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2025-12-31-accounts

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Charity Registration Number: 1134253

Diocese of Southwark

Merton Deanery

Annual Report and Financial Statements

31 December 2025

Tandem Accounting Chartered Accountants 17 Heathville Road London N19 3AL

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Report and Financial Statements 2025 Contents

Page
Legal and administrative information 2 - 3
Report of the Parochial Church Council 4 - 15
Independent Examiner’s report to the Parochial Church Council 16
Statement of financial activities 17
Balance sheet 18
Notes to the financial statements 19 - 34

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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

Charity Name The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Merton Priory. The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Merton Priory. The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Merton Priory.
Charity Number 1134253. The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of
England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure and was
registered as a charity with Charity Commission on 11 February 2010.
Principal Address Holy Trinity Church, 234 The Broadway, London SW19 1SB.
Governing Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as amended and Church Representation
Document Rules.
Objective To promote in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church.
Members of the PCC The Members of the PCC who served during the year or who were serving at the date of this
report were:
Clergy (ex officio) Revd Mark Eminson, Team Rector
Revd Alison Judge, Team Vicar_(to 31/10/25)_
Revd Simon Asquith, Curate_(to 19/01/25)_
Revd Mary Kilikidi, Curate_(from 28/06/25)_
Revd Canon Duncan Swan, Associate Priest
Churchwardens Zoe Miller_(to 11/05/25)_ Christ Church
Karen Warman Christ Church
Vacancy (from 11/05/25) Christ Church
John Eades Holy Trinity & St Peter
Delene Edwards_(to 11/05/25)_ Holy Trinity & St Peter
Simon Hay_(from 11/05/25)_ Holy Trinity & St Peter
Ann Roberts St John the Divine
Vacancy St John the Divine
PCC members Joanne Powell Christ Church
Vacancy (to 18/05/25) Christ Church
Joy Lyons_(from 18/05/25)_ Christ Church
Ben Ooi Holy Trinity & St Peter
Rachel Cherry Holy Trinity & St Peter
Ann Newson St John the Divine
Vacancy St John the Divine
Representatives on Deanery Abi Erinle_(to 18/05/25)_ Christ Church
Synod Vacancy (from 18/05/25) Christ Church
Vacancy Christ Church
Richard Blades Holy Trinity & St Peter
Boris Yurkevich_(to 18/05/25)_ Holy Trinity & St Peter
Ellie Lyons_(from 18/05/25)_ Holy Trinity & St Peter
Eva Parker_(to 21/05/25, RIP)_ St John the Divine
Vacancy (from 21/05/25) St John the Divine
Vacancy St John the Divine
Representatives on Desmond Davies Christ Church
Diocesan Synod
Treasurer Kerry Porritt, PCC Co-Treasurer (Co-opted)
Ann Roberts, PCC Co-Treasurer
Secretary Margaret Duncan_(Co-opted to 8/07/25)_
Tracey McDermott_(Co-opted from 8/07/25)_

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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

Key Management Key management personnel are those in charge of directing, controlling, running and
Personnel operating the charity on a day-to-day basis. For Merton Priory Team Ministry, these are all
the members of the PCC and the three DCCs (District Church Councils).
Bankers Merton Priory PCC, Christ Church, Holy
Trinity & St Peter and St John the Divine:
CAF Bank Ltd,
25 Kings Hill Avenue
Kings Hill
West Malling
ME19 4JQ
Independent John Helm ACA
Examiner Tandem Accounting
17 Heathville Road
London
N19 3AL
Quinquennial Christ Church – Tim Gough (Austin Winkley and Associates)
Inspectors Holy Trinity - Tim Gough (Austin Winkley and Associates)
St John the Divine – Karen Butti (Thomas Ford and Partners)

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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Merton Priory (“the PCC”) submits its report and the financial statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2025. The financial statements have been prepared in the format prescribed by the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP2019 (FRS102)). The legal and administrative information set out earlier in this document forms part of this report.

1 Aim and purposes

Merton Priory Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the Team Rector, the Revd Mark Eminson, and the Team Vicar (the Revd Alison Judge until October 2025 and now in vacancy) in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the fabric of the three churches of Christ Church, Colliers Wood; Holy Trinity and St Peter, South Wimbledon; St John the Divine, Merton, along with the two separate church halls of Christ Church and St John the Divine.

2 Objectives and activities

The PCC is committed to promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England; the PCC seeks by encouraging co-operation between clergy, lay members of our congregation, and the wider community to undertake the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical.

When planning the activities for the year, the Team Rector, Team Vicar and PCC have in mind the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and especially the guidance to charities for the advancement of religion. In particular we make it possible for people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:

To facilitate this work, we maintain the fabric of the three churches and two separate church halls.

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Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

3 Achievements and performance

3.1 Merton Priory Team

Our Team Mission Action Plan (see above) has been in operation for four years now with the overall aim for all three churches to work together for community engagement around the High Path estate, trusting that thereby growth at St John’s might emerge. A year ago, we noted the need for fresh perspective, personnel and focus. This was in part aided by an excellent PCC and DCCs Away Day in May, although we have since bidden farewell to Revd Alison Judge and are therefore in an in-between time.

Mission Priority One

St John’s congregation remains steady at about 15-18 at the 9.30am Sunday Eucharist but it is good to welcome new faces. Our worship is quiet and rich and we enjoy worshipping together. There are plans afoot for more involvement with Holy Trinity.

Mission Priority Two

Contact with the High Path Community is on an ad hoc individual basis. So far, no overarching project or needs have emerged. In the sense of the wider community the church is used increasingly and so footfall into the church building at times is considerable, for example the yearly Pantomime and Parish Ale Festival.

Mission Priority Three

Fun and Games, run jointly by St John’s and Griffiths Road Methodist Church, a toddler group in the Hall continued to be well received until Alison’s retirement. We are pleased to report that the Methodists have been able to restart it in their building.

Contact with Merton Abbey School continued to thrive with Alison regularly joining the school community for assemblies and then Mark hosting the school Christingle in St John’s church. For one week during the summer holiday, we ran a holiday club specifically for children in Key Stage 2 at Merton Abbey, with sports coaches from KICK (a Christian organisation that runs sports in schools) keeping the children active throughout the days.

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Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

On 5 October, the great change was our farewell to Revd Alison Judge (and husband Peter) with services at St John’s and Christ Church and a lunch at Christ Church. We rejoiced with them for the blessings of nine years of faithful, fun, gently challenging and loving ministry, although we were most sorry to see them go. We wish them well for their retirement in Weymouth.

Earlier in the year, on 28 June, we welcomed our new curate Revd Mary Kilikidi as she was ordained deacon. She has settled in very well across our three churches, especially in the areas of worship, pastoral care, teaching and community engagement.

In July, Archdeacon Simon Gates visited our churches and school leaders as part of Southwark’s Parish Conversations initiative. He was pleased to see our extensive links with local schools and to hear about the wide life of the Team and hopes for the future looking beyond Alison’s retirement.

Across the churches, Weekday Morning and Evening Prayer and Eucharists offered the round of prayer and intercession for the parish. On Monday evenings at Holy Trinity, we often had five or six people. Attendance at the Holy Trinity Thursday eucharist was usually around ten, while at Christ Church on Saturday mornings it tended to be eight or nine. The weekly Monday evening online service, Finding Sanctuary continued for most of the year with perhaps eight in attendance, but then with a final session on 24 November. Members felt and agreed that although it had proved beneficial over time it had run its course. It had been running for exactly 18 years, and most sessions were lay-led; furthermore, it was worthy of note that four of the original attendees had grown so much in the faith to become ordained priests in the Church of England. There was a view of some to see whether continuing to use the online medium might be developed further in conjunction with our Team Clergy. W eekly meditation group at Christ Church linked with the World Community for Christian Meditation averaged six attendees.

