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← The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of St Peter, Cowfold

2023-12-31-accounts

Trustees Annual Report and Financial Report

of

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of

St Peter’s Church, Cowfold

The Steet, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8BW

Registered Charity no. 1139699

For the year ended 31st December 2023

CONTENTS

Page 1 Trustees annual report 7 Annual financial report 13 Report of the independent examiner

The Revd Sue Wharton Incumbent: The Vicarage, Handcross Road, Lower Beeding RH13 6NU Independent Mr Martyn Gair examiner: The Old Bakery, Henfield Road, Cowfold RH13 8DR Lloyds Bank plc Bankers: Horsham Branch, PO Box 1000, Andover BX1 1LT

St Peter’s, Cowfold Trustees Annual Re ort for 2023 p

Our aims and purposes as a charity

The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Revd Sue Wharton, in:

The PCC is also responsible for the maintenance of the Grade I Listed parish church and churchyard. In addition, it appoints six Foundation Governors at St Peter’s Church of England (Aided) Primary School, and makes recommendations to the Diocese for two further Foundation Governors.

What we planned to do to achieve our charitable objectives

When planning our activities for the year, our incumbent and the PCC have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on ‘charities for the advancement of religion’. The council has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, fully recognising its duty to have due regard to House of Bishops' guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

For this year we discussed and planned the following objectives and activities to fulfil our aims:

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

What we achieved and how we affected beneficiaries’ lives

St Peter’s, Cowfold is part of a United Benefice along with Holy Trinity, Lower Beeding and St John’s, Coolhurst .

Attendance at worship

The best attended service across our monthly pattern is Short and Sweet, the all-age service aimed at those who are less used to church. This has been taken a step further in 2023 as the planning meeting is attended by one of the teachers from St Peter’s school. This has been a great success with the children more actively involved in the preparation of prayers and reading of scripture. Short and Sweet is the service which accounts for most of the growth in numbers that we have seen. 50 people attended on Easter Day, more than at any other Easter service in the benefice.

The other area of growth is in those attending the fortnightly Eucharist service at Homelands Nursing Home, ably led by Linda Murphy and Father Martin. Sadly Lady Rose Luce died during 2023. Her part in the team who attended the Homelands Eucharists is fondly remembered.

We were able to hold our Crib service in church again and St Peter’s was absolutely heaving. Folk seem to really enjoy this service, relishing the fact that we are able to meet on Christmas eve after the times during the pandemic when we couldn’t. We recorded 253 people attending a service at Christmas.

There is some evidence that people are becoming familiar with the way that services are advertised over the festivals and picking out the service with the degree of formality or informality that suits them or their family. We continue to offer a wide range of style of worship including BCP and Common Worship Eucharists, informal Short and Sweet services and contemplative Taizé worship. The Remembrance Day service held at St Peter’s was particularly well attended by the uniformed organisations.

Teaching, baptising and nurturing new and existing believers

The Open the Book team of clergy and licensed reader go into both schools in the benefice on a fortnightly basis. We act out the same bible story in both schools on consecutive days with the help of some children. What is fascinating is that the children in the two schools do interpret their roles differently, despite being given identical instructions. What is the same across both schools is the level of enthusiasm.

We welcomed the children from St Peter’s School into church for their end of term school services. Three children were baptised at St Peter’s in 2023 and two weddings were conducted in the church. Three funeral services were held in church for well-loved members of the community. A successful Lent course included participants from both parishes.

Reaching out to the people of the parish and provision of pastoral care

Our work with the Church Mice Stay and Play Toddler Group has been very important this year and has extended into the school holidays as well as term time. The Friday Café has continued to do its important work, open weekly to the everyone in the village and enjoyed by older members of the community. We provided a welcoming breakfast to parents of new Reception and Year 1 pupils at St Peter’s School at the start of the new school year to enable relationships to be made and alleviate any first day at school anxiety. The two bereavement services held each year are not attended by many people but are very important to those who do attend.

Provision of the church building for people to enjoy

Cowfold Community Choir continue to use the church as a venue for their weekly singing group. The school prayer group resumed in October in church as the school was having building works. The group is very popular with older children leading prayers and other family members attending.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

St Peter’s School received significant funding for a decarbonisation project. The work to install ground source heat pumps and related infrastructure continued for months but the children were brilliant about keeping clear of the builders by having to take it in turns to use the playground .

The church building and churchyard were used for a bat detecting walk organised by Greening Cowfold in collaboration with Sussex Wildlife Trust. We do our best to maintain both front and rear churchyards for the benefit of the natural environment as well as the local community and loved ones of those buried there.

We believe that it is important that the church is available for private prayer not just to the church family but to the wider visiting community. To this end, St Peter’s is always open during the day and we know that people do regularly pop in. There were no significant building works undertaken in 2023.

Provision of tangible support to the poor and needy

FSW regards this United Benefice as a steady source of provision for its Food Bank and our parishioners have responded very generously to recent appeals during the cost of living crisis. We have also supported the RBL Poppy Appeal, Christian Aid, and Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice.

The pricing of Church Mice toddler group is deliberately kept modest in order not to exclude the villagers who are not well off. Likewise, no charge is made for refreshments at Friday Café which is instead funded by voluntary donations.

Thank you

I would like to thank all who contributed to our worship during 2023. This includes Fr Martin, Rev Sally and Geoff Peckham, but also each person who led intercessions, read lessons, led our singing, or played for us, rang bells and who led our children’s work. Also those who decorated our churches with flowers and cleaned them, or served refreshments.

I would like to thank each person who has served on our PCC, and those who have faithfully served as our Churchwardens – Aidan Favell and Helen Stanfield. Helen has also continued as our Treasurer. Lorna Dimmock has been our Safeguarding Officer for another year. Thanks to those who have taken PCC minutes in the absence of a PCC secretary. Thank you to each and every one who has helped with the myriad of jobs that there are to be done.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

Financial Review

Incoming resources

The total receipts on general unrestricted funds were £27,519 and are detailed in the Financial Report. This represents a fall of 6% on 2022, mainly due to a one-off legacy and grants received in 2022 that were not repeated in 2023.

Voluntary giving

Planned giving by direct debit through the Parish Giving Scheme, together with envelopes and standing orders, fell slightly in the year but the fall was offset by a small recovery in collections at services. It seems unlikely that collections at services will fully recover to pre-pandemic levels. Planned giving is necessary to enable the PCC to pay its regular costs. A Generous Giving campaign is being planned to address the overall low level of giving in the parish and set us on a path to paying our way without being subsidised by other more generous parishes.

The PCC was grateful to receive donations totalling £708 in memory of a long-standing member of the congregation at St Peter’s. All donations and legacies received are greatly appreciated and make a genuine difference to the life of the church in the parish.

Weddings and funerals

It was a joy to have two weddings in church during the year, and a privilege to hold three funeral or memorial services in church as well as an interment of ashes in the churchyard and two funeral services at the crematorium.

Fundraising

Fundraising activities brought in £3,785 after expenses. We were pleased to work together with Cowfold WI to provide a Café at the Cowfold Coronation Party to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Proceeds were split and £377 was raised for church funds. The Summer Fete was not blessed with good weather this year! The event was moved inside the church to avoid a wash out and we were pleased to still raise £476. The bellringers also raised £100 from tower visits and have-a-go sessions, taking advantage of the increased footfall inside the church.

An entertaining evening hosting an Antiques Roadshow event in the church was very popular and raised £588. Cowfold Community Choir performed once again at our Harvest Supper, a joyful occasion raising a further £277.

Our Christmas Tree Festival is now well established as an annual event in the village. Together with a Wreath Making Workshop and Christmas Raffle, a wonderful £1,450 was raised. Other activities during the year were our ever-popular stall at Cowfold Festival (£206), the Ride + Stride sponsored bike ride in conjunction with Sussex Historic Churches Trust (£255), and we continued to make use of the Easyfundraising online platform (£129).

