OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

← The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Crowland

2024-12-31-accounts

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE

ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND CHARITY COMMISSION REGISTERED NO. 1153258 ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the year ended

31 December 2024

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND

Index

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND

Annual Report

for the year ended 31 December 2024

The trustees present their report with the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. The trustees have adopted the presentation of financial statements which complies with Section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and the charity's constitution.

Administrative Information

The Parish of Crowland is situated in the market town of Crowland, Lincolnshire. It is part of the Deanery of Elloe West within the Church of England's Diocese of Lincoln. Crowland Parochial Church Council is registered as a charity with the Charities Commission.

Correspondence Address: The Treasurer 11 Alderlands Close Crowland PE6 0BS Priest in Charge The Reverend Mark Williams Responsibility for organising the Pastoral Offices. Associate Priest (OLM) Deeping Saint Nicholas, Churchwardens: Mr. David Searle * Mrs. Laura Beeken * (Resigned April 2024) Deanery Synod Representatives: Mrs Margaret Beardshaw Mr. David Searle * Parish Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Margaret Beardshaw Elected members of the PCC: Mr. Michael Atkinson (2021 - Deceased November 2024) Mrs Sian Arulanantham (Appointed 21 April 2024) Mrs. Janet Brown (2019) Mrs. Val Capes (2020) Mrs. Linda Fox (2020) Mrs. Jane Kisbee (2021) Mr. Karl Smith (2022) Mrs. Carol Richardson (2023) Mrs. Laura Beeken (2020 - Resigned April 2024) Co-opted Member: Mr Robert Gibbard (Retired - 30 July 2024) Officers: Mrs Margaret Beardshaw (Chair) Mrs Sian Arulanantham (Treasurer - 21 April 2024) Mrs. Linda Fox (Electoral Roll Officer) Miss E Coulhoun (Secretary - resigned 15 January 2024) Mr Robert Gibbard (Treasurer - Retired - 21 April 2024) Standing committee: Mrs Margaret Beardshaw Mrs Janet Brown Mr Robert Gibbard (Retired - 21 April 2024) Mr. David Searle Mrs. Laura Beeken (Resigned April 2024)

Page 1

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND

Annual Report (continued)

for the year ended 31 December 2024

Structure, Governance, and Management

Crowland Abbey is a member of the Welland Local Mission Partnership (LMP), along with the Parishes of Deeping St James, Deeping St Nicholas, Market Deeping, and the Ness Group (Baston, Langtoft and Thurlby). Ministers meet regularly in chapter, and all the churches actively support one another in practical ways. Throughout the year, the Revd's Carolyn Bailey, Sonia Marshall and Mark Williams, along with Readers Nigel Bacon and Kate Brown, have taken part in a rota to cover regular services. In addition, the Revd Mark Williams has taken responsibility for organising the Pastoral Offices (Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals), with the services taken by the Revd's Carolyn Bailey, Erica Crust, Georgina Holding, Sonia Marshall and Mark Williams.

The parochial church council (PCC) is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers’ Measure. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the book Church Representation Rules.

Between PCC meetings the Standing Committee of the PCC, which includes the PCC’s chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer, and the two churchwardens, meets when required to transact PCC business.

Church Life and aims

The PCC seeks to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the ecclesiastical Parish of Crowland. It does so in accordance with the traditions of the universal Church as accepted and practised by the Church of

The PCC works with members of other Christian communities represented in Crowland through Christians Together in Crowland.

The PCC has the responsibility of maintaining the parish church, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Bartholomew, and Saint Guthlac, popularly known as Crowland Abbey. This grade-one listed building is adjoined by the ruins of the nave of what was the church of the medieval Crowland Abbey, a Benedictine foundation.

The maintenance of these ruins, which are both a consecrated space and a scheduled ancient monument, is also the responsibility of the PCC. Although the maintenance of the magnificent church building and the strikingly beautiful ruined nave are a great responsibility for the congregation, our parish life centres, not around fundraising for the maintenance of these structures or around the tourism that their architecture attracts, but around the prayer that knits us together as a community of faith.

Services are at 11 a.m. each Sunday. The presiding ministers at these services come from the parishes within the Welland LMP. The 11 a.m. service is a Eucharist, apart from the fourth Sunday of the month, when it is an All Age Service. On the fourth Sunday a Eucharist takes place at 6 p.m. On the second Sunday of each month the congregation worships with members of Crowland Methodist Church, the service alternating between the two congregations' church buildings. When this service takes place at Crowland Methodist Church it is sometimes a service of the word.

In 2024, the average Sunday attendance was 22 (20 in 2023). In 2024, we had 12 baptisms (7 in 2023), 5 weddings (3 in 2023). 9 funerals were taken, with a further 7 burials at the abbey, and 15 interments of ashes.

On the second Monday of each month, a Julian group meets in the Abbey for silent prayer at 11 a.m. During 2024, an additional prayer meeting was started for the parish community, on a Tuesday lunchtime. We also ran an Advent home group studying women of the Bible.

In 2024, we had a very full and successful calendar of events. We held a wedding dress display in February and a quiet day in March. In April the church was filled with Tulips for the Tulip Festival, with the main annual flower festival held during the Harvest Festival in October. Craft fairs were held in May and December.

In June the Abbey held its Fen Day event and then Heritage Day in September, both celebrating the history of our ancient building. There was an art exhibition in July. In August, the Abbey was honoured to host an exhibition of a replica of the Turin Shroud, in partnership with the Knights Templar, bringing visitors from across the UK.

Page 2

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND

Annual Report (continued)

for the year ended 31 December 2024

Church Life and aims (continued)

We held Back Two and Peterborough Community Orchestra concerts in July, a concert by Spalding High School Chamber Choir in November (in aid of Pancreatic Cancer), and a joint concert between Abbey 345 and Peterborough Operatic Society in December.

We also invited local preschools for craft activities and South View Primary School for several visits to look around, learn about the Abbey and experience worship. Peterborough Special School also brought their children to visit.

Special services happened in October when Bishop Nicholas visited to dedicate our renovated stainedglass windows and in November when we invited all those in the community who had lost loved ones to give thanks for their lives at our All Souls' Service. We also held special Christmas services, including Christingle (in aid of the Children’s Society), the community carol service and the always popular crib service.

Throughout the year, we hosted visiting bell ringers and offered tours to the public, including several U3A groups and a group from both Hereford and Peterborough Cathedrals, as well as a pilgrimage from the Orthodox church and the Student Cross.

We are blessed with a group of dedicated guides who offer a welcome to visitors in the Abbey every day of the week and offer tours. Over the last year they have taken on more responsibilities, playing a key part in helping with and organising events, putting together exhibitions and generally helping to improve our engagement with the local community, enhancing the life of the Abbey.

The work to develop a chapel in the parvise is almost completed and it should be open for visitors and private prayer 2025.

Financial results and reserves policy

The charity received surplus funds during the financial year ended 31 December 2024, amounting to £46,287, which followed last year's deficit of £6,492.

The charity trustees are required to ensure that the charity maintains sufficient reserves to promote the mission of the church in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Crowland. Part of that is the maintenance of the Crowland Abbey, our place of Worship. This assists in the promotion of the church in this parish.

Having originated in the 8[th] century, the Abbey could use any funds that could ever come available. As such the trustees use Restricted Funds to secure funding for specific projects and then they must Unrestricted Funds to fund any deficit amounts. The policy is to retain sufficient funds to enable services to continue, approximately 3 months of Parish costs, i.e. £13,000, which leaves a surplus of circ. £63,140 which is available to fund these other projects.

Challenges

Without doubt, the biggest challenge we face is the lack of a resident incumbent or any oversight. The LMP provides cover to ensure that the regular services and occasional offices continue. This is appreciated, and anecdotally, the congregation quite enjoy the variety of ministry. However, the lack of someone as focus for the ministry in the town is seriously hampering the outreach of the church. Whilst the reduction in occasional offices may be part of a wider trend, it is possibly exacerbated by the longer-term lack of contact and follow-up. The town continues to expand, and there is a ripe mission field, but few are able to take on this burden in a generally aging congregation.

The result of this is that a very significant and heavy burden has fallen on the churchwardens —at what is an unsustainable level. This was exasperated following Lauren Beeken stepping down as Churchwarden in April 2024. It has not been possible to fill this role, David Searle therefore acts as the sole Church warden supported by the Abbey steering group.

Following Robert Gibbard’s resignation as Treasurer in April 2024, Sian Arulanantham (newly appointed to the PCC) has now taken on this role, supported by PCC member Karl Smith and a part time bookkeeper. The verger role has been filled by Mick Leighton.

Page 3

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND

Annual Report (continued)

for the year ended 31 December 2024

Blessings

There is encouragement to be seen in the All-Age and children's ministry of the church, especially with the introduction of a monthly All-Age service on the 4th Sunday, and work continues to advertise and encourage new families and those new to faith or wishing to explore the idea. It is lovely to see children in church praising God and taking part in leading the service.

The continuation of the Methodist-Anglican Partnership with Crowland Methodist Church, better known as MAP, plays the key role in our mission outreach. The Revd Mark Williams, then the Revd Carolyn Bailey, have continued to enjoy working in partnership with Revd Langley Mackrell-Hey, who acts as both the minister-in-charge of Crowland Methodist Church and the superintendent of the Peterborough Methodist Circuit, as well as lay colleagues both Anglican and Methodist to make MAP an effective instrument of Christian mission here in Crowland. Oversight for MAP and its activities lies with a committee composed of three Methodist laypersons and three Anglican laypersons.

MAP runs a Messy Church that meets on the second Saturday of each month in Crowland Methodist Church, and is aimed at parents and their children. MAP also sponsors the Crowland Community Larder, a food bank located at Crowland Methodist Church and Family Eats, which provides a lunch and activities for families during breaks in the school year, is also sponsored by MAP.

As the Abbey lacks a church hall, the facilities at Crowland Methodist Church have made up for this lack by providing both congregations with a space that is well suited for children's activities, socializing and more informal worship, our relationship with our Methodist sisters and brothers is a real source of hope and blessing for us.

MAP also puts up the pilgrims of Student Cross who come to Crowland each year on the Monday of Holy Week, as they walk from Leicester to Walsingham. These pilgrims are provided with and evening meal, a place to sleep, and breakfast, all at Crowland Methodist Church.

We are blessed by a congregation that encompasses people with many gifts. Their prayers and faithful service to God, both within the Abbey community and beyond it, are the heartbeat of our faith community.

May God guide us as we seek to serve Christ’s Church and to find new disciples for him. On behalf of Crowland PCC,

Mrs Margaret Beardshaw Chair

Date: 27 March 2025

Page 4

Independent Examiner's Report to

the Trustees of The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Crowland

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out on pages 6 to 10.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity 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:

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

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records

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.

K. J. Maggs F.C.A.,B.A. Chartered Accountants

Dated: 30 March 2025

Page 5

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND

Receipts and Payments Account

for the year ended 31 December 2024

==> picture [495 x 694] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024 2023
RECEIPTS £ £ £ £
Voluntary Income
Gift Aid donations 6,531 150 6,681 8,902
Income tax recovered 4,166 - 4,166 4,611
Open plate collections at all services 3,777 1,705 5,482 2,900
Donations 10,808 1,077 11,885 11,127
Legacies 20,000 - 20,000 1,808
Grants 15,000 3,500 18,500 1,500
Collections for other causes - 4,342 4,342 453
60,282 10,774 71,056 31,301
Fundraising
Flower Festival 1,724 - 1,724 4,109
Bookstall 2,081 - 2,081 3,678
Other fundraising activities 9,631 48 9,679 9,098
13,436 48 13,484 16,885
Income from investments
Dividends and interest 2,532 - 2,532 1,472
Income from church activities
Fees 11,448 - 11,448 11,967
Other income 220 - 220 2,164
11,668 - 11,668 14,131
Other income
VAT recovered 4,940 - 4,940 303
4,940 - 4,940 303
TOTAL RECEIPTS 92,858 10,822 103,680 64,092
PAYMENTS
Church Activities and Governance
Ministry: Diocesan parish share 15,400 - 15,400 22,774
Church running and maintenance 8,410 482 8,892 7,679
Power 6,736 - 6,736 8,199
Insurance 7,935 - 7,935 7,490
Fees for organist, choir, bell ringers, etc 2,315 - 2,315 2,200
Major restoration work - 7,106 7,106 8,442
Visitor's Centre - - - 879
Administration costs 2,070 - 2,070 2,268
Independent examination fees 475 - 475 460
43,341 7,588 50,929 60,391
Fundraising Costs
Fundraising Costs 1,602 - 1,602 1,702
Bookstall Costs 1,628 - 1,628 1,759
3,230 - 3,230 3,461
Other outgoings
Collections for other causes - 4,475 4,475 265
TOTAL PAYMENTS 46,571 12,063 58,634 64,117
----- End of picture text -----

Page 6

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND

Reconciliation of Cash Flows and Statement of Net Assets

At 31 December 2024

==> picture [496 x 475] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
RECONCILIATION OF CASH FLOWS
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Total receipts 92,858 10,822 103,680 64,092
Total payments 46,571 12,063 58,634 64,117
Net receipts / (payments) 46,287 (1,241) 45,046 (25)
Transfers between funds (19,801) 19,801 - -
Cash funds at 1 January 49,654 55,964 105,618 105,643
Cash funds at 31 December 76,140 74,524 150,664 105,618
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Total Funds
Funds Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
NON-MONETARY ASSETS
-
Investments held by Diocese 19,001 19,001 18,545
CASH FUNDS
Barclays Bank Plc
-
Community account 23,578 23,578 1,846
Money Held for Agencies - 392 392 259
Active Saver account 52,562 15,824 68,386 61,500
-
Virgin Money Plc 58,308 58,308 42,013
76,140 74,524 150,664 105,618
MONETARY LIABILITY
Agency collections - 392 392 259
Accrued expenses 1,265 - 1,265 703
1,265 392 1,657 962
----- End of picture text -----

Approved by the Parochial Church Council and signed on its behalf on 27 March 2025 by:

Mrs Margaret Beardshaw (Chair)

(Treasurer)

Mrs Sian Arulanantham

Page 7

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND

Notes to the Accounts

for the year ended 31 December 2024

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a) Basis of Preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the exemptions applicable under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011.

The statements of financial activities has been prepared on a receipts and payments basis which is a consistent basis to previous years.

The Statements of Assets shows the assets of the charity and any amounts due to or owed by the charity. The statement will not include any provisions for liabilities and charges. The trustees are of the opinion that should any significant matters arise prior to the year end, they will disclose them within the notes to the financial statements.

The Financial Statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.

(b) Funds

Restricted funds represent:

The funds may only be expended on the purpose for which they were given. Any balance remaining unspent at the end of each year must be carried forward as a balance on that fund. The PCC does not usually invest separately for each fund. Where there is no separate investment, interest is apportioned to individual funds on an average balance basis.

Unrestricted funds represent:

(c) Resources Used

(d) Investments

Investments are recognised initially within the Receipts and Payments Account at cost. Subsequently, they are measured at fair value within the Statement of Net Assets, if the shares or funds are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably.

(e) Fixed Assets

Page 8

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31 December 2024

2 FUND MOVEMENTS

(a)
Unrestricted Funds
(b) Restricted Funds
Agency collections
Music fund
Agency collections
Music fund
Window restoration fund
Path restoration fund
Fabric fund
Bell fund
Visitors' Centre
Window restoration fund
Path restoration fund
Fabric fund
Bell fund
General PCC Fund
General PCC Fund		 Balance
1 Jan
£
49,654
Balance
1 Jan
£
56,153
Balance
1 Jan
£
37,170
4,491
1,000
1,289
635
11,379
55,964
Balance
1 Jan
£
31,236
4,491
-
989
835
447
11,492
49,490		 Funds
Added
Funds
Used
£
£
£
92,858
(46,571)
(19,801)
Funds
Added
Funds
Used
£
£
£
55,971
(62,463)
(7)
Funds
Added
Funds
Used
£
£
£
5,206
(7,106)
(89)
-
1,124
(482)
20,000
150
-
-
4,342
(4,475)
(110)
-
10,822
(12,063)
19,801
Funds
Added
Funds
Used
Funds
Transferred
£
£
£
5,934
-
-
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
300
-
-
-
(842)
7
453
(265)
-
434
(547)
-
8,121
(1,654)
7
Year ended 31 December 2024
Year ended 31 December 2023
Funds
Transferred
Funds
Transferred
Funds
Transferred
Year ended 31 December 2024
Year ended 31 December 2023		 Balance 31
Dec
£
76,140
Balance
31 Dec
£
49,654
Balance 31
Dec
£
35,181
4,491
21,642
1,439
392
11,379
74,524
Balance 31
Dec
£
37,170
4,491
1,000
1,289
-
635
11,379
55,964

Page 9

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF CROWLAND

Notes to the Accounts (continued)

for the year ended 31 December 2024

3 FUND COMPARATIVES

RECEIPTS
Voluntary Income
Planned giving
Gift Aid Donations
Income tax recovered
Open plate collections at all services
Donations
Legacies
Grants
Collections for other causes
Fundraising
Flower Festival
Bookstall
Other fundraising activities
Income from investments
Dividends and interest
Income from church activities
Fees
Other income
Other income
VAT recovered
TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS
Church Activities
Ministry: Diocesan parish share
Church running and maintenance
Power
Insurance
Fees for organist, choir bell ringers, etc
Major restoration work
Visitor's Centre
Administration costs
Independent examiner fees
Fundraising Costs
Fundraising Costs
Bookstall Costs
Other outgoings
Collections for other causes
TOTAL PAYMENTS		 6,072
4,611
1,680
11,127
-
-
-
23,490
4,109
3,678
8,788
16,575
1,472
11,967
2,164
14,131
303
55,971
22,774
7,132
8,199
7,490
2,200
8,442
37
2,268
460
59,002
1,702
1,759
3,461
-
62,463
Unrestricted
Funds
£		 2,830
-
1,220
-
1,808
1,500
453
7,811
-
-
310
310
-
-
-
-
-
8,121
-
547
-
-
-
-
842
-
-
1,389
-
-
-
265
1,654
Restricted
Funds
£		 8,902
4,611
2,900
11,127
1,808
1,500
453
31,301
4,109
3,678
9,098
16,885
1,472
11,967
2,164
14,131
303
64,092
22,774
7,679
8,199
7,490
2,200
8,442
879
2,268
460
60,391
1,702
1,759
3,461
265
64,117
Total Funds
2023
£

Page 10