Independent Examinerf5 unqualffied report (for a non-company charfty preparing CeiptS and payments accounts) with a gross income of £250,000 or less in the relevant financial year. Independent examine$ report to the trustees of Shillingstone Parochial Church Councll. I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Shilllngstone Parochial Church Council (the PCCI for the year ended 31 December 2025. Responsibilities and basis of report A5 the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the pparatIon of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'}. I report in respect of my examlnatlon of the Trusys accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given bythe Charlty Commission under section 14515)Ibl of the Act. Independent examinerfs statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no materia5 matter5 have come to my attention in connertion with the examination givlng me cause to believe that in any material respect: l. accountlng records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examlnatlon to which attention should be drawn in this report In order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Name: J Paul Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies lif any): Address: Bishops8ate, Church Road, Shlllingstone, Blandford Forum, DTII OSL Date: 13 April 2026
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9CC SHfLUNGsfoNE NOTES TO THE ffATEMENTS ENDEL) 31 L)EER 2025 Iffy)tlwedl P(C Fwnowe fLKed azet vaiuEd at thèn £l.C 'This Fund. opened In Decernt¢r 2022. hthdsto rerrAf the Nryth AIAe. ChAKd. OJt11nd assotsited8llt.ald, 4ftlpreesofrI.sptcfflC luth151ry. The RODI Fund. |ThI5 hdd5 the Kcfor thE Rwl proi¢cL In Nwnber ZOt2the PCCthwated £4D,oriJ Induthn8£ 9945.82 frrm the jSBlecl Land atSCC heid in trnst at the e5c. AsthE trtht red byt Dknfsewifkally for thE Rth)f wolert li y$place .In the Restrfcied Roof Fund. ThE r¢rn4lnderofthe the PCC d25i%naied IE £30054.195 aCe0 In the Iimd. Certa%i suff61 roof have been paid fr(n tho dÈsiik)ted fund leavin8 a blliantt DI 19504.94 6 Thv Clwrihyrd -Restrtcted This Fu1 recel¥es• yTra51 amual tr4nt frcth I£m[(Wa1[h WarGraves(¢yrmls¥w. agrant lrnm the Pth5h c(Wl1 and ocwtonal dwallsr¢rn Ihe public re5LfiC(ed to Use In the thurthyard. Churdyardtwndi(ure excee& the funds Inc ts pald by the PCC fr¢rn ILS Ge 'Th15 ((pSe5 rrrygTrnLed Ir4m the Rethjaway Tru5r and rthEr yants¢ythnaiirrngltrpn speclflcally thtrSCC. There re nD 8rants tho year. ADew5iL gl E2t)) Is held IMMARO L415Llc4 the Lenant of Oflce I, rrfurne ai thE of th• i•n4n ¢ htsga¥ts)• . Ro51ricl•d Thls thePafthCrrtmcll'58rmal 8rèrt rosupwt the Parith wAgazine piwa (kmiioTr reteThtdtthmtyeusw io ewre thp .Nyilnrfs Cwilnuatlm. Trexces$ 01<05ts0ver Income thlsyear was t353.J81ebv(n8 a baL4nteof 0114.83 in the lund. 9,Youth Clth . R•5trkted This Fund hcld5 [llLeY yaniedty the Part5h thJral and otheryynls&iioAs restrfcted to thè Ythrth Cl. nEYuJthaL IscLw•iity suwdEdatyJ tl fuiweof th151rry 5hwid be¢thxwsed ¥th tht Parf5h tsJrtll In ¢wrye. 10 Tr•n5feTS bEtLrt fund5 11 Lewle5 12.Stsff Cos our1 year the PCC enwityfft a Ileaaer fLY the thurth thowere pjlda tty•l 01 £1031. 1 ci•aner Iwthe ctth Cwtrt pold • total of £1249.lJ afyj tv0ank5lstyfftre paid 4 tDial of trth. No PCC Trrtrnbvswve T¢lrnbur5od iravcllirt8 w other Th•r•w•roh•rJ%lbi• ualueibns In T•SF(t d PCC rnembErs, p•rg)75dosely cthinectedvAth LY ofvr rela Mris. 13 •tst thnd Cr•dlEof5 creth(Sre. General Fun61.540.QOI fee tyd io Dcrane lor reyirs Thè debTL¥Slrn: Gwerèl Fund totsl 1£41é6.2Jl cth)wrfslrwd trWAC Glft AldGenEral Fund If30n.os)and Benefiee Mlnlsrryexpen5e5 Inyolced fo Olfvor p4rtsh¢slE1093.191. Roof Fund FL41RC GIIL Ald IL1174.281. Chancel rrdvkw35rnalrlytoiwiÈted by 31 Dec¢mbEr th th excoptkn of rld8e illÈ¥ Ihatwwebelns hand.rnade w4Li Lles. Thil payment Was nwde to th• arth1[[ In Apdl 2025 and thtthtrlctw In Ocre4w 1015. VAT redalrn¢d on th•te paynnts. Avant ol £90CKI.(LlaYArthd by rht Buiithi forMIsslDll Fund wo% re¢*lv¢d kn Feb 25.
Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council of the Church of the Holy Rood, Shillingstone , Dorset. For the year ended 31st December 2025 Correspondenc8 Rector Bank Independent Examiner The Vlcarage, Church St. Sturminster Newton. DT10 1DB Reverend Andrew Gubbins CAF BanK West Mallingi Kent Mr J Paul, Bishopsgate, Church Rd, Shillingstone, DT11 OSL The Benafice, Parish and Ministy Team Shillingstone is one of 4 parishes in The Okeford Benefice with a shared Ministry Team. that in 2025. consisted of a Rector, 1 Lay Worship Leader ILWL) and 3 Lay Pastoral Assistants (LPA). The Benefice is also supported by a retired Lay Minister {PTO). The Parochial Church Councll The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Council Powers Measure. The PCC is registered with the Charity Commission. The PCC has the responsibility in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church. pastoral. evangelistic, social and ecumenical and also has maintenance responslbilities for th8 church, its contents and the churchyard. The following members were elected/re-elected . Lay Chair Sue Chandler Churchwardens Lesley Gasson Sue Chandler Sue Chandl Anne Powell All elected1releCted at 2025 APCM Deanary Synod Members PCC & Deanery Treasurer PCC Members Judith Blake Jill Burton Jane Joseph Pat Marshall Christopher Whitfeld Co-opted 2025 The PCC met 5 times during the year in person. The PCC also attended 2 Benefice meetings. The average level of PCC attendance was 85%. Church Membershlp and Attendance There are 47 people on the Church Electoral Roll. 4 of whom were not resident in the Parish. The Worshipping Community was 31. The pattern of worship continued with a monthly Sung Eucharist led by Andrew Gubbins, Flector. Evensong on fifth Sunday was led by Sue Rawlinson. The First Sunday Breakfast service continued in SCC, led by Rev Andrew. Moming Worship on Zoom continued Tuesday to Friday. Prayer requests continue. There were an annual Carol and Crib Services. The 'Midnight' Eucharist on 24th December continues at 9-30pm. There were additional services of Evensong (Laudamus) All Souls, Remembrance weekend and Advent Carol Service. Pew News is collated weekly by Diana Lewis. and issued by email. The register showed 1 Baptism, no marriages. 7 Burials. There was 1 contirniation at another church.
Worship Sue Chandler is a Lay Canon and Sue Rawlinson, a retired Lay Minister, also acts as a Lay Deacon. They are Lay Chalice Assistants. Church members continued to lead intercessions, read lessons and act as sidesmen. The choir and music were led by Peter Lattimer. Where possible other musicians supported Shillingstone's worshipping life in Church and at the village primary school. Education and Involvement of Children 14ev Andrew and Steve Sexton took weekly collective sessions in all schools. It was also possible to provide services in Church at the start and end of term with the help of Sue Rawlinson. Shillingstone Voluntary Aided Church of England Prlmary School. Th8 School vision is Growing Together and the key Christian values are: Friendship. Compassion, Respect and Trust. Mr Andy Wright assumed Shared Headship (4days) with Mrs Sarah Vail (Fridays) at the start of Spring Term 2025 and together with their team and Foundation Governors are committed to the ethos of the School. Sharon Proyer continues as Chair of Governors. A unique window was commissioned when the new school opened. enhancing the link between the school and church. All information on school lif8 can be found www.shillingstone.dorset.sch.uk. Worklng with young people and chTldren The Youth Club ISYC) under the joint leadershlp of Kim Suter and Kirsten Drake continued until the summer and is temporarily closed. Discussion is underway for a new Leader. Stev8 Sexton continues to run Trailblazers and Mighty Okes, and a new club, the Rood Brood, all offer Christian teaching in a fun and accessible way. Mission and Educatton Rev Andrew led 2 courses during the year. Pastoral Care "Just as l am" Services continued successfully throughout the year at the SCC . Lent Lunches continued during 2025 as did the monthly Coffee mornings. Jill Burton organised another successful speaker for HaNest Supper and continues to co- ordinate the Village Contact scheme, Home and hospital visits and home communlon continued where possible. The Flower Festival and Open Gardens followed by a Thanksgiving Servlce took place in June and was a huge success. thanks must go to The Garden Club and all involved for such an inspirational weekend. The Annual Ride & Stride in September continues. The annual carol singing at the Old Ox in aid of Crisis took place in December. Rector's Report In 2025 the Church of the Holyrood, Shillingstone has given a multi-faceted witness to Good News that thrives on the spiritual presence of God, most notably in all that points us to the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We continue to see the repair of an increasing part of our Roof thanks to the determinism to succeed that is found in such a generous flow of grants and donations, as well as in the visionary administration of our treasurer and sexton and in the joyful worship that is offered whenever we are enabled to fill the building with sound of bells, worship and song. Highlights of 2025 included A Gontinuing tradition of lent lunches in aid of charity in various village settings. A hive of activity prompted by Jesus, resurrection among Witnesses IAdult Volunteers) and many visiting school-children all with their clipboards, consumed by the chaotic chain of events that first Easter, and coming up
with their own fresh understandings. The preparations, experiences and collaboration of a Church Flower Festival along with the Shillingstone Open Gardens in June. Some of us still have birdsong echoing in our heads from the Porch, along with something of a warning of what might happen with neglectof our space for lively worship when we saw the chancel "rewarded" A series of Evensongs: in the Festival, then Summer and Autumn, even an heartening visit from Laudemus one Tuesday in August, and other visitors and volunteers thereafter, culminating in Carols for Advent Sunday. An unllikely discovery has bn made: eucharistic worship and evensong can hold the attention of people in their youth and maturity. We rejoice in the Baptism and Confirmation of an adult &teen from our Benefice this year. A new Head of School, with a promise to refresh the spaces for spirituality Shilingstone, as well as continuing collaboration bring the story of faith alive for young hearts and minds. Safeguarding Sunday was marked for the first time last Autumn in a special eucharist and commissioning of our current safeguarding off icer. Remembrance Sunday holds the. Attention of many in he village as Sue Rawlinson and other continu8 to facilitate important rites at the War memorial. Members of Holy Rood play thelr part in the wider Benefice in governance, safeguarding, regular worship and the offering of the remarkable SCC for church, community and diocese. Sadly 2025 has shown that it is not possible to at present to offer the secure leadership that a village youth club needs, and so meetings of the Youth Group have had to cease. Steve Sexton, helpers and volunteers have encouraged wide attendance at the monthly Breakfast SeNice, but it is proving harder to sustain Mighty Ones each week. Neither have we been able to continue the tradition of a Summertime Lunchclub for younger families each August. This was generously enabled by LPA Jill Burton but the dip in take -up gives us pause to reimagine future opportunities. With the welcome support of LLM Sue Rawlinson, we have marked the loss of many dear to us this past year and we continue to bee very grateful to the many volunteers who take such great care of both Church and Churchyard. Both place and people here enable ministries for regular monthly worship and rounded care from the cradle to the grave. Safeguarding Benefice Safeguardlng Officer"s report at Annex 1 Environmental work . A drinks and nibbles party was held in January to thank churchyard volunteefs. The headstone Wobble test was carried out in May. Eilish Drummond carried on her survey of graves throughout Ihe summer months. A new mowing volunteer joined the team. Kestrels nested in the church tower and raised a brood of three chicks. Sun-loving plants to benefit insects were put in again near the tap. and donated primroses elsewhere. The SCC meadow was cut in late summer - to have one annual cut from now on. on cost grounds. Shillingstone Church Centre
Where possible the Church Centre continued to provide a venue for many church activities. A Post OFfice service continues on Tuesday afternoon and Thursday moming. The library is open on these days as well as the monthly Coffee moming . Fabric: Final payment was made for the 2024 chancel reroofing. Under the guidance of the architect, a drains survey was conducted to investigate possible causes of the cracking in the chancel arch and two expert opinions were obtained from heritage glaziers on the possibly-linked cracking in the chancel east window. Minor repairs and servicing were carried out including a boiler repair and servicing; maintenance of fire extinguishers, lightning conductor and organ blower. organ and piano tuning. A new Union flag has been replaced . Finance Details of the financial position are contained in the 2025 Annual Accounts. Grant Making Policy The PCC has a policy of maklng grants to other charities each year when this can be afforded from regular giving or raised by special collections, which were £100 to Embrace Middle East (Crib Service) and £200 to Royal Agriculturpj Benevolent Society (Harvest Supper). Investment Policy The Crompton Legacy is currently held in the Church of England Central Board of Finance (CBFI Deposit Account. All non-cash funds are held with the Church of England Central Board of Finance Investment Fund. The PCC does not have a Trustee Indemnity Policy. Reserves Pollcy The PCC has a policy of retainlng as reserves £85,000 belng the equivalent of 12 months. operating costs together with additional amounts for each of ils two buildings for any urgent maintenance. These reserves are held with the CBF Investment Fund. Risk Management On behalf of the PCC, the Finance Committee monitored the strategic, business, operational and reputational risks whlch the PCC faces and confirmed that systems had been established to enable regular reports to be produced so that the necessary steps are taken to lessen these risks. Trustees. Responsibilities in relation to the financlal statements Law applicable to charit18s in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the charity's financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year. In preparing these financial statements. the trustees are required to: Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent., State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed in the financial statements; Prepare the financial statements on the ongoing concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue its business. The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Acl 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charty and hen for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees can confirm that the accounts comply with applicable accounting standards, the Charities Stst8ment Recommended Practice (SORP), second edition October 2019. Approved by the PCC on . nd signed by Andrew Gubbins, Rector.
Appendix 1 Safeguarding Report. Safeguarding Report to Benefice PCC - 6 January 2026 1. 1.APCS Data Breach - as you will be aware, there was an APCS data breach in the summer which affected many clergy and volunteers nationally. Following this, the decision was taken by the diocese to expedite the transler from APCS to 31-8 but in this benefice we are still waiting for the new database to be provided to us. In the interim we continue to use APCS. We had anticipated that we would have been able to start populating the new database by now, but hopefully we will be able to soon. 2. 2.31:8. When we move lo the new datsbase, there will be some changes to procedures and to those who are cleared. The major change is the decision that all PCC members should be cleared as charity trustees. Sue and I will action this over the coming months. At this point, only Registered Charty Trustees have been cleared - which in Ihis benefice means just Shillingstone. As part of this all PCC members will need to be cleared through 31..8 and appropriate basic and foundation training will become mandatory and will need to be refreshed every three years al the highest18vel. At the meeting. we will be seeking a Benefice PCC resolution that this poSicy will be put into place immediately. Once that is in place. we will be in touch wilh you to sort out the details. Please note that when we add you to the database, you are effectively giving us permission to hold your data. The database is secure and no data wlll be held off the database. 3. 3. Policies and risk assessments. There are no changes to the risk assessments and safeguarding policies currently in place. Margaret Davieslsue Chandler 6 December 2025 In association with the Diocese of Salisbury we follow the national and legal framework for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and Church of England policy and practice We act promptly on any complaints made and worl< in close partnership with Police and Social Care where children loans vulnerable adults have been harmed or at risk off harm or mistreatmenl. We care for those who have been abused in the past and provide a range of support and signposting for survivors and victims of Church related abuse. We support national policy from the Church of England following the praclice guidance Resp0ndIn Well to victims and survivors of abuse