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2025-12-31-accounts

The Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s

2025 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31[st] December 2025

The Parochial Church Council of The Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS .................................................................................. 4
2.
TRUSTEES REPORT .................................................................................................................. 5
2.1.
Aims and purposes ........................................................................................................................ 5
2.2.
Objectives and Activities ............................................................................................................... 5
2.3.
Achievements and Performance .................................................................................................... 6
2.4.
OTHER PARISH REPORTS ............................................................................................................. 13
2.4.1.
Churchwarden’s Report .............................................................................................................. 13
2.4.2.
Safeguarding .............................................................................................................................. 14
2.4.3.
The Base .................................................................................................................................... 14
2.4.4.
Prayer Team ............................................................................................................................... 15
2.4.5.
Discipleship Groups ................................................................................................................... 15
2.4.6.
Community Bible Studies ............................................................................................................ 16
2.4.7.
Friday Night Live ......................................................................................................................... 17
2.4.8.
Little Angels ............................................................................................................................... 17
2.4.9.
Music and Worship Report .......................................................................................................... 18
2.4.10.
Sandwich Men ............................................................................................................................ 18
2.4.11.
Bereavement .............................................................................................................................. 18
2.4.12.
Communication ......................................................................................................................... 19
2.4.13.
Audio Visual and Sound Desk ...................................................................................................... 19
2.5.
Sonning Deanery Report from Area Dean ...................................................................................... 20
2.6.
Other Churches and Community .................................................................................................. 21
2.7.
Financial Review ......................................................................................................................... 24
2.8.
Structure, Governance and Management ..................................................................................... 26
2.9.
Parochial Church Council and Annual Parochial Council Meetings 2025 ........................................ 26
2.10.
Parish Statistics .......................................................................................................................... 26
3.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT ................................................................................... 29

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4.
TREASURER’S REPORT .......................................................................................................... 30		 4.
TREASURER’S REPORT .......................................................................................................... 30
4.1.
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2025 ......................................... 30
4.2.
Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 December 2025 .................................................................... 31
4.3.
Notes on the Financial Statements .............................................................................................. 32
4.3.1. Note 1 - Accounting Policies ........................................................................................................ 32
4.3.2. Note 2 - Income and Endowments ............................................................................................... 34
4.3.3. Note 3 - Expenditure ................................................................................................................... 35
4.3.4. Note 4 - Staff Costs ..................................................................................................................... 35
4.3.5. Note 5 - Fixed assets ................................................................................................................... 36
4.3.6. Note 6 - Debtors ......................................................................................................................... 36
4.3.7. Note 7 - Designated Funds .......................................................................................................... 36
4.3.8. Note 8 - Creditors - amounts falling due within one year ................................................................ 37
4.3.9. Note 9 - Restricted Funds ............................................................................................................ 37
4.3.10. Note 10 - Disclosure of trustee and staff remuneration, related party, and other transactions ......... 37
4.3.11. Note 11 - Fees payable to the Independent Examiner .................................................................... 38
4.3.12. Note 12 - Charitable grants and special collections ...................................................................... 38
APPENDIX
2030 VISION .......................................................................................................... 39

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1. LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Full Parochial Name:

Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s

The Incumbent: The Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray BA (Hons), FCMA, Dip (HE) Parish address: Parish Office, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3AT

Tel: 01344 761050 E-mail: office@stsebastians.org.uk www.stsebschurch.org.uk

The Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s is situated in Wokingham Without. It is part of the Sonning Deanery, Archdeaconry of Berkshire, Diocese of Oxford within the Church of England.

Bankers to the PCC: CAF Bank Limited, 25 King’s Hill Avenue, King’s Hill, ME19 4JQ Barclays Bank UK PLC Leicester, LE87 2BB CCLA Bank One Angel Lane London, EC4R 3AB

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, as amended, Church Representation Rules 2022), and a registered charity of The Charity Commission for England and Wales.

Charity Registration Number: 1139933

Independent Examiner : Mr Michael Young FCA

The following schools are associated with the Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s:

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2. TRUSTEES REPORT

2.1.Aims and purposes

To promote the whole mission of the Church; pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

The Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the Incumbent, The Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray, in promoting in the ecclesiastical Parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the following buildings:

These are all located at the church site; Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 3AT.

2.2.Objectives and Activities

The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our churches and to become part of our Parish community of Wokingham Without. 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 and scripture, music and sacrament.

When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Right Reverend Dr Steven Croft’s (Bishop of Oxford) Common Vision of being called to be Christ-like ( Contemplative, Compassionate and Courageous ) for the benefit of our Parishioners, local residents and visitors. This also includes supplementary guidance from The Charities Commission (England and Wales) for the advancement of religion for the public benefit.

With the Parish Interim Mission Action Plan of “A beacon of Christ loving God and serving others”, we enable ordinary people to live out their faith in response to us loving God and others through the following objectives:

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2.3.Achievements and Performance

PARISH REVIEW

The history of our parish church mission in Wokingham Without is a testament to the enduring commitment of St Sebastian’s to spread the faith and support its communities since 1864, the time our church building was built.

We continue this evolving Christian legacy of 161 years by reporting our achievements, challenges, how we have adapted to the changing spiritual needs of the parish and what the future holds for us with the help of God in 2026.

In the words of Apostle Paul in the 3[rd] chapter of the 1[st] Book of Corinthians, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have - Jesus Christ”. With the strength of the Lord our parish will continue to build on His special legacy foundation.

MINISTRY ACTIVITIES

At the start of the year, we took steps to refresh the Parish Vision, the last review of which was undertaken around nine years earlier. The 2030 Vision is summarised below under two headings:

Build existing ministries

Sunday Services The Base Children Young People and Families Little Angels Friday Night Live Schools’ engagement Buckler’s Lodge Care Home

Weekly Prayers Home Groups Men’s Sandwich growth Book Club flourishing Community Bible / Lent Studies Life Events

Vision of New ministries

Parish opportunities Greater Spiritual growth for mission Multi-site Parish New Family Worker Buckler’s Park mission Intergenerational Church Grow Home Groups

Further details can be found in the appendix to this report.

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We held 119 (144) parish church events in 2025 (2024) covering Sunday Worship, All Age and Communion Services, Worship and the Word, The Base, Wednesday Communion and 5[th] Sunday Healing and Prayer. Included in this total were the following services: Ash Wednesday, Lent Bible Studies, Easter and Christmas, Maundy Thursday, Three Hour by the Cross, Christingle, Carols Service, Crib Service and Midnight Communion.

An additional 65 (34) services were held for 2030 Parish Vision Day, All Souls and Remembrance Day, Life Events (baptisms, weddings and funerals), Harvest Festival, Collective Worship / School events and Prayer Spaces. We have also held monthly communion services at Buckler’s Lodge Care Home.

In total, we held 185 (178) church services and events during 2025.

Work continued throughout the year on building on the good safeguarding work undertaken by our leaders: Helen Thompson (Parish Safeguarding Officer), Mark Lee (Deputy Safeguarding Officer), Nigel Wickens (Churchwarden) and Kirsty Milam (Administrator). Lay and Team Leaders have made great efforts to stay up to date with their training, particularly against the background of heightened safeguarding awareness across the Diocese and Church of England. We want our parish ministries to flourish for all Christians. Safe safeguarding practices will always remain at the heart of all that we do.

I am grateful for the volunteers who run the Little Angels ministry, the Parent and Toddler group, which meets in St Sebastian’s Church Hall fortnightly on Fridays. This is led by Eve Bull with support from Sandra Lawson, Claire Morrison, Jill Gardner, Alexis Clarke, Susan Shrestha, Janet Wood and other volunteers. We have noted increases in attendance following greater use of social media notices, recommendations and a recent parish magazine leaflet drop to local homes within our parish boundary. With further family engagement, we look forward to future prospects for ministry pathways into church during 2026.

We maintained the parish youth ministry with fortnightly Friday Night Live, a friendly and safe space for teenagers with support from Eve Bull, Dave Metson, Mary Unwin and John Hills. Opportunities were taken to communicate the love of Christ through the range of appropriate activities offered. We have seen some growth in this ministry with the help of our volunteers. We look forward to growing ministry opportunities as we explore an additional Youth and Family Minister resource towards the end of 2026.

