Hanborough PCC Annual Report 2024
## **Annual Report of the Hanborough PCC for 2024**
## **1. RECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2023 TO 2024**
Last year I spoke of the “wind of the Holy Spirit” bringing new things to our churches at Hanborough and Freeland. I echo the same for this last 12 months. The church is the body of Christ, where the Spirit-given gifts of all come together to glorify Christ and to build the kingdom of God. And it has been great to see many, including new people and new gifts, using a wonderfully wide variety of God-given talents to serve God and his people. In no particular order, we have seen gifts of administration, music, serving, preaching, service-leading, financial stewardship, event planning, inviting, teaching, hosting, praying, providing transport, pastoral care, buildings maintenance, and much more.
What I have seen emerging in so many over the last 12 months is an ever-growing heart to bring the good news of Jesus to our communities. This has been evident in everything from the development of the spire and path projects at St Peter and Paul, new musicians, people enquiring about authorised ministry and other servant leadership, evangelistic events from the Just for Starters course to the planning of Alpha and curry evenings with Christian talks, the launch of an event planning team, running school assemblies and other events for our local schoolchildren, taking funerals, visiting Freeland House, Bible Fun Clubs, choral Evensongs, administration for Sunday worship rotas, PCCs, Vision Group and Roundtables, social and evangelistic events, house group hosting, preaching series on Genesis (Joseph), Hebrews, Isaiah, 1 & 2 Timothy, and Mark’s Gospel. To all of these we can add the beer festival, an extremely well attended series of Christmas services and other events, our outreach events at Halloween, the church cricket match in the summer, BeSpace school prayer event at St Mary’s, and a great fun quiz at Christ Church in January, to name but some. We also have plans in place and funded to upgrade the west end back room at Christ Church, while at St Mary’s the creation of a children’s area among the pews has had a major impact on the parents who attend. Our First Steps baby and toddler group continues to thrive, thanks to a fantastic team.
Of course, 2024-25 has also been hallmarked by quite a number of our loved church family members moving away to different parts of the country. We miss them greatly, but it has been wonderful to see others step up to fill the gaps they have left. God has blessed us well in this, and actually when we look at the numbers over the last three or four years, our churches’ attendances, despite many moving away, have actually remained consistent – and in parts grown.
We have been incredibly well served by our PCC members across the benefice and our churchwardens, Saskia Emma Merry and Steven Young at Hanborough, and I give great thanks to God for all of you. There remain some leadership and administrative gaps however, and one of my prayers for 2025 is that these might be filled. Administration may not be an “up the front” or glamorous ministry, but it is essential to the running of a healthy church. I would also like to give great thanks to our Associate Rector Mike and curate Heather whose wisdom, prayers, and above all devotion to the Lord has been
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wonderful blessing not only to me personally, but to the benefice as a whole. We will miss both Heather and Mike greatly as they move on to pastures new this year. Let us be powerful in praying-in those whom God will raise up to co-serve in leadership in this benefice.
There is no true church without the Word of God in Scripture being faithfully preached week by week, and so I do want to offer a particular thank you to those who take on this “noble task” and do so with such conviction, faith and humility. And I repeat my thoughts from last year, that the only measure by which God assesses us is the heart inclined to Him. Not numbers, not finances, not the quality of our buildings, but the inclination of our hearts to Him. Numbers and finances and quality of buildings are important, but they must be nothing but a function of our love for Jesus Christ, for his people and for the world to see many saved by the blood of Christ.
Hanborough and Freeland is a wonderful place to serve, and I am confident that if we commit ourselves even more to prayer, to tithing, to serving, and to simply loving one another in Christ Jesus, we will continue to see our heavenly Father do great things among us by his Spirit through the good news of Jesus Christ.
Huge thanks to all of you who serve our loving God so faithfully, with such humility and with a heart of love for Jesus. Let our risen, loving God have the final word, from our series on Paul’s pastoral letters to Timothy:
Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. ... Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory (1 Timothy 3:13-16).
With my love and prayers for us all in Christ Jesus, Steve
## **2. AIM AND PURPOSES**
Hanborough PCC is responsible for working with the Rector to promote the ecclesiastical parish and the whole mission of the Church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It has met four times since the last APCM, with attendance ranging between 60% and 90%. Minutes or reports from Area Leads, committees and other meetings were received and responded to as necessary.
## **3. OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship God in our Parish of Hanborough. The PCC has an overview of the worship throughout the parish. All services and worship in the parish seek to nurture faith through prayer, scripture, music and sacrament. This is done when planning activities for the year, having consideration for the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We try to enable people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:
- Worship, teaching and prayer
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- Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish.
- Missionary and outreach work through Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals, as well as
- services for special occasions, special events and providing help to those in need.
We are grateful for all the services provided by our clergy (Steve, Mike and Heather) and our retired clergy. It is also good to have many other members of our churches taking leading roles. In order to facilitate this work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Church Hanborough, and Christ Church in Long Hanborough and this is ably overseen by our Churchwardens.
## **4. THE LIFE AND WORSHIP OF THE CHURCH:**
## 4.1. Sunday services
In 2024-2025, we continued to enjoy a regular pattern of 10 AM services in all three churches across the benefice, with occasional joint or whole-Benefice services. We are grateful to our current 5-strong team of ordained clergy who lead most services, and it is a great blessing and testimony to “all-member” ministry and the biblical principle “priesthood of all believers” at Hanborough and Freeland that we also enjoy the enormously wide range of lay ministries which are a feature of our services. These include service leading, preaching, leading prayers, assisting at communion, Bible reading, children and youth work leaders, testimonies, musicianship, sidespersons, welcomers, people on audiovisual and other tech – and of course those who so graciously put the rotas of ministries together season-by-season. Thank you, everyone, for all the great and faithful work that you do.
