Pennington Church
Inspirin
lovefor everyone
Annua_l Re
Accounts 2022
11
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St Mark's Church Pennington
## **TABLE OF CONTENTS**
## **Contents**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
|**Administrative Information**|**3**|
|**PCC and required reports**||
|Achievements and Performance|4|
|Aim and Purposes – Inspiring Love for Everyone|9|
|Structure, Governance and Management|9|
|Electoral Roll|10|
|**Worship and Prayer**|**11**|
|Live Streaming|11|
|Morning Prayer|11|
|Music at St Mark’s|11|
|**Safeguarding**|**12**|
|**Finances**||
|Reserves Policy|13|
|Finance Review|13|
|**Buildings**|**15**|
|**Community Hall**|**15**|
|**Update on Activities, Events and Groups**||
|Schools|16|
|Friendship Tea|16|
|Coffee after Church|16|
|Coffee Morning|17|
|Online Bible Study Group|17|
|Strictly Come Crafting|17|
|Eco Church|17|
|Book Stall|18|
|**Pennington Community Events**||
|Summer Fayre|18|
|Christians Together Lymington and Pennington (CTLP)|18|
|Pastoral|19|
|FareShare Larder|19|
|St Mark’s Draw Club|20|
|Online Outreach|20|
|Website|20|
|YouTube|21|
|Facebook|21|
|Online Branding|21|
|Deanery Synod|22|
|Churchyard|23|
|Generosity|24|
## **St Mark’s Church, Pennington**
## **Financial Statements 2022**
|**St Mark’s Church, Pennington**
**Financial Statements 2022**||
|---|---|
|Independent Examiners Report|26|
|Receipts and Payments|27|
|Statement of Assets and Liabilities|28|
|Notes to the Accounts|29|
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## **ST MARK'S CHURCH, PENNINGTON**
## **Administrative Information**
St Mark’s Church, Ramley Road, Pennington, SO41 8GQ
We are part of the Diocese of Winchester within the Church of England. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2011).
The PCC is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. Registered Charity number 1173998.
PCC members who have served at any time from 1st January 2022 until the date this report was approved are:
Priest in Charge The Revd Rachel Noel (until 1[st] October 2022) In Vacancy (from 2[nd] October 2022) Churchwardens Teresa Nivison Eveline Jolly Honorary Officers Rebecca Rickaby (Hon Secretary) Teresa Nivison (Hon Treasurer) Deanery Synod Rebecca Rickaby (from 18[th] July 2022) Shirley Saunders (from 18[th] July 2022) Elected Members Pamela Ansell (until 10[th] February 2023) Ingrid Bolhoven
Dorothy Davies (from 18[th] Sep 2022) Sharon Lloyd (from 18[th] Sep 2022) Jane Nicholson
Rebecca Rickaby (from 22nd May 2022 to 18[th] July 2022)
Shirley Saunders (until 18[th] July 2022)
Paul Young (until 22[nd] May 2022)
Co-Opted Members Paul Young (from 13th June 2022)
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## **PCC and required reports**
## **Achievements and Performance**
During 2022 we continued working together with our friends, St Thomas in Lymington with joint daily prayers every morning. Wednesday Coffee has now been firmly re-established in St Mark’s room.
We continue to stream our regular services on a Sunday and can offer this for weddings, baptisms and funerals upon request.
This year we are happy to report that the PCC voted unanimously to support Jane Nicholson on her journey and training towards becoming a Licenced Lay Minister (LLM). This training will be over 3 years and we wish Jane all the best and look forward to hearing how the training is going.
In 2022 we continued to be back in church with both our 8am and 10am services well attended, whilst also being lived streamed through our YouTube channel. Our thanks go to our amazing Church Wardens Eve and Teresa who have worked tirelessly and continue to do so to ensure that people feel safe. To that end we have continued with intincting the sacrament. Shortly after her long recovery from COVID Pneumonia and subsequent complications Rachel Noel applied and was accepted as Priest in Charge at St James’ in Pokesdown. She had not taken the decision lightly but in view of the age of her daughter and the upheaval it would all entail Rachel felt that this was the best decision for her family at this time. Rachel has certainly put her mark on St Mark’s and as a parting gift donated her painting of the Lord’s Prayer which is now proudly displayed to the side of the main altar.
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Her last service was followed by an afternoon tea held on 21[st] August and was well attended and we had beautiful weather so we were able to have tables outside in the churchyard for the afternoon.
The challenges we have faced over the past 2 years have not gone away but have evolved. With yet another period of Interregnum facing us we have been exceptionally lucky to have the support of Francis and Tina Cumberlege who have taken a large number of our services since October supported by other local clergy when they were unavailable. We are equally grateful to Paul and Jane for their regular leading of Morning Praise /non-communion services in the building. We would like to offer our sincere thanks for all the time and effort that everyone has put into supporting St Mark’s. It has been enlightening to have so much different input from different ministers which has hopefully led to a deeper understanding of our faith on an individual level.
