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2025-12-31-accounts

Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council of The Parish of Bilston

For the year ended 31[st] December 2025 Registered Charity Number 1138955

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The Parochial Church Council of The Parish of Bilston

Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31[st] December 2025

Charity registration number 1138955

Objectives and Activities

The Parochial Church Council of Bilston (the PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the Incumbent, Revd Canon Foluso Adedipe, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelical, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also spiritually responsible for the maintenance of the church

The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of our parish community at all of our three Churches – St Leonards, St Chads and St Mary’s. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer, scripture, music and sacrament. Also, through non-sacramental activities of hospitality and fellowship we aim to reach non churched members of the community.

Public Benefit

The trustees of the Charity are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit and have had regard to it in their administration of the Charity. The trustees believe that, by promoting the work of the Church of England in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Bilston, it helps to promote the whole mission of the Church (pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical) more effectively, within the Ecclesiastical Parish, and that in doing so it provides a benefit to the public by:

• Providing facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for its members and for anyone who wishes to benefit from what the Church offers; and

• Promoting Christian values and service by members of the Church in and to their communities, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.

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Activities and Performance

The Parish of Bilston - Vision, Mission Statements & MAP

Vision Statement

“We, the congregations of Bilston Parish, seek to grow as the family of God and the people of God.”

Mission Statement

“We are committed to serving God, sharing the Gospel and serving our community to the very best of our ability day by day”.

Mission Action Plan (MAP)

Discipleship

What we are doing now:

Weekly worship in 2 of our churches.

A variety of types of worship across the parish meeting the needs of different groups of people.

Use of Readers and Churchwardens across churches. Weekly zoom Bible Study with extended prayer session. Celebration of Patronal Services across the parish. Special celebrations at Christmas/Easter/Harvest. Services in Bushfield Court. Confirmation/young people’s group ongoing. We join a monthly prayer meeting with Churches Together. Fellowship after service in churches. Encourage involvement in services for readings/prayers etc. Entry-level Bible Study/discipleship Group growing

- What is planned for the next 12 month period:

Develop confidence in prayer across all congregations. Grow the parish youth group to be sustainable. Develop a prayer diary that the whole parish can use confidently.

- What we hope to do in 3 5 years:

Baptism and Wedding families attending regular worship. Parish teaching weekends – develop a culture of learning. Establishing more daily reading material networking.

Evangelism

What we are doing now:

Baptism and Funeral ministry.

Jacob’s Well Café which enables St Leonard’s to be open 7 days per week.

Pastoral presence whilst church is open.

Memorial services following large number of funerals in the Parish.

Special services encouraging schools and community to take part – Christingle, Remembrance, Crib, Reclaiming Christmas, Midnight communions, Harvest, Patronals etc.

Parish social events including fund raisers and fetes etc. Work with schools – Bilston CofE, Green Park, Villiers Primary, Tip-Top Nursery. Services in Bushfield Court.

Place of Welcome at St Chad’s.

Heavily involved with Churches Together at Christmas, Easter & Summer. Community Kitchen at St Mary’s and encouragement of community engagement.

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- What is planned for the next 12 month period:

St Mary’s - develop more outreach through events, social media and contact with the community.

St Chad’s - More leafleting the estate with events going on, seek ways to engage new people.

St Leonard’s - encourage more pastoral engagement in café

Establish a team equipped to lead Seeker courses. Continue to develop and refresh memorial service and funeral follow-up. Develop Café Church.

Develop a Youth Choir.

A regular Parish Seeker Course with a team.

- What we hope to do in 3 5 years:

Mission weekends within the parish. Having more presence outside of the church building.

Vocation

What we are doing now:

Encourage active participation in services and general church activities. Develop the ministry of Lay Readers with regular leading of worship. Offer regular bible study and prayer.

Encourage Confirmation and ongoing study. Encouraging after-service hospitality at all services. Encourage open discussion about spiritual matters among the congregation. Encourage the engagement of young people in services.

- What is planned for the next 12 month period:

Plan for the future of the PCC by encouraging the interest of younger people and those more recent members of congregations. Encourage on-going Stewardship.

Help people identify their own ministry.

Develop a youth service led by enabled young people.

- What we hope to do in 3 5 years:

Encourage and enable people to ‘own’ a ministry.

Encourage and enable the congregations to consider the future of each of the churches/services within the parish. Seek to establish more ordained ministry in the Parish.

Between March 2024 and July 2025, the Parish was in Vacancy following the departure of Rev Simon Skidmore. Rev Canon Adewole Foluso Adedipe was licensed to the parish as Priest in Charge on 28[th] June 2025, whilst the necessary changes to the Parish Scheme are made.

Achievements and Performance

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Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals

Baptisms have dropped off this year with people not wanting to wait for a date when a minister would be available. This feels indicative that parents do not really understand what they are doing when they ask for baptism for their children.

This year we have had 6 weddings, carried out by local ministers and later by Rev Foluso. Two of these were between members of our congregation!

Funerals in the parish continued and total of 43 funerals have taken place. We thank all of those ministers who supported this in the first half of the year. Since July Foluso has managed these by himself, setting aside Thursdays to focus on funeral ministry whilst negotiating other days where required.

Ministry in the Community

The parish engages in a number of initiatives designed to minister to the community including:

Overall, community engagement within the parish continues to flourish.

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– Report of the Priest In Charge of the Parish of Bilston Rev. Foluso Adedipe

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

I give thanks to God for his faithfulness to us and to the ministry of the parish since my assumption of office as Priest-in-Charge of Bilston. I was licensed to this post on 28 June 2025, and therefore this report covers the first six months of my ministry.

This report reflects on the life, worship, and ministry of the benefice during the six-month period following my licensing in the past year. It seeks to give thanks for faithfulness and commitment, to acknowledge challenges honestly, and to look forward with hope to the year ahead.

I am settling well into the role and continue to meet and get to know the people and the wider parish. Since the day of my licensing, my ministry has been warmly received by the people of Bilston, and I have experienced strong support from the leadership and congregations of the churches within the benefice, for which I am deeply grateful.

Worship and Spiritual Life

The pattern of worship across the benefice has remained regular and faithful during the reporting period. Services have continued in each church, reflecting their distinct traditions and the pastoral needs of their congregations.

Following a sustained decline in attendance at St Chad’s Church, the PCC prayerfully reviewed the situation and resolved in October to suspend regular services. This decision was taken with a view to discerning the future mission of the church and with the intention of establishing a renewed congregation in the coming year.

Across the benefice, midweek worship and teaching have continued to form an important part of parish life. These have included a midweek Shoppers Communion, an online Bible study (held via Zoom on Tuesday evenings), an in-person Bible study on Wednesday evenings, and a youth group meeting weekly. In response to interest from those wishing to explore the Christian faith, a Christianity Explored course was introduced in September. These gatherings have provided opportunities for learning, fellowship, and spiritual growth. As a result, eight adults and three young adults were confirmed in November, which has been a particular encouragement to the parish.

Seasonal and festival worship has remained well supported. Patronal Festivals were celebrated at St Mary’s in September and at St Leonard’s in November. Christmas services and related events were held across the benefice and were well attended, offering valuable opportunities for engagement with the wider community.

Attendance patterns across the benefice have been generally stable, with encouraging growth at St Mary’s and St Leonard’s, particularly at family services and major festivals. This reflects a steady commitment to regular worship and an openness to welcoming new participants.

Occasional Offices

The benefice has continued to hold a good number of Occasional Offices during the reporting period, including funerals, baptisms, and weddings. These services have provided significant opportunities for pastoral care and meaningful engagement with the wider community. Each occasion has allowed for sensitive support at important moments in people’s lives, whether in times of joy or bereavement. They have also served as valuable opportunities for mission, enabling conversations about faith and, in some cases, leading to deeper involvement in the life of the church.

Alongside a healthy number of infant baptisms during the reporting period, it has been

particularly encouraging that two adults, who had been exploring the Christian faith, were baptised in October and welcomed into the church family.

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Pastoral care

Pastoral care has remained a central and significant aspect of ministry throughout the reporting period. This has included regular visits to those who are housebound, as well as support for individuals and families experiencing illness, bereavement, or other personal challenges. Home visits and hospice visits have been undertaken where appropriate, and those who were unwell have been visited in hospital. Holy Communion has been administered at home and in hospital to members who were unable to attend public worship due to illness or frailty.

Bereavement support has been offered to families within the church community who have lost loved ones during the year. Prayer and practical support have also been provided to families facing particular difficulties.

Although there is no formally constituted pastoral team at present, members of the congregation have been supportive in drawing attention to situations where pastoral care has been needed. This shared attentiveness has been greatly valued and has strengthened the sense of mutual care within the benefice.

Children, Young People and Families

The churches within the benefice continue to seek to be welcoming places for families with children and young people. During the reporting period, a number of events were held which were particularly engaging for families, including a Christingle service at St Mary’s, Reclaiming Christmas and Crib service at St Leonard’s, and a Family Fun Festival at St Chad’s.

Regular family worship has continued at St Leonard’s, including Family Communion and Café Church. The Junior Church on Sundays and the youth group meeting on Tuesday evenings at St Leonard’s continue to show encouraging growth. These are led by Jane Dooley, with valued support from other members of the congregation.

All activities involving children and young people are conducted in accordance with safeguarding requirements. Those working with children are appropriately DBS-checked, and safeguarding procedures are followed in line with diocesan policy.

Work with children and families has continued to develop, with family services and special events providing opportunities for engagement, learning, and spiritual growth.

The benefice maintains positive and constructive links with local schools, including Bilston Church of England Primary School, Villiers Primary School, and Field View Primary School. Regular assemblies are led within these schools, and the church buildings are also used for collective worship and religious education visits. During the reporting period, the Scouts visited St Mary’s, where they learned about the life, history, and traditions of the Church. These partnerships with schools and community youth organisations continue to strengthen the mission and presence of the benefice within the wider community.

Mission and Community Engagement

The churches within the benefice continue to serve their communities through a wide range of activities and partnerships. Our church buildings remain important and valued resources for local groups and community initiatives.

Community hospitality forms a significant part of our outreach. St Mary’s runs a Community Kitchen on alternate Wednesdays, while St Leonard’s Community Kitchen operates daily except Sundays. St Chad’s hosts a Place of Welcome each Thursday. These ministries are made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers, for whose faithful service the Church is deeply grateful.

Church buildings are regularly opened to the public for private prayer and quiet reflection, as well as for corporate worship. The Churches within the benefice have continued to host local schools and nurseries for educational visits and acts of worship. St. Leonard’s Church maintains positive links with Green Park School, Bilston (a special school), whose pupils have visited St Leonard’s on several occasions, including assisting with practical support in caring for the church building.

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St Leonard’s Church building is used regularly by community groups, including the Knit and Natter Group and a slimming club. In partnership with the Lions Club, we hosted the Christmas Tree Festival, which was very well attended and warmly received by the local community. The Parish Centre is currently leased to Tip Top Nursery, providing childcare facilities for families within the community. Children from the nursery attended and participated in a Christmas service at St Chad’s in December.

Our outreach has also included services at Bushfield Court, where a Christmas Carol service was held for residents in December. We continue to work in partnership with Churches Together in Bilston and Bradley, actively participating in shared initiatives such as Hope in the Park (an annual open-air event), the monthly prayer breakfast, and Carols in the Town.

During the reporting period, we also partnered with the Royal British Legion in leading Remembrance services, which remain significant moments of engagement with the wider community.

Our church buildings continue to serve as places where families gather for funerals. As a Church, we maintain good working relationships with local funeral directors to ensure services are conducted with dignity and pastoral sensitivity, offering support and care to bereaved families.

In addition to the above, numerous other community events have been hosted across the benefice. These activities continue to affirm our church buildings as valuable assets within the community and provide meaningful opportunities for engagement and witness.

Benefice Life and Collaboration

There has been encouraging growth in cooperation across the benefice during the reporting period. Shared services and activities have helped to strengthen relationships and foster a greater sense of common purpose among the three churches.

Joint Patronal services were held at St Mary’s and St Leonard’s, with members from the other churches in the benefice attending and participating. These occasions have provided valuable opportunities for fellowship and mutual encouragement. While each church retains its own distinct tradition of worship, there is a growing appreciation of one another’s strengths and a willingness to support each other in ministry.

District Church Council (DCC) meetings continue to be held at individual church level, and full PCC meetings are held bimonthly. These meetings have been well attended and conducted in a spirit of cooperation and respect. A PCC social evening was held in December—an event which had not taken place for some time—and it was encouraging that all PCC members were present.

Maintaining unity across three churches, each with its own history and character, remains both an opportunity and a challenge. Nevertheless, there is a shared desire to work together as one benefice, rooted in the central message of the Christian faith. We continue to pray and work towards deeper unity, mutual support, and shared vision for the future.

Safeguarding

Safeguarding continues to be taken seriously and remains a priority across the benefice. The parish is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, in accordance with the House of Bishops’ guidance and diocesan policy.

Safeguarding policies are in place and are reviewed regularly. They are displayed prominently in accessible locations within our church buildings, together with clear information on how to raise or report a concern and details of those who may be contacted. Training requirements are being met in line with diocesan expectations, and safeguarding concerns, where they arise, are handled appropriately and in accordance with diocesan procedures.

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In November 2025, two members of the parish, including the Parish Safeguarding Officer, attended a Train the Trainer workshop. As a result, they are now able to provide local support and training for members who may find it difficult to complete safeguarding training independently, particularly due to limited literacy or lack of confidence with technology. This has helped to ensure that safeguarding awareness and compliance remain accessible to all who serve within the benefice. The PCC affirms its continued commitment to promoting a safer church environment for all.

Challenges and Pressures

As with many parishes, the benefice continues to face a number of challenges. Capacity remains a significant pressure, particularly in relation to volunteer availability and the ongoing care and maintenance of our church buildings. Overseeing ministry across three churches requires careful prioritisation and wise use of time and resources.

The number of Occasional Offices, especially funerals, has been considerable during the reporting period. While these services provide important opportunities for pastoral care and community engagement, managing them alongside the regular rhythm of parish life with one minister in post has been demanding.

We are deeply thankful for the commitment and generosity of our volunteers. However, the number of active volunteers remains small, and this limits what can realistically be sustained. There is an ongoing need to encourage and develop new lay involvement in order to support the growing demands of ministry.

Bilston is an area facing economic challenges, and this has had an impact on the financial strength of the churches within the benefice. Limited financial resources make the ongoing maintenance and care of our buildings increasingly difficult, requiring careful stewardship and continued prayerful consideration.

During the reporting period, there was a noticeable increase in the number of people wishing to explore the Christian faith. While this has been a great encouragement, it has also placed additional demands on a small number of group leaders, requiring the organisation of multiple teaching and support groups.

Despite these pressures, there remains a shared commitment to faithful service and to seeking God’s guidance for the way forward.

Encouragement and Thanksgiving

During these first few months in post, we have been greatly encouraged by the faithfulness, generosity, and commitment of our Parish Wardens, Churchwardens, PCC members, volunteers, and congregations across the benefice. Their willingness to serve and to work together has been a source of strength and support, for which we give thanks to God.

There have been noticeable signs of growth within the benefice, both spiritually and numerically. Increased participation in worship, teaching groups, and confirmation preparation has been particularly encouraging. It has been heartening to witness individuals exploring the Christian faith and, in some cases, committing themselves more deeply to the life of the Church.

Our links with the wider community have also strengthened during this period. There has been a renewed sense of presence and engagement within Bilston, reflected in the number of people visiting our churches, using our buildings for services and community activities, and participating in events. It has been especially encouraging to see a growing number of people finding faith and becoming part of the worshipping community.

We remain grateful to God for his faithfulness and for the signs of hope and renewal that have been evident across the benefice during this reporting period.

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Vision and Priorities for the Year Ahead

In the coming year, our priority will be to strengthen the shared life and sense of common purpose across the benefice, while continuing to honour the distinct traditions and character of each church. Building deeper unity and cooperation will remain important, particularly through joint services, shared events, and greater collaboration in planning and ministry.

We will seek to encourage and develop lay leadership, recognising that the sustainability of ministry across three churches depends on wider participation and shared responsibility. Supporting existing volunteers, identifying new leaders, and providing appropriate guidance and training will be essential in addressing current capacity pressures.

Particular attention will continue to be given to children, young people, and families. Building on the encouraging growth already seen, we aim to strengthen these ministries in ways that are both sustainable and faithful. Alongside this, we will continue to offer opportunities for people to explore and deepen their faith, supporting those who have recently been baptised or confirmed as they become more fully integrated into the life of the church.

Careful discernment will be needed regarding the future of St Chad’s, seeking a realistic and prayerful way forward that supports renewed mission and worship in that context. At the same time, we must address ongoing financial challenges and the responsible care of our buildings, ensuring that resources are stewarded wisely and sustainably.

We remain committed to maintaining and strengthening our relationships with local schools, community groups, and partner organisations, so that our churches continue to serve and bless the wider community.

As we look ahead, we do so with a clear awareness of the pressures we face, yet with steady trust in God’s guidance. Our desire is to move forward thoughtfully and faithfully, nurturing growth, strengthening unity, and sustaining the ministry entrusted to us.

In Memoriam

During the reporting period, we mourned the loss of two faithful and prominent members of the benefice: Eber Carter, one of the serving Churchwardens at St Mary’s, and Charles Smith, our Parish Electoral Roll Officer.

Both served the church with dedication and integrity, giving generously of their time and commitment to the life of the parish. Their contribution to the worship, governance, and fellowship of the benefice was deeply valued, and their presence is greatly missed. We give thanks to God for their faithful service and commend them to God’s eternal care. We continue to hold their families and loved ones in our prayers.

Conclusion

As we reflect on these few months of our service here together, we do so with gratitude for God’s faithfulness and for the commitment of so many who serve quietly and faithfully across the benefice. While there have been real challenges in capacity, finance, and the demands of ministry, there have also been clear signs of encouragement—growth in participation, new expressions of faith, and strengthened links with the wider community.

We look ahead not with complacency, but with steady trust. The work before us will require prayer, patience, cooperation, and perseverance. Yet we remain confident that as we continue to serve faithfully, to support one another generously, and to keep our focus on the heart of the Christian message, God will guide and sustain us. It is in that trust that we commend the year ahead to his care.

The Revd Canon Adewole Foluso Adedipe

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Deanery Synod report for A.P.C.M. 2026.

Synod met on three occasions during the year.

The first meeting was held at St. Martins, Bradley on February 25[th] . The main item discussed was the subject of Succession Planning. This involves churches and P.C.C.s making early preparations to prepare for and manage the situation when Incumbents move on or retire. The plan challenges the culture of accepting the need for a lengthy gap between Incumbents. By way of an example, the team at Holy Trinity Heathtown were in June ready to advertise the post to replace Richard Merrick when he retires at the end of the year.

The second meeting took place on 18[th] June at St. Matthews, East Park. There was feedback from a recent Safeguarding conference. Attendees reported that the day had proved to be useful and worthwhile.

The Shaping for Mission exercise made an appearance once again; much changed from its original mandate. The report made ten recommendations for consideration, but the Bishop of Wolverhampton felt this was too much to consider and asked us to focus upon mission and consider the following:

1)HOW DO WE KEEP AND DEVELOP PEOPLE – making and developing disciples. Growing faith. The Living Faith programme was recommended.

2) HOW DO WE GROW OUR POPULATION IN FAITH. – use outreach to encourage children and young people, try to keep frequent contact with schools, offer Saturday children’s and Sunday school. Build in Living Faith.

3) HOW TO SPREAD THE Good News.

We need to get new families to play a more active part. They need to own the church they belong to. We also need unity across the churches in our deanery, and we need to offer more to our older generations. Places of Welcome is on many doorsteps, but do we utilize it enough in our local community. Going forward we need to think differently about how to do church and make sure it is on everyone’s agenda.

The Synod said farewell to Clare Witney who was based at St. Peters, Wolverhampton. She had taken a leading part in some aspects of the Synods work. Also, our Rural Dean, as mentioned above, is to retire on 31[st] December 2025. His replacement is to be Rev Matt Hurd, Vicar of St. Matthews, East Park.

The final meeting of the year took place at Chad, Mark on 23rd October. There was further discussion surrounding the Shaping for Mission concept and feedback on the Archdeacon’s consultation.

Phil Dooley.

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Report on the proceedings of the P.C.C.2025

The Parochial Church Council (P.C.C.) has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent in the mission of the Church. As with all Parishes in the Church of England, the parish is a charitable body and therefore P.C.C. members are also trustees and hold responsibility for the financial affairs in the parish and care for buildings.

The P.C.C. met on seven occasions during 2025. Also, there were two occasions when the Business by Correspondence procedure was used to agree emergency work at St. Mary’s and St. Chad’s.

At every P.C.C. meeting in the Parish of Bilston, a number of routine matters are dealt with. These matters include minutes of the previous meeting and any matters arising, the state of the buildings, the financial position, any health and safety concerns or safeguarding issues. Additional matters are addressed as they arise.

Annually, the P.C.C. must approve the contents of the Annual Report and accounts to be presented to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (A.P.C.M.) and update various other mandatory polices.

During 2025 the P.C.C has considered the following additional matters.

Management of the Parish Centre.

