2020-12-31-accounts

The Parish Church of All Saints, Staplehurst Annual Reports 2020/21

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Annual Vestry Meeting: 28th April 2021 Agenda

1. Election of Churchwardens

2. Minutes of the Easter Vestry Meeting of 7[th] October 2020

3. Date of Next Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Annual Parochial Church Meeting: 28th April 2021 Agenda

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting of 7[th] October 2020

3. Matters Arising

4. Presentation of the Electoral Roll

5. Election of Members to the PCC

6. Annual Reports: Rector Church Administrator Church Warden PCC Secretary Buildings & Grounds Churchyard Liaison Electoral Roll Officer Bellringers Charities & Social Responsibility Children & Young People Churches Together Deanery (Weald) Synod Diocesan (Canterbury) Synod Flowers Friends of All Saints Fun’d Raising Health, Healing & Support Prayer Group Holy Dusters and Brass Cleaners Magazine Music Servers Sunday Teas Worship PCC report 7 Treasurer’s Report and Report from the Independent Examiner 8 Any Other Business

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Page Number

CONTENTS

	Rainbow Covenant
	4
	Rector’s Report	5
	Church Administrator’s Report		11
	Churchwarden’s Report		11
	PCC Secretary’s Report		12
	Buildings & Grounds Report		12
	Churchyard Liaison Report		14
	Electoral Roll Ofcer’s Report	15
	Bellringers’ Report		15
	Charities & Social responsibility Report		16
	Children & Young People Report		16
	All Age Workshop		16
	Children’s Choir	16
	Churches Together Report		16
	Deanery (Weald) Synod Report		17
	Diocesan Synod Report		20
	Flowers Report	20
	Friends of All Saints’ Report		21
	Fun’d Raising (formerly Social Events) Report		22
	Health, Healing and Support Prayer Group Report			23
	Holy Dusters & Brass Cleaners Report		23
	Human Resources Report		23
	Magazine Report		24
	Music Report	24
	Safeguarding Report	25
	Servers’ Report	26
	Sunday Teas	26
	Worship Report	26
	PCC Report		29
	Minutes of the 2020 Easter Vestry Meeting			32
	Minutes of 2020 Annual Parochial Church Meeting			32

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Audited Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council and Annual Report 35 onwards

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RECTOR’S REPORT FOR All SAINTS CHURCH STAPLEHURST 2020/21

In my report I am reflecting on the year from April 2020 to April 2021 (May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January 2021, February, March).

I would like to start my report with a paragraph from my last year’s report as it connects with our journey through the pandemic and where we are now.

I wrote last year:

“When I thought ‘now we can celebrate Easter, then I will go on holiday and come back getting ready for the next round’ , we didn’t know what hit us at the beginning of March 2020 when Covid19 suddenly took over our lives. From trying to be cautious to reduce the danger of infections, by the 23[rd] March we were in national lockdown and the church building was shut. From then on we zoomed our services, and prayed together daily. The APCM was postponed and the PCC members and churchwardens remained in situ. In that regard I was very lucky to keep the team for a bit longer, because they were really good in what they were doing, and I am indeed very grateful for all their hard work.

On the other hand, we all have had to put our thinking caps on and discern God’s will for our church in all areas of church life as things are very different now and we need to respond to the new normal.

and on Sunday at 9.30am. Well, eventually we did have our APCM, which changed the make up of the PCC due to members taking their fallow years, the churchwardens retired and at that point we did not have a candidate for election. Thank you to all PCC members past and present and to Mary Henley and Shirley Skinner for their years of service as churchwardens.

I am pleased to report that we did celebrate Easter in church this year with Holy Communion at a 6.00am Dawn service in the churchyard with the blessing of the Easter fire and candle plus an 11.00am Holy Communion Service in church. I was even back in our local Primary school taking a Zoom Easter Assembly.

I think it is true to say that throughout the year we remained cautious and did not rush into changing our new patterns of church service times. We continued with our Zoom Services and saw a steady increase in log in numbers on Sunday.

Whenever we have had a chance to resume our in-church service, we’ve done it cautiously, but with repeated lockdowns the 11.00am Service never really became our main service.

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This last year was a time of a lot of updates from Government and the Diocese to inform us and bombard us with guidelines, we than had to translate into risk assessments. Mary has been amazing to get the church social distance seating organised. Margaret and her cleaning team, as I write, have been cleaning the church daily, and when nobody was allowed into the building Tony Henley checked the church regularly.

This was very hard and confusing to all around. I think the Bell ringers felt it most acutely to be locked out of their tower, not being able to ring the bells. The village fell silent. A very odd experience and when the clock got out of timing and chimed whenever it wanted (I am exaggerating) it was very frustrating not being allowed to just go up and realign the clock. Instead, we had to grin and bear it. Somewhat a training in perseverance. Having said that, when one has no choice, we learned quickly to prioritise. As the Covid numbers rocketed it was a very scary time and family and friends became more and more everybody’s focus, not least when we weren’t able to visit each other.

I set up a telephone companion scheme and quickly a team got together to ring people regularly and make sure everybody had what they needed, food and or medication. We worked with the very efficient Village emergency team and referred people whenever necessary.

Given the nature of the situation with social distancing, lockdown, partial resuming, and lockdown again, all events that bring in funds for the church disappeared overnight. No social and fundraising events, Weddings and Baptisms had to be postponed, and the Parish room groups stopped using the facility. But people kept on giving and I thought that is amazing and very generous. A big thank you to you all. Thank you also to all who donated a lot of books and other things that I was able to sell from the Rectory Stall to enthusiastic readers. The Rectory stall is still going strong and hopefully we will soon be able to be out on my driveway again with stalls and tombola!

Nonetheless our church building projects have to be put on hold and it is, and it will be, a struggle to access grants, but we are looking forward to the future and no doubt we will burst with creative ideas of how to use the church and raise funds.

After ten years as treasurer Caroline Highwood has decided to step down and Angie, our churchwarden, has taken on the task as acting treasurer. We thank Caroline for having managed our finances well and for so long. We are now in the process of dividing up all the tasks that Caroline did all by herself and approach people to get involved to take one or the other on. The new Treasurer will have a much more task focused role and will work together with a Finance team. Angie has been amazing. First in being brave enough to step up for election as Churchwarden and now with the help of others to manage the transition with the finances, which she does amazingly well. Thank you to all who are supporting Angie. If you have any suggestions who you think might be the ideal person for the new treasurer’s role, please let me know. We’d love to hear from you.

We know the funds are never enough, but may I encourage everybody to look on the bright side and pray and let us know your fabulous ideas for fundraising. Also, I am very grateful to the Newlyn Trust who has helped us enormously with their donations to manage to cover costs for our employees and church running costs although we are still over 20k in debt in terms of our parish share.

The PCC has been working hard and the meetings continue over Zoom. The Subcommittees are active, especially the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the

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Churchyard liaison Committee. Anybody who would like to join the PCC or as a nonPCC member, a Sub-committee, please speak to me or Angie.

We also had some sad news. Last year, as you know, Brian Barnes succumbed to his lymphoma and sadly died. During the height of the pandemic Una lost her son Robin to Covid. Not only did Una and family have to grieve the loss of Brian, but now also the loss of Robin. Our love and prayers are with her and the family.

We also said goodbye to Edeltraut Marks and more recently to Wendy Clifford who worshipped at All Saints Church for many years.

Two members of our congregation are in Care homes, Des Liddicoat and Delphine Wass. The pastoral team and I, consisting of Monica Taylor, Mary Henley and Liz Furner have kept in regular touch with the Care Homes by sending letters and the Parish Magazine.

Throughout these last months several of us have firmly anchored themselves in a regular prayer life. Others access different Prayer services around the world and, from around the world and around the country, some join us for services. Our amazing, dedicated Tech/Sound Team, so committed, enables the smooth running of the services. A lot of rehearsal time went on behind the scenes. Thank you, and to all who contribute by reading lessons and leading the prayers. Helen is amazing to persuade so many to take part and what a great job she does.

We love our chats after the service and especially singing our “disharmonious” Happy Birthday. Thank you to Mary for sending out chocolate bars to all birthday “children” on behalf of All Saints Church.

It is also very inspirational to hear from individuals attending online courses or study days, who share their learnings with us.

I completed a number of courses, amongst them an Alpha course led by Clive from the Free Church.

Our Lent course this year was out of this world. Each week somebody volunteered to lead the Lent session with their chosen subject. It was so interesting. I hope those who could not take part at the time were able to listen back to some of the recordings. I did print the talks for those not on the internet.

The online learning opportunities were unthinkable last year and surely offer us great opportunities in the future.

Andrew Brady has been amazing with bringing our website up-to-date with short notice and a vast amount of material. We are very grateful to Andrew.

Others contributed by paying for various licenses that allow us to use Zoom and put

the recordings on YouTube.

My thanks and appreciation also go to Monica who is always willing to share in taking services and also to Julia Page our administrator, who is furloughed until June and who I miss in the Office very much.

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Church life is dynamic and changes all the time due to people moving in and out of Staplehurst, because of people sadly dying and new people joining the congregation.

Even with all the comings and goings, we retained a good number of people on the church electoral roll.

It has been an unprecedented year that has changed us, but I believe a lot of the learning will benefit us in the future. It is just a matter of changing ingrained habits. Make things from scratch, reduce our food mile, cut back on food waste, and reduce, reuse, and recycle. The PCC is now putting Eco church on the agenda of every PCC meeting.

My thanks go also to Chris Cochrane who for over 14 years updated the book of remembrance and is now handing over to somebody else. If you know of anybody with artistic writing skills, who would be willing to continue Chris’ amazing ministry, hugely appreciated by all the families over the years, please let me know.

A huge thank you to Margaret Friswell coordinating all who clean in church every single day in order for us to keep the church open for private prayer and for services and also thanks for all Marion’s efforts to have the church look welcoming with flowers and her Mothering Sunday posies provisions and team.

