The Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin Godmanchester 2025 ANNUAL REPORT
2025 Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St. Mary the Virgin, Godmanchester Vicar's Introduction Without a doubt, Ihe highlight of 2025 was the Knitted Bible and Craft Exhibition. It is hard to find enough superlatives for this tremendous effort, which included not only the Knitt8d Bible displays themselves, which come from Hartlepool United Reformed Church and which genuinely evoke a refreshed understanding of Bible stories with artistry and humour, but also a wealth of locally-produced art and craft work, some of it on a spectacular scale and all of it a sheer joy to behold. The week was further enriched by the visits of some very palient animals from Monarch Farm in Hillon, and many other contributions of music and p8rfomiance. Thousands came through the doors, and thousands of pounds were raised. To Kate Sington and Mary Newman in particular, who dreamed up, planned for, organised and led this unique event, and the multitude ol others who brought the exhibition - more of a festival, really - to life, a heartfelt thank-you on behalf of everyone who came away delighted, inspired, and (who knows?) helped towards faith. Following are some other highlights, as always a personal and far from exhaustive list. Our Taizé servic8s have settled into a pattem of twice a year, and this is a joy to me, especially as some members of other churches also attend. Thank you to Jacky Kirby for organising and leading the music, which is crucial for this kind of worship. A very different form of worship came in the shape of a Pets, Service, the first time we have done this for many years. There were no accidents or fights (it's always good to be able to say that about a church servicel), and useful funds were raised for the charity Pets as Therapy,. we plan to make this an annual fixture. In August, the very moving commemoration of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years after the event, organised by the indefatigable Roger Lievers, included the dedication and blessing of the Hiroshima gingko biloba Peace Tree, nicknamed Bilbo and introduced lo Godmanchester by its custodian, Oscar Jeakings, the manager of the Communily Plant Nursery. Paula Williams started the monthly Board Game Café, a fine example of outreach to people of all ages. It was a joy to hold the baptism of William Moger in th8 main Sunday service, and to welcome back as preacher his grandfather, and my predecessor as Vicar, Peter Moger. A special mention and thanks here for our bell-ringers, who send their glad sound over the town week by week, as we hosted tha annual meeting of the diocesan association of ringers in May. There are many things I get involved in on behalf of the church that take place out of sight, as it were, so I thought it might be of interest if I listed some ofthem- termly meetings with the two full-time pastors of the Baptist Church- temily meetings of Children's Church parents and leaders and termly Eucharists for them in the church hall., short 'Thoughl for the Day, talks for Ouse Valley Radio twice a monlh; weekly assemblies in St Anne's school, termly Eucharists for the whole school (not many church schools do this} and other special seNices; class visits, both in school and in the church 11 do these occasionally with the other Iwo Godmanchester primary schools as well)., duties as a school govemor at St Anne's along with several other members of the church who serve as Foundation (i.e. church appointed) Governors, including Mark Harvey who has taken on the very heavy task of Co-chair of Govemors; sessions each summer tem to support the Year 6 school leavers in all three primary schools,. occasional Prayer Spaces events in schools to encourage young people in an awareness of their own spiritual life (these last two are led by Daniel Beckett and others from the Baptisl Church, with my
participation)., ex officiotrusteeship of the Godmanchester Charities; chairing the trustees (until this yearl of the Huntingdon Area Money Advice service run by local churches (I remain a trustee). and of course all the parish duties of our sister church, St Mary Magdalene, Hilton. In 2025 we commended to the Lord from our own fellowship Arthur and Genevieve West, Philip Rutter, and Garry Sibley-Gough. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. My inadequate but heartfelt thanks go to Canon Jonathan Young for all his ministry among us, visible and behind the scenes. to our Churchwardens Bill Templeton and John Newton (and including Ruth Ekblom, who stepped down early in 2025), to Dave Hodge for taking over the role of Treasurer from Colin Thirlwall la continuing process of transition), to Colin for his many years, service as Treasurer and his continuing seNice as Choirmaster and Head Organist, to Andrew Wright as PCC Secretary, Simon Prince as Parish Safeguarding Officer, and so many others who give their time and talents so generously. My constant thanks and love to Anja, who simply makes It possible for me to be. And to God, who is the source of all that is good. including in our life as a church, b8 all praise and glory, now and for ever. David Busk Aims and Purposes St. Mary the Virgin's Parochial Church Council IPCC) has the responsibility of co- operating with the incumbent, the Reverend David Busk, in promoling in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral to look after individual people,. evangelistic - to tell the people the Good News and to invite them to accept it,. social - to help the poorer members of society, and those suffering from racial, economic and other forms ol injustice,. and ecumenical - to encourage good relations with other Christian denominalions. Th8 PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church Hall in Chadley Lane. Objectives and Actlvltles The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at St. Mary the Virgin. The PCC maintains an oveNiew ofworship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our seNices can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our seNices and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. When planning our aclivities for the year, we have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through.. Worship and prayer. leaming about the Gospel,. and developing th8ir knowledge and trust in Jesus. Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish. Missionary and outreach woth. To facilitate this work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin and the adjacent Church Hall.
Worship and Prayer The PCC iscommitted to providing a wide and varied range of servicesthroughout theyear to engage with as many in the communtty as possible. Our regular Sunday seNices are 8.CQ am Holy Communion, 9.30 am Sung Eucharist {with healing once a monthl and monthly Parish Communion involving the Children's Church more fully, monthly Sung Evensong (with Evening Prayer on other Sundays) and an occasional Taizé seNice. There is also a Holy Communion on a Thursday moming. The Holy Communion via Zoom on a Wednesday was ended, but the regular 6.30pm Evening Prayer continued every day except Saturday and Sunday. We also held a Bible Study Group on Zoom or in person each Friday throughout the year. We welcome everyone to our services and normally enjoy a well-attand8d Children's Church. There are currently 113 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll and our Sunday attendance figures average about 65. The church remained open each day for private prayer and visitors. Our church affords the community a chance to give thanks to God for those special moments throughout life when we gather to celebrate baptism, marriage or the life of a departed loved one. This year we were able to celebrate six weddings and ten baptisms (including a family of three siblings in one service) in the church. There were 11 funerals and 9 burials of ashes. Flnanclal Review Th8 income for 2025 for General funds was £104,320 against expenditure of £93,493 giving a surplus of £10,827. Our 'Trading Activities, incorne of £32,462 comprising the Hall and Church rental, the churchyard grass cutting contract and the sales and advertising in our Parish News go a long way to support our activities and we are grateful to those volunteers who give their time and support. In tenms of receipts, planned giving (to the General Fund) was up from £41,490 to £47,380 (part of this was Parish Giving from £27,296 to £35,128}. We are extremely grateful to those who donate regularly, particularly those who donate through Parish Giving, allowing us to plan at least some of our income and expenditure for the year. Collections at all services were down slightly from £7,645 to £7,204. 'Other donations, for General Funds were up on the 2024 totals (from £8,020 to £9,592). Our investment income was up slightly to £4,766 from £4,587. Once again, we are indebted to the Friends of St Mary's for their support in the fom of grants totalling £9,289 towards the cost of maintaining the fabric ol our church1£3,6241 and contributing to the Transformation Fund1£5,6651. We have managed to reduce the Church utility costs (electricily & oil) from a high of last year of £8,445 to £5,278 for this year. The Parish Share remained at the 2024 level of £72,992. Overall, we are in a more secure position than last year. However, there is little room for complacency as the changes in VAT rules will add to the financial pressures and inflation is likely to increase. David Hodge (Hon Treasurer)
Reserves Policy It is PCC policy to maintain reseNes which equate to at least three months general expenditure. It is held to smooth out cash flow and meet emergency payments. For St Mary's Church this is around £25,000. On 31 December 2025 our reserves totalled £57,830 David Hodge (Hon Treasurer) Deanery Synod Our Deanery Synod met as usual three times in the last twelve months. February 12 at Brampton, June 25 here in our Church Hall, and October 25 at Hemingford Abbots. Th8 meetings were led by our Rural Dean, the Revd. Duncan Goldthorpe, Rector of Brampton and the Lay Chair, Elaine Levitt, who was recently made a Lay Canon by our Bishop in recognition of all her hard work over very many years. The main discussion this year has revolved around th8 future structure of the Deanery and the trend towards additional and larger multi-parish benefices. The Assistant Rural Dean, the Revd. Canon Philip Howson, presented a report on how he manages the fourteen churches in the West of the Deanery under his control! Other time has been given over to four Working Groups, Fruillul Assets- running old buildings, New Shoots- getting Youth Ministry working, Fruitful Churches- reduce, merge or share churches and Fruittul Workers- promoting links and administration support between incumbents. All the meetings have been attended by David Busk and me to provide our PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structure of the church. Peter Morgan - Representative of th6 Laty on the Deanery Synod The Church and Church Hall We envision our church building becoming th8 focal point for a greater number of community activiti8s in the future and have a Transformation Project in progress that will see the removal of th8 fixed pews to create space and the introduction of kitchen and toilet facilities as well as a mezzanine floor wilh room to house the local museum securely. The south doortothechurch is openedeverydayforvisitors and private prayer. Ourvisitors Book recorded dozens of entries from individuals, families and groups over the year, including visitors from Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Germany, Iceland, The Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, USA, and of course from all over the UK. Disabled access is currently available via the north door only for seNices and other major events. The building is already a venue for talks, concerts, the Summer Fete {when Ihe weather is inclement), th8 Christmas Bazaar and Flower and other church festivals. The church is used formusic concerts, displays, film shows and historical presentations to th8 community. There are also regular educational visits from the local schools. The church hall, a wooden building purchased by the PCC, in 1938 is in reasonably good structural order, adequately maintained and well equipped. The cost of running and maintaining the hall is met by the income from a contract with a day nursery which uses the facilities every weekday from 8am to 6.30pm and several external organisations Ihat hire Ihe building in evenings and at the weekend. The rental income provides a welcome addition to church funds.
Safeguarding There has been no safeguarding issue to report this year. The PCC has been working at k88ping our Parish Dashboard up to date. This is a relatively new online management tool that PCCS use to manage their various activities, which started out with a focus on safeguarding. We update this database as we keep up to date on various requirements such as applying for DBS certilicales and training. It now also provides various other management tools. Safeguarding is always a dynamic task- chasing a moving target, but with the Dashboard we are working always to remain on track to keep you and yours safe in our church. Simon Prince, Parish Safeguarding Officer Ecumenical Relationships The incumbent priest is also responsible for St. Mary's Church, Hilton and we nomallyjoin them twice a year in a shared service. Members from the Hilton congregation often join those in Godmanchesler for weekly worship and special services. We have joined for events and seNices each year with Godmanchester Baptist Church and the Quakers. such as the churches, tea tent and Worship in the Park during Gala Weekend, the Civic Service, and the Act of Remembrance in November. St Anne's School and other schools The link between St Mary's Church and Sl Anne's School is very strong, dating from the foundation of the school in 1999. A majority of the Govemors are appointed through the church, ensuring the Christian ethos of the school. and the position of Chair of Govemors is currently shared jointly by two Co<hairs: Vicki Wienand from St Mary's up to September 2025 and from Ihen Mark Harvey, also from St Mary's, and Jo Gilbert, a St Anne's parent. There are regular visits to the church from various classes, as well as the annual Harvest Festival in church for the whole school, and a temily whole-school Eucharist, which altemates between the church and the school. In addilion, the Vicar takes Collective Worship in St Anne's nearly every Wednesday in lerm time, with two being taken by Daniel Beckett, the Lead Pastor of Godmanchester Baptist Church. The Vicar also occasionally visits classes to take part in RE lessons, and joins in occasional Prayer Space activities and the leavers. workshops {for all three Godmanch8Ster schools) with the Baptist Church. The two other Godmanchester schools, Godmanchester Community Academy and the Bridge Academy. also occasionally visit the church and invite the Vicar to hold Christingle events in the schools. Church Groups and Activities Bellringers Our team now consists of eleven ringers. but not everyone is available every Sunday. We are helped by two others who live elsewhere, but visit Godmanchester regularly. During the twelve months ending in March, we rang for 46 Sunday moming seNices. and at six of them we had all eight bells ringing. Additionally, with the help of other ringers in the district. a quarter peal has been njng for Evensong every month. We have also rung for five weddings, for the evening Remernbran Sunday service and for the Advent Carol Seniice. At Christmas, we rang for all three Christmas Eve
Services and for the Christmas Moming Service. We had more than eight ringers available at both the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols and the Christmas Moming service. A week later, six of us rang out the old year and rang in the new. On 17 May 2025, we had the honour of hosting the AGM of the Ely Diocesan Association of Church Bell Ringers and the Diocesan Inter-District Eight-Bell Striking Competition. To coincide with the Summer Fete, we conducted Tower Tours on 14 June. We had 28 visitors including the Town Mayor, and we demonstrated ringing, using the Diocesan Mobile Bell. We participated in the Church's fundraising by providing a hamper for the grand draws at the Summer Fete and the Christmas Bazaar. Charles Looker, Tower Captain Bible Study The weekly Bible Study, including people from both Hilton and Godmanchester, has continued to take place on most Fridays at 10.00 am, usually on Zoom, but on the first Friday of the month at Andrew Fawcett's house, lo whom we are all graleful for his generous hospitality. We normally look al the readings for the coming Sunday's Euchanst, which is a great help to the Vicar in his serTnon preparation bul is not the purpose of the meetingl We would always be delighled to welcome anyone who cares to join us. David Busk Chlldren'8 Church Children's Church has once again grown during the year and currently consists of approx 14 families who regularly attend, with other children and adults who join us on occasions. The sessions, run during the 9.30am Communion SeNice, are shared by a team of 6 leaders. In the last year Children's Church has continued being involved in th8 Parish Communion Service, with leading prayers, taking the elements up lo the altar and reading the Gospel. The music group run by Jacky Kirby has many adults and children from Children's Church taking part and are often accompanied wilh more of our children on the percussion as well! We were very busy once again on Christmas Eve running the Nativity al 4pm, with many of our families being able to take part - a high point of our year and one we all take great pride in. Children's Church have taken part in helping to raise money for the church by running stalls and games at both the Summer Fair and the Christmas Bazaar. Finally I want to say a big thank you to all the parents, grandparents and family members who have helped me out every week over the last (nearly) 7 years - you have all made my job of organising Children's Church an absolute pleasure and I will really miss my role in leading such a friendly warm and caring bunch of people of all ages. Paula Williams (Children's Church Co-ordinator)
Charities Committee Our fundraising activities continued in 2025, and £4,160 was raised by the Church and the Charities Committee through various events and activities. This was significantly down from our 2024 total of £6,500. due primarily to Ihe d8cision to hold the Christmas Tree Festival on altemate years. During the year we have continued to fundraise for Thrive, a charity established by the Diocese which provides support, counselling and mentoring of young people in the Huntingdon area. Over £300 was raised via Coffee & Croissants events after the 9.30 service on Sundays, which was added to the £400 raised for Thrive from the Quiz Night in September, giving atotal of over £700. The other half ofthe proceeds of the Quiz Night, £400, went to Maya Parish in Uganda, and the Christmas Hamper appeal for Maya raised a further £260, giving a total of £660. Our usual BBQ in July raised £1,070 for the Mashambanzou Care Trust in Zimbabw8, which supports children orphaned as the resull of HIV/AIDS. The Ride & Stride 8v8nt in September raised £215 for Cambs Historic Churches Trust. Three other Coffee & Croissants raised nearly £300 for Service Charities, which was topped up to £415 from the Rem8mbrance SeNice collection. To support our usual Christmas Charities, we sent the proc86ds from our Christmas Service collections to Jimmy's Cambridge - £350; Cruse Bereavement Care- £150., East Anglia Children's Hospice - £175, and The Children's Society - £175. In addition to the members of the Charities Commiltee, many other people in the congregation helped with fundraising events during the year, and I would like lo thank them, and all who supported us over the year. Robert Francis. Churchyard Grass Cutters The maintenance of the churchyard is the responsibility of the Town Council, and St Mary's has a three-year contract from the Council to cut the grass. which provides uselul income lo the church. Our contract with the Council was renewed for another three years in April 2024 and expires in March 2027. Our intrepid team of grass cutters kept the churchyard looking tidy throughout the year. The churchyard covers about two acres, which is divided into 15 plols. Our team has reduced from eleven to seven, so we are struggling to keep up. Some of us are doing multiple plots. We urgently need some new volunteers. The system is very flexible: volunteers cul their patch at a time to suit themselves, and mowers, kept in tip-top condition by Gordon Peacock, and fuel are provided. If you are interested in helping, please contact me. Robert Francis {Organiser).
