**THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE** ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **For the year ended 31st December 2024** ## **COMPRISING THE ACCOUNTS OF:** **THE PCC CENTRAL FUNDS** ## **THE DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCILS OF:** **ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY ST FREMUND THE MARTYR PRIORY CHURCH OF ST PETER** **Rector: The Revd Rachel Phillips Parish Office, Parish Hall Church Close Church Street Dunstable LU5 4RU** **Independent Examiner The Revd Alan A. Clements MA, ACIB, FCIE 15 Carleton Road Great Knowley Chorley Lancs PR6 8TQ** **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Dunstable Registered Charity Commission No. 1130250** **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE** ## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2024** ||**FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**For the year ended 31st December 2024**| |---|---| |**Page No.**|**Contents**| |1|Independent Examiner's Report| |2|Balance Sheet| |3|Statement of Financial Activities| |4|Cash Flow Statement| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|| |5|Accounting Policies| |6|Income| |7|Expenditure| |8|Staff Costs, Related Parties, Fund| ||Transfers, Fixed Assets| |9|Investments (Endowment Funds)| |10|Debtors and Prepayments| ||Short Term Deposits| ||Cash at Bank and in Hand| ||Liabilities| |11|Fund Details| ||- Unrestricted| |12|Fund Details| ||- Restricted| ||- Endowment| ||Insurance details| |13|Connected Charity - The Nash Bequest Fund| ||Grants Receivable| ||Grants donated directly from church funds| |14 - 19|Trustees Report| |20 - 27|Appendix - Church activities| Independent Examiner's unqualified report to the members of the P.C.C. of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Dunstable. CbaritSes no. 1131250 Independent Examiner's Report on thc Financial Statements for the year ending 31$1 Deeember 2024 ￿ signed on behalf of the P.C.C. on pages two and nineteen of this ReporL Respedive responsibilities of the P.C.C. and tbe exxmiDer. The P.C.C. members acting as thc charity"s trustees are resFK)nsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's tr￿steeS consider that an audit is not required for the year under section 144 of the Clwities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent exam1r￿tIOn is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under seLtion 145 of the Charities Act lo follow the PTocedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5Mb) of the Charilies ACL and to state whether particular matters have come io mi. attention. Basis of tbe Independent Examiner's statement. My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission and the guidance published in PCC AccounL7bilitN' (The Charities Act 201 l and the P.C.C. 5 edition). An examinalion includes a revieii. ot Ihe accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presentsd with these records. Il also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from the truslees concerning such matters. The proc&lures undertaken do noi provide all the evidence that would be required for an audiL and consequently no opinion is gii.en as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examiner's statemeDt. In connection with my examinatio￿ no material matter has come to my attcntion wbich gives me cause to believe that any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities ACL or the accounts do not accord to the accountin2 records. I have comc across no other matters in connection w.ith the examination to which attention should bc drawn in order to enable a prO￿r understanding of the accounts is reached. Jla A A g/eiii eli /} Revd. A. A. Clements. Date 28th. February 2025. Name Fellow Association of Clwity Independent Examiners. Address 15 Carleton Road, Great Knowley. Chorley PR6 8TQ ACIE PCC CC32 ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE** ## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER 2024** ||**Note **|**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Endowment**|**TOTAL**|**TOTAL**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**2024**|**2023**| |||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**| |**FIXED ASSETS**||||||| |Tangible|6|320,665|0|0|**320,665**|323,190| |Investments|7|0|0|41,168|**41,168**|40,085| |||320,665|0|41,168|**361,833**|363,275| |**CURRENT ASSETS**||||||| |Stock||0|0|0|**0**|0| |Debtors and prepayments|8|36,089|2,572|0|**38,661**|28,271| |Short term deposits|9|72,329|217,361|0|**289,690**|165,182| |Cash at bank and in hand|10|30,146|42,923|7,742|**80,811**|142,414| |||138,564|262,856|7,742|**409,162**|335,867| |**LESS: LIABILITIES**||||||| |Creditors - Amounts due in one year|11|4,061|270|0|**4,331**|5,904| |**NET CURRENT ASSETS**||134,503|262,586|7,742|**404,831**|329,963| |||||||| |**TOTAL NET ASSETS**||455,168|262,586|48,910|**766,664**|693,238| |**DCC FUNDS**||||||| |Unrestricted|12 (a)|455,168|||**455,168**|421,889| |Restricted|12 (b)||262,586||**262,586**|223,824| |Endowment|12 (c)|||48,910|**48,910**|47,525| |**TOTAL FUNDS**||455,168|262,586|48,910|**766,664**|693,238| Approved by the Parochial Church Council on Wednesday 12th February 2025 and and signed on its behalf by: signed on its behalf by: > The Revd Rachel Phillips The Revd Rachel Phillips Rector Rector John Bradley F.C.C.A John Bradley F.C: Treasurer Treasurer The notes on pages 4 to 13 form part of these accounts **Page 2** **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** ## **For the year ended 31st December 2024** |**Note **
**INCOME**
Voluntary income
2(a)
Church activities
2(b)
Activities for generating funds
2(c)
Income from investments
2(d)
Other income
2(e)
**TOTAL INCOME**
**EXPENDITURE**
Church activities
3(a)
Raising funds
3(b)
Investment costs
3(c)
Governance costs
3(d)
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**GAINS/(LOSSES) ON INVESTMENTS**
**TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS**
5
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
**Total funds b/f at 1 January 2024**
**Total funds c/f at 31 December 2024**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
145,295
70,994
8,036
16,968
6,523
247,815
261,268
152
3,878
350
265,647
(17,832)
51,111
33,279
421,889
455,168|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
115,221
0
158
8,729
0
124,108
35,019
0
0
0
35,019
89,089
(50,327)
38,762
223,824
262,586|**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**
0
0
0
1,086
0
1,086
0
0
0
0
0
1,086
1,083
(784)
1,385
47,525
48,910|**TOTAL**
**2024**
**£**
**260,516**
**70,994**
**8,194**
**26,782**
**6,523**
**373,009**
**296,287**
**152**
**3,878**
**350**
**300,666**
**72,343**
**1,083**
**0**
**73,426**
**693,238**
**766,664**|**TOTAL**
**2023**
**£**
170,677
62,380
10,105
15,329
857| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||259,348| ||||||283,341
869
2,905
350| ||||||287,464| ||||||(28,116)
2,852
0| ||||||(25,264)
718,502| ||||||693,238| **Page 3** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE CASH FLOW STATEMENT For the year ended 31st December 2024** |**Net cash from operating activities**
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
Interest paid
Proceeds from the sale of: Tangible fixed assets
Proceeds from the sale of: Tangible fixed investments
Purchase of: Tangible fixed assets
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Fixed asset investments
**Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the**
**reporting period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2024**
**Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December 2024**
**Reconciliation of net income / (expenditure) before investment gains**
**Net income before investment gains at 31 December**
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Dividends, interest and rent investments
Decrease / (increase) in stocks
Decrease / (increase) in debtors
(Decrease) / increase in creditors
**Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities**
**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
CAF Bank
NatWest
Barclays
Lloyds
Cash in hand
**Notice deposits (less than 3 months)**
CCLA - CBF Church of England Deposit Fund
NatWest Reserve|**£**
**£**
**36,122**
**26,782**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**26,782**
**62,905**
**307,596**
**370,501**
**72,343**
**2,525**
**(26,782)**
**0**
**(10,391)**
**(1,573)**
**36,122**
**73,934**
**3,977**
**1,983**
**657**
**259**
**80,811**
**256,028**
**33,662**
**289,690**
**370,501**
**2024**|**£**
15,329
0
0
0
0
0
0
133,570
6,743
1,983
0
119
150,282
14,900
**2023**|**£**
(48,514)
15,329| |---|---|---|---| ||||(33,185)
340,781| ||||307,596| ||||(28,116)
2,525
(15,329)
0
(5,706)
(1,888)| ||||(48,514)| ||||142,414
165,182| ||||307,596| **Page 4** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2024** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** The PCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCCs with the Regulations' "True and fair view" provisions and applicable accounting standards and the 2016 version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP(FRS102)). ## **ASSETS** ## **Consecrated and benefice property** In so far as consecrated and benefice property of any kind is excluded from the statutory definition of 'charity' by Section 10(2) (a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011 such assets are not capitalised in the financial statements. ## **Moveable church furnishings** These are capitalised at cost and depreciated over their useful economic life other then where insufficient cost information is available. In this case the item is not capitalised, but all items are included in the Church's inventory. ## **Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity** These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year , and cost at least £2,000 each. They are valued at cost or else, for gifts-in-kind, at a reasonable estimate of their open market on receipt. Depreciation is calculated to write off the capitalised cost of fixed assets over their estimated useful lives depending on the type of asset as follows: Office equipment 5 years Land and buildings - the PCC adopts the policy regarding the clergy house (temporarily let) at 95 Evelyn Road, Dunstable of accounting at 'current market value' based on valuations within the last 3 years. ## **Investments** Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange or whose value derives from them are valued at market value at the year end. ## **Short term deposits** These are the cash held deposits either with the CCLA or at the bank. ## **FUNDS** ## **Unrestricted Funds** These represent the remaining income funds of the PCC that are available for spending on the general purposes of the PCC, including amounts designated by the PCC for fixed assets for its own use or for spending on a future project and which are therefore not included in it's 'free reserves' as disclosed in the trustees report. ## **Restricted Funds** These are income funds that must be spent on restricted purposes and details of the funds held and restrictions provided are shown in the notes to the accounts. ## **Endowment Funds** These are restricted funds that must be retained as trust capital either permanently or subject to a discretionary power to spend capital as income, and where the use of any income or any other benefit derived from the capital may be restricted or unrestricted. Full details are shown in the notes to the accounts **Page 5** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2024** |**2**
**INCOME**
**Note**
**2(a)**
**Voluntary income**
Planned giving:
Gift aid donations
Income tax recoverable
Sponsorship
Other planned
Collections - open plate
Donations
Legacies
Grants
15
Chaplaincy services to academies
**2(b)**
**Income from church activities**
Church hall lettings
Publications and souvenir sales
Fees - weddings and funerals
**2(c)**
**Activities for generating funds**
Fund raising
**2(d)**
**Income from investments**
Rental income
Dividends - CBF investment funds
Bank and CCLA deposit interest
**2(e)**
**Other income**
Electricity Feed in Tariff
Sale of assets
Insurance claims
Other
**TOTAL INCOME**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
66,360
20,144
235
10,799
9,421
11,562
4,421
4,844
17,509
145,295
57,623
20
13,351
70,994
8,036
8,036
14,388
0
2,580
16,968
491
0
5,908
124
6,523
247,815|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
200
215
84,389
30,417
115,221
0
158
158
8,729
8,729
0
0
124,108|**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**
0
0
0
1,086
1,086
0
1,086|**TOTAL**
**2024**
**£**
**66,560**
**20,144**
**235**
**10,799**
**9,421**
**11,777**
**88,810**
**35,261**
**17,509**
**260,516**
**57,623**
**20**
**13,351**
**70,994**
**8,194**
**8,194**
**14,388**
**1,086**
**11,308**
**26,782**
**491**
**0**
**5,908**
**124**
**6,523**
**373,009**|**TOTAL**
**2023**
**£**
68,232
20,710
370
12,142
9,661
8,527
14,568
19,015
