Registered Charities 1128278 and 267006 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Faith, Havant and The Church Institute Combined Annual Report and Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31st December 2024** Compliant with Charity Commission Guidance on Annual Reports 1 ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF** ## **ST FAITH HAVANT AND THE CHURCH INSTITUTE** ## **COMBINED ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31st, 2024** **(The Church Institute grants all its income to the parish, shown on page 24)** ## **1. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** **Full Parochial Name:** Havant, St Faith with St Nicholas Chapel, Langstone **Registered Charity No:** 1128278 **Location:** St Faith’s Church is situated in West Street, Havant, PO9 1EH St Nicholas’ Chapel is in High Street, Langstone to the south of Havant. **Church Office** The Parish operates a parish office for administrative purposes, situated at 2-4 North Street, Havant, PO9 1PR. Telephone 023 9249 2129 ## **2. MEMBERS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (PCC)** **Chair (Rector), ex-officio** The Reverend Canon Thomas Philip Kennar (from February 17[th] , 2015). Address: The Rectory, 5 Meadowlands, Havant, PO9 2RP **Licensed Readers, ex-officio** none – although Rev’d Sandra Haggan (Curate) attends meetings in a nonvoting, consultative capacity (as an employee of the Council). **Churchwardens** Mr Gary Crockford (July 2023 – second year of service) Miss Naomi Sloane (July 2023 – second year of service) **Diocesan Synod Members** Sue Tinney & Shelley Saunders (SS is a non-voting member of the PCC) **ex-officio Parish Secretary** Mrs Pauline West (employed as Secretary from October 2018). Non-voting. **Safeguarding Officer** Mrs Pauline West (from April 2018). **OTHER PCC MEMBERS DURING 2023** ## **a) Resigned or term-expired during the year** Bill Jones (From April 2023. Died November 2024) **b) Co-options during the year** : Sheena Jefferis (Co-opted November 2023 as Treasurer ## **c) Serving PCC Members during the year** _**In first year of service**_ Helen Hall (1[st] Term: April 2024 to April 2027) Melissa Nelson (1[st] Term: April 2024 to April 2027) -did not attend. 2 |**_In second year of service_**|Nick Saunders
(1stTerm: April 2023 to April 2026) –resigned Feb 25| |---|---| ||Clive Barnett
(1stTerm: April 2023 to April 2026)| ||Colin Hedley
(1stTerm: April 2023 to April 2026)| |**_In third year of service_**|Alison Horncastle
(1stTerm: May 2022 to April 2025)| ||Linda Pope
(1stTerm: May 2022 to April 2025)| ||Sue Tinney:
(2ndTerm; May 2022 to April 2025)| |**Main Bankers:**|CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Ave., Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ| ||A subsidiary bank account is held at Lloyds Bank, for ease of payments.| |**Independent Examiner:**|P J Underwood, Morris Crocker, Chartered Accountants,| ||Station House, North Street, Havant, Hants, PO9 1QU| |**Church Architect:**|Richard Andrews, Carden & Godfrey, 33 Clerkenwell Close, London| ## **3. STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **3 (a) The Parish Church Council (PCC)** The Church of England General Synod sets out the method of appointment of PCC members in the Church Representation Rules as published online. All regular church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The Roll was last revised in 2024, prior to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. The PCC is the body of trustees for the Parish. Their responsibilities are understood primarily as the setting and careful monitoring of parish policies, including the annual budget. (Other policies are listed later in this report.) Day-to-day management is devolved (with set budgets) from the PCC, through the salaried staff; based on a 40-hour week. There were the equivalent of 4.7 full time employees – 11 employees (to December 2024) plus clergy, and a number of formal and ad-hoc committees or teams, containing a wide range of other PCC members, advisors and co-opted members. These are listed below. ## **3(b) Rector** The Reverend Canon Tom Kennar is the Chair of the PCC (although in practice, he usually invites the Vice-Chair to chair meetings). He was installed as Rector by the Bishop of Portsmouth on 17 February 2015. He is therefore the only permanent (unelected) member of the Trustees (until such time as he should resign, or be removed legally by the Bishop). His role is primarily one of leading, inspiring and teaching, although he also carries out various administrative functions on behalf of the PCC. ## **3(c) Principal Committees and Teams of the PCC** **Standing Committee:** Rector (Chair), Churchwardens (with Gary Crockford acting as Vice-Chair), Parish Secretary (currently a non-voting employee), the General Manager (also currently a non-voting employee), the Hon. Treasurer, Sheena Jefferis, and representatives of the PCC, Linda Pope, Alison Horncastle. _The Standing Committee is responsible for furthering the work of the PCC between meetings. Key staff members are invited to attend from time to time (as non-voting members) depending on the business to be transacted._ 3 **Worship Committee:** Rector (Chair), Director of Music (advisor), any Licensed Readers or Readers with Permission to Officiate, Head Server (Bruce Strugnell), Michael Laird, Sybel Laird, Clive Barnett and Nick Saunders. _The Committee is responsible for advising the Rector and PCC on all aspects of the worshiping life of the parish._ **Pallant Development Team:** Colin Hedley (Chair), Sandra Haggan, Jackie Udy, Andrew Bowker (Dynamo Youth Theatre – users’ representative), Shelley Saunders (General Manager - advisor), Gemma Eadie (Pallant Assistant). _This team advises the PCC about work required to upgrade and develop the Pallant Centre (formally “Church House and the Church Hall”)._ **Ministry Team:** Rector, Worship Leaders, Accredited Lay Workers, Lay Readers. _This team agrees rotas for the leading of services and plans new worship initiatives._ **Young People and Families Team:** Colin Hedley (Chair), Sandra Haggan, Fiona Hedley, Clive Barnett, Claire Toole, Jeremy Toole, Gary Crockford, Sarah Rickett (Educational & Heritage consultant – advisor). _This team is carrying forward the Mission Plan’s focus on engaging with young people and families._ **Finance Team:** Hon Treasurer (Chair), Rector, Churchwardens, Alison Horncastle (PCC), Helen Hall (PCC) General Manager, Finance Assistant. _Key staff members are invited to attend (as non-voting members) depending on the business to be transacted._ **Other Groups:** Ad-hoc groups, which also met during the year, include the ‘Churchyard Redevelopment Group’, ‘Flower-Arrangers’, ‘Serving Team’, ‘Choir’ ‘Bell-Ringers’, ‘Senior Staff Team’. _Much of the work of these teams is carried out on a day-to-day basis via email and interpersonal conversations. The PCC is advised of their work in general and takes decisions regarding any significant policy or financial matter, when requested by these teams._ ## **3(d) Parish Staff** A range of stipendiary, salaried, contracted and voluntary staff supports the PCC and its associated subcommittees, working groups and teams. These comprise: ## **Volunteer Clergy and Readers** **Four self-supporting clergy with Permission to Officiate:** Rt Rev’d John Hind (Assistant Bishop to the Bishop of Portsmouth) Rev’d Frank Hillebrand, Rev’d Canon Tim Schofield and Rev’d Judy Henning (who has primary responsibility for monthly services at St Nicholas Langstone) **Four self-supporting Readers with Permission to Officiate** : Mrs Sandra Haggan, Dr Michael Fluck (PtO), Mrs Jackie Brookfield (PtO) and Sally Kirk Stephens (PtO). ## **Full-Time Staff:** **The Rector:** Reverend Canon Thomas Kennar **Lay Pastor (including Little Lambs Manager):** Reader Sandra Haggan who was also appointed as self-supporting Assistant Curate in June 2024, following her ordination. 4 ## **Part-Time Staff:** **General Manager:** Shelley Saunders (32 hours per week from July 2022) **Director of Music:** Graham Kidd (from September 2019) **Parish Administrator:** Pauline West (from March 2018) **Charity Shop Manager:** Clare Kennar (from March 2018) **Charity Shop Supervisor:** Sandy Signorelli (16 hours per week from August 2022) **Finance Officer** : Ani Moore (left during 2024) **Finance Assistant:** Tanya Owusu (from September 2024) **Caretaker:** John Glassett **Pallant Assistant:** Gemma Eadie (from November 2023) **Verger/Cleaner:** Maddie McGaw (from February 2024) **Duty Manager** : Adam Denman (From October 2024, resigned March 2025) **Note:** All of the paid members of staff noted above routinely work for far longer than the hours for which they are paid. The PCC acknowledges and is extremely appreciative of their commitment to the work of the parish, which goes way beyond what is required of them. In addition, **Volunteer Staff** are busy across the whole range of the parish’s work, including the Charity Shop, the Pallant Centre and the Pallant Warm Hub, bell-ringing team, maintenance team, Little Lambs workers, young persons and families team, pastoral visitors, stewardship team, communications team, servers, choristers, flower-artists, stewards and welcomers. There are too many to list by name but the PCC is _immensely_ grateful to each and every one. ## **3(e) Charitable Status** Under the terms of the Charities Act 2011, the PCC, having an income in excess of £100,000 was registered with the Charity Commission (under no. 1128278); this registration was confirmed on the 26th February 2009. ## **3(f) Accountability and Policy Framework** The PCC is fully aware of the risk factors involved in the running of church affairs and continues to ensure that all our properties are adequately insured, including public liability. We have policies for all significant areas of the Parish’s life, which guide the decision making of the PCC, and the actions of officers and staff. These comprise: - **Safeguarding Vulnerable Children and Adults** policy (we adopt the Diocese of Portsmouth Policy wholesale, and comply with all its guidance and rules) - **The Annual ‘Budget’** (also called the Financial Operating Plan) - **PCC Statement Regarding Potential Churchyard Developments** - **Constitutional position** of the PCC - **Finance Policy and Procedures** including Operational Policy (significantly revised in 2021-22) - **Reserves** policy (the standing policy throughout 2023 was to maintain reserves equivalent to at least one month’s normal revenue budget expenditure) - **Investment** policy (reviewed in 2021) - the standing policy for long-term trust funds is to invest them through Diocesan-approved investment vehicles, while general cash reserves are held on deposit for ready-deployment on parish projects - **Legacies** policy - **Extra-Parochial Giving** policy - **Appraisal** policy - **Complaints** policy - **Grievance** policy 5 - **Health and Safety** policy provided under contract to a third party professional - **Lone Working** policy, - **Staff Compensation** policy. - **Mission Plan** - **Admission to Communion** policy - **Data Protection** policy (including GDPR and Data Privacy) - **Social Media** policy - **Equalities and Diversity** policy - **Volunteer** policy - **Whistleblowing** policy - **Risk Management** policy - **Conflict of Interest** policy The operational policies are published on the parish website at http://stfaith.com/pcc/pcc-policies/ and are periodically reviewed as required and as scarce volunteer time allows. We comply (as far as heritage considerations make possible) with the Disability Discrimination Act, and subject to funding are planning to improve further the access we provide for disabled people to the church and Pallant Centre. In 2024 we completed the construction of a fully accessible toilet in the Church. The PCC gives regular updates on its decisions and activities to the wider parish, through a variety of media, including redacted copies of minutes, and summaries of key decisions and actions through the fortnightly newsletters. An Annual Parochial Church Meeting is held so that the PCC may be publicly accountable to the whole membership of the Electoral Roll, and open to questions from the floor. ## **3(g) Public Benefit** The Trustees (PCC) are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance and requirement on public benefit in ‘The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit’ and have had due regard to it in their administration of the PCC. As a part of its Charitable Objects of ‘promoting of the whole mission of the Church’ the PCC provides a benefit to the public by: - providing facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for its members and for anyone who wishes to benefit from what the church offers; - promoting Christian values and service by members of the Church in and to their communities, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole; and - providing administrative and meeting facilities to local charities, small local businesses and youth and community organisations. 6 ## **4. OBJECTIVES** The PCC’s primary objective, defined by the Church Representation Rules of the Church of England is **‘to co-operate with the Incumbent** (i.e. the Rector) **in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelical, social and ecumenical’.** ## **4(a) Mission Plan 2020-2025** In pursuance of its primary objective, the PCC agreed a second five-year Mission Plan ( **“Live/Pray/Serve”** ) - - in 2020. This plan may be read in full on the parish website (www.stfaith.com/mission development plan/). It is aligned with the mission strategy of our Diocese. The 2020-2025 Mission Plan builds on our Spiritual Development Plan (November 2018), Pallant Development Plan (February 2018) and the Re-ordering Plan (November 2017). It takes forward the work of the previous plan (2015-2020) and seeks to enable our parish (and indeed our diocese) to grow in depth, impact and number. The Mission Plan is due to be reviewed and revised in 2025. ## **4(b) Buildings to serve our Mission** In pursuance its primary objective, the PCC has responsibility for a number of buildings, which are used to underpin and promote the mission of the church. These comprise: a) **St Faith’s Church** – a Grade II* Listed building with medieval origins. A Re-ordering Plan for the church - was agreed during 2017 and may be viewed on the Parish website at http://stfaith.com/wp content/uploads/2017/11/Re-ordering-St-Faiths-Plan.pdf. During 2024, an accessible toilet was constructed and opened. b) **St Faith’s Pallant Centre** – a collection of three joined buildings, known as Pallant Hall (formerly St Faith’s Church Hall), Pallant House (formerly ‘Church House’) and The Coach House. The site has a Grade II listing category applied. This complex provides the most visible example of the PCC’s public benefit statement above. Within these three buildings, facilities and storage are provided to a very wide range of local and mainly charitable organisations and social clubs. Organisations currently using the Pallant Centre currently comprise: - Havant Dynamo Youth Theatre; - Havant Orchestras; - Solent Male Voice Choir; - Hayling and Havant Bowmen; - U3A Art Group; - MIND Young Persons’ Safe Haven; - Self-help groups (AA, Al Anon, GA, Women’s AA); - The Redeemed Christian Church of God; - SSAFA - the Armed Forces charity; - Brownies and Rainbows; - Little Lambs for toddlers and their parents and carers (run in collaboration with St Alban’s, West Leigh); - Specialist support for vulnerable adults such as Creating Chaos and Dementia Support; - Many new and established physical and mental wellbeing groups; and - Child Social Services contact point. - Southern Music Project - Ukrainian Art Group and Ukrainian Choir 7 - Bridge to Unity – Refugee Hub - Havant Repair café - Dementia Friendly Havant CIO Bookings for the **Pallant Hall** and hire space continued to grow throughout 2024. The hall was used for various activities including music and social. As a result, in 2024, the Pallant Centre continued to be more than self-sufficient operationally, although large maintenance and repair requirement still pertain, to give the Centre a long-term future. Total income from lettings and events was £100,808 (compared to £72,682 in 2023, and £53,564 in 2022) with running and staff costs of £87,340 delivering a £13,468 net income to the Parish in 2024. This is a great achievement with many thanks to the team of staff and volunteers supporting the Pallant Centre. The net income would have been higher, however, had unexpected maintenance costs not been incurred at the end of 2024 to ensure that the buildings electrics were kept to the required standard. The net income to the parish was, however, more than matched by the parish’s expenditure on the costs of refurbishing Room 2, and replacing five Georgian windows. The **Pallant Development Group** continues working towards the refurbishment of The Pallant Centre, to secure the long-term future of this vital community building. The Group supported the Pallant Staff team, and led the development of a formerly unavailable room in 2024/2025 (formerly Room 2, now known as ‘The Snug’) and commissioned the replacement of five rotting windows (carried out in early 2025). The **Havant Dynamo Youth Theatre** (DYT) took up residence in the Coach House in June 2022. A new Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the autumn of that year and is proving to be an exciting venture for both parties. DYT submitted and received planning approval for renovations to the Coach House that will be of benefit to the Pallant Centre long term. This includes the planning approval to install central heating, a toilet, remove an existing asbestos wall and install a redesigned staircase. Works of which are subject to written approval by the General Manager. The Pallant reopened the **Warm Room** every Monday and Wednesday from 1200 – 1400. Staffed by St Faith’s volunteers and volunteers from the local community, the warm room has been a great success with an average of 10-12 people attending weekly. Creating Chaos run the warm space on a Wednesday, which enables it to stay open. The PCC is most grateful to the Creating Chaos team. All are welcome to use the warm room regardless of circumstances; it provides a safe, warm space that is welcoming and accessible to all and offers soup, bread, biscuits, coffee, fellowship and peace together with activities such as knitting, reading and games. People can switch off their heating at home and meet in a community space. **4(c) Christchurch Centre and Bungalow** – a modernist church building was erected in the north of the parish during the early 1980s as a mission church, with an associated bungalow. After some years, the church building proved unpopular for worship, and it is currently let to a local provider of nursery education (commensurate with the PCC’s objectives and public benefit statement above), the _Bright Beginnings Nursery_ . In April 2021, a new 20-year lease was agreed to give the owners of the nursery a greater measure of security of tenure than they erstwhile enjoyed, and to encourage them to invest in the site. The bungalow is used at times for the housing of clergy or is let-out to generate a general revenue for parish funds. **4(d) 1 & 2 Churchfields** – these are a pair of houses, left to the Parish in Trust, which are let out to local people from time-to-time to generate revenue, or are used for the housing of clergy when needed. In the second half of 2021, a family of Syrian refugees moved into 2 Churchfields. 8 **4(e) 2-4 North Street** – **Creation of ‘The Parish Hub’** The old Church Institute is a building with two shop units and an overhead flat, held in Trust by the Incumbent (Rector) and Churchwardens, but treated as though directly owned by the PCC. Following the move of the Charity Shop and Bookshop to this location in May 2022, a Parish Hub, with high visibility on busy North Street, has facilitated the bringing together in one place of the Charity Shop, Bookshop and Parish Office with a commensurate saving on running costs. In 2022, the overhead flat was re-let to a local housing association to provide accommodation for those in housing need. However, on the ending of the agreement with the housing association a considerable amount of work was undertaken by a mixture of staff and volunteers, to bring the flat back up to a level which allowed it to be re-let in late 2024. Our **Charity Shop and Bookshop** , staffed by volunteers, with the support of two (part-time) paid Charity Shop Managers. The Shop offers part-time employment to two local people, volunteer placements to local people (including some with additional needs), and encourages the efficient recycling and re-use of clothes, small furniture and other household goods – particularly popular as the cost-of-living crisis has begun to have an impact. Surpluses generated are used to support the general objectives of the parish. The Charity Shop and Bookshop is now open 6 days a week. The move to the ‘high street’ location in North Street proved to be immensely successful in terms of its impact on the sales generated. In 2024, the gross income was £70,555 with expenditure totalling £52,050 delivering a £18,505 net income to the Parish in 2024. This is a great achievement for which thanks must be given to the shop staff and its management. ## **5. Review of Activities and Achievements** ## **5(a) Statistics of Mission** In this section it is usual to provide a selection of statistics compiled on an annual basis, which indicate the progress and trajectory of certain parish activities - especially in relation to the pastoral and evangelical elements of the PCC’s primary objective (especially worship). It should be noted that for the first three months of 2022, as in the two years preceding it, the continued high incidence of COVID infections locally pandemic meant that, although the Church and Pallant Centre were not actually closed for public worship and social activities, numbers of worshippers and those making use of the facilities available took a considerable amount of time to pick up. Throughout 2024, weekly services continued to be broadcast either by livestreaming or Zoom technology, and subsequently made available as recordings on the Church’s website. This medium continues to prove very popular. Numbers of actual people worshipping at home through this medium are very hard to estimate, as people tend to ‘come and go’. But anecdotal and estimated evidence indicates that our reach via the internet is approximately double the number of recorded worshippers in church. 