OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-12-31-accounts

Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council of St Stephen and St Wulstan for the year ended 31 December 2025

Accepted and approved by the Parochial Church Council at a meeting on 24 March 2026

Charity Number 1135051

1

CONTENTS

Introduction from Chris Hobbs 4
Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council 5 - 9
Fabric Committee Report 10
Electoral Roll Report & Safeguarding 11
Reports on Church Life 12 - 19
Financial Statements 20 - 32

3

Introduction

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIVUK)

These verses are both well-known and well-loved, and rightly so – perhaps all the more because of the hymn we often sing, ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness.’

They are remarkable words because – as suggested by the name of the book in which they are found – they are spoken in a time of great sadness, even brokenness and desolation, with the city of Jerusalem lying ruined and deserted. These words sparkle like a jewel against a background of almost impenetrable darkness.

If these believers can speak with such hope and confidence at such a time and in such a place, then surely we can, whose lives are much gentler and less troubled. If they can rejoice in the Lord’s ‘compassions’ (individual acts of compassion) and faithfulness, then surely we can.

This is now my twenty-sixth, and final, annual report and, as I reflect on all those years, I can certainly testify to the Lord’s compassions and faithfulness to us as a church. We do not deserve the peace we have enjoyed, the modest growth, the blessing of growing more international, the quality of staff serving us.

I hope you will join me in giving thanks to the Lord for his daily compassions and ongoing faithfulness. While we let him down at many times and in various ways, he will never ever let us down. And we can be sure of that, even as Helen and I leave you this summer. The Lord will not be leaving!

So, let me encourage you to read the following reports with these thoughts in mind, thanking God for both his kindness and his faithfulness.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not. As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Yours warmly, in Christ,

Rev Chris Hobbs Senior Minister (Vicar)

4

Annual Report of PCC for 2025

Background

The parish has two church buildings, St Stephen’s and St Wulstan’s, with Rev Chris Hobbs serving as Vicar, and Ben Wells as Associate Minister.

The Parochial Church Council (‘PCC’) has a duty, with the Vicar, as stated in the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956, to consult together on matters of general concern and importance to the parish. The PCC also exists to co-operate with the Vicar in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

Membership

Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (‘APCM’) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the calendar year 2025 the following served as members of the PCC:

Clergy

Rev Chris Hobbs Vicar Rev Ben Wells Associate Minister

Wardens

Mr Richard Phillips Mrs Cordelia Checketts

Diocesan Synod Representatives

Mr Tom Bryant Mr Ian Butler Mrs Helen Hobbs Mr Eldric Li Mr Christopher Thornhill

Deanery Synod Representatives

Mr Christopher Barry Mr Paul Coley Mr Nick Devas Mr David Sydenham

until July 2025

Elected Members

Miss Hannah Cawthorn Mr David Chen Mr Tak Kai Samuel Chow Mrs Sue Fearon Mrs Lorraine Freeman Mrs Ruth McNeill Mrs Karen Pearson Miss Julie Richards Mrs Paula Richardson Mrs Stephanie Tam

from APCM 2025 from APCM 2025 until July 2025 from APCM 2025 until APCM 2025

Parish Treasurer

Mrs Karen Pearson Mr Mark Johnston

until July 2025

from September 2025

5

Committees

The PCC operates through a number of sub-committees, which meet between meetings of the full PCC:

Standing Committee

This is the only sub-committee required by the Church Representation Rules. It has power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any direction given by the PCC. These are set out in the Terms of Reference agreed by the PCC in February 2022

World Mission Committee

This committee maintains contact with the Christian workers whom we support outside the parish, both overseas and at home, and keeps the church informed about missionary matters. It recommends to the PCC the payments to be made from the World Mission budget.

Fabric Committee

This committee oversees the general maintenance and repairs of all church property, including the two church buildings of St Stephen’s and St Wulstan’s and the property at 103 Bournbrook Road.

6

SSSW Finance Report for 2025

Financial Review

The PCC considered the financial forecasts for the financial year ending 2025 at their meeting in February 2025. It was clear that the PCC General Fund was heading towards a deficit for 2025. The PCC agreed to implement changes to reduce planned expenditure from the General Fund and proceed with a reduced budgeted deficit for 2025, utilizing reserves to cover the shortfall. The congregation was informed of this outcome.

Total income on the General Fund for the year was £351,354 (2024: £374,156), and expenditure was £359,747 (2024: £341,940). The deficit of £8,393 (2024: surplus £32,214) meant that the balance carried forward on the General Fund was £71,072 (£79,465).

The amount given through the Missionary Fund in 2025 was £59,150 (2024: £56,440).

Reserves Policy

It is the policy of the PCC to hold in reserves three months’ worth of budgeted expenditure. It is also our policy to build up a fund of £5,000 to cover possible building works at the next quinquennial inspection (2027).

Total unrestricted funds at 31 December 2025 were £467,676 (2024: 475,490), of which £ 75,430 were current (2024: £83,244). Following a generous response by the congregation to the giving appeal in November 2025, the PCC anticipates a surplus for 2026.

