## **St. Mary’s Church Oxted** 

## **Annual Report 2024** 

## Knowing Christ 

Growing Community, Renewing Heritage 

Charity number: 1164439 



## **Ministry Team** 

Rev. James Ashton Team Rector 

Rev. David Weightman Assistant Priest Rev. Liz Lane Assistant Priest Rev. Judith Brooks Assistant Priest Sue Mallinson Reader Rev. Ken Robinson Assistant Priest Mary Cook Pastoral Visitor 

## **PCC Members** 

## **Ex Officio members** 

Rev. James Ashton Team Rector (Chairman) – from 7 January 2020 

Austin Copp Churchwarden – from September 2022 Ed Kyte Churchwarden – from April 2024 

## **Deanery Synod Representatives** 

Sue Mallinson * Catharina Hickson Valerie Adamson Edward Kyte 

Diocesan and Deanery Synod Diocesan and Deanery Synod 

*Sue Mallinson represents St. Peter’s Tandridge on Deanery Synod and is on the electoral roll of St. Mary’s , also representing Tandridge Deanery on Diocesan Synod. 

## **Diocesan Synod Representative** 

Catharina Hickson 

## **Licensed Readers** 

Sue Mallinson 

## **Parish Administrator** 

Natasha Copp 



## **Co-opted members** 

Rev. David Weightman Rev. Ken Robinson Rev. Judith Brooks (Clergy) Marian Dalton           (PCC Secretary) Rev. Liz Lane (Clergy) Katharine Nockles (Safeguarding Officer) 

## **Ex-officio** 

Catharina Hickson (Diocesan Synod) Valerie Adamson (Deanery Synod) 

## **Elected Members** 

Martin Fisher   -   2020  Treasurer and Vice Chairman 

Richard Adamson (2023 – 2026) Natasha Copp (2023-2026) Katy Aspinwall (2023 -2026) Alison Murden (2023 – 2026) Emma Church  (2023 - 2026) Caroline Horsford (2023 -2026) Len Muir (2023 – 2026) Xavier Copp (2023 – 2026) Joyce Ford-Hill (2024-2027) Norman Maynard (2024-2027) Adele Forrest (2024-2027) 

## **Standing Committee** 

Rev. James Ashton, Austin Copp,  Martin Fisher, Rev. David Weightman, Marian Dalton 

Members of the Standing Committee are agreed at the PCC meeting after the APCM.  It conducts the business on behalf of the PCC (as directed by the PCC) in between PCC meetings and also sets the agenda for meetings. 

**Electoral Roll Officer   -** Paul Shillito **Treasurer  -** Martin Fisher **Churches Together in Oxted and District   -** David Cook 

**Bank Details :** Barclays Bank  20-76-55 

PCC St.Mary’s Oxted     General Account: 10688967 



## **Introduction** 

2024 was a full year in the life of our church, as we responded in love and hope to the needs of our community, and our world. 

Conflicts continued to rage in Ukraine and in Gaza; we endured daily reminders of the harm that humanity can cause. Our church life stands as a beacon of hope in our community, and our world.  We stand for peace, and share Jesus’s love with all. We continue to follow the strands of our core values:  Knowing Christ, Growing Community and Renewing our Heritage. 

Our worshipping community has grown in faith and number during 2024; and I am blessed to be part of the loving body of Christ here. Our ministry team continues to flourish, and we are able to reach out in many creative ways. My sincere thanks are due to Revd David, Revd Liz, Revd Judith, Revd Ken, and Sue Mallinson for their ongoing prayerful service in our churches.  We have also been joined by Sam Baker, a Church of England trainee vicar, who is on a placement with us until his ordination in June 2026. 

Our grateful thanks are due to Natasha in the Parish Office. Natasha is a true servant, and is creative, diligent and supportive in all that she does. Thank you also to our PCC, and church wardens for all they have done through 2024.  Their dedicated duty is much appreciated; in all areas of our church life.  A special thanks to Katharine Nockles, our Safegaurding Officer, for ensuring that we keep up with this important area. 

During 2024 our finances were relatively stable, but the future is not certain.  I am extremely grateful to all those who support us by giving regularly; and to those who support our fundraising events.  Please continue to do so! I am enormously appreciative to Martin and the treasury team for all that they do to manage our finances. The coming year will also see us look to raise funds to finish the work to the tower. 

Thank you to Rod, and our choir for leading our sung worship at our 9.30am service.  Thank you also to our Cafe service musicians, who are so generous with their time and skill.  They also support our All-Age Worship service, and we have seen this grow in creativity.Thank you also to our wonderful Bellringing team - Ian leads and trains with great skill and dignity.  It has been good to see new young bell ringers joining in! 

Thank you to our Junior Church volunteers, who enable a group of 10-15 children to meet each week, and grow in their faith and knowledge of Jesus.  Each one of the team is a true blessing to our church community. 

The_Space continues to be a warm, welcoming presence in the wider community.  We are pleased to be using it more and more; not a day goes by when someone isn’t blessed by an event or gathering there.  Thank you to all those who volunteer at different events in The_Space. 



We also continue to work in so many other places in the community. We regularly visit St Mary’s School, Tandridge Heights Care Home, Ridgeway Manor and Sycamore Court. These opportunities are an excellent way for us to love our community and be involved. 

Everything I have mentioned here, and much more besides, would not be possible without the prayerful, joyful and imaginative involvement of many volunteers.  Thank you to you all, I am encouraged and inspired to be sharing with you all. 

I commend this Annual Report to you, and all that is contained within. May we pray and work together as a church, as we are filled with the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit of God; always putting the example of Jesus before us. 

Revd James Ashton – Team Rector 

## **Café Service** 

2024 saw Cafe make a more permanent move into The_Space, and this gives us a more homely and intimate feel to our gatherings.  We worship in song, share news, have a short reflection on the bible or faith, and pray together. We are extremely thankful to all those who attend, and support our Cafe Service.  Our musicians, cake bakers, speakers, refreshment team are all enormously appreciated.  One exciting addition has been that the weekly Oxted Team youth group meets after Cafe, and many of them join us for the service. We look forward to Cafe continuing to grow in faith and attendance. 

James A 



## **Churchwarden’s Report** 

Since the last AGM the Church has enjoyed a period of stability with a full compliment of clergy and it’s been great to host Sam Baker as he combines shadowing James with his theological studies. I am grateful that Edward Kyte stood up as fellow churchwarden after a period of sole charge. 

Congregation numbers seem resilient and it’s lovely to see good numbers of children and parents at junior church. 

Our Treasurer will cover the difficult financial situation that we navigate in his update, but we have stepped out in faith for a couple of specific items of expenditure. Namely, the organ refurbishment, our own chairs in The_Space and the pew cushions in the Church. These have been subject to specific fund-raising appeals and grant applications and so we hope not to compound the on-going challenge of re-occurring costs.  Our thanks must go to Mr Muir (Jock) for his enthusiastic work in organising and raising funds for the Speechly organ work. 

Thanks also to all those who give so generously each week and month and give their time to our regular, as well as special fund raising, events. 

With regard to the physical state and condition of the historic church building we have commissioned our Quinquennial inspection and are awaiting the report at the time of writing. The Porch work though delayed has started and should be now complete. We are aware from the last report that the lower section of the tower still needs repointing and there is added time pressure now with the removal of VAT relief in 2027. 

We are aware of various grant making bodies but have not yet secured resource to pursue these and would be grateful if any Church member would consider completing and submitting some applications. 

I am pleased to report that the buildings remain insured and gas and electrical safety checks are in date as well as fire extinguishers serviced. To note we do not have a serviceable fire alarm, which is not required by our insurers but would give peace of mind to have if a costeffective solution can be sourced. 

The_Space continues to spearhead our community outreach and meeting our Knowing Christ & Growing Community objectives.  We host an expanding programme of faith and community events and are very grateful to all those who organise and staff the events and provide the delicious refreshments. 

We aim to further improve the acoustics and lighting with targeted grants and appeals, subject to the above request. 



Our thanks go to the cleaning parties, both the regular and occasional teams and the gardening teams and others who keep the Church and grounds looking well. New faces would be made very welcome, so please look out for the next opportunity as the fellowship of working alongside other Church members can be a form of worship in itself, or at least the refreshments are heavenly! 

Finally, I would like to end on the important but sober topic of Safeguarding. We are all aware from national media of the sins of commission and omission by clergy and trusted others. We are very fortunate to have a dedicated and skilled Parish Safeguarding Officer in Katharine Nockles and the PCC has adopted all the Southwark Diocese policies. 

The PCC is also supporting Katharine in ensuring that all relevant parties have appropriate DBS checks in place and have completed the extensive training required. To underline the importance of this PCC resolved in Nov 24 that any PCC member with overdue training will need to temporarily step down until this has been completed. 

Austin Copp Church Warden 

## **Churches Together in Oxted and District** 

John Tolley continued as Chair until November 2024 at which point Rev James Ashton took over the reins.    The more informal style sought by CTOD member Churches has resulted in fewer formal meetings but continuing Christian sharing as we move forward together. 

In view of our continued healthy financial situation we again decided NOT to ask our member Churches for the usual annual Subscription. 

The World Day of Prayer meetings were devised by the women of Palestine with the theme Go and Do Likewise. 

Our 2024  Lent Groups were  centred on The Gift of Christ York Course which was well received and several different groups met locally. 

A highlight of the year was our sponsorship of CTOD A Celebration in Story and Image, a quality colour publication devised by Nadeem Qureshi which contained various personal Christian testimonies. 

The Good Friday walk of Witness took place on Good Friday 29[th] March and was again organised by Rev Helen Cook of St Peter’s Limpsfield. 



We donated £600 to the Oxted One World Group and £500 towards the Youth Group’s costs at St John’s Hurst Green 

GIFT (Gathering in Faith Together) has continued to meet on Monday mornings at various locations. 

## **David Cook (CTOD Treasurer)** 

## **Parochial Church Council (PCC)** 

St. Mary’s PCC meets every two months together with St. Peter’s Tandridge. The meeting is divided into two parts with news and items relevant to both churches in the first half and then the two churches divide into their separate groups for more specific items relating to either St. Mary’s or St. Peter’s. Every meeting includes a finance report, a safeguarding report and a report on the church building.  Everyone is encouraged to have their say in the running of the church and discuss any matters concerning church life.  The PCC supports the treasurer in his decision making over allocation of funds including the Church’s annual donation to the Parish Support Fund. Meetings are well attended and anyone who would like to join the PCC and have more of a say in church life would be very welcome. 

## **Marian Dalton – PCC Secretary** 



## **Tandridge Deanery Synod** 

Meetings aimed to keep in mind a summary, written by Deanery Lay Chair Susan Gibbins, as being: 

- A key part of the Church of England engagement and governance structures 

- A space to discuss key issues and organise church ministry and mission 

- A forum to act as an intermediary between PCCs of each parish and the Synod of the diocese as a whole 

Within the vision and mission of the wider Cof E we are challenged to use our Deanery structure to help: 

- Promote the growth of the church in our congregation, and our lay and vocational ministries 

- Reflect in our leadership the cultural diversity of the Deanery 

- Support each other to be transparent, accountable and generous in our contribution to the Wider church 

- Challenge and encourage each other in our Mission Action Plans 

- Develop opportunities for collaborative working for mission and ministry purposes 

- Provide a space for prayer, dialogue and training across church traditions 

- Be one of the key communication hubs across the Diocese 

It is not about doing this alone, but with other Church partners, schools, chaplaincies, mission agencies, ecumenical partners and the Diocese.  The challenge is for our synod to facilitate and help us to be creative, imaginative and strategic and occasionally taking risks as we rise to this challenge. 

Lay representatives need vision and passion, for the church to flourish; think and act strategically, go for change, feed back to PCCs and so breathe new life into deaneries 

In February 2024 Tandridge Deanery Synod met in Caterham St Lawrence and St Mary the Virgin.  The Business meeting learned from the Treasurer, that the Deanery bank account would be transferred to Co-op Bank, for ethical reasons and the start of the financial year would be moved to 1st January to match other deaneries/the Diocese.  Six Pilgrimage Walks took place in LENT, across the Diocese, beginning with Reigate to Chaldon, and on to Southwark.  Help for churches to develop pioneering/fresh expressions - S'wark Pioneer Development Officer, Revd David Cundill,  Cathedral service in March to celebrate women’s ministry and 30 years of ordination to the priesthood. Availability of grants for churches' low cost repairs and improvements. 

The Synod discussed how to be an effective Deanery Synod member’ and how to get our voice to the wider Church.   Suggestions were - Start a WhatsApp Group - Synod 



members to take action points to their PCC - Use podcast, video instead of detailed documents to read.   Communicating informally outside Deanery meetings, leads to action and the need for advice on dealing with different age groups - and getting their point of view. 

In July 2024 at St John the Evangelist, Hurst Green.  The meeting, the first of the new Triennium, began with the election of a new Lay Chair - April Alexander was standing down - Ed Kyte (from St Mary’s) proposed the election of Susan Gibbin, from St John’s in Caterham Valley. New Lay members were welcomed to the Synod, as was Revd Alison Way, Team Vicar in Warlingham Team, and Parish Ministry Development Officer for the Croydon Episcopal Area.  Deanery Secretary, Janet Harman was also standing down. As yet there were no candidates for election.  Tandridge reps were needed for the new Diocesan Synod - 4 Lay and 3 Clergy.  Catharina Hickson, only lay candidate, said ‘it is about setting the strategy vision of the diocese from the perspective of our local knowledge’ - April Alexander said ‘ Diocesan emphasis is London - they need our Surrey point of view’,  Kim Wilkins/Sue Mallinson offered as lay reps, and Revds Helen Burnett, and Helen Cook joined Michelle Edmonds. 

There was feedback on the recent Lay Conference organised by Archdeacon Moira Astin at St Bede’s School.  Keynote speaker Elaine Storkey, and many workshops, meant it was a time to learn and talk together.  The Refugee Tales (books and walks) were mentioned,  organised by the Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group, as being in solidarity with refugees, asylum seekers etc in detention centres near Gatwick Airport - since 1995.  Local people felt detainees needed support, visiting and advice. 

Also the Country Way Magazine is now only on-line - it covers Christian life and work in rural Britain 

In October 2024 at St John the Evangelist, Hurst Green - Parish Place and Presence. Area Dean, Revd Michelle Edmonds, set the context for discussion, from a Clergy Study day on parishes as the starting point and focus of Diocesan vision 'Christ centred **–** Outward focussed. eg the importance of stability, paying attention, the meaning of Parish as ‘outside the house’, knowing our context, leading people through prayer, celebrating differences and accepting that no size fits all.   In discussion members examined maps of their parish - and neighbours - looking for what was surprising, the main arterial routes, marking places of church activity - or none - to be used in Mission Action Planning with PCCs. 

Feedback - We are a church of pilgrimage - so many national paths across our landscape - chance of Rogation walks with other parishes. We need data about populations, what age groups are missing from our church, where are the lonely, the bereaved,d and those facing poverty. 

## **Sue Mallinson Deanery Synod Representative** 



## **Fellowship/Social** 

2024 was a busy  year with a variety of events being organised. Several of the events were held in The Space while others were held in the main hall of OCH and in church 

Some of the social activities were a mixture of social and worship. The first of these was the Shrove Tuesday evening of pancakes and prayers on February 13th held in The Space. This was well attended by a complete cross section of age groups. 

To celebrate Maundy Thursday on 28[th] March - a very well attended Christian Seder Supper was held in The Space. 

On April 20[th] a Trivia Quiz was held with a two course buffet supper. This raised  £645.30 which was split equally between church funds and the funds of The Heritage Trust. 

The May Fayre was due to be held on 18[th] May but unfortunately the School field was very soft from previous bouts of rain and the forecast earlier in the week for the day of the Fayre was very bad.  This meant that by Tuesday of the week several of the attractions from outside that had been booked cried off and eventually with all the attractions due to take place outside on the School field the decision was taken to cancel the May Fayre. In the thirty years that the Fayre had been running this was the first time that this had happened due to the weather. All was not lost however as a decision had been taken earlier to hold the Raffle and the Silent Auction on line and these carried on until May 19[th] . Between them they raised £2,532 which was divided equally between the funds of the Friends of the School and Church funds. 

From June 10[th] a Great Big Green Week was held mostly in The Space. Recorded talks were enjoyed on a variety of subjects including swifts, bees and the state of the oceans and they were followed by a light lunch. 

There was an open day on June 15[th] with superb flower displays and a variety of activities such as a bell ringing demonstration, meet the sheep and the ever popular tours up to the top of the tower. A large number of visitors enjoyed the attractions including the cream teas.  In addition there was a variety of stalls in The Space which raised £129.50 for church funds. 

On June 21[st] a performance by the Shanty Band was enjoyed in church 

From 12[th] to 16[th] August Holiday at Home was organised in The Space. With a different activity every day followed by a light lunch this was popular and brought in several nonchurch members. 

The celebration of the Patronal Festival was combined with celebrating Harvest on September 28[th] along with a popular open day with a variety of activities and some beautiful flower displays. This was followed on Sunday 29[th] by a Harvest lunch in The Space after the 9.30am service. 

The pupils of St. Mary’s School celebrated their harvest on 4[th] October with three services in church. As usual they donated a huge amount of produce which was sorted by a small band of volunteers. About 50 parcels were distributed to local people, and food was sent to the Caterham Food Bank and the Renewed Hope Trust at Redhill -- organisations that help the homeless and families in some sort of need. Toiletries were collected for the Godstone Hygiene Bank. 



On October 12[th] an Autumn Fair was held, using the Meeting Room in OCH as well as the St. Mary’s Space giving a profit to church funds of £528.70.  It was held at the same time as the RNLI sale and both organisations felt that they benefited from the synchronisation of dates. 

On 19[th] October a popular musical Evening was held in church to raise funds for the works on the church organ. Thanks to Mary Cook and Richard Lane for providing the music. 

On 3[rd] November the annual very popular Memorial Service for the departed was held in church. It was attended by well over 100 people, with once again many of them travelling some distance to attend.  After the service many of them enjoyed a tea in Oxted Community Hall. 

On 24[th] November – Stir up Sunday, Christmas puddings were made in the Space and in December three informal Advent lunches were held. 

Through the year refreshments have been served after the 9.30am service and before the café service, both in The Space. Also in The Space breakfasts have been held on the first Saturday of the month and community lunches on the first Wednesday of the month 

Many of these activities involve the serving and provision of refreshments of some sort. More volunteers to help with this would be much appreciated. 

## **Valerie Adamson** 

## **Oxted Churches** 

For practical reasons the Oxted Churches decided to continue with the practice started in Covid restricted times and not produce joint Easter and Christmas cards. Instead articles were published in the Oxted Local magazine giving some details of services from Holy Week through to Easter  and at Christmas along with details of church contacts. 

The World Day of Prayer held on the first Friday in March was marked locally by two services – one in the morning at The United Reformed Church in Oxted – this was streamed so that people unable to attend could watch it and one in the evening at St. Peter’s, Limpsfield. Lent groups were held as usual, some in people’s homes and some by Zoom and were led and enjoyed by several members of St. Mary’s. 

On 25[th] November the usual joint Churches Trivia quiz was held. This was well attended with representatives from the local Oxted churches and also from Hurst Green Evangelical Church. With no card printing costs to pay for, the profit of £595.71 from the evening was divided equally between PCC funds and the St. Mary’s Heritage Trust. 

## **Valerie Adamson** 



## **Missions and Charities** 

At £2,329 direct giving to Missions and Charities was less than usual however when the cost of £7,065 for running outreach activities in The Space is taken into account the total rises to £9,394. The direct giving included £1,000 sent to Jigsaw South East which is an organisation that provides support, information and guidance for parents, carers and professionals who are supporting a child or young person who is facing or coping with the death of a loved one. They also organise occasional social events and activities for these young people. Their work covers Surrey and nearby areas. 

In addition £400 was sent to Crisis as a result of donations made at various activities such as the Advent lunches and £929 was sent to Beyond Bars – a charity in Albania supported by a fund raising event organised by Robert Cook. 

During Christian Aid Week in May, 17 church members along with 3 members from the other Oxted Churches were involved in collecting and/or delivering Christian Aid envelopes. A total of £1,293.91 was raised. As this money was collected in Christian Aid envelopes and £607.91 of it was Gift Aided by individuals it was sent off directly to Christian Aid. 

## **Valerie Adamson** 

## **Publicity** 

This involves both informing church members about events and activities and the wider public. 

Church members are kept informed via the weekly news bulletin and occasional separate emails. If you are not on the circulation list please speak to Natasha our Parish Administrator. Leaflets giving details of events are also widely available in church and in The Space and can be taken to distribute to friends and neighbours.  Posters advertising events are regularly put up on the outside church notice board. 

To keep the wider public informed of church matters and events posts are often put on Facebook and articles are regularly submitted to the Oxted Local magazine. This is circulated free of charge monthly to 6,850 homes in the local area with a further 150 copies being left at train stations. This outreach to the community has resulted in some donations towards specific church funds. 

If you would like to write an article for the magazine – a full page can be up to about 600 words, about a church matter please speak to Valerie Adamson or to our Rector James 

## **Valerie Adamson** 



## **Safeguarding** 

The role of the Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) is to work with the clergy, churchwardens, PCC and members of the church community to make sure we create a safe environment for the activities that we undertake with children and vulnerable adults.  We follow the guidance provided for us by the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer in ‘A Safe Church’.  A summary of the safeguarding principles adopted by your PCC can be found on the church porch noticeboard and the noticeboard inside church. These principles were readopted by the PCC in September 2024.  I have worked for a number of years with Fay Prater, the PSO from St Peter's, so that together we can consider and support each other with safeguarding planning and any issues.  We are also now linked up with the PSOs at St John's so we can further combine our various experience and knowledge.   We have been focussing at St Mary’s this year on getting training up to date for all those who volunteer in our church starting with the PCC.  This is mostly done via an online course but for leaders within our church community the training is delivered by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.  Fay and I are also making more use of the church database - Churchsuite - to support us in the administrative aspects of safeguarding activity.  The reporting year has finished with the completion of the Parish Safeguarding Audit.  This is particularly topical given the church safeguarding arrangements nationally have had press focus over the last year.  The audit has been helpful in prompting reviews of all that we do and these have included raising awareness of our whistleblowing, complaints and grievance policy.  A new informative poster will be placed on noticeboards. 

At any time, if any member of the congregation has a concern, please speak to me, James, Liz or David, or Fay the Safeguarding Officer at St Peter's.  Even if it isn't clear whether there is a safeguarding issue or not, it is always better to talk it through at an early stage so that a potential issue can be averted or if our safeguarding arrangements or understanding don't seem to be covering a particular activity or scenario we can respond.  Please contact me by email on 

safeguardingstmarysoxted@gmail.com or on 07778 539664 (please note that my phone goes straight to voicemail for any unrecognised numbers so do leave a message and I can call you back). 

## **Katharine Nockles** 

## **Parish Safeguarding Officer** 



## **Flower Arranging** 

St Mary's has a small team who arrange flowers to beautify our ancient church.  Our focus is on creating displays for the key festivals of Easter, Christmas and Harvest though arrangements are created for other occasions too. None of us are formally trained. We have all learned by trial and error over the years and we help and support each other.  Every arrangement is different and reflects us as individuals; the common theme is that we enjoy creating something that we hope is enjoyed by others and visually enhances our worship. In addition to our arrangements we also make up the annual small posies for Mothering Sunday. We were delighted to be supported by several ladies at the Friday morning Meeting Place and we enjoyed making the posies together.  If anyone would like to come and join the team please do contact me on flowers.stmarysoxted@gmail.com. 

## **Katharine Nockles** 

## **Flower Team** 

## **St. Mary’s Oxted Bellringers Report for 2025.** 

The year of 2024 was very successful for the bellringers.  We managed to ring at the majority of Sunday services as well as other special events.  The ringers were fully involved with the Church ‘Open Day’ and provided a demonstration of bell ringing.  On a couple of occasions, we supplemented the ringers at Limpsfield Chart by ringing simultaneously for Sunday services at both St. Mary’s and St. Andrews churches.  The year ended with a Ringers Social Gathering in The_Space where ringers, their ‘other halves’, and some church officers were invited.  The event which included food and quizzes was organised to include all between 8 and 80 years of age and enjoyed by all. 

The band of ringers is now strong following many years of trying to recruit new ringers.  We are most fortunate to have several young ringers who, I hope will continue to ring for many years to come.  The band now includes three generations from one family: a very rare occurrence.  All new ringers are following an accredited training programme (Association of Ringing Teachers (ART) scheme).  All have reached Level 1, most have reached Level 2 and are making good progress towards Level 3. 

St. Mary’s has now got an excellent ringing teaching facility fully equipped with computers which are connected to the bells.  This enables individual and group learning to be done without making a noise outside.  We have had donated some newer computers and screens 



which has allowed me to upgrade our system and pass on older but fully functioning equipment to others. 

The availability of the computer training system has enabled St. Mary’s to host several training sessions for both the Surrey Bellringers, Whiting Society and other organisations. Regular ‘Twice a Month’ sessions were introduced and have become very popular enabling afternoon and evening practice to be organised.  Donations made have been passed on to the Church funds. 

We look forward to an equally successful 2025.  New or returning ringers are always welcome to join us. 

## **Ian Griffiths** 

## **St Mary’s Church Choir** 

We are still without a Music Director, but we have a loyal and committed choir who enjoy singing at morning services (apart from AAW). The choir is also available to sing at weddings and occasional funerals (of church members). Other services such as the annual Memorial Service, Remembrance Day, WDP, and Church festivals are well supported by an augmented choir. Although we still do not have weekly practices , we meet monthly for our parish “Come and Sing” (apart from 3 months during the winter)  when we acquaint ourselves with the hymns for the month. This is always well attended. 

Rod, our organist celebrated his 80[th] birthday this year and, (we understand) he has been playing the organ at St Mary’s for nearly 50 years! 

Plans are afoot to have necessary work done to the organ. We thank Jock for his involvement in this and we hope, (shortly) to have news of the commencement of this work. Thank you to Richard Lane for performing at a concert to raise funds for the organ appeal, and to those who have generously donated, to make the organ work possible. 

James, (at the moment our only treble), is working towards his light blue award in the RSCM “Voice For Life” training scheme. He again sang solo for the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City at our very well attended Carol Service. 

We are most fortunate to still have a robed choir and a functioning organ  at St Mary’s when so many other churches have lost theirs. Whilst we celebrate our musical heritage let us continue to grow towards achieving the best in new ways of worshipping and of introducing music that will both honour God and enrich our faith. 

## **Mary Cook** 



## **Pastoral / Visiting Team** 

During this past year we have not had any meetings on which I can report. Nevertheless, praying, visiting and listening to those looking for support, still continues. We are available whenever we hear of people wanting that extra time and space, whether at home or in hospital. We are fortunate that The-Space is also now available for conversation. There is always a natural flow of people either leaving or joining the team and we are grateful to Katharine Nockles for keeping the DBS checks up to date. We are also grateful to Ken Robinson and Liz Lane for their prayer ministry after Communion each week. 

## **Mary Cook** 

## **Hear Here** 

Hearhere supports those with hearing aids from the NHS. We are a team of 5 people trained, and retrained every 2 years, by an NHS audiologist. The NHS provides the supplies needed to replace tubes, domes and batteries that we fit and hand out.  This is the first year when we have been entrusted with thin tubes. We also give advice to keep users hearing as well as possible. We run alongside Meeting Place on the first Friday of every month from 1011am. Many of our Hearhere visitors have become regular friends of Meeting Place thanks to the warm welcome from the Meeting Place team- we thank them!  It is our privilege to meet and serve around twenty lovely, interesting people of Oxted each month. Why do we exist? To make life easier for people to get advice and supplies (free) to keep their hearing aids in peak condition.  Our nearest audiology services are at Crawley hospital and Caterham Dene. Did you know that the plastic tubes on hearing aids go hard as they are used? The harder they get the less sound they carry from the hearing aid to the ear.  So please replace them every 6 months. 

## **Catharina Stibe Hickson Hear Here leader** 

## **St Mary’s Sheep** 

The sheep continue to delight old and young alike. They also serve our community by cropping the grass in our churchyards so that people can walk through the area.  They do require quite a bit of work to keep them safe and happy. In the winter months they are fed daily, and the water is kept topped up and clean throughout the year by our team of 6 volunteers. The fencing and gates require frequent maintenance. Leaves need raking and some plants are poisonous, so the areas need checking and such plants removing regularity. These are a rare and ancient breed type that are tiny compared to regular sheep so they don't eat growing nettles, thistles or bracken so these are also pulled by hand.  Sadly, we 



have experienced people leaving gates propped open and even forcing the gates to open, so we have had to put locks on them to ensure that the sheep are kept safely inside. The code to the padlocks can be obtained by those visiting graves- there are signs up with the phone number to ring to get the code. There are also stiles for those who can climb over.  If you see people or dogs chasing sheep please ask them to stop or call police as sheep overheat if they are chased readily, they can then die. They don't show their distress.  Do join the sheep supporters team. 

## **Catharina Hickson** 

## **Eco-church** 

We received the Silver Award in January 2025! 

Thank you everyone for supporting this new venture, capturing all that we already do and starting some new eco projects. Some of our highlights - We have moved Cafe service to The Space for the winter months to save fuel.  We have focused heating the Church building to a comfortable level ready for the 8am said service and this is continued on to the main 9.30 Communion or family service. We thank the children for leading our plant and flower survey with Emma and Laura to share with the national survey and understanding England. The area not tended by the sheep is mown around the edges and paths to keep it neat but left to grow in two parts, one for 'No mow May', and one for ' Let it bloom in June'. Andrea has investigated and collated 'Where to Recycle What' over and above the kerbside offer for Oxted and has found a myriad of people and places that offer niche Recycling - this has been shared with all the church communities of Churches Together in Oxted and through the council to all businesses. Many came to share lunch and listen to webinars in BIG Green Week, we were very lucky to meet some rescued baby swifts. Some have joined our Friends of the River Eden Ecosystem, FREE, monthly water sampling and testing team. Natasha and Ann keep us stocked with eco- friendly, responsibly produced foods and products. We have up-cycled tables tops in The Space and put ferrules on chair legs rather than having to replace them.  Valerie has written articles to let the broader community know about our work. Thank you all for the things you take the time to be informed about and life changes,  even if small, that you do to support Creation. 

## **Catharina Hickson Eco-team leader for St Mary's, Oxted Eco-champion for Reigate archdeaconry** 




## **Meeting Place** 

Our Friday morning drop in coffee continues to thrive, with new faces alongside some who have been coming for many years. It is a happy and lively room, offering a warm welcome along with fresh coffee and home-made cakes. 

The_Space continues to offer convenience for the team and comfort for our guests. On the first Friday of every month the Hear Here champions run their drop in clinic, this is a lovely way to welcome more people for coffee, a number of whom then return during the month. 

Meeting Place - for coffee, cake and conversation, Friday mornings 9:30-11:30. All welcome. Thank you to the Meeting Place team. 

## **Natasha Copp** 

## **Wobble** 

Our Tuesday morning seated exercise class, Wobble, with Sarah Goldsack is a joyful time, with uplifting music and movement followed by coffee and homemade cake. 

The numbers have continued to grow and we now regularly welcome over 30 visitors each week. 

Thank you to Sarah and the Wobble refreshments team - Valerie A and Sue K. 

## **Natasha Copp** 

## **Baby_Space** 

Our Thursday morning group for parents and babies under one continues to welcome local mums and dads and their babies, some as young as just weeks old. Baby_Space is an opportunity for parents to get to know others at the same stage of parenting, friendship and support networks are formed and we are sad to say good bye as babies reach their first birthday (but then we often see them at Monkeys!). 

Thank you to the small team of helpers and bakers. 

## **Natasha Copp** 

## **St Mary’s Primary School, Oxted** 

St Mary’s Primary School is a voluntary aided school with around 630 pupils, situated in central Oxted. It remains in partnership with Limpsfield Infant School; a partnership that has grown and flourished in the past year, demonstrating a real sense of “Belonging Together”, one of our key values. 



The children continue to share deep experiences through their Worship and there is a strong connection between our school and St Mary’s Church. Rev James Ashton regularly comes in to school to lead Collective Worship and the children regularly attend services at the church. Last year, children of all ages were able to experience services in the church, for example services at Easter, an end of year service for the Year 6s, a welcome service for the new Year 3 children, Harvest Festival and a carol concert. 

Our school site has continued to go from strength to strength. As well as a new cycle/scooter park, we also completed the wonderful project to refurbish our outdoor pool. The pool is such a fantastic resource, not only for the lucky children at St Mary’s but also for the wider community. 

We were delighted to receive a fantastic SIAMS report following our inspection in October. 

Sadly for us, our Headteacher, Sarah Lewis, announced that she will be taking her (well earned!) retirement in July 2025. However, the Governors were delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Timothy Samuel as the new Executive Headteacher of the Partnership, from September 2025. 

## **Rosie Davies** 

## **Governor St. Mary’s School** 

## **St. Mary’s Monkeys Playgroup** 

Our playgroup is aimed at children under five years of age and thus school holidays are not relevant to many of our users and for many parents and carers, the playgroup is an invaluable asset during school holidays because we also welcome older siblings (many of whom are our past “Monkeys” which is always lovely) and it provides an affordable activity for the whole family. 

Playgroup was offered throughout 2024 regardless of school holidays and we were only closed due to external hall hire or due to the lack of guest numbers to make a session viable, over the summer break. 

We lost a strong cohort of regular playgroup users to the next stage of their journey in September 2024 but thanks to the time given by our volunteer helpers to hand out fliers in the community, as well as continued advertising on local social media pages, we are seeing a new group of regular guests starting to emerge. 

In 2024, we were glad to receive additional support from Duke of Edinburgh Award students, as well as youngsters who were looking for opportunities purely to “give back” to the community. In 2025, we look forward to supporting three Duke of Edinburgh Award students 



(2 Silver and 1 Bronze) who are going to help us with playgroup as well as a number of other voluntary opportunities available to them under my wing. 

The admission fee for playgroup, we have maintained since May 2021 as £3 per adult guest because we wish to be fully inclusive. There is an additional charge of £2 in place for late bookings due to problems late bookings created for efficiently managing our resources (specifically craft and snacks). 

For £3 per adult guest, families are able to enjoy an hour and a half of “stay and play” with a wide selection of toys and equipment. Families are also encouraged to make an unlimited number of visits to our kitchen hatch to enjoy a wide selection of homemade cakes, fresh tea and coffee. We provide a selection of fresh fruits, mini breadsticks and biscuits for children, as well as a selection of gluten free and allergy friendly items. 

We continued to be greatly blessed with Alice Dalziel’s wonderfully creative mind and her design of age appropriate varied art and craft creations which we now offer most weeks and which the children thoroughly enjoy. 

Towards the end of 2024, thanks to Fiona Waddon-James, we also reintroduced singing and musical instruments for the families at the end of the session. The families are very much enjoying and participating in this activity and it makes light work for the helpers at “tidy up” time as we sing along to the children’s favourite tunes! 

Thanks to strong support from St Mary's Church, as well as playgroup parents and carers, the playgroup continued to make a number of generous charitable donations across the year. 

During 2024 – we donated in targeted aid, items of toiletries and equipment, with the equivalent monetary value as follows……. 

Their Voice - £1,936.12 

Stripey Stork - £1,012.39 

Hygiene Bank - £105 donation at Easter and £256 from our Christmas raffle (cash gifts) 

We also support Great Ormond Street Hospital with our ongoing collection of milk bottle tops. 

As we move into 2025, we start the year with over 200 members of our playgroup social media page. 

Most importantly, I am grateful for the time given by a strong team of diligent, reliable, professional, friendly volunteers from our community. Without these 12 people, this Oxted jewel in the crown could not continue to run (after 16 years) and none of the above would be made possible. 

## **Penny Kirk** 



Minutes from the Annual Vestry Meeting of 

St. Mary’s Church Oxted 

Held on Sunday April 21[st] 2024 in The_Space Oxted Community Hall 

Present:  The Revd James Ashton chaired the meeting which was attended by 38 parishioners. 

The meeting opened with a prayer. 

Apologies:  Sue Mallinson, Liz Lane, Sue and John Kempton, Austin and Natasha Copp 

1. Approval of Minutes from the 2023 APCM 

The minutes from last year’s meeting were approved by those present. 

Proposed:   Valerie Adamson                                  Seconded: Angela Hewitt 

2. Election of Churchwardens 

Austin Copp had agreed to stand for another year as churchwarden . 

Proposed:  Martin Fisher                Seconded Catharina Hickson 

Edward Kyte was elected as churchwarden 

Proposed:   Marian Dalton                          Seconded :  Martin Fisher 

Revd Ashton welcomed Edward Kyte as churchwarden and said he was delighted to have two churchwardens again.   A round of applause was given for Austin Copp in his absence as gratitude for all the work he has done as churchwarden. 



## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting** 

## **Sunday April 21[st] 2024** 

## **The_Space Oxted Community Hall** 

## 1. Elections 

Election of Parochial Church Council Members 

The following people were elected onto the PCC 

Joyce Ford Hill                Proposed by Angela Hewitt          Seconded by Doreen Raymond Norman Maynard          Proposed by Doreen Raymond    Seconded by Richard Adamson Adele Forrest                  Proposed by Richard Adamson    Seconded by Caroline Horsford 

The following people continue to serve on the PCC 

Richard Adamson  (2023-2026) Natasha Copp (2023-2026) Katy Aspinwall (2023-2026) Alison Murden (2023-2026) Emma Church (2023-2026) Caroline Horsford (2023-2026) Len Muir (2023-2026) Xavier Copp (2023-2026) 

## 1.2 Sidespeople 

The current list of sidespeople was read out. (list attached to minutes) 

The list was agreed by all present. 

Proposed by Richard Adamson               Seconded by Jock Muir 

## 2. Rector’s Comments 

Revd James Ashton said his comments today were just adding to his introduction in the Annual Report and a chance for him to give thanks to everyone who shared in the life and community of St. Mary’s Church.  He commented that last year he was a vicar living in a rectory and this year, since September of 23, he was a rector living in a rectory but other than the name not a lot had changed.  He was very grateful to his growing ministry team, in particular Judith Brooks and Liz Lane who have joined the team as Assistant Priests and the continued support of David Weightman, Ken Robinson, and Sue Mallinson ensured a supportive team who all work together. 



JA went on to thank members of the Standing Committee and the wider PCC. 

The choir, led my Mary Cook and the organist, Rod, were thanked for their commitment to the church’s music. Katharine Nockles and her flower team, the junior church leaders and the cleaners were all acknowledged for their invaluable contributions. 

JA said he continued to have a good relationship with St. Mary’s School.  The current head will be retiring and JA will be on the committee to appoint the new head. He would welcome any questions or comments regarding the appointment. 

Thanks were given to all those who support the running of The_Space and the growing number of activities that are held in there. 

Natasha Copp who is the church administrator and a gift to the church in many ways for all she does and JA is extremely grateful. 

Finally JA thanked his own immediate family and wife Chloe for their continued support and understanding. 

Following James’ report John Mallinson thanked James for everything that he does for the church and everyone present supported this thanks. 

## 3. Reports 

## 3.1 Electoral Roll report 

Paul Shillito, Electoral Roll Officer for St. Mary’s, informed those present that there were currently 109 people on the electoral roll, down from 114 people in 2023. 

There is a revision of the Electoral Roll every 6 years and the next one for St. Mary’s will be in 2025. 

JA thanked PS. 

## 3.2 Treasurer’s Report 

Following on from last year’s rather gloomy financial report, Martin Fisher was pleased to say that the overall deficit had been reduced from £20,000 last year to just over £11,000 this year.  The target would be to reduce this again during the coming year to around £6,000. 

MF thanked the 61 members who give regularly to St. Mary’s by Standing Order, without whose support the ministry team could not ultimately survive. 



MF thanked Ian Chappell for collecting Gift Aid, Anne for managing cash from The_Space and the welcomers who count the cash.  Also thanks were given to the finance team for their support, Natasha Copp, Richard Adamson and Valerie Adamson. 

MF explained the ongoing difficulty of taking any donations in cash due to the closure of all the local banks but was pleased to report digital giving had risen from £860 last year to over £4,000 this year. 

The importance of maintaining our donation to the Parish Support Fund was stressed as this paid for the clergy and their accommodation. 

Expenditure has been thoroughly looked at with a view to saving costs and MF said that this year we gave £6,000 to 5 different charities.  The PCC accounts were challenging due to restricted and unrestricted funds.   However there remains approximately £25,000 in restricted funds which have been allocated to complete repairs to the porch. 

MF pointed out that there were 2 bank accounts for St. Mary’s. One for regular giving and the second for everything else. 

Questions from congregation: 

Following a query from Paul Shillito, it was explained by both MF and JA that our contribution to the Parish Support Fund was in accordance with guidance from the Southwark Diocese who set the cost of ministry and training and that with the contribution from St. Peter’s Tandridge,  we exceeded it slightly.  It was no longer based on the perceived wealth of the area, but on the cost of ministry and that St. Mary’s with St. Peter’s is a net giver. Our ability to pay the contribution was agreed annually by the treasurer and the PCC. 

David Cook asked for confirmation that all donations via the cash machine under £30 were gift aided. MF said that donations were but purchases (eg drinks at an event) were not. 

Emma Church mentioned donations via Easy Money, but MF said he had not received anything from this site. 

Catharina Hickson thanked Martin Fisher and the Finance Team for all their hard work. 

All other reports are written in the main Annual Report for 2023. 



Any Other Business 

Eco Church 

As a member of the Diocesan Synod Catharina Hickson was looking into the Eco Church project, which supported ways of making our church and the local area greener. It comprised of a checklist of points for parishes to look at.  CH was willing to get this up and running but as it would be too much work for one person it would be ideal to have a small eco group who could take this forward. 

Paul Shillito requested that we have a report on the organ. It was confirmed that we did have one done 5 years ago but with the recommended work costing in excess of £18,000 the funds were currently not available to pursue this at this time. 

The meeting closed with a prayer. 



## **Financial Review** 

**For the year 1[st] January – 31[st] December 2024** 

|**St. Mary's Financial Review**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
|**Surplus(Deficit) on the Unrestricted Fund**|**£4,192**|**£ (19,160)**|



**The general (unrestricted) fund** achieved a surplus of £4,192 compared to a loss last year of £19,160. This improvement includes two legacies totalling £15,734. Allowing for this there is an underlying loss of £11,542 in line with expectation. 

Voluntary giving at £83,112 is up 6.2% on last year, within which digital collections increased by 46.3% and income from St Marys Space increased by 32.0%. 

Huge thanks are due to those 65 members (last year 61) who give regularly by standing order or through Stewardship UK which averages at £69 monthly per member. 

Income from fundraising events raised £4,015 compared to £3,502 last year including the St Mary’s School May Fayre share of £1,266. 

Investment income of £5,000 is the ground rent from the Oxted Community Hall. PCC income from weddings, baptisms and funerals was down to £3,395 compared to £5,566 last year. 

St Peter’s PCC contributed 27.9% [last year 27.8%] to shared administration costs. This is based on the relative Parish Support Fund payments. 

The Parish Support Fund payment increased to £66,000, 1.5%, which together with St Peter’s payment of £25,500 ensures that the United Benefice’s combined contribution of £91,500 exceeds the Southwark Diocese requirement for funding a stipendiary minister. 

Mission giving was reduced this year to £2,329. However following a discussion at PCC the cost of St Marys_Space £7,065 was felt to be part of our mission giving. The total of £9,394 represents 9.7% [last year 14.3%] of voluntary giving. 



**The restricted fund** contains two major elements. An appeal was launched for church organ repairs and very generously £12,710 was received in the year which means restoration works can commence in early 2025. Church Porch repair work planned for 2024 was completed in March 2025. There is £15,679 in the repair fund to cover the cost of these works. 

Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 12 March 2025 and signed on its behalf by: 



James Ashton (Rector) 

Martin Fisher (PCC Treasurer) 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** 

For the year ended 31 December 2024 

|Notes<br>**Incoming resources**<br>Planned giving<br>Collections in church<br>Collections in St Marys_Space<br>Digitalcollections<br>All other giving<br>Gift Aid recoverable<br>Voluntary giving<br>Legacies<br>Grants<br>1<br>Fundraising events<br>Investment income<br>PCC Fees<br>Church groups<br>St Peter’s PCC<br>**Total incoming resources**<br>**Resources expended**<br>Church activities<br>Fundraising costs<br>Mission giving<br>2<br>Parish Support Fund<br>3<br>Salaries, fees, and honoraria<br>4|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Total Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**2024**<br>**2023**<br> <br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>53,536<br>-<br>53,536<br>51,163<br>4,737<br>-<br>4,737<br>5,278<br>2,579<br>-<br>2,579<br>1,953<br>6,317<br>-<br>6,317<br>4,319<br>887<br>13,399<br>14,286<br>4,817<br>15,056<br>-<br>15,056<br>13,974|
|---|---|
||83,112<br>13,399<br>96,511<br>81,504<br>15,734<br>-<br>15,734<br>-<br>-<br>750<br>750<br>85,725<br>3,450<br>565<br>4,015<br>3,502<br>5,000<br>-<br>5,000<br>5,000<br>3,395<br>-<br>3,395<br>5,566<br>122<br>-<br>122<br>1,708<br>3,405<br>-<br>3,405<br>3,245|
||**114,218**<br>**14,714**<br>**128,932**<br>**186,250**|
||384<br>-<br>384<br>934<br>1,400<br>929<br>2,329<br>6,000<br>66,000<br>-<br>66,000<br>65,000<br>9.972<br>-<br>9.972<br>11,142|





|Clergy expenses<br>Church expenses<br>Evangelism, St Marys_Space<br>Insurance<br>Maintenance & minor repairs<br>Provision of services<br>Church office<br>Light, heat & water<br>Church groups<br>Major expenditure<br>Church building repairs<br>St Mary’s_Space<br>Youth work<br>Depreciation<br>**Total Resources expended**<br>**Net (Outgoing)/Income resources**<br>Transfer between funds<br>9<br>**Net movementin Funds**<br>Balances brought forward 1 Jan<br>Balances carried forward 31 Dec|2,530<br>-<br>2,530|<br>4,029<br> <br>87,105<br> <br>5,696<br> <br>4,632<br> <br>3,232<br> <br>2,665<br> <br>6,786<br> <br>3,179<br> <br>773<br> <br>~~26,963~~<br> <br>98,040<br> <br>5,631<br> <br>589<br> <br>14,652<br> <br>**232,980**<br> <br>**(46,730)**<br>-<br> <br>**(46,730)**<br> <br>581,333<br> <br>534,603|
|---|---|---|
||80,286<br>929<br>81,215<br>7,065<br>-<br>7,065<br>4,751<br>-<br>4,751<br>2,335<br>566<br>2,901<br>2,571<br>-<br>2,571<br>5,639<br>-<br>5,639<br>2,300<br>-<br>2,300<br>233<br>-<br>233<br>||
||24,894<br>566<br>~~25,460~~<br>-<br>7,076<br>7,076<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>15,136<br>15,136||
||**105,180**<br>**23,707**<br>**128,887**<br>**9,038**<br>**(8,993)**<br>**45**<br>(4,846)<br>4,846<br>-<br>**4,192**<br>**(4,147)**<br>**45**<br>44,233<br>490,370<br>534,603||
||48,425<br>486,223<br>534,648||



The policies and notes on pages 4 to 7 form part of these accounts 

## **BALANCE SHEET at 31 DECEMBER 2024** 

|Notes<br>**Tangible fixed assets**<br>5<br>**Currentassets**<br>Debtors<br>6<br>Cash at bank<br>7<br>**Current liabilities**<br>Creditors<br>8<br>**Netcurrentassets**<br>**Total net assets**<br>**Parish funds**<br>Unrestricted<br>Restricted-Church<br>9<br>Restricted- Organ<br>9<br>Restricted- Oxted ComHall<br>9|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Total Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**2024**<br>**2023**<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>457,327<br>457,327<br>467,617<br>7,192<br>-<br>7,192<br>3,214<br>44,613<br>37,281<br>81,894<br>66,872<br>51,805<br>37,281<br>89,086<br>70,086<br>(3,380)<br>(8,385)<br>(11,765)<br>(3,100)<br>48,425<br>28,896<br>77,321<br>66,986<br>48,425<br>486,223<br>534,648<br>534,603<br>48,425<br>-<br>48,425<br>44,233<br>-<br>16,188<br>16,188<br>22,753<br>-<br>12,710<br>12,710<br>-<br>-<br>457,325<br>457,325<br>467,617|
|---|---|





48,425 486,223 534,648 534,603 

Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 12 March 2025 and signed on its behalf by: 

## James Ashton (Rector) 

## Martin Fisher (Treasurer) 

## Charity Number: 1164439 

Parish Office 53 Church Lane, Oxted, Surrey RH8 9LU 

The policies and notes on pages 4 to 7 form part of these accounts 

## **ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **Basis of preparation of accounts** 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, together with applicable accounting standards and the FRS 102 (SORP). 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and include all transactions, assets, and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of St. Mary's Oxted Heritage Trust (the Heritage Trust) as this is a separate registered charity. 

## **Funds** 

Restricted funds represent donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the PCC for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. 

Unrestricted funds are general funds which can be used for PCC ordinary purposes. 

## **Incoming resources** 



Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received. Tax refunds are recognised when the incoming resource to which they relate is received. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the PCC is legally entitled to the amounts due. Interest receivable is accrued. All other income is recognised when it is receivable. All incoming resources are accounted for gross. 

## **Resources expended** 

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the PCC. The Diocesan parish support fund payment is recorded on a monthly basis during the year to which the payments relate. All other expenditure is generally recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross. 

## **Fixed assets** 

Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts in accordance with s.10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011. 

The Heritage Trust has partially funded the construction costs of Oxted Community Hall, subject to a proportion of such costs being funded by East Surrey Crossroads Care Attendant Scheme Limited (Crossroads), who did hold part of the property on a 99-year lease. During 2007, the Heritage Trust transferred the value of the Community Hall to the PCC. The transfer value represents the estimated cost, less contribution from Crossroads. In 2022 the church acquired the Crossroads space for £60,000. 

The Community Hall is built on land vested in the Southwark Diocesan Board of Finance and held in trust on behalf of the PCC. 

The construction cost of the Community Hall is being depreciated over 50 years at 2% per annum on a straight-line basis, apart from the equipment and fittings which are depreciated at 10% per annum on a straight-line basis over 10 years. 

Movable church furnishings held by the Rector and churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are inalienable property, listed in the church's inventory which can be inspected (at any reasonable time). Expenditure to renew, improve or add to them is written off as an expense in the financial year in which it occurs. 

Equipment used within the church premises and parish office is depreciated at 20% per annum on a straight-line basis, unless the individual items cost £1,000 or less in which case they are expensed when acquired. 

## **ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)** 

## **RELATED PARTIES** 

' The PCC has a close relationship with St. Mary s Oxted Heritage Trust (the Heritage Trust), a registered charity, and Oxted Community Hall Management Limited, a "benefit of the community" Industrial and Provident Society and exempt charity. There are PCC appointees to the governing bodies of both charities. 

The objects of the Heritage Trust are broadly the repair and restoration of St. Mary's Church and its associated grounds and buildings, and construction of any buildings within the curtilage. The Trust funded the costs of Oxted Community Hall and in 2007 it transferred the asset to the PCC at an estimated cost value of £580,000. 

Oxted Community Hall Management Limited has leased the majority of the Community Hall from the 



PCC for a period of 25 years from October 2007 for a ground rent of £5,000 per annum. The company collects the rentals and funds the maintenance of the Community Hall. The space formally occupied by Crossroads was purchased by St Mary's Church in 2022 for £60,000 plus fees of £10,455. 

## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **1. GRANTS RECEIVED** 

|Unrestricted donations<br>Restricted Funds<br>Heritage Trust donation to church fund<br>Heritage Trust donation to St Mary's_Space<br>Oxted Community Hall donation to St Mary's_Space<br>Oxted Parish Council Churchyard grant<br>Oxted Parish Council Church tower grant<br>Surrey County Council Church tower grant<br>Garfield Weston Church tower grant<br>Marshall Church tower grant<br>HMRC Listed Places of Worship Scheme (VAT reclaim)|**2024**<br>**2023**<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>12,000<br>-<br>5,631<br>-<br>-<br>750<br>2,000<br>-<br>10,000<br>-<br>5,000<br>-<br>15,000<br>-<br>20,000<br>-<br>16,094|
|---|---|
||750<br>85,725|



## **2. DONATIONS TO MISSIONS AND CHARITIES** 

|Jigsaw SE<br>Beyond Bars<br>Crisis UK(Christmas 50%<br>cash)<br>Other last year|**2024**<br>**2023**<br>Income<br>PCC<br>Donated<br>Income<br>PCC<br>Donated<br>-<br>1,000<br>1,000<br>-<br>1,000<br>1,000<br>929<br>-<br>929<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>400<br>400<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>3,267<br>1,733<br>5,000|
|---|---|
||929<br>1,400<br>2,329<br>3,267<br>2,733<br>6,000|



## **3. PARISH SUPPORT FUND** 

Every year the diocese invites the PCC to review its Parish Support Fund (PSF) payment. This fund is expended on salaries for clergy, bishops and lay staff such as the safeguarding team and advisory staff on church properties. It also covers pension payments and expenditure on maintaining the various rectories and vicarages in the diocese. 

The diocese estimates that the cost in 2024 of maintaining a full-time stipendiary minister (including overheads as outlined above) is £86,300 (Cost of Ministry). Although voluntary, failure of the united benefices to meet this target would put at risk future clergy full time provision. Our ‘Cost of Ministry’ contribution to the PSF is effectively shared with St Peter’s Tandridge. 

While the PCC sets the annual amount there is a guideline increase expected each year by the diocese. For 2024 an increase of 3.3% was suggested. but the PCC chose an increase of £1,000, 1.54% which was acceptable to the diocese. 



## **4. STAFF COSTS AND PAYMENTS TO PCC MEMBERS** 

As the Parish Administrator, Mrs N. Copp, who is a member of the PCC, was paid £7,732 (2023: £7,732) during the year. St. Mary's PCC was reimbursed 27.9% of these costs together with Parish Office expenses by St. Peter's, Tandridge PCC. 

The PCC also made ex-gratia payment to the organist and incidental small vergers fees to various church members.   The total paid was £2,240 (2023: £3,410). No payments were made to any member of the PCC or other related parties apart from the Parish Administrator. 

## **5.       FIXED ASSETS (RESTRICTED FUND)** 

|**Cost or Valuation**<br>Oxted Community Hall<br>1 January 2024<br>Additions St Mary's_Space<br>31 December 2024<br>**Accumulated Depreciation**<br>1 January 2024<br>Charge in the year<br>31 December 2024<br>**Net Book value**<br>31 December2024<br>31 December 2023|**Freehold**<br>**Equipment**<br>**Building**<br>£<br>&**fittings**<br>£<br>**Total**<br>£<br>640,000<br>38,521<br>678,521<br>-<br>4,846<br>4,846|
|---|---|
||640,000<br>43,367<br>683,367|
||188,000<br>22,904<br>210,904<br>12,800<br>2,336<br>15,136|
||200,800<br>25,240<br>226,040|
||439,200<br>18,127<br>457,327|
||452,800<br>15,617<br>467,617|



In the year new chairs for St Marys_Space were purchased for £4,846. 

## **6.       DEBTORS** 

|Unrestricted fund<br>Tax recoverable under Gift Aid<br>St Peter’s Tandridge<br>Other<br>**SH AT BANK**<br>Unrestricted fund<br>Restricted fund -<br>Organ Fund<br>Restricted fund-<br>Church Fund||**2024**<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>3,914<br>3,214<br>2,236<br>-<br>1,042<br>-|
|---|---|---|
|||7,192<br>6,821|
|||**2024**<br>**2023**<br>£<br>£<br>44,613<br>42,269<br>12,710<br>-<br>24,571<br>24,603|
|||81,894<br>66,872|



## **7. CASH AT BANK** 



Unrestricted fund cash represents 22 weeks (last year 20 weeks) of ordinary expenditure. **8. CREDITORS** 

|Unrestricted fund<br>Oxted Community Hall deferred income<br>Accruals<br>Restricted fund<br>Church Fund|**2024**<br>**2023**<br>£<br>£<br>1,250<br>1,250<br>2,130<br>-<br>8,385<br>1,850|
|---|---|
||11,765<br>3,100|



## **9. RESTRICTED FUNDS** 

|Opening balance 1 Jan 24<br>Incoming resources<br>Resources expended<br>Depreciation<br>From unrestricted fund<br>Closing Balance 31 Dec 24|Church<br>Fabric<br>Fund<br>Organ<br>Fund<br>Mission<br>Giving<br>Oxted<br>Community<br>Hall<br>Total<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>22,755<br>-<br>-<br>467,615<br>490,370<br>1,075<br>12,710<br>929<br>-<br>14,714<br>(7,642)<br>-<br>(929)<br>-<br>(8,571)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(15,136)<br>(15,136)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>4,846<br>4,846|
|---|---|
||16,188<br>12,710<br>-<br>457,325<br>486,223|



## 10. **CASH FLOW STATEMENT** 

|Net incoming/(outgoing) resources<br>LessBuilding&Equipment<br>Adddepreciation<br>Movement in workingcapital<br>Net Cash Flow<br>Cash andshort-termdeposits as at 1Jan 24<br>Cash and short-termdeposits asat 31Dec 24|**2024**<br>**2023**<br>£<br>£<br>45<br>(46,730)<br>(4,846)<br>(8,004)<br>15,136<br>14,652<br>4,687<br>2,387|
|---|---|
||15,022<br>(37,695)<br>66,872<br>104,567|
||81,894<br>66,872|





## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY'S, OXTED.** 

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 which are set out on pages 1 to 7. 

## **Respective responsibilities of the PCC and Independent Examiner** 

The members of the PCC consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) b u t  that an independent examination is needed. 

It is my responsibility to 

- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; 

- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and 

- state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## **Basis of Independent Examiner's Statement** 

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. 

An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. 

**Independent Examiner's Statement** 



In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention 

1. which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements 

   - to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; or 

   - to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met; or 

2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 


Robin Hickson FCA 

12 March 2025