FRIENDS OF STEYNING PARISH CHURCH Registered Charity Number: 1169773
Trustee’s Annual Report for Period 1[st] January 2022 to 31[st] December 2023
The Friends of Steyning Parish Church continue to support the Vicar, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council with the maintenance and development of this outstanding Norman building. We also seek to promote interest in the church, attract visitors and enable its wider and more diverse use. The Friends do not run appeals as such but raise awareness of the church’s needs, encourage donations and organise events to bring in money.
The trustees of the Friends are Fr. Mark Heather, Jeremy Tomlinson, Sarah Leigh, John Downe, Sarah Lavery and Tony Struthers. Don Harry has now resigned as Treasurer and is being replaced by Julia Bonner. The Friends committee also includes Christine Aubrey, Don Harry, Carol Mitchell, Brian Sawyer, and Bill Thompson.
Our role is that of fundraising for the PCC and spreading the word about the architectural and historical importance of the church. Our methods of doing these things would be greatly enhanced if the improvements to the Church had already been made and more people were using the building. A great deal of thought and hard work are currently being devoted to finding the best way forward and the feasibility of raising sufficient money to make a significant difference.
Professional advice is being provided by fundraising consultants and the Friends are contributing towards the cost of this. We are offering much smaller amounts towards some minor maintenance projects, including the font and the Cowerson gravestone, but we are reserving the bulk of our investments to contribute to the major project for repairs to the structure of the church and improvement to its facilities. We can make a real difference and our activities will demonstrate the importance of what is to be done.
An audio guide has been developed, the website has been updated and new post cards produced during the year. Also a new brochure has been designed and is available to encourage visitors. Sarah Leigh, who masterminded these publications gave a talk about history and architecture and in August the British Archaeological Association came to admire our Norman sculpture and architecture.
At our AGM in October Adam Sone, CEO of Chichester Stoneworks, gave an illustrated talk on his life’s work as a stonemason.
In 2024 a concert of all six of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos by the Hanover Band is planned as part of the Steyning Festival.
Our funds on 31[st] December 2023 were £102,230.36. The year’s income came from donations, Gift Aid and Interest as well as sale of wine at events.
Julia Bonner, Hon Treasurer. September 2024.
The Friends of Steyning Parish Church Registered Charity No. 1169773 Income and Expendltuve Account 18t January 2023 10 318t Decembèr 2023 2023 2022 INCOME Donations Millicent Honeywood's Bequest HMRC GiftAd Interest Heritsge Day l Remember Book Launch Wine etc.al Events Fulham Palace Trip AGM Glissando Tickets 570.00 540.00 76.568.85 166.79 638.04 655.23 95.00 493.40 52.50 1294.45 80,504.26 116.43 4.902.46 165.00 5,753.89 EXPENDITURE Steyning PCC towards Conservation Survey & Fund Raising Advice Wine etc. at Events Ecclesiastical Insurance AGM Glissando (Alex Rider) Web Oomairvlnternel Heritsge Day, MLtseurnlFesb"val Printing Ishort Church Guwlesl 5,087.60 437.32 198.96 900.00 61.47 90.00 204.72 211.16 185.00 5,688AB 1.729.75 Doflclt I Surplus 65.41 78,774.51 2022 Funds Canied Forward 102,164.95 23,390.44 Funds at 31st Docomber 102,230.36 102,164.95 Balance Sheet at 31st tlecember 2023 Funds 102,230.36 102,164.9S Barclays Bank PLC Current acnI COIF Depo&l account 1,540.86 100,689 50 102.230.36 6,377.91 95,787.04 102,164.95 Donald Hary Hon. Treasurer 15. 2. ZOL Independent Examiners Report I have examined the income and expenditure account for the peri¢yJ ended 31st December 2023 and Balance Sheet 8131st D¥erTtber 2023 and confirm that they are in accordance th the records of the charty. David Fitton