Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31st December 2025
Registered Charity Number 1088516
The Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2025 Legal and Administrative Details
Address for correspondance
74 High Street Standon Hertfordshire SG11 1LB
Legal Status
The charity, whose full name is The Society of The Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon, is a charity registered with the Charity Commission, registration number 1088516. It was formed as an unincorporated association under a constitution adopted on 20 November 2000 and amended on 22 July 2001.
Trustees and Committee Members
Mrs D M Dale Mrs A C Franks Treasurer Ms C F Tarry Secretary Mrs S Beeston Mrs A Brears Ms A Brookbanks Rev J Chitham until 19.10.25 Ms Alison Cooley Mrs S Crook Mr J Edwards Mr D Goldstraw Chairman Mr R Millward
Bankers
National Westminster Bank plc
The CBF Church of England Deposit Fund
Independent Examiner
Jane Fowke
2
The Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st December 2025
The trustees are pleased to present their report and accounts for the year to 31st December 2024.
Objects of the charity
The objects of the charity are to assist, including by raising funds, in the conservation and development of the church buildings, fixtures, fittings, contents and churchyard of St Mary's church, Standon; to assist in the maintenance of the churchyard and to encourage and support all that is done to add to the beauty and usefulness of the church.
The charity fulfils these objects by raising funds to support works commissioned by the PCC. Details of projects funded during the year can be found in the notes to the accounts.
Government
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees, who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Friends.
Six of the trustees are appointed by Standon Parochial Church Council, and six are elected at the annual meeting. The chairman must be a publically elected trustee.
Review of Activities
In 2025, once again, our fundraising activities were succesful.
In January we held our annual, very successful quiz night in the Community Centre, raising £1,145. At Mayday, we offered teas in the Village Hall, and also sold plants, and promoted Open Gardens. Mayday raised £1,616 and Open Gardens in June raised £8,497.
Our Christmas Fair was, once again, very successful, raising £866. The hundred club continues to contribute significantly to our fundraising efforts.
We held a Safari Supper in the summer, and a candlelit supper in church in September, raising £938 and £1,008 respectively. We raised £1,072 from providing interval refreshments at two combined choirs concerts in church.
We are grateful to Pat, who administers the hundred club, and to all who help with our events or support them.
In planning our activities, the trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission in December 2008.
Trustees' Responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity, and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
This report was approved by the trustees on 25th March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
David Goldstraw (Chairman)
3
Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st December 2025
| Note 2025 Unrestricted £ Receipts Donatons including gif aid tax 5 886 Income from fundraising actvites 4 18,531 Bank interest 5,786 25,203 Payments Costs of generatng funds 4 2,259 Management and administraton 627 Grants made 2 85,000 87,886 Net receipts (62,683) Funds at 1st January 172,244 Funds at 31st December 109,561 |
Note 2025 Unrestricted £ Receipts Donatons including gif aid tax 5 886 Income from fundraising actvites 4 18,531 Bank interest 5,786 25,203 Payments Costs of generatng funds 4 2,259 Management and administraton 627 Grants made 2 85,000 87,886 Net receipts (62,683) Funds at 1st January 172,244 Funds at 31st December 109,561 |
2024 £ 3,201 19,020 5,928 28,149 2,279 391 15,637 18,307 9,842 162,402 172,244 |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Statement of Assets and Liabilites as at 31st December 2025 Bank and cash balances Held at bank Other assets and liabilites Assets Gif aid tax recovery not yet received |
2025 109,561 108 |
2024 £ 172,244 666 |
4
Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2025
1 Accounting Policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis with a statement of assets and liabilities.
2 Grants paid
During the year, grants were made to Standon PCC totalling £85,000 to fund substantial renovation work on the tower. Further grants will be made for this purpose in 2026.
3 Employees
The charity has no employees.
No amounts were paid or are payable to any trustee or to any person connected to them. Expenses incurred by trustees are reimbursed.
4 Fundraising Activities
These results reflect cash movements only.
| Fundraising actvites Hundred club Lunchtme concerts Christmas fair Mayday teas, salads & plants Quiz night Open Gardens Candlelit supper in church Safari supper Lordship talk & tea Sale of cards Concert refreshments Other income 2025 Quiz Night 5 Donatons Donatons received Gif Aid tax received 2025 |
Received Costs 2,100 970 866 1,692 76 1,505 360 8,975 478 1,221 213 938 1,234 162 18,531 2,259 Unrestricted 216 670 886 |
Net 1,130 0 866 1,616 1,145 8,497 1,008 938 0 0 1,072 0 0 16,272 |
2024 1,230 523 1,075 1,664 1,544 9,219 0 0 775 35 510 51 115 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16,741 | |||
| 2,110 1,091 |
|||
| 3,201 |
Gift aid tax for 2025, to be received in 2026, amounts to £108.
5
Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon
Financial Statements
for the year ended 31st December 2025
Registered Charity Number 1088516
The Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2025 Legal and Administrative Details
Address for correspondance
74 High Street Standon Hertfordshire SG11 1LB
Legal Status
The charity, whose full name is The Society of The Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon, is a charity registered with the Charity Commission, registration number 1088516. It was formed as an unincorporated association under a constitution adopted on 20 November 2000 and amended on 22 July 2001.
Trustees and Committee Members
Mrs D M Dale Mrs A C Franks Treasurer Ms C F Tarry Secretary Mrs S Beeston Mrs A Brears Ms A Brookbanks Rev J Chitham until 19.10.25 Ms Alison Cooley Mrs S Crook Mr J Edwards Mr D Goldstraw Chairman Mr R Millward
Bankers
National Westminster Bank plc
The CBF Church of England Deposit Fund
Independent Examiner
Jane Fowke
2
The Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st December 2025
The trustees are pleased to present their report and accounts for the year to 31st December 2024.
Objects of the charity
The objects of the charity are to assist, including by raising funds, in the conservation and development of the church buildings, fixtures, fittings, contents and churchyard of St Mary's church, Standon; to assist in the maintenance of the churchyard and to encourage and support all that is done to add to the beauty and usefulness of the church.
The charity fulfils these objects by raising funds to support works commissioned by the PCC. Details of projects funded during the year can be found in the notes to the accounts.
Government
The policy and operating decisions of the charity rest with the Trustees, who meet regularly to monitor the activities of the Friends.
Six of the trustees are appointed by Standon Parochial Church Council, and six are elected at the annual meeting. The chairman must be a publically elected trustee.
Review of Activities
In 2025, once again, our fundraising activities were succesful.
In January we held our annual, very successful quiz night in the Community Centre, raising £1,145. At Mayday, we offered teas in the Village Hall, and also sold plants, and promoted Open Gardens. Mayday raised £1,616 and Open Gardens in June raised £8,497.
Our Christmas Fair was, once again, very successful, raising £866. The hundred club continues to contribute significantly to our fundraising efforts.
We held a Safari Supper in the summer, and a candlelit supper in church in September, raising £938 and £1,008 respectively. We raised £1,072 from providing interval refreshments at two combined choirs concerts in church.
We are grateful to Pat, who administers the hundred club, and to all who help with our events or support them.
In planning our activities, the trustees have applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission in December 2008.
Trustees' Responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity, and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
This report was approved by the trustees on 25th March 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
David Goldstraw (Chairman)
3
Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st December 2025
| Note 2025 Unrestricted £ Receipts Donatons including gif aid tax 5 886 Income from fundraising actvites 4 18,531 Bank interest 5,786 25,203 Payments Costs of generatng funds 4 2,259 Management and administraton 627 Grants made 2 85,000 87,886 Net receipts (62,683) Funds at 1st January 172,244 Funds at 31st December 109,561 |
Note 2025 Unrestricted £ Receipts Donatons including gif aid tax 5 886 Income from fundraising actvites 4 18,531 Bank interest 5,786 25,203 Payments Costs of generatng funds 4 2,259 Management and administraton 627 Grants made 2 85,000 87,886 Net receipts (62,683) Funds at 1st January 172,244 Funds at 31st December 109,561 |
2024 £ 3,201 19,020 5,928 28,149 2,279 391 15,637 18,307 9,842 162,402 172,244 |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Statement of Assets and Liabilites as at 31st December 2025 Bank and cash balances Held at bank Other assets and liabilites Assets Gif aid tax recovery not yet received |
2025 109,561 108 |
2024 £ 172,244 666 |
4
Friends of St Mary's Church, Standon Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2025
1 Accounting Policies
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis with a statement of assets and liabilities.
2 Grants paid
During the year, grants were made to Standon PCC totalling £85,000 to fund substantial renovation work on the tower. Further grants will be made for this purpose in 2026.
3 Employees
The charity has no employees.
No amounts were paid or are payable to any trustee or to any person connected to them. Expenses incurred by trustees are reimbursed.
4 Fundraising Activities
These results reflect cash movements only.
| Fundraising actvites Hundred club Lunchtme concerts Christmas fair Mayday teas, salads & plants Quiz night Open Gardens Candlelit supper in church Safari supper Lordship talk & tea Sale of cards Concert refreshments Other income 2025 Quiz Night 5 Donatons Donatons received Gif Aid tax received 2025 |
Received Costs 2,100 970 866 1,692 76 1,505 360 8,975 478 1,221 213 938 1,234 162 18,531 2,259 Unrestricted 216 670 886 |
Net 1,130 0 866 1,616 1,145 8,497 1,008 938 0 0 1,072 0 0 16,272 |
2024 1,230 523 1,075 1,664 1,544 9,219 0 0 775 35 510 51 115 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16,741 | |||
| 2,110 1,091 |
|||
| 3,201 |
Gift aid tax for 2025, to be received in 2026, amounts to £108.
5
Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees and members of the Friends of St Mary’s Church, Standon.
I have examined the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2025 as set out on pages 3 to 5, which have been prepared under the accounting policies set out on page 5.
Respective responsibilities of the charity trustees and the independent examiner
The charity trustees, who are the committee members, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility:
-
to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view, and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
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:
-
to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
-
- to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 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.
16[th] April 2026 Jane Fowke Cleveland 36 High Street
standon, Herts SGII ILA