Charity Registration No. 1147737
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE
YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Parochial Church Council
Ex-Officio Members Vicar: Rev. Peter Jenner Associate Minister: Rev Caroline Mullins Churchwarden: Mr Simon Crome Deanery Synod Representatives: Mrs Jane Barnett Mrs Jean Hoseason Elected Members Mrs Heather Allen Mrs Ann Ellis Mr John O’Neill Miss Stephanie Post Mrs Margaret Thompson Charity Number 1147737 Independent examiner Frances Wilde FCCA DChA Warner Wilde Chartered Certified Accountants 4 Marigold Drive Bisley Surrey GU24 4QS Bankers CAF Bank Ltd 25 Kings Hill Avenue Kings Hill West Malling Kent ME19 4JQ Co-operative Bank Plc P.O. Box 250 Delf House Southway Skelmersdale WN8 6WT Lloyds Bank plc Surbiton Branch 1 Claremont Road Surbiton KT6 4QS
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Parochial Church Council's report | 1 - 21 |
| Independent examiner's report | 22 |
| Statement of financial activities | 23 - 24 |
| Balance sheet | 25 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 26 - 36 |
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
The Parochial Church Council presents its report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2021.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)”. The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cashflows.
Structure, governance and management
The charity was established by the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended and the Church Representation Rules (contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 as amended). The Parish is within the Diocese of Guildford.
The PCC was previously an excepted charity, but in accordance with the Charities Act 2006 has now registered as a charity, number 1147737.
The members of the Parochial Church Council who served during the year were:
Parochial Church Council
The members of the PCC who served during the year were:
Ex-Officio Members
Vicar: Rev. Peter Jenner Associate Minister: Rev Caroline Mullins Churchwardens: Mr Simon Crome (from APCM 2020) Mrs Heather Allen (until APCM 2021) (thereafter position of 2[nd] Churchwarden vacant) Deanery Synod Representatives: Mrs Jean Hoseason (from APCM 2020) Mrs Jane Barnett (from APCM 2021) Diocesan Synod Representative: Mrs Jane Barnett
Elected Members
Mrs Ann Ellis Mr John O’Neill Miss Stephanie Post Mrs Margaret Thompson Mrs Heather Allen (from APCM 2021)
Co-opted Members
(None)
The method of appointment of Parochial Church Council ('PCC') members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC.
-1-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
The PCC meets six times a year to take the main policy decisions of the church. The Standing Committee is a statutory group which consists of the Church Wardens, Vicar and Officers of the PCC. It meets when necessary to conduct the day to day business and implement the policies of the PCC, and reports to the PCC.
The Parochial Church Council have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks. Maintenance, repair, or replacement of essential installations is carried out periodically so that key operational objectives of St Christopher's are delivered. Fire safety inspections occur annually ensuring that high-risk areas are adequately supplied with fire safety equipment. All building and liability insurances are in place reducing financial risk. The PCC has ensured that the church complies with the latest safeguarding policies and practices for children and vulnerable adults issued by the House of Bishops and has appointed a safeguarding officer to whom any concerns can be directed.
Objectives and activities
The charity's objectives are to co-operate with the vicar, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC also has maintenance responsibilities for St Christopher's. The Parochial Church Council have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake. A summary of the activities carried out has been incorporated within the 'Achievements and performance' section of the PCC report.
Achievements and Performance
Overview of 2021
We started 2021 once again unable to hold services in the church. Fr. Peter’s technological skills were keeping us together on-line. Our congregation was avoiding Covid-19 and keeping remarkably fit and well, all things considered. Inevitably there had been some illness, but through God’s grace we were still standing, largely intact and in pretty good spirit. Thanks to rigorous control of and deep cuts in expenditure, the financial outlook was tough but was sound for the time being. Covid-19’s Delta variant was in full swing, and looking to the future was definitely a case of looking through a glass darkly.
It would have been easy to start 2021 downhearted, but that would have been so wrong. Of faith, hope and charity, the greatest is charity, and faith is the essence which brings us together, but the importance of hope should never be underestimated. We would not be able to do all we wanted in 2021, but looking back it is satisfying to recall how much we did achieve.
The response to the Advent Trail around Hinchley Wood, for children and families, had been so good that Emma Rush and Jane Barnett, supported by Maz Usher, Rachel Herbert and several others, devised the idea of the Hinchley Wood Safari Park. Those of us whose children had flown the nest put up (rather delightful) posters of animals in our windows, a fresh one each week, and children and families came around trying to spot them - and we revelled in spotting them. The Safari Park continued until the start of March, but with the children returning to school on 8th March it had to come to an end.
With the increased roll-out of vaccines against Covid-19, Hinchley Wood’s pharmacy, Wallis Jones, wished to run a vaccine centre . They approached the Church to see whether we had sufficient and suitable space which we could let to them. Agreement was reached, the NHS finally reached a positive decision and Wallis Jones opened their vaccine centre in the Church (or the Hall at weekends) from 20[th] March. The vaccine centre is still running (currently until the end of March). We were pleased to be able to host such a facility at this time, and a regular hiring was a great relief financially.
-2-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
The Church opened its doors again for services, starting with Palm Sunday on 28[th] March. The service was obviously a little constrained, with no processing with palms, etc., but it was good to be back.
Fr. Peter celebrated the 25[th] anniversary of his ordination on 8[th] July. It had been hoped that we could celebrate with a certain amount of style, with a special Eucharist followed by a reception, but in the event Covid-19 had not relented sufficiently, so we had to celebrate this milestone in his vocation individually rather than collectively.
Again, conditions had not improved enough for the Summer Party on 18[th] July to go ahead.
On 22[nd] August we were able to hold a Rainbow Service , in the spirit of our inclusive church statement. It was an enjoyable service with a good congregation for these constrained times, leaving a strong sense that this was something that should be done again, with every hope of word-of-mouth snowballing the congregation.
By Climate Sunday, on 5[th] September, we had achieved a Silver award as an Eco Church . Whilst it is nice to pat ourselves on the back, we must recognise that this would not have been achieved without the efforts of Jane Barnett and the others in the Eco Church teams.
A related project to help improve life in the less developed parts of the world was the “Toilet Twinning” project. So successful were Jane and her team in sponsoring toilet facilities in the developing world that our Church ran out of toilets to twin. It may sound a bizarre idea to us in the developed world, but it produces a significant improvement in the quality of life for the beneficiaries, especially women, in the developing world.
It had been hoped that we could have a Heritage Open Day, involving the local community, on 11[th] September, but conditions were not yet suitable for us to expect to make a success of it as a public event.
We did, though, hold the Harvest Festival service on 19[th] September, and followed it with a successful bring-and-share Harvest Lunch in the Hall.
A highlight of the year was the Archbishop of Canterbury visiting the diocese during September, with his particular visit to Emly Deanery (our deanery) on 25[th] September.
The hoped for Poetry and Music evening on 9[th] October proved, sadly, to be impractical to organise satisfactorily in the prevailing state of Covid-19, so had to be left for the time being. However, we were able to assemble a good working party of experienced parishioners to have a go at clearing out unnecessary clutter and to start freeing up some storage space (to store new clutter, perhaps). We set to with good cheer and did make some space, but were left with the conclusion that a few more days were needed to make a serious impact.
