St Laurence Church Catford 37 Bromley Road London, SE6 2TS
Regd Charity: 1101092
Annual Report and Accounts 2022
2022 Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St Laurence Church, Catford
Aim and purposes
St Laurence’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent, the Reverend Canon Charles Pickstone, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of St Laurence Centre.
Objectives and activities
The mission of the parish, as expressed in the parish mission statement, is ‘to offer, on behalf of a place that God loves, namely Catford, the praise that it has largely forgotten to express’. The PCC is committed to inviting as many people as possible to worship God, and if they feel so called to become part of the parish community at St Laurence’s. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. Concomitantly, we invite local people to express their worship of God in altruistic service to their local community. When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:
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Worship and prayer; learning about the gospel; developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus especially as expressed through the sacraments
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Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish
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Missionary and outreach work.
To facilitate this work, we regard the maintenance of the fabric of the church of St Laurence and St Laurence Centre as of great importance.
Achievements and performance
The focus of the year has been to continue to assist in the recovery from the challenge that Covid presented to both the church community and the wider community of Catford. The church continues to make its hall and ancillary rooms available to local people (of every faith and none) as cheaply as possible, to allow for the growth of community locally. This has been a particularly successful year for the hall, as many local groups and individuals have responded to the affordable provision of our space for their use for public and private meetings, social events, training sessions, exercise classes, funeral wakes, blood donation and luncheon clubs.
Two particular achievements stand out. In 2022, Lewisham was London Borough of Culture, and thanks to substantial grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and from the London Borough of Lewisham, we were able to mount a community dance event involving some 80 performers representing ten different community groups of extraordinary diversity. With a remarkably wide range of presentations all held together by the powerful vision of Dagmara Bilon, the choreographer and director, and accompanied by a specially composed soundscape by Eliot Popeau-George, a dynamic young black composer from the East End of London, the performance was a great success, and hugely enjoyed by audience and 80-strong cast alike.
Second, the funding and installation of Air Source Heat Pumps has made St Laurence’s one of the first churches in south London (if not the first) to install Heat Pumps. The project was achieved with no little difficulty. The PCC would like to express its gratitude to our funders, Viridor Credits (now Valencia
Community Fund), the Mayor of London’s Community Energy Fund, the Mayor of Lewisham’s Clean Air Fund, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Kirby Laing Foundation and a substantial number of members of the congregation.
The heat pumps are part of a wider project to make St Laurence’s a green building. Thanks to the work of the parish manager, we have now gained the silver ‘eco-church’ award and are working towards the gold award.
The parish has celebrated a rich cycle of liturgical events, including welcoming the Bishop of Southwark to preach at a eucharist celebrating the Vicar’s fortieth anniversary of his priesting in 1982. A Nigerian priest, Fr Kayode, has joined the staff team, bringing particular talents and insights to the running of the parish.
We record here the sad loss of Fr Iain Farquhar, who over his sixteen years as a priest at St Laurence’s contributed enormously to the pastoral and spiritual well-being of the entire parish, and is much missed.
Financial review
The third year of the pandemic continued to pose challenges to the finances of the organisation, albeit less than the previous year. Income from the Centre is now nearly at pre-Pandemic levels; giving to the church has held up well, despite the financial stringency that many parishioners are enduing thanks to rising energy prices and inflation on food and household goods. Income from the flats remained steady. During the year, we undertook a major refurbishment project with the flats. The value of our investments declined, thanks to adverse market conditions, so that at year end, there was a moderate deficit, after investment income and the parish’s own contribution to its Air Source Heat Pumps from its reserves, of £20,155. We contributed £70,000 towards Diocesan funds. The heat pumps have been capitalised over 20 years, and the boiler fund correspondingly deferred.
Reserves policy
It is PCC policy to try to maintain a balance on free reserves (net current assets) which equates to at least six months’ unrestricted payments during normal times. This is equivalent to £150,000. It is held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow, to meet emergencies and to protect members of staff in the case of failure. The balance of our unrestricted reserves at the year-end was £143,193 which is just below our target. The balance of £12,023 in the fabric fund is retained towards meeting the upkeep of the Church Hall, Church and Flats, while the £18,113 restricted fund is money that has been given specifically to renew the church lighting. It is our policy to invest the short-term investment fund balances with the CCLA Church of England Deposit Fund, and the remainder in the CCLA Church of England Investment Fund.
Volunteers
We would like to thank all the volunteers who have worked so hard over so difficult a year to enable the church and community centre to survive financially and morally, to care for the congregation, and to keep everyone who does enter the building safe. In particular, we want to mention our churchwardens Ms Chin and Ms Baker, who have worked so tirelessly on our behalf. We have an estimated 50 volunteers who contribute time and energy to the running of the Church and Community Centre, and the entire community of congregation and Centre users are extremely grateful to them.
Structure, governance and management
The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC is a Registered Charity, no 1131092.
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St Laurence’s, the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar) and other licensed clergy, churchwardens, the Chair of the Centre Management Committee, the enrolling member of the Mothers’ Union, the readers and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. The Director of Music is required to be in attendance when invited. All those who attend our services/members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the electoral roll and stand for election to the PCC.
The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent.
The full PCC met six times during the year with an average level of attendance of 75%. Given its responsibility for managing St Laurence Centre, the PCC has a Centre Management committee dealing with the running of the Centre. This committee is responsible to the PCC and reports back to it regularly, minutes of their decisions being received by the full PCC and discussed as necessary.
Administrative information
St. Laurence Church is situated at 37, Bromley Road, Catford. It is part of the Diocese of Southwark within the Church of England. The correspondence address is the Parish Office, 37, Bromley Road, London, SE6 2TS. Registered charity number 1131092.
PCC members who have served at any time from 1 January 2022 until the date this report was approved are:
Ex officio members : Incumbent : The Reverend Canon Charles Pickstone (chairman) Clergy & readers : Mrs Grace Blyth Wardens : Ms Beverley Chin Mrs Joan Baker Deanery Synod representatives : Mrs Grace Blyth, Ms Florence Browne-Marke, Mr Daniel Sackey Elected members : Ms Elaine Dixon; Ms Leanne Harvey-Thompson; Ms Lesley Ihekuna (from May 2022); Mrs Bylinda Lundie (from May 2022); Ms Marva Mayne; Mr Victor Obasogie; Mr Paul Omondiale; Ms Bridgit Sam-Bailey; Ms Jennifer Thorne (from May 2022). Chair of Centre Management Committee : Mr Ray Williams Hon. Treasurer: vacant MU Enrolling member : Mrs Margaret Greaves Church Council Secretary : Ms Joyce Turpin
Approved by the PCC on 20th July 2022 and signed on their behalf by the Reverend Canon Charles Pickstone (PCC Chairman)
Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of St Laurence Catford Parochial Church Council
I report on the accounts of the church for the year ended 31 December 2022 which are set out on the subsequent pages, which show that expenditure exceeds income by £20,155. The net assets are valued at £334,353.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The church’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The church’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
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To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners (under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act); and
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To state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
Since the gross income for the year exceeds the amount provided in section 145 ( 3) of the Act, I confirm that I am qualified to act as Independent Examiner under the provisions of that section of the Act and that my qualification is as shown below.
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
13[th] April, 2023 Gavin Ellis Accountant 26, Bargery Road, London SE6 2LN
Parochial Church Council of St Laurence, Catford Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ended 31 December 2022
| Notes Incoming resources Voluntary income 2(a) Activities for generating funds 2(b) Income from investments 2(c) Church activities 2(d) TOTAL INCOME Expenditure Church activities 3(a) Raising funds 3(b) TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET GAINS /(LOSS) ON INVESTMENTS 5 BOILER RESERVE TRANSFERS NET INCOME Transfers Boiler reserve Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) BEFORE INVESTMENT GAINS AND LOSSES & RESERVE TRANSFERS |
Unrestricted funds | Restricted funds | Total funds | Total funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2022 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| 59,491 64,348 2,941 168,008 |
178,592 - - - |
238,083 64,348 2,941 168,008 |
102,140 71,718 4,121 75,980 |
|
| 294,788 | 178,592 | 473,380 | 253,959 | |
| 290,569 862 |
15,545 | 306,114 862 |
255,875 611 |
|
| 291,432 | 15,545 | 306,977 | 256,486 | |
| 3,357 | 163,047 | 166,404 | (2,527) | |
| (13,512) | (173,047) | (13,512) (173,047) |
18,622 | |
| (10,156) 153,348 |
(10,000) 173,047 28,113 |
(20,155) 173,047 181,461 |
16,095 - 165,366 |
|
| 143,193 | 191,160 | 334,353 | 181,461 |
Parochial Church Council of St Laurence, Catford Statement of Financial Position at 31 December 2022
| Notes FIXED ASSETS Investments 5 Computer equipment Boiler CURRENT ASSETS Debtors and prepayments 6a Short-term deposits 6b Cash at bank and in hand LIABILITIES Creditors – due within 1 year 7 NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) TOTAL ASSETS PARISH FUNDS Unrestricted funds General funds 9 Designated funds 9 Restricted 8 Boiler reserve 8 |
2022 2021 £ £ 95,925 126,496 2,415 3,599 196,410 |
|---|---|
| 294,749 130,095 |
|
| 57,695 37,523 12,570 19,384 15,989 27,133 |
|
| 86,254 84,040 |
