St Mary & St Eanswythe with st Saviour, FoLkestone Annual Parochial Church Meeting 2025 T l*liiRY I'OL A meetlng of the parishioners for the purpose of Elocting Two Churchwardens and The AnnuaL Parochial Church MeetinE to be held in the Nave of St Mary & St Ean5Wythe's Church on Sunday 04 May 2025 at 11.4fjam, Annual Meetlngof ParlshlonEf5 1. Opéning Prayer. 2. AppoinLmenL of Sècrerary. 2. Minijtes of the 2024 Meeting and Matters Arising. 4. To receive the Churchwardens, Charities AccounL 5. Election of two Churchwarden5. Annual Parochial Church Meeting 1. ApDLogies Tor Absence. 2. Minutes of thÈ 202d Meeting and Matters Arising. 3, To receive: a. Report on changes in tho oLectoraL roll sinco the last APCM. b. Annual Report on the proceedings of the Parochial Church Council of St Mary & st Ean5Wythe FoLkestone and tno activities of tlie parish generalLy. c. Examined financial sratement of the PCC I'or the year ending 31 December 2024, d. Report on the fabrlc. goods and ornaments of the church. Report on Lhe proceedings of tho Deanory Synod. AdditionaL Reports relating to the lire of rhe chvrch. 4. To elÈci Up to one Deanery Synod representaLiVe. b. Up LO four Parochial Church Council members. 5. To appoint: Independent Examiner. 6. Any otner matters of parochial or goneraL church interesr (to be referred to PCL). St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone Minutes from the last meeting Minules o ris loners and Annual Parochial Church Meetin held in the Nove of Si Marji A St lansw>thes Church on Sundny 28 AprEI 2024 t 11.4Jfum AnnuÈil Meeting of Parlshloners ?. Jetriiiifer Grifrin appointed as Secretary. 4.The Ctiurc&)wafdens' Charitios Accoun15 were recniveoi. Fr John explained these oore intended for anyone who was In need, r kle.c.Tinn OTr C*urchwardens: Andrevi Plested and Tom Bertram were appDSnted. Fr iohn thanked ilierTI Tor theii. work during the ycar. Ant)ual Parochial Church Meetin& l. Apologies for absence- Richard Bellamy Fi .lohn thanked everyone who had submitted report5. r.LECTIONS". [¥il Vicky Friedrlch appointed as L)eanery Synod representarive. [l)I Poiiiiilyf) Edg.y g.loctod as a momber Oi Lhe ParochiaL Church CounciL. Churchwardens to be coiisuILvd if anyone wished to be a PCC mèmbér. 5. laj Sidèsporsons elecred en bLoc. [b] Indeperidenl Examiner.. Nlcola Cahill appointed. All agreed. 6. Next APCIffl: 4lli May 2025. p(:c-. ..IArLks may bÈ altorod. [,:1 .Ipnny Coloman has a￿ered to be the neiy Tf ed¥ur"er. (b] Pam Keeling has agreed to be GifL Aid secreldry. ICJ Carolino blayward Parish Safeduarding Off icer. Ilndrsbw Plesled exprvs5ed thanks ro Pam Keeling for all she had done a5 Treasurer. Fr .John sccondod thic ana oxpressed thanks to Dan Keeling aL50. iiidiew PItlsLed tl)(inked Fr John for the Last four years, Fr .Inhn cr)ncLuded rho meeting with prayer and hopos that we find the riglii prlesr for the paflsh. St Mary & St Ean5Wythe with st Saviour, FoLkestone O.R8$1 Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council ST t.Ir.It?' £. S-: for the year ended 31st December 2024 Administrative information The Parish or Fokkestone, St Mary and St Ean8wythe with St Saviour is in the Elham Deanery, in tho Diocese of Canterbury with t.he Church of England. There are rwo places of worship. rhe Parish Church of si Mary and St Fanswytho in the rosvn centre Oi FolkesTono And rlie Chapol nf St AugusLine, 39141 Dovor ftoad. Folkestone which is a LocaL EcumenicaL Project ¥hared with the Greek Orthodox Church of St Mark and 5t Fotinl. The former Parish Church ot St Saviour, Canterbury Road. is now occupied by Harbour Church. The correspondence address is St Mary and St Ean5Wythe Church, Church Streei Folke5tone. CT20 1SE, sainteanswythE@gmail.com. The Parochial Church Council {PCC) is a charity rEgistered with the Charlty Commission Reg.No.1192616 . PCC members who have served from 28th April 2024 until the date this report is approved Ex-officio The Revd John Walker Prie5t-rn-Chorge Chair {untll April 2024) The Revd Christopher Johnson Priest-in-charge Chair (from Octobèr 2024) Tom BerLram Churchwarden Andrew Plesta Churchwarden Synod RepresentatSve5 Vicky Friedrich Deanery synod (Term end5 2026) st Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone Administrative information (cont) Elected R?presentatlves errn Began Term Ends CitriDna Huntor 2022 'v4Lal)Cy 2022 | 2025 2026 J dnice Clarkp. enny CrJlEmafl 2a23 2026 vamela KAplTn 2023 Rasicnp.d April 2024. Thc term for this plac* wrll no¥v xun 2022-25 iiricia 5kolsted 2023 ?Q26 David ￿￿ri￿hL 2023 Resigned Sepc 2024. The term forthis ploce will now run 24-27 Vacancy ?0211 M(Irilyii Ecley 2024 2027 Co-opted ' Caral Mc8edil) NDveniL¥èr 2024 Advlststs to ihe PCC I'he PCC g.rateful Lo woik alongslde and receive qupporl dnd advlce uf u*l*)ployees, volunteers and pr<>fessionaL a£encie5. inclvdinc: Employod Positions or roles for which a fee or hoThordrlum is payable Parish Administrator .1g.nnifÉbf Gr iffin (durlng 202a) Org&7ni.4t & choir Dlrector Malcolni Munro (untll October 2024) rJrnlea..4%lUI)al Advisor under zhe Care of tn*. cliurches frAeasure 2018 {Pari*h rrl)IleLt) James Ford nf Clague Architécts Otlior Rolos Ti'e£?syrp.r Jenny c.oleman C..Irp. (Jf Sl Augustino's Cenrre c.arol C?()ddeii Head tsf 5t Eaiiswythe's SchooL Cialre Jacobs Head tsf st Mary's School Arr)iirida Wolfram Pai isli Safeguarding pcc Lead Tori) Bertram Parish SiifeEI)arding O¥icer Caroibne Ilayward P.3rish Di&clusuro Officer Andr?w plestod st Mary & St Eanswythe with st Saviour, Folkestone Electoral Roll Report In March and April. 