Baxenden St. John and Accrington St. Paul Parochial Church Council
PCC Annual Report from January 2025 – December 2025
Name of Church : Baxenden St. John and Accrington St. Paul Parochial Church Council
Correspondence: PCC Secretary, Baxenden St John Church, Church Avenue, Baxenden, Lancashire, BB5 2RQ.
Bankers: Lloyds Bank plc; 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN
Independent Examiner: Peter Collinge; 22 Straits Lane, Read, BB12 7PQ
Background
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting the whole mission of the church.
Every Church of England church has the same aim: “To promote the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical”.
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The membership of our PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), churchwardens, both LLMs (Readers), Deanery Synod representatives and members either elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church or co-opted after the APCM if vacancies do not exist.
All those who attend our services / members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.
The following people served as members of the PCC during 2025:
| ROLE | NAME | DATE (if applicable) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incumbent and Chair |
Amanda Marshall | Ex-officio | |
| Churchwarden St Paul’s Vice Chair of PCC |
Heather Pitman | Ex-officio | |
| Churchwarden St Paul’s |
Terry Jones | Till APCM 2025 | Ex-officio |
| Churchwarden St Paul’s |
Kath Jones | From 29thJune 2025 | Ex-Officio |
| Churchwarden | Barry Grimes | Till APCM 2025 | Ex-officio |
| St John’s | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| LLM St Paul’s | Tony Hindle | Ex-officio | |
| LLM St John’s PCC Secretary |
Patricia Wilkinson | Ex-officio | |
| Deanery Synod Rep | Pam Stewart | From APCM 2024 | Ex-officio |
| PCC | Maureen Birtwistle | ||
| PCC | Paul Brown | Till APCM 2025 | |
| PCC | Austin Cook | ||
| PCC | Andrew Crowe | ||
| PCC | Ann Hindle | ||
| PCC | Reece Hudson | ||
| PCC | Catriona Jones | ||
| PCC | Kath Jones | Till 29thJune 2025 | |
| PCC | Terry Jones | From 13thOctober 2025 |
|
| PCC | Flo Kapenda | ||
| PCC | Jill Lamont | ||
| PCC Parish Safeguarding Officer |
Michael Ledwith | From APCM 2025 | |
| PCC | Roger Longworth | ||
| PCC Treasurer |
Richard Marshall |
There were vacancies for two Churchwardens at St John’s and for 2 Deanery Synod Representatives from the APCM 2025
Electoral Roll
At the end of December 2025 there were 110 names on the electoral roll.
Standing Committee
The Standing Committee is required by law and has the power to transact the business of the PCC between meetings.
The Standing Committee till June 2025 was Amanda Marshall (Vicar), Terry Jones (Churchwarden), Barry Grimes (Churchwarden), Secretary (Patricia Wilkinson), Treasurer (Richard Marshall), Paul Brown, Austin Cook and Jill Lamont.
The current Standing Committee is Amanda Marshall (Vicar), Terry Jones (Churchwarden), Secretary (Patricia Wilkinson), Treasurer (Richard Marshall), Austin Cook, Andrew Crowe and Jill Lamont.
The Standing Committee has not been required to meet in 2025.
Annual Review – Highlights.
The PCC met six times, bimonthly, during 2025. Each PCC meeting receives a report from the subgroups, where relevant, and other bodies: Fabric, Finance, Deanery Synod, Communications, Ministry team and Safeguarding. There are also updates on the Electoral Roll and special agenda items.
January 2025
The Ministry Team held an Away Day to pray and discuss the vision.
February 2025
Gary Lingard (Health and Safety Officer) attended the meeting to introduce himself and his background. His remit is to make sure everyone is as safe as possible, to mitigate risk and keep the church open. There was an update on finances. New room hire fees were agreed. These are now equivalent across booth church buildings. The person who had been appointed as Independent Examiner at the APCM 2024 was unable to continue. A replacement was appointed.
April 2025
Alongside the regular reports the reports and accounts for the APCM were approved. The PCC agreed to support Rev Amanda Marshall to enable her to take a 3 month Sabbatical from January to March 2026.