We had 14 (14) Life events during 2025 (2024): 1 (2) wedding, 2 (3) adult and child baptisms and 11 (6) funerals and committals. We hope to build on the 2025 success and pastoral engagement during 2026 in social media, announcements and publicity for missional opportunities. Life events remain a good indicator of local community engagement, which we extended to include Bereavement Support (Angela Shipton and Sarah Fuller) for funerals via St Sebastian’s. We hope to build on Bereavement Support during 2026 with the additional support of Helen Thompson. A particular highlight was the privilege of conducting the Burial Committal of past Incumbent stalwart, Reverend Derek Burden, whose historical legacy lies at the heart of our parish. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

The parish remains blessed with the support of our Local Lay Ministers (LLMs) Russell Shipton and Wendy Wickens. They graciously contributed to leading services and supporting ministry during 2025, particularly, Pastoral Care, 3[rd] and 4[th] Sunday Worship and 6pm Praise and Worship services. I remain grateful for their ongoing support. We look forward for the eventual transfer during 2026 of another LLM, Katie Urban.

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I engaged with St Sebastian’s Church of England Primary School Head of School, Mrs Sarah Cohen, and her assistant, Ms Heather Barnes, teachers, school staff, governors and children extensively during 2025.

School engagement increased from six events in 2024 to 21 in 2025. We introduced monthly Collective Worship at St Sebastian’s Church to complement equivalent services, frequently within the same month at school. We were privileged to host a visit from Bishop of Reading, Mary Gregory+, who wonderfully addressed our pupils and visited the various classes and noted the efforts and accomplishments of our children.

In terms of positive outcomes from increased engagement with St Sebastian’s Primary School, we now have prayer spaces for each school group, prayers are now formulated by pupils and are recited at each Collective Worship service. We now connect the school values of Love, Respect, Aspiration and Courage to RE lessons and their relevance to relationships, justice, family, community and response. We maintained the tradition of Bible Gifts and recently introduced helpful Scripture Union guides for pupils transitioning to secondary schools. Pupil volunteers continue to serve our fortnightly Little Angels’ Toddler group. We were blessed to have a pupil read a Bible Lesson at our Crib Service, the second in the last two years. In terms of justice and engagement, I led two services in church celebrating Harvest and receiving food donations and commemorating Remembrance Day followed by a reflection space at the external monuments / Commonwealth Soldiers’ graveside. I have also provided pastoral support to school staff.

Mrs Cohen and Ms Barnes ought to be commended too for building the school’s approach to nurturing, quiet spaces, emotional check-ins and pupil leadership roles to reflect our collective commitment to equity and dignity, as well as ensuring all children feel part of our school and church family. Pupils led prayers and used capture books and shared language of ‘Mirrors, Windows and Doors’ to deepen spiritual engagement and I have been most impressed. We ensured Collective Worship remained accessible to all children, regardless of faith background and encouraged spiritual reflection and community connection. I have seen enormous strides by the school, staff and children. Pupils understand their role in helping others and demonstrated this through charitable actions. The school continues to be supported by Foundational Governors from St Sebastian’s and nearby local churches. Together, they have contributed to effective governance and support of Mrs Cohen, teachers, staff and parents. We pray for the continued flourishing of all during 2026.

I was honoured to lead and share a talk at seven school events at Oaklands Junior School during 2025, an increase of five Collective Worship events from 2024. In particular, the Harvest Service with invited parents and speaking at the Headteacher’s Farewell Service. I look forward to building on this foundation in 2026.

Russell Shipton LLM and I (with assistance from Angela Shipton) supported monthly Holy Communion services at Buckler’s Lodge Care Home with around 13 residents, a modest reduction on the previous year following the loss and relocation of residents. I would like to acknowledge the warm hospitality of the Buckler’s Lodge Care Home management and staff. One resident has regularly visited our Sunday Worship and Communion Service and I conducted the funeral service for another. I am pleased to see how this missional opportunity is growing. We look forward to more collaborations and a flourishing relationship following bookings for all months of 2026.

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We maintained Prayer Ministry within the shared helpful team leadership of Jill Gardener, Alexis Clarke, Wendy Wickens, Russell Shipton, Mark Andrews and Anne Andrews. A prayer group frequently met via Zoom and occasionally in person during the year. This was complimented by the global church 24/7 Prayer Space initiative led by Anne Andrews, Mark Andrews and Wendy Wickens after the summer holidays. This was followed by an outcome of the 2030 Parish Vision efforts, the 19:26 Saturday Prayers, where parishioners met for 10 weeks on Saturday mornings led by John Hills.

Home groups met at regular intervals for pastoral support. During the year, leadership oversight was re-established with Mark Andrews, Anne Andrews and Russell Shipton resulting in the re-launch of Home Groups as “Personal Discipleship Groups” with an emphasis on discipleship, pastoral support and raising new leaders for resourcing future growth and becoming a more intergenerational community, as per 2030 Parish Vision. Many thanks for all the efforts expended in current home groups during 2025.

There is also another aspect to the Home Groups ministry. Paul and Claire Morrison (and other church members) have been frequently providing practical help, transport and food to vulnerable parishioners of our church community during this year and in times before. This is an area of work that can be easily taken for granted. In 2026, we shall be exploring connections and pathways between Prayer Ministry and Pastoral Care Home Groups for our parishioners’ spiritual well-being.

We have also had a successful series of Lent Bible Studies and an online Alpha led by Mark and Anne Andrews, both of which we hope to repeat in 2026. Claire Morrison, Kate and Henryk Urban have also been running regular Community Bible Studies in the mornings and evenings involving members inside and outside church. There is also a Book Club run by Rosemary Smart. Thanks to all involved.

Each year, our parish is blessed with and assortment of fruits from parishioners, Mark and Mary Hall, particularly, during the time of Harvest. We are truly blessed as a parish. Our deepest thanks to the Hall family.

During September, we hosted an event for the Diocesan Social Justice Adviser, Hannah Ling. This was an over-lunch Diocesan gathering of church leaders working alongside and supporting Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) communities, including those wishing to begin this in their parishes. Representatives from GRT Friendly Churches joined from across the nation to share about the network and offered insights for this key mission work. Our hosting was in recognition of the parish involvement in the regular life events of GRT communities and deep connection to children in St Sebastian’s Church of England Primary School.

St Sebastian’s Church is a member of Churches Together Crowthorne (CTC). CTC is an association of local churches from Crowthorne and Finchampstead, who come together to serve and bless our area and its people in the name of Jesus Christ including church communities: St John the Baptist, St James in Finchampstead, the local Baptists, Methodists, Roman Catholic and Vineyard Church groups. Janet Rogers who is the chair of CTC is a member of our local parish. CTC Leaders and I met during 2025. We also hosted one of the meetings in the Church Hall. Members of our church and I took part in the organised summer event at Morgan Recreation Grounds and Christmas late night shopping event on Crowthorne High Street outside the local Baptist Church.

I am pleased that Age UK Berkshire Dementia Club charity continued to use our Church Hall providing an essential community support. What a blessing! This community service is growing and we are looking forward to building further engagement during 2026. Similarly, we have welcomed Len

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Graham, Chair of 1[st] St Sebastian Scout Group, children and volunteers into our Church Hall for regular usage. They joined us for Remembrance Day and other special events.

I am grateful for the work of the Men’s Sandwich Club ministry, the vision of parishioner and former Licensed Lay Minister, Ian Mackenzie. It provided a welcome space for senior men who met in the Parish Centre. With deepest thanks to Ian Mackenzie for the ministry that he led.

The parish website continues to grow with the helpful work of the Parish Communication Team (Chris Bull, David Smart and Suman Shrestha). Functionality has been enhanced by pre-recorded church events, social media links and greater information / notices about parish events.

Our Facebook social medial membership has grown. We are seeing increased requests, followers of parish accounts and occasional prayer requests / engagement. Content is comprised of parish notices, Vicar Letters, Bible readings, prayers, reflective Christian quotes and occasional images, which have seen increased viewings.

I would like to thank all volunteers who have worked so hard to maintain our church and parish buildings during 2025 beginning with Churchwardens. Churchwardens were assisted by Nigel Birch, David Metson and Paul Morrison. All have helped other volunteers involved in flower arranging, acting as Verger, polishing, cleaning, refreshments, baking cakes, Sound and Vision desk and modest repairs. Thank you for all your efforts.

