## **PARISH OF ST MARY’S CHURCH, RUSHDEN** 

## **Charity Number 1130072** 

## _**ANNUAL REPORT**_ 

# _**AND**_ 

## _**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**_ 

## _**OF THE**_ 

## _**PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL**_ 

## _**OF ST MARY**_ 

## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_ 

## **Rector:** 

The Reverend Tom King 

**Bankers:** TSB 

## **Independent Examiner:** 

Mr A Ballantine 

20 Brookside 

Alconbury 

Huntingdon 

Cambs 

PE28 4EP 

## **Web site:** 

www.stmaryschurchrushden.org 



**PARISH OF ST MARY, RUSHDEN ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PCC** 

## **FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025** 

## **Aim and Purpose** 

Rushden PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelical, social and ecumenical. As well as the church itself, which is a Grade 1 Listed Building, the PCC is also responsible for maintaining the Church Halls. 

## **Administrative Information** 

The Church is situated in the High Street, Rushden NN10 0QE and is part of the Deanery of Higham Ferrers, in the Diocese of Peterborough. 

Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. Members of the congregation are encouraged to join the Electoral Roll and to stand for election to the PCC 

PCC members who have served from the 1[st] January 2025 until the date this report was approved were: 

|Incumbent:|Rev T King (Chairman)|
|---|---|
|Warden:|Mr D Smedley (from May 2025)|
|Elected Members:|Mrs K Woodfield<br>Mr P Coxon|
||Mr R Bates                    Mr M Compton|
||Mrs M Bates                  Mr D Robinson (May -Dec 2025)|
|Ex Oficio:|Rev G Ackerley               Mrs H Allen (until May 2025)|
|Readers:|Mr A Smith (until May 2025)|
||Mr J Mellor (Training)|
|Deanery Synod:|Mr J Mellor|
||Mrs H Smedley|
|Treasurer:|Mrs L Skinner (until May 2025)|
||Mr R Bates (from May 2025)|
|Secretary|Mrs J Bone|





The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance in the Parish and for all financial matters. 

St. Mary’s PCC met 9 times in the year. 

## **CHURCH ATTENDANCE** 

There are 75 parishioners on the electoral roll of St Mary’s as at 31.12.25. 

The average Sunday attendances for 2025 were 63 adults & 7 children 

## **OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES** 

When planning our activities, the PCC has considered the Charities Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion, in so doing encouraging as many people as possible to worship in our church. 

During the year the PCC has discussed and amended the Safeguarding policy in line with the legal requirements. At every PCC meeting a Safeguarding, Finance and Fabric report is given. 

## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE** 

Throughout the year there are various weekly and monthly activities. Each Monday Bumps and Babes meet in the hall and numbers have gradually increased. Thursday’s T & C is a time for people from the community and church members to meet for tea and chat (and cake). Who Let the Dads Out (WLTDO) meet monthly, the dads and carers enjoy a bacon butty while the children play. Craft and Coffee and the Ladies’ Group meet monthly. An Easter Experience and Christmas Experience were held in the church for children from the local primary schools. These were held over a period of 2 or 3 weeks and were very successful, with at least 900 children attending. St Mary’s still continues to support the Rushden food bank and the Recovery House both financially and with volunteers. During the year 7 funerals, 2 weddings were held in church. 



## **FINANCIAL REPORT** 

The accounts are prepared using receipts and payments. Total receipts for the Unrestricted General Fund were £107,096 and payments from this fund were £105,957. This shows a small surplus, however for the second year running we were unable to pay the full Parish Share of £81,846, we paid £43,473 which left a deficit of £38,373. 

We have various funds designed to target specific areas. These are: - 

**General Unrestricted Funds** - This is the fund which we use to receive our regular voluntary giving, and other income from activities, fees, hall lettings and Investments etc. This account is used to pay all our general expenses. 

**Restricted Funds** – By their very nature these funds are held by the PCC for use on projects which are restricted to be used only for a specific purpose. The largest by far is the Fabric Fund for Church and halls building repairs. During 2025 a Quinquennial inspection took place and this lead to the church roof needing minor repairs which were paid from this fund. Also from this account architect fees of £2800 were paid for preliminary plans for disabled access to the church. 

**Designated Funds** – These are designated by the PCC for specific projects but are not ring fenced and can be re-directed by the PCC. 



## **St Mary’s Church, Rushden** 

## **Financial Statements to 31[st] December 2025** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Designated**|<br>**Restricted**|<br>**Endowment**|<br>**Endowment**|<br>**Total**|<br>**Prior year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|<br>**funds**||**funds**|<br>**funds**|<br>**total funds**|
|**Income and endowments from:**||||||||
|Donations and legacies|0.00|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|<br>0.00|<br>0.00|
|Voluntary Income|<br>£84,570.00|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|£84,570.00|<br>£93,809.11|
|Other Voluntary Income|<br>£448.27|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|<br>£448.27|<br>£281.90|
|Income from charitable<br>activities|£12,309.13|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|£12,309.13|<br>£13,537.96|
|Investments|£9,342.91|(£300.80)|£36,679.64||0.00|£45,721.75|<br>£30,040.55|
|Other income|0.00|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|<br>0.00|<br>0.00|
|Grants|<br>£426.13|£650.06|<br>£3,650.00||0.00|<br>£4,726.19|<br>0.00|
|**Total income**|**£107,096.44**|**£349.26**|**£40,329.64**||**0.00**|**£147,775.34**|**£137,669.52**|
|**Expenditure on:**||||||||
|Expenditure on charitable<br>activities|0.00|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|<br>0.00|<br>0.00|
|Grants/Mission/Charities|<br>0.00|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|<br>0.00|<br>£30.00|
|Support Costs|<br>£533.15|0.00|<br>£900.00||0.00|<br>£1,433.15|<br>£407.94|
|Church Expenses|<br>£90,460.94|£4,816.80|<br>£7,080.12||0.00|£102,357.86|£108,882.59|
|Other expenditure|0.00|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|<br>0.00|<br>0.00|
|Parish Office/Admin|<br>£5,883.80|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|<br>£5,883.80|<br>£4,936.75|
|Church Halls|<br>£8,880.96|0.00|<br>£1,151.57||0.00|£10,032.53|<br>£44,447.25|
|Miscellaneous|<br>£198.41|0.00|<br>0.00||0.00|<br>£198.41|<br>£280.43|
|**Total expenditure**|**£105,957.26**|**£4,816.80**|<br>**£9,131.69**||**0.00**|**£119,905.75**|**£158,984.96**|
|**Net income / (expenditure)**|<br>**£1,139.18**|**(£4,467.54)**|**£31,197.95**||**0.00**|**£27,869.59**|**(£21,315.44)**|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||||||
|**Total funds brought forward £71,321.45**||**£35,236.66**|**£280,357.12**||**0.00**|**£386,915.23**|**£408,230.67**|
|**Total funds carried forward**|**£72,460.63**|**£30,769.12**|**£311,555.07**|**0.00**||**£414,784.82**|**£386,915.23**|





## **Represented by** 

## **Unrestricted** 

|General fund|£72,460.63|0.00|<br>0.00|0.00|£72,460.63|<br>£71,321.45|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Designated**|||||||
|Children & Family Worker|0.00|0.00|<br>0.00|0.00|<br>0.00|<br>£4,166.74|
|Fabric Fund|0.00|£30,769.12|<br>0.00|0.00|£30,769.12|<br>£31,069.92|
|**Restricted**|||||||
|Agency collection|0.00|0.00|<br>0.00|0.00|<br>0.00|<br>0.00|
|Asda Grant|0.00|0.00|<br>£600.00|0.00|<br>£600.00|<br>£600.00|
|Children & Family Worker<br>Training|0.00|0.00|<br>£2,100.00|0.00|<br>£2,100.00|<br>0.00|
|Choir Fund|0.00|0.00|<br>£159.00|0.00|<br>£159.00|<br>£159.00|
|Fabric Fund|0.00|0.00|£302,856.10|0.00|£302,856.10|£273,758.15|
|Ladies Group|0.00|0.00|<br>£603.66|0.00|<br>£603.66|<br>£603.66|
|Mission Fund|0.00|0.00|<br>£1,434.77|0.00|<br>£1,434.77|<br>£1,434.77|
|Refugee Support|0.00|0.00|<br>(£90.43)|0.00|<br>(£90.43)|<br>(£90.43)|
|Warm Spaces Grant|0.00|0.00|<br>£3,630.21|0.00|<br>£3,630.21|<br>£3,630.21|
|Youth Work Fund|0.00|0.00|<br>£261.76|0.00|<br>£261.76|<br>£261.76|





**Balance Sheet (Summary)** 

**As at As at 31/12/2025 31/12/2024** 

|**Fixed assets**<br>**Current assets**<br>Investments<br>Cash At Bank And In Hand<br>**Liabilities**<br>Creditors: Amounts Falling Due In One Year<br>**Net current assets less current liabilities**<br>**Total assets less current liabilities**<br>**Liabilities**<br>**Total net assets less liabilities**<br>**Represented by**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>Unrestricted - General Funds<br>**Designated**<br>Designated - Children & Family Worker<br>Designated - Fabric Fund<br>**Restricted**<br>Restricted - Asda Grant<br>Restricted - Children & Family Worker<br>Training<br>Restricted - Choir Fund<br>Restricted - Fabric Fund<br>Restricted - Ladies Group<br>Restricted - Mission Fund<br>Restricted - Refugee Support<br>Restricted - Warm Spaces Grant<br>Restricted - Youth Work Fund<br>**Fund Totals**||
|---|---|
||**0.00**<br>**0.00**<br> <br>£302,901.27 £274,067.14<br>£111,544.67 £115,024.08|
||**£414,445.94 £389,091.22**<br> <br>(£338.88)<br>£2,175.99|
||**(£338.88)**<br>**£2,175.99**|
||**£414,784.82 £386,915.23**|
|||
||**£414,784.82 £386,915.23**<br> <br>**0.00**<br>**0.00**|
||**£414,784.82 £386,915.23**<br> <br> <br>£72,460.63<br>£71,321.45<br> <br>0.00<br>£4,166.74<br>£30,769.12<br>£31,069.92<br> <br>£600.00<br>£600.00<br>£2,100.00<br>0.00<br>£159.00<br>£159.00<br>£302,856.10 £273,758.15<br>£603.66<br>£603.66<br>£1,434.77<br>£1,434.77<br>(£90.43)<br>(£90.43)<br>£3,630.21<br>£3,630.21<br>£261.76<br>£261.76|
||**£414,784.82 £386,915.23**|





**Analysis of income and expenditure** 

**Total** 

**Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment This year Last year** 

|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Donations and legacies**|||||||
|Planned Giving|£55,309.14|0.00|0.00|0.00|£55,309.14|£63,784.98|
|Open plate|£4,643.60|0.00|0.00|0.00|£4,643.60|<br>£3,825.14|
|Donations/Stewardship|£11,381.40|0.00|0.00|0.00|£11,381.40|<br>£9,636.67|
|Tax recoverable on Gift Aid|£13,235.86|0.00|0.00|0.00|£13,235.86|£16,562.32|
|Legacies/Gifts in Memory|£448.27|0.00|0.00|0.00|£448.27|<br>£281.90|
|**Donations and legacies**<br>**Totals**|**£85,018.27**|**0.00**|**0.00**|**0.00**|**£85,018.27**|**£94,091.01**|
|**Income from charitable activities**|||||||
|Activities & Fetes|£1,603.84|0.00|0.00|0.00|£1,603.84|<br>£3,391.17|
|Fees for weddings and<br>funerals|£3,129.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|£3,129.00|<br>£3,099.00|
|Bookstall|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|<br>£9.50|
|Church hall lettings|£6,562.16|0.00|0.00|0.00|£6,562.16|<br>£5,429.00|
|Parish Office Receipts|£96.80|0.00|0.00|0.00|£96.80|<br>£286.54|
|Magazine sales|£151.33|0.00|0.00|0.00|£151.33|<br>£180.25|
|Magazine Adverts|£766.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|£766.00|<br>£1,142.50|
|**Income from charitable**<br>**activities Totals**|**£12,309.13**|**0.00**|**0.00**|**0.00**|**£12,309.13**|**£13,537.96**|
|**Investments**|||||||
|Dividends|£1,635.73|£771.00|£7,758.58|0.00|£10,165.31|£10,295.83|
|Increase (Decrease) in<br>share value|£4,224.23|(£1,109.28)|£25,719.18|0.00|£28,834.13|£12,150.11|
|Deposit and Bank Interest|£2,568.66|£37.48|£2,287.59|0.00|£4,893.73|<br>£6,701.69|
|Greenfield Bequest|£914.29|0.00|£914.29|0.00|£1,828.58|<br>£892.92|
|**Investments Totals**|**£9,342.91**|**(£300.80)**|**£36,679.64**|**0.00**|**£45,721.75**|**£30,040.55**|
|**Other income**|||||||
|Grants|£426.13|£650.06|£3,650.00|0.00|£4,726.19|<br>0.00|
|**Other income Totals**|**£426.13**|**£650.06**|**£3,650.00**|**0.00**|**£4,726.19**|<br>**0.00**|
|**Income and**<br>**endowments**|**£107,096.44**|**£349.26**|**£40,329.64**|**0.00 **|**£147,775.34**|**£137,669.52**|





**Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment** 

**This year Last year** 

## **EXPENDITURE ON:** 

|**Expenditure on charitable activities**|**Expenditure on charitable activities**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Home mission|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|<br>£30.00|
|Training|£440.00|0.00|£900.00|0.00|£1,340.00|<br>£24.00|
|Outreach and Home Groups|£93.15|0.00|0.00|0.00|£93.15|<br>£383.94|
|Parish share|£43,473.22|0.00|0.00|0.00|£43,473.22|£58,020.72|
|Salaries|£24,215.28|£4,816.80|0.00|0.00|£29,032.08|£20,205.04|
|Clergy and staff expenses|£2,471.10|0.00|0.00|0.00|£2,471.10|<br>£606.21|
|Younger Church|£78.64|0.00|0.00|0.00|£78.64|<br>£2,319.65|
|Health & Safety|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|<br>£427.80|
|Upkeep/Repairs &<br>Replacements|£3,135.52|0.00|£7,080.12|0.00|£10,215.64|<br>£2,239.44|
|Service requirements|£3,131.78|0.00|0.00|0.00|£3,131.78|<br>£8,055.09|
|Organist Payments|£1,950.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|£1,950.00|<br>£2,570.00|
|Insurance|£5,183.18|0.00|0.00|0.00|£5,183.18|<br>£5,047.12|
|Heat & Light|£6,822.22|0.00|0.00|0.00|£6,822.22|<br>£9,227.26|
|Miscellaneous|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|<br>£164.26|
|**Expenditure on charitable**<br>**activities Totals**|**£90,994.09**|**£4,816.80**|**£7,980.12**|**0.00 **|**£103,791.01**|**£109,320.53**|
|**Other expenditure**|||||||
|Telephone|£1,213.62|0.00|0.00|0.00|£1,213.62|<br>£1,109.79|
|Photocopying Supplies|£1,744.89|0.00|0.00|0.00|£1,744.89|<br>£2,175.92|
|Lease of Copier|£1,483.24|0.00|0.00|0.00|£1,483.24|<br>£1,483.24|
|Audit fee and Admin Costs|£1,442.05|0.00|0.00|0.00|£1,442.05|<br>£167.80|
|Hall running - Insurance|£1,548.24|0.00|0.00|0.00|£1,548.24|<br>£1,507.57|
|Hall running - General<br>upkeep|£2,221.24|0.00|0.00|0.00|£2,221.24|<br>£3,178.27|
|Hall running - Water rates|£936.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|£936.00|<br>£827.00|
|Hall running - heating and<br>lighting|£4,175.48|0.00|0.00|0.00|£4,175.48|<br>£5,460.68|
|Hall running - General<br>repairs|0.00|0.00|£1,151.57|0.00|£1,151.57|£33,473.73|
|Magazine|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|0.00|<br>£29.75|
|Bank Charges|£198.41|0.00|0.00|0.00|£198.41|<br>£250.68|
|**Other expenditure Totals**|**£14,963.17**|**0.00**|**£1,151.57**|**0.00**|**£16,114.74**|**£49,664.43**|
|**Expenditure Grand totals**|**£105,957.26**|**£4,816.80**|**£9,131.69**|**0.00 **|**£119,905.75**|**£158,984.96**|





**INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT** 

## **PCC OF ST MARY, RUSHDEN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE** 

This report on the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on the attached pages. 

## **RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND INDEPENDENT EXAMINER** 

The members of the PCC (the Trustees) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011(the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. 

It is my responsibility to: 

examine the accounts (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act): follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners; and 

state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## **BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT** 

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. 

An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Church Council (the Trustees) concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full 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 matters have come to my attention: 

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements 

- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; 

and 

• to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or 

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

Signed:  A  Ballantine……………                  Date: …16[th] May 2026……………………. 

## Angus Ballantine 

20 Brookside Alconbury Huntingdon PE28 4EP