_**Charity number: 1148272**_
**Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## **Financial Statements**
**and Trustees' Report**
**for the year ended 31 December 2025**
AT **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
**Index to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2025**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|**Index to the Financial Statements**|**2**|
|**Charity Information**|**3**|
|**Trustees' Report**|**4 - 6**|
|**Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities**|**7**|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**|**8**|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|**9**|
|**Statement of Financial Position**|**10**|
|**Statement of Cash Flows**|**11**|
|**Accounting Policies**|**12 - 13**|
|**Notes to the Accounts**|**14 - 19**|
Page 2
AT **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## **Charity Information**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**Status:**|The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a corporate body established by the Church of|
|---|---|
||England. It is constituted and governed by the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure|
||1956 (as amended) and the Church Representation Rules (2011). The members of the PCC|
||are its trustees under charity law and are referred to as such throughout this report.|
|**Charity name:**|Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green|
|**Charity registration number:**|1148272|
|**Registered office:**|St Matthew's Row|
||London|
||E2 6DT|
|**Operations address:**|St Matthew's Rectory|
||Hereford Street|
||London|
||E2 6EX|
|**Chair:**|Jo Strong|
|**Independent Examiner:**|**Anthony Armstrong FCA**|
||**Armstrong & Co**|
||_Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor_|
||4a Printing House Yard|
||Hackney Road|
||London|
||E2 7PR|
|**Bankers:**|**HSBC plc**|
||1-3 Bishopsgate|
||London|
||EC2N 3AQ|
||0|
||**CCLA Investment Management Ltd**|
||The CBF Church of England Funds|
||1 Angel Lane|
||London|
||EC4R 3AB|
Page 3
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## AT **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Trustees' Report, incorporating the PCC Report for the year ended 31 December 2025**
The Trustees of the Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green present their report together with the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.
## **Administrative Information:**
St Matthew’s is the mother church of Bethnal Green. It is in St Matthew’s Row. It serves a parish roughly bounded by the railway to the south and east, Old Bethnal Green Road to the north and ends at the west around the Bishopsgate Goods Yard. Technically, the benefice is the Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green. About 13,000 people live in the parish.
Correspondence should be sent to:
## **St Matthew’s Rectory, Hereford Street. London E2 6EX**
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a registered charity, number 1148272.
## **Parochial Church Council Objectives**
St Matthew’s PCC is constituted to support and cooperate with the parish Priest of St Matthew’s with St James the Great, Bethnal Green, in promoting the whole mission of the church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It has responsibilities for a number of properties: the church, a two-storey Parish Hall, the Parish Room, and the Watch House.
## **Membership**
Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. Occasionally a member may be co-opted after the APCM by the PCC for specific roles or purposes, again in accordance with the Rules.
## **During the year the following served as members of the PCC.**
**Up to 21 April 2025 From 21 April 2025** Mtr Rosemary Morton (Interim Priest) Mtr Rosemary Morton (Interim Priest til May 25) Ben Jones-Williams (Churchwarden) Mtr Erin Clark (stood down Sep 25) Jo Strong (Secretary) Jo Strong (Churchwarden) Jamie Barber Olivia Blanning (Treasurer) Cara Ringwood Elizabeth Mowbray Matias Wibowo (Deanery Synod Rep) Samantha Dodd (co-opted Jul 25) Cara Ringwood (Deanery Synod Rep) (stood down Oct 25) Evelyn Comand (Secretary) (stood down Oct 25)
Jo Strong stood down as Churchwarden on 1 March 2026 and was replaced by Matthew Shelley and Yara Ziade. Elizabeth Mowbray and Samantha Dodd both stood down Jan 26.
As the PCC is currently small in number, the standing committee consists of all PCC Members.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules (2020). All baptised church members over the age of 16 are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and are eligible to stand for election to the PCC.
## **Achievements and Performance**
## **Mission Report**
2025 saw one wedding, two funerals and 7 baptisms. Some of the highlights of the year are as follows:
Congregational life:
- St Matthew’s Sunday morning Parish Mass and Thursday morning Silk Court Care Home Mass continued going strong throughout 2025.
