THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY THE BLESSED VIRGIN, ADDINGTON
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2024
AIMS & PURPOSES
The PCC of St Mary the Blessed Virgin, Addington, supports the incumbent, the Reverend Deborah Forman, in promoting within the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also responsible for the maintenance of the Grade 1 Listed church building of St Mary the Blessed Virgin in Addington Village, St Mary’s Community Hall in Addington Village Road and the house at 56 Viney Bank, Forestdale, which at present is rented out to a family in need of accommodation.
The Mission Statement agreed by the PCC in May 2024 is: Worshipping God and Loving Our Neighbour.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at St Mary’s and to become part of our parish community. All the activities overseen by the PCC are conducted with a mind to the public benefit and aspire to be in line with the guidance to charities for the advancement of religion. To facilitate our work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of the church building and the Community Hall. The PCC also operates a policy for the care of children and vulnerable adults and requires all organisations which use its premises to operate a similar policy.
Both the Church and Hall receive full attention regarding Health & Safety and every effort has been made towards protecting the environment and the welfare of those using the facilities provided. The Church’s Health and Safety Policy is up-to-date and available for inspection by anyone wishing to examine it.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Worship and Prayer
The PCC aims to offer a range of services each week and throughout the year to appeal to different members of the community, so that all may feel welcome and able to encounter God through worship and prayer.
Our main family and Eucharist service has remained at 10am each Sunday, this appears to be a popular choice. Spoken services continue at 8am each Sunday and an informal Eucharist on Tuesday evenings. There is Choral Evensong once a month and provision for an informal service one Sunday evening each month.
This year we have welcomed many new families and individuals to our regular services. Our ‘Messy Church’ offering is now on a Saturday afternoon once a month. This seems to be a popular choice with families, avoiding clashes the children may have with sports and other activities. Resources continue to be shared weekly via Whatsapp videos. Between 10 and 15 families take part. Junior Church has resumed once a month and members also take part in some of our festival services such as Harvest, Mothering Sunday and Pentecost Harvest when they play major roles in the services.
At present there are 95 members on the Church electoral roll and an average of 50 regular attendees at our various services, some of whom live outside the parish.
As well as our regular services, we welcome members of our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of their journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life; in marriage public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing; through funeral services families and friends express their grief and give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and commend the person to God’s keeping. We have celebrated 7 baptisms and 6 weddings. We had one dedication of marriage and one renewal of marriage vows. There were 2 interments of ashes in St Mary’s church this year, along with 6 funerals and one memorial.
The All Souls service, held on the first Sunday of November each year, provides an opportunity for those who have lost a loved one during the year to join others who are similarly bereaved.
There are also other groups within the parish community, which enable members to worship and pray in a variety of ways:
The Altar Group give their time and skills in making the necessary preparations for the regular services to ensure the smooth-running of those services. Their work includes cleaning of vessels, laundering of linen and setting up for services.
The Bell Ringers assist in proclaiming services and celebrating weddings and other occasions. At the Monday bellringing practice, visiting ringers are regularly welcomed.
The Choir membership now stands at 4 sopranos, 1 alto, 0 tenors and 1 basses. The Choir lead the singing at the Sunday morning Eucharist and often at weddings and funerals and work hard to offer choral worship at Evensong each month and at the festival services.
The Emmaus Group is a bible-study group run by one of the Church Southwark Pastoral Auxiliaries. There is also a Tuesday House-Group run by one of the parishioners which provides mutual support and discussion of a wide variety of topics. There is also a regular Pilgrim group held at the Vicarage and led by our Lay Reader or by the Incumbent. These are six week courses.
There is a thriving branch of the Mothers’ Union at St Mary’s with over 40 members. There are monthly meetings and a varied programme of events and activities. The Mothers’ Union supports the Women’s Refuge in Croydon, the Food Bank and provides babies’ blankets and clothes for babies in Africa.
Bible Reading Fellowship notes are received by 18 members.
The Floating Shelter has not restarted since the end of the pandemic. Instead members of the congregation make sandwiches and prepare hot meals that were taken to a central hub.
On Tuesdays from 11am we offer a Welcome Place, which opens its doors to anyone from the community to have a hot drink and a light lunch with conversation and company. This is followed at 3pm by “Singing 4 Every 1” which attracts a wide variety
of people including a contingent brought by minibus from a Croydon Care Home. Singing happens between 3 and 4 and is then followed by tea and biscuits.
An outreach activity has been started in Fieldway (New Addington) on a Wednesday morning for the local community to meet up for a chat over tea/coffee and a cake.
