# 2023 Reports for the 2024 APCM Of the East Dartford Benefice ## Foreword by Rev Mandy Young This Annual Report seeks to reflect something of the hard work, dedication and Christian commitment of the congregations of St Alban’s and St Edmund’s during 2023 and also, of course, to look forward. They are different churches, serving different demographics, with different histories and different stories to tell of their journey with God. But our vision is shared and owned by all of us. Jonathan Swift once wrote, ‘Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others’. What we have been privileged to see for ourselves is just how much God loves each one of us. He loves us so much he sent his Son Jesus to be with us and to show us how to live and to love. The more we follow the example of Jesus, the closer we will come to God’s own vision for this world, a vision of love, and peace, and justice for all creation. That vision is what we mean when we peak of the Kingdom of God. Our hope and prayer for each of our two churches and the communities we serve is that we might strive, in every way we can, through worship, fellowship and service to one another and to our community, to share that vision and to grow day by day into the people God calls us to be. Our prayer is to reach out into those parts of the local community who are unaware of our presence, sharing the unconditional love of God with all, wherever and whoever they are. And we seek to be faithful in all we do. As we grow together, putting down roots as a benefice, and working out what it means to be a single parish, spread across such a large space of Dartford, sharing our energies and resources and **2 |** P a g e difficulties, perhaps our real vision, our real calling, is to model what it means to be inclusive. **3 |** P a g e ## **Structure and Policy of our two PCCs in 2023** During 2023 our staffing was as follows: Rev Mandy Young, Vicar; Canon Mandy Brown, PTO; Rev Esther Rose - Curate (SSM, part-time); Andrew Carr, Reader; Deborah Westerby, Parish administrator; St Edmund’s also employs a centre coordinator and three part time caretakes. ## **PCC Membership of the East Dartford Benefice in 2023** Rev Mandy Young (Vicar) Rev Esther Rose (Curate) Canon Mandy Brown (PTO) Andrew Carr (Reader/Deanery Synod) Robert Etheridge (secretary) Debbie Westerby (Treasurer/Deanery Synod) Segun Abraham (CW) Roy Brown (CW) Ayo Abraham Sharon Earl Jackie Kent Adam Boucher June Dance The EDB also had various sub-committees and groups that take on specific areas of responsibilities including fund-raising and building groups. Each one reports directly to the PCC who remains responsible for all decisions relating to policy and mission. ## **Our Policy** Our PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has the responsibility of co-operating with the Diocesan Office and its committees as well as its partners (Temple Hill Surgery and KCC Sure Start Children’s Centre) for the maintenance of the St. Edmund’s Church Living Well building. The PCC met 5 times during 2023, with one extraordinary meeting. The Standing Committee met when needed. **4 |** P a g e The Parochial Church Council seeks to promote within the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All regular church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The Standing Committee meets when required and has the authorisation to transact business on behalf of the PCC between its meetings subject to any direction given by the PCC. ## Vicar’s Report ## Vicar’s report The year 2023 began with us, on the very first day of the year, legally becoming a single parish/ benefice. All that history of the two churches, often a shared history, with St Alban’s being the mother-church of St Edmund’s, finally took this particular legal and ecclesiastical step. Being a single parish meant we could have just the one PCC, which we formed (no hanging around there) straight after the 2023 APCM, and we could have one APCM. It meant too we can also read banns at either church, baptise and marry in either church. It streamlined some of the functional side of church life which is always helpful if only because it reduces duplication and frees us to focus on other things. . To celebrate the momentous occasion we finally, in October, so ten months after the event, paused long enough to manage a special service of celebration with Bishop Simon coming along to preach and to preside, and to help us to recommit ourselves to our ministry in this place. Just as exciting was the wonderful cake Nneamaka made for afterwards. Given that we were moving into a different stage of our journey together, 2023 was the right time to revisit our pattern of services. An audit and lot sof informal conversations led us to the pattern have now - twice a month we have a service at both churches, and once a month we worship in each other’s church. The consensus was that you preferred services at ten thirty - it worked for mailies, for the elderly, and just about for everyone,e so we ave stuch with that timing. The pattern also ahd to **5 |** P a g e be sustainiable with Karen leaving, and esther edging toward sthe end of her formal time as a curate. I;m not sure w ehave that right yet, and there are other things toc onsider a swe go into the next stage - do we want and nee dmor evariety and if, so what does htta loik like. Once a month w ehave café church. And or family services.Do we introduce evening servides -w ould people coe out for them - which weaould enable thing slike tTaize ot sermon series. What next? You tell me. Café church has now established itself and is a good chance to do worsjpi diffenrelty. Other services last year included an animal blessing, a second service eot rmembe rloved ones with the support fot he Coop, a speicla nativity service on the Birdge, led bny tyrainee vicrs, Messy Church which we hope to grow, Socailly w ehave had quizzes, a christimas fayre - more would be good but we need colunteers in case the same peokle do everytihn.g Bootfayres help the funds at St ed’s and perhaps we nee dot lok more at a balsnce of funf raising between our two cjruches. Coumnicllors meet at both of our churches once a month; sing a long; In terms of occasional offices we had, across our two churches, 16 funerla,s 19 baptismns (including eight adults) and 1 wedding; 6 were also confirmed. There wa s LENT COURSE, A FIRS THOUSE GORPU HAS NOW BEEN ESTALBISHE DON ZOOM (Scripture through Art) and a nother, in person on,e is coming soon; Lent course; knit and natter; amassivie book sale at one poimt, toddlers, cafes at bot hhcurches with a view to relfetc on growing the one at St Alban’s - more for the future than the aops,t but we have now b3come a ‘citizens advice kiosk’ which means we can help our cvomumnities access CA without truidging into town. OPNe key thing I haven’t yet said much abouy tbut surely became mor significant during 2023. Rhe whole Living in Live and faith progress. Which sough tot reflect on and debate issue saround exuality and marirage. This led to Synod, late in last year, agreeing that gay couples relationship could be blesse das par tof a maani service and prayers but not yet stand alone services. Ther eis so mucvh mor eto dusicss and it is my failing that webane;t fully engaged witj this - the APCM may be the **6 |** P a g e time. But I can say I rpesented ot the PCC earl;ier last year, e actly where we stood. The minutes record it thus: The PCC discussed the recent Synod decision to permit the blessing of same sex couples following their civil marriage. We are an inclusive church and our heart and our mission is to be self-confidently so in our theology and in our work. It is up to the incumbent whether or not we bless same sex unions, and MY, MB, and EB all made it clear they would wish to do so. Someone asked what would happen in the event of a new incumbent coming. It would be down to the PCC and church representatives in an interregnum to ensure they asked the right questions to ensure any incumbent was sympathetic to the churches inclusive identity. We will revisit this but it ened sot be clear that I am always opent of scusion and my door, literlal yand meptaphoruiclaly is opent o anyone with conenrs - we will work it out and go forward dotgethernbut we will be happy and thrilled ot honour love where ever w efind it. S the future - our congregatiomns are growin,g new faces are appearing na dhtta is sucha blesisn gna denouragement. I would like to ee us delvelpo our music, and that will pryly be net burt St Albna’s like St eds getitn ghtier screen and new mics - a whole new sound stsuyemin fact; I would liketos e emore vairtey of serives and opportunities to discuss faith; there will be more hous egorpus and mor ework on the etates; in my heart w enee dot do much more for our chuldrne and young peoelp; esther rmeians with uis for one day a week att eh moment, Mandy B is focusimn gon anna chaplaimncy and w ehave ebeng vient ehgo ahead ot seek a replacement for karne - who will fit into that karne shaped space is something w ecaRE STLAKING THROUG.H Wco chruch I said last time w eare a huge parish and it hasmn’t shrunk in the last twelve months - we have a couple fos ervie son the Bridge, inc natuivuity and animal blwessing; Hiping for an associate mioninster, esther comes ot the end of her curacy but rmneains with us for one day a week and Mandy’s mininstry is focuins on anana chaplaincy. Each church retains its unique story, its unique identity, while working as one for the good of the communities we serve and for the revelation of **7 |** P a g e April 2024 God’s kingdom in these places. As I like to put it, we are two buildings now, but one church. **8 |** P a g e ## Safeguarding Report We have had a few concerns this year with members of our community using the building and it is not something that has been completely solvable. We have liaised with different organisations, including Police and the Diocese. We continue to support those that have been affected by these incidents, including staff as well as community. We have been consolidated under the banner of East Dartford Benefice for all Safeguarding concerns with the Diocese, so we now have one site to record all DBS and training outcomes. It is important that if anyone has safeguarding concerns that they are passed on to myself, Andrew or Debbie and we can then take any appropriate action, whether that is to record and further monitor a situation or pass that to Social Services, the Diocese or police. We do not investigate concerns, but we can take the opportunity to use the experts around us to advise what to do. After the recent publication of a report by the Church of England, changes to processes, the way Safeguarding is reported and dealt with by the church means that Safeguarding in general, will be in the spotlight, ensuring all channels are as robust as we can make them. This will come down to the Parish level and we will pass that information on at an appropriate time. Please do keep the Safeguarding Team, our caretaking staff and clergy in prayer as they are the front line, as are you congregation members, helping to keep our community safe. Lorraine Bathgate PSO and Lead Recruiter **9 |** P a g e ## Deanery Synod Report ## **What are Deanery Synods?** They are small geographical divisions of the Diocese concerned (there are 42 Church of England Dioceses – ours is Rochester), within which parishes are grouped under the care of an Area Dean (in Dartford’s case Revd Richard Mortimer, Christ Church Dartford, although he is stepping down this year). There are 13 parishes – five of which are subsumed into two Benefices – represented in Dartford Deanery Synod. There were four Dartford Deanery Synod meetings in 2023-24. I am presently the Secretary and have been for some ten years. The first in February 2023 was at St Edmunds. The meeting focused on the then recently published Church of England book _Living in Love and Faith_ about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage, which sought to tackle the tough questions and the divisions among Christians about what it means to be holy in a society in which understandings and practices of gender, sexuality and marriage continue to change. Given the subject matter, it had and did cause tensions, and these were evident at the meeting especially in terms of inclusivity. The second in June was at St Mary’s, Stone. The meeting focused on Vocations and the Dean had invited Rev Canon Pamela Ive, Diocesan Director of Ordinands and Vocations who asked us to think about how we are all called to live out Christian values everyday with faith that others will adopt them too. She spoke about Nurture, Discernment, Calling and Vocation, with Nurture being the starting point. And that whatever our calling, whatever we do, we do for God and therefore it is never wasted. A thoughtful-provoking meeting. The third in October was at Christ Church, Dartford. The meeting covered the creation of a Deanery Resources file so that every parish within Dartford Deanery knew what resources, space, expertise and personnel were available within each parish that the others could draw upon. There was also further discussion encouraging vocations and that vocations in church (and indeed outside) were much wider than just ordained and lay ministries, for example treasurership, administration and teaching and guiding children. The most recent was in February, again at Christ Church, Dartford but the venue was its Church Hall. The meeting focused on Community **10 |** P a g e Engagement and the Dean had invited Magali van der Merwe, Community Engagement Adviser for the Diocese of Rochester. Her presentation was based on statistics gathered from churches within the Deanery with a theme taken from St Teresa of Ávilia: _“Christ has no body on earth but yours.”_ The statistics suggested that within the Deanery key issues were deprivation, loneliness, poverty, lone parenthood and a lack of social housing. She challenged the parishes individually and collectively to either get involved with projects in concert with the Borough Council or, in particular, partnering with anti-slavery network agencies to combat Modern Slavery, for example CTBI and The Clewer Initiative and with anti-Domestic Abuse agencies such as White Ribbon UK. ## **The remaining Dartford Deanery Synods in 2024 are:** Wednesday 19 June – St John's Church, Church Road, Sutton-at-Hone, DA4 9EX Wednesday 9 October – **St Peter's Church,** College Road, Hextable, BR8 7RH Both meetings from 7.30pm for 7.45pm. ANDREW CARR Andrew Carr **11 |** P a g e ## Welcoming team report We have all entered a church for the first time. Often what makes a difference is a friendly smile at the door. When I visited St. Edmund’s for the first time (during Covid) I was met by Jan Gunner who explained what was happening, which made me feel welcome. I hope you all had a similar experience. We now have an official Welcome Team at both churches. Ayo Abraham, from St. Alban’s manages this, and I support her. Over the last few years different people have joined and left the Welcome Team. The aim of the Welcome Team is to have at least one, preferably two people inside the door to greet everyone who comes in. With a friendly smile, they hand out anything relevant to the service. Welcomers are more than just door-greeters however. They are perfectly placed to notice newcomers and take care that newcomers understand what they need to know for that service. The welcomers are also to stay near the door throughout the service, so that they can greet any late comers. They are also a point of contact for someone who may become upset during the service and need to talk, or to know where the toilet is, or get a glass of water. At the end of the service the welcomer is to keep an eye out again for the new comers, invite them personally to come and have a drink after the service, to sit with them and introduce them to someone else. They also let newcomers know how to get in contact if they would like. In 2023 we started making welcome packs, and Ife Abraham was a huge help in compiling them. The welcome packs will be launched in June, 2024. We currently have 6 people on the welcome team at St Alban’s and 4 at St Edmund’s. We do need more, so that it isn’t always the same people every week. Please do get in contact with myself or Ayo if you would like to join the Welcome Team Esther Rose, April 2024 **12 |** P a g e The Electoral Roll Report for East Dartford Benefice The Electoral Roll has been revised for 2024. The date for applications closed on 28[th] April. Congregants are still able to and encouraged to join the electoral roll of their respective churches but, as with last year, we also keep a formal East Dartford parish roll. The roll is due to be fully renewed next year, 2025. The figures are as follows: St Alban’s – electoral roll stands at xxx as of 28[th] April St Edmund’s – electoral roll stands at xxx as of 28[th] April Therefore, the electoral roll of the East Dartford Benefice stands at xxx. The new roll will be created for the 2025 APCM. We now have a shiny new website thanks to Debbie, Alan and Esther **.** This website and our now established Facebook page and YouTube channel – both for the East Dartford Benefice - has helped greatly with communications. Our quarterly parish magazine, renamed in 2023, 2Gather, goes from strength to strength. All this combined with our weekly pew sheets and regular posters means people should be up to speed with services and events. Please do read the communications – especially the pew sheets – they tell us what we need to know. We are working too on making sure GDPR and privacy policies are up to speed and always followed through. **13 |** P a g e ## St Edmund’s Reports ## **St Edmunds PCC – 2022 Financial Summary** 2022 was a little busier than 2021 and although we have been open all year bookings are still slow as people have been reluctant to return. This has again impacted on our finances. The two streams of income we have are from commercial letting of our premises and Parish Giving. Parish Giving is down this year due to congregation members moving and a problem with HSBC who closed our Bank Accounts in August. It took just over a month to open a new account with Metro Bank but not all standing orders have been set up again. Lettings invoiced were £12,351.00 which was a little better than £11,474.57 during 2021 but still very low compared to £27,100 during 2019. We had to cancel, in the interim, our contribution to the Diocesan Offer. Lease is still at £3,029.82. BACS giving per month for December had dropped to £525.17 (due to standing orders not being set up again) as compared to £590.00 in 2021 and £1,034.00 in 2019. We received one Grant payment from the Diocese of £5,000.00 but made a loss of £681.00 in 2022 compared to the surplus of £2,172 in 2021 on unrestricted funds. Surestart returned during 2022 but only for two days per week. KCC are now thinking of transferring the classes to the local Library. We continue to look after the finances for Temple Hill Over 60’s and at the end of 2022 we hold a balance of £5,583.00 for them in restricted funds. Also held in restricted funds: |Kondoa|£170.00| |---|---| |Youth|£873.00| |Mission|£481.00| |Hardship|£785.00| |Urban|£10,767.00| |Charitable Giving|£179.00| |Memory Café|£1,059.00| **14 |** P a g e ## **Financial Reserves policy for the East Dartford Benefice** The PCC recognises that it should always seek to maintain sufficient ‘unrestricted’ funds, which are the free reserves of the charity, at a level which equates to approximately three months unrestricted expenditure. This provides sufficient funds to cover management, administration, and support costs and to respond to emergency applications for grants which arise from time to time. Unfortunately, due to circumstances of which the diocese is fully aware, we are now working at approximately a twomonth reserve fund. **15 |** P a g e ## **St Edmund’s Church Wardens and Fabric Report APCM 24** I believe this year has brought a greater cooperation between our two churches as we move forward with the East Dartford Benefice. We share services, on Sundays and at other special times. We also share resources and that includes our congregation members who have supported all the different activities that go on in our church spaces. Thank you! For me, the joint services are a delight, and it has meant that we have got to know each other so well. I believe that this has given us a solid base in order to carry out the mission that has been laid before us by the Lord. Each and every one of us has a place and I feel that our congregations, which are growing in numbers, support each other in whatever area we are working. Can I ask that we all continue to pray for each other, we can only achieve our goals if this happens, it is really important. We continue to thank Mandy Y, Mandy B, Esther and Andrew for their leadership. As the time approaches for Esther to move onto the next phase of the path that the Lord has set for her, she will go with our love and prayers, what ever that journey may be. As for the building itself, The big works last year were the two replacement boilers. The toilets also needed some work. We had problems with leaks in the roof and work was done in December on the roof above the Surestart Hall. There are ongoing problems with the roof as noted in the quinquennial report. We also replaced the air conditioning unit in the cafe. However there are still two air con units, in the kitchen and in what is now the doctors waiting area which are broken. The safety equipment on the roof had to be repaired as it failed the yearly test. Two new charges came with the fire doors having to be individually checked due to new legislation. Also, the lift has to have an independent check. These two mean that we have to pay two more companies to check what our suppliers are doing. From memory, these were the big things. All the usual checks were done. **16 |** P a g e 171Page ## Church wardens and fabric report - St Alban’ The issues identified by the rodent inspection have bene addressed. This included: carpet cleaning in the chapel, brushes fitted ot the doors, holes ealed around the radiator pipework and micromesh fitted to airbricks down Colney Road side of the building. The garden continuesot be ioanmained and looke depsically beautiful during the summer months, thanks to margare tnad Arthur. Margaret maintains the flower bed sand Arthur maintains the lawns. We thank them for their work and dedicayion. The disabled toile thasd now been decorated and fitted with anew toilet roll hodler. The smaller toilet nect to the vestry is next on the list. Thank you to Arthur and June for their work ont his. With the completion of the flooring and main churc boxing in of pipes, attention turned tot eh chapel and rhis work has now too been completed. We are waiting for aprorval of the facvulty for visual and audio systmer and are hiopeful that this will be installed later this year. Looking forward, the qwuniquennial report is due this year. Sow rks identified have bene put on hold awaiting a report on priorities. The favric committee is aware of the ened tor edectoare and to address brickwork inside an doutside but fgelt it was sensible to wait on said quinquennial. Thanks go to Debbie, Segun, and all member so fht teram for h,eping with various sisues throughout the year, especially as I recovered from my stroks. Roy Brown. Church Warden St Alban’s **18 |** P a g e ## Report for the Prayer Healing Team at St. Edmunds The prayer healing team has been re started in 2023. Various people within St. Edmunds were approached. It may be a spiritual calling for each person on the team or maybe the interest within the church to help individuals to off load or receive healing. I also like to thank every one on the team, it may be in prayer behind the scenes or on duty on Sunday. The team is setup within / when there is a communion at St. Edmunds. New beginnings are happening. I believe the congregation, when ready to receive more would step forward in faith, this could happen within the communion service or after the service. Moving forward, I believe there will be a move towards St. Albans, when this would happen. Watch this space. I feel Jesus wants to release people, within the church (St. Edmunds / St. Albans) and our communities surrounding our churches. I am also planning for the team, a two x one day away day, with a further understanding of what Jesus would like give or release them from. I do believe the world encroaches on us eg. TV, Newspapers, Radio. We just need have space away from home / church / work etc. Thank you. **19 |** P a g e ## **Music Report for our two churches** APCM 12.5.24. MUSIC We have had a very busy, rewarding year and the sound system has been completely updated. We have a new screen allowing us to see more clearly, especially film/videos. This can greatly enhance our worship together. We have new microphones as well, meaning that we don’t have to swop mics backward and forward so that those taking part in the service don’t have to hunt around and can be heard clearly. I would like to thank Esther for the effort she has made, from the finding the funding to liaising with John who has actually advised us and done the work. This has meant that those leading a service can be more adventurous in their presentation, and it hopefully will enhance our worship time. This does mean that we could do with more people to work on the sound desk. If this is something you would be interested in doing, please speak to me, Alan or Robert. We would love to hear from you! Lorraine Bathgate ## Lorraine Bathgate **20 |** P a g e ## **Food Bank Report** We begin this report by thanking everyone who supports the work of The Food Bank. The commitment of Mary’s Child that provides our funding and structure, so we can serve the people of Temple Hill. The volunteers who give so much of their time and talents from making tea or coffee to distribution and admin. We thank Emma at the RSPCA who regularly delivers pet food to us for distribution. We also thank another Emma who supports us through deliveries from the Hygiene Bank. Thanks, must also go to Bob who put so much in place for us to build upon. Sadly, due to poor health he made the decision to hang up his clip board. We send him much love. The Food Bank moved from Thursday to Monday allowing us all to dedicate more time to individuals who need the service. It changed location from the cupboard in the church to the Mezzanine. This decision was taken to streamline the effort of purchasing and stocking up on food. It has also enabled us to offer a more personal experience. We opened the Café to offer a warm space with light refreshments which can now be supervised. We are also able to offer once a month a confidential room for benefit checks carried out by the team from Mary’s Child. All our volunteers are part of Mary’s Child. They have completed and signed paperwork related to codes of behaviour and confidentiality. We are a small team and always on the lookout for additional helpers if you think you could help, please contact Canon Mandy on The Food Bank offers Christs unconditional love treats each person with respect. We build relationships. We try to find practical solutions to food poverty. Every week there is much judgement and rumours, questions of entitlement we face these questions head on. Our prayer is to close this service because we are no longer required by the community. Until that time, we will continue to offer the service to the growing numbers in need. Sadly, on average we feed 120 people per week they leave with just three days of food. Amongst the challenges are signs of hope and love. A man excited because he passed his exams, so he is back in employment. A disabled woman who has sorted her benefits out and can now manage without the indignity of the food bank. For these stories we give thanks. Mandy Canon Mandy Brown PTO **21 |** P a g e ## St Alban’s Reports ## **St Alban’s PCC – 2022 Financial Summary** – - Unrestricted funds designated at the end of 2022 were: |Current account|£625.10| |---|---| |Savings account|£18,165.01| |Fleet Coffee Mornings|£639.00| |Mission Fund (previously Grub Institute)|£4,038.00*| |Church Repair Fund|£4,839.00| |Teesdale Road Repair Fund|£9,715.00**| |Hymn Book Fund|£305.00| Restricted funds at the end of 2022 were: |Savings Fund|£130,000.00| |---|---| |Organ Repair Fund|£5,967.00| |Garden Fund|£1,368.00***| |Chair Fund|£1,454.00| |Mothers & Toddlers|£401.00| |Building Fund|£1,367.00| ## **Monies to be transferred between accounts:** *£4,000 to be transferred to cover payment made on 07/04/23 to St Edmund’s as contribution for blinds – agreed by PCC ** £432 to be transferred from Teesdale Road Repair Fund for works carried out in 2022 at property. *** Transfer £1,000 of funds to cover work on garden project undertaken in 2022. We have been able to meet all our financial commitments during 2022 and paid our Parish Offer of £12,000 to the Diocese. ## **Giving** BACS giving and open plate giving has increased by 30% during 2022. We also continue to encourage our congregation about personal giving and much of our congregation have bought into a ‘planned giving scheme’, both by standing order and envelope giving. ## **Teesdale Road property** Current valuation of property is more than £325,000. Monthly rent increased in September 2022 to £950pm. Works carried out at the property came to a total of £432 which will be transferred from the Teesdale Road Repair Fund back into our account. **22 |** P a g e ## **Projects – major expenditure during 2022** During 2022 we replaced the flooring in the church, vestry and lobby which was essential. We also completed our garden project. ## **Hiring** Hirings during 2022 provided an income of £8,018, an increase of almost £4,000 on 2021 income. **Term time bookings monthly receipts** NA Group £30pm Children’s Karate £200pm Little Gems Childcare £56pd (full monthly rate of £800pm) Home Start Group £15pm Brownies/Rainbows £20pm We continue to encourage baptisms during our main family service and hirings on Sundays are for baptism families only. We are truly optimistic about the future and focus on God’s mission to our communities, building on the strong links we have built and sustained during 2022. ## **Financial Reserves Policy for St Alban’s** The PCC recognise that it should always maintain sufficient ‘unrestricted’ funds, which are the free reserves of the charity, at a level which equates to approximately three months unrestricted expenditure. This provides sufficient funds to cover management, administration and support costs and to respond to emergency applications for grants which arise from time to time. **23 |** P a g e ## **St Alban’s Church Wardens Report** First and most importantly we would like to express our thanks to Mandy, Esther and members of the PCC and congregation who help support us with all we do. Without your help, support and love we would not be where we are, growing and welcoming new people to our churches. During 2022 we were able to continue our major property projects, following on from our new boilers, non-leaking pipework and new kitchen, we are enabled to offer warm spaces to the community. We completed work on the garden celebrating our new Summer Songs of Praise service there. After many years of talking and contemplation we now have a new floor in the church and vestry. No more gaffer tape, splinters, holes or protruding nails. After the flooring was completed, we had our first wedding since the pandemic and the church looked wonderful. All the works we have completed are for the congregation and the wider community. In the future we will be looking at upgrading our sound system, installing a loop system and screens. We will be looking to see what grants are available to help with the cost of this project. Thank you to all of you, who have continued to share in worship and be together as that great family of Christ. Debbie and Segun **24 |** P a g e ## Groups and Hiring ## **Stepping Stones Toddler Group** Our toddler group meets every Wednesday morning, between eight thirty and eleven, term times only. Its numbers are now back to before Covid and have indeed increased from then. We regularly welcome between 15 and twenty children each week and they have become a real family. Mums and carers help with the setting up, and lead singing at the end of each session. They also help sort and clean the toys. Relationships built through the toddler group have led to a couple of baptisms with more in the offering. It’s great fun. ## **Community Café** The café at St Alban’s meets every Tuesday from ten until 12; it is supported by Maureen from Stone Church who does a wonderful job so huge thanks to her. It has now evolved into a ‘warm space’ and so remains open beyond twelve and through lunch. Everyone is welcome and it is occasionally the place St Alban’s school hold their PTA meetings. Though it is free, users tend to make generous donations to both the café and the foodbank, and it runs as a viable but non-profit making group. On the third Tuesday we now gather for a simple Communion service after the café. ## **Knit and Natter** In 2022 Knit & Natter re-grouped after identifying a need in the community for groups enabling people to start to socialise and get to know new people after the period of restrictions and lockdowns. With the help of Kelly Grehan, a local councillor the group has gone from strength to strength. The group was responsible for the fabulous Remembrance Poppy banner. The group is held on the 1[st] and 3[rd] Saturdays of the month and offers help with learning to knit, free wool, patterns and tea and coffee. This is a non-profit group but members make contributions during the year. **25 |** P a g e ## **Regular Term time bookings** **NA Group** Monday evenings ## **Children’s Karate** Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday **Little Gems Childcare** Monday-Thursday afternoons **Home Start Group** Thursdays **Brownies/Rainbows** Friday evenings **26 |** P a g e 271Page 281Page **Rev Mandy Young |** 01322 280286/07915 986393 (except Mon) mandyyoung612@outlook.com **Rev Esther Bevan |** 07897 801076 (Sun, Tues, Wedn) curateindartford@gmail.com **Canon Mandy Brown** | 07772 121277 **Reader:** Andrew Carr carr176@btinternet.com **Parish Administrator** : Debbie Westerby (except Thurs) albanandedmundonline@virginmedia.com **St Edmund’s Centre Co-ordinator** : Janet Jones (except Fri) stedmundsdartford@gmail.com www.2dartfordchurches.org **29 |** P a g e ## **PCC ACCOUNTS** ## **Year Ending 31 December 2023** ## **East Dartford Benefice** # **Receipts & Payments Accounts** ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE EAST DARTFORD BENEFICE** ## **RECEIPTS & PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** |||||||**TOTAL**||||TOTAL| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Unrestricted|Designated||Restricted|**FUNDS**|Unrestricted|Designated|Restricted|FUNDS| ||Notes|Funds|Funds||Funds|**2023**|Funds|Funds|Funds|2022| |||£|£||£|**£**|£|£|£|£| |**Receipts**||||||||||| |_Voluntary income_|2a|27,886||0|0|**27,886**|51,603|0|5,250|56,853| |_Activities for generating funds_|2b|3,242||88|0|**3,331**|3,481|0|0|3,481| |_Investment income_|2c|1,893||460|69|**2,422**|240|74|8|322| |_Church activities_|2d|42,407||0|980|**43,387**|38,422|0|0|38,422| |_Other incoming resources_|2e|13,809||0|6,025|**19,834**|2,436|0|4,683|7,119| |||89,238||548|7,074|**96,860**|96,182|74|9,941|106,197| |**Payments**||||||||||| |_Church activities_|3a|97,712||0|617|**98,330**|131,445|0|7,935|139,380| |_Raising Funds_|3b|2,208||0|0|**2,208**|3,213|0|0|3,213| |_Other Expenditure_|3c|1,276||0|4,189|**5,465**|0|0|3,712|3,712| |**Total resources expended**||101,196||0|4,806|**106,002**|134,658|0|11,647|146,305| |**Excess of Receipts over Payments**||(11,959)||548|2,268|**(9,143)**|(34,476)|(3,926)|(1,706)|(40,109)| |Transfers between funds - transfers in||0|1,248||0|**1,248**|4,000|1,248|(180)|5,068| |Transfers between funds - transfers out||(1,398)||0||**(1,398)**|(1,068)|(4,000)|0|(5,068)| |||(885)||0||**(885)**||||0| |||(14,242)|1,796||2,268|**(10,178)**|(31,544)|(6,678)|(1,886)|(40,109)| |Bank current and deposit accounts 1
January 2023||161,171|12,486||30,485|**204,142**|192,715|19,164|32,371|244,251| |**Bank current and deposit accounts at**