First Communion was celebrated on the Feast of Christ the King, and we were blessed with 11 children being admitted in a lovely service at Christ Church, including one baptism. Earlier in the year in June the Bishop of Kingston, Dr Martin Gainsborough, led a service of Confirmation at St Barnabas’ Mitcham, at which we presented four adult candidates. In February and June, several young people attended the termly Southwark Youth Ministry In Communion (YMIC) events. There are plans for us to have a share in a YMIC Youth Worker.

The Team combined forces for the Merton Nightshelter Project again this year, using Holy Trinity as a venue, but allowing a broader pool of volunteers from across the Team. We hosted about 12 guests on a Friday night over a seven-week period, including Christmas. Huge thanks are due to Alison Fletcher Rogers, Richard Blades, Elizabeth Robinson and Nanma Sajan who coordinated the various aspects of the project for us.

As ever, it has been an active and positive year for the work of Merton Citizens . This is a community organising alliance of different organisations that work together to champion positive change and social justice in our neighbourhood and our Team is one of the founder members. In February Holy Trinity hosted a Citizens Celebration, including an inspiring performance from Holy Trinity School choir, to look back on achievements and begin to look forward to new priorities. As part of that process, there was a new Listening campaign later in the year and one of the leaders, Tom Underwood, attended Holy Trinity in October. We continue to campaign on Housing, Mental Health, Living Wage and Refugee welcome.

We celebrated Creationtide and each church has continued to strive to “recycle, reduce and reuse”. All building work is undertaken with a view to reducing our carbon footprint and environmental impact. Christ Church and St John’s are working towards Silver Eco Church awards, while Holy Trinity needs to play catch-up and aim for Bronze! For the first time in many years, several of us walked and prayed for the parish (people, creatures, work and fabric) for Beating the Bounds !

Another area of our common work consists in Racial Justice as we seek to implement the Southwark Diocese AntiRacism Charter (ARC). Mark is Chair of the Kingston Racial Justice Group. Team members were prominent in attendance at a shared networking event with the Farsi community at Christ Church Gipsy Hill and again at our Area Black History Month event at St Peter’s Norbiton. It was pleasing that we had some five to ten members undertake

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Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

the Southwark ARC Bible study resource, which gave us fresh insights and perspectives about our worship and common life. We discussed this issue at PCC, preached about it on several occasions, from Racial Justice Sunday to Black History Month (BHM), and sent church members to the BHM Thanksgiving service at Southwark Cathedral, as well as a special service celebrating our Kingston Area link with the Diocese of Matabeleland in Zimbabwe.

Our three churches kept a dedicated Inclusive Church Sunday in June. We were disappointed with the House of Bishops’ pausing of the LLF process in October and offered a study session and pastoral support to those who desired it. In November Mary led a Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil. This was the first time we had done this and so an attendance of about 25 people was very impressive, including members of Merton Plus.

God in the Pub , a monthly discussion of issues of faith and life, has continued with lively conversation and conviviality, having an average attendance of around ten people.

Mary has continued Bible study sessions, moving now to a Thursday evening with between five and ten in attendance. Topics have included Vocation, Justice and Love.

The 2025 Lent Groups studied Paula Gooder’s “Women of Holy Week”, which was a fresh and stimulating resource. Alison also led thought-provoking discussions on issues such as the climate crisis and the Assisted Dying Bill. During Passiontide, Holy Week and Easter, we welcomed a curate Steve Jullien to enable him to have a full experience of the heart of the Church year before he finished his curacy.

The MP3 Parish Pantomime enjoyed its twelfth outing with an entertaining take on “Aladdin”. All the money raised this year went to Learn English at Home , a local charity supporting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants to learn English.

We communicate with those who live in our parish through regular door-to-door leaflets before Christmas and Easter, through our websites and through flyers distributed in schools and other community places; as well as via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, the website and e-notices.

2025 was the tenth year of contributing to the Diocese through the Parish Support Fund. Once again, it has been a heroic effort that the three churches met their commitments in full. For 2026 we have pledged £181,412, a slight increase, but since the Diocese asked for a 5.7% increase (to cover an increase in clergy stipends) we are not meeting our full ministry costs (£188,800). Therefore, other parishes are subsidising us to the tune of £7,388. This is a worrying (if presently unavoidable) development.

During the year we have also given to a number of charities, both through planned donations and special collections (see note 4b on page 24).

The PCC continues to promote cooperation between Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSO) in implementing our safeguarding action plan, has considered Safeguarding at PCC meetings, and has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have due regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Our five-strong team of PSOs has kept us largely up to date with compliance, beginning an internal audit of members’ DBS and training needs. In January we hosted an in-person training event for Domestic Abuse Awareness at Christ Church, which was appreciated by many in the Deanery. Our Health and Safety Officers have worked together to share good practice, draw up action plans for each church to ensure that we are fully compliant with our Health and Safety policy, and reported findings to the PCC.

The combined electoral roll for the parish in 2025 was 244 (Christ Church 52, Holy Trinity 172, St John the Divine 20); this number does not include children or the many people with a more fringe relationship with our churches. The great drop was in part because it was the six-yearly compilation of a new roll. We also maintain congregational lists of all our contacts, which comply with the requirements of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations), which came into force in May 2018.

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Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

3.2 Christ Church

Our buildings consist of a church building and a hall building on the same site but not physically connected. The hall is the home Monday-Friday of Flourish Day Nursery, and this is still proving a very successful arrangement.

2025 turned out to be Alison’s final year, although she was keen throughout that the focus should remain on the round of worship, witness and care.

On Ascension Day, 29 May, our Foundation Day, we were delighted to welcome regular friend Revd Hannah Neale as guest preacher.

We have continued to progress our work to enhance Christ Church as a place of worship and welcome for our community. Working with our architect, Tim Gough of Austin Winkley and Associates, the project will provide a kitchenette/tea point, storage and two toilets at the west end of the church. Fundraising has been ongoing including book sales and this year the experiment of a Sunday afternoon Christmas Market, which was much enjoyed by the local community and stall holders and visitors, although perhaps had insufficient footfall.

Our Sunday worship often has the same number of attendees but each week this may be different people. We have made a concerted effort this year to invite families to our All Age Eucharist on the first Sunday each month and this is beginning to encourage families back. Easter attendance this year was 77 (adults and children combined). At Christmas 324 people came to the church for services that included a crib service, Midnight Eucharist and a very happy Community Carol Service with included old friends Colliers Wood Chorus and Musicians and Singlegate School. Average Sunday attendance throughout 2025 was 2 children and 45 adults. This year it has been lovely to welcome into the family of the church in Baptism 4 children. The First Communion service hosted at Christ Church was a beautiful occasion. A joyful wedding also took place at the start of October and a service of prayer and dedication after civil marriage earlier in the year. Our Organist and Church musician, Irene Clugston, has led us well in a range of traditional and more contemporary music.

During the year one funeral was conducted at Christ Church.

Christ Church bell tower continues to be very popular with visiting bands. Our own band of Bell ringers are also flourishing.

On 5 October, it was time to bid Alison farewell. A sumptuous bring-and-share lunch was enjoyed by many across the Team and beyond, followed by a service of “Praying our Farewells”. Not only did Irene and Liz Holder offer musical accompaniment, but also folk musicians and bands of Morris, culminating in a send-off from the bell ringers, who rang a sequence of methods as a goodbye tribute - Merton Bob Doubles, Threadman and Dorset Place.

The vacancy began well under the faithful and caring leadership of churchwarden Karen, aided by a good team of other members. Mark committed to one Sunday a month with Hannah Neale filling in many of the other Sundays plus a cameo from Dean of Revitalisation Charlie Lamont. Mary was also down at least monthly and prospective Reader Sue McKinney beginning to get involved; Sister Chris and Joy Lyons were a continuous presence in prayer, teaching and welcome.

We give thanks to God for the witness of this congregation, and our friendships with so many organisations and people in this vibrant and diverse community.

3.3 Holy Trinity & St Peter

Within one building, Holy Trinity has a main worship area, clergy vestry, St Peter’s Chapel, committee room, kitchen, church hall, St Cecilia Room; and an area of the church is set aside for quiet prayer. The church is widely used by outside agencies and the DCC has a licence under faculty to allow London Together Korean Church to use the church on Sunday afternoons. A quinquennial inspection (QI) in October 2021 revealed the need for a lot of minor repair and re-decoration work; much is yet to be done and can now clearly wait until the next QI in 2026!

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THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

In the last part of 2025 Mark was made one of two Acting Archdeacons, while Archdeacon Simon was on sabbatical. This was an eye-opening experience, seeing the inner workings of the PSF, Bishop’s Staff, DAC and more, though it was good to get to a comparatively quiet Christmas!

We enjoy fellowship and hospitality, often with the expert culinary oversight of Richard Blades, so once again were blessed with pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (this one assisted by Bruce Warman) and a Dawn Eucharist feast for record numbers. We also welcomed Mary and partner Kai for the “Trinity Sunday” tea in the garden (this year it coincided with her ordination and Inclusive Church Sunday).

The Christmas Fair was again a most enjoyable and well-supported community and fundraising occasion. We had incredible takings of £7,375, the highest for many years and we think therefore a record profit of an incredible £6,017; very well-done coordinating partnership of Libby Charlton and Andrew Taylor and all the many helpers! Through December we enjoyed our usual school carols and Christmas Carols with full and gifted choir.

Congregational numbers were similar for Easter with 133 adults and 45 children but rose nicely for Christmas with 353 adults and 148 children. Usual Sunday attendance throughout 2025 was similar to last year at 134 adults and 79 children.

Junior Church continues to thrive thanks to Emma Austin and her small group of helpers. We regularly have around 25 children attending and this includes a strong core of regular attendees. The children share what they have learned with the main congregation at the end of the morning service and the termly services through the year (including Mothering Sunday and Harvest) where the Junior Church children lead the service with readings and prayers are enjoyed by both the children and the congregation alike. We could do with some more leaders! We enjoyed our fifth acted-out Nativity, thanks to Ellie Lyons and Andrew Taylor, which involved a good number of children.

In a different liturgical direction, many have also valued now termly healing services.

We continue to provide music at Holy Trinity for all our main services under our Director of Music, Michael Lees. We have a great team of volunteer keyboard players: Jeremy Roberts, Liz Holder, Vivien Halstead and more recently Ivy Ong who is playing the organ, but it would be lovely to have some instrumentalists to perform during communion which adds something special to the service. Our choir, led by Tracy Lees, comes together for Easter and Christmas with the Christmas Carol service being a particular highlight of the year. The grand piano has now settled down after recent maintenance and is making a lovely sound. We are also pleased that we have been able to offer piano and organ practice facilities to two local students on a charitable basis.

Baptisms were steady numbering 16. Christine Hawes has done an excellent job coordinating the baptism diary and visits, aided by Susan Shriver on the visiting front.

For young children and carers, T3 (Trinity, Tots & Toys) has had a very well-attended year and we are grateful to Dovi Lawson for coordinating this small team. The large volume of our work in schools has continued. The Team Rector is ex officio governor of Holy Trinity and The Priory schools. Mark and now Mary take it in turns to conduct weekly assemblies (with an occasional eucharist) in them both and each school attends church four times a year. The Schools’ Sunday service this year was another triumph with an enormous attendance, helped by the involvement of a joint schools’ choir. We also visit Pelham School (a community school) usually termly.

Ministry to Care Homes is also important for us, so a team has visited Queens Court for a Songs of Praise and a Communion each month and South Park Residential Home once a month, as well as visiting the sick in their homes for holy communion. Thanks to Fiona Totty for overseeing the rota.

Across the year, we conducted four funerals for parishioners, dear late-member Rosemary Jennings in church at the start of the year, then three non-churchgoers across different crematoria.

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Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

Mark and Mary continued to foster relationships across the local community, deanery and borough. As Area Dean, Mark co-chaired with Rabbi Adrian Schell the Merton Council Holocaust Memorial Day event in January. He participated in the Merton Inter-Faith Walk in May, which included visits to the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Morden, St John Fisher RC Church Merton, St Mary’s Merton, Wimbledon Salvation Army and Wimbledon International Seventh Day Adventist Church.

He supported the Living Water Parish’s silver jubilee in Haydons Road Rec in June and was also one of the speakers at a Scriptural Reasoning event hosted at Holy Trinity in November for Inter-Faith Week. He attends the Merton Faith and Belief Forum when he can.

Mark and Mary also took part in a very new activity, knocking on doors in one of our local roads to introduce ourselves and the church and to offer anyone a free copy of Mark’s Gospel. We were one of several local churches in this Merton Gospel Giveaway. It was a stepping beyond our comfort zone; we gave away one gospel (!) but had a range of good conversations and one or two very striking spiritual encounters.

This past winter, Dons Local Action Group approached us to see if we would host a year-round soup kitchen on Saturday and Sunday evenings. We were pleased to be asked, and thanks are due to churchwarden John Eades for his assistance in this. The Dons will return in March 2026 for their thank-you to volunteers. We are most grateful for people’s generosity in so many ways, not least in the precious gift of time across our small but dedicated teams who do the flowers, serve at the altar, serve refreshments after services, read, intercede and welcome, update the website, field enquiries from the public, oversee finance and hall bookings, administer the Electoral Roll, help with printing and so much more; especial thanks to Andrew Taylor for offering free administrative help in the absence of a paid Parish Administrator. We are always looking to recruit more volunteers to spread the load. After all, we are a family where everyone has gifts of time and talents to offer for the health and flourishing of all.

3.4 St John the Divine

The church comprises a church building, lovingly restored some years ago, and a hall building. These are located on separate sites, the hall being on the other side of the road from the church. As well as services the church provides a venue for Morden Park Choral Society practices and concerts and for Merton Music Foundation who use it weekly for children’s choir practice and for other musical events. The proposed redevelopment of High Path estate, which may incorporate the site of the Church Hall, with the development of a new Church Hall, has now been further postponed and estimated dates for this range between 5-7 years’ time. Nevertheless, our current hall continues to be used by a range of community groups from dance to martial arts and Woodcraft Folk. We welcomed Wimbledon Foodbank back as a distribution point in November while work is done at their hub at Elim church, and we hope to continue to work with them. We remain keen to make our buildings a community resource.

The Fun and Games Toddler Group met on Thursday mornings in term time, as a joint venture for St John’s and Griffiths Road Methodist Church (an annexe of Lantern Methodist Church in Raynes Park). The sessions were led by Angela Linton Smith and Alison, with excellent support from Bianca Sanasi, a local parent. Unfortunately, the group had to end on Alison’s retirement and a change of staffing at the Methodist Church.

The struggles with our beautiful church building continue. We have enjoyed the new lighting system but still struggle to heat our spaces effectively. We truly want to move away from fossil fuels, but this is proving quite challenging for a building of our size and character and so currently we are reliant on our inadequate gas fired heaters. Squirrels also enjoy using the roof void as a playground, and we continue to address their presence in order to prevent further damage.

It has been a good year for social events. MP3 Players used St John’s to good effect in January for a wonderful take on the classic pantomime story of ‘Aladdin’.

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Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

In February we again held our very popular Parish Ale (aka Beer Festival). Numerous Morris Dancers of all traditions entertained a full church, and wonderful food from Richard Blades and Bruce Warman made for a very successful fundraising event. We are grateful for the support of Oli Carter-Esdale and the whole team from The Trafalgar. The “Traf” also hosted a barbecue in their new courtyard as a fundraiser for St Johns, and the DCC continue to support appeals against plans for redevelopment, recognising the key place in the community that both the church and the pub occupy.

St John’s Bell Tower is a very popular tower for visiting ringers keen to experience our excellent 10 bell tower. Visitors frequently compliment the excellent sound of the 10. Our own band flourishes and we were delighted to host The Ten Bell Practice on behalf of the Surrey Association of Bell Ringers, thanks to Ed Gosden who leads this.

Overall, our congregational numbers have remained much the same, that is to say small but highly committed. Average Sunday attendance throughout 2025 was 15 adults. Easter attendance was 30 adults and 3 children and at Christmas 61 adults and two children.

There were two baptisms in the year – it was a joy to welcome twins Jude and Rory and their family.

Our music is led by Liz Holder on the first Sunday of each month, and Jeremy Roberts on the other Sundays. Irene Clugston still joins us for joint and team services. We are grateful to Liz and Jeremy for their valued contribution to our worshipping life. In April we were sad to bid farewell to Peter Crowther, who had offered his talents alongside Liz, when he moved away to be closer to family.

During the year we have had two funerals at St John’s. We were saddened by the death of Agnes Parker in January, and again by the death of Eva Parker, a stalwart of St John’s and cornerstone of the team, in May. We were also saddened by the death of Joan Brunt, a member of St John’s for over 75 years, in December with her funeral held in church in January.

As noted in the MAP we continue to enjoy a good relationship with Merton Abbey School being involved in assemblies throughout the year. Alison visited Nursery and Reception classes, and Year 1 children visit the church. It is always a highlight when Key Stage 2 have their Christingle service in church, and this year they were delighted to have Mark lead the service. The church drive continues to be used for ‘kiss and drop’ allowing pupils who are driven to school by car to alight safely as parking restrictions on High Path make dropping children off problematic.

With the reorientation of activity within the team to allow a Team Vicar to focus their efforts on Christ Church, Colliers Wood, St John’s are looking forward to working more closely with Holy Trinity on joint endeavours. We have enjoyed welcoming a range of visiting clergy during the vacancy and are grateful for the care they have shown to our congregation in their visits.

We look forward to further work with Merton Priory Team to reach out to our neighbours on High Path over the coming year as we continue to build those relationships.

4 Quinquennial Inspections

Christ Church . A quinquennial inspection was completed in January 2024. Urgent works related to maintenance and access were identified for action, with this and other work intended to be addressed by the major works planned for the building in the coming years. Significant redecoration of the chancel took place during the year which, alongside improved lighting, has served to make this focal area of the church stand out.

Holy Trinity & St Peter. A quinquennial inspection was carried out in early 2026 and revealed an immediate repair required to stonework, and additional works to be prioritised. Further work on internal areas of the church is planned, though will likely need the help of grant money.

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Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

St John the Divine. A quinquennial inspection was carried out in 2023, with the report received early in 2024. Urgent works related to squirrel access and some minor external repairs were identified, with ongoing external maintenance identified over the course of the next five years. Work to address heating and lighting continues, with the intention of moving away from fossil fuels wherever possible.

5 Looking to the future

We look forward this July (God-willing) to Mary’s ordination as a priest.

We are also glad to have licensed Sue McKinney as a Reader on Easter Day, based mainly at Christ Church, though deployable across the Team.

We are also excited to have part of a youth worker’s time through YMIC. Nequela Whittaker will be able to offer a session a week of some kind and is getting to know us and the area to see what might work.

And then this Summer we will welcome Revd Dr Hannah Swithinbank as the new Team Vicar at Christ Church.

Following a PCC decision, Hannah will be based at Christ Church, and St John’s and Holy Trinity will be working more closely together. We have had an initial fruitful meeting about this but still need to discern and pray further. Discernment and prayer also apply to a broader sense of what new work God might be doing through St John’s to bring about growth, perhaps extending to a new congregation.

6 Personnel

The Team Rector, the Revd Mark Eminson, is responsible for Holy Trinity, while the Team Vicar, the Revd Alison Judge, was responsible for Christ Church and St John the Divine until October. Her successor at Christ Church will begin later this year. Joy Lyons, SPA (Southwark Pastoral Auxiliary), continues in her work of pastoral care for members of Christ Church and to co-ordinate the Prayer Group; her work is valued greatly. We have been pleased that the Revd Canon Duncan Swan, Associate Priest, has attended St John’s on most Sundays. Sister Chris SCL is a committed member of Christ Church and has the Bishop of Southwark’s permission to preach, which we value enormously across the Team and are sorry for ourselves (though happy for her!) that she plans to move to Hull in September.

The DCCs set rates of pay for employees in accordance with the skills and responsibilities of their roles and with the aim of recruiting and retaining high quality staff; we continue to abide by the commitment made in 2014 to pay no one less than the London Living Wage, as set by the Living Wage Foundation, which was £13.85 per hour from the beginning of 2025. The PCC has indicated a wish to become accredited as a Living Wage Employer.

A staff pension scheme with the Church Workers Pension Fund was introduced on 1 January 2015, which was well before the PCC’s workplace pensions staging date of 1 June 2016. It is available to all employees regardless of salary level and the PCC contributes 5% of gross salary provided the employee also contributes a minimum of 5%.

7 Financial Review

The PCC’s main sources of funding are the free will offerings of church members and others in attendance at church meetings, and income from hiring out the church buildings.

7.1 Financial Activity and Financial Position We remain mindful of the impact that the cost-of-living crisis is having on many people.

Total income for the year decreased by £35,198 to £311,641 (2024: increased by £6,539 to £346,839) as set out in the accompanying financial statements on pages 17-35. Of this total, £2,912 (2024: £16,181) was restricted income.

12

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

Total unrestricted donations and legacies were £159,034 (2024: £176,826) which was a £17,791 decrease (2024: £953 decrease). Gift Aid from tax efficient giving totalled £28,010 (2024: £41,072), which includes estimated claims by Christ Church for 2024 and 2025. Church and hall lettings weakened further, raising £121,358 in 2025 compared to £126,953 in 2024, a decrease of £5,595. Income from fundraising events at £21,105 saw a rise against the previous year (2024: £19,533).

Total expenditure decreased by £31,021 (2024: £25,096 decrease) to £315,311 (2024: £346,332) with a significant decrease in the costs associated with buildings and facilities, support costs, and a reduction in the amount spent for missionary and charitable giving (see note 4).

We were pleased to be able to meet our pledged contributions to the Diocesan Parish Support Fund of £179,000 in 2025 (2024: £176,900). The Parish Support Fund pays for our parish clergy and other diocesan resources, as well as a contribution to poorer parishes.

The team as a whole happily contributed £5,078 (2024: £6,112) to mission giving and donations.

In summary, the deficit for the parish on unrestricted funds was £2,073 (2024: surplus £127). The overall deficit for the year was £2,269 (2024: surplus £5), after including unrealised gains on investments of £1,401 (2024: loss of £502). The net movement in funds for the year was therefore a deficit of £2,269 (2024: surplus of £5).