On 16[th] October a number of us went on a pilgrimage to Westminster Abbey for the Feast of St. Edward the Confessor, a day when the Abbey is open to pilgrims but closed to tourists.
-3-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
The All Souls service on 31[st] October was well attended, its theme being particularly resonant at the time.
Jane Barnett organised another of her excellent quiz nights on 13[th] November. Numbers had to be kept down in the prevailing circumstances, but it was thoroughly enjoyed by all of us who secured places and it proved a great success.
Remembrance Sunday on 14[th] November in the gardens of Station Approach was well attended. The clearance of the shrubbery and trees, which used to form an enclosing crescent around the War Memorial, had opened the gardens up considerably, to the great benefit of the service. As ever, we were grateful to the musicians of Hinchley Wood School for their support. There was a substantial congregation, with representatives of the Royal British Legion, Elmbridge District Council, local schools and other organisations. There was a particularly impressive turn-out from all ages of the Scouting and Guiding movements.
Whilst it was not practical to put on a Christmas Bazaar on the scale which we had done in the past, we were concerned that, as we were unable to hold one last year, if we did not doing something of the sort this year there was a risk of it sliding off the calendar forever. We put on a smaller event, a Christmas Café , on 20[th] November, with an aim of attracting families and children into the Church. We had no idea how successful we would be, but in the event it went very well, and gives us a good foundation to build on for Christmases future
-4-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
On the 5[th] December Messy Church was at last able to reappear, in the form of Messy Christingle , led by Revd. Caroline. Unfortunately, very shortly afterwards there was increasing concern about the Omicron variant of Covid-19 : it was proving highly transmissible, and it was not yet possible to tell whether it was less severe. The rest of the Christmas arrangements came under pressure.
The Parish Christmas Lunch had to be deferred (but, fotunately, only until the end of February).
Happily, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols could go ahead in the evening of 19[th] December, and a busy Crib Service was held on Christmas Eve.
-5-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
There was concern about being able to resource both Midnight Mass and the morning service on Christmas Day . Reluctantly, it was decided that we could only hold one of them, and that we would have to dispense with Midnight Mass.
I have left details on a number of areas of parish life to those who are better placed to describe them. I am grateful to them for their reports on Children’s Ministry, Pastoral Ministry , the Mothers’ Union , the Hinchley Wood Fellowship , the Men’s Group and Eco Church , which appear below.
So many people contribute in so many ways to parish life that it is impossible for my magpie mind to recall all of them at the right time to record expressly our collective appreciation to all who deserve it. It is no solution to evade the whole question by appreciating no one, so expressing appreciation to some individuals should not to be taken by anyone as a refusal to appreciate their contribution.
Throughout the year we have striven to provide music for our services. When we could not be in church, our virtual choir enhanced our Zoom services and when we could be in church we had the benefit of our choir physically. We enjoyed all Emma Hawksley’s playing of the piano, and the occasions when her son Axel could join her on the violin. Sadly she has moved on, but since then we greatly appreciated Gemma Brady‘s clarinet playing. Anthony and Anne Cairns recently joined our congregation, and great was our joy when it turned out that Anthony was an organist and would like to play our organ. But the music was never allowed to die, thanks to the constant presence and inspiration of our guitarist, Dave Ellis. To all our musicians, singers and instrumentalists, many thanks.
Fr. Peter modestly disclaims his talent but, at the very least, in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king. That, though, would be to accept his modesty at face value. In truth we owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for carrying us through these difficult times with his skill in applying technology to our socially-distanced and locked-down times. Thanks to him we were able to hold services on Zoom alone, or hybrid services both in church and on Zoom. His skills brought the virtual choir together – not only together but to produce a multi-layered wall of sound. (I am not much of a one for chants, but the haunting beauty of some of the Taize chants they sang is an enduring joy.) He also roped in the choir of St. Martin’s-le-Grand. He brought us together over Zoom for coffee mornings, Hinchley Wood fellowship and many more meetings in fellowship, and more prosaically but most importantly, enabled us to hold PCC and other administrative meetings on-line. That also involved his dealing with all the licensing and other administrative matters all that involved.
Throughout the year Fr. Peter and Margaret Thompson have worked hard to manage our finances , and we must be very grateful to both of them for ensuring we finished the year on such a sound footing. John O’Neill has quietly but steadily kept the church and hall maintained, well supported by Heather Allen. Heather was the PCC member responsible for maintenance, as well as being a churchwarden, until the last APCM and has remained unstintingly helpful to her successors.
I should also like to thank all those who volunteered as Covid stewards throughout the year, without whom we could not have held our services in church. Above all, though, I would like to thank them for their continuing ready and willing responses as I put together the rota month by month.
Our congregation has held together remarkably well, and we should all congratulate each other on our steadfastness in adversity, and thank God for keeping us and for sustaining us together.
We said goodbye to Don Beardshall , who left us to join his family in the West Country. Don, in his own right as well as with his late wife Moira, has done a great deal over many years for St. Christopher’s, and for Hinchley Wood generally. We were sorry to lose him.
Despite a pandemic raging, our regular congregation remained in remarkably good health and it was not until the latter half of 2021 that we lost anyone through death, from any cause. Sadly though, we then lost Hilda Highley , Anne Ashby and, at Christmas, John Coath . Anne’s death is particularly poignant, as she appears as the first name in St. Christopher’s baptismal register.
-6-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
And so we came to the end of 2021, wondering what impositions would be placed upon us because of that Omicron variant, but holding on in faith, hope and good heart. By the grace of God, we were in far better shape than we could have expected at the end of 2020 as we contemplated the year ahead.
Beyond 2021, but before this APCM, we have also lost Norman Phillips , a former churchwarden and someone who until recently has been very active in Hinchley Wood life, and Michael Worley .
Simon Crome, Churchwarden
The Proceedings of St. Christopher’s Parochial Church Council, 2021
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. [Matthew 18:20]
The first meeting of the PCC in 2021 was on 18[th] January 2021 , over Zoom, as were all its meetings throughout the year.
We started working on “PCC Tonight”, a course devised by CPAS to help the PCC consider what it was trying to achieve and to help make it work more effectively. This involved spending the first 20 minutes of each meeting looking at a particular aspect of the PCC, clarifying what we were trying to achieve and how we could better go about it.
Fr. Peter told us of the success of Zoom coffee mornings, which were being held for half an hour from 11 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Revd. Caroline informed us that she, with Rachel Herbert’s help, was holding an on-line Alpha course, starting on 21[st] January. With regret, Messy Church (with its particular emphasis on children) had had to be suspended.
The next meeting, on 22[nd] February , was largely concerned with preparations for the APCM, on 21[st] March.
As to re-opening the church, it was felt that at that time the data were still too volatile to justify re-opening the church, but there was general agreement that there was a reasonable prospect of re-opening from Palm Sunday, 28th March.
After the financial shocks of the previous year, and the uncertain future, the PCC considered and adopted a policy for our financial reserves as follows:
-7-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
“Our Reserves Policy, based on advice from our independent examiner, is to keep sufficient reserves to cover six months’ activity without revenue. At the beginning of the Covid pandemic, we were in this position, but now, one year on, our reserves are somewhat depleted. The PCC are committed to restoring our reserves over the next 5-10 years.”
