Annual Report of the
Parochial Church Council
For the year ending
31st December 2024
11
St James, Church, Little Paxton
ST JAMES, CHURCH
FAXI
Index
Page
The Reverend Canon Annette Reed introduces the Annual Report for the
year to 31st December 2024
Administrative Information and Charity Registration
The PCC
Aims & Purposes
PCC Members from April 2024
Structure, Governance & Management
Achievements & Performance
Electoral Roll
Church Attendance-some summary statistics
Some YouTube statistics
Social Media outreach
Benefice Website
KIT (Keeping in Touch) Newsletter
Quartet
Community Use of Church Building
Events & Special Services in 2024
Funding the Mission of St James, Church
Mission Giving
Parish Giving
Church Fabric Report
Safeguarding Report
Deanery Synod Report
Churchyard Team Report
Tower Captain's Report
Simply Saturday Report
Contact Details
10
11
12
12
13
13
14
14
15
16
16
18
endix
Balance Sheet for year to 31 December 2024
Canon Annette Reed introduces the Annual Report for the year to 31 December 2024 and
looks forward to the future.
Thank you for the opportunity to look back to 2024.
Once again it was a very busy year in all respects for the St James Community and looking
through the report you will see a summary of the number of Sunday services we held along with
the much appreciated occasional offices: baptisms, weddings and funerals.
As you will see from the statistics in the report, we held 82 acts of worship including occasional
offices during 2024. The total adult footfall from those services was 3245 people. The average
st
number of people at the 9.15am service of Holy Communion was 32 and at the I Sunday in the
month 10.45am all age worship service 38.
Many of our Sunday services were also live streamed and these are watched either live or
recorded by a varying number of people and the total increases for each recording as the weeks
go by and people click on the You Tube site. Most services register well over 50 hits. Of course
we are very happy when people can come along in person but understand that for some that isn't
possible due to a variety of reasons. We even have a family who regularly watch from Kenya!
Alongside all of these services of course, the church continued to host a large and varied number
of community and social events which have now become well established in the daily calendar of
events. Our ever popular Tots and Carers Group and Friday morning Drop In have been running
since Autumn 2012 and it is always lovely to welcome new people. Although not introduced until
early 2024, Winter Warmer Soup lunches have also proved very popular which transform into
Spring Brunches in warmer weather.
Social media has also continued to be a useful way of keeping in touch for those who use
Facebook and online websites. We have 815 followers on our Facebook Page which we try to
keep updated with news and pictures. Our website page also carries current news and receives a
good number of hits.
The benefice Quartet magazine continues to be well received and is printed by a local printer,
enabling us to have some quality colour pages. In Little Paxton village it is distributed to c 170
households who ask for it to be hand delivered and pay £5.00 a year for the 10 editions.
The 'Keeping in Touch, leaflet originated from Covid times and goes out by email every Saturday
evening to a large number of people on our mailing list as well as about 25 copies being delivered
by hand. We appreciate the positive feedback which we receive about KIT. We also aim to have
regular articles in the various village magazines.
During the year several fund raising events took place which brought in essential income for the
parish, not least our Paxfest involvement, Race Night and the May plant Sale in the churchyard.
It goes without saying that offering such a busy programme of events and services needs an ener-
getic and efficient team to make sure arrangements are in order and everyone who comes into
church is safe. Our annual meeting is an opportunity to thank everyone involved in enabling the
St James, community to flourish and who often go the extra mile to offer hospitality and kindness
to everyone who comes through the south porch door. Taking of which, we were able at last to
dedicate a new south porch door in December after years of design negation and permissions.
It is never a very good idea to thank everyone by name as it risks missing someone out but the
roles of Community Space manager and Benefice Administrator undertaken so well by Graeme
Anness and Nicci Jones respectively are a vital factor in the efficient running of St James. Our
thanks of course as well to Nicci Jones and Helen Young, serving for a further year as our church
wardens. Thanks to Kate Bywater for continuing to look after our accounts with much diligence
and care.
I'm sure all of us at St James appreciated the ministry of LLM Mel Eyeons who decided in March
2024 to move to pastures new and explore some new avenues in her spiritual and church life.
We welcomed LLM Sandra Mccrow from Gamlingay Church towards the end of the year and she
is preparing to be licensed to the benefice in June 2025.
Our ever appreciative thanks to our esteemed bell ringers with their tower captain Mary
Parnham. They ring most Sundays and for special occasions when asked. Their ringing is most ap-
preciated, as is their availability for weddings and for the tolling of a single bell for a funeral.
Outside, our lovely churchyard continues to be cared for by the Churchyard Team
and you will
find a report from Dave Gutteridge on page 17. Our thanks to the Parish Council for their financial
support with churchyard maintenance, given as it has been a closed churchyard for full burials
since 1989. We are still able to inter ashes in the churchyard but as space in the current area has
been diminishing rapidly, the PCC put together a proposal in 2024 to create a new ashes area on
the north east side of the churchyard.
nd
This was passed by a Faculty measure on 22 July 2024. Reservations will not be possible in this
newly created area.
th
The Vicar's retirement - July 29 2025.
It is well known that I will be retiring in July when I will be 71. 1 have been very grateful for the
extra year I was granted by the Bishop.
When I retire, I will have served Great Paxton, Little Paxton and Diddington for nearly 19 years. In
2006 when l arrived, it was just three parishes and Southoe was added in June 2015. In all the
very many wonderful times and occasional challenges, it has been a great privilege to have served
as Vicar in Little Paxton.
I will find it hard to leave when the time comes as this will have been my home for so long and to
leave home, neighbourhood and friends upon retirement can be quite a challenge for clergy. As
retirement isn't a word that makes much sense to me, I will refer to it as leaving one type of
ministry for another. I'm sure that God will find me something useful to do!
If anyone asks what I would like as a leaving gift, its simple.
To know that when I leave it will be possible for this post to be advertised as a full time post so
that the four parishes can be suffi'ciently supported in such a way that leads to growth in all areas
of Christian life and ministry. For this to happen, the Benefice as a whole needs to continue to
find a large amount of ministry share every year, with the burden of that falling on the biggest of
the four churches, Little Paxton. I know just how great a challenge this can be.
My last service as Vicar will be at Little Paxton on Sunday 27th July at 10.30am.
I would like it to be a time of gratitude for our time together and an opportunity to commend the
future of the benefice churches and its people into God's safe keeping.
In the meantime, I will give my very best in these closing months to serve you all and have some
more fun along the way.
I will round off this introduction to the annual report
with the Ely Diocesan Prayer.
We praise and thank you, God of the journey,
for all your gifts to us in the past.
We look to you as fellow-traveller and faithful companion on the way ahead.
Shelter and protect us from all harm and anxiety.
Give us grace to let go of all that holds us back.
And grant us courage to meet the new life
You have promised us in Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Canon Annette Reed
April 2025
ST JAMES. CHURCH
LI T T L E V O
Administrative information
St James, Church of England parish church is situated in the village of Little Paxton,
Cambridgeshire. It is within the Deanery of St Neots (Diocese of Ely}, and is part of a
benefice of four churches with St Laurence's Church, Diddington; Holy Trinity Church, Great
Paxton; and St Leonard's Church in Southoe and Midloe. The Pastoral Scheme
creating this benefice came into force on l June 2015.
Charity Registration
During 2011, the Church registered with the Charity Commission. {Registration No. 1144292)
The PCC
Aims and Purposes
St James, Church PCC has the responsibility of working with and supporting our incumbent,
The Reverend Canon Annette Reed, in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral,
evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance
of St James, Church.
The PCC members who have served from l January 2024 until the date this report was
approved are as follows:
please note * denotes an ex-officio member):
Incumbent:
The Reverend Canon Annette Reed*
Chair
Churchwardens:
Helen Young,
Nicci Jones. (Safeguarding Officer)
Deputy Churchwardens:
Ken Heley
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
LLMS
Mel Eyeons
Stepped down from 24 March 2024
Representatives on the Deanery Synod for three years from their election date:
Nicci Jones (Churchwarden)
Elected from APCM 20 September 2020
Graeme Anness
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
Elected PCC Members:
Ken Heley
June Griffin
Lyn Harris
Jean Matheson
Anita Bailey
Graeme Anness
Glen Doick
Iris Slade
Kate Bywater (Treasurer)
Dennis Konadu
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
Stepped down from 24 March 2024
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
Stepped down from 24 March 2024
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
Elected from APCM 24 March 2024
Elected at PCC meeting 24th September 2024
Co-opted Members:
None
Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At
the APCM on 21 April 2013 it was agreed that all PCC members should stand for a period of
one year only and then stand for re-election year by year. This policy will be reviewed by the
APCM at least once every six years and will be reviewed again by 2025.
A new Benefice Administrator, Nicci Jones, was appointed in 2017 and due to the continual
growth in the benefice, the PCC of St James, Church, (meeting on the 20 March 2019), with the
support of Diddington, Southoe and Great Paxton PCCS, agreed to increase the hours of this
role to 12 hours per week with effect from l April 2019 and this arrangement continues.
