' Barkhamchurch
St James
Annual Report and Accounts
of the Parochial Church Council
For the year ended
31 December 2025
Contents
Parochial Church Council Trustees Annual Report
Statement of Financial Activities
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
Notes to the Accounts
Independent Examiner's Report

Barkham Parochial Church Council
Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025
The Parochial Church Council {PCC) presenls its Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Reference and administrative information
The PCC is registered with the Charily Commission as 'The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical
Parish of Barkham,, registration number 1143332.
The address of the church office is The Rectory, Church Lane, Arborfield, Berkshire, RG2 9HZ
The trustees (members of Ihe PCCI at Ihe lime of this report were as follows..
Basis of appointment
Elected
Emma Benbow (from APCMI
The Revd Julian Bidgood
Michael Byrne
Ruth Dand
Clergy (& appointed chairman)
Deanery Synod representative
Elected l& appointed secretary)
Churchwarden
Mike Grover
(from APCMI
David Horrocks
Deanery Synod representative
Deanery Synod representative
Elected (& appoinled treasurer)
Elected
Peter Kilby
Lionel Malsuya
Oli Parker
Karen Pugh
Frances Roberts
(from APCMI
Churchwarden
Elected
lan Turner
Elected
Structure, governance and management
The PCC has been forméd under the Parochial Church Council (Powers} Measure 1956.
The PCC members are recruited in a number of ways. The clergy are members by virtue of their office.
The churchwardens are elected annually at the annual meeting. Other members ofthe PCC are elected at
the APCM and hold office for three years. Deanery Synod representalives are also elected for a 3 year
term at annual meetings and are on PCC by virtue of this role. Chair, treasurer and secretary are roles ap-
pointed by the PCC.
There are Ihe following committees..
Slanding Committee- This committee consists of the church leadership team Ilhe Minisler in charge
plus two others at presentl, the Churchwardens and Ihe Treasurer. They have power lo transacl
business of the PCC belween PCC meelings. reporting to Ihe lull PCC as appropriate.

Objectives and activities
The objectives of the PCC are defined by the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956 as 'to c
operate with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church. pastoral, evangelis-
tic, social and ecumenical..
St James. Church Barkham comprises two congregations meeting at 10am and 6pm. Our aim as a church
is to honour the Lord Jesus Christ in all that we do. By his grace we are seeking to grow in our knowledge
of him, our love for him and our obedience to him. We are also seeking to proclaim the gospel of Jesus
Christ to others as well, both by reaching out to others ourselves and by supporting mission partners in the
UK and overseas. We currently have particular links with Crosslinks, Open Doors, The Delhi Bible Insti-
tute, Yeldall Manor and mission partners in central Asia.
Our Sunday setvices are the focus for our life as a church as we gather to listen to the word of God being
read and preached and as we respond to him in prayer and praise. It is our assumption, however, that our
life as a church should overflow into our daily lives and our midweek small groups provide a natural con-
text for relationships to develop whereby people can serve and encourage one another further. We are
committed lo encouraging people of all ages to hear the Christian message and grow in faith, so we run
Sunday Club for children up to the age of 11 and regularly gather younger teens after the morning seryice.
We run a baby and toddler groupjointly with Arborfield Church, with whom we also run a monthly meeting
for 'seniors'.
Achievements and performance
Our Sunday services are Ihe focus of church lrfe as we gather for corporate worship and to encourage one
another. We are very committed to the fact that we meet as one church family with young and old wor-
shipping together. We have a creche and Sunday School of about 13 children.
Average weekly attendance has dropped a little from 77 to 74 in the morning and from 49 to 46 in the
evening with only a few going to both. Some of our older members are either unable to come to church
now, or can only come occasionally. We are also at a stage of life in our church family where a number of
our teenagers have now gone on to further edLJcation. We have seen some new people coming along over
the past year, though most are coming only occasionally. We continue see high levels of commitment and
involvement from the congregation. On any given Sunday around 25 people are serving in some official
capacity. And il's èncouraging that whèn gaps appear on rotas. othérs step up.
There continues to be plenty going on in the life of the church. A good proportion of adults are members
of fellowship groups that meet midweek. The Monday toddler group is well attended. We run Friday Club.
an open Youth Club for younger teens run weekly al the Village Hall and this attracts many from non-
church families. We run termly meetings for men and women that are well attended and have plans for a
men's weekend this summer. We continue to be encourage people to gather for a monthly prayer meeting
this year and have been able to sustain a daytime meeting as well.
Our relationship with our church school, the Coombes, remains strong as we provide weekly assemblies,
assisl the school in celebraling other major Christian festivals, support the RE syllabus and take part in the
year 6's leaving selv1￿ in the summer, gifting each child a Bible of their own.
In accordance with Church of England rules, we have revised our Electoral Roll this year. The number on
the roll is currently 107.

Financial review
We are regularly reminded of the unpredictability of human inveslrnent. Share prices, IndI￿S and money
markets all go up and down., economists, Finance Ministers and CEOS are all limited in their ability to control
the value of investments. Bul there is one in whom we can put our full trust, our full personal and corporate
investment.. the Lord. who is the same yesterday, today and forever. In a world where returns may be
calculated in days, the Lord thinks to etemity- and through Jesus, we do too.
2025 saw some families leave St James Barkharn, and somejoin, and the result of the lag that sometimes
occurs means that our planned giving reduced a little from £151 k to £148k. However, two legacies left to St
James and some significanl one-off gifts in response to the Giving Day in October meant that overall our
receipts increased to £229k12024: £208kl.
Our payments saw a corresponding, though slightly smaller increase to £213k12024'. £193k), with a retum lo
more nomial levels of Parish share offset by some important work on the minister's house and maintenance
costs of the church building. The PCC also increased the amount given in support of local and global
mission, having kept the amount static for a few years.
We finished the year, therefore. with a surplus of £15.1 k (2024= £14.8k) - praising the Lord for his generosity
to us. Our overall unreslricted reserves are £113k (2024.. £98k) and overall reserves at £122k12024.' £107k).
The church tower fund, the result of an appeal a number of years ago, has a small balance remaining (£4kl',
as a restricted fund it can currently only be used for the purpose for which the appeal was made. The PCC is
exploring ways in whiGh these funds can be used for alternative essential tower works, likely to be needed in
2026 or 2027
The Maintenance fund is a designated fund used for major repairs or projects to the church. Payments of
£9k (2024= £nill were made for essential maintenance to the minister's house. which is included in the
figures above. The balance at the end of 2025 is £19k.
The Treasurer and the Bookkeeper manage the day-to-day finances for Sl James Barkham and the
Treasurer reports to the PCC as well as at the APCM, and at various points throughout the year to the
congregations. Forecasts are prepared and re-assessed monthly to ensure that adequate funds exist for the
church, and a Giving Day is normally held annually in the autumn.
Statement on the Church's policy on reserves
The Church does not have a formal reserve policy but it is regularly commented on at PCC that we expect to maintain
at least 2 months, expenditure in reserve. This would amount to £36k based on General Fund expenditure.
Details on anyfunds muterially in deficit
There are no funds materially in deficit as of year end 2025.
Declaration
The Irustees declare that they have approved the truslees, report above.
Signed on behalf of the PCC..
The Revd Julian Bidgood
Date.. 1610312026

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St James Barkham
Receipts and Payments account
Forthe year ended 31 December 2025
2025
2025
2025
2024
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted fund8
Totalfunds
Total funds
Receiptsfrom..
Donations and other legacie8
Planned Givlng
Collections at S8rvic88
147.636.00
147,636.00
150,511.00
885.30
Other volunt8ry receipts
Gift Aid recovered
S7,525.80
2,969.00
40,494.80
14,673.00
33.917.80
33.917.80
37.092.55
219,079.60
2.969.00
222.048.60
203,161.85
Re¢eipts from ¢haritable a¢tivities
Receipt5from church actimties
4.366.67
4,366.67
4,182.66
4,36£.67
4,366.67
4,182.6
Investrnents
Investm&nt Income
347.01
347.01
444.47
347.01
347.01
444.47
Other receipts
Other receipts
1.867.18
1,867.18
40.00
1,867.18
1,867.18
40.00
Total receipts
225,660.46
2,969.00
228,629.46
207,828.98
Payments from..
Paytnents for charitable activities
Parish Share
11.927.00
11,927.00
15,806.00
Clergy and Staftingc08ts
Church Activities
152,383.83
152,383.83
135,919.19
2,195.88
2,195.88
1,739.36
Church Running Expenses
Mission Giving and Donations
Indep8nd8nt Examination Costs
24.570.56
2,902.80
27,473.36
21.673.41
18,400.00
18,400.00
16,900.00
1,050.00
1,050.00
1,025.00
Total payments
210,527.27
2.902.80
213,430.07
193,062.96
Net receipts I (payments) before transfer
15.133.19
66.20
15,199.39
14,766.02
Transfers..
Gross tran8f8r8 b&Nve8n fund8- in
5,000.00
Gross transfers between funds- Out
15.000.001
14,766.02
Net movement in funds
15.133.19
66.20
15,199.39
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried foward
98,342.19
113,475.38
8,561.89 106,904.08
92,138.06
8,628.09 122,103.47 106,904.08

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St James Barkham
Statement of Assets and Liabilities
As at 31 December 2025
Balance
Balance
31 Dec 2025
31 Dec 2024
CBsh At BankAnd In Hand
Bank Currènt Account
General Fund
Unrestricted
62.431.37
4.326.07
3.535.34
19.349.60
766.68
38.487.19
4.259.87
3.535.34
28.507.60
766.68
Churchyard Fund
QI Fund
Maintenance Fund
Restricted
Designated
Designated
R8strict8d
B811 Ringers Fund
Agency ¢olle¢tion
R8Strict8d
2,693.00
1.526.00
93,102.06
77,082.68
Bank Daposit Account
General Fund
Unrestricted
31.430.65
31,083.64
31.430.65
31,083.64
Cash Sn hand
General Fund
Unrestricted
263.76
263.76
263.76
263.76
Total Assets
124.796.47
108.430.08
Li8bilitlgS
Aggncy accounts
Agency collection"
2,693.00
1.526.00
Total Liabilities
2.693.00
1.526.00
Grand Total
122,103.47
106,904.08
'Agency collections are those made on behalf of other parties, for example fees from weddings or
funerals that are payable to the Diocese.
The accounts were approved bythe trustees and signed on their behalf on 16 March 2026 by
Julian Bidgood
Chairman
Lionel Matsuya
Treasurer

Notes to the accounts
Note 1: Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations
2006 togetherwith applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice
for Accounting and Reporting by Charities 2005.
The basis of accounting is the Receipts and Payments basis 8s permitted bythis SORP.
The PCC uses the Charity Commission recommended headings for the Statement of Financial
Activities (Receipts and Payments account).
General funds are unrestricted f unds which are available for use at the discretion of the PCC for the
general objectives of the charity. Restricted f unds are donations which are to be used in accordance
with specif ic restrictions imposed by the donors, including those donations received from specif ic
appeals.
The PCC holds no Endowment funds.

Note 2: Receipts
2025
2025
2025
2024
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Total funds
Total funds
Donations and other leggcies
Planned giving
R8gul8r giving- Gift Aid
Regular giving- non Gift Aid
Collections at servic8S
139.729.00
139,729.00
7,907.00
141,549.00
8.962.00
7,907.00
Collections and giving bags.
Other voluntary receipts
Gift Days- Gift Aid
Gift Days- non Gift Aid
One-off giving- Gift Aid
One-oft giving- non Gift Aid
Grants- recurring
Gr8nts- non-r¢¢urring
Legacies received
Gift Aid recovered
885.30
12,800.00
5.040.00
7,301.00
170.00
12.800.00
5.040.00
7.301.00
170.00
5.890.00
3.040.00
1.372.00
1.667.00
2,704.00
2,969.00
2,969.00
12,214.80
12,214.80
Gift Aid recovered
33,917.80
219,079.60
33,917.80
222,048.60
37,092.55
203,161.85
2,969.00
Receipts from charitable activities
Re¢eipts from ¢hur¢h activities
Fees for weddings and funerals
2,123.00
2.123.00
2.215.00
Bookstall sales- objects related
164.98
164.98
Church activity receipts- objects
related
2,078.69
2.078.69
1.967.66
4.366.67
4,366.67
4,182.66
Investments
Investment income
Bank and building society interest
347.01
347.01
444.47
347.01
347.01
444.47
Other receipts
Other receipts
Other r8e81Pt5
1.867.18
1.867.18
40.00
1.867.18
1,867.18
228,629.46
40.00
Total receipts
225,660.46
2,969.00
207,828.98

Note 3: Payments
2025
2025
2025
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
fund
funds
Totglfunds
Tot8l fund$
Payments lor charitable activities
Parish share
11,927.00
11.927.00
15.808.00
Clergy and staffing costs
S8laries 8nd wages of parish staff
National Insurance of parish staff
Pension contributions ol parish staff
Minister expenses
Council tax
64.945.00
64,945.00
62,616.00
7,579.00
11,661.00
2,998.86
5,594.00
18.907.00
27.332.00
505.00
7,579.00
11.661.00
2.998.86
5,594.00
18.907.00
27.332.00
505.00
5.916.00
12.158.00
1.775.35
5,483.00
18.998.00
27.205.00
501.00
House rent
Mortgage
House insurance
House maintenance
11.831.97
1.030.00
11,831.97
1,030.00
330.84
Water rates
936.00
Chureh activities
Parish training and mission
Church activity costs- objects related
Bookstall costs- objects related
Chureh running expenses
Chureh insurance
324.00
2,187.88
8.00
2,187.88
8.00
1,41 S.36
2.644.96
2.811.05
2.191.98
2,644.96
2,811.05
2,191.98
2,601.08
828.23
Chureh routine maintenance
Upkeep of services
Upkeep of ¢hur¢hyard
Church electricity
Church heating oil
Literature for church building
Banking costs
Admin and other running costs
Central costs
1,566.85
2,902.80
2,902.80
2,703.80
803.74
803.74
119.93
1,082.34
1.082.34
841.05
37.62
156.38
156.38
157.19
1,562.11
13,318.00
1,562.11
13.318.00
1.161.66
11.656.00
Mission giving and donations
Giving to missionary societies
Governance costs
18,400.00
18.400.00
16.900.00
Independent Examination costs
1.050.00
1,050.00
1,025.00
210,527.27
210,527.27
2,902.80 213.430.07 193.062.96
2,902.80 213,430.07 193,062.96
Total Payments

Note 4: Summary of restricted and designated funds
Restricted Funds
Balance b/f
Receipts
Payments
Transfers
Balance c/f
0110112025
3111212025
Bellringers fund
Church Tower fund
766.68
766.68
3,535.34
4,259.87
8,561.89
3.535.34
4.326.07
Churchyard fund
Total
2,969.00
2.902.80
2,969.00
2.902.80
8.628.09
Designated Funds
Bai8n¢e blf
Receipts
Payments
Transfers
Balance clf
0110112025
3111212025
Naintenance fund
28,507.60
28,507.60
9,158.00
9,158.00
19,349.60
19,349.60
Total
Bellringers fund (restricted)
The Bellringers fund was created in 2017 to f und maintenance of the bells in the church tower. It is
funded by occasional receipts from the use ofthe bells and funds are used for bell maintenance.
Church Tower fund (restricted)
The Church Towerfund was established in 2017 to fund maintenance and repairs of the tower carried
out in 2018,thefunds ofwhichwere raised in an appealto address the items noted inthe
Quinquennial Inspection report f rom 2015. There is expected to be no further significant outlay with
respect to the expenses relating to the 2015 Quinquennial Inspection report.
Churchyard fund (restricted)
The Churchyard fund receives grant and other monies for the maintenance of the churchyard.
Maintenance fund {designated}
The Maintenance fund exists to provide a build-up of funds for significant projects primarily for the
church building and minister's house. This is a designated fund with an annual transfer from the
generalfund of £5,000, as agreed bythe PCC.
In 2025, funds were used from the maintenance fund to pay for costs relatingto the maintenance of
the fabric of the minister's house.
Note 5: Staff and Trustees
The church has no direct employees. Its activities are carried out byvolunteers and by staff employed
by an independent charity IThe Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust}. Grants paid to that
Trust to meet these costs are shown in the Clergy and Staff ing costs section of note 3 above.

Included in the staff employed bythat independent charity are Rev Julian Bidgood and David
Horrocks, who are members ofthe PCC of St James Barkham and hence are trustees. The Clergy and
Staff ing costs shown in Note 3 above represent the amounts paid to The Arborfield and Barkham
Parish Churches Trust for provision of the services of Julian Bidgood and David Horrocks by that Trust.

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St James Barkham
Independent examiner's report on the accounts to the Trustees of
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St James Barkham
("the charity")
for the year ending 31 December 2025
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's Trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the 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 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable
Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my
attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe..
l. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section
130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. 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.
Signed
Date: 14 April 2026
Name:
Jason Foxwell
Relevant professional qualification(s) or body
Chartered Certified Accountant
Fellow of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners
Address 12 Hillbourne Road
Poole
BH17 7JB