STOKE GABRIEL PARISH CHURCH The Parish Church of St Mary and St Gabriel In Ihe Totnes MIssK Communty. tILKese ol Exeler Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31 st December 2024 InMbent & Team Rector. Rev'd Jim Barfcm Assctiate Priest: Rev'd Chris Martin Bankers: Uoyds Bank. Palace Aven. Pah3nton 4, Y¢xKler Meadow. Stok8 Gkniel. Toknes TQ9 6 The Parochial Church CncIl of th8 Ecclesi Parish of St Mary and St Gatmid is a orpte IPCC Powers mUre 1956 and the Church RepretatmJn Rules 2(Thl and a Register8d Ctrwity INo:113&315). Its addr8ss for ccYr8spondonce is The Vkarage. Scho(A Hill. Sti*e Gabriel, TO1 Ta9 6QX
AIM and PURPOSE The Parochial Chwch C4)uncil of St Mary St Gabr (PCQ cooperates with the Incumbent and the Associate Priest in promoting the mission and ministry of the church in the parish of Stoke Gabriel. OBJECTIVES AND ACTMTIES The PCC is committ8d to keeping th8 ChUh at th8 C8ntr8 of parish1rf8. wovidirMJ a range of s8rvic8s. both BCP & CW, said a1 sung. and opwrtunities for worship that put faith into practice through prayw, scripture. refiection, music and sacramwt. It is also commbtted to briroing people togethw in felloNvshp. providing care for the communty, and marking significant evenls in the lrfe of irKIivKluals, the communty and the naticm. The PCC Manages the care, finms K1 administration a&80clat with rts Grade 1 listed church building and churchyard. and also for its other properties. the Okl School Room (Church Hdl), th8 V8rg8r's Cottage and the Church House Inn. Together with the Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance. the PCC (via the InCuMbt and two Churchwardens) has absolute trt to the chCh House Inn. The PCC has posse title to the Old School Room and the Verger's Cottage, which can be convert8d into an absolute title in 12 years. The Church House Inn ceased trading in D8cemb8r shortly before the tenant's lease came to an end in January 2025. Trading is due to rtrcornmenc8 once a new tenant has signaj a 18ase later in 2025. The Verger's Cottage continues to be OCCUPi8d by the Vwger Emeritus with the full consent of th8 The PCC encourages rnnberS of the congregation to live out their faith as part of the family of Christ, supp(xting the missional and pastal obltIveS of the church and contributing to its day-to-day care and MInIStration. The church enjoys a wam sense of community which is reflected in the parish as a whole. Central to church life is the support. nurture. protection arKJ safeguarding of every individual. STUCTUR4 GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMEKr The Met1 of appointment of the truste8S, that is the PCC members. is set cKrt in the Church Representation Rules. The PCC cornprises ex Off10 MberS arKI members who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. The PCC met six times during the year. Membws who served durlng 2(Y24 were as fdbws. with tty rmv members ioinirKJ the PCC at the AGM txrt orn subwuerrtly rning. Incumbent & T&wn Rector Associate Priest Stoke Gabr Churchwardens Rev'd Fr Jim Barlow Rev'd Chris Mattin Mr Mike Stott Mr Gerald Watsc Mrs Liz Ball Deanery ReFYesentive, Safeguarding
Mrs &Je Roach Reader PCC Treasurer Mr Alan Hill Mr lan Potham Mr Nomian Betts MrsE Watson Mrs Val Proctor Mr Michael Brown Mrs Nickie Jones Mr Mark Yallo Mrs e Clement rom March Mrs Jan rom March ntil Ju Mr Norrnan Betts, the vergw. was on sick leave throughout the year although he continues to cary out a handful of duti8s. In recognition ol a lrfetime's c(xnmitment arKI service to the parish church, the titte of Verger Emeiitus was conferr&Y upon him in December. The Grft Aid Officer. Mr John Ball, perfornd the role of verger until he resigned in August 2024, following vthieh the duties were allocated among a number of volunteers. The succession plan is to be rtractivated and m(xe encouwed to stand for election to the PCC. ACHIEVEMENTS and PERFORMANCE Residing in the vicarage wlth his wlfe black lknador. Welty. the year 2(Y24 was the first full cderKJar year in which Rev'd Chris Martin was th8 A8sociate Pri8st for th8 parish. Establish&J as the IC face of the church. he