The Parochial Church Council of Cheltenham St Paul
Annual Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2022
Trustees Report
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Administrative information
St. Paul’s Church is situated in St. Paul’s, Cheltenham. It is part of the Diocese of Gloucester within the Church of England. The correspondence address is St Paul’s Old School, St Paul’s Rd, Cheltenham GL50 4EZ.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a registered charity with charity number 1130330.
PCC members who have served from 1[st] January 2022 until the date this report was approved are:
| Incumbent | Rev R Widdecombe | Chairman |
|---|---|---|
| Wardens | Mr B Booth | Vice Chairman |
| Mr J Platt | ||
| Elected Members | Mrs A Burton | Treasurer |
| Mr M Constance | To Oct 2022 | |
| Mr N Denniss | ||
| Miss S Hillman | ||
| Mr M Hirst | ||
| Mr A Jenkins | ||
| Mr C Meredith | ||
| Mr S Russell | ||
| Mr D Chatfeld | ||
| Mrs L Constant-Ford |
Structure, governance and management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.
Objectives and Activities
St. Paul’s Cheltenham PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, Roger Widdecombe, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for St. Paul’s Church and associated property.
A chievements and Performance
Church attendance
There are 114 people on the Church Electoral Roll; this number is the same as last year. There were thirteen PCC members throughout the year. The average weekly attendances, counted during October, were 92 adults and 43 children, but these numbers increased significantly on special occasions such as the Christmas services. Changes in the risks of the coronavirus pandemic continued to affect attendance at different times in the year.
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Review of the Year 2022
Throughout 2022, we have continued to sense the call to deepen personal discipleship journeys and equip church members to walk closely with God through all seasons of life. Much of our activity, teaching and ministry focused on discipleship, as well as trying to strengthen the sense of community which we recognise as central to being able to do discipleship well. Another key value identified in the previous year, equipping and releasing more lay people into leading different aspects of our ministry, was built upon, with new ministry, small group and gathering leaders being trained. Both Kris Forster and Jemima Downing have settled well into their ministries, and the staff team has thus consolidated and spent a lot of time working on some ‘big picture’ discipleship tools to be introduced and implemented in 2023.
Gatherings
With covid restrictions more or less behind us, almost all of our active members have returned to worship in-person, with live-streaming remaining for a few exceptional cases only. We’ve also seen an increasing number of new faces, which has resulted in a sense of growing once again as a community, after a few years of maintenance - and even decline - during the pandemic. A particular encouragement in recent months is that we are becoming more diverse as a community, having a sense of God bringing people to us with heritage from around the world.
Since reestablishing at the end of 2021, our Children’s and Youth Sunday Ministries are now flourishing again at the end of 2022. A ‘baby boom’ this year has also resulted in the development of plans for a glass room within the nave of the church to allow our increasing number of parents of young babies to have a relaxed space in which to continue engaging with Sunday Gatherings.
Community Mission and Care
As we have continued to build on discipleship through 2022, Community Mission and Care has not expanded a great deal, but has continued in Foodbank and seasonal events such as Christmas Craft Fair. We were also able to bless many household with gift cards for food at Christmas due to the generous donation from a local business.
Staffing
After a few years containing lots of change in the Staff Team, 2022 was a calmer year in which the new team were able to settle and form strong relationships together. Jemima Downing and Kris Forster both continued to establish their visions for Kids and Youth Ministries and inject enthusiasm and life into a wide range of midweek and Sunday provision. In January, Rachel Bourner was promoted to Operations Manager, in April Jemima Downing was promoted to full time Children’s Pastor and Lauren Atherton began as a volunteer Admin Assistant. The team spent time throughout the year developing the ‘Grow Circle’, a discipleship tool to be launched in 2023. Hannah Widdecombe continued to lead alongside Roger in many areas of ministry and church life, particularly in discipleship and the equipping of Small Group leaders to deliver the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Course in their groups.
Fabric Report 2022
There weren’t any significant material changes to our buildings in 2022. However, plans for the future took a significant turn when the PCC received a rejection of the planning application for our original building project. This caused the PCC to reconsider the objectives of the project and it was agreed that the needs and solutions proposed should be reevaluated.
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Alongside this, the ‘baby boom’ in 2022 resulted in PCC agreeing to the installation of a soundproof glass room in the back of the nave, to be used by parents and babies during our Sunday gatherings. The plans for this were approved in the Autumn term, and the work is hoped to be completed in the Spring of 2023.
PCC Report
PCC had one full meeting, in January, before the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in April, and four afterwards, in May, July, October and November.
PCC spent time discussing the progress of the building project during 2022; sensing a call to reevaluate the church’s needs and available solutions in light of the first application’s rejection. In addition to this, the PCC discussed a renovation of the toilets in the current extension and the installation of the ‘Baby Room’ in the nave.
Having been approved at the very end of 2021, Esther Caffell continued her role as Safeguarding Officer for Children and Young People throughout 2022, with Roger Widdecombe as Safeguarding
Having ring fenced money for the youth pastor role for three years PCC have been encouraged to not have needed to use it and thus more resource will be available for the building project when the time comes. Other financial actions included approving the previous year’s accounts and approving the 2022 budget, for which the PCC was confident to approve a deficit.
Finally, PCC once again reviewed the policy on mission giving. We will continue to give at least 10% of unrestricted income to external giving. In 2022, we supported four main mission partners, AFIRM (India), Church Army/Superkidz (London), Development Aid Nepal and Rapha Medica (Nigeria), and also made sizeable donations to Christians Against Poverty, The Rock, GodFirst Church (Barry), Cheltenham’s SPEAR Centre, Chris & Abi Arnold in Kenya, The Salvation Army and International Justice Mission.
Financial Review
On ordinary unrestricted funds total receipts were £212,373 and total payments £185,871. On restricted funds total receipts were £24500 and total payments £6475. Total receipts were therefore £236873 and total payments £192346 giving a net result for the year of an excess of receipts over payments of £44527. Details can be found in the Financial Statements.
It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds (if possible) to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. The PCC has funds restricted to the Vestries Building Project, Membership Hardship, Community Hardship and Organ.
It is PCC policy to invest fund balances in accounts that are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Approved by the PCC on 27/03/2023 and signed on its behalf by
Roger Widdecombe Chairman
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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL CHELTENHAM
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2022
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
| RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Unrestricted ** | Designated | Restricted | Total | Total | Notes | |
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2022 | 2021 | ||
| Incoming resources | ||||||
| Voluntary income | ||||||
| Planned giving | 168885 | 168885 | 167761 | |||
| Collections,donations and other giving | 300 | 4024 | 24200 | 28524 | 10595 | 1 |
| Income tax recovered | 33624 | 957 | 300 | 34881 | 34239 | 2 |
| Legacies | ||||||
| Activities for raising funds | ||||||
| Lettings | 1753 | 1753 | ||||
| Investment income | ||||||
| Interest and dividends | 794 | 794 | 790 | |||
| Income from charitable activities | ||||||
| Parochial fees | 1523 | 1523 | 1037 | |||
| Other incoming resources | ||||||
| Other | 513 | 513 | 317 | |||
| Total receipts | 207392 | 4981 | 24500 | 236873 | 214739 | |
| Resources expended | ||||||
| Charitable activities | ||||||
| Donations/grants to charities | 26622 | 26622 | 26550 | |||
| Mission and evangelism | 4904 | 4904 | 7245 | 3 | ||
| Parish share | 56000 | 56000 | 58700 | 4 | ||
| Clergy expenses | 3457 | 3457 | 3868 | |||
| Church running expenses | 24276 | 24276 | 24496 | 5 | ||
| Churchyard maintenance | 161 | 161 | 1704 | |||
| Cost of raising funds | ||||||
| Running costs | ||||||
| Support costs | 1098 | 1098 | 5727 | 6 | ||
| Administration costs | 42308 | 23357 | 65665 | 69592 | 7 | |
| Other | 3426 | 6475 | 9901 | 8157 | ||
| Major expenditure | ||||||
| Repairs to church buildings | 262 | 262 | 3485 | |||
| Repairs to other buildings | ||||||
| Capital purchases/additions | ||||||
| Total resources expended | 135892 | 49979 | 6475 | 192346 | 209524 | |
| Net (outgoing) incoming resources | 71500 | -44998 | 18025 | 44527 | 5215 | |
| Transfers between funds | -71500 | 71500 | 0 | |||
| Net (outgoing) incoming resources | 0 | 26502 | 18025 | 44527 | 5215 |
The Parochial Church Council of St Paul Cheltenham Annual Report and Accounts 2022
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL CHELTENHAM
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
| 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | 2021 | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payments | Receipts | Payments | Receipts | ||
| Missions and Charities Fund (Designated Fund) | |||||
| Church Army | 1657 | 1700 | |||
