Page l of 12 St. Thomas of Canterbury Dodbrooke Parish Church Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council Year ending 31st December 2024 Charity Number 800215
Page 2 of 12 Prlest-ln-charge Revd. Jacqueline Tilbury The Rectory Church Street, Kingsbridge Devon TQ7 INW Llcenced Lay Minlster Mrs Mandy Sarjeant Bank Lloyds Bank PLC PCC Hon Secretary Ms Sarah Mor8an Treasurer to the PCC Mr Peter Sarjeant Independent Examlner Mrs H Hack Helen Solomon Ltd Unlt 4G, South Hams Business Park Churchstow Devon TQ7 3QH
Page 3 of 12 The Parochial Church Councll of St Thomas of Canterbury, Dodbrooke Annual Report for the Year Ended 31st December 2024 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. Objectlves and Actlvltle5 The PCC is committed to enabling as rnany 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 serrfices 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 developlng their knowledge and trust in Provision of pastoral care for people living within the parish, and; Mission and outreach work. To facllitate 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. Worshlp and Prayer Our Dlocesan priorities remain threefold: Growing in Prayer, Making New Disciples and Serving the People of Devon with Joy. Our Mission Action Plan, dating from 2020 reflects these prioritles. Our regular service pattern has seen across-Benefice eucharistic worship held in one of our three th churches every Sunday. On the 2. and 4 Sundays these communion services are held at St Thomas's. An Even50ng is held on the first Sunday of most months 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 opens from 1000-1600hrs as a minimum, for private prayer. 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 tmo occasions-to 'Experience Easterf (- the whole school, spread over several days, of 350+ students), and to see at first hand 'the parts of a church building, (Year 2 only). Further involvement with the Primary School is detsiled 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 Kingsbridge Churches Gathering's 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.
Page 4 of 12 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 for the Christian milestones of the journey through life. Collectlvely our Priest-ln-charge or LLM have officiated at 2 baptlsms, 8 funerals {elther in the church or churchyard) and 2 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. Woodleigh Deanery Synod met three times during 2024. After an opening act of worship & prayer, the Archdeacon of Totnes, Douglas Dettmer, acting Rural Dean, chaired the business section of each meeting which comprised a standard agenda incorporating a financial report and an opportunity to share parish news. th A speaker followed on each occasion. On March 11 . Ven. Verene Breed, Archdeacon of Barnstaple: th. Rural Ministry in the Exeter Diocese. On June 19 Revd. Claire Reynolds, Disability and Additional Needs Advisor: Disability Inclusion in churches. On October 23 Sarah Charker, Diocesan Creation Care and Engagement Officer: Eco-friendly churches. The meetings concluded with a time of prayer and the Grace. Church Fabrlc Work was carried out during the year to remedy leaking gullies on the vestry roof and to replace a substantial length of guttering to the North Aisle roof. Blocked drains have been cleared on the north and south sides. Following removal of the fruiting body caused by dry rot orlglnating at the wall plate of the chancel roof, lead replacement work was completed to the south side roof gulley. Adjacent roof tiles and roof timbers revealed in the course of the lead work were confirmed as sound. The effectlveness of this repair work will be verified by checking moisture levels in the Sanctuary walls prior to restoring those walls with the aim of reopening the Chancel and Lady Chapel by the end of 2025. In spite of the work carried out during 2024, the internal church fabric continues to suffer due to our increasingly damp climate and the intermittent use of the costly gas-fired air-blown heating system- the latter in part due to the 50% reduction in church services post-pandemic. As mentioned in the previous report, alternative methods of heating the church have been explored. Research included supplier visits, DAC informal advice and consultstion with our congregation. As result, a List B application was submitted for installation of an on-pew heating system that offers the most direct method of 'heating the person, at the lowest cost. The application was approved in mid- October subject to certain conditions and the latter were being resolved at the year-end with a target of installation by mid-2025. Annual PATtesting and FFE servicing took place. Goods and ornaments in the church remain unchanged The churchyard continues to be looked after by a small dedicated team {- one employed; others volunteer5) who do a wonderful job of keeping it under control. The PCC have been in discussion about the need for a handrail to facilitste access up the grassy central steps up to the top of the churchyard. The Church Terrier and Inventory and Church Log book are up to date.
Page 5 of 12 Mlsslon and Outreach A rota of volunteers from Dodbrooke has facilitated the church being open to the community up to 6 days per week for stillness, reflection and private prayer. Our LLM continued to lead a programme of monthly visits to Care Homes to offer a short service and she also leads regular assemblies in the primary schools of Kingsbridge and West Alvington. 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 Comrnunity Café- is supported in various ways by an ecumenical group of volunteers, including members of Dodbrooke parish. The benefice house groups meet weekly. They are led by gifted and comrnitted 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 totslling £968 have supported various charities both at home and abroad. The church rnade regular monthly donations to the Food Bank and to Kingsbridge Youth for Christ- a support group for the young people of Kingsbridge. An additional £385 was raised through specific events for USPG and Action Against Hunger and, in accordance with DBF instructions, was excluded from the accounts. Church members participated in Christian Aid week. Although not overtly mission focussed, the church continued to prepare, collect and despatch shoeboxes of gifts in support of the Samaritans Purse initlative for children overseas. All are welcome to attend our regular and festival services as advertised on church noticeboards or via our enhanced 'A Church Near You, website. A Defibrillator 15 located in the entrance to the Parlsh Hall. Our LLM, as PCC Health & Safety Officer, is the guardian of this device and has registered it with The Circuit, a natlonal defib network coordinated by the British Heart Foundation. Ambulance Serrfices have direct access to The Circuit website and, when in receipt of a relevant 999 call, can direct persons to the closest machine. Ecumenlcal Engagement As a Mission Community we continue to draw upon the richness of the worship and prayer of other denorninations through opportunities to join together In Kingsbridge Churches Gathering (KCG) services and events. A representative from our church is a member of the KCG 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 town 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 Christma5, our Roman Catholic brothers & sisters joined us once again to participate in our regular Service of 9 Lessons and Carols.
Page 6 of 12 nanaal Review Totsl receipts to the General Fund during 2024 amounted to £50,295.19. This included income generated from lettings of the Parish Hall {£8.IK), grant receipts from the Feoffees and VAT reclaims (£7.8K) and dividends from Church and Churchyard Investment Funds1£9K). Giving to the Church of £18,707.67- via the Parish Giving Scheme, collections, donations and gift aid reclaims- was gratefully received. £72,094.90 was spent to provide the Christian ministry offered from Dodbrooke Church. That sum included our contribution of £33.6Kto the Diocesan Common Fund, Church runnlng expenses {£3.2K>, utility costs1£4.4K) and Parish Hall running expenses {£6.5KI. Reconciling income and expenditure resulted in monetary assets {including Nl Savings) of £12,175.23 in General Funds on 31" December 2024 reduction of approximately £2K over the 12-rnonth period. Rigorous use of our various investment funds (Church Repair; Churchyard; Organ & Music) for their intended purpose enabled general cash funds to be maintained at this manageable level desplte a further year-on-year increase in expenditure over income. £19.3K was realized from sale of investments during the period, with £8K of this unspent and carried forward to 2025. Unit stock prices increased through 2024 thereby offsetting half of the potential loss of totsl investments value due to these sales. A'Fight the Fungus, fundraising campaign was launched with a Giving Day in April 2024 in response to the discovery of a large, internal fruiting body on the roof of the chancel due to dry rot and the expectstion of considerable restoration costs. Thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of our fundraiser-in-chief, Chrls Stephen5, and the generous support of Church Members and other Klngsbridge townsfolk, the Giving Day and numerous imaginative social events staged thereafter had raised £9.5K by Dec-end: repairs to date total £7.2K. Safeguardlng In compliance with Sectlon 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipllne 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 8enefice) and both our Safeguarding Policy Statement and Safeguarding Guidelines are reviewed annually by the PCC. Copies of the Parlsh Safeguarding Handbook are held by the Representative; a pdf version of the handbook is available online for reference. The Church of England has developed an e-manual (contalning, eg, 'Safer Recrultment & People Management Guldance,) to complement the handbook. The e-manual is available via the followlng link: Safe uardin e-manual The Church of En land Our Safeguarding Representstive makes use of the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard to ensure that all practlcal requlrements are kept up to date and to advlse the PCC accordlngly. The Representstive reported no Safeguarding concerns during 2024. Five PCC members completed safeguarding training, and a newly-appointed member completed their DBS Check. 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 comrnunity. 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 adornrnent. 'Many hands make light work, and, with succession planning in rnind, we are always seeking more volunteers to spread the load and to joyfully sustsin the life of our church.
Page 7 of 12 Structure, Governance and Management The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure, las6 and The church Representation kules, 2022) and a Charity registered with The Charity Commission. The method of appointment of PCC rnembers is set out in the Church Representstion Rules. The Council comprises the ex-officio members Ilncumbent/LLM/Deanery Synod Reps) and up to 6 lay members elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCMI by those attendees registered on the Electoral Roll. The PCC members, a5 Trustees, are responsible for rnaking 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 th year. The Annual Meeting of Parishioners took place on 14 April 2024: one Churchwarden was elected. The APCM followed. All those who are regular attendees at church service5 are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and to stand for election to the PCC. Admlnlstratlve Informatlon The Church is situated at the top of Church Street, Kingsbridge, TQ7 INW. It is part of the Deanery of Woodleigh in the Diocese of Exeter. The correspondence address is The Rectory, Church Street, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7 INW. PCC members who have served varlously from I" January 2024 untll the date that thls Report was approved were: EXFClo MEMBERS Prlest4n4harge Ucensed Lay Mlnlster Churchwarden Deanery Synod Reps Reverend Jacqueline Tilbury Mrs. Mandy Sarjeant Mrs. F.P. Beaucharnp Mrs. A. Cowling Ms. S. Morgan (Secretary) ELECTED MEMBERS Mrs. M Brett {Treasurer to April '24; re-elected member to April '27) Mrs. B Gidley (Safeguarding Officer. re-elected to April 2027) Mr. R Brett (to April 2026) Mrs. J Greenhill (to April 2026) Mr. C Stephens (Lay Chair) (to April 2026) Mr. W Greenhill {from April'24 to April '27} Approved by the PCC on ............................................ .'2025 and 51gned on Its behalf by: Mr Chrlstopher Stephe Chalr) Mr Peter Sarleant (Treasurer)
Page 8 of 12 CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examlner's report on the accounts Iiidependeiit Examiner's Report Report to the trustees of St Thomas of Canterbury. Dodbrooke 5t On accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 Charlty no 800215 Set out on pa8e$ q_io Respectlve responslbllltles of trustees and examlner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, The charitvs trustees conslder that an audlt is not requlred for thls year under section 144 of the Charitles Act 2011 {the Charltles Act) and that an independent examinatlon Is needed. It is my responslbllity to,, Ixamine the accounts under section 145 of the Charitiès Act, to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions glven by the Charlty Commisslon (under sectlon 145(5llbl of the Charltles Act, ènd to state whether partlcular matters have come to my attentlan. 8asl$ of Independent examlnerfs Itaternent My examlnation was carrled out in aceordanc• wlth 8en•ral Dlr•¢tlons given by the Charlty Commlsslon. An examination includes J revlew of the ac¢ountlni reeords kept by the charity and a comparlson Of the accounts prèsented with those records. It also includes ¢onslderatlon of any unusual Items or dlsclosures In the accounts, and 5•¢kins explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedure5 undertaken do not provlde all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no oplnionls 8lven as to whetherthe accounts present a 'true and fairf view and the report Is Ilmlted to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examlner's statement In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attentlon which 85ves me cause to belSeve that, in any materlal respect.. accounting records were not kept in ac¢ordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or the accounts do not accord wlth the accountlng records I have come •Gr¢55 no other matters in ¢onne¢tlon with th? examlnation to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandin8 of the accounts to be reached. Slgned: Date: Name: Relevant professlonal qualificatlonls) or body lff any): C4IAL1 ELEY) C Acc.Oi>rw-: Address: 4tsLC-rt&ii
Page 9 of 12 nancial Statements (Current & Buslness Accounts) for yr-end 3L12.2024 Churth Repair Churthyard Orfan & Music Fht the Funws Pew Heati TOTAL 2024 TOTAi 2023 RECEIPTS Regular Glvln8 PGS Fif4Th. General 12,449.77 1.725.65 I,tE9.22 3,463.03 13.928.18 1,326.40 1.339.88 3344.91 coll0n$ 3t Services Other glvin8 Gift AFd & GASDS recovered 5,641.85 3.52 123.50 Other Voluntay Reolpls Grants IFeoffees + VAT) Legacies 7,861.21 .770. 'llo. 'll70.0) 6,895.77 L05&02 Artmtles Generatlni Funds Fundr•ising activities Magazlne sales & adverts Church Hall letti ngs 1,6EQ.88 L906.47 1,853.75 508.00 8,130. 9.058.50 Income from Investments Dividends Income 9,(X)7.75 141.02 9238.76 16629 Interest Income from Offldal Offi5 3.299.75 3,044.00 Other P(elpt5 Transfers ex other churches 565.05 Udlitle5 refund 76.81 CCLI Refund 148. Total Rttelpts Sale of Investments SO2 52345S9 51,269.49 17.CLL).(L) 1X.(K) TOTALS: 50295.19 17.7nW "1287.58 9.527.84 L52 Notes- "Indudes ALL VAT refunds for more alistiC compari50n with 2023. *Undefined 'restricled fund.. 31.12.2023, allocated as Cyard funds from OLOI.2024.
Page 10 of 12 PAYMENTS FLND: General Churth Repalr Chufthrdrd or & Musk Fltht the Fun8us On-Pew Ileating TOTAL 2024 TOTAL 2023 Cost of Generatlng Funds Hi re of Mkt Hal I for Fayres Advertisi ng flyers FtF Crulse refreshments 64.96 165. 52.00 64. Churth Activltles Mission givin Diocesan Common Fund 865.00 33,645.(X) 35.828.00 0.00 Salarie5 Cler8yIStaff expenses Mission costs 464.33 264.99 Church running expenses Church insurance 3,244.30 i.frfj 14,594.35 5.011.83 Orn/pIano maintenance Churchyard running costs Utility costs Trading costs Church repairs Church buildi.ng vrkS Hal I runni ng expenses L070.LXI I,3.07 2.250.22 4.381.(B 649.43 i.(xx). 693.76 4,971.60 7,020.(X) 6.064.82 6,556.83 8,503.91 Other Payments Transfers to other churches 71.32 TOTAL5: 50.Iln.g) 9.983.43 124&07 I25L60 7.249. 360.(11 72JJ94.90 69,381.35
Page 11 of 12 ststement of Aets & Llknllltles foryr-end 3L112024 Gener•1 Churth Rep Chwdryd OT8an &Music Fight the F•nws OTrPew Heatkng TOTAL 2024 TOTAi 2023 C¥h Fu•d$ Uoyds Current Alc Uoyds Busi ne55 Alc National Savin8S CBF Deposit Fund COIF tharities Deposit Fund Tatsl Cash FurKI¥ 2,IMI.51 6,1.63 4,9.179 2.041.51 17,297.37 4,1%9.LY3 5,779.71 20.55 5.382.47 4,874.% 4,028.69 7,301.81 20.55 7,787.37 39.51 2,277.94 82L52 5.779.71 20.55 Restiirted knvestment FurN15 COIF thurch Repalr COIF O)urchyard CBF Orsan & Music 281,775.33 281.775.33 292,762.77 44,726.84 43,73&78 15,158.32 14,819.13 34L660A9 351.33x68 44,726.8A ,32 LiabiKtles Fees owed to EDBF for 423.CX) period Oct-Dec 2024 Re501utiI of General Iundesignated) Funds IR yr-end Bank Statements 31.112024 3LIZ21)23 8.Ilh14 Total: Current + Bu5 A/ Restrirted Funds l¢Jndefinedl Owed to EDBF 10,257.43 -1287.58 7.389.85 293.29 423.IX) B•laTrte broughvcarriedlfonward EX$S of GeneTrl ftecelpts over Pawhents Jan-Dec 2024 Ch¥ed to ED8F 7.389.85 Total: Current * Bus Alcs
Page 12 of 12 Foothotes to Rnandal Ststements l. The deslgnated Organ & Music fund comprises historic money set aside by the PCC to meet organ maintenance costs and for the provision of music in the church and parish hall. 2. The Church Repair and Churchyard Funds are restricted funds for the purposes defined by their respective titles. 3. The Financial Statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting RegUlaonS 2006, using the Receipts & Payments method. 4. The following assets are recognised but not valued in the Statements: The Parish Hall Moveable church furnishings held by the church warden on speclal trust for the PCC and which require a faculty Flnandal Statements approved by Dodbrooke Church PCC on: . 2025, and slgned on Its behalf by: Mr Chrlstopher Stephens (Lay Chalr) Mr Peter Sarjeant (Treasurer)