St Gabriel’s Church, Aldersbrook Annual Report for year ending December 2024
PCC Review of the Year
The PCC led by Fr. Martyn continued to oversee the life of St. Gabriel’s in its wider relationships within the West Roding Mission Partnership and Redbridge Deanery as well as the community of Aldersbrook. Fr. Martyn, or the Reverend Canon Martyn Hawkes, as he is now known after he was installed as a Canon at a service at Chelmsford Cathedral in April, continued in his role as Area Dean.
Congratulations were also given to Henry Lau, our Lay Minister, who successfully completed his training and was licensed at the Cathedral in July.
The PCC is responsible for co-operating with the incumbent to promote the ecclesiastical parish, the pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical mission of the church. It follows the church’s objectives as set out in the Mission Statement, inspired by the Archangel Gabriel,
Through our worship we draw closer to God. In our lives we are messengers of God’s love for all, seeking to bring wholeness, hope and joy in the communities where we live and work .
The PCC met 8 times in 2024 and continues to function as the key body for developing mission and outreach in the parish.
St Gabriel’s stewardship and regular giving continued to be strong and the lifeblood of the church’s mission in our parish. Thanks to everyone who organised and helped with church fundraising events.
Besides the income generated, more importantly, they strengthened our fellowship by having fun together and were a means to reach out to the
wider community. We were able to run an amazing Burns Night, a Summer Fun Day and a Christmas Market.
Review of Objectives for 2024
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at St Gabriel’s, in particular we continued with our emphasis on children and families.
We designated 2024 as a year to focus on Wellbeing. Activities undertaken to meet this objective included;
Setting up a pastoral network care for the congregation The formation of a Soul group to explore spirituality Promoting the church as a music venue
Renewal of our Children and Families Co-ordinator’s contract Continuing to develop the Church Hall as a top rate community resource
Pastoral Care
General
Fr Martyn and Henry are continuing to provide home communions where needed. St Gabriel’s continues to make a good contribution to the work of the Snaresbrook Crown court chaplaincy team and to the 3 bereavement cafés at Christ Church, and St Marys, Woodford, with regular involvement from a number of our church members; the daytime sessions are going well, but at the end of the year it was decided that due to lack of take-up the evening session would be discontinued.
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Pastoral Network
During the year a group made up of Father Martyn Hawkes, Henry Lau, Anne Dixon & Dotsy Horsford discussed and implemented the development of a Pastoral Network. This is a light-touch, evolving way of enabling us to do our best to look out for, and care for one another. It is not a means of making people come to church, or making them feel guilty for not doing so. The Network Helpers look out for their group in church getting an idea of their attendance pattern. If they are aware that they haven’t seen a member of their group in a way that is not usual they can let a member of the core group know, or contact them themselves. In this way we can be more proactive in our pastoral care.
A group of Network Helpers were recruited from the congregation and the names on the electoral roll shared out among them. The Helpers started their ‘watching brief’ in September, being alert to unusual absences or concerns and determine how to address/ follow-up, if necessary.
Foodbank Report
The continued generosity of members of St Gabriel’s church - and parish as a whole – is very much appreciated, and we are pleased to continue to offer this easy way for members to support those experiencing hardship. Sadly, the need seems to increase year on year, and the Tin in a Bin network helps to supply a growing number of local foodbanks and charities working with those on low income, the homeless, and young families.
As well as regular giving from members through the boxes in the foyer, and special Christmas collections, we have again benefited from larger financial donations from local groups who have nominated the foodbank in their charity fundraising events, among these the Wanstead Beer Festival and Santa’s Milk Float Ride.
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Gifts of non-perishable food, toiletries, or indeed cash, are always welcome; and we thank St Gabriel’s for their invaluable work in this area. Helen Bonnick, on behalf of Tin in a Bin
Safeguarding
Safeguarding remained a high priority for the Parish of Aldersbrook and with the experienced guidance of our Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO), Caroline Ferguson, St Gabriel’s continued to seek a proactive approach, offering and encouraging safeguarding training and awareness for all, using the resources of the Church of England (CoE).
Our annual Safeguarding review was held at the September meeting of the PCC, when the CoE Safeguarding Checklist was reviewed and national safeguarding policy and practice re-adopted.
We celebrated Safeguarding Sunday in November which was followed, over coffee, by a large number of members of the congregation taking part in discussions around "What makes a healthy safeguarding culture?" and "How can we prevent safeguarding issues?" The outcomes of these discussions were then used by our PSO to inform the PCC where there may be gaps in our behaviours, culture and practice against the CoE National Safeguarding Standards.
Our PSO continues to work with the PCC, clergy and group leaders, to ensure that safe recruitment, DBS and training requirements are maintained.
There were no safeguarding concerns reported to our PSO or PCC in 2024.
Caroline Ferguson
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Friends of St Gabriel’s
The Friends of St Gabriel’s continued their work in 2024, supporting the church by involving the community in the parish. The Friends organized into a fundraising group, mainly focusing on events and a strategic group, focused on the planning of the major improvement works. Additionally, they organized volunteer labour to carry out some of the works themselves.
Fundraising events included a St Patrick’s Day Ceilidh held in church, a packed ‘Wanstead at War’, evening, a Scouts ‘Curry and Quiz’ night, and a church sleep in by the cubs. With generous help from several community members an appeal video was developed which made a key contribution to the Big Give Christmas appeal which ran through the week of our Christmas market. These ventures raised approximately £32,500.
Over 250 hours of volunteer work, over a number of days, were donated by the community. Tasks undertaken largely involved painting, but other maintenance work as well.
Much effort also went into researching and making application to sources of grant funding. In particular £15,000 from the National Lottery Community fund awards for all and £65,000 from the Veolia Environmental Trust. We will know the results of these in 2025. Rusty Livock
St Gabriel’s Church Spirituality sessions: The Soul Group.
A year ago Fr Martyn wrote this about spirituality sessions at St. Gabriel’s: ‘I believe these courses offer the renewal of our sense of belonging and refreshment to each other in the community and our own feelings of the spirit of Christian life, it is about who we are and how we are touched by the everyday happenings in our world.’
The Soul Group is now established and meets monthly throughout the year. It has adapted, with an appropriate focus, to become a weekly
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group during Lent. The group is open to everyone and all are welcome. In 2024 there were six or seven regular members, and others who have joined in as they wished. Our aim is to be a safe and comfortable space where everyone feels welcome: to reflect, discuss, be quiet, and pray together. We hope to experience a time of spiritual exploration and renewal while developing connection and friendships.
We have developed a rhythm for the sessions, beginning with a prayer followed by a short meditation. The main theme is decided week by week and members of the group have brought ideas and input to share. For example, we have dwelt with Joy, the value of music, singing, cross cultural images of Christ, The Holy Spirit, the quiet side of Christmas. All followed by discussion and time to make sense for ourselves, and together, of what we have encountered.
There is always time to offer and request prayers for concerns we have. The Soul Group is a spacious experience where one idea, or question, leads to another. We have the sense that something happens. We end with the Grace.
The Soul group meets in the Choir Vestry, which glows with welcome. We have refreshments afterwards, for those who feel able to stay a little longer: another opportunity to chat, to deepen friendships. Heather Goodman
Tai chi
With the guidance of our wonderful instructor Sam, we are getting fitter and healthier every week and learning some valuable lessons about balance and gentle movement. The numbers in the sessions have fluctuated over the year, mainly varying between 7 and 13. We would welcome and encourage more people to attend as spaces are readily available. An hour on Thursday mornings is a small time commitment for the long term benefits that tai chi can give you. Richard Pratley
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Children
After-School Club 2024
For the year 2024 we had between 15-20 children ranging from Reception to Year 6 who we arrange to collect from school and escort to church. The children are fed and then various challenges take place followed by arts, crafts, games and ending with a Bible story. We have a great support team of volunteers who make the club run smoothly and I would like to thank them personally for their patience hard work and enthusiasm. They are Fr Martyn, Sandra Nathan, Tony Nairn, Anthony Yearwood, Sue Mutter, Jan and Tony Fallowfield, Sonia, Dotsy Horsford, Clare Reeves and Nick Riley. Kevin Thomas
Holiday Club
A joyful time was had by all our children who, thanks to the time and talents of all our kind volunteers, were treated to a range of art and craft activities and games all on the theme of Joy!
We shared a Bible story and act of worship with Fr Martyn each day on the theme of celebration. We were kindly taken to the forest for some forest school activities, had a cycle circuit made up for us on the flats and a gardening activity in the church garden, we all tried art activities exploring the styles of Britto, Kandinsky and Matisse.
Our activity day on Friday was hosted back at Chigwell Row . C hildren enjoyed activities like climbing, zorbing, caving, archery, grass sledging and trampolining. Despite all the planning and organisation throughout the week our children will of course tell you the highlight of the week was playing together with no organised activities in the big field after a lovely hotdog and fruit skewer lunch!
The children’s individual achievements were celebrated by the table leaders in our leaving ceremony on Friday . We were also able to thank our brilliant leaders and our equally brilliant and endlessly enthusiastic
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young leaders who went above and beyond this year to support both the leaders and the children. Clare Reeves
Messy Church
Messy Church 2024 met four times to celebrate the themes of loving, growing, gathering and giving. All ages and abilities have enjoyed trying new things as well as beloved traditions including gardening, cold cooking, science experiments, arts and crafts. Our giving session was unique in that guests took nothing home but everything made there was to benefit the church, charity or to be sold at the Christmas Market. We have also enjoyed sharing our small but significant worship sessions together and been united at the feast prepared with love by our volunteer caterers. Thank you to all our regular volunteers for both their activities and for empowering new volunteers to support and even lead their own activities this year; our team is growing as our little congregation grows too. Clare Reeves
Pre-School Playgroup – Stay and Play 2024
The Pre-School Playgroup, also known as Stay and Play, has met on Wednesdays during term time from 12 - 1.30pm. The numbers naturally vary, but we’re often 30 adults and children.
The team comprises Kath Thomas, Willa King, Julie Thomson, with Fr Martyn playing his guitar. Clare Reeves, the Children & Families Ministry Coordinator has been on hand too. Anthony Yearwood and Henry Lau set up the tables, chairs and a carpeted play area. The ‘many hands make light work’ is greatly appreciated.
Julie curates the toys each week so there’s a rotation of what’s available – including kitchen, and supermarket, toys, Duplo, Brio, puzzles, colouring table and a dressing up box.
As ever we cater for all carers of the under 5s – parents, grandparents, and nannies (no child-minders currently.) It’s a diverse group – age, race and cultural/ethnic backgrounds.
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Eating lunch together has become a feature as they value being able to heat food with us, so the dining area now has two tables set up as one, everyone eating together. They are so comfortable as a group they bring snacks (cake, baked goods) to share on birthdays and celebration times. They also step in and lead singing when Fr. Martyn is absent. This enhances the community feel and experience. The feedback we receive is warm and enthusiastic for the beautiful space, singing and eating together. Willa King
Children’s Choir
The children’s choir was open to all children from Reception upwards with the function to offer another means of family participation within church services. In December, the choir catered for 9 children from the ages of 6 – 14yrs. This involved 4 rehearsals on Sundays and two performances: The Christingle and the Carol service. In rehearsals the children learnt several warm up songs and chant as well as the final carol for performance. Heather Wilcox
Sunday School
In 2024 our Sunday School continued to gather during the morning service. Our mission is to help children get to know Jesus through the same gospel message shared in the main service. We provided engaging Bible stories and craft time to nurture their faith through discussion and prayer. All children enjoyed it very much and eagerly shared what they had learned. In September 2024, Gigi stepped down as the Lead and passed the baton to our Family and Children Coordinator, Clare. The growth of Sunday School has been remarkable. We would like to say a Big thank you to Kate, Sue Mutter, and Heather Goodman for their time and dedication to nurturing our children's faith. Gigi Lau and Clare Reeves
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Church Building/Fabric 2024
St Gabriel’s repairs
After many years and many inspections we at last found the cause of two roof leaks over the side aisles. These had led to very bad staining and mould growth on the outside wall near the Lady Chapel and also the same position on the Park Road side. Repair work was carried out in June and by September the walls had dried out enough to redecorate.
The roofer also carried out many minor repairs and the application of new solar reflective paint.
In April two tiles were dislodged in high winds and slid down the roof and broke a cast iron gutter. The repair was a simple job but as they were high up near the ridge over the vestry entrance they were difficult for the roofer to access.
The fence between the car park and the church garden had reached the end of its life and has been replaced. Jaden who carried out the work later repaired a broken fence post on Aldersbrook Road.
The toilet cistern in the church developed a fault and the flushing mechanism has been replaced.
Fairly recently the fan heaters on the Vicarage side failed to work. A replacement actuator valve in the basement boiler room solved the problem.
In the Hall two areas of plaster repair have been carried out. One to the right of the stage, the other in the upper room over the entrance where, over the years dampness had caused plaster and paint to degrade.
Before the plastering to the upper room, the parapet was inspected and gutters and gullies cleaned out. Richard Pratley
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The Hall Project
We were able to make substantial progress in our plans to improve the Hall during 2024.Solar panels had been fitted in 2023 and all permissions secured for works to be undertaken.
Early in the year volunteers
Painted the side walls and radiators of the hall.
The stage wall and stairs were refreshed. Repainted all the loos in the building
Fitted storage for potties in the ladies’ loo area.
We brought in trades to
Repair plaster work and paint the upper walls in the hall. Upgrade delivery of hot water to be thermostatically controlled Fitted motion sensor lighting in the entrance hall and ladies’ loo. Lay new flooring in the kitchen and Loo areas.
During the summer holidays the Hall was out of use while the kitchen was professionally remodelled which included fitting of a new dishwasher and repair of the cooker.
This was a great success and users have commented very favourably on the improvements. We still have a great deal to do. We plan to lower the stage and create significant two storey storage areas. This modernisation will do away with the necessity to climb above or below the stage to store items. We will re-paint the ceiling, re-sand the floor, radically improve accessibility via an external ramp alongside the hall and safe access to the garden for the preschool. We will also renew the chairs and tables.
All of this has cost approximately £42,000 so with the major works yet to commence continued support for fundraising is really required. Rusty Livock
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Outreach/Publicity
We continued to make good use of social media to communicate with our church community, including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and our own website. Estate agents’ boards advertising individual events are also well used to spread information. We improved our presence on the C of E website, ‘A Church near you’.
There have been three editions of the parish magazine which were delivered across the parish, as were postcards detailing church services for Christmas and Easter
Aldersbrook School
St Gabriel’s continues to have a good relationship with Aldersbrook School and its PTA through hosting events that cannot easily be accommodated in the school hall. Fr Martyn visits the school for input on the RE curriculum as well as hosting classes from the school to visit the church.
Parish Hall
The hall usage has gone from strength to strength in 2024, hosting a variety of regular users including Pre-school, Uniformed Groups, Playgroup, Dance Class, Pilates, Yoga, Football, ‘Gamestaars’, Karate, Badminton as well as private party bookings and charity functions. The PCC is most grateful to Nick Riley for managing the hall bookings so well.
Saturday Open Church with Organ Hour
Having proudly obtained her first Organ Diploma at St Gabriel’s in 2023, Gigi embarked on a remarkable journey by launching the Saturday Open Church with Organ Hour. To ensure the preservation and active use of our 90-year Hill, Norman and Beard Organ and raise finance for the Organ Repair Fund This initiative invited the community to pray, stay, listen, reflect and find calm in this sacred space. Although the initial average attendance was zero, we remained steadfast in our mission.
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With the support of a few dedicated regular attendees, they actively promoted this hour or contributed to the Organ Repair Fund. We're also privileged to have seen some of them join our Sunday services. Visitors often shared their appreciation for the beautiful music and the deep tranquility found during this hour. Henry Lau and Gigi Lau
Charity Giving
Christian Aid Week (CAW) was again an opportunity for our Church community, with friends in Aldersbrook and Lakehouse, to come together to raise vital funds to support projects and help people in so many different communities across the world. Collecting for CAW in the community has been a bit different this year. All our designated volunteers delivered CAW envelopes as Deliver-only (no knocking on doors saying hello and donations being collected back). However, we used the CAW Drop-back scheme to give an address on your CAW envelope where to drop-back donations in your red envelope. Thanks to Sue Mutter, Nick and all those involved.
The Christmas collections for the Children’s Society through carol singing and Christingle again raised over £1000 this year, although we were hampered by bad weather reducing our reach across the Aldersbrook estate, and finding it hard to recruit carol singers. We are considering a slightly different format for 2025.
St Gabriel’s again supported three charities with the money raised from tea and coffee after Sunday service: Chaos [a local charity providing holidays for East London children]; Refugee Employment Network [a national organisation supporting refugees into work or selfemployment]; and Practical Action [an international environmental charity supporting the world’s poor to find local solutions to issues of development and climate change].
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Music
Music continued play a key role in our worship and in enriching the life of the church. After 40 years John Light, our organist, stepped down from his post this Christmas. A brilliant musician, he always played with real feeling, bringing out the meaning of the words of hymns. He conducted the choir, setting high standards and arranging anthems especially for them, we were blessed to have him with us for so long. We are grateful to those that stepped in to play on the occasions when John was unable to play for us towards the end of the year. We will seek to hire a new Director of Music in 2025.
Our Deanery developed a music and choir bid for national church funding as part of the wider diocesan bid. This, we hope, will mean Wanstead being a genesis church with 3 partner churches, of which St Gabriel’s will be one. We would get a third of a person to work at developing music outreach and choir with children. The bid will be submitted in early 2025 and, if successful, it will provide an exciting new resource for our work with children.
Our aim to develop St Gabriel’s as a well-regarded venue for external musicians and groups progressed well, attracting professional, semiprofessional and amateur groups and artists who gave high-quality concerts throughout the year, keeping St. Gabriel's on the wider map for the future. Thanks go to David Plumbley for his stewardship during concerts.
Worship
Our worship pattern continued largely unchanged this year with a variety of services across each month on Sunday and during the week.
The 8.30am ‘first Sunday of the month’ service continued as before. The main 10.00am Sunday Eucharist remained constant each week at the usual time but on the first Sunday as a slightly shorter liturgy and without Sunday school. Henry joined as the Lead of the All-Age Gospel Reading Team in January. Here, generations young and old came together to read
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or act out the gospel, encouraging adults and children to learn from and listen to one another. This initiative also opened pathways for the congregation to serve in our regular services. Our young people's Music Group and Choir members continued to enrich our worship with their live music We would like to express our great thanks, especially to members of the All-Age Gospel Reading Team and our Choir and Music Group members.
Prayer/Healing at Eucharist is on to the second Sunday of the month.
Mid-week Holy Communion was held each Wednesday at 11am, and Evening Prayer remained at 5pm Mon-Thurs both in-person and on zoom. Twice monthly Tuesday evening prayer/contemplation also continued.
Our monthly Sunday evening service continued on the 4th Sunday and was mainly a traditional sung evensong.
Average communicant numbers of 57 on Sunday and 11 on Wednesday represent an increase on Sunday and a small reduction on Wednesday over 2023.
Festival services at Easter and Christmas were highlights of the year, as was the visit of Bishop Guli to our Patronal service in September. She was warmly welcomed and she gave an inspiring sermon on the angels in our midst.
Bible Reading Group
Starting January 2024, Henry Lau launched a Bible Reading Group to support the congregation in exploring their Bible reading habit. This initiative provides daily Bible reading plans, New Testament supporting material, and opportunities for monthly meetings focused on prayer and fellowship. Group members have the flexibility to establish their ideal daily time for Bible reading, apply the Scripture to their personal lives, and foster a deeper connection with God. After our first year, two congregation members completed reading the entire New Testament of the Holy Bible and received a Certificate of Completion during a service.
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Looking ahead to 2025, we will expand this program to include an Old Testament Reading alongside the existing New Testament initiative. Henry Lau
Communicants at major festivals
Easter Sunday – 98 Christmas Day - 143
Occasional Services in Church 2024
There were 6 funerals, but no weddings or baptisms held this year. David Plumbley
Finance Review 2024
Total receipts on ordinary Unrestricted funds were £161,229 [2023: £144,652] and those of Restricted funds were £29,448 [2023: £17,284] providing an overall income total of £190,677 [2023: £161,936]
£192,379 , incl restricted funds [2023: £162,047] was spent to provide the Christian ministry of St Gabriel’s Church. It also included the contribution to the diocesan parish share, which largely provides the stipends and housing for the clergy.
The net result for the year was a negative balance of receipts over payments amounting to -£1,702 [2023: -£1,259]. Such a figure perhaps hides the fact that income was notably higher than last year, as was spending. Money raised from fundraising and charitable activities formed the bulk of this increase with the hall renovation project being the focal point of expenditure. A new kitchen has been installed and the main hall and restrooms have been renovated. An ongoing project, this work has significantly enhanced hall users experience in the hall. The church also required further maintenance works after a quieter year previously. Outside of building works, the PCC had also agreed to an uplift in our Parish Share, with Parish Mission Children’s and Family’s Ministry Coordinator being renewed.
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Considering bank and deposit balances brought forward at the beginning of the year, the balances carried forward at 31 December 2023 amounted to £44,133 [2023: £72,017] for Unrestricted and Designated funds and £2,949,371 [2023: £2,923,188] for Restricted funds.
Reserves policy
It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds [if possible], which equates to approximately 3 months unrestricted payments, to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time and will remain at 3 months. The balance of Unrestricted and Designated Reserves totals £44,133 at the year-end and is over this target. Nick Riley
Structure, Management and Governance
St Gabriel’s operates under Parochial Church Councils [Powers] Measure. Registered Charity number: 1129673.
Subcommittees are currently: Standing, Pastoral, Worship and Fabric. Members of the PCC are ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Council Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.
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PCC Members During 2024
| Incumbent | Reverend Canon Martyn Hawkes |
|---|---|
| Lay Minister | Henry Lau |
| Churchwardens | Rachel Port Kevin Thomas |
| Deanery Synod Rep | Kevin Thomas Teresa Smith Henry Lau |
| Elected Members |
Mike Smith David Plumbley Nana Osei- Bobie Willa King Kate Spencer Ellis Tony Fallowfield Lesley Bond |
| Treasurer | Nick Riley |
| Secretary | Teresa Smith |
Other Officers
| Other Officers | |
|---|---|
| Safeguarding Officer | Caroline Ferguson |
| Coordinator for Children | Clare Reeves |
| Stewardship/Electoral Roll/Data Protection |
Sara Bertrand |
Independent Examiner: Daniel Keech Name of Bankers: Cooperative Bank PLC Registered No: 990937
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Facts and figures 2024
There were 118 persons on the Electoral Roll at the end of December 2024
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Number registered: 118
-
Number residing outside the parish: 58
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Number residing in the parish: 60
Deanery Synod
Deanery synod met three times in 2024, with meetings to discuss finances, deanery strategy, and substantial bids for national monies, including the one described above for music.
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Aldersbrook St.Gabriel Charity No - 1129673
Statement of Assets and Liabilities (by fund) As at: 31 December 2024
| Previous | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | balance | ||
| Tangible assets | |||
| 6430: Church Hall - Asset | |||
| Church Hall Building | Restricted | 2,900,000.00 | 2,900,000.00 |
| Fund | |||
| 2,900,000.00 | 2,900,000.00 | ||
| Tangible assets | 2,900,000.00 | 2,900,000.00 | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | |||
| 6501: Co-op - Asset | |||
| General fund | Unrestricted | 44,073.81 | 65,960.64 |
| Charity Fund | Restricted | 2,001.95 | 2,661.16 |
| Children and Youth | Restricted | 5,825.10 | 825.10 |
| Fund | |||
| Church Hall | Restricted | 21,005.02 | — |
| Restoration Fund | |||
| Church Roof Repair | Restricted | 3,800.00 | 3,800.00 |
| Fund | |||
| Fabric Fund | Restricted | 29,102.65 | 33,302.65 |
| Flower Fund | Restricted | 362.00 | 322.00 |
| Holiday Club | Designated | 58.75 | 58.75 |
| Organ Fund | Restricted | 8,073.93 | 6,662.24 |
| Bereavement Cafe | Restricted | — | 260.00 |
| Advertising | |||
| First World War | Designated | — | 232.00 |
| Memorial Project | |||
| Snaresbrook Court | Restricted | — | 355.00 |
| Chaplaincy | |||
| Agency collection | Restricted | (576.36) | (576.36) |
| 113,726.85 | 113,863.18 | ||
| 6505: Barclays BPA 205274 90197009 - Asset | |||
| General fund | Unrestricted | — | 4,928.04 |
