2020-12-31-accounts

AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST

Company Limited by Guarantee

Registered Charity

REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended

31 DECEMBER 2020

Company registration number 8340139 Registered charity number 1153223

AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

THE DIRECTORS REPORT

The Directors, who are also the Trustees, present their report and independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (Charities SORP), Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and the Companies Act 2006.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Governing document

Amersham Deanery Trust (“ADT”) is a charitable company limited by guarantee. It was registered as a company on 21 December 2012 and registered with the Charity Commission on 2 August 2013. It began operations on 1 January 2014 following the transfer of assets from Amersham Deanery Synod.

The governing documents comprise the Memorandum and Articles of Association. In the event of being wound up, members (who are the members of Amersham Deanery Synod) may be required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 each. The charitable company is run by the Directors (who are the members of the Standing Committee of Amersham Deanery Synod).

Recruitment, appointment and election of Directors

The Directors are the members of the Standing Committee of Amersham Deanery Synod, and are ex-officio or are elected or appointed every three years following the election of each Synod, in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.

Organisational Structure

The Directors meet together four times each year as the Standing Committee of Amersham Deanery Synod, and as the board of Directors of ADT as necessary during those meetings.

Related Parties

ADT is an independent charitable company but it operates to serve the Church of England and therefore relates to the parishes in Amersham Deanery, Amersham Deanery Synod, the Diocese of Oxford and the wider Church of England and Anglican Communion.

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AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

REFERENCE & ADMINSTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity name: Amersham Deanery Trust (ADT) Company registration number: 8340139 Registered charity number: 1153223 Jurisdiction of registration: England and Wales Trustees/Directors: Mrs J P Dziegiel The Rev’d Canon T J L Harper The Rev’d C M B S Messervy Mr L J Tebboth The Rev’d M J Williams Registered office: 239 Chartridge Lane Chesham Bucks HP5 2SF Independent examiner: Mr M R Hardman Oak House Botley Road Chesham HP5 1XG Bankers: Barclays Bank PLC Chesham Branch 102 The Broadway Chesham HP5 1DY Governing deed: Memorandum and Articles of Association

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AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

OBJECTIVES TO BENEFIT THE PUBLIC

Purpose and aims

The objects of ADT, as set out in the Articles of Association, are

“to benefit the public by furthering the work of the Church of England in the Deanery of Amersham in the Diocese of Oxford.”

ACTIVITIES, ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

During the year, ADT undertook the following activities to benefit the public, having regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit:

The key function of the deanery team is to equip, enable, support and facilitate growth and renewal in the local church throughout the Amersham deanery.

The Deanery Team consists of:

Rev’d Canon Tim Harper and Rev’d Martin Williams as Co-Area Deans

Rev’d Cassa Messervy as Assistant Area Dean.

Mrs Julie Dziegiel as Treasurer

Mr Lawrence Tebboth as Lay Chair.

Mrs Dorothy Potter as Secretary.

Additional oversight of issues in the Deanery is provided by the Mission and Pastoral Committee. This committee consists of five members of the clergy including the Area Deans, and five members of the laity including the Lay Chair, and also meets four times a year.

Inspections and Pastoral Support

Inspections of individual parishes are delegated by the Archdeacon of Buckingham to the Co-Area Deans and Lay Chair, supported by the Assistant Area Dean. The Inspection as a minimum involves completion of a standard proforma based on provision of records by the Churchwardens. Inspections usually take place in the April to July time frame following Annual Parochial Church Meetings. Outstanding issues from the inspections are logged for later follow up. A key conversation item in the inspection is the status of the parish Mission Action Plan (MAP)

Inspections are planned to take place on a two year cycle so that continuity within parishes is maintained as wardens are generally replaced on a three year cycle. Parishes not inspected in the year are offered a pastoral visit from the Deanery Team.

The advent of the Covid-19 pandemic and UK national lockdown from March 2020 meant that all Inspections for 2020 were cancelled. It is expected that Inspections will restart in 2021 when and if restrictions are lifted.

Mission Action Planning

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AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

Individual churches in the Deanery have MAPs that are typically reviewed on a four year cycle. An Amersham Deanery Plan is in course of preparation. Work on these has necessarily this year been a lower priority as individual parishes have been focussed on reaction and adaption to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speakers at Synod meetings

Speakers at Synod meetings have been on a range of issues designed to assist and support churches across the Deanery.

