StBarts St Bartholomew's Church End of Year Report and Accounts Year Ending 31st December 2023 Page I
Introduction St Bartholomews Church is srtuated next to Corsham Court in Corsham and the correspondence address is Church House. 3 Church Street, Corsham SN13 OBY. St Bartholomew's is part of a team of churches including St Cyriac Lacock, St John the Baptist Gastard, St Philip and St James Neston and St Anne Bowden Hill. We have a full-time Team Rector based in Corsham. The Rector is supported by a number of retired clergy, Licensed Lay Ministers, the members of our team and church PCCS, a wide variety of church and out-of-Ghurth aGtivrty groups and the congregations themselves. St 8arth0l0meS Church is thè largest church in the team. It provides a full array of well- attended services and activtties that engage the Gommunty. It is a popular church for baptisms, weddings and funerals. It is the garrison church for MOD Corsham and 18 used by many of the schools in Corsham. Status The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Bartholomew's Church is a charity that 18 registered wrth the Charities Commission as The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Bartholornew, Corsham", registratlon number 1132969. pcc PCC members who have served during 2023 are as follows.. Chairman: Revd Dr Andrew Johnson Churchwarden (until APCM 2023. then a Council member): L'nora Olney Deanery Synod Representatives: Reginakj Lambert and John Stott. Council Members." Christine Reid. Anthony Hall. Reginald Lambgrt. Joe McGeehan. Michael Lane, Hermione Skrine, Susan Lambert. Treasurer.. Deborah Stott Secretary: Nigel Jackson Page 2
Deanery Synod Two members of the PCC sit on the Deanery Synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the Church. Issues raised at Deanery Synod are brought to the next PCC meeting. Structure. Governance and Management St Bartholomew's is part of a team of churches. The Churchwarden of St 8artholomew's and one lay person are eligible to attend meetings of the Team Council, which meets to discuss matters relating to the team of churches. The PCC at St Bartholomew is scheduled to meet six times a year and is chaired by the Team Rector. The PCC Agenda is focused on standing items - Mission and Outreach, Buildings Matters, Policy Statements and Finan - and other important items that are programmed annually or raised to the PCC. When necessary. indNiduals are co-opted onto the PCC to advise on a particular issue, e.g. safeguarding. This ensures strong and diligent governanc&. The Team Rector meets monthly with any churchwardens in post to review progress and ensure the smooth running of the church. and the Standing Committee of the PCC a180 meets from time to tirne between PCC meetings as required. Aim and Purposes The PCC has the responsibilty of co-operating with the Team Rèctor, Revd Dr Andrew Johnson, in promoting the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical and to direct charitable donations. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of.. 'Church House,. 3 Church Street. Corsham, the Ladbrook Cemetery Chapel, and the residential properties at 2 The Tynings, Corsham and 7b Lypiatt Road, Corsham. Goals and Objectives The PCC works to the vision of 'Grovng followers of Jesus. through growing in God, growing in love. and growing community. The church has a very active life, providing opportunities for a wide range of age groups, acting as a focal point for community events, and engaging with large numbers of people through fomial. infomial and out-of-church aGtivities. There is a desire to reach out further into the community and to engage more effectively with it. Page 3