We are also greatly blessed with a wide variety of musical gifts across the Benefice, enjoying everything from keyboards and organ to guitars, flutes, and cajon. The Benefice has developed over the years styles of worship driven not by a fixed ideal, but by the gifts which God has given the members. This means that today across the Benefice we have everything from band-led worship, to Eucharistic, to choral Evensong, prayerfocused café-style services, informal all-age, and seasonal carols traditional and modern. As I said to someone who asked me 20 years ago why we had drums in a service, “because we have a drummer”.
Although we try to provide a Sunday morning service at all three churches each week, our joint and whole-benefice services havebeen great and well attended. With Mike and Heather moving on this year, we may see more of these as resources are stretched. But we also need to be praying for God to raise up among us more men and women to lead and preach.
Enormous thanks to all who make our Sunday worship a blessing to each other and to our communities. And this year I want to give a special thank you to all who provide refreshments and washing up after services for that supremely important time of fellowship and welcome. Thank you all so much for all you do, with a quiet and generous servant heart
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## 4.2. Area - Youth and children – Denise Ball and Mands Stewart
## _Children's Church, Christ Church_
We have continued to run children's activities over the past year at the back of Christ Church, using the excellent craft provided from First Steps. With some families having moved away, this has suited us well. Over the next term we are looking forward to seeing the back room made fit for purpose so we can use it to provide better children's work.
## 4.3. Area – Home groups and small groups
Over the last year as a church community, we have facilitated several House Groups of various types and sizes across the three villages. These House Groups either meet in people’s homes or online and are attended by members from all three of our churches. Over the last year the following House Groups have met as follows.[1]
- Pippa’s Group (8pm Tuesday evening in Freeland).
- Feast Group (8pm Tuesday evening in Long Hanborough).
- Knights Johnston Group (8pm Wednesday evening in Long Hanborough).
- Online Group led by Pam Berry (7.30pm usually on a Wednesday evening).
- The Open House led by Mands Stewart (9.30 am Tuesday mornings, St Mary’s Freeland).
Around fifty percent of our church community attend House Groups, with all of our House Groups drawing people from at least two and in some cases all three churches from across our Benefice and beyond. A typical House Group evening combines a mixture of catching up over coffee, studying the bible, and prayer, although each group does have its own flavour. Some focus on exegesis, others focus on prayer or sung worship.
As you can see from the above, there are a variety of House Groups attended by people from across the Benefice. Our vision for our House Groups is for them all to be a place of safety where we can study the Bible, pray, support one another, have fellowship and fun. All our groups are open to new members, of all ages from all of our churches and beyond. If anyone would like to join a group, please contact Rev Mike Madden.
## 4.4. Area – Benefice-Wide Social events
Emma Young organised a quiz night and supper for the whole benefice at Christ Church on 3 February 2024.
On 8 March 2024, we held “an Evening of Christian Poetry” at Christ Church. This was a lovely event, lit by candles, and enhanced by Simon Yates playing delightful music as people arrived. Participants signed on a list when they wanted to read, and 25 people
> 1 [1] Please note most of our House Groups only meet formally during term time. The Knights Johnston House Group does not meet on the first Wednesday of each month to allow people to attend the Benefice prayer meeting, and the Madden House Group is no longer meeting.
Hanborough PCC Annual Report 2024
read poetry ranging from Psalms to reflections on Gaza. It was very beautiful. We enjoyed hot drinks and cake. Thank you to everyone who came along and contributed. On 20 September 2024, I hosted a Benefice Ladies Night at my house. It was a lovely warm evening, and people ate and chatted inside and in the garden. Everyone brought food to share, and it was quite a feast. It was a good opportunity for friendship and fellowship, and we all met new people.
On Saturday 9 November 2024, Steve and Emma Young hosted “Baked Potatoes and Baked Beans”, an evening at their house in Cassington, where more than 30 people met, chatted, and shared food.
Unfortunately, I was taken ill in November with shingles and it has taken me a while to recover. I was not able to organise the Safari Drinks and Nibbles at New Year, and I have not felt energised enough to off anything new since. Hopefully that will change now. Other events
There have been various successful events held across the Benefice which have developed the Church’s social cohesion and offered Outreach to the wider community. These have included Brick Church, held at St Mary’s, the Escape Room, held at Christ Church.
On 24th January Christ Church hosted an all-age quiz. With Becca and Eddie as excellent quiz masters, and a baked potato with chilli meal provided by various volunteers, it was a fun evening. There were 9 teams of 4-6 people; about half of the participants were not current members of Christ Church. The team of youngsters won, but as the prize was entry to the Beer Festival they kindly donated this to the runners up and were rewarded with chocolate instead.
## _Looking forward_
I am planning to offer a walk around the Blenheim grounds one Sunday after church, but first the rain and then floods, then illness and other matters have blocked the dates I had in mind. It will happen!
I am also planning to suggest group attendance at a summer religious festival, and I am thinking about organising a Safari Supper evening in the autumn.
## 4.5. Area – Prayer – Mands Stewart and Nigel Knights Johnson
Last autumn we had a Children and Youth Prayer meeting and a Half Night of Prayer at Christ Church. This term we repeated both at St Mary’s Church. They were both great times of seeking the Lord and praying for God’s kingdom to come here on earth. We were encouraged by the words and pictures shared as God spoke to us. I’m looking forward to organising these two prayer events for the summer term at St Peter and St Paul Church. Then repeating the cycle for 2025/2026.
