2024 Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St Lawren￿ with St Paul
Longridge
Aim & purposes
St Lawrence with St Paul Parochial Church Council {PCC) has the reswnsibility of Covoperdting with the
incumbent, in the promotion of thewhole mission of thechurch, pastordl, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The PCC is responsible forthe upkeep of the two churches in the Parish, St Lawren￿ and St Paul.
Objettives and Attlvities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to feel welcome at our churches and to become
part of the worshiping community at St Lawrence with St Paul's. The PCC maintsins an oveniiew of worship
throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our ser41￿$ can involve the many groups that live within
it. Our services and worship putfaith into Practi￿ through prdyer, scripture, music and sacrament.
When planning ouractivitiesfortheyear, we have consideredthe Charitycommission's guidan￿ on public
benefit and, in particular, the supplementsry guidan￿ on charities forthe a(fvan￿rnent of religion.
To facilitate this work, it is important that we maintain thefabric of the two thurches within the parish.
Athlevements and performance
l) Worshlp and Prayer
The PCC supports and offers a wide rdnge of services. activities and events of spiritual. social and mental
health benefit for our Longridge community. This year we implemented a project to enable better
livestreaming of our Sunday Services on YouTube to reach those who can't normally attend morning
worship. We now hold two services on a Sunday: a 10am Holy Communion Service with Children'5 Church
at St Paul's Church and a 6.30pm Evensong ser¥ice at St Lawrence Church. There is also a 10am spoken Holy
Communion service on a Thursday as well. We held 3 weddings, 22 baptism and 36 funerdls in 2024. All key
Christian festivals were olebrated, and we continued to be active in the community through a host of
events, such as a summer flower festival, organised to welcome a wider group of people.
The PCC firmly believes that the (J)urch can be an organisation of hope for all age groups. and this includes
the fostering of faith in God and in love for the lool community among the younger generation. We
therefore continue to work closely with the local Church of England Prirnary School.
2) Deanery & Diocesan Synod
Parish representstives are on the Deanery Synod, with one of these also sitting on Diocesan Synod. This enables
the Pccto have an important link with the larger church.

3) Fabric of the church
To ensure the maintenance and safety of our two<hurch building rna1ntenan￿ and servicing checks to the
boilers, fire extinguishers, the Willis organ at St. Paul's and the clock on the tower at St. Lawrence are all
scheduled and carried out annually. The topple testing of headstones in St. Lawren￿ churchyard continues
to be carried out on a regular basis.
As a matter of good practice, the PCC continue to approve annual maintenance checks at both churches to
ensure gutters, pipe5, drains etc. are running freely. In addition, an annual risk assessment was carried out
at both churches with the Parish H & S Offi￿r. Surge protection sockets were fitted to all sockets in St.
Paul's Church as a result of that assessment.
A Fabric and Eco Group as a subgroup to the PCC has been set up which meets bimonthly to discuss ways to
reduce the Parish Energy Footprint and work towards the A Rocha Eco Church Award in addition to dealing
with on-going fabric issues.
SL Lawrence Church.
With the help of a Quick Wins grant via the DI0￿Se we were able to change all the fittings and lamps at St.
Lawren￿ church, both in the church itself and in the adjoining parish room to LED. Improvements to the
heating in that church were also made following recommendations from the Diocesan Heating Adviser.
Uneven stone steps which give access to the church and churchyard via a side entrdnce have been re-laid
and are now safe to use again.
Work has been carried out to an area of retaining wall at St. Lawrence church where tree stumps had
caused the wall to bulge and become dangerous. The tree stumps have been removed and the wall and
coping stones made good.
A defibrillator was fixed on an outside wall at St. Lawrence.
In June of 2024 an appeal was launched to raise more than £25,000 for the restoration of the Lychgate at
St. Lawrence and we are now hopeful that this work will be done before the end of 2025.
St. Paul's Church.
With the help of fundraising pledges from parishioners and rnatch funding from the Parish Vision Fund we
were able to install a modern Audio-visual system at St. Paul's Church which ha5 enhanced the overall
worship experience by allowing more creative Servi￿ content. The use of LED screens will Eradually redu
our relian￿ on printed service sheets.
To provide MO￿ security and protection for the Avequipment and monitors c￿vwaS also instslled at this
church.
Twelve trees at St. Paul's Church at the side of the carpark were felled on the recornrnendation of the
Diocesan tree specialist as they were suffering from Ash Dieback.
4) Pastoral Care
The Centenary room at St Paul's, and the Parish Room at St Lawrence's continue to provide a venue for
variou5 activities, religiousi pastoral and charitable. Each Thursday the PCC supports a meeting of Walkie-

talkies, a mother and toddlergroup. Coffee mornings are held in support of charitable causes. Charity
events and collections have been organised for charities both at home and abroad. We alxi fund a scheme
that supplies less well-off children with ￿rtain items of school uniform, which their familie5 may not
otherwise be able to afford. The room is also used for meetings by the Christian organisations such as the
Mothers Union and the Tuesday aub, and secularsocieties such as the local history society.
As part of the PCC'S responsibility to the wider community, the PCC allows the local Food Bank to operate
from the Centenary room on a no charge basis.
We can offer home Communions to those that are house bound.
A bereavement seniice for those in need 15 offered by the PCC. Outreach group5 Vlslt the sick in hospital or
home, and those who are nOti￿d not to have been at church re￿ntlY are, where practicable, contacted.
Each Wednesday a weekly'drop in" service called BrewTime is held, and although not a religious meeting it
offers chance for people to meet others, and dip into church.
The Wednesday aftemoon Welcome Cafe really picked up nurnbers in this period with on average 30
attendees of all ages mixing well together. The Neuro Diversity group continued to blossom in 2024
The church runs youth groups, during term time. which are well supported.
5) Mlsslon and Evangellsm
Our parish magazine, The Log, is produced and distributed to parishioners ten times during the year.
Several courses such as the Alpha Course and the Bible Course were held during the yearwhich allowed
regular and new people to access the church and the message of the thristian faith. Local and national
charities such as The Children's Society, Home for Good and Safe Families have benefited from retiring
collertions, special events or specific donationsthroughout the year. We continue to support the Diocese
Vision 2026, 'Local Churches, Transforming Communities, and we have our own church vision, 'Following
Jesus in Loving CommuniW which supports this. Finally. this year special adverts were prodU￿d to go into
local Longridge publications to advertise our different Church services and seasonal event.
6) Ecumenlcal Relatlonshlps
The church is a memberof the ChurchesTogether in Longridge and District anda numberofjointserv1￿S
were held throughout theyear, including the Remembrance sundayservi￿, held at St Pdul's and the Good
Friday cenotaph service, which has multi-denominational input.
The Food Bank is staffed by volunteers from all the churches, and is run from the Centenary room at St
Paul's.
71 Flnanclal Revlew
In 2024 the total re￿Ipts were £247,874 of which £102,897 was re￿Ned as restricted funds, £2,071 VRS
designated fund5 and £142,906 was received as unrestricted funds.This represented an increase in total income
of £53,677. Planned givin& however, was £7,284 than in 2023. and collections at ServI￿S continued to fall. The
PCC continue5 to promote the Parish Giving kheme alongside 'card machine, giving, and Clergy will continue to
promote 'giving through grace,. Othervoluntary re￿iptS increased by £38,803 from £22,218 to £61,021 mainly
due to donations received for the Auditrvisual project at St Pauls, and the Lychgate fund at St LaWren￿s.
GiftAid claimswere lowerthan in the previous yearat £19,219 compared to£39.198 in 2023. We continue to

promote the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS), where eligible donations through this route automatically have Gift
Aid reclaimed by PGS, and is re￿iVed in the same month asthe donation. A number of Gift Aid claims were
outstanding at the year end and will be received in 2025.
Fundraising revenue was down by £2561 and facilities rental income increased from £2,905, to £4.613. Fees for
weddings and funerals increased by £1,198 to £21522. Investment income rose by £4.624. due mainly to an
increase in the Haighton Dividend.
We also sold some investments in the year generating £38,134.
We were in receipt of a grant from the DI0￿Se towards the cost of the new Audio-wisual facilities of £16,429.
£224,109 was spent in total, to provide the Christian ministry from St Lawren￿ with St Paul, including the
contribution of £89,217tothe diocesan parish sharewhich largely providesthe stipends and housingforthe
clergy.
Expenditure was up on 2023, by£34,838.This increase isduetomore beingspent on Repairsand
Maintenance in 2023, £32,233 as opposed to £60.056 in 2024. Included within the 2024 expenditure is the
Audio-visual Project at a total cost of £34,182.
Expenditure on energyi churchydrd and running costs increased. aergy and staff ing costs were up by £1,446,
mainly due to agreed increases in pay rates.
The net result for the year was a surplus of £23,765 for the year- however it should be noted that within this
figure is the sale of investment receipt of £38,134. Had we not sold these shares, then we would be showing
deficit of £14,369.The value of a Central Investment Fund {aF) share increased over the course of the year.
However, as we realized £38,134 worth of shares the actual end of seartotsl Wd1￿ of our investments now sits at
£303,371, a reduction in value of £28,777.
The United Utilities sharesshoweda lossof £283followinga decrease in theshare price.This isa paper loss
only.
The breakdown of the income from these shareslinvestments is detailed within section sc of the financial
statements.
8) Reserves Pollcy
It is PCC policy to maintain an unrestricted reserve of £20,000 {in cash or unrestricted investments) in the event
of needing to cover future shortfalls in income over expenditure. This policy was achieved in 2024
To clarifydetails of our investments in light of the reservespolicy.The Investment Assets within the Finanaal
Ststements- that currently stand at £309,371, some are restricted, £11,284, which means that the income and
anycapital expenditure would be restricted as to their use. The remainder a￿ Endowed and may also be
restritted, as such only the income from these funds is available forthe PCC to use in line with the restrictions.
9) Volunteers
If a projett requires a specific skill, volunteers may be Cl￿pted onto the ￿riOUS SU￿0mMittees, or indeed the
PCC, for that specific project.

)ne of the fund raising activities of the PCC would be possible without the dedicated help of volunteers, and
the PCC would like to express its grdtitude to all of those who have helped in any way. overthe course of the
last twelve months.
10) Structure• govwnaKe and man¥mwt
The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established bythe thurch of England. The PCC operdtes under
the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the
Church Representation Rules. At 5t Lawrence with St Paul, the meM1￿rshIp of the PCC consists of the
incumbent, curate, churchwardens, deputy churthwardens, secretary, treasurer, Deanery Synod
representatives, Vision Champion, readers and members elected by those members of the congregation who
are on the electoral roll of the church.The Pccmembersare resw)nsible formaking decisions on all mattersof
generdl con￿rn and Importan￿ to the parish, induding decidin8 on how funds of the PCC are to be spent.
The full PCC met Sixtimes during theyear, with an average attendance of 78%. Given itswide responsibilities
the PCC has a number of committees each dealing with a particular aspect of parish lrfe.
These committees, which include but are not restricted to worship, pastoral. social and stewardship (fabri¢
and finance), are all responsible to the Pccand report back to it regularly, minutes of their meetings being
received by the full PCC and discussed as necessary.

11)Admlnlstrative infom)ation
St Lawrence's Church is the Parish Church. and is situated on Lower Lane in Longridge. St Paul's Church is
situated on Church Str￿t.The parish is part of the DI0￿Se of Blackburn within the Church of England. The
PCC is a body corpornte (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2011) and is a
registered charity, number 1134831.
The members of the PCC *niing during the period of these accounts were:
Ex offlclo members:
-Incumbent:
The Reverend Mike Barton (chair)
-curate
Reverend Simon King
-Reader:
Muriel Anderson {Resigned 22 April 2024)
-warden:
Alethea Jane Ng (Resigned 22 April 2024)
-warden:
Dorothy Ann Little
-warden:
Dorothy Laver (From 22 April 2024)
-Deputy Warden:
Graham Kelsall
-Deputy Warden:
Mae Hays (From 22 April 2024)
-Secretsry:
Barbara f4+lcCDrmi(k {Re&gned 22 April 20241
-secretary:
Barbara Burton (From 22 April 2024)
-Treasurer:
Graham Kelsall
-Di0￿san Synod Representative
Graham Kelsall
-Deanery Synod Representative:
Karen Louise Ellen Boardman (also Vision Ulampion)
-Deanery Synod Representative:
Graham Kelsall
-Deanery Synod Representstive:
Chris Martin
-Deanery Synod Representative:
Dorothy Laver

Eletted Members:
- Annamarie Rogers-waterman
- Barbara Mccormick
David Hartley
- Rosemary Lyons
-valerie Wardley
- Barbara Burton
- Michael Dawson
-Vernon Kinrade
- Helen Clements
Philip Jones
Stephanie Willan
- Robert Stephen Bretherton
Andrew Filder
- Mae Heys
Amii Bateson
-wendy Smyth
(From 22 April 2024)
(From 22 April 2024)
(resigned 22 April 2024)
Approved by the PCC on .............
chalrman)
and signed on thelr behalf by the Reverend Mlke Barton (FCC
Reverend Mike Barton....
Date...
g6/6/,,

Independent Exominers Report to the PCC Members/Trustees oASt Lawrence ￿ St Poul
Longridge
I report to the PCC members on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31
December 2024, which are set out on pages 9- 11.
This report on the finanaal statements of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2024, is in respert of
an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 20061"the
Regulations") and sertion 145 of the Charities Act 20111.the ACV).
Respertlve responslbllttles of the Pccond the Examlner
As members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance
with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 {"the Regulation<) and section 145 of trie Charities Act
2011 {"the ACY'I.
I report in respect of my examination of the charitrls accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act
and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable directions given by the Charlty
Commission under section 145{51(bl of the Act
Independent Exomlners statement
I have completed my examination. I conflrm that no material matters have come to my attentlon In
connection with the examination giving me Cause to believe that in any material respect:
Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by sectton 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
requlrementthat the accounts give a true and falrview which is not a matter considered as part
of the Independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to whlch
attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
reached.
Signed:
Christine Richards FCA, Independent Examiner
ICAEW
McDade Roberts Accountants Ltd
BTC House
Chapel Hill
Longridge
Preston
PR3 3JY
08 May 2025

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
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