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2025-12-31-accounts

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MATTHEW, BLACKMOOR & WHITEHILL

Registered Charity number 1171865

(ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH)

REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH

CONTENTS

Page
Information 3
Annual Report 4-5
Independent examiner's report 6
Statement of Income & Expenditure 7-9
Balance Sheet 10-11
Notes to the accounts 12-13
Priest in Charge Report 14
16
17
Coffee Café 18
Deanery Synod 18
Donkey Group 19
Fabric Committee 19
20
Natterjacks Toddler Group 20
Pastoral Committee 21
Safeguarding 21
Soup Café 22
Steeple Keeper 22
Tower Captain 23
Worship Committee 24

Page 2

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH

Information

Priest-in-Charge

Bankers

Treasurer

Independent Examiner

Rev Amanda Sim The New Vicarage Blackmoor GU33 6BN Lloyds Bank Farnham Branch PO Box 1000 BX1 1LT Leonie Sadler FCMA 19 Liphook Road Bordon Hampshire GU35 9DA Matthew Hurst Holly Bank Devil's Lane Liphook GU30 7DB

Page 3

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025

Background

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) were delighted to welcome the Rev. Amanda Sim as our Priest in Charge during the year. Together with Rev. Amanda, the PCC has the responsibility of cooperating with the Diocese of Portsmouth in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has the maintenance responsibilities for the Church building itself. The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure.

Objectives and Activities

The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish communities of Blackmoor & Whitehill. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live in our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and and scripture, music and sacrament.

Membership

Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.

During the year and until the date of this report the following served as members of the PCC:

POSITION NAME START END
Priest-in-Charge Amanda Sim 2025
Associate Priest Kate Lloyd Jones 2024
Chair: Amanda Sim 2025
Vice Chair: David J Cooper 2024 2026
Churchwardens: Davina Hudson 2017 2026
David J Cooper 2024 2026
Deanery Synod: Sylvia Boddington 2024 2026
Linda Buckland 2023 2026
Treasurer: Leonie Sadler 2023 2026
PCC Secretary: Sally Beech (from 1stMarch 2026)
Safeguarding Officer Gemma McDonald (until January 2026)
Elected: 1 David Aldous 2022 2028
2 Sylvia Boddington 2024 2027
3 Linda Buckland 2020 2026
4 Adrienne Cox 2025 2028
5 Robin Helliwell 2024 2027
6 Stephen Jolliffe 2025 2028
7 Gemma McDonald 2025 2028
8 Jilly Prideaux 2020 2026
9 Leonie Sadler (Treasurer) 2022 2028
Co-Opted: Rev Wendy Mallas 2025 2026

Page 4

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025

Committees

The PCC operates through a number of committees, which meet between the meetings of the PCC

Standing Committee: This is the only committee required by law. It consists of the incumbent, the Church Wardens, the Secretary and the Treasurer. It has power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any directions by the PCC Fabric Committee: Attends to matters relating to the stewardship of the church buildings and fabric and the church yard Worship Committee: Meets to plan and develop the diverse worship of God in the parish in support of the vicar Fundraising & Social Attends to all social functions undertaken such as organising the fundCommittee: raising events, the annual church fete, the harvest festival and any Christmas activities. Review of the year: The full PCC met 6 times during the year. Committees met between meetings and reports were received by the full PCC and discussed as necessary. No unapproved remuneration was paid to any PCC member.

It is our policy to invest our fund balances with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund.

Payments were made to the Diocese during the year of £40,860. At the end of this year there were no arrears. Reserves policy: This policy requires the PCC to maintain sufficient reserves to cover the normal gross running costs of the church for 6 months.

The trustees declare that they have approved the report and the accounts above on 17 March 2026

Rev Amanda Sim Priest in Charge

Page 5

ST MATfHEWS CHURCH Itho tnMtw•) ￿St Matth•• Church. Bl•ckmoor & Whlt•hlil I report to the tru8tees on nry examination olthe accounts ofst MattlMW8 Church (I Trust) for the ￿81 ended 31 Decembar2025. A•ApM￿b1u￿•¥ and ba￿10rthe r•wt A8 the charlty tru8tee8 oflheTn￿tyoU are rfjspon$llAeloriy•o prnparatlon otthe Kcounts In ￿e0rdanCe ￿ Iha requirements ofthe Chfiritie8xt 2011 IlhftAct1. I report In re8P•Ct of mylwmlnatlon OttheTn￿fs 8cc(MMts caftlod out under ￿¢tIon 145 ofthe 2011 Act ènd In canying out my ￿MInatIon I hayd fou￿¢d 811 tho 8pplicatAe DIr•c￿On8 ty•n tylho CharltyComml88lon undor8e¢tlon 14gSXb} ofth• Act. I have completed my ex8mlnation. I confim) tlwt no material mattels hav8 com• to my attontlon In connectlon oxnin9tl￿ rne Cau￿10 ballm in any materl 1. 8c¢ountln8 re¢ord8w•ro not kept In re8PKt of the Trusta8 Toqulrod by 8ectlon 130 ot the Act: or 2. the account8 do notoccor(l th•8• rncofdl: or 3. the account8 do rK>ttoMpiy￿￿th tho appllceblo r•qulrement8 Con¢8Mlngt￿ forni and ¢ontom ol accounts set out in th8 Charitbes (Accounts and Report81 Regulatlon8 2008 other than any requirements that th8 accounts give 8 and talr¥lthV whlch Is not a matter considered a8 part ot an independem awninalion. I have no concernA and a¢riw no oth8r matter8 In connectlon with the ex8mln&tion tovthich attention 8hwld be dr8wn In th1• roport In ord•rto enable a propor under8tandln8 of the 8cc(Mmts to bg rgoched. SIVd by. Matt 6wHurnt Page 6

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH, BLACKMOOR

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

RECEIPTS
Note
Voluntary income
Planned giving
Gift Aid Recovered
Collections
Donations
Grants & VAT recovered
Legacies
Activities for generating funds
Fundraising events
7
Income from charitable (Church)
activities
Fees from weddings & funerals
Soup Cafe & Church Café
Other income
Income from investments
Interest
Unrealised Gains on Lord
Selborne's fund
Total incoming resources
Total payments (see page 8)
Surplus (deficit) for the year		 Unrestricted
funds
£
16,091
6,748
7,234
822
0
0
30,895

3,963
3,963
5,794
8,335
0
14,129
4,120
3,844
7,964
56,951
-60,178
-3,227		 Designated
Funds
£
0
0
0
50
8,125
0
8,175
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8,175
-9,955
-1,780		 Restricted
funds
£
0
50
0
310
500
0
860
1,534
1,534
540
0
0
540
0
0
0
2,934
-2,438
496
 Endowment
funds
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
245
-353
-108
-108
0
-108		 2025
Total
£
16,091
6,798
7,234
1,182
8,625
0
39,930
5,497
5,497
6,334
8,335
0
14,669
4,365
3,491
7,856
67,952
-72,571
-4,619		 2024
Total
£
16,875
6,730
6,233
1,222
6,540
10,647
48,247
4,034
4,034
5,652
9,088
0
14,740
9,128
198
9,326
76,347
-61,561
14,786

The notes on pages 12 and 13 form part of these financial statements

Page 7

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH, BLACKMOOR

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

PAYMENTS
Note
Fundraising, cost of goods sold
and other costs
Cost of fundraising events
7
Soup Cafe & Drop-in
Charitable activities (activities
directly relating to the work of the
Church)
Missionary and charitable giving
Home missions and other
church societies
Total giving
Diocesan Parish Share
Church running expenses
Water rates
Heating & lighting
Insurance
Generalmaintenance
Major repairs & refurbishment
Clergy expenses
Other ministry costs
Licenses & other fees
Sundryexpenses
Church management &
administration
PCC Secretary
Web site & IT costs
Room & equipment hire
Printing, stationery & books
Telephone, broadband &
Total expended resources		 Unrestricted
funds
£
14
2,170
2,184
179
0
179
40,860
436
4,919
3,044
906
320
0
1,596
0
0
52,260
2,649
764
360
1,419
542
5,734
60,178		 Designated
Funds
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9,955
0
0
0
0
9,955
0
0
0
0
0
0
9,955		 Restricted
funds
£
0
0
0
689
240
929
0
0
0
0
500
0
0
0
487
395
2,311
0
0
0
127
0
127
2,438		 Endowment
funds
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0		 2025
Total
£
14
2,170
2,184
868
240
1,108
40,860
436
4,919
3,044
1,406
10,275
0
1,596
487
395
63,418
2,649
764
360
1,546
542
5,861
72,571		 2024
Total
£
338
2,410
2,748
1,310
15
1,325
38,914
316
3,573
2,979
2,671
240
699
900
570
2
52,189
3,642
68
566
1,866
482
6,624
61,561

The notes on pages 12 and 13 form part of these financial statements

Page 8

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH, BLACKMOOR

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE

STATEMENT OF FUNDS

STATEMENT OF FUNDS
UNRESTRICTED
General funds
DESIGNATED
Clergy
Tower & Kitchen Reordering
Oil tank
RESTRICTED
Church yard fund
Fabric fund
Junior Church fund
Sponsored child
Missionary Opp fund
Musicfund
Tower fund
ENDOWMENT FUND
Lord Selborne's fund
TOTAL FUNDS		 Balance b/fwd
33,864
0
137,760
10,000
147,760
0
93
1,070
663
1,076
667
11,303
14,872
8,833
205,329		 Receipts
55,978
0
8,175
0
8,175
500
0
50
1,285
0
1,180
539
3,554
245
67,952		 Payments
-59,205
0
-9,955
0
-9,955
-500
0
0
-489
-200
-1,654
-215
-3,058
-353
-72,571		 Transfer
1,245
4,000
-5,000
0
-1,000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-245
0		 Balance
c/fwd
31,882
4,000
130,980
10,000
144,980
0
93
1,120
1,459
876
193
11,627
15,368
8,480
200,710		 Balance
c/fwd
33,864
0
137,760
10,000
147,760
0
93
1,070
663
1,076
667
11,303
14,872
8,833
205,329

The notes on pages 12 and 13 form part of these financial statements

Page 9

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH, BLACKMOOR

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

BALANCE SHEET

CASH FUNDS
Note
A
Bank Current Account
Deposit Funds
Cash in Hand
OTHER MONETARY ASSETS
Debtors
2
Prepayments
3
INVESTMENT ASSETS
Short Term Investments
B
LIABILITIES
Creditors
4
Accruals
5		 Unrestricted
funds
£
2,970
2,007
1,552
6,529
3,161
570
3,731
22,248
-250
-375
-625
31,883		 Designated
Funds
£
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
144,980
0
0
0
144,980		 Restricted
funds
£
0
0
0
0
80
0
80
15,328
-40
0
-40
15,368
 Endowment
funds
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8,480
0
0
0
8,480		 2025
Total
£
2,970
2,007
1,552
6,529
3,241
570
3,811
191,036
-290
-375
-665
200,711		 2024
Total
£
6,943
12,028
2,620
21,591
1,698
381
2,079
183,248
-1,373
-216
-1,589
205,329

The notes on pages 12 and 13 form part of these financial statements

Page 10

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH, BLACKMOOR

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

BALANCE SHEET

NOTE A - RECONCILIATION OF CASH

NOTE A - RECONCILIATION OF CASH
OpeningBalance
Net Receipts/(Payments)
Change in Monetary Assets
Change in Liabilities
Transfers
Closing Balance
NOTE B - INVESTMENTS
As at 1st January
Interest Received
Change in Market Value
Interfund Transfer
As at 31st December		 Current
Accounts
6,943
-1,316
-1,732
-924
0
2,971		 Deposit
Funds
12,028
-10,022

2,006

Short Term
Investments
174,415
4,052
3,844
245

182,556
 Cash in
Hand
2,620
-1,068
1,552

Lord
Selborne's
Fund
8,833
245
-353
-245
8,480		 Total 2025
21,591
-12,406
-1,732
-924
0
6,529
Total 2025
183,248
4,297
3,491
0
191,036		 2024
Total
22,667
5,566
202
-6,844
0
21,591
2024
Total
174,029
9,021
198
0
183,248

The CBF Church of England Deposit Funds are invested by CCLA in a unit trust, which aims to provide a high level of capital security and competitive rates of interest, suitable for CoE charities' short term investments. Hence, it is not covered by Government Insurance.

Rev Amanda Sim Leonie Sadler FCMA
Priest in Charge Treasurer

The notes on pages 12 and 13 form part of these financial statements

1

Page 11

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES:

1.1 Accounting convention and policies

The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the accruals basis.

1.2 Basis of preparation of the financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

1.3 Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the Statement of financial activities when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Gifts in kind donated for distribution are included at valuation and recognised as income when they are distributed to the projects. Gifts donated for resale are included as income when they are sold.

Donated facilities are included at the value to the Charity where this can be quantified and a third party is bearing the cost. No amounts are included in the financial statements for services of volunteers. Donated services or facilities are included as income at a valuation which is an estimate of the financial cost borne by the donor where such cost is quantifiable and measurable.

Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid (GA) or the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS) is recognised at the time of the donation.

1.4 Resources expended

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and have been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Where the costs cannot be directly attributed to particular activities they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.

Support costs are those costs incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the Charity and include project management. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the Charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

2 DEBTORS
HMRC, gift aid tax recoverable
OutstandingFees
New Hymn Book Donation		 2025
£
1,923
1,238
80
3,241		 2024
£
1,698
-
-
1,698

Page 12

ST MATTHEW'S CHURCH

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

3 PREPAYMENTS
Lay Readers' Conference
Website Hosting
Photocopier Rental
4 CREDITORS
Wedding fee deposits
Diocesan Fees
100 Up Club
Secretarialservices
5 ACCRUALS
FundraisingCosts
Village Hall Hire
Water
Carol Book Printing
MinistryCosts		 £
460
50
60
570
£
250
-
40
-
290
£
-
126
37
105
107
375		 £
210
111
60
381
£
300
702
40
331
1,373
£
153
63
-
-
-
216

6 OTHER MATTERS

At the July 2021 PCC meeting it was agreed to establish a number of designated funds to 'ring fence' unrestricted funds available bearing in mind the need to keep adequate unrestricted reserves to cover approximately six months' normal expenditure.

Over the last two years, six months' expenditure has been between £28,500 and £32,000. Thus, there has been a transfer from the designated Reordering funds of £5,000 to ensure that the unrestricted funds available are at least £30,000.

7 FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES
100UpClub
Sponsored Cycle Ride
Apple Day
Blackmoor Bling
Open Garden
GreetingsCards
HMRC, gift aid collected
Helen Payne Paintings
Fruit and Veg Donations
Ride & stride		 Income
£
510
848
2,945
-
-
35
736
235
18
170
5,497		 Expense
£
-
-
-
-
-
( 14 )
-
-
-
-
( 14 )		 2025
£
510
848
2,945
-
-
21
736
235
18
170
5,483		 2024
£
478
-
1,793
329
143
-
487
-
-
466
3,696

Page 13

Priest-in-Charge Report

was a wonderful occasion and offered a first glimpse of the warmth, hospitality, and generosity that are so characteristic of this church. Arriving in the quieter summer months gave me the gift of beginning gently meeting people, learning names, and settling into the rhythm of parish life. Before long, however, the seasons of the Church gathered at pace. Harvest, All Souls, Advent, and Christmas followed swiftly, and I witnessed the well-organised and deeply faithful life of the same has been true through Lent and Easter.

are the Church, not only when gathered in the

Our outreach continues to grow. The Soup Café and Church Café are building steadily, with a noticeable increase in both attendance and donations. These spaces of welcome and fellowship are a beautiful expression of our shared life. both in person and online. From this, three adults have gone on to explore their faith more deeply; they have completed a confirmation preparation course and will be confirmed at the Cathedral in July. It is particularly encouraging that they are now considering forming a home group.

become a natural part of parish life, and we are blessed in our Headteacher, Ros Stamper, whose faith and leadership are a great gift. In my role as Foundation Governor, and through offering pastoral and spiritual support to staff and pupils, I have already seen how valuable this connection is.

Pastoral care remains a strong and valued ministry. Our pastoral team, led by Mary Walker, continues to offer faithful and compassionate support, and it is good to see them meeting regularly again. Dee has been a wonderful addition, bringing a deeply prayerful presence.

Among our groups, Natterjacks toddler group continues to flourish, and the Donkey Group, led by Jilly, remains central to our work with children, particularly through our Christmas and Easter workshops.

organists Des and Fiona, who support our services so faithfully. I would like to offer particular thanks to Fiona for her work in rewriting the hymn books, and to Robin for funding them in memory of his late wife, Mary.

Our bell ringers continue their regular practice, though I must confess I have only managed the tower once so far!

The occasional offices of baptisms, weddings, and funerals remain an important part of our ministry, and it is encouraging to see a rise in wedding bookings.

Being in a place so well loved is both a privilege and a responsibility. Some changes have been made over the past ten months, and I am deeply grateful for the grace with which these have been received. In particular, the discontinuation of individual communion cups has marked a return to a more familiar practice. We have also reintroduced the traditional three readings at our main Sunday service, refreshed our pew sheet, and introduced a new logo.

It is encouraging to see a modest increase in attendance, with a number of new and older faces joining us regularly. We pray that this will continue.

Page 14

Safeguarding remains a central and essential part of our life together. We have been extremely fortunate that there have been no significant safeguarding concerns this year. Where issues have come to light, appropriate action has been taken. My sincere thanks go to Jenny Wilkinson and Gemma McDonald for their work and support, and to our new Parish Safeguarding Officer, Sam Day, for her commitment in taking forward this vital area of ministry. Safeguarding is not the responsibility of a few, but of us all, and it is something we must each hold with care, vigilance, and prayerful attention in the life of our church.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to our Churchwardens, David Cooper and Davina Hudson, whose commitment, wisdom, and steady guidance have been invaluable as I navigate the early stages of my first incumbency. I am also meeting many more of the requirements of governance and policy, strengthening the foundations of our common life.

flower team, from cake bakers and soup makers to those who quietly wash up afterwards, I am immensely proud of all

Rooke for stepping in to the role on a temporary basis last year while we considered a new appointment, and we were pleased to welcome Sally Beech to the post in early 2026.

I am grateful for the faithful stewardship of this parish, which underpins all that we are able to offer in ministry and mission. Whilst the new contactless payment device may not yet be used as much as we might have hoped, it is beginning to find its place, and we are considering how best to position it for ease of use.

who has given me valuable advice during the times of transition. We have also been enriched by hearing a range of voices from the pulpit over the past year; may that continue.

Beyond the parish, my role within the deanery as Champion for Lay Ministry is beginning to take shape, and I look forward to sharing more about this in the coming months.

Our plans for a church extension remain in the planning stages and are in the good and capable hands of Stephen Jolliffe, to whom we are grateful for his continued work and patience.

Like many churches, we are mindful of the ongoing challenges we face, particularly around finance and the need to encourage a new generation of volunteers to come forward and share in the life and work of the Church.

Finally, what a joy and privilege it is to serve here, and to lead such a vibrant church into a new season. As we look ahead, we do so with hope and trust, seeking where God is calling us next and how we may serve him faithfully together.

With my thanks and prayers,

The Reverend Amanda Sim Priest-in-Charge

, Blackmoor and Whitehill

April 2026

Page 15

Report

In the last couple of months I have unearthed a couple of photographs of the choir dating back to the early 90s, which show that our current complement of 16 singers is as large as any in the last 30 years and indeed larger than at most -standing members and to those who have joined more recently and taken up the commitment to weekly practice and attendance at Sunday services, weddings and funerals. Once again, the choir has fulfilled every service commitment for which it has been called. I am at pains to point out to each member of the choir their value and contribution to the overall sound that the choir achieves, from the most experienced to the newest member. Some of our singers had no experience of reading music when they joined the choir and I am delighted by the progress that they have made since joining this is precisely the path that all choristers take, including those who sing in our prestigious cathedral choirs, starting as probationers and learning as they go along. If there is anyone out there who thinks they might like to join us in upholding our precious choral

the Prayer Book has it, please speak to me. You do not need to read music all you need is the ability to sing in tune, and enthusiasm the rest you can be taught! In that context we were pleased to welcome Jean Darmon to our ranks, who is already making a significant contribution to the overall sound of the choir having, as it were, started from scratch!

Several new anthems have been added to the repertoire in the last year by William Harris, Philip Wilby, Michael Head, Peter Warlock, our own Des Boddington and myself. The Harris and Wilby anthems came courtesy of Te Decet Hymnus choir, with whom I sing at cathedrals around the country and the Warlock via Simon Shaw and the choir of Waltham St. to fruition. The songbook is an important addition to our service hymn repertoire. The twin aims were to update the contents with new songs that have proved popular in the present day church as well as to remove some that have not worn well but also, to bring together songs and hymns for special occasional services, such as Remembrance Sunday, the Air Cadets Services and others, thus removing the need for word sheets for the congregation and loose music sheets for the choir. The book carries a dedication to my dear late wife, Mary and I am grateful to the church authorities for permitting that thank you!

I also thank for permitting me to mark the 40[th] anniversary of my arrival at the church by including music I have written over that period at our November evensong, namely the Introit, Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis and Anthem performed at that service. We had the largest evensong congregation certainly since Covid thank you for attending. It Attendance at evensong has been steady over the year and approaching pre-covid figures and I was particularly gratified by singing to a packed church for our Service of Nine Lessons and Carols and at Midnight Mass, this in addition to the popular Carols by Candlelight.

by week and to Rev. Amanda and Rev. Kate for their innovation: I have always sung the Preces and Responses at Evensong as we have not had a singing priest. On occasion, my friend Graham Gale, who sings bass as a guest at these services has taken on that role. We are both now redundant in that role, which Amanda is taking on!

Robin Helliwell, Choirmaster

Page 16

Well, this has certainly been an eventful and exciting year in the life of St Matthews! We ended last year with the news Church would be passing out of the hands of the Church Wardens!

We welcomed the Reverend Amanda Sim joyfully at the end of June with a truly special service for her friends and family, for the congregation and friends of St Matthews, presided over by Bishop Jonathan. The Archdeacon Katherine Percival, the Area Dean and members of the Petersfield Deanery were also in attendance with a light buffet supper served afterwards. It was a really wonderful evening.

The work of the church wardens goes on! Working with Kate Lloyd Jones has been a most rewarding experience and we to go to the Reverend Wendy Mallas for her hard work and support throughout the whole of the interregnum!

David and I look around the church and are extremely proud of the work and achievements attained by everyone! We welcome people without question and by welcoming them hopefully in the future they will be the ones welcoming the next generation of newcomers and visitors, I hope that on reading this you will all remember how you were welcomed.

At this point I feel the need to thank everyone of you for the work that is happening in the church at all times. Let us start at the top and work down! Thanks to Debbie Mathias and the Bell Ringers who welcome us to church every Sunday morning and for every other service all through the year, it would be a sadder place without you!

Staying on the music theme, our thanks as always to the Organists, Fiona and Des one of whom plays every single Sunday and many others when required and of course we are so lucky to have Diane on call if the other two are unavailable! Their music brings such joy!

At St Matthews we are extremely fortunate to have a very talented Choir Master in Robin, he organizes the choir and provides such joy with their music at every service, so in here I have to thank the Choir themselves for the hours of practice they put in to bring this joy to the whole church.

To Sam Day and her team who welcome Mothers and Toddlers who organise and welcome families to the Natterjacks group on a Wednesday morning who ensure that these families feel comfortable in a church setting and feel that St

Then of course, there are the more mundane jobs without which the church could not run as smoothly as it does! The meeters and greeters who ensure that everyone is welcomed and made to feel at home and guided on their (possibly first) journey into a church setting. The team ensuring that refreshments are available at the end of the service and again ensuring that people are made to feel comfortable with their surroundings. The cleaning team who come in on a Wednesday lunchtime and ensure that the church is clean and welcoming to all who enter and of course to enjoy each times.

Finally our thanks to every one of you for your support.

Davina Hudson and David Cooper, Churchwardens

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Coffee Café

The Friday Church Café continues to amaze me! The people (customers) continue to support it, many have been coming for certainly as long as it has been held in the church, so about five years! They sit at their tables with their friends but are always happy to welcome newcomers into their midst and they then become friends. They may not be regular churchgoers, but many come along to the big services and of course support all of our fundraising events, one or two are coming to church on a more regular basis, which is truly special.

This enterprise could not happen without the support of the many who volunteer whether it be to set up the church on a Thursday afternoon so it is ready to go first thing Friday morning or those who come along on Friday morning and serve cake, wait on tables, clear tables and of course the dreaded job of washing up and clearing the church so that it is ready for whatever is happening next! THEN, of course the most amazing people who make cakes every week without fail, we have at least six cakes to offer to the customers and the most amazing variety, it is definitely not a boring selection! We also now have customers who offer to make when a regular cake maker is on holiday or unable to make for some reason.

I have to thank everyone who comes along to help but especially Avril, David(J) and Helen who work at the Church Café every week and are very much missed when they have the audacity to take a holiday! I must also thank Barbara, Gill and Helen, who provide a cake every Friday without fail.

Davina Hudson

Deanery Synod

The Deanery Synod is part of the way the Church of England gives people at different levels a chance to discuss key issues and organise the church's ministry and mission. It sits between the parishes with their Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) and the full diocese, with its Diocesan Synod. It is convened by an Area Dean and Lay Chair and consists of all the licensed clergy in the Deanery and lay people elected by the parishes at their Annual Parish Church Meeting. The lay members serve for three years. The most recent elections took place at APCMs in 2023, so the current 3-year term is ending now, and Deanery Synod representatives for the 2026 2029 term are to be elected at the 2026 APCMs.

with Privett) is Area Dean. Amanda Greenlee is Deanery Secretary, and David Normington is Deanery Treasurer.

The main work of the Deanery Synod over the past year has continued to be working together to support growth. Over the last year this has included:

Deanery Synod met 3 times in 2025, and welcomed guest speakers on Carbon Net Zero, and Stewardship. Deanery Synod acts as the electorate to General Synod (elections due in 2026) and Diocesan Synod (elections due in 2027).

I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the continuing life of this deanery, in particular the Standing Committee which in 2025 consisted of Vanda Leary, Neil Chrimes, David Normington, Amanda Greenlee, Lynn Carter, -Jones.

Vanda Leary, Lay Chair, Petersfield Deanery Synod

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Donkey Group

It is with much joy that I can report that the Donkey Group has grown and our meetings now have up to 15 on a Thursday night (at 6pm). It is a social evening catching up on news, it also gives us a chance to sort out any need doing for forthcoming events and special times in the church. While Carolyn and I prepare and cook any food donations the laughter from the sitting room never fails to bring a smile to our faces! We have a £1 raffle with the chance of winning one of the small (usually chocolate in some form) prizes. This year the raffle raised £646.00 for the Friends. I hope the Donkey Group continues to thrive - we welcome all.

Jilly Prideaux

Fabric Committee

The Fabric Committee has again been active over the course of the last year to ensure that the fabric of the church is adequately maintained and developments to ensure the church is suitable for any future use are taken in hand.

Church Extension & Re-ordering Plans

The committee has been working with the church architects, the Simon Goddard Partnership, (tgp) to progress the church plans for the church extension and the re-ordering of the west and south entrances. In particular to enable the completion of all the necessary documentation for the Full Planning and Listed Building Consent Application. This included an updating of the Heritage Design and Access Statement, based on the pre-app advice from Historic England and EHDC. Preparation of a proposed roof plan and a Site Location Plan.

Owing to changes in the personnel at the Victorian Society it was considered prudent to send the details of the application to the Victorian Society (VS) and request opinions, prior to the formal application process. The VS supported the desire to improve access and restore the south porch as this would represent a clear heritage benefit. The Committee commended the design approach taken with the extension, particularly the way in which the link interacts with the nave window, and the materials chosen. They did request further information on the history and significance of the tower screen in the west entrance.

The Hampshire Records Office held the faculty submitted in 1897, for the installation of an oak screen, to commemorate screen was originally installed across the south entrance porch and was not part of the original Waterhouse design for the church. This evidence was provided to support the re-placement of the existing screen with a bi-folding screen to permit the west porch to be opened out to a large meeting area (21sqm). The V.S responded that removal of the existing screen (due to it being a non-original element, moved from a previous location) and its replacement with a new screen, would not prejudice their overall support for the application. They did request details of the design of any replacement. The PCC considered the designs proposed and selected the option with the glazed doors establishing pointed arch echoing windows along south and north of nave. The Victorian Society considered the design of the new screen as well thought through and if executed to a high standard could be a successful addition to the interior. At this point they did not wish to raise any concerns or make substantive comments.

Consequentially the Full Planning and Listed Building Consent Application was submitted to the EHDC on the 15th January. The application is currently under review and we are informed that, as the church grounds is in a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation an ecological survey and report is necessary. The PCC has appointed Ecological Surveys Ltd to perform a Preliminary Roost & Nest Survey and report for any necessary remediation measures. At the time of writing we are currently awaiting the outcome of the survey to be performed on 13th April.

Stephen Jolliffe

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The subscriptions amount to £3,312.73 we are delighted to welcome some new subscribers.

We have had a successful year fundraising: -

----- Start of picture text -----
£ 680.76
Open Garden £2,587.84
Robins Train Afternoon £ 63.00
Donkey Group £ 646.00
Apple Day Hamper £ 644.69
Williams Talk £1,480.00
TOTAL RAISED £6,102.29
----- End of picture text -----

Sadly, Trish Houlberg died in September, she was a huge supporter of The Friends of St. Mattews, I visited her in hospital with Wendy the day before she died, she told me that any donations raised at her funeral would go to our charity. Trish and Torben are both very much missed.

We gave a grant for fees to the church for £8,125.20. The project is slowly moving forward and we are holding our monies to help cover the cost. The balance at the end of December 2025 is £31,614.04.

I am resigning as Chairman at our next AGM and I would very much like someone younger to take on the challenge. I hope to remain a trustee.

My thanks to my committee members; they continue to be encouraging, enthusiastic and supportive.

Natterjacks

Our small, friendly toddler group is now in its sixth year, and we continue to welcome parents grandparents, childminders and toddlers to our Wednesday morning sessions, where we offer craft, play, refreshments, singing and stories. You may not see all of us at Sunday morning services, but we enjoy playing our part in church life, for example year, and decorating the window by the font at Christmas and Easter.

: Sam (baking), Kayleigh (craft), Danny (whose mother kindly knitted the animals for

for better storage and new toys and equipment.

Watch this space!

Sam Day, Natterjacks Leader

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Pastoral Committee

The Pastoral Team has met regularly throughout the past year. Revd Kate and Revd Amanda join us when they can, and we have a new member, Mrs Dee McManus.

We have continued with our activities. Some team members are present and available at all St Matthews weekly outreach events, and on Sundays. After the Service we aim to be available to talk and pray with individuals, wearing our lanyards, as mentioned in the pew sheet.

We have been able to give support to people through visits, emails, text messages, phone calls, cards and New Daylight daily devotional booklets. Also very important is our prayer list, regularly updated, of all those needing prayer and support.

At our last meeting Revd Richard Wharton, recently appointed Vicar of the Hawkley/Greatham/Priors Dean/Empshott Benefice, joined us. He has begun gathering information for his Deanery role regarding pastoral care. He will be able to offer guidance and support in the future.

Revd Amanda will share the Diocesan guidance on Prayer Ministry at our next meeting. Revd Wendy Mallas has recommended a course of training for the Pastoral Team, which we hope to undertake as soon as it can be arranged.

In partnership with our Lord we urgently need more of His power to carry out the ministry He has entrusted to us.

Mary Walker

Safeguarding

ry, and

outreach.

At the time of my arrival in June 2025, Jenny Wilkinson was maintaining safeguarding oversight while Gemma McDonald was discerning the role of Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO). Due to the demands of the role, it was mutually agreed that this would be a step too far at that time. I am grateful to both Jenny and Gemma for their care and commitment during this period.

For a short time, I assumed responsibility for safeguarding, and I am pleased to report that Sam Day has now been appointed as our Parish Safeguarding Officer. We are grateful for her willingness to take on this vital ministry.

There have been no significant safeguarding concerns during the past year. Where matters have arisen, they have been handled appropriately and in line with diocesan guidance. We remain in close contact with the diocesan safeguarding team and continue to adopt the policies and best practice recommended by the Diocese of Portsmouth.

It is encouraging that all required training has been completed, both by those renewing and those new to roles. This reflects a strong culture of awareness and responsibility within the parish.

y our volunteers in helping to ensure that our church remains a safe and welcoming place for everyone

Revd Amanda Sim

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Soup Café

wonderful support it gets from members of the congregation who tirelessly make soup every week and it is a daunting amount that they are asked to provide (up to 15 pints of three different soups every week). We have a team, some of whom make every week, some every fortnight and some once a month! It is a huge challenge and some of the soups we serve are truly amazing along with the old favourites such as Mushroom, Tomato and Basil and Pea and Mint! One of the most popular and a little exotic is Sweet Potato, Mango and Orange, it has to be tasted to appreciate! Once again, this venture only succeeds because of the team who turn up either weekly, fortnightly or monthly, it is always a joy to see them!

This is an important venture for the church as we are taking the church into the wider Whitehill community and involving them in the life of the church!

The work that goes on at both of the above ventures is only a success because of the most amazing volunteers, some of whom help at both the Soup Café and the Church Café and some who do just one of them, whatever they do be assured that neither of these ventures could happen without YOU!

My one wish would be that sometimes it would be nice if the wider church congregation could see the work that is happening for the church.

Davina Hudson

After years of telling you, at length, about the woes of the clock and the number of tiles displaced by the winter storms, this last year has been blissfully quiet. Apart from when a power outage in the village caused the clock to stop, it has been working faultlessly, with very little intervention on my part to keep it showing accurate time. As always, it was oiled sparingly in September.

The bells and fittings are in fair order, and their condition is monitored throughout the year. In April, the wheel on the Treble was found to be loose and this was corrected. A wooden block was added to the Slider on the Number 3 bell to make it easier to ring. The Slider is a fitting which sits underneath a bell and, together with the Stay, which is attached to the headstock, prevents a bell from over-rotating. As happens each year, a small amount of grease was added to the bearings.

The Tower was cleaned to prepare for Apple Day in October.

Only one tile has slipped on the Steeple during the year.

The north facing window in the ringing chamber has broken away from its seating, leaving a gap. There is no danger of the window falling out, but it will need some remedial work. The fact that it is 12m off the ground adds to the challenge.

From late October thirty years ago, to late December 2024. As I write this, in mid-March 2026, we have had almost no Ladybird Beetles are a different story, with thousands of these finding a safe billet for the winter in the church building.

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Last year, I watched a programme about the magnificent medieval clock in Bern, Switzerland. The person who impressed that I think I will become the self-proclaimed Governor of Time for our clock!

David J Cooper

2025 was a fairly quiet year, however a high point was the Lifetime Membership Award to our Carol Cooper at the June Winchester & Portsmouth (W&P) Guild AGM in Ropley, where their refurbished bells had been hung and rang out joyously to celebrate this massive achievement! Very well done.

We were joined in August by two new ringers, Audrey Wright & Simon Moulder , who had recently moved into Drift Road. Ably taught by David and visiting other towers under his supervision (including the Holybourne Learners Saturday mornings), they achieved Sunday service ringing by the end of 2025 enabling them to be voted in as Full Members at an Alton & Petersfield (A&P) District Meeting in January 2026. Congratulations!

Valerie Harris moved out of the area in June and now rings in various towers near her Stapleford home. Ringing friends joined her at Blackmoor on Saturday 31 May to ring Methods and celebrate with refreshments outside in the sunshine. The Church congregation kindly gave her a basket of cheese and other goodies to enjoy in her new house.

Sally Beech transferred across to Selborne Tower from 1 January 2026, with their ground floor ringing chamber being one of the attractions (she had not rung at Blackmoor since July 2025).

All Safeguarding training for the Tower had been completed by 24 October 2025, with confirmation emailed to the Church Safeguarding Officer in November. Debbie Matthias (Tower Captain) and David Cooper (Steeple Keeper) already has one in place.

David

Weddings: Bells were requested on Saturday 29 March and Saturday 2 August.

Special Church Event Ringing: Evensong services, Easter Sunday ringing, Victory over Japan Day on Friday 15 August, Remembrance Sunday, the Licensing Service on Wednesday 25 June for Reverend Amanda Sim (which included a lady ringer from her previous Petersfield Parish), and the busy Christmas season with the wonderful lifesize Porch Nativity scene that gives us a fright every time we approach it in the dark!

Visiting Ringers & Quarter Peals

Visiting Ringers & Quarter Peals
Teresa Brown, Froxfield, and friends Wednesday 12 February £15 donation
Simon Poyser QP Grandsire 43 mins Sunday 23 February
Hilary Stearn, Ipswich (individual) Friday 14 March practice
Saturday 5 April £20 donation
David Cooper QP with Richard & Steph Sunday 27 April
Valerie Harris Farewall QP Sunday 18 May
District Ringing Saturday 10 May
Soberton Ringers (Southampton) Saturday 14 June £20 donation
W&P Guild Training Saturday 22 November £15 donation

Blackmoor Apple Day: the ever-popular Tower Tours raised £249.

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Daytime Ringing for the District continued to be run by David Cooper throughout 2025, administered by Jan Goodyear. However the average attendance reduced to 12 and David decided to pause the programme for a while to enable enthusiasm to build back up.

During holiday periods, the number of available ringers at Practices and Service ringing would reduce and so we asked for help from neighbouring towers for assistance and are very grateful for their generous help and continued support.

In December, Jan G arranged an excellent Christmas lunch at the Three Horseshoes in East Worldham and we were joined by Rev Amanda, her husband and little dog! The cost for hosting Amanda was taken from the visiting ringer donations.

Gordon Strachan is our Ringing Master, and he continues to be a powerful presence, keeping us all focused and motivated. He plans to ring an anniversary QP in September 2026 in memory of his late wife Mary, and we hope that our former Tower Captain, Valerie Harris, will return as part of that band. In addition, our elder statesman Malcolm Cooper turns 80 in January 2027, and I know there are plans afoot to celebrate that occasion with another QP.

Finally, we decided not to hold a formal meeting for 2025 as the majority of tower members who responded (5 vs 2 of a maximum of 12 members) did not wish to hold one without specific agenda items to discuss. Instead, Simon & Audrey

Sincere thanks again to everyone who has supported me as Tower Captain and who have continued to encourage me on developing my ringing skillset!

Debbie Matthias, Tower Captain

Worship Committee

The committee have met periodically throughout the year to plan the services and any seasonal variations e.g. Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. Revd Kate shared the format of the proposed new pew sheet, and the leaving of hymn books in pews was discussed- both notions then taken to PCC.

T

includes items for specific use by, and in, our church; also reflecting that it is not just songs in there but includes many hymns, some of which are new words set to traditional hymn tunes. There should be minimal need now for any additional sheets of paper with hymn / song words on as they are included in the book. In addition to the SMP, a new edition of our Carol Book was also produced just in time for the Christmas season. You may have noticed that most carols went back to the traditional words that everyone is familiar with, and some of the newer carols / seasonal songs previously printed out on sheets, were included in the book. Large print copies of both new books are available, and their use encouraged by our Welcomers. Congregation members are welcome to leave a large print copy in the pew that they normally sit in.

We have reflected on what went well with various extra-ordinary services and learned what may need changing for future occasions. For example, recognising that we needed additional copies of the order of service on Remembrance Service but that the earlier service start time worked well.

We look forward to another year of planning and reviewing our acts of worship. We are also receptive to hear

Fiona Hall, Chair

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