2025, a new ElectoraL RolL foi" the church was created. All parishes in the Church of England are requirecl to do thls every 6 years- th?. oLd list is discarded and evoryone who wants to be on the new list is invited to fill out a now Electoral Roll form. The new Roll is therefore an accurate lisr or those people who consider thern5elves to be members of our church. Number5 on thè new Elcctoral Roll, witP) the previou5 figures, are a5 iollows". Mèw EieeEoTrl Rall Pr¢¥loy5 Eleclornl Roll Total number 49 of whlch, Aeskitryt in Paflsh 20 29 And thvFe Non-resldent 29 38 Whenever a new ELe¢toral Roll is created rhere is, inevitably. a reduction in Ihe numbers which have gradually accumulated over the previous 6 years. Some of the reason% behirid tho change this yèar can bo summarised as: New Etèd¢Trl Roll who have dled, Alp Th05e who no lancor worshlp wlth ￿*, borause ota8e. or rn*JVEd on Thèst rBtuined <ht COVED Olhvrlpeople not prestrt durlng re¥lil¢n PErlod, Ortorn￿ not r¢¢¢ivBdl Increaso in number Those who aro ngw tolheKII I he present Roll is currenL UP to Sunday 6th April 2025- thoso who are includod on thls list are enLltlod to vote at the APCM. The Elecroral Roll is. however, an ongoing iisl and anyono Wantinrf to be included on it can do so if thoy complete a Form and hand that to John Tomlinson (Please s?sk John or one of -he Churchwardons if you would like a fc)rrn). John Tomlinsoi? ST Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, FoLkestone Proceedings of the Parochial Church Council Tliè. moEhcd ot appointmènt of PCC members is set out in the Churp.h R@pros@ntation rules. ALI Church Attondees are encouraged 10 register on the ELectoral Roll and Stand r'or eleciion ro the DCC. Ciislc)inarily. tho Chair Oi the PCC Is taken by ihe Priest-in-charge or by an elected VILe-ChaiF in rheir absence. .?CL iiiembers aro responsible for makinLi (Jetiisions on all maf¢ers Oi genoral concern and Importance 10 rhe parish incLuding deciding on how the f'unds of the PCC are to be Ihp PCC rneets regularly in order ro fulfll its obligAtion8. Mattèrs are attended to by correspuriderice where necessary between rneetings. In older Io Tulfil irs function Iho Council has the following sub committeES- standing Cornmlttee Men)ber£nip: Priest-in-charge, Vice-cliaii. Lliurchwardèns. Trèasurer. two members eLocted by ilie P(.(: {currontLy vacinL). Thi5 committee Cunducts business on behalf of the full Council beLweEn meetings where necessary. Vjorklng Parties and ad hoc groups are appointed for the following matters: Pi41'%nnnol Committee SDcial aiioi f undraising ÈvÈnts Aim and purposes St MaTy and St Eanswyche with St Saviour PCC ha. the responsibility of co-operDashboard as a means Oi has alao b- LI)￿.￿.king and recoroing its progress in expecLed iasks and implomentation of good practice. rho duTy of safeuivartiing is incumbant noljusi Ljpnn tho PCC but upon the whole churcli Lommuniry ai we seek to prorect all God's people and 10 promotÈ a safer cklurch. T')¥1'g aro also statutory duties that the PCC must keep In good order and up to date, particltldrly iti matters of policy. 1mplemp.nration. training and good practice in folaiion to fp.guarding. Havin&1 ¢umpleted an annual review in preparation for the 2025 APCM. we have idèntitied several areas which require attention and work over the coming year: Trainin All uC.C members rnust havo D2S checks (renewed every 3 years) and up-to-date trainlng rviiuirod by the Church of ￿￿Etand. otliers who undertake spucifièd rolos will need to complete 8aTeguardints trainin as 5pe(;ifip.cJ by Church of England guidxncÈ. A log WILL be creatod and maintained L)f Lraining and D8S checks. Policies & Information rb.0 poLicy fDLder will be kept updated and kept in church. R¥l¥v3ni satoduarding contacrs ancj other required information will bè displayed as roquired t)y ¢urrenr CofE ouidelines. Other mattors There ia work 10 be dono on risk-k45SessinL our acT.Ivities. ocruitmeni Policy & Pracrico wilL bo reviewed DveT Ihe coming yoar. Our recurd-keeping practices are due for ievlew Ithough any information heLd bout Ctriiloren's Church pJrticipantS 15 dLrÈady reviewed annually). Caroline Ho￿W(lId. Porisl) Scrfeguawding Officrr Tom 8ertrom, PCC Sofeguordinq Lead The Revd ChristopherJohn50n. Priest-iri-Chor9() Si Mary & St Ean5wfLhe with st Saviour, FoLke5tone -Report from the Treasurer 2024 wa5 4 very interesting and varied year in Ehe life or our church. S£Jiy. in vanuary the funeral Oi Wiltiam Brown Junior Look place. Fr. John Walker and members Df iho PCC 5UPPOrtod the Brown family Ehrough fhls time and -hey became part of our churLII rarrily. VJiiliam's parents acquired pormis5ion from the PrI￿Y Council to bury William in ihe chLirchyard. Cr. John Walker rerired in ApriL WIL -h our Ihanks ror guiding us thfOUL¢h -he difficult years or he pandemic and encouraging us to bring some changes to tho Lite and worship in the churGh. Members of the PCC worked tlrele5sly to ensure that we viould not havÈ a long interregnum and we probably broke the record for appointing a new PriesT in Charge in June. Fr Chris Johnson was installed on October 11 at a Service fuLL of beautiTuI music and great jov anti anEiclpation. Fiiiance I took over as Treasurer at Lho APCM. On behalf of the PCC I would Like to ihank Pam Keeliii for ner tireless work as Treasurer Since 2020 and her generous support to the church and tho PCC. My cratefuL thanks are added for all Pam has done in various capacities as a fundraiser and champion L)r our church. The Planned Giving income including Widow's Mite and various very donerous conrriburion.s roialled £24,692. The Gift Aid roceTved over thè year was £6,270.00. We vllere ablts to tranSl.