Separate mention and deepest thanks are reserved for Head of Music and Worship, Jill Metson, who was succeeded by Eve Bull. Jill and Eve have ensured music support for Sunday Services via Worship Leaders: Lucy Head, Janice Elwood, Dawn Rossell and St Sebastian’s Brass Band, Angela Shipton, Suman Shrestha and Janet Rogers. I hope you would join me in offering thanks for Jill’s and Eve’s work as well as all musicians.

Similarly, we extend our thanks to Office Manager, Kirsty Milam, for running the Parish Office and coordinating parish activities. I also want to recognise Mihaela Motrescu for her regular cleaning on the church premises. Thank you.

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PARISH ATTENDANCE

8am Holy Communion Services
10am All Age Service (Church)
10am All Age Communion with the Base (from March-25 - 1st Sundays and Harvest)
10am Worship and the Word
10am Holy Communion
10am Holy Communion (Wednesdays)
6pm Praise and Worship
5th Sunday Healing Service
10am The Base (from Jan-25)
Lent
Ash Wednesday
10am and 8pm Come and See LENT Studies
Easter
Easter - Maundy Thursday
Easter - Good Friday 3 Hours by the Cross
Easter - Saturday Vigil
Christmas
Christmas Christingle
Christmas Carols
Christmas Crib Service
Christmas Midnight Communion
Christmas Day Family Service and Communion
Parish Attendance Monthly Totals
Special Services and Life Events
Annual Parochial Council Meeting
Annual Meeting
Commemorative Events
All Souls
Remembrance Day
Life Events
Baptism
Wedding
Funeral Services
2030 Vision Day
Workshops
Schools
Oaklands Junior School
St Sebastian's School Services
Care Home
Buckler's Lodge Holy Communion
Prayer
Prayer Space
Special Services and Life Events Monthly Totals
OVERALL TOTAL		 No. of
Services

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GOVERNANCE AND FINANCE

The parish would not be able to function as a registered Charity (England and Wales) were it not for the efforts of Parochial Church Council (PCC) members who, as legal trustees, met every two months under my Chair to exercise governance decision-making.

The financial work of the PCC was undertaken by parish Treasurer, John Congram, with Janet Rogers who supported parish financial decisions within relevant financial controls. The PCC and I offer our thanks. Similarly, the support of PCC Secretary, Mark Andrews, who helped the parish to stay on top of governance decisions undertaken from May 2025. We also offer our gratitude for Mary Unwin’s PCC Secretary work up to May 2025.

Parish Treasury

The 2025 (2024) Parish Share of £80,725 (£81,554) was met in full. We praise the Lord for all donations, stewardship and other giving to meet our share of Diocese of Oxford’s costs.

The parish donated total gifts of £7,625 (£7,153) in 2025 (2024) to the charities below:

In the words of Cyrus Curtis, “Believe in the Lord, and He will do half the work – the last half”.

This is what we want to do as a parish. Trust God’s direction of travel and leadership for His half in 2026 with the help of prayer and spiritual discernment through the Holy Spirit. We remain encouraged that the Lord is with us.

Peace be with you.

The Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s Diocese of Oxford | Church of England

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2.4. OTHER PARISH REPORTS

2.4.1. Churchwarden’s Report

2025 A Year of Reflection

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) saw the two Churchwardens Chris Bull and Nigel Wickens being elected for another term. The Churchwardens are ably supported by three deputy wardens for the management of services, David Metson, Nigel Birch and Paul Morrison. We would like to thank them all for their dedication and service to this responsibility.

We are grateful for the positive outcome of the Deanery inspection of our governance systems, with special thanks to Kirsty Milam, Office Manager.

Church Property

Since the refurbishing of the lodge and parish centre flat we have been able to let both properties. We have been delighted with our tenants in both the lodge and parish centre flat. Both have been a pleasure to work with.

Church

We have not had to carry out any major works in the church this year. Many thanks to the team that keep it beautifully clean and tidy throughout the year. We have fitted a Hive remote heating control to aid the heating management of the building.

Church Hall

Only general maintenance required this year.

Car Park

We carried out the installation of a soakaway and drainage system outside the hall in April. We also patched the main exit driveway, but there is still an issue with the drain and driveway past the parish centre. Both the main exit driveway and car park will need a full resurfacing at some stage.

Major Projects

The main church roof on the north side of the building will need the rafters refitting at a cost of £40,000 at some stage in the near future.

We have been left a donation to upgrade the kitchens on the estate which we have been investigating with a team of users.

Redevelopment of the church hall remains a future consideration to provide more services into the community.

Church Hall users

Finally, we remain grateful to regular users of our Church Hall, which brings much needed income to our parish: Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Guides and Age UK Berkshire.

Thanks to Fabric Team: Murray Foulds, David Metson, Paul Morrison, and Nigel Wickens for all their help. More members welcome!!

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2.4.2. Safeguarding

Our PCC Leadership and Volunteers are committed to:

2025 saw the safeguarding hub continually being updated to ensure staff and volunteers complete the safeguarding training required for their role.

The safeguarding hub allows us to keep track of DBS renewals, safeguarding training, and monitor by sending out a 2-month reminder. This allows those volunteers and staff to plan their training and complete on time, which is a legal responsibility. At this present time, we have 2 paid staff members and 46 volunteers for St Sebastian’s.

Work has continued on the Diocesan Safeguarding Dashboard. This compliance tool monitors, collates and reports on safeguarding matters. It has 2 sections:

A) ”The Dashboard” looks at policies, procedures, safeguarding roles, training for key roles, reporting procedures, PSO and PCC reporting/records etc.

B) ”The Hub” looks at roles and named people attached to those roles, DBS and safeguarding training requirements linked to individuals. Work continued on this in 2025.

In September 2025 we were notified by the Oxford Diocesan Safeguarding team of a major breach with the DBS system. People affected by the breach have been contacted. Investigations are ongoing but the Diocesan have announced a new provider. Due to this any DBS that have been completed can now be sent to our new provider.

Nigel Wickens - Safeguarding Lead to PCC

2.4.3. The Base

This year we have continued to grow in our faith and in our congregation together as a community. There are a regular set of just over 30 members, all of whom take turns in leading in some form or another.

We were aware of the divide in the St Sebastian Community and have been exploring ways for us to come together. Part of this has involved identifying the elements of the Base that draw people in and transferring this to the All Age Services. There has been an increase in attendance at the All Together Services since using the Base service format. This then led to further discussions to include communion at the first service of the month and a change in service patterns. This has proven successful with numbers remaining high and both elements of St Sebastians being together more frequently.

It has been a pleasure to lead services often including members of our youth to the wider church community including Harvest and a Christingle. Our young people are engaged fully in their faith and

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are growing in their fellowship. It is still vital that we find ways to support our youth, many of whom are now young adults and who would benefit from an activity similar to the adult discussion time that we participate in, but away from parents so they may explore their faith and speak freely. This continues to be a large area of need in the Base which is ever growing as the youth get older.

We have seen a family join us at the Base through being baptised at St Sebastians and this is encouraging for growth. Going forward we are looking to continue to find ways to welcome families from the school, Little Angels and Friday Night Live in as a stepping stone to our community.

This Christmas we enjoyed a service that involved every single person taking part in dramatizing a scene from the Nativity. It felt like ‘Christian Christmas Chaos’ (in a truly wonderful positive way), with some of the older members of St Sebastians church who had joined us taking on the role of our sheep with some enthusiastic baa-ing!

I personally would like to take the opportunity to thank Mark and Suman for their continued support as key leaders in helping me run the Base, enabling intergenerational church at its best, and for the friendship borne out of our faith together.

Tracey Clark, Suman Shrestha and Mark Portsmouth

2.4.4. Prayer Team

We offer Prayer Ministry during every Sunday Communion service and during other services where possible. Our Prayer Ministry Team remains small (approximately 12 members) and we are very grateful to all who serve in this way.

Prayer & Healing Services are held when there is a fifth Sunday in the month. In 2025 they were held in June and November.

Until the Summer break of 2025, a weekly Prayer meeting was held on Zoom each Monday at 7.30pm with a monthly in-person time of Prayer & Worship (Waymakers), replacing Zoom on the second Monday of each month. Waymakers and Zoom prayers were paused through the Autumn term, in order to support Project 19:26, which ran for 10 weeks each Saturday morning from September and was based upon Matthew 19:26 “With God all things are possible.” This was initiated by John Hills, who also facilitated the prayer meeting each Saturday morning. These prayer times were very well attended, with a growing sense of momentum as we prayed together for specific areas of church life and subsequently saw real answers to our prayers. We are very thankful to John for his vision and openness to hear from the Lord. As a result of these meetings, we are now holding an early morning prayer time (9-10am) on the last Saturday of each month, which replaces Waymakers. Zoom Prayers restarted at the end of January.

