THE BENEFICE OF ST DUNSTAN, ST PETER AJND ST MILDRED, CANTERBURY ST DUNSTAN ￿TH HOLY CROSS PCC REGISTERED CHAIUTY 1140343 ANNUAL REPORT ND FINthCIAL ST ATEMENTS OF THE PARISH CHLRCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024 REcfoR REV. JO ￿CHARDs Inde endent Examiners Peter Acott SHPD Accountants 10 Littlebourne Road, Maidstone, Kent. ME14 5QP PARISH OF ST DUNSTAN WITH HOLY CROSS PCC CONTENTS Annu81 re￿rt IndgFendBnl examiners repNt stst8mant ol financlal aclitillies Balanc6 sheel Idetsiledl Statement of 85S*ts ond liabilMig9 Fund movemént summary 10 Anatysis of i￿Orne and expendltu 11-13 Notes lo the financial statements ACCOUn￿n9 FKJlirAes 14 Page 1 ## ST DUNSTAN WITH HOLY CROSS, CANTERBURY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ## ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2024 ## **Aim and purposes** St Dunstan’s Church, part of the Benefice of St Dunstan, St Mildred and St Peter, is located in London Road, Canterbury. The Rector of the Benefice is the Revd Jo Richards, whose ministry is shared by the 3 churches. St Dunstan with Holy Cross Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, social and ecumenical. The PCC also safeguards the fabric of the church and has responsibility for maintenance of the church hall and the former curate’s house at 69 Whitstable Road, Canterbury. The Parochial Church Council is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. Its number is 1140343. ## **Objectives and Activities** In line with the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, the PCC aims to involve both those who attend church regularly and the wider parish in worship at our church and in being part of the community of St Dunstan’s. It therefore takes very seriously its responsibility of maintaining the fabric of the church and the church hall. The Hall and Fabric Committee, a sub-committee of the PCC, meets regularly for discussion of these matters. Additionally, a group dedicated to fundraising for this purpose, the ‘Friends of St Dunstan’s Church’, is supported by the PCC, and has PCC representation on its committee. ## **Achievements and Performance** ## _Prayer and Worship_ The pattern of services at St Dunstan’s has continued in the customary way with a weekly 8.00 a.m. said Communion Service, and with the 10.00 a.m. Communion Service taking place at St Dunstan’s on the 1[st] and 3[rd] Sundays of the month. (Communion is celebrated at St Peter’s Church at 9.30 a.m. and at St Mildred’s at 11.00 a.m. on the 2[nd] and 4[th] Sundays, and where there is a 5[th] Sunday in the month it is celebrated in each church of the Benefice in turn.) During 2024 the practice of receiving Communion in the form of an intincted wafer has continued and it remains, at present, the preference of this congregation. Throughout the year celebration of Sunday Communion has been lived-streamed. However, at the end of 2024, after much discussion, the decision was taken by the PCC to curtail this, as problems with the system had made viewing difficult, despite many attempts to rectify matters. Monthly Open Table services which take place regularly in St Peter’s Church, are attended by several members of St Dunstan’s congregation and, as an Inclusive church, St Dunstan’s welcomes and supports the provision of a Safe Space for LGBTQIA+ people and where all are welcome. The monthly ‘Sunday Praise’ service at St Dunstan’s has maintained its small congregation and continues to be enjoyed by those who attend. Some ‘traditions’, like ‘Moment of the Week’ where all are invited to talk about events that have given pleasure since the last meeting, and the choosing of hymns and songs for the next service, have become established. It is encouraging to see that some of those who come to this non-Eucharistic service do not necessarily attend the Sunday morning services and are forming a congregation of its own. The afternoon ends with tea/coffee and cakes giving a chance to socialise. Page 2 Although Messy Church is no longer meeting, the traditional Crib Service, popular with families and children and an important part of our outreach to the community, took place on Christmas Eve, and was a well-attended and lively occasion, enjoyed by all. St Dunstan’s Mothers’ Union has met during the year, either in the church or in the church hall. It continues to support the Afia holiday project and to write cards for members of the parish at Easter and Christmas. More details of this will be found in the collected reports. Services held for life events are an important part of our outreach to the community and the church has continued to celebrate baptisms and weddings and to give thanks for lives ended at funeral services. All are welcome to attend any of our services. There were 75 names on the Church Electoral Roll at 31st December 2024, 45 of whom were resident and 30 of whom were non-resident within the parish. The average Sunday attendance counted for the year in October was 55 adults and 2 children, combining both services. ## _The Church_ St Dunstan’s Church, is left open throughout the day for visitors and for private prayer, facilitated by a team of parishioners who unlock the church in the morning and lock at the end of the day, enabling it to be open for all during the daylight hours. The PCC is aware of its responsibility of maintaining the fabric of the church building not only as a place of worship, but as part of our historical heritage. This is carried out by the Hall and Fabric Committee which oversees renovation and repair as part of the quinquennial (five yearly inspection of church fabric) and reports back to the PCC. The ‘Big Plan’, supported by the PCC, a move to make the church a centre for pilgrimage and prayer by Mission through Heritage, still remains on hold at present. Regarding the church hall, plans to renovate the toilets have been discussed and bookings and fundraising are healthy, as will be seen elsewhere in the Collected Reports. ## _Pastoral Care_ Members of the congregation and community who are ill or going through difficult times are visited by the ministry team and Communion is taken to those who cannot attend church. There are many activities and organisations, open to congregation, the wider parish and beyond, which form part of St Dunstan’s outreach and aim to benefit all. These include the weekly Saturday Morning Coffee from 10.00 a.m., the Lunch Club which meets on the first Wednesday of the month, and Tiny Tots, a weekly opportunity for toddlers, parents and grandparents to meet together for a time of play and socialising. Additionally, the Social and Fundraising team works hard to organise sales, the Christmas Fair and other celebrations throughout the year. Chief of these in 2024 was the farewell party for Revd Jenny in June which was attended by many. A new initiative has been the cooperation between the local Pilgrims Hospice shop and the church in the sale of donated good quality school uniform items which the shop is not permitted to sell. Sales have taken place on Saturday mornings and have been of benefit both to the Hospice and to local families who can make use of the clothes for a small donation. Page 3 The Thomas More Fellowship continued to discuss plans for making the Roper Chapel a more inviting place for the many pilgrims and visitors who come to the church, as part of the ‘Big Plan’ mentioned previously. A report on the Fellowship can be seen elsewhere in the documents. ## _Mission and Evangelism_ St Dunstan’s supports several missions as part of our ministry of outreach. The Benefice Newsletter has continued to make an appearance in 2024 with double issues in July/August and December/January and single publications for the rest of the year. Each church has its own section and we are grateful to Samuel Woods and Liz Parsons for their work on this. It is available both online and as a physical copy and copies are left in the church , giving visitors and local people an idea of what our churches are about. The Benefice website, www.dunstanmildredpeter.org.uk, is a valuable means of communication. So, too, are the many banners which have been purchased and displayed outside our various churches, and the digital presence, keeping people informed about our faith, services, and other matters. ## **Structure, governance and management** The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All who attend Church regularly are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. There were 5 meetings of the PCC during 2024, and the Standing Committee met on 3 occasions. The average attendance at PCC meetings was 80%. The PCC operates through several committees which meet between full meetings of the PCC including the Standing Committee, the Hall and Fabric Committee, the Finance Committee, the Social and Fundraising Team, the Fellowship of St Thomas More and the Eco-Church Committee. The leaders of these sub-committees report back to the PCC as necessary. ## **Administrative information** St Dunstan’s Church is situated in St Dunstan’s Street, Canterbury. It is part of the Canterbury Diocese within the Church of England. The Benefice Office address is St Dunstan’s Church Hall, London Road, Canterbury CT2 8LS. The former parish of Holy Cross is combined with the parish of St Dunstan. PCC members who have served from 1 January 2024 until the date this report was approved are: _Ex Officio_ Rector Revd Jo Richards Curate Revd Jenny Walpole until 30 June 2024 Churchwarden Mrs Sue Palmer Page 4 ## _Representatives on the Deanery Synod_ : Ms Elizabeth Turner (PCC Secretary and Deputy Warden) Mrs L Parsons until APCM 2024 ## _Elected members_ : Mrs Caroline Blamey from APCM 2024 Mr David Cockburn Mrs Laurienne Edwards Mr Richard Edwards until APCM 2024 Mr Geoffrey Parsons (Treasurer) Mr John Shaw Miss Philippa Trewby ## And finally ……. the thank yous: To all who kept the Benefice ship afloat in sometimes troubled waters, especially Revd Jenny in her support and leadership while Revd Jo could not be with us. It was sad to say goodbye to her at the end of June after her years with us. We wish her well in her new parish and her life with Catherine. To Anna, our Benefice Administrator for 5 years, for her efficiency, competence and reliability as well as her friendly presence. To Sue who never signed up to sole churchwardenship, but who has always been there and has managed wonderfully. To Jo, who came back and was immediately engaged in dealing with Church fabric matters which was not what she trained for. We missed you and were so happy to welcome you back. Thank you, everyone for all you have done. ## **Financial Review** The figures are intended as a summary of incoming resources and expenditure. The 2023 figures are shown in parenthesis for comparison purposes. Before transfers and revaluations, we recorded a net operating surplus on all funds of £65,547 (£20,307), and an operating surplus in the General Fund of £62,171 (£19,257). In 2024, our investments with the CBF Church of England funds increased in value by £8,587 (£26,062). ## **Receipts** Overall, total receipts for all funds for the year were £175,581 (£110,697), boosted by receipt of a legacy- see below:- General Fund receipts increased compared to last year £170,267 (£104,697). Within these figures, the total ‘giving’ figure, that is regular giving, donations (including on-line), plate collections and gift-aid **decreased** last year to £40,283 (£44,110).It is noted that on-line donations increased in 2024 to £3,140 (£2,222). Page 5 Friends’ fund -raising income was £2,762 (£2,162) and hall rentals have increased to £14,380 (£12,970) and have now recovered to pre-pandemic levels of 2019, £14,530. Parochial fees were £1,204 (£1,071), and dividend and bank interest continued to contribute significantly to overall income at £15,184 (£12,717). Net rent for Whitstable Road for the year was £10,189 (£10,704). One-off grants received were £2,080 (£3,922). This figure comprises a grant from Streynshams for the defibrillator, an insurance claim £692, and £871 for VAT relief. Fund-raising, including coffee mornings totalled £4,878 (£4.139). We received an interim payment for a legacy from the estate of the Late Nellie Osborne for £75,000. ## **Expenditure** Total expenditures of all funds **increased** for the year to £110,034 (£90,390). Total expenditure in the General Fund was £108,098 (£84,904), of which the Parish Share was £43,802 (£43,107). Utility costs (church and hall, gas, water, electricity) decreased to £6,990 (£9,215). Church maintenance costs were £5,399 (£4,579). The main items were boiler service & gas leak £1,244; safety & security £2,397; gutter cleaning £792. Hall maintenance costs were £2,895 (£1,540) of which plumbing costs were £1,535. Capital expenditure for the year for the church was £2,673 -the main item was £1,446 for window repairs. Capex for hall was £2,103 comprising the projector screen £1,321 and replacement kitchen water boiler, £782. Capital expenditure on 69 Whitstable Road was £8,190, comprising a new boiler, £2,736 structural and bathroom repairs, £4,026, and loft insulation, £984. During the year donations were made to charities from restricted and unrestricted funds of £7,647 (£763). It is noted that this figure included donations of £3,200 which were agreed at the PCC of December 2023 but only paid in January 2024. ## **Funds Carried Forward** Total funds carried forward to 2024 are £620,507 (£546,573) of which unrestricted funds carried forward are £237,475 (£172,294). ## **Reserves Policy** It is PCC policy to maintain a balance of reserves of unrestricted funds of between twelve and twenty-four months unrestricted payments. Such reserves would allow for most emergency situations that may occur and will help to cushion any future decline in incoming resources. Fund balances will be held in the bank current account and CBF Church of England Funds. Page 6 INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS. REPORT -(Tr'I-IIF' I'.-IR()I'III.-11. ('III R(-11 I'()i N('Ii.i.()11 This report On the accounts ol the PCC lor the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 8 to 16. Is In respect of an examination carried out under Regulation 3 01 the ChLJrch Accounting Regulations 2006 and section 145 of the Charrties Act 2011 Respective responsibilities of PCC members and examiner As members ol the PCC you are responsible for the Pfepaiatton of the accounts you con51der that the audit requirement of the Regulations and s 144121 ol the Aci does noi apply 11 Is my fesw)nsibilily to Issue this report on those accounts In accordan￿ with the terms ol the Regulalions 8asis ol this ￿port My examination was carried out In accordance wilh the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under S 14515llbl of the Act and to be found In the Church guidance. 20C6 eoilion Thai examination Includes a review ol the accounting re¢ords kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts wilh those record$ It also Includes considering any unusual Items Of tyisclosufes In the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such mailers Thè prtxedures undertaken do not provide all Ihe evidence that would be rèquired ln an audit. and conseouenlly I do not express an audit opIn￿n on the view given by the accounts. Independent Examiners. Statement In connection with my examination. no matter has come lo my attention". lil which gives me reasonable cause to belove thal In any material respKt lh& requirements lo keep accouniing records In accordante with section 130 of the Act and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounling records and Comply wrth the requirements ol the Act and the Regulations have nol been met Of Iiil lo which. in my opinion. attention should be drawn In order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be ￿aChed I consider that l am able to sign this report on the basis of the attrove paragraph Peter Acotl SHPD Accountants Ltd 10 Littlebourne Road. Maidstone Kent ME14 50P Dated. 737zr P898 7 st Dunstans PCC Canterbury Statement of Financlal Acllvltles For the period Irom 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 Unrestrtcted lunds Resthcted fundk Etydowmènt funds TDtsI fvndx Prfor ￿ar total fund5 ncoming resourrps Incoming ￿sourC&S fr¢m g￿elated Ibnd5 Voluntery Income A¢iivll*S fOr￿ne￿￿tir￿a lur Inve51menl incovne Incomiro resources from ¢h8rWaNa r 6,373 144.185 07 144.185 620.507 TDtal lund5 237.475 142.125 24 Page 8 St Dunstans PCC Cant8rbury Balance Shegt detailed Asat 3111212024 AGat 3111212023 Fixed a558ts 6431." 69 wh￿s￿b* R 6432". Chut¢h Hall 6440" HA￿traP Legacy Inwtrhonl 6441. Helmore BeqtsÈst InvBslmBnt 6442. WaLkin5 MemDrfai Inveslment 644B' Rees L¢oxy In¥estmont rx>is 6449. CUF Pioperty Fund 00IP 6450.. Chwey Leg8ty lryvéslmtyil 6451. H8adl6y & Le9w lrTthtM￿ 6452." H8f•Jkryy & Lw Leswy PIOWty￿2P 3,450 93.272 lo4,￿0 10.792 25.607 71.$37 20,grK> 44.167 83,055 17.250 93.272 106.953 11.039 26.193 72.970 21.347 45.178 84.956 17.619 Tatsl 868•16 482.977 474.390 Current asset 6501". B8fik current zccowl 6510.. CBF depwrt O￿Ount r¥)1D 6513.. C8F D•wnAC CB1o06769￿l W L 6520.. Prep8yrftonts 6521.. Ravonuv 8590." Cash h hz 11.532 111.000 15,OOD 38,104 36,000 122 78 Totsi Cw•nl au• 137,65 72,1B3 6610. A¢¢n￿th DthTh•d IrK*w• 6620.. Cfedilorn ftsi 124 Z04.. P￿b 124 2￿ t2D.507 546.373 R•J•rv•s exc••Wld•ftlll 10 d￿ts Z01'. Sl•rtkno Z02.' Pol￿(￿%￿) 65.547 516.373 8.587 20.307 500.004 28.062 Towi Re￿5 62D.507 546,373 R•prns•nt•d by Fund ILhwB¥trkbJl 237,47S 142.125 240.￿7 172,294 136,398 237,681 Tol31 620,SD7 546,373 A￿D￿nts appMv￿bY.._ P•kner ffru51ool on T(￿ur￿l If 2 91512 r v Sdpdd 6liiK OF TXUJ fE¥ Page 9 Sl Dunstsns PCC Cynterbury Statement of Assèts and Ltabllltl•$ (by eod•l As at: 31 D•c•mber 2024 Clllss ond nomlml CDde G•n•w*l Il•siyrwi•d R•Jtrid•d EndrrtThnt Totsl Lllst y••¥ Flxed *tsset. IThv•st￿nts B440.' HAleslrap L£gBcy Invoslrnenl 6ty11' H¥lmDie Beqw51 lThvèElrnonl $442.. WaL*lns Wmorial Inv8gln*nl 6448.. Rees Leoaty Inv*sMeni 004S 6449.. C8F Prowrty Fund 001P 9450.. Cheyney LegaGy Invse by thè PCC. The purposes of restr￿ted funds are noted In the accounts. The accounts include transactions. as58ls and liabl1t￿S for th8 which Ihe PCC 8Tr held responsible . They do not inclLLd8 the 8ccounls of church groups thal owe an affiliatK)n to anothor body nor those thal Inlom)al gaihèrfros of ¢hureh rn8mter5. 1 Ibl Incomlng r•source$ Volunlsry income ond wit*lswc Colle¢ligns are ￿OgniSed when made. A￿K)unts rec8ivabk und8r covanant arè Mcognlséd only when honoured by the cov8nantor. Income tax recovernblè on o)V8nantal or glft atry donèllons is rec(>Jnised when rec6fvad. Grants an(J ￿gaC￿$ to the PCC are accounted for 05 soon as the PCC is Thjtlfied of Its •ntittement anrj th• likety amount d￿. Olhgr ordinaryincom• R&ntal incorne frorn k8ttiTva of church prnmw M 8ccwntod for oamed. 1 Icl R8BourGeB oxpendod Gr8nts Grants 8nd donations ore occountad lorwh8n ￿￿1. Costs Costs ars A¢ctsunièd for thèy Arè èxpsrthd. 1 Idl Flxed Assets Consecr81ed18nd and bU￿dIng8 andM0va￿ churth lumishff Consècrated and bènaftc8(I prts￿rtY Is excluded frcrn the accounts by s. 10(2llcl of the Charities Acl 2011. No value is placè(1 on Movab￿ church fumishings hekl by churchwardens Dn speoal Irusts for the PCC arKI which wuire a facumy for disposal since the PCC considers this lo btr an Inalienable property. All tsxpendrture (Juring the year on cor%secrated or bÈnÈfi¢ed buikjings Bnd n¥)vabkn clwrch I￿n￿h1￿Js. whother mainlanar￿ or imprniement, is wntten Fwhold Pruporty Freehold property is s18ted at CQ51. No depwi8tknn ￿ charyed agai¥￿t values 5tat8d. Fixed 8ss81 investments Inv8s1rn8nts ar8 inilialty recognised al Ihetr trans¥tA)n valuè and 5ub5equenlly rn885UTed 8t their market value as al the babnce sheet dale LtsiNJ the ¢k)5ing quoted market price. The stalernent of fingnciBI •dNities indud85 th8 net gains Bnd IDSses arisir*J on revalu8tKJn an<1 disyw)sals throughout the year.