CHURCH OF SAINT JOHN, NEVILLE'S CROSS, DURHAM ANNUAL REPORT and ACCOUNTS of the PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL 5t for the year ended 31 December 2024 Incumbent . The Reverend Barnaby T. Huish The Rectory, 10 Westhouse Avenue, Durham, DHI 4FH. Presented at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday I I" May 2025 St John 's Neville s Cross is a Registered Charity No. 1131053
St John's Church, Neville's Cross, Durham Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council 5¢ for the year ended 31 December 2024 Administrative inforniation St. John's Church is situated in Neville's Cross, Durham. It is part of the Diocese of Durham within the Church of England. The correspondence address is Antioch House, 66 Crossgate, Durham DH14PR. Since I" August 2021 the Parish has fomied part of th¢ United Benefice of Durham St Margarel Neville's Cross St John and Bearpark St Edmund. The Parochial Church Council CC) was fornierly exempt from registering as a charity. however in May 2009 it did register with the Charity Commission under the ternis of the Chariti¢s Act 2006 (Charity No. 1131053). The members of the PCC are the Trustees of the Charity. PCC members who have served from l January 2024 until the date this report was approved are: Incumbent.. The Revd Bamaby Huish Churchwardens.. Mrs Jo Cundy Mrs Kathryn Shanks LlcensedAssociate Minister.. The Revd Canon Dr Nichola Chater Lay Representatives on the Deanery Synod.. Mr Michael Chater Mr Adriel Yap Elected members.. Mr David Atkinson Mr Michael Bullock Rachel Lillycrop Mrs Susan Massey Mr Andrew Mattches Mr Samu¢l Padfield Mrs Janet Phillips Chainnan Vice-chair (also PCC Secretary) (from 19th May 2024) PCC Treasurer (from 191h May 2024) Co-opted members.. Mr Alexander Walker Miss Amy Ward (from 13 June 2024) 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. The PCC Standing Committee is empowered to transact business on the PCC'S behalf outside regular meeting times if necessary. its current members are the Rcctor. Churchwardens. PCC Secretary and PCC Treasurer.
Objectives and Activities St John's PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Revd Barnaby Huish, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the Church and Church C¢ntre complex of St John's, Neville, Cross. It also has responsibilities as an employer. Achievements alld Performance Review oftheyear {January-December 2024).. St John's began the year with a newly-appointed Children, Youth and Families Worker. Alex Walker, who started in post in January. Over the course of the year, he opened up new areas of work with local primary schools and ¢stablished a new after- school group for secondary-age children. With his involvement. St John's continued to work in partnership with King's Church Durham; the now long-¢stablished 'LOL Youth MAnistry' partnership ran regular weekday groups for youth aged 11-18, as well as an annual weekend away and the 9-week 'Super6' after school programme for Primary School leavers. Building on work done in the previous year. the church sustained and supported a steady number of children of various ages attending regularly on Sunday mornings, with age-specific groups and activities. Messy Church continued to flourish, taking place once a month (usually on a Sunday afternoon); and likewise Playpeopl¢ (on Tuesday momings, for toddlers). St John's Church remained strongly committed to the diocesan Partnership for Missional Church (PMC) pro8ramme, however momentum was lost when the diocese withdrew its support for the project midway through a three-year commitment. The St John's 'core group, (responsible for co-ordinating our involvement in PMC) resolved to carry forward learning from the curtailed process as much as may be possible, and to persevere with the Mission Innovation Team's intention 'to create intentional pathways of hospitality to our Neville's Cross neighbours, In September, to help keep the congregation connected with these aims, members of the church led a much- appreciated parish away day, which took place in St Brandon's Church, Brancepeth. St John's shared with the wider diocese in giving thanks for the ministry of Paul Butler, who retired as Bishop of Durham in February. and in praying for Bishop Sarah Clark as she took on the role of acting diocesan bishop. The parish continued to prioritise safeguarding across its activities, in accordance with diocesan and national church guidance, and prayers and support were offered for victims of abuse following publication of reports into historic failings at a national level in this area. The parish's Music Missioner, Amy Ward, continued to work across the parishes of St John, Neville's Cross, and St Edmund, Bearpark. In Bearpark she built on links with community groups and individuals, running a very popular holiday club for families during the summ¢r (and at other school holiday tirnes). Her work with Bearpark Primary School included composing a rnusical telling the story of the village, which was perfornied for parents in school (with some of the songs being sung again later in
the year. at a community service marking the 40 anniversary of closure of the village colli¢ry). The pattern of Sunday services was maintained and strengthened throughout the year. with a regular pattern of two morning services of Holy Communion (one of which is live streamed online), a monthly all-age Service of the Word (usually following the 'Café Church, forniat), 'Taste' once a month on a Sunday evening. and Messy Chuwh once a month. Lunches were shared after the morning services from tim¢ to time, one of which provided an opportunity for the Rector to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination as deacon. A special service was held in June (An Beaark) at which the f0MtIOn of the United B¢nefice of St John's, St Margaret's and St Edmund's was celebrated by the thre¢ congregations, and during which Canon Alan Bartlett's ministy as 'Mission Priest, for the village was fonnally recognised and affirmed. The PCC continued to maintain the church building. with major work undertaken to resolve a longstanding problem of water ingress to the transept. The PCC revised and renewed its various working policies during the course of the year. The life of th¢ church was pursued and enhanced in all sorts of oth¢r ways: including through home groupsy prayer groups, a book group and breakfast me¢tings' in the work of the Mothers, Union. the preparation and presentation of candidates for Confinnation, the fortnightly Open Door café and the annual Eco Festival (which remains a very significant and widely-enjoyed event for and b¢yond the local community). and in less visible ways, such as through pastoral care and support, individual prayer, and preparing th¢ building for worship. The church continues to support and oversee Cross Quarterly (a community newsletter for Neville's Cross, which c¢lebrated its tenth anniversary this year) and the local Community Choir. Both in individual lives and corporately? the church seeks to celebrate and to serve God. through all that we offer in his name. Church Electoral Roll At the Annual Parochial Church Meeting it was reported that there were 115 parishioners listed on the Church Electoral Roll. Flnanclal Revlew, 2024 Overall receipts and payments accounts are showing a slight d¢ficit for 2024, but there ar¢ receipts due in arrears from the Church Estate Charity to cover the Rector's S¢cretary's salary and a contribution to the salary of our Children, Youth and Families Worker. Voluntary giving has been sustained from 2023 levels, both in general giving and donations to the Mission fund. The Church Estate Charity SUPPOrts the salary and expenses of the Rector's secretary, Jane Holmes. for which St John's is very grateful. The Charity has also supported
about half the cost of employing our new Children, Youth and Families Worker, Alex Walker. who started working with us full time in late January 2024. Our Music Missioner, Amy Ward, now works 25 hours per week and is funded from contributions from parishioners. She spends time working with musicians in St John'& as well as outreach in BearparL plus with many less visible mission projects. Income from wedding and funeral fees is showing on the accounts as a large increase from the previous year, but set against payments. yields us a small amount of income. Unusually> St John's hosted two weddings in 2024 which explains this. Our usual numbers for funerals each year is about half a dozen. Most of this income is passed to the Diocese. Lettings income is lower than 2023 but there are some overdue receipts. St John's also manages the finances of the Cornmunity choir. Numbers attending choir have blossomed. as well as there being an increase in the weekly subscription charge. In tem]s of outgoings, the PCC agreed to meet the guided pledge to the Diocese of £63,525 in 2024 and has met the increased pl¢dge for 2025. The PCC feels that the parish share is a fundamental part of our responsibility as a parish as this supports clergy provision within th¢ Diocese. The PCC made a difficult decision to adjust outward giving to a more flexible but manageable amount. £6000 was distributed to A Rocha (an ¢nvironmental charity), Fri¢nds Families and Travellers (Gypsy and Roma), as well as Catherine Lee (CMS), Transform Trade and N¢pacs (local prison visitor services), as decided by the PCC and congregation last year. Charitable collections were passed to the Children's Society and Dash (homeless in Durham). There was al80 a notable increase in expenditure on the upkeep of the building both in tenns of maintenance and major projects. The roof work to prevent damp ingress into the Baptlsty cost over £6000 and there was also work on trees and vegetation in the 8rounds. Th¢se bills carne after a period when some jobs had been overlooked due to the pandemic, and the work is continuing into 2025. We have managed to reduce the wi-fi and phone bills, as well as the utilities by signin8 UP to better deals with those companies. As mentioned last year, our finances are now being Strained by the costs of employing an additional person. Parish members will need to address this when considering their giving. Approved by the PCC at its meeting on 1st May 2025, and signed on its behalf by The Reverend Barnaby Huish (Chairnian).
SUMMARY RECEIPTS Unrestricted Receipts £123.959 Restricted Receipts £48,908 Total Recelpts 2024 £172,867 PAYMENTS Unrestricted Payments £112,857 Restricted Payments £62,241 Total Payments 2024 £175,098 ASSETSAT31- DECEMBER 2024 Investments £259,821 Bank Balances £71,475 Total Monetary Assets £331,296
St John's Neville's Cross Charity Number 1131053 Receipts & Payments Accounts for 2024 Receipts General Fund Receipts 2024 2024 GIftAid 78,904 Budget 2024 80,000 25,000 2023 80.991 17,700 7,733 1,559 2,810 191 Planned Givlng Glft Aid Gift Aid from previous year donations Loose Plate Collection Other Donations Fees (Banns, weddings, funerals, etc.) Whitby/Minsteracres weekend/day Sundry Church Activi Hlre of Premlses Messy Church Open Doors Solar Panels Other Income Interest/Divldends recelved Total General Fund Recelpts 19,292 2,684 3,983 3,092 3,000 5,000 500 1,000 250 4,000 400 400 2,500 3,135 294 462 2,482 4,898 380 805 2,479 76 113 8,422 103,459 7,500 129,551 8,064 127,611 19,481 Deslgnated Funds Recelpts 818 Play People Organ Fund Totsl De5i8nated Funds ReIpts 201 800 1,188 818 201 800 1,188 Restrlcted Funds Re¢elpts 11,740 21,406 1,743 2,518 5,496 120 932 500 44,455 local Mlsslon and Grants Grants (Church Estate Charlty and others) Eco Festlval LOL/ Whltaugh Community Cholr Flower Fund Speclal Collectlons Cross Quarterly Totsl Restricted Funds Recelpts 2,671 15,000 27,000 1,500 3,000 4,000 14,743 11,638 1,106 1,862 3,958 214 2,298 500 36,319 916 50 816 4,453 50,500 Total All ReIpts 148.732 24,135 180.252 172.851
Payments General Fund Payments 2024 63,525 4.054 3,494 1,485 496 156 115 30 528 7,562 2.391 5,337 269 263 580 3,500 60 Budget 2024 63,523 2023 62,504 3,450 3,591 1,445 Parish Share Office Sundries & Book-keeper Services & Music & MD Organlsts Messy Chuch Café Church Other mission and outreach/Open doors PCC Expenses Clergy Expenses (water) Maintenance Cleaning and Consumables Utilities Accountancy Printing Telephone/Wi Fi Insurance Bank Charges Sundrles SMDT/PMC Expenses Fundralsing (Sum up and Envelopes) Whltby/Minsteracres weekend/day Other Sundry event5 Funeral/Wedding fees Diocese 1,606 Total General Fund Payments 96.651 De518nated Funds Payments 9,303 6,000 1,600 1,200 750 150 800 25 929 719 396 2,949 2.061 6,140 1,387 110 1,136 3,364 60 478 360 551 1,000 16.500 500 50 500 400 200 1,000 500 350 106 745 88,673 9Z,498 Buildlng Major Repairs Outward Giving Organ Fund Playpeople 902 Total Deslgnated Funds Payments 16.204 Restrlcted Funds Payments Rector's Secretary Salary / expenses 13,183 Mi55ioner Salary/ Expenses 14,714 Cross Quarterly 1,258 Eco Fest 846 LOL 3,040 Nevilles Cross Community Cholr 5,684 Flowers 179 Special Collections 937 Children/Youth ministry Salaries 22,401 Total Restricted Funds Payments 62.241 5,000 9,000 8,000 102 1,048 9,150 800 14,800 16,000 19,500 1,000 1,500 4,500 4,000 11,470 12,402 1,059 346 2,418 4,057 262 2,298 26,000 165 72.500 34.477 Total All Payments 175,096 175,973 136,125
Funds Tran5fErs Transfus 31st De¢ 2024 General Fund Investment Current Assets Total General Fund 1st Jan 2024 Aecelws 64.333 1.766 7.980 122,940 72.313 124.706 Payments 66,099 23,270 89,369 96.651 96.651 11.000 11.000 De51Bnated funds Bulldin Ma orRe air5 Mlsslon & Glfts Io% Fund Playpeople Organ Fund Total Deslsnatsd Funds 40,553 9,303 6,000 902 5,000 6,000 36,250 2,640 1,563 44,756 1,019 2,758 1,563 40,571 1,019 16,204 11,000 Rtstrlcted Funds Rectrjr's Secreta LOL Youth Mlnlst Environment & Communl Harold Llster Fund Flowers Communl Cho5r Church Youth Worker Cross Quarterl Newsletter Mlssloner Salar &Ex en5es Spe¢lal Colectlons Totil Restrlctgd Funds & Offlce 2,724 3,054 2.804 700 115 1,933 165 559 15.810 13.406 2,568 2.659 13.183 3,040 846 2.501 2,582 4,617 700 56 2,562 14,566 1,317 15,507 Fund 120 6,312 8,000 500 14,411 932 48,908 179 5.684 22.401 1258.15 14,714 937 62,241 20.968 7,635 Endowment Funds Church Hall Trurt 189,387 4.335 193,722 Total funds 327,424 178,968 175,096 331.296 Assets Bank CafCa5h Account Cafcash ILQL Account CèfGold Account Llo sTS8 Vlcara e Fund CCL4 CBF De osit fund Ichurch Hall Total Bank A¢¢ounts 8.142 3,024 38,865 12,472 404 10.797 73.704 8.608 2.553 36,632 6,713 426 16,544 71.475 Galn on Valu*tlgn Lwon Valuatlon Unlts sold jlrt DeL 2024 Invesimonts COIF Ethical Fund CBF Investment Fund Total Imiestments lrt Jan 2014 1,766 4,335 6.101 66.099 193,722 259,821 189,387 253,720 Total A5set5 331,296 Approved by the Parochlal Chur¢h Councll on , .and slgned on Its behalf The Revd Barnaby T Huish Ichalrmanl
Notes Deslgnatsd Funds Major bulldlng Repalr8. The PCC has continued its policy of transferring £5,000 p.a. into this fund from the General Fund. They may, from time to time, reviewwhetherthis is an appropriate amount. Playpeople is admlnistered bythe PCC who provide premises and staff for this community activity. The church acquired funds of £961 from this once Independent group whlch can be used to purchase equlpment as deem8d necessary. Organ Fund. A generous gift was designated to be spent on the organ at some time In the future. There was no expenditure on organ maintenance during 2024. Re8trlcted Funds Rector'8 Secretary and Offlce. The Rector's secretary is employed by St John's on behaltof St. John's, St Margaret's and St Edmund's churches. The Salary and general office expenses are fully reimbur8ed bythe Church Estate charity. LOL Youth Mlnl8try Fund. LOL (Llving out Love) Youth Mlnlstry was orlginally a project of St. John's, St Margaret's. St Oswald's and Emmanuel churches. It continues, on a voluntary ba8iS, With St John's and King's church. St. John's takes Legal and financial re8ponsibilityforthe project. Envlronment and Communlty Fund. The PCC decided to place the surplus generated from the EcoFest (and similar events) since 2014 in a restricted fund for environmental and community projects, includingthe annual EcoFest. Harold L18ter Fund The fund results from a legacy in the will of the late Harold Llster. It was stipulated that the sum of £1.000'shall be used forthe Church purposes by the Rectorfrom time to tlme at his discretion,. Flower Fund The fund is used for money collected for church flowers. Communlty Cholr The PCC decided to support the formation of Neville's Cross Community Choir, allowlngthe choir to use the church without charge. The funds are administered by the church and the legal position is that the cholr is under the control of the PCC.
Church Youth Worker The PCC has appointed a Children's and Youth worker. Applications are made for grants in support of employment and other costs. Cross Quarterly New8 Letter The publication ofthe Community newsletter, Cross Quarterly, is a Church initiative for the benefit of the wider community. A grant of £500 was received from the local Councillor. Local Mission Fund. In 2020 the PCC agreed to fund a Local Mission Workerfor 21 hours a week. Work is done within the parish and outreach extends to the neighbouring pari8h of Bearpark. The post is funded by donations and grants., Endowment Funds. Church HallTru8t Fund. The fund originated from the sale of the site of the old church hall. The capital w88 invested in 8.378 unlts of the Central Board of Finance Investment fund at a cost of £62,627. The use of the fund is restricted to the building of a new hall. As this restricted use18 unlikely to be fulfilled, it 18 Included in these accounts as an endowment fund. Dividends and interest are available for furthering the religiou8 and other charitable work of the Church of England within the parish and are therefore Included In the assets of the General Fund. The value of the fund at the year end was £193,722. Restricted Grant8 Recelved The Church Estates Charlty. The objects of the Church Estate charity are"furtherlng the religiou8 and other work of the Church of England within the area of benefit, i.e. the parishes of St M8rg8ret's and St. John's. In practice the cost of the Rector's Secretary and office expenses are paid by the charlty. In 2024, this amounted to £13,406.
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectioi) A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl membors of PCC of St John's, Neville's Cross On accounts for the year ended 31" Decembei 2024 Charlty no (If any) 1131053 Set out on page8 l port to the trustees on my exarnination ol the accounts of the above charty (Ihe Trusv) for ih8 year ended ReSpOlbIlItIeS and bagls of report As the charivs trustees, you are r88pon8lble for the preparatton of the accounts In accordance wlth the requirements of the Charilies Act 2011 {'the Acf). I report in respect of my examlnatlon of the Trusf8 accounts carried out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and In carrying out my examination. I have followed all the applicable Dlrectlons gNen by the Chartty Commlsslon under sectlon 14q5)(b) of the Act, Independent rrhe charlty's gross income exceeded £250,000 and l am qualified to oxamlnorfs Ststsmont undertake the examinatlon by being a quallfted member of Dnsert name of applicable118ted ldy]1. Delete [ ] ff not applloable. I have completed my èxamination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention in connectlon wlth the examlnation (other than that dlsclosed below ? whlch glves me cause to belleve that in. any materlal respect. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Chariti'es Act; or the accounts did not accord wlth the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply wfth the appllcable requlrements conceming the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charitles (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other thar¢ any requirement that the accounts glve a 'lrue and fairf view which Is not a matter considered as part of an independent examlnation. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn In thls report in order to enable a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. ' 14ease delete the words in the br8ckets if they do not apply. Slgned: Date: 2210412025 Name: Antony FrisvRM Relevant PrOfe10nal quaiEncatlon(s) or ldY IER Oct 2018
(If any)- Address: Westholme. t)urham Moor. Durham. DH15AH Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight materSal matters of nCern (see CC32. Independent examination of charity accounts". directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brlef detsils of any Items that the examlner wlshes to disclose. IER Oct 2018