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← The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Danehill

2023-12-31-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report All Saints Danehill with Chelwood Gate

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2023
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FROM THE VICAR AND CHURCHWARDENS

‘This is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.. we love because he first loved us.’ (1 John 4:10,19)

At All Saints Danehill with Chelwood Gate, our aim is to ‘know and share the love of Christ’. We love in response to the mercy he has shown to us, supremely revealed when he gave up his life upon the cross. We do this as we pray, serve and give so that God will be honoured and that more people will receive and enjoy his love.

Paddy would like to express his thanks to the Wardens, PCC and many others who have worked together towards these goals. Progress towards each part is described briefly below

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Pray

The early Christians ‘devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.’ (Acts 2:42) We continue to provide a wide variety of services where we can learn from the Scriptures and respond with prayer, praise and action. These range from 8am Book of Common Prayer, to 9.30am Communion and Morning Prayer including the special third Sunday services, to the modern AllSaints@4, to the 11am informal service. We are grateful to God for well-attended Christmas, Easter, Harvest and Remembrance Sunday events, as well as our various school assemblies and services.

With last year’s figures in brackets, there were an average of 21 adults at the nine thirty service (20 in 2021), 35 adults and 11 children at the eleven o’clock (33 and 12), 16 adults and 7 children at Worship@4 (2021 – 14 and 6). At Chelwood Gate, an average of 5 people attended 8am (2021 – 6). This year there were 11 funerals in church (7 in 2021), 10 christenings (4 last year) and 6 weddings (7 in 2021).

We ran a number of events to help nurture our faith and prayer life. These included an Alpha Course, Contemplative Prayer, online Thursday prayers and home groups meeting via Zoom and in person.

There have been a good variety of people who helped with leading services, preaching and the myriad of practical tasks and skills which are needed to enable us to provide worship and prayer for this parish.

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Serve

We are grateful for the way in which the staff, wardens, PCC and others have given freely of their time and skills in God’s service. It has been heartening to see new people using their gifts, from playing music, to being sidespeople, to providing tea and coffee after services.

We are thankful for the hard work of our youth & families’ worker, Josh Watson and Meg Coppin, our children & families’ worker. Josh and Meg have worked cheerfully in their different roles, ably assisted by the volunteer teams, to share God’s love with younger people and their families.

Food For Thought has been appreciated, helping us to serve older members of the community and others. The ‘Love Your Neighbour’ initiative continues to be appreciated in the village as a way of showing God’s love in action, along with the Food Bank collections in the church porch. Other excellent events have included Noah’s Ark parent and toddler group, Film Fridays, the ladies’ craft nights and the well-attended Ashdown Café, with its committed team of helpers.

The Parish Magazine and the church website have been useful ways to serve the church and community by providing news and information. Church members have continued to serve one another and those in the community through friendship as well as pastoral and practical support.

3

Give

Giving generously. We are thankful to God for those who have given sacrificially as a response to God’s kindness, and to enable the work of the church to continue and thrive.

We praise God for those who have enabled the church to meet its priorities through generous giving. The pandemic has had a knock-on impact and so your continued support in this area is vital to the church’s mission and is appreciated. Our thanks to Stefan as an efficient and strategic Treasurer and to Charles and Will for their assistance to him.

We have invested in our vision in a number of ways. This includes provision for the work with youth, children and families’ work which is crucial for the churches’ long-term future. We have undertaken minor repairs at both churches, installed display screens for the side pews at All Saints Danehill and have provided new equipment to monitor efficient oil usage.

Giving a warm welcome. We have tried to make our services as accessible as possible to visitors, and a number have commented on the warmth of welcome they have received.

Giving opportunities to grow. Home groups, whether on Zoom or in person, provide an excellent way to encourage ourselves and others in faith as we dwell upon how the Scriptures relate to our lives today and how we can apply them to daily life.

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Once again we would like to express our gratitude to the PCC, staff and all the church teams who do so much to support and to enable the practical running of the churches’ activities.

The Vicar would like to express his special thanks to Charles and Ash as Churchwardens for their support in a multitude of ways. The Churchwardens have combined strategic thinking with practical help and hard work at many events.

The Vicar is also thankful to his wife Gabriela for the support she has given in different areas of ministry including Food For Thought, Pathfinders, hospitality, pastoral care, and for her help and encouragement in many ways.

And so we praise God for all that He has done in us and through us over the last year! May we continue to pray, serve and give, knowing that He can do ‘immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.’ To Him be the glory, both now and forever. Amen.

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Children’s (& Families) Work

~~-~~ Noah’s Ark

The baby & toddler group meets on Monday mornings in All Saints Church. We have grown a lot in the last year with an average of about 22 families and 30+ children each Monday (not everyone comes weekly) and last term we had an all-time high of 37 children one Monday; very busy! We have snack time, a craft, story and singing (including Christian songs). Our main focus is on building relationships with the parents/carers and to show them God’s love. We receive comments about how welcoming and warm our church is. This year we have re-branded. My thanks to my wonderful team: Jennie M, Sue H, Fiona L, Jenny V, Susie O and Heather K - it wouldn’t happen without the team!