The third meeting was on 8[th] March 2021.
The decision was taken that in-person services would restart on Palm Sunday, 28[th] March, whilst continuing on-line access, on the hybrid service basis.
The PCC was able to consider potential events for the rest of the year, with a reasonable hope that they might really happen.
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting was held on 21[st] March .
The minutes of that meeting are before this meeting for approval, so it would be impertinent to comment on them here, except to point out that whilst St. Christopher’s should have two churchwardens, here was only one candidate. For the forthcoming year we would be short a churchwarden.
The fourth meeting, the first after the APCM, was held on 19[th] April 2021
Fr. Peter reported on the elective shortage of one churchwarden, and of the remaining vacancies for four members of the PCC.
The following office-holders were appointed (or re-appointed):
Lay Vice-Chair Heather Allen Secretary Stephanie Post Treasurer Margaret Thompson Electoral Roll Officer Ann Ellis Maintenance Representative John O’Neill Safeguarding Representative Jane Barnett ( also Safeguarding Officer and DBS Validator ) Health and Safety Representative Margaret Thompson ( assisted as Co-Ordinator by Roger Thompson)
8-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Events Committee Representative ( assisted as Co-Ordinator by Hinchley Wood Fellowship Representative The Finance Committee to comprise:
Events Committee Representative Margaret Thompson ( assisted as Co-Ordinator by Roger Thompson) Hinchley Wood Fellowship Representative Jean Hoseason; The Finance Committee to comprise: Margaret Thompson, Fr. Peter Jenner, Heather Allen and Simon Crome Finance Signatories to be: Margaret Thompson, Heather Allen and Simon Crome
Jane Barnett updated us on progress in Eco Church. It had attained gold in ministry, silver in land and buildings and bronze in community and local engagement, and lifestyle. Jane undertook to urge the groups to aim for silver in the remaining bronze areas by 5[th] September 2021.
Hybrid services were discussed and it was recognised that they were likely to stay. For some members of the congregation in hospital, housebound or in care homes, hybrid services were (regardless of Covid19) the only way they could join us in church.
The fifth meeting took place on 14[th] June.
Fr. Peter advised the PCC that attendance in Church had increased and the number tuning-in to Zoom had decreased.
Reports towards Vision 2020 were received from the Social Outreach, and the Prayer and Spiritual Development, Vision Working Parties. The PCC adopted the report of the Social Outreach Vision Working Party, but delayed its implementation until there were sufficient people available to form its proposed Social Outreach Development Group, for effecting its proposals.
The forthcoming visit by the Archbishop of Canterbury to Guildford Diocese was discussed. We were encouraged to visit one or more venues in the Guildford Diocese when the Archbishop was due to arrive and, in particular, to invite non-church-going friends along. His visit to Emly Deanery was scheduled for 25[th] September, at Esher High School.
The PCC met for the sixth time on 20[th] September 2021
The PCC received a report on the Children and Young People Vision Working Party
After the Harvest Festival service, Fr. Peter had taken all the food donated to the East Elmbridge Food Bank at West Molesey.
There was concern that we had accreted a great deal of “stuff”, much of which seemed redundant, and that the church was running short of storage space. It was decided to organise working parties to perform an unseasonal spring-clean, and to clear out corners and cupboards of unneeded items.
The seventh and final meeting of the PCC in 2021 took place on 15[th] November 2021
The PCC held its final session of PCC Tonight
-9-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
The tricky issue was deciding what to do about the service on Sunday 26[th] December, given that Christmas fell on the Saturday the day before. After some consideration it was felt that no one apart from the priest was likely to attend, and, as the diocese was going to hold a diocese wide on-line service, it would be better not to try to hold the service.
Fr. Peter explained that the diocese had a plan to make the Bishop’s annual visitation more effective, incorporating into it the Parish Needs Based Process, to which end a Deanery Vision Day would be taking place on Saturday 27 November to introduce that process. A second meeting, specifically for St. Christopher’s, would take place on 7[th] February 2022. The visitation itself, conducted by the Archdeacon, would take place on 4[th] April.
The PCC approved the proposed budget for 2022
As to the generality of the proceedings of the PCC in 2021, we were able to make procedural improvements thanks to the PCC Tonight course. Ministry matters had seemed to be relegated to a secondary position, appearing on the agenda after more material concerns, which was topsy-turvy. They were brought towards the top of the agenda, to become the first substantial item after the PCC Tonight session.
The running financial position was reported on at each meeting, as was safeguarding.
We are fortunate to have Stephanie Post as PCC secretary. It is usually an unsung role, but an essential one. It is all too easy to overlook the effort and dedication she brings to the task.
Simon Crome, Churchwarden
Safeguarding Report
Safeguarding training and practices continue to be regularly updated at St Christopher’s. The PCC has complied with the duty to have “due regard” to the House of Bishops’ guidance in relation to safeguarding. All members of our PCC are aware of our safeguarding policy/guidance and are trained appropriately for their roles. The House of Bishops’ ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ safeguarding policy statement was officially adopted at the first PCC meeting after the APCM in 2021. [A copy of this policy statement is on display on the church noticeboard].
Also displayed, are details about how to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor and the Parish Safeguarding Officer. There is information on how to get help, outside of the church, with child and adult safeguarding issues. Also, all safeguarding arrangements are easily accessible on our parish website.
Whilst the pandemic has had an impact on the way safeguarding can be done and managed, our church has remained a safe space for those within the community. Risk assessments have been completed and agreed for all church activities.
The PCC has continued to review policies and copies of these are available on our church website. All PCC members have undertaken safeguarding training online; most recently the Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse course. DBS checks have been applied for or renewed using an online platform.
Guildford Diocese has adopted the use of a dashboard, an online tool to assist each parish to maintain a record of all safeguarding issues and it automatically keeps us up to date with local and national changes in safeguarding requirements. The safeguarding audit is also contained in the dashboard. The dashboard also produces action plans and these are discussed at PCC meetings and are used to inform all safeguarding decisions.
Jane Barnett, Parish Safeguarding Officer
-10-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Church Musicians
Following a frustrating year when we had been unable to perform in the church, it was a pleasure to once again lead the congregation in our services. Den and I returned to choosing hymns for those services not chosen by Caroline for her own services.
We are delighted that Stephanie Post has joined the choir permanently. On occasion the choir is also augmented by Julia Bowden, Fr. Peter and Caroline. We were also delighted when Ted Woodruffe-Peacock once again joined us for the carol service.
This year in particular Dave has shouldered a great deal of responsibility for accompanying the choir. We are extremely grateful to him for his skill and for always being so reliable.
Emma Hawksley accompanied us on piano until August when, sadly, she changed jobs and was no longer able to commit to Sunday services. She kindly returned for the Crib Service.
We have also had occasional assistance from Gemma Brady on the clarinet, complimenting Dave on guitar.
We were delighted when, in October, Anthony Cairns volunteered his services as organist. It is lovely to have the organ used regularly again. An added bonus is that Dave is now able to sing with us on alternate weeks.
Although there were various Covid-related restrictions throughout the year, by November things seemed to be returning to some semblance of normality. Once more we were able to attend the All Souls Service on 31st October and we performed the Song of Farewell by Ernest Sands which we had previously sung in 2018. This time Anthony accompanied us on the organ.
We joined with Hinchley Wood community for the Remembrance Sunday service in the Memorial Gardens on 14th November. This was well supported by the uniformed organisations, schools and the Hinchley Wood community in general.
At the end of November, we performed various Christmas songs and carols at the Christmas Café – fortified by Roy’s excellent mulled wine, cups for tea/coffee and mince pies! Dave was joined by Nicola Ellis on piano and Gemma on the clarinet.
As always, once November was over, we began speeding towards Christmas and various additional services. It was lovely to once more take part in the Messy Christingle, the Carol Service, Crib Service and Christmas Day Service. Unfortunately, this year there was no Midnight Mass, but hopefully next year this service will be held once more.
Although we are a small group we continue to work together with a great sense of cohesion, commitment and friendship and hope to continue this in 2022. We are extremely fortunate to be able to rely on the accompaniment of Dave on guitar and Anthony on the organ – both of whom get the best out of our small choir!
It would be lovely to have a few more members, so if anyone feels that they would like to try singing with the choir please do get in touch.
Mandy Ali
-11-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Children
Baptism Visiting
In these strange times with Covid-19 often making us have to change our plans, we were still able to baptise 2 people in 2021.
Peter baptised an adult at Easter, and in December Caroline baptised a child whose baptism we’d had to postpone due to lockdown in 2020. It was lovely to be able to go to visit the family and re-engage again 5 years after the baptism of their older child.
Eileen Griffiths has had to give up sending out baptism anniversary cards from the St Christopher’s Church family, but we are very thankful to her for the time and energy she gave to this.
Bumps and Babies
Jane and Caroline thought about the fact that when we had a Parent & Toddler group, the parents were mostly absent, having been with their babies during maternity/paternity leave and then gone back to work, usually when the baby was about 11 months old.
So we decided to try a Bumps & Babies group on Wednesday mornings hoping to attract parents with new babies, or those about to be parents. We both recognised that this can be a very lonely time for new parents, suddenly having lost the company they had at work, and often being on their own at home with the baby.
We started the group in September and kept it going until 15[th] December, during which time we had 2 mums with babies who attended (on different days from each other). They seemed to be appreciative but didn’t come back a 2[nd] time. We wondered if things are different now, with more people working from home perhaps the need is not so great?
We are grateful to Peter and the PCC for their support in this initiative, and think it was worth trying even if it turned out not to be in high demand.
Messy Christingle
We couldn’t hold a Messy Good Friday in 2021 because all services were back online around Easter time.
However, we did hold a very successful Messy Christingle in December. We asked families/support bubbles to book tables and ended up with 9 tables (16 adults and 16 children) plus another table of helpers younger and older.
The music group accompanied the singing, Christingles were made, there was a lot of fun and a certain amount of Messy-ness! And we raised nearly £170 for the Children’s Society.
Alpha Course
We ran a second online Alpha course - the first ending early in 2021, and the second beginning in September 2021. Alpha has worked surprisingly well online, although obviously you miss out on sharing a meal together. We started online because of Covid, but an online course also meant those who wouldn’t have been able to join in person were able to be there.
-12-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Alpha is held over 11 sessions, with a weekend or part of a weekend ‘Away Day’. For this last course we spent a Saturday afternoon together, so actually got to meet one another! Each session is usually an hour online, with participants having watched a film beforehand.
As we finished, we asked participants to say something about their experience of Alpha. Here are some of the responses:
“Alpha has answered some of my questions, and it’s been nice to talk about my thoughts. I found it very helpful.”
“Thought provoking - it’s certainly made me ask more questions, and I definitely want to stay on track with the ‘Bible in a Year’ app - something I would never have considered before."
Alpha is for anyone and everyone. We’ve had participants aged from 14 to over 70, churchgoers who want to think afresh about their faith, and people with no faith background at all, and everything in between. If you’ve never been on an Alpha Course, and you might like to think about questions of faith and life, then I can recommend it.
Caroline Mullins
Pastoral Report for APCM
Life continued to be difficult with the Covid pandemic still with us in 2021, and it was particularly difficult to be pastoral in these circumstances. However, over the course of the year restrictions have been easing, making pastoral work a good deal easier.
We are able to do some funeral follow up as before, more often by phone, but also face to face when this is possible. We are also keeping in touch with the more vulnerable members of our church, sometimes by phone but also in church as we have started having coffee after the 10am Sunday Eucharist.
We have started holding communion services at the homes of people who are not able to get to church, which is very much appreciated by them.
Our prayer chain where we pray individually at home for individuals/families is active, and I am hoping that we may be able to meet regularly to pray together once more after the 10am Sunday Eucharist as we did before the pandemic.
As always, thank you to members of the congregation for all the pastoral work which goes on, often unseen, behind the scenes; lifts to church/meetings, bits of shopping and other kind acts. It is so very much appreciated by those who benefit from this as well as the ‘official’ work which is known about.
Liz Hammond Margaret Thompson
-13-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
ECO Church Report
St Christopher’s signed up to the Eco Church challenge in January 2019 and in 2021 gained the Silver Award. This report provides details of some of the tasks that have been completed.
This group have checked on the energy efficiency of the boilers. Those in the church were installed in 2016 and are energy efficient, but thought will need to be given to suitable replacement of the old hall boiler in the near future. We are on a green tariff for our gas and electricity supplies, and where possible, all our light bulbs in the hall, church and vicarage are either LED or low energy. The buildings group have also made sure that all our cleaning products are environmentally friendly and that all disposable items are recycled or biodegradable. In the future we will need to measure our carbon footprint and then set targets to achieve year-on-year improvements in energy efficiency.
The group that is responsible for the management of our outside space drew up a plan for the management of the land. They provided a bird feeding station and installed bird boxes. As you might expect they do not use pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers that contain any harmful chemicals. The land group is planning to build a bug hotel, a composting area and to plant wild flowers in a collection of large pots.
The Community and Global Engagement Group arranged for someone from A Rocha to speak to us all in one of our services. They renewed our membership of the Fairtrade Foundation and organised the Advent Trail and the HW Safari, where more than 80 families took part, encouraging them to enjoy the outdoors during lockdown. The latest achievement was twinning 8 more of our toilets and we were very grateful to the generosity of the congregation that enabled us to do this. In the future we will be encouraging everyone to take part in campaigns concerning national and global environmental issues. We will also endeavour to keep everyone informed about the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on Christian communities elsewhere in the world. I am sure this is very close to all our hearts at present.
The Lifestyle Group have done a great job providing eco tips for the weekly email, for our Facebook Page and also for our website. They have encouraged us to use our cars less and to walk or cycle whenever we are able. They organised a communal Christmas Card for everyone in the congregation. The next thing this group will concentrate on is to find ways to encourage all of us to reduce our personal energy consumption, to reduce our waste and recycle and also to use organically grown and fair trade products.
The fifth group is the Worship and Teaching Group. They introduced Climate Sunday to raise awareness of environmental issues. Many of our hymns are about caring for God’s creation and you may have noticed that the intercessions have regularly included prayers for people and places that have been affected by the climate crisis. Also two groups of people took part [via Zoom] in the York Course entitled Caring for God’s Earth.
Eco church is very much a project for the whole congregation. We are very grateful to all the people that have contributed to the work in this area. If you would like more information or perhaps feel you could join one of the groups, then please don’t be shy – just find out what is involved.
Jane Barnett
-14-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Mothers’ Union Report for St. Christopher’s APC
As the pandemic moved into its second year with its many restrictions and lock downs we found it very difficult to keep to our usual practise of meeting in person on the second Wednesday each month and when we did meet it mostly by Zoom.
In July we managed to meet in person in Antonia’s garden for a very enjoyable tea party and exchange of news.
Our outstanding achievement was the provision of 49 Christmas Gift bags for the ladies in the 5 Refuges from Domestic Violence in the Diocese of Guildford, another extra one having been opened in the course of the year. Forty nine of these gift bags were provided, packed in brown recyclable paper carrier bags (in keeping with our efforts to be as ‘green’ as possible for eco church purposes). The generosity of the congregation at St. Christopher’s, to whom we appealed for help in this endeavour and donations from our members enabled us to raise £ 469, which was a remarkable outcome considering the size of our congregation and also our Branch.
As the year progressed we were able to restart the Diocesan monthly Pilgrimages of Prayer, not in the Lady Chapel of the Cathedral, but on Zoom. Interestingly the size of the congregation on Zoom was often larger than in the Cathedral in normal times! We also attended a very socially distanced Lady Day service at the Cathedral.
Diocesan MU also managed to hold our Annual Family Fun Day and picnic during the summer holidays at Normandy Village Hall, which was reasonably well attended.
Sadly our Branch Members are very small and depleted as in the course of the year two of our very longstanding members, Ann Ashby and Hilda Highley died. They are sorely missed. This means the number in our Branch is reduced to nine.
Jean Hoseason Branch Leader
Hinchley Wood Fellowship
As in 2020, because of ever-changing COVID restrictions, the Hinchley Wood Fellowship (HWF) decided to continue with monthly Zoom meetings in 2021. Speakers who were more-or-less relaxed with Zoom were invited to talk on various topics, ranging from adventurous travel, cultural and social history to worthwhile charity projects. These were colourfully illustrated with pictures and You- Tube clips, and they were well-attended. The talks were followed by lively exchanges between the speakers and attendees who were invited to ask questions and give their own experiences and reminiscences.
-15-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Highlights included:
Unknown Antarctica, the Wildlife of the Ross Sea and the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic (speaker: Chris Collins), America’s Historic East (speaker: Paul Whittle), The Wimbledon Championships (speaker: Chris Gorringe), The View from Richmond Hill (speaker: Ian Bevan), Living on the Equator (speaker: Fr. Peter Jenner – see poster inset ) and
The Surrey Care Trust and The Community Swingbridge Boat (speaker: Roger Thompson).
We are very grateful to Fr. Peter Jenner for setting up the on-line meetings and to everyone who has a hand in organizing the speakers and the Committee meetings which are necessary to take stock of arrangements. In 2022, while we shall continue with Zoom we are looking to start meetings again in-person to give ourselves the opportunity to socialize more, something we have all missed over the last couple of years.
Stephanie Post
Report on Men’s Group. 2021-2022
Over the last twelve months we have lost Don Beardshaw who has moved to Dorset to be closer to his son and where his daughter is moving to as well. We gave him a farewell fish and chip supper washed down with a variety of ales provided by Brian. This might be done again just for us.
We have also discussed a much wider range of issues many of which centre around moral issues. It has become more and more obvious though that these topics are largely secular rather than those of faith which we used to talk about when we first set up the men’s group.
At Peter’s suggestion we are now St Christopher’s Men’s Group.
We have also agreed that we will be more proactive and centred upon the land around the church and the church events we hope to support in the future. When the weather is gentler we will also reinstall the boat trips which we used to have in a Covid free world.
John O’Neil has supervised the construction of a large compost bin which will help us turn leaves and twigs into compost we use as mulch below the bushes. The heap will also become a large insect breeding home and a refuge for hedge hogs. We will also put the bird feeders back up near the bin and away from the memorial garden.
Those of us who are sound of limb will also start to arrange walks not just along the rivers Thames and Wey but on Dave Ellis’ suggestion also around our more immediate locality. We can approach Margaret T who walks nearly every day and hopefully can provide us with some of her most popular routes.
We will still meet in the Angel and frequent Panshi but also spread our wings to other hostelries and restaurants and hope to attract more members in the next twelve months.
Roger Thompson
-16-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Report on Activities of Deanery Synod – 2021
As a Newcomer to Deanery Synod, I was introduced to our expected duties by the Receipt by email of Deanery Synod Handbook from Guildford Diocese of some 34 pages to digest. Deanery Synod usually meets 3 times a year, but in 2021 two of these meetings were on zoom, and we only met in person for the last Meeting on 13th October at Thames Ditton, which was much more rewarding.
An event which was very interesting was the voting for members of Guildford Diocesan Synod who wished to stand as candidates for election to General Synod. These elections take place every 5 years and we were all sent election addresses by prospective candidates and in one case the candidate asked to meet us in person, and Jane Barnett very efficiently arranged for us both to attend a Zoom Meeting.
The candidates manifestos were very revealing indicating the direction The Church of England should be taking in their view. The various views were indeed diverse from some quite radical opinions but the majority were much more encouraging wishing to explore discipleship and increasing church congregations wherever possible.
The third and last Deanery Synod Meeting which took place in Thames Ditton Church was much more satisfactory emphasising the benefits of meeting in person for reasonable discussion. Finding out how other parishes had fared throughout lockdowns. Compared with other parishes in Emly Deanery, Hinchley Wood seemed to have fared quite favourably because of our good fortune in opening our building as a Vaccination Centre.
Jean Hoseason
The Fabric of the Church 2021
2021 began in the UK with another national lockdown due to the emergence of a new UK variant of the Covid virus, but thankfully it soon became the year of vaccinations and we were pleased to make St Christopher’s church available as a vaccinations centre run by our local Wallis Jones pharmacy from March onwards. This did mean, however, that both the church and the hall were often occupied seven days per week, the vaccinations taking place in the church during the week and the hall at the weekends and Christopher Robin Nursery able to restart on weekdays in the hall from March.
As a result of this almost constant usage, maintenance once again had to take a back seat. However, in August, John O’Neill was able to complete two of the high priority jobs recommended in the 2017 Quinquennial Report, namely:
-
Replacement of the lightweight external access door from the high-level flat roof at the east end of the church to the loft space with a more robust door and heavy-duty hinges;
-
Replacement of the rotten doors to the gas meter cupboard on the flat roof to south side of the church.
In December, John also cleaned off the moss and loose pointing from the curved, capping tiles on the parapet walls to the north, south and east sides of the flat roof, ready for repointing and replacement of cracked tiles, another item in the Quinquennial Report.
-17-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Other jobs undertaken in 2021:
-
John fitted new entrance door mats in the hall and front porch of the church, a planned item in the 2021 maintenance budget.
-
In March, John replaced all the fire alarm device batteries in the church hall free of charge, apart from the cost of the batteries, saving the church a considerable expense in having this done by the fire alarm system servicing company.
-
Jason Amendt solved a heating failure in the church in March by bypassing the pressurisation unit at the root of the problem. The pressure is now monitored and topped up manually when required.
-
Miscellaneous smaller jobs: replacing gulley kerb and grid outside church kitchen, fitting new waste pipe to sacristy sink, fitting new support brackets to UPVC step outside hall kitchen.
In addition, Simon Crome, our churchwarden, arranged and oversaw all the usual routine servicing and tests, including: fire extinguishers, lightning conductor, church and hall boilers and gas safety checks and fire alarm system checks.
Also to note: further to concerns raised in May 2021 about a possible fire risk arising from materials used in the insulation of the hall roof above the stage and the fact that the ceiling there was made of hardboard, we consulted our quinquennial inspector and concluded that, whilst there was little or no risk to life, due to the number of fire exits available in the hall, it would be prudent to fit a fire door between the hall kitchen and the hall itself, improve the fire resistance of the ceiling above the stage and remove loose insulation material from the loft. At the same time, we should also at least partially board-out the stage loft to allow safe access, another recommendation of the Quinquennial Report. These matters need to be pursued in the coming year.
Heather Allen, PCC Member.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Overview
At the beginning of 2021 we found ourselves in a shaky position financially with a deficit of £31,927 amassed during the pandemic of 2020. Remarkably, as the accounts show, at 31 December 2021, we have ended the year with an overall surplus of £11,690. This represents an excellent turnaround and is an extremely healthy result at the financial year end - a position that in January 2021 we would not have thought possible, given the circumstances created by the continuing Covid19 pandemic.
Our plans for 2021 were to aim for break even at the end of the year and that was agreed by the PCC when the budget was set. In excess of all expectations, our total income was £106,516 against a total expenditure of £94,826 which provided us with the overall surplus achieved.
Parish Share
The PCC is firmly committed to continue paying full Parish Share which in 2021 amounted to £69,643. As in 2020, further offers of help towards Parish Share payment in the form of small grants were made
-18-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
by the Diocese. Although we were grateful, these offers were declined as the PCC felt that we were generally better positioned than a number of struggling parishes in the Diocese and therefore the grants could be better used to serve others. The PCC also took the view that this would demonstrate our commitment to performing acts of generosity for benefit within the Diocese.
Planned Giving
We continue to be extremely grateful to all those who faithfully support us with regular contributions either via standing orders or through the Parish Giving Scheme. During 2021, with restrictions easing, it became possible to offer a hybrid style service where parishioners could once again worship in person or continue to join services online, thus keeping our worship community connected. During 2021 our total planned giving, including Gift Aid, was £46,235.27. This represents a slight reduction since 2020 due to parishioners either moving away or a number who have died. It cannot be emphasised enough how grateful we are for the continued contributions and how much St. Christopher’s relies on this income and the continued generous support from parishioners.
Church and Hall Hire
By far, the larger proportion of our income comes from the hire of the Church and Church Hall. When setting the budget in autumn 2020, we had anticipated a move back to a ‘more normal’ position vis a vis the pandemic. However, in the first few months of the year, the figures reflect that this was not possible and although the nursery income held up well, the After School Club and other lettings struggled.
In March our position reversed completely when the opportunity arose for Fr. Peter to negotiate a contract with our local pharmacy, Wallis Jones, to open a much needed vaccination centre in the Church and Church Hall. Not only did this secure extra income but most importantly, we were instrumental in forging a community partnership, which was of huge benefit to our locality.
The opening of the vaccination centre together with both the nursery and After School Club reaching their former stable state culminated in the very favourable totals for the half year in June showing a surplus of £3,956.
For the first time in more than a year, all our lettings income had increased and everything ran smoothly without any unexpected closures. During the second half of the year our situation improved further as previous hirers returned, the nursery and the After School Club operated fully and the vaccination centre operated for the remainder of the year - the contract running to the end of January 2022. We were also able to hold a couple of Church social events, thus boosting funds further by a modest £1,700.
Summing Up
At the year end 2021 we find ourselves in an extremely favourable position, particularly as in January we had expected to close the year with a small deficit. Our position is strengthened by the fact that we have been able to decline offers of help from the Diocese enabling those monies to be diverted to parishes in greater need and demonstrating that we have our finances under control – a huge turnaround and achievement for our parish.
Many thanks must go to Father Peter for continued prudent and stringent management of the parish finances. While the surplus in 2021 is significant, it must be noted that it comes following an even more significant deficit in 2020. The PCC have committed to restoring our reserves within 5- 10 years therefore a significant amount of this surplus should be allocated to that task. Secondly, the surplus hides the fact that we have been unable to do quite a lot of the budgeted maintenance in 2021 as the Church and Hall have been so intensely in use. This maintenance still has to be carried out in 2022.
-19-
ST CHRISTOPHER’S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL’S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Entering 2022, we are on much more stable footing than for previous years, however the year ahead will not be an easy one with rising costs for energy, increase in parish share and the inevitable closure of the contract with Wallis Jones at some point. As can be anticipated the need to find additional hire income for 2022 will be vital to our future financial well being. We are currently very fortunate that we have the contract extension with Wallis Jones until 31st January 2022 but this will end within months. It cannot be stated too strongly that sourcing new hirers for the future is now a matter of urgency. The resumption of Church events in the spring/summer, if the conditions are right, will also be an important area to focus on for income generation and importantly, parishioner/parish well being.
Reserves Policy
Our Reserves Policy, based on advice from our independent examiner, is to keep sufficient reserves to cover 6 months activity without revenue. This has stood us in good stead as we were able to call upon our reserves at the beginning of the COVID pandemic. With the current depletion of reserves we now have to build these back and the surplus will go some way towards this. As stated, the PCC are committed to restoring our reserves over the next 5-10 years.
Goodwill
The mainstay of our Church remains our volunteers who in taking on the many spiritual, practical and regulatory roles required to keep everything running smoothly and within the law, donate many hours of their time and expertise in many disciplines – some critical.
In an idle moment of curiosity I was drawn to making a ‘rough’ calculation of time spent, for example, of 5 hours per week (an underestimation for some). Over the year this amounts to 260 hours or put another way assuming a 35 hour working week this equates to 7.4 working weeks across the year.
As Christians, time and talent given is an integral part of our fundamental belief and faith, that of service and love to others, that of sharing and encouraging others to join us. It feels apposite that the huge nonfinancial contribution made by church members should also be recognised at the APCM. Members do not expect ‘reward’ but a gracious acknowledgement from central church hierarchy would be appreciated. If it were possible to place ‘Goodwill’ contributions onto the year-end Balance Sheet, no doubt every church in the country would report a profit. Something at the very least, worth noting.
Margaret Thompson Treasurer
Electoral Roll Report 2022
After the disruption to the APCM timetable of last year, due to the Covid pandemic, we have once again returned to the normal 12-month cycle for the electoral Roll.
As is usual, an annual revision of the Roll is undertaken in the month leading up to the APCM. This enables us to remove anyone from the Roll who no longer qualifies, or wishes, to be on it, to update personal details, and to welcome new applicants.
In the last year, since March 2021, we have accordingly welcomed 5 new applicants. Sadly, however, we have lost 5 parishioners who have passed away. 2 others have been removed from the Roll for other reasons.
So, as Electoral Roll Officer, I can report that as of 19[th] March 2022, the number on the Electoral Roll of St. Christophers Church is 69.
-20-
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 After the APCM on 3 April. anyone who wishes to be added to the Electoral Roll may do so by completing an applicab.on form, available on the church website of from the Electoral Roll Officer. Ann Ellis - ElectoRI Roll Officer elecloralroll stchristo herschurch.o .uk Mrs Margaret Thompson Elected Member and Treasurer Fr Peter Jenner Vicar On behaw of the Parochial Church CouncAI DATE 13 J Ma 2022 -21-
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD I report lo th8 Parochl81 Church Council on my 8x8mlnatlon of thè financlal statemonts of St Chrfstopherfs Church. Hlnchloy Wood (the charfty) for the year ended 31 December 2021. Re4nSIbIlItI and basls of report A8 the Parochial chUh Coun¢il of Ihp thaTIty you are SpOnSIbl for th¥ prsparatlon of th¢ flnan¢lal ststamants In aCrdance with Ihg 18qulramènl$ of tho charl0S A¢t 2011 (thè 2011 Act). I report In respe( of my examination of Ihe charity'8 financial statements caFrfed out under seciion 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my èxamination I have followed all th$ appli¢8ble Dlrsctions 9ivgn by thg Charfty Commlsslon undar sècdon 14515llbl ofthè 2011 ACL Independ•nt examln•rfs staternent Your attention 18 drawn to the fact that the charfty has prepared flnanclal statements Sn accordance wlth A¢¢ounting and Roporting by Charitigs preparing their account3 in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard appllcable in tha UK and Rapubllc of Ireland IFRS 102) In pralarèncè lo thè Accounllng and Rèport4ng by charles.. Statement of Recommended Practlc8 Issued on 1 Ap1 2005 whlch Is rafarrèd to In the gxtant regulations but has now been withdrawn. und&rsland that Ihls has béan done in ordsr for financial statsmonl¥ to provide 8 INO and fair view in accordanca wlth Ganeralty Acceptad Accountlng Pr8ctlca &ffactlv8 for reportlng pèriods bèginnlng on or aftèr 1 January 2015. I havo compl8t8d my 8xamln8llon. I conlm that no mattois ha ¢om¥ to my attentton In connection wf(h tho examlnatlon gIn9 me cause to belleve that In any matorial TaSP8Ct.' accounlng records were not kopt In raspact of tha charity as raqulrad by sactlon 130 of th$ 2011 A¢t', or th8 financial slalamènls do not a¢cord wlh those records,. or the financial slalemenls do not compty with the applicable Tequlremenls concemlng the form and content of accounts sel out In the Charities IA¢counts and Rèports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that th8 accounts g8 a tru8 and lair ¥1 which 18 not a matter ¢on8idered a8 part of an independent examination. I have no conc8ms and hgv8 coma a¢ros$ no other matters in connection with the examinallon to whtch attention should be drawn In thls report In ord&r lo 8nabl8 8 pmpar undarslanding of Ihg financial 31atements to be roathed. Fran¢o• Wllde FCCA DChA merwlde Chartered CerffjedAccountanls 4 Marlgold Drfve Blsl&y Surray GU24 98F -22-
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Current financial year Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted funds funds funds general Designated 2021 2021 2021 Notes £ £ £ Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 3 50,464 - 1,135 Charitable activities 4 1,522 - - Other trading activities 5 1,831 - - Investments 6 50,473 - - Other income 7 1,091 - - Total income 105,381 - 1,135 Expenditure on: Raising funds 8 409 - - Charitable activities 9 92,179 - 2,238 Total resources expended 92,588 - 2,238 Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers 12,793 - (1,103) Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers 12,793 - (1,103) Gross transfers between funds 937 (937) - Net income/(expenditure) for the year/ Net movement in funds 13,730 (937) (1,103) Fund balances at 1 January 2021 27,417 20,700 6,555 Fund balances at 31 December 2021 41,147 19,763 5,452 |
Total 2021 £ 51,599 1,522 1,831 50,473 1,091 106,516 409 94,417 94,826 11,690 11,690 - 11,690 54,672 66,362 |
Total 2020 £ 59,192 2,492 65 24,469 99 86,317 1,517 116,727 118,244 (31,927) (31,927) - (31,927) 86,599 54,672 |
|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
- 23 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED) INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
Prior financial year
| Unrestricted Unrestricted Restricted funds funds funds general Designated 2020 2020 2020 Notes £ £ £ Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 3 58,611 - 581 Charitable activities 4 2,492 - - Other trading activities 5 65 - - Investments 6 24,469 - - Other income 7 99 - - Total income 85,736 - 581 Expenditure on: Raising funds 8 1,517 - - Charitable activities 9 115,306 - 1,421 Total resources expended 116,823 - 1,421 Net incoming/(outgoing) resources before transfers (31,087) - (840) Net income/(expenditure) for the year/ Net movement in funds (31,087) - (840) Fund balances at 1 January 2020 58,504 20,700 7,395 Fund balances at 31 December 2020 27,417 20,700 6,555 |
Total 2020 £ 59,192 2,492 65 24,469 99 86,317 1,517 116,727 118,244 (31,927) (31,927) 86,599 54,672 |
|---|---|
- 24 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD BALANCE SHEET AS A T 31 DECEMBER 2021 2021 2020 Notes Fixed assets Tangible assets 14 3.759 4.570 Current assets Debtors Cash at bank 8nd in hand 1S 1,849 52,088 66.987 68,498 53,737 Creditors.. amounts falling due within one year 18 15.8951 13,6351 Net curient a55ets 82,603 50,102 Total assets less current liabilities 66,362 54.672 Incorne fvnds Restricted funds Unrestricted fvnds Designated funds General UnstriCted funds 19 5,452 6.555 20 19.763 41.147 20,700 27,417 80.910 48,117 88.362 54.872 The financial m8nts were arTJro¥ed by the PawK*ial Church Cwncll on............ Vicar.. Fr. Peter Jenner Trustse Margar&tThompson, 8ected PCC Member and Treasurer Trustso 25-
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
1 Accounting policies
Charity information
St Christopher's Church, Hinchley Wood is a charity registered with the Charity Commission, constituted under the PCC Powers Measure Act 1956, Church Representation rules 2006.
1.1 Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling , which is the functional currency of the charity . Monetary a mounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the Parochial Church Council have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the Parochial Church Council continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the Parochial Church Council in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.
1.4 Income
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
- 26 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
Legacies are recognised when the PCC becomes entitled to them, this is usually on receipt of notification from the executor.
1.5 Expenditure
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
Irrecoverable VAT is allocated in the same manner as the expenditure to which it relates.
1.6 Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts in accordance with s.96(2) Charities Act 1993. Moveable church furnishings held by the vicar and church wardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are inalienable property, listed on the church inventory, which can be inspected at any reasonable time. Individual items of equipment with a purchase prive of £100 or less are written off when the asset is acquired. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
Plant and machinery 15% straight line Fixtures, fittings & equipment 25% straight line
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities .
1.7 Impairment of fixed assets
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any ) .