- Wednesday evening Mass and Rosary and Bible Study Groups were well attended until ceasing in November. The midweek offering was helpful for those who could not attend on Sundays and wished to be involved in worship and discipleship.
- Our Community Chaplain was involved in many outreach projects and ministry in the parish up until his departure in July.
- • Our Director of Music was instrumental in our children’s ministry alongside the Community Chaplain and now continues to lead our community choir in special feast day performances.
Page 4
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
**Trustees' Report, incorporating the PCC Report for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## AT **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
Staffing highlights & changes
- Mtr Rosemary, our part-time interim priest, provided a steady presence at the beginning of the year in the sacramental, pastoral and catechetical ministry of the parish. Mtr Erin returned from maternity leave in May but left in September to take up ministry at St Mary’s Church Battersea.
- Cover at the latter end of the year was provided by Archdeacon Peter, Fr Peter Babbington, Mtr Evonne, Ftr Brian Ralph, Ftr Dumaeza Nhlapo, and a number of local Stepney guest priests.
- George Haggett, Community Chaplain, left at the end of July.
- Jonathan Ticher continued on our staff team as Director of Music.
- Dawn Bigsby continued as Parish Administrator and Bookkeeper throughout 2025, also serving as PCC Clerk.
Other projects and events in the of the church and the parish:
- Frequent school visits (both school groups to church and clergy/lay leaders to schools) continued until the end of the summer term.
- Bethnal Green Bumblebees, our playgroup for babies and toddlers, continued to be well attended until the summer, but sadly ceased when our Community Chaplain left.
- During Lent we held a series of Julian meetings in person and online, offering silent prayer inspired by Julian of Norwich.
- Our Palm Sunday Mass was preached by Reverend Dr Ellen Clark-King, Dean of King’s College London, and was followed by a Procession down Brick Lane with Derek the Donkey from Spitalfields City Farm.
- In April, a group of parishioners followed the Pilgrims Way to Canterbury. They started at Southwark Cathedral, travelled to Rochester by train for an overnight stay and then walked to Canterbury, covering 12-15 miles each day, stopping at churches en route.
- In June we hosted an evening stop on the 'Planting Pilgrimage,' part of the Spiritual Ecology Festival organised by St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace.
- In June we were visited by the social group from St Michael & All Angels London Fields.
- We continued to support parishioners in need, both those with acute health conditions and those with immigration issues.
- Corpus Christi by proceeding from St Barnabas Bethnal Green back to Matthew's Church. We were joined by people from across the Tower Hamlets Deanery and wider Stepney Area. The event was rounded off by a Benediction in church and a reception.
- In July the Bumblebees had a visit from Spitalfields City Farm Petting Zoo.
- A special Mass was held in August for the Eve of St Clare of Assisi.
- Our Community Choir gathered to sing and celebrate Harvest Festival, All Saints and All Souls and a candlelit Carol Service, all led by our Musical Director, Jonathan Ticher.
## **Fabric Report**
## **Church building**
The following changes or maintenance issues were addressed in 2025.
- Gutters - cleaned regularly and maintained by the PCC and diocese.
- Silver plate - remains in good condition.
- Essential repairs were carried out to the organ.
- The sound system was upgraded.
The Churchyard continues to be maintained by Tower Hamlets Green & Parks teams, with whom we have a very good working relationship. New trees on the south side of the churchyard were planted.
The **Watch House** continues to be occupied by Mario Sepulveda and family.
The Parish Rooms continue in mixed use. Some of our most regular users are Beyond the Streets (nighttime outreach), The Bothy Project Food Co-Op, Leonard’s Lunchbox Pet Food bank, Simon Owens (upstairs office space), Chavdar Mazgalov (piano tuition), together with other one-off hires.
The **Parish Hall** (no.17 Hereford Street) continues to be let by State 51. A Rent Review continues underway, progressing to negotiation stages in 2025.
Page 5
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## AT **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Trustees' Report, incorporating the PCC Report**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **Financial Review**
Total receipts on ordinary unrestricted funds were £120,576 and are detailed in the Financial Statements. Total income, including donations, legacies, charitable activities, investments and endowment activities was: £133,290. A total of £ 151,398 was spent to provide the Christian ministry from St Matthew’s.