|
| 46,651 32,674 |
|
| 39,603 51,366 |
|
| 334,353 181,461 |
|
| 131,170 141,325 12,023 12,023 18,113 18,113 173,047 10,000 |
|
| 334,353 181,461 |
|
| - - |
The notes on the succeeding pages form part of these accounts Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 22nd March 2023 and signed on its behalf by
The Rev’d Canon Charles Pickstone (PCC Chair)
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST LAURENCE, CATFORD NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2022
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The PCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCCs, and with the Regulations’ ‘true and fair view’ provision. They have been prepared under FRS102 (2016) as the applicable accounting standards and the 2016 version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP(FRS102)). ASSETS Consecrated and benefice property In so far as consecrated and benefice property of any kind is excluded from the statutory definition of ‘charity’ by Section 10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011 such assets are not capitalised in the financial statements. Moveable church furnishings These are capitalised at cost and depreciated over their useful economic life other than where insufficient cost information is available. In this case the item is not capitalised, but all items are included in the Church’s inventory in any case. Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £1,000. They are valued at cost or else, for gifts-in-kind, at a reasonable estimate of their open market value on receipt. Depreciation is calculated to write off the capitalised cost of fixed assets less their currently anticipated residual fair value over their estimated useful lives as follows: Land: nil Boilers, fixtures and fittings: 20 years Computers: 3 years (starting from the first full year after purchase). No depreciation is provided on buildings as the currently estimated residual value of the properties is not less than their carrying value and the remaining useful life of these assets currently exceeds 50 years, so that any depreciation charges would be immaterial. An impairment review is carried out at each year-end and any resultant loss identified included in expenditure for the year. Investments Investments quoted on a recognised stock exchange or whose value derives from them are valued at market value at the year end. Other investment assets are included at PCC’s best estimate of market value. Short term deposits These are the cash held on deposit either with the Deposit Protection Fund or at the bank. FUNDS Unrestricted Funds These represent the remaining income funds of the PCC that are available for spending on the general purposes of the PCC, including amounts designated by the PCC for fixed assets for its own use or for spending on a future project and which are therefore not included in its ‘free reserves’ as disclosed in the trustees’ report. The Church Council consider it appropriate to keep approximately six months of expenditure as unrestricted reserves. Restricted Funds These are income funds that must be spend on restricted purposes and details of the funds held and restrictions provided are shown in the notes to the accounts.
2. INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
| 2(a) Voluntary income Planned giving:Gift Aid donations Tax recoverable Other planned giving Collections (open plate) Grants Donations, appeals, etc 2(b) Activities for generating funds Fundraising Rent–temporary let of clergy flats 2(c) Income from investments Dividends on CCLA Investment Fund 2(d) Income from church activities Fees for weddings and funerals Church Centre lettings-local community use Other Income Total income |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL 2022 TOTAL 2021 £ £ £ £ 30,783 30,783 25,439 8,355 8,355 8,207 7,819 7,819 29,465 6,939 6,939 5,501 4,000 170,889 174,889 30,857 1,595 7,703 9,299 2,671 59,491 178,592 238,083 102,140 2,848 2,848 5,135 61,500 61,500 66,583 64,348 - 64,348 71,718 2,941 - 2,941 4,121 2,941 - 2,941 4,121 4,461 4,461 4,354 162,885 162,885 60,152 663 663 11,474 168,008 - 168,008 75,980 294,788 178,592 473,380 253,959 - |
|---|---|
3. EXPENDITURE
| 3(a) Church Activities Missionary & charitable giving, (note 11) Ministry: diocesan parish quota Other ministry cost Church running & maintenance Major repairs Bank charges Director of music, organist, tuning Caretaking Events 3(b) Raising funds Costs of refreshments TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED Printing, postage & stationery |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds TOTAL 2022 TOTAL 2021 £ £ £ £ 1,183 - 1,183 - 70,000 - 70,000 69,000 2,347 - 2,347 3,712 113,203 - 113,203 99,440 29,090 - 29,090 23,927 3,106 - 3,106 3,376 1,555 - 1,555 363 17,888 - 17,888 10,362 52,197 - 52,197 45,695 - 15,545 15,545 - 290,569 15,545 306,114 255,875 862 - 862 611 862 - 862 611 291,432 15,545 306,977 256,486 - |
|---|---|
4. STAFF COSTS
Wages & salaries HMRC Job Retention Grant received
2022 2021 £ 97,857 £ 107,168 £ - £ 25,240
No. of permanent employees
7 7
There were no employee benefits to key management personnel in the previous or current years. During the year, the PCC employed a Parish Manager, Director of Music, a Finance Officer and a number of caretakers.
