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2021-12-31-accounts

THE PARISH OF SOWERBY

St. Peter’s Sowerby and St. Mary’s Cottonstones

Charity Number 1132024

ANNUAL REPORT

of the

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

Year ended 31[st] December 2021 Presented at the Annual General Meeting on 24[th] April, 2022

VICAR

Rev. Jeanette Roberts

Vicar’s Report

Although the Parish was small in number, everyone maximized what they did. There was a strong and faithful congregation and new shoots were growing. She felt our motto for the coming year should be “Don’t stop behind closed doors but fling wide the gates”.

Rev. Jeanette Roberts.

Electoral Roll Officer’s Report

The number on the Electoral Roll at 31[st] December, 2021 was twenty four – a reduction of one on the number at 31[st] December, 2020.

Robert Jowett

Deanery Synod Report

Report not received.

Safeguarding Officer’s Report

Report not received.

St. Mary’s Churchwardens’ Report

2021 has been another year blighted by the Covid pandemic and the measures taken to mitigate the spread of the virus. Activity levels in both the church and social centre have been very low. The attendance at our monthly service has been typically five or six adults,

There was one Christening and two weddings during the year.

The school held services in the church at Harvest Festival and during December and the worship area was full. There was also a big turnout for the Crib Service but less than that for the preCovid era.

Despite the low numbers using the building, it has been a very busy and stressful year for the congregation and we have still not received the quinquennial report from the architect after his inspection in November, 2020.

In April, 2021, our plumber had cause to visit the sub floor of the worship area and reported seeing a white fungus near the floor hatch. On the 12[th] May, pictures were sent to the architect and a visit organized to try to diagnose the problem. Unfortunately, he cancelled his visit and it was not re-arranged until 25[th] August. On that visit he identified the problem as dry rot but thought that it could be treated for a figure in the hundreds. He suggested a contractor, Peter Cox, who are part of Rentokil.

-2-

St. Mary’s Churchwardens’ Report (continued)

Peter Cox conducted a survey and quoted £5,255 for the work, stressing that any delay could result in the rot spreading further and causing greater damage. One of the stone floor slabs had, by this time, collapsed at one end.

On 5[th] October work to treat the area commenced but then had to be paused as it was discovered that the work needed was much more extensive than previously thought. A new survey was conducted and a revised cost of £17,234 quoted.

The Archdeacon was then contacted and an interim faculty applied for. This was granted. However, we only had £5,000 of available funds, nearly all of which was in the Social Centre.

This got even worse when the architect became involved in the formal process as he produced a specification that added a further £6,000 to the cost. We did not agree that this extra work was urgent.

We believed that treating the dry rot was urgent and that we probably only had four months to raise the money and get the work done. Any longer and the rot could make the task impossible for us.

With support from Helen Vickers, we launched a “Save the Church” campaign, with a Just Giving page and an awareness promotion. This led to us holding a public meeting and the formation of a “whats app” group and a Community group. We also created a facebook page. The Millbank group and the School were also involved.

A second contractor also quoted for the work but, although cheaper, they did not offer the same service or length of guarantee.

By the end of the year, we contracted for a loan of £5,000 from the diocese, had raised £5,100 from “Just Giving” and a further £2,803 in direct donations, bringing the total available to £17,903. Spending all this money would result in a cash flow problem for the social centre.

The work was then booked to commence on 12[th] January, 2022.

On 23[rd] December, we then received an invoice from the architect for £1,029.

Since then, the work was completed on the 25[th] January, and all invoices paid.

A total of £14,349 of new money was raised, including a loan of £5,000, in four months. In addition to this, the Community group should have an additional £1,250, including a grant from the Council of £1,000. The next step is to involve the community more in the use and management of the building and develop a strategy for its long term.

Jim Skelsey and Miriam Asquith

-3-

St. Peter’s Churchwardens’ Report

Another year where normality was impossible. Lockdowns lifted and reimposed then lifted again. A challenging year but one where, thankfully, services were held throughout the year. Guidance from the diocese allowed churches to remain open during lockdown which was certainly welcomed by church members and in the wider community. The highlight of the year was the St. Nicolas Day service where the sound of carols being sung in church was a joy.

The Annual General Meeting was able to be held in March 2021, slightly earlier than normal but this was to enable Rev. Jeanette to attend the A.G.M. before taking a well earned sabbatical. During the sabbatical, church services in the benefice alternated between service of the word and Eucharistic services. This worked well as there was a weekly Eucharistic service at one of the churches during the sabbatical. Covid restrictions were in place for baptisms, weddings and funerals but these were lifted in the autumn and a return to normal size congregations resumed. That said, it was decided not to recommence Messy Church as it was considered the risk was too great. Whilst it was disappointing not to restart Messy church, the decision was based on the impact to the helpers and attendees.

The church was able to open for Rushbearing, Heritage Open Days and St. Nicholas Day. Fund raising was again affected by Covid 19 restrictions. The community supported all our events and the St. Nicholas Day service was particularly enjoyed by all.

The quinquennial inspection was undertaken in August where it was thought a possibility that the clock faces were coming away from their fixings. A structural survey was undertaken in December and it was determined that the clock faces were structurally sound and there was no danger of them becoming unstable. It was also possible to remove the greenery from the parapets on the church roof as a cherry picker had been hired for the structural survey. It was also noted that the plasterwork on the north side of the sanctuary was coming away from the wall. A temporary repair was carried out. The quinquennial report is awaited.

Further repairs were made in the bell tower to prevent birds from accessing the space. It seems to be an ongoing problem as the shutters appear to be fallible in strong winds. Discussions with Sutcliffe’s Builders have suggested that additional supports may be required. Leaks were also resolved in the kitchen and in the passageway leading to the kitchen.

Lightening conductor testing was undertaken along with an electrical installation test. Both were satisfactory.

Thanks must go to Rev. Jeanette for her support to all of us and the work that she puts into the benefice. Our thanks also to Rev. Lesley for all she does in the benefice.

Helen Gleave & Ken Cuttle, Church Wardens Janet Jowett, Assistant Church Warden.

-4-

Children and Young People’s Report

Report not received.

St. Mary’s Social Centre Report

The social Centre has hardly been used during the year. Keep Fit classes have continued but the Rainbows have ceased to meet due to leadership issues. The main funding continues to be Total Brickworks, who, in theory, moved into the premises on 15[th] December, 2021. Their presence is very low key and their personnel appear to be mainly working from home.

The Centre was used as a polling station for the first time this year. It was used for two elections and £410 was charged.

On the expense side, three radiators in the downstairs community area were replaced at a cost of £813. Utility bills have increased by 54% during the year due to higher standing charges and greater use of the Church in the latter part of the year.

The financial performance is summarized later but the figures are more complex than usual due to the fund raising campaign. If this activity is isolated then a total net income of £1943 was generated compared to £2079 in the previous year.

Donations of £2,803 and a loan from the diocese inflated the cash balance further. The Centre also donated £500 to St. Mary’s fabric fund. This left the Social Centre account with a cash balance of £12,984 at the year end, up from £3,738 at the start of the year.

Income from ongoing activity
Hire Charges
Expenses from ongoing activity
Repairs and maintenance
Utility Bills
Cleaning materials
Total Expenses
Net Income
Campaign Donations
Diocesan Loan
St. Peter’s Loan Repayment
Fabric Fund Donation
Total Cash in
2021
2020
4780
4480
1512
1535
1325
858
0
8
2837
2401
1943
2079
2803
0
5000
0
(1500)
(500)
____
9246
580

This cash in has been added to the £3,738 starting balance, giving a total at the bank of £12,984.

-5-

St. Mary’s Social Centre Report (continued)

Most of these funds will be needed to cover the cost of treating the dry rot in the sub floor of the worship area.,

In December we formed the Cottonstones Community Group to promote the use of the building and to raise funds. A Constitution and a Safeguarding policy have been approved and a bank account application lodged. We are hoping to receive a grant of £1,000 from Calderdale Council. The group have tapped into the network of the Millbank Group and of the school. We have a Whats App group and a Facebook presence. A community coffee break is being planned to follow our church services and events are also being planned.