| — | 4,928.04 | ||
| 6506: Barclays BPA 205274 60682071 - Asset | |||
| General fund | Unrestricted | — | 349.29 |
| — | 349.29 | ||
| 6509: Barclays BPA 205274 10682098 - Asset | |||
| General fund | Unrestricted | — | 42.24 |
| — | 42.24 | ||
| 6595: Monies for Banking - Asset | |||
| General fund | Unrestricted | — | 446.58 |
| — | 446.58 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 113,726.85 | 119,629.33 |
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| Agency accounts 6699: Agency collections - Liability Agency collection Restricted Agency accounts Creditors: Amounts falling due in one year 6601: Loans received - Liability Fabric Fund Restricted Creditors: Amounts falling due in one year Grand Total |
Balance | Previous balance (576.36) (576.36) (576.36) 25,000.00 25,000.00 25,000.00 2,995,205.69 |
|---|---|---|
| (576.36) (576.36) (576.36) 20,800.00 20,800.00 20,800.00 2,993,503.21 |
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Aldersbrook St.Gabriel Charity No - 1129673
Receipts and Payments Account
For the period from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
| Unrestricted funds Designated funds Endowment funds Total funds Prior year total funds Restricted funds Receipts Donations and legacies 18,679.56 91,268.02 72,588.46 — — 83,779.17 Income from charitable activities 312.00 55,783.28 55,471.28 — — 43,138.88 Other trading activities 10,456.80 29,921.52 19,464.72 — — 23,229.00 Investments — 90.61 90.61 — — 6.59 Other income — 13,613.87 13,613.87 — — 11,782.80 Total receipts 29,448.36 190,677.30 161,228.94 — — 161,936.44 Payments Raising funds — 82.47 82.47 — — 285.80 Expenditure on charitable activities 2,650.86 192,297.31 189,646.45 — — 162,909.22 Total payments 2,650.86 192,379.78 189,728.92 — — 163,195.02 Excess of receipts over payments before transfer 26,797.50 (1,702.48) (28,499.98) — — (1,258.58) Transfers Gross transfers between funds - in — 847.00 847.00 — — 948.68 Gross transfers between funds - out (615.00) (847.00) — (232.00) — (948.68) Excess of receipts over payments before other gains 26,182.50 (1,702.48) (27,652.98) (232.00) — (1,258.58) Net movement in funds 26,182.50 (1,702.48) (27,652.98) (232.00) — (1,258.58) Reconciliation of funds All assets at 01 January 2024 2,923,188.15 2,995,205.69 71,726.79 290.75 — 2,996,464.27 All assets at 31 December 2024 2,949,370.65 2,993,503.21 44,073.81 58.75 — 2,995,205.69 Represented by Unrestricted General fund — 44,073.81 44,073.81 — — 71,726.79 Designated First World War Memorial Project — — — — — 232.00 Holiday Club — 58.75 — 58.75 — 58.75 Restricted Bereavement Cafe Advertising — — — — — 260.00 Charity Fund 2,001.95 2,001.95 — — — 2,661.16 Children and Youth Fund 5,825.10 5,825.10 — — — 825.10 Church Hall Building Fund 2,900,000.00 2,900,000.00 — — — 2,900,000.00 Church Hall Restoration Fund 21,005.02 21,005.02 — — — — Church Roof Repair Fund 3,800.00 3,800.00 — — — 3,800.00 Fabric Fund 8,302.65 8,302.65 — — — 8,302.65 Flower Fund 362.00 362.00 — — — 322.00 Organ Fund 8,073.93 8,073.93 — — — 6,662.24 Snaresbrook Court Chaplaincy — — — — — 355.00 |
|
|---|---|
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Independent Examiner’s Report to the PCC of St Gabriel’s Parish Church, Aldersbrook, Wanstead.
This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2022 is in respect of an examination carries out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 (‘the Regulations’) and section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
Respective Responsibilities of the PCC and the Examiner
As members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements; you consider that the audit requirement of the Regulations and of the Act does not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this reports on those financial statements in accordance with the terms of the Regulations.
Basis of this Report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act and to be found in the Church guidance, 2006 edition. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent Examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
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a. To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and
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b. To prepare financial statements, which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act and the Regulations have not been met; or
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(2) To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Robert Munden FCCA 1A Woodlands Avenue Wanstead, London, E11 3RA