The Community Space Manager for St James, Church, Graeme Anness, was appointed in April
2021 and is now a strategic member of the St James, team.
In 2024
PCC meetings held on:
23rd January 2024
6th March 2024
24th March 2024 {APCM)
26th June 2024
24th September 2024
5th November 2024
8th December 2024
Electoral Roll
The Electoral Roll is the foundation of the whole structure of synodical government in the
church. It contains the names and addresses of everyone who can vote at the Annual Parochial
Church meeting (APCM). As at 31 December 2024 there were 112 people on St James, Church
Electoral Roll. The Electoral Roll is revised annually. A notice announcing the revision of the Roll
is displayed on or near the church door for at least two week5 before the commencement of the
revision. The only people required to fill in an application form are those who have recently
moved into the parish, joined the church or reached the age of 16. The revision should be
completed between 15 and 28 days before the annual meeting. Every six years the Roll has to
be renewed. March 2025 would be six years since the current roll was renewed. As at the
meeting in April 2025, there were 85 people on St James, Church Electoral Roll.
The PCC would like to thank Nicci Jones for her work as Electoral Roll Offi'cer in 2024.
Church attendance
The world opened up again in 2022 and the total footfall rose to 3734 adults. The total footfall for
2024 was at 3283. The numbers at All Age Worship are still particularly encouraging. We began
livestreaming our Sunday services in January 2022 with Annette continuing to do some additional
YouTube videos during the year. We continued to provide live streamed services during 2024
which are well received. Numbers remain positive moving into 2025.
Attendance which was limited by various Covid re-
strictions
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Number of services
157
'64
'91
120
91
82
Total footfall of adults attending services
4692
.1503
.2232
3734
3384
2784
Total foorfall of children attending all services
1027
'54
'359
719
723
461
Average number of people at main 9.15 am Holy commun-
ion service (only 5 were held in 20211
Average number of communicants at main 9.15 am Holy
communion service
38
'31
'26
29
31.5
31.9
36
'31
'19
28
30.5
30.2
Number of home communions
30
Number of weddings
Number of funerals
io
13
Graveside service
Services held at crematorium & FD Premises
li
Interment of ashes
io
Memorial Services I'for the Queen 20221
Number of children baptised
13
io
15
Average number of adults at I, Sunday All Age Worship)
(only 2 held in 20211
Average number of children at All Age Worship
32
'40
'30
39
41
38
Number of Morning Prayer services on Sundays
27
13
12
17
Average number at Sunday Morning Prayer
services
23
28
28.25
28.4
Christingle, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day in-person ser-
vices12020 & 2021 include viewing
figure5Aor YouTube Chri5tma5 5ervice5 and 2022/2023for
Outdoor carols)
Easter Day attendance l+ viewing figures for YouTube East-
er Sunday 2020 & 2021.
(2022/2023 without
YouTube)
Wed a.m. Holy Communion average attendance12021 from
June) (monthly in 2023120241
290
260
213
270
276
225
70
231
213
72
53
45
Church Attendance Cont'd ..
Some random examples of YouTube statistics for numbers engaged with our livestreaming/
recordings during 2024. You will see from the figures that our on-line presence is highly valued.
Most of these views take place subsequent to the services.
Date
21st January 2024
21st April 2024
16th June 2024
14th July 2024
22nd September 2024
20th October 2024
8th December 2024
Service
Morning Prayer
Holy Communion
Morning Prayer
Holy Communion
Holy Communion
Morning Prayer
Carols by Candlelight
YouTube Viewing
142
70
42
30
65
101
101
During 2024 our livestreaming facility continued to be used frequently for Baptisms, Funerals and
Weddings together with many services having photograph presentations being projected onto a
screen.
Social Media outreach
The Paxtons Benefice Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/thepaxtonsbenefice
The Benefice Facebook page was created on 21 October 2012 and carries a lot of Great Paxton
news.
Since then, the Facebook page has reported on hundreds of benefice events and services, offered
some prayer space and reflections and frequently shares thoughrful pictures from across our four
churches.
We now have 816 followers and naturally, have to be mindful of obtaining permission from peo-
ple to post their picture and hope that we are always sensitive to this important safeguard.
We are always pleased when we receive positive comments about the page. It is a very good ve-
hicle to use when commending our YouTube videos and we are grateful that there is no cost in
having a Facebook Page account.
If you do engage with our Facebook Page, please do post or comment on something and say
'hello'!