Grants received

A grant of £580 was awarded by Cowfold Parish Council to support our provision of the Church Mice Stay & Play toddler group. This was used to pay for paediatric first aid training and a contribution towards the cost of hall hire.

Outgoing resources

Total payments on general unrestricted funds were £27,670 and are detailed in the Financial Report. This represents a 4% increase on the previous year.

Sharing the ministry costs of the Diocese of Chichester

The largest item of expenditure was £15,200 for our share of Parish Ministry Costs. These costs are made up of the housing, support, stipend and pension costs of the clergy of this parish, training of curates and new ordinands, and a small contribution to the national church.

The amount paid was £2,000 more than in 2022 and yet represents only 59% of the total cost allocated to Cowfold Parish. The PCC is increasing its contribution as funds allow, to take greater responsibility for the resources provided to us. Of the 16 parishes in Horsham Deanery, Cowfold is the 2[nd] lowest contributor by percentage of Ministry Cost paid. We must continue to address this shortfall as we will not always be able to rely on other parishes to fill the gap.

Staff costs

We do not have a regular parish organist but we are grateful to borrow the services of a small number of church organists from the surrounding area.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

We are very grateful to the volunteers who maintain the churchyard, clean the church, arrange the flowers, make the church ready for services and take care of the behind-the-scenes administration. We are blessed that so much service is provided without charge.

Trustee payments and expenses

The PCC supports the clergy by paying 50% of Council Tax and water charges for The Vicarage plus other costs of travel, telephone, broadband and printing. All these costs are shared equally with the PCC of Lower Beeding Parish, with whom we share our parish priest. The only other payments made to trustees were for the reimbursement of occasional purchases made on behalf of the PCC.

Children’s work

The PCC continues to oversee the Church Mice Stay & Play toddler group having taken over responsibility from Weald Community Church in 2022. Funds of £1,500 were donated by the Weald Church to help pay for on-going hall hire, enabling amounts charged to parents to be kept to a minimum so that attendance is accessible to all.

Most of the craft activities and refreshments provided at the monthly “Short & Sweet” family service are funded by the volunteers involved. We are very grateful for all these contributions, whilst making it clear that out of pocket expenses can be reclaimed from the PCC.

Church maintenance

The Quinquennial Inspection, previously delayed due to Covid restrictions, was carried out over two visits in 2023. We await receipt of the final report when the remaining 50% of the architect’s fee will be payable. The annual service of the boiler was only carried out in January 2024, and organ tuning has also been held over until 2024.

Charitable giving

The congregation was once again generous in its support of the RBL Poppy Appeal on Remembrance Sunday. Donations were also made to Christian Aid appeals following the Turkey-Syria earthquake and the Middle East crisis in Gaza. We continue to collect milk bottle tops on behalf of Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice in Arundel, and donated groceries for the Family Support Work food bank for families in need across Sussex.

Designated funds

Two new rugs purchased from the designated fund for improvements to the West End of the church have made a real difference to this area used for family worship and for hospitality. This was further enhanced with the acquisition of some new chairs. Further work to improve the seating in this area is planned.

The fund designated to pay architect fees will be spent in the coming year.

Why we hold some money in reserve

It is PCC policy to maintain a balance of £7,500 on the general unrestricted fund, equating to approximately three months’ worth of unrestricted payments, as a contingency against unforeseen situations. The balance held at the end of 2023 was some £1,700 more than this due to some delayed work and with the knowledge that the Quinquennial Inspection is likely to identify further expenditure in the coming year.

Surplus monies from the general fund are invested in a deposit account with Lloyds Bank so that they can be readily returned to the current account as soon as needed to pay day-to-day bills.

The PCC also holds restricted funds set aside for the maintenance of the churchyard, the sound system, repairs to the organ, repairs to the fabric of the building, the running of Church Mice toddler group, and sums held on behalf of the bellringers and flower arrangers. The installation of a new sound system has been progressed during the year with new speakers and microphones installed.

