The Parochial Church Council of The Parish Church of Saint James, Arnside with Storth _in The Diocese of Carlisle_ Annual Parish Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2025 |||**Contents**|**Contents**|**Contents**|||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Reference and Administra/on Informa/on|||...|...|...|...|...|...|3| |Members of the Parochial Church Council|||…|…|…|…|...|...|4| |Structure, Governance and Management|||...|...|...|...|...|...|5| |PCC Secretary’s Report
…|…|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|6| |Reports on Financial Statement 2025||...|...|...|...|…|...|…|7-9| |Accoun/ng Policies
…|…|...|...|...|...|...|…|...|10| |Statement of Accounts and Storth Account|||…|...|...|
...|...|…|11| |Fabric Account, School Bible Account|and Flower Account||||…|…|...|...|12| |Storth Expendable Endowment Fund|and Annie Pickering|||Endowment||Account||…|13| |Statement of Assets and Liabili/es (SOAL)|||...|...|...|...|...|...|14| |Independent Examiner’s Report|…|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|15| |Chris/an Giving Report
…|…|…|…|…|…|…|…|…|16| |Health and Safety
…|…|...|...|...|...|...|...|…|17| |Church Fabric Report
…|…|...|...|...|...|...|...|…|18| |Safeguarding Report
…|…|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|19| |Deanery Synod Report
…|…|...|...|...|...|...|...|...|20-21| |Kent Estuary Mission Community Report|||...|...|...|...|...|...|22-24| 2 ## **Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council** _for the year ended 31[st] December 2025_ The Parish Church of St James, Arnside is situated on Church Hill in the village of Arnside. This parish is part of the Diocese of Carlisle within the Church of England and is closely involved, through their founda/on, with the two Church of England Schools in the parish: Arnside Na/onal Primary and Storth Primary, elec/ng Founda/on Governors to serve on their respec/ve Governing Bodies. The parish church enjoys strong, flourishing and growing rela/onships with Arnside Methodist Church and Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church as members of Arnside Chris/ans Together. And, as part of the Diocesan (and county) vision of ‘ _God for All_ ’ sits within the Kent Estuary Mission Community, working collabora/vely in mission and ministry with local church communi/es – Church of England and Methodist – within Arnside, Beetham, Heversham, Levens, Storth and Milnthorpe. The church is a Registered Charity in England and Wales ( _Registered Charity Number:_ 1143293). **Correspondence:** The Reverend Andrew B Norman The Parsonage Stanley Street, Beetham, Milnthorpe, Cumbria, LA7 7AS _telephone_ : 015395 62355 _e-mail_ : revdabn@gmail.com _e-mail_ : stephs.mail@hotmail.co.uk (PCC Secretary) ## Ex-Officio Members of the Parochial Church Council Those who have served during 2025 are: **Incumbent** The Reverend Andrew B Norman _(Priest-in-Charge)_ **Assistant Curate** The Reverend Hannah Wallace **Lay Readers** Ian Service Lesley Jackson Jenny Skinner **Churchwardens** Ian Service elected APCM 2025 Edgar Shepherd elected APCM 2025 ## **Elected Representa=ves to the Kendal Deanery Synod** Sandra Humphery elected APCM 2023 _(resigned November 2025)_ Lesley Jackson elected APCM 2024 Stephanie Woodburn elected APCM 2025 3 ## **Members of the Parochial Church Council** |**Name**|**Elected**| |---|---| |Stephanie Grifth|2023| |John Edwards|2023| |Barbara Holdsworth|2023| |Elizabeth Hay|2023| |Delyth Langdon|2024| |Michael Crabtree|2024| |Alan Mitchell|2024| |Susie Swire|2025| |Richard Hamer|2025| |Helen Leach|2025| PCC Secretary represen/ng Storth Village Church represen/ng Storth Village Church PCC Treasurer co-opted by the PCC in April 2025 ## **Members of the Standing CommiEee** The Reverend Andrew B Norman The Reverend Hannah Wallace Mr Edgar Shepherd Mr Alan Mitchell Mrs Steph Griffith Mrs Lesley Jackson Mrs Steph Woodburn ## **Parish Safeguarding Officer** Yvonne Service re-appointed APCM 2025 ## **Electoral Roll Officer** Yvonne Service re-appointed APCM 2025 ## **Bank** Barclays Plc., 9 Highgate, Kendal, LA9 4DF Virgin Money, 45, Penny Street, Lancaster, LA1 1UE ## **Independent Examiner** Dr David Knox Number 12 Inglemere Gardens Arnside Carnforth LA5 0BX re-appointed APCM 2025 4 ## **Structure, Governance and Management** The Parochial Church Council is a corporate body established by the Church of England, in accordance with the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measures 1956 (as amended). Its members are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Mee/ng (APCM), in accordance with the Church Representa/on Rules (contained in Schedule 3 of the Synodical Government Measure 1969 (as amended) and the Church Representa/on Rules 2020 (and subsequently revised in 2025). The PCC has complied with the duty under Sec/on 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (see Safeguarding report page 19). The Priest-in-Charge, Assistant Curate, Lay Readers, Churchwardens and Deanery Synod representa/ves are ex-officio members of the Parochial Church Council. The con/nuing rela/onship between the parish church and Storth Village Church (an ecumenical church, which meets in a Methodist building) enables two further ex-officio members of the PCC from SVC, both of whom are registered on the Church Electoral Roll of the Benefice. All those amending public worship regularly are encouraged to register to join the Church Electoral Roll and are then eligible to stand for elec/on to the PCC. **Standing CommiEee** : The PCC is required to appoint a Standing Commimee by law. It has power to transact business of the PCC between its mee/ngs, subject to any direc/ons given by the Council. Its membership is cons/tuted as follows: Clergy, Churchwardens, PCC Treasurer, PCC Secretary and two members of the PCC. **Objec=ves and Ac=vi=es:** The Parochial Church Council of St James has the responsibility of coopera/ng with the Priest-in-Charge (The Reverend Andrew B Norman) in promo/ng, in the ecclesias/cal parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelis/c, social, and ecumenical as stated in the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended. The mission of the church could be said to encompass: regular **public worship** open to all preaching the word of God and administering the sacraments of the Church; the provision of **sacred space** for personal prayer and contempla/on; **pastoral work** , including visi/ng the sick and bereaved; **teaching** of the Chris/an faith through sermons, courses and small groups; promo/on of the Chris/an faith through the staging of **events and mee=ngs and gatherings** ; promo/ng the **whole mission** of the Church with ac/vi/es for people of all ages; suppor/ng other **chari=es** in the United Kingdom and overseas. These objec/ves are encapsulated and progressed through the Diocesan ecumenical strategy ‘ _God for All_ ’. This vision encompasses four themes: **follow daily, speak boldly, care deeply, tread gently** , which inspires the work of the Parochial Church Council and wider church community. This is done in collabora/on with our ecumenical partners in Arnside village through Arnside Chris/ans Together, and with fellow church communi/es across the Kent Estuary Mission Community, which is increasingly seen in the Diocese as providing the structure for mission and ministry into the future. Further informa/on about the ‘ _God for All_ ’ vision can be found here: **www.godforall.org.uk** and **www.kentestuarymissioncommunity.com.** The Parochial Church Council has ensured that a robust risk assessment is in place, which has been regularly reviewed and updated. 5 ## **Honorary Secretary’s Report** As of 1st January 2026, there were **64** on the Electoral Roll of the parish, as prepared for the Annual Parochial Church Mee/ng held in 2025. As is statutory every six years, this was a new roll, prior to this the Electoral Roll was 105. It is believed that the new Roll more accurately reflects the worshipping congrega/on at St James’. In the month of October 2025, the average adult Sunday amendance over the four Sundays (over both the 8.00am and 9.30am services) was 45 plus 7 children. ‘Junior Church’ held every Sunday (during term /me) in the Church Room provides an age-appropriate way for children to engage worship, deepen their knowledge of the Bible and share in the life of the Church. On Wednesdays during term-/me, around 97 children from Arnside Na/onal Church of England Primary School (together with a varying number of adults) amend School Church. Messy Church (hosted at Arnside Methodist Church) con/nues to be organised and run collabora/vely (between St James’ and Arnside Methodist Church) mee/ng on the second Friday of each month. During 2025 this has successfully engaged with an increasing number of families form the village. This work has been supported further by the commitment of Arnside Chris/ans Together in hos/ng three special celebra/ons each term during 2025 seeking to reach out to children and families, these being: Pancake Party in March, a summer party (to celebrate the one hundred and fioieth anniversary of the Methodist Church in July and the Light Party in October. In addi/on to this various services during 2025 were led in conjunc/on with Arnside Chris/ans Together, including those at Christmas and Easter and the monthly ‘ _Rest_ ’ series of services, together with marking other special events in the year including: The Week of Prayer for Chris/an Unity, Chris/an Aid Week, and Sea Sunday. During 2025 the following occasional offices were conducted: |Bap/sms|**7**| |---|---| |Marriages|**1**| |Funerals(in the church building)|**5**| |Funerals(held elsewhere)|**8**| During 2025 the Parochial Church Council met on the following dates: |8th January 2025|(10 present, 6 apologies)| |---|---| |19th March 2025|(12 present, 4 apologies)| |30th April 2025_APCM_|(13 present, 3 apologies)| |9th July 2025|(12 present, 5 apologies)| |10th September 2025|(13 present, 4 apologies)| |12th November 2025|(16 present, 1 apology)| During the course of the year the Standing Commimee met when required to conduct the business of the PCC and deal with any pressing issues that needed to be addressed. The minutes of these minutes were circulated to the full PCC for their approval and agreement. The PCC con/nues to meet bi-monthly. Stephanie Griffith PCC Secretary 6 ## **Report on Financial Statements** The 2025 accounts have been produced on a receipts and payments basis as in previous years. The value of C of E Bank Income Investment Units fell by 4% so there is a slight fall in asset values to be expected in equity-based investments. Income arising from our investments, however, was maintained. The freewill offering fell by 3%. Collec/ons in the plate fell by 55%, but PCC fees (mainly funerals) rose by 43%. There were no legacies in the year but an anonymous dona/on of £1,000. Energy costs were comparable to last year and remained high. Our Gio Aid recovery at St James’ from HMRC fell from £8,068 last year to £4,582, this was due mainly to missing two claims on account of new codes having to be established with HMRC. As of early 2026 new claims have been submimed. Major projects have been completed during the year. To cover this £30,000 of C of E Units were sold and transferred to the Fabric Fund. The main project was repairs to the roof of the north aisle parapet which came in substan/ally under budget at £13,860, also completed was a rebuild of