Our Common Fund commitment of £52,500 was fully met.
## **Results for the year**
The results of the period and financial position of the PCC are shown in the annexed financial statements.
The Statement of Financial Activities shows an in-year deficit of £26,680 and reserves of £2,358,793. An overspend of free general funds of £179 is due to the salary of the Community Chaplain, who left in July. His salary in 2024 and 2025 was off-set by the sale of St James Institute expendable endowment funds to the value of £29,000.
## **Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity**
Fixed assets are set out in Note 12 to the accounts.
## **Reserves Policy**
The PCC maintains a balance on unrestricted funds to cover emergency situations that may arise from time to time. The PCC keeps to its Reserves Policy which maintains that the church keep 6 months’ running costs in reserves, plus money to cover upcoming QI and other planned building works.
## **Independent Examiner**
The Independent Examiner, Anthony Armstrong FCA of Armstrong & Co, Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor, has indicated his willingness to be proposed for re-appointment.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees on 12 April 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
## **Matthew Shelley Trustee**
Page 6
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## AT **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
Charity law in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- a) Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
- b) Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- c) Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- d) Follow applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts;
- e) Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the governing document. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Page 7
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## AT **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Independent Examiner's Report**
## **to the Parochial Church Council of the Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
I report on the accounts of Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green for the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 set out on pages 9 to 19. My report is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 ('the Regulations') and the Charities Act 2011 ( 'the Charities Act' ).
This report is made solely to the members of the PCC as a body in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. My examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the PCC members those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the PCC and its members as a body, for my examination, for this report, or for the opinions I have formed.
## **Respective responsibilities of members of the PCC and the examiner**
As described on page 7, as PCC members you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts, and you consider that an audit is not required for this year under the Regulations or under section 144(2) of the Charities Act and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- a) examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act;
- b) to follow the procedures laid down in the General Direction given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act; and
- c) to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of independent examiner's report**
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Church Council concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- a. the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
- b. the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- c. the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Anthony Armstrong FCA **of Armstrong & Co 4a Printing House Yard** _Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor_ **Hackney Road London Dated: 12 April 2026 E2 7PR**
Page 8
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**Notes**
**Income and endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
Investments
6
Endowment income
7
**Total income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
8
Charitable activities
9
Endowment expenditure
10
**Total expenditure**
Net gains/(losses) on investments
13
**Net income/(expenditure) and movement in**
**funds**
**Transfers between funds**
23
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
17
**Total funds carried forward**
17||||**2025**
**2024**
**Total Funds**
**Total Funds**
£
£
9,083
12,395
671
970
21,102
19,870
90,571
91,914
11,863
12,294
**133,290**
**137,443**
643
704
143,263
144,783
7,492
3,838
**151,398**
**149,325**
(8,572)
4,251
**(26,680)**
**(7,631)**
-
-
2,385,473
2,393,104
**2,358,793**
**2,385,473**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**
**Funds**|**Restricted**
**Funds**|**Endowment**
**Funds**||
||£
8,232
671
21,102
90,571
-|£
851
-
-
-
-|£
-
-
-
-
11,863||
||**120,576**|**851**|**11,863**||
||643
140,724
-|-
2,539
-|-
-
7,492||
||**141,367**|**2,539**|**7,492**||
||-|-|(8,572)||
||**(20,791)**
35,734
1,969,878|**(1,688)**
-
22,010|**(4,201)**
(35,734)
393,585||
||**1,984,821**|**20,322**|**353,650**||
There are no gains and losses other than those noted above and therefore no separate statement of total recognised gains and losses has been prepared.
The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.