Financial challenges continue to increase for many in the community. This can be seen by the augmented numbers using the FareShare Larder in St Mark’s Community Hall carpark on a Thursday where we continue to help families who are struggling.
Financial challenges also face St Mark’s. Due to the current economic situation sadly but understandably, people are having to cut back on their charitable giving. However, if it is at all possible, please can we make an appeal that if you can give regularly, please sign up to the church giving scheme. This makes it so much easier for us to budget for repairs – currently the roof needs some work doing on it, the organ has had to be repaired and our heating costs this winter have tripled. The reserves that we hold are limited so if anyone has any fundraising ideas please talk to any member of the PCC to see how we can bring them to fruition.
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We have had several community events this year, a successful Summer Fayre in August and Ingrid Bolhoven organised a fascinating talk on local birds in October which was well attended.
St Mark’s Community Hall remains much in demand with the space at the WI Hall having gone. Again, Eve and Teresa did a fantastic job with risk assessments, organising cleaning and managing bookings. Our own community events such as the Friendship Teas and Strictly Come Crafting remain well attended.
We are extremely grateful to Pennington WI who have agreed to fund a major part of the re-surfacing of the car park at the Hall. This is a major job and needed to be done for Health & Safety reasons and without their help it would have been a real struggle to raise the money. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank those who contributed to the repair of the bells and also the replacement of the churchyard gates.
We continue to stream our own services on our YouTube channel to continue to connect with those in the wider community unable to come into the building and our thanks go to Paul Young for his continued technical support with the equipment and his training of those to take over running the online streaming when he is not available.
Christmas was all too soon upon us after Rachel had been installed at St James in Pokesdown in October. We are grateful for all the planning and effort put in by Francis and Tina and Paul for making our services run smoothly. Leigh took members of the choir to sing at the Mason’s Christmas Dinner and we were also invited to sing at Elmer’s Court again for their guests which was greatly appreciated and came with a nice donation.
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Post Pandemic and post lock down we are still having to work things through a bit at a time. The PCC invited Bishop Debbie to come and meet with them and discuss the way forward in this time of Interregnum. It was a useful and reassuring discussion. Reassuring in that we were told that at this time there were certainly no plans to do away with the parish of St Mark’s, rather it was hoped that St Mark’s and St Thomas would eventually work together across parish boundaries to the benefit of both. This was the long-term plan which had been put to a joint meeting of both parishes earlier in the summer but she agreed that there was a lot of work to be done and the right people to be found to make this happen. In the interim, St Thomas have advertised and are about to interview prospective candidates in late April. In our discussion she agreed to investigate the possibility of a part time interim post on a house for duty basis.
We know that across our communities so many of us are still grieving in so many ways. Some still find it hard to live with so many uncertainties, and we are still having to work things out step by step as the world changes.
We have been fortunate to hold 5 Baptisms and 1 Confirmation this year and welcomed new members in to our church family. Sadly, also we have had to say goodbye to a few of our parish and our thoughts go out to their grieving families.
I am hoping this report is encouraging you about what has been achieved and what could be possible moving forward. We continue to work with St Thomas to create a greater sense of community. It is an exciting time going forward with many possibilities. However, there is much work to do.
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Thank you all for being a part of our church and our community. Thank you for your continued generosity. Our work, our ministry here is only possible through the continued generosity of so many, as we share financial support for the work here as well as our time, gifts, and resources to live out Jesus’ call to us in this place.
As we continue to look ahead, I feel so encouraged at the amazing people that God has brought together in Pennington – that’s you, as you read this! We are excited to hear what is on your heart, how the Spirit is prompting you, and what God is calling us to.
We look forward to working with you over the coming year, as together we face uncertainty but, knowing that God is always with us, that we can continue to connect.
**To love, to serve, to give to all in Jesus’ name**
Teresa Nivison Acting Chair PCC
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## **Aim and Purposes**
As St Mark's PCC, we have responsibility for the ecclesiastical parish of Pennington. To help us in our mission, we have responsibility for the grade 2 listed St Mark's Church building, for our churchyard and for St Mark's Community Hall.
The Parochial Church Council co-operates with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical.
## **Structure, governance, and management**
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. Members of the PCC are either ex-officio, elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church, or co-opted by the PCC during the year.
The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. The PCC have held many meetings since our last APCM in the May last year, with standing committee meeting in between times.
Upon the appointment of an interim priest, we will be looking for members from the community to make up several sub committees each dealing with a particular aspect of parish life, including worship, buildings, events and finance. These sub-committees, would all be responsible to the PCC and would report back to it regularly with minutes of their decisions being received by the full PCC and discussed as necessary.
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Anybody interested in driving our mission forward and stepping up to be part of these activities, please contact Rebecca Rickaby – PCC Secretary.
The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have due regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults).