is widety respected by parishioners. whether of the faith or not. He led all the services apart from a few occasions when they were led by anolhw member of the Totnes Team Ministy. Under the excdlent pint leadwship ol the Team Rector. Fr Jim Bartow, and Rev'd Chris Martin. the parish church is now optrnalty pl&ed lo flourith. The range of servlces was exterKled in W25 with the jditi( of several new forms of service including a new setvice of Moming Worship for baptisms, a new Quayside Easter service at the break of dawn, and Advent see of Lessons and Carol& (with the c(Yreslj 2023 figures in brackets: Membership of the church electoral roll was 105 {1 on while the numbw of participants was 83 (82). The usual atter¥Jance at our prirKipal SurKlay services increased to 55 (52) although a notable difference in attendance {about 10) exists between Choral Eucharist and Choral Matins with the fomiw being favoured. While overall attendarr£ remains healthy. younger membws of the parish ntinUe to be und-reWesented. Three new services of Moming Worship with baptism FKoved to be popular and were attended by 75 people of mix1 age&
The usual atterKlance at fv Sunday 8.15 Service of Holy Cornrnunion remains the same at 13. Monthly seNices of ChLYal EvenSonc0mp1Ine were attended by an average of 25 people. The W8dnethy 10.(X) seICeS of Holy Communion were attended by aboul 10 people. The new Adv1 Service of Less1 and Carols was atterKJed by 56 people. The services at Easter and Christmas increased on the previous year with numbers of 149 (142) and 145 {12n respectively. The new Quayside Easter seNice was attended by 31 people. The Crib service on Christmas Eve continues to attract the largest number of attendees of any selvice with sm 175 (171) adults arKI childr, for whom many famili8s se8 this e1 as an integral part of their Christnw c818brations. A D-Day cMmem*10n $Ice was held on 6" June and attended by some 40 Durir the year. there were 3 (3) baptisms. 1 (1) wedding, 815) funerals. There ar8 eight burial plots remaining before the clr¢hyard is full althgh there is sufficient space for the intennent ol ashes for decade. An applicatM)n to close the churchyard was postponed given the slow uptake of t>urial plots, wlth none tsken up at all during the past year. A Lent course was hekl in the village with about 15 (8) in attendance. A weekly meditative opportunty of -quiet waiting" was off8r8d in church during Advent with about 10 in attendance. A Saturday afternn was spent with the Team Rector and Associate Priest discussiThJ the mission of the church in Stoke Gabriel. The aim of the meeting was to take stock of where Ihe parish church was at this time and about 40 people attended. A seco1 meeting is planned f4X the 2025 to discuss wher8 w8 should be headed. PARISH OUTrEACH Under the leadership of the Assoclate Prlest. the church continued to bring th8 Good News to the younger mwnbws of the parish. Contacl was maintained with the village primary scho)l and scout group. Tailored children, Crafty Events were held on six occasions. Three wwe held during L11, Eastw and Advent. one to celebrate Harvest. one to celebrate Pentecost and was held in summer on the thwne of friendship. On average 17 children attended these events with an average of 33 adults and children attendirvJ the associated services in churcl The loth. bweav&J and vulnerable in Ihe ccxnmunty were supported through regular one-to-one visits, telep1ne calls and social events. and through home communions offeraj by the Associate Priest. In particular. lunches f Ihe senior folk of the parish continue to grow in popularity. Thwe were 11 lunches at Emma's with more than 50 (30) people at each one. necessiLating two sittings. There was also one New Year's lunch in the village Hall with about 60 people.. The church continu1 its support of charities locally and further afield. L(ally. it included Stepping Stones in Totnes. Further afield, it included the Mission to Seafarers. Children's Society. Floyal British Legion. Christian Aid and Water Aid. We aso continue to sFXx0r a yourwJ Ugandan girl. Winny W, through World Wision.
