## ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN
Report and Accounts Year ended 31 December 2025
1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB www.stewardship.org.uk
## St Peter’s Bethnal Green
## Annual Report 2025
## 1. Reference and Administrative Details
## i. Charity Name: **St Peter’s Bethnal Green Parochial Church Council (PCC)**
ii. Principal Address: **St Peter’s Bethnal Green, St Peter’s Close, London E2 7AE** Registered charity number: 1154668
iii. St Peter’s Bethnal Green uses the banking services of **Reliance Bank Ltd** at Faith House, 23-24 Lovat Lane, London EC3R 8EB
iv. **Stewardship** of 1 Lamb’s Passage, London EC1Y 8AB were re-appointed to carry out the independent examination of accounts for 2025.
## 2. Structure and Governance
## _Responsibilities of the PCC_
The PCC of St Peter’s Bethnal Green has the responsibility, together with the Priestin-Charge the Rev’d Philippa Cook, to promote in the parish the whole mission of the Church.
This is achieved through working alongside a number of organisations as partners in undertaking mercy, justice and evangelism. The PCC is responsible for the maintenance and fabric of St Peter’s Bethnal Green.
As a Church of England parish church, the PCC and Vicar follow the requirements of the Church of England’s Canon Law.
With regard to the PCC’s obligations to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, the members of the PCC confirm that they have complied with their duties under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016.
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## _Objectives and activities_
The 2025 electoral roll had 62 registered members at the APCM. