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 p￿paratIon 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)E￿￿ER 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. OJ*t1￿￿1nd
assotsited8llt.ald, 4ftl￿pr￿ee￿sofr￿I.sptcfflC luth151ry.
The RODI Fund.
|ThI5 hdd5 the Kcfor thE Rwl proi¢cL In Nwnber ZOt2the PCCth*wated £4D,oriJ Induthn8£ 9945.82 frrm the
jSBlecl Land atSCC heid in trnst at the ￿￿e5c. AsthE trtht r￿e￿d byt￿ Dknfsewifkally for thE Rth)f wolert li y￿$place￿
.In the Restrfcied Roof Fund. ThE r¢rn4lnderofthe ￿ the PCC d25i%naied IE £30054.19￿￿5 ￿aCe0 In the Iimd. Certa%i suff61
roof have been paid fr(*n tho dÈsi*ik)ted fund leavin8 a blliantt DI 19504.94
6 Thv Clwrihy*rd -Restrtcted
This Fu￿1 recel¥es• yTra51 amual tr4nt frcth I￿£￿￿m[(W￿a1[h WarGraves(¢yrmls¥w. agrant lrnm the Pth5h c(W￿l1 and ocwtonal
dwall￿s￿r¢rn Ihe public re5LfiC(ed to Use In the thurthyard. Churdyardtwndi(ure excee& the funds Inc￿ ts pald by the PCC fr¢rn
ILS Ge￿
'Th15 ((￿p￿Se5 rrrygTrnLed Ir4m the Rethjaway Tru5r and rthEr yants¢ythnaiirrngltrpn speclflcally thtrSCC. There ￿re nD
8rants tho year.
ADew5iL gl E2t)) Is held IMMARO L415Llc4 the Lenant of O*flce I, rrfurn￿e ai thE of th• i•n4n
¢ htsga¥ts)• . Ro51ricl•d
Thls thePafthCrrtmcll'58rmal 8rèrt rosupwt the Parith wAgazine piwa (kmiioTr reteThtdtthmtyeusw io ewre thp
.Nyilnrfs Cwilnuatlm. Trexces$ 01<05ts0ver Income thlsyear was t353.J81ebv(n8 a baL4nteof 0114.83 in the lund.
9,Youth Clth . R•5trkted
This Fund hcld5 [llL￿eY yaniedty the Part5h thJral and other*yynls&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 bEt￿L￿rt 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 c￿￿tth Cwtrt pold •
total of £1249.lJ afyj tv0ank5ls￿tyfftre paid 4 tDial of trth.
No PCC Trrtrnbvswve T¢lrnbur5od iravcllirt8 w other Th•r•*w•ro￿h•rJ%l￿bi• ualueibns In T•SF*(t d PCC rnembErs,
p•rg)75dosely cthinectedvAth LY ofvr rela￿ Mri*s.
13 ￿•tst￿ thnd Cr•dlEof5
creth(￿S￿re. General Fun61.540.QOI fee ty￿d io Dcrane lor reyirs
Thè debTL¥Sl*rn: 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 rrd*vkw35rnalrlytoiwiÈted 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 payn*nts. 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 elected1r￿eleCted 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 b￿n 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 Resp￿0ndIn
Well to victims and survivors of abuse