The PaTLKthial Church CcNJnul of St John's. Polegate the Disthct Churth Council of Sl Wilfrid's, Lower Willingdon. Truslees'Annual Report and Financaal Report for 2024. Trustees, Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parish of St John's Church, Polegate, including: The Conventional District of St Wilfrid's Church, Lower Willingdon For the year ended 31st Dernber 2024 Registered Chanty no. 1130861 St John's St Wllfrld's CONTENTS Pages Trustees, annual report, St John, 2to5 Trustees. annual report, St Wilfrid's 6109 Statement of fin8ncial activities 11 Balan sheet 12 Notes to the financial report 131021 Report of the independent examiner 22 Website.. whw.polegate.oTg.uk Incumbent.. The Revd Chris Spinks, do The Churth l)ffice. Church Road, Polegale. BN26 5BX Indeptrndent examiner. Wa180n As8ouates. 3(h34 North Street H8ilsh8m. BN27 1DW Bankers: Bardays Leicester, LE87 2BB arKI CBF Churth of England deposit fvnd.
The Parochial Churc* Cwncil of St John's. Pdegate vnth Ihe Church Council of St Wilfr.$, Lower Willingdon. TnJstees'Annual Report and Finanual Report for 2024. li C/pLES ofr Trustees. Annual Report 2024 for St John's, Polegato Our alms and purposes as a charlty The Parochial Church Council (the pccrrrustees) has the responsibilty of co-operating with the incumbent, the Reverend Chris Spinks, in:
The promolion of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. Promoting the whole mission of the church.. pastoral. social. evangelistic and ecumenical. To know Jesus better and make Him better known. Practical support and care for all people in the parish. Providing financial support to those in need and, to other organisations with similar objectives. What we planned to do at St. John's to achl•v• our charltabk objectlves In its planning, our incumbent and the PCC have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and the specific guidance on 'charities for the advancement of religion,. The PCC has complied wilh its duty under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, fully recognising its duty to have regard to House of Bishops, guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For 2024 we planned the following objectives arKI activities to reflect our aim of 'Making disciples of Jesus Christ, by: Enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church. Enabling as many people as possible to become part of our church family. Teaching, baptising and nurturing new and existing believers. M8intaining an overview of worship throughout the parish. Considering how services can involve the many groups that Ilve within the parish. Putting faff(h into practice. through prayer and scripture, music and worship. Offering worship and prayer. leaming about the Gospel, in small group situations. Assisting people from all walks of Itfe to develop their knowledge of. and trust in. Jesus. Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish. Giving grants to missionary organisations. Maintaining the fabric of the church building as a centre and spiritual focus of lrfe in the town. What we achleved at SL John's and how we affected beneficlarfes, Ilves It is our great pleasure to welcome people from all walks of lrfe, both from within and outside the parish boundary to take part in the life of St John's church. to come to know and worship the Lord Jesus Christ and to better understsnd the truths contained in holy scripture. The PCC considers it a significant public benefit for people to be able to vK)rship locally and regularly at St John's. In 2024 there were 103 people on the electoral roll. including 11 who live outside the parish. We continue to enable as many people as possible to worship at Iwr church. primarily by way of a weekly Sunday service at 10.30am and a Prayer Meeting at 7.30 pm. Our average attendan on Sunday momings in 2024 was 70 and 14 at the evening prayer meelings. For special celebrations such as Easter and Christmas, attendan inueased significanty. similarly at the annual Servic8 of Remembrance. when
The Parochial Church Counol of St John's, Polegate wrth the Drstrid Churth Council of St IKilfrid's. Lower Willingdon. Twstees'Artnual Report and Finan{21 RerM)rt for 2024. range of community and civic groups also attended. For those with djfficults.es in getting to church on Sundays. a transport Servi is offered. Children in the church family and wider parish can attend 'Sunday Club. which runs in parallel to the 10.30 SeICeS and provides an opportunity for them to leam rne about Jesus and the bible in an age appropriate way. During 2024. the number of children attending has averaged between 1 and 6 each week and it is an aspect of church life which we pray will develop in the future. In addition. much valued fellovdship arid scriptural teaching conts'nues to be offered at 'house groups, and in other ways too such as Christianity Explored, an evangelistic course which was run for the first time at St John's and is designed to support. guide and nurture those who are either in the early stages of their joumey of faith. or who wish to deepen their understanding of the central truths of the bible. st John's offers 'Pop-In' sessions twice a month on Wednesday momings as a valuable service to the community where guests can be assured of a wam welcome. light refreshments and an opportunity to enjoy puzzles, board games, craft activities and good company. In the winter months. the opening time was extended to enable people to remain in the wannth of the hall. Pop-ln has been particularly successful in attracting visitors who are not regulars on Sundays. especially from local nursing homes: attendance at each session has averaged 34. induding a loyal band of regular helpers. As is our tradition now, preparations for Easter started with a day of prayer on Ash Wednesday which included 12 hours of continuous prayer and involved al least one member of the church family undertaking to pray for 30-minute slots in turn. During Lent many took up the offer to study an appropriately themed book, carefully selected by the Vicar and this collective experience was much enjoyed by those who participated. During June we had the pleasure of separate visits from three of our mission partners. Riste and Tea from Serbia and Alice Cooper from Tower Hamlets who updated the church family on progress with their work and how the support they receive from St John's - particularly through our ongoing prayers for them as well as our financial provision - is benefitting and sustaining them in their ministry. Other activities which brought the church family and wider community logether induded several lunches at key points in the year such as Haniest and Christmas, providing opportunities for fellowship and service to others. notsbly on Christmas Day when the meal was open to the wider communty to enjoy. We also hosted visits by many primary age children from Polegate School, both as part of their cu1CUlar activity to visit a place of worship and as part of the Christmas celebrations. The St John's br8neh of Mothers, Union continued to provide opportunities for monthly meetings offering fellowship and activities. inctuding in July playing host for a picnic held for the Bexhill District of the Chichester Di0san area. In December, Trish Clarke. for many years the 8ranch Leader was presented with a much-deserved long service certificate. The church family continues to make regular donations of food, household goods and money to Family Support Work, which functions in partnership wtth the Chichester Diocese in providing vital services to vulnerable families throughout Sussex. As part of our outreach activity there were also leaflet drops to the newer eststes across the town at Eastsr and Christmas encouraging more local folk to join us in worship at St John's. Baptisms, weddings, and funerals continue to be farilitated as required. Malntalnlng the fabric of St John's as a presence to the benefft to tho communlty The PCC continues to give thanks for God's gracious provision to meet the challenging costs which arise in maintaining a church vthich was built in 1875 and a church hall which is 50 years old in 2025. These challenges are exemplrfied by maintenance costs between 2017 and 2022 for the church and hall of £236,875. Despf£e this, God's gracious support was eNidenced through several generous legacies over the same peri(xl totalling neaty £172.000.
