## **Registered Charity number 1131525** **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE UNITED PARISH OF BROXTED WITH CHICKNEY, TILTY, GREAT EASTON AND LITTLE EASTON** ## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2023** ## **Priest-in-Charge** Rev Sue Hurley ## **United Parish Vice Chairman** Mr Warwick Newbury on 01371 872143 ## **United Parish Treasurer** Mrs Claire Squibb on 01371 870749 ## **United Parish Secretary** Mrs Patricia O’Gorman on 01371 852148 ## **Church Committee Accounts Officers** Broxted: Mr Roger Clark on 01279 850638 Great Easton: Mr Peter Ward on 01279 850442 Little Easton: Mrs Patricia O’Gorman on 01371 852148 ## **Independent Examiner:** _Mr Richard Davies FCMA CGMA_ _RDP Accountants_ _70 High Street, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 7HH_ 1 **A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRIEST-IN-CHARGE, REV SUE HURLEY** _**I would like to start by thanking you all so much for helping me through a very challenging year. Thank you for your on-going care and prayers.**_ Special thanks this morning to our amazing wardens, **Alison, Carl** , **Ron** , **Fiona** and **Terry** . I am tremendously grateful for all your support and hard work; week in week out; so much of which is hidden from our sight. Thank you to the teams in each church who work together to oversee the smooth running and maintenance of these beautiful churches. Huge thanks to our secretary **Pat** for all that you do organising us and chivvying us into action! We are very grateful to **Claire** for taking on the role of treasurer and for giving a strong lead in all things financial and musical! Thank you, **Dot** , for taking on the role of Parish Safeguarding officer over-seeing safeguarding issues. _My thanks to everyone on our PCC. Thank you for your time and for working graciously with one another. Thank you,_ _**Warwick** , for taking the role of Lay Chair, particularly this year when I have not been able to be with you as much as I would have liked to be. Thank you to everyone who has supported our churches in any way. Thank you to those working together to maintain our beautiful churches and churchyards; which are such amazing ancient oases of calm. Thank you to all who have arranged flowers, polished and cleaned, put together rotas, organised musicians, played the organ, rung bells, verged, operated technology, written intercessions, read lessons, served refreshments, overseen refurbishments, helped with fund-raising and to the army of unseen volunteers who have helped to keep our churches going._ Thank you, **Angela,** for your work with **The Friends of The Five Parishes** and also in relation to planned giving and of course for all you have done editing our magazine and passing on the baton to the **Kestertons,** who in turn, have worked so hard on recent editions. Our thanks to **Claire** and the whole staff of **Great Easton School** and to **Ron** for representing us on the Governing body and for hosting the whole school in Great Easton church each term. Thank you to everyone who gave up time and energy to make last year’s **Countess of Warwick’s Show** such a huge success, and to all who are already working hard on this year’s show. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone on **The Ministry Team** for all their support, particularly through my difficult months, and to all who have taken services this year. God willing, the worst is now behind me and I aim to gradually pick up the pace, but I may need a little additional support over the coming months. _**Fellowship is an important part of life in The Pilgrim Parishes. We will continue to offer Benefice services and other opportunities for people from across The Pilgrim Parishes to meet and to forge friendships with one another. Thank you to those of you who have supported these, and I do encourage you all to try and come along to some of these joint events. Can we continue to commit ourselves to praying for one another and asking God to show us how to lead these beautiful churches, so that month by month, new people may be added to our number and that we will have the courage to take The Gospel into the heart of our villages.**_ _**Rev Sue, April 2024**_ 2 **PCC Treasurer’s Report** I am pleased to present the Treasurer’s Report on the Accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 and apologise that I am not available to do so in person. ## Summary The Five Parishes generated an overall surplus for the year of £72,515. It was decided to move the Parish Share payments for 2022 from the churches to the PCC, a total of £38,374. This made no difference to the totals in all accounts taken together, but meant that the funds in the PCC fell and those in the churches rose by an equivalent amount. Bank and deposit accounts increased by £73,337 to **£374,795** and total Parish funds increased to **£500,577** (last year £417,109). Income after expenses from the Countess of Warwick Country Show was **£72,916** and other fundraising produced a further £8,368. Expenditure on major repairs amounted to £14,292. Broadly, other costs were in line with the previous year, but there are some exceptions that will be discussed in the relevant sections. Overall, income decreased by £5,327 to £170,817 and expenditure fell by £39,326 to £98,302. Detailed below is a summary of the PCC, the special sub-committees and the four churches. ## PCC PCC income rose by £14,264 to **£94,139.** Expenditure increased by £62,854 to **£90,800** resulting in a net increase in funds of £3,338. _The increase in expenditure was mainly due to the adjustment of moving the 2022 parish share to the PCC, a sum of £42,807, and because the PCC also paid the full 2023 parish share of_ _**£34,094.**_ Bank interest rates began to move during the year, starting at 0.4% in January and reaching 1.4% by September. Similar movements affected our other investments, so investment income rose significantly as well as the market value of investments held. The Parish Administrator grant has come to an end. However as she works for the whole of the Pilgrim Parishes and we are only four of the eight churches in the benefice, towards the end of 2023 we began to reclaim her costs from other churches in the Pilgrim Parishes, starting with a balancing payment of expenses accrued to date. In 2023 therefore, Administrator costs fell by £3,470 and will continue to be about half previous levels. Due to oversights, the regular grant to the Rebecca Meade Trust was not made in 2023 and the Independent Examiner’s invoice was missed. These will therefore appear twice in 2024. ## Countess of Warwick Show (CWS) The Five Parishes continues to benefit from income generated from the CWS that runs over the August Bank Holiday weekend. 2023 was yet another record-breaking year realising a profit of £72,916. £65,000 of this went to the PCC and the remainder was retained by the Show Committee as the starting fund for next year. Our thanks go to Tim Turner, the Show committee and all the volunteers who work so hard to make this event possible. 3 ## The Five Parishes Magazine The magazine continues to be self-funding, making a small profit of **£3,759 in 2023** . We thank all those involved in its production and distribution for their hard work. ## Broxted Broxted received £7,743 from the PCC due to the Parish Share adjustment. Income increased by £2,379 to £10,501 which included a legacy of £1,000. Expenditure figures are confused by the movement of the Parish Share but, comparing just the remaining items, expenditure increased by £1,151 to £3,215. There was a surplus of £15,029, or £7,286 disregarding the Parish Share adjustment. There were no major works to the fabric of the building in 2023. ## Tilty Tilty received £7,232 from the PCC due to the Parish Share adjustment. Income increased by £7,758 to £19,541. This was largely due to a very successful year of fundraising, also significant growth in investment income. Excluding the Parish Share figures, expenditure was slightly up from £3,945 to £4,372. There was an increase in fundraising costs which was well rewarded. The surplus was £22,401, or £15,169 without the Parish Share adjustment. No major repairs were carried out in 2023. ## Great Easton Great Easton received £13,188 in the Parish Share adjustment. Income for the year was £21,437, down from £27,908 the previous year. Excluding the Parish Share figures, expenditure came to £25,005, compared to £22,933 the previous year. There was a surplus of £11,816 which would have been a deficit of £3,567 without the adjustment. Over the year, Great Easton transferred £12,000 into its investment fund. Again this year, Great Easton spent significantly on building and repair work, which came to £13,242 in 2023, up from £11,590 in 2022. The Friends of the Five Parishes generously contributed £5,553 towards these costs and the church also obtained grants offsetting the VAT on these works from the Listed Places of Worship scheme. ## Little Easton Little Easton received £10,210 in the Parish Share adjustment. Income was up by £9,044 to £25,200 due to a generous legacy of £10,000. Expenditure without the Parish Share adjustment was £13,284. There was a surplus of £22,126, or £11,916 without the adjustment. Minor emergency repairs were carried out at a cost of £1,050. _**Claire Squibb, PCC Treasurer, April 2024.**_ 4 **PCC REVIEW OF THE YEAR AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE REVIEW OF THE CHURCHES’ YEAR** ## **BROXTED:** ## _**ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2023**_ ## **Church Services and Attendance** Sunday Services are shared between the four church buildings of the United Parish by a monthly rota. On Advent Sunday and at regular intervals there are joint Pilgrim Parishes services with each church taking its turn. Congregation numbers are lower than hoped but compare well with other churches in the region. We continue to hold at least one service every month. During 2023 one baptism and three funerals were held, plus four interment of ashes. This year **Mothering Sunday** was at Broxted and during the service plants were distributed to everyone and the following month we held the **Easter Sunday service.** **Remembrance Day service** on Sunday took place at Broxted with the reading of the names of the fallen and the laying of wreaths. The Carol Service in December was well attended and Broxted hosted the Christmas Day Communion Service. Whenever possible refreshments are provided after the Sunday services. ## **Review of the Year** Throughout the year we maintain the grave and grass areas. At Christmas the church was decorated with the traditional tree along with candles, lanterns and other decorations. We are grateful to all the organists and other musicians who help from time to time at our services. We could not function without the hard work and dedication from everyone involved in the running of the Diocese and our churches. _Reverend Sue Hurley and her ministry team have a hard task looking after 8 active churches and we are grateful for their dedication_ . The Countess of Warwick show raises funds for our four churches and we thank everyone involved for all the hard and dedicated work undertaken. Broxted receives continued financial support from many parishioners who are not necessarily worshippers. ## **Financial Review** The larger part of Broxted’s monetary assets are held in the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund. This policy is in accordance with our PCC’s guidelines and represents the ‘reserve’ funds we require to meet quinquennial and unexpected expenditure. At year end, due to regular giving, plate collections and the Countess of Warwick Show, we have been able to maintain a cash positive balance. ## _**Terry Reed, Churchwarden, April 2024**_ 5 ## **TILTY:** ## _**ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2024**_ ## **Review of the Year - Church Services and Attendance** Another good year for church services here at Tilty – with 21 in total. We had 13 in total with 7 Common Worship Holy Communion, 5 Book of Common Prayer and 1 team led Carol Service. Then 1 funeral, 4 burial of ashes and 2 weddings. We held Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve led by our former priest-in-charge, Reverend Tim Goodbody. Communion still proves to be very popular with good attendance figures. ## **Finances** The balance of the CCLA Church of England Deposit Fund remains unchanged at **£41,466** and our share of the joint Five Parishes Barclays Bank Account has increased to **£25,010.** ## **Income - £19,541; Expenditure - £4,372; Surplus income - £15,169.** ## **Fundraising 2023** We had another successful year of fundraising for Tilty with net fund raising of £6,389. These funds were raised from two events: A Tabletop and Craft Sale was held in May, raising £1,552 and this year’s Tilty Flower Festival raised £5,017. ## **Planned Fundraising 2024** Following on from last year, we have arranged another mid-year fundraiser over the second Bank Holiday in May. ‘ _**Team Tilty Flower Festival’**_ will be on tour at _**The Three Horseshoes Duton Hill Annual Beer Festival**_ and will this year host a Garage Sale and BBQ to raise money and pay expenses upfront for this year’s Flower Festival to be held over the weekend of 5[th] - 6th October. ## **General** We would like to thank all members of Tilty Church Committee for their support throughout the year, together with all those in the local community who help support our small church by providing refreshments, flowers and help with fundraising. And I would like to give a particular mention to how well all churches within the Five Parishes are now working together, supporting each other in services and fundraising. _We offer our continuing prayers for Reverend Sue – in her treatment of and recovery from cancer and look forward to her return to full duties._ We thank Angela Harbottle for her many years’ service as editor of the Five Parishes magazine and look forward to building a new working relationship with editor, Rachel Kesterton. We thank Claire Squibb – for arranging the music within our churches – and Tony Donelly, the new regular organist, supported by Peter Ward. ## _**Fiona Down, Church Warden April 2024**_ 6 **GREAT EASTON:** ## _**ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2023**_ ## **Review of the Year - Church Services and Attendance** 2023 was quite an uneventful year compared with the previous ones. We continued to pray for the war in the Ukraine and the new disturbing situation in Israel and Gaza. At the time of writing the conflict continues and although there are repeated talks of a ceasefire there seems no end in sight. We held **19 services in 2023 ,** which included **2 weddings** (the first for 4 years), **1 funeral** , **2 School** and **1 Crib Service on Christmas Eve** . Our School and Christmas Crib services had the highest attendance ever recorded. We continue to live stream all our Sunday services, thanks to Will, and we were able to live stream one of the weddings to enable the groom’s mother (who was in hospital) to see her son get married (all part of the Great Easton service!). During the year Claire Squibb was ‘volunteered’ to take on the role of Five Parishes Treasurer, and Peter Ward was co-opted on to the PCC. The team continues to work as one and I am indebted to them for helping me with the mobility problems I continue to suffer from. We were humbled by the kind donation of pew cushions from Audrey Miller in memory of her late husband, Brian – a series of brass memorial plaques have been since been added to the 20 pews explaining this gift. Later in the year we purchased pew bibles so the congregation can follow the readings if they so wished. Our readers are given page numbers to read out to make it easier. Attendance at our services on Sunday average around 30, which is encouraging. We look forward with confidence to the challenges that 2024 will present to us. ## _**Ron Gilder, Churchwarden, March 2024**_ 7 ## **LITTLE EASTON:** ## _**ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2023**_ ## **General Review of the Year** The five churchwardens continue to support each other in various matters. Carl and Alison very much appreciate their assistance over the past year. We also send out our thanks to all those of the REV team who have led our services and put together our rotas whilst Rev Sue has received her treatment and continued her convalescence. Little Easton Church hosted the Five Parishes Christmas Service led by Rev Jeff and was well attended. Everyone enjoyed the wine and nibbles. ## **Finance** Details are as shown in the Treasurer’s Report and attached accounts. The draft accounts show a surplus of £11,916. In early March 2024 we held a fundraising event called ‘Fakes and Forgeries’ which was well attended. Tim Turner gave two interesting talks and we raised £1,407. The Countess of Warwick Show raised a final profit of £72,916 to be shared between the churches and will pay for the parish share. ## **Alison Armitage, Churchwarden, March 2024** ## **… and finally, those statutory statements we are required to make year by year…** ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** The Aim of The Five Parishes and its churches is: - To promote within the United Parish the whole mission of the Church by helping make known the loving activity of God in our villages by means of open, good, inclusive worship, through cultivating friendship with the wider community - and through maintaining our ancient buildings as signs of God’s continuing presence in our midst. - The four churches, with their unlocked doors, are places of prayer for all who wish to use them. - They are places for the parishioners to come for family celebrations and at special times of the year. - They are buildings where all are welcome and are part of the identity of each village community. 8 ## **ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** The Parishes of Broxted with Chickney, Tilty, Great Easton and Little Easton in the Dunmow and Stansted Deanery of the Diocese of Chelmsford were united to create a new parish under a scheme that came into operation on 1 August 1987 having been confirmed by Her Majesty the Queen in Council. The four churches of the parish are St Mary the Virgin at Broxted, St Mary the Virgin at Tilty, St John & St Giles at Great Easton and Little Easton Parish Church. The church of St Mary at Chickney is a “redundant” church, being in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust since 1974. The parish is colloquially known as ‘The Five Parishes’, reflecting its coverage of the five secular parishes involved. Since sharing a priest-in-charge with Stebbing, Lindsell, Great and Little Saling our group is known as The Pilgrim Parishes. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The requirements of this section are covered by the Standard Procedural document adopted at the 2011 APCM. ## **CHURCH ATTENDANCE** A full review of the Electoral Roll took place in 2019. The next takes place in 2025 (every six years) and the number of names for The Five Parishes as reported at the 2024 APCM was 102 of which 29 are non-residents. Under normal circumstances Sunday Services are shared between the four churches by a monthly rota. ## **PCC RESERVES POLICY** ## _**The considerations of The Five Parishes in relation to its cash funds, are**_ **:-** Apart from the holding at Great Easton in the CBF Church of England Investment Fund that originated from a bequest, monies are held mainly in the CCLA Investment Management Ltd’s CBF Church of England/COIF Charities Deposit Funds. This provides investment in ethical sources in line with Diocesan advice. The PCC considers the balance in hand at the year-end to be an appropriate amount to support the aims of The Five Parishes as previously stated in general and for the upkeep and maintenance of the four church buildings in particular. This statement reflects its intention to at least match the churches’ resources to current Quinquennial expenditure and to retain a buffer against other significant and unbudgeted expenditure. The level of resources is reviewed following successive Quinquennials. ## **Approved by the Parochial Church Council at its annual meeting on 12th May 2024 and signed on its behalf by The Five Parishes Priest-in-Charge and Lay Vice-Chair** 9 ## **CHURCH CONDITION REPORTS 2023/24** _**(CHURCH FABRIC AND CHURCHYARD** ) The following are extracts from the Annual Reports_ ## **BROXTED** ## **Fabric and Contents** No major works to the fabric of the building in 2023. ## **Churchyard** Broxted Parish Council continued its generous support towards the churchyard maintenance costs. With numerous trees there will be expenditure from time to time that cannot be avoided. ## **TILTY** ## **Fabric and Contents** No major repairs or maintenance issues were undertaken during 2023. We do, however, have work planned for 2024 to include repairs to the church porch and bell tower. A ‘Feasibility Study Grant’ application is about to be submitted to the Diocese to seek architect’s advice on the suitable installation of a toilet, better use of the former choir area, and the location of a non-permanent storage box or shed in the grounds of the church. ## **Churchyard** Committee members continue to maintain the churchyard and grassed area of the car park free of charge. _**GREAT EASTON**_ ## **Fabric and Contents** We have had a few electrical problems over the year and the mystery attack on the ladies toilet, but all were resolved successfully. ## **Churchyard** This is maintained to the normal standard by 8 monthly grass cuts by Jay Sayer. Many trees had minor trims but there was no work that needed tree surgeons. _**LITTLE EASTON**_ ## **Fabric and Contents** Water damage to the south wall led us to reacting swiftly to save our historic wall painting by removing the internal plaster. The work to rectify this will take place during the warmer months once the wall has dried out. Work is to be completed by Bakers of Danbury. We knew we had issues with the leaking roof and chimney, but we were not expecting the boiler to give up on us and be condemned so soon either. This was in early February, just a few days before the DAC Committee were visiting to discuss the possibility of replacing the boiler with alternative infra-red heating. They tentatively agreed that, following investigation (bat and 10 asbestos reports), the chimney stock would be allowed to be removed and the gap left in the roof to be sealed. We are awaiting their emergency faculty for this to take place with the asbestos and bat reports having been completed. In the meantime, we are also getting quotes for the infra-red heating. Since February our services have been a little chilly without heating. However, they will be less so now we have smart new blue pew runners. We are also going through the process of replacing the old altar cloth. The new one will contain some blue to complement the stained glass window to the east. ## **Churchyard** Scott continues to keep the churchyard looking tidy. We have replaced the rotten external notice board with a similar one, which should last for many years to come. The old rotten stile has been removed under the direction of the Ramblers Association. Jess Rush has volunteered to repaint the graveyard gates made by her partner’s father several years ago. ## **REPORTS FROM OTHER SPHERES IN THE LIFE OF THE FIVE PARISHES** ## _**THE COUNTESS OF WARWICK COUNTRY SHOW 2023**_ Another happy and successful Show over the August Bank holiday weekend raising a record and much needed £72,916 for the 4 churches of The Five Parishes. A special thank you to the Show Committee chaired by Tim Turner and the 100+ volunteers helping on both days and to our local farmers providing the land for the Arena, Vintage Tractor ploughing and parking. Why not join us this year to help with any one of our many attractions, parking or check in desks? _Please contact Warwick or any member of the Committee_ . Andy Mahoney once again generously opened all the Manor Gardens which together with the Rectory Garden and Field as well as a splendid Art Show in our historic church provide the perfect setting for a traditional Country Show. A big thank you to Andy, Reverend Sue as well as all the immediate neighbours and indeed the whole village who support this annual disruption! _There were new attractions as well as traditional ones so it is well worth taking time to enjoy all the photographs posted on the Countess of Warwick Show website._ The perfect weather attracted a record number of about 9000 visitors over the 2 days and also due to the growing number of Sponsors and stalls as well as the many extra posters advertising the Show, plus all the activity on social media and the timely accolade of being nominated by the Guardian as one of the top ten Country Shows in the whole of the UK, please see the article copied below. Based on a 19th-century flower show held at Little Easton Manor, this Country Show was revived in the same location in 1990. It still has a horticultural marquee, but these days the programme also includes a classic car show with Rolls-Royce rides; a ploughing match; an animal tent and dog show; and an art exhibition. Lots of audience-participation events take place in the main arena, from egg-and-spoon and sack races to a game of canine musical sit. There is a hog roast and bar near the arena, and another food area by the manor house, where visitors can sip Pimm’s or Prosecco and listen to live music by the lake. **Warwick Newbury warwicknewbury@yahoo.co.uk** _**/ PCC representative**_ 11 ## _**THE FRIENDS OF THE FIVE PARISHES 2023**_ (The Friends is a registered charity No 1059862) ## **Chairman’s Review of the Year** During 2023 members of the Executive Committee were pleased to respond to two applications for grants from Great Easton Church. Totalling £5,553 these were for work in the bell tower and work resulting from the last Quinquennial inspection and in accordance with our current policy were based on 50% of the total cost. The total of grants given since the trust was formed in 1996 amounts to over £147,000. Grateful thanks go to Audrey Miller for running the 50% Club and to Treasurer Peter Ward and Secretary Angela Harbottle. Also to Andrew Connel who once again organised the sale of our branded products within the Horticultural Tent at the Countess of Warwick Country Show. We continue to seek new members of the Charity and anyone interested in joining will be warmly welcomed. There will be some changes in the members of the Executive Committee in the coming year which are on the Agenda for the Annual General Meeting on the 8[th] May. Meanwhile my thanks go to the members of the Executive Committee for all their support. ## **Warwick Newbury, Chairman, Friends of the Five Parishes.** warwicknewbury@yahoo.co.uk _**ANNUAL REPORT FOR GREAT EASTON C of E VA PRIMARY SCHOOL 2023 Courage, Compassion, Forgiveness and Joy.**_ In February 2023 we had our Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools (SIAMs) inspection. The inspector commented on ‘the love, based on the vision, which emanates from the school can be felt from the moment anyone arrives.’ Many generations of families have attended Great Easton, the adults know they will be supported to flourish as well as the children. Parents and carers who need support, in various ways know they will find it and all are enabled to be partners in their children’s education. All parents appreciate the ‘can do’ attitude of staff, their willingness to go the extra mile and never give up, no matter how great the challenge. Many children travel quite a distance to attend and new pupils quickly become part of the Great Easton community. Some staff describe it as their ‘happy place’, such is the harmonious community which has been created. As a result of the living out of the vision several members of staff have served their whole careers at the school, starting as trainees and moving into leadership positions, or are former pupils of the school.’ She also commented on the exemplary behaviour saying that she didn't see any negative behaviour throughout the entire inspection - in classrooms, corridors, playtimes or in the dinner hall In the report she notes: 'Relationships at all levels are strong. Pupils’ behaviour is consistently positive, both in and out of the classroom. They are supportive of each other and completely understand that what one person needs in order to thrive is not necessarily the same for everyone. Pupils are proud of their school and appreciate all it has to offer. They are fully involved in planning new developments for their school, such as revamping the pond area. They are aware of environmental factors which affect their lives and the environment around them. Pupils relish the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities, 12 such as caring for the chickens, being play leaders or buddies for the Reception children. The school’s Christian vision naturally enables leaders to create a learning environment built on dignity and respect. The school’s specially designed ‘courageous curriculum’ has been designed to reflect the full range of diversity and protected characteristics. Pupils have a good understanding of what bullying is and what it is not. Although they report bullying to be extremely rare, they have total confidence in their teachers to deal with it effectively.' _We have been selected as one of five schools for a research project across the whole of Essex to look at what it is that makes us so successful._ We strive for the children to be happy - these should be the best years of their lives. Happy children achieve well and one of our ex-pupils achieved the highest maths score in year 7 at HRS, another 2 are in the lead for having the most merit points. The influence and role we play in helping children in these early days of their lives is fundamental and something we take very seriously. I am so proud of our little school! The staff who work here go above and beyond in what they do and are incredibly dedicated. Our PTA organise fabulous events - holding an Autumn Glow evening in November which was an incredible night for all, lighting up our beautiful woodland area for the children to explore. They raise precious funds and the events create memories to cherish. We have a committed governing board who are ambitious for our children. Our community of friends and family support each other and the school brilliantly and it makes GEPs a very special place indeed. ## **Claire Jackman, Headmistress, April 2024.** ## _**THE FIVE PARISHES MAGAZINE**_ This has been a challenging year for the magazine, but we continue to produce our monthly issue in full colour, funded mostly by advertising revenue, with some occasional donations. April’s edition of 52 pages had 21.75 pages of advertising, with just under three-quarters being in colour. In addition to approximately 1,000 copies delivered door-to-door, each issue is uploaded to the Five Parishes website and is announced monthly on the four Facebook village pages covered by our churches. **In September, Angela decided to step down as editor, though still managing the advertising. Rachel and Roddy Kesterton took on the role jointly, with Claire continuing as publisher. The transition has gone very smoothly. We would like to extend our thanks to Angela for all her hard work over the last twenty years, making the magazine the successful publication it is today.** Sadly, our long-term printing partner CZ Design & Print went into administration very suddenly and unexpectedly. We were fortunate in that we had just collected the November print run, and this gave us a couple of weeks to find an alternative before the December issue needed to be produced. We moved our business to ProntaPrint, also in Bishops Stortford. They are producing the magazine using a litho print process, and this is broadly satisfactory. However, we have had some delivery delays as their litho service is elsewhere in the country and on a couple of occasions our print job has been mislaid by the courier. 13 This is something we are addressing with them and it may be necessary to move the print job inhouse at extra cost. Another option would be to find a different printer if there is one who can manage the job locally for a similar price. The magazine remains in profit, though the margin is not great – the total profit for the year was £2,656. It may be necessary to increase advertising charges soon, as we have seen several price increases since we started producing the colour version in 2020, and we have not so far passed any of these on to the advertisers. ## **The Magazine Team, April 2024** ## _**SAFEGUARDING**_ I have had no report in respect of Safeguarding for the year to 1[st] April 2024 although I understand Rev Sue has had a situation to deal with since then with regard to a local villager who is not a churchgoer. She has reported this as appropriate. An issue was brought up by some churchgoers but this was a Welfare/Medical issue rather than with Safeguarding and the person in question was in the hands of the hospital and other professionals and remains so. ## **Dot Parker, Safeguarding Officer, April 2024.** ## **WEBSITES** _The Five Parishes website continues to be maintained in conjunction with Lisa Smith of ActivWebDesign of Little Easton. It offers information on the individual churches to a full copy of the latest issue of The Five Parishes Magazine and other parish news. Visit us on www.thefiveparishes.org.uk. As always, The Countess of Warwick Show website https://countessofwarwickshow.org/ has a wonderful selection of photographs and information on the Show itself._ 14 Charity No. 1131525 THE FIVE PARISHES THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE UNITED PARISH OF BROXTED with CHICKNEY TILTY GREAT EASTON and LrrrLE EASTON Flnancial Accounts Year 8nded 31 December 2023 THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE UNITED PARISH OF BROXTED WITH CHICKNEY, TILTY, GREAT EASTON AND LITTLE EASTON Independent examinerfs report Re￿Ipts and payments account Balance Sheet Notes to the accourrts INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE UNITED PARISH OF BROXTED WITH CHICKNEY, TILTY, GREAT LISTON AND LrrTLE EASTON FOR THE YB4R ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 I report on the accounts of the TrLLSt for the year er*ded 31st Cwembw 2023 which ara Set twt ¢)n page$ 2 to 7. Respoctlve respon8lbllltl•s of trust￿ and •x•mln•r The ¢harity's tru$l4es are responsible for the preparation offinancial statements. The charitls trustees consider that an audit is required under seet￿n 145 of the Ch￿itIeS Ac* 2011 {ttR Act) and that an SndeFthdent examlnatlc Is needed. 11 is my res[￿s￿lI1ty to examine the accoun18 under Section 145 of the 2011 Acl. lollow the pro¢edures laid down in the Gèner81 oirecb.ons given by the Charty Commissioners und¢r strction 145151 (bl of ihe Act. and to stats whether yrtkuLgr matters Iwve come to my atierikn. B•¥li of Indop•nd•nt •xafftln•f• roport My examlnatlon was carTle(I fArt In a¢cordance vAih the General Ctrectlons glven by the Charty Commljslon. An examlnatlon Indudes a review ol the accountkng r￿)rdS kept by the charity and a comparknn of the accounts pre88nle(I wth lI￿e records. It also indLth con￿￿•13110n of #ny unu8Ug1 ¢t•m8 or dl8clo8ureg In the 8ccounl8 8nd seeking 8xplanats.ons from ￿ as IruBlee8 corfftmlng any 8ty* matters. Th¥ wctedur•s Undort8k￿ Jo not prO￿de I the 8vidence that would be requlr•d Sn an audlt. and cortsequendy no oplnkin Is gfven as to whether th& account$ esent a ￿u8 and tsw. viow arKI the r•wt li to tho89 out In the sta¢en￿nI bdow. Ind•pond•nt èxamlnfrrfs stat•m•nt In conn8c¢lon wllh the examlnaikn, no matter has C￿ to my atten¢w'. whlch gives reasonable ￿￿•t to ti•lieve that. In material respect. Ihtr requiremen lo keep 9¢¢ounth￿ record5 in xcordarth wilh 8•¢liM 130 of the 2011 Art. and lo prepar• accounts vthld) 4¢sxrd with a0)j￿tiTrj to ¢))mply wilh Ihe aGcounting requirements of the 2011 Act have Thjt t￿en met.. or 12) to which, in my ¢)plnlon, ott¢ntton slKx*l be order to enable a understaThJing ofthe accounts to be reached. Simix)a Lupascu FMAAT RDP Consutting {Chelmsford) Ltd. AC￿nIan¢S Waterhouse Business Centre Cromar Way CHELMSFORD Ess8x CM12QE THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE UNITED PARISH OF BROXTED WITH CHICKNEY, TILTY, GREAT EASTON AND LfFTLE EASTON RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS AccouKr T31STD MBER 2023 Unrnstsl¢t•d R￿trict•d Fundb Fund• 2023 2022 R8ceipts Recelpts from donors Other vohjntary incomlNJ re80LKC ACtI￿lIeS in fUrt￿rance of the Counul'8 AclSvllle8 In gonerallng funds Income from Investments Total R•celpts 7(al 71bl 71cl 71d) 7{e) 40.785 15.725 S.557 126,127 9,131 197.326 40,785 15,725 5.557 126.127 13,583 201,778 2B,881 18.054 4,981 109.843 11,272 173,032 4,452 4,452 Paym•nt* Costs of generatlng funds Gran1$ Actlvhle$ Telathg to the oflho Churth Support co$18 Governanc* C08ts Total Paym•nts 8(al 33,011 33.011 634 94,795 30,043 2,309 101,443 8(cl Old) 81el 4,452 822 124.811 720 134,515 4,452 129,263 Net receiptsllpaymen18) Tran3fers between furKIs r2.516 72,515 38,517 Not surplu8 1 (dèflctt) for the y￿r 72,515 72.515 36,517 ThE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE UNITED PARISH OF BROXTED WITH CHICKNEY, TILTY. GREAT EWON AND Lf￿LE EA8TON 8ALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2Q23 21r22 211,823 162,972 374,795 152.950 148.508 301.458 CBFICOIF l•poBft C8F Investment FWKJ INErt¢ 21 127m 116,419 blllil•B Accru#l& lAC￿l￿￿rfS F••) (1. 17881 CredttoT8 SX).STI 417,1Cla P•vl•h Fund• UNestrthd Fund$ Openlng s•￿ 1 J•nw2CQ2 Recthpts aThJ pghThrrtB BLty$ 392.22S 72,51fj 10.953 475,693 ,241 39.517 115,5331 392,225 24.884 24.881 ,5n 417.109 Squbb PCC Trea6urET THE PAROCHL4L CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE UNITED PARISH OF BROXTED WITH CHICKNEY. TILTY, GREAT EASTON AND LITfLE EASTON NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS AS AT 31sr DECEMBER 2023 1. GENERAL ACCOUNTING POUCIES a) Accountlng Pollcl•• The fin8ncial Élatsments hw been a r•caW8 *Yt ba* th 84xudance vAlh the CtKwth Attcunllng Regulations 2(th, Chgritw Acl 2011 and SORP 2015. bl F￿d• EndO￿lY*￿t Funds are fvnd8. Ihè caprtAI olwhich musl be ma6ntaiwJ.' only kn¢ome 8rislrvJ Investm*nl ol the endow￿￿ rnay be u88d elth¢r 88 r8Stri(tsd of unro$￿¢18d furKI8 dep&Kling th? purFQSO ftjr th& endowmentWg$ e8tabli8hed. Re8Ertc18dFundq r•pr•88rf18} incow* frc¥n trusts cYoThlwrnents te w8rthJ IMty cm tP*)88 r•strI￿ obje* prothd8d by the terms oftho tru8t or tw*, 8Thd b) dcffialTh8 or uvanls recav•J fty a s￿￿ rw or In￿¢¢￿ by ihe PCC fc¢ a swdfic object. Th• ftmds rnay only be exF*nthd cffi Ihe objed forf*hth oJ¥fjn. Amy baLqn(* reM￿nIn9 unspent al th& ond ofea¢h year muat te carried forward as a bala￿ on that fund. The PCC Ih)es not usuaty In¥￿ separaldy for oach ￿lld. Wh8r• Unrestrklgd Fund8 wre8•nt gerW￿ ol PCCJthLThth commillee811)at are 8ub)gcl to ary r8$tr*tion on Ih8Sr uso and ara available for th8 orrfinary purpoBe8 ollhe PCCl¢huK* ¢¢mmitt68s. Fund8 deslgrtated by th•m br g PA￿¢u1￿r purpo$$ are al8Q unrnfjtr￿. 2. INVE8ThIENT A88Ef8 No. ofSh•rn• 2023 2022 Value at 1 January 2￿23 She￿$ sold during y8oK incre88e I Ideer8aBel in value olmthg tho Valuè at 31•t D•wmb•r 2023 116.419 131.952 10.953 127.372 115.5331 116,419 5.636 THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE UNITED PARISH OF 8ROXTED WITH CHICKNEY. TILTY. GREAT EASTON AND LrrTLE EASTON NOTES TO THE AccouKfs (cO￿lNUED) AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2023 ResTRICTED FUNDS Lt E•*toB Lt Ea¥tyJn at EMtoTr Lts TOTAL 740 4.462 {1.1181 13,3361 14.4521 740 1,795 24.884 Lllll• E*•ton chU￿hy￿rd Th6B fL¥*S w Mt ￿ to Iho ¢￿ts OIn￿nI•lAw￿ the ¢hurdrywd •1 LiiU• Ea8trffl. rB8OLYC•• inl•r••l roc•￿￿9 Llilk E••ton Flow•r Fund This fund wa$ aet up lo ￿¥0[ cost of the fiMrBrr¥ng•r8 for LitY• Emton. It t* b• w•d forlhlj Purp￿ ￿ntll fur#J 18 U8ed up. In¢omin9 MStwc41 to int•r•6t rec•Nad onty. Qr••t e••ton 8•1 Th1• lund wal ••t upto *>ynrtr* ¢g)•l• ol mdniaty •t GrnAt E••ton. f•lJ*• to Inkn•t r•c4lwl only. Lord Mayn•rd Tn•l Fund• Thgr8 8r8 three LoTd Twst IPwpetrJatl. in Tirty. Lth Eoskn Gr￿ E•Jkn. ofthe Gr••t Easton Trult ini#ter8d by ￿ Greal E••ton Chwch Commbtt•• The captsl of Iho 71ty Utts E88t￿ TruBts ar• wJmini8teTed by thè Dloc•%• ofChelm8ford o• c￿tO￿al TnJ8t•O8. Th ht•¥8St onPst SJ tythe c￿r￿￿ and Lmd for hwown puwo#es as folkn￿.. Qr•ateut<>n-flKry htsr•Bt kn rh)t m5trb*d L5t￿ Ea•lon-Ih• Inter•Bt 1$ rnItr￿d In t￿￿￿6 th• R¢d(¢s •warwB. TS1ty- the 6nter88t n resln.ded in uso bywa￿ Paiish Share. the ¢J005 ry)I cover ¢xrtgoirgs In Uwr entlrety, funds arn tr8nsfarred fr￿ ￿ gen0r￿ fuThJ to th•t Ihe •r• in dgficJL (Fund8 tran￿rIed fm Tlty Church Fund to TIFty M8ynwd FurKI as wowi•*l. TRANSACTIONS W￿4 MEIIBER8 THE PCC A•ID RELATED PARTES No 4dNe mamb•rn ofth& PCC dir•¢ty or *ith C￿￿¢14 orsknlararrnrythi￿ dose f8m5ty or business connectk)n. Apart from rojtine expendiiure ty)nnecbJ chufch Salv￿￿51 r8fr85hm8n16 ate., no membor of the PCC r8eèfv¢d any ￿t-Of.[￿￿•te¥￿en$e$. Oubof*ocket ofts R•xor trwjrnr are sho*m in the PCC wym8n18 8¢c¥AnL & EhlPLOYEE EMOLUMEP4TS Th8 eharty h88 no empl¢yF8& K Ihe SFryK8B of cortsackns lo wilh ts Ma￿￿enal￿ ol#* thurclryats ￿ Broxt8d. Groat and L$tt￿ Easton and Timy 8TrJ the parish wJministr8born 8. THE FRIENDS OF THE FWE PARISHES Thè Fr￿ndS of lh8 FNe p￿r￿1￿8 bJnd$ Ihal frDm ID tirne to the churehes ofts Five Parishss in th8 form of money or a5 gifls. The FfieTrts is regi8iered sep8Talely Charity Corrmission {w￿red nlwnbef 10598621 to whom it makes separ8te accounls. 94fts￿re no*s w•all¥tsJ tolhe L*wch's Sl*Tr*rtofA88ets as to Ih8ir material wDrth. THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE UNITED PARISH OF BROXTED WITH CHICKNEY, TILTY. GRB4T EASTON AND LITfLE EASTON NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS {CONTINUEDI AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2023 R&c•lpts Total Fund• 2023 2022 FundB 718) R•colpts from donor* Grfl AvJ- Bar GIftAid- EnveWo8 & Lorth Fl8t• c¢lethons Tax recoverablo on GiftAd Legacy Donation8 Other planned gIVi19 Magazln8 donations T¥x r*co¥ored ￿ magazlne donalionB 17,889 5,771 5.776 11.ONJ 17.889 5,771 5,778 11.000 18,085 6.231 5,188 360 40,785 40.785 28,881 7