5. FIXED ASSETS
| 5. FIXED ASSETS | 5. FIXED ASSETS | 5. FIXED ASSETS |
|---|---|---|
| Investments 2022 2021 Amounts invested with CCLA £ £ Amounts held in trust by CCLA through The South London Church Fund and the Southwark Diocesan Board of Finance in respect of monies in connection with: Sale of 34 Canadian Avenue (1987) 36,811 36,811 Miss Hilda May Augusta Marsh & Miss Pansie Beatrice Edney bequests (198 5,648 10,034 42,459 46,845 These funds are principally invested in units of the CBF Church of England Investment Fund Market value of 5,408.89 units at 01 January 2022 (2021:7,030.62) 126,496 143,753 Sale of 899.16 units during 2022 (2021:1,809.63) (20,000) (40,000) Cost of 136.47 additional units purchased during 2022 (2021:187.90) 2,941 4,121 Increase/(Decrease) in Market Value during the year (13,512) 18,622 Market value of 4,646.20 units at 31 Dec 2022 (2021:5,408.89) 95,925 126,496 Units Value (£) Cost of additional units 34 Canadian Avenue 110.21 2,374 Marsh & Edney 26.26 567 136.47 2,941 Units at Dec 31st, 2022 34 Canadian Avenue 3,932.92 81,199 Marsh & Edney 713.28 14,726 4,646.20 95,925 |
||
| 95,925 126,496 |
||
| 136.47 2,941 |
||
| 3,932.92 81,199 713.28 14,726 |
||
| 4,646.20 95,925 |
6. CURRENT ASSETS
6(a) Debtors and prepayments
| Prepayments Accrued income Debtors 6(b) Short term deposits Deposits with Nat West Bank Deposit protection scheme 7. LIABILITIES Amounts held on behalf of others Vicar’s Discretionary fund Women’s fellowship Choir holiday fund Choir Bursary fund Minichoir fund Choir Concerts Fund Benevolent Fund Toilet Twinning Other Flat deposits held Other creditors and accruals |
2022 2021 £ £ - 24,900 15,500 8,000 42,195 4,623 |
|---|---|
| 57,695 37,523 |
|
| 7,170 13,984 5,400 5,400 |
|
| 12,570 19,384 |
|
| 2022 2021 £ £ 2,194 2,625 1,849 1,849 268 268 2,247 3,479 337 310 511 1,120 200 200 - 610 583 444 |
|
| 8,189 10,905 |
|
| 5,400 5,400 33,062 16,369 |
|
| 46,651 32,674 |
8. RESTRICTED FUNDS
The restricted funds have evolved as follows:
| evolved as follows: | |
|---|---|
| Church Lighting Fund Green Boiler Fund |
Balance Donations Expenditure Transfer Balance 31/12/2021 2022 2022 2022 31/12/2022 £ £ £ £ £ 18,113 - - - 18,113 10,000 163,047 - - 173,047 |
| 28,113 163,047 - - 191,160 |
| 9. SUMMARY OF UNRESTRICTED FUND MOVEMENTS Designated unrestricted funds Church maintenance fund Balance 1 January Transfers during the year Balance 31 December Centre maintenance fund Balance 1 January Transfers during the year Balance 31 December Total designated funds Unrestricted and undesignated funds Balance 1 January |
2022 2021 £ £ 7,679 7,679 - - 7,679 7,679 4,344 4,344 - - 4,344 4,344 12,023 12,023 141,325 103,877 |
|---|---|
| Surplus and transfers during the year | (10,156) 37,448 |
| Balance 31 December Total reserves at 31st December 2022 10. SUMMARY OF ASSETS BY FUND Investments & other fixed assets Debtors & prepayments Short term deposits Cash at bank and in hand less creditors due within one year 11. CHARITABLE DONATIONS London Hearts Lewisham Refugee Migrant Network |
131,169 141,325 Restricted Designated Unrestricted Total & undesignated £ £ £ £ 191,160 12,023 131,169 334,352 |
| unrestricted restricted Total 2022 Total 2021 funds funds £ £ £ £ 121,703 173,047 294,749 130,095 57,695 - 57,695 37,523 10,447 2,124 12,570 19,384 - 15,989 15,989 27,133 (46,651) - (46,651) (32,674) |
|
| 143,193 191,160 334,353 181,461 |
|
| 2022 2021 £ £ 752 - 431 - 1,183 - |
12. SUMMARY OF GRANTS RECEIVED
The PCC wishes to record its gratitude to the following generous donors:
| 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Garfield Weston Trust (eco boilers) | 10,000 | |
| Southwark Diocese (mission fund) | 1,400 | |
| Kirby Laing Trust (eco boiler) | 5,000 | |
| London borough of Lewisham (eco boiler) | 20,000 | |
| Greater London Authority (eco boiler) | 50,000 | |
| Viridor (eco boiler) | 50,000 | |
| HLF (gyratory project) | 5,750 | |
| London borough of Lewisham (gyratory project) | 4,500 | |
| London Borough of Lewisham (restart grant) | 4,000 |