the dwarf limestone wall to the north of the church grounds £8,640. Some wooden door frames and replacement gumering and downpipes were completed £710. The exterior of the church was repainted and included in the maintenance costs of the General Fund £3,850. Looking ahead, The PCC approved a 3% rise in the Mission Offer to the Diocese, this will rise from the current offer of £46,700 to £48,100. A stewardship lemer was circulated in the autumn of 2025, and there has been a response to a request for individuals to reconsider their free will offering dona/ons. As men/oned earlier energy costs will remain high, and it is difficult to predict gas prices a year ahead when we will have to search for a new tender. A recent change to our electricity contract only managed to peg last year’s price. We are looking for more support for the Finance Team. If you can help, please let us know. We are very grateful to Dr David Knox, who as always provides a very thorough examina/on of our accounts and procedures. Alan Mitchell PCC Treasurer 7 ## **Policies rela=ng to the work of the Parochial Church Council** All policies reside with the PCC minutes with copies in the church vestry and can be viewed by anyone who wishes to see them. The policies are also marked when last reviewed and updated by the PCC. The PCC does not believe that The Parish of St James is subject to any substan/al risks beyond the liabili/es disclosed in the financial statements. The PCC has no employees who are paid for their work. It holds public and liability insurance policies. ## **Risk Assessment Policy** The PCC has a Risk Assessment policy and a Risk Assessment Register, which is reviewed on a regular basis. All financial ac/vi/es are carried out according to the Charity Commission’s guidance. The PCC also has a Bribery and Corrup/on Policy that ensures financial transac/ons are fully transparent. ## **Health and Safety** The PCC’s Health and Safety Officer reviews the maintenance of the premises on a regular basis and reports any concerns to the PCC. An accident book and first aid equipment is located in the kitchen in the Church Room. ## **Reserves Policy** PCC has agreed to invest any surplus funds balances with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund. Balances of the funds held are shown separately against each fund in the financial report of this APCM pack. ## **Safeguarding** The PCC has adopted the Safeguarding policy of the Church of England ‘ _PromoGng a Safer Church_ ’. This was reaffirmed in 2025. All Safeguarding posters and informa/on are displayed at the back of church, ensuring that everyone knows that Safeguarding is both a priority and the responsibility of all. All those required (by the Church of England) have undertaken the relevant Safeguarding Training. This includes: Leadership Safeguarding Training (for the Priest-in-Charge, Lay Readers and the Parish Safeguarding Officer) Basic and Founda/on Safeguarding Training for all PCC members and those involved in work with children and vulnerable adults. All members of the PCC have also undertaken the Raising Awareness of Domes/c Abuse Training. All Safeguarding Training is renewed and reviewed every three years, using the Church of England’s online Safeguarding training portal. All recruitment happens within a Safer Recruitment framework, following Diocesan advice, and with help from the Chris/an charity _thirtyone:eight_ . Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Yvonne Service, and we are grateful for the work of the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, especially the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, Jo Van Lachterop. ## **Connected organisa=ons and chari=es** The PCC is responsible for the ac/vi/es and management of the Annie Pickering Charity No. 500252, details of whose assets and their management are shown in the Financial Statements. 8 ## **Accoun=ng and Repor=ng Responsibili=es** The PCC is responsible for preparing financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the parish’s financial ac/vi/es during that year and of its financial posi/on at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements, the PCC should follow best prac/ce and: - Select suitable accoun/ng policies and then apply them consistently; - Make judgements and es/mates that are reasonable and prudent; - State whether applicable accoun/ng standards and statements of recommended prac/ce have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; - Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the PCC will con/nue in opera/on. ## **The PCC is responsible for** : 1. keeping accoun/ng records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any /me the financial posi/on of the Parish of St James and enable it (the PCC) to ensure that the annual financial statements comply with the Chari/es Act 2011 and the Church Accoun/ng Regula/ons 2006. 2. Safeguarding the assets of St James and taking reasonable steps for preven/on and detec/on of fraud and other irregulari/es. This Annual Report and Financial Statement was approved by the PCC on Wednesday 11th March 2026. The Reverend Andrew B Norman 9 ## **Accoun=ng Policies** ## **Basis of financial statements** The financial statements have been prepared under the Church Accoun/ng Regula/ons 2006 on a receipts and payments basis. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost conven/on except for investment assets, which are shown at market value. The financial statements include all transac/ons, assets and liabili/es for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include accounts of church groups that owe their main affilia/on to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members. ## **Fund accoun=ng** _Endowment Funds_ are funds, the capital of which must be retained either permanently or at the PCC’s discre/on; the income derived from the endowment is to be used either as restricted or unrestricted income depending upon the purpose for which the endowment was established in the first place. _Restricted Funds_ comprise (a) income from endowments which is to be expended only on the restricted purposes intended by the donor, and (b) revenue dona/ons or grants for a specific PCC ac/vity intended by the donor. Where these funds have unspent balances, interest on their pooled investment is appor/oned to the individual funds on an average balance basis. _Unrestricted Funds_ are income funds which are to be spent on the PCC’s general purposes. _Designated Funds_ are general funds set aside by the PCC for the use in the future. Project funds are designated for par/cular projects for administra/on purposes only. Funds designated as invested in fixed assets for the PCC’s own use are abated in line with those assets’ annual deprecia/on charges in the SOFA. Designated funds remain unrestricted and the PCC will move any surplus to other general funds. ## **Incoming resources** Planned giving, collec/ons and similar dona/ons are recognised when received. Tax refunds are recognised when the incoming resource to which they relate is received. Grants and Legacies are accounted for when the PCC is en/tled to the use of the resources, their ul/mate receipt is considered reasonably certain and the accounts due are readily quan/fiable. Dividends are accounted for when declared receivable, interest as and when accrued by the payer. All incoming resources are accounted for gross. ## **Resources expended** Grants and dona/ons are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or construc/ve obliga/on on the PCC. The diocesan parish share expected to be paid over is accounted for when due. All other expenditure is generally recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross. ## **Fixed assets** Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts in accordance with s.10(2)(a) and (c) of the Chari/es Act 2011. Movable church furniture 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 /me). For anything acquired prior to 2000 there is insufficient cost informa/on available and therefore such assets are not valued in the financial statements. Subsequently no individual item has cost more than £1,000 so all such expenditure has been wrimen off when incurred. 10 Statement of Accounts The Parlsh Church of Sl Jam￿. Arnsldo STATEMENT OF ACCOUPITS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31ST DECEMBER 202S GENERAL ACCOUPU . UNRESTRICTED FUND 2024 Re￿IplI 24.457 Gift Aided Planned &¥iThJ 2.696 OthtrPl8nned &"virvJ 4.844 Cdlection 81 S6Mc*8 GIft08y tlonatsens 10 Oth&rVdunt8ry Gi￿r￿4 Donation# NoThRrfuthr HMRC Tox RooJv•r*d 10.IA71 Logaci95 Gr8nts Recurrfry Grants Non.RecurrfTrJ 425 Fund Raising Events as￿ Invesfvnl Incon PCC F688 Ua8 dchurch F8dlltsi BoDkstÈll Mègazin• 2025 24225 2.691 2.171 24 Paym•nt8 gj Cosl of9enerating fijnds i.nt Chantable Denab"on8 3a876 Amside P8nsh Shara $94 Salan88 & Supp(M1 2012 In(￿l￿nI Expona8• I,W2 Atsis¢anl Clèrgy E￿n￿OI Tl Mission & Evaryoli5m (x) q034 Churth Running Expgw¥ 358 Churth Ullibes 8or*slall 2025 658 38,878 132 2,020 1,097 270 11.645 5,615 6.62S 1&18 970 &033 M4￿￿01k$ 10 927 Tolal Re￿1￿5 43J72 SA9X Total Payment• •OA68 f4.9931 Exr￿￿ ofRec•ipts ov•rP•yrMhts 13.262 TrnnBffrrJ be￿O￿n fvndi Trnn¥fers be￿0&n fiJn¢Js- S*)th Trnnyf8rs be￿9&n fund$ lo.￿1 Purcha88 C6F Shares (1.731} N81 N&)vem8nlof Fund 116,4961 13579 P.9171 3￿(￿ Bank AcctyJnts as al 111r2025 M275 B4nkAGcounts i• 4131112r2025 34275 Puw•'. Th• G•n•r•l Unmsbithd fvnds•lth• PCC. STORTH ACCOUNT- DESIGNATED FUND 4 Recelpts 21125 Payments 2Q25 7.824 eth &ftAd8d Plann8d Cxher Planned Gl¥lThJ HMRC Tax Racovernd DOna￿on$ L8gacle8 80 Inv8slrnent Income 7,824 Sknrth Partsh Sha Chartia￿e Donab"onB - Church Runnlng Exp8nsoB 19) Tot•1 Recelpt• 819 Tm4 Totsl P•ym•r 7.124 {6.9911 ExouofR•(xiptsov¢r P•ynwn 7,739 Trnnsf8r8 behve8n bjnds 745 N61 ￿1)ve￿ntOrFuTrJ I7.[￿) 6,845 1.384 Bank Aco)unts as at 111r2025 1129 Bank Accounts *# at 31M2f2025 2.129 1.970 PLrpcoe'. Al8￿gna￿d fijnd fi)rlh8work ofth8A￿lIcan thurch in Sknrth. li FABRIC ACCOUNT- RESTRICTED FUND Receipts 2025 Payments 2025 Fund Rai*ng EvÉnt8 ttw Donations 11 Investrn8nl Inccff L8gaao5 Grant received Fund ￿$1￿0 ¢J>sts . Churth M￿n￿nanLe . majorwo￿S and Fees 10 23210 177 Total Recelpts 10 . Totsl Paymgnts 23810 111 Exr*ss ofR8t8ipts 0vÉrPo￿m•nts Trnnsfor be￿Pen fur￿5 111 N81 Kknvan*nlof Fund 2.145 Bank Accounts 8s at 111r2025 125T B•nkAGcounts •• •t 3111212025 2257 Pwpr0•'. A R8strffAed fvnd fr)rlhe mBintsnar*c* and m8jorrwi(8 &) the buik1ing and roof. and Al¥) includlng Ihe ory#n. he8tyry. plurrèir¥ arwj withln the thurtth. SCHOOL BIBLE ACCOUNT- RESTRICTED FUND 2024 Recelpts Dono￿on$ . HMRC Tax Roco¥erqd 2025 Payments 2025 Tot*1 R•¢•*ts Tot•1 P4ym•nts ofR•c*ipts trrtrP8yTr￿ts Transfern bahwe8n ￿nds Net rrwmmentof Funrt 232 Bank A¢¢ounts a$ 81111rI025 232 8•nk Accounts u at J1M2fx*23 232 PurFuth A RoBlricl•d Fund lo prD¥id•o bi￿0 kn chilth•n ￿￿rwa AJMKIO National SclKxA •Tra sto Church ofEnglgnd Sc*ool. FLOWER ACCOUNT- RESTRICTED FUND 2024 Recelpts 2025 Payments 2025 348 J35 Oonalions 245 CoslofFlowers 340 Tolal Payment• 335 Tolal Recelpt• Exce530fReceipts over P•yrMnts Transfers b8ts¥8en bJTrd8 Nel TrK)ve￿*n1O1Fund 12 12 16 BankAccthJnts as at 111r2025 116 Bank A¢￿￿nts a* at31M2r2025 Puw.. A R881rictsd frjnd forftowers aThJ Iloral anarMJamerts in thurth 12 STORTH E￿rIENDABLE ENDOWMENT FUND 2024 Recelpts 2025 1.845 1.845 Payments 2025 1.939 Incorne from C8F Inv851mTht Units 1.939 Total Recelpts - Total Payrnonts 1,939 Nèt movèm8nt of Fund S.