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2020-12-31-accounts

“Discovering and Sharing the Love of God”

Parochial Church Council Registered Charity No. 1146416

Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] December 2020

Contents
ontents Page
Administrative Information 2
Structure, Governance and Management 3
Aims and Purposes 4
Objectives and Activities 5
Achievements and Performance 5
Review of the Year 6
Financial Review 10
Financial Statements 11
Notes to the Financial Statements 14
Independent Examiner’s Report 15

Vicar: Revd Dr Earl Collins

Independent Examiner: Ms Clare Osbond, FCIE Silverdale Road, Hove, BN3 6FE

Bankers:

Barclays Bank plc, 139-142 North Street, Brighton, BN1 1RU

The Central Board of Finance, Church of England Funds, 80 Cheapside, London, EC2V 6DZ

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Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council of St John the Baptist, Hove for the year 1 January to 31 December 2020

Administrative Information

PCC Members

During the year the following served as members of the Parochial Church Council;

Vicar: Revd Dr Earl Collins. Church wardens: Mrs Mary Thomas (Lay Chair) Ms Barbara Bush

Representatives on the Deanery Synod

Mrs Gillian Corps Resigned July 2020 Mr Tom Savage Until APCM 2022 Ms Barbara Bush Until APCM 2023

Elected Members

Mr Trevor Beattie Until APCM 2021 Mrs Julie Beattie Until APCM 2023 Miss Lisa Godfrey Until APCM 2022 Mr Chi Ho (Treasurer) Until APCM 2022 Mr Alistair McNair Resigned April 2020 Mr Tom Savage Until APCM 2022 Ms Isla McFarlane Until APCM 2021 Ms Sue Davidson Until APCM 2023 Mr Andrew Maynard Until APCM 2023 Mr John Browne Until APCM 2023

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Structure, Governance and Management

The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England, and operates under the Parochial Church Powers Measure. The PCC is registered with the Charity Commission under the full title of “The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St John the Baptist, Hove” (No 1146416).

Membership of the PCC is determined under the Church Representation Rules. It consists of ex-officio members: namely the churchwardens, and representatives on the Deanery Synod. In addition, as the Electoral Roll is over 50 but not more than 100 there can be 9 elected members of the laity who each serve for a period of 3 years. St John’s has adopted a policy where one third of the elected members come up for reelection each year at the annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM). PCC members are trustees of the charity. Attendance at PCC meetings in 2020 was 87%.

Standing Committee

This is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the PCC between meetings, subject to any directions given by the PCC. The Standing Committee consists of the Priest in Charge, Churchwardens and other Church Officers (Secretary and Treasurer). This committee did not meet during 2020 with its full membership but monthly meetings continued between the vicar and churchwardens.

Building and Finance Committee

This is a sub-committee of the PCC which considers issues relevant to the maintenance of the building and the management of parish finances. It makes recommendations to the PCC for its consideration and comprises the Vicar, a churchwarden (Chair), PCC Secretary and Treasurer and three other parishioners.

Events Group

This is a sub-committee of the PCC which initiates and oversees a variety of events for the Church aimed at fund-raising. It makes recommendations to the PCC for its consideration and comprises a churchwarden and two other parishioners.

Risk Assessment

The PCC has ensured that the major risks to which the Church might be exposed (Governance, Operational, Financial, External/Environmental) have been identified by a risk analysis exercise. During 2020 the key elements within these areas were identified and mitigated as follows:

  1. Governance: Lack of direction, strategy and forward planning

Mitigation: The Vicar and Churchwardens met as permitted by pandemic regulations during 2020, and when they could not, continued business on-line to ensure prompt and effective response to the changing national context as well as continuing Church business.

  1. External/Environmental: Failure to respond appropriately to the COVID-19 pandemic. Inadequate, ineffective safeguarding arrangements for children, young people and vulnerable adults; reputational damage.

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Mitigation: Following an early dedicated COVID-19 risk assessment, Government, Public Health England and Diocesan-compliant arrangements were implemented to safeguard parishioners and contractors.

A safeguarding policy (in the public domain) is in place and reviewed annually. Appointment of a Safeguarding Officer and attendance of all relevant church officials on a continuing programme of safeguarding training. Training has resulted in St John’s being awarded SQP Level 1. Safeguarding is a standing discussion item at every PCC meeting.

Close working relationships with key occupants, the Cornerstone Community Centre, Hop 50+ and the Flower Stand, plus a programme of preventative maintenance, ensures that the internal and external fabric of the church building is fully maintained. Regular, professional maintenance of the garden is a visible sign to the community that we are a strong and caring community.

  1. Operational: Parishioner and community dissatisfaction; failure to maintain key parish services and weekly opening hours.

Mitigation: A Complaints Policy is in place and reviewed annually. See Risk 2 above – alternative worship arrangements were implemented when forced to close during the pandemic. Contact was maintained with parishioners and worship material and other spiritual resources were sent out electronically and in print. A monthly e-bulletin was developed and circulated, signposting parishioners to the latest pandemic updates, wider support resources, and day to day church news. The external church noticeboards were stringently kept up to date, to ensure that anyone in the community wishing to attend had clear guidance on when the church was open and in what capacity.

  1. Financial: Failure to generate sufficient income and maintain agreed level of reserves.

Mitigation: The PCC has met regularly in person, or electronically, throughout the year to make key decisions on services and budgetary issues. Closure for 24 weeks during the pandemic has impacted our income streams but the PCC has worked hard to look at all opportunities for savings, efficiencies and alternative funding streams. It has again increased the number of parishioners contributing through the Parish Giving scheme, direct debits and standing orders and introduced electronic giving, e.g., via Just Giving and the use of a QR code. Contributions continue to be received from other occupants towards the maintenance of the building and garden, and to utility bills. Applications were also made for grant funding to assist with repairs. Through these efforts and careful stewardship, the agreed Parish Share was paid and the reserve was maintained at the appropriate level.

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Aims and Purposes

St John’s PCC has the responsibility with the Vicar of promoting the Gospel according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England; and in promoting the whole mission of the Church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical within the parish.

To facilitate this work the PCC of St John’s is also responsible for the maintenance of a large part of the church building, which is Grade 2 Listed. When planning our activities for the year, the Vicar and PCC have considered the Charity Commission’s guidelines on public benefit and, in particular, the guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.

The Church’s work is intrinsically of benefit to the public, as demonstrated by the following examples:

Objectives and Activities

Achievements and Performance

Church Attendance ( bracketed numbers relate to 2019 )

The Electoral Roll, as at 31 December 2020, stands at 75.

In 2020 church attendance was significantly and negatively impacted by COVID– related closures and capacity limitations. The average Sunday attendance was 38 (48). Normally these figures increase at the major church festivals, special services and baptisms. For example, our full range of Christmas services attracted large numbers, 343 in 2019. By contrast, in 2020, capacity restrictions meant that only a Christmas Day service could be held. Attendance at this was 29.

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Review of the Year

A. Worship, Prayer and Discipleship

During 2020 the weekly pattern of worship was drastically affected by the limitations imposed on us by COVID-19. We employed alternative worship arrangements to allow us to continue as a prayerful, worshipping community. The year began normally with weekly services of Morning Prayer, Sung Eucharist and Compline running from January to mid-March. The church was then required to close until the end of July (first lockdown) during which time worship material was sent to parishioners electronically and by post. We re-opened on the 2[nd] August when services were restricted to two Said Sunday Eucharists to comply with COVID-19 requirements, particularly the limitations on capacity.

The church closed again in early November to early December (second lockdown) and alternative arrangements put in place for worship. Our full range of Christmas services and community engagement during the December re-opening was severely limited but Christmas Day was celebrated appropriately.

Our ability to minister to our parishioners through the milestones of Baptism, Marriage and Death continued albeit within the required capacity limits. Two children were baptised during the year.

B. Provision of Pastoral Care to people in the Parish

The clergy and PCC are aware of the difficulty of contacting many people in their homes, even when times are normal. Many of our parishioners are elderly or vulnerable, many live alone in flats, entry to which is either extremely difficult or indeed impossible. We are, therefore, very thankful that so many people are ministered to by the Hop50+ Older People’s Centre and Café located in what was once the South aisle and church hall of St John’s. Also, the Cornerstone Community Centre provides a safe environment for many local groups to pursue their activities and attend support groups. This year however their services were also constrained by the pandemic regulations. We worked closely with them in terms of maintaining health and safety requirements within the building, and on sharing thoughts and ideas on what was possible. Hop50+ for example managed for a short period to use the church garden to bring together small outdoor groups of their most vulnerable clients, to combat isolation and mental health issues. The church garden has proven a valuable resource in this respect, with the PCC welcoming the use of the garden by all clients of the Centres as well as residents from the wider local community.

Whilst being three quite separate organisations, we do work very well together in the one building, with a lot of good will and mutual cooperation and support. Volunteers from St John’s occasionally help in Hop50+; other members of St John’s fill places, also voluntarily, on the Board of Cornerstone.

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The pastoral care team comprises the vicar and two lay officers, one of whom is able to administer home communion. In 2020 the team made 67 visits and over 100 phone calls. This invaluable service is welcomed by all.

C. Mission and Outreach

2020 has seen the final year of our most recent Mission Action Plan at St John the Baptist. And along with the many challenges of the pandemic, by the grace of God, it has delivered to us some new and invigorating opportunities. Never has the need been greater to support one another in the church, to focus in on our worship and prayer and to intensify our consideration of how we can best support the wider community, than at this difficult time.

The overall Mission of St John’s for the last three years has been to Discover and Share the Love of God. In addressing this pragmatically we have planned, and now review, it in three parts: Open our Lives through Worship and Prayer; Share our Lives as a Christian Community; Work in Partnership with community groups to assist those in need.

Open our Lives through Worship and Prayer

We addressed the initial and changing regulations relating to COVID promptly and formally to provide safe modes of prayer and worship: this has involved a whole array of new methods of worship, from undertaking a detailed risk assessment to make the Church safe either for services, or for private prayer to assuring an effective track and trace service; training our stewards to manage safe sharing of the church space; providing and deploying a range of resources such as masks, gloves, surface cleaner; building an email mailing list to provide on-line contact, both worship and secular to support our congregation; increasing our pastoral calls across a wider group; ensuring notices outside the church are promptly changed with each new change. Particularly notable through this period have been the many sources shared between our congregation for prayer, hymns, and wider support that we alone were able to provide. During Easter and Christmas particularly, additional materials were provided to focus our Bible Study and reflection appropriately. Those joining the church during this time again commented on the quality of the welcome they received, even when the difficulties of that were so many. As each version of the regulations affected the services, they were promptly adapted to bring us together even if not in person, and when in person, with a priority on safety of our most vulnerable congregation.

Share our Lives as a Christian Community

During this year we have looked to the Diocese for guidance and for materials, and have been blessed that our vicar is uniquely placed in his role in Continuing Ministerial Development to develop both their resources and ours. Our Building and Finance Group have worked collaboratively to address some of the serious practical and financial challenges that a Grade 2 listed building presents and continues to do so. We have continued, in whatever form of service, to extend those contributing, through delivering Readings or Intercessions, and in discussing

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changes and taking feedback. As we developed our on-line communications, we were able more quickly to link in with new visitors to the church, some of whom have already become regulars. We have shared in the form of an on-line Bulletin valuable signposts to services and support, mental health advice, and good news stories from around the community.

Work in Partnership with community groups to assist those in need

This has been a challenging year for our partners in the church, who also service our community, as their services too have been at times closed down altogether or severely constrained by the regulations. Earlier in the year, we undertook a sympathetic review of the lease agreements, that recognised the challenges they are facing. We have kept in close touch with what they are able to offer, offering support where possible. Particularly we are grateful to Cornerstone, who despite all, managed to donate the cost of our roof repairs this year. We agreed parking facilities for a film crew, that brought income into HOP50+. And we worked closely with the Flowerstand, a well-known focal point and service to the community, as they varied their goods to both meet community needs and ensure the survival of the business. Our key charitable giving is effected through the leases with Cornerstone and with HOP50+, recognising our shared mission to provide support across all groups in the community. The lease with HOP50+ on that basis is set at one tenth of the market rate: this currently equates to an annual contribution of £15,750. And for Cornerstone, only a notional annual rent is set, which we can only estimate as a roughly equivalent contribution to their community services by the church. We have continued to collect for Fareshare and held a particularly successful appeal at Christmas, resulting in a large donation of food and toiletries for distribution to those in need. In order to make as great a contribution to our Parish Share to the Diocese as possible, we have reviewed and trimmed our regular costs. And as we approached the year end, we had a wonderful response to a request for Christmas Events. This led to an on-line Carol Service, the raffle of an original art work and a lively on-line Christmas Quiz. All of these contributed significantly not only to the depleted church funds but to the morale and community spirit of our congregation.

Challenges for 2021

St John’s faces many challenges in 2021, not least those relating to the financial and social impact of Coronavirus, i.e., improving income generation, both through increasing regular giving and through other sources – and addressing social isolation in the parish. Both of these activities rely on building our congregation and the support they offer to the church i.e. getting more people in, on the Electoral Roll, and the level of contribution to the work of the church they are willing to make.

As the church moves to re-opening, hopefully in 2021, more of the congregation are needed to engage actively in the maintenance and care of the church and its community. This both fully engages new members as they develop their understanding of our faith, whilst ensuring options for succession in years to come. In particular, as was flagged in last years’ report, both churchwardens are due for replacement and clear progress is needed on this for the health of the church going forward.

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The church must also address the need to:

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FINANCIAL REVIEW

Income

Expenditure

Reserves Policy

It is PCC policy to try to maintain a balance of general unrestricted funds which equates to approximately three months’ worth of unrestricted payments to ensure continued financial security and to provide for contingencies. The cash balance of £34,726 held on unrestricted (general) funds at the year end, together with the amounts payable to and by the PCC, was in excess of this target.

Designated funds are sums of unrestricted money earmarked by the PCC for specific purposes. Designated funds in respect of stonework repairs, garden improvements, organ repairs and quinquennial repairs stand at £6,605, £619, £1,000 and £10,000 respectively. The PCC may decide to set aside additional sums from its unrestricted funds in order to meet the cost of other future Church repairs and maintenance or contingences.

Signed on behalf of the PCC on 18 April 2021

Revd Dr Earl Collins - Vicar Chair

10

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST HOVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Receipts and Payments Accounts

Receipts
Notes
Voluntary Receipts
Planned Giving - Direct Debits
Planned Giving - Standing Orders
Collections at Services - Cash
Collections at Services - Gift Aid Envelopes
Sundry Donations and Appeals
3
Gift Aid recovered
4
Grants
Donations and legacies
Receipts from activities for generating funds
Trading Activities
5
Receipts from Church Activities
Rent from Church Lettings
Fees from Weddings & Funerals
6
Rent from Hop50+
Rent from The Flower Stand
7
Hop50+ Gas Bill
Cornerstone Community Centre Gas Bill
The Flower Stand Electricity Bill
VAT reclaims under LPoW
8
Contribution to Repairs from Tenants
7
Income from Investments
Bank interest
Other incoming resources
Insurance claim
Total Receipts		 Unrestricted
General
Designated
Fund
Fund
£
£
9,980
-
2,874
-
2,188
-
855
-
3,478
600
5,069
-
-
-
-
-
24,445
600
552
-
552
-
656
-
631
-
1,750
-
9,600
-
2,342
-
452
-
9
-
-
370
948
1,850
16,388
2,220
62
-
-
-
41,447
2,820		 Restricted
Fund
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total
All Funds
2020
£
9,980
2,874
2,188
855
4,078
5,069
-
-
25,045
552
552
656
631
1,750
9,600
2,342
452
9
370
2,798
18,608
62
-
44,267		 Total
All Funds
2019
£
9,980
2,874
2,188
855
3,478
5,069
-
-
24,445
552
552
656
631
1,750
9,600
2,342
452
9
-
948
16,388
62
-
41,447		 8,431
2,181
5,311
3,453
1,753
5,053
-
5
26,187
1,397
1,397
1,187
909
1,750
6,500
2,127
314
87
333
1,088
14,295
81
-
41,961

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Payments
Notes
Costs of generating Voluntary Income
Stewardship Costs
Expenses for fundraising
Church Activities
Missionary and Charitable Giving
Diocesan Parish Contribution
Clergy Expenses
Clergy Housing Costs (Utilities, Council Tax)
Deanery Synod Payment
Fees to Diocese
Church Insurance
Church Running Expenses (Utilities)
Church Maintenance
Upkeep of Services
Gardening
Mission & Hospitality
Governance Costs
Independent Examination fee
Total Payments
Excess of Receipts over Payments
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Funds as at 1 January 2020
Funds as at 31 December 2020		 Unrestricted
General
Designated
Fund
Fund
£
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(19,343)
-
-
-
(4,482)
-
(10)
-
(1,012)
-
(3,112)
-
(3,306)
-
(3,136)
(2,220)
(1,113)
-
(668)
(66)
-
-
-
(385)
-
(36,567)
(2,286)
(36,567)
(2,286)
4,879
534
-
-
4,879
534
29,847
17,689
34,726
18,223		 Restricted
Fund
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,559
2,559		 Total
All Funds
2020
£
-
-
-
-
(19,343)
-
(4,482)
(10)
(1,012)
(3,112)
(3,306)
(5,356)
(1,113)
(733)
-
(385)
(38,853)
(38,853)
5,413
-
5,413
50,095
55,508		 Total
All Funds
2019
£
-
-
-
(19,343)
-
(4,482)
(10)
(1,012)
(3,112)
(3,306)
(3,136)
(1,113)
(668)
-
-
(385)
(36,567)
(36,567)
4,879
-
4,879
29,847
34,726		 -
(469)
(469)
(861)
(18,000)
-
(1,659)
(10)
(266)
(3,050)
(4,006)
(3,261)
(1,542)
(1,708)
(738)
(385)
(35,487)
(35,956)
6,005
-
6,005
44,090
50,095

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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST HOVE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020

Monetary Assets
Current Account
CBF Deposit Fund
Other Assets
Debtors
Total Assets
Liabilities
Unpaid Diocesan fees
Other bills
TOTAL ASSETS		 2020
£
44,344
11,164
55,508
1,419
1,419
56,927
-
-
-
56,927		 2019
£
38,931
11,164
50,095
2,244
2,244
52,339
(304)
(417)
(721)
51,618

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Restricted Funds
Sound System Fund
a
Garden Fund
b
Unrestricted Funds
General
Designated - Stonework
c
Designated - Garden
d
Designated - Organ
e
Designated - Quinquennial
f
Total Funds		 Balance
01/01/2020
£
1,131
1,428
2,559
29,847
6,005
685
1,000
10,000
47,536
50,095		 Income
£
-
-
-
41,447
600
-
-
2,220
44,267
44,267		 Expenditure
£
-
-
-
(36,567)
-
(66)
-
(2,220)
(38,853)
(38,853)		 Transfer
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Balance
31/12/2020
£
1,131
1,428
2,559
34,726
6,605
619
1,000
10,000
52,949
55,508

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Notes

  1. The financial statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, using the Receipts and Payments basis. It should be noted that the figures for 2019 have been restated where appropriate for comparison purposes.

  2. The following assets are recognised but not valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities: moveable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust by the PCC which require a faculty for disposal.

  3. Sundry donations/appeals have increased by 133% representing the generosity of parishioners and nonparishioners through large one-off contributions.

  4. Gift Aid tax of £1,367 was received in respect of donations for the tax year 2019/20. A rebate of £1,306 was received via the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme for tax year 2019/20. A further sum of £2,396 was received during the year via the Parish Giving Scheme.

  5. Income from trading activities has decreased by 60% and is in relation to various fundraising activities e.g. online quiz, Carol Service and easyfundraising.

  6. Fees from weddings and funerals comprise of £22 and £609 respectively. This represents a 31% decrease from the previous year.

  7. There were unpaid invoices at the end of the year due from The Flower Stand (£342) and Brighton & Hove City Council (£1,077).

  8. A tax rebate of £370 was received from the Listed Places of Worship grant scheme in respect of VAT incurred in carrying out remedial repairs to the stairway roof.

This Financial Report for the year ended 31 December 2020, including the notes, was approved by the PCC and signed on its behalf by

________ Revd Dr Earl Collins Vicar

18th April 2021

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The Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts Parochial Church Council of St John the Baptist, Hove (Registered Charity No. 1146416)

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St John the Baptist, Hove

I report to the PCC on my examination of the accounts of the St John the Baptist, Hove (“the charity”) for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Respective Responsibilities of the PCC and the Examiner

The members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The PCC 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:-

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement

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 PCC 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.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:-

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.

Signed Clare Osbond FCIE 12 Silverdale Road, Hove, BN3 6FE

Date

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