Church Hall The hall continued to be a hive of activity in 2025 with the Clarence House Pre-school Nursery as tenants Monday to Friday, and a regular assortment of booked activities in the evenings and weekends. Godmanchester's Garden Club, Camera Club and Women's Institute have all been regular users for some time and we are always pleased (and relieved!) to welcome them back. This wooden structure, built on Portholme in the early part of the twentieth century, may not be the most salubrious of halls for hire in Godmanchester, but hirers do seem to like the large hall, its spacious kitchen and the four loos, all of which are ideal for children's parties, film and quiz nights, and a 'green room, for the many social events in church. Many thanks to the volunteers who buckled down to some painting and decorating during the year. More is planned for 20261 Peter Irving Fabric Committee Expenditure for the year 2025 (inc VAT) Weeding church surrounds SuNey of drains and soakaways Replace folding chairs1241 Moth treatment of all kneelers Bell chamber lighting (50°/.) Choir pew heaters x 2 Roof alann nighl callout Annual Roof alarm system warranty (E-bound AVX) Annual Roof alami fees Routine Boiler servicing Fire extinguisher service and replacement Deposit for sound system upgrade 268.00 654.00 838.56 350.40 411.60 697.20 93.60 294.00 618.00 252.00 641.69 1285.50 TOTAL 6.404.55 Transfers to other funds Church Hall Fund towards new gas heater Organ fund 1,500.00 650.00 TOTAL 2,150.00 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 8,554.55 Grants etc. Donation from Knitted Bible (Friends of St Mary's) Drainage survey (Friends of St Mary's) New folding chairs (Friends of St Mary's) Choir pew heaters (Friends of St Mary's) Sound system deposit (Friends of St Mary's) Misc Friends grants (Friends of St Mary's) 500/. Dorothy Allen Endowment income VAT Recovered 195.92 545.00 819.28 697.20 1,285.50 80.80 1,349.14 1068.67 TOTAL INCOME 6,041.51 Once again, we are most grateful for the generous grants from the Friends of St Mary's towards the cost of maintaining the fabric of our church. The Listed Places of worship Grant scheme which allowed us to reclaim VAT on the
cost of maintaining the church has been withdrawn. From April 2026 we will be liable for the full cost of any work. Malcolm Harris Flower Guild The Flower Guild members have once again demonstrated their Commitment to enhancing the church throughout the year with beautiful floral arrangements. This has been exceptionally well led by Baara, whose organisation, tact in managing the team, and remarkable skill in flower arranging have been invaluable. Although she has stepped down from her leadership role and is greatly missed, we are fortunate that she remains a member of the Guild, continuing to share her expertise and crealivity, We try to work with an environmentally mindful approach, limiting the use of oasis and imported flowers, and striving to reduce unnecessary waste. During the reflective seasons ot Lent and Advent, arrangements are kept simple with greenery. Lent is followed by the joy of Easter, marked by spring flowers and beautiful lilies, often donated in memory of loved ones. Harvest brings a celebration of rich autumn colours, and the solemnity of Advent then gives way to the brightness and festivity of Christmas flowers and decorations. Although we now host very few weddings, we warmly encourage anyone planning their wedding at St Mary's to consider the Flower Guild. We are always happy to create arrangements, and where possible, these can be adapted for use at the wedding venue-for example, our gaslight arrangements can be used as table decorations at the reception. We are, as always, extremely grateful to Sharon, W8ndy, and Tossy at Thelma's Flowers lor Iheir continued support. Their advice, provision, and delivery of flowers, as well as their generous contributions, are greatly appreciated. Their support was particularly evident during our highlight of 2025 the floral arch for the David Stark8y event. This was a considerable undertaking, and l am especially thankful to Wendy from Thelma's,. without her help, it would not have been possible. At one point, Jane and I thought we might have to sleep in the porch to complete it! Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all members of th8 Flower Guild- not only for their talent in flower arranging but also for their unwavering support and dedication throughout the year. We warnly welcome new members to join us. No prior experience in flower arranging is necessary-just willing hands and enthusiasm. If you are interested, please do get in touch. Deborah Watts 07804 095921 10
The Friends of St. Mary's Godmanchester Over the course of the year the Committee of the Friends met 10 times, put on 6 events had revenue of over £26,000- a record, donated almost £14,000 towards the cost of the church drains, boiler, organ. audio visual equipm8nt and various electric work and £5,000 of restricted funds eamarked for the Transfonnation Fund. We also had a donation of £1,300 from Club 800 for which we are so grateful. The highlight of 2025 was the Knitted Bible Exhibition and the Godmanchester Community Craft Fest which brought the church alive for the whole community. Much has been spoken about this remarkable occasion, but it is impossible to overstate what an important event this has been tor our church. Almost 2,000 people walked through the doors of our beautiful church over the eight days of the installation of which 200 were schoolchildren. Sponsorship, teas and merchandise brought in £7,411 which after expenses raised £5,500 to help maintain the fabric of the church. Lucilia's tea stall alone raised almost £1,000. For all involved in the eight days of the exhibition it was a joyous and joyful experience from which much can be learned. Many people worked incredibly hard to make it the success that it became but the vision as to how we could use this extraordinary work of art to energise the community was Kate Sington's - and I would like to thank her- and David Busk who rose to the occasion magnificently especially with the schoolchildren. We also put on a wonderful il poignant Quiz Night in memory of Dave Hodge's wife Kate Robinson on the 4th January where over 100 people crammed into the church hall to attempt to answer the indescribably fiendish questions set by Kate before she died so Iragically. Blessed with glorious weather, Jazz on the Island on August 14th took a record £4,120. And last bul definitely not leasl was David Starkey's fascinating leclure on Catherine Parr.. Henry Vlll's Last Wife which was a sell-out taking £5,000 at the tills. I would like to end by thanking the Trustees of The Friends Colin Thirlwall, Joy Leney, Sue Worthinglon, Nick Leigh-smith, Anja Busk, and our esleemed Ireasurer and secretary David Bowers and Kate Sington for their work in keeping the show on the road with diligence and immense enthusiasm. Adrian Sington (Chair of the Friends) Lesson Readlngs Most Sundays, one or two lessons from the Old and New Testaments are read by members of the congregalion. A team of four people organises the readers.. each member of the team does a 2-month 'tour of duty,, before handing over lo the next team member. At present there are about 40 readers on the readers list, and we thank them all for their service overlhe past year. New readers are always welcome. If you would like to become a reader, please contact one of the organisers: Anne Francis, Bill Templeton, David Bowers (07757 804747), or Lauren Hurst, who will gladly add your name to the list. David Bowers (Lead Organiser)
