The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Helen with Holy Trinity, Kensington
Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2025
St Helen’s is a UK registered charity, number 1134830
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
## **1. Legal and Administrative Information**
**Charity Name**
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Helen with Holy Trinity, Kensington (St Helen’s North Kensington)
**Charity registration number** 1134830
**Governing Documents** Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended; Church Representation Rules - contained in Schedule 1 to the Church Representation and Ministers Measure 2019 (No. 1).
**Independent Examiners** Stewardship Services (UKET) Ltd, 1 Lamb’s Passage, London, EC1Y 8A **Bank** HSBC, 69 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5EY **Correspondence Address** St Helen’s Church St Helen’s Gardens London W10 6LP
**Telephone** 020 8968 7807 **Email** info@sthelenschurch.org.uk **Website** www.sthelenschurch.org.uk
**Context** St Helen’s Church is situated in North Kensington and, as part of the Church of England, is located in the Diocese of London.
**Incumbent** Rev Steve Divall, St Helen’s Vicarage, St Helen’s Gardens, London, W10 6LP
**Other staff members** Rev Mark Selby, Curate Moji Ogunkanmi, Part-Time Administrator (9 hours per week)
Page | 1
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
**Trustees / PCC Members serving during 2025**
|**Role**|**Name**|**Note**|
|---|---|---|
|Incumbent / PCC Chair|Revd Steve Divall||
|Churchwarden|Amy Aulsberry|Elected 2025 APCM to 2026 APCM|
|Deanery Synod Member|Oness Williams|From 2023 APCM to 2026 APCM|
|Elected Members|Tamsin Wright|Elected 2025 APCM to 2028 APCM|
||Timothy Wells|Elected 2025 APCM to 2028 APCM|
||Sasha Kumari|Elected 2025 APCM to 2028 APCM|
||Gifty Ofori|Elected 2024 APCM to 2027 APCM|
||Jennifer Brown|Elected 2024 APCM to 2027 APCM|
||Michelle Wu|Elected 2023 APCM to 2026 APCM|
||Elliott Ford|Elected 2023 APCM to 2026 APCM|
|Curate|Revd Mark Selby|From July 2023|
## **Responsibilities of Trustees**
Responsibility for setting policy and for determining the parameters within which the charity should operate rests with the PCC, which meets regularly to monitor the activities of the charity. Responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the charity is delegated to the incumbent.
Charity law requires us as Trustees to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year. We are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
## **Statutory Duties**
In pursuing the aims described in this report the Trustees can confirm that they have:
- had due regard to the Charity Commission’s public benefit guidance, as required by the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations
- complied with their duty under Section 5 of the Safeguarding & Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults).
It is our intention that no one starts a role with children, youth, or vulnerable adults before they have received appropriate training and been taken through the DBS process. The Diocese has produced a basic level e-learning safeguarding training tool, which we ask all volunteers, staff and PCC to do. A copy of our safeguarding policy is on our website and also held within the church office.
Page | 2
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
## **2. Aims and Purposes**
The charity is responsible for co-operating with the incumbent in promoting, to the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The PCC is also responsible for maintaining certain church property situated within the parish, namely:
- St Helen’s Church and Hall
## **3. Vision 2023-2028**
We finalised a fresh Mission Action Plan at the start of 2023, for the following five years, arriving at the following statement:
## **Vision Statement**
St Helen’s Church is a vibrant, all-age community which loves Jesus, and welcomes all. We seek to grow deeper into God as we hear, receive and respond to his word; to be a prayerful church, where we support one another, grow as disciples, share the gospel, and reach out and care for the wider community; and to be a church growing in number, youth, and leadership across the ages.
As part of the Church of England and the Diocese of London we seek to play our part in Capital Vision 2030: _For Every Londoner to Encounter the Love of God in Christ._
## **Priorities for 2023-2028**
Goals in four key areas have been identified:
## **Prayer**
Develop a culture of prayer at St Helen’s such that by 2026, 70% of regular members report that they are regularly praying privately, and 35% are attending prayer meetings/partnerships.
## **Outreach**
Help at least 60* people who are not currently members of the church hear the good news of Jesus each year and for at least 11* people to be personally invited each time we run an enquirers course.
## **Pastoral Care**
Establish a pastoral care structure during 2023 (drawing on lessons learnt during lockdown) so that every member of the Electoral Roll is included, whether currently attending on Sundays or not.
## **Developing Leaders And Volunteers**
By the end of 2024, offer each regular church member the opportunity to serve, together with appropriate training. In 2025 50% of committed members will identifiably be involved in active service, increasing to 70% by the end of the MAP period.
*60 is the number of members of the Electoral Roll at time of writing *11 is the number of PCC members at time of writing
[These two numbers will be updated each year after the Annual Meeting]
We will pursue these priorities as we seek to be a church with Loves God and Loves People.
Page | 3
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
## **4. What we did in 2025**
## _4.1 Ministry Review_
2025 continued progress towards the goals in our Mission Action Plan. During the year:
- We met each Sunday and continued to stream services on YouTube
- A Sunday Club ran during services, each week of term time, to help young people develop their own faith by hearing about Jesus and understanding the Bible for themselves.
- A monthly Friday Club for secondary aged children continued to meet and encourage the older youngsters to ask their questions and explore the Faith
- Three ‘Life Groups’ enabled people to deepen friendships, support one another and grow as disciples. Two of these met in person. One via Zoom.
- A Women’s Friendship Group met during the day on the first Thursday of each month
- A small group met each Thursday for prayer, with a ‘hybrid’ setup allowing people to join via Zoom.
- ‘Prayer Together’ continued on the evening of the first Thursday of each month; starting with food together and then praying for our church, our city, our country and our world.
- We looked at a series on the book of Acts to inspire our own outreach and over the summer a short series on Leadership and the good use of authority, as we seek both to help St Helen’s change, and care for each member, including by avoiding any abuse of power.
- We ran ‘basic’ level Safeguarding Training for 12 volunteers, which was well received.
- We ran training meetings for Service Leaders; Sunday Club leaders and those involved in Pastoral Care.
- We hosted a service to mark the 8th anniversary of the Grenfell fire, in partnership with other local churches with the theme of ‘Seeking God, Finding Hope’.
- We partnered with the local shops, the Residents’ Association and others, under the leadership of one of our local Councillors, to continue the ‘St Helen’s Festival’ in June – a Street Party to bring the community together.
- In December we continued the tradition of recent years of taking a sound-system to different parts of the Parish and leading ‘Carols on Your Street’. As it has become an established part of our Christmas programme, we bought a portable speaker system for this purpose. We were encouraged by people thanking us for coming each time we went out.
- We gave £8,513 to our mission partners, both to invest in gospel ministry and to meet immediate needs.
## _4.1.1 Cornhill students_
In previous years we have had the privilege of hosting overseas students studying on the Cornhill Training Course. Our efforts to do the same this year with a student from Kenya were thwarted by UKVI having reduced to zero the number of people we were permitted to sponsor and taking 18 weeks to increase that back to one, by which time the academic year was well underway. The £5000 that we had budgeted towards the costs of hosting a student were reallocated to the financial cost of our newly formed partnership with LCM (see below). That contribution will be paid in 2026 to cover the first year of the partnership.
## _4.1.2 Partnership with London City Mission_
We entered into a partnership with LCM, for an 18-24 month period, working with them in visiting the 3000+ homes in our Parish. The LCM vision is to encourage churches to do outreach, not to do it for us, and so it has been a real encouragement that as well as the 2 LCM workers, and 2 clergy at St Helen’s there have been 2 members of the congregation who have regularly been part of the visiting team, with a third joining when possible.
Page | 4
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
## _4.2 PCC Review_
Our main activity during the year was to lead the church in the priorities identified in our Mission Action Plan.
## **5. Mission Partners**
We continued to partner in mission with Notting Hill Churches Homeless Concern (the 240 Project); Churches Together in Notting Hill; Glass Door (formerly West London Churches Homeless Concern); London City Mission (ministering to ‘The Last, The Least and The Lost’ throughout London); UCCF London (student work); Eden London (youth work), Rose of Sharon (mission and ministry in rural South Africa). In addition, we supported CEEC (the Church of England Evangelical Council) who have stepped up their support for churches seeking to remain orthodox in a changing denomination and gave a small gift to LGST (the London Good Stewards Trust) to aid running costs.
In addition, we gave £500 to St Jude’s, Ikija (Nigeria) as they celebrated 180years while launching a fresh initiative to be a sending centre, to reach new people; and £1300 to Grace Family Church, Kingston, Jamaica for disaster relief, after Hurricane Melissa.
## **6. Financial Review**
During the year, income increased by £43,211 to £240,907 (in large measure due to a catch-up payment from Bassett House School after the conclusion of a rent review), while expenditure also increased by £27,757 to £ 190,320 – resulting in a surplus of £50,587. As a result, the cash held by the charity increased from £349,642 to £400,229. £50,000 was added to the Building Fund ahead of pointing and works on the rooves and gutters. £76,947 is undesignated and unrestricted and can be used for any charitable purpose.
## **7. Reserves Policy**
The PCC has determined that the charity should aim to hold unrestricted cash of no less than £60,000, so that the charity could continue to operate should income and/or expenditure vary adversely. At the year end, the charity held unrestricted, undesignated cash of £77K.
## **8. Quinquennial Inspection / Building Maintenance**
A gutter clean was done in January and routine servicing and maintenance on the boilers was carried out in the Autumn.
The Quinquennial Inspection of the building was conducted in November 2024, identifying urgent work needed on the gutters and sections of the roof to prevent water ingress. Some roof work was done in 2025 and initial work to clear gutters, downpipes and drains. Further work will be needed in 2026.
Remedial electrical works were completed following an EICR survey and additionally the emergency lighting was renewed in the Hall.
## **9. Structure, Governance and Management**
Each area of the church’s life and ministry falls under the oversight of the Vicar, PCC and staff team. The PCC draws on the blessings of the skills of many members of our church family beyond the PCC in order to help it meet its responsibilities.
## _9.1 Parochial Church Council (PCC)_
The PCC is a body corporate established by the Church of England and operates under the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure and the Church Representation Rules. Members of the PCC are
Page | 5
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
either ex-officio; elected representatives of Deanery Synod; or elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM).
The ex-officio members of the PCC are:
- the Vicar (PCC Chair); the Curate
- ordinarily two Churchwardens – elected each year at the meeting of parishioners. One of these posts was filled this year and we carried a vacancy
- our Deanery Synod representative
PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern to the parish including deciding how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. All PCC members are trustees of the charity. Elected PCC members serve for a three-year term, with three elected members standing down each year. All eligible church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll. Prior to the APCM, the congregation is informed of the forthcoming election to the PCC and the Deanery Synod. People are encouraged to stand for election and/or to nominate others. The congregation is informed of resulting appointments immediately following the election. Ongoing training is available to members of the PCC, particularly in areas of their responsibilities as trustees such as finance and child protection. All elected PCC members are asked to complete a DBS check, as confirmation of their suitability to serve, clergy having already done so, as an occupational requirement.
## _9.2 Standing Committee_
This is the only committee required by statute. It has power to transact the business of the PCC between full Council meetings, subject to any directions given by the Council. Its membership is determined by the PCC and ordinarily comprises the vicar, PCC secretary, treasurer, and the two churchwardens. There were no Standing Committee meetings in 2025.
## _9.3 Deanery Synod_
Each church in a geographical area is part of a deanery. St Helen’s is part of the Kensington Deanery.
Elections to the Kensington Deanery Synod take place every three years with Mr Oness Williams duly re-elected at our 2023 annual meeting for a further three year period as our Deanery Synod representative. Scales of representation were revised at the November 2025 Diocesan Synod with the result that St Helen’s will be able to elect two lay representatives at our 2026 APCM. Rev Steve Divall and Rev Mark Selby are also members of Deanery Synod.
The main items covered in the synods during the course of the year were the three ambitions of the Diocese of London’s 2030 Vision, namely to see:
- Confident Disciples
- Compassionate Communities and
- Creative Growth
## **10. Approval**
This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Steve Divall May 5, 2026 ______________________Steve Divall (May 5, 2026 10:22:24 GMT+1) Date: _______________
Steve Divall (PCC Chair)
Page | 6
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Parochial Church Council of The Ecclesiastical Parish of St Helen with Holy Trinity, Kensington ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2025 on pages 8 to 12 following.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act’). I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 2011 Act.
## **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 accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
## Nick Spear
Nick Spear (May 5, 2026 14:35:49 GMT+1)
Nick Spear ACCA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: May 5, 2026
Page | 7
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
## **THE PCC OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Voluntary receipts
2(a)
Fundraising income
2(b)
Investment income
2(c)
Church activities
2(d)
**_Total receipts_**
**Payments**
Church activities
3(a)
Church expenses
3(b)
Major Capital Expenditure
3(c)
**_Total payments_**
Net of receipts/(payments) before transfers
Transfers between funds
**Net movement in funds**
Cash funds as at last year end
**Cash funds at this year end**
A|Unrestricted Funds
General
Designated
Funds
Funds
£
£
52,559
-
-
-
6,291
-
181,457
-
240,307
-
125,087
-
61,190
-
3,176
-
189,452
-
50,854
-
(50,000)
50,000
854
50,000
76,092
270,000
76,947
320,000|Restricted
Funds
£
600
-
-
-
600
268
600
-
868
(268)
-
(268)
3,550
3,282|2025
£
53,159
-
6,291
181,457
240,907
125,354
61,790
3,176
190,320
50,587
-
50,587
349,642
400,229|2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||61,188
-
4,737
131,771|
|||||197,696|
|||||120,938
39,404
221|
|||||160,563|
|||||37,133
-|
|||||37,133
312,509|
|||||349,642|
Page | 8
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
## **THE PCC OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|**A**
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
Instant Access Savings
Notice deposits
Petty cash
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
Barclaycard overpayment Dec 2025
Stripe Balance
Gift aid due to charity
**C**
**Liabilities**
**Falling within one year**
Contribution to London City Mission
Fee for Rent Review Uplift
Utilities
Fee for Independent Examination
**Total**|Unrestricted Funds
General
Designate
d
funds
funds
£
£
55,947
-
20,956
292,495
-
27,505
43
-
**76,946**
**320,000**
1,612
-
123
-
6,212
-
**7,947**
**-**
4,500
-
-
-
1,842
-
1,350
-
**7,692**
**-**|Restricte
d
funds
£
3,282
-
-
-
**3,282**
-
-
-
**-**
-
-
-
-
**-**|2025
£
59,229
313,451
27,505
43
**400,228**
1,612
123
6,212
**7,947**
4,500
-
1,842
1,350
**7,692**|2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||62,933
260,351
26,314
43|
|||||**349,642**|
|||||-
-
8,021|
|||||**8,021**|
|||||-
2,700
-
1,290|
|||||**3,990**|
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
## Steve Divall
Steve Divall (May 5, 2026 10:22:24 GMT+1)
Steve Divall (PCC Chair) Date May 5, 2026
The notes on pages 10-12 form part of these accounts.
Page | 9
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
## **THE PCC OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **1. Accounting policies**
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the PCC in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the PCC for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
|**2**
**a)**
**Voluntary income**
Planned giving
Collections at services
Other donations
Gift aid recovered
Legacies
Other grants
**b)**
**Fundraising income**
**c)**
**Investment income**
**d)**
**Church activities**
Fees for weddings and
funerals
Rental Income
Utility reimbursement
Other incoming resources||Unrestricted|Funds
Designated
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
600
600
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Total
2025
£
29,422
2,365
5,972
14,800
-
600
53,159
-
-
6,291
6,291
667
176,468
4,307
15
181,457|Total
2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
funds
£
29,422
2,365
5,972
14,800
-
-
52,559
-
-
6,291
6,291
667
176,468
4,307
15
181,457|||||
|||||||29,541
5,887
12,778
7,683
-
5,300|
|||||||61,188|
|||||||-|
|||||||-|
|||||||4,737|
|||||||4,737|
|||||||1,551
130,110
-
110|
|||||||131,771|
Page | 10
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
|**3**
**a)**
**Church Activities**
Mission Charitable Giving
Common Fund plus Fees due
Salaries, wages, honoraria
Expenses||Unrestricted Funds
General
Designated
funds
funds
£
£
8,513
-
62,796
-
52,475
-
1,303
-
125,087
-|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
-
268
268|Total
2025
£
8,513
62,796
52,475
1,571
125,354|Total
2024
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||General
funds
£
8,513
62,796
52,475
1,303
125,087||||
||||||7,180
52,272
57,234
4,251|
||||||120,938|
Rev Steve Divall receives a stipend from the Diocese. The cost of this stipend is not included in the above payroll cost. However, some of the Common Fund contribution is used to pay the stipend and provide accommodation (which is customary for clergy). Rev Mark Selby is funded entirely by St Helen's. These costs are included above and expenses incurred by Steve and Mark whilst serving as clergy are also disclosed in the above note.
|**b)**
**Church Expenses**
Mission and evangelism costs
Church running expenses
Utility bills
Costs of trading
Other outgoing resources
**c)**
**Major Capital Expenditure**
Major repairs to the church
building
Major repairs to the church hall
New building work|1,630
36,716
19,897
1,333
1,614
61,190
3,176
-
-
3,176|-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|-
600
-
-
-
600
-
-
-
-|1,630
37,316
19,897
1,333
1,614
61,790
3,176
-
-
3,176|260
24,752
13,041
1,352
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||39,404|
||||||221
-
-|
||||||221|
Page | 11
2025 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE PCC OF ST HELEN WITH HOLY TRINITY, KENSINGTON
## **4 Movement on designated, restricted and endowment funds**
|**General funds**
**Designated funds**
Building Fund
Emergency Building
Ministry Workers
**Restricted funds**
Vicar Support &
Development
Change X Gardening
Total funds|Opening
balance
£
76,092
100,000
50,000
120,000
270,000
3,550
-
3,550
349,642|Receipts
£
240,307
-
-
-
-
-
600
600
240,907|Payments
£
(189,452)
-
-
-
-
(268)
(600)
(868)
(190,320)|Transfers
£
(50,000)
50,000
-
-
50,000
-
-
-
-|Closing
balance
£
76,947
150,000
50,000
120,000|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||320,000|
||||||3,282
-|
||||||3,282|
||||||400,229|
We have designated £50,000 for the Building Fund in response to the architect’s quinquennial inspection, highlighting the poor state of the gutters and downpipes and in light of the need for roofing and pointing work.
NB: a £1 rounding error occurs at a couple of points in these accounts and has carried through into this statement of Total funds.
Page | 12