St. Peter's Church
Toton
Annual Report
and
Financial Statement
Year ended 31[st] December 2024
St. Peter's Church
83 High Road, Toton, Nottingham, NG9 6EN
The Parish Church of St. Peter's Toton
Toton is situated on the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire border, in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. St. Peter's Church was built in 1954. The Parish of Toton was formed in 2001, St Peter's previously being part of the Parish of Attenborough.
Toton is a suburban, residential area of mixed housing which is mainly owner-occupied. The area has seen a considerable increase in housing in recent years and has therefore become a dormitory area where employment levels are high and most of the available employment lies outside Toton.
The population of Toton numbers towards 8000 individuals and is part of the Borough of Broxtowe (there being no parish council).
Charitable status and related trusts and charities
The PCC is a registered charity, registration number 1136356.
Bankers, Legal Advisors and Independent Examiners Bankers NatWest 51 Market Place Long Eaton Nottingham NG10 1JP Church Architect Kerry Banner Allan Joyce Architects Ltd 16-20 Bath Street Nottingham NG1 1DF Independent Examiner Gary Stephenson 21 Gwenbrook Road Beeston Nottingham NG9 4AZ
Aim and Purposes
St Peter’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the Incumbent in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The PCC’s purpose statement is “Seeing lives transformed through faith in Christ.”
Objectives and Activities
The vision of St Peter’s Church, Toton is to be a Christ-centred family, present in Toton and beyond, and a place of welcome and belonging.
Within that vision, St Peter’s values are:
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Sharing God’s love openly;
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Worshipping wholeheartedly;
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Inviting actively;
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Serving generously; and
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Praying persistently.
In order to pursue these objectives, we offer a wide range of services within the community of Toton, both independently and through our partnership with Toton Methodist Church under a Churches Together agreement.
Wider Deanery and Diocesan links
St Peter's has 3 lay representatives who are active on the Nottingham Deanery Synod, and there are links with neighbouring parishes. Relationships are positive and supportive.
Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St. Peter’s the membership of the PCC consists of the Incumbent (our vicar), Churchwardens, the Reader, and lay members elected to the Deanery Synod and to the PCC by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. All members of our congregations are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.
The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent.
The PCC delegates responsibility for the day to day running of the Church to an elected Leadership Team, comprising the Incumbent, Churchwardens, and four elected members of the church. The Leadership Team is responsible to the PCC and reports back to them regularly.
To co-ordinate the areas of joint working between the PCC and Toton Methodist Church, the two churches jointly appoint an Enabling Group comprising the ministers and nominated members of each church.
PCC members and officers
Rev Jess Savill (Vicar and Chair) James Phillip Briggs (Lay Vice-Chair; Churchwarden) Rachel Louise Day (Churchwarden) Andrew Robert Pearson (PCC Secretary) Michelle Jacqueline Greenberry (Reader and Deanery Synod Representative) George Brian Stanley (Treasurer and Deanery Synod representative) Christine Margaret Drewry (Deanery Synod Representative)
Lay elected members: Michael Cartwright Elizabeth Margaret McBrayne Hazel Treadway Arthur Robert Mewes Keith Murray (until April 2024) Julie Fiona Houghton Jane Butler Geraldine Lewis Christine Key (April 2024 onwards) Ricky Ruperalia (April 2024 onwards)
Irene Smith
(April 2024 onwards)
The Leadership Team meets twice a month and aims to provide spiritual and practical leadership for St Peter's Church. It consists of the Vicar and Churchwardens alongside four elected members.
Jess Savill James Briggs Rachel Day Andrew Pearson Jane Butler Chris Drewry Michelle Greenberry (until July 2024) Elizabeth McBrayne (from July 2024)
Lay people are involved in the ministry of Toton Churches in many roles including prayer ministry, pastoral work, working with children and youth, working with seniors, music and worship and supporting Sunday services. These groups are reviewed and supported by the Leadership Team and the PCC receives reports of their activities as required and at the Annual General Meeting.
Electoral Roll figures
There were 109 members on the electoral roll at the end of 2024, down by 1 from the previous figure of 110 at the end of 2023.
Finance
We are grateful to Brian Stanley our Treasurer, and to Jamie Briggs our Assistant Treasurer. The 2024 Financial Statement and notes form part of this Report.
The PCC continues to grapple with costs rising faster than receipts. In that financial climate, the PCC was forced to significantly reduce the tithe to other charities - currently the Church Pastoral Aid Society, Church Mission Society and HOPE Nottingham – from its usual level of 10% to 2.5%.
