The Parish of Central Exeter
Churches of St Mary Arches, St Olave, St Pancras, St Petrock, St Stephen
Giving breathing space; Living the values; Engaging with the city
The Parochial Church Council of the
Ecclesiastical Parish of Central Exeter
Annual Report and Unaudited Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Introduction to 2025 Annual Re
There continues to be change within the shopping facilities along the High Street and within
the city centre generally. We see the ongoing march of coffee shops and eateries as more
people shop online. There is also a growth in rented housing, mainly for students.
As a parish we are acutely aware of the ever-changing pattern of activity within the city
centre and try to provide sorne sense of long-terrn continuity through the continuing
presence of our medieval churches - which are themselves important features of the city
landscape.
Administrative Information
The Parish of Central Exeter is a charity which is registered with the Charity Commissioners,
number 1134851. It is part of the Diocese of Exeter within the Church of England. The
correspondence address is Parish Administrator, 3, Blackthorn Way, Cullompton EX15 IQH.
Parish Churches
St Stephen, High Street, Exeter EX4 3LN
Daughter Churches
St Mary Arches, Mary Arches Street,
Exeter EX4 3BA
St Pancras, Guildhall Centre,
Exeter EX4 3HW
St Petrock, High Street, Exeter EX4 3DT
St Olave. Fore Street, Exeter EX4 3AT
Team Rector
Revd Sheila Swarbrick
Mlnlstry Team
Revd Sheila Swarbrick, 7 Lower Kings Avenue. Exeter EX4 6JT
Bank
Lloyds Bank. High Street, Exeter, EX4 3NL
Independent Examlner Clare W Lillington, Raddon, Station Hill, Chudleigh, TQ13 OEE
Membership
Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting
in accordance with the Church Representation rules.
st
PCC members who have served from l January 2025 until the date that this report was
approved are:

Ministry Team: Revd Sheila Swarbrick
Chair: Revd Sheila Swarbrick
The Churchwardens: Keith Walton, Betsy Allen
Representatives of Deanery Synod: Jessica Claridge, Celia Smith
The Elected Members from 2022: Richard Skinner. Viv Asher.
The Elected Members from 2023 Helen Evans, Claire Mayer
{There were no elections in 2024)
The Elected Members from April 2025: Richard Skinner (I year} Viv Asher (3 years)
The followlng offlcers were appolnted:
Treasurer: Sean Swarbrick
Secretary: Mary Keaney
Structure Governance and Mana
Committees
The Planning Committee (Clergy, Churchwardens) meets in between full PCC meetings.
Other ad hoc committees and working groups are created and terminated as needed.
ment
The full PCC metfor4 ordinary meetings {March, June, September, December) with one extra
one on Safeguarding in February, all being face to face. The average attendance was 7. The
June meeting began with an open one for all church members when the Archdeacon visited
to talk about the future for Anglican mission in the city centre.
Alm and Pur oses
Statement
'The PCC is required, as stated in the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1966. to
Co-operate with the Parish Priest, in promoting in the Parish the whole mission of the church,
pastoral, evangelistic. social and ecumenical,.
Ob'ectives and Artivities
The Parish's vision, goals and actions are stated in full in the Mission Action Plan.
Vision
Being part of God's mission of love and reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ, we are
committed to:
Giving breathing space
Living the values
Engaging with the City
Objectives (goals)
We will achieve our vision by working together with others as we pursue the following goals:

To attract more people to enter and use our churches and find it a positive experience;
To encourage visitors, church members and church users on their spiritual journey,
challenging towards deeper levels of Christian commitment;
To meet our on-going parish commitments, seeking efficient and effective use of our
resources with other Anglican or Ecumenical colleagues.
In carrying out their work the Trustees tske due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance
on public benefit.
Continuing Activities
We have been able to keep all our churches open on weekdays and for the now established
pattern of sepdices at St Stephen's on the first, third and fifth Sunday of each month. St
Pancras on the second, and St Olave on the fourth.
The lunchtime service of Communion in St Pancras has been maintained monthly on
Thursdays at 12.00.
Voluntary organisations are able to use the churches for approved purposes on request and
subject to terms and conditions.
Continuing activities (maintained in various formats throughout the year) include.,
Variety of worship services as outlined above.
Summer concerts and other music activities
Exhibitions
'Inner Room, poetry workshops
Use of the parish website to communicate with and provide support to the parish
members and the general public.
Jewish Circle Dancing
Prayers round the Cross bi-monthly
Seeking Silence
Book Club
Achievements and Performance
Church Attendance
There are 31 Parishioners on the church electoral roll of which 29 are not resident within the
Parish. Average Sunday attendance in-church is about 18, Attendance in-church at Easter
2025 was 22 and 20 on Christmas Day.
Community use of Churches
St Stephen's continues to be the main church for community use. During the autumn of
2024 Safe Space had restarted its support work for people visiting the clubs on some
evenings in this church but unfortunately this did not continue into 2025.

We have a regular use of St Stephen's by Exeter Network Church. of St Stephen's and St
Pancras by the Romanian and Russian Orthodox churches.
St Petrock's continues to host support group meetings, the Exeter Guild of Bell-ringers plu5
their library. and we have developed a regular programme of exhibitions. With the main
body of the Quire in Exeter Cathedral being out of use for renovation and excavation, the
Dean and Chapter have been using St Petrock's for daily morning prayer and eucharist and
St Pancras for a weekly communion service lunchtime on Wednesdays. This ceased in July.
St Pancras is on the register of Small Pilgrim Places and is open daily for private prayer, with
monthly BCP Communion and monthly shortened lunchtime Communion services. Seeking
Silence continues as a monthly time of meditation on the first Wednesday of the month.
St Olave's is the church used least by the community, largely because of its fixed pews.
In totsl in our churches, we hosted about 400 separate events including worship services,
Bible study, prayer meetings, support group5, concerts and coffee mornings.
St Mary Arches is now leased to Unlimited Church - the Diocesan youth church and holds
number of activities to attract young people.
Parish Activities
We supported the Fore Street Flea Market in November with St Olave's taking part in this
event. The Christmas St Nic's Fayre took place as a parish fundraiser as did the Thursday
lunchtime concerts in July. This year we had 5 excellent con￿rtS with a ploughman's lunch
before.
Helen Evans who had launched and led Inner Room from its beginning in 2020 as a parish
outreach project, realised she could no longer lead and indeed moved away from Exeter in
September. Thus, Inner Room is now in hibernation. The Room to Write events which give
participants prompts to write poetry continued independently and organised an event for
National Poetry Day in October with the publication of a small anthology and poetry reading.
We decided at the April Annual Church Meeting to delete our Facebook page but have kept
the website live and updated.
We continue to support the Exeter Community Initiative. St Petrock's Centre for the
Homeless, as well as a programme of monthly giving to selected local, national and
international charities.
We are ensuring that members of the PCC receive appropriate Safeguarding clearances and
training to their level of involvement in the Parish.

Whilst the Parish is relatively seture financially, the number of people available or able to
assist in preparing the church and assisting in the services is a concern. This situation is not
unique to our parish and is a matter of concern to the whole Diocese.
Church Buildings.
The PCC has continued to undertake all the necessary repair and maintenance of the
churches in the Parish. mostly resulting from normal wear and tear, pests and occasional
abuse or vandalism.
Our architect Michila Wilks has begun work in St Olave's with the contractor Richard Hardy
to deal with guttering, damp walls and a crack above the arch. We were able in the Spring to
appoint a Buildings officer, Bethany Watts, on a self employed basis. She has started on the
backlog of maintenance tasks and updating our Fire Safety, risk assessments and log books.
Links with other churcheslorganisations
The Revd Sheila Swarbrick has continued to provide a vital link between the parish and other
churches in the centre of Exeter and Diocese at all levels both formally and informally.
Policy
The PCC is kept abreast of Parish responsibilities under the Safeguarding legislation by our
designated representative. We have taken due regard to the guidance issued by the House
of Bishops on matters relating to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. The
churchwardens and PCC members have completed their required Safeguarding Training. A
Safeguarding policy document is in place. We have a Health and Safety Officer and our H&S
policy is reviewed as necessary. We introduced a Data Security policy and have issued
appropriate privacy notices and received and recorded consents for use of data as required
by the General Personal Data Regulations.
Financial Review
The total income for the Parish in 2025 was £81,660 representing income derived from
'normal' parish activities. Expenditure of £97,078 gave us a deficit of £15,418
The target parish (unrestricted) income budget for 2026 has been agreed by the PCC at
£50,217.
Reserves Policy
n 2013 the PCC agreed to a reserves policy of 4 times the monthly average expenditure,
which equates to £23,500 for 2026
Approved by the PCC on 4 March 26 and signed on their behalf by:
Sheila Swarbrick PCC Chair

Financial statement for 31
Dec 2025
Parfsh of Central Exeter
Charhy number 1134851
Unrestricted
Restricted
Recelpts
Voluntary Income
Planned giving
Gift Aid recovered
Total £
Total 2024 £
7772.00
7772.C
8477
2423.54
2423.54
2659
Service collections
Recurring donations
Non-recurring donations
Grants
Total
61XJ.OQ
2547.00
4123.27
874
2547.00
4123.27
2995
4(¥)3
17524.59
27414.1x1
44938.59
23255
34990.40
27414.(M)
62404AO
42263
ActIvId￿ forgeneratlng
funds
Fund raising
Chur¢h Activrties
Use of PCC propeity
Fees retained
Totol
1557.70
1557.70
2505
12740.00
12740.00
15930
35.00
35.CA)
270
12775.00
12775.00
2398.35
162
2386
Other
Churches Conservatlon
Total recelpts
2398.35
1632.80 |
53354.25 | 27414.1)0
1632.80
863
64217 |
80768.25
Investment Income
CCLA Deposit linterestl
Shared Interest linterestl
Totullnterest
Total recelpts + Intsrest
879.27
879.27
12.64
979
12.64
891.91
891.91
54246.16
27414.00
81660.16
Unrestrlcted
Restrlcted
Expendlture
Parish giving
Diocesan share
Totsl £
2785.1)0
9424.00
loo.00
Total 2024 E
2395
2785.￿}
9424.IXI
100.(xi
0.00
10757
Clergy expenses
Up keep of services
Church upkeep
Utilities
Church admin
Other
6922
37058.69
26973.(M)
64031.69
9514.79
27690
12525
7969
9514.79
10109.81
10109.81
1112.75
1112.75
2407
Total expendlture
70105.04
26973.00
97078.04

Unrestricted
Restricted £
Totsl £ Toto12024 £
441.(YJ -15417.88
-5464
Recelpts mlnus Expendlture
Transfer of funds
Balances Vl125
Total
-15,858.88
57520.24
8727.60
66247.84
50829.96
72575
41661.36
9168.60
67111
Restrkted funds
Church upkeepfund
9168.60
Statement of Assets and Uabllltle5
Current account
16293.83
CCLA Deposit
20308.29
Shared Inte￿$t
5059.24
Total
Liabllltles- None
9168.60
25462.43
20308.29
5059.24
50829.96
41772
19429
5047
41661.36
9168,60
66248
NOTES
Curfent Account
Unrestricted Restrirted Total
£33,044.62 E8,727.60 E41.772.22
£16293.83
£9.168.60 £25462.43
0110112025
3V1212025
l>ep05it accounts
CCLA
0110112025 £19,429.02
3111212025 £20,308.29
IAII unrestrictedl
Shared Int
Total
£5.046.60 £24,475.62
£5,059.24 £25,367.53
Churches Cons Trust for S Martlns
Funeral fees retained
Fees to EDBF
192.40x4 + 215.80x4 - £1632.80
£35
£162
Church upkeep (unrestrirted) expenditure Includes:
JI Pilkington Ivergerl
£318.50 monthlv
JM Richards Icleanerl
£424.66 monthly
Insurance S Petrocks
£2.630.88
S MA IUC refund 80%)
£2,997.94
S Stephens
£2,613.95
S Olaves
£2,039.91
S Pancra5
E997.34
EntryGroup
£1,427.93 {5 5tephensl
Inicio Architerts
£2,883.41
Badey Manor IS Stephensl
£3,171.60
Barley Manorls Pancras VAT)
£2.875.60
Argos Fire Protection
£1.469.36
Building5 OfFKff (Bethany Watts) Fees £2487 Expenses £80.70

Grants (unrestrlcted, on¥>ffj
S Olaves Trust £960. £564.59
S Kerrians Trust £240
S Mary Mag Chapel Fund £4LK)
SMA Church Lands £997.34, £849
Dec-25
{Ca￿taker & Admlnlstrator, Printing)
(Administrator)
IS Stephens Electricity)
IS Pancras Insurance & Electrictyl
Utllltles expenditure
Water
Electricity
Jan-may E300 June onwards £73.50 monthly
S Stephen £5552.47
S Pancras £869.40
S Olave £1713.42
Churth Admin (Mary Keaney) Fees £9706.63 Expenses £1303.59
Church upkeep (restricted} expenditure:
£12595 IBarley Manor- S Olavesl
£14378{Barley Manor- S Pancras)
Church upkeep (restrirted) Income:
£5380 {Exeter DM)cesan BF- S Olaves 2316}
£765615 Olaves Trust 24171
£14378 ISMA Church Lands 8112)
Total £27414
Approved bythe PCC on
4J312>
[.gLO LL-.
and signed on its behalf by
Sheila Swarbri¢k {Chair)
Sean Swarbrick (Treasurer)

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND ANO WALÉS
Independent examlner's
report on the accounts
Section A
Independent E.xamiiier s Report
R•port to the truste￿1
mombers ot
The Parochial Churth Council ol EcclesiasYKal Parish of Cenlral
Exeter
On a¢count8 for the y•ar
•nd•d
3111 D•c*m￿r 2025
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(tl affty}
1134851
8•1 out on pag•s
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charity {"thè Tfusf} for yearended 3111212025.
R•sponslbllWl•s and the charfty tru8taes ofthe Trust. you are respoftsibte for th8 preparat
bao1& ol v•port ofthe acrA)unts in at￿rdance *rflh thè rnquiremer4s of Ihe Charltss Ad
2011 flhe Act">.
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under seclion 145 of thè 2011 A¢t afKI rn out my ￿mNIa￿On, I
ha￿ follow￿ lh• appltcablg Diod￿n$ ￿Ven by thè Charity Cwnmission
under sè¢lion 1445Xb) of the Acl.
Indop•ndent
I have Completed my •xaminalitin. l thnfim th•1 no nwterial matters ham
•xamln•e* stat•fi￿nt come to my attention (
') in connèction wlh
Iho eyAminallon glv•5 mo cau$6 to bofiev& that in, any maiwial
fOSP•Ct:
a¢¢ounting records not kept In aeccthn(* with 130 of
Ihg Act or
the acrA>unts do not awjld with Ihe aecowilAg rocu
I have nts e4)ncem$ and haNp coma at¥oss no other matters In corw7ection
wilh the examinatlon lo whith affenlion should be drawn in ordor to enabl• a
propèr undètstanthng ofthe atre￿nts to b• reathed.
. Ple8s6 d￿1• thè words in (hè bfaekets If theydo notapply.
20102f2026
Clare LIHington
Relèvant prol•s$lonal
quallllcatlon{s) or body
IH any):
FMAAT
Adthess:
Raddon, Stalit)n HKI
Chudldgh, Nowb)n Abbot
Owen TQ13 OEE
IER
October 2018