**Charity Registration No. 1128976**
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**
**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
## **Legal and Administrative information**
## **Trustees**
The Revd Tom Mumford (Chairman and Incumbent)
Mrs Jo Jones (Vice-Chair and Churchwarden) Mrs Sonia Docherty (Churchwarden and Donations Administrator) Miss Rosemary Caudle (Hon. PCC Secretary) Mr Andrew Gosden (PCC Treasurer) Mrs Sue Adair Mrs Mary Baldry (Health and Safety officer) Mr Richard Cook (Chair, Interim-Tower House Management Committee)
Mr Richard Hanley Dr Russell Hall Mr Ian Lord Mrs Hilary Norman Mrs Sarah Purbrook (Parish Safeguarding officer) Mrs Katrina Robertson Mr Richard Thompson
|**Registered Charity Name**|St Mary le Tower Church.|
|---|---|
|**Charity Number**|1128976|
|**Principal address**|St Mary le Tower Vicarage|
||18 Kingsfield Avenue|
||Ipswich|
||Suffolk.|
||IP1 3TA|
|**Church Location:**|Tower Street|
||Ipswich|
||Suffolk|
||IP1 3BE|
|**Main Correspondence Address:**|Parish Office|
||Tower House|
||17 Tower Street|
||Ipswich|
||Suffolk|
||IP1 3BE|
|**Independent examiner**|Moore Green Chartered Accounts|
||22 Friars Street|
||Sudbury|
||Suffolk|
||CO10 2AA|
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
|**Contents**||
|---|---|
||Page|
|Trustees' report|4 - 19|
|Independent examiner's report|20|
|Statement of financial activities|21 - 22|
|Balance sheet|23|
|Notes to the financial statements|24 - 38|
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's [governing document], the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019).
## **Objectives and Activities**
At the beginning of 2022, the PCC engaged in a vision and strategic plan for the next five years. As part of this plan, the PCC identified five areas of work that will help it achieve its vision. These are: Welcome, Worship, Faith, Act, and Sustain. The plan, including its strategic objectives and activities are summarised below:
## **Welcome**
We will provide a peaceful sanctuary for all through:
- An open church 7 days a week;
- A welcoming, accessible, and safe space for all;
- Hosting events and organisations for culture, learning and fun
## **Worship**
We will enable all to experience the love and presence of God through exceptional worship:
- Offering daily prayer for the people and town of Ipswich;
- Developing and sustaining choral excellence, with a particular focus on future generations;
- Creating a monthly service tailored to and led by young people
## **Faith**
We will be a place where people can encounter, deepen, and grow in faith:
- Providing multiple opportunities for people to explore and enquire about Christianity;
- Holding regular events promoting the discussion of the Christian faith in contemporary life and the public square;
- Nourishing and deepening people’s existing faith, across all ages.
## **Act**
We will discern and respond to local need using pilot projects in the areas of:
- Health
- Loneliness
- Poverty
## **Sustain**
We will secure a financially, environmentally and socially sustainable future through:
- A coherent and ambitious giving and fundraising project to fund our plans;
- Working towards attaining the highest possible Eco Church status;
- Adopting an intergenerational approach to mission and ministry, seeking partnership with local organisations, and developing the next generation of church leaders
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
## **Aims and Purposes**
The primary object of St Mary-le-Tower Ipswich PCC is the promotion of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The PCC (Powers) Measure 1956 states that to do this, the PCC is to co-operate with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church of St Mary-le-Tower Ipswich and the adjacent Church House and Tower House buildings. The PCC mission statement is as follows:
“St Mary le Tower seeks to be a welcoming, inclusive and open church, offering peace and sanctuary in the heart of Ipswich, flourishing through prayer, faith, and positive action.”
## **Achievements and Performance**
The last year has been particularly challenging for St Mary le Tower. Not only has the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continued to ripple through the life of the church, the increase in costs across the board, due to a variety of global factors, has also caused increasing strain. On top of this, the church’s Vicar, The Reverend Canon Charles Jenkin retired at relatively short notice half way through 2021. Following a short interregnum, the parish appointed The Reverend Tom Mumford as his replacement. At the time of writing, Rev. Tom has been in post for just over six months. In this short time a vision and strategy process has taken place as a way of refocussing the mission of the church, not least in the light of significant financial challenges. There is much hope and optimism for the future of Ipswich’s civic church, as well as a renewed determination to meet the challenges it faces. St Mary le Tower is a growing and faithful church with incredible potential, huge talent, and a dedicated and loving community. Examples of this follow in the sections below.
## **First, THANK YOU!**
Before talking about ‘achievements and performance’ as required by the charity commission for this annual report, it is important to recognise that the mission and ministry of St Mary le Tower would not be possible without the ministry of so many members of the church community. Ministry is something that is done by the whole Body of Christ and so the PCC thanks all those who offer their time, gifts, and services to God in this place. Those individuals who volunteer their time, whether through music, pastoral care, worship leading, church and churchyard care, administrative support, and many other ways, are too many to name, but to all of you the PCC wishes to offer you its sincere thanks and continues to thank God for you!
## **Worship, Pastoral Care, and Discipleship**
During 2021 the worship pattern on Sundays changed depending on circumstances such as a lockdown or an interregnum. By the end of the year, and following some time enabling the new Vicar to bed in, the normal service was resumed with a Book of Common Prayer Communion service, Choral Matins, Sung Eucharist, and Choral Evensong. This pattern has remained throughout the year, apart from when the choir take holiday, at which point there is no Choral Matins or Evensong. There are sermons delivered at both the 8am BCP Service and the 10:30 Sung Eucharist, the latter of which is the best attended and has seen steady growth into 2022. Across a Sunday, by the end of 2021, the church was seeing an attendance of between 100-150 people. The 10:30 Sung Eucharist is also live-streamed every week and attracts a small number of regular worshippers who value the opportunity to share in worship with others.
A real highlight of this last worshipping year has been the BBC Radio 4 Sunday Worship broadcast of Choral Matins in January of 2022. The service was listened to by approximately 1.5 million people and received an incredible response. In particular, the choir and music staff deserve enormous thanks and credit.
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
One of the most significant additions to the worshipping life of St Mary le Tower has been the addition of office of Morning Prayer, Monday to Friday at 8:30am. This was instituted following the arrival of the new Vicar with the intention of offering a beating heart of daily prayer for the people of Ipswich. This service is well attended, often drawing a congregation of 4-6 people, a congregation size quite remarkable for a daily said service.
At 10.30am on Wednesdays there is a Book of Common Prayer service of Holy Communion. This is the primary service of worship, and experience of church, for a small community of faithful people. Congregants at this service ranged from between 8 and 15 people. Following the service tea, coffee, and biscuits are always shared enabling regular fellowship. This community of worshippers have a strong bond and are always open to newcomers. They even have their own Christmas meal to which the new Vicar was invited and attended.
