ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL For the Year Ended 31 December 2025
The Beacon Parish of St Mar aret's Streat Parish Church and St Martin's Westmeston Ditchlin ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEftrtENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL For the year ended 31 December 2025 CONTENTS Page Annual retK)rt 1-10 ststement of fuwicial aciivities 11 Balance sheet l2 Notes to the accounts 13-21 Rep)rt of the independent examiner 22 Ditchling* Streat and Westmeston Paro¢W Cbllh CoFmLIl Incumbe." The Parish is in a vxancy at the year IndepeTrde examiner." MaxWelluMb1etOll & Co, I West strrt E&8t Sussex BN7 2NZ Bankers." HSBC. 3&40 South Road . Haywar& Heth . W&%t Su&sex . RH16 4LA The Parish of Ditshlin& Stre4t and Westtneston (Trty> as BcaL7)D PaTish) is a rewstered c]wity. Dumt¢r 1132488.
Annual Report for 2025 AdmiDiytrativ¢ infornil&n The Parish 18 a charity and registered withthe CIMrity Con)mission wkthiD the nnI ofthe Charities Act 2011, numlr 1132488. The Parlsh Office AS at Middleton La] Lewc5 Ro4 Westrneth BN6 8RL. Aftcr th¢ Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCMI on Sunday 4 May 2025. the following werc elected a1 were serving as members of the Parothial Chureh Council (PCC) as at 31° Dcccmber 2025: Deanery Synod & Acting Chair Dr Keith Hine Elected M¢bs. Luke Biersteker Lydia BieTSteker Margaret Bovill Virginia De La Pole lan H¢nl¢y Secretary Strw¢ture9 goverDanc¢ and mAnagemenl Tr PaUbla1 Church Council IPCC) is a L¥)n)orate established by the Church of England. The PCC o• underthe Parocbial Church Council PoWS Measure. Membersbipofthe PCC 15 determind under the Churth ReprtatiOn Rul aod CA)nsists of certain ¢x-officio rnanbers (in this case, when appoiDteiL the incumbcnt). the ChurchwaThJells and members of the Dwery Synod a1 the members of the Church o are elected at Annuaj Parish Council Meeting (APCM). MeMr$ are warnY encomged to stand for dertion lo the PCC and we ty to a balan of skills and experience where possible. Obj¢etlves and Activitie8 The primary objective of the Parish of Ditchlin& Stseat and Weslmeston {wmmonly koown as th¢ Beacon Parish) is the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jcsus Christ ac¢ording lo the d(]fte8 and praclices of the Chwcb of England. The PCC h&8 the resnsibilIty of (x)-Oting with the iDwmbent (when appointed), in promotll in the ecclc5i&81id Parish the wknle mission of the Cburdt pa5tora], evangelisti ial and ecumcnical. We have considered tk Chlty coMs1o,S gUIdae on public Ewefil a1 the supplementary guidance on charities for the advall¢e of rcligioL W¢ ty to enable all residents of the Parish to live out their faith&8 Pllrt OfOurLMmuity. The thffe churth of St Margaret's DItsh]i St Martin's We5hDeston and stst are 01 to all. atMI pastoral SUprt a1 s(Kial and LX)InmuW activiiics are availablc to all, reglesS of nMDberslJip of the ¢hur¢h or belief& Aehievemexts and perfonllanee Church attendau¢¢ •nd olher miDi51ry *¢¢ivity There are l 11 (2024- 195) porishiotm on the churth clectornl roll of the Beawn ParislL The elecioraI roll was renewed dwing 2025. in xcordance with Church of F4Jgland Rq)resentstion Ru1&8. These require that previous records are deleted every six years and those on tILe previo roll are inform¢<L so Ihat tbey can
Ow previo incumbrt th¢ Reverend David Walli& left the Beao)n Parish in May 2025. after 18 years, service. Th¢ PCC would like to rccwd its thanks for his long service to the Parish and Wis1 him and his family well. The Pwish was therefo in a vacancy for much of 2025. This situation is SubJt to stondard op¢rnting prc¢eduwcs dictateiL in our I. by the DI£se of Chich&ster. Wc owat4 during the vacancy. uÈ]deTth guidance of Archdeacon of HoJ51wn and Rural Dean ofHursL who 18( whayrequi in the pmvision of ODgoing ministy and other pw(Kbial SuprL Despite the va¢Y. regular services have colltin wftthout eXwtiO all ow thUrChe with no appreciabte fall-off in gUlar attendance and we bave maiDtsined a busy prorne of community events aimed al both young people and adults. There were ulaT 10am Sunday morning CornmuDion services in St MwgaT¢t's and one service each month in either Streat Church, or St Martin's Weslmesbn. There were also ffgular Wothcsday Ilkn Communion s¢rvices at St Margare¢'& At s¢ George's ParL a large retirement village complex in th¢ Parish nm by the Augustinian order, regular fortDigbtly servi$ of Holy Communion were held in the clwl of the complex. This is an In4rtallt and much app1#d part of the work of the Parish as the pulatiOn of the complex is as large that of the villages of Streat and Attcn(knce at norn1 Sunday services at S¢ Margaret's averagd 48 (with six Childrenl with an av¢rnge att¢Ddae of I l at the Wednesday 10am Communion scrvica5. There wete four norn)d Sunday sffvlces at St Martin's Westmestoo att¢nded on average by 39 tpIe (with one child). There were also five norn1 Sunday s¢rvicas in Streat with average attendatK¢ of 37 (with one child). Attendan at the Thursday services at St George°s Park was ¢. 30 peopl4 maintsiDing last year's levels, vthich is most eniW8 for this 'planted' ChuTdL In additio attdaUCeaIclulstm&8 servicc5 was high at allthfee churchc4 ev¢nthouO) itwas only possible (beCae of the vacancy) to ¢elekn ChristsD&S Day at one Churchthis year. At St Margaret's on Christi Day. we wekOM 102 adults and 7 childraL whilst our very popular crib service on ChTiStm&s Ev¢ atlracted 495 adults and 85 children. All 3 churches hcld Carol seTViC4 with higb Icyels of att¢ndanc£ of adults and childretL St Margatet's also IM)sted the cbildrni of St Margaret's Scly)ol for their Christmas Carol concert in Decanber. In tots], we welcomed approxin*ly I800 through our (knrs for G(KMI Morning FrAday medIng led by Churth1 Keith Hin< pmvide fellowship, prnyerand Eeadings and W¢LE held weekly on Zoom wlth avewc attend of12. Keith's new study group. caljal Next St¢ps, aimed at deenIng attendKs' insight into the Bibl4 continued into 2025. The Reverend Canon Dr Peter Sills, who r¢gUI assists the Beacon Parish WAtb S15, has alrA) eontinued to nm discussion grourL8 for memlJ¢xs of ow Nvodiipping CAMnmuDily, which have sti1¢d Ix)th biblical and other matcrids reknling to Christianity. There wEre S1claI WVA(%s for lous ocwlos (school& IwvesL Rememb1 Sunday) & all three church&8 at different tim¢5 of the year which were well attended. All three chur¢hes were open daily to th¢ public during the day throughoul the year aod there were maDy passing Visito We hav¢ nnint•ned an active yogramme of for children and young people iD the Paris with a regular 'Little Beac(N, Swiday Sch1. collective WOrsp in Ditcbbng (St Margaret's) CE Prinwy s1 Nursery Sch(K)l and Ilf-i¢m1 aThl end of lerm seTric¢s Rn St margat'S ChurclL Avcrage attendance at these S¢]1 SerWi I8 been 230 h(l childrcR] and over 130 ellts, and carers- ix)th being in¢reas¢s over last year's levels. demovthtiDg tk thriving relationship between St Margaret's aml Our online Stieari ¢9bility in St M8rgaTeÉ's has proved an exllent mediurn for OPelliDg up our service5 aml enlarging our'wovshipping comnmrrity.. a conllnunity (estimated at 130)which IlUdeSth0
who worship in pern)n and those WIM) ar¢ unwell, or othcrwise unable to attend. The online streami aIlows the latter to enjoy the minigty aThl also enables great¢i levels of particiixtion at weddings and fimerals (w1c couples or family rquest its use). VieweES are able to walch live or catch up18ter at home and thi$ h&$ provcd to pUlar. Nvhi]st it is difficult to gauge avcragc online partTcipation accuratety. There were 7 (7 in 2024) téptisms 10 (10} weddings 0$ our Chur¢IS in 2025. There were 23 (21) Outside of Church aDd its ministy. the Patisb's dedicated and enthusi&stic vOlUnttt arranged a full calendar of events for parishion% the lo COMV1ty and visitors througbout the y¢8r. These not only serve to TaT8¢ inrA)n for the PISh but they also briDg our Church community together and will hOty encoutage wn4lllllchgoers in ow villages to with their Chw¢kn. We continued with w¢ll. estsblished events such as Pancake maktllg on Shrove Tuesday. Soupcr Saturday? Appk Dy. Coffee morDing at the invitation of the Ditchling Village Association WTeathmking and we welcorned aDothtt eonc¢rt from the Brightsn Singen. who stsged a well-attellded ChTislmas Concert in the newly furbished St Margarel's Cha¢7 forn spe (see Ixlow scclion 4). The spa¢¢ was also used by the ehoral group Coro Nuewo. Ivho were thecentrepi¢¢¢ ofa spe£ial evensong in July. Our¢ommunity also celebrated VJ Dsy with a spc¢ial event on Ditchling Grccn sta] joijjtly with Frienlis of Ditchling and th¢ Royal British Legion - and a related exhibition thged by th¢ Ditchling History Project in St Margaret's Church. In October. St Margarel's al hosted the book for AmDda Davey'8 'ln Thelr Landlpe,_ a landscape history of over270 Chur¢hes, Ch4r15 alld rnined places of worship in the South Downs National Park. Strcat Church owed its doors again to organised by the Streat Convnunity: a MaemillD Coffee morning in Sqrtankn. a rccilal by the Poet Laur¢at¢ SitllOD Amllage An June and a Winter Festival (Quality Streat!) 4]ortly before Cbristtw. Th¢ PCC would Ilke to convey its c09 gratitude to the volunteers wb) OnIse and siimkn our event4 prticularly Nicki Jenlly Corncy and Jujia Ttr. as w¢ll as to those wlK> SWPOrt them at these events to those who undertake a whole rdnge of other activitie5 which supm)rt our community life: our verger Ginny De La Pol4 our Sunday S¢h(M)I providets Lydia and Luke BieKst¢kcr and Te Haughton: our Foundation Govanor at St Matgatct's sch). Liz Curry: au those VAM) prepre and serve coffee aDd cakes every Sunday f( our worshipEJeTS al] tIM)se who supwjrt our Servic wAth prayers (includiDg th¢ PTayer Team of Maz and Kelth HI Liz Cry and SIMiaD Gu¢st), Tcadings. ringing the bell4 ptovidiDg the flower3 a1 playing th¢ orgwL those who bBke (e5 for the of St Marget'S School every week during terni tim4. our ¢e4m of we1coll[S and sideswsons (1 by Maz Hine) who are the first people our WOT5hippers see on elltering ts Churth" Kay and Ray MaCphers0 who facilitate the fortnightly serviees at St George's" Jenny Ki1lde Rolkn4 who has dor much work thisyear with the curtains in St M8rgaret'4 Spkn Ulpl¥ Who team of builde at Oriole Conslrnctors have aLe great Work our buildAngs this year. M8rk Chapman. who is always on band to help with vRri0 jobs aTOUTMI our Churches. John Milli4 MaInnS websi and his wife who kws ow Churches so clean and tidy: Kylie Sandell al GordDn Bal whose drafting and photography ]EsptiVelY produced cxceJlentPaTisb Profile forus as we seek anewviear. Robert Sans07n, who hL8 suprted for many years with our technology" the nnY volunteers who undertak¢ Churchyard duties in all weathers. led by Paul Clwnw wh05e tegular WO on the thTfC Churchyards and the Wicarage garden is vital for this Par1. our car pth wardens * Si Martin's and Streal: and finally the memlxr5 of the PCC (notably our thTre tIleSS ChurchWarde% Paul CRwmaD, Tessa Haugbton and Keith Hinek the Finance Comrnittee and the Fabric Committee. That 15 a long list iwt we JJJake no alOgY for its l¢Dgth - volunteers are the lifeblood of this Parish: every day of the year. some if not all of them are at worL for no remunerdtiofy because of the P&88ion they feel for the mission of this ParislL The PCC said thank you to all our volutrteers by way of a Christm& party ib St Margat*'s in Demir and wish to sdute them again her¢! Rrriew oflheyear
Tbe PCC ¢ommilte¢ met ten times during the year. with all meelings cotsluctrd in person. Attendance levels hAVC l)een consistently hig& with most mem1rS tuming up for most mcelinB& whil certain matters are wmmuDicated and discuss¢d outside coJnmittc4 forn decisions are made at con)mittce duly reLx)rded in the minutcs. ThePCC nthttages all ailmiiMstT8tive, final and safeguarding issuas for the PaTi514 whilst maintsining a sharp focus on prOOI1ng the mintsty of the Church ID the Parish. In addtlion to the PCC. there WCTe tlree Churchwarden me&ings and the Annual Pwish Coullcil Meeting in May. The tin)e d¢mands OD our PCC and partieularty on our three Churchwardens Si]ficant in any Parish but lalIY so for one in va¢ancy: bctween them thcse Chwchwazdens (Paul charm Tessa Haughton (who double5 a5 Parish Adminisfrator) and Keith Ifme) have enswed that the routine business of the Parlsh bas continued throughout vacancy without problems. should thed ill particular for ensuringthat eV service has been appD)priaÉely ministerf wtth a wonderfuj 'panel' ofvt$itin8 clergy, to 0M we also ¢xtend Th¢ Emmanud Centre. The ETnmanuel C¢ntre (EC) in Ditch11 which we rent from the Church Growth TnL8L Iw been a resource for our parithioners and the community for many ye&rs. A number of r¢ntas from our local u)mmunity have ensured good usage dwiDg 21Y25. With the EC le&qe expiring in 2027. the PCC has been considerÉng its firtwe during 2025 and were delighted to find an OPFK>rtunity to transfer the leas¢, viith effect from ijl January 2026, to a Chrislian charity. BefrAeThled was founded in 2017 by Gail Millar wld wokn in PaerShIp with local Chh¢S and GPS to sUprt vulnerabl¢ individuals in HUrntpierjn Burgcss Hill. Ditcb]ing and Haywards Heath. Gail was weu known to and we could think ofno b¢tkr orgdnwation to ttaDsfer the lease lo. The (rer was ae¢d by the free1Ider. th¢ Church Gmvth TL We fl)k foTwaTd lo workiD8 clo%ly wftth Befriend1 &8 it settles into its n¢w horne. Yoth¢b Wo Vlbilst it continued to be finaD¢ialty unviable to Teuuit another youth worker, the Parish continued tr) PTovide access to ministry for young pIc. The IiT)ks lthe¢n the Church and the Ptimary School remain very strong and coll¢¢tive worship contins on a regular basAS in the SelKL with swtsilled enthusiasm on the part of the pwils and teachers, dwite the v1. End of tenn services ¢onttDue St Margaret'& with high levels of atteftdaTr from pupils and par¢nts. We reiterate here our thanks lo our Yoiwrteer5 who make all this h4)E. The Fabri¢ Commiltee The Fabric Committee met fOrnts twice in 2025 bul was in frequ¢nt dialogue outside these due to the multiple proj¢¢ts IKillg undertaken dwing the year. Some of these were occasioned by the QUInquerla1 Jnspedion (QQD conductd in 2024. The key projects are outlined below Removal of choir slalls re-laying of tk• Chanceljloor in & Margarel's.. our bigg¢st project in 2025, completed on budget and on sGlYdule by Oriole Constr. This bas On up the area to enable 18rger ¢ongregalioDs and space for wfomers special services and events. 11 greatly eTrhan the l(K)k of the Churcb aod the area has been firther c111$1j by the purchase of 40 new modern and comfortable thair& The fl(N)r work funded by Friends of St Margarel's (FOSM) and the ChaiTS by leIeS from J Essex and Don Lewis- we are ¢noThllously gratcful for thcir gaKrosity. Reswralion and rehangins of the Ifilary Bowp* over ihe Wesi door of St Margaret's.. these fine curtaim, and donated by a fornier lshI01r, were Ptofe5sionally testornl by cnSerV Zate Tinker (Under the direction of Jenny Kilbride Robuts) and Tehung dwing the year at a SFxcial S¢TViCC of rededicatio We are gratefid
the Church Building Council. the Newby Tn& the Tumer Dumbrell Foundation and Janet Crdgg for their generous donatiorts which have fully fimded this restoration. Collapsed gravu in Si Mdrgarels Clwclwd.. duriDg 2025, some allcient grnves ¢011ad, leaving the 8reas below exp1. No human rernai we¥¢ identified but the area has been cordoned off for safety Teasons. tnding TwlutioL We in Clo dialogue wtth the Diocesan Advi50ry Con]mite for th¢ of ChuheS (DAC), the Dioccsan archite¢t zesolution during 2026. The family named on the hcadstonGs cannot be identified and Insu does not cover this situatsoi4 so the cost of repairs will thefore fall to the Repair ofihe rtwfat& Martin s." the identified a of quired r¢pairs and these were Unaken and cojnplcted thring the year on budg& a1 on sCh1C by Clarke Repair ofwip7duws ai Si Marhn's.. minor repairs were undertaken during the year and quotes Obtain for more exte1Ve rwiorntion of y)mc of the stained glass ndOwS, including the 'Bair*s' window. Commioned by the B8iDes fan)ily in knnour of their son. Frederick. killed in the First World War. This wndow is famo forhaviD8 ayare (kpidion ofstxpw. These WO will be in 2026. Preliminary work io establtsh repair needsfor ihe tower Martin's." the QQI identified p)tentAal WdWOr[n Assues in the Ixams and we c4)nuw5sioned inspections by a structural engincer during the year. und¢r th¢ superv7sion of the Diocesan ltecL No urgent repair needs l)ave been identified a1 the work5 will be commiwoned 4kniog 2026. her Ivorky.. a number of small building WO were Id¢ntsfi by the to all three Cburclrts and these h&ve eithr I¢ll mpleted in 2025 or are in plan for 2026. tn additi(b rouline electrical repair4 organ tilog and ¢lo¢k maintewice took place during 2025. Th¢ Emm1 Cffltre also required ffpaits lo its floor dwing the ye•r but costs were fully Funding for all of the alve work has come (OT will lrne) eithtr from donors identified aknve or from other legacies deS1ted for such work& The PaTish is in the fortunate pjsitioll of illg abl¢ to turn to these sowces of fimdin& 8s the cost of maintsiDing three aThGient buildings is higk We reDMin grateful th8t all our Chwrhe5 at¢ in good order and they remain pleasing piaccs for our w0th1pS and guests to come to. We would like to thank the McmiS of our Fabric Committee (Luke BieT5teker, Paul chall atyj lao Henley) fw their ongoing work to ensure that this remai th¢ case. Finan¢e Committee The FinanL% Committe¢ (FC) met three tim48 during 2025 lo consits the SItIon of the PCC. lncludingoperatingwfornLqn. investmenVdisiDveslmentTequiremeJits. project eXlture our Bookkeeper. along with a Cash flow forecth for the Ten1¢[ of the year and a stalement of the value of the PCC'S Inv prep[ by cthy]nutt¢c member Stuart Curry. Sufficifflt DwagemeJ]t Infoml10n is provided to the FC and the PCC to nnitOr the Parish's finawes and to ke Anforn)ed decisioL8 about irKom¢. ex114 liquidity and inv¢stment strategy. The FC alyA) CO81derS an annual budgeL US prywed tn Novembcr. for the forthcoming year 8nd presented to th¢ PCC for approval.
Th¢ PCC would Itke to t1 mcmbS of the Finance ComDuttc¢ for their WO during the year. lan Henley (fyeasurer), James Clarry, Stuart CU. Ketlh Hine and Tony Seddon. There have been sx)me SigfiCant financial matters10 Conslderov n¢ntyears atKI the WO involved in monitoring aTKI managing the WfOrnwe and oud(x)k should not be undwtin)8ted. Other matters to Dote Glft Aid recovery and re&1]8 Gift Aid are by the Bookkeeper, who keeps track of all donalions and makes the quartcrty online SubMlnS now required by HMRC. Parish Givl•g S¢hem¢ (PGS). The PGS is an indepeAthI clwity setupto cw the adrninisÉraiion of Planned Giving for participating Parishe& kn particular. it ensures timely recovery of Gift Aid from HMRC on donatioD5. It alg) provides a method of automatically increasing Pjamied Giving in line with inllatioo whrx¢ this is agreed by the donor. It Iw been very beneficial for the Bewn Parish and we continue to ellurage existing and potential dollo Io 8¢lect this Option for giviD& rather than Ing standing ord¢T5 or direct debits. PGS donHtions now r¢present c 6Y/o of Plattned Giving receipts: this is a small on last year and w¢ shall continue kn Iwk to drive this Dumber higher. Approval of a¢tount& The PCC continucs to use the accountancy frm Maxwell-Gwnbleton & Co to prepare the antwal accounts in the gpproved forni. W¢ are ful to them for their diligent attention to our affairs and for the very significantly discounied fcc for theiT WOtL Finallel R¢vi¢w Ineoming Re8ovrtts The totsl of incoming soUrCeS saw a incre&se over 2024. This number includes a material contribution from Friends of St Margaret's to the Chancel tloor projecL excluding this. there was a 20/0 decljne (on a like for like basis) in ItOri resou d mainly to lower l¢gacies and lax Planned Giving dU slightly but this more than offset by an in¢r¢ase in Unp]amied GiviE It is appTOFYiate at this for the PCC to acknowledge alld deepty thank th¢ many givw& iK)th those who do so regularly and those who do so ocS1OallY. In particular we would like to thank those who have reswdeJJ to ap]$ for supp)rt by either stsrting new ¢tributiO or by increasing their existing regular givin& Every donatio no matter how bi& is vilal for tk SU¢L%SS of our mis%ion- thank yo Gwts: We Contin to inefit from the generosity of local doTrJrs and are very tful ODtE again to the Turner-DumbreU Foundaliaffj rn)ewed theirfunditig for mainieDance of Churchyar The PaTish Councils of Westn&8ton and stat also continued their generous support of our Churchyard maintenance costs in iK)th those villag&% and Dit¢hling Parish Council pTh)vided wpp)rt for the maintet)ance of the ¢Ik in St Margar¢t's-we are most grdteful for the comuutment shown by our local authorities to th¢ maintenance of important viltsge asset& Finalty, we att atso gTrtefi Friend Fos The To¢¢8 of t Friends once again provided genero supwbrt in 2025 for the maintenance of the fabric ofthe Church Oistd under note 2 of the accou &8 'Sla] apalS income.). Thi5 SUPPOrt went notsbly to the re-laying of floor in the ClwKel where the PCC had dlded to remove some uL8ightly. uncomfortabl< unsafe lldY Un8ed chotr stalls. This 'rry)rderin8' project cost £47.) (net of VAT. all of which has been
reclaimed undet the LPW 1)¢e}- these costs have been met in full by FOSM and 14r rcit¢Tate our thanks to th¢ Trwtees for this generow s R0rS Expemded Totsl TeS0u exnded incffased by circa 18% year on year. due nthinly to the wst of major works and repairs. FclUdIng thts cost in both y¢at& th¢ tothl rL9ourC expendoj rfyluced by cl& 6Y.- this vrds helped by the absence of a vicar for of the year. In addition to the exrKnditure for the Chancel floor nKntioned atx)ve, a number of other Tepairs w¢rc nec&w having been by the QQI in 2024. Tkn QQl.related will continue into 2026: are irnpt physical &s5ds. We are fortUDale to be able to 4]rnw on legacies grants for the bulk of Aside fn>m fabric rqjr& the Iargest item of expenditir¢ LX)ntinues to the Diocesan parith CA)ntrilxrtion (known as the Psrish shE). The Parish ShaTe covers the housin& StiEnd and pension costs of the clergy acro the Di(Kcse. plus a sum for Diocesan central costs, deTgy training and a ¢ontrilMrtion to nationa] church fimmls. Some 60Y• of the Patish Shar¢ goes on the clergies, stild ion and housing c05t& 21P/o on patish sUp)rt services (saf¢guarding, youth, finance etc.), 160/0 on training new clergy aad cuTal and 4•A on the central ehurcb and supwt for poorer di0$. In 2025, the PaTish Share was ld at circa 7(PA of the amount wuested by the Dio¢e4 followin¥ a review of the operating befoTt the start of the y&gr. At the time of writin& It Ibas been announced that a new PriesÉ-in-Clw h&s been appointed as rniniste¥ for th¢ Parish" giv&) this will a 50•/• rol¢, the PCC will reviewtk kvel of Parish ShHTC when the newminith staTts her dutie& Major Wo]s and Re MW&R . The most mat¢rial proicct ID 2025 was the cha1Cl fl(N)r project in St Margat."S. SAgDificant ¢xFnditurc w&8 also inCUrd on initial investigation WO on thc St Martin's tower, where the I1 had identificd some issues. Furthw expe11 ts addrcss the uodutyiDg cause will be ll1[¢d in 2026. Jn additio the QQI ideified seve]al iR]ilding works UIred * all three Churchffj vthich w¢tc all a¢kIre in 2025. .. The EC has i¢ome less utilized for Parish activity sin(r the Covid pthi¢ in 2020 but the PCC has able to nm it for vaTi(yus events and record small sU15¢S every year. Whilst 2025 slK)wed anothv small surplus. we were (as alx)ve) abk to trareT the lease on this to a lo Christian charity with effect from I" January 2026. We are delighted that It will remain in such iKneficial use for o)mmunity. Church costs &g carefully as $811 )le, mi] that they arc Fold for by parishioners, don10. Thege costs were reded by 2•A in 2025. Finaneial Sithation. ollthk 4nd Future fla Having stsbiRis&l the 'core' fmancial p)sition Ci.¢. the PK)sitioD lUding expKnditure on MW&R) in 2024 by Parish Slw¢ payments a1 kIng the Youth WoTkeT role redundanl the focus 102025 w&slo achieveat Icastabffakeven]Mition frirtheyear. IVhi]st this ha8 been achie the PAfi5h did benefit in 21Y25 from G. £25.0(K) of grallts and sums left in wills (the latter recorded in Unplanned Giving). Whilst some of these teod to recvr reguAaTly (such as the gwdnts from villag¢ ¢ouncils), most by their natur4 'one4)ffs' and therefore unpredictable. It ten1[ a challenge to operate on a fully suslaithle basis and the PCC continues to fixus on building regular giving and managing costs. Given the Subst Tesourtts available to the PCC Cjncluding c £125,(KKI of unrestri¢led fundsl the PCC considers the Clwity lo be a going wncenL
Net Assets: The overall net assets of the PCC dread by ¢Ia (luring the year. ectIng I use of our invcstment prtfolio to finat¢ the various fabric exnd1$UTeS descrlbed aix)v¢. Investment Funds: The Parisb has two br1 categories of inyestmart: Restricted al Endowmenl Funds 1]ill8 circa £297.(KKI. th)wn 12% on 2024, as positive market llVeMents were offset by witlthwals nude to pay for MW&Ii Proceeds from Restricted and Endownmt Funds are reserved for the use for which the Onnal endowments or &)nations were given. Such fun(18 are listed on pages 20 and 21. note I I to the Financial Statements. The largest parts of thcse Funds relate to Streat Chh and St Martin's WestmestoL The Frients of St Margaret's fi]nd significant rerv¢s comllutd to the fabric of St Margaret'& We ate thus fortuna1¢ that we remain well i)ositioned to undertake MW&R for our thC ancient and hist1¢ buildingg for the for¢seeable futu Unrestricied andDesignoledFupth sfoLxI at ¢ia £140,(KX). fl agall]st 2024. Plhilst me of thes¢ Funds are cash al the bank 2nd slK)rt tern? ¢kEwits. the majority is Tq)re5ented by the PCC'S nthet Anvestmcnts. D18natIon h&8 iwi made within thwc inve5ttneDts (as not¢d in Note I l) to St M8rgaTet's (Audry Day). Financial markets wfornial strongly dIll8 the ye4r under l¢w. with our equity.bHd bell¢h returning circa 11.12% and bond-IKsed itTKhmarks circa 60/0. however. the PCC'S inv¢stroeDts failed to keep k of this market Ftrfornwice. having Jagged hItid these benchnth. Funds are managed for the PCC by CCLA (a fund manager specialising in the nee4ts of Churches. Councils and Local Authorittu). CCLA was taken over during the year by Jupiler Inveslment MaDagement. Finance Con]mttte is reviewing wromlee in light of n¢w ownmhip with a view to tsking action if wform8nce sins unsisfactory. The PCC remaitts focussed on t$Unng the lrity of the Ch8rity'S investtnents. as well &$ on (kniving the Ixst possible return from them within its agreed iisk apWite. Outlook: L4x)king forwar thc following financial risks and op•es should not&l: . we have navigated the vaL•ncy well in tams of engagemeDL att¢ndaDCC and this is feedtng thrnugh ittto Givin& where Ik ycar on year underlying totsls are up c 6 /0 (helpKd to a cthain extent by Icgacies). We must howev drive giving deeper and wider into ourcortllnunity.aswe ar¢ still overly denon a relativety small numkr of major donors. Th¢ arrival of a new incutnbcDt presents the opw)rtunity of achieving this. The PCC remains c4)mitted to developing giving aThl reminds the community on a regular knis of its Inveslunt fiuth 2nd income: wbilstrnarkets rKrfonn¢d strongly itt 2025. there remain many economic and g¢o-polilical Tisks to th¢ fon of our portfolio. atIng Ixjth asset Valu and investment income. In resnse to these risks, the PCC llde the decision in eady 2025 to Ean¢t some of its directly held invthents more in favour 0fmultiSCt This will rellmin under close review duTing the forthrning year. particularly givcD the relive llnderperforD to tbrn of our funds at CCLA (s<% aix)ve). &R: with the majority of QQl.required repai now a)mpleted or in train and with th¢ risk of major tower repair costs at Si Martin's now mitigated. the situation is now more stsble than when last fqKTrrted. However, three aD¢ieni buildings present an ongoing risk of major repair costs at any tim& The discontTnuatiOD of the Lisld PlaL%S of Worship scheme means that the PCC vAll De to futml the gross cost of MW&IL as VAT will AK)t be recoverable. et as8ets: fthic.t¢lated costs remain ao ongoing risk to tKt as w¢ shall need to dTaw on investrnents to filnd these for the foffseeable firture. It is IMrtant that we
ntinue to encomge legacies and identify OPWbmili&8 to secure grnnts in order to nmintsin net as. It sllould be noted, in this respecl that we held Cir £16,0(M) of cash at the year-end (slKiwitig in the Acu)unts Unr&strtcted Funds) at the year-end. this includes £50(Kl of unsttnt Unrestricted grdnl monie& AtM)ther £IOOOO of UnrestTiCted kgw moni4g has betn pledged to the Parish- we hol to rttelve this in 2026 after pbate IMS been completed. Risk MAnageme•t FrnmeworlL. The PCC has a sulte of po]1¢1 which are reviewed gUlarlY and 1st the managennt of risk (see sedion 10 below). Ii is also supwrted in this respect by dedicated Finan(% and Fabric Committees, WI regularly review tbes¢ Sall51 aTea8. The risk of mw repairs is ¢overed by a variety of dedicated fund5 (see 8 aix)vel The major risks f]ll the Parish are (i) thc Decd to n)aintsin ¢ngagement and giving levels through the vxancy and ensure the smooth 1xaDsition to our new incumbenl and (li) the long.rn] sustainability of the finan¢ia] situation: the fabric ¢aTr be sustained througb the w of leg1¢$ and FOSM supFK)rt for the foreseeable future but it remai iMt that tk CO operating posilioll IS held to iYcak¢ven or better. IIL Policies PCC Re8erYe8 poli¢y is to nlD readily Nli8abk UnS[Cled Funds suffici¢nt to meel 8nticipated outgoings. Though the joritY of incoming and outgoing resourc&8 are regulaT and edictable, the PCC policy is to ensure that is no le&8 than the value of four months of average dilure availAble iti Unrestrictd FutMl& As at 31" December 2025. th¢ PCC was comfortably in compliae with thi8 wli¢y. PCC R#ve81ment is ¢0 invest fiuKL8 via CCLA (cbwch Charities and Auth(Nities Inves Management Limitedl a leading ethical atKI sustainable investm¢nt manager. ID eitlKr 8 Central Board of Finance (CBF) Chutth of Englalld Inv¢stment Fd. a ChaTiti¢s InvestmeDI Fund, or the CBF Chwch of England De[$11 Fund. The PCC de11 account is held with CCLA and the current a¢¢ount is held Mth HSBC. Health & Safety pollcy eovers intcr aiia risk pthich are carried out foT all events and Safeguarding policy- sec scdion 11 11. Safeguarding Report (Pro by the Acting Parish safegUdIng Officer (PSO)) Th¢ B¢acon Parish is part of the D&8hbo*td roll4)ut by the Diocese and are on stsge 3. In ¢arly 2026 they have also joined the Safrguarding Hub and a cwrently atteDJing training when available. We ore in a p¢riod of vacancy and the PSO ¢hurchward& cwrdinate ChUh House and our Rural Dean and ArchdOn if theTe are any sthguarding i&8ues withiD the Parish. Our Safeguarding Policy is revIed allnua]]y Irore the APCM and appears on the Beacon Parish website www.beacon arish..k and is also prominentty displayed on the notice boards in our three chwehe& Disc105we and Barring Service (DBS) and safe8]8 trailling cwrenlly Up1(te aThl remind our PCC and volunteers as ne¢¢ssary.
Disclosutr aThl Barrin¥ Ser¥ice IDBSI and .$3fcgwrding I¢IDE aTe curyently uO-date and The memlxt5 of the PCC are commitfrd w 5afeguardin& Te aDd of all our congregation and memba5 and recognise Safeguarding is eirryone s reswnsibilit). We N aitenti(111 to any slf1¢ neets for vulnerable adults aThl children and ke¢p ow risk a8sewnents for individual events up lo dak. Te55a HaughtoL Chvrchw*rdcn in the ParislL is Auing Parish Safeguarding Officer. We tontinue lo ask Othe to Take on this role have been umsuceekqful An appoilfi8 a new PSO. Tessa Elaugh¢Th)- Auing PSO- 14th Febnthry 2026 Slgnedon behulfojihe PL C
3/*1>6 Idn Henle) ITrewHrer) io
Fw IMCOIIING RESOLIICE¥ Voluntwy IrKLYne bvibes forgener*ingfints 107,ffi4 48,674 155.738 125.648 487 7337 50 12307 22.991 23,S75 ¢751 urth aJivilie5 C#her Inc(¥nin8re50ur 22391 137.744 $7rt25 19Q169 170ATJ Ralsln8fund5 thurth Klivrties 172 165&10 167.782 2.172 213.381 0 215A63 47,711 47.T11 180.897 112J57 I30) 0 120J841 37.623 P7,6231 7585 127,9691 0 {20J841 16.710 165341 I63} I20.[ 18.422 NEf MOValBIT W FLINDS 875 1345031 16A53) 1410.4811 6,5a# 139208 187337 150.554 477 47061 140,083 152W 143.701 4A618 477.(
T4n8iblefixed assets In¥stments 25 Lbl.613 3.768 441670 7b Totsl flxed assets 407.155 Debtoss Shorttemi dep05i15 Cash 16,458 15.787 CiHIRENT LIABLMES Credhtors faUln8due th <1 10 14.2241 (4M 30A51 436.618 4719 4618 477.LX9 unreStcted funds Restrlcted fur¥Js EndowThentfvnds 139.20B 187.337 54 11 11 143.701 43 477m9 $18ned on lan Henly-....-.-_ .. rrre85urerl The OD PEM 12 to 20 a* IDl¢gThl prt of Ikestfm8ndAI $tsteJD•uts Page 12
PAROCIIL4L CHURCH COiJNCIL OF D1TCHUNQAT ANDw&oI¥ J¥OTES TO THE FINANCIAL ATEME3 FOR THE YEAR EIWED 31 DKCEMBER 2025 Fillancid Rcwtingsts0tsOppA1lbk in the Ryblic of Ird•diFRS 1021 thcChv51i¢%kn 2011 and uKG¢mlY Accqtht Li14wJifY< JmNry2015. llxCkntyts4 PgbJ1cBetFityaS dcfitd by FRS IQZ ThE Ch8rityb¥ spplieAI UpJttBu]14in l &%publl51Kd2 F&nThy 2016 dl tlow Ibl Fuds Funltsheld byth¢PCC Pa8e 13
N¢yfLS TOTHE FINANCIALSTATEMETh (thntimyd) FOR THE YEAR ENPED31 D•Eqkn1025 l Pfjlltle5 (C•tstlDwt41) Idl PyJ4
l Atuumti•gPollde8 (Co•tinwed) lfj Fi1 asjets T*Mgible fivd agxe of 'Ltharity" be Se£tb)n l(V){J) (¢) of the (J111c8 Aet2011 •gs&saTe not qJits]ised l O¢tsthr2(N)7. D¢pJY¢ialio (g) IMveJtmeDts (h) Sknrt t¢nn Be15
PAROCHIALCHURCH COUNCIL oFDTTCHuNG.T AfiDWL%ITrIFSIDN NOTFS TO THE Flf4ANCIAL sfATEMENTS (f•JthKtd) FOR VUR ENDED31 DECEhlBEII 2015 TOTAL TOTAL 63288 21544 652IKS 27952 UnplBttha Eiving Coll2$ th all thsuvi 21J44 37ml &797 9245 10985 17322 13.71KI 107 48,674 bNy4•rs Oth lur rnisin£evMts 7J37 4m7 7337 J¥07 12) 3.599 8.751 IlÈrcof Fthrna Centy¢ Htreofthurth I(tIdi 3,039 768 19.768 858 2Ug1 75 195 P16
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER2025 TOTAL TOTAL FUNDS 2024 Fund5 RatslngF¥n&r Fund Raising ca8ts 1172 1172 1172 lin 1.714 Home mi1 854 1.714 58.935 2212 14.840 9.842 9234 7596 3516 5&935 2312 54,799 6.549 14.418 12,674 7.285 6,2( 2.718 Upke£p of svIceS Upkw of churchywd 9234 3J16 Ytxth Wo TLThldier Group 45J91 1366 721X) 47,rii 93,16Z 52.( 4.045 B(x)k keepftng 1.134 1256 165.610 1256 213J81 1256 780.897 47.771 47.771 215553 Page 17
PAROCHIAL CHURal COUNCIL OF DITCHUNG. STREAT AND WESTMvsfoN Noryfs THE FINANCJAL ATEmENTs (Co•thid} VOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECER 2025 4 Slaff costs 2•25 2024 and salarie5 14978 823 AYerageempl(yffe numbers 4(a) Payments t• rcc member and the Virginia de ld £1.554 for deatitngservittsotml fees. •rtrIre8 b•twoen 2025 24.477 7.948 (24.47T) (7,948) (s) (15) (4.6S3) 7.623) 15 4.683 37,623 2024 lotspdent exomination 1.134 1.134 1.134 1.134 Pagc 18
7 *Me4B 11 lJarnAryJ25 At IjamryI1Z5 Ch3r8eknyw 126J69 165J47 I4 117J30) (6J34) 141J {17)3 120fftn 710) ivJ& {A853) 1512 119J59 14.753 7.1 (4224 14QLX3 15 iz 143,7111 11.751 7J83 143.701 4318 1.692 031 Pwl9
FOR THE YUREhllED31 DRCEMBERJ125 Ol_JTr25 95W 737.744 (167.782) (6.710) n7 43J46 1392OS 137.744 37J23 710) Ab'8rnyPmj JDVA 41J52 ILJsoi (Its53) (J831 3.447 6.fJ3 250 4.liXI 37591 {10.080) (*&liYII 137 124.19J SJLV 3J06 I17) (4.4261 3311 16 IVlJ37 37.424 47.771 6533 27.735 14J36 IW.72S 473 11.108) (573) 15.1561 24617 701
NOTKS TOTBE FThANCIALSfATEMEritS (eomll FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMf4ER 2025 Not¢ li Py2
PAROCRIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF DTfc.HUP4G, sfREAT ANDL£sToN INDEPENDENT EXAMINEIL8' REPORTTO THE PAROCYIALCHVRCH COUNaLOF dit is not wuiNI ftrthisyeuDdtr#e£tiw 144(2) ofth¢(trili¢sArt20RI (thc2011 Ad)andth# It i4 ow r¢sponlll)Ility to: eJF4mryth¢ seaith) 145 of th¢ 2011 A seAon 145(5Xb)of the 2017 Ac¢ kffp &%¥Ju %$ in with s11 IJO of the2011 A¢¥ad of thE2O11 CbrtervJ A¢¢ounf I Wtst S¢rttt Est S4JS BP472NZ