2023-12-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24 St John the Evangelist Hurst Green, May 2024

Team Vicar’s Report

This time last year, you were saying farewell to Anna, your Vicar and then Rector at St John’s for 10 years and her family. In her final report she quoted Hebrews 11:1

‘Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen’.

Anna wrote that ‘not only do I have great hope and faith in God for the future both here and in my own pastures new, but also I have deep faith and hope in his people […] that I know that all will be well.’

Although I have only been in post as Team Vicar for a few months, I have already discovered that your gifts, commitment and service to the mission and ministry of St John’s has ensured that the church was indeed well during the interregnum.

I am very thankful for Mary who led the services every week and for guiding me as I began to lead them at St John’s. Huge thanks too to Cathy for her attention to detail which ensured that my licensing service and arrival in the parish went so smoothly. I’m grateful to them and also to you all for the warm welcome that both Rob and I have received.

It seems right, as we turn towards the coming year, to turn to the next chapter of Hebrews. Chapter 12 verses 1 and 2 (edited) says

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith’

In the next chapter of St John’s my hope and prayer is that we continue to grow together as the body of Christ; in our worship together and by continuing to be innovative in ways to reach out into the parish with the good news of the Gospel.

Revd Sue Bosley

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Churchwardens’ Report

Looking back, we seem to have started quite a few of our annual reports by commenting that we’re in a state of change. And, of course, for nine months of the last year that was very much the case while we navigated our way through the interregnum. Fortunately, we had exceptional support from Mary, Wendy, James Ashton and David Weightman as well as many others from the congregation who helped in so many ways and we got through the vacancy relatively smoothly.

It has felt like a year of goodbyes and new beginnings. In June, we held a leaving party for the Eltringhams which took place in Aggies and we were even serenaded by Anna on the saxophone as she played with a local group of which she used to be a member. Some of us went to York Minster for Anna’s consecration as the Bishop of Ripon at the end of June which was an amazing experience.

Lotwina, our curate, left us in September to take up her position of Vicar at Christ Church, West Wimbledon and we wished her and David all the best when we celebrated with them over prosecco and cake one Sunday afternoon.

James Ashton, previous Team Vicar was appointed Team Rector at the beginning of September and we conducted interviews for the Team Vicar of St John’s and St George’s at the end of September. We were delighted to be able to announce in the middle of October that Sue Bosley was to be appointed as the Team Vicar for St John’s and St George’s and the licensing service took place on 30 January. This was very well attended and a joyous occasion. A huge welcome to Sue and her family and we hope she will really enjoy her ministry in Hurst Green.

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Although there was a lot to organise during the interregnum, we were still able to arrange many events which brought us together and connected us to the wider community, for example, the church stall and bouncy castle at the village fair, a music concert and the Autumn Fair which generated some muchneeded funds for the church.

Thank you to everyone who makes St John’s such a special place - our clergy and lay ministers, the PCC, those who helps with flowers, cleaning, grounds, music, refreshments, Sunday school, munch, café church, sidespersons, intercessors, servers, crucifers, sacristans and to our Fabric officer who sorts out so many of the building related issues (of which there are many!) and to everyone else who helps in whatever way.

Cathy Booth and Henk van den Berg, Churchwardens

Fabric

We had two main issues with water ingress during the year: flooding in the cellar (beneath the tower) and a serious leak in the servers’ vestry. The former, occurring after a period of very heavy rain, caused the main church heating pump to short circuit and the heating to fail in the lead up to Easter. With the subsequent dry weather the cellar dried, but occurred again later in the year. It transpired that the drain from the cellar had become partly blocked by roots - this was cleared and no more flooding has been experienced. The leak in the servers’ vestry caused damage to the wooden parquet floor; a replacement floor is planned - the cost is covered by our insurance.

Other ‘larger’ cost items have included:

• ⚫ The annual gas-boiler service disclosed some worn parts which have been fitted.

• ⚫ The main York Rooms outer wall was re-rendered - the original had deteriorated badly.

• ⚫ Water ingress was discovered in some outside light fitments, causing tripping of the circuit-breakers. New fitments and

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replacement of seals in other fitments has been undertaken and the circuitry tidied up in the main church ‘electrical cupboard’.

• ⚫ A defibrillator was purchased (funded by Anna Eltringham’s leaving fund) and installed within a heated cabinet outside the west door.

• ⚫ A replacement fire alarm control panel (the old one had developed a fault) was ordered - this was fitted early in 2024.

Other improvement, repair and maintenance items included:

• ⚫ Forensic ‘Smart Water’ was applied to external roof lead areas - to discourage theft (the lead can be identified as having come from St John’s) - and to our audio-visual equipment.

• ⚫ The servers’ vestry kitchenette was upgraded, using a goodcondition second-hand kitchen corner unit, worktop and sink.

• ⚫ Repairs to two damaged door handles, planing of wooden doors due to damp-related swelling.

• ⚫ Replacing a wall- and ceiling-light.

• ⚫ Improving the functionality of the general vestry wall-cupboards.

• ⚫ Regular servicing, eg boilers, heating, fire alarm, emergency lights, extinguishers etc.

• ⚫ Minor external re-pointing etc.

Chris Johns

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Finances

Headlines for 2023

For the full accounts please see the Appendix at the back of this report. But see here for a summary of 2023 and what we can expect for 2024…

2023 showed considerable increase in both income £179K and expenditure

at £191K compared to previous years. However, this includes exceptional donations and expenditure on the new chairs and other equipment (£36K), so the recurring items are closer to 2022 levels than the figures suggest.

Planned Giving was down to £69K ( 2022: £74K ). Other Giving up to £39K ( 2022: £13K ) but this includes the exceptional items without which it would have been down, and Gift Aid of £25K.

Activities for Generating Funds was static at £32K, with St Agatha’s hires up nearly £1K to £19K, being offset by a decline in Church Rooms to £5K. Statutory Fees Retained also declined by £(2)K to £2K, with fewer weddings and funerals.

Grants were £8K ( 2022: £13K ), mainly being £6K for continuation of children’s worker until April 2024 and £1K for Community Fridge at St. Agatha’s.

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The PCC agreed to a 1% increase in our pledge to the Parish Support Fund to £65K.

Non-Clergy Salaries increased to £41K ( 2022: £26K ) as it included a full year of both Youth Worker, met from the Youth grant, and Crossing the Threshold (CTT) grant/project Manager. Other salaries were also raised in line with inflation / living wage as appropriate.

Other PCC running expenses were up to £72K ( 2022 £52K ), but £36K of this was one-offs for chairs and other equipment, all met by donations. Utilities were up £4K to £10K but thankfully the church was shielded from the worst of the rises by fixed price electricity and gas contracts.

Major Repairs & Improvements were £7K ( 2022 £nil ), being York Rooms external rerendering and new roof for St Agatha’s garage.

With a book gain on investments of £1K ( 2022: loss £(1)K ), the PCC showed a deficit of £11K for the year ( 2022: surplus £5K ). Net Funds therefore declined from £123K to £112K at end of 2023.

Looking forward to 2024

We assumed for the 2024 budget that giving will rise by around 4%, but no grant income was included. Rooms and St Agatha’s hires and HG News advertising rates have been left the same as 2023, giving us a projected overall income of £150K.

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Mindful of a likely deficit again for 2024, the PCC pledged a small 0.7% increase in Parish Support Fund to £65.5K.

Salaries are forecast to be lower by £10K with inflation / living wage uplifts being more than offset by Ché Ramsden very kindly offering to continue her services to CTT free of charge after expiry of her paid contract, and Mira Cook finishing as Youth Worker at end July, subject to decision on further funding.

With committed and likely expenditure on building and grounds, plus increases to utility prices following the end of our fixed price contracts, total expenditure is forecast at £162K, resulting in a deficit of £(12)K for the coming year, with Net Funds ending at £98K.

In response to this, we are planning a new push on giving, our primary source of income.

Thanks again to Alison Richardson as St Agatha's Treasurer and running the Hurst Green News finances, Helen Ainsworth for Regular Giving and Gift Aid duties, and Barbara Forrest for examining the accounts.

Julian Taylor, Hon. Treasurer

Formalities and Legalities

The Parochial Church Council (PCC)

The PCC is the legal governing body of a parish and, together with the Vicar, makes decisions on every aspect of church life. There are currently 18 members. On 14 May 2023, the date of the Annual Meeting, Anna Eltringham's Rector duties officially ended, resulting in an unusual year for the PCC, with additional meetings and other people joining some of the regular five meetings. In June, the Archdeacon outlined what to expect during the ‘vacancy’ (the word now preferred to ‘interregnum’).

A ‘Section 11’ meeting was held on 4 July to appoint two PCC representatives in connection with the selection of a new Team Rector,

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and to agree the proposed job description and person specification. Oxted Team Vicar, James Ashton, applied as a single candidate, invited and agreed by all parties. He was interviewed on 25 July by a panel of representatives from the four churches and appointed. The service of collation and induction as Team Rector on 11 September created a vacancy for a Team Vicar, with special responsibility for St John’s and St George’s, enabling interviews for the post to take place on 25 September.

James Ashton gave great support and encouragement to St John’s throughout the vacancy and was a welcome addition to the PCC meeting on 21 September, in his new role as Team Rector. Sue Bosley’s licensing service as Team Vicar took place on 30 January 2024 and she attended her first PCC meeting two days later, the date postponed by a week to enable this. James also attended this meeting. Having chaired PCC meetings throughout the vacancy, Cathy Booth was happy to hand over to Sue for the March meeting.

During the year continuing topics have included finances, noticeboards, use of the church buildings, safeguarding, church grounds, water leaks and flooding. You can read more in the other reports. Some final decisions have been delayed ‘until the new Vicar arrives’! Well, now she is here and very welcome. To join future discussions, please consider standing for one of the PCC vacancies on 12 May. Meetings are on Mondays at 7.30pm, the first one on 24 June.

Janet Harman, PCC Secretary

Tandridge Deanery Synod

A Deanery is a group of Church of England parishes in a geographical area, which work together supporting each other; it creates a bridge with the Diocese and wider church. Deanery Synods, the formal meetings, focus on mission and ministry, providing a channel to share information. Lay representatives form the electorate for the House of Laity on both Diocesan and General Synods. New Diocesan Synod members will be elected soon; leaflets about what is involved are now available.

Inspirational speaker Mervyn Thomas addressed the first meeting of the new triennium in June. He founded Christian Solidarity Worldwide 45

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years ago (do look at the website CSW.org.uk) and chairs the UK Freedom of Religion or Belief Forum (FoRB Forum), based on Article 18 of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Everyone has the right to: choose a religion, change their religion and practise their religion, without persecution. Proverbs 31: 8 says ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.’ Consider also the story of the Good Samaritan. When we do this as Christians it is missional and what Jesus would do. This meeting was streamed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yOX8A5eGq0

Instead of a regular meeting, diocesan training on unconscious bias was organised on a Saturday morning in November at St John’s, open to all church members. Leader Wendy Robins was excellent, but attendance disappointingly low.

A different style of meeting in February began with refreshments at St Mary’s Church, Caterham (at the top of the hill), before crossing the road to the ancient church of St Lawrence, believed to date from 1095. Here a short ‘business meeting’ was followed by 20 minutes of worship led by the band ‘Free Spirit’. Members then returned to St Mary’s and in four groups discussed different questions on the overall theme of ‘How to be an effective Deanery Synod member’.

The Deanery Synod is led by Area Dean, Revd Michelle Edmonds; Assistant Area Dean, Revd James Ashton and Lay Chair, April Alexander. There are currently 67 Deanery Synod members: licensed clergy plus lay members elected by each parish, the number based on Electoral Roll figures. St John’s lay representatives are Janet Harman and Liz Parker; two further two-year vacancies remain. There are three meetings a year, the next at St John’s on Thursday 4 July.

Janet Harman, Deanery Synod Secretary

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Electoral Roll

In 2023 a figure of 145 was reported at the APCM. Following revision of the Roll for this year's APCM, the figure is now 137. Fifteen names have been removed: Madge Westerman, Dave King, Nigel Eltringham, David Farodoye, Brenda Cole, Pat Conquest, Brian and Joan Brackpool, Rob Chalmers, Jeff and Brenda Tuckfield, Diana Bush, David and Sarah Belton and Marion Easton. Seven names have been added: Abi Chapman, Vanessa Peet, Bethany Wynne, Pat Grant, Lucy Evans, Rosemary Vaughan and Rob Bosley.

Barbara Richards, Electoral Roll Officer

Safeguarding

Charlotte Nicholls and Samuel Strolz joined the safeguarding team as Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSO). Cathy Hyde continues as PSO for Aggie's. We would like to thank Sue Fox, for her many years of service as PSO, cultivating a positive safeguarding culture before handing this work over last year.

Our efforts this year have focussed on keeping our volunteer records up to date, supporting volunteers to access the appropriate safeguarding training for their role and ensuring all volunteers, whose role requires it, have an up to date DBS check.

Good safeguarding training is designed to equip and support our volunteers to understand safeguarding procedures and know how to raise concerns in each context they work in. It promotes good practice and supports a positive safeguarding culture. We will continue to work over the coming year to encourage all volunteers to complete the required safeguarding training for their role and we will seek to minimise barriers to training completion.

Safeguarding signage has been updated to reflect the changes in PSOs and discrete notices advising on helplines for domestic abuse have been posted in the men's and women's toilets at Aggies.

Charlotte Nicholls, Samuel Strolz and Cathy Hyde Parish Safeguarding Officers

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Health and Safety

The Health and Safety Policy was last reviewed in August 2023 and the following accidents have occurred over the last twelve months:

• A person taken ill in the York Rooms when the room was being hired by a third party. They were unable to provide the exact location of the church to the emergency services so on each notice board, you can now find the address, including post code plus What3Words, a unique combination of three words for every 3 metre square of the world. The same has also been done for St Agatha’s Hall.

• A person tripped over the plinth on which the font resides, fell to the ground, was badly shaken and sustained bruising. See report from Crossing the Threshold regarding remedial action.

• Volunteer slipped and fell while working at the top of the bed of shrubs on the north side of the church. We are looking with the Eco group as to how this area can be better managed.

A defibrillator was purchased with some of the monies raised for Anna’s collection and this has been installed outside the church by the west door.

Cathy Booth, Health and Safety Officer

Human Resources (HR)

The following people are on the payroll: Valmira Cook, Oxted Team Youth Worker (grant funded); Gillian Daniels, Caretaker for St Agatha’s Hall and Cleaner in the York Rooms; Hilary Dilnot, Director of Music; Lisa Hall, Church Rooms and St Agatha’s Hall Booking Secretary; Janet Harman, Parish Administrator; Lucy Kay, Hurst Green News Editor and Producer; Kelly van den Berg, Communications Officer.

Ché Ramsden’s one-year contract as Bid Project Manager has come to an end; she is now providing bid support on a voluntary basis.

Cathy Booth, Churchwarden

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Church Life, Worship and Pastoral Care

Anna’s final service at St John’s immediately preceded last year’s Annual Meeting. Thus, from 16 May onwards we were without a Vicar. Nihil desperandum .......the St John’s team sprang into action to maintain our church life, worship and pastoral care. I feel it is fair to say that ‘we did it’, and that, strengthened and invigorated by the Holy Spirit, the church family of St John’s and our community action have continued to thrive. What a team we have! It has been a joy to work together. So many people offered their time and gifts.

Routine Sunday services continued uninterrupted, occasionally with outside help for which we were grateful. Our 9.45am service is enhanced by the contribution of Hilary and the choir. Each week they give us an anthem which transports us into heavenly realms. We are so lucky to have them. It has been most pleasing that the Evangelical Church has used the York Rooms for their Sunday worship during the rebuilding works of their church, and their participation in our monthly Café Church service has been a good thing for us.

The monthly midweek Wednesday Eucharist now always includes a light lunch afterwards served by June Reed and Pearl Stephens, the star of which is Pearl’s homemade ‘super soup’. This, in one helping, surely must provide each person’s ‘5-a-day’!! During Lent, this midweek Eucharist and lunch took place weekly, and raised money for the Bishop’s Lent Appeal. Our ministry at David Gresham House and Windmill Manor continued throughout the year, thanks particularly to Wendy Hewitt and Jane Smith.

The Toddler Group, organised by Liz Sone, goes from strength to strength, with a continuous flow of new members keen to enjoy the companionship and play, and the support that the group offers, not to mention Liz’s little cakes. The fortnightly ‘Thursday Coffee Morning’ led by Barbara Richards is

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greatly looked forward to and enjoyed, as also is the Art Group, run by Pearl Stephens.

Our aim to be a church without walls by action in the community has also strengthened with our further involvement in the running of the Community Fridge and the Pop-up Community Hub. Both of these ventures provide food and companionship, and also sometimes, support for hidden needs. Thanks are

due particularly to Ché Ramsden, Pearl Stephens and Liz Parker.

Our pastoral ministry saw baptisms, a few marriages, a fair number of funerals, and many home visits. Unfortunately, some of our community suffered bouts of ill, or declining, health. They were cheered and supported by members of our visiting team. Famously, on one occasion a couple from this group turned up to visit someone, but were ‘miffed’ to find that I was already there!! However equally, later, over successive days I visited three people, only for each of them to tell me that they had already been visited by other team members!!! But, how good is that!

Sadly, we had to say goodbye to a number of our cherished church members who died over the year - Robin Parker, Brenda Cole, Pat Conquest, Rob Chalmers, Mavis Annell, Madge Westerman, Dave King, Jeff Tuckfield, Diana Bush and Marion Easton. These lovely people have been part of our church family for many years. We thank God for their often very significant and active contribution to our communal life. We miss them deeply and we convey our sympathy to their families. In addition, some stalwarts of the Hurst Green village and wider community have died: Jo Malone, Sylvia Sendall, Roger Fox, Stacey Powe and we miss them too, and hope that their families realise that our continuing care extends to them as well

Just before Christmas we bade farewell to the Belton family who moved away to pastures new. We shall so miss David and Sarah, Jessica, Jack and Rebekah’s lively participation in our activities, and are so grateful to Sarah for her gifted and inspiring musical input into our Café

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Church and other services. Brian and Joan Brackpool also left the area to move into a Care Home near their daughter.

There have been many highlights in our life together during the year. In June, our very own ‘music maestro’, Hilary Dilnot, delighted us with a light hearted and highly entertaining concert given by herself and some of her talented musical friends. In mid-August we enjoyed a peaceful Sunday afternoon get together over tea and cakes organised by Janet Fearn.

In September, we said goodbye to our Curate, the Revd Lotwina Farodoye, when she took up her appointment as Vicar of Christ Church, West Wimbledon. We thank Lotwina for all she did for us at St John’s including setting up the Community Fridge. It has been so good to know her, and David, Benjamin and Jemima. For the Village Fair, we contributed the running of the ever-popular Bouncy Castle. It was a lovely day: the weather was good and the Green thronged with people.

At our harvest festival in October, we gave thanks to God for his many gifts to us, remembering that that includes not only our food, but many other things as well. We recalled that it is not God’s will that some people should have so much while others have so little because God’s

gifts are for sharing with others. So, we shared our good fortune by raising £1325, and then buying 35 chickens, 9 goats, 10 beehives, and 21 packs of super strong seeds for Third World families.

One Saturday in November saw the interior of the church transformed into a Market Place as we held an Autumn Fair. Masterminded by Cathy Booth, Sue Farrell and Hilary Dilnot, handmade crafts, cards, cakes, pottery and cakes, amongst many other good things, were available for sale, and some craft activities took place. The atmosphere was humming and buzzing for most of the day with many people coming and going.

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November, ’the remembering month’, saw us first remembering our departed loved ones at our special All Souls’ service, to which a number of former parishioners travelled many miles to attend. Then came a celebration of All Saints, including our own St John, as well as saints of all times, and

we were reminded that this is not an exclusive club, for we are all called to be saints. Finally, there was the annual Remembrance Day Service attended by uniformed organisations and local Councillors in addition to our usual congregation, after which we laid wreaths before a cross in the churchyard to commemorate all those who laid down their lives in war. The list of local war heroes and a peace candle were carried into the service and into the churchyard by two of our younger members. In November too, a defibrillator was installed on the outside western wall of St John’s. This was funded through the generosity of Anna, who asked that her leaving collection should be devoted to this.

December and the beginning of Advent was marked by a wonderful carol service of devotional music and readings led by a very talented visiting choir. This exciting month also saw a community brunch and a Christingle Service at the monthly Café Church. Nearer Christmas, the beautiful Nine Lessons and Carols service was followed by mince pies and mulled wine. There was carol singing at the Diamond pub, and as usual, St John’s welcomed the Oxted Band for their Christmas Music concert, and Holland Middle School and Moorhouse School for their Christmas concerts. Wendy Hewitt attended Hurst Green Infants and First School’s celebrations. Our two Crib services on Christmas Eve were as popular as ever.

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The very end of January saw the installation of our new Vicar, the Revd Sue Bosley, by the Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Revd Rosemarie Mallett. We were delighted, and so pleased to welcome Sue and her husband, Rob, into our midst. The interregnum had lasted nine months, a relatively short time for the Church of England. This was only made possible by the persistence, diligence and sheer hard work of Churchwarden Cathy Booth. St John’s owes Cathy an enormous debt,

not only for expediting this, but also for so much more that made the interregnum run smoothly, most of which is invisible to the rest of us.

Lent followed, with its mid-respite Mothering Sunday, and the distribution of flowers to everyone marking a celebration of all those who provide ‘mothering care’ in any form to those around them. Then came Holy Week and Easter, the liturgies for which are so intense and moving. They included the dramatic readings of the Passion on three occasions, so brilliantly undertaken by different groups of people.

My personal pleasure is that the wild flower garden in the churchyard is thriving as well as the rest of us!

What a wonderful year! Thanks be to God! Congratulations and thanks to absolutely everyone for their hard work and commitment, and for sometimes doing a little bit extra. This applies to far more that I have named, apologies to those not actually mentioned, but God knows who you are.

Revd Professor Mary Seller, Assistant Priest

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Music

The choir has an average of 8 singers at any one service, dependent on availability. We meet once a week, usually on a Thursday at 8pm until 9.15pm to practise upcoming hymns and anthems.

We sing at each 9.45 service, a mixture of traditional hymns and modern worship songs including a selection from the recent St John's Songbook, some of which Hilary has arranged for 4 part harmony. These might be played on the organ or piano, with the occasional guest musician joining us! An anthem is sung during Communion, and Responses are sung during the Eucharistic service.

We invite other singers to join us at Easter and Christmas time, to give us a fuller sound covering all parts for these important special services. Some visitors go on to become more permanent members of the choir, but there is no requirement to attend every week. The ability to read music is helpful but not essential. If you would like to join us, please see Hilary after the 9.45 service.

Café church is at 11.30 every 3rd Sunday of the month, with music provided by the church band (keyboard, sax, bass, rhythm guitar, clarinet, and vocals). Practice is at 12 noon on 2nd Sundays, with alternative rehearsals on the Monday evenings for those who prefer. We usually play a selection of modern worship songs as people gather for coffee and brunch from 11am.

We would welcome any musicians who would like to join us, on any instrument or voice. Please speak to Hilary to find out more.

Hilary Dilnot, Director of Music

Vision and Mission

The bedrock of the mission at St John’s has continued and flourished during the year. Being a church without walls has continued every week at the Community Fridge and Community Hub. Two ministries, within the church building, continue to grow relationships and friendships; YoYos playgroup and the Thursday coffee morning.

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Meanwhile, the Crossing the Threshold and Eco group continue to develop new and fresh ways to open up the church and to manage our impact on the environment.

Community Fridge The Community Fridge celebrated its first birthday in July 2023 with a very busy session, welcoming 6070 familiar faces and an additional 30+ firsttimers. It was set up to combat food waste and inequality through

sharing surplus food products. Alongside this, a team of kitchen volunteers provide tea, coffee and biscuits so that those who visit us can stay and enjoy each other's company. Several strong friendships have been forged over the past couple of years at the Community Fridge.

The Community Fridge continues to run weekly, thanks to very dedicated volunteers, including many from the St John's congregation. The volunteers have come up with some innovative ideas, including holding a free raffle each week for the more high-value 'fun' items that are donated, such as large Easter eggs.

Morrisons have continued their regular support by donating a large amount of surplus product each week. We are hugely grateful to them, as this really keeps the Community Fridge going over the winter, before we start receiving allotment donations. Hurst Green Infant School continues to donate when they have surplus food, and the Co-op in Oxted

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has begun to support us with food donations where possible, as well as collecting loose change which they will give us as one lump sum early next year. We continue to partner with the Hygiene Bank, whose regular donations are much appreciated, and Moorhouse School, whose college students and teachers bolster our weekly volunteering pool.

While we were all, volunteers and visitors alike, very sad to say goodbye to Lotwina, who founded the Community Fridge in 2022, we continue to marvel at the community she brought together, and we enjoy each other's company and our shared purpose each week.

Ché Ramsden

Community Hub

I have recently taken over as Chairman of Hurst Green Community Hub. The Hub meets at St. Agatha’s Hall on Thursdays from 1pm until 3pm. The group started off as a Warm Hub at the end of 2022, but it was decided to continue as a Hub throughout the year as it provides companionship to people who may not get out much. On average we have 16 regular attendees, who enjoy tea or coffee, cakes, chocolate bars, biscuits and crisps. My thanks must go Track 1 at Hurst Green Station, who regularly donate goods to the Hub.

Just before Christmas 2023 we held a Christmas tea for our users, who were each given a wrapped present and card to take home. On 21 March we held an Easter tea which was well attended and enjoyed by all. An Easter tree was created and decorated with small illuminated glass eggs. This took pride of place on the stage in St Agatha’s Hall. Each guest was given an Easter card signed by my team and me, plus mini eggs and chocolate rolls to take home.

When the weather gets warmer we plan to have an outing to Titsey Place for afternoon tea. From time to time we have a visiting speaker to talk about items of interest and help to our users.

As with any organisation we are in need of some funding. To date I have applied to two local bodies for grants. I await the outcome. We make no charge for people coming to the Hub as it is felt to do so

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would defeat the object, which is to help eliminate social isolation and loneliness. Most of the people using the Hub are elderly, widowed and live alone.

My thanks go to the volunteers, namely Bryn Price, Pearl Stephens, and Rose Thorn who make the Hub possible but we could always use extra help. It is not an onerous task (setting up tables, serving tea and coffee, washing up). When I started much of my time was spent chatting to people, but that is something they seem to appreciate.

Liz Parker

St Agatha’s Hall It has been a stable year for Aggie’s finances and we have had plentiful bookings for weekend activities as well as private weekday hirings. This has enabled the Community Fridge and Hub to function with less grant income than last year without too much detriment to Aggies budget.

We have suffered some continuing vandalism to windows which have been repaired at some cost to ourselves and the insurance company. We have contacted the local councillor with a view to being included in the CCTV scheme which would hopefully act as a deterrent. Our present project is to paint the outside of the building which we hope to undertake within the next few weeks (depending on the estimate and the weather).

The diocese has given a grant to cover the cost of installing wi-fi. This is to enable more community engagement and it is intended that older participants in the hub can profit from lessons in how best to use mobile

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phones and communication, as well as offering those who wish to be able to work, to have a cup of coffee at the same time.