~~-~~ Invite Services We ask families to some of our invite services and were pleased with the attendance of Noah’s Ark families at the harvest which saw huge food donations going to the food bank. Our Nativity which featured Twinkle the donkey (aka a miniature Shetland pony), our thanks to Rachel R. Easter also saw good attendance and the children enjoyed an Easter egg hunt afterwards.

Film Friday – we have had 2 after-school films aimed and children & families each with an average of 80 in attendance. Thank you to Sue H and Jenna D who have kindly store ice creams and to Steve C who deals with clear up – no mean feat with that many children and ice creams!

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~~-~~ Sunday Club, Crèche & All Age Service Sunday Club & creche are continuing to thrive at the 11am service. This is important not only in teaching the children but allowing parents to sit in the service. We have an influx of younger ones and so have just moved our Year 6 children (x3) up to Pathfinders with Josh. The amazing team here are Olivia W, Chloe B, Melissa C, and Fiona L thank you to them for not only being there but all the preparation it takes.

~~-~~ All Age Service The All-Age service runs on the first Sunday of the month, with an action song, children/young people reading and leading prayers. I lead and co-ordinate this service and this helps with the link through for Noah’s Ark parents and it has been exciting to see 2-3 Noah’s Ark families who have started to come along on the first Sunday for this.

~~–~~ School Assemblies Along with Paddy & Josh I take assemblies at Danehill Primary School followed by playground duty, it is great to have this link, to provide bible teaching, get them singing Christian songs (with actions of course) and get to know the children. I have also visited Cumnor Pre-Prep for harvest and Easter assemblies.

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~~–~~ WonderZone Holiday Club this ran at the beginning of the summer holiday in 2022 with 22 children. A brilliant 2 days of activities, inflatable obstacle course, ce cream van, music and fun as we focused in on Jesus’ words of being to others as you would have them be to you. We finished with a gathering of the parents to show them all we had done. As I write we already have 16 booked for this year. Last year’s dedicated team were Steve C, Kerrie P, Sue H, Fiona L, Josh W, Lydia H and Bethany.

~~–~~ Baptism Support I have worked alongside Paddy where a Noah’s Ark family have requested a baptism in visiting them, chatting with them about baptism, the parental responsibilities and the service details. This again is a great link for the relationships we are building at Noah’s Ark.

These activities very much focus on relationships as part of our churches outreach, showing God’s love, serving our community and sharing the gospel. Please pray for this vital work, for all the families we come into contact with, and that God would prepare their hearts and guide us all.

Meg Coppin, Children’s (& Families) Worker children@allsaintsdanehill.org.uk

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The café has gone from strength to strength during the past year. There have been regular visitors and it has been good to see several younger people who stay for a long time talking and enjoying coffee, tea, cakes and biscuits. The senior gentlemen in the villages really enjoy themselves and have to be persuaded to go home at 12 o’clock.

The children from the Primary school come twice a year to entertain us and on those occasions the café is a sell-out. We are very grateful to James & the Badger class for the hard work and enthusiasm they put into their songs.

We do not operate to make a profit but due to people’s generosity we have been able to donate money to the Primary school, Macmillan nurses, Sussex & Surrey Air Ambulance, to DEC for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey & Sudan and to St Peter and St James Hospice. The café is a church initiative run for the community so we do not contribute to the church. Paddy comes to every café and it is a chance for him to talk to everyone informally. This is greatly appreciated by people in the villages.

We are very grateful to our band of cake makers, to the willing husbands who put tables & chairs away and to Josh & Ash who put up the tables & chairs on a Thursday evening. The biggest thanks must go to a wonderful crowd of ladies who serve coffee, tea and cakes and wash up - without them, the café wouldn’t happen.

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Shelagh Gilliam

Bellringers

Thankfully we have had a normal year of bellringing and have been able to ring for most Sunday services and for special occasions such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We were ringing to celebrate a wedding on 8th September when we heard the sad news that the Queen was gravely ill, so the following morning the muffles were put on the bells and we were ringing again in very different circumstances. We also rang on the morning of her funeral. Such is the power of bellringing that we can ring both to celebrate and to mourn, as well as to call people to worship.

We have noticed that two of the bells have become increasingly difficult to ring so asked White’s, a reputable firm of bell hangers to come and have a look which they did in November. The result was that the bells need a major and fairly expensive overhaul which will be happening in August 2023.

The handbell ringers were also in demand for an extra outing this year as we were asked to ring at the village celebrations for the Jubilee. After much practising we were able to ring God Save The Queen as well as some other suitable tunes. We also rang on eight occasions over the Christmas period in both nursing homes and for church services.

Susan Hollyman

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Chelwood Gate Church

We are grateful to the many people, both volunteers and paid helpers who care for Chelwood Gate Church. It is all much appreciated by the different groups and congregation.

We are still in need of some volunteer gardeners, if you want company as you weed, the Memorial Garden Crew work nearby from 2.30pm to 3.30pm each Wednesday.

If you would like to be involved, please contact Frances Parrish (01825 740465) or Jane Leuchars (01825 740273).

