## **ST JOHN & ST LEONARD BEDFORD** 

## **2023** 





## **Annual Report** 

## **and** 

## **Financial Statements** 

## **of the** 

## **Parochial Church Council (PCC)** 

For the year ended 31[st] December 2023 

## **Priest -in-Charge** 

The Reverend Helen Stewart (from 19[th] July 2023) 

## **St John’s Parish Office** 

38 St John’s Street Bedford MK42 0DL 

## **Bank** 

_**The Co-Operative Bank plc**_ Community Direct Plus Account 

**Independent Examiner** Mr Barrie Frost 

Page 1 of 8 **Approved by the PCC 20th March 2024** 



## **Bedford St John & St Leonard Bedford – Annual Report 2023** 

## _**Background (Aims and Purposes)**_ 

St John & St Leonard PCC (The PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent of the parish in promoting, within the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church. Its mission is to be “Showing Christ’s Love, Giving Hope and Bringing Peace” both inside and outside the church. 

It has responsibilities for maintaining two worship centres in south Bedford together with associated land and buildings. The Church of St John the Baptist stands to the east of St John’s Street, Bedford, and the St Leonard’s Church Centre lies on the north side of Victoria Road, Bedford. 

The  PCC  is  a  body  corporate  [PCC  (Powers)  Measure  1956  as  amended,  Church Representation Rules (Synodical Government) Measure 1969 as amended] and is a charity registered with the Charities Commission. Registration number 1131545. The members of the PCC are the trustees. Until 2009 the PCC was an exempt organisation, being part of the Church of England. 

The Charitable aims are described in the registration. In carrying out its activities, the PCC are able to confirm that there are clear benefits to the public and specific sections thereof, in accordance with the public benefit guidance published by the Charities Commission. The activities carried out to further its purposes for the public benefit are described in this report. Two separate charitable funds, the Gertrude Day and Welbourne Charities, are managed by the Rector and wardens who are jointly the sole trustees. These charities are independent of the PCC. 

## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

## _**PCC Membership**_ 

|Incumbent:                  The Revd Helen Stewart*|Priest in Charge (from 19thJuly 2023)|
|---|---|
|Wardens:                     Mr Daniel Payton*||
|Mrs Hilary Searle*||
|Representatives           Mrs Delyth Arrowsmith|(to May 2026)|
|On Deanery Synod:     Mrs Sue Williams*|(to May 2023)|
|Mr David Lambert           (to May2026 & Diocesan Synod member)||
|Reader :                       Mr David Lambert*|Member of Diocesan Synod|
||Treasurer to April 2023|
|Accredited Lay Minister: Ms. Jill Thomas (PTO)||
|Elected Members:       Mr Ike Alino|(to April 2025)|
|Mr Simon Brocklehurst*|(to April 2026)|
||Treasurer from April 2023|
|Mrs Liz Ewang|(to April 2023)|
|Mrs Margaret Lambert   (to April 2026) Parish Safeguarding Officer||
|Mr Alan Ledwick|(to April 2026)|
|Mrs Luisa Moreton|(to April 2025)|
|Mr Chris Moss|(to April 2026)|
|Mrs Lizzie Payton|(to April 2026|
|Ms Val Swanborough|(to April 2025)|
|Mrs Sue Williams*|(to April 2026)      Lay Vice Chair|



Page 2 of 8 **Approved by the PCC 20th March 2024** 



_PCC Secretary:_ Ms Tracey Woodwards   (not  a member of the PCC) 

_Parish Safeguarding Officer –_ Mrs Margaret Lambert is a member of the PCC who reports on safeguarding matters and ensures that proper safeguarding practice underpins all that we do. 

## _**Other Commissioned Leaders**_ 

Mrs Sue Williams Discipleship Enabler Mr Simon Brocklehurst Discipleship Enabler 

## _**Committees**_ 

_Standing:_ Transacts  the  business  of  the  PCC  between  meetings  subject  to  any directions given by the PCC. Members identified as above*. 

_Finance:_ Sets operating budgets, provides regular updates to the PCC, manages the stewardship  scheme,  reclaims  tax  on  gift  aid  donations,  keeps  books, manages cash flow, maintains appropriate financial controls and produces annual reports. The team consists of the Chair (Treasurer), Angela Locke (Bookkeeper),  Chris  Moss  (Gift  Aid),  Hilary  Searle  (Salaries),  and  a churchwarden. Jill Thomas manages the Weekly Planned Envelope Scheme. The allocation of money to missions is undertaken by the PCC. 

_Buildings and Land:_ Manages  the  maintenance  and  upkeep  of  the  buildings  and associated land under the Church Wardens and invites others on an ad-hoc basis depending on skills required. 

## **Staff and volunteers** 

Tracey Woodwards continues as our (paid) Administrator and St John's Hall Cleaner. She is efficient and friendly and is an ideal first point of contact for visitors. Her genuine concern for individuals, coupled with her warmth and desire to be helpful, is a real asset and witness. 

We are very grateful to Simon Brocklehurst who has continued his responsibilities as Music Director, as  well as Dan Payton and the rest of the musical worship team. Our thanks also go to the team of people who have volunteered to run ‘Zoom’ in church, and run the audio and visual equipment. 

In addition, the enormous amount of work done by a large number of people, in particular our wardens Hilary Searle and Dan Payton, as well as David Lambert, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord is acknowledged. This enables the buildings, the church activities, the outreach and the church itself as a fellowship to function and grow. 

We want to thank God for bringing Reverend Helen Stewart to be our Priest in charge from 19th July and we pray for her as she leads us through this year. 

## **Safeguarding** 

We are delighted that Margaret Lambert continued in her role as Parish Safeguarding Officer. (PSO) 

St John’s and St Leonard’s have a documented safeguarding policy for children and vulnerable adults, which is in line with the Diocesan policy and thereby pays due regard to the House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding. Appropriate procedures are followed and 

Page 3 of 8 **Approved by the PCC 20th March 2024** 



relevant appointments made. The PCC includes safeguarding as a standing agenda item and receives regular reports. The policy is reviewed annually by the PCC. 

The PSO maintains the _**Parish Safeguarding Dashboard**_ tool as a continuous process. This enables the PSO and diocese to check that all the requirements of the policies are in place.  It  highlights  areas  that  are  complete  and  enables  an  ordered  process  to  the safeguarding requirements of the church.  Margaret works closely with the Priest in Charge. 

The PSO has ensured that all those who require it have undergone the Awareness of Domestic Violence training, as advised by the Diocese.  Margaret also keeps up to date with those who require DBS checks and training, or who need to renew their DBS or their training, every three years, again as advised by the Diocese. Any new  volunteers or employees are required to undertake a DBS check and relevant training before they start. 

Margaret also takes every opportunity to undertake training for PSOs run by the Diocese or ThirtyOne:Eight – the body that handles DBS checks on behalf of the Diocese. 

## **Church attendance** 

At 2023 APCM our Electoral Roll stood at 58 which was a reduction of 5 from 2022.  Of those on the roll 16 live in the parish and the majority within close proximity of the parish. We have 2 places on Deanery Synod. 

In 2023 our church services remained, with 1[st] , 3[rd] and 5[th] Sundays at St John’s and 2[nd] and 4[th] at St Leonard’s.  The St John’s services have also been on zoom.  On the 2[nd] and 4[th] Sunday evenings we had an informal Hungry for God service.  The attendance of the morning services was approximately 30 adults with 2 to 7 children and around 1-2 joining on zoom. 

Our Good Friday service took place at St Leonard’s with Easter celebrations at St John’s. We had a Light Party on 31st October which was well attended with families from our Babes and Toddler Groups. 

This year we decided to hold our Christingle Service mid week when children came from Caldwell School and other families.  This was a great success especially with David Lambert dressing up as a Christingle.  We had our Carol Service at St John’s, Crib Service at St Leonard’s, Midnight Communion and Christmas Day service at St John’s. During our vacancy period up to July our congregation have been blessed by preachers from the deanery and retired clergy for whom we would like to thank God. 

**Buildings and Land** _General:_ The care and use of the buildings and land is considered to be an important aspect of the church’s stewardship of resources in its care. This is achieved through regular cleaning, maintenance and upkeep; also the appropriate use of the buildings. _St John’s Church_ : Routine maintenance was carried out during the year. It is a Grade 1 Listed Building having been re-listed in 2018.  Smart Water was reapplied to the building. We have been working with Bedford Borough Council and the Diocese on quinquennial work  to the churchyard. The Quinquennial report has been investigated, with a works package being drafted for early 2024. 

Page 4 of 8 **Approved by the PCC 20th March 2024** 



_St John’s Hall:_ 

Regular maintenance has been carried out, working parties carrying out wider cleaning and maintenance on the hall and grounds. 

- _St Leonard’s Church Centre:_ Regular maintenance has been carried out, and the premises are  maintained  in  good  order.  The  adjacent  car  park  remains secured, and is used in conjunction with the centre. Redecoration was started towards the end of 2023 as well as the beginning of clearing work on the adjacent car park. 

