## **Church Finances 2024** This year has seen a significant change in the management of the church finances, Phil Northcott stopped being the church treasurer after several years. It is a huge Job, and he had done it very well for several years. We engaged a Bookkeeping company Delta Developments, and this is managed and overseen by our operations manager and new Treasurer Anton French. These changes have led in an increase in cost of Parish administration. We have also changed banks and moved our day-to-day banking to CAF bank which has worked well and we are happy with the service we have been provided. The PCC last year passed a financial regulations procedure and CAF means that every online payment now must be authorised by 2 people. It has been a particularly difficult year for the Church Finances this year as is shown in the Church Accounts, this has shown itself particularly in being unable to pay 26,000 towards the Parish share as compared to a diocesan request of £72,000. There have been a few reasons for this shortfall. Primarily this has been because of the difficulties relating to the closure of St Johns on the Broadway. As there’re were changes being panned for the development of the Broadway which would have increased the costs of the lease. We made the decision to end ant the end of the 4-year lease. This had led to some significant outstanding costs (£14758 and £5,000 for business rates) ) including dilatation costs and finishing the final lease payments. We had hoped to have build partnerships which would have allowed us to share the costs. With the leaving of the pioneer curate before the end of the project means we were not able to realize these potentials. These cots have now all been meant although we are still in disagreement about possible business rates. 2024 also saw the end of our major fundraising event fireworks which usually brought in £4000 and because we could no longer get insurance we lost that potential income stream. There has also been a long-term reduction in parish giving which had seen the church income yeard rop and this can be seen in the accounts of approx. £11,00. Altogether has created a difficult financial year. On the positive note 2025 appears much better we have had something of parish stewardship campaign and this has led to what appears to be a significant uptake in parish giving and these has meant that by May we are up to date with our parish contributions of £30,000 to the Diocese, (We have already paid more this year than the last), Our Finances always look healthier on paper that there are in reality. Most of our money is tied about in endowment funds (3 accounts) the capital of this cant be spent but the income we receive can be used for general parish costs which was £12883 in 2024. We also have 81,620 in our Special purposes fund most of which envisage will be needed for the replacement of the boiler.in the coming year. 1 **ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS of the Parochial Church Council of ST JOHN the BAPTIST, LOUGHTON** ## **For the year ended 31 December 2024** ## **Administrative Information** St John the Baptist I situated in Loughton, Essex. It is part of the Diocese of Chelmsford, and within the Epping Forest North MMU and the Epping Forest and Ongar Deanery. The correspondence address is the Parish Office, Church Lane, Loughton, IG10 1PD. ## **The Parochial Church Council (PCC)** The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Revd Chris Davies to promote in the ecclesiastical parish in the whole mission of the church: evangelistic, pastoral, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the church buildings. In practice, the day to day running of the Parish is delegated to the Parish Priest. Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the APCM in accordance with the church representation rules. The PCC members during the time of this report are: |Ex-officio members||| |---|---|---| |**Incumbent**|Revd Chris Davies|| |**Curate**|Rev’d Will Rose-Moore|(from October 2024)| |**Wardens**|David Roderick|| ||Joanna Duffett|| |**Ordinand**|Elizabeth Gloyn|| |**LLM in training**|TonyDawson|| |**Deanery Synod**|Suhail Baithun|| ||David Roderick|Vice Chair| ||_Vacancy_|| |||| |**Elected Members**|(1)VickyShankland|(Secretary)| ||(2)Steve Hart|| ||(3)Geoff Wolfson|| ||(4)James Hill|| ||(5)Stuart Jack|| ||(6)Jamie Favell|| ||(7)Josie Hart|| ||(8)Linda Cook|| ||(9)HilaryKemp|| ||(10)Sam Murdoch|| ||(11)Anton French|(Treasurer)| ||(12) Virgil Parenzee|| |In Attendance when needed|Sam Alder|(Minute taker)| ||Rachel Cartwright|(Safeguarding Officer)| The PCC met 6 times during the year to decide and discuss on the Churches affairs. The work of the PCC is over. The work of the PCC is overseen by officers who are given responsibility for a given area, and who involve both members of the PCC and wider church in the organisation in the 2 operation of the churches activities as appropriate. These officers are accountable to the PCC and make reports to the PCC as appropriate. ## **Our vision and mission.** St John the Baptist, Loughton sees its primary purpose as offering a variety of opportunities for prayer and worship, whether as a community or individually. To this end it holds a diverse range of services on Sundays and during the week and the church is open daily, providing the opportunity for private prayer. It also seeks to develop an open and welcoming Christian community based on the building. To achieve this, although we would like the church to be open every day for members of the wider community to come in and visit/pray; to be able to support groups that meet various community needs. St Johns sees itself as a church for and of the community and has the Safeguarding of all who visit at the forefront of its life. We have employed 1 member of Staff on a part time basis. In addition to the employed member of staff there are many volunteers and helpers who together seek to be a transforming presence within our communities to achieve the aims of the PCC, and the clergy. ## **Public Benefit** St Johns, Loughton provides public benefit in numerous ways which can be broadly categorised as follows: - a) Christian Witness St Johns is an active member of the Church of England and Churches Together in Loughton It seeks mutually positive engagement in all the surrounding communities at every level. An important motivation for this work includes sharing the love of God and promoting Christian values and teaching to benefit members and society at large. - b) Local communities Finding mutually beneficial areas of engagement within local communities is fundamental to the activities of the Church. St Johns seeks to both address the spiritual and practical needs of the people whom we live. - c) International Communities Another focus of St Johns is overseas mission work, and poverty relief. St Johns looks to support organisations that seek to share the love of God in both practical and spiritual areas. ## **Safeguarding** The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is committed to Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and has adopted the Church of England’s policies and best practice on Safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England website and also on the Diocese of Chelmsford website as well as the Parishes website. The Parish Safeguarding Officer can be contacted via the parish office. The PCC, as a registered charity, confirms that the major risks to which it may be exposed, have been identified and reviewed and systems and procedures put in place to manage any such risks and as such has complied with its duty under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 and is committed to the safeguarding, care and 3 nurture of everyone within our community, by: - Promoting a safer environment and culture; - Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults within the Church; - Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation; - Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons; - Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons; • Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others. Revd. Chris Davies…………………………………………Date………………………. Incumbent/ Chairman of the PCC 4 ## **LOUGHTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL** **St. JOHN THE BAPTIST WITH St. NICHOLAS** ## **ACCOUNTS** ## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024** 5 Page 2 ## Independent Examiners Report To the PCC of St John, the Baptist with St Nicholas This report on the accounts of the P.C.C. for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 3-6 is in respect of an examination carried out under Regulation 43(2) of the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 (“Regulations”) and s.43 of the Charities Act 1993 ( “the Act”) As members of the P.C.C. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that and audit requirement of the Regulation and s43(2) of the Act does not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those accounts in accordance with the terms of the Regulations. My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 43(7) of the Act and to be found in the guidance from the CBF. The examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC, a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking such explanation from you and the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. 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: - To keep records in accordance with section 41 of the Act, and - To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and copy with the requirements of the Act, as contained in the Church Accounting Regulations 1997. - 2 To which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to reach a proper understanding of the accounts except for those noted on Page 6 Mr John Boughton Hon. Auditor 38 Wellfields Loughton, Essex. 6 LOUGFtroN PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF STJOHN THE BAPMST Page 3 WITH ST NICHOLAS STATEMENT OF FINANCIALACTIVlnES FOR THEYEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 Total Fund5 2024 Total Funds 2023 2024 Vnre5thrted Designated Re5tncted Funds Funds Funds Stj Hall Ttstal Notes Incornin Re5oUl￿5 Fund Raising Functions J Dividends and Interest I Incomo from Church Activitles 2 Other Incorne l Total Intt)ming ResourtÈs Page 5 64247 4413 142981 12883 1255 15683 11267 15683 15683 Ib 61820 5958 5S 139177 2￿530 9177 139177 5 0 oin Re50U1Tr5 5 Church Activities l Fund Raising c05t5 Totsl res￿rt@S expended 111238 19398 130636 130636 4253 4253 7170 4253 4253 134889 115491 19398 134889 Not Incoming / Ioutgoingl resour￿S l G£ins11105ses1 on investments 2 Fund5 Transfer 4 Net movement offunds IfA73 44919 42&8 42&8 658 658 .7325 658 658 -3527 7218 1255 37594 Totsl funds brought fonyard 26ll9 223036 310137 272543 7 Totsl funds tarrled forward 31 December2n14 5745S 33337 224291 315083 310137 C 03vies Rertor L Dwd RodeDck- Church Warde 2 Jo DLrfFett- Church Warden Arrton French - Treasurer Page 4 BALANCE SHE￿ AT 31 DECEMBER 2024 2024 2023 Investments 167371 166713 Current Assets:_ Short term deposits I￿70 129641 19972 13783 148fy12 143424 ASS￿5 315413 310137 FUNDS Unre5trirted funds 57455 60986 Restricted funds 33337 26115 Designated funds 224291 223036 315083 310137 LOUGHTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF STJOHN THE 8APTIST WITH ST NICHOLAS Page 5 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 Total Total I Incoming resoufces Unrestrirted DesTgnated RestTirted Funds Funds Funds Funts 2024 2024 2023 St Johns Hall Total a Volunrary Income Planned Giving Col leaion5 Incorne Tax recoverable LeEacie5 Donations & Appeals 21670 ICX)IB 19291 21670 10384 19291 41084 21670 10384 291 21670 10384 19291 10511 10268 aoa7 L413 14315 18426 142981 14315 68660 14315 68660 b Incorne from Chufch Activities Church & Church Hall Lettings Funrtions 42355 42355 39176 41355 42355 20 12491 20 Fees from WeddinEs etc 10153 8615 61820 2 Outgoing Resources Church Aaivities Ministry Costs Diocesan parish contributic Other clergy costs Charitable donations Wages & salaries Church running expenses Church Maintenance 26(K(1 61L￿) 1025 1025 2712 1025 1025 366 23￿? 23CQ7 25867 23(Ki7 15628 48736 23th)7 1gJ32 8456 7215 8456 Upkeep of ChuTchyard Church hall runninE costs 6782 6782 6782 6782 20101 111238 20101 IX￿36 173450 28491 20101 20101 130636 19398 130636 LOUGHTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF STJOHN THE BAIryIST WITH ST NICHOLA5 Page 6 NOTESTO THE FINANCIAL STATEMETr￿s Icontinuedl YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 statement of funds Transfers. other gains Bal c/fwJ nditure & losses 31-Dec-24 Bal b/fwd 01-Jan-24 Income Ex Unre5trKted funds st Johns, St Nicholas church Hal I 39896 98969 -95391 23475 -16421 21086 32995 -20101 33980 12894 60982 131964 -115491 57455 -3527 De￿gnated fund5 st johns & st N icholas Special purposes fund church Special purposes fund I CCL#4)4D Oebden Estate st John5 Musisc Fund (Note 11 st Johns Bells Fund Church Hal I Caphta I fund 42944 1545 21544.65 -8210 -8210 -33316 -14758 .48074 -14758 5437 -4274 5210 -227 3432 3432 15832 658 16490 658 26119 5592 -19032 20657.65 33337 7218 Restrirted funds st Johns & St Nicholas Special Purposes fund Capital fund - St Johns Loujn 03102 Howard fund- St johns whittakers Foundation capita I fund CCLP£J2D 25342 25342 147344 750 148094 750 7694 505 8199 A7 42656 42656 223036 1255 224291 1255 Totals 310137 138811 -134523 658 315083 4946 ACCOUNTING POLICIES Income and Ex enditure Al I Income and expenditure is reCO￿lSed when received and paid. Renta15, dividends and investment income is recognised when received. Fixed assets and Inveslmenls. Consecrated and beneficial property 15 excluded frorn the accounts by $9612llal of the charities Art 1993. No value is placed on Church or Hall furnishines. all expenditure whether ma intenance or improvement is written off as incurred. Al l investments ère valued at market va lue as at 31 December 2024. NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS l. Included in Choir expenditure with in St Johns church are paymenmts to the Music Fund. In previous years these were paid to the organist. however these are now wa ived by him and are credited to the Mushc fund and used to f inance musical axrtivites at the church 2. The Debden estate artivity came to an end in March 2024. There l iabi l ities felating to rent. di lapidations and business rates have now been settled. io