St Mark's Church to love. to serve. to give. to all in Jesus. name THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARK'S CHURCH, PENNINGTON ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024
St Mark's Church to love, to serve, to give, to all - in Jesus, name Aim and Purposes St Mark's Parochial Church Council has the responsibility of cooperating with the minister in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, soclal, and ecumenical. The PCC has responsibility for the Grade II listed St Mark's Church together with the churchyard and St Mark's Community Hall. Objectives and Activities The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to be part of our parish community. When planning our activities we have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, and particularly the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We try to enable people to live out their faith through - Worship and prayer Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish Missionary and outreach work Achievements and Performance Worship and Prayer Following the licensing of our new Priest in Charge The Rev'd Canon Michael Burson-Thomas in April we have continued with our usual pattern of seNices. Our thanks go to all the retired clergy who led services during the vacancy. Our regular pattern of worship on Sundays is: 8am BCP Communion 10am 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday - Family Communion 2nd and 4th Sunday - Morning Praise, an informal family servi We continue to livestream our Sunday serrfices to those who are unable to attend church in person and we are able to offer this service for weddings, baptisms and funerals upon request.
St Mark's Church to love, to serve. to give, to all - in Jesus, name The average weekly attendance at our Sunday services is 36 but the numbers increase at our Easter and Christmas services. As well as our regular services we have celebrated 8 baptisms and I wedding and held 19 funerals in church. During 2024 we continued with the joint prayer initiative between St. Thomas, church in Lymington and St. Mark's in Pennington. We meet at 9am on Monday to Friday on Zoom and on Saturdays at 9am in St Thomas, in Lymington and follow the Morning Prayer from Common Worship: Daily Prayer. The numbers vary but all are welcome to join or put in prayer requests. On a very sad note our Licensed Lay Minister in training, Jane Nicholson, passed away before her licensing service could take place at Winchester Cathedral. She is greatly missed by all the congregation at St Mark's. At present there are 55 parishioners on ttE thurch Electoral Roll, of which 11 are not resident in the parish. Community and Social Events This year St Mark's hosted two drama productions at the Community Hall: 'Old Herbaceous, in March and 'Dracula' in the Autumn. We had a very good response to both produttions. They are organised by Culture in Common, funded by the Arts Council, to bring professional performances at affordable prices to people living in rural areas. These performances also raise funds for St Mark's Church as we receive 20 % of the box office takings as well as the proceeds from raffle ticket sales and donations given for refreshments. In March we also held our Spring Fair and in August our Summer Fair, both of which were held in the Community Hall. The weather was kind to us and we welcomed a lot of visitors. In July a local historian gave an illustrated talk in church on 'Lymington's Courts and Alleyways,. The talk followed a route along Lymington High Street looking at the buildings and alleyways you walk by without noticing and found out why they were there. Our thanks go to all those who help to make these events successful and to all those who attend. Other community events include our monthly Friendship Teas which are held on the first Tuesday of the month, bar January and August, at St Mark's Community Hall from 2.30 in the afternoon. It is a friendly get-together when we can all have a good chin-wag over a cup of tea and cake. There is usually a quiz to get our brains working, which is shared among those on each table, and occasionally bingo is played. Sadly, numbers of attendees have dipped a little over the past year and are now generally between 15 and 20, so if you would like to come and join us, please contsct Pat or Shirley - we would love to see you. A huge thank you must, of course, go to our band of helpers and home bakers - you are all stars! Our other activity at the hall is the Strittly Come Crafting group which is held twice a month on a Tuesday afternoon. We have 13 members who all enjoy various crafts, plenty of chat and cake and a drink. All are welcome to join us.
St Mark's Church to love. to serve, to give, to all - in Jesus, name A coffee morning also takes place weekly on a Wednesday morning. This tskes place at Belmore Lodge Care Home, apart from the 4th Wednesday in the month when we hold our monthly draw at church. We are joined by residents of the home and our thanks go to Belmore Lodge for the lovely cakes and refreshments they provide for us. The church choir visited Elmerfs Court just before Christmas to give visitors to the hotel a performance of carols which they were able to join in with. A wonderful time was had by choir and hotel visitors and Elmer's Court generously gave a donation to the church Deanery Synod Two members of the PCC sit on the Deanery Synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider struttures of the church. Ecumenical Relationships The church is a member of Christians Together in Lymington and Pennington. As mentioned previously we also have joint prayer initiative with St Thomas Church in Lymington. Safeguarding The Church of England is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our church community. It is 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 prattlce. We aim to ensure that all safeguarding training and DBS certificates are up to date for those who require it so to maintain our compliance with the Church of England regulations. Any safeguarding incidences should be reported to our safeguarding officer, Eve Jolly, at safeguarding@penningtonchurch.uk. Pastoral Care Our parish visitor co-ordinator, Rebecca Rickaby, arranges visits to several parishioners and if you would like a visit please contact the church. We celebrate communion on a monthly basis with the residents of Belmore Lodge Care Home and if you are unable to attend church but would like to receive communion in your own home plea let us know. As noted above we run a monthly Friendship Tea and a crafting group as part of our work in the community.
St Mark's Church to love, to serve, to give, to all - in Jesus, name Mission and Evangelism A Fare Share Larder is held every Thursday at St Mark's Community Hall where many volunteers, including from St Mark's, assist with sorting and packing food. Free tea and coffee are available and space for informal chats to connett people to any necessary seniices (Citizens, Advice Bureau, NHS Social Assistance, NFDC Housing, free clothes/toys swap) are available in the hall before the larder arrives. We normally have up to 30 families, sometimes more, attend the larder and the community spirit is seen as they gather in the hall over refreshments, ably managed by Dorothy. A recycling/repurposing area has been started once a fortnight and people can bring things for repair. The PCC currently sponsor a child in Africa from whom we receive regular updates. Our weekly newsletter is emailed or delivered to all those who have requested a copy as well as to those who attend our weekly services. Schools Following the licensing of our new Priest in Charge in April we have been able to re-establish our connection with Pennington Church of England Junior School where weekly worship is now being held. In July the school held their leavers, service in church where all those leaving the school were presented with a copy of St Mark's Gospel. We have also established a relationship with one of the pre-schools in the parish with the children coming along to the church. Churchyard St Mark's still has an open churchyard and work continues with a small team of dedicated volunteers. Along with the Community Payback Team we have managed to keep on top of the strimming and clearing around the churchyard. The Community Payback supervisor commented how much better the churchyard looked now they felt they had got on top of all the work, especially around the older graves. Work also continues keeping the ditches cleared of leaves and debris. The rubbish found around the churchyard is regularly collected and where appropriate reCIed. Headstones are checked on a regular basis and the families, if known, are informed if unsteady. Our thanks go to the small, dedicated team of volunteers who meet on the first Thursday morning each month. Along with the Community Payback team, the aim is to present a restful, eco-friendly churchyard.
St Mark's Church to love, to serve, to give, to all - in Jesus, name Financial Review Totsl receipts for 2024 amounted to £76,424 compared to £75,868 for 2023. Planned Giving continues to decrea* and in 2024 was £19,746, a decrease of £1,133 over the previous year. Please do join our regular giving schemes, either the weekly envelope scheme or the Parish Giving scheme, if you are able as this helps us to budget for forthcoming expenditure. Collertions have increased to £3,663 from £2,759 in 2023 and include collettions from several funerals for which we are very grateful. Donations for the year totslled £11,266 which included several generous donations including £3,473 from Pennington Wl to fund a sound 9lStem at our Community Hall. We also received two legacies during the year amounting to £1,443. Thank you to all those who give so generously to enable our church to meet its outgoing commitments. Events and refreshments raised £2,317 in 2024 compared to £1,553 in 2023. Fees for the year have also increased to £9,749 from £5,374 in 2023. We also received a £300 grant from New Forest District Council and £884 in donations from Pennington Community Hub towards the hall costs for the Fare Share Larder. Our Community Hall continues to be popular with both regular and occasional hirers. Total payments for 2024 were £73,127 compared to £85,286 for 2023. The Common Mission Fund contribution was £26,432 compared to £29,185 for 2023. A decrease of £2,753. Also, our utility costs in 2024 decreased by £1,564 over 2023. Repairs and Maintenance of £11,900 include £6,420 for church roof repairs. Purchase of Equipment includes the cost of the new sound system at the hall costing £3,473. Advertising in 2023 included the cost of advertising for our new Priest in Charge which amounted to £904. The surplus for the year on unrestritted funds totalled £2,734 together with a surplus of £563 on restritted funds giving an overall surplus of £3,297 compared to a deficit of £9,418 in 2023. The movements on restritted funds during the year are shown in note 3 on page 12 and the balance on the funds at 31st December 2024 amounted to £1,590. The balance on unrestritted funds at 31st December 2024 amounted to £67,733. tatement of Assets and Liabilities Cash funds on 31st December 2024 amounted to £69,323 as opposed to £66,026 at 315t December 2023. Other monetsry assets amounted to £3,254 and liabilities at the year-end amounted to £1,712.
St Mark's Church to love, to serve, to give, to all - in Jesus, name Reserves Policy It is the policy of the PCC to maintsin a balance on unrestritted funds (if possible), which equates up to approximately twelve months, unrestrirted payments. This is also to cover emergency building work as the PCC is responsible for a Grade II listed church building together with St Mark's Community Hall. 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. Volunteers We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard to keep our church running and for making it a place of welcome for everyone. Special thanks go to the PCC for their valuable contribution. Structure, Governance and Management The PCC is a body corporate established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure 1956. The PCC is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. Members of the PCC are either ex-officio, eletted 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 met eight times during the year, with standing committee meeting in betWn times. The PCC has complied with the duty under sertion 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have due regard to House of Bishops, guidan on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). Administrative Information St Mark's Church is situated in Ramley Road, Pennington, S0418GQ. It is part of the Diocese of Winchester within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The Vicarage, 29 Ramley Road, Pennington, Lymington. The registered charity number is 1173998.
St Mark's Church to love. to serve, to give, to all - in Jesus, name PCC members who have served at any time from 1st January 2024 until the date this report was approved are: Priest in Charge In Vacancy (until 24th April 2024) The Rev'd Canon Michael Burson-Thomas (from 24th April 2024) Churchwardens Teresa Nivison Eveline Jolly Honorary Officers Rebecca Rickaby (Hon Secretsry) Teresa Nivison (Hon Treasurer) Deanery Synod Rebecca Rickaby Shirley Saunders Elected Members Susan Beech (until 12th May 2024) Ingrid Bolhoven (from 12th May 2024) Dorothy Davies (from 12th May 2024) Sharon Lloyd Jane Nicholson (until 12th May 2024) Christine Scott Paul Young Approved by the PCC on the 10th April 2025 and signed on their behalf by (PCC Vice Chair)
sr MARK'S CHURCH, PENNINGTON Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of St Mark's Parochial Church Councll, Pennington This rewrt on the financial ststements of the PCC for the year ended 31st Dernber 2024, which are set out on pages 10 - 15, 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 ('tFE Art). 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 stste whether particular matters have come to my attention; and issue this pOrt on those financial ststements in accordan with the terms of the Regulations . Basis of this report My examination was carrfed out in accordan with the General Directions glven 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 ststements with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees Conrning 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 ststements. Independent examlner's statement In connettion with my examination, no matter has come to my attents'on: (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material SpeCt the requirements to keep accounting records in accordan with section 130 of 2011 Act; and to prepare financlal statements, which accord wlth 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. Mrs K Eggleton, F.C.C.A. Suite 114 Lymington Town Hall Avenue Road Lymington S0419ZG Ilth April 2025