7.2 Reserves Policy

The PCC has examined the requirements for free reserves, i.e., those unrestricted funds not invested in tangible fixed assets. Given the nature of Merton Priory Team Ministry’s work and ongoing financial uncertainty due to the effects of the cost-of-living crisis, the PCC considers that the free reserves requirement should be held at three months’ routine general fund expenditure, plus committed future expenditure on other projects, where funds permit. This is held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies. At 31 December 2025, the PCC had net free reserves of £230,172 (2024: £226,651) as outlined below, which the PCC acknowledges well exceeds the total free reserves requirement of £94,417 (2024: £94,417).

reserves requirement of £94,417 (2024: £94,417).
Total reserves
Less: restricted funds
Less: endowment funds
Less: unrestricted tangible fixed assets used in the continuing work of the PCC
Free reserves requirement:
Reserve agreed by PCC
Balance allocated to the anticipated cost of fabric repairs		 2025 2024
£
300,561
(22,621
(18,611
(32,678
)
)
)
£
298,292
(23,074)
(17,602)
(27,444)
226,651
230,172
82,417
12,000
82,417
12,000
94,417
94,417

Christ Church is planning significant expenditure in 2026 and beyond; this includes work around the altar, redecorations of the church, and putting toilets into the church. Some initial redecoration and improved lighting have been completed, and they are working with the DAC (Diocesan Advisory Committee) and have appointed an architect.

13

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

Holy Trinity has completed extensive kitchen refurbishment and redecoration in recent years and is planning work to redecorate the chancel and nave, upgrade more fittings to accommodate LED lighting, and necessary repairs to the boiler. There are also urgent repairs to external stonework to be made.

St John the Divine has spent money on upgrading lighting and electrics, and will continue to explore sustainable heating options, for which they are likely to be applying for grant funding alongside other fundraising for the project. The timing of any work is dependent on funding being secured.

So, although the free reserves position at 31 December 2025 may be looking very healthy, it is clear that all three churches are mindful of their responsibility in thinking ahead to the appropriate use of the PCC’s charitable reserves.

7.3 Investment Policy

Funds not immediately required for working capital are partly placed on short term deposit and partly invested in longer-term investment funds. The PCC currently uses the CCLA Church of England Deposit Fund, Charities Aid Foundation investment funds and M&G Charity Funds. The PCC expects to do some work in the near future on drawing up a formal investment policy.

All three churches and the PCC are considered to be one legal and financial entity, so all of our account balances are combined when considering the FSCS limits for deposit protection. As the total of funds available exceeded the limit, Holy Trinity’s DCC took the decision to move some funds away from CAF Bank and have opted to open an account with Triodos. The limit has since increased, but the position remains under review.

7.4 Going Concern

Each year it is the PCC’s responsibility to state whether or not the financial statements have been drawn up on a going concern basis (see the accounting policy note on page 19). Going concern is the assumption that an entity, in this case the PCC, has the resources (financial or otherwise) needed to continue operating for the foreseeable future and, in particular, for at least 12 months from the date of approval by the PCC of these financial statements. If the going concern principle did not apply, then the accounts would be drawn up on an insolvent basis.

8 Volunteers

We are grateful to all our churchwardens for their many and varied labours: Karen Warman at Christ Church, John Eades and Simon Hay (although he has since moved away) at Holy Trinity and Ann Roberts at St John’s. Our cotreasurers, Ann Roberts and Kerry Porritt, have steered us wisely and efficiently through our financial affairs. Margaret Duncan stood down as PCC Secretary and has been succeeded by Tracey McDermott. It seems likely as is often the way that there will be some changes at the annual meetings and we pray for new volunteers to emerge, not least churchwardens.

We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so tirelessly on our behalf to make our churches the lively and vibrant communities they are. As well as those in licensed lay roles, we particularly want to mention all those who work behind the scenes and in the more invisible areas of our church life.

9 Structure, governance and management

The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure and is a Registered Charity.

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The PCC consists of 18 elected members, six from Christ Church, six from Holy Trinity and six from St John the Divine, plus the team clergy. During the past year the PCC has met six times.

A range of issues are discussed during PCC meetings, including considering ministry needs, parish communications and planning for key events in the parish, as well as hearing reports from the individual churches and having oversight of the Mission Action Plans for all three churches. The PCC has authority for finance across the parish.

14

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2025

The PCC has assessed the major risks to which the PCC is exposed, in particular those relating to the specific operational areas of the charity, its investments, and its finances. The PCC believes that, by monitoring reserve levels, by ensuring that controls exist over key financial systems, and by examining the operational risks faced by the church, it has established effective systems and procedures to mitigate those risks.

The PCC Standing Committee, which consists of the Team Rector, Team Vicar, six Churchwardens (when in post), Secretary and co-Treasurers, has met on several occasions. The Curate has recently also been invited to attend these meetings. This group has set the agenda for the PCC meetings and ensured its smooth running. In addition, the PCC Business Committee – Team Rector, Team Vicar, co-Treasurers and Secretary – has met to make certain that all aspects of church business are covered.

The PCC appoints six foundation governors at Holy Trinity School and two at The Priory School , and members of our congregations also serve as governors appointed by Southwark Diocesan Board of Education. We are proud that at both schools one of the co-chairs is a church member. This year, one governor was appointed to Holy Trinity.

10 Responsibilities of Trustees for the Financial Statements

The PCC is responsible for preparing the report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Charity law in England and Wales requires the PCC to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the PCC and of the income and application of income of the charity for that period.

In preparing those financial statements, the PCC is required to:

The PCC is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the governing document. The PCC is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The PCC is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the charity and financial information included in the charity’s website.

11 Approval

The PCC has elected to have an independent examination rather than an audit of the financial statements. The role of Independent Examiner is a personal appointment, and this has been carried out by John Helm. Mr Helm has indicated his willingness to continue in this role and accordingly a resolution will be submitted to the forthcoming Annual Parochial Church Meeting to re-appoint him as the PCC’s Independent Examiner for 2026.

The report of the PCC was approved by the PCC on 30 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

The Revd Mark Eminson PCC Chair

15

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Report of the Independent Examiner to the Parochial Church Council of Merton Priory

I report on the accounts of the Parochial Church Council of Merton Priory for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 17 to 34.

Respective responsibilities of PCC and examiner

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

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiners’ report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. 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 the seeking of 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

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the church as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

John Helm Chartered Accountant 18 May 2026

16

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 December 2025

Note
Income from:
2
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
3
Charitable activities
4
Total Expenditure
Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net (expenditure)/income
5

Transfers between funds

Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward

Total funds carried forward
 Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£

159,034
2,201
142,220
5,274		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
1,611
-
243
1,058
2,912
-
2,461
2,461
-
451
-
451
22,621
23,072		 Endowment Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
176,826
3,019
145,260
5,553









Restricted
Funds
2024
£
13,852
-
1,226
1,103
16,181
-
16,665
16,665
-
( 484)
(2,136)
(2,620)
25,241
22,621		 Endowment
Funds
2024
£
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
0
362
362
-
362
18,249
18,611		 Total
2024
£
190,678
3,019
146,486
6,656
Funds Total
2025 2025
£ £
- 160,645
- 2,201
- 142,463
- 6,332
308,729 330,658 346,839
0 311,641
7,368
305,482
312,850
2,048
(2,073)
-
(2,073)
259,329
257,256		 2,132
327,535		 2,132
344,200
- 7,368
- 307,943
329,667 346,332
0 315,311
(864) (502)
(647) 1,401
127 5
( 647) (2,269)
2,136 -
- -
2,263
257,066		 5
300,556
( 647) (2,269)
18,611 300,561
259,329 300,561
17,964 298,292

17

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Balance Sheet As at 31 December 2025

Note
Fixed Assets
Tangible Assets
6
Investments
7
Current Assets
Debtors
8
Cash At Bank and In Hand
Creditors - Amounts Falling Due
Within One Year
9
Net Current Assets
Net Assets
Represented by:
Endowment Funds
10
Restricted Income Funds
11
Unrestricted Income Funds
12
Total Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
27,444
41,221
68,665
46,259
161,927
208,186
19,595
188,591
257,256
-
-
257,256
257,256		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
0
-
23,072
23,072
-
23,072
23,072
-
23,072
-
23,072		 Endowment Total
2024
£
32,678
55,264
Funds Total
2025 2025
£ £
- 27,444
15,539 56,760
87,942
47,552
190,251
15,539 84,204
- 46,259
2,425 187,424
237,803
25,184
2,425 233,683
- 19,595
212,619
2,425 214,088
300,561
17,964 298,292
18,611
22,621
259,329
17,964 17,964
- 23,072
- 257,256
300,561
17,964 298,292

The financial statements were approved by the PCC on 30 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

The Revd Mark Eminson PCC Chair

Dr Kerry Porritt PCC Co-Treasurer

Ann Roberts PCC Co-Treasurer

18

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

1 Accounting Policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

Basis of accounting

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP (FRS 102)). The financial statements are drawn up on the historical cost basis of accounting except for the revaluation of leasehold land and buildings and investments which are shown at market value.

