ANWAL REPORT FOR 2024 THE PAROCHIAL CI4JRCH CCLWIL OF ST JOHPIS CHURCH. STANSTED MOUNTFrrcHET Aims and Ob"¢¢t1 o St John's Parochial Church Council (PCO has the responsibility of co-operatirvj with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the thurch, pastoral. evongelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also responsible for the maintenance of the church JIldIj ond grourds and the church hall. St John's is part of the Benefice of St¢msted, Birchaer and Farnham Imd our Priest in Charge also has responsibility for the Parish of Tokeley with Little field. st John'$ is entitled to three representatives to vote at De¢Lnery Symd. This provides the PCC with an important link between th¢ parish and the wider structures of the church St John's has strorg links with St Mary'$ Churth of Er9hnd Primary Sthool. and Priest in Char9e Re¢d Colin Fairweather, Revd Helen Flack ond PCC member John Elliott Sit on the bo(rd of Governors. The PCC is committed to enablin9 as many people as possible to worship ot our church ond to become part of our parish community at St John's. The PCC maintains on overview of worship throughout the parish (md makes su99estions on how our services c¢m involve those groups that live within our parish. Our services <md worship aim to pjt faith into practice thrnL4h wttyer ¢md scripture, music <md sacrament. Prayer/Worship/Postoral Car¢ St John's 9.30 Service is a suTrJ Euchorist with rolxd thoir. The service is also ¢2vailable on line through the Facebook plafform. A team of sidespeople are on h<md to 9Jide and welcome our congregation each week. Members of the congregatitm lead intercessions and read the first lesson. Interceders are ¢ncouraged to pray for leaders of our church school St Marfs. kev'd Helen implemented a"Communicotions Group" which led to the formati¢)n in ¥ember 2024 of a iew all*e form of worship cn the first Stmday of edch month "Together on Sunday". PCC are grateful to members of our corKJregation who have been instrumental in the rumin9 of this service. which involves craf t activities for children. SpecM]I thkS ore due to Pat Crosby. Katy Do¢kerill ond Ekin¢ Wright. The Ministry Team comprises the Priest-in-charge, Aslate Priest ond Licensed Lay Ministers Hugh Moscetti and Jo Pratt. Both Rev'd Colin c(nd Rev'd Helen are in attendtvKe at St John's "Together on Sunday. service. When there are f ive in the month, a "Five Churches. service is often held on the lost Sundtty - rotatiThJ the ver¢ each time. A revised serrfice rota pattern is to be introdu¢ed in 2025. Rev'd Helen's Tuesday lunch time 'thrithon Meditation" hos be well attended in 2024 with between 8 ld 13 people attendirg each w¢ek kev'd Helen oversees baptisms dt St John's, typically mtetiNJ ftynilies in the church after a Sunday service. The act of baptism may be performed by either Rev Helen or kev Colin. either duriThJ the 9.30 a.m. service or at 3 p.m. on the third Sunday of the month.
Around f ive people regularFy attend MorniThJ Prayer at 9 a.m. on Zoom five days a week. Kathy WesF, Pastoral Assistant, liaises with the cler9y to visit members of our porish who are unable to attend church due to sickness or (4e. The clergy are available to visit church members who have requested it, to celebrate communion with them either at their homes or in hospital. The ministry team take monthly services at local Care Homes - 8roome End, Fknr9rave House and Mounffitchet House. The Tots service on Tuesd mornirys for pre-school children and their parents/corers continues to be well attended and has been welcomin9 families to St John's for over sixteen years. kny thanks to leader Margaret Hill, and regular volunteers JLme Cannon. Ann Lee and Mo Thwaites Th On 6 June, to commemorate the 80 omiversary of t)-Day a serrfice was held outside St John's when a plaque was presented to the villa9e by the people of Rurgis. with whom Stansted is twinned. In November our re9ular All Souls Service held to which recently bere41ved villagers were invited. The Remembrance Sunday service at the W<w Memoriol as alw very well attended. A carol service was held in St John's on 21" December. For the second year. a "Bethlehem Mass" was held at 9.30 p.m. on Christmas Eve. This was well attended and it seems the majority of our coryregation prefer it to the traditional midnight mass. Clwrch BuildirKJ16rMds There are several works outstarKling which were detailed in the Quinquennial report. Although the building is not in a bad state, the roof still needs attention. There is still concern about the parkiThJ restriction regulations on St John's Road in front of our church. Discussions with St John's Residents Association are oFwiFvJ. The removal of a lar9e tree root at the entr(e to the carpork is in hd. as is the removal of the lime trees. Relevant permission is being styJ9ht. The metal fence between the thurch's bound¢ry and the Peter Kirk site is subject of on on90ing discussion with Essex County Council. The PCC is aware of several small broken pones of glass in the church. This is bein9 dealt with. The f loor of the chancel has still to be made wd ofter the removal of the choir stalls. Finding a contractor is proviry diff icult. The repair of broken chairs continued duriNJ 2024.
There ¢we plans to install glass thors at the mairt entrance to the church. Discussi¢)ns are at cn early stage A new shed, paid for by the Craft Ladies, was installed ear in 2024. There is still concern about the cost of heatitvj the church (VKI ¢very effort is being made to reduce the cost. whilst keeping the church Irm. Followir9 the installation of a safety rail in the gallery. it has TW been cleored ond is ¢woiloble for use. Four decorative flower sttmds (which were originally light f ittlS of the church) had follen into disrepair. These have now been repaired by a blacknith. A 'deep cle¢. of the church was undertaken by Hague Domesfic Cleanirg in Juky 2024. Members of the congregation donated mmy towords triis. The two dedicated f lower arrangers (Jean Robins and Susan Bone) are still hopiry other members of the congregation would join them. Thanks to those (few) members af t)ur corgregation who meet several times a year to clean. and polish the brasses ¢Jnd the Silverware. A9oin more volunteers needed. CIMMrh AdministratiJn Alison Gorrard has been in post both os Parish Secretory <md also as St John's Hall Booking Secretary. for the whole of 2024. PCC are very grnteful to her for her efficiency in the two roles. St John's ¢hapYJed its website provider to Sq(k7resFoce. This has proved successfvl and it IS IK)w easier to amend ¢md input details. St John's now has a new1090. The Church weekly bulletin is sent by email to those rewesting it. Mlssl¢)n/OJtreach/FundralslTrJ A third "Being With. course held duriThJ 2024 aimed at new and established Christi+Jns. AmorKJ the porticipants were several confirmryds. who went on to be confimed by Bishop koger in a service at Good Easter Church in July. Stella Skirgle or9anises the purch¢tse of Bible Reddin9 Fellowship notes which are used in private worship by members of our cowegati¢)n.
The St Johns choir continues to play a key role in our worship, th<mks to the dedication of choir members under Ame Brook4 leadership. The choir also meets on alternate Saturday morniw for choir practi¢e. Some members of the congregatit)n meet at the"TouchpoinY hub on Thursdw* mornings for teo/coffee/lunch and fellowship. The Croft Ladies (led by Ann Conroy Jwe Winter) cmtinue to pltty import(mt role in fundraisiFvJ for the church, together with Suwi Bone's coylle sales. The Christmas Market was held in 2024. A Christmas Quiz held instead which was successful in terms of fellowship ond fundrai$iThJ. Ecumenical Relatltxh1PS The church is a member of Churches To9ether in Stansted (CTS) IVKI representatives attend the Fonjm eetings which are held three times a year. crs athvities include Harvest Supper, support for . Team$4u Christmas shoebox appeal dnd the Celebration of Christmas Service. which in 2024 was held on Forest Hall estate on lond next to St Mory's School. Music was supplied by the Bishop's Stortford Bd. Safd1j No Safeguardin9 incidents were reported in the year 2024. An audit of St John's safeguarding practices was undertaken by the Parish Safeguardin9 Off icer <md Cl be f¢yJnd on the church website. PCC members are Mdertaking online Safegrdi1 courses os required by the Diocesan Safe9wding Team. The PCC have adopted (md follow the Parish SafeguardiTrJ Policy ond the Parish Safegwrdin9 Handbook (2019) recommended by the Diocese. This is infonned by the House of Bishop's guidance on safe9uarding children and vulnerable adults ¢md fully compli¢Jnt with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguardiry ond Clergy Discipline Measure 2016. St John's recruitment processes for staff t¥ volunteers ore consistent 'vith Dioces guidty)ce. The PCC, Priest in <hrge. and the Parish Safeguardirg Off icer have worked hard to ensure that St John's thurch is safer through regard for policy, safer recruitment and trainin9. The expectation is that all volunteers and staff members are safely recruited, hove up to date safeguardiry trainiTrJ ¢Jnd the correct level of D85 as required. PCC twe grateful to liz Lister for her work as Parish Safeguardirs Off icer duriry 2024.
The PCC has a full meeting in alternate months throughout the year, QKI met six times in 2024 with ¢ ottenddnce of 907.. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the thurch Representation Rules. St John's is currently entitled to nine elected members. At St John's the membership of the PCC consists of the cler9y, churchwardens, licensed pastoral 12SSiStant. Deanery Synod members and those elected by members of the congregation who ¢we on the electoral roll of the church. All who attend our services are encour(vJed to commit ta church membership by regiSteriThJ on the ele¢toral roll: in so doing they become eligible to stand for electi¢)n to the PCC. PCC members are responsible for makir4 decisions on oll motters of general concern and import{¢¢ to the parish. including deciding on how the fLfftds of the PCC are to be spent. PCC members are required to seek re-election every three years and st¢]nd down for a period of at least one year after six ye¢fS' servic& PCC minutes are available and the latest one CLM be f¢xnd ¢M the blue notice board at the back of St John's. Kathryn W¢st S¢¢retary to St John's KC
Administrati Priest-in-chorge . Rev'd Dr. Colin Fairweather Associate Priest . Rev'd Helen Flack Pastoral Assistant ', Kathryn West Church Se¢retory/Hall Bookings Administrator . Alison 6arrard Or9anist/Director of Music . Ame Brooks PCC members who have served at ¢Try time from l Jawxry 2024 until the date this report was approved are ', Ex Ofli¢lo members Incumbent '. Rev'd Dr. Colin Foirweather Associate Priest . liev'd Helen Fldck Churchwardens . Alastair 8one. Peter JtMes Pastoral AssistLmt , Kathryn West Michael Howes Peter Jones El¢ct¢d m¢mb¢rs Stuart Ayres (until APCM 2024) June Cannon Ann Conroy Alan Corbishley Katy Dockerill John Elliott Liz Lister Cheryl Mc6real (til APCM 2024) Parish Safeguarding Off icer is Liz List¢r Treasurer is Alan Corbishley Electoral koll Officer is Ann Conroy Secretary is Kathryn West Standiw Committ¢¢ The St<]ndirvJ Committee comprises the Clergy. thurchwardens, Secretary and Treasurer. This committee is required by law has the power to trtytsact the business of the PCC subject to the direction of the PCC. PCC status The Parochial Church Council of Stonsted is registered with the Charities Commission, rwistration number 1129495 with the workiThJ title of St John's thwch. -/o-
st John's Church, Stsnsted Mountfftchrt Trea8uY•rf8 R•port 2024 Accounts In presenting these accounts I have a faw points to make for a better undefstsnding of the figures before you. 1. Assets and Llabllltles as at 311t December 2024 Tr fit pages). The net figu, £717,121 shows an increase on last year due to upward movement in the Vall of the CCLA Investrnent Fund and an incrèase in the rates of intsrest patd on our Deposit and Premium Accounts during 2024 The CCLA Investrnent Fund is regarded as a Ii)ng-tem investment and, whilst the value goes up and dobvn with the market, the long-tsrn trend has always been UprdS. We rety on the dmdends from the Investrnent Fund as a major sourtx of our income- these have contr.nued to increase year on year. 2. The Churdl Hall is shown in the accounts at build cost as part of the Church's Assets. In reality. this amount of £73.985 coukI be discounted as it is not realizable. 