# **Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council of St Bartholomew’s Church, Arborfield**
**for the year ended 31 December 2021**
## **Trustees Annual Report**
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) presents its Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2021.
## **Reference and administrative information**
The PCC is registered with the Charity Commission as The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Bartholomew’s, Arborfield, registration number 1146779.
The correspondence address of the Church is The Rectory, Church Lane, Arborfield, Berkshire RG2 9HZ.
The Trustees, members of the PCC who have served from 1 January 2021 until the date this report was approved are:
|Minister|Rev Piers Bickersteth (Chair)|
|---|---|
|Assoc. Minister|Rev Andrew Kearns|
|Churchwardens|Joseph Brown|
||Adedayo Ajibola|
|Deanery Synod reps|Gillian Kaiser|
||Poppy Brown|
||Anthony Pollock|
|Elected members|Alison Caldwell|
||Patricia Fryer|
||Ian Hollamby|
||Mark McDonnell|
||Hannah Schuster|
||Felicity Singh|
||Phil Rowlandson|
|Bankers|Barclays Bank PLC|
|Independent Examiner|Jacob Farley ACA|
1
## **Structure, governance and management**
The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England and operates under the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956.
The appointment of PCC members is governed by, and set out in, the Church Representation Rules. The Trustees, members of the PCC, are either elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting or are co-opted onto the PCC and hold office for 3 years.
## **Objectives and activities**
The principal purpose of St Bartholomew’s Church, Arborfield is the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The objectives of the PCC are defined by the Parochial Church Council (Powers) Measure 1956 as “to co-operate with the minister in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.”
In planning the activities the PCC has applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
## **Achievements and performance**
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. During 2020 we supported the following: Universities & Colleges Christian Fellowship (UCCF), OMF, Crosslinks with Abuja Bible College (Nigeria) and the Algeo Family with SOW, (The Gambia), Christian Community Action (CCA), and Open Doors.
Our Sunday services 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. This is also a vital time for us to grow as a fellowship and refreshments after the service provide the opportunity for relationships to build. It is our assumption, however, that our life as a Church should overflow into our daily lives and our growth groups continue to provide a natural context for relationships to develop whereby people can serve and encourage one another further.
Much of the year has once again been impacted by restrictions on our gatherings both locally and nationally in order to restrict the spread of CV-19. Despite the restrictions and the disruption they bring to “normal” church life, we are thankful for the way we have been able to continue to gather both in-person and online
Church at the Green marked its fourth birthday in March 2021 and continues to give thanks to God for all that He continues to do in establishing and keeping the church family. Piers Bickersteth continues in his role as rector of the benefice as well as leading the ministry at CTG.
Phil Rowlandson entered into his fourth year in his role on the staff team, and now functions as an assistant minister at CTG, whilst continuing the selection process for ordination in the Church of England.
2
Andy Kearns continues his role as Associate minister, based at Arborfield.
During the year the Electoral Roll was revised in accordance with Church of England practice and the number currently on the Roll is 118.
Most of the charity’s activities are undertaken by volunteers and the charity could not operate effectively without their efforts. In planning the activities, the PCC has applied the guidance on public benefit issued by the Charity Commission.
## **Financial review**
Our Lord, continues to be very kind to us with Andy Kearns our Associate minister continuing to lead us with support from Piers and Phil Rowlandson. From July we changed the model for supporting Church of the Green (CTG), so Arborfield PCC are no longer supporting CTG financially, the members of CTG pay their contributions into the Trust rather than to Arborfield PCC. We have also supported our mission partners as they seek to serve across the globe.
During the year the Church income was £175,397 (an increase of £13,843 from 2020) and Church expenditure was £127,631 (a decrease of £13,306 from 2020).
Additionally a £250,000 loan was granted by the Methodist Chapel Aid Limited towards the £255,912 cost of refurbishment of the School House. We are very pleased to say the project was completed successfully and that Andy Kearns and family moved into the property on 10[th] December.
The receipts and payments account also shows the final £8,500 repayments of the Church Hall Extension loans, and finally interest payments of £3,110 on the new School House loan.
The net receipts for the year were £30,244, so that total cash balances at 31 December 2021 were £61,855, of which £1,528 is restricted and £60,326 is unrestricted.
## **Reserves**
The trustees have agreed the policy in the amount of holding cash reserves of 2 months income. As CTG givers are no longer contributing to Arborfield PCC our monthly income has reduced however this has been offset by not paying CTG expenses since July. Despite this we have increased the amount held in our reserves. The cash held in the unrestricted fund has increased to £60,326 (2020: £28,732).
## **Quinquennial Inspection**
The quinquennial inspection was carried out in August 2020 and the report was received in October, immediate work has been recommended. Included in this year’s expenditure was the repair of the lightning conductor £6,618 which we were fortunate to receive a partial refund of £3,941 from our insurance company. An inspection and roof repairs of £1650 were made in January 2022. There are several cracks in the masonry around the church which are being actively monitored but it is not yet clear if and when repairs will be required.
3
## **Going concern**
The Charity is reliant on the support of voluntary donations to enable it to continue operating. The trustees believe that support will continue and that the Charity will continue to operate.
## **Responsibilities of trustees**
Charity law requires the PCC to prepare financial statements for each accounting year which record the receipts and payments of the charity for the year.
The PCC is responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable us to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011.
We also have a responsibility to safeguard the assets of the charity and to take reasonable steps to prevent fraud or any other irregularities.
With regard to the PCC’s obligations to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, the members of the PCC confirm that they have complied with their duties under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016.
Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 2 April 2022, and signed on its behalf by:
Piers Bickersteth Patricia Fryer Chairman Treasurer
4
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF**
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD ('the charity') for the year ended 31 December 2021 on pages 6 to 9 following.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records.
I have no concerns and 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.
Jacob Farley ACA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 5 May 2022
Page 5
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**
|Notes
**_Income receipts_**
Voluntary receipts
2(a)
Church activities
2(b)
Investment income
2(c)
Insurance claim
**_Capital and similar receipts_**
**_Total receipts_**
**Payments**
Church activities
3(a)
Ministry costs
3(b)
Mission and charitable gifts
3(c)
**_Total payments_**
Transfers between funds
**Net movement in funds**
Cash funds as at last year end
**Cash funds at this year end**
A
Net
of
receipts /
(payments) before
transfers
School House refurbishment
Church Hall loan repayments
Loan interest
Loan for refurbishment of School House|General
Funds
£
167,742
3,704
-
3,941
175,387
-
-
175,387
48,254
65,197
13,500
126,951
-
8,500
3,110
138,561
36,826
(5,232)
31,594
28,732
60,326|Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
10
-
10
-
-
10
15
-
665
680
-
-
-
680
(670)
(680)
(1,350)
2,879
1,528|Endowment
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
250,000
250,000
250,000
-
-
-
-
255,912
-
-
255,912
(5,912)
5,912
-
-
-|2021
£
167,742
3,704
10
3,941
175,397
250,000
250,000
425,397
48,269
65,197
14,165
127,631
255,912
8,500
3,110
395,153
30,244
-
30,244
31,611
61,855|2020
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||158,627
2,916
11
-|
||||||161,554|
||||||-|
||||||-|
|||||||
||||||161,554|
||||||61,240
65,698
14,000|
||||||140,937
8,595
8,500
-|
||||||158,032|
||||||3,522
-|
||||||3,522
28,089|
||||||31,611|
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 6
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
## **STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**
|**A Cash funds**
Cash at bank with immediate access
**B**
**Other monetary assets**
Gift aid due to charity
Tenancy deposit
Other debtors
**Total current assets**
**C**
**Liabilities**
**Falling due within one year**
Loan repayments
Diossian Board of Finance
Accounts payable
Fee for Independent Examination
Accrued expenses
**Total net current assets**
**D**
Church Hall sliding partitions
**Liabilities secured on School House**
**Total assets less secured liabilities**
School House used as clergy accommodation
(2021 valuation by Haslams, Chartered Surveyors)
CBF Investment Fund (Ditchfield Prize Bell Fund)
**Assets and secured liabilities retained for charity's own use**
Loan payments falling due within less than one year
Loan payments falling due after one year|General
funds
£
60,326
**60,326**
-
3,055
2,100
1,361
**6,516**
**66,842**
-
718
156
1,560
-
**2,434**
**64,408**
-
11,034
11,034
-
-
-
**11,034**|Restricted
funds
£
1,528
**1,528**
375
-
-
-
**375**
**1,903**
-
-
-
-
-
**-**
**1,903**
-
-
-
-
-
-
**-**|Endowment
funds
£
-
**-**
-
-
-
-
**-**
**-**
-
-
-
-
-
**-**
**-**
750,000
-
750,000
13,158
236,842
250,000
**500,000**|2021
£
61,855
**61,855**
375
3,055
2,100
1,361
**6,890**
**68,745**
-
718
156
1,560
-
**2,434**
**66,311**
750,000
11,034
761,034
13,158
236,842
250,000
**511,034**|2020
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||31,611|
||||||**31,611**|
||||||328
1,751
-
500|
||||||**2,579**|
||||||**34,190**|
||||||8,500
-
-
1,260
3,730|
||||||**13,490**|
||||||**20,700**|
||||||-
11,034|
||||||11,034|
||||||-
-|
||||||-|
||||||**11,034**|
School House is held under an endowment trust deed dated 1st December 1871 for the education of the children of Arborfield and Barkham in the principles of the Church of England at the Coombs Primary School. It is occupied as a residence by the church's associate minister for this purpose. The rent saved from renting accommodation for the church's associate minister from a third party will fund the loan repayments. There is therefore no additional liability on the PCC arising from this arrangement.
The above loan which is secured on the School House is repayable in equal half yearly instalments and is repayable in full by 2041.
Consecrated property, beneficed property and moveable church furnishings which require a special faculty for disposal are excluded from the above list of charity assets.
The accounts were approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Piers Bickersteth
Date: 2 April 2022
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
Page 7
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**
## **1 Accounting policies**
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis and comprise a statement that shows the charity's receipts and payments, a statement that summarises the charity's assets and liabilities and related notes. The accountancy profession have determined that only accounts prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards present a 'true and fair' view and, as these receipts and payments accounts have not (and cannot) be prepared in accordance with accounting standards, these accounts do not present (and are not intended to present) a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial activities and state of affairs.
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the PCC in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the PCC for particular purposes. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
|**2**
**a) Voluntary income**
Regular donations under gift aid
Other regular donations
Total regular receipts
One-off donations under gift aid
Other one-off donations
Collections
Total receipts from one-off donations
Gift aid reclaimed
**b) Church activities**
Clergy fees
Other activities and fees
**c)**
**Investment income**
Dividends from CBF investment funds
**3**
**a)**
**Church activities**
Church @ the Green
Church running costs
Office cost and central costs
Insurance
Independent examination
School House utilities
Assigned fees
Other charitable activities
Other costs
**b)**
**Ministry costs**
Associate Minister
Ministry trainees
Youth worker
Other ministry expenses
**c)**
**Mission and charitable gifts**
Christian Community Action
Crosslinks
OMF International
Open Doors
UCCF
Bibles given to school leavers|General
funds
£
79,076
11,735
90,811
46,453
800
72
47,325
29,606
167,742
3,619
85
3,704
-
-
General
funds
£
18,706
12,799
7,459
3,544
1,260
1,177
1,457
198
1,654
48,254
56,387
-
4,078
4,732
65,197
1,500
4,500
2,500
2,500
2,500
-
13,500|Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10
10
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
15
15
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
665
665|Endowment
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Endowment
funds
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Total
2021
£
79,076
11,735
90,811
46,453
800
72
47,325
29,606
167,742
3,619
85
3,704
10
10
Total
2021
£
18,706
12,799
7,459
3,544
1,260
1,177
1,457
198
1,669
48,269
56,387
-
4,078
4,732
65,197
1,500
4,500
2,500
2,500
2,500
665
14,165|Total
2020
£|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||89,393
9,630|
||||||99,023|
||||||23,300
5,600
592|
||||||29,492|
||||||30,113|
||||||158,627|
||||||2,432
484|
||||||2,916|
||||||11|
||||||11|
||||||Total
2020
£|
||||||39,492
5,721
8,750
3,515
1,140
-
477
177
1,968|
||||||61,240|
||||||55,452
5,528
4,056
662|
||||||65,698|
||||||1,500
4,500
2,500
2,500
2,500
500|
||||||14,000|
Page 8
## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021**
## **4 Staff and trustees**
The church has no direct employees. Its activities are carried out by volunteers and by staff employed by an independent charity (The Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust). Grants paid to that trust to meet these costs are included in the ministry section of note 3 above.
Included in the staff employed by that independent charity is Rev Andrew Kearns, who is a member of the PCC of Arborfield Church and hence a trustee. The Associate Minister costs shown in note 3 above represent the amounts paid to The Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust for provision of the services of Rev Kearns by that trust.
No person connected with the PCC has been paid remuneration or other benefits from the funds of the PCC.
## **5 Fund movements**
|**d movements**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**General funds**
**Restricted funds:**
Bell fund
School House fund
Ditchfield prize fund
Other nominated gifts
**Endowment funds:**
School House fund
**Total funds**|Opening
balance
£
28,732
1,182
680
193
823
2,879
-
-
31,611|Receipts
£
175,387
-
-
10
-
10
250,000
250,000
425,397|Payments
£
(138,561)
(15)
-
-
(665)
(680)
(255,912)
(255,912)
(395,153)|Transfers
£
(5,232)
-
(680)
-
-
(680)
5,912
5,912
-|Closing
balance
£
60,326|
||||||1,167
-
203
158|
||||||1,528|
||||||-|
||||||-|
||||||61,855|
The School House endowment fund has been created following the surrender of the lease of the School House. The School House is held in accordance with the terms of the original trust deed dated 1 December 1871.
The transfer from the restricted School House fund into the School House endowment fund reflects the trustees view that this fund is an endowment fund in accordance with the original trust deed relating to the School House.
The transfer from the general fund into the School House endowment fund is a contribution towards the refurbishment costs of the School House.
Page 9