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← Woughton Ecumenical Partnership

2023-12-31-accounts

Annual Report and Accounts

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ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING of the WOUGHTON ECUMENICAL PARTNERSHIP at St. Thomas’ Church - Simpson Wednesday 8[th] May 2024 at 7:30pm

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Ecumenical Vision Statement For the Woughton Ecumenical Parish

In the light of the prayer of Christ ‘may they all be one… that the world may believe that you sent me…’ (Jn 17.21) and the injunction to ‘spare no effort to make fast with bonds of peace the unity which the Spirit gives’ (Eph 4:3), members of Woughton Ecumenical Parish commit themselves to work together in serving God’s mission locally and beyond.

Members of the Parish, drawn from the four participating denominations (The Church of England, The Methodist Church, The Baptist Union and The United Reformed Church) and from other Christian traditions, seek to respond to the call of God through Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Our life together and our mission are shaped by our core values:

Each of our five local congregations gives expression to the above, in its worship, ministry and mission.

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AGENDAS for

Annual Parochial Church Meeting of Woughton Parish,

Parochial Church Council of Woughton Parish,

Annual Congregational Meeting of Woughton Ecumenical Partnership,

And 47th Meeting of the Woughton Ecumenical Partnership Trustees At 7.30pm on Wednesday 8[th] May 2024

St. Thomas’ Church - Simpson

Prayers led by the Team.

Rev Ian Herbert in the Chair for items 1 and 2.

  1. Annual Parochial Church Meeting

  2. a. Approval of Minutes of Annual Parochial Church Meeting 9[th] May 2023

  3. b. Nominations for churchwardens

  4. d. Election of PCC members as nominated in Appendix A

  5. e. Decision on number of elected PCC members for the year 2024/25

  6. f. Appointment of Deanery Synod representative

  7. Parochial Church Council Meeting

  8. a. Co-option of PCC member

  9. b. Election of PCC Secretary

  10. c. Proposal that the WEP Treasurer should act as the PCC Treasurer for the year

Mike Davidge in the Chair

  1. Annual Congregational Meeting

  2. a. Approval of the Minutes of Annual Congregational Meeting of WEP held on 9[th] May 2023

  3. b. Presentation of the Report

  4. c. Presentation of the Accounts for 2023

  5. d. Appointment of the Independent Examiner

  6. e. Ex-officio Trustees

  7. f. Election of Trustees of the Woughton Ecumenical Partnership (two only required)

  8. g. Appointment of the Methodist Circuit Representative

  9. h. Appointment of a Representative to Netherfield Partnership.

Rev Ian Herbert in the Chair

4. Meeting of Trustees

Appendix A to the Agenda

Appendix B

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Appendix A

Nominations for appointments at Partnership level 2024-2025

Annual Parochial Church Meeting:

PCC Members Lynn Castle (St T) all for one year Irene Longstaff (TF) 2024-25 Don Mahon (TF) Di Miller (St M)

PCC Ex-Officio to note Revd Ian Herbert, Revd Paul Norris,

Church Wardens St Mary’s Deanery Synod Representatives

St Mary’s David Bird St Thomas’ Iola Samuels Woolstone John Howard

Di Miller, Kim Weston

Parochial Church Council:

Co-opt to PCC Revd. Charmaine Howard Revd. Nicola Vidamour

Annual Congregational Meeting:

WEP Trustees For three years to 2023

For information: Continuing Trustees Lynn Castle (St.T)[(2025)] Iola Samuels (St.T) )[(2025)] Mike Davidge (Chair of Trustees)[(2025)] David Hart (CtV)[(2025)] Don Mahon (TF)[(2025)] Marilyn Mahon (TF)[(2025)] Di Miller (St M)[(2025)] John Howard (W)[(2025) ] Geoffrey Miller (St. M)[(2026) ]

For Election Pamela Pow (W)

Ex-Officio Trustees

Revd. Ian Herbert , Revd. Paul Norris, Revd. Charmaine Howard, Revd. Nicola Vidamour (until April 2024)

Methodist Circuit (2) Lynn Castle; Marilyn Mahon, Don Mahon

Netherfield Partnership (corporate member) Revd Ian Herbert / Revd. Charmaine Howard

Trustees’ Meeting:

Trustee of Trinity Centre

Ian Herbert/Don Mahon

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Appendix B

Other Appointments and Representatives 2024-2025

Ministry Team

Revd Ian Herbert Revd Paul Norris Revd Charmaine Howard Revd Nicola Vidamour (Until April 2024)

Other Ordained Ministers

Revd Christopher Bell

Preachers and worship leaders

Lynn Castle Mike Davidge Judy Rapp Linda Kirk

Safeguarding Officers

St. Mary’s – Kim Weston St. Thomas – Nicola Vidamour Holy Trinity – Julie Rapp Trinity Fishermead - Irene Longstaff Christ the Vine – Paul Egerton

URC Synod Representatives (appointed by local churches – 1 per church)

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Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting

of Woughton Parish on 9th May 2023 at St Mary’s Church, Woughton on the Green.

Present: Paul Norris Kim Weston Gary Dickinson Lynn Davidge Mike Davidge Lynn Castle Iola Samuels Geoffrey Miller David Hart David Bird Susan Carter William Thomas Angela Ollis Nicola Vidamour Ruth Thomas Ian Herbert Peter Thomas Barbara Zimmer Don Mahon Marilyn Mahon Helen Hobson Norma Baldwin Di Miller Jean Mattinsley John Howard Charmaine Howard Susan Newby Christopher Bell Ann Bell Irene Longstaff Barry Messham Sue Messham Jennifer Harding Dawn Flannagan Melania Hart Dolly Nicholls Barbara Chapman Sue Smith Martin Lever Debby Lever Michael Tinsley Annie Pandya Ken Gosnell Linda Gosnell Linda Kirk Philip Coppen Angy Norris Lynn Thomas

Apologies: Barbara Albone, Norma Baldwin, Brian Baldwin, Pat Hodges, Jill Strong

Rev Ian Herbert led prayers.

Rev Ian Herbert in the chair for Items 1 & 2

1. Annual Parochial Church Meeting

b) Nominations for churchwardens. Nominations have been received for David Bird from St Mary’s Church, John Howard from Woolstone Church and Iola Samuels from St Thomas’ Church. These nominations were proposed by Ian Herbert and seconded by Jean Mattinsley. All in favour.

d) Appointment of representatives for the Anglican Deanery Synod. Kim Weston and Di Miller are willing to serve for another triennium. They were proposed by Paul Norris and seconded by Don Mahon. All in favour.

e) -option of Ministry Team as members of the PCC agreed.

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Parochial Church Meeting

Meeting ended at 7.45pm.

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Minutes of the Annual Congregational Meeting of Woughton Ecumenical[th] May 2023 at St Mary’s Church Woughton

Present. 53 members of the Partnership were present in person. Apologies. There were 8 apologies recorded.

Mike Davidge in the Chair for the Annual Congregational Meeting

Mike reminded the meeting of the importance of the challenge of the Mission Objectives. In Section 4 under Ministry Team report it was incorrect to say that resources needed to be sent to Geoffrey who is no longer web master. Also, an explanation of emails not being received was that there is a problem with Gmail.

Moving on to the reports from the churches in the Partnership. There was a long discussion on the Christ the Vine report. It was centred on the view from CTV about the division of the Parish Share. It was proposed by Geoffrey Miller and seconded by David Bird that a single paragraph be removed as the wording was unfortunate. Those in favour 21 against 10 and with 13 abstentions. There was also a discussion about whether the report from ABC (Mums and Toddler group) should be part of the CTV report or separate as it had been before. It was agreed generally that ABC should have a separate report as they are a group with responsibility to the Trustees and their funds are managed directly by Don the WEP treasurer.

Reports from Holy Trinity Woolstone, St Mary’s and St Thomas were accepted. In answer to a question Trinity Church Fishermead said that they have increased their membership, but the figures show one less member overall through natural wastage. Netherfield Partnership. There has been renewed contact restarting after the Covid absence.

WEP Web report. Geoffrey Miller had submitted a report up to November 2022 when the Partnership chose to change to the new Churches 123 web site.

The web address remains woughton.org. David Hart had taken the lead on discussion on this change but informed the meeting that he is not the webmaster. Tim May in the office is helping the churches to manage their pages. The question of transferring the emails is being worked on.

Safeguarding. Nicola confirmed that all the churches have been contacted about the ongoing work for DBS checks. WEP needs a new lay lead person for Safeguarding and Nicola appealed for someone to come forward.

Approval for the reports as a whole, proposed by Mike Davidge and seconded by Don Mahon. This was carried by 30 votes with 6 against acceptance and with 11 abstentions.

Mike offered grateful thanks to Don and Marilyn Mahon for all their hard work.

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The Annual Congregational Meeting concluded at 9pm after prayers were led by Rev Nicola Vidamour.

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Parochial Church Council Report 2024 -- Di Miller, PCC Secretary

Woughton Parish has returned to normal with services taking place across the Partnership although Christ the Vine has continued to maintain a streaming service option in addition to attendance. Numbers across the Parish appeared to be slow to return to pre-pandemic levels. At the previous AGM in 2023 St Mary’s Church voted to have the Communion chalice back but also retained the the small glasses for members who wished to use them.

