## **ST JOHN & ST LEONARD BEDFORD 2025** ## **Annual Report** ## **and** ## **Financial Statements** ## **of the** ## **Parochial Church Council (PCC)** For the year ended 31[st] December 2025 ## **Priest -in-Charge** The Reverend Helen Stewart ## **St John’s Parish Office** 38 St John’s Street Bedford MK42 0DL ## **Bank** _**The Co-Operative Bank plc**_ Community Direct Plus Account 35-day Notice Account ## **Independent Examiner** Mr Barrie Frost ## **Registered Charity Number** 1131545 Page **1** of **8** **Bedford St John & St Leonard Bedford – Annual Report 2025** ## _**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. ## _**Structure, Governance and Management**_ PCC Membership _Incumbent:_ The Revd Helen Stewart * _Wardens:_ Mrs Hilary Searle * Mr Daniel Payton * _Representatives_ Mrs Delyth Arrowsmith (re-elected April 2023) _On Deanery Synod_ . Mr David Lambert (Diocesan Synod member) _Reader :_ Mr David Lambert Member of Diocesan Synod Jill Thomas Accredited lay minister _Elected Members:_ Mr Simon Brocklehurst * Treasurer Mrs Sue Williams * Lay Vice Chair Mrs Liz Ewang Mrs Margaret Lambert Alan Ledwick Chris Moss Lizzie Payton Teresa Stone _PCC Secretary:_ Kaci Clarke Page **2** of **8** The full PCC met 6 times during the year with an overall good attendance. The Standing Committee met between meetings and reports of activities and actions were received by the PCC and discussed where necessary. The APCM was held on 27[th] April 2025. _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, in accordance with Government, Diocesan and Bishops’ guidelines. ## 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), Hilary Searle (Salaries), and a churchwarden. Simon Brocklehurst manages the Weekly Planned Envelope Scheme. The allocation of money to missions is undertaken by the PCC. _Buildings and Land:_ David Lambert heads up the Building and land team. This team 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**_ Kaci Clarke is our paid Administrator. He is responsible for the day to day running of the church centres and all administrative tasks for the church and centres. We are very grateful to Simon Brocklehurst who has continued his responsibilities as Music Director, as well 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. ## _**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 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 Page **3** of **8** highlights areas that are complete and enables an ordered process to the safeguarding requirements of the church. 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. 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 our 2025 APCM our Electoral Roll stood at 35 which was a reduction of 16 from 2024. Of those on the roll 8 live in the parish and 27 within close proximity of the parish. Our church services in 2025 were held mainly in St Johns Church. Every Sunday there has been a morning service at St John’s with Holy Communion on the 1[st] , 2[nd] and 3[rd] Sundays. These services have also been on zoom. On the 2[nd] and 4[th] Sunday evenings we had an informal service Hungry for God. . Attendance at St John’s at the morning service was approximately 27 adults and 2-10 children and around 1-2 joining on zoom. Our Lent Course was held every Sunday evening at St John’s Hall and followed up at our mid week communion services held at St John’s every Wednesday during Lent. It was attended by approximately 12. This year we have held an Ash Wednesday service, a Maundy Thursday meal, Good Friday service and our Easter celebrations at St John’s. We held a Christingle service and a crib service at St Leonard’s. We also had a Carol Service and Christmas Day service at St John’s Church. ## _**Buildings and Land**_ **General:** The care and use of the buildings and land is 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. The environmental aspects also form part of the 5[th] mark of mission. We were awarded an EcoChurch Bronze award and during the year further work was carried out which is being measured against the A Rocha EcoChurch criteria (Silver Award) **St John’s Church** : The church is a Grade 1 Listed Building having been re-listed in 2018. Smart Water is applied to the building as a forensic aid against theft. An Energy Audit and Advice Report has been carried out. Routine maintenance was carried out during the year. We have been working with Bedford Borough Council and the Diocese on quinquennial work to the closed churchyard. Following award of a faculty, repairs to walls, and substantial undergrowth and tree work was carried out. This will be finalised during 2026. A works package, based on the most recent Quinquennial Report, was finalised in early 2025. The work primarily includes masonry repairs and roof repairs to the tower. was competitively tendered and awarded to a local Stonemasonry company who commenced work in November 2025 under the conditions of the Archdeacon’s Permission for works under List B dated 16[th] May 2025. The work is being overseen by the approved surveyor. Grants have been obtained from heritage trusts, for which we are duly grateful. Work will continue into the early part of 2026. Page **4** of **8** **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 gas fired kitchen water boiler was replaced by an electric one. The adjacent car park is used in conjunction with the centre. Redecoration and upgrades were undertaken during the year and further clearance work on the adjacent car park to keep it clear for parking. St Leonard’s is now being used more extensively for a wider range of activities. **Curate’s House** : Since June 2013 this had been rented out on a commercial basis on a formal short-term tenancy managed by a local agent. The latest tenants have now vacated the building. In engaging with the Diocese over the future of the building, which provides a valuable asset for a future curate, it has been established that the PCC own the full equity in the building. This has opened up further opportunities for its long-term future, particular in the light of the long and short term works identified by the Quinquennial inspection. ## _**Achievements and Performance**_ ## **Outreach and Service within the Local Community** We have 2 babies and toddler groups one at St John’s Church hall and the other at at St Leonard’s., Both groups are led by Alison Clark of “Praise and Play”. Each group has its own Facebook page set up and run by Alison which help to support our toddler families. We are running an after school club (Dinner church) Fortnightly at St Leonards. The coffee morning held every two weeks at St Leonard’s has continued throughout the year and has been a great blessing to those who attend. We have carried out 5 outreach family events this year. They have been well attended with between 80-130 people per event. These events offer families crafts, dinner, worship and fellowship as well as celebrating Christian festivals within the church buildings. These events have been held at Christmas, Easter, summer, All Souls and Shrove Tuesday 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 re-habilitation, the Borough Council and elections. We also now have a children’s Ukrainian school running weekly and community cooking run by Food Etc charity and local schools. At St Leonard’s we have also provided storage space for IMPACT (BASCST). We have been going into one of our local schools, Cauldwell for “Open the Book”. We have also started attending Shackleton to provide assemblies. We have become more involved with the IMPACT team that works with local schools. In April and December 2024 they held an Easter experience and Barn Nativity using St John’s Church and glebe for a week of sessions with multiple schools. ## _**Wider Mission**_ ## **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. Page **5** of **8** ## **Vocations, Deanery, Diocese and wider Anglican Communion** We participated in the Bedford Good Friday Act of Witness (supported by a large number of local church groups). Deanery representatives participated in Deanery Synod meetings, and one, David Lambert, is an elected member of the Diocesan Synod, serves on the Diocesan Property Committee, and is vice chair of the Diocesan Environment Group. Our Priest in Charge is now the Area Dean of Bedford and the congregation are happy to support her in this role. 