The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Registered Charity No: 1130644
The Parish of St Магу and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead
Annual Report and Accounts
for the year ended 31 December 2025
Contents
The Annual Report
Structure, Governance and Management
Independent Examiner's Report Income and Expenditure Account
Balance Sheet
Notes to the Accounts
1 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
The Annual Report
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Parish of St Mary and St Paul is chaired by the Team Rector of the Benefice, the Revd Canon John Williams, (inducted on 30th March 2017). He is supported by the three Team Vicars in the wider benefice and in the parish by self-supporting minister, The Revd Luke Geoghegan, currently on long term leave.
Aims and Purposes
The PCC understands that the purpose of the church in this parish is to promote within the ecclesiastical parish - and the church congregations - the pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical mission of the Christian Faith as set out by the Church of England and reflected in the catholic creeds. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of St Mary’s Church and Hall in the Old Town centre of Hemel Hempstead and St Paul’s building complex in Highfield. The buildings are viewed as a resource to be used by the congregations for public worship, baptisms, weddings, thanksgivings and funerals, parish organised activities and also extensively by the local community.
Objectives and Activities
In 2025 the PCC decided to invite The Rt Revd Rob Wickham (CEO of the Church Urban Fund and former Bishop of Edmonton) to run a special PCC away day on 25th October. This was primarily to consider the mission of the parish and to update our Mission Action Plan (MAP) for the next three years, realising that in recent years we have concentrated on current core activities rather than looking ahead. The results of the day and subsequent prospective MAP will be considered and published during 2026. In the earlier part of 2025, the PCC looked at balancing the parish finances and maximising the use of our buildings. As well as successful Art-in-the-Nave and Beer Festival events inside St Mary’s Church, other events have been under consideration. This was all aided by the pew removal scheme at St Mary’s which was completed during the year with substantial financial support from a generous individual gift, given some while ago for the purpose, and a legacy which was rather less expected but enabled the completion of the work.
Focus and Meaning of our Activities
The regular Sunday and weekday services give a focus and meaning for everything else that happens in parish life. The worship of Almighty God is central to the way the Christian functions and the parish seeks to nurture and encourage this and to draw the whole community into this expression of God’s love and forgiveness. Remembering our historic status as the Established Church and our responsibility to welcome everyone - with or without a faith – into buildings which speak of God’s unconditional love, we seek to keep our buildings open and welcoming as much as possible.
The church tries to foster and encourage outreach and charitable works both from individual members of the church community and by PCC initiatives. The Clergy support Church and community by carrying out baptisms, weddings, funerals and
2 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
special blessings for those who, regardless of their connection with the local worshipping community, feel at these important times a church service and the human contact that surround this is important. The connections with our local schools and the Uniformed (Scouting) Organisations within the parish continue to grow with regular engagement and special events throughout the year. Over 1000 children attended December school events in our churches and specific visits by young people’s groups were also welcomed. The buildings we care for are greatly valued by these groups and this is very encouraging.
Pastoral Care
The Church seeks to offer pastoral support and care to church members and people within the community especially our schools, shops, businesses and residential homes. The Pastoral Group of clergy and lay leaders, continues to meet monthly to discuss current pastoral needs and to pray for the sick and departed, to discuss ministry to others on the margins and in need and to pray for them. This reflects the pastoral care exercised by everyone in the Body of Christ, not just licensed ministers. The Team Clergy also meet most Tuesday mornings to encourage one another and look at wider pastoral care issues.
Youth and Young People
In recent years we have had more young people attending our churches in the age range 10-18, this is in line with a country wide trend and has led to a National Church initiative where growth in this area is explored and encouraged by training, concentrated work and a specific project. As part of this the Rector is on a year-long part time course at Ridley Hall, Cambridge, funded by the National Church. As part of this St Mary’s established an intergenerational Growing Together Group (GTG) in September 2025. Meeting monthly for the next year this group of 10-14 young people and adults will plan a key new youth initiative during 2026.
Mission and Community Support
Within the Parish there continues to be a strong sense of the need to support the under privileged here and abroad. The Parish was one of the main drivers to establish DENS (Dacorum Emergency Night Shelter) in the early 90’s and continues to support it through gifts of food and occasional donations. St Paul’s support of the Highfield Fridge and Community Café increased once again during the year and there was also a very successful Christmas initiative driven by the people of St Paul’s to bring cheer to Fridge users on Christmas Eve, this was supported throughout the parish.
The parish seeks to support local charities that help in defined ways like the Foodbanks, Liberty Tea Rooms, Christians Against Poverty, chaplaincy to the waterways, the local Hospices and Dacorum Community Trust.
Since 1998 St Paul’s has supported Christian Aid’s initiatives in Nicaragua and other donations from the whole parish included: The Bishop’s Harvest Appeal, the Children’s Society and other charities.
3 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Members of the Parish established the UK Langa Pre-School Trust (LTPT) in 2011 and this independent trust is run on a voluntary basis in support of more than 500 children in Cape Town, South Africa. The Trust goes from strength to strength and is supported in many ways by the Parish and parishioners who are keen to support this important and worthwhile cause.
The Buildings
The Parish are custodians of buildings that need to be looked after and in particular one of these is Grade 1 listed, which needs maintaining and to be available to the public for church services, community & school events as well as for the general visitor. The Parish provides the framework that allows the maintenance of these historic buildings and the opening to the public to happen, so that the buildings are available to be visited by the public without charge as well as allowing them to be passed on to future generations. Work has continued both at St Mary’s and St Paul’s to improve the condition of all our buildings so that they are better able to serve community and parish. As already mentioned, extensive work in removing pews at the front and in the underused north aisle of St Mary’s took place in 2025 delivering increased flexibility to the building. The PCC is grateful to the Friends of St Mary’s and all who make repair and maintenance possible.
Reaching out and coming in
We continue to stream our services to a small but loyal number of local and international viewers via the parish You Tube channel. Funeral and wedding services that have been recorded have proved particularly important to families and we remain grateful to our technical team for making all this happen. The Diocese of St Albans recognises this ‘Church at Home’ ministry as increasingly significant and people who are house bound, sick, away from Hemel, former parishioners, family and friends and others report the continuing value of this service.
The fifth year of ‘Open Church’ at St Mary’s, with people able to visit every day between 10 and 5, has continued to be popular. Many people from near and far come in to sit a while and to enjoy the peace and spirituality of this building. This is a key, important ministry of the parish and the PCC is very grateful to all those who have made this possible especially by opening, closing and cleaning and maintaining the building.
Our engagement with the Old Town market and businesses within the High Street commercial community has continued to develop despite the economic pressures on many of the businesses. These links bring a great variety of people in to St Mary’s and increases our opportunity for pastoral conversations.
St Paul’s have continued to maximise the use of their hall and parish room, seeing increased use by community focussed groups during the year. The third full year of the renewed church sharing arrangement with the local Roman Catholic Ordinariate Group has continued to build upon a solid ecumenical relationship with us all trying to live out and fulfil the desire of Jesus that ‘we may all be one’.
4 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Financial Review
This has been another roller coaster year in that the year started with a significant ( circa £8k ) unexpected loss of Pledged Giving, putting the near balanced Budget on the backfoot from day one. By late summer this looked to have worsened so much that the Rector felt the need to ask the congregation for help. And help came in the form of a generous one-off donation.
Help also came in the form of improved rental income from St Mary’s Hall and a reduced need for heating – global warming has some benefits. These three gains effectively balanced out the losses allowing the year to end balanced.
Both the Craft Beer Festival and Art in the Nave were enjoyed again and brought in a similar income to last year. We remain grateful to their organisers and the volunteers who enable them to take place.
The rapid change from a balanced budget to a struggling one, following as it did a year with a significant surplus, illustrates how exposed the Parish Income is to the ups and downs associated with fundraising and hall rental, and the importance of not getting complacent about Stewardship pledged income. While less than half of our income comes from planned giving, it should be the reliable half so long as it is continually encouraged. However, if taken for granted it too can be fickle.
Our pledged giving income received via the Parish Giving scheme reduced again in 2025 and this time by over £5000, despite the inflationary increases that our PGS members continue to generously honour.
The Fee income from Weddings and Funerals again surprised us by bringing in much the same as last year despite the poor outlook at the time of budgeting.
The PCC agreed a balanced Budget for 2026 based on increased hall rental income supported by advance bookings, but once again the year has started with a loss of circa £6000 from one of these bookings leaving a deficit situation again.
We remain grateful to the Friends of St Mary’s who have funded maintenance work at St Mary’s. And to Mrs Audrey Batchelor for leaving the PCC a generous legacy (£42k) which has, with other gifted funds, allowed long planned pew removal from the North Aisle and the front of the Nave. This has enabled distribution of the sacrament to be received without having to climb steps.
St Mary’s has continued to open between 10am and 5pm every day except during the two months or so of alteration work. The number of candles lit and prayer notes posted, has now recovered so this continues to be appreciated by the community.
Both churches and St Mary’s Hall continue to have ongoing maintenance budgets and these seem to enable all three buildings to be kept in reasonable shape. However, during a spell of Autumn cold weather St Mary’s hall gas boiler died and a replacement became an urgent requirement. The new boiler was bought using money from the Legacy account.
5 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Reserves Policy
At the November 2025 PCC the reserves for 2025 were set to a range from £10.6k (the minimum needed to pay a month’s outgoings) and £30.6k (three months average budget expenditure). The actual position to be discussed at each PCC.
Volunteers
As always, the PCC realises that it would not be able to support the work of the parish without all the many volunteers who help in so many ways. The PCC and PCC officers are volunteers who, along with so many, work hard to support our parish, both within itself and through its outreach. We are particularly grateful to our Churchwardens; Gordon and Rosina Gaddes at St Paul’s and Andrew Darby and Rosamund Russell at St Mary’s, along with their deputies; Malcolm Taylor, Emmeline Lambert and Norma Podmore, whose hard work and commitment throughout the year is much appreciated. The financial value of such work is incalculable and without it our church could not operate.
We also want to thank the full time, non-stipendiary and retired clergy who have continued to serve us lovingly and dependably. Their leadership, service and loving care are appreciated by both parishioners and by those outside the congregation who, through bereavement, marriage or just a life situation, come into contact with them.
The Parish was represented on the Hemel Hempstead Deanery Synod by Yemi Wilde-Halim and Lindsay Kemp. We thank them for maintaining this important link. The Parish has active membership of the local Interfaith Network and personal links are forged through this forum. Thanks, are also due to the Finance Committee, the Treasury Team of volunteers and also Norma Howie – along with Sheila Neep – in the Team Office for their dedicated work during 2025 leading up to their retirement, after 18 and 40 years respectively, at the end of December. It is only with their highly relevant, uncomplaining and systematic work, that necessary but challenging tasks are completed.
Public Benefit
Under the Charity Commission registration, the Parish is described as an ‘established church providing regular public worship open to all; pastoral work including visiting the sick and the bereaved and promoting the whole mission of the church through the provision of activities for senior citizens, parents, toddlers and other groups.
This is a challenging mission statement but in all their decision making the Parochial Church Council have these Mission aims in mind, and the Parish remains clear that the church, as an organisation, is there for the benefit of the whole community and not just the gathered worshipping church and wider supporters. Whilst it is often tempting for the parish to act in a way which is building centred, we should remember that much of the undocumented work of the parish takes place away from our buildings and is not widely known to anyone other than the recipients.
6 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Structure, Governance and Management
Reference and administration details of the Church, its trustees, and advisers for the Year ended 31st December 2025
Team Rector
The Revd Canon John Williams The Rectory High Street Hemel Hempstead HP1 3AE
Address for Correspondence
The Parish office High Street Hemel Hempstead Herts НР1 ЗАF
Bankers
Lloyds Marlowes Hemel Hempstead Herts HP1 1BH
Accountants
Melwoods - Chartered Certified Accountants Imex Building 575-599 Maxted Road Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP2 7DX
7 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity that was exempted (until January 2009) from the requirements to register with the Charity Commission. It is now registered with number 1130644.
The members of the PCC are the trustees of the charity during the year 2024 membership of the PCC was as follows
Churchwardens
St Mary’s: Andrew Darby elected at 11[th] May 2025 APCM Rosamund Russell Emmeline Lambert tenure ceased 11[th] May 2025 APCM St Paul’s: Gordon Gaddes Rosina Gaddes (Lay Co-Chair)
Elected Lay Deanery Synod Representatives
Lindsay Kemp Yemi Wilde-Halim
Elected Lay Members of the PCC
Moji Agunda Sheila Barton Brian Crawley
tenure ceased 11[th] May 2025 APCM Co-opted 9[th] June 2025
Yvonne Doran Susan Kemp Emmeline Lambert elected at 11[th] May 2025 APCM Norman Spink elected at 11[th] May 2025 APCM Malcolm Taylor Andrew Williams elected at 11[th] May 2025 APCM Alan Younger Roger Sygrave tenure ceased 3[rd] April 2025 Jane Lynskey tenure ceased at 11[th] May 2025 APCM
Clergy Ex-officio members
The Revd Canon John Williams
The Revd Canon John Williams Team Rector in the Hemel Hempstead Team Ministry The Revd Luke Geoghegan Self Supporting Associate Minister The Revd Austin Janes Team Minister The Revd Mathew Renyard Team Minister The Revd Pete Stevenson Team Minister
8 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
i
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 10 to 20.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you 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 of the 2011 Act;
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act;
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement:
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 you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given 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 statement:
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charity Act: or
-
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
-
the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Martin F M Eynaud FCCA Melwoods Chartered Certified Accountants Imex Building 575-599 Maxted Road Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire HP2 7DX Date: 26 February 2026
9 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Statement of Financial Activities 31 December 2025
| Notes | Unrestricted | Restricted | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | TOTAL | TOTAL | ||
| FUNDS | FUNDS | ||||
| INCOMING RESOURCES | |||||
| Voluntary Income | 2(a) | 68,274 | 91,937 | 160,211 | 108,023 |
| Activities for generating funds | 2(b) | 8,636 | 14,989 | 23,625 | 24,802 |
| Income from investments | 2(c) | 1,972 | - | 1,972 | 2,448 |
| Income from church activities | 2(d) | 45,337 | 983 | 46,320 | 41,256 |
| Other incoming resources | 2(e) | 1,096 | 1,319 | 2,415 | 2,766 |
| TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES | 125,315 | 109,228 | 234,543 | 179,295 | |
| RESOURCES EXPENDED | |||||
| Generation of voluntary income | 3(a) | 81 | - | 81 | 9,719 |
| Fundraising costs | 3(b) | 279 | 11,727 | 12,006 | 5,131 |
| Church activities | 3(c) | 121,690 | 92,104 | 213,794 | 154,126 |
| Church Governance costs | 3(d) | 1,500 | 8 | 1,508 | 1,500 |
| TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED | 123,550 | 103,839 | 227,389 | 170,476 | |
| NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) | 1,765 | 5,389 | 7,154 | 8,819 | |
| RESOURCES | |||||
| TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS (GF/RF) | |||||
| Gross Transfers between funds - in | 37,780 | 37,780 | 2,540 | ||
| Gross Transfers between funds - out | (37,780) | (37,780) | (2,540) | ||
| Net incoming / outgoing before other gains / losses | 1,765 | 5,389 | 7,154 | 8,819 | |
| GAIN ON CCLA INVESTMENT BOND | (1,152) | (1,152) | 645 | ||
| Net movement in funds | 613 | 5,389 | 6,002 | 9,464 | |
| Balances carried forward 1st January 2024 | 38,067 | 47,089 | 85,156 | 75,691 | |
| Balances carried forward 31st December 2025 | 38,680 | 52,478 | 91,158 | 85,155 |
10 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Balance Sheet 31 December 2025
| Notes FIXED ASSETS CCLA Bond 6 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 8 Short term deposits CCLA deposit 6 Cash at bank and in hand LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Creditors 7 NET ASSETS 5 FUNDS Unrestricted Restricted 9 TOTAL FUNDS |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2025 TOTAL FUNDS 2024 TOTAL FUNDS £ £ £ £ 27,656 27,656 28,808 6,826 6,826 11,888 6,837 8,787 15,624 4,032 43,691 43,691 32,131 7,763 7,763 21,562 |
|---|---|
| 21,426 52,478 73,904 69,613 |
|
| 10,402 10,402 13,266 |
|
| 10,402 0 10,402 13,266 |
|
| 38,680 52,478 91,158 85,155 |
|
| 38,680 38,680 38,066 52,478 52,478 47,089 |
|
| 38,680 52,478 91,158 85,155 |
Approved on behalf of the Parish
The notes on subsequent pages form part of these accounts
11 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Notes to Financial Statements for year ended 31[st] December 2024
1 Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 as amended by the Church Accounting (Amendment) Regulations 2006 together with applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP (2005).
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Funds
General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds designated for а particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.
Restricted funds represent funds of the PCC which are donated for а purpose which is specified by the donor.
The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body or those that are informal gatherings of church members.
Income
Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC.
Planned giving is recognised only when received.
Income tax recoverable on Gift Aid donations is recognised when the income is recognised.
Grant and legacies are recognised only when received
Other income
Hall rent is recognised when received.
Resources
Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over or when awarded if that award creates а binding obligation on the PCC.
12 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Activities directly relating to the work of the Church
The diocesan share is accounted for when paid.
Payment for utilities and other services is accounted for when an invoice is paid or а direct debit/standing order mandate is recorded in the bank statement.
Fixed Assets
Consecrated property and moveable church furnishings.
Consecrated and beneficed property of any kind is excluded from the accounts by section.10 of the Charities Act 2011.
Moveable church furnishings held by the Vicar and Church wardens on special trust for the PCC which require а faculty for disposal, are accounted as inalienable property unless consecrated. They are listed in the church Inventory. There have been no such acquisitions since 1 January 2001 and therefore no depreciations charges have been made.
All minor items are written off when purchased.
Other fixtures fittings and office equipment
Items costing less than £1,000 are written off when the asset is acquired. There are no items over this value that are less than four years old.
Fixtures and fittings are depreciated at 20% per annum on the straight-line basis.
Current assets
Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December in respect of fees, or other income are shown as debtors where their receipt is assured.
Short term deposits include cash held on deposit with the CBF Church of England Funds or at the bank.
13 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
| Note *expanded in Note Subsections 2 INCOMING RESOURCES 2(a) Voluntary Income Planned giving: Gift Aid donations Income tax recoverable Gift Aided Gifts Loose Plate at all services GASDS recovered Church gift boxes Grants Donations Legacies 2(b) Activities for generating funds Events 100 Club Receipts 2(c) Income from investments Interest 2(d) Income from church activities Halls rent and key Deposits Fees weddings and funerals 2(e) Other incoming resources Surplus Receipts "Stomp" Magazine Cost recovery: Supplies Cost recovery: Refunds Team Office Copying Quinquennial fund Donations from CBF Fund TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES** |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2025 Total Funds 2024 Total Funds £ £ £ £ 42,657 0 42,657 49,260 10,937 548 11,485 12,134 8,280 2,721 11,001 5,668 755 18 773 1,496 1,560 0 1,560 3,692 3,566 267 3,833 6,215 232 18,622 18,854 25,416 287 26,423 26,710 4,142 0 43,338 43,338 0 |
|---|---|
| 68,274 91,937 160,211 108,023 |
|
| 8,636 13,069 21,705 22,907 0 1,920 1,920 1,895 |
|
| 8,636 14,989 23,625 24,802 |
|
| 1,972 0 1,972 2,448 |
|
| 1,972 0 1,972 2,448 |
|
| 40,551 803 41,354 35,302 4,786 180 4,966 5,954 |
|
| 45,337 983 46,320 41,256 |
|
| 70 0 70 210 32 0 32 69 559 0 559 704 0 19 19 4 435 0 435 579 0 1,300 1,300 1,200 0 0 0 0 |
|
| 1,096 1,319 2,415 2,766 |
|
| 125,315 109,228 234,543 179,295 |
14 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
| Note expanded in Note Subsections 3 RESOURCES EXPENDED 3(a) Generation of voluntary income Cost of Stewardship campaign Fees to Fundraisers 3(b) Fundraising costs Events 100 club payments Surplus Payments 3(c) Church activities Ministry: diocesan parish share Clergy expenses Churches running costs Churches maintenance - routine Churches maintenance - major Upkeep of services Upkeep of services Clergy StM Hall costs StP Hall costs Organ and piano tuning Children and Young people Organist fee Administrator Salery Administration Reprographics Stationery Later Recovered Office Costs Return of Hall Deposits and Prepayments Security measures Payments from special collections Quinquennial Fund 3(d) Church Governance costs Accountant's fees Bank Fees TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED* |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2025 TOTAL FUNDS 2024 TOTAL FUNDS £ £ £ £ 81 0 81 81 0 0 0 9,638 |
|---|---|
| 81 0 81 9,719 |
|
| 209 11,007 11,216 2,704 0 720 720 650 70 0 70 1,777 |
|
| 279 11,727 12,006 5,131 |
|
| 59,234 0 59,234 57,117 1,392 0 1,392 1,695 18,420 0 18,420 18,171 5,464 818 6,282 11,165 0 79,580 79,580 29,501 2,449 837 3,286 3,537 296 0 296 178 10,579 7,227 17,806 8,499 3,033 0 3,033 3,103 1,044 0 1,044 882 232 153 385 200 2,950 0 2,950 2,600 9,687 0 9,687 8,799 3,367 0 3,367 2,835 1,158 0 1,158 1,233 202 0 202 875 85 0 85 116.00 93 0 93 61.00 237 491 728 456.00 468 0 468 210.00 0 2,998 2,998 1,693.00 1,300 0 1,300 1,200.00 |
|
| 121,690 92,104 213,794 154,126 |
|
| 1,500 0 1,500 1,500 0 8 8 0 |
|
| 1,500 8 1,508 1,500 |
|
| 123,550 103,839 227,389 170,476 |
15 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Note 4 to Staff Costs
During 2025 we had two direct employees. Other cleaning and organ-playing services were bought from self-employed people.
Mrs Norma Howie continues to be employed as Team Administrator.
Mr T McDougall continues to be employed as the cleaner at St Mary’s Hall.
The Parish continues to pay the Living Wage as its minimum hourly rate.
Mr A Darby, Mr L Kemp, Mr M Taylor, Mr G Gaddes and Mr M Russell received fees from either the Team Benefice Fees account in connection with services and or weddings and funerals or from the Parish account in connection with Hall lettings.
Mr A Darby was elected as Churchwarden in April 2025, Mr Kemp was elected to the PCC in October 2020, Mr Taylor was elected to the PCC in April 2024, Mr G Gaddes was elected Churchwarden in April 2019. Mr M Russell is the son of Mrs R Russell who was elected as Churchwarden in April 2021 and continues in office.
No other Officer or PCC member received any money except by way of reimbursement of monies expended on the Church’s behalf and against receipts.
As required by legislation, the PCC continues to be registered with NEST as their pension provider in the event of any employee wishing to take up the required offer to start a pension fund. Both of our employees are in the categories where starting a pension fund is optional rather than compulsory and, after consultation, both have decided against taking out a pension.
| Note 4 STAFF COSTS Wages and salaries 5 ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND Current Assets Current Liabilities CCLA investment bond Fund balance 6 CCLA Investments CCLA deposit CCLA Bond |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds 2025 TOTAL FUNDS 2024 TOTAL FUNDS 13,095 13,095 13,096 |
|---|---|
| 13,095 0 13,095 13,096 |
|
| 21,426 52,478 73,904 69,613 (10,402) (10,402) (13,266) 27,656 27,656 28,808 |
|
| 38,680 52,478 91,158 85,155 |
|
| 2,025 2,024 43,691 32,131 27,656 28,808 71,347 60,939 |
16 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
| 7 Accounts Payable StP electric StP insurance StM gas StM electric StM insurance StM Hall gas StM Hall electric StM Hall insurance Accountancy Fee Administrator Q4 PAYE StM cleaner Q4 PAYE Organist Incumbent expenses (JW) Incumbent Expenses (LG) Children's Expenses StP Cleaning Ian Pankhurst (Service Fee) RF Groom (Church maintenance) DM Music (Sound desk) KCS copier charges Organ Tuning ST Pauls Cleaning Admin expenses StM Hall Maintenance Upkeep of services GASDS correction (2023) GASDS correction (2024) Security KSt Pauls Key holder fees Total 8 Accounts Receivable St Marys hall lettings St Pauls hall lettings St Paul's weekly collections St Mary's weekly collections Flower Fund Retirement Collection Nicaragua PCC Fees Grant from Children's Trust StM Alms boxes Loose plate Christmas Stewardship S/O PGS GiftAid Gift Aid (from HMRC) Gift Aid (from HMRC) GASDS (from HMRC 2023) GASDS (from HMRC) Total |
2025 2024 541 524 852 771 1,112 864 360 337 2,638 2,387 241 366 428 119 408 369 1,500 1,500 484 466 13 4 450 450 0 170 0 120 69 58 1,835 0 534 0 300 0 0 78 0 55 0 1,290 1,567 258 150 |
|---|---|
| 10,402 13,266 |
|
| 2025 2024 1,303 1,380 12 0 133 0 0 55 17 0 60 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 107 200 516 0 765 448 0 3,586 4,404 0 969 0 1,567 1,042 2,125 |
|
| 6,826 11,888 |
17 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
| 9 RESTRICTED FUNDS Capital Works Repairs St Paul's Fabric Fund St Mary's Net Zero Quinquennial Legacy Fund Bursary to fund spiritual journeys Community Outreach Youth Support (ex Ruth Milbank) Ben Neep Bequest Re StM Altar Fabrics Jonas Bequest (Bells) Christmas Collections Other Restricted Collections Nicaragua Hundred Club Art in the Nave St Mary's Flowers Hall Key Deposits HMRC Gift Aid buffer WEGB Hall Hire |
Opening Balance Income Outgoings 26,274 41,523 82,324 4,863 530 530 3,665 680 0 750 0 0 (633) 1,300 288 2,312 43,338 99 1,427 0 0 577 0 0 4,951 0 113 1,220 0 544 0 4,158 4,483 687 297 687 0 858 562 248 128 248 420 1,920 729 0 12,845 12,448 228 300 293 100 0 0 0 548 0 0 803 491 |
Opening Balance Income Outgoings 26,274 41,523 82,324 4,863 530 530 3,665 680 0 750 0 0 (633) 1,300 288 2,312 43,338 99 1,427 0 0 577 0 0 4,951 0 113 1,220 0 544 0 4,158 4,483 687 297 687 0 858 562 248 128 248 420 1,920 729 0 12,845 12,448 228 300 293 100 0 0 0 548 0 0 803 491 |
Transfers 2025 FUND TOTAL 36,032 21,505 1,200 6,063 120 4,465 0 750 0 379 (36,032) 9,519 0 1,427 0 577 0 4,838 0 676 325 0 0 297 60 356 15 143 (1,200) 411 28 425 0 235 0 100 (548) 0 0 312 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47,089 | 109,228 103,839 |
0 52,478 |
|
| 2024 27,766 1,102 Nil 15,076 439 Nil 15,353 766 715 15,099 567 200 |
|||
| Note for information on the Various Funds: | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Salisbury Trust | |||
| Funds held in CCLA CBF Investment Fund ** | 26,661 | 27,766 | |
| Funds held in CCLA Deposit | 1,873 | 1,102 | |
| Funds transferred to Parish Accounts | Nil | Nil | |
| Buckley Benevolent Fund | |||
| Funds held in CCLA CBF Investment Fund ** | 14,476 | 15,076 | |
| Funds held in Deposit | 348 | 439 | |