￿r funds from the Planned Giving account to enable us to pay a good proportion of our Parish Sharo. Together wirh a l_inc payment from the Dioceso this meanr rt Type: Accrual (Pard & Vnp•id> ACCOUNTS JaTh 01, 2024 t• D•G 31, 2L124 Intèm• &Equexts ,02lSO ri2-49.27 Colfo £93S6 Canc0rt5 Dirocl V¥bU¢ Suppdrt- Glfts In Kind Doniltions £19317.40 EANswYfHE FOUND £10 Fabric fund E27S66.OD Fee5 WEddind5 S ￿￿¢1* Q13&00 FKnding Ean5Wythp L¢K•Ey Bookg Fbi*èr Fund E40.OQ FuneTrl L48Q.00 Hèating Fund £16,80824 Her¢tage CDnlr¢ C2,501.SB Invo5tTn0F￿- Inttf*St £151636 Mtsrell#vi¥utss Revenue £isioo Orawi Fund E61822 PG A/C 08627304 £5,000.00 PIM)tocopylng £454.30 Planned Glwing £15,305.00 Pi<>111.ty4(J St Mkr>' & St fJmwWIE DO1￿ RA*i#•. ni, ?n2.t D•£ 31, 1024 Ié, 202J Pae*l/4 12 ACCOUNTS A'jn Ql, 2024 to D*c 31, 2024 Priest reimbur5¢mont Rendezv¢us MagaJne RÈV John Wsjlker Sklnry Donats0Tr5 Box 1833.73 Sum Up Payrnents GIVÈ a Llule nha.64 T•bl• sal05 £27.00 T￿U￿ e&C £50.00 Uncate8orfzed 1,116.45 Votlve eandlo E382.96 Weddrna e1.901.QO Wldb4¢s Milo 61.70 £115.040.11 T¢tal Cqst of Go(th Sold £0.00 Grn55 Prnllt As a pert*fitaRé of T¢l•l £11&040.11 100.00 Oporaung EXP￿*0$ AIBNS E236.46 AV and pre5entsUtsn £4140.00 Accounting Fees £334.57 Bank Charge i7&51 £21S1 BrÈad, Wino & Candles £687.47 p￿lIf ai41 L•ss. Si M¥ry I StE•fWrtth• Cél* Jan 01. 2U24 la OK3I 2024 P•Ke21& 13 Opgratlna Exp•AJ•S Card Purthas¢ ete £13 Chubb Fir¢ Churchos Togethèr £50.00 a4yJFilng Exp, £84.08 DBF Fees £9.045.00 EANSWHE FOUND 3217.14 Eccl•srastiul In¥4Manee £9.761.78 Elfrthi¢ E2.751.57 Expens(t5 Vir4r £3.82&78 Fèbric Fund Flower Fund £223.96 Fr John WalkFr £215.00 Funèral toos e228.1]0 Good DeviEos 11.57 Heating Fund £34075.60 Irb Servl¢È e90.70 14lsc. £723.17 M1s51on E35.00 Mu51c FLmd £1.76&30 Officè SuppliDS £10.30 011 & Heat 113.07 Organ Fund E1.707.73 PG Exponxs £93,74 £19,816.00 Payroll- S•lary & W&ges E7.727.16 Vrijbt a.-Id Laa- St MJry & St can%￿*￿. P•*v41d 14 Opit•trng ExperbS•¥ Photocopy £618.75 Pri(1sts F￿S Cla60.00 Priv5t5 fees £19ZOO Printing arkd Reprockthn Ll,rt4?26 RP £247.86 Rend¢zvous Maga21r [29.70 RepalT5 S Mahtenan¢e £440.00 S¢¢lal £13925 reiephone- Land Line £1.629.18 Uncatéeorizpd Expense S9.83 Uillltles £894.81 Wa£es 523.88 Wator •nd Sower E219.50 Wldov/s Mite £7.00 TO￿[ Op•raling Exp•ns 41596.65 N•t Profft As a pwcentac¢ •fTotal Incomè 2755&54 .23.95 I hereby oppn)Wo thRSe ACCO￿1$ Ihe inlDmgik)n and explanations piovlded SIr￿n Osbome Aetountanr). and Tliation benices Lt 13* ehurth Road ClieritDD OLKESroi'i-: K¢iii CT2U 3ER Pv>St aTh=' Las%- 5t M•ry & Sl Eanwtkn Dsto Rane¢ JAn 01, 2024 w Dec n 2D2d P•Lpe< lJl 15 I Ik 4 16 Elo 14 17 Balance Sheet St Mary S St Eanswythe As uf 31 2024 Report TY￿ Accruol IPaid & Unpwdl ACCOUNTS Dee 31. 20 TGtal Cash and Bank £39.722.75 Total Other CurTent A55ets £492.39 Total Long-tern Assets ￿￿.00 Total A55•ts 21S.14 LlJblllU Totol Cunenl Llablltles £O.OD Totnl LDng-tem) Llabllltlès £0.00 Total LlabllltlÈJ £0.00 Equlty Tolal Ottrw Equlty £o,oD lotal RetalnÈd Eamln8S 140,215,14 Tot*1 EquEty £40315.14 We af6 nol aDle lo apwove 1hè abovè balanc* gheet yobiaed by Wave os the bank balanc8 ¢kJ85 fHIt match th• bank $18tsmcnl. APior di¥¢vssing ihis vhlh you, Ihts is due Lo • piewl¢u$ yew err1￿ ¥nd l UTrjèr&￿nd you h8Ya cArrfed oui fflany 618P8 10 ty to i•clify th￿ but ta nD avail_ We ¢?ii comrm ihe tsonk l%12ncE 01 yeBf Ended 31sl Oecemw 2024 as per tbB bank 5ts1BmBFrt 15 t40.195.83 C-BAS AftoiintllnLv #nil Taxatloii ScThic¢s Ud 115 CFiiirLlI ChL'ritthii FOLKESTOYE ent !ER Shtpi- Si bldry S stEan¥￿th af 31. la34 Cr￿￿*d￿ ￿r7(A 2025 E•ll) 18 Qllllllll 19 St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone ## **Fabric report** ## **Quinqennial Phase 2** ## **Weather Vane** Having erected the scaffolding on the top of the Tower to access the weather vane, it was found to be in much worse condition. We now have quotes for the repair. The weather vane needs taking down and reinstalling by someone else as the companies do not like working at height! Rye Roofing has quoted for this process. We have had a £5,000 grant towards this work and I have applied for grant funding for the balance for this work **.** I gave Rye the go-ahead in July but they only contacted me in February about s a start date. The scaffolding has been checked but needs extra boards for access. I am still waiting for a start date. ## **Nave Roof seals to stonework** For some unknown reason, when the church was re-roofed in 1988 the slate roof to Tower and Western Gable stonework for the central span of the Nave was made in mortar rather than the usual lead flashing used elsewhere. The mortar is well stuck to the slates but has pulled away from the stonework. This work requires scaffolding to the west end and against the Tower. I have £20,000 grant funding. Work will start once the remaining roof issues are resolved. ## **Belfry Louvres mesh** This is to keep the pigeons from roosting/nesting on the louvres and causing blocking of gutters etc. I have a quotation for abseilers to fit the screens and a supplier for the screens but need external measuring of the four apertures, probably only possible by abseilers. I am trying to get funding for this. ## **Calvary** The Diocese has approved the plan for the restoration and we have Planning approval. The War Memorials Trust will cover 75% of the renovation cost and have given me a link to reclaim the VAT - it is a different scheme to that for works on the church. We have also received ward grants from FHDC (£500) and Folkestone Town Council (£200) and my thanks to David Wright for further fund-raising. Work is almost complete, there