Trustees’ Annual Report
For the period 01/01/2025 to 31/12/2025
The Reverend William Papillon’s Charity
Charity Number 1016604
Objectives and Activities
The Charity was set up by the Vicar of Wymondham in 1833 to preserve significant land in Wymondham adjacent to the Abbey and provide assets to produce income to maintain the Abbey Schoolrooms and other holdings, pay a grant to a Sunday evening lecturer and to promote the religious education of children and young persons in the Parish of Wymondham. The charity is currently regulated by a Scheme approved in 1992 by the Charity Commission.
Income is produced by a variety of means: capital is invested in a Fund operated by Barratt & Cooke and payments are received twice a year: the Abbey Meadows are let to a farmer and an annual payment is received from the Rural Payments Agency: the Abbey Schoolrooms are let to a Community Interest Company. In addition, the Dyers’ Company has generously provided grants from time to time.
The Abbey meadows are registered with Natural England for the Higher level of Stewardship and the meadows and ha ha form part of a Scheduled Monument together with part of the Abbey churchyard. Any work to be undertaken requires Scheduled Monument Consent, which means consulting Historic England and liaising with the Wymondham Abbey PCC. The aim of the Trustees is to preserve the meadows as a setting for the Abbey, to respect the presence of the archaeological remains and to keep the walls, fences and ha ha in a good state of repair. Trees require regular inspection and planning permission is required for most work as the meadows are in a Conservation Area.
The Abbey Schoolrooms are a Schedule 2 Listed Building. The building has required a lot of maintenance and will continue to do so. It was built in 1812 and was first used as a school for the poor children of Wymondham. The current Tenants have connections with activities at the Abbey and the use of the building in many respects reflects a Christian ethos, provides a space for children and young persons’ clubs and serves the people of Wymondham generally.
Sunday evening lectures are usually given by the curate at the Abbey. A new curate is being appointed in 2026 and the lectures will be re-instated.
The current Vicar of Wymondham automatically becomes a Trustee of the Charity. His or her proposals for grants to promote the religious education of children and young persons are generally accepted and some grants are made direct to young people considered to meet the parameters of the Trust.
Preserving the Assets in 2025
The Abbey meadows: a rotten gate post at the entry to the meadows was replaced, the ivy on trees bordering the River Tiffey, was chopped down, two tree limbs were removed following a formal tree inspection and planning permission being granted. The ha ha wall requires repair. There have been discussions with Historic England and estimates have been received for remedial work. The cost will be substantial. It is intended to apply for Scheduled Monument Consent in 2026, once a decision has been made on the full extent of the work and how it is to be carried out.
The clerk and Trustees inspect the meadows often, both on arranged site visits to the meadows (when litter picking also takes place) and when visiting the Abbey churchyard. The safety warning signs positioned in the Abbey churchyard, to alert visitors to the drop into the meadows from the ha ha, are also checked regularly.
The Schoolrooms: Trustees have been to inspect the interior for insurance purposes and the exterior of the building is easily accessible at any time. The Trustees live locally and take note of the condition of the building frequently and have discussions with the Tenants when necessary.
Consideration is being given to improving the heating.
Financial Assets: The Trustees rely on professional stockbrokers for advice as well as using their personal experience. The Assets are held in different forms to spread risk. The bank account is now managed on the internet, which has made it easier to move funds into an interest bearing account.
Grants
Paying a grant to a Sunday lecturer
No payment has been made in 2025.
Promoting religious education
Two grants of £4,000 each, previously made for charitable purposes to Wymondham PCC, had not been spent. It was agreed that the money could be used for a Patronal Festival involving school children from three Wymondham schools and to assist with the expenses of a temporary assistant at the Abbey whose duties would involve work with children.
A direct grant was made to one young person to help to further his musical education and in recognition of his contributions to music in the Abbey and his example to other young people in promoting religious education.
The Trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit.
Achievements and Performance
Income has risen considerably from £ 15,087 in 2024 to £26,611 in 2025. This is attributable to regular rent payments being received from the letting of the Schoolrooms: income from the Barratt & Cooke Fund holding steady, following a decision the previous year by the Trustees to re-allocate the investment capital, and a very generous donation from the Dyers’ Company of £3,000. Increased, regular income should make it easier to plan for grant making.
The meadows are being grazed by sheep, following advice on how best to preserve the archaeological remains, and to preserve the landscape -flora and fauna – for residents and visitors to enjoy, whilst preserving the setting for the Abbey.
Financial Review
The Trustees have a formal meeting twice a year, when the finances are always discussed. The surplus income in the accounts for 2025 will be needed to pay for work to the ha ha and trees.
Consideration was given to the amount held in a low interest account at the bank and £10,000 was moved and added to the account with Barratt & Cooke. Further consideration is to be given to the amount to be held and where in 2026.
The charity is in a healthy financial position. The freehold land owned by the charity and vested in the Official Custodian for Charities have not been formally valued but the trustees have relevant experience and are able to say that the combined value of the Schoolrooms, Registered Title Number NK265461, the Abbey meadows, unregistered land, and the Loke leading to it, Registered Title Number NK252327, added to the financial investments would not exceed one million pounds.
Volunteers
The Trustees are not paid apart from the Vicar, who is a Trustee as part of his duties. He is not paid by the charity.
The clerk is a volunteer as is Joyce Aitchison, who has checked the accounts as an independent examiner.
Structure, governance and management
As previously stated, the Vicar of Wymondham is automatically a Trustees. Four others serve with him for five year terms, which can be renewed. The rules are set out in the 1992 Scheme.
The Trustees are:
Mr Christopher David Brown (Chairman)
The Reverend Andrew Charles Hammond, Vicar of Wymondham
Mr Timothy Martyn Semmence
Mr Andrew George Thurston
Mrs. Anita Catharine Piper
The clerk is Mrs Jean Senior
The charity’s address is Beech House, 20 Middleton, Street, Wymondham, Norfolk NR18 0AD
The clerk deals with day-to-day communications and consults the Chairman frequently as well as communicating by email with all five Trustees on any non-routine matters. The clerk and the Chairman operate the bank accounts jointly. The clerk keeps paper records and makes them available on request. The Trustees make decisions at their regular meetings and the clerk is asked to implement them.
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above
Signed by two of the charity’s trustees on behalf of them all
Signatures Full Name Christopher David Brown Chairman of the Trustees Timothy Martyn Semmence Trustee Date 10[th] July 2026
Charity Name No (if any) The Reverend William Papillon's Charity 1016604 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 01/01/2025 31/12/2025
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 987 1,000 12,303 50 3,000 296 8,975 - 26,611 - - - 26,611 212 1,544 295 1,319 - 10,042 119 1 200 13,731 10,000 - 10,000 23,731 2,880 - 27,881 30,761 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 987 1,000 12,303 50 3,000 296 8,975 - 26,611 - - - 26,611 212 1,544 295 1,319 - 10,042 119 1 200 13,731 10,000 - 10,000 23,731 2,880 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 987 1,000 12,303 50 3,000 296 8,975 - 26,611 - - - 26,611 212 1,544 295 1,319 - 10,042 119 1 200 13,731 10,000 - 10,000 23,731 2,880 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meadows : Rural Payments Agency | 987 | 543 | ||||
| Meadows : Tenacy | 1,000 | 1,000 | ||||
| Schoolrooms : Rent | 12,303 | 3,300 | ||||
| Schoolrooms : Other | 50 | 69 | ||||
| Donation : Dyers Company | 3,000 | 500 | ||||
| Bank Interest | 296 | 153 | ||||
| Investment income | 8,975 | 9,522 | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
26,611 | 15,087 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 15,087 | ||||||
| Meadows : Insurance | 212 | 212 | ||||
| Meadows : tree work | 1,544 | 1,154 | ||||
| Meadows : fenceposts | 295 | 53 | ||||
| Schoolrooms : insurance | 1,319 | 1,299 | ||||
| Schoolrooms : valuation fee | - | 63 | ||||
| Schoolrooms : Repairs | 10,042 | 85 | ||||
| Schoolrooms : Gutters | 119 | - | ||||
| Bank interest | 1 | - | ||||
| Grants | 200 | 5,400 | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 13,731 | 8,266 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases |
||||||
| Barratt & Cooke | 10,000 | |||||
| - | ||||||
| **Sub total ** | 10,000 | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 8,266 | ||||||
| 2,880 | - | - | 2,880 |
6,821 | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 27,881 | - | - | 27,881 | 21,061 | ||
| 30,761 | - | - | 30,761 | 27,881 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
10/07/2026
1
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Details Barclays Community Account Barclays Business Saver Account Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Meadows rent arrears (recd June 2026) Schoolroom rent arrears (recd Jan 2026) Details Details Barratt & Cooke - nominee portfolio Details |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 101 30,660 - 30,761 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ 1,000 1,229 - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Unrestricted Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Amount due (optional) - - - - - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| 347,375 | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| When due (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - |
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
| Signature | Print Name | Date of approval |
|---|---|---|
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
10/07/2026
2
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of The Reverend William Papillon's Charity On accounts for the year 31 December 2025 Charity no 1016604 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1 (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 12 / 2025 .
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: J M Aitchison Name: Joyce Mary Aitchison Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 2 Millers Court Wymondham Norfolk NR18 0BF
Date: 5 August 2026
1
October 2018
IER