Regular monthty colkntions wwe nith in support of Stepping Stones and the CRUK (Christian ReSnSe to Ukraine). MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY An important medium of communication with the parth and beyond, the parish magazine has a print run in excess of 420 copies, of which atx>ut 350 are hand delivered to households and the remairKler are sold through local outlets. Focusing on church services and events. a weekly Pew Sheet is emailed to over ICK) recipkents with about 50 copies l)eing pnntaj and made available at the principal Sunday service. Online communicAtK)n to a wider ajienCe is wovided by the church web site, chu k ACNY (A Clrch Near You} and the social media platform, Facebook. the church group of which has a membwship of 400 (3301. Posters are displayed ar0d the parish on teleph(Th and rK)tiC8 boards to inform the wider comrnunty of ¢Fr¢h events lo keep the mission of church alive in the public eye. SAFEGUARDING. GDPR & SAFETY The church continues to cornmtt itself to the supwt. nurtwe. wotection and safeguarding of every individual. especialty the young and vulnerable. The PCC has complied with the dLrty under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to compty with the House of Bishops. on safeguarding children and vulnwable &lults). tt is also GDPR ar safety compliant. CARE OF CHURCH AND OTHER PROPERTY The church building continues to be open from about 9.00 to 17,IXI every day for visitors and Iccals requiring an opw)rtunity for peace and reflection. During the year, the fo15owing w<S were urKlertaken: Restoration of collaps&l west churchyard wal Installation of new intruder al*m systern and fvxk safe in vesty. aThJ repar of safe Removal of fr(yn monuments dwing May churchy&d wothing party Repairs to organ folkMiirvJ damp weathw & irL8tallation of srnall (xgan heater Automation of church lower ckjck Provision of ramps for disablad access to OSR Installation of new church notice board in part< Rfrprint of updated church guide Cornmission of Book of Remembrance of Stok8 &aLYiel serv8 and Servicewomen VOLuKfEERS
The church is blessed with an anny of loyal and committed voknnteers frcNn amoNJ and beyond the church membership who give genwousty in support of th8 diurch and rts mission to the communty of Stoke Gabriel. In particular. the Friends of Stoke Gabriel Church raises much-ned funds for the repair of its church tmjilding. The PCC thanks them dl wholdartedty. FINANCIAL REVIEW Receipts of £121.505 and payments of 21,511, r8sutt&Y in a deficrt of just £6. Regular giving incr8as8d by £27,753 to £74.411, which was particularty boosted by a single Grft Aided donatiw 01 £12,215 towards the automation ol the church clock. Th8 successful launch of the Parish Giving Scheme in June. producaj £9.000 for the y8ar. and d8SPit8 this. the trlItI0naI methods of giving held up well. We are well supported by Friends of the Church, who covered the costs of churchwd wall repairs £4,0. The church clock was fully autornataj at a cost of £14,494, covered by a single donation and refund of VAT, through the Listed Places of Wcthip Grant Scheme. We contInu1 to meet In full our CnmOn Fund Re(pt of £54,046. up 8.5% on last The year ahead will be particulaty CleJ1ng. in the short temi. as w8 will hav8 considerable expense relating to a new 15-y8ar18ase for the Church House Inn. whwe the existing tenant of 32 years is retiring. We have earmarf(ed £10.000 for these costs, and have already withdrawn this surn frcyn ow M & G CharifurKI investment, now valued at £33,(KX). We look forward to receiving an arnual rental Inco of £18.(KKI from the new 18&8e, payable morrthly, from spring 2025, to stabilise our finance& RESEAVES POUCY To build a reseNe of £50.CK#). so that the Church and its assets, are kept in a g(m state of repair. and to meet our Commcfft Fund ccrnitment in full. This to bo revi8wed in Nov 2025. This Annual Report arKI Financial stateMt was approv1 by PCC on 19° March 2025 and signyl on its behalf by. Rev'd Chris Martin Associate PrEst (Stoke Gabr*Tr Mr lan Potham PCC Trnasur8r
•nd•d 31 Lknb•f 2024 2023 F4ive beeA pfEpar¢d a¢effil•rtr Chwths 20111tt ktl wth Ihe Fin•rbr4al 88 mc¢lfvd by FRS 1W2 SC(¢P IStAemerrt of Reccrf Prth knfv£t¢Atnbw aid RewJrtwJ by ChariaAI 2015. by wJr•a F•Iry 20161. (The Scffl, by the Chwty corr¥nM)n in ar1 faw ¥1. •ppty, •rJ that Iher• r•Juirew•nl th• G)wmry tho coTrJuclwvJ ol an A5 a ij to as lar a• Ih•t tre ha% been no brvathw of th•nty Ihrf on • •wpld by Trttyt m tr ol tr*x•Thr•tw • rrfl •LhJrt l•sts or•rquThs a1 not
FRS 102 SChRP {Stalemt of R0M Ptt• aTrJ by Chathil 2015,1 arfeTrJ¢d t¢y Bultetr 161. (Tl SORPI. l ¢wJrwih th wo•(h. any Ki ¢onfirm Uwt".. gmn ty the Chanty Ccffnrnn urth seLabJn 1495Kbl (4 the ALI Thy be Ihat In rnalèr reyrt. 2011., Bulokn 20161, Tr S(f¢PI 4 Yorvjer M•d Stoke G&>nul Devon
The Parish of St Mary and St Gabrlel . stateffl rf Flnanclal Actfvllles for the year •nded 31 Dec•fflber 2024 T•W Fun Funds Fun Al .•2• 13,814 18.589 13.014 19.917 12,410 20,828 T•tal In••m• 117 $12 5,378 3,753 117.628 114.450 111,1¥ T•l•l •xwr*r• 7 011 11 121 2•1 Il•t •xp•ndlt¥Th fw lh• ywr 1108181 110,4381 41241 61.741 48.103 1•4 61,2•7 61.)03
Th• Parish of 81 IAary and 81 Gabr5•1 . 8alne• 8h••t as at 31 D•¢•mb•r 2024 R•f 2023 Fix•¢l ass•ts Invo51ments hdd a18ets 31.042 40204 Tt)tsl Ilx•d •M•ts 31.042 Curr•nt Ca¥h at bk WKI in ha 20255 11.099 20255 20255 11,099 Th• t41•1 n•t M••ts olth• oh•rfty 51297 6.194 45.103 51,303 Restrictod R•venu• Funds D2 42,241 Totsl ¢h•rlty 51297 Examww w on page.1. The Tru8te08 are 8ab8hd that. tho chwty rd registwl )d81 th• compan Acts, rfit war• regi818r8d, Id be dvJit4• to FY•pare in actd 7Atyth th• in Part 15 ofth• Rwor01 Chi8 Martin Apwoved by tr• l*>¥rd o11N8t rfC4(nfe/
Th• Parlsh ol St Iry and St Gabr D•tsll•d anlysl ol I1X• and •xp•ndllw• lorth• y••r •nd•d 31 thK•mb•r 2024 M l•ql•d ty th• SORP 2016 CwT•nty•v Cwrnrty••r CuFr•nly••r Ikrfwymr Smal £1( 10.810 11.757 10.810 11.707 22.617 Small kng•w¥ indThwW l•M £11) 0r £1C(Q 2.838 nMd omno nd 91ft ld )di¥U•l a1 uyxlèr £1.C 51.844 61.844 35,744 $1M44 J4744 Oth•r volw*•ry r•o•lpts Indi¥rtthal amouTht• wder E1.(m donakn Mr £l(XQ 10.518 10.618 8.75S 16.910 10.618 10.01B C¥Mrt y•w ¢¥rr•nlyw PtYr
Th• Parlsh rf St Mary and Sl Gabrf•l SQRP 2016 T•l•l T•l•l FurMIB 2J24 Prnp•rty rBnlal IrK 2.814 2,910 13 014 10 Oth•r In¢om• and g•ln• T•l•l Fw41• T•l•l Fw 4,41 5,247 Churth rn•g•2in e,744 8.870 e,s20 114• 2,117 Totsl ath•r I•v4 18 Exp•nd1r• on 8rIbI• xllvldm. IXff•at p•Th%ng 7.187 7,117 Mi88iC DK18ean parish Team c4&rgy 8XP8f Ma9azin¢ xpwdlw• Irffjurar Othw runnir4J cuts Organ Repairs Totsl dlr•ct snd 5.118 49,765 1.837 5,522 3.814 13.rA6 12.2QKI 1.898 5.109 3,941 3,941 7.110 513 Lyht heat a1 2.415 lo.) 6.479 4.519 6.167 2.147 14.494 4.619 •A17 2,141 14 Churchyard and thurch wa* mairtenw CIC repair Tatsl support ¢osts 778
The Parlsh d St Mry and 8t Gabfl•l D•tsil•d Mtysls of I1)m• nd •PdI for th• y••r •nd•d 31 D•e•mb•r 2024 as r•quir•d by th• SORP 2016 R•¥k•bd T•knl Tatsl Fund¥ 2023 Totsl dIt Tolal chalae tradiTrJ Total grantmaking wsts TLrtal support C8ts TrAal Gthiwnance co n1 .154 19,W2 11•,130 117.S2 ExP•ndlr• on r•lslnq lund¥ nd af InTMth•nt m•Nq•m•nt 20 5.376 437• 3.753 2270 M G Ch¥ifund Inctfft ltI £31.042.(Kl Market Valu• £33.423. •) Chwth H(0 Inn. inwjred kn £1.61 nwkn ith RSA frt¥n 19.05.24 cl Old R)rn BuhJKy. irffjured Ir)f E1 al £511285 rAnfim*d via e mail 71h Od¢bw 2024 1.319.30 1.440.98 22XJ.(KI 910.49 272.&8 6.193.63 Ch"r fimd