STOKE GABRIEL PARISH CHURCH r a. The Parish Church of St Mary and St Gabriel in the Totnes Mission Communiry, Diocese of Exeter www.stokegabrielchurch.co.uk Annual Report and Financial Statement of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2025 Incumbent & Team Rector. Rev'd Jim Barlow Ass(Kiate Priest: Rev'd Chris Martin Bankers: Lloyds Bank. Palace Avenue. Pai8nton 1nde[ndellt Fuarniner. Travid BI( FCCA 4, Yonder Meadow, Stoke Gabriel, Totnes TQ9 6QE The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary and St Gabriel is a Fx)dy Corrate (PCC Powers Measure 1956 and the Church Representation Rules 2(KX>) and a Registered Chlry (No:1138315). Its addre&8 for CoeSpondence is The Vicarage. Scho)l Hill. ske Gabiiel. Tottw TQ9 6QX
AIM and PURPOSE The Parochial Church CA)unca of St Mary and St Gabriel (PCC) c(x)perates with the Incumbent and the kn(late Priest in promoting the mi&8ion and ministry of the church in the parish of Stoke Gabriel. The PCC is committed to keeping the church at the centre of parish life. providing a range of services. iK>th Book of Common Prayer (BCP) & Common Worship {CW). said and sung. and opprtuniti&g for w0h1P that put faith into practice through prayer, scripture, reflection, music and sacrament. It is also committed to bringing people together in fellowship. providing care for the community, and marking significant events in the ]ife of individuals. the community and the natio The PCC manages the care. finances and admitratIon 8&8ociated with its Grade l ]isted church building and churchyard, and a]so for its other properties, the Old School Room (Church Hall), the Verger's Cottage and the Church House In Together with the Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance. the PCC (via the Incumbent and two churchwarde8) has absolute title to the Church House Inn. The PCC has possessory title to the Old Sch(x)I Room and the Verger's Cottage, which can be converted into an absolute title in I l years. Following the departure of the previous tenant kn January 2025. the Church House Inn reopened under the management of an excellent new tenant in August 2025. for a lease terni of 15 years. The Verger s Cottage continues to be {upied by the Verger Emeritus with the full consent of the PCC The PCC encourages members of the congregation to live out their faith as part of the family of Christ, 8UPPrting the mi&sional and pa8toral objectives of the church and conttibuting to its day-to-day care and adMInratiOn. The church enjoys a warn) sense of community which is reflected in the p]Sh as a whole. Central to church life is the support. Durture, srU, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMEwr The method of aPIntment of the trustees. that is the PCC members, is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The PCC compri5e5 ex otEcio member5 and member5 who are elected at the Annual Parochia] Church Meeting. The PCC met six times during the year. Membezs who served during 2025 were as follows: Incumbent & Team Rector Ass(Kiate Priest (Stoke Gabriel) Churchwardens Rev'd Fr lim Barlow Rev d Chris Martin Mr Mike Stott (until A Mr Gerald Watson Dr I Ewart (from A 2025) 2025)
Deanery Representstive. Safeguarding Officer & PCC Secre Deane Elected Members Licerwd La Minister PCC Treasurer Mrs Liz Ball resentative Mrs Sue Roach Mr Alan Hill Mr Potham Mr Noman Betts Mrs Evel Watson Mrs Val Proctor Mr Michael Brown Mr Patrick Wharton {from Ma 2025) Mr Mark Yallop (Until September 2025) Mrs Sue aement Mrs Jan Nott Mr Mike Stott (from 20251 Mr Nornwi Betts. the Verger Emeritus, was on sick leave throughout the year althou8h he continues to carry out a handf of duties. ResidAng An the vie#Age Rev'd Chri5 Martin the Awiate Priest for the parisb for the whole of 2025. He led all the services apart from a few (xc&sions when they were led by another member of the Totnes Team Ministry. Under the excellent joint leadership of the Team Rector. Fr Jirn Barlow. and Rev'd Chtis MartiN the parish church is now optimally placed to flrish. In addition. a series of 'Vision afternoons, during the year identified 'work with children and young Fople' and'reach into the community, as particular areas of f¢xus for the forthcoming years (see below). The rdnge of services, which was exrended in X)24 to include the wlditiott of several new fornis of seNice, continued in 2025. In addition. a new Harvest 5erNryce. established in collaboration with the Stoke Gabriel Hon]ltural Sociery. also proved extremely ppul8r and wdl received in (ktober 2025, as was the child-friendly seTvice designed to incorwJre the TrtteW of promises for the village's kouting groups forthe Sunday nearest St George's Day. A service to 'Rernember loved Ones, w3s held in November and was deeply appreciated by those who came. And the new Pet Blessingservice ITh September saw 11 dogs blessed! PerfornwAce Metrics (with the cOrreSn8 2024 figures in brackets): Membership of the church electoral roll was89 (105) while the number of participants was 101 {&3}. The usual attella 4t out PEinLipal Sunday 5eTYices incre¥d to 61 (55) although a notable difference In ottendance (about 16 on 4ver8ge) exists tweett Choral Eucl)arist and
Choral Matins with the forn]er n8 favoure& Having identified working with children al young w>ple &$ a priority fruS area for the coming years, the new fortnightly Sunday morning gmup for children aged 2 to I l {called ACORNS) commenced in Wtember 2025 to gre8t acc]aim already has 9 children on its bcoks. The usual avergge attendan at the Sunday 8.15 Service of Holy mMuni0n was 10 (13). Monthly seTYices of Choral Evensongjcompline were attended by an avera8e of 22 (25) people. The Wednesday 10.(X) services of Holy Communion were attended by an average of 10 (10) people. The seryices at Fafftr and christi dW numbers of 114 (149) and 154 (145) respectively. The Cys1de E&ster service was attended by 21 (31) people. The Crib service on Cbzis Eve continues to attrart the largest number of attetmlees of gny service with some 189 (175) adujts and children, for whom many families see this event as an inte8Eal part of their Christmas celebrations. A VE.Day Commemoration serri was held on 8th M8y attended by )me 58 rwle. trIng the year, there were 5 {3) baptisms. 2 (0) Confirmations. l {1) wedding. 12 (8) funerals. There are approximately six burial plots remaining before the churchyard is fijll although there is sufficient for the intern1t of &%hes for another decade. An application to dose the churchyard was pcwed given the slow uptake of burial pl. A Int cour* held in the village with over20 (15) in attendance. A weekly meditative OPFX)rrunity of "quiet waiting" offered in chwch duzing AdveDt with an average attendance of around 12 adults. And, in the Feriod between Ascension and Pentec(t, several 8athered each day to pTry blessings over the villa8e as part of the 'Thy Kin8dom Come, prayer initiative. PARISH oufREACH Underthe leadership of the Associate Priesc the church continued to brin8 the Gcd News to the younger membets of the parish. Contact was maintained with the village primary school and ollt group. Tgilored for Childn, Crafy Events were hdd on six occasions. Three were held during Lent. FAster and AdvenL one to celebrate Harvest, one to celebrate Pentec(Bt and one hdd in SuMr 2025 on the theme of 'kiDgdom party.. On 8verage 15 (17) children attended these events with an average of {33} adults and children attending the astea services in churcTrL one-ttrone visits, telephone calls and sttial events, and thrcwh home communions offered by the knlate Priest. In particular, lunches for the senior folk of the p4rAsh Continue to grow in popularity. There were I I lunches at Emma's with more than 50 {50J people ateach one, necessitaung two sittings. There was akn one New Year's lunch in the Village Hall with in excess of 65 () people.
A coach 10&4 of parishioners also enjoyed an afternoon visit to Exeter cathedTa] in Jwie. where we were treated to a Cathedrdl tour, tea and cake, and Evenn& In seeking to broaden its reach to the commutiiry, a a)n)munity coffee morning was planned for early 2026 in the Old Schwl Room and ir is hoped that this will become Tegular monthly fixture in the clwrch diary. providing a SPAce for tslk to meet and chat over tea, coffee and cake. In addition, the A(llats Priest's vision to see a prayer labyrinth mown into the vicarage garden came to fruition in 2025. The PCC offici8lly opened and blea it in May 2025 and it w&$ available fr)T Parishione to use between set houTh for 3 day5 a week from lune until September. The feedback from those who recorded their experience of usin8 It has been very positive. The church continued its of cbarities IllY and rtheT afield. Locally, it induded Stepping Stones in Tomes. FuTther afield, it included the Mission w Seafarer& Children's sIety. Royal British l£gioD. (ILTiStian Aid and Water Aid We a]so continue to SPODSOT young Ugandan Birl, Winny Angel, through World Vision. Regular monthly collections were uiade in suppon of Stepping Stones and the CR2 EE (ChTisuan Response to Fastern Europe). MED & TECHNOLCCY An irnrtant n)edium of commurrication with the parish And beyond, the PiSh magazine has a PTint run in exce&8 of 420 copies, of which sTrt 350 are hand delivered to households and the remainder are sold through local outlets. F(An8 on church setvices ond events. and the names of those who have &8ked for prayer. a weekly list is ettlled to over I recipienrs. Online communication to a wider audience is provided by the church web site, stoke abrielchurclLCO. A(24Y (A Clllwch Near You) and the social media plarform, Faceb(KTrk. the church group of whieh h&5 a membership of 487 (4(M)). Posters are displayed around the parish on telephone poles and notice b¢d$ to inform the wider cottllnunity of church events and to keep the mission of the church alive in the public eye. SAFEGUARDING. GDPR & sAFy The church continue8 to comnjit itse]f to the supwjn. rnlltU, protection safeguarding of every individual, especially the young and vulnerable. The PCC has complied with the dury under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and aergy Discipline Measure 2016 {dury to comply with the House of Bishops. on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). It ' also GDPR and safety compliant. The church buildin8 continues to be open from about 9.(K) to 17.C(l every day for visitors and locals requiring an opportuniry for peace and reflectio trIng the year, the following works were uThdertaken:
Partnership vrith Stoke Gabriel HorticultUTal &xiety's'Pocket Meadow Project, to create a willow.frarned obelisk with everlasting sweetpeas in the churchyard Various dilapidation building works QD the Church House Inn, the casts of svhich the PCC is seeking to recover from the previous tenant General tidy up of Church Walk and (lurchyud in July working party Installatson of framed photograph of King Charles lll onto the north wall Continued removal of ivy from monuments Deep cleaning and clearout of the Old Sch1 Room following the departure of the pre- school Dedication of Bcok of Remembrance of Stoke Gakniel Serricemen and Setvicewomen at the Remembrance Sunday service into a custom-made cabinet in the ]ady chapel There is also a projert undemy girned at rehanging the bells and makin8 cbanges to the infTastTUCture around the bells to enable safer rcM)f tower access. VOLUFifEERS The church is ble&sed with an arniy of loyal and couuDitted vOluThtee from amons and beyond the church membership who give generously in supw)n of the church and its mission to the community of Stoke Gabriel. In particular, the Friends of Stoke Gabriel Church raises much.needed funds for the repair of its church building. The PCC thanks them all wholeheartedly. Receipts of £149.135 and payments of £147,808 produced a small sutplus of £1.327. There woukl have been a deficit, but Parish Magazine aubscriptions for 2026 were paid earlier than before. resulting in an increwd iDcome of Q.537. A chan8e of tsnancy and lease renev481 for the Church House Inn has domina¢ed and had adve effect on our finance5. We are faced witb an ofjgoing dispute with the previous tenant over the cts of dilapidation5. The pub closed for7 months and not fully 0rational for 9. rewlting in a rentsl I( of £9,(KKJ compared ]8st year. and running costs of £4.670. T(rtal expenditure for the year was £65.301, including essential work8 of Q3,IKKI to get ihe pub up and ning. We are in the of obtaining Listed IdIngS Consent to enable the completion of all A very Succe&$fi apF81 to belp fimd retiwlial work5 and Professional fees, torallin8 £148,(KK) raised £105.625 from Gift Aided donations of £47,125 and loans of £58,51K). The loary5 aTe for a period of 3 years and interest free, and we are looking to repay them from a c]aim against the outgoing tenant.
The financial demands of the Church House Inn meant that we were unable. for the fiTSt time in livin8 memory, apart from once during the Covid epidemic, to meet OUT DiCan Common Fund ( Parish Share ) conttibutsng £48,032 against the request of £57.045, shorttall of £19,013. OrA the Ph side. we t*[tea from a year's doDatiODS the PATish Giving Scheme, with Plalltd Giving up 22% to £41,550. RFSERVFS POIJCY To build a reserve of £fQ.(KM). so that the Church and it's assets are kept in a good state of repair. to repay Church House Inn loans when they fall due, and to meetourcommon Fund pawtents. This Annual Report and Finanaal Statement was approved by PCC on 18ib March 21f26 and signed on irs behalf by: Rev'd Chris Martin 8sociate ltst {Stoke Gabriel) Mr Ian Potham FCC Treasurer
Report of the Indopendont Examlner to th• TrnstOVs of tho Gharlty on th• forth• y•ar 2025ffith bgen Nerwgd tr Ch&¢th8 20111th8 Iwth th? F)&481 fied by FRS 102 SORP jstalemetof Reci¥ Practice hy an¢ Rewrbw by En & ICCEWI. Jnd•F Iho and fh8(xyJnbr¢ rKIKièS sel gsl py. As p8w. ycw, the £8rWs TfUOg8. are foswnSt pparatson oflhe firn¢1 slaleftts m ThÈ TmstÈÈS c(xtsiderthat ihe audlt requirament ol Sertbn 144111 oflhe Chadbes Aa 2011 (the AUI d005 not awy. and tywttheE• no r•quirwrnl thp fry •>Jit A• it Act. I r0Pryt in eespee. of rrty fjxamintr.on of Ihe chartys financial Btal8ments cartsd fArt undw s145 of8 Ad. In iTh3Bwdeni eYarnl. kn dependentexaM3iY dudea re¥wol the aEcL¥Jntsn5 records Éty. by tht weseqleo rWO& 113L50 Mcjes nderation ol any 11onNs dLsdosur In finan(aèl examinatn 15 to e5tstlth 35 fèr as POSll8 that Te have b. no breètheg of tharfty18gioJAtitsn and th#1. 80RP. The pnKedur25 urkdertaken do pn¥e all ihe eirydefice Ihatwould be NLHred in en audit. and inf¢mation We5 Lwywvj liffli1$ SU[8n ihai indepwiOeniAaTtMli81i(x) ¢ah piov Con5etyth. I do not ewessan audit OnIOn Ihe vtw wveD by Ilie $18lEments, and in P8Clar. I l ne and F•lorrn•J my exam1rn yo a¥ to ssfy ry5elfthat obieclfve5 ofthe I9pentex3rn
stalulw rtytslafKNlS. lle ChaT115 IAr.coiiryls Hp.¢ Report5l ResLlat.ons 2NA. t? preDHre the firEanfJai staternerts In itb wrrenl be51 pradKp, the Tntsiegs have deleTThthèd Iv Kw¥rp Ihp $tst8m8nts actoanCe ilh I FRS 102 SQRP Isiol¢nwl of Rwxwnmg[xj P¥acLV fror Acc9 aTrJ by Charthesl 2015, ias amwded 818tin Febw8ry 161. SORPI, . I INS 8rvo¥h. al my report 1¢ the reglaan% should k Tead 5¥bJ"eci lo cOmL confiFm thaL. gi¥en by the Chanty CQmrrMw under section 14515Xbl dthe Aci MKY be apF*cth". Ihat In any terlI ras[.". cwnts sel out WT the Charl1 IA(xx)UDts arpj ReFvMts! Rryvlatiops ott)er ihaTr reqLmrWW th8111 bav• TrXbo•n Pwfod In wjrd•Nh Th mathodE wd wnuF406 10t4 in the FR$ 102 SQRP BLdb&l'n F6W 20161.1Th6 SORPI. shoJd be dr•4Th7 &i Ihis report kn rKderto enable 8 propel understsnding ofthe fin3ntJal 5tstsmerts to be dached. D¥vKI BbDd FCCA. Ind2pend¥rt E¥rrM TQ9 6QE Ths r8rort wa8 sp)j on 18 M•th 2028
Th• Parlsh ol St Mary and Sl Go1)TW- Statnt of Flnan¢181 Pthltles for th• •nd•d 31 D•c•mbw 2025 Statement of Flnancial Activliies for the year ended 31 December 2025 Don8trons & Legau88 Al 67,455 47.125 114,580 tyher tJg 3ctyvthBS 2.845 13A14 19.917 23.763 2.472 26,235 Total In 9&018 51.117 149.13S Roising funds 81 5.37e 47,840 145178 Totsl 8xpendilur• $2,470 147.8Ql 121.511 1A27 125.fKA)I P5.3201 161 45.103 6.194 51297- 51, 19,783 31841 2.624 51297
