# **St Martin of Tours Parish Church, West Coker Registered Charity Number: 1185493** ## **Annual Report** ## **Year ending 31[st] December 2023** ## **Administrative Information** St Martin of Tours Parish Church is situated in Church St, West Coker. It is part of the Diocese of Bath & Wells, within the Church of England. The correspondence address is 82 High St, West Coker, BA22 9AT The Parochial Church Council is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. **PCC Members** who have served since 19[th] April 2023 until the date this report was approved are:- _**Incumbent & Chairperson**_ Revd Colin Simpson (until September 2023 ) _**Vice Chair**_ Mrs Valerie Barker _**Wardens**_ Mrs Susan Bonning Mrs Patricia Ricketts (retired February 2023 ) Mr Michael Collins (from 19[th] April 2023) ## _**Representatives on the Yeovil Deanery Synod**_ Mrs Valerie Barker – Deanery Lay Chair Mrs Jacqueline Gormer ## _**Elected Members**_ Mrs Judy Beattie Mrs Lotty Boersma (Foundation Governor ) Mrs Caroline Collins Mr David Atkin Mrs Rita Coward Mrs Sylvia Bruce ## _**Co-opted Members**_ Mrs Barbara Hampshire was co-opted to be PCC Treasurer. Revd Stephen Turrell (PTO), and Mr Chris Varley, Reader-in-Training, invited to attend PCC meetings. ## _**Co-opted Member: Secretary**_ Mrs Sandie Simpson (until September 2023) Mrs Stella Davis (from October 2023) ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. ## **Report on Fabric of the Parish Church and Review of the Year - 2023 - Church Wardens** In September 2023 Revd Colin Simpson left the Benefice of Coker Ridge to take charge of St John’s Church Wellington with St Mary the Virgin, West Buckland. Bishop Michael and Archdeacon Charlie Peer initiated the process for finding a new incumbent shortly afterwards. (This process has proceeded apace, but to date - March 2024 - with no success.) In February 2023, after 13 years’ service as Churchwarden, Pat Ricketts retired. A moving service was held at which tribute was paid to everything she had done during that time, and a number of gifts were presented. She is much missed. Mick Collins took over as Churchwarden and was formally elected at the APCM on 19[th] April. In September 2023 Revd Stephen Turrell relinquished his Permission to Officiate, due to a house-move and a period of ill-health. He had previously taken regular services both in St Martin’s and across the benefice. We are pleased that he has, nevertheless, maintained his links with the church. Since the Revd Simpson left , Holy Communion and other occasional services have been taken by a group of very supportive retired priests who now live in the benefice. We are very grateful to them. Other weekly services are taken by a lay team comprising Lay Worship Assistants Alan and Jacky Gormer, Sue Bonning, Val Barker, and Reader-in-Training Chris Varley. We are lucky to have such a dedicated and gifted team. People seem to enjoy a variety of worship leaders. Music for our worship is regularly provided by Rita Coward at the organ, and we thank her for her dedication. In 2023 there were 42 members on the electoral roll. Average weekly attendance in October was 25, an increase on the previous year. During the year there were 2 baptisms, 0 weddings and 7 funerals and three burials of ashes. There was good attendance (45) at the Harvest Festival and Lunch (this year held in the Village Hall), as well as at the Service of Remembrance, and the Carol Service. The village school now comes to the church about once a month for collective worship. Their Carol Service in December was a joyous occasion, as was the Leavers’ service in July when prayer books were presented to those pupils leaving. A growing number of adults - parents, grandparents, and members of the church family - now attend these services. The quality and enthusiasm of the children’s singing is always commented on. The relationship between the school and the church continues to strengthen. Foundation Governor, Lottie Varley, is a passionate advocate for the school. A team comprising Revd Simon Ellis, Mick Collins and Val Barker support Collective Worship and other aspects of school life. Advent Calendars were given to every child in the school and we would like to thank Chris and Lottie for undertaking this again. The Acorns Stay-and-Play `toddler‘ group continues to meet weekly in the school and is much appreciated by the families who attend. We have held a number of fund-raising/fellowship events over the course of the year: Lent lunches, a plant sale, and a quiz night ably led by Stephen and Christine Turrell. Spring and Autumn Churchyard Days have been well-supported, both by members of the church family and others in the village. The appearance of the churchyard is now much enhanced. We are also grateful to George Sartin, John Frosdick, Sue Bonning, Mick Collins, and others