## **ST MARY’S CHURCH, KINGTON**
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL**
Registered charity number 1185453
## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS**
## **for**
## **2022**
St Mary’s Church is situated in Kington, in the Kington and Deanery in the Diocese of Hereford within the Church of England. The correspondence address is Church Office, The Vicarage, Church Road, Kington, HR5 3AG.
The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2011) and is now registered with the Charity Commission (Registered charity number 1185453).
As Charity Trustees, all PCC members should be mindful of the Charity Commission’s six core principles for charity trustees, which are as follows:
_1._ _**Ensure your charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.**_
_1._ _**Comply with your charity’s governing document i.e., PCC Measure and Church Rep Rules – and the wider law.]**_
_1._ _**Act in your charity’s best interests.**_
- _i.e., by making sure that you act for the church and not for any conflicting interest, e.g., a related school or other organisation._
- _ensure that the decisions are yours, not those influenced by others._
_1._ _**Manage your charity’s resources responsibly.**_
_1._ _**Act with reasonable care and skill** ._
_1._ _**Ensure your charity is accountable.**_
PCC members who have served at any time since the Annual Church Meeting 2022 until the Annual Church meetings in April 2023 are:
|meetings in April 2023 are:||
|---|---|
|**Licensed Clergy:**|Revd Benedict Griffith(until 28/02/2023)|
|**Assistant Curates:**|Revd Paul Buckingham|
|**Licensed Reader**|Mr Rob MacCurrach|
|**Churchwardens:**|Miss Ann Edwards
Mr RodneyBowdler(Vice Chair)|
|**Deanery**
**Synod**
**Representatives:**|Mrs Eileen Thomas (sacristan)
Mrs Bev Fensom (deputy sacristan and deputy churchwarden)
Mrs PennyHalcrow|
|**Elected members:**||
|**2020**|Mrs Janet Price, Mr Malcolm Price, Mrs Margaret Cooke, Mr Nick
Cooke|
|**2021**|Mr John Halcrow, Mr Philip Sell, Mrs Jackie Ferreira|
1
**2022** Mrs Deborah Horne, Mr Stephen Lacey
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Mary’s, the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), assistant curates, churchwardens, the reader licensed to the Benefice, parochial representatives elected to the Deanery Synod, and members elected by those on the electoral roll of the church. All members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.
The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. There were four PCC meetings during the year.
.
## **Aims and Purposes**
St Mary’s (Kington) PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical. The PCC is also responsible for the maintenance of the Church and of the Parish House.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at the church and to become part of the parish community at St Mary’s. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish.
Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music, and sacrament. We try to enable everybody to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:
- Worship and prayer; learning about the gospel and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus.
- Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish.
- Missionary and outreach work.
To facilitate this work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church of St Mary and the Parish House.
## **WORSHIP AND PRAYER**
The PCC is keen to offer a range of services over the course of the year that our community find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling.
Since the start of the pandemic, there has a been a live streamed service ‘broadcast’ from Kington each Sunday, and each of the Major feast days of the church. The facility to live stream all services from St Marys, has been maintained and is welcomed by many of our congregation who, for a variety of reasons, have not been able to resume attendance at church in person. Most of our live-steamed services have over 30 views, not just on the day itself, but subsequent viewing at other times during the week.
During 2022, twenty four funeral services were conducted by members of the ministry team including four burials of ashes only . Several funerals were live steamed from the church. This has enabled friends and families from far away to participate in these important life events. There were three weddings, and seven children were baptised in St Mary’s Church.
The Remembrance Day and Christmas Services were well attended by both regular and occasional worshippers.
2
## **MISSION AND EVANGELISM**
## **MESSY CHURCH REPORT 2023**
Messy Church has been going for over a year and a half and proving itself to be a successful way of drawing in young families. It has been running roughly once a month and attracts, on a good day, about 10 parents, up to 20 children and needs some 10 helpers. We make good use of the newly created open space in the north aisle of the church. There are creative activities, a gathering with a bible talk, music and songs, finishing with a meal. Stephen Lacey is chief coordinator, and Ben has usually led the music and teaching; however, we are well established as a lay team. It is proving popular, it’s encouraging for the team and we intend to keep it growing and deepen the roots. Stephen has also started Lego Club, which has a large stock of Lego but is very much in early days. So far this is attracting older children.