are three roof tiles to replace, which is not an issue. One of the ridge tiles is missing and the contractor has been trying to source another from various architectural salvage companies without success. I am waiting to hear from the War Memorials Trust whether to replace all three or if they have any other options. ## **Churchyard Walls** There are two areas of fractured walling, both revealed when the Council cut back the ivy. One is on the curve of the wall opposite the Calvary, the wall has been split by an ivy root and the top capping stones are loose. The other is the wall to the left of the steps which has moved due to ivy infestation. Both of these have been reported to the Council (FHDC). No progress as yet on the wall by the steps but the affected part of the wall opposite the Calvary has been dismantled to allow access for removal of the roots. FHDC now wants to move gravestones so that they can get rid of all the shrub roots before rebuilding the wall. Obviously the gravestones would have to be returned to their present positions. I have consulted the DAC about this and asked FHDC to contact the DAC but have not been able to ascertain the current situation at the time of writing this report. **21** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Fabric report (cont)** ## **Adam and Eve (before the apple!) Window** Broken during the 2017 break-in. Canterbury Cathedral Stained Glass Workshop have measured the stone setting for the window and made a template. The new window will have a Makrolon protective glazing but, unlike the present Makrolon it will be fitted into the window aperture and fixed with metal clips rather than surface applied with screws, making it far more difficult to remove. I received a quotation for the work (£9,437 plus VAT) and passed it on to Ecclesiastical Insurance for their approval, which they have now given and work is progressing on repairing the window. Maybe three months to wait. ## **Chancel Sanctuary Lamps** One of the three brass chains on the central lamp has snapped and the mechanism jammed so that the lamp cannot be raised or lowered from chest height. Each lamp is connected to its counterweight with three brass chains. Although the central lamp is raised and lowered far more often than the rest, given the age of the chains and the access issue it is probably best to consider replacing the chains on all seven lamps. The central lamp has been moved into the small Vestry for safe keeping. I have obtained two quotations, one by scaffold tower for £2,500 and one via ladder and rope work for £2,800 although the latter has a chain price of just under £1,000, three times that of the other quote. The architect is to specify the chain type so that we can get le quotes. I have been given the details of a funding source for this work and will submit an application. ## **New Reliquary** Work complete and the relics of St Eanswythe installed in the Reliquary and then into the niche. As part of the Diocesan requirements the outside wall has been re-pointed in lime mortar up to window level and the two gravestones moved away from the wall to reduce dampness in the niche. ## **Vesica Window** In October 2023 a hole appeared in the top left quadrant of the surround. The insurers were slow to approve the work and pigeons found their way in for a comfortable roost, leaving their calling cards everywhere - my thanks to those who covered the altar area and cleaned up during the invasion. The Sanctuary was scaffolded and the panel removed to Easthope studios for repair and re-installing. My thanks to Jan and Paul for their work in removing the pigeon droppings and wax from the carpet. ## **Asbestos** We have had an asbestos survey of the church. This has identified asbestos in the Boiler Room and a minimal amount associated with the Organ. **For the Organ:** there was only one low risk issue - either remove by a specialist asbestos firm or leave undisturbed There are two very low risk issues - either remove or leave undisturbed. In view of the exorbitant cost of removal of four pieces of pipe lagging we have had the heating pipes under the organ sealed in wooden boxing. The main problems are to do with the soon to be defunct heating system which is confined to the Boiler Room. For £9,187.50 we could seal the asbestos found there with paint, Removing the old heating system and its asbestos would be extremely expensive and achieve little. The boiler room has flooded a couple of times in the past due to blocked drains so is not a suitable storage space. **22** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Fabric report (cont)** ## **Roof issues late 2024** There has been an ongoing issue with water coming in above the brass plaques at the front of the Nave, the problem being due to a blocked and difficult to reach small gully next to the Tower. Which got a lot worse at the end of he year. We also had the occasional spots during very wet weather from above the arch into the Lady Chapel, which also worsened. Then we had a plaster fall from above where the Christmas tree normally stands needing the area to be cordoned off. I had also noticed the north and west walls of the Lady Chapel appearing damp. Finally we had water dripping onto the light switches in the Chancel (similar culprit to the Nave brasses but on the eastern side of the Tower. And inside the South Transept next to the organ. Ames managed to find time to sort out these leaks. 70 missing or broken slates were replaced, the remainder of the ceiling panel in the North Transept was removed and the area outside was re-laid. The gullies adjoining the Tower that caused the Nave and Chancel leaks were cleaned. Both Nave valleys gutters were cleaned as well as the gully above the Tower staircase responsible for the South Transept leak. The scaffolding firm that had scaffolded the weather vane had left scaffold boards and poles in the gullies either side of the North Transept and on the flat outside the doorway to the ringing room. 5 scaffold boards and two footballs were in the main gutter for the Lady Chapel causing he high level damp in the walls. Ames has cleaned all of these areas and stored the scaffold in components in a better way. I contacted Rye roofing who were unaware of this scaffolding and they have complained to their scaffolders. ## **Tower Mural** A small part of the mural halfway up the curved left side of the mural fell down late 2023. The damage was surveyed from ground level and there are five areas where the mural is bulging. The mural was scaffolded for a thorough examination, temporary reinforcement of fragile areas and preparation of a full estimate. The work proposed is itemised below although 5.1 and 5.4 have already been done and is expected to take 8 weeks. The total cost, including scaffolding, will be £25,000 plus VAT, which is refundable. I have been advised of two sources of funding and will make he applications in due course. ## **New Quinquennial Survey** This was done last autumn and brought up several issues that need addressing such as: painting the iron glazing bars in the stained glass windows; resolving the dampness on the wall between Baptistery and the west end of the Nave, the North West Porch and South Aisle. **23** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Fabric report (cont)** ## **Heating** My Thanks to Tom Bertram for managing this project. The Heating System is fully installed. EDF, our electricity suppliers, has uprated the fuses and meter tails in electricity supply in the organ blower room and the Nave heating has been connected and is in use. The rest of the heating has to be connected to our other electricity supply in the Choir Vestry. There is a problem with this supply, it has 200 amp fuses but the EDF tails re only rated for 60 amps. The UK Power Networks fuses are in an old cast iron housing which is no longer deemed safe for the higher amperage so it needs replacing with a modern plastic unit. To do this the supply to the church has to be cut involving digging a hole in the path from the church to the Bayle to access and cut the cable before the unit can be changed and 100 amp fuses installed. Once this is done, EDF has to come and uprate the meter tails to 100 amps. Then the electrician can connect the heating for the Chancel. Lady Chapel, North Transept and Choir. The system is zoned so we only need to switch on the area we want to use. The Nave, Chancel and Choir Stalls have under-pew heating. The North Transept and Lady Chapel have overhead heat and light chandeliers. We will no longer need to pre-heat from 6 p.m. the night before as half an hour should suffice, a considerable cost reduction compared with the oil heating. _Andrew Plested_ ## **Additional note regarding heating** We have replaced the burner unit in the old boiler, which gives us a more reliable addition to the under pew heating. We have recently ordered 1200 litres of oil to see us well into this year’s winter. With regards to the continued situation with the electrics in the vestry, it’s been confirmed that 100 watt fuses will be adequate for all our needs, bearing in mind the addition of the Chancel and Choir heating. We are obtaining a faculty so the cabling under the flagstones in the Churchyard can be temporally cut to allow power networks to remove the metal lucy and replace as required. Discussions are ongoing to establish a timeframe. _Tom Bertram Churchwarden_ **24** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Deanery Synod Report** The focus for the Deanery Synod this year has been mission and ministry and in particular women’s roles in ministry. With this in mind we have enjoyed talks from Rev Jo Richards – Chaplain to the Homeless in Canterbury Diocese and Canon Rev Estella Last – Bishop’s Advisor for Women’s Ministry. Business meetings have followed the themes of the talks and the Area Deans have encouraged parishes to speak to one another about what they are already doing and to use each other’s interests and expertise. It has been proposed that the Deanery produces a directory of approved service providers, to facilitate the process of carrying out maintenance on our buildings and other necessary tasks in our parishes. The Area Deans remain encouraged by the increase in discernment and acknowledged the number of people from within the Deanery who are currently in the process of training for ordained and lay ministry. Our parish in entitled to have two representatives on the Deanery Synod. Currently we only have one. If this is something you may be interested in, please speak to Vicky Friedrich about what is involved. _Vicky Friedrich Deanery Synod Representative_ **25** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone ## **Annual Report: Supplementary Reports** **for the year ended 31st December 2024** ## **Clergy Report** Writing an annual clergy report is always an interesting task, not least because so much of the following year has normally already elapsed by the time we meet. It’s further complicated for me by the fact that I arrived only in October 2024, so missed much of the excitement of the year for this parish. Yet, what a year it obviously was here and it didn’t slow up. After a wonderful event in October for my licensing, there