Roughly every 28 days a post is viewed 4,000 times plus. Of these views, c 5% engage by
commenting.
Of those engaging, 77% are women and 22°A are men. Of these women, the two highest
categories who engage are 65+ closely followed by the 35-44 age range. These are mostly from
the St Neots or Huntingdon areas.
The Benefice Website
Another source of news about events is the benefice website which is maintained by our
administrator, Nicci Jones. There is a wealth of information about our benefice churches along
with publicising the many activities which happen across the benefice. Among the pages, you will
find a calendar with benefice events and a library of the Keeping in Touch weekly
newsletters and back issues of the Quartet magazine.
KIT (Keeping in Touch) Weekly Newsletter
Keeping in Touch (KIT) was another product of lockdown. The first edition came out on 28 March
2020 as a way to keep in touch with one another as we faced what we hoped would be a few
weeks of restrictions on meeting together.
Covering four sides of A5 in a leaflet format, originally produced to accompany the Sunday
YouTube service, it contains prayers, readings, reflections and news. Distributed via email to folk
on our parish database and, indeed, to anyone who expressed an interest in receiving it! 25+
copies are also hand delivered to folk in Little Paxton. We developed the design and incorporated
some colour pictures and generally followed the bible themes of any particular Sunday.
KIT has consistently been produced since 2020 and was particularly helpful in keeping in touch
with those who were needing to stay at home.
Thank you to those who have written articles for the KIT and Helen Young for formatting the
Vicar's text and printing off the colour copies. At this point I would also like to thank Helen and
also Angle Small for preparing our Pews News during 2024.
Quartet- Monthly Benefice Newsletter
Several people from across the benefice contribute regularly to the Quartet magazine across for
which we are again grateful. Our thanks go to Ken and Alison Bowles who kindly distribute Quar-
tet to the deliverers and for the efforts of those delivering around Little Paxton. Quartet is deliv-
ered to folk in Little Paxton who have signed up to receive the Newsletter at a cost of £5 per year.
It can also be read on our benefice website. It is also sent out to households in our other three
church communities and 450 copies are produced each month.
10
Community use of Church building
Throughout the year St James, Church is used by many different groups and we frequently
receive requests for new bookings.
The Grou
s who benefit from use of the church are:
Line-dancing group (Tuesday mornings}
Tots and carers group (Wednesday mornings)
Chair Pilates {Monday evenings & Tuesday mornings, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons)
K-fit group - Pilates (Thursday mornings)
Bell Ringing practice {Thursday evenings)
Tea, Coffee and chat group (Friday mornings)
Souper Monday (Community food - first Monday of the month)
Local History Group (monthly)
Fish and chip lunches (monthly)
Little Paxton W.1. (3, Monday of the month)
Little Paxton Pictures Cinema (last Tuesday of the month)
Simply Saturday- for those who like company on a Saturday (I Saturday of the month)
Little Paxton Pre-school Committee Meetings
Little Paxton School Concerts and Harvest services
Occasional choir practice nights
Children's parties for church linked families
One off meetings for village groups, e.g. AGMS, Brownie events
Deanery Synod meetings
Deanery Chapter meetings
Diocese meetings and trainings
st
Our communit
ace was additionall
used for the followin
events:
Clergy Chapter meetings-where a St James team provided refreshments.
Catering for Funerals as and when required for church linked families
Plant Sale & Ploughman's Lunch
Religious Education visits from Little Paxton Primary School
DAC (Diocesan Advisory Committee) Meeting
Bingo Nights (whilst the Village Hall was out of action)
Race Night (fundraising night)
Book & Puzzle Sale
As you can see from the extensive list . our church is busy on most days!
All bookings are managed by our Benefice Administrator (Nicci Jones) and there is an on-line
calendar which can be viewed on our benefice website.
11
Events, Films and special services that took place in 2024
26 January
27 January
30 January
4 February
27 February
21 March
Religious Education visist by Little Paxton Primary School
Special Service-Affirmation of Vows
Film - Forrest Gump
All Age Worship with Puppets
Film - The Bodyguard
Diocesan Advisory Committee Meeting
Bingo (every Friday until 19 April)
Film Ghost
Passover Meal
Devotional Hour for Holy Week
Children's Easter Singalong
Deanery Synod Meeting
Film - The Sixth Sense
Church space used for Polling Station
Greater Chapter Meeting
Plant Sale & Ploughman's Lunch
Film - The Talented Mr Ripley
Coffee Pot Film
Deanery Synod Meeting
Film Elizabeth
22 March
26 March
28 March
29 March
30 March
24 April
30 April
2May
18 May
25 May
28 May
29 May
19 June
25 June
13 July
28 July
30 July
27 August
24 September
28 September
7 October
18 October
23 October
27 October
PAXFEST
Benefice Service All Age Worship celebration of Annette's 70th
Film Pitch Perfect
Film - Young Victoria
Film My Best Friend's Wedding
Benefice Book & Puzzle Sale
Little Paxton Primary School Harvest Services
Race Night
Deanery Synod
All Souls Service
29 October
10 November
13 November
Film Cabaret
Annual Remembrance Service
Deanery Synod
Film Bridget Jones, Diary
Carols by Candlelight
Deanery Synod Meeting
Outdoor Carol Service
Little Paxton Primary School Carol Concert
Scout's Christingle Service
Christingle & First Communion of Chri5tma5 Services
Christmas Service with Communion for Christmas Day
26 November
8 December
11 December
14 December
16/17 December
18 December
24 December
25 December
No church community can thrive without steady financial support.
Kate reported although there was a large difference between last years, income and expenditure,
there had been expenditure on the new door and the QI repair works. By the end of 2024, we
had held around £5,500 in the general account, with £26,000 in the Restoration account. It was
clear that the money coming in from our special events during 2024 had made a huge
contribution to our ability to pay the majority of our ministry share last year. The 100 Club was
also looking very healthy at the moment, and Simply Saturday currently have around £4,500 in
the general account.
st
The accounts up to 31 December 2024 were agreed at the March PCC meeting
Kate confirmed that the £20,000 Grant from the National Lottery Awards had been received. In
agreement with the Standing Committee, she had opened a new account and the Grant was
currently in that account earning some much needed interest. It was felt this would be a better
way of managing the money in order that it was not mixed in with the ministry share funds.
Kate confirmed that the first payment of the ministry share had been paid. She suggested that if
we are able to maintain £4,200 per month over the year we will have paid the true cost of
ministry by the end of the year.
Kate reported that the Parish Giving Scheme was currently bringing in around £700 per month. It
was agreed by the PCC that it would be worth re-advertising the £1 challenge during 2025.
The PCC thanked Kate for all her hard work over the past year and for her continued work and
assistance in maintaining our financial position.
We do want to also say a big thank you to:
Alison Bowles for completing the Gift Aid returns.
Helen Young for running the 100 Club and to everyone who subscribes to it- it
continues to provide a valuable source of income for the maintenance and upkeep of the church
building, appliances and equipment. The 100 Club had 102 members by the end of 2024.
Sarah Symonds for auditing our accounts.
13
Parish Giving Scheme
A small number of our regular congregation have signed up for the Parish Giving Scheme - a form
of tax efficient giving by Direct Debit- and we are hoping to continue this during 2025 by
continuing to push our £1 Challenge promotion. We have been trying to make people within the
Village, who don't use the church regularly but do still enjoy the benefits of our community space,
aware that we require continued funding to maintain the space and to provide all the wonderful
events and services on a regular basis. We have made a positive start so far. All applications can
now be completed on-line.
Church Fabric Report
The PCC began investigating and considering a suitable replacement for the South Porch Door
which has become warped and difficult to lock from 2020. This has been an involved process with
architects, the Diocesan Advisory Committee and Huntingdonshire District Council, including a
Faculty application Church of England. We are pleased to report that a new door has now been
installed.
Item(s) inspected
Inspection
Frequency
Annual
Inspection
Date
12 May 2023
Notes
Clock
Maintenance survey carried out
by Ken Heley and Eric Young. PCC
keeping under annual review the
possible need for a
professional inspection.
Due in 2024
Effluent Pump
Bells and Bell
Frame
5 yearly
12 June 2019
25 May 2022
Service not required annually
PAT Testing
Gutters
Annual
21 June 2023
Collins Electrical
Annual
13 Jan 2023
Checked outside soakaway drains
Due in 2028
Electrics
5 yearly
Annual
12 June 2023
Boiler Service
20 Feb 2023
New boiler installed 6 February
2021
Due in 2026
Lightning
Conductors
Fire Extinguishers
Drains,
Gulleys & lighting
Copper Strip on
Nave Roof
5 yearly
7 June 2021
Annual
11 Jan 2024
New extinguishers installed
Drains and accessible gulleys
cleaned Jan 2023.
