2023/24 REPORT TO THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS
THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF SOUTHWARK
MITCHAM PARISH CHURCH
Charity Commission No: 1141719
St Peter & St Paul
Church Road Mitcham CR4 3BP
Aims & Purposes
The Parochial Church Council of Mitcham, St Peter & St Paul (‘the PCC’) has the responsibility of cooperating with the Incumbent, the Reverend Fr David Pennells, in promoting within the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Parish Church and the Parish Centre complex opposite the church building in Church Path, Mitcham.
Objectives and Activities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church building and to become part of the parish community of Mitcham Parish Church. The PCC maintains an overview of worship and activities and makes suggestions to the Incumbent as to how our Services and activities can involve the many groups that live within the parish boundary and beyond. Our Services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and Scripture, through the seven-fold Sacraments being celebrated - principally, the Holy Eucharist – and through music and occasional offices, such as Baptisms, Holy Matrimony and Funerals. The Bishop visits periodically to administer the rite of Confirmation, whilst the important ministry of Reconciliation (Confession) and Anointing (in a healing context) and Unction (“Last Rites”) are also administered as necessary / requested.
In planning our activities, the Incumbent and PCC are mindful of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit - and the specific guidance on the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people (‘the people in the pews’) to live out their faith through:
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Worship & Prayer ; learning about God and the revelation through Jesus Christ and the preaching of the Gospel.
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Providing pastoral care to people, especially those living or studying or working in the Parish.
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Missionary and Outreach work .
To facilitate and advance this work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of the historic Parish Church building (Grade II* Listed) and the adjacent modern Parish Centre Complex.
The Parish’s mission is regularly measured against the ‘Five Marks of Mission’ posited by the Anglican Communion. This approach forms the basis of the current agreed Parish Statement of Mission and Inclusion Statement. The Parish supports the Aims & Objectives of Inclusive Church, which reflect our open, liberal, modern Catholic approach to our faith journey.
Achievements and Performance 2022/23
Throughout this past year, as in most (DG) the Incumbent and PCC have been keen to offer a range of Worship Services on Sundays & during the week. Happily, the major Festivals of the Church have been celebrated with due reverence and dignity – Advent, Christmastide, Lent & Holy Week, Eastertide, Pentecost, Trinity & Corpus Christi, our Patronal Festival, Dedication, Harvest, All Saints’ & All Souls’, and Armistice / Remembrance Festivals have all been appropriately marked with due Anglican ceremony.
At present there are 118 people on our Parish Electoral Roll (May 2024). Average Sunday attendance is about 40 - 55 people, and Tuesday morning celebrations of the Eucharist now attracting a regular attendance of about 18 - 25 people. As well as our regular Eucharistic Services each week, other events (such as the bi-monthly ‘Julian Meetings’ and annual ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ Novena of Prayer between Ascension and Pentecost) enables our worshipping community to come together to pray, to praise and to thank God for the many blessings we continue to experience.
Through the ‘Occasional Offices’ of the church, we thank God for the gift of life (Baptism & Thanksgiving for Birth Services) and ask that the graces of the Holy Spirit will pour out on the candidate(s) – in Marriage we dedicate two people’s lives together in the sight of God and the assembled congregation, and at Funerals we give thanks for a life now complete, handing the lamented soul back to God’s merciful love, and seeking and offering support for those who grieve. Two Banns of Marriage sequences have occurred, as couples announce their Wedding plans. Parish records (April 23 to April 24) also show: six Baptisms, one Marriage ceremony, and sixteen Funerals and two Interment of Ashes have been celebrated; the first two categories taking place on site at the Church and the latter, Funerals, occasionally in church (especially for electoral roll members or parishioners) but now most often celebrated at local (or distant) Crematoria or Cemeteries, as suits the mourners and general circumstances. The Bishop of Kingston is due to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at MPC later in 2024.
Merton Deanery Synod
Three members of the Laity comprise the Parish representatives on the Deanery Synod, alongside the Vicar, Fr David Pennells & Assistant Priest of this Parish, the Reverend Jackie Cockfield; this provides the PCC with a link to the other churches within Merton Deanery (with boundaries co-terminus with the London Borough of Merton), with the Diocese of Southwark, ultimately linking through to the General Synod of the Church of England. Clergy also meet separately as a Deanery Chapter, holding regular meetings called by the Area Dean where issues of common concern are raised and collegiate support is offered and received. In March 2020, the Vicar was appointed as one of two Assistant Area Deans to Merton Deanery, and this role continues, involving support for other churches, alongside certain local inspections.
The Mitcham Group Ministry
This Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul, alongside the three other Anglican Parish Churches in Mitcham (namely: St Barnabas – St Mark – St Olave) form the Mitcham Group Ministry in which the four Mitcham parishes seek to cooperate, work and encourage each other in their ministries to the entire geographical area.
The Incumbents meet together regularly, when possible, to pray and share notes together. During these fellowship times, the concept of cooperation and joint working together comes to the fore: in encouraging each other, in listening to issues / problems, and in finding ways for the ministry of the Anglican churches in this place to serve the whole local area.
As a vehicle for shared ministry, tasks are often shared - and an interchangeability of Altar / Pulpit are agreed. Joint Services of Worship are planned and instigated, and activities, both spiritual and social, are encouraged. Relying on the cooperation of each constituent member, this Group concept proves to be a great success; the Group Confirmation Service is usually held in one of the Mitcham churches by rotation (MPC soon in November 2024).
The Parish Church
The present Parish Church building, a Grade II* Listed structure in Georgian Gothic Perpendicular style, has celebrated its Bicentenary in 2022 – having been built between the years of 1819 and 1822, on the exact ‘footprint’ of the previous mediaeval-founded structure, when it was rededicated and reopened for worship by the Bishop of London.
The PCC, in the past year or so, has seen, working with the Parish Architect, the remedial interior work after water infiltration due to faulty protection during the replacement / renovation of the South Vestry Roof, the South Aisle Roof and the Tower Roof. Plans enabled a Faculty to be granted by the Diocese, and the work, costing in the region of £130,000 started in August 2021. Bids for financial assistance have been successful to various charities: £10,000 being generously granted by Marshall’s Charities - and a further £50,000 being kindly given by Viridor Credits. Fortunately, the remedial work is being predominantly covered by Insurance cover. A long catalogue of dehumidifying the voids above the ceilings and drying out of the brick & plaster walls was the prelude to scaffolding in church for a few months, before the repair / restoration work was undertaken by Arte Conservation and completed by late 2023.
We are hoping to proceed with work to restore the exterior doors and notice boards as funds allow later in 2024
The Parish Centre Complex
The Parish Centre – which comprises of the Parish Office, a second office (hired out to an independent company), an assembly hall, a grassed garden area & ancillary rooms (toilets, storerooms and kitchen) – was previously an excellent and significant source of income to the parish, principally through the letting of the Centre Hall throughout the daytime on weekdays to a privately-run Day Care Centre for Asian elderly people. Sadly, the Day Centre had to close due to the Pandemic, and remained so; and a replacement earner has not been located. The Mitcham Community Choir meets to rehearse in the Hall one evening a week, The attic Theatre Company run a therapeutic Performance class, Irish Dancing is taught, and a Tai Chi Group meet one evening, and a Children’s Keyboard class runs weekly in term time.
The Parish Office - the administrative ‘hub’ of the Parish - is usually the locus of the part-time Parish Administrator and most parish-related administration flows through this office. The Administrator - Ms Sara Taylor - works Wednesday all day – and Thursday and Friday afternoons in the centre. Parish Centre Hall bookings for weekend and evening sessions have started to revive following the pandemic downturn, and Children’s parties at weekends are a popular booking.
The Parish Centre is regularly hired out to one Christian church community for regular Services on Sunday mid-morning to early afternoons, and it can also be hired for other social and community events (such as the Mitcham Community Choir, MP surgeries / meetings, gatherings of local Community & Interest Groups / Mothers’ Union Social Afternoons and Social Evenings. Quarterly ‘Jazz Cafe evenings’ in the past are being - we hope - revived.
The use of the Centre’s Hall for Mothers’ Union meetings and social events / International Evenings, Parish celebrations, etc. evidences its value as a parish resource, and the hall and garden are an asset for all.
Maintenance of the Parish Centre is the responsibility of the PCC Buildings’ Committee. The garden feature (maintained by a regular hall-user for us) is particularly welcome when an event is very well supported; the garden acts as an ‘overflow’ facility to obviate overcrowding. The Hall remains in a generally fair state of repair, though the kitchen and main hall will probably need repainting in the future.
Pastoral Care
A small number of parishioners are unable to attend church Services for various reasons, and the Incumbent and Assistant Priest, keep in contact with these people. They have regular visits for Holy Communion where appropriate / requested, so these members to maintain a link with the Parish Church. The Parish Newsletter is posted out to a small number.
The clergy have been pleased to often hear of other parishioners’ contact / social visits when they speak to those visited. Hospital visits are also a common feature for the clergy, who spend time at St George’s / St Helier's and The Royal Marsden Hospitals. St Raphael's Hospice in North Cheam, serving the Borough of Merton is also visited - as required.
The weekly published Newsletter is sent out electronically to many email addresses ( and this is also published on Facebook & Twitter & the CoE’s ‘A Church Near You’ Website ) This is valued as a ‘link’ to isolated people - who report the interest they find in ‘keeping up-to-date’ with Parish affairs. Parish groups – such as The Mothers’ Union, the Tuesday Morning Eucharist Church Group, the Church Choir, the Servers’ Team, the Merton Citizens’ Group, and the Bellringing Band, all provide interlinking and overlapping ‘care networks’ which provide care links and communication between individuals.
Mission and Evangelism
A principal aim of the PCC and the congregation is to be seen as a ‘serving community’ in the local parish area. To this end, two specific initiatives continued to run successfully and provide a number of parishioners with an ‘outward’ focus to support people in our local environs.
Active Parish membership of ‘Merton Citizens’ – a community organising coalition of many different (though currently principally faith-based) community institutions – which has opened Parishioners’ eyes to the issues which are important to our local community - and galvanised three principal Citizens’ working groups into action to challenge service providers in the fields of mental health, housing, and refugee support & welcoming.
The sharing of coordinated action is already showing results in a Pan-South London consultation exercise ( ‘South London Listens’ ), coordinated with local mental health Trusts, who now are supporting the establishment of ‘Be Well Hubs’ – one of which now operates here at the Parish Church. Continuing discussions concerning housing and homelessness issues with local housing providers, including Merton Council and relevant Housing Associations are ongoing to seek to enhance the support for those in housing need.
The mental-health focus continues to be promoted in Church by a monthly ‘Mental Health Be Well Hub’-focused discussion opportunity - led by one of our mental health champions - over coffee and refreshments - following the Parish Eucharist.
Other contacts: The Incumbent and PCC positively encourage engagement with local schools; Benedict, Bond, Cranmer, Cricket Green, Haslemere and William Morris schools have all visited the church to see the interior, to take part in project work or to engage with events such as ‘SingFest’ jointly arranged with Merton Music Foundation. Successful music-making sessions have again been arranged, again with Merton Music Foundation, involving a whole range of local schools, using professional musicians’ guidance.
Promotion: The Parish Church continues to be a major player in the Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage’s annual ‘Mitcham Heritage Day’ in September, with the Church, Bell Tower and Graveyard open to visitors. An Opera Performance (Mozart’s “The Magic Flute”) and a solo Piano Recital by local pianist Andrew Garrido drew capacity crowds to MPC.
Encouragement: The Incumbent continues to serve as a Trustee of Croydon Almshouse Charities, which amongst other functions, currently manages and supports the seven residents of the Mary Tate Almshouses on Mitcham Cricket Green. The Vicar also continues as Chair of the Trustees to the Wandle Industrial Museum - which is situated in Lower Green West & promotes educational opportunities linked with the industrial history of the local area.
Policing: The Vicar works with the South West London Basic Command Unit of the Metropolitan Police, chairing the Merton Borough Independent Advisory Group - and sitting on the Merton Safer Neighbourhood Board, Hate Crime Working Group and attending Cricket Green Ward Police consultation meetings.
Civic Involvement: This past year the Vicar has been Chaplain to The Worshipful the Mayor of Merton, Cllr Gill Manly. Alongside saying prayers to open full Council Meetings, he has also led the people of Mitcham in their Remembrance Day observances at Mitcham War Memorial.
Ecumenical Relationships
The PCC and Parish Church positively support the concept and activities of Churches Together in Mitcham (affiliated to Churches Together in England): this allows the coming-together of various local Christian denominations who speak with a common voice on issues of joint concern.
The Vicar continues to Chair this organisation, and works alongside the various Priests / Ministers in the town to promote joint working of the many denominations represented. The Vicar is also a member of the Merton Council‘s ‘Inter-Faith Forum’, and the South London Inter-Faith Group. Events, such as the open-air acts of witness on Good Friday and just before Christmas being popular, alongside some meetings been held in various churches such as the Jointly-led Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the five-week Lent Course, visiting various constituent churches. The Group also sponsors and staffs a Christmas Day luncheon at the Vestry Hall for those who would otherwise be alone on that Day.
The Parish Church also acts as the host Church to the Tamil-led Bethel International Missionary Church (Pastor: Titus Pirabakaran) which meet every Sunday afternoon after the Parish Church Service in the morning.
The one regular independent church congregation meeting in the Parish Centre is the Refuge Temple Community Assembly (Pastor Reginald Weir). They gather from 11am to 2pm each Sunday for praise and worship.
Volunteers and Safeguarding
We continue to remain grateful for the massive contribution our volunteers make to the wellbeing of the Parish, particularly in pastorally caring for one another, and also in staffing church-based activities. Such activities in church have included tasks such as arranging flowers, staffing / stewarding the church for the regular Services, and leading the singing, the Choir being directed by Andrew King, who now is our Organist after the retirement of Gill Campbell – who served faithfully for a number of years. Refreshments are served by a welcoming team of volunteers after every Service – an important community-building activity.
Safeguarding is an important aspect of our work, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable people and children in our midst. Jim Kirby has now taken over as our Safeguarding Officer, supported by the Incumbent. Where appropriate, Disclosure & Barring Service (‘DBS’) checks are carried out for those with designated roles where they may come into significant contact with vulnerable people. The Safeguarding procedures, based on the Diocesan model policy, is reviewed and endorsed every year by the PCC.
Structure, Governance and management
The method of appointment of PCC members is as set out in the statutory Church Representation Rules (2002) as subsequently amended. At Mitcham Parish Church the membership of the PCC usually consists of the Incumbent, the Assistant Priest licensed to the Parish, the Churchwardens and members elected by the congregation on a three-year rotating basis (three places per year) and the three representatives elected to the Merton Deanery Synod. Co-options are also made to the PCC by the Council.
All regular worshippers and those living within the Parish boundary are encouraged to apply to join the Parish Electoral Roll – which, amongst other aspects, qualifies people to stand for PCC membership, and to vote at formal Parish Meetings. There are 118 on the Roll.
PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the Parish, including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are spent. The full PCC met regularly during the past year. A good average attendance was noted at meetings.
Given its wide responsibilities the PCC has a number of subcommittees dealing with aspects of parish life. The subcommittees are the Standing Committee (only convened for emergency decisions between PCC meetings) Finance Committee, Buildings Committee and ‘Green Group’ – starting to look at ecological concerns and our involvement. All Committees and working groups report back to the full PCC and decisions are made at the full meetings.
Administrative information
Mitcham, St Peter & St Paul (Southwark Diocesan Code: KL3/172X)
is situated on Church Road, Mitcham,
in the Deanery of Merton, in the Diocese of Southwark and in the London Borough of Merton.
The Correspondence address is:
Mitcham Parish Church [e] mpcsspeterpaul@gmail.com The Parish Centre Church Path Mitcham CR4 3BN [t] 020 6848 1566
The Parish Administrator is Ms Sara Taylor
The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2020) and a charity registered with the Charity Commission No: 1141719.
Ex-Officio members:
Vicar: The Reverend Fr David M B Pennells – Chair Asst Priest: The Reverend Jackie Cockfield Deanery Synod Representatives: Mary Coggins ( also Deputy Warden ) Carole Hornsby ( also Deputy Warden ) Catherine Payne-Grey Elected members: Churchwardens: Caroline Muller-Carpenter Prince Swaray ( Vice-Chair ) Ordinary members: Ebele Belonwu Josephine Dixie Katherine Chandler (Hon Treasurer) Sylvia Gilpin-Jackson Valerie Hylton Jim Kirby Rachel Perera Co-opted members: Michael Carpenter David Coggins ( also Parish Safeguarding Officer )
Accounts and Annual Report of the PCC 2023/24
signed on their behalf by
David M B Pennells - Vicar
The Reverend Fr David Pennells SCP (PCC Chair)
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