who regularly mow and strim the grass. The fallen wall on the north side of the churchyard was rebuilt early in the year, and a diseased copper beech tree was reluctantly felled in the autumn. In December a trial pair of wall heaters was installed in the nave in time for the cold weather and Christmas services. We have applied to the Diocese for permission to install a bigger and permanent system. We would also like to mention David Neal who works hard to maintain the clock and look after the church bells. It is always a blessing when a team can be got together to ring. We have been heartened by comments of new people visiting our church, who have said how warm and welcoming we all are. The PCC wishes to express their thanks to all those who have helped in anyway with work in or around the church and also by supporting our fund raising causes. Sue Bonning and Mick Collins 10[th] April 2023 ## **Report on the Proceedings of the Church Council - 2022 – Secretary** The PCC met in January, March, May, July September and November and October. The atmosphere is relaxed but purposeful, and we discuss and make decisions on topics as varied as fundraising, trees, re-ordering and Safeguarding. We would like to thank Sue Bonning for offering us Teal House for our meetings. So much warmer than church! And thank you too to Stella Davis who has taken on secretarial duties for PCC meetings. ## **Report on the proceedings of the Deanery Synod – Deanery Synod Member** April marked the beginning of a new triennial of the synod. It met three times in the course of the year. The February meeting was addressed by Farhad Chermahini, who told us about his Pioneer work in the Birchfield area of St Michael’s parish, and of how he is building relationships there. The Synod and the Deanery Mission and Pastoral Group was preoccupied for the first half of the year developing and finalising a Deanery Plan, and a Plan for the Deployment of clergy. Both of these were approved and passed to the Archdeacon at the synod meeting in June. In November Revd Ben Graham spoke about his work as chaplain of Yeovil College. In July, Revd Bruce Faulkner stood down as Interim Area Dean. His contribution to and support for the deanery has been much appreciated. In September, Revd David Keen was appointed Area Dean Val Barker 6[th] April 2023 ## **Report on the list of Church Members – Electoral Roll Officer - 2023** There are currently 42 on the Electoral Roll, having lost a couple this year. However, I think it likely that perhaps four will not renew their membership when that time comes, but I’m confident that we have four people now attending who would like to become members. Caroline Collins 4[th] April 23 ## **Report on Safeguarding – Safeguarding Officer – 2023** At times, Safeguarding reflects a high profile through the media when distressing stories are released for the first time or cases opened again from the past. As a Benefice we must continue providing a safe, inclusive and nurturing environment for all children and vulnerable adults within our Benefice church community. West Coker C. of E. Primary School uses St. Martin’s Church for Collective Worship on a monthly basis. All school staff accompanying and supervising the pupils have current Safeguarding certificates. The Acorns stay and play fun group for babies, toddlers and grown ups takes place in West Coker School. This is a safe environment under the governance of the school. All Acorn Leaders, Val Barker, Doreen Frosdick, Claire Swarbrick and Katherine Thomas hold up to date Safeguarding Foundation Certificates. Julie Brigden has recently started to help and will need to undertake a Safeguarding course on line. She is a retired nurse, with good inter-personal skills - much needed for working with toddlers and adults alike. The weekly CRB newsletter and Safeguarding Posters in each church state my role as Safeguarding Officer, with contact number / email, together with Sue Phillips [Pendomer PCC], and the Diocese of Bath and Wells contact person with their phone numbers and email addresses too. As our Benefice is without a vicar, I messaged all Churchwardens of the seven Benefice Churches earlier this month to ask if they had any specific Safeguarding concerns, citing for example the condensation on the slab flooring inside St. Martin’s Church making it slippery at times. A sign inside the church serves as a reminder. Also, the church loop system has just been checked and a new mobile microphone has been purchased for people to use when leading services / assemblies. I appreciate these are small concerns, but as Churchwardens we are responsible for our congregations, church buildings, graveyards and landscape. Churchwardens from East Coker and East Chinnock replied to my message, informing me of things they have done to keep their churches safe. Our Coker Ridge Benefice Church wardens are currently spending much more time in their churches keeping them going! I sincerely hope that as a new advertisement is shortly to go into The Church Times, our lovely Benefice in South Somerset attracts an applicant or two. Mick Collins. [March 24[th] 2024] ## **Zambia Companion Link – 2022/3** Communication with our link parish, St Peter, Twapia has once again been sporadic. Emails have been exchanged with Mwaziona Eunice Banda a couple of times in the early part of the year. I also sent some photos which she received. We learned that The Boy's Brigade are still using the musical instruments that were bought with the money raised by Jacqueline Clough in 2018. The development of the Church building and toilets had not progressed since that time because St Peter was experiencing poor income from their congregation due to unemployment in Twapia. The collection from the Benefice service at the end of April 2023, amounting to £168.10, was sent to St Peter in July, to enable them to progress the work on the church extension and toilets. They received this money, less 10% deducted by our Diocese for administering the transfer, and we have learned that it has been used as we hoped. Zambia Sunday in July was marked with special intercessions. We did not hear from St Peter’s over the autumn and winter and we learned that this was because Mwaziona had premature twins and one of the babies did not survive. We have had contact through the Dean at the Cathedral in Ndola and we hope to have more news once Mwaziona returns after maternity leave. Jacky Gormer **Finance.** There is no finance section within this report; Barbs Hampshire is dealing with an urgent matter with the Charity Commission. The **Finance Report** will be issued as an appendix in due course. _**Approved by the PCC ………………………………………………………….and signed on their behalf by Val Barker, Vice-Chair**_ _**…………………………………………………………………………………………………..**_ ## **West Coker PCC 2023 Finance Report** 2023 ticked over financially without any great surprises for St Martin of Tours. Our Parish Share was £16,040.76, which is a 2 % increase from 2022- this was paid in full to the diocese. We made our final payment of £12,000 to pay off the loan to East Coker PCC in the last quarter of 2023. Thank you to all those who helped raised funds to enable the PCC to pay off this loan within the given 5 years. A huge achievement. Instead of a Roof Fund we now have a Wall Fund – this is to raise funds to pay off the loan we have for works carried out to reinstate part of the churchyard boundary wall that collapsed in 2023. Total Bill for the wall repair was £7,332.36. At the end of 2023 outstanding loan was £7,332.36. This year we raised £3,952.81 from holding events such as Lent lunches, jumble sale, Quiz Night and Guitar Festival; Donations to the church was £,521.32; sale of cards brought in £120.00; We took £350 over and above the cost of felling the Beech tree which cost £1,380.00 which meant we received a total of £1,730.00 in donations for wood more than covering the cost. Our giving for this year was £700.47 which went DEC Turkey & Syria, our Zambia Link , Somerset Churches, Bell Ringers and RBL. Alan Gormer kindly completed the forms to HMRC for gift aid Tax refund for 2020 ,2021 and 2022 and we received £4,837.68, which went into our current account. Our Insurance annual cost is £1,508.84 with running costs at approx. £1,556.50 which includes electricity, church supplies, annual maintenance servicing of fire extinguishers, Organ, lightning conductor. Our contribution to benefice budget was £1,241.66 of which £523.76 was for the last quarter of 2022. Interest received from our two CBF Deposit accounts was £1,752.75 – paid into our current account. At the end of the year (2023) the balance in our general bank account was £10,487.12 and in our Roof Fund bank account £13,333.96 (East Coker had not paid in the final cheque yet) I would like to record huge thanks to Alan Gormer for guiding me, his help has been and is invaluable. Barbs Hampshire 17th April 2024 THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS. WEST COKEIL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1185493 Acorn Accounting for Business Limited Suite A 17 The Park Yeovil Somerset BA20 IDN THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS. WEST COKEIL IRegistered Charity No.1185493) RECEIIryS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 2023 2022 RECEIPTS Planned giving- General Fund Planned giving Tax Efficient Planned giving Planned Giving- Restricted Fund Planned giving Tax Efficient Planned giving 7,807 8,200 8,366 6,325 1,440 1,800 Collections, donations and other giving 8ath & Wells Energy grant Donations- General Fund Donations- Restricted Fund 400 997 3.522 2,440 Income tax recovered Annual fete and events General Fund Restricted