St Augustine of Canterbury, Belvedere
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL For the year ending December 2024
Vicar: Fr Kevin Smith SSC
Bank Santander
Independent Examiner James Heuerman-Williamson FCCA FMAAT Msc. FFIS 32 The View London SE2 0DX
St Augustine of Canterbury, Belvedere Registered Charity No 1136137
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Mission Statement
As a Parish Church, our task is to show God’s love,
and new life to the community through sacramental worship, scriptural teaching, Christian fellowship and outreach into the parish & to make new disciples of Jesus Christ
Background
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the parish priest, in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibility for the Church and hall.
Membership
Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.
During 2024 the following people have served as members of the PCC:
| Chairperson: | Mrs Manda Dunne | 2023 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Wardens: | Mrs Manda Dunne | 2023 to 2024 |
| Mr Ian Fitzgibbon | 2023 to 2024 | |
| Representatives on the Deanery Synod: | ||
| Mr Keith Trutzenbach | 2023 to 2026 | |
| Mr Leroy Thomas | 2023 to Oct 2024 | |
| Mrs Rosemarie Thomas | Oct 2024 to 2026 | |
| Elected members: | ||
| Mrs Caroline Addison | 2023 to 2026 | |
| Mr Mark Addison (Treasurer) | 2024 to 2027 | |
| Mr Stephen Brody | 2023 to 2026 | |
| Mr Nigel Dansey | 2022 to 2025 | |
| Mrs Donna Ducker (Secretary) | 2023 to 2026 | |
| Mrs Patricia Eldridge | 2022 to 2025 | |
| Mrs Heather McCulley | 2023 to 2026 | |
| Mr Edward Raymond | 2024 to 2027 |
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST AUGUSTINE, BELVEDERE SIMPLE PROFIT AND LOSS STATEMENT FOR YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Income | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voluntary giving from collections |
13,534 | ||||||
| Income tax recovered | 4,224 | ||||||
| Donations | 3,715 | ||||||
| Summer and Winter Fairs and lettingof Church Hall |
11,465 | ||||||
| Income for Organ | |||||||
| Weddings and Funerals | 902 | ||||||
| Other OrdinaryIncome | 2,458 | ||||||
| Interest earned from Repair Fund |
0 | ||||||
| Grants, lighting and Junior Church |
0 | ||||||
| 36,298 | |||||||
| Expenditure | |||||||
| Charitable Donations | 2,942 | ||||||
| Church runningexpenses | 25,322 | ||||||
| Clergyexpenses &parish offer | 17,054 | ||||||
| Other expenditure | 4,121 | ||||||
| Expenditure on Organist | 1,950 | ||||||
| Vicarage costs | 9,194 | ||||||
| Transfer to deposit accounts | 2,800 | ||||||
| 63,382 | |||||||
| Bank current Account Profit/(Loss) for the Year |
(27, 084) | ||||||
| Transfer to reserves |
2,800 | ||||||
| Interest earned | 3,467 | ||||||
| Total movement in funds |
(20,817) | ||||||
| Movement in bank accounts |
|||||||
| Current account | (22,084) | ||||||
| CRFS B1301 A Hall S/A |
1,036 | ||||||
| 631051003D Deposit Fund |
2,503 | ||||||
| Total movement in funds |
(20,817) |
Safeguarding Statement
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The PCC has complied with section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have due regard to House of Bishops' guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults).
Like all Church of England churches, safeguarding and safer recruitment are paramount. The PCC are committed to ensuring that our church and hall are safe places for all who use them. For more detailed information and guidance see the Parish Safeguarding Handbook. https://www.rochester.anglican.org and click on safeguarding. Produced by the National Safeguarding Team, it is a comprehensive guide, summarising the key areas a parish need to address with regards to safeguarding.
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 any directions given by the PCC. It generally meets before PCC meetings to set agendas etc. The committee comprises the vicar, church wardens, deputy warden, treasurer and secretary of the PCC.
Safeguarding Committee
This committee was put in place in September 2016 to ensure that safeguarding procedures are followed correctly at all times. Members of the committee for 2024 were the incumbent, Pat Eldridge, Heather McCulley (Parish Safeguarding Officer for children & vulnerable adults), Jo Whittle (DBS Lead Recruiter) and Donna Ducker (Parish Administrator/Deputy Lead Recruiter). The committee meets once a year.
