ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S CHURCH, BURWASH, EAST SUSSEX (CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 1133028)
TRUSTEES REPORT FOR 2024
1.REVIEW
St. Bartholomew’s is part of the United Benefice of St. Bartholomew’s, St. Philip’s Burwash Weald and St. Nicholas Etchingham. An appropriate pattern of services has been introduced to reflect this arrangement. The Church and Churchyard continue to be maintained to high standards; an “Access and Amenities” Project has been initiated with the objectives of providing kitchen and toilet facilities in the Church together with the creation of discrete areas for small gatherings and services. Close relationships are maintained with the two local primary schools at Burwash and Etchingham; several trustees serve as governors at Burwash.
2.PUBLIC BENEFIT AND OBJECTIVES
2.1 In accordance with Section 4(6) of the Charities Act 2006 and the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 the Trustees confirm that they have given due regard to the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity commission when exercising their powers and duties during the period.
2.2 St. Bartholomew’s is supervised by its PCC, the Assistant Churchwardens and the Rector. It provides Church of England worship and a place of quiet reflection. Donations are made to charities directly by the PCC and from collections at fund raising events. Collections are taken in Church for the Royal British Legion on Remembrance Sunday and for the Children’s Society following the Christingle Service. A Food Bank continues to operate for the Diocesan Association for Family Support Work.
2.3
St. Bartholomew’s supports a number of activities designed to provide outreach to the wider community. These include:
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Tuesday Drop in
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3 C’s Coffee Cake and Chat mornings
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Children’ Corner
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Wednesday After School Club
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Quarterly coffee mornings and book sales
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Christmas Tree Festival and School PTFA Fair
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Remembrance Day ‘Act of Remembrance’
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School services
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Parent and Toddler Group
2.4 FINANCE
The General Fund shows an excess of payments over receipts of £25979. This has been funded by drawing on the ‘designated’ Curteis Fund and the ‘restricted’ Morris Bequest. There is a general
trend of lower regular planned giving and other normal collections in Church. Fund raising receipts have also fallen from 2023 levels. Individual donations on special occasions have fallen sharply. Expenditure continues to rise, but in as far as is possible, is kept under strict control. The level of formal reserves within the General Fund is not considered adequate.
3.SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
3.1 PCC MEMBERS
Ex Officio
Thomas Pelham Rector Charles Merchant Vice Chairman and Deanery Synod Member Celia Merchant Deanery Synod Member Sara Stonor Diocesan Synod and Deanery Synod Member
Co-opted
Mary Westhead Safeguarding Officer
Elected
Francis Kenny (2024) Shirley Viney (2024) Vicky Patterson (2024) Foundation Governor Joanne Brown (2018:re-elected 2021) Foundation Governor Sally Gomer (2023) Planned Giving Secretary Jonathan Gomer (2023) Christopher Woodburn (2022) Honorary Treasurer
PCC GOVERNANCE
St. Bartholomew’s Governing Document is the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956. It operates through the Parochial Church Council, its Standing Committee, Worship Group, Young People’s Group, Communications Group, Fund Raising Committee and Access and Amenities Committee.
All members of the PCC have their duties and responsibilities explained to them, including their duty of care and the implications of the Charities Act 2006 and Statement of Recommended Practice 2005. They are updated on regulatory and legislative changes as these arise. In addition, all PCC members undertake Safeguarding Training. The PCC has put in place appropriate controls to minimize the likelihood of, or opportunity for, fraud or other malpractice.
Meeting Attendance in 2024 4 March 5; 3 June 9; 2 September 9; 2 December 8
3.3 CHURCH ATTENDANCE AND ELECTORAL ROLL
Electoral Roll 96; Normal Sunday attendance 43 (Average overall 53); Easter Day 93; Good Friday and Vigil 26; Christmas Eve/Day 203; School Services 3 with total attendance 740.
Approved by the Trustees on 3 March 2025.
M i n i s t r y T e a m
S af e g u ar di n g O ffi ce r
H o n. Tr e as ur er fr o m 2 0
Rector
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST.BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCH BURWASH
Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 December 2024
| Unrestricted | Restricted | All Funds | All Funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Fund | 2024 | 2023 | ||
| General | Designated | ||||
| Monetary Assets | |||||
| Bank Current Account | 2860 | 0 | 657 | 3517 | 4000 |
| CBF Deposit Fund | 0 | 41755 | 7041 | 48796 | 65471 |
| Cash with Fund Managers | 0 | 6112 | 0 | 6112 | 3368 |
| Other Assets | |||||
| Investments (at Market Value) | 1804 | 406677 | 0 | 408481 | 387176 |
| Glebe Field (at cost) | 26584 | 0 | 0 | 26584 | 26584 |
| Total Assets | 31248 | 454544 | 7698 | 493490 | 486599 |
| Liabilites | 0 | 0 |
Notes
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The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, using the Receipts and Payments accounting convention.
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No payments were made to PCC members or connected persons other than for the reimbursement of expenditure incurred on behalf of the PCC. Reimbursement was made to 2 members of the PCC totalling £2049. Net payments made to third parties on behalf of the Rector in respect of General and Water Rates amounted to £3263.
3.The cost of investments was £221616.
Approved by the PCC on 3 March 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Reverend Thomas Pelham Rector
C.H.Woodburn Treasurer
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST BARTHOLOMEW'S. BURWASH I report to the trustees on my ekqmination of the accounts of Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Bartholomew's Church Burwash (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wAth th¢ rcquircmcnts of the Clwiti¢s Act 2011 ('the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carrted out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed a]1 the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)Ib) of the Act. Independent &Yaminer's statemenl I have completed my examination. I confirn] that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the ¢xamination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: a) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Tnt as required by section 130 of the Act; or b) the accounts do not accord with those r¢wrds I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should k drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. NICK WADE, FCA 24 February 2025 Nick Wade FCA The Presbytery, Spring Lane, BurwaslL East Susse4 ITr119 7JA