At the beginning of 2021, during the national lockdown, pastoral care was carried out by a telephone contact team. By the end of 2021, in person pastoral care was revived and since the arrival of the new Vicar home visiting has very much returned. Following his arrival, the new Vicar sought to visit as many parishioners as possible and to enable this instigated the initiative ‘More tea Vicar’ asking people who wished to receive a visit to sign-up. The Vicar, along with two of the Lay Elder team, have also sought to ensure housebound parishioners who wish to receive communion do, and there is now a stable pattern for this to happen. Pastoral care and visiting are a high priority for the new Vicar’s ministry within the parish and members of the congregation are encouraged to let him know if they or anybody they know would enjoy a visit from him or any of the pastoral visiting team.
At the beginning of 2022 St Mary le Tower ran an Alpha course, providing an opportunity for people to explore the Christian faith for the first time. This was advertised heavily over the Christmas period. The six week version of the course enjoyed an average of 10 regular attenders including members of the choir seeking to explore faith more intentionally, and those who had no connection with the church before. From this course there have been two new regular attenders, one of which was baptised at Easter 2022. During Lent 2022 there were a number of discipleship opportunities that sought to deepen people’s faith. There was a sermon and seminar series on Sunday mornings on the Apostle’s Creed with a series of guest preachers. There was also a quiet morning with talks from an external speaker, as well as two weekly Lent study groups on prayer using an audio-book by Stephen Cottrell.
The Reverend Tom Mumford
## **Choral Tradition and Music**
## **- April 2021 May 2022**
The past year has been full of opportunities, achievement and signs of future promise. The standard of singing within services has generally been good but efforts to maintain consistency have been severely hampered by Covid-19 related absences. Thankfully the choir has kept going despite choir members and staff needing to isolate at regular intervals over the last 12 months.
Beyond the costs of the music department’s usual activities, extra endeavours have been authorised and successfully run on a break-even/profit basis. The recording and St Matthew Passion budgets for last year are skewed by the fact that monies were received for these projects in 2019 and 2020.
There have been a few safeguarding/pastoral issues concerning members of the choir community over the past year, thankfully all have been resolved quickly and satisfactorily (to my knowledge). Safeguarding and Pastoral Welfare are discussed at weekly Music Department meetings and any concerns arising, brought to the Vicar, Churchwardens and DSL.
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
The choir membership has remained constant over the past year, with some members joining and others leaving. The choir currently consists of 9 boy trebles, 10 girl choristers, 11 soprano choral scholars, 5 ATB choral scholars and 24 adults. Two adult members of the choir are retiring at the end of this term after long and distinguished service in church choirs.
## **Summer 2021**
During Summer 2021, the choir returned to singing after the 3[rd] national lockdown, operating in a socially distanced manner, with rehearsals taking place in the Lady Chapel. Preparation was mainly focused on the already twice-postponed carol recording. This took place in July 2021. The recording was a success and has been well received locally and nationally.
Operational changes included moving the adult and choral scholar rehearsals from Friday evenings to Thursday evenings. This was decided after consultation and has proved popular since.
With the introduction of the Novum Livestreaming apparatus, a safeguarding policy was drawn up in conjunction with a small working group including volunteers and the DSL. A review was set for October 2021. Permissions were sought from choir members.
## **Autumn 2021**
Autumn 2021 heralded the return to normal singing conditions (without social distancing). Term began with Charles’ farewell service. This was quickly followed by the Mayor’s Service, Tom’s licencing, Durufle’s Requiem for All Souls, the TCC’s performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, the Advent Vigil and a Bach cantata. The carol recording was launched in conjunction with the Christmas Tree Festival and sold well. It was broadcast nationally on Classic FM as the ‘Drivetime Discovery of the Week.’ The Christmas Services and concerts continued undisturbed despite the prevalence and enforced isolation of Covid-19 cases in the choir.
The Livestreaming Policy review took place in October and a further review has been scheduled for October 2022.
## **Spring 2022**
Early January began with a live broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s _Sunday Worship_ programme. This again was achieved despite disruption from Covid-19. The broadcast was well received both within the church community and from further afield. Beyond the usual pattern of worship, the choir undertook significant work for Ash Wednesday, the annual Justice Service at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, a performance of Pergolesi’s _Stabat Mater_ on Palm Sunday and services for Holy Week Easter.
From January 2022, Christopher Borrett and William Baldry embarked upon a new working pattern, where Monday and Tuesday Evensong were no longer sung. William Baldry undertook more administrative tasks such as the Lunchtime Concerts and now regularly takes the adult rehearsal on a Thursday evening.
Time was spent submitting a grant application for a significant outreach project (result pending) and planning a choir tour for the adults in autumn 2022. Insufficient choir members were able to commit, resulting in the plan being shelved for the time being. Time was also spent planning for the Jubilee Concert in June, the Girl Choir’s 10[th] anniversary and for Cardinal Wolsey’s anniversary, both in 2023.
## **- April May 2022**
Matins now has reverted to two sung canticle settings and no anthem. The services will exclusively use Hymns Ancient & Modern.
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
Following a successful submission for funds towards the Choral Scholars’ singing tuition, a grant of £500 was received from Hymns Ancient and Modern.
Preparations continue for the Jubilee Concert on 10 June and Corpus Christi with St Mary at the Elms.
Our singing teacher, Katie Smith, has resigned as she cannot sustain the commute from Wiltshire. A new teacher is to be appointed later this summer.
_Christopher Borrett Director of Music_
## **Bellringers**
The ending of coronavirus restrictions in July has enabled the resumption of ringing all 12 bells after an enforced 15 month layoff. Some ringing had been possible during that period, but with social distance restrictions still applying it meant we were limited in what we could do. Having successfully kept our band together during the worst of the pandemic through various virtual events, as well as outdoor gatherings (subject to what was allowable) in the summer months, it was heartening to see most of our band returning at the first opportunity. Since then, the bells have been rung every Sunday morning, and for Monday evening practice just as we did before the shutdown came in March 2020.
With the kind agreement of Tom, additional Sunday ringing has been taking place for the Sunday evensong service as preparation for our entry to the National 12 Bell Striking Competition. The preparation paid off, as Ipswich qualified for the final in third place at the eliminator contest held at Bury St Edmunds at the end of March. Further Sunday evensong ringing will take place in the coming weeks as we prepare for the final at Guildford Cathedral on June 25[th] . Earlier in the year, Ipswich also won the George W Pipe 12 Bell Striking Competition, held at Waltham Abbey. This is a competition for 12 bell towers in East Anglia, and this year we were up against teams from the host tower, Norwich & Bury St Edmunds.
In spite of the lengthy period where our bells were silent, they remain in excellent mechanical order. Inspections took place prior to each restart of tower bell ringing, and no major issues were observed. Earlier this year, a formal inspection by Taylors took place, which again highlighted no major issues of note. The report from Taylors made some recommendations about changing the clapper shafts in bells 9 & 10 to wood, the merits of which are being considered. Mechanics aside, the bell ropes are perhaps more of a concern as the current set are now starting to show signs of age, having been bought new 8 years ago, and will soon require replacement.
