Annual Trustees Report for 2025/26 for the Parish of St. Stephen’s, Chatham
Prepared for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting of St. Stephen’s Church 20[th ] May 2026
CONTENTS
| **1. ** | Reference and Administrative Information | Page 3 |
|---|---|---|
| **2. ** | Structure, Governance and Management | Page 4 |
| a) | of the PCC | Page 4 |
| b) | Main Sub-Committees of the PCC | Page 4 |
| **3. ** | Electoral Roll report | Page 5 |
| **4. ** | Annual Report of the proceedings of the PCC | Page 5 |
| **5. ** | Stewardship Committee and Gift Aid | Page 6 |
| **6. ** | Fabric, Goods and Ornaments | Page 6 |
| **7. ** | Deanery Synod | Page 7 |
| **8. ** | Safeguarding Report | Page 8 |
| **9. ** | Risk Assessment | Page 8 |
Appendices
I. Agenda for Annual Parochial Church Meeting on 20[th] May 2026 II. Minutes of Annual Parochial Church Meeting on 30[th] April 2025
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1. Reference and Administrative Information
The Church Representation Rules (Rule 9(1) (b)) require ‘an annual report on the proceedings of the parochial church council and the activities of the parish generally’ to be received by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM).
Parish of St. Stephen’s, Chatham
Incumbent:
Revd. Barry Linney 55 Pattens Lane CHATHAM Kent ME4 6JR
The Parochial Church Council
St. Stephen’s Church Maidstone Road CHATHAM Kent ME4 6JE
Place of Worship St. Stephen’s Church Maidstone Road CHATHAM Kent ME4 6JE
Bankers for St. Stephen’s Church : CAF Bank Ltd Mr C Clemence 25 Kings Hill Avenue 246 City Way Kings Hill ROCHESTER West Malling Kent Kent ME1 2BN ME19 4JQ
Independent Examiner :
Parish Administrator
Mrs Tracey Pavan
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PCC Membership 2025/26
Ex-officio:-
Ex-officio:Revd Barry Linney Helen Masters (Deanery Synod, retiring 2026) Nigel Rawlins (Deanery Synod, retiring 2026) Elected Membership:David Parry - Treasurer (retiring 2026) Catherine Linney (retiring 2027) Sophie Tanner (retiring 2027) Yvonne Whittle (resigned July 2025 as moved away) David Hopkins (retiring 2027) Vincent Beaney (retiring 2028) Bryan Frost (retiring 2028) Elizabeth Johns (retiring 2028) Sverre Sverresonn (retiring 2028) Co-opted: Mitchell Robinson Other:Wendy Tanner (Secretary)
2. Structure, governance and management
(a) Organisation of the PCC
Since the last APCM there have been six Regular PCC meetings and no Extraordinary meetings.
(b) Main Sub-Committees are as follows
Worship and Spirituality Provides an overview of services and makes suggestions concerning format.
Ministry Team Licensed Lay Minister Helen Beaney Permission to Officiate Christine Caldecourt Permission to Officiate Revd Pam Alexander Children & Youth Responsible for FOG, Sunday Club and the activities of children and young people within the Church. Social Organises St. Stephen’s social events. The Social Committee reports to the Finance Committee. Fabric Responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the church and the annexe. Finance Day to day running and long-term management of the church’s finances.
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3. Electoral Roll Report A revised Electoral Roll was prepared ahead of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. New application forms were required to be completed by those who wished to be on the new Electoral Roll.
There are currently 79 on the new Electoral Roll for 2025/2026 (79 in 2024/25). This number may increase as applications may still be received after the 19[th] April deadline and these will be added after the APCM on 20[th] May.
4. Annual Report of the proceedings of the PCC 2025/26
The PCC have met six times since the last APCM. These have all been Regular PCC meetings: 21[st] May 2025, 24[th] July 2025, 24[th] September 2025, 25[th] November 2025, 21st January 2026 and 17th March 2026.
We welcomed four new members to PCC in May 2025 – Vincent Beaney, Elizabeth Johns, Bryan Frost and Sverre Sverresonn. We also welcomed Mitchell Robinson as a co-opted member. We sadly said thank you and goodbye to Yvonne Whittle in July 2025 as she moved away from the area.
A PCC News Board has been installed at the back of Church. Following each PCC Meeting a Newsletter is produced and added so that the congregation are aware of decisions made affecting St Stephen’s; this is also emailed out with the Pew Sheet. We hope that the congregation has found this a useful addition.
A small working party was set up to discuss the Church entrance hall with a view to this area more resembling a place of welcome, worship and celebrating the Christian faith. Work is now underway to install a purpose-built curved table which fits under the stairs.
In the absence of one Church Warden, Deputy Wardens continue to share the responsibilities. A number of others from the congregation are now supporting the Deputies each week.
PCC discussed the unauthorised use of parking in the Church Car Park but decided that this was not causing great alarm at the present time. However, we would revisit at a future point
.
We welcomed Tom Olsen into the St Stephen’s family. Tom plays the organ on the 2[nd] and 3[rd] Sunday of each month and also take choir practice after the service on these Sundays.
A generous donation enabled the purchase a defibrillator; this is now in place on the outside of the Church Annex in a lockable cabinet, in view for everyone to use who may need it.
John Caselton from Lime Studio Architecture has been appointed as St Stephen’s new Quinquennial Inspector, following the retirement of our previous Inspector. Every five years the Church is inspected by a fully qualified surveyor who looks at the list of works undertaken over the last five years and inspects the internal and external quality of the Church structures and decoration. The surveyor then produces a report with recommendations of works to be carried out with a suggested timescale. The Church decides on the works to be undertaken within its financial capabilities.
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An ‘Away Day took place at Kingsway International Christian Centre, Buckmore Park on Saturday 14[th] February with the theme of ‘Challenges and Opportunites in Today’s World’. The day was attended by a good number of the congregation.
PCC are currently working on producing a number of policies for St Stephen’s to include:
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Safeguarding
-
Financial Policy
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Health and Safety (including Risk Assessment)
-
GDPR
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Employment and Safer Recruitment.
All policies, once approved by the PCC, will be reviewed every three years and will be available for view on the Church Website and available in church.
5. Stewardship Committee and Gift Aid
Thank you to everyone who supports the work of St. Stephens by giving regularly. Regular income helps to plan necessary expenditure and set a budget for the year.
During the year, fifty-one members of the congregation participated in the various planned giving schemes of these forty-three people were able to give tax efficiently by Gift Aid or via the Charities Aid Foundation.
Following a successful Stewardship campaign in June seven people joined our regular giving schemes and others were able to increase their giving. This generosity has eliminated the predicted deficit in our budget for the year.
Successful claims to HMRC for tax refunds were made in April for Gift Aid (for the year 2024) and in June for Gift Aid Small Donations (for the tax year 2024/25).
The Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme allows the church to claim back from HMRC an amount equivalent to Gift Aid on a proportion of our collections given in cash if we meet certain conditions and have the records to back up our claim.
6 Fabric, Goods and Ornaments
Since the last APCM in April 2025 the following work has been completed.
Church Building
-
The lightning conductor system was tested and found to be satisfactory
-
Annual inspection and servicing of the fire extinguishers was carried out.
-
In the summer, the three oldest heaters in the church, located in the balcony, the north aisle and the sanctuary, were replaced with new models. The other three heaters were serviced.
-
In April, the floodlight for the cross on the west tower was replaced, and a redundant fused spur in the Pastoral Room ladies toilet was removed.
Quinquennial Work
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- Leaks in the flat roof over the north aisle, in the southeast corner behind the organ, and in the south aisle next to the sound desk were investigated and successfully repaired.
Annexe
-
Maintenance of the wheelchair lift was carried out at six monthly intervals by Kinetic Lift Services. In November, the lighting in the lift shaft stopped working and was replaced with a new LED light fitting.
-
Annual inspection and servicing of the fire extinguishers was carried out.
-
Fire alarms and emergency lighting were inspected and serviced
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In April, damaged socket outlets in the Welcome Area and Hall were replaced.
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In December, a faulty thermostatic valve on the large radiator in the Upper Rooms was replaced. The annual service of the annexe boiler was also carried out during this visit.
Church Grounds
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Grass cutting continued to be carried out at fortnightly intervals in 2025. Many thanks to Geoff Gosling, Ade Omole, Joe Tang and Patrick Gilroy for volunteering last year, and for responding to the appeal again this year.
-
Working parties were held in May and November. Works completed included cleaning of the church gutters and flat roof areas, cleaning of the annexe gutters, tidying the grounds, trees trimmed, repainting of car park markings and white visibility lines on the entrance steps, re-treating the garden benches and revarnishing the escape doors from the hall and corridor.
Goods and Ornaments
- Generally, the church goods and ornaments remain in a good state of repair. The Ciborium was repaired following damage to the silver cross on the lid.
One of the short leg Gopak tables was broken and disposed of. The oldest de-humidifier in the nave had stopped working and was replaced. Two new radio microphones were purchased for the AV system.
The Church Property Register has been checked and updated where necessary.
7 Deanery Synod
Nigel Rawlins and Helen Masters have been the St Stephen’s representatives on the Deanery Synod for the last three years.
Since the last APCM, the Deanery Synod has met three times, on 7th May 2025, 30th September 2025 and 10th February 2026.
In May we had a joint Deaneries meeting, when Bishop Jonathan spoke about the Diocesan Vision, “We are called together by God to Change, Serve and Grow” and what this means for parishes. He also talked about upcoming funding for parishes. In September Greg Barry was due to talk about Safeguarding but there was a last-minute change and so the parishes
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talked about what they are doing. In February Andrew Dunlop and Cheryl Trice talked about Mission and Ministry.
This year we need to elect two Synod representatives for a period of three years.
8 Safeguarding Report
The Parish Administrator oversees a central register of all members of the congregation who are required to undertake safeguard training and DBS checks. Safeguard training is undertaken at different levels, dependent on the role within Church. The Parish Administrator issues training links and ensures completion as required.
All members of the PCC are required to have Enhanced DBS Certificates in place along with specific Safeguard training.
Nigel Rawlins is St Stephen’s Parish Safeguarding Officer and David Hopkins is the Church’s Vulnerable Adults Representative. As a PCC and congregation we need to ensure we pass on any safeguarding concerns to Revd Linney, Nigel Rawlins or to the Diocese directly.
The Church’s Safeguarding Policy – Promoting a Safer Church was adopted for the year at the first PCC Meeting after the APCM, on 21[st] May 2025.
9 Risk Management
Throughout 2025/26 we have continued to monitor all our activities in order to minimise any instances of risk.
Signed Date: 19[th] April 2026
Reverend Barry J Linney, Vicar
Signed: Wendy Tanner Date: 19th April 2026
Wendy Tanner, Secretary to the Parochial Church Council
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ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH
CHATHAM
Statement of Accounts for Year Ended 31[st] December 2025
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS / TRUSTEES OF ST STEPHEN'S CHURCH, CHATHAM, PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2025, which are set out on pages 2 to 8.
Respective Responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner
The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.
The charity’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:
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Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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Follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011
-
Act; and
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State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner's Report
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 you as 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.
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
-
(a) to keep accounting records in accordance with s. 130 of the 2011 Act; or
-
(b) to prepare accounts which accord with the 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.
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Financial Statements For the Year Ending 31st December 2025 Incoming Resources
| Voluntary Income Gift Aid Donations Income Tax recoverable On Regular Gift-Aided Donations Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (Plate) Non-Tax Efficient Giving Collections (open plate) at services Donations and Gift Days Grants Donations, appeals for specific capital purposes Donation for Together Club Legacies Activities for Generating Funds Magazines, Publications and Advertising Rental for Church and Annexe Fundraising Building Project Fundraising Fees: Weddings & Funerals Investment Income Income from Investments (Interest) Other Income Resources Parish Weekend Holiday Club Other Parish Income () Total Income* |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 37,828 - 37,828 35,878 8,932 - 8,932 9,566 1,574 - 1,574 1,173 11,532 - 11,532 12,856 5,975 729 6,705 5,432 - - - - - - - - - 657 657 1,056 100 - 100 4,068 |
|---|---|
| 65,941 1,386 67,327 70,030 |
|
| 89 - 89 125 22,590 - 22,590 25,330 2,124 - 2,124 2,141 - - - - 3,845 2,442 6,287 4,189 |
|
| 28,647 2,442 31,089 31,786 |
|
| 2,929 - 2,929 3,352 |
|
| - - - 5,460 320 - 320 - 703 - 703 1,301 |
|
| 1,023 - 1,023 6,761 |
|
| 98,541 3,828 102,369 111,928 |
Figures on this and subsequent pages are rounded to the nearest £1.
(*) - Other Parish Income includes:
Restricted: private photocopying, coffee income, lift repair contribution
Page 2
Summary of Expenditure Year Ending 31 December 2025
| Notes Central Parish Clergy & Administration 2 Church Requisites 3 Running Expenses 4 Sundries 5 Away Giving 6 Special Projects 7 Depreciation 8 Unrestricted Expenditure Total Special Projects (Restricted) 7a Special Projects (Capital Restricted) 7b Restricted Expenditure Total Total Expenditure |
2025 2024 £ £ 66,471 64,744 1,485 871 34,503 27,806 77 74 2,155 4,809 1,950 2,140 - - |
|---|---|
| 106,640 100,444 |
|
| 5,878 4,325 - - |
|
| 5,878 4,325 |
|
| 112,518 104,770 |
Page 3
Statement of Financial Activities Year Ending 31st December 2025
| Incoming Resources Voluntary Income Activities for Generating Funds Investment Income Other Income Resources Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Costs of generating voluntary income Fundraising/trading costs Church Activities Governance Costs Other resources expended Total Resources Expended NET INCOMING / (OUTGOING) RESOURCES Transfer Between Funds NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT 1ST JANUARY BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD AT 31ST DECEMBER |
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ £ £ 65,941 1,386 67,327 70,030 28,647 2,442 31,089 31,786 2,929 - 2,929 3,352 1,023 - 1,023 6,761 |
|---|---|
| 98,541 3,828 102,369 111,928 |
|
| 77 - 77 74 - - - - 106,314 5,878 112,192 104,446 250 - 250 250 - - - - |
|
| 106,640 5,878 112,518 104,770 |
|
| -8,100 -2,050 (10,149) 7,158 -6,084 6,084 (0) (0) |
|
| -14,183 4,034 (10,149) 7,158 |
|
| 78,343 2,603 80,946 73,788 64,160 6,637 70,797 80,946 |
Note: Unrestricted funds are for the day to day running of the church.
Restricted funds can only be used for the purpose for which it was given and cannot be 'raided' for other purposes.
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St. Stephen's Parish Church Balance Sheet 31st December 2025
| Notes Current Assets Debtors & Prepayments 9 Diocesan & CBF Accounts 10 Bank Current Account - HSBC Bank Current Account - CAF Cash in Hand Total (b) Current Liabilities Creditors - Amounts falling due within one year 11 Total (c) Net Current Assets / (Liabilities) (b) - (c). Total Assets Less Current Liabilities (b) - (c). Creditors - Amounts falling due after one year 12 Total Net Assets Funds Unrestricted General Designated 13 Total Restricted 13 Total Funds |
2025 2024 £ £ - - 57,208 63,804 501 263 13,023 16,813 65 65 |
|---|---|
| 70,797 80,946 |
|
| - - |
|
| - - |
|
| 70,797 80,946 |
|
| 70,797 80,946 - - |
|
| 70,797 80,946 |
|
| 35,200 52,962 28,960 25,381 |
|
| 64,160 78,343 |
|
| 6,637 2,603 |
|
| 70,797 80,946 |
Approved by the Parochial Church Council and signed on their behalf
dated
The notes on Pages 6 to 8 form part of these accounts
Page 5
St. Stephen's Parish Church Notes to the Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2025
1 Accounting Policies
a) Basis of Accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 together with applicable accounting standards and the SORP 2005.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. They include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.
b) Depreciation
Furniture, Fittings and Organ 5% per annum on cost
c) Consecrated Property and Moveable Church Furnishings
Consecrated and beneficed property of any kind is excluded from the accounts in accordance with s.10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011
Moveable church furnishings held by the vicar and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC, and which require a faculty for disposal, are accounted as inalienable property unless consecrated. They are listed in the church's
All expenditure incurred in the year on consecrated or beneficed buildings, individual items under £1,000 or on the repair of moveable church furnishings acquired before 1 January 2000 is written off.
| 2 Central Parish Clergy & Admin Diocesan Parish Share Contribution Vicar's Expenses & Visiting Priests Wages/Salaries - Organists & Administrator Administration Governance Costs (incl Accounts Examination) Fees to Diocese Parsonage House Costs Assistant Staff Expenses 3 Church Requisites Upkeep of Services 4 Running Expenses Insurance Church Church Utilities (Gas, Electric, Water) Annexe Church Grounds Fundraising Costs (Raffle Licence, Fair Costs) Mission and Evangelism Projects Support Costs |
2025 £ 43,500 1,157 12,547 3,820 250 473 4,697 26 66,471 1,485 1,485 2,041 19,829 4,449 5,539 - - - 2,645 34,503 |
2024 £ 42,000 1,591 11,737 3,702 250 1,452 4,012 - |
|---|---|---|
| 64,744 | ||
| 871 | ||
| 871 | ||
| 2,009 5,860 6,977 10,729 - - - 2,230 |
||
| 27,806 |
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St. Stephen's Parish Church Notes to the Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2025
| 5 Sundries Stewardship 6 Away Giving(see page 10) Church Overseas Missionary Giving Home Missions Secular Charities 7 Special Projects (Designated) Education & Training Quinquennial Repairs 7a Special Projects (Restricted) Holiday Club Restricted Away Giving Together Club - Davis Estate Youth Events Mindfulness Parish Weekend 7b Special Projects (Capital) Restricted Funds Building Project Building project funds in current a/c |
2025 £ 77 77 - - - 2,155 2,155 400 1,550 1,950 312 729 592 45 - 4,200 5,878 - - - |
2024 £ 74 |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | ||
| - - 150 4,659 |
||
| 4,809 | ||
| 1,200 940 |
||
| 2,140 | ||
| 138 1,140 670 - 400 1,977 |
||
| 4,325 | ||
| - - |
||
| - |
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St. Stephen's Parish Church Notes to the Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2025
| 9 Debtors and Prepayments 10 All Accounts Diocesan Board of Finance and CCLA Greenway (CCLA) Church Repair Fund (Rochester DBF) Building Project a/c (CCLA) Savings Account (CCLA) Current Account (HSBC) CAF Bank Total All Accounts 11 Sundry Creditors (unpresented cheques) 12 Diocesan Loan 13 Restricted & Designated Funds Designated Church Repair Fund (Designated) Training & Education Fund (Designated) Restricted Building Project Fund Church Youth Project Parish Weekend Fees to DBF Together Club (Davis Estate) Mindfulness Total Restricted + Designated 14 Fund Movements Balance at 31 December 2024 Plus Incoming resources Less Resources expended Plus Transfers In from other Accounts Less Transfers Out to other accounts Balance at 31 December 2025 |
General (HSBC) 263 120 1,382 1,500 - |
2025 £ - - 20,941 8,019 2,720 25,527 57,208 501 13,023 70,732 - - - - 8,019 20,941 28,960 2,720 203 435 - 1,929 1,784 435 6,637 35,597 CAF Bank CCLA Savings 16,813 35,821 99,349 1,654 112,637 - 13,497 - 4,000 11,947 |
2024 £ - - 20,023 5,358 2,603 35,821 63,804 263 16,813 80,881 - - - - 5,358 20,023 25,381 2,603 - - - - - 2,603 27,984 CCLA Greenway CCLA Building Diocesan Quinq'l Petty Cash Total 20,023 2,603 5,358 65 80,946 918 118 211 - 102,369 - - - - 114,018 - - 4,000 - 18,997 - - 1,550 - 17,497 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | 13,023 25,527 |
20,941 2,720 8,019 65 70,797 |
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