## **All Saints’ Church, Berkhamsted** 

**____________________________________________________________** 


## **Annual Report of the Church Council (Trustees’ Annual Report)** 

## **and** 

## **Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023** 

**_____________________________________________________________** 

a Single Congregation Anglican Methodist Local Ecumenical Partnership registered charity number 1153162 



**All Saints’ Church, Berkhamsted a Single Congregation Anglican Methodist Local Ecumenical Partnership Report of the Church Council for the year ended 31 August 2023** 


______________________________________________________________________________ 

## **Aims and Purposes** 

All Saints’ Church aims to advance the Christian faith in the town of Berkhamsted and surrounding area. 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

When planning activities for the year, the minister and the Church Council have considered the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. 

In achieving its purpose, All Saints’ engages in a range of activities, including: 

- the celebration of public worship 

- the teaching of the Christian faith 

- pastoral work, including visiting the sick and the bereaved 

- the provision of facilities with a Christian ethos for the local community 

- the support of other charities in the UK and overseas 

To facilitate this work, it is important that the fabric of All Saints’ Church and Halls is maintained.  Ultimate responsibility for the maintenance of the Church and Halls complex of All Saints’, a Grade II Listed Building (ID number 1075267), lies with the Anglican Methodist Association (Berkhamsted) Ltd that owns the property.  All Saints’ Council, funded directly by the All Saints’ congregation, has day-to-day responsibility for this upkeep as well as for the work of the church generally. 

## **Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic** 

Attendance in church on Sundays has not yet returned to previous levels, with a proportion of the congregation joining online from home and an absence of children and young people. Attendance at the Tuesday morning Parish Eucharist has returned to normal. 

Financially we have not been too badly affected.  A high proportion of the giving from our congregation was, and still is, coming by way of bank standing orders.  Hall hire income has now returned to previous levels. 

## **Achievements and Performance** 

## _Worship and Prayer_ 

The Leadership Team at All Saints’ normally meets monthly and its discussions include the pattern and leadership of services, and the development of our worship in the future.  We feel it important that worship reflects the traditions from which we have come.  This provides variety in our worship within a framework of being recognisably “All Saints”. 

The principal Sunday morning service is either Holy Communion or Morning Worship, led by Methodist or Anglican clergy and/or lay people.  A monthly Messy Church is held on Sunday afternoons, for families who cannot get to church in the mornings and to reach out to the wider community.  A fortnightly service of compline held via Zoom on Thursday evenings has been introduced. 

Morning Prayer on Tuesdays and Evening Prayer on Fridays provide a quiet and intimate opportunity for worship.  A Tuesday morning Eucharist is held at All Saints led by clergy from St Peter’s Church.  Other services are held to mark special occasions – for example during Holy Week, and around Christmas. 

There were 92 people on the Register of Members at 31 August 2023 compared to 93 a year 

1 



earlier.  Two new names were added, and three were removed. 

As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life.  Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life, in marriage public vows are exchanged with God's blessing and through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and to commend the person into God's keeping.  In addition, those recently bereaved were invited to our annual Service of Thanksgiving for the lives of those who had died. 

## _Wider Church links_ 

All Saints’ is a Single Congregation Anglican/Methodist Local Ecumenical Partnership. Through its Anglican connections it is part of the Diocese of St Albans and of the Parish of Great Berkhamsted (with St Peter’s Church).  Through its Methodist connections it is part of the Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire District and of the West Hertfordshire and Borders Circuit (circuit number 34/14). 

Four members of the Church Council were members of the West Hertfordshire and Borders Circuit Meeting, two were members of Berkhamsted Team Council, and one was a member of the Parochial Church Council of Great Berkhamsted.  We continue to have a member of the Church Council serving as a trustee of The Way Inn Christian Centre Trust in Berkhamsted. These contacts and activities provided the Church Council with important links with the parish and the wider structures of the church. 

We continued to welcome the Revd Stuart Owen, from St Peter’s Church and Team Rector in the Berkhamsted Team Ministry, to preside at the Eucharist on Tuesday mornings. 

## _Church & Halls_ 

The church is normally open most days for private prayer and calm for anyone in the local community.  We are grateful to those on the rota for the daily opening and closing of the church. 

The children’s area set up at the front of the church with suitable furnishings and activities has been popular with parents of young children during services, and is visited on week days. 

The upper and lower halls are used by many groups within the local community – including Brownies & Guides, and Gateway Club.  We continue to maintain the property in an effort to make the premises welcoming. 

## _Pastoral Care_ 

Our “Chuckles” Toddler Group, which had run for over 20 years, was closed at the start of the pandemic.  As it was not be possible to re-open in its previous format, it is now successfully replaced with “Coffee, Chat & Toddlers” – where everyone of any age is warmly invited to enjoy a cup of coffee/tea and conversation on Tuesday mornings from 10am.  There are toys and activities available for younger visitors, and singing at 11am. 

Under our Pastoral Care Scheme, our one-to-one visitors keep in touch with those who are unable to attend church due to sickness or age.  In addition, our minister visits all church members who are in hospital.  These visitors have attended training courses. 

## _Mission and Evangelism_ 

Links continue to be fostered with the local primary school which is normally welcomed to the church for its Harvest Festival and Carol Services. 

Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith.  As reported below in the Financial Review section, a highest ever total of almost £21,000 was given this year to external charities.  It is encouraging that this level of support for others can be provided in the current economic climate. As well as this financial help, members of our congregation have continued to support the DENS Dacorum Foodbank with gifts of food and non-perishable items.  Support has also been given to 

2 



the locally based People Not Borders, which worked to help refugees. 

All Saints’ is a “Fairtrade” church, and supports that cause by using Fairtrade tea and coffee.  We have gained a “Bronze Award” as an Eco Church, and are progressing towards a “Silver Award”. 

The All-Saints’ Friendship Club provides a varied programme of social and fund-raising events that reaches out beyond the congregation to the wider community.  The net income of the club is donated annually to charitable causes, and is included within these accounts. 

All Saints is a corporate member of the Churches’ Mutual Credit Union, and has deposited £15,000 in a Corporate Savings Account primarily as a social investment. 

Our church magazine is distributed bi-monthly to everyone on the Church Roll and is available in the church for visitors and users of the halls.  The magazine keeps its readers informed of the important matters affecting our church and carries articles that help develop knowledge and trust in Jesus.  It has been awarded the prize for “Clarity of the Christian Message” in a national competition. 

Our website is at: https://www.allsaintsberkhamsted.org.uk - its primary purpose is to promote All Saints presence in Berkhamsted as a living, worshipping community with a distinctive ecumenical offering, welcoming people from all backgrounds and traditions.  We would like to attract young families, as this is important in maintaining and growing a congregation for the future, as is making the church appear more open to people who are outside the usual Sunday congregations.  Together with our Facebook group, the website also functions as a way for church members to keep in touch with us. 

## _Ecumenical Relationships_ 

Members of All Saints’ have supported ecumenical events in the town including the Festival of Light with a Nativity Scene at the beginning of Advent and the monthly prayer breakfast held in churches around the town.  Our minister meets with other clergy from the town 3 - 4 times a year and has participated in ecumenical services eg. to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II. 

## **Financial Review** 

2022/23 was the fifteenth complete year since we became a self-funding organisation in June 2008.  Over that period, congregational giving to the General Fund has remained fairly constant at around £75,000 -£80,000, notwithstanding a reduced number of people.  Hall hire income has recovered, post-pandemic, to £18,199 – its second highest figure.  An unexpected energy support grant of £4,301 from the Circuit helped to take General Fund total income for 2022/23 to its highest ever of £101,488.  Total expenditure from the General Fund was less than forecast, but at £73,805 was almost the same as in the previous year. 

As well as meeting annually recurring expenditure, the General Fund has to be able to make transfers to provide most of the funding for the Special Projects Fund so that large and irregularly occurring expenditure on maintenance and improvements can be paid for.  £13,000 was transferred in 2022/23 – equal to the average of annual transfers since 2008/09. 

Special Projects Fund annual expenditure has averaged above £13,000 during the past fifteen years and has recently been at nearly £34,000 and over £29,000, but has been below average in the last two years.  There are though several projects that now need progressing. 

As explained in note 13 to the Accounts, the Roof Fund has been built up over the past 25 years in anticipation of the need to finance major expenditure on the roof.  It is now expected that the complete replacement of the roof battens (and the fitting of insulation) will be carried out during 2023-24 at a cost of around £360,000 including VAT.  Grants will be sought to augment the balance available in the Roof Fund. 

Almost £75,000 was spent from the General and Special Projects Funds to provide Christian ministry from All Saints’ Church.  This included almost £42,400 for the Circuit Assessment, which 

3 



largely provides the stipends and housing for the clergy but which also supports other churches in the circuit. 

Outward Giving from our General Fund to various charitable causes in 2022/23 was set at £7,500, being 10% of the total of the planned giving income, plate collections and gift-aid recovery in 2021/22.  In addition, about £13,400 was raised for external causes through Special Appeals and by the Friendship Club, making the total given away the highest to date at just over £20,900.  Names of the recipient causes and amounts given are shown on our website. 

More detailed financial information can be found within the accounts that follow this report.  The “Summary of Funds” note on the final two pages of the accounts provides a broad overview of our finances. 

## **Reserves policy** 

Regular transfers are made from the General Fund into the designated Special Projects Fund to build up reserves there to cover major, non-routine, costs that are expected to arise.  It has been Church Council policy to maintain a balance on its unrestricted General Fund that equates (if possible) to six months of the annual expenditure and transfers from that fund.  The balance of £65,238 held in the General Fund at the year-end was above that target.  Consideration is being given to increasing the “target” from six months in view of the increased dependency on a small number of donors for a significant proportion of regular income. 

The policy for the designated Special Projects Fund has been to aim to hold the equivalent of around three years of average historical expenditure – ie around £40,000/£45,000.  The Special Projects Fund balance at 31 August 2023 of £80,324 is currently in excess of that target.  We have been unable to arrange for some items of expenditure from this fund, but now hope this will be dealt with within the next year or so.  We are very conscious of the increasing age of the building and of much of its contents., and will be reviewing the target level for this fund. 

It is our policy to invest our fund balances to minimise risk and therefore we normally only invest money in bank, or similar, deposit accounts.  However, given the longer-term nature of the savings in the Roof Fund, this had been placed in The CBF Church of England Investment Fund Accumulation Shares that are invested mainly in equities, but this was moved to The CBF Church of England Deposit Fund in August 2023 to eliminate the risk of a decrease in value ahead of the anticipated expenditure. 

## **Volunteers** 

We would like to thank all the volunteers who work so hard to make our church the lively and welcoming community it is, and who make a valuable contribution to our ministry and for keeping the church running. 

## **Structure, governance and management** 

The method of appointment of Church Council members is set out in the Model Governing Documents (Constitution and Schedule) adopted on 13 January 2013.  The membership of the Church Council consists of the minister, stewards and representatives elected by those members of the congregation who are on the Register of Members, and co-opted members who are nominated to represent particular groups or activities. 

Those elected as trustees serve for three years, and those co-opted serve for one year.  Both are then eligible for re-election or re-appointment.  Covid-19 caused the cancellation of the Annual Congregational Meeting for 2020, and the postponement until November 2021 of the meeting that would have been held around March 2021 so, in accordance with the Constitution, those elected in 2019 are continuing in office until the Annual Congregational Meeting later this month. 

4 



All those who attend our services as members of the congregation are encouraged to be on the Register of Members and so become eligible to take a fuller part in the life of the church. 

The Church Council members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the church including deciding on how the funds of the Church Council are to be spent. 

The Church Council met six times during the year four time via “Zoom” and twice in person, including two short meetings in November to approve the Annual Report & Accounts and to deal with annual appointments and co-options.  The level of attendance averaged 70%. 

Given its wide responsibilities, the Church Council has a number of committees or groups each dealing with particular aspects of church life.  These committees which include leadership, worship, outward giving, fabric and finance, are all responsible to the Church Council and report back to it regularly with their deliberations being received by the full Church Council for discussion and decision as necessary. 

## **Administrative information** 

All Saints’ Church is situated in Shrublands Road, Berkhamsted HP4 3HY, which is also the correspondence address. 

All Saints’ Church is an unincorporated charity.  It was granted registered charity status on 31 July 2013, with registered number 1153162.  Before then it was an excepted charity that did not need to register with the Charity Commission.  The Charity Commission website shows the names of the present Trustees, and the Annual Reports & Accounts for the last five years. 

All Saints has been an Anglican Methodist LEP since 1993, having shared the building with Berkhamsted Methodist Church from 1980.  The land and building have been owned by Anglican Methodist Association (Berkhamsted) Ltd – a company limited by guarantee – since 1980.  Prior to June 2008, when All Saints’ became a Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership, that company had direct responsibility for the upkeep of the buildings and was funded equally by the Anglican Parish of Great Berkhamsted and by Berkhamsted Methodist Church.  Since June 2008, this responsibility has been met by All Saints’ Church. 

As well as its Constitution of 13 January 2013, All Saints’ Church is also affected by certain provisions in (i) the Memorandum & Articles of Association of Anglican Methodist Association (Berkhamsted) Ltd, dated 24 April 1980 (ii) the Conveyance of the church to Anglican Methodist Association (Berkhamsted) Ltd, dated 25 November 1980 (iii) the Sharing Agreement, dated 25 November 1980 (iv) the Pastoral Scheme of 2005 for the Berkhamsted Team Ministry, as revised. 

## **Trustees’ financial responsibilities** 

We are required under charities legislation to prepare financial statements each year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the church at the end of the financial year and of its income and expenditure for the same year.  We confirm the financial statements comply with the statutory requirements, applicable accounting standards, statements of recommended practice and the constitution of the church. 

In preparing these financial statements we are required to select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently, make reasonable prudent judgements and estimates, state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed and give details of any departures, and prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless, in our view, the charity will be unable to continue in operation. 

We are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records, maintaining a satisfactory system of control over accounting records and transactions, safeguarding the charity’s assets, and taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

5 



The members of the Church Council are the Trustees of the charity.  The Church Council members who have served for all or for some of the period from 1 September 2022 until the date on which this report was approved were: 

_Ex Officio member:_ The Revd Rachael Hawkins minister / chair _Elected members:_ Penny O’Neill steward David Pain steward Tracy Robinson steward Helen Temple steward Richard Hackworth church representative Margaret Ingram church representative Gill Lumb church representative Linda Morgan church representative Michael Robinson church representative / treasurer Kate Spall church representative Steve Spall church representative Keith Treves Brown church representative _Nominated/co-opted members:_ Barbara Conway Tracy Lerpiniere to 20 November 2022 Chris Lumb Ivor Hancock Julie Wakely from 20 November 2022 Jill Southgate from 30 November 2022 

## **Approved by the Church Council on 9 November 2023 and signed on its behalf by** 

The Revd Rachael Hawkins 

6 



**All Saints’ Church, Berkhamsted Report of the Independent Examiner for the year ended 31 August 2023** 

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2023, which are set out on pages 8 to 18. 

## **Responsibilities and basis of report** 

As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). 

I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent Examiner's statement** 

I have completed my examination.  I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

- accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 

- the accounts do not accord with those records; or 

- the accounts do 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 no concerns and 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. 