Music Our organists and choir continue to support our regular Sunday worship, Evgnsong on the fourth Sunday of each month and special, services such as Easter and Christmas. Our Music Group provides the accompaniment for our Parish Communion seNice on the third Sunday of each month under the expert direction of Jacky Kirby. The choir consists of 16 regular members and a group of augmenters who support the choir for special services. We are always pleased to welcome more singers, either as regularchorislers or augmenters. Once again, l am particularly grateful for the continuing help of Ken Diffey in sharing the duties of organist and choirmaster. On 15 June, together with the Music Group and the Children's Church, we celebrated Music Sunday at our Parish Communion with a wide range of music traditional and n8W. The Christmas and Easter seNices were again musical highlights asthe augmented choir of around 25 singers led the large congregations in their worship. On Christmas Eve the Children's Church provided their regular enactment of the nativity story with carols for a large, enthusiastic congregation. In addition to our music at our seNices, St Mary's continuas to host a series of choral and instrum8ntal concerts which attract significant number of visitors to our church and also helps to fund the maintenance of our Grade 1 building. The musical events organised lo support the 2025 Cambridge Historic Churches Trust Ride and Stride helped towards the donalion of the magnificent sum of £710 to our church from the Trust. Colin Thirlwall (Choirmaster and Head Organist) Music Group Playing hymns and songs that reflect the Gospel reading of the day, the Music Group has faithfully and joylully accompanied each monthly Parish Communion seNice. Our instrumentalists (maximum so far 10, minimum 4), are at times joined by Children's Church percussionists, along with other members of the congregation. Rehearsing in church al 8.45am before the service, with music, music stands and friendly faces guarant8ed, you are lovingly invit8d to turn up wilh your instrument and give it a go. Jacky Kirby x Parish News The magazine continues with its usual contributors, including the new head of St Anne's School, and we thank all those who contribute and to Robert Francis for dealing with the advertising. Anne Francis stepped down from co-ordinating the distributors and collecting the subscription. We thank her for her sterling work. Christina Sheppard has kindly filled Anne's shoes. The price has remained the same for another year given that it was only increased a relatively short time ago. However, we will review pricing ahead of 2027. Anna Page (Editor) 12
Sidespersons In the last twelve months we were sorry to lose John Newton from our team of Siderpersons as he moved on to higher placesl We wish him well in his n8W Posltion as a Churchwarden at St. Marys. Ten people from the previous year have now been joined by Zoe Husband and Graham Phillips. We will continue as we have for the last five years, providing cover for the 9.30 Sung Eucharist plus other occasional special services. Members are teamed up in pairs for this very important church duty and normally rostered once every six weeks. Peter Morgan (Lead Sidespersonl St Annes Church of England Prlmary School It has been another rich and purposeful year at St Anne's, underpinned by our Christian vision, "Do everything in love., This continues to shape not only the ethos of the school, but also the experiences we provide for our pupils. We have remaingd committed to ensuring that children flourish academically, socially and spiritually, with a strong emphasis on stewardship, community and inclusion. A particular highlight this year was our Godmanchester Climale Summit 2026, led by our Year 6 pupils. This event marked the culmination of a unit of leaming focused on climate change, where pupils explored scientific concepts, global impact and their responsibility as stewards of God's creation. The children demonstrated remarkable confidence and maturity as they presented persuasive speeches and engaged in thoughtful dialogue with a panel of local leaders. It was a powerful example of pupils living out our vision and recognising their role as agents of change within their community. Outdoor leaming has continued to be a significant strength of the school. Our For8St School provision remains a central part of the curriculum for all year groups, providing children with regular opportunitl8S to connect with nature, develop resilience and build practical skills. Activities such as den building, fire cooking and environmental exploration not only support the science and wider curriculum but also contribute meaningfully to pupils, spiritual development and understanding of stewardship. Across the wider curriculum, pupils have engaged in a broad range of enriching experiences. These have included visits lo the local foodbank as part of Religious Education, where children explored the teachings of Jesus and reflected on service and compassion in action. Pupil leadership has also been a key feature this year, with initiatives such as a pupil-led foodbank donation point demonstrating the children's commitment to supporting others in our community. Collective worship continues to be a valued and central part of school life, with strong links to the church. Opportunities for prayer, reflection and celebration enable pupils to deepen their understanding of Christian values and how these can be lived out daily. We are grateful for the continued support of Ihe church in enriching this aspect of our provision. 13