_Curate’s House_ : 

- Since June 2013 this has been rented out on a commercial basis on a formal short-term tenancy managed by a local agent. The intent is for the net income to be shared between the Diocese and the PCC proportionate  to  the  equity  share  (approx.  70/30).  The  PCC  is engaging with the Diocese over the future of the building, which provides a valuable asset for a future curate. 

## **Achievements and Performance** 

Details of our approach to Mission (how we deliver the charitable aims and objectives) are described in the Mission Action Plan (MAP).  A PCC away day was held on 20[th] June 2022 to review and update the plan for 3 years till 2025 due to us going into a vacancy period. The revised MAP was approved by the PCC on 20[th] July 2022 and submitted to the Diocese on 17[th] August 2022. 

## _**Outreach and Service within the Local Community**_ 

We continue to run a Babes and Toddler group Mondays at St Leonard’s and Tuesdays at St John’s.  These are led by Alison Clark of “Praise and Play”.  Each group has its own Facebook page set up and run by Alison which helps to support our toddler families. 

The coffee mornings held every two weeks at St Leonard’s continued throughout the year and has been a great blessing to those who attend. 

We continue to be  involved with the IMPACT Team that works with local schools.  In April they held an Easter Experience and in December a Barn Nativity using St John’s Church and glebe for a week of sessions.  These events were a great success with many schools attending and volunteers from various churches taking part. Several of our church members assisted with the events. 

We currently attend Caudwell school once a month to lead an Open the Book assembly. 

Throughout the year both St John’s Hall and St Leonard’s Hall have been available to local community  groups  including,  among  others,  antenatal  classes,  baby  massage,  NCT meetings, Bedford  Pipe  Band, Locomotive  Club  of  Great  Britain  (Bedford  Branch), Bedford  Hospital  Cardiac rehabilitation,  the  Borough  Council  and  elections.  At  St Leonard’s we have also provided storage space for IMPACT. At St John’s car Parking is provided free of charge for the staff and SMART support workers. 

## _**Wider Mission**_ 

We have our partnership with Church Mission Society and support Lea and Petra Williams based in Brno, Czech Republic.  We met them at Rushden  church in the summer and received newsletters. 

Our harvest appeal this year was divided between the Diocese appeal for food poverty in Uganda and the King’s Arms Project appeal for buying sleeping bags for the homeless. Page 5 of 8 **Approved by the PCC 20th March 2024** 



## **Home activities** 

In addition to services held at St John’s Church and St Leonard’s Centre, a wide variety of activities were undertaken to support the Church Family.  Our two Church Home Groups continue to meet to worship, study the Bible, provide mutual support and offer acts of service  to  our  local  community  within  the  parish  and  across  Bedford,  one  meeting fortnightly in-person, and one meeting weekly online. A monthly prayer meeting has been re-established, now meeting alternately at both centres. Regular daytime prayer meetings also continued online to offer prayer and support. Members of the congregation also kept in touch with each other by phone. 

## **Vocations, Deanery, Diocese and wider Anglican Communion** 

The Bedford Good Friday Act of Witness (supported by a large number of local church groups) was joyously re-instated following Covid. The congregations continue to be kept up  to  date  with  developments  across  the  Anglican  communion,  both  through  local information, teaching and through wider missionary contacts. Daniel Payton completed the lay leader of worship course and is waiting to be commissioned in 2024. 

## **Financial Review** 

During 2023 we continued to use the Paxton accounting package, the software accords with the accounting regulations, SORP 2015. Simon Brocklehurst was appointed by the PCC as “Treasurer” on David Lambert's retirement from the role (we are grateful for so many years of faithful service, thank you David). Angela Locke very capably manages the book-keeping and our administrator deals with invoicing, receipt of payments and payment for bills. All banking transactions are conducted online, with dual signatories as recommended by the Charity Commission. 

**Total incoming resources** for 2023 were **£93,289** as compared with **£201,945 in 2022** (note that 2022 included a legacy of £99,762), including grants for **£174** from Bedford Council for work with babies and toddlers and **£325** from the Diocese towards an energy survey on St John’s Church. This compares with the budgeted incomings of **£83,105** . A large part of the increase is due to better than budgeted receipts from building hire and car park use. Another significant part (as always) is due to designated gifts that were received and then distributed. 

We are particularly grateful to our regular donors (most of whom now pay by standing order or on-line banking); total giving was broadly in line with expectations, and we recognise people's faithfulness in a difficult economic climate during 2023. All giving is treated as “open giving”, unless specifically designated otherwise by the donor, which is to say that donors leave the allocation of use of the giving to the discretion of the PCC. 

**Gift Aid tax** reclaimed amounted to **£9,626,** the Small Donations Gift Aid Scheme (SDGAS) contributing **£138** towards this amount. 

Designated gifts are sent off (with the recovered Gift Aid where appropriate) to the relevant mission partners. For example, our Harvest appeal was split between the Bishop’s Appeal (for Mission Direct working in Uganda) and, locally, for the King’s Arms Project (for their Rough Sleepers; Outreach Service). Other specific gifts were received during the year to the Home of Hope in Mchinji, Malawi and to the Tear Fund, amongst others, including contributions from Coffee Morning and Just for Men. Further details can be found in the notes to these accounts. 

Page 6 of 8 **Approved by the PCC 20th March 2024** 



**£8,712** income from the rental of the curate’s house is included, of which **£5,560** (the net income, after deduction and apportionment of expenses such as insurance and maintenance, apportioned by equity share) is held to be passed in due course to the Diocese. In practice this is retained within the equity value of the property, and therefore **£58,875** is now identified as rental income held within the value of the property for passing to the Diocesan Board of Finance (£53,315 up to 2022 plus £5,560 from 2023). 

**Total Expenditure** for 2023 was **£119,588** compared with **£112,450** in 2022. This compared with the initial **£112,921** budget. The increase in expenditure over budget includes some items of expenditure at St John’s (energy survey and quinquennial report) and at St Leonard’s (land report), the former being charged to the Fabric Fund, and the passing on of restricted gifts to the intended recipients. 

Staff are paid at rates based on the “Real” living wage – in accordance with the recommendations of the “Living Wage Foundation”. Pension arrangements have been made with the Church of England Pension Fund, who have provided an appropriate “disclosure notice” in accordance with the requirements of FRS 102. 

Some expenditure for specific mission partners has been documented above. Following the PCC resolution to gift 10% of recent legacies to mission partners, we have pledged to support the work of Lea & Petra Williams working with CMS in Brno, Czech Republic, to the amount of £1000 each year, and this year’s gift was duly despatched in September. The overall financial resources devoted to “mission” exceed this and include, for example, the provision of our two baby and toddler groups (the second group at St Leonard’s having now completed its first year) and the Light Party held in October. 

## **Financial Explanation and Outlook** 

The budget for 2023, as presented to, and approved by, the PCC in March noted a planned deficit of £29,820 (at the end of the year we had a deficit smaller than budgeted by around £3,500), a very significant increase on previous years. The major contributor to this increase was significantly higher energy costs, something that we are all only too familiar with, in addition to our relatively high contribution (for the size of the congregation) to the Diocese; we are very fortunate to have our own full-time minister, but the costs of this are reflected in our high Parish Share. Both these factors will continue to be present in 2024. 

The challenge to the PCC is to continue to deliver the Charitable Objectives (Aims and Purposes) within the continuing financial constraints. The PCC is addressing these issues, to ensure that financial stability is maintained to deliver the Church’s Vision, as defined in the parish “Mission Action Plan”. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

In 2014 the PCC adopted the following Reserves policy: _**“It is the policy of the PCC to maintain a balance of 2 months of utility expenditure, insurance and contractual commitments, including salaries. It is considered that a catastrophic event would require the use of such a reserve, and that on-going gifts would cover Parish Share and other expenses**_ .” At 2024 budget levels this requires a total reserve of **£5,791** . 

At 31st December the balance sheet shows **£139,738** cash in the bank. It is noted that the cash element of the endowment fund (the fabric fund) stood at **£27,910** . This leaves **£111,828** of free reserves. 

Page 7 of 8 **Approved by the PCC 20th March 2024** 



In accordance with the guidance to PCCS under the Charities Act 2011 (section 3.5) the
PCC will continue lo prioritise the cash position to maintain the free reserves in line with
the Reserves policy. whilst continuing to deliver the Charitable Objectives (Aims and
Purposes). The PCC will keep this under close scrutiny in 2024.
Stewardship:
St John's and St Leonard's has always tsken seriously its approach to Christian
Sfrwardship. in its widest sense, and has a high level of planned and tax-efficient giving.
This has had strong benefits during 2023. Dwing 2024 the PCC will be looking at how we
continue to be good stewards of that with which we have been entrusted. and how assets
can be best maintained and used as part of ow ongoing mission.
Conclusion:
As we look back over the past year. we are conscious not only of our own challenges but
also of the challenges faced by so many within our parish and wider community. Our
calling to live out God's love, to go deeper into God, transforni communities and make
new disciples is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we praise God for
his faithfulness and provision over the past year. we are able lo look forward with
confidence and hope and say with Paul that "he who began a good work in will carry il
onto Complelion until ihe day of ChriJ¢ Jesus" Phil I v 6
Slgned on behallof the PCC
The Reverend Helen Stewart (Priest in Charge)
Please note thal this report should be read in conjunction with the following documents:
Statement of Financial Activities as at 3111212023 (SOFA) - I page
Balance Sheet as at 3111212023 - 1 page
2 pages of Notes to the Accounts
FRS102 Pension disclosure statement 2023 & Examin¢r's letter 2023
Page 8 of 8
Approved by the PCC 20th March 2024

## **ST. JOHN AND ST. LEONARD P.C.C. BEDFORD. Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2023 - page 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES** 

## **(a) Basis of accounting** 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, together with applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP 2015 FRS 102. They follow the historical cost convention except for the valuation of investment assets, which are shown at market value. 

## **(b) Funds** 

General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds that are designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are still unrestricted. Restricted funds are from income that has been accepted subject to conditions about how it may be used. The restricted funds are given names that indicate their purpose and restrictions. 

The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. However, they do not include any accounts of church groups that are simply informal gatherings of church members. 

At year end it was realised that certain historic transactions had been applied to the wrong fund, and these have now been corrected using recorded journal entries. 

## **(c) Incoming resources** 

## _**Voluntary income and capital sources**_ 

Collections are recognised as income when they are received by or on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving, under Gift Aid or otherwise, is also only recognised when it is received. Income tax recoverable on Gift Aid donations is recognised at the same time as the gift itself. Grants and legacies are accounted for as soon as the PCC has been notified of its legal entitlement and the amount is quantifiable and the PCC is reasonably certain of receiving it in due course. 

The Church of St John's and St Leonard's does not usually engage in fund-raising activities. Some social activities are undertaken for which an admission charge is made (for example Harvest Supper) but these are regarded as part of the Church's outreach. In these circumstances proceeds are sometimes netted off against expenses where it is not reasonably practicable to separate some expenses and receipts (for example occasional refreshments and receipts) and the net cost is charged as a running cost under "Work of the Parish". 

## _**Other income**_ 

Rental income from letting of Church premises is recognised when the rental is due, although since 2020 income has only been recognised when paid. Bank deposit interest is accounted for as it accrues. Other investment income is accounted for when it is due and payable. 

## _**Gains and losses on investments**_ 

Realised gains or losses are recognised when investments are sold. Unrealised gains or losses are accounted for on a revaluation every 31st December. 

## **(d) Resources used** 

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded if the awarding creates a binding obligation on the PCC. The diocesan parish share is accounted for when payable: any amount unpaid at 31 December would be provided for as an operational liability, but St Johns and St Leonards pays it monthly and the amount paid at 31st December 2023 has been confirmed. 

## **(e) Fixed assets** 

## _**Consecrated land and buildings and moveable church furnishings**_ 

Consecrated and beneficed property is not included in the accounts in accordance with s.10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011. No value is placed on movable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal since the PCC considers this to be inalienable property. All expenditure incurred during the year on consecrated or beneficed buildings and movable church furnishings, whether maintenance or improvement, is written off as expenditure in the SOFA and disclosed at 3c) 

## _**Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment**_ 

Equipment used within the church premises is depreciated on a straight line basis over a period not exceeding four years. Individual items with a purchase price of £2,500 or less are written off when the asset is acquired. 

## _**Investments and current assets**_ 

Investments are valued at market value at 31 December. Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December in respect of fees, rents or other income such as Gift Aid are shown as debtors, less provision for amounts that may prove uncollectable (including rents not secured). In practice only Gift Aid is included in line with (c) above. Cash at bank and in hand includes funds on short term deposit. 

## _**Valuation of Buildings**_ 

From 2016 Ecclesiastical Insurance amended its insurance approach from being based on a given asset value (which had been used as the current asset value in the accounts) to a "limit of claim", which does not provide a defined asset value. From 2016, therefore, the asset value used in these accounts is based on the latest available valuation, which it was intended would be reviewed every 3 years and adjusted in accordance with recognised valuation increase/decrease criteria. Ecclesiastical Insurance have advised that the Archdeacons have been made aware of the change in the basis of insurance. The figures used for valuation for 2023 accounts are those given for St John's Hall by Ecclesiastical Insurance on 30th November 2017, with a similar increase for St Leonard's Church Centre (pro-rata on the figures used for 2016 valuations). In 2023 it has been decided to continue to use the same valuations as previously. 



