2024-12-31-accounts - The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Stockton-On-Tees St Peter

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ST. PETER’S CHURCH, STOCKTON ON TEES

CHARITY NO: 1132812

ANNUAL REPORT & FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

Incumbent:

Revd Cameron Abernethy

Bank: Barclays Bank PLC 19-23 Wellington Square Stockton on Tees TS18 1NA

Independent Examiner:

Mr Stephen Jones 41 Buttercup Lane Louth Lincs LN11 0FQ

Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees

Index to the Financial Statements

For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Annual report of the PCC

Independent Examiner’s report

Statement of financial activities

Balance Sheet

Notes to the financial statements

Analysis of Property expenses and charity donations

Independent Examiner’s Report To the Trustees of St. Peter’s Stockton on Tees, Parochial Church Council

This report on the Accounts of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 4 to 12.

Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner

As trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to

examine the accounts under section 145 of the Act;
follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention

which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; or
to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records
have not been met; or
to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed _____

Date

Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees Statement of Financial Activities For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Incoming Resources (Note 2) Incoming resources from donors Other voluntary incoming resources Income from charitable and ancillary trading Income from investments Total Incoming Resources Resources Used (Note 3) Grants Activities directly relating to the work of the church Fund raising & publicity Church management & administration Total Resources used Net incoming/(outgoing) resources Balances brought forward at 1 January 2024 Balances carried forward at 31 December 2024		Unrestricted Funds £ 62,440 19,689 21,410 2,253	Unrestricted Funds £ 62,440 19,689 21,410 2,253	Restricted Funds £ Total 2024 £ 1,389 63,829 183,653 203,342 21,410 2,253	Restricted Funds £ Total 2024 £ 1,389 63,829 183,653 203,342 21,410 2,253	Total 2023 £ 58,744 45,368 16,828 1,575

			105,792		185,042 290,834 122,515
			965 122,621 1,477 8,611		965 828 156,514 279,135 191,570 1,477 110 35,155 43,766 16,556
			133,674		191,669 325,343 209,064

			(27,882) 29,483		(6,627) (34,509) (86,549) 29,013 58,496 145,045
			1,601		22,386 23,987 58,496

Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees Balance Sheet As At 31[st] December 2024

£ 16,000 32,200	2024 48,200 30,517	£ 16,000 34,400	2023 50,400 47,216
513 2,559 33,575		334 2,533 50,954
36,647		53,821
(6,130)		(6,605)

	78,717 (54,730)		97,616 (39,120)
	23,987		58,496
	1,601 22,386		29,483 29,013
	23,987		58,496

Approved by the PCC on and signed on their behalf by the Chairman, Rev C Abernethy

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Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees Notes to the Financial Statements

For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

1 Accounting Policies

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2011 together with applicable accounting standards and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

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 designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.

The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.

Incoming resources

Voluntary income and capital sources

Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving receivable under covenant is recognised only when received. Income tax recoverable on covenants and gift aid donations is recognised when the income is received. Grants and legacies to the PCC are accounted for when received.

Other ordinary income

Rental income from the letting of the church premises is recognised when the rental is received.

Income from investments

Interest is accounted for when received. No provision is made for accrued interest.

Other ordinary incoming resources

Any amounts under this heading are accounted for when received.

Resources Used

Grants

Grants and donations to charities are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation to the PCC.

Activities directly relating to the work of the church

The diocesan quota is accounted for when paid.

Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

1 Accounting Policies (continued)

Fixed Assets

Consecrated land and buildings

Consecrated and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by section 10(2)(c) of the Charities Act 2011.

No value is placed on moveable 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 benefice buildings and moveable church furnishings, whether maintenance or improvement, is written off as expenditure in the SOFA and separately disclosed.

Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment

Equipment used within the church premises is depreciated on a straight line basis over its estimated useful life. Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £1,000 or less are written off when the asset is acquired.

Investments

Investments are included at historical cost.

Current Assets

Amounts owing to the PCC at the year end in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors.

Cash at bank and in hand includes deposit accounts and short term deposits with CCLA Investment Management Limited on behalf of the CBF Church of England Funds or at the bank.

Reserves

The PCC has agreed to hold the equivalent of three months’ general running costs as a reserve. The distribution of surplus reserves is subject to agreement by the PCC during the course of the financial year. It is acknowledged by the PCC that this policy has been breached during the year.

Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Unrestricted Funds £ 43,258 12,983 6,199	Restricted Funds £ 1,389	Total 2024 £ 43,258 14,372 6,199	Total 2023 £ 41,272 12,950 4,522

62,440	1,389	63,829	58,744
8,093 7,126 1,338 462 1,750 920	6,931 176,722	8,093 14,057 1,338 462 1,750 177,642	5,310 15,365 1,055 739 1,250 21,649
19,689	183,653	203,342	45,368
7,428 3,053 5,610 100 1,299 3,344 576		7,428 3,053 5,610 100 1,299 3,344 576	4,059 5,120 5,270 710 984 685
21,410		21,410	16,828
2,253		2,253	1,575
105,792	185,042	290,834 122,515

Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

3 Resources Used Grants Charities Activities directly relating to the work of the church Diocesan quota Clergy expenses Staff wages Church services & books Fees Choir Youth Sundry expenses Property expenses Traidcraft Café Church Catering Mission Shepherds Dene ESOL Depreciation Loan Interest Repayment Fund raising & publicity Stewardship Fundraising Church management & administration Postage & stationery Telephone Bank charges Professional fees Total resources used		Unrestricted Funds £ 965	Unrestricted Funds £ 965	Restricted Funds £	Restricted Funds £	Total 2024 £ 965	Total 2023 £ 828

			44,000 117 5,936 4,666 5,141 505 280 49,333 1,338 59 357 288 3,061 2,200 5,340		44,000 54,000 117 143 5,936 6,593 4,666 2,442 5,141 3,616 1,000 180 685 699 280 1,371 149,846 199,179 112,872 1,338 1,135 59 357 288 349 3,061 730 6,488 6,488 2,253 2,200 2,200 5,340 2,167
			122,621		156,514 279,135 191,570
			100 1,377		100 12 1,377 98
			1,477		1,477 110
			880 5,170 341 2,220		880 955 5,170 2,489 341 268 35,155 37,375 12,844
			8,611		35,155 43,766 16,556
			133,674		191,669 325,343 209,064

Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

4 Staff costs

During the year the PCC employed an organist, a cleaner at All Saints and a Parish Administrator who were paid £5,936 (2023 £6,593); the organist and Parish Administrator are members of the PCC. No other PCC members received any remuneration during the year.

5 Fixed assets for use by the PCC

The curate’s house at 55 Kensington Road, Stockton on Tees is included at historical cost. All Saints Church, Hartburn Village is also an asset of the PCC; however it has not historically been valued in the accounts.

	Curate’s	Organ
	House	£
	£
Cost	16,000	66,099
Depreciation at start of year	0	31,699
Charge for year	0	2,200
Depreciation at end of year	0	33,899
Net book value	16,000	32,200
Analysis of Net Assets by Fund
Unrestricted Funds £		Restricted Funds £	Total £
Fixed Assets	48,200		48,200
Current Assets	14,261	22,386	36,647
Total Liabilities	(60,860)		(60,860)
	1,601	22,386	23,987

6 Analysis of Net Assets by Fund

Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

7 Fund Details

Restricted funds are made up as follows:

Way Forward Project ESOL Holiday Club Walsingham Youth Pilgrimage Sunday School/Youth Others Total	£ £ 13,616 5,690 1,507 120 453 1,000
	22,386

8 Reserves

The PCC recognises its obligation to use Reserve Funds in an appropriate manner and has therefore set a Reserves Policy (Note 1)

9 Creditors – amounts falling due within one year

Accruals Diocesan loan repayable Total	£ 1,130 5,000
	6,130

10 Creditors – amounts falling due after one year

Diocesan loan repayable Total	£ 54,730
	54,730

Parochial Church Council of St. Peter’s, Stockton on Tees Notes to the Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Schedule of Property Expenses for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

St. Peter’s £ All Saints £ 55 Ken Rd. £ 380 268 3,877 908 2,964 629 4,029 781 624 7,674 996 11,193 164,546	Vicarage £ 310	2024 Total £ 2023 Total £ 958 914 4,785 5,410 3,593 3,278 5,434 5,005 19,863 30,287 164,546 80,957
183,470 3,582 11,817	310	199,179 125,851
		125,851
105,796 9,799 10,049	207

Schedule of Donations to Charity – Year Ended 31 December 2024

Christmas Collections Safe Families NSPCC	£ 482 483
	965

St Peter’s Church Choir Accounts

There are two bank accounts in the name of St Peter’s Church Choir which are held and managed by the choirmen, for the benefit of the choir’s musical activities.

The current account balance at 31 December 2024 was £1,933.82 (2023 £2,694.38).

The reserve account was set up to receive donations from local Charities and Trusts, to pay for young people to undertake singing engagements both in the United Kingdom and abroad, as part of the choir. During the year the choir donated £1,476.00 from the reserve account towards the purchase of new hymn books. The balance at 31 December 2024 was £3,205.29 (2023 £4,624.67).

Parish of Stockton-on-Tees St Peter Annual Report of the PCC for 2024

Administrative Information

St Peter’s Church is situated on Yarm Road, Stockton on Tees. It is part of the Diocese of Durham within the Church of England. The correspondence address is 5 Reeth Road, Hartburn, Stockton on Tees, TS18 5HB

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is registered with the Charity Commission – The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Stockton-on-Tees St Peter. The Charity Commission number is 1132812.

PCC members who have served from 1[st] January 2024 until the date this report was approved are:

Incumbent:	Revd CP Abernethy
Associate Priest:	Revd Daniel Ackerley
Wardens:	Jane Neal
	David Lawson
Representatives on Deanery Synod:	Ruth Hicks	Lay chair
	Jane Neal
	Linda Harding
Elected Members:	George Barber
	Amith Paul
	Sandra Hauxwell
	Rebecca Dodd
	Carol Horsley
	Sue Mines
	David Pickup
	Michael Short
	Margaret Roberts
	Viktor Odoh	From 19thMay

Structure, governance and Management

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.

Officers
*Lay Chair:*	Ruth Hicks
*Secretary:*	George Barber
*Treasurer:*	Sue Mines
*Electoral Roll Officer:*	Michael Short
*Stewardship Officer:*	Vacant
*Safeguarding Officer:*	Ruth Hicks
*All Saints Hall Manager:*	Carol Horsley
*Parish Administrator:*	Sue Mines
*Director of Music:*	George Barber
*Sunday School Superintendents- St Peters:*	Claudia Ackerley

Toddler/Friday Praise Leader:

Sue Barber

Objectives and Activities

St Peter’s PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent or churchwardens in vacancy in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish of the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has the maintenance responsibilities of All Saints in Hartburn Village and 55 Kensington Road.

Committees

Several committees meeting between full PCC meetings, support the PCC.

Standing Committee:

This is the only committee required by law. It has power to transact business of the PCC, subject to any decisions made by the PCC. It monitors church finance, properties and PCC agendas.

Way Forward Group:

To co-ordinate ideas and present them to the PCC and congregation on the way forward for this parish.

St Peter’s other groups include:

The Tuesday Working Party, Prayer Group, Baptism Team, Toddler and Friday Praise and Cafe Church groups, the church flower teams, the parish breakfast team, servers, the vergers and those who care for laundry and sacristy needs.

Choir:

The worship at St Peters is enriched by the choir including the junior choir.

Achievements and Performance

Church Attendance

There are 170 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll. The average weekly attendance, counted during October, was over 100 and this number increased at festivals. At Easter, there were 150 in the congregation and over 750 people attended the various Christmas services.

During 2024 there were 29 baptisms in church, nut no weddings. There were also 18 funerals with a further 5 held at the crematorium.

Review of the year & Incumbent’s report

After my first full year at St Peter’s and All Saints’, I give thanks to God for all that has been accomplished by so many working together to build God’s Kingdom here. I am deeply grateful for the ministry of Revd Daniel Ackerley as our Associate Priest. I continue to give thanks for the support of my retired colleagues, Revd Philip Bishop and Revd Graham Benzies, as well our churchwardens, Jane Neal and Dave Lawson. As the APCM reports show, one of the real strengths of our parish is the way so many people work together as they serve Christ. This commitment and faithfulness is seen across the many different ministries, led and supported by those who kindly give of their time and talents. One of the recurring conversations this year has been the need to recruit more volunteers to our ministry areas. Do consider and pray where you might be able to put your faith into action by serving on one of our ministry teams.

Like many churches, finances are an area of concern. As reserves continue to be stretched further, there are some significant questions for us as a parish. The quinquennial reports for our two buildings – St Peter’s and All Saints’ – highlighted a number of issues which require our attention. This is especially true for the building of All Saints’ Church. Thank you to those who generously support the parish financially. We began a Year of Thanksgiving in 2025 with a different monthly event being offered to help raise funds for the parish. Many thanks to Jane Neal and Lesley Batty for

their organisation and please do support these events by coming along and inviting family and friends. Thanks also to those who worked so hard to organise and help with our summer and Christmas Fayres. Our finances will continue to need attention in the next 12 months.

It has been good to see the new kitchen facilities being used for both church and outside events. The final piece of the Way Forward project continues with the plans for new toilets. The commitment of the Way Forward group is to be commended, with the significant work of applying for grants being undertaken so successfully.

Reflecting upon the last year, I wanted to highlight just a few specific areas.

Worship

The worshipping community at St Peter’s has continued to grow, with a marked increase in the number of families. On a Sunday morning, it is usual for a fifth of our congregation to be under eighteen. At both diocesan and national level in the Church of England, it is sadly all too rare for churches to have such a mix of ages. This is a real strength to be cherished and nurtured further. Our worship continues to be blessed by George Barber and the choir, it has been wonderful to see the flourishing of our younger choristers. I am deeply grateful to George and the choir for all they offer to us as we seek to worship God together. Our new hymn book is now well embedded and it has been wonderful to enjoy both new and familiar hymns this past year.

I continue to lead a monthly service of Holy Communion at our local care homes – White House and Park House. This service is appreciated by residents and staff alike. If you would like to join this service, please do speak to me.

All Saints

The 9.45am service at All Saints’ continues to very well attended with a strong sense of fellowship present. It has been encouraging to note the very successful Warm Space, run by Stockton Council, being held at All Saints’ on Wednesday mornings. After an initial ten-week trail, this has been extended due the popularity of the morning.

Schools Ministry

We continue to have very strong links with our local schools. It was good to be invited into Bowesfield to lead a whole school assembly for Fairtrade Fortnight. We welcomed Bowesfield Primary School for a whole school Harvest Service in October and a Christingle Service in December. Years 1 and 2 came to church for the ‘Experience Christmas’ event, an interactive re-telling of the Christmas Story.

As in past years, Year 3 from Oxbridge Lane Primary school had their Christingle Service at St Peter’s and performed a nativity for their families and friends. It was a real delight to work with Judith Gill to offer an art workshop based upon angels in the Christmas story to Year 3 and 4 classes. The children loved the chance to work with Judith to create angels and these were used to decorate the church for our Christmas services. It was a delight to welcome again Year 6 to Café Church for their Community Learning Project, with the pupils serving refreshments, doing the dishes, tidying the church grounds and talking with the participants. It was a pleasure to be invited into classes to support the RE curriculum and teach lessons on baptism and the doctrine of the Trinity.

At Hartburn Primary school, I have regularly led school assemblies on topics such as Advent and Lent for Early Years, KS1 and KS2 children. For the first time this year, I led a whole school service for Harvest. A Christingle service for Year 5 was held at Greens Lane Methodist Church and led jointly by Rachel Williams, the Methodist Minister and myself.

For the first time, I presided and preached at the opening service, held in St Peter’s, for the new school year for the staff of Ian Ramsey school. Following this service, I was invited to meet with the head of the RE department, Natalie Dodd, to explore ways of working together. This resulted in a team of Year 9 and 10 students leading a series of prayer stations related to the Easter story for local primary schools. The students from Ian Ramsey were excellent ambassadors for their school and the children who visited thoroughly enjoyed the activities. I hope to build upon this new link in the year to come.

Discipleship

The Growth Group has gone from strength to strength with people engaging with a real sense of depth and honesty. During Lent 2025, thirty-three different people engaged with the material on Living Hope. I’d like to offer my thanks to Christa Griffiths for hosting and leading the Tuesday afternoon group. It was also a joy to welcome folk from Christchurch parish to some of the Growth Group sessions. Quiet Mornings have been held with folk coming from parishes across the deanery. These mornings have offered a space for quiet prayer and reflection. Prayer resources for use at home have been offered to support people’s engagement with the church year across St Peter’s, All Saints’ and St John’s, Elton. People have found these simple resources beneficial and a way to deepen their prayer life.

Across the Deanery

The Revd David Lucas was introduced to the deanery in September following his installation as the Team Rector of the Upper Skerne Parish. Sadly, The Revd Peter Robson, Associate Priest of the Upper Skerne Parish, died in February following a period of ill health. At St John’s Egglescliffe, the Revd Nigel Sinclair was recently appointed to the 0.5 post. He is currently a vicar in the Diocese of Leeds and will be installed over the summer, date to be confirmed.

Stockton Country Parish and Christchurch parish remain in vacancy and I support these parishes in the following ways:

Christchurch parish – leading assemblies and school Eucharists at St John’s CE School, Ragworth each term. In Lent, I led a Preparation Class for receiving Holy Communion and five children were admitted in April 2025 during the school Easter Eucharist service. I occasionally lead the Tuesday midweek Holy Communion service at St John’s.

Stockton Country Parish – I lead a fortnightly Celtic Communion Service at St Cuthbert’s, Redmarshall. I led the ‘Remembering loved ones at Christmas’ service on 12th December at St Peter’s, Bishopton as well as the Easter Day Eucharist Service at St Cuthbert’s, Redmarshall.

Concluding remarks

As I look to the coming year, I am looking forward to welcoming Emily Carling as Assistant Curate, as well as her husband James and children Posey and Wren. Emily brings a host of talents and experience from her previous roles as she is ordained and I look forward to working with her over these next few years. Supporting a curate is a privilege and one that shall require time and energy from me as I support Emily’s formation. Please do pray for Emily and her family as they prepare to move from Darlington over the summer and join us at the end of June. I am deeply thankful for the many faithful and dedicated volunteers who lead and support our mission and ministry. Please do continue to pray for the ongoing mission and ministry of our church and consider where you might wish to offer your time and talents as a volunteer.

Financial Review

Total receipts on ordinary unrestricted funds were £105,792 with a further £185,042 received to restricted funds. This is detailed in the Financial Statements. 55 Kensington Road continues to be let providing a gross income of £6,200.

£133,674 was spent to provide the Christian Ministry from St Peter’s, including the contribution to Parish Share of £44,000, which largely provides the stipends, housing and training for the clergy. £185,000 was spent on the works in church for the Way Forward project.

The net result for the year was an excess of payments over receipts of £27,822 on general funds and £6,627 on restricted funds. The balances carried forward at 31[st] December for unrestricted funds totalled £1,601 and for restricted funds it is £22,386.

Reserves Policy

It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds which equates to approximately 3 months running costs. It is noted that this policy is breached and has been regularly throughout 2024.

It is our policy to invest our funds in with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund.

Approved by the PCC on and signed on their behalf by the Chairman, Rev CP Abernethy

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