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← The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Martin In Herne With St Peter Greenhill

2023-12-31-accounts

The Parish Church of St Martin-in-Herne with St Peter’s Greenhill

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 21[st] April 2024, at 11.00am

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Contents

Page

AGENDA 3
Church information 5
APCM Meeting Sunday 16thApril 2023
Minutes of the APCM (Vestry Report and Annual Meeting) 12
and transcript of Vicar’s 2022 report) and resolution 20
APCM MEETING 2024
Lay reader’s Report for the year 2023 21
Reports required under the Church Representation Rules 2020 23
Churchwardens report 23
Electoral roll report 24
Annual Report on the proceedings of the PCC during 2023 25
St Martin’s and St Peter’s Financial Report for 2023 (including Reserves Policy) 26
(See pages 44 To 53 for the Church Accounts /Financial Statements)
Fabric Report from the Fabric Committee and the Churchwardens 27
Deanery Synod Report 28
Reports from Church Organisations and Committees 29
Introduction 29
August Activity Days 29
Bell ringing report 28
Children and Sunday School Report 31
Choir Report 32
Churchyard maintenance team 33
Flower arrangers 35
Gift Aid 35
Little Fishes 37
Messy Church 37
Pastoral Matters 38
Safeguarding 38
Schools 38
Herne Church Hall; otherwise, the St Martin’s Church (Institute) Hall 39
St Martins Readers and Intercessors 39
St Martin’s Servers and Chalice bearers 40
St Martins Tuesday Toddler Group 40
Weddings in 2023 41
Worship Band 41
Financial Statements and Audited Church Accounts 44-53

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THE PARISH OF ST MARTIN’S HERNE WITH ST PETER’S GREENHILL

Together we seek God

Our mission is to share God’s love and to grow as God’s people

THE ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING

To be held in St Peter’s Church Greenhill on Sunday 21[st] April 2024 at 11.00 am or as soon thereafter

AGENDA

Welcome, opening prayers and apologies for absence

Part 1

The Vestry Meeting

  1. Minutes of the Vestry meeting held on Sunday, 16[th] April 2023

  2. Matters arising from the minutes

  3. Election of churchwardens (two-) and Deputy Church Wardens (two)

Part 2

The Annual Meeting

  1. Apologies and procedures (including agreement to proxy voting if applicable)

  2. Church Information and activities of the Parish generally (for information)

  3. Minutes of the Annual Meeting held on Sunday, 16[th] April 2023

  4. Matters arising from minutes

Mandatory reports required under the Church Representation rules 2020

  1. Lay reader’s report in the vacancy

  2. Churchwarden’s report

  3. Electoral Roll Report with oral update on the numbers on the roll as at the 21[st] April 2024

  4. Annual Report on the Proceedings of the PCC during 2023

  5. Financial Report for St Martin’s and St Peter’s including approval of the 2023 accounts

  6. Appointment of auditors or independent examiner for St Martin’s and St Peter’s. Proposing PG Lemon LLP of 22 to 26 Bank Street Herne Bay Kent CT6 5EA

  7. Fabric Committee Report

  8. Report on the proceedings of the Deanery Synod

Mandatory elections

  1. Election of Deborah Waller in her capacity as Lay reader to be an ex officio member of the PCC

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  1. Election of PCC members. To include

  2. a. Election of three PCC members (if nominations received) for 2024 to 2027 (being two retiring and one vacancy remaining to be filled)

NB Appointment of Sides people to be dealt with by the PCC at the next following PCC meeting so no election required

General reports

  1. Reports from church organisations

  2. a. August Activity days

  3. b. The Bellringers

  4. c. Children’s and Sunday School report

  5. d. The Choir

  6. e. The Churchyard maintenance team

  7. f. The Flower arrangers

  8. g. Gift Aid

  9. h. Little Fishes

  10. i. Messy Church

  11. j. Pastoral Matters

  12. k. Safeguarding

  13. l. Schools

  14. m. St Martin’s Church Institute

  15. n. St Martins Readers and Intercessors

  16. o. St Martin’s servers and chalice bearers

  17. p. St Martin’s Tuesday Toddler Group

  18. q. Weddings report

  19. r. The Worship Band

  20. Date of first meeting of the new PCC

  21. Any other business

  22. The Blessing

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CHURCH INFORMATION 2023

ST MARTIN-IN-HERNE with ST PETER, GREENHILL, Registered Charity No 1134604

1st January-31st December 2023

St Martin-in-Herne Church

Herne Street Herne Herne Bay Kent

St Peter’s Church

Herne Drive Greenhill Herne Bay Kent.

INCUMBENT

Revd. Carol Smith until 30[th] April 2023 and upon her retirement a vacancy

CURATE

None

BANKERS

St Martin-in-Herne Church

St Peter’s Church

Lloyds, Herne Bay

CCLA Investment Management Ltd Senator House, 85 Queen’s Street, London, EC4V 4ET

Santander Account (for receipt of rental monies only)

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

P.G.Lemon LLP 22 – 26 Bank Street Herne Bay CT6 5EAL

BACKGROUND

The parish of St Martin-in-Herne with St Peter, Greenhill extends to the railway in Eddington to the North, includes Broomfield, Talmead Estate, Greenhill, Still Water Park, Herne Common and Blean Woods in the South. The population is approximately 16,000 and, in addition, there is new housing in the east of the parish.

The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure 1956 as amended.

The appointment of the PCC members is governed by and set out in the Church Representation Rules 2020.

THE TASK OF THE PCC

The Synodical Government Measure 1969 states clearly:

It shall be the duty of the incumbent and the Parochial Church Council to consult together on matters of general concern and importance in the parish.

It then sets out a number of functions of the PCC, of which perhaps the most important – and certainly the widest – is that the primary objective of the PCC is:

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Co-operation with the incumbent in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic and ecumenical

The incumbent and the PCC each have their own particular rights and responsibilities in the life of the church, but the important theme here is partnership and co-operation. More specifically the PCC is responsible for the maintenance of the church buildings and churchyard, and, with the incumbent, for deciding how the church’s money is to be spent. The PCC is formally the employer of the church’s paid workers, for example our organist, St Peter’s caretaker and administrator. The PCC will have on it one or more members of the Deanery Synod, who have an important role in linking the parish into the wider structures of the church, and also Churches Together in Herne Bay.

MEMBERSHIP

Members of the PCC are either (a) ex officio (on the PCC because of their role in the parish church) or (b) co-opted by the PCC in accordance with the Church Representation Rules or (c) elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)

From 1st January 2023 and specifically from the APCM on the 16[th] April 2023 in addition to Revd Carol 12 persons served as members of the PCC and all are also trustees:

(a) Ex-Officio :

Revd. Carol Smith Vicar (retired on 30[th] April 2023) Priscilla Cox Church warden from 16[th] April 2023 and Synod Rep Chris Exley Church warden from 16[th] April 2023 John Bennett Deputy Churchwarden from 16[th] April 2023 Sarah Bingham Deputy Churchwarden from 16[th] April 2023 Deborah Waller Licensed Lay Reader from Autumn 2021 and Synod Rep

(b) Co-opted members/invitees

(c) Elected being 6 PCC members

Elected 2023: so, they will retire in 2026

Elected 2022: so, they will retire in 2025

Elected 2021 term of office expires 2024 (So, there are now three vacancies to be filled)

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That means in 2024 there will be vacancies for the following positions to be elected :

Current Officers

Deborah Waller Chair Specific roles on PCC Sheila Gough Treasurer Andrew Gough Gift Aid Secretary Andrew Gough PCC Secretary Ann Ackland Safeguarding Officer

Deanery Synod Rep each for a three-year appointment on 16[th] April 2023 so they will retire at the APCM in 2026 but can offer themselves for re-election

COMMITTEES

Standing Committee

This is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the PCC between meetings, subject to direction by the Council. It consists of the incumbent, churchwardens, treasurer and at least another PCC member, in our case preferably a representative of the PCC of St Peter’s. It acts as another committee and reports back to the PCC. It can also discuss and set the next PCC agenda.

By a resolution of the PCC passed on the 19[th] October 2020 it has authority to spend up to £250 for equipment or in relation to any other issue brought before it and may commit to an aggregate expenditure of £500 only, subject to the details of the individual and aggregated expenditure being brought to the next PCC meeting following the standing committee. This resolution has not been revoked.

Members:), Andrew Gough (secretary), Sheila Gough (Treasurer), Priscilla Cox and Chris Exley and Peter Frost.

All members of the PCC are expected to sit on a committee.

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Other Committees in 2023 were:

Finance and
Stewardship
•
Sheila Gough
(Chair)
•
Priscilla Cox
•
Andrew
Gough		 Fabric – St
Martin’s, Institute
Hall, St Peter’s
and reordering at
St Martin’s
•
Priscilla Cox
•
Paul Tapsell
•
Doug Bubb
•
John Bennett
•
Steve
Jackson
•
Roger
Jackson*		 Social
•
Sarah
Bingham
(chair)		 Communications
& Publicity
•
Anne Lehane*
•
Sarah
Bingham

*Denotes non- members of the PCC

In addition:

This had met for the first time on March 19[th] 2019 as a result of Herne Parish becoming one of ” the first to be invited to join the Diocesan “Changed Lives Changing Lives Conversations . The team originally comprised Revd. Carol Smith, Revd. Cat Darkins and, Revd. Stacey Rand (when available), and Anne Lehane.

Revd. Stacey Rand had resigned in August 2021 to move to another parish. Revd Cat Darkins retired in March 2022 There has been further invaluable help from Joan Jeffers, Alan King, Deborah Waller and Sheila Bennett

CHURCH ATTENDANCE FOR 2023

[ NB: Figures in brackets denote previous year’s figures ]

Church attendance again averaged 55 (55) adults and 6 (6) children across the year on normal Sundays during 2023, with larger numbers at festivals and when schools were involved in services. Being without a vicar may have affected the numbers of baptisms and weddings

Attendance for additional events
Baptisms 28_(48): 10(24)infant,15(190)children 3(5)_adults)
Weddings 4_(5)_
Funerals 15_(23):10(13)in church, 5(10)_at crematorium or
cemetery)

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Attendance for services Adults Children Total
8:00 and 9:45am
SundayServices Average Attendance		 45_(49)_
(_estimated_39
aged 18-69
years and 10
aged 70 years
plus)		 10(6) 55_(55)_
Easter Services Total Attendance no breakdown no
breakdown		 93(200)
Christmas Total Attendance no breakdown no
breakdown		 740_(375)_
Special Services during Advent 2021, e.g.
nativities and carol services		 no breakdown no
breakdown		 Congregation and
local community:
1405_(596).
civic and school-
specific: 558(1251)._

Joiners and leavers:

8 (10) adults and 2 (2) children and young people joined our worshipping community during 2022.

4 adults and 0 children and young people left our worshipping community during 2022.

Other mission and ministry to Children & Young Families:

A full copy of the Statistics for Mission return is available on request.

Electoral Roll

At the APCM on the 16[th] April 2023 the number of people on the St Martin’s Electoral Roll was 90. There were three losses after the APCM so as at the 31st December 2023 the roll is confirmed at 87. The numbers on the roll following the revision in March 2024 will be announced at the APCM

Andrew Gough Electoral Roll Officer

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PUBLIC BENEFIT

1The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,[3] and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour

The vision of our parish is stated within our mission statement:

Our mission is to share God’s love and to grow as God’s people

We are registered with the Charity Commission by virtue of the fact that we “Advance Religion for the Public Benefit”, and are required to state our aims in their terms as below

Encouraging and facilitating the practice of Christianity by existing followers and seekers.

Place of worship, including:

Raising awareness and understanding of religious beliefs and practices, including:

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Working with Iworship, education. pastoral carel ènd Eovemance of our two church schools in Herne. Encouragement and worship in one Communtty Primary School and also our Secondary School. RelTgious devotion31 art5, indu<fing: Visiting the sick and administering the sacraments to the sick and dying. Mlsslonary and outreach worK induding: The provision of chaplaincy services.. for example, to Strode Part Canterbury and District S¢oiJting and Canterbury Cathedral). Hospital visiting. The provision of pastoral care to residential and domiciliary homes. Cultural and community actiVFties provided in the place of worship and in the buildings attached, e.g.. community facilities. community ca￿. toddlers. community Cafe and Meals for the Homeless etc.l. Work for reconciliation. building community and peace across the parish. Religious communicatlon, indudinr. Sermons, talks. meetings and cOnferen￿S and the provision of religious material via the internet website. Retreat and pllgrimage, indud1￿ A place for short and day retreats. Advancing religion geneFally Including: Charitable giving to many dtfferent peoples in need. both near and far. le.g., Help for Heroes, Christian AFd. Crisis, Children'5 Society. Catching Lives. Seafarerfs Mission etc.) Seeking to safeguard creation through moral use of resources and the ways we manage our graveyards. These aims are fulfilled as evidenced in the reports that follow. 54Md -¢LM ad (£ Signed- Church Warden Date: li

Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Council Meeting held on Sunday 16[th] April 2023 at 11.15am at St Martin’s Church, Herne.

Agenda

The meeting actually commenced at 11 45am

Opening Prayer

Revd. Carol welcomed those present and led those attending in an opening prayer

Apologies for absence

Apologies for absence had been received from Peter and Shirley Frost, Julia Davidson and the helpers now preparing for the bring and share lunch (after the event) namely Sheila Bennett, Anne Post, Valerie Bubb, Linda King and Joan Jeffers

Preliminary Issues

An agenda, full minutes and reports (including accounts) were available in hardcopy form if required by those present. The electoral roll was available for inspection at the back of the church.

Final nominations for the PCC were sought, three having been received.

The minutes would be signed off if approved.

Part 1 Chaired by Revd. Carol Smith

The Vestry Meeting

Revd. Carol explained that historically the vestry meeting would often be held privately but nowadays churches hold it in public as part of the full APCM.

  1. Apologies as above

  2. The minutes of the vestry meeting held on 24[th] April 2022 were agreed as a correct record. Proposer Andrew Gough Seconder Sheila Gough. They were unanimously approved

  3. There were no matters arising

  4. Election of Churchwardens (two positions vacant) and Deputy Churchwardens (two further vacant positions).

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  1. Two candidates had put their names forward as Churchwarden.

Priscilla Cox

Proposed by Lisa Crowhurst Seconded by Sarah Bingham

Robert Christopher Exley (Chris Exley) for re election

Proposed by Susan Record Seconded by Priscilla Cox

There being no other candidates and everyone being in favour, both candidates were duly elected as Churchwardens for the coming year.

  1. Alan King was stepping down as Deputy Churchwarden. There were two candidates for deputy Churchwardens:

John Bennett Sarah Bingham Proposed by Andrew Gough Proposed by Lisa Crowhurst Seconded by Mary Jewiss Seconded by Chris Exley

There being no other candidates and everyone being in favour, the nominees were duly elected as Deputy Churchwardens for the coming year

  1. Revd. Carol thanked Lisa and Chris Exley for their considerable work as Churchwardens and also to Alan King for being such a willing and able support as Deputy. It was good that the church again had a full team of wardens.

  2. There being no other business the vestry meeting was concluded.

It was agreed by those present that Deborah Waller should chair part 2 of the meeting and the Revd. Carol stepped down.

Part 2 Chaired by Deborah Waller

The Annual Meeting

  1. Apologies were given as above.

  2. Church information as given in the APCM booklet was taken as read. Also, the general reports were taken as read

  3. Minutes of the annual meeting held on Sunday, 24[th] April 2022. The minutes were approved unanimously.

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  1. There were no matters arising that would not be covered by the agenda.

  2. The Vicar’s verbal report was given and this is a transcript as given to the APCM.

This is my seventh Annual Meeting with you and it does seem rather strange doing this for the last time. As I said in my written report (which I hope you’ll have read) the time certainly has flown and it has been a real pleasure and joy to serve as your parish priest.

I’d like to pick up on the theme(s) of ‘Community’ and ‘Telling our story ‘From my sermon.

One thing that truly warms my heart since our full return to church post-Covid lockdowns is the nature of our church fellowship which in my view has become increasingly more welcoming and inclusive. This is evidenced not so much by the number on the electoral roll but by the demographic of our regular worshipping congregations (note, plural) which is quite different to what it was pre-pandemic. For example, the ‘3[rd] Sunday Service’ (as we call it) at St Peter’s has really become established. And with it, the opportunity for the Worship Band to grow (in number as well as confidence) and to develop its repertoire has really borne fruit, which gives me (and I’m sure, you) great joy.

Reflecting on the first Easter Day, the Archbishop of York said[1] that after the initial shock of finding Jesus’s tomb empty, three witnesses (the women) ‘… don’t race away to hide. They flee to play their part in beginning a new community: a community that will be defined by the jaw-dropping wonder of Jesus’s resurrection. A resurrection community, which we call the Church, that – despite its everpresent flaws – will strive to model a whole new way of living together. It will refuse to treat difference as an obstacle to community and reject uniformity as the epitome of unity.’

‘… The New Testament speaks of a unity that is not blandly uniform but full of life-giving difference … When the Holy Spirit comes in the book of Acts, the diverse origins of the crowd are explicitly listed (‘Parthians, Medes, etc.’) The apostles then communicate with those gathered in their own different languages, rather than merging them into a single universal tongue. Those differences do not threaten the community: rather, God uses them to build community.’

My retirement will undoubtedly trigger an Archdeacon’s consultation with your newly-elected Churchwardens and PCC, to determine the needs of the parish and the attributes you might seek in your next parish priest. This will be an opportunity for you to tell your story of the life, mission and ministry of Herne St Martin’s and St Peter’s Greenhill in which you all play a part. I hope you will remember well. Remember how God has blessed you with each other – through the difficult bits as well as the joyous ones! Remain hopeful. Stay faithful. Please don’t forget to pray for each other. Pray for your Churchwardens and PCC. Pray for Deborah as her responsibilities increase. Look after one another. And please look after the visiting priests who will take your sacramental services.

I’d like to leave you with some verses from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians (2.8-10) from Sunday Morning Prayer (19[th] March 2023) which really struck me then and which continue to speak to me, now:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God – not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.”

1 Archbishop Stephen Cottrell writing in the Daily Telegraph, Easter week 2023.

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My parting prayer is that you will continue in this way of life, and travel well, together. Amen.

  1. Andrew Gough in his capacity as electoral roll secretary confirmed that at the APCM in April 2022 there had been 91members on the electoral roll. Subsequently following (and including the latest revision in March 2023) four people had been added to the role but five had been removed. Accordingly, there were now ninety (90) members on the electoral roll which meant that there were still nine lay places available on the PCC.

Four had already been filled and five places were now available for nominations (Sheila Gough and Peter Frost were offering themselves for re-election). Plus, one casual vacancy (to replace Joanna Hollings) to be filled if there was a nomination. He confirmed that the full electoral roll was available for inspection at the church during the APCM.

There were no questions. He confirmed that after the APCM congregants could join the electoral roll at any time and not merely at the time of any revision before an APCM.

  1. The annual report of the proceedings of the PCC during 2022 was taken as read. There were no questions. Thanks were given to all the PCC members for their dedicated service over the year

  2. The Churchwarden’s Report was taken as read. Lisa Crowhurst and Chris Exley had nothing to add.

  3. Sheila Gough, as treasurer, introduced the 2022 financial reports for St Martin’s and St Peter’s Greenhill.

  4. a. Once again it had been a challenging year especially because of the Covid restrictions and loss of general income. Total income for the year was £180,368 which included two legacies (£500 from Sheila Roberts and £49,902 from the Gwendoline Pritchard Will Trust) and two grants; one of £750 from the War Memorial trust for work to the War Memorial and the other of £7,400 from the Church Commissioners for support for the church heating costs

  5. b. As compared to 2021 there had been an increase of about £2,000 in collections at services, and voluntary receipts and church activities including weddings

  6. c. However, there has been a decrease in planned giving of nearly £5,000.

  7. d. Gift aid claims are still useful source of income for the church but there has been a slight decrease but this was mainly due to timing and when claims were processed.

  8. e. There had been few opportunities for fund raising social events because of the ongoing Covid restrictions. It was hoped that there could be more such events in 2023. Sarah Bingham confirmed from the floor that The Summer Parish Funday was planned this year and hopefully that could be a useful financial contribution.

  9. f. Total expenditure was £174,440.

  10. g. The biggest expense is our Parish Share to the Diocese. The church had paid this in full but had to take £17,849 from its reserves to do so.

  11. h. There has been an increase in expenses especially utilities and insurance. This was likely to be larger in 2023

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Andrew Gough read out the resolution proposed by himself and seconded by Sheila Gough. It

was put to those present and was passed unanimously. A copy of the resolution is included with these minutes

14. Election of Deanery Synod representatives

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There being no other candidates the members present at the meeting unanimously elected the two candidates

  1. Deborah Waller as licensed lay reader to the parish can be elected to the PCC in her own rights as an ex officio member of the PCC

There were no objections to that appointment being made.