Open House Prayer Group: The Open House Prayer group continues to meet weekly where we enjoy fellowship, worship and praying for God’s love, mercy and grace to be poured out on Freeland and the surrounding villages. This term we have been seeking God and listening to what He is calling us to do next. This may mean changes which will hopefully make us stronger in prayer across the Benefice.
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Prayer Ministry in the Benefice: this has been on hold for the moment as we seek the best way forward. Do pray for doors to be opened so prayer ministry teams can be set up and run across all three churches.
The monthly Meetings for Prayer on the first Wednesday evening of each month have continued successfully through the last year with a steady core of people attending, and occasionally a strong number of extra people able to come. The commitment to prayer, and enthusiasm to attend by those who do ensures a wonderful heavenly covering of all we seek to do in the Benefice.
## 4.6. Finances – Treasurer’s Report based on 2024 Accounts
The statement of financial activities on page two of the annual accounts (circulated separately) shows the total income in 2024 was £96,390 (2023 £113,636) a decrease of 15% (£17,246). The full breakdown of the incoming resources can be seen by looking at page 4. Giving received from bank, parish giving and tax recoveries in 2024 total £80,806 (2023 £84,487) which accounts for some of the decrease this year, as well as restricted donations and beer festival income in 2023 being higher. Fees received were also slightly down from £5181 in 2023 to £4420 in 2024.
Going back to page 2 the resources expended in 2024 are though also lower than in 2023 at £98,680 (2023 £129,122) meaning that the net result although a deficit is not as high a deficit as in 2023. The lower building, equipment and PCC event costs in 2024 contributing to the majority of this. Net result for the year is a deficit of £2,290 (2023 £15,486). Our total funds held at the end of 2024 are £90,851, the breakdown of which is shown on the balance sheet on page 3.
Page 5 shows where the missions and charities donations have been given totalling £7,548.
Page 6 shows how the restricted, designated and unrestricted funds are made up totalling £90,851, the split is as follows - Restricted Funds - £20,570 Designated Funds - £16,453 and Unrestricted Funds - £53,828.
I would like to register my thanks to the clergy and church wardens for their support to me in this role , also to Hazel Bowman who after over many years collating the envelope giving information has now stepped down from this role. Also, thanks to all who support the church in their giving.
## 4.7. Pastoral care in the parish – Rev. Heather Mc Culloch
The pastoral care team leaders for the Benefice remain as last year in St. Mary’s and Christ Church. The role of pastoral care team leader is fulfilled by the Clergy Team at St. Peter and St. Paul. The team leaders are listed in the Benefice News email and can be contacted at any time if someone has a concern. The team leaders are supported in their role by a wider team at each of our churches.
The pastoral care team help to ensure that members of our churches are supported appropriately as need arises and that the clergy are kept up to date so that no one is missed. Over the course of the last year this has included celebrating the safe arrival of some new babies and young children, along with condolences to those who have been bereaved. Meal’s rotas have been organised, and people have been visited or prayed for.
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In addition to Clergy, some members of the pastoral team also make pastoral visits to people at home from time to time. In this case, an enhanced DBS and a risk assessment are required in addition to the Basic and Foundation, and Domestic Abuse levels of safeguarding training. Some of this training is still in progress.
The pastoral care team continue to develop this role and strengthen the pastoral care across our churches. **After I have left the Benefice this summer, overseeing the team will pass to Steve and Mike.**
## 4.8. Schools’ work
Collective Worship: As a clergy team along with the Methodists and Catholics, we continue to provide weekly Christian Collective Worship in both schools based on the schools’ theme for the term. We have continued to run seasonal services at Christmas, Easter, and Harvest for both primary schools, and host these in our churches.
BeSpace prayer spaces: We have worked with both our Primary Schools; Hanborough Manor and Freeland, to put on a week of prayer spaces facilitated by BeSpace. Both weeks were brilliant fun, and we had the help of many of the members of our churches to supervise the prayer spaces. Both schools were able to offer every child the opportunity to come into the prayer spaces and participate in all the activities.
Hanborough Manor School: Saskia Emma (Foundation Governor) and Nick Wood (Director Appointed Governor), both members of our churches, have been trying to support the school’s desire to increase connections with the church.
## 4.9. Supporting Ecumenical Relationships
- Anglican and Methodist ministers continued to enjoy good relationships, meeting from time to time, and work together with Father Martin from the Catholic Church. It was good for the local ministers to come together this year for the licensing of Rev Sue Jacobs as the new Methodist minister. Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic ministers work closely together to deliver collective worship assemblies across our schools. The service for Remembrance Sunday is shared, alternating between the Methodist and Anglican Church when the church welcomes the local uniformed organizations before processing to the War Memorial for the two-minutes silence and reading the names from the roll of those who have died in wars. Remembrance Sunday this year was attended by around 300 people. Anglican, Methodist and Roman Catholic ministers have also taken the opportunity to share lunch together this year, sharing thoughts and ideas for the area. Also, in our house and prayer groups, there are some members from other local churches.
## 4.10. Weddings, baptisms, and funerals
## _Christ Church:_
Number of weddings in 2024: 0 Number of funeral services in 2024: 0 Number of memorial services in 2024: 0
Number of interments of ashes in 2024: 0
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_St Peter and St Paul:_
Number of weddings in 2024: 1 (plus 1 marriage thanksgiving) Number of funeral services in 2024: 6 Number of memorial services in 2024: 0 Number of interments of ashes in 2024: 1
In Hanborough parish in 2024, there were 2 weddings (down from 3 from last year), no baptisms and 7 funerals (down from 10 from last year), 1 memorial services and 3 interments of ashes taken. Each provides a not insignificant pastoral and mission opportunity. We are grateful to all the ministers across the Benefice who serve these occasional offices of weddings, baptisms and funerals.
## 4.11. Supporting mission in the U.K. and overseas
The Designated Mission and Charities Fund is calculated as 10% of the previous years unrestricted income under note 2a of the accounts. Of this money 80% is allocated equally between seven charities Church Missionary Society, Innovista, J Abu Bakker, Open Doors, Salvation Army, The Besom and The Porch. The remaining 20% is discussed and donated by the PCC.
|MISSIONS AND CHARITIES|2024|
|---|---|
|WORLDWIDE||
|Church Missionary Society|944|
|Innovista|944|
|J Abu Bakker Christian School India|944|
|Open Doors|944|
|NATIONAL||
|Salvation Army|943|
|LOCAL||
|The Besom|943|
|The Porch|943|
|Good News For Everyone|943|
|TOTAL|7,548|
The Missions and Charities Designated Fund was £8,256, so 80% for the usual seven charities gave them £943.50 each and the balance of £1651 plus the £500 from 2023 carried forward meant that £2,151 was available for the PCC to decide upon the recipient(s) of which £943.50 was agreed to be given to Good News For Everyone. Total given in 2024 was £7,548. For 2025 the Mission Fund is calculated based on unrestricted income received in 2024 of £84,040 @ 10% = £8,404 of which 80% is allocated by quarterly pmt to the seven charities (£960.46 each) leaving £1,681 plus £1208 c/f from 2024 = £2,889 available to donate as PCC directs during 2025.
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## 4.12. Structure, Governance and Management: Administrative Information
Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parish and Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the year the following served as members of the PCC:
|**Description of role**|**Name**|
|---|---|
|Incumbent (Rector):|Rev Steve Stewart|
|Associate Rector:|Rev Mike Madden|
|Curate|Rev Heather McCulloch|
|**Elected members:**||
|Churchwardens:|Dr Steven Young and Ms
Saskia Emma Merry|
|Representative on Deanery Synod:|Dr Steven Young|
|Elected Members:|Mrs Amanda Madden|
||Mrs Gillian Hunt|
||Mr Roger Parrott|
||Mr Clive Berry|
||Liv Singlehurst (co-opted)|
|**Appointments by the PCC:**||
|Vice chair:|Rev Mike Madden|
|Treasurer:|Mrs Wendy Bayliss (co-opted)|
|Secretary:|Dr Pam Berry (co-opted)|
## 4.13. Committees (Standing Committee, CCST / CCVG)
## _Standing Committee_
The functions of the Standing Committee have been carried out by the clergy and wardens who have met around every 4 weeks. (Church Representation Rules M.31). _Christ Church Vision Group (CCVG)._
This team, as a subcommittee of PCC, looks not only at the day-to-day practicalities (e.g., rotas, unlocking, audiovisual, music, hospitality) required for Christ Church for regular 10 AM Sunday services, but also the “vision …and mission of needs of Christ Church in any given season”, and to “serve, help fulfil, and shape the mission and vision of Christ Church”. The vision group meets approximately monthly. _Round Tables_
In 2023, groups similar to the CCVG were set up for both St Mary Freeland and for St Peter and St Paul Church Hanborough. These are known as “Roundtables” (RTs). Like the CCVG, these function as subcommittees of the PCC, to be a forum where members of
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the local congregation meet with the clergy team for prayer, general communication, general admin, birth new initiatives, and promote good discipleship.
## _St Peter and St Paul (P&P-RT)_
The P & P-RT for 2024 was made up of the Clergy Team plus three members of P&P (Nick Wood, Gill Hunt, Amanda Madden). It meets on a regular basis, to provide an informal framework for communication focussing on local issues relevant to P&P. This has included work on the building, operational and pastoral concerns, and exploring and developing P&P’s mission in the parish of Hanborough.
## 4.14. PCC Meetings
Items for PCC discussion (many of which are covered more fully elsewhere in this report), have included: repair of the spire at St Peter and St Paul, repair of the lighting on the spire, better access to the church and the associated issues of lighting and lowering of the North porch, as well as the installation of WiFi to enable better control of the heating. For Christ Church, provision of space for children and youth work has been discussed and currently the area at the back of the church is being renovated for use as a multifunctional space for crèche and children’s work and for prayer and fellowship.
- 4.15. Electoral Roll Report - Sinead Andrews In 2024 there were 74 people on the electoral, but a number of people have moved away or are deceased, so for 2025 there are 36 people on the electoral roll including 10 new names.
## 4.16. Others who serve in various ministries
With the exception of our Rector, Rev. Steve Stewart, our Curate, Heather McCulloch, the Benefice Administrator and our organist and church cleaner, all the other people who minister and serve the churches, including our Associate Rector Rev. Mike Madden, work in a voluntary capacity. The PCC is very grateful to all these people who work in so many different ways to enable the mission of the church.
## 4.17. Churchwarden’s Report 2024
The maintenance and upkeep of the church buildings may be the responsibility of the churchwardens but the many activities and tasks that are ongoing and necessary for our churches are carried out not just by us, but with the help of lots of people across the congregations. We as churchwardens are very grateful to everyone who contributes time and effort to keeping our churches in working order and presentable as living active spaces where people can encounter and worship God.
In the past year there has been a lot of activity to address the urgent need to repair the spire at St Peter and St Paul. An appeal for £350,000 was launched, and through the amazing generosity of the local community and God’s gracious provision the target was quickly reached. A full project team has now been appointed with Peter Preston, our
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church architect, as project manager, and preliminary work has begun. As the church has bats, this year will see an extensive programme of bat surveys (internal and external) through to the end of September; the resulting findings will determine the timing of the actual works on the spire in 2026.
Like many other major church projects, we have been negatively affected by recent changes to the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (LPWGS), so the Securing the Future of St Peter and St Paul (SFSSPP) fundraising committee, of which we are both a part, is applying for additional funds to make up the tax shortfall.
And as we want to secure the future of St Peter and St Paul long term, the Friends are being relaunched. Nick Wood is the new chair of the Friends and Saskia Emma is on this committee. Look out for Friends events coming up from June 2025 onwards, starting with the patronal service on Sunday 29th June.
Improving accessibility for all is a vital part of our focus, and so work is afoot to improve the path at St Peter and St Paul, including adding bat-friendly low level lighting and trunking to enable broadband installation in the future (and to prevent any more cables being cut by over-enthusiastic mowing and strimming!)
Apart from the spire and path work, there are a number of other activities that have taken place in the last year. At St Peter and St Paul these include the replacement of some of the floorboards in the kitchen area, installation of wifi and changes to heating controls so as to be operated remotely. And over at Christ Church work on the back room is underway to make it into a more practical and comfortable space for nursing mothers and children’s work. We are now looking at an external storage solution to enable the chancel to be cleared of extra chairs, First Steps equipment etc.
If there are things that require attention or that you may want to discuss about the churches in our parish, then please do talk to one of us.
## 4.18. Occasional Festivals
This year the joint Remembrance Sunday service with the Methodists was held at the Methodist church. A family carol service for the village and a Christingle Service was held at Christ Church. Exultate Justi have sung choral evensong and contributed to the Christmas service of Nine Lessons and Carols.
## 4.19. Church Flowers - Denise Parrott
It has been difficult at times for me in the past six months whilst I underwent treatment for cancer, but I have managed to arrange fresh flowers in the chancel and on the window sill throughout the year, with the help of Gill Hunt. Together, we have decorated the church for the main festivals of Easter, Harvest and Christmas, with contributions from other members of the congregation and Ann, my Flower Club Chair. Richard and Margaret Wilkins continue to do the Easter Garden and decorate the
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Christmas tree in time for the Manor School Christmas service. Although we have no flowers during Lent and Advent, we do have an Advent candle ring of greenery. My thanks go out to everyone who has helped in any way, including my husband, Roger, who has done much of the fetching and carrying for me and always has the dustpan and brush in hand to ensure that the church is clean.
It would be so good to have other people taking a turn and you do not have to be a flower arranger as you only need to put a few flowers in a vase. Please contact me if you think you could help occasionally, especially at festivals, or give a donation towards the cost of the flowers.
## 4.20. Sacristan Report – Gillian Hunt and Pam Berry
## _SS Peter and Paul_
All is in good order at Ss Peter and Paul. The altar frontals, burse and veil are changed according to the liturgical season. All linen used at Holy Communion is washed and ironed after every use. The altar cloths from the three altars are usually laundered 3 times a year. All Holy Communion vessels are washed after use and stored in the locked cupboard in the vestry. All candles used at Christmas and on the altars are stored in the vestry.
## _Christ Church_
As at Ss Peter and Paul all is in good order and the linen used at Holy Communion is washed and ironed after use. The cloths on the communion table are washed as necessary. All linen is stored in the vestry, as are the Holy Communion vessels and candles for Christmas.
## 4.21. Annual Safeguarding Report for the Benefice of Hanborough – Emma Young
It has been a good year for continuing with high levels of compliance with DBS certification and Safeguarding Training, especially online, across the Parish. I am particularly grateful for the speed with which people are renewing their DBS certification if needed, and for Colin Griffiths’ (Freeland) invaluable work in processing the renewals very quickly.
The big change in the past year has been the new system rolled out by the Diocese for managing the DBS and Training status of people in different roles. Although it took some time to get the data from spreadsheets into the system, the overall impact is a much better and more secure storage of data, as well as a straightforward reporting system to see where updates are needed.
A reminder that anyone who has a role in church leadership, such as PCC or leading a housegroup, should expect to take part in Safeguarding Training, in the same way as all those who work with children and vulnerable adults expect to undergo a DBS check and training.
The PCC is committed to the Safeguarding Policy provided by the Diocese “Promoting a Safer Church”. A copy of this is available from the Parish Safeguarding Officer at any time. The PCC has recently re-affirmed its commitment to the Safeguarding Action Plan, through which the various access of the policy are worked out and monitored.
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In the Parish of Hanborough, the following DBS checks and training have been completed:
||Number of people
with role requiring
DBS/Training|Number of people up
to date with
DBS/Training|
|---|---|---|
|DBS Check|18|18|
|Safeguarding
Training|23|23|
The above numbers exclude members of the clergy, Licensed Lay Ministers and those with Permission to Officiate (as their checks and training are managed from the Diocese). They include anyone else living in Hanborough or mainly worshipping at Christ Church or St Peter and St Paul.
Please see below/over for details of which role in the Parish requires which training – please contact Emma Young if you realise that you need to complete further training.
Finally, I am pleased to confirm that there have been no reports of Safeguarding related incidents in the Parish. Thank you to everyone for rapid compliance. Pray that we continue to make the churches in Hanborough safe places for everyone.
## 4.22. Deanery Synod Annual Report 2024 – Stephanie Lacey
## _Deanery synod meetings_
We have had three meetings since the last APCM. All of these meetings were preceded by a short act of worship, which helped us to focus on God’s love and the work of the church in the deanery.
In July we met at Christ Church, Long Hanborough. On this occasion Revd Duncan Fraser and Revd Jane Wright spoke about the work in their respective parishes: Eynsham and Cassington, and the Barton Benefice. Melanie McGregor talked about a recently formed working group, which is looking into planning Pilgrim Paths around the deanery. She mentioned some of the paths that had already been devised.
In November we went to St Leonard’s Church, Eynsham. Hannah Mann, the Diocesan Environment Officer, spoke about ‘Creation care in our churches – the why, the what, and the how’. Revd Dr Andrew Atherston, our representative on the General Synod, reported back to us on the recent discussions, which included healthy working practices for clergy, safeguarding, transparency and trust, human identity, marriage, and issues related to ‘living in love and faith’. Revd Oliver Petter presented the third in our series of updates from around the benefices and described what had been happening in the Yarnton benefice.
In March we met at St Mary’s Church, Woodstock. Phil Evans spoke to us about ‘Engaging with the world through Christian Aid’. This was followed by Revd Harriet
13
Hanborough PCC Annual Report 2024
Orridge talking about work in the Steeple Aston, North Aston and Tackley benefice. Melanie McGregor provided an update on the Pilgrim Paths initiative.
14
Hanborough PCC Annual Report 2024
||||||**Training Levels**|**Training Levels**|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Role**|**DBS required**|**Basic**|**Foundation**|**Leadership**|**Permission to**
**Officiate**|**PSO**
**Induction**|**Domestic**
**Abuse**|**Safer Recruitment and**
**People Management**|
|Parish Safeguarding Officer|X|X|X|X||X|X|X|
|PCC Member||X|X||||||
|Churchwarden|X|X|X||||||
|LLM|X|X|X|X|||X||
|Clergy team|X|X|X|X|X (if not
eligible for
Leadership)||X|X|
|Area Lead (not Children and Young
People)||X|X||||||
|Area Lead: Children and Young People|X|X|X||||||
|Children and Young People's work|X|X|X||||||
|Housegroup leaders||X|X||||||
|DBS Verifier||X|X|||||X|
|Pastoral Visitors|X|X|X||||X||
|Bell TowerCaptain|X|X|X||||||
15
Hanborough PCC Annual Report 2024
The synod also unanimously passed this proposal to be sent forward to the Diocesan Synod.
‘The Woodstock Deanery Synod would like to propose that in multi-parish benefices (three or more), where there is only one stipendiary priest, that the diocese funds additional administrative support so that the priest is freed to fulfil their missional objectives in relation to serving and caring for the people of God.’
## _Other meetings and services_
There have been several deanery events at St Mary’s in Woodstock. In the Autumn, Revd Steve Stewart from Hanborough spoke about his PHD thesis on ‘the law of Moses in John’s prologue: the Law as central to a Jewish fourth gospel.’ He has now been awarded his doctorate.
Some of us also attended the Lamps performance in October entitled ‘Salt and Light.’ There was a deanery Epiphany Carol Service in January.
In March three of our deanery benefices met together at St Mary’s Church, Wootton for a confirmation service taken by Bishop Gavin.
## _Comings and goings_
Two clergy appointments were made in the summer, with the priests taking up their posts in the Autumn. Revd Esther Lay is now the house for duty priest in the Wootton, Glympton and Kiddington benefice. Revd Sarah Bourne was installed as rector of the Woodstock and Bladon benefice. This means that we have no clergy vacancies at present.
## _Other things to mention_
Several archdeaconry triennial inspections have been carried out during this period by Andrew and Steph, with Revd Jane Haslam, our Associate Archdeacon, joining them on the first day. Since then a new diocesan check list has been devised, which we will use in the future.
Two of our deanery laity have been elected to the diocesan synod. Maria Coonick (Duns Tew) joins Mike Holmes (Woodstock). Revd Harriet Orridge is our only clergy representative on the synod, although we are entitled to two.
Recently the deanery clergy have undertaken an audit of the work with children and young people across the deanery. This will form a basis for future work as well as providing an opportunity to share good practice.
16
HANBOROUGH PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
## **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER :**
1183002 **RECTOR TREASURER:** REV. STEVE STEWART WENDY BAYLISS
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER:**
## **BANKERS:**
ANDREW GOWER
BARCLAYS BANK PLC OXFORD CITY CENTRE
Page 1
HANBOROUGH PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 31ST DECEMBER 2024
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Note**
Incoming resources from generated funds:
Voluntary income
2a
Activities for generating funds
2b
Investing activities
Total incoming resources
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
Parish Share
Utilities
Peter & Paul
Doctors Surgery
Christ Church
Buildings costs
Peter & Paul
Christ Church
Insurance
Peter & Paul
Christ Church
Missions and charities
3
Gifts & Donations
Rector's expenses
Other ministers' expenses
Stationery, Printing & Postage
Equipment
Young People's Ministry
Salaries
Organist
Admin/Cleaner
Beer Festival
Sundry expenses:
Fees
Miscellaneous
PCC events
First Steps 2c
Total resources used
Net incoming (outgoing) resources
Funds at 1 January
Transfer
Funds at 31 December|Unrestricted
Restricted/
Designated
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
84,040
3,955
87,995
100,609
6,528
-
6,528
11,814
1,739
128
1,867
1,213
92,307
4,083
96,390
113,636
50,045
50,045
48,120
3,068
3,068
3,396
-
527
2,036
2,036
2,438
4,757
4,757
9,903
2,786
2,786
5,146
3,966
3,966
4,797
1,117
1,117
940
7,548
7,548
9,787
1,626
1,626
401
2,056
768
2,824
3,693
1,349
800
2,149
1,731
-
-
1,177
1,177
1,109
-
13,368
146
620
766
593
-
1,300
5,859
5,859
4,818
500
500
1,868
1,868
2,382
5,983
5,983
5,437
404
404
8,477
201
201
759
87,122
11,558
98,680
129,122
5,185
7,475
-
2,290
-
15,486
-
58,643
34,498
93,141
108,627
10,000
-
10,000
53,828
37,023
90,851
93,141|
|---|---|
Page 2
HANBOROUGH PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR TO 31ST DECEMBER 2024
## **BALANCE SHEET**
|**Current assets**
Central Board of Finance
Debtors
Bank balances
Petty Cash
**Current liabilities**
Creditors|Unrestricted
Restricted/
Designated
2024
£
£
£
243
20,445
20,688
10,957
110
11,067
43,042
16,453
59,495
15
15|2023
£
19,644
21,544
55,540
15|
|---|---|---|
||54,242
37,023
91,265
414
-
414
-
53,828
37,023
90,851|96,743|
|||3,602
-|
|||93,141|
These accounts were approved by the P.C.C. on 17/03/25 , for presentation to the A.P.C.M., and signed on its behalf by:
## Rev Dr Steve Stewart
Page 3
HANBOROUGH PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 31ST DECEMBER 2024
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the SORP 2015 on “Accounting and reporting by Charities” and the following are the accounting policies which have been applied in dealing with material items:-
## **(a) Donations and Charitable Grant income**
Donated income without conditions attached, including that gifted under gift aid, is taken into account when received by the PCC. Income received in circumstances where a claim for repayment of tax has been or will be made to the HM Revenue & Customs is grossed up for the tax recoverable. Any amount of tax not yet reclaimed from HM Revenue & Customs is shown within the PCC's debtors.
## **(b) Restricted and unrestricted funds**
Restricted funds are those received for use on specified purposes. Expenditure which meets those criteria is allocated to that fund. Unrestricted funds are those received or generated that can be used for the general purposes of the PCC.
## **(c) Income and other expenditure**
Interest income is taken into account when receivable and expenditure when incurred by the PCC, regardless of when payment is made.
## **2. INCOMING RESOURCES**
## **(a) Voluntary income**
|Direct to bank
Envelopes
Collections and wall safes
Donations/Grants received
First Steps
Parish Giving Scheme
Tax recoveries
**g funds**
Church lettings & land
Fees
Beer Festival
Donations (in 2a above)
Expenses
Net surplus (loss)
Salaries
Wages
Average No of employees:|Unrestricted
£
40,055
1,134
702
1,948
33,989
6,212|Restricted
£
440
3,114
291
110|2024
£
40,495
1,134
702
5,062
291
33,989
6,322
87,995
2024
£
568
4,420
1,540
6,528
2024
£
-
5,859
**5,859**
2|2023
£
65,544
1,155
1,019
13,187
761
1,662
17,281|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||84,040|3,955||100,609|
||Unrestricted
£
568
4,420
1,540|Restricted
£||2023
£
848
5,181
5,785|
||6,528|-||11,814|
|||2024
291
-201||2023
761
759
-|
|||90||2|
|||||2023
£
1,300
4,818|
|||||**6,118**|
|||||2|
## **(b) Activities for generating funds**
## **(c) First Steps breakdown**
## **(d) Employee Emoluments**
Page 4
HANBOROUGH PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 31ST DECEMBER 2024
|**3. MISSIONS AND CHARITIES**
**WORLDWIDE**
Church Mission Society
Innovista
J Abu Bakker Christian School India
Open Doors
Nepal ( Restricted Fund ) for surgery
Arise
**NATIONAL**
Salvation Army
**LOCAL**
The Besom
The Porch
Good News For Ever
**TOTAL**|2024
£
944
944
944
944
943
943
943
943
**7,548**|2023
£
1,008
1,008
1,008
1,008
1,469
1,264
1,008
1,007
1,007|
|---|---|---|
|||**9,787**|
Page 5
HANBOROUGH PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 31ST DECEMBER 2024
## **4. DESIGNATED FUNDS, UNRESTRICTED FUNDS AND RESTRICTED FUNDS**
|**Note**
**Restricted Funds:**
Benchseat memorial
Churchyard
Ducker Bequest
First Steps
Holiday Club/Children Ministry
Lunch Club Funds
Ministry Fund
Nepal Fund
Rector's Discretionary Fund
Gifts & Donations
**Total Restricted Funds**
Designated Quinquennial Building Fund
Other unrestricted fund
**Total Combined**|1 January
Income
Transfers
Expenditure
31 December
2024
2024
£
£
£
£
£
177
177
-
975
108
1,083
266
14
280
20
291
201
110
614
6
620
-
-
1,488
1,488
10,756
550
800
10,506
3,252
3,252
4,619
768
3,851
-
1,626
1,626
-
20,679
4,083
-
4,192
20,570
13,819
10,000
7,366
16,453
58,643
92,307
10,000
-
87,122
53,828|
|---|---|
||93,141
96,390
-
98,680
90,851|
The benchseat memorial is restricted funds from a legacy for the benchseat sited at Christ Church
The Churchyard Fund comprises capital of £500 & accumulated income after expenditures of £583 held in Trust by the Rector and Churchwardens. The accumulated income is to be used to keep the graveyard of Christ Church in good order and repair the graves and gravestones of F G and A Thompson, E H, A E and AL Jakeman and to keep the lettering thereon legible and to have the lettering recut from time to time.
The Ducker Bequest Fund is to be used for the Sanctuary at the Parish Church.
First Steps - Moneys held for the First Steps Mums and Toddlers group.
The Holiday Club Fund is to be used for children's ministry within the parish
The Ministry Fund is a restricted fund towards ministry and/or curate costs.
The Nepal fund is giving towards cost of surgery for children in Nepal
The Rector's Discretionary Fund is able to be used at the Rector's discretion to assist him in his work.
Gifts & Donations are restricted funds received towards gifts and donations to specific people & paid out in 2024
Designated Quinquennial Fund for annual building costs with an aim to build up the fund for future repairs.
Page 6
4N80R0H PAROCFIAL CHLIRCH COUIKIL
ACcOUs FOR THE YEAR 31ST DECENEER 2024
Indopond•nl Exafflln•fs R•wt to Hanh PCC
l rtport on the acxx)unts of the PCC for the year endod 31 D8cèThber2024, are sel
out on the provu$ pages.
R•8p•dive r•$ponsibilits•s of tho PCC arKI th• •xamlrnr
As the rn8rth of tha PCC you arn TBsponsbkn forthe preparatDn of accounts: you
n8NJ&r that an audrt 15 not requM%d for Ihis year under se(aK)n 144P) of the cha3 A
2011 1th8 2011 Ad) and that an independent gxamalKin is nee(led.
It is nry responsibfjty to
exarme the aco)unts under seCtn 145 of the 2011 A
folbw the pCedUreS laid dovm in the General DirEdDn8 gfvèn by the Chathy
con55)neTr se(thn 145{5Mb) of the 2011 Act '. and
stste *thether p•rtK¥lar Mètte havg to nry att9nl•
B•#1¥ ol Ind•p•nd•nt Examln•h Stal•m•nt
examkn8lK)n lTd out h) ac(x)anCe th& G8noral tknctKJns gNen by the
Chathy Comrr*sstin . An &xaTr*)an ndudes a revi8w of the accountng recvrds kept by
the chaiity and 8 conwtson of the 8txounts pwenled the¥e Te(X¢rds. It also nclude8
consKleratkJn of any unusual iten% or discbsurns in the •c)Unts, and seekng axplanatknns
from the trustees ¢onceming such rrotlers.
The procedures undertaken do not p¥18 al the evklènce be requirnd in an
audit. and nSeqUent I do not 010$8 an audit QPinfJn on the gr¥en by the account8.
Ind•p•nd•nt oxamln•r* •tat•m•nt
In wnne(thn TA4th nry exaffknatbn, no ry¥tter h88 to my attgnth)n'.
1) wttkh gfves rre reasonab cause to b8I8v8 that In any nHleiial rospect the requlrnmènls
11 lo keep accounting rncords kn ac•*nlance wth stiCn 130 of thé 2011 Act,. or
M) to prnparn accounts ac(x)rf *ith thé aixxlunlng rnt>)ryl$ and to *fjlh the
requir&nnIS of the Ad. ho not beon mg( or
2) lo n rry opi)n. attonlk)n shoukl be orderto enabla a propor
understanding of tho a(x*unts to be rnathèd.
A Gor
ljs.
Dated
4N80R0H PAROCFIAL CHLIRCH COUIKIL
ACcOUs FOR THE YEAR 31ST DECENEER 2024
Indopond•nl Exafflln•fs R•wt to Hanh PCC
l rtport on the acxx)unts of the PCC for the year endod 31 D8cèThber2024, are sel
out on the provu$ pages.
R•8p•dive r•$ponsibilits•s of tho PCC arKI th• •xamlrnr
As the rn8rth of tha PCC you arn TBsponsbkn forthe preparatDn of accounts: you
n8NJ&r that an audrt 15 not requM%d for Ihis year under se(aK)n 144P) of the cha3 A
2011 1th8 2011 Ad) and that an independent gxamalKin is nee(led.
It is nry responsibfjty to
exarme the aco)unts under seCtn 145 of the 2011 A
folbw the pCedUreS laid dovm in the General DirEdDn8 gfvèn by the Chathy
con55)neTr se(thn 145{5Mb) of the 2011 Act '. and
stste *thether p•rtK¥lar Mètte havg to nry att9nl•
B•#1¥ ol Ind•p•nd•nt Examln•h Stal•m•nt
examkn8lK)n lTd out h) ac(x)anCe th& G8noral tknctKJns gNen by the
Chathy Comrr*sstin . An &xaTr*)an ndudes a revi8w of the accountng recvrds kept by
the chaiity and 8 conwtson of the 8txounts pwenled the¥e Te(X¢rds. It also nclude8
consKleratkJn of any unusual iten% or discbsurns in the •c)Unts, and seekng axplanatknns
from the trustees ¢onceming such rrotlers.
The procedures undertaken do not p¥18 al the evklènce be requirnd in an
audit. and nSeqUent I do not 010$8 an audit QPinfJn on the gr¥en by the account8.
Ind•p•nd•nt oxamln•r* •tat•m•nt
In wnne(thn TA4th nry exaffknatbn, no ry¥tter h88 to my attgnth)n'.
1) wttkh gfves rre reasonab cause to b8I8v8 that In any nHleiial rospect the requlrnmènls
11 lo keep accounting rncords kn ac•*nlance wth stiCn 130 of thé 2011 Act,. or
M) to prnparn accounts ac(x)rf *ith thé aixxlunlng rnt>)ryl$ and to *fjlh the
requir&nnIS of the Ad. ho not beon mg( or
2) lo n rry opi)n. attonlk)n shoukl be orderto enabla a propor
understanding of tho a(x*unts to be rnathèd.
A Gor
ljs.
Dated