Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council of St Bartholomew’s Church, Arborfield
for the year ended 31 December 2022
Trustees Annual Report
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) presents its Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2022.
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 2022 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 (resigned Nov 2022 as moved area) Bankers Barclays Bank PLC Independent Examiner Lisa Darby FCA
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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 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.”
The trustees confirm that they have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on the operation of public benefit.
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 2022 we supported the following: OMF, Christian Community Action (CCA), and Open Doors, along with a post-grad member of the church family working as a ministry trainee with a church in Southampton.
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.
It has been a joy to relinquish CV-19 restrictions on our gatherings and seek to return to “normal” church life and are thankful for the way we have been able to gather safely inperson as well as continue to deliver an online service.
Church at the Green marked its fifth birthday in March 2022 and continues to give thanks to God for all that He continues to do in establishing and keeping the church family, as well as building are relationships with neighbours who continue to move into the new housing locally. Piers Bickersteth continues in his role as rector of the benefice as well as leading the ministry at CTG.
Phil Rowlandson finished his fourth year in his role on the staff team, and began Church of England ordination training in September.
Andy Kearns continues his role as Associate minister, based at Arborfield.
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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. We have been blessed with a substantial legacy of £87,197 and several large donations.
During the year the Church income was £218,016 (an increase of £42,619 from 2021) and Church expenditure was £108,840 (a decrease of £18,791 from 2021).
Included within church expenditure we have made mortgage repayments of £20,704 (£13,158 Capital Repayments and £7547 Interests Repayments) to Methodist Chapel Aid Limited towards last year’s loan of £250,000 for the refurbishment of School House.
The total cash balances at 31 December 2022 were £171,031, of which £1,600 is restricted and £169,431 is unrestricted.
We are in the planning stages of creating a new car parking area next to the church hall to improve the safety of church visitors. This is estimated to cost around £40,000.
Reserves
The trustees have agreed the policy in the amount of holding cash reserves of 2 months unrestricted income which would be equivalent to £36k. The cash held in the unrestricted fund has increased to £169,431 (2021: £60,326).
Quinquennial Inspection
The quinquennial inspection was carried out in August 2020. Included in this year’s expenditure was the repair of the roof £2,000. There are several cracks in the masonry around the church which are being actively monitored with crack gauges. It is not yet clear if and when repairs will be required. There is a church working party which will be ensuring the required inspections and repairs are completed.
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.
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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 13 March 2023 and signed on its behalf by:
Piers Bickersteth
Patricia Fryer
Piers Bickersteth Patricia Fryer Chairman Treasurer
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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 2022 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
- 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.
Lisa Darby
Lisa Darby FCA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: 20 March 2023
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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
| 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 repayments Purchase of fixed assets Loan for refurbishment of School House |
General Funds £ 121,747 8,718 - - 130,465 - - 130,465 30,997 47,717 8,000 86,714 - - 1,085 7,547 95,345 35,120 (13,212) 21,908 60,326 82,234 |
Restricted Funds £ 165 60 10 - 235 - - 235 5 - 332 337 - - - - 337 (103) 174 71 1,528 1,600 |
Designated Funds £ 87,197 - - - 87,197 - - 87,197 - - - - - - - - - 87,197 - 87,197 - 87,197 |
Endowment Funds £ - - 120 - 120 - - 120 - - - - - - - 13,158 13,158 (13,038) 13,038 - - - |
2022 £ 209,109 8,778 130 - 218,016 - - 218,016 31,002 47,717 8,332 87,051 - - 1,085 20,704 108,840 109,176 - 109,176 61,855 171,031 |
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 |
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
| 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 Diocesan Board of Finance Accounts payable Grant obligations Fee for Independent Examination 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 £ 82,234 82,234 - 16,688 - 5,831 22,520 104,754 - - 5,500 1,440 6,940 97,814 - 11,034 11,034 - - - 11,034 |
Restricted funds £ 1,600 1,600 - - - - - 1,600 - - - - - 1,600 - - - - - - - |
Designated funds £ 87,197 87,197 - - - - - 87,197 - - - - - 87,197 - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 750,000 - 750,000 13,158 223,684 236,842 513,158 |
2022 £ 171,031 171,031 - 16,688 - 5,831 22,520 193,550 - - 5,500 1,440 6,940 186,610 750,000 11,034 761,034 13,158 223,684 236,842 524,192 |
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 |
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
Piers Bickersteth
Date: 13 March 2023
The notes on pages 8-9 form part of these accounts.
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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
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 Rental 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 Youth worker Other ministry expenses c) Mission and charitable gifts Christian Community Action South Central Gospel Crosslinks OMF International Open Doors UCCF Individuals Bibles given to school leavers |
General funds £ 67,464 11,897 79,361 28,135 3,875 335 32,345 10,041 121,747 5,706 3,012 8,718 - - - General funds £ - 12,429 4,942 4,206 1,978 1,603 2,830 - 3,010 30,997 40,258 4,234 3,225 47,717 1,500 1,000 - 2,500 2,500 - 500 - 8,000 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - 165 - 165 - 165 - 60 60 - 10 10 Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - - 5 5 - - - - - - - - - - 332 332 |
Designated funds £ - - - - 87,197 - 87,197 - 87,197 - - - - - - Endowment funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - 120 - 120 Endowment funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total 2022 £ 67,464 11,897 79,361 28,135 91,237 335 119,707 10,041 209,109 5,706 3,072 8,778 120 10 130 Total 2022 £ - 12,429 4,942 4,206 1,978 1,603 2,830 - 3,015 31,002 40,258 4,234 3,225 47,717 1,500 1,000 - 2,500 2,500 - 500 332 8,332 |
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 |
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PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
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.
Rev Andrew Kearns and family received accommodation in the recently renovated School House during the year. The Cost of this accommodation was covered by the PCC with a peppercorn rent of £10 pcm being paid by the minister.
Rev Andrew Kearns received a gift of £2,100 in the year. £600 grant for professional development and £1,500 gift for use in his sabbatical planned to be taken June - August 2023
No other 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 Women's Ministry fund Ditchfield prize fund Other nominated gifts Endowment funds: School House fund Designated funds: Sustain Ministry Legacy fund Total funds |
Opening balance £ 60,326 1,167 - 203 158 1,528 - - - - 61,855 |
Receipts £ 130,465 165 60 10 - 235 120 120 87,197 87,197 218,016 |
Payments £ (95,345) (5) - - (332) (337) (13,158) (13,158) - - (108,840) |
Transfers £ (13,212) - - - 174 174 13,038 13,038 - - - |
Closing balance £ 82,234 |
| 1,327 60 212 - |
|||||
| 1,600 | |||||
| - | |||||
| - | |||||
| 87,197 |
|||||
| 87,197 | |||||
| 171,031 |
The Bell fund relates to income and expenditure received and paid directly in relation to the Church bells and the bell ringing lessons. The Women's Ministry fund relates to income, donations and costs that are in relation to the Women's ministry that the church runs. The Ditchfield prize fund relates to income to be applied in providing one or more prizes for religious knowledge to one or more children in school every year. The Other nominated gifts fund is specifically for costs relating to buying school leavers bibles.
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 Sustain Ministry Legacy fund relates to a legacy gift received that will contribute towards the continued ministry running costs of the church. This includes such costs as Minister costs and children & youth ministry costs.
The transfer from the general fund into the Other nominated gifts fund is a contribution towards the purchase of bibles for school leavers.
The transfer from the general fund into the School House endowment fund is a contribution towards the mortgage repayment on the School House.
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