## **The Friends of St Mary’s Church, Bungay AGM 12[th] May 2025 Chairman’s Report**
St Mary’s has continued to host a series of events throughout the last twelve months, which I will illustrate shortly in a Powerpoint presentation. These included the following:
- William Drew-Batty has continued with his programme of recitals on Thursdays, which draw good to reasonable audience numbers.
- We had performances in the church from Bungay Voices in June, followed a week later by a concert by The Mozart Orchestra, which was very well attended. The Mozart Orchestra have booked again for a concert this year on 7[th] June.
- In July, the Annual Prom Concert was held, led by Jason Collins and with the choir supported by Wensum Valley Brass.
- This was followed a week later by the Waveney Strings concert.
- August brought the Black Shuck Festival, with a well attended concert in the church on 2[nd] August. Later in the month, the Bungay Black Dog Arts Summer Exhibition was held.
- September saw the Bungay Folk Festival, followed by the excellent Fisher Theatre exhibition in October, which drew a good number of visitors.
- In November the annual Remembrance Day service was held in the church and was, as usual, well attended.
- In December, a number of concerts were held, including Jason Collins Christmas Concert, the South Norfolk Orchestra Concert, and the Castle Singers Christmas Concert.
Photos of a number of these events will be included in my presentation shortly.
During the course of the year, meetings have continued regarding the proposed installation of solar panels on the church. In October, a site
meeting was held, regarding where the panels would be installed. The south roof had been discounted as planners would not accept the panels being visible from St Mary’s Street. As a result, the discussion centered on the panels being installed on the north roof, where they would not be visible from street level. This is, of course, subject to the required permissions being granted.
Turning to the day to day activities in the church, security remains an issue at times, as is the case with many other churches. The church is now routinely open from 9.00am – 4.00pm. Options are being considered regarding the installation of new CCTV cameras, running throughout each day, in order that perpetrators of damage or inappropriate behaviour can be identified and, if necessary, reported to the police with supporting recordings of those present at the time. This issue is by no means unique to St Mary’s as other churches have the same issue with which to contend.
The activities and events held in the church are recognised by the Churches Conservation Trust as being ‘above and beyond’ what is staged in many other CCT managed churches, as well as recognising the financial support which the FOSM provides to the CCT, being income generated from bequest investments, and shared with the CCT, as shown in the annual accounts.
I should like to thank the FOSM committee members for enabling the church to be used for the various events, and for supporting the ‘behind the scenes’ activities such as stewarding events, exhibitions and concerts. I should also like to thank two individuals who have been involved in FOSM for many years. Firstly, my thanks to Brian Cloke, who has stood down as a committee member, after many years of active involvement. Equally, our thanks are due to Brian Moore, who dedication to his role of looking after and maintaining the church is greatly appreciated by the committee. Thank you Brian!
In conclusion, I should mention that my wife and I are looking to relocate to Northumberland, to help support our eldest son and his wife, who currently have two pre-school sons, with a third due in the next couple of months. It will be a significant change, and one which we hadn’t anticipated. It will mean me standing down from my involvement with St Mary’s and my FOSM colleagues. I would like to take this opportunity to
thank my committee colleagues for their support and guidance while I have been the FOSM Chair and Treasurer.
**Friends of St Mary’s Church, Bungay**
## **Accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024**
|**Receipts**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
|Subscriptions and donations|512.06|535.00|
|Income from events|1,063.54|774.47|
|Retained event cash banked|252.83|175.00|
|Hire of church|2,957.50|2,757.50|
|Dividends & interest received – BB account|19,192.52|17,210.56|
|Dividends & interest received – General account|3,095.86|3,475.21|
|**Total Receipts**|**27,074.31**|**24,927.74**|
|**Payments**|||
|Donations to CCT|6,884.22|5,881.87|
|Church maintenance|8,869.12|9,617.49|
|Capital improvements|4,708.12|2,547.00|
|Fundraising costs|690.60|422.05|
|Insurance|2,369.24|2,162.89|
|Miscellaneous and admin|2,824.24|3,278.77|
|**Total payments**|**26,345.54**|**23,910.07**|
|**Surplus/Defcit for the year**|||
|Total receipts|**27,074.31**|24,927.74|
|Total payments|26,345.54|23,910.07|
|Surplus/defcit for the year|**728.77**|**1,017.67**|
|Wall safe cash received and banked|341.81|491.46|
|**Retained event cash**|||
|£261 retained as cash foat|||
## **Friends of St Mary’s Church, Bungay**
## **Accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024**
|**Assets as at 31st December 2024**|**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
|Lloyds Bank account
|19,810.55 (B)
|19,081.78|
|Share portfolio & broker BB account|477,229.01(A)
|475,859.31|
|Share portfolio and broker General account|85,449.51 (B)|82,377.18|
|Petty Cash|0.00 (B)|0.00|
|Retained cash|261.00 (B)
|261.00|
|**Total assets**
|**582,750.07**|**577,579.27**|
|**Summary of assets as at 31st December 2024**|||
|Bowerbank bequest assets
|469,552.00 (A-C)|468,975.09|
|BB donation to be paid to the CCT for 2024|7,677.01 (C)
|6,884.22|
|General account assets|105,521.06 (B)
|101,719.96|
|**Total assets as above**|**582,750.07**
|**577,579.27**|
division of the dividends from the Bowerbank funds, was 60%/40% in favour of the Friends, and was for 10 years ending on 31[st] December 2018. It was agreed at the Friend’s committee meeting on 6[th] July 2020 to continue apportioning dividend income on the same basis, and make payment to the CCT.
|Bowerbank dividends and interest as per accounts
|Bowerbank dividends and interest as per accounts
|19,192.52
|17,210.56|
|---|---|---|---|
|Retained by the Friends of St Mary’s|60%
|11,515.51|10,326.34|
|Due to CCT|40%
|7,677.01 (C)
|6,884.22|
|Total income as above
||19,192.52|17,210.56|
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