## The Friends of St. Margaret’s Church, High Halstow CIO Registered Charity Number 1189941 June 2023 ## Trustee’s Annual Report The Friends of St. Margaret’s Church have had a successful year with well supported events which, with members’ subscriptions raised £13,106 This helped fund the £17,713 repairs carried out in the year to the Church in line with the quinquennial survey. Our next challenge is to support the Parochial Church Council in helping to fund the replacement of the temporary roofing that was installed after the theft of lead. This is a complicated process and an Architect has been appointed. Currently the necessary planning consent is awaited from the local council who liaise with English Heritage. Approval will then be sought from the Diocese. ## **Organ restoration fund.** A new fund has been set up to restore our Victorian Church Organ. It is proving to be very popular and donations have been coming in steadily. Alastair Curtis, an organ tuner and restorer has surveyed the Organ and is preparing a restoration specification and quotation of circa £18000. ## **Recent Events.** ## **History Talks.** A series of talks have been delivered this winter and spring which were well supported and very enjoyable. They were:- Len Feist – “The History of the Hoo Peninsula”. Ken Reynolds – “The Railways of the Hoo Peninsula”. Ken Reynolds – “Cinemas of the Medway Towns”. Peter Hartley, a former Royal Equerry – “A Royal Interlude” ## **Christmas Cards.** Ray Collins once again produced and sold good number of Christmas Cards at the Christmas Fair and in the Post Office. ## **Christmas Tree Festival.** A wonderful success. The Church was magical for the Christmas Services and the Carol Concert which was packed with villagers. ## **Music Hall Concert** The Community Choir ‘Music Hall’ Concert in November was a great success. This raised over £340 was well supported and very enjoyable. The Friends are very grateful to the Choir who consistently support us and add greatly to Village life. ## **Forthcoming Events.** At a recent Trustees Meeting the following events were agreed:- ## **The Annual Scarecrow Festival.** It’s time to start planning this year’s Scarecrows! The next Festival will run from Saturday 27th May, Scarecrows being made during the School Half Term, and displayed in front gardens throughout the summer. A display at the Rectory Garden party on July 1[st] is also planned. ## The Friends of St Margaret’s ## ANNUAL SCARECROW FESTIVAL ## 2023. Make a scarecrow and display it in your front garden. From May Half Term through to the end of August. It will add much to the village this Summer. ## **Concert.** The High Halstow Community Choir will present, “Songs from the Musicals” Saturday 8th July, 7.30pm. the Memorial Hall. ## **Wedding Photos** Mitch Dowsett is coordinating a project to celebrate the role of St Margaret’s in the community. In the October edition of the High Halstow Times you may have noted the article recording two Dowsett family weddings. If you have memories of events in which St. Margaret’s Church played a significant part then please contact Mitch on 01634 254428 or mitch.dowsett@btopenworld.com ## **Membership.** In order to build upon our success it is important that the “Friends” recruit new members. I am sure there are villagers who care about their church and wishes to help preserve the oldest building in the village so that it remains our distinctive landmark and is available for generations to come. Membership Forms and details are available. Mike Meredith. Chairman. THE FRIENDS OF ST MARGAREf's CHURCH CIO FINANCIAL REPORT 2022rL3 5ub5cfiptions We have 46 siaDding SUt>scDptkn5. 43 trwDthty and 3 annu*ly. We ID5t fLwJr (*Jnrw the yew wTrrfone new a(hIrt￿Tr. Th15 gw* ￿ a £SgD row￿. rhe sear revenue thiough $ubstsiwion5 has faI￿n Debtors We havE onp dEbLor. the HMRC tor Ihe Grft AYI refurKI al È1.330.87. Raising the panLlernic futKlrawDg ha5 rewrrEd ro near nOTrnal and 51x e4eTIis hEkl helped raise £19W.19 InclLKling Carol aThl Chris's new 9arilenino InrtIath￿. Adminisiratton Expenses Thèsè weie £4#1.23 loi Insuran¢e 8nd h•M nire Fund5 ￿ PCC £16243 33 gNen knwr05 quinquthal repaws arKI £1394.20 for rtw)l ￿p￿r preparaiK)n. The PCC rewd £2641.97 alter VAT was ￿0vered Audit Tne In￿￿p@n￿OntIY Audrt•d Bank Balance Af the etKI 4)t The thnanc￿ year. a tjank bal*rttr 01 £37995.70 wth ￿ ¢ash In Reserv•s R￿1 repaiis L321K)8.06 organ rÈpars £1487.50 PoiniirvJ £5￿ (t) £4001.20 Toial ￿r￿>S deblot Is £3932S.29 R Collins Treasurer May 2023 THE FRIENDS OF ST MARGARET’S CHURCH CIO ACCOUNTS 2022/23