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← The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Buckland Monachorum

2023-12-31-accounts

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ST ANDREW’S CHURCH BUCKLAND MONACHORUM WITH THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MILTON COMBE

Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council

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For the year ended 31[st] December 2023

Website: bucklandchurchdevon.co.uk

Charity No. 1132573

Diocese of Exeter

Aims and Purposes

There are two churches in our parish and the Parochial Church Council includes representation from both. The Vicar, Andrew Bowden, along with the Associate Minister Andrew Farmer and the PCC, aspires to extend the ministry and teaching to the wider parish community of 2,077 people (2021 census).

When planning our activities for the year, the incumbent and the PCC have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.

“Living in community as God’s people; serving the wider community in God’s world”

Our vision encourages us to look in two directions:

The above have been met in various ways, and include the following:

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To facilitate this work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of both churches in Buckland Monachorum and Milton Combe.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE 2023

Guidelines and Policy documents:

Safeguarding

St Andrew’s Church, Buckland Monachorum, and the Church of the Holy Spirit, Milton Combe continues to place Safeguarding as a high priority under the guidance from ‘Promoting a Safer Church, 2017. The PCC fully recognizes that they have a responsibility to support, protect and safeguard all, but in particular the vulnerable, young children and the youth.

To support this, a culture of prevention, support and guidance is central, and all who work with children and young people, and support the vulnerable, are recruited in accordance with the Diocesan Safer Recruitment guidance. All recruits are fully DBS checked and are given support and training for their role.

Review of Safeguarding Action Plan 2023

The Safeguarding Action Plan was presented to the PCC by the Parish Safeguarding Representative in January 2023 where it was approved. A mid-year review was undertaken in July and reported to the PCC. Progress on this action plan was reported upon at each PCC meeting throughout the year.

Progress on the Areas for Action 2023:

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survey and compliance survey was completed in May, 2023. The PCC completed all annual reviews for key safeguarding documents: Promoting a Safer Church policy; Responding to Safeguarding allegations or concerns; Church activities List. The outstanding actions in this section have been moved onto the 2024 Action Plan.

Trish Topham, Parish Safeguarding Representative (PSR).

b) OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY – This is shown in the following reports:

Charleston Friendship Cafe

Although this is a community led project, it is supported by some of our church members. The Charleston Friendship Cafe has had a busy and productive 2023 offering a varied range of fun activities to our ‘friends’. Our numbers continue to rise, and we regularly have 20-25 people attending plus our invaluable helpers. We have people from the village and Crapstone, as well as Dousland, Walkhampton, Yelverton, and even one lady from Bere Alston.

We are self-financing but ask for voluntary contributions from our ‘friends’ to help pay for the village hall hire and running costs. Transport costs for the TASS minibus were covered by a donation from TASS but as this has now been used up, we need to find other funding streams, and have been fortunate that Yelverton Rotary Club have recently donated a sum to help with this.

Our fortnightly sessions include time for chatting and reminiscing, armchair Pilates to strengthen our bodies, activities to exercise our minds, and creative skills as well as lots of singing. Not forgetting tea, wonderful cake and lots and lots of laughter!

The group are very competitive (in a good way), and love nothing more than taking part in quizzes, beetle drives, or musical bingo. They are also extremely creative, and we have seen wonderful outcomes when icing biscuits, making crepes, painting ‘kindness stones’ or making and decorating wooden Christmas trees.

Tom Watson (Parish Youth Worker) led us in a Super Science Session where he wowed us with science tricks and we had a go at making ‘colour patterns’ using skittles, water and a paper plate. Great fun.

Along with the Yelverton Luncheon Club, we had a lovely carol service in the Church where the Beehive Nursery sang to as, as well as Years 5 and 6 from St Andrew’s school, alongside the children in the village who are home educated. It was a real community event involving the youngest to the eldest in the village.

We have lots planned for 2024 and offer a warm welcome to anyone who wants company and laughter.

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Support in the Community

Several members of the church family support both the Buckland Cares Group that run the Food Hub and the Play Café which runs weekly during term time for parents and carers of pre-school children.

Community Carols

For the third year we hosted ‘Community Carols’, and for the first time, hosted the event in the grounds of St Andrew’s Church in Buckland Monachorum. As this event had previously been held in the Meadows (behind the church), a new Risk Assessment was produced. Around 80 plus, brave individuals of all ages joined us for the event. We were very grateful that the Tavistock Stannary Brass Band were able to join us, leading the music as we sang carols together. The evening also included a few readings; contemporary poetry as well as Bible readings, read by members of the church and the village community. At the end of the event, refreshments were served at The Drake Manor Inn: roasted chestnuts, mince pies and mulled wine. We were very thankful to Mandy and Garth for partnering with us in this way.

Links with St Andrew’s Primary School

St Andrew ’s Church continued to support St Andrew ’s School financially, physically and spiritually during 2023.

Financially :

An academic gift of £2,500 was given by the church to the school. It has not been spent yet but will be put towards purchasing another set of class laptops which enhance learning across the school in many areas.

Physically :

The following examples give a flavour of ways members of the church play an active role in the life and governance of the school.

Weekly acts of Collective Worship led by Andy Bowden and/or Tom Watson which are based on specific themes, or Bible passages through each term are popular with the children.

The church is used by the school for rehearsals and performances. These included a Leaver’s Service in July 2023, a Harvest Festival celebration and nativity plays. Andy Bowden and/or Tom Watson are always in attendance for performances to welcome guests before performances and to close in prayer. Terry West is indispensable in operating the sound equipment, during the rehearsals and performances.

The Buckland Chapel was used in September 2023, when members of the church set up a coffee event on the first day of the new school year to welcome new parents. Sarah Lakey (Head teacher), Claire Morris (SEN) popped in to provide an opportunity for parents to chat with them. The event also enabled church members to chat to parents about church services and outreach initiatives aimed at children and families.

The church also provides a rota of volunteers to serve refreshments to parents and carers who had been invited to attend the class-led Collective Worship once a week through the autumn and winter terms.

The Buckland Chapel and church teams also welcomed parents after the afternoon Nativity services, providing welcome refreshments and shelter from the chilly weather before school pickup time. Finally, the Chapel team hosted a breakfast for staff on the last day of term before the Christmas break. The staff were appreciative and said they felt blessed.

Children from the school have helped in the community by supporting the Food Hub in the Chapel during Harvest Festival. Harvest time was also celebrated in the apple orchard where children worked with Dave Cox pressing apples.

The school choir sang at the Christmas Fair which was held on a Friday evening this year. It was a popular event attended by many members of the local community. Years 5 and 6 sang Christmas carols at the Charleston Café Christmas lunch.

Bex Murdoch, the Head of Foundation at the school, read at the ever-popular Carols in the Meadows evening.

The school values and welcomes volunteers from the church who have an hour or so free during their week to read with children – and would appreciate more volunteers.

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Spiritually :

Prayer is a mainstay of school life, and the church has supported this in numerous ways.

  1. The School Prayer Support Group has been running for seven years and continues to meet on Monday mornings.

  2. The school’s ‘Ethos Group’ updates the school’s vision and values document with the help and guidance of Andy Bowden and Tom Watson.

  3. Andy Bowden provides both pastoral and prayer support for the Headteacher, which is very much appreciated.

Outreach Magazine

The magazine is a wonderful vehicle for reaching the community for the church. It is independently funded by subscriptions and advertising that covers the cost of production. It is expertly edited by Becky Butland with two of the church members dealing with the many advertisers and finances and the distribution is undertaken by other members of the church. The content of the magazine is very varied and includes much about church activity, links with the other organisations and articles about events within the parish.

c) GENERAL CHURCH ACTIVITY

Pastoral Care

The Pastoral Care Team seeks to be the hands and feet of our Lord, primarily within our church family, but also in our community. We are a small core team and a wider group who all seek to care and support those in need in practical ways. We continue to have team of willing cooks who have supported people with meals during the year. We also have several people who support with offering lifts to services when needed. In addition, we have continued to give Andy Bowden welcome bags to give out when he visits newcomers to our church and local area.

We liaise with the Prayer Chain and are always grateful when we are made aware of needs, we can support. Please either speak to Andy Bowden or Andy Farmer or one of the Team, or contact us by email “pastoralcare@bucklandchurchdevon.co.uk”

Children and Youthwork Reports - Continued nurturing of our Young People, are seen in the following reports.

Children, including community outreach.

This group continues to meet each Sunday morning except the first Sunday of the month when the children remain with the rest of the church family for the ‘All Age Service’. Three leaders from the team run the session in the chapel hall, ensuring the safeguarding policy is adhered to and any issues are reported back to Tom Watson and/or the Parish Safeguarding Lead (PSL).

After several months of consideration(!), a new name for the children’s group was decided with a view to give the group a bit more of an identity. The group is now known as ‘STAX’ (an abbreviation of ST A ndrew’s C hurch K id S , with the ‘X’ of the logo forming a cross – Jesus’ death and resurrection central to all we do). A short, simple motto follows the name – ‘stacks of Jesus, stacks of fun’. A new name for the youth is also under consideration – watch this space...!

In a slight change to previous terms, STAX followed a different programme of teaching from the wider church family. Over the course of the year the children explored Jesus’ life and ministry from the first four chapters of Mark’s gospel before following a teaching programme based on the children’s text ‘The Garden, The Curtain and The Cross’. At the end of this series the children produced a fantastic diorama of the book to share with the wider church family. With children being exposed to themes of sexuality, gender and identity at an ever-younger age, it was agreed to use a brilliant teaching resource produced by the organisation, ‘ Faith In Kids’ called ‘Who am I?’. This provided an opportunity to raise and discuss these issues from a biblical perspective in an age-appropriate way. With this conversation started, the aim will be to build on this in the coming years.

In July, as part of the church’s summer camp, children from STAX and the wider community took part in the ‘Superheroes Academy’, discovering why Jesus is the greatest (and true!) superhero. Later, in October we held a ‘Lightbusters’ party as an alternative to Halloween in place of our regular Dangerous Club. This proved to be a popular event again with over 30 children attending to hear a short talk from the Bible and get involved with a carousel of activities and games.

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On Christmas Eve, the traditional Christingle service took place, aimed primarily at children and young families. It was very well attended by families within the church and the wider community, and none of the 75 Christingles were leftover!

During term time throughout the year, Tom has led ‘church collective worship’ on a Wednesday morning at St Andrew’s Primary School. This year started with the children looking at some of the key moments of Jesus’ life in the run up to Easter followed by a Bible overview, exploring the overarching story of Scripture through the Old and New Testament. Along with these themes, we observed some of the seasonal celebrations when the school made use of the church building to invite parents and carers to attend (Easter, Year 6 leavers, Harvest, St Andrew’s Day, Nativity and Carol Service).

To celebrate the end of the school year, Michael J Tinker (a children’s singer/song writer) was invited to perform his live show ‘Be Strong and Courageous’ in the church building. This was another opportunity for the children who regularly attend STAX and Dangerous Club to invite their friends (along with their families) to come and hear the good news of Jesus through a theatrical, interactive, sing-along show. Refreshments for children and adults were offered beforehand and thanks to a superb team of welcomers and facilitators from the church family, the 80+ guests who came were able to have a really enjoyable time.

Everything that has taken place in the past year has been made possible through the commitment of the wider youth and children’s team. This is a fruit of the whole church’s commitment to view the children and young people as valuable members of the church and a desire to see them raised to know and love Jesus as the Bible is taught week-in-week-out.

Dangerous Club

‘Dangerous Club’ continues to take place after school on Wednesdays and is directed at children aged 8-11. It involves a short Bible talk followed by various games and activities loosely based around the theme of the talk. The idea is that it provides an easy evangelistic opportunity for the children from church families to invite their friends along, to a club where they are guaranteed to have fun and hear about Jesus. While the club is going on, a café runs for parents and younger siblings with drinks, a few games and a small craft activity is available also.

St Andrew’s School has been very supportive in advertising the club, with children being very enthusiastic to come along. It has been a great encouragement over this last year to see a core group of children attending the club and also seeing newcomers attending after being invited along by those core children. The Club continues to be a positive link between the church and families in the school and community. The dedicated team of leaders involved in both the club and the café continue to make Dangerous Club a thoroughly welcoming and enjoyable time together. In the past year the need to grow this team has become more apparent and will be one of the main focuses in the coming year.

Youth, including community outreach.

The youth continue to meet each Sunday morning except the first Sunday of the month and the midweek group for teenagers in GCSE and A level years continues to meet on a Tuesday evening. During the all-age services it has been great to see the beginnings of a youth band, with some of the young people playing and singing with the music worship team. Along with serving more regularly on the coffee rota and being involved with the sound and projector technology, it is encouraging to see the youth taking these opportunities to be an active part of the church body.

Socials throughout the year continue to be well attended by youth from church as well as the wider village. These have included night-time wide games, ‘hunt the leader’ around Tavistock, a Eurovision party, a pizza and film night in Buckland Chapel, paddleboarding at Lopwell Dam, fireworks at Clearbrook and a Christmas escape room in the Chapel. There has been a noticeable impact on the cohesion of the group as a result of these times spent together, which is very encouraging.

Many of the youth attended summer camp where Jack Hodge from Catalyst led the evening youth sessions. This coming year we are hoping to take a group of teenagers along to a summer ‘Venture’ run through the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS), called ‘Sparkford 3’. This is an 8-day residential designed for 14-18s from all over the country to come together and enjoy a full programme of activities and daily Bible teaching sessions and seminars.

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Networking with other youth groups

There is talk of an attempt to start a youth gathering in Tavistock and I have been contacted by Ross Mitchell so that he can tell me more about this idea. I am still in semi-regular contact with the youth leaders from St Andrew’s Church in Plymouth and was invited to speak on their youth weekend away. I have also been given the name of a minister in Horrabridge whom I believe is trying to pioneer a youth initiative in the area. I am yet to make contact with her but am looking to explore this over the coming year.

d) FURTHER CHURCH ACTIVITIES

Prayer Chain

We are thankful to Margie Goodfellow who has been heading this up for many years and thankful to Denise Nixon for taking on this role this year. The Prayer Chain consists of fifteen members of the church, including Rev. Andy Bowden. Messages are received and sent out by What’sApp. The prayer chain is mainly used by church members, and is mostly confidential, depending on the nature of the request. We have seen many prayers answered and many people blessed, being reassured that they are held in prayer as they go through difficult and testing times.

Discipleship Groups

Discipleship groups are small groups of people meeting mid-week, some in person and some by zoom. They are a great way for us to learn from God's word, share our thoughts, experiences, and encouragements, pray for each other and those around us, and grow in our faith. They are a really valuable opportunity for us to challenge, encourage, and support each other in our everyday lives.

Groups can choose what material they use, depending on their particular needs, and many have used the material recommended and provided by Andy Bowden and been blessed through studying the books of Psalms, James, and Esther.

Please pray for God to draw people who'd benefit into discipleship groups. Give thanks for the new groups that have formed and pray for more people to be willing to take on coordinating groups.

BREATHE – Ladies Fellowship Group

BREATHE is an opportunity for the ladies of the churches in Milton Combe & Buckland Monachorum to meet for an evening, spending time in the God’s Word, time in Prayer, and time in Fellowship together. BREATHE meets four times a year in the Buckland Chapel. This past year we have spent time in Matthew 11 in our session titled “Come to Me", reminding ourselves that are not alone—through the work and the burdens and the trials, God sustains us, He helps us, and He will never leave us. In July, in our session “Look to Jesus”, we looked at Hebrews12:1-3, encouraging one another to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, to hold fast to Him, and to listen to Him. In September, in our session called “Blessed Assurance”, we spent time in Hebrews 7:25, rejoicing that we can be completely free from doubt— that our sins have been forgiven and that we are saved completely in Christ Jesus! In November, in our session titled “Wonderful Worship”, we mediated on the words of Romans 11:33-12:3, how worship is not limited to what we often call music at church, but it is so much greater than that! Worship is constant inner praise to the God of scripture. It’s been a really encouraging year, and prayerfully we continue to seek His face, and grow together as women of God’s word.

Christian Ladies Breakfast Book Club

The Book Club has continued to flourish in 2023. We have increased our numbers and have 17 on the ‘books’ though not everyone has been able to come at the same time. We met six times through the course of the year and enjoyed each other’s company, food and chat. We were able to try out the new Chapel kitchen with a tasty 'Full English’ breakfast in the summer and have enjoyed using Buckland Chapel as our meeting point. There was a wide variety of books chosen and several ladies were able to share their personal experiences of missionary work, living in a foreign country and being married to a foreigner (thanks Bethany!). We even reverted back to our childhoods and read the complete set of a classic collection. This was our reading list for 2023.

Through the Gates of Splendour by Elizabeth Elliot Women Who Risk by Tom and Joann Doyle Finding Myself in Britain by Amy Boucher Pie Making Sense of Life by Michael Ots Surprised by Joy by C S Lewis The Chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis

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Sung Worship within both Churches

When compiling this report, I realise how blessed we are at St Andrew’s and the Holy Spirit Milton Combe, for having musicians and singers who are willing to lead the sung worship on our churches Sunday by Sunday.

At St Andrew’s we have set groups who are allocated a week in the month when they will lead the worship. This works well and has been an opportunity for new people to become involved in the music. The first Sunday of each month at the all-age Communion service we now have a regular group who lead the youth band. This has really worked well. and we have been blessed by their leading.

The music for each Sunday is primarily chosen by Andy and Bethany Bowden and me. However, this is not set in stone and if whoever is leading that particular week, feels led to choose a particular song they are free to do so. We came together at Christmas as a group, to sing two carols at the carol service. We met weekly on a Thursday evening leading up to the carol service, to practice. It was a fun evening which we kept to an hour, and this year we hit two records. Firstly, the number of sopranos were outnumbered by the altos. Then I think the men outnumbered the women. Everybody worked hard and hopefully we were able to give God the glory when we sang. Milton Combe also held their own carol service last year and it was a joy to go there and sing with them. As well as our weekly groups, we would be lost without our wonderful organist Audrey Mills who faithfully plays Sunday by Sunday in Buckland Church. A huge thank you Audrey from all of us. We must also not forget the organists at Milton Combe, Elizabeth Baxter and Sue Chapman. Thank you too ladies for your service Sunday by Sunday.

Jane Oliver

Church Camp

The church family again enjoyed a week together at Strete, overlooking Blackpool Sands. Matt Rowland, Vicar of Modbury Group of churches led the evening sessions of biblical teaching covering 1 Corinthians 1-2, about how great the gospel is and how church unity depends on uniting under it. The children had a programme of learning in the morning and chill out sessions in the evenings; the youth had evening sessions including biblical teaching but also wide games and different activities.

Church camp enabled us to learn more about God, to enjoy praising Him and having fellowship together. We were able to work in teams in the running of camp and get to know one another better, while spending a week in a beautiful South Devon location.

e) UK AND OVERSEAS MISSION GRANTS AND DONATIONS

Supporting people in full-time service both in prayer and financially: -

Missionary Aviation Fellowship

Working in partnership with hundreds of other Christian and relief organisations, MAF enables practical help, physical healing and spiritual hope to be delivered to some of the world’s most remote and inaccessible communities. We have a personal link through Becki and Matt Dillingham who are based in Chad. Mission Liaison: Philip and Antonia Tuckett, Hanna and David Waine, Peter Harlow Web site: https://www.maf-uk.org/

Open Doors

Every day, millions of Christians in the world risk their lives to follow Jesus. In more than 70 countries, Open Doors supports them by supplying Bibles, providing emergency relief and helping persecuted believers stand strong for the long-term. In the UK and Ireland, Open Doors helps the church to pray, to give and to speak out for those who share our faith but not our freedom.

Mission Liaison: TBC

Web site: https://www.opendoorsuk.org/

Tavistock Catalyst

Catalyst recognises the need to care for and encourage young people in the Tavistock area as they journey through adolescence, which can be a challenging time. We are fuelled by a passion to see young people grow in selfconfidence, self-esteem and to reach their full potential.

Mission Liaison: TBC

Web site: https://tavistockcatalyst.com

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Tristan & Sarah Coulshaw

Pioneering mission work with refugees and NGO church in Lesvos. At the time of writing, they are back in the UK applying for visa to return for a further two years.

Mission Liaison: Bronia Coulshaw. Web site: None to date

Support for Ukraine

We continue to support Ukraine this year through an organisation called Nightingales UK. Church members have been donating medical equipment and engaging in several fundraising activities across the parish.

Buckland Chapel Trust – BCT

The Buckland Chapel has its own group of Trustees that oversee and run the Chapel and we are very grateful to the team of Trustees for all the work that they have done to enable the Chapel to be used for both the Church and Community. This year saw two Members and two Trustees resigning, however, it did see two new Trustees being appointed along with one new Member.

As a Church we are extremely grateful for all the hard work that the Trustees have put in this year and in particular the completion of the kitchen project that has been a real benefit for church activities, alongside community events. Last year a mobile post office was hosted in the chapel alongside this was an opportunity for members of the community to meet and enjoy a chat over a cup of coffee. This continues to run this year has been supported by members of St Andrew’s congregation. Our support is also financially, and the church gives a regular monthly amount throughout the year for the use of the facility. The church continues to make more use of the Chapel for many different activities, including Youth and Children’s outreach – that includes a monthly “Dangerous Club” held after school for primary aged children; a Light Party at the end of October; bring and share lunches, etc. Further usage by the church included PCC meetings, a Christianity Explored course; a Lent course; regular monthly prayer meetings; regular Women’s events and a Christian breakfast book club.

The Trustees continue to work hard to ensure the continued smooth running of the Chapel. Buckland Chapel Trust has its own Annual Report which can be found on the website: www.bucklandchapeltrust.org.

f) Other key people and groups

There are many other individuals and groups who contribute greatly to the smooth running of both churches: Our Verger; our Cleaner; the Flower arranging team; the Guild members; Coffee serving teams; Projectionists and Sound desk controllers; those that organise and take part in the rotas for side-persons, prayer ministry, and the production of weekly notice sheets. Readers from St Andrew’s have also been supporting other parishes in the Deanery.

Bellringers

We are delighted to have the ringers together again this year, after Covid. It is lovely to hear the bells ringing out prior to the morning services and for the occasional wedding. We now have several young people learning to ring which is really encouraging.

2023 Electoral Roll Report

It is with varying degrees of sadness that I have had to remove names from last year’s Electoral Roll of one hundred and forty. Seven have left the parish, one has died and three no longer attend either of our churches. This makes eleven names that have been removed, to make the total 129. However, I am pleased to have been able to add a further eight names to the roll, making the2024 total on the Electoral Roll to be one hundred and thirty-seven.

Deanery Synod

In 2023 the Deanery Synod met three times below is a synopsis of the meetings:

In February Revd. Karl Freeman spoke about the General Synod (GS) and of course `Living in Love and Faith’, was a key focus at the February Sessions of the GS. He said that ‘pastoral advice and blessing to those in civil partnerships’ had been voted for at GS. There are three houses of the General Synod. All three houses must vote and have a clear majority to propose that legislation or liturgy is changed. Bishops can and should offer pastoral advice to their Dioceses. Philip Tuckett a Lay Minister for 35 years at Buckland Monachorum then introduced the main discussion for the evening. Based on Mark 4: 35 – end (where Jesus calms the storm), Psalm 90 v 1 – 2, and the hymn “O God Our Help In Ages Past” – Philip recommended that we put our trust in Jesus in all circumstances, because God has been faithful and will continue to be.

The Synod members discussed “how we see God working in our parishes and mission communities, what do we do well, where can we improve”.

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In the second (business) half of the meeting, the treasurer reported that the diocese had sent a letter thanking our Deanery had all paid the Common Fund in full. The Rural Dean informed the meeting that Readers will now become “Licensed Lay Minister with PTO status (Permission to Officiate). All will have to re-apply after the age of 70 and there is a statutory retirement age of 80 (with request to extend this in “exceptional circumstances”.)

In June Rev’d. Nick Law, (acting Rural Dean), read from The Beatitudes: St. Matthew Chapter 5 verses 3-12. He had recently, unusually, been asked for this at a funeral. He then led the meeting in prayer. Sharon Blythe, ‘Children’s and Families Mission Enabler’, was introduced and she spoke on What is Mission, especially with the concerns of children and young people. Sharon commenced by saying she did not have the answer to more children in church! She was a teacher by trade and therefore her presentation would be interactive and gave a very helpful power point presentation. She also included a few research links. She asked us ‘What is Mission?’ – ‘Purpose with action’ was one response. She suggested that schools are the biggest ‘mission field’. Rev’d. Andrew Thomas said he thought Mission Communities were. The best way to approach children is through parents. Education the best way of empowering children. Sport and the beach were frequent alternative activities for families on Sundays. Rev. Philip Conway said that peer pressure and time were obstacles.

In October, Andy Bowden introduced Tom Watson , St Andrew’s Youth Worker who talked about the development of children’s identities (This is me) and referred to John 10:10-11.

Following the group singing “I will Sing The Wondrous Story” Rev Andy Bowden led the meeting in prayer prior to Rev Andy Atkins explaining that the reorganisation of the deanery has been delayed until the 2nd quarter of next year, so he gave a presentation on “ Engaging with our Rural Farming Community”. He highlighted that the farming community is in crisis and that farmers are asking for help. The Farming Community Network (FCN) provides support and churches are urged to consider donations to them. The support needs to be where the farmers are comfortable so chaplaincy at cattle markets and other places is needed as well as positive invitations to the farming community to join our services and festivals.

g) STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The method of appointing PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St. Andrew’s, Buckland Monachorum and the Church of the Holy Spirit, Milton Combe, the PCC consists of the incumbent; a self-supporting Associate Minister; and six ex-officio members, together with eighteen elected members. Included in the total of 24, are two representatives for the Church of the Holy Spirit in Milton Combe and five lay readers. The PCC also has a Standing Committee which can deal with urgent matters more effectively than calling a full PCC meeting, and a Finance Committee that regularly meets one week prior to the PCC meetings, to deal with any financial matters in more detail than the full meetings allow. The full PCC met six times in the year; as did the Finance Committee. The standing committee did not need to meet. The Annual AGM was held in May 2023.

Financial Review for 2023

The church’s total income for the 2023 year was £147,427, compared with £178,231 for the previous year. Within last year’s total there was a legacy of £24,987, so after taking that one-off receipt into account, there was a reduction in income for 2023 of £5,817. The church was also able to reclaim £20,706 in Gift Aid from HMRC. This was also slightly lower than the previous year. The church continues to be grateful for all your continued support, especially when everyone’s finances remain stretched.

As far as costs for 2023 are concerned, these were reduced, from £187,253 in 2022 to £158,329 for this year. This reduction was in part contributed to by the decision not to pay the full Parochial Share. The amount requested was £85,813 an increase of £12,953 on the previous year. A decision was taken to only pay £67,016, representing that part which relates to clergy costs. The balance of £18,797 has been ringfenced by the PCC, but not recorded in the accounts, and a decision is being made in the current year as to whether this balance will be paid. Other notable costs for the year were for youth work, continues to be of great importance, the restoration of the clock and expenditure on Milton Combe including two ecological surveys.

After transfers from the general fund to cover activities not completely met by the relevant restricted fund balances, the net deficit for 2023 was £10,902, which has been deducted from the reserves brought forward from last year. This means that the total reserves as at 31[st] December 2023 were £150,803, of which £132,194 was in general reserves (of which 18,797 has been designated for the Parochial Share), and £18,608 in restricted and endowment reserves.

Thank you all for your continued support for the church, both for your financial contributions and your free time given. It is sincerely appreciated.

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h) ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

The Church of St. Andrew’s, Buckland Monachorum is situated in the village of Buckland Monachorum, Devon PL20 7NA. The Church of the Holy Spirit, Milton Combe, is in the village of Milton Combe, Devon PL20 6HP.

PCC members who have served from 1 January 2023 until the 31[st] December 2023 were:

Ex Officio members:

The Reverend Andrew Bowden - Vicar

The Reverend Andy Farmer - Associate Minister Mrs Rumbi Mukono (Treasurer)

Mrs Patricia Topham (Safeguarding Representative) Dr Angela Smith (Licensed lay Ministers) Dr Mark Smith (Licensed lay Ministers Reader) Mr P. Tuckett (Licensed lay Ministers Reader)

Deanery Synod Members:

Churchwardens:

Mr R. Matthews (Licensed lay Ministers Reader) Ex-Officio Mr T. West Mr R. Hopkins

Mr Roger Watkins Mrs Lesley Pope

PCC Members:

Mr Bob Barnes Mr Bill Houldsworth Mrs D. Farmer Mr J. Girven (Milton Combe) – resigned in the year. Mrs D. Corness Mrs B. Girven (Milton Combe) – resigned in the year. Mrs H. Hopkins (Hon Secretary) Mr R. Hopkins (Electoral Roll officer) Mrs H. Keane Mr Simon Bovey Mr Joe Smart Mr Christopher Rowe Mr David Tute Mr Paul Nixon (Licensed Lay Minister) Mrs Elizabeth Watson Mr Terry West (Buildings & Fabric lead & Deanery Synod Representative.)

Safeguarding representative: Mrs Patricia Topham. DBS Officers : Helen Hopkins & Julie Tailyour :

Independent Examiner: Mrs Felicity Harris – Moorlands Accountants.

The Report was approved by the PCC via email on the 10[th] May 2024. The Report was signed by:

Rev Andrew Bowden, Vicar: ………………………………………………………………………………………………. and

Roger Watkins/Lesley Pope Church Warden: ………………………………………………………………………

12

Parochial Cburch Council of St Andrew Buckland Monaehorum with Milton Combe Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31st December 2023 Moorlands

Parochial Church Council of St Andrew Buckland Monachorum Ivith Milton Combe Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31st December 2023 CONTENTS Legal & Administrative Inforn￿tion Independent Examinevs Report Statement of Financial Activities Income and Expenditure Report Balance Sheet

Parochial Church Council of St Andrew Buckland Monachorum with Milton Combe Le al and Administrative Information INCUMBENT Rcv. Andrew Bowden BANKERS Lloyds Bank PIC 8 Royal Parade Plymouth Devon INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Felicity Harris, Chartered Accountant Moorlands Rock view 28 Glanville Road Tavistock Devon PL19 OEB

Independent Exanjiner's Report to the PCC of St Andrew Bucldand Monachorum with Milton Combe This r¢port is on the accounts of the PCC for the year ended 31$t December 2023 which are set out on the fo15owing pages. Respective respollslbllities of the PCC the examiner As rnembers of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the accounls.. you consider that an audit is not requir¢d for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 ( the 2011 A￿) and that an independ¢nt ¢xamination is requir¢d. It is my responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of th¢ 2011 Act, to follow the procedures laid down Kn the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioner under section 145{5)(b) of th¢ 2011 Act and to stale wheih¢r particular matters have come to my att¢ntion. Basis of independent examiner's report My examination was carried out in a¢¢ordtmce with the Generai Directions given by the Charity Commission. That examination includes a review of the accounting records k¢pt by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes ¢onsid¢ration of any unusval items or dis¢losur¢s in the accounts, and seeking ¢xplanations from you a5 trustees oncerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is gtven ￿ to whether the accounts present a "true and fair vieMP' and the report is limited to those matter5 set out in the n¢xt statement. Independent examiner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: I which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in ￿￿Ord8nce with section 130 of the 2Ql l A¢t' wid io prepare accoun15 which arcord with th¢ a¢¢ounting re¢ord$ atxd comply with the aecounting requirements of the 2011 Act. have Thot been met" or 2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Felicity Harris BA FCA A￿(felloW) 28 Glanville Road, Tavistock Devon PLI 9 OEB

st AndreW8 Church, Buckland Monachorum PCC & Holy Splrlt Mlknn Combe Statement of Financlal Activities For the perlod from 01 January 2Q23 to 31 Decembgr 2023 UnrettrtGtsd fund$ R88tr(cted Endowm¥rtt fund5 Total fund¥ Prfor￿r total funds th¢oJM andeniYownMIts from." Donations and kng8¢￿s Incwd from thgritsble a¢ti¥￿0￿ Other income 91,481 29.125 871 19,846 111,327 29.125 6,973 132.550 37,713 7.966 6,102 Total Ineamo 121.479 25,948 147.427 178,231 £¥pendlture on." Expendilura on charftabk actnithes Otherexpenditurè 112,422 2,604 32,831 10.471 145,253 13,076 171.832 15,421 Total trxpondltuye 11S,026 d3,303 158.329 187,253 Incr￿me I lexpondlturel res¢)urG￿ befor8 tran818r 6,452 117,3641 110,9021 19.0221 Gross transfers bets￿n fvnds- in Gross transfers btheen funds. out 25,406 115.2481 25,406 (25,4061 23,673 123,8731 110,1571 0thgrTr¢tsgnlS￿9a1￿&llQsS0s Ngt rnwm¢nt In funds 13,7041 17,1971 110,9021 19.0221 R•¢on¢lli•lion of funds Total lund6 brou9htforward 135.88 24,981 825 161.70S 170,728 Tol•[ fvnds caffl•d fomard 132,194 17,783 825 160,803 161,705 Th¢re moybemlnordl8¢repan¢los In the lotals If thepen¢•w• notb8logshown 06 May 2024

St Andrew's Church, Buckland Monachorum PCC & Holy Splrlt Mllton Combe Anatysis of Income and expendituro Selected period: 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 Totsl Unre8trlctod D•&lonate Endowrnent Trtsyear L￿ty•￿ Income and endowments Donations and legacles Donations and l¢gael•s 011N0001- En¥elopes St Andr6w8 011N0002_ Envelope8 MC 011NOD03- Payroll Donations- For Youth Worker 011N0004- Youth Work 0IINOOOS- MAF (Matt & Beck) 0IINOOD6- Sl8nding Ordtrs- General OIIN0007. Standing Orders- Restricted OIIN0008- Pathsh Glving Scheme 031NOOD1- Open Plate- SIAndi8WS 031NtX)02- Open Plata MC 041NfA101- Incomrd Occasional 041NW04- Donation¥ to Mitton Combe 041NCQ05- Donation$ to StAndrews 071NLS)01- Legaries 717 2,576 8,417 2,750 2,750 8,977 8,977 5.692 417 5,692 417 67,949 140 6.757 1,254 72.860 67.949 8,041 4.224 1,890 8.041 4,224 1.890 2,182 2,282 7,655 1,494 4,858 2,182 2,282 1,280 155 1,435 5,000 5,WO 24,987 Donatlons and legacle6 Sub. tot¥l$ 86,481 5,QOO 19,84S 111.327 132,550 Donatlons and legacles Total8 e6,481 5,000 19,846 111,327 132.550 Income from Charltable actlvities Incomo from charltable actlviti 041N0002- IncorT*- Gler9y Discretionary 041N0003- Grants & In$ur&nc? Recefved Q61N0001 - ¢31ft Aid R•lund 111N0001 . Church SeM¢¢s Feas lllcome 121N0001- Ma9aanfr It1￿me 2.315 4.782 20,706 20,706 ?3.306 4,638 5.573 5,573 2,845 2.845 2.692 Income from charitsble athlvltie• Sub.total8 29,125 29,125 37.713 Income from charitable activities Totals 29,125 29.125 37,713 Other Income There rn•yl)e mlnorthserep8n¢les In thg (otsls If Iheptrneé aro not beln9 show 08 May 2024

Toial Unrn8bl¢ted ThIsy4 tyw•r othor in¢ome 101NOOOfj Bank Interest 121N0002. 8oDks- Christkgn Books 131Nfp)01- P&ri5h Camp l¢)come 10 10 6,102 8.102 7,671 Other in¢ame Sub-tota18 871 6,102 6,973 7,g6S Otherlnmme Totals 871 6,102 6,973 7.966 Income and endowments Grand totals 116,479 S,OD 25.948 147,427 178.231 Expenditure Expenditure on charltsblo activities Expendlture on ¢hitab5o actlvltles f7EXODOI Books- Chrislipn Books 17EX0002- Ballrlffjats eyp8ndrture 18EX0001 Donation5 to Sch901 18EX0002- Mk881on Donatlons Hom¢ 18EX0003- MwAion Donations Orxa¥ion81 18EX0004- mI￿10n Donatlons 8u¢Kland Chapel 19EX0001- Diocesan Parish Share 20EX0001- HMRG NIC-Tax Payroll Fees 20EXDOD2- Payroll_ S•lari¢$ 20EX0003. Employe¢8 eontrfbulion to NEST 20EX0004- servi￿ Fees- Independent work fees 20EX0005- Organist Fees 21EX0001- C￿rgY Exp8n8os fvfjnlsty 21EXOW3- Expen8es- Non-ckrgy 22EX0001- P8storal Care Expenses 22EXOOD2- EVangel￿rn Purchases 22EXQOD4- Youlh Work Expènses 23EXLh)03- Church Fees to Dioc4se 23EX0004. Church SoNices ExpJnses,Mu¥i¢ Books atc 23EXLX105- Purth95es ￿￿￿11#ne0u8 23EX0006- StaMnery consumables Printing 23EX(M107- SoundAVA Purchas•s and C05t$ 23EXOOO8- IT Hardwara Pufch88es 23EX0009- IT Software Purdi8888 23EX0010- Maintenance and Gènef81 Repairs Fo88 23EXOO12- Oryan and Piano Maintenance 23EX0014- Heatlng System Repairs & Mainienan¢è 23EX0017- Flre Safety Maintenan¢tr 23EX0019- Broadband & Website (W8bhostSngl Costs 23EX0020. Servi￿8 Cosb & Other Suppl$ 156 1,050 2.50D 2,582 soo 1,050 2,500 5,149 2.715 2,500 6.514 1,870 2,567 2,115 1.437 750 2.187 5,870 67,01S 67.016 81,388 6,912 S.726 19,919 19,919 1,749 17.899 1,749 1,749 1,400 1,400 1,400 1,305 2.858 1.638 1,305 2,858 1,638 1,014 1.904 2.205 150 295 38 1,735 1,847 1.735 1.847 2,854 330 406 87 1,715 2.121 67 3,141 149 519 115 1,488 7,983 576 576 1,032 606 470 714 470 714 289 B09 3,503 3.503 107 The￿ maybemlnordlscrop8nGle¥ In tho lof*18 If thopenc•4rn notbelftgshown 06 May 2024

Tatsl iIDr•strfcted D•tslynatgd ETrdowmMt Thlsy•ar LI￿Y 23EXW21- StAffldrews Insurance Cogts 23EXfX)22- Insuran￿ Cost$ 23EX(K)23- CleAning Costs 23EXfy)24- Gardening Costs 24EX0001 . util￿e5 Eiectricty Costs 24EXITrJ02- Utilities GasAnd Oil Costs 24EXW03-Wdtpr Expèndkure 6.7e3 8.783 7,043 1.2n 1,807 1.513 2,U56 3.161 1,272 1,807 1.513 2,056 3,161 1,510 4,463 8,162 159 Expenditure on charftsblg a¢llvlties Sub-totsls t12,422 32,831 145,253 171,832 Expendlture on charitsble activitlès Totals 112,422 32,831 145,253 171,832 Other expemllturg Other expendlture 22EXOD03- P8rish Cgmp 23ExfxJ01- Bank Charges 28EX0002- Building DevelDrrt¢nt Costs- SIAndrews 28EX0003- Buildiny Davelownent Costs- Milton Comb 29EX0001- Magazine exper￿$ 5,399 5.399 161 90D 4,172 4,172 6,931 2,418 2,418 2,273 Olher expendi￿rn Sub-totsls 10.471 13,076 15,421 other oxpenditure Totals 10,471 13,076 15.421 Expendituro Grand totals 115,026 43,303 158,329 187.253 Theré maybe mlnordlsGrep•ncA8s IR the tolols Mthepenco notbelng4hown (* Mpy 2024

st Andrew's Church, Bu¢kland Mona¢horum PCC & Holy Spirit Milton Combe Balance sheot (Separate funds) As at: 31 D¢cèmber 2023 138noral Dg•1gMtod Fund Fund• Rg9tr]ctod Endowmont Fund8 Fufid8 At31M212023 AtalM21kn22 Invèstrments 825 825 825 Flx•d •B¥•ts 826 825 CtrntuJ•l¥ Debtors Cash aibankjnd in 12,931 137.447 15.428 90.140 2?.522 17.783 10271 29,622 17.783 149.978 161.941 C[￿1￿r$.. knwntsfdllty duo In oneyeor 1.OB% IJAtcurr•Tht4M•t• IM• ctwrnntll1bl1￿ lQ2.67t 17.783 149,978 Tot•l•#•ts I•1£￿1r•nt1th￿Itt10• 102.671 21622 17,783 160.10# 161,700 Totsl Mtary¥•ts IlbllM•• 102,6M 2>,622 1T,783 110,803 161.718 R•pr••rtf&tby Unresiticted- Gènerdfund 102.S71 102.67 111,370 D￿￿&td- ￿￿Eted Fun 25.&2 29.522 24,922 Rutrt¢t•d R•stri¢tsd- goDks- Ch￿￿art Booki 715 76G 765 Re51rtctsd-Gffttsr yO￿th Wbthi-GItTo Youth Re$tr¢ted-Grydnts & Insurance Re$trrCted-Chrf$tmA$ Hampo Reslncted-Tt)m & Ltr2iè Hofiw Ghl Re￿n¢ted-T￿v Hub Resir￿d- IPANI SCHOOL R95trtcW- MAF- Matt& Re6trthd- Milton Comb 1.710 1,71Q 365 25 1,200 2,255 1.710 265 25 1.200 2,2S5 1.200 2,265 sso 580 50 50 RestrKt8d- Buldlno Dsvdopmenl Fund Re6trKted- Menoul 63 63 385 Re8trKt4d- Duorn Restritst4d- Or9en Donauons 1.39 1.3•0 2.429 Restricted- Pathh Camp Reg￿ted- Pathr¢l Cafe ReStrthd- Pgthfindèr Rq¢tyioted- Rgstncted- Pay￿￿1 Resbicted- Restrfthd Funds Rq8thLed. CA￿[ne Hammond R#S￿Gt¢d. MIiDll Ctsmbo Chw¢h Rty)I R￿￿￿d-sch0￿ GoveMr5 Reliri¢ied-SeqLte6tra￿o￿ Accwnl Roilrthd-ShÈklnh Rgstrthd-saund Rg•rld•d-T•ar Fund Ro8trth.Tvrn Wotson RestrKtsd-Trfstan &S8Fah R¢sbScted- u￿ne Support Rfj$thclEd-var (Donations toV4¢of} Re$￿Etsd- Cata1yt R•strfC￿. V¥lnthw RoltriGted. Pri$h Youih Vvorkets R8￿Ct•￿-Parf5hyOknth work 2,429 1.727 so 50 4.720 4.720 2.720 139 139 275 276 275 150 15Q 15D 0.524 Tharomay bo mthordlgGfop4neles In th• totsts Mthep•nGo •rp not1￿1￿51*how￿ 06 May 2024

G•n8ral Fund Deslgnatod Furtds Ro8trtct•d EndowTr8nt Funds Fund¥ At 3111212025 At 3111212022 R8¥tykt¢d- BuCkJandC￿Pa1 Restrktsd- Chrtsbsnity EX￿ored Resbfctsd- Dovon HistoitChurche8 R¢trtsd- Earnt Palmer Resbkted- Buthand Fuod Hub 50 50 100 100 100 End¢wmvDt-EndthYment 825 825 825 FundJofth•¢huKh iowq 29,622 626 1$1.7Q6 Th8r¢nMy bemlnordlscr•w4nclss In the lotals If tho p*¥¢a •r• nt>tb•lng shown Cfj May 2024

Independent Examiner's Report to the PCC of St Andrew Buckland Monachorum with Milton Combe This report is on lh¢ a¢¢ounts of the PCC for the year ended 3 1st December 2023 which are sel out OD the following pages. Respective responsibilities of ih¢ PCC and the examiller As members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparatiOD of the accounts: you eonsider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 ( the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is required. It is my responsibility io examine the arxounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act, to follow th¢ procedures laid down in lh¢ General Directions giv¢n by the Charity Commissioner under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act and to state whether particular matters have corne to my attention. Basis of indepelldellt examiner's report My exatnination w&8 carried out in accordanr¢ with the General Di￿¢t10n$ giv¢n by the c1￿)ty Commission. That cxamiDation includes a review of th¢ a￿OUnt￿ng records kept by the PCC and a compariwn of the 8ccounts with those records. It also includes consideRtion of any unusual ktems or disclosures in the w¢ounts. and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning such matters. The pro¢¢dures undertaken do not provide all th¢ ¢vid¢n¢¢ thai would be required in an audit. and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a "tru¢ and fair vi¢w- and the rewrt ts limited to those matt¢rs s¢t out in th¢ next statement. Independent examiner's statement In cotmection with my examinatiofy no matter has Come to my attention.. I which givc5 mc rca50nabl¢ Cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in a¢cordan¢¢ with section 130 of the 201 l Act" and io prepare accoun13 whiGh arwrd Iwith th¢ a¢¢ounting r¢¢ords and comply with th¢ accounting requirements of the 2011 ACL have not been met. or 2 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to b¢ reached. Felicity Harris BA FCA ATT(fellow) 28 Glanville Road, Tavistock Devon PL19 OEB