2024-12-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT 2024

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

REGISTERED CHARITY 1133832

Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

CONTENTS

VICAR’S REVIEW OF 2024	PAGE 3
CHURCHWARDENS’ REVIEW 2024	PAGE 4
SAFEGUARDING	PAGE 5
CHURCH BUILDING	PAGE 6
CHURCH BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT	PAGE 6
MINSTER COMMUNITIES	PAGE 7
COMMUNICATION	PAGE 7
OUTREACH	PAGE 8
CHILDREN, YOUTH, FAMILIES	PAGE 11
SCHOOL	PAGE 13
DISCIPLESHIP	PAGE 13
SEND	PAGE 16
CHOIR AND MUSIC	PAGE 17
BELL RINGERS	PAGE 19
THE OLD SCHOOL ROOMS	PAGE 19
DEANERY AND DIOCESE	PAGE 20
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2024	PAGE 22
ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2024	PAGE 32
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT	PAGE 46

Cover picture: Saltmine Theatre Company performed their pantomime A Christmas Carol in church in December

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

VICAR’S REVIEW OF 2024

The life of Rothley Church in 2024 has continued to take place against a very challenging backdrop outside of the parish. The roll out of the Minster Community process and financial challenges of the Diocese, alongside the divisions in the National Church over the Doctrine of Marriage and the various safeguarding scandals all add to the challenges of proclaiming the gospel through the local church in a rapidlychanging culture. These issues have meant that, as Area Dean, a disproportionate amount of my time and energy has been spent away from the Parish in meetings concerning the wider Deanery and Diocese. Alongside this, I have been supporting six other churches who will continue to have no vicar of their own for the foreseeable future. Apart from supporting their life and ministry, a considerable administrative burden has come my way administering five open churchyards and all the applications for interments and memorials.

In the parish it has continued to be a great joy to work alongside Sneha Ninan as a context-based ordinand. Her placement will finish at the end of May 2025 and then, from her ordination at the end of June, she will serve as curate in the parish. We look forward to welcoming her, Dan, Lara and Diya more fully into the life and mission of the Church. Developing lay ministry and training new service leaders and preachers remains very important as we prepare for a future in which the availability of stipendiary clergy will be much reduced.

The service pattern continues to provide new opportunities to develop

all traditions of music and the opportunity for many people to begin to experience leading worship. The variety of styles continues to attract new members to the Church. However, work amongst children and families continues to be very challenging and unpredictable from one week to the next.

This past year has seen the longplanned Broadnook Garden Village begin to be constructed and occupied. At this early stage the developers and those responsible for the governance of the new community have been very open to us holding welcome events for the new residents and are keen for us to repeat and develop these. It is our prayer that from establishing good relationships at the outset, there will grow a witnessing worshipping Christian presence in the new village. In order to facilitate this opportunity, I have been appointed ‘Faith Representative’ on the Broadnook Community Trust.

None of what has been achieved would be possible without the willing and faithful service of so many in the Church family, each offering their gifts in a huge variety of ways. I would like to thank the churchwardens, Margaret Rouse and Fred Sleath, whose support, challenge, advice and encouragement has been so valuable. Alongside them, I would also like to thank Ray Prince for all the work he does behind the scenes to look after our church building; Jean Arkley for all she does to help us give expression to our pastoral care; Liz Sleath for all her work in the Church Office.

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

Rothley is a community with huge opportunities to serve Christ and proclaim the gospel. That is the reason the Church here exists, and we pray that will remain our focus through all the challenges that may come our way from

society around and from the difficulties the national Church faces.

Rob Gladstone

CHURCHWARDENS’ REVIEW OF 2024

This has again been a very busy year in the life of the Church and we have experienced many blessings from God, for which we are thankful. The most obvious of these are the new faces who have started to appear in our services on a regular basis. Alongside this, we see many people spending time in conversation over coffee after the services, which it is hoped will deepen relationships. We are also aware of many unseen acts of caring for each other between church family members which occur during the week.

We have continued with many outreach efforts, both within the church building and the wider parish. The most recent of these has been the Welcome Party held on the new Broadnook development for some of those who have recently taken up residence. This is hopefully the first of a number of such events which will be held as more people move in. Another new departure was the pre-Christmas pantomime performed in church by the Saltmine Theatre Company at the beginning of December. Both of these have given opportunities to forge new contacts.

Another new event was the Macmillan Coffee Morning held in church in September, which again provided a chance for outreach and contact beyond our fellowship. The need to move pews to hold this event

highlighted the limitations of our building to accommodate a wider range of activities here.

A number of us have been involved in the meetings to form a Minster Community with neighbouring parishes under the Diocesan reorganisation plan “Shaped by God Together”. This process is taking shape successfully for us, although more widely across the Diocese it is noted that there are difficulties in forming groupings.

We are very grateful to our Assistant Wardens, Chris Garnett, Jean Johnson, Simon Taylor, Marion Whitby and Nigel Willey, for their help in the busyness of this year, particularly within the regular church services; also to Richard Neill and Richard Yates, our vergers, who look after the arrangements for weddings and funerals; Ray Prince for overseeing the day-to-day maintenance and running of the church building; Ian Sanders for ascending the church tower to fly flags on various occasions; and Kath Pepall for her conscientious cleaning efforts. Thanks also to Charles Poole, who has been instrumental in the installation of our contactless machine so that card donations can be made in the church building. Our thanks also go to the flower arrangers, brass cleaners, coffee makers, audio-visual operators and all others who enable the life of the Church to function.

Margaret Rouse and Fred Sleath

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

SAFEGUARDING

“God’s call is to speak out on behalf of the voiceless,

and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.” Proverbs 31:8

If you have been listening to the national news you will know it has been a difficult time for the Church of England regarding safeguarding, we need to commit this area of church to prayer.

In the parish, with the support of The Diocese of Leicester safeguarding team, we continue to work hard to make sure we are a place in which we all feel safe, secure, confident and cared for. This work is overseen by the PCC appointed Safeguarding Coordinator, Wendy Ferguson, and Lisa Cook, who is responsible for DBS applications. Liz Sleath also provides valuable support.

Following a review of safeguarding within the Church of England during 2024, we now have five new national safeguarding standards for our parish. These will be discussed by the PCC during 2025 and will enable us to consider what ‘good looks like’ within our church and identify strengths and areas for learning.

Our parish safeguarding policies for child protection and vulnerable adults were reviewed and updated in November 2024. These are available on the noticeboards in church, in the Old School Rooms and on our website.

Training and safer recruitment remains a priority. Most of the training courses are now online, although limited training is sometimes available face-toface. Members of PCC and all those involved in children’s groups and activities that could include our more vulnerable adults must complete basic and foundation training every three years. The training protects us all, is straightforward and interesting. All training can be accessed via the Safeguarding Training Portal (cofeportal.org). Alongside the training, a valid DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check is required for most roles. This is additional to the training. This is a nationally-run service which ensures the people we are recruiting to work in our children’s, young people’s and vulnerable adults’ groups do not have a history of criminal offences.

If you have any thoughts about how we can improve safeguarding within our church or any concerns which you wish to confidentially discuss, please do talk to the Safeguarding Coordinator. She is available to offer support and has further resources on hand if required. We are currently looking for help for this important work. If you feel led to get involved with safeguarding, or want more information please talk to us.

The Safeguarding Coordinator’s plan for 2025 is to work with the PCC to make sure we deliver and understand the new national standards, which in turn will help us to maintain a safe, supportive and caring environment for all.

Wendy Ferguson

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

CHURCH BUILDING

As in previous years, regular maintenance of the church building was carried out.

The work required from the Quinquennial Inspection Report of October 2020 was started in January and completed in March 2024. This work was delayed due to COVID-19 and the removal of the boiler house. The work involved internal works, and work to doors, windows, walling, parapets, copings and the roof. Repairs to the stained-glass windows were also completed. This work was completed within the budget. At the same time, the contractor completed other small building works including cleaning the solar panels. Our next Quinquennial Inspection is scheduled to take place in 2025.

In February the 5-year Electrical Installation Condition Report was satisfactorily completed. In June the memorial Roll of Honour inspection and professional cleaning took place.

As the churchyard is closed, Charnwood Borough Council maintains the it for us. In 2024, the Council carried out and paid for work to repair the north boundary stone wall. The PCC agreed for three wildflower meadows to be started. Seeds were sown in July. A member of the Open Spaces team from the Council visited the churchyard recently and made the comment that it is well maintained, tidy and in very good order.

In September the PCC authorised a new Fire Risk Assessment for the Church and Old School Rooms. This was last done in 2015. Three actions were

required for the church and four actions for the OSR. Some of these actions have already been completed; the remainder will be completed in 2025. This will include new Fire Warden training.

In November the PCC adopted a new Health and Safety Policy which covers the church and OSR. This was last done in 2018. This is required by our church insurance company and will now be updated every year.

I would like to thank Marion Whitby who helps me with Faculties, the monthly safety check and the annual churchyard check.

Ray Prince

CHURCH BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

This year has been very mixed: great blessings and deep frustrations.

The scheme reached its final design which was approved by the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC).

We launched our funding appeal early in the year, which has been very successful in raising most of the monies needed to reach the £320,000 target. I wish to pay a most heartfelt tribute to the many members of our fellowship who have contributed to this outcome. In connection with this, I would further like to mention specifically two people who have been instrumental in this achievement: firstly, Charles Poole, for his work of guidance to individuals for their giving arrangements; secondly, Clive Jackson, who has most assiduously sifted through a vast

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

number of charities to identify those to whom it has been appropriate to apply for grants.

However, just as it appeared that we were all set to proceed with the works, the DAC required us to obtain a Lawful Development Certificate from Charnwood Borough Council Planning Department for the lowering of the path levels outside the North porch. This has led to an extended delay, due to them not processing the application in due time.

Coupled with this, it appeared that the scheme deeming no liability for VAT on works to Listed Buildings may end at the end of March 2025, leaving us with the need to raise a further £60,000 to cover such charges.

However, as we move into 2025, we are hopeful that the permission will be granted imminently and that the VAT non-liability scheme will be extended.

Therefore, I am hopeful the works will be largely completed by the end of 2025.

Fred Sleath

MINSTER COMMUNITIES

Our Parish is now well engaged in the Shaped by God Together process, prompted to form groups of parishes into functioning units with teams of at least four ministers, some ordained and some not, to co-ordinate the advance of the gospel in villages, communities and schools throughout the Diocese. These groups are to be known as Minster Communities. This will mean a

significant change from the traditional stand-alone parishes being overseen by individual clergy, or groups of parishes as benefices, also being overseen by individual clergy. The shape of our emerging Minster Community has become clear. We expect to be working alongside Thorpe Acre, Emmanuel Loughborough, Shelthorpe, Grange Park, Mountsorrel and Sileby, Cossington and Seagrave. This grouping has emerged with a shared understanding of the Scriptures and a joint commitment to the role of the local church in serving its community. A significant aspect of our shared mission will be to the rapidly-expanding new communities within the area.

Over the next year we expect informal collaboration between the parishes to grow from what is already in place. The issue of Patronage – the right to appoint new clergy – has yet to be resolved.

Rob Gladstone

COMMUNICATION

What’s going on and how do people hear about it?

Word of mouth, posters and fliers, church website, WhatsApp groups, emails, Facebook and other social media and local newspapers are all useful ways of communicating with all sorts of people about what we believe and what we do here at Rothley Parish Church. New this year is Instagram, kept up-todate by Gina for us.

However, the most important is wordof-mouth, so please don’t forget to give personal invitations to family, friends and neighbours to anything going on here, especially if you are planning to be here yourself - and keep asking!

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

I continue to produce the weekly “Fellowship Post” to keep our membership in touch. It includes notices about upcoming services and events, an outline of our live-streamed service for those not able to get to our church building on Sundays, Prayer Pointers to guide us all with our personal prayer during the week, and the very popular letter on the front page, usually written by Rob, but with occasional contributions by other members of our Ministry Team. This is mostly distributed by email, but we deliver about 20 paper copies to those without easy access to computers. There are usually a few spare copies on the welcome table in church for anyone who doesn’t have one delivered, but I will happily include you on the list if you get in touch and ask!

We continue to develop the use of our AV system in church and it is proving very popular with occasional visitors, e.g. at weddings, funerals and school events, as well as concerts etc. Livestreamed services (hopefully one each Sunday) can still be viewed via our YouTube channel, accessed via link from Fellowship Post or search “Rothley Church”.

Eric Hissett looks after our church website day-to-day and we are still updating our website as quickly as we can. There is a Church Diary that can be accessed from the website, as well as being printed on the Fellowship Post. Rob and I try to meet monthly to update the diary and make sure our forthcoming events are advertised.

We work closely with Rothley Primary School and send invitations to relevant events directly to the school community

via their email system to parents, as well as via groups who meet here e.g. Little Fishes. We also continue to send out Christmas and Easter invitations to the whole parish with details of our services and other events, for which we are grateful to you all for delivering, along with fliers for our Summer Picnics around the newer estates.

Liz Sleath

OUTREACH

Evangelism Group

This group meets regularly to discuss, plan and organise events which reach out to the local community, to include both church and non-church people. This links with the mission of the church and encouraging evangelism to be on individual church members' agendas, whether it be through events organised by RPC, regular church activities aimed at reaching out or individuals reaching out to people they are in contact with in their daily lives. The events planned by this group endeavour to meet more local people, form relationships and give an opportunity to promote activities that the church is putting on. These often free or subsidised events are also an opportunity to serve our community, to interact with one another and put on events of interest and entertainment.

The above is supported in monthly Sunday evening prayer meetings which always focus on evangelistic activities and we also appreciate and value the prayers of individuals focusing on this.

In the summer we held one Open Picnic at the park by Rothley Primary School. The event was well attended by church members, local families, and Little

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

Fishes families. There were also passers-by who joined in the fun. In 2023 we held three picnics in different village locations. Our strategy this year was to organise one ourselves, leaving two additional dates open for other small groups to organise a similar event. This was to offer event variation and opportunity for others to take on the direction and organisation. Unfortunately, we did not have offers of volunteers to facilitate the remaining dates. On feedback we realise more time and more information readily at hand would have helped encourage people to do this. We will review this for the summer 2025.

We attended The Party in the Park at the Cricket Club on August Bank Holiday Sunday, pitching a gazebo, with organised free games for children and prizes to give away. It was great to engage with the few people who visited our pitch, but the weather was wet and windy, so many people stayed away from the event until later in the afternoon/evening. This being our first venture at the event, therefore will be reviewed for 2025.

Macmillan Coffee morning: the first time the church has supported this nationwide event. Volunteers from church set up the church space, provided refreshments and interacted with those attending. It was very well attended by those in the church and those in the local community. Again, we saw families who we know from Little Fishes.

The Saltmine Theatre company put on two performances of ‘A Christmas Carol’ on the same afternoon in December. This was put on at a subsidised price to attract families to

attend. It was well attended and provided an opportunity for families to meet and hear the Christian message of Jesus through this professional Christian theatre group. As well as church members, Little Fishes families and the local community were in attendance and this was also an easy promotion to Rothley School families.

Three carol singing evenings in three Rothley locations saw church members singing and giving out sweets to those who came out of their houses to listen - a great festive way to spread the message of the church, who we are and our Christmas events though the month. This was backed up by the Christmas invitation card from the church. We saw many local families and those who Rob Gladstone has met through the school too.

We have also been reviewing and starting to improve the church website, this being a visual and informative directive to people new to the area as Christians looking for a church or those who are interested in who we are through contact with us. It is important to be mindful and considered in our presentation of RPC through our website, making it accessible, up-todate and visually appealing. It also presents opportunity to promote all our events through the year.

As an Evangelism Group we have also been considering how we reach out to new families and individuals moving into the Broadnook village. This is a venture being looked at by the wider RPC as well as particular individuals.

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

Little Fishes

Our parent, baby and toddler group takes place in The Old School Rooms on Monday mornings between 9- 11am during term-time. It is an open-to-all group to those in the local community. This group provides a welcoming, safe, friendly environment for parents and grandparents with their babies and toddlers to interact and get to know each other and the church volunteers. There are three groups of church volunteers who underpin these sessions: the set-up team, refreshment team, and the team interacting with families and leading the activities in the morning session. With an optional contribution of £1 per family, we provide tea and toast for approximately the first half hour, then at 10am we gather families, offering a drink and biscuit to the toddlers, we then tell a short-simplified Bible story and sing together a few well-known nursery songs. We often finish the session with a craft activity from 10.30-11am. The OSR is set up with various play equipment so the families can play with their children throughout the morning session.

Responsibility for the activities, story, song, and craft are divided between the church volunteers, the intention being to talk about God through the Bible story and witness through the outreach of the sessions and our interactions with families. We use the opportunity to promote and discuss appropriate services and activities coming up at church. We have seen some of the families attend church events though the year including the summer picnic, Macmillan coffee morning and Christmas panto. It is a privilege to interact with our community, serving

young families and spreading the love of God.

RCMG (Rothley Church Men’s Group)

2024 has been the year when we can say that we have successfully resumed the Men’s Group after the COVID-19 pandemic brought the group’s activities to an abrupt halt. After much deliberation and prayer by the committee, a well-attended gathering of men agreed that there was an appetite to start the group again and, as such, well-attended events including a pétanque evening and a walk in the Summer, followed by PC Samuel Pilbeam and Harry Longman as our guest speakers in the Autumn were organised. A social evening in between our two guest speaker events was also held, where one of the Committee gave a Christian testimony during the evening. We rounded off the year with a fish and chip supper.

We have been very encouraged by the support we have received since we resumed the group this year which has given us a solid platform to move forward with our 2025 programme.

Wednesday Lunches

Wednesday Lunches have continued to operate successfully throughout the year on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each calendar month. A regular team of five helpers have served hot two course meals during the winter and salads with jacket or new potatoes over the summer.

Our regular diners, most of whom generally eat alone, enjoy the company and friendship they find here as well as the food, at a cost of only £5. Sadly, we

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

have lost three much-loved customers this year, latterly our oldest just three weeks short of her 103rd birthday. If you think you’d like to join us come and give it a try: contact Sandra ShawPearce on 07941951265 or 01162302989.

Care home links

The enthusiastic team continue to lead a regular service, usually on the first Monday of each month. We are grateful to David Hodgson coming with his key board and various members of the group who share with leading the service. We shall be sad to lose Val Wadge as she moves away to be near her daughter. Val was the initial inspiration in setting up a regular service for the residents of Cedar House. We will miss her very much. We are happy for others to join us at any time. Please pray for the residents and the staff of Cedar House.

The monthly service at Mountview Care Home is led by a great team who are very gifted at getting alongside the residents. It continues to attract many of the residents and has resulted in a wider ministry involvement with the Care Home, supporting those who are ill and families through bereavement. The regular service is very much appreciated by the residents, many of whom had strong connections with their local church in the past.

Bereavement Support

As a Church, we have now adopted an online database which will be more effective at generating reminders and contact details so that those involved in bereavement ministry, such as Jean

Johnson, can more readily access the details they need.

