23 April 2026 



# **THE CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, FROYLE (“St. MARY’S”)** 

**ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (“PCC”) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** 

## **A. Introduction** 

Those of you who follow these things won’t be surprised to know that we have not yet completed the ‘Pastoral Reorganisation’ – the term given to the process whereby Bentley, Binsted and Froyle become one parish, into which Kingsley and Oakhanger will be incorporated. 

The basis for this Pastoral Reorganisation was agreed in principle between the parishes in October 2024, as reported in the 2024 Annual Report. The formal, procedural steps required at the Diocesan and national Church of England levels are, however, more time-consuming than we had envisaged; there is also a mass of detailed implementation to be worked through at the local level. This detail is mainly being processed under the direction of a ‘shadow’ joint PCC made up of representatives of the constituent churches in the benefice. This ‘shadow’ PCC has no decision-making authority, but guides discussions by working groups looking at matters such as: the new Parish’s constitutional structure; what gets decided at the individual church level and what at the level of the parish; how the budgeting, financial reporting and treasury functions will operate; how the necessary administrative support will be provided; and how we effectively communicate both internally and with the outside world. Recommendations on all these issues will be referred back to the PCCs of the individual churches for decision before the unification of the churches into one parish takes effect. 

In the meantime, the congregations of the three main churches continued during 2025 to grow closer together in many ways, even without a unified governance structure. 

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Looking at the Church of England as a whole, we note that in October Dame Sarah Mullally was announced as the new Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Venerable Kelly Anne Betteridge was consecrated as the new Bishop of Basingstoke.  We pray that they may in their different leadership roles help guide the Church of England forward. 

This Report begins, as always, with the required formal summary of our role as a PCC and our aims and objectives, which we must never lose sight of. 

## **B. Aims and Purposes** 

The role of the PCC is to co-operate with the Incumbent (Matt Boyes) in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, throughout the parish. That mission entails, by living a Christian life, seeking to make our Church ever more relevant both to people in Froyle and to the wider community of which we are part. Our purpose is to worship God and to give every person in the parish and benefice the opportunity to understand and respond to the Gospel; we are also called to be a Church where people can grow as disciples and engage in ministry in the community and beyond. 

The PCC is also responsible for the upkeep of St Mary’s church building and separate cemetery in Upper Froyle. 

## **C. Objectives and Activities** 

The PCC, together with the Vicar, decides the form and style of services used. The PCC makes arrangements for the services, whether regular Sunday services or special services. 

We also encourage whenever possible the use of the church building for occasions not associated with formal services but which motivate people to come into the church and enjoy other activities there. 

The PCC raises money to pay its required contribution to the Winchester Diocese’s Common Mission Fund (Parish Share) and its 25% share of the cost of Ministry in the benefice (i.e. the expenses of the Vicar and the benefice office). We also fund the running of and repairs and improvements to St Mary’s and the costs of services held there. 

The PCC, together with the Vicar, is also responsible for Safeguarding. Our policy and procedures are monitored through our elected Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO), in conjunction with the PSOs from the other parishes and the Vicar. Our PSO, Sarah Roberts, stood down from that role at the end of 2025 and has been replaced by Simon Marshall as part of his role as churchwarden. We are most grateful to Sarah for all she has done as PSO. Ideally, we would like to find someone else – who need not be a member of the PCC – to take on 

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the role of PSO, which is so important to all that we do, so that Simon can be freed up for his many other responsibilities. Anyone who might be interested should please talk to Simon. Keeping our Church and wider community safe is a responsibility for us all, and the safeguarding team is there to help. The PCC has complied with the requirements imposed by the code under section 5A of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016. 

In conducting these activities and in promoting more generally the mission of the Church as outlined above, the PCC is blessed with the support of Matt Boyes as our Vicar and Christopher Ogilvie Thompson, our Associate Priest, as well as David Perryman, a retired vicar living in Froyle, who acts as Honorary Assistant Minister. 

Frances Harrison, also an ordained minister, serves as our Anna Chaplain - for this role and our pastoral care activities, see Section E (‘Administrative, Pastoral and Other Support in the Benefice’). 

Steve Fice, the benefice’s Operations Manager, completed his training and was licensed as a Licensed Lay Minister in October last year. A Licensed Lay Minister is someone formally authorised by a Diocesan bishop, following two years’ intensive theological training, to preach, teach, lead worship, conduct funerals and engage in mission/pastoral work. For Steve to have achieved this while continuing to act as the benefice’s Operations Manager is a considerable accomplishment and significantly strengthens our missionfocused resources. 

## **D. Achievements and Performance in 2025** 

## **Regular Services** 

_**Service rota:**_ Our monthly service pattern for the benefice (including Kingsley and Oakhanger), which was introduced in September 2023, remained unchanged in 2025. The monthly services in Froyle continue to be as follows: 

- Holy Communion (sung) on the second Sunday at 11:00 am; 

- A service of Morning Worship, lay led, usually by William Knowles, on the third Sunday at 9:30 am; 

- Messy Church, lay led (alternating between the church and Froyle Village Hall), at 4:00 pm on the third Sunday every other month; 

- Evensong, lay led, usually by Ian Black, on the fourth Sunday at 6:30 pm. 

On the fifth Sunday, there continues to be a Holy Communion service which rotates round the parish churches. 

Attendance at Froyle church has continued to benefit from and be enlivened by the support of regular worshippers from other churches in the benefice, and we encourage all Froyle congregation members to attend services at other churches in the benefice. 

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Matt continues to lead us in conducting sermon series from time to time in place of the lectionary readings. In 2025 we focused initially on Revelation, which challenged us all. This was followed by a series which looked at different aspects of the Holy Communion service; this caused us to think more deeply about wording and rituals that we hear regularly and might otherwise take for granted. We started 2026 with a series on Genesis. It takes some persistence to follow these sermon series consistently, but they are well worthwhile. 

Sunday sermons continue to be posted on the benefice YouTube channel. The sermons are usually given by an ordained minister, even where the service is lay led. Gradually, though, we are looking as a group of churches to develop further our lay leadership skills and experience, both in conducting services and in preaching, supported by the training courses run by Winchester Diocese - the ‘Bishop’s Commission for Mission (BCM)’ programme. 

The average number of attendees at regular Sunday services in Froyle in 2025, ignoring Christmas and Easter related services and other ‘festivals’ (Harvest, Mothering Sunday, Remembrance), was around 38 – slightly up from 2024 (34). These numbers flatter somewhat in that they include at Evensong members of the choir, who in many cases would not otherwise be regular attendees. 

_**Music and choir**_ : Jane Palmer continued to play the organ for us on the second and fourth Sundays. In the case of the latter, our _**monthly choral Evensong**_ , she does rather more than that: she chooses the music, and gathers together, conducts and accompanies the choir. The choir continues to flourish, recruited both within and outside the benefice – a tribute to the high regard in which Jane is held. Andrew Hunter Johnston kindly plays the organ for us on most of the third Sundays in the month. He also supports Jane by leading the choir on occasion at Evensong and in particular sharing the burden with her on the two special annual choral events which Jane leads at Froyle, namely the _**Maundy Thursday Holy Communion service**_ and the _**Advent by Candlelight service**_ – both of which have been going from strength to strength and both of which are lovely, atmospheric events, but in very different ways. We are blessed to have two such talented and experienced musicians as Jane and Andrew. And that’s not the limit of our organ-playing resources. On several occasions in 2025 Stella Croom-Johnson kindly stepped in and played for us. Our thanks to all of them and the choir for their enthusiasm and dedication However, change is afoot in that Jane has recently (at the time of writing) said that she wishes to step back from her choral role. She will be much missed in that role although, we are pleased to say, she will continue to play the organ for us. Happily, Martin Colbran, who used to be our director of music before Jane, has agreed to step back into the role going forward – welcome back, Martin! 

_**Messy Church:**_ We continued holding Messy Church on the third Sunday of every other month, sometimes in the church, sometimes in the village hall. Binsted hold it the month that we don’t. Messy Church (for those who have not experienced it) is designed for children up to about 8/9 years old and their parents. It comprises craft/playtime built loosely round a theme, followed by a talk/video on that theme and ending with an early evening meal for children and parents (and helpers!). It is very good fun, but takes a lot of time, 

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organisation and imagination to put it all together. It is run in Froyle by Sarah Roberts and Jane Macnabb (and in Binsted by Angela Dunne), who do it brilliantly but need support! It is essential, though, that it is led by people with the appropriate DBS clearance and safeguarding training. We also need to spread the word to parents with young children who might enjoy coming along. 

## **Special Services** 

_**Easter 2025:**_ 

|**_Easter 2025:_**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||2025|2024|2023|2019|2018|
|Maundy<br>ThursdayHC|57 adults|58|36|66|60|
|Easter Day HC|107 adults + 7<br>children|69 + 8|60 + 15|68 + 2|70+4|



By the time you read this, Easter 2026 will have happened and be fresh in our minds, so thinking back to Easter 2025 is a challenge. However, you may remember we (both Froyle church and the benefice as a whole) had a particularly successful Easter period in 2025, culminating in the markedly increased numbers on Easter Day - see the chart above. 

We had the same balance of events across the benefice as the year before. In Froyle this entailed (starting with Lent): 

- Ash Wednesday Holy Communion services in Froyle (in the morning) and Binsted (in the evening). The Froyle service was followed, as has been the case for many years, by the first of our soup-and-bread Lent lunches, held at the homes of different people in Froyle each week through Lent, with donations being made to a charity of the host’s choice. These lunches are cheery, chatty affairs, in no way limited to churchgoers. Well organised Jenny Gove. 

- The Maundy Thursday choral Holy Communion service as referred to above under ‘Music and Choir’. 

- On Easter Saturday our Easter garden-making and Easter egg hunt for children. Becky Boyes talked to the children about the meaning of prophesy – challenging stuff - followed by a happy frolic in the churchyard for younger children (while the grown-ups had coffee and croissants). 

- Our Easter Day Holy Communion service. 

The services across the benefice over Easter are designed to bring out and celebrate the symbolism of our religious and cultural heritage which is particularly striking over Easter. On Good Friday in Binsted church there was a three-hour Meditation on the Cross (people could come and go throughout the service). On Easter Saturday evening a contemplative Night Prayer (Compline) and Vigil was held in Bentley, with 11 Old Testament 

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readings by different readers. Easter Day began with the sunrise service, also in Bentley. 

And as in 2024, in another rather lovely symbolic act, the flame lit in Bentley for the sunrise service was brought back to Froyle unextinguished and used to light ceremoniously the Easter candle at the start of the Froyle Easter Day service . 

## _**Christmas 2025:**_ 

||2025|2024|2023|2022|2019|2018|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Advent by<br>Candlelight|153 adults +<br>3 children|197|132|109|123|155|
|Carol Service|144 adults +<br>12 children|168 + 20|105 + 20|119 + 20|153 + 15|87 + 15|
|Crib Service|25 adults +<br>15<br>children|35 + 23|40 + 15|N/A|55 + 25|45 + 70|
|Christmas Eve<br>Holy<br>Communion|80 adults|59|59|81|54|52|
|Christmas Day<br>Holy<br>Communion|68 adults + 7<br>children|72 + 20|48 + 12|46 + 8|108 + 15|66 + 2|



Christmas brings our other large cluster of services and celebratory events. The table above shows attendances at all our Christmas services in Froyle church, with comparisons from previous years (including 2022, when services were held at Christmas but not at Easter). 

While numbers overall were slightly down on 2024, they are still very respectable, and the numbers in Froyle church services alone don’t provide a full picture. 

In particular, as envisaged in last year’s Annual Report, in 2025 Froyle took on the running of the Real Nativity event from Binsted – held on the evening of 23 December. This event replaced the ‘flying carols’ which had been introduced in Froyle during Covid. The Real Nativity takes the form of a dramatic reenactment of the nativity story. It is staged mainly outdoors, culminating with carol singing in the church. Binsted have made it one of the most popular events in the benefice church calendar. It is a fantastic reflection on the goodwill Binsted have built up that so many people were prepared to turn out on a grey, chilly evening to stand in a field in Froyle and watch us seek to measure up to this well-earned reputation. We perhaps lacked the seasoned experience of the Binsted team, but a very cheery atmosphere was generated in the field and carried on as we all processed up to the gloriously flood-lit church. The church was absolutely packed – and not all those who attended the event chose to come on for the church part of it. The combination of the sound of a packed church 

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singing carols in full voice with the effect of the floodlighting on the interior of the church was quite thrilling. 

Our congratulations to Nigel Southern and his team. Particular thanks also to James Hudleston for allowing two or three hundred people to walk all over his field at a destructively wet time of year.  Nigel has nobly volunteered to lead the event again in 2026. This has been agreed with grateful thanks by us and by the Bentley and Binsted PCCs. 

Binsted held a conventional Carol Service instead of the Real Nativity; their Carol Service was well attended, despite concerns that, with Froyle also holding a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in our church in addition to the Real Nativity, the benefice would be ‘over-serviced’ at Christmas. Bentley also had a very successful Christmas. 

Although some of our formal services were not quite as well attended as in 2024, the benefice as a whole surely reached considerably more people overall in 2025 than we did in 2024. The lesson, applicable not just at Christmas, seems to be that as a group of churches we should put on as many church services and other events as we have the resources to manage effectively, rather than worrying too much about whether the demand is there. Not everything will succeed, but we need to extend our reach as far as we are able as part of our strategy for growth. 

_**Baptisms:**_ We had four baptisms in the church in 2025 – four more than in 2024, which is cheering! Lily Sellar (granddaughter of one of our churchwardens!) was baptised on 13 April (Palm Sunday); Isabel Farrow on 29 June; Otto Hatcher-Mills on 21 September (combined with our harvest festival – see below); and Sloane Drake on 19 October. 

_**Weddings**_ :  Four weddings were held in Froyle in 2025. On 31 May Harry Wigglesworth married Nicola Rayner. This was followed on 14 June by the marriage of Mark Freeman to Laura Ozelyte. On 12 July Megan Wimshurst married Kieran Beardsall, and on 26 July Jack Malden married Isabelle Atkinson.  All these couples had connections with Froyle and were very happy occasions for the village. 

_**Funerals and ‘in memoriam’:**_ The ashes of Colin Young were interred in Froyle cemetery on 2 May. A ‘thanksgiving funeral’ service was held for Sheena Cowling on 2 October. 

_**Froyle fete and Pet Service:**_ We had a church stall at the Froyle fete in 2026, manned with the kind help of Bentley church members; the fetes in the other villages in the benefice always have such a stall – this was the first time for Froyle. We’ll be doing this again at this year’s fete. We also had a good turn-out for the Pet Service held on the recreation ground the following day, 6 July. At the Pet Service funds were raised for (and a talk given by) Hounds for Heroes. Matt led the service, which was, as always, well organised by the Community Group. 

_**Harvest Supper and Festival:**_ Our Harvest Supper on 19 September in Froyle 

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Village Hall, also organised by the Community Group, was its usual joyful self, and well worth all the work that goes into it. Our Harvest Festival in church on the following Sunday, 21 September, was rather different from our usual service, since it was combined with the very popular baptism of Otto HatcherMills and with Messy Church. So the event attracted a range of different people interested in different aspects - altogether 80 adults and 30 children. The combined events started with breakfast (bacon baps, croissants and coffee) which enabled everyone to mingle and provided those who had travelled from afar to get some much-needed sustenance. The weather was kind and bright (if a little chilly). The previous day we had erected in the churchyard a sukkah – a tent-like construction covered in branches of greenery, flowers and cloth, a concept we had borrowed from Jewish harvest festival tradition.  Messy church activities were held in the sukkah. And of course, as always in Froyle at harvest festival, there were tractors on display in James Hudleston’s field across the road. After the service, armed with further refreshments, people wandered down the path from the church, admiring the Messy Church crafts in the sukkah, the tractors in the field and the view. All very relaxing and celebratory. 

_**Remembrance:**_ The Remembrance Service, preceded by the Act of Remembrance at the War Memorial, was as moving as ever. It was attended (as to the church service) by 43 people (72 in 2024, so fewer than in the past, for no identified reason). Our thanks to Jack Stephenson for organising the service, Christopher who led it and to those who contributed to the powerful Act of Remembrance: Mick Wells, Tristan Halse, Julie Southern, and particularly Aidan Wallis as our bugler/trumpeter. 

## **Other Events and Activities** 

_**Alpha Course:**_ The benefice ran an Alpha course in the first quarter of 2025, as well as a youth Alpha course. A further such course is being run in 2026. Those taking part speak of them with great enthusiasm. Talk to Matt, Christopher or Nigel Southern. 

_**Bell ringing:**_ Our bellringers continue to ring regularly and would love to hear from anyone interested in learning about this skilled but hugely satisfying activity. Bellringers do not need to be otherwise involved in the church or to attend the church services for which they ring – bellringing has always been an activity for the independent-minded! Anyone who would like to explore bellringing should contact Nigel Bulpitt. 

_**Bible study/home groups:**_ These discussion groups across the benefice (8 or 9 of them) are an important part of church life in the benefice. Anyone can join or start up such a group. They vary widely in format, composition, when and where they meet and in the approach they take to their discussions about faith (or lack of it). Those involved find them rewarding and fun – they are also very welcoming. Anyone who would like to know more should speak to Christopher Ogilvie Thompson, William Knowles, Ian Black or Nigel Hughes – or anyone else you know who is involved in such a group. 

_**Matt’s autumn lecture series:**_ Last November Matt gave a series of weekly 

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talks about Islam from a Christian’s perspective in the Bentley church hall. Those of us who attended learned a great deal. 

_**‘Matt’s chats’:**_ Matt has introduced a series of occasional Saturday morning breakfasts held in different pubs round the benefice, to which anyone is welcome. The intention is to give people who are not necessarily practising Christians but who like to explore the deeper aspects of human existence, the opportunity to engage in (or simply listen to) a discussion about our lives and values in today’s world and whether Christianity (and religion in general) has a role to play – for good or for ill – in the modern world. This takes place in a relaxed (but lively!) manner over coffee and croissants/bacon baps. Two of these sessions were held in 2025, and one in March this year. There will be more…. 

## _**Fundraising events:**_ 

|EVENT|NET 2025<br>£|NET 2024<br>£|
|---|---|---|
|Quattro concert|330|641|
|Car Boot Sale|1,079|901|
|Teas on Tuesday|448|463|
|Ride and Stride|535|468|
|Harvest supper|1,037|975|
|Christmas fair|2,625|2,579|
|Baroque concert|0|690|
||||
|TOTAL|6,054|6,717|



There is a good consistency in the amounts raised each year by our regular fundraising events – and the numbers for those events are generally moving in the right direction, which is comforting. In particular: 

- ➢ Well done Sarah Roberts and her team for having in recent years transformed what used to be the spring jumble sale and is now the _**Church car boot sale**_ , which in 2025 achieved its best results yet, in scale, atmosphere and takings. At the time of writing this Report, we look forward to the 2026 event on Saturday 25 April! 

- ➢ The _**Christmas Craft Fair**_ is a big organisational challenge, led by the tireless Fundraising Group and involving the skills and hard work of many others in the village. It is also by some way our biggest regular money-raising event, as well as being a very happy and uplifting occasion. The 2026 Fair is already in the diary for Saturday 21 November, leaving (as last year) the following week-end clear for the Advent by Candlelight service. 

- ➢ If you don’t regard cycling (or walking) as hard work and don’t mind 

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asking your friends and family to sponsor you, _**Ride and Stride**_ is a rather less stressful way of raising money.  It is an annual sponsored bicycle ride or walk, as you prefer, visiting local churches of your choice (there are about 400 to choose from). It is organised by the Hampshire and Islands Historic Churches Trust. You can be sponsored per mile or per church or as you wish. Funds raised are split 50/50 between the Trust and the participant’s own church. Even with only one or two participants (step forward Linda Bulpitt and Charlie Zorab….), it raises worthwhile amounts for us. The Trust has in the past also been a generous provider of grants to our various church projects. More participants in 2026 would be good…. 

- ➢ We tend to think of the _**Harvest Supper**_ as a very jolly celebration (see Section D, under ‘Special Services”), but it is also a useful fundraiser. 

- ➢ Our one-off events (concerts, talks) rely as fundraisers on those performing/talking giving relatively freely of their time. _**Quattro String Quartet**_ ’s 2025 concert was, as always, much enjoyed by all who came. The quartet’s members put a huge amount of thought and practice into the concerts they do for us, but they are professional musicians, and it is difficult for us to make it worthwhile for them while retaining some benefit for the church coffers. 

- ➢ No Annual Report would be complete without mention of our longstanding _**Teas on Tuesday**_ – cream teas every Tuesday afternoon in June in the church/churchyard. Come along… 

All these events help keep the church afloat and are a lot of fun. More ambitious fundraising will of course be required once we have fully defined what needs to be done in response to the issues and opportunities referred to in Section F (Fabric and Contents of the Church and Churchyard). 

## **E. Administrative, Pastoral and Other Support in the Benefice** 

_**Administrative support**_ :  Gemma Ball returned from maternity leave in March 2025, since when she and Lucinda Edwards have been sharing the administration of the benefice and the individual churches between them. They always seem to be cheery no matter how thankless and challenging are the demands that we put on them. They report to Steve Fice as the benefice’s (unpaid) Operations Manager, and through him to Matt. 

_**Anna Chaplaincy:**_ Rev Fran Harrison serves for two days a week as our Anna Chaplain. Anna Chaplaincy is a ministry that supports older people emotionally and spiritually, whether they live in faith or not. She is helped in Froyle by our Anna Friend, Sarah Roberts. Fran’s time is focused on training, supporting and growing the Anna Friends team as well as meeting with people at our local community events, running church services in the two nursing homes in Bentley and visiting the elderly in their homes to give communion and prayers. 

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_**Other pastoral work:**_ It has always been an essential part of our mission in all our churches in the benefice that we sustain our older population and make sure they feel supported in all matters spiritual, whether they live in faith or not. Our investment in our own Anna Chaplain is supported by a very dedicated group of volunteers who form the small team of Anna Friends to help share the load of the Anna Chaplain. We are looking to build that team. If anyone is interested in being part of it – it is hugely rewarding work – do get in touch. Sarah Roberts would love some support in Froyle! We also have a wider Pastoral Care Group which organises (1) a pancake lunch on Shrove Tuesday in the Wickham Institute in Binsted, (2) a summer tea party in the Ogilvie Thompsons’ lovely garden, and (3) an Advent lunch, held last year in the Froyle Village Hall for the first time. All three of these events are always very jolly, attended by the elderly and the not so elderly, increasingly well attended by people from Froyle and open to any of us to join in or help with. At the time of writing, we have recently held the first of these events in 2026, namely the pancake lunch, which was probably the most successful (certainly the best attended) of these lunches over the years. These events also enable us to reach out more to people in Kingsley and Oakhanger. 

So please, if anyone knows of any older people (or anyone else) in Froyle or in our wider community who would appreciate a phone call or a visit, do get in touch with Sarah Roberts. 

