2025-12-31-accounts - The Parochial Church Council Of The Ecclesiastical Parish Of Holy Trinity, Hildersham

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Holy Trinity Church, Hildersham

Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31 December 2025

Administrative information

Holy Trinity Church in Hildersham is part of the Diocese of Ely within the Church of England. The correspondence address for the charity is 12 Beech Row, Hildersham, Cambridge CB21 6BT. The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Trinity, Hildersham, is a Registered Charity, number 1153435.

As a registered charity the PCC has a responsibility to provide a service for the public benefit. Public benefit is about knowing:

what the charity is set up to achieve – the ‘charity’s purpose’
how the charity’s purpose is beneficial – the ‘benefit aspect’
how the charity’s purpose benefits the public or a sufficient section of the public – the ‘public aspect’ of the public benefit
how the trustees will carry out the charity’s purpose for the public benefit - ‘furthering’ the charity’s purpose for the public benefits

The Trustees consider that, in the conduct of their business, they have complied with the duty set out in Section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission.

Structure, governance and management

The governing documents of the charity are:

The Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956 (as amended) The Church Representation Rules 2025

These documents set out the arrangements for the appointment of PCC members (the Trustees) and for operation of the charity.

Holy Trinity, Hildersham PCC has the responsibility of cooperating with the Rector in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the Church building, churchyard and surrounding areas comprising Holy Trinity, Hildersham.

All Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Church Electoral Roll and, if eligible, stand for election as a representative of the laity on the PCC (Trustee).

PCC Members during 2025 were:

Rector: Revd. Iain McColl Assistant Curate Revd. Hannah Threlfall Churchwarden: Mr Keith Day (from 1[st] May 2025) PCC Secretary Mr Keith Day Treasurer: Mr Mervyn Wingfield Elected representatives of the laity: Mr Keith Day (to 1[st] May 2025) Ms Rebecca Fell (from 1[st] May 2025) Mrs Rosalinde Gray Ms Anne-Marie Melloy Mrs Amanda Palmer Mr Mervyn Wingfield

Independent Examiner of the Financial Statement: Mr David Newble

Review of 2025

The Ministry Team

Revd. Iain McColl is the Rector of the Granta Vale Benefice. He was supported during the year by the Ministry Team, which included: Revd. Kathy Bishop (Honorary Associate Priest) Revd. Hannah Threlfall (Assistant Curate) , Mr Alistair Collen and Mr Stephen Wheeler (Licensed Lay Ministers) and Authorised Lay Ministers Mr Keith Day (Music Minister and Worship Leader) and Mrs Rosemary Mead (Pastoral Care).

Electoral Roll and Church Attendance

A new Church Electoral Roll was compiled in 2025. At the time of preparation the Roll contained 34 parishioners, of whom 14 did not reside within the parish. Attendance at both morning and evening services during the year remained broadly stable.

Service Pattern

The number of Sunday services in Hildersham was usually three each month. Following a trial period, the PCC agreed a pattern comprising:

Café Church on the second Sunday
Taizé Evening Worship on the third Sunday
Sung Book of Common Prayer Communion on the fourth Sunday

The United Benefice Eucharist continued to be held in Balsham on the first Sunday of the month, and members of the Hildersham congregation regularly participated.

Silent Space followed by Compline continued to be held in church on Tuesday evenings, offering a weekly opportunity for quiet reflection.

The PCC hopes that providing a range of worship styles throughout the month will meet the needs of worshippers both within the parish and from the wider benefice.

Serving the Community

During the year, the PCC recognised the importance of placing the church at the heart of the community and devoted time and effort to demonstrating the love and work of God beyond the church building. The PCC intends to build further on this work during 2026. Examples from 2025 include:

The Children’s Church Council (CCC) provided Mothering Sunday posies and, in the interests of equality, cookies on Father’s Day.

The first Teatime event proved very successful, attracting a good number of villagers and a local rambling group. The local Age Concern warden also attended and expressed interest in bringing some of her clients to future events. The PCC suggested that a sandwich board advertising each teatime gathering could encourage more people to join.

Given the continuing cost-of-living pressures, the Harvest Festival again focused on supporting REACH in Haverhill, following previous successful donations of slow cookers and stick blenders. REACH continued to provide services across the benefice during the year. Non-perishable food items were also donated throughout the year via collection bags at the back of the church.

The Gifts for Refugees appeal was again generously supported, with two carloads of gifts delivered to Cambridgeshire Social Services.

The Rolling Supper held during the summer was a great success, helping new Hildersham residents meet others in the village and providing an opportunity for the community to socialise together.

In November a capacity crowd filled the Village Hall for the “Pie and Fizz” Quiz Night, for which there was also a waiting list for tickets.

The Life of the Church

In addition to the regular worship mentioned earlier in this report, the following activities illustrate the wider spiritual life of Holy Trinity.

The House Group continued to meet throughout the year for Bible study, prayer and fellowship. This ecumenical group engages with Christians from across the community, whether they attend Hildersham Church or worship elsewhere.

For many years the Children’s Church Council (CCC) has been a lively and vibrant group, enabling younger members of the community to participate in and influence the life and work of the Church in Hildersham. The CCC met monthly; however, a changing age profile among young people in the community has led to reduced membership and meetings have therefore been suspended for the time being. The PCC remains firmly committed to working with children and young people in the community, and this remains a standing item on PCC agendas.

The Granta Vale Churches Choir continued to rehearse on Monday evenings at Holy Trinity and includes members from every parish within the benefice. The choir contributes to the United Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month, Taizé Evening Worship, and carol services held around the benefice.

The church library has benefited from a number of new additions and continues to offer books that may be freely borrowed or browsed. The PCC has agreed to make additional spiritual resources available in this area, and the contribution of Mark Huntsman in this respect is much appreciated.

The children’s area also welcomes young visitors during the church’s daily opening hours. In addition, a monthly article in the Abington and Hildersham News keeps residents informed about church activities.

Safeguarding

The PCC recognises its duty of care to create and maintain a safe environment for all. Safeguarding is treated as a priority in both policy and practice. The PCC has adopted the House of Bishops’ safeguarding policies and procedures, and all required safeguarding training and DBS checks are up to date.

Safeguarding is a standing item on PCC agendas, ensuring continued vigilance and regular review. The PCC is committed to ensuring that Holy Trinity remains a place where all people feel safe, respected and valued.

Re-imagining the Church Building

Holy Trinity Church is open daily to visitors and hosts events for the whole community throughout the year, alongside its regular pattern of worship. Those with an interest in historic buildings often visit to view the wall paintings, while walkers and hikers frequently stop to rest on the benches in the churchyard and enjoy the surroundings.

The formation of the Friends of Holy Trinity during the year marks a significant development in the long-term stewardship of the church building. Operating under the guidance of a nominated committee of the PCC and within the umbrella of the PCC as a registered charity, the Friends group has been established to support the practical care and maintenance of Holy Trinity Church and its surroundings, including the churchyard and Old School Wood.

The aims of the Friends are to help raise funds for the maintenance and improvement of the fabric and contents of the church building, to encourage wider appreciation and enjoyment of the church, and to support the development of the building as a venue for appropriate community and cultural events alongside its regular pattern of worship.

Since its launch the Friends have already organised two highly successful concerts and have raised in excess of £7,500, for which the PCC is most grateful. A full programme of further events is planned for the coming year.

Through these initiatives the PCC aims not only to preserve the historic fabric of the church but also to ensure that the building continues to serve as a welcoming and well-used space for the wider community.

Caring for the Church Building and Churchyard

The PCC is most grateful to all who contribute to the care of the church building and churchyard, particularly David Palmer within the church, and Liz Brooker and Kirsten Newble in the churchyard.

The usual annual checks were carried out during the year, including inspection of fire extinguishers, PAT testing, gutter clearance, alarm servicing, and boiler maintenance. The church insurance policy and risk assessments were also reviewed.

The stability of the historic chancel wall paintings caused considerable concern during the year. Damp within the walls has reacted with salts in the masonry, leading to deterioration of the plaster and paint layers. Emergency conservation work was carried out in the autumn and further work will be required in the coming years.

Extensive technical investigation has confirmed that a significant factor in this deterioration is the unstable environment and high humidity within the building. It is hoped that this can be mitigated through the installation of an updated heating system, planning for which is now underway. The proposed hybrid heating system should help create a more stable environment for the conservation of the paintings while also improving comfort for users of the church during colder months.

These developments will require significant capital investment, and the PCC has begun preparing a major fundraising campaign to support this work.

Conservation in the Churchyard

Holy Trinity Church, Hildersham, is committed to Caring for God’s Acre and has therefore registered with the Cambridgeshire Conservation Awards Scheme.

With dedication and a shared desire to care for the churchyard for the benefit of both people and wildlife, Rosalinde Gray, supported by other PCC members and with advice from the Wildlife Trust, has led work to manage the churchyard in a way that supports biodiversity.

Areas of grassland are mown at different times of year to create varied habitats and seasonal interest for pollinators. Trees and hedges are carefully managed for the benefit of the wildlife they support and to ensure their continued healthy growth. Habitats are also maintained and created for insects, birds and small mammals.

In 2021 we were pleased to secure the Cambridgeshire Conservation Bronze Award, with points to spare. Three years later, following a sustained investment of time and energy by a committed team, and with assistance from the Children’s Church Council, we achieved the Silver Award, having gained the 25 points required under the scheme’s scoring system.

The PCC would like to thank all those whose efforts made these awards possible, as well as the Wildlife Trust coordinator, who assessed the churchyard and confirmed the award.

Both awards are displayed on the church noticeboard, demonstrating our commitment to caring for God’s creation by providing valuable sanctuary for wildlife and promoting

biodiversity within the churchyard, which, following a recent initiative by the Parish Council, has been designated as part of a biodiversity corridor extending from Alder Carr to Little Linton.

Financial review

This year has been broadly typical in financial terms, apart from items relating to additional fund raising for the Friends of Hildersham Church fund - income £7494, expenditure £5936, balance £5278. The expenditure in this fund relates to the preparations for the church heating project and some minor fund raising costs.

The accounts show that income and expenditure are roughly balanced, with a small deficit of £469 this year. The PCC continues to maintain prudent reserves and has met its adopted Reserves Policy throughout the year.

The church currently holds around £48,000 in reserves and designated funds. Within this, approximately £13,000 remains in repair funds, and around £27,000 in unrestricted funds, providing a reasonable level of financial resilience should significant expenditure arise. Total reserves (restricted, designated and unrestricted) at the end of the year are very close to what they were at the start of the year.

The PCC has adopted a Reserves Policy of holding sufficient funds to cover running costs and parish share for three months. This requirement has been met throughout the year. This prudent approach provides a stable foundation as the church begins planning for future capital investment, particularly in relation to building conservation and environmental improvements.

The PCC recognises the importance of establishing a sustainable and secure revenue base for the Church in the future. To support this objective and raise awareness, an informal survey of parishioners is planned to gather views on church events and activities. The aim is both to involve the community in identifying initiatives that are most valued and to help support future fundraising and the long-term financial sustainability and vitality of the church.

The PCC is grateful to all who contributed to supporting the church’s finances during the year, helping to ensure that the parish remains on a stable financial footing.

Looking Forward

The PCC remains committed to ensuring that Holy Trinity continues to serve as both a place of worship and a focal point for the community in Hildersham. Alongside maintaining the historic church building to the glory of God and ensuring that it remains welcoming and

comfortable for all who visit, the PCC will continue to explore ways of engaging with the wider community and sharing the love of God beyond the church walls.

Thank you

The PCC would like to express its sincere thanks to all those who have given their time and energy to the life of the church during the year. Many people contribute in practical ways to ensure that the building remains open, welcoming and well cared for — through cleaning, tending the churchyard, arranging flowers, and maintaining both the organ and the fabric of the building.

Particular thanks are due to Tom and Dana, whose dedication in opening and closing the church each day, whatever the weather, ensures that it remains accessible to all.

The PCC is deeply grateful to all parishioners and friends who have supported the church throughout the year, whether through volunteering, attendance at events, or financial contributions.

In conclusion, the PCC views 2025 as a year of steady growth, renewed confidence and purposeful planning at Holy Trinity. While remaining faithful to our core pattern of worship, we have continued to strengthen our role at the heart of the community, expand our environmental stewardship, and lay foundations for the long-term sustainability of both our ministry and our historic building. This report reflects not only what has been achieved, but also the clear forward direction in which we are now moving.

16/04/2026

Hildersham PCC Accounts 2019

	Charity Name	Charity Name	Charity Name	No (if any)	Last year (2024) to the nearest £
	HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, HILDERSHAM			1153435
	Receipts andpayments accounts
	For the period from	Period start date	To	Period end date
		01/01/2025		31/12/2025
	Unrestricted funds to the nearest £	Restricted funds to the nearest £	Designated funds to the nearest £	Total funds to the nearest £
A1 Voluntary Income/ Receipts - TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
Tax efficient planned giving	7,000	900	-	7,900	16,690
Other planned giving	-	1,045	-	1,045	600
Collections at services	1,624	-	-	1,624	2,330
All other giving and voluntary receipts, including Special Appeals (recurring and one-off)	819	1,901	-	2,720	821
Gift Aid recovered	2,161	2,075	-	4,236	1,369
Legacies received (capital value)	3,336	-	-	3,336	-
Grants (include recurring and one-off)	-	1,004	-	1,004	- 13,517
Gross income from fundraising activities	-	7,494	-	7,494	5,680
Dividends, interest, income from property etc.	769	2,805	-	3,573	3,530
Statutory fees retained by the PCC (weddings, funerals etc)	1,535	-	-	1,535	1,818
Gross income from trading (e.g. hall lettings, magazine, bookstall). NOT fundraising.	-	-	-	-	-
Any other income/ receipts not already listed	-	-	-	-	1,251
7 Churches Ministry Costs	-	17,436	-	17,436	17,436
*Sub total*(Gross income for AR)	17,244	34,659	-	51,903	38,008
*Total receipts*
	17,244	34,659	-	51,903	38,008
A3 Payments -TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED				-
Fund-raising activites (costs and payments)	1,022	694	-	1,716	196
Mission giving and donations	-	-	-	-	180
Diocesan parish share contribution	8,010	-	-	8,010	7,247
Salaries, wages and honoraria	-	-	-	-	128
Clergy and staff expenses	10	17,446	-	17,456	20,223
Church expenses: Mission and evangelism costs	-	-	-	-	303
Church running expenses	1,200	3,110	-	4,310	3,864
Church utility bills	1,824	-	-	1,824	3,333
Churchyard Maintenance and Gardening	-	720	-	720	1,404
Cost of trading	-	-	-	-	-
Repairs and enhancements to church buildings	-	12,185	-	12,185	12,367
Church Insurance and Security Systems	4,279	-	-	4,279	4,303
New building work to the church, church hall, clergy housing or other PCC property	-	-	-	-	-
7 Churches Ministry Costs	1,873	-	-	1,873	1,872
Other expenditure	-	-	-	-	-
*Sub total*	18,218	34,155	-	52,372	55,421
*Total payments* *Net of receipts/(payments)* A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end (2024) *Cash funds this year end (2025)* Categories	18,218	34,155	-	52,372	55,421
	- 974	505	-	- 469	- 17,413
	1,008	-	- 1,008	-
	27,053	20,027	1,824	48,905
	27,087	20,532	816	48,436
	Unrestricted funds	Restricted funds	Designated funds	FUNDS AT 31.12.2025	FUNDS AT 31.12.2024
B1 CASH FUNDS	to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
Petty Cash	-	-		-	-
Barclays Community ACC 1	27,088	- 6,395	816	21,508	33,910
Barclays Community ACC 2	-	489		489	489
Barclays Savings ACC 1	-	15,222		15,222	2,766
Country Fayre Account					1,008
CBF Deposit Account	-	3,990		3,990	3,818
CBF Repair Fund Account	-	7,227		7,227	6,914
Total Funds	27,088	20,532	816	48,436	48,905

16/04/2026

Hildersham PCC Accounts 2019

B2A Other monetary assets Details	B2A Other monetary assets Details	Opening Balance 1.1.2025	Restricted income	Restricted expenditure	Closing Balance 31.12.2025
		to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
GENERAL REPAIR FUNDS RESTRICTED
General Repair Reserve		9,463	7,737	6,942	10,258
Sexton's Trust		448	325	-	773
Rector's Trust		53	25	-	78
Organ Service		1,310	-	180	1,130
Sub Total:		11,273	8,087	7,122	12,238
B2B Other monetary assets Details		Opening Balance 1.1.2025	Restricted income	Restricted expenditure	Closing Balance 31.12.2025
		to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £	to nearest £
SKINNER BEQUEST RESTRICTED		193	641	720	114
GOODWIN TRUST RESTRICTED		1,268	1,501	188	2,581
PARISH NURSE RESTRICTED		3,282	- 499	2,783	- 0

7 CHURCHES MINISTRY COSTS RESTRICTED		36	17,436	17,406	67
COMMUNITY EVENTS RESTRICTED		255	-	-	255
FRIENDS EVENTS		3,720	7,494	5,936	5,278
HOLY TRINITY HILDERSHAM MINISTRY COSTS APPORTIONMENT UNRESTRICTED	£1,873.00

TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS		20,028	34,659	34,155	20,532
UNRESTRICTED GENERAL FUND AND DESIGNATED FUNDS		28,878	~~34,659~~ 17,244	~~34,155~~ 18,218	27,904
GRAND TOTAL OF FUNDS			UN Income	un Exp	48,436
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Details
		Fund Value 1.1.2025	Current value 31.12.2025	Gain/Loss
HILDERSHAM GOODWIN TRUST		47,795	45,884	- 1,911
CHURCHYARD MAINTENANCE FUND		23,071	22,148	- 922
TOTAL GAIN IN YEAR				- 2,833
B5 Assets and Liabilities Details		Fund to which liability relates	Amount due	Date of approval
Credit - Gift Aid not yet claimed		Various	+£3000
Debit - Staff and Organist Expenses		Various	-£900
Debit - Electricity Bill		Unrestricted	-£54
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Signatures
		Print Name

Notes:

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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name members of The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Holy Trinity Hildersham On accounts for the year 31[st] December 2025 Charity no 1153435 ended (if any) Set out on pages 1-2

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2025 .

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records

I have no concerns and 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 to be reached.

Signed: Name: David Newble Relevant professional ICAEW qualification: Address: Little Chilfords, Back Road, Linton, CB21 4LF

Date: 16/04/2026

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October 2018

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

October 2018

IER