9 i $ * Is l# I 12 +4 li In addition to our core worship services, St Faith’s has once again been the chosen location for a number of **civic events** during the year, including the Remembrance service. In 2024, these were also livestreamed. **School carol services** were also held for Fairfield Junior School and Bosmere School. The programme of **occasional lunchtime concerts** continued to take place, and in early December the **Advent Experience** was once again staged by the Young People and Families Team for Year 3 pupils from Bosmere School. An **Easter Experience** was also staged for Year 4 Bosmere School pupils. Both Experiences were very well received by the pupils and their teachers. ## **5(b) Evangelical and Pastoral Objectives** The raw statistics of attendance in the previous section do not paint an accurate picture of the whole life of the parish, particularly in respect of the PCC’s efforts to fulfil its evangelical and pastoral objectives. Evangelism (understood as the promulgation of the ‘Evangel’ or ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ) requires that the PCC should exert itself to provide the comfort of faith, and the challenge of the Kingdom of God to the community it serves. The word ‘Pastoral’ is taken to mean the active care of people whom the church encounters, wherever they are from and whatever support-needs they present. It is pleasing to report an increase in activities in 2024 to further St Faith’s evangelical and pastoral objectives. To this end, during the year, the PCC has: - **regularly reported to the congregation** about its work; - kept a close eye on **staff wellbeing** , while dealing with some challenges that arose; - overseen the **management of the large estate** for which St Faith’s is responsible; - provided **subsidised accommodation to SSAFA** – the Armed Forces charity (which it has done since 1946); - provided **low-cost meeting facilities for many local charities** , community groups and small businesses; - raised funds through personal donations and gifts to support a diverse number of local and national charities, including the **Rotary Shoe-box Appeal** , the **Children’s Society** , and the **Havant Passion Play** , **SSAFA** and the **Royal British Legion** (Havant Branch). Funds from the **sale of the Rector’s book** , ‘Scribblings’ were also **sent to Ghana** , for the **support of medical services** to farflung villages in the Diocese of Ho. - provided an **open church** for visitors to have the space to sit, pray, ask questions, explore faith or simply enjoy the ancient and hallowed surroundings. - continued to provide the **Warm Hub** to help the community in this cost-of-living crisis; - continued the collaboration with **St Alban’s, West Leigh** , including the joint provision of **Little Lambs** (for pre-school children and their grown-ups) as well **as shared services and retreats** , and weekly prayer meetings of both parishes’ staff. - supported the work of **Bosmere Junior School** , through the provision of assemblies, R.E. support and general support of the teaching staff (such as providing cakes at the beginning of term to express love and support). The very successful initiative of offering an **Advent Experience** to Year 3 pupils, first staged in 2019, was repeated again in December 2024 and an **Easter Experience** was offered in April 2024. More limited support is also given to the other two Havant schools (Fairfield Infant School and Warblington Secondary) at their invitation; - supported the ministry of our wonderful choir: **St Faith’s Choir** is very good heart. - supported the ongoing ministry of **"Faith in Harmony"** , an initiative of our Director of Music and mainly made up of Year 5 pupils from Bosmere School and Year 7 pupils from other local schools; - promoted the come-and-sing **choral evensongs** which were well attended in 2024. 12 - provided and supported a team of **Pastoral Visitors** who visit any in the parish who need regular contact, friendship and (if requested) home communion; members of this team regularly phoned and delivered copies of the Fortnightly News; and - held a variety of **social and fundraising events** , lunchtime concerts, monthly coffee mornings, weekly online Tea & Chat (Mondays), and Christmas market; some of these events have the function of raising money, but were mainly focused on bringing people together in community. ## **5(c) Ecumenical Objectives** In pursuance of its ecumenical objective, the PCC has: - **played a full part in the life of the Deanery and Diocese** ; there are two representatives elected to the Deanery Synod, who attend along with the readers and clergy. Clergy meet regularly with Chapter colleagues (from other local Anglican churches). Our Rector is a member of the Bishop’s Council, the Diocesan Synod, the Diocesan Advisory Council on Church Buildings and is an honorary canon of Portsmouth Cathedral; and - been represented steadfastly on the ‘ **Churches Together in Havant and Bedhampton** ’ Group, mainly by our assistant curate.. The PCC has also: - co-operated in efforts to **relieve the misery of homelessness and poverty** experienced by many in the town, not least through the raising and then provision of funds through the Rector’s Discretionary Fund – especially to individuals and families known to the parish who find themselves in crisis; - Fulfilled the requirements for the Church to be **a fair trade church** ; - supported the clergy to have regular **fraternal meetings** with clergy of other local churches; - provided space (in Church House) for an independent church (of African origin) called ‘ **The Redeemed Christian Church of God** ’; Pallant House is now their permanent home. ## **5(d) Social Objectives** Many of the achievements and activities described in the previous sections have strong social elements to them, and so are not repeated here. In addition, it is worth noting that in 2024, the following activities with a strong social content have also been supported by the PCC: - **Bellringing** – the provision of high-quality bell-ringing which calls people to worship and celebrates marriages and special civic occasions; - **Church Choir** - while also enhancing worship, the church choir provides the social function of bringing people together in the making of music; - **St Faith’s Men’s Group** - a group of men (including those who don’t regularly attend worship) who meet for fellowship and fun. The Men’s Group also provide voluntary labour on occasions throughout the year when projects are undertaken; - **Tea and Chat (Mondays)** – established in response to the pandemic and providing an opportunity for people to meet together virtually via ‘Zoom’; - **St Faith’s Charity Shop and Bookshop** –the Charity Shop (staffed by volunteers with support from part-time paid managers) provides a valuable social space. - A **Parish House Group** for fellowship, support, study and prayer. A **monthly prayer group** , based at St Nicholas’ Chapel, got underway in December 2022; 13 - **Flower Team** – The flower team regularly decorates the church with fantastic arrangements, often working together in fellowship and fun as they do so; - **Church Cleaning & Maintenance Team** – a small band of volunteers gathers once a month to clean the church, and enjoy each other’s company for a while; and - **The Monday Club** – an ad hoc gathering of local people led (until his death in November) by Bill Jones and Sandra Haggan on Monday mornings in the church and the Pallant Centre (depending on the weather): this is essentially a social group, providing mutual support and a strong bond of friendship. Margaret Tait has taken up the leadership of the group in 2025. - **Coffee, Games and Chat –** a monthly social gathering, to promote community and reduce loneliness. ## **6. REVIEW OF THE YEAR – PCC** The PCC met six times during 2024 in January, April, May, July, September and November. All meetings were quorate. During the course of the year, among the usual administrative matters (overseeing, monitoring and approving the detailed work of sub-committees, working groups and teams), the PCC: - maintained vigilance over **safeguarding and health & safety** issues by reviewing and approving the PCC policy, ensuring that all relevant checks and training are being carried out, offering training sessions in person or virtually (for example in recognising signs of domestic abuse) and supporting our Safeguarding and Health and Safety Officers; - maintained its commitment to **paying its ‘Parish Share’** of Diocesan expenses each month; - within the context of the emerging energy crisis, maintained **tight budgetary control** through the receipt of, and discussion about, regular financial updates from the Finance Officer, and set the 2024 budget; - set the **priorities for the Big Build campaign** and expenditure in 2024 (building an accessible toilet in the church, refurbishment of Room 2 in the Pallant centre, and the renovation of five windows in the Pallant Centre); - oversaw the **management of the large estate** for which St Faith’s is responsible: where appropriate, negotiated, and authorised leases, set rents and monitored tenants’ activities and payments; - received updates from and **approved actions taken by the Standing Committee** ; - monitored the **Electoral Roll** ; kindly maintained by Hugh Owen - approved the **refurbishment of the North Street flat** - approved **uplifts in wage banding for key staff** , to compensate for increased responsibilities - started a process of **reviewing historic investment funds** ## **7. FABRIC REPORT (The State of our Buildings and their Contents)** ## **7(a) St Faith’s Church** Broadly speaking, St Faith’s Church is believed to be in _good_ condition considering its age and usage patterns. This assessment is supported by a quinquennial (five-yearly) inspection on the state of the church, which was completed in 2019, and which noted some considerable improvements to the building 14 since the previous report (2014). The PCC, through the Churchwardens, the General Manager and the Buildings Maintenance Team has been steadily working through the issues identified as funds become available. The 2025 inspection is underway at the time of writing this report. ## **Notable changes to the fabric are:**  **the construction of an accessible toilet** with storage facilities in the south-west corner of the Nave **Looking to the future** , the PCC plans to: - **upgrade the alarm system** for the bell ringing chamber; - **install safety precautions around the gully** at the North vestry access door; - **replace or repair** the North transept flooring; - **complete the purchase of new seating** throughout the church - make long-term plans for the eventual **replacement of the church roof** . A report from the present architect concurs with that of our previous architect that the roof has many problems associated with age and will need total replacement within around 20 years. However, the PCC believes (on the basis of such reports) that careful management and maintenance in the meantime will extend the roof’s life until the point where total replacement becomes essential. The replacement of some crumbling ceiling panels will need to wait until the work to the roof is complete. Temporary repairs using painted hardboard are currently in place, and the mapping and prioritisation of the repair and replacement of tiling is also underway; and With regards the rest of the St Faith’s estate, mandatory requirements such as electrical testing certificates were obtained, and gas servicing undertaken for all buildings under the PCC’s care. ## **7(b) The Pallant Centre** Over the first 15 years of the 21st century, the PCC was considering whether to dispose of The Pallant Centre as an asset which could pay for Church improvements. As a result, there was a reluctance to spend resources on anything other than the most essential repairs. In 2015, this policy was reversed by the decision (in the first Mission Development Plan) to restore, refurbish and repair the Pallant Centre, to form the centrepiece of the PCC’s social mission to the community. Since the adoption of the Mission Development Plan in 2015, the parish’s buildings’ maintenance team (of paid and voluntary staff) have achieved a great deal. Work was thwarted during the pandemic (with the exception of essential maintenance/repair). This year, we have continued the mission development journey and our small team of maintenance volunteers, suppliers and staff who are very generous with their time has undertaken a wide variety of maintenance tasks, including commencing **the refurbishment of Room 2** (now called ‘The Snug’) and (through volunteers) **making big improvements to the Pallant garden** . **Looking to the future** , the PCC, through the Pallant Development Group plans to: - **complete the regeneration of the Courtyard and Garden** as a safe social space; - **bring Room 1** (to be called the Creation Room) **into operation** to create a long-term revenue stream based on an activity-led flexible space; - **improve the design and layout of the ‘Green Room’** (behind the stage of the Main Hall) as a multiuse meeting, work and rehearsal space with showers and toilets; - **bring the second-floor attic (or ‘Garret’) back into use** to create a long-term revenue stream – probably as flexible programme space (subject to planning permission); - **explore the possibility of fitting solar panels to the Hall roof** ; and - **fundraise to provide improved theatrical facilities** to support artistic productions. 15 A **‘Way Ahead’** document for the Pallant Centre is available to view on the parish website at: http://stfaith.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Pallant-Plan-the-Way-Ahead.-Final-agreed-document.pdf ## **7(c) Christchurch Centre** The Christchurch Centre remains under a full repairing lease (to the _Bright Beginnings_ Nursery) which was signed in April 2021 giving greater security to both the owners of the nursery and the PCC. ## **7(d) Christchurch Bungalow** The Bungalow is currently let to a private tenant, generating a revenue stream to the PCC. The annual inspection by our officers shows the property to be well-maintained. No repairs or maintenance were required in 2024. ## **7(e) 1&2 Churchfields** One house is let to local Havant residents and the other to a refugee family, creating a revenue stream for the parish while also meeting local housing need. ## **7(f) St Nicholas’ Chapel** Although technically not consecrated, the Chapel acts as a ‘chapel of ease’ and meeting place for **Langstone Village** . Monthly (and high-day) services were held. A parish prayer group began meeting there monthly in December 2022. The building is hired by the **Langstone Village Association** (LVA) for various events (ranging from coffee mornings to educational evenings). A **beautiful new stained glass window** was installed in the lobby area during 2024, funded by donations through the LVA. A **series of concerts** took place during 2024. Thanks to the willingness of local volunteers, especially **Sue Holding,** the chapel is opened every day in normal weather as a sanctuary for local visitors, and to **display Langstone history** installed by the Village Association. The parish is keen to develop this tiny, but well-loved resource for the benefit of the Langstone community. ## **7(g) 2-4 North Street – “The Parish Hub” – The old Church Institute** - The St Faiths Charity shop moved to 4 North Street in May 2022. Number 2a was refurbished in 2024 and relet. ## **7(h) Health and safety** The use and condition of our buildings continues to undergo regular scrutiny by our General Manager and the maintenance team together with external experts by invitation or notice. Health and safety compliance continues to be embraced enthusiastically by the staff and PCC of St Faith’s. ## **8. 2024 FINANCIAL REVIEW** The PCC, through the General Manager, Finance Assistant and Finance Committee, has maintained a tight control of finances. The financial impact of significant increases in running costs and the postpandemic reduction in income sources have required further focus on cost control and income generation leading to monthly cash flow reports to the Standing Committee along with monthly management accounts reporting and commentary for regular review. High energy costs have proved to be a significant challenge this year. The complex Statement of Financial Activities can be difficult to interpret without experience. The bottom-line (in round numbers) is that the PCC spent £418,759 in 2024, compared to £347k in 2023, £287k in 2022 and £291k in 2021). We received income including gain on investments of £418,718 in 2024, compared to £339k in 2023, £286k in 2022, and £329k in 2021 generating an operating 16 deficit for the year of £41 compared to a deficit of £8,504 in 2023, a deficit in 2022 of £11,625 and a surplus of £37k in 2021) after cash investment revaluations. The parish’s income sources were mainly from donations, rental and hall hire fees and shop sales. After other accounting adjustments are made, the cash reserve of the parish at 31 December 2024 was £152k. The PCC has £45k in unrestricted funds and £98k in restricted funds. Much of this reserve (less the reserve policy requirement set out below) is allocated to future building works in the parish. ## **9. RESERVES POLICY** It is the policy of the PCC to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the PCC, at a level which equates to not-less-than one month’s unrestricted expenditure. This policy was set during 2017 and constitutes a reduction from the previous policy of maintaining not-less-than three month’s unrestricted expenditure. This policy is intended to demonstrate to funders that we are fully committed to using our resources to the maximum good effect, and not ‘sitting on’ cash. This provides sufficient funds to cover parish management and administration as well as the activities directly relating to the work of the Church. The PCC confirms that unrestricted funds were maintained at least at the level of one month’s expenditure throughout 2024 and that this policy will be reviewed during 2025. It is the PCC’s current policy to invest surplus funds with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund. ## **A note on the use of Building Assets** Some thought has been given in the past, by the PCC, to releasing the capital which is locked up in our various other buildings - and this topic is