Cathy Hyde

Yo Yos

Yo Yos is a much needed Mother, Baby & Toddler group which meets every Wednesday morning in the York Rooms in term time. We are pleased to be back in the York Rooms.

We always give everyone a warm welcome, especially new parents. As well as the normal toys, we have a weekly craft table which is always relevant to whatever is going on around us in that week. The children get a good choice of snacks and the mums get coffee and homemade cakes.

We donate to various charities; we raised over £60 for ‘Children in Need’ and had a fun Pudsey bear morning. We have also donated to the National Autism society. As a group we would like if possible to pay for the servicing and upkeep of St John's Church defibrillator.

We are just about to enter our 8th year of Yo Yos which is run by myself and a volunteer team of 9. It is definitely a much loved little

group which is attended by an average of about 30 children each week.

Liz Sone

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Fortnightly Coffee Morning

The coffee morning has met in St John's room on alternate Thursdays throughout the year, providing a convivial get-together for those who live alone (although others are, of course, welcome). In the summer we had a lovely visit to the Titsey estate for afternoon tea.

We were sorry to lose two of our long-term regulars in 2023 with the deaths of Madge Westerman and Diana Bush (who was one of the original organisers) but have had a couple of new people joining us. It would be lovely to see even more (including men!). Why not come along and give us a go?

Barbara Richards

Crossing the Threshold (CTT)

This year, Crossing the Threshold (CTT) has changed strategy as funding the original plan for major extension work is too difficult. Our mission is still to render the church more accessible, flexible and s ustainable but we are tackling this in phases. Thus, we can solve some problems urgently needing attention.

Progress

• Light-weight stackable chairs installed in the nave thanks to various generous private donations have been a boon for setting up for community use/events such as the Autumn fair; and

• In liaison with the DAC, we plan to reorder the nave entrance, with the font moving to below the Hayward picture and various ancillary works. There have been some serious incidents where people have tripped moving around the font. In relocating the font, we remove this health & safety issue and create a dedicated baptistry.

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In the pipeline

Sadly, Keeta Flexi-school ceased which changed our thinking about the use of the rooms and priorities for making the nave more suitable for community use. We are exploring how to increase revenue whilst ensuring church groups and needs are accommodated, specifically:

• Creating accessible access via a permanent ramp to the West door, continuous floor levels into the nave and better porch lighting;

• Restoration of the original tiling/hardwood floor in the nave aisles. This will remove trip hazards, render the nave more flexible and sustainable (the carpet is nearing the end of its life); and

• Wider community use of the York Rooms and St Johns Room; we are in talks with various services around employment and benefits, health care and support groups that will generate income.

Sara Bartolozzi

Eco-group

Although a quieter year, the Eco-group has continued to explore issues and options, and organised or attended various events, including:

• Liaising with Surrey County Council’s Greener Futures Group regarding energy use and efficiency

• Arranging an assessment of the Church buildings with respect to 'non light' and radiant IR heaters

• Exploring the feasibility / requirements for providing electric vehicle charging

• A seminar by RHS Wisley on bug-hotels

• A talk by A Rocha speaker, Karen Park, in October 2023: ‘Churches and Communities Tackling Climate Change Together’. This was also recorded and made available on-line

• Arranging the off-setting of the energy required for the bouncy castle at HG fair by supporting Creative Communities’ Community Garden

• A simple ‘management plan’ for St John’s grounds was produced and contributed to the PCC’s discussions and decisions regarding use and maintenance of the grounds.

Jon Macartney

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Hurst Green News

We continue to receive great stories and information on events for Hurst Green News. There is never any extra space that needs filling and we aim to feature as many different and interesting clubs in and around Hurst Green as well as including all the regular clubs and activities that residents of Hurst Green love. The request for nominations for ‘Neighbour of the month’ has been a popular feature.

At the beginning of the year we lost a few advertisers from the back page and have some ideas to help make up this shortfall and create more opportunities for businesses and events in Hurst Green to promote their activities. Hurst Green News is delivered free every month to nearly 3,000 homes in Hurst Green reaching around 7,000 people.

Lucy Kay, Hurst Green News Editor and Producer

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