# **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL for the year ended 31 December 2023**
**NARRATIVE REPORT FOR 2023**
## **Background**
Under the terms of the Synodical Government Measure 1969, it is the duty of the Incumbent and the Parochial Church Council (“The PCC” or “St John’s”) to consult together on matters of general concern and importance in the parish.
The main function of The PCC is to work alongside with the Vicar in promoting the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. In addition to the Parish Church, there is a mission Church, St. Andrews, Crabtree within the parish.
## **Aims and purposes**
The general functions of The PCC are stated within section 2 of the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956. Burscough PCC is a Registered Charity, its registered number is 1128273.
The PCC gave consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance concerned with the advancement of religion.
We are a thriving evangelical church with a combination of both traditional and contemporary services, creative expressions of worship and strong links to our local community, all made possible by a committed team and paid and lay people. There is a wide range of worshipping styles and our worshipping community is proud to be a mix of all ages. All made possible by a dedicated team of both paid staff and volunteers
At St. John’s we have a vision statement:
## _**Knowing, growing in and sharing Jesus’ love in Burscough and beyond.**_
This confirms our mission to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England.
## **Objectives, activities and plans for the future**
Our objectives for 2023 were to work towards the fulfilling of the Parish Vision Statement:
## _**Knowing, growing in and sharing Jesus’ love in Burscough and beyond.**_
We sought to fulfil this vision by providing the following public benefits:
## **Knowing Jesus’ Love**
- Regular public worship open to all;
- The provision of sacred space for personal prayer and contemplation and helping people who have asked for assistance with prayer; and
- To review our services in order to enhance the beauty of our worship and make our occasional offices (baptisms, weddings and funerals) accessible to those with no experience of church.
## **Growing in Jesus’ love**
- Teaching of Christianity through sermons, courses and small groups;
- Taking of collective worship in schools; and
- Provision of youth clubs with a Christian ethos.
## **Sharing Jesus love**
- Pastoral work including visiting the sick, bereaved, housebound, those in residential care homes and those in need;
- Promoting the whole mission of the Church through provision of activities for all ages and for those with particular needs;
- Supporting other charities in the UK and overseas by our mission giving;
- A programme of socials and events to extend and deepen community; and
- Meeting with our ecumenical partners in the village.
## **Achievements and performance**
The church functions because it puts Jesus at the centre of all our activities and relies on the staff team and a multitude of volunteers to carry out the mission of the church. We would like to thank all the staff and volunteers who work so hard to make our church the lively and vibrant community it is.
_**Staff Team:**_
> Administrator Lesley Millie Operations Manager Jennie Short Children and Families Coordinator Tracey Fitzsimmons Youth Worker Joanna Marshall Pastoral Coordinator David Emmett Reader Christine Donnelly
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Reader Vicar Curates 2023
Diane Taylor-Harrison David Banbury (until 14 January 2024) Chris Neilson and Laura Neilson (Self-supporting minister) – until 30 June
The church also employs Stuart Ashcroft and Susan Baxter as cleaners. We are thankful for their diligent care for our buildings.
2023 was our first full year following the ‘COVID years’, we have reestablished much of our previous activity, as well as a successful re-launch of our small groups during the year.
This year we have:
- Offered a broad range of worship experiences; including a return to a full range of services and events for Christmas
- Provided a wide range of activities, events and groups for children and young people;
- Actively engaged in supporting local schools including our two Church of England Primary Schools;
- Run a wide-ranging programme for youth and young adults;
- Developed and enhanced our discipleship programme;
- Run a wide-ranging programme for Small Groups and Micro Groups. ;
- Become more familiar with our ‘Church Vision Statement’;
- Engaged in the Liverpool Diocesan Fit for Mission initiative. The PCC has positively expressed its interest in proceeding with the next two years of the plan, which sees us working together with several other churches in our deanery to determine how our governance structure might work differently under one larger single parish;
- Run enquirers’ courses to assist people in their faith journey;
- Run a variety of groups for women, men and focussed around specific issues and interests;
- Hosted and organised a number of outreach events;
- Supported a range of mission agencies and mission projects;
- Provided pastoral care and support in a wide range of contexts; and
- Conducted occasional offices.
Although their final weekend with us was in early January 2024, we said a sad and fond farewell to Rev David and Kathy Banbury, who moved on from St Johns this year. We are hugely grateful for David’s leadership over the past 6 years, and in particular through the pandemic which has been a time of unprecedented uncertainty. ‘Adapt and overcome’ will be something we carry forwards with us into our next chapter as a church. Thank you!
Towards the end of 2023, we announced that our new incumbent will be Rev. Elliott Ireton, who was previously a curate here at St Johns. Elliott, Jo and family will be joining us later in 2024, and we look forward to all that God has in store for their ministry here with us.
Our aims for 2024 are as follows:
- Offer a broad range of worship experiences;
- Provide a wide range of activities, events and groups for children and young people;
- Actively engage in supporting local schools including our two Church of England Primary Schools;
- Run a wide-ranging programme for youth and young adults;
- Develop and enhance our discipleship programme; including building upon our refreshed small groups including MicroGroups and Growth Groups
- Continue to communicate and embed our ‘Church Vision Statement’;
- Run enquirers’ courses to assist people in their faith journey;
- Run a variety of groups for women, men and focussed around specific issues and interests;
- Host and organise a number of outreach events;
- Support a range of mission agencies and mission projects;
- Give consideration to supporting organising and staffing overseas mission trips;
- Provide pastoral care and support in a wide range of contexts;
- Conduct occasional offices
- Partner with churches in Ormskirk Deanery and Liverpool Diocese to support our aspiration of becoming a resourcing church.
- Work with Liverpool diocese and Ormskirk Deanery to explore the Fit for Mission programme along with the other local churches who have also expressed a positive intent to proceed;
- Strengthen and invest in the Staff Team and give consideration to future ministry patterns with regard to staffing levels of ordained ministry within the parish.
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## **Financial review**
Our budget for 2023 was set towards the end of 2022 and at that time we were working with the backdrop of emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic, but with a little more clarity regarding ‘business as usual’ compared to where we were in 2021 and 2022. We were correct in our assumption that our church services could run ‘as normal’ throughout the year, but it was unclear what our attendance and giving patterns would look like. Our budget for 2023 was a deficit of £30,500 which seeks to include all underlying income and expenditure as well as one-off expenditure known at the time of setting the budget.
## Income
Our income from regular planned congregational giving has been slightly ahead of budget during 2023, primarily due to a number of members reconsidering and increasing their giving during the year – thank you!
At the last APCM I launched the Parish Giving Scheme (“PGS”) as a way for regular givers to make monthly donations. PGS is a free service provided to us by the Diocese, it coordinates regular monthly giving and arranges all matters relating to Gift Aid which reduced admin time on individual churches and their finance teams. To date, just over two thirds of our standing order giving has been switched across to PGS – Thank you!.
For anyone not yet using PGS, please do talk to us, this simple mechanism saves our finance team significant time and effort.
Our loose plate offertory continues to be received at a level lower than pre-pandemic, which is partially due to a higher number of regular givers (standing orders, envelopes and Parish Giving Scheme), but also follows the national trend of fewer ‘cash transactions’. To counteract this, we plan to purchase and install a contactless giving terminal in the West End of St Johns to provide a quick and secure method of making ad hoc card donations.
We have been blessed by several one off donations in the year, some for specific purposes such as the wonderful new altar cloth in memory of the late Alan Rimmer, and others without specific purpose. For all of these, we are truly grateful.
Church hall letting has increased in the year as we have been able to attract a couple of new regular hall users. We continue to be on the lookout for other regular hall users, so that we can make the most of our fantastic asset in the centre of the village.
Our vacant curates property has been leased out for the majority of the year, providing a monthly income in the region of £900, of course this will not reoccur as and when we welcome a new curate.
As a worshipping Christian community it is important that we regularly review our giving in the light of God’s generosity to us and take note not only of the impact of inflation on our ability to fund community activities, but consider the lives we are able to change and improve through these people coming to know Jesus. My continuing experience of St Johns and St Andrews is that radical generosity continues to be demonstrated, and this means that we continue to enjoy supporting a wide range of projects both in Burscough and beyond.
## Expenditure
Our expenditure during the year includes the cost of the new purple and green altar frontals (donations for which cover these expenses in full), maintenance to the church roof, replacement of the church hall doors and blinds, as well as the repayment of £8,000 of restricted monies held on behalf of Lordsgate school.
I thank God that we were in the very fortunate position to hold a fixed price energy contract for St Johns and the church hall which pre-dates the energy market pricing increases. These contracts expired in September 2023, and our newly negotiated prices mean that we are now paying broadly double what we were paying previously.
## Results
Through God’s faithfulness, and the continuing generosity of our congregations, our actual result for the year is a modest deficit of £12,430 which includes the unbudgeted and non-recurring £8,089 of restricted monies which we paid over to Lordsgate at their request.
The deficit can be analysed in the following categories St Johns church £2,239 surplus St Andrews mission Crabtree £2,520 deficit St Johns church hall £4,060 deficit Lordsgate restricted fund £8,089 deficit **TOTAL £12,430 deficit**
We must recognise that this is not quite a true reflection of our underlying income and expenditure as our new energy prices have only applied for the final 3 months of the year, and we currently enjoy income rather than expense from our curates property at Warpers Moss. The general level of inflation on all our expenses continues to put pressure on our finances, and in general we do not see our regular giving increasing at the same rate year on year. Clearly this is challenging given the current cost of living, and the PCC regularly consider and implement mitigating
4
actions to develop our giving further as well as to appropriately save on some specific areas of cost. We plan to discuss with the congregation at large during the first quarter of 2024.
An annual budget is prepared to plan our finances and enable them to be monitored. Actual results compared with budget are monitored by the Hon. Treasurer, Incumbent, and Church Wardens. The Treasurer formally reports on all financial matters to PCC members at PCC meetings for their review and discussion. PCC investments are held in low risk funds approved for charity use. All assets are appropriately insured, and insurance levels are reviewed and approved annually.
## **Restricted funds**
Restricted funds comprise donations given for a particular ministry purpose. At 31 December 2023 the unspent portion of these funds is £239,642 _(2022: £247,731)_ , which has reduced by £8,089 due to the money sent to Lordsgate school. Of our restricted reserves, £230,282 is invested in the curates house on Warpers Moss Lane and is not held as cash.
## **Grant making policy**
St. John’s made grants to Open Doors, The Tanzania Trust, Mission Aviation Fellowship, and Family Forge who assist asylum seekers in our local area. Additional smaller grants are awarded to organisations and church members working in mission.
Special appeals at services and events have raised money for various specific charities. In particular, £42,555 was raised at our harvest appeal in support of International Needs UK work to build new classrooms at a school in Kiyindi, Uganda.
Grants are awarded to organisations and church members working in mission after an evaluation of each case. All giving follows The PCC’s mission policy for the promotion of the Christian gospel in proclamation and social action throughout the world.
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees believe that St. John’s relies on God’s provision for the financial resources needed to fund its work. Consequently, the policy of The PCC is not to build up reserves beyond the operating needs of the charity, and, wherever possible, to expend income received during the course of each financial year on its purposes. However, in order to ensure that the church has sufficient working capital to meet its obligations to its employees and creditors, the Trustees aim to hold sufficient “free” reserves (calculated as unrestricted funds less long-term assets expected to be settled over a number of years) to cover six months’ expenditure. Free reserves as at 31 December 2023 stand at £60,495 _(2022: £64,836)._
The PCC’s policy of holding 6 months expenditure, based on budgeted costs for 2024 gives a target of £146,000. We are therefore a little way behind this target, however the position has worsened in the past three years COVID19, and it is right and proper that our reserves have been made available to ensure the ongoing work of the charity during that period. The Trustees will continue to be mindful of this free reserves target in making financial decisions and allocating resources as we move into 2024 and beyond.
## **Legacy policy**
The PCC welcomes all gifts in Wills, however large or small. It is our policy to use legacy gifts to help fund development projects that will benefit the parish, and to support outreach to our local community.
Over the years needs change and therefore everyone is encouraged to leave a gift in their Will for the general purposes of the parish, rather than for specific restricted purposes. Where indicated, the PCC promise to discuss the possible uses of a legacy gift with the executors and to bear in mind the known areas of interest held by the person leaving that gift.
## **Risk management**
The PCC has conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. A risk register has been established and is updated annually. Where appropriate, systems and procedures have been established to mitigate the risks that the church faces. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety of staff, volunteers and visitors. The schedule of major risks and uncertainties identified is set out on page 8.
## **Related parties**
Details of related parties are given in note 14 of the financial statements.
5
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
The Parochial Church Council for St John the Baptist, Burscough, holds funds as custodian trustees on behalf of the Burscough Outreach Trust. It is segregated within our CCLA Deposit Fund with a separate Deposit Account Number. The association with the Burscough Outreach Trust is defined below under ‘Structure, management and governance’. The balance held as at 31 December 2023 is £42,000 _(2022: £42,000)._
## _Agency transactions_
The PCC acted as a financial agent for the following people/organisations in the year:
- “ ”
- - Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance ( LDBF ) – a portion of fees for weddings, funerals and other occasional offices are owed to the LDBF. St Johns makes regular payment of these monies to LDBF. £379 was owing at year end. This money was distributed to LDBF in accordance with current diocesan guidance.
- Organists, Vergers, Singers and Grave Diggers – Similarly to the LDBF fees, money is received from wedding couples and Funeral Directors, in regard to vergers and musician fees for weddings, funerals and burials respectively. Of which £212 was owing at year end. This money was passed on to the relevant individuals. Where appropriate, a proportion of this money was separated and sent directly to HMRC in relation to income tax payments.
- ’
- - Children s Society - £746 was received as donations towards the Children’s Society during the year, primarily the Christingle services. Due to the timing of the collection, this was all was owing at year end. These monies have been distributed to the Children’s Society in January 2024.
- Harvest 2023 appeal - Our harvest appeal in support of International Needs UK and their building of new classrooms at a school in Kiyindi, Uganda, raised a total of £42,555. This has been paid over in full to International Needs UK so that work could commence promptly.
- Lunch Aid – during the year, the banking arrangements for our Lunch Aid ministry have been brought into the St Johns financial statements. Previously they operated a separate bank account. During the year this has made donations of £450 each to The Leprosy Mission, Sight Savers, Water Aid, and Operation Smile, as well as a £1,000 donation towards the February 2024 Uganda mission trip. As at the year end, there is a fund of £323 held on behalf of Lunch Aid, the use of which will be guided by the regular attendees of that ministry.
The PCC also holds monies paid in by church members for future parish and youth holidays, and mission trips.
## **Structure, management and governance**
The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 (as amended) and the church Representation Rules. The PCC is also a registered charity operating under the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
The Burscough Outreach Trust is a charity which shares a number of common trustees with the PCC. There are no physical assets in this trust. The trust is responsible for managing restricted funds for children and youth work, pastoral care and certain charitable giving.
The appointment of PCC members is governed by and set out in the Church Representation Rules. The PCC comprises all the clergy, the two churchwardens (elected annually at the parish meeting immediately preceding the APCM), lay members elected annually at the APCM, and lay members elected every three years as St. John’s representatives on the Ormskirk Deanery Synod. Additionally, the PCC has the right to co-opt members. All church members are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to The PCC.
The PCC has revisited the aims and goals of the charity. The PCC have reviewed and approved health and safety policy, risk assessment and management and child protection procedures and has reviewed and acted on the Disability Audit.
Health and Safety requirements are reviewed regularly by knowledgeable persons under the instruction of The PCC, to enable The PCC to appraise risks and implement necessary compliance requirements. Procedures for recording accidents are in place.
6
## **Administrative information**
## **PCC membership**
_Dates run between our Annual Parochial General Meetings unless otherwise stated_
||Name|Start Date|End Date|
|---|---|---|---|
|**_Ex-Officio Members_**:||||
|Priest in Charge:|Rev. Canon David Banbury|25 March 2018|14 January 2024|
|Curates:|Rev. Chris Neilson
Rev. Laura Neilson|2020
2022|18 June 2023
18 June 2023|
|Church Wardens:|Diane Edwards|2020|2023|
||Jeannie Holman|2022|2025|
||Steve Baxter|2023|2026|
|Deanery Synod:|Mark Taylor|2017|2026|
||Clare Hughes|2020|2026|
||Prudence Magee|2020|2026|
||Peter Dorling|2020|2026|
|||||
|**_Invited Attendees:_**||||
|Crabtree Representative:|Geoff Ratcliffe|||
|Estates Manager|Stephen Magee|||
|**_Co-opted Members:_**||||
||Joanne Lowcock|2023|2023|
|**_Elected Members_**_:_||||
|Hon. Secretary|Stuart Ashcroft|2018|2025|
|Hon. Treasurer|Peter Short|2019|2025|
||Abigail Hope|2020|2023|
||Christel Banks|2020|2023|
||Christopher Lawton|2020|10 June 2022|
||Alastair Critchley|2021|5 September 2023|
||Caroline McCaul|2021|2024|
||Katie Street|2021|2024|
||Max Lyons|2022|2025|
||Mark Aspinall|2023|2026|
||Helen Cobos|2023|2026|
||Malcolm Lever|2023|2026|
It is considered that all P.C.C. members and any others who could be understood as ‘managers’ in the affairs and activities of St. John the Baptist Church, Burscough are deemed to be ‘fit and proper’ persons under the terms of the Finance Act 2010.
All P.C.C. members elected for the first time and any others who have been re-elected to the P.C.C. after an absence of sometime are supplied with the copies of the minutes of P.C.C. meetings for the last year, are given a copy of the last Annual Report and Accounts, and invited to meet with the P.C.C. Treasurer, the Church Wardens and the Incumbent in order that they may be thoroughly briefed on the financial situation of the Parish.
The Vicar, two Church Wardens, Treasurer and Estates Manager comprise the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee is empowered by The PCC to make decisions between PCC meetings. The minutes of the Standing Committee meetings are circulated to all PCC members.
**Church Address** St John the Baptist, School Lane, Burscough, L40 4AE **Vicar** Rev Canon David Banbury – until 14 January 2024 We have appointed Rev Elliott Ireton as the incoming incumbent, he will commence later in 2024 **Bankers** Royal Bank of Scotland Drummond House (GI) Branch 1 Redheughs Avenue, Edinburgh, EH12 9JN **Independent Examiner** Rev. A A Clements **Charity Name** The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclestiastical Parish of St John the Baptist Burscough Bridge
1128273
**Charity Number**
7
## **MAJOR RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES**
|**No.**|**Potential Risk**|**Mitigation**|
|---|---|---|
|1.|Energy pricing: uncertain future pricing
leading to increased cost base and therefore
inadequate available cashflow to meet salary
and creditor payments.|
St. John’s relies on God’s provision and the generosity
of the congregation to meet its financial needs, core
members of the congregation can be approached to
underwrite in the event of a shortfall.
Our aim is to hold 6 months of ‘free unrestricted
reserves’ in hand
Strong budgetary and financial controls are in place.|
|2.|Loss of confidence by stakeholders due to
the behaviour of senior leadership or staff
members|
Organisational values are clearly defined and
regularly communicated.
Prayer and worship are central to life at St. John’s.
Oversight structures are in place for senior leaders
and staff.|
|3.|Harm comes to those in our care due to lack
of appropriate and compliant child and
vulnerable adult safeguarding procedures|
Safeguarding at St. John’s is overseen by a
Safeguarding Officer.
St. John’s is working closely with the Diocese of
Liverpool to ensure that it models best practice in
the area of safeguarding.
All church members involved with children or
vulnerable adults are required to complete the
necessary safeguarding training and DBS checks.|
|4.|Harm comes to visitors or staff due to lack of
appropriate and compliant Health & Safety
procedures|
Regular health and safety reporting takes
place at PCC meetings.|
|5.|Poor decision-making and breach of
regulatory requirements due to weak or
non-compliant governance structures.|
PCC meetings and structures are compliant with
Charity Commission and church law requirements.
Conflicts of interest are managed appropriately at
PCC level.|
|6.|Inability to operate in the event of a
disaster due to lack of adequate business
continuity planning. Business continuity
compromised or critical data lost through
cyber-attack.|
IT systems are backed up remotely and can be
accessed remotely.|
|.7.|Legal and financial risks arising from
maintenance of two church buildings, and
the church hall.|
There is a continuous program of ongoing
maintenance and investment in our buildings.|
8
Declaratlon
The trustees declare that they have approveil the trustÈÈs' report above.
Sluned on behalf ol the chaylty's trustees
Slunaturel$l
pcc
and lait
tional
Full namelsl
Peter Short
Jeannie Holman
PosItIc leg Secretsry. Chalr,
et¢)
Hon. Treasurer
Churchwwden and PCC Ch8ir
Date
71sl L(fr
713/z
**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**_Note_**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
_Voluntary income_
_3(a)_
_Activities for generating funds_
_3(b)_
_Income from investments_
_3(c)_
_Income from church activities_
_3(d)_
_Other incoming resources_
_3(e)_
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
_Church activities_
_4(a)_
_Costs of generating voluntary income_
_4(b)_
_Fund raising trading costs_
_4(c)_
_Governance costs_
_4(d)_
**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**GAINS/(LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS**
_- Realised_
_- Unrealised_
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
TRANSFER BETWEEN FUNDS
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
BALANCES B/fwd at 1st JANUARY 2023
**BALANCES C/fwd at 31st DECEMBER 2023**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE**
**INVESTMENT GAINS/(LOSSES)**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
247,954
-
-
247,954
251,601
10,549
-
-
10,549
7,400
14,886
3,000
-
17,886
7,475
12,911
-
-
12,911
14,554
6,390
-
-
6,390
4,506|
|---|---|
||292,690
3,000
-
295,690
285,536|
||(296,831)
(11,089)
-
(307,920)
(347,755)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(200)
-
-
(200)
(200)|
||(297,031)
(11,089)
-
(308,120)
(347,955)|
||(4,341)
(8,089)
-
(12,430)
(62,419)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
||(4,341)
(8,089)
-
(12,430)
(62,419)|
||-
-
-
-
-|
||(4,341)
(8,089)
-
(12,430)
(62,419)
148,554
247,731
-
396,285
458,704|
||144,213
239,642
-
383,855
396,285|
10
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023
2023
2022
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible fixed a55el$
314,QCA)
314.(KK)
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtols
3.210
16,463
Short term dep)sls
105,577
105.577
Cash 41 bank and in ha
35,ffi8
28,221
144,445
1x1,261
LIABIUTIES= AMOUNTS FALLING DUE
WITHIN ONE YEAR
ICI
157.1411
139,7C61
NET CURRENT ASSETS
87,304
110.555
LIABIUnES.. AMOUNTS FALLING DUE
AFTERONE YEAR
117,4491
12B,2701
NET ASSETS
,855
396,285
PARISH FUNDS
UnfÈStricted
12
144,213
148.554
Restrided
13
239.642
247,731
383,855
Approved by the Parochial Clwrth Council on 7fvch
2024 and signed on ils behalfby..
P. SFKIrt
Hon. Treasurer
J. Holman
Chuich Warden
T nc¢fsonJ)aw 10 10 19fvtm pwtolthtrsfr4cc0ks
11
**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## _**Accounting convention**_
These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under historical cost convention.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 together with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102). The charity is a public benefit entity for the purposes of FRS 102 and therefore the charity also prepared its financial statements in accordance with the Statement of Reccomended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland (The FRS 102 Charities SORP) and the Charities Act.
## _**Funds**_
Endowment funds are funds, the capital of which must be maintained; only income arising from investment of the endowment may be used either as restricted or unrestricted funds depending upon the purpose for which the endowment was established.
Restricted funds represent (a) income from trusts or endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust or bequest, and (b) donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by PCC for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forwards as a balance on that fund. The PCC does not usually invest separately for each fund. Where there is no separate investment, interest is apportioned to individual funds on an average value basis.
Unrestricted funds are general funds which can be used for PCC ordinary purposes.
## _**Incoming resources**_
Planned giving, collections, donations, grants and legacies are recognised when the PCC is notified of its legal entitlement, the amount due is quantifiable, and its ultimate receipt by the PCC is probable. Income tax recoverable on Gift Aid donations is recognised when the income is recognised. Interest on bank accounts is accounted for as it accrues. All other income is recognised when it is receivable. All incoming resources are accounted for gross.
## _**Resources expended**_
Grants and donations are accounted for when payable, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the PCC. The diocesan parish share is accounted for when payable. All other expenditure is recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross.
## _**Fixed assets**_
Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts in accordance with s.10(2) 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 inalienable property, listed in the church's inventory, which can be inspected (at any reasonable time). For anything acquired prior to 2000 there is insufficient cost information available and therefore such assets are not valued in the financial statements. Individual items with a purchase price of £1,000 or less are expensed when the asset is acquired.
## _**Investments**_
Investments are initially valued at their cost and subsequently measured at their fair value at each reporting date.
Changes in fair value and gains and losses arising upon the disposal of investments are credited or charged to the income or expenditure section of the Statement of Financial Activities as 'gains or losses on investments' and are allocated to the appropriate fund holding or disposing of the relevant investment.
12
**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)**
## _**Financial instruments**_
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments. Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
With the exceptions of prepayments all other debtor and creditor balances are considered to be basic financial instruments under FRS 102.
## _**Debtors**_
Amounts owing at 31 December in respect of fees, rents and other income are shown as debtors less any provisions for amounts that may prove uncollectable.
## _**Cash and cash equivalents**_
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
## _**Creditors**_
Creditors are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.
## _**Going concern**_
The PCC has assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events of conditions which might cast signficiant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The PCC has made this assesment for a period of at least one year from the date of the approval of the financial statements. In particular the PCC has considered the charity's forecasts and projections and have taken account of pressures on donations and other income. After making enquiries, the PCC has concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.
13
**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **2. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
The following table analyses 2022's income and expenditure between unrestricted, restricted and endowment funds
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**
_Voluntary income_
_Activities for generating funds_
_Income from investments_
_Income from church activities_
_Other incoming resources_
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
_Church activities_
_Costs of generating voluntary income_
_Fund raising trading costs_
_Governance costs_
**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**GAINS/(LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS**
_- Realised_
_- Unrealised_
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
TRANSFER BETWEEN FUNDS
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
BALANCES B/fwd at 1st JANUARY 2022
**BALANCES C/fwd at 31st DECEMBER 2022**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE**
**INVESTMENT GAINS/(LOSSES)**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
251,601
-
-
251,601
7,400
-
-
7,400
4,475
3,000
-
7,475
14,554
-
-
14,554
4,506
-
-
4,506|
|---|---|
||282,536
3,000
-
285,536|
||(344,755)
(3,000)
-
(347,755)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(200)
-
-
(200)|
||(344,955)
(3,000)
-
(347,955)|
||(62,419)
-
-
(62,419)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
||(62,419)
-
-
(62,419)|
||-
-
-
-|
||(62,419)
-
-
(62,419)
210,973
247,731
-
458,704|
||148,554
247,731
-
396,285|
14
**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **3. INCOMING RESOURCES**
|3(a) **_Voluntary Income_**
Planned giving:
Regular planned giving
Tax recoverable
Collections (open plate)
Gift days
Donations
Special appeals
Legacies
3(b) **_Activities for generating funds_**
Bookstall for fundraising
Hall Letting for non-church purposes
Rummage sales, fetes etc
Non-charitable trading
3(c) **_Income from investments_**
Dividends and Interest including tax recoverable
Rent from land or buildings
3(d) **_Income from church activities_**
Magazine income from sales
PCC fees
3(e) **_Other incoming resources_**
Other
Job Retention Scheme and SMP reclaimed
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
169,742
-
-
169,742
171,649
42,319
-
-
42,319
37,269
6,351
-
-
6,351
8,072
-
-
-
-
-
28,542
-
-
28,542
34,111
-
-
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
1,000
500|
|---|---|
||247,954
-
-
247,954
251,601|
||503
-
-
503
200
10,046
-
-
10,046
7,200
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
||10,549
-
-
10,549
7,400|
||3,250
-
-
3,250
566
11,636
3,000
-
14,636
6,909|
||14,886
3,000
-
17,886
7,475|
||-
-
-
-
40
12,911
-
-
12,911
14,514|
||12,911
-
-
12,911
14,554|
||6,390
-
-
6,390
4,506
-
-
-
-
-|
||6,390
-
-
6,390
4,506|
|||
||292,690
3,000
-
295,690
285,536|
15
**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **4. RESOURCES EXPENDED**
|4(a) **_Church activities_**
**Missionary and charitable giving**
Charitable giving to other organisations
Home missions and other church organisations
Hardship donations
**Ministry**
Parish share
Working expenses of clergy
Parsonage house
Assistant staff costs
**Church running expenses**
Heating and lighting
Insurance
Other costs
Church maintenance
Upkeep of churchyard
Printing and other costs of magazine
Bookstall costs
Parish training and missions
Youth & children's work
Hall running costs
Hall repairs and maintenance
4(b) **_Costs of generating voluntary income_**
4(c) **_Fund raising trading costs_**
4(d) **_Governance costs (Independent examiner fee)_**
**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**5**
**STAFF COSTS**
Wages and salaries
Social security
Defined contribution pension cost|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
18,005
2,257
-
118,351
1,730
3,681
63,709
7,600
4,900
14,998
34,154
4,840
-
300
5,312
2,888
4,073
10,033|**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
-
18,005
18,766
-
-
2,257
861
-
-
-
-
-
-
118,351
118,630
-
-
1,730
2,384
-
-
3,681
3,563
-
-
63,709
83,280
-
-
7,600
5,470
-
-
4,900
4,530
-
-
14,998
10,978
-
-
34,154
80,091
-
-
4,840
3,845
-
-
-
-
-
-
300
500
-
-
5,312
2,702
11,089
-
13,977
5,919
-
-
4,073
2,328
-
-
10,033
3,908|
|---|---|---|
||296,831|11,089
-
307,920
347,755|
||-
-
200|-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
200
200|
||297,031|11,089
-
308,120
347,955|
|||**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
82,674
77,538
-
130
1,040
972
83,714
78,640|
During the year, the PCC employed a parish administrator, an operations manager, a church cleaner and a church hall cleaner, all on a part-time basis. The headcount on a full-time equivalent basis is 1.3 (2022: 1.4).
In addition, the PCC also contributes towards the wages and salaries of staff employed by the Burscough Outreach Trust, these staff are included in the this staff costs note as their work is directly in connection with St John's Burscough. Their headcount on a full-time equivalent basis is 2.2 (2022: 2.2).
No employees receive employee benefits of more than £60,000 (2022: none).
Clergy members are employed by the Diocese of Liverpool and not by St John's so their costs have not been included in the salary figures shown above.
No members of the PCC received any remuneration or expenses in their capacity as charity trustees
16
**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**FIXED ASSETS**
**_Tangible fixed assets_**
**GROSS BOOK VALUE**
At 1st January 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 31st December 2023
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1st January 2023
Charge for the year
Depreciation eliminated on disposals
At 31st December 2023
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31st December 2023
At 31st December 2022|**£**
**£**
**£**
314,000
-
314,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
**Freehold Land**
**& Buildings**
**Fixtures &**
**Fittings**
**Total**|
|---|---|
||314,000
-
314,000|
||-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
||-
-
-|
||314,000
-
314,000|
||314,000
-
314,000|
## **6 FIXED ASSETS**
## **7. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND**
||||
|---|---|---|
|**ALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND**
Fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Fund balance
**BTORS & PREPAYMENTS**
Income tax recoverable
Prepayments and accrued Interest
**SH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS**
Short term deposits (CCLA)
Cash at bank and in hand|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
83,718
230,282
-
314,000
135,085
9,360
-
144,445
(57,141)
-
-
(57,141)
(17,449)
-
-
(17,449)||
||144,213|239,642
-
383,855|
|||**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
1,331
3,348
1,879
13,115
3,210
16,463
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
105,577
105,577
35,658
28,221
141,235
133,798|
## **8. DEBTORS & PREPAYMENTS**
## **9. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS**
17
**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**10.**|**LIABILITIES:**|**2023**|**2022**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**|**£**|**£**|
||Accruals and deferred Income|20,119|17,992|
||Other creditors|26,947|12,302|
||Coronavirus Bounceback Loan Scheme|10,075|9,412|
|||57,141|39,706|
|**11.**|**LIABILITIES:**|**2023**|**2022**|
||**AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER ONE YEAR**|**£**|**£**|
||Coronavirus Bounceback Loan Scheme|17,449|28,270|
|||17,449|28,270|
||The Coronavirus Bounceback Loan Scheme is an unsecured loan, which is backed by the UK||government.|
|**12.**|**UNRESTRICTED FUNDS**|**2023**|**2022**|
||**_The closing balance of unrestricted funds_**|**£**|**£**|
||**_comprised the following:_**|||
||General|136,358|138,180|
||Crabtree mission|7,854|10,374|
||Designated - Church refurbishment|-|-|
|||144,212|148,554|
|**13.**|**RESTRICTED FUNDS**|**2023**|**2022**|
||**_The closing balance of restricted funds_**|**£**|**£**|
||**_comprised the following:_**|||
||Curates' property|45,236|45,236|
||Church refurbishment|9,360|9,360|
||Church hall|34,000|34,000|
||Youth & children|151,046|151,046|
||Lordsgate school|-|8,089|
||Churchyard maintenance|-|-|
|||239,642|247,731|
18
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, BURSCOUGH NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023**
## **14. RELATED PARTIES**
The related parties of St John's PCC consist of the trustees of the charity, their close family members, and the Burscough Outreach Trust by nature of its shared trustees with St John's PCC.
The following trustees were connected to people or organisations in receipt of payments from St John's
|**Trustee**|**Related Trusteeships**|**Related Party Transactions**|
|---|---|---|
|David Banbury|The Burscough Outreach Trust|See below|
|Diane Edwards(until 23 April 2023)|The Burscough Outreach Trust|See below|
|Jeannie Holman(since 24 April 2022)|The Burscough Outreach Trust|See below|
|Steve Baxter(since 23 April 2023)|The Burscough Outreach Trust|See below|
|Mark Aspinall(since 23 April 2023)|The Burscough Outreach Trust|See below|
|Stuart Ashcroft|None|Works part-time as church hall
cleaner|
|Peter Short|None|Jennie Short (wife) works part
time as operations manager|
The table below shows payments made to The Burscough Outreach Trust and amounts owing to or by them. None of St John's income derives from these entities.
|||**2023**|**2022**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Burscough Outreach Trust ("BOT")**|**£**||**£**|
|Amounts paid by St John's||35,000|30,046|
|Amounts received by St John's||5,450|5,118|
|Amounts due to/(from) St Johns||-|-|
## _**Connected persons**_
During 2023 two (2022: two), trustees or close family members of trustees, were employed by St John's PCC. Total emoluments to these related parties for 2023 total £13,819 (2022: £13,400).
## _**Trustee donations**_
St John's regularly receives donations from PCC members. The donors did not attach any conditions to their gifts which would require the charity to significantly alter the nature of its existing activities.
19