## **St Nicolas P.C.C Treasurer’s Annual Report for 2020**
## **Income and Expenditure**
The table shows the operational income and expenditure for 2020 and a comparison with 2019. There are explanations for the differences.
The Coronavirus pandemic had a major effect on church finances and continues to do so in 2021.
All three income streams were affected, Hall bookings being by far the most significant.
We claimed Furlough for our staff from April and this helped our income by £3,088.
Most expenditure items continued as for 2019 with some annual increases.
The net deficit for 2020 was £17,343.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Item 2020 2019 Difference % Comment
Income
Direct payments to bank
up, Church collections
Voluntary Giving £69,020 £73,518 -£4,498 -6 down
Lettings closed during
Church and Room March, a few more in
Lettings £6,560 £22,533 -£15,973 -71 Autumn
Fees (weddings, Fewer funerals and
funerals) £1,028 £4,277 -£3,249 -76 weddings
Insurance Claims £0 £1,812 -£1,812 n/a no claims in 2020
HMRC Furlough £3,088 £0 £3,088 n/a Claiming from April 2020
2020 includes a grant
Other Income £887 £665 £222 33 towards the Church WiFi
Net Income £80,583 £102,804 -£22,221 -22
Expenditure
£1453 from 2020 was paid
10% Giving £5,691 £7,500 -£1,809 -24 in 2021
Parish Share £53,250 £51,925 £1,325 3 Annual increase
Music and Service Costs £3,276 £3,143 £133 4 Additional licences
Insurance £6,168 £5,898 £270 5 Annual increase
Utilities , heat, light, Reduced use of the
water £5,495 £7,111 -£1,616 -23 premises
Church and Hall repairs Includes cost of
and maintenance £5,986 £5,229 £757 14 Quinquennial Inspection
Other Operating costs,
cleaning, salaries, Reduced cleaning and
expenses £18,060 £18,940 -£881 -5 printing costs
Net Expenditure £97,926 £99,746 -£1,820 -2
Net Income - Net
Expenditure -£17,343 £3,058 -£20,401
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Voluntary Giving - God Loves a Cheerful Giver**
There has been an overall reduction of £4,498 in voluntary giving.
The envelope system and weekly collections in church have reduced as expected during the Coronavirus pandemic. Some of this has been offset by an increase in the number of people paying directly into our church bank account, either by joining the Parish Giving Scheme or by paying directly from their own bank accounts.
## **Parish Giving Scheme**
The Parish Giving Scheme is a direct debit scheme for regular giving run by the Church of England at no charge to the church. It incorporates an annual review of the regular amount that you want to give, and it is more secure than other regular giving methods.
We are encouraging all taxpayers to join the scheme; you can now join online as well as by post. https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/ .Please contact Jim Keeley for details.
## **Contactless Giving**
The contactless giving device at the back of church is quick and simple to use, and we encourage more people to use it during our services when we take a collection; or before or after a service.
Please note. We can claim 25% tax credits on single donations of up to £30 on contactless giving (i.e. an additional £7.50 on a donation of £30). For donations of more than £30 at one time, please help us by making more than one donation of smaller amounts (e.g. 2 donations of £25 instead of one donation of £50 would enable us to claim £6.25 for each donation, one donation of £50 would not allow us to claim).
## **Envelope System**
The envelope system has been stopped in 2021, very few people were using it and the cost of administration has become too high to continue.
We have been in touch with our envelope givers and explained the alternatives to them.
## **10% Giving**
We gave £5,691 to other charities in 2020 (the remaining £1,453 being given in 2021). We have £6,902 available to give to charities in 2021.
## **Quinquennial Inspection**
The Quinquennial inspection was made in 2020 and we have received a comprehensive report detailing the work required with estimated costs and priorities.
We are working on the items from this report and we plan to use our Restoration Fund to cover the costs.
## **Looking Ahead**
We have successfully adapted and delivered our church services and activities during the restrictions of last year, and now our online presence is established and working alongside our physical activities. We are reaching many of our existing congregation and we are also engaging new people, which is very encouraging
However, the Coronavirus has had a major impact on our church finances in 2020 and continues to do so in 2021. We have drawn on savings to manage cash flow and we will need to continue during 2021.
Our day to day expenditure is stable and predictable with little variation each year; there is little scope to reduce it.
Our focus must be to increase our income.
Income from groups using the church hall will increase as lockdown is eased later this year. It will be a gradual process through 2021 and into 2022, and we cannot guarantee that we will reach our previous level of income.
Voluntary giving is the other area to focus on increasing our income. We understand that times are hard for many people, but please can we ask that you prayerfully consider if you can find a way to increase your giving to the church? Thank you if you can.
## **Burgis and Bullock**
Finally, on behalf of myself and St Nicolas Church, I would like to thank Jayne Benford and her colleagues at Burgis and Bullock for their help with their review and assistance with the interpretation of our accounts.
Thank you
Jim Keeley Treasurer