What else can we say about Messy Church?
- It is its own congregation gathered to get to know Jesus.
- It is not just for children but for families, single people, all ages.
- It is not just for those new to faith or seeking God; it is for all stages of the faith journey.
- Why messy? We are allowed to make a mess being creative and sharing a meal, but our lives are messy too. God loves to be a part of our messy lives.
Are there challenges? Yes! Families are fairly inconsistent; some come regularly, and some come only occasionally. We compete with Parents’ jobs, after school activities like sports, and the challenges of coordinating a family’s many commitments. But our consistent message is to welcome parents, care for their children and give them hope in their lives.
A key factor is advertising. The Messy Church WhatsApp group is the most successful way of alerting and reminding parents that Messy Church is coming up. We have also started flagging up the Morning Praise on 3[rd] Sundays; plenty of room for mess and children’s activities there. Posters and fliers are going out. The Primary School helps with posters and website.
_Robert MacCurrach_
## **GIVING AND COMMUNITY**
Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. Through various special collections and donations, £9490 (4% of income **)** was sent to various charities including a donation to support Ukraine. Through the Deanery, we continue to support the Diocesan Train-a-Priest scheme in Tanzania (please see Deanery Synod Report).
Our parish magazine keeps our parishioners informed of the important matters affecting our Church as well as providing a valuable source of community information. In additional, weekly notices and updates are provided on the Sunday pew sheet. Weekly pew sheets are available on-line, as are service booklets produced for special service.
## **SAFEGUARDING**
St Mary’s church is committed to ensuring that children and vulnerable adults have a positive experience of church and are safeguarded and protected. The Safeguarding Officer ensures that adults in positions of
3
responsibility particularly with regards to children are checked by the Disclosure and Baring Service and that the correct processes are in place.
## **ECUMENICAL**
St Mary’s is a member of Churches Together in Kington and we have continued to maintain good relations with the other member Churches. During the past year, the Vicar has been Chair of this group and though this office, further strengthened ecumenical links.
## **MEMBERSHIP OF CONGREGATION**
The March 2022 revision of the electoral roll showed a net loss of 5 members. 1 new member joined the roll, and sadly, 5 members died and one moved away , so for 2022 - 2023 we had 108 members, 33 male and 75 female.
_Ray Le Tarouilly (Electoral Roll Officer_
## **KINGTON AND WEOBLEY DEANERY SYNOD**
Three members of the PCC sit on the Deanery Synod. The Deanery Synod provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the church.
Only one meeting was held during 2022, when three very interesting talks were given on the future of our communities by Jo Hilditch (farmer), Ellie Chowns (Green party councillor and university lecturer) and Charlotte Worthy (Herefordshire Council). At this meeting, the resignation of the Rural Dean was announced, and the lay co-chair stated that she would be stepping down from the role at the end of the summer.
An update was given on the Weobley and Staunton Joint Benefice Council, replacing the individual PCCs of each parish. Each parish has representation on the council and a Finance Officer has been appointed to oversee the finances of the group. A Church Administrator was also being sought.
At the first meeting of 2023, the new Rural dean, Revd Mike Kneen, introduced himself. After twelve years as Team Rector at Leominster, he retired in 2020, ready to enjoy pursuing his hobbies, which include driving steam trains on the Severn Valley Railway. In 2022, he was then appointed as Rural Dean to the Kington and Weobley deanery. He is looking forward to visiting all parts of the deanery and helping church communities to grow and develop.
The position of Lay Co-chair remains vacant and Chris Smith, the Deanery Treasury stated that, after sixteen years in the position, he would like to make plans to stand down. If there is anyone interested in either of these positions, please make yourself known to the Rural Dean, Chris Smith, or a Deanery synod member.
The treasurer was pleased to report that the Parish Offer from the Deanery had been paid in full to the Diocese. The Deanery also continues, on behalf of all parishes in the Deanery, to support the Train-a-Priest scheme in Dar-es Salaam, with an annual donation of £1500.
_P Halcrow_
4
## **PARISH HOUSE**
The Parish House is seen as part of the Church’s mission to Kington and the PCC is very grateful to all those who have done so much to keep the building in a good state of repair. Thanks go especially to Eileen Thomas, who gives a lot of time to check that everything is in order for each group which comes in to use the Parish House
In 2022, the exterior of the Parish House, at first floor level, was repainted. This was made possible by a generous grant from Kington United Charities. A replacement water boiler had to be purchased for the kitchen. The cost of this was shared between the PCC and the Community Lunch Club. The gas boiler and cooker were serviced, and safety checked, and all alarms checked regularly.
The Parish House continues to be let to various bodies independent of Church use, including Home-Start, The Kington Scout group, and KADOS, and is also used for Dance Exercise and Yoga classes. It is used once a month (third Wednesday) by the Community Lunch Club and is extensively used by the PCC and other Church meetings. There have also been occasional bookings for parties and special occasions.
## _P Halcrow_
## **FINANCIAL REPORT 2022 ST MARY’S KINGTON**
## **Introduction**
This new format Financial Report consists of the following statements:
1. Summary of **Receipts and Payments** (Page 2).
2. A **Statement of Assets and Liabilities** (Page 3)
3. **Notes on the Accounts** (Pages 5 -7.) These are a more detailed analysis of the Summary of Receipts and Payments and some explanatory comments
## **Review**
The Receipts and Payments account (Page 2) shows a shortfall. This is exaggerated by the partial prepayment (£8,000) of the 2023 Parish Offer. Other reasons for this include the increased cost of energy, (The contract that we have with Parish Buying ran until October and was renegotiated for 2022-2023. Gas in 2022-2023 is now four times as expensive. The Heating Subcommittee is investigating alternatives to gas.) and there has been a fall in income from Planned Giving. (This is partly due to the deaths of several generous donors.)
Gift Aid for 2022 is not yet fully claimed. This has been addressed (February 2023) and will appear in the 2023 accounts.
The big expense for the coming year is the restoration of our very fine organ. At the end of 2022 funds raised for the Organ Appeal amount to nearly £22,000 and are, in March 2023, continuing to flow in. Grants are being applied for which should cover much of the remaining costs. It is anticipated that only a small sum will require to be drawn from the General Fund.
The unrestricted funds held at the end of 2022 are sufficient for 11 months at the normal rate of expenditure in 2022. This is in excess of that recommended by the diocese.
Reserves are invested in CBF deposit fund.
_N A Cooke_ 9[th] March 2023
5
## **St. Mary’s Church, Kington**
## **Registered charity no. 1185453**
## **Financial Statement for the year ending 31st December 2022**
## **Receipts and Payments Account**
These accounts are prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2022 2021
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Notes General Designated
RECEIPTS
Voluntary Receipts
Planned Giving 1 27197 27197 28110
Collect ions at Services 2 4923 4923 2864
All other giving/voluntary receipts 3 4000 383 10922 15305 8539
Grants 4 16933 16933 26549
Gif t Aid Recovered 6 6210 6210 7970
Total voluntary receipts 42330 383 27856 70568 74032
Act ivit ies for Generat ing Funds 7 5614 10 5624 5177
Investment Income 8 5175 5175 3350
Church Act ivit ies 9 16492 16492 11738
Rent/Hire of Church Property 10 1991 1991 692
Sale of Church Property 11 5733 5733 152532
Sundry Income 12 1922 1922 5066
Total receipts 79256 393 27856 107504 252587
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2022 2021
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Notes General Designated
PAYMENTS
Church Act ivit ies
Parish Of fer 13 44000 44000 43000
Prepayment of the 2023 Parish Of fer 13 8000 8000
Clergy & Staf fing Costs 14 1731 1731 4167
Church Running Expenses 15 15269 15269 15921
Cost of Services 16 5297 458 5754 3924
Mission Giving & Charitable Donat ions 17 2416 5024 2050 9490 4042
Parish House 18 4629 4629 2238
Administrat ion 19 9094 9094 8407
Weddings and Funerals 20 3500 3500 2411
Major Works 21 12098 12098 77622
Costs of Generat ing Funds 22 2340 2340 1970
Costs associated with other church property 23 2166
Various 24 1294 1294 5072
Total Payments 92941 10110 14149 117200 170941
Short fall -13685 -9718 13707 -9696 81646
**----- End of picture text -----**
**The short fall looks £8000 bigger than it actually is because of the prepayment which is recouped during 2023**
6
## **Statement of Assets and Liabilit ies**
## **For the year ending 31st December 2022**
## **Assets**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2022 2021
Unrestricted Restricted Endowments Total Change Total
General Designate
d
Cash funds
Co-operative Account (08-92-99 67225860) 5913 -803 6716
CBF Deposit (618026001D) – Capital Reserve 114162 -28903 143065
Cash and cheques in hand 21 10 11
Maggie Edwards bequest (awaiting reinvestment) 20000 -20000
Total cash funds 91843 2818 25435 120096 -9696 129792
Investment assets (Status to be confirmed)
1,650 Glaxo Smith Kline shares (E Bowen bequest) 22579 22579 -3930 26509
1,650 Haleon shares (Share issue from GSK) 5406 5406 5406
Total investment assets 27985 27985 1476 26509
Total current assets 119828 2818 25435 148081 -8220 156301
Other Assets
Prepayment of 2023 Of fer 8000 8000 8000
Total other assets 8000 8000 8000
Liabilit ies
Loan (Interest Free) 1500 1500 1500
Total liabilit ies 1500 1500 1500
Endowments
The capital is to be retained but the interest can be used for
general church purposes.
Bill Price Bequest (485 Utd Utilities shares) (K16) 5015 5015 -259 5274
Price Bequest (CBF Investment Fund) … 1371S (K15) 8451 8451 -1122 9573
M Edwards’ Bequest (CBF Investment Fund)..6001S 21723 21723 18870 2853
Maggie Edwards’ Bequest (awaiting reinvestment) -20000 20000
Gregory Trust (CBF Investment Fund) …. 1289S (K11) 53287 53287 -7074 60361
Gregory Trust (Diocesan CBF Fund) …1452D (K11) 4304 4304 4304
Total endowments 21723 13466 57591 92780 -9585 102365
Freehold property
Bradnor Coppice (Sold in 2022) -8000 8000
NET ASSET VALUE OF FUNDS 148051 2818 38901 57591 247361 -17805 265167
Balance Statement
Total Assets Opening 265167
Change in net asset value of funds -17805
NET ASSET VALUE OF FUNDS 247361
**----- End of picture text -----**
7
## **Notes on the accounts**
## **For the year ending 31st December 2022**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
2022 2021
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
General Designated
RECEIPTS
Voluntary Receipts
Note
1 Planned Giving
Standing Orders Gif t Aided 3271 3271 4976
Envelopes and other donat ions 1445 1445
Non gif t aided planned giving 675 675 1162
PGS Donat ion 21805 21805 21972
Total 27197 27197 28110
2 Collect ions at Services
Collect ions at Services: St Mary’s 4923 4923 2864
Total 4923 4923 2864
3 All other voluntary Giving/Donat ions
Sundry Donat ions 2817 2817 1615
Contactless 482 482 224
QR (give.net)
Amazon Europe Core 6 6
Easy Fundraising 56 56 34
Donat ion Box in Church 639 639
Messy Church (was KKC) 57 57 37
Mission Support 160 160 700
Donat ions to Designated Funds
Bells 1208
Handbells 166 166
Flower Fund 832 832
Donat ions to Restricted Funds
Restricted Special collect ions 4805 4805 3317
Ukraine Appeal 1993 1993
Organ Fund 3292 3292 1150
Roof 255
Total 4000 383 10922 15305 8539
4 Grants
Roof fund 16933 16933 11000
Reordering 13000
Parish House 2549
Total 16933 16933 26549
**----- End of picture text -----**
8
**----- Start of picture text -----**
RECEIPTS (Cont inued) 2022 2021
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
General Designated
6 Gif t Aid recovered
PGS Gif t Aid Tax Refund 4521 4521 5226
Other Gif t Aid & GASDS 1689 1689 2743
Total 6210 6210 7970
7 Act ivit ies for Generat ing Funds
Bonus Ball 1872 1872
Beetle Drive
Com. Shop 1364 1364
3323
Peerie Boxes 22 22
Fete 2048 2048
Other Fund Raising 27 27
Parish House Fund Raising 280 280
Music (not organ fund) 10 10 1854
Total 5614 10 5624 5177
8 Investment income
CBF Deposit Fund Interest 396 396 38
Investment Income 4779 4779 3312
Total 5175 5175 3350
9 Church Act ivit ies
Fees 10127 10127 4362
Parish News Adverts 4440 4440
7376
Parish News Sales 1925 1925
Total 16492 16492 11738
10 Rent/Hire of church property
Hire of Church 845 845 575
Hire of Parish House 1146 1146 117
Bungalow Rent
Total 1991 1991 692
11 Sale of church Property
Bradnor Green Coppice 5733 5733
Bradnor Green Bungalow Sale 152532
Total 5733 5733 152532
**----- End of picture text -----**
**Further to note 12 Sundry income (Other & Net of expenses…) :** The other parishes in our benefice are invoiced monthly for their shares of the Benefice Expenses (Office work, stationery supplies etc. This value will vary from year to year depending upon when they settle the final invoice. Over the years it averages out to zero. There was also a payment from Friends of St Mary’s for Community Shop rental at the end of 2021. The Friends do not have on line access for payments so they rely on St Mary’s PCC when these are necessary.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
12 Sundry income
Charges for Visits 290 290
Net of expenses charged to other parishes 1329 1329 132
Other 303 303 199
1 Total 1922 1922 331
TOTAL OF ALL RECEIPTS 79256 393 27856 107504 247852
**----- End of picture text -----**
9
**----- Start of picture text -----**
PAYMENTS 2022 2021
For the year ending 31st December 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
General Designated
Note
13 Parish Of fer 44000 44000 43000
Prepayment of 2023 Parish Of fer 8000 8000
Total 52000 52000 43000
14 Clergy Expenses & Staf fing Costs
Kington Share: Vicar 968 968 3020
Vicarage Garden wages 102 102 697
Kington’s Share: Curate 661 661 450
Total 1731 1731 4167
15 Church Running Expenses
Upkeep of Church 247 247
1618
Wages 1819 1819
Insurance 4089 4089 4085
Minor repairs/ maintenance 1049 1049 2217
Gas 3003486630 5297 5297 4691
Electricity 3003746581 1771 1771 1589
Water 423 423 505
Upkeep of Churchyard 575 575 48
Tower Bells 1168
Total 15269 15269 15921
16 Cost of Services
Cost of Services: Sundries 936 936 418
Live streaming 564 564 694
Payments to Organist 2915 2915
2812
Music and Choir 882 882
Flowers 458 458
Total 5297 458 5754 3924
17 Mission giving and Charitable donat ions
DEC Ukraine 1987 1987 3973
Other special collect ions 4197 4197 2752
From St Mary’s General Fund 429 429 795
Burton Communion Donat ions 64 64
Messy Church & Lego Club 811 811 330
Study Groups 165
Mission Support 16 16
Total 2416 5024 2050 9490 4042
18 Parish House
Wages 462 462 215
Upkeep 190 190 121
Insurance 523 523 241
Repairs & maintenance 2106 2106 729
Gas 3003519585 534 534 290
Electricity 3003746592 609 609 429
Water 147 147 158
Lease 58 58 55
Total 4629 4629 2238
**----- End of picture text -----**
10
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Payments (Cont inued) 2022 2021
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
General Designated
19 Administrat ion
Wages: Of fice 1983 1983
3874
Admin (not wages) 2525 2525
Parish News Print ing 4586 4586 4533
Total 9094 9094 8407
20 Weddings and Funerals
Statutory Fees 2092 2092 1801
Organist/Bells/Choir/Verger 1408 1408 610
Total 3500 3500 2411
21 Major Works
Roof 2580 2580 77622
Organ
Reordering 9518 9518
Total 12098 12098 77622
22 Costs of Generat ing Funds
Bonus Ball 1510 1510
Community Shop 260 260
Peerie Boxes 1510
Fete 570 570
QR
Cost of grant applicat ions 460
Total 2340 2340 1970
23 Costs associated with other church property.
Bradnor Cot tage Council Tax 2166
Total 2166
24 Various
Invoiced to other parishes (Now net ted) 4735
Visits 440 440
Church Lunch
Other 854 854 338
Total 1294 1294 5072
**----- End of picture text -----**
**The large total in Other (Note 24)** is made up of the leaving present for our curate, some transactions paying for items for the Friends of St. Mary’s which needed to be paid online (FoSM does not have online access for payments) and a cheque wrongly made out to St Mary’s PCC which needed to be paid into the Friend’s account. Further small payments were made to the Kinnerton and Old Radnor PCCs because their Benefice Expenses accounts were in credit at the end of the year.
**TOTAL OF ALL PAYMENTS 97570 5481 14149 117200 170941**
11
Independent Examiner's Report
to the PCC of St Mary's, Kington, Herefordshire
This report on the accounts of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2022, which
are set out on Financial Report 2022. St Mary's Kington. (pages 1- 7, Ref N A Cooke.
91h March 2023) is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the
Church Accounting Regulations 2006 {-the Regulations") and s.43 of the Charities Act
1993 ('the Act.).
Respectivo responsibilities of the PCC and tho Examiner
As members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparalion of the accounts. It is
my responsibility to issue this report on those accounts in accordance with the terms
of the Regulations.
Basis of this report
My examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a
comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any
unusual items or disclosures in the accounls and seeking explanations from you as
trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all
the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an
audit opinion on the view given by the accounis.
Independent Examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention..
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the
requirements
to keep proper accounting records,. and
to prepare proper accounts from those records and to comply with the
requirements of the Act and Ihe Regulats'ons
have not been met., or
(2) to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.
eAw A£ Srtu
Chris H.E. Smith F.C.M.A..
The Old Vicarage
Lyonshall
01544 340598 107785 708603
15th March 2023
12
## **CHURCHWARDENS’ MESSAGE AND REPORT ON THE FABRIC, GOODS AND ORNAMENTS OF ST. MARY’S CHURCH, 2022**
As we write this, foremost in our minds is the loss of our Vicar, The Rev. Ben Griffith and Jean as they leave for pastures new in North Wales. H e has introduced so much to our Parish Church and has been a muchliked Vicar to the people of Kington. He cannot realise how much he will be missed.
Once again, the past year has seen the loss of some valued Church members either through failing health or death and our sincere sympathy goes to all bereaved families. We extend a welcome to newcomers to St. Mary’s.
We thank Phillip Sell, our Musical Director and Choirmaster together with a numerically growing choir for the leadership and enhancement they bring to our services.
We continue to enjoy the attractive flower arrangements and give sincere thanks to Gill Pennell, Lesley Walters and their team of skilful helpers who so enrich life in this way. They played a special part in ln making St. Mary’s fit for a Queen as they decorated the Church for our late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
We thank Guilianna for the special job she does cleaning the Church and Beryl Thompson who, prior to her fall, kept our brass always shining. Get better soon Beryl!
The Parish News reached a landmark in its history this year, when after many years of faithful work Dennis and Irene Phillips retired from the overseeing of this popular magazine. We expressed our gratitude for this by presenting them with wooden garden furniture.
The day to day oversight of vestments, ,church linen and ornaments remains in the capable hands of Eileen Thomas Eileen exceeds the calling of her office as Sacristan by the many additional tasks she undertakes and we would be the poorer were she not to do them.
Lay people play a vital role in the life of St Mary’s and to each and every one we say a big thank you
## **Internal**
The re-ordering of St. Mary’s has been a huge task undertaken throughout 2022 and will. I feel sure, be recorded elsewhere in the reports.
The open space it has created on the north side of the Church, provides an area for increased activities and has proved ideal for Messy Church, The Lego Club , for concerts and church functions when refreshments are served. We thank Malcolm Price and Penny and John Halcrow for the time and thought given to this venture.
The fixing of casters to the remaining pews on the north side has made them readily accessible for moving to suit different events.
We are pleased to welcome Kington Community Choir for their weekly choir practice Equally we welcome Kington Choral Society for their concerts.
The annual inspection of the security system, the lightning conductor and fire appliances have all taken place successfully.
Organ Restoration. The initial fund-raising appeal has got away to a promising start. We thank Phillip Sell for the time he has given to this and Hannah Vernon for her current work to secure grants. When completed St. Mary’s should be able to boast the fine organ it deserves.
The regular streaming of Sunday services and some special events has taken place and figures show a steady following of people joining us for these livestream services We thank Nick Cooke for the time he has given to this venture.
13
## **External**
The work on the building itself involved roof work and much repointing. The DAC has approved the finished work.
Our grateful thanks to Frank and Jean Williams and Nick and Margaret Cooke for their oversight of the garden of Remembrance.
We would like to repeat our plea that dead flowers are removed from their pots and taken away for disposal when possible.
The bench installed as a token of Kington Remembers has graced the Garden as did the Memory Tree at Christmas time.
The mowing of the churchyard is the responsibility of Kington Council and has been regularly cut throughout the year. It is disappointing that Kington Council has not yet responded to work needed to the compost bins. despite repeated requests.
St. Mary’s is a treasure, but its routine maintenance is an ongoing reality which becomes more costly every year. This results in fund raising being high on our agenda and while we thank you most sincerely for past support, we do ask that you will continue to support us in 2023.
We ask too, that you will continue to support the Churchwardens both in prayer and encouragement as we try to carry out our remit which is to keep the “Fabric, Goods and Ornaments” in good shape for future generations to use for worship together with ever widening opportunities and events.
_Ann Edwards on behalf of both Church Wardens_
14
## **VICARS ANNUAL REPORT FOR ST MARY’S KINGTON APCM 2023**
As I write this report, the vicarage in Kington is beginning to be engulfed by packing boxes and various items have already disappeared although fortunately as yet nothing whose presence is desperately needed- that moment will come, I’m sure.
The transition in this house reflects the wider transition both in our own lives and in the wider life of the Kington Parishes. As I prepare to depart for North Wales, quite literally the land of my father’s but not my mother’s and the Benefice here prepares for a period of Vacancy.
A Vacancy need not be a fallow period in the life of the church. I have been involved with vacancies in the past from both sides of the clerical divide which have been times of real transformational grown. The process of producing a benefice profile helps us to consider prayerfully and carefully what we are and who we are. To use modern commercial language what is our USP( Unique Selling Point )or as St John in the book of Revelation described it what is the Angel of the Church and what is its golden Candlestick.
As I reflect on the seven and a bit years that I’ve been vicar of these parishes there are a myriad of occasions in Kington when its angel has been hovering over it with a huge smile of satisfaction and there are moments which will remain with me and I pray with you for a lifetime.
There is much to be extremely grateful for from music and liturgy with a robed choir an excellent director of music, dedicated and committed sacristan and deputy sacristan and a tremendous group of servers, readers, intercessors sides people ,all completed by a team of churchwardens and deputy wardens .
One of the highlights for me of the past year has been the triumphant completion of the project to reorder the North Nave . I’m sure that everyone reading this will agree what an impressive space this has created and it is lovely seeing it being used for messy church and the Lego Club and even for funeral teas.
I’ve already mentioned messy church and Lego club and I’m thrilled to see these powerful mission initiatives beginning to prosper. I must also pay tribute to all of those people whose dedicated efforts make that possible.
We are blessed richly to have a church in which so many people give of their skills and talents with such grace and enthusiasm.
There is however only one dark cloud which occludes the horizon and that is not my imminent departure. I become increasingly concerned when I hear people criticising other people. A Church of England parish must by its vocation be all things to all people, as St Paul described himself. That is our unique vocation as the Established Church. We are compelled by our discipleship to welcome and celebrate those who may or may not be exactly like us , those whose worship of God does not fell entirely comfortable to us , because that is the only way in which we are to live up to and fulfil our precious calling as children of God and brothers and sisters in Christ.
As you move forward with the next exciting chapter of your journey of life and your journey into God please celebrate both rich heritage of faithful witness to Christ her in Kington , rejoice in the unity an diversity which is one of the great hallmarks of Anglicanism. May God bless you abundantly in your continued worship and service of him.
_Rev Benedict Griffith_
Vicar until 28/02/2023
**Approved by the PCC on …14/03/2023………………………………… and signed on their behalf by Rodney Bowdler Churchwarden and Chair of St Mary’s PCC during the vacancy**
15