Page 9
## **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## **Statement of Financial Position**
## **as at 31 December 2025**
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets:**
Tangible assets
12
Investments
13
**Total fixed assets**
**Current assets:**
Debtors
14
Cash at bank and In hand
15
**Total current assets**
16
**Net current assets**
**Total net assets**
**The funds of the charity:**
Endowment funds
Restricted funds
21
Unrestricted funds
17
**Total charity funds**
17
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|£
£
£
£
1,940,000
1,940,000
289,641
327,213
2,229,641
2,267,213
8,577
9,028
145,842
134,517
154,419
143,545
25,267
25,285
129,152
118,260
2,358,793
2,385,473
353,650
393,585
20,322
22,010
1,984,821
1,969,878
2,358,793
2,385,473
**31 December 2025**
**31 December 2024**|£
£
£
£
1,940,000
1,940,000
289,641
327,213
2,229,641
2,267,213
8,577
9,028
145,842
134,517
154,419
143,545
25,267
25,285
129,152
118,260
2,358,793
2,385,473
353,650
393,585
20,322
22,010
1,984,821
1,969,878
2,358,793
2,385,473
**31 December 2025**
**31 December 2024**|
|---|---|---|
||£
8,577
145,842
154,419
25,267|£
1,940,000
327,213|
|||2,267,213
118,260|
|||2,385,473|
|||393,585
22,010
1,969,878|
|||2,385,473|
**Approved by the PCC on 12 April 2026 and signed on their behalf by:**
**Matthew Shelley Olivia Blanning Trustee Trustee**
_**The notes on pages 12 to 19 form part of these accounts.**_
Page 10
## **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## **Statement of Cash Flows**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**Notes**
**Cash flows from operating activities:**
Net cash used in operating activities
**1**
**Cash flows from investing activities:**
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Proceeds from sale of investments
**Net cash provided by investing activities**
**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period**
**2**
**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period**
**2**
**Notes to Cash Flow Statement**
**1**
**Adjustments for:**
(Gains)/losses on revaluation of investments
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase/(decrease) in creditors
**Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities**
**2 Analysis of cash and cash equivalents**
Cash in hand
**Total cash and cash equivalents**
**Reconciliation of net income/(expenditure) to net cash flow from**
**operating activities**
Net income/(expenditure) for the reporting period (as per the statement of financial
activities)|**2025**
£
(108,246)
90,571
29,000
119,571
11,325
134,517
**145,842**
**2025**
£
(26,680)
8,572
(90,571)
451
(18)
**(108,246)**
**2025**
£
145,842
**145,842**|**2024**
£
(101,640)|
|---|---|---|
|||91,914
-|
|||91,914|
|||(9,726)
144,243|
|||**134,517**|
|||**2024**
£
(7,631)
(4,251)
(91,914)
(944)
3,100|
|||**(101,640)**|
|||**2024**
£
134,517|
|||**134,517**|
Page 11
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Accounting Policies for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with:
- a) Applicable UK accounting standards, including the provisions of section 1A (Small Entities) of Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)".
- b) 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 2015) - (Charities SORP FRS 102);
- c) The Charities Act 2011.
- d) The Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008
## **Public benefit entity**
The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
## **Going concern**
There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue operating and accordingly the accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis.
## **Income recognition**
Voluntary income and donations (including legacies) are accounted for once the PCC has entitlement to the income, it is probable the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be reliably measured. Income from the recovery of tax on gift aided donations is accounted for once the tax reclaim has been applied for. Grant income is recognised on a receivable basis.
The income from trading activities include rental income from the letting of church premises temporarily surplus to requirement, and is accounted for when earned. It is shown gross, with the associated costs included in fundraising costs.
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank. Income from property held for its rental returns is included in Investments when due.
## **Deferred income**
Income received which is contractually or otherwise not expendable until a future period is deferred to the period in which it meets the criteria for income recognition.
## **Endowment funds**
Endowment funds are restricted funds which are capital in nature. Permanent endowments exist where there is no power to convert the capital into income. The funds can reduce where there are decreases in value, (either by losses or depreciation) of assets represented by the funds.
## **Expenditure recognition**
Expenditure is accrued as soon as a liability is considered probable, and the amount of obligation can be measured reliably. Longer term liabilities are discounted to present value. The PCC is not registered for VAT and accordingly expenditure includes VAT where appropriate.
Expenditure included in Raising Funds includes amounts incurred in obtaining grants and other donations and property maintenance costs.
Charitable expenditure includes those costs expended in fulfilling the PCC’s principal objects, as outlined in the Report of the PCC. These include grants payable, governance costs and an apportionment of support costs.