The Par(la1 Church Council of St John's. Polegate Ihe District Church Council of St WiltrKI's, Lower Willingdon. Tnjstees. Annual Report and Finan(ial Report 2024. In 2024 the long running issues relaling to the church vesty rcx)f. thIch had been leaking since 2022 were hopefully resolved. Although the work was expected to cost up to £20.000, thankfully the final total was £12,954. Other routine costs totslled £636. With the failu of the commercial gas cooker in the church hall kitc*)en, a direct replacement was found to be uneconomic because of new ventilab'on regulations and therefore a deasion vS made to purchase an electric model suitsble to the needs. The cost of £6.240 was met in 2023 and the instsllation in 2024 (including the estsblishment of a 3-phase supply) cost £1,282. More generally, the kitchen would benefit from overall refurbishment as funds permit. Essential work on the hall heater5 (X)st £648. The very old carpet in the small hall was replad wtth a more durable flooring type at a cost of £2.053. 5 St John's Road. which is let to tenants (providing valuable rental income). was badly in need of work in 2023 which cost £4.200. Last year's report identified the need for r&pointing and this work was completed in 2024 at a cost of £8.924. Glvlng grants to mlsslonary organlsatlons The Trustees have historically given away 10% of the church charitable income, primarily focussing on misslonary work. In 2024, we continued to support Chris & Lotta Strajnic, who WO under the direction of Crosslinks in Sweden; Riste and Tea Micev, also under Crosslinks. in Serbia and Alice Cooper, working with the London City Mission In Tower Hamlets. By the end of 2024, the PCC, with the backing of the wider church family. were able to give each one £3.OLN). other charltable giving by St John's (see also the Financial Report Note 4). Flnanclal Revlew for th• whole Parlsh of St John's and St Mlfrld's The total Parish receipts of General Unrestricted funds received were £196.321 {£246,669 in 2023) and are detailed in the Financial Report (page 12) and indude no legacies in 2024 (£50,592 in 2023). Sharlng the whole-parlsh Mlnlstry Costs of the Dlocese of Chlchestor Each Autumn, the Diocese assesses anticlpated costs for the parish for the following year in respect of housing, stipends and clergy pensions. and a standard sum for Diocesan central costs, dergy trdining and a contribution to national church funds. In tum. the local Deanery then asks each church for their offer to meet these overheads. In the 11 years up to 2021. the full Parish Ministry costs have been met even when expenditure exc£eded income, but since then both churches have been paying less than the deanery calculation. In 2023 St John's paid £49,142 towards Parish Ministy costs. and St Wilfrid's £41.004. Both figures are less than the full cost of Parish Ministy Costs but were the most we could afford to pay given the financial srtuation at the time. In 2024 St John's paid £51,408 towards Parish Ministy costs, and St Wilfrid's paid £42.276. Both figures £re less than the full cost of Parish Ministy Costs but were the most we could afford to pay in our current financial situation. Staff costs St John's PCC in 2024 employed a Parish Administrator, who is also a PCC member and Trustee. who received £ 9.519 before tax for her dukn'es during the year. The deaning of the church and church hall continues to be loyally undertaken by volunteers. work for which the Trustees are so grateful. St Wilfrid's DCC in 2024 employed a church deaner. Further details are provided in the notes to the accounts. Trustee payments and oxponses St. John's PCC supported its incumbent by paying the Vicarage water and environmental charges plus Council Tax £3.003 (£2.807 in 2023) plus other annual costs towards travel. hospitality. telephone,
The Parochial Churth Counal of St John's, Pdeg8te *ith the District Churth Councal of St Wilfrid's, L(Mer Willingdon. Ttees, Annual ReFUt and Financial Report for 2024. postage and broadband amounting to £2,203 (£1,740 in 2023). The repalr costs of the Vicarage pald by the PCC were £626. St Wilfrid's House costs. paid in support of the Minister. were Council Tax. wBter rates and insuran totalling £4.179 {£3.940 in 2023). St John's PCC members (frustees) were re-imbursed with sums forexpenditure on behalf of the church as detailed in Not8 5(b) in the financial report. In 2024. two payments were rnade to 'Bright & Beautifvl Gardans,. a firm owned by Phil Kyte, churchwarden and Trustee: £472 for dearance work on the vesty root, fencing and repairs to the noti¢ boards and £2090 for essential repaits at 5 St John's Road: door lod(, exterior repairs and painting. Repalrs to the fabrfc of St John's bulldlngs - see above Maintsining the fabric of St Johns. Ropalrs to the fabrlc of St WIIMd's bulldlngs - of a total of £8.224, some £2.912 were for fencing. Why we hold some money In resorve- St John's See Maintaining the fabric on the previous page which dewibes the 2023 and 2024 maintenan needs for the St John's buildings, and, because of the size and uncertainty of these costs, V hold a significant balance of a generous legacy in anticipation of meetirKJ these. Structure. governance and management of th• ¢harlty durlng 2024 The PCC is registered wrth the Charity Cornmission as required by the Charities Act 2011.lts govemlng document is the Pan)chial Church Councils {Powers) Measure 1956. During the year the following served as members of the PCC: Ex Offlclo members Incumbent: The Reverend Chris Spinks - Chair Readers.. Alan Packard Ben Pratt Hugh LovKies. also Deanery Synod member Wardens: Phil Kyte, also PCC Vice Chair and Deanery Synod member Robin Eldrtdge, also Parish Safeguarding Officer Elected Members: Katrina Burton Maureen Pemberton - Treasurer Mark Pybus, also Deanery Synod member Pam Sharpe Mary White - PCC &uetary This Trustees, Annual Report was approved by the PCC and signed on their behalf by the Reverend Chris Spinks. PCC Chairman Date:.. 7..'.M.... ..2025
The Parochial Church Counal of St John's. PcAegate with the District Churth Counctl of St Wilfrid's. Lower Willingdon. Trustees. Annual Report and Financyal RepcKt for 2024. Trustees, Annual Report 2024 for St Wilfrid'5, Lower Willfingdon Maklng dlsclplos of Jesus Christ Structure. governance and management of St lItr1d'S The District Church Council (DCC) is not an offiaal PCC (though we refer to ourselves infomially as the PCC). but for purposes of retums and other legal considerations. such as this document. we will refer to ourselves as the DCC working undef the PCC of the Parish of St John's Polegate. This district is under the supervision of the 'Curate-in-Charge', Reverend Christopher James Styles. He is also Chair of the DCC. Membership of the DCC is deterniined under the Church Representsts'on Rules. During the year the following people sepled as members of the Disth'ct Church Council: Ex-offlclo members Curat8-in-charge: NSM (now PTO): Warden: Wardenlsafeguarding officer: The Rev C J Styles The Rev Richard Herkes Mr Chris Mason Mrs Sheila Reeve Mrs Yvonne Pressdee Mrs Barbara Minall Mr John Cheesman Mr Shaun Waters Mrs Maureen Goo(twin Mrs Sue Read Chaimian Treasurer Secretary (non-member).. Our alms and purposes as a charlty The DCC of St Wilfrid's, Lower Willingdon, has the responsibilty of cOperatIng with the curate-In- charge, the Revd C J Styles, in his work within the Conventional District of St Wilfrid's. Part of their charge is to assist him in: The promotion of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. Helping to promote in the parish the whole mission of the church, pasloral, social, evangelistic and ecumenical. Spreading the fame and glory of Jesus Christ. the King of kings. and Lord of lords. Practically supporting and caring for people in the parish. from the youngest to the eldest. What we achleved durfng 2024 Attgndance at worshlp We recognise that our numbers indude those WIrn we consider'vulnerable. arKI we acknowledge that their safety requires a righteous vigilance on our part. We have not dropped our safeguarding values and have appointed a new safeguar(ling offir this past year. There are 92 names on the church electoral roll, approximately half of which do not reside within the 'district' of Mhe parish.. BLrt we have seen new people come in this year. I would estimate about a dozen. Not all of those wish to go on the electoral roll. but we are right now busy updating the roll for 2025. About 35 people belong to weekly home-groups, which are intended to encourage growth in faith and to encourage 0dIenCe to the Lord. Jesus Christ. This obedience is part of what we call 'discipleship to Jesus Chrisl, and is what we understand by our strap line: Making disciples of Jesus Christ.
The P8rothial Church Council of St John's. Polegate with the District Church Council of St Wittrid's. Lower Willingdon. Trustees'Annual Report and Financial Report for 2024. Over this year, the minister has personally sought to encourage prayer, which he sees as vital if the Church is to regain its life and vigour and to escape the current politi'cally motivated woke culture that even many of our bishops have now adopted. St Wilfrid's has tsvo prayer meetings that are open to all Christians in this localty. and not exclusively to the worshipping communty of Sl Wilfrid's. One meets each Friday, at 7.30pm' the other assembles at 6.15am of a Tuesday morning. Both prayer limes encourage praise and thanksgiving. interspersed with intercession for the blessing of our community and nation arKI for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We pray among other things. that God will raise up workers for his harvest, which most definitely means the UK as well as foreign missions. And we are looking for a great harvest of men, vrfomen, boys, and girts responding to the gospel of Jesus. We are looking too for the existing Church of Gr1 to be inspired with a new confidence in the gospel. and in its power to save. In January 2024 we added a weekty aftemoon meeting called We had for four years prior to this been running this event monthly and largely as a family seNice. We have averaged 30 in attendance and sometimes we have more than 40 with us - at least 50Vo do not attend the morning service which averages somewhere between 60 and 70 attendees. Taachlng. baptlslng and nurturing new and exlstlng bellevers We dld not bapllze anyone during 2024, though we saw a number of people with a church background retuming to the faith. As for nurturing. V presently have a group dedicated to nurturing ladies who 8re near to the Kingdom or who have recently come into the experien of new life in Christ. The minister's wife leads this group and is aided by other ladies in the church who have been in the faith some tirne. Eaty in the year we ran an evangelistic course at which 8 number of non-church people were in attendance. We are pleased to say we were able to put 2 people who attended but were not local. in louch with local churches in their respective areas. Provlslon of the bulldlng for users, guests. and tho worshlpplng communlty Users of the bulldlng generalty We continue to hire out our hall for children's parties, and there are also a number of groups who hlre the building out regularly. These latter indude: a line danng group, a local choir, and a keep-fit club. We also accommodate a piano teacher in the smaller. upstairs hall, who works dosely with the school across the road from us. For some years we have nted an upstairs office, at low-cost to 'Spinnaker'. Spinnaker work in schools and take assemblies and various classes. It is also one of the 4 Missionslcharities we support financially. More recently 'educators' have been tx)oking our various rooms for their actiVFties. These presently comprise two groups: 'Classical Conversation.. a group seeking to network with home schoolers and provide some of their tuiiion requirements. The other gn)up is a newly fomied organisation called 'Christ the Rock,. a solidly Christian network which. like the previous group. meets one day a week on our premises. Both groups we helped to get established by cutting our ren181 charges (as we did for other groups such as Weight Watchers and the piano tutor referred lo above). 'Christ the Rock. we support by fixing their rentsl al half-Tate. This year Chrisl the Rod( asked me to come and speak at their cornmunty time (these are a bit like school assemblies). I'm now going in at least once a tenn. Supportlng local schools Over 2024 we hosted the lo(31 primary schwl supplying two carol services for the upper trwo years and their parents. And though my own part was simply to welcome parents. staff and children (and to plug some of our Chnstmas servIs) it was good to see some of these families turn up to Christmas events.
The Parochial Church Council of St John's, Polegate wilh the Distiici Churth Council of St Willn"d's, Lower Willingdon. T$tS.AnnUal Report and Financial Report lor 2024. We also take assemblies in the primary school as well as our traditional visit from the Reception class to see what we do in a church. Wee also managed to link up again with the secondary school (opposite our building). Year 7s are. as I write. in the PrOsS of visrting in their dasses to hear how a church works. I speak aboLrt the layout of the church and how rt pictures our approach to God: entering the building, baptism, joining God at table etc. And wee just been allowed back into the school (after a gap of 7 years) to answer questions from year 8s- any question they have. This has been tremendously exciting. Is change in the ai Supporting local govemment The hall continues to act as a vots'ng station during local and regional elections. Our hall is of an ideal size for a voting station also providing a small amount of parking out front. The worshipping communlty's Intentional 'guest seNlces' and 'guest' directed actlvltles We have continued to run a 'warm space. event aimed at those who are fearful of turning on their gas and electric appliances" rnostly older people who gather to play board games. read papers, and chat over coffee. This is a weekly. seasonal actrvity to accommodate those who are cold or lonely. The worshipplng community has also developed a specffic ser41 for those in the community who have been bereaved. We call this seNice 'ln Loving Memory,, and after piloting it in 2022, we have now made it a yearly autumn fixture. It has been well attended. Messy Church and a toddler group <2lled Minl Wltfs. are provisions that include younger families and their children. Along with these belong our efforts at Christmas and Easter. This year we added a second service to our well-attended carol service called 'Famlly Christmas,, this new service was partially run by members of our new youth club which started in July of 2024. At present the youth club is a small affair. atrM)ut 12 to 15 children usually tuming up. It is only being run on the last Friday of the month at present. As with &Y@l we are starting small before making the jump to what we hope will be a weekly commitment. Spatlal reorderlng of the church bulldlng and fvture prnjects We added a smart screen to our rnain hall, Iwo years ago, which has been a great asset helping us to deliver activities where song words or other visual displays are required. Our new afternoon service is run in the main hall, as does our 'Friendship group, on the first Monday of the month. The latter is especially well supported by locals who are not part of our worshipping communty. The kitchen, which has hatches opening on to the hall. make this a great venue for seNces deliberately looking to develop a less fomial culture. and Whe freShrnents are required. Each of the events above along wrth Youth Club. Wann Space. Messy Church and Mini-wilts make use of Ihe hall and kitchen. Lack of finance has prevented me from bringing in a number of structural changes. I would like to turn one of our break-out rooms into an office for an administrator (and. actually employ an administrator!); I would like to develop the stairway to the top rooms so that it is no longer open to the elements, by sealing off the stairway with a glass finish. to develop the landing and even install a toilet (this would create a suite that Uld be used for future youth-vrfork and be rented out) it would make an ideal suite for min-conferences. having as it does provision for washing up and storing food and drinks. There are many other things that could make this church a very welcorning environment and increase income. but we need to invest in infrastructure and stsff in order to develop. I wonder in all honesty. rf we will ever pay 100% parish share wtthout such investment. l appreciate this is looking at things from a purely materialistic point of view. But we have always sought to have our feet on the ground while our eyes were on heaven. Like all churches. maintenance takes up much of our finances. We have just replaced a large window at the front of our church which cost twenty-two thousand pounds. But we are grateful to God that more than twtrthirds of the cost were Vered by gifts from church members. However, the sanctuary roof is
The Parochial chu Council of St John's. Polegate vthh Ihe District Church CouncAI of St Wiifrid's, Lower Willingdon. Trustees, Annu81 Report 8rKJ Financial Repcwl for 2024. near the end of its lrfe and while our quinquennial did not insist on work being done urgently on the roof (as was the case wth the window). it is onty a matter of time before patching up will rK) longer suffi. Provlslon of pastoral care forpeople livlng In the parish Provision of low-level needs are delegated through the organisational skills of a very capable team. and l am called in when needed. and also informed when a visit might be helpful. Aside from the worshipping communty, there is the provision of pastoral care of the bereaved, and the happier task of helping those who seek to get married. Sadly. no MalageS this year (our modern building just doesny attract couples)" but several funerals were used by GC to get to know non-church people including a lady who is home-bound. She is one of the people l ty to visit (and my wife too). I tend to get more calls for help from people who have no church connections and have no intention of getting involved in the church. than I do from people in the church. I'm presently visiting a gentleman dying of cancer who was a churchgoer In the Heathfiekl area more than twenty years ago. And I've aided several couples with marriage problems, and some have had FK)Sitive oUtmes. Provlslon of tanglble support to the poor and needy We continue to work with Food Bank and Famlty Support. A number of people in the congregation are now also working under the auspices of 'Hope in Action, to provide furni and support for Hope's housing for the homeless projects, one of which is local to St Wilfrid's. The DCC 81so contributes from its ino)me to several charities, including Beachy Head Chaplaincy, which seeks to counsel those contemplating suicide. Spinnaker, a charity involved in supporting local schools; and tsvo charities with projects based overseas. It also gives a percentage of funds raised from ts two fayres to local charikn'es deemed vrforthy of help. We have a Christmas and summer fayre. Other Local Involvement At Easter, Harvest. and Christrnas we've continued to see high attendance. with people coming in from the community. We also do a yearly seniice at the District General Hospital, for DGH Eastboume's hospital radio. One of our members volunteers for Hospilal Radio, and individuals are involved in many other activities. some of which are local. Several members do an after-school club in the secondary school across the road. This is on a Wednesday after school hours. Members play chess and other games with the children and are available to chat while providing toasted sandwiches. While there are plans to engage in street evangelism in the near future. direct, yet low-key. evangelism outside our four walls, is achieved largely through our ecumenical connections with Churches Together. In particular, the book table in Polegate's shopping centre is a focus. Several of us support this for an hour or more per week. standing with the people officially on duty, speaking with passers-by. I call this 'low-key' because it is less confrontational than much of the evangelism done over the years. There is also a book-table in the Triangle arKI is led by three members of Sl Wilfrid's. The Triangle is something of a hub in our district with a few shops and a small piece of common ground. Churches Together also fun the singing in the square which happens at Easter and Christmas, and which I've been privileged to lead the last cx)uple of years. The Revd. C J Styles. DCC Chalr on behalf of the DCC of St Wilfrid's. Lower Willingdon February 4th 2025
The Parochial Church Council of StJOhn's. Polegatewfth the Districtchurch Council of Stwilfrid's, Lowerwillinguon. Twstees, Annual Report and Financlal Reportfor2024. Annual Financial Report for 2024 The Parochial Church Councll of St John's Church, Polegate with the Conventlonal Dlstrlct of St Wilfrids Church, Lower Willingdon in the combined parish of St John's wlth St Wiffrid's Churches Rwjsttrql clty 11th1 for the year ended 31 December 2024 C/pLES ofr 10
The Parochial Church Council of Stjohn's, Polegatewith the Distr Church Council of Stwilfrid's, Lowerwillingdon. Ttustees, Annual Report and Financial Report for 2024. Statement of financial activities Urr*lcttrJ Restr1¢ Total Funds FLnts Income and endowments from: Donations & le acies Charitable activities Other tradin actwities Investments Other recei ts Total Income 172.191 419 £9.360 £0 £13211 £0 £0 £22 571 181 551 419 224 948 448 713 713 571 196,321 218 891 249 381 Expendlture on: Raisin funds Charitable activities Other tradin actNities Total expenditure 114 184 995 £0 114 186.725 134 188 631 £0 202 626 204 356 206 190 Net gains {or losses) on investments Net Income or {net expondlture) Transfers between funds .305 -100 4.405 £20,841 £100 £20.941 14,535 43,192 14,535 43,192 Other recognlsed galnsl(losses)'. Gainsl(losses) on revaluatM)n of fixed asseis Other gainsl{losses) Net movement In funds £20 941 Recon¢lllatlon of funds.. Total funds brou ht forwa Total funds carried forward 160 136 153 731 £0 £20 941 160 136 174672 116945 160 136
The Parochial Church Council of Stjohn's, Polegate with the Distrittchurch Council of Stwilfrid's, LowerWiLlingdon. Trustees'Annual Report and Financial Reportfor2024. Balance Sheet (also known as Statement of Financial Position) Total Funds Total Funds 2.023 Intan ible assets Tan ible assets Herita e assets Endowed investments Total fixed assets 65,001 65.001 Stocks Debtors Investments Cash at bank and in hand Total Current assets 3.953 1.138 114.933 118.887 101 200 102,337 14 Creditors: Amounts fallin due within one Net current assets or Ilabllltles Total assets less current liabilities Creditors.. Amounts fallin due after rrM)re than one Provisions for liabilities Total net assets or (liabllltles) ear 9,216 109 671 174 672 7.202 160 136 ear 12 174 672 160 136 The funds of the charity: Endowment funds Restricted income funds Unrestricted funds Revaluation reserve Total unrestricted funds Total charity funds 20,941 153.731 160,136 153.731 174 672 160,136 160,136 Thls Annual Financial Report. for the year ended 31 st Dent)er 2024 including the notes following, was approved by the PCC and signed on it's behaff by OFFICER Date: 2025 12
The Parochial Church Council ofstjohn's, Polegatewtth the Districtchurch Council of Stwilfrid's, Lowerwillingdon. Trustees, Annual Reportand FinanciaL Reportfor2024. Notes to the financial report NOTE 1. Accounting policies Accounting convention The financial statements have been prepared under the Church Accounting Regulation 2006 in accordan with applicable accounting standards and the current {2015) Statetr£nt of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by CharTties SORP (FRS102). The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as mOdifd by the inclusion of investments at markel value. The finanaal statements indude all transactions. assets and liabilrties for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe the affiliation to another body. nor those which are informal gatherings of church rrembers. Funds accountlng Funds held by the PCC are: Unrnstiicted funds generdl funds whh can be used for PCC ordinary purposes Designated funds monies set aside by the PCC out of unrestted funds for speCrf future pUoseS or projects. RestriGted funds a) income from trusts or endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust or bequest: b) donations or grants received for a specrfic object or invrted by the PCC for a specrfic object. The funds may onty be expended on the specrfic obiect for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of the year is carried foThvard as a balance on that fund. Endowment funds - funds the capital of Nthich musl be maintained: onty Income arising from the investment of the end0Vnt may be used, either as restricled or unrestricted funds, depending on the purpose set out in the terns of the original endowinent. Income and endowments All income and endowrrEnts are accounted for without deduction for any costs or receivability, are recognised when there is eviden of entillement. receipt is probable, and the armunt can be measured reliably. Donatlons and legacles Colleètions are recognised ¥then Ceived. Planned giving receivab recognised wthen there ts evidence of entrtlement, receipt is probable, and the amount acconds with the Gift Aid dedaration or other record of the intention to donate. Gift Aid recovered recognised en the income to which rt is attached is recognised. Grdnts & legac s are recognised when the formal offer in writing of the funding. is received by the PCC. Charitsble activities S81es of nrdgazines 8nd study notes are recognised when recelved. Rents fft)m pmperty are recognised in accordance with the rental agreements. when receipt E probable. Other tradlng actlvltles Trdding activities are where inwme is receivable in retum for selling goods or providing services. Income from trading is recognised either. a) when reived. or b) in the case of Conrts. for the year in question, irrespective of date of receipt. Advance booking5 are induded in creditors until the concert has taken place. Investment income; divtdends are accounted for when due and payable. Interest entitlements are accounted for as they accrue. 13
The Parochial Church Councli of Stjohn's, Polegatewith the Di%trKtChurch Council of Stwilfrid's, LowerWilling(Jon. Trustees, Annual Report and Financial Reportfor2024. Notes to the financial report (continued) All other Incomo All other income is recognised in accordance with the above overall policy. Gains and losses on investments Realised gains are recognised Nthen the investments are sold. Unrealised gains and k)sses are accounted for on revaluatN)n at 31 December. Resources used Resources expended are accounted for on an accfuals basls and are acc£)unted for gross. Grants Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over. orwhen awarded where the avrdrd creates a binding obligat50n on the PCC. Church Actlvllles The diocesan parish contribution is accounted for on an annual basis, reflecting the allocation set by our Deanery. Any parish contribution unpaMI as 31 Der2rt)er is provKled for in these accounts as an operational (though not legal) liabilty and is shown as a c*ditor in the balance sheet. Flxed Assets Tangible fixed assets Consecrated and benefKed propety of any kind ts excluded from the accounts by s.10(2) of the Charities Act 2011, Moveable church fumishing held by the Vur and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a facufty for disposal. are accounted as inalienable property unless consecrated. they are listed in the church's inventory which can be inspected but are not induded in the financial statements. For other property acquired prior to 2000 there is insufflent cost information avalable and therefore the st of suth assets is not stated in the financial statements. All expenditure on consecrated or benefd buildngs and indivKSual items costing under £2,000 are written off in the year they were incurred. Depreclatlon Depreciation is calculated to write down the o)st of tangible fixed a&sets, excluding fehOld properties, over their expected useful lives. The rates generally applicable are: Fixtures and fittings Audio visual equiprrtnt Office equipment No depreciation is provided on freehold property as rt is the P.C.C.'s policy to maintain these assets in a continual state of sound repair. The useful economic lrfe of these assels is so long and residual values so hMJh that any depreciation Vuld not be material. These assets wll be subject to annual impairment revFew3. Provision will be made if the has been any peffnanenl dirninuln in value. Investments Investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date. Current Assets Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December in respeci of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors less pvision for arrKJunts that may not prove llectable. Short-term deposits Indude cash held on deposit erther with the CBF Church of England Funds. or al the bank. 14
The Parochial Church Council of Stjohn's, Polegateimth the DistiKt Church Council of Stwilfrid's, Lowerwillingdon. Ttustees'Annual Reportand Financ1 Reportfor2024. Notes to the financial report (continued) Nco 2. ArAlysls of Irln8 a1 8rKkAThr RestrithJ Total Funds Tca F$ Planned Gift-aided ivin excl. tax refu Planned ivin no tax refunds Loose cash collections.sund donation Fetes. fund-raisin event income ecial a eals. Gift Da Grft Aid recovered Le acies Grants Donatlons & legacies 86.310 8,056 49.807 £720 £0 £490 £0 £3,632 £1,518 £0 87,030 86,084 7,580 51,965 650 27,369 520 28,207 50.592 28.886 172 191 181.551 224 948 Fees for weddin s & funerals Charltable activlties 419 419 £0 £0 419 419 448 448 Rent from lettin erties Church hall and room lettin Fund-raisin events other trading activities £0 £0 £13211 £13211 716 Bank and CBF de osit Inte$1 Investment fund dividends Investments 713 £0 £0 £0 713 571 713 713 571 Other recei ts £0 Total recelved on all funds 196 321 £22 571 218 891 249 381