The final instalment of 2023’s Parish Share (amounting to £4,942) did not leave the bank account until 2[nd] January 2024. This led to an artificially high figure for payments in 2024 as a whole. However, even adjusting for that, payments still exceeded receipts by around £3,000. The PCC has again paid its allocated Parish Share in full (our contribution towards the ministry costs and other support costs of the Church of England in our diocese), but only by further depleting its reserves.
In ordinary times it is the PCC's policy to maintain, as a reserve, a balance of unrestricted funds equal to at least 3 months unrestricted payments, equivalent to circa £21,000, to cover emergency situations. At the beginning of 2024 reserves were already low (at around £10,000); and a continued income deficit eroded that further to around £6,500.
The following assets are recognised but not necessarily valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities: movable church furnishings held by the Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal.
Premises
A group meets quarterly, primarily to organise the maintenance and upkeep of the church and centre buildings.
There is a rolling five-year plan to maintain and repair the church and centre. Records of fabric and fixtures have been examined and all accounted for.
Review of 2024
As a church, St Peter’s exists to give glory to God, to advance His Kingdom, to support Christians in their discipleship, and to spread the Gospel. In the more secular language of the Charities Act, our core purpose is the advancement of the Christian religion for the public benefit.
The PCC has had regard to the Charity Commission guidance on the public benefit requirement.
While everything that the PCC does is intended to promote those aims, some examples of activities in 2024 to illustrate this include:
- Regular worship services in a range of styles, intended to meet the spiritual needs of Christians from diverse backgrounds and whether new to faith or well-established, including two weekly services (one traditional and one more contemporary); a monthly informal service for all ages (see below); and a monthly Messy Church,
delivered in partnership with Toton Methodist Church, with a particular focus on engaging children and families.
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Seasonal community outreach activities, such as an Easter event with a trail on Manor Park, and Christmas events such as Carols Around the Tree and Christingle services, which were warmly received and very well attended by significant numbers outside of our normal Sunday congregations.
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Initiatives intended specifically to help those unfamiliar with the Christian faith learn more about it, in particular through Alpha.
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Gathered and individual prayer, including monthly “Days of Encounter” where a range of prayer activities and sessions are offered for the church community and wider public.
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Activities intended to meet the pastoral and practical needs of the public, including our Renew Wellbeing cafes (offering a safe space to speak about struggles with mental health) and Toton Helpful Hub (offering practical support, particularly with shopping, for those in our community who are unable to easily leave their homes).
Work to discern a new vision for the church was completed in 2024, leading to the vision and values listed under “objectives and activities” above. The PCC then moved to communicating that vision to the wider church. A focus for the PCC going forward will be to move from vision to strategy, reviewing where we are currently effective in pursuing our vision and living out our values. This may mean existing activities need to change or new areas of ministry need to be introduced.
One significant change introduced in 2024 was to discontinue our long-running monthly service for all ages (known as “Worship for Everyone”) in order to replace this with a 4pm informal service. This service is specifically intended for those who might not feel comfortable in a more traditional church service, with targeted provision for different age groups as well as a time of gathered worship. The move to an afternoon slot also reflected a concern that many local families attend sport clubs or similar activities on a Sunday morning; an afternoon service may therefore be more likely to meet the needs of those families.
The PCC remains absolutely committed to Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults in line with Church of England and Diocesan policies and procedures, including Safer Recruitment and Training. 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).
Approved by the PCC on 11[th] March 2025 and signed on its behalf by Revd Jess Savill (Incumbent and PCC Chair)
………… ~~…~~ ……………
(regd charity 1136356)
Independent examiner’s report to the PCC of Toton St Peter’s
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Toton St Peter’s (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because the Charity's gross income did not exceed £250,000 and I hold a Diploma in Charity Accounting.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Gary Stephenson, DChA, MSc 7 April 2025
21 Gwenbrook Road, Beeston Nottingham, NG9 4AZ
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2024
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
of
ST. PETER’S
TOTON
registered charity 1136356
Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s, Toton
ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Receipts and Payments Accounts Notes |
Unrestricted Funds £ Restricted Funds £ Total 2024 Total 2023 |
|---|---|
| Receipts Voluntary Income 4a Income from Church Activities 4b Investment Income 4c Other Income 4d |
91,121.44 23,905.51 115,026.95 85,025.40 6,280.17 307.00 6,587.17 4,607.70 160.61 - 160.61 113.62 167.99 2,642.80 2,810.79 1,343.42 |
| Total Receipts | 97,730.21 26,855.31 124,585.52 91,090.14 |
| Payments Diocesan Parish Share * Church Activities 5a Church Management & Administration 5b Other 5c |
67,186.00 - 67,186.00 54,362.00 23,623.98 6,892.59 30,516.57 21,218.61 14,294.39 1,457.90 15,752.29 14,860.08 742.98 14,543.40 15,286.38 1,337.15 |
| Total Payments | 105,847.35 22,893.89 128,741.24 91,777.84 |
| Receipts less payments Cash at hand & in bank 01 Jan 2024 Cash at hand & in bank 31 Dec 2024 |
|
| (8,117.14) 3,961.42 (4,155.72) (687.70) |
|
| 14,814.85 3,198.43 18,013.28 18,700.98 6,697.71 7,159.85 13,857.56 18,013.28 |
|
| Difference | (8,117.14) 3,961.42 (4,155.72) (687.70) |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | Notes | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total 2024 | Total 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Cash Funds | |||||
| Petty Cash | 6 | 20.53 | - | 20.53 | 20.53 |
| Bank Current Account | 5,851.77 | - | 5,851.77 | 11,824.41 | |
| Bank Reserve Account 1 | 495.87 | 7,159.85 | 7,655.72 | 3,934.47 | |
| Bank Reserve Account 2 | 329.54 | - | 329.54 | 2,233.87 | |
| 6,697.71 | 7,159.85 | 13,857.56 | 18,013.28 |
The attached notes form part of these financial statements.
*The last monthly instalment of Parish Share for 2023, amounting to £4,942, did not debit our accounts until 2[nd] January 2024. This made the 2023 Parish Share figure artificially low, and the 2024 Parish Share figure – as well as payments generally – artificially high.
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Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s, Toton
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. General
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, using the Receipts & Payments basis.
2. Funds
Restricted Funds represent funds given to the PCC for a specific purpose, including grants received for a specific object. These funds may only be expended for the specific purpose for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund.
Unrestricted funds are general funds which can be used for PCC ordinary purposes.
3. Movement in Restricted Funds
The balance brought forward has been calculated on the Receipts & Payments basis.
| Balance b/f | Receipts | Payments | Balance c/f | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| TM for Staff Salaries | 0.00 | 1,457.90 | 1,457.90 | 0.00 |
| Network | 784.40 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 784.40 |
| Toton Churches Weekend | 408.76 | 307 | 463.6 | 252.16 |
| Toton Helpful Hub | 455.40 | 1,549.96 | 1,972.76 | 32.60 |
| Renew Wellbeing Café | 470.89 | 50 | 70.64 | 450.25 |
| Children, Youth and Families fund | 1,078.98 | 2,690.45 | 2,175.32 | 1,594.11 |
| SNDBF Grant for Children, Youth and | ||||
| Families work | 0.00 | 8,300.00 | 4,253.67 | 4046.33 |
| AV Equipment Replacement fund | 0.00 | 12,500.00 | 12,500.00 | 0.00 |
| TOTAL: | 3,198.43 | 26,855.31 | 22,893.89 | 7,159.85 |
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Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s, Toton
| 4 Receipts Analysis | Notes | Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds | Total 2024 | Total 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| 4a Voluntary Income | |||||
| Planned Giving: | |||||
| Gift Aid Donations | 52,748.00 | 49.45 | 52,797.45 | 48,891.00 | |
| Income Tax Recovered | 14,282.78 | - | 14,282.78 | 13,737.02 | |
| Non Gift Aided Donations | 16,048.00 | 722.27 | 16,770.27 | 14,309.89 | |
| Plate (including card donations) | 1,370.06 | - | 1,370.06 |
1,345.57 | |
| Grants | - | 8,350.00 | 8,350.00 | 2,000.00 | |
| Legacies | 500.00 | - | 500.00 |
- | |
| Toton Methodist Staff Contributions | 7 | - | 1,457.90 | 1,457.90 | 1,707.91 |
| SundryDonations | 6,172.60 | 13,325.89 | 19,498.49 | 3,034.01 | |
| 91,121.44 | 23,905.51 | 115,026.95 | 85,025.40 | ||
| 4b Income from Church Activities | |||||
| Room Hire | 5,281.00 | - | 5,281.00 |
2,438.40 | |
| Photocopying | 255.00 | - | 255.00 |
271.12 | |
| Banns, Weddings and Funerals | 8 | 248.00 | - | 248.00 |
694.34 |
| Church Event Receipts | 496.17 | 307.00 | 803.17 | 1,203.84 | |
| 6,280.17 | 307.00 | 6,587.17 | 4,607.70 | ||
| 4c Investment Income | |||||
| Income from Bank Accounts | 160.61 | - | 160.61 |
113.62 | |
| 160.61 | - | 160.61 |
113.62 | ||
| 4d Other Income | |||||
| Toton Helpful Hub | - | 1,549.96 | 1,549.96 | 363.61 | |
| Children and Young Peoples Clubs | - | 1,092.84 | 1,092.84 | 827.85 | |
| Other | 167.99 | 167.99 | 151.96 | ||
| 167.99 | 2,642.80 | 2,810.79 | 1,343.42 | ||
| Gross Receipts | 97,730.21 | 26,855.31 | 124,585.52 | 91,090.14 |
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Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s, Toton
| 5 Payments Analysis | Notes | Unrestricted | Restricted Funds | Total 2024 | Total 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| 5a Church Activities | |||||
| Missionary & Charitable Giving | (a) | 1,811.24 | - | 1,811.24 | 5,574.03 |
| Utilities | 5,240.23 | - | 5,240.23 | 7,279.55 | |
| Insurances | 1,237.10 | - | 1,237.10 | 1,217.13 | |
| Licences | 962.17 | - | 962.17 | 1,046.24 | |
| Maintenance & Repair | 11,405.63 | - | 11,405.63 | 1,168.24 | |
| Services & Ministry Costs | 551.44 | - | 551.44 | 668.07 | |
| Clergy Expenses and reimbursements | |||||
| for church activities | 1,234.77 | - | 1,234.77 | 675.65 | |
| Children and Youth Work | - | 6,428.99 | 6,428.99 | 1,523.72 | |
| Discipleship | 24.98 | - | 24.98 | 291.89 | |
| Network | - | - | - | - | |
| Publicity | 438.72 | - | 438.72 | 71.33 | |
| Church Event Costs | 717.70 | 463.60 | 1,181.30 | 1,504.76 | |
| Sundry | - | - | - | 198.00 | |
| 23,623.98 | 6,892.59 | 30,516.57 | 21,218.61 | ||
| 5b Church Management/Administration | |||||
| Staff Costs | 7 | 10,562.87 | 1,457.90 | 12,020.77 | 10,828.04 |
| Office Costs | 3,657.72 | - | 3,657.72 | 3,796.20 | |
| CleaningProducts | 73.80 | - | 73.80 | 235.84 | |
| 14,294.39 | 1,457.90 | 15,752.29 | 14,860.08 | ||
| 5c Other | |||||
| Toton Helpful Hub | - | 1,972.76 | 1,972.76 | 271.08 | |
| Renew Wellbeing Café | 113.47 | 70.64 | 184.11 | 178.44 | |
| AV Equipment Replacement | - | 12,500.00 | 12,500.00 | - | |
| Covid-19 Community Support | - | - | 657.70 | ||
| Other | 629.51 | - | 629.51 | 229.93 | |
| 742.98 | 14,543.40 | 15,286.38 | 1,337.15 | ||
| Gross Payments | |||||
| (not including Parish Share) | 38,661.35 | 22,893.89 | 61,555.24 | 37,415.84 |
(a) St Peter’s PCC policy is normally to pay a tithe equivalent to 10% of unrestricted donations received to Christian charitable causes. However, due to a significant income deficit in 2024 it proved necessary to pay a significantly reduced tithe. As in previous years, this tithe has been divided equally between three charities: Hope Nottingham, the Church Pastoral Aid Society and the Church Mission Society.
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Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s, Toton
6. Petty Cash
This figure comprises the closing balance of petty cash held in the church office, no petty cash having been spent in 2024.
7. Toton Methodist Staff Contributions & Staff Salaries/Costs
£1,457.90 was received towards the cost of the shared administrator employed by St. Peter’s PCC on behalf of both St Peter’s and Toton Methodist churches. These monies have been placed in separate restricted funds as these monies may not be used for general expenditure.
8. Banns, Weddings and Funerals
This relates to the amount of fees received by the PCC after the removal of fees payable towards the Diocesan Board of Finance and disbursements.
9. Funds outside the responsibility of the PCC
Funds are handled related to the activities of St Peter's Church, but outside the direct responsibility of the PCC. These fall into two categories:
Fees Payable towards the Diocesan Board of Finance
The PCC acts as agent in respect of some fees, arising from marriages (including Banns of Marriage) and funerals, which are payable towards the Diocesan Board of Finance.
Collections on behalf of charities
Charitable collections were made during the course of the year on behalf of: Tearfund; Care for the Family; the Children’s Society; and Hope Nottingham.
Approved by the PCC on ……………………. and signed on its behalf by 11th March 2025 Rev. Jess Savill (Incumbent)
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