was very little time to get one’s feet under the altar before the extraordinary and unique service of the Translation of the Relics of St Eanswythe took place in November. It was an amazing privilege to preside over that service and to be able to gather worshipers from across the world both in person and online. Marking the conclusion of that chapter in the story of Eanswythe Found, it was a profound and holy moment yet a joyful gathering too. Christmas brought its own joys as we marked the birth of Our Lord and enjoyed the opportunity that the Christmas season affords us to bring the community together and into the building. In the space of one weekend we went from Cosmic Rock to Community Choir to Advent Prose, plus school services and the usual round of parish events and worship too. I’m hugely grateful to you for your wonderful welcome to the parish – the discovery of a pint of milk and delicious things in the pantry prior to the arrival of the removal van set the tone for the wider welcome that followed. Thank you also for your embracing of some innovations, some restorations of what happened before and for the willingness to look anew at things as I've brought fresh eyes (and questions). I also wish to take the opportunity to pay tribute to my predecessor, Fr John Walker, and to thank him for his ministry here; laying and maintaining foundations & relationships for me to continue to build on in my ministry in this place. Looking ahead, in pondering the future vision for this parish and for my ministry within it, three key themes emerged: ‘Worship’, ‘Community’, and ‘Heritage’. Each of these already plays a part in our daily life and work at St Mary & St Eanswythe’s and I very much hope that these themes will continue to allow us to develop our work and ministry together within our parish and community. As ever in parish life, there’ll be careful thought to be given to our building; its basic and routine maintenance along with how it’s used in worship and to serve our work and our mission and to enhance its function and beauty. There’s also the heritage aspect of our amazing building and the historical interest that this draws in, along with celebrating the life and faith of our patron, St Eanswythe – especially given the profile she’s attained in recent months and years. In amongst all of this, however, there’s the constant practical reminder that resources are often stretched – both human and financial – and we need to steward those wisely and caringly. **26** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Clergy Report (cont)** There may well need to be some changes in the way we approach things, including with Generous Giving methods, over the coming months so that we don’t overstretch our precious volunteers and utilise the resources available to us as best we possibly can. Do please embrace and engage with those changes as they arise and give things the benefit of the doubt where necessary. I can assure you that ‘change for change’s sake’ is not something we’re going to be in the business of doing here! In conclusion, thank you for the contribution that you make to the life of our parish as we seek to serve God and be faithful to his call. Things do get noticed – whether offerings of time and talents be small or large - and they’re very much appreciated, both by me and by those whom we serve and with whom share our Christian lives and faith. I look forward to what the coming year holds for us! _Fr Christopher Johnson Priest-in-Charge_ **27** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Children’s Church report** Children’s Church celebrated its third birthday in December and we continue to meet on the second Sunday of each month. Children from a number of families attend regularly, some with their parents, and we are always ready to welcome more. Our highest number to date is 12 children accompanied by 5 adults with 3 Children’s Church leaders! It was a bit of a squeeze, although, at the moment, the Upper Room is still big enough for us. In our time together we enjoy stories, singing and activities usually based on the Gospel for the day. The Children’s Church team is Sue Bauhahn, Maureen Foreman, Pam Keeling and Clare Tomlinson. We remain very grateful to Maurice Bauhahn for ringing us up to let us know when the Creed is beginning, and to Carol McBeath, Caroline Hayward, Pam Keeling and Marilyn Edey for stepping in to help out when we’re one short. We are very aware of our responsibilities and are up to date with safeguarding training. The family area in church is used every week and its position means that families can engage with the service easily. On Sundays when Children’s Church doesn’t meet, we provide activity sheets connected to the Sunday readings. Please take a look at these activity sheets and feel free to take one home to pass on to a grandchild or neighbour. There are always spare programmes and flyers on the table near the door – if you know anyone who might like to join in, please give them one and invite them along. ## **Highlights from the past year** - Our picnic in the vicarage garden with fun and games and food for all who came. Our fourth making of Birthday Cakes for Jesus on Stir Up Sunday. - The collection of the decorated cakes at the Crib Service on Christmas Eve – and taking part in the Christmas story with Fr Chris. - The growing confidence of the children to speak and sing in church – they really enjoy joining in with presenting the gifts and taking the collection. - Seeing new families happy to join in and the way the existing members of Children’s Church make them feel welcome. Very many