April to July 2025
An Alpha course was held. Various church members cooked a meal every week. About 20 people plus leaders and helpers attended regularly.
May 2025 APCM
Wardens, PCC members and were elected. There were vacancies for one Warden at St Paul’s and two Wardens at St John’s and 2 Deanery Synod Reps.
June 2025
The PCC appointed the officers for the coming year and received the regular reports. Sidespeople were ratified for both churches. The new AV system at St Paul’s was installed. Due to falling plaster an area of the chancel at St John’s was cordoned offA new email
address was created for Safeguarding. The times of joint services were agreed.
An extraordinary Vestry meeting was held to appoint another Churchwarden for St Paul’s.
June/ July 2025
Following a tragic incident in a nearby graveyard an urgent inspection of the gravestones at St John’s Baxenden was carried out. This resulted in multiples stones being laid flat. Ntices were erected reminding people to take care when visiting the graveyard.
August 2025
An update on the Electoral Roll was given clarifying number and whether they were resident in the Parish or not. The PCC was notified that we had been successful with the funding bid to the Benefact Trust. The Diocese had agreed that we should pay 62.5% of the Parish Share for the coming year and confirmed that the outstanding amounts from the previous 3 years had been written off. A new Letting Agreement for the Hire of Church buildings was approved.
Rev Sam Nicol attended the meeting to introduce herself. Her official title is Strategic Mission and Planning Enabler. Hope4 Accrington is a consultation with the churches in Accrington and other parties to discuss what the Church of England may look like in this place. There is a Steering group, and the initial consultation will report in September 2026.
October 2025
A replacement PCC member was appointed. A proposal to employ an Ignite Youth Worker was discussed. It was decided that more information was required before making a decision. It was agreed to remove the pews from St Paul’s and replace them with chairs, refurbished from St John’s and storage. Bishop Philip encouraged churches to be open most of the time. The PCC decided that this wasn’t an option at present.
Rev Amanda Marshall announced that she would be leaving the Parish. Although officially on Sabbatical till the end of March 2026 her last service would be the 28[th] December 2025.
November 2025
The external glass doors at Baxenden were damaged during a storm. Temporary boarding was put in place with alternative entry arrangements being made. The decision was taken to leave the main entrance unboarded with extra security being put in place on the internal doors.
December 2025
The new website went live. This is still a work in progress so please inform a PCC member of any areas that need amending.
The PCC approved the budget for 2026. A new Treasurer and bank signatories were appointed. There was update of the building works and fundraising at St John’s. New heating controls are in place for St Paul’s
A joint service was held to say farewell to Amanda and Richard. They were presented with a voucher, flowers and wine.
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).
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the life and work of JohnPaul Parish over the last 12 months.
On behalf of the PCC,
Patricia Wilkinson
PCC Secretary.
Baxenden St John and Accrington St Paul Parochial Church Council
Treasurer’s Report
FINANCIAL REVIEW
-
Total income for the year was £133,521
-
The adjusted income after grants, legacies and specific gifts was £89,521. This shows a slight increase from last year’s adjusted income of £89,348
-
Our regular, committed giving, at £43,172, shows an increase of 6.9% on last year’s total (£40,395). This is based on the generous monthly giving from 38 accounts (representing 48 church members). Our income was boosted by an Autumn fair raising £2,025 and a fashion show raising £660
-
However, ad hoc giving, (collections in services, and other one-off gifts) was down by £4,600. The rest of the shortfall is explained mainly by fewer statutory events
5. Total expenditure for the year was £116,985
-
Last year’s expenditure of £105,901 shows that our expenditure this year increased by 10.5%. mainly due to preparation work for major building work starting at St John’s in 2026
-
This expenditure includes a Diocesan Parish Share Contribution of £46,249 (compared to £43,023 in 2024). This largely provides the stipends and housing for clergy, in our own Parish and in support of other Parishes.
-
The Diocese allowed us to pay only 62.5% (60% in 2024) of the requested share as income is still below sustainable levels. We are gradually increasing our Parish Share proportion but our income is at best flat.
-
Our Mission Giving in 2025 was £6,547 and represents approximately 5% of income received in the previous year. We intend to keep increasing our giving towards a 10% target as our income increases.
-
We have spent much of the year scoping out and applying for grants for major renovation building projects at St John’s. The likely costs for the whole project (which might take 3 years) stands at over £400,000. We have approximately £98,000 in savings and would rely on grants to fund the rest of the work.
1
Baxenden St John and Accrington St Paul Parochial Church Council
RESERVES POLICY
It is our PCC policy to maintain a balance on Unrestricted Funds equating to at least 2 months Unrestricted Payments. We try to keep this figure, available at short notice, to at least £15,000. This is held to smooth fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies.
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS (last year’s figures in brackets)
JohnPaul Parish holds a joint bank account with Lloyds Bank and Diocesan deposit and investment accounts:
Lloyds Accounts: balance £89,062 (£64,321) - Current Account £47,945 , Deposit Account £41,117 . Of this £11,877 is Designated by the PCC and £68,870 is Restricted
Diocese Accounts: balance £50,980 (£60,535) - Deposit Fund £12,045 (£12,858), Investments £38,935 (£47,677)
St John’s Petty Cash Float (£221) and St Paul’s Petty Cash Float (£234)
OVERALL SUMMARY
-
a. Regular giving was up by 7% in 2025 and our adhoc giving was down by over 30%.
-
b. We raise and spend c.£100,000 a year to run our churches. Parish share is currently subsidised by £27,700.
-
c. The church ended the year with £47,945 in available cash, (with a further £41,117 moved to savings in 2025)
-
d. We have £50,980 in ‘savings’ (with the Diocese). We will spend all our reserves on the major building projects.
-
e. We need to increase our income. Essentially more people need to give more or find new sources of income.
Finally
A big thank you to Richard Marshall, Terry Jones, Ann Hindle, and Marion Wilkinson for their significant help with our finances in 2025.
Roger Longworth (Treasurer) 6 February 2026
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| Unrertricted Fundsf | Deslgnated | Restricted | Endowment | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fundsf | Fundsf | Fundsf | 202s | |||
| RECEIPTS | ||||||
| Taxellicientplonned giving (stondlng orders) | ||||||
| Otherplonnedgiving (stondingorde$) | ||||||
| Allothetgiving ond voluntory rcceipts | ||||||
| Church activitiesforgenerating funds | ||||||
| PAYMENTS | ||||||
| L2,L73 | ||||||
| NETRECEIPTS/(PAYMENTS) | (10,3981 | d101 | 22,8?3 | 16,536 | zllt | |
| Transfers between funds | 56 | 7,384 | 7,U0 | |||
| Cashat bank and in handat1Jan | 31,157 | 7,776 | 38,654 | 77,587 | 54154 | |
| Cashat bank and in hand at 31Dec | 20,815 | tL,877 | 68,57t | 101,s63 | n5l9 |
| DaslBnaEd | Resillcted | Endowment | Total | lotl | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestrlcted Fundse | Fundr€ | Fundsf | Fundsf | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Cashfunds | |||||||
| Cashat Bank | 8,315 | 11,877 | 68,871 | 89,062 | 64327 | ||
| Church DePosltFu0dswlthDiocese | 12,045 | 12,045 | t2,858 | ||||
| PettyCash | 456 | 455 | 400 | ||||
| Total cdsh funds | 20,115 | tL,877 | 68,871 | r01,s53 | 11,519 | ||
| {.Breetrl.nceiwlth rccelpk!nd paYficn* | rGounts, | ||||||
| lnvestmentassets | |||||||
| FixedlnterestlnvestmentswlthDlocese | I | 5,389 | 5,389 | 6,236 | |||
| Shares-Church lnvestmentfund withDiocese | 1.2 | 22,331 | 10,215 | ?7,547 | {L441 | ||
| Totdl lnvestmenlassets | 78,7r0 | 10,115 | 38,9r5 | 41,61? | |||
| Llabilltles | |||||||
| Thenotes attachedformpartof thesefinancial statements | |||||||
| Slgned by ohe ortwotrustees on | behall oftll | thetrurtse! | |||||
| Name | Oate | Sigrlrture | |||||
| /nrr)7/uot! | l3-A-2o'2./ | ||||||
| @u,e*e""L | {j-+ | -2o76 |
| SIGNATE0 FUNDSrepresentsumsset aside, out of ordi anytimebythePCC |
nary unrestricted | funds,forspecifi | c designat | ed purposes, bu | ttheycanbetransferredbackintogen | ttheycanbetransferredbackintogen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| irotes | Balb/f | Receipts | PaymentsTransferAalf,ll | |||
| 5tJohn'sAV&lT | 2,i,1 | 2,476 | 5,000 | 899 | 6,577 | |
| StJohn's Tree Planting | 2.3.2 | 300 | 300 | |||
| StJohn's Cellar Refurbishment | 2.3.3 | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||
| Totsldeslgnotedlunds | 7,776 | s,000 | 899 | lL,877 |
| ai | ning u | nspent must be carrledforwardas abalance o | nthat fundand ca | nnot be absorb | edintogen | eral funds | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lvotes | Balb/f | Receipts | PaymentsTransferBalcll | |||||
| St | John's | Office Refurbishment | 2.4,t | 1,083 | 1,083 | |||
| St | John's | Building&Repairs | 2_4.2 | 37,s00 | 33,224 | 13,640 | 57,084 | |
| St | John's | Churchyard | 2,1.3 | 6,X59 | 456 | 5,703 | ||
| St | Paul's | Children's Society | 2.1.4 | IL | L87 | 258 | ||
| St | Paul's | Chairs | 2.4.5 | 5,000 | 5,000 | |||
| St | Paul's | AV | 2.1.6 | 2,000 | 2,000 | |||
| Totol restilctedlunds | 38,654 | *6,57L | 15,354 | 68,871 |
| UnrestrlctedFundsf | ooslgneted Funde0 |
Restrlcted tundiC |
Endowment tund3f, |
T6tal 2025 |
Tdtll 2n24 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voluhtary Receiptj | |||||||
| Tdxefliclentpldnned gtving (stondingoderc) | 35,204 | 3s,204 | a7,N| | ||||
| Athetplahned givlnq (stdndlngofiers) | 7,968 | 7,968 | 7,S94 | ||||
| Collectionsotsetvices | I,577 | 4,s77 | 9,877 | ||||
| Allotherglving/voluntory rcceipts | 1,315 | s,000 | 10,187 | 16,502 | ,,15t | ||
| Gift Atdreovered | 13,504 | 13,504 | 14fr26 | ||||
| Legaclesrcceived(copltol volue) | 5,000 | 5,000 | 38,250 | ||||
| Grunts(recufflngond one-ofls) | 24,000 | 24,000 | |||||
| 66,569 | s,000 | t9,t87 | 110,756 | 106,t0? | |||
| church Activities for 6enaretingFunds | |||||||
| S6dol events | 2,998 | 2,998 | 508 | ||||
| 2,998 | 2,998 | 608 | |||||
| lnvestment lncome | |||||||
| lnterest&Oivldends | 7.3 | 3,014 | 3,014 | 2,03:l | |||
| 3,014 | 3,014 | 2,ota | |||||
| ChurchActivlties | |||||||
| Stotutorylees(weddlngs&funeralsetc') | 4,290 | 4,290 | 3,i69 | ||||
| Church stalls | 2.2L' | ||||||
| Parlsh Mdgozlne | 243 | 24' | 3{t | ||||
| Grcssreceiptsfrcmttoding | 5,580 | 5,580 | 3,178 | ||||
| 10,113 | 10,113 | 9,r03 | |||||
| OtherRecelpts | |||||||
| lnsuruficecldllfls | |||||||
| Sdleollixedassets | |||||||
| Other | 2,437 | 2,037 | ,,4M | ||||
| 2,0t7 | 2,017 | 3,464 | |||||
| Hall ActlvltiesforGenEratlnBFurlds | |||||||
| S5cidlevents | s09 | 509 | 171 | ||||
| 509 | 509 | 122 | |||||
| HellActivitles | |||||||
| 6rcssrccelptslramtrddinq | 4,09s | 4,095 | 7,1t8 | ||||
| 4,095 | 4,095 | ,,rt6 | |||||
| OtherHall Receipts | |||||||
| lnsurdncE cloitfis | |||||||
| OthetReceipts | 7V1 | ||||||
| ,1' |
| Unr€itricted Fundsf | Designated Fundsf |
Restricted funds€ |
Endowment Fundsg |
Total 2025 |
Tctrl ?o24 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChurchActivities | ||||||
| DiocesanParish ShareContribution | ||||||
| Patish Shore | 47,437 | 47,437 | d3,023 | |||
| 47,4?7 | 47i17 | 43,023 | ||||
| Clergy & Staffing | ||||||
| Woges ondhonorutio | 960 | 950 | 885 | |||
| WorkingexpencesoI clergy | 460 | 460 | 365 | |||
| Vicoroge council tox | 3,947 | 3,947 | 1,10'' | |||
| Vicaroge woter rutes | 87L | 871 | 703 | |||
| Cleeytelephone/mobilelinternet | 420 | 420 | 210 | |||
| Visitingclergylees | ||||||
| 6,6s8 | 6,558 | 5,920 |
| Church RunnlngExpenses | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educotion | 111 | 111 | 3l | ||
| lnsuronce | 8,911 | 8.911 | 8,2m | ||
| Churchtelephone& internet | L,062 | 1,062 | 9Gl | ||
| ChurchCCTV | 4t | ||||
| Church mqintenqnce | 6,827 | 899 | 4,310 | 12,036 | 10,428 |
| Cleoning | 3,L57 | 3,157 | 2_141 | ||
| Upkeep ofseruices | 1,01s | 1,015 | 1249 | ||
| Upkeepolchurchyord | 147 | 455 | 803 | 5.35X | |
| Printing, postoge &stotionory | 690 | 690 | t"218 | ||
| Mogozineexpenses | 397 | 397 | 105 | ||
| Other churchrunningexpenses | r,L87 | L,r87 | 945 | ||
| 23,704 | 899 | 4,756 | 29,359 | ,L,227 | |
| UtilityBills | |||||
| ChurchMaiorCapital Expenditure | |||||
| Mojor Repoisnot coveredbyinsuronce | 11,330 | 11,330 | 4.0m | ||
| MojorRepai$ covercdbyinsutonce | |||||
| 11,330 | 11,330 | fiC{ | |||
| Mission,Givint & 0onations | |||||
| Mission | 454 | 454 | L614 | ||
| Givins(Tithes) | 6,289 | 258 | 5,547 | .5,76S | |
| Donotlons | 55 | ||||
| 6,743 | 258 | 7,00t | 7,{}r | ||
| Governance Costs | |||||
| Inde pe ndentExominotionCosts | dE0 | ||||
| '180 |
| UlotherprYmonts | 395 | t9s | tDd7. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 393 | t95 | ii[4, | |
| HrllRufinim Coits | |||
| Suildingfiolntcnonce | 11! | ||
| Cleantng | 801 | 8t1 | Llt,' |
| Otherrunnlngexpenses | 180 | 180 | LZ |
| 98t | !,81 | r,lrl | |
| HrllUtllityBills | |||
| Electilclty | 987 | 98t | tlt |
| 6os | 163 | 163 | to |
| Wotet | 492 | 492 | 451 |
| 1,641 | r,6{3 | ,,254 | |
| HallMslor Ctpltel Erpendlture | |||
| Malarnepalrscaveredbylnsurance |
| , | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puroos€Acct' ' Nr. |
Account Name | Type | lncome | value at Ilan2025 |
i | shares | value at 3tDec2025 |
|
| c83002007.001 | ||||||||
| BaxendenJWalker | (JosephWalkrrTrust) | |||||||
| c83002011-001 | ||||||||
| Baxendrn Cucknell | (cucknell | |||||||
| Transfered toaccount | ||||||||
| c83001852-001 | ||||||||
| eposlts held by Blackburn Diosese | ||||||||
| PurDoseAcct' ' Nr. |
Account Neme | TYP8l | lncom6 | ialance at lran 2025 |
; | necelpts | iPayments | Balanceat 31Dec2025 |
| I |