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2023-12-31-accounts

St Peter’s Church

Bayhall Road, Tunbridge Wells

Annual Report and Financial Statements

THE PAROCHIAL COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETERS, TUNBRIDGE WELLS Charity Number: 1131548

For the year ended 31 December 2023

Incumbent: Mike Warren The Vicarage, Bayhall Road, Tunbridge Wells TN2 4TP

Bank: HSBC Bank Plc 105 Mount Pleasant Tunbridge Wells

Independent Examiner:

T Lane Director in M N Jenks & Co Limited Chartered Accountants 72 Commercial Road Paddock Wood Kent

TN12 6DP

Page 1

St Peter’s Church, PCC

Year Ended 31 December 2023

The Parochial Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Peter’s Tunbridge Wells

Working Name: St Peter’s, Tunbridge Wells

Trustees Annual Report for 2023

Background

St Peter’s aims to promote the preaching and teaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ within the parish, and beyond its boundaries through the work of a number of missionary societies. It seeks to maintain good relationships with other churches within the parish and town. It aims, as far as possible, to maintain a good community profile.

Charitable Status and Governing Document

The charity was registered with the Charities Commission on 8 September 2009 under the governing document The Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as amended and The Church Representation Rules.

Membership

Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Governing document and the Church Representation Rules. Members of the PCC are also Trustees of the Charity.

During the year the following served as members of the PCC:

Incumbent: (Chairman) Michael Warren Assistant Minister: Philip Peddar Wardens: Cliff Nay Sally Poland Representatives on Michael Sumpter The Deanery Synod: Elected Members Richard Akehurst Anthony Burgess, Treasurer Michele Burgess Peter Fromow Rachel Fromow William Lane David Wakely Lindsey Sumpter Keith Waters

Shared Leadership Team

The minister & churchwardens (ex-officio), plus 2 elected from the PCC. Elected members this year: William Lane and Anthony Burgess.

Aims:

Page 2

St Peter’s Church, PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023

Church Attendance

The names of 103 Members appear on the Church Electoral Roll of whom 61 were not resident within the parish.

In person attendance of services ranges from high eighties to over 100, with a handful of households and a group at a local residential home participating in services by Zoom. A few members of the church family who are housebound and not able to join services online appreciate the delivery of weekly printed orders of service and sermon notes.

Review of the Year

Meetings

St Peter’s PCC held 1 APCM and 6 meetings during 2023.

Mission

The church continues to attract new members, both believers and enquirers, particularly from those moving into the area. The PCC continued to support and pray for our mission links: Serving In Mission (SIM), People International (PI) and Crosslinks and Release International.

Youth work

The children and youth benefit from Sunday Bible Classes; occasional games nights for SPY (11 to 14 year olds); and a study group, CY, for 14 to 18 year olds.

.

As usual, a gift of Bibles was made to all year 6 pupils at St Peter’s School at the time of their transfer to secondary school. At the suggestion of the new headteacher at the school, bibles were also bought for the remainder of the school so that the children could get used to using them in class.

Evangelism and Worship

The vicar Mike Warren, the assistant minister Phil Peddar and the church family work together to spread the gospel in the parish and to strengthen adult and youth teaching. Door-knocking in the parish, under the leadership of Phil Peddar, has led to new people attending services.

Community

Administration

The church was well supported by Lourdes Bragg and Lindsey Sumpter in administrative matters. The role included secretarial support for the Vicar, managing church hall lettings, record-keeping, purchasing supplies. The church management system, ChurchBuilder, continues to be beneficial for various administrative functions and, importantly, provides security of data.

Church Fabric, Maintenance

The church buildings were kept in good order by the Church Wardens, Richard Akehurst and Martin Maplesden. Ian Cochrane continues his many years of service maintaining the grounds, clocks and overseeing the condition of the bells in the tower.

Page 3

St Peter’s Church, PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023

Policies & Risk Management

Safeguarding Policies

The Safeguarding Policy and associated procedures continue to be reviewed and updated in accordance with guidance from Diocese and National Safeguarding Team. The Parish Safeguarding Officer is Michele Burgess. All adults working with children and/or adults who may be vulnerable are recruited according to the Safer Recruitment Policy, including the appropriate DBS checks, carried out by Rachel Fromow.

Health & Safety

The PCC has a policy on Health & Safety which is reviewed regularly by the PCC and communicated to users of the halls and church buildings.

Reserves Policy

The PCC aim to hold three months operating expenditure in unrestricted funds. of bibles for the whole of St Peter’s Primary School.

