2024-12-31-accounts

¥ . A N N U A L \ + § ’ 7 a — . R E P O R T . am ‘ o. - ‘ ~ “Nhe: ; ‘ - Rasy ua eaetA ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL Tos. STATEMENTS OF THE a 4 ; : Cosera << PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ¢ 4 =e ye . ‘ 4 eS meet es FOR THE YEAR ENDED ~ 31 DECEMBER 2024 Seta ee me & Dy : . i ~ . Sng SS Los i Re 2 ee * a>

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A c h a r i t y r e g i s t e r e d i n E n g l a n d a n d W a l e s n o . 1 1 4 9 8 5 3 ¥.

P A G E 2

2024

ANNUAL REPORT

St Bartholomew’s Edgbaston Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the Year Ended 31 December 2024.

[This report is made in accordance with The Church Representation Rules 2022 and The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and is separate from any statement or address that the vicar may wish to make or any reports that any other individual or parish group may present at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. It is the means by which the P.C.C. gives an account of how they alone have carried out their responsibilities during the year, and of their future plans.]

Administrative Information

St Bartholomew’s Church is situated in Church Road, Edgbaston. It is part of the Diocese of Birmingham within the Church of England.

Under the terms of section 3 of the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 the Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a body corporate. In compliance with the Charities Act 2006, because our gross income is over £100,000 we are registered with the Charity Commission. Our governing documents are two pieces of legislation: (1) the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 as amended; and (2) The Church Representation Rules (contained in Schedule 3 to the Synodical Government Measure 1969 as amended).

THE PCC

Ex-Officio Members:

Charlie Butler - Vicar from March 2023, Chair + Diocesan Synod Representative, 2024 - 2027 Guy Hordern - Churchwarden from 2015, Vice Chair

• General Synod Representative, 2021 - 2026 Oli Huggins - Churchwarden from 2023

Anne Horder - Deanery Synod Representative, 2023 - 2026 Joe Jordan - Deanery Synod Representative, 2023 - 2026

• Diocesan Synod Representative, 2024 - 2027

David Mayland - Deanery Synod Representative, 2023 - 2026

Elected members who held office at the end of 2024:

Alan Browning 2024 - 2027 Linda Caswell 2023 - 2025 Frances Clarke 2023 - 2026 Ben Cuffin-Munday 2022 - 2025 Bella Cuffin-Munday 2023 - 2026 Peter Gregory 2023 - 2026 John Hatch 2024 - 2025

Jem Huggins 2024 - 2026, Electoral Roll officer

Mary Martin 2024 - 2027, Treasurer Judy Metcalfe 2024 - 2027 Lynn Shelley 2023 - 2025

Martin Horder - PCC Secretary 2024 -

P A G E 3

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The method of appointment of 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. The Standing Committee of the PCC is the only committee required to be in existence by church law and has the power to transact some business of the PCC between meetings. The St Bartholomew’s PCC has agreed the specific purpose of its standing committee as being “to make urgent decisions that cannot await the next meeting of the PCC but are of insufficient significance to justify PCC recall between meetings” (St Bartholomew’s PCC handbook). The members of the Standing Committee are the Vicar, the Churchwardens, and two members elected by the PCC: currently Linda Caswell and Mary Martin. This Committee has not met this year but has transacted some business by correspondence.

The other sub-committees of the PCC are as follows:

1. Finance Committee Chaired by the Treasurer, Mary Martin. This committee manages our accounts and runs a budgeting process to enable the delegation of regular spending to respective committees.

2. Buildings and Maintenance Committee Chaired by Oliver Huggins. This committee is responsible for the routine maintenance of the Church and its surroundings, the oversight of necessary repairs, and planning any future improvements to our buildings.

3. Walker Hall Committee chaired by Charlie Butler. This committee manages all aspects of the hall which provided a valuable source of income for the PCC and is a forward facing way that we engage with the local community.