Thank you to Tony Henley who spent hours enabling families to have their Funeral services zoomed from church.

I wonder if there is a chance to have our church fitted out with Wi-Fi and a Digital camera fit for purpose. The Pandemic will go away, but Zoom will stay and it would be an amazing pastoral service to the community to stream services.

The church is of huge value to a lot of people in the village, especially for Baptisms, Weddings, Funerals and Burials. I am pleased to let you know that I am in the midst of organising both Weddings and Baptisms again.

But we are in a gap year so to speak with many events not yet resuming, but we are in our starting holes waiting to get going when we are allowed, and it is safe. I am pleased to know that most of us have had their first vaccines, and many their second.

So many people have been so supportive and could not have been kinder by going out of their way to support and help wherever help was needed.

Yours Silke

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AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DOES SO MUCH TO KEEP THIS CHURCH COMMUNITY THRIVING AND FLOURISHING:

(whilst some of these are resting during the time of Covid, we look forward to their return!)

Fund raisers, Flower arrangers, Organists, The Band , The Choir,

The Children’s Choir

People who pray quietly at home,

The Healing Team and Prayer Group,

Washer-uppers,

Sidespeople, Welcomers,

Practical people, People who change light bulbs and more, Brass polishers, Baptism visitors,

Intercessors,

Readers,

Worship committee, hymn choosers service leaders Everyone who gives financially Those who keep the Cupboards tidy, People who just quietly get things done Churches Together members,

The Lent team,

Treasurer,

Cake-bakers, biscuit bringers

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Coffee makers & Servers

Volunteers in the village

Cooks & servers at social events,

All Committees & members

Those who look after St.Georges Chapel and hoover regularly

Those who set the church clock

Care Home visitors Home Communion Visitors

Social event organisers

People who look after the churchyard,

Worship Leaders,

The Finance Team

The PCC members,

People who prepare notice sheets and print them,

Church Wardens,

Parish Magazine Team and volunteers who deliver

The Friends of All Saints,

Bereavement visitors

People who take the minutes at meetings, Photographers and Film people,

Invite people to church,

Everyone who prepares the church for services, People who say ‘yes’ when asked to do something at the last minute,

Building & Grounds Maintenance team,

Those who preach & teach,

Card senders,

The Bell ringers ,

People who clear up,

Zoom tech team

Those who light, extinguish and renew candles…and clear up the wax Poster makers and displayers

Star and tree team

People who listen

Crib and Calvary constructors Those who unlock and lock the church

Those who nudge our giving to charities

Technical trouble-shooters

Holy dusters

Webmaster

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Flag flyers

Poppy and posy makers

People who find time

Linen washers and liturgical colour changers

Safeguarding team

Everyone who assists at services

THANK YOU!

CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR

The report this year is unsurprisingly rather curtailed by the fact that I have sadly been away from the Church Office on furlough for much of the time.

It has been a year of making the most of what we have, protecting the people we love and enjoying simple pleasures. There has been a lot of gardening and cooking!

The office, when open, has continued to run with the emphasis on health and safety measures and an abundance of care. We have honed down on paperwork and enhanced online filing, notices distribution and email information.

This spring a new online system is being introduced to assist with records and communication for funerals, weddings and baptisms.

I cannot praise Silke enough for all she has done and her rigorous protocols for keeping us safe and well as much as is humanly possible.

I am looking forward so much to being back at the office desk, hopefully in a few weeks, when guidelines allow, and reconnecting with the resilient and caring All Saints community. I have missed you.

Julia Page, Administrator

CHURCHWARDEN

No churchwarden was elected at the last APCM, (delayed to October because of the Covid-19 pandemic) and so the PCC all shared churchwarden tasks. In January 2021 - special permission was granted by Bishop Rose to hold a Meeting of Parishioners to elect a churchwarden - Angie Lucas took up the position.

“I appreciate Silke’s leadership as Rector, and value regular meetings with her and Monica. Silke has been proactive in ensuring the parish is supported in these challenging times and with the help of an excellent technical team, together they provide daily prayers via Zoom, - including a choir presence - along with Sunday Morning Worship, all maintaining a close dialogue with parishioners and bringing the church (albeit sanitised) via regular phone calls to those that are unable to get onto Zoom.

Sadly, we haven’t been able to progress any further in our work regarding the Chancel Floor repair due to the lockdown. As you will read in the Buildings and Grounds report, other essential work does however continue. Please do share your thoughts with members and support them in prayer.

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It has continued to be a great pleasure that some people visit the church throughout the day, and we appreciate Norman’s valuable work in ensuring the building has been allowed to be open for private prayer. The delivery of free Parish Magazines to all the owners of newly built homes in Staplehurst - paused due to lockdown and government guidelines but will be resuming - offers the opportunity to welcome new residents to the village and to let them know about All Saints’ church.

We recognise the seriousness of the situation of finding it difficult to pay all of our Parish Share contribution, and would encourage anyone who is able to contribute more to All Saints’ church. However, this is also an opportunity for us to consider and pray about what we stand for, why the church is important and how, as a Christian presence, we should best be serving the village.

Our Fun’d Raising team have been unable to organise events but using her initiative, Silke launched ‘The Rectory Stall’ - a source of inspiration. On the church website and weekly notices, she lists excellent quality items and books for sale and delivers them across the village, this fun’d raising idea has indeed raised a significant amount of well needed monies while acting as a fine channel of support for everyone.

Hopefully we will soon be able to return to helping support the wellbeing of individuals throughout the parish.

During this year we have been sad to lose a few members of the regular congregation but are delighted to see some new faces now becoming familiar ones especially while we’ve been holding services on Zoom. Members of other churches often join us and new friendships have been forged. We can be sure that this year will bring more changes to All Saints, and we pray that we can all be open to God’s direction in our lives as we work together as a Christian presence in Staplehurst. “

Angie Walker Lucas, Churchwarden

PCC SECRETARY

The PCC has met 3 times since the last APCM (which was delayed to October 2020), all via Zoom due to Covid-19. Many PCC members act as conveners for sub committees involving further work for the church.

No new members were elected to PCC and Sheila Brooker took her fallow year, Anne Brenchley didn’t wish to seek re-election and Angie Lucas – although also taking her fallow year - agreed to act as PCC Secretary until such a time that someone else stepped forward. Caroline Highwood also began her fallow year but was co-opted to continue her work as treasurer. Dermot Budd also left the PCC.

‘A meeting of parishioners’ occurred in January 2021 via Zoom and Angie Lucas was elected churchwarden.

Just prior to the time of writing Caroline Highwood resigned from her role as treasurer, therefore the churchwarden is responsible for discharging the office of treasurer until another is elected.

Angie Walker Lucas Acting PCC Secretary

BUILDINGS & GROUNDS COMMITTEE

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Much of last year’s Building and Grounds activity occurred before, and was reported at, the delayed APCM last October.

These included:

• the decision of the PCC to suspend work on the chancel floor until the impact of

• the covid pandemic on the availability of grants funding for such work had improved.

• The installation of the three new gas boilers which, although they have hardly

• been used for normal services, do seem to be very effective.

• The 2020 Quinquennial inspection which has now been reviewed by the PCC

• and preliminary priorities agreed – see later.

Routine maintenance

As with everything else Covid has limited activity however monitoring of the building and routine maintenance has continue thanks to a small group of dedicated volunteers and the financial support of the Friends. This has included:

• Routine inspections of the building

• Clock maintenance, to the extent that lockdowns has allowed.

• Organ tuning, also limited by the pandemic, and a weekly organ ‘exercise’ to

• minimise the risk of faults developing.

• Clearing of drain hoppers and the valley gutter

• Fixing the ladies toilet in the parish room

• Relocation the bins away from the church,

• as well as a host of other minor jobs

The regular inspection of the Church has identified two new issues.

• Significant mould growth on the walls of the church.

This was originally thought to be due to fault with the roof or the guttering but is now believed to be a result of the building not being used and the heating run only very occasionally while the doors have been kept open. The church has been open for private prayer throughout most of the pandemic, except when prevented by government regulations. As part of the Covid transmission risk reduction requirements all the doors have been left open to avoid visitors having to touch the door handles. The heating is now run several times a week to reduce the internal damp. We are planning a major ‘spring’ clean activity to clean the walls as soon as covid restrictions allow. The walls were last painted in 2003 /4 and it may be that we will need to consider repainting again.

• Chancel ceiling (the visible barrel roof below the main tiled roof

This is believed to have been installed in 1852 to replace a much lower ceiling that existed previously. It was a relatively cheap installation. During lockdown, first a small piece of plaster was found to have fallen from where a ceiling beam joins the east wall and a month later a piece of masonry, perhaps 30 x15cm in area was found in pieces on the ground behind the main Altar. Preliminary inspection, with our Inspecting Architect, suggests that a problem existed as long ago as last time the chancel was painted, which has now resulted in the plaster come free. It seems unlikely to be structural but as another one of the three ceiling beam ends shows a similar bulge in the plaster where it joins the east wall, the ceiling need to be thoroughly inspected by a structural engineer.

This will require scaffolding to be erected in front of the east window, across the full width of the chancel.

Some of the timber of the ceiling will be removed to allow access. PCC are in the process of getting quotes for the work. The DAC has been informed.

Quinquennial inspection - held August 2020

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The Report and a summary of the priorities has been provided to PCC. This comprises a long list of necessary actions and while not all are urgent, some were identified in the last quinquennial as being due within that five-year period. We must aim to complete at least a few of the lower priority tasks as well as the high priority ones, to avoid them becoming more expensive and critical, but, of course, funding will as always be a limiting factor even with the valuable help of the Friends.

The expensive priorities identified are: - The chancel floor restoration -

• on hold awaiting funding The tower turret restoration - wood and stonework replacement -

• designated by the inspecting architect as, ‘requiring urgent attention’. Buttress 8 between Chapel and Chancel - Some new stones to be sourced and replaced

• designated by the inspecting architect as ‘requiring attention within 12 months’, i.e. by Aug 2021

(The Chancel Ceiling was not identified in the Quinquennial but until inspected, has been allocated the highest priority)

The Tower Clock Face is also in need of repair - low priority but identified as something the community might be interested in.

Grant Application

In January, the Inspecting Architect advised that a special ‘Covid Recovery for Heritage’ fund was open to eligible applications. It excluded capital works and was focused on assisting the reopening and recovery of heritage sites e.g., grade 1 and 2 listed building, that had suffered financially under covid. As we had stopped services and suffered reduced income due to covid, it seemed that we could be considered eligible under the criteria. With the support of the Inspecting Architect, the encouragement of the Archdeacon and the approval of PCC, a grant request was submitted to cover the cost of the inspection of the chancel ceiling, including the scaffolding and structural engineer’s time, and the cost of the archaeologist time to dig the test holes in the chancel floor. As the floor and the ceiling are both, independently, causing the chancel to be closed (and the ceiling problem, at least, occurred during the covid lockdown) the proposed work seemed to be in scope for the fund.

Although PCC had put the chancel floor on hold, this seemed a good opportunity to use external funds to progress the definition of the job. Without the test holes, which are to confirm the definitive cause of the subsidence, it is impossible for anyone to provide an accurate estimate for the restoration and without that, we cannot apply for a grant to cover the full cost. In the end the recovery fund was, unsurprisingly, oversubscribed and we did not receive a grant. This means that we will have to ask the Friends to help with the cost of inspecting the Chancel ceiling and that the floor will not progress and the chancel will remain closed.

This is an unfortunate situation to be in. Churches which look and feel rundown and uncared for, as ours does despite our best effort, do not flourish. We should be able to improve the look of the walls but without a rethink of priorities and more funding for the church and for the Friends, the situation is likely to deteriorate.

Finally, my sincere thanks to the volunteers including especially, Adam Houghton, Val Wallis, Margaret Ashby, David Twyman, John Wright and Norman Wallis who work, in all weathers when necessary, to keep the building going, and to the Friends of all Saints for their continuing support in what has been a very difficult year for them, as they had to cancel all the events planned for the year. Thanks also to the PCC members who support and encourage the work of the B&G team; although we frequently

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present new challenges, we are always applauded for the small things that we do achieve. Thank you for that.

Tony Henley Convenor

CHURCHYARD LIAISON COMMITTEE

During the lockdown period the Churchyard was able to be maintained and provided a much needed quiet and peaceful place for the community to enjoy. Many people walked through the churchyard and commented on how lovely it looked and how well it was maintained.

It was a little more difficult to get tree work done but soon essential Health and Safety work will begin on two Ash Trees and a Fir tree and some other tidying up. We did manage a church work party in October having done a robust covid risk assessment.

For many years we have been most fortunate to have Cecil Scarf keeping our churchyard clear of rubbish. He decided in November it was time to retire. Thank you, Cecil, for all you did.

While a replacement for him is found keeping the churchyard free of rubbish has proved quite challenging so we are asking your help to keep the church yard looking nice. If you are able to take your rubbish home with you that would be a tremendous help. There is a green recycling bin by the fir tree at the front of the church and any items that can be recycled, especially cans, can be placed in that green bin.

If you can refrain from putting broken pots and glass in the rubbish bins but take them home with you to dispose of that would keep our volunteers safe from cutting themselves when emptying the bins.

Val Wallis

ELECTORAL ROLL OFFICER

The total roll number over recent years as follows: -

YEAR ROLL 2013 136 2014 112 2015 115 2016 116 2017 117 2018 115 2019 110 2020 107 2021 (as at 14/4/21) 106

The final total roll number will be reported at the 2021 APCM. A new electoral roll is required every 6 years the next roll is required in 2025.

Anyone considering themselves to be part of All Saints Staplehurst on an ongoing basis and is not on the electoral roll, please find an application form in the entrance hall of the church or contact the Electoral Roll Officer.

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William Henry Scott- Electoral Roll Officer

BELLRINGERS

The past year began with the usual positivity but none of us could have foreseen how everyone’s lives would change within three months, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Until mid-March, ringing and ringing activities continued much as they had always done - the first day of 2020 dawned in the time-honoured fashion with ringing in the New Year. We had plans to establish a tune-ringing band using the new set of handbells and held a workshop afternoon in February to learn how to play them. Staplehurst entered two teams in the District Striking Competition at Hunton and won the Call Change Shield. Four quarter peals were rung, including one for the Service of Bereavement. Then the Covid-19 virus lockdown stopped ringing abruptly nationwide.

Consequently there has been no ringing at Staplehurst since 15th March 2020 other than chiming four bells to commemorate VJ Day and some very brief ringing on three bells at Christmas, both of which was undertaken by members of the same family and therefore allowed under Covid restrictions. More recently one bell was tolled on 23rd March 2021 for the Day of Reflection commemorating those who had lost their lives during the pandemic, and on 10th April for the death of HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

During the past 7 months of enforced non-ringing, we have tried hard to maintain social contact amongst band members, albeit via social media rather than face to face activity. Regular Tuesday evening Zoom sessions have kept our brains functioning, initially focussed on ringing through a digital platform, but latterly on general knowledge quizzes and even a ringers’ bingo session!

As I write this, we have just reached the second phase of the planned roadmap out of lockdown, so there is cause for some optimism. If all goes according to plan we hope to be able to ring, albeit on a limited number of bells and only for short periods, from 17th May. Then, provided all legal restrictions are removed by then, we hope to return to normal ringing from 21st June.

Whilst we have all, undoubtedly, missed our ringing activities in all their varied forms of services, practices, outings, competitions, teaching, social activities etc., we are remaining positive and look forward to that wonderful day when we can climb the spiral staircase and begin ringing again together once more.

Roy Barclay, Tower Secretary

CHARITIES AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Thank you to everyone who has continued to support our charities during the last year. We have had to rely on people being able to drop their donations into the church or to our treasurer. At the back of the Annual Report Book there is a list of money given to each charity.

There is a list on the Charity notice board of those we are supporting this year. I hope it will not be too long before we are able to have the file of thank you letters back in church. All the charities we support are so grateful for our donations.

As usual, in October, we will be asking the congregation to suggest charities to support for 2022.

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In the last year we unfortunately did not have a Remembrance Sunday service, Bereavement service, nor our Christingle service and so these three charities were not supported by our usual collections.

We have continued to collect food three times in the year for Maidstone Homeless Care who also run a food bank. Thank you to all of you who have left bags of food on my doorstep. You have been very generous.

My doorstep, and recently Maureen Brice’s, have also been used for the collection of hard plastic lids. These go to be recycled into roof tiles, floors for children’s playgrounds and for small pots. Thank you for your support for this project.

Do please continue with your support for our charitable and socially responsible projects. Thank you.

Audrey Bullock, Charity and Social Responsibility Chairman

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE:

MINISAINTS ALL AGE WORKSHOP CHILDREN’S CHOIR

(groups resting during the time of Covid)

CHURCHES TOGETHER

Representation:

Helen Wilkins has continued to be your representatives on the Churches Together committee for 2020-21. Currently there are vacancies for two more lay representatives required from All Saints Church Staplehurst.

Events listing

Once events are able to start again, we shall need a replacement for Tony Norfolk to compile the list. Many Thanks to Tony for his faithful long service in maintain the Events listing and Godspeed on his move to the north of England.

Effect/Affect of Pandemic:

Due to Covid restrictions all the physical activities CTiS had been expecting to take place in the spring and summer had to be cancelled. Virtual hybrid safe activities did take place, for example…

The Christmas carol window trail organised by Maggie Martin had included about 12 houses and was felt to have been worthwhile.

Card Distribution:

CTiS committee began to meet again using Zoom in September, and this enabled the organisation and distribution of a Christmas card 2020 and later the Easter Card 2021 included a message of hope and encouragement and contact details for the four

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churches, although in view of the changing restrictions it was not possible to list services. Our thanks are due to Matt Stonely for his work and many thanks also to the Free Church for providing their zoom facility for CTiS meetings.

Ecumenical Services:

World Day of Prayer (A women led global ecumenical movement). This was also successfully organised by Alison Alderson and hosted by Rev. Andrew Royal. Thank you to all those who participated in readings and prayers.

The annual Christian Unity service, which was held at St Dunstan’s, Cranbrook, in 2019 and 2020, had to be held on Zoom We were pleased to welcome the Bishop of Dover, Rt Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, as the preacher. There were more than 70 Zoom log-ins, and people found the Bishop’s address very inspiring, as was her testimony during an exchange after the formal part of the service. Many thanks to Reverend Silke and the All Saints’ Church Zoom Tech Team for hosting the meeting.

A Big Thank you to Peter Jefferies for his work on the ecumenical services and the welcome packs, which includes a sheet on each of the four churches represented on Churches Together, plus the Providence Strict Baptist Chapel. This was finalised and has been updated in the light of changing circumstances. More than 80 packs have been distributed, either through local estate agents and sales offices on new developments, or directly.

Thank you, Helen Wilkins

DEANERY (WEALD) SYNOD

A few months before Covid a new Area Dean took up office and during the lockdown at a Zoom synod meeting the new deanery treasurer was Appointed. The current deanery leadership team comprises.

• Area Dean Rev. Father Rodney Dreyer

• Lay Chair Graham Codling

• • Secretary Brian Woodgate

• Treasurer Nana Twum Ampolo

• Because of covid much deanery activity has been put on hold with very few meetings held during the last year.

The key issue that prompted a meeting in February was a series of questions and thoughts from Canterbury in response to the worsening financial position of the Diocese. Diocesan finances have been suffering for some time which has triggered a series of cost (and staff) cutting reviews over recent years. Unfortunately, All Saints Staplehurst is not the only parish that has difficulty in paying all of its parish share. 2020 has, not surprisingly, been very difficult and painful action is necessary. The Diocesan deficit for 2022 is expected to be £1M in budget of £10M.

