THE PARISH OF ALL SAINTS’ MARCHAM WITH ST. LUKE’S GARFORD (registered charity no. 1140057)
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Administrative Information
The Parish of Marcham with Garford is part of the Diocese of Oxford within the Church of England. The correspondence address is:
Parochial Church Council (PCC) Secretary
c/o All Saints’ Church, Church Street, Marcham, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX13 6NP
Church members who have served from 30[th] April 2023 until the date of this report and the financial statements were approved are:
| were approved are: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Vicar: | Rev Nick Weldon (licensed 20 October | 2021) | |
| Permission to officiate: | Rev. Kevin Mentzel, Rev. Mark Newman, Rev Rosemary Siebert | ||
| Authorised to lead and preach: | Professor James Allan, Mrs Debbie Flint, Mr. James Gilbert, Dr Tim Jack, Mr | ||
| Martin Poon, Mrs Jill Rowe | |||
| Children and Families Minister: | Jill Rowe | ||
| Youth Worker: | Rob Finch | ||
| Parish Administrator: | Tamsin Gilbert | ||
| Safeguarding Officer: | Ruth Atkins | ||
| Electoral Roll Officer: | Chris Nutman | ||
| Churchwardens (2): | Neil Rowe (from April 2018) | ||
| Chrystal Poon (From May 2022) | |||
| Deanery Synod Reps (up | to 3): | Tim Jack | |
| Caroline Manders | |||
| James Gilbert | |||
| Elected PCC Members (up to 12):Danni Grady (PCC Secretary) | |||
| Chris Nutman | |||
| Ruth Atkins | |||
| Barney Stevens | |||
| Alison Lyndon | |||
| David Lunn | |||
| Jonathan Boardman | |||
| Carolyn Whiting | |||
| Sue Lawton | |||
| Tony Carter (from April 2023) | |||
| Catherine Mentzel (from April 2023) | |||
| John Scoble (from April 2023) | |||
| Co-opted Members: | Tamsin Gilbert (as administrator) | ||
| Bryan Eccles (for finance) | |||
| PCC Officers: | Independent Examiner: | ||
| Chairman | Rev Nick Weldon | Mike Greig (2020-) | |
| Vice Chairman | Neil Rowe | ||
| Secretary | Danni | Grady | |
| Treasurer | John Scoble |
Structure, Governance & Management
The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The PCC was formally registered with the Charity Commission on 26
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January 2011. Lay members of the PCC are appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Church of England. All eligible church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. In April 2024, the Electoral Roll stood at 149 members (2023:144).
The PCC met monthly during the year and the churchwardens and staff team met with the vicar regularly.
Health and Safety, Child Protection and other pertinent legislation is adhered to. The PCC also encourages its members to attend training events and money is set aside in the budget to facilitate this.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is a vital part of the PCC role. The PCC ensures that safeguarding training and DBS checks are in place for all necessary activities and personnel. They comply fully with the diocesan safeguarding requirements and report any issues or concerns to the Diocesan Safeguarding team. The PCC uses 31:8 as their umbrella body for doing DBS checks.
Objectives
The PCC has the primary responsibility of promoting with the Vicar the whole mission of the church in the parish of Marcham and Garford. This includes pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical ministries to all in the parish by ‘Serving Christ Together.’
The PCC seeks to be renewed and empowered by God's Spirit. Whilst recognising the responsibility to be prudent stewards of our resources, seeking and responding to God’s will as revealed in the Bible and in line with the traditions of the Church of England is a key component in how the PCC manages its affairs.
Reserves
The PCC aims to operate within a budget determined by its annual income and reserves and approved by the PCC. The agreed reserves policy is to hold three months basic operating costs in the general fund. This is to allow the church to continue to meet its financial obligations in the event of a disruption to its income stream. The church family are invited annually to review their regular giving and special appeals are launched for special projects as appropriate.
Public Benefit
The PCC is aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit and have regard to it in their administration of the Parish. The PCC believes that, by fulfilling its responsibility to work together with the incumbent in the Parish and cooperate in all matters of concern and importance for the promotion of the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, it provides a benefit to the public by:
-
providing resources and facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for its members and for anyone who wishes to benefit from what the Church offers;
-
promoting Christian values, and service by members of the Churches in the Parish to their communities, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.