The Parochial Church Council of Merton Priory was formed in May 2009 from the amalgamation of three separate parishes: Christ Church, Colliers Wood; Holy Trinity & St Peter, South Wimbledon; St John the Divine, Merton. These financial statements incorporate the income and expenditure, assets and liabilities of the combined parish, including comparative figures for the previous year. The finances of the three individual churches are maintained separately and are therefore accounted for as designated funds.

The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe an affiliation to another body or those that are informal gatherings of church members.

The PCC meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

Going Concern

There are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern and accordingly the accounts have been drawn up on a going concern basis.

Income recognition

Voluntary income and donations (including legacies) are accounted for once the PCC has entitlement to the income, it is probable the income will be received, and the amount of income receivable can be reliably measured. Income from the recovery of tax on gift aided donations is accounted for in the period to which the relevant donation is received. Grant income is recognised on a receivable basis.

The income from trading activities includes rental income from the letting of church premises which is accounted for when earned. It is shown gross, with the associated costs included in fundraising costs.

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

Expenditure recognition

Expenditure is accrued as soon as a liability is considered probable, and the amount of obligation can be measured reliably. Longer term liabilities are discounted to present value. The PCC is not registered for VAT and accordingly expenditure includes VAT where appropriate.

Expenditure included in Raising Funds includes amounts incurred in obtaining grants and other donations and property maintenance costs.

Expenditure on church activities includes those costs incurred to fulfil the PCC’s principal objects, as outlined in the Report of the PCC. These include grants payable and governance costs. Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the PCC. The Diocesan Parish Support Fund is accounted for when due. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the PCC and its compliance with regulation and good practice. These costs include costs related to the independent examination and legal fees.

The PCC contributes to employees’ pension plans with the Church Workers’ Pension Fund (see Note 4a).

Rentals under operating leases are charged as incurred over the term of the lease.

19

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

Tangible Fixed Assets

Consecrated and benefice property of any kind is excluded from the financial statements by Section 10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011.

Moveable church furnishings are held by the Team Rector and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC. They are considered inalienable property and require a faculty for disposal. They are listed in the churches’ inventories, which can be inspected (at any reasonable time). Items are capitalised at cost and depreciated over their useful economic life other than where insufficient cost information is available. Individual items of furnishings with a purchase price of £1,500 or less are written off when the asset is acquired.

Equipment and Fixtures & Fittings and such other functional equipment used on a continuing basis for the work of the PCC is depreciated on a straight-line basis over five years (equipment, currently none held) or ten years (fixtures and fittings). Individual items of equipment and fixtures & fittings with a purchase price of £1,500 or less are written off when the asset is acquired.

Fixed Asset Investments

Investments are valued at market value at 31 December.

Debtors

Debtors are included at the settlement amount due. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months.

Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation arising from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are recognised at their settlement amount.

The Southwark Diocese has received a business‑rates demand from the local authority in respect of part of the ‑ church hall at Christ Church, which is leased to and occupied by a third party nursery. Under the terms of the lease, any business rates arising from the tenant’s use or occupation of the premises are the responsibility of the tenant. At the balance‑sheet date, discussions between the Diocese and the tenant were ongoing and the outcome of the matter remained uncertain. The PCC considers that an outflow of economic benefits is possible but not probable and, accordingly, no provision has been made in these financial statements. If the matter is not resolved in the PCC’s favour, the potential financial effect is estimated to be in the region of £42,000.

Fund accounting

The funds held by the charity are either:

Unrestricted general funds that can be used for PCC ordinary purposes. These include funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC. Apart from the PCC General Fund, all other unrestricted funds are designated to the three individual churches and are therefore reported as designated funds.

Restricted funds represent donations received for a specific object or invited by the PCC for a specific object. The funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund.

The permanent endowment fund (St John the Divine) was given for building a new church, completed in 1914, with the income from the remaining endowment capital to be used on the fabric of the existing building.

20

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

2
Income
Donations & legacies
Offerings and donations
Income tax reclaimed
Legacies
Grants
Charitable activities
Fees for weddings and funerals
Other trading activities
Fund raising events
Lettings income
Investments
Dividends
Bank Interest
Rent from land		 Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
Restricted
Funds
2025
£
125,094
1,112
27,810
200
6,000
-
130
299
159,034
1,611
2,201
-
2,201
0
21,105
-
121,115
243
142,220
243
1,374
-
2,070
608
1,830
450
5,274
1,058
308,729
2,912		 Total
2025
£
126,206
28,010
6,000
429
160,645
2,201
2,201
21,105
121,358
142,463
1,374
2,678
2,280
6,332
311,641		 Total
2024
£
149,606
41,072
-
-
Total
2025
£
126,206
28,010
6,000
429
190,678
3,019
160,645
2,201
3,019
19,533
126,953
2,201
21,105
121,358
146,486
1,257
3,130
2,269
142,463
1,374
2,678
2,280
6,656
6,332
346,839
311,641

21

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

3 Expenditure on Raising Funds

Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
Costs of fundraising events
7,368
Costs of supporting regular giving
-
7,368		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
0		 Total
2024
£
2,066
66
Total
2025
£
7,368
-
2,132
7,368

The figure for 2025 includes surveyor fees related to the renewal of the lease for the hall that is leased to the nursery as the costs are connected with maintaining rental income rather than charitable activities.

4 Expenditure on Charitable Activities

4
Expenditure on Charitable Activities
Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
Parish Support Fund
179,000
Staff costs (note 4a)
17,077
Church Life & Outreach
4,507
Missionary & Charitable Giving and Gifts (note 4b)
4,362
Provision of Office & Support
15,963
Provision of Buildings and Facilities
80,853
Governance costs
3,720
305,482		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
1,045
716
700
-
-
2,461		 Total
2024
£
176,900
19,793
10,381
6,112
26,990
100,304
3,720
Total
2025
£
179,000
17,077
5,552
5,078
16,663
80,853
3,720
344,200
307,943

Included within expenditure on church activities (see note 4 above) are the following staff costs:

Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
Gross salaries
17,077
Pension contributions
-
17,077		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
0		 Total
2024
£
19,732
61
Total
2025
£
17,077
-
19,793
17,077

These staff costs exclude the amounts paid to Southwark Diocese for the stipendiary clergy, who are funded through the Parish Support Fund. Employer’s National Insurance is currently covered by the government’s Employment Allowance. All employed staff are paid at least the London Living Wage. Information on the staff pension scheme is given below.

22

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

4 Expenditure on Charitable Activities (continued)

During the year the churches employed various part-time staff, as follows:

4a Staff Pensions

Merton Priory PCC participates in the Pension Builder Scheme section of the Church Workers Pension Fund (CWPF) for lay staff. CWPF is administered by the Church of England Pensions Board, which holds the CWPF assets separately from those of the Employer and other participating employers.

The Church Workers Pension Fund has two sections:

  1. the Defined Benefits Scheme;

  2. the Pension Builder Scheme, which has two subsections;

  3. a. a deferred annuity section known as Pension Builder Classic; and,

  4. b. a cash balance section known as Pension Builder 2014.

Pension Builder Scheme

Both sections of the Pension Builder Scheme are classed as defined benefit schemes.

Pension Builder Classic provides a pension, accumulated from contributions paid and converted into a deferred annuity during employment based on terms set and reviewed by the Church of England Pensions Board from time to time. Discretionary increases may also be added, depending on investment returns and other factors.

Pension Builder 2014 is a cash balance scheme that provides a lump sum which members use to provide benefits at retirement. Pension contributions are recorded in an account for each member. Discretionary bonuses may be added before retirement, depending on investment returns and other factors. The account, plus any bonuses declared is payable, unreduced, from age 65.

There is no sub-division of assets between employers in each section of the Pension Builder Scheme.

The scheme is considered to be a multi-employer scheme as described in Section 28 of FRS 102. This is because it is not possible to attribute the Pension Builder Scheme’s assets and liabilities to specific employers and means that contributions are accounted for as if the Scheme were a defined contribution scheme. The pensions costs charged to the SOFA (Statement of Financial Activities) in the year are the contributions payable (2025: £nil; 2024: £61).

A valuation of the Pension Builder Scheme is carried out once every three years. The most recent valuation was carried out as at 31 December 2022. The next valuation is due as at 31 December 2025. For the Pension Builder Classic section, the valuation revealed a surplus of £34.8m on the ongoing assumptions used. At the most recent annual review, the Board chose to grant a discretionary bonus of 6.7% following the strong funding position over 2024. There is no requirement for deficit payments at the current time. For the Pension Builder 2014 section, the valuation revealed a surplus of £8.5m on the ongoing assumptions used. There is no requirement for deficit payments at the current time.

The legal structure of the scheme is such that if another employer fails, Merton Priory PCC could become responsible for paying a share of the failed employer’s pension liabilities.

23

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

4 Expenditure on Charitable Activities (continued)

4b Expenditure – Missionary & Charitable Giving and Gifts

Giving to Church overseas & missionary societies:
Kingston Matabeleland
Gaza Hospital
Gifts to Relief & development agencies:
Christian Aid
Giving to Home mission & church organisations:
Christian CARE Merton
Faith in Action – Merton Homelessness Project
Messy Church & Summer Club
Holiday Club
Youth with a Mission
Toddlers Group
Children’s Society
Gifts to Secular Charities:
Merton Citizens (part of Citizens UK)
LEAH (Learn English at Home)
Papyrus
Deen City Farm
White Ribbon Day		 Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
Restricted
Funds
2025
£
750
-
100
-
-
100
-
100
-
-
-
106
-
19
135
-
-
118
-
273
1,497
-
1,880
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,362
716		 Total
2024
£
-
361
527
67
1,053
-
-
-
234
713
1,420
-
100
1,596
41
Total
2025
£
750
100
100
100
-
106
19
135
118
273
1,497
1,880
-
-
-
6,112
5,078

24

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

5 Net Income

5
Net Income
This is stated after charging:
Depreciation of owned assets
Independent examination fee (including preparation of financial statements)
Other fees paid to independent examiner		 2025 2024
£ £
5,234 8,009
3,720 3,720
- -

6 Tangible Fixed Assets

Cost
At 1 January 2025
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December 2025
Depreciation
At 1 January 2025
Charge for Year
At 31 December 2025
Net Book Value
At 31 December 2025
At 31 December 2024		 Fixtures,
fittings &
equipment
£
114,286
-
-
114,286
81,608
5,234
86,842
27,444
32,678

Moveable Church Furnishings:

None of the three churches hold any moveable church furnishings purchased since 2001 which are capitalised and depreciated over their useful economic life (see Accounting Policies).

Fixtures & Fittings:

Christ Church: The church sound system was purchased in 2009 and is now fully depreciated. New chancel lighting was purchased and installed in 2024 and is being depreciated over 10 years.

Holy Trinity : The grand piano (purchased in 2002) and refurbishment of the reception area (2007) are both fully depreciated. The audio-visual system was installed in 2015 and is now fully depreciated. The original kitchen improvements from 2002 were disposed of and a new kitchen installed in 2024, which is being depreciated over ten years.

St John the Divine : A lighting control panel was purchased in 2018 and is being depreciated over ten years. A new heater was installed in 2024 and is being depreciated over 10 years.

25

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

7 Fixed Asset Investments

7
Fixed Asset Investments
Market Value
At 1 January 2025
Net of purchases and sales
Net gain/(loss) on revaluation
At 31 December 2025
Market value represented by investments in:
Charibond Charities Fixed Interest
Common investment Fund shares
CBF Investment Fund shares
Polka Theatre – interest in the freehold		 Unrestricted Endowment Total
2024
£
55,675
91
(502)
Funds Funds Total
2025 2025 2025
£ £ £
39,078 16,186 55,264
95 - 95
2,048 (647) 1,401
55,264
41,221 15,539 56,760
25,678
19,586
10,000
12,325 15,539 27,864
18,896 - 18,896
10,000 - 10,000
55,264
41,221 15,539 56,760

Christ Church : CBF Investment Fund shares: Trust Fund T0169, held by the Diocese of Southwark as custodian trustee, originated from the sale of a passageway in 1951 for £200. Dividends are reinvested.

St John the Divine : CBF Investment Fund shares: Trust Fund T0046 held by the Diocese of Southwark as custodian trustee. The fund was a permanent endowment (capital) for building a new church, completed in 1914, with the remaining capital invested to provide an income restricted to work on the fabric of the building.

Holy Trinity : Charibond Charities Fixed Interest Common Investment Fund. The unit trust invests in government and corporate fixed interest securities.

The Polka Theatre: a nominal figure of the PCC’s interest in the freehold of the Polka Theatre (240 The Broadway, London SW19 1SB) which is subject to a long-term lease. This has not been the subject of an independent valuation.

8 Debtors

8
Debtors
Prepayments and other debtors
Gift Aid recoverable
Accrued income		 Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
2,400
25,077
18,782
46,259		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
-
0		 Total
2024
£
1,701
19,069
26,782
Total
2025
£
2,400
25,077
18,782
47,552
46,259

26

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

9 Creditors - Amounts Falling Due Within One Year

Accruals
Pension creditor
Income received in advance
Other creditors		 Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
10,631
26
1,381
7,557
19,595		 Restricted
Funds
2025
£
-
-
-
-
0		 Total
2024
£
13,466
27
4,459
7,233
Total
2025
£
10,631
26
1,381
7,557
25,185
19,595
10
Endowment Funds
10a Current Year
St John the Divine (permanent)
Mackrell Trust (T0046/capital)
10b Prior Year
St John the Divine (permanent)
Mackrell Trust (T0046/capital)		 At 1
January
2025
£
18,611		 At 1
January
2025
£
18,611		 Income
£
-		 Expenditure
£
-		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
(647)		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
(647)
At 1
January
2025
£
18,611		 At 31
December
2025
£
17,964
At 1
January
2024
£
18,249		 Income
£
-		 Expenditure
£
-		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
362
At 1
January
2024
£
18,249		 At 31
December
2024
£
18,611

This fund was a permanent endowment (capital) for building a new church, completed in 1914, with the remaining capital invested to provide an income restricted to work on the fabric of the building.

27

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

11 Restricted Funds

11a Current Year
PCC
Curate Housing
Youth Work
Night Shelter
Other Restricted Donations
Christ Church
Children’s Society
150th Anniversary Fund
Christian Care
Hymn Book Fund
Holy Trinity
Merton Night Shelters
Flower Fund
Other Restricted Donations
St John the Divine
Bells Centenary Project
Mission & Charities
Church Maintenance & Repairs:
Mackrell Trust (T0046/income)
Total		 At 1
January
2025
£
0
1,893
5,693
151
0
0
0
295
0
29
2,145
160
881
11,374
22,621		 Income
£
700
-
-
-
272
30
10
-
299
-
-
-
543
1,058
2,912		 Income
£
700
-
-
-
272
30
10
-
299
-
-
-
543
1,058
2,912		 Expenditure
£
(700)
(500)
(545)
-
(272)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(444)
-
(2,461)		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
0		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
0		 At 31
December
2025
£
0
1,393
5,148
151
0
30
10
295
299
29
2,145
160
980
12,432
23,072

28

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

11 Restricted Funds (continued)

11b Prior Year
PCC
Curate Housing
Youth Work
Night Shelter
Other Restricted Donations
Christ Church
Children’s Society
Christian Aid
Faith in Action
Christian Care
Hymn Book Fund
Holy Trinity
Merton Night Shelters
Flower Fund
Other Restricted Donations
St John the Divine
Bells Centenary Project
Mission & Charities
Church Maintenance & Repairs:
Mackrell Trust (T0046/income)
Total		 At 1
January
2024
£
0
1,893
1,690
-
408
427
574
67
295
4,562
4
2,145
2,296
609
10,271
25,241		 Income
£
8,400
-
4,563
800
305
-
479
-
-
-
25
-
-
506
1,103
16,181		 Income
£
8,400
-
4,563
800
305
-
479
-
-
-
25
-
-
506
1,103
16,181		 Expenditure
£
(8,400)
-
(560)
(649)
(713)
(427)
(1,053)
(67)
-
(4,562)
-
-
-
(234)
-
(16,665)		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(2,136)
-
-
-
-
-
(2,136)
0		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(2,136)
-
-
-
-
-
(2,136)
0		 At 31 At 31
December
2024
£
0
1,893
5,693
151
0
0
0
0
295
0
29
2,145
160
881
11,374
22,621

Holy Trinity received an amount from the PCC in 2025 towards the heating and lighting costs for the Merton Night Shelter which is shown in the restricted fund.

St John’s resolved to transfer funds from the restricted Bells fund to general funds.

Descriptions of the main restricted funds are as follows:

PCC

Christ Church

29

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

11 Restricted Funds (continued)

Holy Trinity

St John the Divine

12 Unrestricted Funds

12a Current Year
Unrestricted
PCC General Fund
Designated Funds (General)
Christ Church
Holy Trinity
St John the Divine
Designated Funds (Specific)
PCC:
MP3 Players
Christ Church:
Hall & Church Repairs Fund
Bells Fund
150th Anniversary Fund
Fixed Assets Fund
Holy Trinity:
Marian Esling Legacy (income)
Special Projects Fund
Fixed Assets Fund
St John the Divine:
Fixed Assets Fund
Total		 At 1
January
2025
£
999
25,268
52,500
39,859
558
405
5,289
26,543
4,320
42,307
32,923
23,828
4,530
259,329		 Income
£
2,763
74,722
161,106
58,285
-
-
1,073
10,780
-
-
-
-
308,729		 Expenditure
£
(3,220)
(73,583)
(169,075)
(58,654)
(319)
(2,765)
(480)
-
-
(3,971)
(783)
(312,850)		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
-
-
(138)
-
2,186
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
2,048		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
-
-
(138)
-
2,186
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0
2,048		 At 31 At 31
December
2025
£
542
26,269
46,717
39,490
239
405
6,362
34,558
3,840
42,307
32,923
19,857
3,747
257,256

30

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

12 Unrestricted Funds (continued)

12b Prior Year
Unrestricted
PCC General Fund
Designated Funds (General)
Christ Church
Holy Trinity
St John the Divine
Designated Funds (Specific)
PCC:
MP3 Players
Christ Church:
Hall & Church Repairs Fund
Bells Fund
150th Anniversary Fund
Fixed Assets Fund
Holy Trinity:
Marian Esling Legacy (income)
Special Projects Fund
Fixed Assets Fund
St John the Divine:
Fixed Assets Fund
Total		 At 1
January
2024
£
(479)
36,162
45,853
41,186
558
405
4,362
17,902
0
42,307
32,923
30,574
5,313
257,066		 Income
£
2,616
75,618
177,094
58,767
-
-
1,010
15,553
-
-
-
-
-
330,658		 Expenditure
£
(1,138)
(81,786)
(169,509)
(62,230)
-
(83)
(6,912)
(480)
-
-
(6,746)
(783)
(329,667)		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
-
(4,800)
74
-
(938)
2,136
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,800
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,136
(864)		 Transfers
£
Gains/
(losses)
£
-
-
(4,800)
74
-
(938)
2,136
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,800
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,136
(864)		 At 31 At 31
December
2024
£
999
25,268
52,500
39,859
558
405
5,289
26,543
4,320
42,307
32,923
23,828
4,530
259,329

Designated (General) Funds are funds which have been designated by the PCC to each DCC for unrestricted purposes.

Designated (Specific) Funds are funds which have been designated by each DCC for specific purposes.

PCC

Christ Church

31

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

12 Unrestricted Funds (continued)

Holy Trinity

St John the Divine

13 Operating Lease Commitments

The total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are payable:

Not later than one year
Later than one year and not later than five years		 2025 2024
£
706
175
£
175
-
881
175

The previous printer/photocopier lease expired on 12 April 2021. The PCC signed a new lease on 9 April 2021 which commits the PCC to total lease payments of £3,528 over five years.

14 Capital Commitments

The PCC has the following capital commitments, which it expects to complete in 2026:

Christ Church
Building works
Holy Trinity
Nave redecoration and installation of LED lights
Stained glass
St John the Divine
No capital works planned for 2026		 Expected Expected Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Endowment
Funds
£
34,559
30
-
16,700
1,700
-
40,000
-
-
-
-
-
91,259
1,730
0		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
Restricted
Funds
£
Endowment
Funds
£
34,559
30
-
16,700
1,700
-
40,000
-
-
-
-
-
91,259
1,730
0
Cost
£
34,589
18,400
40,000
0
92,989

32

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2025

15 Related Party Transactions and Balances

The expenses of four (2024: three) members of the PCC amounting to £6,974 (2024: £11,237) in relation to travel, housing, training and retreats were met by the PCC during the year.

Aggregated unrestricted donations from PCC members totalled £12,602 (2024: £11,467).

33

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF MERTON PRIORY

Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025

16. Income & Expenditure
Analysis
Income from:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total Expenditure
Net gains/(losses) on investments
Net (expenditure)/income

Transfers between funds

Net movement in funds
Total funds brought forward

Total funds carried forward
 PCC CC HT SJ
Unrestricted
Funds
£
-
-
2,856
(93)		 Restricted
Funds
£
700
-
-
-
700
-
1,745
1,745
-
(1,045)
-
(1,045)
7,737
6,692		 Unrestricted Restricted Unrestricted
Funds
£
93,123
828
63,050
4,105
161,106
1,823
171,222
173,045
2,186
(9,753)
-
(9,753)
151,558
141,805		 Restricted
Funds
£
299
-
-
-
299
-
-
0
-
299
-
299
2,174
2,473		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
19,490
223
37,498
1,074
58,285
1,824
57,613
59,437
-
(1,152)
-
(1,152)
44,391
43,239		 Restricted
Funds
£
300
-
243
1,058
1,601
-
444
444
-
1,157
-
1,157
12,413
13,570		 Endowment
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
0
-
-
0
(647)
( 647)
-
( 647)
18,611
17,964
Funds Funds Total
£ £ £
46,421 312 160,645
1,150 - 2,201
38,816 - 142,463
188 - 6,332
2,763
86,575 312 311,641
-
3,540
3,540
-
( 777)
-
( 777)
1,557
780
3,721 - 7,368
73,107 272 307,943
76,828 272 315,311
(138) - 1,401
9,609 40 (2,269)
- - -
9,609 40 (2,269)
61,823 297 300,561
71,432 337 298,292

34