The March Synod was planned to consider a number of issues around challenges from the Diocesan and General Synod adoption of Climate Emergency declaration. However the rising Covid-19 pandemic caused its cancellation. The AGM of Amersham Deanery Trust planned to take place at the same assembly was also cancelled.

The remaining three Synods of the year were transferred to be “on line” using the medium of “Zoom”.

Rev’d Martin Williams (co Area Dean) led the June Synod in a discussion on “What the Church is going to look like on emerging from lockdown”.

The September Synod was suspended to hold the deferred Amersham Deanery Trust Annual General Meeting. The main business of the Synod included a video from the head Teacher of Gerrards Cross CofE Junior school around the issues of returning to school. Synod then watched and broke into groups to discuss a talk “Before You Go Back” by Nick Cuthbert of Lead Academy.

At the December Synod the Deanery Treasurer reported on the planned allocation of Parish share for the coming year. This was voted on and accepted by Synod. The advantages of both the Parish Giving Scheme, given the relative resilience of regular committed Christian giving during the pandemic conditions, was emphasised. Synod broke into groups to discuss the recent Oxford Diocese Webinars on “Rebuilding Ministry with Children” and “Working with Adults coming to faith”.

Diocesan Vision

Martin Williams, Cassa Messervy and Julie Dziegiel have all been directly or indirectly involved in the further planning and implementation of the Oxford Diocese Common Vision Strategy. Parishes have been encouraged to apply to the Development Fund, available to parishes to fund mission orientated activities.

Reverend Tim Harper sits on the Diocesan Board of Education as the diocese and the deanery continue to seek to maximise their contribution to the life of church and non-church schools in the Diocese and Deanery.

Support of Parishes in the Deanery

• During the year support to parishes took place in financial, pastoral and advisory capacities in small or larger ways depending on their need, including pastoral support and advice to clergy and lay people.

• The Bishops Mission Order was withdrawn from Latimer Minster. Rev’d Chris Lion is pastoring the congregation, with Permission to Officiate.

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AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

• During clergy vacancies advice was given in the running of the parish and an active part was played in any recruitment process. The Rev’d Captain Peter Simmonds retired from, and the Rev’d Ruth Atkinson was instituted at Penn Street and Holmer Green. The Rev’d Edward Bowes-Smith was installed as Rector of the Great Chesham benefice. St James Gerrards cross saw the departure of the Rev’d James Leach, and the arrival of Rev’d Daf Meirion-Jones as Pastor for Membership, and the Rev’d Ross Mungavin and Rev’d James Forward as Curates. The Rev’d Brian and Rev’d Peggy Ludlow were jointly appointed to the House for Duty position at Latimer within the Chenies benefice to take up post in January 2021.

Parish Share allocations and voluntary donations to others

Parishes were encouraged to pay their 2020 allocation of share to Oxford Diocese by the necessary deadlines and all deadlines were met, albeit with three parishes being assisted by Deanery funds. Thus share was paid in full, and enabling the 3% rebate to be received by ADT (£46,725) from Oxford Diocese. The meeting of the deadlines is facilitated by parishes paying their Parish Share by Direct Debit, which also gains the parishes a 1% discount on their share.

In the autumn the parish share allocation for 2021 requested by the Oxford Diocese of Amersham Deanery was allocated to parishes within the deanery by agreed formula and circulated to treasurers, the clergy Chapter and to the November meeting of Deanery Synod, and was approved.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Results to 31 December 2020

During the year, all the parishes in the deanery paid 100% of their allocated parish share to Oxford Diocese in 2020, but, due to the financial impact of the closure of churches and other restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, two parishes were supported by deanery funds, in addition to planned support for one parish. The required deadlines were met and ADT qualified to receive a 3% rebate of parish share. Consequently £46,725 was received in December 2020. Interest was also received on the balance of ADT’s CBF deposit account.

The administration of the Oxford Diocese direct debit scheme means that it continues to be most practical to pay a rebate to parishes in December, to enable the rebate to be taken into account when calculating the parish share direct debit payments for the following year. £38,019 was rebated to parishes in December 2020, to be credited against 2021 Parish Share payments. This sum ensures that no parish is asked to pay more Parish Share in 2021 than in 2020. We are very grateful for the work in the parishes that enables the Parish Share to be paid, and for the sacrificial giving and fund raising efforts of the congregations.

There was a net deficit of £8,879 for the year in the general fund, which takes reserves below reserves policy, which is the right use of reserves in the extraordinary situation of the continuing pandemic. Further use of reserves is anticipated in 2021 due to the deanery paying £5,975 of the Parish Share allocated, to ensure no parish is asked to pay an amount greater than in 2020. It is also anticipated that one or more parishes might require deanery support to

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AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

pay share in 2021, until churches are able to reopen and fund raising events can be organised with a level of normality when COVID-19 is less prevalent.

During 2020 a loan of £10,140 was made to Penn Street & Holmer Green PCC, to cover the cost of the demolition of an old parsonage house incurring Council Tax bills. The loan is repayable when the anticipated redevelopment of the site is complete.

ADT remains in a healthy financial position at the end of the year.

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AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

Principal funding sources

The principal funding source for ADT is the rebate paid by Oxford Diocese if 100% of parish share is received by the required deadlines (see above). ADT also receives interest on monies held on deposit in a CBF account.

Reserves policy

The income of ADT is entirely dependent on the parishes in the deanery being able to pay their allocated parish share amounts to Oxford Diocese by the necessary deadlines. As this is not easy at any time and particularly difficult for some parishes, the Directors of ADT have decided on a reserves policy of two years rebate. This level of reserves should enable ADT activities to be able to continue even if one or more parishes are unable to pay their parish share by the deadlines, and allows scope for ADT to support struggling parishes to pay parish share if this is appropriate.

FUTURE PLANS

• To support individual parishes through the Covid-19 pandemic, and minister to the congregations and local communities as the recovery starts and new norms are established.

• To support parishes through vacancies and illnesses, including assisting in the appointment processes. It is envisaged that there may be up to seven vacancies occurring in the Deanery in 2021.

• To consider a future Deanery event possibly similar to that run by Wycombe Deanery with Bishop Steven Croft to speak.

• To respond to any training need identified from the Deanery MAP by either providing local courses or referring to other appropriate agencies.

• To provide speakers at meetings of Amersham Deanery Synod that are of interest to the churches and visitors and to request ideas for useful topics. It is envisaged that most if not all Synod meetings will continue to be held by on line media such as Zoom.

• To encourage parishes to pay their Parish Share to Oxford Diocese in full and to consider the use of funds within the deanery or to support the wider church.



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AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS RESPONSIBILITIES

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Directors report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the charitable activities for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently

• follow the methods and principles of the Charities SORP,

• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

• state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in operation.

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD

M Williams – Area Dean

J P Dziegiel – Treasurer

September 2021

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AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Amersham Deanery Trust (‘the Company’)

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

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

1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or

2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or

4. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

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.

Signed:

September 2021

Michael Hardman FCA, Oak House, Botley Road, Chesham, Bucks HP5 1XG

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AMERSHAM DEANERY TRUST Report and financial statements Year ended 31 December 2020

Year ended 31 December 2020 2019 General funds Designated funds Total funds General funds Designated funds Total funds Note £ £ £ £ £ £ Income from 1c) Donations Rebate from Oxford Diocese 46,725.03 46,725.03 45,679.32 0.00 45,679.32 Donations re training courses - - - - Investments Interest received 399.66 399.66 690.25 0.00 690.25 Total income 47,124.69 - 47,124.69 46,369.57 - 46,369.57 Expenditure on 1d) Charitable activities Returned to parishes 2 38,019.00 38,019.00 37,000.00 - 37,000.00 Parish Share paid for parishes 2 16,303.65 16,303.65 3,000.00 - 3,000.00 Expenses, administration & printing 181.50 181.50 461.64 - 461.64 Secretarial 500.00 500.00 500.00 - 500.00 Sabbatical payments - - - - - Grant re legal fees - - - - 1,500.00 1,500.00 Delivery of 'The Door' - - 64.80 - 64.80 Speakers' expenses - - - - - Mission support 1,000.00 1,000.00 1,000.00 - 1,000.00 Total expenditure 56,004.15 - 56,004.15 42,026.44 1,500.00 43,526.44 Net income (expenditure) (8,879.46) - (8,879.46) 4,343.13 (1,500.00) 2,843.13 Transfers between funds 7 - - - (2,500.00) 2,500.00 - Net movement in funds (8,879.46) - (8,879.46) 1,843.13 1,000.00 2,843.13 Brought forward 1 J anuary 2020 90,787.55 7,900.00 98,687.55 88,944.42 6,900.00 95,844.42 Funds carried forward 7 81,908.09 7,900.00 89,808.09 90,787.55 7,900.00 98,687.55	46,369.57	37,000.00 3,000.00 461.64 500.00 - 1,500.00 64.80 - 1,000.00	43,526.44	2,843.13 -	2,843.13	95,844.42	98,687.55

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