Electoral Roll

Last year we had 163 people listed on the electoral roll in 2022, when it was last updated.

In 2023 we have 167 people currently listed. 6 have come off the register (deceased) and 10 new people have been added.

Alice Marsh

(Electoral Roll officer)

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Coffee Plus report 2023

Our group has had another positive year of Bible study, prayer and close supportive fellowship. We have used a wide variety of study materials over the course of the last year and have found the website

www.faithandworship.com to be an extremely valuable resource. We are about to resume an in-depth study of Luke’s gospel having interrupted it to complete a Lent course based on the hymn “How Great Thou Art”.

Our members continue to be drawn from a wide variety of church backgrounds and neighbouring parishes and we value the richness that this diversity brings to our discussions. As well as meeting for study and prayer we also have regular get-togethers for coffee and chat, and recently had a wonderful lunch to celebrate an 80th birthday.

As a group, Coffee Plus has continued to make regular donations to charity. From March 2022 to February 2023, we supported the following charities:

All were gifted aided which added a further £250 to the money we donated.

Elizabeth Forty

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Contemplative Prayer

The group tries to contribute to the prayer life of the Parish by putting aside a quiet hour when we listen to God speaking to us through words from Scripture, seeking to increase our openness to God. After taking the Word into our minds and hearts during times of silence, we then use it in intercession for others. We meet every third Wednesday of the month at 10am in Chelwood Gate church: people come from our own Parish, and also from further afield and we value the fellowship that we enjoy. Not all of us can make the meetings, but we share the thoughts each month and use the time for private prayer, wherever we are.

In 2022 we held a Quiet day for Advent here in the Parish, and members of the group also attend an annual retreat at Wychcroft, the Southwark Diocesan Centre in Godstone.

Anyone is welcome to come and join us, on an occasional or regular basis.

Catherine Older

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Fabric Report

It’s been another extremely busy year for the Fabric Committee (Steve, Charles, Will and Robert). The regular maintenance activities for four properties (41 Oak Tree, Vicarage, All Saints and Chelwood Gate) are sizeable and continue ad infinitum – in fact we review and action 15 different maintenance items at each of our meetings. On top of this, the Fabric Committee also successfully managed and completed the following projects this year:

•The installation of HDMI and Display Screens at All Saints Danehill to allow everyone sitting in the side aisles to see what is on the main projection screen.

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•Minor repairs at Chelwood Gate including new strip lights in the kitchen, repairs to the leaking toilet and replacing faulty electric heaters.

•Preparation of 41 Oak Tree for the new tenant further to Josh & Kirsti’s house move.

•Repairs to the boiler and heating system at All Saints Danehill to keep it in good working order.

•Minor repairs at All Saints Danehill including emergency lighting, fixing the problem with general lighting, replacing faulty sockets and gravel for the path.

•Agreement for a new heating strategy at All Saints Danehill to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in 2030 involving the use of HVO fuel and carbon offsetting.

Current works in progress include:

•The repointing at All Saints Danehill of the tower and other parts of the building. This is a major project and the funding process could not have even got started without funding from the Friends. Further funding from external grant bodies is now required and being sought. We hope to do this work in 2024 and you will not be able to miss the necessary scaffolding!

•Essential repairs to the bells to ensure they can continue to sound. This is another major project and is only possible with the kind and generous support of private donations. We hope to do this work in 4Q 2023. Special thanks to the Bell Ringers for all their help & support.

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A huge thank you to Steve, Charles, Will and Robert, for all your ongoing time and effort which indirectly enables us to know and share the love of Christ. Special thanks must also go to those people who regularly work alongside the Fabric Committee – Russell Skinner the electrician, Bob Brown the plumber, Paul Edwards the handyman and heating consultant, Mick & Philippa Payne the gardeners, Hancocks the heating engineers and Mark Anderson the architect.

Safeguarding

It is important for us to be aware of our Safeguarding Policies, our Behaviour Code and where we can find Safeguarding resources so that we can be confident in tackling any safeguarding concerns. The key documents can be found at the website below.

www.allsaintsdanehill.org.uk/about-us/safeguarding A reminder to those who volunteer within the Church and hold DBS certificates that these need to be renewed every five years.

It is a requirement from the Diocese that anyone volunteering within the Church, especially with our Young People, holds a valid DBS certificate. I will be monitoring to ensure that the necessary certificates are in date. We have continued to welcome a number of new

volunteers to the existing numbers since last year and we continue to give thanks to God for those who continue to help in the Church. Fred Harrison, Safeguarding Officer

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Finance Report

2022 Review -During the year we successfully set up our new software package called Xero, and loaded it with all the transactions for the 2021 and 2022 years. This means that we now have full, up to date, management accounts available to us that give an accurate picture of the true state of our finances.

Our largest outlay is our contribution to the Parish Share. After 7 years of managing to pay this in full, in 2021, the year following Covid, we agreed to reduce this by £1,000 per month to £55,434. In 2022 we increased this by 3.9% to £57,596 and for this year, 2023, we are upping it again by 4.2% to £60,000. The aim is to get back to paying the Contribution in full by 2026.

Our fundraising in 2022 raised £83,761, and the income and grants for the extensive Children and Youth Work we undertake added a further £28,336 to that figure - making our total income for the year £112,007. The costs of running the 2 churches with all the attendant activities was £68,878 – meaning that our Church generated a net income for the year of £43,130.

However, this was still less than the £57,596 Parish Contribution. With the Parish Contribution added in, the result is an overall loss of £14,466 for the year. This means that we still have much work to do if we are to increase our income to the level of our outgoings, and avoid making further losses.

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Our greatest source of income is from regular donations. These come in 2 forms - regular giving by standing order bank transfers, and regular giving through the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS). With the former we must apply annually for Gift Aid of 25% from the government, with the latter we receive this each and every month directly. I am pleased to report that our PGS contributions have now overtaken our standing order donations, and continue to grow as new families join our congregation and pledge monthly to our church.

Ever alert to new technology we now have a credit card machine at the back of the church for those wishing to donate to the church by card. Nearly 37% of the donations made in church on a Sunday are now in the form of credit card payments coming from this new source.

Stefan Mercado Treasurer

Leading Services

It has been good to have a variety of people leading services, as part of our vision to have plenty of leaders. As well as the Vicar, those involved in 2022 have included Rev. Peter Francis, Andrew Hicks, Cedric Parrish, Fergus Llewellyn, Kevin Cherry, Meg and Steve Coppin, Josh and Kirsti Watson, Ash and Heather Kauffman and others.

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Flowers

As the head of the Church’s flower team my job is to prepare a rota for the year covering all the weeks when flowers are required. My team are divided into pairs and each one will cover between 4 and 6 weeks. Each week they will arrange two pedestals; one at the altar and the other by the pulpit.

At Festivals and weddings, I will call upon several of them to help with all the extra arrangements required! We are a very happy team and work together very well and I think and hope they enjoy it as much as I do. We are always on the lookout for more volunteers!!

Diana Freeland

Music

We have been grateful at the 9.30am service for the commitment and skill of David Usher, Simon Casciano, Katren Bishop and Barbara Beedle on the organ, with support on third Sundays from Josh and Juliet. Also for the singers and for Jenny Virtue who organises the hymn choices with input from Barbara and Katren. We give thanks for the 11am singers and musicians, especially our regulars, Simon Casciano, Josh Watson and Tamsyn Llewellyn, with Josh L. on percussion. Interest from additional organists, singers and musicians is welcomed.

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Home Groups

Home groups have continued to meet regularly and the number of participants has remained steady throughout the year. Two meetings are held on zoom and the third meets in a home. Each session is a blend of chatting and comparing notes on matters of interest to group members followed by a Bible study or reflection on an aspect of the Christian faith.

Over the past year groups have looked at Jesus through Old Testament eyes. This follows the example of our Lord when reminding two bewildered disciples after his Resurrection” beginning with Moses and the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures (Old Testament) the things concerning himself”: Luke 24 verse 27. Groups are always ready to welcome new members: it also possible to start another group. Meetings held in homes are accompanied by tea or coffee and tasty snacks.

Heather Heath

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Food for thought

A well-knit steady team which welcomed new helpers too has been able joyfully to serve the Lord and also to serve soup, cheese and hot bread. Should I mention cake? It has been a joy to see good friends coming in regularly. With new ones added we have between 14 to 26 people attending. Laughs and tragicomic moments abound toowe can provide three varieties of mushroom soup, and even serve our helpers the stand-by Heinz tomato soup (still in date) that was bought when we started. Too much cake is consumed despite firm plans made not to touch the temptation.

Help is always welcome, be it on the day, providing soup/cake, bringing in your shy neighbour, or being a listening ear to a lonely person while you are treating yourself to a good Sussex lunch. It’s a win-win situation. Every offer makes a difference. The relief I felt when Sue mentioned she could help with clearing up! When everyone is tired and some of us rush to get kids from school, what a blessing to have one more person to help at that moment! Your little help can make a huge difference.

Paddy tirelessly provides relevant and brief talks that always spark joy and thought. Like spotting the Christian symbols at the coronation, all those trinkets that made King Charles III look like a child receiving unusual Christmas presents. For more details, please see the Vicar!

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The team certainly took this verse seriously; “Serve the LORD with gladness!” (Psalm100:2). Ending this with heartfelt thanks to God and to each of the wonderful people that make it happen.

Gabriela MacBain and the team (Christine Colbourne, Sara Lawrence, Dee Ladd, Pippa Mercado, Elizabeth Forty, Sue Hicks, Jim Stott, Jenny Virtue)

Parish Magazine

The magazine has continued to thrive in 2022/3. Almost all issues filled 22 pages, and we continue to receive regular content on computing, wildlife, the Parish and Wealden councils and local history. Especially pleasing this year are the contributions from Danehill Primary School including two front covers. Advertising has dropped a little, but still occupies most of the magazine and brings in a useful income. In the coming year it would be good to try and cover more local social events, as this is an area we have not done as well.

Many thanks to my co- editor, Wren Martin, who has produced excellent copy every month without fail.