**Bianca Permal FCA** Haines Watts (Berkhamsted) Ltd Chartered Accountant                                                                                         4 Claridge Court Lower Kings Road Berkhamsted Herts HP4 2AF 

_10 November 2023_ 

7 



**All Saints' Church, Berkhamsted Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) for the year ended 31 August 2023** 

|**Income and Endowments from:**<br>Donations and legacies<br>Charitable activities<br>Other trading activities<br>Investments<br>Other<br>**_Total income & endowments_**<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Raising funds<br>Charitable activities:<br>- circuit assessment<br>- repairs & maintenance of church property<br>- insurance & utilities<br>- grants & donations (outward giving)<br>- worship & outreach<br>- youth work<br>Other expenditure<br>**_Total expenditure_**<br>Gains/(Losses) on investments<br>**Net income/(expenditure)**<br>**Transfers between funds**<br>**Other recognised gains / (losses):**<br>**Net movement in funds**<br>**Reconciliation of funds:**<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**Total funds carried forward**|**Notes to the**<br>**accounts**|**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**Restricted Funds**<br>**Total**<br>**2022-23**<br>£<br>£<br>£|<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**Restricted Funds**<br>**Total**<br>**2021-22**<br>£<br>£<br>£|
|---|---|---|---|
||4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>17<br>10<br>13<br>18|77,356<br>11,095<br>**88,451**<br>18,632<br>-<br>**18,632**<br>-<br>3,320<br>**3,320**<br>3,244<br>124<br>**3,368**<br>4,301<br>-<br>**4,301**|86,767<br>11,610<br>**98,377**<br>9,157<br>-<br>**9,157**<br>-<br>2,803<br>**2,803**<br>720<br>79<br>**799**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**|
|||**103,533**<br>**14,539**<br>**118,072**|**96,644**<br>**14,492**<br>**111,136**|
|||-<br>1,394<br>**1,394**<br>42,384<br>-<br>**42,384**<br>14,152<br>-<br>**14,152**<br>9,835<br>-<br>**9,835**<br>7,500<br>13,447<br>**20,947**<br>3,878<br>-<br>**3,878**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>600<br>-<br>**600**|-<br>1,106<br>**1,106**<br>41,160<br>-<br>**41,160**<br>12,244<br>-<br>**12,244**<br>5,094<br>-<br>**5,094**<br>7,700<br>13,092<br>**20,792**<br>4,348<br>-<br>**4,348**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>3,075<br>-<br>**3,075**|
|||**78,349**<br>**14,841**<br>**93,190**|**73,621**<br>**14,198**<br>**87,819**|
|||3,329<br>-<br>**3,329**|(6,054)<br>-<br>**6,054**<br>**-**|
|||**28,513**<br>**(302)**<br>**28,211**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**|**16,969**<br>**294**<br>**17,263**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**|
|||28,513<br>(302)<br>**28,211**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**|16,969<br>294<br>**17,263**<br>-<br>-<br>-|
|||28,513<br>(302)<br>**28,211**|16,969<br>294<br>**17,263**|
|||417,634<br>8,502<br>**426,136**|400,665<br>8,208<br>**408,873**|
|||**446,147**<br>**8,200**<br>**454,347**|**417,634**<br>**8,502**<br>**426,136**|



8 



## **All Saints' Church, Berkhamsted Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2023** 

|**Notes**<br>Investments<br>13<br>**_Total fixed assets_**<br>**Current Assets**<br>Debtors and Prepayments<br>14<br>Cash at Bank and in hand<br>14<br>**_Total current assets_**<br>**Creditors and Accruals (due in**<br>**under 1 yr)**<br>15<br>**_Net current assets (liabilities)_**<br>**_Total assets less current liabilities_**<br>**Loans and creditors due after 1**<br>**year**<br>Provisions for liabilities and charges<br>**_Net assets_**<br>**Funds of the Church**<br>Unrestricted funds<br>18<br>Restricted funds<br>18<br>**_Total Funds_**<br>**Tangible Fixed Assets**|**Unrestricted**<br>**Designated**<br>**(Unrestricted)**<br>**Restricted**<br>**Totals**<br>**2023**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>12,087<br>-<br>366<br>**12,453**<br>54,131<br>380,909<br>7,834<br>**442,874**<br>66,218<br>380,909<br>8,200<br>**455,327**<br>980<br>-<br>-<br>**980**<br>65,238<br>380,909<br>8,200<br>**454,347**<br>65,238<br>380,909<br>8,200<br>**454,347**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>**-**<br>65,238<br>380,909<br>8,200<br>**454,347**<br>65,238<br>380,909<br>**-**<br>**446,147**<br>-<br>-<br>8,200<br>**8,200**<br>65,238<br>380,909<br>8,200<br>**454,347**||**Totals**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>299,718|
|---|---|---|---|
||||299,718|
||||9,920<br>124,045|
||||133,965<br>7,547<br>,|
||||126,418|
||||426,136<br>-<br>-|
||||426,136|
||||417,634<br>8,502|
||||426,136|



The notes on pages 10 to 18 form part of these Financial Statements 

Accounts approved by the Church Council on 9 November 2023, and signed on its behalf by: 

The Revd Rachael Hawkins 

Michael Robinson 

9 



**All Saints' Church, Berkhamsted Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023** 

## **1.   Basis of accounting** 

The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2011 in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), second edition October 2019 - "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)".  All Saints' Church meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.  It is exempt, by virtue of its size, to include a statement of cash flows in these financial statements. 

## **2. Funds** 

The funds of the Church Council that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the Church Council are shown as unrestricted funds.  These include funds designated for a particular purpose by the Church Council.  Funds that hold money received for a specific purpose are shown as restricted funds. Details of each material fund are disclosed in note 18 to these accounts. 