Overall, it has been a year marked by enlhusiasm, curiosity and a deepening sense of responsibility among our pupils. We are proud of the way in which they embody ourvision in their leaming and relationships, and we look forward to continuing this work in the months ahead. Mark Farrell, Headteacher Thrive - local ecumenical Christian youth work St. Mary's has been a generous supporter of Thrive throughout 2025. For those of you who have enjoyed croissants but nol been clear what Thrive is, here is a brief description.. Thrive Youth Work is a local project within Huntingdon Community Church run in cooperation with th8 Parish of Huntingdon. Godmanch8Ster Baptist Church and other partners. Thrive aims to see the lives of young people transfonned by meeting them where they are. It does this by partnering with churches, schools and communities to offer programmes that support the emotional, social, and spiritual growth of local young peopl8. Thrive delivers programmes in St Peters and Hinchingbrook8 Secondary Schools, including 1..1 mentoring, and tailored support groups. These are programmes designed to provide a listening ear, a safe space, and pastoral support across a range of issues. Several members of the congregation are involved with the highly successful youth cafés in Hunlingdon and Godmanchester. 118 café sessions were run during 2025 and approximately 3500 milkshakes or hot chocolates were made therel The total numb8r of visits by young people to all of Thrive's programmes was 4581. That is a fantastic amount of support being offer8d to young people in our various settings. Thanks again to St. Mary's for its consistent and generous support. Vicki Wienand (Thrive Advisory Board) Transformation Prolect Following the massive increase in the cost of construction work post COVID and subsequently, we divided the project into three phases and produced revised costings for each phase. The proposed closure of the listed Places of Worship Grant Schem8 where we could claim back VAT on specific work will significantly increase our predicted costs. (Note: the grant scheme was closed in March 2026 The thr8e phases are: Phase 1- Completes the work in the tower area: Provision of additional ulilities to meet the additional demands of the project namely water supply, drainage and possibly electricity. Provide a WC plus an accessible WC/baby changing unit. Provide a sink and storage for the flower guild. Update the electrical supply cupboard. 14
Install the floor to the upper tower room with a temporary balustrade and provide initial access through the re-instated door from the tower staircase plus trapdoor access for the removal of the bells. The provisional cost for this phase is around £606,000 ex VAT. Phase 2- Fumish and complete the work in the upper tower room and: Clear all the remaining rear pews. Lift paving and install seniices. Establish Services for tea point. Erect structure for the gallery. Prepare footings for partitions and lay floor finishes. Install lift. Complete work on upper gallery. Install stairs. Th8 provisional cost for this phase is £1,124,139 ex VAT. Phase 3- Complete the work under the gallery: Fivfumish the parish off ice. Fit and fumish the tea point. Fit and fumish the storage area behind the tea point. Fit and fumish the ground floor meeting spacelchap81. Erect and complete the choir vestry. Clear remaining pews from the nave. Lift paving and install under-floor heating in nave area. Provide new flexible moveable fumiture. The provisional cost for this phase is £660,000 ex VAT. By th8 end of 2025 we had raised £198,00 locally {excluding grants) which covered all of the initial design, faculty application and mandatory invesligations such as pews, paint and archaeology plus the revised three-phase plan and related costing. We have received grants of £75,000 which are ring -fenced for construction work, and conditional promised grants of £35,000. During 2025 we raised around £13,000 thanks to generous donations and the efforts of Lucilia Azevedo from her bookstall and other fundraising initiatives. On 31 Dec 25 we had £43,254 in the bank excluding grants. This includes £5,284 raised by the Friends of Sl Mary's for the Project. 15
After a lull in activity, we intend to renew our fundraising efforts in 2026 both locally and through grant providing agencies. Any help or advice (or cash) would be gratefully received. Colin Thir1wall Webslte 2025 VIEWS & VISITORS Jan 680 246 Feb 638 211 Mar 1,252 437 Apr 836 238 May 770 251 June 788 396 Julv 627 225 Aug 507 199 Sept 473 175 Oct 963 303 Nov 1184 362 Dec 1367 446 TOTAL 10,085 3,489 Views Visitors VIEWS 10,633 6,445 7,573 8,715 10,236 9,935 10,085 VISITORS 3,055 2,162 2,760 2,953 3,032 3,410 3,489 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 TOP POSTS 2025 2024 3,257 3,348 1,817 1,622 451 456 350 287 356 347 183 323 194 276 540 585 2023 3,379 1,666 430 631 300 248 251 699 In-per50n seNices Calendar Contact Newsletter 8uildin s + Facilities Transformation Project Church Matters Vicarfs Mailin8S The most dynamic parts of the website are the Calendar and the Vicar's Mailings which change every week. The Calendar has details of all the services as well as other meetings about Church life. Any suggestions as to how the website can be improved are gratefully received. And can all heads of department keep me informed as to any changes to their regular meetings etc. Adrian Sington Wives Group We are small in number, but as we value the friendship from our friends, we meet once a month in members, homes. This seems to work well and we chat, drink tea- and cakes- and exchange books. We have manned a cakel biscuitl sweet stall al both the summer fete and the Christmas Bazaar, as well as providing a hamper al each event. We hope to continue as we are, which, God willing will be a long time. Olwyn Hurd 16
Worship Group The Worship Group meets every two months to review recent services, look ahead to forthcoming ones, and make recommendations to the PCC for any significant changes to the current pattem of worship. l am very grateful to those who give up their time for this important work, and would b8 delighted to hear from anyone who feels they might like to join us. David Busk PCC- Structure, Governance and Management The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules2020 {Revised Reprint 2021). The membership of the PCC for St. Mary the Virgin comprises the incumbent, churchwardens, ex-officio members, Deanery Synod representatives and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. All those who attend our services I 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 concem and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. New members receive initial training into the workings of the PCC. The full PCC met in person, on a Monday evening, nine times during the year, with an excellent level of attendance and member engagement. Given its wide responsibilities the PCC has 10 sub-committees, each dealing with a particular aspect of parish life. These sub-committees, comprising worship, evangelism and outreach, pastoral care, finance, charities, fabric, church hall, transfomation, magazine and Fete & Bazaar, are all responsible to the PCC and report back to it regularly with minules of their decisions being received by the full PCC and discussed as necessary. Andrew Wright PCC Secretary Admlnlstrative Informatlon St. Mary the Virgin is situated al the end of Chadley Lane, Godmanchester. It is part of the Diocese of Ely within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The Vicarage, 59 Post Street, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 2AQ. The PCC is a body corporate {PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representalion Flules 2006) and is registered as a charity With the Charily Commission (Charity no 11946841. Members of the PCC are Trustees of the Charity. The PCC is required by law to prepare an annual report identifying the activities of the Church to further its charitable purposes for the public benefit, including a statement of accounts verified by an Independent Examiner. PCC members who have served at any time from 1 January 2025 until the date of this report was approved are.. Ex Officio members: Incumbent: The Reverend David Busk (Chairman) Honorary Curate.. The Reverend Canon Jonathan Young Church Warden: Bill Templeton 17
