St Matthew’s Annual Report for 2023
During 2023, St Matthew’s has enjoyed continuing to listen to God’s Word and encouraging one another to keep walking on the path that leads to life (Matthew 7:14). During this past year we renewed our vision statement and have clarified that this is indeed our raison d'être : helping people discover, and stay on, this narrow path.
The past year was a particular time of renewal and refreshment for our vicar, with a sabbatical during the months of May, June and July. As well as enjoying some overdue time with family, friends and godparents, he was able to set aside a good number of hours to read about the influence of Karl Marx, both past and present. From this he feels like he finally understands the world in which we live: rather than seeing everything through the Christian lens of sin and grace (‘we all mess up, but let’s be generous and try to work things through together’), the superceding Marxist lens through which life is viewed is one of conflict and struggle (‘their opposing view must not be tolerated!’). This seems to makes sense of so much of the bitterness and frustration that is evident in our society today.
The movement in our national church away from biblical Christianity (towards a form of Marxism?) is one that the leadership of Sherford Community Church (SCC) were particularly dismayed by last year. Ultimately, a lack of confidence in the senior leadership in the Church of England led to Tom Brassil deciding to resign, and the majority of SCC leaving the Church of England with him. St Matthew’s has sought to support both those who have left SCC and also those who have decided to stay. We are praying for our good relationship with SCC to continue into the future, as well as for new emerging partnerships to develop and flourish.
On the subject of moving, we have also had some staffing changes. Last summer we said goodbye to John Price and his family. John accepted a role at a new church in Norwich as, while he very much enjoyed being part of St Matthew’s, he felt like it was time for a change. We wish John and his family well and still keep in touch with them, not least through CYFA Venture Holidays. We are delighted that we were able to source Chris MacKrill as a SWYM youth & children’s worker. Chris and his family have been a great blessing to us all already.
Our thanks again go to everyone who has generously contributed to the life of St Matthew’s through the giving of time, energy and finances. We are so grateful for such partnership in the gospel, as together we continue to fix our eyes on the things unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18) – our God really is real! – and try to help those around us to do the same.
sr. mAHEWs CHURCH. ELBURTON, PLYMoirrH FINANCIAL STATEMErirs 31 DECEMBER 2023 copirEtirs ststement of financlal actlvltles Balan sheet Notes to the finanaal statements Treasureffs statement Independent examInS rewt
FOR ThE YEAR eNDeD 31 DKEPIBER 202J X122 Vduntsry I1 LY342 21,732 129.456 2L732 147A64 7.723 Other15thruJ rurCeS 114 &lJ4 Tatsl IncomlTrJ vesour 155A37 Owrth athiues 139524 9524 139,422 &620 313 313 147.782 Netln(omlnyl(thrtgothg) 3JOI 6&7 Yolal blfwd X123 355 395 31714 39.514
sr. MATTHEWS CHURCH, ELBURTON, PLYMoimi BALANCE SHEET ISAT 31 DECEMBER 2023 TOTAL 23 TOTAL 202Z GenÈMI Funds ThnBlb4$5ets 053 A65J CURRQNT ASSE Opbto BaTrkand tssh bal•nces 14.743 35.216 £ ffjgyj 14,743 39,162 5J,905 8,575 36,003 £ 44578 uRRr UABILTfIES Credlt¢fs payoble wllhln 13,988 7,895 NeTCiIRRENT ASSErs £ 35971 £ 39917 TOTAL LESS CURRetir LfA•ILmes CrethoTS payoble theronyww TOTAL NEfASSrrs1 (UA•lLmES> £ 38, É 41570 THE FUNDS OFTHE CHURCH Unrestrlct¢d Inctsm•funds'. GenErnI gnat&J 3&624 35.$23 3&624 3S,523 R•Md¢¢•d IrKfyMfvnds.' 3,946 3,991 Apwoved bythochyrch Mw¢ln8 hekl {de1. on Its beh•llby fteVJCJthQrl¢h•lThl Th• wgq• 3 10 4 forni pArtofthq••flfia •tth•n¢•
sr. MAThHEWS CHURCH, ELBURTON, PLYMOiml NOTES TO THE STATEMEKf OF FINANCIAL AcrIvrriES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 ACCOUllllNG POUCIES Basis of Aco)untlng The flnanctsl statements have been prepared on the historical cost basls, as modified bythe revaluation of certa5n flnartcial assets and Ilabllltle5 and investrnent properties measured at fairyaluethrough income orexpenditure. Thé finartlal atements have been prepared In accordancewlth AccountinB and Reporti bycharltles.. St?ternent of The accru?15 basis of accounting has been adopted, and thè prlnclpal 8ccoyNlng pollcies set out below?re applled con5i5tentlv. Ib Fund Accountln9 Unrestrlttedfund5 are avallabie for use atthe discretion of the thurch Sn furthernnce of It5Clltable oblectlves. Restricied fund5 are subjected to re5trfctions on thelr expenditure Imposed bythe donor, ortontained In theterms ora 8rant. Ic Tangibk rued A¥ets Depieclatlon Is provldedatthefollowlng ann1 rates calculatsd towrite off assets o¥erthelr estlmated useful Ilves: Flre$ & FlitinBs 5TEquiprnent 15% redudng balance 20% straight linè Id Incomlng Res¢wrces All voluntary6lvlnbt ts Induded In theflnandal statementsfor the period in whith it is received. Dtsnatlons underGift Aid plus theassoclatedtax recovery ar• rKo8n15ed as Incorne when the th)nation is recèived. Legacies areaccounted forwhenthelr recelpt Iscertaln and can be Properly quantlfied. All other Income is generally recognised when It Is receivable. le Résourtls Exp¢nded Resouftès Èxpended are recoBnised in the period to whkh theyare Incurred and include attributable VATwhith tannot bt recred. Thèy aré alJotatÈd to the particularactlvtyto whlth they relate. Govemance w5ts represent direttexpendi¢ure on the govemance tsfthethur¢h. 5ncludlngthe produrtlon and independènt scrutirw of thesefinar*ial statements. As mostof the management and actlvltyof thechurch Is carried out by volunteer5, thi5 Intangible cost is not induded in thefinancial statementsas this voluntarycontributionto the Ilfe of thechurch Is incalcutsble. If Taxatton The thurth i$4n eKepted charity withinthe meaningof the Taxes Att& AccordlnBly It Is potentlally exempt from taxatlon In respect of incorneand rapital Bains recel¥ed to the extent thatsuch income orBalns are applied to exdusivety charitable purp05e5. No provision for taxation has been made In thesefinandal statements.
FORIHE YEAR E14DED 310E(IMeER 2025 Icmrd IJOnry2O23 liJ2 719 its5 -$54 DeWed¥tl¢1V¢¥[ ftyward31Dtt•mber2013 -317 x£ -577 202J 2022 GItAdT¥ArecLwernb 1524 2&3$ £ 14.74Y ed5 yyabTeWltNnc2sr L3C blerflylrePlr5 Sun&y£redttorsdufUS paftermOftth•n1eW. I1ban¢¢$iNdes1ANateI11vtsrtNe toGeneralSundin 2Qlll Tml Bew ii¥rwry1023 Tr4rthtDJ1flGfrnOrn1FUAd IntC4mel{E¥wdttwelknwr ThprnC+4ernrt5Ihe stIbled fvndsdurfn8thpy¥ie'. 2022 2430 iyji 1430 5259 In¢85*¥r 45 -3.143 U61
IREASURER% STATEMENT I PHve Prepared fin8nd I to4 tr theywerthl 31 DKwts20 rAges I to 4. Tequ[rant ofsth 144 oftr Qorftie$Art1 kt) does Tr)tath. It ts my stytrl To a• rwds In actw(&rKe %130 ofthe 2011,. and r•4thrmrtsrftr 2011 P trLJ Il¥d
. mAmEWs CHURCH, ELBURTON, PLYMOUTH APPENDXX I TO THE sfATEMEt4T OF FINANCIAL AcrivrrIES FOR THE YEARENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 GeneTrl Fund• 2025 vowKrARY INCOME 8ank DAYS &SI(Ys 77.702 n894 7,222 9,131 6,715 13,QOO 5,408 5,210 Cath and don? Glft Day LegBde5 Famlly Mlrd#eT FUNI Incm t¥1 refvnds urth Glft knday Sthwl colknoon P•Jller Fund Acts 434 Fu Malntmnce ol cfiMllJtor 5,210 &831 2L191 2l191 20,274 220 £ 120•Z £ 120A12 & 129H56 AcllvrTHATSEIRATl WJNDS Ccifee Momlr8s L541 LS41 56$ 520 1,349 1,610 519 531 Youth Incom 520 Tojdlers )nadon (051for heatthg twlldlTra Donattorb from Cfymmunlty tMrdsCC4t of Useof eultdl Gard Palty L316 1,316 14.230 L611 14,230 1,611 12,583 1.505 1977 4977 W{¥thIpar othach Hdlday aub Men's le1, Hclzcrn. gJrth 7 390 670 Ytyjih & Sundty Sth&)l b•1Pttth Murrffj eabk5 Magazlntr, Prfr¥J & SpÉd PrthTrJYty 19 279 279 Im Grants Lea?rt9
. MATThEWS CMUJtUL EtBuRTo PLYMourH APPENDIX 2TOTHESTATEMEF4foF FINAIILIAL Aellvzll TQT YDYAL F4rA coyrsoFqeMIHAII IUIIDS 4S 4170 1176 9,670 75 243 elgn 117 245 Styff 67 L¥gYrt 740 757 (inaLN*TIn) xi 443 162 134 4741 1,1 1741 I,IwJ J55 4>2 911 19) 352 351 4Di NGl
TREASURER% STATEMEiir I hm Prepar I to4 tr they1 31 DKts2023. MrRNa 2fyt txton rAge8 I to4. (rfsth 144 ofthe Otskt2011 (ts dces rrtap. It b my IWty10 rthrt4ken do r•)t eaTh the be Iryuld Fn an l Lk) Tr)t To keq) aca)uftth¥ recon15 &130 ofthe 2011,. u1[nts oftr* 2011 P4 Mr LJ Hwdatrè