## **St Paul’s Church, Penketh** ## **Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council** **For the year ended 31[st] December 2023** **A member of the West Warrington Church Team** ## **1. Reference and Administrative Information** The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Paul, Penketh is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Charity registration number: 1128300. St Paul’s Church is located on Warrington Road, Penketh, Warrington, WA5 2RX. The parish is part of the Diocese of Liverpool. Official correspondence should be sent to the Rev. Sarah Peppiatt at 89 Westbrook Crescent, Warrington, WA5 8TN. For the period 1[st] January 2022 until the date of approval of this report, the following people served as members of the Parochial Church Council: Team Rector: Rev. Jeremy Tear Team Vicar: Rev. Sarah Peppiatt (Chair and oversight minister) Team Vicar: Rev Martin Thorpe Churchwardens: Margaret Bennett (to APCM 2023) Mick Lloyd (from APCM 2023) Elected members: Margaret Sanderson Marise Seville Lesley Ratcliffe Joanna Cottrell (to APCM 2023) Karen Howard (to March 2023) Derek Cook Bill Sanderson (Deanery Synod APCM 2023) John Murray (Deanery Synod from APCM 2023) John Nolan (from APCM 2023) Sue Lloyd (from APCM 2023) Anne Molyneux (from APCM 2023) Laura Andrus (from APCM 2023) Gail Pattullo (from APCM 2023) Rev. Jeremy Tear was appointed team Rector and Rev. Sarah Peppiatt was appointed team Vicar with responsibility for the oversight of St Paul’s, by the Bishop of Liverpool. They and the churchwardens are each ex-officio members of the PCC, along with Rev Martin Thorpe as the third team vicar and the Deanery Synod representatives. The Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance acted as Custodian Trustee for the inalienable property of the church. The Oaks is technically owned by the PCC but because PCCs are currently not allowed to hold property, ownership has been vested in the LDBF. Bankers – All accounts are now with Lloyds, Horsemarket Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 2LP from Jan. 2015. Independent Examiner – D Carty FCA, 234 Manchester Road Warrington, WA1 3BD Day to day management of the Church was delegated by the PCC to the Standing Committee: Rev. Sarah Peppiatt (from Oct. 2015), Margaret Bennett (from August 2016 to APCM 2023), Mick Lloyd (from APCM 2023), Marise Seville (from APCM 2016), Elaine Briers (from APCM 2021), William Sanderson (from APCM 2021) The Standing Committee can be contacted via the chair, Sarah Peppiatt either by e- mail at revsarahpep@sky.com or telephone on 01925 569733. ## **2. Structure, Management and Governance** St Paul, Penketh, PCC is a body corporate and operates under the _Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956_ and the _Church Representation Rules 2020_ . The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All church members are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and welcomed to stand for election to the PCC. The PCC operates two sub-committees: the Standing Committee and the Operations Group, and a working maintenance group to support the Operations Group. _Standing Committee:_ Rev. Sarah Peppiatt (from Oct. 2015), Margaret Bennett (from August 2016 to APCM 2023), Mick Lloyd (from APCM 2023), Marise Seville (from APCM 2016), Elaine Briers (from APCM 2021), William Sanderson (from APCM 2021) _Operations Management Group:_ The Vicar, Centre Manager (Karen Howard, to March 2023), Operations Manager (Stephen Southern, from May 2023), Julie Harrop, John Nolan (to Sept 2022), Amanda Rawson (from November 2023), Bill Sanderson, Margaret Bennett (to APCM 2023), Mick Lloyd (from APCM 2023) and Marise Seville. Individual PCC members receive external training as and when deemed appropriate by the PCC. The Old School Café at the Oaks Centre has a 5-star Food Hygiene Rating from Warrington Borough Council. All catering volunteers undertake level 2 food hygiene training. ## _**Risk Assessments**_ The PCC undertook a programme of risk assessments to identify their major risks. Procedures were then put in place to manage those risks and minimise their impact on the life of the church. In the Oaks Community Centre, risk assessments were carried out on the kitchen, café, main hall and shop; and also on the external footpaths and car park. Additional risk assessments for individual rooms were completed during 2016. A fire risk assessment was also carried out. - _Financial Risk_ An annual budget is prepared to ensure short term viability. Actual results compared with budget are reported to the PCC every month. The charity has two main sources of income; namely the giving by members to the Church and commercial trading in the Oaks Centre and from hire of the church building. The PCC review their investments regularly. Investments are only made in approved low risk funds. All assets are insured. A major review was carried out at the end of 2012 to ensure cover at an appropriate level. The PCC has approved internal and external controls for annual accounts. ## ● _Compliance with Law and Regulation_ Health and safety reviews have been undertaken during the year. The PCC was appraised of the risks and the necessary compliance requirements and adjustments made. Safeguarding The PCC has adopted the national safeguarding guidelines laid down by the House of Bishops. Our safeguarding policy is reviewed each year at the first PCC after the APCM. ## Safeguarding at St Paul's Over recent years our Diocese has become increasingly aware of Safeguarding - what is a concern and what could be with this in mind how we can keep ourselves and each other safe. Online training and also 3yearly DBS and Safer Recruitment documentation assist with this. However a listening ear not only allows concerns/worries to be taken seriously but if further advice from the vicar or the Safeguarding team at the diocese is needed it can be accessed. St Paul’s Safeguarding Officer is Margaret Sanderson (Meg). There have been no safeguarding incidents in 2023. ## **3. Objectives and Activities** The general functions of the PCC are stated within section 2 of the _Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956._ At St Paul’s over the years we have had a variety of mission statements, with the most recent being- **The heart of God at the heart of the community.** When planning our activities for the year, the PCC gave consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance to charities concerned with the advancement of religion. Our objectives for 2023 were to provide the following public benefits: Open to God. - Regular public worship open to all. Both the Church and the Oaks are totally access friendly. - The provision of sacred space for personal prayer and contemplation and praying for those who ask for assistance. - Lifetime, running on a weekly basis on Thursday mornings, providing alternatives to more formal worship. - Sunday Lunch, a new family focused congregation meeting monthly on Sunday lunchtimes, intended especially to reach school age families and working parents for whom Thursday mornings would be unsuitable, but open to all - Café Church, refreshed and re-launched in the summer of 2023 to provide accessible worship for adults on the fringe of church. ## Open to the community. - One community centre, the Oaks, offering food and friendship and much else to any who choose to come. - Pastoral work, including a bereavement support group hosted in the church and a much-valued support group for those with dementia and their carers. - Taking of religious assemblies in local Primary Schools, through the medium of Open the Book. - Youth activities for various age groups. - Supporting other charities in the UK and overseas with gifts from our regular income, plus special collections. Also, practical support for the night shelter and Food Bank in Warrington. - Support offered to the new and Hong Kong community around us, including an informal language class, trips out to build social links, craft groups and a Hong Kong Bible study. Much of this is run through the extended Lifetime team. Open to each other. - Teaching of Christianity. - Home Groups. - Lent Groups. - Alpha course for those interested in knowing more about the Christian faith. - ● Bible Studies. - Working with 8 West Warrington Churches. We are currently working as a team with the three neighbouring Anglican churches. ## _5 year Vision_ The plan originally was to form a vision statement in June 2022. The PCC initially identified three key areas for our vision: our collaboration with St Mary’s and YFC to employ a youthworker, deepening the work of Lifetime and Sunday Lunch, and building closer links with the pastoral work run through the Forget Me Not Café and bereavement group. These were to be linked to some numerical targets for growth. However by July, when the PCC came to finalise this vision, God had already been moving ahead of us. Lifetime had started attracting significant numbers of Hong Kong Chinese and a door of opportunity for pastoral and evangelistic work seemed to be opening. We agreed to defer until September and to pray for further insight. By September it had also become plain that the cost of living crisis was only going to get worse and we began to wonder if God was calling us to some ministry of justice and social support. Finally the youthworker project came under question when we failed to attract any applications for the post. With all that in mind, we decided that rather than set a vision, we would call the church to a year of prayer and discernment, beginning in October 2022 and seek God’s wisdom so that a vision could be set beyond. ## _2023 summary_ 2023 was a year of change and transition, as we said goodbye to Karen Howard and Linda Keir, both of whom have given many many years of service to the Oaks. We appointed Stephen Southern as our new operations manager, supported by Elizabeth Spreadbury as admin assistant. We also reintroduced the role of Café Supervisor, initially to support Karen in the transition period to a new manager. We now are operating at 107 paid hours a week to support the hospitality ministry. Mission wise the pioneer congregations continue to go from strength to strength. We introduced communion at Lifetime, first at Easter and then at the end of the year and Christmas. People have been very appreciative of this and it continues to strengthen the sense of community and church we’re building. Sunday Lunch is settling into a steady monthly pattern with a great team of volunteers forming, while Cafe Church has relaunched under Mick’s steady leadership, ably supported by some longstanding Café Church team members and some new ones. At the very end of the year we began to experiment with finding spaces for our youth to meet together and we hope to see that flourish in 2024. A youth and schools’ worker was appointed in January 2023, in partnership with St Mary’s and YFC, but sadly he had to leave in the summer due to family ill health. Progress was made to a fresh appointment, starting in the January of 2024. On a wider front, the deanery has been prayerfully considering throughout 2023 whether we should be operating on a much closer basis than before. The PCC voted by a majority to continue to be part of this Fit for Mission journey as we explore the possibilities around forming a single large parish across the whole of Warrington. This exploration will take us through 2024 and some of 2025 before a final consultation is held. ## Charitable giving policy Charitable giving continues to be an important part of St Paul’s financial plans. As budgets have become tighter, we now review the amount given from year to year rather than setting a fixed percentage. The charity review, which was introduced at the beginning of 2018, has meant that we now give to 10 charities who each have a representative in our congregation. The external charities supported in 2023 Barnabas Fund, Bible Society, Sounds of Life, Disaster relief committee – Turkey, Warrington fFoodbank, Sankey Good Neighbours, YFC, Multiple Sclerosis Society Fishermen’s Misson On top of this we began the process of giving the last of our capital donations to large scale project. We gave £7’500 to Scargill House directed to their major rebuilding project, with a final £7’500 due in 2024. ## **4. Achievements and performance** ## _**Electoral roll**_ There are now 100 people on the electoral roll. ## _**Worship**_ Our attendance has steadied off after the ups and downs of the pandemic and now averages around 55 on a usual Sunday. Around 15 children are on our Sunday Gang registers, with the older ones now forming the majority. ## _**Finance, Giving and Fundraising**_ We have 37 people giving to the church on a regular basis, which is a drop of one from 2023. The money given to the General Fund is banked with Lloyds in a business account giving no interest. The money raised by running the Oaks is banked in the Oaks Centre Fund with Lloyds in a business account gaining no interest. The Church also has an investment held by the Liverpool Diocesan Board of Finance of 42.13 shares. The share value decreased slightly in 2023 giving a year end value of £952 with dividends issued during the year. ## **5** . **Financial review** The main sources of income are through donations to the Church and trading in the Oaks Community Centre, including hire of the church building and the minibus. The operations budget ran a small deficit by the end of the year, largely due to a number of unexpected maintenance costs, some of which were substantial. Our mission budget broke even by the end of the year. ## **Reserves policy** We designate a certain proportion of our free cash as reserves, to be kept back for emergencies. Ideally this should amount to three months running costs, for both bank accounts. The reserves at the end of 2022 were as follows: Unrestricted funds £ 19’684 Restricted funds £ 8776 (grant for Lifetime project) General - £42,009.44 Oaks - £15,045.27 Lifetime - £8,767.77 ## **6. Plans for the future** The emphases for 2024 are as follows: - Investing in and developing our pioneering congregations - Developing the youthwork provision in partnership with St Mary’s and YFC - Looking towards the 5[th] anniversary of the church building and the 25[th] anniversary of the Oaks. ## **Parochial Church Council of St. Paul, Penketh Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities** Law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees – the members of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) – to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the PCC’s financial activities during the year and of its financial position at the end of the year (unless the PCC is entitled to prepare accounts on the alternative receipts and payments basis). In preparing financial statements giving a true and fair view, the members should follow best practice and: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; - Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - State whether applicable Accounting Standards and Statements of Recommended Practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and - Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in operation. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose, with reasonable accuracy, the financial position of the charity, and which enable them to both ascertain the financial position of the PCC and ensure that the financial statements comply with the charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the PCC and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Signed on behalf of the Trustees: Rev Sarah Peppiatt Chair Dated: 12[th] May 2024 Parochlal Church Councll of St Paul, Penketh Statement of Flnanclal Actlvltles for the year ended 31 December 2023 Unrestrlrted Funds Restrlctèd Funds Total Funds 2023 Total Funds 2022 Note In¢grnlni resource$ Incoming resources from donors 88,196 88,196 111,886 Income from charitable and 3ncillary tradin8 Income from investments Other Incoming resour￿5 105,084 26 1.500 105.084 26 9,439 52,110 26 59,562 7,939 Total Incomlnl resources io 194,B06 7,939 202,745 223,584 Resouras expended Artivities directly related to church work Charltable Artivities Cost of Generating Funds 88,256 11,210 122,350 5,801 94,057 11,210 122,350 133.572 19,522 55,121 Total resources expended io 221.816 5.801 227.617 208,215 Incomlng resources b•for• trdnsfers Depreciation Transfer between funds 127,0101 11,1921 2,138 124,8721 11,1921 15,369 11,4711 Net Incomln4 r•$our¢•$ {28,2021 2,138 126,0641 13,898 Gains/llossesl on Investments PrSor Year Adjustment 1431 1431 Iso Net movement In funth 128.2451 2,138 126,1071 14,048 alan¢es •t l January 2023 444.756 6,628 451,384 8al4nce$ at 31 December 2013 416,511 8,766 425,277 Parochial Church Council of St Paul, Penketh Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 Decernber 2023 2. Employee costs 2023 2022 3. FIMed assets for use by the pcc Freehold land & bulldln8S Fixtures & Fittlngs Total 2023 Total 2022 Motor vehlcle Tan8lble Ilxed assets Gross book Value At january 12023 Additlons/Disposals At 310ecember 2023 353,540 15,000 7,000 375,540 375.540 353,540 15,000 7,000 375,540 375,540 D•preclatlon Atjanuary 12023 Di5POsals Charge for year At 31 December 2023 9,937 5,268 15,204 13,733 759 10,696 433 5,701 1,192 16.396 1,471 IS.204 Net Book Value At 31 Decernber 2022 At 31 December 2023 353,540 353,540 5,063 4,304 1.732 1,299 360.336 359.144 4. Investments 2023 2022 42.13 sh•res In Central Board of Flnan¢e of the Church of Eniland Itwtstment Fund ICIF 1413SI 952 99S 952 995 We no longer have any long term investrnents with Lloyds 5. Analysls of net assets by fund General Funds Restrlcted Funds Total Fixed Assets Current A55ets 360,096 57,685 11,2701 416.511 360,096 66,451 11,2701 425,277 8,766 Fund Balance 8.766 6. Surplu$ Is stated after chargln8 2013 2022 Audit Fee Depreciation 1,000 1,192 1,000 1,471 Parochial Church Council of St Paul, Penketh Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 December 2023 7. Debtors 2023 2022 Tax rebate on donations Loans Re¢eivable 629 3,885 629 8. Credltors: arnounts falllnB due wlthln one year 2023 2022 PAYE and NIC due Creditors foi 8ood5 5ervlces Missionary & charitable glvlng Loans payable within 12 months 270 1,000 199 1,000 1,000 9. Liabilltles payable after one year 10. Fund detalls 2023 2022 Unre5trlcttd Funds General Desl8nated- Oaks Centre Mlnlbus Newbulld 28,898 339.720 1,481 46,412 416 511 35,010 360.661 2,673 46,412 Restricted Funds Lifetime Fund 8,766 6,628 Parochlal Church Councll of St Paul, Penketh Notes to the financlal statements For the year ended 31 December 2023 Fund movement by type Note 11 B'Fwd Incoming Outsolng PIY Galns & Losses C'Fwd General Fund Unrestricted 34,015 90,750 196,8191 27,946 CBFICIF 1413S Restricted 995 1431 9S2 New Bulldlng Fund Designated 46,412 46,412 Mlni Bus Fund 0￿18￿9t•d 2,673 11,1921 1.481 Oaks Fund Oesignated 360,661 104,056 1124,9971 339.720 Llfetlme Fund Restrlcted 6.628 7,939 15.8011 8,766 451,384 202,745 1228,8091 425,277 Parochial Church Council of St Paul, Penketh Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2023 2023 2022 Note Flxed Asset Tangible Investments 359,144 952 360.096 360,336 995 361,331 Current Ass¢ts Debtors Cash at Bank and Hand 629 65,822 66,451 3,885 88,367 92,252 Uablllties: wlthln one year 1,270 2,199 Net Current Assets/Uabllltles 65.181 90,053 Total Assets/Lla Llabilities: after morethan oneyear 425,277 451,384 425.277 451,384 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total funds 416,511 8,766 425,277 444.756 6,628 451,384 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT (SORP 2015) TO THE PCC OF ST. PAUL. PENKETH I report to the Parochial Church Councll IPCCI of St. Paul. Penketh on the accounts lor the year ended 31" December 2023, as set out on pages I to 19 of your Annual Report, whl¢h comprlse of the 8alance Sheet, Statement of Financlal Artivitles, and the related notes. Respectlve responslbllltles of Trustees and Examiner The PCC are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts. They con51der that an audit is not required for this year ender the section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charlties Artl and that an independent examination 55 needed. It is my responsibility to: examlne the accounts under Section 145 of the Charities Act. 2. to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under sertion 14515llbl of the Charities Act, and 3. to State whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basls of independent e¥amSnees report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions glven by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparlsDn of the accounts presentèd wlth those records. It also includes ton5ideration of any unusual items or d15closures In the accounts, and seeking explanations from the PCC concerning anv such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that WOLtld be required In an audit, and consequently no opinion is 8lven as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fairf view and the report rs limited to those matteTS set out in the statement below. Independent Examinerfs statement In connectlon with my examlnatlon, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect.. accountlng records were not kept In accordance wlth sertion 130 of the Charltles Act or the accounts do not accord with the ac¢ounting records I have come acros5 no other matters in connection with the examinatlon to whl¢h attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. CARTY & CO ACCOUNTANTS LTD 234 Manchester Road Warrington WAI 3BD Dated.. 2210312024