1.8 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
- 27 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
1.9 Financial instruments
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity 's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future p aymen ts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity ’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
1.10 Employee benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
1.11 Retirement benefits
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
- 28 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the Parochial Church Council are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
3 Donations and legacies
| Unrestricted Restricted funds funds general 2021 2021 £ £ Donations and gifts 50,464 1,135 Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grant - - 50,464 1,135 Grants receivable for core activities Other - - - - 4 Charitable activities Sales within charitable activities |
TotalUnrestricted Restricted funds funds general 2021 2020 2020 £ £ £ 51,599 52,525 581 - 6,086 - 51,599 58,611 581 - 6,086 - - 6,086 - Fees Parish magazine and Stay and Play Fees 2021 2020 2020 £ £ £ 1,522 167 2,325 |
Total 2020 £ 53,106 6,086 59,192 6,086 6,086 Total 2020 £ 2,492 |
|---|---|---|
- 29 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
5 Other trading activities
| 6 7 8 |
UnrestrictedUnrestricted funds funds general general 2021 2020 £ £ Fundraising events 1,831 65 Investments UnrestrictedUnrestricted funds funds general general 2021 2020 £ £ Rental income 50,452 24,412 Interest receivable 21 57 50,473 24,469 Other income UnrestrictedUnrestricted funds funds general general 2021 2020 £ £ Other income 233 - Other incoming resources 858 99 1,091 99 Raising funds UnrestrictedUnrestricted funds funds general general 2021 2020 £ £ Fundraising and publicity Staging fundraising events 409 63 |
|---|---|
- 30 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| 8 | Raising funds Fundraising trading Other trading activities |
(Continued) - 1,454 409 1,517 |
|---|---|---|
9 Charitable activities
| Ministry 2021 £ Depreciation and impairment - Diocesan Parish Share 69,643 Clergy and vicarage expenses 1,756 Church running expenses - Church maintenance - Church services - Hall running expenses - 71,399 Grant funding of activities (see note 10) 1,531 Share of support costs (see note 11) 2,513 Share of governance costs (see note 11) 1,195 76,638 Analysis by fund Unrestricted funds - general 75,687 Restricted funds 951 76,638 |
Church 2021 £ 811 - - 8,050 4,264 2,271 2,383 17,779 - - - 17,779 16,492 1,287 17,779 |
Total 2021 Ministry 2020 £ £ 811 - 69,643 69,641 1,756 1,994 8,050 - 4,264 - 2,271 - 2,383 - 89,178 71,635 1,531 714 2,513 19,756 1,195 1,100 94,417 93,205 92,179 92,971 2,238 234 94,417 93,205 |
Church 2020 £ 811 - - 7,537 6,351 3,380 5,443 23,522 - - - 23,522 22,335 1,187 23,522 |
Total 2020 £ 811 69,641 1,994 7,537 6,351 3,380 5,443 95,157 714 19,756 1,100 116,727 115,306 1,421 116,727 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
- 31 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
10 Grants payable
| Grants to institutions: Other 11 Support costs Support costs Governance costs £ £ Staff costs - - General expenses including copier lease and ICT 2,368 - Printing and Stationery 113 - Bank charges and interest 32 - Accountancy and Independent Examination fees - 1,195 2,513 1,195 Analysed between Charitable activities 2,513 1,195 |
Ministry Ministry 2021 2020 £ £ 1,531 714 2021 Support costs Governance costs 2020 £ £ £ £ - 16,353 - 16,353 2,368 2,959 - 2,959 113 373 - 373 32 71 - 71 1,195 - 1,100 1,100 3,708 19,756 1,100 20,856 3,708 19,756 1,100 20,856 |
|---|---|
12 Parochial Church Council
None of the Parochial Church Council (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration , one (2020: two) were reimbursed travel, telephone books and journals expenditure of £1,047 (2020: £7505).
No (2020: one) PCC member was paid for maintenance services (including materials) to the church buildings during the year totalling nil (2020: £775).
- 32 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
13 Employees
Number of employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | |
| Administration | - | 1 |
| Caretaking | - | 3 |
| - | 4 | |
| Employment costs | 2021 | 2020 |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | - | 15,554 |
| Other pension costs | - | 799 |
| - | 16,353 |
There was no (2020: one) part-time administrator. There are no (2020: 3) members of the caretaking team.
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more.
14 Tangible fixed assets
| Plant and machinery Fixtures, fittings & equipment £ £ Cost At 1 January 2021 13,032 1,500 At 31 December 2021 13,032 1,500 Depreciation and impairment At 1 January 2021 8,488 1,474 Depreciation charged in the year 802 9 At 31 December 2021 9,290 1,483 Carrying amount At 31 December 2021 3,742 17 At 31 December 2020 4,544 26 |
Total £ 14,532 14,532 9,962 811 10,773 3,759 4,570 |
|---|---|
- 33 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| 15 Debtors Amounts falling due within one year: Other debtors 16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Notes Deferred income 17 Trade creditors Other creditors Accruals 17 Deferred income Other deferred income 18 Retirement benefit schemes |
2021 £ 1,511 2021 £ - 2,220 2,480 1,195 5,895 2021 £ - |
2020 £ 1,649 2020 £ 96 311 2,128 1,100 3,635 2020 £ 96 |
|---|---|---|
Defined contribution schemes
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.
The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £NIL (2020: £5355).
- 34 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
19 Restricted funds
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes, funds in deficit only exist where spending is in advance of restricted grant income received:
| Movement in funds | Movement in funds | Movement in funds | Movement in funds | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at | Incoming | Resources | Balance at | Incoming | Resources | Balance at | ||
| 1 January 2020 | resources | expended | 1 |
January 2021 | resources | expended | 31 December | |
| 2021 | ||||||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Eco Fund | 5,811 | - | (802) | 5,009 |
- | (802) | 4,207 |
|
| Vicar's | ||||||||
| Community | ||||||||
| Fund | 100 | - | - | 100 | - | - | 100 | |
| Hinchley | ||||||||
| Wood | ||||||||
| Fellowship | 1,185 | 519 | (385) | 1,319 |
311 | (485) | 1,145 |
|
| Lent Charity | 299 | 62 | (234) | 127 |
812 | (939) | - |
|
| 7,395 | 581 | (1,421) | 6,555 |
1,123 | (2,226) | 5,452 |
The Ecofund provides for fabric improvements to increase the efficiency of the church buildings.
20 Designated funds
The income funds of the charity include the following designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes:
| Movement | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in funds | ||||||
| Balance at | Incoming | Balance at |
Transfers | Balance at | ||
| 1 | January 2020 | resources | 1 January 2021 |
31 December | ||
| 2021 | ||||||
| £ | £ |
£ |
£ | £ | ||
| Legacy Projects Fund | 20,700 | - |
20,700 |
(937) | 19,763 |
|
| 20,700 | - |
20,700 |
(937) | 19,763 |
The Legacy Projects fund ring fences legacy gifts to be used in specific projects rather than absorbed into the day to day running costs of the Church.
- 35 -
ST CHRISTOPHER'S CHURCH, HINCHLEY WOOD
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| 21 Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds 2021 2021 2021 £ £ £ Fund balances at 31 December 2021 are represented by: Tangible assets 3,759 - - Current assets/(liabilities) 37,388 19,763 5,452 41,147 19,763 5,452 |
TotalUnrestricted funds Designated funds Restricted funds 2021 2020 2020 2020 £ £ £ £ 3,759 28 - 4,542 62,603 27,389 20,700 2,013 66,362 27,417 20,700 6,555 |
Total 2020 £ 4,570 50,102 54,672 |
|---|---|---|
- 36 -