## **Electoral Roll**
The number of people on this year’s Electoral Roll is 79
This number is broken down thus:
64 Residents
- 15 Non-Residents
Rebecca Rickaby
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## **Worship and Prayer**
## Our regular pattern of worship on Sundays is:
- 8am BCP Communion
- 10am 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday - Family
Communion
- 2[nd] and 4th Sunday - Morning Praise, informal family service
Thank you to everyone that is involved in so many ways in leading and creating our services and making them happen.
## **Live streaming**
Our live streaming continues and it is greatly appreciated by all those unable to attend the services. Those who are ill or in local care homes enjoy being able to continue being a part of our worship.
If you would like to help with our live streaming services - either meeting and greeting through YouTube as a friendly voice of St Mark's, or learning to drive the tech in church for a service, do let us know by contacting Paul Young in church to find out more!
Paul Young
## **Morning Prayer**
This is a joint initiative between St. Thomas’s church in Lymington and St. Mark’s Pennington. We meet at 9am on Monday to Friday on Zoom and on Saturdays at 9.30am in St Thomas’s in Lymington and follow the morning prayer from Daily Prayer. Our numbers vary but all are welcome to join us or put in prayer requests.
Jane Nicholson
## **Music at St Mark’s**
Despite only a small number of people in the choir, we have been able to learn some new hymns from the hymn book and perform them successfully
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during communion. Our singing group performs during almost every communion service throughout the year.
Members of the singing group also entertained The Masons, Belmore Residents and guests at Elmers Court Country Club at Christmas.
The Roland Keyboard continues to be an asset and is used to accompany the choir during communion as well as being taken out to the Masons and Elmers. It was invaluable when the blower on the organ burnt out and needed to be repaired. Tony Bellringer was instrumental in ensuring the organ was back up and running in record time.
Straight Banana and West Gallery have a new programme with which they have been entertaining other groups. They are hoping to perform at St Marks soon and are awaiting a date. Hopefully a date and a group of people willing to organise the event will happen in the near future.
Leigh Jerwood
## **Safeguarding**
The Diocese of Winchester Safeguarding Team continue to be a source of support. Eve Jolly has now been appointed as our safeguarding officer. We would like to take the opportunity to thank Jane Nicholson for initially setting it up before handing it over to Eve. We are very grateful for the people willing to serve our community in this way, and to help guide all of us to ensure we make our church and community as safe as possible for everyone.
We have completed our Safeguarding Audit to ensure that all those who need to have received training and DBS clearance to maintain our compliance with the Church of England regulations.
May we just ask everyone to be vigilant and report any incidences to Eve at . safeguarding@penningtonchurch.uk
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The Church of England is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our church community. It’s therefore important that parishes such as the parish of St Mark in Pennington give due focus to this important area. We are committed to following legislation, guidance - and recognized good practice. (See also https://www.stmarks - pennington.org.uk/safeguarding policy/ for further details)
Attention to Safeguarding Good Practice has continued this past year, 2022.
Eve Jolly
## **Reserves policy**
It is the policy of the PCC to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds (if possible), which equates to approximately six months’ unrestricted payments, to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. The balance at the year-end was sufficient to cover this. Any cash balances which are not required in the short-term are invested in the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund and a 1 Year Bond with Hampshire Trust Bank.
Teresa Nivison
## **Finance Review**
Total receipts for 2022 amounted to £70,246 compared to £76,739 for 2021. The church was closed for the first three months of 2021 but despite the church being open for the whole of 2022 receipts have fallen by £6,493.
Planned giving has decreased by over £3,000 from the previous year and is set to drop even further in 2023. Collections have also slightly decreased. We would ask those who don’t have a regular giving scheme with the church to please consider joining if you can, either our envelope scheme or the Parish Giving Scheme, as with vastly increased costs especially gas and electricity and declining income we are faced with increasing deficits in the coming years. Thank you to all those who do belong to one of our planned giving schemes and to those who are able to increase their giving in line with inflation at this difficult time. Donations totalled £2,956 for the year compared to £13,657 for 2021. We have received funds from Access to Work
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to cover the salary costs of our Vicar’s PA/Support Worker Jane who left St Mark’s employment in October following the departure of Rachel, our Vicar. Lymington and Pennington Town Council who gave us a grant of £2,500 in 2021 towards the cost of a hall administrator have agreed that this grant can now be used towards the cost of tarmacking the hall car park which hopefully can be done in the near future. The Community Hall is one of our success stories and is used by many different organisations, charities and individuals during the course of a year. Hall letting receipts totalled £10,572 in 2022 an increase of £5,607 over the previous year. We also received a £200 grant from New Forest District Council towards the hall costs. Income from Events was £1,807 and St Mark’s Draw Club income was £2,137 a decrease from 2021. Fee income also decreased over the previous year. The sale of equipment was the church printer which was returned due to a fault and a new printer was purchased in its place.
