2023-12-31-accounts

The Diocese of Southwark

ANNUAL PARISH CHURCH REPORT 2023

CELEBRATING 152 YEARS OF WORSHIP & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

CONTENTS

Vicar’s Report	3
Church Wardens’ Report	5
Fabric Report	6
Church Finance	7
Events and Fundraising	8
Administrator’s Report	11
Charities, Causes & Campaigns	11
Junior Church	12
Diddy Disciples	13
Children and Families	14
PCC Secretary & Electoral Roll Officer’s Report	14
First Monday Club	15
Gardening	15
Bedelsford School	16
Refugee Action Kingston	17
Hall Administrator's Report	18
Hall Treasurer's Report	18
Safeguarding	19
Sacred Space	19
Servers/Chalice	19
Sides-people	20
Pastoral Report	20
Team Rector’s Report	20
Team Vicar’s Report	21

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VICAR’S REPORT – REV’D LINDIWE MASEKO

Looking back on the past year fills me with gratitude. Having served as your vicar for the past two years, transitioning from interim minister in 2022 to vicar in 2023, has been a true privilege and a source of joy. Getting to know every member of our congregation has been a deeply rewarding journey, despite the hurdles of commuting from Lewisham to Kingston, particularly during the train strikes. Your encouragement, faithfulness and enthusiasm for worshipping and serving together have been genuinely inspiring. Thank you for your unwavering support.

Gratitude and Appreciation

I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to all those who have tirelessly served our church community. From the dedicated church wardens, the PCC, the Treasurer, PCC Secretary & Electoral Roll Officer, Gift Aid Secretary, the Ministry and Pastoral Care team, to everyone who preaches and delivers talks, our Safeguarding Officers, the Charities, Causes, and Campaigns team, the Website, tech, and audio team, the Bar team, the Gardening Team, the Sides-people, the Servers, the Buildings team, the Coffee team, the Readers, the Caretaker, our Organist(s), the St John’s Scratch choir, St John’s PSA and those who lead prayers - your exceptional efforts and invaluable service are deeply appreciated and valued. Furthermore, I extend my gratitude to our entire church family and the wider community for your unwavering support over the past year.

In April, we said farewell to Emma and Mimi. We are grateful for all their hard work and contributions to the church. Special thanks to the parents and all who have been instrumental in running Diddy Disciples since April 2023, contributing to its remarkable growth. The newly established Junior Church, launched in September and led by Kath Edwards and myself, assisted by students from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, who have generously volunteered their time and efforts. The parents help with preparing the meals, and it is going well as we look to invite more children to participate. We welcomed our hardworking new Administrator in June, and she has been doing a great job in our day-to-day keeping us organised.

We were saddened by the loss of a cherished member of St John’s – Victoria Koloko. The church was full as many family, friends, and church family said farewell and gave thanks for her life. We extend our thanks to all who offered support and encouragement to Emmanuel and his family during this difficult time.

Worship and Connection

This past year presented opportunities for meaningful worship and community engagement. I had the privilege of providing one day a week ministry cover at St John the Baptist for six months for Rev’d Mandy as she worked an extra day at the hospital. The highlight was initiating Messy Church on the Putney Vale Estate. It is a blessing to work as part of a team with Rev’d Joe, Rev’d Mandy, and Rev’d Sarah. Here at St John the Evangelist, the Pancake Party was a delightful event, drawing

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enthusiastic participation from St John’s School. Our Ash Wednesday service set a solemn tone for the Lenten season, complemented by the insightful CofE Difference Course. The joint Palm Sunday service with Kingston Methodist Church was a wonderful testament to our collaborative efforts. Throughout Holy Week, we shared solemn and uplifting moments, culminating in a joyous Easter Day celebration, where both familiar faces and new friends joined in.

Our worship services strive to create an inclusive environment for worshippers of all ages, across all services. We welcomed people from diverse backgrounds and had the privilege of hosting services for various occasions, including baptisms, weddings, funerals, Christmas, Easter, Leavers, Harvest, the FW Paine Christmas Memorial service, and visits from local schools. I am particularly encouraged by the engagement of children and staff in Collective Worship, fostering a culture of spiritual growth and enthusiasm within our school community.

Community Engagement and Outreach

Our monthly Community Café remains a vital hub for connecting with our wider community. Huge thanks to the dedicated team who tirelessly raise funds and warmly welcome everyone, including our Ward Councillors. We're grateful for our ongoing partnership with Refugee Action Kingston and the positive impact of working with Bedelsford School. Special thanks go to the St John’s Parents-Staff Association for their invaluable support and collaboration, which has significantly contributed to the success of our joint events. We're looking forward to the Christmas Fair and continuing our support for Acts 345, the Bishop’s Lent Call, Christian Aid, and the Leprosy Mission.

Looking Ahead

We stand on the brink of exciting opportunities as we set out to shape the future of St John’s through the development of a new Mission Action Plan (MAP). Our aim is to build on our current ministry initiatives while infusing fresh perspectives into our journey of growth and discipleship. At the heart of our mission lies a dedication to nurturing a warm and diverse church family, deeply rooted in the love of God and committed to spreading hope throughout our community.

In crafting this forward-thinking MAP, our focus is twofold: to sustain our existing activities while propelling us towards transformative growth and deeper community involvement. We envision a future where our church family thrives, reaching out to welcome over 1,000 more people to the congregation.

Looking ahead, we understand the significance of responsible financial stewardship and the exploration of innovative fundraising methods. Let us embark on this journey together, bound by our shared vision of a flourishing and lively St John’s community. In conclusion, our pledge to be a positive influence in our community, guided by our faith, remains unwavering. Through our collective endeavours, we aspire to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of those around us. With prayers and

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anticipation, I eagerly await the continuation of our journey together. Reverend Lindiwe Maseko

CHURCH WARDENS’ REPORT

On January 24th, Lindiwe was licensed as Team Vicar by Archdeacon John Kiddle, with Reverend Joe Moffatt leading and presiding at the Holy Communion service. It was a very happy occasion, with many friends and guests joining our congregation and gathering together after the service.

Our church remained at the heart of the community. The regular pattern of worship included Parish Communion at 10am on the last three Sundays of the month, with the Diddy Disciples having their own worship and then joining us for Communion. On the first Sunday of the month, we held an All-Age Communion Service involving our young families. Thanks to Kath, Neville, and Jim, our Servers, and the great team of Sides-people, our services ran smoothly, and everyone received a warm welcome. We extend our thanks to the Parents who led the Diddy Disciples worship and to those who made the coffee and provided delicious cakes for everyone to enjoy after the service.

St John’s continued its partnership with the Methodist Church in Kingston, coming together for worship at both Easter and Christmas. Our Christmas Carol Service followed much-appreciated Carol singing in the Spring Grove. We were pleased to have a scratch choir led by Andrew Davies, our Guest Choir Master and Organist for the evening. Again, we welcomed Andrew to play for the Crib Service, with many children acting out the Christmas story. Both services were well attended and greatly enjoyed. The Frederick Paine Annual Memorial service took place in December and was appreciated by many.

Our Community Café continued to open on the first Saturday of the month from 10.00 am-1.00 pm, providing people with the opportunity to meet and enjoy refreshments in a relaxed atmosphere. We were proud to receive a five-star certificate for Food Safety and Hygiene in October, the highest rating possible. Our thanks to those who cook, make the coffee, bake cakes, and help in many ways on the day.

There were sixteen Baptisms, two Weddings, and two Funerals during the year.

Lindiwe continued to maintain links with Surbiton High Junior School. Both St John’s and Bedelsford Schools held a service in our church to celebrate Easter, Harvest, and Christmas. Bedelsford School used our kitchen for their own weekly café during term time. The partnership between our church and St John’s School has strengthened. In particular, we thank the PSA for their hard work in the organization of our joint Christmas fair, which, together with the successful result from the online Silent Auction organized by Tony Hardy, was a very successful event.

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St John’s continued to provide facilities and support for Refugee Action Kingston. Banquet Records hired our building for concerts, and we were successful in obtaining a license for the sale of alcoholic drinks, sold by a team of committed volunteers raising much-needed funds for the church. Kingston University continued its hire of the building for examinations, contributing significantly to funds.

We were very sorry that Emma Lloyd-Williams resigned from her role as our Parish Administrator and thanked her for all she had done for St John’s. In June, we were delighted to welcome Evie Ng to the role. We were also pleased that Luanne Higgins became our PCC Secretary and Electoral Roll Officer, and we thank them both for the important part they play in the smooth running of the church.

We wish to thank Tony Hardy, our longstanding Treasurer, for his good stewardship of our resources and Jo Need for her help with Gift Aid. We thank Isobel, Andrea, David, and Grant for all they do and for their interesting and inspiring sermons. Julie plays an important role in Pastoral Care, and we thank her for her dedication. Our PCC members, Pat and Grant, serve as our Safeguarding Officers. We appreciate their commitment to this crucial role. Our Charities, Causes, and Campaigns Team, Emma Peries for keeping our website up to date, Colin Bowes for his advice, and Dave Meegan’s help to achieve the best results from our sound system all contribute significantly to the smooth running of our church. We thank Ray for continuing to be our helpful and conscientious Caretaker for the church building and Parish Hall, and Caroline for covering the Caretaker role when needed. We extend our gratitude to all those who anonymously contribute behind the scenes. Churchwardens cannot stand alone. We need support, advice, and encouragement, and we have certainly received these. Thank you.

It was an eventful and enjoyable year for our parish, and with Lindiwe, we look forward to developing the initiatives and partnerships that have been established.

Wendy Malseed & Frances Hazelgrove Church Wardens.

FABRIC REPORT

The church has been kept in good order and has continued to be professionally cleaned. The church's annual spring clean went well with a good number of helpers. Discreet wheels have been attached to the altar to make it easier to move. Most of the recommendations from the Quinquennial Report have been addressed. The roof needs some repair, and the flagpole requires attention, both currently under review. Thank you to Tony Hardy and Michael Wraight for your involvement in organizing the work. The church grounds have been well maintained and kept beautiful by our loyal team of volunteer gardeners: Karoline, Tricia, and Chris. We extend our

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heartfelt thanks to them.

Frances Hazelgrove Church Warden

CHURCH FINANCE

2023 was a tale of two halves. The first six months showed a loss of £8,558 due to high energy costs and income from church hire down by a third as there were no Banquet Records concerts. By the year end losses were stemmed as we hosted several Banquet events and had a successful Christmas Fayre and Silent Auction. Even so, we still recorded a deficit of £3,998 over the 12 months.

Total income for the year was £102,037, almost all of which came from Unrestricted (ordinary) sources. Grants totalling £2,855 (shown as a restricted fund marked Family) were also received and earmarked for future work with children and young people. We remain very thankful to all those who give to St John’s via monthly standing orders or envelopes which contributes 24% of our income or 33% if the further £8,987 in income tax recovered on Gift Aid payments is added. £16k annual rent from Kingston University continues to form a significant part of our income.

Income from church hire in 2023 was marginally down but recovered greatly from the opening six months, while the Coronation event, Christmas Fayre, Silent Auction and the bars run at Banquet shows helped lift fundraising by 12% year on year to almost £23k.

While total income was only marginally down on 2022, expenses totalled £108,890 – some 15% higher, reflecting higher running costs in most areas. There was no further expenditure from the Regeneration or Legacy funds. We pledged and gave £48,960 as our Parish Support contribution to the Diocese which supports the ministry here and at churches throughout Southwark, many of whom are significantly poorer than ourselves. While we experienced inflationary pressures across the board, energy costs substantially contributed to the deficit for the year, totalling an unprecedented £13k. This year there was no cushion – Government support for business energy was reduced from 41% to just 2.5% and the scheme has now ceased altogether.

In summary, we ended 2023 with reserves of £88,553 comprising £25,564 held in unrestricted funds, £39,538 in the restricted Regeneration Fund towards future

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building work, £20,596 representing the balance of legacies received plus £2,855 from new grants (family fund). The balance of the Refugee Action grant was used to cover subsidised church hire by RAK up to the summer, after which RAK are now paying for hire each term. It is the policy of the PCC to keep a minimum £30k in liquid reserves to cover unforeseen emergencies or loss of regular income.

Finally, I would like to thank Lindiwe, Frances and Wendy, Isobel and all the PCC members for their help over the year. Special thanks go to Jo Need, our Gift Aid Secretary, to Evie Ng, Michael Wraight and the Bar Team, Ray Symons and Emma Peries for their invaluable support too.

Tony Hardy - Church & Hall Treasurer

EVENTS & FUNDRAISING

This year was a record year for Fundraising revenue at St John’s with income of £22,857. After expenses of £12,328, we raised a net £10.5k. The expenses are higher than last year as they include St John’s School PSA share of proceeds from the Coronation event, joint Christmas Fayre and the Silent Auction plus costs associated with successfully applying for a bar licence. We hosted 10 concerts for Banquet Records, our own show with Nadia Sheikh plus one for regular hirers, Duo. A profit of £4,633 was returned on £8,265 bar sales across these events. Despite the weather, the Coronation Street Party generated a net £1,882 for church funds while the church share of Christmas Fayre and Silent Auction proceeds were £1,285 and £1,535 respectively.

Contributions to fundraising also came from Pancake Day, book sales, Saturday cafés and Sunday refreshments while the Journey of the Magi performance generated a net £375 following the generous sponsorship of the event by a church member and the Nadia Sheikh concert raised a net £822.

Our grateful thanks go to all who help run and staff the bars and assist with fundraising events across the year. Special thanks go to Adrienne and Jo from the school PSA who led the organisation of this year’s Christmas Fayre so tirelessly and all those helpers from church and school who put in a shift and a half! Fundraising events also have an important social role in adding to the spiritual life of St John’s, enriching relationships between church members and welcoming visitors from the local community and beyond.

Tony Hardy - Church & Hall Treasurer

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ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST, KINGSTON UPON THAMES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AFFAIRS : YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

INCOME	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023	2022
Gift Aid	24410		24410	25296
Income Tax Recovered	8987		8987	8935
Loose Collections/Card Reader	4611		4611	4530
Donations/Grants	1629	2855	4484	1757
Little Groovers	1687		1687	3261
Fund Raising - General	22857		22857	20285
Church Fees (net)	1141		1141	1102
Church Hire	16543		16543	16613
University Rent	16675		16675	16675
Interest	1364		1364	441
Missions	2106		2106	3494
Misc. Receipts	27		27	1451
TOTAL	£102,037	£2,855	£104,892	£103,839
EXPENDITURE	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023	2022
Missions & Affiliation Fees	2112		2112	3780
Education	441		441	393
Little Groovers	399		399	2564
Parish Support Fund	48960		48960	48000
Clergy Expenses	522		522	398
Church Administrator/PCC Sec	4234		4234	2496
Organist Salary, Organ/Music	1877		1877	1740
Heating & Lighting	13026		13026	7143
Water Rates	291		291	192
Insurance	5815		5815	5559
Fundraising Expenses	12328		12328	7284
Church Repairs/Maintenance	11728		11728	8874
Printing, Postage & Stationery	4638		4638	3948
Sundry Expenses	2518		2518	2125
TOTAL	£108,890	£0	£108,890	£94,496
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)	-£6,853	£2,855	-£3,998	£9,343
Transfer to reserves
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR			-£3,998	£9,343
ADD ASSETS FROM 2022 BALANCE SHEET			£92,551	£83,208
ASSETS FROM 2023 BALANCE SHEET			£88,553	£92,551

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ST JOHN THE EVANGEUST. KINGSTON UPON THAMES BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 2023 2022 CURRENT A￿r5 Debtors Bank Current Account Oep051t Fur 1932 19443 71182 2379 21218 72715 £92.557 E96,312 LESS: CURRENT UABIUTIES Sundry Credlto -379) NET ASSErs £88,553 £92,522 REPRESENTED BY: Unrestrlrted Fund Restricted Fund (AI- ReReneratlon Restricted Fund IBI. LeRacv Restrkted Fund ICI. KlnRSton RefvRee Reslrkted Fund IDI. Famllv 25564 39538 20596 30676 39538 20596 1742 2855 £98553 £92,552 R￿trk¢d Reslrlrted Iloslrfcted R•stsl¢ted NET ASSEf5 . 31 DECEMBER 2023 Balan￿$ at l January 2022 Income EXpend￿Ure Surplvs (Defidtl Transfers between funds UMtstrf¢t 30676 102037 -108890 -6853 1742 Totals r. 92552 Vl 39538 205% 1742 2855 2855 -3998 .1742 8•lan¢es 4t 31 December 2023 £2S,564 £39,538 £20596 £0 El855 £88.553 Church Treasurer &Rned: Team V￿r Independent Examlners Report I report on the acc￿￿t5 of St John the Evan%ellst. KinRston uwn Thames for the year en(led 31112123. My examinatton was carrled out in accordance wrth the Renerdl direction5 Aiven by the CharTty Comi5sion. Thls irthdes a revlew of the accountinR records kept bv the churth and a comparison of the Occounts p￿sented wr(h those records. I have examined the SOFA and Balance Sheet and conf1rn7 that these are in accordan￿ wlth the accountinR record5. receipts. invoices, Statements and documents subrnttted to rne. Sned.. Independent Exarnlner 10

ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

Since joining the St. John family in June, it has been an absolute joy to witness the bustling activities within our church community throughout 2023. From regular hirers like the Orpheus Choir, Kingston Spring Grove Morris Dance, 8218 Theatre Group, Daisy First Aid, Sound Bath (pilates), Ginger Tonic (yoga), to new initiatives like Hartbeeps (baby & toddler music class) and The National Childbirth Trust (antenatal class), our church has truly become a hub of activity.

One of the highlights of the year was the launch of "The Best Bedelsford Café" by Bedelsford School in the second half of the year. It was heartwarming to see the students' dedication in running the café despite their physical limitations.

Additionally, Banquet Records hosted 10 gigs in the latter part of the year, and with the recent license for the sale of alcoholic drinks, our committed volunteers successfully ran the bar during these gigs, raising significant funds for the church.

Our church-led groups, including the First Monday Club, Little Groovers, Junior Church, Community Café, and Ping Pong, continue to fill our church building with laughter and community spirit.

Furthermore, our church school has been actively involved in hosting various services and celebrations throughout the year, including Easter, Leavers Assembly, Harvest, and Christmas services.

As the year drew to a close, we organized several fundraising activities, including the Christmas Fayre and fundraising concerts featuring talented artists like Nadia Sheikh and Journey to Magi, culminating in a beautiful Christmas concert by Duo.

In summary, 2023 was a year filled with activity, growth, and community engagement. I look forward to the continued success and vibrancy of our church community in the coming year.

Evie Ng - Parish Administrator

CHARITIES, CAUSES & CAMPAIGNS TEAM

In the course of 2023, our church community raised a total of over £3,700 for good causes, of which c.£1600 was paid direct to Christian Aid following CA Week, and the rest went to various charities via the church account. Apart from Christian Aid, the largest amount was £585 raised for The Leprosy Mission, which is in addition to the regular support given by a number of congregation members. We were delighted to welcome back Sally Carter-Esdale of TLM as a preacher in February: her enthusiasm for this inspiring charity is clearly infectious! The other charities to which St John's

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gave money were the Bishop of Southwark's Lent Appeal, Princess Alice Hospice, Water Aid, Kingston Samaritans, the Children's Society, Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness and Women and Children First.

Once again, generous donations of food were brought into church in early October for Harvest Festival, and were given primarily to Kingston Foodbank but also some to Refugee Action Kingston; and at the beginning of November, supporters at St John's Church and School and All Saints Church contributed 45 beautifully wrapped boxes of small gifts to the Link to Hope Shoebox Appeal, and these began the long journey to reach hard-pressed families and individuals in Eastern Europe.

Refugee Action Kingston has continued to operate at St John's on Wednesdays, and St John's support for Kingston Community Refugee Sponsorship is also ongoing. KCRS completed its two-year sponsorship of its first family in November, and would like to welcome a second family, but finding the necessary affordable rental property within the Borough is proving very challenging.

Particular thanks this year to Emma Peries, who is standing down as St John's Children's Society rep. We are most grateful to her for all she has down over the last few years; and we are glad to report that Shona Pitcher has agreed to take over from her. And more generally, a heartfelt thank-you to all who have given so generously of their time and resources in these difficult times, enabling St John's to continue to reach out to those who need our help, whether locally or in the wider world.

Rev. Lindiwe Maseko, Kay Baker, Emma Peries, Isobel Robinson, Tony Williams

JUNIOR CHURCH

Junior Church (JC) began meeting in September last year and has now firmly established itself as an important part of St John's children's ministry. Its young members, currently an enthusiastic group of 6 to 9 regular attendees (including 5 High School students on the team, Rev. Lindiwe, myself, and 7 dedicated parents), meet at 5 pm for an hour of activity in the church most Sundays. Parents are encouraged to stay.

Each week, the children focus on a particular Bible lesson or theme and have the chance to deepen their understanding of key Christian concepts through discussion, questioning, reflection, music, dance, art and craft, and prayer. The children "break bread" together at the end of the session when they gather to share a light meal kindly prepared by one or two of their parents. Although JC was originally aimed at the 7+ age group, some younger siblings have successfully joined the sessions to become keen and enthusiastic members of the group.

Junior Church is fortunate to have the support and input, over the next few months,

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of five secondary school-aged volunteers, three of whom are working towards achieving Duke of Edinburgh Awards. A highlight was some of JC singing at the Carol Service.

The focus now for the JC planning team will be to explore how more children could be encouraged to join the sessions and to incorporate the children's ideas and "voice" into the planning process.

Kath Edwards

It’s been another busy year for Diddy Disciples; the group remains as popular as ever and is well attended most weeks. Since Mimi and Emma, the

founding leaders of Diddy, stepped back in spring 2023, we’ve had a rota of parents

running Diddy each week, with three key volunteers leading a session most months and others supporting on an ad hoc basis. We have between 6-16 children attending weekly and have expanded our core group by welcoming new parents and children this year as regular members. The children are engaged and active during the sessions, with singing and crafts being key

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highlights. The congregation have once or twice heard very enthusiastic groups shouting ‘hallelujah!’ We endeavor to use the wonderful church grounds and get outside when possible to incorporate nature into the sessions and explore the world around us, bringing elements of what we are learning to life.

Katy Winter

CHILDREN AND FAMILES

At St. John's, we've had another eventful year filled with various activities. Our journey began in February with the delightful Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party. It was a well-attended event where everyone enjoyed delicious pancakes with various toppings. Alongside activities and crafts for the children to engage in.

As Lent came it an end, we had the Diddy Disciple’s Good Friday workshop. It is designed to present the story of Holy Week in a child-friendly manner, it offered an insightful experience for the children. Later in the simmer, we had a bring-and-share meal, with fun old school sports activities led by Julie and Vaughan, which brought much joy and fun for our little people.

Wrapping up the year, our Crib Service was well attended. Children enthusiastically participated in the story of Jesus's birth; the children got to wear cool costumes lent to us by St John’s school.

Our Little Groovers community continues to flourish,

with a consistent attendance of 15-20 families each week. We also introduced singing and storytelling which proved to be a hit among the toddler, bring much fun, joy and dancing. We were sad to say goodbye to Emma over the summer. We're grateful for everything she did at John’s and wish her well in the future.

PCC SECRETARY & ELECTORAL ROLL OFFICER’S REPORT

In 2023/24, we witnessed the growth of our church family with several new additions to the electoral roll. We are grateful for these new members and would like to remind everyone that there is still time to add your names to the 2024/25 roll. Additionally, in the past year, a new challenge emerged as I took on the role of PCC secretary. Fortunately, this coincided with the publication of the new PCC Secretary's handbook, which I am currently navigating. I participated in an online PCC Secretary's conference last year and am scheduled to attend another later in 2024.

Luanne Higgins - PCC Secretary & Electoral Roll Officer.

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FIRST MONDAY CLUB

Another fun filled year with the First Monday Club – in church when the weather is chilly with quizzes, and craft activities and outside during the warmer weather with visits to Marble Hill and Claremont gardens, Ham House, Bushey Park and the Isabella plantation. We had a river trip to Hampton Court and back and always tea and cake. Come and join us - Jo Need.

SJC GARDENING TEAM

The SJC Gardening Team is dedicated to nurturing the church grounds, creating a welcoming natural haven for the community to enjoy. As you stroll by, you may find joy in the scent of roses, the sight of the magnolia tree in full bloom, or the cheerful presence of daffodils — we hope each may lift your spirits. While we may not quite rival the renowned gardens of Wisley just yet, our lush, expertly-tended grass is certainly a point of pride, thanks to Chris, our resident grass guru.

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As summer approaches, we envision the lawns vibrant with picnickers enjoying the serene setting.

You might also have noticed some new additions at the back of the church. Adjacent to the brick wall, to the right of Helene Keates' camellia bushes, are two young yellow broom bushes. These newcomers have braved the winter and promise to dazzle with bursts of yellow once they bloom. Additionally, miniature pink rose bushes now line the stone steps at the rear and flank the main entrance door at ground level, enhancing the church’s charm.

We're particularly proud of the flower bed to the left of the main entrance, which has flourished beautifully. The white choisya bush there is a testament to Trisha’s dedicated efforts. On the other side of the church, the purple irises continue to captivate for a second year in the flower bed nearest the high altar. Purple holds significant biblical symbolism, making them a perfect fit for that setting. Our team thoroughly enjoys the time spent tending to these grounds and warmly invites anyone with a bit of free time to join us. Whether or not gardening is your passion, we encourage you to visit and take in the beauty that nature offers here. Chris, Trisha and Karoline.

BEDELSFORD SCHOOL

Bedelsford School has accepted a kind offer to use the church space to run a cafe service, the Best Bedelsford Café, on Thursdays in term-time between 10.00 and 11.30 a.m. This has provided our students with valuable work experience as they have taken part in making teas and coffees and serving these, along with snacks, to guests at the cafe. We have welcomed church staff, parents, other pupils, and visitors from other schools, and it has been really valuable for our students to experience the roles of a barista. We would love to welcome all parishioners to our cafe to show you the wonderful things our students are capable of.

Phil Skippon - Head of Secondary and Sixth Form.

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REFUGEE ACTION KINGSTON

Refugee Action Kingston (RAK) has been delivering wraparound services in the church on Wednesdays with ten staff members and up to twenty volunteers. This includes advice and guidance, English classes, immigration and welfare advice, counseling, health events, cooking classes, and hot meals. In the last year, they have also been joined by a group of volunteers from a local charity, RBKares, who run a popular afternoon sewing group.

This year, they used the Parish Hall during the exam period and to deliver a Get Active course in partnership with Kingston Council. This work has put St John's at the heart of Refugee Action Kingston's service delivery with

up to 60 people dropping in every week and up to 300 different people visiting St John's in the last year. Some of these are the most vulnerable and socially isolated, having very recently arrived with no language, living in temporary accommodation, or in a few cases, homeless; many of them are uncertain of their future.

There is an after-school club for newly arrived refugee children and their parents where children can get support to catch up with their peers, and parents get help with English and understanding how to access services they need.

RAK staff have told us of the difference that working at St John’s with us makes to their clients. They have a safe and welcoming place to come where they can feel less socially isolated and lonely, meet their friends, improve their confidence to communicate in an informal setting, and they can try new things while they integrate into the community. Although some of the refugees are Christian, people of all backgrounds and faiths have said how they feel at home and enjoy coming to the

church, and in March, a group visited All Saints Church for a guided tour, and others have attended concerts and English conversation there. Happily, their future partnership with us is now secure as they have recently been awarded funding from the Big Lottery Community Fund commencing in April for the next four years.

Jenny Arokiasamy - Learning Manager

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HALL ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

The hall had another busy year, with our regular hirers continuing to enjoy using it for their activities. With the Badminton group, Pilates, Jiu Jitsu, Teddy tennis, the Rose Youth Theatre, the Spring Grove Fringe, a Mother and Baby group, and a new Poco Loco Salsa dance class, along with private events and weekend children’s parties, the hall remains an important and sought-after venue. We were sorry to see the Ballet School leave in March, partly due to parking difficulties. The hall continued to be regularly professionally cleaned.

Thank you to Ray, our Caretaker, for his continued conscientious care of the hall and for looking after our occasional hirers in a friendly manner. Also, a big thank you to Caroline Overholt, who cheerfully and proficiently took over the Caretaker role during the weeks when Ray was away. The Hall Committee met regularly and played an important part in keeping the hall in good repair and safe condition for everyone to use. Their wisdom and practical support were very much appreciated.

Frances Hazelgrove - Hall Administrator.

ST JOHN’S PARISH HALL - TREASURER’S REPORT Finance Report for the year ended 31 December 2023

The Parish Hall achieved a surplus of £4,556 in 2023 with total funds standing at £86,618 at the year end. Income was down by 12% at £20,460 (£23,367 in 2022) but this is mostly a reflection of the loss of Kingston Kindergarten who closed at the end of the first quarter of 2022. 80% of our income came from regular hirers with highest usage by Jiu Jitsu and Spring Grove Fringe. Income from occasional hire chiefly for children’s parties fell slightly, although bookings were fairly buoyant across the year.

Expenses at £15,904 were just £1,000 higher than last year, despite much higher energy and water costs (up 74%). In addition to weekly cleaning, we continued to repair or replace things when necessary while avoiding major expenditure. The Hall Committee has an ambition to radically improve access and toilet facilities plus replace the windows and doors and fully redecorate the Hall. The cost implications are significant, and we will apply for funding from grants and trusts to add to our own reserves. Until we can fully implement this project, we will carry out some minor redecoration.

Special thanks go to Frances Hazelgrove who manages the Hall bookings so diligently for us and to Ray Symons for looking after the Hall and grounds, plus the staff of Paragon Green Cleaning for their service. Our thanks also go to Michael Wraight for overseeing Hall maintenance, to Jan Hartley for leading the Hall management committee and to all our hirers for their valued support.

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Tony Hardy - Church & Hall Treasurer

SAFEGUARDING REPORT

It is the responsibility of the Parish Safeguarding Officers and the PCC to provide an Annual report on Safeguarding and to report that it is in compliance with the duty to ‘have due regard’ to the House of Bishops’ (‘HOB’) Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance.

Currently Pat Askey and Grant Vanstone are holders of the joint role of PSO’s.

A review of policies is due by October this year.

Further training sessions for the PSO’s are contemplated by the Diocese.

An Audit of Parish Safeguarding was carried out in November 2023 with due regard to the House of Bishops guidance. This review is still not complete, and specific checks still need to be made to see that all PCC members are up to date with their three yearly updates in Safeguarding training.

Insurance cover and rental agreements have been audited and are in compliance with the HOB guidance.

Safeguarding is at the heart of all activities that the church and PCC are involved in.

Safeguarding is now an agenda item at every PCC meeting.

Formal notices are displayed as advised by the HOB guidance with the contact details of the various officers. Photos are now displayed of the Officers.

We have procedures in place to deal promptly with any safeguarding allegation or suspicion of abuse however this will need to be kept constantly under review and a further audit prior to Oct of 2024 in line with the new changes and audit process introduced by the Diocese after the 2019 review and the restrictions and difficulties caused by COVID 19. A three yearly review and update with regard to Safeguarding policies and training is being implemented and is under review of all members of the PCC’s now and in the future.

We have systems in place to ensure that any known offender or others who pose risks to children are identified.

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There are some other final checks that need to be reviewed regrading training and certificates although the policies and procedures are in place but as is always the case, they need to be more robust and kept under review.

Risk assessments are carried out in relation to all activities that take place within the church and the areas under its responsibility and guidance is provided to all who hire premises under the church’s responsibility. Thankfully there have been no major issues reported again this year.

Strong and robust procedures tend to ensure the likelihood of any issues become less likely and if arising are dealt with appropriately and without as much pain and difficulty than if there are less stringent checks in place.

Grant Vanstone – Parish Safeguarding Officer

SACRED SPACE KINGSTON

Unfortunately, Sacred Space has pretty much ceased to function. We still meet up occasionally for a meal together, but our numbers have dwindled to the point where it is no longer sustainable as a Fresh Expression of Church. However, from September 2023 to March 2024, I facilitated a weekly silent meditation at All Saints, and David conducted a spirituality trail for a participant in a yoga class held in St John’s Church building. I have some ideas for outreach which I plan to share at the PCC away day. These ideas could potentially revive Sacred Space as a missional community. However, I will not proceed with these plans without the support of the PCC and input from other members of St John’s congregation.

Andrea Campanale

SERVERS

As servers in the church, our role is to assist the vicar during the service. We prepare the altar for communion before the congregation arrives, which can be a wonderful, peaceful time to appreciate our beautiful church. Our main duty is to assist during communion, helping with the bread and wine. We would welcome more people to join us in serving. If you feel this could be something for you, please don't hesitate to speak to any of the servers or to Lindiwe.

Nev Hall SIDES-PEOPLE

A big thank you to our dedicated Sides-people Team for their commitment, warm welcome, and gracious hospitality. They assist with seating arrangements, guidance, and are composed when responding to emergencies. Throughout the past year, they have welcomed hundreds of people to our church, their efforts have ensured that everyone who enters our church feels embraced and valued. Their contributions

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make a significant difference on our church and community, and we really appreciate them. Thank you for all that you do - Rev’d Lindiwe

PASTORAL TEAM REPORT

Our pastoral team continues to coordinate our pastoral work. We meet every two months after church to discuss any pastoral needs within our parish, update our progress, and agree on our next steps.

If you know of anyone in need of our support, or if you would like to join our team, please do contact Julie or Lindiwe.

Julie Bishop

TEAM RECTOR’S REPORT

‘Now the green blade riseth’ is a wonderful Eastertide hymn that comes to mind when thinking of the new signs of growth in all three of our churches in the Kingston Team Ministry.

Rev Lindiwe Maseko was licensed as Team Vicar of St John the Evangelist (Spring Grove) in January 2023. The joy shared at that service has continued to spread through her ministry with local schools, the Little Groovers, the Diddy Disciples and a new Sunday afternoon Junior Church. It’s the one church in the team where children sometimes outnumber adults! Meanwhile, a brilliant group of volunteers runs a very successful bar at the regular Banquet Record gigs, engaging warmly with the music fans while ensuring a good income stream for the church.

At St John the Baptist (Kingston Vale) they continue to host a wonderful programme of community events in their orchard. The highlight in 2023 was undoubtedly a fabulous Coronation Garden Party. For much of the year Rev Mandy Beck took on extra leadership responsibility at the Mental Health Trust where she works part-time. Thankfully, Lindiwe was able to offer a day a week to provide some ministerial cover, while Mandy was working an extra day at the hospital. This just shows how helpful it is to have a team ministry. Mandy then took a well-deserved sabbatical in the autumn and is now back to her normal pattern, helping St John’s in the Vale to look at some exciting plans for the future.

At All Saints we went big on the Coronation, broadcasting the national online service on the preceding Sunday and then hosting the Borough’s celebration with an amazing street procession that culminated in a packed-out church service. This was quickly followed by the Ordination Service for priests in the Kingston Episcopal Area – and the arrival of our curate, Rev Sarah Williams. Sarah has since been involved in many of

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our new initiatives, notably a Youth Café on Sunday afternoons and a Bereavement Café once a fortnight. In September we also started ‘Lifting Young Voices’ which is a project led by our Director of Music, David Condry. It involves him going into two primary schools (St John’s CofE and St Joseph’s RC) every week to teach class singing lessons. At the same time, he runs a Junior Choir for children aged 7-10. We hope to expand this programme to include more schools and to integrate our Junior Choir into the church community.

I’m very grateful to Mandy, Lindiwe and Sarah. It is a blessing to have a team of colleagues who enjoy meeting up with one another every week for prayer and mutual support. We’re also very grateful for the wider ministry team that includes our ordained colleagues, Rev Sandy Cragg and Rev William Allberry, and our licensed lay ministers, Isobel Robinson, Andrea Campanale and Penny Jivani.

Finally, it’s good to have a team outing every so often and I was delighted that a coach full of people from all three churches enjoyed a day out to Salisbury Cathedral in October. New friendships always emerge from days like this and I look forward to many more.

As a way of summarising our common faith and fellowship, let me finish with the hymn that I started with:

‘Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green’

Rev. Joe Moffatt - The Vicar, All Saints Church Kingston

TEAM VICAR’S REPORT

2023 was a blessed year at St John’s as new families have joined the congregation and we have begun experimenting with new service styles. It has been a delight on the last Sunday of the month to have a music group playing. Many people stepped-up into new roles, including Vicky Capanna who ran Messy Church on Putney Vale from September after Lindiwe finished her one day a week ministry support covering for Mandy, which was another innovation in 2023. Vicky has also taken on the role of treasurer which was a great deal of work as the books were in a bad state. This has now been resolved by Vicky with our paid bookkeeper Mel. Ki Moon Kwon has been a great churchwarden, learning the ropes alongside Beverley Morley-Brown.

For the first time on Easter Sunday, we had a play and Easter Eggstravaganza with animals to pet in our garden. This is one of the ways we have experimented sharing the joy of the Christian message with the whole community. We have also enjoyed worshipping with the choir and traditional worship on other Sundays. The 9 lessons

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and carols service, and crib service were great celebrations.

On a more personal note, as vicar, I took a sabbatical and quite literally walked away. Completing two pilgrimages the Camino Inglés in Spain and Kumano Kodo in Japan. This reminded me of the deep spiritual blessing of prayerful connection to God in the world He created and ancient places of worship. My thanks go to Penny Jivani, John Waddleton, Beverley Morley-Brown, Ki Moon Kwon, Christina Renner-Thomas, Lorna Ailes, Sue Richardson and many others who rose to the challenge and ran things so smoothly with the visiting presidents, especially Carole Bourne.

The relationship between the team churches has continued to grow. At the beginning of the year, Lindiwe Maseko from St John the Evangelist provided cover for one day a week, enabling Mandy to extend her work hours at the hospital. Additionally, Lindiwe initiated a Messy Church project in Putney Vale. and Joe Moffat led services and PCC meetings during my sabbatical. Lindiwe helped at St John’s because I had been asked to take on the role of lead chaplain at Southwest London and St George’s NHS trust (based at Springfield and Tolworth). Many of you may know that I am employed halftime by the diocese as vicar of St John’s and half-time by the NHS as a mental health chaplain. During 2023 my role at the trust was to lead the interfaith team to cover the sick leave of Tuulia Castledene.

The year was not without its challenges, several people within the church have faced personal health struggles and bereavement. Marion Nevill, Pat Moses, Pru Coyne and Pete Hodges, all long-standing members of our congregation, sadly died.

Church members have taken on new roles or continued diligently in old roles, I wish to thank all those who give their skills, time, money and talents to enable our church to serve this community and be a place of worship and fellowship.

I will end on a note of blessing, as we have been blessed at St John’s with wonderful people. Once more, we had many parties and events organised by a great team led by Sue Richardson, probably most notably the Coronation Party which even made it onto Slovenian TV! We found ways to reach out and care for others, including raising thousands of pounds for the Turkish Earthquake appeal.

Rev. Amanda Beck Team Vicar, St. John the Baptist, Kingston & Putney Vale

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ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST, KINGSTON UPON THAMES

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AFFAIRS : YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

INCOME	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023	2022
Gift Aid	24410		24410	25296
Income Tax Recovered	8987		8987	8935
Loose Collections/Card Reader	4611		4611	4530
Donations/Grants	1629	2855	4484	1757
Little Groovers	1687		1687	3261
Fund Raising - General	22857		22857	20285
Church Fees (net)	1141		1141	1102
Church Hire	16543		16543	16613
University Rent	16675		16675	16675
Interest	1364		1364	441
Missions	2106		2106	3494
Misc. Receipts	27		27	1451
TOTAL	£102,037	£2,855	£104,892	£103,839
EXPENDITURE	Unrestricted	Restricted	2023	2022
Missions & Affiliation Fees	2112		2112	3780
Education	441		441	393
Little Groovers	399		399	2564
Parish Support Fund	48960		48960	48000
Clergy Expenses	522		522	398
Church Administrator/PCC Sec	4234		4234	2496
Organist Salary, Organ/Music	1877		1877	1740
Heating & Lighting	13026		13026	7143
Water Rates	291		291	192
Insurance	5815		5815	5559
Fundraising Expenses	12328		12328	7284
Church Repairs/Maintenance	11728		11728	8874
Printing, Postage & Stationery	4638		4638	3948
Sundry Expenses	2518		2518	2125
TOTAL	£108,890	£0	£108,890	£94,496
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)	-£6,853	£2,855	-£3,998	£9,343
Transfer to reserves
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR THE YEAR			-£3,998	£9,343
ADD ASSETS FROM 2022 BALANCE SHEET			£92,551	£83,208
ASSETS FROM 2023 BALANCE SHEET			£88,553	£92,551

STJOHN THE EVANGEUST. KINGSTON UPON THAMES BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 2023 2022 CURRENT ASSErs Debtors Bank Current Account Depostt Funds 1932 19443 71182 2379 21218 72715 £92.557 £96.312 LESS . CURRENT LIABILrriES Sundry Creditors -3790 NET ASSETS É88.553 É92.522 REPRESENTED BY . Unrestricted Fund Restricted Fund IAI- ReReneration Restritted Fund IBI - LeRacv Restricted Fund ICI- Kin%ston RefuRee Restrirted Fund IDI - Family 25564 39538 20596 30676 39538 20596 1742 2855 £88.553 £92.552 Restricted Restricted Restricted Restricted NET ASSETS . 31 DECEMBER 2023 Balances at l January 2022 Income Expenditure Surplus IDeficTtI Transfers between funds Unrestrirt 30676 102037 -1088 -6853 1742 Totals 92552 1(14892 -108890 -3998 39538 20596 1742 2855 2855 -1742 Balances at 31 December 2023 £25.564 £39.538 £20.596 £0 £2.855 £88.553 Si%ned Church Treasurer si￿ned Team Vicar Independent Examiners Report I report on the accounts of St John the EvanRelist, KinRSton upon Thames for the year ended 3ty12123. My examination was carried out in accordance wÈth the 2eneral directions Riven by the Charity Comtssion. This includes a review of the accountin2 records kept by the church and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. I have examined the SOFA and Balance Sheet and confirm that these are in accordance with the accountinR records. receipts. invoices. statements and d¢xuments submitted to me. SiRned . £Ll￿ Independent Examiner