- Grants payable are payments made to third parties in furtherance of the PCC’s objects. In the case of an unconditional grant offer this is accrued once the recipient has been notified of the grant award. The notification gives the recipient a reasonable expectation that they will receive the grant. Grants awards that are subject to the recipient fulfilling performance conditions are only accrued when the recipient has been notified of the grant and any remaining unfulfilled condition attaching to that grant is outside of the control of the PCC.
- Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the PCC and its compliance with regulation and good practice. These costs include costs related to the independent examination and legal fees.
- Rentals under operating leases are charged as incurred over the term of the lease.
Page 12
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Accounting Policies**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **Restricted Funds**
Restricted funds are to be used for specified purposes as laid down by the funder. Direct and support expenditure which meets these criteria are identified to the fund together with a fair allocation of other costs.
## **Unrestricted Funds**
Unrestricted funds are funds received which have no restrictions placed on their use and are available as general funds.
## **Designated Funds**
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.
## **Tangible Fixed Assets**
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Sound equipment - 20% on cost Computer equipment - 33% on cost Land & buildings - No depreciation charged
Items of equipment are only capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500.
## _Consecrated Property and Moveable Church Furnishings_
Consecrated land and benefice property such as the church building and vicarage is excluded from the accounts in accordance with s10 of the Charities Act 2011. Moveable church contents are held by the vicar and churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and require a faculty for disposal are accounted as inalienable property unless consecrated. All expenditure incurred on consecrated or benefice buildings and moveable church furnishings, whether maintenance or improvement, is expensed within the Statement of Financial Activities.
## **Investments**
Investments are shown in the balance sheet at closing market value. Surpluses or deficits on valuation are credited or charged to the SOFA.
Page 13
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## F **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
## **1 Incoming resources**
The incoming resources and surplus are attributable to the principal activities of the charity.
|**Net outgoing resources**
_Net outgoing resources are stated after charging:_
Independent Examiners fees - Independent Examination services
**Trustees' emoluments**|**2025**
£
1,200
-|**2024**
£
1,200|
|---|---|---|
|||-|
## **2 Net outgoing resources**
## **Trustees' emoluments**
Emoluments include salaries, fees, bonuses, expense allowances and estimated non-cash benefits receivable. All trustees serve in a voluntary capacity and do not receive payment for their services.
|**3**
**Donations and legacies**
Personal donations
Reclaimed gift aid
Planned giving
Grants & reimbursements
Collections
**4**
**Charitable activities**
Fees for occasional services
Church events
**5**
**Other trading activities**
Hall hire
**6**
**Investments**
Rental income
Bank interest received
**7**
**Endowment income**
St Philip's Hall: interest received
National Schools: interest received
Institute: interest received
St James Church Expenses: dividends received
St Philip's Hall: dividends received|**Unrestricted**
£
3,260
685
3,378
244
665
8,232
**Unrestricted**
£
291
380
671
**Unrestricted**
£
21,102
21,102
**Unrestricted**
£
87,000
3,571
90,571
**Unrestricted**
£
4,191
878
4,623
2,089
82
11,863|**Restricted**
£
-
-
-
851
-
851
**Restricted**
£
-
-
-
**Restricted**
£
-
-
**Restricted**
£
-
-
-
£
-
-
-
-
-
-|**2025**
**Total**
£
3,260
685
3,378
1,095
665
9,083
**2025**
**Total**
£
291
380
671
**2025**
**Total**
£
21,102
21,102
**2025**
**Total**
£
87,000