thanks to everyone for your continued prayers for all of us. _Clare Tomlinson Children’s Church Co-ordinator_ **28** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Welcomers Report** ## **Members** We currently have a team of 18 welcomers; 11 of whom cover weekday opening and all of whom are involved on the Saturday rota. During the last year we have introduced two new people to the team. Welcomers are drawn from both regular worshippers at the church and from the wider community; particularly those who have an interest in history and heritage. Current church opening times are Wednesday to Saturday, from 11am-1pm. Outside of these times, we can usually accommodate groups by arrangement with the church office. We would welcome new people to the team and would like to be able to open on Mondays and Tuesdays as we have in the past. ## **Welcomer safety** On the advice of the local police, we always have at least two welcomers, at least one of whom is male, on duty. In addition, we have screech alarms available as well as two units linked to the local Lifeline care service. Incidents are rare but these measures provide reassurance. ## **Visitors** The recording of numbers of visitors has just re-started, having lapsed in recent years. Numbers vary from week to week and are somewhat weather-dependent. Many people who visit are local and have a long history with church having been pupils at St. Eanswythe school, baptised or married at the church or having sung in choir as children. One visitor in her 90’s had moved to Canada and wanted to re-visit the church where she had been a bridesmaid some 80 years ago. Others local visitors drop in most weeks; some to pray and others to chat. Alongside local visitors, we welcome a number on day or weekend trips from wider Kent, London and the near continent. Visitors from the USA seem to have increased. The availability of the church guide in a number of languages is much appreciated. Our impression is that the presence of the relics and the recent publicity around them has drawn a number of visitors and pilgrims to the church. Welcomers are knowledgeable and can enrich the experience for those who wish to know more about the building and its artefacts. ## **Groups** In the last year we have welcomed groups from the Orthodox community in the USA, pilgrims walking the new camino from Canterbury to Folkestone, a group of young refugees and asylum seekers working with KRAN and a group of adults with additional needs from the Touchbase project. While the church is not on the Via Francigena, we have welcomed pilgrims walking the route and we have a pilgrim stamp available. **29** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Welcomers Report (cont)** ## **Development** There is an opportunity to develop the church as a pilgrimage site. Contact has already been made with the leader of the Augustine Camino walks and with the local Ramblers group (who walk parts of the Canterbury caminos) to offer guided tours and refreshments by arrangement. The church has recently been included for the first time in the British Pilgrimage Trust guidebook and sits on the Southampton to Canterbury ‘Old Way’ route that has received good publicity since its rediscovery by the BPT founder, Will Parsons. _Judy Doherty Welcomer co-ordinator_ **30** ## St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Choir Report** We have a small but loyal (and tuneful) choir singing four part harmony each Sunday – the average number of singers is around six. Most weeks, where resources permit, they sing a psalm, anthem, and communion hymn in addition to leading the service. For special services the choir draws on a wider network of singers and we have had choirs of around 20 singers for the major services over the year. Some of these additional singers are previous members of the choir, while others are unable to make the commitment to sing with the choir every Sunday but are willing to do so on an occasional basis. These special services included a eucharist in celebration of Pentecost, which was also the weekend when the church was full of music for the Sacconi Festival, the Blessing of the new reliquary for St Eanswythe on 12 September, this was followed fairly swiftly by Fr Chris’s installation on 11 October, and finally the Translation of the relics on 17 November. December is always a busy time for the choir and it is usually quite easy to recruit extra singers for the Advent Carol Service and the Nine Lessons and Carols. The Creative Quarter Carol Service is also popular as a fun occasion when the choir can ‘let their hair down’ a bit, and the familiar carols and seasonal music are popular with the singers. We were sorry, in early October, to lose Malcolm Munro, who had been our organist and musical director since early 2022. However, we have been fortunate to have the services of some excellent deputies to support the music of the church until a replacement is recruited. We are particularly grateful to those who have gone the extra mile with the choir in preparing for the big services. _Catriona Hunter Choir & PCC member_ **31** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Flowers report** Flowers in Churches are used to enhance the worship experience, by symbolising beauty, life and God's creation, as well as to beautify the space within the Church, and mark specific liturgical seasons or occasions. During Lent we do not have flowers in the Church as it is not considered appropriate during this period of penance and reflection. Therefore it is a joy when we decorate the Church for Easter Day with spring flowers and fresh