St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Farningham - Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council: registered charity number 1207383 (Year ended 31[st] December 2025)
St Peter and St Paul’s Church is situated in the High Street in the village of Farningham. It is part of the diocese of Rochester within the Church of England and is part of the United Benefice of Eynsford, Farningham and Lullingstone.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) registered with the charity commission in March 2024.
PCC members who have served from April 2025 are:
Incumbent – Rev. Trudi Oliver Wardens Mrs Louise Fitzgerald Deanery Synod Rep Mrs Vikki Saunders Treasurer/Electoral Roll Officer Elected members Mrs Elisabeth Meachin Secretary Mrs Shirley Hopwood Mr Peter Davis Licensed Lay Reader Dr Paula Garland
Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All church attendants are encouraged to register on the electoral roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC meets six times a year.
Three members of the PCC are elected to the Benefice Council, which meets four times a year. Eynsford and Lullingstone similarly, have three elected members.
Objectives
St Peter and St Paul’s PCC has the responsibility of co-operation with the incumbent, (Rev. Trudi Oliver), in promoting in the Ecclesiastical Parish, the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the Church of St Peter and St Paul and the Shand Hall. All three churches in the Benefice of Eynsford, Farningham and Lulllingstone have a statement of ‘Mission and Ministry’, whereby our aim is to enhance our presence in the local communities, offer spiritual support and help wherever possible and grow in numbers.
Rev Trudi
One of the new forms of ministry introduced into the Benefice by Rev. Trudi, supported by members of the local congregations, is ‘Messy Church’. This is held on the 1[st] Saturday of every month between 4.00pm and 6.00pm and includes a period of worship, 6 different crafts relating to the subject/bible story of the day, and light refreshments – sandwiches and cakes.
We held a very successful Easter Messy Church on the morning of Easter Saturday, recruiting young families who were playing by the nearby river and inviting them to join us to share in the story of Christ’s death and resurrection!
Messy church provides an inclusive and relaxing environment for families from the local communities to learn about the life of Jesus and grow in Christian faith.
Another form of ministry recently introduced is ‘Little Elfs’, which meet every Tuesday during term time, between 9.30am and 11.00am and is for anyone who cares for a young child or children. It is a welcoming environment which allows for chat and companionship and where the young can play safely with toys and games donated by friends and members of the church.
Both these activities rely on the help and support of those who volunteer on a regular basis and to the preparation and time given by Rev. Trudi. We thank all those involved, in whatever capacity.
Sunday Services
We currently alternate our worship with St. Martin’s Church, Eynsford, and our services are as follows: -
1[st] . Sunday 10.30am Holy Communion at Farningham
2[nd] Sunday 8.30am Holy Communion at Eynsford followed by Morning Worship at 10.30am
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3[rd] Sunday 8.30am Holy Communion at Farningham followed by Morning Worship at 10.30am
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4[th] Sunday 10.30am Holy Communion at Eynsford
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5[th] Sunday A United Benefice Service where the venue varies
In addition to our regular church services this year, we have celebrated two weddings, and 7 baptisms, and held three funeral services and four burials of ashes.
Farningham church was also delighted to be the venue for a Confirmation service held on May 11[th] and led by Bishop Simon. It celebrated members from our United Benefice, supported by Rev. Trudi and West Kingsdown church, supported by Rev. Sarah, making their commitment to God.
We also held an All-Souls’ Service, whereby the families of all who had lost a loved one during the year, were invited to attend and light a candle in memory.
The Community Carol service held on the 21[st of] December was also very well attended, with the 9 lessons being read by representatives from various local groups and church members.
At present there is no Sunday school at Farningham church, but to address this in the short term, we have put together book bags which hang on a small coat stand in the children’s corner. These contain colouring pencils, worksheets relating to the liturgy of the day, playdough and cutters, a stress ball and finger puppets. These contents will be changed every term to maintain interest. Thanks go to members of the congregation who have funded these worship bags!
St. Peter and St. Paul’s Church Farningham is also open daily, between 10.00am and 4.00pm for private prayer and meditation and receives visitors from far and wide who regularly leave appreciative messages in the visitors’ book.
Home Groups
We have two Home Groups, and they meet fortnightly, either on a Tuesday or Thursday morning at 10.30am, in people’s homes or in a church building. These help us in our discipleship, and it is good to enjoy one another’s fellowship.
Courses
Rev. Trudi ran both a Lent Course and an Advent Course in 2025 to which everyone was welcome.
The Lent course was a preliminary look at our mission and ministry work and what the church should aspire to. This review was continued throughout the year, culminating in a benefice ‘Away Day’ led by Rev. Jean Kerr, who facilitated the day, bringing together all our thoughts, wishes and aims that are needed to build thriving village churches.
The Advent course was a step out of our comfort zone and incorporated Neurographic art into the Christmas story. This is a therapeutic, mindfulness-based drawing technique, designed to bridge the conscious and unconscious mind. Each week considered a different part of the story of the birth of Jesus, including Mary’s conception and produced some very thought-provoking work.
Church/Maintenance
Our 19[th] century turret clock ceased working during the year and was taken away for repair by the Cumbria Clock company.
It has subsequently been returned, but has been having ‘teething problems’, occasioning a visit from the Cumbria Clock Company to try and right the problem on site. Our thanks go to The Friends of Farningham church for meeting the very large cost involved and for their continued support in upholding the church fabric.
This year has seen the purchase and implementation of a new amplifier and sound system. The company Old Barn Audio have been very helpful and thorough, adapting the system to suit the very old church building with its relevant reception difficulties. The new technology means that it is much more versatile and can among other things, allow for music to be downloaded and played through the laptop, for weddings and funerals. It also caters for the sound to be at different levels depending on needs – guitar sound, strength of voice, congregation numbers, etc.
Shand Hall
The Shand Hall has been redecorated using a local trader and now has an integrated door mat. It is a smart, practical and welcoming venue.
Thanks go to Eglantine Masonic Lodge who gave us £1000 towards the Shand Hall kitchen.
The Shand Hall is now used regularly by several community groups, including monthly parish council meetings, music, craft and art groups and the Friday cafeI.
The cafeI has gone from strength to strength, and it is thanks to the small team of volunteers that it is a great place to get breakfast, meet friends and have a chat.
Churchyard
Once again, thanks go to Farningham Parish Council for their generous donation towards the churchyard grass cutting. The firm, Lothlorien, do an excellent job, including the strimming of the areas around the graves and gravestones. In between cuts, tidying is carried out by volunteers and the Friends of Farningham.
A survey of the churchyard trees was carried out by Tree Craft for risk assessment purposes and subsequently we have had some tree surgery carried out in conjunction with their recommendations.
Unfortunately, Sevenoaks District Council withdrew their provision of a waste bin service, but we now have a contract with a local provider and the bin, for use by all who use the churchyard, is situated just behind the lychgate alongside the green recycling bag
Fundraising
Our summer fete was well supported by village societies and this year the weather was kind, encouraging a very good turnout. One particular attraction was the chance to throw wet sponges at Rev. Trudi, who took a stint in the stocks.
We continued ‘The Lights of Love’ tradition, with the church beautifully decorated with hundreds of twinkling lights. Two trees were placed alongside the high altar on which discs in memory of departed loved ones were placed and donations given towards Porchlight.
Judy kindly opened her garden to the church and friends and all proceeds went to the church funds.
Patricia’s Art evenings were very well received and again brought in funds to support the church, and the annual Ride and Stride Saturday raised further monies.
Eco -church
Farningham Church has registered with Arocha’s Eco-Church award scheme and is aiming to follow in the footsteps of St Martin’s church in Eynsford and achieve the Bronze Award. We have completed the Worship and Teaching section of the survey and are aiming to complete the other four sections. The Eco-Church team are mindful of the impact we have on the environment and try to promote Reduce, Re-Use, Re-Cycle within the church activities. We work alongside the Friends of Farningham, in taking community action with litter-picks and river clearance projects in the village.
EFL Ukrainian Support Group, Swanley Foodbank and other Charities
With the recent anniversary of the 4[th] year since the invasion of Ukraine, we have continued to work with Darenth Valley Community Church and Eynsford Baptist Church to support the Ukrainian refugees both here in our villages and in Ukraine. Barbara and Vikki sort and take the many donations, including food and medical items, bedding and clothing, collected in our villages, to St. John’s Church in Sidcup, from where they are transported fortnightly to Ukraine.
We also continue to support Swanley Foodbank, and they are very grateful for the food and toiletry items that we take there every other week. A big thank you to all who have donated over the past year.
After each morning service teas and coffees are served in The Shand Hall and all donations from that are sent to Porchlight. This year the collection taken during Midnight Mass also went to Porchlight, the total given being £574.
Our Christingle Service held on the 3[rd] November raised £132 for the Children’s Society and the Remembrance Day Service and poppy appeal raised £235 for the Royal British Legion.
The money collected at the Confirmation Service amounted to £90 which was then sent, at the Bishop’s request, to the Rochester Diocese Poverty and Hope appeal.
May God bless the life of this church and help us all to continue the Lord’s work in our parish.
Farningham Church Wardens
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St. Peter and St. Paul's Church Farnln ham arnin ham PCC Re istered Chari 1207383 Annual Report And Financial Statements Of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025 Incumbent: Rev. Trudi Oliver Bank: The Co-operative Bank l Balloon SL Manchester M604EP Independent Examiner: Mr Ian Macknelly E,"arningham Kent Treasurer: Mrs Vikki Saunders FCCA Kent
ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL FARNINGHAM - FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 YEAR ENDED 31st December 2025 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT 2025 2025 Totsl Funds Total Fund8 PY 2024 Totsl Fund$ Unrestricted Un[eStrCted Restricted Restricted REGEIPTS Voluntary Receipts Planned Giving. GiftAid- Envelopes Planned Giving. CIftAid- Standing Order Planne(l Giving Gift Aid- Other 4.090 166 4.090 166 6,377 50 Income Tax re¢overe(l on gift aid 2,878 2.878 6,446 Other Giving '. Money given without declaration incl. Charities AKI Found8bon 6.120 6.120 4,569 Collections.. loose plate and collethS al weddings etc. Collections ". $trted for specAal purposes 4.158 109 16,513 4.267 16.513 4,442 2.910 SurKlry donations. given by individusls for ordinary purposes SuThJry donations.. wall safe 300 253 1,004 197 253 Cther vduntary inCning resources Grants DonationslAppea15 for restricted purpose5 Legae5 4.200 4,2 7( 223 100,ryxi 126.219 706 18,670 20,823 39,492 Recelpts from Church actFvitles Fees paid tts the PCC for weddiry5 and fun8rals 4,886 4.886 5,815 Recoipts from actTrviti8B for generating funds Chur¢h letting$- include all in¢ome from use of church buildings Jumble saleslfetes and other fund faising events (gross Inco) 9,787 5,422 9.787 s.6 11,223 2,451 13,674 544 15,209 15,753 Receipts Irom inve¥tEnents Dividends Bank Inter8St 9.386 9.386 8,587 8,587 9.386 9,386 (h0 w¢¥w)ts VAT reclairn Misc Rev Insurance claim 3.176 3.176 2,942 3,176 3,176 2.942 TOTAL RÈCEIPTS 72,693 157,238
YEAR ENDED 31st Dacember 2025 RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT 2025 2025 Total Funds Total Fund$ PY 2024 Total Funds unrestn.cted Unrestricted Restricted Restn'cted PAYMENTS Fundrai$ing trdding."cost of 900ts sold and other costB Costs ol fetes, ba2aars and othèr fundraising events Friday café costs Stewardship fee expense 487 2,380 487 2,380 659 2452 2,867 2,867 3,111 Church actlvltles- charltsbl• gr¥lng Missionary and charitable giving - relief agencies and thurch overseas Home missions and olhei Church soaelies SeoJlar charites incl. Oxfam. Help the Aged 1,589 240 1,046 2.875 20 12 90 1,017 110 1.029 32 1.107 1,139 Actlvities DiTecty rnlating to the work ofthe Church Ministry ." Parish Share Ministry '. Eynsford, Farningham, Lullingstone quota Church running expenses.. Healing, lighting, cleaning. insuian Church maintenance.. minor repairs. organlpiano tuning Upkeep ol services.. altar requisites, service books, choir robes Upkeep of ¢hur¢hy8rd Major paIrS Istructurel Major repairslieplacements linslallationsl Sh8nd Hall Costs Salaries verger, organist. choir, visiting d8rgy Movable fumishings and equipmenl 30,793 6.223 999 30,793 8,223 999 26,664 8,541 901 3,998 3,998 2,795 20.443 20,443 5.836 2.745 5.291 5,836 2.745 5,291 2,053 3,296 4,263 49.679 54,730 24,441 79,171 Governance Costs Admini$lr8lion Bank charges 21 21 112 21 21 112 TOTAL PAYMENTS B3.198 55.777 EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS -10,SOS 101.461 Bank current and dgposit accounts at 1 January 202S 298.S16 197.055 Bank ¢urr•nt and deposit accounts at 31$t December 2025 288.012 298.516
ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL FARNINGHAM - FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 2025 202S Total Funds Total Funds PY 2024 Total Funds STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITES AT 31st December 20Z5 Unrestricted Unfeslri¢ted R8slricted Reslricied Monetary assets Genoral Fund Cash in hand Friday café tloat CO-OP Community account CO-OP Instanl Access Savings Account Church repair fvnd current alc (deSnated for auinquennial paIrS lo fabric of Church) Church Loan fund CBF Deposbt fund National savings income bond Irestricled usage for etxlesiastical purposes) 160 80 6,026 73,829 14,024 14.215 154.649 4,000 160 80 10,054 73.829 14,024 14,215 159,649 16,000 189 4,028 16,381 85,746 13,632 13,747 152,737 16,0( 298,516 5,000 12,000 266,983 21,028 288,012 Other assets- Sequestration Aco)unt Liabilitgs 288,012 298,516 Approved by the Paro¢hial Church Council on.. Signature of PCC Se¢retaryAncurnbenl '. ]IlklJl lots
Notes to the accounts l. Accounting Policies The financial statement5 of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis. 2. Material items in the accounts The church turret clock was repaired at a cost of £19,056. The amount before VAT was paid for by a grant from The Friends of Famingham Church and the VAT w'as reclaimed through the Listed Places of Worship scheme. The sound system in church was a150 repla¢¢d at a cost of £5.29]. 3. Additional Diselosures relating to the Statement ofAssets alld Liabilities Funds General (lJnrestricted) funds represent the fund5 of the PCC that are not subject lo any special restrictions regarding their use and are available ftor appl ication to the general purposes of the PCC. These include funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC (see designated funds below). The accounts include monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC can be held responsible. They do not inclltde the accounts of other Church groups thal owe an affiliation to anoiher body, nor those that are inforn)al gatherings of Church members. Subject to the above, recetpts and payments include income as received and expenditure when irrevocably paid. Designated funds The Chur¢h repair fuT7d (£14k) is designated for repairs to the fabric of the Church. £155k of the CBF Deposit fund (balance £160k) is designated for the upkeep of services. outreach and growth of the church. Restrieted funds Restricted funds totalling £21 k are to be used as follows.. £12k is for ecclesiastical purposes. £4k for churchyard maintenance, £ I k for memorial rose garden, £2.2k is for maintenance of the Saxton grave, £ I k for the Shand kitchen and £0.8k for various smaller causes. Debtors as al 315t December 2025 £57) for hire of the church and Shand Hall. Creditors as at 31st December 2025 Diocesan Board of Finance fees for quarter 4 tolalling £514.
- Conne¢ted Chariti¢s The Friends of Famingham Church is a Charity Connected to the PCC. They made a grant of £15,880 in 2025. Reserves Policy The P.C.C. aim to have £20k in unrestricted and undesignated funds which equates to 6 months, operational costs. As at 31" December 2025 reserves were in excess of £20k.
Independent examiner's report to the PCC of St Peter aDd St Paul's Church, Farningham This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are atthed, is in respect of an exarnination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 ('th¢ Regulations,) and s.145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act.). Respective responsibilities of the PCC and tbe examiner As members of th¢ PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. You consider that the audit requirement of the Regulations and section 130 of the Act do not apply. It is my sponsibl1[ty to issue this report on those financial ststements in accordance with the ternis of Regulations. Basis of thls report My examination was Caled out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act and to be found in the Chuwh Guidance, 2006 edition, issued by the Finance Division of the Archbishops, Council. That examination includes a review of the accounting r¢wrds kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual iterns or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you a5 trus*eb concerning any such matters. The procedur¢s undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in audit. and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner's ststement In connection with my examination, no matter has come lo my attention: which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the rquirements to keep accounting records with section 130 of the Act and to prepare financial statements. which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations have not been met. 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of th¢ awounts to b¢ rea¢h¢d. J_JiJ4 Mr lan Macknelly Date: Farningham Kent