We also hope to widen participation in managing and looking after the centre as this is too concentrated at the moment.

In 2022 we will need to increase income as we are facing even higher utility bills and we will be repaying the diocesan loan.

Jim Skelsey

St. Peter’s Community Centre Report

The Centre was closed due to Covid 19 from March, 2020 to August, 2021. All previous users were contacted about the re-opening but, apart from Brownies and Guides, none of the other centre users returned. The Saturday café re-opened on 14[th] August, 2021 but closed again after three weeks due to illness. The Monday café opened on 27[th] September, 2021 until the end of the year.

A new group (Little Movers) started using the centre towards the end of the year and Grassroots Nursery continued to successfully use the lower half of the old school, receiving an outstanding Ofsted report in 2021.

Due to problems getting keys back from former centre users, it was agreed by the P.C.C. that a deposit of £30 should be paid for keys by new users which would be returned when the keys were given back to the centre. It was also agreed by the P.C.C. that the Code Number on the keypad at the entrance be changed as it was thought the same number had been used since the centre opened and quite a number of people had had access to it over the years.

A large expense in 2021 was the replacement of the old boiler. Two new linked boilers were installed at a cost of just over £14,000 and these are working well.

Despite the lack of use of the Centre in 2021 and the purchase of the new boilers, financially funds are relatively healthy with a year end balance of £9113 compared to £13,275 at 31[st] December, 2020.

Hazel V. Parkin

PARISH of SOWERBY St.Peter’s SOWERBY and St.Mary’s COTTONSTONES

Charity Number: 1132024

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS of the PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

Year ended 31[st] December 2021

VICAR

Rev. Jeanette Roberts

BANKERS

Virgin Money (formerly Yorkshire Bank) Waterhouse Street, HALIFAX

Lloyds Bank, Commercial Street, HALIFAX

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER

Kenneth F. Forsyth., 17, Love Lane, HALIFAX HX1 2BQ

Page 1

STATEMENT of FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the year ended 31st DECEMBER 2021

INCOMING RESOURCES
2020 Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2021
total Funds Funds Funds total NOTES
Income from Donors
£ 8,902 Planned Giving, (Envelopes & Bank) £9,155 £9,155 1
£ 711 Loose collections £1,257 £1,257
£ 454 General Donations & Special Efforts £820 £820 2
£ 32 Donations & Fundraising (St.Peter's Fabric) £32 £32 4a
£ 169 Donations & Fundraising (St.Mary's Fabric) £150 £150
£ 455 Donations (Charities & World Wide Church) £577 £577 3
£ 320 Donations (St.Peter's Organ Fund) £800 £800 4
£ 2,828 Tax refund - all funds £2,305 £80 £2,385
£ 116 Income from Worship related activities £86 £86 5
£ 1,000 Legacies (1, St.Peter’s) £0
Income from Charitable & Ancillary Trading
£ 7,100 Tower & Land Rental (St.Peter's) £7,100 £7,100
£ 6,395 House Rent & Water £7,570 £7,570
£16,735 St.Peter's Centre Receipts £17,501 £17,501
£ 4,480 St.Mary' Centre Receipts £7,583 £7,583
Miscellaneous Income
£ 273 PCC Fees £659 £659
Diocesan Fees (Weddings) £422 £422
£ 60 Organ & Verger Fee's etc. (Weddings & Funerals) £30 £30
£ 1,147 Graveyard Fees & donations £1,025 £1,025 6
£ 7 Receipts for Ministry Expenses £7 £7
£ 38 Receipts for Office/Admin £214 £214 8
£ 703 Misc. Receipts £585 £585 9
Diocesan Loan re; St.Mary’s repairs £5,000 £5,000 10
Investment Income
£ 109 Bank interest £0 £3 £11 £15
Total Incoming Resources
£29,751
£25,087 £8,134 £62,973
OUTGOING RESOURCES
2020 Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2021
total Funds Funds Funds total NOTES
£ 455 Charities & World Wide Church (per contra) £577 £577
£ 7,500 Parish Share (formerly Common Fund) £7,000 £7,000
£12,274 Church building running costs & insurance (PCC) £12,940 £12,940
£ 454 Church building maintenance £1,564 £1,564 7
£ 903 Costs of Worship & related activities £819 £819
£ 877 Ministry (clergy) expenses (gross) £625 £7 £632
£ - Graveyard Maintenance & Repairs £198 £198 6
£ 378 Office & Administration expenses £390 £390
£ 960 Organists Salaries £960 £960
£ 127 Costs of Fundraising £26 £26
£ - Costs of Governance £0
Costs of Ancillary Trading
£14,604 St.Peter's Centre running costs £10,884 £10,884
£ 2,432 St.Mary's Centre running costs £2,860 £2,860
£ 3,624 House Mortgage Repayments & misc costs. £3,876 £3,876 16
Misc. Expenditure
£ - Fees to Diocese, etc. (per contra) £422 £422
£ 60 Organ & Verger Fees (per contra) £30 £30
Sowerby Lights (from 2020) £84
Non-recurring major expenditure
£ - St.Peter’s Restoration & Quinquennial £2,315 £2,315
£ - St.Peter’s Bells Inspection £120 £120
St.Peter’s Centre New Boiler £14,268
Total Outgoing Resources
£28,199
£28,013 £3,752 £59,964
Net Incoming- Outgoing Resources
£1,552
-£2,925 £4,382 £3,009
Transfers between funds
£ 420 House Water from Gen.Fund to St.Peter's Centre
-£420
£420
£ 169 Energy balance from St.Mary's Centre to Gen.Fund
£176
-£176 G1
£ 200 St.Mary's Centre from Graveyard Fund £200 -£200
£ 1,500 St.Mary’s Centre lease costs, -part loan repayment £0 £0
Use of St.Peter’s Centre from General Fund
-£20
£20
St.Mary’s Centre transfer to reserves (10D) -£500 £500
Fund balances brought forward at 1-1-2021
£2,133
£24,108 £22,098 £48,340
Fund balances carried forward at 31-12-2021
£3,422
£21,146 £26,780 £51,348

Page 2

Statement of Assets and Liabilities - as at 31st December 2021

Total
2020
Fixed Assets
Freehold Building:
£110,000 St.Peter's Centre & School-house
Total fixed assets
Current Assets
£ 288 Misc. Stock Value
£ 4,946 Misc. Fixtures, Fittings & Equipment
Balances on Deposit a/c's
£ 558 CBF Deposits (3D)
£ 7,046 St.Peter's Centre Deposit (4D)
£ 4,022 Graveyards (5D)
£ 14,717 St.Peter's Fabric (8D, gen)
£ 1,240 St.Peter's Fabric (8D, Bells)
£ 710 St.Mary's Fabric (10D)
£ 1,326 St.Peters Organ Fund (12D)
Balances on current accounts;
£ 1,429 General Fund (Yorkshire Bank)
£ 294 General Fund (Lloyds Bank)
£ 13,275 St.Peters Community Centre
£ 3,738 St.Mary's Church Social Centre
£ 50 Cash in hand (All funds)
£ 998 Sundry Debtors (All Funds)
Total current Assets
Liabilities
Amounts falling due within one year
£ 3,300 House Mortgage (1 year)
St.Mary’s repair loan (1 year)
£ 508 Sundry Creditors (All funds)
Total current Liabilities
Net current Assets/Liabilities
Total assets less current liabilities
Amounts falling due after one year
£ 4,043 S.House Mortgage (residue)
St.Mary’s repair loan (residue)
Net Assets/Liabilities
The Church Funds
£24,636 Restricted Funds
£132,504 Designated Funds
-£213 Unrestricted Funds
£156,927
TOTAL CHURCH FUNDS
NOMINAL LIABILITY
-£144,021 Shortfall on Common Fund (Diocese)
Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
Funds
2021
Notes
£125,000.00
£125,000.00
11
£125,000.00
£125,000.00
£236
£236
12
£307
£1,553
£1,688
£3,548
13
£558
£558
£4,049
£4,049
£4,651
£4,651
£12,442
£12,442
£1,121
£1,121
£1,360
£1,360
£2,207
£2,207
£553
£553
15
£2,311
£2,311
15
£9,113
£9,113
£7,984
£5,000
£12,984
10
£0
14
£170
£200
£370
18
£3,899
£22,899
£28,704
£55,502
£800
£800
16
£1,108
10
£859
£1,834
£2,693
19
£1,659
£2,942
£0
£3,493
£2,240
£19,957
£28,704
£50,901
£2,240
£144,957
£28,704
£175,901
£0
16
£4,433
10
£2,240
£144,957
£28,704
£175,901
£28,704
£28,704
£144,957
£144,957
£2,240
£2,240
£2,240
£144,957
£28,704
£175,901
-£164,274
17