Abbey Roofi'ng fixed length of
copper strip on nave roof which
was insecure. No charge
Unofficial
Not inspected
July 2023
14
Safeguarding Report for the Benefice of the Paxtons with Diddington and Southoe
Prepared by Benefice Safeguarding Officer Nicci Jones assisted by Graeme Anness.
Our work is based on the House of Bishops statement:
The Church of England safeguarding policy statement is based on five foundations and offers six
overarching policy commitments:
Promoting a safer environment and culture
Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young peo-
ple and vulnerable adults within the Church
Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons
Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other
affected persons
Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.
Nicci Jones is our named benefice Safeguarding Officer.
During 2024, Nicci Jones & Graeme Anness (DBS Administrator) have continued to make sure that
all PCC members across the benefice have been DBS checked. At this stage, Nicci and Graeme
have confirmed that 90/0 of all PCC members have been checked. All Great Paxton PCC members
are currently DBS checked up to date. Nicci has set up a spreadsheet to now monitor renewals as
they occur. We continue to use the Diocesan Parish Safeguarding Dashboard for monitoring and
recording safeguarding practices required of each church community. The team endeavours to
keep up-to-date and deal with any action requests from Ely Diocese.
Every three years, all Church officers are required to repeat their highest level of training course
completed and training has continued to take place across the benefice during 2024.
Safeguarding is on every agenda of all benefice PCC Meetings and APCMS to ensure we are all
very conscious of this important caring responsibility. Safeguarding contact details are available in
all four of our benefice churches. It is a requirement of all PCC members and Church Officers to
undertake the Basic & Foundation training. This can be done online or within a training course.
Nicci and Graeme endeavour to run training courses for all benefice PCC members and make it as
convenient as possible. The PCC would like to take this opportunity to thank Nicci Jones and
Graeme Anness for their work in the essential roles of Benefice Safeguarding Officer and DBS
Administrator. We are currently looking for a person (or persons) who might like to be involved
with this very important work of safeguarding. If you are interested in assisting, or know of
someone who may be interested please do get in touch with one of the team.
The Deanery Synod report for 2024 by Catherina Griffiths, Deanery Synod Secretary
The Synod has met four times during the year at Little Paxton Church to discuss matters of
interest for the parishes of the deanery. Ruth New, Development Officer for Children and
Families, attended the April meeting to explain her role in supporting work with children and
families in the diocese. The Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech, Ven Richard Harlow
attended the November meeting and spoke about the importance of safeguarding and also future
allocation of clergy in the deanery. The latter and concerns over the payment of Ministry Share
prompted an extra meeting in December. Parishes are finding it increasingly difficult to pay the
share and if it is not paid in full by the end of the year there is no deanery rebate and there is
likely to be an even higher increase in requested share to pay for ministry. This will impact on the
desire to fund a part time priest in St Neots East. The PCC would like to thank Nicci Jones &
Graeme Anness for continuing to represent Little Paxton at the Deanery meetings.
15
Churchyard Maintenance
Notes from Dave Gutteridge.
There is always plenty to do for the churchyard team!
We keep the grave areas tidy, there is always plenty of weeding, strimming, mowing plus the
thousands of leaves to clear at the year's end. We are very pleased to have some new mowers
and rakes- a great help for surel
We also clear the guttering when needed. All in all the churchyard is a very nice place to keep
tidy. And we always have tea and biscuits at half time.
We would be delighted to welcome any new volunteers so do give me a ring on 07895390400 if
you would like to know more.
Dave Gutteridge
The PCC and congregation are extremely grateful to the churchyard team. Thanks and all good
wishes to Dave Gutteridge and the team. The churchyard gives much pleasure to us all.
Tower Captain's report- March 2025
2024 was a busy year for the bellringers. We have rung for most Sunday services and continued
with our practice sessions on Thursday evenings.
A bell has been tolled for 4 funerals and rung for I wedding. The bells were rung half-muffled for
Remembrance Sunday.
We had I visiting band this year, coming from Chester.
The spliced tenor rope was replaced with a used rope. The 3, rope became very frayed, and a
splice was put in the tail to enable us to continue ringing it, although it is not very satisfactory.
th
The rope on the 5 is also fraying. We applied to the PCC for a set of new ropes, which was grant-
ed and we are very pleased to have been given the go-ahead to place an order with Ellis Ropes.
The ropes were due to arrive in January. We are very grateful to all the sponsors who have ena-
bled this to happen.
We would like to recruit some new ringers, as our numbers are depleting. We manage to ring
most Sundays still, although you may only hear 4 or 5 bells instead of the 6.
I would like to finish by saying thank you to all the ringers who support St James and dedicate
their time to the Thursday practice and service ringing. It is important to keep the art of ringing
alive and to give service to the church in this way.