Completion of a Parish Profile and subsequent agreement as part of the recruitment process which culminated in the appointment the Rev. Foluso Adepipe.

Pastoral reorganisation.

Philip Dooley, P.C.C. Secretary

St Leonard’s Church Warden’s Report.

2025 has been a busy year but it has been a year of amazing growth and flourishing. Throughout the year we have had people seeking God in various ways and becoming established in their faith and within the church. In addition, people who have been in the congregation for years have felt called to a renewed sense of service, some in big ways and others in small acts, all a big step for each of them.

Our initial advertising campaign for the post of Priest In Charge ended in November 2024 with no applicants. Therefore, it was agreed that we should re-advertise as soon as possible after the Christmas break.

The year began in a similar pattern to how 2024 ended, with Rev Foluso Adedipe continuing with offering communion every other first Sunday in the month. In addition to this Phil managed to secure some external speakers able to share specific interests:- Open Doors (Persecuted Christians), Torch Trust (aiding Christians with sight loss), CARE (Christian challenge and voice in law making). He also arranged for the newly appointed Bishop Tim to take St Chad’s Patronal in March.

The established pattern of services continued but in February the Evensong service was reduced to twice per month instead of every week and at the end of October it came to an end as numbers had reduced and gas bills had gone up. We will continue to hold Memorial evenings on the 5[th] Sunday of the month.

Lent saw the introduction of a further study group on a Wednesday evening, whilst the existing Bible Study group on Zoom and the Young People’s group all studied the same material.

Easter services went well and Ann Reaney sent out invites to Baptism families to attend to re-affirm their vows, this was taken up by 2-3 families.

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With a brief dip in attendance now picking up again and new people arriving at church and staying, it was with great pleasure and relief that we were able, on 13[th] April 2025, to announce the appointment of Rev. Canon Foluso Adedipe as Priest In Charge of the Parish of Bilston. His Licensing was scheduled for 28[th] June.

Six members of St Leonard’s had been prepared for Confirmation toward the end of 2024 and were impatient to make their commitment. A Confirmation Service was booked for Sunday 22[nd] June at St Leonard’s. This left us with an extremely chaotic week with Confirmation, Licensing and Hope in the Park all taking place in the space of eight days!

As he already knew the Parish, Foluso was able to hit the ground running and had lots of ideas as to what he wanted to do. He did listen to advice to slow down a bit and approach things one step at a time!

The number of funerals in the Parish has continued to be high and a decision was made with Foluso early on to try to reserve Thursdays for funerals wherever possible, so that he could be free to engage in schools work and arrange visits for the rest of the week.

Mark has continued to look after the building, utility companies and authorising bank payments. It is surprising how many contracts we have that all need checking and keeping on top of – gas, electric, insurance, alarm, fire extinguishers, clock engineers, organ tuners, boiler service, kitchen equipment, printer, copyright license etc. as well as looking after the electrical equipment and the fabric of the building.

Jacob’s Well Café has continued to enable the church to be open 6 days per week. This has led to further opportunities to talk to people and for people to come seeking something more in their lives. It is a great joy to be able to guide them toward faith. In September our paid employee Kim went off on Maternity Leave, so we were able to offer Tracey a temporary post until Kim returns. Staffing was further enabled by new volunteers Claire, Jan and Chris who very ably cover Fridays and Saturdays and occasionally help out on other days. Many thanks are also due to our faithful volunteers who have been with us for some time – Alison, Linda, Dee and Norman.

The young people’s group did take a pause for a while but restarted and opened up to younger children from year 3 upwards. Dee has supported with this work consistently.

The Lent course group became a second ongoing bible study group, giving us two groups running regularly. From September Foluso began a further Confirmation group on a Wednesday after the communion and also on Zoom on a Wednesday evening. There were also an additional three young people preparing. In November we celebrated with NINE candidates from St Leonard’s and TWO from St Mary’s. Two more people prepared but Andy was poorly in hospital on the day, and another felt he was not yet ready to take this step. They are both waiting to go forward at the next opportunity. That would make an unprecedented 19 candidates confirmed in the space of one year, all of whom continue to be active members of the parish. A very great reason to praise the Lord. We have also said goodbye to some very dear friends this year, Yvonne Edmunds, Dot Fellows and Charlie Smith. They are all greatly missed but none more so than Charlie, a main stay of life at St Leonard’s.

We have also celebrated two congregational weddings this year – Jo Bircher and Dale Stroyde in May and Melanie Dean and Adrian Taylor in September.

Noah’s baptism in August led to his mum Sonia and uncle Louis becoming firm members of the congregation and getting confirmed themselves in November.

We weep with those who mourn and rejoice with those who celebrate, and we rejoice with the angels in heaven when people turn to Christ.

Members of St Leonard’s have continued to be heavily involved with Churches Together in Bilston and Bradley where Mark Bircher takes the role of Chairperson. We have attended monthly prayer breakfasts and planning meetings three times per year. We have also been instrumental in the three events of the year – Easter Witness, HOPE in the PARK and Carols in the Town. HOPE in the PARK was a particularly successful event this year and saw many people asking more about Jesus and taking home a free New Testament. Not a single copy of the 200 that were given out selectively was found discarded.

We had a very successful McMillan Coffee morning and also raised money for the organisations we had speakers from – Open Doors, Torch Trust and CARE.

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Once again we had a very promising Community Harvest service entitled ‘One Town, Many Nations’. Schools took part and with parents and invited community leaders the place was filled. When asked to stand if they had a heritage from another country nearly half of the congregation stood with many Eastern European, African, Asian and Caribbean nations represented as well as Canadian and North American. Once again lunch was provided afterwards this time including Nigerian food, and was a good opportunity for Foluso to get to know some of the local community. We were able to provide food parcels for some of the parents who were in need The food collected for the harvest continues to provide food parcels for some of the needier folks of Bilston.

Both Villiers Primary and Bilston C of E Primary have continued to attend church for their Easter, Harvest and Christmas services this year as well as various other events and class visits as part of their R.E. curriculum. A highlight for me this year was a school remembrance service by the children of Bilston C of E Primary, a very moving tribute.

The Christmas Tree Festival was again a successful event with huge footfall.

Reclaiming Christmas again involved school choirs alongside the church band and it was wonderful to see 125 adults and 73 children in attendance. All other Christmas services were also very well attended.

Financially, we appear to be fairly stable, though weekly/monthly giving does not cover all of our costs. We do have some income from funerals and weddings, and occasional legacies keep us afloat. Our thanks go to Kim Benton who has done a sterling job of keeping us on the ‘straight and narrow’ and advising us when things need doing.

A big thank you to all who stepped up this year and took on a new responsibility – from being on hospitality teams, welcoming people, reading during services, helping in the café, donating things, counting people, tech support etc. A special thanks to Jo and Dale Stroyde for their support with technology and to Joyce Groucutt, without whom the evening services, Wednesday communions, funerals and much of the fundraising would not have happened!

Last year we ended our report with the words “We look forward to next year with hope and excitement to see what God has in store for us and continue to pray that the right person will be appointed to lead us into the future”. Our hope has been exceeded this year and our excitement continues as we see God at work in our midst in ways that surpass our expectations.

Jane Dooley, Mark Bircher

St Mary’s Church Warden Report

The year 2025 began with the continuation of the interregnum following the Revd Simon Skidmore’s move to another parish on Easter Sunday 2024. During this time, we were greatly indebted to Father Tony Hutchinson, who came to St Mary’s to conduct services of Holy Communion whenever he was able. On alternate Sundays, the Churchwarden continued to lead Services of the Word. We were extremely grateful for the continued faithfulness and support of our congregation throughout this period.

The general running of the church was maintained throughout the year. DCC meetings were held after church services and members continued to support PCC meetings. Routine maintenance was also carried out, including checks of fire extinguishers and the testing of the sound system and electrical equipment.

We are very grateful to a member of the congregation who painted the railings and gates outside the church, resulting in a significant improvement to the church’s exterior. Another member has taken on responsibility for the maintenance of the churchyard and columbarium. This work is of great importance not only to church members but also to those who visit the graves of their loved ones, and we are deeply indebted to him for undertaking this demanding role.

Our Stations of the Cross service on Good Friday was well attended, with the congregation taking an active part. Father Tony Hutchinson also led our Easter Sunday Holy Communion service, which was greatly appreciated by all present.

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In June, we were delighted to welcome the Revd Canon Adewole Foluso Adedipe, along with his wife and family, as Priest-in-Charge of the parish. We sincerely hope they will find their time in Bilston both enjoyable and fulfilling.

Our Summer Fête in July was very successful. Through the distribution of leaflets and posters within the community, as well as advertising on our Facebook page, we received excellent support from local residents.

At St Mary’s Patronal Festival in September, we were honoured to welcome the Bishop of Wolverhampton as our guest speaker. It was a moving and uplifting service, well attended by members from other churches within the parish.

The Harvest Festival was once again followed by our Harvest Meal, which provided an opportunity for the congregation to come together for a longer period of fellowship than our usual coffee and cake after services. The meal was enjoyed by everyone present, and our harvest gifts were again donated to a local food bank.

Our Christmas Fayre was held at the end of November and was both well attended and financially successful. We were pleased to welcome Father Christmas once again, who distributed gifts to the children. The event was promoted through our Facebook page, as well as with leaflets and posters.

The Christingle service was also very successful, with increased attendance from visitors. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all and raised funds for The Children’s Society. Christmas services remain very important to us at St Mary’s. We were particularly grateful to the Revd Foluso for enabling us to hold our Christmas Eve Holy Communion service at 7.00pm rather than 11.30pm, allowing families to attend more easily. The service was well attended and much appreciated, and those present enjoyed coming together afterwards for mulled wine and mince pies.

However, the year was also marked by sadness with the loss of several much-loved members of our church family. In November, Mary Rollaston and Steven Spencer both died after long battles with cancer. Steven had been a long-serving member of the congregation, together with Tina and Lisa. Our thoughts and prayers remain with their families and friends.

The greatest shock and sorrow came on 15 August, when our Churchwarden, colleague and dear friend, Eber Carter, died following a short illness. His sudden death devastated us all. Eber had been a dedicated member of St Mary’s for many years and had previously served as both Churchwarden and Parish Warden before agreeing to take on the role once again. He carried out his duties with exemplary dedication and deep love for St Mary’s and he considered it an honour to serve the church. He is greatly missed, and we continue to hold Margaret and the family in our prayers.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone at St Mary’s who supported me following Eber’s death. The kindness, help and willingness to assist were immediate and deeply appreciated.

Finally, thank you to all who have supported St Mary’s throughout the year — members of the congregation, the wider community and all those who so faithfully support our Community Kitchen. We are truly grateful.

Christine Mills, St Mary’s Church Warden

Page 15

St Chad’s Churchwarden’s Report

Well, another year has passed and we have seen some very different times during the year. The ups and downs of the year have been a funny journey.

One of the biggest was welcoming the Rev. Canon Foluso to St Chads, St Leonard’s and St Mary’s, with his wife Stella, Samuel, Esther, Emanuel and Nathaniel.

We started the year with what was thought to be a simple repair to the roof as lead had been taken and this had caused us a problem with tiles and waterproofing. Then it was discovered that our bell tower was in need of urgent repair. Thanks to Mark and Remi completing an emergency faculty the repair was completed, though we still must have the inside finished.

Though now we have developed a leak in the kitchen, a faculty has been completed by Mark and Foluso and we are awaiting some advice back.

A faculty has also been completed for the garden, which was started a year ago, again we are awaiting news on this from the diocese. On a positive note, we have a hive system in place under Mark’s guidance. Therefore, an eye can be kept on the heating. A service was completed on the gas, but the gas person had to return as the pilot light went out.

At Christmas time we saw the nursery come over and meet the new vicar and enjoy the short service.

We also had a Family Fun Day with a short service on a Saturday in December which was hailed as a success and enjoyed by adults and children alike.

We now hire the church building to a martial arts group on Tuesday evenings, which brings in valuable income.

We are planning with Foluso to begin a monthly Sunday Afternoon Family Fun Service called ‘Sunday Alive’, this will require the help and support of members of the other congregations in the parish.

Over the Christmas holiday period, Mark, Joanne and Dale worked to mount a large TV screen, purchased with restricted funds for outreach work. They also reset the sound system; Dee and Alison were in attendance to learn how to work the system.

Linda Pearson & Alison Spencer

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Safeguarding Report

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, protecting them from abuse or maltreatment and preventing harm to their health or development. As a parish we want to ensure that the children and vulnerable adults in our community are protected and recognise the calling and duty to love and care for the vulnerable and protect all from abuse. For this reason, we have taken guidance from Lichfield diocese on how best to protect those in our community. These are the following advisories that we have followed:

1. Currently, we have a designated safeguarding team which is led by Kerry Bircher.

The role of the Safeguarding Officer is to be the named person volunteers and church members would report any disclosures or child protection concerns to. If required, the Safeguarding Officer will refer on any disclosures or child protection concerns to the appropriate organisation e.g., The Local Authority in which the vulnerable person/child lives, social services or police.

2. All parish members who may take responsibility within their church such as

PCC/DCC members, church/parish wardens or those who are responsible for children or vulnerable adults as part of their role within the church MUST have a current DBS issued by the diocese which must be renewed every 3 years.

3. All parish members who may take responsibility within their church such as

PCC/DCC members, church/parish wardens or those who are responsible for children or vulnerable adults as part of their role within the church MUST have completed basic awareness and foundation safeguarding training (previously C0 and C1.)

Kerry Bircher has continued to ensure all PCC/DCC members have current DBS certificates in line with our current safeguarding policy by becoming a diocesan verifier to streamline the process and avoid the need to rely on external verifiers.

Going forward into 2026, as a parish, we need to be more aware of our communities and the challenges they face and take safeguarding more seriously due to the impact it can have on people’s lives. We need to ensure that any concern is reported to a safeguard lead no matter how small we feel the issue is. We need to ensure that all members of the parish who are in these roles do hold a current DBS and have completed safeguarding training. It is now mandatory that any future member of PCC/DCC, church/Parish warden must complete basic awareness and foundation safeguarding training and hold a current DBS within 8 weeks of appointment.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Acting on your concerns or seeking advice is rarely a bad idea. People often question ‘What if I’m wrong’ but we must ask ourselves ‘what if I’m right’. We can’t assume that someone else has seen what we may have seen or will pass on concerns.

Proverbs 31v 8 say “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.’

Kerry Bircher – Safeguarding officer

Page 17

Jacobs Well Café Report

While we were closed for our Christmas break, the staff all got together and for a deep clean of the kitchen and equipment.

January 2025, we opened our doors to our customers once more and they were glad to see us back open; they had missed us all. On January 17[th] the Hygiene inspectors arrived unannounced for an overdue inspection, once again we were awarded a 5-star certificate, this was great news for us all.

In early March, we celebrated Pancake Day, offering our customers a good choice of fillings, and they loved them. Later in March, we offered an afternoon tea for Mother’s Day, that was a great turnout, and it was very busy, staff enjoyed participating in the event (and finishing off the goodies at the end!)

For Joanne and Dales’ wedding in May, we closed for the day but served drinks and cupcakes to the guests whilst they waited.

June was a busy month as we were asked to provide refreshments for the confirmation service on the 22[nd] and for the Licensing on the 28[th] . We were very pleased to welcome our new vicar and his family and quickly introduced him to our price list.

July brought about Black Country Day, staff wore peaky blinders t-shirts to go with the theme. We cooked Gray paes and bearcon, liver and onions and faggots among other delicacies, which our customers all enjoyed.

August was a month of mixed emotions as we said farewell to Kim with a surprise baby shower before going on maternity leave. We all wished her well and told her to keep in touch, we all miss her and look forward to welcoming her back. In her stead Tracey was employed on a maternity cover contract.

September saw three new volunteers join us, Claire, Jan and Chris. They took on the Friday and Saturday shifts and all of them are really enjoying helping out. This has brought lots of stability to the rotas.

In the rush toward Christmas, we once again took part in the Christmas Tree Festival, decorating our tree with homemade ‘gonks’ and entitling it “Gonk for Lunch” and serving refreshments. The kitchen was extremely busy, and we took over £300 in one afternoon/evening. We arrived at Christmas much in need of a break – though we did still come in for our usual deep clean.

During the year we had a visit and review from a well-known local ‘influencer’ who produced a video recommending us as a ‘hidden treasure’ in Bilston. This did bring in extra custom, and we are grateful for the advertising.

In addition, we had reviews from customers who commented

“Great service with a smile, amazing food and nothing is too much. We would definitely recommend it”

“I didn’t know there was a café here, the food was outstanding, it’s very friendly, I will definitely tell my friends about it.”

The café continues to do well with many customers returning over and over. Some prefer to drop in occasionally, especially those who come from further afield. Although we are generally making enough to cover costs, we still have good weeks and quieter weeks. We always can use more volunteers which would make rotas so much easier to manage.

Kim, Tracey, Claire, Alison, Dee, Jan, Chris and Norman

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Young People’s Confirmation Group

The Young People’s group has been a bit ‘fitful’ during 2025. We began our sessions with a young person’s Lent group beginning in March, this had a good turnout with one of the older girls (15) bringing up to six friends from school. Once Lent was finished, we reverted to a confirmation group as we had a number who expressed an interest but were not sure. In the event, when the confirmation came round in June, we had two young people who had previously prepared and one new candidate who prepared whilst the others did a refresher during April and May. So, three young people were confirmed in June – Elizabete, Kacie and Daniel. After this we took a bit of a break.

In September Foluso’s elder two children, Samuel and Esther wished to prepare for confirmation alongside Sebastian who was now in year 6. They all went forward for Confirmation in November alongside the eight adults.

We then took a further break, just having a bit of a Christmas party for all of the older children to thank them for their hard work throughout the year.

In the new year it is planned to open the young people’s group to all those in year 3 and above.

Jane Dooley

St Mary’s Church Community Kitchen

It seems almost unbelievable that this March we will be celebrating the third anniversary of our Community Kitchen. When we first began, we were unsure whether anyone would come, offering simply homemade soup or a sandwich.

Today, we regularly welcome over twenty guests at each session, who enjoy a choice of five or six freshly prepared homemade meals. These range from meat pies and casseroles to curry and pasta dishes. While we initially expected the kitchen to serve mainly local residents, we are delighted that our regular guests now travel from across the city. Over time, they have become not just customers, but friends and they show great support for our fundraising events.

At Christmas, we once again provided a full Christmas lunch, complete with crackers and chocolates. This was thoroughly enjoyed by all and helped create a warm and festive atmosphere for everyone involved.

We were also pleased to welcome the congregation from Portway Road Congregational Church again this year. It was a very enjoyable occasion, with time to chat together while sharing lunch and we very much look forward to their next visit later this year. As a team, we take great pleasure in providing hot, nourishing meals, a warm and welcoming environment and a friendly atmosphere for all who attend, regardless of their circumstances. We are grateful for the support we receive and look forward with optimism to the year ahead.

The Community Kitchen Team

Place of Welcome.

We meet in Saint Chads on Thursday mornings between 10am and 12 noon. We gather to make friends and to try to alleviate loneliness. We do need ideas to make new friends as we have lost many of our original members. If you like having a chat, playing board games, or maybe doing jigsaw puzzles with free refreshments, this may be the place for you. If you want further information about our group, please contact Diane Woodberry, the coordinator on 07890494151.

Diane Woodberry.

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St. Leonard’s Service of the Word & Family Services

At St. Leonard’s we have continued with a family service variant once per month. They are always very well received by its loyal congregation.

The format for Family Services has remained adaptable to the theme of the month, a short introductory liturgy with confession is followed by between two or three readings with a reflection, prayer and song or hymn for each reading. The inclusion of the occasional bible quiz or other activity keeps people on their toes!

The Bircher/Stroyde families have continued to provide the “tech” expertise needed to put on such services.

However, the new service pattern for 2026 appears to limit the possibility of these services continuing, at least in the short term.

Phil & Jane Dooley

Report on Parish Bible Study held on Zoom.

The Parish Bible study conducted on Zoom continues on Tuesday evenings.

The study always ends with a prayer time, where the needs of people known to group members are prayed for.

Those attending are parish members from St. Chad’s and St. Leonard’s with one member who lives in Solihull but found us following a ‘tip-off’ by a group member. We also welcome a former member of Bilston Baptist Church who joins us from her Care Home.

There is no requirement to be a Bible expert and those attending are free to just sit and listen if that is their wish.

At the time of writing, the group is about to complete Titus having also looked at Proverbs and one and two Timothy during 2025. We also covered the I AM sayings of Jesus.

We are looking forward to meeting others who wish to study God’s word.

Phil Dooley.

Bilston and East District Trefoil Guild

The Trefoil Guild continues to meet on the first Monday of each month at St. Mary's Church. Activities have included visits to Bilston Craft Gallery, Sea Life Centre, Birmingham and a Christmas meal.

Meetings have consisted of crafts, various quizzes, flower arranging demonstrations and afternoon tea.

We support Remembrance Sunday in Bilston, making our own wreath and also participate in the Christmas tree festival in Bilston. The group continues to uphold the wider Guiding and Scouting principles and provides an opportunity for fun and friendship. We would welcome anyone interested in joining the group.

Wendy Hawkins

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Financial Review

Total Net Assets: £397,215_2025 [£466,818_2024] Deficit: (£68,516)_2025 Unrestricted Deficit: (£63,806) Restricted Deficit: (£4,711) [Deficit: (£160) 2024]

Parish and Parish Centre

Total Net Assets: £337,108_2025 [£355,504_2024] Excess: £3,639 Unrestricted Excess: £4,942 Restricted Deficit: (£1,303) [Excess: £10,680 2024]

The Parish account receives income from the three churches to pay the Common Fund and Parish Expenses. It also holds the proceeds of the sale of Curates house. In 2022 the investments were transferred from the General fund to Curate Endowment funds as this better reflects the situation. However, capital can be spent in special circumstances. All income from the investments will be used for the Common fund and/or Parish expenses periodically to reduce the burden on the individual Churches. The income will be left to build up in the CCLA deposit account.

The Parish Centre is shown within these accounts. In 2022 the Parish Centre Building was moved from the Parish Centre Restricted to Parish Centre Building Endowment. Again, this better reflects the situation. Whilst the income in unrestricted the capital cannot be spent without selling the building. All the income and expenditure is recorded under the Parish Centre Designated. It is the intention to build up a reserve fund for any work needed on the Parish Centre of £20,000 which would be shown separately as Parish Centre reserve. Along with this working capital of £5,000 retained. Once this figure has been reached then any surplus can be transferred and used to pay the Common fund and/or Parish expenses.

The Parish Centre has seen the Parish centre hire reduced from £13,600 2024 to £13,200_2025. Tiptop Childcare continue to expand and have enquired about hiring the whole of the centre. We await instructions from Lichfield Diocesan. They currently pay £1,100 per month and 75% of the utility bills. £9,176_2025 [£4,658_2024].

St Chads

Total Net Assets: £9,889_2025 [£23,301 2024] Deficit: (£40,911)_2025 – Unrestricted Deficit: (£39,584) Restricted Deficit: (£1,327 [Deficit: (£17,615) 2024]

St Chads income has reduced from £3,647_2024 to £1,902_2025. The most notable differences being 0902_Heating Wedding & Funerals, 1101_Fees for Weddings & Funerals and 1230 Church Hall lettings.

Expenditure has Increased from £21,262_2024 to £42,814_2025. St Chads had lead stolen from the Roof and because they had not used Smart Water were unable to claim using the insurance. The total that was spent on the roof and other necessary repairs was £23,264. £27,500 was transferred to St Chad’s from the investments held with Lichfield by selling shares. This left them with £4,236 as a buffer. The most notable differences are 1910 Common fund 2330 Church maintenance, and of course 2701 Church Major repairs.

St Mary’s

Total Net Assets: £591_2025 [£15,651 2024] Excess/Deficit: (£15,060)_2025 – Unrestricted Deficit: (£15,060) [Deficit: (£3,933) 2024]

St Mary’s income overall has reduced from £13,942_2024 to £13,533_2025. The most notable difference being reductions in 1101 Fees for weddings and funerals and 0902 Heating Weddings and funerals. There have been increases in 0601 Tax recoverable and 0701 Legacies.

The expenditure has increased from £17,876_2024 to £28,593_2025. The main reason for this is an increase in 1910 LDBF Common fund and 2330 Church Maintenance. St Leonard’s did pay an invoice to H C Daly for £3,625 on behalf of St Mary’s. This is showing as a debtor in St Leonard’s accounts but it was posted to 2330 in St Mary’s accounts and is showing as an unpresented item. Once the expected legacy has been received St Mary’s will repay that amount to St Leonard’s.

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St Leonards

Total Net Assets: £49,625_2025 [£65,808_2024] Deficit: (£16,182)_2025 – Unrestricted Deficit: (£14,103) Restricted Deficit: (£2,079) [Excess: £10,708 2024]

Overall income has reduced from £106,195_2024 to £46,844_2025. We have seen increases in 0101 Gift aid collections and 0901 Other funds generated but reductions in a number of areas including 0201 Non gift aid collections, 0550 donations, 0701 Legacies and 1210 Jacob Well_Food Sales.

Expenditure overall has also reduced from £95,486_2024 to £63,027_2025. There have been reductions in 1910 LDBF Common Fund,2330 Church maintenance, 2701 Church major repairs and 2360 Administration. There have been no notable increases in which as previously documented is due to the major works 2701 expenditure. We still have not received statements for 20956414 and 70076899 this is the fourth year statements have not been provided for examination.

Thanks go to Mark and Jane for their continued support and hard work throughout the year.

Kim Benton

Reserves Policy

It is PCC policy to try to maintain a balance on free reserves (net current assets) which equates to at least three months unrestricted payments. This is equivalent to £28,191_2025 [£28,216_2024]. It is held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies. The balance of the free reserves at the year-end was £40,592_2025 [£87,169_2024] which is considerably higher than this target. In the uncertain economic climate, it is felt to have a healthy reserve is a good foundation for the future and will allow the charity to explore different outreach if identified and also be secure of having sufficient reserves if called upon in any unforeseen

Investment Policy

The charity is granted power to invest in suitable investments under the PCC Powers Measure 1956 and the Trustees Act 2000. As a charity, the Trustees have a duty of care to take such advice as is appropriate before investments are undertaken. This advice is sought from the Central Board of Finance (CCLA) in London.

The charity’s investment policies are based on two key principles: -

Investment policy for long-term funds is aimed primarily at generating a sustainable income, with due regard to the need for the preservation of capital value, and the possible need to realise investments to meet operational needs. The charity does not have a policy of generating income at excessive or high risk – known as “purchasing income”, where high returns are guaranteed at the expense of capital.

In summary, the charity has an overall policy to maximise income while preserving the real value of its funds. Due to the nature of the charity, an ethical investment policy is taken into consideration when investments are made:

Planned giving, collections and donations are the main sources of fund raising along with tax recoverable.

Safeguarding

The PCC believe they have fulfilled their duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have due regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults)

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Reporting Serious Incidents

A Serious Incident is an adverse event, whether actual or alleged, which results in or risks significant harm to the charity’s beneficiaries, employees, office holders, volunteers or to others who come into contact with the charity through its work, loss of the charity’s money or assets, damage to the charity’s property or harm to the charity’s work or reputation.

The trustees are not aware of any Serious Incidents in the last year.

Fundraising

The PCC takes it fundraising responsibilities seriously and is very grateful to all donors – whether regular or occasional – for their support of the church and church events. PCC supporters are never taken for granted. The PCC take full responsibility for fundraising and do not use commercial organisations or professional fundraisers. All money raised is either by donations, fundraising events, special appeals or legacies for which the PCC are most grateful.

Volunteers

The members of the PCC would like to thank all of the 45 volunteers who work so hard to make our Church a lively and vibrant community.

Risk Management

The Church Wardens carry out regular Health and Safety Reviews and regularly inspect premises for potential hazards. We have safeguarding policies in place for child protection and for work with vulnerable adults, including rigorous DBS checking of staff and volunteers. Our insurances are reviewed annually to ensure adequate cover. An informal review of any new risks which may impact the work of the Church in the Parish is ongoing.

Structure, Governance and Management

The PCC is a Body Corporate established by the Church of England and is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission registration number 1138955. The PCC is governed by the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as amended that came into effect on 2[nd] January 1957, and the Church Representation Rules (contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 as amended).

The method of appointment of the PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The Council comprises the Incumbent, the Churchwardens, a representative of the Readers, those elected to the Deanery Synod, and other members who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, by those on the Electoral Roll. The PCC members receive training from courses run by the Diocese. Members of the congregation are always urged to join the Electoral Roll, and to stand for election to the PCC.

The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance in the parish, and for all financial matters. The PCC met 7 times in 2025

Related Parties –

The PCC does not employ any related parties or give contracts for work on the church to any related parties.

Donations from Related Parties

Donations from related parties [5 PCC members]during the year totalled £3,600_2025 [£5,310_2024]. All these donations were received without condition.

Remuneration paid to Trustees

None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from employment with the PCC.

Expenses paid to Trustees

No Trustee was paid expenses in 2025 [£Nil 2024] for travel and subsistence.

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Reference and Administrative Details

Charity Name: The Parochial Church Council of The Parish of Bilston

Other names the charity is known by: N/A Registered Charity Number : 1138955

Charity’s principal address: St Leonard’s Church Walsall Street Bilston WV14 0AT

Correspondence address: St Leonard’s Church Walsall Street Bilston WV14 0AT

Website address: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/

PCC Members: Who Served from 1 January 2025 to the date this report was approved

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
period
Ex-Officio
Revd. Foluso Adedipe Team Rector - Chair. From 28/06/2025
Phil Dooley Secretary/Lay Reader/Diocesan Synod/ Deanery Synod
Diane Woodberry Lay Reader/ Deanery Synod
Alison Spencer Church Warden St Chad’s
Mark Bircher Church Warden St Leonard’s/Parish Warden/Lay
Chair/Deanery Synod.
Jane Dooley Church Warden St Leonard’s /Parish Warden
Christine Mills Church Warden St Mary’s
Eber Carter Church Warden St Mary’s Died 15/08/25
Elected Members
Charlie Smith Deputy Church Warden St Leonard’s Died 14/10/25
Kerry Bircher St Leonard’s (Safeguarding Co-ordinator)
Matthew Bircher St Leonard’s
Linda Pearson St Chad’s Church Warden (previously St. Leonard’s member)
Kay Edwards St Leonard’s
Joanne Bircher St Leonard’s
Elizabeth Rice St Mary’s
Wendy Hawkins St Mary’s
Mavis Heath St Mary’s
Satwinder Peake St Leonard’s
Chineze Okoye St Leonard’s

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Bank Barclays Bank PLC – Queen Square Wolverhampton WV1 1DS Investment CCLA Managers 1 Angel Lane London EC4R 3AB Independent Examiner Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance St Marys House, The Close, Lichfield. WS13 7LD

Approved by the PCC on 13.04.26 and signed on its behalf by:

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Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees/members of The PCC of The Parish of Bilston

Registered charity number: 1138955

I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2025 which are set out on the following pages.

Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent Examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independen t examination is needed.

It is my responsibility

Basis of Independent Examiner's Statement

My examination was carried out in accordance 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 trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair” view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner's Statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

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The Parish of Bilston

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31[st] December 2025

Accounting Policies

The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using Receipts and Payments basis.

There may be minor discrepancies in the totals as the pence are not being shown.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The financial statements 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 nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members.

Cashflow Statement

The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS102 from the requirement to produce a cashflow statement on the grounds that the income does not exceed £500,000.

