## **Parish of Thundersley - Ministers’ report 2025** 

The last twelve months have been a period of significant change for us as Parish.  By far the most significant event of course came at the end of 2024 with the departure of our dear friends Andy and Lynn.  Andy will always be remembered for being the “Vicar in the Van” amongst many other things including the Woodland Church events to name but two.  We  thank them for all that they did during their time here and ask God every blessing for them both and their family for the future. 

The departure of our Rector has created both opportunity and challenge.  Moving us from a situation where the “theory” or sharing ministry provision which has been discussed for some time has become a reality in very short order.  We all understand the financial benefits of sharing ministry, that is a significantly reduced Parish Share, but the cost of that is something that we are slowly beginning to understand more clearly perhaps. 

We will all be aware that some adjustments, are and will continue to be, necessary as we reflect upon how best to shape ourselves for mission and ministry in the next few years ahead as part of a bigger Team.  When our new Team recruitment is complete we will be well resourced to explore developing new models of mission and ministry in our locality with stronger and healthier interdependent Parishes journeying together. 

## **Services** 

Attendance at our usual Sunday services, St Peter’s at 8am and 11am and St Michael’s at 9.30am, has remained steady throughout the year.  Pete began to take occasional services during the latter part of 2024 to help with the transition to a new ministry model and has been leading regularly since Andy’s departure at the beginning of the New Year.  Despite our Clergy team still being short of our full complement we have managed to maintain all of our services bar one mid-week service at St Peter’s. There have thus far been minimal change to our service pattern each week.  Split over the two churches in our Parish we are averaging a total of 16 services per month.  This is double the number held at each of the other Parishes in the BTH Group. 

Bishop Adam has visited the parish twice, once to carry out a Confirmation Service and then to take a Sunday service.  Parade Services are held during the year on Mothering Sunday, Harvest and Remembrance Sundays. 

Christmas is always a busy time, with Carol Services held for children from local schools, a Deanes Concert and a Remembering Service with Stibbards. This is in addition to Christingle services, Carol Services and a Crib Service on Christmas Eve. 

Working with our friends from Churches Together in Hadleigh, we hosted a service during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, held a service for the World Day of Prayer, and were part of the Walk of Witness on Good Friday. 

Thanks go to all those who make the services possible each week; servers, readers, those who lead intercessions, flower arrangers, cleaners and welcomers.  With the congregation they all make our churches a warm and friendly community of Christians, with worship to God at its heart. 

## **Activities** 

The Parish has held an Agape supper on Maundy Thursday, a Christmas meal and has a Bible Study Group. 

Our year included a number of social, outreach and fundraising events.  Regular events are coffee mornings, a Fish and Chip Lunch monthly.  The Handicraft Group held a coffee morning and craft sale which raised funds. A Harvest Meal was held in September, where not only were people from the parish invited but also many others who have helped the church out during the year. There was a table top sale, a night of magic, 2 meals at Latinos, a coach trip to The Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park, 2 Quiz Nights, a Soup Lunch and a Strawberry Tea with proceeds to Christian Aid. 

We hosted the Allegro Choir who were raising funds for MND and the Police Band, raising funds for the British Legion.  There is of course the regular coffee morning at St Peter’s on a Saturday. 

## **Communications** 

1 



Although communication is something we will be looking to review during the next year one of our great ongoing successes is the continued distribution of 170 printed copies of the church magazine each month.  The cost of this is entirely covered by advertising and donations. 

## _**Other stuff**_ 

As you are also aware Pete serves as Hadleigh Area Dean and continues to invest time and energy in developing the Chapter and Synod with his leadership.  In addition to spreading himself across our 4 Parishes he has been supporting Canvey Team Ministry as their Parish reels from the impact of 5 years of uncertainty followed by revelation of the full extent of the abuse carried out by their former Rector. 

It is also worth making you aware that in the last 12 months Pete has completed a Level 5 Diploma in Applied Therapeutic Practice (the equivalent of a Foundation Degree) as part of his Fostering CPD. 

## _**Conclusion**_ 

Just this week at our home group we listened to an inspiring talk by leader of the 24-7 Prayer movement Pete Greg.  He quoted the famous song title of Bob Dylan’s 1964 hit “The times they are a-changin’” suggesting that it is also an anthem for the times through which we are living today. 

I want to suggest that the changes we are experiencing are not merely the result of circumstances impacting us from the secular world or even from the wider church.  What I think I detect along with so many of my colleagues in church leadership is that, to steal a phrase from CS Lewis “Aslan is on the move”. 

In the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe the things that mark the arrival of Aslan, the Lion who represents Christ in the world of Narnia, are not immediately obvious.  In that land where “It’s always winter but never Christmas” a thaw began.  Subtle but clear signs that Spring was coming.  In a similar way we are perhaps starting to see such signs in our own culture and our own community that Jesus is on the move. 

Such things will evoke in each of us a different reaction.  Some will be afraid of the inevitable changes coming.  Others will seek to grasp and control what is happening.  Many will simply be stunned and yet others heartened and thrilled by the events.  As we move into another year let us perhaps consider the signs we see around us and prayerfully reflect upon our response.  Thereafter may we seek to embrace what God is beginning to do and look to engage and work with Him as he calls us. 

They say Aslan is on the move- perhaps has already landed. 

And now a very curious thing happened. None of the children knew who Aslan was any more than you do; but the moment the Beaver had spoken these words everyone felt quite different. Perhaps it has sometimes happened to you in a dream that someone says something which you don't understand but in the dream it feels as if it has some enormous meaning- either a terrifying one which turns the whole dream into a nightmare or else a lovely meaning too lovely to put into words, which makes the dream so beautiful that you remember it all your life and are always wishing you could get into that dream again. 

It was like that now. At the name of Aslan each one of the children felt something jump in its inside. Edmund felt a sensation of mysterious horror. Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music had just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realise that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer. 

― C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe 

Even so, Maranatha, come Lord Jesus! 

2 



New Thundersley St Georye Charity No - 1134854
Analysis of receipts and payments
Selected period: 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Total
tknignated
EndoMn•nt
Th1• yoar
L88t y•ir
Receipts
Donations and legacies
Donations and legacle8
0101- GiftAid-Bank
0107- CAF
0108- Charitable Giving
0110- Grfl Aid- Envelopes
0201- Other planned giwng
0301- Loose plate cdledions
IGASDSI
0302- Loose plate Collections IN
GASDSI
0401- Gift day
0410- Donation box
0501- 0￿-off Gift Avj grfls
0550- Donations appeals elc
0551 . Donation$- F￿?￿￿S
0552- Donation5 - SL*XUP Ga5d5
0553- DonaliorK8 - Sumup Non Gasds
0601 . Tax r¥¢over8trJe on Grft Aid
0602- Gift Aid Small Donalior
Scheme IGASDSI
08A1- Non-reoJrrirrfJ or￿-Off grants
0901- Other ftmds generated
32.109.00
1.0￿).
7131Y)
2.830.CM)
3.110.LK)
3,127.24
32,109.00
1.OCKI.00
713.00
2,830 00
3,110.00
3,127.24
39.039.58
54.00
693.00
3,655.00
3.060.00
2,863.(h8
6SO.(10
430.00
1.210.LYJ
54.72
1,210.00
54.72
380 00
563.40
14.59
875.80
1,537.72
8,554.64
1.143.23
380.00
563.40
14.59
875.80
1.537.72
8.554.64
1.143.23
510.00
523.15
540.00
12.425.$9
618.24
2,521.15
1,305.98
1.674.37
1.674.37
DonatloD• and legacl•s Sub.
total$
59,$47.71
59,547.71
68,238.75
Donations and legacies
Totals
59.547.71
59.547.71
68,238.75
Income from Gharitable activities
Incomo from charltable actlvltle8
0001 - tba
1101- Fee5 for V+Eddings and funeras
1210- Bookstall sales to F40mote
objectives
1230- Hall hire
120.001
478.00
183.00
299 rjj
299 00
220.00
18.491.93
18.491.93
15,140.17
Incom• from Gharltable
activities Sub-totals
19.010.93
19.010.93
15,781.17
Income from charitable
activities Totals
19.010.93
19.01093
15,781.17
eoy
12 March 2025 Page 1

Total
Unrestricted
D85ignaied
Restricted
End¢>MneTrt
This year
last yèar
Investments
Investments
1020- Bank and buildirg society
interest
16.39
16.39
Investments Sub-totals
16.39
Investments Totals
16.39
16.39
Receipts
Grand totals
78,575.03
78,575.03
84.019.92
Payments
Raising funds
Raising funds
1730 - Costs of fetes & Ot￿r events
1735- Costs of Coffee Shop
1.869.33
126.42
1,869 33
126.42
1,688 39
82.75
Raising funds Sub-totals
1.995.75
1,995.75
1,751.14
Raising funds Totals
1,995_75
1,995.75
1,751.14
Expenditure on charitable activities
Expenditure on ¢haritable activities
1801 Mission giving
1910- Ministry parish shale etc
2￿2- Honorarium
2101- Working expenses of
incumbent
2170- Education
2201 Parish outreach
2301 - Church running- insuranee
2310- Church office- telephone
2330- Church maintenance
2331 - Church running - Cleaning
2340 - Upk￿p of serwces
2350- Upkeep of churchyard and
gaidens
2360- Administration
2361- Sumup charges
2401- Church running - electric
2420 - Church running - water
2515- Hall running- management
2530- Hall running - ele¢triaty
2540- Hall running - gas
2550- Hall running - insurance
2560 - Hall running- mainlenar
2563- Hall running - cleaning
2565- Hall running - refuse collection
2580- Hall running- water
9.810.60
49,615.80
9,810.60
49.615.80
6,342.00
42.775.90
200.00
510_00
1.155.26
1.187.76
1.718.49
3.322.30
2,378.30
831.69
1.575.99
510.00
1.155.26
1.187.76
1.718.49
5,675.62
2,378.30
831.69
1,575.99
1,030 36
1,133.70
1,868.24
3,190.13
2.244.19
917.18
1.546.98
2.353 32
2.662 49
41.58
4,195.36
660.41
1,8(MJ.
1,397.47
3,252.28
2,3￿.23
1,043.86
3.615.36
601.71
2,662.49
41.58
4,195.36
660.41
1.800.00
1.397.47
3,252.28
2,396.23
1.043.86
3.615.36
601.71
95.03
1.795 45
4,355.57
228.84
1,800.00
1,913.21
3,804.42
2,282.61
934.89
3,489. 10
572.35
77.81
9503
eoy
12 March 2025 Page 2

Unreslricteil
Total
Desiyna
Restricted
Endov&Thent
Th45 year
Last year
2601- G0Veman￿ costs
examinationlaudit lee
2820- New Hall works
55.00
50.00
8.096.03
Expenditure on charitable
activities Sub-totals
93,922.97
2,353.32
96,276.29
90,750.59
Expenditure on charitable
activities Totals
93.922.97
2.353.32
96,276.29
90,750.59
Payments
Grand totals
95.918.72
2.353.32
98,272.04
92.501.73
eoy
12 Marc
2025 Page 3

New Thundersley St George Charity No - 1134854
Receipts and Payments Account
For the period from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
Vnrestri¢tÈd
funds
Detsignat8d
nds
Restricted
fvnd8
End¢)Mnent
funds
Total
funds
Prior yeaf
total fund8
R8ceipts
Donations 8nd legacies
lfjcome from charitable acbvrt
Inve$tmeTrls
59 547.71
59 547.71
19,010 93
76 39
68.238 75
15.781.17
19.010 93
16.39
Totsl recèbpts
78.57S.03
78,575.03
64.019.92
Paymonts
Raising funds
Expenditurè on charitsble aclivitses
1.995.75
93.922.97
1 99575
1.751 14
90.750 59
2.353.32
96,276.29
Totsl payrnents
95,918.72
2,353.32
98,272.04
92,501.73
Excess of receipts over payrnents beforetransfer
117,343.691
12.353.321
115,697.011
18,481.8ti
Transfers
Gross transfers bÈiween funds- In
Gross Iransfers beb*een funds- out
30.000.00
130.000.rx)I
30.000.
130.000.001
60.000 00
160.000 001
Excess of recelpts over payments bgforo othÈrgains
117.343.691
12.363.321
119,897.011
18,481.811
Net movÈrnent in funds
117.343.691
12.353.321
119,697.011
18,481.811
Reconciliation of fund5
All assots at 01 January 2024
31.806.15
30.TrJO.00
2.353.32
64,169.47
72.641.28
All assets at 31 December 2024
14.462A6
30.000.00
4M,462.46
64,q59.47
Representod by
Unreslficted
General fund
Designated
PCC Reserve Fund
Restricted
Church building fund
New Hall fund
14.462.46
14.462 46
31.806 15
30.0(XJ 00
30,000 DO
30,000.00
1.360 97
992 35
eoy
12 March 2025 Page 1

New Thundersley St George Charity No - 1134854
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (by fund)
As at: 31 December 2024
Previous
balance
Balance
Cash at bank and in hand
6501.. Santsnder 090155 34216706 Church - Ass
General fund
Unreslricted
New Hall tund
Restricted
Church buildirkg fuThJ
Restricted
PCC Reserve Fund
Designaled
14.462.46
31.808.15
764.4fJ
1.360.97
30.000.00
14,462A6
63,931.52
6503.. Natwast 600943 79638074 Hall Fund - A$s¢t
New Hall fvrKJ
Restricaed
227 95
227.95
650S.' Market Hartyorough B S - Asset
PCC Reserve FurHJ
Designated
30,[￿0.00
30,000.00
Cash at bank and In hand
44.462.46
64.159.47
Grand Total
44.462.46
64,159.47
12 March 2025
13/J
Page 1

Independent examiner's report to the PCC of New Thundersley St George-
Charity No
1134854
I report on the accounts of the PCC for the year ended 31 Decernber 2024, which are
attached.
Respective responsibilities of the PCC and the examiner
The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section
144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 201 l Act) and that an independent examination
is needed.
It is my responsibility to
Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
Follow procedures laid dowTL in the general directions given by the Charity
Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. and
State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiners Statement.
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by
the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records
kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records, It
also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and
seeking explanations from the management committee concerningy any such matters.
The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a
full audit, and consequently I do not express an opinion on the accounts.
Independent examiner s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention,,
which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in anv material respect the
requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 201 l Act; or
to prepare accounts, which accord with these accounting records have not been
met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Daniel Keech
38 Shepard Close
Leigh on Sea
SS9 SYR
7iz.,I
/513