All Saints’ Church, Hartley St Mary’s Church, Fawkham Fawkham and Hartley Church Centre, Hartley
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
OF THE
FAWKHAM AND HARTLEY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
For the Year Ended 31st December 2016
Incumbent: The Reverend James Fletcher of The Rectory, 3 St. John’s Lane, Hartley, Longfield, Kent
Honorary Treasurer: Brian Jelley (Chartered Public Finance Accountant) of Abergwaun, Stack Lane, Hartley, Longfield Kent
Honorary Independent Examiner: James Colwell (Fellow of International Accountants) of The Firs, Fairby Lane, Hartley, Longfield, Kent
Bankers The Co‐operative Bank Plc of Dartford, Kent
Page 1
Fawkham and Hartley Parochial Church Council Annual Report for 2016
Administrative Information.
The Fawkham & Hartley Parochial Church Council (PCC) is part of the Diocese of Rochester within the Church of England. The correspondence address is:
The Rectory, 3 St. John’s Lane, Hartley, Longfield, Kent DA3 8ET.
The PCC is a charity registered with the Charity Commission under registration number 1130791.
Structure, Governance and Management
The function and purpose of the PCC is outlined in the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956
Objectives and Activities
Fawkham & Hartley PCC has the responsibility of co‐operating with the incumbent, the Revd. James Fletcher, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The Parish Mission Statement affirms that:
We exist: to spread the Gospel; to advance God’s Kingdom.
We seek to do this by: praying for the renewing love of the Holy Spirit; providing opportunities for worship; enabling people to grow in faith; seeking to serve those among whom we live and work; encouraging a sense of community; proclaiming the word and work of God.
We encourage others to: ‘Come and See’ ‘Come and Discover’ ‘Come and Share’ ‘Come and Be’
Page 2 The PCC has responsibility for three buildings within the parish boundaries: the Church of St. Mary, Fawkham; the Church of All Saints’, Hartley; and Fawkham and Hartley Church Centre located on Ash Road, Hartley.
PCC Membership
Members of the PCC are either ex‐officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.
During the year the following served as members of the PCC:
Rector & Incumbent The Revd. James Fletcher Chairman
Curate The Revd. Melanie Jemmett
Churchwardens Valerie Campbell 2013‐2018 Andrew Gray 2015‐2020 Members of the Deanery Synod Norma Crowe 2014‐2017 Marian Kneller 2014‐2017 Sheila Howsam 2014‐2017
Elected Members Catherine Bateman 2013‐2016 Sue Carter 2013‐2016 Barbara Sissons 2013‐2016 Andrew Gray 2014‐2017 James Nash 2014‐2017 Kim Vale 2014‐2017 John Waller 2014‐2017 Jane Burns (resigned 2016) 2015‐2018 Anne Senneck 2015‐2018 Steve Pitcher 2015‐2018 Malcolm Harris 2015‐2018 Brian Bowes 2016‐2019 Jean Hunt 2016‐2019 Christine Hoad 2016‐2019 Barbara Mayer 2016‐2017 Tony Lyne (Co‐opted 2015‐16) 2016‐2019 Brian Jelley (Co‐opted) Peter Mayer(Co‐opted)
PCC Committees
The PCC operates through a number of committees and teams, which meet between full meetings of the PCC. These are detailed below:
Page 3
Finance and Standing Committee The primary function is to deal with parish finances i.e. to monitor income and expenditure to nurture Christian stewardship in the parish to prepare the annual budget
It also fulfils the role of the Standing Committee by transacting the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any directions given by the PCC. The committee is formed of the Rector, Churchwardens, Treasurer, PCC Secretary and the Buildings Committee Chair.
Ministry Team The task of the Ministry Team is to: take an overall view of the worship offered in the parish, looking at the balance of services held throughout the year; review the worship, highlighting strengths and suggesting improvements; serve in an advisory capacity to the PCC in terms of liturgical developments and service patterns. in addition, with the Churchwardens and Parish Administrator, we also discuss any pastoral news and business related to other Parish matters.
Group Council (previously known as the ‘Cluster Group’) Alongside the Parishes of Ash, Ridley and Longfield we have formed the ‘Rural North West Kent Group’ ministry, to discover continued ways of working and worshipping together. The work of our Group is reported back to the PCC and each Parish has two representatives plus clergy. Andrew Gray and Bob Kneller are the Fawkham and Hartley representatives. John Harding is the Group Chair.
Prayer groups Clergy and others lead the Daily Office weekday mornings (not Friday) to pray for the needs of the world, church, local community and those in need. During 2016 we have continued to develop Prayer breakfast meetings which have been well supported and also given different people opportunities to lead and host. Mothers Prayers was set up during 2014 to develop a prayer group to specifically pray for children and families. There is also a Deanery Prayer Group and monthly prayer guide at the back of our Churches. During 2016 a new Prayer for Healing Team was set up, so that people could ask for prayers for healing either during or after a Sunday service. Revd Mell also trained new people to help lead our prayers of intercessions during services.
Sunday Club Team The team runs the Sunday Club that is held during the 10.30am service at the Church Centre throughout term times.
Youth Group This group is for young people of secondary school age, and meets across the RNWK Group. They meet once a month on a Sunday evening during term time from 7.00pm – 8.30pm.
Page 4
Summer Holiday Club Team This team organises and leads the annual Summer Holiday Club for children of Primary School age which is held at the end of August.
Messy Church Messy Church meets on Saturdays once a month between 4‐6 pm for a time of worship, arts and crafts and sharing a meal together. This is a time which everyone is welcome to share in, be it as leader or coming along to worship.
Visiting Team The organisation and delivery of pastoral care is shared by the Rector, Curate and the Visiting Team. Pastoral care focuses on: immediate pastoral need such as illness, hospitalisation, and relationship difficulties; on‐going care of the housebound, the isolated and the elderly; care for the next‐of‐kin after funerals. Members of the Visiting Team also conduct services in the residential homes (Old Downs and Fairby Grange) once a month, and at the Wellfield Sheltered Housing Community Centre on an occasional basis.
Bereavement Team The Bereavement Team is aimed at having a larger group of people who can help the Visiting Team support those in our Parish who are bereaved and in need of help. The group is led by the Curate and a Bereavement team co‐ordinator.
Marriage Preparation Team This team organises the annual marriage preparation morning for all those couples getting married in the parish during the course of the year.
Assemblies Team This small team leads assemblies in the schools of the parish and also advertises the major events happening for young people at the Church (eg. Holiday Club, Messy Church).
Social Committee The role of the social committee is to initiate and encourage fellowship in the parish by arranging various social events and organising refreshments at Cafe Church.
Women’s Fellowship This meets on the third Tuesday of every month, except over the summer. It has a varied programme of speakers and activities.
Men’s Group This meets two or three times a year, to get to know each other socially and provide support to each other.
Pop‐in Parlour This meets every Thursday morning at the Church Centre from 10 am to 12 noon
Page 5 when tea, coffee and cakes are available. This provides a much‐needed focus of friendship for many people in the parish.
Mission Links This works to develop links with the charities supported by the parish and to make recommendations for the parish’s away‐giving. It seeks to maintain a worldwide perspective in the parish of the work of the Church. In the last year, this group has continued its strong links with Fawkham School and the Banni School in the Gambia, with funds being raised for a new classroom. We have also supported the work of the Bible Society, Tearfund and the Diocesan Hope and Poverty Appeal, as well as other Charities at Christmas and Easter.
Local Churches Together The Rector and two parish representatives sit on this ecumenical committee which works to plan and promote ecumenical events together with the Roman Catholic Parish of St. Francis de Sales, the United Reformed Church of Hartley (which sadly closed in 2016) and the Anglican Parishes of Ash cum Ridley and Longfield. Main events include the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in January and the Women’s World Day of Prayer in March. At the end of Holy week is the Good Friday Project for children and the Walk of Witness for adults. The One World Week frugal lunch is held in October.
Buildings Committee The function of this committee is to manage, on behalf of the PCC, the two historic churches of All Saints’, Hartley, and St. Mary’s, Fawkham, and the modern Fawkham and Hartley Church Centre.
Fete Committee Members of this committee have the responsibility of organising the annual parish fete which is held at Church Meadow, Fawkham in May.
Fundraising Committee This new committee plans a yearly timetable of once a month fundraising activities. So far this is a proving a great success.
The Friends of All Saints’, Hartley and The Friends of Fawkham Church The Friends of All Saints’ Church, Hartley and the Friends of Fawkham Church are established with their own charitable status. These two organisations bring together those in the community who have an interest in and a concern for the two historic churches in the parish. Through various events they also raise funds for the purpose of assisting the PCC in the care, maintenance and preservation of these churches, particularly through giving financial assistance to specific projects agreed with the PCC.
Administration The Parish Administrator is Mrs. Marion Strachan. During 2016 she worked in the Parish Office from Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon (and until 3 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursdays). Phyllis Conroy co‐ordinates bookings of the Church Centre.
Page 6
Achievements and Performance
Church attendance
There are 168 parishioners on the church electoral Roll, 47 of whom are not resident within the parish. 8 names were added during the year and 4 were removed death and another 2 parishioners became non‐residential as they moved away from the parish and another 1 took holy orders. 2 residential parishioners relocate during the year and became non‐ residential members. The average weekly attendance, counted during October 2016, excluding School services and Messy Church, was 107 adults plus 13 children/young people, but this number increased at festivals particularly at Christmas, Easter and also at Baptisms.
Review of the year
The full PCC met 6 times during the year with an average attendance of 13. Committees met between meetings and minutes of their deliberations were received by the full PCC and discussed where necessary.
Significant events of the year included:
In January: Local Churches Together Unity Service for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Parish ‘Open Evening’ to discuss the future of the Parish and Cluster. Burns Night Fundraiser.
In February: Cluster Ash Wednesday services. Local Churches Together Lent Groups.
In March: Women’s World Day of Prayer. Cluster Compline’s during Holy Week. Cluster Wedding preparation morning. Friends of Fawkham Church AGM Cluster Maundy Thursday service. Ecumenical Good Friday Project and Walk of Witness on Good Friday. Easter Day sunrise service and joint service at All Saints’ Church.
In April: APCM followed by Bring and Share lunch. St George’s Uniformed Group service at The Church Centre. Area Dean’s Residential. Friends of All Saints’ Church AGM
Page 7
In May: The annual Summer Church Fete at Fawkham meadow. Christian Aid week and walk. Deanery Ascension Day service at Meopham. Big Church Day Out Trip
In June: Deanery Confirmation Service at Southfleet. Deanery day pilgrimage. Revd Mell part of Holy Land pilgrimage.
In July: Outdoor service and Parish BBQ at The Rectory. The annual Sunday Club service and school Leavers services. Clergy Chapter residential. Healing service and new Healing Team is formed.
In August: ‘Guardians of Ancora’ Holiday Club and service.
In September: Parish Day at St. Mary’s to mark our Patronal Festival. Friends of Kent Churches Bike Ride URC celebration service to mark the end of its time in Hartley.
In October: Harvest Festival. The Parish Charity Golf Competition. Stewardship Sunday. All Saints’ Patronal. Departed Loved Ones service.
In November: Cluster Advent Carol Service. Remembrance Day services. Church Centre Quiz night. Christmas Fair. Proposal put in for our Cluster to become the ‘Rural North West Kent’ Group. Holy Land Presentation evening in preparation for 2018 pilgrimage.
In December: Joint Schools Carol Service at Milestone School. Messy Nativity followed by Christmas lunch. Advent ‘Messy Sheep’ project. Well attended Christmas services. Plus, Carol singing at ‘The Rising Sun’, Fawkham.
Page 8
Financial review Total receipts on ordinary (unrestricted) funds were £108,581 and are as detailed in the Financial Statements. Resources expended totalled £101,207 and these are also detailed in the financial statements.
The net result for the year was an excess of income over expenditure of £7,374. This sum is thus added to general reserves, which thus increase to £578,464. This figure includes the deemed cost of the Church Centre as a tangible fixed asset of £520,000.
Future plans and concerns. This will be explored in depth at our APCM on Sunday 2nd April 2017. However, a major project for the coming year is how the RNWK Group will work together more especially with the possibility of less clergy across the Parishes. A new Sunday service rota across the Group will begin March 2017 to enable the clergy to offer sacramental ministry across the Group. The Rector will be on Sabbatical May – Aug 2017, so cover for many aspects of his work is being planned. Volunteers in the parish amount to over 100 hours of unpaid work per week and has saved the parish a great deal of money. So future plans to encourage more volunteers and giving will be thought through. More Sunday services will need to be lay‐led, and therefore the encouragement of Vocations will be highlighted.
Reserves and investment policies
It is the policy of the PCC to maintain free reserves of some £20,000 to £30,000 in order to cover for unforeseen financial challenges. At 31st December 2016, this figure stood at £23,663.
It is the policy of the PCC to invest funds not immediately required with the Rochester Diocese.
Risk Management Risk assessments and inventories of fixtures, fittings, property and belongings have been completed at our three places of worship. The child protection policy is in operation, implemented by our child protection representative and monitored by the PCC.
Quinquennial repair works continue under the management of the PCC’s Buildings Committee in order to ensure the safety of the buildings and maintain these in good order.
……………….. Approved by the PCC on 14th March 2017 and signed on its behalf by the Revd. James Fletcher (Rector)
Page 9 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF FAWKHAM AND HARTLEY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the Year ended 31st December 2016 2016 2015 ITEM NOTE Unrestricted Restricted Endowment TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds Funds FUNDS FUNDS
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Voluntary Income (Direct Giving) 2a 66424 48373 0 114797 64413 Activities for Generating Funds 2b 11813 0 0 11813 21777 Income from Investments 2c 312 0 0 312 356 Incoming resources-Charitable activities 2d 28912 0 0 28912 16118 Other Income 2e 1120 0 0 1120 135
TOTAL INCOME 108581 48373 0 156954 102799
EXPENDITURE
Fund Raising - Trading Expenses 3g 1178 0 0 1178 1344 Church Activities 3h 100029 16575 0 116604 120102
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 101207 16575 0 117782 121446
NET INCOME (Prior to 7374 31798 0 39172 -18647 Recognised Gains and Losses)
Gains on Investment Assets Realised (on Sale/Disposal) 0 0 0 0 0 Unrealised (Revaluations) -Fixed Assets 0 0 0 0 0 Unrealised (Revaluations) -Investment Assets 0 0 430 430 52 Sub Totals 0 0 430 430 52
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 7374 31798 430 39602 -18595
Balances B/Fwd at 1st January 2016 571090 16394 3871 591355 609950
Balances C/Fwd at 31st December 2016 578464 48192 4301 630957 591355
The notes on the following pages form part of this account
Page 10 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF FAWKHAM AND HARTLEY
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2016 2016 2015 ITEM NOTE Unrestricted Restricted Endowment TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds Funds FUNDS FUNDS
FIXED ASSETS Tangible fixed Assets 5a 520000 0 0 520000 520000
Investment Assets 5b 0 0 4301 4301 3871
Sub Total 520000 0 4301 524301 523871
CURRENT ASSETS Stock 0 0 0 Debtors 7 5379 0 0 5379 1600 Deposit-Diocesan Loan Fund 19845 19845 19772 Short Term Deposits(Repair funds) 40202 40202 35434 Cash at Bank and in hand 2855 48192 51047 15681
Sub Total 68281 48192 0 116473 72487
LIABILITIES:AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 8 9817 0 0 9817 5003
NET CURRENT ASSETS 58464 48192 0 106656 67484 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES
TOTAL NET ASSETS 578464 48192 4301 630957 591355
PARISH FUNDS Unrestricted 9 578464 578464 571090 Restricted 9 48192 48192 16394 Endowment 9 4301 4301 3871
TOTALS 578464 48192 4301 630957 591355
The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standards
APPROVED BY THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF FAWKHAM & HARTLEY ON ??th March 2017 AND SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY :
Jim Fletcher-Chairman
Brian Jelley - Hon Treasurer
The notes on the following pages form part of these accounts
Page 11 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF FAWKHAM AND HARTLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2016 (continued)
2016 2015 ITEM NOTE Unrestricted Restricted Endowment TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds Funds FUNDS FUNDS
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Voluntary Income (Direct Giving) Gift Aid Donations 34475 34475 31519 Tax recoverable 11470 11470 10311 Other Income 0 0 0 Collections (open plate) 10129 10129 8601 Gift days 0 0 0 Grants 0 41640 41640 0 Donations. Appeals etc 7350 6733 14083 13982 Legacies 3000 3000 0 Sub Total 2a 66424 48373 0 114797 64413
Activities for generating funds Summer Fete/Christmas Fayre 11813 11813 8931 Sub Total 2b 11813 0 0 11813 21777
Income from Investments: Dividends & Interest 2c 312 0 0 312 356
Income from Church activities Church hall lettings 14862 0 0 14862 12846 Fees 14050 14050 16118 Sub Total 2d 28912 0 0 28912 16118
Other Income: Insurance Claim 2e 1120 0 0 1120 135
TOTAL INCOME 108581 48373 0 156954 102799
EXPENDITURE
Raising Funds
Summer Fete expenses 1178 1178 1283 Other 0 0 61 Sub Total 3g 1178 0 0 1178 1283
Page 12 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF FAWKHAM AND HARTLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2016 (continued)
ITEM 2016 2015 NOTE Unrestricted Restricted Endowment TOTAL TOTAL Church Activities including Grants Given Out Funds Funds Funds FUNDS FUNDS
Missionary & Charitable giving: "-Missionary Societies 500 500 0 2 "-Church overseas 500 500 0 "-Secular charities 0 0 0 "-Home Missions & Other 500 500 3000
Restricted items-Expended in year 16575 16575 6479 Donation to Diocese 53000 53000 53000 000 Rectory Maintenance 3255 3255 3123 Ministry Team Expenses 4103 4103 7017 Church Maint & Repairs-Direct Costs 7761 7761 22498 Upkeep of Services 1531 1531 1091 Churchyard upkeep 6298 6298 1864 Church hall running costs 9867 9867 8918 Other-KATCH/Nurture of Faith 1402 1402 580 Sub Total 88717 16575 0 105292 0 107570 Church Activities-Administrative costs
Parish Administrator-Total Cost 8643 8643 8782 Printing, Stationery & Bank Charges 2249 2249 3048 Computer & Other 420 420 702 Sub Total 11312 0 0 11312 12532 Sub Total-All Church Activities 3h 100029 16575 0 116604 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 101207 16575 0 117782 121446
NET INCOME (Prior to 7374 31798 0 39172 -18647 Recognised Gains and Losses)
Page 13 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF FAWKHAM AND HARTLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2016 (continued)
ITEM 2016 2015 NOTE Unrestricted Restricted Endowment TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds Funds FUNDS FUNDS STAFF COSTS Wages and Salaries Social Security Costs 9716 9716 11191 Pension costs 0 0 0 000 Total Staff Costs 9716 0 0 9716 11191 The only direct employees of the PCC in the year were the Parish Administrator and 2 part time cleaners for church buildings. No employee of the PCC earned £50,000 or more.