Review of the year St Bartholomevls Church offers a wide range of Servi during the year. These include regular weekly services and one-offs to mark special events in the church calendar, like Holy Week, Easter, and Christmas. A monthly evening Servi on Zoom remains popular. The Team Rector continued to lead a weekly Bible study on Zoom throughout the year and provided monthly 8:00am Sunday and 10.'OOam Wednesday Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion services. Nomal church attendan rose throughout the year and attendance during Easter, December and Christmas at limes exceeded the levels seen prior to the pandemic. As well as our regular services we enabled our community to lebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through lrfe. We connected with many families through 18 baptisms, and 5 weddings and 34 funerals Yre held in our church this year. We also established a Thursday morning café in church (emerging from the Wami Ptaces Initiative) which is attended by church members and visitors to church and also raises significant funds. The church 18 a member of the ecumenical group in Corsham. along with the Other churches. St Bartholomew's plays an active role in this group, and we were pleased to be involved in the Good Friday march of witness, and the open-air carol service in Church Square. It was also pleasing to see the continued popularity of some of our services targeted at all ages. Early Birds continued their monthly services in church at 4.'OOpm on Sunday and the Young Church Bubble continued lo lead a revamped Family servi in church on the fourth Sunday of the month which made use of the projector and screen. This has consistently been the best attended service of the month throughout 2023 but is being rAught up by the monthly communion services augmented by the regular provision of a choir. During 2023 the PCC started to focus on the need to draw in new volunteers to support church life and continue to engage with the younger generations to secure the long-tem future of the church. In doing this vrfe shall also be engaging with the Transfomiing Churches. Together stralegy the Diocese of Bristol is rolling out during 2024. We are actively considering improvements to the church building. such as a revamped audiovisual system, new heating {including engaging with the Diocese of Bristol's focus on reaching net zero) and major work on the roof of the Lady Chapel. We also worked towards achieving a Bronze Eco-church Award (subsequently awarded in early 2024). We were able to make major improvemenls to Church House due to the provision of a generous legacy, and users of the building have commented very favourably on the work undertaken. We are also seeking to strengthen our financial position by building on the solid grasp of our f nan$ developed during 2023 and described in the rna1nder of this report. Poge 4
Balance sheet 2023 2022 Fixed sets 2 The Tynin 7b Lywatt RtwJ Church Hwse 250.1MK) 250,000 330,000 400,000 980,000 Totsi Flx•d al Currnnl ¥01• Bk current X¢OLmt Messy Chur¢h Wa Bank depo8it 33.205 259 140,071 259 188,1342 CCLA ICBFI dgpog't xcrurt r11•A Cosh in H8t¥l Team Oebtr 3,028 211817 8,34S 174.969 Totsl Curr•nt I• Ubllltl•• Ag8r• ColWon8 ACnts P84& Tot•1 Uablllll•¥ N•t Auet Id•ficlt) 1,196.817 1.154,989 Ex¢•s8 I Ideficrtl forye St8rtir¥J balae3 41,848 I,154,9 1.196,817 54,873 1,100.298 1,154.969 Vnrestrict•d DesHJn8te<l ReStrted 53,315 1.049,680 51,974 1.068.305 81,515 315 Total 1,196.817 1.154,969 Balance Sheet Notes. The fixed assets represent the properties owned by St Bartholomevls. namely: Church House, and Iwo residential properties located wtthin the Parish. The property valuation of £980,000 is now 8 years old.. a revised valuation is due. Poge 5
Current assets have increased by £41.848. An increase in reserves across both the Designated and Restricted funds totaling £68,165 is off set by the reduction in the General Fund of £26,317. The total of all funds now stands at £1,196,817. The Accounts Receivable of £3,028 represents the HMRC Gift Aid refund on Qtr 4-2023 donations not received by year end. The balance sheet value is spread acro&8 20 funds: these comprise a mixture of categories, either: Unrestricted (funds can be spent anywhere at PCC'S discretion), Designated (the donor would like the funds spent on a specrfic purpose, but the PCC has discretion), or Restricted (funds can only be spent specifically on the reason for that fund existing). Details of each fund's balance and in-year movements are shown at Note 2 to the accounts. Page 6
Statement of Financial Activities (£) Financial Year 2023 Fln•nel•l Y•ar 2022 Total Fund Fund6 Fund5 R•¢•lpts Planned Giving Collections and other gmng 01[ voluntary receipts Gil ¢1 r0Ver& ottrEr receitls Activrties for generating furNts Investment Incre Receipts from churth pthtieB Total re¢•lpts 375 49.018 4,577 23,944 10,438 51.045 4,351 60,082 15,123 2.771 429 21,151 14.993 169,948 4.577 13.446 10, 5.131 216 18 9.217 92.147 10,497 216 42.805 13.272 149,623 17,575 25,211 17.070 39.299 paymts C05t ol generab'ng hjnds Missionary and Ch•rrt•We GSvirrfJ Parish Sh8 Cltrrgy and Staffing ¢¢¢ts Church Running Exponsa$ Property Running Co81s Church Repairs & Maintena Ha11 Repairs & Maintenance Governance Costs Leased Printer Costs Totsl poym•nts 275 275 216 475 675 239 eo,0 7,280 2S,5C6 25,516 2,27e 24.039 4,249 9.284 33.323 6.714 8.901 8.1 240 240 240 8S.164 12.260 9.769 107,174 116,276 N•t In¢om• I 1•x51turO f••oUr¢ bth tran•f•r 41,848 54,672 Tran81•rn Gross transfers bgwn fiJth- 029 Gro$$ transfe($ bth*•n fvnds- out ,Not mov•m•nt In fvnd8 133.3D)I {33,3C(11 18291 {26.3181 38,624 41,848 $4,672 Total fund• browjht f(rnnl 03,314 1,IMg,679 61,974 1,164,968 1,100,296 Total funds carrl•d lonv4¢d 81,514 1,196 817 1 154968 It is worth noting that all th8 figures mentioned below include combined figures, i.e. restncted, designated and unrestricled reGeipts and payments. There may be minor discrepancies due to mundings. The following notes are provided on the Financial Activiti8s reported above where significant movement of funds is indicated. Recelpts. Planned Giving achieved £49.018, a similar level to 2022. Collections from church services, including weddings and funerals achieved £4,577, again, a similar level to last year. other volunta recei ts totalled £13,446- comprising 2 grants totalling £5.573 (Bristol Diocese and Feoffee Fund)., logether with donalions from visitors. Pogt 7
Gift Aid Recovered realised £10,8* for Ihe period January to September. A further £3000 is expected for the remaining 3 months vlhich were not reNed in year. Other recei ts of £5,131 reflect our fund-raising activrties including.. book sales, shop sales, the Thursday Café- a new venture- the annual Plant sale, and the Christmas Tree Festival= overall an increase of £2,626. Investment in ome of £42,730 comprises the rent from the resKlential properties at 2 The Tynings and 7b Lypiatt Road of £17,575", together with dividend income, from the Ms Evans legacy. of £25,155 - this included a £15,000 back payment from earfler years. IA ies are the receipt of fees for weddings and funerals (£2,419) and rental income from Church House (£6,798) - together totaling £9,217. In total, Receipts for 2023 were £92,147. Although this represents a significant reduction over the previous year it should be noted that £54,000 of legacy donations was received in 2022. Payments: The Diocesan Parish Share pledged was £60.000. however a mid-year reduction was made by the PCC to avoid a snifICant projected shortfall: the revised Parish Share paid was £53,000. Church runnin ex enses totalled £24,039, a small decrease on the previous year. Significant costs included.. £8,890 for insurance premiums for the Church. Church House & Ladbrook Cemetery Chapel. Contributions towards the running of the Benefice accounted for £6,984. Utility bills amounted to £2,719. wrth a further £3,024 for church rnaintenance. Churchyard Upkeep expenses of £6.683 were funded from the Ms Evans legacy. Pro Runnin Costs relate to Church House and the Iwo residential properties. Church House utility, and cleaning costs totalled £4,249-, wtth £2,465 spent on updating the hall heaters. The two residential properties have required minimal work during this period; insurance and gas safety checks are both standing requirements. Hall Re airs & Maintenance - the programme of renovation and modernization of Church House, started in 2022, has continued into 2023, including: the redecoration of the ground floor public spaces, the renovation of the woodblock fioor, and the provision of new folding tables. The cost of £8,901 is funded by a legacy. Payments for 2023 were £41,848. they relleGt a reduction of £8. 101 over 2022 as the PCC make strives to reduce expenditure wherever feasible across the Ghurch estate. Net income incrnased by £41.849. Across 811 accounts and fvnds the total funds Carried forward Is £1, 154,968. Page 8
Notes to the Accounts These accounts have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011, and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practi 2015. The form and content of these accounts is compliant with FRS102. Note 1- Accounting Pollcles There have been no changes in accountlng policy during 2023, so no restating of prior year figures has been necessary. The majority of income (planned giving, donations, fundraising, and divKlends reived) is accounted for in month of receipt. Income due to Gift Aid Rebates and wedding and funeral fees is accounted for in the month of receipt in-year and an accrual was raised at year-end for outstanding income. Trustees have not been paid any iemuneration or received other benefits from an employment with the charity. No trustee expenses have been incurred. Other than for independent examination. no related party transactions were made. Paid staff employed (cleaner) state they are self-employed, so no tax or National Insurance contributions were payable. Likewise. no pension liabilities have been accrued. Fixed Assets are subject to re-valuation every 5 years. They were last revalued in 2015 and will be re-valued at the earliest opportunty. Debtors and creditors are all short-term (less than 1 year) and are accounted for at full value. No provisions are applied. Page 9
Note 2- Movement by fund (£) Opening Incoming Outgoing Transfern Balance Re80urces Res0e8 In I (Outl Galns I Losses Closing Balanee Unr¢¥trlct¢d Fund$ General Fund 01314 91147 85.164 (33.300) De8lgnat•d Funds Property Fund 8ulldlng¥ Fund Fabrie 30,136 17,575 1.1Q2 46,518 9,ocK) 32.37Q 4.8 10.138 11,058 Dl8cr•tlonary Fund Me88y Chureh Fund ReBorve Fund 23,850 1,049.679 23,850 1,088,304 Total D•slgnat•d Fund• 17.575 12.250 TOTAL UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 1,101993 11&039 974.414 1,118,618 ReBIrfGted Fund¥J BulSdlng• & Rmtorntlon Fund B•ll8 FuThJ Chur¢h W•rd•n & Junlor Chureh Churchyard Fund F•brf¢ Flower• Fund Kn¢•l•r Fund Ml*•lon & Evang•ll•m Fd M•. Evan• L•gw FWKI Organ Fund TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS 4,778 1,991 13.310 18.08e 2,271 347 1,425 522 2,045 357 256 2.845 ,073 17,856 81.739 357 258 2,695 19.172 18.834 61199 150 25.155 8,255 978 39,299 9.769 TOTAL RESERVES 1.155,193 149,023 107,174 1.197.042 The purpose underlying each of these funds is shcw4n below: Property Fund - This reiVeS the income received from renting out: 2 The Tynings and 7b Lypiatt Road to private tenants: and funds the maintenance and repairs of the same properties. Buildings Fund - This holds the value of Church House and the residential properties at: 2 The Tynings and 7b Lypiatt Road. Corsham. Discretionary Fund - This provides resources for the Rector to use for chartiable purposes at his discrekn'on. Messy Church Fund- Income and expendtture incurred in running Messy Church. Reserve Fund - Set aside to protect the charity against a drop in income and to cover emergencies= it is provisionally set at three months. church running costs. Page JO
Buildings & Restoration Fund - A fund built up to fund necessary restoration work on the church building. Bells Fund - Receives income from wedding fees,. and funds maintenance and repairs to the bells. Church Warden & Junior Church - Funding received SpecIfilIY for spending on the work of Young Barts (Sunday School) and other children's work. Churchyard Fund- Funding set aside for maintenance of churchyard. This currently holds restricted funds from the Ames legacy. The capital is held by the Bristol Diocesan Board of Finance in the CBF Investment Fund with the parish receiving the dividends. Fabrfc Fund - Funding receNed specfficalty for the rna1ntenan of the fabric. There are both Restricted and Unrestrided elements of the fund. Flowers Fund - Funding receNed specfficalty for the provision of flowers in the church. Kneeler Fund - Funding received for the paIr and replacement of kneelers. Misslon & Evangellsm Fund- Funding r1Ved specificalty for use on mlssion and evangelism activities. Ms Evans Legacy Fund - Holds dividends receNed from the Ms Evans Legacy. Expenditure is limited to the churchyard and the exterior of the church. All expendrture Is agreed by the trustees of the fund. Organ Fund - Funding received specifically for the maintenance and restoration of the organ. Note 3 - Agency Tran8actlon8 To confomi to the requirements of the Anti-money Laundering regulations. Charits'es are required lo disclose all transactions where monies are accepted and passed on lo other organisations. Such monies do not fomi part of the income or expenditure of St Bartholomew's, and the Church is acting only as an agent for those other bodies. Organlsation Opening Balance Collected in ear Remitted in ear Closing balance. RBL Po 352 352 Note 4- Costs of External Examination and Other Financial Services Costs of £240 were incurred in 2023 for External Examination of the Annual Report and Accounts to date 31st December 2022. Page 11
Note S - Reserves Policy The Charity Commission encourages the retention of a quantified reserve that protects charities against drops in income and to cover opportunities and emergencies. It is therefore the policy of St Bartholomew's PCC to finance its parish mission for growth, to continue to honour its Parish Pledge 2022 and to keep a reserve of three months, general church running costs. This three months, General Reserve will cover all running costs. expt for the Parish Share. This General Reserve does not include any provision of funding for grants to charities, which will be confirmed through events and annual budgeting. This General Reserve does not include any provision for building works, which are covered by a restricted Restoration Reserve which was reviewed in line with the implications of the Quinquennial Inspection 2015 and will be reviewed again on receipt of the report of the Inspection undertaken in 2021. Note 6 - Golng Concem Accountlng Pollcy The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the church is able to continue as a going concern. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the global economy; this has in tum affected the finances of St Bartholomew's Church. A slow recovery is being made although finan$ remained subdued. The PCC continues to keep the financial situation under review. The Ghurch holds unrestricted general reserves of £15,832 and designated reserves of £23,850 that can be drawn down if necessary. The PCC consider that the charity has sufficient cash reserves to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 month8 from the date on which these financial statements are approved. P(¥e 12
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLANO AND wE5 Independent examinerfs report on the Scctioii A Independcnt Examiner"s Report Roport to tho members Parochial Church Council (PCC) crf St 88rtholome8 Church, Corsham, SN13 OBY On accounts for th• ygar •ndad 31 December 2023 Charfty no 1132969 l rnport to the PCC on my examination of the #counts ol the above chaiity llhe Tru8f) for the year ended 3111212023. R•sponslblllUe8 and ba•b of r•port . A¥ m6mb•rs of the PCC. you are reXe for the preparallon of the accounts in actordanc8 with the requSrements ofthe Chaiities Act 2011 (Yhe Acf). I report in re$ped of my oxamination ofthe PCC'S Unts canied oirt urtder section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I haw follow ail the aWicable Dlrections given by tho Chanty Commi88ion UfNl•r 8eaion 145(5)(b) 01 the ACL Indepondont I havo u)mplth my •xamirlI0n. I confimi that no materid matter8 hav• oxamln•r'8 8tatsm•nt come to my attention in conn&Xion wrth tho examination (other than that disdosed in S8clion B) whbth gi8 me cause to tjelieva that in, any materfat r•spect: th8 accounting records wère not kept In cordaK• with jectlan 130 of the Charitses Ad., or the a(xounts did not accord with tho ac£¥>Jnting records., or tho aUnts did not o)mply wilh the applicable requirements conceming the fomi and content of accounts Set out In the Charitle8 {Account$ and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the aUnIS give a Irue and fail vfew which ig not a matter consldered as part of an independent ex&ninatkx. I have no concom$ and have come across no other matter8 In connection Ih the examination to whlch attention should bo drawn in this report In order to enable a prr4x>r urKlor8tandlng of the accounts to l)e reached. Slgn•d: o) goZ¢f Nam•: rg rpfr16 Relovant Prof10n1 quallflcatlonl•) or boty Irf any): Address: WATCHMAN ACCOUNTANTS LIMITED Iltshire SN15 3DD Em.1: chrfs@w8ttt)manaccountant>com IER Oct 2018