3,571
90,571
**2025**
**Total**
£
4,191
878
4,623
2,089
82
11,863|**2024**
**Total**
£
3,035
699
4,020
2,955
1,686|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||12,395|
|||||**2024**
**Total**
£
970
-|
|||||970|
|||||**2024**
**Total**
£
19,870|
|||||19,870|
|||||**2024**
**Total**
£
87,000
4,914|
|||||91,914|
|||||**2024**
**Total**
£
3,146
1,027
5,944
2,041
136|
|||||12,294|
Page 14
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## F **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**8**
**Raising funds**
Watch House costs
**9**
**Charitable activities**
Common fund
Home mission
Clergy expenses
Rectory costs
Church requisites
Equipment costs
Children & Youth
Insurance
Printing, postage & stationery
PR & marketing
Heat, light & water
Church running costs
Cleaning exps
Church repairs & maintenance
Parish hall costs
Education & training
Events & outings
Sundry expenses
Bank charges
Legal & professional fees
Independent examination fees
Administration fees|**Unrestricted**
£
643
643
**Unrestricted**
£
52,500
3,456
445
1,562
988
123
333
5,080
1,810
891
6,232
3,448
5,868
2,862
19,074
13,802
2,723
16
46
4,780
1,200
13,485
140,724|**Restricted**
£
-
-
**Restricted**
£
-
606
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,933
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,539|**2025**
**Total**
£
643
643
**2025**
**Total**
£
52,500
4,062
445
1,562
988
123
333
5,080
1,810
891
6,232
3,448
5,868
4,795
19,074
13,802
2,723
16
46
4,780
1,200
13,485
143,263|**2024**
**Total**
£
704|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||704|
|||||**2024**
**Total**
£
50,947
5,369
364
1,131
435
-
2,026
4,914
2,538
819
3,802
3,589
6,274
6,737
15,832
15,758
2,191
880
56
7,599
1,200
12,322|
|||||144,783|
|**10**
**Endowment expenditure**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
£
£
National Schools: Church requisites
878
-
Institute: Church maintenance
4,623
-
St James Church Expenses: Church running costs
1,991
-
7,492
-
**11 Staff costs**
Staff salaries
Staff social security
Staff pensions|**2025**
**Total**
£
878
4,623
1,991
7,492
**2025**
£
17,985
1,287
267
19,539|**2024**
**Total**
£
1,027
770
2,041|
|---|---|---|
|||3,838|
|||**2024**
£
20,195
838
268|
|||21,301|
No remuneration was paid to any Trustee or their associates for services as a trustee during the year ended 31 December 2025 nor to 31 December 2024.
Page 15
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## F **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**12 **|**Tangible fixed assets**
**Tangible 1**
**Tangible 2**
**Sound**
**equipment**
£
£
£
**Cost**
As at 1 January 2025
-
-
-
As at 31 December 2025
-
-
-
**Depreciation**
As at 1 January 2025
-
-
-
Charge for the year
-
-
-
As at 31 December 2025
-
-
-
**Net book value**
As at 31 December 2025
-
-
-
As at 31 December 2024
-
-
-|**Computer**
**equipment**
£
1,304
1,304
1,304
-
1,304
-
-|**Land &**
**buildings**
£
1,940,000
1,940,000
-
-
-
1,940,000
1,940,000|**Total**
£
1,941,304|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,941,304|
|||||1,304
-|
|||||1,304|
|||||1,940,000|
|||||1,940,000|
||||||
||The land & buildings include carrying costs of The Parish Hall, The Parish Room and the Watch House.||||
|**13 **|**Investments**
**Market value**
As at 1 January 2025
Disposals
Revaluations
As at 31 December 2025
**Historical value at at 31 December 2025**|**Investments**
**Market value**
As at 1 January 2025
Disposals
Revaluations
As at 31 December 2025
**Historical value at at 31 December 2025**|**Permanent**
**Endowments**
£
213,041
-
(8,572)
204,469
94,462|**Expendable**
**Endowments**
£
114,172
(29,000)
-
85,172
85,172|**Total**
£
327,213
(29,000)
(8,572)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||289,641|
||||||179,634|
|||||||
||**Expendable Endowments - St**
**James Institute**|£85,172 cash held in a CBF Deposit Fund, the income of which is restricted to ecclesiastical
purposes which have the approval of the incumbent.||||
||**Permanent Endowments -**
**Church Expenses Fund**|3,252 CBF Investment Fund Shares valued at £72,189 at the year-end, the income of which
is restricted t**o**church expenses.||||
||**Permanent Endowments - St**
**Philip's Hall**|5,730.19 COIF Income Units valued at £110,718 at the year-end. The fund is restricted to
the improvement of the premises. Interest on this account is currently accumulated in the St
Philip's Hall restricted fund which is represented by a CCLA CBF Deposit Fund. This account
is to recoup capital spent on a central heating system in 1977.||||
||**Permanent Endowments - St**
**Philip's Hall**|£1,844 cash held in a CBF Deposit Fund. The fund is restricted to the improvement of the
premises. Interest on this account is currently accumulated in the St Philip's Hall restricted
fund which is represented by a CCLA CBF Deposit Fund. This account is to recoup capital
spent on a central heating system in 1977.||||
||**Permanent Endowments -**
**National Schools**|£19,717 cash held in a CBF Deposit Fund, the income of which is restricted to religious and
charitable work in the parish.||||
## **14 Debtors: amounts falling due within one year**
Prepayments
|**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|
|£|£|
|8,577|9,028|
|8,577|9,028|
Page 16
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## F **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**15 **
**16 **
**17 **
**18 **
**19 **|**Bank and cash in hand**
Bank current account
Bank deposit account
CCLA deposit account
CCLA rent deposit account
CCLA deposit account - St Phillip's Hall
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Rent deposit held
Accruals
Deferred income
**The funds of the charity: current year**
_Restricted funds_
Endowment funds
Restricted income funds
_Total restricted funds_
_Unrestricted funds_
Designated funds
General funds
_Total unrestricted funds_
**The funds of the charity: prior year**
_Restricted funds_
Endowment funds
Restricted income funds
_Total restricted funds_
_Unrestricted funds_
Designated funds
General funds
_Total unrestricted funds_
**Designated funds: current year**
Fixed asset funds
Major works sinking fund|**Opening**
**balance**
£
393,585
22,010
415,595
1,985,000
(15,122)
1,969,878
2,385,473
**Opening**
**balance**
£
380,878
22,036
402,914
1,980,000
10,190
1,990,190
2,393,104
**Opening**
**balance**
£
1,940,000
45,000
1,985,000|**Resources**
**arising**
£
11,863
851
12,714
-
120,576
120,576
133,290
**Resources**
**arising**
£
12,294
3,005
15,299
5,000
117,144
122,144
137,443
**Resources**
**arising**
£
-
-
-|**Resources**
**utilised**
£
(7,492)
(2,539)
(10,031)
-
(141,367)
(141,367)
(151,398)
**Resources**
**utilised**
£
(3,838)
(3,031)
(6,869)
-
(142,456)
(142,456)
(149,325)
**Resources**
**utilised**
£
-
-
-|**2025**
£
3,609
64,478
30,767
21,726
25,262
145,842
**2025**
£
22,035
1,982
1,250
25,267
**Other**
**movements**
£
(44,306)
-
(44,306)
-
35,734
35,734
(8,572)
**Other**
**movements**
£
4,251
-
4,251
-
-
-
4,251
**Transfers &**
**adjustments**
£
-
-
-|**2024**
£
3,457
53,192
29,435
20,785
27,648|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||||134,517|
|||||||**2024**
£
22,035
2,000
1,250|
|||||||25,285|
|||||||**Closing**
**balance**
£
353,650
20,322|
|||||||373,972|
|||||||1,985,000
(179)|
|||||||1,984,821|
||||||||
|||||||2,358,793|
|||||||**Closing**
**balance**
£
393,585
22,010|
|||||||415,595|
|||||||1,985,000
(15,122)|
|||||||1,969,878|
||||||||
|||||||2,385,473|
|||||||**Closing**
**balance**
£
1,940,000
45,000|
|||||||1,985,000|
Page 17
**(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## F **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**20 **|**Designated funds: prior year**
Fixed asset funds
Major works sinking fund|**Designated funds: prior year**
Fixed asset funds
Major works sinking fund|**Opening**
**balance**
£
1,940,000
40,000
1,980,000|**Resources**
**arising**
£
-
5,000
5,000|**Resources**
**utilised**
£
-
-|**Transfers &**
**adjustments**
£
-
-|**Closing**
**balance**
£
1,940,000
45,000|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||||1,985,000|
|||||||||
||**Fixed asset funds**|This fund represents the amount of charity funds locked up in freehold land and buildings
and other fixed assets which are needed for operational purposes. The funds are carried at
the net book value of the fixed assets at the balance sheet date, after deducting any
outstanding loans, endowment funds or restricted funds used to finance their acquisition.||||||
||**Major works sinking fund**|The fund represents the amount of charity funds set aside for possible building works in
future.||||||
|**21 Restricted funds: current year**
Bells
Food Bank
St Philip's Hall Fund
Queen Adelaide Charity
Miss Vaughan's Spitalfields Charity
Choir Church
**22 Restricted funds: prior year**
Bells
Food Bank
St Philip's Hall Fund
Queen Adelaide Charity
Miss Vaughan's Spitalfields Charity
Choir Church|**Opening**
**balance**
£
851
468
15,678
2,087
2,578
348
22,010
**Opening**
**balance**
£
851
418
15,678
2,896
2,193
-
22,036|**Incoming**
**resources**
£
-
-
-
700
151
-
851
**Incoming**
**resources**
£
-
50
-
570
385
2,000
3,005|**Resources**
**expended**
£
-
-
1,933
606
-
-
2,539
**Resources**
**expended**
£
-
-
-
1,379
-
1,652
3,031|**Transfers &**
**adjustments**
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
**Transfers &**
**adjustments**
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Closing**
**balance**
£
851
468
13,745
2,181
2,729
348|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||20,322|
||||||**Closing**
**balance**
£
851
468
15,678
2,087
2,578
348|
||||||22,010|
## **Restricted funds (continued)**
Projects financed by restricted funds are supported by unrestricted funding where necessary. This occurs where the funding is in arrears or the incidence of expenditure on the project occurs disproportionately at the beginning of the project compared to the income flows. Where restricted projects end the year with a deficit, this is met by after year-end restricted income or transfers from unrestricted funds.
|from unrestricted funds.||
|---|---|
|**Bells**|Funds received for restoration of Church Bells.|
|**Food Bank**|Funds administered on behalf of Bow Food Bank.|
|**St Philip's Hall Fund**|Funds received for purchase or refurbishment of premises.|
|**Queen Adelaide Charity**|Funds received for Home mission.|
|**Miss Vaughan's Spitalfields**
**Charity**|Funds received for Home mission.|
|**Choir Church**|After school singingclub forprimaryschool children.|
|**23 Transfers between funds: current year**
Endowment to general|**General**
**funds**
35,734
35,734|**Designated**
**funds**
-|**Restricted**
**funds**
-|**Endowment**
**funds**
(35,734)
(35,734)|**Total**
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||-|
Page 18
## F **Parish of St Matthew with St James the Great, Bethnal Green**
## **(A Parochial Church Council registered as a charity, number: 1148272)**
## **Notes to the Accounts**
## **for the year ended 31 December 2025**
|**24 Net assets attributable to funds: current year**
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets represented by funds
**25 Net assets attributable to funds: prior year**
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Net assets represented by funds|**General**
**funds**
-
25,088
(25,267)
(179)
**General**
**funds**
4,251
4,662
(24,035)
(15,122)|**Designated**
**funds**
£
1,940,000
45,000
-
1,985,000
**Designated**
**funds**
£
1,940,000
45,000
-
1,985,000|**Restricted**
**funds**
£
-
20,322
-
20,322
**Restricted**
**funds**
£
-
23,260
(1,250)
22,010|**Endowment**
**funds**
£
289,641
64,009
-
353,650
**Endowment**
**funds**
£
322,962
70,623
-
393,585|**Total**
£
2,229,641
154,419
(25,267)|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||2,358,793|
||||||**Total**
£
2,267,213
143,545
(25,285)|
||||||2,385,473|
## **26 Taxation**
The PCC is a registered charity. Accordingly, it is exempt from taxation in respect of income and capital gains to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
## **27 Post balance sheet events**
There were no significant post balance sheet events.
## **28 Contingent liabilities**
The charity had no material contingent liabilities at 31 December 2025 nor at 31 December 2024.
## **29 Related parties**
During the year the members of the PCC and their related parties made aggregate donations of £712 (2024: £1,625).
## **30 Gifts in kind and volunteers**
During the year the charity benefited from unpaid work performed by volunteers.
Page 19