**31 December 2023**|4
|**146,930**|**14,282**||**32,753**|**193,964**|161,171|12,486|30,485|204,142| ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE EAST DARTFORD BENEFICE** ## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** |||General|Designated|Restricted|**2023**|General|Designated|Restricted|2022| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Notes|Fund|Fund|Funds|**Total**|Fund|Fund|Funds|Total| |||£|£|£|**£**|£|£|£|£| |Cash and bank deposits|||||||||| |Current accounts||11,385|1,627|32,633|**45,646**|157,255|1,365|30,485|189,106| |Deposit accounts||131,494|-|-|**131,494**|-|-|-|-| |Church repair funds||-|16,719|-|**16,719**|-|15,014|-|15,014| |Cash||-|106|-|**106**|-|106|-|106| ||4|142,880|18,452|32,633|**193,965**|157,255|16,485|30,485|204,225| |Other monetary assets|||||||||| |Freehold house Teesdale Rd||325,000|-|-|**325,000**|325,000|||325,000| |Gift Aid Tax claim outstanding|2022|3,627|-|-|**3,627**|3,627|**-**|**-**|3,627| |Other receipts due||2,622|-|-|**2,622**|2,622|**-**|-|2,622| |Expenses not paid||-|-|-|**-**|466|**-**|**-**|466| |||6,249|-|-|**6,249**|331,715|-|-|331,715| |Liabilities|||||||||| |Outstanding Invoices - IE fee||- 270|-|-**- 270**||(270)|||(270)| |DBF element of fees||- 634|-|-**- 634**||(1,185)|**0**|0|(1,185)| |Other Creditors||- 1,440|-|-**- 1,440**||(1,440)|**0**|0|(1,440)| |||(1,440)|0|0|**(2,344)**|(2,895)|0|0|(2,895)| Approved by the Parochial Church Council on ………………..2024 and signed on its behalf Treasurer Vicar The accompanying notes form a part of these financial statements. ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE EAST DARTFORD BENEFICE** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **1 Accounting Policies** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts & Payments basis. Receipts and payments include income as received and expenditure when irrevocably paid. The accounts include monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups which owe their main affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members. ## Funds Unrestricted funds are general funds which can be used for PCC ordinary purposes. These include designated funds which can be redesignated. Restricted funds represent (a) donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the PCC for a specific object, and (b) income from trusts and endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust of bequest. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of the year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. Endowment funds are funds, the capital of which must be maintained; only income arising from investment of the endowment may be used either as restricted or unrestricted funds depending upon the purpose for which the endowment was established. The following assets are recognised but not necessarily valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities: Movable church furnishings held by the Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal; Land and buildings held on behalf of the PCC. The following assets are recognised and a monetary value given as part of the description in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities: Bank and deposit accounts; Amounts owing from HMRC where a formal claim has been made; Investment assets. Liabilities are recognised and a monetary value given in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities where the supply had been received by 31 December. ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE EAST DARTFORD BENEFICE** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **2 Receipts** |**2**|**Receipts**|||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||**TOTAL**|||||TOTAL| |||Unrestricted|Designated|Restricted|**FUNDS**|Unrestricted|Designated|Restricted|Endowment|FUNDS| |||Funds|Funds|Funds|**2023**|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|2022| |||£|£|£|**£**|£|£|£|£|£| |**a**|_Voluntary income_||||**0**|||||| ||Planned giving by standing order/Envel|13,752|0|0|**13,752**|8,737|0|0|0|8,737| ||Occasional Envelopes|5|0|0|**5**|60|0|0|0|60| ||Collections at all services|916|0|0|**916**|4,611|0|0|0|4,611| ||Sundry donations and appeals|2,216|0|0|**2,216**|7,017|0|250|0|7,267| ||Income tax recoverable|1,946|0|0|**1,946**|1,315|0|0|0|1,315| ||Grants|8,751|0|0|**8,751**|29,864|0|5,000|0|34,864| ||Legacies|300|0|0|**300**|||||0| |||27,886|0|0|**27,886**|51,603|0|5,250|0|56,853| |**b**|_Activities for generating funds_|||||||||| ||Fetes and other fundraising events|3,195|88|0|**3,283**|3,416|0|0|0|3,416| ||Candles|48|0|0|**48**|65|0|0|0|65| |||3,242|88|0|**3,331**|3,481|0|0|0|3,481| |**c**|_Investment income_|||||||||| ||Dividends and interest|1,893|460|69|**2,422**|240|74|8|0|322| |||1,893|460|69|**2,422**|240|74|8|0|322| |**d**|_Income from Church Activities_|||||||||0| ||Parish Centre Lettings|22,457|0|0|**22,457**|20,369|0|0|0|20,369| ||Community Café|1,685|0|0|**1,685**|4,266|0|0|0|4,266| ||Fees from weddings, funerals, etc|2,031|0|0|**2,031**|2,597|0|0|0|2,597| ||Teesdale lettings|10,650|0|0|**10,650**|10,950|0|0|0|10,950| ||Other|5,584|0|980|**6,564**|240|0|0|0|240| |||42,407|0|980|**43,387**|38,422|0|0|0|38,422| |**e**|_Other incoming resources_|||||||||| ||Insurance receipt|0|0|0|**0**|141|**0**|0|0|141| ||Payroll Admin|13,809|0|0|**13,809**|2,295|**0**|0|0|2,295| ||Ovr 60s Club|0|0|6,025|**6,025**|0|**0**|4,683|0|4,683| |||13,809||6,025|**19,834**|2,436|0|4,683|0|7,119| |||||||||||| ||**Total receipts**|**89,238**|**548**|**7,074**|**96,860**|96,182|74|9,941|0|106,197| **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE EAST DARTFORD BENEFICE** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **3 Payments** |**3**
**Payments**|| |---|---| |**a**
_Church Activities_
Missionary and charitable giving:
Ministry costs:
Diocesan parish share
Diocesan Offer
Vicars Expenses
Vicarage costs
Other ministry (Locums)
Church running expenses
Service Charge
Heat Light Water
Insurance
Building Upkeep
Upkeep of services
Childrens Work
Remembrance book
Telephone
Property @ 11 Teesdale Rd
Repairs @ Teesdale Rd
Administration
Administrator
Office Supplies
Photocopying & IT Consumables
Training
Subscriptions
Bookkeeping
IE fee
Community Café
Other
**b**
_Raising funds_
Stewardship costs
Fundraising costs - Fairs & Sales
Fundraising costs - General
**c**
_Other expenditure_
Over 60s
Food Bank
Other expenditure
**Total resources expended**|**TOTAL**
TOTAL
Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