Review of the Year – Activities and Achievements (1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023)
Services:
During the year we ran morning and evening services most Sundays in All Saints’ with numbers of people attending between 70-100 most Sundays. We also ran some all-age services at the Marcham community centre. Over Christmas we were able to provide a whole programme of activities that catered to lots of different groups, from the youngest to the oldest. Most of our normal Sunday morning services were live-streamed for anyone unable to make church.
St Lukes Church, Garford: During 2023 the members of St. Lukes in Garford have continued to engage with their community with great effect. On Easter Day there was another sunrise service in the churchyard which was well attended. On Remembrance Sunday an Act of Remembrance was attended by many of the village at the War Memorial. An Advent Carol Service was attended by Archdeacon David Tyler and at Christmas there were Carol
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services in the church and Carols on the green. There have been monthly services from September 2023 including a Harvest festival. The church is open weekly on Sunday mornings to provide a quiet space for parishioners to reflect and pray. The choir continued to support worship services at St Lukes.
Other regular activities: The church supported and promoted activities which included:
Children & Youth Work: Marcham School (governors, classroom, R.E., assemblies and services); Friday Club for 5s11s and termly Family Friday events; Monday night Youth activity session on the MUGA at Marcham Community Centre; Children’s and Young people’s groups on Sundays (during services and in the afternoon/evening);
Older Persons support : Care for the older people within our parish has continued through volunteers. The fortnightly Games morning remains popular amongst older generations. The vicar also makes a point of visiting some of our older congregation.
Spiritual study and prayer: Home groups; Weekly prayer meetings; the Prayer Chain; Prayer for the persecuted church. The Midweek Holy Communion meets in the lounge at Duffield Place. A women’s Bible Study has met monthly.
Community activities: The parish has continued to run a variety of activities open to the whole community including Men’s Beers & breakfasts, Women’s evenings, Tiddlypeeps (baby and toddler group) and Remembrance and Christmas Events and Services.
Other Church activities: a website (www.marcham-with-garford.org.uk); a Facebook page managed by Ruth Atkins. Funerals, weddings and baptisms were conducted as needed.
Charitable Fundraising : The church has continued to be involved in charitable fundraising, in particular for the Marcham Moldova Lifeline, and Ripple Effect (formerly Send a Cow).
Church Maintenance : The PCC has undertaken routine maintenance and improvement works to the church buildings during the year. By their nature, the costs of these does vary from year to year. The significant increase in spending on All Saints Churchyard (£14,258 in 2023 – £1 in 2022) was mainly as a result of the resurfacing of the path to the main door, and the replacement of the marquee.
Financial Review of 2023
The PCC seeks to be good stewards of the financial resources placed in its care through the generous giving of church members and other income it receives in the form of grants and fees.
| Total income for 2023 | £164,862 | (2022 £161,521) |
|---|---|---|
| General Funds | £151,798 | (2022 £144,732) |
| Restricted Funds | £13,064 | (2022 £16,789) Ripple Effect, MML, Pastoral Funds |
| Total expenditure for 2023 | £182,193 | (2022 £156,240) |
| General Funds | £165,934 | (2022 £145,231) |
| Restricted Funds | £16,259 | (2022 £11,009) |
| Deficit 2023 | £17,331 | (2022 £5,281) |
| Unrestricted | £14,136 | (2022 £(499)) |
| Restricted |
£3,195 | (2022 £5,780) Ripple Effect, Send a Cow |
Cash at the bank at 31st December 2023 was £160,473 (2022 £180,161)
This is split between the general fund: £151,462 (2022 £172,265 and the restricted funds £11,007 (2022 £7396) (Ripple Effect, Marcham Moldova Lifeline, Building Fund, Genesis Grant (Churchyard), Covid/Pastoral Fund) £86,288 (2022 £83,608 of the general fund is held in a deposit account
Overall planned giving eligible for gift aid increased by a modest £3,300 during 2023 (2022 £2,244 decrease). Generally, changes are as a result of donors moving out of the parish and some passing away, replaced by new donors moving
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in, and changes in donations amounts from existing donors. Total Gift Aid was virtually static at approx. £24,000.
No legacies were received during 2023 or 2022.
The following grants were received:
-
£1.,000 from Anson Trust for the Covid/Pastoral Fund
-
£483 from Anson Trust for Tiddlypeeps books
-
£320 from Anson Trust for the Pantomime visit
-
£250 from Marcham Parish Council for the Pantomime Visit
(In 2022, grants totalling £5818 were received, including £5,000 from Marcham Parish Council for ecological work in the churchyard, of which £2,000 remained to be spent at the end of 2023.)
40% of the expenditure in 2023 related to the Parish Share £66180 (2022 44% £68,799). The vicar was appointed as Assistant Area Dean part-way through the year, with a corresponding small reduction in Parish Share being allocated by the Deanery.
23% of the Unrestricted General expenditure in 2023 related to staff wages £39,437 (2022 23% £35,949) This increase was partly caused by the payment of a modest salary to the Parish Administrator for a full year, (2022 a part year), together with an annual rise for all staff.
Risks and Uncertainties
The main financial risks to the church are perceived to be where:
a) Giving to the church reduces or stops
b) One or more significant donors stop giving
c) unexpected damage to the church buildings occurs
The PCC takes a prayerful approach to managing these risks and holds reserves and appropriate insurance policies. The PCC also budgets for the year ahead and further ahead for some items of expenditure.
Approved by the Trustees on and signed on their behalf by:
………………………………………………………………
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The Parochial Church Council of The Ecclesiastical Parish of Marcham with Garford
Registered Charity No 1140057
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
of the
Parochial Church Council for the year ended
31 December 2023
INCUMBENT
The Revd. Nick Weldon 41 North Street Marcham Abingdon OX13 6NQ
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER
Mike Greig 1 Dairy Meadow Abingdon OX13 5PH
Parochial Church Council of All Saints' Marcham with St Luke's Garford
Statement of Financial Activities
For the Year Ending 31 December 2023
| Notes £ |
2023 2022 Unrestricted Restricted Total Prior year funds funds funds total funds £ £ £ £ |
|---|---|
| Incoming resources 2a 2b 2c 2d Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income Investment income Incoming resources from Church activities Other incoming resources Total income |
130,493 12,064 142,557 138,637 3,887 -- 3,887 1,136 15,297 -- 15,297 12,385 2,121 1,000 3,121 9,363 |
| 151,798 13,064 164,862 161,521 |
|
| Resources used 3a Other recognised gains / (losses) 6 Church activities Total expenditure Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer Gains/losses on investment assets Net movement in funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
165,934 16,259 182,193 156,240 |
| 165,934 16,259 182,193 156,240 |
|
| (14,136) (3,195) (17,331) 5,281 160 -- 160 (226) |
|
| (13,976) (3,195) (17,171) 5,055 |
|
| 166,998 14,202 181,200 176,145 |
|
| 153,022 11,007 164,029 181,200 |
Page 1
Parochial Church Council of All Saints' Marcham with St Luke's Garford
Balance Sheet As At 31 December 2023
| Notes Fixed assets Investments 6 Current assets Debtors 7 Cash At Bank And In Hand 8 Liabilities 9 Creditors: Amounts Falling Due In One Year Provision For Liabilities Due Within One Year Net current assets less current liabilities Total assets less current liabilities Represented by Funds 10 General (Unrestricted) Designated Restricted Total Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 21 Apr 2024 (Signed N Weldon) Revd. Nick Weldon (PCC Chaiman) The Notes on pages 3 to 4 form part of these accounts |
2023 2022 £ £ |
|---|---|
| 1,854 1,694 |
|
| 1,854 1,694 3,002 1,795 160,473 180,161 |
|
| 163,475 181,956 -- 1,481 1,300 969 |
|
| 1,300 2,450 |
|
| 162,175 179,506 |
|
| 164,029 181,200 |
|
| 151,462 166,998 1,560 -- 11,007 14,202 |
|
| 164,029 181,200 |
|
| John Scoble (Acting Treasurer) (Signed J Scoble) |
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Parochial Church Council of All Saints' Marcham with St Luke's Garford
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023
| 1 These accounts are prepared on an Accrual Basis 2 INCOMING RESOURCES 2 (a) Voluntary Income Regular Gift Aid Donations Income tax recoverable on Gift Aid Other Regular Donations Collections (Open Plate) Other donations Donations at Events 2(b) Investment Income Bank etc Interest Dividends 2(c) Income from Church Activities Holiday Club/Youth Event Fees Other Event Fees Wedding etc Fees 2(d) Other Incoming Resources Grants Rent from Land or Buildings Miscellaneous Receipts Total Income 3 EXPENDITURE 3(a) Church Activities Missionary & Charitable Giving Church Overseas: Relief & Development Agencies Home Missions & Other Church Societies Secular Charities Missionary & Charitable Giving Total Ministry: Diocesan Parish Share Youth & Children Events Youth & Children Other Other Events Church Admin Music, AV expenses Flowers Upkeep of services Parish Training & Mission Expenses All Saints Running Costs & Maintenance St Luke's Running Costs & Maintenance All Saints Major Repairs/Decorating St Luke's Major Repairs/Decorating All Saints Upkeep of churchyard Banking & IT Costs Miscellaneous Other Church Activities Total Total Resources Expended |
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment Total Total Funds Funds Funds 2023 2022 £ £ £ £ £ 85,323 6,720 -- 92,043 88,681 24,319 1,419 -- 25,738 24,147 8,147 -- -- 8,147 8,852 1,943 340 -- 2,283 3,706 5,218 3,585 -- 8,803 9,523 5,543 -- -- 5,543 3,728 |
|---|---|
| 130,493 12,064 -- 142,557 138,637 |
|
| 3,836 -- -- 3,836 1,086 51 -- -- 51 50 |
|
| 3,887 -- -- 3,887 1,136 |
|
| 5,606 -- -- 5,606 3,816 8,676 -- -- 8,676 6,445 1,015 -- -- 1,015 2,124 |
|
| 15,297 -- -- 15,297 12,385 |
|
| 1,053 1,000 -- 2,053 5,818 256 -- -- 256 416 812 -- -- 812 3,129 |
|
| 2,121 1,000 -- 3,121 9,363 |
|
| 151,798 13,064 -- 164,862 161,521 |
|
| -- 13,420 -- 13,420 10,925 -- -- -- -- 128 521 -- -- 521 865 |
|
| 521 13,420 -- 13,941 11,918 |
|
| 66,180 -- -- 66,180 68,784 38,818 -- -- 38,818 35,180 5,236 -- -- 5,236 4,112 12,182 -- -- 12,182 9,114 9,696 -- -- 9,696 7,171 4,331 -- -- 4,331 1,519 434 -- -- 434 347 1,199 -- -- 1,199 1,046 25 -- -- 25 595 8,959 -- -- 8,959 6,080 1,487 -- -- 1,487 3,071 900 -- -- 900 2,157 -- -- -- -- 3,733 12,258 2,000 -- 14,258 1 702 129 -- 831 700 3,006 710 -- 3,716 712 |
|
| 165,413 2,839 -- 168,252 144,322 |
|
| 165,934 16,259 -- 182,193 156,240 |
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4
Parochial Church Council of All Saints' Marcham with St Luke's Garford Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December
STAFF COSTS
The PCC employed one Children and Families Minister, one Youth Worker and one Parish Administrator. Details of payments are as follows:
| Salaries * Social Security Costs (National Insurance) Pension Contribution |
2023 2022 38,475 35,027 -- -- 962 922 |
|---|---|
| 39,437 35,949 |
- No National Insurance was paid, because the amount payable is less than the allowance under the Government's Small Business Employment Allowance Scheme
5
PAYMENTS TO PCC MEMBERS
The expenses paid to Clergy and others may include a small immaterial proportion, which relates to their function as PCC members. No other payments or expenses were paid to any other PCC members, persons closely connected to them or related parties.
6
FIXED ASSETS
- (a) Tangible
| (b) Investments (Unrestricted) Market Value at 1 January Revaluation Gain/(Loss) Market Value at 31 December OTHER CURRENT ASSETS Prepayments Accounts Receivable CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND Nat West General A/c Nat West MML A/c NatWest Ripple Effect Acc CCLA (CBF) Deposit Acc LIABILITIES Covid Fund Panto Next Year Church Weekend Away Amounts falling due within one year |
£ £ 2023 2022 £ £ 1,694 1,920 160 (226) |
|---|---|
| 1,854 1,694 |
|
| 1,845 1,795 1,157 -- |
|
| 3,002 1,795 |
|
| 68,192 89,154 4,992 6,788 1,001 611 86,288 83,608 |
|
| 160,473 180,161 |
|
| -- 1,481 1,300 869 -- 100 |
|
| 1,300 2,450 |
7
8
9 LIABILITIES
10
FUNDS
| Notes Unrestricted Funds General Fund Total Unrestricted Funds Designated Funds Moldova Holiday Club Total Designated Funds Restricted Funds Building COVID / Pastoral Marcham Moldova Link Mission Partners General Ripple Effect Sundry 11 Total Restricted Funds Total Funds |
Balances Brought Forward Incoming Resources Outgoing Resources Transfers Balances Carried Forward 166,998 149,497 165,192 -- 159 151,462 166,998 149,497 165,192 -- 159 151,462 -- 2,302 742 -- -- 1,560 -- 2,302 742 -- -- 1,560 1,750 -- -- -- -- 1,750 -- 2,481 710 -- -- 1,771 6,788 8,123 11,479 -- -- 3,432 53 -- -- -- -- 53 611 2,460 2,070 -- -- 1,001 5,000 -- 2,000 -- -- 3,000 14,202 13,064 16,259 -- -- 11,007 Gains and Losses |
Balances Brought Forward Incoming Resources Outgoing Resources Transfers Balances Carried Forward 166,998 149,497 165,192 -- 159 151,462 166,998 149,497 165,192 -- 159 151,462 -- 2,302 742 -- -- 1,560 -- 2,302 742 -- -- 1,560 1,750 -- -- -- -- 1,750 -- 2,481 710 -- -- 1,771 6,788 8,123 11,479 -- -- 3,432 53 -- -- -- -- 53 611 2,460 2,070 -- -- 1,001 5,000 -- 2,000 -- -- 3,000 14,202 13,064 16,259 -- -- 11,007 Gains and Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 159 151,462 -- 1,560 |
||
| -- 1,560 -- 1,750 -- 1,771 -- 3,432 -- 53 -- 1,001 -- 3,000 |
||
| -- 11,007 |
||
| 181,200 164,863 182,193 -- |
159 164,029 |
2022 Churchyard Grant brought forward
11
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Independent Examiner’s Certificate for the PCC Accounts
Report to the trustees of the Parochial Church Council of All Saints with St Luke’s Garford
On accounts for the year ended: 31 December 2023 Charity Number (if applicable): 1140057
| Set out on pages Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner Basis of independent examiner’s statement Independent examiner's statement Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: |
1 - 4 The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: • examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, • 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 • to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention ~~(other than that disclosed below )~~which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, • accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or •the accounts do not accord with the accounting records 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. Date: (Signed M Greig) 6/4/2024 Michael David Greig F.C.M.A (Retired) Garford OX13 5PH Hales Farm, 1 Dairy Meadow |
|---|---|
| Hales Farm, 1 Dairy Meadow | |
| Garford | |
| OX13 5PH | |
Independent Examiner’s Certificate for the PCC Accounts
Report to the trustees of the Parochial Church Council of All Saints with St Luke’s Garford
On accounts for the year ended: 31 December 2023 Charity Number (if applicable): 1140057
| Set out on pages Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner Basis of independent examiner’s statement Independent examiner's statement Signed: Name: Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: |
1 - 4 The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: • examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act, • 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 • to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention ~~(other than that disclosed below )~~which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, • accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act or •the accounts do not accord with the accounting records 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. Date: (Signed M Greig) 6/4/2024 Michael David Greig F.C.M.A (Retired) Garford OX13 5PH Hales Farm, 1 Dairy Meadow |
|---|---|
| Hales Farm, 1 Dairy Meadow | |
| Garford | |
| OX13 5PH | |