Church Warden: Ruth Ekblom (to February 20251 Church Warden: John Newton (from May 2025) Representative of the Laity on the Deanery Synod: Peter Morgan Elected members: Andrew Wright- PCC Secretary Lucilia Azevedo David Bowers Bob Hurd Nicholas Leigh Smith David Moger Simon Prince Adrian Singlon Colin Thir1wall Mike Westcott-Rudd Paula Williams Co-opted member.. Dave Hodge (as Tréasurer) Approved bythe PCC on 20Apri12026 and signed on theirbehalf bythe Reverend David Busk (PCC chaimian} 18
Church of St Mary the Virgin Godmanchester PCC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ending 31ST December 2025
INTENTIONALLY BLANK
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report R•port to the tru•te CHUFICH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN GODMANCHESTEFI On K¢ount• lor the year •nd¢d 32 DECEMBER 2025 Charlty no 111 ony) 1194684 S•1 oul on pages I report to the trus188s on my 8x8minalion of the accounts of the above charity I'lhe Trusl'} lor the year ended R•8pon•lbllltl•8 and bas18 of report As the charfty's trustees. you are re8pon8ibl8 lor the pr8paralion of the account5 in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Acl 207 1 {Yhe Acri. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under $e¢tion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Dlreclion8 givon by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl ol the Act. Indeyndent examlner's statement apP1w Delele I l il not apPI&ble. I have completed my examination. I contimi Ihat no malerial matters have come lo my attention in connéction with the examination (other than that disclosed b81ow ') whlch gives mè cause lo balieve that in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kgpl In accordance with 88clion 130 ol the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord wllh the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the fonn and cont8nl ol accounts sel out in the Charilies (Accounls and Rèports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'lru8 and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no ¢oncems and have come across no other matters in COnnlI0n with the &xaminalion to which attention should be drawn In thi8 Teport in order to @nable a proper undèrstanding of Ihe accounts to be roached. Please delete rh8 words in Ihe brackets if Ihey do not apply. Dote: Slgned: Name: GARY JOHN FORDHAM Re¥•nI profe88lonal qualHleatlon(8) or body (If any): INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANTSIFEDEFIATION OF TAX ADVISERS MEMBERSHIP NO. 11621 IER Ocl 2018
Addr•88: SOMMAR HOUSE. SHOP ROAD. CLOPTON WOODBRIDGE. SUFFOLK. IP13 6QP Section B Disclosure Only complete Il the examiner needs lo highlight malerial matters ol concern (see CC32. Indepermknt examinat ot chanty a¢xx)unts: direcllons and guidance for examiners). Glv• h•r• ljrl•f d•tsll• ol any item• that th• examinei wi•h•• lo disclose. IEA Ocl 2018
ST MAA Y THE VIAGIN GODMANCHESTER PCC STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 ASSETS 310EC 2025 31 DEC 2024 * In 2025 Cash Fund$ P•lty Ca•h 170 S*ntander Bank fGurrentAGcounl) Plus cheques deposited bul not cleared L888 ¢hequas i88ued but not pr8sented 42,473 27,49B 181 11.0541 26,625 3,731 38.743 12,118 Charlty Ald Found•tlon Bank (TranSf0ml10n Fund) 91.926 81,188 10,738 C olE C•ntr•l Brd ol Fln4ne• D•plt Aeeounts C8F Conlingency alG CB3025094-001 C8F 0ovelopm8nt &1¢ C53025096-L701 C8F FIx8d Intwesl Se¢urllos 8/¢ C83Q25095-001 8,388 12,092 10,529 7,679 11,568 10,277 524 252 31,008 19,247 Total B•nk •c¢ount•lco•h 161.847 153,771 8.076 Tru8t Fund• Dorothy Allen Trust Funds Rl Dorothy All8rt Trust Funds F12 SurKlay Schoool Trust Funds Sunday Schoool Trust Funds GBFI 140011702D Sunday S¢hoool Tru$1 Funds CBFI 140Q1/1030 79.958 11,283 83,288 11,013 (3,330? 270 2,000 2,000 940 94.191 97.241 (3,060) 256,020 251,012 5,016 LIABILITI Agency Funds 546 2,054 2,054 eT IABILITIE 255,482 248.957 6,524 FIXED ASSETS RETAINED FOR CHURCH USE Church hall and fittings Storage shed & Church Hall shed Plano Set ol handbells Lawnmowing aquipmenl Vhleo prolgctlon aqulpment 93,000 4,250 5,000 3,000 1,737 1,067 93,000 5,000 5,000 3,000 2,043 1,423 (750) (306) 356 108,054 Approv8d by the Parochial Church Council on 20 April 2026 and sloned on its behalf by.. Rovd DW Busk Vicar and PCC Chairman Signaturè
ST MARY THE VIRGIN GODMANCHESTER PCC RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS SUMMARY SUIAMAAY - YEAR ENDED 31 DEC 2025 2025 Total 2,024 Total RECEIPTS Unreslricl8d Desi nated Reslricled Donation8 and legaci08 77,868 7,434 32,547 117,848 192,049 Income from Charitable activites 9.826 346 10,172 5,558 Olh•r trading Activiti•s 3,930 28,396 136 32.462 30,609 Inv•8tment8 2,598 2,168 4,766 4,587 Other Incom• 191 2,930 3.122 1.759 TOTAL RECEIPTS 94.223 36,021 38.127 168,371 234.561 PAYMENTS Cost ol roising fund• B54 551 42 1.447 11.908 Exp8ndlturn on Charltable Acrlvltl•8 97,219 17,011 24,942 139,172 187,364 Oth•r Exp•ndilur• 6,660 104.733 2,142 27.126 8,802 149,421 768 21)0,040 17,562 Net R•c•lpl&lPaym•nts 110.510) 18,459 11.1x11 18,950 34,521
ST MABY THE VIRGIN GODMANCHESTER Pec OPERATING FUNDS 2025 blf from 2024 a¥•llbl• (From Aas•t8 & Liabilite81 Petty ¢ash Santander Inetl CBF Developmenl Acc CAF Translomiation Acc CBF Contingtrncy Ace Roe•lpts Pa¢18 CM to 2026 * in 2025 85 26,625 11,568 81,188 7,679 127.146 2,646 153,998 524 30,285 709 188,161 2,561 141,881 170 38,742 12,092 91,926 8,388 151.318 85 12,117 524 10,738 19,547 TOTAL 163,989 24.172 Opernt5ng lunds General Fund B811ringer8 Children's Church Church Choir Church Fab Church Hall Organ Fund Churchyard & Mtswers Oe¢orating Fund Flower Gulld Wivtr$' Group Friday at 5.15 Tran8lormalion Project Aaencv Funds 14,4 2,518 14 102,438 781 130 1,882 6,042 24,887 4,489 5,200 93,493 1.045 23,401 2.254 144 1,882 5.733 7,483 1.309 174 8.945 12641 130 1,882 12,5131 4.378 1.309 15511 8,246 3.105 8.555 20.509 3.180 5.751 725 S75 725 447 650 225 109 94.717 32,620 19,545 2,054 9.198 10,707 TOTAL 127,146 188,161 163,98 151,318 Operitln8 Fund$ have both Incorne and expenditure during the year and indlvldual balances ère carrled forward to the start of the next year. When necessary. Irènsfers are mède between cperètln8 funds durln8 the year. 398 75 117 107.792 11791 16501 116 13.075 1,508 24,172 t4ote111 Agency Funds are funds that are handled by the church are not part of the church Incorne and expendlture and ère not Included in the church annual accounts. Examples are dlocesan fee5, lees for organlsrs, verger or cholr at wedldng5 and funerals and collectlons at funera15 lor a nomlnated charlty.
ST MARY THE VIRGIN GODMANCHESTER PCC NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT YEAR ENDED 31 DEC 2025 ACCOUNTING POLICIES The Financial Statements hav8 bgen prapared in accordance with both the Charilias Act 2022, on the Receipts and Payments Basis. and the Church ol En land accountin r$ ul8titsns CHURCH FUNDS UNRESTRICTED FUNDS may be used by the PCC lor any of rts Ofdin8ry purposes. FUND NAME FUND PURPOSE General lund8 General use by PCC DESIGNATED FUNDS represent funds sel aside, out ol ordinary unr8Stricted lund$, lor specific designated oses, but the can be transferred backinlo ènaral lunds at an FUND NAME Church Hall Fabric Fund Decoraling fund Churchyard & Mower8 Organ Fund Friday at 5.15 FUNO PURPOSE Maintain hall Church Fabric Church redecoration Maintain chur¢h $urround$ Maintain Ihtr pipe organ Mission and Evan901ism RESTRICTED FUNDS represent éither incoma from trusts or endowments which rnay bè •xpended only on Iho8& relricled objectives provided in Ihe lerms of the trust or be9uesl, or donations or grants received or invited lor a $Po¢11i¢ purpo$tr. The funds may only be sp&nl on the specific Purpose lor which thèy were given. Any balancg rernaining unspent musl be carried forwar¢1 a$ a balanc8 on that lund and cannot be absorbad into general lund8. FUND NAME Transformation Fun<J Sunday School FUND PURPOSE Church TrAnslormatlon Project Fund Childr&n'$ Church ENDOWMENT FUNDS are funds whose capil81 mu8t be mainiAinèd.' only income arising from Ihg investment may be iJ$ed gilher as restricted or unrestricted funds dep8nding on the purpose lor which the endowment wa$ established FUND NAME Dorothy Allen Trust Sunday School Invest FUND PURPOSE 50V. fabric. remainder unrestricted Agligious aducalion LODGES FUNDS are funds bèlonglng to church organisalions that ar8 lodged in the church 8ccounts. FUNO NAME 8811 Aingars Fund Flower Guild Fund Choir Fund Organ Fund FUND PURPOSE Tower rnaintenance Church Ilowers Choir use Organ maintenance and repair
ST MARY THE VIRGIN GODMANCHESTER PCC Analy515 of Recelpts 2025 Totsl G•n•ral D••¥ R••lrfGtsd ThhJ••r 01O1.¢3ftIFIAV•Id 13218AO 2,7riim lJ1 14)XXI 170Z01 2J34.C• iJxJ.( 1,740 3&127.+ 272MJ i0.1.r) 7A44ffj1 .127 .fyJ 1997NI 720423 IYX•.71 7¢23 I,.71 I7.0 OWi.aft 231m 107 S3.71 14272 11714XI 270.31 t7.428.37 270al 74AS 11A724 l>onAllunB l•wl•• Totsl• Y7M7.•J 7NX17 JIJ41.•J Kom• ft•m ¢h•rfi•b thlll•• zeAOJ1 1NJ 1101.F•w 1•,172A• Qth•r tr•dln• •thlU•• 22212NI a212NJ 2A)).10 21323 1280. 2AM10 728A1 5aX.C¢ sxo.(o 32A•I. XI,•O•.J1 h•r tr•dbng •¢ll¥l¥•• Tal• 7r•J11 orA 71& WA7 0.02 S23 165. A4 IfjSA¥J 1349.14 IX*A3 111.61 1A49.11 IfA8J1 1>JA3 $40.ty) Jyj 2.11&11 4.710.11 4.W.0S Is) 1J8ZC 3,12Z.2• 1g0.M 2.•30A• 1,70•.24 94223.11 ¥lJ2132 X12725 . 108J71.68 23V61
ST MARY THE VIRGIN GODMANCHESTER PCC Analysls of Payments 2025 a•n•r•l D••lonAtsd Il••trldtsd Lw•t 114Zt 11420 740CK+ 17>). 2.704.17 4221 Rthln• fvnO• T•Mal• •54.20 JJO.g0 42.21 1M47.31 11J0¢17 Ep•ndllur• •Tr •h•rlt4bl• •¢llvl•• 1•SA4 10 2>110 .74 a.74 I. FrfdtytO.IS 1¢M.71 n223 72W23 9h7022 9,119.55 gh7022 gJ528 8W27 122S2.58 1.1>)AO 1M7&12 4WJm f•JJffji 1,1XAO Ipn.12 42M 851 4wo &iJn.70 814.02 4WAO W2.f•) 2rn.CQ 1.972J 27QCK 270.IYJ 19M2J6 J.137.81 13•,172.13 1a7,X3.11 •ndbt¥r• •n ¢h•rlt•bl• •¢ll¥lU•• T•t41• 97,219.13 17.011.17 ¥941. eAh•r •xp•ndllw• 1.045.LXI 447.Q) 1.04&Q) 447.9) Qlh•r •xp•ndtuv• Tots 2.1411JO MA• 10473327 17J6Z07 27,12&04 . 149A21a8 20DJ14025