2024-12-31-accounts

PCC SECRETARY REPORT

Background The Benefice is held in plurality with Pen Selwood. The incumbent, Rev Alison Way, resigned late 2023 and left the Parish at Easter 2024. Subsequently the incumbent’s role has not been filled. The Lay Reader is Mrs Penny Ashton.

Membership

The PCC is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. Registered Number 1154897 Members of the PCC are elected in accordance with the Church Representation rules at the Annual Parochial Meeting.

During the year the following	served on the PCC
Incumbent Chair	Rev Alison Way (until March)
Vice Chair	Mrs Penny Ashton	Elected	2023
Chair	Mrs Penny Ashton (after March)
Wardens	Mrs Judy Chiplen	“””	2023
	Mrs Gill Oaten	“””	2023
Deputies	Mrs Sylvie Pattison	“””	2023
	Mrs Mary Wallis		2023
Treasurer	Mr Phil Thomas (co-opted)		2023
Deanery Synod Reps	Mrs Penny Ashton		2023
	Mrs Joanna Durham Matthews		2023
Electoral Roll Officer	Mrs Rosemary Keep		2023
Safeguarding Officer	Mrs Nicky King		2024
Safeguarding Officer (admin)	Mrs Janet Lowe		2023
Elected Members	Mr Chris Avery		2024
	Mrs Elizabeth Baxter		2022
	Mrs Joanna Ebner		2023
	Mr Jim Ebner		2024
	Mrs Sue Hall		2022
	Mrs Elizabeth Vivyan		2022
PCC Secretary	Mrs Rosemary Keep		2023

Through the year there were 7 PCC meetings all held in the church. PCC agendas and immediate issues were agreed between the Rector (until March 2024), the reader, wardens and administrator. Some decisions had to be made between meetings in consultation with members which were subsequently ratified at following meetings.

The PCC is a statutory body and is required to co-operate with the incumbent in promoting the mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelical, social and ecumenical. In addition, the PCC is responsible for the care, maintenance and insurance of the fabric, goods and ornaments of the Church and the care of the Churchyard in order to ensure that present and future community needs are met. The PCC advises and provides guidance on all matters undertaken in the name of St Peter and St Paul Wincanton. The PCC is responsible for monitoring church finances and expenditure.

Fundraising Committee

A full programme of fundraising was undertaken throughout the year. Monthly coffee mornings attracted more people both church and non-church goers, generating an increased income. The annual Knit-In, Plant Sale, Summer Church Path Fete and Christmas Fayre all held at the church added extra funds. Outside the church a Bingo Evening and Skittles Evening proved popular.

Social Committee

The Social Committee ably supported the fundraising events, provided catering weekly for refreshments after the Sunday services, the Lent lunch and children’s activities.

Brief Review of 2024

At the start of the year Rev Alison Way announced that she would be leaving the parish in March, having secured another position. It was with regret that the PCC accepted her resignation. Following Rev Way’s departure, plans were put in place with the help of the diocese to find a replacement. The vacancy was advertised late in 2024 but there were no applications. It was decided to re-advertise in

the new year. During the vacancy, members, in particular Penny Ashton, the Lay Reader, and Gill Oaten and Judy Chiplen, the two Churchwardens, pulled together to keep all the church activities going. The PCC is grateful to visiting clergy for their support during this period. In the meantime, the diocese was reducing the number of clergies in the deanery resulting in the formation of new benefices. After much discussion in the deanery synod, a benefice combining Wincanton, Pen Selwood, Charlton Musgrove, Cucklington and Stoke Trister with Bayford was proposed. It was felt that perhaps the formation of an untried benefice might be deterring applicants. The Saturday afternoon children’s activities were happy events although not very well attended.

The church was packed for the annual Remembrance Day service supported by Wincanton RBL, Wincanton Silver Band and local schools together with the Army Air Corps on parade. The PCC undertook a review of giving and new initiatives were introduced bringing in much needed extra funding.

It was disappointing that lead was stolen from the vestry roof so soon after the repairs to the roof had been completed. After discussion it was decided to replace the lead and having launched an appeal the repairs were scheduled for the start of 2025.

The PCC is grateful to all those involved in supporting the work of the church during 2024.

Safeguarding commitment

The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline measure 2016 (duty to have regard to the House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). Nicky King continued as Safeguarding Officer with Janet Lowe looking after the admin side. They are to be thanked for their work.

Parish Office

Rachel Feltham, the Parish Administrator, kept up her exemplary work in running the Parish Office and everyday organisation of the Church in a particularly difficult period of the Rector leaving, the vacancy involving extra work and the formation of the proposed new benefice. The PCC is very grateful to her for her competence and expertise – all done with a cheerful manner.

Retiring PCC members

Richard and Gill D’Arcy and Pat Sainsbury retired from the PCC in 2024. Both Richard and Gill contributed hugely to the life of the church and the PCC is grateful to all of them for the support they have given.

Rosemary Keep PCC Secretary

CHURCHWARDENS REPORT

At the beginning of 2024 we knew that our Rector, Revd Alison Way, would be leaving us at Easter. So, from January we had many planning meetings preparing us for vacancy. Alison’s last Sunday with us was Easter Sunday and in April a few of us went to see Alison installed in her new Parish.

So, after Easter the vacancy began. We have been blessed to have Revd Lydia Avery, Revd Ken Masters, Revd Diane Barrett and Revd Hilary Jalland taking our services and giving us so much support. We must also thank our Reader, Penny Ashton, for all the work she does. Our Parish Administrator, Rachel Feltham, has worked extremely hard to ensure we have all of our services covered and is such a great help to our church and to us personally. Thank you, Rachel.

There was much work to be done on creating a Parish Profile together with the other churches in our planned new Benefice. We thank Chris Avery and Janet Lowe who were our representatives, for their hard work and Rachel Feltham for putting the profile together.

At the end of July, the lead was taken off of the vestry roof. It’s difficult to call this a theft because the perpetrators left the lead in the churchyard. This act of vandalism which nobody benefitted from has

cost the church a large amount of money. We are very grateful to all who have donated money to the roof appeal. Thanks go to Jim Ebner for taking on the job of sorting this out.

In December once again the children from the Primary School came into church to perform their nativity and carol services to a packed church, always great fun. Our carol service was well attended. Thank you to John Beaven for his music throughout the year and his work with the choir.

This year we sadly report the deaths of Roger Lowe, Ron and Mavis Lawrence, Molly Bishop, Gwen Evans, Joyce Bentley and Irene Rix. We miss them all.

We are required to keep the log book up to date and check the inventory. We have also completed our part of the Statistics for Mission form.

We would like to thank Mary Wallis, our deputy warden, who is such a great help to us. Sadly, our other deputy warden, Sylvie Pattison, has stepped down due to ill health. We would like to record our thanks to her. Thanks go to Gill and Richard D’Arcy for keeping the wafers/wine etc well stocked. We must also thank Colin Wallis who prepares the church every Sunday morning for us. He is always so helpful.

We have both decided not to stand for the role of churchwarden at the APCM in 2025, we will of course give the new wardens our help and support.

Gill Oaten and Judy Chiplen Churchwardens

TOWER CAPTAIN REPORT

The bells of Wincanton are generally rung every Sunday morning for Service and every Tuesday evening for Practice.

Our weekly practice evenings are well attended, usually with some ringers from other local towers, and our ‘newer’ ringers are progressing well with their ringing skills and knowledge.

However, the year began on a sad note as we said goodbye to Roger Lowe, who had been a stalwart ringer here for many years. Many thanks to the band who rang a Quarter Peal for him after his Memorial Service in January. This was conducted by Sam Shead, who learned to ring at Wincanton, and is now Tower Captain at Wells Cathedral.

There were two more Quarter Peals rung by visiting ringers, and three more visiting bands for general ringing.

We welcomed ringers from other local towers to branch practices here on two occasions, in May and October, as well as the summer Quarterly Meeting in June

In November we were asked by the Town Council to ring the bells to announce the Christmas Lights Switch-on and, of course, we were very happy to do so.

I am always grateful to Adrian Chiplen who, with assistance from Richard D’Arcy and Chris Smith, continues to keep our bells in good working order.

Janet Lowe Tower Captain

FABRIC REPORT

The boiler, fire extinguishers and lightning conductor were all serviced in 2024 with no problems.

At last, we have had a year with no boiler breakdown. The filters in the electric fan heaters in the church have been washed and the heaters hoovered out. I am a little concerned that the heaters are not generating the heat that we would like. I will consult the boiler engineer when the boiler is next serviced.

The drains are regularly cleaned out, but have been severely tested in 2024 especially the drain by the tower.

The outside white lines were painted.

We must record our thanks to the town council team who look after our churchyard. I would like to thank Colin Wallis for all his help.

Adrian Chiplen

ROOF REPORT

Summary: An attempt was made to steal lead from the vestry roof in August 2024, resulting in the lead being stripped off and dumped in the churchyard and Cale Park. The lead was not recoverable for reuse although some small scrap value was achieved for church funds. The local Police were not able to gather any leads as to who were responsible for this crime.

Philip Hughes Associates in Wincanton were engaged as architects to manage the lead renewal and after a competitive tender, Ellis & Co were selected to carry out the work. The work was scheduled to commence on 27[th] January 2025 and take between three to four weeks.

The insurance claim from Ecclesiastical covered only a proportion of the costs, and the PCC therefore decided to install a roof and vestry security alarm. This would ensure that any further roof lead losses were fully covered and provide a significant reduction in future insurance premiums.

The PCC received a grant from the Benefact Trust towards the cost of the roof alarm. No grants were available towards the roof repair costs as the works were under the auspices of an insurance claim.

Financial Breakdown of Repairs:

COSTS		£	Comments
	Roof works (Ellis), total	32,326	Cheapest quote
	Professional fees (PHA)	4,849	15% of tender price
	Roof & Vestry Alarm	5,174
		42,349
	VAT	8,470
		50,819
FUNDING
	Insurance rebate	8,623
	Alarm grant	2,318
	Roof appeal fund	26,921	Balance at end Dec 2024
		37,862
	Less VAT rebate	8,470	To be claimed in 2025
	Balance to find	4,218	from Fabric fund

Jim Ebner

MOTHERS’ UNION REPORT

As at the end of 2024, the Mothers’ Union met nine times during the year:

We did not meet in January, September or December but in February we met in Church for our annual Wave of Prayer with readings and music, connecting with the Mothers’ Union worldwide. In June we were visited by Madeline Hellier, our Mothers' Union President, in July we held our annual Garden Party and Quiz and in August celebrated in Church for Mary Sumner Day our founder of Mothers’ Union. Other notable meetings were:

March – Community Church Food Bank April – Favourite Hymns & Prayers May - Decorated hats October – Discussion about The Generation Gap November – Madeline Hellier talk about the Mothers’ Union

Kath White Mothers’ Union Branch Leader

ELECTORAL ROLL REPORT

As at the end of 2024, the Electoral Roll stood at 69. Three stalwart members of the congregation died during 2024 but three new members were added to the roll.

A complete renewal of the Electoral Roll will be undertaken in 2025. However, additions can be made to the Roll at any time after the APCM. Please let me know of anyone who might like to be included in the future. Members must have been on the Electoral Roll for 6 months before serving on the PCC.

I would like to thank Rachel Feltham, the Parish Administrator, for her continued support in maintaining the Electoral Roll.

Rosemary Keep

Electoral Roll Officer

ZAMBIA LINK REPORT

The proceeds of the Lent activities were again earmarked for our Zambia Link church of St John, Chingola: Lent lunch, Lent boxes and Gift Aid for both 2023 and 2024 amounting to £450.89.

As there had been no contact with Fr Alfred Sichone, the priest at St John’s, this was withheld until we felt that it was safe to send our donation. Christmas greetings were sent to St John’s which engendered a response from Fr Sichone and it was decided to send the £450.89 to the Diocese for onward transmission to Zambia. To date there is no news that it has arrived at St John’s.

As ever, grateful thanks to everyone who generously supports our Zambia Link fund and in particular to Gill Oaten who always organises the Lent Lunch so well.

Rosemary Keep Zambia Link Representative

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Wincanton

Charity Number 1154897

2024 Financial Review

Wincanton Parish Church received a total unrestricted income of £51,385 in 2024 with a total unrestricted expenditure of £54,429. The means a deficit of £3,044 for general funds, an improvement on the 2023 deficit of £4,413. This income included £7,223 from gift aid claims and £874 from VAT reclaims under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. Expenditure included £21,522 to the Bath & Wells Diocese towards the Parish Share. Unfortunately, the Church was only able to pay 75% of the £28,683 share that was due to the Diocese. The Trustees aim to keep a minimum of £4,000 in the general funds for the ongoing running of the Church which meant full payment of the share was not possible in 2024.

Further grants, legacies and donations towards the roof appeal meant an additional income of £39,023 towards restricted funds, including £15,336 VAT reclaimed under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. Expenditure on the major roof repairs resulted in £29,190 being spent from restricted funds.

Reserves

The general funds have decreased from £7,173 to £4,129.

Designated funds for re-ordering remain at £45,001. The Roof Appeal fund increased from £20,448 to £28,363. There is a smaller final payment left for the initial roof work. Unfortunately, some lead was vandalised in late 2024 which means the remainder of this fund will be spent on replacement/repair. Other restricted funds total £8,835.58.

Due to the increase in the Roof Appeal fund, overall reserves have increased from £79,540 to £86,239.

The accounts have been independently examined, the Balance Sheet and Analysis of Income and Expenditure for the year are included.

Phil Thomas

Treasurer

St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Wincanton - X 92418 0 581

Balance Sheet detailed

		31/12/2024 31/12/2023 As at As at
Current assets £76,366.78 6501 Bank current account £69,446.17 £1,500.35 6505 Bank deposit account £1,500.35 £9,239.75 6510 CCLA (CBF) deposit account £8,774.04 £152.08 6511 CBF Appeals account £144.42 £27.53 6512 CBF Fabric account £26.15 — 6591 Coventry BS — £87,286.49 Total Current assets £79,891.13 Liabilities £957.64 6699 Agency collections £351.25 £957.64 Total Liabilities £351.25 £86,328.85 Net Asset surplus (deficit) £79,539.88 Reserves £6,788.97 Excess / (deficit) to date — £79,539.88 Z01 Starting balances £79,539.88 £86,328.85 Total Reserves £79,539.88 £4,129.00 Unrestricted £7,172.99 £45,000.83 Designated £45,000.83 £37,199.02 Restricted £27,366.06 — Endowment — Represented by Funds £86,328.85 £79,539.88 Total

22 February 2025

Page 1

St. Peter and St. Paul Church, Wincanton - X 92418 0 581

Analysis of income and expenditure

Period: 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024

						Total
	Unrestricted	Designated	Restricted	Endowment	This year	Last year
Incoming resources
Incoming resources from generated funds
Voluntary income
0101 - Gift Aid - Bank	£23,197.74	—	£250.00	—	£23,447.74	£21,625.05
0110 - Gift Aid - Envelopes	£1,011.80	—	£40.00	—	£1,051.80	£1,237.70
0201 - Other planned giving	£40.00	—	—	—	£40.00	£120.00
0301 - Loose plate collections	£1,062.45	—	—	—	£1,062.45	£1,772.24
0410 - Giving through church boxes	£574.34	—	£305.00	—	£879.34	£834.50
0550 - Donations appeals etc	£937.32	—	£20,064.00	—	£21,001.32	£48,848.71
0601 - Tax recoverable on Gift Aid	£7,223.42	—	£423.75	—	£7,647.17	£9,969.50
0701 - Legacies	—	—	£2,000.00	—	£2,000.00	£16,018.84
08A1 - Non-recurring one-off grants	£874.33	—	£15,335.60	—	£16,209.93	£3,799.52
0901 - Other funds generated	£11,096.40	—	£605.00	—	£11,701.40	£11,142.50
Voluntary income Sub-totals	£46,017.80	—	£39,023.35	—	£85,041.15	£115,368.56
Activities for generating funds
0910 - Rummage sales etc	£133.30	—	—	—	£133.30	£447.83
1240 - Church hall lettings - fund	£200.00	—	—	—	£200.00	£865.00
raising
Activities for generating funds	£333.30	—	—	—	£333.30	£1,312.83
Sub-totals
Investment income
1020 - Bank and building society	£2,534.10	—	—	—	£2,534.10	£1,692.70
interest
Investment income Sub-totals	£2,534.10	—	—	—	£2,534.10	£1,692.70
Incoming resources from	£48,885.20	—	£39,023.35	—	£87,908.55	£118,374.09
generated funds Totals
Incoming resources from charitable activities
Incoming resources from charitable	activities
1101 - Fees for weddings and funerals	£2,499.80	—	—	—	£2,499.80	£2,640.00
Incoming resources from	£2,499.80	—	—	—	£2,499.80	£2,640.00
charitable activities Sub-totals
Incoming resources from	£2,499.80	—	—	—	£2,499.80	£2,640.00
charitable activities Totals
Incoming resources	£51,385.00	—	£39,023.35	—	£90,408.35	£121,014.09
Grand totals

22 February 2025 Page 1

Total Last year

Unrestricted

Designated

Restricted

Endowment

This year

Resources used

Cost of generating funds

Cost of generating funds
Cost of generating voluntary income
1710 - Costs of applying for grants	—	—	—	—	—	£873.00
1730 - Costs of fetes & other events	£85.00	—	—	—	£85.00	£72.00
Cost of generating voluntary	£85.00	—	—	—	£85.00	£945.00
income Sub-totals
Cost of generating funds	£85.00	—	—	—	£85.00	£945.00
Totals
Charitable activities
Charitable activities
1830 - Giving - relief and development	£20.00	—	—	—	£20.00	£254.43
agencies
1850 - Home mission	£149.70	—	—	—	£149.70	£185.90
1870 - Secular charities	£80.00	—	—	—	£80.00	£280.00
1910 - Ministry parish share etc	£21,522.00	—	—	—	£21,522.00	£24,887.12
2050 - Salary of parish administrator	£7,965.13	—	—	—	£7,965.13	£7,556.04
2101 - Working expenses of	£1,465.57	—	—	—	£1,465.57	£2,729.39
incumbent
2301 - Church running - insurance	£4,076.87	—	—	—	£4,076.87	£3,863.89
2320 - Organ / piano tuning	£307.99	—	—	—	£307.99	—
2330 - Church maintenance	£1,270.82	—	£216.00	—	£1,486.82	£2,005.83
2340 - Upkeep of services	£5,040.30	—	£179.13	—	£5,219.43	£4,652.68
2350 - Upkeep of churchyard	£80.00	—	—	—	£80.00	—
2360 - Administration	£6,851.30	—	—	—	£6,851.30	£7,888.85
2370 - Visiting speakers / locums	£1.35	—	—	—	£1.35	£253.40
2401 - Church running - electric	£2,002.41	—	—	—	£2,002.41	£2,793.66
2410 - Church running - gas	£1,939.66	—	—	—	£1,939.66	£2,987.11
2420 - Church running - water	£129.09	—	—	—	£129.09	£126.22
2701 - Church major repairs - structure	£1,441.80	—	£28,795.26	—	£30,237.06	£98,255.87
2801 - Church major repairs Project	—	—	—	—	—	£7,973.16
Management
2820 - Church major repairs	—	—	—	—	—	£3,273.13
Consultancy
Charitable activities Sub-totals	£54,343.99	—	£29,190.39	—	£83,534.38	£169,966.68
Charitable activities Totals	£54,343.99	—	£29,190.39	—	£83,534.38	£169,966.68
Resources used	£54,428.99	—	£29,190.39	—	£83,619.38	£170,911.68
Grand totals

22 February 2025 Page 2

CHARITY (OMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner"s Report Report to th• trustoes The Parochial Church Council of the Ecdesiastscal Parish of WrKart( Charity no (rf any) On accounts for the year ended 31112r2024 1154897 Set out on pages 1and1to2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accourts of ￿ above charty ("the Trusn for the year ended 31112r2024. As the charitls trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan￿ with the requirements of the Charities Ad 2011 ("the W). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charty Commissi under section 145(5)(b) of the A Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examinerfs statement come to my attention in connection wtth the examination which grves me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance ￿￿th section 130 of the Chartties Act- or the accounts did not accord wlth the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements con￿mIng the form and content of accounts set out in the Chartties (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no cOn￿mS and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Responsibilities and basis of report Slgned: Date: 2510212025 Name: Peter Gay Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): ]èhk Address: 18 Greenway Close Wincanton, Somerset BA9 9RH IER