4. Employment Committee , chaired by Mary Martin. This committee oversees our employment structures, keep our employment policies up-to-date, and serve as an independent body to support employees through any procedures (grievance, disciplinary, etc.), as needed.

Induction Training

All PCC members elected undergo Safeguarding Training and complete a DBS verification. As part of the onboarding process a training session on the finances of the Church is provided. A handbook is issued, alongside copies of the previous year’s Annual Report and PCC minutes. It is considered that all PCC members and any others who could be understood to be ‘managers’ in the activities and affairs of the Parish of St. Bartholomew’s Church, Edgbaston are deemed to be ‘fit and proper’ persons under the terms of the Finance Act 2010.

P A G E 4

OBJECTIVES, ACTIVITIES & PERFORMANCE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The PCC is aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in ‘The Advancement of Religion for the Public Benefit’ and have regard to it in their administration of the Parish. The PCC believes that, by fulfilling its responsibility to co-operate with the incumbent in the promotion of the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, in the parish, it provides a benefit to the public by:

• Providing resources and facilities for public worship, pastoral care and spiritual, moral and intellectual development, both for its members and anyone who wishes to benefit from what the Church offers;

• Promoting Christian values, and service by members of the Church in the Parish to its community, to the benefit of individuals and society as a whole.

The heart of the Church is its community of worshippers, meeting regularly to encounter God in praise, prayer, Scripture and sacrament. There are 123 parishioners on the Church Electoral Roll, as at 31st December 2024, of whom 45 are resident in the parish and 78 are not resident. Across the year, 7 people were removed and 7 were added. The main service of worship happens at 10.30am every Sunday, and our usual Sunday attendance in 2024 was 60 adults and 11 children and young people (2023: 60 adults and 11 children and young people). More broadly, our “worshipping community” (defined by the Church of England as anyone who attends our church regularly, or would do if not prevented by illness, incapacity, etc.) in 2024 was 85 adults and 13 children and young people (2023: 87 adults and 13 children and young people). The larger numbers in this second category particularly reflect the faithful and growing congregation at our Wednesday morning service.

In 2024, our vicar Charlie developed a concise vision statement for the next season of our church’s life:

• “To be a church where anyone can encounter God, and where everyone expects to change.”

Charlie also developed a series of values that articulate the most important aspects of our identity: renewing worship, faithful teaching, honest community, sacrificial mission, and public faith. We are looking forward to this vision and these values being worked out across the life of our church in 2025 and beyond.

P A G E 5

CHURCH FAMILY LIFE 2024

Across 2024, the church has heard the preaching of God’s word through the lectionary readings in the seasons of Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Advent, as well as series of sermons working through Mark, Job, Revelation, Psalms and continuing in topical all-age talks unpacking the Apostles’ Creed. Over the summer we delved into a series on Evangelism over 4 evenings in June.

Sunday School groups explored Exodus, Job, Easter, Advent, and more besides. We’ve enjoyed time together outside of Sunday mornings with ‘Big Question’ evenings where the children get to quiz a panel of grown ups. In October 2024 we started a new group for younger children, so now run two groups; Sparks for ages 3-5 and Flames for ages 6-11. Going into the next year we are looking at the challenge of providing something for our growing group of youth (age 11 plus). We are grateful to those who answered the call for help as we grew our groups, God’s blessing in the resourcing of these groups has been so good!

Our monthly church family lunches have continued and have grown in number, to such an extent that we are running out of space at the back of church! There has been a variety of different meals cooked, and countless friendships deepened through extended time for chatting. Charlie and Jenny began hosting Newcomers Suppers to help new people to the church find their way in. Our Tuesday and Thursday evening homegroups have carried on meeting, exploring the sermon passages from the preceding Sunday morning in depth, as well as socialising and praying together. Online prayer meetings also carrying on via Zoom on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes, and the monthly in-person prayer meetings in the Vicarage, and these have been encouraging times of looking back and forward with thanksgiving and prayerful expectation. A number of informal social activities have also continued through the year, notably our Knit ‘n’ Natter and sewing groups, as well as a monthly men’s discipleship group. Our Maintenance Mornings have remained both incredibly productive and fun and a chance to work alongside each other.

