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2024-12-31-accounts

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Charity No. 1128846

Trustees’ Report and Unaudited Accounts

31 December 2024

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Contents

Page
Trustees’ Annual Report 3 - 12
Independent Examiner’s Report 13
Statement of Financial Activities 14
Balance Sheet 15
Notes to the Accounts 16 – 23
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 24 - 25

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024

The Trustees present their Report with the unaudited financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2024.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number

1128846

Principal address

St Lawrence Church 50 High Street Chobham Surrey GU24 8AA

Trustees

The following trustees served during the year:

P. Baillie C.J. Bedford Assistant Priest R. Castle (Until 15 July 2024) Church Warden E. Cook As Churchwarden until 20.4.24 then as an elected member C. Coulthard P. Coulthard B. Ellinger J. Elliott J. Lomath-Carey Church Warden (from 20 Oct 2024) F. Milton D. Reid Church Warden (from 20 Oct 2024) E. Scawn L. Sealy Deanery Synod Representative M. Stewart As Churchwarden until 21.4.24 then as an elected member D. Stork-Banks Incumbent M. Stork-Banks Deanery Synod Representative

M. Stork-Banks J. Stratford

Other Officials

H. Holland, Treasurer (from 06/02/2024) H. Holland, Chair – Finance Committee

S. Rigby-Barrett, PCC Secretary (to 06/02/2024) J. Searle, PCC Secretary (from 06/02/2024)

Accountants

Elizabeth Sanders Limited 25 Gordon Road Windsor, Berkshire SL4 3RG

Bankers

Barclays PLC

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Trustees’ Annual Report Independent Examiner

Stephen Perry LLB (Hons) FCMA, CGMA, FCII Chartered Management Accountant Knowle House 38 York Road York, YO24 4LZ

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

St Lawrence Church Chobham with St Saviour Valley End PCC have the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Rev. Dan Stork Banks, in promoting the ecclesiastical parish with the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. They also have responsibility for the maintenance of the Churches of St Lawrence in Chobham and St Saviour at Valley End.

"Here to Celebrate, Worship and Serve" is our mission statement.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

The PCC met four times in 2024. The Finance and Fabric sub-committees also met throughout the year with minutes of their discussions being submitted to the PCC and discussed where necessary. There are a stable number of 134 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll.

Introduction: Faithful, Flexible, and Forward-Facing

Twelve months ago, I wrote to you acknowledging the grim national statistics of church decline. Christianity in our village has not been immune to these trends. The attendance figures we sent to the diocese this year show decline.

The institutions of the church are fading. The culture is hostile. The resources are shrinking. The old models no longer work. The “experts” have no more answers than the rest of us. Everyone leading a church right now is leading without a map, and I cannot promise that if we do X, we will return to levels of worship enjoyed in bygone decades.

We are in an era of seismic cultural, global, technological, and institutional change. Secularisation, a lack of spiritual awakening in people’s hearts, institutional church divisions, and the ageing profile of local congregations, are all factors beyond our control.

As Anglicans, we are working within a legacy structure. It is not our fault—but it is our cross. When God gives us a cross, the Holy Spirit leads us to the place He wants it carried.

In the 2006 film, Children of Men , we see a world where women can no longer bear children, and no one knows why. Global infertility leads to despair and war, but when one woman becomes pregnant, everything changes. No one knows why she is different, or if she will even survive the hell breaking out around her. All they know is that a new future has become possible. The hero of the story, Theo, guides her through the chaos and violence to where this new life can begin. Theo is a cross-bearing figure— not powerful, but faithful, not saving the world, but protecting the possibility of salvation.

Sound familiar? It should, because in the lifecycle of the church, some generations are called to be Theo. We are the Body of Christ and therefore must expect to embody the same pattern of death and resurrection that Christ lived. Some generations will enjoy revivals, others decline. When the body of Christ is dying, we naturally feel as confused and as helpless as the disciples, but death is not God bringing His church to an end, but to raise it to something new.

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

That means that the decline we see is not outside God’s will, rather he is doing something through it. We know this because death and life are how God bears fruit:

The danger is that if we do not look for God in the death of the church, we will despair like the disciples on Good Friday rather than cultivate hope that Resurrection is coming:

You are allowed to lament just as Christ wept at the death of Lazareth.

You are allowed to ask: “how long, O Lord?”

You are allowed to remember Antioch while feeling trapped in Corinth.

As long as you also remember that the Church will not rise by its own effort, she will rise because Christ is risen. We do not save souls, we proclaim the one who does. We are not the architects of revival; we are heralds of the Risen Christ.

Parish Worship

High attendance and steady growth do not define a churches value, nor is it our purpose for existing. God judges a church by its commitment to worship, faithfulness to His Word, and collaboration with the Holy Spirit where He calls us to work.

We may not control growth, but we have influence over what pleases God. This is where the story of our parish becomes exciting. Here in Chobham and Valley End, we have found new places the Spirit calls us to work, and it is in keeping with the trajectory encouraged by the Church of England.

Under Archbishop Stephen Cottrell , the Church of England’s 2022 “Vision and Strategy” document places significant emphasis on being a “church that is younger and more diverse,” asking us to reach people where they are, not expecting them to attend on Sundays. One summary said:

We are an entrepreneurial church that has been pursuing new opportunities. I am now in my fifth year as your pastor, and for me this is our busiest and most encouraging year yet.

Children’s Ministry

Before the lockdown our primary time of worship and teaching to children was on Sundays. The impact of Covid19 and the changes required, plus their unpredictable reversal, contributed to this ministry ceasing. As time passed, we prayerfully considered how to reach the children of our village again.

The Church of England has asked its clergy to be more creative and think outside of Sunday morning worship alone:

— Archbishop Justin Welby

Because we paid attention, our children’s outreach is, without question, our biggest parish ministry. Our churches are fullest when the children of our schools are worshipping in them, and our partnerships with Valley End and St Lawrence schools have grown stronger.

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Because we made a conscious choice to invest in areas that would yield the greatest long-term impact, Sunday morning attendance is no longer the only measure of our success. In earlier generations, Sunday mornings were the primary expression of Christian belonging. But the Church of England has asked us to look beyond this because its research shows patterns of work, family life, cultural pressure, and spiritual searching now mean people connect with church in a variety of ways:

— Mission Shaped Church, 2004

This shift away from a fixation with Sunday attendance is baked into the Diocese of Guildford’s Vision and Strategy, “Transforming Church, Transforming Lives.” :

“With so many activities now competing for the traditional Sunday morning ‘church slot’, it is often those churches that are most responsive to this cultural shift that are seeing the greatest growth.”

— Bishop Andrew Watson, Diocese of Guildford

We are one of those responsive churches! Following the pandemic, our parish realised that things had changed. With fewer resources with which to invest, we focused on our existing responsibilities to make a bigger impact. The relationship with both schools had weakened over the years, but with two headteachers arriving roughly the same time as me, it offered the chance for recalibration. So, we pivoted from Sunday children’s ministry to deepen our partnerships with our schools and offer more opportunities for teaching and worship. That pivot has worked, and as you will see from our attendance numbers, children's ministry in this parish is the most exciting it has been in a long time.

The figures reported here include all acts of worship, teaching, and occasional offices throughout the year. This broader perspective offers a more correct evaluation of our ministry than the October count or regular Sunday Attendance figures alone. They reveal a faithful, worshipping parish, actively fulfilling our mission: to proclaim Christ, serve our village, and disciple the next generation.

Parish Worship in Numbers (Advent 2023 – Advent 2024)

Our parish has two church schools, which means we must include them in our worship figures to gain a perspective of how our church is used. Our numbers tell a story of faithfulness, impact, and bright hope for tomorrow.

That’s a whopping 379 services across the parish in one year, with 10,649 total attendances, including 3,896 being under 16 - meaning children make up 37% of our attendance figures in worship.

This is not 3,896 children coming once, it is around 360 children in our churches worshipping God thought the year.

And that’s not all.

Add to this the approximately 28 in-school worship assemblies each year across our two Church schools, alternating every two weeks which equates a further 5,000 acts of worship by children in our village annually.

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

The wardens and I are working with our headteachers to do even more in the coming year, especially to find ways to serve parents during school drop-off.

It could not have happened without the strong leadership of the headteachers and teachers. Recent SIAMS inspections (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools) awarded both Valley End and St Lawrence the highest possible evaluations, praising their Christian vision, the headteachers, and our church-school partnership.

Our successful partnership is leading to wider diocesan reform. This year I was invited to contribute to the policy review of church-school collaboration because of what we have achieved, but also because I had voiced a growing concern: that the current model of partnership between clergy and governors is no longer fit for purpose.

In recent years, the role of the parish priest and the role of school governors have both expanded dramatically. What used to be manageable, relational work has become increasingly administrative, time-consuming, and legally and technologically complex. Without adaptation, clergy risk burnout, and governors may miss the full value that the church-school partnership can bring.

Our parish is now helping our diocese re-think that partnership, to develop a more sustainable and fruitful model - one that will serve future generations of clergy, governors, and schools alike, while keeping Christ at the centre.

Safeguarding

The wider Church is facing a safeguarding crisis, with scandals rocking the entire denomination. Several bishops, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, have stepped back, and others could follow. However, in this parish, we are committed to setting the standard for good practice. At our last Archdeacon’s visitation, we were congratulated for having the highest compliance in the diocese. Serious cases we manage require us to work in a multi-agency capacity, including the diocesan safeguarding team, Surrey Police, and the local authority.

Financial Progress: Turning the Tide

At the start of 2024, we faced a daunting £30,000 deficit. Through wise stewardship, difficult spending cuts, and the extraordinary generosity of one individual, we have reduced that deficit. We are not yet where we want to be, but with continued financial discipline and deeper generosity, we can make our finances sustainable again.

The Archdeacon, during her recent visitation, remarked that Chobham lies in one of the wealthiest deaneries in the Church of England. And yet, our income does not reflect this reality. It is not because we lack faithful people - but it may be because some have not yet realised the spiritual privilege and calling that financial generosity brings.

To those whom God entrusts with greater means, I humbly appeal to you: please consider raising your regular giving. Not so we can break even, but to release this parish into greater ministry in the year ahead. Your giving is an act of worship and a way of storing up treasure in heaven.

As the Apostle Paul reminds us:

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to… put their hope in wealth… but to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

( 1 Timothy 6:17–18)

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Buildings & Worship: The Bells Ring Again

After two years of silence our church clock is working and chiming once more. Thank you to The St Lawrence Friends Heritage Trust for funding this restoration and the other repairs we have completed this year. Our parish could not afford to continue without you.

Outreach & Community Engagement: Becoming the Village Hub

We have slowly re-built the common use of our church hall post-pandemic. It now used by multiple local groups throughout the week.

Our fundraising has taken a creative turn. In 2024, we brought food and opened our hall to both Light Up Chobham and the Chobham Carnival, deepening our presence.

Every year I work with families leading them into Christian faith and early-stage discipleship. Sadly, our church has not had the resources to support parents on Sunday mornings, so we often lose them to bigger churches that have the staff to support them. I am delighted that this year, Jason, our warden, has launched a Children’s Church on Sunday mornings.

Our Thursday Parent & Toddler Group continues to flourish, serving local families with hospitality, joy, and care. Thank you to our volunteers.

Pastoral Care in Every Situation

We minister to members of our village and beyond through times of suffering, doubt, betrayal, loss, poverty, loneliness, and every bump and change in life.

In today's secular world, many overlook the spiritual dimension of life. Yet Scripture reminds us that we wrestle ‘not against flesh and blood.’ This year, we continued our ministry of discernment and spiritual warfare to those troubled by supernatural disturbances - poltergeists, UAPs, night-time apparitions, and other unexplained phenomena.

We have restored the use of the Common Cup in Communion - a significant post-pandemic step in reclaiming tradition and reverence in worship. We’re also training new chalice assistants to support the diverse needs of our congregation.

New altar cloths were made by Elizabeth Cook and Marian Stewart plus more purchased for the Holy Spirit Chapel, enhancing the beauty of this worship space.

A Church at the Heart of Village Life

We are a living parish that serves our village in many ways including:

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

The St. Lawrence churchyard is a public space at the heart of the village. This year, we worked with Chobham Parish Council on a complex legal and historical matter to determine responsibility for the perimeter wall. I’m grateful they have committed to restore it.

One of our urgent tasks this year was passing The Gridiron magazine into the hands of a new editorial team - securing its future for the next generation. It remains a cherished publication that connects church and village life, while also supporting local groups and businesses.

Supporting the deanery and diocese

Our clergy have duties beyond our parish. We both take part in Deanery Chapter, and I am now elected to Diocesan Synod, giving the parish more influence in the Diocese.

A Living Church, Bursting Forth!

Our parish is a mosaic of Christian service, and I want to thank everyone who gives so much to making this remarkable church what it is.

Despite shrinking resources and an aging congregation, this was another year of faithfulness and service. God does not need much from us to do wonderful things though us.

We have not compromised the gospel by chasing cultural trends. We’ve built on the Rock. And what we are seeing is the faithfulness of God break through.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

— Philippians 1:6

The Christian call to worship on the Lord’s Day is my primary commitment and my prayer is that the seeds we plant now—in homes, in schools, in ordinary relationships—will, in God’s time, bear fruit in growing Sunday worship.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

— Galatians 6:9

Despite many successes, we need to address the shrinking Sunday attendance. We are facing a death before resurrection, and we cannot predict when that will come. But living as Good Friday people is not a call to passivity. Christ gave his Apostles, and us, a great commission. So, what should we do?

Growing a Sunday congregation is not a corporate strategy agreed by the PCC. It is one believer sharing their love of Jesus with another. It’s explaining the good news to our neighbours in Chobham and Valley End and showing them why the promises of God are good news for them today.

And here’s the truth: this is a wonderful church to invite people to join. We are a warm, welcoming congregation that laughs together, prays together, and stands by one another through grief and joy.

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Our churches are beautifully kept, filled with flowers and love. The worship at Christmas and Easter is elevating. We have coffee after services, meals together, and a true sense of belonging. Again and again, visitors tell me, “There’s something special about this place.” They’re right. It’s the love of God— alive and tangible in this community.

St Paul wanted the churches he planted to become communities of evangelical courage because the gift we have is the gift Christ commissions us to share:

“How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” ( Romans 10:14)

We live among nearly 4,300 residents. That’s your mission field.

We don’t grow by complaining about decline— we grow by celebrating what God is doing among us and then inviting friends and neighbours to “come and see,” just as Philip invited Nathanael . (John 1:46)

If we share responsibility for congregational growth, it will drive other factors we must address. There are not enough volunteers, our financial decline must reverse, our worship on Sundays could be heartier. The task of growing our congregation is the joyful, costly, glorious responsibility of everyone. We are a community, and it takes a community to grow a community. We will only ever be as big as we are willing to become.

“Mission exists because worship does not.” —John Piper

This parish is ready. I believe you—God’s beloved people—have within you everything needed to grow. You are people of love and faith. You carry a message that everyone you know needs to hear, and within you is power from on high. Resurrection is coming!

May I thank my dear friend and close colleague Rev. Chris Bedford for all he does for our parish. He is a true priest of God’s church and deserves your prayers.

For my failings as your priest , of which there are many, I humbly ask for your forgiveness, and I commit to doing better in the coming year. Pray for me.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Regular giving, unrestricted donations, and rental income for 2024 was £79,570 (2023: £88,122). Income from church hall lettings and fees for services increased in 2024 to £10,782 (2023: £8,927). Investment income from flat rentals and dividends increased to £47,203 in 2024 (2023: £41,712), due to full occupancy of the flats in 2024.

Expenditure on church activities decreased in 2024 at £165,411 (2023: £172,767).

The largest expenditure for 2024 is the Parish Share at £92,561 (2023: £92,171). From this, the Diocese provides central support services, pays clergy stipends, funds the provision of clergy accommodation, and meets the costs of curates in training posts across the Diocese.

The net deficit for 2024 is £21,288 (2023: net deficit £11,541). The deficit is made up of 2 items; expenditure was £30,718 (2023: £38,629) higher than income and a gain on the revaluation of investments was £9,431 (2023: £27,088); for a total of £21,288 deficit.

Going Concern

Although at the time of approving the financial statements, there has been a deficit for 2 years in a row, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue as a

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

going concern basis due to the value of the investments. However, the trustees are not satisfied to sustain the deficits, through the sale of investments, and will be reviewing income strategies to increase revenue, along with the continual review of expenditure for the charity.

Trustees Annual Report

Reserves policy

The discretionary reserves have assigned £84,000 to cover six months of general expenditure in 2024. For 2023, it was £84,000.

Currently the PCC holds £128,028 (2023: £150,281) of unrestricted funds plus £84,000 of discretionary funds (to cover six months of general expenditure), for a total of £212,028 (2023: £234,281).

Designated funds

Following the death of Sandra Bedford, monies raised by Sandra, mainly through the biannual flower festival were gifted to the church. This policy continues. The value of the fund in 2024 is £756 (2023: £779).

Restricted funds

Flexlands School memorial fund

Following the merger of Flexlands School with Coworth Park school the parents and governors of the original Flexlands School, which had strong ties with St Lawrence Church, had agreed to fund a memorial to the school within the confines of the Church. The original donation of £2,400 has been invested in a separate deposit account, the current value being £2,840.

St Lawrence building fund (previously St Lawrence bell tower fund)

Following successful fund raising the repairs to the bell tower were undertaken during 2019. The remaining surplus monies, the current value being £42,530 (2023: £41,544), are held in a separate restricted fund to meet the cost of future building works at St Lawrence.

St Lawrence Friends Heritage Trust

During 2024 St Lawrence Friends Heritage Trust donated £3,175 (2023: £18,675) to cover the deposit on repair of the church clock at St Lawrence Church. The clock repairs will be completed in 2025.

Investment property (Endowment Asset)

The freehold property St Lawrence House (a block of 4 flats), is accounted for as an investment property, on the basis that, three of the flats are let on short term leases to third parties, charging commercial rents and there is no charitable element. The property is recorded at the 2015 market value. The title deeds for this property are held in the name of the Guildford Diocese Board of Finance (GDBF) as a custodial asset, However, custom and practice concerning historic transactions and standing instructions issued to the managing agents by the GDBF, means that the ultimate decision over the sale or granting of long leases on this asset resides with the Diocese as trustee and not the PCC. Consequently, the PCC feels that it is correct to present this asset as an endowment asset and treat it as a restricted fund.

Uninsured losses fund

The PCC continues to self-insure several items and accepts that it carries the risk of several policy excesses. The PCC considers that it has sufficient discretionary reserves to meet the risks.

Unrestricted funds

General fund

Funds derived from normal giving less general expenditure resulted in a loss of 30,718 (2023: 38,629) for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Outward Giving

The PCC made donations of £425 for Bibles for school leavers.

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

St Lawrence Church is situated in Chobham, Surrey. It has an associated Church at St Saviour, Valley End, Surrey for which the Parochial Church Council (“PCC”) of St Lawrence is responsible. Both Churches are part of the Diocese of Guildford within the Church of England.

The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended and The Church Representation Rules (contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 as amended). The PCC is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.

Risk management

The PCC has a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

Statement of trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements

The charity trustees are responsible for preparing a trustees' annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust deed. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES, xx May 2025

Dan Stork Banks

29/07/2025

signed on 29/07/2025, 14:32:03 BST The Rev. D. Stork Banks Trustee

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

I ndependent Examiner's statement

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

• the financial statements do not accord with those records; or

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

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

S J Perry

signed on 30/07/2025, 14:55:04 BST Stephen Perry LLB (Hons) FCMA, CGMA FCII Chartered Management Accountant Knowle House 38 York Road York, YO24 4LZ

xx May 2025

29/07/2025

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2024

Notes
Income and endowments from:
Donations & legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Investments
5
Total
Expenditure on:
Church activities
6
Cost of other trading activities
Charitable activities
7
Governance
Total
Net gains on investments
Net expenditure
Transfers between funds
Net expenditure before other gains/(losses)
Other gains & losses
Gains/(Losses) on revaluation of investments
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
79,570
10,782
47,203
137,555
165,411
43
2,210
800
168,464
-
(30,909)
-
(30,909)
8,655
(22,253)
150,281
128,028		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
-
215
215
-
-
-
-
-
-
215
-
215
775
990
784,380
785,370		 Designated
funds
2024
£
5,792
-
14
5,806
5,219
611
-
-
5,830
-
(24)
-
(24)
-
(24)
84,780
84,756		 2024
2023
£
£
85,362
106,797
10,782
8,927
47,432
41,721
143,576
157,445
170,630
191,641
655
140
2,210
3,493
800
800
174,294
196,074
-
-
(30,718)
(38,629)
-
-
(30,718)
(38,629)
9,431
27,088
(21,288)
(11,541)
1,019,440
1,030,981
998,153
1,019,440

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Balance Sheet at 31 December 2024

Charity No. 1128846
Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
9
Investments
10
Current assets
Debtors
11
Investments
12
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: Amount falling due within one year
13
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Net assets excluding pension asset or liability
Total net assets
The funds of the charity
Restricted funds
14
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted funds
14
General funds
Designated funds
Total funds		 2024
£
10,782
974,565
985,347
10,123
4,065
1,972
16,160
(3,354)
12,806
998,153
998,153
998,153
785,370
785,370
128,028
84,756
212,784
998,153		 2023
£
12,704
994,634
1,007,339
10,921
3,905
2,987
17,813
(5,711)
12,102
1,019,441
1,019,441
1,019,441
784,380
784,380
150,281
84,780
235,061
1,019,441

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on xx May 2025 17/05/2025

And signed on their behalf by:

Dan Stork Banks

signed on 29/07/2025, 14:32:03 BST

The Rev. D. Stork Banks Trustee xx May 2025

29/07/2025

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Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.

Change in basis of accounting or to previous accounts

There has been no change to the accounting policies (valuation rules and method of accounting) since last year and no changes have been made to accounts for previous years.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of
the general objects of the charity.
Designated funds These are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purpose.
Revaluation funds These are unrestricted funds which include a revaluation reserve representing
the restatement of investment assets at their market values.
Restricted funds These are available for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or
through terms of an appeal.
Income
Recognition of income Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when the
charity becomes entitled to, and virtually certain to receive, the income and
the amount of the income can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Income with related Where income has related expenditure the income and related expenditure is
expenditure reported gross in the SoFA.
Donations and Voluntary income received by way of grants, donations and gifts is included in
legacies the SoFA when receivable and only when the Charity has unconditional
entitlement to the income.
Tax reclaims on Income from tax reclaims is included in the SoFA at the same time as the
donations and gifts gift/donation to which it relates
Donated services These are only included in income (with an equivalent amount in expenditure)
and facilities where the benefit to the Charity is reasonably quantifiable, measurable and
material.
Volunteer help The value of any volunteer help received is not included in the accounts.
Investment income This is included in the accounts when receivable.
Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market
revaluation of fixed value at the end of the year.
assets
Gains/(losses) on This includes any gain or loss on the sale of investments.
investment assets.

Expenditure

Recognition of Expenditure is recognised on an accrual’s basis. Expenditure includes any expenditure VAT which cannot be fully recovered and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. Expenditure on These comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income, raising funds fundraising trading costs and investment management costs. Expenditure on These comprise the costs incurred by the Charity in the delivery of its charitable activities activities and services in the furtherance of its objects, including the making of grants and governance costs. Grants payable All grant expenditure is accounted for on an actual paid basis plus an accrual for grants that have been approved by the trustees at the end of the year but not yet paid.

16

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Notes to the Accounts

Governance costs These include those costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the Charity, including any audit/independent examination fees, costs linked to the strategic management of the Charity, together with a share of other administration costs Other expenditure These are support costs not allocated to a particular activity

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life:

Audio visual & office equipment 3-5 years Straight line Communion plate & silver 20 years Straight line

Freehold investment property

Investment properties are measured initially at cost and subsequently at fair value at each balance sheet date and are not depreciated. All gains or losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise.

Trade and other debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and on hand, demand deposits with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. In the statement of financial position, bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings or current liabilities. In the Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents are shown net of bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the company's cash management.

Trade and other creditors

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other creditors and provisions 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. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

17

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Notes to the Accounts

2 Statement of Financial Activites - prior year

Statement of Financial Activites - prior year ear
Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
Income and endowments from:
Donations & legacies
88,122
Charitable activities
8,927
Investments
41,712
Total
138,761
Expenditure on:
Church activities
172,767
Cost of other trading activities
140
Charitable activities
3,493
Governance
800
Total
177,200
Net gains on investments
-
Net expenditure
(38,439)
Transfers between funds
-
Net expenditure before other gains/(losse
(38,439)
Other gains & losses
Gains/(Losses) on revaluation
of investments
24,155
Net movement in funds
(14,284)
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
249,534
Total funds carried forward
235,250		 Unrestricted
funds
2023
£
88,122
8,927
41,712
138,761
172,767
140
3,493
800		 Restricted
funds
2023
£
-
-
-		 Designated
funds
2023
2023
£
£
18,675
106,797
-
8,927
9
41,721
18,684
157,445
18,874
191,641
-
140
-
3,493
-
800
18,874
196,074
-
-
(190)
(38,629)
-
-
(190)
(38,629)
-
27,088
(190)
(11,541)
-
1,030,981
(190)
1,019,440
-
-
-
-
-
177,200
-		 -
-
(38,439)
-		 -
-
-
2,933
(14,284)
249,534		 2,933
781,447
235,250 784,380

3 Income from donations and legacies

Direct credits
Yellow envelopes
Plate
Other donations
Gift aid recovered
Other giving		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
48,730
4,221
6,804
-
13,301
6,514		 Designated
funds
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
5,792		 Total
2024
2023
£
£
48,730
50,296
4,221
4,089
6,804
7,815
-
300
13,301
15,099
12,306
29,199
85,362
106,797
79,570 5,792

18

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Notes to the Accounts

4 Income from charitable activities

Church hall lettings
Fees for services		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
3,093
7,688
10,782		 Total
2024
2023
£
£
3,093
1,390

7,688

7,537
10,782
8,927

5 Income from investments

Income from investments
Rents from flats
Dividends & bank deposit
interest		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
44,214
2,989		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
215		 Designated
funds
2024
£
-
14		 Total
2024
2023
£
£
44,214
38,814
3,218
2,907

47,432
41,721
47,203 215
 14

6 Expenditure on church activities

Church & hall maintenance &
running costs
Church insurance
Parish share
Clergy expenses
Parish office
Organist & music
Church & hall utility costs
Flowers
Upkeep of vicarage
Sundries
Commission, maintenance
and insurance - flats
Depreciation
Accountancy & bookkeeping		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
8,124
5,857
92,561
2,356
17,930
2,465
12,034
-
732
1,245
14,578
1,922
5,607		 Designated
funds
2024
£
3,709
-
-
-
116
-
750
38
-
606
-
-
-		 Total
2024
£
11,833
5,857
92,561
2,356
18,046
2,465
12,784
38
732
1,851
14,578
1,922
5,607		 2023
£
31,034
5,722
92,171
3,281
20,086
3,675
9,117
199
952
2,066
13,519
2,676
7,143
165,411 5,219 170,630 191,641

19

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Notes to the Accounts

7 Expenditure on charitable activities

Expenditure on charitable
activities
Grants and charitable giving
Governance costs
Independent examination		 Unrestricted
funds
Total
2024
2024
£
£
2,210
2,210
800
800
3,010
3,010		 2023
£
3,493

800
4,293

8 Staff costs

The church has no employees.

9 Tangible fixed assets

Cost or revaluation
At 1 January 2024
Additions
At 31 December 2024
Depreciation & impairment
At 1 January 2024
Depreciation charge for the year
At 31 December 2024
Net book values
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2024		 Audio visual &
office
equipment
Communion
plate & silver
£
£
22,453
23,384
-
-
22,453
23,384
22,100
11,032
136
1,786
22,237
12,818
352
12,352		 Total
£
45,837
-
45,837
33,132
1,922
35,054
12,704
216
10,566		 10,782

20

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Notes to the Accounts

10 Investments

Cost or revaluation
At 1 January 2024
Revaluations
Disposals
At 31 December 2024
Net book values
At 31 December 2023
At 31 December 2024		 Investment
Property
2024
£
740,000
-
-
740,000
740,000
740,000		 Investments -
CBF Capital
Accumulation
Units
2024
£
150,635
7,081
(29,500)
128,217
150,635
128,217		 Investments -
COIF Charity
Fund Units
2024
£
103,999
2,349
-
106,348
103,999
106,348		 Total
2024
£
994,634
9,431
(29,500)
974,565
994,634
974,565

Investment property relates to three flats in St Lawrence House, Chobham, which are all let on commercial terms. The flats were revalued in 2015. The 5 yearly revaluation is not a requirement for the PCC but they will revalue by the end of 2025. The title deeds for this property are held in the name of the Guildford Diocese Board of Finance (GDBF) as a custodial asset. However, custom and practice concerning historic transactions and standing instructions issued to the managing agents by the GDBF, means that the ultimate decision over the sale or granting of long leases on this asset resides with the Diocese as trustee and not the PCC.

Investments are recorded at market value at 31st December. Any gains or losses from revaluation are reflected in the Statement of Financial Activities.

11 Debtors

Trade debtors
Gift aid recoverable
Other debtors
12 Current asset investments
CBF - Deposit account - St Lawrence
CBF - Deposit account - Flexlands School Memorial
Barclays - Deposit Account - Flower Fund
13 Creditors
amounts falling due within one year
Trade creditors
Accruals		 2024
2023
£
£
1,463
3,885
5,070
4,745
3,590
2,291
10,123
10,921
2024
2023
£
£
55
51
3,086
2,875
923
979
4,065
3,905
2024
2023
£
£
-
2,982
3,354
2,730
3,354
5,711

21

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Notes to the Accounts

14 Movement in funds

Restricted funds:
Restricted income funds:
Investment property
St Lawrence building
Flexlands School Memorial
Total
Unrestricted funds:
General funds
Designated funds:
General fund - reserves
Flower fund
St Lawrence Friends Heritage Trust
Total
Total funds		 At 1 January
2024
£
740,000
41,543
2,836
784,380
150,281
84,000
780
-
235,061
1,019,441		 Incoming
resources
(including
other
gains/losses)
£
-
986
4
990
142,491
2,617
14
3,175
148,297
149,287		 Resources
expended
At 31
December
2024
£
£
-
740,000
42,530
2,840
-
785,370
164,744
128,028
2,617
84,000
38
756
3,175
-
170,574
212,784
170,574
998,153

Purposes and restrictions in relations to the funds: Restricted funds: Investment property St Lawrence building Flexlands School Memorial

Designated funds: General fund - reserves

Flower fund

The PCC's policy is to maintain a minimum level of investments to cover the equivalent of six month general expenditure, which based on the current year's expenditure, would equate to £84,000.

Following the death of Sandra Bedford, monies raised by Sandra mainly through the biannual flower festival were gifted to the church.

St Lawrence Friends Heritage Trust

15 Analysis of net assets between funds

Fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets
Total		 Unrestricted
funds
£
10,782
199,153
8,742
218,677		 Restricted
funds
£
-
775,412
3,141		 Designated
funds
Total
£
£
-
10,782
-
974,565
923
12,806
923
998,153
778,553

22

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Notes to the Accounts

16 Reconciliation of net debt

At January
2024
£
Cash and cash equivalents
2,987

Net debt
2,987		 Cash flows
At 31
December
2024
£
£
1,015
-
1,972
1,015
-
1,972

23

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
Direct credits
Yellow envelopes
Plate
Other donations
Gift aid recovered
Other giving
Charitable activities
Church hall lettings
Fees for services
Investments
Rent from flats
Dividends & bank deposit
interest
Total income
Expenditure on:
Total expenditure on church activities
Church & hall maintenance &
running costs
Church insurance
Parish share
Clergy expenses
Parish office
Organist & music
Church & hall utility costs
Flowers
Upkeep of vicarage
Sundries
Commission, maintenance
and insurance - flats
Depreciation
Accountancy & bookkeeping		 Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
48,730
4,221
6,804
-
13,301
6,514
79,570
3,093
7,688
10,782
44,214
2,989
47,203
137,555

8,124
5,857
92,561
2,356
17,930
2,465
12,034
-
732
1,245
14,578
1,922
5,607
165,411		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
-
215
215
215
-		 Designated
funds
2024
£
5,792
5,792
-
14
14
5,806
3,709
116
750
38
606
5,219		 2024
2023
£
£
48,730
50,296
4,221
4,089
6,804
7,815
-
300
13,301
15,099
12,306
29,199
85,362
106,797
3,093
1,390
7,688
7,537
10,782
8,927
44,214
38,814
3,218
2,907
47,432
41,721
143,576
157,445
11,833
31,034
5,857
5,722
92,561
92,171
2,356
3,281
18,046
20,086
2,465
3,675
12,784
9,117
38
199
732
952
1,851
2,066
14,578
13,519
1,922
2,676
5,607
7,143
170,630
191,641

24

Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Chobham with St Saviour Valley End Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

Unrestricted
funds
2024
£
Costs of other trading activities
Fundraising costs
43
43
165,454
Charitable activities
Grants and charitable giving
2,210
2,210
Governance costs
Independent examination
800
800
3,010
Total expenditure
168,464
Net gains on investments
Net expenditure
(30,909)
(30,909)
Other recognised gains and losses
Gains/(losses) on revaluation
of fixed assets
8,655
Net movement in funds
(22,253)
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
150,281
Total funds carried forward
128,028
Total of expenditure on church
activites
Total of expenditure on charitable
activities
Net expenditure before other
gains/(losses)		 Restricted
funds
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
215
215
775
990
784,380
785,370		 Designated
funds
2024
£
611
611
5,830
-
-
-
5,830
(24)
(24)
-
(24)
84,780
84,756		 2024
£
655
655
171,284
2,210
2,210
800
800
3,010
174,294
(30,718)
(30,718)
9,431
(21,288)
1,019,440
998,153		 2023
£
140
140
191,782
3,493
3,493
800
800
4,293
196,074
(38,629)
(38,629)
27,088
(11,541)
1,030,981
1,019,440

25 

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29/07/2025, 14:20:44 BST

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ea88a0daef811c57958169321ce1057a33605a20

danstorkbanks@gmail.com

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b215473d08c3000b546e2141713a43ff61adeee9

stephen@sjperry.org

30/07/2025, 14:55:04 BST

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d64b7c0fadad09e95e4ec973c46aca2ea48d7ab0

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