## **General Fund** 

This is an unrestricted fund whose income is primarily from the regular giving by members of the congregation and from the hiring of the church halls.  It pays annually recurring expenses, makes annual grants to external charities and transfers to the other unrestricted funds. 

## **Special Projects Fund** 

This is a designated, unrestricted, fund to meet the cost of major non-routine repairs and improvements.  In addition to annual transfers from the General Fund, the income of this fund includes legacies, in memoriam donations and grants (where applicable) from the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. 

## **Roof Fund** 

This is a designated, unrestricted, fund to accumulate money to meet the expected future cost of major work on the church roof.  Its only income is any transfer of funds from the General Reserve, together with interest and growth in value of the investments.  See also Notes 13 & 18. 

## **Employment Fund** 

Now renamed, this is the surplus from the restricted Youth Work Fund, created in 2014/15, to finance the cost of employing a Youth and Families Worker on a two-year contract from 1 September 2015.   The surplus in this fund may be used for other special projects. See also Notes 11 & 18. 

## **Special Appeals Fund (including Friendship Club)** 

This is a restricted fund that holds money collected specifically for distribution to external charitable causes.  The Friendship Club provides a varied programme of social and fund raising events that involves the wider community beyond the church congregation, and donates its annual surplus to charitable causes. 

10 



All Saints. Church, Berkhamsted
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023
continued
3. Accounting policies
Bas15
These account5 have been prepared on the basis of historical cost, except that investrnent5 are shown at their market15ellingl
value at the end of the year, on the accrua15 basis to Show a trLJe and fair view of the Church'5 financial position and activitie5,
a5 a going concern.
Incorne
Incorne 15 iricluded in the Staternent of Financial Activities ISOFAI when the Church becomes entitled to the re50urce5, and
the trustees are reasonably certain they will receive the resoLJrces,' and the monetary valLJe can be measured with sufficient
Expenditure
This 15 recogni5ed when a liability is incurred, or a constructive obligation arise5, that result5 in the payment being
unavoidable. Liabilities are recognised a5 soori a5 an outflow of economic benefit is considered more likely than not under
the legal or constructive obligation committing the Church to pay out resources.
Grants
Grant5 made by the Church from its own funds are recognised in full at the time of agreement or when the ChLJrch accepts
that there 15 a legal or operational obligation to make the payment.
VAT
Since the Church 15 not VAT registered, all input VAT is charged with the expenses to which it refers.
Tangible fixed asset5 for use by the Church
All Saint5, Church building and land 15 owned by the Anglican Methodist Association (Berkhamstedl Ltd, and accordingly is not
included in these account5. The Church Council ha5 rnaintenance responsibility for thi5 consecrated property and for ensuring
that it is adequately insured. The building and content5 are currently insured for up to £8.9m. The property ha5 to be
professionally ir15pected every 5 year5, the last such quinquennial report was i55ued in March 2020. All expenditure incurred
on the building and contents, whether maintenance or improvement, 15 written off in these accounts.
Covid-19 and Going Concern bas15 of the accounts
The principal financial effect of the Covid-19 pandemic frorn March 2020 until August 2021 was an a1rn05t total Ios5 of income
from hall hire, which was partially offset by reductions in some costs. M05t of the congregational giving to the church has
been by monthly bank standing order, and that level of giving ha5 been maintained. Hall hire incorne returried to it5 previous
high level during 2022123. These account5 Show General Fund total income at its highest ever level, albeit aided by an energy
support grant frorn the circuit, and with total expenditure similar to previous years.
A forecast for the current year Ito 31 August 20241 has been prepared which shows the total income of the General Fund at
almost £IOO,000 and total expenditure at around £84,000. That would allow a transfer to Special Project5 Fund at the
historical average level whilst maintaining or increasing the General Fund reserves.
As indicated in note 13, it 15 anticipated that major repairs to the roof will be carried out later in 2023124. The likely c05t is
expected to be covered by the Roof Fund together with grants, with the latter freeing some of the Rood Fund for other
purposes.
The amount of General Fund reserve5 at 31 August 2023 and the reserves in the two designated funds are such that the
rnembers of the Church Council la5 Trustee51 believe that the church will be able to continue to operate for the for5eeable
future.

All Saints, Church, Berkhamsted
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 (continued)
Total
Total
4. Donations and legacies
Unrestricted Restricted
2023
2022
Planned giving (Stewardship)
Collertions lintluding Messy Church)
Gift Aid & GASDS on all above
59,454
534
14,608
59,454
534
14,608
59,425
911
14,689
74,596
2,760
74,596
13,855
75,025
13,352
10,000
Donations lincluding Gift Aid)
Legacies & in memoriam donations
11,095
Total
77,356
11,095
88,451
98,377
Total
Total
5. Charitable activities
Unrestricted
Restricted
2023
2022
Fees
Hall lettings
433
18,199
18,632
433
18,199
18,632
9,157
Total
9,157
6. Other trading activities
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2023
Total
2022
Fund raising by Friendship Club
3,320
3,320
3,320
2,803
Total
3,320
2,803
Total
2023
Total
2022
7. Investment income
Unrestricted
Restricted
Bank interest
Dividend on CMCU deposit
3,229
15
124
3,353
15
799
Total
3,244
124
3,368
799
Total
Total
8. Other
Unrestricted Restricted
2023
2022
Listed Place of Worship Grant Scheme
Energy Support Grant from Circuit
Insurance claim
4,301
4,301
Total
4,301
4,301
12

**All Saints' Church, Berkhamsted** 

**Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 (continued)** 

|**year ended**|**31**|**August**|
|---|---|---|
|**2023**||**2022**|



## **9.   Payments to Trustees** 

|600<br>-<br>Administration - salary and other costs<br>-<br>£ 600<br>**Staff costs incurred during the year were:**<br>Gross salary<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>Other forms of benefit (accommodation & council tax)<br>-<br>Total staff costs<br>-<br>**Average number of staff employed during the year:**<br>nil<br>Other fees paid to the independent examiner<br>£<br>**11. Paid employees**<br>**10. Other expenditure**<br>No payments made to trustees in respect of remuneration or benefits.<br>Independent examiner’s fees for reporting on the accounts<br>Employer’s National Insurance costs (less offset from Employment Allowance)<br>Employer's contributions to Defined Contribution Pension Scheme<br>No trustee expenses were incurred.|491<br>-<br>2,584|
|---|---|
||3,075|
||2,170<br>-<br>-<br>-|
||2,170|
|||
||one|



The staff costs relate to the employment until 31 January 2022 of a part-time Administrative Assistant.  All holiday entitlement was taken during the financial year. The information shown above in this Note discloses that there were no employees who received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs) of more than £60,000. 

## **12. Related party transactions** 

Related parties are those persons or entities that are closely connected to the reporting charity or its trustees.  Certain transactions with related parties have to be disclosed in the accounts. 

Related parties include a charity's trustees and their close family.  Donations to the charity made by the trustees (the members of the Church Council) and their family members are typical of donations made by the church congregation as a whole, and no conditions were attached that would, or might, require the charity to alter significantly the nature of its existing activities. The aggregate total of such donations was £25,372 (2022 - £22,440), excluding those to Special Appeals Fund for external causes. No trustees have any financial interests in any assets or business transactions of the charity. 

As shown in these accounts: All Saints' Church pays a circuit assessment to the West Hertfordshire and Borders Methodist  Circuit, that pays the stipends and certain expenses of ministers in the circuit including Revd Rachael Hawkins who is a member of the Church Council. The Circuit has paid an energy support grant to All Saints' Church limiting the increase in its energy costs to 5% above the preceding year. 

All Saints' Church Council appoints some of the members of Anglican Methodist Association (Berkhamsted) Ltd that owns the All Saints' Church building and land. No rent is payable to the company, but the Church Council is responsible for the upkeep of the property. 

13 



**All Saints' Church, Berkhamsted Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023(continued)** 

## **13.   Investments / Roof Fund** 

The investments were the assets of the Roof Fund (a designated fund). The Roof Fund was established in 1998 to help meet the expected cost of renewing the roof of All Saints' Church.  Originally, there were two separate funds, one held by the Anglican Parish of Great Berkhamsted and the other by Berkhamsted Methodist Church.  These funds were merged after June 2008, when All Saints' became a single congegation local ecumenical partnership, and subsequent additions were made by transfer from All Saints' General Fund.  As it appeared likely that the repair work would be carried out within the next 12 months, the investments were sold in August 2023 to eliminate the risk of a decrease in value.  The resulting proceeds have been placed in an instant access interestbearing deposit account. 

|**Gain on sale of shares**<br>**Loss on year-end revaluation**<br>Transfer to deposit fund<br>**less**: Professional fees re roof<br>**add**: Interest<br>**Carrying (market) value at beginning of year:**<br>**Add:**additions to investments at cost<br>The CBF Church of England Investment Fund Accumulation Shares<br>transfer from General Fund<br>**Roof Fund balance at end of year**<br>**Analysis of Roof Fund movements**|**2023**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>299,718<br>305,772<br>**-**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>299,718<br>305,772<br>3,329<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>(6,054)<br>303,047<br>-<br>(3,414)<br>-<br>952<br>-<br>**300,585**<br>**299,718**<br>**year ended 31 August**|
|---|---|



## **held at year-end in:** 

2023 - The CBF Church of England Deposit Fund 2022 - The CBF Church of England Investment Fund Accumulation Shares (cost £151,465) 

## **Expected post-balance sheet event re roof repair** 

At 31 August 2023, discussions were in progress with roofing and scaffolding contractors, professional advisors and with the Diocese of St Albans with a view to having the roof battens (from which the roof tiles hang) renewed within the following twelve months.  The estimated total cost at that date was approximately £300,000 plus VAT. All Saints' Church is a listed building so it is eligible for grants under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme. Such grants should be equal to the cost of VAT incurred on the expenditure on repairs to the roof.   Other grants will also be sought. 

14 



**All Saints' Church, Berkhamsted Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 (continued)** 

|**Debtors and prepayments**<br>Prepaid expenses<br>Accrued income - interest<br>Other debtors<br>**Analysis of cash at bank**<br>CAF Bank (instant access)<br>The CBF Church of England Deposit Fund (instant access)<br>Redwood Bank (35 days notice)<br>Trade Creditors<br>Accruals<br>Other Creditors<br>Deferred income (grant received in advance)<br>At 31st August 2023 (& 2022):<br>Note 13 on previous page<br>- there were no contingent liabilities<br>**17.  Grants & donations (Outward Giving)**<br>from General Fund income<br>from Special Appeals Fund (Friendship Club)<br>from Special Appeals Fund (donations)<br>overall total<br>- there were no capital commitments, but see "Expected post-balance sheet event"<br>**14.   Analysis of current assets**<br>Corporate Savings Account with Churches Mutual Credit Union (up to 60 day notice)<br>**16.   Capital commitments and contingent liabilities**<br>Lloyds & Nat West<br>Accrued income - gift aid recovery<br>**Total debtors and prepayments**<br>**Total Current Liabilities**<br>**Total Cash and Bank**<br>**15.   Analysis of current liabilities**|**2023**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>3,536<br>3,744<br>5,469<br>5,390<br>1,552<br>740<br>1,896<br>46<br>**12,453**<br>**9,920**<br>15,375<br>15,359<br>16,881<br>30,629<br>409,306<br>-<br>-<br>77,086<br>1,312<br>971<br>**442,874**<br>**124,045**<br>-<br>-<br>980<br>1,271<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>6,276<br>**980**<br>**7,547**<br>7,500<br>7,700<br>1,720<br>1,595<br>11,727<br>11,497<br>**20,947**<br>**20,792**<br>**year ended 31 August**|**2023**<br>**2022**<br>**£**<br>**£**<br>3,536<br>3,744<br>5,469<br>5,390<br>1,552<br>740<br>1,896<br>46<br>**12,453**<br>**9,920**<br>15,375<br>15,359<br>16,881<br>30,629<br>409,306<br>-<br>-<br>77,086<br>1,312<br>971<br>**442,874**<br>**124,045**<br>-<br>-<br>980<br>1,271<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>6,276<br>**980**<br>**7,547**<br>7,500<br>7,700<br>1,720<br>1,595<br>11,727<br>11,497<br>**20,947**<br>**20,792**<br>**year ended 31 August**|
|---|---|---|
|||**9,920**|
|||15,359<br>30,629<br>-<br>77,086<br>971|
|||**124,045**|
|||-<br>1,271<br>-<br>6,276|
|||**7,547**|
|||7,700<br>1,595<br>11,497|
|||**20,792**|



15 



**All Saints' Church, Berkhamsted Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 (continued)** 

## **18.   Detailed analysis of individual fund movements** 

## **year ended 31 August 2023** 

## **Unrestricted Funds** 

|**Unrestricted Funds**|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Fund Name**||**Opening**|**Income**|**Expenditure **|**Gain/(loss) on**|**Transfers**<br>**Closing**|
|||**Balance**|||**sale**|**Balance**|
|General Fund||50,555|101,488|(73,805)|-|(13,000) 65,238|
|Special Projects Fund||67,361|1,093|(1,130)|-|13,00080,324|
|Roof Fund||299,718|952|(3,414)|3,329|-300,585|
||Totals|417,634|103,533|(78,349)|3,329|-           446,147|
|**Restricted Funds**|||||||
|**Fund Name**||**Opening**|**Income**|**Expenditure **|**Gain/(loss) on**|**Transfers**<br>**Closing**|
|||**Balance**|||**sale**|**Balance**|
|Employment Fund||7,567|124|-|-|-                7,691|
|Special Appeals Fund||935|14,415|(14,841)|-|-                   509|
||Totals|8,502|14,539|(14,841)|-|-8,200|
|**year ended 31 August**|**2022**||||||
|**Unrestricted Funds**|||||||
|**Fund Name**||**Opening**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Revaluation**|**Transfers**<br>**Closing**|
|||**Balance**|||**gain/(loss)**|**Balance**|
|General Fund||49,906|86,120|(73,471)|-|(12,000) 50,555|
|Special Projects Fund||44,987|10,524|(150)|-|12,000            67,361|
|Roof Fund||305,772|-|-|<br>(6,054)|-           299,718|
||Totals|400,665|96,644|(73,621)|(6,054)|-417,634|
|**Restricted Funds**|||||||
|**Fund Name**||**Opening**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Revaluation**|**Transfers**<br>**Closing**|
|||**Balance**|||**gain/(loss)**|**Balance**|
|Employment Fund||7,488|79|-|-|-                7,567|
|Special Appeals Fund||720|14,413|(14,198)|-|-                   935|
||Totals|8,208|14,492|(14,198)|-|-8,502|



## **Fund transfers:** 

Funds are transferred annually from the General Fund to the Special Projects Fund for future "one-off" items of major maintenance, renewal or improvement.  Similarly, annual transfers have been made from the General Fund to the Roof Fund in order to try to accumulate sufficient funds to meet the future cost of major roof repairs.  The £600 (2022 - £400) transferred from the Friendship Club to the General Fund to cover the use of the church hall is treated as a cost of fund raising and as a donation received. 

## **Employment Fund (formerly Youth Work Fund)** 

The balance on this fund is available for paying for part of the cost of employing a church administrator which is under active consideration.. 

16 



## **All Saints' Church, Berkhamsted** 

## **Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 (continued)** 

|**19a. Summary of Funds**<br><br>**Statement of Financial Activities:**<br>**Income from:**<br>Planned Giving (Stewardship)<br>Collections (including Messy Church)<br>- Gift Aid on above<br>_sub-total_<br>Donations<br>- Gift Aid on donations<br>Grants<br>Hall hire<br>Fund raising<br>Chuckles Toddler Group<br>Fees<br>Legacies & in memoriam donations<br>- Gift Aid on in memoriam donations<br>Interest<br>_total income_<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Circuit assessment<br>Repairs & maintenance of church property<br>Insurance & utilities<br>Worship & outreach<br>Outward giving<br>Fund raising<br>Administration<br>Independent examination<br>_total expenditure_<br>**Gain on sale of investments**<br>**Net income / (expenditure)**<br>Transfers between funds<br>**Net increase / (decrease) in funds**<br>Funds brought forward at 1 September 2022<br>Funds carried forward at 31 August 2023<br>**Balance Sheet:**<br>note<br>Investments<br>13<br>CMCU deposit<br>14<br>Bank balances<br>14<br>Debtors, pre-paid expenses  & accrued income<br>14<br>Creditors, accrued expenses & deferred income<br>15<br>Net assets at 31 August 2023|**_-------- year ended 31 August 2023 --------_**||
|---|---|---|
||**General**<br>**Fund**<br>**Special**<br>**Projects**<br>**Fund**<br>**Roof**<br>**Fund**<br>**Employ**<br>**ment**<br>**Fund**<br>**Special**<br>**Appeals**<br>**Fund**<br>(unrestricted) (designated) (designated) (restricted)<br>(restricted)<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>59,454<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>534<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>14,608<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>74,596<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>2,456<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>9,313<br>304<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>1,782<br>4,301<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>18,199<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>3,320<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>433<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>1,199<br>1,093<br>952<br>124<br>-<br>101,488<br>1,093<br>952<br>124<br>14,415<br>42,384<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>9,608<br>1,130<br>3,414<br>-<br>-<br>9,835<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>3,878<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>7,500<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>13,447<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>1,394<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>600<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>73,805<br>1,130<br>3,414<br>-<br>14,841<br>-<br>-<br>3,329<br>-<br>-|**ALL**<br>**FUNDS**<br>(total)<br>£<br>59,454<br>534<br>14,608|
|||74,596<br>11,769<br>2,086<br>4,301<br>18,199<br>3,320<br>-<br>433<br>-<br>-<br>3,368|
|||118,072|
|||42,384<br>14,152<br>9,835<br>3,878<br>20,947<br>1,394<br>-<br>600|
|||93,190|
|||3,329|
||27,683<br>(37)<br>867<br>124<br>(426)<br>(13,000)<br>13,000<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>14,683<br>12,963<br>867<br>124<br>(426)<br>50,555<br>67,361<br>299,718<br>7,567<br>935<br>65,238<br>80,324<br>300,585<br>7,691<br>509<br><br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>15,375<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>38,756<br>80,324<br>300,585<br>7,691<br>143<br>12,087<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>366<br>(980)<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>65,238<br>80,324<br>300,585<br>7,691<br>509|28,211<br>-|
|||28,211<br>426,136|
|||454,347|
|||£<br>-<br>15,375<br>427,499<br>12,453<br>(980)|
|||454,347|



17 



All Saints, Church, Berkhamsted
Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 August 2023 (continued)
19b. Summaryof Funds
- yearended 31 August 2022------
Special
Roof
Employ
Special
Projec1$
Fund
Fund
ment Appeals
Fund
Fund
lunrestriotedl Idesignat8dl Idesignatedl Irestrictedl Irestrictedl
General
Fund
ALL
FUNDS
Statement of Financial Aclivilie$:
Income from:
Planned Giving (Stewardship)
Plate collections (including Messy Church)
Gill Aid on above
59,425
911
14,689
75,025
1,742
59,425
911
14.689
75.025
11,153
2,199
sub-lotal
Donations
Gilt Aid on donations
Grants
Hall hire
Fund raising
Chuckles Toddler Group
Fees
Legacies & in memoriam donations
Gilt Aid on in memoriam donations
Interest
9,411
2,199
9,157
9,157
2,803
2,803
10,000
10,000
196
524
79
799
total income
86,120
10,524
79
14.413
111,136
Expendilure on:
Circuit assessment
Repairs & maintenance ol ¢hur¢h property
Insurance & utilities
Worship & outreach
Outward giving
Fund raising
Administration
Independent examination
41,160
12,244
5,094
4,198
7,700
41,160
12,244
5,094
4,348
20,792
1,106
2,584
491
150
13,092
1,106
2,584
491
total expenditure
73,471
150
14.198
87.819
Gain Ilo$$) on inveslmenls
16,0541
16,0541
Nel income l (expendilurel
Transfers between funds
12,649
112,0001
649
10,374
12,000
16,0541
79
215
17,263
Nel increase l (decrease) in funds
Funds brought forward al 1 September 2021
Funds ¢arried lOn￿ard al 31 August 2022
22,374
16,0541
79
215
17,263
49,906
44,987
305,772
7,488
720
408,873
50,555
67,361
299,718
7,567
935
426.136
Balance Sheel:
note
Investments
CMCU deposit
Bank balances
Debtors, pre-paid expenses & accrued income
Creditors, a¢crued expenses & deferred income
Nel assets al 31 August 2022
299,718
299,718
15,359
108,686
9,920
17,5471
426.136
14
14
14
15,359
26,809
9,658
11,2711
50,555
67,361
13,843
673
262
16,2761
7,567
67,361
299,718
935