P A G E 6

PARISH AND WIDER COMMUNITY

Our mission to the parish and wider community remains an area for growth.

• We have been able to support the work of Friends International in offering a weekly café for international students in the area. FI use one of our church halls for free, and one of our congregation members is a member of the team that runs the café, while a number of others support it by providing refreshments. We would love to deepen and widen our engagement the thousands of students who live and study in our parish.

• We continue to welcome members of the community for the occasional offices of baptisms (3 in 2024), weddings (5 weddings and 1 blessing in 2024) and funerals (5 funerals/memorials in church in 2024 and 5 burials of ashes in our Garden of Remembrance). We would love to develop our offer of support to people around all three of these significant life events.

• Our Easter and Christmas delivery of invitations to every household in the parish has brought new connections with individuals who live in the vicinity of the church, resulting in growth at both our and Christmas services, and a number of sign-ups for our Alpha courses, beginning in January 2025. We would love to explore further engagement with our parish, beyond these two festivals.

• Charlie has been able to deepen his connection with one of the secondary schools in the parish (King Edward’s), one of the primary schools (Blue Coat, where he and another church member are governors), and Edgbaston Stadium, just beyond our parish boundary. We would love to develop our connections with the many institutions on our doorstep, serving them in meaningful ways.

A key aspect of developing our engagement with the community is the development of our buildings and site. During 2024, we engaged our church architects, APEC, to begin a feasibility study exploring how we could enhance and re-model our main site – the church building and St Monica’s – both to facilitate the various activities that sustain our church community

(services, Sunday School, church

family lunches, midweek events, etc.) and to enable us to welcome our community onto our site and into our buildings more comfortably. S:20pmn We look forward to this work Good 10.30am developing through 2025.

P A G E 7

PCC MEETINGS

The full PCC met 5 times in 2024 (2023: 5) with an average attendance level of 85% (2023: 88%), this includes some online attendees.

During the year the PCC discussed the following matters, which are reported in detail in the Minutes of each meeting.

18th February 2024

Review of (unsuccessful) process to appoint a curate for summer 2024

Approval of reserves policy

Approval of annual report 2023, pending independent examination of accounts

15th April 2024

Explanation from vicar of new plans for communication around PCC and warden elections

Discussion about future of music at the church after current organist’s retirement

8th June, PCC day 2024

Discussion about Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith process

Approval of plans to engage APEC Architects to undertake a feasibility study

regarding investment in remodeling aspects of the church building and St Monica’s

18th September 2024

Discussion of vicar’s church vision document

Approval of full Safeguarding Action Plan

Approval of revised Walker Hall arrangements: committee terms of reference, hire policy, banking arrangements

25th November 2024

Agreement to pause common fund contributions, pending decision about using Ephesian Fund

Approval of 2025 budget

P A G E 8

FINANCIAL REVIEW

We thank God that the church’s finances continue to be healthy and a small overall surplus of £11.6k was generated in 2024. The generosity of church members with their money and time is greatly appreciated. The total income for the year was £182.7k up very slightly from £182.2k in the previous year. The total expenditure fell to £171.1k from £177.8k in the previous year.

The planned giving at £65.1k (2023: £64.1k) was very similar to the previous year and around 60% was directed to our restricted funds for the Buildings & Upkeep Fund and the Church Growth Fund.

2024 saw a further increase in lettings, most notably at the Walker Hall, with income of £62.2K (2023: £56.3k).

Investment returns were steady at £17.7k (2023: £17.1K) with interest on our deposit accounts increasing to £4.6k (2023: £2.9k) reflecting the higher interest rates.

Expenditure on clergy and staffing costs fell from £41.7k to £20.2k. In 2023 the costs included Charlie Butler as Curate for 2 months until his induction as vicar at the start of March 2023. We also had exceptional expenditure in 2023 of the cost of refurbishing the interior of the vicarage at £15.1k. The PCC has now set up a plan of works for the vicarage to avoid all the costs falling in one year.

Church repairs and maintenance cost £32.0k (2023: £14.7k), covering two streams of work.

• The first stream was the long-term maintenance items funded by the Buildings & Upkeep Fund. The remedial work identified by the 2023 EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) covering the church and St Monica’s was carried out, major repairs were made to the large picture window in St Monica’s and further stonework repairs inside the church were undertaken.

• The second stream of work was in support of the repurposing project for our church buildings and have been funded form the Investing for the Future Fund. Initial costs included path redesign, digital drawings of the church and part of the costs of the architect’s feasibility study.

The Walker Hall repairs in 2023 cost £5.7k (2023: £13.2k). The previous year’s expenditure included the complete internal redecoration of the halls and the sanding and polishing of the main hall.

Net Assets have increased by 3% and include an unrealised investment gain of £6.3k.

RESERVES POLICY PAGE 9 It is the PCC'S policy to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds of at least six months committed payments, equivalent to £85.Ok (2023: £75.Ok). This policy is in place to mitigate liquidity risks arising through fluctuations in cash flow and to enable the PCC to respond to unplanned events. As at the end of 2024 the PCC reapproved the designation of general unrestricted funds to the Long-term Property Maintenance Fund of £250.Ok and the balance on the Investing in the Future Fund of £151.2k. The PCC are acutely aware tthey have the responsibility to manage the sustainability of historic buildings and plan for future growth. RISK ASSESSMENT The PCC wishes to record that it acknowledges its responsibilities in this area. Discussion about risk is built into agenda items at PCC meetings. We recognise that key risks for any church are a failure to attend properly to statutory obligations around safeguarding and governance. We have not developed a formal risk register, but this will be a matter for discussion by the PCC in the year following the April APCM. The contents and obligations of the Equality Act 2010 and the 2018 General Data Protection Regulation are known and complied with to the best of the PCC'S ability. The PCC is also aware of its responsibilities in respect of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in its requirement to carry out a f ire assessment to identify any possible dangers and risks, to take action to minimise the risks and to create a plan to deal with any emergencies, and also to write up and keep a record of its f indings and to review its assessment annually. The PCC intends to develop this policy and plan in 2025. Since September 2023, a comprehensive Safeguarding Policy, Promoting Asafer Church, has been in place in respect of both children and vulnerable adults. Checks are made with the Disclosure and Barring Service in respect of persons dealing regularly with young people and vulnerable adults. The PCC appointed officer for this is Chris Stotts. Accordingly. the PCC believes it has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have regard to the House of Bishops, guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. Approved by the PCC on 28 April 2025 and signed on their behalf by kJ.G-. s. Mr Guy Hordern, PCC Vice Chair Rev Charlie Butler. PCC Chair

PAGE 10 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2024 R•c•lpt8 and Paym•nts Account {£OiXl•l Y•ar •nd•d 31 ￿¢0mber 2024 Total Fur Year endad 31 Dec¥rrber 2023 Total Funds D••lytod Fur¥ Re8trlcd Enthjwment Fund• Fund RECEIPTS anned gl¥irvJ cc418clh￿8 other gNlrffJ Other vdunlary r8C8lpts GM Aid r8cov8r8d Actwili88 for ger￿raIlr￿ lund8 Inve8tmenl Incom8 Receipls from (￿U￿h xti¥rtk88 Total Incofflo OA 02 70 14.3 18.6 213 02 182.7 182.2 PAYMENTS Cost ol gen8r81irvJ luTrJ8 Parish Share Clergy and Stsffiry costs ClvJrch Aunniro Expenses Hall Running Costs Church A8P8ir8 & Mainlenanc8 Hall Repairs & Mainl8narK8 Mlssionary and Chwrty Govemfirth Cos15 Total •xpndllurn 41.7 2&1 10 310 14.7 13.2 12 &7 13 02 416 177.8 N•t Incom• or l•xp•ndttur•l b•forn tr4￿1•￿ (3111 21.6 02 Tr4n•f•r• b•lw••n lurKI¥ 27A iyJ.n 3J (0.2) (tho) a￿￿1￿0•1• on Inv••th*n Unrealis8d OA 18.2 Total moY•m•nt In furKI# 17.9 Total luThl• ￿￿ght I0￿1rd 1517 410 16.7 17.0 597.2 574.6 Totsl lurrfl• urrl•d lonv•rd 401.2 18.2 615.1 597.2

PAGE 11 S¢at•ment ¢ A¥88ts and Uabifiii88 I£OIJO¥l To 31 D•G•mber 31 Deterni￿r 2024 2023 Invasknents 401.2 41.6 182 505.0 498.7 Cvrrnnt Debtots Cash al bank aTh1 in hon 02 114.3 1f4.3 Llabllltlo Creditors.. f811ing due in one yO8r Not Gurr•nt a￿ts 13 110.1 110.1 98. Mat assets 154.1 40 41.6 615.1 597. Th6 PCC aLso enjoys the use olthe W8lkar Hal Ampkn Road. Edoba5ton. BiMwn￿rn. B15 2W. A 99 yaar ￿ on the property was grfled to the church in 1951 The hall is vatwd fDf Ln5ur8tK pittpos8s at £1.513 Fund movement by type (£OOO•l pIrtCaBh Mov•mont Closlng G4ln$llLosseg1 Gen8rdl Fu 152.7 71.7 {103.81 132.11 27.6 154.1 •8igThat•d Long T8rm Property maintsr￿nCfj Furby In￿SlIng for tht FLrture Fund Walker Hall Edgbastonian 250.0 160.0 250.0 151.2 10.01 10.01 18.8) 5) {8.81 29.8 (29.81 10.91 Ro8trlet•d Church G￿)Wth Building & Upkeap H8wkes- Curate Hawkes- Wcar 16.7 11.5) P321 24.9 13.31 41.6 10.01 15.8 19.9 15.0 02 Fun418 ofthe ChU￿h 5972 1817 171.11 11.6 615.1 ky￿ad tsyfl PCC on 28 Apr¥2O25 arwj •lW ￿ thptr b•haWby the Reverend C H ButhrlVCCChalrnwil Ind MrWG +lordErnlPCCWKe c￿￿1. J.5 g IAfvA,. Revarand C. H. BLthr Date.. 2W-25 2W.25

PAGE 12 Analysis of Income and Expenditurn {£OOOsl 1. Planned Glvlnq unr?8tr￿tQd D88b3natgd R8sti#gd En(Jov&TrÉnt Y•ar •nded 31 Yg8rgnded 31 DeCem￿r Decertber 2023 2024 12.2 ReguL9r Bank Transf8r5 Env8lope Gwing Parish GNing Sch8rne 16.2 26.6 33.2 38.5 48.7 64.1 65.1 2. collec￿On8 and other glvlng All anTh)unts in the pernd relat8 lo bose pL8te co1￿￿￿)n8 and the ￿$hI8$S gfvkng ffotkne. 3. Other voluntary r•c•lpts Unrfrstrtted Desbnated Endowrnnt Y•r •nd•d 31 Year endèd 31 Docembor D8cert18r 2023 2024 Curate Appeal Legaryes OVe￿e88 rni58K)n Other DonatK)ns OA 4. A¢llvlll•• for gen•rallwvJ fund unr•str￿a OoshJnated Endowmnt Y•ar •nd•d 31 Year ended 31 D•e•mb•r Dèc8rt)&r 2023 2024 Sl th)nlca'8 letting6 Walker Hall knlting¥ Church ￿ttIng8 Edgbastonian adv6rtLthg Church Fanyly SockgL8 Othor Inco￿• 61.0 81.0 56.3 12 12 02 63.7 5. Inv••tyn•nt Incom• Unrty#tittd Dè$b3n•td R•w•d Endowfftnt Y•r onded 31 Yèar èndèd 31 Dg¢•mbgr Decen)er 2023 2024 CCLA CBF Chureh ol EngLqnd Short Duralbn Bond Fund CCLA C8F chU￿h of EngL8nd Investrnnt Fund CCLA C8F Chureh ol EngLqn Property Fund Other Interest eamed 8A 20.0 6. R•c•lpts from chur¢h actlvll•• All ints)n in thè pèrb)d [•￿1+# to fèè8 forTrAdding#, lunèrnts and Mèn￿[181 sèrvb8. 7. C￿t of g•n•r•tlng fvnds Unrgstrrtgd Oe$b3nated R9¥1￿¥d EndowTr¢nl Y•aT •nd•d 31 Yeargnded 31 D•c•mb•r Decertt•er 2023 2024 Edgbastonian Church Fhftily SocrdL8 MusKians & Bellringe 8. Cl•rgy & staffing ¢o•l• Unrestl￿ted Desbjnated Restswxed Endorrent Y•ar enthd 31 Year ended 31 D•¢•mb•r Decert)er 2023 2024 13.5 StIP8nds AccoFrYrL)datiin Vkarage decoratkjn v￿Arage tree vhirk VKarag8 expen885 Out of poekèt expensès 13.5 19.2 15.1 20.2 20.2 41.7

PAGE 13 9. Church running •xp•ns•s Unrestl￿ted Desbjnated Restswxed EndoTrnt Y•ar ended 31 Year ended 31 December Decen)er 2023 2024 In5uranc8 mUS￿lan5 c￿anIng Direct serV￿S o)sts and rek8ted Administrative Costs Advertising Web site Heating & Lvjhting 10.4 26.6 28.1 25.9 10. Hall runnlng •xp•n••• Unrp5trrtèd Desb3nat8d R851Tfted Endovrtrtsnt Year •ndod 31 Yearended 31 Docember D&carti8r 2023 2024 Insur8nc8 H8ating. IkJhtlng and watef Cbaning manage￿￿t fees Oth•r njnnkng oxp•ns88 10.4 11.6 10.9 26.8 27.7 11. Church r•p•lr• & m•lnt•ninc• unreStr￿ted OesbJnated RestsxAed EndoTrnt Y••r •nd•d 31 Year ended 31 D•G•mb•r Decert)er 2023 2024 Malnlenan¢e Upk$$p of churehy8rd Malorworks 12.S 23.2 21.3 32.0 14.7 12. H•ll r•palr• & malnt•n•nc• Consiit•nt V￿th tho prhjr y••r. Al rèpairs for th• p$￿d rtkqt• to $truetur•l rèpaws to th• Walkèr H•1. 13. Gov•rn•nc• co•ts Consiit•nt writh th• prknr y•ar. al govamanco costs r•Lqt• to •)dèpond•nt •x&n￿alKIn of thé8• ae£ount8.

Independent Examiner's unqualified report to the members of the P.C.C. of St. Bartholomeiv's Church, Ydgbaston in respect of the Financial Statements st for the year ended 31 . December 2024 as set out on pages 10 to 11 of this report. Respective responsibilities of the P.C.C. and the examiner. The P.C.C. members acting as the charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for the year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of the Independent Examiner's statement. My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions giiven by the Charity Commission and the guidance published in PCC Accountability (The Charities Act 201 l and the P.C.C.), 5 edition). An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with these reLords. It al%0 includcs consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required for an audiL and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair, vicw and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. Independent examiner's statemenL In connection with my examination, no material matter has come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act, or the accounts do noi accord to the accounting records. I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts is reached. Signed. Name st Date l . May 2025. Revd. A. A. Clements Fellow Association of Charity Independent Examiners. Address 15 Carleton Road, Great Knowley, Chorley PR6 8TQ ACIE PCC CC32