ST PAUL’S CHURCH, GRANGE-OVER-SANDS BENEFICE OF GRANGE-OVER-SANDS AND FIELD BROUGHTON WITH LINDALE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR 1 JANUARY TO 31 DECEMBER 2024
Administrative Information
St Paul’s Church is situated on Church Hill, Grange-over-Sands LA11 6BD. It is part of the Diocese of Carlisle within the Church of England and part of the Windermere Deanery. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a Registered Charity registered with the Charity Commission, No: 1136108.
PCC members who have served from 1 January 2024 until the date this report was approved are: Priest: Revd David Wilmot from 30 April 2024 Associate Priest: Revd Annette Miller Reader Emeritus : Joyce Leach Warden: Brian McCann Deputy Warden : Vacant Representatives on the Deanery Synod: May 2023 to May 2026 Brian McCann Mike Hill Elected Members : Rosemary Hoyle Secretary APCM 2024 to APCM 2027 John Millican Treasurer APCM 2024 to APCM 2027 Colin Milner From APCM 2023 to APCM 2026 Brian McCann From APCM 2023 to APCM 2026 Judith Mitchell From APCM 2023 to APCM 2026 Audrey Gorman From APCM 2022 to APCM 2025 Mike Hill From APCM 2022 to APCM 2025 Sue Fleetwood From APCM 2024 to APCM 2027 Margaret Ratcliffe Moved away July 2024 Penny Ward From APCM 2022 to APCM 2025 Pauline Ramsbottom From APCM 2023 to APCM 2026 Doug Ratcliffe Moved away July 2024
Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC has complied with the duty under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016.
Objectives and Activities
Within the benefice of Grange-over-Sands and Field Broughton with Lindale, St. Paul's Grangeover-Sands PCC has the responsibility of promoting the whole mission of the Church in sharing the love of God pastorally, evangelistically, socially and ecumenically. It also has the responsibility of maintaining fabric, buildings and grounds of St. Paul's Church and the Fell Church.
Church Attendance
There were 109 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll reported to the Annual Meeting held in 2023. Average Sunday attendance in St Paul’s (not counting those attending The Fell Church) was 46, adding in the average attendance of Fell Church (14) gives a total average weekly attendance at both churches of 60, after omitting those Sundays where baptisms were held and attendances “spiked”. Sunday service attendance during the month of October 2022, was 176. In addition to the above figures, Home Communion was distributed each month during the year, where deemed to be safe to do so, to approximately 12 members of our congregation, in their own homes.
Review of the Year
The PCC met seven times during 2024. The year started off with 14 members; from July, after two members moved away, we had 12 members. It should be noted that in January 2024, the Cartmel Peninsula Team Ministry was dissolved and five new benefices formed in the peninsula, by a new Pastoral Measure, which means that St Paul’s Grange-over-Sands is joined with St Peter’s Field Broughton with Lindale. Throughout the year we have been liaising with members of St Peter’s Field Broughton with Lindale and have had several joint services and events. Revd Annette Miller’s Licence was also renewed to the Benefice of Grange-over-Sands and Field Broughton with Lindale.
We were delighted to welcome Revd David Wilmot to the new benefice of Grange-over-Sands and Field Broughton with Lindale at the end of April 2024, after a protracted period without a dedicated priest for our parish.
The Standing Committee met in the alternate months to the PCC, to discuss items delegated by the PCC and prepare the Agenda for future meetings.
In September, we held a PCC Away Day at the Parish Rooms in Field Broughton with our new Vicar, to look at where we are now as a parish and how we see ourselves going forwards. We intend to continue to hold annual PCC Away Days, to enable PCC members to devote more time to enhancing and enabling our ministry in the community. As a result of our 2024 PCC Away Day, we have revised our Mission Statement: ‘To Proclaim the Good News of God and to draw others into a life-changing encounter with Jesus.’
St Paul’s Annual Parochial Church Meeting was held on Wednesday, 17 April 2024, when we reappointed Brian McCann as our Churchwarden. It would be good if we could have two Churchwardens, or a Deputy Churchwarden. However, we are fortunate to have an excellent team of sides-persons, who have taken on additional duties to alleviate pressure on the Churchwarden at services and other church events, and many willing volunteers who carry out many tasks to keep our church clean and tidy and running efficiently, and we thank them for their time and willingness to help.
Lay-led services have continued, normally on the third Sunday of the month, with a small group of people from St Paul’s leading the worship, and our Vicar giving the sermon, as we feel that it is an excellent way to progress our own Christian journey. These services have been well received by our congregation.
St Paul’s Church has very strong links with the Church-aided Primary School, with regular visits to the school by our Vicar and volunteers from the Church who run a weekly lunch-time club, and several people who go into school to assist the pupils with their reading. We have recently started holding a ‘Fun and Friendship’ event in School, once a term. The school children visit St Paul’s Church to learn about the church and its work and also hold services at both St Paul’s and the Methodist Church in Grange. We have three members of our congregation who are Foundation Governors at the school.
We have two representatives from St Paul’s on the committee of Cartmel Peninsula Churches Together. This group meets regularly and organises events during the year, involving all the churches in Grange.
A small group of five people has been formed, and St Paul’s has been registered with A-Rocha – Eco Church for their awards. It is hoped that we can at least reach the Bronze standard. St Paul’s has also joined our local group, PEAT (Peninsula Environment Action Together).
St Paul’s held its annual Spring Fair and Christmas Fair in 2024, both raising a good amount towards the upkeep of our Church buildings, and in particular this year, the replacement of our gas
central heating boilers. These events are also good social occasions, that welcome the local community into our Church.
The main fabric projects to maintain and enhance the fabric of our two churches are covered in the Fabric Report on page 13 of the Annual Report and Accounts 2024 document, which also gives details of works carried out at our daughter church, The Fell Church. Our main concern this year has been the replacement of our two central heating boilers at St Paul’s.
The PCC has trialled the use of a QR code in St Paul’s Church for 12 months and has decided to discontinue this and instal a contactless-giving machine in its place. The PCC is now using online banking, which saves the church a significant amount of money which would otherwise be incurred through bank charges. Our Church Treasurer, John Millican, is in regular contact with the Diocesan Finance Officer, Ric Jaques and John Thompson, the Diocesan Stewardship Officer. A Stewardship Campaign took place in 2024.
We are so grateful to Charles Edmondson, our organist, for continuing to organise concerts in St Paul’s Church, which normally attract an audience of around 50. These concerts have been very well received, though they have now come to an end. Charles continues to play for our services and looks after our Church Choir, which now has ten members.
As well as our series of concerts in the church, we have also held many other social events throughout the year, including a concert given by the Bay Community Singers, one by Burneside Brass, local walks, regular ‘Cake and Cuppa’ meetings in Church, a painting on silk workshop, a quiz night and we celebrated our 11[th] anniversary of the Christmas Tree Festival at St Paul’s, which raised £1,575.24 which was shared between The Food Bank and St Paul’s replacement heating boilers.
The sub-committees of the PCC continue to meet regularly throughout the year and work very well by discussing matters which need attention in greater detail and putting forward recommendations to the PCC. The two sub-committees are the Worship sub-committee and the Social subcommittee.
The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). In addition, our Safeguarding officer, Judith Mitchell, has ensured that all safeguarding training is up to date and the DBS certificates are current.
St Paul’s Church is signed up to easyfundraising, which started in December 2011 – so far £661.20 has been received.
I, as PCC Secretary, would like to take this opportunity to thank all PCC members for their attendance and contribution at meetings during the year.
| Charitable Collections 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Leprosy Mission | £ 130.00 | ||
| Christian Aid | £ 213.00 | ||
| Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal | £ 117.26 | ||
| Children’s Society (Christingle) | £ 146.44 | ||
| Sub total | £ 606.70 | ||
| Charitable Giving 2024 | |||
| Children’s Events | £ 102.09 | ||
| Grange & District First Responders | £ 100.00 | ||
| Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal | £ 30.00 | ||
| Burneside Brass Band | £ 150.00 | ||
| Friends of the Holy Land | £ 278.00 | ||
| Barrow Foodbank | £ 688.82 | ||
| Sub total | £1,348.91 | ||
| Secular Collections 2024 | |||
| None in 2024 | Sub total | Nil |
TOTAL
£ 1,955.61
Financial Review General Fund
The total receipts for the year were £65,260.79 and the payments out were £68,118.02 plus charitable giving of £1,348.91, giving an in-year deficit of £4,206.14.
