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

2024-12-31-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 2024

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 2024 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

Priest in Charge Report

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

The United Benefice

I was able to take a sabbatical between beginning of June and end of August. I spent the first month helping my daughter and son in law adapt to being new parents. This was very different to my working life and so very special and refreshing. I then spent eight weeks on Holy Island. It is a tidal island just off the coast of Northumberland. The sense of history and walking in the steps of early saints is almost palpable. Thank you to all who took on extra duties to enable me to go.

In both parishes we have found that the best attended service across our monthly pattern is the all age service aimed at those who are less used to church. This is the Family Service at Holy Trinity and Short and Sweet at St Peter’s.

We have been able to welcome the children from school into church for their end of term school services. I would like to thank Fr Martin and Geoff Peckham for being such stalwarts of the Open the Book team. They even carried on while I was on sabbatical, because they did not want the children to miss out. 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. In December 2024 we had the treat of hosting a visit by Bob Hartman to both schools for a storytelling session. He is the author of the Storytelling Bible that we use for ‘Open the Book’. As Head Teacher Mrs. Bishop said, he had the children eating out of his hand.

During Lent a group of people met to study the Eucharist. We used one of the Pilgrim course booklets. Those who attended it found it challenging and enjoyable.

Just before Easter 2023 the Home Office started to use Cisswood hotel, in Lower Beeding, for asylum seekers. This continues to put a strain on local infrastructure such as GP services. It has also affected both of our schools, with Holy Trinity being the more affected. St Peters has had some asylum seeker children but Holy Trinity has been more affected. Mrs Bishop doesn’t like to take more than two per class because then it would throw the functioning of the class out. Some of the residents have come to church at Holy Trinity as it is within walking distance. We had three adult baptisms and three confirmations, plus one child baptism. Joint services have provided an opportunity for the congregation of St Peters to get to know some of the asylum seekers.

Serving the community

Our work with Church Mice toddler group has been very important this year. As previous leaders have moved on with their children going to primary school, Anita Casey and others have stepped in to give support. The Friday Café has continued to do its important work providing a weekly meeting place in the community, also run by Anita Casey but more help is needed.

The bereavement services are not attended by many people but are very important to those who do.

We were able to hold our Crib service in church again and the numbers in both parishes were down on last year. Folk seem to really enjoy these services.

St Peter’s

The Short and Sweet service has continued to thrive. It is this service which accounts for most of the growth in numbers that we have seen. The other area of growth is in those attending the fortnightly Eucharist service at Homelands, ably led by Linda Murphy and Father Martin.

There is also 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.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

I would like to thank all who contributed to our worship during 2024. This includes Fr Martin and Rev Sally and Geoff and our two ALM’s, Simon and Linda. However it also includes 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. We were able to appoint a PCC secretary during the year. I would like the thank Angela Cash for taking on the role. Thank you to each and every one who has helped with the myriad of jobs that there are to be done.

Churchwarden’s Report

Maintaining the fabric of St Peter’s Church over the last twelve months has been a rewarding task, if a li�le

During last year our Priest-in-charge Rev Sue took a sabba�cal, from which we are pleased that she returned to us reinvigorated and refreshed. We offer our thanks to all those who helped to maintain services and pastoral care in her absence.

The Quinquennial Survey was carried out last year. We have received the architect’s report, and the PCC is considering how best to address the recommenda�ons made.

The obsolete Lutron ligh�ng system con�nues to func�on, thanks to the discovery of a supplier who s�ll has stocks of the bulbs required. We are looking at alterna�ve solu�ons, and realis�cally we will need to find a long-term solu�on in the next year.

The sound system has performed well, with the addi�on of Bluetooth interfaces to enable music to be played from Smartphones and tablets when required. The recent installa�on of a 4G router and wireless access point has enabled the se�ng up of St Peter’s Church Wi-Fi with internet access

Failure of the hea�ng circula�on pump at Christmas led to some cold services, but the pump was replaced promptly, and dona�ons were received which thankfully covered the not insignificant cost. A further circula�on fault shortly a�erwards was traced to a burst air bleed valve which we were able to source and replace quickly.

rough-cut mower last season. We were able to source second-hand but more modern replacements of both machines locally, with significant discounts when the vendors realised that they were for a church. Both machines were purchased from dona�ons.

contractor had to be sourced to carry out a first cut with a flail mower, a�er which we were able to bring it back under control and maintain it for the season ourselves. The area to the south became a li�le wild as it was not cut by the contractor, but we have now managed to �dy this area. I have been greatly assisted with mowing by Brennan and Daniel Finch working under close supervision, who have taken the task very seriously.