To inform any future decisions, the diocese has sent out questions to the Deaneries to gauge what the community feels.

This is not the complete presentation, but it gives a flavour:

• How can we resource mission and ministry in our diocese?

• Is our present number of buildings sustainable?

• What kind of lay and ordained leadership do we need? How can we train and equip for this ministry?

• What support do our stipendiary clergy need?

• How can we release the whole people of God to be engaged in mission?

• What level of support is need from the central team?

• Is the central team the right place for these resources to be located?

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With some questions that they are expecting parishes to ask:

• If they can’t afford a priest, maybe they shouldn’t have one?

• Why should we lose - or have to share - our priest?

• You’re not going to take our priest away, are you?

• This is not the time!

And then the challenges - Making our vision a reality :

• Addressing training needs

• Deepening discipleship

• Developing strong local leadership (lay and ordained)

• Modelling God’s generosity

• Engaging in issues of social justice and the created order

• Ensuring that children and young people are at the heart of all we do

• Enabling our deaneries to become centres of Ministerial excellence

There was a, necessarily limited, Zoom discussion of the issue at Deanery Synod in February to answer the request from the diocese that we provide some sort of response to the questions, under four headings WORSHIP - WORK - WITNESS – SUSTAINABILITY. Those present at the meeting were given 3 minutes each to outline their thoughts. These were captured and summaries by the Deanery leadership team and forwarded for discussion at Diocesan Synod. The results for Weald Deanery are given below. While there are some interesting and practical proposals amongst the comments, I am not sure that we have really began to address the challenges facing us, but doing this during a pandemic is very difficult.

Weald deanery results

WORSHIP - WORK - WITNESS – SUSTAINABILITY WORSHIP.

To be an ‘invitational’ church and, through seeking to develop growing and fruitful relationships with them, to encourage non-church goers into our buildings and lapsed members of the congregation to return, and to create opportunities for ‘hospitality’ as part of the worship experience.

To ensure that there are sufficient clergy and/or lay people trained and available to meet different needs and interests. Fresh Expressions.

To support one another in local churches, and within the Deanery, in prayer and where possible practical ways; e.g. to re-establish the Deanery Prayer Group, Deanery Services, encourage weekly prayers for the Deanery in all parishes, and reintroduce an Annual Pulpit Exchange with clergy.

To vary the forms, styles and times of services and music and encourage young musicians/singers to take part.

To discern prayerfully together what God is calling the Deanery to do.

To hold half-yearly Deanery Eucharist Services and an Annual Deanery Confirmation Service.

To encourage the formation and involvement in Study/Home Groups.

To make Synod more Christ-centred with meetings beginning with a short service of worship and ending in prayer.

To make Synod more ‘open’ with visiting speakers on relevant subjects/charities. To get the children to bring their parents to church regularly for assemblies and special services.

WORK.

To further develop social assistance, giving practical help and growing a relationship within our communities that reaches well beyond regular church-goers, e.g. Food Bank, Community Lunches for the Elderly Weekly Coffee Mornings (Village Café), Craft Group, Singing Group outside church.

To determine what churches are doing well and encourage the sharing of, and encourage, good practice with other churches, e.g. IT skills, children’s work, etc.

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To encourage lay people to support their local church in whatever capacity and use their gifts to develop a ‘Living Church’, and to train Lay persons locally in various forms of ministry.

To ensure that our church buildings are fit for purpose and used as a resource to serve the local community, e.g., for concerts, lectures, meetings etc.

To ensure the regular circulation of news, information, etc between parishes to encourage mutual support. (In Weald, via Deanery Communications Officer.) To determine the reasons for people not wanting to become Churchwardens or serve on the PCC or Synod.

To improve knowledge of the work of the Deanery with regular reports of Synod business to PCC meetings and APCM; also to receive reports from parishes at Synod meetings.

To develop and expand the existing meetings in the Deanery, e.g. between Churchwardens, Treasurers, Parish Administrators, so aiding support and a sharing of thoughts.

To support and grow Deanery initiatives such as the School of Theology, Weald Family Hub.

WITNESS

To develop the relationships with schools at all levels, and to encourage new initiatives where there is lesser involvement with schools, e.g. encouraging assemblies (say, weekly).

To strike a balance between nourishing existing church members, nurturing new enquirers and evoking interest in those on the fringe or beyond. Prayerful consideration of how the support is going to happen.

To ensure that every pupil in the Deanery gets a really good (and fun!) experience of the Bible and a strong foundation in the word of the living God, also by inviting talented people with skills, experience, knowledge, into schools to talk to children from a church perspective and invite them with parents into school.

To use the church building as an educational resource i.e. history, art, architecture, etc. in line with National Curriculum aims and objectives.

As above, in Worship, to encourage an ‘invitational’ element by ensuring that there is a ‘welcoming’ mentality with an opportunity for ‘hospitality’ after, or during, services and events, which could appeal to lapsed or non-churchgoers.

SUSTAINABILITY

To work towards meeting the Parish Share throughout the Deanery by encouraging increased giving, improved attendances and a wider use of the resources, whilst looking ahead towards maintaining sustainability.

To identify other income sources to secure ongoing sustainability.

To consider the future deployment of paid clergy for when vacancies arise, to meet the needs of the parishes concerned.

Conversations are taking place with clergy and other interested parties regarding their view of possible future arrangements.

To engage in outreach, combining the best of our “higher traditions” with some of the more evangelical.

To enable the continuance of the above elements of Worship, Work and Witness in maintaining sustainability within the Deanery and parishes.

The focus must be on the Missional as well as the Financial.

---

The work is progressing but above Deanery level. We expect a resulting ‘plan’ to be flowed down to Deanery in due course. The Deanery has decided to reinstate its Mission and Ministry group (when meetings are allowed). I have agreed to be a member of this although its role is not yet very clear. However, we should expect changes.

Deanery Synod Representative Tony Henley

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CANTERBURY DIOCESAN SYNOD

It is hard to realize that at our first synod meeting in 2020 was before the covid pandemic had hit and lockdowns, tiers, hand, face, space, stay at home, work from home were not familiar phrases.

At the first meeting of the synod in March we welcomed Bishop Rose to her first Synod and her inaugural Presidential address was an inspiring message of hope and energy saying how she had been drawn to Canterbury by the Changed Lives – Changing Lives mission statement.

Work on our strategic vision was increasing, focusing on Missional learning, through prayer and teaching: Enriched Leadership and the clergy training curriculum that all clergy in the Diocese are invited to be part of: priority on young people through establishing youth hubs: working with disadvantaged communities with the growth of ignite program: Environment, to be beacons rather than embarrassments.

Little did we know that all our thoughts on expanding and enriching that work would be brought to an abrupt halt and by the July meeting we were already seeing a huge change to our working patterns due to restrictions.

Due to covid pandemic we had seen churches building partnerships with other community agencies to meet local need. Many churches were operating food banks, community kitchens, pastoral support engaging in a new a different way. Across the Diocese there had been a huge growth in those “logging in” to worship giving us a tremendous increase in those we were engaging with through our on-line congregations. Our challenge was coming out of lockdown how did we still engage with those people but importantly not lose those non tech members of our congregation that had so missed corporate worship and the comfort of building based Church.

By the November Synod the financial impact of Covid on our Diocesan Budget was acknowledged and this was being addressed. The Bishop indicated that this could not only be done by core costs but how we do “ministry” because the way we do ministry now could be sustained. There would be a 0% increase on Parish share the forecast was for just 5% nonpayment of Parish Share. Some Parishes had been extremely generous.

The Environmental working group is working towards zero carbon emissions by 2030 helping parishes with heating and lighting green energy providers.

There have been staff changes during the year in our Archdeaconry. The Archdeacon of Maidstone is now Rev. Canon Andrew Sewell. Andrew has been in the Diocese many years and knows the Maidstone Archdeaconry well. In December Julian Hills who had been Diocesan Secretary for many years and before that finance Director for the Diocese retired. Julian had helped our parish and will be missed. At present Ven Stephen Taylor is acting Diocesan Secretary.

Val Wallis

FLOWERS

There has been very little action in Church this last year for obvious reasons, in the flower department. No weddings needing our assistance and only one funeral which asked for flowers in Church. At Christmas we had a silk and dried arrangement at the Pulpit and two fresh arrangements at the Memorial pedestal. There will be flowers at Easter this year, both at the pulpit and memorial pedestal.

Thank you to the ladies who turn out when needed to keep our Church looking freshly decorated.

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Marion Christie, Convenor

FRIENDS OF ALL SAINTS

Registered Charity No. 1037964

The last year has been a challenge for charities and for The Friends this has been no different. Sadly, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Friends have not been able to hold any fundraising events for over a year and, as a result, our income has more than halved. At the time of writing, we have no events planned.

There is little doubt that our ability to provide ongoing grant support will be significantly reduced without the income from our fundraising events and the support of the wider public those events generate.

We are incredibly grateful to our supportive members who, during 2020 and into 2021, not only continued to pay their subscriptions but also made some generous donations, some donors telling me that the donation was in respect of what they might have spent at an event, very thoughtful and kind. I must mention the generous donation made by Bernard Tipples last year and following his recent death, the very kind and thoughtful further donation by the family and those donating following the funeral. I am deeply touched by the generosity and will miss Bernard who has supported The Friends over many years.

As a committee, we have continued to meet and managed this quite successfully over Zoom in both formal trustee meetings and socially with current and extended committee members and family. This has been great for our mental health. We have continued to carry out our normal duties including regular discussions with Tony Henley the PCC Liaison Rep about the building maintenance, and we have agreed on a significant claim and paid the Church over £13,000 at the beginning of 2021.

Our 2020 AGM took place over Zoom, this slightly later in the year than our normal May date due to obvious circumstances. I am grateful to Mary & Tony Henley for hosting the Zoom meeting and to my fellow committee members and my wife Debbie for making it run so smoothly. This year we have pencilled the AGM in for the 12th of May, again to be held virtually over Zoom.

To raise funds by alternative means and to encourage the wider Staplehurst community to donate, we have set up a Friends donation page. This follows the model used by All Saints PCC of an online donation platform, means of connecting to that page via a QR code and we now have a contactless card reader/payment device for other payments going forward. I am extremely grateful to the committee for getting on board with this and the generous offer by someone I will keep anonymous who paid for the reader. Have a look at our donation page at

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https://allsaintsstaplehurst.co.uk/friends-donations/ This went live in February 2021 to tie in with a Parish Magazine article and so far, has raised just over £100, so a reasonable start.

Membership is currently 95 and, as always, we are on the lookout for new members. So, if you are interested in joining us, please contact me for information. Whilst welcoming one new member in the year, we also fondly remember those who sadly have died, Revd. Brian Barnes, Bernard Tipples and Beryl Lewcock, all staunch supporters of the Friends; may they rest in peace.

Several committee members have mentioned they wish to stand down, so come the AGM we will be looking for some new committee members. If you want to find out more about the work we do as a committee, please contact me. It is not onerous, if you are a paid-up member you can stand for committee.

I would like to thank the Friends committee for their hard work during the year. The committee members are Honorary Treasurer Mary Shaw, Secretary Tony Norfolk, Maureen Brice, Sue Elwell, Janet Pink and Frank Page with Tony Henley the PCC Liaison Representative, the important link between us and the PCC. Alaine Summers and Ann Fulcher stood down from the committee the last year at the AGM. We will miss them both for their volunteering, their ideas and their hard work over many years spent on the committee.

The Committee are always pleased to receive suggestions for new events (when we return to those) or for merchandising ideas. We have a new Friends pen available, these proving very popular.

We thank everyone that has continued to support us through membership and donations over the last twelve months and an eventual return to fundraising events sometime in the future.

Andrew Brady, Chairman & Membership Secretary

Friends of All Saints Staplehurst – Registered Charity No. 1037964 Telephone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

Look us up at www.allsaintsstaplehurst.co.uk/friends

and our Facebook page www.facebook.com/friendsofallsaintsstaplehurst

Please note that this information is provided before the production of our full audited accounts which will be presented at the Friends’ AGM in May 2021.

Andrew Brady , Chairman & Membership Secretary

FUN’D RAISING COMMITTEE

A strange year in these unprecedented times. Due to government restrictions, we were unable to run any events, however, individuals took initiatives to think how to raise some funds. Petra suddenly got on her bike and was quickly sponsored as she pedalled miles and miles, altogether I think it was 500 miles. She raised about £700.

With a little ingenuity from Silke a new concept ‘The Rectory Stall’ was launched. With Angie’s help she hosted on her Rectory Driveway, stalls of all manner of interesting and quality items during the summer when the first lockdown was eased, albeit it with social distancing and sanitised areas. During the next lockdown, Silke initiated the sales online via church notices and the website. Still going strong this has raised over £ 930 so far. Also, Silke delivered sanitised books throughout the village to those that wanted them, collecting, and dropping off, rain or shine and sold items on the internet.

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We did manage to continue our tradition of The St. Swithun’s Day Challenge, and amazingly with the rain came monies in the kitty. Thank you everybody for participating.

Many new people have joined easy fundraising which remains a simple way in which we can all contribute to church funds while shopping online, ensuring that funds trickle in all year long. So easy to set up and costs nothing.

https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/allsaintschurchstaplehurst/

A huge thank you to everyone who generously donated goods to the rectory stall and raised funds. New ideas are particularly welcome.

Fun’d raising Committee

PRAYER FOR HEALTH, HEALING AND SUPPORT

We continue to operate 3 Prayer lists. The Church Prayer list, which is updated and published as part of Church Notices, is controlled by the Rector and requires both Christian name and Surname of the person who needs prayer and has no problem giving both names. Total confidentiality is provided for this list. Not even I know why some people are on the Church Prayer list. The Confidential list is for those who want total confidentiality and is controlled by me and those people are only known to the Prayer Group. The 3rd list is the Support list, controlled by me, and is for those who have other problems in their lives such as bereavement, long term illness, family problems, etc. etc. For the moment I or Barbara remain the main contact within the group for those in need of Prayer for any reason. Please keep us updated with the latest situation for those you have requested prayer, which enables us to direct our prayers appropriately.

You will be surprised and thankful for the amount of help and comfort the Lord provides to those who ask. Please ask me, or any member of the group, for help and Prayer when you, or someone you know, is in need.

On behalf of Ron Dear and the Health, Healing and Support Group

HOLY DUSTERS AND BRASS CLEANERS

This has been a very different year for my small band of cleaners. No spring cleaning, then the church was shut which means there is a lot of work to be done in the future. When the church reopened a rota was drawn up so that someone cleans the used areas every day. The carpets are vacuumed every two weeks.

A big thank you to all my cleaners for their hard work to keep the church open for private prayer and occasional services.

A date will be made for a big spring clean when we know that we can return to weekly services.

Margaret Friswell

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HUMAN RESOURCES

The Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 resulted in the first lockdown during March of that year, with the Church building and the Parish Room having to be closed.

Before the buildings were re–opened, Risk Assessments for the use of both the Church Building and Parish Room were in place and reviewed. These were looked at for both our volunteers and employees. The safety of the Church Office was also looked at.

We had a steep learning curve about furlough and the Job Retention Scheme as our Parish Administrator and our Cleaner were placed on furlough at some time during the year.

As the pandemic is still with us the situation is continually monitored.

Sheila Brooker

PARISH MAGAZINE COMMITTEE

Dodging between lockdown rules, the enthusiasm of our band of volunteer distributors and the concern for the safety of all, the magazine committee is proud to have enabled all copies of the magazine to be available during 2020 and so far in 2021!

Exceptionally, it was agreed to make the editorial content of the magazine available on the church website during the first lockdown. Our publishers, Michele and Paul, volunteered to deliver the May magazine themselves, which was amazingly kind. In June subcommittee members took on the task, and since then we have been back to our usual team of approximately 50 volunteers. Thank you to everyone.

The committee has been touched by many individual enquiries from subscribers concerned whether the magazine would be reaching them: it’s good to feel appreciated. The editor is grateful to all those who have contributed articles of interest during a year when village groups and organisations have been unable to hold events to write about.

Free magazines continue to be delivered to occupants of new homes in Staplehurst, as a welcome to the village.

The committee is grateful to the work of Caroline Highwood, who has resigned from the committee. As the magazine treasurer she ensured careful accounting of the parish magazine finances, and she also made a valuable contribution to the subcommittee discussions on innovations to and promotion of the magazine, as well as financial and editorial matters.

Mary Henley, Convenor

MUSIC

During October 2020, Ian Turner resigned from his post as Choir Leader. We were sorry to see him go and wish him well in his future, wherever that may be.

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Looking at the last report, I noticed that this was written pre-pandemic. Let me take you back to Easter 2020 how our Choir and Band first began to create music for services.

During the half term break preceding Easter 2020, Daniel Brady suggested that we all individually video ourselves singing God so loved the world, to be included in the Good Friday last hour service on 10[th] April 2020. We all listened to the same track through earbuds and recorded the video, then Daniel spent a long time compiling a final article. This took absolutely ages! This was included the Good Friday service, and everyone was very complimentary however, it did show that this was not something that could be done on a weekly basis.

Life continued but choir and band did not until John Wright introduced a number of us to Jamulus. “Jamulus is open-source networked music performance software that enables live rehearsing, jamming and performing with musicians located anywhere on the internet ”. To use this software you do need some special kit which some of us have now purchased, other items have been borrowed from John Wright and Glyn Roberts and we are extremely grateful for this. Others, who would struggle with the complexities of this kit, have been supplied with a small box of tricks which plugs straight into their router. Headsets and/or microphones and earphones plug into this and John connects them into the Friday practice through software called Musicbridge, which brings them into our Jamulas practice. John has purchased a lot of this equipment himself and lent it out and again, we are extremely grateful for this.

So, that is how we all meet on a Friday for Choir practice and have been since Friday 23[rd] October 2020. Since then, we have recorded a total of 30 hymns, 7 carols and 23 anthems. Daniel and Adam Brady pre-record the organ music. Daniel and I organise music either to be available on Dropbox or I deliver copies/books to people. At the practice, John makes a recording of our singing whilst Daniel records our Zoom video feeds. John’s recording is sent to Daniel so he can cut these together to produce the final article. This process is time consuming and can take between 1 – 2 hours per piece, not including the time spent recording the organ line and sometimes individual parts.

As you can see, a lot goes on behind the scenes to produce the music you are currently hearing via our Zoom services. We must not forget the singers and other instrumentalists for their input and patience recording and re-recording pieces, especially when we have problems with internet delay and burbles.

It has been wonderful that, because of the magic of the internet, Sarah Courthope has been able to join in from Cornwall during this time. Thanks go to Sarah and all the choir and band members contributing namely, Roy Barclay, Debbie, Daniel and Adam Brady, Doreen Braganza, Marion Christie, Ron and Barbara Dear, Izzy and Tilly Hammond, Glyn Roberts, Josh Witham, and John Wright.

Finally, thanks also go to Andrew Brady for creating CDs for both Christmas 2020 and Easter 2021 which were distributed to a few members of the congregation unable to attend Zoom services.

Eventually practices will begin again in Church and we will be able to welcome back those you cannot access Choir as is right now. I feel that this virtual Choir format may have a place in the future, especially during winter months when practising in Church is most unpleasant. We look forward to continuing to sing together in whatever way.