||**ST. JOHN AND ST. LEONARD P.C.C. BEDFORD**|**ST. JOHN AND ST. LEONARD P.C.C. BEDFORD**|**ST. JOHN AND ST. LEONARD P.C.C. BEDFORD**|**ST. JOHN AND ST. LEONARD P.C.C. BEDFORD**||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes to the Financial Statements for theyear ended 31st December 2023 –page 2**|||||||||||
|||||||||||||
|**_SORP_**|**_2015 references_**||||**2023 Direct**|**2023**|**2022 Direct**|**2022**|**2021 Direct**|**2021**||
||||||**_St Leonard’s_**||**_St Leonard’s_**||**_St Leonard’s_**|||
||||||**_Cofee_**||**_Cofee_**||**_Cofee_**|||
|**B2**|**Missionary Societies & Organisations Supported**||||**_Morning_**||**_Morning_**||**_Morning_**|||
||Kings Ams local Shoe Boxes|||||||||£250||
||Ukraine Refugees(Diocese St Albans)|||||||£778||||
||Bishops Harvest Appeal|||O/Seas||£411||||£831||
||Christian Aid(Haiti Earthquake Relief)|||O/Seas||||||£888||
||Friends International|||||||£500||||
||FACES(Bedford)|||||||£500||||
||MacMillan Coffee Morning||||||||£50|||
||FamilyPastoral Gift|||||||£175||||
||SMART / BECHAR|||||||£1,110||||
||Children's Society (Christingle)||||£100*|£136||£63|£100|£320||
||Malawi Orphan Fund|& HoH Gifts||O/Seas|£100*|£178|£400*|£900||||
||Tear Fund|||O/Seas||£269||||||
||King’s Arms Project|||||£410||£610||||
||Hope Bedfordshire|||||£100||||||
||Beds & Herts Historic|Churches’ Trust||||£150||||£50||
||CMS(Lea & Petra Williams)|||O/Seas||£1,000||£1,000||£300||
||Romania Shoebox appeal|||O/Seas||||in kind||in kind||
||Bedford Foodbank|||||£15||||||
||||||£200|**£2,669**|£400|**£5,636**|£150|**£2,639**||



|||£200<br>**£2,669**<br>£400<br>**£5,636**<br>£150<br>**£2,639**|£200<br>**£2,669**<br>£400<br>**£5,636**<br>£150<br>**£2,639**|£200<br>**£2,669**<br>£400<br>**£5,636**<br>£150<br>**£2,639**|£200<br>**£2,669**<br>£400<br>**£5,636**<br>£150<br>**£2,639**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||_The "Direct" amounts are outwith these accounts, provided in kind or due to expediency (to meet immediate need), but included for the beneft of transparency._<br>_Those identfed* are included in accounts._||||
|||**Fixed Assets**<br>**2023**<br>**2022**<br>**2021**|**2020**|**2019**<br>**2018**||
|**D1**||53 Hillesden Ave,Elstow<br>buildings<br>107,216<br>89,268<br>89,268|81,678|81,678<br>81,678||
||**a**|St. John's Hall<br>building& contents<br>850,000<br>850,000<br>850,000|850,000|850,000<br>850,000||
||**b**|St. Leonard's Church Centre<br>building& contents 1,075,213<br>1,075,213<br>1,075,213|1,075,213|1,075,213 1,075,213||
||**c**|Fabric Fund CBF Investment<br>93,315<br>85,291<br>96,670|84,404|78,952<br>66,500||
|||**2,125,744**<br>**2,099,772**<br>**2,111,151**|**2,091,295 **|**2,085,843 2,073,391**||
|**A4**||||||
|||The property values shown for St John's Church Hall and St Leonard's Church Centre are|taken from|fgures provided by Ecclesiastcal||
|||Insurance at 30th November 2017 as minimum insured amounts for St John's Hall, with a similar increase for St Leonard's Church<br>Centre pro-rata to the previous valuatons. Refer to Notes page 1 for further details.||||
|||The St John's Church building is insured in a similar manner, with minimum insured amounts of £4,470,000 and a further £100,000||||
|||contents but not included in the statement of assets, which is in accordance with SORP 2015 requirements.||||