Total payments for 2022 were £75,158 compared to £64,960 for 2021 an increase of £10,198. The Diocesan Parish Contribution was £30,347 compared to £31,599 for 2021. Salaries for the year, excluding the hall caretaker, totalled £12,015 which included the salary paid to our Vicar’s PA/Support Worker who ceased work in October 2022. The salary of the Vicar’s PA has been totally covered by funds received from DWP Access to Work. Utility costs in 2022 increased substantially from 1st October and costs for 2022 were £2,024 compared to £1,338 for 2021. So far in 2023 we have already paid £1,186 for two month’s supply of gas. Repairs and Maintenance includes £720 for repair to the bells and Upkeep of Churchyard includes the cost of a Tree Condition Report amounting to £630. Training Expenses were £340 for a first aid course for church stewards and vergers and £350 towards the cost of Jane’s training as an LLM. Community Hall Expenses include £1,010 for a fire alarm system. The monies held by St Mark’s PCC on behalf of Pennington Community Events totalling £4,212 have now been transferred to Pennington Community Hub.
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The deficit for the year on unrestricted funds totalled £1,578 together with a deficit of £3,334 on restricted funds giving an overall deficit £4,912. The balance on restricted funds at 31st December 2022 amounted to £4,238. The balance on unrestricted funds at 31st December 2022 amounted to £71,206.
Looking at the Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31st December 2022 cash funds amounted to £75,444 as opposed to £80,356 at 31st December 2021. Other monetary assets amounted to £2,635 and liabilities at the yearend amounted to £5,712.
Teresa Nivison
## **Buildings**
The pointing works as highlighted in the 2019 quinquennial inspection have now been carried out. The bells have also been repaired during the year and the usual maintenance work has been done. We have some minor roofing works to be carried out as several slates have slipped and we are waiting for the roofing contractors to commence this work.
Teresa Nivison
## **Community Hall**
The hall bookings have increased significantly in 2022 with bookings from organisations, charities, and individuals. The hall car park continues to host the weekly FareShare Larder and a successful Pennington Community Hub is now running at the same time in the main hall where various
organisations offer advice and assistance to members of the community. The church is also running a monthly Friendship Tea led by Shirley and Pat and the Craft group was also restarted successfully this year by Dorothy and Shirley.
Teresa Nivison
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## **Update on Activities, Events and Groups**
## **Schools**
With Rachel being ill followed by the parish going into Interregnum, it has been difficult to keep the connection with schools going in a way we would have wished. Pennington Junior School used the church for their Harvest service and the Head Teacher and several pupils attended the service at the War Memorial for Remembrance where they laid a wreath.
## **Friendship Tea**
We have continued hosting Friendship Teas through the year. The idea is just to meet together again in a friendly, social atmosphere for tea, cake and chat along with a quiz, to maintain community and ease any anxiety. We meet in St. Mark's Community Hall on the first Tuesday afternoon of the month and it is proving to be well attended. There is no charge but any donations are always gratefully appreciated. Sincere thanks must go to our kitchen helpers and home bakers without whom we couldn't continue.
Pat Wright and Shirley Saunders
## **Coffee after Church**
Coffee continues after the 10am service on Sunday and is invariably well attended.
This is an opportunity for us to connect with each other and get to know each other better outside of the service. We are grateful to Linden who has undertaken the task of organising a coffee rota to avoid it all falling on one person’s shoulders. We are extremely grateful to her and her team.
If you would like to join the happy band of volunteers, do please let us know.
Rebecca Rickaby
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## **Coffee Morning**
On Wednesday mornings we hold coffee in St Mark’s room for those who would like to join us. It has been much appreciated by the community and many of our participants enjoy the opportunity of being able to meet in person on a weekly basis.
Eve Jolly
## **Online Bible Study Group**
Our study group continues to meet on a Monday from 10.30am to 11.30am study. We have completed study of several books based around the lives of Esther, Ruth, and Mary. We have also been following the book Failure during Lent which has been recommended by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
It is difficult to put into words what an impact this group has had as individuals have grown in different ways. However, for me it feels important to study scripture with others and pool our ideas to grow in our faith.
Jane Nicholson
## **Strictly Come Crafting**
For many years Dorothy Davies and Shirley Saunders have led Strictly Come Crafting, a crafting group that meets twice a month in the Community Hall. It is a welcome chance to chat and to reconnect and catch up whilst we knit, sew, and make cards. We are delighted to report that we have had a few new members join us. Should you wish to join, even if it is only to sit and chat, please contact either Dorothy or Shirley.
Eve Jolly
## **Ecochurch**
EcoChurch has continued collecting materials for recycling. We still aim to work towards our Silver EcoChurch award but currently this has been put on the back burner due to the Interregnum. It is our every intention to keep reviewing our work to develop this in St Mark’s.
Eve Jolly
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## **Book stall report**
From April 2022 to March 2023 I have organised 8 book and puzzle stalls in Lymington Market in aid of St Marks Church. Jigsaw puzzles have certainly increased in popularity this year and have helped to boost the money raised which has reached a total of £454. My sincere thanks go to Dorothy Davies, Pat Wright, Tony Bellringer, Shirley Saunders and Christine KellowWebb for their help and support.
Pam Ansell.
## **Pennington Community Events**
## **Summer Fayre**
Our annual Fayre took place in the Summer of 2022. It was a glorious day and very well attended. Our sincere thanks go to Erika and her brother who transported tables and chairs from St Mark’s Hall to the church so that all could bask in the lovely sunshine. It was a much needed event and everyone appreciated being able to catch up and meet and more importantly to connect as a community. As usual those who organised refreshments were very much appreciated and the whole morning was very successful and it was lovely to be outside again.
Rebecca Rickaby
## **CTLP - Christians Together Lymington and Pennington**
We are part of the wider group of churches in the Lymington area, and although currently we do not have a representative, we are being kept informed of events and decisions as they arise. Should anyone be interested in taking up the task of attending monthly meetings please let one of the church wardens or a member of the PCC know.
Jane Nicholson
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## **Pastoral**
It is to the church community’s credit that most pastoral support comes from looking out for each other and offering support where it is needed. St Mark’s has been approached by people outside the parish concerned about elderly relatives living independently but with little outside contact.
Rebecca Rickaby continues to reach out to those in need of regular visits and at the current time we have two people, over 100 years old who she visits on a weekly basis. If anyone feels a calling to help in pastoral work in the parish and perhaps set up a more formal committee with volunteers please speak to Rebecca.
Rebecca Rickaby
## **FareShare Larder**
The Food Larder continues to be based at St Mark’s Hall. Various external organisations including the Citizens Advice Bureau attend in St Mark’s Hall before the FareShare Larder set up. We provide tea/coffee and space for informal chats to connect people to any necessary services which might be available.
When we started in 2021we had 15 customers which has increased over the time up to 40. We have been operating in Pennington and this has resulted in other larders opening across the Forest. Due to the current economic climate, we see more people turning up and I must take the opportunity to say a huge thank you to our band of volunteers, including Pam Ansell, Janet Kemp and Eve Jolly who work so hard every week to continue this vital provision.
The scheme operates on a membership basis, run by FareShare. Customers pay a fee of £2.50 for a single person, £3.50 for a couple and £5 for a family. In return they receive an ambient box suitable for the size of the household and a box of whatever is available that week of fresh food.
This work has resulted in new members of our Church family as well as being a massive service to the community here in Pennington.
Eve Jolly
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## **St Mark’s Draw Club**
The Draw Club which has been going for many years is very popular with members of the community and helps raise funds to benefit the church. Our thanks go to all who take part and all those who delivered leaflets around the village.
John Nivison
## **Online Outreach**
The Covid-19 pandemic changed the way we worship and attend church services; With social distancing measures imposed between early 2020 to 2022, churches were forced to move their activities online - to continue providing spiritual guidance and support to their members. Although we are now back in our church building and able to worship together fully once more, the lessons learned through engaging more with online worship have allowed us to continue our outreach beyond the borders of our parish. The website, YouTube, and Facebook platforms have provided a means for the church to continue its spiritual guidance and support. The church's recent online branding update has created a more unified and consistent image, reinforcing its message and values. Overall, the church's online activities have been successful in reaching out to its members and creating a sense of community.
## **Website**
The church's website continues to be the primary source of information for members and visitors. The website hosts weekly news content, which is updated regularly, and offers access to the church's online streamed services. The church has taken proactive steps to ensure that safeguarding policies are up to date and clear for visitors. This is crucial to maintaining trust and ensuring that members feel safe when participating in online activities.
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## **YouTube**
The church has been streaming its 8am and 10am weekly Sunday services on YouTube, and the response has been positive. In the past twelve months, the church's YouTube channel has received over six thousand views, and it currently has 330 subscribers. However, we note that 61% of those who watch the videos are not subscribed. Therefore, we encourage viewers to subscribe to our channel – which will help to extend our reach through YouTube. Indeed, if we can reach 1,000 subscribers, we would be able to start monetising our online streaming, to bring in additional revenue to St Marks.
## **Facebook**
The church has an active Facebook page where they post local interest content as well as content from other Christian sources such as Winchester Diocese and the Church of England. This is an excellent way for the church to engage with its community and reach out to those who may not be regular attendees. The Facebook page also provides a platform for members to interact and share their thoughts and experiences.
## **Online Branding**
The church has recently updated its online branding, providing a consistent look and feel across Facebook, YouTube, and its weekly emailer. The online branding also helps to clarify the liturgical colour for the season and shares imagery that relates to the upcoming Sunday service topic. This consistent branding creates a unified image for the church and reinforces its message and values.
Paul Young
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## **Deanery Synod**
Shirley Saunders and Rebecca Rickaby – our 2 Deanery Synod reps – have attended both the Autumn 2022 and Spring 2023 Deanery Synod meetings. These have proved to be useful and diverse in discussion. Both meetings to date have had a focus around the renewal and reorganisation of churches within the Diocese. We were informed that with the departure of Bishop Tim from Winchester there is a change in culture and it would seem that there is due consideration being given to the future shape of the Diocese and local issues are being dealt with and listened to in a more caring way.
At the Autumn Synod we had a talk from Gary Philbrick, similar in many ways to the presentation he gave to the joint PCC meeting between St Mark’s and St Thomas’s to discuss the way forward for our parishes. The Rev. Ali Beal also gave a presentation on the rebuilding of the church and congregation at St Wins which showed what can be achieved with hard work and the right people in situ.
Lyndhurst Deanery is represented on the Diocesan World Mission Forum which actively tries to encourage overseas mission links and facilitate interaction between different deaneries with a specific focus on Rwanda. At the Spring Synod we were updated with a visit that took place in February to renew contacts and interact with the Rwandan church.
We also had a presentation from Claire Lingard from Envoy – a Church Army Programme to resource and encourage us to share our faith. Greg Eland, Diocese of Winchester Mission and Ministry Trainer talked about Lay support and training in the Diocese of Winchester. Both talks were full of energy, inspiration, and hope. We also broke into small groups to discuss inclusion within our churches and to judge the support for same sex marriages which is ongoing within the Church of England itself. The Area Dean will report back from the Diocesan Synod where he will ask questions raised through these groups at the next meeting in June.
Rebecca Rickaby
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## : **Churchyard**
We continue with a small resolute team of volunteers one morning a month and we are very grateful for all their hard work. The Community Payback Team under the supervision of the Probation Service, have now returned to work in the church about once or twice a month depending on their other duties. The churchyard herbage has now been cut, ditches cleared and general maintenance carried out.
It is necessary for a full tree survey be carried out on the churchyard trees periodically. This was carried out by Westbeams Tree Care Ltd in 2022 and they are now in the process of providing us with a works schedule to ensure all trees are safe. Once this schedule has been received we will then obtain the necessary approval from the DAC for all work to be undertaken.
Hampshire County Council Highways wrote to us saying we were responsible for clearing the ditches on the Ramley Road side adjoining our churchyard hedge, with which we have complied with thanks to the Payback Team, and we have requested HCC that with their heavy machinery they could clear the culverts when next in the area.
To enable us to comply with the Winchester Diocese Churchyard Regulations we will be clearing in the near future unauthorised items from graves as mentioned in letters to the owners of such graves. Those removed will be marked in sacks and left by the shed for collection. Any items not collected will be disposed of after a reasonable time.
On a lighter note, the Spring flowers are now showing and bring much joy and cheerfulness on these cold days. We hope you find the churchyard in good order.
Ingrid Bolhoven
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## : **Generosity**
We thank you for your continued generosity for the work of our church here. Our churchwarden and treasurer, Teresa Nivison, currently leads this work mostly on her own, ably supported by her husband John. If you are not a member of our church giving scheme please consider this as a way to financially support our mission within the community and speak to Teresa. If you are gifted in organising fund raising events please also let Teresa or Eve know.
If you’re interested in any of these areas, or if there’s something else on your heart, that you would love to make happen here in Pennington, please do talk to any of our Standing Committee:
Teresa Nivison, Eve Jolly, Paul Young, Rebecca Rickaby.
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## **ST MARK'S CHURCH, PENNINGTON**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2022**
25
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St Mark's Parochial Church Council, Pennington**
This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31st December 2022, which are set out on pages 27 - 32, is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 ('the Regulations') and s.145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
## **Respective responsibilities of the trustees and the examiner**
As trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. The trustees consider that the audit requirement of the Regulations and s.144(2) of the Act does not apply. It is
my responsibility to:
Examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act);
To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act;
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention; and
issue this report on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations .
## **Basis of this report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under s.145(5)(b) of the Act and to be found in the Church guidance, 2006 edition. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the financial statements.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
to prepare financial statements, which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the 2011 Act and Regulations have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
**Mr P. G. Edwards, F.C.A.**
Hope Jones Suite 114, Lymington Town Hall Lymington Hampshire
24th April 2023
26
## **Receipts and Payments**
|Note
**RECEIPTS**
**Voluntary Receipts -**
Other Voluntary Receipts
4a
**Activities for Generating Funds**
4b
**Receipts from Church Activities**
4c
**Investment Income**
4d
**Other Receipts**
4e
**TOTAL RECEIPTS**
**PAYMENTS**
**Church Activities -**
Diocesan Parish Contribution
Clergy and Staffing Costs
4f
Church Running Expenses
4g
Community Hall Running Expenses
6
Mission Giving and Donations
4h
4i
**TOTAL PAYMENTS**
**(Deficit)/Surplus of Receipts over Payments**
Bank Current and Deposit Accounts and Cash at 1st January
Bank Current and Deposit Accounts and Cash at 31st December
Planned Giving
Collections and Other Giving
Gift Aid Recovered
**Costs of Generating Funds**|Unrestricted
Funds
£
22,987
3,328
6,516
2,736
35,567
3,992
17,206
500
-
57,265
30,347
2,594
15,378
8,885
424
57,628
1,215
58,843
(1,578)
72,784
71,206|Restricted
Funds
£
1,200
-
300
11,092
12,592
-
-
39
350
12,981
-
9,797
1,525
523
4,470
16,315
-
16,315
(3,334)
7,572
4,238|Total
2022
£
24,187
3,328
6,816
13,828
48,159
3,992
17,206
539
350
70,246
30,347
12,391
16,903
9,408
4,894
73,943
1,215
75,158
(4,912)
80,356
75,444|Total
2021
£
27,471
3,463
6,493
22,861|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||60,288
3,770
12,226
455
-|
|||||76,739|
|||||31,599
9,010
15,334
6,098
374|
|||||62,415
2,545|
|||||64,960|
|||||11,779
68,577|
|||||80,356|
27
## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities**
|Unrestricted
Note
Funds
£
**ASSETS**
**Cash Funds**
12,959
31,689
Hampshire Trust Bank
26,528
CAF 12 Month Fixed Rate Saver and 60 Day Notice Account
-
-
Cash in Hand
30
71,206
**Other Monetary Assets**
Community Hall Letting Income
338
Archbishops' Council - Energy Grant
-
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
463
DWP Access to Work Support Worker
-
472
-
Total Debtors
1,273
Stock of Items for Resale
262
1,535
**Assets Retained for the Church Use**
2
10,709
**LIABILITIES**
Fees Received in Advance
778
St Mark's Draw Club Income Received in Advance
527
Community Hall Letting Income Received in Advance
557
Clergy Expenses
-
Gas and Electricity Costs - Church and Community Hall
1,686
Repairs and Maintenance
1,914
Church Administration
51
Advertising
32
Trustee Travelling Expenses
107
Miscellaneous
-
Community Hall Expenses
60
5,712
The attached notes on pages 29 to 32 form part of these financial statements
Approved by the PCC on 19th April 2023 and signed on their behalf by
PCC Vice Chair/Honorary Treasurer
………………………………………
PCC Secretary
………………………………………
Bank Current Accounts
Diocese of Winchester - CBF Deposit - Churchyard Fund
CBF Deposit Fund
Income Tax Recoverable
PAYE Recoverable|Restricted
Funds
£
425
3,812
-
-
1
-
4,238
-
1,000
-
-
100
-
1,100
-
1,100
12,660
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
…………..........
…………..........|Total
Total
2022
2021
£
£
13,384
21,071
35,501
2,664
26,528
46,348
-
10,242
1
1
30
30
75,444
80,356
338
344
1,000
-
463
-
-
1,764
572
1,187
-
387
2,373
3,682
262
309
2,635
3,991
23,369
23,380
778
468
527
606
557
206
-
16
1,686
364
1,914
170
51
16
32
31
107
-
-
2
60
1,220
5,712
3,099
..........
..........|
|---|---|---|
28
## **Notes to the Accounts**
- **1)** The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis.
|**2)** Fixed assets retained for Church use are as follows:
Freehold property at the rear of the old Infant's School, South Street, Pennington
consisting of the Community Hall and car park area purchased on 26th November 1963
at cost
Piano at cost
Church Equipment at cost
Churchyard Equipment at cost
Community Hall Furniture and Equipment|2022
2021
£
£
250
250
2,553
2,553
12,922
12,933
1,887
1,887
5,757
5,757
23,369
23,380|
|---|---|
The following assets are recognised but not necessarily valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities:
Moveable church furnishings held by the Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal
St Mark's Community Hall Furnishings
- **3)** The movements in restricted funds during the year were:
|Building and Fabric Fund
Organ Fund
Churchyard Fund
Flower Fund
Community Hall Project Fund
Vegetable Garden Fund
Pennington Community Events
Specific Items Fund|1st
January
386
297
300
-
541
40
4,754
1,254
7,572|Transfers
-
-
-
-
2,500
-
-
(2,500)
-|Receipts
5
4
357
33
26
-
-
12,556
12,981|31st
Payments
December
-
391
-
301
(353)
304
(33)
-
-
3,067
-
40
(4,754)
-
(11,175)
135
(16,315)
4,238|
|---|---|---|---|---|
All funds represent accumulated legacies, donations, grants, fundraising income and interest which can only be used for their respective purposes. During 2022 Lymington and Pennington Town Council agreed that the grant of £2,500 which was given towards the cost of a hall administrator's salary could instead be used towards the cost of tarmacking the hall car park and therefore a transfer has been made from the Specific Items Fund to the Community Hall Project Fund. The monies held on behalf of Pennington Community Events were transferred in 2022 to Pennington Community Hub, a separate organisation not under the control of St Mark's PCC.
29
|Note
**4) Receipts**
**a)**
Donations
Grants - Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme
Lymington and Pennington Town Council
New Forest District Council
HMRC Job Retention Scheme
DWP Access to Work Support Worker
Miscellaneous Income
Gift Aid Recovered
**b)**
5
Events and Refreshments
St Mark's Draw Club
7
Traidcraft Sales
Sale of Goods
**c)**
Fees for Year
Fees Received in Advance
Contributions for Use of Community Hall
6
Craft Group Income
Friendship Lunches and Teas
**d)**
CBF Deposit Interest
CAF Bank
Hampshire Trust Bank
HMRC
**e) Other Receipts**
Sale of Equipment
**Investment Income**
**Other Voluntary Receipts**
**Activities for Generating Funds**
Parish Magazine Advertising
**Receipts from Church Activities**|Unrestricted
Funds
£
2,073
301
-
-
-
-
235
127
2,736
-
1,807
2,137
8
40
3,992
5,123
778
10,572
294
439
17,206
99
78
323
-
500
-|Restricted
Funds
£
883
-
-
200
-
9,996
-
13
11,092
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
39
-
-
-
39
350|Total
Total
2022
2021
£
£
2,956
13,657
301
228
-
4,500
200
-
-
1,043
9,996
2,548
235
46
140
839
13,828
22,861
-
(280)
1,807
1,519
2,137
2,466
8
16
40
49
3,992
3,770
5,123
6,690
778
468
10,572
4,965
294
-
439
103
17,206
12,226
138
9
78
445
323
-
-
1
539
455
350
-|
|---|---|---|---|
30
|Note
**4) Payments**
**Church Activities -**
**f) Clergy and Staffing**
Employees' Salaries
9
Pension Costs
9
PAYE (Under)/Overpayment
Clergy Expenses
8
Assistant Clergy
**g) Church Running Expenses**
Deanery Fees
Cost of Services
Heating, Lighting and Water
Insurance
Repairs and Maintenance
Upkeep of Churchyard
Flowers
Church Administration
Purchase of Equipment
Craft Group Expenses
Friendship Lunch and Tea Expenses
Training Expenses
Advertising
Bank and Credit Card Charges
Trustee Travelling Expenses
Miscellaneous
**h) Mission Giving and Donations**
World Vision
New Forest Basics Bank
Pennington Community Hub
Pennington Junior School
New Forest for Ukraine
The Children's Society
Oakhaven Hospice
**i) Costs of Generating Funds**
Stewardship Expenses
Events and Refreshments
St Mark's Draw Club
7
Goods for Resale|Unrestricted
Funds
£
2,218
90
(387)
673
-
2,594
61
1,175
2,024
2,236
3,170
3,103
52
1,580
-
6
128
690
386
113
226
428
15,378
274
-
-
-
50
50
50
424
57
113
1,045
-
1,215|Restricted
Funds
£
9,797
-
-
-
-
9,797
-
-
-
-
659
353
33
141
339
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,525
-
-
4,212
258
-
-
-
4,470
-
-
-
-|Total
Total
2022
2021
£
£
12,015
7,948
90
49
(387)
387
673
569
-
57
12,391
9,010
61
43
1,175
1,615
2,024
1,338
2,236
2,154
3,829
2,381
3,456
2,765
85
66
1,721
1,444
339
2,499
6
-
128
24
690
30
386
398
113
122
226
-
428
455
16,903
15,334
274
274
-
100
4,212
-
258
-
50
-
50
-
50
-
4,894
374
57
52
113
1,382
1,045
1,035
-
76
1,215
2,545|
|---|---|---|---|
31
|Note
**5) Parish Magazine**
**6) Community Hall**
Receipts
Lettings
Grant
Payments
Employee Salary
9
Internal and External Cleaning Costs
Utility Costs
Insurance
Fire Alarm System
Repairs and Maintenance
Gardening
Broadband Costs
Licences and Sundry
**Surplus/(Deficit) of Receipts over Payments**
**7) St Mark's Draw Club**
Receipts
Payments
**Surplus of Receipts over Payments**
Receipts
Payments
**(Deficit)/Surplus of Receipts over Payments**|Total
Total
2022
2021
£
£
-
(280)
-
-
-
(280)
10,572
4,965
200
-
10,772
4,965
2,595
2,056
1,010
635
2,451
1,322
856
824
1,010
-
446
495
253
323
463
302
324
141
9,408
6,098
1,364
(1,133)
2,137
2,466
1,045
1,035
1,092
1,431|
|---|---|
## **8) Payments to PCC Members**
The following payments were made to PCC members:
The Vicar's PA/support worker Ms J Sibley was paid a salary of £8,202 and £226 travelling expenses. Ms J Sibley's employment ceased in October 2022.
The expenses paid to clergy may include a small immaterial proportion, which relates to their function as PCC members. As noted above one PCC member received travelling expenses of £226. No other payments were made to PCC members.
## **9) Staff Costs**
|Wages and Salaries
Pension Costs
Average number of employees|14,610
10,004
90
49
14,700
10,053
3
3|
|---|---|
During the year the PCC employed an organist, hall caretaker and Vicar's PA/support worker (all part-time). No social security costs were payable. The Vicar's PA/support worker's salary is funded by DWP Access to Work.
32