Debbie Brady on behalf of All Saints Choir and Band

SAFEGUARDING REPORT

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The PCC continues to hold Safeguarding awareness as a very high priority throughout the parish. PCC members are required to complete the two hour Church of England National Safeguarding training course ‘Basic Awareness’ (formerly C0).

If any member of the parish is interested in the training, details can be found at

https://www.canterburydiocese.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-training/ or contact one of our Parish Safeguarding Officers as follows:

Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Coordinator – Audrey Bullock

Parish Disclosure Officer – Rev Silke Tetzlaff

Deputy Child/Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Coordinator – Mary Henley

The above names and contact details are displayed on the Parish Safeguarding Policy Statement in the church porch, and in the Parish Room.

Parish Safeguarding Officers attend training refresher courses as required and are alert to updates emailed by the diocese. Our Safeguarding Officers attended the annual safeguarding conference, held this year via Zoom and available via the diocesan website.

The parish now has safeguarding risk assessment for zoom online services, and the livestreaming of funerals. This can be found on the All Saints’ website.

DBS checks are made on new volunteers and those holding paid posts in the parish. The Parish Office holds a list of all those who have DBS checks and alerts those whose checks are due for renewal.

Our Safeguarding Policy has been revised to take account of new safeguarding guidance and has been adopted by the PCC. The policy is available both electronically and as a hard copy from the Parish Office and can be found on the church website. Hard copies are held by Safeguarding Officers, named leaders, and at the following parish locations: church, by the First Aid point in the coffee area, the Bell Tower, Parish Room, Parish Office.

Mary Henley

SERVERS

Since covid last year we have been unable to serve in church. Our numbers of active servers have also been depleted for many reasons. If anyone is interested in joining our team on a Sunday or Wednesday, please contact Silke or any of the servers for more information. Hopefully we will all be back to normal soon, here’s a rundown of what we do.

A team of servers help at the Sunday communion services; one at 8.00am and two to four people at 10.00am. We prepare the altar before the service, ensuring that the wafers, wine and relevant books etc are available. During the service we assist the priest as necessary. Afterwards things are cleared away.

All Saints is very fortunate to also have a separate team of servers who assist at the 9.30am Wednesday morning communion.

Bill Scott

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SUNDAY AFTERNOON TEAS

(resting during the time of Covid)

WORSHIP COMMITTEE

In my report I am reflecting on the year from April 2020 to April 2021 (May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January 2021, February, March). On the 16 March the country was asked to stop non-essential contact and travel and on the 23 March we were in our first lockdown.

Previously we had risk assessed the church, followed stricter hygiene rules in church by using hand sanitizers and further reducing the risk of passing on the virus by not sharing the peace, operating without servers and eventually no choir.

On the 23 March 2020 we were in lockdown.

I printed prayer booklets for everybody on the church electoral roll which we distributed to everybody. I printed posters which Angie quickly dislayed in the village and off we went online. Zoom became the new medium through which we worshipped.

Quickly we formed as a team that operated the technology and every day was a learning experience. Mary and Tony Henley were the first who together with me zoomed and encouraged others to come on board. Tony offered and still does to help anybody to get set up and with technical support throughout.

The team, now called the tech team, expanded with the choir joining the services online. The additional members are John Wright and Glyn Roberts who deal with the music side of things and Helen Wilkins who coordinates all readers and Intercessors for the service. Thank you to you all without you we would not be able to deliver a smooth running of the services. We meet every Sunday half an hour before the actual service starts to check all is in working order. But there were special services in the year, more technically complex, that required us to rehearse all buttons and who does what, that we rehearsed the day before sometimes for up to two hours.

We set up two more log in details so that if I can’t lead the service continuity is in place. I am very grateful to Monica and Mary who take services. On Christmas Eve Mary and Petra led a very successful children’s service. Mary and Monica also lead Morning and Evening Prayer.

Andrew Brady advertises our new ventures on the website where you can find the log in details. We updated the Church Notices to keep everybody informed and on and off delivered the notices to households without internet access. We had of course followed government guidance as it turned out that the virus can live on paper for 72 hours.

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The Church of England very quickly set up telephone worship free of charge called Daily Hope which is still available. Church moved online.

On the 1 June 2020 the government phased a re-opening of schools and restrictions relaxed. The PCC decided to keep going with the Zoom worship provision, but we decided to add a Church service at 11 am in the church. For this we had to print special one use order of services, singing was not allowed and no Holy Communion. The services had to be kept short, the church well ventilated and people had to observe all hygiene rules, social distancing and had to leave the church immediately after the service.

For a very short time I introduced an outdoor Service, called “worship without words” , which had a good response, but due to the new rules of wearing masks we could not continue with that service as it was based on breathing techniques. I don’t think I need to explain that that is a contradiction in terms.

Worship Committee meetings planned for eventualities but everything was very uncertain. The only certainty was our online Service provision and during the year we got more and more proficient in the running of it. Log in numbers on Sundays have been steadily increasing. We have had many guest preachers from Hungary (Marsci Scuz), Germany (Friederike Stockman), Norfolk (Christina Rees), Hertfordshire (Elizabeth Bunker), Oxfordshire (John Kimberley) , and of course from Kent (Archdeacon Andrew Sewell, Lesley Hardy, Clive Jones, Andrew Royal) . I am also very grateful to Monica who has shared taking services with me.

During the week from Tuesday to Friday we hold Morning and Evening Prayer over zoom and it has been and continues to be a delight to share the daily office with one another. As on Sunday, also mid-week, we appreciate our little chats to catch up on how everybody is doing. Amazingly so many people participate in leading, reading and leading the prayers. Thank you to you all.

A highlight for me was our amazing Lent course. Each session was led by somebody else and the program was so interesting and refreshing that I still feel nurtured by the input and discussion. Tony Henley kindly recorded the speakers and the talks were available as are all Sunday Services (downloaded on YouTube). I also printed the talks together for people who have no internet access. On special occasions, like for example Mothering Sunday, we tried to brighten up people’s day, knowing how hard it was not seeing family members, by putting a posy and prayer card outside people’s doors.

At PCC meetings we discussed and had to decide what to do with our Church Services. During the year the government permitted for churches to open for worship additionally to keeping the church open for private prayer. The reopening of churches for worship on Sunday became a local decision. The majority of PCC members voted against coming back into church too soon as infection numbers were rising. For that decision we were given permission by Bishop Rose not to open for Sunday Services. We did return to church on Easter Sunday 2021 with a 6.00am Dawn Communion Service in the churchyard and with the blessing of the Easter fire and the Easter candle. We held an Easter Zoom Service at 9.30am and an 11.00 am Holy Communion Service in Church. The in church services were ticketed.

Now that most members of our congregation are vaccinated at least once, and a good number have had their second vaccination, we have decided to have a regular 11.00am Holy Communion service and continue with a 9.30am Zoom Service.

The worship committee had also thought what we can provide for those who seek solace in the churchyard. Petra told us of an idea her son came across when sitting in a churchyard somewhere that had containers with bibles dotted about. We had a think about the concept and how to replicate the idea sympathetically into our churchyard.

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I had some wood left and asked Colin Whatmore if he were able to build us Bird boxes without a hole. Coin built us three beautiful “God boxes” which look like this:

.

Now the PCC has to decide where to strategically place them in the churchyard and the idea is that they will be filled with prayer booklets and Bible material. Audrey has already organised Bibles from the Gideon society that hopefully will soon find their way into the “God boxes”

Thank you to you all for your commitment and inspiration.

Revd Silke Tetzlaff (Convenor)

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ALL SAINTS, STAPLEHURST

Administrative information

All Saints’ Church is situated in the High Street, Staplehurst. It is part of the Diocese of Canterbury within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The New Rectory, High Street, Staplehurst, Tonbridge, Kent. TN12 0BJ.

The Parochial Church Council is a charity registered with the Charity Commission – No 1132851 and has the responsibility for promoting in the ecclesiastical parish of Staplehurst the whole mission of the Church. It also has the responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the ancient Parish Church and the Parish Rooms.

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Membership

Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the year, the following members served on the PCC: -

Incumbent Rev Silke Tetzlaff ( ex-officio ) Assisting Priest Monica Taylor Warden Angie Lucas Acting PCC Secretary Angie Lucas Treasurer Caroline Highwood Representatives on Diocesan Synod Doreen Braganza and Val Wallis Representatives on Deanery Synod Val Wallis, Tony Henley and Doreen Braganza (all ex-officio) Helen Wilkins Elected Members (Vice Chair – Monica Taylor) Audrey Bullock, Adam Houghton, Helen Wilkins, Bill Scott, Petra Ashdown, Margaret Ashby.

PCC members are elected for a period of three years at the APCM, which may be extended by another three years, if they are re-elected. After serving six years they cannot stand again for election for at least a year. Nomination forms are provided at the back of church before the APCM, with an explanation of voting procedures in our weekly pew notice sheet. The Rector or Vice Chair advises newcomers as to their role and responsibilities after election. The PCC met three times - via the Zoom platform, including ‘A Meeting of Parishioners’ to elect a churchwarden in January 2021.

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic the 2019/2020 APCM had been delayed until October 2020.

Committees

The PCC operates through a number of committees, which meet between the full meetings of the PCC. Particular tasks are given to sub-committees by the PCC and in turn these committees inform the PCC of work they are doing on behalf of the church and, where appropriate, bring to our full council items for discussion and decision. The committees are as follows:

Standing Committee This is the only committee required by law. It meets to formulate the agenda for PCC and, as necessary, to discharge functions referred to it by the PCC and to deal with such matters as may be necessary in the case of an emergency.

Buildings and Grounds Committee

This committee attends to the general maintenance and upkeep of the church building, churchyard, Parish Rooms and associated grounds, including negotiations with outside bodies. It also liaises with the Finance Committee on expenditure in these areas.

Finance Committee

Oversees the general financial position by monitoring income and expenditure, budgeting, coordinating the review of planned giving (at its monthly meetings), recommending levels of voluntary fees paid to PCC and hire rates and terms of condition for hire of the Parish Rooms. It also represents the parish’s decisions on what percentage of deanery diocesan share the parish pays each year.

Magazine Committee

Has the responsibility for the production of the monthly Parish Magazine, together with other publicity matters, and provides accounts for magazine production, distribution and advertising.

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Human Resources and Employment Committee

Established in order to provide a strategic and coherent approach to personnel management.

Fun’D Raising / Social Events Committee

Plans and coordinates social events during the year, initiating new style events which welcome and involve a wide range of people, including those attached to our wider church community and making links between those attending different services.

Social Responsibility and Charities Committee

Social responsibility – bring to the attention of the PCC matters of social responsibility on both a global and local scale, the development of schemes (with other bodies and churches as appropriate) that respond to identified needs, and to raise awareness of issues on a global or local scale.

Charities – deals with the PCC’s charitable giving, both at home and overseas and development of links with other agencies for charitable relief. Also arranges for speakers to attend on the Charity Sunday. Charities for the church to support each year are selected by this committee from congregational suggestions.

Worship Committee

Is responsible for the development of worship and related items within the framework of services and times agreed by the PCC; and development of the range of services and other activities for outreach to those on the edge of the church and beyond.

The PCC also sends representatives to the Diocesan and Deanery synod and links are maintained with the Friends of All Saints and Churches Together in Staplehurst.

Activities

Our activities are: Regular public worship open to all

The provision of sacred space for personal prayer and contemplation Pastoral work, including visiting the sick and bereaved, and local care homes. Teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups

Promotion of Christianity through the staging of events and meetings and distribution of literature

Promoting the whole mission of the Church through provision for senior citizens, parents and toddlers and other special needs groups.

Welcoming other village groups (e.g. the primary school, Interest Group) to use the church building.

Church Attendance

There were 106 people on the Church Electoral Roll for 2021.

Review of the Year

All Saints Church stands on the hill at the heart of the village of Staplehurst and continues its ministry to members of the church and village.

Although having a central church tradition, we also try to provide helpful acts of worship for those used to other styles. This past year – due to the Covid-19 Pandemic - our church has been proactive in continuing to provide services of worship despite not being able to get into ‘physical church’ Although latterly the church has been open for private prayer only and at the time of writing we are again opening up for Sunday morning Worship (socially distanced and adhering to all government guidelines) the Zoom platform has proved exceptionally good in holding the community together with virtual Prayer Services Tues thru Fri 9.30AM and 5PM as well as Sunday Morning

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Worship. Usually, three times a year we would celebrate a High Mass. Our other forms of worship before the lockdown involve Family Service with a band, Holy Communion with Healing, Choral Evensong, and Slow Down Service.

We have an Authorised Lay Minister trained in leading worship, pastoral care, and Funeral Officiant. Collaborative ministry is an important hall mark of our church and, as more people sense a call to a variety of ministries, we are becoming less dependent on the pyramid style of ministry, where a paid incumbent at the top makes all the decisions.

Members of our ministry team and congregation are involved in many village clubs and associations, as well as in our school, at our residential homes, medical centre and on our Parish Council.

Although put on hold due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, our youth groups span the ages 0-18 years. Children’s Activities in church are led by volunteer adults every Sunday at the 10 o’clock service. Minisaints in the Parish Rooms on Thursdays will restart. We also have a Children’s Choir that usually practise on Friday evenings and often sing on Sundays.

From October 2020 - April 2021 there were 6 Funerals in church

8 Burial of Ashes

3 Funerals at the Crematorium

1 wedding in Dec 2020. 3 Baptisms

The Easter Sunday Zoom Service attracted 36 log ins, Easter Sunday 11AM service in Church had 17 attendees. We have increased from about 24 in church (average) to 35 on Sunday Worship occasionally 2-3 children while we’ve been on zoom.

Zoom logins for: Remembrance : 31

Armistice Zoom Service : 9

Christmas :

9 lessons: 51 Children's Christmas eve 5pm: 23 Christmas Eve 7.30pm: 34 Christmas morning: 30

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ALL SAINTS, STAPLEHURST

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Minutes of the Annual Vestry Meeting

Wednesday 7[th] October 2020

Church and via Zoom platform

1. Welcome from the Rector, who thanked everyone for attending despite the extraordinary circumstances due to the current pandemic of Covid-19. Silke went on to explain the purpose of the two meetings and introduced the agenda following an Opening Prayer.

2. Election of churchwardens Silke thanked Mary Henley and Shirley Skinner for their extraordinary availability, their time and resources given as churchwardens during the past year, she went on to explain that they were standing down and as no-one had come forward for election, the PCC would be carrying the responsibility collectively. Gifts were given and MH thanked attendees commenting on how much she had learned particularly during this historical time with the Covid issues. She recognised that despite the fact that no one had come forward yet for the post of churchwarden, Silke was to be assured of support.

3. Minutes of the Easter Vestry Meeting held on April 30th 2019 were proposed to be a true record of the meeting. This was agreed by all raising hands in favour - the minutes were then signed off by Silke.

4. Date of the next Annual Vestry Meeting and APCM was not set at this time due to obvious reasons.

Silke closed the AVM officially at 7.45PM and opened the APCM.

Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Wednesday 7[th] October 2020

Church and via Zoom platform

1. The meeting was attended by 33 parishioners. (17 in physical church, 16 Zoomers)

2. Apologies for absence were received from Shirley Saunders, Marion Christie, Ted and Agnes Hall, Sylvia Lade and Vic Holdaway.

3. Minutes of APCM 2019 The minutes were agreed and signed off by Silke.

4. Presentation of the Electoral Roll and Election of Electoral Roll Ofcer Bill Scott presented the ER and agreed to continue in this role for the next year. All voted in favour by a show of hands (in physical church and via Zoom)

5. Election of members to the PCC There were no nominees for election to PCC so Silke thanked all existing PCC members. She thanked Anne Brenchley who was not seeking re-election, also thanking Angie Lucas who, although taking her fallow year agreed to continue with many secretarial duties until another member was willing to take on the PCC secretary role. Sheila Brooker was also taking a fallow year and was duly thanked. Val Wallis confirmed that as ex officio (Diocesan Synod) she would remain on the PCC. Helen Wilkins offered to be on Deanery Synod. Other members agreed to remain on PCC except for Dermot Budd, who preferred to ‘stand down’ due to other commitments. Doreen Braganza was seeking re election to Deanery Synod as

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was Tony Henley. Caroline Highwood confirmed that despite a fallow year due she was happy to remain as Treasurer and therefore needed to be co opted onto PCC.

1. Annual Reports Silke expressed gratitude to all who submitted reports. She then commenced listing them, inviting any comments as she read through.

Page 13, Buildings & Grounds Report. Mary Henley offered updated information from the past 6 months.

1. Decision bought to and agreed by virtual PCC to suspend work on the chancel floor until the way forward with funding becomes clearer in a Covid 19 World.

2. Weekly check on church building made during lockdown including testing the organ.

3. Portable appliance testing in church/Parish Room/Parish Office – passed.

4. 3 new gas boilers fitted by Fairs and Green in the church. Thanks to The Friends for funding this, and to the Community Events Group for a donation of £1000.

5. Parish Room boiler serviced.

6. Maintenance to Church roof - tiles replaced by Zenith Roofing.

7. Fire appliance testing in church and Parish Room – passed.

8. RA carried out and circulated in: a) church, to allow private prayer, public worship – also in b) Parish Room to allow multiple users.

9. Step replaced to Parish Room side door.

10. Quinquennial Inspection carried out by inspecting architect Dan Martin. Report received at the weekend and has been circulated to PCC members.

Page 24, FoAS Report. Andrew Brady via Zoom recognised and thanked the technical team for enabling the meeting via Zoom and physical church, he went on to say that if anyone considering joining The Friends please to contact him. Andrew thanked the churchwardens and also the fund raisers.

Pag 28, Holy Dusters Report – Silke wanted to formally thank all the ‘dusters’ and cleaning volunteers as their workload had increased significantly during Covid.

Page 28, Music – Choir. Silke informed that Ian Turner had stepped down from his Choir Director role as due to Covid, there was no choir to currently direct. She stressed that he had done amazing work in his time as choir director and was formally thanked.

7. Treasurer’s Report and appointment of Independent Examiner.

Caroline informed that Stephen Pooley had indicated that he would be willing to continue in his role and she confirmed that we do have a signed Independent Examiner report from him. She went on to draw attention to the underpayment of Parish Share and that although it wasn’t recorded by the Diocese as a debt, we would be expected to make payments as and when we were in better position to do so. Caroline invited any questions and outlined that in the past 6 months due to Covid we had benefitted from some reduction in costs: the Parish Room was closed for some time and also services were halted. She confirmed that we had furloughed staff over that period but also had lost some of our casual income in the form of Parish Room

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bookings, wedding fees, collection plate donations, although some fund raising did continue, namely The Rector’s Driveway Sales throughout August, ‘Petra’s Pedalling’ and also the St. Swithun’s Challenge

Caroline confirmed that we remain in a problematic time which is indeed shared by other parishes, she then proposed we accept the financial report, Val Wallis seconded and all voted in favour. Caroline also proposed we accept Stephen Pooley as Independent Examiner, Bill Scott seconded, all in favour.

1. Election of Sidespeople: Silke thanked all the sidespeople for their work, particularly at this present time when congregation were in need of more guidance due to Covid, safe distancing etc. the list of sidespeople does not need to be read out at APCM but will be at the first PCC meeting following. People were invited to contact Silke if they wished to be considered for the role.

2. Any other business: Margaret Holdaway asked when we could expect to have Wednesday Communion again. Silke explained that due to extensive cleaning in between services and lack of availability of cleaners and sidespeople we must be content with the Sunday Communion for the time being. People are still shielding, trying to stay as safe as possible and Covid case numbers are currently on the rise. Silke went on to confirm that we have resumed home communion for housebound people and anyone who would like to have this, please to make themselves known to her.

The meeting ended at 8.31pm with The Grace.

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Parish Church of All Saints, Staplehurst

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL And ANNUAL REPORT For the year ended 31 December 2020

Rector The Reverend Silke Tetzlaff

Associate Priest The Reverend Monica Taylor

Authorised Lay Minister Mrs Audrey Bullock

Treasurer Miss Caroline Highwood

BANKERS National Westminster Bank, Maidstone Branch, 3 High Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XU

Lloyds TSB, ‘Woodside’, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3DJ

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Mr Stephen Pooley BA FCA, 56 Corner Farm Road Staplehurst, Kent

CHURCHWARDENS Mrs Mary Henley (for part of the year) Mrs Shirley Skinner (for part of the year)

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Financial Review.

The funds of the PCC come under three headings:

• Unrestricted (general) funds may be spent by the PCC on any object it sees fit within the boundaries set by its aims and objectives as a charity, which are, broadly, to provide Christian ministry in Staplehurst.

• Designated Funds are sums allocated by the PCC for a particular purpose, but may be re-allocated if circumstances change. Restricted Funds (included within the same column) may only be spent on the purposes for which they were given, for example the grant made by the Parish Council for the upkeep of the churchyard.

• Endowment funds are funds donated and invested, and dedicated for a specific purpose.

2020 proved to be an extraordinary year. The pandemic meant that normal life was much curtailed from March onwards, with limited opportunities for church services, or for fundraising, and the accounts should be seen in this light.

In 2020 total receipts on unrestricted funds were £89,628. Full details are given in the Financial Statements. This is £25,628 less than in 2019. The 2020 income includes £1,532 arising from the transfer of some of the designated funds into unrestricted funds, as PCC decided that they would be better used to assist our current position. The planned giving amount (regular contributions by the congregation) held up surprisingly well, given the circumstances.

The church received £28,874 in restricted and designated funds. The main elements of the restricted funds were the grant made by the Parish Council for the upkeep of the churchyard (£5,772), the grant for upkeep of the Church made by the Friends of All Saints (£14,545, and a further £5,060 towards the chancel floor), and charitable contributions (£1,846). The Friends grant this year was particularly generous, as it included replacing the 3 church boilers. The Staplehurst Community Events Group also gave us £1,000 towards the boilers.

Net income from the hire of the parish room totalled £2,894; while the magazine made a profit of £2,521. Fund Raising contributed £1,817, and PCC Fees £5,084 (all figures net of costs). We also benefitted in year from the Government’s job retention scheme grant for our furloughed staff. This brought income of £3,170 into the accounts.

£89,628 was expended on providing Christian ministry from All Saints, including the Parish Share of which we paid £44,982. This contribution to the diocese pays for the salary of the rector, housing costs such as structural repairs to the Rectory, as well as providing for clergy pensions and a range of centralised resources. These resources include training of future ministers and lay people (such as lay ministers and readers) and support for the gift aid process. All Saints’ contribution to the Parish Share is arrived at by use of a distribution formula, in use throughout the Diocese.

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The amount of Parish Share assessed for All Saints was actually £74,015 for 2020 (an increase of £1,237 on the 2019 amount), however it proved impossible to pay it in full. As a result, PCC agreed to withhold the sum of £29,033. It is unlikely that we will be able to pay this amount, in the foreseeable future, and it will be added to the unpaid amount for 2019, making a total of £43,587.

A full breakdown of the costs of ministry is to be found under the heading ‘Note 3, Resources Expended’ in the accounts. Our utility bills were significantly reduced as a result of the reduced use and closure of the church and the parish room, over the period.

As in previous years the Diocese has continued to be supportive about the difficulties that we are in. We do not have a specific Reserves Policy, in fact we have very little money in reserve. As advised with the 2018 and 2019 accounts, PCC has resolved in any month when it was forecast that the bank accounts were likely to fall below £10,000, that month’s instalment of Parish Share would be withheld. It was for this reason that we have withheld parish share again this year, and just paying enough to ensure that the outturn for unrestricted funds broke even at year end. It is clear that the future will continue to be difficult.

PCC recognise that without the continued forbearance of the Diocese the current situation would be unsustainable, given that our decreasing income does not allow us to meet both our running costs and our expected contribution to the cost of the clergy (including our own) and the diocese.

Finally, we would like to thank all those people who continue to support the work of the church through their individual financial contributions, and through other fundraising efforts. These efforts are very much appreciated, albeit much restricted in 2020, and an important feature of the life of All Saints.

Churchwarden: Angie Walker Lucas 10th April 2021

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Independent Examiner's report to the PCC of All Saints Church, Staplehurst, Kent for the Year ended 31st December 2020

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Parish Church of All Saints, Staplehurst (the Trust) for the year ended 3 1 December 2020.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

• 2.the accounts do not accord with those records; or

• 3.the accounts do 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, other than in respect of the ongoing need to continue to address fund raising issues that are set out in detail in the Annual Report to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st ] December 2020.

Signed: Date: 7[th] April 2021

S.R.P001ey BA FCA

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Parish Church of All Saints, Staplehurst

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

And ANNUAL REPORT For the year ended 31 December 2020

Rector The Reverend Silke Tetzlaff

Associate Priest The Reverend Monica Taylor

Authorised Lay Minister Mrs Audrey Bullock

Treasurer Miss Caroline Highwood

BANKERS National Westminster Bank, Maidstone Branch, 3 High Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1XU

Lloyds TSB,

‘Woodside’, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3DJ

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Mr Stephen Pooley BA FCA, 56 Corner Farm Road Staplehurst, Kent

CHURCHWARDENS Mrs Mary Henley (for part of the year) Mrs Shirley Skinner (for part of the year)

Financial Review.

The funds of the PCC come under three headings:

• Unrestricted (general) funds may be spent by the PCC on any object it sees fit within the boundaries set by its aims and objectives as a charity, which are, broadly, to provide Christian ministry in Staplehurst.

• Designated Funds are sums allocated by the PCC for a particular purpose, but may be re-allocated if circumstances change. Restricted Funds (included within the same column) may only be spent on the purposes for which they were given, for example the grant made by the Parish Council for the upkeep of the churchyard.

• Endowment funds are funds donated and invested, and dedicated for a specific purpose.

2020 proved to be an extraordinary year. The pandemic meant that normal life was much curtailed from March onwards, with limited opportunities for church services, or for fundraising, and the accounts should be seen in this light.

In 2020 total receipts on unrestricted funds were £89,628. Full details are given in the Financial Statements. This is £25,628 less than in 2019. The 2020 income includes £1,532 arising from the transfer of some of the designated funds into unrestricted funds, as PCC decided that they would be better used to assist our current position. The planned giving amount (regular contributions by the congregation) held up surprisingly well, given the circumstances.

The church received £28,874 in restricted and designated funds. The main elements of the restricted funds were the grant made by the Parish Council for the upkeep of the churchyard (£5,772), the grant for upkeep of the Church made by the Friends of All Saints (£14,545, and a further £5,060 towards the chancel floor), and charitable contributions (£1,846). The Friends grant this year was particularly generous, as it included replacing the 3 church boilers. The Staplehurst Community Events Group also gave us £1,000 towards the boilers.

Net income from the hire of the parish room totalled £2,894; while the magazine made a profit of £2,521. Fund Raising contributed £1,817, and PCC Fees £5,084 (all figures net of costs). We also benefitted in year from the Government’s job retention scheme grant for our furloughed staff. This brought income of £3,170 into the accounts.

£89,628 was expended on providing Christian ministry from All Saints, including the Parish Share of which we paid £44,982. This contribution to the diocese pays for the salary of the rector, housing costs such as structural repairs to the Rectory, as well as providing for clergy pensions and a range of centralised resources. These resources include training of future ministers and lay people (such as lay ministers and readers) and support for the gift aid process. All Saints’ contribution to the Parish Share is arrived at by use of a distribution formula, in use throughout the Diocese.

The amount of Parish Share assessed for All Saints was actually £74,015 for 2020 (an increase of £1,237 on the 2019 amount), however it proved impossible to pay it in full. As a result, PCC agreed to withhold the sum of £29,033. It is unlikely that we will be able to pay this amount, in the foreseeable future, and it will be added to the unpaid amount for 2019, making a total of £43,587.

A full breakdown of the costs of ministry is to be found under the heading ‘Note 3, Resources Expended’ in the accounts. Our utility bills were significantly reduced as a result of the reduced use and closure of the church and the parish room, over the period.

As in previous years the Diocese has continued to be supportive about the difficulties that we are in. We do not have a specific Reserves Policy, in fact we have very little money in reserve. As advised with the 2018 and 2019 accounts, PCC has resolved in any month when it was forecast that the bank accounts were likely to fall below £10,000, that month’s instalment of Parish Share would be withheld. It was for this reason that we have withheld parish share again this year, and just paying enough to ensure that the outturn for unrestricted funds broke even at year end. It is clear that the future will continue to be difficult.

PCC recognise that without the continued forbearance of the Diocese the current situation would be unsustainable, given that our decreasing income does not allow us to meet both our running costs and our expected contribution to the cost of the clergy (including our own) and the diocese.

Finally, we would like to thank all those people who continue to support the work of the church through their individual financial contributions, and through other fund-raising efforts. These efforts are very much appreciated, albeit much restricted in 2020, and an important feature of the life of All Saints.

Independent Examiner’s report to the PCC of All Saints Church, Staplehurst, Kent for the Year ended 31st December 2020

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Parish Church of All Saints, Staplehurst (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 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 Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. the accounts do 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, other than in respect of the ongoing need to continue to address fund raising issues that are set out in detail in the Annual Report to the Financial Statements for the year ended 318‘ December 2020.

Signed:

Dates 3/y/ wu

Sk. WY

S.R.Pooley BA FCA