2023-12-31-accounts - St Thomas Of Canterbury, Dodbrooke Parish Church

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St. Thomas of Canterbury Dodbrooke Parish Church Annual Report

and

Financial Statement

of the

Parochial Church Council Year ending 31st December 2023

Charity Number 800215

Priest-in-Charge (from 26" September 2023) Revd. Jacqueline Tilbury The Rectory Church Street, Kingsbridge Devon TQ7 INW

Asst. Curate (until June 2623) Reverend Matt Gorton The Vicarage Townsend Close West Alvington TQ7 30A

Licenced Lay Minister Mrs Mandy Sarjeant

Bank Lloyds Bank PLC

PCC Hon Secretary Mrs S Morgan

Independent Examiner

Mrs H Hack Helen Solomon Ltd Unit 4G, South Hams Business Park Churchstow Devon TQ7 3QH

The Parochial Church Council of St Thomas of Canterbury, Dodbrooke Annual Report for the Year Ended 31°t December 2023

Aims and Purposes

Dodbrooke PCC has the responsibility for co-operating with the Incumbent in order to promote, within the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church - pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has the responsibility for maintenance of the church building, the churchyard and the parish hall.

Objectives and Activities

The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish family. When planning our activities, the PCC has considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. We try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish family through:

¢ Worship and prayer: learning about the Gospel and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus; e Provision of pastoral care for people living within the parish, and; e Mission and outreach work.

To facilitate our work, we aim to maintain the fabric of the church building and of the parish hall, as well as the overall condition of the churchyard.

Worship and Prayer

Until an incoming Bishop of Exeter advises otherwise, our Diocesan priorities remain as Growing in Prayer, Making New Disciples and Serving the People of Devon with Joy. Our Mission Action Plan reflects these priorities and is regularly updated at PCC meetings under the leadership of our new Priest-in-Charge, Revd Jacqueline Tilbury who was welcomed to our Benefice in September 2023. Our regular service pattern has seen across-Benefice Eucharistic worship held in one of our three churches every Sunday. On the 2™ and 4" Sundays these communion services are held at St Thomas’s. An Evensong is held on the first Sunday of each month on rotation around the Benefice. Additional ‘festival’ services were celebrated at Dodbrooke during Lent, Easter, Advent and Christmas.

Our worship is enhanced by the continued dedication of an organist and by a tower captain who leads an enthusiastic team of bell-ringers. A rota for Epistle Readers and Intercessors encourages lay involvement. Morning Prayer is held on Wednesdays and Saturdays with a small number of regular attendees. On most days during the year, St Thomas’s opened from 1000-1400hrs as a minimum, for private prayer. Footfall is not monitored but entries in the Visitors Book indicate that such opening is valued. Pupils from the nearby Kingsbridge Community Primary School were welcomed into the church on three occasions — for their belated (due to a December ’22 Strep A outbreak) Christmas production in January; to ‘Experience Easter’ (- the whole school of 350+ students); to see at first hand ‘the parts of a church building’ (Year 2 only). Further involvement with the Primary School is detailed under Mission & Outreach. As a Mission Community we also draw on the richness of worship and prayer of other denominations when we join together in Churches Gathering Kingsbridge services and events.

Prayer and worship have also continued in the context of House Groups: two such groups operate within the parish attracting approximately six or seven members per meeting, including one or two persons of other Christian denominations.

As well as our regular services, we have sought to serve the communities of which we are a part through the ministry of Occasional Offices, at the milestones of the journey through life. Clergy or our LLM have officiated at 3 weddings, 1 baptism, 10 funerals either in the church or churchyard, 1 funeral at a Crematorium and a number of burials of ashes.

Deanery Synod

Two members of the Parochial Church Council sit on the Deanery Synod and one member regularly offers reports to the PCC. The Woodleigh Deanery Synod met twice in 2023. At each meeting the Archdeacon Douglas Dettmer, acting Rural Dean, welcomed everybody and opened the meeting with worship and prayer.

The business meeting followed: elements included approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting; Matters arising from those minutes; a financial report given by the Treasurer; correspondence; a time for sharing parish news. The Woodleigh Award was introduced in July 2022. This award is given to a person or group of people who have contributed to the life of the deanery. The recipients of these awards in 2023 were Martin and Liz Webb for their efforts in producing the weekly YouTube services for the Aune Valley Benefice, and Keith Steer for services to All Saints, West Alvington and St Edmunds, Kingsbridge including being churchwarden for both churches. A speaker or presentation concluded these meetings. On March 15th Archdeacon Douglas gave an update on the most recent General Synod session. On November 20th Sharon Blyth, Diocesan Children’s and Families Mission Enabler, spoke about her work. All meetings ended in a time of prayer and the Grace.

Church Fabric

The church fabric continues to be adversely affected by water ingress. Looking back to 2022, the ceiling collapse in the Tower staircase was the first indication. Part of the guttering on the north side of the church was near to collapse in the summer of 2023 and so a section was taken down and a small repair to another section was necessary. We are now awaiting contractors to replace the missing sections. The main concern in 2023 was the discovery of a large fruiting body of Dry Rot high up inside the south side of the chancel roof which has spread to the plastered walls of the Sanctuary. A detailed survey report has been obtained and repair work to the lead gully between the main roof and south roof along with replacement of failed adjacent guttering will be necessary - along with the lifting of a number of roof tiles to examine the condition of roof timbers beneath - as the first stage of any works. West Access came in the autumn to clear the gullies, gutters, downpipes and drains as part of their regular contract. Annual PAT testing and FFE servicing took place. The gas-fired, hot-air-blown heating system is old, inefficient and expensive to run and alternative heating systems are being considered. An Energy Efficiency Audit — part-financed by the Diocese to encourage the move towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 — was carried out in November. The churchyard continues to be looked after by a small dedicated team (- one employed; others volunteers) who do a wonderful job of keeping it under control. The Church Terrier and Inventory and Church Log book are up to date.

Mission and Outreach The practical application of our Mission Action Plan continues as a priority and is the subject of regular review at PCC meetings. A rota of volunteers from Dodbrooke has facilitated the church being open to the community 6 days per week for stillness, prayer and reflection. In the first half of the year our then curate led a programme of monthly visits to Care Homes to offer a short service and was also regularly leading assemblies in the primary schools of Kingsbridge and West Alvington.

The mantle for these two forms of outreach has now passed to our very able LLM who has past experience of supporting those in residential homes as well as long-standing links with local primary education.

Members have been involved in the organisation and offering of meals for school children in the holidays through the local ecumenical initiative ‘Soul Food’; other members have supported the work of the Foodbank through deliveries out into the community.

Wordwise - the Christian Bookshop and Community Café - is supported in various ways by an ecumenical group of volunteers, including members of Dodbrooke parish.

The two benefice house groups meet weekly. They are led by gifted and committed members from the Mission Community. The nurturing of disciples in these groups is integral to the development of a mission mindset within our church.

Grants totalling £865 have supported various charities both at home and abroad. Additionally, the church made regular monthly donations to the Food Bank and to Kingsbridge Youth for Christ — a support group for the young people of Kingsbridge. Our Sea Sunday service raised money for the work of the Mission to Seafarers and members also contributed to Christian Aid week. Although not overtly mission focussed, the church continued to prepare, collect and despatch shoeboxes of gifts for the Samaritans Purse initiative for children overseas. All are welcome to attend our regular and festival services as advertised on church noticeboards or via our ‘A Church Near You’ website.

Ecumenical Engagement

As a Mission Community we continue to draw upon the richness of the worship and prayer of other denominations through opportunities to join together in Kingsbridge Churches Gathering services and events. A member of our church is Chair of Churches Gathering and a parish representative is on the planning group which meets quarterly.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was recognised across the churches of the town opening with an ecumenical service. Lent Lunches were also an across-denominational affair with good support from members of our parish.

On Good Friday a Walk of Witness commenced from our church and proceeded via other churches down Fore Street to a Service of Witness on the Quay

A well-supported Bible Weekend took place in October, held across various of the town’s churches.

As has already been mentioned, the two Mission Community house groups also have an ecumenical dynamic for prayer, bible study, worship and fellowship.

The church continues to support ecumenical outreach through volunteer support for the town’s Christian Bookshop ‘Wordwise’ and through joining together there for a monthly prayer meeting.

At Christmas, our Roman Catholic brothers & sisters were warmly invited to join us once again and to participate in our regular carol service.

Financial Review

Giving to the Church of £18,599.49 through envelopes, Bankers Orders, Direct Debits and collections, was gratefully received. Many people now give directly through the Parish Giving Scheme, administered by the Gloucester Diocese. The advantage of this Scheme is that Gift Aid, where due, is automatically reclaimed and transferred to the Church bank account that same month.

Total receipts to the General Fund amounted to £51,269.49. This included income generated from lettings of the Parish Hall (£9.0K), an amount received from the Dodbrooke Feoffees (£6.6K) and dividend payments from Church and Churchyard Investment Funds (£8K and £1.2K respectively).

£69,381.35 was spent to provide the Christian ministry offered from Dodbrooke Church. That sum included our contribution of £35.8K to the Diocesan Common Fund, Church running expenses (£11.3K), Church and Churchyard maintenance (£8.3K) and Parish Hall maintenance (£8.0K). Reconciling income and expenditure

and allowing for current and deposit account balances brought forward at the beginning of the year, resulted in monetary assets of £14,286.13 in the General Fund on 31% December 2023.

Safeguarding

In compliance with Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure, 2016, the Dodbrooke PCC pays due regard to the House of Bishops policy and guidance on the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. To this end, we have a duly-appointed Parish Safeguarding Representative (who is also the Safeguarding Co-ordinator for our Benefice) and both our Safeguarding Policy Statement and Safeguarding Guidelines are reviewed annually by the PCC. Copies of the Parish Safeguarding Handbook are held by Representatives, a pdf version of the handbook is available online for reference and there is an awareness that the Church of England is developing e-manuals (eg Safer Recruitment & People Management Guidance) to complement the handbook. The Safeguarding Representative makes use of the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard to ensure that all practical requirements are kept up to date and to advise the PCC accordingly. The Representative reported no Safeguarding concerns during 2023. Three PCC members either renewed or undertook for the first time, a DBS check. Three members completed online Safeguarding training appropriate to their roles within Dodbrooke church.

Volunteers

The members of the PCC here record their sincere thanks to all the volunteers who have worked so tirelessly to ensure that our church continues to be a welcoming and open community. Our special thanks go to our Churchwarden, to the leaders of our outreach work, to the small team of volunteers who are committed to maintaining the church and its grounds, to those who lead fundraising efforts and to those involved in administration, cleaning and adornment. ‘Many hands make light work’ and, with succession planning in mind, we are always seeking more volunteers to spread the load and to joyfully sustain the life of our church. Particular acknowledgement of the unstinting efforts of two church members over many, many years need to be set on record: Mary Brett (Treasurer) whose last set of accounts follow this report and David Gidley who retired as Head Server in September 2023. Their quiet dedication and efficiency to their respective roles set a Christian example to us all.

Structure, Governance and Management

The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure, 1956 and The Church Representation Rules, 2022) anda Charity registered with The Charity Commission.

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The Council comprises the ex-Officio members (Incumbent/Asst Curate/LLM/Deanery Synod Reps) and up to 6 lay members elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) by those attendees registered on the Electoral Roll. The PCC members, as Trustees, are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance in the parish and for all financial matters. The full PCC met several times during the year. The Annual Meeting of Parishioners took place on 14‘ May 2023: one Churchwarden was elected. The APCM followed.

All those who are regular attendees at church services are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and to stand for election to the PCC.

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Administrative Information

The Church is situated at the top of Church Street, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1NW. It is part of the Deanery of Woodleigh in the Diocese of Exeter. The correspondence address is The Rectory, Church Street, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 1NW.

PCC members who have served variously from 1* January 2023 until the date that this Report was approved were:

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS

Priest-in-Charge Reverend Jacqueline Tilbury (from September 2023) Assistant Curate Reverend Matt Gorton (to June 2023) Licensed Lay Minister Mrs. Mandy Sarjeant Churchwarden Mrs. F.P. Beauchamp Deanery Synod Reps Mrs. A. Cowling Ms. S. Morgan (Secretary)

ELECTED MEMBERS

Mrs. M. Brett (Treasurer & Lay Chair) (to April 2024) Mrs. B Gidley (Safeguarding Officer) (to April 2024) Mr. R. Brett (to April 2026) Mrs. M. Davidson (resigned May 2023) Mrs. J. Greenhill (to April 2026) Mr. C. Stephens (co-opted in late 2022; elected to April 2026)

Approved by the PCC on 24" March 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

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Mrs Frances Patricia Beauchamp (Church Warden & Chair of Meeting)

: Independent examiner's report on the accounts

* CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES

Independent Examiner’s Report

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Report to the trustees of | St Thomas of Canterbury, Dodbrooke
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On accounts for the year | 31** December 2023 Charity no | 800215 ended (if any)
Set out on pages| 7 to 11 Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts.
responsibilities of The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year
trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: e examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, e to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
e to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given examiner’s statement 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 the 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 _!n connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my
examiner's statement attention which gives me cause to believe that, in any material respect: e accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or
e the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

| have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Name: | Helen Hack FCCA Relevant professional | Chartered Certified Accountant qualification(s) or body

(if any):

Helen Solomon Ltd Address: | Unit 4G, South Hams Business Park Churchstow, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 3QH

ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT — DODBROOKE CHURCH — to 31** DECEMBER 2023

RECEIPTS = | stead eae xrecovered aaa | | aoa) J 00 pte 8.27 Fees | Fransa | JJ a Income -otbervolintayResourens [|Sc /Donaons(Genea) | aaa || pose 070] R[warned a min saa ecovered fom oherchurches|—000)__|-2aga5aaae ||| J _Esvenses recovered fom oterchurhes—[S8605[ a A Tncome=AatiiestoGenerterunds [TS Sunday oringcofes || «a5 [Fandnabing as J Advers—~ais00[ ChurchFees fom alLetingsMagazine Dovavons | -908850/[aaa|naram a s ||| |JJ Paras Thcome=FurtherngWorkofthurh faa] SsleofMagacines 8800)fTaaa | fest suppiedtootierchuches Goods oo]00 | 9sarse70 | J Retention ‘cometomimesmens em ie iret on Gurent Account |8836[[assY] _Watonlsavngsimeret terest 088) a ifr fom chuehyardFund | aa0078[ | aes) | _ierest f ioo m tongcermCerda UT FundFundDepoataye |80a738|oasf | ne | | ee ee ee a Toatneceers |eeSana) sar

PAYMENTS a ‘OversetGHomeMison ||| OS) [Homewisions | 8000Seco a0) eeSeculerChates [sooo| ReltedroworkarGwe Actua ee ee Pal ConmonFund—— Church[Diesen Running pene ———SS« agahares@0 | ———Sseba0rs)| | «asta UrenGeerepenes | Meintennce/MinorRenare [Church ofseniees «| Caaasa| | ats | | «(Saas [curehRepais [Sage| see| [MessineGos SSdYCas||[zoo | [UokeepofGhurcvard [Perak =| gana || asst | | [Parah Hal l R unningepais/RenewasCons =| aseae|na? | [SekarSze | | a dd Boenset tom AdiiiestoReaieeFunds [| [Comteffundrangbvens pee |B | | ae Church Managementee@Adminle ee ee Ym [setonevets «aa Admincons «Sw [Pubhetycons [eas | J Aaminstatorsanyox Siw] eee ee sg ee | cee ra ec eee aE |= ToraLamwewts ans] | oa See

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||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Total|Receipts|51,269.49|58,897.69| |Total|Payments|69,381.35|58,862.80| |Balance|in|Restricted|Fund|b/f|2,777:285|2,723.50| |Outstanding|Fees|(from|previous|year)|paid|714.00|824.00| |Overall|Payments|72,873.20|62,410.30| |Excess of Receipts|over Payments|-21,603.71|-3,512.61| |Balance|in|Restricted|Fund|c/f|2,287.58|2,777.85| |Fees|owed|to|EDBF|580.00|714.00| |(Current a/c; Covenant a/c;|National Savings)|Bee|Pees| |06| |General Fund as at 31st December|14,286.13 ||__|33,022.26 ||

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RESTRICTED FUNDS — INCOME & EXPENDITURE

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RESTRICTED FUND (Year to 31 December 2023)
NEG
See eee
Action Against Hunger | 0.00 | Action Against Hunger 250.00
U.S.P.G. 145.00 | U.S.P.G. 180.00
Gifts recvd for Revd Matt 245.00 | Gifts to Revd Matt 532.00
eeeBalance SE es ees Ss ee
in Deposit Fund at 1 January ee ee ee 20:55
Dividends from L-T Church Repair Fund 8,073.14 Ree 8,006.34 ee
Dividends from Churchyard Fund 1,200.74 P| 1,196.11 eae a
Transfers to Lloyds Current A/c 9,238.76 Hee 9,202.45 aaa
Balance in Deposit Fund at 31 December ee 20.55
eeeBalance es ee ee
lcreein Deposit Fund at 1 January fF 6,678.01 eee 6,190.30
Interest ee ee ee ee
from Deposit Fund 218.73 P| 84.87 ae
Dividend from Investment Fund 405.07 aes 402.84 eae
Total Receipts 623.80 aay 487.71 laa
Excess of Receipts over Payments ee 623.80 maa 487.71
CBF Deposit Fund as at 31% December es | 7,301.81 | 6,678.01
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;

STATEMENT OF ASSETS & LIABILITIES

	General	Organ/Music	Repair&	TOTAL£s	£s
MONETARYASSETS	Fund £	Fund £	Churchyard Fundé	2023
GiftAidAccount National Savings	487496; 4o269		=	=
CBFDepositFunds	a		20.55		7,322.36
TOTALS	14,286.12		7,301.81;20.55

INVESTMENT ASSETS — RESTRICTED FUNDS a.Church ee ee. ees Pee Repair Investment Fund — Income Units Bae eee Churchyard Investment Fund — Income Units ae eae Organ/Music CBF Investment Fund Bae Ease

Approved by the PCC on 24" March 2024 and signed on its behalf by:

Mrs Frances Patricia Beauchamp (Church Warden & Chair of Meeting)