The Prayer Team also supported Wendy Wickens & Anne Andrews in the running of a Prayer Space on Sunday 20th July and 24/7 Prayer on the 31st August – 1st September.

Alexis Clarke & Jill Gardener

2.4.5. Discipleship Groups

This year the decision was taken to bring all the small groups together under the umbrella title of Discipleship Groups to emphasise the purpose of the groups, and a leaflet was produced to explain this. The leaflet was made available at the back of church and in the Base.

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There are five mid-week groups currently running. Two of these are CBS groups – the daytime group meets in the Parish Centre and the evening group in a home. One of the Discipleship Groups meets on Zoom and the other two meet in homes. These groups combine a great mix of fun, fellowship, exploration of all sorts of aspects of the Christian life and prayer, together with (except over Zoom) coffee, nice biscuits, and sometimes more. This year’s total membership is closer to 40 people, some of whom are not attendees at St Sebastian’s. Four people are in more than one group – a CBS and a Discipleship Group.

During Lent, we ran the Church of England course, ‘Living Hope’, on Wednesdays in church. It ran as two big open groups; one in the daytime and the other in the evening. All members of the church were invited to attend, whether they were currently part of a group or not.

Plans were also set in place to organise a Discipleship Group Sunday in January 2026 and to focus during the rest of 2026 on growing the numbers attending groups with the purpose of extending our pastoral care provision over a wider proportion of the church This will include, where possible, members who mostly attend the Base.

Mark and Anne Andrews and Russell Shipton

2.4.6. Community Bible Studies

Tuesday Morning Group 10am to noon in the Parish Centre

This lively group started in September 2022 with a 30-week study of the Gospel of John. This year we are studying Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers following on from our study of Genesis last year. We follow the school calendar beginning in September and finishing in June, with half term and end of term breaks. Member numbers increase and decrease with changing circumstances. We have reached 14 members at times but are currently 11.

The group began because like many of us with a faith, we don’t always know God’s Word in depth. The aim of the CBS groups is to get to know God’s Word together in a welcoming, relaxed and supportive way. We open and close with prayer. There is homework every week which can be challenging but in general takes about an hour. Please do not be deterred by this, it does become something you look forward to doing and anything that you can’t answer gets discussed in the group with surprising discussions often ensuing. And we do have fun.

Although the focus is on getting to know God’s Word in more detail, one of our members recently wrote; “At the beginning I knew everyone by name, and several were already friends. Now we have become a close-knit group supporting each other through the ups and downs of life”. What a blessing this group is. You are most welcome to join us.

Claire Morrison and Jacky Henderson

Wednesday Evening Group 7.30-9.30pm Meeting in Edgcumbe Park

From September 2025 to June 2026, we are studying the book of Psalms.

We are a group of 11 people looking at the Psalms, also known as the Psalter, a collection of poems, songs and prayers inspired by the Holy Spirit. Our study is topological and goes over a period of 30 weeks. Topics include Psalms to Deepen Our Trust; Royal Psalms; Songs to the Creator; Longing for God. Our evenings consist of worship, prayer, going through the weekly study with discussion, fellowship and ending with prayer.

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Here are a few comments from the group and what it means to them:

If you would like to join us, please call the Parish Office on 01344 761050 for more information, or speak to Katie or Henryk in church on a Sunday. We are a happy, relaxed and friendly group who love studying the Bible.

Katie & Henryk Urban

2.4.7. Friday Night Live

Friday Night Live continues to meet fortnightly on Friday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00.

The evening begins with the Young People enjoying table tennis, billiards and table football. Christian songs are playing and there is much fun to be had. One of the girls told us she had enjoyed table football so much she had to have one for Christmas!

We then play a group game after which we settle down to listen to a short talk followed by discussion and prayer time. The talk is always on a topic relevant to the listeners and gives a Christian view of it. Possibly the most memorable moment of last year was when John Hills took out a ‘Bible’, read the story of the first Pentecost and flames appeared from the book. For a moment, everyone was speechless….

We have also enjoyed bowling trips and BBQs this year. Our numbers have increased from September when we were joined by a group of year 7-8 girls who are now attending regularly.

Thanks so much to David Metson, John Hills and Mary Unwin for helping with FNL and also to Wendy Wickens who has recently joined us.

Eve Bull

2.4.8. Little Angels

Little Angels meets fortnightly on Friday mornings in the church hall. It provides a warm, safe place for pre-school children and their carers. When the weather allows, we open up the outside areas for the children to access the outdoor toys and for the adults to sit and chat on the bench so generously donated by Jo Golding.

Thanks so much to the amazing team of volunteers who bake cakes, prepare healthy snacks for the children and set up and tidy away all the toys and equipment. They also provide listening ears for those who just need to chat. Nearly every time, carers will tell us what a friendly and welcoming place

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Little Angels is and how much they enjoy it. The end of the session finishes with a time of singing and storytelling.

Recently, we have had record numbers of children attending and have decided to extend our session by 30 minutes.

Eve Bull

2.4.9. Music and Worship Report

Thanks so much to all the musicians who have contributed to our worship over the last year. Special thanks must go to Janice and the choir for all their hard work preparing the Carol Service; to the St Sebs Band who have made space in their busy schedule to lead us in worship several times this year and to Jill Metson who, until recently, has been coordinating musicians with services.

Our monthly All Together Services have been a great opportunity, not only for musicians from the Base and the main church to play together, but also to include our young people in the worship teams. Thanks again to everyone who helps make our sung worship such an important part of our church life.

Eve Bull

2.4.10. Sandwich Men

There were 8 meetings this year during Friday lunchtimes where up to 5 men met for interesting discussions while eating their sandwich lunches together. Several times we had cake provided by a grateful wife.

Unfortunately, we lost dear Tom O’Toole and with his passing, combined with serious illness and lack of numbers, made meetings unviable. Sadly, the group has not continued to meet.

Ian Mackenzie

2.4.11. Bereavement

We have welcomed Helen Thompson to our team recently.

We are able to offer visits or phone calls to family members following funerals if requested.

There is also a yearly service in church for those who wish to come and remember those who have died recently or otherwise. Later in the year we hope to have a one-off café to encourage people who have been bereaved to meet for a chat.

Angela Shipton.

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2.4.12. Communication

The Communications Team supports the life and mission of the church by sharing information about services, events, and parish activities with both the congregation and the wider community.

Throughout the year, communication has been maintained through the church website, weekly notices, email updates, social media, and printed materials within the church. These channels help ensure that service times, events, and important news are easily accessible.

Social media (we added Instagram in 2025) and the website continue to help us reach beyond the regular congregation and invite the wider parish to take part in services and community events, particularly at key times such as Christmas and Easter. We have also been Live Streaming key services.

The PCC would like to thank everyone who contributes to producing notices, updating online content, and supporting church communications throughout the year.

Special thanks to the team; Chris Bull, David Smart, Suman Shrestha and Kirsty Milam.

Chris Bull

2.4.13. Audio Visual and Sound Desk

Sound and Vision Team Report – APCM 2025

The Sound and Vision Team continues to support the worship and mission of the church by providing audio and visual support during services and special events throughout the year.

The team is responsible for operating the sound system, microphones, and projection equipment so that services can be heard clearly and visual materials such as hymns, readings, and notices can be shared with the congregation. Where applicable, the team also assists with livestreaming and recording services to help those who are unable to attend in person remain connected with church life.

In addition to regular Sunday worship, the team provides support for special services during the church year, including Christmas, Easter, weddings, funerals, and other significant occasions.

We are grateful to the volunteers who serve faithfully on the rota and give their time to ensure services run smoothly each week. New volunteers are always welcome, and training and support are available for those interested in helping.

Submitted on behalf of the Sound and Vision Team.

Chris Bull

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2.5. Sonning Deanery Report from Area Dean

Once again, it has been a year of significant change in Sonning Deanery. In September 2025, Revd. Julian Bidgood (Barkham) finished serving as Deanery Co-ordinator. We give thanks for his ministry among us, particularly through his support of the many parishes who found themselves in vacancy and his work on our Children and young people’s plan which has given us a firm foundation to work from. A thank you was given to Julian before his sabbatical in the summer of 2025. In June 2025, Deanery Synod also said thank you to John Sutton and Lynne Paine who stepped down as Lay Chair and Treasurer respectively. A huge thanks for all they gave to those roles.

The Bishop of Reading asked Revd. Laura Wheatley Downs (Crowthorne) to serve as Area Dean from September 2025, and she has been working alongside Leigh Welham (Secretary), Anthony Pollock (Treasurer) Anna Pearce, David Horrocks, John Sutton, Revd. Gemma Donnell (Parish of Finchampstead and California) and Revd. Mark Gould (Twyford and Ruscombe) who have served as members of the Deanery Standing Committee and Mission and Pastoral Committee. Revd Mark Gould was licensed as Associate Area Dean on 1st March 2026. Behind the scenes, advocating for deanery is Peter Wells. Special thanks also go to him for all his work managing our Parish Share allocations.

Over the last year, the remaining three incumbent vacancies have all been filled. It has been an absolute delight to welcome Fr. Sam Tanna-Korn (St. Paul’s and Woosehill) Revd. David Chislett (Wargrave and Knowl-Hill) and Revd. Peter Hyson (Owlsmoor). It has also been wonderful to welcome other priests into the parish – Revd. Cathryn Howse as Associate minister in the parish of Finchampstead and California, Revd. Andrea Platt as Associate priest at All Saints and Revd. Robert Wynford-Harris (PTO).

This year, we have also said farewell to Revd Julian McAllen who left the parish of Finchampstead and California in the summer. And farewell and good luck to Revd. John Castle in Sandhurst who has taken up a new role at St. John the Baptist, Aldenham. He had joyfully served his community for 21 years, and we have been enriched as a deanery through his ministry. We wish him all the best! Sadly, Revd. David Webster died in February. He had continued to minister to those at Suffolk Lodge which was his home toward the end of his life. We give God thanks for his years of faithful service.

One of the most significant beginnings within the Deanery has been the first phase of work on our Deanery plan which has taken up the majority of our time at Synod since September 2025. During this time Synod has been discerning where our deanery priorities lie. A consultation has also taken place in Deanery Chapter and explored through conversations across parishes. The Deanery has reflected on: signs of God at work, parish treasures, anxieties, priorities, community needs, required resources, and hopes for the deanery’s future.

Out of this work have emerged some exciting key priorities to focus on as a Deanery which will be discussed at our next Synod AGM, alongside our vision and values. Our next step will be to encourage those with a gifting, passion or skill in our priority areas and other key offices who would like to facilitate informal deanery clusters which meet a few times a year where others who are also interested in collaborating and sharing learning, encouragement and prayer about a particular area can gather together. e.g. safeguarding, churchwardens, children and young people. This already works successfully amongst our Treasurers and our Green team- a huge thankyou to all those involved in that.

We are also in the process of looking for a new Deanery Secretary. This is an important role within the life of the Synod. Leigh has been a fantastic secretary but serves in so many other places- if you want to know more about what the role entails, please do speak with her. We’re also looking for a new Lay chair. Again, an important role that enable the voice of the faithful members of our churches to be represented, and to ensure balance in how we work together as clergy and as laity. Please do speak with Laura if you’d like to find out more.

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This next year, I would encourage anyone who has a heart to see our churches work together to grow God’s Kingdom through any of the roles above or below, to sign up to be a deanery representative over the next 3 years at your APCM. And don’t worry, if synod isn’t for you- there are plenty of other ways to be involved! I look forward to seeing what God does through us.

Grace and peace, Revd Laura Wheatley Downs

Supporting

Clergy, individuals and churches to serve their parishes and communities by meeting together, sharing resources and engaging in mission.

Discerning

Deanery Synod is a place where encouragements, concerns and missional ideas from individual parishes can be shared and potentially considered by the diocesan synod, which can then be considered at General Synod. At each of these stages, those involved are seeking to serve God, and grow God’s Church.

Connecting

People together from different churches across the area in worship, mission and governance. Parishes with deanery, diocesan and national initiatives and vice-verse through the sharing information.

2.6. Other Churches and Community

Churches together in Crowthorne (CTC)

CTC is an association of local churches from Crowthorne and Finchampstead, who come together to serve and bless our area and its people in the name of Jesus Christ.

CTC Purpose Statement

Churches Together in Crowthorne aims to support and promote unity among the churches actively sharing our Christian faith and values in our community in an authentic, loving, serving and inclusive manner by:

CTC 2025 Activities

The main activities in 2025 started at Easter with the Good Friday Service at Crowthorne Baptist Church where children worked on an Easter banner, then a Walk of Witness where we shared Hot Cross Buns and Real Easter Eggs around Crowthorne. This was followed by coffee and Hot Cross Buns at Crowthorne Methodist Church.

In June, singers drawn from churches in Crowthorne and Sandhurst presented a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat. After expenses, £716 was raised for Summer Activities.

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We were delighted to welcome children from St Sebastian’s School (and Crowthorne CofE) to the choir.

Crowthorne Summer Activities (CSA) took place during July and August. Each week the churches bringing over 300 people together for 4 weeks of fun, friendship, adventure and learning about the bible and prayer. Overall, 722 children registered to take part over the 4 weeks of the event, run by 125 amazing volunteers. Not forgetting 400 Candy Floss(es) and 60 Pizzas… Each year we raise c£6k from grant funding, fundraising activities and donations made by participants on the field. A team led by Tracey-Anne from St Sebastian’s ran the craft activity (parable of the lost coin) (team)) in week 4 and in week 2 the Prayer Tent (led by Wendy Wickens and Anne Andrews). Thank you to all the volunteers!

Over the Christmas period, CTC was once again had a major presence at Crowthorne Late Night shopping (the council estimate attended by over 3,000 people). CTC provide the Christmas lights in the High Street and provide Community Carols and a Christmas Message outside the Baptist Church. Further Carol singing took place in the Prince Pub and the Crowthorne Inn on a Friday night and on a Saturday morning outside the Baptist church / Library. NB These are great events to invite your non-Christians friends to – nothing scary like having to attend a church service, so please consider this for next Christmas!

Other activities this year included:

During the year we welcomed (Back) Revd Laura Wheatley-Downs from maternity leave and also welcomed back Revd Gemma Donnell as the new Rector of Finchampstead. Revd Jen Green as the new curate at St John’s Crowthorne. We were sad to say goodbye to Rev Kevin Mills from the Baptist Church, who with his wife Wendy had brought so much to our life together.

If you would like to know more about any of CTC’s activities, please contact the St Sebastian’s CTC reps.

Janet Rogers (also chair of CTC), David Metson and Wendy Wickens.

Wokingham Without Parish Council

Vision statement: “Working with residents to make Wokingham Without Parish the best it can be”

As you may know we are a non-political Parish Council. We have two members of our congregation active as Parish Councillors – Janet Rogers and myself, Kevin Whitehead. We have been under the Chairmanship of Nicholas Martin for the past year and recently welcomed two new councillors Mr Martin Turner and Ms Roberta Brooks.

Community Governance Review

We have a significant number of houses being built within the Parish and there was a challenge by Wokingham Town Council to move the parish boundary and include these new estates within their

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town council. This would financially impact this Parish and the Borough Council. WWPC view was that any change was unnecessary and a Community Governance Review took place. It decided that no change was required (good news) but a further review would carried out in 5 years’ time (bad news). We would challenge again if necessary.

Housing Development is our new fact of life and will impact this parish for at least the next 10 years – our watch words other than Planning have to be the ‘Construction Management Plans’ – not what is being built, but how it is being built with knock on impacts for traffic, working times and routes of access.

Council Communications

The new web site went live at https://www.wokinghamwithout-pc.gov.uk/ earlier in the year. It is growing all the time so any suggestions would be entertained. The Parish Council newsletter is available both in paper format and electronic format on the web site and by direct Email.

Local Facilities

Circle Hill and Walter Recreational Grounds are public lands which are heavily used by local residents and children (especially in the summer holidays). They are effectively owned by a Trust and managed on their behalf by Crowthorne Parish Council and WWPC. This year there have been extensive tree works, which with assistance from Community Payback have transformed Circle Hill – there is an ongoing plan for species management, including the removal of very invasive holly to encourage natural woodland growth.

Pinewood is on a lease from the Borough and has been through a long period of lease negotiations and restructuring. Within Pinewood there are many organisations who are locally and nationally active. The Pinewood Centre has been approved as an Asset of Community Value for 25 years. This has several advantages, the principal one being a clear recognition of the importance of this resource and the added protection that provides. At times we are significantly under car-parked, this is being reviewed to make better use of what we have, along with an investigation into extending the carparking. Pinewood Hall is within Pinewood and is a fully let during the working week, having been extensively refurbished in the recent past.

St Sebastian’s Memorial Hall and Honey Meadow (the land behind it) up to the housing on that side of the road are owned by the council. The hall is well let, with growing interest, the plan being to increase its attractiveness to prospective users and make the landscaping open to greater use by all.

Other matters

Litter bins, footpaths, public rights of way, ongoing maintenance, Men’s Shed, Planning Commentary (we are not Planners we are consultees), Adopt a Street, grants and many other things provides for a full and interesting range of activities undertaken by the Parish Council supported, as ever, by a small team in the Parish Office of our Parish Clerk and her small team of 3 - 4 office staff and a small number of operatives, they work very hard to make things happen and should be recognised for what they do.

Kevin Whitehead

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2.7. Financial Review

The accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 are presented on pages 28 to 38 and are in accordance with the PCC Accountability guidance, 5th edition, 2017 issued by the Finance Division of the Archbishops’ Council.

Review of the Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2025 In 2025 total Income £169,251 exceeded total Expenditure £156,592 resulting in a net Surplus of £12,659 compared with the net Surplus in 2024 of £19,887 .

Income: Total income was £169,251 down from £206,948 in 2024. (Note 2 of the financial statements provides further details.)

The primary source of income for the Church is voluntary contributions from the congregation, as well as associated HMRC tax recovery. We extend our sincere appreciation to those who support the Church’s activities through their ongoing generosity. For the current year, total donations and legacy income amounted to £120,947, representing a decrease of £61,733 compared to 2024 (£182,680). This reduction is primarily attributed to three one-off receipts in 2024: Car Park Repair fundraising totalling £23,781; a legacy from Janet Collins of £20,000; and goodwill payments from Total Energy of £6,067. In addition, Regular Monthly Gifts fell by £7,227 to £97,417.

The fall in voluntary income was partially offset by an increase in property rental revenues, which rose by £23,398 to £42,126 in 2025. After a five-month vacancy at St Sebastians Lodge and the refurbishment of both the Parish Centre Flat and Lodge in 2024, both properties were fully let throughout 2025.

Expenditure: Total expenditure in the year was £156,592 (2024 £187,061). (Note 3 of the financial statements provides further details.)

The largest single item of expenditure remains the diocesan parish share of £80,725 (2024: £81,449). The parish share is set by the Diocese and Deanery according to pre-determined formulae. We pay our parish share via a 12 monthly direct debit which provides us with a 1% discount. The PCC continued its policy of making six monthly gifts in January and July to its existing mission partners at a similar level to 2024. Following a planned review it hoped to increase our charitable giving in 2026. In 2025 two staff were employed at a cost of £21,870 down from a cost of £26,816 in 2024, when we had four staff members in the first quarter. We are grateful for the dedication of our staff and their contribution to smooth running of our activities.

During 2025, property repair costs amounted to £19,971. Of this total, £13,830 was spent on the car park repairs, which included the installation of a new drain to address the ongoing flooding issues. The remaining expenditure on the maintenance of our four buildings was £6,141. The work during the year included relocating the Parish Centre gas meters and replacing the fuse box at the Lodge. This year's total maintenance spend represents a significant decrease of £29,659 compared to the £35,800 spent in 2024. In the previous year, £24,787 was invested in refurbishing the Lodge and Parish Centre Flat. whilst £11,582 was spent in upgrading the electrical systems in the Church, Church Hall, and Parish Centre and installing a new fire alarm system in the Church Hall.

We are grateful for the volunteers who generously provide their time and skills for the benefit of the Church and thus make a substantial saving on our running costs.

Net Current Assets

At the end of the year, the net current assets totalled £100,087 (2024 £87,428) made up of cash balances of £107,027, Debtors £3,759 less Creditors of £10,699.

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Reserves policy

It has been PCC policy, where practicable, to maintain a minimum balance of free reserves (net current assets) equating to approximately two month’s general fund payments or £30,000. It is held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies. Following a transfer from the Major Maintenance Reserve, the balance on the General Fund on 31[st] December 2025 was £31,013.

The PCC has designated funds:

The Financial Position and the Outlook for 2026

Over the last two years, the church has funded £56,771 in the refurbishment and delayed maintenance of the church estate. The PCC holds restricted funds of £11,640 for further repairs to the car park, and £6,250 towards the refurbishment of the kitchens in the Church, Hall and Parish Centre. In addition, there are designated funds of £20,000 towards the Church Roof repair, and £15,000 set aside for the major maintenance that it is anticipated will be required to the other buildings in the next few years. Assuming both the Flat and Lodge remain let, and given the current levels of regular giving, the PCC anticipates a surplus of £8,000 in 2026, after covering the costs of employing a Family and Youth Worker in the final quarter of the year.

Looking ahead, additional regular income and other funding will be needed to support the ongoing employment of the Family and Youth Minister. Furthermore, the significant costs associated with the anticipated repairs to the church roof, as identified in the recent quinquennial survey, will require further funds.

Provision of information to independent examiners

Each of the members of the PCC at the time when this report is approved has confirmed that so far as he/she is aware, there is no relevant financial information of which the charity's independent examiners are unaware, and that he/she has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a trustee to be aware of any information needed by the independent examiners in connection with preparing his report and to establish that the independent examiner is aware of that information.

Independent Examiner

During the year the APCM approved the appointment of Michael Young FCA, a member of the congregation, to act as Independent Examiner.

John Congram – Treasurer

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2.8. Structure, Governance and Management

The method of appointment of PCC (Parochial Church Council) members is set out in the 2022 Church Representation Rules.

In the Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s, the membership of the PCC consists of the Incumbent (our vicar), Churchwardens, and members elected by Electoral Roll members in the parish. All those who regularly attend our services and meet the qualifying criteria are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and may then stand for election to the PCC.

The PCC members, who carry the legal status of Charity Trustees, are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s. This also includes determining and prioritising how budgeted PCC funds are spent.

2.9. Parochial Church Council and Annual Parochial Council Meetings 2025

PCC meetings were held on the following dates:

A summary of the minutes of each PCC meeting is published and displayed on the church noticeboard inside the church.

2.10. Parish Statistics

Parish Electoral Roll

Following the revision of the Church Electoral Roll for the APCM on 10 May 2026 there are 100 Parishioners on the roll as compared to 99 in 2025.

1 name was removed and 2 added.

The whole roll was renewed in 2025, and it is due to be renewed again in 2031.

Mary Unwin, Electoral Roll Officer

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PCC Members

The following have served at some time between 1st January and 31[st] December 2025:

Ex Officio member: Incumbent: The Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray (Chair) Licensed Lay Ministers: Wendy Wickens LLM Russell Shipton LLM (Retired) Churchwardens: Chris Bull Nigel Wickens Deanery Synod members: Janet Rogers Mary Unwin Diocesan Synod member Wendy Wickens PCC Members: David Smart (Deputy Chair) John Congram (to April) Suman Shrestha (to April) Murray Foulds (to April) Nigel Birch David Metson Paul Morrison Ian Mackenzie Mark Andrews (from May) PCC Secretary: Mary Unwin (to April) Mark Andrews (from June) Treasurer: John Congram Planned Giving Officer: John Congram Parish Safeguarding Officer: Helen Thompson Deputy Parish Safeguarding Officer: Mark Lee PCC Safeguarding Lead Murray Foulds (to April), Nigel Wickens (from April) Children’s Advocate: Suman Shrestha (to April)

2026 is the start of a new 3-year period for Deanery Synod so we need to elect 3 representatives for the Deanery Synod to serve for the next 3 years. Three of the current PCC members will be coming to the end of their term and there are currently 3 vacancies on the PCC so there will also be an election for at least 6 PCC members at the APCM.

Approved by the PCC on: 18[th] March 2026 And signed on their behalf by:

The Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray PCC Chair

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Parochial Church Council of St Sebastian’s Church Nine Mile Ride Wokingham Without

Diocese of Oxford

“A Beacon of Christ, Loving God and Serving Others”

Financial statements

of the

Parochial Church Council

For the Year ended 31 December 2025

Charity Number: 1139933

Contents

Independent Examiner’s Report Statement of Financial Activities Balance Sheet

Notes on the Financial Statements

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Financial statements For the year ending 31 December 2025

3. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT

To the members of the Parochial Church Council of St Sebastian, Wokingham

I report on the accounts of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2025, (which are set out on pages 30 to 38).

Respective responsibilities of the PCC and the examiner

As members of the PCC, you are responsible for the preparation of the Financial Statements; you consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 3(3) and section 144 (2) of the 2011 Charities Act do not apply. It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act and to be found in the PCC Accountability guidance, 5th edition, 2017 issued by the Finance Division of the Archbishops’ Council. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the requirements of the 2011 Act and the Regulations have not been met; or

  1. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Mr Michael Young

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Crowthorne
Date:
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Financial statements For the year ending 31 December 2025

4. TREASURER’S REPORT

4.1. Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2025

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Total Total
General Designated Unrestricted Restricted CAPITAL
Fund Funds Funds Funds TOTAL TOTAL RESERVES
2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 2024 2025
INCOME Notes note 7 note 9
Donations and Legacies 2(a) 112,104 112,104 8,843 120,947 182,680
Income Charitable activities 2(b) 3,288 3,288 3,288 2,558
Income from Investments 2(c) 1,757 1,757 1,133 2,890 2,983
Income from Trading Activities 2(d) 42,126 42,126 42,126 18,728
TOTAL INCOME 159,275 0 159,275 9,976 169,251 206,948 0
EXPENDITURE
Parish Share and Fees 3(a) 80,725 80,725 80,725 81,554
Mission and Charitable Giving 3(b), 12 6,750 6,750 875 7,625 7,153
Staff Costs 3(c), 4 21,870 21,870 21,870 28,816
Ministry Costs 3(d) 2,842 2,842 2,842 6,015
Premises Costs 3(e) 23,991 23,991 13,830 37,821 57,116
Other Church Activities 3(f) 5,709 5,709 5,709 6,408
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 141,887 0 141,887 14,705 156,592 187,061 0
NET INCOMING RESOURCES
BEFORE INVESTMENT GAINS
(LOSSES) 17,387 0 17,387 (4,729) 12,659 19,887 0
Net gain on investments sale 4,235
Transfer to General Fund (11,547) 11,547 0
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 5,840 11,547 17,387 (4,729) 12,659 24,122 0
OPENING BALANCES 25,173 36,846 62,019 27,159 89,178 65,056 296,495
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS 5,840 11,547 17,387 (4,729) 12,659 24,122 0
CLOSING BALANCES 31,013 48,393 79,406 22,431 101,837 89,178 296,495
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Financial statements For the year ending 31 December 2025

4.2. Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 December 2025

Assets.1
£
ASSETS
Note
Fixed Assets
Investments Fixed Assets
5a
Tangible
5b
Total Fixed Assets
Current Assets
Debtors and Prepayments
6
Cash at bank and in hand
Total Current Assets
Current Liabilities
Creditors - falling due within one year
8
NET CURRENT ASSETS
TOTAL NET ASSETS
PARISH FUNDS
Restricted Funds
9
Unrestricted Funds - Designated Funds
7
Unrestricted Funds - General Fund
Church Capital Reserves
CLOSING BALANCES		 2025
1,750
296,495
298,245
3,759
107,027
110,786
10,699
100,087
398,332
22,431
48,393

31,013
101,837
296,495
398,332		 2024
1,750
296,495
298,245
7,633
88,925
96,558
9,130
87,428
385,673
27,159
36,846
25,173
89,178
296,495
385,673

Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 18[th] March 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

The Reverend. Rickey Simpson-Gray

PCC Chair

John Congram PCC Treasurer

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Financial statements For the year ending 31 December 2025

4.3. Notes on the Financial Statements

The following notes on pages 30 to 36 form part of these financial statements.

4.3.1. Note 1 - Accounting Policies

Basis of Preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCCs, and with the Regulations’ “true and fair view” provisions, they have been prepared under FRS102 (2016) as the applicable accounting standards and the 2016 version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP(FRS102)).

The PCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS 102.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention except for the valuation of investment assets and certain of the freehold properties which are at valuation as described in the notes.

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.

Funds

Capital reserves (or permanent endowment funds) are funds, the capital of which must be maintained; only income arising from investment of the capital reserves may be used either as restricted or unrestricted funds depending on the purpose for which the capital reserve was established. The PCC has a single permanent endowment (capital reserves) established by trust in 1968 relating to the Upkeep of the Church and Churchyard.

Restricted funds represent income from trusts and endowments which may be expended only on those restricted objects provided in the terms of the trust or bequest, and donations or grants received for a specific object or invited by the PCC for a specific object. These funds may only be expended on the specific object for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund.

Restricted funds include an upkeep of church and churchyard fund held under trust deed together with several other restricted funds, including the Car Park Repair Fund established in 2024.

Unrestricted funds are general funds that can be used to fund ongoing Church expenditure. These represent the remaining 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’ report.

Designated unrestricted funds are monies set aside by the PCC from unrestricted funds for specific purposes. That purpose is not binding on the PCC, though the PCC must be mindful of the intent when considering using the funds for other purposes. It is the simplest and most flexible way to ring fence money for special needs.

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Financial statements For the year ending 31 December 2025

Income

Planned giving, collections and donations are recognised when received. Tax refunds are recognised when the incoming resources to which they relate is received. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the PCC is legally entitled to the amounts due. Rental income from the letting of the PCC property is recognised when the rental is due. Investment income is included in the accounts when receivable. Investment gains and losses include any gain or loss on the sale of investments and any gain or loss resulting from revaluing investments to market value at the end of the year. All other income is accounted for gross.

Expenditure

Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that reward creates a binding or constructive obligation of 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.

Fixed assets

As Consecrated and benefice property of any kind is excluded from the statutory definition of “charity” by Section 10(2) (a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011 such assets are not capitalised in the financial statements.

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). No valued is placed on these assets in the financial statements. No individual item has cost more than £1,000 so all such expenditure has been written off when incurred.

Freehold properties are either stated at cost when built by the parish or stated at valuation when donated to the PCC.

Fixed asset investments are stated at cost.

Other Tangible fixed assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £5,000. They are valued at cost or else, for gifts-in-kind, at a reasonable estimate of their open market value on receipt. Depreciation is calculated to write off the capitalized cost of fixed assets less their currently anticipated residual fair value over their estimated useful lives as follows: Land - Nil / Buildings* - Nil / Fixtures & Fittings - 20 years

*No depreciation is provided on buildings as the currently estimated residual value of the properties is not less than their carrying value.

Current assets

Current asset investments are stated at current market value.

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Financial statements

For the year ending 31 December 2025

4.3.2. Note 2 - Income and Endowments

----- Start of picture text -----
Total
General Designated Unrestricted Restricted
Custom Fund Funds Funds Funds Total Total
2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 2024
INCOME
2(a) Donations and Legacies
Gift Aided Income
Planned Giving 89,114 89,114 89,114 93,475
Tax recoverable 18,303 18,303 18,303 21,169
One-Off Gifts 1,683 1,683 5,975 7,658 28,722
Tax recoverable 663 663 1,494 2,157 7,629
109,763 0 109,763 7,469 117,232 150,995
Other Donations non gift aid 650 650 500 1,150 7,545
Collections at Services 1,691 1,691 1,691 2,002
Nominated Gifts 874 874 853
Grant Received 0 0 1,285
Legacies 0 0 20,000
Sub-Total Donations and Legacies 112,104 0 112,104 8,843 120,947 182,680
2(b) Income Charitable activities
Charitable Activities - Fees 2,898 2,898 2,898 2,248
Charitable Activities - Other 390 390 390 310
Sub-Total Income Charitable activities 3,288 0 3,288 0 3,288 2,558
2(c) Income from Investments
Bank Interest 1,757 1,757 1,757 1,876
Dividends Restricted Funds 1,133 1,133 1,107
Sub-Total Income from Investments 1,757 0 1,757 1,133 2,890 2,983
2(d) Income from Trading Activities
Church Hall Rental Income 4,823 4,823 4,823 5,309
Parish Centre Flat Rental Income 16,903 16,903 16,903 2,919
St Sebs Lodge Rental Income 20,400 20,400 20,400 10,500
Sub-Total Income from Trading Activities 42,126 42,126 42,126 18,728
TOTAL INCOME 159,275 0 159,275 9,976 169,251 206,949
----- End of picture text -----

34

Financial statements For the year ending 31 December 2025

4.3.3. Note 3 - Expenditure

----- Start of picture text -----
Total Total
General Designated Unrestricte Restricted TOTAL TOTAL
Fund Funds
d Funds Funds FUNDS FUNDS
2025 2025 2025 2025 2025 2024
EXPENDITURE
3(a) Parish Share and Fees
Diocese and Deanery Fees 105 105 105 105
Parish Share 80,620 80,620 80,620 81,449
Sub-total 3(a) Parish Share and Fees 80,725 0 80,725 0 80,725 81,554
3(b) Mission and Charitable Giving
Gifts Made 6,750 6,750 875 7,625 7,153
Sub-total Mission & Charitable Giving 6,750 0 6,750 875 7,625 7,153
3(c) Staff Costs 21,870 21,870 21,870 28,816
3(d) Ministry Costs
Church Services Costs 2,156 2,156 2,156 3,430
Education Evangelism & Pastoral 427 427 427 1,043
Family and Youth 259 259 259 1,542
Sub-total Ministry Costs 2,842 0 2,842 0 2,842 6,015
3(e) Premises Costs - Repairs 6,141 6,141 13,830 19,971 35,800
3(e) Premises Costs - Other 17,850 17,850 17,850 21,316
23,991 0 23,991 13,830 37,821 57,116
3(f) Other Church Activities
Communications 3,748 3,748 3,748 3,724
Independent Examiner's Fee 0 0 0 0
Other Administration Expenses 1,961 1,961 1,961 2,683
Sub-total Other Church Activities 5,709 0 5,709 0 5,709 6,407
TOTAL EXPENDITURE 141,887 0 141,887 14,705 156,592 187,061
----- End of picture text -----

4.3.4. Note 4 - Staff Costs

. 2025 2024
Salaries 21,487 23,558
Tax on Accommodation Benefit in Kind 4,858
Pension Contributions
Total Staff Costs		 383
21,870		 400
28,816

Two employees were employed through 2025. The tax on Accommodation Benefit in Kind relates to occupation of the Parish Centre Flat by the Family and Children Workers over several years. This liability was settled in January 2026.

35

Financial statements For the year ending 31 December 2025

4.3.5. Note 5 - Fixed assets

(a) Investments – at 31 December 2025

The CBF Investment funds represents permanent endowment (capital reserves) relating to the Upkeep of the Church and Churchyard restricted fund. The current value of the investments at 31st December 2025 was £39,158.

(b) Tangible fixed assets - freehold land and buildings – at 31 December 2025

Freehold land and buildings comprise the church hall and the Parish Centre, both of which were built by the PCC and are stated at cost of £201,495, and St Sebastian’s Lodge which is stated at a valuation made in the year of donation to the PCC of £95,000. It is not considered that the current value of the freehold properties is lower than their stated cost and accordingly no depreciation has been provided. The PCC do not see any benefit in obtaining a current valuation of these properties.

4.3.6. Note 6 - Debtors

31 Dec 25 31 Dec 24
£ £
Tax Recoverable 421 5,434
Other Debtor 1,373 2,018
Prepayments 522
Accounts Receivable 1,443 181
3,759 7,633

4.3.7. Note 7 - Designated Funds

Major
Maintenance
Fund		 Church Roof
Repair Fund		 Family and
Youth Fund		 Legacy Fund Jubilee
Club Fund		 Total
Designated
Funds
Opening Balance (01/01/25) 10,000 20,000 5,453 1,393 36,846
Transfer from Legacy Fund
Transfer from General Fund		 5,453 (5,453) 0 0
5,000 6,547 0 0 11,547
Closing Balance(31.12.25) 15,000 20,000 12,000 0 1,393 48,393

36

Financial statements For the year ending 31 December 2025

4.3.8. Note 8 - Creditors - amounts falling due within one year

Creditor 31 Dec 2025 31 Dec 2024
Accounts Payable
Accruals
Utilities Accrual
Rent in Advance
HMRC Payroll Creditor
Parochial Fees
Peoples Pension Creditor		 5,140
1,655
1,984
510
523
0
358		 5,278
306
1,939
394
0
200
129
884
Accounts Payable
Sundry Creditor 529
10,699 9,130

4.3.9. Note 9 - Restricted Funds

----- Start of picture text -----
Total Specific
Church & Car Park Kitchen Youth Friday
Restricted Charity
Funds Ch.yard Fund Repair Fund Upgrade Nights Collection
Opening Balances 1st January 2025 27,159 2,671 23,781 0 707 0
Donations 8,844 1,719 6,250 875
Dividends 1,133 1,133
Total Income 9,977 1,133 1,719 6,250 0 875
New Drain and Surface Repairs 13,830 13,830
Charities 875 875
Total Expenditure 14,705 0 13,830 0 0 875
Closing Balances 31st December 2025 22,431 3,804 11,670 6,250 707 0
----- End of picture text -----

4.3.10. Note 10 - Disclosure of trustee and staff remuneration, related party, and other transactions

The wife of Nigel Birch (a PCC member) is a trustee of The Mityana Charity. During the year the PCC made grants of £1,200 (2024 £1200) to support The Mityana Charity.

No other payments or expenses were paid to any other member of the PCC or person closely connected to them or related parties, other than the re-imbursement of expenses incurred by PCC members in respect of Church activities.

PCC indemnity insurance cover is provided for all PCC members as part of the Ecclesiastical Parish Plus Insurance policy entered on annual basis. The annual premium for the combined church, Parish Centre and hall insurance, which also covers areas such as employer’s liability, property damage, consequential loss, and financial loss, is £4,369 for the year to 30 April 2026. The cost of the indemnity insurance cover is not separately identifiable.

37

Financial statements For the year ending 31 December 2025

4.3.11. Note 11 - Fees payable to the Independent Examiner

The Independent Examiner, Michael Young, who is a member of the congregation did not charge a fee. He is not a person closely connected to any member of the PCC.

4.3.12. Note 12 - Charitable grants and special collections

During 2025, charitable grants were made to the following organisations:

St Sebastians School - for Diocese

----- Start of picture text -----
St Sebastians School - for Diocese 500
Yeldall Christian Centre 1,200
Just Around The Corner (JAC) 600
Soulscape 600
Good News for Everyone 250 2,650
Mitiyana Charity 1,200
Open Doors 1,200
Univida 1,200 3,600
Cardiomyopathy UK (donations at funeral) 65
Harvest Collection - Crowthorne Foodbank 15
Christingle - Childrens Society 282
Quiz Night -Tearfund 513 875
Total Gifts made in 2025 £7,625
----- End of picture text -----

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Appendix 2030 Vision

General Douglas MacArthur’s famous line, “We are not retreating — we are advancing in another direction,” reflects the bold, uncompromising spirit that defined his career from World War I through the Pacific campaigns of World War II.

We echo the spirit of the above words embedded in the 2030 Parish Vision’s direction of travel to lock into God’s creative purposes with faith (Matthew 9:28-29 and Galatians 1:15-16); open earth to heaven (James 5:16); to be transformed men and women who will not easily give up (Luke 14: 28); and, finally, becoming channels not consumers (Luke 24:49).

The Vision below reflects what we have noticed at St Sebastian’s since 2023, how God is sending us through His Vision with the help of the Holy Spirit / Guidance and, finally, how our community are missionally led. The Vision of Continuity and New ministries’ detail are not fixed points but progressive markers and hopeful discovery outcomes of our faith journey as we look to the future. Amen.

Who are we

We are a praying church harnessing God’s power, proclaiming the good news, building community, serving, teaching, worship and leveraging resources within a safer safeguarding environment and culture to BUILD His Kingdom.

What do we want from our Vision

To lock into God’s creative purposes with faith To open earth to Heaven To be men and women who will not easily give up To be channels not consumers

Vision of Continuity

Build existing ministries

Sunday Services Weekly Prayers
The Base Home Groups
Children Young People and Families Book Club
Little Angels Community Bible / Lent Studies
Friday Night Live Life Events
Schools’ engagement Buckler’s Lodge Care Home

Vision of New ministries

Parish opportunities

Greater Spiritual growth for mission Multi-site Parish
New Family Worker Buckler’s Park mission
Intergenerational Church Grow Home Groups

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