The annual Memorial Service is always a special service, with its mixture of sadness and thanksgiving; of church and community coming together; freedom to be oneself, to light a candle, hear a loved one’s name, shed a tear knowing one is safe and supported; the preciousness of hearing of the love, peace, and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, through Scripture, reflection, hymns, and prayers; and the singing.

Thank you so much to so many in the congregation who support, comfort, care and pray for those who grieve.

CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES

Sunday School for children aged 3 - 11 years is held twice a month during the 11am Sunday services. We study the same Bible story, but with ageappropriate activities. We meet together in The Old School Rooms at the beginning of our sessions for a drink and a chat, then split into two groups, divided by ages, soon after. Our numbers are sometimes disappointingly low, but those who come seem to enjoy learning, however young and however few they are.

The Grid for young people in secondary school is held at the same time as Sunday School. This group look at Bible topics, with discussion and occasional games. However, numbers are very low at the moment, with one or two from Year 7 having just come up from Sunday School and many of the older ones having other commitments (sport etc) on Sundays. There are plans in the

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

pipeline for a Saturday evening group, but this will depend on numbers available.

Shine! is a monthly gathering of an allage community on the first Sunday of the month at 4 pm, usually in church, but sometimes outside. Here there is the opportunity to meet with regular church families and those who only join us once a month for a short time of worship, prayer and Bible story, agerelevant activities, crafts etc with a time to chat and build relationships afterwards over refreshments or a meal ]

together. The leadership for the different events varies, but Sneha is ultimately overseeing this activity and bringing fresh ideas to it. Happily, the numbers attending were increasing over the last few meetings of the year and we pray that trend continues. We continue to invite the School community, those who come to Little Fishes and those who have been baptised here, and advertise on local social media sites. Special events last

year included a Family BBQ in September and Saltmine Theatre’s pantomime “A Christmas Carol” in December, enjoyed by many.

We again ran a one-day Children’s Easter Holiday Club in Holy Week , starting in the OSR with a video of the Easter Story, followed by different activities for small groups of children, including making edible Easter egg nests, miniature Easter gardens and an Easter card, clay models etc, then after

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lunch we moved over to church. Here we worked through “Colours of Life”, hearing from different adults about creation, sin, redemption and living in the light of Christ, taking part in various related activities and finding coloured strips of paper to make our rainbow flags, finishing with a short talk from Rob who shared his Easter egg with everyone! Then it was time to go home, taking a book explaining the Easter Story “Christ Died for me?”, a chocolate egg, sweets, their morning creations and an invitation to come back on Good

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

Friday for our “Jerusalem Journey” and Easter Sunday Family Service.

access to over 500 children every week and many opportunities to minister to their families too.

In the past year, we have given training to all the staff on the Christian Ethos of the School and on Spirituality. We have a team, David Wilson, Alison Godfrey, Sneha Ninan and Rob Gladstone, who visit the school every Wednesday morning to conduct Collective Worship. As a Church, we host, every six weeks, an act of Collective Worship, led by the pupils, focused on a Christian Value and attended by all the parents of that year group.

Through the year the church also hosts the school for a number of Christian festivals and for the Year 6 Leavers Service.

A group of families from church again took a holiday to Devon at May half term, staying at St George’s House, the trip being led by Rob and Sarah. There was a choice of outdoor activities, enjoyed by all who took part, as well as time to chill, to pray together and play and eat together.

Some social nights open to all women within the church were organised during the year under the title U-nite .

Liz Sleath

SCHOOL

One of the Diocesan priorities for all churches and Minster Communities to adopt is ‘Growing Faith’. This refers explicitly to work amongst children and young people, with a particular focus on schools. Whilst all churches struggle with Sunday-based children’s work, through our Church School we have

Lynne Bragg visits the school once a week to encourage the children to explore Christian faith and prayer and provided a special transition morning for the Year 6 leavers.

Through Governance, we continue to hold the School to account to uphold the Christian Ethos and to support the teaching staff as they lead and deliver RE and Collective Worship. In the latest SIAMS Inspection the school was awarded the highest grade and continually seeks ways to improve on this. In 2025 the school is arranging for the Saltmine Trust to lead a day of activities for the children as a follow up to the Pantomime they performed in the Church in December 2024.

Rob Gladstone

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

DISCIPLESHIP

Discipleship is about growing in faith as followers of Jesus. Paul’s vision of discipleship in Ephesians 4 vv7-16 continues to be our church vision for discipleship, with a focus on growing in depth of discipleship through our services, through meeting in smaller groups and through personal prayer, Bible study and reading of Christian literature. The discipleship working group of the PCC continues to work on strategic leadership in this area.

Housegroups: During 2024, each of our seven housegroups met, usually fortnightly, for fellowship, Bible study and prayer. One meets in the morning, one in the afternoon and the others evenings. As in previous years, belonging to a small group has been very encouraging, enabling us to better understand our faith and providing us with resources to live it out in our daily lives. The topics studied vary from group to group, but all are designed to enable us to grow as Christians, to care for each other, and to look outwards to the wider community. These groups help us to get to know people better and also help to build up a sense of belonging within the church. Please contact David Wilson if you are interested in joining a group or simply finding out more.

Men’s Breakfast: The Men’s Breakfast Group, typically 6-12 in number, meet for breakfast, conversation, Bible study and prayer on the first Saturday of each month and have welcomed several newcomers this year. The group have benefited greatly from the opportunity to share and encourage one another in their faith. This is a diverse group who have a wide range of life experiences,

making Bible studies rewarding. Studies in 2024 were from 1 Peter, 2 John, Proverbs and Isaiah. In November some attended the Men’s Convention at Cornerstone Church, Nottingham - one of the highlights of the year and a fantastic opportunity to purchase books and receive teaching and fresh ideas for sharing our faith. In August, a walk over the Charnwood Hills with the Rothley Church Men’s Group was rounded off with refreshment in a local pub.

Mothers’ Union is a Christian organisation working through grassroots membership to support families and communities around the world. The Rothley branch has 36 members. Meetings take place on the first Tuesday of the month and include prayers, a speaker and time for chat and refreshments. Prayer and faith are central to the organisation and include an allocated ‘Wave of Prayer’ day.

In 2024, we continued to support Bradgate Mental Health Unit at Glenfield Hospital, collecting 405 cream eggs for Easter and 126 chocolate bars for Christmas for the patients. Other initiatives supported included prisoners and their families (via the Prison Advice and Care Trust), the initiative against modern day slavery and the MU campaign Rise Up against Domestic Abuse in UK and Ireland.

Money was raised by hosting an Octave concert, a Strawberry Tea and a harvest supper and having a bring and buy table at meetings; this was shared between the Diocesan Fund, Mary Sumner House, Homeless in Leicestershire, FGM in Tanzania, AFIA holiday scheme and Rothley Parish Church.

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

Bible Reading Notes: Whilst we endeavour to facilitate group Bible Study through our many church groups, we also strongly encourage personal Bible study as part of a daily quiet time with God to equip us for the challenges of everyday life in our increasingly unstable world. For those who wish to have daily Bible reading notes in a printed format, we continue to arrange the procurement and distribution of many different Bible reading books, whilst also encouraging the use of online daily Bible reading media, including “Verse of the Day” (biblegateway.com) and the “Word Live” daily passage from the Scripture Union website, both of which can be found on the Rothley Church website. In 2024, several individuals moved from the printed format of daily Bible reading to online providers but, with new and returning subscribers, 32 individuals use 6 different titles of printed daily Bible reading notes. Rafe Cherry continues to coordinate.

Monthly Sunday evening prayer meetings: One Sunday evening per month between 12 and 20 people gather in church for 40 minutes to pray specifically for evangelism. This is a recognition that whatever we plan to do to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the parish, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to change people's hearts and build his Church.

Prayer Circle: The 14 members of the prayer circle (11 anonymous and the three named contacts) commit themselves to praying for people and situations as requested, usually for a week, though continuing for longer as requested. A newly-designed information card has been given to all members of the church family

explaining how to make contact with the prayer circle; those who are housebound or currently unable to get to church were visited and given a card by one of the contacts. Extra copies are available in church. This ministry is much appreciated, with 68 requests in 2024.

Pastoral care: The church is encouraged to follow Christ’s example of kindness and compassion to all whom we come in contact with. The role of Pastoral Coordinator as a reference point has enabled people in the fellowship to ask for help for themselves or for others and has enabled ongoing liaison with the Vicar and Ministry Team. Importantly, there has been a continuing willingness from people in the church fellowship to be involved with the ministry of pastoral care, whether formally as a designated pastoral visitor or informally. Pastoral visiting is important to keep the link between the church and those who are housebound, in hospital, or in care homes and no longer able to come to church. Many people in the church and in the community have found that prayer by members of the church fellowship has supported and comforted them.

The housebound, those physically and mentally ill at home and in hospital and the bereaved, isolated and lonely have been visited and supported. Contact has also been maintained by phone calls, texts, emails and cards. The need is increasing with more elderly people in the church and the community.

The distribution of the printed ‘Fellowship Post’ continued to prove a vital link with the church for those without access to modern technology,

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distributed by volunteers who also chat with and check on the well-being of the recipients. The provision of meals and the ‘cake ministry’ also continued to demonstrate the church’s love and care for those going through difficult times.

A transport coordinator organised volunteers to enable visits to hospital and doctors’ appointments, vaccinations, and church services. Volunteers have also helped with shopping, posting letters and collecting prescriptions.

In the wider community, the Soar Valley Community Food Project continues to be actively supported by the church. The average number of food parcels given out per week was 61 in 2024. On behalf of the local authorities, the project has also administered an energy ‘top-up” scheme. The project employs a Financial Coach who visits the distribution centres to support people looking for help with their personal and family budgets. Church members volunteer at the Food Bank and the fellowship has given generous donations of food and money to the project. One of the trustees is a church member.

Alison Godfrey

SEND

Our aim is to send out and support Christians here and in the wider world, so that others may hear and know God’s love in Jesus, and seek to be a church with God’s heart for the nations. We therefore support a variety of organisations, some local, some in other countries. It is important for us not only to be concerned about our own spiritual

life and witness, but to be outwardlooking in our prayers and our giving.

Giving Every year we give a tithe, which is 10% of our church’s donations and tax recovery income. From this we give to:

Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS ) who support churches in the UK and Ireland, providing resources for leaders, children and young people’s work, run Christian holiday camps and are patrons of Rothley Church.

Crosslinks who work to spread the gospel in many countries. Specifically, we support Jirka and Keira Kralovi who work with students in the Czech Republic, and also Brada and Yatza Radanovic in Serbia. In both these countries there is very little general awareness of the gospel message.

Tearfund who work with local churches and organisations in more than 50 countries to tackle the complex challenges of poverty. They work in church communities, refugee camps where those displaced by war and unrest have multiple needs, and with victims of disasters where emergency aid is needed. Tearfund also have a role in lobbying regarding climate change and pollution.

The Dioceses of Mount Kilimanjaro and Kiteto, Tanzania which have been linked with Leicester Diocese since 1982, and we actively take part in this link.

Local charities The Carpenter’s Arms, Loughborough, and Triangle, Leicester, help and support the homeless and also provide residential addiction services. Both charities have a strong Christian ethos.

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15% of our tithe is reserved for discretionary giving. In 2024 we supported: Mothers’ Union Paul and Cathy Middleton, working in health care and aviation transport in Southern Africa The Oakes Holiday Centre Soar Valley Community Food Project CPAS School Ventures Serena Cook in her work for UCCF in Aberystwyth and Lampeter

We also collected for Christian Aid, supported emergency appeals on behalf of Tearfund for crisis situations, encouraged regular donations of food to the Soar Valley food bank and clothes to Triangle, and also Christmas hampers for Triangle and the food bank.

Information and Prayer An essential part of our support is in praying, and to this end we facilitate information to stimulate interest and inform our prayers. Every week one of the above organisations is featured in the church Fellowship Post, usually as half a page of up-to-date information and specific topics for prayer. This year we also featured information and prayers on behalf of the persecuted church, modern slavery and the environment.

Our link mission partners with Crosslinks, Jirka and Kiera Kralovi in the Czech Republic and Brada and Yatsa Radanovic in Serbia, regularly send newsletters which are distributed via email to members of the congregation, together with hard copies, as are occasional links to Tearfund and to Christian Aid.

Hearing directly from people and representatives of organisations we support is always a very valuable

experience, not only enabling us to pray with greater understanding, but also in challenging us to likewise be active in our witness and service to God.

During the academic year 23/24, one of our church members, Serena Cook, worked as a volunteer with the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF) as a Relay Worker, supporting Christian Unions and students in Aberystwyth and Lampeter. Her role was in strengthening faith and in mission, reaching students with the good news of Jesus. She regularly gave us updates and showed slides of the work when we saw her in university holidays, and she sent regular prayer letters to those who requested them. We wish her every blessing in her new employment and in her future.

In September Tim Jackson spoke to us at the Mothers’ Union harvest supper about the work of the Soar Valley Food Project, which provides on average over 60 food parcels a week to people in the Soar Valley region, together with advice and support services. Tim also preached at both services on the Sunday, illustrating his message with examples of the possibilities for service and the needs of people locally.

The speaker we had booked from Tearfund was unable to come in the end, so Rob Gladstone, our vicar, presented aspects of their work. We hope that a speaker may be able to come in 2025.

We trust that in these ways we have all been made more conscious of the needs of the world and about the work of God locally in Leicestershire, in the UK and in the wider world, and that this has

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stimulated our prayers and involvement.

Margaret Leverment

CHOIR AND MUSIC

Rothley Parish Church maintains a good four-part SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Bass) choir. We have continued to lead worship Sunday by Sunday for the more traditional services. The highlights are always the special services and festivals, each defined in their own way musically, but those services in ‘Ordinary Time’ are equally as important.

It is good that we maintain a mix of worship styles and the 11am service provides a different musical focus, and it’s a great privilege to play the piano with the band in this more contemporary worship.

Rob Gladstone preached a sermon during November 2024, at which he mentioned the need to train and handover the baton to those that will continue our work when we have ‘moved on.’ This really resonated with me, having been here since 2001. I know that I won’t be able to play forever and it would be great to have other people willing to ‘have a go’. This has also been a theme within the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) that active encouragement is needed to keep this genre of church music alive. The church organ is a lasting legacy which, in my opinion, needs to be maintained for many years to come. We continue to spend money on this fine instrument to keep it fully functional but this is pointless if, ultimately, there is nobody able, available and willing to play it.

It would be great to welcome new members of any age into the choir. I am also keen to try and rebuild a Junior Choir and there are some avenues to be explored in this respect. I am, however, delighted that a good number of our Junior Choir from years past return to sing in the choir when they are back with us.

I regularly receive comments from members of the congregation to say how much they enjoy walking in through the church doors, typically on a Sunday, to hear the organ playing. I usually start playing at least fifteen to twenty minutes before the service starts and I am glad that this is appreciated. Hopefully, it also puts them into a mood of meditation, prayer and worship as we move towards the beginning of the service.

We look forward to 2025 with renewed vigour despite uncertainties which impact upon all aspects of our lives. We know that we have ‘One Church, One Faith and One Lord’ as ‘Thy hand, O God, has guided’ and, through the words of this and many other great hymns and songs, we know that we are safe and inspired in the presence of the Lord.

Simon Murphy

Handbells

For the past two years we have been unable to ring our lovely set of bells due to personal circumstances and illness. This year we will be getting back into ringing all the lovely music we have gathered over the years.

We are a casual kind of group; we enjoy having fun and socialising. We are

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hoping to be able to accept more invitations this year to ring at events and care homes to share our love of bell music.

In the new year we will be having an open day to which we will invite anyone over 18 interested in joining us. You do not need to be ‘musical’, just to be able to hold a bell and count to 4.

If you would like to register your interest, please give call me on 01162374422 or 07708268292.

Ruth Gilmore

BELL RINGERS

This past year has again been very active for the bellringers with great progress being made.

Regular practices have been well attended with the team members stretching themselves week-by-week with the aim of continual improvement. That improvement might be ringing in Rounds, perfecting changes when called, conducting the band, ringing Plain Hunt on a new bell or learning another method, such as Plain Bob or Grandsire Doubles. On Sundays we have put all this learning to good use with some excellent ringing much appreciated by the public.

On special occasions and festivals we have done our best ringing, most recently for Remembrance Day when we rang Plain Hunt on five, half muffled and double spaced. Another highlight was learning and ringing All Hallows Place Doubles for 31st October.

The Band members continue to support each other, both in ringing and also

social activities. This latter element is thanks in part to a Sunday lunchtime gathering, which also included nearby neighbours who hear the bells at their loudest. Also, December saw a trip to Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough, with the opportunity to ring Taylo’rs own bells, followed by ringing at Prestwold Church and Barrow upon Soar Parish Church. A convivial meal at Rothley Court Hotel concluded the evening.

During the year we, in turn, also hosted visiting ringing teams from London and Nottinghamshire.

The bells themselves remain in good condition, with an annual inspection by Taylors. The increasing use of the bells is, however, starting to cause some expected wear, notably to the ropes. Also, the half muffles, used annually at Remembrance Day, are now nearing the end of their useful life and will need to be replaced in the near future.

Work has also been undertaken on the risk assessments for the belfry and ringing activities. This included the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service practicing on site with their specialist equipment which helped to identify a methodology for evacuating an ill or injured non-ambulant person from each of the three locations in the tower – the ringing chamber, bell chamber and tower roof.

A final word of thanks to our diligent team of ringers and also to those who week-by-week wind up by hand the church clock, along with the church member who scales both the spiral staircase and iron ladder to raise the flag on the top of the tower to mark both celebratory and sombre occasions.

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Charles Poole and Harry Longman

THE OLD SCHOOL ROOMS (OSR)

The OSR remains well used, and although children’s birthday parties have remained a constant source of “business”, I am pleased to report that there have been several community groups and individuals finding their way to us this year, with some becoming regulars. Our regular bookers have remained constant, and so we are in the situation that we do not have any “regular” weekly slots available for new enquiries. During the year the hall was hired out 292 times to “paying customers”, compared to 226 in 2023.

I reported last year of the misfortune of a ceiling collapsing – this has now been turned into a positive, by taking the opportunity to make a dry storage area, which has reached completion this year, with the addition of shelving units.

The outside of the building was painted during the summer months, but this drew the attention to the condition of the rear doors of the hall. Their condition is not good, and therefore they need to be replaced with the most appropriate material, and also the need for some sort of canopy to house pushchairs for Little Fishes users has been identified, so currently the possibilities are being researched.

We try to demonstrate God’s love by giving our users a warm welcome, keeping the hall clean and well presented, and providing a link between the church and the wider community. It is unfortunate that the hall can only

accommodate 60 people, as designated by the fire regulations for the building, and also that significant car parking is not readily available, but nevertheless we continue to do our best with what we have, and local hirers don’t seem to have been put off by this during 2024.

Leaders of church groups wanting to use the hall are reminded that they are responsible for booking the OSR. Special hiring rates are available for church members using the hall for private events. All bookings can be made by email at: [e-mail] and the availability can be viewed in the diary on the church website under “Resources” and “Old School Rooms”.

Linda Poole

DEANERY AND DIOCESE

Leicester Diocesan Synod meetings in 2024 covered a wide variety of topics. Finance was inevitably an ever-present strand, given the significant ongoing challenges the diocese is facing, with yet another large deficit reported for the past year and a further deficit budget of £1.5 million approved by Synod for 2025. In the light of the above, reductions in the number of stipendiary clergy have regrettably been deemed necessary, something that poses real challenges for the effectiveness of mission and ministry at the local level. It is, however, important to point out that Leicester is not alone - sadly, the majority of dioceses are in similar financial straits.

Another recurring theme throughout 2024 focused around Shaped by God Together and the advent of Minster Communities. Progress has been slow

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in creating Minster Communities - to date only one is operational (Launde), although negotiations are well under way in a number of others, including the one which incorporates Rothley. The discussions with other parishes in our proposed Minster Community are currently proceeding well and the next year or so could possibly see our Minster Community up and running, although there are numerous detailed issues that still need to be resolved, notably the deployment of stipendiary clergy, and this might not be straightforward.

The implications of the above for Goscote Deanery - where Rob Gladstone remains Area Dean - are considerable. It is very likely that parishes currently comprising the Deanery will ultimately end up in three or four different Minster Communities. This clearly undermines the traditional role of the deanery, given that parishes will very quickly develop new linkages outside the current Goscote framework. Having said this, there will be a continuing need for Goscote Deanery to remain in existence for the immediate future because it remains the legal entity for elections to both Diocesan and General Synod. Such organisational fragmentation is, however, causing both confusion and anxiety at grass roots level across parts of the Deanery.

Throughout 2024, Diocesan Synod addressed various aspects of Living in Love and Faith (LLF). There is a stronglyheld view within Synod that the proposed Prayers of Love and Faith are

being pursued without adequate provision and protection for those holding to the historic and global Anglican view of marriage and sexual ethics. The fact remains that this topic is highly divisive and 2025 could well see the divisions becoming even sharper as votes are taken in every diocese which will subsequently inform General Synod in its decision making. Sadly, all this has the potential to undermine so much of what we are about, namely looking outward to faithfully present the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ to a needy world.

The November 2024 Diocesan Synod focused on the unprecedented situation in the Church of England resulting from the publication earlier that month of the Makin Report into the horrific abuse perpetrated by John Smyth and the subsequent resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Bishop Martyn began the Synod with a Presidential Address followed by a period of discussion in small groups, after the which there was some time for questions and comments. Throughout the morning, the central importance of safeguarding was referred to time and time again. Bishop Martyn repeatedly emphasised that safeguarding is an integral part of the Christian Gospel, absolutely central to what we are about as a church. The clear message is that all of us need to adhere rigorously to what is required of us in our particular responsibilities within the church. Safeguarding must never be seen as an optional extra.

David Wilson

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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2024

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The purpose of Rothley Parochial Church Council (PCC), as set out in the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended, is to co-operate with the incumbent, Rev Canon Rob Gladstone, in promoting in the parish of Rothley the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

Rothley Parish Church:

• offers Christian worship in the Anglican tradition

• maintains a village-wide pastoral care role

• supports the work of the village school through its governors and direct involvement

• maintains teaching and social activities for all age groups

• co-operates and works with other Christian denominations in the village for the benefit of the whole community

Rothley PCC is the guardian and maintainer of St Mary & St John Parish Church, a Grade II* listed building, actively promoting to the general public its significance and history through open events.

In planning and undertaking its work, Rothley PCC has taken account of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Two church services, of different style, are held every Sunday, with, in addition, a choral evensong once a month and a prayer meeting once a month. We continue to livestream one service each Sunday for the benefit of those who are not able to attend in person. Our weekly newsletter and service sheet, sent electronically or delivered to every church member, includes the order of service for the livestreamed worship.

In addition to the pastoral care provided by our Vicar, our Pastoral Co-ordinator also remains responsive to the needs of church members and other contacts in the village. Lifts are also offered to medical appointments and the like, and these are co-ordinated separately. Two groups of church members focus their pastoral support on the residents of the two care homes in the parish, through monthly visits. A small bereavement visiting team was formed this year for this specific ministry. Many church members provide pastoral care to neighbours and other church members, either under the auspices of the Pastoral Co-ordinator or informally. The pastoral care provided in the community is greatly valued by those who have been helped.

Rothley Parish Church has a close relationship with the village school. Our Vicar supports the staff as they teach Religious Education, plan Collective Worship and

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embed the Christian ethos of the school. A team of four take turns to lead assemblies at the school each week and the pupils themselves lead assemblies in the church several times a year. We have also been pleased to welcome children and parents for class visits, special events and productions in the church. A church volunteer provides a weekly extra-curricular Christian activity group in school. The Growing Families WhatsApp group continues as a helpful forum for local families to be informed about church events.

A wide range of activities for all age groups took place week by week throughout the year. The narrative reports which form the first half of this Annual Report document provide details of these activities. There were four new ventures this year: a group organised games for children at the Cricket Club’s Party in the Park in August; a coffee morning for the community was held in the church in September to support Macmillan Cancer Support; Christian theatre company Saltmine performed their Christmas Pantomime A Christmas Carol in December; and a welcome event was held in December on the new Broadnook development, where the first residents moved in just before Christmas.

Our partnership with the Baptist Church in the Soar Valley Outreach project, particularly its foodbank ministry, continued to be very important during 2024, as energy and living costs remained high. We ask for donations of food or money at our Harvest Festival each year, but church members generously give food, funds and volunteer time to this ministry throughout the year.

Every year we organise the village Remembrance Day service in church, followed by wreath-laying at the village war memorial. At the end of November, we partner with the Baptist Church in providing entertainment when the village Christmas lights are switched on.

Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is recognised as a priority and is a standing item on PCC agendas.

The requirements of Health and Safety legislation are embedded in the Church’s procedures and budget for both the church building and the Old School Rooms. Health and Safety is a standing item on PCC agendas.

The ten-year Management and Maintenance Plan for the church and Old School Rooms is updated annually. Each year we apply to the government’s Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in order to recoup all allowable VAT costs on repairs to the church building.

An indication of the scale and importance of the contribution made by volunteers to the work of Rothley Parish Church is evident in the narrative reports of church activities which form the first part of this Annual Report. Their continued commitment has been invaluable, as has that of our employees.

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FINANCIAL REVIEW

For the first time in at least 12 years, the General Fund has ended the year showing a significant deficit. In a challenging financial environment, General Fund income fell by £4,384, compared to 2023, mainly as a result of a fall in donations income and tax recovered of £3,881. General Fund expenditure was £8,521 higher than in 2023 and we ended 2024 with a deficit of £10,675. The areas of unexpected significant overspend were the audio-visual system, where we had to replace our wireless microphones and one of our screens during the year; and Old School Rooms gas, perhaps because of increased use of the premises. A large deficit is a matter of concern which will need to be addressed during 2025.

The Church’s principal source of funding for its general expenditure is the regular donations of its congregation, together with the related recovery of tax through Gift Aid and the additional relief available on cash donations through the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS). We remain grateful for the continued support and commitment to regular giving shown by our church members.

The most significant regular expenditure is the Parish Contribution to the Diocese of Leicester (£96,430, 56% of our General Fund expenditure in 2024), which supports all administration and ministry across the Diocese as well as providing funds to pay for clergy housing, stipends and pensions. The Parish Contribution is considered to be a gift offered by the parish and the amount must be decided by the PCC annually. However, in recent years the Diocese of Leicester has seen its total Parish Contribution income decline and is itself in deficit and going forward parishes, or groups of parishes, will be expected to contribute sufficient funds to cover the cost of their clergy.

We continue to tithe our donations and associated tax recovery and distribute this to local, national and international Christian work, as detailed on page 38.

Progress on the plans to improve the church building, by installing toilets, servery, upstairs meeting room and glass inner doors to the main entrance of the church has, unfortunately, stalled during 2024. Fundraising began in January 2024 and, thanks to the generosity of our church membership and the excellent work of our grant applicant, we now hold £130,496 in a designated Church Building Improvements Fund and £157,816, in a restricted Church Building Improvements Fund, £288,312 in total towards our target of £384,000. We had hoped to submit our application for Faculty permission for the work in February, but the process has been held up waiting for a Lawful Development Certificate from the local authority, the application for which was submitted in July 2024. In the meantime, the likely cost of the project is rising. Some of the external grants we have received are either time-limited or dependent on the entire project going ahead. Until we receive the necessary permissions, we are unable to put out tenders for the work and discover its true cost. While there is the possibility that further fundraising may be necessary for this project, we are unable to address the issue of giving to the General Fund. However, at the beginning of the year we had predicted a potential worst-case deficit of £19,333 for 2024, so the final result is significantly better.

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During 2024 we installed a contactless card machine in the church. This has been used for general church donations as well as giving to the Church Building Improvements Fund and other specific causes at special events and funerals. The costs of buying and installing the machine and the transaction costs are recorded as fundraising costs.

Having six people working together as a treasury team provides the capacity to monitor budgets and contracts, and control expenditure, as well as providing good internal controls in our financial procedures. However, we have been stretched during 2024 as the fundraising for the building project has led to an increased workload for us all.

We continue to base the remuneration of our regular part-time employees on the Living Wage Foundation’s Voluntary Real Living Wage, which is considerably higher than the government’s National Living Wage and is independently calculated each year to ensure it keeps pace with any increase in the cost of living.

FUND OVERVIEW

Rothley Parish Church held a balance of £481,137 at 31 December 2024, made up as follows:

Fund Overview	31/12/2024 £	31/12/2023 £	31/12/2023
Unrestricted Funds General Fund 72,697 83,728 (Unrestricted) Designated Funds Church Building Improvements Fund 130,496 126,425 Church Maintenance Fund (283) 21,446 Heritage Events Fund 307 351 Old School Rooms Maintenance Fund 72 70 Organ & Music Fund 12,741 16,021 Parish Evangelism Fund 75,181 75,388 Training Fund 10,525 10,155 Total Unrestricted Funds 301,736 333,584 Restricted Funds Children & Families Restricted Fund 14,428 13,966 Church Building Improvements Restricted Fund 157,816 8,849 Goscote Deanery Fund 989 954 Youth Fund 6,593 6,376 Total Restricted Funds 179,826 30,145
Total funds 481,562 363,729

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GENERAL FUND

General Fund	2024 £	2023 £
Income: Donations 116,187 119,329 Tax recovery 26,031 26,770 Special donations - 100 Grants 1,185 3,159 Trading & fees 2,213 3,000 Old School Rooms 6,506 6,056 Investments & Feed-in Tariff 9,436 7,650 Other income 21 - Total income 161,579 166,064 Expenditure: Fundraising costs 513 - Tithe for mission 14,222 14,610 Parish Contribution 96,430 96,430 Staff salaries/payments 17,740 16,086 Clergy & staff expenses 2,301 2,069 Mission & evangelism 355 654 Church costs 24,234 21,024 Church utilities 3,710 3,100 Old School Rooms 12,180 8,882 Governance 570 528 Total expenditure 172,255 163,383 Surplus/deficit of income (10,676) 2,681 Net transfers to/from other funds (356) (130,021) Balance brought forward at 1 January 83,728 211,068 Balance at 31 December 72,696 83,728

General Fund income amounted to £161,580 in 2024, just £86 below expectations and, excluding the 2023 special donation, £4,384 less than the 2023 total. £3,881 of this decrease was in donations and tax recovery, which could be as a result of the launch of our building improvements project in January, as well as changes in church members’ personal circumstances throughout the year. We received £1,974 less in grants in 2024, which cancelled out the increase of £1,786 in investments during the year.

General Fund expenditure was £172,255, 5.4% (£8,872) higher than in 2023 total, but still 4.8% below budget expectations. The most significant increases were in staff salaries/payments (£1,654), church costs (£3,210) and the Old School Rooms (£3,298). We use the Living Wage Foundation’s Voluntary Real Living Wage to ensure that our regular part-time employees’ remuneration reflects any increase in inflation; replacing the wireless microphones and one screen in church, at a total cost of £3,430, accounted

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for the increase in church costs; all costs for the Old School Rooms rose and the largest increases were for maintenance (£2,104, but this was planned expenditure) and gas (£656).

The result is that, for the first time in at least 12 years, the General Fund has ended the year with a significant deficit, although this deficit, at £10,675, was considerably less (55.2%) than originally estimated (£19,333).

GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR 2025

The budget for 2025 is, again, a deficit budget. A slight reduction (0.3%) in income and a 1.2% decrease in expenditure is anticipated, leading to a potential deficit of £13,641. We hope this is a worst-case scenario and that we will achieve a better result at the end of the year.

General Fund Budget for 2025	£
Income: Donations 119,968 Tax recovery 26,970 Grants 386 Trading & fees 2,144 Old School Rooms 4,540 Investments & Feed-in Tariff 6,660 Total income 160,668 Expenditure: Fundraising costs 46 Tithe for mission 14,744 Parish Contribution 96,430 Staff salaries/payments 18,750 Clergy & staff expenses 2,574 Mission & evangelism 1,304 Church costs 24,273 Church utilities 4,441 Old School Rooms 11,140 Governance 606 Total expenditure 174,308
Budgeted surplus/(deficit) (13,640)

• The same budget figure as 2024 has been retained for donations and tax recovery income, although this will be difficult to predict until the building project costs are known.

• A small grant has been budgeted from the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.

• • Income from trading and fees is difficult to budget, as the majority of this income is from weddings, which are usually booked well in advance, and church funerals, which can occur at any time and in any number.

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• The Old School Rooms were very popular in 2024, and a cautious, but significant budget has been set.

• Investments are budgeted to reduce in 2025, as interest rates are expected to fall.

• Fundraising costs are expected to decrease, as the 2024 figure included the purchase and set up of a contactless card machine for the church.

RESERVES POLICY

The PCC’s Reserves Policy (reviewed in March each year) requires the holding of unrestricted reserves equal to three months’ general running costs and an additional three months’ salary costs. Any surplus reserves are to be committed to planned expenditure in line with long-term strategy. In 2025 the amount required in the General Fund is £63,398, which includes £13,641 to cover the budgeted year end deficit. At 31 December 2024 the PCC held £72,271 in the unrestricted General Fund, £9,634 of which is remaining legacy funds waiting to be designated for use. Our policy is to use legacies for specific projects, rather than to cover general expenditure. In accordance with correct procedure, the balance of the legacies is held in the General Fund until such time as the PCC designates its use. Discounting the legacy balance, there remains £63,063 in free reserves in the General Fund at 31[st] December 2024, which leaves us £335 short of the amount needed to fulfil our Reserves Policy. The Finance Committee will review the situation throughout 2025 and report to the PCC for its consideration.

INVESTMENTS

The PCC has opted for a no-risk strategy. The Church holds a 60-day notice account and four 12-month fixed rate saver accounts, one maturing each quarter, with Shawbrook Bank, which runs the accounts on behalf of CAF Bank. The PCC restricts its investment with Shawbrook Bank to £85,000 in order to be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Our remaining funds are held in the Central Board of Finance Church of England Deposit Fund, which is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, but has a good credit rating.

FUTURE PLANS

Delays in obtaining the necessary permissions for our church building improvements meant that we were not able to complete this project in 2024, as hoped. We hope that 2025 will see progress.

The Diocese of Leicester is restructuring its patterns of ministry for all churches. During 2024 discussions were held with clergy and laity from nine other local Church of England churches, with a view to forming a Minster Community. The Diocese describes a Minster Community as a community of parishes who work together in mission (without losing their individual identity) . During 2025 we expect proposals to be drawn up by a representative group and then discussed by each individual PCC to see how, and whether, we might link together in mission in this area.

We continue to be challenged to present the gospel of Jesus Christ to an increasingly secular society.

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The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Church, as identified by the PCC, are split into four areas:

• operational

• regulatory

• governance

• financial

Operational risks of Health and Safety, employment and Safeguarding are identified and managed by named individuals or sub-committees who report as necessary to the PCC.

Through Diocesan resources, the PCC is updated on regulatory and governance requirements, which are then assessed and actioned accordingly.

The PCC recognises that the main financial risks and uncertainties arise from the need to maintain the church fabric and organ, while also investing in the future life of the Church in order to address our priorities.

Day-to-day risks and uncertainties are managed through the Finance Committee who handle the Church’s finances, regularly reporting to the PCC and providing advice as appropriate.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Rothley PCC is governed by two pieces of Church of England legislation, called Measures:

• Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended

• Church Representation Rules (contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 as amended)

The PCC is a corporate body with charitable status. It comprises both those elected by members of the Church Electoral Roll and others who sit on the PCC by virtue of a particular office they hold within the Church. The PCC meets six times a year.

The PCC has several sub-committees and working groups, both of which also draw in other members of the congregation, covering different aspects of the Church’s work. At least one member of the PCC usually sits on each sub-committee and reports to the PCC. The sub-committees are:

• Business (which sets the agenda for PCC meetings)

• Finance

• Operations

The working groups are:

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

• Church Building Improvements

• Communications

• Discipleship

• Evangelism

• Send

Each year, soon after new members are elected to the PCC at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, an induction evening is held to help new trustees understand their role. All PCC members are expected to attend. Useful written resources are given to trustees as background support to their role. Since July 2023 we have been using a resource produced by our patron, the Church Pastoral Aid Society (CPAS), called PCC Tonight: Leading your churches in evangelism during PCC meetings.

The PCC is responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including deciding how funds are spent.

ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Name of charity: The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary & St John, Rothley

Registered working name: Rothley Parish Church

Charity number: 1133832 Address: The Old School Rooms 3 School Street Rothley Leicester LE7 7RA

Trustees: Rob Gladstone Vicar (Chair) [ex-officio] Margaret Rouse Churchwarden [ex-officio] Fred Sleath Churchwarden [ex-officio] Linda Poole Also Deanery Synod representative Ray Prince Also Deanery Synod representative David Wilson Also Deanery Synod representative Susan Wilson Also Deanery Synod representative Liz Barker Susie Clark Wendy Ferguson Chris Garnett Margaret Leverment Wendy Lewis Alison Parkinson Susan Pinkus Nigel Willey

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

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The following members served as trustees during part of 2024 only: David Hodgson (to 7/4/24)

Bankers: NatWest 1 Granby Street Leicester LE1 6EJ

CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ

Independent Examiner: Scott Bradford BSc ACA Newby Castleman, Chartered Accountants 6 Forest Road Loughborough LE11 3NP

The Trustees’ Annual Report was approved by Rothley Parochial Church Council on 10[th] March 2025 .

Signed on its behalf:

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

Balance Sheet at 31 December 2024 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 £ £ ~~a~~	Balance Sheet at 31 December 2024 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 £ £ ~~a~~	Balance Sheet at 31 December 2024 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 £ £ ~~a~~	Balance Sheet at 31 December 2024 31/12/2024 31/12/2023 £ £ ~~a~~
Current assets:
Debtors (Note 10)	5,140		4,518
Cash at bank and in hand	494,257		369,417
Total	499,397		373,935
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	17,834		10,207
(Note 11)
Net assets:	481,563		363,728
Located:
Unrestricted Funds
General Fund	72,697		83,728
(Unrestricted) Designated Funds
Church Building Improvements Fund	130,496		126,425
Church Maintenance Fund	(283)		21,446
Heritage Events Fund	307		351
Old School Rooms Maintenance Fund	72		70
Organ & Music Fund	12,741		16,021
Parish Evangelism	75,181		75,388
Training	10,525		10,155
Total Unrestricted Funds	301,736		333,584
Restricted Funds
Children & Families Restricted Fund	14,428		13,966
Church Building Improvements Fund	157,816		8,849
Goscote Deanery Fund	989		954
Youth Fund	6,593		6,376
Total Restricted Funds	179,826		30,145
Total funds	481,562		363,729

The accounts were approved by Rothley Parochial Church Council on 10[th] March 2025.

Signed on its behalf:

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Annual Report & Accounts 2024

Statement of Financial Activities 1 January to 31 December 2024	Unrestricted funds General Fund £	Unrestricted Designated funds £	Restricted funds £	Totals 2024 Totals 2023 £ £
Income: Donations 116,187 20 92,499 208,706 120,709 Tax recovery 26,031 - 21,447 47,478 27,100 Special donations - - - - 100 Grants 1,185 5,575 33,000 39,760 7,074 Fundraising events - - 724 724 - Trading & fees 2,213 728 4,291 7,232 7,550 Old School Rooms 6,506 - - 6,506 6,056 Investments & Feed-in Tariff 9,436 8,563 3,610 21,609 13,215 Other income 21 - - 21 - Total income 161,579 14,886 155,571 332,036 181,804 Expenditure: Fundraising costs 513 999 - 1,512 - Tithe & other awards 14,222 - - 14,222 14,610 Parish Contribution 96,430 - - 96,430 96,430 Staff salaries/payments 17,740 - - 17,740 16,086 Clergy & staff expenses 2,301 - - 2,301 2,069 Mission & evangelism 355 3,703 5,909 9,967 7,978 Church costs 24,234 31,336 - 55,570 55,875 Church utilities 3,710 - - 3,710 3,100 Old School Rooms 12,180 - - 12,180 16,210 Governance 570 - - 570 528 Total expenditure 172,255 36,038 5,909 214,202 212,886 Surplus/deficit of income (10,676) (21,152) 149,662 117,834 (31,082) Transfers between funds (details below) (356) 336 20 - - Balance brought forward at 1 January 83,728 249,855 30,146 363,729 394,811 Balances at 31 December 72,696 229,039 179,828 481,563 363,729

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Transfers between funds 1 January to 31 December 2024	Unrestricted funds	Unrestricted Designated funds	Unrestricted Designated funds	Restricted funds
	General Fund	Church Maintenance	Parish Evangelism	Children & Families Restricted
	£	£	£	£
Transfer from General Fund (legacies) to Church Maintenance Fund for outdoor AV equipment as agreed by PCC 21/11/22 Transfer from General Fund (legacies) to Church Maintenance Fund for outdoor AV equipment as agreed by PCC 21/11/22 Transfer from Parish Evangelism to Children & Families - donation correction	(300) 300 (56) 56
NET (356) 356 Location of funds: £ Nat West Stewardship Account: 46,582 CAF Bank General Account & cash: 59,350 CBF Deposit Fund: 299,486 CAF 60 Day Notice Savings Account 10,884 CAF 12 Month Fixed Rate Saver Account 19,350 CAF 12 Month Fixed Rate Saver A/c 2 19,486 CAF 12 Month Fixed Rate Saver A/c 3 19,910 CAF 12 Month Fixed Rate Saver A/c 4 19,210 Net creditors (12,693) Total 481,565

*For details of Debtors and Creditors see pages 36 and 39.

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR

1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2024

1. Accounting Policies

BASIS OF PREPARATION

The accrual accounting method has been used and the financial statements have been prepared under the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 and in accordance with Charities SORP (FRS 102). Rothley Parish Church is a public benefit entity, as defined by FRS 102. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as an ongoing concern.

FUND ACCOUNTING

Rothley Parish Church holds both unrestricted and restricted income funds:

• The General Fund is unrestricted and may be used for any of the Church’s charitable aims.

Some unrestricted funds have been designated by the Trustees for certain purposes :

• Church Building Improvements Fund : for costs incurred in exploring the possibility of improving the inside of the church building

• Church Maintenance Fund : for non-routine maintenance of the church building and contents

• Heritage Events Fund : to fulfil our 10-year commitment, which began at the beginning of 2015, to the Heritage Lottery Fund to promote the heritage of the church building

• Old School Rooms Maintenance Fund : for non-routine maintenance of the Old School Rooms and its contents

• Organ & Music Fund : part allocation of the PCC fees from each wedding designated for use by the Organist and Music Leader, particularly to maintain the organ

• Parish Evangelism Fund : for outreach, particularly to the new housing estates in the village and the Broadnook development

• Training Fund : for training of church members, particularly in evangelism

These funds are classified as unrestricted because the Trustees are able to change their designation if thought necessary .

Some funds are restricted because their use is limited by the intentions of the donors:

• Children & Families Restricted Fund : donations and grant income specifically for ministry among children and families in the parish

• Church Building Improvements Fund : for specific donations for the Church Building Improvements project

• Goscote Deanery Fund : funds under the control of Goscote Deanery Synod and required to be held under the care of the Area Dean’s Church

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• Youth Fund : donations and grant income for ministry among youth in the parish

INCOME

• Income from church collections, donations and legacies is recognised when received into our bank account.

• Tax recoverable on Gift Aid is recognised when the relevant income is received into our bank account.

• Additional relief under the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme (GASDS) is recognised when the relevant income is received into our bank account.

• Income from grants is generally recognised when received.

• Bank interest is recognised when received.

• Income from rental of the church field is recognised when the rental is due.

• Income earned from the solar panels on the church roof through the Feed-in Tariff programme is recognised when it is due.

VOLUNTEERS

Rothley Parish Church acknowledges the vital role of its many unpaid general volunteers in carrying out its charitable activities. Members of the congregation assist in ministry, administration and practical tasks.

EXPENDITURE

• The Parish Contribution to the Diocese of Leicester is accounted for as a cost.

• Tithe donations for mission, calculated at one-tenth of the Church’s income from general donations, Gift Aid tax recovered and GASDS relief, are accounted for when they become due.

FIXED ASSETS

• Rothley Parish Church has complete maintenance responsibility for its church building and church hall, as well as lesser responsibility for its churchyard and vicarage. However, consecrated land and buildings, and benefice property, are excluded from the accounts by Section 10 (2) (a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011 and the costs of their maintenance or improvement are shown as expenditure in the accounts.

• All other fixtures, fittings and equipment are written off as expenditure at the time of purchase.

DEBTORS

The debtors shown on the Statement of Financial Activities for 2024 comprise:

• Gift Aid tax recoverable and GASDS receipts due on donations received in November and December 2024

• PCC, verger and sound operative fees for a funeral in December 2024

• Late payments for hire of the Old School Rooms

• Feed-in Tariff payment for the final quarter of 2024

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CREDITORS

The creditors shown on the Statement of Financial Activities for 2024 comprise payments relating to 2024 but invoiced or paid shortly after the end of the year, as well as the balance of our tithe gifts for mission, the exact amount of which cannot be finalised until the sum of all donations, tax recoverable through Gift Aid and relief obtained through GASDS, is established.

2. Analysis of income

Income	General Fund £	Designated Funds £	Restricted Funds £	Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £
Donations 116,187 20 92,499 208,706 120,709 Tax recovery 26,031 - 21,447 47,478 27,100 Special donations - - - - 100 Grants 1,185 5,575 33,000 39,760 7,074 Fundraising events - - 724 724 - PCC & activity fees 1,683 728 4,291 6,702 6,832 Trading: hospitality, copying, sale of books 530 - - 530 718 Old School Rooms rentals 6,506 - - 6,506 6,056 Interest 2,908 8,563 3,610 15,081 8,351 Rental of church field 1,380 - - 1,380 1,380 Feed-in Tariff 5,149 - - 5,149 3,485 Other income 21 - 21 -
Total 161,580 14,886 155,571 332,037 181,805

3. Analysis of expenditure

Expenditure	General Fund £	Designated Funds £	Restricted Funds £	Total 2024 Total 2023 £ £
Fundraising costs 513 999 - 1,512 - Tithe & other awards 14,222 - - 14,222 14,610 Parish Contribution 96,430 - - 96,430 96,430 Staff salaries/payments 17,740 - 17,740 16,086 Clergy & staff expenses 2,301 - 2,301 2,069 Mission & evangelism 355 3,703 5,909 9,967 7,978 Church costs 24,234 31,336 - 55,570 55,875 Church utilities 3,710 - - 3,710 3,100 Old School Rooms 12,180 - - 12,180 16,210 Governance 570 - - 570 528
Total 172,255 36,038 5,909 214,202 212,886

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Annual Report & Accounts 2024

4. Tithe gifts for mission 2024

Tithe gifts for mission 2024	£
Church Pastoral Aid Society (mission in UK & Ireland) 3,555 Crosslinks (international mission) 3,271 Tearfund (international relief and development) 2,418 Link Dioceses of Mount Kilimanjaro & Kiteto, Tanzania 1,422 The Carpenter’s Arms, Loughborough (drug & alcohol rehabilitation) 711 Triangle (Christian outreach to homeless people in Leicester) 711 Paul & Cathy Middleton (health care & aviation transport in Southern Africa) 525 Soar Valley Community Food Project, Rothley 525 Mothers’ Union (Christian concern for families worldwide) 525 The Oakes Holiday Centre, Sheffield (Christian holidays for children & teenagers) 350 Church Pastoral Aid SocietySchool Ventures(Christian holidays for children) 208
Total 14,221

5. Trustees’ remuneration & benefits

One trustee received remuneration during 2024 from employment by Rothley Parish Church as follows:

• Ray Prince, Sound Operator fees for two funerals and one wedding: £90

6. Trustees’ expenses

No expenses have been incurred by trustees during 2024 in respect of their role as trustees.

7. Related party transactions

The only related party transactions during 2024 are listed under note 5.

8. Independent examination fees

The fee payable to the Independent Examiner for his work on these accounts is £570. This amount has been accrued as a creditor.

9. Employees

Rothley Parish Church employed the following staff during 2024:

• Part-time Administrator

• Part-time Premises Officer for the Old School Rooms

• Part-time Church Cleaner

• One casual employee as sound operator for funerals and weddings

No employees received payments of over £60,000.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2024

10. Debtors

Debtors	31/12/2024	31/12/2023
	£	£
Gift Aid & GASDS	4,178	4,230
Funeral fees	199	125
Sale of Advent books	-	53
OSR hire	337	110
Feed-in Tariff 2024quarter 4	426	-
Total	5,140	4,518

11. Creditors

Amounts falling due within one year:

Creditors	31/12/2024 £	31/12/2023 £
Balance of tithe 5,522 4,960 Accruals 11,438 4,392 PAYE Creditor 48 163 Agencycollections 826 691
Total 17,834 10,206

12. Old School Rooms

Old School Rooms	2024 £	2023 £
Rental income 6,506 6,056 Expenditure: Utilities 3,298 2,545 Cleaning 3,744 3,401 Maintenance 4,818 2,714 Consumables & other costs 320 223
Total 12,180 8,883 Operating surplus/(deficit) (5,674) (2,827)

The Old School Rooms is used extensively by the Church and also let out to the local community when available. It is not intended to make a profit. In 2024 the hall proved very popular with both church groups and outside hirers and brought in an excellent income contribution, which helped significantly towards its running and maintenance costs. The hall is a very comfortable venue and remains a huge asset to the Church. As well as incidental repairs and regular safety checks, the exterior of the hall was painted and a new electrical circuit board was installed during 2024, at a cost of £1,531 and £780 respectively.

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

13. Church Building Improvements Fund

Church Building Improvements Fund	2024 £	2023 £
Income: Grants 704 Bank interest 4,582 2,834 Total income 5,286 2,834 Expenditure: Fundraising costs 999 Planning application 217 7,282 Total expenditure 1,216 7,282 Surplus/(Deficit) 4,070 (4,448) Balance brought forward at 1 January 126,423 130,871 Balance at 31 December 130,493 126,423

During 2024 we recouped VAT under the government’s Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme on the investigative excavation of the choir vestry foundations undertaken at the end of 2023. In January 2024 we produced our appeal brochure for the project and held an official launch. In the summer we were informed that we would require a Lawful Development Certificate from the local authority for the relaying of the tarmac footpath and car parking area around the church which would be a necessary part of the project. The application was submitted in July 2024 but the certificate had not been received by the end of the year.

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Rothley Parish Church, Registered Charity 1133832

Annual Report & Accounts 2024

14. Church Maintenance Fund

Church Maintenance Fund	2024 £	2023 £
Income: Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme 4,743 3,846 Bank interest 349 363 Total income 5,092 4,209 Expenditure: Architect's fees for removal of boiler house - 1,320 Removal of boiler house - 23,669 Architect's fees for Quinquennial Inspection 2020 work 1,639 1,770 Quinquennial Inspection 2020 work 25,182 - Equipment for outdoor PA system 356 55 Sale of Acrow Props from boiler house - (125) Total expenditure 27,177 26,689 Surplus/(Deficit) (22,085) (22,480) Transfer from General Fund (legacies) for outdoor AV 356 55 Transfer from General Fund (legacies) for boiler house balance & QI repairs - 37,000 Balance brought forward at 1 January 21,446 6,871 Balance at 31 December (283) 21,446

The repairs identified in the Quinquennial Inspection in late 2020 were completed during 2024. In 2025 we intend to apply for a grant under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme to cover VAT on the final invoices for this work. In the meantime, the Fund remains in deficit. A further purchase of outdoor AV equipment was funded from legacies during 2024.

15. Heritage Events Fund

Heritage Events Fund	2024 £	2023 £
Income: Bank interest 12 9 Total income 12 9 Expenditure: Leicestershire Historic Churches Trust event 56 - Coronation Concert 159 Total expenditure 56 159 Surplus/(Deficit) (44) (150) Balance brought forward at 1 January 350 500 Balance at 31 December 306 350

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Annual Report & Accounts 2024

An event to mark the 60[th] anniversary of Leicestershire Historic Churches Trust was held in church in May 2024.

16. Organ & Music Fund

Organ & Music Fund	2024 £	2023 £
Income: Grants 128 69 PCC wedding fees 11 516 Bank interest 524 353 Total income 663 938 Expenditure: Repair of pedal chest in organ 3,156 Tuning, maintenance and repairs 787 880 Total expenditure 3,943 880 Surplus/(Deficit) (3,280) 58 Special donation designated by PCC for organ repair - 100 Balance brought forward at 1 January 16,020 15,862 Balance at 31 December 12,740 16,020

During 2024 the repair of the pedal chest in the organ was completed. Donations received in 2022 (in memory of Bessie Grindrod) and in 2023 (from Rothley Park Cricket Club) contributed significantly towards this work.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2024

17. Parish Evangelism Fund

Parish Evangelism Fund	2024 £	2023 £
Income: Donation (barbecue) 20 - Donation (picnics) - 10 Income from Christmas pantomime 717 Income from Activate events - 315 Little Fishes contribution to Activate events - 190 Bank interest 2,724 1,157 Total income 3,461 1,672 Expenditure: Banners & booklets for events 437 - Picnic (3 in 2023) 368 549 Party in the Park 75 - Macmillan coffee morning 18 - Christmas pantomime 2,659 - Carol singing 7 41 Broadnook welcome 83 - Activate events - 694 Total expenditure 3,647 1,284 Surplus/(Deficit) (186) 388 Transfer from General Fund (legacies) - 75,000 Balance brought forward at 1 January 75,388 - Transfer to Children & Families Fund (correction) (20) - Balance at 31 December 75,182 75,388

Using this fund, which was set aside by the PCC in 2023, the Evangelism Group has expanded its range of activities in 2024, with the particular, but not exclusive, aim of reaching out to the new housing developments.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2024

18. Children & Families Restricted Fund

==> picture [398 x 32] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Children & Families Restricted Fund 2024 2023
£ £
----- End of picture text -----

Income:
Donations	1,240	1,370
Gift Aid tax recovered	310	330
Activity fees	4,291	3,530
Bank interest	496	292
Total income	6,337	5,522
Expenditure:
Mission & evangelism	5,894	5,738
Total expenditure	5,894	5,738
Surplus/(Deficit)	443	(216)
Transfer from General Fund (St George's House visit)	-	538
Balance brought forward at 1 January	13,965	13,643
Transfer from Parish Evangelism Fund (correction)	20	-
Balance at 31 December	14,428	13,965

19. Church Building Improvements Restricted Fund

Church Building Improvements Restricted Fund	2024 £	2023 £
Income: Donations 91,259 - Gift Aid tax recovered 21,137 - Grants 33,000 - Fundraising events 724 - Bank interest 2,847 238 Total income 148,967 238 Expenditure: - - Surplus/(Deficit) 148,967 238 Balance brought forward at 1 January 8,849 8,611 Balance at 31 December 157,816 8,849

We launched our fundraising appeal in January 2024 and are grateful for the very generous response. One member of the project group has had a good deal of success in applying for grants. Unfortunately, the project itself has been held up waiting for local authority approval.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2024

20. Legacies

==> picture [393 x 32] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Legacies
£
----- End of picture text -----

Received:
Legacy from the late Pat Foulds received 18/6/19	255,745
Final payment from the late Pat Foulds received 13/7/20	191
Legacy from the late Lady Isobel Barnett received 25/1/22	72,543
Total received	328,479
Allocated:
OSR refurbishment (2020)	20,000
Audio-visual improvements (2020)	22,303
Dimmer switches on church lighting (2020)	4,665
Audio-visual improvements (2021)	4,520
OSR refurbishment (2021)	6,216
OSR refurbishment (2022)	1,562
Church Buildings Improvements (2022)	125,000
Pew cushions for church (2022)	780
Outdoor audio-visual equipment (2022)	1,007
Audio-visual improvements (2022)	3,054
Outdoor audio-visual equipment (2023)	55
Removal of boiler house (balance) & Quinquennial 2020 repairs	37,000
Evangelism Fund	75,000
Training Fund	10,000
OSR refurbishment (2023)	7,328
Outdoor audio-visual equipment (2024)	356
Total allocated	318,846
Balance remaining to be allocated at 31/12/24	9,633

The PCC received two legacies, in the period 2019 to 2022. Further expenditure has been made during 2024 on outdoor AV equipment. A small balance remains to be allocated.

21. Additional small Fund held by the Diocese of Leicester

Chancel Repair Fund

The value of the Fund at 31 December 2024 was £302. This Fund cannot be closed.

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Annual Report & Accounts 2024

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

to The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary & St John, Rothley

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 that are set out on pages 32 to 45.

RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility:

• to examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,

• follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 of the Charities Act, and

• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT

My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:

2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and

3. • to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

have not been met; or

1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

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Scott Bradford BSc ACA Newby Castleman Chartered Accountants 6 Forest Road Loughborough LE11 3NP 24[th] March 2025

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