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2021-12-31-accounts

The Parish of St Helen’s North Kensington

Annual Report 2021

Contents

Vicars’ Report p3
PCC Report p5
Fabric Report p6
Sidespersons Report p7
Electoral Roll Report p7
Deanery Synod Report p8
Financial Statements p9
Independent Examiner’s Report p13

2

Vicar’s Report

For Better and for Worse

The last two years have been ones of devastation and loss for the world as a whole and for many families and individuals. The loss of a loved one. Loss of health. Loss of livelihood. Nothing will be the same again, nothing can be. Yet, still we can say of God, in the words of Psalm 23, “even though I walk through the darkest valley, you are with me”. Still we put our hope in Him. Who else do we have? But then, who else do we need?

For those of us who’ve not had to face serious illness, it’s tempting to think of ‘the Covid-years’ as largely wasted time. Two years on pause; waiting for life to get going again. But of course we’ve all lived through those two years and they affected us all, for better and for worse. And we’ve all related to God during those years, again for better and for worse.

As life does get going again, we want to hold on to the ‘better’:

whatever it was, we want to ask God for the help and wisdom that we need to keep good habits and routines in our lives.

Equally, we want to leave the ‘worse’ behind:

Again we want to ask God for the help and wisdom and strength that we need to change AND we want to put positive routines and rhythms back into our lives.

The Value of Life in 3D

God has made us physical, not just spiritual beings. That’s why most of us found it so hard to be stuck at home for long periods of time, cut off from other people and not able to meet together as a church. Some of us were able (and eager) to return as soon as we were permitted to reopen the doors, others of us needed (and still need) to remain cautious; but I thought I’d share three reflections on the purpose of gathering together as Christians and so why we will want to make church a top priority:

1. We need to remember

Spiritually we need to continually actively remember. It’s a repeated call through the Bible. Because we forget. Because we quickly take God’s grace for granted. Our need to remember will get all the more as we get busy again.

2. We need one another

It was terrific to know that many of us were able to stay in touch with each other during the lockdowns both by phone and by dropping around to each other. But there is something extra that happens when we meet. I don’t just mean the encouragement of being together with others in worship and prayer and in hearing God’s word. We’ve been able to do some of that online. It’s the unplanned conversations; the jogs for our memories (I know that I need that!); it’s making sure that no-one is left out and being able to get to know and include new people.

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3. Actions as well as words

Thirdly, because the Christian faith is not just about knowing some things in theory, it’s about really believing in Jesus and every other part of our lives being transformed by that faith, so faith leads to action: to everyday worship in all that we do and say and so to developing rhythms and routines that enable that … like the weekly discipline of setting aside time for worship with others (or creating the equivalent at home).

Some Things Change, Some Stay the Same

It was a year of significant change in staffing as Andrew Holt, Andrew Kwapong and families and Augustine Kusi-Appiah all finished their time with us to begin new ministry elsewhere.

We remain enormously grateful to them all for what they did while they were with us; to the neighbouring churches who made Andrew Holt’s curacy possible; to LCM and St Mellitus for placing Andrew Kwapong with us and to the Cornhill Training Course for placing first Zablon and then Augustine with us, over the past three years.

A key legacy that the team left was of investing in our three Life Groups. It has been great to continue all three of these and to see new people have a go at leadership. That also gave rise to one of the few things that we were able to do socially: a fabulous Life Group Celebration BBQ – definitely a tradition worth continuing!

New Beginnings

On the final Sunday of the Triple-A-Team being with us it was a delight to have an adult baptism as Sasha took that step in her faith. And it wasn’t the last of the year, as Tola was also baptised in November, just before she and Sasha were confirmed.

And it wasn’t all goodbyes: Sasha began work as our part-time administrator in August and Cornhill were able to place two international students with us, so in September we welcomed Bay Zie and Dinesh. Also, Oak Hill College, having placed Mark Jackson with us during the previous academic year placed Mark and Rosie Selby with us in the Autumn. We are enormously grateful to the College for trusting us with their students and to these gifted people for their example, ministry and music.

We are also really grateful for all that Darnell did in the second half of the year together with the other members of the music team. It has been such a blessing to sing God’s praises together using a mixture of older and newer songs. Indeed, thank you to all who have served God through St Helen’s during the past year, whether by having a go at new things or by faithfully continuing to do something unseen by most of us (but of course seen by the Lord).

In December we were able to be out in the community again doing ‘Carols on Your Street’ and the year ended with the opportunity to begin considering a Mission Action Plan for the next 5 years; as we seek to continue to be a church which is Loving God and Loving People as well as to play our part in the Diocesan vision of Every Londoner Encountering the Love of God in Christ. We look forward to discovering what that looks like in coming days.

Revd Steve Divall, March 2022

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REPORT OF THE 2021 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

Thank you to the following people who faithfully served on our Parochial Church Council during this year:

Elected Members:

Jennifer Brown Emrita Popoola Gifty Ofori (Lay vice-chair) Oness Williams Tim Wells Michelle Wu Ana Alves (until June)

Clergy:

Steve Divall Andrew Holt (until June)

The PCC met on 9 occasions through course of the year; via Zoom during the Covid-19 lockdowns and in a hybrid format (both in the Parish Room and on Zoom) during the months that we could meet in that way. We considered a number of issues relating to church life, both practical and spiritual. These included: finance, safeguarding, the fabric of the building, Sunday services, youth and children’s ministry and mission. We began work to develop a Mission Action Plan for the next five years, and were able to consult the wider congregation in December. With respect to children and vulnerable adults the PCC has accepted and applied the House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding.

The PCC forms the spiritual leadership of our church community, so each time we meet we begin with a time of reading the scriptures and praying together. During the year ahead we will look to finalise a Mission Action Plan and re-establish healthy patterns for our church.

I am very grateful to the PCC for their hard work and wise contributions throughout the year, both at PCC meetings and in church life more generally.

Revd Steve Divall, March 2022

5

FABRIC REPORT

Heating:

In 2019 two of our five boilers had new heat exchangers installed, because they failed their safety check. This year the remaining three boilers also had their heat exchangers replaced.

Roofs:

We are experiencing water ingress on the north wall where the rain water gutters have holes in them. A satisfactory quotation has been received and approved by the PCC. However the Contractor failed to undertake the work in 2021. We hope it will get done in 2022. A leak letting water in through the ceiling of the rear classroom of Bassett House School was temporarily plugged by Steve.

Electrical Devices:

Equipment was purchased and installed in the Parish Room to facilitate Zoom conferencing. Also the Church Office was provided with two reconditioned desktops.

Gutters:

Gutter cleaning by new Contractors was carried out in 2021.

Grounds:

There was a Garden Opening Ceremony in the Summer hosted by Arcadia Charitable Trust and Growing Space Project. Representatives from Bassett House School, RBKC and St Helens Church were present.

Pascale (Growing Space) attended the garden throughout the year giving horticultural instruction to local children.

Church Flat

The Church flat now has full occupancy with two tenants paying rent. This will increase in 2022 after a planned Rent Review.

Kitchen:

A new Dishwasher was installed in the kitchen area.

Timothy Wells Churchwarden

April 2022

6

SIDESPERSONS REPORT

Despite the resumption of church meetings the normal duties carried out by sidespeople, like handing out service sheets and assisting with the collection, have not resumed.

Many of the 2020 team are still in place, consisting:

Cherrilynne Hall, Susan O’Leary, Victoria Ore, Emrita Popoola, Toyin Ore Esther Davies, Ana Alves, Boko Inyundo, Monica Ore, Jennifer Brown

Oness Williams April, 2022.

[Additional note: Huge thanks to those who kept the test and trace register week-by-week during 2021, with a special mention to Jennifer Brown.]

ELECTORAL ROLL REPORT

The Electoral Roll currently stands at: 68 New Members this year: 4 Members removed this year: 4

The Electoral Roll continues to provide an indication of membership and strength of St. Helen’s Church. Adding your name on the Roll of St. Helen’s Church is a way of expressing your commitment to your local church and to the Anglican Community as a whole. It is considered as a statement of witness and a step along the path of discipleship’.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me, should you need any further information.

Oness Williams Electoral Roll Officer. April, 2022.

7

REPORT ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE KENSINGTON DEANERY SYNOD (“Synod”)

As restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic eased, meetings of the Synod alternated between zoom and in person events:

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ST. HELEN, WITH HOLY TRINITY KENSINGTON

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

of the

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Incumbent

Revd. S Divall St Helen’s Vicarage St. Helen's Gardens London W10 6LP

Bankers

HSBC 69 Pall Mall London SW1Y 5EY

Independent Examiner

Mr Stephen Booth ASIP 34 Lancaster Road Finsbury Park London N4 4PR

Registered Charity Number 1134830

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ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounts are prepared on a cash flow basis, using the "Receipts and payments" option which is accepted by the Charity Commission for non-company charities with a gross income that does not exceed £250,000. No provisions or accruals are made in respect of transactions which relate to more than one financial year.

GENERAL LEDGER

Mission 2020 2021
Unrestricted
Restricted		 Notes
Common Fund 85,200 85,200
Fees Assigned to Diocese 0 1,592 1
Staff Expenditure 3,285 1,492
Curate - Stipend & Housing 41,062 19,585 2
LCM Worker 386 2
Women's Pastor 19,215 2
Women's Pastor Expenses 760 2
Evangelism (including
publicity) 446 124
Specific Collections 0 821 3
Charitable Giving 3,085 2,736 4
Worship and Education
Cornhill Students 9,948 14,300 5
Children and Youth 335 166
Music 1,659 516 6
Services 2,594 2,161 7
Training 185 235
Away Day 0 0
Social Events 81 128
Buildings and Grounds
Utilities 11,887 6,498 8
Cleaner 1,509 2,506
Gardener 630 980
Items for Cleaining &
Gardening 380 440
Maintenance and Repairs 1,953 7,313 9
Improvements 230 0
Flat Costs 894 1,336 10
Insurance 5,341 5,432
Administration
Office 1,893 2,706 11
Office Administrator 0 3,341 12
Audit and Bank 0 0
Misc. and Contingency 5,685 350 13
Total St Helen's Expenditure 198,643 125,252
34,706
Giving
Collections 6724 6,766
Gift Aid Standing Orders 10,798 16,130
Other Standing Orders 1,920 2,269
Gift Aid Donations 970 2,325
Gift Day 2,915 1,650
Tax Recovered 0 0 14
Specific Collections 0 964 3
Other Donations 1,070 1,350
Total Giving 24,396 30,490
964

10

Other Income Unrestricted
Restricted
General Lettings 12,484 17,190
Rent From Flat 8,400 11,200 15
Bassett House 182,560 95,000 16
Bassett House utilities 0 0 16
Other Churches 1,480 10,000 17
Designated Grants 14,835 39,438 18
Interest 101 37
Away Day Income 0 0
Events Income 0 0
Church Fees (funerals etc.) 644 1,237
Misc Income 123 1,533 13,19
Total Other Income 196,231 136,197
39,438
Total St Helen's Income 245,024 166,686
40,402
Surplus/(Deficit) 46,381 47,130 20
ASSETS and LIABILITIES 2020 2021 Notes
£ £
Bank Accounts
HSBC Current Account 157,281 204,434
Deposit Account 23,885 23,897
Petty cash book 37 1
Total 181,203 228,332 20
[Due during 2022: BHS utilities + Gift Aid reclaim - c. £45-50K] 14,16

Allocations (at 31 December 2021)

Allocations(at 31 December 2021)
£ £
unrestricted restricted
Designated:
Building Development 70,000
Emergency Building 50,000
Cornhill Students 5,554 18
General Expenditure (unallocated) 97,224
Total 222,778 5,554 20

FIXED ASSETS

Estimated Value

Church Hall and Flat

£1 Million

This is an order of magnitude estimate of the rebuild costs of the Hall and Flat

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Notes

  1. Includes catch up for 2018-2020.

  2. Posts finished in July 2021 or in the case of the Women’s Pastor in 2020.

  3. The major part of the specific collections was to supplement the gift made by Samaritan’s Purse (the relief and development organisation that has come out of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) of laptops and tablets for schoolchildren, to assist their learning from home. Members of the congregation gave to enable more children to have access to technology.

  4. This included the £1000 gift to the Just Solutions123 gardening project from the Bishop of Kensington’s discretionary fund given to the project ahead of the 4[th] Grenfell Anniversary in June.

  5. Two students from September 2021.

  6. Organ & Piano Tuning + Guest Musicians.

  7. Equipment to Broadcast + Zoom fees etc. New computer for services.

  8. We were refunded £8.5K by our utility companies, which had been overcharged in previous years.

  9. Largest spend was on maintaining the boilers. Doors and gutters still need to be done.

  10. Council Tax + Maintenance

  11. Phone, Broadband, Website + Supplies. Uplift due to purchase of new computers and office software.

  12. Administrator employed from August 2021.

  13. £350 Deposit for second room rented in the Church Flat – transferred to mydeposits.co.uk

  14. Gift Aid and GASDS claims overdue for 19-20 and 20-21. c. £8K anticipated.

  15. Second room rented in the Church Flat at existing rate. Review due in early 2022.

  16. An outstanding rent review was settled in 2020 resulting in increased income from Bassett House School. The new rental rate of £95K per annum applied in 2021. The next review point is Autumn 2022.

  17. We have still not billed Bassett House in arrears for their share of utilities. 2014-2021 needs to be invoiced in 2022. We anticipate this to be in the region of £30,000-£35,000.

  18. Christ Church Kensington generously supported us over and above their giving towards the curate.

  19. (Curate in 2021) + Cornhillers. Unspent part of gift from the Rock Foundation retained for 2022 costs.

  20. £350 Deposit for Flat + £1183 returned Deposit from Curate's Flat.

  21. Discrepancy due to rounding function of the accounting software (to the nearest pound).

Approved by the Parochial Church Council Meeting on:

17[th] March 2022

and signed on its behalf by Revd. S Divall (Chairman) Steve Divall

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report R•port to the tn￿te m•mbgrn of ST. HELEN'S. NORTH KENSINGTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL (PCC On a¢counts for the year endad 314¢ Doc•M￿r 2021 Charity no {If any) 1134830 Sot out on pagos 12 I reF#)rt to the truslees on my examination ofthe accounts of the alx)ve Charty Ilhe Trusfi for the year 8nded 3111212020 Rospon$lblllles and ba•1$ of report AS ts charl￿8 trustees. you afe responsible for the preparation ofthe accounts in accordance with the requiTem8nts of the Charit￿$ A£t 2011 lihe Acr). I report in resFct of my examination of the PCC'S accounts carried out under sec1r￿ 145 of the 2011 Act and in ¢arying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable DirectK)n$ given by the Charsty Commission uThJer section 145(5Xb) of the Act. Independent I h8ve Completed ry exawination. I confim) that material matters have examinorfs statemont come to attention in connection wilh the examination (other than that disckjsed below'l which gives ￿ cause to believe that in, any material the accounting records were not kept in accordance wrth settion 130 of the Charities Act; or the a¢¢ounts did not accord with the accounting records: or the accounts did not eompty h￿th the applicable requireTh¢nts con￿mIng the form and content of accounts sel out in the Charilies (Accounts and ReF4)rtsl Regulat￿n$ 2008 other than any requirement thal the accounts give a Irue and f81¢ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examinati￿. I have no concern8 and have come across no other mattern in connection wtth Ihe examination lo whth attentton shoukl be drawn in this ret)rt in order lo enable a propgr understanding of the accounts to ￿ reached. Slgned: Dat•: 201412021 Namo: Steptrn 800th R•levant prdeslonal quallficatlon{s) or body (If any): IER Oct 2018 13

Address: 34 Lancaster Road. London, N4 4PR Section B Disclosure Onty complete if Ihe examiner needs to hwJhl￿hI material matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directs'ons and guidance for examiners). Glve here brief detsils of any itom8 that the examlner wi$hoS to disclow. IER Oct 2018 14