The parochial Church Council of Stjohn's, Polegatewith the Districtchurch Council of Stwilfrid's, Lowerwillingdon. Trustees, Annual Report and Financial Reportfor2024. Notes to the financlal report (continued) Note 3. Analysis of expendllure on: unstrICted Funds Restricted Funds Endowed Funds Total Funds 2.024 Total Funds 2,023 ecial a eal costs Fund-raisin event costs Stewardshi costs Grants costs .Grw Investment mana ement costs other fundraisin non-tradin Cost of Raising funds £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 85 85 112 costs 29 114 29 114 23 134 Missiona Ministry: diocesan other clg Staff Church wnnin costs Church maintenance and re Miscellaneous Bank cha es De reciation Govemance costs etG Charltsble activltles and charitable ivin see nE 13.358 £1.730 15,088 16.434 8rish contributn costs 93,684 10,446 11,155 34 598 16.376 2.755 254 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 93.684 10.446 11.155 90.144 9,035 10.497 31,351 11.842 16,676 283 air 254 2.370 184 995 2.370 186 725 2,370 188 631 Church hall runnin Other tradin costs Bookstall costs Cost of other trading activiti•s costs and re lettin air 4.098 £0 £0 £0 £0 11,633 5.791 17,424 Total expended on all funds 202 626 204 356 206 190 16
The Parochial Church Council of Stjohn's, Polegatewth the District Church Council of StWilfri(I's, Lowerwillingdon. Trustees, Annual Reportand Financial Reportfor2024. Notes to the financial report (continued) NOTE 4. Mlsslonary a1 crItable s4vlry Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Endowed Funds Total Funds 2,024 Totsl Funds 2.023 Overseas:_ Serbia Crosslinks CMS Church Mission Interserve Sund rants overseas Quicken Trust Homo:. Sund ivin rants DI0Se Famil Su St Wilfrid's Hos ice innaker, Schools outreach Sussex Gos el Partnershi BHCT London Cit Mission £0 £0 £0 £0 £1,730 £0 6,000 1.000 650 358 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 358 887 ort Work 42 1,000 1,000 1.000 1.000 1.000 1,000 NOTE S. Staff costs: *r Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Endowed Funds Total Funds 2,024 Total Funds 2,023 Remuneratlon es and salaries Social securit costs Em lo er ension costs £0 £0 £0 £0 During the year the PCC of St John's employed one part-tirrE person as Parish clerk is also a member of the PCC whose remuneration was £9.519. She was also reimbursed £245 for church purchases St Witfrid's DCC employed one cleaner whose rerNneration was £1.636 Ben Pratt was reimbursed £19 for a conference fee and book albvrdnce Alan Packard was reimbursed £274 for church purchases Pam Sharpe was reimbursed £32 for church purchases NOTE 6. Governanco Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Endowed Funds Total Funds 2.024 Total Funds 2,023 Inde endent examination Accounts roductN)n Book kee in Total of Governance costs 2,370 £0 £0 £0 £0 2,370 17
The Parochial Church Council of Stjohn's. Poiegatewrth ttie Distrt Church Council of StWilfrKI's. Lowerwillingdon. Trustees, Annual Reportand Financial Reportfor2024. N otes to the financial report (continued) NOTE 7. Analysls of transfers $i-: between funds UnreStred Funds ReStted Funds Endowed Funds Total Funds 2.024 Total Funds 2,023 £0 £100 £100 13 13 from General to Charit Fund Total of transfers between Funds -100 -100 NOTE 8. Flxed assets t&%.i.. UnStriCted 2024 Funds Restricted 2024 Funds Endowed 2024 Funds Total Funds {a) Investments Market value 01 Janua 2023 Dis osals at ca in value Purchases 8t cost Net ains and revaluation Market value 31 December 2023 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 Total Ilxed assets b) Tangible fixed assets Cost or valuatlon As at 01 Janua 2024 Additions Dis osals Revaluatton At 31 Docombar 2024 (nomlnal Val two wcportles) nominal value tw ei £65 001 £0 £0 £0 £65 001 Charge for Impalrrnont As 8t 01 Janua 2024 Additions Dis osals Revaluation At 31 December 2024 Net book amounts At 31 December 2024 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 nominal value two ert £65 001 At 31 December 2023 nominal value revK)US Tangible fixed assets consist of two propertEs . (1) 5 Sl John's Road vrfas purchased in 1990 out of the O'Har3 Legacy. 11 was used for staff accommodation. first for a Church Amw OffrEr. then for the Church Pastoral assistant. After her redundancy in August 2012 it was let in May 2013 unfumished on a short-temi rental and is relEd on to supplerrent the church income. For accounting purposes. the propety was revalued in 1996. but there is no legal requirement to re-v8lue it again until it is disposed of. The nominal house value is the Fund balan £65.000 now. (2) St WilfrKI's House was built in 1964 at a (x)st to the parish congregation rdised by gift and loan. It is not owned by the diocese. By accounting oversight, it was never previously been induded in the Parish accounts until 2016 although it is a parish assel. There is no legal requirement lo include tt at its cuThent value. and so is entered here at a nominal figure of £1. £65 001 18
The Paiochial Church Council of Stjohn's, Polegatewith the Distrittchurch Council of Stwilfrid's. LowerWiLlingdon. Trustees, Annual Report and Financial Report for 2024. Notes to the financial report (continued) NOTE 9. Analysis of net assets by fu Unrestricted Ftjndls Restricted Endov*Ed . Fundls.. . Fundls Total Funds 2024 Funds Total Funds 2,023 Fixed assets for church use Investment fed assets Current assets exce t cash Cash at bank and on de osit Cuent liabilities Lon term liabilities 65.001 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 114,933 9.216 114933 101,200 189 150 189 150 160 136 Unrestiicted Fundls Restricted Fundls Endowed Fundls Tolal Funds 2024 Funds Total Funds 2.023 NOTE 10. Debtors Gift Aid recoverable Pre ments 8nd accrued incorr Other debtors £0 £0 £0 £0 Restricted Fundls 926 926 ?r Unrestricted Fundls Endowed Fundls Total Funds Tot81 Funds NOTE 11. Creditors: amounts falllng due withln one year Deferred income Accruals for utilrties and other costs Loans Other creditors £0 £0 £0 £0 £0 Restricted. Fundls 7.782 Unrestricted Fundls Endowed Fundls Totsl Funds 2024 Funds Total Funds NOTE 12. Cradltors: amounts falling due after more than one year Deferred income £0 Accruals for utilities and other costs £0 Loans £0 Other creditors £0 £0 19
The Parochial Church Council of Stjohn's, Polegatewith the Districtchurch Council of Stwilfrid's. Lowerwillingdon. Trustees, Annual Reportand Financial Reportfor2024. Notes to the financial report (continued) NOTE 13. Ststement offunds Balances blfwd 1Jan24 Transfers. other gains and losses Totsl Funds 31 Dec. 2,024 Inc£)ff Expendtture Endowed funds None Total of Endowed funds Restrictsd funds "Buildin . St Wilfrid's Charit fund, St John's Charit fund. St Wilfrid's Total of Restricted funds Unrostrlcted funds General fund St John's General fund St Wilfrid's Desi nated O'Hara Le fund St Jol Desi nated St. Wilfrid's Krtchen fund Desi nated St. Wilfrid's Re-order Designated St. John's Kitchen Fund Total of Unrestrlcted funds £0 £0 £20.941 £1,630 £0 £22 571 1.730 100 1,730 100 20,941 £124.936 £71,385 £0 £0 £0 £0 £196 321 133.020 1.064 3,544 -1.164 202 626 -1,164 -100 160 136 153 731 Total of All funds 160 136 £218 891 204 356 NOTE (l) The St Witfrid's Building Fund hokls [neY for large wndow repair NOTES {ii) and (iii) The Charity funds are funds that might hold over funds about to be paid out. NOTE (iv) O'Hara legacy in 1990 eS unreslricted. For the past detalls see Note 8 (1). NOTE (v) St Wilfrid's Kitch fund awaits plans to use. NOTE (vi) Reordering fund, held pending a building plan at Sl Wlhid's. 174 672 .411. J¥laW:: NOTE 14. Analysls of cash and cash equlvalents s Total Funds Total Funds 2,023 Cash in hand Notice de osits less than 3 months bank Overdraft facilit able on dernand Total cash and cash equivalents 40 114893 63 101 136 114933 101 200 NOTE 15. Related partles and transactions There are none to disctose. 20
The Parochial Church Council ofStJohn's, Polegatewith the DistiKt Church Council of Stwilfrid's, Lowerwillingdon. Trustees, Annual Reportand Financial Reportfor2024. This page is for Infomiatlon only and does not legally form part of the FAnancial Ststements Individual INCOME and EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS ST lM'S ST JOHN'S CHURCH CHURCH 2.024 £2.023 STWIFRID'S CHURCH 2024 ST WILFRID'S CHURCH 2,023 INCOME Tax efficient Tax refunds Other ivin Collections ecial collections and Grft Da Sund donations & Grants Le acies Parochial Fees Church hall rooms & Fund-raisin Dividends and interest Insurance claims ivin 48 733 £49 652 £18,238 9.969 3.240 5,016 6,874 3,040 iv £520 £32 633 £50 592 £399 £12 261 £0 £59 £0 £174.365 294 125 49 ert lettin 54 659 512 TOTALS 126 565 LESS: EXPENDITURE Grants iven awa Parish Minist costs All cle ex enses Cle housin ex enses Rented ert costs Salaries and wa es Church runnin ex enses Church re airs and maintenance Hall runnin costs Hall re airs and maintenance Trainin Outreach meetin s and mission Other Direct Ex enses Youth work Infomiation Technolo maintenance Fund-fdisin and ublicii costs Posta e statione and co in Sund administration ex enses Bank cha es Inde endent Examinerfs fee £12 552 £49 140 £23 956 £300 £318 £0 £23 230 93 114 864 £134 £0 £283 254 TOTALS 133 586 £128 071 EXCESS OF INCOMEIEXPENSES £46 295 21
The Parochial Church Councll of St John's. Polegate wlth the Dlstrlct Conventlon Council of St Wilfrld's, Lower Willlngdon Reglstered Charfty Number 1130861 Independent examlners's report to the tTUStees of The Parochlal Church Councll of St John. Polegate with the Dlstrict Gonventlon Councll of St Withid's, Lower Wllllngdon I r8POrt on the accounts of the Charity for the >Ear ended 31 December 2024, which are sel out on pages 11 to21. Resp8CtIv6 rn8ponslb511tles of trustees and examlner The charitvs trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charitvs trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is n88ded. It is my responsibility to- - examine the accounts under section 145 of the Chafities ACL. - to follow thé procedures laid in the general DireCtiS given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5)(b) of the chare$ Act; and - 10 State whether particular matters have come to my attentlon 8asis of Indep•ndent examlnerfs stat•mont My examination was carr7ed out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a revièw of the accounting recc*ds kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented ryth those records. It also indudes consideration of any unusiJ81 items or disdosures in the accounts. and seeking explanations from w as trustees conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do n(A provide 811 the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequenty no oplnion is glven 8S to ether the accounts present a Iruè and fair view and the report Is limited to those matters set out in th8 Statement below. Indopand•nt examlnevs stat•m•nt In conn8Ctlon my examination, no matter has come to my attention: (1) which gives me reasonaN8 cause to believe that in any material respect the raquirements: - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities ACL and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charits"es Act have not been met". or (2) to which, in my opinion. attention should be dra in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached Slgned by Mark R Sellings FCCA (Independent Examlner) 30 - 34 North Street Hailsham East Sussex BN27 1 DW Date: 22