Page 3

SOWERBY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL Notes to the Financial Statements, year ended 31[st] December 2021

  1. Not all of this amount is available for Gift Aid tax claim as not all envelopes are gift aided.

2. “Special Efforts”

Item INCOME Rushbearing £ 134 Heritage Weekend £ 47* Ladies Night £ 180 Christmas Fayre £ 389 Card sales £ 63

*Guide book sales also made £32 to the Fabric Fund

“Charities & World Wide Church”

Made up of; Childrens Society

£ 577 Per Contra

  1. Restricted Donations.

  2. 4a. Guide book sales made £32 to the Fabric Fund. This amount is restricted because the guide books were originally purchased from the Fabric Fund.

5. “ Worship Related Activities Account”

ITEM INCOME EXPEND
Worship Activities £ 17 £ 244
Coffee Stall £ 40 £ 0
Flowers £ 0 £ 0
Altar Requisites £ 13 £ 240
Music etc £ 0 £ 110
Children & young people £ 0 £ 89
Benefice Magazine £ 15 £ 0
  1. Graveyards made a surplus for the year of £629.

  2. St.Peter’s £1,414 St.Mary’s £150

  3. from St.Luke’s Norland

  4. Due to Covid, the organist was “furloughed” for 2 months. £160 was therefore repaid to the general fund, making the nett cost of Organists salary £800. Other misc. income included £25 for use of St.Peter’s Church for a meeting, and £400 for facilities provided for the filming of “Gentleman Jack”, series 2.

  5. A restricted loan of £5,000 has been obtained from the Diocesan Board of Finance for the dry-rot eradication works at St.Mary’s. This is repayable quarterly over 5 years at £277 p.q.

  6. St.Peter’s Centre, including the School House, was purchased from the Diocesan Board of Education in 2003 for a privately agreed price of £80,000. The current price is based on the Land Registry house price inflation calculator, although the mixed designation of the building makes the current valuation somewhat theoretical. A separate valuation for insurance purposes obtained during 2013 put the reinstatement cost at £985,000

  7. 59 Guide books @ £4 each.

  8. St.Peter’s PC & Sound System (Refurbished 2019), plus Centre Chairs & A/V equipment.

Page 4

  1. Community Cafe cash float, repaid to bank during year.

  2. The PCC currently uses 2 current accounts as of the start of 2006. The Lloyds account is the old St.Peters Church account. As Virgin Money has now taken over the former Yorkshire Bank, this title will be used in future for our other account.

  3. These figures assume the same rate of repayment as at present and are an estimate. The loan will be paid off during 2022.

  4. This represents the amount underpaid to the Diocese since 2009. This year the assessment was £27,253 of which we were able to pay £7,000, approx 25%

  5. Arrears on House rent plus residue of “Community Spirits” fund outside PCC funds.

  6. These amounts are for energy, consisting of Church gas used up to 31-12-21 but not yet invoiced, and a number of Electricity bills from both St.Peter’s Church and Centre which have been credited as paid but where the money has not been taken from our accounts. This problem is still being investigated.

General Notes .

G1. St.Mary’s Centre Costs

A percentage of Gas, Water and Electricity costs for St.Mary’s are paid by the St.Mary’s Church Social Centre. In addition the centre pays all the cleaning costs. These are all regarded as “trading” costs.

During the year, the Parish pays the electricity and water bills, and the Centre pays the gas bills. At the year end there is then an adjustment payment, this year from the centre to the parish, to arrive at the correct ratio for all three utilities, (75% centre, 25% parish.)

