Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council of St Bartholomew’s Church, Arborfield
for the year ended 31 December 2024
Trustees Annual Report
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) presents its Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2024.
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 2024 until the date this report was approved (or as indicated) are:
| Rev Piers Bickersteth (Until | |
|---|---|
| 18/02/24) | |
| Rev Andrew Kearns (Chair since | |
| March 24) (appointed as rector | |
| Minister | 26thSept 24) |
| Associate Minister | Iain Lingwood (since 11/11/24) |
| Churchwardens | Joseph Brown |
| Lynn McBurnie | |
| Deanery Synod reps | Ruth Kershaw (since 21/04/24) |
| Poppy Brown | |
| Anthony Pollock | |
| Elected members | Alison Caldwell |
| Patricia Fryer | |
| Ian Hollamby (until 11/11/24) | |
| Mark McDonnell | |
| Rob Hughes (since 21/04/24) | |
| Felicity Singh | |
| Jonathan Green | |
| Alex Kershaw |
Bankers Barclays Bank PLC Independent Examiner Lisa Darby FCA
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.”
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 2024 we committed to support the following: Christian Community Action (CCA), Open Doors and Crosslinks.
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.
Church at the Green marked its seventh birthday in March 2024 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 our relationships with neighbours who continue to move into the new housing locally. Piers Bickersteth retired as Rector in February 2024, and in September 2024 Rev Iain Lingwood was licensed to lead the ministry at CTG.
Andy Kearns was installed as the new Rector of Arborfield with Barkham on 26[th] September and continues to be based at St Bartholomew’s, Arborfield.
During the year the Electoral Roll was revised in accordance with Church of England practice and the number currently on the Roll is 119.
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.
2
Financial review
Our Lord, continues to be very kind to us and we feel so blessed to have Andy Kearns take up the role of rector for the benefice. We are also very grateful to have Ruth Kershaw who has joined the team on a part-time basis as community minister. The diocese now pay Andy’s salary and Ruth’s is handled by the trust.
During the year the Church income was £ 119,167 (a decrease of £7,175 from 2023) and Church expenditure was £122,432 (last year £126,027(a decrease of £3, 596 from 2023).
We have made mortgage repayments of £25,542(£13,144 Capital Repayments and £12,398 Interest Repayments) to Methodist Chapel Aid limited towards our loan of £250,000 for the refurbishment of School House.
There is £65,546 invested in a 120 day notice investment fund and £102,535 in our current accounts (£1, 724 of these funds are restricted)
We have received planning permission to move ahead with our car park and have a quote of £64,800 for this work.
Heating
Our boiler is broken and the diocese is recommending we move to under pew heating. We have an initial quote is £24,190.00p plus vat.
Reserves
The reserves policy of the charity is to hold cash reserves which equate to a minimum of 2 months income at all times. For the 2024 year end this would require approximately £19,000 of cash reserve. The unrestricted immediately accessible cash held at the year end was £166,356; so the trustees are confident their reserve policy has been complied with.
Quinquennial Inspection
The quinquennial inspection was carried out in August 2020 and is therefore due for renewal this year. 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.
3
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 Mar 31, 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Andrew Kearns Patricia Fryer Patricia Fryer (Mar 31, 2025 05:22 GMT+1) Rev Andrew Kearns 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 2024 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 (Mar 31, 2025 15:30 GMT+1)
Lisa Darby FCA
Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage LONDON EC1Y 8AB
Date: Mar 31, 2025
Page 5
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Notes Income receipts Voluntary receipts 2(a) Church activities 2(b) Investment income 2(c) 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 Car Park building work Loan repayments |
General Funds £ 105,245 2,836 5,317 113,398 30,219 57,954 5,026 93,199 2,736 - 2,736 95,935 17,463 (20,647) (3,185) 82,404 79,219 |
Restricted Funds £ 50 - 3 53 5 - 424 429 - - - 429 (376) 366 (10) 1,674 1,664 |
Designated Funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - (70) (70) 87,267 87,197 |
Endowment Funds £ - - 5,716 5,716 525 - - 525 - 25,542 25,542 26,067 (20,351) 20,351 - - - |
2024 £ 105,295 2,836 11,036 119,167 30,750 57,954 5,450 94,154 2,736 25,542 28,278 122,432 (3,265) - (3,265) 171,345 168,080 |
2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 114,866 9,119 2,357 |
||||||
| 126,342 | ||||||
| 34,672 44,856 15,143 |
||||||
| 94,672 7,187 24,168 |
||||||
| 31,356 | ||||||
| 126,027 | ||||||
| 314 - |
||||||
| 314 171,031 |
||||||
| 171,345 |
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 2024
| A Cash funds Cash at bank with immediate access United Trust Account - Investment B Other monetary assets Gift aid due to charity Prepayment Other debtors Total current assets C Liabilities Falling due within one year Diocesan Board of Finance Accounts payable Grant obligations Fee for Independent Examination Other creditors Total net current assets D Other Church Assets Liabilities secured on School House Total assets less secured liabilities School House used as clergy accommodation (2021 valuation by Haslams, Chartered Surveyors) Assets and secured liabilities retained for charity's own use Capital Loan payments falling due within less than one year Capital Loan payments falling due after one year Church Hall sliding partitions (trustees deem these to be fully depreciated in 2024) |
General funds £ 60,535 18,685 79,219 9,304 2,132 236 11,672 90,891 1,030 682 4,000 1,512 650 7,874 83,017 - 2,887 |
Restricted funds £ - 1,664 1,664 - - - - 1,664 - - - - - - 1,664 - - - - - - - - |
Designated funds £ 42,000 45,197 87,197 - - - - 87,197 - - - - - - 87,197 - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 750,000 - - 750,000 13,158 197,368 210,526 539,474 |
2024 £ 102,535 65,546 168,080 9,304 2,132 236 11,672 179,752 1,030 682 4,000 1,512 650 7,874 171,878 750,000 - 2,887 752,887 13,158 197,368 210,526 542,361 |
2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69,117 102,228 |
||||||
| 171,345 | ||||||
| 2,557 2,075 - |
||||||
| 4,632 | ||||||
| 175,977 | ||||||
| 852 730 - 1,500 351 |
||||||
| 3,433 | ||||||
| 172,544 | ||||||
| 750,000 11,034 - |
||||||
| 2,887 | 761,034 | |||||
| - - - 2,887 |
13,158 210,526 |
|||||
| 223,684 | ||||||
| 537,350 |
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:
Andrew Kearns
Andrew Kearns (Mar 31, 2025 10:04 GMT+1)
Rev Andrew Kearns
Mar 31, 2025 Date: __
The notes on pages 9-10 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 2024
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 costs Assigned fees Other charitable activities Other costs b) Ministry costs Associate Minister Youth worker Parish Share Other ministry expenses c) Mission and charitable gifts Christian Community Action South Central Gospel Crosslinks Open Doors Church at the Green Individuals Bibles given to school leavers Friends of the Cathedral |
General funds £ 68,301 16,755 85,056 8,360 990 274 9,624 10,565 105,245 2,256 580 2,836 - 5,317 5,317 General funds £ 2,276 11,261 6,928 3,739 2,042 957 852 65 2,099 30,219 27,132 375 28,902 1,545 57,954 - - 5,016 - - - - 10 5,026 |
Restricted funds £ - - - - 50 - 50 - 50 - - - - 3 3 Restricted funds £ - - - - - - - 5 5 - - - - - - - - - 424 424 |
Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Designated funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds £ - - - - - - - - - - - - 5,716 - 5,716 Endowment funds £ - - - 525 - - - - - 525 - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total 2024 £ 68,301 16,755 85,056 8,360 1,040 274 9,674 10,565 105,295 2,256 580 2,836 5,716 5,320 11,036 Total 2024 £ 2,276 11,261 6,928 4,264 2,042 957 852 65 2,104 30,750 27,132 375 28,902 1,545 57,954 - - 5,016 - - - 424 10 5,450 |
Total 2023 £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65,150 16,040 |
||||||
| 81,190 | ||||||
| 1,810 585 409 |
||||||
| 2,804 | ||||||
| 30,872 | ||||||
| 114,866 | ||||||
| 3,212 5,907 |
||||||
| 9,119 | ||||||
| 120 2,237 |
||||||
| 2,357 | ||||||
| Total 2023 £ |
||||||
| - 12,950 9,892 4,646 1,968 - 544 363 4,309 |
||||||
| 34,672 | ||||||
| 39,378 4,479 - 999 |
||||||
| 44,856 | ||||||
| 2,500 500 3,394 2,500 5,500 500 249 - |
||||||
| 15,143 |
Page 8
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S, ARBORFIELD
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
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 the independent charity are:
Rev Andrew Kearns was employed by the Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust until September 2024. During this period Rev Andrew Kearns and family received accommodation in the recently renovated School House. The cost of this accommodation was covered by the PCC with a peppercorn rent of £10 pcm being paid by the minister. [NB by kind permission of the diocese the Kearns family moved into the rectory on 16th August and School House remained vacant until 27th September]
In September 2024 Rev Kearns was appointed Rector and is now employed by the Diocese.
The PCC pay Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust a proportion of benefice’s parish share, which Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust subsequently provide to the Diocese (2024: £28,902) who provide Rev. Kearns with a stipend and accommodation to carry out his role as Rector. As Rector Rev. Kearns remains a member of the PCC and hence a trustee. [Note the benefice is made up of 4 churches who all pay a proportion of the parish share which is why the parish share is not paid directly to the Diocese] "
In September 2024 Rev Iain Lingwood was appointed Associate Minister, he is a member of the PCC and hence a trustee. He is employed by the Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust. Since 27th October 2024 Rev. Lingwood and the family receive accommodation in the School House which is rented from the PCC by the Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust at a rate of £1782 pcm. In addition Iain Lingwood pays a peppercorn rent of 10 pcm to the PCC.
Ruth Kershaw who is a member of the PCC and hence a trustee is employed by the Arborfield and Barkham Parish Churches Trust in the role of Community Worker. Ruth was appointed on 1st October 2024.
No other person connected with the PCC has been paid remuneration or other benefits from the funds of the PCC, other than the direct reimbursement of expenses with no profit element.
5 Fund movements
| General funds Restricted funds: Bell fund Women's Ministry fund Ditchfield prize fund Other nominated gifts Endowment funds: School House fund Designated funds: Women's Ministry fund Sustain Ministry Legacy fund Total funds |
Opening balance £ 82,404 1,402 60 212 - 1,674 |
Receipts £ 113,398 50 - 3 - 53 |
Payments £ (95,935) (5) - (424) (429) |
Transfers £ (20,647) 5 (60) 421 366 |
Closing balance £ 79,219 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,452 - 212 - |
|||||
| 1,664 | |||||
| - - 70 87,197 87,267 171,345 |
5,716 5,716 - - - 119,167 |
(26,067) (26,067) - - - (122,432) |
20,351 20,351 (70) - (70) - |
- | |
| - | |||||
| - 87,197 |
|||||
| 87,197 | |||||
| 168,080 |
The Bell fund relates to income and expenditure received and paid directly in relation to the Church bells and the bell ringing lessons. The restricted Women's Ministry fund relates to income, donations and costs that are in relation to the Women's ministry that the church runs. This fund is closed in 2024.
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 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 Ditchfield prize 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.
The transfer from the general fund into the Bell fund is a contribution towards the annual bell expenditure incurred during 2024. The transfer from the designated Women's Ministry fund to the general fund reflects the closure of this fund.
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