PAYMENTS TO PCC MEMBERS No direct payments to PCC members for travelling or similar expenses were made during 2016 A small immaterial portion of the expenses paid to the incumbent may have related to his services as Chairman of the PCC.
No other payments or expenseswere paid to any other PCC member,persons closely connected to them or related parties.
There were no transfers between Restricted and Unrestricted funds during the year
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible: Church Hall: Valuation At 1st January 2016 520000 520000 Additions at cost 0 0 5a Total at 31st December 2016 520000 520000 Depreciation At 1st January 2016 0 0 Less Disposals 0 0 Add Charges for year 0 0 Total at 31st December 2016 0 0 The Church hall is shown at its valuation on 31st December 2001. No depreciation is charged.
Page 14 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF FAWKHAM AND HARTLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2016 (continued)
ITEM 2016 2015 NOTE Unrestricted Restricted Endowment TOTAL TOTAL Funds Funds Funds FUNDS FUNDS Investments:
Market Value at 1st January 2016 0 0 3871 3871 3819 Disposals at carrying value 0 0 0 0 0 Purchases at cost 0 0 0 0 0 Revaluation Gain/Loss 0 0 430 430 52
Total at 31st December 2016 0 0 4301 4301 3871
The market value of investments at 31st December 2016 was £4301. These investments are for Endowment funds only.
Unrestricted funds 0 0 0 0 0 Restricted funds 0 0 0 0 0 Endowment funds 0 0 4301 4301 3871 Sub Total 5b 0 0 4301 4301 3871 Debtors (Unrestricted funds)
Gift Aid Recoverable 5379 5379 1600 Prepayments and accrued interest 0 0 0 Other Debtors 0 0 0 Sub Total 7 5379 0 0 5379 1600 Liabilities Amounts falling due in one year (unrestricted funds):-
Accruals for utility and other costs 0 0 0 0 0 Other Creditors 9817 0 0 9817 5003 Parish Share 0 0 0 0 0 Sub Total 8 9817 0 0 9817 5003 Funds The balance on restricted funds at 31st December 2016 relates to a variety of charitable holdings paid ovr to those charities in 2017 plus moneys held for the repair of St Mary's Church and for one research project
The two small endowment funds relate to the Crick and King endowments where the interest on both of these can be spent on general church works.
Summary of Fund movements
Balance at 1st January 2016 571090 16394 3871 591355 609950 Incoming resources 108581 48373 0 156954 102799 Resources expended 101207 16575 0 117782 121446 Investment gains/losses 0 0 430 430 52 Balance at 31st December 2016 9 578464 48192 4301 630957 591355 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND
Tangible fixed assets 520000 0 0 520000 520000 Investment fixed assets 0 0 4301 4301 3871 Current assets 68281 48192 0 116473 72487 Liabilities:- Amounts falling due in 1 year 9817 0 0 9817 5003 Amounts falling due after 1 year 0 0 0 0 0 Total 9 578464 48192 4301 630957 591355
Page 15 STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR ENDED 31ST December 2015 ITEM 2015 Unrestricted Restricted Endowment TOTAL Funds Funds Funds FUNDS INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Voluntary Income (Direct Giving) 56275 8138 0 64413 Activities for Generating Funds 21777 0 0 21777 Income from Investments 356 0 0 356 Incoming resources-Charitable activities 16118 0 0 16118 Other Income 135 0 0 135 0 TOTAL INCOME 94661 8138 0 102799
EXPENDITURE
Cost of generating Income 61 0 0 61 Fund Raising - Trading Expenses 1283 0 0 1283 Church Activities 101091 6479 0 107570 Governance Costs 12532 0 0 12532
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 114967 6479 0 121446
NET INCOME (Prior to Recognised Gains and Losses) -20306 1659 0 -18647
Gains on Investment Assets Realised (on Sale/Disposal) 0 0 0 0 Unrealised (Revaluations) -Fixed Assets 0 0 0 0 Unrealised (Revaluations) -Investment Assets 0 0 52 52
Sub Totals 0 0 52 52
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS -20306 1659 52 -18595
Balances B/Fwd at 1st January 2015 591396 14735 3819 609950
Balances C/Fwd at 31st December 2015 571090 16394 3871 591355
Page 16 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF FAWKHAM AND HARTLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31st December 2016
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The PCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared under the charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCCs and with the regulations “true and fair view” provisions. It is also the first year that they have been prepared under FRS102 (2016) as the applicable accounting standards and the 2016 version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP(FRS102)).
ASSETS Consecrated and benefice property In so far as consecrated and benefice property of any kind is excluded from the statutory definition of “charity” by section 10(2) (a) and (c) of the charities Act 2011 such assets are not capitalised in the financial statements.
Moveable church furnishings These are capitalised at cost where the cost exceeds £4000 and then depreciated over their useful life. All items are included in the church inventory in any case.
Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year and cost at least £4000. They are valued at cost or, for gifts in kind, at a reasonable estimate of their open market value on receipt
Depreciation is calculated to write off the capitalized cost of fixed assets less their current anticipated residual fair value Land Nil Fixtures and Fittings 10 years. Computers 3 years
Investments Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange or whose value derives from them are valued at market value at the year end.
Short term deposits These represent the cash held with the Rochester Diocese.
Page 17
FUNDS Unrestricted Funds These funds represent the income funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restriction regarding their use and are available for spending on the general purposes of the PCC including amounts designated by the PCC for fixed assets for its own use in spending on a future project and which are therefore not included in its “free reserves” as disclosed in the trustees’ report.
Restricted funds These are those income funds that have been given or raised for specific purposes and must therefore only be spent on those items and not used for general PCC work. The major item in 2016 relates to a grant received under the “Listed Places of Worship” scheme for repair work at St Mary’s Church, where the repair work is due to take place in 2017.
Endowment funds These are restricted funds that must be retained as trust capital either permanently or subject to a discretionary power to spend capital as income and where the use of any income or other benefit derived from the capital may be restricted or unrestricted. Details of these are shown in the notes to the accounts.
The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include financial statements of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.
Incoming resources Voluntary income and capital resources
Collections are recognised when received on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving is recognised only when received. Tax recoverable on Gift Aid donations is recognised when the income is recognised. Grants and legacies to the PCC are accounted for as soon as the PCC is notified of its legal entitlement, the amount due is quantifiable and its ultimate receipt by the PCC is reasonably certain. Funds raised by the fete, any garden parties and similar events are accounted for gross.
Other income Rental income from the letting of church premises is recognised when received.
Page 18
Income from investments Dividends are accounted for when due and payable and interest entitlements are accounted for as they accrue. Tax recoverable on such income is recognised in the same accounting year.
Gains and losses on investments
Realised gains or losses are recognised when investments are sold. Unrealised gains or losses are accounted for on revaluation of the investments at the end of the financial year.
Volunteer help The value of volunteer help received is not included in the accounts but is referred to in the Trustees Annual Report.
Expenditure and Liabilities
Liabilities are recognised as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation and settlement is probable and quantifiable
Grants and donations are recognised in the accounts when a commitment has been made externally and there are no preconditions still to be met for entitlement to the grant that remain within the control of the PCC.
ASSETS
Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment Equipment costing over £4,000 and used within the church premises will be capitalised and depreciated on a straight-line basis over their anticipated useful economic life. Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £4000 or less are written off when the asset is acquired.
Investments Investments are valued at market value at 31st December.
Current assets Amounts owing to the PCC at 31st December by way of fees or other income are shown as debtors less provision for any amounts that may prove uncollectable.
Other current assets include cash held on deposit either with the Rochester Diocesan office or at the bank.
Page 19 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE PCC OF FAWKHAM & HARTLEY
I report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31st December 2016, which are set out in the attached pages.
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PCC AND EXAMINER
As members of the PCC you are trustees and are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Church’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed
As your independent examiner it is my responsibility to:- Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act and To state whether particular matters have come to attention.
BASIS OF THIS REPORT
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC 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 you as 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 EXAMINER’S STATEMENT
Since the gross income for the year exceeds the amount provided in section 145(3) of the Act, I confirm that I am qualified to act as Independent Examiner under the provisions of that section of the Act and that my qualification is shown below. ,
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements a) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act, and b) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
2) to which in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
(Signed) ……………………….
J Colwell, The Firs, Fairby Lane, Hartley, Longfield KENT DA3 8DA
March 2017
Page 20 RECTOR’S REFLECTIONS A P C M 12.00pm 2nd April 2017 Fawkham and Hartley Church Centre
Are you excited?!! Don’t cheer too loudly yet because I haven’t asked you why you might be excited! Yes, Easter is around the corner which is exciting and today’s APCM should excite us. Our meeting is not just a series of reports but an opportunity to celebrate the last year and also be excited about the year to come. Therefore, for this coming year we elect new PCC and Deanery Synod members to represent us and help us with important decision making about our present and future. A huge thank you to Andrew and Valerie for all their support as Churchwardens and being willing to stand for another year. Be gentle with them during my impending sabbatical as they will have a lot on!
But there is another reason I get very excited once we make the transition in to April. Yes, this month brings us the start of the English cricket season! Now I have either lost some folk completely with that comment or I have just witnessed some of you sitting a bit more upright in your chairs and looking attentive! Whatever you think of the great English game of ‘willow on leather’, the start of a new cricket season did make me think of three illustrations that I hope highlight the transition we have made in the parish during this last year and where God may be leading us at this time.
Firstly, I was reminded the other day of how bad a state English cricket was in back in the 1990’s. A team who didn’t win much yet bizarrely had some really good players and a half-decent captain. So why didn’t they win more? A lot boiled down to not playing together as a team. Yes, in every match there would often be a couple of great individual performances but never a gelling together of teamwork. Less qualified teams would often beat them due to a greater team ethic.
1
I often think the Church of England is a bit like this. Lots of amazing individual parishes but a lack of team work across the board. If only we could pull together more in our organisational structures and show folk that there is a lot to be positive about in the Church compared with the spiritual decline that the press keep wanting to talk about. Yet team work in such a big organisation is hard to achieve. But locally, every parish in the UK could try harder. I know of stories where many parishes just like to keep themselves to themselves, or adding to my cricket illustration, many parishes like to be competitive and try and out-do the other local parishes. Not quite sure that is why the parish system was first set-up. Over this last year, you have had a detailed report and talks from me around our transition to working more closely with our neighbouring parishes, so I won’t repeat all that here. However, our Cluster work alongside Ash, Longfield and Ridley has resulted in us becoming a part of the Rural North West Kent Group of Churches. In our Annual Report you will see some references to the word ‘Cluster’ as we are reflecting back on work when we were a Cluster over the last year, but now we move to being called a ‘Group’. And I think any good Group needs that team work ethic. I think there is so much more we can achieve through working together, rather than each of these local parishes being good individually. I heard our Archdeacon speak earlier this week who said let’s be honest, although we speak a lot about ‘growth’ in the Church of England there is also a lot of decline. And even where there are signs of growth, there is still so many other people to reach. A huge percentage of this generation under 40 know nothing about Jesus or have a very negative outlook on how the Church is trying to teach about who Jesus is. So together, I think we can have a greater vision in how we reach out to more people. This last year, it has been great sharing with our friends in the rest of the Group, coming together more to worship and socialise, and I hope you have enjoyed a greater depth of preachers! Thank you to my clergy colleagues who I work alongside – I see Dylan is here today. It is a privilege to work with such supportive colleagues. So firstly, hang on to the team work ethic, which thankfully English cricket has got better at!
Secondly, what I love about cricket and many sports for that matter is the different emotions involved. Disappointment when you don’t win, sadness and frustration when injured, but then the sheer elation and joy when your team
2 wins and the celebrations that follow. In parish life, we can all experience frustrations and disappointments. A decision that I and the PCC make will please some but not others. This is all part of growing together and can sometimes be a test of our faith. I’m sure Jesus would have got frustrated and disappointed in the situations he found himself in. But in all this is an opportunity to keep trusting God and helping Him working His purpose out through us. In a world that craves results, achievement and success, as Christians we follow a model that turns all this on its head, and we may never know what seeds we are sowing with other people. The emotion of sadness each year is often felt with those we know in our community who have sadly died, and we will miss many of them who have sadly passed away this last year.
But although Church life isn’t about gloating or being competitive, we should celebrate our successes more. When you look at our Annual Report, one of the lovely tasks attached to it is listing all the events and activities of the last year and recognising where God has been at work. We celebrate coming together more as a Group, and I’d like to thank you for trying out different places of worship to try and bring our congregations together. Our new rota will permanently have a 4th Sunday joint parish eucharist, and I think last Sunday showed how good that can be. Yes, it was Mothering Sunday which always draws in a number but also, we celebrated with Norman and Carol their Golden wedding, and it really felt such a good community occasion. And yet, last week we couldn’t ignore what had happened with the London terrorist attack, so our prayers felt very meaningful. So, good and bad, sadness and happiness, disappointment and hope. We’re in all this together, not as individuals.
Whilst I mention about celebrations can I thank you all hugely for such a brilliant fundraising effort this last year. Andrew and Brian will speak about how we have turned things around financially in this last year and so much of that has been to your response from the plea I made at last year’s APCM. Plus, the huge hard work of the fundraising committee which we formed last year and they have organised some brilliant events. We mustn’t rest on our laurels though, so do please keep reflecting and being challenged by the importance of stewardship and giving. At this point, I would like to bless our fundraising through our coffee
3 cups campaign here on the altar. Many of you have been saving these last 6 months so thank you (BLESSING).
The Church is not immune from rising costs and repair works on our buildings so thank you for all your support.
Finally, my third illustration from the world of cricket comes with the word, ‘waiting’. Not a word that sells many cricket tickets these days. I personally like the traditional format of Test cricket, played over 5 days where players need to be patient and batsmen must wait for the right delivery to be able to play a long and match winning innings. In the last decade or so, there is a very successful format of cricket now called 20/20. A shorter, faster and for many people a more exciting format of the game. Every ball though is trying to be hit for a big shot so not a great deal of strategy involved.
I do think we are living in a rapidly changing world where people are not particularly good at ‘waiting’. They want instant success and glory without the hard work being put in. And the huge increase in our reliance on social media and networking potentially gives us shorter concentration spans. In Church life though, we have this gift of ‘waiting’. That coming to know God in our lives will take a lifetime and even then, we simply capture a glimpse. So, we should not approach todays APCM as a 20/20 fixture. We are in for the long-haul of a patient innings, which yes, might bring us some satisfaction but ultimately is for the good of the team. Yes, any Church makes decisions for the present but also must think ahead to its future, which may mean others may well benefit more from our decisions than we do. But I pray that you find it exciting knowing we are providing for the future here locally.
When everything around us is changing, the Church needs to be a part of those changes and not be so resistant. The change of what God promises to us in his future Kingdom should mean we should not fear change now. I think the birth of the Rural North West Kent Group of Churches can lead to greater things and the next stage of our local history in making God known to others. I was listening to a ‘pause for thought’ on Radio 2 on Thursday and the person speaking paid tribute to Chuck Berry who recently died aged 90. Chuck Berry was one of the
4 founders of ‘rock and roll music’. A new music style that worried many back in the 1950’s as it seemed to be breaking with tradition, but excited many and here we are 65 years later knowing the birth of rock and roll has led to so many amazing musical developments in society. In life, new ideas are always being born but many things may have to die in the process. But just see how this new life can transform so much in society. These themes are what we will be experiencing soon in Holy Week, so let’s journey together through them. So, as we move towards Holy Week, may we know the transforming power of our Lord.
Thank you for your patience in listening.
Here’s to the year ahead.
5
Parish of Fawkham and Hartley Annual Parochial Church Meeting April 2017
Churchwardens Report
We are pleased to present our report to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
Rural North West Kent Group of Churches The last year has been one of significant change for our Parish, our churches and our congregations. In December 2016, we became part of the newly formed Rural North West Kent Group of Churches alongside our sister parishes of Longfield, Ash and Ridley. Whilst we have worked together as an informal cluster for many years, this new legal framework gives more certainty to our long term future and provides wonderful opportunities to work together to further God’s mission in our local area. Your churchwardens were fully involved in the discussions surrounding the creation of this Group and wholly support the outcomes. Whilst we are excited by the opportunities presented by the new arrangements, we recognise that the resultant change to service patterns and times has caused anxiety and upset for some, particularly those who are used to worshipping at a particular church and time on a Sunday. The changes were necessary to support the expected future reduction in the number of stipendiary clergy as our current priests retire or move to new posts. Clearly serving six churches within the Group with a reduced number of clergy is a challenge, but one that we can meet with goodwill on all sides. The early indications are that our congregations are getting used to the new, sometimes earlier, Sunday service times, and beginning to travel willingly to services at other churches, particularly our monthly Joint Parish Eucharist being held on the fourth Sunday of each month at St Mary’s Church. If anyone is having difficulty travelling to any of our new services, please contact a churchwarden as lifts can be arranged.
Our Church Family We must start by saying a heartfelt thank you to Jim, our Rector, who continues to provide such wonderful spiritual guidance and pastoral care to us all. We wish him well as he prepares to start his well-deserved sabbatical in May, and hope that this will provide an opportunity for reflection, study, relaxation and more time with his family. We look forward to welcoming him back in late August; refreshed, full of new ideas and ready to face new challenges. We will, of course, do our best to keep things running smoothly in his absence.
As we approach the last year of Mel’s curacy, we can now fully appreciate her enormous contribution to the spiritual life of the Parish. She approaches her ministry with a gentleness that is grounded in Scripture and open to the Holy Spirit. Many of us have benefited from her support and pastoral care, and you cannot help but be motivated by her enthusiasm and laughter. We have seen her grow in confidence and maturity during her time with us and, when she does choose to leave, we are certain that she will become a very fine parish priest. We will miss her very much.
We also give thanks for the other members of our ministry team; Wendy, Angie, Rachel and Shirley. We recognise that increased demands are being placed on them as they are being asked to lead more services, take more school assemblies and make more pastoral visits. We are truly grateful for all they
1 do. We must also say thank you to our pastoral, bereavement and healing teams who do so much to minister to us all in times of need.
One aspect of the spiritual life we share is our Prayer Ministry, and this has flourished over the past year. A lay team, under Mel’s guidance, is now successfully leading our weekly intercessions, Mothers Prayers is flourishing, our monthly prayer breakfasts are growing in popularity and our 24/7 prayer marathon at Pentecost was a great success. We thank everyone involved in these important aspects of our ministry.
We have been extremely heartened by the way in which our work with children and young people is growing year by year, and by the enthusiasm and commitment of the groups that co-ordinate our children’s activities. Special thanks are due to Kim Vale and her Messy Church team, to Becky Matthews and her helpers at Sunday Club and to all those who work with our teenagers at Cluster Youth Crew.
We say a special thank you to Alistair Robertson for all he does to keep our technology running, our websites up to date, and our communications timely. Alistair is a real “doer”, working mostly behind the scenes, but without his efforts our weekly services would surely falter.
We would also like to thank Marion Strachan, our Parish Administrator, for not only all she does so efficiently for us and the Church, but also for being so welcoming and helpful to everyone who visits the hall and parish office.
Finally we take this opportunity to thank all those who help in the Parish and without whom the worship and ministry would not be possible. Our thanks go to all our servers, wardens, welcomers, organists, flower arrangers, cleaners, vergers, singers, refreshment makers, gardeners and many, many more. If you have talents that are untapped at the moment and would like to help with any of the roles listed above, we would love to hear from you. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Finances
It is very pleasing to note the recent turnaround in our financial fortunes as shown in our published accounts. We are reporting a surplus of nearly £7,400 for 2016, compared to a loss of £18,600 the previous year, largely due to the magnificent response of our congregations to our appeals last year, with significant increases in our regular giving and tremendous support of our fund raising activities. We take this opportunity to acknowledge how generously the Parish gives, not only in regular giving by standing order, by envelope and in the collection plate, but also to other charitable causes. The list of charities to whom we have made donations in the last year is a long one, and includes the Children’s Society, Christian Aid and the Bible Society.
We must say a big thank you to Brian Jelley, now entering his twentieth year as our treasurer, who with his team of Brian Tettmar and Carole Harris, keep our finances in such good order.
Fund Raising and Fellowship One of our aims at the start of last year was to increase the number and variety of our fund raising events, not only to supplement our income but also to provide more opportunities for fellowship and fun. We are very grateful to Tony Lyne and his fund raising committee for arranging a series of very successful and well attended events including a musical afternoon tea, harp recital, indoor boot sale and a choral concert. A wide variety of events is planned for the coming year, including a walking treasure hunt, barn dance, flower festival, quizzes and concerts. Please keep a look out for these events being advertised in Parish Notes and by email, and support them whenever you can.
2
One highlight of our year was the Patronal Festival held in September at St Marys Church, close to the Feast of St Mary. We celebrated with a very successful exhibition on the history of Fawkham village and its people, organised by Marion and Bob Kneller, together with a very special service followed by a picnic on the lower meadow. The whole weekend was a great success.
Our thanks also go to David Tremain and his fete committee for all their hard work in arranging and staging last year’s highly successful summer fete. The sun shone briefly and the rain kept away, and many hundreds of people had a fun day out in our church meadow.
It is also exciting to note that Jim will be leading a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2018. This eight day trip follows in the footsteps of Jesus and visits Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the Sea of Galilee. There are still some places available on this wonderful trip and for more information, please speak to Jim or a churchwarden.
Buildings
We must start our report on the fabric of our churches with a big thank you to Malcolm Harris and all the members of his Buildings Committee for their efforts to keep our churches in such a good state of repair. They are always willing to tackle the plethora of maintenance jobs that constantly arise when dealing with such ancient and well used buildings; no job is ever too small or trivial to receive their immediate attention.
The focus of our time and efforts this year has been on St Mary’s Church, where the fabric of the roof and tower of the church has suffered in recent years due to the effects of the weather and damage by squirrels. It has taken time to obtain the necessary faculties and permissions allowing us to start work on this beautiful, Grade 1 listed building, but these are now in place, contracts have been signed and the work will start in late May, with completion expected in July. We are also planning to complete all the major work set out in the most recent Quinquennial Report, together with a full repaint of the exterior and new internal lighting. As reported last year, we were successful in securing a substantial Government grant towards the cost of the tower and roof repairs which together with monies held in our own and diocesan reserves, and by the Friends of Fawkham, will provide the necessary funds to allow this work to be undertaken. If funds permit, we hope to complete the work with a full redecoration of the inside of the church later in the year.
In November 2016, we received the latest Quinquennial Inspection Report for All Saints Church, Hartley. Pleasingly this concluded that the church is fundamentally sound and generally in a good state of repair. The report identified two major repair issues, being some damage to both the spire and the north roof of the chancel. The Building Committee is currently considering how and when to effect these necessary repairs.
For further details and a full list of the work undertaken at all our churches in the last year, please see Malcolm Harris’ Building Committee Report.
Conclusion and outlook As churchwardens we would like to thank everyone for the help and support given to us throughout the last year. We are truly grateful and appreciate the time, efforts and talents given by so many of our church family to the service of God.
Our Parish is such a wonderful place to worship as there is a real sense of God’s presence in all our beautiful churches. As a congregation, we are growing in discipleship, outward looking and welcoming.
3
With these qualities, we have much to look forward to in the coming year as we discover together what God has in store for us.
Valerie Campbell and Andrew Gray Churchwardens March 2017
4
THE PARISH OF FAWKHAM & HARTLEY
HEALING TEAM REPORT TO APCM SUNDAY 2ND APRIL 2017
Our Rector, Jim wanted to introduce healing prayer into our Parish worship and in the summer of 2016 we held the first Healing Service. Following this service at St Mary’s Church, healing prayer has been offered monthly in one of our three worship centres during or after the normal Sunday service. This has given members of the Church Family the opportunity for quiet prayer for themselves or someone else they feel needs to receive God’s healing.
The Team work in pairs and there are two stations at the service, in the chancel at All Saints after the service, by the Vestry at St Mary’s usually after the service and in the Parish Room at the Church Centre during communion. In the future there will also be a station in the Parish Office during communion to enable easier access for those seated at that end of the Church Centre. Confidentiality is ensured.
Future dates:
April 30th Church Centre 10.30am May 21st All Saints Church 9.00 am June 25th St. Mary’s Church 10.30am July 23rd St Mary’s Church 10.30am August 27th St Mary’s Church 10.30am
Team Members: Cathy Bateman Valerie Campbell Anna Gray Jean Bowes
THE PARISH STEWARDSHIP AND FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2017
INTRODUCTION
The inauguration of a Parish Stewardship and Fundraising committee was agreed by the PCC in early 2016 and the first meeting held on 24 Feb 2016, 9 meetings of the committee were held during 2016/17
The remit of the committee cover 3 distinct Areas
• Develop. Implement and monitor a stewardship and fundraising strategy for the Parish • Agree targets for stewardship and fundraising in conjunction with the PCC,Friends groups and the Honorary Treasurer of the Parish • Take responsibility for developing an annual fundraising event programme coordinating and supporting events and assisting existing organisers i.e. Summer Fete if required.
Membership
The membership of the committee is presently 5
PROGRESS
• Signing up for the Giving Machine a web based Charity giving tool that encourages our parishioners to purchase items online through the giving machine earning the parish a small donation • The committee applied for and were successful in being awarded a lottery grant to enable a Community Project to be undertaken by an outside body to evaluate the usage and role of our 2 Churches and Church Centre, this has been completed and the report is being evaluated. • It was decided to arrange a full programme of events throughout 2017 to keep fundraising in the focus of all our parishioners and to encourage visitors not connected with the church to join in. The first 3 functions of 2017 have been very successful with over £ 1600 being raised • Stewardship Sunday was held in October 2016 and those parishioners on the electoral role received a letter from the Rector encouraging a review of their existing giving levels and information on how the Parish spent its money and some idea of how much items cost i.e. Heating, Stationary Following this campaign there has been an improvement in the giving level from the previous year
Conclusion
A successful first year but still a lot more to do to achieve our aims ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL REPORT 2017
BEREAVEMENT TEAM
The Bereavement Team now includes 5 new people who have now completed some training and can now go out to visit where needed with the encouragement and support of the more experienced members of the team.
The facilitating and the development of the team have focused in particular on the team’s sense of spiritual growth and their individual skills and gifts. We have continued to meet at Carol Ballard’s house and the team have found a great deal of support from having the space to share thoughts, experiences, pray and reflect. Jennifer Adams also offers the opportunity to see her as well as giving the team useful guidance on self - care and self -awareness.
The team alongside Jean Bowes and Alan Haith’s coordination have ably supported one another in the on going administrative tasks and in visiting those who have suffered loss. This has also been happening when others have themselves suffered loss or have been taken ill.
As well as our usual anniversary cards and departed loved ones service, we now have a new leaflet with better information about who the team are and what they can offer in the way of Christian support as well as a helpful telephone numbers list. We have achieved a better sense of collaboration and improved communication between the clergy, team and the parish administration side. It has been working well so far sharing and being transparent without compromising on confidentiality or authority.
As we have now become part of the RNWK Group there is an opportunity to look into how we share good practice and reflection across parishes in regards to pastoral and bereavement care. Both Longfield and Ash and Ridley are trying new plans and initiatives in this area so through mission planning via the Group Council we now have the opportunities to come together to share ideas and support one another in this vital Christian ministry.
Revd. Melanie Jemmett Cluster Curate
24th March 2017
BUILDINGS COMMITTEE – ANNUAL REPORT 2016/17
INTRODUCTION
As usual there has been a lot of activity over the past year. It has been a busy year with a fair mixture of hands on work mainly on repairs but aimed at improvements, some of this work may appear to take some time but this is due to the requirement of faculties for nearly all the improvements we wish to make. There has been a mixture of work across the three church buildings and we feel that during the year we continue hopefully to be pro-active rather than re-active.
ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH CENTRE (ASCC)
General Repairs: the following improvements and general repairs have been made in the year
Completion of the new garage and move of old to new location. The new garage also now has an electrical supply. New storage cupboards provided in the garage for hire. Concreting of the path to the rear of the rectory from the car-park for improved safety. A donation of some 25 GOPACK table from the Horticultural Society – many thanks. New cups and saucers have been provided and two new replacement tea urns. Various day to day problems including new toilet holders and toilet seats to the ladies toilet New easier front door access lock and key holder. New audio access to the sound system from within the hall. Increases in the number of bookings is putting us in a much better financial position.
Future Works being considered:
Quotes are being received for the re-treatment of the main hall floor. Provide a more secure entry system to centre. Provide automatic urinal flushing to gent’s toilets. Investigating the replacement of the stage curtains to replace those worn out. Provide new portable steps onto the stage to replace the old wooden ones. Application of grant from lottery to update the heating system
ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH (ASC)
General Repairs: the following general repairs and improvements have been made in the year
Coded entry box for organ key for practice The flowerbed outside the main door has been planted with a number of roses. The altar rail has been repaired but because of its age is still creating problems. Commonwealth war grave commission has provided a plaque on the access gate to show a war grave exists in the burial ground. Racking provided on the balcony for storage of archive material (covered by FOAS)
Future works being considered:
Revision of chancel lighting. Mount and protect steward’s tombstone under discussion. Replacement of rear external light behind altar stained glass window (covered by FOAS) Following Quinquennial inspection work is needed in on the Chancel roof
Buildings Committee Annual Report 2016/17 16/04/2017
ST MARY’S CHURCH (SMC)
General Repairs: the following general repairs and improvements have been made in the year
A grant of £50,200 has been received from the Heritage Fund for repairs to the Belfry/Spire and roof. We have now agreed a regular organ re-tuning contract. General clearance of rubbish has taken place. A new contract to mow the lower meadow on a regular basis has been agreed Repairs to the car park surface have been undertaken at great expense. LED spotlights control for lighting the Altar Dusk till Midnight. Commonwealth war grave commission has provided a plaque on the access gate to show a war grave exists in the burial ground.
Future Works being considered:
Quinquennial repairs as highlighted to the tower/spire to take place following Heritage grant between the 24th May and 25th July. Plans are also being made to decorate the external elevations. Looking at the reduction in the hedge to the eastern side of Church meadow to align with the Billings end of the field, due to it being severely overgrown. Upgrade knave lighting – with support from Friends of Fawkham Church. Replace floodlight control and provide new LED floodlight to car-park.
SPRING CLEANS
It’s that time again. Can you help? Would you be willing to lead one of the Teams in the coming months? Please let Marion know and look out for further information in the Parish Notes we can then agree the various dates:-
• SMC – TBC following repairs to the building • ASC – TBC • ASCC – TBC • The plan is to enable volunteers to sign-up to one-hour slots in order to spread the workload between helpers who are willing to donate their time for the spring-cleaning.
Finally I would like to thank all members of the Committee for their support and commitment in continuing the good work and supporting the role of this committee over the last year.
Malcolm Harris PBC Chairman
Buildings Committee Annual Report 2016/17 16/04/2017 ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL REPORT
‘Cluster Youth Crew’
Within our parish there has been a lower number of young people attending church especially in the upper primary and lower secondary school age profile. Although attendance at Holiday Club and The Good Friday Project have been static over the years, a regular sense of belonging and fellowship has proved a real challenge to maintain, especially amongst this age range.
Messy Church has welcomed new families once a month and has been a positive outreach service with children attending in the preschool and early primary school age. There has been on occasion an increase in baptism families with preschool children attending family services. Both of these have the real potential for families to stay and be nurtured within the church family.
When the original ‘Katch’ youngsters (many of which were the teenagers of parents who became a core part of the church family) outgrew the group in age, there was not a secure succession of new families with emerging teenagers or with upper primary school children who had become embedded into the church family.
Around the cluster - Longfield had folded their youth group due to the same issues and Ash had not had a church youth group for a long while. Unfortunately due to lay leaders standing down and the many other commitments for the Rector, the parish here was facing the decision to also fold it’s youth focus.
It was decided that a middle ground should be reached and the existing 11-14 year olds who were losing interest in attending church could be nurtured in a small group for the time being. MJ offered to gather these together from the cluster.
A key objective was to raise the issue of focus youth leaders and the need for paid youth provision within the cluster as clergy needed to be available across a wider scope of ministry and ages.
CYC (Cluster Youth Crew)
The group ages 11 -14 has been regularly meeting once a month and includes young people from Longfield, New Ash Green, Hartley and their friends. Its purpose has been to become a small nurture group that has the potential to grow. 5 out of the group attended a teenage faith course and were confirmed in June 2016. This was a real achievement as quite a few of the teenagers were not very keen at first on making such a commitment . Since being confirmed they are still attending church, the youth crew and asking more questions. The young people have bonded, found a safe space to share ideas and thoughts, are valued, heard and feel a sense of belonging. Key objectives set up in 2016 to empower parishes, leaders and the RNWK Group Council to think of a longer-term vision for young people.
Recruiting leaders on a rota from around the wider cluster to re -establish a possible fortnightly pattern.
We now have 4 volunteers including an established youth leader from Longfield. They are very reliable but can only give time on a monthly basis. To move to a fortnightly model more people will need to come forward to help with existing work with families and children such as Messy Church and Sunday Club in the parishes. 2 of the existing volunteers help with both and are doing many other things. Some focus on who oversees these areas and better cohesion across teams establishing a family, children and youth ministry team could be established to plan worship, mission and outreach.
Establishing at least 2 main youth leaders to oversee and co-ordinate the current youth group.
It is often a real challenge to find volunteers to work with teenagers and clergy can often not be the right fit to work with young people on this level. In the last year MJ has coached 4 of our youth volunteers in the cluster to work together as a team and to move from helping to confidently leading on their own and working together to co-ordinate and plan sessions. The existing Longfield youth group leader has brought prior expertise and other leaders in Hartley are now researching youth work ideas. We have 2 female and 2 male ‘Youth Crew’ volunteers.