| Superkidz Community Trust | 1657 | 1700 | |||
| AFIRM India | 3315 | 4400 | |||
| Rapha Medica Project | 3315 | 4400 | |||
| Development Aid Nepal | 3315 | 4400 | |||
| Salvation Army Victim Care Fund | 500 | 500 | |||
| CAP Cheltenham Debt Centre | 1000 | 1000 | |||
| International Justice Mission | 1500 | 1500 | |||
| The Rock | 1000 | 2000 | |||
| Ukraine | 4212 | ||||
| Godfirst Church Barry (R&R Gronow) | 1000 | 2200 | |||
| CBH - St Paul's Events and Activities | |||||
| SPEAR | 2500 | ||||
| Chris and Abigail Arnold (Kenya) | 1500 | 1600 | |||
| Trinity Sri Lanka mission partner | 1000 | ||||
| Children's Society | 150 | 150 | |||
| Community Fund | |||||
| Donations | 4024 | 6000 | |||
| Tax refunds | 957 | ||||
| From PCC General Fund | 19716 | 14800 | |||
| Deficit | 1924 | 5750 | |||
| Totals | 26621 | 26621 | 26550 | 26550 | |
| Contingency Fund (Designated Fund) | |||||
| From PCC General Fund | 51784 | 23800 | 8 | ||
| To Youth Pastor Fund | 105000 | ||||
| Income | |||||
| Expenditure | |||||
| Surplus | 51784 | 81200 | |||
| Totals | 51784 | 51784 | 105000 | 105000 | |
| Vestries Building Project Fund (Restricted Fund) | |||||
| Donations | 21000 | ||||
| Tax refunds | |||||
| Expenditure | |||||
| Surplus | 21000 | ||||
| Totals | 21000 | 21000 | 0 | 0 |
The Parochial Church Council of St Paul Cheltenham Annual Report and Accounts 2022
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL CHELTENHAM
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT (CONTINUED)
| 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | 2021 | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payments | Receipts | Payments | Receipts | ||
| Community Fund (Restricted Fund) | 9 | ||||
| Donations | 2300 | ||||
| Tax refunds | 75 | ||||
| Net community meals expenditure | 275 | ||||
| Net community meals income | 40 | ||||
| Expenditure | 1915 | ||||
| Gift to Feed Cheltenham | |||||
| Donation from PCC | |||||
| Surplus | 460 | 235 | |||
| Totals | 2375 | 2375 | 275 | 275 | |
| Hardship Fund (Restricted Fund) | 10 | ||||
| Donations from members | 900 | 600 | |||
| Tax refunds | 225 | 160 | |||
| Grant (Barnwood Trust) | |||||
| Gifts to members | 4560 | 4150 | |||
| Deficit | 3435 | 3390 | |||
| Totals | 4560 | 4560 | 4150 | 4150 | |
| Organ Fund (Restricted Fund) | |||||
| There were no transactions in either | 2021 or 2022. | ||||
| Youth Pastor Fund (Designated Fund) | 11 | ||||
| From Contingency Fund | 105000 | ||||
| Rental received (24SPSN) | 4800 | 1200 | |||
| Deposit returned | 1264 | ||||
| Salary, Expenses and Rental paid | 29421 | 10410 | |||
| Deficit/Surplus | 23357 | 95790 | |||
| Totals | 29421 | 29421 | 106200 | 106200 |
The Parochial Church Council of St Paul Cheltenham Annual Report and Accounts 2022
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL CHELTENHAM
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
| **Unrestricted ** | Designated | Restricted | Total | Total | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | Funds | 2022 | 2021 | ||
| Fixed assets | ||||||
| 24 St Paul's Street North | 250000 | 250000 | 250000 | |||
| Current assets | ||||||
| Cash funds | ||||||
| NatWest current account | 13440 | 119846 | 16500 | 149786 | 111818 | |
| Virgin deposit fund | 72433 | 12567 | 85000 | 85000 | ||
| Shawbrook (CAF) deposit fund | 85000 | 85000 | 85000 | |||
| Co-Operative Community Direct Accou | 6560 | 6560 | 12 | |||
| Total current and deposit accounts | 20000 | 192279 | 114067 | 326346 | 281818 | 13 |
| Other monetary assets | ||||||
| Income tax recoverable | 8167 | 5287 | 13454 | 8362 | ||
| VAT refundable | ||||||
| Youth pastor house deposit | 1263 | |||||
| Miscellaneous assets | 450 | |||||
| Total other monetary assets | 8167 | 0 | 5287 | 13454 | 10075 | |
| Total current assets | 28167 | 192279 | 119354 | 339800 | 291893 | |
| Total assets | 278167 | 192279 | 119354 | 589800 | 541893 | |
| Liabilities | ||||||
| Utility companies | 515 | 515 | 1038 | |||
| Diocese of Gloucester (fees) | 426 | 426 | 274 | |||
| Mission giving | 0 | 140 | ||||
| Other liabilities | 253 | 253 | 250 | |||
| Total liabilities | 1194 | 0 | 0 | 1194 | 1702 | |
| Assets less liabilities | 276973 | 192279 | 119354 | 588606 | 540191 |
The Parochial Church Council of St Paul Cheltenham Annual Report and Accounts 2022
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL CHELTENHAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis.
Moveable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are recognised but not necessarily valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
Note
- 1 Analysis of donations and other giving
| Unrestricted donations | 300 |
|---|---|
| Hardship Fund donations | 900 |
| Community Fund donations | 2300 |
| Mission Fund donations | 4024 |
| Vestries Fund donations | 21000 |
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2 The 2022 figure relates to donations received between October 2021 and September 2022 inclusive. The 2021 figure relates to donations received between October 2020 and September 2021 inclusive.
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3 Analysis of mission and evangelism costs
| Craft Fayre | 460 |
|---|---|
| Children | 2254 |
| Youth | 2160 |
| Other mission costs | 30 |
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4 A grant of £15167 was received from the 'Bias to the Poor' allocation and £3833 from ther DSF allocation. This is shown as a reduction in Parish Share.
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5 Analysis of church running expenses
| Discipleship and pastoral care | 1218 |
|---|---|
| Prayer and worship | 2051 |
| Servery | 869 |
| Vicar's discretionary fund | 141 |
| Utilities | 4812 |
| Hire of rooms | 7000 |
| Minor capital expenditure | 1442 |
| Cleaning and materials | 3680 |
| Servicing and other routine church maintenance | 3063 |
The Parochial Church Council of St Paul Cheltenham Annual Report and Accounts 2022
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST PAUL CHELTENHAM
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (CONTINUED)
Note
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6 Support costs are the expenses of the the youth pastor, the children's worker, and the administrator.
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7 Administration costs consist of the employment costs of the children's pastor, youth pastor and administrator (totalling £59,423), visiting speaker costs (£900) and general administrative expenses (£5342).
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8 The PCC has decided to hold only working capital (defined as one month's unrestricted expenditure, which in 2022 will be approximately £20000, in its General (unrestricted) Fund and to hold any surpluses in the Contingency Fund. Every month a regular transfer is made from the General Fund to the Mission and Charities Fund to ensure that sufficient funds are available to make mission gifts when required. Following this the necessary adjustment is made between the General and Contingency Funds.
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9 The Community Fund was set up to assist people in the local community who are not church members but are in particular need. It is funded primarily by donations from members but GE made a large donation this year.
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10 The Hardship Fund is funded entirely by church members and is used to assist other church members who are in particular need.
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11 The Youth Pastor Fund was set up to cover the costs of the newly appointed Youth Pastor for the first three years.
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12 A new account was opened this year to allow dual authorisation payments to be made online. Money is transferred in from the NatWest account monthly.
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13 The £20000 in the General (unrestricted) Fund reflects the policy described in note 9.
The £114,067 restricted funds consist of:
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£102,330 in restricted Vestries Building Project fund
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£1434 in restricted Organ fund
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£9071 in the restricted Hardship fund
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£1232 in the restricted Community fund
The £192,279 designated funds consist of:
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£72,433 in the designated Youth Pastor fund
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£116,520 in the designated Contingency fund
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£3326 in the designated Mission fund
There is also £170 (reduced from £259 due to £89 on glass repairs) Wolfson Foundation grant to be used for window refurbishment held in the designated Contingency fund.
The Parochial Church Council of St Paul Cheltenham Annual Report and Accounts 2022
Independent examinefs report to thg PCC of St Paul's Cheftenham I report on the accounts of the chanty for the year ended 31 December 2022. Respectlve responslbllllles of tntstees and examlner The charity's trustees are res[sIble for the pparation of the xcounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audrt is not required for this year under Sect 144{21 of the Charib'es Act 2011 Ilhe 2011 Act) and that an dependent examinats.on ts needed. It is my responsibilrty". lo examine the acGounts under seCtn 145 of the 2011 A¢. to follow the procedures laid dchvn in the gerleral DiWti$ grven by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){bl of the 2011 Act.. and to state whether partlar matters have come to rry attent. Ba818 ol Indend•nt examlns r•port My eXaMinatn Wds carried out in &cOrdan with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accountsng records kept by the charty and a ¢ompanwn of the accounts psented wrth those records It also indudes ¢on$ideralion of any unusual Items or dtsclosures In the accounts and seekn.ng explanatsons from you as trustees Conrning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required In an audit and consequentty no opinion Is gwen as to whether the accounts present a 'Irue and fair view. and the report ts limrted lo those matters set out in the statement below. Ind•pendont examinees slat•ment In conneth'on with my examinatson, matter has Corr to my attentv)n'. (1 } whh gives me reasonabb cause to beliève that in any rnatenal reSpt the requirements.. to keep accounts.ng records in rdan with secbon 130 of the 2011 Act.. and to prepare CoUntS which accord with the a(xxunb'ng records and cy)mpty wrth the account.ng requirements of the 2011 Act have not teen met,. or 121 lo which. in my opinion, attention should be dwn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Karen Horwood The Bothy Cleevelands Avenue. Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL50 4PY Annu81 Rew*t andA(wJrts 2(Y22.