In the past year at St Thomas’ Iola Samuels as the churchwarden submitted reports. These have mostly related to the continuing problems concerning the large cracks in the wall of the chancel. The Diocesan Architect has been fully consulted. The Archdeacon and the Diocesan Advisory Council have been kept in the picture and an offer was made for serious financial assistance from them for the repairs to this ancient building. This has yet to appear. In addition, Bucks Historic Church Society had a meeting of its Trustees at the church which gave them an insight into the problems. There was a survey into tree roots near the church which cost the Parish £875. No remedial work has been recommended. Other problems have included flashing on the roof which needs repair.

On behalf of St Mary’s Church, Churchwarden David Bird has given the reports. In November the new Audio-Visual System was installed and has proved to be a real asset for services and other events. It can use the internet for music and pictures as well as texts. This has been paid for by fundraising and donations.

There has not been any solution to the damage to the east churchyard wall caused by a tree falling from the hotel grounds and also a break in a section of the north wall. Apparently, the hotel is up for sale but has been used to house asylum seekers for this whole year. Developments are awaited.

In the churchyard the policy of rewilding continues and once a year there is an autumn cut. There is a new notice board overlooking the road at the front which has enclosed spaces to keep notices dry. The most recent problem in the churchyard has been the blockage to the main drain from the vestry toilet caused by the collapse of the pitch fibre material which was used for the pipes. Remedial work is planned.

The church clock has been examined repeatedly and new parts made and finally shows and strikes the correct time. The work is paid for out of the clock fund.

The Church Hall is still in the hands of an estate agency approved by the PCC and the Diocese. The insurance for the building has been paid and a recent survey has been undertaken to assess the building. No news as yet.

Christ the Vine Community Church building is owned by the Diocese. An extension to the dining room is planned and a grant was applied for to pay for more architects’ drawings and a feasibility study. This was circulated to the Trustees and the PCC. Rev Charmaine Howard has been working on a Statement of Need for this extension. Christ the Vine Community Church has a Restricted Fund into which their members pay for the extension and the planned ramp to the east door.

In addition, the CCTV hub needed replacing for the general security of the building and Russell the caretaker who lives in the flat above.

The Fishermead Community Centre continues to work towards the Asset Transfer from the MK Council. Before new computers can be bought for the digital café, after the burglary, a much more secure method of housing the replacement computers has been arranged.

The Manse on Fishermead had a Quinquennial Report in 2022 highlighting problems which need action. Small repairs need doing and outside painting to be done this coming Spring. There is a new claim by the insurers to claim back some of the money it paid out as the subsidence was definitely caused by tree roots. As WEP paid an excess sum, it is in our interest to claim this. The Manse is rented out and brings in the income to WEP.

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The Community Church at Woolstone. The discussions with the MK Council to make an Asset Transfer in respect of the building have been put on hold indefinitely. The new heating system is going to be a hybrid one when the MK Council decides. An application was made for increased storage facilities to be built at the rear of the church. Reports from two structural surveys have not been released as yet. Fencing has been replaced and a new all-weather play area installed.

February 2024 Di Miller PCC Secretary

Annual Report and Accounts Woughton Ecumenical Partnership Foreword

This annual report reviews the life, ministry and activities of Woughton Ecumenical Partnership and its congregations in 2023. As ever, we owe much to our Ministry team and to so many of our members who work hard to maintain our sense of Christian community and witness.

Church members continued to be involved with food larder schemes in Tinkers Bridge and Fishermead. Christ the Vine continued to host the Wellbeing Hub with its aim of bringing together local community and health groups to provide a welcoming and supportive meeting place in a café setting.

On the financial side, we knew we would have to draw quite heavily on our reserves but, in the end, to a lesser extent than we had budgeted for. We are again grateful for generous giving from members throughout the Partnership. Staff costs remain our biggest investment in mission and the rising costs and financial pressures that we all face present significant challenges for the Partnership in 2024 and beyond. We are so grateful to all who donate to keep our ministry running. Our Treasurer Don Mahon, the district treasurers and the Trustees will continue to address this as a priority for us all as members so that we can take forward our mission in our communities.

There are many challenges facing us in maintaining the life and mission of the Partnership, but we can be confident that God goes ahead of us. Our ecumenical vision statement reminds us that, as members, we commit ourselves ‘to work together in serving God’s mission locally and beyond.’ WEP’s role is to support all of us in the part we can play in that mission as we ‘seek to respond to the call of God through Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.’

Since the end of 2023, we have been very sad to learn that Rev Nicola Vidamour will be leaving Woughton to take up a significant teaching role at Wesley House in Cambridge. Nicola has made an immense contribution to the ecumenical life of Woughton, particularly in her role as minister at St Thomas’s, Simpson.

On behalf of the Trustees, I want to thank our Ministry team, our volunteer ministers (ordained and lay) and others who lead worship and all those in our churches who do so much to build our life together and maintain our witness in the community.

Mike Davidge Chair of Trustees

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Contents Section Title

1. Reference and Administrative Information

2. Structure, Governance and Management

3. Partnership Aims and Objectives

Partnership Aims and Objectives
3.1 A summary of the objectives of the Partnership as set out in the Governing
Document.

4. Activity and Achievement Reports

Financial Review

5.

Appendices

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Annual Report and Accounts 2023

  1. Reference and Administration Details :

  2. 1.1 Name: Woughton Ecumenical Partnership, abbreviated to WEP.

  3. 1.2 Address: Partnership Office, Christ the Vine Community Church, Jonathans, Coffee Hall, Milton Keynes MK6 5DE Tel 01908 392583. www.woughton.org

  4. 1.3 Trustees: Lynn Castle Marilyn Mahon Mike Davidge Di Miller David Hart Geoffrey Miller (elected from 16 May 2023, co-opted until then) Rev Ian Herbert Rev Paul Norris Rev Charmaine Howard Iola Samuels John Howard Rev Nicola Vidamour Don Mahon

  5. 1.4 Key Personnel: Chair: Mike Davidge Ministry Team: Rev Ian Herbert, Rev Charmaine Howard, Rev Paul Norris, Rev Nicola Vidamour Secretary: Di Miller Treasurer: Don Mahon WEP Administrator: Tim May

  6. 1.5 Principal Bankers: CAF Bank, Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church and Central Board of Finance of the Church of England.

    1. Structure, Governance and Management: 2.1 Governing documents: Woughton Ecumenical Partnership (WEP) is established as a single congregation local ecumenical partnership. Its governing documents – the Constitution and Schedule – were approved and adopted at the inaugural congregational meeting on 18 October 2016. From this date, WEP replaced the former body known as Woughton Ecumenical Parish. As well as the governing documents, there is a Memorandum of Understanding made between the Bishop of Buckingham, the Parochial Church Council of the Parish of Woughton and the Trustees of WEP.

WEP is established as a charitable unincorporated association. The Charity Commission registered it as a charity on 28 March 2017 with Registered Charity Number 1172298.

A set of Standing Orders (SOs) has been approved by the Trustees. Each one covers a specific aspect of WEP policy. During 2023, a working group appointed by the Trustees continued to carry out a review of SOs and reported back to the Trustees with recommendations for any changes needed. Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs) form part of the SOs and work is in progress to clarify and extend the matters covered by the SFIs. The SOs and SFIs are drawn up to comply with the governing documents, relevant charity legislation and good practice as promulgated by the Charity Commission as Regulator. The SOs all have scheduled review dates, and the Trustees review each document as it falls due (or sooner if need arises). New SOs and SFIs are developed when need arises.

2.2 Appointment and training of Trustees: The Trustee Body consists of:

During 2023, one Trustee was a co-opted member until the Annual Congregational Meeting when he became an elected Trustee. The other Trustees were either elected or ex officio for the whole of the year.

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All Trustees have received the Charity Commission guide ‘The essential trustee’. No formal training
for Trustees took place in 2023.
2.3 The organisational structure of WEP and how decisions are made:
There are five Local Church Councils (LCCs) whose task is to maintain and develop the life and
mission of their local church. The rules governing LCCs are contained in SO No. 8 Local Church
Councils. Our practice is to ask each church to nominate up to two Trustees to the Partnership, for
approval by the Annual Congregational Meeting. A Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are elected by the
Trustees. Members of the Ministry Team are ex officio Trustees.
The Trustees have delegated to the Ministry Team matters of ministry and spiritual and pastoral care.
There is an Annual Congregational Meeting to receive the Report and Accounts and elect Trustees (if
there is a vacancy or a Trustee’s term is expiring). The normal business of the Partnership is
conducted through regular meetings of the Trustees and of the LCCs during the year.
Membership data is set out in Appendix 1.
2.4 The relationship between WEP and Milton Keynes Mission Partnership:
WEP was a member of Milton Keynes Mission Partnership until the Mission Partnership was closed in
May 2023. Nicola Vidamour continued as a Trustee of WEP and was a Trustee of Mission
Partnership until it closed.
2.5 A statement of the major risks to which WEP is exposed:
•
Inadequate level of voluntary income to support activities contributing to WEP’s objectives.
•
Inability to find volunteers to lead activities essential to meeting WEP’s objectives.
•
Failure to comply with relevant legislation (of which Health and Safety, Discrimination, including
Disability, Safeguarding, Data Protection, Charity and Employment Law are the principal items)
•
Lack of or inadequate insurance cover to meet all eventualities including loss or damage to
buildings and assets or public and employer liability.
•
Inappropriate words or actions of church officers and church members that damage WEP’s
reputation.
•
Management shortcomings in strategy, organisation, leadership, decision making, or
communications mean that WEP’s objectives are not achieved.
The Partnership Trustees act to mitigate all risks.
3. WEP Aims and Objectives:
3.1 Our purpose
As set out in our Governing document, the purpose of the Charity is to advance the Christian faith in
the Area of Benefit in accordance with the principles and practices of the Participating Churches.
Our Ecumenical Vision Statement
In the light of the prayer of Christ ‘may they all be one… that the world may believe that you sent
me…’ (John 17.21) and the injunction to ‘spare no effort to make fast with bonds of peace the unity
which the Spirit gives’ (Ephesians 4:3), members of WEP commit themselves to work together in
serving God’s mission locally and beyond.
Members, drawn from the four participating denominations (The Church of England, The Methodist
Church, The Baptist Union and The United Reformed Church) and from other Christian traditions,
seek to respond to the call of God through Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our life together and our mission are shaped by our core values:
•Spiritually alive;
•Together in Christ;
•Reaching out;
•Welcoming all;
•Using our gifts;
•Being sustainable.
3.2 Our Mission Objectives
Each of our five local congregations gives expression to the above, in its worship, ministry and
mission. Together across the Partnership we look to:
1. Provide regular public worship for all who wish to attend.
2. Pray for the well-being of members, adherents and people and organisations in the community.

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  1. Provide opportunities for children, young people and adults to learn about the Christian faith and its key teaching.

  2. Undertake mission activity including both evangelism and service as appropriate.

  3. Engage with the local community and other agencies to work towards meeting the needs of the community.

  4. Engage in pastoral work for the benefit of members and others.

  5. Offer baptism, thanksgiving, naming and blessing, marriage and funeral services for members, adherents and people in the wider community with appropriate preparation and follow-up.

  6. Provide facilities and activities with a Christian ethos for the local community including the elderly, young and groups with special needs.

  7. Support other charities in the United Kingdom and overseas.

  8. Seek God's guidance and direction in all that we do.

  9. 3.3 Our continuing objectives

District churches

How did we do: Many activities, including worship services, community events and weddings and baptisms returned to more typical levels following the disruptions of Covid. Numbers at Sunday services are recovering slowly. Our churches continued their efforts to keep in touch with members and local communities, particularly those known to be vulnerable, through electronic media, by phone and personal visits. One church ran a successful and well-attended Alpha course during the year.

The Partnership

How did we do: It was not possible to offer Easter Cracked or Christmas Cracked in 2023 through lack of people able to help with these activities. On a more positive aspect, members from several of our churches have continued to help at food larder schemes on Fishermead and Tinkers Bridge. At Christ the Vine, the Wellbeing Hub continued, aiming to bring together local community and health groups to provide a welcoming and supportive meeting place in a café setting. Some members took advantage of training courses, including specific training on safeguarding.

Trustees

How did we do: The weekly newsletter and web site continue as sources of information. The new web site is in operation and has been developing as a source of news and information for all our churches. Cross-Partnership Lent and Holy Week services were held. Members responded with great generosity to enable us to end the year in a better position than we budgeted for but we do need to restore our financial reserves to our target level. Members were encouraged to use standing orders or bank transfers where possible. Contactless giving is available in one church and direct online giving via the CAFDonate web site. Our thanks go to the district church and Partnership treasurers for all their work to encourage good stewardship practices, but we know that financial challenges lie ahead and will require continued effort to manage. On applicable laws and regulations, the Trustees continue to give close regard to these. In 2023, we continued to review our own standing orders, including our safeguarding policy, to ensure they reflect good practice. We need to do more work on developing strategy and a common understanding of how the Partnership functions. We need to restore a shared sense of working and worshipping together. - During the year we were delighted to be able to re appoint Rev Nicola Vidamour as Methodist

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minister within the team but in 2024 greatly saddened to hear that she had been appointed to a very significant role at Wesley College, Cambridge. She goes with our deep gratitude for all she has contributed to the life of the Partnership and especially for her work with the congregation at St Thomas’s.

4. Activity and Achievement Reports:

4.1 Ministry Team 2023 Ian Herbert, Nicola Vidamour, Paul Norris, Charmaine Howard.

2023 saw all restriction with regard to Covid lifted and our normal pattern of service resumed, although some have not returned to corporate worship in person. Throughout the year we have seen the majority of our congregation return, although there are still some who are not attending, and some who have moved/passed away and have gone on to other churches, in addition there are some who continue to worship online, and we are seeing new faces in some of our churches.

Our appreciation and thanks must go to all who have supported us in 2023. Revd. Chris Bell, Mike Davidge, John Howard, Lynn Castle, Judy Rapp, Linda Kirk, David Hart and Revd. Hannah Akebo Betts, who have supported our five churches by leading services and preaching. This ensured that we were able to maintain a weekly service in all five churches in the partnership.

Although our Pastoral work is shared with church members and does not exclusively fall on the shoulders of the Ministry Team, 2023 once again saw an increase in the Ministry Team’s involvement with church members and residents living in our communities. 2023 continued with a high number of funerals and the pastoral care associated with the death of a loved one.

The beginning of 2023 once again gave us the opportunity for the whole Partnership to come together for teaching and learning about the Christian faith, through online Bible Study groups, Sunday School, and our Advent and Lent reflections. The online Tuesday morning Bible Study and Prayer time hosted and led by Revd. Charmaine Howard, the Tuesday afternoon Sunday Sermon Reflection, and monthly Bible Study hosted by Trinity, Fishermead and led by Revd. Chris Bell, Wednesday evening online Compline and evening prayer led by Revd. Ian Herbert. We were once again able to offer an All-Soul Service held at St. Thomas’ Simpson.

Please read the reports from each of the churches if you would like to know more about what each church has been up to.

As the churches were all open, we were still faced with the challenge of ensuring a safe environment for all, with some still wearing face masks. Communion is given with the option of a shared chalice or individual cups.

Thank you for your support, and help. Without you we would not have been able to ensure the wellbeing of all who attended our churches.

2023 saw us again celebrating public worship at our Easter and Christmas services in all five churches, with a slight decrease in numbers attending.

The Ministry Team continued to connect with local schools, homes for the elderly, community projects, residents ’associations, Mum’s and Toddler groups, community councils and other organizations.

.

See local church reports for details of the strong community links our churches have. Throughout 2023, Our thanks and gratitude go to Tim May our Partnership Administrator who continued to support the Ministry Team by taking on the day-to-day administrative tasks. Tim continued to play his part in maintenance of the web site.

The Parish has a long tradition of lay involvement. We once again take this opportunity to thank all who have supported us by offering and exercising their gifts and skills. Without you we would not have been able to be as effective in our churches and communities as we

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have been. In 2023 we were able to take 9 weddings, 14 funerals and 11 interments of Ashes, 41 services at the crematorium. We the Ministry Team, encourage you all to seek God ’s guidance on how you might be able to support the work of WEP and the local churches and communities we serve.

Revd. Ian Herbert, Revd. Paul Norris, Revd. Charmaine Howard, Revd. Nicola Vidamour

4.2 Secretarial Report for WEP ACM 2024

During this past year of 2023/24 WEP has worked across the Partnership. We have held our Trustees meetings face to face. We remain under strength with regard to the numbers of possible Trustees. The Annual Congregational Meeting in 2023 had a good turnout of members. The Trustees have met five times during the year, in May, July, October, November 2023 and January 2024. The Minutes of all these meetings, recorded by Di Miller as the Secretary are available to read in the Parish Office and online. A variety of services are taking place in the churches on Sundays and also include funerals and marriages. These numbers are down on pre-Covid levels.

Tim May, Parish Administrator, has been working partly remotely and is in the office on some days but always on Fridays or by appointment. He has been compiling and sending out the Parish newsletter and Prayer Diary electronically and also paper copies for those who are not on email. Tim has delivered these for which we record our thanks. Tim has continued to offer his expertise through the year with PAT testing of appliances and risk assessments. Our thanks too for his help in collating this annual report. The web site (woughton.org) is fully operational and the emails associated with the web site are working. Each church is responsible for its own page and continues to be a valuable resource for people to find out information regarding the Woughton Partnership. St Mary’s Church uses woughton.net for easier access to the graveyard information but there is a link to the Parish website.

Our prayers are now for us to work together in the future. We look for new opportunities to grow and serve God here in Woughton.

Di Miller Secretary to WEP. February 2024

4.3 Christ the Vine Community Church Report

Church Ministry: There are 28 church membership forms completed this year. Sunday worship has remained at 10:45 each Sunday with Communion Services on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. The third (and fifth) Sunday of each has been designated a Cafe Service. David Hart leads worship once a month usually on the first Sunday of the month. We are grateful to David for his commitment and support. This year we have been blessed by the preaching and worship leading of several guest speakers including Esther Squire, Chris Gill, Linda Kirk and John Howard. To support our sung worship, we use videoed hymns and songs from Worship Lyric Videos. This works well but we still pray for a worship leader to join us and lead us in sung worship. Sunday morning is the time that we have set aside to worship God together as the family of God. To ensure as many of us as possible can attend and participate fully in our Sunday Services, we have continued to use Zoom. However, attendance in person and on Zoom has dropped. Collective worship on a Sunday is important, let us not give up on worshipping together (Hebrews 10:25) but make this a priority as it is the only time we have set aside to meet with each other and with God. We have reinstated fellowship together over tea and coffee after the Sunday service. Thank you to everyone who is on the rota. It is a time to meet and get to know each other so that we can provide that support and encouragement for each other that is spoken of in the Bible. Study Vine continues to meet on Thursday mornings at 10:30 (term time only) on Zoom. This is a time when we meet to study the Bible together and discuss its implications

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for our lives. We use a study guides and booklets as well as videos from well-known Christian speakers and authors to help us study the texts. This Bible Study session is attended by a small group of around 6 people each week. It would be great if more of us could get together to study together, learn from each other and grow in our faith. If you are not already part of this group, please consider joining. It is open to all. Thank you, Anna, for your work in preparing and leading this group.

Mission: We worked with the local community to develop and maintain our presence in the area. The Coffee Hall Residents Association closed this year and a new Association is being organised to replace it. We collaborated with the Woughton Community Council to put on a Community Carol Singing event on Winter Solstice. This was very successful. A good number of people from the church and the community attended. Grapevine has maintained its core group of people (about 30) who enjoy participating in gardening activities, art and craft, music making, table tennis and chatting over food and drink in the cafe. The Prayer and Reflection time at the end of the session each week is now an established part of Grapevine and has a regular of attendance of around 18 - 20 each week. The Christmas Fair was held in conjunction with Grapevine to raise funds for the church. Meet Up Mondays meet for prayer, fellowship, board games and food each week. This attracts around 8 - 10 people regularly. The Easter Event was very successful and very well attended by the local children and their families. Easter Eggs were donated by the Salvation Army as presents for the children. The families heard and read the Easter Story and did craft activities based on the different parts of the story. The Pumpkin Carving was also a great success. The church was full. The children and their families heard that Jesus is the Light of the World who is there for them to support help and love them. Jesus brings hope into the world. The children and adults carved pumpkins of hope. The Mission Action plan needs to be evaluated and a new action plan needs to be produced, so that we build on what has gone well and plan new activities to move the church forward in the next three years.

Building: The church continues to be used by Admiral Nurses to provide support for Carers of people living with dementia. This is a drop-in group where carers can enjoy company and chat over tea and coffee. They also have the opportunity to talk privately and gain professional advice from the Admiral Nurses. The Drop-In sessions are the first and third Wednesday afternoon of each month. We aim to increase the number of lettings to improve the church income. Rhema Church have started to meet each Sunday at 1pm and will continue till October 2024. We have also had a number of one-off bookings for conferences, parties and meetings. We thank Russell for his hard work and the extra time and energy he has given to recruiting and managing new bookings as well as the extra work involved in setting out furniture and cleaning after each booking.

Our Verse for the Year: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers. (Galatians 6:10)

Chair: Mrs Pauline Rudiger Minister: Rev. Charmaine Howard

4.4 Annual Report – Trinity Woolstone

January 2023 saw the start of our Alpha Course. Catering was managed by Judy and Mildred, and we are extremely grateful to them for their work. The course attracted 15 people and was greatly enjoyed by all; however the real benefit was the opportunity to spend 13 evenings focusing on God and the redemptive activity of Jesus. It was a real privilege. Faith in some was found, in some was strengthened and in all, understood more deeply. We hope to run further Alpha courses for the partnership, but this will only be possible if there are sufficient volunteers for the catering.

In many ways our church has grown during 2023. We now have over 20 regular worshippers. However, attendance is intermittent, and it is often the case that on a Sunday we have less than 10 worshippers. The pattern of worship is now well established; the first Sunday of the month being a cafe service, the second led by Judy, the third, communion led by Ian, the fourth led by John and specific arrangements for the fifth Sundays.

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Sue and Sophie continue to be responsible for our music and we are very grateful to them for their contribution. It remains difficult for us to get commitment for elements of the management of the Partnership. We continue to have a vacant Trustee appointment and have been unable to fill some of the other positions to which we have an entitlement. However, we have now established a regular weekly Bible Study Group and we are grateful to Sue for her leadership in this respect.

The relationship between the Church and the Community Centre continues to improve as we work together on specific projects. Sadly, the Pre-School, hosted by the Community Centre, has had to close, however, this has released the building for other uses during the day. It is very much our hope that in next year’s report we will be able to share the development of a number of church inspired daytime activities. In addition, we are planning to further our outreach by working with the residents of Parklands Nursing Home in Woolstones.

John Howard Warden

4.5 St Mary’s Woughton on the Green

This has been another busy year, we have maintained our numbers, though we don’t see some of the members they are kept abreast of what is going on by the weekly pew sheet, we have seen some new faces and have remained strong as a church and community.

The District Church Council DCC has met 9 times during the year, we have had open discussions and planned ahead for activities and work that is required, meetings always start with prayer, and I am grateful to Di Miller for being our minute secretary.

David Bird, our Church warden, is well supported in his role by Jean Mattinsley and between them and the Baldwins, and all the other teams, gardeners, cleaners, and flower arrangers the Church and grounds are kept in good condition and problems dealt with as quickly as possible.

The report will give more detail, but these are the bullet points of it.

Worship and community

Practical Issues

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completed to restore it to a good function again, my thanks to the team of volunteers that manned the church whilst this work was being carried out.

Mission, Outreach, and Fundraising

My thanks to the DCC members that give their time to plan the work of the church. During the latter part of the year Norma and Brian Baldwin were both unwell and it was noticeable by the number of roles that we had to cover, my thanks to them for all they do and I would hope that we can lighten their load by streamlining some of their tasks and others volunteering to assist them.

My grateful thanks to Rev Paul Norris for his continued ministry to us all and for the whole congregation for their regular membership and support during what has been a busy year again.

Kim Weston DCC Chair

4.6 St Thomas’ Church Annual Report 2023

My thanks to Reverand Nicola for her leadership and friendship during the past year, to Ruth, our secretary who continues to provide us with an interesting weekly Newsletter, guidance and support at our DCC meetings. My thanks to our friendly Church family which has grown a little during the past year. Our Church services are well attended.

The short illness and death of Jean Gillman , wife of our organist Alan, was a shock to us all. She is greatly missed by our Church family. Her funeral was in November and her ashes will be interred in our churchyard soon.

Thanks to Rev Paul Le Sueur who continues to provide us with interesting sermons and prayers each month. Rev Paul and Jill have donated Paul’s beautifully engraved work desk to St Thomas’ Church.

To Linda Kirk and Lynn Castle for their support in our leading worship.

Thanks to Mike and Matthew Lucas for playing music twice a month for our services, Jean Mattinsley for playing when she can and Peter Thomas who is now able to provide music for

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our services via his phone through our music system when needed.

Music enhances worship and we are lucky to have Hilary who is leading St Thomas choir. Structural building problems in the Chancel Mike Lucas advises on matters of finance. Working through “listed places of worship” we have succeeded in claiming back all the VAT from the Investigative work to find the cause of the huge cracks in the chancel.

In July we invited the Trustees of Buckinghamshire Historic Churches Trust to hold their Trustee meeting in our Church. After tea they were shown the problems with cracks in the chancel. Bishop Alan Wilson said he would discuss the severity of the problem with Archdeacon Guy.

Archdeacon Guy visited St Thomas Church on 27[th] September 2023 , he too was sad to see the severe damage to the walls in the Chancel. He told us that he would arrange for the DAC to visit, we were not to spend any more money on the building. The Diocese of Oxford would be leading and advising the way forward. Copies of the costs and reports from all the investigative work were forwarded to the Archdeacon in September 2023 and January 2024. We have enjoyed lots of fun , fundraising, bring and share events, not only for our Church funds but also for other charities. Thank you, Pat, for arranging these events. Members of the local Salvation Army have joined us for worship, concerts, teas and fundraising. Rev Nicola continues to lead the monthly hymn singing at the local Day Centre . This is enjoyed by the members of the Day Centre, their staff and our little group. A new fun service on 7[th] October. We held a “ Dog and Collar” service . Dogs of various sizes attended with their masters, all well behaved. The dogs had doggie treats and the adult’s tea and cake.

St. Thomas’ Church Carol service was a great success. The Church was set up coffee shop style, followed by tea and mince pies.

The children from Charles Warren Academy held a wonderful Christmas concert in the Church. This was very well attended by parents.

Iola Samuels Church Warden 26/02/2024

4.7 Trinity Church, Fishermead

  1. Like most Churches, Trinity has experienced something of a continuing journey into ‘normality’ after the pressures and challenges of the Covid pandemic. It would seem that a small number of our pre-Covid congregation have ‘moved on’, but others have joined our worshipping community.

  2. This year we would highlight the life of the Church under the following two main headings: -

Worship:

  1. Our 2 musicians are now accompanied by two vocalists for our Morning Services and our worship has, for some time now, regularly included a medley of Hymns/songs as the congregation gather and settle their hearts before the Service commences.

  2. Our Sunday morning Services are conducted by Rev Ian Herbert, Rev Hannah Akebo-Betts, and Rev Christopher Bell with their varied approaches to leading worship and different styles of preaching have been appreciated. Ian in particular has incorporated a Family Time during his services, and this has been successful in encouraging the congregation to form small groups and pray openly together. Our Church Secretary’s weekly email also encourages congregation involvement by suggesting prayer for particular individuals in our fellowship, for the occupants of streets within our ‘catchment area’ and for the ministry and mission of the Church.

  3. We are also encouraged that a member of the congregation is presently exploring a gifting of preaching and is receiving guidance and support.

  4. Although our monthly Worship, Study and Prayer Meeting has faltered because of the external pressures of life and ill health, a Compline service is held (through Zoom) on Wednesday, each week.

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Missional Activities:

  1. A Community Hub: The Church has desired to cooperate with others in the development of a Community Hub for Fishermead and surrounding areas and, over the past year (and in collaboration with the Trinity Centre Management Committee and Sofea) the Church has run a Food Larder on Monday mornings from 10am till 11:30am. The scheme functions through a small team of Church volunteers (plus one person from St. Mary’s, Woughton and one member of the local community) – its positive work, but it can involve challenges too! The aim is to support people to live more independently. To achieve this the Scheme utilises surplus food that would otherwise be designated for landfill. For a one-off fee of £10 and then £3.50 per week thereafter, members can obtain up to 10 food items plus free fruit and vegetables. It is clear that a number of those who attend have gained through making friendships and by having an awareness of the services provided by the various community agencies that regularly attended, such as – The Samaritans, Sugar Diabetes UK, Financial Advice services, Officers from Milton Keynes Council and Campbell Park Town Council, groups of Pre-school children. A retired member of the Christian organisation Parish Nursing Ministries UK also attends to provide an opportunity for Blood Pressure checks and signposting to other health advice services.

  2. From the outset, a Café operated by another small band of Christian volunteers (MGB - Making Good Better) has worked in conjunction with the Food Larder in order to provide free tea/coffee as well as very reasonably priced breakfasts. In a slightly separate, but associated way, the Centre is also used during the remainder of the week as a location for ‘Warm Spaces’ as follows: - Tuesday: (12.00-3.00 p.m.) MGB provide lunches.

  3. Wednesday: (4.30-6.30 p.m.) MGB provide breakfasts. The Grace Church provide an early evening meal.

  4. Thursday: (10.30 a.m.-12.30 p.m.) A local body entitled: ‘Action Speaks’ provide a lunch

Friday: (10.30a.m. -3.00 p.m.) : ‘Action Speaks’ provide a lunch.

  1. We can report that our order for a number of Laptops has now been received and within the near future we will, therefore, be able to open an Internet Café at the Centre. We hope that this will give new educational and experiential opportunities to local residents of all ages.

  2. It is also lovely to record that some of the members of the Food Larder have started to attend our Sunday Services.

  3. It is a reality that, in a relatively small congregation the day-to-day fellowship activities are generally conducted by an even smaller core group – we are blessed with a keen, active and effective group who frequently ‘go the additional mile(s)’. The congregation therefore record their grateful thanks not only to them, but to others who help ‘behind the scenes’ as their life’s circumstances permit. Just one example – a young man who is unable to attend Sunday worship because of work commitments, often interrupts his journey to work in order to help set out the worship area.

  4. It is also fair to state that the Church plays a substantial role within the Centre’s Management Committee and appreciation must go to the individuals involved. Overall, we sense that the efforts of the Church(es) and the Trinity Centre Management Committee have gained valuable experience in ‘hands-on’ missional work to their local community, lessons have undoubtedly been learnt and the various external sponsors, agencies and other observers, have recognised it as a very

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inclusive and successful project.

The Church, too, is pleased that there has been evidence of God’s wider blessings upon the community. Praise His Name.

Rev. C. M. Bell

(on behalf of Trinity Church, Fishermead) 4.8 Marriage in the Parish Please refer to Ministers Report 4.9 Baptism and Thanksgiving Naming and Blessings: Please Refer to Ministers Report 4.10 Bereavement Care: Please refer to Ministers Report 4.11 Adults, Babies and Children (ABC): ABC has been held in Christ the Vine for many years and is still welcoming families. We offer a range of activities for the group, arts, crafts, and a good selection of toys for babies and children. There are now 20 regular children (plus the adults) attending. We are committed to supporting and helping this community to grow. 4.12 The Netherfield Partnership Limited (NP Ltd): Nothing to report. 4.13 Website Report (2024 AGM) The website continues to be hosted on Church 123, and is maintained and updated by myself, with content being posted as and when it is received. Some initial issues regarding some of the Woughton email addresses were resolved and are now functioning correctly. There is also a link to woughton.net, giving access to the St. Mary’s Churchyard website. Tim May – Website Administrator 4.14 Safeguarding Report (2024 AGM) We continue to follow the Methodist Safeguarding Policy. The full version is available here: https://www.methodist.org.uk/safeguarding/policies-procedure-and-information/policies-andguidance/ A shorter version – which should be on the website and on the noticeboard of every local church – was being reviewed by the Trustees this time last year and is still stuck in that process. It should be reviewed annually, updated as necessary (in accordance with any changes made by the Methodist Conference) and reissued to each local church. The trustees have also had some conversations about bullying and the need for a code of conduct.

Rev. Nicola Vidamour has continued to cover the role of Safeguarding Lead in the absence of a lay volunteer. We urgently need to find a replacement for her.

Tim May and Nicola Vidamour are authorised to do DBS online applications and checked the documents of 13 people from WEP who renewed their DBS in 2023. These are valid for five years. Five people attended the Foundation Training run by the Methodist Circuit in 2023. One person did part of the online Advanced Training but found it too difficult and timeconsuming to complete. Training needs renewing every four years.

David Jones – the Methodist Circuit Safeguarding Lead – has continued to support us with both existing and new issues during the year and we are very grateful for his wisdom and experience. The Methodist Circuit holds a meeting for Safeguarding Leads once a quarter

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and these are a valuable forum for learning and sharing. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Revd Nicola Vidamour Interim Safeguarding Lead

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5. Financial Review:

5.1

Independent Examiner:

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Addr855= 3 Turners Mews Neath Hill, Milton Keynes MK14 6HH Settion Disclosure Only complete il the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern Isee CC32. Independent examination of charity a¢¢ounts.' directions and guidance for examiners). Give here details of any items that the examin8r wishes to disclose. IER October 2018 26

5.2 A statement of the principal financial policies including reserves:

1 Principal accounting policies

Trustees’ responsibility in relation to the financial statements

Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Reserves policy

Only the general fund meets the Charity Commission’s definition for reserves, resulting in reported reserves of £20,218 at 31 December 2023. This is half the figure the reserves policy would determine as prudent which is not less than three months’ of general fund expenditure (£40,303 based on 2023 expenditure). Sudden serious income shortfall is not seen as a major risk as the majority of the Partnership’s income is derived from a large number of donors as well as fees and premises lettings, none of which is individually significant. Although no single donor, on their own, is significant it should be noted there remains four Partnership couples who deliver over a fifth of total Partnership income.

1 Accounting policies

(a) Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102. In preparing the financial statements the Partnership follows best practice as set out in the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) “Accounting and Reporting by Charities” effective January 2015.

(b) Basis of consolidation

These financial statements consolidate the financial results of the various activities of Woughton Ecumenical Partnership on a line-by-line basis. Certain of these activities are not directly managed by the trustees but delegated to groups within the Partnership. These activities have been accounted for as branches and the financial results shown within separate designated funds.

(c) Incoming resources

Voluntary income is recognised when received. The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included.

Grants (including grants for the purchase of fixed assets) are recognised in full in the year in which they have been received. Each grant is disclosed within the category of income that is most appropriate to the activity it is intended to support.

Incoming resources from charitable activities is recognised when the activity giving rise to the income takes place.

Investment income is recognised on an accruals basis.

(d) Resources expended

Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of VAT which cannot be recovered.

Grants & donations payable are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which the Partnership decides they should be made. Accruals are made if the payment is not made until the following year. In all cases where such accruals have been made, either the details of the grant or donation have been communicated to the

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beneficiary before the end of the year or the payment is the result of a specific appeal.

(e) Fund accounting Charity law requires the net assets of the Partnership to be accounted for within a number of funds. The Partnership operates the following two types of funds.

Unrestricted general funds

These are funds that can be used in accordance with the Partnership’s charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees.

This is the fund through which the normal operating activities of the Partnership are recognised.

With the exception of the URC Manse and Ministry Fund these funds are not directly managed by the trustees but by groups delegated to run and oversee these activities on behalf of the Partnership and its trustees. These funds are shown in the Designated Fund column of the financial statements Adults, Babies and Children Group (ABC) have returned to operating at pre-pandemic levels. With the cessation of the Homeless Group the funds have been transferred to the Larder Group who are reaching out to a similar section of the community the Partnership serves.

These are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes or projects. Currently the Partnership has no major plans that might require designations. There remains a small balance of the plate giving that the CVCC membership elected to prioritise for local mission plans in 2022.

Restricted Funds

These are funds that can only be used for specific purposes within the Partnership’s objects. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for specific projects or purposes.

These expendable funds are operated by the local church councils but overseen by the trustees or (where required by Church of England rules and mostly relating to building matters) the Parochial Church Council. The income and expenditure of these funds are shown in the Restricted Fund column of the financial statements.

There are a number of funds currently in operation in the Partnership with most operated by the churches.

Christ the Vine currently have three ongoing funds.

Gift Day: Donations made specifically for local investment, mission and support to Christian charities. There were no spends against this fund during 2023.

Building Fund: gifts and donations were received throughout 2023 in order to build the fund needed to pay for building issues as they arise or are identified by the church council. Architect drawings and radiator repairs were the spends during the financial year.

Legacy: the church received a legacy from a former member for church purposes during 2022.

Flood Relief: Following flooding in Coffee Hall a fund was set up to support those who would not have the ability to pay for the repair and recovery work. This is operated by the WEP trustees in partnership with the local Parish Council. There was no need to call on the fund during the financial year.

St Mary’s There are four ongoing funds and these are as follows:

Audio: The Audio Visual equipment was now been delivered and installed during 2023.

Clock: a donation was originally made for the repair or replacement of the tower clock mechanism. The original donors agreed that the funds remaining, following the mechanism installation, could be retained and used at the discretion of the Church Council. The fund was not used during the financial year. Fabric: The cleaning of gutters & downpipes were carried out during 2023. The congregation

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continue to donate for the upkeep of the main church building, tower and churchyard.

Lawnmower: the church council elected that the funds raised from the sale of the old lawnmower would be retained for the purchase of a replacement.

St Thomas’ started a building fund in 2015 for the purposes of fabric and churchyard restoration. The funds have been generated through fundraising events, grant applications and donations. It was originally created to acquire a new noticeboard and repair the paths. The fund is being utilized to pay for continuing inspections in order to identify the source of the subsidence. The Diocese has offered financial support but the church continues to raise funds via quizzes, concerts, donations and grant applications.

A legacy received specifically for local St Thomas’ projects has not been used during 2023.

Trinity received a gift, in 2016, to be used for local activities. The use is to be determined by the Church Council. There were no items charged against the fund in 2023.

The Baptist Association grant is still to be used. It is still intended to proceed with the project for the young people of Fishermead.

• Endowments

These are permanent funds. The income and expenditure of these funds is shown in the Endowment Fund column of the financial statements.

The Partnership currently has six separate permanent funds managed by CCLA. The income generated from these investments are allocated to the appropriate District in the Partnership in accordance with the Trust documents.

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5.3 Banking and accounting arrangements:

The Partnership operates a number of bank accounts all managed centrally. The accounts used and their closing 2023 balances are:

CAF £6,715 ( this balance includes the presented but uncleared items at the end of 2023)

CAF Gold £49,770

Central Board of Finance £74,085

CCLA £23,740

All the Partnership transactions were processed through these accounts or the petty cash floats held and operated by St Mary’s, the Adults, Babies and Children Group and the Larder Group.

5.4 General Unrestricted Fund outturn and budget:

The Partnership ended 2023 with a General Fund deficit of £17,304. This is a £5.8k improvement on the outturn predicted in the budget. Although a budgeted large one-off gift did not come in the Partnership benefitted from a number of large non-recurrent gifts that could not have been predicted or relied upon when the budget computations were concluded. The utility contract renewals delivered lower tariffs than had been predicted and these as well as the non-recurrent gifts delivered a significant portion of the favourable movement.

The financial statements show the apportionment of ministry and overhead using the existing standing financial instruction. Although the outturn of one of the churches challenges the operation of the standing financial instruction it has been retained in the reporting in the absence of an approved alternative.

The 2024 General Fund Budget is close to completion but could not be concluded until the method of apportioning the ministry and central overheads has been identified and agreed. The management of a church unable to meet its local costs has also to be resolved.

5.5 A Report of Fund Raising Activity:

In normal years the principle methods of raising funds are:

5.6 Investment Policies and Performance:

To invest the unused Partnership funds in secure interest-bearing deposit accounts. To hold these and the Partnership investments in secure and ethical funds in accordance with the Trust Deeds.

5.7 Notes to the 2023 Accounts

Partnership Unrestricted General Funds:

Incoming Resources

The Financial statements, in the Annual Report, only disclose the total of all funds operated by the Partnership for the prior year. Space does not allow for the separate reporting of the 2022 Unrestricted General Funds so the movements reported below cannot be extracted directly from the Financial Statements included in the Annual Report. The 2022 Unrestricted General Fund figures can be found in last year’s Annual Report or on request from the Partnership Treasurer who can be contacted by email at treasurer@woughton.org.

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Tax Efficient Giving has risen by £62, collections qualifying for Small Donations have increased by £2,022. The combination of these movements has had a positive impact on the Gift Aid and Small Donations Scheme re-claims from HMRC rising by £445.

Other Donations fell by £1,277 compared to the prior year. Changes in personal circumstances or congregation sizes moved many of the donations out of this heading to tax efficient or small donations giving. Charity Voucher income increased in 2023. The significant CAF Donate donor increased the size and number of donations they made in 2023. Appeals for projects and charities increased from ten to nineteen events delivering a £4,775 improvement.

Services have returned to being continuous throughout the year so there was no change to the Chapmans Educational Foundation grant. There was a one-off coronation grant for St Thomas’ garden fund. There were no further applications to the Diocesan Tier-2 Funding for the digital deprivation project in the financial year. This delivered the £3,886 decline. ii. Charitable activities have seen a fall of £1,078 from the 2022 performance. The breakdown of this income stream can be seen in Note 2 of the Financial Statements. There were fewer Weddings in 2023 delivering a decrease of £2,323. Funeral fee income has also fallen slightly. The manse letting income continued but there was an increase in CVCC’s rental revenue delivering the bulk of the £1,491 favourable movement compared to 2022. iii. Other Trading Activity increased by £82. With the restrictions removed events and activities have returned to pre-pandemic levels. The outcome is an increase of £843 in Fundraising activities. The General Sales income reduced by £761 on the prior year. This is predominantly a change in the Church Hall insurance costs passed on under the revised arrangements. The breakdown of Other Trading Activity can be seen in Note 3. iv. Investments have increased by £1,013 compared to the previous year. The bank interest rates have increased incrementally over the 2023 period. Interest income from the permanent endowments is collected under the Endowments heading. Where the trust deeds stipulate the interest generated has been transferred to the General Fund and allocated to the church specified in each deed. This forms part of the ‘Transfers between funds figure’. v. Other Income is predominantly delivered from a number of sources that do not easily fit the other revenue categories. There were no transactions under this heading in 2023. Resources expended i. Raising Funds costs are £1,393 higher than 2022. The analysis of this expenditure can be seen in Note 5 of the Financial Statements. Fundraising Costs have increased by £864, compared to the prior year, due to the increased number of events; Advertising & Promotion expenditure included the Alpha Course expenses. ii. Charitable Activities have increased by £16,078 between years. There have been several significant adverse and favourable movements under this heading. The breakdown of the activities can be seen under Notes 6a to 6d. iii. Ministry and Related Staff Costs (Note 6 Sub Note (a)) have increased by £6,723 compared to 2022. The LEP Share and Clergy Expenses enjoyed no supporting offsets of cost in 2023. The complete removal of Covid-19 restrictions allowed ministers to fulfil a complete diary of commitments increasing the expenses claimed; the manse running costs were charged against designated funds. The safeguarding sessions were similar to 2022 only moving Training expenditure favourably by £50. iv. Employed Staff costs rose by £1,510 compared to the prior year. The Partnership follows the Living Wage Foundation announcements published in November each year. The cost of living crisis meant the rate rise announcements were significantly higher than in recent years. See Note 6 Sub Note (b). v. Premises and Other Resource Costs (Note 6 Sub Note (c)) increased by £10,893 from 2022. The most significant movements occurred on the following sub headings: Premises running costs rose by £6,146 compared to 2022. The energy crisis saw tariffs on Gas, Electric and Water all increase in 2023 delivering £6,002 of the adverse movement from 2022. There was only a small increase in the share of utilities at Woolstone compared to the prior year. Premises cleaning costs also rose slightly from the previous year.

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Maintenance is £801 higher than the prior year. Again there were a number of movements within the headline figures. There were the normal annual service visits but there was cedar reduction work, roof and toilet repairs at St Mary’s and lock and security camera replacement at CVCC in 2023.

Partnership Administration is up by £694 on the prior year. All Partnership telephone contracts increased in price during the financial year. Photocopy activity was up on the prior year. The purchase of document boxes added to the stationery costs for 2023.

Upkeep of Services/Centre Hire; as well as the normal licenses and service elements there was the hire of Holy Trinity for an Alpha course and purchase of hymn books at St Thomas’.

Insurance; rises in premiums delivered the £559 increase in insurance costs. Following the review of cover St Mary’s and the Church Hall premiums saw the greatest rise.

Equipment & New Building Works is £2,135 higher than the previous year. The purchases are non-recurrent in nature so it is difficult to draw any conclusions from the movement between years. Personal gifts allowed for the investment in a noticeboard at St Mary’s and audio equipment at St Thomas’ during 2023.

There were decreases on the remaining categories in Sub Note (c) but these are too small to comment on.

vi. Grants and donations payable (Note 6 Sub Note (d)) decreased by £3,048. The grants donated to good causes increased by £938 in 2023 when the significant Digital Deprivation grant, transferred to the Trinity Centre, is removed from the 2022 figures.

General Fund:

The General Fund performance, by District, can be seen in the first section of Note 10.

The 2023 budget was approved using Standing Financial Instruction 5 to distribute ministry and overheads to the churches. Four of the five churches were able to deliver the first contribution but none fully met the second portion of the contribution.

This has meant that all churches ended 2023 with deficits. Parish Central ended with a small surplus of £642. The year end position of the Church Hall is the result of the agreed charging arrangements.

The apportionment method adopted to distribute ministry and overheads across churches does not alter the overall Unrestricted General Fund outcome. The Partnership ended 2023 with a deficit of £17,304.

Partnership Groups and Designations:

The summary of Partnership Groups and Designations can be seen in the second section of Note 10 titled Designated funds.

ABC (Adults, Babies and Children Group) met throughout 2023. The outcome is a call on accumulated funds of £152.

For the period of a year Christ the Vine designated 25% of their regular Sunday plate offertory towards mission activities. In 2023 £701 was called from the fund for mission activities. The fund attracted interest whilst it was on deposit of £38.