evergreen, also white lilies symbolising purity, rebirth, hope and new beginnings associated with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also decorate the Church with White Lilies that are paid for by church members, in memory of a loved one. We had three very special occasions during 2024 when we were able to fill the church ## **September 12th** We held a service to Bless the new Reliquary for the bones of St Eanswythe. This was conducted by Archdeacon Darren. White Lilies were placed in front of the Altar symbolising the purity of St Eanswythe. ## **October 11th** For the Licensing of our new priest in charge Fr Christopher Johnson, and we filled the church with flowers to welcome Fr Chris and his family and friends who attended the service to support him alongside our own parishioners. ## **November 17th** Again, a very special occasion when the relics of St Eanswythe were translated in her new Reliquary to rest once again in the niche where she was discovered in 1885. This again was a joyous occasion to fill the church with flowers and place white lilies by the altar and by her shrine and the High Altar in the Sanctuary. Throughout the year our very small team of flower ladies, myself, Jenny Coleman and now also Carol McBeath work very hard to use flowers to bring life to the church, be it the Easter Garden, the Autumn colours of Harvest and the Harvest table, Poppies to mark Remembrance Sunday, and finally the Holly and the Ivy to celebrate Christmas. By marking the seasons we hope to bring life to the Church, making it a more welcoming and uplifting space to worship or to visit. _Jan Clarke_ **32** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **The Friends of St Mary & St Eanswythe** The Friends have had another busy year. Whilst sadly saying farewell to Fr John Walker who was a keen member of the Friends , we were delighted to welcome Fr Chris Johnson to the committee. The Friends managed to raise the funds for the new church heating and celebrated with an official ’Switch On’ with special guest the Rt. Hon. Lord Michael Howard of Lympne. We celebrated Armed Forces Day on the Leas and later in the year joined other community groups for an Edwardian Picnic - our cake sales were excellent with not a crumb left! As in previous years we provided the mulled wine and mince pies for the Creative Quarter Carol Service. Our Ukrainian friends still enjoy meeting up for coffee on Saturday mornings, they are always delighted to support the church in various ways. We are extremely grateful for the support of the Folkestone Rotary Club and Folkestone Inner Wheel. Our next project is to raise the funds to enhance the area of the church near the Baptistry in order to be able to display information and goods for sale. _Pam Keeling Secretary to the Friends of St Eanswythe’s Registered Charity No. 1161358_ **33** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Tower Report** Here at St.Mary & St. Eanswythe we have 8 lovely bell with the heaviest weight just over 25 cwt. We ring at 10am Sunday mornings for the 10:30 morning service. We also practice on Tuesday afternoons between 2:30-4:00pm. It is our plan to change the time at the end of April to 4:005:30pm. We currently have 7 members in the band but could do with some more people to learn to ring. The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers says “If you roll forward the current demographic profile of ringing 20 years, keeping recruitment as it is, there won’t be that many active ringers-many ringer are now over 60, and too few are under 25”. So if you want bells to continue ringing please come and join us. Bell ringers come from all walks of life and can range in age from about 10 or 11 up to; well there isn’t really an upper age limit. It all depends on general health and fitness. We will be ringing for the VE Day 80 celebration on 8th May at 6:30pm _David Robinson Tower Captain_ **34** St Mary & St Eanswythe with St Saviour, Folkestone **Schools Engagement Report** We continue to maintain good relationships with both of our Church Schools within the parish. By long-standing arrangement, the Priest-in-Charge is a Director/Governor within the statutes of both schools and that duty continues to be fulfilled. Within the Articles of Association for both schools there is scope for a church representative to be a ‘Member’ who attends the Annual Meeting of the Board and provides a link with the Parish Church. At St Eanswythe’s School this is fulfilled by Tom Bertram and at St Mary’s School by Jan Clarke. Fr John Tomlinson was also invited by St Mary’s School to be a Member. St Eanswythe’s School attends collective worship at church each Tuesday morning in term time and the Priest-in-Charge is a regular visitor at other times. At St Mary’s School, the Priest-in-Charge is on the Collective Worship rota and continues to build and maintain relationships within the school and remain a visible presence, including helping with the RE curriculum when invited. _Fr Christopher Johnson Priest-in-Charge_ ## **Open The Book at St Mary’s Primary School** Four members from St Mary and St Eanswythe Church, along with four from other churches, form a little group who bring alive stories from the Bible to students at St Mary's Primary school in Folkestone. Every alternate week during term time a different Bible story is acted out with the help of about half a dozen very enthusiastic students. For the OTB volunteers, it is a heartwarming experience and a real privilege to be able to bring alive Bible stories to a very young and appreciative audience. _Carol McBeath Open the Book Team Member_ **35**