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
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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 <k> $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 don*d
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 révalu*ion
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.

2. 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.
3. 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

5. 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).
6. 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.
7. CURRENT LIABILITIES
7(a) Unrestricted accruals at year-end include clergy and administration costs
£284, power costs £998 and Parish News printing costs £614.
8. 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