It is PCC policy to invest these restricted funds in an interest-bearing account until needed. A new savings account is in the process of being opened with an improved rate of return.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

Structure, governance and management of the charity

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is registered with the Charity Commission as required by the Charities Act 2011. Its governing document is the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956.

During the year the following served as members of the Parochial Church Council:

Ex Officio members

Incumbent: The Revd Susan Wharton Chair Curate: The Revd Martin Mills Reader: Mr Geoffrey Peckham Wardens: Mr Aidan Favell Vice Chair Mrs Helen Stanfield Treasurer Elected Members Mrs Jenny Baldwin Miss Gill Carpenter (from 21[st] May 2023) Mrs Anita Casey Mrs Lorna Dimmock Safeguarding Officer Mrs Nichola Favell (until 17[th] January 2023) Mr Simon Langton Mrs Linda Murphy Deanery Synod Mrs Linda Murphy Mrs Helen Stanfield (until 30[th] June 2023) Miss Gill Carpenter (from 1[st] July 2023)

Membership of the PCC is determined under the Church Representation Rules and consists of certain ex-officio members (the incumbent/priest-in-charge, curate, and lay readers licensed to officiate in the church), the churchwardens and members of the Deanery, Diocesan or General Synods, and nine members of the church who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). Members are warmly encouraged to stand for election to the PCC and we try to ensure a balance of skills and experience where possible. The position of PCC secretary is currently vacant.

This Trustees’ Annual Report was approved by the PCC and

signed on their behalf by The Revd Sue Wharton, PCC Chair

S J Wharton

……………………………………………………………………………

Date ……………7/4/2024………………………………………

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

Annual Financial Report

of

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of

St Peter’s Church, Cowfold

The Street, Cowfold, Horsham, West Sussex RH13 8BW

Registered Charity no. 1139699

For the year ended 31st December 2023

CONTENTS
Page
8 Statement of financial receipts and payments
9 Statement of assets and liabilities
10 Notes to the accounts
13 Report of the independent examiner

St Peter’s Church, Cowfold registered charity number 1139699 Summary of Financial Receipts and Payments

The financial effect of our activities during the year can be summarised as follows

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Total Total
General Designated Restricted All Funds All Funds
Fund Funds Funds 2023 2022 Notes
£ £ £ £ £
Income from:
Donations and legacies 20,883 - 3,983 24,866 24,115
Charitable activities 1,258 - - 1,258 1,552
Other trading activities 4,710 - 100 4,810 4,716
Investments 668 - 315 983 843
Other receipts - - - - -
Total received 27,519 - 4,398 31,917 31,226 3
Expenditure on: -
Charitable costs 26,215 1,014 4,184 31,413 25,957
Trading costs 1,455 - - 1,455 711
Other payments - - - - 1,500
Total paid 27,670 1,014 4,184 32,868 28,168 10
Reconciliation of funds:
Net income or (net expenditure) (151) (1,014) 214 (951) 3,058
Transfers between funds - - - - -
Net movement in funds (151) (1,014) 214 (951) 3,058
Bank accounts at 1 January 9,357 2,300 7,597 19,254 16,196
Bank accounts at 31 December 9,206 1,286 7,811 18,303 19,254 18
----- End of picture text -----

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

St Peter’s Church, Cowfold registered charity number 1139699 Statement of Assets and Liabilities

Our financial position at the year-end

Unrestricted
Total
Total
General
Designated
Restricted
Endowed
All Funds
All Funds
Fund
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,306
-
-
-
1,306
3,772
7,263
1,286
7,811
-
16,360
9,045
-
-
-
-
-
5,820
637
-
-
-
637
617
9,206
1,286
7,811
-
18,303
19,254
18
663
-
-
-
663
-
9,869
1,286
7,811
-
18,966
19,254
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
-
-
-
26,267
26,267
24,009
-
-
-
4,102
4,102
3,885
-
-
-
30,369
30,369
27,894
11,829
1,286
7,811
30,369
51,295
49,498
663
-
-
-
663
-
120
-
-
-
120
92
-
664
-
-
664
324
-
-
-
-
-
155
783
664
-
-
1,447
571		 Unrestricted
Total
Total
General
Designated
Restricted
Endowed
All Funds
All Funds
Fund
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,306
-
-
-
1,306
3,772
7,263
1,286
7,811
-
16,360
9,045
-
-
-
-
-
5,820
637
-
-
-
637
617
9,206
1,286
7,811
-
18,303
19,254
18
663
-
-
-
663
-
9,869
1,286
7,811
-
18,966
19,254
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
-
-
-
26,267
26,267
24,009
-
-
-
4,102
4,102
3,885
-
-
-
30,369
30,369
27,894
11,829
1,286
7,811
30,369
51,295
49,498
663
-
-
-
663
-
120
-
-
-
120
92
-
664
-
-
664
324
-
-
-
-
-
155
783
664
-
-
1,447
571		 Unrestricted
Total
Total
General
Designated
Restricted
Endowed
All Funds
All Funds
Fund
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,306
-
-
-
1,306
3,772
7,263
1,286
7,811
-
16,360
9,045
-
-
-
-
-
5,820
637
-
-
-
637
617
9,206
1,286
7,811
-
18,303
19,254
18
663
-
-
-
663
-
9,869
1,286
7,811
-
18,966
19,254
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
-
-
-
26,267
26,267
24,009
-
-
-
4,102
4,102
3,885
-
-
-
30,369
30,369
27,894
11,829
1,286
7,811
30,369
51,295
49,498
663
-
-
-
663
-
120
-
-
-
120
92
-
664
-
-
664
324
-
-
-
-
-
155
783
664
-
-
1,447
571		 Unrestricted
Total
Total
General
Designated
Restricted
Endowed
All Funds
All Funds
Fund
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,306
-
-
-
1,306
3,772
7,263
1,286
7,811
-
16,360
9,045
-
-
-
-
-
5,820
637
-
-
-
637
617
9,206
1,286
7,811
-
18,303
19,254
18
663
-
-
-
663
-
9,869
1,286
7,811
-
18,966
19,254
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
-
-
-
26,267
26,267
24,009
-
-
-
4,102
4,102
3,885
-
-
-
30,369
30,369
27,894
11,829
1,286
7,811
30,369
51,295
49,498
663
-
-
-
663
-
120
-
-
-
120
92
-
664
-
-
664
324
-
-
-
-
-
155
783
664
-
-
1,447
571		 Unrestricted
Total
Total
General
Designated
Restricted
Endowed
All Funds
All Funds
Fund
Funds
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,306
-
-
-
1,306
3,772
7,263
1,286
7,811
-
16,360
9,045
-
-
-
-
-
5,820
637
-
-
-
637
617
9,206
1,286
7,811
-
18,303
19,254
18
663
-
-
-
663
-
9,869
1,286
7,811
-
18,966
19,254
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
1,960
-
-
-
1,960
2,350
-
-
-
26,267
26,267
24,009
-
-
-
4,102
4,102
3,885
-
-
-
30,369
30,369
27,894
11,829
1,286
7,811
30,369
51,295
49,498
663
-
-
-
663
-
120
-
-
-
120
92
-
664
-
-
664
324
-
-
-
-
-
155
783
664
-
-
1,447
571
Assets:
Bank current account
Bank deposit account
National Savings & Investment account
Cash
PCC-owned bank balance
Diocesan Assigned Fees received
Total bank and deposit accounts 9,869
1,286
7,811
-
18,966
Gift Aid recoverable
Debtors 1,960
-
-
-
1,960
CBF Investment Fund
CBF Fixed Interest Fund -
-
-
4,102
4,102
3,885
-
-
-
30,369
30,369
27,894
Investment assets at market value -
-
-
30,369
30,369
Total assets 11,829
1,286
7,811
30,369
51,295
49,498
Liabilities:
Unpaid Diocesan fees for weddings/funerals
Unpaid clergy expenses
Architect fee
Electricity usage
Total liabilities 783
664		 - - 1,447 571

This Financial Report for the year ended 31st December 2023, including the notes following, was approved by the PCC and signed on its behalf by The Revd. Sue Wharton, PCC Chair:

S J Wharton

…………………………………..….………………………..

Date …………3/3/2024………………………………

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

St Peter’s Church, Cowfold registered charity number 1139699 Notes to the Financial Report

1 The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and current Church Accounting Regulations, using the Receipts and Payments basis.

2 The following assets are recognised but not valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities: movable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC, which require a faculty for disposal.

3 Analysis of total received

----- Start of picture text -----
Total Total
Unrestricted Restricted All Funds All Funds
General
Funds 2023 2022 Notes
Fund
£ £ £ £
Planned giving (excl. tax refunds) 6,754 - 6,754 6,730 4
Planned giving (no tax refunds) 1,882 - 1,882 2,266 4
Collections 4,168 - 4,168 3,929 5
One-off donations 4,324 2,941 7,265 5,326 6
Special appeals - 462 462 279
Gift Aid recovered 3,755 - 3,755 3,410 7
Legacies - - - 1,000
Grants - 580 580 1,175 8
Donations and legacies 20,883 3,983 24,866 24,115
Fees for weddings & funerals 1,258 - 1,258 1,552
Charitable activities 1,258 - 1,258 1,552
Proceeds of fundraising events 4,236 100 4,336 4,218 9
Sale of memorials 441 - 441 455
Magazine/bookstall income 33 - 33 43
Other trading activities 4,710 100 4,810 4,716
Bank & CBF deposit interest 166 99 265 129
CBF investment fund dividend 502 216 718 714
Investments 668 315 983 843
Other receipts - - - -
Total received on all funds 27,519 4,398 31,917 31,226
----- End of picture text -----

4 Planned Giving is received by direct debit through the Parish Giving Scheme, or by Standing Order, allowing the PCC to pay its regular costs including its share of the cost of the clergy.

5 Collections at services include Gift Aided envelopes, cash, contactless card payments and some giving by bank transfer.

6 One-off donations were gratefully received into the General Fund from parishioners and members of the church as well as visitors who kindly leave a donation in the wall safe or donation tin. Donations were also received for restricted purposes, namely the Church Mice toddler group, for church flowers, and funds held for the bellringers.

7 Gift Aid recovered is tax claimed on the previous year’s giving, together with recoveries received each month from the Parish Giving Scheme.

8 Grant funding of £580 was received from Cowfold Parish Council to support our provision of Church Mice Toddler Group, including paediatric first aid training for a volunteer leader.

9 The main fundraising events held during the year were a Café for the King’s Coronation with Cowfold WI, a Summer Fete, an Antiques Roadshow, Harvest Supper, Ride & Stride with Sussex Historic Churches Trust, and the annual Christmas Tree Festival with a Christmas Wreath Making Workshop and a Christmas Raffle.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

St Peter’s Church, Cowfold registered charity number 1139699 Notes to the Financial Report

10 Analysis of total paid

10Analysis of total paid
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
General Fund
Designated
Funds
All Funds
All Funds
Fund
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
Charitable giving
35
-
462
497
334
Parish share to Chichester Diocese
15,200
-
-
15,200
13,200
Organists
1,420
-
-
1,420
1,440
Parsonage House
1,467
-
-
1,467
1,252
Clergy expenses
617
-
-
617
768
Mission and outreach
515
-
-
515
471
Children's work
442
-
1,698
2,140
811
Church services and other running costs
347
378
491
1,216
915
Church utilities bills
3,181
-
-
3,181
3,170
Church maintenance & repairs
398
636
1,034
583
Major repairs
-
-
-
-
-
Churchyard upkeep
-
-
1,533
1,533
724
Insurance
2,593
-
-
2,593
2,289
Examiner's and other financial fees
-
-
-
-
-
Charitable costs
26,215
1,014
4,184
31,413
25,957
Cost of fundraising events
451
-
-
451
241
Memorial costs
971
-
-
971
360
Magazine/bookstall costs
33
-
-
33
110
Trading costs
1,455
-
-
1,455
711
Other payments
-
-
-
-
1,500
Total paid on all funds
27,670
1,014
4,184
32,868
28,168		 Notes
11
12
13
14
14
15
16
17
Total paid on all funds
27,670
1,014
4,184
32,868

11 Charitable gifts were made to the Christian Aid Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal £252, Christian Aid Middle East Crisis £125, Mid Sussex Riding for the Disabled £85, and National Churches Trust £35. A collection was also taken for the RBL Poppy Appeal on Remembrance Sunday.

12 Parish share to Chichester Diocese is for the payment of Clergy and other central services. The full cost of parish ministry attributed to Cowfold was £25,592. The PCC is grateful for the support of other churches in the Deanery who subsidise our share of the full cost.

13 Staff costs

The PCC does not directly employ any staff of its own.

Wages paid to PCC employees
Fees paid to others
Employer's National Insurance and pension contributions		 2023
£
-
1,420
-		 2022
£
-
1,440
-
1,420 1,440

14 Parsonage House and Clergy expenses are shared equally with the PCC of Lower Beeding Parish. Payments include council tax £1,312, environmental charges £155, telephone, travel, printing etc £617.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

St Peter’s Church, Cowfold registered charity number 1139699 Notes to the Financial Report

Endowed funds are required by the donors to be invested and the income spent on specific objectives.

The PCC has four endowments invested in CBF Investment Fund shares, one of which requires the income to be spent on the churchyard, the remaining three for general purposes.

The PCC also has three endowments invested in CBF Fixed Interest Funds, two of which require the income to be spent on the churchyard, with one for general purposes.

Restricted funds are not invested permanently but are to be spent within reasonable timescales.

Unrestricted funds are not subject to any donor restrictions and can be spent as the PCC decides.

Income and expenditure with opening and closing balances on the restricted and unrestricted funds are as follows:

Balances
Balances		 Balances
Balances		 Balances
Balances		 Balances
Balances		 Balances
Balances		 Balances
Balances		 Balances
Balances
1 Jan 2023
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
31 Dec 2023
£
£
£
£
£
Restricted funds
Churchyard fund
3,403
299
-
1,533
-
2,169
Flower fund
44
137
- 181
-
-
Sound system fund
1,931
7
- 310
-
1,628
Bellringers fund
526
1,304
-
-
1,830
Organ repair fund
793
3
-
-
796
Building fabric fund
900.00
3
-
-
903
Church Mice fund
-
2,183
-
1,698.00
-
485
Special appeals
-
462
- 462
-
-
Total of all restricted funds
7,597
4,398
-
4,184
-
7,811
General fund
9,357
27,519
-
27,670
-
9,206
Designated improvement fund
1,000
-
-
378.00
-
622
Designated Quinquennial fund
1,300
-
-
636.00
-
664
Total of all unrestricted funds
11,657
27,519
-
28,684
-
10,492
Total funds 19,254 31,917 -
32,868
-
18,303

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

Independent Examiner’s Report to the PCC of St Peter’s Church, Cowfold for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2023

This is my report to the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish (PCC) of St Peter, Cowfold, on the annual report for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 set out on pages 7 to 12

Respective The PCC members are responsible for the preparation of the annual reports. The PCC responsibilities of members consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the trustees and examiner Charities Act 2011 (“the Charities Act”) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

  1. examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, 2. to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and 3. to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the examiner’s statement 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 In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention examiner's statement ( ~~other than that disclosed below in Section B below~~ *) 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.

* Please delete the words in the (brackets) if they do not apply

Examiner’s signature

M Gair

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Examiner’s name CAPITALS MARTYN GAIR ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Date 12/03/2024 Relevant professional …………………………………................ qualification(s) or body N/A if any …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Examiner’s address THE OLD BAKERY, HENFIELD ROAD, COWFOLD RH13 8DR ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT