2023-12-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 January 2023 Period start date To 31 December 2023 Period end date

Charity name: The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary’s Frittenden

Charity registration number: 1183170

Objectives and Activities

	SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document	Para 1.17	The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary’s Frittenden has the responsibility along with the incumbent, Revd Peter Deaves, in promoting the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical. St Mary’s Frittenden is united as a benefice with Trinity Church, Sissinghurst with whom we work in close partnership.
Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.	Para 1.17 and 1.19	The PCC OF St Mary’s Frittenden is committed to encouraging as many people as possible to worship at the church and to become part of the parish community. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament.
Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit	Para 1.18	When planning our activities for the year, the Rector and the PCC have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, more specifically, the guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community in a number of ways. These include: 1) worship and prayer. 2) learning about the gospel. 3) developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus. 4) provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish.

Achievements and Performance

	SORP reference
Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole.	Para 1.20	The PCC holds a wide range of church services every month that those attending find beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. These services also offer a creche provision for the under 5’s and a Sunday Club for primary age children. Our Open the Book Team (combined with Trinity, Sissinghurst) leads Collective Worship fortnightly, restrictions permitting, in the primary school. This serves to increase the profile of the children and families work we are providing. As we are joined by new families, we are seeking to work closely with them to develop tailored provision as we go forward. Little Lambs is a new initiative started in September 2021, to provide a safe place for parents, carers, babies and toddlers to meet together and where toys, craft activities, refreshments, a Bible story and singing time are provide every Monday morning during term time There are also other opportunities for parishioners to learn about the gospel with regular weekly home groups and courses held during Lent. The PCC installed a new Audio-Visual system in 2022, at a total cost of almost £27,000, which was two-thirds funded by the generosity of parishioners and the balance from our existing resources. We also installed new LED lighting in the aisles in 2022 at a cost of £11,313, with the help of grant support which totalled £6,500. We continue to place a great importance on Charitable Giving and aim to give away at least 10% of our overall income. While our overall giving was down in 2023, from £18,939 to £13,494, this was largely due to having a lower number of visiting speakers where there are dedicated collections.

Financial Review

Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period	Para 1.21	Total receipts on an unrestricted basis were up over 11% at £90,262, helped by a higher level of regular giving and collection income, but this was more than offset by a 16% increase in unrestricted payments at £84,466. The higher costs were largely due to a 18% rise in our Parish Share (or £5,902) and much higher repairs and maintenance, particularly on a churchyard wall. The overall outcome resulted in a drop in our net unrestricted surplus from £8,416 to £5,796. After allowing for restricted receipts and payments, total receipts amounted to £100,572 and payments £94,533, giving an overall surplus of £6,039.
Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held	Para 1.22	The PCC agreed a policy in 2019 of transferring up to £5,000 into a designated Church Fabric Fund to provide for future works when surplus funds are available. Our Quinquennial inspection in 2018 identified some major work which was likely to be needed to the Church spire in the next few years and this was reinforced in the most recent Quinquennial in 2023. We have continued to build up this fund, as we now intend to go ahead with this work in 2024, and have transferred a further £5,000 in 2023, to bring the total fund up to £28,000. Our General Funds are partly held as rainy-day funds in case of unforeseen circumstances (such as losing important donors) but could also help towards specific projects as they arise in the future. A large part of the overall cash reserve is held in a low-risk interest-bearing deposit account.

Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)	Para 1.47	The principal source of funds is our regular giving (with the associated Gift Aid)which is then supplemented by additional fund- raising (whenever possible) such as our annual Gift Day and an Xmas Fayre.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted	Para 1.46	The PCC does not hold any investments apart from a low-risk interest-bearing cash deposit account.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity	Para 1.46	The principal risk is having enough income to cover our regular outgoings (such as Parish Share) which is dependent on our regular giving and other donations. This is more of a risk when we are unable to hold church services or hold fund-raising events (such as during the COVID-19 pandemic) but some of this additional risk was offset by a lower level of day-to-day running costs.

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter)	Para 1.25	Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended and Church Representation Rules that came into force on 2nd January 1956.
How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO)	Para 1.25	Body Corporate which, due to the level of receipts and payments in recent years, is registered with the Charity Commission under number 1183170.
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees	Para 1.25	The PCC is made up of Licensed Clergy, Readers and Lay Workers in the Parish. It also includes the Churchwardens and any lay representatives on the Deanery Synod, Diocesan Synod or General Synod who are on the Electoral Roll of the Parish. The number of elected representatives on the PCC depends on the size of the Electoral Roll. As our church has between 50 and 100 members on the Electoral Roll, we are currently able to have up to 9 members on the PCC who serve a 3-year cycle_._

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees	Para 1.51	All new Trustees must go through Safeguarding training under the supervision of our Parish Disclosure Officer as well the Charity Commission guidance on the ‘Essential Trustee.’
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works	Para 1.51	The PCC is responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance within the Parish including how the funds of the PCC are to be spent.
Relationship with any related parties	Para 1.51	The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary’s Frittenden is part of the Diocese of Canterbury within the Church of England and is in the Weald Deanery.

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name	The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary’s Frittenden
Other name the charity uses	PCC Frittenden
Registered charity number	1183170
Charity’s principal address	The Street Frittenden Kent TN17 2DG

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany)
	Reverend Peter Deaves	Incumbent		Diocese of Canterbury
	John Stansfeld	Churchwarden		Elected by a meeting of Parishioners
	James Highwood	Churchwarden		Elected by a meeting of Parishioners
	James Highwood	SafeguardingOfficer		Electoral Roll
	James Highwood	Deanery Synod Representative		Electoral Roll
	AnthonyStaples	LayReader		Electoral Roll
	Christopher Page	Treasurer		Electoral Roll
	Joanna Beech	PCC Secretary		Electoral Roll
	LindseyMoore			Electoral Roll
	Isobel Mehrabian		Until 20 April 2023	Electoral Roll
	Heidi Easby		From 20 April 2023	Electoral Roll
	Zoe Murton	SafeguardingOfficer	From 20 April 2023	Electoral Roll
	Anthony Edwards	Deanery Synod Representative	From 20 April 2023	Electoral Roll

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)

Full name(s)

Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date

St Mary's Church, Frittenden Financial Report and Accounts For the year ended 31 December 2023

RE(EIFTS Tvt REGULtsRANDTAX EFAaEtr￿ Gmt F￿eWillof1ertngS underGttAJd otherfree￿Il offethe5 33.245 33345 37 UnderGrftAKI Other 3.864 6.047 9￿1 I￿5 7,493 61 756 ￿) Grft Day we￿￿enc0rtÈrt Dtrnatknns 6.87S U77 4577 Lll8 478 YouthWorklLEtUeiambsl AVAppeal 478 16,182 642 16.182 TAX RKOVERED CDllettionslOorotiC*lS Rest￿cted6rèrfS LPOW 14y9 4.ms 7,550 .194 7550 27.591 Chri5trna5 (net) Carol ￿n￿n Ride•nd 1959 L416 L519 L519 L965 63D 1.416 630 4114 (HVRCHAcnvmES Fee5 dueto Parish 3￿76 3P76 2.163 2.163 1169 OMR WKOAIE Interest 518 518 6.527 567 7.612 Magazinelnc(¥ne Sundrylllcome S261 424 5261 424 6527 567 7,612 TOTALRECEFT5 124.227

PCCFRITTE140EII EAR TO31D￿MBER PAYMENTS Total PARISH SHARE Diocesan Quota 32A77 MINISTrY Rettor's Exrtnses Ywth work Litt￿ Larnbs 79 sly 1679 S17 OIIJROI RLW4FIING LXPENSES nsuran Elettrlcityand Water ghtlnz Repairs and Malntenance Churchyard Maintenante Prof￿￿￿31 Fees Honorarki OthEr 379 13 879 L175 3,452 49) 1293 3A52 450 1293 450 450 1228 30.731 UPKEEP OF5ERVICE5 MusicCopyri8ht Oiganht 323 2313 1313 OTHEREXPVISES Avsyrtem M#g8zine Web5itE Adminthtor ndry Exwise5 flettor's Fund S,349 S.318 18A47 14,196 5,318 S.614 496 3363 ITd 5.614 3363 In 618 L15 618 115 )J32 OIARfTPALEGMNG 9$ TOTALPAThIEFlfS 45J95 117.745 SURPWyIOEH(m

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Independent examinerfs report to the members of the PCC of St Marfs Church. Frittenden I report to the members ofthe PCC of St Mary's Church. Frittenden on my examinatitsn of the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023 set out on pages 7 to 9. Responsibilities and basis of report As the members of the PCC. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Art 2011 ('the Actr) and the Church Accounting Regulations 2006. I report in respect of my examination of the Trusvs accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5)(b) oftheAcL Independent examIne￿S statement I have completed my examination. I confirni that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination, which give me cause to believe that in any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act,. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records,. or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the fom and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. I have no concerns and have no other matters in connettion with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Hillywood House Starvenden Lane Sissinghurst Kent TN17 2AN M. SLJ Asllley FCA 25th April 2024