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 Bea￿ark) at which
the f0M￿tIOn 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 Re￿Ipts
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 Re￿Ipts
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
ReSpO￿lbIlItIeS 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 l￿dy]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 PrOfe￿10nal
quaiEncatlon(s) or l￿dY
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