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2025-12-31-accounts

The Ecclesiastical Parish of St Martin, Windermere Charlty Number 1161992 St mAlltin's Yovr6 aly£ A6oMG Annual Report & Financial Statement of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31" December 2025 and Minutes of the Vestry and Annual Parochial Church Meeting held on Sunday 14" April 2025 "We aim to respond to God's love, enjoying it together in worshi and mutual care, and sharin it with eve one." Incumbent: The Revd. James Richards BA MA The Rectory, Longlands Road, Bowness-on-windermere, LA23 3AS. Bank: Nat West, Windermere Barclays Bank plc, Kendal Parlsh Office: St. Martin's Parish Church, Lake Road, Bowness-on-windermere, LA23 3DE Independent Examiner: Jackson and Graham, Chartered Accountants, Lake Road, Bowness-on-windermere, LA23 2JJ

THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARTIN, WINDERMERE AGENDA FOR THE ANNUAL VESTRY AND PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY 26TH APRIL IN CHURCH AT 11.30AM PRAYER APOLOGIES ELECTION OF WARDENS APCM MINUTES OF 18TH MAY 2025 REPORT OF PCC FOR 2025 ACCOUNTS & FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 2025 APPoINTME￿r OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER CHURCH FABRIC & TERRIER REPORT DEANERY SYNOD REPORT SAFEGUARDING REPORT ELECTORAL ROLL OFFICER'S REPORT ELECTION TO PCC ELECTION OF SIDESMEN TEAM VICAR'S CLOSING REMARKS and PRAYER

There will be a short meeting of the new PCC Immedlately following the APCM specifically to elect the officers of the PCC: Lay Chairman; Secretary; Joint Treasurers. Electoral Roll Officer.

ThE PARISH CHURCH OF sr. MARTIN. WINDERMERL MINUTES OF THE ANNUAIVESTRY AND PAROCHIAL MEETING forthe yèar 2024, held In the Church at Jl.30am on SUNDAY IBth May 2025 ANNUAL EASTER VESTRY MEEfiNG OPENING PRAYER and ATTENDANCE The Rector. the Revd. James Richards opened the meetlng with prayer. There were about 30 parishioner5 present. ELECTION OF WARDENS14 vatanclesl War(Jens are ex-officio member5 of PCCI Mike Fletcher was willln8 to stand again for a final year. Approved unanimousty. Jame5 Ihanked Rosemary Rooke for her 5ervi¢e as warden in the past year. ANNUAL PAROCHIALCHURCH MEEfiNG APCM MINUTES OF APRIL 2024 These were approved and slgned as correct by the Chalrman. There were no matters arisinE. PCC SECRETARY The chalr noted with thanks Ali Jarvis's work as PCC secretary over the past year. and that she would not be contlnuing in that role In the comlng year. REPORT OF PCC FOR 2024 Thls document, clrculated prlor to the meetin& had been prepared byjames as PCC Chair, but had not been approved In advance by the PCC. It was approved unanirnously. FINANCIAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR 2024 Mike Baldwin Introduced and drew attention to the maln feature5 of the financial report which had been prepared loinilv with Ted Cook and di5tribvted prevlously. The accounts were receSved unanlmously. james expressed great appreciation from himself and the PCC to both Mlke and Ted for all their work and for keeping the PCC up 1¢ date on a regular basis. Jack50n and Graham were proposed and agreed as our contlnued Independent examlner. CHURCH FABRIC AND TERRIER Thls had been prepared by Mike FI￿cher who emphasised once again the ongoinB concern about the state of the church roof. and the end-of-life state of our boiler5. DEANERY SYNOD REPORT James ha(J prepared thls. He noted that we are entitled to two lay-members of Deanery Synod, but that we currently have none. SAFEGUARDING REPORT James ntsted the need to appoint a Parish Safeguardlng Ofhcer, and that there was a posslble person In mlnd for the role. All level one Safe8uardin8 actions have beert completed. We are using the Safeguardlng Dashboard io monitor our cornpliance wlth requlrements. ELECTORAL ROLL OFFICER'S REPORT Pat Baldwin reported that following a completè renewal of the Electoral Roll there are now 67 par55hioners on the Electoral Roll, 18 of whom are not resident in the parish. Three have rfied during the year. and 24 have elther moved away or chosen

not to be on the new roll. One new name h35 been added. Thi5 Is a sbgnificant reduction from last year. WhFle there has fiormalty been a reductlon when the roll is ienewed, thls is a cause for concern. The average weekly attendance. counted in October 2024, was 41. However, If we intlude ihe St. Martin and St. Mary Sthool Harvest Festival, Ihls number Increases to 100. The Chrlstingle service Saw an attendance of around 4(rfJ The report was received, with thanks to Pat. ELEclloNS al PCC- 12 lay members, 4 belng re-elected each year. 2 in post with one year remainiN8. The following PCC members were re-elected: Martin Rayner and Ted Cook for a three year tsrm: Rosemary Rooke for a two-year term- and Liz Haworth and Ju(Jl Whltehead for a one-year temi. bl SIDESMEN.. The current sidesmen are David & Carol Brooks, Hilary Sharpe, Ann Wanska, Barbara Fletcher. Liz Howarth, and Val Garvey. The meetlng agreed unanimousty that they should serve a8ain rf they are willin& and to add Judl Whitehead who had been nomlnated. io RECTOR'S CLOSING REMARKS FOR ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING 2024 James had already distributed a note of his remarks which was included within the APCM bundle. The meeting closed at approximately 12.15pm wlth the Grace.

The Parochlal Churth Councll of the E¢deslastl(al Parlsh ol St. Martin, Windermere Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2025. Admlnlstrative Informatton St. Martin's Church is 51tuated close to Lake Windermere at Bowness. It Is part of the South Lakes Team of parishes Wlthln the Diocese of Cailisle within the Church of England. The correspondence addre55 15 The Parlsh Churth of St. Martin, Lake Road, Bowness on Windermere, LA23 3DE. On 3rd June 201S, the PCC became a Registered Charity with the title of'The Parochial Church Council of ihe Eccleslasfjcal PaTlsh of 5t. Marhn, Wlndermere, wbth the Charlty Number 1161992. our Charity detai15 can be accessed by all on the Charity Commission Re8i5ter. PCC members eletted at the APCM of 16th Aprfl 2024 or ex officlo until the date of this report are: Ex Officlo members- Jarne5 Richards. Team Rector (Chairl,. OINia Haines, Team Vlcar Warden: Mike Fletcher Electoral Roll Officer Pat 8aldwin Deanery Synod: Vacancy Elected members.. Mike BaldwSn ljoint-trea5urerl, Jill Butler, Ted Cook ljoint-treasurerl. Dlana Dodd, Marttn Raynei ILay chairl, Ann Wanska, Judi Whitèhead Thls report has been prepared by the Chair of the PCC. whlch has noi had the opportunlty to approve it. Sarah Svatins We 3rÈ grateful to Sarah Svatins who has been coverlng the work of the PCC secrelary, but will not contlnue to $0 after the annual meeting. Our thanks to her. Structure. governance and managemenl: The method of appolntment of pcc members Is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to ie8lSter on the Electoral Roll 50 as to be ellgible to vote for Andlor stand for election to the PCC. Oblectlves and actlvltles: The prlmary oblecthve of St. Martln'sls the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ accordI￿at0 the doctrine and prathce of the Church of England. St Mattin's PCC has the responsibillty of co-operatin8 Wbth the incumbent, the Revd. James Richards, in promotfng in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church,. pastorèl, evangelisfjc, socoal and ecumenlcal. The PCC has the maintenance responsibility for St. Martin's Church buildin8. Church attendance There were 67 members on the Churth Elecloral Roll ot 18th May 2025, 18 of whom resrded outside the parlsh. The average weekty attendance, ¢ounled at all services during Octobei 2024 (when national attendan¢e count is donè), was 41. At festivals and special occasions the weekly attèndance number can sometimes exceed 500. Thank5 The PCC thank5 all musicians. sin8ers, or8anists, and instrumèniallsts. for their contribution to the Sunday servlces, and to lay leaders and interces50rs for the Morning Praise seNlces which alternate with Holy Communion sÈrvice5 led by the Team Rector or other ¢ler8Y Also remembered with thanks are those who work to keep the ¢hur¢h clean. arrange flowers and open the church durlng the summer months agaln to welcome visitor5. Mlsslon and Evangellsm: Part ofthe ministry of the ¢hurch, beyond that to regular attenders, was to the 4 couple5 who were married at St. Martin'5 and to their famllles and friends in 2025. A15Q the families and friends of thè people whose funerailmemorial services were held here and to the four chlldren who were baptised at St. Martln's, their parent5, families and friends during the year. In conjunction with St. Mary's Church In Windermere, Sunday servlce5 have been live-stTeamed vla Facebook on most Sundays, to reach out to those who felt unable to attend personally. The Christmas Carol service was held in Church, a5 was ChrSstinBle and the Chrlstmas Eve service- the Christmas Day setvice was also held In church. All were well attended. Home groups met for fellowshlp. prayer and dlscussion. All mee￿n85 are held at member's homes. PCC Business The PCC hèld full meetings in February. May. July* Septernber and November 202S. and a short formal meeting In May immedialely after the APCM for the appointment of officers. There was a150 a combinefj PCCS meetinB in October for the Team in foCU￿lfi￿ on the mis5i0n of the Church in the Team.

The Revd Olivla Haines was appolnted to be licensed on 14th January, and has entered ener8etiolly into her responsibilities. Notable among them has been the introduction of 8ubble Church. Inlnally In Staveley, but looking to run In Windermere as well- at st. Marfs where the venue and fatrllfjÈs èrè sultable. PCC buslne5s has Included.. Safeguardin& continuing actbons In support of N3tional Policy adopted the previous year, and the appointment of Jo Williams as Parlsh Safeguarding Offittr. • RÈ8ular review of parish finances, Induding our contribution to the Team's Minlstry Offer. ably asslsted by the reports aThJ information provided by our treasurer5. Completion of the faculty process and installation of ihe new boiler5- Wlth 8ratEful thanks to Rosemary Rooke who has piloled us through the pro￿$5 • Exploring the posslbllitres of looking for Eco Church accreditatlon Beginnlng agaln on the pio¢ess of deallng wlth our failing roof lorlginally begun before the Covid 19 lockdown) This 15 onty a list of the malor Items.

THE PCC OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MART1Tr4 WINDERMERE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2025 Th¢Annual Acwuntshave been prepared in aw)rdance with the Charities Ad 201 l andPCC Accountability (5 edition) using the accruals accounting basis. Prior to the start of the year, PCC had approved a budget with a deficit of £9793 on unrestricted funds in anticipation of a further reduction in planned giving. Also, dwing the year, PCC agre¢d that thcre was an urgent n¢ed to r¢pla¢e two aging heating boilers which were not expected to lasi through the winter. This was done, using both unrestricted geneTai reserv¢s al￿ restricted buildiDg reserves. with the help and guidance of the Diocese. We can report that budget ¢xpectstions were met on all headings except repairs and Maintenance and we paid our Ministy Offer in ￿11 and the year ended with a reduction in unT¢stricted r¢serves of £20761. However, we w¢r¢ able to offset Maintenance costs a litde by Claiming grants of £637 under the Listed Pl￿ of Worship Grant Scheme. We saw restricted reserves decr¢&se by £8963 ITh the year. due to the replacement of the heating boileTS. PCC face the challenge in 2026 of sourcing funding for canying out nrdjor roof repaiTS that are urgently required. We were unable lo hold our Summer Fair or Martinmas Fair. so OUT group of St Martin's ladies ¢￿shiOned the fllWicial impact by serving lunch¢s and cream teas more often during the year. These w¢r¢ all very successful occasions and thanks are due to all those who worked so hard to make them so. W¢ W¢Te able to welcome Dur usual steady flow of visitors tl)roughout the y¢ar (approL 25000) with their valued donations, Contactless and in boxes, and increased gift stall purchases. PCC fees and occasional retiring collections were r¢ceived from weddings and funeral services during the year and in the cose of the fornier, the bellringers generously waived th¢iT fees in favour of the Church. At the close of the year unrestricted reserves stood at £77776 and restricted reserves at £2409, togeth¢r comfortably in excess of th¢ minimum our reserves policy says is needed. PlaI￿ed giving, including gift-aid t&x, at £33239 showed an 8 % d¢creas¢ on the previous year (£36196) with the number of regular subscribers decreasing from 40 to36, This continuing declin¢ is of real concern to the PCC. We are thank￿ for the regular gifts from our parishioners throughout the year and trust you will be able io continue your valu¢d support in 2026. As in pThious year4 we are grateful to our musicians who waive their fees in favour of the Church. The gift stall provided a valuable and incr￿Ing sourc¢ of income, after purchases. We are also thank￿ for the income we received from Jenny's book sales, the flower fund and Tefreshments which all made good contributions. Thank you to ev¢rybody concerned. OUT Ministy Offer to the Diocese, which provides the stipends. p¢nsions and housing for clergy, was £43543, (£45608,2024), and took 58Q/o (600/0 2024) of UTW¢Strided incoming resource4 (excluding legacies). Accrna]s have been included for any expenditure incurred but not paid for at year-cnd PCC were able to continu¢ their financial support for Church Mission Society our mission partners and bave sent a ch¢que for £IOOO. We had a very successful Christingle service with some 380 adults and children present and raised £662 for the Chiiaren's Society. As usual, p¢ople worked hard to ensure that gifts from Children's Society boxes and from the Christian Aid door to dooT collection were maximised buL as th¢se are sent direct, they ar¢ not includcd in these Accounts. St Martins is part of the United Benefice of South Lakes and th¢ T¢am Ministy is made up of our Rector Revd Jarnes Richards and Team vicar Revd Olivia Haines. We look forward to continuing to work with the other five Parishes as we move closer togetber and gain more of the potential cost benefits of ￿a]e. T¢d Cook Mike Baldwin PCC Treasurers

THE PCC OF THE TEMEP CCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF 8T IAAKfiN VIINDERMERE Total Funds Total Funds INCOMING RESOURCES Planned Giving with GiftAKI Planned Giving withwt GiftAd Colle￿onS wilh Gift CotWion8 Wthout Gift Aid Gfft Atd recovered Dortations with Ahj Donations wrthwt Gbft Aid Boxes SUMUP Jenny's Books Legacies GMts Voluntary Income: 25311 25311 1365 1632 9925 2699 2{a) 1655 2012 7242 3376 140 2915 118 5273 837 2915 118 5273 637 21b) 2976 60903 2735 550 3285 7512 3977 11489 4671 pcc tees for weddings & funernls Bollringers, fees dond 2579 400 2979 9125 4932 14057 3323 2579 400 2979 9125 4932 14￿7 Church Gfft Stall Con¢erts & Events 2(d> Invoslments: Divvjends arKI InteresL 1 21el Total Incoming Resource5 RESOURCES EXPENDED Ditxesan Parish Offering Clergy, Secretsrial Olfice Exp. Attar Supplies Organist Parish Magazln Other costs Mlnlstry: 3{a) 3(b) 43543 43543 45608 15242 442 292 422 2169 64175 5974 4585 11220 21779 293 735 612 1889 63335 6876 293 735 612 2091 63540 8878 4670 29567 41113 3(c) Bulldlng: Power & Water Insurance Repai￿ & Maintenance 3(d) 20378 31924 9189 9189 Chur¢h bvillM: Gift Stsll Purcha8e8 3941 3744 Mi$sk>ng: Mtssionary and ChaFitable Giving 1 3(Q 1762 2422 Total Rgsourcts Expended Nel Incoming Resources ￿0ve Other Gains and Losses. -20761 -29712 -12411 Gwns on dispwl and révaluion of astets and investments -12 -12 Net k&)vement in Funds -20761 -29724 -12402 Transfers bolween FurK18 B8￿nCes blf4¥d on 18t January 2025 Balance8 clfvrtl on 31st Llecember 2025 113r2 1099C 122311 10 The notss on the following pages fomi part of these Accounts.

THE PCC OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN WINDERMERE BALANCE SHEET AT 31st DECEMBER 2025 Unrostricted nds Restrlcted Total Funds Total Funds 2024 Not• FIXED ASSETS Tanyible Investrnents 54353 54353 1983 1983 56336 56336 86347 86347 CURRENT ASSErs Stock Debtors Short-temi deposits Cash at bank and in hand 6(a) 6(b) 274 4970 274 4970 556 20075 25319 426 426 20501 25745 20855 25254 CURRENT UABILITIES Creditors falling due within one year ! Recoipls In advance Accruals 7(a) 1896 1896 23423 77776 1896 1896 23849 80185 1692 1692 23562 109909 N•t current ass•tsl (Ilabllitles) 426 2409 H FUND Unrestricted Restricted 81a) 81b) 77776 77TT6 2409 80185 98537 11372 109909 2409 2409 77776 Th8 notes on the followlNJ paw fonn part of these Accounts. Approvad by tho Parochlal Church Councll on tho 4th hlarch 2026 and s1gn•d on Its behalf by Tho Revd Jam•s J RTchard$ (PCC Chalmian)

Notes t_o the !iDancial statements Fortheyear ended 31 December 2025 I. ACCOUNTING POLICIES Th¢ financial statements hav¢ ken prepared in accordan¢e with the Charities Act 2011 and the PCC (5 edition) including tbe Church Accounting Regulations 2017 published for th¢ House of Bishops of the General Synod. The financial statements have been PT¢pared under the historical cost convention except for the valuation of inveskn¢nt assets, which are shown at market value. The financial statements includ¢ all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe tbeir main atfiliation to another IxKty, nor those that are inforn)al gatherings of church men]bcTS. Funds Endowmentfvpkb are funds, th¢ capital of which must be maintsined. only income arising from investment of the endowment may be used eith¢r as restricted or unrestricted funds depending uwTrn the puryose for which the endowm¢nt was established. Restrictedfynds rq)resenl (a) income frotn trusts or endowments which may be expended only on those restrided objects provided in the t¢rnis of the trust or bequesl and (b) doDations or grants received for a S￿ifiC object or invitrd by the PCC for a specific obj¢ct. The funds may only be expended on the specific objed for which they wer¢ given. Any balance ren￿lDing unspent at the end of each year must b¢ canied forward &s a balance on that fund. Unreslricled fynds are gen¢ral fimds that can be used for PCC ordinary purposes. Incoming resources Plamied givAng, collections and donations are recogniz£d when received. Tax refi)nds are recognized when they are clain]ed. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the PCC is legally enlitled to the amounts due and they gre received. Dividends and interest aff accounted for when ￿e1ved. All other tncome is recognized when it is due andlor rKeive& All incoming reSoUr￿S are accounted for gross. Resources expended Grants and donations are accountrd for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constrnctive obligation on the PCC. The diocesan parish offer is accounted for wh¢n du¢. Amounts received specifically for mission are d¢alt with as r¢stricted funds. All other expenditure is generally recognized when it is incurred and is accounted for gross. Fixed #ssets Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts in awordance with S.10 (2) {a) of the Charities Act 2011. Movable church furnishings held by the Tector and chwchwardens on special tn]sL for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are inalienable propety, listed in the chw¢h's inventory, which can be inspected (at any reasonable time). For anything acquired prior to 2000 there is insufficient cost inforniation available and therefore such assels are not valued in the financial ststements. Subsequently no individual item has cost more than £1 000 and these items of equipment, whether used within the church premises or T¢Ctory otTice, are written off when the &8set is acquired. Impeslmenls are valued at market value at 31 Decernber.

  1. INCOMtNG RESOURCES 2{a) Includes tax recovered and tax claimed not yet recovered £2269 up to 3 1st December, and tsx claimed on loose c&sh in collections and boxes under the GASD Scheme. 2(b) These are grants under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in respect of VAT paid on church repairs. 2(c) The bell ringers have generously waived their wedding fees in favour of the church. 2(d) These are the proceeds of lunches and cream teas at various times throughout the year. 2(e) Dividends and interest received on investments and pennanent endowments. Interest on the legacy received in 2023 has significantly boosted the unrestricted figure.

  2. RESOURCES EXPENDED 3(a) Diocesan Ministy offer paid in twelve equal instalments 3(b) Includes £12995 for the Parish Administrator (2024 £11542). 3(c) Includes £372 fee for Independent Examination (Unrestricted). 3(d) Insurance premium paid by instahnents. 3(e) Unrestricted costs are routine repairs and maintenance and restricted costs represent exceptional non routine work. Th¢ cost of the replacement of the heating boilers has been shared between restricted (£9189 } and unrestricted (£15535). 3(fj Unrestricted costs represent a donation to our Mission Partners at CMS, a collection for the Children's Society at the Christingle service, and Harvest gifts. Restricted donations represent our donation to the Windennere and District Food Bank and Christian Aid week donations. GAINSILOSSES ON THE DISPOSAL AIYD REVALUATIOIY OF INVESTMENfS These can be analysed as follows: Unrestricted Restricted CBF C of E Income shares COIF Charities Income units -12

  3. At 31 December 2025 Investments were held in the following Funds: UDrestricted CBF C of E Deposit fund 54353 Restricted CBF C of E Deposit fimd COIF Charities Income Units 1732 13 units -do- 251 The PCC also receive restricted income from three connected Charity endowments (Registered Charities).

  4. CURRENT ASSETS 6(a) Gift stall stock held at cost price. 6(b) Includes Gift Aid tax refund for 3 months to 31 st December claimed but not received.
  5. CURRENT LIABILITIES 7(a) Unrestricted accruals at year-end include clergy and administration costs £284, power costs £998 and Parish News printing costs £614.
  6. PARISH FUI¥4DS 8(a) The reserves available are to meet ￿tUre shortfalls in incoming resources against resources expended. Every effort is made to increase incoming resources and control resources expended. PCC has a Reserves Policy which states tbat we should hold at least 3 month's average running costs in unrestricted reserve together with at least £20,01)O, for emergency fabric worK in either restricted or unrestricted reserve and, unless better terms can be obtained from our own baDkers, fund balances will be invested Ivith the CBF Church of England Funds. The Reserves Policy is reviewed annually. 8(b) Funds which have arisen from legacies, fundraising, dividends and asset sales are restricted to the puryoses directed i.e. fabric. If not directed they are unrestTiCted. PAYMENTS TO PCC MEMBERS A small immaterial portion of the expenses paid to the incumbent may have related to his seriices as chaim]an of the PCC. Other expenses were paid to officers for expenses wholly and exclusively incurred by them in the perforniance of their duties.

Th￿￿h Fabrlt & Terrfer Report There have been no slgnlficant changes to the fabrlc of the Church during the period under review. However. the roof ¢onttnuesto cause conorn resultiTh8 In water ingress. However. l am pleased to report that thls15 now under ieview by the P.C.C. re8ardln8 funding. The propèrty and flthn85 In Ihe Church are generally in 8ood order and the aged heayng systèm has now been replaced. No additlons have been made to the inventory. Mlke Fletther Churth Warden Safeguardl The PCC has formal￿ adopted the Chvrth's policy IPromot6n8 a Safer Churchl thot pvts children. yovng people & vulnerable aduh5 at the centre of our Con￿r￿S. and we have adopted the safe8uardinB policy and Buidance agreed by the House of Blshops. We have appointed Mr5 Jo Wllliams as Parish Safe8uardin8 Officer. All the Level I Safe8uardin8 artlons have been taken. and the Parlsh Safe8uardin£ Dashboard tool is beSn8 Used to help us e5tabllsh and maintain good pra¢dce. No safeguardin8 toncems were reported in 2025. eanery Synod Report All Ilcensed clergy in the Deanery togethei wlth elerted lay member5 appointed fTom every parlsh In the Deanery make up the Deanery Synod. As well as its routine business it also eleds members for Diocesan Synod and for General Synod. The Deaneiy Synod can ask for a rnotion to be debated by the Diocesan Synod and Deanery Synod motion5 can even become part of the buslness ofthe naiional churd). We are entitled to have two lay members attendlng Deanery Synod to keep us vp wlth news from the SyTJod and to represent OilT pèrlsh In d55cusslons that tske place. Currentlywe do not have any lay representatives on Deanery Synod. It Is parti¢ularly Importantthatwe should appoint our quota of lay members thls ￿ar a5 they wlth the other lay member5 of the Deanery Synod wlll bÈvolln{forthe people to be our Dio¢es¥n Representathes on General Syn¢xl. Thls report has been prepared by the Team Rector. The Windermere Oeanerysyr￿d met in May and November. Reports were received on Flnance, including Ministry Offer; the development of M15slon CoMmun￿e5- and Netwoth Youth Chuich. In the afea of our Mission Community, Chri5 Ma50n'5 Network Youth Chvrch work has included supportin8 Experience Easterfor our local prlmary schools at St Marfs, Windermere: faalitating a prayer breakfast meefjn8 for 5choo15. chlldren and youth work support,. maintaininE a Lunch aub at the Lakes School: supportln8 an after-school drop-in at St. Mary's churc￿ Windermere. In May we heard from lan Nlchol, Headteacher at Leven Valley Prlmary khool about the work of a headteacher in a Church Sthool. In November there was an open rnee￿n8 to hear Bishop Rob outllne hls sense of Vi5Fon and prioritles for the dlocese. Thls was part of his Inaugural tour of the diocese. The draft mlnute of hls presentalon 15 reproduced in full below- He pledged{usfuros possible) to try to keep in regular touch with theporishe5 in th￿ woyin the Coming yeors. He Is keen to ltsten ond wouldbe pleosed to hear whot s going on und whot 5 importont to us. He thonkedeveryonefor theirgroceondlmoginatlon In keeplng the wotship. work ond witness of the Church ollve in chollenging times He hos been encouroged in his trovels by seeing50 many exomples of churches moklng u real dijyerence in people5 lives. He Is otso gn7teAul Glso to the creolfve. dedlcoted ond hardworkln9 Oergyond Li¢ensedMln15ter& At the end of the doy we ore cau9ht up in God s work. Fundomentolly the Vi5Aon Is whot Ir hos olwoy5 been ts helplng people come to knowjesus Christ, tofollowjesus Christ 0ndseek￿$ Klngdom. To know God 5 lovefor them ond diScoverh￿purPose1oT thelr lfves. All we d05hould be in sypport of these thlngs. Heis commltted tofostering the Vocotion of oll Chrtsl*ans."fvsterlng work among young people ondenGbling locolOwr¢hes to be ploce5 of Worship. Proyer Service ond seeing new ones begln. We need to return to ondposs on the rich messoge of hope we hove been 91ven. We ore colled to seekfirst the Kingdomllrst olollln new ond creotive woys olongslde (whereverposslblej ourecumenlcol pfjrtners. His Pr￿rity is to mlse the Spirituol femperoture in the county ond Diocese. Pmyerond Theology fgolng deepei In otsf understpnding offolthj ore ot the heart oJoll we do. The need Is to become more reliont upon God (to whom we belong to and why we I￿ther11 wlth proyershopino ourcommon liAe ond wltness. Moy God grant U5 09reot longlng to know Christbetter onddrow others intohi5 frlendshlp. He drew our ottentlon to Ezeklel Chapter47. A riverfvwing out of the Temple to bring Irfe. heolingi hope. joyand liAe In rich yorlety wherever It 9oes. rhe trees on Its banks ore replete with ubundonce. We ure colled to be thot river whlchflows outfrom God bringing hts obundontblesslng. The Vislt of Gjbriel to Mory (Annunciution Story in luke s G05pel). The messoge to Mury is 'do not be ofrold'ond nothlng is Impossible with God,. Morysubmlt5 to the willof the Lord. .1 om the Lord s servont". Sln¢e It Is God s Church wecun hove confidence to geton with the work oAGod where we t7re and in the woy he Is sI￿pIng u5 funiquely to oyrcontext). A tangerine Is not oloiled Dmnge. Electml Roll offi￿￿$ R•port

Electlon to PCC Electbon of S5desmen Rertor's Remarks I want to echo and emphasise the thanks the PCC has given to so many people whose prayer and commitment Sustain the lrfe ofst. Marhn's. Especially I want to thank Mike Fletcher who has been churchwarden through the best part of two decades. shoulderin8 rnany burdens, and belng very reslstant to receivln8 public thanks or acknowledgement for all that he has done, Lookin8 back, a5 we do at an annual rneetin8, 1 have greatly appreciated the arrlval of Ollvla Haines, the gifts and in518hts she has brought to mlnlstry In the team. for her enerEV and initiatlve. and to be able to share respon5ibilitywlth her as a colleague. I have known our departure was possible when Jane was appolnied to a sultable post, and I made thls clear to Ollvia and the other candldates In the appointment process. I have. however, only had definlte knowledge since January, and l am glad to have been able to 8ive Olniia a good year to Bet a feel for the team and its parishes. l am wrlt%ng these remarks a5 1 prepare to leave. l am more 8rateful than I can say to all the people at St. Martln's with whom I have shaied the ministry of the church in the last 27 years. In leaving l am deeply con5clous of having been part of è story whith be8an before we came to the parish and which will continue after we have gone. There are some thing5 whlch I look back on with 8ratitude and satlsfaction, and other thlngs where l am all too aware of what has not been done- whether through my own shortcomin8s or because of other event5 and Clrcumstances. Whoever Is appolnted to work wlth our parishe5 in the ongolng life of the church will be dtfferent from me. ThÈy wfill bring flesh eyes lo the sltuatlon and élfferent Sdea5. There will undoubtedly be a feelln8 that there are both pluses and minuses about them, bLrt my prayer is that you together with Olivia and whoever Is appointeil wlll be bold to face the need for change and to step out in faith in thin85 that may seem risky. In January last yearBishop Rob wrote asklng us all to loin tO8ether in prayer, asking.. "everyone toproy thot God would give vs g heort toproyond thot Godwovld strengthen usforservlce. In order thot we mlght proyos much together 05 P055ible. pleose will you set on Glarm to proyloi these thingsAorjust S minutes ot 12 noon eoch Mondt7yPOf course, this might be the m05t inronvenlEllt tlme Jor youl In whlch cose, pleose decide o regulor weekty ifme when you con do tljts. Proytr Is the lifebloodof the church, ond everyone con do it. Whether youpniy regulorly orsporodi¢olty. this is somethlng oll of us con do ond beport ol. Pleose join wlth me In th15 ond I wouldbe 9roteful IAthls could be shly￿d 05 widely05 possible In eoch church" I do hope we might all take up thai invltaYon, for our parish. oyrTeam and Mlssion Community. and for our Dloce5e. Thank you for all that yolt have been for Jane and me and the famlty over the past years, and may you know every ble5slng forthe futvre. PS l attach a retrospealve plece that I was asked to produce for the Troutbeck parish ma8azrne.

I came to Bowness to be Inlerviewed for the post of Rector of Windermere in November 1998. The church had Iu51 DeÈn ueareo In preparatFon for its'mlllenniurn Projecv whlch involved removlne the pews and taki￿ Up the floor to install underfloor heatin& and con5erv8tion of the East window. In the years slnce we hove added to our famlty and seen Ouf f¢)ur chlldren grow up In a communitywhich ha5 been a great placeto call our home. It has 8enuinely been 3 piivile8e to Serve here as rector and then a5 tearn reclor. When we arrlved In February 1999 St. Martin's building was a bulldlng 51te. and the church was 5harln8 With Bowness Methodi51s with alternatin8 Anglican and Methodist services. Blshop lan Hailand came to one of the Angllcan tommunlon servlces, and Ilcensed me at the begin￿n8 of the servitÈ and then went on to ènother en8aBement so. unusually, I preached at my own li¢ensln$. Three rnomh5 later Blshop lan returned for my inductlon In St. Martin's on the eve ofA5cens5on Day. At theiime DerekJ?(kson was vkar for St. Marfs and Jesus Church, ènd wa5 rural dean. Derek Goddard was curate at St. Marvs. Rkhard Hall was the Methodist min55teT, Mgr Frank Slattery was the lon8-StandSng priest at st. Herbert's. Alan Gavnt was the minister at Carver, and Peter Mclntosh led the URCS Windermere Centre, Wayne Thomas WIS pastor at Lakes Chrlstian Centre. and JIM Burtonsoon became pastor at Windermere Communfty Church meetinE at the Hèathwaite Mlsslon. 2001 saw the arrfval of Davld Wllmot and the redevebpment and reordering of St. Marfs In my entire time heie. it has always been the case ihat I have been more Ilkely to meet parishloners around ihe shop5 In Wlndermere than down the hlll In Bowness where the emphasis toward5 vlsitors I louT55ts has always been noticeably stronger. I think that ha5 become more marked over tbme, but the redevelopment of the Royal Hotel slte has added è Tesco Express to the mlx. Although there was a loss offiro's news4ent l Henry Roberts bookshop. and more recently RlchaTdson'5 Butchers. More Tecentty the depaTture of Rayr5gg Motors Bowne55 had seen the arflval of a substsntlal Spar shop no doubt looklngto benefit from v15itor trade, not least from Fallbarrow. In that tlme Windermere and Bowness has never been a sln8le geoBraphlcally centred communlty Ilke, say. Troutbetk or Stavelev more a serles of oveilappln8 clrcles of connectfon- Rotary, Legion, D&D,S&S. Windermere So¢lal Club, goll club yacht cluband so on. There have been those who weTe born and bred here, those who have had second homes here lor decades before refjrln8 Into the area. as well as more retent arrivèls. We are fortunate In the sthools we have In our ttjffjmunlty, and I have been pleased io be able to BO into all our schoo15 Goodly Dale, St Mèrtin and St Marfslgnd prevlouslywindeimere Junlor Stheoll. the Lake5 School. and St. Anne's- now the Wlndermere School. I have always been Impressed by the commltment of teachers and other staff in all ihe schools. The Stsveley, Ings and Xentmere parlshe5, which were already part of Churches Together in Wlndermere and Dlstri¢t came intothe Wlndermere Deanery and Davsd Wilmot, Geoff Wa150n and I worked tO8ether to begin to bulld connethon wilh occasional'pulpit exchanges.. Thbs Stood us In good stead when. dvrln8 Shanthi Thomp50n's time a5 Vlcar of Staveley, Ings, and Kentmere. Davld WllmDI moved on, and we started to work to form thesouth Lakes Team. 11 was challenglng that wlthth a few short rnonths we were into the Covid1o¢kdown, and a8aln when Shanihl w35 asked to appty for the post at Holy Trlnlty, Kendal and was appolnted to It. We were pleased to wel¢ome Lawrence Basham èfter a year-long vacancv. but soiry to see hlm 80 so soon to Grasmere and Rydal, however. It has been a dellght to welcome Ollvla as our team vlcar (along with Barry and Isobell. We have cert8iAly benelited from her fresh eye on our ￿mmUnItieS, and her ener8y and cornmitment to enabling the church io thrNe, and to reach out to younger families. For a while the reallty has been that our regular Sunday Mornin8 provision has onty really worked for the older 8eneration, and that is somethin8 we have to glve some serlous attention to. The danger we face is that we end up focussed on the Ins￿lution as It is with Its stiuctyre5 both or8anisadonal and physical and for8et whai it Is supposed to be ihere for. We thlnk about people comin8to church on a Sunday mornln8 {and helplng to flll the vatant roles and paythe Pafbsh I mlnlstry offerl. when what we are really called to do 15 to worship God and to draw others to Chrithan faith- not to make more churth8oei5. but to "make dksclples of all nations". As the world around us changes we need to change too. tt is the life of faith that we are called to sustain not the lffe of the InS￿t￿tiOn known as the parish church. Just as the readin8 room ofthe past where people 8athered to read a 5haYed newspaper 8ave way to people havin8theli own newspaper5, whlch Sn turn have glven way to radio, televlslon and the Intemet. so the Church to needs to dlscover how to proclolm afresh the Good News ol God's transfNmlng love In Jesus Chrlst. I have referred in the past to the example of myxomycetes 'more cornmonty known as slime moulds. The narne no doubt has much to do with thÈlr obsturlty. An appella￿On that sovnded a Ilttle more dynamlc-'ambulant self-acifjvatlng protopla5m', say. and les5 like the stuff you find when you reach deep Into a clogged drnin would almost certalnly have earned these extraordinary entltle5 a more immedrdie share ofthe attentbon they deseNe... When t5mes are Bood, they exist a5 one-celled Individuals, much Ilke amoebès. But when conditlon$ 8row toueh, they crawl to a central gatherlnB place and bewme, almost mlrèculouslyi a Islug Ilke bodyl. ThÈ'slu<15 not Ihln8 of beauty and il doesn't goterrlbly far. usually lust from the bottom ol a pile ol leal Iltter to the top. where It Is In a slW)tly more exposed poslt5on- but for mllllons ol yeèis thls may well have been the nlftlest trick in the unr4ersÈ. 'And it doe5n* stop there. Havin8 hauw ltseff up to a more fè¥ouTable10¢gle, the sllme mould transforms Ilself yet agaln. tskin8 on the form of a plant. By some curlous orderly proces5 the cells rpconflBure, like ihe members ola tiny marchln6 band, to make a stalk atop of whith forms a bulb known as a fruitin8 body. Inside the fruft5n8 body are mllllons of spores whlch. at the approprlate moment are rele8sed to the wlnd to blow awayto become 51n8le celled or8antsms that (an stsrt the proce5$ again."

Consider the sllme mould... As we head eastwards to Durham there will be people and memories from remainin8 very closeto our hearts and In our prayers, and a sense of real ihankfulness for the ble55in85 we have receNed here. • wr(h acknowledgementto Bill Bryson'5 2003 A Short History oJNeorlyEverything Black Swan Books

Parochial Church Council of the Kctlesiastical Pvdrish of St Martin. Windermere Independent Ezaminer's Report I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31" Decernber 2025 whi¢h are set out on pages I to 5. Respective responsibllities of the PCC and examiner The members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The PCC consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 ofthe Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examinatton is needed. It is my responsibth'ty to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities A to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Comtrnssion under section 145(5Xb) of the Charities Act. and to state whether particular matters have ¢ome to my attention. Basis of the independent exam5ner's report My examination w4s carried out in accordance with the General Dirertions given by the Charity Commission. ikn ¢xamination inGlud¢s a r¢view of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts presented with those iecords. It also includes wn5id¢ration of any unusual items or disclosures in the ￿cOunt& and s¢cking explanations from you as members nminganysuch matters. The procedures undertakendo not provide allthe evidencethat would be required in an audit and consequendy no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'tnie and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement bdow. Independent examiner's stfdtement In wnnection with nly examinatio￿ no matter has come to my attention.. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that any material respert, the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accordanc¢ with section 130 of the Charities Act)" and to prepare arxounts which aword with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been me¢ or 2. to which, in my Opinio￿ attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. A E LISHMAN, F.M.A.A.T Jackson & Graham Lake Road Bowness-on-Windern)ere Cumbria LA23 2JJ Date

Parochial Church Council of the Kctlesiastical Pvdrish of St Martin. Windermere Independent Ezaminer's Report I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31" Decernber 2025 whi¢h are set out on pages I to 5. Respective responsibllities of the PCC and examiner The members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The PCC consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 ofthe Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examinatton is needed. It is my responsibth'ty to.. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities A to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Comtrnssion under section 145(5Xb) of the Charities Act. and to state whether particular matters have ¢ome to my attention. Basis of the independent exam5ner's report My examination w4s carried out in accordance with the General Dirertions given by the Charity Commission. ikn ¢xamination inGlud¢s a r¢view of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts presented with those iecords. It also includes wn5id¢ration of any unusual items or disclosures in the ￿cOunt& and s¢cking explanations from you as members nminganysuch matters. The procedures undertakendo not provide allthe evidencethat would be required in an audit and consequendy no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'tnie and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement bdow. Independent examiner's stfdtement In wnnection with nly examinatio￿ no matter has come to my attention.. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that any material respert, the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accordanc¢ with section 130 of the Charities Act)" and to prepare arxounts which aword with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been me¢ or 2. to which, in my Opinio￿ attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. A E LISHMAN, F.M.A.A.T Jackson & Graham Lake Road Bowness-on-Windern)ere Cumbria LA23 2JJ Date