St Michaels Flixton 2021 Accounts and Financial Report
Treasurers Report
The church ended the year with a small surplus of £977.
Income of £55,299 was only 2% better than in 2020, but was severely down on the years before the pandemic, when income levels were around £85,000. Income from planned giving, donations and collections was lower than 2020 by 3% but lower than 2019 by 28% due to covid. Planned giving via standing order held steady whilst envelope giving and donation plate giving suffered due to church closures, reduced services and pandemic restrictions. Fee income net of disbursements increased on 2020 by almost £4,000, but was 46% lower than in 2019, again due to covid. Income resulting from hiring out the Church Croft was minimal as it was closed for the majority of the year despite some covid restrictions being lifted. The PCC felt that the Croft was not spacious enough to allow for social distancing.
The PCC placed great effort on controlling costs and fundraising where possible. Annual expenditure was £54,322 which was 10% lower than the prior year. However, the Parish Share was not paid in full in line with our policy to maintain reserves at £60,000, and as such the church was able to pay 71% / £36,000 of the total annual share. This compares to 73% / £35,240 in 2020.
Reserves were £62,601. The church will continue to hold a reserve policy of £60,000 which represents 3 months of operating costs and a £25k building reserve.
At this point in time the financial position for St Michaels is looking very challenging. Paying the Parish Share in full continues to be an impossible feat and was set high in prior years as it was deemed adequate to pay for it through depleting reserves. The church gas contract is to be renewed in May 2022 and as at March 2022, rising prices and the situation in Ukraine are currently threatening a tripling or quadrupling of gas prices, from an annual cost of £3,500 to £10,500.
An additional challenge in 2022 is to make progress on costly building maintenance as well as an overall review of the purpose of the church building from a missional and environmental perspective. Fundraising through grants and other means will likely be the next major step.
Thank you to all members of St Michaels Church for your generosity in 2022, whether that be through financial giving or donating your time. Special thanks goes to those who support the financial administration of the church, including but not limited to Barbara Bye, Gill Robinson and Charlie Gould.
With thanks,
Anna Scarisbrick, Treasurer
Independent Examiners Report
This is the third year that I have independently examined this charity’s accounts.
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31st December 2021.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
I have completed my examination.
I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act.
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the accounts agree with the accounting records
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the accounts 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.
The budget for 2021 was set as a worst-case scenario and 2021 actuals were better than this. Income and expenses were both higher than budgeted but there was a small surplus this year which is good news, rather than the expected small deficit. However, when things will get back to “normal” post-pandemic is still unknown. Overall income in 2021 and 2020 has been similar and both lower than pre-pandemic income. Expenses were lower due to no croft management and lower church running costs (mainly due to a backdated council tax rebate).
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.
Signed: Caroline Boardman Dated: 15th March 2022 Name: Caroline Boardman
Re¢oipts & Poymgnts A¢¢ountg for thg ParochiBI Church Council of St Mi¢h801'$ Flixton For the p•riod 1st Jan 2021 to 31st D8t 2021 FS r5Mcl8a Funas En1 Funas TOTAL 2011 PRV)R YEAR2020 Retp la Flinrd GfflAd thnthn5 Inrompx Ifjcrer 1.979 6.t76 Oth clln$(ln 20.319 3.3T6 3.3Te 2.012 ndrydttnèlittn 39 F8¢ Gt&r 877 1,454 iè> 87F 145¢ 1c acrThrf 1d I))J Church Crofi Lqthn9S fténl Club Lr SW 1.3 I,g&5 I,g FFIFs &otsrfiJrf 151 10.871 19 DMdÈnd>& Intèr In¢luding ny TOTfvLRECEIPTS 63313 64.002 Grsrrls & thar1r lIs51 Church MI551 &(thrChuhthS 828 klin15ty DC9s8 P8nsh Sharo Cgy Evn5e5 CMrth CrD 35.240 Runningco3ts Church- nnIng E>tWW5 2.789 2.F89 5.594 14.4 528 528 Church kw ofchurchyd Ver9Fr. Cktk. 8 wec0s 52491 min15trth BBnk ChBtg&5 684 624 249 C24 &thrfrJndr8151ry 373 373 373 3n 132 132 TOTALpAYfENTS l1vtofRty/PUyrnY1 8TT 61.623 ,56 .LW 93 61,823 58
Bank Accounts and Other Assets - Parochial Church Council of St Michael's Flixton
Bank accounts and other assets as at 31 December 2021
| accounts and other assets as at 31 December 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Bank Accounts Current account Deposit account (RBS) Investment acc with National Savings Bank Various acc. Held by Diocese (book value) Total Funds General - Unrestricted Roof Tower Project - Restricted Charity fundraising - Restircted Fixed assets (nominal value) 348 Church Road Church Croft |
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 £ £ £ £ 61,756 60,779 24,043 23,203 20,310 22,531 - - 43,206 43,119 63,058 82,708 845 845 839 832 826 817 - - - - 13,331 13,331 |
| 62,601 61,624 68,087 67,155 97,525 119,387 |
|
| 59,250 56,439 65,385 67,155 97,525 119,387 3,302 5,184 1,882 - - - 48 - 819 - - - |
|
| 62,601 61,624 68,087 67,155 97,525 119,387 |
|
| 65,000 65,000 65,000 65,000 65,000 65,000 286,870 286,870 286,870 286,870 286,870 286,870 |
St Michaels Flixton PCC Notes to Accounts 2021
1. Restricted Funds
Restricted Funding and Expenditure is split between the major project to repair the church tower and charity fundraising:
| Opening Bal Jan 1st 21 Donations Appeals Restricted Income 21 Home mission Restricted Expenditure 21 Closing Restricted Funds |
Tower Fund 2162.00 1140.00 0.00 3302.00 0 0.00 3302.00 |
Charities Total Restricted 0 2162.00 1140.00 876.53 876.53 876.53 4178.53 828.21 828.21 828.21 828.21 48.32 3350.32 |
|---|---|---|
Note that the funding for charities is shown as a surplus because some funds are to be carried forward into 2022
Total funds raised and paid for other entities in 2021 is broken down as follows:
| Bibles for School Leavers Mcr Diocese - Confirmation Service Stretford Food Bank Aid for Afghan Appeal Total Raised |
income expenditure 400 352 114 114 40 40 322 322 877 828 |
|---|---|
2. Explanation of Year on Year Main Variances
a) Income from planned giving, donations and collections was lower than 2020 by 3% but lower than 2019 by 28% due to covid. Planned giving via standing order held steady whilst envelope giving and donation plate giving suffered due to church closures, reduced services and pandemic restrictions.
b) Fee income net of disbursements increased on 2020 by almost £4,000, but was 46% lower than in 2019, again due to covid.
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c) Church Croft was closed for the majority if the year despite some covid restrictions being lifted. The PCC felt that the Croft was not spacious enough to allow for social distancing.
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c) As per the prior year, the parish share could not be paid in full as it was decided to keep reserves at £60k . However, effort had been placed on fundraising and careful cost management in between responses to changes in covid and as such the church was able to pay 71% / £36,000 of the total annual share. This compares to 73% / £35,240 in 2020.
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d) Church running costs were £4k less than in 2020 due in part to a council tqx rebate on the Rectory going back to 2016, as well as lower utility bills given that in 2020 the pandemic did not commence until late 2020.