We have had a “Ground Force” session recently which undertook the task of cu�ng and removing the extensive bramble growth in various areas and removing the stump of the tree which was cut down five years ago.

years in spite of our efforts. We held a number of “Ground Force” days last autumn which enabled us to bring the area largely under control. We have engaged a local contractor to carry out period sessions with a strimmer to keep this area �dy. There is no inten�on to mow it like the front churchyard, but to keep it �dy and largely bramble-free whilst giving the wild flowers the opportunity to pollenate.

We are very grateful to the villagers who turn out on the “Ground Force” days; if anyone is in a posi�on to help with the maintenance on a regular basis or offer dona�ons towards the cost of contrac�ng, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

A por�on of land drain along the eastern boundary of the churchyard from the Lychgate was found to have par�ally collapsed. Rec�fica�on involved excava�on and replacement of the inlet. The cost was largely covered by our insurer

A new Crab Apple tree was planted in the Northeast corner of the churchyard to replace the tree which had to be felled last year. This was funded by the Parish Council.

We are very grateful for the teams of volunteers who clean the church on a regular basis and to those who prepare the flowers to make our church beau�ful.

great deal for us in the background, caring for the Garden of Remembrance, overseeing churchyard records and burials, a�ending church to oversee oil deliveries and contractors, and we are very grateful.

Financial Review

Incoming resources

Total receipts on general unrestricted funds were £34,278 and are detailed in the Financial Report. This is £6,759 more than received in 2023, primarily due to a one-off donation received this year and more statutory fees received for weddings and funerals.

Voluntary giving

Planned giving by direct debit through the Parish Giving Scheme, together with envelopes and standing orders, showed a very modest increase of £153 this year to £8,789. We are encouraged that two more people signed up to give on a regularly basis, and we are very grateful to those who have chosen to increase their giving.

Collections at services increased by 13% this year bringing in an additional £550 compared with 2023.

The PCC was very grateful to receive a one-off, unrestricted donation of £5,000. This will support our finances while we work towards becoming more sustainably financed in the next couple of years and less dependent on fundraising, one-off gifts and the subsidy of other parishes.

Parishioners responded generously to an appeal for funds to pay for repairs to the heating system, rapidly raising the £2,500 that was needed.

No legacies were received in the year.

Weddings and funerals

It was a joy to have two weddings in the church during the year, and a privilege to hold one funeral in church and six funeral services at the crematorium, as well as one burial in the churchyard and five interments of ashes in our memorial garden.

Fundraising

Fundraising activities brought in £4,169 after expenses.

The Summer Fete was a successful and enjoyable event bringing many local residents together in the churchyard and raising £1,180. Our stall at Cowfold Festival on the village green was as popular as ever and raised £317.

We held a Harvest Supper in the Allmond Centre where we served a hot meal with entertainment provided by Cowfold Community Choir. This joyful occasion raised £433.

Places at our Christmas Wreath Making Workshop sold out and the event made £439 after expenses.

Local organisations and individuals joined in the annual Christmas Tree Festival including St Peter’s C of E Primary School, Country Mice Nursery, Cowfold Youth Club, St Peter’s Friday Café, Cowfold Crafters, Greening Cowfold and 1[St] Cowfold Beaver Scouts. £1,164 was raised over the weekend of the festival.

The Ride + Stride sponsored bike ride raised £392 for the church and the same amount for Sussex Historic Churches Trust. We continue to make use of the Easyfundraising online platform raising £244 for church funds in the year.

Grants received

A grant of £465 was awarded by Cowfold Parish Council to support our provision of the Church Mice Stay & Play toddler group in the village.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

Outgoing resources

Total payments on general unrestricted funds came to £29,901 and are detailed in the Financial Report. This is £2,231 more than the previous year, an increase of 8%.

Sharing the ministry costs of the Diocese of Chichester

The largest item of expenditure was £16,000 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 £800 more than in 2023 as we try to take greater responsibility for the cost of ministry in Cowfold, and yet represents only 61% of the total cost allocated to the parish. 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 for the services of a small number of church organists from the surrounding area.

We are very grateful to the volunteers who maintain the church and 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 and support the Church Mice Stay & Play toddler group which meets in Cowfold Village Hall. We are grateful to Cowfold Parish Council for grant funding which enables 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 finally completed in 2024 and the remaining 50% of the architect’s fee paid. No urgent work was identified. Recommendations in the report will be worked through. The circulating pump of the heating system failed and needed replacement at a cost of £2,632. The annual service of the boiler was carried out, and the organ was tuned and serviced.

Drainage works

Investigations identified a failed stormwater drainage pipe in the churchyard. Insurers reimbursed the cost of the initial work and instructed contractors to renew a section of pipe. The cost to the PCC was £250 insurance excess and £190 for a Minor Works Direction from the Chancellor of the Diocese.

Charitable giving

The congregation was once again generous in its support of the RBL Poppy Appeal on Remembrance Sunday, and of Christian Aid Week when £250 was raised and sent direct to the charity. We continue to collect milk bottle tops for Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice in Arundel, and donated groceries for Family Support Work for families in need across Sussex. £335 was raised for FSW by a small team taking part in the Amberley-Arundel sponsored walk, and sponsorship of a church member taking part in Ride + Stride raised £392 for Sussex Historic Churches Trust.

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St Peter, Cowfold TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

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 2024 was some £6,000 more than this as we plan to use the one-off donation received this year to mitigate losses anticipated in the next two years. Surplus monies in the general fund are deposited in an interest-bearing 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. 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.

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 Deanery Synod Representatives: Miss Gill Carpenter Mrs Linda Murphy Mrs Jenny Baldwin Mrs Kay Blackwell (from 7[th] April 2024) Mrs Anita Casey Mrs Lorna Dimmock Safeguarding Officer Mr Simon Langton Co-opted (non-voting) Members Mrs Angela Cash Secretary (from 7[th] April 2024)

Elected Members

Co-opted (non-voting) Members

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 six 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.

This Trustees’ Annual Report was approved by the PCC and signed on their behalf by The Revd Sue Wharton, PCC Chair

SJ Wharton

……………………………………………………………………………

27/04/2025

Date ……………………………………………………………………

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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 2024

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

Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted
Funds		 Total
All Funds
2024		 Total
All Funds
2023		 Notes
3
12
19
General
Fund		 Designated
Funds
Income from:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Other receipts		 £
25,285
2,388
5,269
688
648		 £
-
-
-
-
-		 £
3,738
-
-
377
-		 £
29,023
2,388
5,269
1,065
648		 £
24,866
1,258
4,810
983
-
Total received 34,278 - 4,115 38,393 31,917
Expenditure on:
Charitable costs
Trading costs
Other payments		 29,175
726
-		 664
-
-		 3,885
-
-		 -
33,724
726
-		 31,413
1,455
Total paid 29,901 664 3,885 34,450 32,868
Reconciliation of funds:
Net income or (net expenditure) 4,377 (664) 230 3,943 (951)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Bank accounts at 1 January		 - - - - -
4,377
9,204		 (664)
1,286		 230
7,813		 3,943
18,303		 (951)
19,254
Bank accounts at 31 December 13,581 622 8,043 22,246 18,303

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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
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
£
1,251
-
-
-
1,251
1,306
11,578
622
8,043
-
20,243
16,360
753
-
-
-
753
637
13,582
622
8,043
-
22,247
18,303
19
416
-
-
-
416
663
13,998
622
8,043
-
22,663
18,966
3,871
-
-
-
3,871
1,960
3,871
-
-
-
3,871
1,960
-
-
-
26,869
26,869
26,267
-
-
-
4,226
4,226
4,102
-
-
-
31,095
31,095
30,369
17,869
622
8,043
31,095
57,629
51,295
416
-
-
-
416
663
199
-
-
-
199
120
-
-
-
-
-
664
226
-
-
-
226
-
841
-
-
-
841
1,447
Assets:
Bank current account
Bank deposit account
Cash 753
-
-
-
753
PCC-owned bank balance
Diocesan Assigned Fees received		 13,582
622
8,043
-
22,247
416
-
-
-
416
Total bank and deposit accounts 13,998
622
8,043
-
22,663
Gift Aid recoverable 3,871
-
-
-
3,871
Debtors 3,871
-
-
-
3,871
CBF Investment Fund -
-
-
26,869
26,869
CBF Fixed Interest Fund
Investment assets at market value -
-
-
31,095
31,095
Total assets
Liabilities:
Unpaid Diocesan fees for weddings/funerals
Unpaid clergy expenses
Architect fee
Electricity usage
Total liabilities

This Financial Report for the year ended 31st December 2024, including the notes following, was approved by the PCC and signed on its behalf by The Revd. Sue Wharton, PCC Chair:

SJ Wharton

…………………………………..….……………………….. 18/03/2025

Date …………………………………………………………

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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

3Analysis of total received
Unrestricted
General
Fund		 Restricted
Funds		 Total
All Funds
2024		 Total
All Funds
2023		 Notes
Planned giving (excl. tax refunds) £
6,653		 £
-		 £
6,653		 £
6,754		 4
Planned giving (no tax refunds) 2,136 - 2,136 1,882 4
Collections 4,720 - 4,720 4,168 5
One-off donations 8,235 773 9,008 7,265 6
Special appeals - 2,500 2,500 462 7
Gift Aid recovered 3,541 - 3,541 3,755 8
Legacies
Grants		 -
-		 -
465		 -
465		 -
580		 9
Donations and legacies 25,285 3,738 29,023 24,866
Fees for weddings & funerals 2,388 - 2,388 1,258
Charitable activities 2,388 - 2,388 1,258
Proceeds of fundraising events
Sale of memorials
Magazine/bookstall income		 4,375
827
67		 -
-
-		 4,375
827
67		 4,336
441
33		 10
Other trading activities 5,269 - 5,269 4,810
Bank & CBF deposit interest
CBF investment fund dividend		 179
509		 158
219		 337
728		 265
718
Investments 688 377 1,065 983
Other receipts 648 - 648 - 11
Total received on all funds 34,278 4,115 38,393 31,917

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, the donation tin, or online. In 2024 this included a one-off unrestricted donation of £5,000. Donations were also gratefully received for restricted purposes, namely for church flowers and funds held for the bellringers.