3. The Connect 120 Fund monies are held as agency fvrKls They are not included in St John's total financial wsiton - being shsjwn as both an Asset and a Liabilty - as the Fund is ft)r projects across all five thurches for which Colin has responsibilty. 4. The Revenue a¢counts- Church Gèneral Account the third and fourth e5 ' Hall account fifth - which foll¢)w are Income and Expenditure Accounts. NOT Profft and Loss Accounts. As such they are simpty a record of all [r)ming fiJrKls and all outgoing costs during the year. 5. Church Account As a rUtrt of 4 (above), comparisons with previous years are not easy, in fa could lead one to a completety wrong conclusion. For example. the was no Gift A income in 2023 but effectively years Gtft AKI income in these 2024 accounts. I have made an adiusbnent to the figures (indicated by an asterisk) to show the effect of splitting this across the fv40 years 6. We have ¢onb'nued the prOs$ of repairing the chairs in church. have Caled out a considerable amount ofwork on the church grounds. Both these are ongoing 7. You will also see asterisked an item of £1CKJO, a tsmporary loan made to Stansted Trust Funds while they undertake Bank Accx)unt changes Surplus figure adjusted accordingly. 8 The effect of these Changes {5 avKI 7 above) means that the surplus8s ftjr each year are 2023 £10.250 and for 2024 £6.797. On the frdC* of it this may seem sats'sfactory but further examinab'on of the figures indicates that while planned commttted giving plus plate collections is stats'c at around £44,CQO. costs during 2024 havè increased by over £8,000. By my Gqlculations. thk% would mean thaL without an increase in planned and plate giving, we may be facing a revenue defiat in this Cunt year 2025. g. St John'3 Hall Account This was of great c£)ncem last year with a higher perntage usage, and also a letbngs rate intxease from 16t Apnl 2024, the Hall is now breaking even on it5 Revenue AcrK)unt. Thanks a due to Aison in the Church Office and Jean, Katy and Malcolm, the Hall Commtttee members. I wish to pla on record my thanks to Ann Lee. balances the weekty inrne with the Servi record book and pays rt into the bank. an(1 Philip Everett our fomer Treasurer, for his contsnuing help advi when needed. l am also grateful to Edmund Imlkinson for again examining our accounts and confimiing their coecl8s$. Overall. I can assure everyone that St John's is in a sound financial state at presenL However, to avoid fuiure drawing on Invesbnents, regular grving must continue to increase, as l indi¢ats in 8 above, to keep pa wth increases in inllation and costs. Alan Coth'shley. 6kn February 2025. //-
Sttem•rt of Assots arbd Liabllltl8J {lry cod•) As aL' 31 Do¢èmbw 2024 ClaBJwJ I1111 c4X Totsl LagIr 844Q.. CCLAtsJ1S IPryrty& Agnds M8yChuTchl 6442 .' CCLA CQ2S IHoln 41.419_64 44&151.f 9.441.(Q 01t74 484.912.85 44.497.lY 44.497. 43,501.41 41.419.e4 445.151. 53.938.11 YQ,XW.83 528.414.26 6130. Churth Tr4•n 73.985.CYJ n.985.00 n,w.co 6432" Ld otst Tolat 73.936.CbJ n 986. 8501 Bord9>% Moln 8o¥yJnt9322 18.1L%.21 993.531 4.7(628 84.18 19,87624 15.94f.20 8502". B¥da)5 2 ¥¢<wrt 8714 4,891.31 498.61 10.189.32 6510. CCLAd8P)t atY1rt 8001D 4.$85.45 54.946.42 $2,178.98 851? .. CcLAd86rt 1752D (RE FuTra 22,70 22,5n70 21.387.49 n.3X49 3.1932Z 4.TrA36 586.88 Ica,.97 99.674.97 6512 ConneLa 120 CCLA J2235.12 32.235.12 31,513.82 32.235.12 32,235.12 31,513.82 33.4U8J 33.452.88 32.731.58 33.45188 33,452 32,ni.58 114,778.13 522,330. 3,487.82 76,S24.99 717,121.01 7LYJ,857.47 114.778.13 114,778.f3 113.303 117,01B 117.018.34 119,586.98 Dest4nat*Y- BenefiL¥J 4.e¢8.92 249.28 1,389.28 Dw"w•J. Fabnc 8.207.73 8,207 73 8207.n 33QC 330.00 -/2-
478.21 478.21 113,B29.39) 385.478.82 ioneted. Property ,018.74 ,016.74 R6*thd. CroC1120 2221.xl 3.616.30 2,447.15 1,.12 f,X.12 1,288.12 EtthrMTrt. 44.497.(fj 44,497.09 43,501.41 22m2.70 22.70 21,387.49 9.9)520 9.9)5 X) 9.5QS.20 114,778.13 522,3X 30 3,48f.62 78.524 717,121 04 7CQ,857.47 -/3-
Income l •xpenditur• ¢omparatiV8 figurns Sthcted rIod. 01 January 2023 to 31 D•Gombgr 2024 01thr20a4lM2rthJ oirnr2tr2441112rw FU FuTrlty 0110. Grft Ahj. Env810 0111- Envelo GASDS 0201 - Stsnding Ordws. Gift atdad 0202- Stsnd5ng Ordors. Th)t th 9th1 0301 . Loos8 plate o)Skntion8 OW2. Loose other than plate.. 0303- Miscolkineous IFrne 0304. Glving M8thine 0. Si John's Tots 0501 . OnYGrfI Aid gifts 0550- Donaib)n$ aFveal8 etc (fj01 . Aid Tax reconrJ 0701 . Loga1 OKJ4. Blrchanger PCC C¢)nlribuli 0905. Famham PCC ContFbi 22C.Crf) 2,573.0) 20.C4) Generat 35,703.Crf) Unrestricfed Unrestrictod 35.041.Q) unrested Unre5trided n$trted UnfèStrKted Unfe6trK¢ed Urested Unre8tri(aed Unrestrl<éod Unrestricied Unrestricted UTrrestrted Unr&strlct8d un8trI¢ted Gerral Unrestricted General Unrestricled Gra1 Unrestricted General Unrestricted General Unrestric 5.719.57 221.41 5281.41 Genernl Genet 117.OT) 1.191.(kS 9) I.C62.60 Genw81 1.1.C General Ggnrnl i.((.37 135.84 General 750.ts) G8neral 07. 300 Chjb 0910- Fundrnisir6 events 0011- Chrisknas Market 1CQI - Didents CCLA Invenent 1CQ2- tliwdends HollAnd trust 1CQ4- Int8r95t CCLA Dewsi.. 1£i. Dmdends Agnela Churr 11Y20- Irrterest Bank Premium... 1101 - Fe88 for weddings and... 1221- Tr•dctsft 1222. Craft8 1231 . Churth Wings 2.048 rKI 2.442. 1.358.00 2299.Tr5 13254 76 1.189. 10,095.52 1,207.56 2.789.48 3.365.16 349.18 . 4,179.01 G8ntfal UnTestittèd Gw)er#l Un¥e8thded Un¥estn"¢ted UnTestricted Unr881rrted 1.886.84 721. Gw)e &xpondltwe 1703- Donatk)nB 1710. Costs ofapplying fDf 4N 1720 . Co81$ of 8t•4wdwp... 1850. H¢)me rnlss IWJI . P21isb share 2(1 . Pastoral Asst 8ypenses lI.1X) Ggra1 Gèn¢r81 Gèner81 Gener81 General UnrestrK4ed Unrgricted Unr8strict8d Unrtistricied Unrestrlcted T7.42 £ rj)) 41271.12 44,415.38 182 80 2.230.SJ G8n8¥al 743.99 Gw18r81 473.89 Gengr81 Gener81 Genernl 5.7C4.28 1.040.02 16.65 1B.C Unr8slriLtsd UnTe5tr¢#ed Unrestricted untriCted UnTeth"Lted 2101- VKrf8 Expww8 2102. Assoc Pri8sf8 exper8 2103. Visrting Clgrgy 8XPellSÈS 2150- tdephcffje aThl intetnet Z210. St JoM$ tots 2301 _ Churth runJMng- insuran 2310- Parish OffiL% P)- inlemat 2311 - Parish Office Rqulslte$ 2312- P8rfBh offlc ga8 2313- Parish Office rent 2314. Parish Office m8irtten•r 13.49 4A74.68 433.15 $9.41 114.83 5,S39 80 General Ganer81 G8ner Gener81 Genero1 Genera Unrestsicted Unr88tn"L%ed Unrastst(i•d Unrested Unrestrirted Unrestricted 520.24 T20.fK) 470.02 1,080.67 //-
trimr1o2>3fllV 0im112tr2441112rth24 fund FWKI typ• 2321- Or9an repa¢rs •KI 6ViL?n9 2330. Churth meintenan 2331 - Churth Cleaning 2334 . Church aLqnn soThkng and... 2340. Upk08p of $8rviL 2341- chu Chotr and Chjir 2342. OrgaTrisf$ oxp8n8es 2343- CCLI CopyTbJhl 2345- Music oTrJ RSCM SubsW> 239). Upk8ep of rurthyard 2360. AdrnSDi8tr8don 2361- Unassigned 2381- Fees paid to Stsn8ted PCC 2383- Fees pai(J to Famham PCC 2384- F8•s to Organ&%t 2388. Fee8 to Verger 2387. Una88igned Ca 2401- Churth 2410- Church gas 2420- ChurL YAt•r 2e01 . &)¥emanc8 Costs... 437.19 2.241. Unrestricted 1.437.88 XQ20 78.((1 Genal Gene¥al Unrestiic4ed unrestn.cted Unre$tri¢t Unrestrfcted Unrestied Unwtrtl84 unstriCted Genernl Unrèsl¢ided 1.583.04 Gwa 1.8(#J.QJ G8nernl 327.5) 351.CK) 3.721.65 447 42 178.95 10.20 1n.coi .tsJ G•n8 Geneol G¥nw G¢neraJ G¢ne181 Unfeslrided Unrestrided Unrestrrraed Unrestrlcted Unrest[ted unrestrped 1,850.CIJ I,cw. 989.88 6,672 e6 152.91 670 38 10.1TT.74 107.T7 Unrestrtted UnrEstfrLed Unmstn&ed Gene¥al 7.Ff -/5-
Income l eXp9ndlTF comparntivo figurns S•l•Gt•d P•Tlod: 01 January 2023 to 31 Dpcpmbgr 2024 Fw FUNJ typ• Income 1230. chu hall blbng$ Ino)m• 1240 - Church hall fund r3m 10.K8.75 16.537.95 150. Dwnated to75 2520. Hall ¢an1ng mstwia 2. H811 Ethtritsty 2540- Hall Gas 2550- Ham Insura 25eA). H811 Malnten8nco 2561 - H8K Cte8ngr 2562. Hall Btr)kn'no Sm 2570- Hall TeleptrKTh and Inknt 2580- Hall Water 2591 . Hall Waste rerrhy 2592- Hall Asswabon6'... Designated Designated Des¢gnated D•gn8t• Dwn8ted De9ted D¥nated D8gnald Doslgnated 1,783.34 4.779 91 1.39128 1.399.38 4.781.&8 1266 207.82 620.17 3.894.51 3,640.93 1.146.94 897.36 3.48822 2230.50 249.31 Hall Hall Hall Ha HaN 2rfj25 280.40 372.C Design8t•d 1W 1I928A2 -/6-
ST JOHNS PARISH CHURCH, STANSTED MOUNTFITCHEr Independent Examlnerfs Report to the members of the Parothlal Churth Council I report on my examination of the accounts for year ended 31st December 2024. R•spoDslbllltlés and bas15 of report As members of the Parochial Church C£Juncil you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements ofthe Charities Act 2011 (the Art). I report rn respett of my examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the Art and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions gNen bv the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl of the Att. Independent Examlnerfs Statement I have completed my examination. I confimi that no rnaterfal matters have come to my attention in connection with the ex7mination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect- l. accountlng records were Th)t kept as required by section 130 of the Act," or 2. the accounts do not accord with those record I have no COnrn5 and have come across no matters in connection wlth the exarninatlon to which attention should be drawn in this report in orderto enabte a proper under5tandin8 of the a¢counts to be reachèd. Edmund R Wilkinson ACIB 24, Brewery Lane, Stansted Mountfitchet 6th February 2025. /7-