## **St Mary the Virgin** ## **in the Parish of Stone** **Annual Report & Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council for the year ending 31 December 2023** ## _For Christ's Sake_ † APCM 2024 Page 1 ## **CONTENTS** ## **Agenda and Minutes** |**Agenda for the Vestry and Annual Parochial Church Meetings 2024**|**3**| |---|---| |**Minutes of the Vestry Meeting held on 16th April 2023**|**4**| |Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting held on 16thApril 2023|**4**| |**Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council**|| |**Administrative Information, Membership**|**7**| |**Safeguarding, Risk Management, Attendance**|**8**| |**Proceedings of the Parochial Church Council**|**9**| |**Financial Review**|**9**| |**Reserves Policy**|**10**| |**Fabric, Goods and Ornaments**|**10**| |**Deanery Synod**|**11**| |**Matters of Parochial or General Church Interest**|**11**| |**MCK (Mary’s Child Kent)**|**12**| |**Eco- Church**|**13**| |**Mothers’ Union**|**13**| |**Finance**|| |**Income and Expenditure Pie Charts 2023**|**14**| |**Independently Examined Accounts 2023**|**15**| APCM 2024 Page 2 ## **St Mary the Virgin, Stone** ## **Agenda for the Vestry Meeting & Annual Parochial Church Meeting** ## **Sunday 14[th] April 2024 at 11.30am** ## **Vestry Meeting** 1. Prayers. 2. Election of Church Wardens. ## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting** 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Minutes of previous Annual Parochial Church Meeting 16[th] April 2023 3. Election of representatives to the Deanery Synod 4. Election of representatives to the Parochial Church Council. 5. To receive and consider reports arising from the following: - 5.1 Electoral Roll - 5.2 Proceedings of Parochial Church Council - 5.3 Financial Affairs - 5.4 Audited Accounts - 5.5 Fabric, goods & ornaments - 5.6 Proceedings of Deanery Synod - 5.7 Matters of parochial or general Church interest 6. Any other business. 7. Closing prayers. APCM 2024 Page 3 ## **St Mary the Virgin, Stone** ## **Minutes of the Vestry Meeting & Annual Parochial Church Meeting held on Sunday 16[th] April 2023 at 11.30am in church.** ## **Prayers** The meetings opened with prayers led by the Rector. ## **Vestry Meeting** ## **Number present – 20** The Rector thanked the following Parochial Church Council (PCC) members: Lois Derham in her role as Secretary, Dianne Adair in her role as Treasurer and both Lois Derham and Maureen Franke in their roles as Churchwardens. He also thanked Thelma Bristow and Deborah Lambert whose term of office on the PCC had come to an end. It was recognised that Thelma had also taken extra responsibility for the group working to upgrade digital technology in the church, and Deborah had acted Parish Safeguarding Officer. He thanked Dennis Moor and Paul Davies for their involvement in ministry and making themselves available, not only at St Mary’s, but in other parishes. Thank you also to Kathryn Swanston for joining the ministerial team as a Licensed Lay Minister (and the team of chaplains at Bluewater) and Maureen Franke in her capacity of Anna Chaplain within the parish. There was also a vote of thanks for Nik Kerwin, for the time he gives to playing the organ so beautifully at services and other occasions. The valuable work of taking the church out to the wider community was acknowledged with a ‘thank you’ to those involved in Messy Church. And those who oversee the ‘Open Church’ sessions from 2pm to 4pm on a Wednesday, being Maureen Franke, Janet Gardner and Lois Derham. This allows others to come to the church to experience the peace of the place and to take advantage of the foodbank as needed. Mention was also made of Ethlyn Roy-Johnson, whose first eucharist as an ordained priest was supported by the congregation during the year, and Anthea Harris Faulkner who had moved to ministry in the two parishes of Erith. It was recognised that whilst attendance at church sometimes looked thin, commitment to the Christian faith was deep and we were not failing in our involvement in the wider community. ## **Election of Churchwardens** There were only two nominations for Churchwarden: Lois Derham (proposed by Maggie Jarvis and seconded by Dianne Adair) and Maureen Franke (proposed by Colin Whiskin and seconded by Janet Gardner). They were declared re-elected for twelve months. APCM 2024 Page 4 **Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)** ## **Number present - 20** ## **1. Apologies** Deborah Lambert, Martin Trumble, Margaret Apsley and John Wood ## **2. Minutes of previous Annual Parochial Church Meeting held on 24[th] April 2022.** The minutes of the previous annual meeting had been circulated. These were approved by all present as a true record and signed. ## **3. Election of representatives to the Deanery Synod** There were only two nominations for representative to the Deanery Synod: Dianne Adair (proposed by Maggie Jarvis and seconded by Lois Derham) and Lois Derham (proposed by Maggie Jarvis and seconded by George Adair). They were declared elected for three years. ## **4. Election of representatives to the Parochial Church Council (PCC).** There were three vacant places on the PCC but only one nomination: Kate Stock (proposed by Thelma Bristow and seconded by Lois Derham) and she was thus elected. It was noted that without sufficient elected members there was a danger of the PCC becoming unrepresentative but it was felt that extra members might be co-opted to lessen that risk. ## **5. To receive and consider reports arising from the following:** ## **5.1 Electoral Roll** Thelma Bristow, as Electoral Roll Officer, reported that following the annual revision there were 62 members, 26 being resident within the Parish of Stone and 36 being non-resident. ## **5.2 Proceedings of the Parochial Church Council** The Rector referred to the five growth priorities identified on page nine of the Annual Report and noted that we were making some progress with this in particular around the renewal of Gemstones. The digital router was now operational, and using it at least one service a month continued to be livestreamed. ## **5.3 Financial Affairs** A decision concerning a grant for the Lantern Community Centre appeal was imminent and if substantial enough it would enable a shell of the building on the foundation slab. Fundraising had been slow but steady and it was hoped that the next phase of building was now in sight. ## **5.4 Audited Accounts** Page 5 APCM 2024 These were presented having been adopted by the PCC and examined independently. The Rector proposed that the meeting likewise adopt the accounts, seconded by Maggie Jarvis and all were in agreement. ## **5.5 Fabric, goods & ornaments** Special note was made of the completion of the most urgent repairs recommended by the quinquennial inspection report of 2022. This gave some space to concentrate once again on the building of the Lantern Community Centre. A £5,000 grant from the Friends of Kent Churches had helped to cushion the building fund from that expenditure but the overall cost of the repairs at approximately £11,000 meant that it was now much depleted and needed building up once again. Thanks were offered to four regular donors to that fund. ## **5.6 Proceedings of Deanery Synod** Nothing was added beyond what had been contained in the written report circulated before the meeting. ## **5.7 Matters of parochial or general Church interest.** Next month Westminster Abbey would host the Coronation, putting the Church of England centre stage once again as it had been during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The Church of England comes to the fore during these national occasions of sorrow and joy. The Eco Church group was thanked for their efforts in promoting ecologically sensitive lifestyles amongst the congregation and for giving a higher profile to this mission concern. Not that it was all about awards, but moving on from bronze and silver the next step would be the challenging gold award. ## **6. Any other business** No other business was raised. ## **7. Closing Prayers** The meeting concluded with prayer. APCM 2024 Page 6 ## **St Mary the Virgin Stone Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the year ending 31st December 2023** ## **ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** St Mary's Church is part of the Diocese of Rochester within the Church of England and is situated in Stone. The correspondence address is: Stone Rectory, Church Road, Stone, Greenhithe, Kent DA9 9BE The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is registered with the Charity Commission, number 1131836. ## _**Incumbent**_ The Revd. Kenneth Clark. ## _**Bank**_ The National Westminster Bank, High Street Dartford. ## _**Independent Examiner**_ Hedley Dunk Ltd, Chartered Accountants, Trinity House, 3 Bullace Lane, Dartford ## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** St. Mary's PCC's primary responsibility is the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. It co-operates with the Rector, the Reverend Kenneth Clark, in promoting the whole mission of the Church (pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical) throughout the Parish. ## _**Mission Statement**_ "For Christ's Sake **†** " ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules 2020. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. PCC members, whether ex-officio or elected, who have served from 1 January 2023 until the date this report was approved are: ## _**Wardens**_ Ms. Lois Derham Mrs. Maureen Franke ## _**Representatives to Deanery Synod**_ Mrs. Dianne Adair (Treasurer) Ms. Lois Derham APCM 2024 Page 7 ## _**Ex Officio**_ Mrs. Kathryn Swanston ## Licensed Lay Minister ## _**Elected Members**_ Mr. Reginald Cousins _from 18[th] April 2021_ Mrs. Kathy Cousins _from 16[th] April 2022_ Mr. Robin Hergest _from 16[th] April 2022_ Mr. Martin Trumble _from 16[th] April 2022_ Mrs. Kate Stock _from 16[th] April 2023_ _**Co-opted**_ Miss Deborah Lambert Parish Safeguarding Officer Mr. Dennis Moor Lay Reader (PTO) _**Safeguarding**_ – _Deborah Lambert (Parish Safeguarding Officer)_ The PCC has due regard to the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance. It has adopted the Church of England safeguarding policy statement ‘Promoting a Safer Church’. Ms. Deborah Lambert is our Parish Safeguarding Officer and Mrs. Thelma Bristow her Deputy. Those holding specified roles undertake the required safeguarding training and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are taken up as required. The Diocese has provided our online Parish Safeguarding Dashboard which is based on the requirements of the Parish Safeguarding Handbook and other relevant documents. This involves the completion of various actions moving through three levels. Further information about safeguarding, including how to report a concern, is available on our website and on the noticeboard at the back of the church. ## _**Risk Management**_ As St Mary’s is below the audit threshold under the Charities SORP regulations, we are not required to report, neither are we reporting on risk management. A health and safety policy is implemented and is monitored regularly to ensure compliance. ## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Church attendance** In preparation for 2023’s Annual Parochial Church Meeting the Electoral Roll was revised once again and the number of members stood at 62. Active churchgoing was monitored over four Sundays in October 2023 and found to be on average 54.25 adults and 7 children, a noteworthy increase on the previous year attributable in part to the relaunch of Gemstones. For another year we live-streamed the principal Sunday service on the first Sunday of the month. Viewers at the time are a handful, but the broadcast attracts some attention afterwards, spurring thoughts that with better equipment we might seek to stream more services from the church. Attendance at Easter was 67 (with 41 communicants), a slight decrease on the previous year, and at Christmas 237 (with 78 communicants), showing a modest increase on the previous year. Daily morning and evening prayer continued. Occasional offices numbered 25 baptisms (continuing the post-Covid recovery), 3 weddings and 19 funerals, 10 of them held in the church. The monthly Messy Church continued on the school premises on a Wednesday afternoon after the end of lessons, although this attracted fewer children after the summer break than in the previous year for reasons that are not particularly obvious. ## **Proceedings of the PCC – The Year in Brief** APCM 2024 Page 8 Since the last APCM the full PCC met six times in 2023 (with two more meetings in in 2024). Two meetings were unscheduled, but called specifically to address firstly concerns about the continuing lack of a decision over sale proceeds from the old church hall site held by the diocese, and secondly to ratify appointing G A Harper as the contractor for building the shell of the new Lantern Community Centre. The Rector, Churchwardens, Secretary, Treasurer and Safeguarding Officer constitute a standing committee which sees to the preparation of the agenda and follows up on agreed actions. Sub-committees of the PCC, which sometimes include other members of the congregation, continue to steer our progress towards gold standard as an Eco-church, make recommendations towards technological improvements (largely paused while we await the impending installation of a phone line to the church and Lantern Centre), provide liaison with the architect and contractor for the building of the Lantern Community Centre and select charitable causes for the church’s away giving for the year. There are 12 members. The regular attendance at meetings has been 79.75%. At each meeting the PCC receives officer reports from the Rector, Churchwardens, Treasurer, Secretary and Safeguarding Officer. The PCC also discusses health and safety and reviewed its policy for this area. Updates from the Dartford Deanery and the Diocese are also routinely received. The PCC caused First Aid and Food Hygiene training to be initiated and we are grateful for the volunteers who came forward to be thus trained with Maggie Jarvis making the arrangements. Our neighbours at St Alban’s Dartford offered their church as a training venue free of charge. The lease on the RISO duplicator was given up in favour of a Ricoh photocopier. Two fundraising fairs were organised, summer and Christmas, with significant changes to the planning and operation of the Christmas Market that in the end proved successful. Other matters were discussed and some of the outcomes are noted below. ## **Financial Review** – _Dianne Adair (Treasurer)_ Total receipts, on ordinary unrestricted funds were £47868 and are detailed in the financial statements. £50445 was spent to provide the Christian ministry from St Mary’s Church. The net result for the year was an excess of expenditure over income of (£2463) (inc an unrealised small gain on investments), but adding bank and deposit balances brought forward at the beginning of the year, the balance carried forward at 31 December for unrestricted funds totalled £6483. Our Parish Offer for 2023 was £28,191 and we have been able to pay this in full. Continuing our programme of special collections supporting a few charities on a regular basis, we were able to donate the sum of £1,725. Charities included Traidcraft, Alzheimer’s Society, Porchlight, Abigail’s Footsteps, Toilet Twinning, The Diocese (Confirmation), Intercontinental Church Society and The Children’s Society, We have also continued supporting ‘in kind’, ie MKC, Parish Pantry, Women’s Refuge, Harvest gifts, etc. As will be reported elsewhere we have finally been able to start building the next phase of our new Lantern Community Centre (New Church Room). We have also now received the full sale proceeds and the total fund stands at £502,030 at year end. To be able to complete the project, however, we will still face a significant shortfall, further endeavours have continued to seek grants and various fundraising events have recommenced. Once again, it is not too late to make a donation as the more we raise, the less we may need to borrow. We very much appreciate the help and support not only from the Diocese, but our other supporters who are eager to see this project completed. Currently there are 4 people who regularly contribute to the Building Fund, which stands at £4727. This fund enables us to carry out unexpected repairs as well as those works highlighted in the Quinquennial inspection. It also helps if we need to apply for more major funding for projects to APCM 2024 Page 9 show that we do have some funds of our own. As reported last year some Quinquennial repairs were carried out as planned. However, we have to upgrade our lightning conductor protection system which is proving costly, so will need to seek grants to enable us to do so. Unfortunately, we also experienced theft of most of the sections at ground level which has resulted in additional costs, although this is covered by our insurance company. If you would like to support this work, or know of anyone who might prefer to give money to support a Grade 1 listed building, I would be very pleased to hear from you. It is so important that if you do give to St Mary’s Church that it is given regularly and the best way is to do this via your bank (standing order, direct debit, BACS). This means that you can continue to support the work that we do ‘for Christ’s Sake’ in this parish and that it is not affected by your absence for whatever reason. I am very pleased to report that a good number of our regular congregation now give in this way and I can only recommend this to you. We have also introduced the use of a card reader in church and QR codes are available, both in church and on our Facebook page. We are also continuing to monitor expenditure and reducing it wherever possible. It is important for us to thank all of you who give so generously to the church both financially and in so many other ways. ## **Reserves Policy** It is the policy of the charity to maintain unrestricted funds which are the free reserves of the charity, at a level which equates to approximately two months’ unrestricted expenditure (i.e. £10,000). To achieve this we will aim to put £1,000 per year into reserves from income until that level is achieved. **Fabric, goods and ornaments** – _Lois Derham and Maureen Franke (Churchwardens)_ We were sworn in as Churchwardens on 14[th ] June 2023 having been reappointed for a second year. As reported last year, the most urgent repairs itemized on the Quinquennial Inspection report of 2022, primarily stonework and pointing repairs at the east end of the church, were completed by March 2023. Made-to-measure pew cushions were purchased, thanks to the generosity of many sponsors, (individuals and the church choir), and installed on all the nave benches helping to relieve discomfort for our congregations. They really make the church look warmer, even if it doesn’t feel warmer. Two metal cabinets were placed in church to house food donations distributed as part of our involvement with MCK. Being metal they are less susceptible to rodent attack. This led to some reorganization of the moveable furniture in the various spaces at the west end of the church. Thank you to members of the congregation who have worked hard to manage the land within the churchyard. It was highlighted that damage is being caused to parts of the churchyard wall by trees leaning over it from the other side. Having investigated the situation, it is not clear who is responsible for the land immediately next to the wall. The company who manages the land and housing beyond the wall advised that the Land Registry plans did not indicate they had responsibility for maintaining or cutting back trees overhanging the churchyard and that they would therefore not act. The PCC discussed this and agreed that there may be future benefit for the church in laying claim to this unclaimed strip, but all agreed that the priority now was the building of the Lantern Centre and that we would have to take responsibility for cutting back anything that was overhanging. APCM 2024 Page 10 As identified in last year’s annual report; due to the ongoing delay in raising the necessary funds to start erecting The Lantern Centre it was decided that building the shell would protect the foundation slab and give something to show for all the money raised to date. The building of the shell began on 8[th] January 2024, with the aim of completing this stage by 31[st ] May 2024. There are monthly meetings with the architect, contractor and those from St Mary’s who have been involved from the start of the building of the Centre. We are now looking at applying for grants to fit the internal areas of the building, being the kitchen, office, hall etc. An inspection indicated that the lightning conductor system needs remedial work to be completed to bring it up to the required standard. We are in the process of applying for a grant to complete the work that was identified by the Diocesan Lightning Protection Consultant. Having joined a Churchwardens’ Facebook group it has become clear to us that there is a lot more pressure on some Churchwardens than we both experience so thank you to everyone for your involvement in all aspects of running St Mary’s. ## **Deanery Synod** – _Dianne Adair (Representative to Deanery Synod)_ The Deanery Synod meets three times a year as a forum for the local Anglican churches to meet and plan work together. All meetings start with an act of worship and a brief report from the host church. The February meeting took place at St Edmunds Temple Hill, June was at St Mary’s Church Stone and October at Christchurch Dartford. Various topics have included Warm Spaces in our churches, Living in Love and Faith, an Eco church presentation by Kathryn Swanston, LLM at Stone, a presentation on Vocations from Revd. Pamela Ive (Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Vocations Administrator), Deanery Resources Survey compiled by Revd. Mandy Young East Dartford Benefice ## **Matters of parochial or general Church interest** – _Kenneth Clark (Rector)_ The coronation of their Majesties the King and Queen was an occasion of great symbolic significance for the nation and one thoroughly based on the call “to serve and not to be served,” as spelled out and exemplified by Jesus Christ. Once again when great events needed to be grounded in reality there was no better place to go than the Gospel, and thus the Church of England was in evidence serving the country and the wider world very publicly. At St Mary’s we entered the spirit of service by organising a coronation tea for the residents of Strawberry Hill and Stow Court and the spirit of celebration with the church bells ringing out at the very moment the king was crowned. There was equal, if not greater, celebration at the news that the next phase of building of the Lantern Community Centre might take place and this commenced at the beginning of December. The journey to that moment was fraught with uncertainty, but in early September the diocesan Finance Committee confirmed that it would make over towards the project the entirety of net sale proceeds of the former church hall site as had been promised at the outset. It is right to record our thanks but also our considerable relief. The danger was real that fifteen years of campaigning and fund-raising might have proved a waste with nothing more than a concrete platform to show for our efforts. But with more and more of a structure to show for these labours, the more achievable the project becomes. We still need to raise in the region of £300,000 to turn a watertight shell into a building we can use properly, and the PCC took the decision to allocate some money specifically donated for the purpose to employ professional fundraising help. We are confident that as the building rises the whole project will appear even more credible to future donors. We continue to petition our local authorities (Stone Parish and Dartford Borough) for some contribution – to date with no favourable response – but the Mayor of Dartford, Cllr Rosanna Currans, was kind enough to include the Lantern Appeal amongst her charitable causes for this year. My own Lent was marked by a walk along the length of the River Medway with sponsorship going toward the appeal and Kathryn Swanston and her husband Phil abseiled from the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower APCM 2024 Page 11 in the London Olympic Park for the same cause. Phil and Kathryn also ran a quiz night at the school and we were offered the premises free. Worship and service are at the heart of our existence and during the year Jeanne Hoadley and Kate Stock enriched our Sunday morning offering by taking on the revival of Gemstones, our Sunday school group. This has always been a task requiring a sacrifice of being free to worship with others, since the children’s group meets alongside the adult congregation in the restricted (but warmer) environs of the vestry. We all should be grateful to them for helping us fulfil another of our growth points. When children come to St Mary’s they find welcome and a place also, and the old days of “seen-but-not-heard” are rightly banished. Higher attendance figures would seem to show one of the differences this work has already made. Nationally, the Church’s General Synod has conducted a high-profile debate on the principle and practicalities of blessing same-sex couples in a process known for shorthand as “Living in Love and Faith.” Draft services known as “Prayers of Love and Faith” were passed by synod and in some places have now been used publicly in the context of church services that are ordinarily taking place. Such an occasion might appeal to committed gay Christians already worshipping as members of a church congregation who might want to make a pledge to one another before God in that context. Stand-alone services akin to the sort of wedding service a bride and groom might choose to hold in front of their supporters, families and friends are still not permissible and they are very much resisted by those who feel any blessing of a same-sex couple is a change to the doctrine of marriage. Understandably there are differences of opinion across the Church of England, no doubt reflected at St Mary’s. Sooner or later some consensus will have to be reached here too. Being in a same-sex partnership myself and knowing myself blessed by God through it, I naturally hope to set a tone of welcome and inclusion for all comers, especially toward those whose intention is to make a promise of love and faithfulness. Once again St Mary’s hosted the Deanery’s confirmation service in November with candidates from Stone among the number. Earlier in the year a confirmation service was held at Stone St Mary’s School where children from Years 5 & 6 were candidates. They now participate as communicants at regular termly eucharist services in the school and sometimes at church. Stone St Mary’s underwent a statutory inspection focussed on its faithfulness to the Christian foundation and the effectiveness of its Christan vision. The judgement was Good (the highest category), although that rather underestimates Stone St Mary’s distinctive character as a thriving school of the spirit as well as of the mind and body. Mysteriously confirmation figures are not among the statistics collected by the Church of England for its national profile, although they give a fair indication of those who are turning to Christ. From the perspective of this life as a preparation for the next, those who came to Christ in 2023 included two special faces from the congregation. Vera Woodward, our oldest member, died in January at the age of 100 and Christine Bance in June aged 75. Both were mourned and missed, but celebrated in equal measure, as befits those who had confessed a faith in the resurrection and the life. ## **MCK Mary’s Child Kent** – _Thelma Bristow_ This has been another busy year for Mary’s Child. We are now officially known as MCK reflecting our decision to become a completely local charity, independent of the work continuing in Peterborough. As a local charity it is easier to seek, and receive, funding from a number of local sources, and to focus on the needs of our community. Food and Fun activities have continued to take place in the school holidays, and we receive very positive feedback for this. The need for food support continues and we were able to give out 150 food parcels at Christmas. We are so grateful to all those volunteers who shop for fresh food and deliver to families on a routine basis. APCM 2024 Page 12 We have a small number of people who come to the church pantry on a Wednesday afternoon and are grateful to Maureen and Janet who regularly welcome them, and Lois for filling in when needed. Once again thank you to everyone who has helped Mary’s Child in any way throughout the year. ## **Eco-church** – _Kathryn Swanston_ St. Mary’s is proud to be an Eco-church, a scheme to enable churches, cathedrals, dioceses, and the equivalent in other denominations, to demonstrate how the gospel is good news for God’s earth. Eco-church is run by a charity called A Rocha UK. The vision is to create a vast network of churches as local centers of creation care in the community. As an Eco-church St. Mary’s is committed to caring for God’s earth in five key areas of church life; worship and teaching, management of the church’s buildings, management of the church’s land, in community and global engagement and through the actions that we take in our individual lives. An Eco-church board can be found inside church and is regularly updated with information and advice across these areas. We also share Eco-church news on social media and in the weekly pew sheets. Activities during 2023 included conservation themed events during ‘Love Your Burial Ground Week, promoting Tearfund’s ‘It’s a Rubbish Campaign’ and a creation-themed quiet day. When you visit the churchyard look out for the bird feeders, bird and bat boxes and bug hotels. Please also help yourself to fresh herbs from the community herb garden and pots. Current members of the Ecochurch group are Thelma Bristow, Kathy Cousins, Maggie Jarvis and Kathryn Swanston. We would like to everyone for supporting Eco-church so enthusiastically. Having achieved the Bronze Award in November 2021 and the Silver Award in October 2022, our vision is to achieve the Gold Eco-church Award. ## **Mothers’ Union, Stone Branch** – _Jeanne Hoadley (MU Branch Treasurer)_ We currently have nine members. Our meetings have gone ahead as we had planned and included a number of corporate communions in church and some of the other meetings have been held in our members’ own homes. Diane and Sharon were enrolled on Mother’s Day, both receiving MU badges and membership cards welcoming them into our fold. At our March meeting we invited the Diocesan president, Mary Margaret Yates, to tell us what has been happening in the MU. Some of our members attended the service in the Cathedral on Mary Sumner Day and enjoyed a meal together after. Another speaker that joined us was Jenny Beaney who talked about our overseas members. A number of these would like to contact us and share how they celebrate and how MU works for them overseas. In August MU members took part in the family service held in our St Mary's, Church. In November we made lanterns to decorate our Sponsored Christmas Tree event which was held at St Mary's Greenhithe. At our AGM we felt the Parish Breakfast initiative had been successful and enjoyed by most of the congregation. We have a full programme to keep us busy throughout 2024. APCM 2024 Page 13 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Charitable Giving Misc
Provision of Music (shown as % of all exp) 1% Offer Scheme and
1% 2% Gross PPS Costs Clergy Exp
5% 32%
Church Running costs
Expenditure from 7%
Designated & Church maintenance
Restricted funds 3%
49%
EXPENDITURE 2023
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Misc Total giving
Income from Church 1% 8%
activities inc Fee
Income
1%
Fundraising (Net)
1%
GA (inc tax recovered)
2%
Donations, Grants &
Appeals inc New
Church Room
87% INCOME 2023
**----- End of picture text -----**
APCM 2024 Page 14 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARYS STONE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTNMES For the year ending 31 December 2023 Vnre6trthJ D8SP3nated Reslricted En¢JJvm Fufftts FuThJs Funds Fund5 TOTAL FUNDS 2023 2tr22 INCOMING RESOURCES Voluntary incomo Acfvvities for￿￿er0￿￿￿1¢&ry Incom8 fmm Investment 28 19 $597 335653 7e113 7711 8786 2c 8610 io 6620 2699 Church Adiwti&8 2419 276 2695 3420 Olhfjr in¢￿Ing Tr¥Ou￿8S 3199 3199 100 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 6953 301047 10 355878 91118 RESOURCES EXPENDED Cosl olgeneratK￿ ¥¢Munlwy Fundraising Irathng costs Church &cli￿lieS 3145 31￿2 47780 9939S 75030 Govem8n¢e costs TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENOED 102540 78132 Netg4in in¥eslments 114 NET INCOMINGIOUTGOING RESOURCES 124631 1662 254243 10 253452 12987 Transfers 455 655 254698 0 124631 1CIJ7 10 253452 12987 BAL4N¢ES BROUGHT FORWARD AT 1 JANUARY 202J 9494 268066 286812 273825 BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 5229S4 316 540264 286812 APCM 2024 Page 15 The notes on the following pages form part of this account APCM 2024 Page 16 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN. STONE Not•s to tho Flnanclal Stat•m￿ts For th• y￿r ended 31 December 2023 ACCOUNTING POLICIES The fsnanaal 5tatorn•nis of the PCC hpve l*en wepwed In accordance wth th• Statement of Re¢ornmended AccouTh￿ng PraclKo. Ae¢ouniwvJ and R•portiw by Chont*s ISORP 2CI)Sl. is5￿1 ￿ March 2C<)5. UK k¢ounting Standards and the chari￿s Act 2011.. The financial statements hav& been wepared urthr tho hislorKal cosl conventK)n exwl for Ihe v8lu8tion of nveslrnent assets which a￿ shown at market value. Tho finarfial sta*ments +ncludet 911 transact￿nS, a5svts and Il•b51ibes for ￿tt￿h tho PCC 18 r88ponsib￿ In Iww. They do not Indude Ihe occounts of th& church grou￿ thal thew main affiligtion lo another body. rKJt thole th¥t •rv infomial gaihenng8 of church momb•rs. FUNDS Gèn•ral Iwth r•pr•w)i ￿ iunds of lh• PCC t￿t we Th)t *￿iec1 to any wthction$ rngarding thoir u8• and are Availabkn for appl￿￿1￿ on thg gww¥¥l puw•s of the PCC. FvrKh d•swJm•knd for • portKular PUTPOS• by th& PCC ar• also Un￿sIr1¢le11. R￿l￿Gled funds r•rrf•Mfit don4￿￿8 r¢¢eN•J for a BFwf* obi•¢t or invit•d by tho PCC for a 8p8crfic object. Th• lund$ may onty IxTr •A￿Adett on th• SFecfft otyct forvthKh they *ere 9iven. Any ￿lanCe remaining unspent at tho end ol th• y•ar must b• carried forwa￿ as a b¥l8ne• on Ih•t lur￿. Endok*wt funds •f• oft*thKh the cw must bo maiit•in•d'. IrKome •rissng frorn investment ol the •ndtswmanl moy be u8•d •rther M r•41rKt•d or unr••trKl•d fund• deP￿dIng upcffi tho purpo8• forvthl¢h th• on0￿•M￿n¢ wo8 eswbhshqd IPICOIIJINQ RESOURCES PLqnned gving, Collect￿nI ènd don•thons 8r• recoLwThed t*hen reeeivtd by or on bohaff of thg PCC Tax rofund8 ar• reco9Dised when the ￿(￿MIng rBsourc• to which they rela18 IB recei¥•d Grani$ and kgoCk88 aro accounte lor wh¢n Iho PCC ty 19g8lly ontthd to th• arnounts duo EwKJ•nds •rn •¢¢¢unl8bk for when rec*Nablv. int*r•it i 8fLwe¢. AJI Incomlw r880urc8s are xcounled for 9ross ￿1 oth•f inC4yne 18 reccwJni8ed wh•n receN*ble. RESOURCE3 USED Gr•Th￿ •nd donations are 4ccount•d forwhen pa￿ ty4•r. Th• d¥x•s•n p*rish offer ts wJunt•d for when pahJ. kn)ounli recewed SFecrficaty for miss￿n ar• dealt vAth •s mtrthl fund&. All o1hereyp8r￿rtU1li 1$ g•r•r•lly r•cognis8d when it is IncU￿ed aftd is ae¢ount•d for w$. Flx•d A•￿1* Cen5ècfAtsd and b•r•TK•d properry ￿ ¥ny Is •xcluded frorn the accoun15 by s.96(21 (•) of Ihe Chorbtss Act 1993 M¢v•bb ¢hurch fUM￿h1n98 hebj by th• Reclor churchwa￿*￿ on SFecial trust for the PCC and whi¢h requires a faculty for disposal. are accounte(J as inohvnabk8 rxg)erty Un￿8$ consecratod. They are Il$ted In Ihg church's inventory. which can bo ￿5p￿t￿) l•1 any reosonable bmel. For iThahen8b￿ proptsty ar4uired prior lo 200t there ￿ in5uift*ni Cost infomiaik)n availa￿ ond therefore such assels are nDI valw(l in th• accA>unts. Items Hcquwpd since 