Th• Parlsh of St Mary and St Gabrid - Balan¢e Shogt as at 31 Detombw 2025 SORP P4oteft•f Flx•d hdd a$ fixed assets 9.162 31,042 Ttst•l fimd •55ets 31.042 Cuff•nt •¥••ts Cash ai Iw)k and in ha1 101, 20.255 101,962 20255 101,962 20.255 111.f24 51,297 r•W45s•ts 1•55 ¢uTh•n4 W•bilill•s than ono year C2 I58.5Cl 52.624 32,841 19.783 51297 6.194 45.103 Reslriued ReVetse Fund5 D2 Ttstal charfty 52.624 57.297 fespgLt to &couTIDrig Igcords and prewalltsii of a¢¢ounts. The tharity 15 subiectto In(ndl Examti7alJon unts ItgtslaiiLm. and tht wct ofihe Indeperthrrt Ewin•r 1$ pag•.1. rha Trustees are salishèj that. ath(xW Ihe chartly 15 F1 rw518r8¢ und8r Cornpan+e5 Acts, rf Itwèr• sts i0d. it t¢ dpjible lo a¢u)un18 in a¢¢Ne Tllh the prry*l$8 kn Part 15 rfthe GoTtwnie5 ALI 2006. appli0e to wmpanies subied lo 5rn311 re9itnE. Reverend CW Trust Approvod by th• board ol truste0$ on ie Marth 2026 Mr Pobl
The Parf$h of St Mary and St Gabrfel D•tsHed anatysE• of bKomt and expendre lor the year •nded 31 IleGombw 2025 r•qvlr•d by th• SORP Thts •n8ty$1s Is by ¢onv•rt1I0mIft+l8s¢IlPtions &ndnotby acd¥lty. •nd L•gF•¥ 9,77S 10.026 37.$00 47.525 10.810 11.757 22.S61 El.COO 37.5 J7.75• gacie5 than e1r Pl*uk•d glvkng antt glft altt 9,375 $1.844 9.375 2,607 . 51W4 OthervoluTrtary TpcelFts 10.518 11 Incorne frorn other. non charllable, tradlng a¢tfvttles 2025 2Q25 2024
Th• Parl$h of St Mary and Sl Gabihl t>•tsll•d •n•l• ot In¢ome •nd •xp•Trthr• lor tlh• y•x •nrlod 31 2025 wryqulr•d by th• SORP 2015 t1, 2.814 13.814 Olhor Incorne and galns Totd Ptsnd T*Xd Funds 6.126 1X 4,4NJ 9205 6.568 5,19J 5.1•0 8.870 oUtrch. Choff aThl 3242 1472 5.714 2,149 rJ.71J ExpetJthur¥ on Gkiaritable a¢t4¥4ti•s. Dlr•¢l wndlng 2An 21235 1•,•17 Fund4 Futhd• 25 6.818 7.187 MissK)n 4.827 6.120 Team dergy expEnsgs 1.853 113 4,038 1.8 5.1 3941 7.510 6.113 4.038 Insurance Organ Repair5 1.71• 48MI 731 Lighl he8t and w)wer d schod room v8rg8rfs cottage 4.519 .417 2,141 14.494 30,404 1.fk4 19.421 Chufch hou$e inft exwses 45.880 Toial suyw)rt Cos 29.017 75.147
Th¢ Parfsh of St Mary and St Gabrf Detsiled an15 of incom• and exp•ndltwe for y•arended 31 December 2025 as requlred by th¢ SORP 2015 Total Chartl•bt• •xpendltyr• Tnl81 direr.I S11 £6.321 .73 Total grantrnaking costs Totsl supwmt cos 017 4&1Xs 74147 9&J39 47,WJ Expondiiur• ¢>n rni•ing fund• and coffits ol InlnI m•nagwnwnl 143,178 11B.1JS ¢tlf Currertyetr Ctsprextyp prftyrY•ar 2025 2025 4.630 4,6 5.376 4,630 4.130 S.376 Investments vaJ8d as 3t 31 Oecember 2025 Investmeni 870 M and G CharlfuThS Incorne unts È9.162. M•rk•t Vak £11.574. al Cvf¢h Hwse Inn 8uikJing5 trtsuFEd £1.3 wrilh Property Ckneys 11.¢A.25 bl Church LXlage. Bulkllrys Inswed ty EcelesTal¢al at £381.240 from 29th Seplernter 2025. cl C1 Sr*th BulkStyJs. Bulthg knsmd by al £5XI.718 o)nfirrn8d emwl 25.10.25 Restricled Fd sumrnary 31 D8rnber 2025 Church HwBe Inn Fund 26.246.00 1.209.25 I.OS3.38 2,000.00 1.1e6.59 1,166.37 32.841.59 Clwrfvnd Kddare Jam88 Lag Toknes Deanery