East Dean and Friston Churches istered Chari Number 113163 Annual Re ort and Financl I nts r Ended 31 De Caladine Chorlered Cerlilied Arcounlonrs nd Frlston Churchos rEn er 202 EKr Church Infixmakjn T￿￿1886 Report IrHJ•pendenl Examinern Report Re¢oipl8 & Paymer)ts Ac¢ounl Statament of A689ts 8nd LkgbllK186 Notes lo the Flnanclal Sl8twnent8 Dean and Frlston Churches For the Year Ended 31 Decèmber 2025 CHURCH INFORMATION The Rectory Gilbert's Orive East Dean BN20 ODL Membgrn of th PCC Rev O¥vid Baker Mr Peter Hewitt Mr Phillip Hill Mr Dav*J George Mr8 Stephanie Carter Mr Harry Parke Mrs Jodene Street Miss She118 MacNicol Miss Carol Hyatt Mr8 Gail Hugggtt Mr8 Dawn Baker Mr David Lln8ell Mr David Reynolds Mr8 Pauline Porthouse M$ Flora Richards nk Barclays Bank PIC 63167 Terminu6 Road Ea3tboum8 BN21 3NE ndent Examlne C J Dadswg11 FCA ACCA DChA Caladine Limited Chartered cortrf￿d AcGountanl8 Chantry Hou89 22 Upperton Road E8slboume 8N2118F Ea¥t Dean and Frfston Churches For the Year Endgd 31 December 2026 R& of The Trustees pre8ent thelr annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025. 1 ObJectlve8 and actSvhleg The primary objective of the Churches is the promOt￿n of the Gospel of OUT Lortj Jesus Chri81 a￿Ording to the d￿InneS and practices of the ch￿￿h of England. To thi8 end Ihg PCC have the respon8ibilty of ¢ oparaling wtth th8 Rector in prornoting the ecclesiastical parish In ordar to advance the whole mi88KJn of the Church - pastr)ral, evang81islic, Sfxlal. and ecumenical. At the heart of all we do 18 the gospal.. "Christ Jesus ￿me into the world to Sa￿ sinners.'11 Timothy 1.'15}. Thère 18 nothing more important than the gospel. All that we do a8 churche8 mu81 relate lo this and reflect It. Our main challenge as churche8 Is to see the urgonGy and imperative of the gospel and lo be Ou￿ard- looking in making rt known ¢l¢arty. To thi8 ènd we want ￿Ople lo hear th8 invitation of Jesu8 -'Com8 and see. (John 1v39), finding out who he is and what11 maans to repent and believe., lo "Come and grow. _ lo grow into maturfty as believers rather than remaining a8 infant Chri$lians', and lo"Come and care"_ both lor those inside and oulBide tha church. 2 Publlc Bon￿11 We h8ve con5fvJ8r8d the Charhy Commi88ion's athice on public benefft and, in particular, the specrfic guidance on charities for the advancement of religion" We aim to enga9è with the local community through a number of initiatives, exampl88 of whl¢h are spell out in the spiritual 8nd nurture and social and mission 6ectlon8 of this roport. 3 Structure. Govemanco and M•n8ymont The Church 18 a registered charfly, number 1131638, registered on 15 September 2009 and govemed by the Parochial Church Councll Powers Measure {1956} and Church Repro$entstion Rules. The Tru8tee8 {Members of th• PCCI who 8eNed during tha year wore.. Gail Huggetl Miss Sheila MocNKol Miss Carol Hyatt Mrs Dawn Baker Rev D8VKI B8ker Mrs Sl8phanie C8rter Rev Andrew Spear IRe¥igned May 20251 Mr Phillip Hill Mr David Georg& Mr Hary Parke Mr Peter Hewitt Mr Charles Collins IRe$igned May 20251 Mr Davld Linsell Mrs Jod8ne Street Mrs Pauline Porthouse IAppointed May 20251 Mr David Reynolds IAppoinled May 20251 M$ Flora Richards IAppointed May 20251 East D n and Friston Churc For the Year Ended 31 December 202 Re ort of the Trustees Continue Pa 4 Revlow of AGtlvllleg Rovlew of the Year January 1.to DK8mb8r 31 2026 (a) Introductlon The year has sadty been countenanced by the absence of the Rev. David Baker our Rector. David suffered a serious fall in January which resuhod in damage to his nervous system. He has been absent for most of th$ year and remains on bng term slck leave. We continue to uphohl David Dawn Naomi & Jonathan in our prayers. We have bgen blessed lo have a 8ITong team who working ￿￿ether have enabled us lo maintain all our usual Sarv￿89 in churches. We a￿ especially grateful for the unstinting support of the Rev. Andrew Smth and also lo Becca Parke our Adminlstrator & Benefice Se¢retsry. Huge demands havè been made on them during a drfficuli time. We are grateful lo the many visrf(ing clergy who have 8UPPOrted th• minl8try and we have great appreciated and bonerrtt￿ from a ri¢h varlety of great preaching and teaching. A 8Pgclal word of thank8 to th9 Rev lan Hughes who wllh wife Helen joined us for an extend8d period and also as ever to Canon Mrchagl Adams. We Should not have been able to function wilhoul the wonderful support of our Lay Le8der8 for whom we are 80 grateful. A8 ever we ore indebted to our Churchwarden¥ Gall H￿get and David Llnsell al E88t Dean and Oavid Goorg8 al Frislon 8180 lo Peter Hewitt our Treasurei. Grateful thanks are a180 due lo so many other who give freoty of their time.. OUT Chlldrgn Leadws. our AV Team. Musician8 and Singers. Hospit81ity Team, Steward$ Reader8- the li81 is long. 'His Grace h8s bmught US Safa thus far and Grace w￿1 lead us home- Ib} Splrltual & Nurtur• SeNices Sunday by Sunday continue to be •n¢ouragirvJ albeit below pre•pand8mlc leve18. Our children's leaders al tha Lighlhou8e Club have ¢onlinued to show their love and nurturing and work hard 10 6U8tain numbers. This is not an 8asy task given the many confli¢ting demands on chiklren's tlme at weekend8. We continue lo hold our ministry to children and young p￿pIe in our prayers. The Sunday evening Zoom pray8r lime continued to bo ￿11 attended as dogs Prwer Tine frcffl 9.0 9.30am every Thursday Covordinaled by Phill and Jill Hill. Home groupg ¢ontlnued lo meet regu18rly, l)oth in person and on Zoom. The Par58h Mag8ane continued to be ably edlted by Christlne and Peter Jeffery, aBsisled by a strong team of voluntegrs, lo whom many thanks are owed. We continue to be hugely grateful to Steph Carter for her wotk as Pastoral Caro Cctrordinator. Icl Soclal and Mkn￿on Wo continued 10 8UPPOrt our fomier Assi8lanl Minister Rev. Kip Chelashaw in his ministry in Nairobl, Kenya. We thank God for the wonderfulty encouraging prc>are8s being madg there and hold lQ'p Rachael & their family in our prayer8. More lotslly wo $upported the B&achy Head Chaplaincy, the Spinnaker schoo18 WOTk tru3t, and People Matt8r. 11 Is also encouraging that so many members of our church family are aclivgty involved in the community. for example serving as member8 of the Parish Council, the Residents, Association and the Willage Hall Trust. PJH East Dean and Frl8ion Churche8 or the Yèar Ended 31 December 2025 Re ortof ntlnued 02C 4 R￿laW of Actlvttlos Icont'dl {d) Wardens Raports St Slmon & St Jude East This year numbers attending seryices have declined Blightly averaging belwe8n 80 and 70. Sadly wlh the non-8ttendance of a couple of families children's attendance has also de¢lin& aver8ging S or less. Despite this we heve been able lo attract a number new peop￿, who have come once to See what wè are like and stayed. They cite our Godliness and friendliness. In respect of the fabr￿ the most Significant works thi6 year wa8 repair to the windryw near the pulpf(. A8 usual the maintenance of the chui¢h fabric 1$ fiaught with admini81ralNe challenge¥, but all cre(lil again lo Pel6r Hewitt fof his persistence 8nd perseverance. The most significant challenge this year ha8 been the long-terni absence of our Rector David Baker. Many member8 of the Parish havo Stepped up lo maintsin the smojth running of the Church and we have seen greater collaboration betsveen the Churches in the Benefi¢8. including a very 8ucce88ful lolnt seNFGe al Jevinglon. We are 8180 grateful for the support we have received from the Diocese. Amongst those who hav8 stepped up. special mgnlion goes lo Andrew Spear who wilh ¥ good heart has led many 8ervice8 (despite being r8tiredll. Also, lo Becca P8rk08 the church 8dminislrator, who has arranged prO￿berS and schedules smoothly and thoughffulty, a8 well as being the drivlng force behind our childrgn'$ events. To share the burden a number of new people are leading 8eNices. who d88pit8 Ihelr nerves havè dona a sterfing job. We Ore a180 grateful lo the array of volunteers who contrlbule lo the smooth running of the chur¢h and the role we play in the wider community. Thi6 include8, the reader8, pr8yer leaders lin church and beyond), the 8lde8 people, the fre8hm8n team - the after 8ervlce ltsaethering. is an ever important part ol church life, our dads gTmy'8" valueble maintenance Wofk which is a￿VaYS done with a 8mila, the AV team {do¥pite the diminishing numb8rl, the pastoral support team, those who organise the coffee morning and the P8ro¢hi81 Church Council for their Godty leadership during this challenging lime. Oavid Linds811's tenure 88 Co£hurch Warden ends at the APC meeting in May. Al Ihls tima nckndy has been found to replace him. we continue to pray that someone will come forward. DI.. GH St Slmon & St Judo East Doan - Fabrlc Report Grade 1 Lislad Pl8ees of Worship are expensive lo mainlaln but11 16 Important that we constantly ensure that the fabric of our church is in good order. Followlng the Qulnquennial Report of 2024 we have embarked on a significant programm8 of repair and maintenance. Major repairs have begn undertaken to the boundary wall alongside repairs lo the church Stonework. One leaded light window was removed rernadg and refrtted by highly skilled craftsmen. Repairs to the Chanc81 roof were also undertaken logeth8r with a major overall of all gullerlng and drainage. Final rg-guttering and th9 completion of inlemal redecoratlon wrll take place in 2026. Thi8 will mean that we Shall hove spent in excess of £34.000 to maintain the fabric at East Dean Church PJH East Dean and Frlston Churches For the Year Ended 31 December 2025 ort of the Trustees Continued e2D 4 Review of Aclivitsos Icont'dl St Mary thg Virgln Sadly, some loyal members and 8UPPOrters of the church, passed away during th8 year and our prayers are wrth their famil￿8. Looking to the luture, we were pleased to welcome new members who have joined the 918cloral role. Attendance at Sunday seNices has been maintained at an encouraging level. Our Carol SeNice was well supported by the local communrty, with 75 attending, the majority of whom remained after the service to enjoy mince pies and hot punch. In late May we hosted 8 musical concert featurtng the Renaissance Slngars, open lo all, it was a fr88 perfomance . It was o mo¥t enjoyabl8 event and all donations were directed to East Doan and Friston Church funds. On ac¢ounl of our Rector David's extgnded leava of absence follo￿ng his unfortunate and debill(ating a¢cid&nt (which wlll have been addressed earlier in this Annual Rèportl11 has been necessary to employ variou8 measures in ordeT lo m8inl8ln regular services in the parish. We are v8ry grateful to 811 th088 who have stepped foThvard lo fill in the gaps Including10¢81 clergy and lay preaGhor8. A special mention must b¢ made of the time and tITeless 88Nke provided by our a$$oc181e mini81er Andrew Sp8ar, vtho has provkled backbone Support a¢TOSS the benefice during the past year and beyond. As aver we ara very grateful to tha following,. the Ministry l&am lor their leadership , the efficKgnl support of the Admin team those who asslst with sld88 duties, Ih06e who provid8 cakes aTrJ snacks for our coffee Sundays and lho￿ who a$si81 in preparlng serving hot drink8. our fe8ders, the flowér team who88 m8mbery decorate the church so beoulifvlty, the hard woTklng ggrdgning and malnlenance team and our axcellent org8ni8ts, all of whom who hav6 eontsnued lo glve so freely and wllingly ol their time throughout the year. Thanks, are also due to those who Wofk quietly behind the scene8 prO￿dIng 8UPPOrt for the wardens in tholr duliè6. It musl be rnenlioned that we are currenlty down to one Warden, just completlng his sixth temi of office. Currently a lot of team support 15 being provided by formgr wardens and church members, bul we afe anxiou8 to recruit a ¥acond warden. in accord8nce with Church guidelines. We will bo delighted lo hear from any membar of the church famity would bo wllllng to conslder stepping fornvord lo sèNe along8ide our curient warden. St. Mary's Fabr1¢ rep+2rt The church building is, in gener81. In 80und condition. The qulnquennial report identified some work calling for 8ttention durlng the first 24 months. signfflcant Items teing refuibishment of Ihe wooden floor lilas in tho Sefvlyn Chapel and internal and extemal m8$onry rep8ir8 respectively. The masonry work wa$ ¢arded out in the Autumn, the flwring work was completed in January of this year. There are a number of Smaller and routin8 items lo be carried out over the hve-yegr duration of the current rgport, but redecoration of thg interior of the church building is now due and is a spec￿lC requirement of the report. Eslimales are Curr￿tlY being updalgd for referral lo the PCC. S Flnance Revlew 1. Unrestrlctod & Doslgnated Funds It is pleasing to be able to report 8 galisfactory financi81 posrtion wllh a 8urplu¥ of £6,342. Th1818 kn part due lo the receipt of a generous legacy of £5,000. Our Income was in line with our Budget. Giving from cash off8rings shows 8 disappointing decrease £8,202 from £10,645] gNing through the Parish GNing Schame was maintained £52,658. There was a signfficanl but expected decline on Pari8h Fees1£3,034 from £7,874] due to the18rge number of wgddings held in 2024. Tha fall in interest rate8 has resulted in a deGline in out Investment Income £10,040 from £13.565 OUT Expendrture was in line with our Budgot. The 8b$ence of our R8Ctor has meant that we have had to pay for our visiting clergy1£1,7591 howeverwe anticipate that this cost ean be recovered from the Di¢xe8e. East Oean and Frlston Churches For tho Year Endad 31 Dacember 2026 ort ofthe Tru Con Inu 8 Flnance Revlew (Confdl 2. Re8trlcted Funds The PCC holds fund8 that can onty be used for sP￿rfIC purposes, these fund8 amanate principally from past legacies or monies donated for 4)eGifi¢ purp030S. There was a nel outflow of funds of £28,000. Thi8 was due to major expenditure on our Churchyards £9,76S,' and at both churches as we continuè to implement the recommendation's of the Quinquenni81 Report. See Reports on Fabrrc above. The cost of our Adminislrator1£7,5131 b also met from Restricted Fund8. 3. Misslon and Charltablo Glvlng Ovgrseas we continued lo Support the ministry of Kip c￿lashaW in Kenya al home we continued to 8UPPOrt the Beachy Head Chapl8incy Team, Spinnaker Trust, & People Mattèr. 4. Parf•h Contrlbutlon The P8rish Contribution IPCI, the annual amount we pay to the Diocese. represents our bigg&8t expense. Tha payThenl covors the wsl of thg Rector's Stipend. Pension Contribullon & Housing together with 81gntticant contribution to DicLe8e and CofE ¢enlral costs. Hlslorically we hove p8ld the full amount of the PC requested. Not all parish88 have the r880urces to pay theiT requested contribution in full. Irb 2024 we were again one of only Six Parishes in the Deanery, out of total of 19 vtho paid morn than 80% of the request conlributKIn. The amount of the reque8ted PC ha8 inerea$ad inexorably year on year. It is the view of the PCC and indeed many others n8tionally, that the Church of England's fingncial m¢>Jel and organtsalional 8lruclur¢ Is un8u$tainable and place5 the Parish structure as we know rt 81 riBk. In 2025 we paka a contrtbulkjn of £58,000 whlch repre88nted 88% of the requested contrlbullon. 6. Budget 2026 Unrestrlcted Funds On 8 day-lo-day basi8 we plan to 8chigve a 8mall 8urplu6 however continuing f8llB in Interest rale8 will affect our Inlefest Income and we may néèd to con8ider alternate fom18 of Investment. It will howaver bè necessary lo draw approximately £4,000 from our Unrestricted Re¥erve8 to cover the co8t of work8 on tho labric at E8St Dean church. See also below. RestrlGtsd Funds CompielK)n of the Qulnquennial works at East Dean plus Inlemal R¢