||The fundingof 53 Hillesden Ave is on an EquitySharingLoan made upas follows: -|The fundingof 53 Hillesden Ave is on an EquitySharingLoan made upas follows: -|The fundingof 53 Hillesden Ave is on an EquitySharingLoan made upas follows: -|The fundingof 53 Hillesden Ave is on an EquitySharingLoan made upas follows: -|The fundingof 53 Hillesden Ave is on an EquitySharingLoan made upas follows: -|The fundingof 53 Hillesden Ave is on an EquitySharingLoan made upas follows: -|The fundingof 53 Hillesden Ave is on an EquitySharingLoan made upas follows: -|The fundingof 53 Hillesden Ave is on an EquitySharingLoan made upas follows: -|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||**Share %**|**2023**||**2022**|**2021**|**2020**|**2019**|**2018**||
|**a**|St. Alban's DBF Pastoral Account|||**68.97%**|238,308||198,414|198,414|181,724|181,724|181,724||
||St. John and St. Leonard P.C.C.|||**31.03%**|107,216||89,268|89,268|81678|81678|81678||
||||||**345,525**||**287,682**|**287,682**|**263,402**|**263,402**|**263,402**||
||||||||||||||
||The Fabric Fund capital,of which onlythe|||income can be used for|||the fabric of St. John's||Church,comprises 4,128 shares in the||||
||of the Church of England.  The value shown is the bidprice at 31st||||||December 2023||||||
||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||
||||||||||||||





**Charity Commission SOFA Report as at 31/12/2023** 

**Page 1 of 1** 

**Paxton** 

## **St Johns & St Leanords** 

## **Printed: 08/02/2024** 

||**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**|**Restricted**<br>**Income funds**|**Endowment**<br>**funds**|**Total funds**|**Prior year**<br>**funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Income and endowments from:**<br>Donations and legacies<br>Charitable activites<br>Other trading activities<br>Investments<br>Separate material item of<br>income<br>Other|**£**<br>56,064<br>21,507<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>10,520|**£**<br>1,564<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>659|**£**<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>2,551<br>0<br>425|**£**<br>57,627<br>21,507<br>0<br>2,551<br>0<br>11,604|**£**<br>165,871<br>19,317<br>0<br>2,541<br>0<br>14,216|
|**Total**|**88,090**|**2,223**|**2,976**|**93,289**|**201,945**|
|**Expenditure on:**<br>Raising funds<br>Charitable activities<br>Separate material item of<br>expense<br>Other|0<br>114,096<br>0<br>0|0<br>3,915<br>0<br>0|0<br>1,577<br>0<br>0|0<br>119,588<br>0<br>0|0<br>112,450<br>0<br>0|
|**Total**|**114,096**|**3,915**|**1,577**|**119,588**|**112,450**|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**<br>**before investment gains/(losses)**<br>Net gains/(losses) on<br>investments<br>**Net income/(expenditure)**<br>**Extraordinary items**<br>**Transfers between funds**|**-26,006**<br>0<br>**-26,006**<br>0<br>-92,332|**-1,692**<br>0<br>**-1,692**<br>0<br>1,639|**1,399**<br>8,024<br>**9,423**<br>0<br>90,693|**-26,299**<br>8,024<br>**-18,275**<br>0<br>0|**89,494**<br>-11,379<br>**78,115**<br>0<br>0|
|**Other recognised gains/(losses):**<br>Gains/(losses) on revaluation of<br>fixed assets for the charity's own<br>use<br>Othergains/(losses)|17,948<br>0|0<br>0|0<br>0|17,948<br>0|0<br>0|
|**Net Movement in Funds**|**-100,390**|**-53**|**100,116**|**-327**|**78,115**|
|**Reconciliation of Funds**<br>Total funds brought forward|2,246,634|53|21,109|2,267,796||
|**Total funds carried forward**|**2,146,244**|**0**|**121,225**|**2,267,469**||





iton Cknrity Comml&8lon B•]ance Sheet *s *t 31112n023
'P•ge l oti
St Johns & St Leanordj
Printed: OPJ02n024
Unrestrictrd
Funds
Resirictc41
Incotne Trund$
Endowment
Funds
Totsl funds
Prior year funds
ixed
Inian8ible &ssels
Tangible &ss¢t5
InvestmenL8
2,032,429
2.032.429
93.315
L12S744
2.014.481
85.291
2,1199,772
93,315
93JlS
Trf4lJl¥edwsets
2W2A29
urrent •5sets
Sirtks
Ikb¢or$
Investments
C&%h at boJ)k and in hand
2,871
9.844
12.714
13,376
121.672
l24J42
-9.844
27.910
27.910
139.738
152A53
164,688
17&1164
.redlton'. omoun¢% r￿ling due
ithin on¢ ye8r
Nel c¥rren¢ tTssets/1llo￿IIrtÉs)
10,727
10.727
10,040
27,910
141.725
168.024
IIAbi11rf¢s
Tcdilors.. amounts fallin8 due
fter more than one year
Provisions for liabilitie5
2.l4Q244
121325
2367,469
2,267,796
I'0111 ntt #gjets or liobilititB
'unds oftht Chxrlty
ndowmcni funds
Rcsiricted income funds
Unresiricied funds
R¢valu81ion rescervc
2,146,244
121325
2 J67.469
2.267,796
121.225
121,225
21,11
53
2.24&634
114&244
2,146.244
Total fundi
2,146344
12l.22S
2J67A69
2,267,796
Si8ned by one or Iwo iNs*e$
on behalf ofall th¢ Irwees
Date of Approv#1
ddlmmlyy
s￿nI1￿r¢
Prlnt NArMe
LLI

## **Church Workers Pension Fund (CWPF) FRS102 Wording - December 2023 Year End** 

The PCC of St John and St Leonard Bedford participates in the Pension Builder Scheme section of CWPF for lay staff. CWPF is administered by the Church of England Pensions Board, which holds the CWPF assets separately from those of the Employer and other participating employers. 

CWPF has two sections: 

1. the Defined Benefits Scheme 

2. the Pension Builder Scheme, which has two subsections; 

   - a. a deferred annuity section known as Pension Builder Classic, and, 

   - b. a cash balance section known as Pension Builder 2014. 

## **Pension Builder Scheme** 

Both sections of the Pension Builder Scheme are classed as defined benefit schemes. 

_**Pension Builder Classic**_ provides a pension, accumulated from contributions paid and converted into a deferred annuity during employment based on terms set and reviewed by the Church of England Pensions Board from time to time. Discretionary increases may also be added, depending on investment returns and other factors. 

_**Pension Builder 2014**_ is a cash balance scheme that provides a lump sum which members use to provide benefits at retirement. Pension contributions are recorded in an account for each member. Discretionary bonuses may be added before retirement, depending on investment returns and other factors. The account, plus any bonuses declared is payable, unreduced, from age 65. 

There is no sub-division of assets between employers in each section of the Pension Builder Scheme. 

The scheme is considered to be a multi-employer scheme as described in Section 28 of FRS 102.  This is because it is not possible to attribute the Pension Builder Scheme’s assets and liabilities to specific employers and means that contributions are accounted for as if the Scheme were a defined contribution scheme.  The pensions costs charged to the SoFA in the year are the contributions payable (2023: £1,161 2022: £1,150). 

A valuation of the Pension Builder Scheme is carried out once every three years. The most recent valuation was carried out as at 31 December 2019. 

For the Pension Builder Classic section, the 2019 valuation revealed a deficit of £4.8m on the ongoing assumptions used. At the most recent annual review effective 1 January 2024, the Board chose to grant a discretionary bonus of 6.7% to both pensions not yet in payment and pensions in payment in respect of service prior to April 1997; and a bonus on pensions in payment in respect of post April 2006 service so that the pension increase was 5% (where usually it would be calculated based on inflation up to 2.5%). This followed improvements in the funding position over 2023. There is no requirement for deficit payments at the current time. 

For the Pension Builder 2014 section, the 2019 valuation revealed a surplus of £5.5m on the ongoing assumptions used. There is no requirement for deficit payments at the current time. 

The next valuation is due as at 31 December 2022.  Calculations for this are currently under way. 

The legal structure of the scheme is such that if another employer fails, The PCC of St John and St Leonard Bedford could become responsible for paying a share of the failed employer’s pension liabilities. 



Bedford St John & St Ixowd
the Parochi￿ C￿lle11 of Bedf nl
StJokn&S
N 113154S
This report on the acc&Autts of the PCC forthe year 31 D￿nbU 2ff23
(I pa8e). the SOFA rq￿ (l F4e) aTrl the FRS102 DiscloAwe Notice in respect of ik
Church Worker5. Pcwion Fuul (I py) i% in rewt of an examI￿10n carried out in
S.145 of the ChaTitits Act 2011 {'the At#').
nsider the mmlit [quir￿ ofd* S.144(2) of Art lkns not
apply. It is my re$W￿1b1lity kn i&we this rqKxt ￿ tIK)s¢ AD with
the terms of the Regulations.
Basis of thii report
the Charity Coomii&sion uth S.145(5Xb) of the Ad •tMI to be in the Church
provTrde 8ll the eviderKe be in ￿ aMliL aThl consequently I do n(
In conn&xion wilh my examinw ￿ matter has lo my Attention:
. to keep r￿1xds in 1K(Xxd￿ with S.130 of the ￿. and
li to whic14 in my opiill￿ •tta*Th slKwld be io order to ejwble a pr
(Barrie Frost)


## RR to the people of the Parish of Bedford, St John and St Leonard 

for your ongoing support of the cost of ministry in your Parish and across the Diocese. Maintaining this ministry would not be possible without your continuing generosity. 

The amount of Parish Share paid in 2023 was: 

## £57 652 , 





Bishop of St Albans                                       Diocesan Secretary