￿ Sale ol C8F In¥estrn&ntunits Tr8nsferto G&n6r81 Fund 7.739J Trdnsferb) Storfh Fund Nat Wjvermntof FuThJ 1,845 6.845 Bank Accounls 0$ 81 111r2025 BankAccourrt• u at 31M2fa028 PUF￿•.. A Ewend4ble Endowrrentfund beiry Ihv m¢*od$ olthv•Jrnw Sbth Chur¢h Buildlng. To prgvide bJndirvJ h)rSknkn Church ANNIE PICKERING ACCOUNT PERMANENT ENDOWMENT FUND Registered Charity in England & Wales. Charity No.. 500252 2024 Recelpts 13.262 frorn CBF Inv•itrYthiUr 13,282 Total RoG•lpts 2025 13.579 1J.579 Payments 2025 Tolal Paym•nts 13.262 Nat mov8monl of Fund 113.2621 Tr8nJf*rto GonerJl Fund . Net Mov8montofFur¥J 13,579 113.579 88nkAccount8 as al 111r2025 64nk A¢counts •• ¥t31112R025 PurFU•'. A P8rnBnent Endow1￿nI fvnd the LegaLy Eslwta ofAmnl8 PIL*arfry, k¢lhe n￿B￿On and wort olthe ChU￿h In Arnsbde. 13 p LWJ (IJ ala li I J (D L)UV 14 ## **Independent Examiner's Report to the Parochial Church Council** I report on the financial statements of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2025, which are set out on pages 11 to 14. ## **Respec=ve responsibili=es of trustees and independent examiner** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the prepara/on of the financial statements. The charity’s trustees consider that the audit is not required for this year (under sec/on 145 of the Chari/es Act 2011 (the 2011 Act)) and the Chari/es (Accounts and Reports) Regula/ons 2008, and that an independent examina/on is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the financial statements under sec/on 145 of the 2011 Act; - to follow the procedures laid down in the general Direc/ons given by the Charity Commission under sec/on 45(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and - to state whether par/cular mamers have come to my amen/on. ## _Basis of the examiner’s statement_ My examina/on was carried out in accordance with the general Direc/ons given by the Charity Commission. An examina/on includes a review of the accoun/ng records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes considera/on of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explana/ons from you as trustees concerning such mamers. 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 financial statements present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those mamers set out in the statement below. ## **Independent examiner's statement** In connec/on with my examina/on, no mamer has come to my amen/on: (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: - to keep accoun/ng records in accordance with sec/on 130 of the 2011 Act; and - to prepare financial statements which accord with the accoun/ng records and to comply with the accoun/ng requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or (2) to which, in my opinion, amen/on should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached. **David Knox** Ph.D, B.Ed, ACIB, FCIE, KLJ, CMLJ ## _Fellow of the AssociaGon of Charity Independent Examiners_ 12 Inglemere Gardens, Arnside, Cumbria, LA5 0BX **1st April 2026** 15 ## **Chris=an Giving Report** ## **Freewill Offering** Gio Aid Contribu/on £18,329.00 (April to December 2024) Tax Rebate £4,582.29 (received 10 January 2025) _The following two claims would normally have been submiRed in 2025, but delays by HMRC in providing new codes required to do this delayed this. As such the rebates have not been received unGl 2026._ _Consequently, the following figures will be reported in the 2026 Accounts:_ Gio Aid Contribu/on £23,914.00 (January to December 2025) Tax Rebate £5986.89 (received 21 January 2026) ## **Gi^ Aid Small Dona=on Scheme** Tax claimed £3,984.00 (April 2024 to end March 2025) £996.00 (received 21 January 2026) _Membership in the Freewill Offering Scheme_ Non-Gio Aid 4 Gio Aid 14 Standing Orders 28 (including 3 not gio aided) Sarah Comer Freewill Offering Secretary 16 ## **Health and Safety Report** During March 2025, all fire ex/nguishers and electrical equipment within the church building were checked and tested by G-Tech Fire Protec/on of Morecambe and found to be in working order. Those items that did not pass this check were duly disposed of and replaced. Following discussions at PCC mee/ngs, new warning signs in the vicinity of steps near to the Memorial Chapel and those leading into the Church Room from the choir stalls have been replaced and updated. This was as a result of instruc/ons from the quinquennial architect, James Innerdale, as detailed in the Quinquennial Report. The hazard of asbestos in the boiler room area s/ll exists, as it has for several years. There are no/ces in the area indica/ng this problem. The Health and Safety execu/ve are aware, as detailed in previous Annual Report. All necessary amendments have been made to the contents of the church’s Health and Safety manual and updated in rela/on to children and vulnerable adults. A copy of this is kept in the vestry safe. Michael Crabtree Health and Safety Officer 17 ## **Church Fabric Report** _(under SecGon 50 of the EcclesiasGcal JurisdicGon and Care of Churches Measure 2018)_ During 2025 the following works were completed and duly recorded in the church log book: - Fire ex/nguisher appliances tested (March 2025) - G.Tech Electrical Solu/ons, Morecambe: **£41.25** - Pat Tes/ng of Portable Electrical Appliances (March 2025) - G.Tech Electrical Solu/ons, Morecambe: **£57.00** - Take down and rebuild west boundary wall (October 2025) - Projec/on Property Services: **£8,640.00** - Take down and reconstruct north aisle parapets with five new lead trays (October 2025) - Stephenson & Sons Ltd., Arnside: **£13,860.00** - Repaint exterior of church including inside gumers (October 2025) - Pearson & Son, Arnside: **£3850.00** - New gas meter cupboard door and frame and repairs to cellar door and new gumering and down pipe on the east end of the south aisle (October 2025) - Pearson & Son, Arnside: **£710.00** - **£363.00** - Replacement amplifier and tes/ng system (December 2025) Audioworks, Bentham: The Quinquennial Inspec/on was carried out in July 2025 by the newly appointed quinquennial architect James Innerdale (Reg Arch, AABC, SPAB Lethaby Scholar), who also advised on the larger aspects of the repair works to the church fabric completed during the second half of the year. This help was much appreciated and ensured that the repairs to the north aisle parapets was completed with good advice and sound judgement. In the wake of the Quinquennial Inspec/on, it was noted and commended that the church fabric was in good condi/on, with James Innerdale praising the PCC for the careful, considerate and loving way it is looked aoer through a regular programme of maintenance and repair. There remains issues with low level dampness in the toilet areas and failure of plaster-work to the east window in the Memorial Chapel. It is hoped that these problems will be addressed during 2026, alongside other works as advised in the Quinquennial Inspec/on Report. This Report will guide our decisions regarding fabric works over the coming years, hopefully ensuring that the PCC can con/nue to keep the church building in good order as we look to the future. Edgar Shepherd Church Warden 18 ## **Safeguarding Report** The Parish Church of St James has adopted and follows ' _PromoGng a Safer Church_ ', the Church of England's Safeguarding Policy for children, young people and adults. This was re-adopted by the newly cons/tuted PCC at its first mee/ng in April 2025. There have been no safeguarding incidents or referrals or events in 2025. At the /me of wri/ng, all relevant Safeguarding and DBS checking (completed through the Chris/an charity _thirtyone:eight_ ) is up to date. The Reverend Andrew B Norman (Priest-in Charge), The Reverend Hannah Wallace (Assistant Curate), Ian Service (Lay Reader) Lesley Jackson (Lay Reader) and Yvonne Service (Parish Safeguarding Officer) have completed Basic, Founda/on, Safer Recruitment, Domes/c Abuse and Leadership Safeguarding training courses. Those members of the PCC from Storth Village Church have completed their Safeguarding Training with the Kendal Methodist circuit. Two members of the PCC will need to update relevant training later in 2026. A record of all training cer/ficates is kept ensuring that records are kept up to date. Enhanced DBS (with barring informa/on) cer/ficates have been approved for twelve church members, including those assis/ng with Junior Church and the village Messy Church. Safeguarding is understood, quite rightly as a mamer of the highest priority and affirmed, through spoken announcements, posters and via parish communica/ons (pew sheet) as everyone's responsibility. We seek to ensure that St James is both maintained and kept, that is a church that is safe for all, where Safeguarding is administered and promoted efficiently and effec/vely. During 2025 the use of the Safeguarding Dashboard (as advised by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team) was adopted, allowing us to check progress and keep up to date with Safeguarding requirements and du/es. This has proved very useful. The Dashboard is checked and updated regularly, at the /me of wri/ng the informa/on on the Dashboard is up to date. At the end of 2025, all parishes in the Diocese of Carlisle were invited to adopt a Safeguarding Hub to help keep track of Safeguarding training and DBS checks. It is hoped that this will be adopted and put into ac/on during 2026. In all mamers rela/ng to Safeguarding the parish seeks to follow the latest guidance distributed by the Church of England and communicated via the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (Jo Van Lachterop) and other members of the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. A copy of the Church of England's Safeguarding policy ' _PromoGng a Safer Church_ ' is kept on display at the back of the church, with a further copy in the vestry. All relevant Safeguarding informa/on posters are kept up to date on display at the back of church (and on the external church no/ce board) together with other associated Safeguarding documents (including the Parish Safeguarding Standards). A Safeguarding folder is kept in the vestry which collects together all these documents and informa/on. In all things we are mindful as a church that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, and that it is everyone’s duty to keep the church a safe place for all. The idea that we, at St James’, are in some way immune is not tenable, and though we might be at a lower risk, Safeguarding con/nues to demand both our focused interest and amen/on - not least given the Safeguarding failures of the wider Church, including the Church of England, both past and present. We are thankful to everyone for their help, support and vigilance in con/nuing to make St James’ a place for all. Yvonne Service Parish Safeguarding Officer 19 ## **Kendal Deanery Synod Report** At the mee/ngs of the Kendal Deanery Synod St James’ is represented by the Priest-in-Charge and Assistant Curate as licensed clergy, alongside three elected lay members of the Deanery Synod: Lesley Jackson, Sandra Humphery and Steph Woodburn. The Deanery Synod is one of the important, essen/al and indeed canonicals ways in which local parishes connect both to the Diocese and thus to wider Church of England. There are, in the Kendal Deanery, three mee/ngs of Synod each year, along with a Deanery Ascension Day service (held in 2025 at St Andrew’s Sedbergh). There was also, following the success of the service 2024, a second Deanery Easter Vigil held on Easter Eve at Holy Trinity Kendal, which was – once again – valued and appreciated. Each of the mee/ngs of the Deanery Synod is mainly devoted to a par/cular ‘spotlight’ issue rela/ng to ques/ons of the church’s mission and ministry, along with any necessary business (ooen rela/ng to mamers from Diocesan Synod) and a closing service of Compline. The officers of the Deanery during 2025 were: The Reverend Canon Anne Pewfor (Rural Dean), The Reverend George Briggs (Assistant Rural Dean), Mr Peter Clarke (Secretary), Mr Charles Howarth (Lay Chair). During 2025, the Deanery also - in conjunc/on with the Diocese - employed a Deanery Network Youth Church Leader, Miss Lily-Beth Smith, who will seek to work across the communi/es of the Deanery with a par/cular focus on growing our connec/ons with young people. ## **Spring Mee=ng** ## _(held at St Thomas’, Kendal)_ Rachel Head outlined diocesan support for mission and ministry within Mission Communi/es. She stressed the importance of a “mixed ecology of church, open to all,” encouraging “faithful improvisa/on” that draws on both inherited and innova/ve approaches. She introduced the gardening metaphor, now used across the diocese to help Mission Communi/es reflect on their life and priori/es, highligh/ng the Garden Planner on the God for All website as a prac/cal tool. Rachel also spoke about voca/ons, emphasising the need to nurture lay people of all backgrounds, enabling their voca/on in church and everyday contexts. She underlined the importance of high-quality training in the development and support of both clergy and lay leaders. ## **Summer Mee=ng** ## _(held at Barbon Village Hall)_ Charlome Tudway, the Diocesan Director of Educa/on, presented the work of the Diocesan Board of Educa/on, with its general role promo/ng educa/on that is consistent with the Church of England as well as its specific role with Church schools. She emphasise that Church schools are community schools, not faith schools, they serve all, while maintaining a clear Chris/an ethos expressed through worship and biblical storytelling. She explained the role of SIAMS inspec/ons, which assess how well a Church school’s vision and prac/ce reflect its Chris/an founda/on and enable pupils and adults to flourish. Flourishing, she said, involves mental wellbeing and spirituality, enabling young people to look “in… out… and up.” 20 ## **Autumn Mee=ng** ## _(held at St Thomas’, Milnthorpe)_ Joanna Van Lachterop, the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, spoke about safeguarding across the diocese. On taking up her post, she had found that many Parish Safeguarding Officers lacked support and that some parishes held “worrying underlying awtudes and assump/ons,” revealing a gap between safeguarding and theology. Her aim is to embed safeguarding at the heart of diocesan and parish life, grounded in Chris/an faith. She acknowledged that safeguarding failures con/nue to make headlines and that more will emerge. She stressed that while “we cannot change the past, we can shape the future” by learning from good prac/ce. She highlighted the resources and policies available to help parishes integrate safeguarding into everyday ministry. ## **Mee=ng with Bishop Rob** ## _(held at St Thomas’, Kendal)_ The fourth mee/ng welcomed Bishop Rob as the new Bishop of Carlisle. He is mee/ng all Deanery Synods so that the Diocese may be shaped by local churches and so that he “knows and is known” by them. He reaffirmed the Church’s core calling: helping people meet and follow Christ and seeking God’s Kingdom in our /me. While new diocesan strategies are emerging, he emphasised that the priority remains local ministry responding to local opportuni/es. A successful church, he said, is not necessarily a full one; smaller worshipping communi/es are not “failed large ones… any more than a tangerine is a failed orange.” He encouraged deeper prayer, openness to God’s shaping, and a willingness to “flood out into our communi/es” with the joy and hope of the Gospel. Andrew B Norman _(with gratitude to Peter Clarke, Deanery Secretary)_ 21 ## **Kent Estuary Mission Community Report** The eight churches around the Kent Estuary form an ecumenical Mission Community (working towards and in step with the Diocesan ‘God for All’ vision) coming together to support each other in ministry and mission. Each church seeks to sustain its engagement with the village community in which it is set, whilst also sharing increasingly in collabora/ve ac/vity to reach a greater number across the Kent Estuary with the good news of Jesus Christ. The work of the Mission Community is overseen and directed by the Leadership Group. This brings together the s/pendiary Kent Estuary clergy (Bryan Kerr, Andrew Norman, Tiras Dainty-Share and Hannah Wallace) and three lay representa/ves (Annie Garden, Vivien S/rrup and Karen Leslie), with a secretary (Peter Clarke). During 2025 the shared work and witness of the Kent Estuary Mission Community included: - A well-amended quarterly **Gathering** for worship, rota/ng round the churches and being the only main service on that Sunday. - A quarterly **Songs of Praise** , linked with a walking group, targeted on those who live with demen/a. - A **Pet Service,** held on a farm, which amracted families who are not rou/ne church goers. - **Christmas** and **Easter Diaries** , circulated across all the congrega/ons, highligh/ng all the services and other ac/vi/es in each of the churches. - A **Blue Christmas Service** , recognising that for some people Christmas is a /me of sadness and loss. - The **Bereavement Journey,** offering 7 sessions of films and discussions for people coping with grief. - A **Marriage Prepara=on** course, run by the clergy, for couples being married in any of the churches. - The **Church in the Market Place** stall as part of the Farmers’ Market in Milnthorpe throughout the spring and summer. - A monthly **Men’s Breakfast,** building fellowship. - Exploring the poten/al for a network of **Demen=a Enablers** across the churches. - Running a **first-aid** training event. - Providing Christmas Bible Society **books for children** in the local primary schools. - The **Partnership Mee=ng,** which brings together representa/ves from each church (Linda Cooper and Peter Clarke from St Peter’s) to explore issues around mission and ministry. It is also a network for communica/on. In the first half of the year, it focused on church community engagement ac/vity and social ac/on. Lamerly its mee/ngs have been paused, and its future to be reviewed in 2026. - A **Pioneering Group,** which met for an ini/al explora/on of ways that churches can engage with people who find the tradi/onal church off-puwng. - Holding an occasional social gathering for **members of church councils** , crea/ng an opportunity for informal sharing of experiences and building rela/onships. - Con/nuing work on developing the **KEMC Pilgrim Way** , the guide to which is to be published in March 2026. - Co-ordina/ng a shared **Mission Community Offer** to the Diocese. - Maintaining the website: **www.kentestuarymissioncommunity.com** 22 In the Autumn of 2025 the Archdeaconry Mission and Pastoral Commimee (for the Archdeaconry of Westmorland and Furness) asked the Mission Community Leadership Team to “ensure that the five parishes and their ecumenical partners formulate their shared vision and governance proposals and, within this, outline a vision that will shape an affordable new pamern of ministry for the next five years.” This followed on from an exercise, undertaken in the January, coordinated by The Reverend Canon Richard Snow and The Reverend Canon Anne Pewfor, of ‘interviewing’ the five Parochial Church Councils to form a picture of the shared challenges and opportuni/es as we look to the future. This Following a lemer from the Leadership Group to all members of the congrega/ons and a subsequent Open Mee/ng held in October at Arnside Methodist Church (informed by contribu/ons from Diocesan officers), a volunteer Working Group was formed and asked to develop proposals for a shared direc/on of travel for ministry and mission in the years to come. These were presented at a further Open Mee/ng, set within the context of worship and prayer, in January 2026 and then passed to each church council for considera/on. These proposals are: - _1) We propose that, more effectively to share God’s love in Christ within the villages of the Kent Estuary, the eight churches, individually and collectively agree to:_ - _Be truly ecumenical_ - _Support a Christian presence in each village_ - _Sustain existing congregations_ - _Grow lay leadership and ministries_ - _Grow new disciples of all ages, including the “lost generation” and with an emphasis on children and families_ - _Enable new ways of being Church_ - _Learn from the experience of others_ - _Be inclusive and open to the communities_ - _Use available resources efficiently_ - _Be bold, evolving and open to change._ - _2) We propose that the direction of travel should include the development of a single ecumenical Ministry Team serving the whole of the Kent Estuary._ - _3) We propose that the direction of travel include the creation of a single, new Parish of the Kent Estuary, with five parish churches and in a partnership agreement with the Methodist Church._ _4) As an integral part of the direction of travel, we propose that the transition is underpinned by:_ - _Prayer – actively sustaining and supporting collective and individual prayer_ - _Communication – with regular sharing of progress and active listening to hopes and fears across_ - _the congregations_ - _Pastoral Care – with specific initiatives to support people during the period of change_ - _Lay Leadership development – with targeted action to grow leaders for worship and pastoral care in each community_ - _Engagement – revising KEMC arrangements so congregations can feel connected._ 23 - _5) The group’s final proposal is that the Leadership Team seek early agreement from the diocese for eighteen months’ funding for an additional priest who will lead and support this transitional programme._ At the /me of wri/ng this report, the Leadership Group has been asked to report back to the Archdeaconry Commimee by 31 March 2026. We give thanks for our fellowship and friendship as churches across our area, understanding that the months and years to come will involve challenges and choices for our common life together, not least in how we seek to be a lively, sustainable and ac/ve Chris/an presence in our parishes, villages and communi/es in the years to come. Whilst this may be unsemling, not least given the prospect of substan/al change for our ministry, mission and partnership in the gospel, there is much cause for encouragement and rejoicing. As such, we seek and pray for the Lord’s blessing, guiding and leading as we look to all that is to be, asking that we might have faith in the God – made real in Jesus Christ - who, quo/ng the words of Saint Paul in the Lemer to the Romans (4.17), ‘ _gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist_ ’. Andrew B Norman _(with gratitude to Peter Clarke, Secretary to the Mission Community)_ _Merciful God, whose holy apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, was obedient to the calling of your Son Jesus Christ and followed him even to death: help us, forsaking the false attractions of the world, to be ready at all times to answer your call without delay; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen._ 24