Revitalisation of St Wulstan’s

In July 2025, we heard that we had been successful, along with 6 other churches in Birmingham, in securing funding from the Church Commissioners (£5.7 million for diocese) for the work of revitalising St Wulstan’s. This is a significant development, as it will help us resource the re-imagining of our ministry there – we hope to appoint new staff, re-develop the building and undertake new areas of ministry as we seek to make Jesus known more effectively to the students and wider community there.

Though the funding and major developments will be delayed until the arrival of a new vicar in 2027, a steering group has already been set up and begun to meet, as we take step towards this upcoming revitalisation work. This group is jointly supported by the Diocese and SSSW to guide and resource the work during this interim period as we continue to identify opportunities for mission and outreach in the area.

Other Matters

In January 2025, the PCC updated the criteria and principles to be applied when considering grants to be made from the Discretionary Fund.

No donations were given for political purposes.

Mark Johnston Treasurer

7

Review of PCC meetings in 2025

At its meetings in 2025, the PCC:

January 28th

March 25th

• heard from Ed Stock (C of E Birmingham lead on church planting), encouraging us to bid for Church Commissioners funding to revitalise St Wulstan’s, and agreed in principle to support the bid,

May 20th

July 8th

congregation, that some were interested in helping St Bart’s, and that we awaited

8

the result of the St Wulstan’s bid,

September 23rd

November 25th

9

FABRIC COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2025

The Committee continues to meet on a quarterly basis, and comprises: Tim Pearson

Sally Hill

Paul Coley

Thanks are given to Church members who supported the two Maintenance Mornings, in May and November.

Financial summary:

Budget £14,500 Actual expenditure £12,838

The largest items of expenditure were:

All costs are inclusive of VAT.

Matters worthy of comment:

Tim Pearson Chair, Fabric Committee 26[th] January 2026

10

Electoral Roll Report

The electoral Roll was revised in April 2026 . The numbers for the last three years are shown below:

2024 : 165 2025 : 164 2026 : 167

Safeguarding

The council has complied with its duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have due regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

11

Reports on Church Life

Sunday Services

The 10am service at St Stephen’s continues to be very full on occasions (sometimes over 200), although numbers can drop to 160, and we are arranging chairs so as to maximise capacity. The 6pm service at St Wulstan’s regularly has 35-50 attending.

We continue to livestream the 10am service for those unable to come in person or wanting to see what church is like. It has been a great help having automatic translation available, now using Breeze, morning and evening, along with duallanguage Bibles and sermon scripts for those whose mother tongue is not English.

Our services are organised around hearing God’s word as it is read and expounded, and responding to his word in hymns and songs, and with prayers of adoration, confession, intercession and blessing. In our preaching, we generally work through a book of the Bible for a term, following a pattern of Gospels, Epistles, Old Testament.

At 10am we have had sermon series on: 1 Corinthians 1-6 (Messy Church), Genesis 5- 11 (The Beginning of Everything (Part 2)), It’s Great Being a Christian!, Acts 19-21 (The Word Spreads), Matthew 11-13 (Understanding Jesus), and All Age series on the Bible (The Good Book) and elements of the Apostles’ Creed.

At 6pm it has been: 2 Samuel 1-8 (A Man After God’s Heart), John 11-14 (Life Through Death), Psalms 94-100 (Praising the True God), Jonah (On the Run from God), Hebrews 4-10 (Jesus is Better!), and we also enjoyed two Praise Evenings in February and June.

There were a number of ‘one-offs’: a World Mission Sunday in March (with Natch Ayling of OMF), a weekend at home on ‘Jesus Now!’ (with John James of City Church), a ‘Shipwrecked’ Holiday Club service based on Jonah, a Vision Sunday in October, and Hush in the Rush on ‘The Promise of Christmas,’ looking at Old Testament promises of Jesus. Our Christmas services this year followed Luke’s account, leaning on Bear Grylls’ book ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told.' Chris Hobbs

Fellowship Groups

Our Fellowship Groups are about four things: Bible, Prayer, Care and Mission, as we help one another to hear from God’s word, pray together and for one another, care for one another, and encourage one another in mission. So they remain an essential part of pursuing our vision of ‘knowing Jesus + making Jesus known’. I would dearly love everyone in the church family to be part of a Fellowship Group and so be part of these different dimensions of ‘one-anothering.’

12

In September, the Wilkinsons took over leading the group Helen and I had been leading, and we moved to lead the group the Allens had been leading, which would now meet at James and Rachel Butler’s. That means we still have 12 groups meeting (nine on Wednesday evening, one for women on Tuesday morning, one on Tuesday afternoon, one on Thursday evening) and around 135 people altogether in groups. Five groups have a single person as a third leader to help with leading studies and pastoral care. Once a month we meet as a church family for the Prayer Gathering, where we normally see 30-40 people, and there is space for social events throughout the year.

Our Bible studies generally follow the 10am sermon series, so we have had studies in 1 Corinthians 1-6 (Messy Church), Genesis 5-11 (The Beginning of Everything (Part 2)), Matthew 11-13 (Understanding Jesus), with one series following the 6pm sermons, Jonah (On the Run from God).

Chris Hobbs

Evangelism

A renewed focus in this past year has been how to increase our engagement with the community around St Wulstan’s, of which many are university students.

We continued our welcome events for students arriving in the parish at the end of September, building on Welcome Week events in 2023 and 2024 (cafés, board games evening, BBQ and Welcome Service), as well as handing out nearly 100 Welcome Packs with evangelistic tracts and copies of Matthew’s gospel.

After its successful trial in autumn 2024, we began to develop Community Café as an ongoing midweek ministry at St Wulstan’s on a Wednesday afternoon. It has been exciting to see links with our parish being built through the café: an older man who joined us for Christianity Explored; a house of students who came to a café in Welcome Week, picked up a flyer and came back for Contemporary Carols at St Wulstan's; a male student who started coming to church more regularly. We plan to build on this in the ongoing revitalisation work at St Wulstan’s in the year ahead.

For people exploring Christianity , we ran three Hope Explored courses in 2025 (Jan, May, Oct). We also ran Christianity Explored in the autumn. Though the numbers were small, it was great to see people seeking to find out more about Jesus. Please pray that the Lord would raise up new people to serve on this team, as we are currently quite stretched, and that more people would come to know Jesus through the various courses!

Ben Wells

World Mission Committee

Our church is committed to gospel mission worldwide, both overseas and in UK, especially through our Mission Partners:

13

Church youth ministry support grant £1,400 [2024: £1,000]

The support grants detailed above are sourced from the Parish General Fund having been set and agreed by the PCC during the setting of the budget for 2025.

The World Mission Committee (Nick Devas, Ben Wells, Maurice Sinclair, Elizabeth Barry, David Chen, June Ho, David Stokes) met three times in 2025 to review the ministry of our Mission Partners and to plan the World Mission Sunday in May and the Suffering Church Sunday in November. For World Mission Sunday we heard from Natch Ayling of OMF International about the work in various East Asian countries. For Suffering Church Sunday, we heard from John Butterworth of Open Doors about their work in countries where persecution of Christians is serious.

We praise God for our partnership with believers worldwide, and pray that all in our church would be blessed by sharing in prayer for our mission partners and the worldwide mission of the church.

Nick Devas, for the World Mission Committee

Men’s Ministry

Mens stay and play meets bi-monthly with a committed team of 6. A deliberately unstructured session with toys, craft and time for pastries, fruit, coffee and occasionally bacon baps is welcomed by everyone. All the men appear to value the atmosphere which is very relaxed. In more recent sessions, attendance from men outside of St Stephen's has represented the majority of people attending. It's encouraging people are promoting it with some hearing about it through word of mouth. The team is likely to change after July 2026 with Ben Barker stepping down from leading.

Men's breakfast's take place about twice a year with the last 2 events taking place June 2025 and Feb 2026. On average 25 people attend and the format focusses on

14

maximising fellowship and prayer with a short, informal talk with questions for group discussion.

The Midland men's convention takes place at Monyhull Church each May. About 1015 men from St Stephen's attend. The conference was held on 10 May 2025 on the topic of biblical masculinity.

Other things include a 'Blokes with books' group who read a book together 2-3 times a year and a men's drinks social at the Country Girl, which usually meets in the Autumn and Summer terms.

Ben Barker

Children and Families Ministry

The regular children’s groups are very encouraging and it’s been lovely to see the children building friendships and enjoying being together both in the groups and after services.

Sunday Club and Sparks meet on Sunday mornings. Explorers on Thursdays happens in the evenings during term time. These groups are great!

We have a brilliant team of leaders who love Jesus and really care for the children. Team members work hard to make sure the children feel known and welcomed.

We enjoyed looking at the book of Jonah in Holiday Club in August. I’m not sure we learned how to manage if we were shipwrecked on an island, but we did make ocean jellies, and shared many fishy jokes.

We heard the really good news that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he came for us.

Children and their families were invited on to the Christmas Adventure – the Big Christmas Party.

We had played lots of party games, learned circus skills and celebrated Jesus’ birth. It was really fun and great to see lots of returning friends and families.

Termly Parent and Carer forums, evenings and the book group discussions have been encouraging and a helpful way to share information, encourage one another and build relationships.

Work in schools

I continue to lead collective worship in St. Mary’s, Tiverton, Bournville Village Primary and St Lawrence schools.

We were pleased to again welcome Raddlebarn school to church for their Christmas carol service and to have a “stall” at the schools “International Evening”. I’m so thankful for opportunities to go into school!

Helen Buckley, Children’s & Families Minister

Stay and Play

‘Stay and Play’ is a lovely group on Friday mornings for parents, carers and their toddlers and babies. We aim to be a welcoming and positive first point of contact for those who have never stepped into a church before. Each week we play, chat, have snacks, read a story and sing songs.

15

We have a very kind team of helpers who set up, tidy up, register guests, as well as make them hot drinks and snacks. We get up to 20 non-church households each week, some who are regulars and some new. It is a great opportunity to serve different families in our communities and welcome them into our church where they can build relationships with Christians and connection with our church family.

We hold a party at the end of each term and we're looking forward to the Easter one soon where we'll share the Christian Easter story and a chocolate egg hunt! We repeated a Christmas Craft Evening at the end of November 2025 that we first started in 2024, just for the grown-ups. We organised it with the aim to build on the friendships that had begun on a Friday and share something of what Christmas means to some of our church parent/carers. It was a very enjoyable evening where lots of beautiful crafts were made, puddings and festive drinks enjoyed and some testimonies given by a couple of church Mums. We hope to do more evenings like this and pray that we build a greater connection between our regulars and our faith.

Alice Johnston

Youth Ministry

Pathfinders (for Years 6-9) have continued to meet on Thursday evenings, with an attendance of around 10-12 young people until the summer, which has reduced to a strong core of 6 regulars. We’ve been very thankful to God for the opportunity to tell lots of young people whose families are not regular church-goers about Jesus for the first time – please pray for them, as despite lots of effort and prayer they haven’t come back to Cross Section.

On Thursdays we continued through Mark’s gospel until summer 2024, and since September we’ve been working our way through Exodus, seeing the links to the big Bible story as we go.

We’ve also met on Sunday mornings, with more time to look deeper into what God has to say to us in his word. We’ve normally followed the sermon series for the morning service, to help parents and carers make the most of opportunities and conversations to disciple their children on Sundays.

Our leaders for Pathfinders in 2025 were Tom Bryant, Claudia Chan, Sam Chow, Chris Stonehouse and Katherine Wong.

We restarted our annual weekend away, travelling to Quinta in October to look at Jonah together. Although it was a bit effort from the leaders to run a weekend ourselves, we were really encouraged by the time together.

The summer camp for Pathfinders, Quinta, went really well. Tom Bryant, Helen Buckley and Martin Sherlaw went as leaders along with 4 Pathfinders, who had a great time! This year an additional camp is running to try to deal with the massive oversubscription we’ve had in previous years, but this is adding a lot of extra pressure on leaders and other resources. Please pray for that situation.

Cross Section (for Years 10-13) has continued to be an encouragement. Tom used AI to make a few funny pictures and now everyone is hounding him about it, and claiming that he never does anything using his own brain. On a more positive note, we are now willing to play a wider variety of games, including games that are not Mafia, so on balance Tom is happy.

16

We have spent time working our way through Mark, and since September we have been looking at John’s gospel and the evidence for Jesus in it. On Sundays we’ve followed the morning sermon series and had some thought-provoking discussions.

During 2025 Cross Section was led by Tom Bryant, Mandy Hughes and Charlie Robinson.

Tom Bryant, Youth & Families Minister

Student Report 2025/6

In 2025 we continued with our format of meeting on Sunday evenings after the 6pm service, to share food, discuss the sermon and pray for one another. We have a great, servant hearted team for which I am very thankful.

In summer 2025 we studied John’s gospel together, following the sermon pattern at St Wulstan’s. Over the autumn we continued our series in the book of Hebrews, looking at how ‘Jesus is better.’

In spring 2026 we joined in the equipping for our month in March of inviting people to ‘give church a try’, by watching the videos looking at topics such as ‘What is the gospel’, ‘Sharing your story’ and ‘Inviting people to church.’ We also discussed the sermons on ‘people who met Jesus’, like Nicodemus and the woman at the well. We were joined at church and student group by a number who aren’t yet Christians, which has been exciting. Please pray for continued wisdom in ministering to a generation that is in general less biblically literate than in earlier times, which poses an opportunity and a challenge.

Ben Wells

International Students Ministry

Our main focus is Globe Café which continues at St Wulstans each Monday, averaging about 15 students. This is run in conjunction with Friends International and our Mission Partners Mike and Rachel Hill. We run a wide range of activities and trips to welcome students to Birmingham. Some of the evenings have a direct Christian content; other evenings seek to build up friendships and opportunities for the volunteers to share their faith. Some students move into Bible studies and a few have come to faith this year. We are always looking for more volunteers to join in this exciting work.

Some international students have become regular members of our congregation and are supported through the student group, community café and personal relationships. Some in our church have provided home hospitality for international students, which is always much appreciated, and there always a need for more hosts!

Chris Stonehouse and Nick Devas

Music Ministry

Singing in church is a natural response to everything God has done for us. We praise Him for His saving power, His tender care for us and the hope He has given us. We also sing to one another as we gather on Sundays – encouraging one another with great truths of God’s grace.

17

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20

All our songs seek to reinforce the truths that we’re learning from the Bible. We aim to sing songs that are easy to sing and with something for all tastes! We hope you’ve enjoyed some of the new songs we’ve learnt over the last year. Here are some of the great words we’ve been singing:

“And when I see You, I see mercy; And if I know You, I know I'm loved. Your name is righteous, Your heart is kindness; Jesus, the image of the unseen God.”

“Rise my soul, for I am risen; Seated now with Christ, my Lord. As my life belongs to heaven, Fear shall hold its sway no more.”

“Rise with the sun, lift up His name. All through the earth we sing out His praise. East to the west, night to the day, Join in the song and sing out His praise.”

Thank you to the music team for serving us week by week. Allan Ooi

Ministry for Senior Members

Our senior members are a valuable part of our church community and it is a joy to welcome them to our monthly Senior Tea. Someone commented recently that it was a place where they felt they could relax, when asked why, they said it was because they were not responsible for anything!

It reminded me that so many of our seniors have served the church in different capacities for many years. And continue to do so. I’m glad that our Teas are a place where they can relax, chat with friends and also be encouraged in their faith. Old age brings many challenges; loss of health and mobility, caring responsibilities, changes in status to mention a few. I hope that our Senior Tea provides fellowship as well as teaching that will enable our seniors to persevere in their faith.

This year we have enjoyed a variety of teaching and discussions, ranging from ‘How to Speak to your Muslim Neighbour’, ‘Can you be a Good Scientist and a Christian?’to ‘Heaven!’. We enjoyed a Harvest Bring and Share and a Summer Tea Party at the Vicarage. During Lent we spent some time thinking about Easter through the Psalms.

Paul Coley leads our mid-week seniors’ fellowship group , he visits and of stays in touch with those that can no longer attend in person. Maurice Sinclair and Jean Phillips take communion to many of our older members who can no longer get to church and others on the Seniors’ team help with visiting those in hospital or nursing

18

homes. Chris Hobbs and Ben Wells lead monthly services at Pebble Mill Care Home and at Uplands Nursing Home.

As ever, we are grateful for all those who support this ministry with baking, speaking, playing music, moving furniture, serving teas and praying. Thank you too, to Sue Fearon who manages the safe-guarding and safer recruiting requirements. Helen Hobbs

19

Financial Statements

2025 General Fund Income

----- Start of picture text -----
0.0
3.2%
2.0%
16.5%
9.5%
68.8%
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Gifts - Standing Orders
Gifts - Other
Income Tax on gifts
Weekend Away
Room Hire Income
Other income
----- End of picture text -----

2025 General Fund Expenditure

----- Start of picture text -----
2.5
0.5
2.3
18.9
1.9
36.4
9.5
16.7
11.4
----- End of picture text -----

Diocesan Common Fund Clergy costs Office Salaries Ministry Trainee

Missionary Fund/Gospel Causes Buildings & Maintenance Ministry Costs Weekend Away

Office and Ancillary costs Evangelism

20




STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES 01 JAN 25 TO 31 DEC 25
01 Jan 24 -
01 Jan 25-
31 Dec 24
31 Dec 25
Unrestrd Restrict Endowment Total
All Funds Funds Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £ £
Incoming Resources
293,594 Incoming resources from donors 275,438 4,981 - 280,419
83,169 Income from operating activity 74,497 1,640
- 76,137
1,623 Income from Investment 1,870 - - 1,870
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
378,386 Total Incoming Resources 351,804 6,621 - 358,426
Resources Expended
347,215 Expenditure on church work 359,518 7,455 - 366,973
- Governance costs 100 - - 100
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
347,315 Total Resources Used 359,618 7,455 - 367,073
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
31,071 NET INCOMINGS /OUTGOINGS (7,814) (833)
- (8,647)
------- ------- ------- -------
31,071 NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS (7,814) (833)
- (8,647)
460,491
Fund Balances B/fwd 01 Jan 25 475,490 16,072 - 491,562
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
491,562 Fund Balances C/fwd 31 Dec 25 467,676 15,239 -482,915

21

BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DEC 2025

31 Dec 24 31 Dec 25
£ £
FIXED ASSETS
392,246 Buildings at Cost 392,246
CURRENT ASSETS
4,930 Income tax reclaimable 5,318
1,744 Other debtors 1,080
6,095 Prepayments 5,705
---------- ----------
12,769 Total Debtors 12,103
Cash At Bank and In Hand
20,750 Lloyds Bank Current Account 22,083
25,253 Lloyds Bank Treasurers Account 16,928
1,000 St Stephens Building Fund CBF 1,000
83 Cash 83
41,000 St Stephens/St Wulstans CBF 41,000
---------- ----------
88,086 Total Cash At Bank and In Hand 81,094
---------- ----------
100,855 93,197
---------- ----------
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Creditors Due Within One Year
1,540 Accruals - Other 2,528
---------- ----------
1,540 Total Creditors Due Within One Year 2,528
99,316 NET CURRENT ASSETS 90,669
491,562 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 482,915
---------- ----------
491,562 NET ASSETS 482,915
Represented by Funds
Unrestricted Funds
79,465 Parish General Fund 71,201
392,246 Property Fund 392,246
3,779 Discretionary Fund 4,229
---------- ----------
475,490 Total Unrestricted Funds 467,676
Restricted Funds
4,888 Missionary Fund 4,888
3,591 St Stephen's Building Fund -
5,971 Senior Members Ministry Fund
5,933
585 Stay and Play Fund 968
1,038 Church of Cristo Luz del Mundo Fund
3,450
---------- ----------
16,072 Total Restricted Funds 15,239
---------- ----------
491,562 TOTAL FUNDS 482,915

22

SUMMARY OF MOVEMENTS ON ALL FUNDS 01 Jan 25 TO 31 Dec 25

BALANCE FUND INCOME EXPENSES TRANSFERS BALANCE
31 Dec 24 /GAINS 31Dec 25
£ £ £ £ £

UNRESTRICTED FUNDS

79,465
 Parish General Fund 351,354 359,618 - 71,201
392,246 Property Fund - - - 392,246
3,779
 Discretionary Fund 450 - - 4,229
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
475,490
 Totals of Unrest. Funds 351,804 359,618 -467,676

RESTRICTED FUNDS

4,888		 Missionary Fund - - - 4,888
3,591
 St Stephen's Building Fund - 3,591 - -
5,971
 Senior’s Ministry 2 41 - 5,933
585 Stay and Play Fund 1,638 1,255 - 968
1,038
 Church:CristoluzdelMundo 4,982 2,569 - 3,450
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
16,070
 Totals for Restricted Funds 6,621 7,456 - 15,239
------- ------- ------- ------- -------
491,562
 TOTALS FOR ALL FUNDS 358,426 367,073 - 482,915
======= ======= ======= ======= =======
NET MOVEMENT IN TOTAL FUNDS IN THE YEAR
01 Jan 24-
01 Jan 25-
31 Dec 24 31 Dec 25
£ £

32,664		 Parish General Fund
 - 8,264
- 1,593 Movement on other Funds - 383
---------- --------
31,071 - 8,647
========== ========

23


INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT AND		 FUND MOVEMENTS
01 Jan 25 TO 31 Dec 25
Parish General Fund (Unrestricted Fund)
01 Jan 24 - 2025 Budget 01 Jan 25 -
31 Dec 24 12 Months 31 Dec 25
£ £ £
Income
6,266 Gifts - Loose Cash/Cheques 3,500 3,204
242,611 Gifts - Standing Orders 232,260 241,629
14,253 Gifts – CAF/Stewardship/Charity Trust 13,212 13,227
60,323
GIFT AID
 56,400 58,043
29,067
Gifts - Giving Response		 59,676 17,018
3,920
Wedding/Funeral Fees		 1,950 1,662
2,100 Weekend Away Income - -
646 Children & Youth Work Event Income 1,700 2,447
3,007
Other income		 3,600 1,091
12,109 Room Hire Income 11,400 11,164
2,169 Interest 1,500 1,870
---------- ---------- ----------
374,156 TOTAL INCOME 385,198 351,354
---------- ---------- ----------
Expenditure
56,844 Diocesan Common Fund Contributions 68,000 67,895
33,808
Church Manager – S&RC		 37,316 34,290
660
Ministry Trainee Costs		 2,000 10
40,319
Children's Worker – S&RC		 44,480 40,856
36,223
Youth Worker – S&RC		 39,945 36,573
42,051 Associate Minister – S&RC 46,400 44,044
6,377
Clergy Expenses		 6,000 6,782
1,155
Staff Expenses		 2,827 3,219
150 Speakers Expenses 300 603
6,189
Office		 7,200 6,261
2,708
Children's work		 2,820 2,754
1,508
Youth work		 5,030 3,047
7,220
Insurance		 7,700 7,522
11,734
Buildings/Maintenance		 14,500 12,838
17,052
Utilities: Heat, Light and Power		 14,729 14,325
6,289
Cleaning		 6,910 6,390
- Consultancy, inc. Independent Examiner 100 100
750 Midlands Gospel Partnership 750 750
1,931 Weekend Away / at Home - -
1,395
Music		 1,500 1,432
1,136 Student Work 2,200 286
1,170
Evangelism		 2,500 1,770
2,371 Parish IT Systems 1,668 1,951
1,181
PA Systems Equipment		 5,049 1,712
- St Stephen’s church room: media displays 10,000 183
2,831
Miscellaneous Expenses		 3,000 2,244
1,450 Kitchen 1,350 984
997
St Wulstans developments		 1,000 829
56,440
Support grants to Mission Partners		 59,150 59,150
- Contingency 3,000 818
2025 Employers Nat. Ins. Allowance (10,500)
---------- ---------- ----------
341,940 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 386,924 359,618
---------- ---------- ----------
32,214 SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) (8,264)
47,252 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 25 79,465
---------- ----------
79,465 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 25 71,201
==========
==========

24

Missionary Fund (Restricted Fund)

Partners are paid out of Parish General Funds, as designated and budgeted outgoings. See World Mission Report for amounts of grants to each Mission Partner (page 13 – 14).