7 A special appeal raised £2,500 to help pay for repairs to the heating system. Retiring collections held for Christian Aid Week and for the RBL Poppy Appeal are not recorded here as they were banked directly by the receiving charities.

8 Gift Aid recovered is income tax claimed on the previous year’s giving, together with recoveries received from the Parish Giving Scheme during the year.

9 Grant funding of £465 was received from Cowfold Parish Council to support our provision of Church Mice Toddler Group.

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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 The main fundraising events held during the year were the Summer Fete, Harvest Supper, Ride & Stride sponsored bike ride with Sussex Historic Churches Trust, a Christmas Wreath Making Workshop and the annual Christmas Tree Festival. Funds were also raised via the online platform easyfundraising .

11 Insurers reimbursed the cost of initial drainage works in the churchyard and then took forward the renewal of stormwater drainage pipes.

12 Analysis of total paid

12Analysis of total paid
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
General Fund
Designated
Funds
All Funds
All Funds
Fund
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
35
35
497
7
16,000
16,000
15,200
13
1,470
1,470
1,420
14
1,550
1,550
1,467
15
378
378
617
15
723
723
515
1,023
950
1,973
2,140
16
447
311
758
1,216
3,114
3,114
3,181
17
565
664
1,229
1,034
1,229
2,500
3,729
-
18
124
124
1,533
2,641
2,641
2,593
-
-
29,175
664
3,885
33,724
31,413
206
-
-
206
451
461
-
-
461
971
59
-
-
59
33
726
-
-
726
1,455
-
-
-
-
-
29,901
664
3,885
34,450
32,868
General Fund
Designated
Funds
All Funds
All Funds
Fund
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
35
35
497
16,000
16,000
15,200
1,470
1,470
1,420
1,550
1,550
1,467
378
378
617
723
723
515
1,023
950
1,973
2,140
447
311
758
1,216
3,114
3,114
3,181
565
664
1,229
1,034
1,229
2,500
3,729
-
124
124
1,533
2,641
2,641
2,593
-
-
29,175
664
3,885
33,724
31,413
206
-
-
206
451
461
-
-
461
971
59
-
-
59
33
726
-
-
726
1,455
-
-
-
-
-
29,901
664
3,885
34,450
32,868
Charitable giving
Parish share to Chichester Diocese
Organists
Parsonage House
Clergy expenses
Mission and outreach
Children's work
Church services and other running costs
Church utilities bills
Church maintenance & repairs
Major repairs
Churchyard upkeep
Insurance
Examiner's and other financial fees
Charitable costs
Cost of fundraising events
Memorial costs
Magazine/bookstall costs
Trading costs
Other payments
Total paid on all funds 29,901
664
3,885
34,450

13 Parish share to Chichester Diocese is to pay for our clergy and certain central services. The full cost of parish ministry attributed to Cowfold was £26,278. The PCC is grateful for the support of other churches in the Deanery who subsidise our share of the full cost.

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		 2024
£
-
1,470
-		 2023
£
-
1,420
-
1,470 1,420

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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
1 Jan 2024		 Income Expenditure Balances
31 Dec 2024
Restricted funds
Churchyard fund
Flower fund
Sound system fund
Bellringers fund
Organ repair fund
Building fabric fund
Church Mice fund
Special appeals		 £
2,169
-
1,628
1,830
796
903
485
-		 £
326

574
16
218
8
9
465

2,500		 £
- 124
- 311
-
-
-
-
- 950
-
2,500		 £
2,371
263

1,644

2,048

804

912
-

-
Total of all restricted funds 7,811 4,116 -
3,885
8,042
General fund
Designated improvement fund
Designated Quinquennial fund		 9,206
622
664		 34,278
-
-		 -
29,901

-
- 664
13,583

622
-
Total of all unrestricted funds 10,492 34,278 -
30,565
14,205
Total funds 18,303 38,394 -
34,450
22,247

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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 2024

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 2024 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 10-04-2025 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

Independent Examiner’s Report to the PCC of St Peter’s Church, Cowfold for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2024

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners) Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose

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St Peter, Cowfold

TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT