The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Leonard’s, Lexden
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ending 31st December 2024
Priest in Charge The Rev’d Matthew Simpkins, 2 Wroxham Close, Colchester, CO3 3RQ
Parish Office St Leonard’s Church, Lexden Road, Colchester, CO3 4BL
Registered Charity number 1128302
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Administra+ve informa+on
The parish of St Leonard’s, Lexden is part of the Diocese of Chelmsford, within the Church of England. The correspondence address is St Leonard’s Church, Lexden Road, Colchester, CO3 4BL. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956 and Church Representa+on Rules 2022). The charity number is 1128302.
Aims and purposes
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Leonard’s, Lexden is responsible for co-opera+ng with the Priest in Charge, the Rev’d MaThew Simpkins, in promo+ng within the ecclesias+cal parish the whole mission of the Church. The PCC is specifically responsible for the church building and the church hall and manages the dayto-day life of the buildings and congrega+on. The PCC employs a Parish Administrator. The parish serves a popula+on of approximately 6,700 and is mainly residen+al, with four schools, a care home, a number of retail outlets, and other ameni+es.
Objec+ves and ac+vi+es
St Leonard’s puts Jesus at the centre of everything it does. We strive to be a force for good in the world and believe that nothing is impossible with God. Our vision is to serve the community, to proclaim and teach the Gospel through worship, prayer and community engagement, and to be a welcoming and inclusive church where everyone can feel welcome and accepted. The PCC is commiTed to living out our faith, both corporately and individually, in ways which serve the local community prac+cally and pastorally.
REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2024
Mission and evangelism
St Leonard’s strives to encourage every member to contribute to mission and evangelism. During 2024 congrega+on members were ac+vely involved across Lexden and Colchester through their everyday lives as well as ini+a+ves such as Colchester CMA Debt Centre (CCDC), Colchester Foodbank, Dr Bike, St Cedd’s Community Café, and school governance.
The PCC remains commiTed to suppor+ng mission to young people in the parish. During 2024, Junior Church took place at Parish Eucharists, and All-Age Eucharists were usually held once a month. Young people were encouraged to take an ac+ve part in services. The serving team and choir welcomed young members. Messy Church remained very significant to St Leonard’s outreach and was aTended by an average of 33 children and 35 adults at each service. It was on average, therefore, the best aTended regular act of worship during the year. Many of those aTending Messy Church are not yet regular members of our other congrega+ons and it con+nues to be an excellent bridge to our Baby & Toddler Group, schools work, and Brick Club.
each week. The group remains popular with the community of Lexden and beyond, and is of substan+al missional importance, aTrac+ng many people from beyond the church. This group held services at major fes+vals and con+nued to connect people with Messy Church, Junior Church, and bap+sm.
The clergy team remained engaged in three of the parish’s schools through assemblies, visits, and carol services. Our very popular Brick Club con+nued on Tuesdays during school holidays and remained an excellent way of encouraging the non-churched to spend +me in our buildings and among our community. Friendship
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Lunch, a communal meal intended to help the isolated and to build rela+onships, took place in church during the year and was increasingly aTended by people from beyond the congrega+on.
Our buildings were used by local community groups for gatherings, rehearsals, concerts, carol services and other events in 2024. We hosted five regular groups in our facili+es: this cons+tutes a key aspect of St Leonard’s community engagement. St Leonard’s offered ac+ve support to the neighbouring Parish of Shrub End, covering services and suppor+ng the St Cedd’s Community Café (a community hub which meets twice a month). Such support included the Dr Bike ini+a+ve, run by members of St Leonard’s.
Our much-loved Summer Fete was enjoyed by many people from across Colchester, as was our Christmas Market; both of these events contributed to PCC funds. Our Remembrance Day service and Act of Remembrance was well aTended by the community, though there was no representa+on from Colchester Garrison. Men’s and Women’s breakfasts con+nued to aTract people from the congrega+on and beyond. St Leonard’s con+nued to reach out using social media, primarily Facebook, with the main Sunday service being live-streamed.
Other charitable service to the wider community involved church members in, and fundraising for, chari+es including Colchester Food Bank, Colchester CMA Debt Centre, Chris+an Aid, OMF interna+onal, Colchester YES, CYO, Colchester Refugee Ac+on, English for Women, the Next Chapter, the Children’s Society, The Sheepfold Centre (ABCD), Essex Integra+on, Beacon House, Colchester Korban Project, Opera+on Christmas Child, MacMillan Cancer Care, the Royal Marsden Hospital and the New Hythe. The PCC aims to give a propor+on of its income to chari+es. £9,609 was directly donated by the PCC, while other fundraising for external chari+es raised approximately £4,950.
Worship and prayer
The parish’s paTern of worship is shaped by the Priest in Charge in consulta+on with the PCC. We are commiTed to enabling worship which (1) resources those who share in it to live lives of faithfulness and service, (2) is welcoming and aTrac+ve to newcomers, and (3) helps to make God known to those on the fringes of faith. We offered a variety of inclusive, thoughjul, and high-quality services during 2024. Our main services had an organist and full choir, with a music group for All Age Eucharists.
St Leonard’s worship centres on the Eucharist, and we aim to provide engaging and relevant preaching and maintain a living tradi+on of choral music. In 2024 this con+nued to draw people from beyond the parish. Our main act of worship each Sunday was either the Parish Eucharist or an All-Age Eucharist (usually on the first Sunday of the month), with 8am Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion twice a month, and Evensong and a Eucharist for Wholeness and Healing held once a month. Eucharists also held at 10am on Wednesday, and at 8am on Thursday.
account for those worshipping online: 2 or 3 people usually watched the service live, with more viewing it later. During 2024 there were 8 bap+sms and 4 weddings. 17 funerals were conducted either in church or at local crematoria. Providing bap+sms, weddings and funerals for the parish and community remained a cri+cal aspect of the parish’s mission, with many new rela+onships being established. Many of those families who approach us for bap+sm are not yet regular members of our congrega+ons and we are delighted to be able to respond
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St Leonard’s community through many other ac+vi+es including Baby & Toddler Group, Messy Church, Brick Club, and our annual Commemora+on of the Departed.
Each month a team of lay people from St Leonard’s helps to maintain worship at the Royal Anglian Regiment Chapel in Warley. The Rev’d Viv Mendham, Rev’d Jacquie Messinger and the Rev’d Maggie Whiteman con+nued to serve as SSM Associate Priests. Re+red priests with PTO, the Rev’d Canon Hugh Beavan and the Rev’d Canon Mar+n Wood, and LLMs with PTO Rosemary Elden and Phyll wood, also contributed to St Leonard’s ministry.
Pastoral care
The Priest in Charge has the cure of soul for all who live in the Parish of Lexden. Pastoral ministry is shared with the associate clergy and lay people. Our pastoral visitors supported a number of individuals in need or with mobility difficul+es. Home communions, and visits and services at local care homes were also significant. In the spring of 2024, a ‘Friendship Line’ was launched, based on the parish’s telephone pastoral system during the pandemic, which provided pastoral care to the housebound and to carers in the parish. Much pastoral care within our congregation is informal and mutual.
Buildings
There were no major issues with the fabric of St Leonard’s during the year. Repairs were made to the emergency ligh+ng and the underfloor hea+ng manifold in the church extension was replaced. Electrical work was undertaken in the church hall. Prepara+ons also began at the end of the year for the nave roof repairs recommended by the quinquennial report.
Deanery Synod
Deanery Synod met three +mes during the year. St Leonard’s was represented on Deanery Synod by three lay representa+ves of our alloca+on of four, and by three clergy representa+ves.
Safeguarding
The care and protec+on of children, young people and adults involved in Church ac+vi+es is the responsibility of everyone who par+cipates in the life of the Church. St Leonards is commiTed to promo+ng a safer environment and culture and suppor+ng all those who come into our church. We ensure there is support for any member of the church who has par+cular responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults. The Parish Safeguarding policy is reviewed regularly and our Parish Safeguarding Officer ensures all those who need to have DBS checks are up to date, that training for those who require this for their role is arranged, and that safer recrui+ng policy is followed. Safeguarding informa+on is displayed in the hall and the church, and a safeguarding folder including the Parish Safeguarding Policy, the Promo%ng a Safer Church booklet and the Parish Safeguarding Handbook is available. As the above measures and ongoing prac+ces and policies make clear, the PCC has complied with the duty under sec+on 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have regard to the House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
Financial review
The accounts this year show income of £154,395 compared to a similar amount (£153,974) from 2023. Claiming Gift Aid on donations continues to provide a significant income, in 2024 amounting to £13,705. Three
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claims are presented in these 2024 accounts, but we are awaiting the fourth claim of £5,984.85 which will be shown in the 2025 accounts
Expenditure for 2024 was £195,763 slightly reduced compared to £197,446 in the previous year (when work on the church nave flooring was carried out). Major expenses during 2024 included £15,698 on major electrical work on the church hall. Other regular expenditure included PCC donations to charities of £9,609. As in previous years, the most significant annual outgoing is the Parish Share, in 2024 this amounted to £100,980.
On 31 December 2024, the principal balances were £221,491 (excluding the £684,319 value of the church hall) and £179,053 in the restricted and endowment funds. This year the accounts show a deficit balance of £38,426 and follow a similar deficit in 2023 of £33,354, these deficits were addressed by the PCC by drawing on its reserves. In 2024 planning began for major capital expenditure on repairing the church’s nave roof. This is likely to take place in 2025 and cost between £100 and £150k. Grant applications and fundraising campaigns are being prepared, but the PCC expects to have to draw on its restricted fabric funds to meet a significant part of this cost.
Structure, Governance and Management
PCC members are elected and appointed according to the Church Representa+on Rules 2022. All members of our congrega+ons are encouraged to register on the electoral roll and to par+cipate in the annual elec+ons. As of 31st December 2024 there were 199 names on the Electoral Roll. PCC members are responsible for all maTers of general concern and importance to the parish, including decisions about its finances. The PCC met six +mes in 2024. The PCC has a number of subcommiTees (Standing CommiTee, Fabric and Hall) which report to the main Council for decisions and approval of major issues. The Priest in Charge and Churchwardens are
During the year ending 31st December 2024 the following served on the Parochial Church Council: Ex-Ofcio Members
Priest in Charge The Rev’d MaThew Simpkins Associate Priests The Rev’d Jacquie Messinger The Rev’d Maggie Whiteman Churchwardens David Watkins Nick Allston Parish Safeguarding Officer Julie Hinchcliffe Amanda Allston Deputy Safeguarding Officer Treasury Team Clare Cleverdon David Burrows (also elected member from 2024 APCM) Adrian Steward Deanery Synod Representa+ves Maureen Watkins Julie Hinchcliffe Linda Firth Elected members: Judith Steele (Secretary) Yvonne Romain Mike Firth Deirdre Fordham (from April)
Standing Commi@ee members 2024: The Rev’d MaThew Simpkins (Priest in Charge), David Watkins (Churchwarden), Nick Allston (Churchwarden), Adrian Steward (Treasury Team), Judith Steele (PCC Secretary)
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The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Leonard's, Lexden
DRAFT v9 to Standing Committee
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
Charity registration number 1128302
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. LEONARD'S, LEXDEN
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| TOTAL | TOTAL | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Restricted | Endowment | FUNDS | FUNDS | ||
| Notes | Fund | Funds | Funds | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | ||||
| Incoming resources | ||||||
| Voluntary income | 2a | £105,839 | £125 | £105,964 | £110,567 | |
| Activities for generating funds | 2b | £11,922 | £11,922 | £13,244 | ||
| Income from Investments | 2c | £13,249 | £13,249 | £13,582 | ||
| Church Activities | 2d | £4,305 | £4,305 | £4,046 | ||
| Other incoming resources | 2e | £18,955 | £18,955 | £12,534 | ||
| Total incoming resources | £154,270 | £125 | £154,395 | £153,974 | ||
| Resources expended | ||||||
| Costs of generating voluntary income | 3a | £160 | £160 | £38 | ||
| Fund raising trading costs | 3b | £10,903 | £10,903 | £9,440 | ||
| Church Activities | 3c | £169,622 | £14,064 | £183,686 | £186,898 | |
| Governance costs | £1,014 | £1,014 | £1,070 | |||
| Total resources expended | £181,699 | £14,064 | £195,763 | £197,446 | ||
| Net incoming/(outgoing) resources | -£27,429 | -£13,939 | -£41,368 | -£43,472 | ||
| Revaluation gains/losses on investments | £1,761 | £1,181 | £2,942 | £10,118 | ||
| Net movement in funds | -£25,668 | -£12,758 | -£38,426 | -£33,354 | ||
| Transfers between funds | 8 | £29,672 | -£29,672 | |||
| Net movement in funds | £4,004 | -£42,429 | -£38,426 | -£33,354 | ||
| Total funds brought forward at 1 January 2024 | £901,806 | £211,191 | £10,292 | £1,123,289 | £1,156,644 | |
| Total funds carried forward at 31 December 2024 | £905,810 | £168,762 | £10,292 | £1,084,863 | £1,123,289 |
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. LEONARD'S, LEXDEN
BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Notes Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets 5 Investments 6 Total fixed assets Current assets Short term deposits Debtors (Accounts Receivable) Cash at bank and in hand Liabilities Agency collections Accounts payable Total Liabilities Total assets Parish Funds 7 Endowment funds 8 Restricted funds 8 Unrestricted funds 8 |
2024 2023 £ £ £684,319 £684,319 £120,603 £117,660 £804,922 £801,979 £270,252 £308,786 £72 £6,047 £15,480 £12,689 £285,804 £327,522 £574 £1 £5,288 £6,211 £5,862 £6,212 £1,084,863 £1,123,289 £10,292 £10,292 £168,762 £211,191 £905,810 £901,806 £1,084,863 £1,123,289 |
|
|---|---|---|
Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 28th April 2025 and signed on its behalf by
The Revd Matt Simpkins, Chair, PCC
The Revd Matt Simpkins Chairman
Clare Cleverdon Treasurer
The accompanying notes form a part of these financial statements.
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. LEONARD'S, LEXDEN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1. Accounting policies
a Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 together with applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP 2005.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the inclusion of investments at market value and the revaluation of fixed assets. The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their affiliation to another body, nor those which are informal gatherings of church members.
b Parish funds
Unrestricted funds are general funds which can be used for PCC ordinary purposes
Designated funds represent monies set aside by the PCC out of unrestricted funds for specific future purposes or projects.
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 the 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 the year is carried forward as a balance on that fund.
Endowment funds are funds the capital of which must be maintained; only income arising from the investment of the endowment may be used, either as restricted or unrestricted funds, depending on the purpose set out in the terms of the original endowment.
c Incoming resources
Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received. Tax refunds are recognised when the incoming resource to which they relate is received. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the PCC is legally entitled to the amounts due. Dividends are accounted for when receivable, interest is accrued. All other income is recognised when receivable. All incoming resources are accounted for gross.
d Resources expended
Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation to the PCC. The diocesan parish share is accounted for when due. All other expenditure is generally recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross.
e Fixed assets
Consecrated and beneficed property of any kind is excluded from the accounts by s.96(2) of the Charities Act 1993.
Movable church furnishing held by the Rector 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. For inalienable property acquired prior to 2003 there is insufficient cost information available and therefore such assets are not valued in the accounts. Subsequently all expenditure on consecrated or beneficed buildings and individual items costing under £1,000 are written off in the year in which they were incurred.
Investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date.
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. LEONARD'S, LEXDEN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
2 Income & Endowments
| a Voluntary income Planned giving Collections at all services Sundry donations and appeals Stewardship Cheques Other funds generated Income Tax recovered Legacies Non-recurring one-off grants b Activities for generating funds Church Hall and Church rooms lettings Fundraising events c Investment income Dividends and Interest d Income from Church activities Wedding and funerals fees Parish magazine (sales) Toddler Group e Other incoming resources Insurance claims Total income & Endowments |
General Restricted Endowment FUNDS FUNDS Fund Funds Funds 2024 2023 £ £ £79,963 £125 £80,088 £84,425 £3,077 £3,077 £3,838 £2,074 £2,074 £3,377 £2,604 £2,604 £595 £13,705 £13,705 £17,302 £0 £0 £175 £4,416 £4,416 £855 £105,839 £125 £105,964 £110,567 £7,584 £7,584 £6,339 £4,338 £4,338 £6,906 £11,922 £11,922 £13,244 £13,249 £13,249 £13,582 |
|---|---|
| £13,249 £13,249 £13,582 |
|
| £3,024 £3,024 £3,176 £236 £236 £114 £1,045 £1,045 £756 £4,305 £4,305 £4,046 £18,955 £18,955 £12,534 £18,955 £18,955 £12,534 £154,270 £125 £154,395 £153,974 |
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. LEONARD'S, LEXDEN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| 3 Resources expended a Costs of generating voluntary income Fees paid to fund raisers Stewardship costs b Fund raising trading costs Church Hall running costs Fund raising events: c Church activities Missionary and charitable giving: Overseas: Church Overseas Relief & Development agencies Home: Home missions Secular charities CAP Partnership Charities Ministry Costs: Diocesan Parish contribution Other clergy costs Church running expenses and administration: Church fabric and maintenance Upkeep of services Training and Education Mission & Outreach Parish magazine & bookstall Junior Church and Youth Ministry Toddler Group Church Major Repairs - Structural Church Major Repairs - Installation Church Major Repairs - Decorating Hall Major Repairs - Structural Church Interior and Exterior Decorating Church Hall Major Repairs - Installation Church Hall Major Repairs - Decoration New Build - Church kitchen Governance Total resources expended |
TOTAL Total Unrestricted Restricted Endowment FUNDS funds Funds Funds Funds 2024 2023 £ £ £ £ £ £160 £160 £38 £160 £160 £38 £10,735 £10,735 £9,059 £168 £168 £381 £10,903 £10,903 £9,440 £180 £180 £180 £359 £359 £360 £9,070 £9,070 £10,481 £9,609 £9,609 £11,021 £100,980 £100,980 £97,020 £33,284 £33,284 £33,407 £4,545 £7,908 £12,453 £6,061 £4,312 £4,312 £4,660 £253 £253 £235 £266 £266 £12 £132 £132 £35 £465 £465 £306 £6,156 £6,156 £34,141 £78 £78 £15,698 £15,698 £1,014 £1,014 £1,070 |
|---|---|
| £181,699 £14,064 £195,763 £197,446 |
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. LEONARD'S, LEXDEN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
4 Staff costs
| 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|
| £ | £ |
| £16,620 | £16,475 |
During the year the PCC made payments to a choir director, organists, Church Hall cleaner and parish administrator; all part time. These amounts are included in the charge for "Church running and administration". See Note 3c on Page 9
| 5 Tangible fixed assets Cost or valuation At 1 January 2024 At 31 December 2024 Depreciation At 1 January 2024 At 31 December 2024 Net book amounts At 31 December 2024 At 31 December 2024 |
Freehold land Total and buildings Fixed Assets £ £ £684,319 £684,319 |
|---|---|
| £684,319 £684,319 |
|
| - - |
|
| - - |
|
| £684,319 £684,319 |
|
| £684,319 £684,319 |
The freehold land and buildings comprise the parish hall in Lexden Road, Colchester. For accounting purposes the historical cost of this property is unknown and was valued in March 2007 for insurance purposes at £684,319. The property has now been included in the accounts in order to comply with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006.
| 6 Investments Market value 1 January 2024 Sale of shares Purchase of shares Gain (loss) on revaluation Market value 31 December 2024 |
CBF of C of E Investment Fund Sir Percy Sanders Trust Total Investments £ £ £ £90,398 £27,262 £117,660 -£27,947 £27,947 £2,258 £685 £2,943 |
|---|---|
| £120,603 £0 £120,603 |
7 Parish Funds
Analysis of net assets by fund
| Fixed assets for Church use Investment fixed assets Current assets Total funds 31 December 2024 7a Current Assets - Debtors Total debtors (Accounts receivable) 7b Liabilities - Agency accounts 7c Liabilities - Creditors (Accounts payable) |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Endowment Funds Total funds 2024 £ £ £ £ £684,319 £684,319 £89,906 £20,404 £10,292 £120,603 £131,585 £148,357 £279,942 |
|---|---|
| £905,810 £168,762 £10,292 £1,084,863 |
|
| £72 £574 £5,288 |
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. LEONARD'S, LEXDEN
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
8 Statement of funds
| Statement of funds | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other gains | |||||||
| Bal b/fwd | and | Bal c/fwd | |||||
| 1 Jan 2024 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | losses | 31 Dec | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Unrestricted Fund | |||||||
| General Fund | £206,056 | £141,824 | -£155,592 | £13,973 | £1,761 | £208,022 | |
| Designated funds | |||||||
| Hall Building | £684,319 | £684,319 | |||||
| Church Hall | £1,087 | £11,165 | -£25,642 | £15,698 | £2,309 | ||
| Choir Robes | £285 | £285 | |||||
| Parish Magazine | £1,415 | £236 | £1,652 | ||||
| Toddler Group | £1,014 | £1,045 | -£465 | £1,594 | |||
| Former Lexden Sunday School | £7,631 | £7,631 | |||||
| Restricted Fund | |||||||
| Fabric Fund | £3,434 | £125 | £16,349 | £497 | £20,404 | ||
| NS&I Investment/ Papillon | £2,375 | -£2,375 | £0 | ||||
| ChurchWM - Bequest MB | £173,120 | -£14,064 | -£15,698 | £143,357 | |||
| Sir Percy Sanders Church | £13,631 | -£13,973 | £342 | £0 | |||
| Sir Percy Sanders C Yard | £13,631 | -£13,973 | £342 | £0 | |||
| Religious and other charities | £5,000 | £5,000 | |||||
| Endowment Fund | |||||||
| Fabric Endowment | £10,292 | £10,292 | |||||
| Total funds | £1,123,289 | £154,395 | -£195,763 | £0 | £2,942 | £1,084,863 |
The Restricted Funds e.g. the Fabric Fund, may only be expended on the specific object for which they are given.
The Endowment Fund is a permanent endowment which requires the income to be spent on the church fabric.
The Hall buildings have been separated from the General Fund to give a clearer indication of funds available for running the Parish.
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The Pa��chia� Ch��ch C���ci� �f �he Ecc�e�ia��ica� Pa�i�h �f S�. Le��a�d��, Le�de�
Independent Examiner's Report to the Members of St Leonard�� PCC Lexden
Year Ended 31st December 2024
I report on the financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2024.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The cha�i���� �����ee� c���ide� �ha� a� a�di� i� ��� �e��i�ed f�� �hi� �ea� ��de� �ec�i�� 144(2) �f �he Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an Independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to
-
Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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Follow procedures laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner's Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
Independent Examiner's Statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act, or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did 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 �e��i�eme�� �ha� �he acc����� gi�e a ����e a�d fai�� �ie� �hich i� ��� a ma��e� c���ide�ed a� part of an independent examination.
I 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.
Peyton Tyler Mears
PEYTON TYLER MEARS Chartered accountant Middleborough House 16 Middleborough Colchester Essex CO1 1QT 14[th] April 2025