_**Children:**_ For younger children, both Bentley and Binsted run Children’s Church on Sundays, led in Bentley by Angela Clarke and in Binsted by Becky Boyes, alongside the regular Sunday morning communion services. There is less room to run children’s and adults’ services in tandem in Froyle, but Messy Church, as mentioned above, is held in alternate months in Binsted and Froyle. For nurturing primary school aged children, the relationship with the two CofE primary schools at Bentley and Binsted is key. Matt leads school assemblies at both schools during term time and is Vice-Chairman of the board of Governors at Binsted. Paula Knowles also leads assemblies. Christopher continues to be a Governor of Bentley school, as is Susan Bourne. For children who have outgrown Messy Church-type activities, Four:Twelve is a children’s church group which meets on Friday evenings 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at Bentley Primary School Sports Hall. It is run by Pippa Blizzard and a team of helpers. Recently there have been as many as 20 children attending this group. 

Services and one-off events for families with young children are always fun and developing them is key to our ambitions going forward. It is also both lovely and extremely fortunate that we have a Vicar with young children who can act as something of a catalyst. 

_**Youth work:**_ The benefice’s youth group, UpAGear, for school years 7+ is small but flourishing under the leadership of Pippa Blizzard. It provides opportunities to build friendships and explore the Christian faith and values - with significant snacks! It takes place on Thursday evenings during term time, 6 pm to 7:30 pm in Bentley Church Hall. This group has been studying the Ten Commandments and their wider implications for our lives. 

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_**Growing Rural Parishes Programme (GRPP):**_ Winchester Diocese runs a programme whereby national Church funding is made available to selected rural church communities in the Diocese to help them promote growth. The intention is that each such selected community will use the funds in a way that is particular to the needs and aspirations of that community rather than in the promotion of uniformity. Our benefice had been selected, in conjunction with Northanger benefice, as such a community. It comes at an excellent time for us as we look to develop the resources appropriate for the larger church community which we will become. The intention is to apply the allocated funds partly towards a new website and partly towards a Children and Families Worker. Matt is concerned to ensure, before we apply these funds, that the resources introduced through this funding are sustainable in the longer term. 

_**Binsted Vicarage School & Community Garden Project:**_ Planning and early design work started last year on an initiative to bring together the benefice, Binsted school and the wider community in the creation of a working garden out of a large area of unused land within the vicarage grounds. The aim is that this will serve both educational and community purposes. Local school children will have the opportunity to learn how food is grown, understand seasonality, and develop a hands-on appreciation of the natural environment. Alongside this, the garden will be open to members of the benefice who wish to participate in its upkeep, share knowledge, and enjoy the social benefits of working together outdoors. Over time, it is hoped that the space will become both productive and restorative - a place of learning, contribution, and quiet connection. Anyone wanting to know more about this imaginative initiative should talk to Nigel Southern. 

## **F. Fabric and Contents of the Church and Churchyard** 

_**Fabric:**_ Our next Quinquennial Inspection of the fabric of the church is due in 2026.  A Quinquennial Inspection (QI) is a mandatory five-yearly survey which virtually all Church of England church buildings must undergo, conducted by a qualified architect or chartered surveyor (we will ask Fiona Hudd at Radley House Partnership to do this for us). It identifies structural, repair and maintenance issues to be addressed in the following five years, and (very helpfully) the priority in which the issues should be addressed. Clearly much has changed (for the better) in the condition of the fabric of our church since our last QI, but of course there are always issues to be addressed. The movement of the tower against the nave is an issue which we need to keep under surveillance. The effect of the neighbouring trees has now come into sharp focus in the context of the wall (see ‘Churchyard and cemetery’ below); the research on that might also have something to teach us about the movement of the tower. We also need to pay attention to the structure of the sacristy, which is in need of repair. This is particularly important in that it houses our vestments, which require a reasonably wellregulated level of humidity, and records. 

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_**Churchyard and cemetery:**_ The PCC’s most pressing issue at the date of this Report is the state of the boundary wall between the churchyard and Froyle Park, which continued to deteriorate in 2025 – especially the section closest to the road which links into the entrance to Froyle Park. Discussions with Froyle Park about this gathered momentum (from a slow start) as 2025 progressed. At the end of 2025 East Hants District Council Building Control department issued a notice to Froyle Park (not to the church) under section 77 of the Building Act 1984 identifying the north end of the wall as a dangerous structure. The Froyle Park owners requested our help in cordoning off the footpath which runs past the north end of the wall on both Froyle Park and Church land; this has been done.  The wall acts as a retaining wall and is adversely affected by the trees behind it. The EHDC Arboriculture Officer has now identified two trees affecting the wall and which need to be taken down – there may be others. It is for Froyle Park to take these trees down, but clearly any kind of comprehensive solution to the stability of the wall (and possibly the tower) will require good co-operation between the Church and the owners of Froyle Park. This is recognised by both parties but is yet to be tested. We are currently considering (and have shared with Froyle Park) three professional reports which we commissioned in 2025, one a topographical survey, the second an arboriculturist’s report and the third a structural survey of the wall. The first two of these were initially commissioned by us as a precursor to Project Orpheus (see below) but shed useful light on the issues with the wall as well. 

In November, part of the bottom half of the main path from the road by the yew tree to the church was re-surfaced, with the steps smoothed out to create a continuous slope for less hazardous walking and easier wheelchair access. This was combined with the installation of some ground-level solar lighting. A more permanent solution will be considered as part of Project Orpheus. 

Gareth Wells continues to maintain for the PCC both the churchyard and the cemetery – we are most grateful to him and to Charlie Zorab for overseeing the upkeep and functioning of both plots. 

_**Further Church Building Modernisation – “Project Orpheus”:**_ Project Orpheus is the name given to the next stage of our church modernisation programme (following on from the creation of the kitchen, the renovation of the lighting and interior and the upgrading of the chairs). This stage is multi-faceted, but is centred on replacing our existing oil-fired boiler with a more efficient heat source – thought during our initial discussions to be gas, although this will need to be reconsidered in the light of the Church of England’s net-zero target and technological advances in the effectiveness of other heat sources such as air source heat pumps. Project Orpheus has recently ceded priority for the PCC to the issue with the boundary wall, but Radley House Partnership are continuing to help us refine our options on Project Orpheus. 

_**Contents:**_ We upgraded the sound system in 2025. Further upgrade is needed to the speakers in the nave. We did not otherwise acquire or dispose of any church contents in 2025. 

13 



23 April 2026 

_**Vestments:**_ The vestments group continued to change altar frontals and the cabinets to reflect the seasons of the Church year. 

In April we had a visit from Guildford U3A “Pubs and Churches” group. We offered refreshments, short talks on the hatchments, church history and vestments and an exhibition of the historic vestments. 

In May our textile conservator Rebecca Bissonet ACR returned the gold and garnet chasuble, its conservation funded by the Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust. This was then worn at the Christmas eucharists. 

On the weekend of 7-8 June, the annual Exhibition of vestments drew 175 visitors, mainly on the dry Sunday. Happily, Rebecca Bissonet was on hand to talk about conservation and demonstrate stitches she uses. Donations amounted to £450. 

Earlier in the year, Jan Elliott was able to repair David Perryman’s original stoles to a condition where he can continue to use them! 

For Remembrance Sunday, the Spitfire crocheted by the Meeting Place group was displayed under the gallery to good effect, combined with WW2 displays in the cabinets. 

The 2026 Exhibition of vestments will be held on 6-7 June from 1-6 pm. 

The PCC is most grateful to the vestments group for their dedication. 

## **G. Finance** 

The 2025 financial statements for the PCC are attached to this Report as the final Section (Section K), along with the Independent Examiner’s report thereon. The PCC is hugely grateful to Nigel Bulpitt, our Treasurer, and also to Phil Elliott for again acting as Independent Examiner. 

We ended the year in a strong financial position in our General Fund, having made good progress during the year. Our General Fund reserves at the end of the year amounted to £48,935 and we enjoyed income in excess of expenditure by £9,688. 

Our major Restricted Fund – the Fabric Fund – ended the year at £6,939 after significant expenditure of £13,458, primarily related to work on the wall and initial planning for Project Orpheus. 

Expenditure from the Vestments Fund was nearly balanced by income from donations arising from the very successful annual open weekend. The Fund ended the year at £9,530. 

14 



23 April 2026 

The final outcome for the year was very satisfactory with PCC funds totalling £67,907, split between the General Fund (£48,935) and Restricted Funds (£18,972). The key issue for the PCC is to identify, during 2026, the possible options for Project Orpheus and the related costs. In addition we must consider the repairs necessary to the wall and any possible liability accruing to the church and the work identified through the Quinquennial. 

The PCC will then need to decide on an appropriate transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Fabric Fund and the need for any separate fundraising. 

We are blessed with funds available in the General Fund thanks to the generosity of those who donate on a regular basis (especially by bank standing order) and from collections at services. We are very grateful and once again a big “thank you” to all of you from our Treasurer. 

## **H. Thank You!** 

The more we work with the other churches in the benefice, the more we appreciate that all these churches depend on the wonderful, multi-talented band of volunteers to be found across the benefice. The friendships and sense of belonging and giving back which prompt and which are in turn reinforced by volunteering are at the heart of our church community and are a joy to be part of. 

So our warmest thanks, as always, to everyone who enables Froyle church to thrive. 

In addition to those already mentioned (and in no particular order), our thanks go to all those who sit on the various groups listed in Section J (Structure, Governance and Management), to those who lead our services, to readers in church, leaders of intercessions, sides people, ‘setters up’, bell ringers, to Linda Bulpitt for ensuring the church never runs out of supplies of communion wine and wafers and other essentials in the church and for administering the Gift Aid, to those who help serve the communion wine, clock winder(s), Gill Bradley and the flower arrangers, Madeleine Black and the vestments team, Caroline Findlay and those on the cleaning rota, members of the choir and our wonderful organists. Thank you also to those who throw themselves into organising our special services and events. 

We are particularly grateful to Simon Marshall and (since the last APCM) to Jack Stephenson for filling the vital, demanding but in many ways very rewarding role of being our churchwardens. It is so wonderful to have two churchwardens again! 

Last, but by no means least, our thanks go to our ministers - Matt, Christopher and David - for all they do for us. 

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23 April 2026 

## **I. Administrative Information** 

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is situated in Upper Froyle, near Alton, Hampshire. It is part of the benefice of Bentley, Binsted and Froyle in the Diocese of Winchester within the Church of England. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a body corporate (PCC (Powers) Measure 1956) whose activities are regulated by the Church Representation Rules.  It is registered with the Charity Commission, charity number 1209037. Its contact details are given as the benefice administration office, namely St Mary’s Church, Church Lane, Bentley, Farnham GU10 5NA, email: admin@benbinfro.org, tel: 01420 23339. 

## **J. Structure, Governance and Management** 

The method of appointment of members of the PCC is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All those who attend the church are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.  Membership of the PCC comprises the Vicar, Associate Priest, Churchwardens, Deanery Synod representatives (all _ex officio_ ) and members of the congregation elected by those on the Church Electoral Roll.  The PCC met six times formally in 2025. The Vicar chairs the PCC. 

PCC members who have served from 1 January 2025 until the date of this report are: 

|eport are:|||
|---|---|---|
|_Incumbent:_|The Revd Matthew Boyes||
||_(Chairman)_||
|_Assistant Priest:_|The Revd Christopher Ogilvie Thompson||
|_Churchwardens_|Simon Marshall and (_since 9 April 2025_) Jack||
||Stephenson||
|_Deanery Synod_|William Knowles and Nigel Hughes||
|_Reps_|||
|_Elected members:_|Nigel Bulpitt_(Treasurer_|Vanessa Remington|
||_and vice chairman)_|(_Secretary)_|
|||Jane Macnabb|
|||Charlie Zorab|
||Nigel Southern|Sarah Roberts|
||Ian Black|Jack Stephenson (_until 9_|
|||_April 2025_)|
|_Electoral Roll_||Sarah Roberts|
|_Officer_|||



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23 April 2026 

_Safeguarding Officer_ 

Sarah Roberts ( _until 31 December 2025_ ) and Simon Marshall ( _from 1 January 2026_ ) 

Each of the three parishes in the benefice has its own PCC (Kingsley and Oakhanger, who are not yet formally part of the benefice, have a single PCC which meets infrequently). 

Joint meetings of the members of all the PCCs in the benefice are generally held twice a year, to discuss matters relevant to the benefice as a whole. The ‘shadow’ joint PCC referred to in Section A (Introduction) now looks at many of the matters affecting more than one of the churches (as the Rectors Council used to do) as well as issues which need to be addressed as part of the amalgamation of the churches into one parish. This may result in joint PCC meetings being held less frequently. 

The Froyle PCC and churchwardens are supported in their governance function by a number of Groups, established with varying degrees of formality, but all answerable to the PCC; in particular: 

- ➢ Warden Assistance Group: This Group was established in 2022 to help Simon Marshall in his role as churchwarden – and now to support Jack Stevenson as well; to act in effect as deputy churchwardens. The members of the Group are Simon (chair), Jack Stephenson, William Knowles, Vanessa Remington, Nigel Southern and Charlie Zorab. 

- ➢ Fabric Group: this Group is chaired by Nigel Southern. Its other members are Ian Deans, James Macrae and Charlie Zorab (and Simon Marshall _ex officio_ ). The Group is tasked with taking a consistent and long-term view of the on-going repair and maintenance requirements of the church building. 

- ➢ Fundraising Group: this Group organises events aimed at general fundraising and at greater use of the church building. Its role extends also to looking at how best to fund major capital projects, both for the repair and for the modernisation of the church building facilities. Its members are: Nigel Bulpitt, Linda Bulpitt, Jan Elliott, Caroline Findlay, William Knowles, Jane Macnabb, Karen Potter and Julie Southern. 

- ➢ Community Group **:** this is the most long-standing of our church groups. It was formed a number of years ago to act as a dynamic liaison between the Church in Froyle and the village community.  It organises, for example, the Pet service and the harvest supper on an annual basis. On a more occasional basis, it has in the past organised Songs of Praise services and more generally lends much appreciated support to activities where Church meets community. Its members are:  Gill Bradley, Karen Potter, Sarah Thursfield, Jenny Gove, Jo Mills and Eddie Packett. 

Finally, as reported last year, Matt Boyes and Charlie Zorab are elected members of the Winchester Diocesan Synod - the House of Clergy and the 

17 



23 April 2026 

House of Laity (non-clerical members) respectively. These two ‘Houses’, together with the diocesan bishops, make up the Synod. The Synod is the primary governing body of the Diocese, so this is an important challenge they have taken on. 

## **K. Financial Statements** 

The financial statements for 2025 and Independent Examiner’s report are set out below. 

**Parochial Church Council Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Froyle 23 April 2026** 

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23 April 2026 

## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY’S CHURCH, FROYLE** 

## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2025** 

STATEMENT OF PARISH FUNDS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 

The table below summarises the financial outcome for the year 2025. Further details for each fund are given on the following pages. 

|£<br>Unrestricted Funds<br>General<br>Restricted Funds<br>Fabric<br>Vestments<br>Tower<br>Memorial<br>Flowers<br>Total Restricted<br>Funds<br>Total Church Funds|31/12/24<br>Income Expenditure<br>Net<br>Movement<br>31/12/25<br>39,247<br>19,567<br>62,655<br>830<br>52,967<br>13,458<br>9,688<br>(12,628)<br>48,935<br>6,939<br>9,778<br>1,062<br>1,310<br>(248)<br>9,530<br>465<br>1,767<br>195<br>76<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>76<br>0<br>0<br>541<br>1,767<br>195|
|---|---|
||31,772<br>1,968<br>14,768<br>(12,800)<br>18,972<br>71,019<br>64,623<br>67,735<br>(3,112)<br>67,907|



19 



23 April 2026 

## **GENERAL FUND** 

The year ended with income exceeding expenditure by £9,688 (2024: £12,394) 

## INCOME 

|GENERAL FUND|||
|---|---|---|
||2025|2024|
|INCOME|£|£|
|Planned giving and Gift Aid envelopes|29,952|27,885|
|Collections (not Gift Aid), Church Boxes|5,203|5,996|
|All other giving|2,922|2,221|
|Gift Aid recovered|8,818|7,820|
|Total voluntary receipts|46,895|43,922|
|Fundraising|7,527|8,081|
|Fees Paid to the PCC|2,495|1,695|
|Dividends and Interest|2,470|1,877|
|Trust Income (note 2)|3,093|2,971|
|All other receipts|175|519|
|Total Income|62,655|59,065|



Donations including Gift Aid recovered (Total voluntary receipts) were up by nearly 7%. Planned giving was up 6.6% and accounted for 64% of recurring giving (excluding Gift Aid recovered). 

Income from fundraising activities was lower than 2024 by £553 but it was, nevertheless, another good year with net income (after any associated expenditure) from a car boot sale (£1,079), Teas on Tuesdays (£447), Harvest Supper (£1,037), Quattro concert (£330), Ride & Stride (£535) and the Christmas Fair (£2,625). All were up on the previous year except for the Quattro concert. 2024 also benefitted from a Baroque concert that raised £690. 

Dividends, interest and Trust Income increased by £715 thanks to an increase in surplus funds available for deposit and improved Legal & General dividends. 

20 



23 April 2026 

## EXPENDITURE 

|GENERAL FUND|||
|---|---|---|
||2025|2024|
|EXPENDITURE|£|£|
|Benefice/vicar’s expenses|9,385|7,280|
|Parish Share|27,855|26,360|
|Cost of Ministry|37,240|33,640|
|Cost of fundraising|1,473|1,319|
|Utilities|5,609|3,871|
|Insurance|2,425|2,342|
|Routine repairs/maintenance|2,145|749|
|Churchyard|1,560|1,930|
|Other Ordinary Expenditure|501|240|
|Total Church Running Costs|12,240|9,132|
|Honoraria for organists|50|120|
|Upkeep of Services|564|685|
|Total church expenses|51,567|44,896|
|Contributions to Charities|1400|1775|
|Total Expenditure|52,967|46,671|



Expenditure from the General Fund was significantly up compared with 2024. 

Benefice expenses were up 30% compared with the previous year and Parish share was up by nearly 6%. 

‘Utilities’, which includes the costs of electricity and heating oil, increased by 45% due to higher prices but also confusion following the installation of a Smart Meter and subsequent under-billing in 2024. 

The cost of Routine repairs and maintenance were up £1,396. The clock was, as usual, serviced during the year but, in addition, money was spent on the lighting, gutter cleaning, the sound system and organ tuning. 

Costs of maintaining the churchyard were down (£370) to the minimum required for grass cutting. 

Other Ordinary Expenditure consists primarily of bank and SumUp charges and the costs of the Real Nativity. 

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23 April 2026 

Honoraria for organists were again very low thanks to our organists generously forgoing fees again in 2025. 

Donations to charities were made to Royal British Legion (£500); Naomi House (£850); Winchester Cathedral (£25); and Hampshire and The Islands Trust (£25). 

## **RESTRICTED FUNDS** 

Restricted funds represent donations received for a specific purpose or invited by the PCC for a specific purpose. The funds may only be expended on the specific purpose for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. The PCC does not invest separately for each fund except in the case of the Tower Fund. Interest received on money lodged with CCLA is allocated to the General Fund. 

|FABRIC<br>FUND|31/12/24|Income|Expenditure|Net<br>Movement|31/12/25|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||19,567|830|(13,458)|(12,628)|6,939|



The sources of funds for the Fabric Fund included donations to the fund and the surplus arising from the sale of the old chairs. The uses to which these funds are put include structural and cosmetic repairs to the building itself and its surroundings but also necessary internal repairs and improvements to the services and facilities within the building as recommended by our architect, usually in the Quinquennial Report. 

The PCC reviewed the position by reference to the 2021 Quinquennial report and other planned work and decided that no further allocation of money to the fund was appropriate until further information was obtained on plans to upgrade the heating along with associated works. 

Expenditure in 2025 related to work in connection with the investigation of the deterioration of the wall between the church and Froyle Park and initial planning for the modernisation of the heating and improved accessibility. Major repairs were also required to the clock. 

|VESTMENTS|31/12/24|Income|Expenditure|Net<br>Movement|31/12/25|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||9,778|1,062|(1,310)|(248)|9,530|



A donation of £500 was received and further donations were received during the Exhibition. There was repair of one vestment during the year. 

22 



23 April 2026 

|TOWER<br>FUND|31/12/24|Income|Expenditure|Net<br>Movement|31/12/25|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||465|76|0|76|541|



Donations were received during the year but there was no expenditure from this fund in 2025. 

|MEMORIAL|31/12/24|Income|Expenditure|Net<br>Movement|31/12/25|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||1,767|0|0|0|1,767|



These are funds left over from the Clive Barter Memorial fund. Although the fund is “restricted” it can be used for any project that Clive would have approved of and which would be appropriate. 

|FLOWERS|31/12/24|Income|Expenditure|Net<br>Movement|31/12/25|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||195|0|0|0|195|



This fund is available for purchase of flowers for the decoration of the church. 

23 



23 April 2026 

## STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 

|Notes<br>Current Assets<br>Deposit with CCLA<br>Cash at Bank<br>3<br>Cash<br>Total Cash and<br>Deposits<br>Liabilities and non-cash assets<br>Creditors<br>4<br>Debtors<br>4<br>Net Current Assets|2025<br>2024<br>£<br>£|
|---|---|
||60,027<br>60,027<br>11,189<br>13,951<br>89<br>89|
||71,305<br>74,067<br>3,452<br>3,175<br>54<br>127<br>67,907<br>71,019|



## NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

## 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis except that certain expenditures are accounted for as accruals when (i) they are material, (ii) relate to the year in question and (iii) properly should be recognized as expenditure in that year. 

## 2 TRUST INCOME 

Many years ago, a donation was made to the PCC in the form of a trust. These funds have for some time been invested in 14,400 ordinary shares in Legal & General. Dividends on these shares are shown separately as Trust Income in the General Fund. The value of the shares (£37,714) as at 31 December 2025 is not shown in the Balance Sheet in order to avoid the need to account each year for movement in the capital value of these shares. 

## 3 BANK ACCOUNTS 

Accounts held with NatWest Bank, Alton. 

## 4 LIABILITIES AND NON-CASH ASSETS 

Creditors shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities primarily represents Froyle’s share of Benefice costs for December, charity donations and fees due to the Diocese. Debtors represent VAT recoverable. 

24 



23 April 2026 

## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of St Mary’s Church, Upper Froyle, Parochial Church Council** 

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 19 to 24. 

## Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner 

The church’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to 

- Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; 

- Follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and 

- State whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s report** 

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. 

An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. 

## Independent examiner’s statement 

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 

1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements 

   - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and 

   - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or 

2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

Phil Elliott Philip Elliott ACMA, CGMA, 3 February 2026 Pastures Well Lane 

Lower Froyle 

25