1 J*nuary 2001 ha¥e been caF48IAed aTrJ ￿e￿e￿Ie￿ in thp thccounts over their curronty anli¢ipotpd us•ful oconLYn￿ lrfe on * 6trwht4in• tAsi*. All 8xpendilur• incurr•d in Ihe i*¥r L)n ¢onsecra*d cf benefKed bu*Jings. indivi¢*J•l rf•m$ uF)*r1£10C¥Jl or on the rep•ir 01 movatyb ¢hurch fumishirrfJs 8cqu¥ed ket￿ 1 Jawary 2001 i% Vrritten off. Investments are valued at rnark¢tv4ue 8t 31 D8cen* APCM 2024 Page 17 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST IAARVS STONE Notes to the Financial Slatements For the year endlng 31 December 2023 INCOMING RESOURCES Fw Fundi 2023 2022 2*1 KXUNTARYINCOME Plann•d gmry: Glftald IZI I Incomo 22110 23640 1199 4T81 1477 ColbDcloM lop•n plrt•l•t¥l 1197 3262 3m1 J1619 76111 2bl ACTMTrES FOR GENERATrffj FW Fundr•l•lfflg •¥•rt• 7T11 7711 8716 1110 io iuo C•rd•t•l 270 2419 2419 311Q 2419 2696 2•1 ofiiERINCOIIINGRESOLIRCES Cli Mi 3189 loo 3199 0 3191 10Q Tor￿ IICOMING RES4XJRCES 6MJ J011J47 356871 91118 APCM 2024 Page 18 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARVS STONE Notes to the Financial Statements (Continued) For the year ending 31 December 2023 RESOURCES EXPENDED Unw•strbcted De¥lgnaied Ro#iyktsd Endowm•nt Fund¥ Fun Fund• Funds TOTAL FUNDS 2023 2022 3a} CHURCHAcYivmES IsBlon•ry and Charl1￿1• yfvlry". 332 Tr•ld¢v•ft 193 Hom•: I ChAdren's Sotiety. Porchlighl, knJail's FcKtst•pB. Tc4knf TWMINJ, ICS éttl 1414 1545 1720 1131 Mini*ty.' Off•rxh•m• X1191 28191 Cl•ryy •xp•r¥M• ot￿ ¢l•rny ¢MI• ¢hui¢h. vunnlny •xp•nM¥ chU￿h fflalnienan¢• Trnlnln9 hurGh H•1 runnlfig ¢O•t• ol rn￿1¢ Oth•rFtsnd &xp•r Prin¢ing •nl ¥tstlon•ty B•nk ¢h•ry Mlsc Ind•pgnd•nt Examln•tk>n 3135 3130 5174 3201 931 6024 876 3201 1555 4811 49745 4715 4710 2433 624 7SO 47TOO 4811 99395 3bl GENEPA TIOII OF VOLUNTARYINCOME C￿1 o13t•w•thtMp 3¢> FUNtsRAISIIIG COSTS 314$ 3102 3145 3102 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 5291 102540 7B132 PA YAIElffS ro pcc AIEMBERS A sm￿1 Immat•rfal ￿rtIon ollM expensos p•ld to th8 Incwib•ni moy hm related to hls Bervlces OB ChaIm￿ll ot lh• PCC. No oth•r p•¥m•rts Or•X￿￿# ¥r•rn pakl to rrther PCC pw¥orn ¢kA•ly Connect￿ lotheffl ow related partlo•. APCM 2024 Page 19 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARYS STONE Not•s to thv FIDoncl¥l (ror#inwdl For the y••t •rbdlrtg 31 D•c*m￿r 2023 F￿ED￿ssE7S HOh11W 4131 D•wnb•r. 121ordlrth•y C06t MOv•rn*ni In lh• ye•r' 3Di •rK6t valw. 31 D•wrthv 2023 415 O ANALYalS OV ASSETS 8Y F￿d* TOI*1 lnve•trTr￿l nx•d •8w• 418 416 64514 521954 316 $98295 LWOilitl•*. du• om ye Ll•bllltS•s. du• aft•r rrKr•lh&iafA ISW6) Pund b*l*rt• 522964 31 $10284 • oeeTop8 2a22 Incom• ￿ r•cOWern￿?.' 8171 798 J1￿ Fwd. GhlAbd N•W Room Gfft Al FLrd. ¢31ft Aklon d¢yWh>M 1441 G#t Ald FIM G4 JJ 18 chi Chlld 06212 7 LIAalUTleS.' AMOUNTS PALLII40 IXIE ￿￿T￿l￿ONE VEAR 2023 2022 IM•F•r*J•rt 024 57540 WI￿0￿10 F••1 R•knfvJ*b 258 S8184 • LIAelLlmES.' *AIOUNVJ FALLWlg IJUE AFTERONE YEAR ¥ optBATINO LEASE COMMIThIEIOV8 1200 1842 t382 Sy•*x L•t•ltr1￿ 51 APCM 2024 Page 20 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARYS STONE Nots¥ to th• Finaneoal Slatsm•nts l¢onllnu• For thg y•ar trndm￿ 31 D•e•mb•r 2023 B•1 at 31 D8¢ 2023 g FUND DET￿LS Dgslgn•l•d Funds Chwch Hall- ffl4irrtpn•nc• •nd yrw•l ¢f H811 plu• •urplw u8•d to 8LlPPOrt oltho C￿j￿h 177 177 card￿1. fvnds to*upport IM• olthg ¢bur¢ M•ffloritil Btsok. to to¥•r In thv Book and lo support tho Ilf• of Iho Church Youth Fund. to provld• forchlhlrnrf• trt Junlor Chui¢h 27$ 1355 1605) 14381) 339 1331 165 Mwy Chur¢h-t¢ pro¥ld• adduonal outrnxh to f•rnli 437 437 lty) Club.fund￿skng f¢r•p•¢ilk dKld•d ty PCC 1010 2438 Flowgr 447 13761 Outrmch Carbon Offwt Fund Rtt•Th• Fund 94 6￿) 4291 10501 R••tr*t•d Fund• Chuych Room wr4•ct.lunth to•upportlfjTr¢ ¥t•g• In $1581 1294in 1145731 67823 Church Bulldng Fund- don1￿0￿ Prol8••lon4 Fuftdr•i•lthg ITh• L•Dl•m) 814$ 2JS 467Ct 100 IlXh)Q T•*•r Fund. fvb¥l• tt+•¥pport h1• •nd •vocl•l•d It￿0 157 Youth Club IPl•y Pl•¢•l. CNkl 144 12091 Enttoy 8upport Gr•Tht IEf•cl Charfty Cd*ctloM (9311 1594 1000 1$94 69217 $255 Rothl•d FuDd•. h•ld •eftothMi•r Commun6ty Fund. ￿￿d to work In th•cOmm￿lY by provldw •qulwn•rf•thd r0￿Ur¢ Organ Fund- oryan fflalnt8n•nce HI￿n9 Fund. lov fflalnt•nnncelrnnew71 Church Oullthng Fund¥-lorlabrfc rgpalvslrp5tor*k Pha•• 112 Rtstov￿0ts. lor labrk rnpalrfrn•t￿ NBW ChuFch Room 168C+ 12S 1>) 129 I46￿) 57 4W06 4J6297 522964 S&*lolal 209)67 Y2S220 6610 Total Restrfct•d EndMn•nt. Borrow8 Tnnt. upkq•pol grn 10 316 APCM 2024 Page 21 ## I **ndependent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of the PCC of St Mary’s Stone ('the Charity')** I report to the charity Members of the PCC on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2023. ## **Responsibilities and Basis of Report** As the Charity’s Members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). I report in respect of my examination of the Charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. ## **Independent Examiner's Statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act 2011; or 2. The accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or 3. The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached Signed: Jack Fryer ACA Hedley Dunk Limited Dated: 02 April 2024 <<8>>