other expenditure
2024 2023
Clergy Expenses1
Expenses £2,403 £111
Visitng preachers £736 £1,366
Other Service Costs £140
£3,279 £1,477
Benefce fees £518 £393
Church Maintenance and Running Expenses
Electricity £1,330 £9,827
Gas £4,150 £0
Insurance £2,154 £2,121
Grass cutng £600 £650
Repairs and maintenance £10,327 £13,882
Imperial CleaningServices £15,473 £14,666
Refuse collecton £1,051 £975
Fire extnguishers £316 £642
Chair Cleaning £520
Boiler Servicing £198 £102
LED Replacement Lightng £234
LighteningConductor Test £72
Defbrillator Service fee £2,160
£37,759 £43,690
Church Management and Administraton
Photocopier costs £1,554 £1,135
Statonery £82 £110
Computer and sofware £457 £848
Telephone £403 £717
Contactlessprocessingfees £11 £1
Bank charges £141 £157
Confdental Shredding £10
Hospitality £275
DeaneryFees £60
Total £2,991 £2,967
Support costs
Altar Requisites £263 £241
Service books/music £95
Candles/bateries etc £74 £145
Flowers expenses £23
Copyright fees £396 £416
Organ and Piano tuning
Organist fees

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Verger fees
Kitchen Equipmentpurchases £394
First Aid Courses £24
Other £309 £421
Pastoral Commitee expenses
LIGHT service(H)expenses £712
Foodbox(I)expenses2 £7,732
Cornerstone Expenses £3,547 £4,124
Presentaton to Rev Andrew Gubbins (outgoing
incumbent)		 £614
Church Times Advertsement £1,050
£4,589 £15,597
£49,137 £64,124

1: The increase in Clergy expenses is due to the end of our interregnum and appointment of a new Priest in Charge and Curate.

2 Increase in Foodbox expenditure from £7,732 to £28,758 (listed in Note 6) was due to a significant amount of expense incurred in 2023, but not claimed until 2024.

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

8. Restricted Funds

Restricted Funds year-ended 31/12/2024

A B C D E
Cornerstone
Fund		 Foodbox LIGHT
Service		 AED Fund Friendship
Lunch		 Totals
Balance at
01/01/2023
All
Accounts
combined		 £123,759 £14,417 £1,499 £1,123 £500
£123,759 £14,417 £1,499 £1,123 £500 £141,298
Income £160 £28,908 £380 £601 £0 £30,049
Interest
received		 £6,504 £0 £0 £0 £0 £6,504
Expenses £3,547 £28,758 £541 £1,223 £0.00 £34,069
Transfers
from/to
unrestricte
d funds		 -£10,974 £0 £0 £0 -£200 -£11,174
Total
movements
inyear		 -£7,858 £151 -£161 -£622 -£200 -£8,690
Balance at
31/12/2023
All
Accounts
combined		 £115,902 £14,568 £1,338 £501 £300 £132,608
Total
Restricted
Funds		 £115,902 £14,568 £1,338 £501 £300 £132,608

St. Peter’s Church, Chippenham Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Notes:

Restricted Funds in St. Peter’s are set out above. All the figures have been provided and confirmed by the designated organisers of the respective funds.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Guidance for Treasurers has been given that monies raised or collected for other organisations should not be included in the Church accounts. However, it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge those funds raised by the congregation for other worthy causes. Therefore I set out below what we have collected on behalf of other charities and organisations.

Sightsavers £490.50
Embrace The Middle East £82.50
Leprosy Mission £400.00
Bishops Ordinaton Fund £291.91
The Ripple Efect £175.00
Christan Aid £338.10
Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust £325.00
Alzheimer’s Society £47.00
RSPCA £50.00
TOTAL £2,200.01

Note: It was unfortunate that the £400 raised for the Leprosy Mission never found its way to the charity. This was a genuine oversight on behalf of the Treasurer and was revealed whilst compiling these accounts. At the time of publication of these accounts, the £400 has been sent on to the Leprosy Mission.

