StBart's
St Bartholomew's Church
End of Year Report and Accounts
Year Ending 31st December 2024
Pco
Page I

Introduction
St Bartholomew's Church is situated 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 the Greater Corsham Team of churches with St John the Baptist
Gastard and St Philip and St James Neston.
We have a full-time Team Rector based in Corsham. The Rector is supported by a retired
Associate Minister, a LI￿nsed Lay Minister, the members of our team and church PCCS, a
wide variety of church and out-of-church activity groups and the congregations themselves.
St Bartholomew's Church is the largest church in the team. It provides a full array of well-
attended services and activities that engage the community. It is a popular church for
baptisms, weddings and funerals. It is the garrison church for MOD Corsham and is used
by many of the schools in Corsham.
ststus
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Bartholomew's Church is a charity that is
registered with the Charities Commission as The Parochial Church Council of the
Ecclesiastical Parish of St Bartholomew, Corsham; registration number 1132969.
pcc
PCC members who have served during 2024 are as follows:
Chairman: Revd Dr Andrew Johnson
Churchwardens (from APCM 2024): Fiona Draper, John Stott.
Deanery Synod Representatives: Reginald Lambert and John Stott.
Council Members: Christine Reid, Anthony Hall. Reginald Lambert. Joe McGeehan,
Michael Lane, Hermione Skrine, Susan Lambert, L'nora Olney.
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 betsveen 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 Bartholomev/s is part of a team of churches. The Churchwardens of St Bartholomew's
and one lay person are eligible to attend meetings of the Team Council, which meets as
required 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, Safeguarding, Policy Ststements and Finance - and other important
items that are programmed annually or raised to the PCC. When necessary, individuals are
Co-opted onto the PCC to advise on a particular issue, e.g. eco-church. This ensures
strong and diligent govemance.
The Team Rector meets monthly with the churchwardens to review progress and ensure
the smooth running of the church, and the Standing Committee of the PCC also meets from
time to time between PCC meetings as required.
Aim and Purposes
The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the Team Rector, 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 'Growing 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 formal, informal and out-of-church
activities. 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 Bartholomew's Church offers a wide range of ser￿iceS 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 service 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".00am Wednesday Book of Common Prayer Holy Communion services.
Normal church attendance rose slightly throughout the year. As well as our regular
services we enabled our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the
journey through life. We connected with many families through 15 baptisms, and 4
weddings and 18 funerals were held in our church this year. The Thursday morning café in
church established in 2023 continued to grow in popularity and unexpectedly raised very
significant funds during the year. The Mothers, Union also thrived throughout the year,
obtaining a Bronze Award for its focus on domestic abuse.
The church is 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 to lead 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 4:00pm on Sunday and the
Young Church Bubble continued to lead a revamped Family Service in church on the fourth
Sunday of the month which made use of the projector and screen. We also launched a new
'Sunday School, offering entitled FIG (Faith in God) on the first Sunday of the month.
The PCC continued to focus on the need to draw in new volunteers to support the mission
of the church, with a St Bart's Showcase event being organized to provide taster sessions
of different aspects of church lrfe.
We are considering improvements to the church building, such as a fixed projector and
screen and upgraded sound system due to be installed in 2025. As outlined in a Net Zero
audit report provided by the Diocese of Bristol during the year we are significantly
constrained in upgrading the church building but are examining how Church House can be
made more energy efficient. We were also awarded a Bronze Eco-church Award and are
working towards achieving the Silver Award. We are also facing substantial repair costs in
2025126 to carry out major work on the Lady Chapel roof, as identified in the Quinquennial
Report, and have also had to set aside funds in early 2025 to resolve a substantial leak in
the roof of the Methuen Chapel. We are therefore seeking to strengthen our financial
position so we can balan￿ new initiatives with the burden of preserving our Grade 1 Listed
historic building.
Page 4

Balance sheet
2024
2023
Fixed assets
2 The Tynings
7b Lypiatt Road
Church House
250.000
330.000
400,000
980.000
250,000
330,000
400,000
980,000
Total Flxod assots
Currènt assets
Bank current account
8,558
259
232.532
25,398
259
188,132
Messy Church balance
Bank deposit account
CCL4 ICBF) deposf( account restricted
Cash in HarKI
Team Accwnt Debtor
Accounts Receivable
Total Curr•nt as8•ts
3,028
216,817
241,3378
Llabllltles
Agency Collections
Accounts Payable
500
Total Llabllltles
500
Net A8SOt Surplus (deficlt)
1,220,848
1,196,817
Reserves
Excess l (deficit) for year
Starting balances
24,031
1,196,817
1,220,848
41,848
1,154,969
1,196,817
Totsl Reserve$
Represented by Funds
Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
31.395
1.099,470
89,983
26,998
1,088.305
81.515
Totsl
1.220,848
1,196.817
The fixed assets represent the properties owned by St Bartholomew's Church, comprising
Church House at 3 Church Street and the two residential properties.
Current assets have increased by £24,031. The total of all funds now stands at
£1,220.848.
Page 5
Tr-fvdfi￿ J D Ay
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RCL

The Agency Collection represents a grant of £500 from Wittshire Council for the Corsham
Military Graves Community Project that seeks to promote the military graves within the
Ladbrook Lane Chapel by providing enhanced visitor information: this project remains
ongoing.
Reserves are the net of income over expenditure for the year. The increase in reserves
totaled £24.031, achieved, principally, through HMRC gift aid repayments, and property
rental income. Most of the reserves are tied up in Restricted or Designated funds of
£1,189,453, of which 209,678 are cash resepdes. The Unrestricted funds balance is
£31.395.
The balance sheet value is spread across 18 funds, e.g. Bells, Organ, Fabric and the
General Fund. Each fund is categorised either.. Unrestricted (can be spent anywhere),
Designated (the donor would like them to be used for a specific purpose), or Restricted (can
only be spent specifically on the reason for that fund existing, e.g. Organ Fund and Ms
Evans Legacy Fund). 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 2024
Unrestrlctsd Deslgnated Restrietod
Funds
Funds
Funds
Financial Year 2023
Total
Funds
T¢)tsl
Funds
Receipts
Planned Giving
Collections and other giving
Other voluntary receipts
Gift Aid recovered
Other receipts
Adivities for generating funds
Investment Income
Rec8iPts from church activities
Total rec8ipts
49,854
5.307
10,663
7,666
4.698
239
360
50.214
5,307
11.558
7.666
9,407
239
28,225
10,144
122,762
49,018
4.577
23,944
10,896
8,066
216
42,805
9,487
149,023
895
4,708
18,870
6.475
25.345
9,355
200
15,519
3.409
81,898
Payments
Cost of generating funds
Missionary and Charitable
Giving
Parish Share
Clergy and Slaffing costs
Church Running Expenses
275
1.475
50,003
2,950
22,062
1.640
336
3.651
50,003
2,950
27,982
675
53,000
2,560
33,323
5,920
Hall Running Costs
8.815
8,815
4,211
Property Runnlng Costs
2,057
2.057
2,503
Church Repalrs & Maint8narKe
771
1,377
794
2.942
1,484
Cemetery Chapel Repalrs &
Maintenance
Govemance Costs
240
240
240
Total payments
TT,501
14,179
7.050
98.731
107,174
Not Income 1 (expendlturo
resources before transfer
4,396
11,165
24,031
41,848
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds-
33,300
Gross transfers between funds-
out
Net movement In funds
133,300)
4.396
11.165
8.468
24.031
41.848
Total fund8 brought foThvard
26,998 1.088,304
81,514 1.196,817
1,154,968
Total funds carrled forward
31.395 1.099,470
89.983 1.220,848
1,198,817
It is worth noting that all the figures mentioned below include Gombined figures, i. e.
restricted, designated and unrestricted receipts and payments. There may be minor
discrepancies due to rounding.
The following notes are provided on the Financial Activities reported above.
Receipts.
Planned Giving comprises income through standing orders at the bank or via the Envelope
system. Year on year receipts of £50,214 represent an increase of £1,196 and is attributed
to the continuing drive to promote Standing Order giving.
Page 7

Collections are those moneys given at all church servI￿s, including weddings and funerals,
which are not in envelopes. An increase of £730 was achieved reflecting a general increase
in the number of people attending servI￿s.
Other voluntary receipts totaled £11,558. This is income from visrtors, refreshment
donations after services, and miscellaneous income, including grant income of £270 from
the Pickwick Education Trust and £585 from Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust - Ride &
Stride event. The provision of a contactless giving station in December 2023 provided an
income of £2,691
Gift Aid rebate receipts of £7,666 are down on last year, but do not include the £3,028
accrued in 2023 but received in this financial year.
Other receipts of £9,407 comprises bank interest of £4,040 on the Appeal (Deposit)
Account and £5,367 from fundraising activities including: bookshop sales, the Plant sale,
and the Christmas Tree Festival. Thursday Café, introduced in December 2023 providing
refreshments and fellowship, has proven to be very popular and has generated £3,114.
Investment income, comprising the rent from the residential properties at 2 The Tynings
and 7b Lypiatt Road, amounted to £18,870. Dividend income, from the Ms Evans legacy,
amounted to £9,355, providing a total of £28,225.
Other Church Activities includes the income achieved through letting out the church hall.
For this accounting year Church House was operated as a separate fund. Lettings
provided an income of £6,055 with many regular users providing a steady income stream.
Total receipts of £122,762 are down by £26,261. however. the majority of this decrease is
accounted for by a £20,000 legacy in the 2023 accounts.
Payments.
Missionary and charitable giving totaled £3,651 as support was provided to Doorway, the
Corsham Churches Food Bank, Dorothy House and Tear Fund. Funding was part-sourced
from Book Shop sales and a collection from the Town Carol service and through a aonation
from the Discretionary Fund.
The Diocesan Parish Share pledge was held at £50,000 for a 2nd year as the PCC sought to
build reSoUr￿S for the substantial building repair programme commencing in 2025.
Organist fees were increased in Quarter 4 of 2024. having been held at pandemic levels for
3 years. At £2,950 they remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Church running costs at £27,982, although showing a small decrease on the previous year
these payments are significantly impacted by rising Insuran￿ costs and utility expenses.
Contributions to the Greater Corsham Churches Benefi￿ account remained at 2023 levels
at £6,984. Churchyard Upkeep expenses of £5,232 provided contractor support to our
Award-winning church grounds. Contract costs increased in year for the first time in 3 years
and are funded by the Ms Evans Legacy fund.
Page 8

Church House (Hall) Running Costs of £8.815 include extraordinary repairs to rectify damp
issues. these were provided from the Property Fund. Other cost5 arise predominantly from
electricity charges of £2,487 and wages of £1.220 for the cleaner. Costs against the 2
residential properties amounted to £2,057 covering insurance costs, inspections and minor
repairs.
Church Repairs and Maintenance payments of £2,942 provided for a comprehensive
maintenance survey of the roofs and extemal fabric and the temporary fixing of defects
requiring urgent rectification. Several areas of concem have been identified that will need to
be addressed in 2025.
Governance costs are in respect of the Independent Examination of the church accounts.
In total the payments for 2024 of £98,731 represent a decrease of £8,443 on 2023 figures.
Receipts of £122,762 are off set by Payments of £98,731 provldlng a Net income of
£24,031.
Notes to the Accounts
These accounts have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011, and the Charities
Statement of Recommended Practice 2015. The fom and Content of these accounts is
compliant with FRS102.
Note 1- Accounting Policles
There have been no changes in accounting policy during 2024, so no restating of prior year
figures has been necessary.
The majority of income (planned giving, donations, fundraising. and dividends received) 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.
Trustees have not been pald any remuneratlon or reGeived other beneflts from employment
with the charity. No trustee expenses have been incurred.
Other than for the independent examination, no related paty transactions were made.
Paid staff employed (cleaner) stste 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 professionally
revalued in 2015; provisional indications are that these may have increased by £15,000 - a
professional valuation will be sought during 2025.
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
Balance Resources Resources
Transfers
In l (Out)
Gains I
L053es
Closing
BalanGe
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund
26.998
81,898
77,501
31,395
Designated Fund3
Property Fund
Building8 Fund
Fabri¢
46.518
18,870
5957
59,431
980.1￿0
32,379
4,895
661
980,000
30,912
3,055
661
1.467
1.840
Discretionary Fund
Messy Church Fund
Reserve Fund
23.850
23,850
1,099,470
TOTAL DESIGNATED FUNDS
1,088,304
25,345
14.179
TOTAL NON-ResTRICTED
FUNDS
1,115,302
110,271
91,680
1,130,865
Restricted Funds
Buildings & Restoratlon Fund
Bèlls Fund
Church Warden & Junior
Church
Churchyard Fund
Fabric
18.086
2.271
4.985
200
23,072
2,471
1.425
329
1,564
522
2.045
357
256
2,845
36,073
17,856
81,739
75
597
2,045
357
Flowers Fund
Kneeler Fund
Mlssion & Evangellsm Fund
Ms. Evans Legacy Fund
Organ Fund
TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS
256
2,509
39,976
17,358
90.208
336
6,025
498
9.929
15,519
7,050
TOTAL RESERVES
1.197.042
122.762
98.731
1,221.073
The purpose underlying each of these funds is shown below:
Property Fund - This re￿iVeS the rental income from 2 The Tynings and 7b Lypiatt Road
to private tenants; and funds the maintenance and repairs of these properties.
Buildings Fund - This holds the value of the Fixed Assets: namely 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 charitable
purposes at his discretion.
Messy Church Fund - Income and expenditure incurred in funning Messy Church.
Page 10

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.
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 specifically for spending on the
work of Faith in God (FIGS) 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.
Fabric Fund - Funding received specifically for the maintenance of the fabric. There are
both Restricted and Designated elements of the fund.
Flowers Fund - Funding received specifically for the provision of flowers in the church.
Kneeler Fund - Funding received for the repair and replacement of kneelers.
Mission & Evangelism Fund - Funding received specifically for use on mission and
evangelism activities.
Ms Evans Legacy Fund - Holds dividends received from the Ms Evans Legacy.
Expenditure is limited to the churchyard and the exterior of the church. All expenditure is
agreed by the trustees of the fund.
Organ Fund - Funding received specifically for the maintenance and restoration of the
organ.
Note 3 . Agency Transactions
To conform to the requirements of the Anti-money Laundering regulations, charities are
required to disclose all transactions where monies are accepted and passed on to other
organisations. Such monies do not form part of the income or expenditure of St
Bartholomew's, and the Church is acting only as an agent for those other bodies.
Organisation
Opening
Balance
Collected in
ear
Remitted in
ear
Closing
balance.
Corsham Military
Graves Community
Pro
ect
500
500
Page IJ

Note 4- Costs of External Examination and Other Financial Services
Costs of £240 were incurred in 2024 for the External Examination of the Annual Report and
Accounts.
Note 5- 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 2024 and to keep a reserve of three months, general
church running costs.
This three months, General Reserve will cover all running costs, except 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
restricted Restoration reserve and a designated Fabric reserve: these were reviewed in line
with the implications of the Quinquennial Inspection 2021.
Note 6 - Going Concern Accounting Policy
The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the church is able to continue as
a going concern. St Bartholomew's has made an encouraging recovery since the pandemic
and finances are once again returning to a healthy level: the PCC continues to keep the
financial situation under review. The church holds unrestricted general reserves of £38,483
and a designated reserve 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 months from the date on which these financial statements are
approved.
Page 12

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Sectioii A
Independent Examiner's Report
Report to the members
Pwothial Church CourKil (PCC) of
St BarthOloM￿18 Church. Corsham, SN13 OBY
On accounts for the year
ondod
31 Decentsr 2024
Charity no
1132969
I report to the PCC on my examinati￿ of the accounts the above charity
(Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 31112r2023.
Rosponslbllluos and .
basls of rnport.
As members of the PCC. you are responsib￿ for the preparation of Ihe
accounts in a¢£orda￿e W￿*h Ihe requirements of the Charities Act 2011
(Ihe At*).
I report in respect of my examination of the PCC'S xcounts carried out
under Section 145 of the 2011 Acl and In carylng out my examination, I
have follthyed all the applicable Direclions glven by the Ch•ity Cornmisslon
under Section 145(5){b) (A the ACL
Indopendent I have ¢x)mplet8d rry exarThnation. I confirm that no mat8rial matters have
examinorf8 Statement come to my 8tt8nlion in o)nnedion with the ex8mlnatlon {other than that
dl8closed in Section B) which gives m• ￿$0 to b￿lOve that in, any material
respect."
the aCC￿ntIng r￿)rdS were not kept in *w￿lanCe with 8ectlon 130
of the Chaffties Ad; or
the acthunts did ncl acxord with the a(winting records; or
the accounts did ncl comply with the applicable requirements
conceming the form arKI content ol aLxx>unts set out in the CharFties
(Accounts and Rep)rts) Regulalions 2008 other than any requirement
that the a(xounts give a Irue and fairf view which is not a matter
>nsiderBd as part of an independent examination.
I have no ¢J)n(xms and have come ￿083 no other matters in connection
with the ex8minatlcm to whlth attention should be drawn in this report in
Slgned:
QS/o2
RfiToPt16f O. WAlCll/hAM {. 6.[./9 .
7oZS
Name:
Rolovant profMslonal
quallficaknls) or body
(If any):
Addrass:
WATCHMAN ACCOUNTANTS LI
Wiltshire SN15 3DD
Emall: C￿￿WatchMan0CGount￿ts￿mn
IER
Oct 2018