G2. Policy on “reserves.”

Reserve accounts now exist in all categories of funds. Account 3D is the deposit account for the general fund, (ie “free reserves”). It stands at a figure which gives some leeway to deal with cash flow requirements but no more than that. (Currently £558.)

“Designated Funds” are those which have been earmarked for a specific purpose by a vote of the PCC at some time in the past, but could be “undesignated” in the future by a similar vote. Legally they are regarded as “unrestricted”, ie they could be spent for any purpose legitimately allowed for by a PCC.

Restricted accounts contain money which has been given or provided for the specific purposes concerned, and cannot legally be spent on anything else. In order to build up sufficient funds for major projects such as building restoration it may have to stay in the accounts for some time until it can be combined with other funds (eg external grants) in order to fulfil its original purpose. Interest and tax recovered on restricted funds is always retained in the restricted account.

RJB

ST PETER'S COMMUNITY CENTRE

Page 5

Accounts as at 31.12.21

2020
£13,474
£2,202
£146
£69
£844
£0
£2,359
£7,745
£1,822
£1,531
£396
£750
£10,724
£2,131
£420
£0
£13,275
2019
£1,243
£394
£5
£844
£50
£844
£50
£422
£422
RECEIPTS
Hire Charges – Day Nursery
Hire Charges - General
Uniform Groups
Lunch Club
Community Cafe
PAYMENTS
Booking refunds
Repairs
Heat, Light, Water
Kitchen & Cleaning Expenses
Insurances
Broadband
Community Spirits
Surplus as at 31 December 2020
Opening Balance
Surplus for year
House Water from Gen. Fund
Use of Hall from Gen.Fund
From reserve account 4D
New Boiler Installation
Cafe float repaid
Closing Balance
ST PETER'S COMMUNITY CAFE
Accounts from 14-8-21 to 31.12.21
RECEIPTS
Takings
PAYMENTS
Cost of Food
Sundry Expenses
Surplus as at 31 December 2020
Start Balance (Cash float)
Add surplus
Paid to St.Peter’s Centre a/c
Cash Float residue
Distribution
St.Peter’s Centre 50%
Community Spirits 50%
Notes
2020
£14,246
1
£6,964
£2,945
£52
£140
£0
£0
£7,016
£171
£10,724
£17,501
£7,016
£50
-£572
£60
£17,218
£795
£6,444
£1,647
£1,533
£406
£572
£0
£422
-£750
£10,884
£244
£6,617
£750
-£550
£13,275
£200
£6,617
£420
£244
£20
£444
£3,000
-£14,268
£50
£9,113
£316
2
£316
£145
£0
£145
£171
£50
£171
£221
£221
£0
£85
3
£85
3
£171
Centre Development Fund (Designated) Notes
£7,046
£3
-£3,000
£4,049
£9,113
£4,049
£0
4
-£329
£12,833
£244
£85
£0
£329
£0
£0
£0
£200
5
£329
£529
vided

Start Balance (a/c 4D)
Interest for year
To operating a/c
TOTAL (in a/c 4D)
Centre Operating Funds (Designated)
Closing Balance (Lloyds)
Add Development Fund (4D)
Add Cafe cash float
Less Community Spirit Fund
Year end true picture (Designated)
“Community Spirit” Fund (Designated)

Start Balance (in Lloyds a/c)
Income from Cafe
Less paid to CS group
TOTAL (in Lloyds Bank)
Paid to CS Group from Centre
Less invoiced expenditure
Residue
Residue from 2020
Add Lloyds Bank
Total funds available
Notes;
1. Includes Energy contribution
equally between the Centre and the
“Community Spirit” fund.
4. Cash Float repaid
5. To sundry debtors (Held outside Parish)
2. Cafe was closed up to 14thAugust 2021
3. From 1stAug 2019 profit from Cafe is di

Page 6

ST MARY'S CHURCH SOCIAL CENTRE

Accounts as at 31-12-21

2020
RECEIPTS
£280
Hire Charges
£4,200 Rental Income
£0
Donations
£0
Misc Income
PAYMENTS
£889
Gas bills
£8
Cleaning & Materials
£1,535 Repairs & Maintenance
Surplus as at 31 December 2020
£3,158 Opening Balance
£2,048 Surplus (deficit) for year
-£169
Energy balance to General Fund
£200
Grass cutting from Graveyard Fund
-£1,500 Loan repayment to St.Peter’s Fabric
To Fabric Fund (10D)
Diocesan Loan
£3,738 Closing Balance
2021
£580
£4,200
£2,450
£353
£7,583
£1,149
£0
£1,712
£2,860
£4,723
£3,738
£4,723
-£176
£200
£0
-£500
£5,000 (Restricted)
£12,984
2020
£148
£78
£0
£1
£0
£69
St.PETER's LUNCH CLUB
Accounts as at 31-12-21
(Lunch Club closed during 2021)
RECEIPTS
2021
Subscriptions
£0
PAYMENTS
Cost of Food
£0
Serviettes
£0
Cards & Presents
£0
Sundry Expenses
£0
£0
Surplus to St.Peter's Centre
£0
St.PETER's LUNCH CLUB
Accounts as at 31-12-21
(Lunch Club closed during 2021)
RECEIPTS
2021
Subscriptions
£0
PAYMENTS
Cost of Food
£0
Serviettes
£0
Cards & Presents
£0
Sundry Expenses
£0
£0
Surplus to St.Peter's Centre
£0
£0

SOWERBY PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

Finance Report for year ending 31-12-2021

The year saw a financial situation on the road to “normality” but not yet fully there. Covid “lockdown” again affected parish life in the first two months of the year, but after that Sunday services resumed. Some fundraising events returned later in the year, the Community Cafe resumed activities in August, but the Lunch Club still remained closed. The “Scorcher” event did not take place again this year, so the income from fund raising was still well short of pre-covid times, although somewhat better than last year. General giving increased by 8.3%, so it still has some way to go to get back to pre-covid levels. The tax claim was down on last year, but this is not surprising as it reflects the giving level in 2020.

Income from fees was considerably up on last year, helped by a couple of weddings which took place both on the same day at St.Mary’s. Graveyard fees were very slightly down, but still in the same “ball park” as last year.

Outgoings for the general fund increased by some 4%, despite our payment of Parish Share being £500 less than 2020. This was mainly due to a sizeable increase in building running and maintenance costs, - or more likely a non-typical reduction in the previous year’s costs, caused by things such as reduced gas consumption and the suspension of Organ tuning during 2020. The Parish Share assessment for 2021 was £27,253, so we paid just over 25% of this.

St.Peter’s Community Centre showed a healthy improvement in it’s finances. Income was up by around 4.5%, while routine outgoings were down by as much as 25%. This allowed the Centre to replace it’s heating boiler entirely from existing resources, at a cost of £14,268, of which £3k came from the reserve fund. There was no activity at all on the “Community Spirits” fund attached to St.Peter’s Centre. At St.Mary’s, finances were improved mainly by a substantial donation, but this came as the result of the need to finance urgent repairs to eradicate dry rot which will be carried out early in 2022, and for which we also obtained a loan of £5k from the Diocese, repayable over 5 years at an interest rate of 4%. Since this loan was taken up however, we have been notified of a major legacy for St.Mary’s which is likely to arrive during 2022 and which could thus eliminate the need to continue with the loan.

The graveyard fund increased by around £600 during the year, due again to a number of fee attracting events being offset only by the annual contribution towards St.Mary’s grass cutting. St.Peter’s graveyard routine maintenance was done entirely by the Community Payback Scheme. This means that the restricted Graveyard Fund remains available for larger jobs requiring professional work, such as wall repairs or tree surgery.

St.Peter’s Fabric Fund had to deal with the cost of some high level work on the tower at the very end of the year, as a result of the quinquennial inspection requiring close inspection of the south side clock face, along with removal of some plant growth around the cornices and some high level pointing, the cost of which was slightly above £2.3k.

Overall then, there was somewhat more activity in 2021 than the previous year, but the effects of Covid-19 were still there, albeit at a reduced level.

Richard Barnes, Parish Treasurer. 1/4/22