Going Concern

There are no material uncertainties relate to events or conditions that cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Accounting Estimates and Prior Year Errors

No changes to accounting estimates have occurred in the reporting period. No material prior year errors have been identified in the reporting period

Description of Funds

Unrestricted funds are income funds of the PCC that are available for spending on the general purposes of the PCC, including amounts designated by the PCC for fixed assets for its own use or for spending on a future project and which are therefore not included in its "free reserves" as disclosed in the trustees' annual report.

An explanation of purpose of each Designated fund are as follows:

Parish
PCentre To record income and expenditure of the Parish Centre. Excess can be
transferred togeneral fund when necessary
St Mary's
None
St Chads
None
St Leonards
Building Ringfenced for work on St Leonards church
Choir Funds set aside for the Choir
Flower Flowers for St Leonards Church.
Jacobs Well To record income and expenditure of the Jacobs Well. Excess can be
transferred to General fund when necessary

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Restricted funds comprise of two elements:-

An explanation of purpose of each Restricted fund are as follows:

Parish
Decoration Decoration scheme for the vicarage. Funds held with LDBF
ZZFair Grant from Emma Bussey Charity for Summer and Christmas Fairs. This
fund has not been used since 2020 transferred to Parish Centre as it is
immaterial. Fund will be closed in 2025
St Mary's
None
St Chads
Mission For Mission work at St Chads
Project For Project work at St Chads
St Chads Fund For specific donations to St Chads
ZZWarmth Grant for Places of Warmth St Chads. To Close in 2025
ZZWelcome Grant for Warm Welcome. To Close in 2025
St Leonards
ZZBelfry Belfrydonation for the upkeepof the Belfry. Closed in 2025
Christmas Grant for the Christmas Festival
ZZLighting For the upgrade of the lightingat St Leonards
Families For work with the Families in Bilston
Harvest Lunch For the Harvest lunch
ZZVE Day80 For VE Day. £2.43 transferred to General to bringto nil and close
Walford For the upkeepofgraves in the churchyard

Endowment funds are restricted funds that must be retained as trust capital either permanently or subject to a discretionary power to spend capital as income, and where the use of any income or other benefit derived from the capital may be restricted or unrestricted. Full details of all their restrictions are shown in the notes to the accounts.

Parish
Curate Sale of the Curates House - Investments held in Diocesan TN733
PCentreBuilding The Buildingat St Chads

Incoming Resources

Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received or when the PCC becomes entitled to the resource and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Tax refunds are recognised when the incoming resource to which they relate is received. Grants and Legacies are accounted for when the PCC is legally entitled to the amounts due and the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability. Dividends are accounted for when receivable, interest is accrued. All other income is recognised when it is receivable. All incoming resources are accounted for gross.

Page 28

Resources Expended

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the PCC. The diocesan parish share is accounted for when due. Amounts received specifically for mission are dealt with as restricted funds. All other expenditure is generally recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross.

Governance and Support Costs

Support costs should be allocated between governance costs and other support. Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the PCC and its compliance with regulation and good practice.

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources eg by allocating staff costs by time spent and other costs by their usage.

Fixed Assets

Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts by s.10(2)(a)&(C) of the Charities Act 2011.

Moveable church furnishings held by the Vicar and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are inalienable property, listed in the Church’s inventory, which can be inspected (at any reasonable time). For anything acquired prior to 2000 there is insufficient cost information available and therefore such assets are not valued in the financial statement.

No depreciation is provided on buildings as the currently estimated residual value of the properties is not less than their carrying value and the remaining useful life of these assets exceeds 50 years, so that any depreciation charges would be immaterial. Other tangible fixed assets are valued at cost. The assets are depreciated where applicable at 50% per annum. The Parish Centre is revalued at 31 December annually using Nationwide house price calculator and show on page 41.

Investments

Investments in quoted shares, traded bonds and similar investments are valued initially at cost and subsequently at market value at the year end. Investments held for re-sale are treated as current asset investments.

Debtors

Debtors are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount. Subsequently they are measured as cash expected to be received

Creditors and Accruals

Creditors are measured at settlement amounts less any trade discounts. Accruals are measured on best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the reporting date.

Page 29

Parish of Bilston year ended 2025

Statement of Receipts and Payments 2025

Statement of Receipts and Payments 2025
Unrestricted
funds
Designated
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
2025
2024
Receipts
Donations and legacies
Income from charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other income
Total income
Payments
Raising funds
Expenditure on charitable activities
Other expenditure
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
Other recognised gains / losses
Gains/losses on investment assets
Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's own use
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 34,549
243
670
-
35,462
56,160
10,108
27,185
-
-
37,294
45,083
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,580
40
98
-
3,718
4,008
2,336
-
-
-
2,336
36,127
50,575
27,468
768
-
78,812
141,380
499
-
847
-
1,347
140
112,268
29,081
4,630
-
145,980 141,400
-
-
-
-
-
-
112,767
29,081
5,478
-
147,327 141,540
(62,193)
(1,613)
(4,711)
-
(68,516) (160)
20,563
327
1,558
-
22,450
1,000
(1,680)
(1,562)
(210)
(19,000)
(22,451) (1,000)
-
-
-
(2,834)
(2,834)
2,863
(3,269)
(332)
-
5,345
1,745
10,384
(46,578)
(3,178)
(3,361)
(16,489)
(69,604) 13,087
87,169
29,398
19,936
330,314
466,818 453,731
40,592
26,221
16,575
313,826
397,215 466,818

Page 30

Statement of Assets and Liabilities 2025

Class and nominal code General Designated Restricted Endowment 2025
2024
Fixed Asset - Investments
CB3008402: CCLA Bilston TN733 - 402
CB3008420: CCLA Bilston TN733 - 420
CB3008477: CCLA Bilston TN733 - 477
Total
Fixed Asset - Tangible Assets
6430: 2 x Inspiron Laptops
6431: 2x Aspire Lap Tops purchased October 2024
6431: 1 x Aspire Lap Tops 50 depreciation in 2025 and 2026
CENTRE: Parish Centre
STOW: Stow Lawn Land
Total
Current Asset - Cash At Bank And In Hand
20780901: St Mary's DCC Current Account
20956414: St Leonard's Flower Current Account
30027537: Parish Centre Account
40461474: PCC of The Parish of Bilston
63519228: St Chad's DCC Current account
70076899: St Leonard's Choir
90303410: St Leonard's Church Current Account
CB3008600: CCLA Bilston TN733 - 600
CB3027993: CCLA (CBF) St Leonards - Walford Legacy
IDSBILS011: IDS Decoration Scheme DOVER STREET
IDSBILS012: IDS Decoration Scheme CUMBERLAND
Total
Current Asset - Debtors
Z05: Accounts Receivable
Total
Liability - Agency Accounts
6699: Agency collections
Total
Net total assets		 -
-
-
16,814
16,814
27,161
-
-
-
22,307
22,307
21,837
-
-
-
39,115
39,115
51,072
-
-
-
78,238
78,238 100,071
265
-
-
-
265
531
372
-
-
-
372
743
186
-
-
-
186
371
-
-
-
235,588
235,588 230,243
1
-
-
-
1
1
824
-
-
235,588
236,412 231,890
591
-
-
-
591
15,651
-
306
-
-
306
306
-
14,906
(395)
-
14,512
12,274
6,532
-
3,114
-
9,646
8,921
6,369
683
2,650
-
9,703
22,929
-
21
-
-
21
21
24,433 10,302
8,032
-
42,768
62,036
1,842
-
-
-
1,842
7,111
-
-
2,267
-
2,267
2,168
-
-
-
-
-
1,220
-
-
-
-
-
82
39,768 26,221
15,670
-
81,660 132,725
-
-
-
-
-
3,600
-
-
-
-
-
3,600
-
-
(905)
-
(905)
1,469
-
-
(905)
-
(905)
1,469
40,592 26,221
16,575
313,826
397,215 466,818

Approved by the PCC on 13.04.26 and signed on its behalf by:

Page 31

Statement of Assets and Liabilities 2024

Class and nominal code General Designated Restricted Endowment 2024
2023
Fixed Asset - Investments
CB3008402: CCLA Bilston TN733 - 402
CB3008420: CCLA Bilston TN733 - 420
CB3008477: CCLA Bilston TN733 - 477
Total
Fixed Asset - Tangible Assets
6430: 2 x Inspiron Laptops
6431: 1 x Aspire Lap Tops 50 depreciation in 2025 and 2026
6431: 2x Aspire Lap Tops purchased October 2024
CENTRE: Parish Centre
STOW: Stow Lawn Land
Total
Current Asset - Cash At Bank And In Hand
20780901: St Mary's DCC Current Account
20956414: St Leonard's Flower Current Account
30027537: Parish Centre Account
40461474: PCC of The Parish of Bilston
63519228: St Chad's DCC Current account
70076899: St Leonard's Choir
70201782: The Melting Pot - St Leonards
90303410: St Leonard's Church Current Account
CB3008600: CCLA Bilston TN733 - 600
CB3027993: CCLA (CBF) St Leonards - Walford Legacy
IDSBILS011: IDS Decoration Scheme DOVER STREET
IDSBILS012: IDS Decoration Scheme CUMBERLAND
6591: Flowers - Cash in hand
Total
Current Asset - Debtors
Z05: Accounts Receivable
Total
Liability - Agency Accounts
6699: Agency collections
Total
Net total assets		 -
-
-
27,161
27,161
25,561
-
-
-
21,837
21,837
21,717
-
-
-
51,072
51,072
49,929
-
-
-
100,071
100,071 97,208
531
-
-
-
531
1,061
371
-
-
-
371
-
743
-
-
-
743
-
-
-
-
230,243
230,243 219,859
1
-
-
-
1
1
1,647
-
-
230,243
231,890 220,921
15,651 -
-
-
15,651
19,585
-
306
-
-
306
306
(1,562) 13,960
(125)
-
12,274
5,135
10,799 (120)
(1,760)
-
8,921
13,103
18,268 683
3,977
-
22,929
40,916
-
21
-
-
21
21
2
(3)
-
-
-
903
35,182 14,547
12,307
-
62,036
50,604
7,111
-
-
-
7,111
3,679
27
-
2,141
-
2,168
2,059
-
-
1,220
-
1,220
1,220
-
-
82
-
82
82
-
-
-
-
-
142
85,481 29,398
17,845
-
132,725 137,761
40
-
3,560
-
3,600
4,143
40
-
3,560
-
3,600
4,143
-
-
1,469
-
1,469
6,303
-
-
1,469
-
1,469
6,303
87,169 29,398
19,936
330,314
466,818 453,731

Page 32

Analysis of receipts and payments 2025

Unrestricted
Designated Restricted Endowment 2025
2024
RECEIPTS
Donations and legacies
0101 - Gift Aid Collections Bank/Envelopes
9,018
-
-
-
9,018
10,097
0201 - Non Gift Aid Collections
2,545
-
-
-
2,545
3,342
0301 - Loose Plate Collections
8,257
-
-
-
8,257
10,393
0410 - Votive Lights/Church Boxes
506
-
-
-
506
235
0550 - Donations appeals etc
3,128
55
420
-
3,603
10,703
0601 - Tax recoverable on Gift Aid
4,783
-
-
-
4,783
5,920
0701 - Legacies
1,050
-
-
-
1,050
10,613
08A1 - Non-recurring one-off grants
-
-
250
-
250
600
0901 - Other funds generated
5,260
187
-
-
5,447
4,254
Donations and legacies Totals
34,549
243
670
-
35,462
56,160
Income from charitable activities(St Chads DCC, Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary DCC, St Leonards Church DCC)
0902 - Heating Weddings&Funerals
2,929
-
-
-
2,929
3,758
1101 - Fees for weddings and funerals
7,129
-
-
-
7,129
8,112
1210 - Jacobs Well - Food Sales
-
13,985
-
-
13,985
18,773
1230 - Parish Centre - Hire of Hall
50
13,200
-
-
13,250
14,440
Income from charitable activities Totals
10,108
27,185
-
-
37,294
45,083
Investments(Bilston Parish A/C [Inc Parish Centre], St Chads DCC, Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary DCC)
1001 - Dividends
2,991
-
-
-
2,991
3,230
1020 - Bank and building society interest
238
-
98
-
337
318
1230 - Rent from lands or buildings&Melting Pot
350
40
-
-
390
460
Investments Totals
3,580
40
98
-
3,718
4,008
Other income(St Leonards Church DCC)
1310 - Insurance claims
2,336
-
-
-
2,336
36,127
Other income Totals
2,336
-
-
-
2,336
36,127
Receipts Grand totals
50,575
27,468
768
-
78,812
141,380
PAYMENTS
Raising funds
1720 - Costs of stewardship campaign
79
-
-
-
79
89
1730 - Costs of fetes & other events
420
-
847
-
1,267
-
1740 - Bank Charges
-
-
-
-
-
50
Raising funds Totals
499
-
847
-
1,347
140
Expenditure on charitable activities(St Chads DCC, Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary DCC, St Leonards Church DCC)
1720 - Costs of stewardship campaign
79
-
-
-
79
-
1801 - Giving to missionary societies
-
-
1,000
-
1,000
1,000
1910 - LDBF Common Fund
29,385
-
-
-
29,385
28,819
2001 - Salaries
-
17,486
-
-
17,486
11,632
2001a - SMP Credits
-
(3,541)
-
-
(3,541)
-
2201 - Mission and Evangelism Costs
-
-
1,000
-
1,000
(190)
2301 - Church running insurance
10,502
-
-
-
10,502
10,956
2310 - Church office - telephone
828
-
-
-
828
589
2320 - Organ / piano tuning
350
-
-
-
350
285
2330 - Church Maintenance
14,963
294
-
-
15,257
11,471
2331 - Cleaning
-
1,174
-
-
1,174
716
2340 - Upkeep of services
155
-
-
-
155
423
2350 - Upkeep of Church Yard
-
-
-
-
-
5,450
2360 - Administration
5,146
22
-
-
5,168
7,638
2361 - Parish Expenses
-
-
-
-
-
78
2420 - Church Running - Water
111
-
-
-
111
223
2440 - Heating & Lighting
16,852
252
1,327
-
18,432
19,022		 9,018
-
-
-
9,018
10,097
2,545
-
-
-
2,545
3,342
8,257
-
-
-
8,257
10,393
506
-
-
-
506
235
3,128
55
420
-
3,603
10,703
4,783
-
-
-
4,783
5,920
1,050
-
-
-
1,050
10,613
-
-
250
-
250
600
5,260
187
-
-
5,447
4,254

Page 33

2518 - Jacobs Well - Non Food Items
2519 - Jacobs Well - Food Supplies
2550 - Parish Centre - Insurance
2560 - Parish Centre - Maintenance
2570 - Parish Centre - telephone
2580 - Parish Centre - water
2590 - Parish Centre - Heating and Lighting
2701 - Church major repairs - structure
2710 - Church major repairs - installation
2820 - Parish Centre major repairs - installation
2840 - Other PCC property upkeep
ZZ2333 - Cleaning
ZZ2602 - Licences & Subscriptions
Expenditure on charitable activities Totals
Payments Grand totals		 -
170
-
-
170
161
-
2,905
-
-
2,905
5,731
-
275
-
-
275
-
-
1,731
-
-
1,731
2,490
-
2,512
-
-
2,512
799
-
511
-
-
511
(596)
-
1,721
-
-
1,721
1,888
32,433
-
-
-
32,433
30,776
322
-
-
-
322
1,667
-
3,564
-
-
3,564
-
1,137
-
1,303
-
2,440
-
-
-
-
-
-
224
-
-
-
-
-
138
112,268
29,081
4,630
-
145,980 141,400
112,767
29,081
5,478
-
147,327 141,540

Page 34

Fund movement by type 2025

Fund Opening
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers
Gains/Losses
Journals
Closing
AV Upgrade
Restricted
Sub-totals
Building
Designated
Sub-totals
Choir
Designated
Sub-totals
Christmas
Restricted
Sub-totals
Curate
Endowment
Sub-totals
Decor
Restricted
Sub-totals
Families
Restricted
Sub-totals
Flower
Designated
Sub-totals
Flowers
Designated
Sub-totals
Harvest Lunch
Restricted
Sub-totals
Jacobs Well
Designated
Sub-totals
Mission
Restricted
Sub-totals
PCentre
Designated
Sub-totals		 884
-
-
-
-
-
884
884
-
-
-
-
-
884
1,962
-
-
-
-
-
1,962
1,962
-
-
-
-
-
1,962
21
-
-
-
-
-
21
21
-
-
-
-
-
21
2,353
-
2,000
-
-
-
353
2,353
-
2,000
-
-
-
353
100,071
-
-
(19,000)
(2,834)
-
78,238
100,071
-
-
(19,000)
(2,834)
-
78,238
1,303
-
1,303
-
-
-
-
1,303
-
1,303
-
-
-
-
10,000
-
-
-
-
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
-
-
-
10,000
306
-
-
-
-
-
306
306
-
-
-
-
-
306
683
-
-
-
-
-
683
683
-
-
-
-
-
683
600
420
600
-
-
-
420
600
420
600
-
-
-
420
12,583
14,268
18,513
2
-
-
8,340
12,583
14,268
18,513
2
-
-
8,340
1,986
-
-
-
-
-
1,986
1,986
-
-
-
-
-
1,986
13,841
13,200
10,567
(1,236)
(332)
-
14,906
13,841
13,200
10,567
(1,236)
(332)
-
14,906

Page 35

PCentreBuilding
Endowment
Sub-totals
Project
Restricted
Sub-totals
St Chads
Restricted
Sub-totals
Walford
Restricted
Sub-totals
ZZBelfry
Restricted
Sub-totals
ZZFair
Restricted
Sub-totals
ZZLighting
Restricted
Sub-totals
ZZVE Day 80
Restricted
Sub-totals
ZZWarmth
Restricted
Sub-totals
ZZWelcome
Restricted
Sub-totals
General
Unrestricted
Sub-totals		 230,243
-
-
-
5,345
-
235,588
230,243
-
-
-
5,345
-
235,588
500
-
-
-
-
-
500
500
-
-
-
-
-
500
163
-
-
-
-
-
163
163
-
-
-
-
-
163
2,141
98
-
27
-
-
2,267
2,141
98
-
27
-
-
2,267
(85)
-
-
84
-
-
-
(85)
-
-
84
-
-
-
206
-
-
(207)
-
-
-
206
-
-
(207)
-
-
-
(1,447)
-
-
1,446
-
-
-
(1,447)
-
-
1,446
-
-
-
-
250
247
(3)
-
-
-
-
250
247
(3)
-
-
-
831
-
831
-
-
-
-
831
-
831
-
-
-
-
495
-
495
-
-
-
-
495
-
495
-
-
-
-
87,169
50,575
112,767
18,883
(3,269)
-
40,592
87,169
50,575
112,767
18,883
(3,269)
-
40,592
Totals 466,818
78,812
147,327
-
(1,090)
-
397,215

Page 36

Fund movement by type 2024

Fund Opening
Incoming
Outgoing
Transfers
Gains/Losses
Journals
Closing
AV Upgrade
Restricted
Sub-totals
Belfry
Restricted
Sub-totals
Building
Designated
Sub-totals
Choir
Designated
Sub-totals
Christmas
Restricted
Sub-totals
Curate
Endowment
Sub-totals
Decoration
Restricted
Sub-totals
Fair
Restricted
Sub-totals
Families
Restricted
Sub-totals
Flower
Designated
Sub-totals
Flowers
Designated
Sub-totals
Harvest Lunch
Restricted
Sub-totals
Jacobs Well
Designated
Sub-totals		 -
1,000
115
-
-
-
884
-
1,000
115
-
-
-
884
125
-
210
-
-
-
(85)
125
-
210
-
-
-
(85)
1,962
-
-
-
-
-
1,962
1,962
-
-
-
-
-
1,962
21
-
-
-
-
-
21
21
-
-
-
-
-
21
3,353
-
1,000
-
-
-
2,353
3,353
-
1,000
-
-
-
2,353
97,208
-
-
-
2,863
-
100,071
97,208
-
-
-
2,863
-
100,071
1,303
-
-
-
-
-
1,303
1,303
-
-
-
-
-
1,303
206
-
-
-
-
-
206
206
-
-
-
-
-
206
-
10,000
-
-
-
-
10,000
-
10,000
-
-
-
-
10,000
449
-
142
-
-
-
306
449
-
142
-
-
-
306
-
800
116
-
-
-
683
-
800
116
-
-
-
683
-
600
-
-
-
-
600
-
600
-
-
-
-
600
11,499
19,270
18,186
-
-
-
12,583
11,499
19,270
18,186
-
-
-
12,583

Lighting

Page 37

Restricted
Sub-totals
Mission
Restricted
Sub-totals
PCentre
Designated
Sub-totals
PCentreBuilding
Endowment
Sub-totals
Project
Restricted
Sub-totals
SoftPlay
Restricted
Sub-totals
St Chads
Restricted
Sub-totals
Walford
Restricted
Sub-totals
Warmth
Restricted
Sub-totals
Welcome
Restricted
Sub-totals
General
Unrestricted
Sub-totals		 1,447
-
2,893
-
-
-
(1,447)
1,447
-
2,893
-
-
-
(1,447)
2,037
-
50
-
-
-
1,986
2,037
-
50
-
-
-
1,986
4,928
13,600
4,687
-
-
-
13,841
4,928
13,600
4,687
-
-
-
13,841
219,859
-
-
-
10,384
-
230,243
219,859
-
-
-
10,384
-
230,243
500
-
-
-
-
-
500
500
-
-
-
-
-
500
1,268
-
1,268
-
-
-
-
1,268
-
1,268
-
-
-
-
163
-
-
-
-
-
163
163
-
-
-
-
-
163
2,059
81
-
-
-
-
2,141
2,059
81
-
-
-
-
2,141
1,831
-
-
(1,000)
-
-
831
1,831
-
-
(1,000)
-
-
831
495
-
-
-
-
-
495
495
-
-
-
-
-
495
103,008
96,028
112,867
1,000
-
-
87,169
103,008
96,028
112,867
1,000
-
-
87,169
Totals 453,731
141,380
141,540
-
13,247
-
466,818

Page 38

Staff Costs

2025
£		 2024
£
Wages & Salaries 13,946 21,217
Social Securitycosts 1,252 -
Average number of
Employees		 2 2

During the year the PCC employed a Café assistant in Jacobs Well [part-time]. Some of the payments were large enough to attract social security costs. The employee began maternity leave in August 2025 and we have received maternity credits which show in the accounts as (£3,541) against code 2001a. A new employee started 01.09.25.

