## **Friends of Sherborne Abbey** _Inaugurated 1930 Charity No 208584_ ## **TRUSTEES’ REPORT** **and** ## **ACCOUNTS** for the year ended 31 December 2020 ## _and_ ## **AGENDA** for AGM on Wednesday 21 July 2021 _Photographs: Josie Sturgess Mills Photography_ 2 ## **FRIENDS OF SHERBORNE ABBEY 2020 Registered Charity 208584** ## _**Presidents**_ The Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam MA ## _**Patrons**_ The Right Reverend Timothy Thornton MA The Very Reverend Robert Willis DL BA ## **THE COUNCIL** _Acting Chairman:_ Mr Bernard Brown, FCA _The Churchwardens of Representative of Sherborne School the Abbey (ex officio)_ Dr Chris Hamon Mr David Ferguson Mr Jonathan Rodd _Honorary Treasurer_ Mr Bernard Brown, FCA _Representative of Sherborne Girls_ Mrs Jennifer Nelson _Honorary Publications Secretary Honorary Membership Secretary_ Mr Philip Prout Mr Tony Sparshott The Parish Office, 3 Abbey Close, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LQ _Clerk to the Council_ Mrs Linda Woods The Parish Office 3 Abbey Close Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LQ _Chairman of the PCC Fabric Committee_ Mr Michael Keatinge ( _ex officio_ ) ## **ELECTED MEMBERS** Mrs Jacqueline Baker Miss Anne Brunker Mr John Bunnell Mrs Frances Gomme-Duncan Miss Margaret Lovett 3 ## **FRIENDS OF SHERBORNE ABBEY** ## **ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING** The 90[th] and 91[st] Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Sherborne Abbey will be held in the Digby Memorial Church Hall on Wednesday, 21 July 2021 (the 90[th] AGM having been postponed from Monday 18 May 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions) ## **AGENDA** 1. Opening remarks and prayers 2. Apologies 3. Minutes of the 89[th] Annual General Meeting, as in this Report 4. Matters arising 5. To receive the reports as follows: - a) The Chairman’s Message - b) The Clerk’s Report - c) Churchwardens’ and Fabric Report - d) Membership Secretary’s Report - e) Publications Secretary’s Report 6. To receive the Treasurer’s Report and Independently Examined Accounts for the years ended 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2020 7. Elections: - a) Officers of the Council - b) Election to the Council: The Parish Office should be notified in advance of the meeting of any proposals for new Council members. - c) Reappointment of Lanham & Francis as Independent Examiner 8. Other business will be at the Chairman’s discretion unless previously raised through the Parish Office. 4 ## **THE CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE** ## **Report from Acting Chairman and Treasurer** The purpose of this report is to update you on the 2020 annual accounts and events over the year. This year saw the departure of our Rector and Friend’s Chairman at the end of June to a well-earned retirement. We would like to record our thanks and gratitude for all that Eric has contributed to the Abbey over his long tenure. He has steered the Abbey through a number of major projects and leaves the Abbey in good shape with the fine west window and the Millennium lasting legacies. Additionally, there has been repair to vaulting, the arrival of the Nave organ and new lighting in addition to numerous other projects. We wish him and Sandra a long and happy retirement. 2020 saw very little activity, both in terms of work on the Abbey and in activities. This is no surprise as the country spent most of it locked down or very restricted due to the Covid pandemic. As this is being written we are gradually emerging back to what, hopefully will be a more normal 2021. ## **2020 Annual Accounts** The 2020 accounts are being circulated with this report. In summary, they show a surplus for 2020 of £117,243 and net assets at 31 December 2020 of £1,339,549. The most significant element of income is, once again, legacy income amounting to £68,000. Investment income is double over that of 2019, despite the financial markets having significant volatility due to the Covid pandemic. Conversely publications are significantly lower as a result of the Abbey being largely closed for most of the year. Apart from the 100% funding of the Abbey’s cost of insurance (£24,182) there has been only minor expenditure during a year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns. ## **Funding Support for Sherborne Abbey** Whilst expenditure in 2020 was minimal, 2021 has started with some costly items. Earlier this year a major leakage of water from the Abbey’s heating system was detected. Further work on the Abbey heating is expected in 2021/2022 which, hopefully, the Friends will be able to underwrite. More about this in the 2022 report. As things start to get back to normal, hopefully we will be able to put together a programme of activities for the later end of 2021 and into 2022. As with all things, recruitment of new members to the Friends over the last year has been impacted and 5 for us to remain an effective organisation we need to maintain our membership. Please encourage those you know to join us in our efforts to maintain this gem of a building. The Abbey continues to be very grateful for all of the support that the Friends give, without whom the building would be in a much poorer state. ## _**Bernard Brown, Acting Chairman & Treasurer**_ _Photograph: Josie Sturgess Mills Photography_ 6 ## **THE CLERK’S REPORT** The Council of the Friends of Sherborne Abbey last met on 10 February 2020. The Council was kept up to date by the Acting Chairman, during the course of the year, on works within the Abbey. However, the 90[th] Annual General Meeting due to be held on Monday 18 May 2020 had to be postponed due to the COVID pandemic with associated restrictions/lockdowns. Due to COVID-19, the Friends have been unable to hold any events this year. New members are always welcome and application forms to join the Friends are available from the back of the Abbey, the Parish Office and via the Abbey’s website www.sherborneabbey.com It is suggested that the minimum subscription be £30 per annum. The Friends continue to support the Abbey by financing the Quinquennial works, cleaning and general maintenance. They also make an annual contribution towards the insurance costs of the Abbey. The next Annual General Meeting will be on Wednesday 21 July 2021 in the Digby Memorial Church Hall at 6.00 pm. All are most welcome to attend. _Sherborne Abbey Parish Office_ The Association of Friends of Sherborne Abbey was founded at a meeting held on 24 May 1930, when it was resolved that: **The purpose of the Friends of Sherborne Abbey be to bind together all those who love Sherborne Abbey in their desire to take part in preserving it for posterity.** 7 ## **CHURCHWARDENS’ AND FABRIC REPORT** 2020 was a quiet year, with the Abbey closed for many months under Covid restrictions. However, the verger team have used the opportunities of an empty building to undertake a vast amount of deep cleaning and minor repairs, with a particular focus on higher levels which are more easily accessible with no people around. Early in the year, we addressed a problem of masonry decay on the inside of the south nave clerestory. Access was complicated by the triforium shelf being too wide to reach across from a tower scaffold, but not wide enough to be a working platform. However, it was possible to ensure that all loose material was removed and that there was no fundamental problem. We were also able to examine a complicated detail at the bottom of the windows, and further work was done to prevent water penetration at the junction of clerestory wall and aisle roof. We also replaced or secured a number of loose nosings on the stair to the tower. Improvement of safety provisions at high level remains unresolved. Additional anchorages for harnesses are fairly straightforward, but the challenge of safe access to the north nave aisle roof still eludes us. We again did a round of light bulb replacements in November but have made no progress with plans for replacing the energy-intensive bulbs with LEDs. With recent news that production of halogen bulbs is to cease, this becomes a priority. The early part of 2021 saw a serious leak in the heating pipework. This led to a decision that we should replace our very old boiler, and subsequently to a fundamental review of the heating scheme. This is the major task for 2021 and into 2022. Mike Keatinge (June 2021) Sherborne Abbey’s privacy statement can be found on the website ## **www.sherborneabbey.com** or a hard copy may be obtained from the Parish Office. 8 ## **TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** A summary of the accounts is set out on pages 10 and 11. The full set of the independently examined accounts, which comply with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2015), will be available at the Annual General Meeting on 21 July 2021 or may be obtained from the Parish Office before the meeting. My joint Acting Chair and Treasurer Report on pages 5 and 6 refers. There has been no further information about the Joan Blake legacy so this has not been included in the 2020 accounts. The Council of the Friends have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed (both financial and non-financial risks) and the trustees confirm that the major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate those risks. _Bernard Brown, Honorary Treasurer_ ## **BANKERS** CAF Bank Limited 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ NatWest Bank Plc Lloyds Bank Plc 2 Hendford 75 Cheap Street Yeovil Sherborne Somerset Dorset BA20 1TN DT9 3BD 9 ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED** ## **31 DECEMBER 2020** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** ||**2020**|**2019**| |---|---|---| ||**£**|**£**| |**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**||| |**Donatons and legacies**||| |Subscriptons & donatons|13,443|14,745| |Legacies|68,000|661,000| |Income tax refunds|2,445|2,729| |**Other trading actvites**||| |Sale of publicatons|2,245|11,243| |**Investment income**|22,341|11,507| ||_______|______| |**TOTAL**|£108,474|701,224| ||_______|_______| |**EXPENDITURE**||| |**Charitable actvites**||| |Sherborne Abbey|32,404|57,529| ||______|___ _| |**Raising funds**||| |Administraton costs|5,301|7,042| ||_______|_____| |**TOTAL**|37,705|64,571| ||_______|______| |**NET INCOME**|70,769|636,653| |**OTHER RECOGNISED GAINS**||| |Unrealised gains on investment assets|46,474|44,939| ||_______|______| |**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**|117,243|681,592| |**BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD**||| |**AS AT 1 JANUARY 2020**|1,222,306|540,714| ||_______|_______| |**BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD**|£1,339,549 £1,222,306|| |**AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020**||| ||_______|_______| 10 FRIENDS OF SHERBORNE ABBEV BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2020 Note 2020 2019 INVESTMENTS 773,120 726,646 CURRENT ASSETS Stock Debtors COIF Deposit Ballk accounts 18,092 95,355 35,025 419,287 19,724 400,350 35,(N)2 42,329 567,759 497,405 LESS: CURRENT LIABILITIES Creditor5- sundry awruals ,330 1,745 Net CurreDt As5et5 566,429 495,660 Total Assets £1,339,549 £1,222,306 Repmellted by: Unr¢strict¢d Funds General fi￿d 1.339.549 1.222.306 £1.339.549 £1,222.306 Approv¢d by the Council on 6 July 2021 and signed on ils behalf by.. Mr David Fer Dr Chris Haluon li ## **ABSTRACTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020** These abstracts may not contain sufficient information to allow for a full understanding of the financial affairs of the charity. For further information, the full accounts should be consulted. Copies of these can be obtained from The Parish Office, 3 Abbey Close, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3LQ. The full accounts will be adopted at the charity's Annual General Meeting and submitted to The Charity Commission thereafter. ## **LANHAM & FRANCIS** Chartered Accountants, 77A Cheap Street, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 3BA ## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES** Law applicable to charities 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 financial statements giving a true and fair view, the trustees should follow best practice and: - (a) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; (b) make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; (c) state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; - (d) prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity, and which enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable law. They are also responsible for safekeeping the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and irregularities. 12 ## **MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY’S REPORT** With the Abbey being closed for much of the year because of coronavirus restrictions, new members were reduced to only three in 2020. During the course of this year, we lost 23 members through death and 13 others as a result of resignations and non-payment of subscriptions, bringing our total numbers on the register at the end of the year to 341. We have to record, with sadness and gratitude for their support, the passing of the following Friends: Mrs AM Armitstead Mrs HB Randall Mrs JH Blake Mrs DT Silk Mrs MB Bray Mr BT Stawt Mr MP Crehan Mr R Thorley Dr BA East The Revd DC Vincent Dr M Gent Mr PH Walker Mrs K Griffith-Jones Mrs AM Walker Mrs S Hitchens Mrs MES Whittingdale Rt Revd J Kirkham (President) Mr SF Wilkinson Miss JMT Knight Mr NJR Willder Mrs HJT McDermid Mrs RM Wilson The Revd EM Pinsent _Mr Tony Sparshott, Membership Secretary_ ## **PUBLICATIONS SECRETARY’S REPORT** It has been a frustrating year for the sale of Friends Publications with the Abbey being closed for long periods. Things are now picking up with more visitors as the Abbey is now open daily and sales are on the up. Christmas Cards – We have six kinds available at present and I would like to await the arrival of our new Rector to discuss a possible new card for 2022 rather than rush another design through. _Philip Prout, Honorary Publications Secretary_ 13 ## **THE ASSOCIATION OF THE FRIENDS OF SHERBORNE ABBEY (THE 90[TH] ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING DUE TO TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY, 18 MAY 2020 WAS POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19; SO THEREFORE THERE ARE NOT ANY MINUTES.)** ## **MINUTES OF THE 89[th] ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2019** The 89[th] Annual General Meeting of the Friends of Sherborne Abbey was held at 7.15 pm on Monday 20 May 2019 in the Digby Memorial Church Hall, following a service of Evensong at 6.00 pm in the Abbey. In the absence of the Chairman, Mr Allan Greenhouse, Churchwarden, took the Chair with 37 members present. **1. Canon Charles Mitchell-Innes** opened the meeting with the Friends’ prayer. Mr Greenhouse welcomed members to the meeting and thanked the Director of Music Mr Paul Ellis, organist Simon Clarkson and the Sherborne Abbey Choir for singing Evensong. He also thanked the team of people who had provided refreshments prior to the meeting. The Friends were grateful to the catering department of Sherborne Girls for providing canapés. **2. Apologies** were received from The Rt Revd N Holtam, The Revd Canon E Woods, Mrs L S Garratt, Mr M St John Sugg, Miss S Powell, Prof & Mrs G Dixon, Mr H Moule, Mrs S Morgan, Miss P Atkinson, Col & Mrs M Walker, Miss S Parker, Mr & Mrs R Warren, Mrs J Baker, Mrs J Turner, Mr & Mrs R Sharpe, Mrs J HardingRolls, Mrs R Berry, Mrs M Barber, Mrs A Bloor and Mr M Crehan. Mr Greenhouse read a letter from the Bishop of Salisbury congratulating the Friends on their continuing work and support they give to the life of the Abbey. **3. The Minutes of the 88[th] Annual General Meeting** (as circulated in the Annual Report): These were agreed unanimously by the meeting and signed by the Acting Chairman. **4. Matters Arising:** There were no matters arising. ## **5. To receive the Reports, as follows:** a) The Chairman’s Message: There were no questions on the report. - b) The Clerk’s Report: There were no questions on the report. - c) Churchwardens’ and Fabric Report: There were no questions on the report. Mr Keatinge reported that the tenders for the latest Quinquennial repairs had been grossly above the original estimates and it was thanks to the Friends support that the works could proceed. 14 d) Membership Secretary’s Report: Mr A Sparshott reported that the membership currently stands at 382 and a new application form had been produced. Dr C Hamon reported that the latest edition of the OS Record (the Old Shirburnian Society magazine) had included an advertisement for the Friends. There followed a discussion about recruiting new members. Suggestions included publicity material in other churches, in the town, putting leaflets into the Ecumenical Christmas Card and a letter from the Rector to all those on the Electoral Roll. It was agreed to discuss this further at the next Council meeting. e) Publications Secretary’s Report: There were no questions on the report. It was agreed unanimously to receive the above reports. ## **6. The Treasurer’s Report and Independently Examined Accounts** for the year ended 31[st] December 2018 (as circulated in the Report): The Treasurer reminded those present that the Annual Report contained only a summary of the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2018; the full set of the independently examined accounts were available on request at the Parish Office should anyone wish to see them. The Treasurer reported that the main expenditure in 2018 had been the quinquennial repairs and the Friends’ contribution to the Abbey’s insurance premium. He further reported that in April 2019 the Friends had received a very generous legacy of £250,000 which put the Friends in a good financial position. There being no questions on the Treasurer’s Report or the Accounts, it was proposed by Mrs G Gibbons and seconded by Mr J Rodd that the Trustees’ Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2018 be adopted by the Meeting. This was agreed unanimously by those members present. The Acting Chairman thanked the Treasurer for his work. ## **7. Election of Officers:** i) Officers of the Council, Mr B Brown, Mr P Prout and Mr A Sparshott, were willing to continue in office: They were proposed _en bloc_ by Mr J Rodd and seconded by Dr C Hamon. ii) Election to the Council: There were no nominations. iii) It was proposed by Mr A Sparshott, seconded by Mr A Dennis and agreed 15 unanimously to reappoint Lanham & Francis as Independent Examiners for the ensuing year. ## **8. Any Other Business:** The Acting Chairman reported on the following: a) The proposed outing scheduled for Wednesday 19 June 2019 had been cancelled due to lack of numbers; b) Sunday 30 June 2019 would be kept as Friends’ Sunday and the Abbey’s Patronal Festival. There would be a Festal Evensong at 5.00 pm followed by drinks and refreshments on The Close; c) Arrangements are being made to offer Friends mulled wine and mince pies before the Advent Carol Service; d) Plans are afoot to hold a Friends’ Open Day in the Abbey on Saturday 13 June 2020. There being no other business the meeting closed at 7.55 pm. The next Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday 18 May 2020. ## **THE FRIENDS' PRAYER** **O LORD the foundation of all beauty, who didst put it into the hearts of our fathers to build to Thy glory this Abbey Church of Sherborne, enlighten the minds of us whom** **who didst put it into the hearts of our fathers to build** **Thou hast charged with its keeping that we may always so wisely preserve and adorn** **Thy sanctuary that it may speak to those who see it of the things which are pure and lovely,** **through Jesus Christ our Lord.** **Amen.** 16 _Photograph: Josie Sturgess Mills Photography_ _Photograph: Josie Sturgess Mills Photography_ 17 Printed by the Parish Office 3 Abbey Close Sherborne Dorset DT9 3LQ 18 ## **CODICIL** of _[Address}_ _____________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________________ DECLARE THIS to be a [First] Codicil to my Will dated The day of 20 1. I GIVE to the Association known as FRIENDS OF SHERBORNE ABBEY of Sherborne, Dorset (Registered Charity Number 208584) for its general purposes the sum of POUNDS (£ ) and I DECLARE that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper officer for the time being of the said Charity shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my Executors and Trustees for the same in all respects:- 2. IN ALL other respects I CONFIRM my said Will:- IN WITNESS I have hereto set my hand this day of 20 SIGNED by the above named ) Testator/Testatrix* in our presence ) and attested by us in the presence ) of the above named Testator/Testatrix* ) and of each other:) WITNESS ____________ __ _____________WITNESS________ _ ____ _____________ ADDRESS _________ _ _ ________________ADDRESS _______ _________ __ __________ __________________ __________________ ____________ _____ __ _________ ___________________ ___ ______________ ____________ ____ ____________ OCCUPATION________ __ _____________OCCUPATION______________ __________ 19