After deduction of annual expenditure totaling £160,010 the Church achieved a surplus of £27,065 boosted by the above special donations. The surplus in the General Fund however was much lower at £9,163 and given current operating costs it is evident finances rely heavily on credit interest from the cash deposits.

Review of financial activities

As expected the Church accounts reverted to near normal levels of activity in the 12 months to 31 December 2023. The previous year had been dominated by receipt of £971,000 profit arising from the sale of the former St Peter’s School Playground. Reflecting the exceptional nature of this transaction the Charity Commission exempted the PCC from the requirement to present audited accounts and instead agreed the annual review could remain subject to Independent Examination.

Total income in the 12 months to 31 December 2023 was £187,075. Income for 2022 was £1,116,901 however, if the proceeds from the sale of the playground were stripped out the figure would have been £145,000. The improvement in 2023 was solely due to receipt of £46,501 credit interest arising from the PCC’s deposit of £1,007,900 with The CBF Church of England Deposit Fund. This deposit account is currently earning 5.25% pa interest which is being added to the capital sum quarterly.

Regular giving through standing orders was down £5,458 to £55,837 (£61,295 in 2022) but income from the use of the Church buildings saw an improvement of £1,710 over the year.

There were £15,393 additional donations given for specific purposes. A generous donation of £10,000 designated by the PCC for the training and development of members of the Church and gifts totaling £1,935 restricted to fund the purchase The autumn church missionary appeal raised £6,884 (excluding gift aid) and this sum was dispersed among St Peter’s mission partners in December.

Funds

In 2022 £900,000 from the sale of the playground was transferred to a new Fund designated by the PCC to be used to refurbish the Church building and assist with projects aimed at growing the body and representation of St Peter’s in Hawkenbury. In 2023 £11,642 was spent on architect’s fees drawing up preliminary plans which has led to the identification of essential works to the Church heating and electrical systems together with making spaces more

Page 4

St Peter’s Church, PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023

accessible. Planning continues but the PCC has initially allocated £500,000 of the Development Fund to complete this work.

The Gordon Lavy Fund (£10,000) is restricted specifically to assist with the cost of refurbishing the Church foyer. It is expected this money will be used when the Church refurbishment programme commences.

As at 31 December 2023 the unrestricted General Fund was £173,151 up from £150,337 at the end of 2022. This figure provides more than adequate cover for normal operating costs and significantly above the PCC’s policy of holding three months’ operating expenditure in unrestricted reserves.

2024 Budget

A budget for the General Fund in 2024 takes a conservative view of income and expenditure and forecasts a surplus of £4,000. Income is assumed to remain steady but with a fall in credit interest reflecting possible transfers out of the main deposit account to pay for the start of refurbishment works in the Autumn. Expenditure meanwhile is expected to rise by circa 5 % to cover general price rises.

Without credit interest the Church would see a deficit of circa £30,000. The PCC is fully aware the church redevelopment programme needs to be carefully costed and planned to ensure there will be enough capital available to generate income sufficient to meet future operating expenses. Meanwhile efforts are being made to investigate grants and encourage an improvement in regular giving.

Other matters

Stewardship, London is responsible for the staff payroll; their duties also include making sure tax and pension payments are made.

Considering the financial position of the charity at 31 December 2023, the expected income and expenditure for 2024 and current level of unrestricted general reserves, the members of the PCC believe that it is appropriate to consider the charity a going concern from the date of the approval of the accounts.

The Trustees have complied with the duty in section 4 of the 2006 Charities Act to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

Annual Report adopted by PCC on Signed :

Chairman: Mike Warren Date: 3rd April 2024

Page 5

St Peter's Church. PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023 Independent examiner's report to the PCC of St Peter's Church, Tunbridge Wells Charity number 1131548 IreporÉ to tke trustees on my examinalion of the accoiints ofst Peter's Chiirch (Ihe Tn4St)for the year ended 31 December 2023 which are set out on pages 7 ÉO 14 of the 2023 Accounts. Responsibllities and basis ofreport As the charity tnisiees of Éhe Trnstyou are responsiblefor ihepreparation ofthe occounÈN in accordance with the requirements of the Charilies Aci 2011 ('Éhe ACÉ ). Ireport in respect ofmy examination ofthe Trnst's accounts carrled out under section 145 ofihe 2011 Act and in carrying oul pny examination I havefollowed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Acl. Jndependenl examiner's statsmenl I have completed my examination. I confirm ihal no malerial matters have come to my atÉention in connection with the dramination &ving ME cause to believe that in any pnalerial respect." . accounting records were not kept in respect ofthe Trnst ￿ required by seclion 130 ofthe Act,. or 2. the accounts do nol accord wilh those record¥.' or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning theform and content ofac¢ounts sel out in the Chariries (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts ￿ve a 'trne andfair view which ￿ not a malter Considered aspart ofan independent examinalion. An audit dispensation h(￿ been granted by The Charity Commissionfor The Parochial Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish ofSI Peter&. Tunbridge Wells- 1131548 under Regulation 34(3)Ib) ofihe Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. This dispensation isfor ihefinancial)ear ended 31/12/2022 only and allows an ipzdependent examination in place of47n auditfor ihisyeaT. The dispensation is dated 14 November 2022 and has been granted upon requestfollowing the exceptional one-off sale ofland in theyear to 31 December 2022 which meani ihat income ￿¢￿eded £lmillion in the year. Ihave no concerns and have come across no oiher matiers in connection with ihe &¥amina¢ion to which attention should be drawn in this repor¢ in order to enable aproper understanding of the accounls ¢0 be reached. Signed.. Name.. T Lane Director in MN Jenks & Co Limited 72 Commercial Road Paddock Wood Tonbridge Kent TN12 6DP Date Page 6

St Peter’s Church, PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023

Statement of Financial Activities


Unrestricted Designated Restricted Endowment Total Prior year
funds funds funds funds funds total funds
52,959

13,134

66,093
70,780
18,003



18,003
20,106
5,932
13,458
2,035

21,425
7,263





412
46,501



46,501
8,107
32,934



32,934
31,441
2,118



2,118
978,792
158,447
13,458
15,169

187,075
1,116,901
3,725

6,500

10,225
9,340
36,241
2,406
1,820

40,466
32,812
545



545
6,900
100,518



100,518
97,926
1,720



1,720
2,644
6,536



6,536
34,737
149,285
2,406
8,320

160,010
184,360






9,163
11,053
6,849

27,065
932,541
14,869
906
444

16,219
904,351
(1,218)
(8,632)
(6,369)

(16,219)
(904,351)






22,814
3,327
924

27,065
932,541
150,337
893,684
15,651

1,059,672
127,132
173,151
897,011
16,575

1,086,737
1,059,672
173,151



173,151
150,337

1


1
0

888,358


888,358
888,358

1


1
5,175







0


0
0

0


0
0

0


0
0

147


147
147

8,505


8,505
4








200

200
200


(200)

(200)
(200)


1

1
58


(1)

(1)
0


0

0
0


10,000

10,000
10,000


0

0
0


184

184
50


4,149

4,149
3,589





32


2,241

2,241
1,921
Income and endowments from:
Incoming resources from donors
Gift Aid
Other voluntary incoming resources
Legacies
Income from investments
Income from charitable and ancillary trading
Other ordinary incoming resources
Total income
Expenditure on:
Grants
Activities directly related to church work
Major repairs
Stipend and Parish Share
Fund-raising and publicity
Church management and administration
Total expenditure
Gains / losses on investment assets
Net income / (expenditure) resources before
transfer
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
Other recognised gains / losses
Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's own use
Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Represented by
Unrestricted
General fund
Designated
Assistant Minister
Church Development Fund
Diocesan Repair Fund
GAD Lavy Fund
Kitchen Appeal Fund
Maintenance sink fund
Missionary Giving
St Peter's Discretionary Fund
Training & Development Fund
Youth Camp Fund
Restricted
Additional Agency
Agency collection
Assistant Minister
Bibles for St Peters School
Church Development Fund
GAD Lavy Fund
Kitchen Appeal Fund
Missionary Giving
Tower Fund
Youth Camp Fund
Youth Worker Fund

Page 7

St Peter’s Church, PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023

Balance Sheet

Class
Description
Current assets
Cash & Bank Balances
Other Assets
Accounts Receivable
Total Current assets
Liabilities
Agency collections
Accounts Payable
Restricted clearing account
Total Liabilities
Net Asset surplus
Represented by funds
Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Total
This year
1,070,753

18,940
Last year
1,042,639

18,973
1,089,693

2,956
1,061,612

1,940
2,956 1,940
**1,086,737 ** 1,059,672
173,151
897,011
16,575
150,337
893,684
15,651
1,086,737 1,059,672

The charity was exempted from Audit for the period ended 31 December 2023, please see Trustees Annual Report.

The PCC acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the charity keeps accounting records; and preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year.

ON BEHALF OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

Mike Warren (Chairman)

Date: 3rd April 2024

Page 8

St Peter’s Church, PCC

Year Ended 31 December 2023

Note 1: Accounting Policies

The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 as amended by the Church Accounting (Amendment) Regulations 2001 on an accruals basis.

Funds

General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any special restrictions regarding their use and are available for application to the general purposes of the PCC. These include the separately analysed funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC.

The accounts include monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC can be held responsible. They do not include the accounts of other Church groups that owe an affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members.

Balance Sheet

The following assets are recognised but not necessarily valued in the Balance Sheet:

The following assets are recognised and monetary value given as part of the description in the Balance Sheet:

Closing bank balances.

The following liabilities are recognised in the Balance Sheet:

Page 9

St Peter’s Church, PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023

Note 2: Cash and Bank Balances

Note 2: Cash and Bank Balances
2023 2022
£Stg
Bank Current HSBC 6,415 4,702
CBF Church of England Deposit Fund 1,054,247 1,007,990
Bank Deposit HSBC 10,091 19.364
Diocesan Deposit Account -- 1,258
CRF Diocesan Account -- 9,324
_________
TOTAL 1,070,753 1,042,639
Note 3: Debtors
Gift Aid Tax 17,000 15,000
Hall Lettings 1,940 3,973
______
TOTAL 18,940 18,973

Note 4: Disclosable Transactions

Independent Examiner’s Fees 720

Page 10

St Peter’s Church, PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023

Note 5: Fund movement by type

ote 5: Fund movement by type
Opening Incoming Outgoing Transfers Gains/losses Journals Closing
St Peter's Discretionary Fund
Designated
Training & Development Fund
Designated
St Peter’s School Playground
Endowment
Agency
Restricted
General fund
Unrestricted
Diocesan Repair Fund
Designated
Kitchen Appeal Fund
Designated
Restricted
Tower Fund
Restricted
Youth Worker Fund
Restricted
Bibles for St Peter’s School
Restricted
Agency Collection
Restricted
Church Development Fund
Designated
Restricted
Missionary Giving
Designated
Restricted
GAD Lavy Fund
Designated
Restricted
Assistant Minister Fund
Designated
Restricted
147





147
147





147
4
10,000
1,500



8,505
4
10,000
1,500



8,505













200





200
200





200
150,337
158,447
149,285
13,651


173,151
150,337
158,447
149,285
13,651


173,151
5,175


(5,174)


1
5,175


(5,174)


1
0





0
0





0
0





0
3,589
560




4,149
3,589
560




4,149
1,921
320




2,241
1,921
320




2,241
0
1,375
1,820
444


(1)
0
1,375
1,820
444


(1)
(200)





(200)
(200)





(200)
888,358





888,358
0





0
888,358





888,358
0





0
50
7,134
6,500
(500)


184
51
7,134
6,500
(500)


185







10,000





10,000
10,000





10,000
0
3,458

(3,458)


1
58
5,680

(5,737)


1
58
9,138

(9,195)


1

Page 11

Youth Camp Fund
Designated
Restricted
Grand total


906
906



32
100

(132)


32
100
906
774


1,059,672
187,075
160,010



1,086,737

Page 12

St Peter’s Church, PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023

Note : 6 Analysis of income and endowments

Total
Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
Endowment
This year
Last year
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Incoming resources from donors
Regular giving
49,837

6,000

55,837
61,295
Envelope scheme
465



465
660
Church Collections
2,657

250

2,907
1,738
Mission Collections


6,884

6,884
7,087
Total
52,959

13,134

66,093
70,780
Incoming resources from donors - Gift Aid
Income tax recovered
18,003



18,003
20,106
Total
18,003



18,003
20,106
Other voluntary incoming resources
Sundry Donations
5,690
13,458
1,935

21,084
6,865
Children and Youth


100

100
200
Daddy & Me
242



242
198
Total
5,932
13,458
2,035

21,425
7,263
Other voluntary incoming resources - legacies
Legacies





412
Total





412
Income from investments
Interest received
46,501



46,501
8,107
Total
46,501



46,501
8,107
Income from charitable and ancillary trading
Sale of Books & Cards
419



419
316
Hall Income
30,579



30,579
28,869
Church Family Events
1,936



1,936
2,257
Total
32,934



32,934
31,441
Other ordinary incoming resources
Fees - weddings etc
2,118



2,118
1,392
Insurance Income





6,400
Asset surplus





971,000
Total
2,118



2,118
978,792
Total
Unrestricted Designated
Restricted
Endowment
This year
Last year
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Incoming resources from donors
Regular giving
49,837

6,000

55,837
61,295
Envelope scheme
465



465
660
Church Collections
2,657

250

2,907
1,738
Mission Collections


6,884

6,884
7,087
Total
52,959

13,134

66,093
70,780
Incoming resources from donors - Gift Aid
Income tax recovered
18,003



18,003
20,106
Total
18,003



18,003
20,106
Other voluntary incoming resources
Sundry Donations
5,690
13,458
1,935

21,084
6,865
Children and Youth


100

100
200
Daddy & Me
242



242
198
Total
5,932
13,458
2,035

21,425
7,263
Other voluntary incoming resources - legacies
Legacies





412
Total





412
Income from investments
Interest received
46,501



46,501
8,107
Total
46,501



46,501
8,107
Income from charitable and ancillary trading
Sale of Books & Cards
419



419
316
Hall Income
30,579



30,579
28,869
Church Family Events
1,936



1,936
2,257
Total
32,934



32,934
31,441
Other ordinary incoming resources
Fees - weddings etc
2,118



2,118
1,392
Insurance Income





6,400
Asset surplus





971,000
Total
2,118



2,118
978,792
18,003



18,003
20,106
5,690
13,458
1,935

21,084
6,865


100

100
200
242



242
198
5,932
13,458
2,035

21,425
7,263
legacies





412





412
46,501



46,501
8,107
46,501



46,501
8,107
trading
419



419
316
30,579



30,579
28,869
1,936



1,936
2,257
32,934



32,934
31,441
2,118



2,118
1,392





6,400





971,000
2,118



2,118
978,792
INCOME TOTAL 158,447
13,458
15,169

187,075
1,116,901

Page 13

St Peter’s Church, PCC

Year Ended 31 December 2023

Note : 7 Analysis of Expenditure

Grants
Missionary Societies
500

6,500

7,000
7,000
Church Societies





1,000
Home mission
3,225



3,225
1,340
Total
3,725

6,500

10,225
9,340
Activities directly related to church work
Cleaning
235



235
754
Books and Licences
2,789

1,820

4,609
1,115
Training & People Development
1,335
1,500


2,835
689
Outreach Printing
322



322
614
Vicars Expenses
985



985
588
Church Gas, Electricity & Water
10,549



10,549
9,555
Routine Maintenance
2,500



2,500
1,549
Church Insurance
4,102



4,102
3,880
Lay Staff Costs
12,663



12,663
10,052
Children and Youth
255
906


1,161
1,272
Hall rental related cost





40
Worship
262



262
2,372
Evangelism





126
Daddy & Me costs
244



244
206
Total
36,241
2,406
1,820

40,466
32,812
Activities directly related to church work - Major repairs
Major Repairs
545



545
6,900
Total
545



545
6,900
Activities directly related to church work - Stipend and Parish Share
Diocesan Board of Finance Fees
1,045



1,045
1,208
Vicarage Costs
3,364



3,364
3,381
Diocesan Common Fund
55,000



55,000
50,000
Assistant Minister Expenses
402



402
46
Assistant Mnister Salary
40,707



40,707
43,291
Total
100,518



100,518
97,926
Fund-raising and publicity
Church Family Events
1,193



1,193
2,179
Books & Card purchases for sale
527



527
465
Total
1,720



1,720
2,644
Church management and administration
Expenses - Administration
4,463



4,463
3,282
Stationery & Postage
478



478
384
Bank & Card Reader Charges
120



120
142
Legal fees





18,828
Architects fees





11,872
Hospitality
635



635
228
PCC costs
840



840

Total
6,536



6,536
34,737
500

6,500

7,000
7,000





1,000
3,225



3,225
1,340
6,536



6,536
34,737
EXPENDITURE TOTAL 149,285
2,406
8,320

160,010
184,360
GRAND TOTAL 9,163
11,053
6,849

27,065
932,541

Page 14

St Peter’s Church, PCC Year Ended 31 December 2023

Note 8: Staff Costs

The Vicar is an Office Holder paid by the Church Commissioners. The PCC make a payment to the Church Commissioners equivalent to the salary and pension contributions paid.

During 2023 two members of staff were employed directly by the PCC.



Staff remuneration
Total
2022

£
46,974
46,974
2023
£
45,072

45,072

Note 9 : Transactions with PCC members

Name Role for which remuneration is received

Mr P Peddar Assistant Minister

The contract under which this Trustee is employed by the PCC is the same as for those other staff with similar roles. No Trustees receive remuneration for their roles as Trustees.

Rev M Warren P Peddar

Travel, phone and office expenses £985 £402

Page 15

Page 16