**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**
~ 2 ~
## **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
~ 3 ~
**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.
~ 4 ~
**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.
~ 5 ~
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:
- Safeguarding
- Financial Policy
- Health and Safety (including Risk Assessment)
- GDPR
- 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
~ 6 ~
- 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
- In April, damaged socket outlets in the Welcome Area and Hall were replaced.
- 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
- 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
~ 7 ~
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
~ 8 ~
## **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:
- 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 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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Page 1
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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.
Page 4
## **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**|
Page 6
## **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**|
|||-
-|
|||**-**|
Page 7
## **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**|
Page 8