St John's
Colchester
Est.1863
Looking back on 2025
Annual Ministry Report

|**Page**|**Contents**|
|---|---|
|3|Agenda for APCM 17 May 2026<br>th|
|4-7|Minutes of APCM 18 May 2025<br>th|
|8|PCC Membership<br>Electoral Roll|
|9-13|Vicar’s Report|
|14|Safeguarding|
|15-17|Buildings, Grounds and Facilities Management|
|18|Church Grounds Maintenance Team|
|18-19|Pastoral Care Ministry|
|19|Deanery Synod|
|20-22|Children’s, Youth and Families Ministry|
|23|Services and worship|
|24|Connect Groups|
|25|Mission Group|
|26|Community Choir|
|26-27|Eco Group|
|27|Residential Care Home Ministry|
|28|Thursday Generation|
|29|Financial Review|
|**The Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31**<br>**December 2025 are available separately.**||





# **St John’s Church Colchester Annual Parochial Church Meeting 17th May 2026, 12:00pm** 

## **AGENDA** 

Opening Prayer 

## **MEETING OF THE PARISHIONERS** 

- 1.Welcome 

- 2.Appointment of Scrutineers 

- 3.Election of Churchwardens 

## **ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING** 

- 1.Apologies for absence 

- 2.Minutes from 2025 APCM 

- 3.Matters Arising from last APCM Report 

- 4.Elections / Appointments 

- a. Parochial Church Council 

- b. Deanery Synod 

- c. Appoint Independent Examiner 

- 5.Finance Report 

followed by finance questions (submitted in advance) 

- 6.Connect Groups 

- 7.Looking forward: Bubble Church 

- 8.Looking forward: Our buildings 

- 9.Vicar’s Report 

10.Any questions (submitted in advance) 

- 11.Any Other Business (submitted in advance) 

- 12.Closing Remarks & Prayer 

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## **St John’s Church Colchester Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting 18th May 2025** 

Paul Dever opened the meeting with an overview of the meeting and prayers for the meeting. Paul knows that we all have our traditions and differences and Paul asks for forgiveness when he doesn’t know how things are currently run, he wouldn’t consciously do things differently. Please feel free to comment or ask questions either now or later, together we can work it out. 

We pray that we place you God in charge of us your people. 

## **Meeting of the Parishioners** 

Firstly, welcome to the meeting to appoint scrutineers, and elect the Churchwardens. 

## **1. Viv Whitfield and Peter Cook appointed as Scrutineers** . 

## **2. Election of Church Wardens** 

Paul Morgan and Alex Quayle are stepping down as Churchwardens and Paul Dever thanked them for walking along side him for the time he has been here, with their wisdom, guidance, helping Paul get to grips with details, which is so important as a Churchwarden, hospitality and the trust Paul had in them both, when needed. 

**Peter Hassard** agreed to be Churchwarden – proposed Tina Rose seconded Liz Berry. 

Paul asked that we pray and reflect for someone to step forward to be the second Churchwarden. 

## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting** 

## **1. Apologies for absence** 

Received from Pauline Lucas, Andrew Tiffin. 

## **2. Minutes from 2024 AVM** 

Approval of AVM 2024 received and approved by Mark Verlinden seconded by Peter Shelley. 

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## **3. Matters arising from the previous minutes** 

No matters arising. 

## **4. Elections / Appointments** 

## **a) Parochial Church Council** 

- Andrew Tiffin proposed Ruth Ellam seconded Clare Luxton Richard Moore proposed Andrew Tiffin seconded Paul Morgan Anna Sallis proposed David Cornell seconded Tony Berry Clare Luxton proposed Tina Rose seconded Liz Berry Kristin Ritchie proposed Liz Berry seconded Mark Verlinden 

## **b) Deanery Synod** 

No changes. 

## **c) Appointment of Independent Examiner** 

Larkin Gowan (external) Approved by Rick Moore. 

## **Tony Berry remains the Electoral Roll Officer** 

Paul gave thanks to David Simcox who is stepping back from the Finance role within the church after serving for 30 years, and Rick Moore who is stepping back from the Finance role on the PCC but will remain a PCC member and Anna Sallis will take over this role in the PCC. 

## **5. Annual Reports:** 

## **6. Finance report** 

Rick Moore gave an update on the financial report and explained that 2024 was a real challenge with the £25K for the loan on the Community Centre which thankfully has now been paid off. We were down to £30K from £40K the previous year but on a positive note we are blessed by the £20K given by the congregation in the first three months, which puts us on the right track moving forward which means 2025 started well. Paul asked that anyone could contact Rick Moore if they have any questions regarding the Finance report for 2024/2025. 

Paul also confirmed that Peter and Catherine Theodosius have agreed to be the Giving Officers and will answer any questions asked. Paul confirmed he never knows ‘who gives what’ with giving as it would be inappropriate. There will be more information to follow. 

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## **7. Safeguarding Report** 

A written report was submitted by the Parish Safeguarding Officer, who sent their apologies for the meeting. 

## **8. Services and Worship report** 

Ruth works behind the scenes to prepare multi services and sang an amusing song about the arrival of Paul as our new vicar (it can be found on the weekly update on 23rd May 2025). 

## **9. Children and Youth report** 

Clare gave a visual display of what groups there are with the children and youth of SJC to include: Refresh, Messy Church, Kaleidoscope, children and youth groups, Open the Book at the local school, 14–18-year-olds group on Sunday evenings, Family at Four. The groups are very successful but more volunteers are always needed and appreciated to help with their continued success. 

## **10. Vicar’s report** 

Paul talked to us about the plans and prayers needed for continued growth, preparing the ground and an increase in people’s desire to help in the many teams in the church such as - serving refreshments, welcome team, children’s work, volunteers for the Pentecost Service coming up and much more. Paul’s vision for the future includes a hub for young people, building improvement for the family room and the chapel. Let us open the door to God. 

Paul thanked the staff for their team efforts for going above and beyond for the smooth running. Andi, Clare, Rick and Ruth makes the difference with their commitment to SJC. 

He also thanked Viv Whitfield for her support with the services, Nicky Sirett for the safeguarding and Mary Anthony for the Pastoral care, Celia Simcox with her wisdom, discernment and guidance in prayer. 

Paul asked for volunteers who would like to become an Acting Warden this would entail assisting one Sunday per month with any requirements or actions needed within the service. 

Paul’s visit to Romania was both amazing and challenging, seeing how our partnership enables Attila and Adele to continue their work. We also welcomed Russell Norton this year when he spoke at SJC. 

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## **11. Any questions** 

The electoral roll was raised and Tony Berry was able to confirm there are 216 people for 2025. 

- An update was asked about Carbon omissions set at net zero by the CofE to achieve by 2030 and what the church was doing in this vital area? 

- EFT - energy footprint tools are looked at within the church. 

- Andi confirmed every effort is made to save energy by not putting the heating on if there is no one using the church and they use small heaters instead. 

- The hot water urn has been replaced as it was not energy affective. 

- Working at reducing waste, plans for hand dryers rather than towels. Cisterns in community centre being looked at with the environmental group. 

## **13. Closing Remarks & Prayer** 

Paul spoke of the future of SJC and how we can attract ‘out of church’ young people, deal with the church building repairs, meet our fire regulations and plans for SJC to be fit for mission and future ministries. 

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## **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 2025 the following were member of the PCC: 

## **Ex-officio** 

|**Priest-in-Charge**|Paul Dever|Chair|
|---|---|---|
|**Ordinand**|Jonathan Mulvey||
|**Operations Manager**|Andi Short||
|**Treasurer**|Anna Sallis||
|**Churchwardens**|Peter Hassard||
||David Gentry|From June 2025|
|**Deanery Synod Reps**|Mary Anthony||
||Nicky Sirett||
||Jane Cornell||
|**Elected Members**|Nik Read||
||Carol Cockrill||
||Peter Theodosius||
||Kristin Ritchie||
||Tina Rose||
||Tony Berry||
||Chris Oldham||
||Lucie Lovell||
||Andrew Tiffin||
||Rick Moore||
||Clare Luxton||
|**PCC Secretary**|Jane Shelley||



## **Electoral Roll** 

There was an Electoral Roll revision in 2026 which resulted in adding 25 people, removing 2 people and a revised total of 239 (216 in 2025). 

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## **Vicar’s Annual Report** 

As I sit to write this report, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude and encouragement. This has been a significant and exciting year in the life of our church. We have seen growth across all our congregations—not just in numbers, but in depth, in participation, and in a growing sense of expectation of what God is doing among us. 

And alongside that, I find myself deeply thankful—for all that God has done, and for each one of you who plays a part in the life of this church. 

## **A Church Becoming – Vision & Values** 

Our vision continues to shape us: 

## **“We long to see our lives and our city transformed by the love of Jesus.”** 

This is more than something we say—it is something we are increasingly seeing lived out among us. Over this past year, our values have helped give that vision real expression. Not perfectly, but genuinely. Let me reflect on each of these briefly. 

## **Everyone is welcome** 

One of the most encouraging things this year has been the continued sense of openness and welcome. 

Almost every week it is so wonderful to be able to welcome visitors into our community – and many comment to me at how welcoming they find St John’s. 

We have seen this particularly at key moments—Christmas and Easter services, where many have joined us, some exploring faith for the first time, others returning after time away, some just occasional visitors. What a privilege to be able to hold the door of the Kingdom open. 

What stands out is not just that people come—but that they are received well. There is a warmth and authenticity here that really matters. 


## **Everyone gets to play** 

This is an area where we are seeing real encouragement —and where there is more to grow into. 

I love seeing those who are deeply committed to the 

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I love seeing those who are deeply committed to the life of St John’s: For example, serving in our worship bands, at Refresh, at Messy Church, through Thursday Generation, in hospitality and refreshments, Welcome, in our children’s and youth work, through Eco Church, and in so many other ways. There is something beautiful about people giving themselves in service like this. And at the same time, I have a growing sense that there is more for us as a church. 

My hope and prayer for this coming year is that many more of us will discover our unique place of service—that this would increasingly be a church where everyone knows they have a part to play. 

I also want to take a moment to say a very heartfelt thank you to the team at St John’s—both paid and unpaid. The sacrifice, commitment, and willingness to go far beyond what might reasonably be expected has been truly exceptional, much of what they do goes unseen and I am so grateful for their support we are truly blessed at SJC to have such a talented and gifted Staff team and wider Ministry team. 

## **We Champion the Next Generation** 


I have been particularly encouraged this year by what we are seeing among children, young people, and families. 

It has been a joy to see the life and energy of Messy Church, Kaleidoscope, and of course Big Church—spaces where families are not just attending but exploring faith together. I love seeing families beginning to engage, to ask questions, and to take steps towards Jesus. 


I was also hugely encouraged by the Joe Hardy worship night. For me, that evening gave a real taste of what we long to see more at St John’s, especially in the evenings: a space where young people and young adults encounter the presence of God, engage deeply in worship, and respond openly to the Spirit. It felt like a glimpse of what could be, and I believe that matters. 

Next year my prayer is that we will be able to invest in our youth ministry and at the APCM I will share a little more of our plans. 

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IMy hope and prayer is that in this coming year we will grow even further in how we intentionally champion the next generation. 

As part of this, we are planning to launch a new congregation after Christmas, particularly aimed at connecting with families with under 7s, called Bubble Church. I’ll share more about this at the APCM, but we are excited by the potential this holds as we look to reach and serve young families in our community. 


## **Spirit-Empowered, Authentic & Courageous Disciples** 

This year, there has been a growing sense of hunger for God among us. 

We see it in our worship, in prayer, and in the 

willingness of people to take steps of faith—sometimes quietly, sometimes more visibly. There is a deepening desire not just to attend church, but to grow as disciples—people whose lives are being shaped by Jesus. 

One of the most significant developments this year has been the launch of Connect Groups. It has been so encouraging to see these take shape, and I am hugely grateful to Nicky for the way she has led this. These groups are such an important part of who we are becoming—a place of belonging, of spiritual growth, and of learning to follow Jesus together in everyday life. 


Our church weekend away was another real highlight. It was a special time of being together as a community, but also a time where many encountered God in fresh ways and relationships were deepened. 

Looking ahead, I am really excited that John and Anne Coles will be joining us for this year’s weekend away. 

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## **We Exist for Those Beyond Our Doors** 

This continues to be a central part of who we are—and who we are becoming. 

We are seeing encouraging signs of people connecting in through services, events, and relationships. Moments like Christmas, Easter, Alpha, and other gatherings remind us that there is a real openness in our wider community. 


Alongside this, it has been a real privilege to deepen our partnership with Attila and Adel in Romania. I had the opportunity this year to see their work first-hand among the Romany people—and it left a deep impression on me. The sacrifice they make, the commitment they show, and the love they carry in often very challenging circumstances is both humbling and inspiring. 

As a church, it is a real joy to be able to support them—to pray, to give, and to stand with them in what God is doing. I was particularly encouraged by how we responded this Easter, supporting their work with such a significant donation. That will make a real difference to some of the most vulnerable people. 

It reminds us that we are part of a much bigger story. At the same time, this value continues to stretch us. It is so easy for any church to become inwardlooking, but the call of Jesus always draws us outward—to those who are not yet here, to those who are exploring, questioning, or simply wondering if there might be more. Our invitation is to keep leaning into this—to be a church that carries an open heart, an open door, and a genuine invitation in all that we do. 

## **Finally, I want to say thank you again.** 

Thank you for welcoming us so warmly into your church family. It is a real privilege to serve as your vicar and to journey alongside you in all that God is doing among us. 

As I look ahead, I find myself genuinely excited about the year to come. 

I’ve hinted at some of the areas we will be focusing on, but one that I am particularly drawn to is the renewal of the Prayer Chapel—not just physically, 

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but spiritually. My hope is that we might reshape that space to be warm, welcoming, and prayer-filled—a place that helps form a deeper foundation of prayer in the life of our community. Because if we are serious about seeing lives and our city transformed by the love of Jesus, then prayer must sit at the very heart of who we are. 

Alongside this, we are continuing conversations with the National Church about what it might look like for St John’s to grow into a resource church—serving not just ourselves, but becoming a hub, particularly for young people and young adults across the city. This is an exciting possibility, though there is still much to explore and formalise. 

So, we step forward with both expectation and humility. 

Trusting God for what is ahead. Playing our part in what He is doing. 

And continuing to become the church we long to see. 

Thank you for being part of this journey. 

## **Rev Paul Dever Vicar, St John’s Colchester** 

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## **Everyone is welcome** 

## **Safeguarding** 

A town built on a hill cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14) 

As the Church, we should aspire to be a model for others in how we protect children, young people and vulnerable adults, and how we respond to abuse, and to the misuse of power, and any attempt to use theology to justify such acts. Archbishop of Canterbury February 2026 

## **Key actions since previous APCM** 

- PCC members and church activity leaders have been advised that they should undertake Church of England domestic abuse awareness training online, as guidance has been updated. 

- Nicky Sirett attended the annual safeguarding service at Chelmsford Cathedral, a service that reflects on and recommits the diocese to the priorities of safeguarding. 

- The compliance group has met and Clare and Nicky have moved safeguarding training records into Church Suite 

- The PCC continues to receive a safeguarding report at every meeting St John’s is now using the Safeguarding Dashboard to write an action plan for safeguarding improvements, which the PCC will approve annually 

## **Next steps for 2026** 

- Offer face to face safeguarding training sessions for teams of volunteers New volunteers are safely recruited and all training and recruitment is recorded for the church, ensuring GDPR compliance. 

- Training for office staff on safer recruitment 

- Risk assessments completed and approved by the PCC for all church activities involving children, youth and adults who may be vulnerable 

## **Nicky Sirett Parish Safeguarding Officer** 

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## **Buildings, Grounds and Facilities Management** 

The buildings continue to provide two principal functions: 

- 1.As the home of St John’s Church, providing accommodation and facilities for the activities of the church 

- 2.As venues that we can hire to third parties, creating a revenue stream that is used to fund the operational and maintenance costs of the buildings and the wider activities of the church 

The buildings have served the church well during the past year. The Quinquennial Inspection took place on 25 Oct 2024, the report identified maintenance requirements and included advise on priorities and timescales, which we are included in the forward plan. 

## **Church Building** 

In terms of maintenance activities, the moveable wall has been serviced and is in reasonable condition. 

Following a Fire Risk Assessment, most of the fire extinguishers needed to be replaced. There are also a few other recommendations to be put into action. Including how we can maximise building occupancy, including a new fire door (outside the toilets) in the church with a door. This is waiting for faculty approval. The recommendations are being developed into our regular maintenance activities and a five-year plan. 

The boilers in the church were causing a lot of issues and continually breaking. Contractors have investigated the problems with the manufacturer Rehema and replaced gas valves as per manufacturer’s specifications. At present, the boilers are operating well. 

A conscious effort has been made to use heating sparingly over winter to reduce overheads and energy consumption, and this approach will continue. 

A new internet / Broadband service has been installed in the church which should solve the buffering issues from services as well as improving other work. A VOIP phone system has been installed in the church and Paul’s office – improved system of communication, for instance, internal calls and voicemail messages being sent to Office inbox on Outlook. 

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## **Community Centre** 

The Community Centre continues to be well used for church activities, including Kids church, Messy Church, Families at Four, and Kaleidoscope. 

In addition, the building is rented to various third parties to generate a revenue stream, including Oaklea pre-school, ABRSM for music exams, Brownies / Guides, Maze, Little City, Tiny Talk, Baby Ballet, Strollercise, Fitsteps, and Colchester Salsa. 

In terms of maintenance activities, the moveable wall has been serviced and is in reasonable condition. A plumber attended to resolve a breakdown in the heating & hot water system – initial repairs completed, but further investigation is due to be undertaken to ensure continuous good operation. 

Looking forward there is a need to plan deep cleaning particularly to toilets, undertake decorative improvements, and some repairs are required to cubicle partitions in the toilets. 

One of the walls in the lobby was painting and new noticeboards purchased. This enabled more advertising space for Oaklea, hirers and for St John’s to advertise events. 

## **Church Grounds** 


The main churchyard is closed, and responsibility for maintenance has passed to Colchester Borough Council. They have cut the hedges and grass, unfortunately they will only be able to do this once a year due to Council budget constraints. A grounds maintenance working group of volunteers has been organized by Olly Snelling and Tony Berry, to cut grass, prune hedges and trees, plant 

borders, and generally keep the church yard in an attractive, tidy and wellmaintained condition. 

In addition to the churchyard, the maintenance team have planted various shrubs and plants around the car park and, and undertake pruning, strimming, and general maintenance of the Community Centre grounds. 

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## **Look ahead / forward plan** 

Initial plans for 2026 are to press ahead with the recommendations of the Quinquennial report. The Buildings Committee is now looking at the rest of the recommendations, including developing a maintenance plan in response to the Quinquennial Report. There is a long-term vision for redeveloping the chapel and the family room to enable us to improve accessibility and usage, and to also honour this part of building. 

A plan for making improvements to the chapel, which will also address the repairs to damage caused by damp are developing to enable the long term vision to rejuvenate this part of the building. 

Please keep the team in your prayers as they undertake this work, as well as for funding and grants to be available to help cover the costs. The team is small and it is a challenge to turn some of the aspirations into action. If you can or feel called to contribute to managing the buildings and grounds, please speak to Andi. 

Finally, thank you to all the volunteers who do an amazing job, and please look out for requests for working parties to undertake maintenance and decorating later in the year. 

## **Andi Short Executive Assistant and Operations Manager** 

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## **Everyone gets to play** 

## **Church Grounds Maintenance Team** 

We co-ordinate with the church office in the upkeep and care of the church grounds. The churchyard is closed and Colchester City Council are primarily responsible for maintaining this and the burial areas. 

Our activities include weeding, pruning, chopping, cutting hedges, sweeping, and clearing weeds in paving. The brambles are an ongoing problem and threaten to attack anyone walking nearby! Ivy also needs tackling regularly. 

Team numbers vary, meeting on Saturday mornings from Spring to Autumn every four to five weeks, finishing with home-made biscuits, and a chance to appreciate our accomplishments. 

We continue to improve the flower beds. We are planting ground cover plants to challenge any weeds for space. Some plants suffered in the drought in the summer. 

Ecologically we intend a balance between encouraging biodiversity, keeping the grounds attractive, encouraging insects and wildlife, drought and frost tolerance and ease of care. Some churchyard grass is left unmown for “No Mow May.” 

There is always more we could do, but we and the team are committed to the challenge! If you would like to join us do speak to Tony who can tell you more. 

## **Olly Snelling and Tony Berry** 

## **Pastoral Care Ministry** 

There are many people at St John’s who offer pastoral care and do so in a very quiet and discreet way. This has included coming alongside people at difficult times for various reasons and with illness or bereavement. Prayer and caring is at the core of what we do and has supported people confidentially, in small groups or on the Prayer app. Additionally, there have also been opportunities for individual Pastoral Prayer Ministry appointments at other times. Lifts have been provided when needed for people to get to church for various groups or services when otherwise they would not have been able to do so. 

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Holy Communion has been taken to people at home who are unable to attend church. A telephone call, a visit, or an appropriate pastoral card for encouragement and prayer has helped many. 

This is a quiet but ongoing ministry by different members in the Pastoral team and others beyond. So thank you to everyone for all that you do. 

Some representatives of different aspects of Pastoral Care met during the year for an overview meeting. Please pray for wisdom and discernment for all those involved in this ministry as we move forward. 

## **Mary Anthony Pastoral Care Co-ordinator and Authorised Pastoral Assistant** 

## **Deanery Synod** 

Lay representatives plus clergy from all the Anglican churches in the Colchester Deanery usually meet three times per year, to hear what’s going on in the Diocese and nationally, and to discuss and share ideas about how we can work together more effectively across Colchester. During 2025, however, it was decided that the Synod meeting in October would not take place, as we held our first Deanery Day instead. Please find below a short report on the Deanery Synod Meetings held during 2025. 

**12th March 2025** – At St. Michael’s Church, Myland, Colchester Our speaker for this Synod was Wendy Lidgate, Programme Manager for Colchester Episcopal Area. Wendy introduced herself and explained her role. She also explained the background behind the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMIBB) and how her role fits into it. Wendy’s role is to help us all plan how each and every parish can tap into this fund. 

**18th June 2025** – At St. Peter’s Church, Boxted Our speaker for this Synod was Sam Fowler, From Christian Youth Outreach (CYO). Sam started off by introducing himself and a little bit about what CYO do. CYO's vision and aim is for every school in the Colchester area to be regularly prayed for by at least one Colchester Church, and that every Colchester Church will be regularly praying for at least one local Colchester school - at least once every term. Sam stated that at the moment an amazing 45% of schools across Colchester are prayed for by churches. They would like to get this to 100%. 

## **Martin Roscoe Deanery Synod Secretary** 

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## **We champion the next generation** 

Last year in this report I spoke about the importance of relationships to ministry with children, young people and families and in 2025 that continued to be true. Each week at Refresh and every month at Kaleidoscope and Messy Church we are encouraged by the families that return, for whom coming to St John’s is part of their regular patterns and priorities. What is also common to all of our activities and services is energetic life, whether it be youth challenging each other, toddlers taking their first steps or children making amazing craft creations. 

We have benefitted in 2025 from new team members joining several of our teams, especially Refresh and Messy Church. We are grateful for those who have joined as well as those who faithfully continue to serve. We have many regular families joining us at Refresh and it is fantastic to see them welcome new families each week. The team set a positive pattern of socialising with others and this encourages the parents and carers to do the same. There is a lot of setting up and clearing away involved (you can imagine the mess caused by 25-30 babies and toddlers) and I’m grateful for the time and energy that the team invest. Helen Morgan (with strong support from Paul and Sophie) has continued to lead Messy Church from strength to strength as we have seen higher regular numbers throughout the year and the majority of them returning each month. We have seen particular peaks at Christmas and Easter that have added to the numbers in the following months. In 2025/26 we have followed a theme of The Lord’s Prayer which has allowed us to focus on some of the fundamentals of the Christian faith. 

In 2025 we chose to pause Families at 4, one of our Sunday afternoon family events, because it seemed a natural moment to do so with families transitioning out of the age bracket and there not necessarily being new families coming from Refresh. Instead in 2026 we used this time slot to start a new group for families, Growing Together, aimed at discipling adults and children within families. 

Kaleidoscope, for SEND children and young people with their families, owes much to the hard work and leadership of Laura Martin this year. She has provided the event with creativity and stability whilst encouraging the involvement of an enthusiastic team. We are also grateful for the partnership with United Church with Rev Sarah and Tim Hayward. Whilst the number of families attending is relatively small, they are the same families each week for 

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whom Kaleidoscope is church and each month there is a strong sense of the Holy Spirit at work. Recently, when her sons where unavailable, one mum came without them which speaks of the community that has been created. 

We also introduced several new services and events in 2025, including our new intergenerational monthly service Big Church. Thanks to Mark and Lorraine Verlinden it starts each time with bacon or sausage baps and an opportunity to chat. There is a noisy chaotic beauty about the service and it has been great to see all ages embrace it. In the summer, we had a family activity morning that was particularly well attended by Refresh families who have spoken of the challenging of the long summer holidays with young children. 


We held a very successful Light Party in October, which involved a large team from St John’s, both buildings, two very large bouncy castles, hot dogs, lots of light theme crafts and over 100 children and their families. At Christmas we hosted Riding Lights Theatre Company and their production of ‘Christmas Inn Trouble’. The church was full, we laughed and we’ve booked their new production for 2026. 

We continue to have a strong relationship with St John’s School, they visit us at the start of each half-term for a worship service based on the Christian value for that half-term. In 2025 we started to invite parents to join us and have been offering them refreshments and it has been great to have a regular number of parents involved. Our Open the Book team has also grown this year, and under Jane Shelley’s leadership they visit the school each month dressed up in converted curtain and bedding fabric to help bring the Bible to life. At Christmas, Easter and Harvest every chair in church is full as we celebrate services with pupils, staff and parents. We also have three church members, including the vicar, as part of the school governing body. We are making efforts to build relationships with other local schools. 

In March the youth enjoyed another weekend at Fellowship Afloat as well as the Church Weekend Away in June, at which there were also a large number of families. They also had a sleepover in church in July which included a bouncy castle but not much sleep. Throughout the year the older youth have been attending a fortnightly Connect group and both age groups join together for monthly socials which have included, games in the dark at church, bowling, a visit to Inflatanation in Ipswich and Nerf games in the community centre. 

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The most regular activities are those held each week on a Sunday, during the 10:30am two groups for children and one for youth in year 6 to 9. Then in the evening service at 6:30pm an older youth group for those in year 9 plus. The numbers attending these groups has grown and the youth continue to be the most consistence in attendance. Since September the older youth have been working their way from Genesis looking at ‘The Thread’ of Jesus running throughout the Bible. 


The number of team involved in this area of our churches ministry is incredibly small and a recruitment drive is planned for 2026. Particular thanks goes to Claire Eley, who after a long time leading the younger children’s group has stepped down but whose legacy lives on in the faith she has encouraged in so many children. 

Helen Morgan, Nicky Sirett, Alison Hopgood, Becky Moore, Julia Hassard and Dan Lovell deserve mention for the number of times they have served this year. For several of them this has been despite other challenges in their lives but their commitment to the children and young people has remained. However the team is not big enough and we regularly have to combine age groups due to a lack of adults. 

In 2026 we need to address the lack of team on Sunday mornings or our current provision will not be sustainable. We also need to review our youth provision as we have more joining the groups and the age range is growing but also the challenge for parents having some attending in the evening and siblings in the morning. 

## **Clare Luxton Children’s, Youth and Families Pastor** 

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## **Spirit-empowered, authentic and courageous disciples** 

## **Services and Worship** 

Among all the other things we do at SJC – we also have services on Sunday’s! Often there are four – the 9am, the 10:30 and the 6:30 here in church, and a 4pm family event in the Community Centre. 

Big Church started this year on the first Sunday of every month as an intergenerational service – with bacon sandwiches! It has been great to have new ways of worshipping all together. 


On Pentecost 2025 we hosted the churches of Colchester at St John’s for the evening Pentecost service, with worship led by Equippers. It was great to worship together with other Christians from around Colchester – we even had an overflow section in the Community Centre! 

From January to Easter 2026, our 6:30 services became Alpha@6:30, watching the Alpha films and discussing in small groups. 

Through our sermon series in 2025 we have cultivated our hunger for God, explored the character of Jesus, expanded our values, and looked at those in the Bible who had a lived out Faith - then started off 2026 with 1 John and the Desert Mothers and Fathers. 

Our value of ‘building a church where everyone gets to play’ is particularly evident in our services – as so many people are involved in making the services happen each week. Whether you are on refreshments or welcome, the tech team on visuals and sound, readers, people who pray in the services but also beforehand in the chapel, preachers, services leaders, musicians and singers… there are so many people ‘playing their part’ – thank you! 

## **Ruth Ellam Worship Pastor** 

23 



## **Connect Groups** 

Connect Groups were formally launched in September, building on existing small groups some of whom have met faithfully for several years, whilst others are more recently formed. These small groups enable members of SJC to connect with each other, with Christ and with the local community. Groups mostly meet weekly or fortnightly and there are groups catering for new and mature Christians. The majority of groups follow the resources shared weekly, based on the teaching at the 10.30am service. Some groups choose to use other resources. There are currently twelve groups and about one hundred and thirty members of SJC are in a small group. 

Connect groups are an important part of the life of SJC, providing community and encouragement. Our apprenticeship as Christians is lifelong, and Connect Groups are key to the process of connecting more deeply with Jesus, becoming more like Him and actively living out what we believe. There’s also a list of our current small groups and a sign up form that you can complete if you are interested in joining a group, via the website or Church Suite. 

## **Nicky Sirett Connect Group Co-ordinator** 

24 




## **We exist for those beyond our doors** 

## **Mission Group** 


In April 2025, 8 of us arrived in Reghin for 4 days of prayer with Attila & Adel Toth, our Mission Partners. It was truly a time of blessing, certainly for us, but for them too, as they were able to share very specific details of individual prayer needs. 

We prayed at every part of the project, at the farm, the children’s home, Apalina church, and very 

specially at the site of a brand new church in Glodeni village, the building of which has now begun! It was also great for Paul to come along and see first hand the work of Attila and Adel and the partnership which has developed over the years. By the time you read this, the 2026 prayer team will have returned from another trip, and a full building trip of 18 people takes place in October. Alongside our annual shoebox project, which again was well supported by local schools, the local community as well as the church community, we ran a successful Christmas Fayre as a fundraising project that also blessed everyone who came. 

Following a PCC decision, 2025 saw our support of Russell & Katherine Norton come to an end, following many years of partnership, and although they are no longer receiving financial assistance, a number of people continue to pray for and engage with them. As a church we wish God’s special blessing on Russell, Katherine and Lowena. 

## **Nik Read** 

25 



## **SJC Community Choir** 

It has been a fun year again at our SJC Community Choir – we meet every Monday evening 8pm-9:30pm during term time and just have a lovely time singing together – and of course chatting over coffee and chocolate biscuits! 

One of the unexpected joys of choir as it has developed over the years has been the link with raising money for Romania, both through a weekly pot we have out for £1 donations, and by having a concert in the summer. This year it was great to have the Eco group at the concert as well selling plants – and ‘Anna & Jack’ adding to the musical entertainment! 


In the autumn we sang at the Free Family Fun Festival – and then the run up to our busiest time of year – Christmas! This year we were excited to return to ‘Carols on the Roundabout’ at Avellana Place, as well at the Traditional Carol Service. 

We were also invited to sing at one of the St Helena Hospice Light Up a Life Service, which was 

especially appropriate this year as we have been honoured to sing at two funerals, and raised money for the hospice to remember another choir member. 

th 

We are looking forward now to our next Summer Concert on Saturday 18 July – do come along! Or come along and join us on a Monday evening! 

## **Ruth Ellam** 

## **Eco Group** 


The aim of the Eco Group is to raise awareness, encourage the congregation and explore aspects of Eco Church journey regarding stewardship of creation and the wider implications of climate and sustainability. With this in mind we are excited to take on board La Rocha actions ideas for the year as follows: 

26 



- Celebrate new life - Sunflower seed give away at Easter 

- Spring clean - Litter pick planned for 16th May 

- Pollinators - suggested plant sale late May, if we have enough plants Prayer walk - to be arranged for June 

- Plant sale for Romania - July (last year we had a plant sale at the choir's summer concert which was very successful 

- Free Family Fun festival - help out at Green Christian stall - September 

The wild flower meadow has been moved and we hope it will be more successful this year. 

We welcome anyone who would like to get involved. 

## **Brenda Andrews** 

## **Residential Care Homes Ministry** 

A group of us continue to lead a short service at Milton Lodge, St. Fillans and Welshwood Manor during each month except August. Each home has it’s own identity. We have hymns, visual aids with short talks, Bible readings and prayers. We also try to connect with the residents in conversation afterwards which can be much appreciated by some of those present. There are different people who have said it is the highlight of their month and is a regular occurrence and not just a one off visit. 

We have a dedicated team of people from our church, for whom I am very grateful, as they support this Christian outreach into the community and help to share the love of Jesus. It can be a challenging time when visiting, but also be a rewarding one too. 

Please have a conversation with me if you would like to know more and possibly join our team at any time to see for yourself. Please pray for ongoing support and guidance for our Church members as we continue to visit and for God’s wisdom and discernment for all those involved in this ministry as we move forward. 

## **Mary Anthony Pastoral Care Co-Ordinator** 

27 



## **Thursday Generation** 

We thank the Lord for the growth and blessing that is the Thursday Generation, and for all those help in setting up, driving, catering and befriending, we welcome any who would like to join our team. Here are some quotes from those who attend: 

## **“Lovely to come out and share a cup of coffee and cake in friendship together.”** 

**“Friendship and Lunch club helped me so much after my husband died.”** 

**“I have made some new friends by coming to Friendship Club.”** 

## **First Thursday Service** 

In December Rev Graham & Ruth Hadfield, who had headed up the service for some years, decided the time had come to stand down. We thank them so much for all the thought, love and prayer they put into it. Rev Paul Dever is leading in 2026, with Holy Communion each month. We pray more from Friendship Club will come to faith and join us in worship. 


## **Thursday Lunch Club** 

A very happy event for up to forty members who in their eighties, nineties and one a hundred mostly live alone. We thank the cook leaders, kitchen helpers, drivers and befrienders. We will be welcoming some new kitchen helpers in 2026. 

## **Discipleship Groups** 

Two large groups continue to meet each month in church. 

## **Thursday Friendship Club** 

Our club thrives welcoming about sixty to a happy, relaxed, friendly atmosphere enjoying coffee, tea and delicious homemade cakes! Among the activities include crafts, hand massage, quizzes, Friendly Dogs Charity with lovely dogs who people can stroke and talk to (many can no longer have a dog companion at home). We have an amazing team of helpers who make it all possible. Our aim is to bring the Love of Jesus to all. 

## **Fifth Thursdays** 

We have three months in the year where we have five Thursdays so we do something different and special on those days including Craft Morning, Afternoon Tea Dance and a film morning. 

28 



## **Financial Review** 

Total income received in 2025 was £394,421 an increase of £64,868 on the 2024 income of £329,553. 

There was a campaign to encourage the congregation to increase their giving this year after finishing 2024 with a deficit and to be able to move forward with the vision of being a welcoming church and increase activities. 

One off donations totalled £34,700 and regular giving increased from £150,740 to £178,984. 

Total spend increased from £355,658 in 2024 to £367,924 in 2025. 

It was agreed with the Diocese board of Finance that we would not pay the full parish share in 2025. This was to allow us to get back on track after the deficit in 2024 and to give us space to be able to continue with the vision for the church. 

However, expenditure for the church running expenses doubled and this covered additional expenses on publicity, IT, special services, hospitality and youth and families work. 

The year finished with a surplus of £30,178 and the general fund is now £92,150 (2024: £35,885). The restricted funds hold the property fund of £971,140, computers and equipment £6,493 and the Romania mission £8,392. The C7 fund, which was the account the local churches used to fund the Free Family Fun Festival and Pentecost service, was paid to Colchester Baptist Church who are now acting as the bankers for C7. 

## **Full copies of the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 are available separately.** 

29 




**Annual Report & Financial Statements Of the Parochial Church Council of St John’s Church, St John’s Close,** 

## **Colchester** 

## **CO4 0HP** 

For the year ended 31 December 2025 

## **Incumbent:** 

Rev’d Paul Dever 

## **Bank:** 

Barclays Bank, High Street, Colchester 

## **Independent Examiners:** 

Larking Gowen 

Unit 1 Claydon Business Park 

Great Blakenham 

Ipswich, Suffolk 

IP6 0NL 

Registered Charity Number: 1127854 

1 



## **Contents** 

|Front Cover|Page 1|
|---|---|
|Contents|Page 2|
|Annual Report|Page 3-5|
|Vicars Report|Page 6-9|
|Financial Review|Page 10|
|Independent Examiners Report|Page 11|
|Statement of Financial Activities|Page 12|
|Balance Sheet|Page 13|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|Page 14-18|



2 



Parochial Church Council of St John the Evangelist
(St John's) Annual Report for 2025
Introdurtion - Aim and Purpose
st John's Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating
with the Incumbent, the Reverend Paul Dever, in promoting the ecclesiastical
parish the whole m ission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and
ecumenical. It oversees and directs the mission and work of the Parish Church
of St John's within the parish boundaries.
The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church
Buildings and the community centre.
This report, along with the reports of the various ministry streams of the
church, illustrate how the PCC fulfils its obligations to benefit the public
mainly to the worshipping congregation5 and to the local communities, a5 well
as nationally and internationally.
Objectives and Activities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our
church and to become part of our parish community at St lohn's.
When planning our activities, the PCC always has in its mind the Charity
Commission's guidance on public benefit, and particularly the specific guidance
on charities for the advancement of religion. Our services and worship put faith
into practice through worship, prayer, teaching, scripture, music and
sacrament. To connect to as many different demographics as possible, our
9..00 am service is more traditional including liturgy and hymns, our 10.'30
service with a particular focus on young families, our afternoon congregations
which connect with many who do not normally come to church, including
Kaleidoscope for those who special educational needs and Messy Church. Our
evening services connect especially with young adults, teenagers (for whom we
provide specific teaching) and their parents.
This year we launched our vision for St John's which is to see our lives and our
city transformed by the love of Jesus.
Our vision is supported by our values, as we are building a church where..
everyone is welcome
everyone gets to play
we champion the next generation
we are spirit-empowered authentic and courageous disciples
we exist for those beyond our doors

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 2025 the following were member of the PCC:
Rev Paul Dever
Chair
Started Sept 24
Started lune 25
Ex-officio
Anna Sallis
Treasurer
Ex-officio
Jane Shelley
Andi Short
PCC Secretary
Ex-officio
Started Sept 22
started Feb 25
Ex-officio
Ex-officio
Jonathan Mulvey
Ordinand
started April 25
Peter Hassard
Church Warden
Elected 25
David Gentry
Church Warden
Elected June 25
Mary Anthony
Nicky Sirett
Jane Cornell
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synod
Elected 23
Elected 23
Elected 23
Vacant
Nik Read
pcc
Elected 23
Carol Cockrill
pcc
Elected 23
Peter Theodosius
pcc
Elected 23
Tina Rose
pcc
Elected 24
Tony Berry
Chris Oldham
pcc
Elected 24
pcc
Elected 24
Lucie Lovell
pcc
Elected 24
Kristin Ritchie
pcc
Elected 25
Andrew Tiffin
pcc
Elected 25
Rick Moore
pcc
Elected 25
Clare Luxton
pcc
Elected 25

The PCC Operates through several committees/ groups which meet
between the full meetings of the PCC -
Standing Committee
This is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the
business of the PCC between its meetings. There was one meeting of the
standing Committee in 2025.
Mission Group
The group was formed to serve this area on behalf of the PCC with the aim of
overseeing and supporting our Mission Partnerships, both individually and with
organisations.
Below is a list of the Mission Partners and organisations that SJC gave to in
2025:
Organisation
Nortons
Amount
£6,237
£4,158
Toths
Safeguarding Compliance Group
The safeguarding compliance group, chaired by our Parish Safeguarding Officer,
keeps SJC both fully compliant with the Safeguarding Policy of the Church of
England and to enable SJC to continue to develop a safeguarding culture
around every area of church life. St John's is now using the Safeguarding
Dashboard to create an action plan for safeguarding improvements.
Electoral Roll
There was an Electoral Roll Renewal in 2025. There were 216 people on the
electoral roll in May 2025.
Being listed on the Electoral Roll of St John's gives you a say in how your
Church is run. To vote at the APCM or to stand for election onto our PCC you
must be on the Electoral Roll of the Church.
Attendance
The average Sunday attendance at St John's, counted during October 2025 was
177 adults and 44 children. Compared with in 2024, there were 176 adults and
41 children. There was an average of 58 views of the services online for each
Sunday during October.
We conducted the following: 5 Baptisms, O Marriages, 10 Funerals in the
Church or conducted elsewhere, e.g. Crematorium.

Vicar's Annual Report
As I sit to write this report, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude and
encouragement. This has been a significant and exciting year in the life of our
church. We have seen growth across all our congregations-not just in
numbers, but in depth, in participation, and in a growing sense of expectation
of what God is doing among us.
And alongside that, I find myself deeply thankful-for all that God has done,
and for each one of you who plays a part in the life of this church.
A Church Becoming - Vision & Values
Our vision continues to Shape us:
"We long to see our lives and our city transformed by the love of
Jesus."
This is more than something we say-it is something we are increasingly seeing
lived out among us. Over this past year, our values have helped give that vision
real expression. Not perfectlyi but genuinely. Let me reflect on each of these
briefly.
Everyone is Welcome
One of the most encouraging things this year has been the continued sense of
openness and welcome. Almost every week it is so wonderful to be able to
welcome visitors into our community - and many comment to me at how
welcoming the find St John's
We have seen this particularly at key moments-christmas and Easter services,
where many have joined us, some exploring faith for the first time, others
returning after time awayi some just occasional visitors. What a privilege to be
able to hold the door of the Kingdom open.
What stands out is not just that people come-but that they are received well.
There is a warmth and authenticity here that really matters.
Everyone Gets to Play
This is an area where we are seeing real encouragement-and where there is
more to grow into.
I love seeing those who are deeply committed to the life of St John's.. For
example, serving in our worship bands, at Refresh, at Messy Church, through
Thursday Generation, in hospltality and refreshments, Welcome, in our
children's and youth work, through Eco Church, and in so many other ways.
There is something beautiful about people giving themselves in service like this.
And at the same time, I have a growing sense that there is more for us as a
church.
My hope and prayer for this coming year is that many more of us will discover
our unique place of service-that this would increasingly be a church where
everyone knows they have a part to play.

l also want to take a moment to say a very heartfelt thank you to the team at
st John's-both paid and unpaid. The sacrifice, commitment, and willingness to
go far beyond what might reasonably be expected has been truly exceptional,
much of what they do goes unseen and I am so grateful for their support we
are truly blessed at SJC to have such a talented and gifted Staff team and
wider Ministry team.
We Champion the Next Generation
I have been particularly encouraged this year by what we are seeing among
children, young people, and families.
It has been a joy to see the life and energy of Messy Church, Kaleidoscope, and
of course Big Church-spaces where families are not just attending but
exploring faith together. I love seeing families beginning to engage, to ask
questions, and to take steps towards Jesus.
I was also hugely encouraged by the Joe Hardy worship night. For me, that
evening gave a real taste of what we long to see more at St John'5, especially
in the evenings: a space where young people and young adults encounter the
presence of God, engage deeply in worship, and respond openly to the Spirit. It
felt like a glimpse of what could be, and I believe that matters. Next year my
prayer is that we will be able to invest in our youth ministry and at the APCM I
will share a little more of our plans
My hope and prayer is that in this coming year we will grow even further in how
we intentionally champion the next generation.
As part of this, we are planning to launch a new congregation after Christmas,
particularly aimed at connecting with families with under 75, called Bubble
Church. I'll share more about this at the APCM, but we are excited by the
potential this holds as we look to reach and serve young families in our
community.
Spirit-Empowered, Authentic & Courageous Disciples
This year, there has been a growing sense of hunger for God among us.
We see it in our worship, in prayer, and in the willingness of people to take
steps of faith-sometimes quietly, sometimes more visibly. There is a
deepening desire not just to attend church, but to grow as disciples-people
whose lives are being shaped by Jesus.
One of the most significant developments this year has been the launch of
Connect Groups. It has been so encouraging to see these take shape, and I am
hugely grateful to Nicky for the way she has led this. These groups are such an
important part of who we are becoming-a place of belonging, of spiritual
growth, and of learning to follow Jesus together in everyday life.
Our church weekend away was another real highlight. It was a special time of
being together as a community, but also a time where many encountered God
in fresh ways and relationships were deepened.

Looking ahead, I am really excited that John and Anne Coles will be joining us
for this year's weekend away. I want to say this clearly: this is one of the most
important moments in our life together as a church. If you can come, don't
miss it. These are the moments where something is formed in us-both as
individuals and as a community-that shapes so much of what follows.
We are learning, step by step, what it means to be a church of Spirit-
empowered, authentic, and courageous disciples-and there is a real sense that
God is leading us deeper.
We Exist for Those Beyond Our Doors
This continues to be a central part of who we are-and who we are becoming.
We are seeing encouraging signs of people connecting in through services,
events, and relationships. Moments like Christmas, Easter, Alpha, and other
gatherings remind u5 that there is a real openne55 in our wider community.
Alongside this, it has been a real privilege to deepen our partnership with Attila
and Adel in Romania. I had the opportunity this year to see their work first-
hand among the Romany people-and it left a deep impression on me. The
sacrifice they make, the commitment they show, and the love they carry in
often very challenging circumstances is both humbling and inspiring.
As a church, it is a real joy to be able to support them-to pray, to give, and to
stand with them in what God is doing. I was particularly encouraged by how we
responded this Easter, supporting their work with such a significant donation.
That will make a real difference to some of the most vulnerable people.
It reminds us that we are part of a much bigger story. At the same time, this
value continues to stretch us. It is so easy for any church to become inward-
looking, but the call of Jesus always draws us outward-to those who are not
yet here, to those who are exploring, questioning, or simply wondering if there
might be more. Our invitation is to keep leaning into this-to be a church that
carries an open heart, an open door, and a genuine invitation in all that we do.
Finallyi I want to say thank you again.
Thank you for welcoming us so warmly into your church family. It is a real
privilege to serve as your vicar and to journey alongside you in al I that God is
doing among us.
As I look ahead, I find myself genuinely excited about the year to come.
I've hinted at some of the areas we will be focusing on, but one that I am
particularly drawn to is the renewal of the Prayer Chapel-not just physically,
but spiritually. My hope is that we might reshape that space to be warm,
welcoming, and prayer-filled-a place that helps form a deeper foundation of
prayer in the life of our community. Because if we are serious about seeing
lives and our city transformed by the love of Jesus, then prayer must sit at the
very heart of who we are.

Alongside this, we are continuing conversations with the National Church about
what it might look like for St John's to grow into a resource church-serving not
just ourselves, but becoming a hub, particularly for young people and young
adults across the city. This is an exciting possibility, though there is still much
to explore and formalise.
So, we step forward with both expectation and humility.
Trusting God for what is ahead. Playing our part in what He is doing.
And continuing to become the church we long to see.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Rev Paul Dever
Vicar, St John's Colchester

## **Financial Review 2025** 

Total income received in 2025 was £394,421 an increase of £64,868 on the 2024 income of £329,553. 

There was a campaign to encourage the congregation to increase their giving this year after finishing 2024 with a deficit and to be able to move forward with the vision of being a welcoming church and increase activities. 

One off donations totalled £34,700 and planned giving increased from £182,853 to £226,335. 

Total spend increased from £355,658 in 2024 to £367,924 in 2025. 

It was agreed with the Diocese board of Finance that we would not pay the full parish share in 2025.  This was to allow us to get back on track after the deficit in 2024 and to give us space to be able to continue with the vision for the church. 

However, expenditure for the church running expenses doubled and this covered additional expenses on publicity, IT, special services, hospitality and youth and families work. 

The year finished with a surplus of £26,087 and the general fund is now £92,151 (2024: £35,885). The restricted funds hold the property fund of £971,140, computers and equipment £6,493 and the Romania mission £8,391.  The C7 fund, which was the account the local churches used to fund the summer fun in the park, was paid across to Colchester Baptist Church who are now acting as the bankers for the activity. 


9 



## **Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of The Parochial Church Council of St John’s Church, Colchester** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of St John’s Church (‘the Charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 11 to 18. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). You are satisfied that the accounts of the Charity are not required by charity law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination. 

I report in respect of my examination of the accounts. I have carried out my examination under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: 

1. accounting records, with respect to the Charity, were not kept as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

This report is made solely to the Charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity’s Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiners report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity’s Trustees as a body, for my work or this report. 


…………………………………. 

## **Name: Giles Kerkham FCA DChA** 

**Larking Gowen LLP Chartered Accountants 1 Claydon Business Park Ipswich IP6 0NL** 

## **Date: 30 April 2026** 



## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the period ended 31st December 2025** 

|**Note**<br>**INCOME & ENDOWMENTS FROM:**<br>Voluntary income (direct giving)<br>2(a)<br>Other voluntary income<br>2(b)<br>Charitable activities<br>2(c)<br>Other trading activities<br>2(d)<br>Investments<br>2(e)<br>**TOTAL INCOME & ENDOWMENTS**<br>**EXPENDITURE ON:**<br>Charitable activities:<br>Missionary and Charitable Giving<br>3(a)<br>Directly relating to the work of the church<br>3(b)<br>**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**<br>**NET GAINS/(LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS**<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>**Transfers between funds:**<br>10<br>**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:**<br>BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT<br>Opening balance 1 Jan 2025<br>**BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD**<br>**At 31st December 2025**|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>288,047<br>-<br>288,047<br>235,642<br>34,771<br>10,835<br>45,606<br>41,715<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|
|---|---|
||322,818<br>10,835<br>333,653<br>277,357<br>60,188<br>-<br>60,188<br>51,325<br>5<br>-<br>5<br>-<br>575<br>-<br>575<br>871|
||**383,586**<br>**10,835**<br>**394,421**<br>**329,553**|
||22,720<br>14,791<br>37,511<br>54,974<br>303,510<br>26,903<br>330,413<br>300,684|
||**326,230**<br>**41,694**<br>**367,924**<br>**355,658**|
||(410)<br>-<br>(410)<br>152<br>**56,946**<br>**(30,859)**<br>**26,087**<br>**(25,953)**<br>(680)<br>680<br>-<br>-|
||**56,266**<br>**(30,179)**<br>**26,087**<br>**(25,953)**<br>**35,885**<br>**1,016,413**<br>**1,052,298**<br>**1,078,251**|
||**92,151**<br>**986,234**<br>**1,078,385**<br>**1,052,298**|



11 



## **BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2025** 

|**Note**<br>**FIXED ASSETS**<br>Tangible assets<br>5(a)<br>Investments<br>5(b)<br>Total Fixed Assets<br>**CURRENT ASSETS**<br>Debtors<br>7<br>Short term deposits<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING**<br>**DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>8<br>**NET CURRENT ASSETS**<br>**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**<br>**Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year**<br>9<br>**NET ASSETS**<br>**FUNDS**<br>Unrestricted<br>Restricted<br>10|**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>977,633<br>996,205<br>-<br>6,821|
|---|---|
||**977,633**<br>**1,003,026**<br>22,247<br>11,149<br>36,564<br>39,083<br>52,571<br>3,322|
||**111,382**<br>**53,554**<br>**(10,605)**<br>**(4,282)**|
||100,777<br>49,272|
||1,078,410<br>1,052,298<br>-<br>-|
||**1,078,410**<br>**1,052,298**|
||92,151<br>35,885<br>986,234<br>1,016,413|
||**1,078,385**<br>**1,052,298**|



Approved by the Parochial Church Council on  23 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by: 

Rev. Paul Dever                    (Chairman) 

The accompanying notes form part of these accounts. 

12 



## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025** 

## **1. Accounting Policies** 

The financial statements have been prepared under the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the current Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities and applicable accounting standard FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair’ view. This departure has involved following SORP 2015 (FRS 102) rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn. 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for the valuation of investment assets, which are shown at market value. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. 

## **Funds** 

General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC.  Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted. 

Restricted funds are those funds that must be spent on restricted purposes, and details of the funds held and restrictions are provided in note 10. 

## **Incoming Resources** 

_Voluntary Income and Capital Sources:_ Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving receivable under Gift Aid is recognised only when received.  Income 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 various activities are accounted for gross. 

_Other Ordinary Income:_ Rental income from the letting of Church premises is recognised when the rental is due. 

_Income from investments:_ Dividends and interest are accounted for when receivable. 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 investments at 31 December. **Resources Used** 

_Grants:_ Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the PCC. 

_Activities directly relating to the work of the Church:_ The diocesan quota or parish share is accounted for when payable.  Any quota unpaid at 31 December is provided for in these accounts as an operational (though not a legal) liability, and is shown as a creditor in the Balance Sheet. **Fixed Assets** 

_Consecrated Land and Buildings and Movable Church Furnishings_ 

Consecrated and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by section 10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011. 

Movable church furnishings held by the Vicar and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC, and which require a faculty for disposal, are accounted as inalienable property unless consecrated.  They are listed in the Church’s Inventory which can be inspected (at any reasonable time).  For inalienable property acquired prior to (2000) there is insufficient cost information available and therefore such assets are not valued in the accounts.  Items acquired since 1 January (2000) have been capitalised and depreciated in the accounts over their currently anticipated useful economic life (initially over 10 years) on a straight-line basis. 

_Other Fixtures, Fittings and Office Equipment_ 

Equipment used within the church premises is depreciated over 4 years. Buildings at 2% on a straight line basis per annum.  Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £2,500 or less are written off when the asset is acquired. 

_Investments_ 

Investments are valued at market value at 31 December. 

_Current Assets_ 

Amounts owing to the PCC on 31 December in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors less provision for amounts that may prove uncollectable. 

Short-term deposits include cash held on deposit, either with the CBF Church of England Funds, or at the bank. 

13 



## **2. Incoming Resources** 

|2(a)<br>**Voluntary income**<br>Planned giving:<br>Gift aided donations<br>Tax recoverable<br>Other giving<br>Collections<br>Grants<br>Sundry donations<br>[2024: Restricted £0,  Unrestricted £235,642,  Total £235,642]<br>2(b)<br>**Other voluntary income**<br>Donations, appeals, etc.<br>Income tax recoverable<br>Government grants<br>Legacies<br>[2024: Restricted £41,715,  Unrestricted £0,  Total £41,715]<br>2(c)<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Church community centre income etc.<br>Events<br>Fees - other<br>[2024: Restricted £0,  Unrestricted £51,325, Total £51,325]<br>2(d)<br>**Other trading activities**<br>2(e)<br>**Investments**<br>Dividends and interest<br>[2024: Restricted £337,  Unrestricted £534, Total £871]<br>**TOTAL INCOME & ENDOWMENTS**<br>[2024: Restricted £42,052, Unrestricted £287,051, Total £329,553]|**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>178,984<br>150,740<br>49,104<br>38,475<br>37,351<br>32,113<br>12,497<br>5,069<br>1,500<br>-<br>8,611<br>9,245<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|
|---|---|
||**288,047**<br>**235,642**|
||45,606<br>40,083<br>-<br>1,632<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
||**45,606**<br>**41,715**|
||50,127<br>48,373<br>6,775<br>1,173<br>3,286<br>1,779|
||**60,188**<br>**51,325**|
||5<br>-|
||**5**<br>**-**|
||575<br>871|
||**575**<br>**871**|
|||
||**394,421**<br>**329,553**|
|||



14 



|**3. Resources used**<br>3(a)<br>Grants<br>Missionary and charitable giving:<br>Church overseas:<br>Missionary societies and charitable giving<br>Home missions and other Church Societies:<br>Parish mission<br>Mission partnership<br>C7 - funds no longer held by SJC<br>Romania mission<br>Other<br>[2024: Restricted £35,989,  Unrestricted £18,985, Total £54,974]<br>3(b)<br>Activities directly relating to the work of the Church<br>Ministry:   Diocesan Parish Share<br>clergy expenses<br>Church - running expenses<br>Independent Examination fees<br>Church maintenance<br>Training<br>Church community centre running costs<br>Mortgage Interest<br>Salaries<br>[2024: Restricted £26,306,  Unrestricted £274,378,  Total £300,684]<br>**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**<br>[2024: Restricted £62,295,  Unrestricted £293,363,  Total £355,658]<br>**4. Total staff costs**<br>Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Pension costs<br>Average number of paid staff|**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>3,881<br>4,364<br>18,094<br>14,318<br>5,873<br>8,324<br>8,918<br>24,415<br>745<br>3,553<br>-<br>-<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|
|---|---|
||**37,511**<br>**54,974**|
||87,259<br>109,890<br>2,908<br>2,127<br>42,840<br>21,318<br>2,040<br>1,950<br>22,582<br>24,493<br>5,172<br>2,567<br>45,998<br>42,895<br>-<br>229<br>121,614<br>95,215|
||**330,413**<br>**300,684**|
|||
||**367,924**<br>**355,658**|
||**2025**<br>**2024**<br>107,453<br>88,112<br>12,097<br>5,825<br>2,064<br>1,278|
||**121,614**<br>**95,215**|
||5<br>6|



The wages and salaries for 2025 include payments for a cleaner and for caretaker cover which are sub-contracted. During 2025 the PCC employed no staff earning over £60,000 

## **Related parties** 

Trustee Remuneration 

None of the Trustees received any remuneration from SJC related to their roles as trustees. Connected persons: 

|Connected persons:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Salaries paid to members of staff having connections with the PCC:|||
|A Short (Ex-offico PCC member)|35,247|2,269|
|C Luxton (PCC member)|32,250|28,568|
|E Darby (PCC member)|-|14,284|
|J Roberts (wife of PCC member)|-|11,840|
|M Read (wife of PCC member)|-|264|
|Sub contracted work:|||
|C Oldham (PCC member) caretaker cover|759|262|



No further payments or expenses were paid to any other PCC member, person connected with them or related party. 

168 



|**5a. Fixed assets**<br>5(a)<br>**Tangible fixed assets**<br>**Cost**<br>At 31 December 2024<br>Additions<br>Disposals<br>At 31 December 2025<br>**Depreciation**<br>At 31 December 2024<br>Charge for year<br>Disposals<br>At 31 December 2025<br>**Net Book Value**<br>At 31 December 2025<br>At 31 December 2024|**Land and**<br>**Computers**<br>**Total**<br>**Buildings**<br>**& Equipment**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>1,394,947<br>24,908<br>1,419,855<br>-<br>8,331<br>8,331<br>-<br>(23,829)<br>(23,829)|
|---|---|
||**1,394,947**<br>**9,410**<br>**1,404,357**<br>399,739<br>23,911<br>423,650<br>24,068<br>2,835<br>26,903<br>-<br>(23,829)<br>(23,829)|
||**423,807**<br>**2,917**<br>**426,724**|
||**971,140**<br>**6,493**<br>**977,633**|
||995,208<br>997<br>996,205|



The freehold land and buildings comprises the church community centre and associated land. Freehold land costing £120,000 is not depreciated. 

## **5b. Investments for use by the PCC** 

|5(b)<br>**Investments**<br>Cost<br>At 1 January 2025<br>Sale proceeds<br>Loss on sale<br>At 31 December 2025|**Listed**<br>**Investments**<br>6,821<br>(6,412)<br>(410)|
|---|---|
||-|



CBF's Investment Fund  in trust - sold in April 2025 

|**6. Analysis of net assets by fund**<br>**2025**<br>Fixed assets<br>Investments<br>Current Assets<br>Current Liabilities<br>Liabilities greater than 1 Year<br>Cash at bank<br>**Fund Balance at 31 December 2025**<br>**2024**<br>Fixed assets<br>Investments<br>Current Assets<br>Current Liabilities<br>Liabilities greater than 1 Year<br>Cash at bank<br>**Fund Balance at 31 December 2024**|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Endowment**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>977,633<br>-<br>977,633<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>22,247<br>-<br>-<br>22,247<br>(10,605)<br>-<br>-<br>(10,605)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>80,508<br>8,602<br>-<br>89,110|
|---|---|
||**92,150**<br>**986,235**<br>**-**<br>**1,078,385**|
||**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Endowment**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>996,205<br>-<br>996,205<br>-<br>6,821<br>-<br>6,821<br>11,149<br>-<br>-<br>11,149<br>(4,282)<br>-<br>-<br>(4,282)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>29,018<br>13,387<br>-<br>42,405|
||**35,885**<br>**1,016,413**<br>**-**<br>**1,052,298**|



16 



## **7. Debtors** 

|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**7. Debtors**||||**2025**||**2024**||
|||||**£**||**£**||
|Income tax recoverable||||20,585|||9,847|
|Other debtors|||||837||-|
|Prepayments & accrued income|||||825||1,302|
|||||**22,247**||**11,149**||
|**8. Liabilities:  Amounts falling due within one year**||||||||
|Trade creditors|||||(60)||-|
|Accruals and deferred income||||(2,040)||(1,950)||
|Other creditors||||(8,505)||(2,332)||
|||||**(10,605)**||**(4,282)**||
|**9. Liabilities:  Amounts falling due more than one year**||||||||
|Loans|||||-||-|
||||||**-**||**-**|
|**10. Restricted Fund Details**|**1.1.2025**|**Income**|**Expenses**|**Transfers**||**31.12.2025**||
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**||**£**||
|Land and Buildings Church community||||||||
|centre|995,208|-|(24,068)||-|971,140||
|Computers and Equipment|997|-|(2,835)||8,331||6,493|
|Investments|6,821|-|-|(6,821)|||-|
|Finish what we started|-|-|-||-||-|
|Other|829|-|-||(829)||-|
|C7|4,398|1,476|(5,873)||(1)||-|
|Men in sheds|210|-|-||-||210|
|Romania Mission & foodbank|7,950|9,359|(8,918)||-||8,391|
||**1,016,413**|**10,835**|**(41,694)**||**680**|**986,234**||
||**1.1.2024**|**Income**|**Expenses**|**Transfers**||**31.12.2024**||
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**||**£**||
|Land and Buildings Church community||||||||
|centre|1,020,952|-|(25,744)||-|995,208||
|Computers and Equipment|1,329|-|(332)||-||997|
|Investments|6,669|152|-||-||6,821|
|Finish what we started|2,875|-|-|(2,875)|||-|
|Other|2,892|923|(1,597)|(1,389)|||829|
|C7|3,574|9,148|(8,324)||-||4,398|
|Men in sheds|1,864|-|(1,654)||-||210|
|Romania Mission & foodbank|11,533|21,088|(24,415)||(256)||7,950|
|Loans|(24,461)|10,741|(229)|13,949|||-|
||**1,027,227**|**42,052**|**(62,295)**||**9,429**|**1,016,413**||



Transfers represent adjustments for subsidies from general funds, and timing between receipt and payment. 

## **11. Contingent Liabilities** 

There is a potential contingent liability in respect of a grant given by Surestart of £272,996 for the Church community centre building project. The liability extends for 25 years from the initial receipt of the grant in 2011, during which period there is a requirement that the usage of the facilities is for the provision of registered childcare for 25 years. At 28 February 2025, the 13th anniversary of the building opening, the potential claw back stood at £131,038 calculated on a straight line basis. 

## **12. Reserves policy** 

A target reserve of £90,000 is set to finance both day to day cash flow fluctuations, and to provide a contingency available for unexpected costs, in particular building repairs. Unrestricted funds at the year end £92,151 (2024: £35,885) are in excess of this figure. 

17 




**Annual Report & Financial Statements Of the Parochial Church Council of St John’s Church, St John’s Close,** 

## **Colchester** 

## **CO4 0HP** 

For the year ended 31 December 2025 

## **Incumbent:** 

Rev’d Paul Dever 

## **Bank:** 

Barclays Bank, High Street, Colchester 

## **Independent Examiners:** 

Larking Gowen 

Unit 1 Claydon Business Park 

Great Blakenham 

Ipswich, Suffolk 

IP6 0NL 

Registered Charity Number: 1127854 

1 



## **Contents** 

|Front Cover|Page 1|
|---|---|
|Contents|Page 2|
|Annual Report|Page 3-5|
|Vicars Report|Page 6-9|
|Financial Review|Page 10|
|Independent Examiners Report|Page 11|
|Statement of Financial Activities|Page 12|
|Balance Sheet|Page 13|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|Page 14-18|



2 



Parochial Church Council of St John the Evangelist
(St John's) Annual Report for 2025
Introdurtion - Aim and Purpose
st John's Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating
with the Incumbent, the Reverend Paul Dever, in promoting the ecclesiastical
parish the whole m ission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and
ecumenical. It oversees and directs the mission and work of the Parish Church
of St John's within the parish boundaries.
The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church
Buildings and the community centre.
This report, along with the reports of the various ministry streams of the
church, illustrate how the PCC fulfils its obligations to benefit the public
mainly to the worshipping congregation5 and to the local communities, a5 well
as nationally and internationally.
Objectives and Activities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our
church and to become part of our parish community at St lohn's.
When planning our activities, the PCC always has in its mind the Charity
Commission's guidance on public benefit, and particularly the specific guidance
on charities for the advancement of religion. Our services and worship put faith
into practice through worship, prayer, teaching, scripture, music and
sacrament. To connect to as many different demographics as possible, our
9..00 am service is more traditional including liturgy and hymns, our 10.'30
service with a particular focus on young families, our afternoon congregations
which connect with many who do not normally come to church, including
Kaleidoscope for those who special educational needs and Messy Church. Our
evening services connect especially with young adults, teenagers (for whom we
provide specific teaching) and their parents.
This year we launched our vision for St John's which is to see our lives and our
city transformed by the love of Jesus.
Our vision is supported by our values, as we are building a church where..
everyone is welcome
everyone gets to play
we champion the next generation
we are spirit-empowered authentic and courageous disciples
we exist for those beyond our doors

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 2025 the following were member of the PCC:
Rev Paul Dever
Chair
Started Sept 24
Started lune 25
Ex-officio
Anna Sallis
Treasurer
Ex-officio
Jane Shelley
Andi Short
PCC Secretary
Ex-officio
Started Sept 22
started Feb 25
Ex-officio
Ex-officio
Jonathan Mulvey
Ordinand
started April 25
Peter Hassard
Church Warden
Elected 25
David Gentry
Church Warden
Elected June 25
Mary Anthony
Nicky Sirett
Jane Cornell
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synod
Elected 23
Elected 23
Elected 23
Vacant
Nik Read
pcc
Elected 23
Carol Cockrill
pcc
Elected 23
Peter Theodosius
pcc
Elected 23
Tina Rose
pcc
Elected 24
Tony Berry
Chris Oldham
pcc
Elected 24
pcc
Elected 24
Lucie Lovell
pcc
Elected 24
Kristin Ritchie
pcc
Elected 25
Andrew Tiffin
pcc
Elected 25
Rick Moore
pcc
Elected 25
Clare Luxton
pcc
Elected 25

The PCC Operates through several committees/ groups which meet
between the full meetings of the PCC -
Standing Committee
This is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the
business of the PCC between its meetings. There was one meeting of the
standing Committee in 2025.
Mission Group
The group was formed to serve this area on behalf of the PCC with the aim of
overseeing and supporting our Mission Partnerships, both individually and with
organisations.
Below is a list of the Mission Partners and organisations that SJC gave to in
2025:
Organisation
Nortons
Amount
£6,237
£4,158
Toths
Safeguarding Compliance Group
The safeguarding compliance group, chaired by our Parish Safeguarding Officer,
keeps SJC both fully compliant with the Safeguarding Policy of the Church of
England and to enable SJC to continue to develop a safeguarding culture
around every area of church life. St John's is now using the Safeguarding
Dashboard to create an action plan for safeguarding improvements.
Electoral Roll
There was an Electoral Roll Renewal in 2025. There were 216 people on the
electoral roll in May 2025.
Being listed on the Electoral Roll of St John's gives you a say in how your
Church is run. To vote at the APCM or to stand for election onto our PCC you
must be on the Electoral Roll of the Church.
Attendance
The average Sunday attendance at St John's, counted during October 2025 was
177 adults and 44 children. Compared with in 2024, there were 176 adults and
41 children. There was an average of 58 views of the services online for each
Sunday during October.
We conducted the following: 5 Baptisms, O Marriages, 10 Funerals in the
Church or conducted elsewhere, e.g. Crematorium.

Vicar's Annual Report
As I sit to write this report, I do so with a deep sense of gratitude and
encouragement. This has been a significant and exciting year in the life of our
church. We have seen growth across all our congregations-not just in
numbers, but in depth, in participation, and in a growing sense of expectation
of what God is doing among us.
And alongside that, I find myself deeply thankful-for all that God has done,
and for each one of you who plays a part in the life of this church.
A Church Becoming - Vision & Values
Our vision continues to Shape us:
"We long to see our lives and our city transformed by the love of
Jesus."
This is more than something we say-it is something we are increasingly seeing
lived out among us. Over this past year, our values have helped give that vision
real expression. Not perfectlyi but genuinely. Let me reflect on each of these
briefly.
Everyone is Welcome
One of the most encouraging things this year has been the continued sense of
openness and welcome. Almost every week it is so wonderful to be able to
welcome visitors into our community - and many comment to me at how
welcoming the find St John's
We have seen this particularly at key moments-christmas and Easter services,
where many have joined us, some exploring faith for the first time, others
returning after time awayi some just occasional visitors. What a privilege to be
able to hold the door of the Kingdom open.
What stands out is not just that people come-but that they are received well.
There is a warmth and authenticity here that really matters.
Everyone Gets to Play
This is an area where we are seeing real encouragement-and where there is
more to grow into.
I love seeing those who are deeply committed to the life of St John's.. For
example, serving in our worship bands, at Refresh, at Messy Church, through
Thursday Generation, in hospltality and refreshments, Welcome, in our
children's and youth work, through Eco Church, and in so many other ways.
There is something beautiful about people giving themselves in service like this.
And at the same time, I have a growing sense that there is more for us as a
church.
My hope and prayer for this coming year is that many more of us will discover
our unique place of service-that this would increasingly be a church where
everyone knows they have a part to play.

l also want to take a moment to say a very heartfelt thank you to the team at
st John's-both paid and unpaid. The sacrifice, commitment, and willingness to
go far beyond what might reasonably be expected has been truly exceptional,
much of what they do goes unseen and I am so grateful for their support we
are truly blessed at SJC to have such a talented and gifted Staff team and
wider Ministry team.
We Champion the Next Generation
I have been particularly encouraged this year by what we are seeing among
children, young people, and families.
It has been a joy to see the life and energy of Messy Church, Kaleidoscope, and
of course Big Church-spaces where families are not just attending but
exploring faith together. I love seeing families beginning to engage, to ask
questions, and to take steps towards Jesus.
I was also hugely encouraged by the Joe Hardy worship night. For me, that
evening gave a real taste of what we long to see more at St John'5, especially
in the evenings: a space where young people and young adults encounter the
presence of God, engage deeply in worship, and respond openly to the Spirit. It
felt like a glimpse of what could be, and I believe that matters. Next year my
prayer is that we will be able to invest in our youth ministry and at the APCM I
will share a little more of our plans
My hope and prayer is that in this coming year we will grow even further in how
we intentionally champion the next generation.
As part of this, we are planning to launch a new congregation after Christmas,
particularly aimed at connecting with families with under 75, called Bubble
Church. I'll share more about this at the APCM, but we are excited by the
potential this holds as we look to reach and serve young families in our
community.
Spirit-Empowered, Authentic & Courageous Disciples
This year, there has been a growing sense of hunger for God among us.
We see it in our worship, in prayer, and in the willingness of people to take
steps of faith-sometimes quietly, sometimes more visibly. There is a
deepening desire not just to attend church, but to grow as disciples-people
whose lives are being shaped by Jesus.
One of the most significant developments this year has been the launch of
Connect Groups. It has been so encouraging to see these take shape, and I am
hugely grateful to Nicky for the way she has led this. These groups are such an
important part of who we are becoming-a place of belonging, of spiritual
growth, and of learning to follow Jesus together in everyday life.
Our church weekend away was another real highlight. It was a special time of
being together as a community, but also a time where many encountered God
in fresh ways and relationships were deepened.

Looking ahead, I am really excited that John and Anne Coles will be joining us
for this year's weekend away. I want to say this clearly: this is one of the most
important moments in our life together as a church. If you can come, don't
miss it. These are the moments where something is formed in us-both as
individuals and as a community-that shapes so much of what follows.
We are learning, step by step, what it means to be a church of Spirit-
empowered, authentic, and courageous disciples-and there is a real sense that
God is leading us deeper.
We Exist for Those Beyond Our Doors
This continues to be a central part of who we are-and who we are becoming.
We are seeing encouraging signs of people connecting in through services,
events, and relationships. Moments like Christmas, Easter, Alpha, and other
gatherings remind u5 that there is a real openne55 in our wider community.
Alongside this, it has been a real privilege to deepen our partnership with Attila
and Adel in Romania. I had the opportunity this year to see their work first-
hand among the Romany people-and it left a deep impression on me. The
sacrifice they make, the commitment they show, and the love they carry in
often very challenging circumstances is both humbling and inspiring.
As a church, it is a real joy to be able to support them-to pray, to give, and to
stand with them in what God is doing. I was particularly encouraged by how we
responded this Easter, supporting their work with such a significant donation.
That will make a real difference to some of the most vulnerable people.
It reminds us that we are part of a much bigger story. At the same time, this
value continues to stretch us. It is so easy for any church to become inward-
looking, but the call of Jesus always draws us outward-to those who are not
yet here, to those who are exploring, questioning, or simply wondering if there
might be more. Our invitation is to keep leaning into this-to be a church that
carries an open heart, an open door, and a genuine invitation in all that we do.
Finallyi I want to say thank you again.
Thank you for welcoming us so warmly into your church family. It is a real
privilege to serve as your vicar and to journey alongside you in al I that God is
doing among us.
As I look ahead, I find myself genuinely excited about the year to come.
I've hinted at some of the areas we will be focusing on, but one that I am
particularly drawn to is the renewal of the Prayer Chapel-not just physically,
but spiritually. My hope is that we might reshape that space to be warm,
welcoming, and prayer-filled-a place that helps form a deeper foundation of
prayer in the life of our community. Because if we are serious about seeing
lives and our city transformed by the love of Jesus, then prayer must sit at the
very heart of who we are.

Alongside this, we are continuing conversations with the National Church about
what it might look like for St John's to grow into a resource church-serving not
just ourselves, but becoming a hub, particularly for young people and young
adults across the city. This is an exciting possibility, though there is still much
to explore and formalise.
So, we step forward with both expectation and humility.
Trusting God for what is ahead. Playing our part in what He is doing.
And continuing to become the church we long to see.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Rev Paul Dever
Vicar, St John's Colchester

## **Financial Review 2025** 

Total income received in 2025 was £394,421 an increase of £64,868 on the 2024 income of £329,553. 

There was a campaign to encourage the congregation to increase their giving this year after finishing 2024 with a deficit and to be able to move forward with the vision of being a welcoming church and increase activities. 

One off donations totalled £34,700 and planned giving increased from £182,853 to £226,335. 

Total spend increased from £355,658 in 2024 to £367,924 in 2025. 

It was agreed with the Diocese board of Finance that we would not pay the full parish share in 2025.  This was to allow us to get back on track after the deficit in 2024 and to give us space to be able to continue with the vision for the church. 

However, expenditure for the church running expenses doubled and this covered additional expenses on publicity, IT, special services, hospitality and youth and families work. 

The year finished with a surplus of £26,087 and the general fund is now £92,151 (2024: £35,885). The restricted funds hold the property fund of £971,140, computers and equipment £6,493 and the Romania mission £8,391.  The C7 fund, which was the account the local churches used to fund the summer fun in the park, was paid across to Colchester Baptist Church who are now acting as the bankers for the activity. 


9 



## **Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of The Parochial Church Council of St John’s Church, Colchester** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of St John’s Church (‘the Charity’) for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 11 to 18. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). You are satisfied that the accounts of the Charity are not required by charity law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination. 

I report in respect of my examination of the accounts. I have carried out my examination under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe: 

1. accounting records, with respect to the Charity, were not kept as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

This report is made solely to the Charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity’s Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiners report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity’s Trustees as a body, for my work or this report. 


…………………………………. 

## **Name: Giles Kerkham FCA DChA** 

**Larking Gowen LLP Chartered Accountants 1 Claydon Business Park Ipswich IP6 0NL** 

## **Date: 30 April 2026** 



## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the period ended 31st December 2025** 

|**Note**<br>**INCOME & ENDOWMENTS FROM:**<br>Voluntary income (direct giving)<br>2(a)<br>Other voluntary income<br>2(b)<br>Charitable activities<br>2(c)<br>Other trading activities<br>2(d)<br>Investments<br>2(e)<br>**TOTAL INCOME & ENDOWMENTS**<br>**EXPENDITURE ON:**<br>Charitable activities:<br>Missionary and Charitable Giving<br>3(a)<br>Directly relating to the work of the church<br>3(b)<br>**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**<br>**NET GAINS/(LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS**<br>**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**<br>**Transfers between funds:**<br>10<br>**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**<br>**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS:**<br>BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT<br>Opening balance 1 Jan 2025<br>**BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD**<br>**At 31st December 2025**|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>288,047<br>-<br>288,047<br>235,642<br>34,771<br>10,835<br>45,606<br>41,715<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|
|---|---|
||322,818<br>10,835<br>333,653<br>277,357<br>60,188<br>-<br>60,188<br>51,325<br>5<br>-<br>5<br>-<br>575<br>-<br>575<br>871|
||**383,586**<br>**10,835**<br>**394,421**<br>**329,553**|
||22,720<br>14,791<br>37,511<br>54,974<br>303,510<br>26,903<br>330,413<br>300,684|
||**326,230**<br>**41,694**<br>**367,924**<br>**355,658**|
||(410)<br>-<br>(410)<br>152<br>**56,946**<br>**(30,859)**<br>**26,087**<br>**(25,953)**<br>(680)<br>680<br>-<br>-|
||**56,266**<br>**(30,179)**<br>**26,087**<br>**(25,953)**<br>**35,885**<br>**1,016,413**<br>**1,052,298**<br>**1,078,251**|
||**92,151**<br>**986,234**<br>**1,078,385**<br>**1,052,298**|



11 



## **BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2025** 

|**Note**<br>**FIXED ASSETS**<br>Tangible assets<br>5(a)<br>Investments<br>5(b)<br>Total Fixed Assets<br>**CURRENT ASSETS**<br>Debtors<br>7<br>Short term deposits<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING**<br>**DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**<br>8<br>**NET CURRENT ASSETS**<br>**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**<br>**Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year**<br>9<br>**NET ASSETS**<br>**FUNDS**<br>Unrestricted<br>Restricted<br>10|**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>977,633<br>996,205<br>-<br>6,821|
|---|---|
||**977,633**<br>**1,003,026**<br>22,247<br>11,149<br>36,564<br>39,083<br>52,571<br>3,322|
||**111,382**<br>**53,554**<br>**(10,605)**<br>**(4,282)**|
||100,777<br>49,272|
||1,078,410<br>1,052,298<br>-<br>-|
||**1,078,410**<br>**1,052,298**|
||92,151<br>35,885<br>986,234<br>1,016,413|
||**1,078,385**<br>**1,052,298**|



Approved by the Parochial Church Council on  23 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by: 

Rev. Paul Dever                    (Chairman) 

The accompanying notes form part of these accounts. 

12 



## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025** 

## **1. Accounting Policies** 

The financial statements have been prepared under the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the current Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities and applicable accounting standard FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair’ view. This departure has involved following SORP 2015 (FRS 102) rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn. 

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for the valuation of investment assets, which are shown at market value. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. 

## **Funds** 

General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC.  Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted. 

Restricted funds are those funds that must be spent on restricted purposes, and details of the funds held and restrictions are provided in note 10. 

## **Incoming Resources** 

_Voluntary Income and Capital Sources:_ Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving receivable under Gift Aid is recognised only when received.  Income 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 various activities are accounted for gross. 

_Other Ordinary Income:_ Rental income from the letting of Church premises is recognised when the rental is due. 

_Income from investments:_ Dividends and interest are accounted for when receivable. 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 investments at 31 December. **Resources Used** 

_Grants:_ Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the PCC. 

_Activities directly relating to the work of the Church:_ The diocesan quota or parish share is accounted for when payable.  Any quota unpaid at 31 December is provided for in these accounts as an operational (though not a legal) liability, and is shown as a creditor in the Balance Sheet. **Fixed Assets** 

_Consecrated Land and Buildings and Movable Church Furnishings_ 

Consecrated and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by section 10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011. 

Movable church furnishings held by the Vicar and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC, and which require a faculty for disposal, are accounted as inalienable property unless consecrated.  They are listed in the Church’s Inventory which can be inspected (at any reasonable time).  For inalienable property acquired prior to (2000) there is insufficient cost information available and therefore such assets are not valued in the accounts.  Items acquired since 1 January (2000) have been capitalised and depreciated in the accounts over their currently anticipated useful economic life (initially over 10 years) on a straight-line basis. 

_Other Fixtures, Fittings and Office Equipment_ 

Equipment used within the church premises is depreciated over 4 years. Buildings at 2% on a straight line basis per annum.  Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £2,500 or less are written off when the asset is acquired. 

_Investments_ 

Investments are valued at market value at 31 December. 

_Current Assets_ 

Amounts owing to the PCC on 31 December in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors less provision for amounts that may prove uncollectable. 

Short-term deposits include cash held on deposit, either with the CBF Church of England Funds, or at the bank. 

13 



## **2. Incoming Resources** 

|2(a)<br>**Voluntary income**<br>Planned giving:<br>Gift aided donations<br>Tax recoverable<br>Other giving<br>Collections<br>Grants<br>Sundry donations<br>[2024: Restricted £0,  Unrestricted £235,642,  Total £235,642]<br>2(b)<br>**Other voluntary income**<br>Donations, appeals, etc.<br>Income tax recoverable<br>Government grants<br>Legacies<br>[2024: Restricted £41,715,  Unrestricted £0,  Total £41,715]<br>2(c)<br>**Charitable activities**<br>Church community centre income etc.<br>Events<br>Fees - other<br>[2024: Restricted £0,  Unrestricted £51,325, Total £51,325]<br>2(d)<br>**Other trading activities**<br>2(e)<br>**Investments**<br>Dividends and interest<br>[2024: Restricted £337,  Unrestricted £534, Total £871]<br>**TOTAL INCOME & ENDOWMENTS**<br>[2024: Restricted £42,052, Unrestricted £287,051, Total £329,553]|**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>178,984<br>150,740<br>49,104<br>38,475<br>37,351<br>32,113<br>12,497<br>5,069<br>1,500<br>-<br>8,611<br>9,245<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|
|---|---|
||**288,047**<br>**235,642**|
||45,606<br>40,083<br>-<br>1,632<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|
||**45,606**<br>**41,715**|
||50,127<br>48,373<br>6,775<br>1,173<br>3,286<br>1,779|
||**60,188**<br>**51,325**|
||5<br>-|
||**5**<br>**-**|
||575<br>871|
||**575**<br>**871**|
|||
||**394,421**<br>**329,553**|
|||



14 



|**3. Resources used**<br>3(a)<br>Grants<br>Missionary and charitable giving:<br>Church overseas:<br>Missionary societies and charitable giving<br>Home missions and other Church Societies:<br>Parish mission<br>Mission partnership<br>C7 - funds no longer held by SJC<br>Romania mission<br>Other<br>[2024: Restricted £35,989,  Unrestricted £18,985, Total £54,974]<br>3(b)<br>Activities directly relating to the work of the Church<br>Ministry:   Diocesan Parish Share<br>clergy expenses<br>Church - running expenses<br>Independent Examination fees<br>Church maintenance<br>Training<br>Church community centre running costs<br>Mortgage Interest<br>Salaries<br>[2024: Restricted £26,306,  Unrestricted £274,378,  Total £300,684]<br>**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**<br>[2024: Restricted £62,295,  Unrestricted £293,363,  Total £355,658]<br>**4. Total staff costs**<br>Wages and salaries<br>Social security costs<br>Pension costs<br>Average number of paid staff|**2025**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>3,881<br>4,364<br>18,094<br>14,318<br>5,873<br>8,324<br>8,918<br>24,415<br>745<br>3,553<br>-<br>-<br>**TOTAL FUNDS**|
|---|---|
||**37,511**<br>**54,974**|
||87,259<br>109,890<br>2,908<br>2,127<br>42,840<br>21,318<br>2,040<br>1,950<br>22,582<br>24,493<br>5,172<br>2,567<br>45,998<br>42,895<br>-<br>229<br>121,614<br>95,215|
||**330,413**<br>**300,684**|
|||
||**367,924**<br>**355,658**|
||**2025**<br>**2024**<br>107,453<br>88,112<br>12,097<br>5,825<br>2,064<br>1,278|
||**121,614**<br>**95,215**|
||5<br>6|



The wages and salaries for 2025 include payments for a cleaner and for caretaker cover which are sub-contracted. During 2025 the PCC employed no staff earning over £60,000 

## **Related parties** 

Trustee Remuneration 

None of the Trustees received any remuneration from SJC related to their roles as trustees. Connected persons: 

|Connected persons:|||
|---|---|---|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Salaries paid to members of staff having connections with the PCC:|||
|A Short (Ex-offico PCC member)|35,247|2,269|
|C Luxton (PCC member)|32,250|28,568|
|E Darby (PCC member)|-|14,284|
|J Roberts (wife of PCC member)|-|11,840|
|M Read (wife of PCC member)|-|264|
|Sub contracted work:|||
|C Oldham (PCC member) caretaker cover|759|262|



No further payments or expenses were paid to any other PCC member, person connected with them or related party. 

168 



|**5a. Fixed assets**<br>5(a)<br>**Tangible fixed assets**<br>**Cost**<br>At 31 December 2024<br>Additions<br>Disposals<br>At 31 December 2025<br>**Depreciation**<br>At 31 December 2024<br>Charge for year<br>Disposals<br>At 31 December 2025<br>**Net Book Value**<br>At 31 December 2025<br>At 31 December 2024|**Land and**<br>**Computers**<br>**Total**<br>**Buildings**<br>**& Equipment**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>1,394,947<br>24,908<br>1,419,855<br>-<br>8,331<br>8,331<br>-<br>(23,829)<br>(23,829)|
|---|---|
||**1,394,947**<br>**9,410**<br>**1,404,357**<br>399,739<br>23,911<br>423,650<br>24,068<br>2,835<br>26,903<br>-<br>(23,829)<br>(23,829)|
||**423,807**<br>**2,917**<br>**426,724**|
||**971,140**<br>**6,493**<br>**977,633**|
||995,208<br>997<br>996,205|



The freehold land and buildings comprises the church community centre and associated land. Freehold land costing £120,000 is not depreciated. 

## **5b. Investments for use by the PCC** 

|5(b)<br>**Investments**<br>Cost<br>At 1 January 2025<br>Sale proceeds<br>Loss on sale<br>At 31 December 2025|**Listed**<br>**Investments**<br>6,821<br>(6,412)<br>(410)|
|---|---|
||-|



CBF's Investment Fund  in trust - sold in April 2025 

|**6. Analysis of net assets by fund**<br>**2025**<br>Fixed assets<br>Investments<br>Current Assets<br>Current Liabilities<br>Liabilities greater than 1 Year<br>Cash at bank<br>**Fund Balance at 31 December 2025**<br>**2024**<br>Fixed assets<br>Investments<br>Current Assets<br>Current Liabilities<br>Liabilities greater than 1 Year<br>Cash at bank<br>**Fund Balance at 31 December 2024**|**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Endowment**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>977,633<br>-<br>977,633<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>22,247<br>-<br>-<br>22,247<br>(10,605)<br>-<br>-<br>(10,605)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>80,508<br>8,602<br>-<br>89,110|
|---|---|
||**92,150**<br>**986,235**<br>**-**<br>**1,078,385**|
||**Unrestricted**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Endowment**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>996,205<br>-<br>996,205<br>-<br>6,821<br>-<br>6,821<br>11,149<br>-<br>-<br>11,149<br>(4,282)<br>-<br>-<br>(4,282)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>29,018<br>13,387<br>-<br>42,405|
||**35,885**<br>**1,016,413**<br>**-**<br>**1,052,298**|



16 



## **7. Debtors** 

|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**7. Debtors**||||**2025**||**2024**||
|||||**£**||**£**||
|Income tax recoverable||||20,585|||9,847|
|Other debtors|||||837||-|
|Prepayments & accrued income|||||825||1,302|
|||||**22,247**||**11,149**||
|**8. Liabilities:  Amounts falling due within one year**||||||||
|Trade creditors|||||(60)||-|
|Accruals and deferred income||||(2,040)||(1,950)||
|Other creditors||||(8,505)||(2,332)||
|||||**(10,605)**||**(4,282)**||
|**9. Liabilities:  Amounts falling due more than one year**||||||||
|Loans|||||-||-|
||||||**-**||**-**|
|**10. Restricted Fund Details**|**1.1.2025**|**Income**|**Expenses**|**Transfers**||**31.12.2025**||
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**||**£**||
|Land and Buildings Church community||||||||
|centre|995,208|-|(24,068)||-|971,140||
|Computers and Equipment|997|-|(2,835)||8,331||6,493|
|Investments|6,821|-|-|(6,821)|||-|
|Finish what we started|-|-|-||-||-|
|Other|829|-|-||(829)||-|
|C7|4,398|1,476|(5,873)||(1)||-|
|Men in sheds|210|-|-||-||210|
|Romania Mission & foodbank|7,950|9,359|(8,918)||-||8,391|
||**1,016,413**|**10,835**|**(41,694)**||**680**|**986,234**||
||**1.1.2024**|**Income**|**Expenses**|**Transfers**||**31.12.2024**||
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**||**£**||
|Land and Buildings Church community||||||||
|centre|1,020,952|-|(25,744)||-|995,208||
|Computers and Equipment|1,329|-|(332)||-||997|
|Investments|6,669|152|-||-||6,821|
|Finish what we started|2,875|-|-|(2,875)|||-|
|Other|2,892|923|(1,597)|(1,389)|||829|
|C7|3,574|9,148|(8,324)||-||4,398|
|Men in sheds|1,864|-|(1,654)||-||210|
|Romania Mission & foodbank|11,533|21,088|(24,415)||(256)||7,950|
|Loans|(24,461)|10,741|(229)|13,949|||-|
||**1,027,227**|**42,052**|**(62,295)**||**9,429**|**1,016,413**||



Transfers represent adjustments for subsidies from general funds, and timing between receipt and payment. 

## **11. Contingent Liabilities** 

There is a potential contingent liability in respect of a grant given by Surestart of £272,996 for the Church community centre building project. The liability extends for 25 years from the initial receipt of the grant in 2011, during which period there is a requirement that the usage of the facilities is for the provision of registered childcare for 25 years. At 28 February 2025, the 13th anniversary of the building opening, the potential claw back stood at £131,038 calculated on a straight line basis. 

## **12. Reserves policy** 

A target reserve of £90,000 is set to finance both day to day cash flow fluctuations, and to provide a contingency available for unexpected costs, in particular building repairs. Unrestricted funds at the year end £92,151 (2024: £35,885) are in excess of this figure. 

17