**FUNDS**
Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
FUNDS
Funds
Funds
Funds
**2023**
Funds
Funds
Funds
2022
£
£
£
**£**
£
£
£
£
332
0
617
**949**
439
0
1,316
1,755
0
0
0
11,000
0
0
**11,000**
0
0
0
0
**0**
13,167
0
0
13,167
611
0
0
**611**
2,083
0
0
2,083
2,764
0
0
**2,764**
3,098
0
0
3,098
1,574
0
0
**1,574**
0
0
0
0
**0**
0
19,100
0
0
**19,100**
36,359
0
0
36,359
8,357
0
0
**8,357**
5,001
0
0
5,001
2,382
0
0
**2,382**
2,311
0
0
2,311
8,086
0
0
**8,086**
40,434
0
6,619
47,053
1,361
0
0
**1,361**
3,485
0
0
3,485
186
0
0
**186**
168
0
0
168
0
0
0
**0**
110
110
5,244
0
0
**5,244**
385
0
0
385
1,600
0
0
**1,600**
2,310
0
0
2,310
0
0
0
**0**
432
0
0
432
0
0
0
**0**
0
10,778
0
0
**10,778**
13,136
0
0
13,136
4,026
0
0
**4,026**
2,307
0
0
2,307
1,337
0
0
**1,337**
3,074
0
0
3,074
90
0
0
**90**
40
0
0
40
173
0
0
**173**
265
0
0
265
2,190
0
0
**2,190**
510
0
0
**510**
1,030
0
0
1,030
1,228
0
0
**1,228**
1,445
0
0
1,445
14,785
0
0
**14,785**
365
0
0
365| ||97,712
0
617
**98,330**
131,445
0
7,935
139,380| ||**0**
0
0
0
0
**0**
45
0
45
113
0
0
**113**
1,215
1,215
2,095
0
0
**2,095**
1,953
1,953| ||2,208
0
0
**2,208**
3,213
0
0
3,213| ||0
0
4,189
**4,189**
0
0
2,542
2,542
0
0
0
**0**
0
0
1,170
1,170
1,276
0
0
**1,276**
0
0
0
0| ||1,276
0
4,189
**5,465**
0
3,712
3,712| ||| ||**101,196**
**0**
**4,806**
**106,002**
134,658
0
11,647
146,305| **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE EAST DARTFORD BENEFICE** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **4 Statement of funds** |**Unrestricted Fund**
General fund
**Designated Fund**
Breakfast club
Grub Institute
Hymn book fund
Kids club
Fees
Fleet
Church general reserve fund
Church S/A
**a**
Teesdale current quinquenial
**Restricted Fund**
Mission
b
Youth Project
c
Kondoa
d
Hardship
e
Urban
Charitable Giving
Food Bank
f
Over 60s
g
Memory Café
h
Building fund
i
Chair fund
j
Garden fund
k
Mothers & toddlers
l
Organ repair fund
m
**Total funds**|Bal b/fwd
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
**Bal c/fwd**
1 Jan 2023
between
**31 Dec 2023**
funds
£
£
£
£
**£**
157,171
89,238
(101,196)
(2,283)
**142,930**
0
0
0
(50)
**(50)**| |---|---| ||157,171
89,238
(101,196)
(2,333)
**142,880**| ||106
0
0
0
**106**
39
0
0
0
**39**
305
0
0
0
**305**
8
0
0
0
**8**
377
0
0
0
**377**
639
261
0
0
**900**
388
12
0
0
**400**
4,862
163
0
1,248
**6,273**
9,763
281
0
0
**10,044**| ||16,486
718
0
1,248
**18,452**| ||481
0
(617)
0
**(137)**
873
0
0
0
**873**
170
0
0
0
**170**
785
0
0
0
**785**
10,767
0
0
0
**10,767**
179
0
0
0
**179**
30
980
0
0
**1,010**
5,583
6,025
(4,189)
0
**7,419**
1,059
0
0
0
**1,059**
1,367
0
0
0
**1,367**
1,454
0
0
0
**1,454**
1,368
0
0
0
**1,368**
401
0
0
0
**401**
5,968
69
(120)
0
**5,917**| ||30,485
7,074
(4,926)
0
**32,633**| ||| ||204,142
97,029
(106,122)
(1,085)
**193,963**| - **a** The **Church Repair Fund** is for monies ring-fenced by the PCC for Church repairs. - **b** The **Mission Fund** is for monies raised or donated for the PCCs Mission Projects. - **c** The **Youth Project Fund** is more monies raised or donated for PCC Youth activities. - **d** The **Kondoa Fund** is for monies raised or donated for the Diocese of Kondoa in Tanzania. Money is transferred to Kondoa via the Rochester Diocesan Board of Finance. - **e** The **Hardship Fund** is for monies raised or donated for local Hardship support issued at the discretion of the Vicar. - **f** The **Food Bank Fund** is for monies raised or donated for the PCC Food Bank. - **g** The **Over 60s Fund** is for monies held on behalf of the parishes Over 60s Club. - **h** The **Memory Cafe Fund** is for monies raised or donated for the running of the Memory Cafe. - **i** The **Building Fund** is for monies raised or donated for the maintenance and preservation of the fabric of the building. - **j** The **Chair Fund** is for monies raised or donated for the replacement of chairs in the event of their deterioration. - **k** The **Garden Fund** is for monies raised or donated for the upkeep of the garden. - **l** The **Mothers and Toddlers Fund** is for donations for toys and refreshments for the toddler group. - **m** The **Organ Repair Fund** is for monies raised or donated for the upkeep of the organ, music resources and subscriptions and organists for occasional offices. ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE EAST DARTFORD BENEFICE** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023** |**5 Staff costs**
**a**
_Wages and salaries_|**2023**
2022
**£**
£
**23,950**
13,136| |---|---| The PCC employs a Parish Administrator and caretakers. The cost of the administrator is covered by a Grant from the RDBF. - **b** _Payments to PCC members_ No payments, apart from reimbursement of expenses, were made to PCC members. ## **adventus accounting solutions** Supporting Charitable Organisations 10 September 2024 ## **Independent Examiner’s report to the Member/Trustees of East Dartford Benefice - St Edmund and St Alban PCC** I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 which are set out on the pages following. ## **Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner** The church’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to - Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; - Follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and - State whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement** My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. adventusaccounting@btinternet.com 07523 622979 www.adventusaccounting.wixsite.com/website ## **Independent Examiner’s statement** In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: - (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the - 2011 Act; or - to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records - have not been met; or - (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Yours sincerely Martyn Burt B.Sc.(Hons), ACMA, CGMA adventus accounting solutions Ashby Acres Chapel Lane Ashby-cum-Fenby Grimsby DN37 0QT e-mail: martyn.burt@btinternet.com or adventusaccounting@btinternet.com Telephone: 07523 6229679 adventusaccounting@btinternet.com 07523 622979 www.adventusaccounting.wixsite.com/website