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St. Peter's Church, Chippenham, Parochial Church Council

Independent examiner's statement tThe charitls gross income e￿edelI £150,(￿ and l am qualified to undertake the examination by bein8 a qu•lifd member of linsert name of app1Kab￿ listed tM)dyll. Oelete I l if not opplicoble. I have completed my examination. I confirni that no material matters hève Come to my attention in connertion with the examination (other than that diKbosed bebw ) whKh gives me cause 1¢ believe that ifi, any material ￿PeCt.. the accounti￿ records were not kept in accordan￿ with 5ectw>n 130 of the Charities Act- or the accounts did {￿t accord with the accounting records: or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concemi the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Ae8ulations 2())S other than any requirement that the accounts gNe a'true and fairf view which is not a maner conswjered as part of an independent examinaiion. I have no cortems and have come across no other matters in connection wrth the examination io which attent￿n should be drawn in this report in order to enable a pmper u￿lerstandIng of the accounts to be reathed. ' Pleose delete the the br￿kets rfthey do not oppty. Sned: 95 J02¥ Name: IA1￿ CQknG. Relevant PTofes5lonal quJlrffcionl51 or body Irf any): Address: G-H STQLCT SLrrrtlfy SN IS 4QÈ

Appendix F

FREEWILL OFFERING (FWO) Annual Report 2024

The following figures for 2024 exclude transactions concerned with FoodBox and the Light Service.

You will note how the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS) has been increasing in numbers at the expense of the more traditional methods.

2023
Number of partcipants / donors
40
Loose coin in Plate
£6,394
Giving by standing order / envelopes
£19,997
Giving by special donaton (yellow envelopes)
£620
Gif Aid Tax recovery
£7,346
Parish Giving Scheme (PGS)
£4,046
Contactless machine donatons
-
TOTAL
£38,403		 2024
43
£4,981
£11,657
£900
£5,427
£16,439
£791
£39,164

The result indicates a 2% increase in giving as a whole. However, the average annual giving per participant has decreased from £960 in 2023 to £910 in 2024.

I.B.Hurcum

FWO Secretary.

Appendix G

APCM - 2024 DEANERY SYNOD REPORT

  1. General: The Deanery Synod met twice in 2024: 11[th] April and 28[th] November. Attendance averaged 20 representatives from the 7 benefices of the deanery. St Peter’s continues to have no lay Deanery Synod representative, and this report is provided in my role as secretary to the Deanery Synod and its Leadership Team.

  2. 11 April Synod – Synod received a presentation from Helen Lowther from Safe Families on their work which supports young families (often single parents and vulnerable), without family close at hand to offer appropriate support. Wiltshire had already identified 33 families currently in need of this assistance, including 7 in Chippenham. Safe Families have a contract with Wiltshire Council to help supply such support.

Other business included :

Archdeacon Christopher gave a presentation on the possible merging of the North Wilts and Chippenham Deaneries. Views were sought from the representatives present to be collated by Revd. Adam Beaumont

Julia Childerhouse (Diocesan Synod Rep) gave a brief report on the recent Diocesan Synod meeting which had addressed Makin Report (Safeguarding) and its impact, and also the pressures of lower Parish Share giving on the ability to pay for stipends

Other business included :

Conclusion

  1. As noted above, I have now stepped down as Deanery Secretary after 15 years of service. This makes the absence of a lay Deanery representative for St Peter’s even more significant. If no one comes forward for the role, then the one remaining lay link that we have will be gone at an important time when the Chippenham Mission Plan is about to take off. If we want a lay voice in the implementation of the plan, to support Simon as its lead, please offer your services now.

April 2025

Vivienne Fuller Chippenham Deanery Secretary

Appendix H

2024 Safeguarding Report for APCM meeting of St Peters Church

Despite the fact that I have been physically unable attend St Peters over the past year – I am totally committed to serving you all within the Safeguarding management & policies necessary to protect both children & adults.

Any Safeguarding policies needing to be addressed or reviewed, have been agreed & passed by our PCC. I have advised the PCC regarding all necessary Modules & Courses needed by all the people involved within the areas of their Safeguarding responsibilities for both children & adults - & to date, all necessary modules/courses have been completed by people within the requirement of their role. This has enabled us as a Church to achieve the highest level that is required within the Diocesan annual Audit. Thanks to everyone for all their hard work.

I also very much appreciate the help of both Joan Taylor-Gunston as Assistant Safeguarding Officer with responsibility for Children, & also Caroline Masters who has completely & regularly managed the DBS requirements.

I have updated the PCC for each of their Meetings through a written report, of any reports/safeguarding matters that I have been made aware of. Thankfully, there have been none of any gravity that needed to be redirected to any outside Agencies – other than discussion with a relevant person within the Diocese Office, for confirmation & support within the actions & support needed. I have been able to manage them “remotely” - & trust that you will all have the faith in me to continue this service, both to any vulnerable person in need of protection or help, & especially for our Church.

Bev Webb. Parish Safeguarding Officer

02.03.2025