## **ANNUAL REPORT** ## **ST MATTHEW’S CHURCH HARWELL** ## **2025** ## **Website: harwellandchiltonchurches.org.uk** ## **Registered Charity 115886** ## **Contents** |1. Introduction|3| |---|---| |2. Review of the Year – Benefice Activities|4-11| |2.1 Main events including Baptisms, Weddings|4-5| |and Funeral Statistics|| |2.2 Children, Youth and Families|5-6| |2.3 Discipleship, Pastoral, Social and|| |Community Activities|7-12| |2.4 World Mission|12 -13| |3. Governance and Structure|13-16| |4. Finance Report|17-18| |5. Buildings Report|18-20| |Appendix 1 Administrative Information|21| |Appendix 2 St Matthew’s Church Membership|21| |Appendix 3 St Matthew’s PCC Membership|22| 2 ## **1. Introduction** This is the annual report of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) for St Matthew’s Church Harwell, Oxfordshire. It covers the last financial accounting year, which was the calendar year ending 31st December 2025. This report was approved by the PCC at its meeting on 17th March 2026, and is signed on their behalf by the Vice-Chair of the PCC, Dr Antony Hughes, as the Rector, Jeremy Parsons , has voluntarily decided to step back from ministry at this time. Signature………………………………………………………………………….. Date ……………………………………………… 3 ## **2. Review of the Year – Benefice Activities** ## **2.1 Main events including Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals statistics** Each year St Matthew’s has a Remembrance Service at the War Memorial in the Village and this year we had a special addition. The Women’s Institute decided to make our own poppy carpet, helped by others in the Village. Box after box of knitted or crochet poppies arrived and were added to the carpet. On the day, it was laid out on the grass bank beside the Memorial for the Service, and then carried by the Scouts on poles to St Matthew’s for Sunday Worship. Working on this carpet brought the Village together and is a fitting tribute to those whose graves lie in the Commonwealth War Grave section of our Cemetery. A photograph of the carpet is on the front of this Report. The Sunday morning service at All Saints’ takes place in the church at 9.30am. It was agreed at the July PCC meeting that there would be no service in the church on the second Sunday of the month, except when it coincided with special Sundays like Remembrance; the church congregation would join the Village Hall service at 10.30am. A Gift Service was held at both churches in November, where shoe boxes filled with items for severely injured Ukrainian soldiers were brought, and placed around the Altar. There were around 120 boxes from Harwell and Chilton, together with another 54 from Kidlington, which were then delivered to a warehouse in Croydon. From there, they were transported by lorry to Ukraine, in time for Christmas. The team, headed by Ben from Kidlington and Tilda from Sweden, then collected the gifts and arranged for their distribution. The beautifully wrapped boxes were delivered to severely wounded soldiers in hospitals in Eastern Ukraine; we had also sent chocolates for medics and hospital staff. It was hugely successful, with an English Santa Claus personally in attendance, and the gifts were very warmly received by the soldiers. For these men and women, the presents also served as a reminder to them that someone was thinking about them, and that they are not forgotten. Once again. we supported the residents of the Oxford Womens Refuge at Christmas by asking congregants to donate new toys for any children staying at the Refuge with their mother. These donations were brought to the 'Toy service' on Sunday 30 November and then delivered to a Refuge worker. This enables 4 the mothers to give their children gifts on Christmas day which they might otherwise struggle to do. It also reminds families that they are not alone and that there is a wider community standing alongside them ## **Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals** ||**St Matthew’s**
**Harwell**|**St Matthew’s**
**Harwell**|**St Matthew’s**
**Harwell**||**All Saints’**
**Chilton**|**All Saints’**
**Chilton**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**2025**|**2024**|**2023**|**2025**|**2024**|**2023**| |Baptisms
Thanksgivings for a child|6
0|10
0|8
1|2
0|6
0|2
0| |Weddings and Blessings|4|0|1 + 1B|2|0|2| |Funerals in church
Thanksgiving services in church
Funerals at crematoria
Interments of ashes|3
0
2
0|8
0
0
1|14
0
4
0|2
0
1
5|4
0
0
4|1
4
1
5| ## **2.2. Children, Youth and Family Work** At the March PCC meeting the Children, Young People and Families Oversight Group was endorsed by the PCC. This group has worked hard to advance the ministry to the younger members of our church community in the absence of a Children and Families Worker. ## Sundays Groups for our children and young people continued to meet twice a month at St Matthew’s Harwell. CYPF Volunteers led and helped at Kids’ Church and Pathfinders groups, meeting with 15-20 young people across the preschool/primary and secondary age groups. St Matthew’s vestry was also open to toddlers during these services, with Fledglings’ toys available to play with. The Chilton Village Hall service continued to meet monthly run by CYPF volunteers. It attracted families who do not attend other services in the Benefice. More people from the All Saints’ congregation now join the service as the 9.30 service 5 is now not held on the second Sunday of the month. It has been a joy to join and worship God together. On average, there were 45 adults and 24 children at the monthly Interactive services in the Chilton Village Hall. ## All Age services Six All Age services were led by a team including Rob and Marilyn Thomas, Sarah and Roger Mawle, Jan Radford, Helen Brook and Sarah Barrett. These explored some of the parables in more creative and engaging ways, and alternated between St Matthew’s and All Saints’ churches. At the end of the year the team decided the services were too much to continue with in addition to the rest of their volunteering roles. ## Fledgelings This baby and toddler group continued to run on Monday mornings at St Matthew’s Harwell, and Wednesday morning in Chilton Community Room on Chilton Field during term time. While many families regularly come each week, there are always new faces to welcome, coming because they had heard about the group from others. Each week there is a new craft activity, plenty of toys, a snack, and a time of songs and bible story. Sadly, towards the end of the year, the numbers coming to Chilton Fledgelings dwindled, and it was decided not to continue the group there in 2026. ## Youth Fellowship (YF) Groups CYPF Volunteers, Sarah Barrett, Tim Brook and Roger Mawle have kept this popular youth group running fortnightly during term time in the absence of a CYF Worker. They met in the Church Hall on Sunday evenings engaging in a range of games and activities exploring the Christian faith in a fun and relaxed way, with an older group meeting later, on a Sunday evening. They also attended the St Aldates’ youth day, and will do so again this year, had a Christmas celebration at Kaspa’s, and held the Easter Vigil on Easter Saturday night into Easter Sunday. ## Youth Trust We have been unable to work with Echo as we have done in previous years due to the CYF Worker post remaining vacant. Sarah Barrett has been in regular contact with Hannah Field and has continued to provide two CYF volunteers at Echo events. We also continued to advertise their events, Youth Café and Soul Sport sessions to our Church community. The Youth Café often has around 100 young people attending. 6 ## CYPF Events We held a Light Party in October half term and Becca Lewis led the Christmas tree decorating at St Matthew’s. ## **2.3 Discipleship, Pastoral, Social and Community Activities** _Home groups_ play an important part in nurturing the spiritual development and pastoral care of church members. These groups meet regularly (usually weekly) to read the Bible together, to pray, and to support one another in the Christian life. Most groups have members from both parishes. There are groups meeting in the mornings, afternoons and evenings, covering all ages, from parents with toddlers to those who are retired. In Chilton, there are three groups. One group for Mums and pre-school children and babies meets every Tuesday morning in term-time in a home in Chilton. There are 12 Mums who regularly come and 6 toddlers/pre-schoolers plus 2 new-borns who will join soon. Most of the contacts originally came from Fledglings. Generally, those who attend live in Chilton, Harwell and GWP and some of those people go to other churches in and around Chilton including Didcot churches. Jean Barton also attends this group. They often use Scripture Union thematic Bible studies but have also used Advent courses, Lent courses, The Alpha Course and Christianity Explored. The group has been meeting regularly, bar during Covid, since about 2017. Two adult groups meet in the same home on Wednesday afternoons and evenings in term time. The afternoon group has 9 members and the evening group has about 7 members who share the leading of their studies. In 2025, these studies included reading Mark’s gospel using a recording by David Suchet. This was followed by a study of Luke’s gospel using resources written by Tom Wright. In Lent the groups engaged with ‘Come and See’, produced by the Diocese of Oxford, which contained teaching by Bishop Steven on baptism. In Advent, the groups studied ‘The One True Light’ by Tim Chester, along with several other home groups in the Benefice. Around 40 people in Harwell, meet together in 5 Home groups, either weekly or fortnightly ,for worship, fellowship, Bible study and prayer. Sometimes home groups will follow a study guide that focuses on a book of the Bible or a subject area, with questions to grapple with; other times, we use the lectionary readings as a starting point for discussion. Prayer, for one another, our community, churches and mission partners, and for wider national and international events, 7 is also an important element. Additionally, home groups provide friendship and an opportunity to get to know a smaller group of people better, and offer mutual practical and emotional support as needs arise. Home group leaders from Harewell and Chilton, meet together every 2-3 months to share what we are all studying and to pray for our groups. We would love to hear from anyone who would be interested in joining a home group, and would try to match people to a suitable group The _Pastoral Care_ teams, and many individual members of our Churches, visit parishioners in their homes and offer a loving Christian presence and a listening ear to those who are ill, bereaved or who feel lonely. There is a Pastoral Care Team in each parish. In Chilton, the team operates under the leadership of Pat Moseley who is joined by five other lay members plus the Associate Ministers. Some villagers already receive wonderful emotional and/or practical support from their friends and families on those (hopefully rare) occasions when such care is necessary. Other folk need reassurance of the Love of God and that “underneath are the everlasting arms”. Home visits, the Oasis Cafe and the village Warm Welcome Cafe also provide opportunities for the Team to provide pastoral care to our neighbours. In Harwell, the team continued to support individuals in the congregation and community throughout the year, including giving lifts on a regular basis. Some of the team help with the Harwellcome in the Harwellian on a Thursday under the leadership of Elaine Shrimpton and some come regularly to the monthly coffee morning in church. Some help at Fledglings. We organised a Bring and Share lunch for Joan Impey’s 90[th] birthday to thank her for her long and dedicated ministry in our two churches. We meet every two months for prayer and discussion and for mutual encouragement and support; and in July this year the Harwell and Chilton teams met in Harwell for afternoon tea, which was an encouraging and enjoyable time. We continue to use the monthly prayer diary in our personal prayers along with members of the congregation. Home Communion is offered to those parishioners who are not very mobile – particularly around Easter and Christmas but can be provided at any time. In Harwell, a member of the team provides communion to three groups of 8 parishioners. Our Churches also have a small team of ministers who take Communion to the new care home, Oxford Manor, in Harwell parish. _Generation Gold services_ , initiated by Revd Jan Radford and Revd Pam Rolls in 2015, were continued in 2025 for people of retirement age (although we interpret this loosely). The theme for the year was ‘The Generosity and Provision of God’ and we reflected in our quarterly services on God’s generosity through the ages - including Jesus feeding 5,000 people, Jesus turning water into wine at the Wedding of Cana, God providing manna and quail to the Israelites in the wilderness and God’s gift of Jesus. We are very grateful to a willing band of helpers who assisted throughout the year with delivering invitations, catering, and playing the piano and organ, and to the generous people whose donations made our special treats and reverse collections possible. Plans are now in hand for Generation Gold for 2026 where we will be reflecting on the theme ‘Unexpected Invitations’. The _All Saints’ Group_ continues to meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.45pm in All Saints’ Church. It is a friendly, small mixed group; new members and visitors are always welcome. During 2025, they have had speakers from Standing With Giants (who create large-scale outdoor art installations to remember those who fought for freedom), Bridewell Gardens (a mental health charity providing social and therapeutic horticulture in a working garden to adults living in Oxfordshire) and Family of Hope (a school in Uganda for children and young people with special educational needs who would otherwise not have schooling). Group members and Church members gave interesting talks on Maundy money, life as a Parish Clerk, moths and church bells (with the opportunity to ring one of the bells at the Church). They had a visit to Bridewell Gardens and evenings examining the artefacts from a box on loan from Oxfordshire Museum and reminiscing on their school days. The Group supports the wonderful Chilton villagers who have continued to hold the monthly Charity market on Crafts End Green, raising the fantastic total of £12,941 in 2025 for various charities, local groups and good causes. The Group also supports Judy Goodall’s charity quiz sheets (which this year have raised a great total of £872 for various charities) and the Warm Welcome Café (which is held every Tuesday 11am to 2pm in the Morris Room in the Village Hall). Both our churches have continued to collect non-perishable food for _Didcot_ 9 _Emergency Foodbank_ throughout the year, with a special collection in both churches at Harvest time. During 2025, the need for the Foodbank continued to be more crucial as households struggled with the cost of living. The Benefice continues to be a partner church of the _Didcot and Wallingford Area CAP (Christians Against Poverty)_ Debt Centre, who celebrated ten years of the Centre in January 2025 and over 100 debt free clients during those years. As well as supporting the Debt Centre financially, members of the churches also volunteer supporting clients in their journey out of debt. The Centre is very grateful for the Christmas gifts and treats that the congregations provided for the nine families in Chilton and Harwell being helped by CAP. The number of people who became debt free in 2025 totalled 11, bringing the total to 105. The committed Money Coaches continued to run _Money Coaching_ in Didcot Baptist Church and Community Station Didcot, as well as online, if required. The new style course was delivered to six people helping them with budgeting and managing their money. The _Oasis Café_ continues to meet at All Saints’ Church on most third Saturdays of the month between 10.00am and 12.00 noon, and is free to all comers. On average between 20 and 25 people enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a friendly chat in relaxed surrounding _The Community Cafe_ at St Matthew’s meets on the first Thursday in the month at 10.30am in the morning at St Matthews Church Harwell. It is free but people like to give a donation for coffee, tea and home make cakes. Any money collected goes to CAP via the Church treasurer. We are a very informal group, and everyone is welcome. _Harwellcome Community Café_ restarted in September 2025 after the summer break. We aim to run until the end of May 2026 in this current series of sessions. The café continues to operate from and in conjunction with the Harwellian Club on Thursday afternoons from 2-4pm. The café is manned with a mixture of church and community volunteers, at least 2 per session. They are there to welcome people and facilitate conversations, as needed. We continue to pay for a member of Harwellian staff who serves the refreshments and also makes people feel welcome. We have been blessed to have been awarded grants from 3 organisations this year; - Soha Housing Community Fund 10 - Harwell Feast - Connected Communities Fund – managed by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action These enable us to continue to offer a warm and inviting place for people to meet and to be able to enjoy free refreshments of tea, coffee and cake. People can meet friends and make new friends and connections, which benefit health and well-being. We have our regular scrabble table and other groups playing games but most people just love to chat. There is a mixture of regulars and new people coming to the café. The attendees are from Harwell, Didcot, the villages around and occasionally from further afield. We regularly welcome 25-35 attending mostly older persons but sometimes mums with babies or family groups. The last session before Christmas saw the largest number of participants when our churches facilitated a carol singing session. This was extremely well received and enjoyed by all. The only other special session we have currently planned this year is a Scam Awareness talk by Age UK. We continue to collect feedback as required in respect of the grant funding. One of the things we are obliged to collect is sentiment about the café - whether it has made a positive difference to attendee's lives. Every week many visitors tell us that it has made a positive difference. They comment that there is a warm welcome and that they enjoy meeting others for a chat. The café continues to be a place where St Matthews’ Church family can be working alongside the wider community to serve the community. We can with God's help show love, care and interest in respect of those that join us and facilitate good connections and conversations. The vision for _Saturday Sanctuary_ is to provide a space where all women can gather, have time to chat, breathe and feel cherished. It aims to feed everyone physically, emotionally and spiritually. There is delicious food and usually a glass of bubbles in a beautiful environment. We have lots of time for conversation and then a short testimony or thought to feed us spiritually and a time for silence to allow everyone to breathe, paint nails, write a note, do some colouring and encounter Jesus. We had a chilli night in January 2025, breakfast in April, and afternoon tea in September and February. These events have been popular and positively received by the women in our church family from both parishes. We also held two Saturday Soak events in July and November where we could all 11 spend more time soaking with Jesus. This was for women from our churches to have an evening of encountering Jesus through worship, dwelling in the word and sharing what we felt Jesus was saying to us. We finished with tea and brownies. We had between 15-20 at each event. ## **2.4 World Mission** The World Mission Group seeks to promote the engagement of our churches with World Mission and proposes to each PCC how each church could spend its world mission budget. We focus our World Mission financial support and prayer around the Anglican Five Marks of Mission. The Marks and the corresponding organisations are: **1. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom** : Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). The work of MAF enables mission workers to reach difficult and isolated places to share Christianity. **2. To teach, baptize and nurture new believers** : Scripture Union (SU). Through Bible studies, resources and camps, SU aims to share the Christian faith, and to disciple children and young people in particular. **3. To respond to human need by loving service** : The Leprosy Mission (TLM). TLM diagnoses, treats and offers specialist care such as reconstructive surgery, as well as rehabilitation programmes and health education in communities. **4. To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation** . Chris and Suzy Wilson are mission partners for Church Mission Society (CMS) and are based in Ethiopia and South Sudan. They work with a project that aims to equip and encourage churches in conflict-affected regions to actively work for peace. **5. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the Earth:** ARocha a Christian conservation organisation which works in the UK and internationally. During 2025, we continued to support financially several organisations in line with the 5 marks of mission; MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), Scripture Union, The Leprosy Mission and ARocha. 12 We also continued to support financially individual mission partners: Chris and Suzy Wilson who are with Church Mission Society in Ethiopia and Endri and Dyshi Tabacu of The Light of the World church in Albania. The three members of the world mission group have met together during 2025. The group would love more people to join if you have a heart for world mission ## **3. Governance and Structure** The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a corporate body, established by the Church of England, and operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. St Matthew’s, Harwell and All Saints’, Chilton each has its own PCC. St Matthews’s PCC met four times and All Saints’ PCC met three times in 2025 The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules (2022). The membership of the PCC consists of all clergy licensed to the Benefice, Churchwardens, Deanery Synod members and other lay members elected by those on the Electoral Roll of the Church. All those who attend our services/members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election for the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the Parish, including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. Given its wide responsibilities, PCC operate through several committees. Each committee deals with a particular aspect of Parish life. The committees report back regularly at PCC meetings, with minutes of their meetings or their decisions and recommendations being received, and discussed as necessary. The Rector is automatically a member of every committee. The Standing Committees of St Matthew’s and All Saints’ are the only committees required by Church law. They meet to set PCC agendas and, occasionally, when there are urgent decisions to be made, between PCC meetings. They consist of the Clergy, Churchwardens and the Treasurer plus the Vice-chair and the Secretary. St Matthew’s and All Saints’ Standing Committees 13 met ten times in 2025. ## Combined PCC For efficiency and convenience St Matthew’s, Harwell PCC and All Saints’, Chilton PCC regularly hold Combined PCC meetings, where members of the two PCCs come together to discuss matters that are common to both parishes. Meetings of the Joint PCC (see below) are held as part of Combined PCC meetings. As such, voting by Joint PCC members on any decisions required by the Joint PCC generally follows discussion by the Combined PCC. The Combined PCC met twice during 2025, on Zoom. ## Joint PCC The Pastoral Measure provides for a Joint PCC in addition to the separate PCCs of our two Churches. It comprises the Benefice clergy, Churchwardens and the Treasurer plus the Vice-chair and the Secretary of each PCC. The two PCCs can agree to place in the hands of the Joint PCC any matters involving both parishes. So far, the PCCs have delegated responsibility for the following matters to the Joint PCC: - Safeguarding - Staffing - Data compliance. Safeguarding As always **: “** Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility **”** Safeguarding is managed at Benefice level, currently by Judy Gold from Chilton Parish and Sue Greatbanks from Harwell Parish. Both Safeguarding Officers have continued to work together and regularly meet to discuss progress and future action necessary to continue our service in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy, an updated copy of which is submitted hereto for approval and signature. This will be loaded onto the website and annually reviewed. ## DBS Checks You will all now be aware that our former provider for DBS applications, APCS suffered a data breach in August last year. No volunteers in Chilton were 14 affected but unfortunately a few volunteers in Harwell were affected. As a result of this data breach, and under guidance from Church House, and with approval from both PCCs we are to change our provider to Verifile Ltd. Until now we have continued with DBS applications for new volunteers and carried out renewal applications for volunteers whose certificates have expired. However we must wait now until Adoption Agreements for each parish appointing Verifile as our new provider are approved and signed by the PCCs. These will then be sent to Church House who wish to have sight of them. We understand that every DBS application to Verifile will incur a charge for volunteers and to keep our costs as low as possible we want to stress the importance of the Update Service. This is a government organisation with a national record of all DBS certificates. Once an individual is registered with them (and registration is free for volunteers) each volunteer will be contacted by them every three years and invited to renew their DBS for a further three years free of charge. Finally both Sue and Judy will need training on the Verifile system ## Children’s and Families Worker Currently we have no Children’s and Families worker in either parish and we regret this. However we are aware that efforts are being made to recruit one The Children’s Interactive Services in both villages have been very successful and we praise the time and effort given by volunteers to plan and produce these events and make them so well attended. We also appreciate the All Age services in Church as again these were well staged and appealed to the whole congregation. ## Training Safeguarding training should be completed every three years by PCC members and volunteers working with children. We are pleased to report that this is generally up to date and is something we need to monitor. Since last year it has been mandatory for all bellringers to attend the online Basic Awareness course and we have advised both head bell ringers of this. It has been suggested that the safeguarding programme ‘I Know Safeguarding’ could be purchased soon. This would enable us to record any safeguarding incidents that might arise in the future. Both Sue and Judy would need training on the package before being able to use it. 15 ## Dashboard In accordance with Level 3 of the Dashboard the PCC members need to approve annually an up-to-date Action Plan setting out safer activities and safer practices. A draft copy has been supplied to us by the Diocese and will be presented later for consideration. Any Church member who would like to view the Safeguarding Dashboard please contact Judy Gold on jgold2@btinternet.com or Sue Greatbanks on suegbs48@gmail.com ## Pastoral Care We understand that pastoral care teams under their leaders are working very well in both villages. Judy Gold and Sue Greatbanks Safeguarding Officers for St Matthews Harwell and All Saints Chilton ## Staffing The Benefice employs an Administrator working 20 hours a week. We are seeking a new Children and Families Worker. The role was covered, by volunteers in 2025. Staffing matters are overseen by the Benefice employment committee, which is concerned with meeting the statutory regulations around employment, ensuring that performance assessment and development of staff employed by the PCCs is carried out, and seeing that recruitment procedures are correctly followed. ## Data Compliance In 2025, we have continued to work to ensure that our Churches are compliant with current national data governance legislation in the form of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) ## Governance Review A review of the Benefice Governance was carried out by the Rector, Stephen Manning (Church Warden, St Matthew’s) and an independent consultant, Geoff Maughan during the year. A Report was received by the PCCs towards the end of the year which included 25 recommendations for improvement. The Report and recommendations were accepted by both Harwell and Chilton PCCs and work on implementing them began in December. 16 ## **4. Finance Report for St Matthew’s Church** The PCC has the significant responsibility of setting the budget and monitoring the income and expenditure of the church. This task is carried out by the Finance Committee, which reviews in detail the different purposes of the expenditure, as well as the different forms of income and giving to the church. Total unrestricted receipts during 2025 was £104,284, a large increase on the previous year's receipts of £81,795, primarily due to an increase in giving as a result of the stewardship campaign and a significant increase in receipts resulting from the use of the Church Hall by Wildflowers Nursery. Total unrestricted payments increased slightly from £107,830 to £110,993, this is mainly due to an increase in the Parish share. However, in 2025 there was a net gain in unrestricted funds of £21,361, largely as a result of the PCC decision to undesignate £24,634 of Designated Funds and transfer them to Unrestricted Funds. Consequently, the unrestricted funds carried forward to 2026 are £20,736. The increase in unrestricted funds means we are now close to the required level set by our reserves policy (see below). The designated and restricted funds established in 2024 to handle short term grants and funding for the Church Hall improvements were fully utilised in 2025 and the Wildflowers Nursery started using the Hall from the end of March 2025. As a result, the Church Hall is now making a positive contribution to church funds. The value of the designated funds fell from £45,144 to £20,258 in the year, largely as a result of undesignating some funds and releasing them to the General fund. The two remaining funds are the Roof Repair fund and the Mission Giving fund. The overall value of the restricted funds at the year-end was £78,456, a very small decrease during the year. The single largest restricted fund remains the Children and Families Worker extension fund which stood at £59,602 at the end of the year. The other two significant restricted funds are the sound system and 17 the outreach fund, both of which decreased slightly in the year as a result of payments being made. In summary, while we have had a satisfactory year there was a small decrease in the overall level of balances being held, despite the efforts made during the year to increase the level of giving. Considering the age profile of our committed regular givers, we need to continue regular stewardship campaigns if our level of giving is to keep pace with the increased level of payments. ## **Reserves Policy** It is PCC policy to maintain a balance in unrestricted funds (reserves) which equates to at least two months general running costs and an additional one month’s salary costs. This is currently equivalent to £19,000. It is also our policy to hold an amount equivalent to the Excess on our insurance policy and an amount for the costs of the next quinquennial inspection. This amounts to an additional £2,000. These reserves are held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies. **5. St Matthew’s Buildings** The PCC is charged with the care, maintenance and insurance of the church buildings, including St Matthew’s Church Hall. The property and movable goods of the church are vested in the Churchwardens, who are also responsible for inspecting the fabric of the church and making an annual report (the Fabric Report), first to the PCC and then to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. The PCC is also concerned with developing our buildings to accommodate our own activities more effectively, and to enable us to connect better with and serve the wider community. A key aim is to have a main church building that is flexible, comfortable, and accessible, whilst maintaining and even enhancing its beauty. ## **St Matthew’s church building** St Matthew’s church is a Grade 1 listed building, parts of which date back to 1190. It is kept in a good state of repair by the **Buildings Committee** and other volunteers. Some of this work is maintenance and general repairs that continue in a very similar fashion year in year out. In addition, the church is cleaned 18 regularly by a combination of a paid cleaner and a small faithful team of volunteers. The Buildings Committee maintains an **Action List** of ongoing tasks. The Church Architect carried out the **Quinquennial Inspection** of the Church building in June 2021. The recommendations are being followed up and where relevant have been incorporated in the Action List. The overall condition of the church building is good and the Architect in his report commented ‘ _It is clear….that the PCC take a great deal of care and pride in looking after the fabric of this Church_ ’. The detailed Fabric Report by the Churchwardens is provided in a separate document. The following are examples of work carried out during the last year. - A defibrillator has been installed next to the church porch, with a donation made in memory of the late Dennis Lay. - The Buildings Committee has continued to investigate options for permanent wiring for the floodlights and had discussions with the Church Architect and a firm of consultants in June 2025. From these it became evident that for a satisfactory system the cost would be at least £7,000. Floodlighting will therefore be put together with other options for improvements to the church building that are intended for an ‘Away Day’ discussion sometime in 2026. - The lower sections of the internal walls of the north transept have been rerendered. - The old clock mechanism and cabinet have been moved from the extension to the east area behind organ. The Buildings Committee is considering where the mechanisms could be put on permanent display in the church. The defibrillator near the porch Re-rendering in progress in the north transept Photos: Tony Hughes 19 The **Friends of St Matthew’s** scheme to stimulate interest in the church building, and ultimately help to provide for the costs of keeping it in good order, has continued in 2025 through a Facebook page: www.facebook.com/HarwellChurchFriends. This is aimed particularly at descendants of the Harwell family lineage in the USA. The Facebook page has had a lot of visits and interest and consideration continues as to how this interest can be used to increase donations to help with the cost of maintenance of the church. ## **St Matthew’s Church Hall** The Church Hall is now run by its own Management Committee, accountable to the PCC. Following installation of new lighting in late 2024, the main hall was redecorated and special panels installed on the walls and ceiling to improve the acoustics. An energy survey was carried out with a grant from VWHDC, and other repairs and improvements made to prepare for use of the hall five days a week by the Wildflowers Montessori Nursery and Pre-school. Wildflowers started at the end of March 2025 and is now in full operation. The Nursery commissioned a Fire Safety inspection and the recommendations are being followed up by the Nursery itself (where they relate to its operations) and by the Hall Management Committtee where they relate to the facilities of the Hall. In addition to use by Wildflowers, there is on average one booking each weekend (via the joint booking system now in place with the Harwell Village Hall), one evening yoga class per week and Youth Fellowship on some Sundays. . 20 ## **Appendix 1 – Administrative Information** The correspondence address for the Rector is: The Rectory Church Lane Harwell, Didcot OX11 0EZ The Independent Examiner of St Matthew’s PCC Financial Accounts is: ## Graham Beith Five Corners The Barrow Harwell OXON ## **Appendix 2: St Matthew’s Church Membership** ## **Electoral Roll** The Electoral Roll stood at 96 in April 2025, compared to 89 in April 2024. 21 ## **Appendix 3 -St Matthew’s PCC Membership** During 2025, the membership of St Matthew’s PCC has been: ## **Clergy** - Revd Jeremy Parsons - Revd Pam Rolls (Associate Minister) - Revd Janet Radford (Assistant Minister) - Revd Sasha Reeves (Curate) ## **Churchwarden** - Stephen Manning ## **Elected Deanery Synod representative** Adrian Bollon (from September 2025) ## **Other Elected representatives** - Tony Hughes (Vice-Chair) - Elizabeth Clarke (Secretary) - Nick Clarke (Treasurer) - Rebecca Lewis - Adrian Rance- McGregor - Adrian Bollon 22 Independent Examiner's Report to the Parochial Church Council of St. Matthew's, Hanvell I report to the Parochial Church Council on my examinats'on ofthe accounts of St Matthews, Harwell for the year ended 31 DeGember 2025. Responsibilities and Bas15 01 Report As the members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements., in accordance with the requirements of the char￿e5 Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the 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 Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Indep￿dent examinevs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wth the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: (i) a¢counting records were not kept in respect of the PCC as required by section 130 of the Act. or (li) the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wth the eXa￿￿natiOn to which attention should be drawn In this report in order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Graham Beith Five Corners The Barrow Harwell OXON Date: ..2026 St. Matthews Church, HanNell Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025 Receipts & Payments Account Unrestricted Designated Restricted Fund8 Funds Fund8 Total 2025 Totsl 2024 Receipts Voluntary Re¢eipts Planned Giving Collections at S8tVlC8S Collecth'ons at Community Buildings other voluntary receipts (note 5bl Non-recurring income {note sc) Gift Aid received Investment income (note Sd) Rècèipts from Church activits'es (note Sel {note Sal 58,152 2,328 548 11,361 58,152 2,328 548 26,738 500 14,135 4,576 11.220 52,144 1,641 523 25,519 5,315 15,486 5.327 11.542 15,375 500 25 14,110 4,576 13,209 5,011 Total Recelpts 104,284 20,911 125,195 117,497 Payments Church Activitie8 Diocesan Parish Share Ministry (note 5fl Maintenance, Utilities & Insurancè (not8 5gl Admini8tratson & Stationery {note 5hl Missions & Charitles Other Total Payments 51,920 17,509 23,608 51,920 19.609 31,036 48,902 23,323 27,772 2,100 4,678 2,752 6,191 7,071 4,694 110,993 6,191 7,071 13256 129,083 5,168 6,999 15 188 127,352 (note 5$) 2,752 15,338 Exo••s of Recelpts over Payments -8,709 -2,752 5,573 .3,888 .9,855 Transfers Be￿80n Funds 28,070 -22,134 -5,938 Excess of Recelpts over Payments after Transfers 21,381 -24,886 483 4,888 -9,855 Cash and Bank current and deposit accounts 1 Jan Excess receipts over payments after transfers Ca8h and 8ank current and deposit accounts 31 Dec 25 45.144 78,819 -363 78,456 123,338 133,193 20,736 20,258 119,450 123,338 Statement of Assets and Llabllltles Unrestricted Designated Restricted Fund5 Funds Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Cash Funds Cash Bank Current and Deposit Accounts CBF Deposit Account Total Cash Funds 81 20,655 81 31 23,159 31,262 96,210 92,045 119,450 123,338 2,504 17,754 20,258 78,456 78,456 20,736 Debtors Gift Aid recoverable 1,911 1,911 1,846 Totsl Debtors 1,911 1.911 1,846 Assets Retained for Church Use Church Hall (note 2) 137,644 137,644 Liabilities Total Uabllltles The attached notes on pages 4 to 6 form part of these financial statements. These financial statements vRre approved by the Parochial ChurGh Council on i ¥13 , 2026 and signed on their behalf by Chairman Trustee (and Treasurer) Jeremy Parsons Nick Clarke Notes The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis. Fixed asset retained for church use is the Church Hall, built in 1994, al cost. It is the policy of this church to hold in reserves the equivalent of two months general running costs and an additional one month's salary costs. It is also our policy to hold an amount equivalent to the Excess on our insurance policy and an amount for costs arising from the next quinquennial inspection. Movements in designated and restricted fvjnds (including tax reclaimed ￿ere applicable as part of income) over the year were.. Bal Blfwd Receipts Payments Transfer Bal Clfv Designated Legacies Church Hall Project Roof Repair Fund Mission Giving Lega¢ies Insurance reserve and excess 25,134 2,252 5,070 9,188 3,500 45,144 500 -24,634 2,252 6,000 11,070 9,188 2,752 -22,134 20,258 Restricted Assorted Collections Bells CAP Money Course CAP Centre CFW extension fund Chilton joint account Christmas Together Church FabriclRedecoratlon ChurchlHall Deposits Church Hall Grants Defibrillator Fledglings Garden Fund Generation Gold Harwellcome Café Memorial Fund ODBF Fees Organ Repair Fund Outreach Rector's Discretionary fund Sound System Upgrade 1,144 2,025 479 420 2,721 420 3,276 209 152 -1,144 1,470 270 152 6,170 3,338 56,929 -3.497 59,602 3,338 795 1,000 200 1,365 795 1,000 860 -860 200 1,365 2,077 35 225 3,000 923 35 597 2D 1,157 392 1,157 526 526 702 1,302 7,309 386 4,025 78,819 1,673 2,375 1.302 6,745 386 3,888 78,456 1,400 1,529 -435 137 15,338 20,911 -5,936 Receipts and Payments Analysis (Receipts exclude Gft Aid received) Unrestricted Designated Restricted Funds Funds Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Receipts (a) Planned Giving Gift-aided Planned Giving Other Planned Giving Total Planned Giving 54,936 3,216 58,152 54,936 3,216 58,152 48,918 3,226 52.144 (b) Other Giving and Donations General Assorted Collections Bells CAP Centre Roof Repair Fund CFW Extension Defibrillator Harwellcome Café Church FabriclRedecoration Didcot Foodbank Generation Gold Outreach Sound System Upgrade Total Donations 11,361 11,361 420 2,696 152 5,073 1,954 2,025 292 70 8,860 420 2,696 152 6,170 3,000 657 860 6,170 3,000 657 800 250 275 4,720 1,200 25,519 20 1,400 20 1,400 11,361 15,375 26,736 (c) Non-recurring income Grants Total Non-recurring income 500 500 500 500 5315 5,315 (d) Receipts from Investments Bank interest CBF Deposit Account interest Total Receipts from Investments 410 4,166 4,576 410 4,166 4,576 688 4,639 5,327 (e) Receipts from Church activities Fees Church Hall income Chilton joint account Total Receipts from Church Activities 2,198 11,011 1,673 3,871 11,011 3,338 18,220 3,158 3,238 5,146 11,542 3,338 5,011 13,209 Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds 2025 Total 2024 Payments (fj Ministry Associate Minister's Expenses CAP Money Courses CFW extension Curate's Expenses Administrator Youth Work and Kids Church Outreach Generation Gold Services Organist Total Ministry 100 100 209 2,955 227 12,009 612 1,964 225 908 400 19,609 260 67 5,878 876 11,716 225 1,763 1,496 642 400 23,323 209 2,955 227 12.009 612 435 1 ,529 225 137 771 400 17,509 2,100 (g) Maintenance and Utilities Church Cleaning Church Maintenance Churd) Utilities Church Hall Maintenance and Cleaning Church Hall Utilities Church Insurance Church Hall Insurance Totsl Maintenance and Utilities 843 7,395 4,694 3,141 843 3,276 11,171 4,694 6,793 726 7,406 7,998 6,040 500 2,252 1,400 4,456 2,912 167 23,608 4,456 2,912 167 4,676 31,036 2,635 2,552 415 27,772 2,752 (h) Administration & Stationery Administration Bank charges Stationery Office costs Website Outsourced Printing Consultancy Totsl Administration and Ststionery 384 200 104 1,779 2,886 171 667 6,191 384 200 104 1,779 2,886 171 667 6,191 200 68 1,772 2,869 259 5,168 (i) Other Gifts, Subs and Courses Miscellaneous O.D.8.F.fees CAP Debt Centre Chilton Joint Account Defibrillator Didcot Foodbank Church Hall Deposits Assorted Collections Total Other 598 185 598 185 2,375 4,063 3,338 2,077 622 204 3,144 3,858 5,146 2,375 152 3,338 2,077 3,911 250 200 420 8,562 200 420 13,256 1,964 15,188 4,694 In addition, during 2025, £4,568 was received from the Diocese on behalf of the Didcot Youthwork Trust under the tertrts of a fvnding agreement between the Diocese and the Trust. These funds were transferred to the Trust as soon as the fijnds were received from the Diocese and these amounts are not included in these financial statements as the PCC has no control over these funds and is simply acting as an agent for the Trusl. Independent Examiner's Report to the Parochial Church Council of St. Matthew's, Hanvell I report to the Parochial Church Council on my examinats'on ofthe accounts of St Matthews, Harwell for the year ended 31 DeGember 2025. Responsibilities and Bas15 01 Report As the members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements., in accordance with the requirements of the char￿e5 Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the 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 Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Indep￿dent examinevs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wth the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: (i) a¢counting records were not kept in respect of the PCC as required by section 130 of the Act. or (li) the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wth the eXa￿￿natiOn to which attention should be drawn In this report in order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Graham Beith Five Corners The Barrow Harwell OXON Date: ..2026 St. Matthews Church, HanNell Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025 Receipts & Payments Account Unrestricted Designated Restricted Fund8 Funds Fund8 Total 2025 Totsl 2024 Receipts Voluntary Re¢eipts Planned Giving Collections at S8tVlC8S Collecth'ons at Community Buildings other voluntary receipts (note 5bl Non-recurring income {note sc) Gift Aid received Investment income (note Sd) Rècèipts from Church activits'es (note Sel {note Sal 58,152 2,328 548 11,361 58,152 2,328 548 26,738 500 14,135 4,576 11.220 52,144 1,641 523 25,519 5,315 15,486 5.327 11.542 15,375 500 25 14,110 4,576 13,209 5,011 Total Recelpts 104,284 20,911 125,195 117,497 Payments Church Activitie8 Diocesan Parish Share Ministry (note 5fl Maintenance, Utilities & Insurancè (not8 5gl Admini8tratson & Stationery {note 5hl Missions & Charitles Other Total Payments 51,920 17,509 23,608 51,920 19.609 31,036 48,902 23,323 27,772 2,100 4,678 2,752 6,191 7,071 4,694 110,993 6,191 7,071 13256 129,083 5,168 6,999 15 188 127,352 (note 5$) 2,752 15,338 Exo••s of Recelpts over Payments -8,709 -2,752 5,573 .3,888 .9,855 Transfers Be￿80n Funds 28,070 -22,134 -5,938 Excess of Recelpts over Payments after Transfers 21,381 -24,886 483 4,888 -9,855 Cash and Bank current and deposit accounts 1 Jan Excess receipts over payments after transfers Ca8h and 8ank current and deposit accounts 31 Dec 25 45.144 78,819 -363 78,456 123,338 133,193 20,736 20,258 119,450 123,338 Statement of Assets and Llabllltles Unrestricted Designated Restricted Fund5 Funds Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Cash Funds Cash Bank Current and Deposit Accounts CBF Deposit Account Total Cash Funds 81 20,655 81 31 23,159 31,262 96,210 92,045 119,450 123,338 2,504 17,754 20,258 78,456 78,456 20,736 Debtors Gift Aid recoverable 1,911 1,911 1,846 Totsl Debtors 1,911 1.911 1,846 Assets Retained for Church Use Church Hall (note 2) 137,644 137,644 Liabilities Total Uabllltles The attached notes on pages 4 to 6 form part of these financial statements. These financial statements vRre approved by the Parochial ChurGh Council on i ¥13 , 2026 and signed on their behalf by Chairman Trustee (and Treasurer) Jeremy Parsons Nick Clarke Notes The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis. Fixed asset retained for church use is the Church Hall, built in 1994, al cost. It is the policy of this church to hold in reserves the equivalent of two months general running costs and an additional one month's salary costs. It is also our policy to hold an amount equivalent to the Excess on our insurance policy and an amount for costs arising from the next quinquennial inspection. Movements in designated and restricted fvjnds (including tax reclaimed ￿ere applicable as part of income) over the year were.. Bal Blfwd Receipts Payments Transfer Bal Clfv Designated Legacies Church Hall Project Roof Repair Fund Mission Giving Lega¢ies Insurance reserve and excess 25,134 2,252 5,070 9,188 3,500 45,144 500 -24,634 2,252 6,000 11,070 9,188 2,752 -22,134 20,258 Restricted Assorted Collections Bells CAP Money Course CAP Centre CFW extension fund Chilton joint account Christmas Together Church FabriclRedecoratlon ChurchlHall Deposits Church Hall Grants Defibrillator Fledglings Garden Fund Generation Gold Harwellcome Café Memorial Fund ODBF Fees Organ Repair Fund Outreach Rector's Discretionary fund Sound System Upgrade 1,144 2,025 479 420 2,721 420 3,276 209 152 -1,144 1,470 270 152 6,170 3,338 56,929 -3.497 59,602 3,338 795 1,000 200 1,365 795 1,000 860 -860 200 1,365 2,077 35 225 3,000 923 35 597 2D 1,157 392 1,157 526 526 702 1,302 7,309 386 4,025 78,819 1,673 2,375 1.302 6,745 386 3,888 78,456 1,400 1,529 -435 137 15,338 20,911 -5,936 Receipts and Payments Analysis (Receipts exclude Gft Aid received) Unrestricted Designated Restricted Funds Funds Funds Total 2025 Total 2024 Receipts (a) Planned Giving Gift-aided Planned Giving Other Planned Giving Total Planned Giving 54,936 3,216 58,152 54,936 3,216 58,152 48,918 3,226 52.144 (b) Other Giving and Donations General Assorted Collections Bells CAP Centre Roof Repair Fund CFW Extension Defibrillator Harwellcome Café Church FabriclRedecoration Didcot Foodbank Generation Gold Outreach Sound System Upgrade Total Donations 11,361 11,361 420 2,696 152 5,073 1,954 2,025 292 70 8,860 420 2,696 152 6,170 3,000 657 860 6,170 3,000 657 800 250 275 4,720 1,200 25,519 20 1,400 20 1,400 11,361 15,375 26,736 (c) Non-recurring income Grants Total Non-recurring income 500 500 500 500 5315 5,315 (d) Receipts from Investments Bank interest CBF Deposit Account interest Total Receipts from Investments 410 4,166 4,576 410 4,166 4,576 688 4,639 5,327 (e) Receipts from Church activities Fees Church Hall income Chilton joint account Total Receipts from Church Activities 2,198 11,011 1,673 3,871 11,011 3,338 18,220 3,158 3,238 5,146 11,542 3,338 5,011 13,209 Unrestricted Designated Restricted Total Funds Funds Funds 2025 Total 2024 Payments (fj Ministry Associate Minister's Expenses CAP Money Courses CFW extension Curate's Expenses Administrator Youth Work and Kids Church Outreach Generation Gold Services Organist Total Ministry 100 100 209 2,955 227 12,009 612 1,964 225 908 400 19,609 260 67 5,878 876 11,716 225 1,763 1,496 642 400 23,323 209 2,955 227 12.009 612 435 1 ,529 225 137 771 400 17,509 2,100 (g) Maintenance and Utilities Church Cleaning Church Maintenance Churd) Utilities Church Hall Maintenance and Cleaning Church Hall Utilities Church Insurance Church Hall Insurance Totsl Maintenance and Utilities 843 7,395 4,694 3,141 843 3,276 11,171 4,694 6,793 726 7,406 7,998 6,040 500 2,252 1,400 4,456 2,912 167 23,608 4,456 2,912 167 4,676 31,036 2,635 2,552 415 27,772 2,752 (h) Administration & Stationery Administration Bank charges Stationery Office costs Website Outsourced Printing Consultancy Totsl Administration and Ststionery 384 200 104 1,779 2,886 171 667 6,191 384 200 104 1,779 2,886 171 667 6,191 200 68 1,772 2,869 259 5,168 (i) Other Gifts, Subs and Courses Miscellaneous O.D.8.F.fees CAP Debt Centre Chilton Joint Account Defibrillator Didcot Foodbank Church Hall Deposits Assorted Collections Total Other 598 185 598 185 2,375 4,063 3,338 2,077 622 204 3,144 3,858 5,146 2,375 152 3,338 2,077 3,911 250 200 420 8,562 200 420 13,256 1,964 15,188 4,694 In addition, during 2025, £4,568 was received from the Diocese on behalf of the Didcot Youthwork Trust under the tertrts of a fvnding agreement between the Diocese and the Trust. These funds were transferred to the Trust as soon as the fijnds were received from the Diocese and these amounts are not included in these financial statements as the PCC has no control over these funds and is simply acting as an agent for the Trusl.