notices - Flipbook - Page 7
Reports from the March Church Council
for the Annual Meeting on Sunday 3rd May 2026.
Circuit Stewards Report
From the Circuit Stewards’ Team:
Henry Chung, Richard Bridges, Roger Byard, Simon Rowe, John
Hudson-Beddows, Anany Kasongo, Karen Dudley
Ministerial Staffing
You will be aware from Revd Bonni-Belle’s letter to all of us
that she is now into a twelve-week regimen of chemotherapy.
We assure her that she and Alfred remain in our prayers as we
continue to wish her well in what are surely test-ing and anxious
times.
Our thanks and appreciation go to Revd Alex Terrett as she
assumes again the role of Acting Superintendent along with
the whole ministry team as they too share the load in taking on
additional responsibilities.
Ministerial stationing
Members will be aware that the circuit was seeking an
appointment through the stationing process for a presbyter
who from September 2026 would spend 2/3 of their time in the
Circuit and 1/3 of their time as a Deputy District Chair working
across the Circuits in Kent and East Sussex.
Following the unsuccessful first round of stationing in November
2025, we are disappointed that the second round of stationing in
January 2026 has not pro-duced a person for us to consider.
It remains to be seen what happens next. Formally we must
remain in the pro-cess until the end of March while the
Connexional Stationing Action Group con-siders matters further.
Finance
The January circuit meeting received the draft Circuit Accounts
for 2024-25 prepared by Levicks, the Circuit’s accountants and
auditors.
The headline from the draft accounts is that the outcome was
close to budget with the accounts showing a surplus of £15,269
against a budget surplus of £16,385.
A budget for 2026-27 is in preparation. At the autumn meeting
of the Church Treasurers, it was agreed to use a new model to
calculate how the Circuit As-sessment should be shared between
the churches. The model will use a combi-nation of income and
church membership to arrive at the apportionment. In-come will
account for 70% of the weighting and membership 30%. Income
to be considered will comprise regular giving, Gift Aid recovered,
interest and 20% of letting income. The membership numbers to
be used will be those on 1 Septem-ber 2025.
Property update
Manses St Lukes Ave and Westwood manses
The precise future use of the Westwood and St Lukes Manses
will not be certain until there is an outcome from the stationing
process. If a new minister is ap-pointed they would move into
Westwood and Rev Alex Terrett would move to St Lukes Avenue,
however if there is no appointment Rev Alex would remain at
Westwood. If Alex is to move to St Lukes Avenue, then a major
project would be needed to convert the garage into a working
office space which would involve obtaining planning permission.
Property Sales High Trees manse. This remains on the market
although as we write this update an offer has been made in
line with the revised Designated Adviser’s Report (DAR) that we
received recently. We hope that this will lead to the sale of the
property.
Swanscombe Methodist Church. District Consent for the sale has
just been given so the property can now be included in the next
available auction.
Burham Church. Similarly, we have formal consent from both
TMCP and the District to sell this property by auction and will be
proceeding to do so.
Developments
Union Street. The Essential Repairs to the building, which
includes complete re-roofing, required by the Connexion
Essential repairs, are being progressed but have yet to meet
the requirements of the Connexional Conservation Officer
before they can be given consent to proceed with the work. The
proceeds from the sale of ‘Brewer Street’ which are now held by
Union Street are being used to fund this work.
The church has now received from the District, a letter of ‘in
principle’ support for the project which the church believes will
help as they continue to make grant applications.
Local Preacher Training
It is very encouraging that across the Circuit there are now 6
people either pursuing local preacher training or exploring a
call to preach. This includes 3 people currently ‘on trial’: Sarah
Smith (Gravesend) who is about to complete her training,
Ransford Grey (Union Street) and Kathy Skipp (Sittingbourne).
The 3 people ‘On Note’ are Stefan Carney and Emily Kasongo
(Larkfield) and Alan Rainer (Hextable).
The Vine
Following feedback from churches who use this resource
when preparing for Local Arrangement Services, the circuit has
renewed its subscription for another year.
SMC Property Report
There is a lot going on regarding the church premises in
Sittingbourne, some highlights are:
Wall protectors: We will be installing some corner wall protectors
in the corridor between the church and the hall and in the
welcome area and making good the paintwork where damage
has occurred.
Sanctuary Project. This is an ongoing project and at the moment
we are waiting for a quote to install a glass screen to make a
quiet/prayer room. A small number of people will be involved in
planning it, and we will see if any grants are available for part of
the cost.
Heating. This is also a long-term project, quotes have been
received for installing air conditioning units and this will be
discussed at the Property & Finance meeting in April.
Hall Fire Door has been installed.
Church Windows following acts of vandalism we have had the
broken panes of glass replaced and also Perspex protectors
installed.
Front toilets. You will have noticed that one of the toilets has
been out of order for a few weeks, we will soon be replacing
the pan, cistern and the grab rails. The walls to both toilets will
receive a fresh coat of paint.
Side Gate. We will be fitting a new side gate (that goes into the
old Brewers Yard), this has been costed and we are waiting for a
date from Haymac. (This has now been done).
The installation of a Defibrilator had been agreed by Chuch
Council. Paul and Derek to look at where this might be sited.
Derek advised that £365 + VAT would be the annual cost of
hiring with a 5 year contract. This would include annual servicing
and maintenance. It was decided that hiring would be a better
option to buying outright.
First Aider. We are looking for someone to train as a First Aider,
no offers yet although we now have Diane J looking after the first
aid kits and checking contents on a regular basis.
Side Wall. Someone had been stealing bricks from the bottom
of the boundary wall near the high street. Also the side wall of