_David Potts Tower Captain_
## **‘Trees @ the Tower’ – Christmas Tree Festival**
An online only festival was held in 2020, and a more modest in person festival was planned for 2021, as uncertainty remained about the pandemic.
Trees@the Tower was a relaunch of the Festival, with the headline outcomes below
- 4077 visitors from Thursday 2 Dec to Wednesday 8 December and the Opening Event was attended by around 100 people.
- 25 Sponsors of trees, individuals and businesses and 49 Participants entered trees, including schools, charities, businesses, individuals and groups.
- Financial outturn was around £4500. The Mayors Charity and Medical Detection Dogs both received a donation from the profits.
- The Choir Christmas CD was launched at the Opening Event.
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
Much work goes into obtaining Sponsors and Participants. There was limited data available from the previous Festivals, so we trawled through old programmes and used personal memories and contacts in order to approach people for 2021. We are building a data base of contacts for the future.
Many thanks to the Planning Group and all the individuals who volunteered during the setting up, running and take down of all the trees. To continue with offering this very successful event to the town of Ipswich, more members of the SMLT community will be needed to assist for the 2022 Festival.
_Jo Jones for the Planning Group_
## **Tower House**
## **South Wing / Community Space**
The first quarter of 2021 was marred by Covid restrictions with little activity in Tower House. Once the restrictions lifted the demand for affordable space rose. Sue Rudland, the TH Development Manager resigned her post at the end of April but by then had managed to secure a number of new licensees. These were:
- **PHOEBE** (Promotion of Health, Opportunity, Equality, Benevolence and Empowerment) is an organization supporting African female victims of domestic abuse. PHOEBE moved into the back room in Church House to use as an office but as they grew and we couldn’t accommodate their additional needs, they moved out at the end of November 2021. **PHOEBE** continue to use Tower House on an ad-hoc basis for exercise classes and other group sessions.
- **Suffolk Mind –** Providing workshops and support to individuals with mental health issues. This is a regular booking using the Community and the Skylight rooms two days a week.
- **One Life –** This is a publicly funded organization providing health services to the not easy to reach communities. They hold workshops and drop-in health check sessions at Tower House on a regular basis.
In addition to the above the **CACHSF** (Caribbean & African Community Health Support Forum) moved their exercise classes back to Tower House and they also started running drop-in sessions in addition to their regular booking.
## **Operational update**
Tower House made an operational deficit of £1,969 in 2021 even though the post of Business Development Manager remained vacant between May and December. This is clearly an unsustainable position for the future and alternatives need to be found.
## **Grant applications**
In early 2021 we engaged a consultant to help us apply for a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant. An application for a £99,000 Resilience Grant was submitted in April 2021 but this was unsuccessful. The feedback provided by the NLHF was positive; they encouraged us to apply again but suggested that the overall project is broken down into smaller parts and for us to ensure more active involvement by all stakeholders. No further applications have been made.
## **North Wing / Song School**
Work continued on the North Wing project in 2021 and in May we received the quantity surveyor’s costings for the 1[st] phase of the works which included the 2[nd] floor, the Song School, the lift, the drainage to rectify the damp issue and a large kitchen area excluding fittings at a cost of £236k. Planning permission for this work has been obtained. This work is now on hold awaiting a review.
_Sonia Docherty_
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
## **Sponsorship of Events**
St Mary le Tower is the civic church of Ipswich and as part of its mission seeks to develop contact with the local community and business. During the past year many local businesses and private individuals have sponsored the Tuesday Lunchtime Concerts and similarly sponsored Christmas trees during the annual Trees @the Tower Festival. SMLT are grateful to for all sponsorships.
## **Social Outreach**
SMLT began a Coaching DropIn in February by the church porch on Monday and Tuesday mornings. This was a pilot project aimed at offering emotional and spiritual support to the people of Ipswich regardless of beliefs. Whilst there have only been a few people so far directly seeking a coaching conversation as it is taking time for people to become aware of such a new scheme, on average 15 people each morning, including many children, have visited the church and expressed delight that it is open again. Some come to see the building, others to sit quietly, some to pray and chat face to face.
The Citizens Advice Bureau have begun to advertise this service and the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust(Mental Health) are looking at ways in which they can direct clients to SMLT for support and offer a psychologist to assist us in our outreach.
In the meantime preparations are underway for the Top-up-Shop to open on June 1[st] . This will offer groceries every Wednesday between 9-10(£2 a visit) as well as any pastoral support as we get to know those in need in our local community.
_Reverend Celia Cook_
## **Care of the Churchyard**
There has been plenty of activity in the churchyard. Some pruning of trees was undertaken to halt damage being done to the fabric of the church and more is to follow. Some large shrubs which had become enormous have been heavily pollarded and are now producing healthy new growth. Two trees were kindly donated to the church and have been planted in the south side, a weeping cherry donated by Ian and June Malloy and a magnolia donated by Peter and Jo Mays. A team of choristers, guided by Vicky Faull, created a beautiful Easter Garden, perfectly positioned to be seen as you enter church and also from Tower Street. In the autumn a team of seven volunteers, enticed by the promises of bacon rolls and hot drinks, worked hard to clear leaves and tidy the churchyard ahead of Remembrance Sunday. I hope this will become an annual event in the calendar.
Assistance from the Borough Council parks and gardens department has been much curtailed since the outbreak of the pandemic adding greatly to the work of volunteers. We are urging every effort be made by the council to cut the grass with predictable frequency. At the time of writing there has only been one visit to cut grass. No matter how hard the gardening team work to keep borders weed free and neatly edged, long and neglected grass sadly detracts from our efforts.
_Sally Graham_
## **Tree works:**
Work to reduce trees that impacted on the external fabric of the Church was completed in late November. Ipswich Borough Council inspects the trees in the Churchyard regularly and reports to the Churchwardens. They have no issues with public safety regarding the churchyard trees at present.
Many thanks to the Gardening Team that keep the Churchyard looking attractive and welcoming throughout the whole year.
_Jo Jones Church Warden_
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
## **Care of the Church**
## **Fabric projects in 2021**
There have been several Fabric projects during 2021, many possible due to obtaining grant funding.
CCTV – 25% grant funding
AV system – funded mostly by donations as follows Donation from a member of the congregation £6,250 (including gift aid) Grant: Framlingham Foundation (Ed Sheeran) £5,000
Grant: Elizabeth Walter Charity £1,750
Parochial Church Council of SMLT £9,472 (from restricted funds) Grant: Choral Foundation for SMLT £8,058
Chancel plastering project - 80% funded by Culture Recovery Fund
Deep clean of the interior of the church – 80% funded by CRF
Chancel Cross – wear and tear – 80% funded by Culture Recovery Fund
Nave cross and Apex stone replacement and roof repairs – storm damage – part funded by Insurance, CRF and SMLT
Cleaning of roof, downpipes and replacement of broken tiles – 20% funded by CRF grant
Refixing communion rail – SMLT funded
Western and southern boundary wall repairs – SMLT funded
Many thanks to Sonia Docherty, who has been very active and successful in obtaining these grants, without which works could not be completed.
_Jo Jones Church Warden_
## **Church Fabric Report** :
**Part I:** I cannot recall when the previous APCM was held (or withheld) but I must confess that I sneaked into SMLT to effect some repairs which would not otherwise have been done. These were as follows:
1. The sea horse on the southern end of the front pew in the nave was badly broken when the dust was removed from the roof. I repaired it and am indebted to Humph Adair for giving me a spare pair of hands whilst we glued it.
2. The priest’s chair at the front of the nave had sustained damage from rain and falling plaster, so I took it home and refurbished it. Have a look at it. It really is a well-made chair.
3. The altar frontals were removed during the COVID episode, so I took the opportunity to wax-polish completely the oak altars of both the Lady Chapel and the High Altar. I discovered 14 pieces of Honduras Mahogany on the High Altar.
4. The removal of the 26 Lights on the choir stalls and priests’ desks has been completed. At the same time, the ten cast-iron grilles which were built underneath the benches and misericords were removed and kept as spares for the heating ducts in the main body of the church. After the removal of chewing gum, the wooden floors in and around the stalls were stained and then sealed with a hardened wax finish.
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
## **Part II: Work done from the start of the interregnum:**
5. I am proud to report the removal of approximately 235 pieces of chewing gum from that part of the church to the west of the chancel arch. I am certain that some of this (gum) was older than I am. If you find some more, please tell me.
6. The priest’s prayer desk in the Lady Chapel has been cleaned and re-polished. Similarly, the credence table has had almost 30 pieces of veneer replaced on its marquetry and the whole table has been cleaned and polished.
## **Work pending and in hand:**
7. The Minton tiles need cleaning with the cleaning machine which we possess. This should become a regular occurrence, though it will need to be done only in those places which get dirty.
8. Whilst the choir is on holiday from late July – early September, the seats on the front and second rows need to be polished. After this, the stalls should be cleaned as required.
9. Work needs to be done on the west doors’ locks, which are very stiff.
Amen.
_Ian Molloy_
## **Sanctuary Guild**
During the past year the Sanctuary Guild has continued to be responsible for the care of Altar Frontals and the Priests regalia. Sally Graham and Hilary care for the weekly laundering of the Altar linen.
Sue Adair continues to lead and encourage our team of Flower Arrangers. We thank them for their lovely flower arrangements throughout the year: especially for the major festivals; most recently at Easter. We welcome more folk to join the group and share the task. Funds are available to offset the cost of flowers. _Hilary Norman._
## **Pins and Needles**
After 18 months of national restrictions due to Coronavirus, September 2021 saw the re-emergence of the Pins and Needles craft group. Thanks to the work of Stephen Cheek on the church’s website our presence in church life can be readily seen by a wide variety of people. Variety is reflected in the activities of the small group of people that make up Pins and Needles at present. Knitting, crossstitch and drawing are found being practised in our new, light-filled room in Tower House accompanied by light refreshments and diverse conversation. We await more people and more craft to join us on the 1[st] and 3[rd] Fridays of each month from 12-2pm. A warm welcome waits for anyone wishing to swell our numbers.
_June Molloy_
## **Social Activities**
## **Social Gatherings and Catering**
Our first social event post pandemic restrictions was a Bring and Share Supper to welcome Tom and Laura after Tom’s licencing service. It was lovely to be able to gather once more and everyone enjoyed the opportunity to meet Tom and his then fiancée Laura and Tom’s very proud parents.
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**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
The return of the Tree Festival café was widely enjoyed by the local community. Its success was entirely due to the faithful volunteers who baked marvellous cakes, scones and biscuits and gave unstintingly of their time to serve in the café. Helpers in the café covered 118 two-hour time slots between them, a quite phenomenal effort.
On Shrove Tuesday Mary Baldry and Jo Jones donned aprons to cook pancakes for the church choir and congregation. This was a new venture and much enjoyed both for the delicious pancakes and fillings and for the chance for the choir and congregation to meet and mingle.
Jo and Mary, aided by Jo’s husband Steve, were back in action in the kitchen early on Easter Morning, when they cooked sausage and bacon rolls with hot drinks to enjoy after the Sunrise Eucharist service. This event was enjoyed by an impressive number of early risers!
## **Food Safety**
As plans for social gatherings gain pace I would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone of our responsibilities as providers of food, whether for an in-house event or to sell to the public. We are required by law to list ingredients and allergens of all foods that we prepare. This can be simply done by completing one of the forms that always accompanies requests for foods and by careful reading of all food labels. There have been some tragic cases such as the death of 15 year old Natasha Ednan-Laperouse in 2018 and James Atkinson in 2022, both from allergic reactions. These highlight the need for our diligence. Our catering is inspected by the Food Standards Agency. They look at our facilities and protocols and as part of this we have to file and retain evidence of compliance – yes, those ingredient and allergen forms! Please keep up your good practice.
_Sally Graham_
## **Website and Social Media**
In recent months there have been significant changes to the way we communicate online. Following the arrival of the new Vicar plans to refresh the website were put in place, with the hope of creating a new, simpler and more modern website by Easter 2022. However, the week before Christmas our old website was hacked. Faced with the prospect of paying a large sum of money to fix and retain the old website for a few more months, Stephen and Rev. Tom decided that plans to create the new website would be expedited. Full credit here goes to Stephen Cheek who managed to execute Rev. Tom’s website vision brilliantly in less than a week. Obviously when the site first went live there were a number of features under development, and as ever with websites there are still elements of the site under construction and being constantly updated and improved. However, the new website has received brilliant reviews. Further significant work is planned for the next months, not least updating images, but Rev. Tom’s ambition to have the best church website in the whole diocese is now not far from being achieved! In the world of social media, huge thanks must go to Kate Thompson who managed Facebook, Twitter and Instagram brilliantly up until stepping back in January 2022. In this time, social media platforms grew and enabled the Tower to communicate with more people than ever before. Social media is now managed temporarily by Rev. Tom as a search for Kate’s successor continues. Facebook in particular receives exceptionally high interaction, relatively speaking, for a church page. For example, between 9th April and 6th May posts on the Tower Facebook page were viewed at least once by more than 3,000 people.
_Reverend Tom Mumford_
_pp Steven Cheek_
13
**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
## **Deanery Synod Report**
There have been three meetings since our last report.
- In June 21 there was a report of a cross denominational meeting of church and civic leaders in the town. It was felt that the Church, in the town, should speak with one voice and recognition needs to be given for the considerable work done by our churches. A guest speaker described the work of The Lighthouse Women's Aid.
- In November 21 there was discussion of the document “Living in Love and Faith” concerning relationships and the Church.
The Reverend Tom Mumford joined the Deanery Synod.
- Archdeacon Rhiannon announced that more people were coming to faith and there was growth in ecumenical events.
- In February 22 the Deanery financial position had improved with 85% of the parish share having been paid.
- Archdeacon Rhiannon hoped that The “Inspiring Ipswich” project would be extended by a further year to catch up on time lost in the pandemic.
- There was a comprehensive presentation on giving by the Churches National Adviser on giving and income generation.
The deanery involvement in the Queens Platinum Jubilee was discussed.
_Russell Hall_
## **Diocesan Synod Report**
## **October 2021 Synod**
Over 100 members joined Bishop Martin on zoom for the first Synod of the triennium. The focus of the Synod was how we engage with our communities. Bishop Martin said, “We are committed to the revitalisation of all our parishes and existing congregation as well as developing new ones, with new and old existing fruitfully together with the benefice system. Synod also approved the 2022 Diocesan budget and authorised the Diocesan Board of Finance to expend a sum not exceeding £10,483,933 in the current financial year.
Bishop Mike gave a presentation about Growing in God in the Countryside project. We also had a progress report on Living Love and Faith. Synod ended with a report on the preparations for the Festival of Suffolk, the county celebration for the Queens Platinum Jubilee.
## **March 2022 Synod**
This Synod was held in Stowmarket, the first in-person Synod for two years. Bishop Martins’ address reflected on the crisis in Ukraine and what, as believers are our goals to seek, pursue and long for the kingdom of God on Earth.
We had an Inspiring Ipswich review by Archdeacon Rhiannon. The main points included two new church plants in Ipswich — River and Bridge churches and two smaller plants Safe Harbour and Well Springs churches. There was a discussion on Living in Love and Faith and parishes were encouraged to run courses to expand their understanding of the issues. A national report is due in the autumn. We had an introduction of two new policies— The Disability Policy and Social Media Policy. The former has two new additions and the latter is being reviewed.
Jane Sheat gave the annual report of the Diocesan Board of Education. It recommended that the DBE becomes a statutory committee.
There were updates on the Suffolk Show, The Queens Jubilee celebration and the Cathedral. Synod closed with the ministry of the Sacrament.
_Sue Adair_
14
**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
## **Safeguarding report**
The care and protection of children, young people and adults involved in Church activities is the responsibility of everyone who participates in the life of the Church.
As a Church we are committed to promoting a safer environment and culture, safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults, responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation, caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse or other affected persons, caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns/allegations of abuse and other affected persons and responding to those that may pose a present risk.
Many of the PCC, the church wardens, the music team, the choir, the bellringers and those with roles of responsibility have completed or renewed safeguarding training recently. There is the opportunity for all congregation members to complete Basic and Foundation level training.
We have had a small number of safeguarding questions and concerns in the last year; these have been dealt with appropriately in a prompt and efficient manner, often with the guidance of Karen Galloway, Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.
Our latest Safeguarding Policy is displayed on the website for everyone to access along with the displayed 'Promoting a Safer Church' Posters.
_Sarah Purbrook, Parish Safeguarding Officer_
## **Financial Review**
Total receipts on unrestricted funds were £103,036, of which £39,348 was unrestricted planned voluntary donations, and a further £17,863 was from Gift Aid. Restricted grants and donations of £137,209 were also received, which includes £54,307 in fabric grants (see above), £30,454 for rental of rooms in Tower House and £15,000 in donations for music and choral ministry. Church House generated £6,190 in rental income, primarily for the first floor flat.
The planned giving was up by 14% on 2020 but still only slightly higher than 2019 and, while we are indeed very grateful for the continued generosity of the congregation, continued emphasis needs to be placed in this area in 2022.
The Tower House project is a continuing cause for concern. Income currently does not match combined expenditure on operations and general maintenance and this is unsustainable in the long-term.
Significant improvements have been made in fabric as described above thanks to the hard work of the Churchwardens and others in applying for grants, but nevertheless this has left the main fabric (sustentation) fund significantly depleted with only £11,708 remaining, and a large backlog of work outstanding from the quinquennial review, so (as far as restrictions allow) use will need to be made of other restricted funds to finance fabric work in 2022 and beyond.
Similarly we have seen generous donations to choral ministry of over £15,000 but nevertheless expenditure far outstrips annual income, thus depleting the restricted fund for choral ministry. We should expect that choral ministry, as a core part of the mission and ministry of the church, is increasingly funded from the General fund going forward. The highly-praised CD recording has broken even already over 2 years due to a generous grant in 2020 and should provide a positive contribution in 2022 to fund future projects. While concerts have also almost broken even over the same period, the Concerts deposit fund is fully exhausted and future concert series and performances need to be self-financing or ideally build-up a surplus for larger projects in the future and provide a contribution to the running costs of the church.
15
**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
The largest elements of expenditure include fabric (£102,422) – although this includes both repairs and improvements as described above, music and choral ministry (£57,792), Parish Share ( 57,942) – which pays for our vicars stipend and pension, the vicarage upkeep, and a contribution to Diocesan central costs, and Tower House (£47,111). The cost of utilities going forward must be a major area for focus in 2022 given the rising prices we are all too familiar with.
Overall, there is an operating deficit of £94,131 (excluding net gains in investments) of which £46,342 was the excess of expenditure over grants and other income in the fabric fund. This represents a serious issue for the church, with significant continuing expenditure needed on church fabric, Tower House and the music ministry which is such a core part of the life of the church.
From a balance sheet view, we are fortunate that this operating deficit has been more than offset by investment growth of £107,130 meaning overall funds increased slightly by £12,999. Our investments are held with CCLA in a mix of shares (valued at £761,801at year end) and shortterm deposit accounts (£18,036) and we cannot expect that CCLA share growth of over 14% in 2021 will be repeated in 2022.
If we exclude endowment funds (£102,869) from which only income can be spent, and funds restricted to Tower House (£426,869) and Church House (£9,023), reserves (including investments) available for ongoing operations, music and fabric total just over £300,000 which given the size of the deficit will allow operation for only a few more years, even if repairs are kept to a bare minimum.
Speedy progress is therefore essential on the financial part of our “Sustain" strategy to secure a sustainable financial future through giving and fundraising. I owe considerable thanks to the Churchwardens who have done so much to bring the finances under control, to all those volunteers involved in counting and banking and a hundred other ways, and also Kerry our bookkeeper and Amy from Moore Green our accountants. I am certain that as we focus on God’s work at St Mary le Tower, pray, give and work hard to steward our resources responsibly, God will supply all that we need. It will be an adventure of faith, but I am convinced that “He who has called [us] is faithful, and he will do this.”
_Andrew Gosden_
_Treasurer_
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England, which operates under the Parochial Church Council Measure. The PCC is a registered charity. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Mary-le-Tower the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), churchwardens, and those elected by members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church to be either Deanery Synod representatives or elected members of the PCC. All those who regularly attend our services are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll of the church and to stand for the PCC if they wish.
PCC members are elected for three year terms. PCC members are trustees for the operation of St Mary-le-Tower Church, and are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the life of the church including in deciding how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. The PCC routinely meets throughout the year. St Mary-le-Tower is part of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich within the Church of England.