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The Love Your Neighbour team continued to show God’s love in a practical way throughout the year. Random acts of kindness continued in Danehill and Chelwood Gate, washing cars, clearing leaves and litter picking, completely free of charge (no donations allowed). The reactions have been amazing. Many people have been curious as to why our church would do this (leading the way to some wonderful conversations) and keen to understood more about what we do as a church.

Also, as part of Love Your Neighbour, we enhanced the Food Bank Collection Point at All Saints Danehill and created formal links with East Grinstead Food Bank.

You might not know but demand for the Foodbank is growing at 26% per annum so we are a critical and vital part of helping them meet demand - in Jan 2023 alone, they fed 227 people (28% of them are children!). Our thanks to all those people who regularly donate toiletries and food.

Finally, to say that we have also just launched our Love Your Neighbour campaign to collect specific items for the summer homeless during May (linking up with charity Turning-Tides). Again, thanks to all those people who have donated, it makes a real difference in the lives of homeless people.

Steve Coppin

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Pastoral Care

‘Pastoral care happens within the ordinary dimensions of life. It is not about problem solving or crisis management. Empathy is paramount, not sympathy. Listening is the prime activity, not talking. Everyone needs to care – to exercise care for others. Equally everyone needs to be cared for and to have someone to care for them’.

These are some notes from the diocesan pastoral care course taken recently by Shelagh Gilliam. If you would be interested in taking a similar course please let us know. A number of church-run activities provide opportunities for this kind of pastoral care, such as Ashdown Café, Food For Thought, the provision of lifts to hospitals and supporting those who may be struggling or isolated. The Vicar continues to be available for home communion, visits to the housebound and support in times of bereavement. Prayer and a listening ear is also available after the services at Danehill to those for whom this may be helpful.

Schools

Paddy, Josh and Meg have welcomed opportunities to take school assemblies and have helped with breaktime supervision. Paddy continues to serve as a school governor.

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In its recent SIAMS inspection (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) the school received a ‘good’ rating.

The school continues its termly services at the church. Danehill School, now led by new Headteacher Katie Jones is committed to ‘learning together, learning for life in all its fulness.’ The school seeks to embed its Christian values of curiosity, imagination, discipline, collaboration and persistence into all aspects of learning.

The church also enjoys good links with Cumnor House School and has had opportunities to lead services for its pupils.

Worship@4 – now AllSaints@4

During this year we rebranded Worship@4 as AllSaints@4 – making it clear that this is a “Chilled, Chatty and Modern” service. We ran on every 2nd and 4th Sunday throughout the year at 4pm at All Saints Danehill. Chatty talks have been provided by Ash & Heather Kauffman and Josh & Kirsti Watson (thank you all for your hard work!), with the service coordinated and led by Meg & Steve Coppin. It’s been great to see regular attendees from our church family AND those people who do not attend any other services, however the number of attendees remains below critical mass.

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Support Ministries

We are grateful to the many people who undertake 'behind the scenes' roles to help church services function smoothly. These include our Verger and Sacristan, Jennie Marten, who is such a help with weddings, baptisms, funerals, as a keyholder, in preparing Communion and in various other ways; the readers and pray-ers; Cedric Parrish for assisting with the news sheet; Jenny and Michael for hosting the men’s breakfast and Gabriela the ladies’ breakfast; for those who prepare rotas; Jayne Leuchars and Frances Parrish who have helped with rotas and practical matters at Chelwood Gate; the Lay Ministers of Communion and the sound and laptop operators.

We are thankful to Paul Marten for his flag raising and clock-winding; those who open and close the church; the sidespeople and welcomers and those who have served hot drinks. To Meg Coppin for her work with Planned Giving and in providing household supplies in church. To Steve Coppin for support on the fabric group, heating and in fixing many things in the church. To Heather Kauffman for support on publicity and social media. To Gloria Schools Horsfall who has assisted with preparation of slides and service sheets for the nine thirty. To the brass polishers. We express our thanks to all those who have helped with pastoral care and supporting the bereaved; also to those offering lifts, co-ordinated by Roy May.

We are also grateful to Will for help with banking; to the Friends; the parish magazine distributors, Ian and Adeline: and to many others.

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Website and Web Design

This year we created a new logo for All Saints. We wanted to make a clearer visual identity for the church and create a more consistent approach with design work across all the events and activities that go on. With this in mind we also updated the look of our website and any out-of-date information.

As a guideline as to how helpful it is to have a website for our church. In the last month (April 2023) the website has had 1,730 visits: roughly 50 visits a day.

You may have noticed that the parish mag has some lovely drawings on the front covers. These are contributions from the children at Danehill Primary School and each issue will have a new design. These designs will follow the seasons of the year.

Along with the Parish Mag we are also wanting to recognise how social media is a good way of letting people know what is going on in the life of the church. We are scheduling posts and trying to make sure that each event/group is shared regularly on our Facebook page. Schools What is really important is that people who follow us on Facebook, ‘like’ and ‘share’ the posts so lots of different demographics see them.

If your group/event need design work or would like anything specific shared on our Facebook page. Please email Heather Kauffman at hk.creations@outlook.com.

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Youth Work Report

2022 was the first year with zero Covid restrictions, so we were able to have a complete return to normality with all the youth groups, as well as begin thinking about the future direction for the youth ministry and how we can best to support the young people within our community. As such, there have been a couple of changes made to the structure of the youth groups which I believe will help encourage a focus on deeper discipleship.

We took young people to both May Camp and Newday, where we had a great time learning about God as well as having some fun in the process! We took 24 young people to May camp and 3 to Newday, and everyone came back saying they had a blast. We'll be returning to both camps this year!

TNT is our informal youth club that runs on a Thursday night, and is a night of fun and games where anyone in secondary school is welcome to come along. We've had an average attendance of 15 young people, as well as a couple of older young people who have stepped up to be 'Young Leaders'.

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ICE is a group for older young people. It has moved to a Tuesday night to allow us more time together and now makes use of Chelwood Gate church. We share a meal together and start a chat, which we continue whilst engaging in something practical/creative. We have 6 young people who regularly attend and together we have chatted about faith, politics and everything in between!

Pathfinders has been continuing on Sunday mornings alongside the 11am service, and is a bible study for young people that follows the readings in the main service. We currently see 7-8 young people each week, and encourage them to talk with their parents about the verses for the day when they get home.

H-Kafe runs in Horsted Keynes and is an after-school cafe on a Tuesday afternoon. We see around 15 young people each week straight off the school bus and is a great opportunity to engage with them as they are unwinding from sometimes difficult days. We provide them with a free waffle or pancakes and run a few games, as well as providing a space to relax. This is also home to the HK Youth Council Schools that meets once a month to discuss ways they can improve the village for the young people that live there.

We have been continuing to engage with Danehill Primary School, where we run assemblies and help with playground duty, and Oathall Secondary School where we help run a Lunchtime Christian Union on Wednesdays.

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We are also in the process of starting a forest youth group that will run on a Wednesday after school. Josh is currently in forest school training, and we will be using West Watch as our base of operations. The aim is to encourage young people to put down their phones and engage with this incredible world that God has made! We are on track to launch this group in September.

And lastly, a big thank you to our amazing volunteer team! We couldn't run these groups and events if it wasn't for the wonderful people giving up their free time to help us out. If you have any questions, or you'd like to support the youth work in any way, please do get in touch with Josh at youth@allsaintsdanehill.org.uk and I'll be happy to chat.

Josh Watson

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Parochial Church Council

The PCC is responsible for co-operating with the Vicar in promoting to the parish at large the whole mission and vision of the church. It is responsible for maintaining both church buildings, in Danehill and Chelwood Gate. The PCC has shown regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, seeking to represent the churches in sharing Christ's love in word and action. Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the APCM in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.

Our sincere and heartfelt thanks go to all who have served on the PCC.

The PCC members have been as follows: Vicar and Chair: Revd. Paddy MacBain* Warden and Vice Chair: Charles Critchley Warden: Ashley Kauffman Secretary: Kirsti Watson Safeguarding Officer: Fred Harrison

Ian Barras-Hill

Cameron Beardsmore, Catherine Cherry Steve Coppin Christine Colbourne, Jenna Davies Mae Lewis Will Loveridge Stefan Mercado.

Other roles: Meg Coppin, Electoral Roll, now Alice Marsh.

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF DANEHILL & CHELWOOD GATE

Registered charity number: 1145025

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

Notes
Incoming resources
Donations & legacies
2a
Trading activities
2b
Investment & rental income
2c
Charitable activities
2d
Other income
2e
Total incoming resources
Resources expended
Costs of raising funds
3a
Other trading costs
3b
Charitable activities
3c
Total resources expended
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources
Gain/Loss on sale of fixed asset
Gains / losses on investment assets
6
Transfer between funds - in
Transfer between funds - out
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward at 1 Jan. 2023
Total funds carried forward at 31 Dec. 2023		 TOTAL
TOTAL
General
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
FUNDS
FUNDS
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
£
67,004
283,792
3,806
0
354,603
83,585
12,693
0
0
0
12,693
12,609
8
214
131
21,552
21,905
14,560
3,495
0
0
0
3,495
6,078
1,078
0
12,353
0
13,431
11,377
84,278
284,006
16,290
21,552
406,127
128,208
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3,662
3,662
2,848
117,652
15,335
66,137
0
199,124
183,065
117,652
15,335
66,137
3,662
202,786
185,913
(33,374)
268,672
(49,847)
17,890
203,341
(57,704)
-
0
0
0
0
0
(1,858)
(1,858)
(4,665)
31,477
(78,887)
63,442
(16,032)
0
(18,060)
0
0
0
0
0
18,060
(1,897)
189,785
13,595
0
201,483
(62,370)
2,396
0
97,585
527,613
627,594
689,963
498
189,785
111,180
527,613
829,076
627,594

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF DANEHILL & CHELWOOD GATE

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023

Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Debtors
Short term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
NET ASSETS
Represented by - funds
General (unrestricted) funds
Designated funds
Restricted funds
Endowment funds
TOTAL CHURCH FUNDS
Investment assetsat market value
Creditors: less amounts falling due within one year		 Notes 23,348
200,313
215,359
439,020
(9,175)
 23,348
200,313
215,359
439,020
(9,175)
 2023
£
320,000
79,230
429,845
829,075
-
829,075
2
498
189,785
111,180
527,613
829,076
(2)		 2022
£
320,000
81,088
226,505
5
6
8
9
9
7
10
10
10
10
627,594
0
627,594
2,396
0
97,585
527,613
627,594

Approved by the Parochial Church Council on ….................. and signed on its behalf

Rev'd P. MacBain Chairman

The accompanying notes form a part of these financial statements.

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF DANEHILL & CHELWOOD GATE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

d Resources used

Resources expended are accounted for on an accruals basis and are accounted for gross.

Grants

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded where the award creates a binding obligation on the PCC.

Church Activities

The diocesan parish contribution is accounted for when paid. Any parish contribution unpaid at 31 December is provided for in these accounts as an operational (though not a legal) liability and is shown as a creditor in the balance sheet.

e Fixed Assets

Tangible fixed assets

Consecrated and beneficed property of any kind is excluded from the accounts by s.96(2) of the Charities Act 1993.

Movable church furnishing held by the Vicar and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal, are accounted as inalienable property unless consecrated. They are listed in the church's inventory which can be inspected. For inalienable property where there is insufficient cost information available, such assets are not valued in the accounts. Individual items acquired over £1000 have been capitalised in the accounts and depreciated over their useful economic life.

All expenditure on consecrated or beneficed buildings and individual items costing under £1000 are written off in the year they were incurred (immediately if covered by specific grant or bequest).

As the expenditure on the improvements at the Chelwood Gate Church will be funded by a legacy and fundraising, and the property is not registered as an asset in the accounts, and also will not affect the PCC's ability to pay its parish share, these costs will be written off in the year that they occur.

Depreciation

No depreciation is provided on freehold property as it is the PCC s policy to maintain these assets in a continual state of sound repair. The useful economic life of these assets is so long and residual values so high that any depreciation would not be material. These assets will be subject to annual impairment reviews. Provision will be made if there has been any permanent diminution in value.

Investments

Investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date and are Charifund Income Units and National Savings Income Bonds.

f Current Assets

Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors less provision for amounts that may prove not collectable.

Short term deposits consists of the Virgin Money Charity Account.

Cash at bank includes the Verger's, Noahs Ark and Parish Magazine petty cash floats.

Reserves policy

The balance on the Designated Fabric Fund is built up as a provision against the estimated costs of the next quinquennial inspection, together with the PCC property maintenance obligations.

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF DANEHILL & CHELWOOD GATE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

2 Incoming resources

aDonations & legacies
1_Planned giving
_2_Cash collections at services
_3_Special collections
_4_Sundry donations and appeals
_5_Income tax recoverable
_6_Grants
_7_Legacies
b_Trading activities
1_Fundraising
_2_Parish magazine
c_Investment income
1Rental income from property
2Dividends and interest
dCharitable activities
1_Church fees etc
e_Other income
Sundry
VAT reclaim
Total incoming resources		 TOTAL
TOTAL
General Designated
Restricted Endowment
FUNDS
FUNDS
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
£
£
38,786
38,786
31,455
9,016
9,016
8,012
0
13,792
13,792
3,007
19,202
0
3,806
23,009
25,489
0
0
8,623
0
0
7,000
270,000
0
270,000
0
67,004
283,792
3,806
0
354,603
83,585
2,942
2,942
3,481
9,751
9,751
9,128
12,693
0
0
0
12,693
12,609
16,800
16,800
9,936
8
214
131
4,752
5,105
4,624
8
214
131
21,552
21,905
14,560
3,495
3,495
6,078
3,495
0
0
0
3,495
6,078
1,078
12,353
13,431
11,377
0
0
1,078
0
12,353
0
13,431
11,377
84,278
284,006
16,290
21,552
406,127
128,208

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF DANEHILL & CHELWOOD GATE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

3 Resources expended

Resources expended
aCosts of raising funds
1_Special appeal costs
_2_Stewardship costs
b_Other trading costs
1_Fundraising
_2_Other
_3_41 Oaktree Cottages Purchase
_4_41 Oaktree Cottages Upkeep
_5_41 Oaktree Cottages Insurance
_6_41 Oaktree Cottages Council Tax
c_Charitable activities
_1_Missionary and charitable giving:
Overseas
Home Missions / Church Societies
Secular Charities
_1_Charitable Giving
_2_Diocesan parish contribution
_3_Clergy costs - vicar
_4_Youth / Families workers & costs
_5_Church utilities
_6_Church buildings upkeep
_7_Church service costs
_8_Church insurance
_9_Upkeep of grounds
_10_Parish magazine
_11_Courses and groups
_12_Other church activities
_13_PCC property costs - Robins
_14_Chelwood Gate church improvements
_15_Admin accounts
Total resources expended		 TOTAL
General
Designated Restricted Endowment
FUNDS
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
£
£
£
£
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,858
1,858
358
358
1,445
1,445
0
0
0
3,662
3,662
0
0
0
0
60,000
60,000
8,234
8,234
62,737
62,737
8,239
8,239
20,622
15,335
35,957
749
749
5,036
5,036
1,690
1,690
8,347
8,347
48
2,941
2,989
2,510
459
2,968
0
0
0.00
0
0
2,177
2,177
117,652
15,335
66,137
0
199,124
117,652
15,335
66,137
3,662
202,786

TOTAL FUNDS 2022 £

0 0 0 0 0 0 2,848 0 0 2,848

0 0 0 2,160 57,596 11,361 45,373 10,417 16,701 3,190 4,389 2,034 10,100 3,378 15,441 901 966 (941) 183,065 185,913

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF DANEHILL & CHELWOOD GATE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

4 Staff costs

a Wages and salaries

The youth worker received remuneration totalling £35,925

The Children's and Family Worker(s) received remuneration totalling £19,603

b Payments to PCC members

There were no payments to PCC members, or persons closely connected to them, or other related parties.

5
Tangible fixed assets
Cost or valuation
_1_At 1 January 2023 net book value
_2_Additions
_3_Disposals
_4_Revaluation
At 31 December 2023		 Freehold land
and buildings
£
320,000
-
-
-
320,000

The freehold land and buildings comprises of 41 Oaktree Cottages purchased on 11/12/2019 and is valued at its purchase price of £320,000.

6 Investments

_1_Market value 1 January 2023
_2_Disposals at carrying value
_3_Purchases at cost
_4_Net gain on revaluation
Market value 31 December 2023		 £
81,088
-
-
(1,858)
79,230

7 Analysis of Net assets by fund

_1_Fixed assets for church use
_2_Investment assets
_3_Current assets
_4_Current liabilities		 General
Designated
Restricted
Endowment Total Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
£
£
£
£
320,000
320,000
79,230
79,230
9,672
189,785
111,180
128,383
439,020
(9,175)
(9,175)
497
189,785
111,180
527,613
829,075

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF DANEHILL & CHELWOOD GATE

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

8 Debtors

_1_Income tax recoverable
_2_Year end oil stock
_3_Prepayments and accrued income
_4_Other debtors		 2023
2022
£
£
22,948 22,948
400 400
- 11,331 Magazine
- -
23,348 34,679

9 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

_1_Prepayments received
_2_Other creditors		 2023
2022
£
£
- -
9,175 6,632		 2022
9,175 6,632

10 Statement of funds

Unrestricted Fund
General fund
Designated Fund
Designated Bells Refurbishment
Designated fabric fund
Designated decorating fund
Designated Hazel Bailey
Designated Cafe Church
Restricted Fund
Vicar's Parish Mission Fund
Sunday Special Collections
Refreshment station/Plaque/AV
Hardy Fund
Youth workers
Barbara Lloyd
Endowment Fund
Robins
41 Oaktree Cottages
Endowment Cash
41 Oaktree upkeep
Robins costs
Total funds		 Bal b/fwd
Income Expenditure Transfers Revaluation
Bal c/fwd
1 Jan 2023
31 Dec 2023
£
£
£
£
£
2,396 84,278(117,652) 31,477
0 498
-
13,792 (15,335)
1,543
-
-
-
-
-
-270,214
(80,430)
189,785
-
-
-
284,006(15,335)
-78,887
0 189,785
530
530
8,3131,866
10,179
--
-
73,127131
(4,074)
69,184
014,293 (66,137) 51,924
81
15,615
- 15,592
31,207
97,585 16,290(66,137)
63,442
0 111,180
0
0
0
320,000 16,800
(16,800)
320,000
207,613 4,752
(2,894) (1,858)207,613
0
(3,662)
3,662
0
(0)
-
(0)
527,613
21,552(3,662) (16,032)
-1,858 527,613
627,594 406,127 (202,786) 0 (1,858) 829,076

The fabric fund and the property decorating funds are treated as unrestricted funds as they are financed from agreed PCC transfers from the general fund. They are used towards funding the future costs of any significant building, repair and maintenance work that may arise in the future, specifically the next quinquennial. The endowment is comprised of Robins (previously Marten Cottage); it is an expendable endowment.

Independent Examiner's Report to the PCC of All Saints, Danehill and Chelwood Gate for the Year Ended 31" December, 2023 This is my report to the Parothial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish IPCCI of All Saints, Danehill and Chelwood Gate, on the annual report for the year ended 31" December 2023 set out on pages 1-8 PCC members are responsible for the preparation of the annual reports. The PCC members consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 20111.the Charities Act") and that an independent examination is needed. It 15 my responsibility to- examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 14515llbl of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Respertive responsibilities of trustees and examiner My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or distlosure5 Ih4he accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures tjndertaken do not provide 311 the evidence that would be required in ars audit, and consequently no opinion Is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Basis of independent examinerfs statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act- and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper tjnderstanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the word5 in the (brackets) if they do not apply Independent examiner's statement Examlnerfs slgnature Examinerfs name CAPITAIS Date Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body if Gny Examinerfs address