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. ## _**Financial Report**_ During 2025 we have continued to use the Paxton Charity Accounting Software, the software accords with the accounting regulations, SORP 2015. Simon Brocklehurst continued as Treasurer, with Angela Locke very capably managing the book-keeping. Our administrator Kaci Clarke handles invoicing for hall hire and car park spaces, Hilary Searle (warden) payroll, Chris Moss has assisted with Gift Aid. We have accounts with the Co-operative Bank (current and savings), transactions are conducted online (aside from occasional debit card use), with dual signatories as recommended by the Charity Commission. **Total incoming resources** for 2025 were **£128,121** as compared with **£97,396** in 2024, although this total includes generous grants towards the work on the fabric of St John’s Church (as determined by the latest Quinquennial survey) of **£10,000** from Beds and Herts Historic Churches Trust and **£6,200** from the Benefact Trust, for which we are most grateful. This compares with the budgeted incomings of **£100,001** . Part of the increase (as always) is due to designated gifts that were received and then distributed, but we have also been encouraged to receive significant unbudgeted gifts. We are particularly grateful to our regular donors; total planned giving was broadly in line with expectations, and we recognise people's faithfulness in a difficult economic climate during 2025. 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 **£12,612** including the contribution from the Small Donations Gift Aid Scheme **.** **Total Expenditure** for 2025 was **£150,626** compared with **£114,582** in 2024, which includes expenditure of £32,199 on the church fabric (mostly quinquennial works) and planned one-off distributions from a generous legacy. This compared with the budgeted figure of **£158,027.** The decrease compared to the budgeted figure in part reflects a pause in planned works on the curate’s house as we consider the correct way forward for this property with the diocese (see above). Staff are paid at rates based on the “Real” living wage – in accordance with the recommendations of the “Living Wage Foundation”. There have been no pension payments in place during 2025. Designated gifts are sent off (with the recovered Gift Aid where appropriate) to the relevant mission partners; further details can be found in the notes to these accounts. In particular, this year, we have given to a number of causes from the generous legacy received from the late Josie Line. The financial resources devoted to “mission” exceed this and include, for example, the provision of our two baby and toddler groups, and our series of local mission events such as the Light party, Pancake party etc. ## **Financial Explanation and Outlook** The budget for 2025, as presented to, and approved by, the PCC in March noted a planned deficit of **£58,026** , substantially higher than the previous year. This was largely due to anticipated works on the church building (see above), but also the planned one-off legacy giving (see above). At the end of the year our actual deficit was **£22,505** . As noted above, we received generous (giftaided) additional giving and paused planned expenditure on the curate’s house. We had budgeted £30,000 for the quinquennial works (our fabric fund balance at end 2024) – in the event, the full quoted cost came in at £57,000, spread over the end of 2025 and the start of 2026. At year end, Page **6** of **8** with the works approximately half completed, and having received some substantial grants to date (see above), we have spent around half of the fabric fund reserve. The following chart roughly summarises the ‘actual’ vs ‘budget’ of our deficit over 2025. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Actual 2025
“core” deficit
legacy giving
curate house
Budget 2025 Fabric/QQ
-40000 10000 60000
**----- End of picture text -----**
Moving forward, we are encouraged by the direction of travel of our ‘core’ deficit. 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 anticipated 2026 levels this requires a total of around **£6,000** . ## **Balance Sheet** At 31[st] December 2025 the balance sheet shows current assets of **£102,652** . It is noted that the cash element of the endowment fund (the fabric fund) stood at **£16,867** . This leaves **£85,784** of free reserves. In accordance with the guidance to PCCs under the Charities Act 2011 (section 3.5) the PCC will continue to 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 2026. ## **Stewardship** St John’s and St Leonard’s has always taken seriously its approach to Christian Stewardship, in its widest sense, and has a high level of planned and tax-efficient giving. This has had strong benefits during 2025. During 2026 the PCC will look at how we continue to be good stewards of that with which we have been entrusted (both financial and physical), and how assets can be best maintained and used as part of our ongoing mission. ## _**Conclusion**_ The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St John & St Leonard Bedford has continued to fulfil its mission of “Showing Christ’s Love, Giving Hope and Bringing Peace” throughout 2025. The church has maintained strong stewardship of its resources, supported vibrant worship and outreach activities, and upheld robust safeguarding practices. Thanks to the dedication of staff, volunteers, and the wider congregation, the church has made significant progress in community engagement, building maintenance, and financial management. The PCC remains committed to serving both its members and the broader Bedford community, ensuring that its assets and activities are used effectively to further its charitable aims and mission Page **7** of **8** Signed on behalf of the PCC Rev Helen Stewart Priesl-in-charge St John and St Leonard Bedford Please note that thi5 report should be read in conjunction wilh the following documents.. harty Commission Slalemenl of Financial Activities (SOFA) as at 31112125 Charty CommissK)n Balar￿ Sheet as at 31112125 Notes to the accounts Examinerfs letter 2025 Approved al the PCC meeting on 25.3.26. along vnth the associated d(￿UMen(S listed above. Pa(pe 8 of 8 ## **Charity Commission SOFA Report year end 31/12/2025 St John and St Leonard PCC Bedford** ||**Note**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**|**Restricted**
**Income funds**|**Endowment**
**funds**|**Total funds**|**Prior year**
**funds**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other|2a
2b
2c
2d|**£**
68,412
5,755
30,134
1,899
176|**£**
2,893
0
0
0
0|**£**
16,200
0
0
2,652
0|**£**
87,505
5,755
30,134
4,552
176|**£**
60,637
2,745
30,718
2,695
600| |**Total**||**106,376**|**2,893**|**18,852**|**128,121**|**97,396**| |**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities|3a
3b|1,930
105,507|0
10,990|0
32,199|1,930
148,696|1,496
113,086| |**Total**||**107,437**|**10,990**|**32,199**|**150,626**|**114,582**| |Net gains/(losses) on investments
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
**Net income/(expenditure) before**
**investment gains/(losses)**|4b|**-1,062**
0
**-1,062**
**-8,097**|**-8,097**
0
**-8,097**
**8,097**|**-13,347**
-3,816
**-17,163**
**0**|**-22,505**
-3,816
**-26,322**
**0**|**-17,186**
2,136
**-15,051**
**0**| |**Other recognised gains/(losses):**
Othergains/(losses)
Gains/(losses) on revaluation of
fixed assets for the charity's own
use|5|0
-548|0
0|0
0|0
-548|331,172| |**Net Movement in Funds**||**-9,707**|**0**|**-17,163**|**-26,870**|**316,121**| |**Reconciliation of Funds**
Total funds brought forward||2,459,002|0|125,664|2,584,666|| |**Total funds carried forward**||**2,449,295**|**0**|**108,501**|**2,557,796**|| Charity Commission Balance Sheet year end 3111212025 St John and St Leonard PCC Bedford UnreslTiCted Funds Restncted Funds Endowment Funds Total funds Prior year funds Note Fixed assets Tangible assets Investments Total fixed assets Current a$$¢ts Debtors Cash at bank and in hand Total current assets 4a 4b 2,363.601 2.363.601 91,634 2.455.235 2.363.601 95,450 2.459,051 91.634 91.634 2.363.601 4,462 81,322 85.784 91 148 -148 4,610 98,042 102,652 91 3,236 122,378 125,614 16.867 16,867 Creditors.. aEnounts falling due Yiihin on¢ }¢ar Net current 85.693 16.867 102.561 125.614 Total assets less current liabilities 2.449.295 108.501 2,557.796 2,$84,666 Total net assets or liabilities Funds ofthe Charity Endowment funds Unrestricted funds 2.449,295 108,501 2,557,796 2,584,666 108.501 108.501 2,449.295 125.664 2,459.002 2.449,295 Total funds 2.449.295 108.501 2.5S7,796 2.584,666 Signed by one or￿0 trustees on behaw of all the Iru5tees Signature Print Name Date of approval HfL2b3 STg￿lA£r 1104.L Ct>￿￿) Ri?cWLC-+kf ,f.4-.L **ST JOHN AND ST LEONARD PCC BEDFORD Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2025** ## **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. ## **(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. ## _**Other income**_ Rental income from letting of Church premises is recognised when paid (although see below for year-end). Having reviewed how we account for income and expenditure, since the start of 2025 we have accounted for rental income from our buildings and car park as ‘other trading activities’ rather than ‘charitable activities’. The SOFA report for 2025 includes comparison with 2024 on the same basis. 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 John’s and St Leonard’s pays it monthly and the amount paid at 31st December has been confirmed. Having reviewed how we account for income and expenditure, since the start of 2025 we have accounted for expenditure on ‘other trading activities’. The SOFA report for 2025 includes comparison with 2024 on the same basis. 1 **ST JOHN AND ST LEONARD PCC BEDFORD Notes to the Financial Statements** ## **for the year ended 31st December 2025** ## **(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 31st December. Amounts owing to the PCC at 31st December in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors (such as Gift Aid and non-monthly-hire balances), less provision for amounts that may prove uncollectable (including rents not secured). 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 2025 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 2025 it has been decided to continue to use the same valuations as previously. 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 valuation of the Curate’s house has been left unchanged from 2024. 2 ## **ST JOHN AND ST LEONARD PCC BEDFORD Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2025** ## **2. INCOME** |||Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|Total|Prior Year| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds| |||£|£|£|£|£| |2a|Planned giving|46,700|0|0|46,700|45,250| ||Collections at services|722|65|0|787|749| ||Restricted gifts|0|1,535|0|1,535|696| ||Other donations|8,771|900|0|9,671|3,329| ||Tax recoverable|12,219|393|0|12,612|10,613| ||Grants|0|0|16,200|16,200|0| |||**68,412**|**2,893**|**16,200**|**87,505**|**60,637**| |2b|Toddlers|2,975|0|0|2,975|2,204| ||Midweek church|192|0|0|192|0| ||Deanery PA funding|1,363|0|0|1,363|0| ||Statutory fees|1,225|0|0|1,225|540| |||**5,755**|**0**|**0**|**5,755**|**2,745**| |2c|Letting - St John's|6,631|0|0|6,631|6,002| ||Lettings - St Leonard's|4,488|0|0|4,488|4,675| ||Car Park spaces|10,015|0|0|10,015|9,241| ||Curate's House Rent|9,000|0|0|9,000|10,800| |||**30,134**|**0**|**0**|**30,134**|**30,718**| |2d|Bank interest Coop|1,899|0|0|1,899|105| ||Dividends Fabric|0|0|2,652|2,652|2,590| |||**1,899**|**0**|**2,652**|**4,551**|**2,695**| 3 **ST JOHN AND ST LEONARD PCC BEDFORD Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2025** ## **3. EXPENDITURE** |||Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment|Total|Prior Year| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |||Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds|Funds| |||£|£|£|£|£| |3(a)|Curate house rental|1,080|0|0|1,080|1,296| ||costs|||||| ||Admin salary costs|850|0|0|850|200| ||(rentals)|||||| |||**1,930**|**0**|**0**|**1,930**|**1,496**| |3(b)|Charitable giving|1,208|7,674|0|8,882|2,320| ||(see note 6)|||||| ||Parish contribution to|60,613|0|0|60,613|60,677| ||diocese|||||| ||Ministry costs|9,243|3,316|0|12,559|9,164| ||Salary costs|8,995|0|0|8,995|4,265| ||Office/IT costs|4,566|0|0|4,566|9,183| ||Repair&Maint St John's|0|0|32,199|32,199|287| ||church|||||| ||Land and buildings|6,007|0|0|6,007|9,269| ||Utilities|9,191|0|0|9,191|13,026| ||Insurance|5,534|0|0|5,534|4,720| ||Independent examiner|150|0|0|150|175| ||fee|||||| |||**105,507**|**10,990**|**32,199**|**148,696**|**113,086**| ||**Total Expenditure**|**107,437**|**10,990**|**32,199**|**150,626**|**114,582**| No trustee has received payment for services provided or expenses incurred as a trustee. The only payments made to trustees have been reimbursements for purchases made on behalf of the PCC. 4 ## **ST JOHN AND ST LEONARD PCC BEDFORD Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2025** ## **4. FIXED ASSETS** |**4a**|**Tangible**||**2025**|**2024**|**2023**|**2022**|**2021**|**2020**| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||**Assets**|||||||| ||||£|£|£|£|£|£| ||Curate’s House|buildings|438,388|438,388|345,525|287,682|287,682|263,402| ||St John's Hall|building &|850,000|850,000|850,000|850,000|850,000|850,000| |||contents||||||| ||St Leonard's|building &|1,075,213|1,075,213|1,075,213|1,075,213|1,075,213|1,075,213| ||Church Centre|contents||||||| ||(see note 1e)||**2,363,601**|**2,363,601 **|**2,364,053 **|**2,298,186 **|**2,309,565 **|**2,273,019**| |**4b**|**Investments**||**2025**|**2024**|**2023**|**2022**|**2021**|**2020**| ||||£|£|£|£|£|£| ||Fabric Fund CBF||91,634|95,450|93,315|85,291|96,670|84,404| ||Investment*|||||||| *4,128 units in the CBF Church of England Investment Fund Inc, at £22.1983/unit on 31.12.25. ## **5. DEBTORS/CREDITORS** ## **Debtors** HMRC (Gift Aid) £2,737 Hall rentals £510 Deanery PA funding £1,363 ## **Creditors** HMRC (PAYE) £91 ## **Historic Debtor/Creditor values** We have taken the opportunity to bring the figures for Creditors/Debtors into line with what we actually are owed/owe, and this is presented under Other gains/(losses) in the SoFA; the adjustment has been agreed with our examiner. 5 ## **ST JOHN AND ST LEONARD PCC BEDFORD Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2025** ## **6. CHARITABLE GIVING** ||**2025**|**2024**|**2023**| |---|---|---|---| |**Missionary Societies & Organisations Supported**|||| |Release International*|£1,150||| |Impact Bedford (BASCST)*|£1,150||| |Bishops Harvest Appeal||£870|£411| |Tibbs Dementia|£837.50||| |SMART*|£1,150||| |Children's Society (Christingle)|£50|£50|£236| |Malawi Orphan Fund (Home of Hope)*|£1,165|£300|£278| |Tear Fund*|£1,171||£269| |King’s Arms Project (HopeWorks)*|£1,150||£410| |Hope Bedfordshire|||£100| |Beds & Herts Historic Churches’ Trust||£100|£150| |CMS (Lea & Petra Williams)|£1,000|£1,000|£1,000| |Prostate Cancer|£21||| |Bedford Foodbank|£37||£15| |_*denotes giving from legacy received in late 2023_|**£8,881.50**|**£2,320**|**£2,869**| 6 To The Parochial Church Council of Bedford St John & St Leonard 18 Febnjary 2026 Inde endent Examiner's Re rt to the Parochi41 Chiirch Councd of Bedford St John & St Leonard istered Chari 0. 1131545 This rewrt on the accounts of the PCC for the vear ended 31 December 2025 as descnbed tn the Annual Rew)Q including the 4 pages of notes, the Balance Sheet (I page). the SOFA rewrt (I pagel is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 ('the Regulations,) and S.145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the A¢t') Resptetive rejponsibilities of the PCC and the examiDer As MeM￿[S of the PCC you are resEK)nsible for the prepardtion of the accounts. you consider that the audit requ￿¢Ment of the RegvulatM)ns and S.144(2) of the Act does not apply. It is my resFonsibility to issue this rewrt on those accounts in accordance with the temis of the Regulatt'ons. Basi8 of this report My examination was carried out in accordance with the &neral Directions gEven by the Chanty Comm15510n under S.145(SMb} of the Act and to be found in the Church guidance, 2006 edition. That exammatK)n mcludes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of ihe accounts with those records. It also includes con5Jdeting anv unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations frorn you a5 trLLStees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and cOns￿U¢n￿Y I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent eiaminer's $f*tement In COnnect￿n with my examinatioo no matter has come to my attention". i. whtch gives me reay)nable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in a¢¢ordan¢e with S 130 of the Act: and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the Act and the Re¥uRatsons have not ￿ert met; OT li to thich. In my opinK)n. attent￿n should be drdwn in order to enable a proper understandmg of the ac£ounts to be reached. l again wish to place on record my grdtstude to Simon Brock]ehurst and Angela IA)cke for their considerable assistance in this exercise. (Barrie Frost)