01 Jan 24-
01 Jan 25
31 Dec 24 -31 Dec 25
£ £
---------- ----------
- TOTAL INCOME -
----------
----------
---------- ----------
- TOTAL EXPENDITURE -
---------- ----------
- SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) -
4,888 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 25 4,888
---------- ----------
4,888 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 25 4,888
========== ==========
St Stephen's Building Fund (Restricted Fund)
01 Jan 24 - 01 Jan 25
31 Dec 24 - 31 Dec 25
£ £
Income
1,200 Donations - Standing Orders -
325 Income tax reclaimed -
---------- ----------
1,525 TOTAL INCOME -
---------- ----------
Expenditure
3,083 New equipment / infrastructure 3,591
---------- ----------
3,083 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 3,591
---------- ----------
(1,558) SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) (3,591)
5,148 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 25 3,591
---------- ----------
3,591 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 25 -
========== ==========

25


Seniors Ministry Fund (Restricted Fund)
01 Jan 24 - 01 Jan 25
31 Dec 24
- 31 Dec 25
£ £
Income
25 Seniors Ministry Income 2
---------- ----------
25 TOTAL INCOME 2
---------- ----------
Expenditure
21 Session refreshments 24
177 Sundry expenses 17
---------- ----------
197 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 41
---------- ----------
(172) SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) (38)
6,143 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 25 5,971
---------- ----------
5,971 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 25 5,933
========== ==========
Stay and Play Fund (Restricted Fund)
01 Jan 24 - 01 Jan 25
31 Dec 24
- 31 Dec 25
£ £
Income
1,194 Stay and Play - Income
 1,638
----------
----------
1,194 TOTAL INCOME 1,638
----------
----------
Expenditure
936 Stay and Play - Expenditure
 1,255
----------
----------
936 TOTAL EXPENDITURE 1,255
---------- ----------
258 SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) 383
328 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 25 585
---------- ----------
585 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 25 968
========== ==========

26

Discretionary Fund (Designated Fund)

01 Jan 24 - 01 Jan 25
31 Dec 24 - 31 Dec 25
£ £
Income
360 Gifts - Discretionary Fund 360
90 Income tax on gifts 90
---------- ----------
450 TOTAL INCOME 450
---------- ----------
Expenditure
---------- ----------
- TOTAL EXPENDITURE
-
---------- ----------
450 SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) 450
3,328 Balance brought forward 01 Jan 25 3,779
---------- ----------
3,779 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 25 4,229
========== ==========
Church of Cristo Luz del Mundo, Bolivia Fund (Restricted Fund) Church of Cristo Luz del Mundo, Bolivia Fund (Restricted Fund) Church of Cristo Luz del Mundo, Bolivia Fund (Restricted Fund)
01 Jan 24 - 01 Jan 25
31 Dec 24 - 31 Dec 25
£ £
Income
830 Gifts 3,985
208 Income tax on gifts 996
---------- ----------
1,038 TOTAL INCOME
4,981
---------- ----------
Expenditure
-
 Grants and disbursements
2,569
---------- ----------
- TOTAL EXPENDITURE 2,569
---------- ----------
1,038 SURPLUS (OR DEFICIT) 2,413
- Balance brought forward 01 Jan 25 1,038
---------- ---------
1,038 Balance carried forward 31 Dec 25 3,450
========== ==========

27

Parish of St Stephen and St Wulstan, Selly Park, Birmingham

Notes to the financial statements 2025

Accounting policies

The accounting policies are based on the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, prescribed by the General Synod.

Unrestricted, Restricted and Endowment Funds

A list of funds can be seen in the detailed balance sheet at the bottom of the Balance Sheet.

The Parish General Fund is used to pay for the running costs and maintenance of the two centres, non-clergy staff (including Children’s & Families Minister, Youth & Families Minister and Administrative staff), the Diocesan common fund, missionary giving, buildings insurance, clergy housing and other parish expenses.

The Property Fund represents the purchase of 103 Bournbrook Road which took place in June 2010 as housing for the Assistant Minister. The house is presently occupied by our Associate Minister.

The Discretionary Fund is a designated fund with the purpose of providing financial support to those connected to St Stephen’s and St. Wulstan’s experiencing financial hardship at the discretion of the vicar and the church wardens.

The Missionary Fund is a restricted fund. This Fund records where individuals have made specified gifts via the parish, which have been or will be passed onto the recipients concerned.

St Stephen’s Building Fund is regarded by the PCC as a restricted fund. The Fund was established for the purpose of the Building for the Future project to renovate the church building, the majority of work being completed in 2015 and a small contingency balance left to meet unforeseen requirements linked to the project. The funds was drawn down during 2025 with the remaining balance being put toward replacing the main projector screen in the main church room of St Stephen’s.

The Senior Members Ministry Fund is considered to be a restricted fund containing income and expenditure related to the senior members ministry activities, which historically included the Day Centre.

The Stay and Play Fund is considered to be a restricted fund containing income and expenditure related to Stay and Play, and Men’s Stay and Play activities.

The Church of Cristo Luz del Mundo, Bolivia Fund was initiated by the PCC in December as a restricted fund. The fund was established to account for support donations that the PCC invited from the church family. The intention being to send the funds realised to the recipient church on a quarterly basis to meet the financial need that has arisen due to problems in the Bolivian economy. The Church of Cristo Luz del Mundo, Santa Cruz is an Anglican church in the Bolivian Diocese, and has been adopted as a Mission Partner church by St Stephen’s.

28

Parish of St Stephen and St Wulstan, Selly Park, Birmingham

Notes to the financial statements 2025

Remuneration

The PCC’s employees were paid from the Parish General Fund.

Fixed Assets

This represents the purchase of 103 Bournbrook Road which took place in June 2010 to provide housing for an Assistant Minister.

Debtors and Prepayments

There are no significant debtors in the current year although a significant amount of income tax recoverable in respect of Gift Aid is due relating to unrestricted giving as well as donations to the various restricted funds. This balance was claimed in January 2026 and accrued to 2025.

Prepayments relate to a proportion of the annual insurance premium paid in 2025 which relates to insurance cover in 2026 together other smaller advance payments relating to Church activities in 2026.

Current Liabilities

This primarily consists of amounts due for sundry items relating to the Parish General Fund incurred during the final quarter of 2025.

All Parish Share (Diocesan Common Fund) contributions for 2025 were paid in full during the year.

Income

Donated general income is recorded in accounts for the Parish General Fund.

The proportion of tax efficient giving was 88.6% of the maximum possible on the total donated income, excluding CAF and Payroll giving (2024: 88.8%). Efforts to maintain this high rate of tax efficient donations / giving are part of a constant process in this area.

Related Party Transactions

The following members of the PCC had the following transactions with the parish during the year (other than the reimbursement of expenses incurred on behalf of the two churches):

C Hobbs and B Wells received the following non-specific expenses:

T Bryant (co-opted to the PCC as Safeguarding lead from May 2023, subsequently elected to PCC at 2024 APCM, superseded by election as Diocesan Synod representative from August 2024) was employed by the parish as Youth & Families Minister and received a salary of £33,432 and pension contributions of £2,474 were made on his behalf.

29

Parish of St Stephen & St Wulstan, Selly Park, Birmingham

Statement of Accounting Policies 2025

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 together with applicable accounting standards and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Funds

The Parish General Fund, the Property Fund and the PCC Reserve Fund represent funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC.

The accounts include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body (e.g. St Wulstan’s Brownies) nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members.

Incoming Resources

Voluntary income and capital sources

Offerings are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC.

Planned giving receivable through standing order is recognised only when received.

Income tax recoverable on gift aid donations is recognised when the income is received.

Grants and legacies to the PCC are accounted for as soon as the PCC is notified of its legal entitlement and the amount due.

Funds raised from the church bookstall are accounted for gross, as are donations for missionary purposes.

Other ordinary income

Rental income from the letting of church premises is recognised when the rental is paid.

Income from investments

Interest is accounted for when received except for interest due from HMR&C which is recognised when notified of the amount due.

Resources used

Grants

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the PCC.

30

Parish of St Stephen & St Wulstan, Selly Park, Birmingham

Statement of Accounting Policies 2025

Fixed assets

Consecrated land and buildings and movable church furnishings

Consecrated and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by section 96(2)(a) of the Charities Act 1993.

No value is placed on movable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal since the PCC considers this to be inalienable property. All expenditure incurred during the year on consecrated or benefice buildings and movable church furnishings, whether maintenance or improvement, is written off as expenditure in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment

Individual items of equipment are written off when the asset is acquired.

A photocopier is leased by an agreement entered into in August 2021.

Current assets

Amounts owing to the PCC at 31 December in respect of fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors.

Short-term deposits include cash held on deposit either with the CBF Church of England Funds or at the bank.

31

Vicar:

Rev. Chris Hobbs 18 Selly Wick Road Selly Park Birmingham

Bank: Lloyds Bank 142 Edgbaston Park Road Birmingham

Independent Examiner: Mr. Dale Brusby 11 Woodstock Court Birmingham

Chris Hobbs (Chairman)

Principal / Registered Address ST. STEPHENS CHURCH SERPENTINE ROAD SELLY PARK BIRMINGHAM B29 7HU

32

(HARITY COMMISSION I Independent examinerfs report on the FOR ENGLAND AND WALES accounts Seclion A Indopendent Examinerfs Report R•port ts th• trust• On a¢￿￿n￿ for th• yur i D￿4Mb￿ 2025 •nd•d , 1135051 Irf •ny) 8•t oul on p•g•• 21>33 d)anty (1he TnAI'I for ts yw 31112 12025. R••ponsiblftl•• and bas1¥ of report urKl8r 88thon 145 01 the 2011 arKI m carrwrg my I under WLon 145(SXbl ol A Ind•pond•nt The ch•rity'• ar￿ mcune exrthJ £250,1)Xi ¥KI l •xamln•fs $tsiement ￿Jertake It examm•lKm by t•)g a rrvnbw cause to beho¥e Ihal in, any ma￿1 res ol Chant￿$ that the accounts gNe a ard f•'rf VV4V • ff411er S￿n•d. Rd•v•nt prof••knl quallfl¢•tlorf•l or body ACMA CGMA IER Oct 2018 33