Mary Parnham
Tower Captain/Ringing Master
The PCC and congregation are extremely grateful to Mary and her team.
16
SIMPLY SATURDAY ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2024
At our monthly Simply Saturday meetings (with a 'bring and share, lunch followed by
entertainment) the numbers have continued to grow over the past year.
ENTERTAINMENT:
We have had a mixture of Talks and Singers over the past year which have proved very popular.
We again continued to provide a catered Christmas lunch which our members continue to look
forward to each year and this has been made possible by grants and donations to the group.
We again involved our members in Paxfest in the Summer, asking for donations to make up
hampers, to be raffled off to raise funds so we could continue the group, this has proved very
popular as members continue to be involved.
We have a full and varied list of Entertainment booked for 2025 which we hope will be
very popular. Our members look forward to coming each month and interacting with each other
and making new friends too.
Leisa Hunt
17
Contact details:
The Reverend Canon Annette Reed
The Vicarage, 24 St James, Road, Little Paxton, PE19 6QW
Tel: 01480 211048
Email: canonannettereed
mail.com
Churchwarden
Helen Young
10 Little Paxton Lane, Little Paxton, PE19 6EP
Tel: 01480 216255
Email:
oun
axton
ntlworld.com
Benefice Administrator (Churchwarden, PCC Secretary and Safeguarding Officer)
Nicci Jones
c /0 The Vicarage, 24 St James, Road, Little Paxton, PE19 6QW
Tel: 01480 877215
Email: admin
the
axtonsbenefice.or
Treasurer
Kate Bywater
Email: kb
water.church
mail.com
Community Space Manager
Graeme Anness
Email:
raemeanness
mail.com
Benefice Website www.the
axtonsbenefice.or
Facebook www.facebook.com
hePaxtonsBenefice
(All information contained in this report is correct at the time of printing)
18
St James Church 2024
ST JAMES. CMLIRCH
£1 Challenge!
We have created a challenge to
help us continue to provide a warm
omfort8ble 8pa¢e for community
use. Can you help us achieve our
go81 ol finding 500 people to
donate £1 per month7
To Donate By Phone..
Simply call 0333 002 1271, Monday lo
Fridsy. 9sm- 5pm. 10 Sei up 8 Direct Debit.
You will need to have your personal bank
8ccouni dei8il¥, church n8me ISI Jame8,
Ir+•41 |1++
Scheme eode 140614221.
wgdding¥. b9Pti¥m6 ondlvn¢rJli.ourcornmunily
To Donate Online:
FIBh gnd Chip Lunch
SèiurdBy Lunch Group
Hiytory Gioup
D8nceand ExercIGroUp&
Simply s¢an the QFI Code below or oo to.,
www.parishgiving.org.ukldonorslfiThd-
neolsl
4u Would IlkÈ to bt part 014ur effoiti by
donailng El lor rnoiel pei rnonih pleaie #ee
th• InlormAtlon appo*ll•. Th4nkyoul
## St James Little Paxton PCC
|Accounts for Year to 31
**Income**|Accounts for Year to 31
**Income**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||~~t December 2024~~
**2024**|||
|Collectons||||4,798.04|
|Donatons||||5,445.27|
|Covenants/Regular Giving||||12,565.81|
|100 Club||||10,000.00|
|Loans received||||0.00|
|ElyDB Gif Aid Refund||||5,943.56|
|CBF Income Fund||||2,060.57|
|||Net|Gross||
|Special Events|Garden Plants & Tools Sale|1,238.00|1,238.00||
||SoupKitchen|3,592.14|3,657.14||
||Amazon Smile|0.00|0.00||
||Paxfest|1,706.53|2,067.18||
||Quiz Night|0.00|0.00||
||Tombola at The Anchor|0.00|0.00||
||Books, Cards, Preserves, Puzzles &
Tower|302.05|302.05||
||Race Night|438.65|438.65||
||Preserves|0.00|0.00||
||Puzzles|0.00|0.00||
||Open Day|196.71|196.71||
||Film Shows|712.07|1,049.92||
||Book & Puzzle Sale|553.06|553.06||
||Carols Around the Tree|0.00|0.00||
||**Total**|**8,739.21**||**9,502.71**|
|Sundry|Other - Benefce contributons|||2,204.27|
||Grant|||4,550.00|
||Grave reservaton fee|||600.00|
|Fees|Diocese fees||3,633.00||
||Statutoryretained fees||1,730.00||
||Heatng,fowers etc||470.00||
||**Total**|||**5,833.00**|
|Parish Council||||837.16|
|Rent||||1,522.90|
|Quartet/printng/stall||||584.00|
|Church Use||||8,324.59|
|VAT Reclaimed||||2,386.65|
|**Sub total**||||**77,158.53**|
||||||
|General account balance at 1st January||||10,661.87|
|Bank account 1 at 1st January|||0.00||
|General a/c|Interest||0.00||
||Transfers in||19,921.57||
||Transfer out||(12,426.48)|7,495.09|
|Projects Account balance at 1st January|||2,565.68||
||Interest||0.00||
||Transfers in||0.00||
||Transfer out||(2,565.68)|0.00|
|Restoraton account at 1st January|||31,240.03||
|61412003D|Transfer in/donatons||12,426.48||
||Grants||0.00||
||Payments||(17,355.89)||
||Interest||0.00|26,310.62|
|100 Club balance at 1st January|||10,612.67||
||Donatons||4,673.99||
||Transfer out||(10,000.00)||
||HDC LoteryLicence||(20.00)||
||Drawpayments||(1,530.00)|3,736.66|
|SimplySaturdaymoneyheld byPCC||||4,133.59|
|**Total**||||**129,496.36**|
Page 1 of 3
: Final Acs
St James Little Paxton PCC Accounts for Year to 31st December 2024
||||**2024**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Expenditure**|||£|£|
|Ministry|Ministryshare||41,288.91||
||Vicar's Expenses||1,409.04||
||LayMinister(LLM)Expenses||153.20||
||Copying/admin||1,110.34||
||Quartet magazine||1,480.00||
||Wafers/Candles/Bibles/Certs/Crosses||300.68||
||Benefce Gathering||0.00||
||Benefce administrator||4,928.13||
||**Total**|||**50,670.30**|
|Fabric & Maintenance|Restoraton||17,639.09||
||Caretaker||4,814.14||
||Insurance||2,094.62||
||Churchyard Maintenance||865.25||
||Electricity||2,329.26||
||Gas||2,908.19||
||Anglian Water||237.39||
||Boiler||204.00||
||SundryMaintenance||415.50||
||Housekeeping||1,041.71||
||Toilet Evacuaton service||0.00||
||Copier/Toner||0.00||
||Flowers||386.14||
||**Total**|||**32,935.29**|
||Fund raisingexpenses||801.77||
|SundryDonatons|Jimmy's Night Shelter||300.00||
||Royal Britsh Legion||200.00||
||Children's Society||175.00||
||Sue Ryder Hospice||175.00||
||Cambs Historic Churches||50.00||
||Parish Giving||0.00||
||**Total**|||**1,701.77**|
|SundryPayments|Fees ElyDBF||3,633.00||
||Defb Pads & Batery||0.00||
||Tots GroupEquipment & expenses||692.10||
||The Goodbox Co. & SumUp||27.84||
||Sundry||0.00||
||**Total**|||**4,352.94**|
|**Sub total**||||**89,660.30**|
||||||
|General Account balance||||11,765.83|
|Accruals||||(1,977.05)|
|Projects Bank Account||||0.00|
|CCLA Account 4 - Restoraton Fund||||26,310.62|
|100 Club Account||||3,736.66|
|**Total**||||**129,496.36**|
||||||
||Check Total:|||0.00|
## **CCLA Account CB3025111-001 / 614142001S - Church Lands**
1,031 shares at 2312.27 pence per share
£23,839.50
Page 2 of 3
: Final Acs
18111
Independent examiner's report to the PCC of St James Little Paxton
This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31, December 2024, which are
set out on pages l and 2, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church
Accounting Regulations 20061'the Regulations'l and s.43 of the Charities Act 19931'the Act,).
Respective responsibilities of the PCC and examiner
As a member of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements,. you
consider that the audit requirement of the Regulations and s.43 {21 of the Act does not apply. It is
my responsibility to issue this report on those fi na ncial statements in accordance with the terms of
the Regulations.
Basis of this report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity
Commission under s.43171 Ibl of the Act and to be found in the Church guidance, 2006 edition. That
examination includes a review of the accounting record5 kept by the PCC and a comparison of the
accounts with those records. It also i ncludes considering any unusual items or disclosu res in the
financial statements and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The
procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and
consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention..
111 which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
To keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and
To prepare financial statement, which accord with the accounting records and
comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, have not been met.,
121 to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Sarah E Symonds
6 Elm Croft
Little Paxton
th
Date: 27 February 2025