2024-12-31-accounts - The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Ashprington

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St David's Church, Ashprington

Annual Report 2024

Background.

St David's serves a population of over 400 adults from the village of Ashprington, the hamlet of Tuckenhay, and the settlements of Painsford, Yetson, Sharpham Barton and Sharpham House. It is uniquely positioned with distant and panoramic views across the South Hams. There is seating capacity for about 100-120 people. The fabric is in a reasonable state of repair, major refurbishment works having been done to the tower in 2009/10 and refurbishment of nine church windows completed during 2017.

Parishioners are very supportive of each other within their communities and much outreach is initiated by members of the congregation.

Our Objects

To provide a place of worship, pilgrimage and prayer which is open during daylight hours, seven days a week to anyone who wishes to attend the services or visit the building. In addition, the church is used for concerts and other cultural gatherings.

• Growing in prayer

We want to abide in Christ and live our lives close to God. This means taking risks as we become more honest with ourselves and more honest with God. Prayer opens up deep places within us to God’s grace, which is why it is such a life-giving activity. Going deeper in prayer is essential if we are to witness to God’s Kingdom and grow into the people God is calling us to be.

Making new disciples

A disciple is someone who follows Jesus Christ. With Christ as our companion and guide, we can travel through life differently and invite others to share in the adventure. We want to be more faithful in our discipleship and allow God to shape our priorities and values. The gospel is good news but, if we are to bring more people to Christ, we need to find new ways of telling the story, of explaining our faith and giving a reason for the hope that is in us.

Serving the people in our community with joy

We want to be ambassadors for Christ, making a difference in the world and witnessing to God’s love and justice, especially in the communities where we live and in our schools and workplaces. Working in partnership with others who are transforming lives, we seek to address the global issues confronting our generation so that all may flourish. We seek to fulfil our calling to love God and serve the people of our community. St David’s Church should speak of God’s compassion and love, and ensure a Christian presence in our community.

Our Vision

To keep St David's as a vibrant and living Church that shares the Gospel of Christ by virtue of its welcome, worship and fellowship. We recognise the role of the Totnes Mission Community as providing its congregations with a range of skills and gifts from both stipendiary and lay people for the greater glory of God.

Our Mission

To offer weekly worship and celebrate the major festivals of the Church. We see St David's as being inclusive and receptive to all parishioners and visitors of all ages, without exception, and a great venue for concerts and other secular activities.

Objectives and Activities.

Average participation in worship varies significantly depending on liturgy and format offered. There is no regular representation from younger people. There are twenty five individuals who are on the Electoral Roll, sixteen of whom do not attend church services on a regular basis but choose to serve the Church by undertaking many and varied tasks. We are very grateful to them all.

Safeguarding remains a priority for St David’s Church. Jill Davies is currently the Safeguarding Officer.

Worship. The pattern of services throughout 2023 was: 1[st] Sunday – Sung Holy Communion led by a stipendiary priest, 2[nd] Sunday - Village Worship / Community Gathering led by a lay member of the congregation, 3[rd] Sunday - Sung Holy Communion led by a stipendiary priest and on the fourth Sunday we join the congregation at St Peter’s Cornworthy. 116 people attended special services during Advent, 26 (17 in 2023) attended on Christmas Day and 38 on Easter Sunday, On average, thirteen people attend the Eucharist services, The Remembrance Day Service at the war memorial was attended by about one hundred people, of whom some sixty came up to the church for the subsequent service.

St David’s PCC is pleased to report as follows:

Village Worship / Community Gatherings are generally themed and are led by a member(s) of the PCC, with significant involvement of members of the community, many of whom do not normally attend other church services. Refreshments are served to promote fellowship and the deepening of relationships.
The PCC were all in favour of using ‘Prayers of Love and Faith’ for same sex couples wishing to be blessed in St David’s Church.
Liz Chandler resigned from her role as St David’s church organist due in part, to differences in her understanding of her role.
Discussions were ongoing about the form of liturgy to be used in Holy Communion services at St David’s. Agreement was not finally reached until January 2025.
Most of the PCC members attended the formal Safeguarding renewal training in June 2023.
It was announced in September 2024 that with Simon Grierson’s death, St David’s would be receiving a significant sum as a legacy.
We said goodbye to Revd. Canon Deborah Parsons from the Team in November 2024, upon her appointment as Canon Chancellor at Exeter Cathedral.
The enthronement of the new Bishop of Exeter, Rt. Revd. Dr. Andrew Rumsey took place in the cathedral on 2[nd] November 2024.
The Community choir continues to meet in St David’s most Thursday evenings for its practice and participates when invited, in some Festival services.
Amongst the special services during the year was the Pet Service ,Harvest Festival, Christingle Service and Carols by Candlelight, organised by different members of the PCC. The Christingle service on the 24th December at 4.00pm was also very well received with some ninety attendees, many children.
Margaret Wilmshurst continued to update and manage St David’s Church excellent website, which is now hosted by Simon Alison at a cost of £72 per quarter..
St David’s weekly coffee morning in the Village Hall continues to be very well attended and appreciated by some fifteen to twenty five regular attendees. Proceeds from this outreach amounted to £? In the year, most of which were used towards church maintenance.
As an additional community outreach, members of the PCC initiated a simple lunch once a month on a Monday, after a craft group gathering.
Chris & Claire Grimshaw continue to host light meals in their home at certain times to encourage more discussion and interaction amongst the community, exploring faith and fellowship for the wellbeing of all.
There is a small team from St David’s Church which leads ‘Open the Book’ ‘sessions in local Primary Schools.
There remains a commitment to upkeep the churchyard as an area for walkers, picnickers with benches and a well maintained path
This is complimented by a trail which visitors can follow highlighting interesting graves.
Three stalwart non-church attenders who wind the clock, put up the flag and help to lock and unlock the church

Fabric.

The ongoing maintenance of this historic grade 1 building remains a costly priority.
The lapel microphone needs replacing and the PCC has agreed to do so at a cost of £594.84

Finances.

At the 31st December 2024, the Treasurer, reported that the PCC Bank Accounts contained £29,360. (2023 - £28467).a Restricted Trust investments were valued at £19,029.98 (£16992 in 2023). Unrestricted income for the year was £20,949 (2023 - £28,266), whilst Expenditure totalled £20,103 (2023 - £31,759).

Future plans.

A further advert for a part time priest to serve Cornworthy will be posted in Church Times in the first quarter of 2025. If successful, this post-holder will support St David’s Church as an extension of his / her duties.
A PCC Meeting will be held on the 26[th] March 2025, to specifically discuss Simon Grierson’s legacy. `

Structure, Governance & Management

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Ashprington was registered as a charity on the 12[th] January 2021. It has nine trustees. They meet at

least three times a year and are responsible for all matters relating to the Church, under the overall leadership of the Team Rector, who is Chairman.

Reserves Policy

The Reserves Policy of the PCC is to hold a minimum of £20,000, which is the equivalent of one year's average expenditure.

St David's Ashprington PCC a 1 January 2024 - 31

Receipts
Balance at Bank	1379.28
Giving
Standing orders	8990.00
Collection	1318.30
Collect Tin	1749.28
gift aid 2022	3718.40
Donations	213.00
	15989
Wedding + Funeral Fees	873.00
Charity	934.95
Trust Investment Interest	516.42
LPOW vat return	626.97
Cofee mornings	1768.00
CCLA transfer	3000.00
Estate for SK Grierson	2050.00
	9769.34
	###
_Date _ Examiner___ Treasurer
*Date ____ Churchwardens*	___ Chairman_

account 67209077 December 2024

Payments

Essential Quota 6688.00 Utilities 1636.05 Insurance & safety 3789.91 Totnes Team exp. 235.00 organist/organ 950.00 maintenance 1830.00 Altar requirements 115.35 Repairs 4501.50 Transfers (CCLA, Savings Acct) 100.43 Charity 800.00 misc 204.69 Christmas expenses 354.74 Estate for S K Grierson 2040.00 Balance at Bank _r___Churchwardens	15244.3 8001.36 ### 3891.93 ### ____

n PCC ______

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees Charity Name On accounts for the year Charity no ended (if any) Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended DD / MM / YYYY .

Responsibilities and As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent [The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to examiner's statement undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. Delete [ ] if not applicable.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: Name:

Relevant professional qualification(s) or body

Oct 2018

IER

(if any):

Address:

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

Oct 2018

IER