| Funds used for Charitable aims | 510 | Nil | |
| Buckley Fabric Fund | |||
| Funds held in CCLA CBF Investment Fund ** | 14,742 | 15,353 | |
| Funds held in Deposit Account | 415 | 766 | |
| Funds used for charitable aims | 781 | 715 | |
| Children’s Training | |||
| Funds held in CCLA CBF Investment Fund ** | 14,498 | 15,099 | |
| Funds held in Deposit Account | 754 | 567 | |
| Funds used for charitable aims | 232 | 200 |
** The value of all these Funds is subject to Market fluctuations
There are 2 Benefice Trust. These are the Children’s Trust (£2,842 Cap +£278 accrued interest, nil used for charitable aims) and the Benevolent Trust (£4,263 Cap + £99 accrued interest, £200 used for charitable aims)
18 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
Note Subsections
| Grants (2a) Children's Trust Friends of StM - Roof Lead LPoW VAT recovery - Roof Lead LPoW VAT Recovery (various) Friends of StM - South Porch Herts CC - St Paul's Ordinariate - Curtains LPoW VAT Recovery Pew removal Friends of StM - Quinquennial work LPoW VAT Recovery Quinquennial work HCACR BRF West Herts Bell Fund LPoW VAT Recovery Bells Total Donations (2a) PGS One-Off donations EIG Trust130 Fund In memory Mr & Mrs Casimir-Mrowczyn Light of Bethlehem St Paul's Nicaragua Bells from ringers Norman Spink - Green Energy Hall Highfield Fridge Halloween Collection One-off Donations PGS Ron Tindall - Salt Bin Other Total the above are the major donations Events (2b) Beer Festival Beer Festival snacks Sale of Lead Italian pop-up Art in the Nave Vintage & Table Top Bazaar Other Total Church Running Costs (3c) StM Church Gas StM Church Electric StM Church Water StM Church Insurance StP Electric StP Water StP Insurance Total |
2025 2024 232 200 619 124 954 1,750 700 200 12,013 21,812 3,519 800 600 747 |
|---|---|
| 18,854 25,416 |
|
| 2025 2024 148 260 2,500 80 68 186 711 25,000 195 156 148 200 580 968 |
|
| 26,710 4,490 |
|
| 2025 2024 3,762 4,307 379 267 65 210 0 4,283 4,117 1,561 13,071 12,590 |
|
| 21,705 22,907 |
|
| 2025 2024 4,819 3,175 3,068 3,997 75 89 5,275 4,775 3,246 4,463 233 130 1,704 1,542 |
|
| 18,420 18,171 |
19 of 20
The Parish of St Mary and St Paul, Hemel Hempstead Annual Report and Accounts for year ended 31[st] December 2025
| Church Maintenance Major (3c) | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| StM Lead Roof | 743 | |
| StM Bells | 4,483 | |
| StM North Aisle reordering | 74,272 | 2,980 |
| StP Landscaping | 1,588 | |
| StM South Porch | 2,100 | |
| StM Quinquennial tasks | 82 | 22,833 |
| Total | 79,580.00 | 29,501 |
| StM Hall Costs (3c) | 2025 | 2024 |
| StM Hall Cleaner | 3,408 | 3,163 |
| StM Hall Gas | 2,037 | 1,250 |
| StM Hall Electric | 1,270 | 1,411 |
| StM Hall Water | 284 | 203 |
| StM Hall Insurance | 816 | 738 |
| StM Hall Upkeep | 2,764 | 1,314 |
| Total | 10,579 | 8,079 |
| Administration (3c) | 2025 | 2024 |
| Team Office Telephone/Internet | 1,885 | 1,763 |
| Website | 215 | 233 |
| CRB Checks - Children's Work | 27 | |
| Annual subscriptions | 143 | 142 |
| Copyright Licences | 674 | 656 |
| Other | 450 | 14 |
| Total | 3,367 | 2,835 |
| Payments from Special Collections (3c) | 2025 | |
| Children's Society | 344 | |
| Highfield Fridge | 741 | |
| Christian Aid : Nicaragua | 249 | |
| Langa Township Trust | 164 | |
| Langa Township Trust (AIN) | 1,000 | |
| Hectors House (AIN) | 500 | |
| Total | 2,998 | |
| Surplus Receipts (2e)/Surplus Payments (3b) | 2025 | 2024 |
| TransferIn | 70 | 210 |
| TransferOut | 70 | 1776 |
| Transient Income is money paid in by accident or design | ||
| The items were | ||
| 1) £50 Funeral fe paid to wrong account | ||
| 2) £20 paid through the account for St Mary's cleaner |
20 of 20