sr MARK'S CHURCH, PENNINGfoN FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sr DECEMBER 2024 RECEIPTS AND PAYMEMfs Accouiir Totsl 2024 Totsl 2023 Note Funds Funds RECEIPTS Voluntsry Receipts - Planned Gfving Collectlons and Other Gfvlng Gift Aid Recovered 18,546 3,663 4,817 1,200 19,746 3,663 5,117 15,068 20,879 2,759 5,238 20,489 300 Other Voluntsry ReIpts 4a 36,094 7,500 43,594 49,365 Activitles for Generating Funds Receipts from Church Activities Investment Income 4b 4,6 24,947 3,210 4,600 24,947 3,283 3,697 20,888 1,918 4c 4d 73 TOTAL RECEIPT5 PAYMENTS Church Actlvltleg - Common Mlssbn Fund 26,432 2,752 23,802 11,514 274 26,432 4,252 28,128 12,698 274 29,185 4,053 19,200 13,333 274 Clergy and Staffing Costs Church Runnlrrfj Expenses Communlty Hall Runnlng Expenses Mlsslon Glvlng and Donatlons 4f 4,326 1,184 4h 64,774 1,343 7,010 71,784 1,343 66,045 1,241 IB,000 Costs ol Generatlng Funds Major Works- Community Hall 41 TOTAL PAYMEKrs Surplus1( Defic6t) of Recelpts over Payments 2,734 563 3,297 {9,418) Bank Current and Deposit kcounts aNI Cash at 1st January 64,999 1,027 66,026 75,444 Bank Current and Depostt kcounts a1 Cash at 31st December 10
ST MARK'S CHURCH, PENNINGfoN FINANCIAL sfATEMEfiTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2024 STATEMENT OF ASSEfs AND UABILrnES Unresbicted Restrlrted Funds Funds Totsl 2024 Total 2023 Note ASSEfs Cash Funds Bank Current Accounts 140 7,106 62.186 4,569 61,426 CBF Deposlt Fund Diocese of Wlnche5ter- CBF DeFK61t - Churchyard Fund Qsh In Hand 60,737 1,449 30 30 30 67,733 1,590 66,026 Other Monetary Assets Communlty Hall Letting income Communlty Hall Donatlon Llsted PleS of Worshlp Grant Scheme Income Tax Recoverab 482 482 432 52 52 178 178 231 537 25 562 445 CBF Dep)slt Fund Interest PPayMents Totsl Debtors 740 17 757 815 989 2,978 42 3,020 234 1,923 250 stock of Items for Resale 234 42 2,173 Assets Retslned for the Church U 11,128 16,133 23,369 UABILmes St Mark's Draw Club Income Recelved In IAfvan 565 565 502 Communlty Hall Lettlng Income Recew In Advan Communlty Hall Donatlon Recelved In Advance Cost of SeNlces 122 122 145 261 Gas and Electrlclty Costs - Church and Communty Hall Repalr5 and Malntenance Church Admlnlstratlon 731 731 144 144 255 59 Advertlslng Communlty Hall Expenses 28 28 30 56 56 588 1,712 The attached notes on pages 12 to 15 fomi part cl these flnanchil statements 1,712 2,683 Approved by the PCC on 10th Aprtl 2025 and slgned on thelr tehaif by Ffc VI Chalr/Honorary Trearer FICC Secretsry 11
ST MARK'S CHURCH PENNINGfoN FINANCIAL sfATEMEKfs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 315r DECEMBER 2024 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS l) The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordan with the Church Accounb'ng Regulations 20&5 using the ReIpts and Payfflents basi& 2024 2023 2) Fixed a55et5 retained for Church use are a5 folbws: Freehold proFerty at the rear of the old Infant's Schjjl, South Street, Pennirrfjton consisting of the Community Hall and car park area purchased on 26th November 1963 at cost 250 250 Plano at C05t 2,553 2,553 Church Equipment at cost 13,341 12,922 Churchyard Equlpment at cost 1,887 1,887 Communty Hall Fumlture aThl EqU1pffnt 9,230 5,757 27,261 The following assets a recognlsed but not r*cessarily valwl in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.. Moveable church furnishlngs held by the (urchwardenS on speclal trust for the PCC and which requlre a facuty for dlsposal St Mark's Community Hall Fumlshlngs 3) The movements In restrlcted funds during the year were: 1st January 403 31st December 425 Recelpts 22 Payments Building and Fabric Fund Organ Fund 311 16 327 Churthyard Fund 314 232 (216) 330 Flower Fund (60) Communlty Hall Project Fund 350 3,491 (3,473) 368 Vegetsble Garden Fund 40 40 Speclfk Items Fund 391 3,261 All funds represent accumulated legades, donatior61 grants, fuThlralslng incorne and inter& whkh can only be used for their respective purposes. 12
sr MARK'S CHURCH PENNINGTON FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sr DECEMBER 2024 NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (coNfINUED) Unrestrithd Restricted Funds Funds Total 2024 Total 2023 Note 4) Receipts a) Other Voluntary Recelpts Donations Grants - Lsted Flaces of Worship Grant Sthme New Forest Distritt Ctyjncil Archbisfvjps, Council Legaaes mixe1lane0 Income Gift Aid Recovered 5.650 1,720 5,616 11,266 1,720 300 17,518 463 950 3(Ki 1,443 230 25 1,443 230 109 399 159 b) Artlvltles for Generatlng Funds Events and Refreshments St Mark's Draw Club Traidcraft Sa Sale of G(>5 2,317 2,270 2,317 2,270 1,553 2,128 li 4.6( li 12 c) Recelpts from Church Actlvltles Fees for Year Community Plall Lettlng Income Craft Group Income FrteThJ5hlp Teas 9,749 14,388 479 331 9,749 14,388 479 331 5,374 14,608 486 420 d) Invqstment Income CBF Deposlt Interest CAF Bank Interest Hampshire Trust Bank H M Revenue and Customs 3,187 19 73 3,260 19 1,572 21 325 73 13
sr MARK'S CHURCH PENNINGfoN FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sr DECEMBER 2024 NOTES TO THE Accoumfs (CONTINUED) Unrestrthd Restrirted Funds Funds Totsl 2024 Total 2023 4) Payments Church Activities - f) Cleryy and Stsffing Employee Salary Assistant Clergy aergy Expenses 2,703 49 1,5C(I 4,203 49 4,003 50 4,053 2,752 1,5(NJ 4,252 g} Church Running Expenseg Deanery Fees Cost of ServKe5 HeatSng, Ughting and Water Insurance Repairs and Maintenar£e Upkeep of Churchyard Flowers Church Administration Purchase of Equipment Craft Group ExFenses FrÈndshlp Tea Expenses Trainlng Expenses A(fvertising Bank aThJ Credlt Card Charges Tnjstee ExnSeS Mlscellaneous 53 1,225 3,837 2,499 11,386 1,744 15 1,655 419 53 1,225 3,837 2,499 11,900 1,960 75 1,718 3,892 58 928 5,401 2,392 4,924 1,415 iio 1,259 514 216 60 63 3,473 76 270 278 78 241 26 76 270 278 78 241 26 90 395 1,195 83 626 324 4,326 h) Mlsslon Glvlng and Donatlons World Vision 274 274 274 274 274 274 l) Costs of Generating Fund$ Stewardship Expenses Events and Refreshments St ma,5 Draw Club 59 103 1,079 1,241 191 1,088 191 1,088 14
sr MARK'S CHURCH PENNINGTON FINANCIAL sfATEMEpifs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sr DECEMBER 2024 NOTES TO THE Accourifs (CONTINUED) Totsl 2024 Totsl 2023 )te 5) Community Hall Receipts Lettings Grant Donatlons 14,388 300 14,608 950 Payments Employee Salary Intemal and Extemal Ckanlng Co&s Utility Costs Insuran Repairs and Maintenan Gardening Broadband Costs Licen and Sundry 2,974 1,696 4,075 956 1,859 140 698 300 12,698 2,725 1,291 6,255 915 949 160 565 473 13,333 Surplus of Recelpts over Payments 2,511 6) st Mark's Draw Club Receipts Payments Surplus of Receipts over Payments 2,270 2,128 7) Payments to PCC Members The following payments were made to PCC trEmbers: In respect of her tralnlng to become a Licensed Lay Minlster the sum of £241 was pald to Ms J Sibley for her study bwks and travelling costs. As noted above one PCC member received expenses of £241. No other payments were made to PCC mèmbers. 8) staff Costs Wages and Salanes Average number of employees During the year the PCC employed an organist and hall ¢arfaker (both part-limel. No social security costs were payable. 15