The Homeless Group (the Soup Run); with the ceasing of the Homeless operations the trustees approved the transfer of the funds to the Larder, at their July meeting. The Larder is operated at Trinity church. A number of those formerly served by the Homeless Group attend the Larder. The Larder is a subscription scheme supervised by the SOFEA group who provide the banking facilities and the food. Some members, unable to join the Direct Debit scheme, pay cash. There are also supporters of the scheme paying regularly by standing order. The Larder team have purchased food and miscellaneous items during 2023.

Part of the income from letting the Manse has been set aside to meet the cost of the repairs and any remedial work that is identified. The fund was used to pay the insurance premium, the Quinquennial and fence repair during 2023.

There was no activity on the other designated funds except the accrued interest in 2023.

Partnership Restricted Funds:

CVCC Building: The fund was initially started by an assignment of regular Sunday offertory. The fund is no operated via a dedicated church box to collect the donations. The fund has been used to pay for architect drawings and radiator valve repairs.

32

St Mary’s Audio Visual: the installation of the audio visual equipment was completed in 2023.

St Mary’s Fabric continues to receive regular gifts from supporters and, where appropriate, this is supplemented by the Gift Aid re-claim. The fund also receives money from a dedicated church box. Most recently the fund has been used to pay for gutter clearing.

St Mary’s Lawnmower: the church has elected to retain the money received from the sale of the old lawnmower and use this to purchase a new one.

St Thomas' Building; the work on the Chancel subsidence is continuing with further architect and surveyor site visits. The Diocese has offered assistance with the cost of the survey and inspection work. The church continues to seek avenues to meet the financial exposure that the subsidence has visited upon them with personal gifts, fundraising events and grant applications.

Apart from the accrued interest there was no activity on the other restricted funds with retained balances during 2023.

Investments:

CCLA Investment Management Limited, who administer the permanent trust funds the Partnership holds, appointed FNZ TA Services Limited (FNZ) in July 2023 to act as its transfer agent. The funds have been assigned new client and account numbers. They are as follows:

The Woughton-on-the-Green Church House: 901526 CCLA Investment Management Limited (was 127001608S). The annual income from investments is used for Woughton Parish charitable purposes.

The Woughton-on-the-Green Church – Levi Trust: 910581 CCLA Investment Management Limited (was 127001566S) is a fund applied in or towards an organist and tuning and minor repairs to the organ at St. Mary's Church, Woughton-on-the-Green.

Little Woolstones Church Hall (sold in 1984): 892591 CCLA Investment Management Limited (was 127002702S). The dividends are passed back to the Holy Trinity DCC to be used by the local church. Simpson Church Hall (sold in 1973): 915131 CCLA Investment Management Limited (was 127002582S). The dividends are passed back to St Thomas’ DCC to be used by the local church.

The Woughton-on-the-Green Church Trust: 913391 CCLA Investment Management Limited (was 127002774S) is a fund received in respect of a Deed of Variation in 1992. The annual income from investments is to be used for the repair and upkeep of the fabric of St. Mary's Church, Woughton-onthe-Green.

Woughton-on-the-Green Church Trust: 906017 CCLA Investment Management Limited (was COIF - 546050001T). The dividends are passed back to the DCC of St. Mary's Church, Woughton-on-theGreen.

33

Woughton Ecumenlcal Partnershlp Financlal $t8tements to the month ended 31 December 2023 Statement L)f Fln¥n¢lal A¢tlvltle$ 2023 Unrestricted funds 2023 Designated funds 2023 Restiicted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Endowtnents fund5 2022 2023 Income and endowments from: Donation5 and le8acies 114,745 20,898 4,724 1,470 12,723 5,544 857 16,481 355 143,949 26,797 6,219 9.861 1.278 128,851 27,747 7,524 6,395 3,536 Othertradin8 activities Investment Income 638 1,040 2,258 1,278 s,og3 Other Total 141,837 20,164 21,010 5,093 188,104 174,053 EMpqnditur* on.. 13,2061 I158,(￿7) 17741 14,1301 1180,9051 13,0791 1159,5601 118,1721 Total 1161,2131 14,5901 118,5221 1185,0351 1162,6391 Net 8ainsll1055e51 on investments 15,967 15,967 Not in¢om•llexpenditurel Transfer5 betsveen funds 119,3761 2,072 15,574 488 20,350 19,036 111,2581 Net movement in fvnds 117,3041 15,574 1488 18,278 19,036 111,2581 Reconciliation of funds.. Total funds brought forward 37,522 30,891 57,024 203,254 328,691 339,949 Total hjnds carried forward 20,218 46,465 59,512 221,532 347,727 328,691 Belance Sheet 2023 De518nated Restricted funds fund5 2023 2023 Unrestricted funds 2023 Total funds 2023 Endowments 2023 funds 2022 Fix•d ass•ts'. Investments 186,206 186,206 170,239 Total fixed a3￿ts 186,2 186,206 170,239 Current o5sets'. Debtor5 Cash at bank ond in hand 5,671 16,011 2,504 43,961 203 8,378 154.607 5,457 154,599 59,309 35,326 Total ¢urrent assets 21.682 46.465 59.512 35.326 162.985 160.056 Creditor5.- Amounts falling due within trne year 11,4641 11,4641 Net ¢urrent assets or Ilabllftle$ 20.218 46.465 59,512 35.326 161,521 158,45Z Total a#sots l•ss curr•nt Ilabl1￿[@S Net￿￿et or Ilpbllltle$ ex¢ludltyg pen$lon usset¢x 11oblllty 20.218 46,465 59,5JZ 221.532 347.727 328.691 20,218 46,465 59,512 221,532 347,727 328,691 20.218 46.465 59.512 221.532 347,727 328,691 Th4 lunds of th• charity.. Unrestricted funds lob 20,218 46,465 66.681 68,411 Restricted income funds Endowment funds li 59,512 59,512 ZZJ,532 57,024 203,254 12 221,532 Total ynr•$trl¢t•d fund$ 20.218 46,465 66,683 68.413 Total charityfunds 20,218 46,465 59.512 221,532 347,727 328,691 04

Notes Unrestricted funds 2023 Designated furbds 2023 Totsl funds 2023 funds 2023 Endowments 2023 fuDd5 2022 Note I: Donations and legacies Tax Efficient Giving Small Donations 63,555 14,576 19,676 8,721 7,867 350 lo,(￿] 7,018 1,839 2,232 80.634 16,415 24,425 8.966 11,719 1,790 67,743 15,624 20,944 11,063 8,141 5,236 Gift Aid and Small Donation Rtrclaim Other Donations Appeals Grants 2,517 45 loo 3,752 1,440 Total Donations and l•ga¢ies 114.745 12.723 16,481 143.949 128,851 Note 2,. Charitable artivities Funeral Fees Wedding Fees 6,728 2,574 11,596 6,788 2,634 17,375 6,974 4,897 15,876 5,544 235 Total char￿able irtlvltles 10,898 5,544 355 26,797 27,747 Nott 3: Othertrading artivitles Furbdrai5ing 3,787 638 4.425 5,602 224 857 857 General Sales 937 937 1,698 Totsl Other tradin¥ acti¥itie$ 4,724 857 638 6.219 7,524 Note 4.. Investment Income Bank Interesi Investment Income from Endowment5 1,470 I,￿0 1,258 4,763 1,329 5,093 5,093 5,066 Total InvestmÈnt lrtcome 1,470 1,040 Z,258 5,093 9,861 6,395 Note 5: Ralslng funds Furbdrai5in8 Costs Advertlsin8 & Protnotion Grant Application & Professional Costs 2,677 529 116 150 2.94$ 1,086 ioi 2,517 562 557 ioi Total Raising funds 3,206 774 150 4,130 3,079 Note 6: Charitable artivities lal Ministry and R•lat•d Staff Costs Mission Partnership LEP Share Clergy Expen5e5 Manse Running Expenses 91,439 5,596 91,439 5,596 1,400 700 85,098 4,648 516 1,400 700 1,004 97,735 1,400 99,135 91,266 Ibl Employed Staff Average number of parttime staff 2023 2022 Salaries & wa8e5 Employer C05ts 15,874 14,364 15,874 14,364 35

Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted fund5 Total funds Endowments funds 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2022 [¢1 Premi$es and other re$our¢e ¢o$ts Premises running costs Maintenanie Parish Adtnini5tration Upkeep of Service5lcentre Hire Insurance 13,425 5,051 5,591 3,9 8,263 3,348 242 13,425 5,543 14,075 4,047 8,825 13.855 838 8,784 8,086 14,290 3,173 7,704 2,566 817 492 1,069 147 7,415 562 Equipment & New Building Wor Junior Church, ABC & Youth Pastoral CarelHomeless 42 10,465 596 116 710 826 I,￿0 a9,936 2,416 18,372 710 61,434 46,420 Idl Grants and donations payable All We Can British Heart Foundation 399 248 Bucks Historic Churches Trust Bucks Vision MK Cancer Research Children's Societv 395 395 627 627 506 200 20 278 200 20 278 Community Voices Water Eaton Dyfi Osprey Project Freedotn from Torture Healing Hands Nettvork Macmillanlm Mahon) MK Bridgebuilder Trust MK Prison Fellowship MNDA National Animal WelfareTrust Salvation Army 483 416 347 488 488 310 32 254 254 48 129 440 342 440 342 296 296 92 510 510 Tear Fund The Mount Coffee aub Travis Cat Rescue Trinity Cerbtre- Internet Cale Water Aid Donatio Zimbabwe Hou5in8 Project 50 50 41 458 462 462 3,986 15 loo loo 4,462 4,462 7,510 Total Charftable actlvltles 158,007 3,816 18,372 710 180,905 159,560 Note 7.. Investments Value Decernber Value Decernber Movernent in Valuatitrn Share Holdin8S Quantity 2022 2023 WotG Church House19015261 WotG Levi Trust19105811 Little Woolstones Church Hall18925911 Simpson Church Nall19151311 WotG Church Trust19133911 WotG Church Trust ICOIFI19060171 4,889 818 1,038 218 101,014 16,901 21,447 4,504 3,740 22,633 9,504 1,590 2,018 424 110,518 18,491 23,465 4,928 4,091 24,713 181 351 1,245 2,080 Total Investment5 8,389 170,239 15,967 186,206 36

Unrestricted fund5 2023 Desi8Thated funds 2023 Restricted fund5 2023 Total funds 2023 Endowments fund5 2022 2023 Note 8: Debtors Gift Aid tax recoverable Sm311 Donations recoverable Amounts fallin8 due within one year 4,462 I,IM9 160 188 7,154 1.064 160 4,057 I,N6 354 15 5,671 2,504 203 8,378 5,457 Note 9: Creditors Amount5 falling due within one year Other Creditors IWeddin8$1 48 1.464 1,464 1.555 1,464 1,464 1,604 Note loa.. Unrestrltted funds Balance at Balance at Net Isi lan 2023 Intome Expenditure Transfers 31st Dec 2023 Movement Undesignated fund WEP General Christ rhe Vine Holy Trinity St Mary'5 St Mary'g Church Hall St Thomas Trinity Church Fishermead Parlsh G•n•ral Funds 23,824 3,759 11,1071 12,9901 13681 3,267 11,137 37,52Z 12,505 9,899 1117,9191 111,6461 11,8641 112,7601 106,056 15,5061 13,7291 151,1231 24,466 13.4941 11,6961 110.6271 11.0851 1,631 11.023 20,218 642 15891 17,6371 56,246 937 29,922 27,324 141,837 113,0221 12.3481 1161,1131 118,5361 125.CV301 2,072 11,6361 117,5041 Note lob.. Unrestricted funds Desl8n8ted funds Ad￿1[9, Babies and Children Group Benevolent Fund CVCC Mission Homeless Group Larder Group Ministry Fund URC Manse 1,288 79 964 444 15961 1,136 82 301 38 17011 16631 15,1411 5,747 12,500 2,905 5,141 45 15,186 5,186 827 12661 5,747 14,263 12,804 2,21 6.567 3,361 1,763 9,899 2,204 6,319 3,234 12,500 5,932 13,0271 WEP Property Woolstone Chancel Trust Youth Fund 248 248 127 127 Parish DesiEnated Funds 30.891 20.164 14,5901 46.465 15.574 Total Unrestricted funds 68,413 162,001 1165,8031 2,072 66,683 11,7301 Note 11: Restrlcted lund$ 2,475 883 5,062 1,246 7,369 2,513 31,671 7,186 35 198 11,7821 7,879 918 5,260 1,295 73 5,404 35 198 Christ rhe Vine.- Gift Day Christ the Vine.. Legacv Comee Hall.. Flood Relief St Mary'g.. AV St Mary's.. aock St Mary's.. Fabric St Mary's.. Lawnmower StThomas': Building St Thom2g': Legacy Trinity Church.. Projects Trinity Church.- Restricted 49 49 17.2961 99 4,829 250 11,3301 200 40 2,865 99 110,1611 2,612 36,5W 250 11801 250 5,069 16.3991 11.8851 5,293 1,058 259 5,093 1,018 249 40 io io 57,024 21,010 59,512 2,488 37

Note 12: Endowment Dividends Balance at 1st lan 2023 Dividends Received Dividends Balance at Net Distributed 31st Dec 2023 Movement Expenditure Woughton-on-the-Green IWotGI Church House19015261 WotG Levi Trust19105811 Litde Woo15tones Church Hall18925911 Simpson Church Hall ¢9151311 WotG Church TIu5t19133911 WotG Church Trust ICOIFI19ffi0171 Dividend Income retained 33,015 3,021 17101 35,326 2,311 505 15051 16411 641 135 112 679 33,015 5,093 17101 12,0721 35,326 2,311 Investment Capital Value Movement in Valuation 170,239 15,967 186,206 15,967 203,254 21,060 12,0721 221,532 18,278 The Trust Funds have been assigned to new managers. This does not change the performanie or purpose ol the lund5. The funds will continue to be distributed in line ivith the terms ol the trust documents So there will be no chènge in the way the Pèrtnership can use the dividends. The newfund rnanager5 have allocated new fund numbers which have been appended to each investment above. The Wou8hton-on-the-Green Church House annual income from investments is used lor the general activities ol the Woughton Parish The Wou8hton-on-the-Green Church- Levi Trust is a fund applied in ortowards an organist and tuning and minor repairs to the organ at St. Maiy's Chuiih, Woughton-on-the-Gieen. The Dividends Received from tittle Woolgtones Church Hall and Simpgon Church Hall investments are passed back to the respertive DCQ to be used by the local churches. The purpose ol the reTllaining Woughton-on-the-Green Chuith Trust5 IS the repair and upkeep of the fabric ol St. Mary's Church, Woughton- on-the-Green. 38

2023 Statement of cash flow5 Current Year Total funds Prior year Total funds Cash flows from operating activities: Net cash provided by (used inl operating activitie5 Cash flows from Investlng actlvltles: Dividends, interest and rents from investments Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment Purchase of property. plant and equipment Proceeds from Sale of investments Purchase of investmei)ls Net cash provided by (used inj investing activities 19,8531 3.607 9,861 6,395 9,861 6,395 Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting perlod Change In cash and cash equlvalents due to exchange rate movements 10.002 154,599 144,597 Cash 17nd cosh equivalent5 at the end of the reporting perlod 154,607 154,599 2023 Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities Current Year Prior Year Net income/(expenditureJfor the reporting period fas per the statement offinancial activities) Adlustments for: Depreciation charges IGainsl/losses on investments Dividends. interest and rents from investments Loss/lprofitl on the sale of fixed assets Ilncre35el/decrease in stocks Ilncreaseljdecrease in debtors Increase/ldecreasel in creditors Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 19.036 111.2581 115,9671 19,8611 22.672 16,3951 12,9211 11401 (9,8531 1.248 12,6601 3,607 2023 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents Current Year Prlor Year Cash in hand at close of year Notice deposits Ilesg than 3 months) Overdraft facility rep2yable on demand Cash und cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period 154.607 154,599 154,607 154,599 39

Appendix 1

WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2024 (2023 numbers shaded)

WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2023 (2022 numbers shaded)

WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2023 (2022 numbers shaded) WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2023 (2022 numbers shaded) WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2023 (2022 numbers shaded) WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2023 (2022 numbers shaded) WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2023 (2022 numbers shaded) WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2023 (2022 numbers shaded) WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2023 (2022 numbers shaded) WEP ADULT MEMBERSHIP ROLL 2023 (2022 numbers shaded)
Church Anglican Baptist Methodist URC Ecumenical Other Totals
Christ the Vine 9 2 4 2 5 6 28
10 2 5 3 7 10 37
St Thomas' 26 0 2 1 3 0 32
21 1 3 1 6 2 34
St Mary's 47 2 3 4 0 12 68
48 2 4 4 0 12 70
Trinity 7 5 5 0 2 13 32
6 5 5 0 3 16 35
Woolstone 6 3 0 0 0 1 10
10 2 0 0 0 1 13
Totals for 2024 95 12 14 7 10 32 170
Totals By Year Anglican Baptist Methodist URC Ecumenical Other WEP
Total
2024 95 12 14 7 10 32 170
2023 95 12 17 8 16 41 189
2022 98 13 21 10 18 43 203
2021 100 13 21 10 18 41 203
2020 99 14 25 6 26 42 211
2019 99 13 20 7 30 47 216
2018 91 15 15? 5 30 39 194
2017 85 14 18 5 28 31 181
2016 86 20 19 7 29 28 189
2015 99 19 20 7 26 31 202
2014 92 16 25 5 27 28 193
2013 91 15 29 2 24 33 194
2012 99 14 25 3 27 32 200

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Appendix 2

Appointments at Partnership Level 2023-24

Trustees of Woughton Ecumenical Partnership

and Woughton PCC Members 2023-24

Representing WEP Trustee WEP + PCC PCC Member
Christ the Vine
Community Church		 David Hart
Woolstone Church John Howard
St Mary’s Church Geoffrey Miller Di Miller
St Thomas’ Church Lynn Castle
Iola Samuels
Trinity Church Marilyn Mahon Don Mahon
Team ex officio, other
ex officio,
co-opted		 Revd. Paul Norris
Revd. Ian Herbert
Revd. Nicola Vidamour
Revd. Charmaine Howard		 David Bird

Deanery Synod Representative Di Miller, Kim Weston

Church Wardens

Christ the Vine Community Church

Woolstone Church

John Howard St Thomas’ Church Iola Samuels St Mary’s Church David Bird

Methodist Circuit

Lynn Castle; Marilyn Mahon

Netherfield Partnership corporate member Ian Herbert Trustee of Trinity Centre Don Mahon

41