  1. Appointment of members of the PCC

  2. a. Three candidates had been nominated to take positions on the PCC.

Sheila Isabel Gough (end of office but re-standing as a candidate to the PCC) Proposed Lisa Crowhurst Seconded by Priscilla Cox

Peter John Frost (end of office but re-standing as a candidate to the PCC) Proposed by Andrew Gough Seconded by Sheila Gough

Anne Ackland (as a new candidate) Proposed by Douglas Bubb and Seconded by Sheila Gough

There being no other candidates the three nominees were unanimously elected. There was no

nominee for the casual vacancy.

Thanks were given to those who had been PCC members and to those continuing on the council

  1. Deborah Waller then introduced the reports from the Church Organisations and Committees. They demonstrated the diversity of interests and responsibilities that people took on within the life of the church. She hoped that reading the reports would encourage people to join some of the organisations or offer support. All reports were taken as read and there were no questions. Thanks were given to all persons who contributed to the life and administration of the church. In particular to: -

  2. a. The team arranging August Activity days – thanks to Sarah Bingham for resourcing these, and Lisa, Deborah and others who helped.

  3. b. The Sunday school team. Thanks were given to Deborah, Shirley (and Peter) Frost, Anne Post, Jamie Wraight, Sheila Tapsell and any others who have helped on ad hoc basis. It was noted that the children’s ministry has really grown over the past 12 months and the children themselves are now so very confident when they come to share with us at the end of the Service! They are a blessing to us – and they teach us a lot.

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Priscilla Cox enquired if there was any interest in arranging a party (perhaps a BBQ) at the Institute Hall on Sunday 7[th] May at midday onwards in celebration of the King’s Coronation. There was such support from those present and Priscilla agreed to pursue this initiative. There were no other questions. Revd. Carol then thanked everybody who had helped and provided service throughout the year. Although some individuals had been named already, there were so many who assisted in the life of the church in different ways and all should congratulate themselves

Lisa Crowhurst, as Churchwarden, thanked Revd. Carol, and Deborah Waller, for all their hard work, enthusiasm and ministry throughout the year. It was a huge task and we were all grateful for their guidance and support.

  1. There being no further business the meeting was concluded and Revd. Carol led those present in a prayer and blessing.

The meeting concluded at 12.45pm.

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Resolution passed at the APCM THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (PCC)

OF ST MARTIN-IN-HERNE WITH ST PETER’S GREENHILL

Subject: A resolution pursuant to the Church Representation Rules Part 9 Model Rule M8 paragraph 7

R E S O L U T I O N

16[th] April 2023

The members of the Parochial Church Council of St Martin-in-Herne recommend that the following resolution be passed at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (the annual meeting) on Sunday 16th April 2023:

Proposer: Andrew Gough (PCC secretary)

Seconder: Sheila Gough

All in favour: Passed Unanimously At the APCM

(L S )

Signed: Revd Carol Smith

(Incumbent/Chair)

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THE APCM REPORTS FOR 2023

Lay Reader’s Annual 2023 report for St Martin-in-Herne with St Peter’s Greenhill

Following Rev. Carol Smith’s retirement from our parish last year we as a congregation have been working together to keep the parish thriving in readiness for a new incumbent when appointed.

Worship schedules have been created following the pattern set at the end of Carol’s ministry and have been staffed by a range of priests from the local deanery as well as our Area Dean Simon Tillotson, our Archdeacon Will Adam and on Christmas Eve we were thrilled to have the Archbishop of Canterbury both preside over and preach at Midnight Mass. We are very grateful for all of the support that we have received from our Deanery and Diocese in the provision of priests. All 8 am services are held at St. Martin’s with services of Holy Communion alternating with Morning Prayer which in turn alternates with Holy Communion at St. Martin’s to ensure that there is a service of Holy Communion each Sunday in our parish. On the third Sunday we continue to hold a Morning Prayer at St. Peter’s at 10 am.

Mission and evangelism

None of the foregoing would be possible without the help and support of our Churchwardens (Priscilla Cox, Chris Exley) Deputy Wardens (Sarah Bingham, John Bennett) , PCC Secretary (Andrew Gough) and members of the PCC (please see the list of members recorded elsewhere) and others

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who have provided reports for this booklet, and who volunteer their time and gifts on an ad hoc basis, so thank you to each and every one of you for your fellowship and service in the Gospel. I would also like to thank all of you for your kind encouragement and generous support to me as Lay Reader Minister and Chair of the PCC.

We look forward to 2024 and are hopeful of the appointment of a new priest-in-charge for which we continue to pray.[2]

I commend to you the reports that follow in this booklet, which speak for themselves.

Yours, in love and prayer, and in the service of Christ.

Deborah Waller March 2024

Members of the PCC and the Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, who presided at our Midnight Christmas Eucharist with Revd. Richard Braddy, his chaplain.

2 Since this report was prepared, we are delighted to announce the appointment of the Revd Christopher Carnaby -Denyer as our Priest in Charge who will be licensed to our parish in late July 2024 .We pray for his ministry.

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REPORTS REQUIRED UNDER THE CHURCH REPRESENTATION RULES 2020

The Church wardens APCM report for 2023

I began my report last year by looking at our recovery from Covid-19 and said ‘We’re back!’ This year the message is slightly different – ‘We’re still here!’

What a year it has been. We are now operating pretty much as we did before Covid, and in some respects it could be suggested that the dreaded disease is forgotten about. That is not entirely the case of course, as we still have to take precautions, but outwardly at least things do seem pretty normal.

We have survived the last year without a vicar, since Revd. Carol’s retirement, and I am reminded of the image of the swan, gliding gracefully across the water, whilst unseen, beneath, it is paddling furiously. I think on the whole we seem to have survived the vacancy quite well, and most of you will not have seen the paddling exercise which has kept things together. At this point I must commend my colleagues on the Churchwarden team for their hard work in keeping everything going, and although I know that I will probably get a gentle rebuke when this is read, I feel that Priscilla should be singled out, as she has been doing most of the work to engage clergy for all the services since September, culminating in the appearance of the Archbishop at Christmas. She clearly has influence in high places!

It has been a year for pulling together, and broadly speaking I think we have done well in the face of the difficulties a vacancy can bring. We have managed to keep everything going, and we have had some fun on the way. Almost everything we do is due to you, the people in the pews, who turn up week by week, who volunteer time and money to do not just the visible things, but the invisible jobs too. The backstage people are important, and the input they have into our church life should not be taken lightly – we owe them a great debt of gratitude, but as there are so many ‘teams’ involved, it would be unfair to mention them all by name, as I would probably incur the wrath of the one I have forgotten (!). Your contributions are noted, and are very welcome. That said, the load could be lighter if new volunteers came forward. I know, for example, that Sarah Bingham is always on the look-out for new people to help with the children’s activities. We had an appeal for more helpers on the flower team, and the church cleaning team has a mountainous job to do, which would be made easier if there were more of them. Don’t be shy – your reward will be in heaven!

Of course we have missed Revd. Carol. Not having a Vicar does present some problems with preparation for weddings, funerals and baptisms, and several conversations have taken place on these matters. Here I must pay tribute to Deborah Waller, our lay reader. She too is a volunteer, but has been able to take on some of the clergy tasks which her licence permits her to do. The commitment of time to the church is daunting, but she has accepted the extra work with good grace. We should be thankful for that, and for the work she does in the community and in the schools, which is borne out by our strong relationship with both the Infants and Juniors.

We should also extend our warmest thanks to all the clergy who have helped with our services. We have accepted the fact that not all clergy take the services quite as we have been used to, but that is part of wonderful cornucopia of worship styles in the wider Church. We have made them welcome, and very few have turned down a request to visit us multiple times. Clergy in the deanery are spread

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thinly, and with many retired clergy being kept busy in their own local parishes, it has been quite a task maintaining our usual service pattern. As I recall, I think on only one occasion has the booked priest failed to turn up, and, using the reserved sacrament, Andrew Gough and I managed to fashion the scheduled service of Holy Communion for the 8.00 a.m. congregation. Whether this is the correct course I do not know but nobody has complained.

I have deliberately not referred to the fabric of the church, matters relating to which are required to be overseen by the wardens. Fortunately, in our parish we have the benefit of a hard-working, knowledgeable and skilled Fabric Committee. Our ancient building has a few creaks and groans, and constantly needs maintenance. The smaller (and some of the bigger) items are done, often under the radar, by members of the Fabric Committee. I could say more, but I will leave that to be reported on by Priscilla, who chairs the committee.

And finally….

If you play, sing, read, pray, look after children, tend the sick, assist in the leading of services, create rotas, clean, arrange flowers, make tea and coffee, supply biscuits, wash up, serve on committees, mend things, or just sit in the pews and let the peace of our buildings wash over you, then your contribution is valuable, and you are welcome to be as involved as you wish. In concluding my report, I must go back to Revd. Carol and remind you of her words – ‘There are always job vacancies.’

As we move forward to meet with our new Priest-in-Charge in a few weeks’ time, let us be open to what is ahead – think and pray about how you can help our churches step into the future with faith and confidence.

And to all of you who are thinking – ‘He’s talking to me!’ – Thank you!

Chris Exley & Priscilla Cox Churchwardens February 2023

NB the churchwarden’s report on the fabric of the church is given by the Fabric Committee and acknowledged as such .

Report from the Electoral Roll Secretary as at 31 December 2023

At the APCM in April 2023 there were 90 members on the electoral Roll. As at December 31 2023 we had 87 members on the roll, three having passed away in 2023. No complete revision has taken place.

The numbers on the roll following the March 2024 check and revision will be given orally at the APCM and that will determine the number of PCC representatives to be elected.

Andrew Gough, Electoral Roll Secretary March 2024

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An annual report on the proceedings of the Parochial Church Council during 2023

Andrew Gough continued to act as PCC secretary for the year.

There have been nine meetings during the year of which one had been by way of an online Zoom facility and eight at face-to-face meetings. We missed a meeting in March 2023 as this was delayed to April to finalise the arrangements for the APCM due to be held that month.

There is guidance for the conduct of online meetings and if votes are taken, then those voting must be present at the on line the meeting itself. On line meetings are usually recorded with the consent of the participants. The recording is expunged once the minutes have been approved at a PCC meeting.

Also, emergency business has been conducted online by email. This is again permitted pursuant to the Church Representation Rules 2020.

The meeting in September was first opened to members of the congregation.

The PCC has continued to conduct its business efficiently and thanks must go to all PCC Members. They always read the agenda and supporting documents (or so they tell the PCC Secretary) and debate all issues with much consideration, politely and with good humour. We prefer face to face meetings as this enables debate to be undertaken fully and we usually have cake at the refreshment break which is much appreciated!

All minutes (unless confidential) are available for inspection from the PCC secretary.

The following is a summary of the principal business conducted

  1. Continuing to review and approve the work of the Fabric Committee (see separate report).

  2. Formally appointing PC Lemon LLP as the independent examiner for the annual accounts

  3. Approving the 2022 accounts (the 2023 accounts are approved at a PCC meeting in March 2024 for presentation to the APCM in 2024)

  4. Considering the arrangements for the APCM in April 2023 (arrangements for the 2024 APCM are finalised in February/March 2024)

  5. Following the October 2019 APCM resolution to give the PCC authority to arrange postal voting at an APCM the PCC resolved not to adopt postal voting at the APCM in 2023 (a discretion that was permitted by the APCM resolution).

  6. Reviewing, at the May PCC meeting, the minutes of the APCM on 16[th] April 2023 which were considered to be accurate and confirming that these could be submitted to the annual meeting in April 2024 for approval

  7. Agreeing the appointment of all church officers and the appointment of chairpersons to the various committees

  8. Agreeing to register the Parrish with HMRC to collect Gift Aid and claim Gift Aid on small donations given that many members of the congregation had not moved to the Parish Giving scheme and so continued to pay to the Parish direct

  9. Pledged Harvest collection to the work of Catching Lives (for the homeless in Canterbury) and the local food bank.

  10. Resolving that the collection from the Carol Service around the yew tree would be for Porchlight and that from the Christingle Service to go to the Children’s Society. All other collections for the church funds generally

  11. Receiving safeguarding reports from Anne Ackland as safeguarding officer. See resolution and further declaration below.

  12. Receiving updates on the church schools

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  1. Serving formal notice upon the Diocese that the PCC wished to be involved in the appointment of the new incumbent as permitted by the Parish Measure

  2. Considering the preparation of the Parish Profile for the parish to seek a new incumbent.

  3. a. Holding an open meeting in September with the congregation to receive their views as to what they wanted from a new incumbent.

  4. b. Collating responses from other interested bodies as to what they sought

  5. c. Approving the Parish Profile with reports from various parties

  6. d. Appointing Andrew Gough and Sarah Bingham as the PCC representatives to interview the prospective candidates

  7. Approving a welcome pack to be given to new residents at the new estates

  8. Approving the new website design (by email)

  9. Discussing potential repairs to the Church Organ

  10. Thanking the Archbishop of Canterbury for presiding at our Christmas Midnight Eucharist

  11. Passing the following formal resolutions

  12. a. Accepting the appointment of Anne Ackland as the new safeguarding officer and to apply the approved parish safeguarding statement (July 2022)

  13. b. Approving the appointment of sides persons to assist at church services

  14. c. Appointing a new governor, Sheila Isabel Gough to Herne Infants School

The PCC confirms that it has complied with section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 with regard to its duty to follow the House of Bishops guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The Parish Safeguarding Statement is available for inspection and is on the Church website. There is a separate report on safeguarding.

Andrew Gough, PCC Secretary February 2024

Financial Review for 2023

These accounts are prepared on a “Receipts and Payments” basis. Please see the attached detailed Financial Statements (pages to 44 to 53).

Some points to note: -

We received a legacy of £500 from the Estate of the late Katherine Smith.

We saw a decrease in our planned giving, collections at services, gift aid and other voluntary receipts of over £9,500.

Tax recovered on gift aid receipts in 2023 was down over the previous year by £1,266 due to the decrease in the voluntary giving.

Fund raising events last year included, a BBQ, Children’s Treasure Hunt, Music Night, Sunday Funday, Wine & Wisdom and the Christmas Fair which altogether raised a total of £4,968 an increase of £1,463 from last year, so thank you to everyone who was involved in organising these events.

Both St Martin’s and St Peter’s halls continue to pay their way and the income from St Martin’s Hall helps us to contribute towards the Parish Share.

With regard to expenses, we were able to pay our Parish Share in full by using funds from our reserve account of £18,578, because our monthly income does not cover our outgoings. We still have outstanding Parish Share of £43,215. The Diocese have suggested a way in which this could be

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paid off and we are waiting to hear from the Deanery Treasurer as to whether or not this is something that we should pursue.

Direct Ministry expenses were reduced as we were not paying for an incumbent for 8 months of the year.

Church running expenses saw an increase in our insurance premium and utilities. We also had to pay for the repairs to the church doors and funds for this came from the Restoration Fund and the Fabric Fund.

The net result for the year was an excess of payments over receipts of £8,206 on unrestricted funds.

The interest earned on our CCLA investments amounted to £4,296.

I would like to thank Andrew Gough for continuing to administer the Gift Aid emoluments (including making the claim for rebate of tax); his help is invaluable to me.

Reserves Policy

We do not currently have a reserves policy which is costed to cover contingencies. We keep a sum of money in the Fabric Fund which is considered sufficient to discharge foreseeable repairs.

We now keep the bulk of any unallocated monies from giving, fundraising and legacies in a CCLA Reserves Account which at the end of December 2023 has a balance of £80,824. This is available for emergency situations and for particular projects or future work and has, as I have said, also been used to pay our Parish Share.

It is our policy to invest our funds with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund.

Sheila Gough, Treasurer March 2024

Report from the Fabric Committee for 2023 on the condition of the church buildings

This forms the Churchwarden’s Report on the Fabric of the Church Buildings pursuant to section 50 of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Care of Churches Measure 2018

Members of the committee meet regularly to discuss ongoing problems with the fabric at St Martin’s, St Peter’s and Herne Church Hall. Practically, much time is spent on routine maintenance and minor repairs, including problems with the Ridley Room boiler, cleaning of gutters, drone inspections of the church roof and investigation of leaks. Peter Frost has made an excellent mobile coffee station for use at St. Martin’s and also made a new blackboard for use outside the church to enable us to better advertise special services and events.

In April the west doors of St. Martins were repaired in accordance with specifications agreed with the diocese and the church architect. The contractors had to be recalled later to ease the doors which were proving difficult to open. There have also been some difficulties with opening the north doors but these have been eased by members of the fabric committee.

In late autumn one of the chestnut trees next to the door at St Martins was found to be diseased and sadly had to be felled. A large branch had fallen in a storm and damaged some nearby gravestones. Experts from the diocese visited the site and discussed the potential repair of the stones, and tree surgeons are checking the health and safety of the remaining chestnut trees.

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There are a number of outstanding repairs that need to be addressed and we continue to look for solutions to the need for extra storage in all our buildings. The storage shed in St. Martin’s churchyard has been vandalised a number of times and we are looking for a more secure way to store lawnmowers and garden tools. The area of wilding in the churchyard has been reduced to provide a neat and tidy area for weddings and social events.

We are extremely grateful for the time and expertise given by all the members of the committee to deal with repairs and maintenance of the buildings and equipment. We are very grateful too for all the time and help we receive from Steve King, caretaker at St Peter’s and Herne Church Hall.

Priscilla Cox (and for churchwarden Chris Exley) 15[th] March 2024

A Report on the 2023 proceedings of the Deanery Synod

Meetings of synod throughout the year have centred around a common theme. The diocese has asked all churches to contribute to a Deanery Plan to be used as a working document showing the aims and objectives of each church. The Plans will help the diocese to provide appropriate support for deaneries and encourage the churches to concentrate on their targets. Most churches are struggling to pay the Parish Share and want to build on their work with children and young families and to grow their congregation. The churches in Whitstable want to appoint a youth/children’s minister to work across the churches in the Whitstable team.

At the deanery synod in June Revd. Jon Marlowe from the diocese introduced a vocational roadshow which focussed on the point that people have different gifts - just as a body has different parts - and that these gifts can be used for different jobs within the church. We were challenged to grow our churches and to grow disciples, and a deanery roadshow in October focussed on the current theme of Three Bold Outcomes - to increase the number of children and young people: to increase the number of new congregations: to revitalise the church.

Another current topic is protection of the environment and we were asked to appoint a deanery eco-champion to be part of a diocesan eco-team. Revd. Rachel Webbley has assumed this role for the Reculver Deanery and parishes are asked to appoint a parish contact and to work towards obtaining an eco-award.

Following last year’s elections to deanery synod Revd. Simon Tillotson was appointed Area Dean and Malcolm Waller from Whitstable was appointed Lay Chair. At the September meeting of the new deanery sub-committee for mission and ministry, members were concerned that without prior consultation with the deanery arrangements had been made by the bishop and archdeacon to hold interviews for the appointment of a new incumbent in Herne. The deanery asked for a stay of execution to enable members to discuss the financial viability of such an appointment in relation not only to Herne, but also to neighbouring churches struggling financially. After lengthy discussion it was agreed that the vacancy could be advertised and a timetable produced to start that process in the new year.

Priscilla Cox, Deanery representative March 2024

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GENERAL REPORTS FROM CHURCH ORGANISATIONS

We would normally expect to receive reports from many of our church groups but regrettably the work of some groups remains curtailed or has even stopped because of continuing concerns over Covid.

The Bible Study group had a series of short on- line study meetings thanks to the work and guidance of Sheila Bennett.

There is no report specifically on communications and publicity but during the year much has devolved to communications on line and the second edition of the church directory has proved invaluable and a new one is in the pipeline. Also new notice boards have been erected to publicise our events and services and the website has been reviewed with much thanks to Alison Taylor who has generously paid for and helped to design and coordinate the information required for this.

August Activity Days

It feels like forever ago that these happened, but they did and were an amazing outreach opportunity for our churches. People from both congregations came together and spent time each Friday either volunteering or participating in the activities on offer with their children or grandchildren.

This is an incredibly popular initiative and serves (because that's where we cap it!) up to 80 people each week. Twice this time round we had to turn people away.

FREE activities are scarce for families anymore and this makes it incredibly difficult for families who are battling the cost-of-living crisis to fill their days with fun activities for their children, as well as find friendly respite from full time parenting for such a long period of school holidays.

These unapologetically designed church days give us as a parish the chance to meet, share fellowship and ministry to faces new and old and are a real blessing to everyone that comes. Again, I cannot do these without the wonderful teams of volunteers that come together on a rota to make them work (I am not naming them all as I do not want to miss someone and offend! - You know who you are!)

We hope to run these again this Summer and need YOU!! The days run between 10am-3pm each Friday in August (In 2 sessions with packed lunch in between). If you have not experienced this sort of 'church' you are truly missing out, it is precious!! Please could you let me know ASAP if you think you may be able to help so that we can get the necessary paperwork done in time for August.

Sarah Bingham April 2024

Bellringers Report for 2023

The District Call change competition was held at Northbourne in March 2023. Our band took part, and it was the first time we have been able to enter a band for the competition for many years. It was a very cold day. There is interesting access to the ringing chamber (a free-standing spiral

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staircase behind the organ) and very loud bells, which was a challenge for calling call changes. Though we did not win, as there were towers with more experienced bands, it was good to take part.

The Canterbury District of the Kent County Association of Change Ringers has regular meetings on the second Saturday of each month, together with additional practices. The District visits towers in East Kent in rotation. Two of our learners were elected to membership during the year.

The bells were rung by our local band for the Coronation of King Charles III on the 6[th] May 2024, including our learners, despite the coronation coinciding with a narrow boating holiday which meant that some of our local ringers were away that day. After ringing, we took a photo of the ringers.

The bell ringing team

The bells are rung every Sunday and the ringers practice every Wednesday evening (except during Holy Week) and the learners have tuition for an hour before the main practice. We usually have enough ringers to ring Triples and Major methods on practice nights, together with rounds and call changes for the learners.

The bells were rung for weddings during 2023We also rang for the Christmas services, including Midnight Communion on Christmas Eve attended by the Archbishop of Canterbury and on Christmas Day.

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The ringers hosted the Christmas Social of the Canterbury District of the Kent County Association of Change Ringers at St Martin’s on Saturday 10[th] December 2023. More than 60 ringers attended the social. After ringing at St Martin’s during the afternoon, there was a Carol Service which included a carol sung by members of St Martin’s choir and singing ringers from the district (after a short practice together that afternoon) as well as many favourite carols, with well-known descants, and readings.

All then enjoyed a two-course supper of sausage casserole (with vegetarian option) and a selection of hot desserts prepared by the local ringers at the Church Institute Hall. Mulled wine was available on arrival and the hall had had a festive makeover.

Supper was followed by a quiz hosted by the (non-ringing) husband of one of our ringers and a superb raffle organised by one of our ringers with contributions from other ringers.

Many visitors have rung our bells during the year. The local ringers are joined by many local ringers at practice nights, which is a great help for our learners and more advanced ringers, as it provides the opportunity to ring a variety of methods of varying complexity. Members of the band at Whitstable All Saints have joined our practice regularly whilst their church has been renovated and as a result, they had to pause their ringing. Visiting bands have rung quarter peals.

Anyone interested in ringing is very welcome to visit the ringers at their practice night and we welcome new recruits.

Susan and Keith Record February 2024

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Children’s and Sunday School report for 2023

Children have continued to be welcomed at every Sunday service with shared table activities on the first and third Sundays, at St. Martin’s and St. Peter’s churches respectively. These have ranged from single poster type of words and pictures (usually displayed on the church display boards afterwards) to individual items such as mobiles which may be taken home. All the activities are linked with the lectionary and/or theme for the service by regular communication with those leading the services. Grateful thanks to Shirley Frost and her creativity in organising these activities and providing the resources.

On the second and fourth Sundays and occasional fifth Sundays during term-time children are welcomed to the Ridley Room where they follow the ROOTs programme of learning which is again linked with the lectionary and service patterns throughout the church year. Huge thanks to Anne Post and Jamie Wraight for organising, resourcing and leading these sessions.

Each Sunday service has a regular slot before the final hymn or song where the children are invited to come out to the front of the church and share their learning, this may involve explaining what they have learnt to the congregation or just simply demonstrating their creations. At least one of the youngsters leads the congregation in a short appropriate prayer. The children’s presence always brings great pleasure and often some very profound comments are made which provide worshippers with a chance for an alternative reflection. We are all very inspired by the families who take part and grateful for their encouragement of the children that they bring along.

Deborah Waller March 2024

The Choir Report for 2023

The choir has continued to sing regularly for services, putting in much time and effort in learning new works and polishing anthems in the repertoire to sing during services. We are very fortunate to have a composer and arranger “in house”. We have welcomed a soprano singer and returning singers to join the choir. Choir practices are on Thursday evenings in St Martin’s church. It is not just singing - choir members also go to quizzes and socialise. New members are always very welcome.

The choir sing a range of music, including anthems in addition to leading the hymns during services. Some choir members have extensive knowledge of hymns, their composers, writers and history so choir practices provide an opportunity to share this information with other choir members. Having the range of singers to sing harmonies in hymns, to add descants (and tambourines) adds to the music the choir can contribute during in services.

In addition to the Sunday morning services, the choir sang at Evensong for Candlemas on Sunday 28[th] January 2023 with hymns, psalms, canticles and an anthem. Lent started with the service of Holy Communion on Ash Wednesday. Holy Week and Easter are an important and busy time for the choir, with services on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday with a variety of hymns and anthems to worship and celebrate.

On Sunday 21[st] May 2023 Ascension and the recent Coronation of King Charles III were celebrated with hymns, music and readings organised by choir members. A Songs of Praise service in August 2023 included hymns chosen by members of the congregation and choir. There was an evening

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choral Harvest service on Sunday 1[st] October 2023 again with hymns, anthems and readings organised by choir members.

The choir sang at weddings at St Martin’s church in April, June and September 2023. Also, the choir sang at funerals, including sadly the funeral of Sidney Hearne, who had been a member of the choir. Members of our church choir sang an anthem at his Thanksgiving memorial service at the Salvation Army church.

The Remembrance Sunday service in St Martin’s church included hymns and an anthem followed by the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial in the churchyard.

The Memorial carol service for those who had lost a loved one during the year was, as usual, well attended at the beginning of December. The choir led well known carols (with descants) and sang Christmas anthems whilst stars were placed on the Christmas tree.

Some choir members joined other choir members from local churches to sing at the Bellringers Christmas Social in December 2023. The choir sang carols and Christmas carol arrangements for the Nine Lessons and Carols. Christmas services included two pieces with arrangements by Chris Exley and the Ukrainian Carol of the Bells. Christmas anthems were sung on Christmas Eve during Communion, together with Christmas carols.

Christmas Eve was a Sunday so started with Advent at the morning Holy Communion service to Christmas in the evening for Midnight Mass, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Then it was soon carols at Christmas Day morning Communion. The year ended with carols at the Sunday service on New Year’s Eve.

Susan Record March 2024

The Churchyard Team report for 2023

Well, 2023 was a very busy year for the gardening team. I’m not sure where to start, So I’ll start at the beginning I suppose.

We met back again at the beginning of February after the Christmas break. The Church yard is always a little quiet at the time of year with the snow drops just popping up to bring the first splashes of colour. So wearing lots of layers, especially thermals, we got to work.

Our small, yet very enthusiastic and friendly team got straight to work weeding, pruning back, reshaping and dividing any plants that we could. We always work together so we can ask any questions and chat as we work. At this time of year we tend to stick to the warmer side of the church.

As the year progressed we planted any spare plants we had bought from home, weeded more, it’s an endless task, and gradually worked our way round the church tidying as we went. The meadow areas that we are creating are a work in progress and will take several years to look just how we want them, but they are slowly getting there. We sprinkle any spent seed heads in them in the hope that some of the tiny seeds will take, which they do.

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During a couple of sessions we began the task of clearing the public right of way that runs along the edge of the church yard. This was a huge task, but we all worked together to clear the brambles, debris, rubbish and finally we created the walkway that we just have to maintain now.

No garden debris is taken off site as we are creating several dead hedges for the wildlife to find new homes in. We have a family of hedgehogs in one of our hedges which is perfect and so exciting.

The Summer came and went. The colours in the churchyard blossomed and all our hard work started to pay off. By this time thermals were no longer needed and we were mainly in shorts and hunting around for shade.

During one of our session we were asked if we could tidy the garden in the church hall. We met there on a Saturday morning just as the Brownies were finishing and got straight to work. We cleared the overhanging brambles and cut back any that were tangled up in the tree, we also cut back a load of the ivy, but left just enough for the insects to still have a home. We put on our thick gloves and tackled the stinging nettles that were trying to take hold. We didn’t remove them all as they are a useful plant for butterflies, but we removed any that would cause a problem.

We worked solidly for several hours in the hot sunshine and filled more jumbo white sacks than I could count.After some well earned refreshments, obviously cake, we got back to the task and cleared up all our mess and left the garden looking much tidier than we found it.

The Autumn bought some strong winds and we sadly lost one of our old chestnut trees in the churchyard, but the base of the stump still remains as a reminder of where it once stood.

The memorial was tidied just before Remembrance Sunday so that it was beautiful and clean for its special day. As the days got colder the layers and thermals returned, but our jovial spirit never wavered. We welcomed some new members to our little group but are always looking for more. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to get stuck in.

Our final session was at the beginning of December and Christmas themed cupcakes were enjoyed.

A huge thank you to everyone who comes to help, you are all so wonderful.

Here are the cupcakes and the team !

Clair Stay, Churchyard team February 2024

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The Flower Arrangers report for 2023

This past year has been a challenge with the ever-increasing cost of fresh flowers and sundries and lack of monetary donations but I’m confident we have managed to keep any costs past to the church to a minimum. We do have a good supply of silk flowers and also homegrown weather permitting of course. There are now only five ladies who are on the flower list but I have someone new starting which is lovely, on that note we had amazing support for our Harvest Festival not just with donations but with arranging the flowers so a huge thanks to those who helped and again at Christmas. We did not have any requests from couples getting married but I think that’s a sign of the times and budget restraints.

Liz Sellen, Flower arranger February 2024

Our Beautiful Easter Flowers 2024- thanks to the team!

Gift Aid Matters for 2023

Gift Aid continues to be a very helpful contribution to the church finances. Pay your income tax and the Church can get a 25% bonus on any donations that you make. As at the 31[st] December 2023 we still had 41 parties who have each made a Gift Aid declaration and also pledged their payments. Regrettably this has significantly decreased from 2022 when we had 54 gift aid pledges. If you are a UK tax payer then you can usually qualify and this is achieved simply by signing a declaration form which either myself or the treasurer can provide. We can claim Gift Aid on standing orders and planned giving. In addition, there are the individual donations made via the Gift Aid Envelope

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Scheme which are given at collections taken at our services throughout the year. If you are lucky enough to be a higher rate tax payer in all cases you can even claim an extra rebate in your tax return.

Our treasurer records receipts for the month in which the payment is made. For the year ending 31 December 2023, St Martins received £9487.00 from all sources, which is lower than the repayment in 2022 which was £10,750.00. This sum includes repayments from the Gift Aid returns for December 2022 (credited in January 2023). The sums from December2023 will be credited in January 2024 and shown in the 2024 accounts.

We still have the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS for short). General money received in our church collection plates or by the bank card reader can qualify. Also. if you have pledged your planned giving (originally using the little blue envelopes) but are not a tax payer then I can count your weekly donation as part of GASDS and get more money that way. There is a limit of £8,000 which can be claimed in any tax year by any charity. Since June 2023 we have dispensed with pledged envelopes except for one off gift Aid donations.

Please remember there are tokens that you can put into the church plate as evidence that you are giving. Donations can still be made in the plate. Also, we have a card reader.

Regular Church goers will know that a decision was made in August 2022 to register the church with the central Parish Giving Scheme. This requires pledged payments to be paid by members of the congregation direct to the PGS administration (a separate charity) rather than our church bank account. It is easy to set up and you can do so on line, by telephone or a postal application. If you require help. please speak to me or Sheila Gough.

PGS then claims the Gift Aid and pays monthly all payments (that is the donation and the claimed Gift Aid) to our bank account. However, PGS works independently from the Canterbury Diocese. The Diocese withdrew its Gift Aid administration from April 2023 and I now make separate Gift Aid claims for those donations paid direct to our church account. Actually, this has proved less onerous than I had expected and HMRC make payment very quickly. So, having two means of paying pledged sums is not a problem.

Individual donations given in the plate, card reader or by separate Gift Aid envelopes (which are still available) are be the subject of separate direct claims to HMRC which I make at the same time.

As a tax payer, Gift Aid is a bonus to the Church and provided that you do pay the tax there is no downside from your point of view. Remember; if you cease to be a tax payer or move address or change your name. please let me know immediately. I have to inform HMRC or PGS.

Andrew Gough, Gift Aid Secretary February2024

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Little Fishes Report for 2023

The Little Fishes have met regularly, every Friday morning during term-time at St. Peter’s Church, Greenhill providing toys, games and activities for children from babies up to pre-schoolers. Anne Post inspires the children and their parents/grandparents with different craft makes throughout each term including Mothering Sunday cards, fingerprint blossom pictures and collage sea creatures.

This year the children have had a lot of fun pretending to ride a horse following a kind donation of a rocking horse from Doug and Val Bubb.

On average there are 10 adults – Mums, Dads, Grandparents and childminders - and 15 children who attend regularly plus others whose attendance is more intermittent. It’s always heartening to see how new parents/grandparents are welcomed by the regulars and whilst the children have fun playing, the adults enjoy conversation over a cup of tea or coffee. The provision of refreshments also gives the children a chance to gain confidence in asking for something to drink or eat and to practise being polite.

We are indebted to Steve, our caretaker for ensuring that the hall is ready and to the team Sheila (who always guarantees that we have sufficient adults to run the sessions); John (who not only organises setting out the toys and mending them when necessary but also has a great rapport with the younger members of Little Fishes) and Anne (who is both creative and practical in organising activities) for their constant support and encouragement. Finally, we thank the other members of the congregation who help us out when needed and the families who join us each week as we continue to offer them outreach and invitations to Church events, both worship and activities such as August Activity days, and to monthly Messy Church.

Deborah Waller March 2024

Messy Church

Our Messy Church has had its challenges this year, but continues to have over 50 people attending each month and a regular bunch of really positive and interested families who come together for fun fellow ship and food.

We have the continued challenge of finding people who are prepared to give up their afternoon for this worship but God continues to show us that He is with us in this precious outreach and has led us into another year of teaching of His love in a space of fun and friendship.

Carolyn Thomas continues to lead an amazing team of chefs who deliver a two-course hot meal to everyone that comes and we thank Sheila B too for being such a star at the sign-in and coffee table.

Thank you too to all of you wonderful people who come to deliver the crafts and share fellowship, we really could not do it without you!!

We need YOUR support, if you are interested in helping in any way or would like to know more about what this service looks like, please do get in touch with Sarah on 07931380184 and she will be able to explain it to you.

Sarah Bingham April 2024

37

Pastoral

Pastoral visiting continued along with Home Communions and visits to the Residential Homes in our Parish, i.e. Herne Place. We held a service of Communion at Herne Place which was greatly enjoyed by all residents. Unfortunately, November and December team visits to Herne Place had to be cancelled due to shortage of pastoral team members to attend but it is hoped to return in 2024.

Grateful thanks to Liza Seed and Sheila Gough who remain very committed visitors to members of our parish who require pastoral care.

Deborah Waller March 2024

Safeguarding Report 2023

Safeguarding is and remains the responsibility of everybody in the congregation. Acting on your concerns or seeking advice is rarely a bad idea. People often question” what if I am wrong?” But we must also ask ourselves “what if I am right?”. You cannot assume that someone else has seen what you may have witnessed and they will pass on concerns to me as the designated safeguarding officer

Safeguarding training continues to be arranged and I am ensuring that all DBS checks are up-to-date .

Anne Ackland Safeguarding officer for Children and Vulnerable Adults March 2024

Schools

Our ministry to our Herne Church of England Infant and Junior Schools continued to grow and is highly valued. Six members of the congregation are governors to the Junior School and three sit on the board of governors for the Infants School. So, the relationship between Herne Church and Schools becomes ever stronger and the schools were valuable contributors to the Parish Profile setting out their vison for the skills and aptitudes required in a new vicar.

In the absence of a full- time vicar or curate, Andrew Gough a Governor has led some school worship at Herne Juniors whilst Deborah Waller, as Lay Reader has led whole school worship at both the schools as well as contributing to a joint worship between the two schools. The appointment of a new teacher at Herne Infants who leads worship has led to improved liaison between the two schools and the church with a range of further worships planned for 2024. Furthermore, Deborah has attended Q and A sessions with different year groups at the Junior School as part of their RE learning

There have been a number of Herne School Services in St Martins, with a total of five services being led and organised by the Juniors and one by the Infants. Both schools attended the Remembrance Sunday service and remembrance placed poppies around the War memorial.

On two Sundays in 2023, we were joined by Herne Junior school Worship Leaders who helped lead a Morning Worship with Deborah, along with a choir. It is hoped to continue building on this practice and to encourage the children and their parents to attend Sunday worship more regularly.

38

We are of course delighted that the Junior school has been confirmed as Outstanding in their Ofsted inspection. The Infants School had already been confirmed Outstanding in 2021. Great credit must be paid to the Senior Leadership teams and all the staff and the Governors at the schools who work tirelessly and with great skill and vison to provide such an excellent education for the children. Several of the governors are active contributors to the SIAMS curriculum at both schools.

There has been no ministry provided to Herne Bay High School. It is understood that there has been some involvement by Christ Church Herne Bay even though the school is actually in the Herne parish.

No ministry was provided in Briary School in 2023 as none was requested but some new links were developing at the end of this year. However, this would currently be a ministry-capacity issue which may be rectified if a full-time incumbent is appointed in 2024.

Deborah Waller and Andrew Gough as Foundation Governors March 2024

Herne Church Hall also known as the St. Martin's Church (Institute) hall

The hall currently has 14 regular weekly, twice-weekly, and monthly bookings during the week-days. These maintain a regular income for the upkeep of the hall. Weekends are kept for children's parties, Quiz Nights, Wine & Wisdoms and fun raising events for the church and these local groups. The average is 10 parties a month and at least 2 or 3 fund raising events.

We also have ad hoc bookings for Tuition Classes and Playgroup end of year gatherings before the children go to 'big school'

The hall is cleaned and maintained by Steve King and we do ask users to leave it clean & tidy in the hope the previous Booking has left it as it should be.

Wendy Dinley, Hall booking Secretary March 2024

St. Martin's Church Readers & Intercessors

Since Revd. Carol retirement, Deborah has been compiling the Herne & Greenhill Service Schedule and Ministry Rota, which is sent to me and I put in the readings to services. I then add names to the readings and people to do Intercessions.

I produce the Readers Rota every four months and you get to read two or three times in that period. I currently have 12 regular Readers and Intercessors and would appreciate more volunteers, so if you have ever wondered when listening to the readers every Sunday, how do they get to do that, I'd like to try it then please give you name to Deborah or myself.

Wendy Dinley St. Martin's Readers March 2024

39

St. Martin’s Servers and Chalice bearers 2023

Regrettably, because of concerns following the Covid pandemic, communion services for the most part of 2023 have been conducted without the need for servers except for chalice bearers. Since January 2023 wine has been offered separately and there has been no intinction of the wafer.

My thanks go to, Leah Willey, Sheila Gough and Deborah Waller who assist in offering the chalice and to the churchwardens who lay out the altar table if I am absent.

If anybody else would like to come forward and offer to serve at the altar I would be very grateful to hear from them.

Andrew Gough, Sacristan February 2024

Tuesday Toddler Report 2023

We started the year with 88 families on our books. Because of these large numbers, we have unfortunately had to retain our weekly booking system. Each Saturday every family receives an email link through which they can book a space for the following week. During the winter months we restrict our numbers to 22 families although we are able to welcome more in the summer when we can use our outdoor space. Anyone who is unable to get a space one week is guaranteed attendance at our next meeting. One advantage of these weekly emails is that we can use them to advertise events at St Martin’s and St Peter’s such as Messy Church and special services.

Each week we provide a range of toys for the children to play with and offer a different craft activity. These activities cover regular events in the calendar such as Valentine’s Day, Pancake Day, Mothering Sunday Fathers’ Day, Remembrance Day and Guy Fawkes Day and Easter.

In January we held a Clothes Swap where parents could bring along unwanted children’s clothes that were in good condition so that other families could make use of them. Thank you to Anne Ackland for helping us with this event. May was very busy with our special celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III as well as our annual Teddy Bears’ Picnic and Sports Day. Each child was presented with a knitted teddy bear as a memento of the day. Special thanks must go to Theresa for organising this and for knitting most of the teddies!

In June we had our annual summer outing to “The Jungle” soft play area in Quex Park. As last year, we had exclusive use of the facilities as well as enjoying a delicious buffet lunch. The summer term ended with our Leavers’ Special where once again we presented Toddler Bibles to the children who were moving on and a Christian coaster to their parents.

Our first special activity of the new term in September was our Grandparents’ Day. As last year, we welcomed grandparents who joined us to sing special songs and to help with grandparent craft. It was an opportunity to celebrate and honour this special relationship. Once again in October we held our own Harvest Festival and donated gifts which were added to the church’s collection. Following the success of last year’s Toy Swap we held another one in November. Toys that were in good condition but no longer needed were taken home by some very happy children. With Christmas approaching, Nicola from “Snap Happy Babies” visited us again and took some really stunning festive photos of some of our children. The year finished with our two Christmas parties where each child received a present from Father Christmas. As usual we have Doug and his long white beard to thank for helping us with this!

40

None of these activities could go ahead without the dedicated help of our team who do all they can to welcome and nurture the families who come to Tuesday Toddlers week by week. So, thank you once again to Val, Theresa and Fran.

Carolyn Thomas February 2024

Weddings Report 2023

In September 2022 I began training with Joan Jeffers, the previous Weddings Administrator, and Revd. Carol in order for me to be able to take over the Wedding Administrator role from January 2023.

We had 4 weddings and 2 Vow Renewals in 2023. The wedding on 1[st] April was officiated by Revd. Carol, her last wedding as Incumbent of St. Martin’s. We were grateful for the help of visiting Clergy from the Deanery to officiate at the others, including the Vow Renewals.

We also read Banns of marriage for 3 couples getting married in other churches (the arrangement of these has been undertaken by the Weddings Administrator during the Vacancy).

We held our Wedding Preparation Morning for 3 of our 2023 couples on Saturday 4[th] March. Thanks to Priscilla Cox for making coffee, and to Charlotte Hampson (Administrator), Susan Record (Organist), Keith Record (Bells) and members of the choir for making themselves available for our couples.

We currently have 4 confirmed weddings (with deposits paid) for 2024, with another couple provisionally booked in for September. We are holding a Wedding Preparation Morning on Saturday 2[nd] March, but plan for this to be the last as there are so few weddings. They have proved useful while so many couples needed to be seen, but our time will be better spent seeing them on an individual basis for the time being. The Weddings Administrator will continue to facilitate this until the new Incumbent is in post to decide how weddings will be organised moving forwards.

We currently have 1 Vow Renewal confirmed (deposit paid) for July 2025.

It has been suggested that we offer the Band as an option for music for future weddings from 2025.

Sarah White Weddings Administrator, St. Martin’s Church, Herne

February 2024

Worship Band

What a great year this has been for the band! We have been blessed with additional musicians and a building repertoire of songs which are becoming new favourites for some of the congregation. We have been truly blessed this year with the positivity for the music that we are playing, obviously you cannot please everyone, but people are beginning to acknowledge and be supportive of the place that this style of music has for some of our congregation and also seem to understand that in either style we may not always hear our favourites, but it may well be someone else's!

41

I am delighted this month to have been able to welcome a drummer to the crew. This is such a welcome addition and completes the 'set' beautifully in sound.

I cannot thank the band enough for the hard work that they put in every single week practising for the services, often at quite short notice and with great patience, kindness and respect for one another.

We practice for about 2 hours a week together and I know often they put in much more time in between weeks to ensure they are ready for you.

Thank YOU, for learning new songs, for being open minded and supportive, and most importantly for being respectful of everyone's choices as we learn and navigate future church together as an alloptions offering.

Sarah Bingham April 2024

42

Parochial Church Council of St Martin in Herne with St Peter Greenhill Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2023

GENERAL FUND
Notes
Receipts and Payments Account
RECEIPTS
1
Voluntary Receipts
Planned Giving
Collections at Services
Gift Aid and other voluntary receipts
Gift Aid Recovered
Legacy
Grants - War Memorial
Grants - Heating Costs
Activities for Generating Funds
Church Activities - St Martins
Income Received for St Martins Hall
Church Activities - St Peters
St Peters Rental
Receipts
Exceptional Items
funds transferred from CCLA A/cs
funds transferred from Hall A/c
TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
2
Church Activities
Parish Share
Clergy and Staffing Costs
Church Running Expenses
Occasional Office
Mission giving and donations
Fundraising
Church Hall - St Martins
Church Hall - St Peters
Transferred to Investment Accounts
Vicars Discretionary Trust
Bank Charges
Payments
TOTAL PAYMENTS
Surplus/Deficit
Cash at Bank and in hand 1st January
Cash at Bank and in hand 31st December
(Lloyds Bank and Santander)		 Unrestricted
Funds 2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
33,487
33,487
36,789
4,819
4,819
5,695
11,616
11,616
17,096
9,487
9,487
10,753
500
500
50,403
0
0
750
0
0
7,400
4,968
4,968
3,505
11,894
11,894
14,751
0
0
2,150
12,109
12,109
10,727
0
Total Funds
88,880
88,880
160,019
27,745
27,745
20,349
12,386
12,386
129,011
129,011
180,368
74,313
74,313
71,396
7,601
7,601
8,130
29,481
29,481
24,209
7,241
7,241
8,096
1,998
1,998
2,058
1,808
1,808
1,130
2,154
2,154
2,116
12,098
12,098
6,438
49,903
250
0
700
273
273
264
137,217
137,217
174,440
137,217
137,217
174,440
(8,206)
12,505.00
5,537
4,299.00
12,505

44

Parochial Church Council of St Martin in Herne with St Peter Greenhill

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31st December 2023

St Martin's Church Hall
Notes
Income
Hall Lettings
Total Income
Payments
Utilities
Cleaning Materials
Caretaker Salary
Insurance
Maintenance
Music Licence
Rental Refund
Miscellaneous (Stamps/Stationery)
Tsferred to St Martin's General A/c for Parish Share
Total Payments
Surplus/Deficit
Cash at bank and in hand at 1st January
Cash at bank and in hand at 31st December
Youth Account
3
Activity Days
Messy Church
Little Fishes
Mothers & Toddlers
Total Income
Payments
Activity/Craft materials
Messy Church
Little Fishes
Mothers & Toddlers
Caretaker
Total Payments
Surplus/Deficit
Cash at bank 1st January
Cash at bank 31st December		 Unrestricted
Total Funds
Funds
2023
2023
2022
£
£
£
13,285
14,095
13,285
14,095
236
2,083
486
468
1,041
656
1,249
1,253
1,476
0
338
139
25
0
155
228
12,386
0
17,392
17,392
4,826
(4,107)
9,269
12,406
8,299
111
203
178
240
427
374
527
259
1,243
1,243
1,076
20
185
17
200
16
32
479
397
135
0
667
667
814
576
263
1,254
1,830

45

FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Analysis of Restoration Account

----- Start of picture text -----
St Martin-in-Herne Church Restoration Account
for Year Ending 31st December 2023
2023 2022
£ £
RECEIPTS
Opening Balance 1st January 3,984.52 4,820.97
3,984.52 4,820.97
PAYMENTS
Tfer to Gen A/c part payment B W May invoice 3,500.00
Repairs to Church Doors
R Pitsilli Grahan - Architect 836.45
3,500.00 836.45
Balance as at 31st December 2022 3,984.52
Balance as at 31st December 2023 484.52
----- End of picture text -----

46

st Martin in Heme wlth St Petsr Gr99nhiN Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the Year End•d 31$t December 2023 TOTAL FUNDS Notes Unrestri(Xed Restricted Funds Funds Cash Funds 2023 2022 Bank Current Acc¢wnt Church Hall Account Youth A¢count Restoration Account 4,299 8,299 1.830 485 14.913 11,690 12.406 1,254 3,985 29,335 8.299 1.830 485 14.428 Investment Assets 73,496 73.496 58,848 132.344 152,443 58.848 132.344 152.443 Fixed Assets rgtained for Church Use 5,000 5.000 Liabllltlfys Unpaid 2017 Parish Share Unpaid 2018 Parish Sha Unpaid 2021 Parish Share Funds held on behalf of Mothers & Toddler5 Funds held on behalf of Sl P8t8fs Greenhill Litue Fishe5 Messy Church Community Café 6,742 11.704 24,769 6,742 11,704 24.769 150 753 102 342 41 625 44.373 1,957 43,215 t/¢ /1* Approved by the Parochial Church Council on and stgned by Det)orah Wallei (Lay Reader) MTS Sheila Gough ￿reasUrer) Bank: Lloyds 144-146 High Street Herne Bay Kent Independent Examiner: PG Lemon LLP 22-26 Bank Street Heme Bay Kent CT6 SEA CCLA Investment Management Ltd One Angel Lane London EC4R 3AB 47

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations using the Receipts and Payments basis

1. General Fund Analysis of Receipts

Voluntary Receipts
Planned Giving
Weekly Envelopes
Collections and other giving
Gift Aid Envelopes
Donations General
Collections for specific purposes
Telecommunications Mast
Flower Box
Candle Tree
Wall Box/Acrylic Box
Curates Leaving Gift
Vicar Leaving Gift
Income Tax Recovered
Legacy
Grants
Receipts from activities for generating funds
Hospitality/Tea Coffee
Mothers & Toddlers Group
Calenders/Noteletts
Fundraising Events and Activities
Receipts from Church Activities
Wedding Deposits/Banns/Certificates
PCC Fees for Baptisms/Weddings/Funerals
Diocese Fees for Weddings/Funerals
Organist/Bells/Choir Fees
Additional Wedding/Funeral Income
Vacancy Fees Refunded
Vicarage Grass Cutting
Receipts received on behalf of St Martins Hall
(Utility Payments/Insurance/Cleaning Materials)
St Peter's Greenhill
Community Café
Rental income
Total of above
Funds Transferred from CCLA Accounts
Vicars Discretionary Fund
Funds transferred to pay Restoration War memorial
Funds transferred from Fabric Fund
to pay 3 months 2022/2023 Parish Share
to part pay B W May invoice
to pay for tree felling
Funds transferred from Restoration Fund
to part pay B W May invoice Repair to Church Doors
Funds transferred from Hall a/c re 2023 Parish Share
Total Receipts		 2023
2023
2022
£
£
32,728
35,264
759
33,487
1,525
4,819
4,819
5,695
130
352
1,434
6,093
522
929
8,978
8,978
174
20
86
109
117
299
0
315
175
0
11,616
9,487
9,487
10,753
500
500
50,403
0
0
8,150
116
123
527
259
0
15
4,324
4,968
3,108
320
1,163
3,354
4,026
3,319
5,057
2,315
2,250
1,955
2,255
531
0
100
11,894
0
0
0
2,150
904
625
11,205
12,109
10,102
88,880
250
700
1,800
18,578
17,849
3,017
0
2,400
0
3,500
27,745
0
12,386
12,386
0
129,011
Receipts		 2022
£
36,789
5,695
17,096
10,753
50,403
8,150
3,505
14,751
2,150
10,727
160,019
20,349
180,368
4,819
130
1,434
522
8,978
174
86
117
0
175
9,487
500
0
116
527
0
4,324
320
3,354
3,319
2,315
1,955
531
100
0
904
11,205
250
18,578
3,017
2,400
3,500
12,386

48

2. General Fund Analysis of Payments

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Payments
Direct Ministry Expenditure
Parish Share
Incumbents Working Expenses
Vicarage Telephone
Curates Working Expenses
Curates Telephone
Other Clergy Expenses
Organist/Secretary Salaries
Admininstration
Church Running Expenses
Utilities
Insurance
Repairs,Maintenance & Supplies
Church Security(Alarm/Lighting)
Upkeep of Churchyard
Worship
Music
Training Costs/Outreach
Red Lion Parking
Flowers
Occasional Office
Expenditure
Weddings/Funerals
Wedding Deposit/Fees refund
Parochial Fees
(Wedding/Funeral fees to Diocese
Vacancy Fees
Charitable Giving/Mission
Royal British Legion
Herne Junior School (Leavers Bibles)
Mission to Sea Farers
Friends of Kent Churches
Gifts from Vicar's Discretionary Fund
Anglican Renewal Mission
Childrens Society
Mothers & Toddlers
Porchlight
Catching Lives
Subscriptions
Refreshments
Salvation Army
Cruze Breavement
Restoration Celebration
Fundraising
Funday Sunday
Wine & Wisdom
Christmas Fair
St Martins Church Hall
Utilities
Cleaning Materials
St Peter's Greenhill
Utilities
Cleaning Materials
Insurance
Caretaker Salary
Maintenance/Repairs
Activities
Transferred to CCLA Fabric
Legacy
Vicars Discretionary Fund
Bank Charges
Total Payments		 2023
£
74,313
271
359
0
0
553
3,892
2,526		 2023
£
74,313
7,601
29,481
7,241
1,998
1,808
2,154
12,098
0
250
273		 2022
£
71,396
690
702
297
142
496
2,973
2,831		 2022
£
71,396
8,130
24,209
8,096
2,058
1,130
2,116
6,438
49,903
700
8,226
8,606
7,213
177
2,400
240
1,366
0
720
533		 7,654
8,264
1,053
302
3,935
378
1,259
235
720
409
2,415
25
4,243
558		 2,410
300
5,386
232
282
0
5
0
0
175
527
50
283
120
45
139
139		 254
135
50
5
700
200
0
259
0
0
120
0
0
0
335
1,603
148
57		 300
174
656
2,044
109
6,963
202
1,366
3,470
92
1,296		 1,869
247
1,338
287
1,360
2,599
653
200
0
250
273		 49,903
700
264 264
137,217 174,440

49

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3 Analysis of Youth Account

3 Analysis of Youth Account
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS		 3 Analysis of Youth Account
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS		 3 Analysis of Youth Account
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
St Martin-in-Herne Church Youth Account for Year Ending 31st December 2023
2023
2022
RECEIPTS
£
£
Opening Balance 1st January
1,254.35
1,254.35
991.78
Activity Days - Donations
111.43
202.51
Messy Church - Donations
177.10
240.39
Little Fishes - Donations
426.59
374.30
Mothers & Toddlers - Spring/Autumn Subs
527.25
1,242.37
258.93
2,496.72
PAYMENTS
Activity Equipment/Craft Materials
20.00
185.36
Messy Church - Resource material/Refreshments
17.03
199.51
Little Fishes - Party Food
15.95
32.04
Mothers & Toddlers - Outings and Christmas presents
479.01
396.65
Caretaker
135.00
666.99
Balance in Youth Account 31st December 2022
Balance in Youth Account 31st December 2023
£1,829.73		 991.78
1,076.13

RECEIPTS
Opening Balance 1st January
Activity Days - Donations
Messy Church - Donations
Little Fishes - Donations
Mothers & Toddlers - Spring/Autumn Subs
PAYMENTS
Activity Equipment/Craft Materials
Messy Church - Resource material/Refreshments
Little Fishes - Party Food
Mothers & Toddlers - Outings and Christmas presents
Caretaker
Balance in Youth Account 31st December 2022
Balance in Youth Account 31st December 2023
2,496.72
20.00
185.36
17.03
199.51
15.95
32.04
479.01
396.65
135.00
666.99
£1,829.73		 2,067.91
813.56
£1,254.35

50

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4. Analysis of CCLA Investments Funds

Bell Fund for Year Ending 31st December 2023
2023
RECEIPTS
£
Opening Balance (1 January)
17.20
Interest
0.56
Balance at 31st December 2022
Balance at 31st December 2023		 2022
£
16.99
0.21
17.76
£17.76		 17.20
£17.20
Fabric Fund for Year Ending 31st December 2023
2023
RECEIPTS
£
Opening Balance (1 January)
101,765.63
Balance of G Pritchard Legacy
Interest
2,708.40
PAYMENTS
Transferred to Gen account for War Memorial
Repair
Transferred to Gen account 3 months'
2022/2023 Parish Share
18,578.25
Transferred to Gen a/c tree felling invoice
2,400.00
Transferred to Reserve Account
73,495.78
Balance as at 31st December 2022
Balance as at 31st December 2023		 2022
£
70,441.48
49,902.65
1,070.50
104,474.03
121,414.63
1,800.00
17,849.00
19,649.00
0
94,474.03
0
£101,765.63
£10,000.00

RECEIPTS
Opening Balance (1 January)
Balance of G Pritchard Legacy
Interest
PAYMENTS
Transferred to Gen account for War Memorial
Repair
Transferred to Gen account 3 months'
2022/2023 Parish Share
Transferred to Gen a/c tree felling invoice
Transferred to Reserve Account
Balance as at 31st December 2022
Balance as at 31st December 2023
18,578.25
2,400.00
73,495.78
Institute Fund for Year Ending 31st December 2023
2023
£
11,762.78
376.98		 2022
£
11,610.07
12,139.76
152.71
11,762.78
12,139.76
11,762.78
£11,762.78
£12,139.76

RECEIPTS
Opening Balance (1 January)
Interest
Balance as at 31st December 2022
Balance as at 31st December 2023
May Legacy Fund for Year Ending 31st December 2023
Restricted for the use of the Poor and Needy of the Parish
2023
RECEIPTS
£
Opening Balance (1 January)
23,706.29
Interest
751.24
PAYMENTS
Vicar's Discretionary Fund
394.00
Balance as at 31st December 2022
Balance as at 31st December 2023
£24,063.53		 2022
£
24,097.87
24,457.53
308.42
24,406.29
394.00
700.00
700.00
24,063.53
23,706.29
£23,706.29
£24,063.53

51

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

4. continued
Organ Fund Account for Year Ending 31st December 2023
2023
RECEIPTS
£
Opening Balance (1 January)
1.30
Interest
0.04
Balance at 31st December 2022
Balance at 31st December 2023		 1.34
£1.34		 2022
£
1.29
0.01
1.30
£1.30
Diocesan Deposit Fund for Year Ending 31st December 2023 80,824.96
£80,824.96		 2022
£
7,009.39
0
92.19
7,101.58
£7,101.58

Reserve Account for St Peter's and St Martin's
RECEIPTS
Opening Balance (1 January)
Transferred from Fabric Fund (St Martins)
Interest
Balance as at 31st December 2022
Balance as at 31st December 2023
2023
£
7,101.58
73,495.78
227.60
Restoration Fund for Year Ending 31st December 2023
2023
RECEIPTS
£
Opening Balance (1 January)
3,150.06
67.60
Interest
PAYMENTS
B W May
3,017.20
Balance as at 31st December 2022
Balance as at 31st December 2023		 3,217.66
3,017.20
200.46
£200.46		 2022
£
3,109.16
0
40.90
3,150.06
3,150.06
£3,150.06

RECEIPTS
Opening Balance (1 January)
Interest
PAYMENTS
B W May
Balance as at 31st December 2022
Balance as at 31st December 2023
3,017.20
Roof Fund for Year Ending 31st December 2023 2023
£
4,938.22
158.26		 5,096.48
£5,096.48		 2022
£
4,874.11
64.11
4,938.22
£4,938.22

RECEIPTS
Opening Balance (1 January)
Interest
PAYMENTS
Balance as at 31st December 2022
Balance as at 31st December 2023
£5,096.48

52

Indepondnt Examinerfs R•port to the PCC of th• Parish of St Marfinvin4l•mo wlth St Peter Grngnhlll This Report on the ffinancial statements of the PCC for the year en¢Jed 31 December 2023, ￿lch are sel OLrt in this annual report, is in ￿spect of an examination carried out undei wulatson 313} of the Church Accounting Regulations 20061 Ihe Regulotionsl arKI $. 145 of th8 Charities Act 2011 fft Acri. Respxtive reSpO￿lb￿lI1l9s of the PCC and tho •xaminer As members of the PCC you are reswnsible for the weparation of the accounts,. you consider that an audit is not required for this year ReguLgb"on 3(3) of the Church Accounkn"ng Regulations 2006 and section 144121 of the Ch8Titses Act 2011 lthe Act). It is my ￿sEX)n$t￿lty to issue ￿port on the accounts in accordance wrth the temis of the Regulakns. Basis of ind•pondent examins report My examinalK)n was carried out In accordan￿ wilh the General DiTection5 given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Act and to be found in the Churd) guidance from the CBF. That examination incÉLtdes a ￿VIeW of the acc(KJnting record kept by ts PCC and a Comparison of the accounts wth those cords. It also indudes considering any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees COr￿eming any such matter5. The pr￿edureS undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audrL sThJ I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accoynts. Inde￿nd￿nt Examinerfs Ststsment In connection %wth my examination, no matter has come to my attention.. which gives me reasonable to telieve tl]at in any Materi￿ respect the requiremerts . to keep accounting records in act￿dance *ith s&iion 130 of the Act,. arKI - to prepare 8ccounts tpthich a¢¢(Yd the accounting records and to comply with the requirements of the Act. as also containe(l in the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 have not been met. or Signed.. PG Lemon LLP 22-26 Bank Street Heme Bay Kent CT6 SEA Dated.. i¥ kn34 S3