17,452| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||170,677| ||||||53,112
35
9,233| ||||||62,380| ||||||10,105| ||||||10,105| ||||||7,200
996
7,133| ||||||15,329| ||||||477
0
0
380| ||||||857| ||||||259,348| **Page 6** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2024** ## **3 EXPENDITURE** |**Note**
**3(a)**
**Church activities**
Missionary/charitable giving
16
Ministry:
Diocesan parish share
Clergy expenses
Clergy vacancy
Staff costs
4
Church running expenses
Church maintenance
Upkeep of services
Church hall
Training and education
Depreciation
Printing and stationery
Office equipment rental
Office equipment maintenance
Telephone
Postage
Bank charges
Hall bad debts
Sundry expenses
**3(b)**
**Raising funds**
Fund Raising Events
Stewardship costs
**3(c)**
**Investment costs**
Maintenance costs
Agent fee
**3(d)**
**Governance costs**
Independent examiner's remuneration
**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
855
144,778
1,545
0
19,538
27,167
21,754
8,619
30,329
0
2,525
1,056
0
0
1,986
14
159
0
943
261,268
152
0
152
2,281
1,597
3,878
350
350
265,647|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
4,789
15,167
15,000
64
0
0
35,019
0
0
0
0
0
0
35,019|**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0|**TOTAL**
**2024**
**£**
**855**
**144,778**
**1,545**
**0**
**19,538**
**27,167**
**26,542**
**23,786**
**45,329**
**64**
**2,525**
**1,056**
**0**
**0**
**1,986**
**14**
**159**
**0**
**943**
**296,287**
**152**
**0**
**152**
**2,281**
**1,597**
**3,878**
**350**
**350**
**300,666**|**TOTAL**
**2023**
**£**
799
157,074
1,575
0
18,211
30,940
46,433
12,845
9,324
69
2,525
361
0
0
1,922
80
156
0
1,026| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||283,341| ||||||869
0| ||||||869| ||||||2,905
0| ||||||2,905| ||||||350| ||||||350| ||||||287,464| **Page 7** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2024** |**4(a)**
**STAFF COSTS**
Average number of employees
Wages and salaries
Pension
TOTAL|**2024**
**3**
**18,894**
**£**
**643**
**£**
**19,538**
**£**|**2023**
3| |---|---|---| |||17,599
£
613
£| |||18,211
£| Employer's NIC was not chargeable as the total for the Parish was less than the HMRC allowance of £3,000 p.a. During the year the PCC employed the following staff (all part-time): 1 x Administrator PCC 1 x Cleaner St Peter/St Fremund 1 x Musician St Peter ## **4(b) RELATED PARTIES** A congregation collection of £691 was received and paid to our departing curate the Revd Jenna Dearden (PCC trustee) through the PCC bank account but not using any PCC funds. No payments were made to any PCC member, persons closely connected to them or related parties (2023: None) during the year |**5**
**TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS**
**Priory Church of St Peter:**
Cheshire Fund dividends to Building Development Fund
Blackwell Fund dividends to Future Curacy Fund
Barnard Fund dividends to Easter Lilies Fund
MacKonochie Fund dividends to High Altar Christmas Flowers
Special collections to donations
AJ Ward Bequest to general funds
**6**
**FIXED ASSETS**
**Freehold**
**Land &**
**Buildings**
**Cost/Revaluation**
**£**
Cost at 1 January 2024
92,500
Revaluation at 1 Jan 2024
227,500
Additions
0
Disposals
0
At 31 December 2024
320,000
**Depreciation**
At 1 January 2024
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 December 2024
0
**Net book value**
At 31 December 2024
320,000
At 31 December 2023
320,000|Fund
**Church**
**Moveable**
**Furn/Equip**
**£**
18,632
0
0
18,632
15,442
2,525
0
17,967
665
3,190|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
481
188
442
50,000
51,111
**Church**
**Fixtures**
**& Fittings**
**£**
9,236
0
0
9,236
9,236
0
0
9,236
0
0|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
77
38
(442)
(50,000)
(50,327)
**Office**
**Equipment**
**£**
2,659
0
0
2,659
2,659
0
0
2,659
0
0|**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**
(481)
(188)
(77)
(38)| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||(784)| |||||**Total**
**£**
**123,028**
**227,500**
**0**
**0**| |||||**350,528**| |||||**27,338**
**2,525**
**0**| |||||**29,863**| |||||**320,665**| |||||**323,190**| Freehold land and buildings represent the house located at 95 Evelyn Road, Dunstable. This property was purchased prior to 1998 at an original cost of £92,500. The property was last valued at 31st December 2019. **Page 8** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 31st December 2024** ## **6 FIXED ASSETS (Continued)** Functional charitable land and buildings are not included in the balance sheet. This comprises the Priory Church Hall which has a valuation of approximately £200,000 (1997), The land was acquired by deed of grant from The Crown Estate in 1839 to be used as a school and later in 1923 the use was changed to that of church and similar meetings. Should this change, outside those permitted by the grants, there would be a right of re-entry to the Crown Estate. Therefore no commercial gain would be realised. ## **7 INVESTMENTS (ALL ENDOWMENT FUNDS)** |**Market value at 1 January 2024**
**Net gains/(losses)**
**Market value at 31 December 2024**
**Represented by:**
**No.**
**CCLA - CBF INVESTMENT FUND**
**of shares**
Barnard
122.00
Flory
430.38
Herington
50.51
MacKonochie
60.93
Share value at 31 December 2024 was £23.1227 (2023: £22.6053)
**CCLA - CBF FIXED INTEREST SECURITIES FUND**
Cheshire
12,858.00
Share value at 31 December 2024 was £1.4912 (2023: £1.4475)
**No.**
**CCLA - COIF CHARITIES**
**of units**
**ETHICAL INVESTMENT FUND - INCOME UNITS**
Blackwell
2,148.67
Share value at 31 December 2024 was £3.0926 (2023: £3.0100)
**TOTAL INVESTMENTS**|**2024**
**£**
**40,085**
**1,083**
**41,168**
**2,821**
**9,952**
**1,168**
**1,409**
**15,349**
**19,174**
**6,645**
**41,168**|**2023**
**£**
37,233
2,852| |---|---|---| |||40,085| |||2,758
9,729
1,142
1,377| |||15,006| |||18,612| |||6,468| |||40,085| **Page 9** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **For the year ended 31st December 2024** |**8**
**DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS**
HMRC -income tax recoverable
VAT reclaim
Schools - Chaplaincy services
Hall Lettings
Prepayments & Accrued Income
Other debtors
**9**
**SHORT TERM DEPOSITS**
CCLA - CBF C of E Deposit Fund
Nat West Bank - Reserve Account
CAF Bank - Gold Account
**10**
**CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND**
Nat West Bank
CAF Bank
Barclays Bank
Lloyds Bank
Cash in hand
**11**
**LIABILITIES**
Creditors: falling due in one year:
Accruals
Creditors for goods and services
Accountancy/Independent Exam.
Staff Pension costs
Special collections
Charity Grants
Hall advance lettings/deposits
Other creditors|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
20,144
544
2,918
6,070
6,062
352
36,089
41,693
30,636
0
72,329
3,977
24,226
1,026
657
259
30,146
2,183
0
350
643
290
345
250
0
4,061|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
0
0
0
0
2,572
0
2,572
214,335
3,026
0
217,361
0
41,966
957
0
0
42,923
200
0
0
0
70
0
0
0
270|**Endowment**
**funds**
**£**
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
7,742
0
0
0
7,742
0|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**20,144**
8,617
**544**
4,344
**2,918**
1,427
**6,070**
2,229
**8,634**
8,955
**352**
2,699
**38,661**
28,271
**256,028**
150,282
**33,662**
14,900
**0**
0
**289,690**
165,182
**3,977**
6,743
**73,934**
133,570
**1,983**
1,983
**657**
0
**259**
119
**80,811**
142,414
**2,383**
2,532
**0**
1,177
**350**
350
**643**
1,185
**360**
489
**345**
121
**250**
50
**0**
0
**4,331**
5,904
**TOTAL**|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**20,144**
8,617
**544**
4,344
**2,918**
1,427
**6,070**
2,229
**8,634**
8,955
**352**
2,699
**38,661**
28,271
**256,028**
150,282
**33,662**
14,900
**0**
0
**289,690**
165,182
**3,977**
6,743
**73,934**
133,570
**1,983**
1,983
**657**
0
**259**
119
**80,811**
142,414
**2,383**
2,532
**0**
1,177
**350**
350
**643**
1,185
**360**
489
**345**
121
**250**
50
**0**
0
**4,331**
5,904
**TOTAL**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||28,271| ||||||150,282
14,900
0| ||||||165,182| ||||||6,743
133,570
1,983
0
119| ||||||142,414| ||||||2,532
1,177
350
1,185
489
121
50
0| ||||||5,904| **Page 10** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **For the year ended 31st December 2024** ## **12 FUND DETAILS** |**12(a)**
**UNRESTRICTED FUNDS**
**PCC**
**Central**
**General Funds:**
**£**
General Purposes
4,393
Bequests, Legacies
Property Revaluation Reserve
4,393
**Designated Funds:**
**Sub groups**
Church Hall
Choirs
Bellringers
Flowers
Publications
**Total Sub groups**
**0**
**Other Designated**
Education Fund - PCC
627
Projects For 'Living God's Love'
3,025
Parish Sinking Fund
9,678
Community Coffee
Special Events
Flowers
Garden
Altar Frontals
Bells
Building Development
Future Curacy
Equipment
Heating System
Organ
**Total Other Designated**
13,329
**Total Designated Funds**
13,329
**Total Unrestricted Funds**
17,722|**St**
**Augustine**
**£**
30,741
30,741
**0**
971
31
1,002
1,002
31,743|**St**
**Fremund**
**£**
12,969
12,969
**0**
0
0
0
0
12,969|**Priory**
**Church of**
**St Peter**
**£**
31,409
0
320,000
351,409
15,806
578
3,614
486
1,443
**21,928**
464
5,507
1,661
2,127
419
9,219
0
19,397
41,325
392,734|**2024**
**£**
**79,512**
**0**
**320,000**
**399,512**
**15,806**
**578**
**3,614**
**486**
**1,443**
**21,928**
**627**
**3,025**
**9,678**
**971**
**31**
**0**
**0**
**464**
**5,507**
**1,661**
**2,127**
**419**
**9,219**
**0**
**33,729**
**55,656**
**455,168**|**2023**
**£**
35,167
0
320,000| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||355,167| ||||||24,651
1,295
3,514
546
1,443| ||||||**31,450**| ||||||596
2,877
9,204
834
31
85
0
464
5,257
1,661
2,127
400
9,025
2,712| ||||||35,272| ||||||66,722| ||||||421,889| **Page 11** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** **For the year ended 31st December 2024** ## **12(b) RESTRICTED FUNDS** |**Donor**
**Specified Purpose of Fund**
**St Augustine**
Mary Townsend legacy
Paschal candles
Mrs Jane Cart Trust
Work with young people
Mrs Jane Cart Trust
Mental Health Project
Donations
Messy church
Dunstable Town Council
Badminton
St Albans DBF
Asylum seekers
St Augustine congregation - variou Carpet & Maintenance
**St Fremund**
Vicky Faulkner bequest
Church hall interior/garage refurbishment
St Fremund Ladies Group
Notice boards
**Priory Church**
Special collections
Various
**of St Peter**
AJ Ward Bequest
For use by the Vicar and Churchwardens
Mary McKeand
In Memory of Winifred Guymer for education
Family of Olive Leech
Re-planting church garden
Church Choirs
Boys' and girls' choirs' singing visits
Phyllis Blake legacy
Mobile font, fabric and upkeep of church
Joe Kendrick grant
School visits
Anonymous
Servers' albs and accessories
Various
20/20 Vision for church refurbishment
Various
Easter and Christmas flowers
Audrey Rees legacy
Church Flower Fund
Anonymous
Church hall heating system maintenance
Priory Society of Bellringers
Maintenance/ repair of bells and other
restrictions for ringing as minuted
Anonymous
Curate's Expenses
Sue Read
Church linen
St Albans Diocese
Chaplaincy expenses
R R Barlow - Bequest 2022
Dunstable Priory Church
R R Barlow - Bequest 2022
Music at the Priory Church
Mrs Jane Cart Trust
Choral Scholarship
David Fowler - Bequest 2024
Specific items
David Fowler - Bequest 2024
Dunstable Priory Church|**2024**
**£**
**171**
**520**
**2,153**
**69**
**27**
**7**
**78**
**274**
**0**
**0**
**48,101**
**2,199**
**173**
**2,450**
**3,673**
**75**
**356**
**1,666**
**522**
**650**
**1,027**
**17,805**
**4,617**
**100**
**1,757**
**58,054**
**21,994**
**6,867**
**1,500**
**85,699**
**262,586**|**2023**
**£**
208
840
2,288
0
0
101
113
795
1,227
442
96,044
2,161
173
2,178
3,507
71
356
1,666
511
650
980
16,998
5,000
100
0
55,423
31,994
0
0
0| |---|---|---| |||223,824| ## **12(c) ENDOWMENT FUNDS** These are permanent endowments for the Priory Church of St Peter, Dunstable, which allow for the income arising to be spent on specified purposes as noted. |**Name of**
**Specified Purpose**
**Bequest**
Flory
Upkeep of the Lady Chapel
MacKonochie
High altar flowers at Christmas
Barnard
Easter lilies
Herington
Unrestricted
Cheshire
Upkeep of church and services
Blackwell
Augmentation of stipend for
assistant priest|**Permanent**
**Endowment**
**£**
9,952
1,409
2,821
1,168
19,174
6,645
41,168|**Income**
**Fund**
**£**
6,453
-

-
528
-
761
7,742|**TOTAL FUNDS**
**2024**
**£**
**16,405**
**1,409**
**2,821**
**1,695**
**19,174**
**7,406**
**48,910**|**2023**
**£**
15,912
1,377
2,758
1,638
18,612
7,229| |---|---|---|---|---| |||||47,525| ## **13 INSURANCE** The church buildings and contents are insured with the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group at the following sums insured: |St Augustine of Canterbury
St Fremund the Martyr
Priory Church of St Peter
Priory Church Hall
House at 95 Evelyn Road, Dunstable|**2024**
**£**
**3,330,000**
**3,330,000**
**29,250,000**
**730,028**
**403,085**
**37,043,113**|**2023**
**£**
3,330,000
3,330,000
29,250,000
711,338
397,130| |---|---|---| |||37,018,468| **Page 12** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** **For the year ended 31st December 2024** ## **14 CONNECTED CHARITY - THE NASH BEQUEST FUND** |The Nash Bequest Fund is restricted towards payments to curates.
At 31st December 2024 the fund comprised the following:
Administered by St Albans Diocesan Board of Finance:
CCLA - CBF C of E Investment Fund
CCLA - CBF C of E Deposit Fund
Administered by the Rector and Parish Churchwardens:
Nat West Bank - Current account
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**15**
**GRANTS RECEIVABLE**
**Specified Purpose**
**PCC**
Masonic Charitable Foundation
General Maintenance
**St Augustine**
Dunstable Town Council
Badminton
Asda
Catering Equipment
**St Fremund**
Mrs Jane Cart Trust
Lighting
**Priory Church of St Peter**
Dunstable Town Council
Floodlighting
Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust
General Maintenance
St Albans Diocese
Reaching New People (Youth)
Mrs Jane Cart Trust
Church Clock
Mrs Jane Cart Trust
Church Hall Toilets
Mrs Jane Cart Trust
Choral Scholarship
St Albans Diocese
Chaplaincy Fund
**TOTAL GRANTS RECEIVABLE**|**2024**
**£**
**31,632**
**3,671**
**35,303**
**10,023**
**45,326**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
3,785
400
0
76
79
250
254
**4,844**|**2023**
**£**
30,924
3,671
34,595
8,974
43,569
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
500
2,902
15,000
10,000
2,015
**30,417**|**Total**
**£**
3,785
500
400
2,902
76
79
250
254
15,000
10,000
2,015| |---|---|---|---| ||||**35,261**| ## **16 GRANTS PAYABLE - CHARITABLE** |**GRANTS PAYABLE - CHARITABLE**||| |---|---|---| |**St Augustine**
Smile Train
RNIB
Bishop's Harvest Appeal
Beds & Herts Historic Churches
**Priory Church of St Peter**
Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust
Bedfordshire Association of Bellringers
Dunstable Food Bank
**TOTAL GRANTS PAYABLE**|**2024**
**£**
173
173
40
40
70
360
**855**|**2023**
**£**
297
40
40
63
360| |||799| **Page 13** ## **THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF DUNSTABLE REGISTERED CHARITY No. 1130250** ## **ANNUAL REPORT TO THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** ## **Aim and Purposes** The primary object of the Parochial Church Council (PCC) is the promotion of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The statutory function of the PCC is to co-operate with its ministers in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish of Dunstable the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. ## **Objectives and activities** The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to join in worship and mission and to become part of our parish community. The PCC maintains an overview of worship and mission throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how activities can reach and involve people throughout the parish and beyond. Worship puts faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. When planning activities in 2024, the PCC considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and in particular the guidance on charities seeking the advancement of religion. Primarily, the PCC tried to help ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community, with activity that addressed this need through: - Worship and prayer - Pastoral care and support for people living in the Parish - Mission and outreach work To facilitate the activities, it was and is important to maintain the fabric of the church buildings and premises for which the PCC is responsible. ## **Achievements and Performance** ## _Worship and prayer_ The PCC worked to support as many people as possible to worship at our churches and to become part of the Parish community in Dunstable. The PCC maintained an overview of worship throughout the Parish and looked to improve on how our services could involve the many communities and groups 14 that live within the Parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer, scripture, music and sacrament. All three churches also continued to offer online worship. Newsletters and social media enabled contact to continue and new contacts to be made, helping the PCC to fulfil its objectives in new ways and changing circumstances. During Lent members of our churches joined with people from other churches in Dunstable for shared Bible study in different contexts and traditions. In Eastertide our clergy led a well-attended parish quiet day in a neighbouring parish church. Through the year our churches offered various courses studying the Bible, prayer and spirituality, which were well supported. ## _Pastoral care and support for people living in the Parish_ In 2024 the clergy conducted occasional offices for those living in the Parish, or connected with it: |Baptisms (up to age 12)|11|(2023: 21)| |---|---|---| |Baptisms (over age 12)|2|(2023: 14)| |Confirmations|11|(2023: 32)| |Marriages|6|(2023: 8)| |Funerals in church|29|(2023: 33)| |Funerals at cemetery or crematorium|12|(2023: 14)| ## _Mission and outreach_ The Revd Tim Davis continued to provide chaplaincy services to two local diocesan secondary school academies - All Saints Academy and Manshead Academy. Our clergy regularly led collective worship with the two church schools affiliated with our churches - Ashton St Peter's Primary School and St Augustine's Academy - and our clergy and lay people served as governors in those schools. Our churches continued to support asylum seekers staying temporarily in Dunstable, several of whom worshipped regularly in our churches, though by the end of 2024 nearly all of them had moved (or been moved) elsewhere. All three churches continued to let their halls to external users, raising income and strengthening links with the local community. ## _**Further details of activities in each of our three churches appear in the Appendix to this Report.**_ ## **Parish Electoral Roll** Adults and young people involved in the churches’ worship and activities are encouraged to join the Parish Electoral Roll and vote for churchwardens and officers of the PCC and DCCs. As at the annual meeting in March 2024, the number on the Electoral Roll was 237, an overall increase of 17 from 2023, distributed as follows: |Priory Church of St Peter|155 (2023: 132)| |---|---| |St Augustine|58 (2023: 61)| |St Fremund|24 (2023: 27)| 15 ## **Structure, governance and management** The Parish of Dunstable is part of the Diocese of St Albans in the Church of England. It comprises the PCC and the three District Church Councils (DCCs) of the Priory Church of St Peter, St Augustine of Canterbury and St Fremund the Martyr. The ministry team in 2024 comprised: Team Rector, the Revd Rachel Phillips; Team Vicars the Revd Ricky Turner and the Revd Tim Davis; Assistant Curate the Revd Jenna Dearden (until July); Parish Reader Keith King, who was licensed in 2023 and based at St Augustine’s Church; towards the end of 2024, he began to explore funeral ministry. The parish also benefited from the ministry of Iain Grant, an ordinand on placement at St Augustine's for 18 months until his ordination in June. In July we were sad to say goodbye to the Revd Jenna Dearden as she completed her curacy with us and moved to her new ministry as Priest in Charge of a group of parishes elsewhere in Bedfordshire. The Annual Parish Church Meeting was held on 3 March 2024 in the Priory Church, to approve the accounts and various reports for 2023, together with elections of PCC members. ## **PCC** The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. PCC members include the clergy and churchwardens; representatives to the deanery and diocesan synods; and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the parish. All those who attend our services are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including deciding how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. The full PCC held four ordinary meetings during the year, receiving reports from the churchwardens of the three churches and discussing matters for which the PCC is responsible, including finance, safeguarding, health & safety and data protection. There were a further four meetings of the PCC’s Standing/Finance Committee. The PCC devoted its June meeting to considering the long-term sustainability of St Fremund's Church, in the light of declining numbers and finances. St Fremund's undertook to conduct wide consultation and to work towards a new vision for the church and its mission in the parish. At its meeting in October the PCC discussed the Church of England's guidance for blessing same-sex relationships and unanimously agreed to affirm the Church's desire to bless same-sex relationships and to support clergy who conduct such blessings in our churches. ## **Safeguarding** Throughout the year, the PCC complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). 16 ## **Trustees** PCC members who have served at any time from 1 January 2024 until the date this report was approved are: ## _**Ex officio members**_ ## _Clergy_ The Revd Rachel Phillips Incumbent/Team Rector The Revd Tim Davis Team Vicar The Revd Ricky Turner Team Vicar The Revd Jenna Dearden Assistant Curate (until 7 July 2024) ## _Licensed Reader_ Keith King _Churchwardens_ Shauna Dyke Churchwarden (Priory Church of St Peter) Pam Ingram Churchwarden (St Fremund) from 3 March 2024 Nicola Kershaw Churchwarden (St Augustine) from 3 March 2024 Jackie Prince Churchwarden (St Augustine) until 3 March 2024 Gill Short Churchwarden (Priory Church of St Peter) until 3 March 2024 Rosemary Turley Churchwarden (St Augustine) Georgina West Churchwarden (St Fremund) ## _**Elected members**_ Keren Bonner John Bradley also PCC Treasurer Pam Ingram until 3 March 2024 Kate Klimaytys Janet Morton Jamie Murray also PCC Secretary Jackie Prince from 3 March 2024 Judy Read Gill Short from 3 March 2024 Veronica Yates from 3 March 2024 Christopher Young from 3 March 2024 The PCC remains thankful to the large number of volunteers who give generously of their time and talents, supporting mission and growth throughout the Parish. 17 ## **Financial review** The PCC Treasurer coordinated the volunteer treasurers of the three DCC’s and to ensure that financial records were maintained for the preparation of annual accounts for the individual churches and the consolidated accounts for the Parish. The net Parish assets increased by £73,426 to £766,664 (2023: £693,238). Total income of all funds for the year was £373,009 which increased by £113,661 from £259,348 in 2023. This was made up as follows: - Legacies were £88,810 for the year which was £74,242 higher than 2023 - Grants received were £35,261, up from 2023 by £16,246. The Mrs Jane Cart Trust gave 2 grants to the Priory Church, £15,000 to support the refurbishment of the church hall toilets, and £10,000 for a choral scholarship programme, and a 3[rd] grant to St Fremund church for their lighting. The Masonic Charitable Foundation gave £3,785 to the PCC for the general maintenance of the charity, and the St Albans Diocese gave £2,015 to support the Chaplaincy work - The total of all donations and tax recovered was £109,515 in line with 2023 - Open plate collections were £240 lower than 2023 at £9,421 - Hall hire was up by £4,511 at £57,623 with a further £5,908 insurance claim to cover lost income at St Fremund - Fees for weddings and funerals rose by £4,118 to £13,351 - Fund raising fell by £1,912 to £8,194 - Rental income rose by £7,188 to £14,388 - Interest increased by £4,176 to £11,308 Total expenditure of all funds for the year was £300,666, an increase of £13,201 on 2023 although it included exceptional costs of £34,545 relating to the St Peter’s church hall toilet refurbishment, £10,511 for Organ repairs, and £4,174 at St Fremund for the lighting and notice Board, which were paid for by a grant and a restricted donation. Excluding the exceptional items in each year, the regular costs decreased by £4,561. The key changes were a £12,296 reduction in parish share paid, £3,773 decrease in running costs caused by the drop in energy prices and prudent energy management. Upkeep of services were up £10,941 mainly due to the £10,000 (£3,333 in 2023) being spent on our Choir Leader at St Peter from the Ray Barlow bequest for music, and the £2,333 for the choral scholarship from the Mrs Jane Cart Trust. Of the total, income for unrestricted funds was £247,815 of which £145,295 came from voluntary income including planned giving of gift aid donations, income tax recoverable, other planned giving, sundry donations, chaplaincy contributions, grants and legacies. Church activities included £57,623 for hall lettings and £13,351 fees received for weddings and funerals. Fund raising brought in £8,036 and rental income from the freehold property £14,388. Expenditure on unrestricted funds was £265,647 of which the major cost was £144,778 being the Parish’s quota contribution to the Diocese of St Albans. This was £12,296 lower than last year due to the St Fremund share only being paid for 6 months of the year. Other expenditure incurred was £19,538 for Staff Costs, £3,112 for Organ repairs, £54,428 for church running, maintenance and upkeep of services, £19,548 for the hall toilet refurbishment and £10,781 for church halls running/maintenance costs. 18 Restricted funds income of £124,108 came mainly from £30,417 of grants, £84,389 from a legacy and £8,729 interest. Restricted funds expenditure of £35,019 was mainly made up of St Fremund lighting and signage of £4,754, Choir honoraria and scholarship costs of £13,133. And Church Hall toilet refurbishment of £15,000. Net movement in Parish funds, after fund transfers (including £50,000 transfer from restricted legacies to cover current losses on general funds) and investment gains, is summarised as follows: - Unrestricted Funds net surplus £33,279 - • Restricted Funds net surplus £38,762 • Endowment Funds net surplus £ 1,385 • Total Net surplus £73,426 Reserves carried forward at 31 December 2024 for unrestricted funds for general purposes were £455,168 of which £55,656 had been allocated for sub-groups and designated funds, leaving a net balance of £399,512. Fixed assets account for £320,665 of this, leaving current assets of £78,847. It should be noted that fixed assets include a current selling valuation of £320,000 for the clergy house at 95 Evelyn Road, Dunstable which was the curate’s residence and is now let out. **Approved by the PCC on 12 February 2025 and signed on their behalf by the Reverend Rachel Phillips (PCC chair)** 19 ## **APPENDIX** _**Activities in each of the three churches in the Parish**_ 20 ## **PRIORY CHURCH OF ST PETER** ## _**Church Close, Dunstable LU5 4RU**_ ## **Worship and Prayer** The Priory Church held special services celebrating Candlemas, Easter, Pentecost, All Souls, Remembrance Sunday, Advent and Christmas. Attendance at all our Christmas services continued to rise, as in each year since the Covid pandemic. Other special services included: - The Mayor of Dunstable's civic service. - A confirmation service led by the Bishop of Bedford, who confirmed 11 adults and young people from the Priory Church and St Augustine's Church. - The annual thanksgiving service hosted by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Bedfordshire, with many VIPs and invited guests from across Bedfordshire. - Archdeacon's Visitation, with commissioning of 75 churchwardens from across Bedfordshire. - A pre-recorded service broadcast by the Church of England as its weekly national online service, receiving over 100,000 views worldwide. - The biennial service of thanksgiving for life and legacy of Mrs Jane Cart, who lived in Dunstable in the 18th century and whose legacy continues to support numerous local charitable activities. The Jane Cart memorial sermon was preached by Canon Professor Elaine Graham. Services were live-streamed on YouTube every Sunday and on other special occasions. During Lent and Advent, Compline was live-streamed on Facebook every night. The Priory Church Choir - principally children, joined by adults on special occasions - continued to flourish and grow in confidence. In June, they performed a concert in St Martin in the Fields in London, with St Martin's own children's choir. Thanks to a generous grant from the Mrs Jane Cart Trust, the Priory Church launched a scheme for teenaged choral scholars, to lead the singing in worship alongside the existing children's choir. The first four choral scholars were commissioned by the Bishop of Bedford at the Mrs Jane Cart thanksgiving service in October. Over 20 members of the congregation participated in the Bible Society's 8-week Bible course over the summer and a similar number in a 4-week Advent course looking at the Christmas story from different perspectives. ## **Mission and outreach** The Rector and Assistant Curate led weekly collective worship and twice termly church services for Ashton St Peter's Primary School. The Rector and lay people appointed by the PCC served as governors of the school. 21 We welcomed groups from a number of local primary schools to learn about history and RE. In June we held an afternoon singing event for children from four local primary schools. Priory Tots (0-5s) and occasional Messy Church events continued to serve local young families. The Rector led monthly services for residents in a local care home. With a local funeral director, we continued to run a monthly group for people who have been bereaved, offered to the whole community. Throughout the year the Priory Church was open to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays, staffed by a growing team of volunteers offering a warm welcome with hot drinks and biscuits. Monthly coffee morning on Saturdays continued to draw good numbers of local people. The Rector was chaplain to both mayors of Dunstable who served during the year. The Rector and other church officers served as trustees of a number of long-established local charities supporting people in need. The Priory Church hosted a number of concerts performed by local choirs and ensembles; musical and other events for local schools; a Ukrainian Easter event to support the local Ukrainian community; the annual torchlight procession involving hundreds of local schoolchildren when the town's Christmas lights were switched on; and a very successful Christmas tree festival with trees decorated by many local schools, businesses and community groups. ## **Buildings and Fabric** In 2024 a Fabric Committee was formed to support the churchwarden and together issues are being accomplished from the Quinquennial report of 2021, the recent Ecclesiastical Risk Assessment and the summer Bedfordshire Fire Service Inspection. The ongoing pigeon guano problem on a west front ledge is being investigated but the scaffolding is proving a very expensive outlay for the Grade 1 church, but research is ongoing. The main body of the church building has been provided with a 5 year electrical certificate but the separate, underground boiler room has asbestos so the certificate is incomplete. Ecclesiastical Insurance have given the church 12 months (November 2025) to enable the electrician to finish the inspection after safely decontaminating the boiler room. Following the Fire Service inspection, fire safety management within the building is being organized, such as the emergency lighting, evacuation plans, signage, staff training and drills. All these major problems and the consequences are being investigated thoroughly, seeking help and support from the Diocese and reputable companies. 22 ## **ST AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY** ## _**Oakwood Ave, Dunstable LU5 4AR**_ ## **Worship and Prayer** St Augustine’s Church held a good number of special services and study groups in 2024, including: - A Holocaust Memorial Day service in January - Messy Church services with growing numbers of children and their families - The Character Course – a popular study course which took place in May and June at St Augustine’s Vicarage - An All-Age Christingle Service – our first in many years - A ‘Pop Nativity’ which was very well attended and featured a good-sized choir from St Augustine’s Academy - A Christmas Carol Service with prayers and a collection for the people of Ukraine - Advent and Lent Lunch Group – which were very well attended - Regular church visits from children, staff and parents/carers for services and activity days (E.g. Termly Joint Class Services and RE Active Church) - In June we held a farewell service for our parish curate The Revd Jenna Dearden and for Iain Grant, who was on placement with us for 18 months whilst training for ordination - Compline at St Augustine's takes place on the last Sunday of each month and is seeing growing monthly numbers. It is a lovely short, quiet reflective organised by Keith King our Reader. ## **Mission and Outreach** St Augustine’s Church continued to host Dunstable Foodbank. The Revd Ricky Turner is a Trustee, Vice-Chair and Safeguarding Lead of Dunstable Foodbank. St Augustine’s Church’s Renew26 (a wellbeing space in partnership with the charity Renew Wellbeing) celebrated its first anniversary in January. Community Coffee Mornings were held every first and third Friday in the month st St Augustine's and have continued to be well supported. In July it welcomed our Safer Communities Officer who offered advice and personal safety equipment including personal alarms, RFID wallets, and advice about scams and drink spiking. St Augustine’s Church held a good number of fundraising and social events including a Burn’s Supper, a new Summer Cinema for children and families, two boat trips which were very well attended and our Crafty Sewers Group which started in the Autumn. The Revd Ricky Turner continues to lead Collective Worship at St Augustine’s Academy bi-weekly including special Wild Worship services in the Forest School. The Revd Ricky Turner continues to lead monthly Holy Communion services at two local care homes. 23 ## **Buildings and Fabric** Repairs to Choir vestry wall damaged by car at St Augustine's Church: We now have approval from Ecclesiastical Insurance and await a date for the repairs to commence from Castle Building, the delay has been due to obtaining permission, replacement material and Christmas activities. The repairs to the roof remain an issue. Castle Building have inspected the roof and have noted that it has had multiple repairs none of which seem to have been undertaken to high standard. There are numerous areas of poor construction allowing water to penetrate. It was also noted that the skylight had not been well fitted. Under the terms of the insurance maintenance and poor workmanship are excluded. We have just received settlement terms from the loss adjuster. We are now seeking quotes for a repair. St Augustine's has achieved Bronze Eco Church Award in recognition of the efforts made to care for God's earth in the areas of Worship and teaching, Management of buildings and land, Community and global engagement and lifestyle. 24 ## **ST FREMUND THE MARTYR** ## _**185 Westfield Rd, Dunstable LU6 1DR**_ ## **Worship and prayer** Tim led special services for Mothering Sunday, Palm Sunday, Good Friday (the final hour) and Easter Sunday. He also led the Good Friday Morning service at the Quadrant shopping centre. We celebrated God's provision for us on Sunday 6th October via our Café Church Harvest service. The charity we supported for this is Trussell Trust's Dunstable Foodbank. We celebrated All Saints Day on Sunday 3rd November to remind ourselves of the importance and influence of significant people of the faith that have gone before us. Coupled with that was All Souls Day (2nd November) where we remembered those better known to us personally, for all that was good in their lives and thanking God for their safe eternal lodging. We had our Remembrance Sunday Service on 10th November where we celebrated a Holy Communion service with an Act of Remembrance around 11a.m. Tim led Christmas services of Carol Service 3rd Sunday in December (15th) and Christmas Eve Crib Service (24th) – 4p.m. followed by Carols in the hall with mince pies, tea/coffee/hot chocolate. He also did a Christingle service for year 3 Beecroft Academy on Tuesday 10th December. A monthly short informal midweek service of Holy Communion is held on Tuesdays prior to ‘Come for a Cuppa’. We continue to have alternate provision between Holy Communion and a Worship for All format and numbers are more or less 17-22 attendees each week. ## **Mission and outreach** Tim ran a 2nd “Be Still” Course in the evenings at 7.30 p.m on Wednesdays in Jan/Feb 2024 which explored the simple, transformative practice of a daily quiet time with God; what it is, and how we might improve the quality of our relationship with God. Resources from 24-7 Prayer.com. This was very interesting and gave us lots to reflect upon. Whilst not official training, Tim showed us a documentary drama about a safeguarding concern and opened it up for discussion afterwards. This was held on two consecutive Thursday evenings; 10th & 17th of October in the church/hall. The documentary was based on the Bishop Peter Ball case and we discussed its implications. Sunday (17th Nov - 2nd Before Advent) was Safeguarding Sunday giving us an opportunity to have further focus on safeguarding. We also watched a video on The importance of Safeguarding. We continue to support the local Foodbank and the Co-Op fair Share. ‘Come for a Cuppa’ continues every Tuesday afternoon and remains popular. During 2024 we have offered 3 lunches for people who would normally eat alone – hence the name Singles Lunches. We cook and serve a 2 course lunch and are delighted that this is now not just a St 25 Fremund’s group with people from the Priory and Newlands (St Katherine’s) Church joining us. We have managed to keep our price (£5) the same. When the church hall was out of action we organised a singles lunch at The Farmers Boy pub in Kensworth on Sunday March 17th. Tim reports that Schools work continues to be progressing well and is settling into a general routine doing similar things in the two schools but in different ways; reading Collective Worship, writing articles, doing one-to-one work with students and occasionally assisting in lessons as well as being a visible Christian presence. ## **Buildings and fabric** St Fremund’s Year 2024 was really a year of two halves. On 19th January overnight the church hall became flooded from a pipe bursting in the roof space. This rendered the hall un-useable for the next 6 months whilst repairs were carried out. No hall use was possible, the flood affected the heating, electricity and destroyed a large part of the ceiling needing total replacement. Our insurance company (Ecclesiastical) were extremely helpful and covered the full costs of the repairs to the hall, ceiling and redecoration. We also received recompense for the loss of hall hire income and the inflated fuel costs for use of dehumidifiers and heating used to dry out the building. We had to withdraw all our general funds from our CCLA account to make sure our current account did not overdraw with the reduction in income during the months of the claim and refurbishment. We also received a grant from the Jane Cart Trust which was used to install LED lighting in the hall for better economy. At our MAP meeting, Rev. Tim presented his vision for the future of St Fremund’s Church considering our dwindling congregation and funds. There are a number of options for the future of St Fremund’s ranging from minor re-ordering of the internal layout to completely knocking it down and rebuilding. The thoughts of those present were discussed and it was agreed that the wider community‘s views should be sought too. A “welcome back” coffee morning was held in October when the hall was fully restored to allow the hall hirers an opportunity to recruit new members by demonstrating and displaying their courses. An impromptu Zumba lesson was held and enjoyed by those who could join in. The coffee morning also launched a consultation exercise with various residents and stakeholders in the community to get a real feel of what the biggest needs in the community are and if and how we might be able to serve this area of Dunstable more effectively. Attendees and the congregation’s views were and are still being sought in the form of a questionnaire. Results have yet to be fully collated. This is a 2-5 year project. The new notice board outside St Fremund’s Church was put up in October 2024 making advertising Church services and other activities more visible. Once full use of the hall was possible, most hall hirers returned, and we could start fundraising again. 26 Holding a successful Christmas fayre and offering regular singles lunches for the community. There are still many jobs to do in the garden and hall so it was agreed that we continue to have a maintenance morning every second Saturday in the month, 10 am -12 MD. We are also hoping to have a Thursday Evening Gardening Group over the Summer 7.30 – 9.30 p.m, weather permitting. 27