Fund 4,838 1,084 2,206 2,198 Parochial fees Other receipts Investment income Bank interest and dividends received General Fund Restricted Fund Loan from parlshioner Ire church wall repairs) 5,065 455 3,315 270 491 2,372 7,332 63 427 TOTAL RECEIPTS 43.730 27,683 PAYMENTS Donations and grants to charities and mission giving Parish share 1,155 16,041 1,295 14,416 Church running expenses Light and heat Organ tuning and music costs Other church expenses Repairs and maintenance Churchyard maintenance Support cost5 Administration (incl staff costs) Bank charges- restrirted fund Coker Ridge Benefice- administration costs Salaries and wages Accountancy 1,367 767 265 309 373 399 145 215 1.198 24 1,242 27 1,214 480 150 THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS. WEST COKEIL (Registered Charity No.1185493) RECEivfs AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Icontinued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 2023 2022 Other Insurance Church wall repairs Other expenses 1.633 7.332 80 1,131 87 Loan repayments 12,000 TOTAL PAYMENTS 31.012 32,913 NET IEXPENDITUREI CASH FUNDS AS AT I JANUARY 2023 12,718 78,994 15,2301 84,224 CASH FUNDS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 91,712 78,994 THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS. WEST COKER. (Registered Charity No. 1185493) STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 CASH FUNDS 2023 Total 2022 Total Bank Current Account CBF Deposit Account Bank Current Account- roof fund OSR Trust Fund CBF Deposit Account 10,488 10,500 13,334 57,390 1,568 10,51 9,536 57,390 At 31 DECEMBER 2023 91,712 78,994 CBF INCOME SHARES DODGE CHURCHYARD 2023 6.242 562 Balance brought forward Investment growth Balance carried forward 6.804 LOAN FROM EAST COKER PCC 2023 Total 2022 Total Balance carried forward 12,Crf)O 12.IXIO LOAN FROM PARISHIONER (RE CHURCH WALL REPAIRS) 2023 Total 2022 Total Balance carried forward 7.332 THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS, WEST COKEIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE y￿%￿ ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 I. ACCOUNTING POLICIES The accounts have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis in line with the Siaternenl f R￿￿Orn￿ended Practice Accountin8 and Reporting by Charities Act 2DII and SORWS 2W8 RewEattorL8. Certificate of ApprDvai l approve these accounty and cL)nEirm that they Include a a)mplLlte record of all rvlevaml income and associated expenses and that I have made available all records and infomation for their cornpilats'on. isned.. Date: S B Flamp5hire (Mrs) 'I'roasurer THE PARoC￿Al CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLE5tASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARTIN OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2013 I report on the attounts trf the The Parthiai Church Council of thp Ecclesiastical PaTith of St Marlln ol Tours West Coker. for the year ended 31 D￿ernber 2023 are sel oul on the attached pa8eS. Respertlve re$pon8ibililie8 of tm$teu and examlner The rhaTitf8 truslees aro rngpM$ible for the preparahon of the xcouThts. The dwitys trustees con*der that an audEt is not rwSred for the year urKler section 14421 ot (Jwiilu Art 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an ind¢pendtnt examirwtion is neoded. Itis my Twsibillty kn.. examine the accounts under sedion 145 of the2mJ ACL. loltow the procedures laid down in fv Xu￿al di1￿1th5 siven by theCharityCommi5sion under srttion 145(5Xbl of thè2011 Ad., state whether particular mattèrs have LY)the to tyy alt•ttiffi. B*8ia of independent ex•Minerfs report My uamLnAtion carried uut in 8ttordAnct with the geDeral diredi¢)ns ￿Ven by the Charity Corrtmi55ion. Art examinatlon indude5 a revlew of the aeLY)LthI￿g records kept by thanty •nd J companTh i)f thLh accuunts pre9ented with those Tecords. 11 a150 includes corn8ideralion uf any unl￿al items or disclosures in the acc(Nanis. and wekn'ns explanailorn* from you as trasteos concemins Such matters. The priKedure8 undertaken do no¢ Provide all the evide￿* that would required in an •udil and tty)sequenity no opinion is gj'yen a5 to wheiher the accounts present a'trueand fèir and report is Ilmiled rnattetsset out in the statement below. Independent eumlnrf8 In connedion wlth my txaminat1￿ rn matter has ¢OmEto my atknlion.. {11 whith 8ive8 me rea￿*ble (au¥e to believe that In any material resp&t the requirnnents.. lo keep acc(>unknn8 romrds in accordancewith 13001 the201l A(t.' artd to prepare accounts which accord with th¢ attC￿ntIng ￿)rdS and comply wlth the aryountin8 iremenl8 of the 2011 Act have n(* been met or (2) lo whlth in my ￿n10Th at￿ri￿n ¥hDuld be drawn in otdor to enable a urnlLYStandJng Df the arc(wnts to Eexeached. HM Lambthead ICPA ACORN ACCOUNTING FOR BUSINESS LIMITFD Sulie A IYThePa YFOVEL Somerset BA20 IDN CktoEer 21124