Risk Management
The Child Protection Procedures are kept under review. Heather McCulley was the Parish Safeguarding Office for 2024. Jo Whittle was the DBS Lead Recruiter until September 2024 when the role was taken over by Fr Kevin Smith assisted by Donna Ducker as Deputy Lead Recruiter.
The requirements of the Disclosure & Barring Service have been implemented and a rolling programme of disclosure for people currently requiring disclosure is in progress. DBS checks are required for all in contact with children & vulnerable adults.
All new people requiring disclosure are required to submit the necessary application form prior to undertaking work within the parish or attending PCC meetings.
Current DBS holders are Keith Trutzenbach, Manda Dunne, Heather McCulley, Mark Addison, Caroline Addison, Ian Fitzgibbon, Jo Whittle, Mark Whittle, Pat Eldridge, Donna Ducker, Nigel Dansey, Edward Raymond, Stephen Brody, Leroy Thomas & Rosemarie Thomas.
All PCC members have undertaken a programme of foundation safeguarding training and domestic abuse awareness training.
Financial Activities
A claim has been submitted to HMRC for Gift Aid Tax Recovery of £4,224 by Milton Sawyer, Gift Aid secretary. We gave small donations to various charitable causes during the year.
We are in a position to pay all utilities as well as part of our regular stipend, Church Repair fund and Parish Share to the Diocese.
The Parish has in place a Health and Safety Policy which all members of the church and hall hirer are to adhere to.
Church Attendance
In 2024 75 members were on the electoral roll of whom 49% are resident in the parish.
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Activities of the Parochial Church Council.
In 2024 the PCC met 6 times with an average attendance of 78%.
ERITH DEANERY SYNOD
The synod met 3 times in 2024: In February there was a presentation by Laura Webster & Linda Fuller on children & youth work. In June they held a barbecue and in October Fr Mark Tariq gave a talk about Bishop Ridley Church, Welling.
Parish Activities in 2024
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All Sunday services were covered until Fr Kevin’s Induction on 17[th] July. We are extremely grateful to Fr Dane Battley-Gladden, Fr Owen Beament and Canon Paul Jenkins and for their support covering Sunday masses and to Fr Neil Bunker for covering all midweek masses, home communions and many Sunday masses during the interregnum.
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Fr Kevin’s Induction on 17[th] July was a magnificent affair with over 50 visiting clergy.
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Summer Fair held on 22[nd] June raised £872 for church funds.
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Winter Fair held on 23[rd] November raised £850 for church funds .
The parish remains under the episcopal oversight of the Bishop of Richborough. We are also affiliated to ‘The Society’ which provides collegiality on behalf of Forward in Faith.
Churchwardens’ Report on the Fabric, Goods and Ornaments of the Church - for the year ending December 2024.
CHURCH BUILDING
The Quinquennial Inspection was carried out in January 2024 and is available for any member of the congregation to look at. There were no major issues.
In May essential work was carried out on the church roof to repair a small leak. The outside porch lights were repaired in the Autumn. This gives the church a good visible presence after dark. Work on improving the Wi-Fi in both hall and church continues to be ongoing.
There are maintenance agreements for the Fire Extinguishers and the last full inspection was carried out in October. The boiler is serviced annually. Cost of general maintenance is kept to a minimal cost due to some church members giving their time and skills. The Lightning Conductor is serviced every 3 years. An electrical test of church and hall together with PAT testing is carried out by a qualified electrician annually.
HALL
The fire extinguishers were serviced in October under a maintenance agreement and the water heater repaired and maintained. The boiler is serviced annually. The main doors and fire door were replaced having been granted a faculty for this work. Unfortunately, there have been ongoing issues with the fitting of the doors and the company that fitted them (which was recommended by the diocese) has gone out of business. We are grateful to Caroline Addison for maintaining the excellent condition of the hall and acting as hall rental secretary. All hall users agree to abide by our safeguarding policy.
Hall users are St Augustine's Pre-School, Slimming World, Uniformed groups and a Dance Teacher. More casual bookings have been made since a collaboration with Sharesy began in Autumn last year thus creating more income..
Manda Dunne & Ian Fitzgibbon
Churchwardens
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