often raised by well-wishers. However, the PCC has found that this is difficult to accomplish (because many of the buildings are tied up with deeds of trust, preventing their sale for just such a purpose). Furthermore, the PCC presently judges that maintaining a constant in-flow of revenue from rents is in the best long-term interest of the parish. This is especially the case while current UK-wide trends indicate that we are entering a period of lower attendance and commitment to organised religion in general. Current UK economic pressures also reduce the ability of church members to contribute to church funds. Keeping assets that bring in revenue is considered by the PCC to be a good longterm stewarding strategy. In simple terms, it is likely that most of our assets will bring more revenue to the parish over the next 25 years than their sale now would realise. Our assets are therefore considered as a way of sustaining mission in the long term – not a ‘quick fix’ for our present challenges. The PCC may decide to acquire more building assets in the future (through mortgaged purchase) to both alleviate housing problems for local people and provide long-term assets for the parish. ## **Trust Funds** The PCC holds a number of trust funds, generated from the previous sale of parish assets. These funds, together, had a net asset value of £86,369 at the end of 2024, compared to £84,270 in 2023, £77,785 in 2022 and £88,633 in 2021 (£82,476 in 2020). These funds are held in trust, and in general, only the investment income is available to the parish (without major and costly restructuring). Dividends received from these funds in 2024 totalled £2,099. 17 ## **10. STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES** The Members of the PCC are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the PCC and of the surplus or deficit of the PCC for the period. In preparing those financial statements, the PCC is required to: - a) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - b) make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - c) prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the PCC will continue in operation. The members of the PCC are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the PCC. They are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the PCC and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Faith Havant confirms that it is aware of these responsibilities and that it has exercised them to the best of its ability. Signed on behalf of the PCC at its meeting on the 17[th] of March 2025: Rev’d Canon Tom Kennar Date: 17[th] March 2025 **Rector and Chair of the PCC** 18 PARttTrIAL CHifftCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTUL P￿N OF ST F*mi HAVAKr STATEIIENT OF F￿•AL ACTMT*S FOR TrIE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEIABER 2024 tund• lunds fuThJ8 2Q24 X123 INCOIAE ￿10 EhlOOIYMENTg FROM 78.337 78.337 177.181 104.094 S7.C￿7 74.$86 124.944 76.4T8 •Z193 2¢ 2d 101.091 57.r TOTAL 41 EXPEMOITUA£ OM Ra8lr#J fu 331, 87.346 41&413 3471>2 NET IEXPEfrWITVRE￿1Ko￿1E 41 RECONCLk4lKXI C* FUMDS S1,3SO 91141 459.744 ffii.235 612. TOTIL FUNDS C￿RIE* 97.642 461M11 604.194 604.235 19 17[th] March 2025 **Rev’d Canon Tom Kennar Rector** 20 The PAROCHWL ￿￿nCH c0￿cl ov The £CCLes&4sTK•L ST HAvAMr VOR YEM Ei•Jeo 31 OECEMOER 2•24 ol tral￿d IFRS102) 1•11octs• 2019Y. th• Cahar*•¥ atr11 (￿1th Vol¥iit¥y 21 Chw¢h •¢lfr¥llkn• S•cth)n IIy2X•) Cknlbes kt2011. rnd. 22 THE p￿lOC￿lAL CHiIRCH CQUIKIL TrIE ECCLE&￿T￿ P￿lSH OF ST FAtrH HAv￿￿T FOR THE YEAR EMDEO Jt tKECE118ER 2Q24 Fl**lit*J afvj *re c*ltulÈted a* IfÈ dilFÈrtrtt tetrAe*fft ÈTctteth ¢knrwy or ¢*trJited b) *I￿er￿*￿t d f*thtia1 t￿￿ al Ihtr thd d th 23 TrE PAROCtrIAL CHLIICH COUIICIL OF ThE ECCLESIASTUL PARISH OF sr HAVANT NOTES TO THE FINAI•CIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENOED 31 DECEIIJBER 2024 IKOME FRO iknv••trlcl•d R••lrlcl•d Totsl fund• Totsl l￿dI lunth 2024 48.313 48313 47.325 &816 11918 15.r24 15.r24 6.678 6ffj78 627 2.144 2.144 rn337 78J37 74.S86 14.433 91193 106.626 57.076 91193 177.181 124.944 11YJ.606 lts).￿ 71682 101,( 104m4 7&478 $4.th)1 S7.( 57m7 TOT 324.426 92.193 416.619 332,313 24 E PAR(KI•AL CMiWiCM COUMCIL OF niE ECCLESIASTUL PARISM OF ST FAMI HAVANI PIOTES TO THE FIWAIICIAL sfATEIIEWTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 2Q23 316 61447 61447 S9.473 Stsrt 161.766 128.427 1.744 1216 . (Xher 8tsff ex￿989 313 76 328S 1676 328S 26.539 2,583 59.936 Z444 74.448 I￿.987 2.583 $9.936 1444 81.912 - ￿￿1C and ctrx* Éxtra 1964 107 117 117 Bad Oetts 331.1)57 87.316 418.413 347.Xi2 TOTAL 331,067 87,692 418.759 347.302 SiWClleT COSTS 2123 1676 3285 1676 3285 S,961 7.557 . GOVERNAMCÉ COSTS 25 ThE p￿￿lAL CNiIiIX Cc>U1￿JL (FTrIE EC￿E8￿T￿lPA￿ISH oFsTF￿ IJ F FWMJ 11143 SerA*iles Fw 16•J IW Irv•ests￿l Furd 9•re$ 1x127 4N2 1.028 <367 17.577 32 132 Sjl 1J71 612S2 720 1317 .309 8<270 1099 *Jeg X23 21.636 11 21,63S 12m4 2023 7.4n X2J (1352) 11. REMiNIERATI(*I £12,2J £iIN 28 401JII 454.1 1Sf.W 191 11102) b4M2 97 411.9 44.741 97 IA 1.124 In AI JI.1ZJ¢ 1.110 4<741 61 019 ￿tr. BBC F￿1 17.S52 3T1 41 771 Y11 97 4*744 46lJll 4*744 461Jll 29 FOR YEAR EIIUED 31 2UJ .4zo rni.wn ,4X ￿11,( &Xl {1,41•1 P131 3 Wl*t Tokl 1314 (IJNI 4.317 igJ 41¢619 1414 ST.147 JIJ Y4 311 371 1*Y41 43n A7Ti 1111,IIM 30 IIOTes TO THE FIN*JICIAL STATEMEPITS .1• Aiml 13 1 4W44 277A41 P4 277A41 10 ¢IA4n 1117421 25 441 P&41 9xIY {19J411 •¢1 441 f7mJ) plo 10T￿ FI 31 IPKIEPENDENT EXAMWER'S REPORT THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCL OF TIE ECCLESlAST￿AL PARISH OF ST FAITH frIAVANT kthpend•nt examlnerf• Ihè IN•lM• d Th• Eccl••la•lkal Parlth of Si Falth, H•v•nl I rewt PCC membws (m my e*arTWth￿ d u)e ac£tsants ol Ecthslastlcal Parlsh d Si F* H•rfart fc* I￿ ended 31 Dec•i*r 2024. 144SXbl al A(£ 01￿ a true ¥lth¥ *tdch l& not a mailef c(￿a#)ernd of an Indeperthnt Morrlg Crocknf ststlon Ho Narth Str•aQ PO• 1QU 33