The above expenditure included Building Maintenance Items as below. Some items attracted Listed Places of Worship (LPOW) grants whereby VAT is refunded, in which cases the net costs after receipt of the LPOW grant are shown. The items are for St Paul’s except where stated otherwise:-
-
Maintenance of Old Gas Heating Boilers - £960.00
-
Speaker in Lady Chapel - £294.88
-
Organ Maintenance - £602.50
-
Lightning Conductor Test - £250.00
-
Piano Tuning - £95.00
-
Fire Alarm Service - £110.39
-
5-Yearly Electrical Test of Church - £1,910.27
-
Clean of Church - £420.00
-
Fire Extinguisher Service at St Paul’s and at Fell Church - £168.30
-
Stock of Light Bulbs - £175
-
Faculty Fee for New Gas Heating Boilers - £220.00
-
Materials for New Gas Heating Boilers - £740.00
-
Maintenance & Improvements at Fell Church - £1,253.35
-
Mow Lawn at Fell Church - £380.00
-
Miscellaneous - £36.86
-
Total - £7,616.55
NOTE : £123.33 in VAT is to be claimed back in 2025 under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme for the above £740 spent on materials for the new gas heating boilers.
Designated Building Fund
£16,060.00 was spent on materials for the new gas heating boilers. This gives a reduction in the fund of £16,060.00 leaving a year end balance of £0.47.
NOTE : £2,676.67 in VAT is to be claimed back in 2025 under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme for the above £16,060.00 spent on materials for the new gas heating boilers.
Restricted Heating Fund
The fund was started on 30[th] November 2024 and the year-end balance is £1,133.48. This balance was raised by donations at St Paul’s Church at the card stall at the Christmas Fair, at the Christmas Tree Festival and at a concert.
At the end of 2024, the Church was left with the following balance of funds:
General Fund £57,293.49 Building £0.47 Restricted Heating £1,133.48 Total £58,427.44
The expenditure incurred was in pursuit of the objectives of the Church in providing Christian Ministry in the Parish of St Paul, Grange-over-Sands. A detailed commentary on the figures is given in the Treasurer’s Report, and the formal Statement of Assets and Liabilities providing a breakdown of the assets held, and the receipts and payments for the year is appended to this Annual Report.
Reserves Policy
It is PCC policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds, as far as may be possible, to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. It is our policy to invest our funds with a CCLA Savings Account. A revised Reserves Policy was adopted by the PCC during 2009. At the meeting held on 11 July 2012, the PCC accepted the Reserves Policy document previously circulated. This called for reserves to be maintained, as far as possible, of:
-
6 months of normal expenditure including routine maintenance and renewals
-
- the next 12 months Parish Offer
-
any identified special building maintenance or renewal items falling due in the next two years.
Do remember to look at the Church website which is an excellent source of information and is very attractive www.grangepcc.co.uk and don’t forget that we also have a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StPaulsGoS
Approved by the PCC at their meeting on 1 March 2026
The Parish Church of St Paul, Grange over Sands
Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2024
Independent Examlner's Report to the trustees of The Parish Church of St Paul, Grange over Sands , Parochial Church Councll. We report on the account$ for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set OLrt on pages 3 to 6. Res1 r•8ponslbiliti•s of the Tr409 •nd Independent Examin•r As trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC are reswnsible for the preparation of th8 accounts. They consKJer that an audil is not required for this year under sectiC 144121 of the Charities Act 2011 (tr 2011 Act) and that an independwl examination 18 needed. It is our responsibilty to examine the accwnts undèr section 145 of the 2011 Att, follow the proce(lures laKI down in the General Diredions gi¥en by the Chanty Commissioners section 145{5)Ib} of the 2011 Act.. and staté whether particular matters have ccme to our attenlion. 84818 of Indep•nd¢nt Ex•mineVs Statement Our examinalion vms carrd out in accordan the General Dire8 gpn by the Charity Comms1on. An examination indudes a review of Ihe acc(xJntHig records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with Ihose records. It also includes consideration of 8ny unusu81 rtS or disdosures in th accounts. and seeking explanations from tPE members of the Parochial Church Council o)rKeming any such matters. The procedures underlaken do not pr¢)VKJe all the eviden¢e that vffjuld be required in a lull audrt, arKI ¢CMwuenty we do not express an audit opinion the accounts. Ind•p•nd•nt Ex•mln•rf• Statement In connectlon with our examination. no mattern have ¢x¥ne tt) oui attents'C.. which give us reasonth cause to believè that in any material respect tho r8quir8ments.' lo keep accountirKJ records Ki accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Acl: or to pr4)are 8ccounts thich accord 4Mth these ac¢ountirvJ records have not been met". or to whith. in our Opinn. attenlion shoukl be drawn in ordar to enable a proper uNJerslanding ot the accounts to reached. Redhead Accountancy Ltd Bank House Grrffin Street Broughlonwin Fumèss Cumbri8 LA20 6HH IIEDIIEAOACCOLINTAMCYL1D Stre9t Wvn.in.Fume LJ20&4H Tql.. Dl129 716778 S 21/osh&
Receipts and payments account
General Fund
| Receipts Stewardship Collections & Offertory Tax Refunds Legacy and Donations Receipts from Church Activities Fees from weddings and funerals Parish Magazine Sales Printing and Advertising Car Park and Church Lettings Refreshments Flowers Fund Raising Event Sundry Receipts Interest Total Receipts Payments Parish Offer Parish Payments Deanery Levy Wages Utilities Insurance Clergy Expenses Building Maintenance Services/Altar/Books/Music Office/Postage/Stationery/Telephone Refreshments Flowers Fundraising Expenses Independent examiner fee Sundry Total Payments Excess receipts of payments Charitable Giving Surplus / (Deficit) for the period Attributable bank balance at 1 January Attributable bank balance at 31 December Cash In Flower Fund 31 December Total Fund Balance 31 December |
Year ended 31 December 2024 £ 35,533.31 2,416.93 9,244.26 2369.45 1420.00 775.82 1108.48 1,530.00 1037.89 0.00 6404.35 44.50 3375.80 65,260.79 24,000.00 0.00 50.00 12,689.63 9469.74 4325.60 776.85 7,616.55 896.15 5399.13 555.50 261.00 1131.41 270.00 676.46 68,118.02 -2857.23 -1348.91 -4206.14 61499.63 57269.55 23.94 57293.49 |
Year ended 31 December **2023 *** |
|---|---|---|
| £ | ||
| 37,331.43 | ||
| 2,650.07 | ||
| 9,436.23 | ||
| 3,498.54 | ||
| 2,196.33 | ||
| 902.34 | ||
| 694.30 | ||
| 1,525.00 | ||
| 954.79 | ||
| 6.47 | ||
| 7,311.40 | ||
| 720.00 | ||
| 2699.36 | ||
| 69,926.16 | ||
| 22,000.00 | ||
| 0.00 | ||
| 372.50 | ||
| 11,891.00 | ||
| 4,054.92 | ||
| 3,925.12 7.91 |
||
| 3,819.28 | ||
| 4,315.76 | ||
| 4,746.23 | ||
| 235.10 | ||
| 383.00 | ||
| 1518.18 | ||
| 270.00 | ||
| 1120.39 | ||
| 56,659.39 | ||
| 11,266.77 | ||
| -2,849.98 | ||
| 8,416.79 | ||
| 53082.84 | ||
| 61499.63 |
Receipts and payments account – Designated Building Fund
| Receipts LPOW Grant Donations Gift Aid Payments Albion Glass Oncore Specialist Heating Ltd Excess of receipts over payments Transfers between Funds Surplus / deficit for the period Attributable bank balance at 1 January Attributable bank balance at 31 December |
Year ended 31 December 2024 Building Fund £ 16060.00 16,060.00 (16,060.0) - - (1,6060.0) 16,060.47 0.47 |
Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building Fund |
|||
| £ | |||
| 350.00 | |||
| 350.00 - |
|||
| 2100.00 | |||
| 2100.00 | |||
| (1750.00) | |||
| - | |||
| (1750.00) | |||
| 17,810.47 | |||
| 16,060.47 |
Receipts and payments account – Restricted Heating Fund
| Receipts Card Sales Christmas Tree Festival Concert GASDS Payments Excess of receipts over payments Transfers between Funds Surplus / deficit for the period Attributable bank balance at 1 January Attributable bank balance at 31 December |
Year ended 31 December 2024 Heating Fund £ 23.00 688.82 200.56 221.10 1133.48 0.00 0.00 1133.48 - - 1133.48 1133.48 |
Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
Year Ended 31 December 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heating Fund |
|||
| £ | |||
| - | |||
Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2024
Statement of Asset and Liabilities
As at 31 December 2024
MONETARY ASSETS
| CCLA Lloyds Cash In Flower Float |
General Designated Fund Restricted Holding Fund Building Heating Account Total £ £ £ £ 52,427.42 0.47 - 52,427.89 4,842.13 0.00 1133.48 100.00 6,075.61 23.94 23.94 |
|---|---|
| 57,293.49 0.47 1133.48 100.00 58,527.44 |
As at 31 December 2023
MONETARY ASSETS
| General Designated Fund Holding |
|
|---|---|
| Fund Building Account Total |
|
| £ £ £ £ |
|
| CCLA | 51,791.62 16,060.47 - 67,852.09 |
| Lloyds | 9,708.01 100.00 9,801.01 |
| 61,499.63 16,060.47 100.00 77,660.10 |
Notes to the Financial Statements
-
The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts & Payments basis.
-
There were no non-monetary assets, liabilities or provisions for donations at 31 December 2024.
-
There is no record of the historical cost of any other non-monetary assets.
St Pauls Church Grange over Sands
Trust Fund Accounts 2024
The accounts set out below report the transactions and assets of the additional non-church funds for which the Rector and Churchwardens have been charged with responsibility.
C of E School Foundation Managers
| Receipts Interest Payments Disadvantaged support Excess of receipts over payments Attributable bank balance at 1 January Attributable bank balance at 31 December Represented by: Cash at bank Nat West A/c 83281266 CDBF Ac D 01274 + CCLA A/c CB3038489 Bertha Trotter Bequest Receipts Interest and bank compensation Donations Payments Excess of receipts over payments Attributable bank balance at 1 January Attributable bank balance at 31 December Represented by: Cash at bank Nat West A/c 83289569 CDBF Ac D 1942 CCLA A/c CB3039786 |
2024 £ 592.90 0.00 592.90 11,948.56 12,541.46 583.33 4,731.24 7,226.89 12,541.46 2024 £ 975.98 1200.00 1200.00 (224.02) 20,157.55 19,933.53 175.14 17,630.31 2128.08 19,933.53 |
2023 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | ||
| 523.32 | ||
| 806.71 | ||
| (283.39) | ||
| 12,231.95 | ||
| 11,948.56 | ||
| 344.27 | ||
| 4,731.24 | ||
| 6873.05 | ||
| 11,948.56 | ||
| 2023 | ||
| £ | ||
| 880.20 | ||
| 75.00 | ||
| 805.20 | ||
| 805.20 | ||
| 19,352.35 | ||
| 20157.55 | ||
| 175.14 | ||
| 16,767.10 | ||
| 3,215.31 | ||
| 20,157.55 |
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of The Parish Church of St Paul, Grange over Sands , Parochial Church Council. We report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 which are set out on pages 3 to Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner As trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation ofthe accounls. They consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is our responsibility to examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act- follow the ProdureS laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145151(b) ofthe 2011 Act- and state whether particular matters have come to our attention. Basis of Independent Examiner's Statement Our examinabon was carried out in aGrdan with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the members of the Parochial Church Council conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a fvll audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. Independent Examinerfs Statement In connection with our examination, no matters have come to our attention.. which give us reasonable cause to believe that in any malerial respect the requirements.. to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act., or to ppare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met.. or to which, in our opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Redhead Accountancy Ltd Bank House Griffin Street Broughton-in Fumess Cumbria LA20 6HH REOHEAD ACCOUNTANCY LTD Chartered Ac¢Duntsnts Bank House. G¥iffin Street Broughton-in-Furne55 LA20 6HH Tel.. 01229 716778