To look into the prospect of a paid youth worker by the end of 2017
MJ outlined the current position of youth and outlined the need for vision and strategy for the future especially within the New Ash Green Area. With this in mind, to look into the possibility of recruiting a paid children’s and youth worker within the Group to oversee this outreach. (Group Council Meeting on 22nd September 2016) Clergy need to minister to all ages and areas and can only offer a proportionate time to establishing a small faith based nurture group. The Council (who discuss mission) were responsive, keen and very committed to working on ways forward to explore this possibility.
Since then a Council Sub Group has been established and co-ordinated by JF with assistance from the Diocese to oversee potential paid community youth provision especially in the NAG area. JF invited a paid youth worker to talk to the council about their work and examples of job descriptions for paid youth workers will be circulated to group council members and the PCC to look at. The funding for this would need to be shared across parishes with possible matched funding from outside agencies. This has now become a mission priority in the RNWK group.
Revd. Melanie Jemmett, Cluster Curate. 24th March 2017 Parish of Fawkham and Hartley: Safeguarding/ Disclosure Officer Report March 2017 In July 2016 the Diocese published a revised policy on the Safeguarding Practice Guidance In 2017, The diocese produced a new Safeguarding Policy. These policies state the procedures and good practice for work with children and young people in parishes.
In brief this mean that consent forms are completed by parents for all children attending activities, registers are kept and incident/accident records are maintained as necessary.
The “Safer Recruitment Policy” defines the level of contact that both employees and volunteers have with children, young people and vulnerable adults. This then defines the level of check that helpers have.
All current helpers have been checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) formally Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) – an executive agency of the home office. The check is called a disclosure and all of the helpers in the parish have had an enhanced disclosure; even if they are only helping for one day of the holiday club. DBS they may hold through other work does not count.
Since July 2014 the Diocese has subscribed to an online agency called CCPAS for the DBS checks. It is no longer possible to carry out a paper DBS check. This is a secure system. The applicants are supplied with a log on and then Naomi has a separate logon to complete the process. The process is straight forward and the turnaround is faster than with paper. The applicant still receives a DBS certificate.
Currently the Diocesan policy states that a disclosure check is valid for 5 years. Therefore at the moment all disclosures that were carried out in 2012 are in the process of being reviewed, and will happen using the online system.
All of the organised church activities involving children and young people that take place are operating in accordance with both of these policies. These groups are Sunday club, Holiday Club, the Good Friday Project, RNWK Youth Crew and Messy Church.
In line with Diocesan policy the church wardens have also had DBS checks.
Naomi liaises with the helpers for the children’s activities to ensure that they are familiar with the diocesan policy for child protection. Naomi discussed with the helpers how to recognise a child/young person who might be a potential victim of child abuse and how they would follow the diocesan policy should they have any concerns.
The diocesan policies on safeguarding and safer recruitment can also be viewed on line at: http://www.rochester.anglican.org.
Naomi Narramore
Parish Disclosure Officer and Parish Children’s Representative 24th March 2017 CHURCHES TOGETHER REPORT
The Collection at The Chorus of Praise Concert on October 16th , 2016, raised £365 for 'Seeking Sanctuary'. The charity passed the money onto Calais Kitchens who serve hot meals to refugees daily in Calais and Dunkirk. The kitchen still operates despite the destruction of the camp. 500+ have returned to Calais, or have arrived for the first time, while there are 1200 at Dunkirk and several small camps in the region. Food is supplied to all these locations.
The Women's World Day of Prayer lunch and service on March 3rd 2017 raised £261 .
The focus this year was on the women of the Philippines, who are the main bread winners of the family. The WWDP organisation supports small projects worldwide and in the U.K., gives grants and supports funding to large charities like Christian Aid, the Bible Society and CAFOD.
We thank all those who have generously supported our events in recent years. Both myself and my secretary are standing down as from this year and we are looking for new people willing to be involved in this Ecumenical Group, which includes our Catholic friends.
Marian Kneller and Mandy Malas.
Cobham Deanery Synod: Report to Annual Parochial Church Meeting April 2, 2017
In the last year we held 3 meetings, visiting Istead Rise in June, Ridley in October and Hartley for a breakfast meeting in February.
Our Synod on18 June took an unusual but rewarding format. It began with a picnic lunch at Camer Park , followed by a prayer walk from Camer Park – Istead Rise. We set off on footpaths to Cobham Church, where we paused for worship, prayer and refreshment. Then we walked on to Jeskyns Park, where we stopped for more prayers and reflection, and then we made our way cross country to St. Barnabas, Istead Rise for a well-earned cup of tea and a short synod meeting and act of worship. This was a new venture for us, and one which we hope to repeat, because it was so uplifting.
Our October meeting was held at Ridley – another first – and one which we will repeat, but only when we have lighter evenings! Having pledged £1,000 to support the set-up of a Gravesend area CAP advisory service, we invited Carey Loughland from Christians against Poverty in the Gravesend area to explain more about its work. A service of thanksgiving for this new venture was held at Holy Family Church, Gravesend. I was able to attend to represent our Deanery.
Rev Dylan Turner gave us a report about Diocesan finances and plans to move forward in faith. He told us about the Bishop’s recent call to engage us all in strategic planning for the future: Our Conversation, Our Future. The timescale for responses from churches and individuals is quite tight; all contributions should be submitted by Easter. I felt strongly that this initiative deserved more thought and a wider audience. I was conscious that we needed time to consider and pray about it, so we decided to devote time during our February synod breakfast meeting to this important matter. It was led by Clare Boxall, Strategic Framework Manager for the Diocese and was open to deanery representatives, church wardens and members of worship teams. We hope that those who came along were encouraged to pray about what it means to be the Church in North West Kent in the 21st Century and to share their ideas with the planning team.
2016 will go down as a year of exceptional change and unrest; the world seems to be in a constant state of flux. Close to home here within our churches we are also in a time of change and adjustment. It is not unreasonable to ask ourselves, what is the point of the Deanery in this area, now that we have journeyed from single parishes to a cluster and very recently to a group ministry? Is there still a role for the Deanery, or is it an unnecessary level in the Diocesan structure? This is a question which is in our minds as we work out what it means to be the Rural North West Kent Group Ministry.
I am sure that there will be teething problems, but I do believe that the Deanery is a useful division, which can be a force for good in bringing us together to work effectively for the furtherance of the Christian Church in this area.
I would like to thank all those who have attended our meetings, to our parish representatives Marian Kneller and Sheila Howsam and our Area Dean, Jim.
Norma Crowe, Lay Chair. Friends of All Saints APCM Report
The Friends of All Saints hosted stalls at both 2016 Parish fairs and also organized a new venture, a Dickensian Night. This event in late February 2017was well supported with tickets selling out several weeks in advance and raised almost £900. This together with annual subscriptions gives us a current working balance approaching £15,000 which to improve and enhance All Saints Church in the future. We are currently working with the Parish Buildings Committee to support them in the purchase of storage facilities on the mezzanine floor and refurbishment of external lighting at All Saints.
Membership has remained steady under the guidance of our Membership Secretary Christine Burbidge. Members and prospective new members are invited to the FOAS AGM which takes place on Thursday 27th April 8pm in All Saints Church. A short meeting will take place followed by light refreshments. Several committee members will be retiring this year and if we are unable to fill the vacancies created future support will be difficult to maintain. So again, we ask all members to consider joining the committee. There are only a few short meetings a year and we would really welcome some fresh faces and ideas.
The current Committee Christine Burbidge, Valerie Campbell, Stephen Crowe, Christine Hoad, Tony Lyne and Barbara Sissons would like to thank our members for their support during the year especially Carol and Norman Ballard, Robert and Karen Wiebkin, Olive, Mary Meadows and Joan Passmore for their help in organizing the Dickensian Night.
THE FRIENDS OF FAWKHAM CHURCH
Annual Report for 2016
The Friends of Fawkham Church have had another successful year of fund-raising meetings and support for St Mary’s Church, Fawkham The treasurer’s report shows that our total income for the year was £4,845.77 (from subscriptions, Standing Orders from the Fawkham campaign, other donations and fund-raising events). Our expenditure during the year amounted to £17.10 on stationery and stamps, leaving a net income of £4,828.67; as last year, no funds were expended on the Church, pending some very expensive repairs for which work is scheduled to start this spring.
I would like to thank all the Committee members for their continued support over the year, and in particular Brian Jelley, who keeps the books in excellent order, Jenny Smith Spark who continues to write up our Committee Minutes, as well as the newsletters, and Sheena Moss, our Vice-Chairman, who also runs the Quiz, our most successful fund-raising event of the year.
Christopher Proudfoot, Chairman Messy Church Review 2017,
Pleased to say that Messy Church continues to thrive and that families and individual worshippers continue to enjoy the informal method of worship and of course the haute cuisine.
We have studied Lent, The Philippines, Fishers of Men and Advent to name a few. One of our highlights was a combined Messy Nativity for the second year a great chance to see me in a sheep one-sy if you have not been before.
A group of us attended a brilliant training session with Messy Church at Meopham. This was very inspirational and gave us lots of ideas. It would be wonderful to meet together with other Messy groups.
Summer Messies are not as popular as the colder months, but we are building our congregation with many regulars and are planning for more active worship in the forthcoming summer.
Messy Meetings have been replaced by Messy emails and I am grateful for everyone's contributions by such medium.
A Messy service starts with a drink and a biscuit, followed by worship, a Bible reading and a song, then we split up and the families take part in Christ centred conversations and craft activities. A game or a quiz follows whilst the grownups transform the centre for our meal. The meal is started by one of the children saying Grace. Then we eat and continue to chat.
We could not have Messy Church without the generosity and time of our volunteers from Ash, Longfield and Fawkham and Hartley to whom we are very thankful.
To finish I would like to quote from Simon Burton Jones, although I am certain that he was not referring to Messy Church when he wrote:
Truly messy prayer allows God to be God, affords scope, respects ingenuity and asks for the faith to see what he does with it.
Messy Blessings to you all. MISSION LINKS REPORT to APCM 2 APRIL 2017
Throughout the summer months we continued to raise funds to build a much-needed extension to Banni School. in the Gambia. The building was completed in the early Autumn. Our friend Sue Thompson and family visited Banni in November when the classroom block was officially opened.
We welcomed Kristin Stevenson on November 6th to share worship and give us deeper insight into the work of the Bible Society in other countries and here in the UK. We have been impressed by worship resources produced by the Society, and have been able to hand out attractive Easter and Christmas picture books to young people attending Messy Church and Sunday Club.
Our Christmas collections were shared between Crisis at Christmas, Embrace (formerly the Bible Lands Society) and the Children’s Society.
We have worked with other churches in the area, contributing to Christian Aid through the annual walk and quiz; as part of Churches Together which organised the ever-popular Chorus of Praise in October and a special service and lunch for the Women’s World Day of Prayer in March 2017.
We value the work of Tearfund, and are keen to use their resources and to support their efforts to bring our faith to a wider audience. We look forward to attending the Big Church Day Out at Wiston in the Sussex Downs 27 – 29 May, and hope that some of you will want to join us there.
The three main charities we have supported in 2016/17 are
The Bible Society and Gravesend Street Pastors and for the first time this year we are supporting Diocese of Rochester’s Poverty & Hope Appeal with the agreed sum of £500 each. We regret the reduction in levels of away-giving, and hope that amounts given can be increased again as our financial position improves.
Norma Crowe
March 2017 MOTHER’S PRAYERS
When we meet each month we have continued to think and pray for our children and grandchildren, a time to reflect, remember and pray for our families giving thanks for all the blessings they bring and also sharing our worries and apprehensions. All in complete confidence.
We will are leading the prayers at this year’s Mothering Sunday service as we not only think of our own roles as mothers and grandmothers but also those families in need both locally and in the wider World.
Although we would welcome anyone who would like to join us, our numbers have not increased and it seems very difficult to encourage anyone who feels that they could benefit from a quiet time of prayer and reflection to join us. It is not a regular commitment but often a benefit in times of trouble or celebration.
We usually meet on the first Thursday of each month but this has to be flexible for example during school holidays. Details of our meeting are usually in the Parish Notes and we look forward to meeting any mothers/grandmothers “Old or new!” THE PARISH OF FAWKHAM & HARTLEY
PASTORAL CARE REPORT TO APCM 2ND APRIL 2017
The Rector and the Team for pastoral care meet on a regular basis when home visits for members of the congregation who are unwell or need our love and prayers are discussed and arranged.
The weekly altar flowers from the Church Centre are usually taken to someone who is on the intercession list or to a member of the Church family in particular need of a home visit.
The Intercession Book is kept at All Saints Church and the names of people to be prayed for at each of our services are recorded in it. Names can be added to the book via the contact numbers on the front of the weekly Parish Notes.
The two Residential Homes in the Parish are regularly visited and services held by the Rector and the Curate.
At the Wellfield Community Centre services are held three times a year and Parish Notes are delivered weekly and displayed on their notice board to update the residents on what is happening in the Parish. The Rector hosts a coffee morning for them annually in July.
The Rector and the Team rely on members of the Church Family informing them of anyone who is need of a home visit. The contact telephone number is in the Parish Notes.
Pastoral Assistants: Shirley Wilson Rachel Seex
Team Members: Carol Ballard Jean Bowes Anne Senneck Anna Gray
Home visits can be arranged by contacting a member of the Pastoral Team below
POP IN REPORT FOR PCC
POP IN continues to meet every Thursday between 10am and 12 Noon in Fawkham and Hartley Church Centre.
We number around 20 regular visitors, with others that do not necessarily come along every week. There is a team of lovely volunteers who serve Tea, Coffee and cake. We have stationary and a selection of cards for many occasions available at very reasonable prices. Jackie West the Community Warden drops in. We also have a chiropodist (appointments necessary) who comes once a month.
In July we once again held our Strawberry Tea which was well attended, and well received by members of the local community, including some more able residents from Fairby Grange and those recently bereaved. Due to the generosity of the Coop who provided some of the items for the Strawberry Tea we were also able to donate £50.00 to Guide Dogs for the Blind.
This year in December we also had a small Christmas celebration for our regular attendees.
Pop in is open to anyone in the local community who wishes to “POP IN”. It is a place to come and engage with others, in a caring and sharing atmosphere. So come along on a Thursday morning, for a chat, a cup of coffee and a piece of cake for the princely sum of 50p.
May I also take this opportunity to thank the volunteers, without whom Pop In would not exist.
Chris Menzies
Social Committee Report
Social Committee Annual Report The Social Committee provided the catering for the January 2016 Café Church meeting and also hosted the annual Parish Summer BBQ and autumn Harvest Supper. Many thanks to Perry and Penny Cole who manned the BBQ, Sue Carter for the raffle and all the committee members who prepared food for both events. The Harvest Supper included a Beetle Drive which proved to be a great success and we hope to run another at the 2017 Harvest Supper. The Chairlady, Christine Hoad, would like to thank all the ladies and gentleman of the committee for their enthusiastic support during the year.
The Parish of Fawkham & Hartley
Sunday Club Report 2017
Organisation of Sunday Club is the responsibility of Becky Matthews and Sarah Fletcher in joint leadership at present. They are helped and supported in this role by a great team of enthusiastic Sunday club leaders. The other leaders are Frances Kinnear, Louise Smith, Kim Vale and Emma Spragg. After many years Penny Cole has decided to step down as her children have grown up. There are about 20 children on the Sunday club register at present with an average weekly attendance of about 6 to 8. Sunday Club is historically split into two groups with the younger children ranging from pre-school to infants and the older group of juniors all who meet in the parish room at the Church Centre service 10.30 every week. As there have been some organizational changes there is now only two services each month where we have Sunday club. The others are a family service and a joint service at one of the other churches. Due to the small numbers most weeks, this year we have combined so all ages are in one single group. We have been following the lectionary to a certain extent with age appropriate talks, crafts and activities. The children are always keen to show their pictures and crafts at the allotted time at the end of the service.
The emergence of Messy Church has encouraged young families and more children into the church and many of the Sunday club leaders are also heavily involved in the monthly Saturday service. This has had an adverse knock on effect to the numbers of children who are coming to Sunday services, particularly the same weekend. It is wonderfully encouraging that many more children and young families are coming to church be it Saturday or Sunday.
This year our Holiday Club was organised with hard work and dedication by Angie Frost, Jim Fletcher, Mel Jemmett and Alistair Robertson. The title this year was “Guardians of Ancora” with the theme set by the new platform game set by Scripture Union. Set over 4 days with a 5th day being the Sunday Family service, daily activities included exercise routine, quiz, watching of a daily play written by Mel and everyone enjoyed learning the action song. As usual the church centre was wonderfully transformed. Team leaders had groups of children divided by ages, for them to do daily activities and crafts. 24 children attended this year supported by 4 young leaders and 14 adult leaders. The sporting afternoon was also a great success inviting the families to join us for a fun afternoon of activities on St. Mary’s field. This was organized by Sarah Fletcher and would not have been possible without the enthusiastic help of all the young leaders. The children also had a cinema experience on the other afternoon session watching the film Big Hero six.
This year the Nativity was again taken over by Messy church and was a huge success.
The children’s Good Friday Project is again being organized by the Covenating Churches. 40 children attended last year and we hope to have a similar number again this year. The morning consists of a number of craft activities based on the Easter theme including making hot cross buns. There is a short break where the children are escorted to a nearby hall for games and refreshments while the church centre is rearranged for the morning service. The children are then brought back to the centre for the service which parents are encouraged to join. After the service coffee is served with the hot cross buns.
I should like to express my deepest gratitude to all who have assisted with Sunday club and the associated children’s activities over the past year.
Becky Matthews