There is a flower team who arrange the church flowers and in Advent we hold a Crib Festival which gives visitors an opportunity to make a Christmas table decoration whilst enjoying the beautiful crib examples.
Deanery Synod
We currently have 4 places on the Croydon Addington Deanery. This provides the link between St Mary’ parish and the wider governance of the church.
All are welcomed to the church for private prayer or to join the regular services. The church is left unlocked during daylight hours for anyone wishing to pray or look round the Church, which, as it is a Grade 1 Listed building and of historical importance as the oldest public building still in daily use in Croydon, is of interest to a wide range of people. We were pleased to be able to continue having the church open throughout 2024 for private prayer and much gratitude is expressed for this in our Visitors’ Book.
We continue to hire out the Community Hall for a variety of events. The toddler group is thriving on a Wednesday morning and Zumba classes continue on a Monday morning. Hall bookings are increasing.
Pastoral Care
Our pastoral team of the Vicar, The Rev Deborah Forman, non-stipendiary Associate Priest, The Rev Barbara Gentilella and Reader Lindsay Ould, and Southwark Pastoral Auxiliaries, Pat Heady, Peter Wilson and Karen Holloway make visits and administer communion to any members who are unable to come to the church, together with lay chalice administrators.
Mission and Evangelism
During 2024 there were charitable collections in church, which are listed in the Accounts. The total raised during 2024 was £2,896.
Ten issues of St Mary’s parish magazine were distributed during the year and these were available in church for visitors. The magazine is a popular record of parish activities, containing many interesting features contributed by members of the community and providing a useful advertising vehicle for local businesses and traders. Each issue contains information about church services and their times and associated bible references as well as details of parish personnel and letters from the Vicar and the Bishop. It is published in colour.
The parish website (www.addington.org.uk) is an additional source of information about the church and parish activities.
Ecumenical Relationships
St Mary’s is a member of Churches Together in Selsdon and Addington (CTSA) and participates in Lent Groups and other joint activities across a wider area.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
During 2024 total receipts to the PCC accounts were £68,039 of which £4,265 were voluntary donations. These were from planned giving (£47,482), Gift Aid (£5,482) and other donations. Planned giving through Standing Orders and the Parish Giving Scheme continue to be the major sources of income and the amount recovered through Gift Aid is an important additional receipt.
The parish’s contribution to the Diocese was £74,100 paid in monthly instalments.
St Marys has also entered the planning phase of the Church Hall Redevelopment project and £28,081 has been spend on Professional Fees in support of this in 2024.
Details of all receipts and expenditure are shown in the Financial Statements.
Dividends received from our investments were £13,035.
The bank balances at the end of year totalled £157,391 this includes the PCC A/C, Hall fund, Fees and Catering.
RESERVES POLICY
The PCC voted in a Reserves Policy agreeing to maintain 6 months working capital in the reserves. It is intended to maintain a Reserve of £20,000 in the General Fund.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The PCC would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard to make St Mary’s church the lively and welcoming community that it is. We especially thank our churchwardens Mrs Lynn Clark and Mr Nick Tillin (not officially elected) and our Treasurer, Mr James Robinson and our Parish Secretary Mrs Linda Hines, who all work tirelessly in their respective roles.
STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE
At St Mary’s members are appointed to the Parochial Church Council through nomination and election at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM), by those on the church electoral roll. The APCM is a public meeting but all members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The PCC is chaired by the incumbent, (our vicar) and also includes our curates and the churchwardens.
The PCC is responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including the use of the parish finances. The members of the PCC serve on a range of sub-committees: Worship & Education, Buildings & Equipment, Catering and Finance to plan and implement the objectives of the PCC. These sub-
committees report back to the PCC and their decisions are discussed and passed as necessary by the full PCC.
The PCC met 6 times during the year and one extraordinary meeting in September via zoom.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
The church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin is situated in Addington Village Road in the heart of Addington Village. It is part of the Diocese of Southwark within the Church of England.
The correspondence address is The Parish Office, Addington Village Road, Croydon, CR0 5AS.
The PCC is a charity currently registered with the Charities Commission, No. 1142513.
PCC members who have served at any time from 18th March 2024 until 6[th] April 2025 are:
Ex Officio members:
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The Reverend Deborah Forman (Chair) (Incumbent)
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• The Reverend Barbara Gentilella (Assistant Priest)
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Mr Marc Opelaye (Churchwarden)
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Mrs Liz Hook (Churchwarden)
Deanery Synod Members (ex officio): Karen Holloway Christopher Parker Janet Davies
Elected Members:
Phil Davison Pat Heady Karen Holloway Teresa Lock Lesley Pannell Christopher Parker Debbie Parker Terry Player James Robinson Peter Wilson Lynn Clark Neil Clark Reg Van Selm Lindsay Ould Claire Shapiro Linda Hines Janet Davies
The Trustees
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary the Blessed Virgin Addington
Addington Village Road Croydon CR0 5AS
7 October 2025
Dear Trustees
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary the Blessed Virgin (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the Charity’s accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Tim Daunt, Merriefield Limited Chartered Accountant
Tim Daunt, ACA
64 Merriefield Avenue, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 8DB
T: 01202 603905 | M: 07764 452840 | E: tim.daunt@aims.co.uk | W: www.aims.co.uk
AIMS is a National Association of Independent Accountancy Practices operating under licence granted by AIMS Partnership Ltd. Merriefield Limited t/a AIMS Accountants for Business, 64 Merriefield Avenue, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 8DB (Registered Office). Registered in England No: 13286793.
ST MARY THE BLESSED VIRGIN ADDINGTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 31ST DECEMBER 2024
| Statement of Financial Activities Notes INCOME FROM: Donations and legacies 1 Charitable activities 2 Other trading activities 3 Investments 4 Other incoming resources 5 TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON: Cost of services 6 Running costs 7 Church management and administration 8 Cost of charitable activities 9 Other expenditure 10 TOTAL RESOURCES USED NET INCOMING (OUTGOING) RESOURCES Curate's house Church Hall Investments NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Fund balances at 1st January FUND BALANCES AT 31ST DECEMBER |
Unrestricted Funds £ 62,325 12,402 26,244 13,035 - 114,006 11,583 119,246 5,839 (334) 1,104 137,438 (23,432) - - - (23,432) 182,959 159,527 |
Restricted Funds £ 5,714 - - - - 5,714 - - - 2,477 - 2,477 3,237 - - 6,607 9,844 1,644,379 1,654,223 |
Total Funds 2024 £ 68,039 12,402 26,244 13,035 - 119,720 11,583 119,246 5,839 2,143 1,104 139,915 (20,195) - - 6,607 (13,588) 1,827,338 1,813,750 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 80,713 11,639 30,251 14,274 - 136,877 8,032 114,369 4,464 7,205 2,933 137,003 (126) - - (1,056) (1,182) 1,828,520 1,827,338 |
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ST MARY THE BLESSED VIRGIN ADDINGTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 31ST DECEMBER 2024 Balance Shget Not08 2024 2023 FIXED Ass Curate's House Church Hall Wor* in Proorass Inveslmenl$ 11 12 13 14 360.OiXI 53.757 252,142 1.655,899 25.67fj 245,534 1,621,210 URRENT ASSETS ebtors .ash al Bank 15 1.818 157.391 1.780 205.71XS 207,486 16 LIABILITIES.. AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 17 (1,3581 11,358> NET CURRENT ASSETS 157.851 206,126 NEF ASss 1,813,750 1,827.338 FUNDS ?ev8luatlon Reserve- Prorsaliés Parochial Funds General Reserve 18 18 18 1,329,076 326.147 159.527 813,750 1,329.076 315,303 182.959 1.827,338 Approvgd on behalf ofthe trustees on 6 2025
ST MARY THE BLESSED VIRGIN ADDINGTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 31ST DECEMBER 2024
Accounting policies
Statement of compliance
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
Basis of preparation
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary the Blessed Virgin, Addington meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
Income
All income is accounted for when received, except for associated gift aid income which is accounted for when the related donation is received.
Investments
Investments for which there is a quoted market value are valued at the bid-price ruling at the balance sheet date. Other investments are valued at their realisable market value. Investment gains and losses arising during the year are included in the SOFA.
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ST MARY THE BLESSED VIRGIN ADDINGTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 31ST DECEMBER 2024
| Notes to the accounts 1. Donations and legacies Planned giving Collections Sundry donations Gift Aid Claimed Henry Smith Fund Hall Fund Other Restricted Giving 2. Charitable activities Funerals Weddings PCC fees income 3. Other trading activities Hall hire Magazine sales Magazine advertising Viney Bank rent Catering 4. Investment Income Dividends 5. Other Incoming Resources Other income |
Unrestricted Funds £ 47,482 2,896 4,265 5,482 2,200 - - 62,325 6,648 5,754 - 12,402 15,815 713 286 8,800 630 26,244 13,035 13,035 - - |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - 4,273 1,441 5,714 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total Funds 2024 £ 47,482 2,896 4,265 5,482 2,200 4,273 1,441 68,039 6,648 5,754 - 12,402 15,815 713 286 8,800 630 26,244 13,035 13,035 - - |
Total Funds 2023 £ 48,312 4,404 16,925 3,596 2,200 5,276 - 80,713 8,564 2,146 929 11,639 13,266 787 75 15,400 723 30,251 14,274 14,274 - - |
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ST MARY THE BLESSED VIRGIN ADDINGTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 31ST DECEMBER 2024
| Notes to the accounts 6. Cost of services Gravedigging Organist Fees SLCF Fees Subscriptions Misc Costs of Services 7. Running costs Diocesan Quota Catering Cleaning Electricity and Gas Expenses Insurance Misc Running Costs Operating Lease Expense Printing & Stationery Costs Major Repairs & Maintenance Routine Repairs & Maintenance Telecoms Waste Disposal Water and Waste 8. Management and Administration Salary Bank Charges Other expenses 9. Cost of charitable activities Henry Smith Fund Misc Charitable Giving Bishop's Lenten Appeal Fabric Fund Other Restricted Giving Hall Fund 10. Other (Viney Bank) Viney Bank Insurance Viney Bank Misc Viney Bank Routine Repairs Viney Bank Utilities and Tax |
Unrestricted Funds £ 1,100 2,200 4,357 1,543 2,383 11,583 74,100 327 4,164 8,132 4,109 7,351 1,589 276 5,682 2,850 7,201 1,238 1,617 610 119,246 5,683 89 67 5,839 500 (834) - - - - (334) 402 102 600 - 1,104 |
Restricted Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 450 - 2,027 - 2,477 - - - - - |
Total Funds 2024 £ 1,100 2,200 4,357 1,543 2,383 11,583 74,100 327 4,164 8,132 4,109 7,351 1,589 276 5,682 2,850 7,201 1,238 1,617 610 119,246 5,683 89 67 5,839 500 (834) 450 - 2,027 - 2,143 402 102 600 - 1,104 |
Total Funds 2023 £ 385 850 4,251 1,178 1,368 8,032 72,540 951 4,602 8,727 3,031 7,320 1,411 6,006 925 972 4,308 1,153 1,723 700 114,369 4,292 105 67 4,464 194 6,561 450 - - - 7,205 381 600 72 1,880 2,933 |
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ST MARY THE BLESSED VIRGIN ADDINGTON PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 31ST DECEMBER 2024
| Notes to the accounts 11. Fixed Assets-Curate's House b/fwd 1st January Gain / (loss) on revaluation Balance c/fwd 31st December 12. Fixed Assets-Church Hall B/fwd 1st January Gain / (loss) on revaluation Balance c/fwd 31st December 13. Fixed Assets-Work in Progress-Church Hall B/fwd 1st January Additions Balance c/fwd 31st December 14. Fixed Assets-Investments Held by Southwark Diocesan Church Trust Balance b/fwd 1st January Additions / (disposals) Gain / (loss) on revaluation Balance c/fwd 31st December at market value 15. Debtors Gift Aid - Tax Recovered Sundry Debtors 16. Bank Accounts Lloyds Bank Treasurer's Account Nat West Bank Current Account Catering Committee Account 17. Creditors Key Deposit - Hall Loan from Hall Fund Accruals 18. Capital Funds Curate's House Revaluation Reserve Church Hall Revaluation Reserve Parochial Investment Hall Fund Country Market Lenton Appeal Harvest Supper Save the Children Organ Fund World Vision General Reserve Total Funds |
31.12.2023 & 01.01.2024 339,076 990,000 118,257 194,116 206 1,711 626 244 70 73 182,959 1,827,338 |
2024 £ 360,000 - 360,000 990,000 - 990,000 25,676 28,081 53,757 245,534 1 6,607 252,142 1,808 10 1,818 91,167 64,943 1,281 157,391 405 - 953 1,358 Movement in Year - - 6,607 4,273 (450) (626) - 40 - (23,432) (13,588) |
2023 £ 360,000 - 360,000 990,000 - 990,000 - 25,676 25,676 246,590 (1,056) 245,534 1,770 10 1,780 90,639 114,089 978 205,706 405 - 953 1,358 31.12.2024 339,076 990,000 124,864 198,389 206 1,261 - 244 110 73 159,527 1,813,750 |
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