16
**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
## **PCC members who have served at any time between 1[st] January 2021 and 29[th] May 2022 are:**
## **Ex officio members:**
Incumbent:
Churchwardens:
The Revd Canon Charles Jenkin (Chairman) (until August 2021) The Reverend Tom Mumford (Chairman) (From October 2021 Mrs Jo Jones Mrs Sonia Docherty
## **Elected members:**
Mrs Sue Adair Mrs Mary Baldry Mr Richard Cook (from July 2021) Miss Rosemary Caudle Mr Andrew Gosden (from December 2021) Dr Russell Hall Mr Richard Hanley Mrs Rowena Harland (until May 2021) Mr Ian Lord Mrs Hilary Norman Mrs Sarah Purbrook Mrs Kate Thompson (until January 2022) Mr Richard Thompson (from July 2021) Mrs Katrina Robertson
## **2022 Report on Proceedings of the PCC**
The PCC has met seven times since the last APCM between 21-07-2021 and 26-04-2022; the meetings spanned the period just prior to the Reverend Canon Charles Jenkin’s retirement with his final PCC meeting being the 21[st] July 2021. The PCC thanked Charles for his work of over the past twelve years at St Mary le Tower. An interregnum period followed before welcoming The Reverend Tom Mumford in October 2021.
All PCC meetings have been in person with adherence to and the gradual reduction of Covid19 legislation. The present PCC currently comprises of sixteen members, including the Vicar, with two of the members being Deanery Synod representatives. There has been good representation at the meetings from the PCC members and the meetings have been supported with regular reports and updates. There have been specific papers relating to a number of initiatives and policies. These have enabled detailed discussion and the approval of reports, as necessary, by the PCC.
- The PCC received the report from the National Heritage Lottery Fund following the unsuccessful NHLF application. This gave useful information about what SMLT can to do help secure future applications which would help to achieve the missional and community engagement work envisaged by the PCC and SMLT.
17
**For the year ended 31 December 2021**
**St Mary le Tower Church Trustees’ Report**
- The SMLT safeguarding Officer and a SMLT working party prepared a live streaming policy which has been shared with the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer who reviewed the policy and commended it.
- The PCC agreed to the need of employing an Operations Manager and January 2022 saw Jim Robinson being instated in this role.
- The Fundraising feasibility study by Mark Jefferies has been completed and the PCC will be receiving his report in the near future.
- More recently the PCC has held discussions regarding the Tower House community projects and the development of the Song School.
- The PCC approved the Task Group strategy with their aim being to ensure that SMLT functions efficiently as an organisation and shares the workload in running such an organisation. The Vision strategy, which is currently being developed, will map into these task groups.
In January, Kate Thompson stood down as a member of the PCC having carried out invaluable work in setting up and maintaining the social media platforms which have helped put SMLT on the map and we extend our thanks to her for this work. David Potts, SMLT Tower captain has been welcomed as a new member and we value the close link that this has brought between the PCC and the SMLT Bell Ringing community.
During the February 2022 meeting the PCC welcomed Andrew Gosden as both member of the PCC and SMLT Treasurer. He has been working unstintingly bringing the accounts up to date thus giving a clear picture of SMLT finances. Work continues with a member of Moore Green to assist as an independent examiner of accounts for 2022.
At the December PCC meeting David Matthews gave an interesting presentation about setting up the Suffolk Children’s University - An initiative which would work in partnership with SMLT and could have the potential to aid social mobility and help develop young peoples’ confidence. This partnership has just been launched in SMLT on 4[th] May 2022 with a display in church on the theme relating to ‘The Story of Harvesting’.
The PCC looks forward to continuing to work on behalf of the St Mary le Tower community in the year ahead, serving God and ensuring St Mary le Tower is a church for the community in Ipswich.
_Rosemary Caudle May 2022 Hon. Secretary SMLT PCC_
## **Electoral Roll Report**
The numbers on the electoral roll after the revision have increased by one and stand at one hundred and twenty six.
Four people have left the electoral role, three sadly due to passing away and one who has moved out of the area. We remember and pray Rest In Peace and Rise in Glory for Peter Matthews, Barbara Norman and Penny Parke along with those that we know who have gone before us since the last annual meeting.
There are five new members who have joined the electoral roll to whom we extend a warm welcome.
_Rosemary Caudle_
_pp Carolyn Heyburn Electoral Roll Officer_
18
St Mary le Tower Church Trustee5' Report
Forthe year ended 31 December 2021
Trustees, responsibilities statement
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and the financial statements
in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standard5 (United Kingdom
Generally Accepted Accounting Prarticel-
The law applicable to charitie5 in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial
statements for each financial year whith give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity
and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the chartty for that period.
In preparing these financial statements. the trustees are required to..
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently:
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2019 IFRS 1021,.
makejudgement5 and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
State whether applicable accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material
departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements,.
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inapproprlate to presume
that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable
accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the
financial statement5 comply with the Charities Att 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports)
Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the
assets of the charity 2nd hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detertion of fraud
and other irregularlties.
The Trustees, Annual Report was approved on
Signed on behalf of the board of trustees
The Reveren
om Mumford
fo fo
Mrs Jo Jones
Mrs Sonia l)o¢herty
19
St Mary le Tower Church Trustees, Report
Forthe year ended 31 December 2021
Independent Examinerfs Report
To the Trustees of St Mary-le-Tower Church
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of St Mary-Le-Tower Church
(the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the chartty you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in
accordance with the requirements of the Charttie5 Act 2011 Ithe 2011 Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the charl5 financial statements carried out under section
145 of the 2011 Art. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions
given by the Charity Commission under section 145lSllbl of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's Statement
Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared financial statements in accordance
with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accour)ts in accordance with the
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland IFRS 1021 in preference to
the Accounting and Reporting by Charities= Statement of Recommended Practice issued on l April
2(K)5 whith is referred to in the extant regulations but ha5 now been withdrawn.
l understand that this has been done in order for fsnancial statements to provi(le a true and fair view
in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice effectNe for reporting period5 beginning
on or after l January 201S.
I have completed my exarnination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in
connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respert..
l accounting records were not kept in respect of the chartty a5 required by section 130 of the 2011
Act- or
2 the financial statements do not accord with those records- or
3 the financial statements do not comply with the applicable reqU1MentS Concerning the foim and
content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reportsl Regulations 2008 other than any
requirement that the accounts 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 COnnectn wtth the exarTrination to
which attention should be drawn in th report in order to enable a proper understanding of the
financial statements to be reached.
Nicholas Fèrr
Indepèndent Examination
22 Friars Street
Sudbury
Suffolk
COIO 2 COIO 2AA
Dated:......
20
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted Endowment**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2021**
**2021**
**2021**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
**2**
83,113
71,273
-
Charitable activities
**3**
92
30,454
-
Other tradingactivities
**4**
7,907
8,516
-
Investments
**5**
2,225
24,537
-
Otherincome
**6**
9,699
2,429
-
**Total income**
103,036
137,209
-
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**7**
58,702
-
-
Charitable activities
**8**
44,251
224,450
-
Other
**12**
753
6,220
-
**Total resources expended**
103,706
230,670
-
Net gains/(losses) on investments
**13**
11,008
83,832
12,290|**Total Unrestricted**
**Restricted Endowment**
**Total**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**2021**
**2020**
**2020**
**2020**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
154,386
89,485
87,911
-
177,396
30,546
46
17,780
-
17,826
16,423
5,024
-
-
5,024
26,762
2,146
24,799
-
26,945
12,128
175
-
-
175
240,245
96,876
130,490
-
227,366
58,702
60,160
-
-
60,160
268,701
60,896
116,732
-
177,628
6,973
116
-
-
116
334,376
121,172
116,732
-
237,904
107,130
4,929
36,209
5,397
46,535|
|---|---|
- 17 - -21-
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**2021**
**2021**
**2021**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**Net movement in funds**
10,338
(9,629)
12,290
Fund balances at 1 January 2021
693,560
598,594
90,579
**Fund balances at 31 December 2021**
703,898
588,965
102,869|**Total Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**Total**
**2021**
**2020**
**2020**
**2020**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
12,999
(19,367)
49,967
5,397
35,997
1,382,733
712,927
548,628
85,182
1,346,737
1,395,732
693,560
598,595
90,579
1,382,734|
|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
- 18 - -22-
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**14**
Investments
**15**
**Current assets**
Debtors
**17**
Investments
**18**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
**19**
Net current assets
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Capital funds**
Endowment funds - general
**20**
**Income funds**
Restricted funds
**21**
Unrestricted funds|**2021**
**£**
**£**
553,832
762,797
1,316,629
6,856
18,036
82,092
106,984
(27,881)
79,103
1,395,732
102,869
588,965
703,898
1,395,732|**2020**
**£**
**£**
553,832
723,623
1,277,455
1,879
45,013
96,903
143,795
(38,516)
105,279
1,382,734
90,579
598,595
693,560
1,382,734|**2020**
**£**
**£**
553,832
723,623
1,277,455
1,879
45,013
96,903
143,795
(38,516)
105,279
1,382,734
90,579
598,595
693,560
1,382,734|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,277,455
105,279|
||||1,382,734|
||||90,579
598,595
693,560|
||||1,382,734|
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on .........................
..............................
## **Trustee**
- 19 - -23-
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
St Mary-Le-Tower Church is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office if Tower Street, Ipswich, IP1 3BE, England..
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.
## **1.4 Income**
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
-24- 20 -
**ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
Income from donated goods is measure at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers.
Income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.
## **1.5 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Expenditure on generating funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities and the sale of donated goods.
Expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
Other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities,
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Freehold land and buildings
Not depreciated
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
-25- 21 -
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **1.7 Fixed asset investments**
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
## **1.8 Impairment of fixed assets**
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
## **1.9 Financial instruments**
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
## _**Basic financial assets**_
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
## _**Basic financial liabilities**_
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## _**Derecognition of financial liabilities**_
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
## **1.10 Employee benefits**
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
-26- 22 -
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **2 Donations and legacies**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2021**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
Donations and gifts
83,113
15,128
Legacies receivable
-
-
Grants receivable
-
56,145
83,113
71,273|**Total**
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
**2021**
2020
2020
**£**
£
£
98,241
83,863
73,172
-
3,000
-
56,145
2,622
14,739
154,386
89,485
87,911|Total
2020
£
157,035
3,000
17,361|
|---|---|---|
|||177,396|
## **3 Charitable activities**
||**Charitable**|**Charitable**|
|---|---|---|
||**Income**|**Income**|
||**2021**|**2020**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Fees for weddings and funerals|92|46|
|Rental income - Tower House|30,454|17,780|
||30,546|17,826|
|Analysis by fund|||
|Unrestricted funds|92|46|
|Restricted funds|30,454|17,780|
||30,546|17,826|
## **4 Other trading activities**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2021**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
Sale of CD's
-
1,800
Concerts
-
6,716
Christmas Tree Festival
7,837
-
Coffee mornings and social activities
70
-
Other trading activities
7,907
8,516|**Total**Unrestricted
funds
**2021**
2020
**£**
£
1,800
50
6,716
4,586
7,837
304
70
84
16,423
5,024|**Total**Unrestricted
funds
**2021**
2020
**£**
£
1,800
50
6,716
4,586
7,837
304
70
84
16,423
5,024|
|---|---|---|
|||5,024|
-27- 23 -
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **5 Investments**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2021**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
Income from listed
investments
2,225
18,347
Rental income Church
House
-
6,190
2,225
24,537|**Total**Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
**2021**
2020
2020
**£**
£
£
20,572
2,146
18,249
6,190
-
6,550
26,762
2,146
24,799|Total
2020
£
20,395
6,550|
|---|---|---|
|||26,945|
## **6 Other income**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2021**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
Other income
640
-
Car park fees
125
-
Insurance refund/claim
8,934
-
Utility refunds Tower House
-
2,429
9,699
2,429|**Total**
Unrestricted
funds
**2021**
2020
**£**
£
640
-
125
175
8,934
-
2,429
-
12,128
175|**Total**
Unrestricted
funds
**2021**
2020
**£**
£
640
-
125
175
8,934
-
2,429
-
12,128
175|
|---|---|---|
|||175|
## **7 Raising funds**
||**Unrestricted**|Unrestricted|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|funds|
||**2021**|2020|
||**£**|£|
|Costs of raising funds|||
|Missionary and charitable giving|760|892|
|Diocesan Parish Share|57,942|59,268|
|Trading costs|58,702|60,160|
||58,702|60,160|
-28- 24 -
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **8 Charitable activities**
||**Charitable**|
**Charitable**|
|---|---|---|
||**Expenditure**|**Expenditure**|
||**2021**|**2020**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Staff costs|46,924|40,636|
|Christmas Tree Festival|2,452|(1,729)|
|Choir expenses and music|13,899|13,869|
|Concert expenses|10,781|1,840|
|Church House maintenance and cleaning|981|14,043|
|Church House utilities|2,331|2,091|
|17 Tower House insurance|3,584|2,922|
|17 Tower House building renovations|780|798|
|17 Tower House professional fees|16,527|14,844|
|17 Tower House utilities and telephone costs|6,500|6,523|
|17 Tower House repairs and maintenance|3,749|-|
|Church building works|102,422|-|
|Sanctuary Guild expenditure|1|-|
||210,931|95,837|
|Share of support costs (see note 9)|47,379|62,367|
|Share of governance costs (see note 9)|10,391|19,424|
||268,701|177,628|
|**Analysis by fund**|||
|Unrestricted funds|44,251|60,896|
|Restricted funds|224,450|116,732|
||268,701|177,628|
-29- 25 -
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
|**9**
**Support costs**
Staff costs
Printing, postage,
stationery and telephone
Bank charges
Advertising
Waste collection and
cleaning
Church repairs and
maintenance
Church security and
insurance
Church utilities
Church operating costs
Licences and
subscriptions
Sundry expenses
Accountancy fees
Independent
Examination fee
Analysed between
Charitable activities|**Support Governance**
**costs**
**costs**
**£**
**£**
15,971
5,057
1,161
-
321
-
-
-
-
-
3,069
-
3,814
-
16,199
-
6,844
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,344
-
990
47,379
10,391
47,379
10,391|**2021**Support costs
Governance
2020
costs
**£**
£
£
£
21,028
29,032
15,284
44,316
1,161
1,027
-
1,027
321
537
-
537
-
145
-
145
-
3
-
3
3,069
8,714
-
8,714
3,814
10,730
-
10,730
16,199
6,243
-
6,243
6,844
4,544
-
4,544
-
184
-
184
-
1,208
-
1,208
4,344
-
3,150
3,150
990
-
990
990
57,770
62,367
19,424
81,791
57,770
62,367
19,424
81,791|
|---|---|---|
## **10 Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
## **11 Employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
|**Employmentcosts**
Wages and salaries|**2021**
**2020**
**Number**
**Number**
6
4
**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
125,894
144,220|
|---|---|
- 26 - -30-
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **11 Employees**
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
## **12 Other**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|Unrestricted|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**||funds|
||||**£**||
||**2021**|**2021**|**2021**|2020|
|Car park costs|753|-|753|116|
|CD recording costs|-|6,220|6,220|-|
||753|6,220|6,973|116|
- 27 - -31-
**ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **13 Net gains/(losses) on investments**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted Endowment**
**funds**
**funds**
**funds**
**general**
**2021**
**2021**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
Revaluation of investments
11,008
78,089
12,290
Gain/(loss) on sale of investments
-
5,743
-
11,008
83,832
12,290|**Total**Unrestricted
Restricted
Endowment
Total
funds
funds
funds
general
**2021**
2020
2020
2020
2020
**£**
£
£
£
£
101,387
4,929
36,209
5,397
46,535
5,743
-
-
-
-
107,130
4,929
36,209
5,397
46,535|
|---|---|
-32- 28 -
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
|**14**
**Tangible fixed assets**
**Cost**
At 1 January 2021
At 31 December 2021
**Carrying amount**
At 31 December 2021
At 31 December 2020
**15**
**Fixed asset investments**
**Cost or valuation**
At 1 January 2021
Valuation changes
At 31 December 2021
**Carrying amount**
At 31 December 2021
At 31 December 2020
**16**
**Financial instruments**
**Carrying amount of financial assets**
Instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss
**17**
**Debtors**
**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Trade debtors|**Freehold land and buildings**
**£**
553,832
553,832
553,832
553,832
**Listed**
**investments**
**£**
723,623
39,174
762,797
762,797
723,623
**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
780,833
768,636
**2021**
**2020**
**£**
**£**
6,856
1,879|
|---|---|
- 29 - -33-
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
|**18**
**Current asset investments**
Short-term deposits
**19**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2021**
**£**
18,036
**2021**
**£**
-
19,316
8,565
27,881|**2020**
**£**
45,013|
|---|---|---|
|||**2020**
**£**
2,161
26,365
9,990|
|||38,516|
- 30 - -34-
**ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **20 Endowment funds**
Endowment funds represent assets which must be held permanently by the charity. Income arising on the endowment funds can be used in accordance with the objects of the charity and is included as unrestricted income. Any capital gains or losses arising on the assets form part of the fund.
|**Balance at**
**1 January**
**2020**
**£**
**Permanent endowments**
Harriet Bacon
Trust (017)
41,965
Choir Memorial
Fund (016)
7,023
Prior Memorial
Trust (002)
36,194
85,182|**Movement in funds**
**Movement in funds**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Transfers**
**Revaluations**
**Balance at**
**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Transfers**
**Revaluations**
**Balance at**
**resources**
**expended**
**gains and**
**1 January**
**resources**
**expended**
**gains and 31 December**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**losses**
**£**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**losses**
**£**
**2021**
**£**
-
-
-
2,898
44,863
-
-
-
6,087
50,950
-
-
-
-
7,023
-
-
-
953
7,976
-
-
-
2,499
38,693
-
-
-
5,250
43,943
-
-
-
5,397
90,579
-
-
-
12,290
102,869|
|---|---|
-35- 31 -
**ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **21 Restricted funds**
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:
|**Balance at**
**1 January**
**2020**
**£**
Tower House Project (015)
373,316
Bells Deposit (005)
497
Charity Capital (006)
17,824
Choir Scholarship Capital (008)
15,298
Choir Project Deposits (009)
941
Usherwood Capital (014)
24,487
Fabric Capital (011)
44,062
Harriet Bacon Trust Deposit (012)
6,899
Choir Memorial Capital (007)
58,927
Concerts Deposit (010)
-
Church House Deposit (003)
5,831
Sanctuary Guild Deposit (004)
546
548,628|**Movement in funds**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Revaluations,**
**gains and**
**Balance at**
**1 January**
**losses**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
33,148
(50,566)
23,254
379,152
991
-
-
1,488
-
-
-
17,824
-
(3,189)
1,252
13,361
5,609
(2,200)
2,004
4,350
-
-
4,877
26,491
2,119
(5,000)
-
46,058
1,259
-
4,822
8,158
70,383
(41,511)
-
92,621
9,200
(5,675)
-
3,525
7,779
8,590
-
5,020
-
-
-
546
130,488
(99,551)
36,209
598,594|**Movement in funds**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Revaluations,**
**gains and**
**Balance at**
**31 December**
**losses**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
43,380
(47,111)
51,448
426,869
127
-
-
1,615
-
-
2,418
20,242
-
(3,031)
1,813
12,143
1,800
(6,220)
-
(70)
-
-
3,594
30,085
56,080
(102,422)
11,992
11,708
1,306
-
-
9,464
20,484
(57,792)
12,567
67,880
6,716
(10,780)
-
(539)
7,315
(3,312)
-
9,023
-
(1)
-
545
137,208
(230,669)
83,832
588,965|
|---|---|---|
- 32 - -36-
**ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **22 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Endowment**
**funds**
**2021**
**2021**
**2021**
**£**
**£**
**£**
Fund balances at 31 December 2021 are
represented by:
Tangible assets
553,832
-
-
Investments
68,798
595,596
98,403
Current assets/(liabilities)
79,103
-
-
701,733
595,596
98,403|**Total**
Unrestricted
funds
**2021**
2020
**£**
£
553,832
553,832
762,797
34,449
79,103
105,279
1,395,732
693,560|Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
Total
2020
2020
2020
£
£
£
-
-
553,832
598,595
90,579
723,623
-
-
105,279
598,595
90,579
1,382,734|
|---|---|---|
- 33 - -37-
## **ST MARY-LE-TOWER CHURCH**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**_
## **23 Related party transactions**
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2020 - none).
~~- -~~
-38-