There were no employee benefits to key management personnel in the previous or current year.

The PCC uses the National Employment Savings Trust [Nest] via the Diocesan Payroll Scheme, for its pension payments. Pension payments totalled £210_2025 [Nil_2024}

Trustees’ Remuneration & Expenses

None of the trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from employment with the PCC

No Trustee was paid expenses in 2024 [£199] for travel and subsistence

Related Parties

No other expenses were paid to any other PCC member, persons closely connected to them, or related parties.

Donations from related parties [5 PCC members] totalled £3,600 [£5,310 2024]

Fees for the examination of the accounts

2025
£		 2024
£
Independent Examiner’s
fees		 245 150
Other fees: Bookkeeping:
St Chad		 241 160
Other fees: Bookkeeping:
St Leonard’s		 580 450
Other fees: Bookkeeping:
St Mary’s		 241 210
Other fees: Bookkeeping:
Parish		 400 130
Total 1,307 1,100

Page 39

Analysis of Transfer between Funds 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Debit Credit Description Fund Fund Type
- 1,561.25 Tfr from Parish Centre to General to correct accounts PCentre Des
1,561.25 - Tfr from Parish Centre to General to correct accounts General Unr
Tfr from Summer fair to Parish Centre fund not used
- 206.63 since 2020 ZZFair Res
Tfr from Summer fair to Parish Centre fund not used
206.63 - since 2020 PCentre Des
Tfr from General to Parish Centre to correct in
- 119.21 accounts General Unr
Tfr from General to Parish Centre to correct in
119.21 - accounts PCentre Des
- 84.8 Tfr from General to Belfry to bring to nil and close General Unr
84.8 - Tfr from General to Belfry to bring to nil and close ZZBelfry Res
- 1,446.10 Tfr from General to Lighting to bring to nil and close General Unr
1,446.10 - Tfr from General to Lighting to bring to nil and close ZZLighting Res
Tfr from VE Day to General_90303410 to bring to nil
- 2.43 and close ZZVE Day 80 Res
Tfr from VE Day to General_90303410 to bring to nil
2.43 - and close General Unr
Tfr from Endowment to General to correct fund in
9,000.00 - accounts General Unr
Tfr from Endowment to General to correct fund in
- 9,000.00 accounts Curate End
Tfr from Endowment to General to correct fund in
10,000.00 - accounts General Unr
Tfr from Endowment to General to correct fund in
- 10,000.00 accounts Curate End
- 27.62 Tfr from General to Walford Legacy CB3027993 General Unr
27.62 - Tfr from General to Walford Legacy CB3027993 Walford Res
Tfr from General to Jacobs Well to bring to nil and
- 2.04 close General Unr
Tfr from General to Jacobs Well to bring to nil and
2.04 - close Jacobs Well Des
----- End of picture text -----

Analysis of Transfer between Funds 2024

Debit Credit Description Fund **Fund Type **
- 1,000.00 Tfr from Places of Warmth to General - to help with
heating costs as per letter from D Woodberry dated
09/04/2024		 Warmth Res
1,000.00 - Tfr from Places of Warmth to General - to help with
heating costs as per letter from D Woodberry dated
09/04/2024		 General Unr

Page 40

Fixed Assets

a) Tangible Fixed Assets

Freehold
Buildings
£		 Church
Equipment
£		 Total
Assets
Cost or Valuation
As at 1 Jan 230,244 1,646 231,890
Additions in the Year - - -
Disposal in the Year - - -
Revaluation 5,345 - 5,345
Value at 31 Dec 235,589 1,646 237,235
Accumulated Depreciation 230,244 1,646 231,890
As at 1 Jan - - -
Charge for the Year - 823 823
Disposals - - -
Value at 31 Dec 230,244 823 231.067
Net Book Value at 1 Jan 2024 230,244 1,646 231,890
Net Book Value at 31 Dec
2024		 235,589 823 236,412

Freehold Buildings

Parish Centre: £235,588_2025 [£230,243_2024] – The Parish Church Centre is revalued at 31 December annually using Nationwide house price calculator referred to on page 29.

Stow Lawn Land: £1.00 – a nominal figure the land has not been formally valued.

2 X Inspiron computers purchased in 2022 depreciation 50% per annum.

1 X Inspiron computer purchased in 2024 depreciation 50% per annum.

b) Fixed Asset Investments

At 1 Jan
£		 Addition
s
£		 Disposal
s
£		 Transfer
s
£		 Change in
Market
Value		 At 31
Dec
£
Endowment
Fund
Investments 100,071 - -19,000 - -2,833 78,238
Total 100,071 - -19,000 - -2,833 78,238

CCLA (CBF) Lichfield CB3008402 TN733 – £16,814_2025 [£27,161_2024] CCLA (CBF) Lichfield CB3008420 TN733 - £22,307_2025 [£21,837_2024] CCLA (CBF) Lichfield CB3008477 TN733 - £39,115_2025 [£51,072_2024]

Page 41

Summary of Assets by Fund 2025

Restricted - AV Upgrade
Designated - Building
Designated - Choir
Restricted - Christmas
Endowment - Curate
Restricted - Decor
Restricted - Families
Designated - Flower
Designated - Flowers
Unrestricted - General
Restricted - Harvest Lunch
Designated - Jacobs Well
Restricted - Mission
Designated - PCentre
Endowment - PCentreBuilding
Restricted - Project
Restricted - St Chads
Restricted - Walford
Restricted - ZZBelfry
Restricted - ZZFair
Restricted - ZZLighting
Restricted - ZZWarmth
Restricted - ZZWelcome
Total		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
2025
2024
-
-
884
-
884
884
-
1,962
-
-
1,962
1,962
-
21
-
-
21
21
-
-
353
-
353
2,353
-
-
-
78,238
78,238
100,071
-
-
-
-
-
1,303
-
-
10,000
-
10,000
10,000
-
306
-
-
306
306
-
683
-
-
683
683
40,592
-
-
-
40,592
87,169
-
-
420
-
420
600
-
8,340
-
-
8,340
12,583
-
-
1,986
-
1,986
1,986
-
14,906
-
-
14,906
13,841
-
-
-
235,588
235,588
230,243
-
-
500
-
500
500
-
-
163
-
163
163
-
-
2,267
-
2,267
2,141
-
-
-
-
-
(85)
-
-
-
-
-
206
-
-
-
-
-
(1,447)
-
-
-
-
-
831
-
-
-
-
-
495
40,592
26,221
16,575
313,826
397,215
466,818

Page 42

Summary of Assets by Fund 2024

Restricted - AV Upgrade
Restricted - Belfry
Designated - Building
Designated - Choir
Restricted - Christmas
Endowment - Curate
Restricted - Decor
Restricted - Fair
Restricted - Families
Designated - Flower
Designated - Flowers
Unrestricted - General
Restricted - Harvest Lunch
Designated - Jacobs Well
Restricted - Lighting
Restricted - Mission
Designated - PCentre
Endowment - PCentreBuilding
Restricted - Project
Restricted - SoftPlay
Restricted - St Chads
Restricted - Walford
Restricted - Warmth
Restricted - Welcome
Total		 Unrestricted
Designated
Restricted
Endowment
2024
2023
-
-
884
-
884
-
-
-
(85)
-
(85)
125
-
1,962
-
-
1,962
1,962
-
21
-
-
21
21
-
-
2,353
-
2,353
3,353
-
-
-
100,071
100,071
97,208
-
-
1,303
-
1,303
1,303
-
-
206
-
206
206
-
-
10,000
-
10,000
-
-
306
-
-
306
449
-
683
-
-
683
-
87,169
-
-
-
87,169
103,008
-
-
600
-
600
-
-
12,583
-
-
12,583
11,499
-
-
(1,447)
-
(1,447)
1,447
-
-
1,986
-
1,986
2,037
-
13,841
-
-
13,841
4,928
-
-
-
230,243
230,243
219,859
-
-
500
-
500
500
-
-
-
-
-
1,268
-
-
163
-
163
163
-
-
2,141
-
2,141
2,059
-
-
831
-
831
1,831
-
-
495
-
495
495
87,169
29,398
19,936
330,314
466,818
453,731

Page 43

Receipts & Payments Comparatives

Previous Year 2024

Unrestricted
funds
Designated
funds
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
2024
2023
Receipts
Donations and legacies
Income from charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other income
Total income
Payments
Raising funds
Expenditure on charitable activities
Other expenditure
Total expenditure
Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer
Transfers
Gross transfers between funds - in
Gross transfers between funds - out
Other recognised gains / losses
Gains/losses on investment assets
Gains on revaluation, fixed assets, charity's own use
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 44,468
91
11,600
-
56,160
98,851
11,910
19,573
-
-
31,483
15,157
-
13,600
-
-
13,600
8,260
3,522
404
81
-
4,008
3,593
36,127
-
-
-
36,127
54,373
96,028
33,670
11,681
-
141,380 180,235
89
50
-
-
140
471
110,882
20,283
5,539
-
136,704 120,977
1,895
2,799
-
-
4,695
7,442
112,867
23,133
5,539
-
141,540 128,891
(16,840)
10,537
6,142
-
(160)
51,344
1,000
-
-
-
1,000
7,487
-
-
(1,000)
-
(1,000) (7,488)
-
-
-
2,863
2,863
6,189
-
-
-
10,384
10,384
(9,835)
(15,840)
10,537
5,142
13,247
13,087
47,698
103,008
18,861
14,793
317,067
453,731 406,032
87,169
29,398
19,936
330,314
466,818 453,731

Page 44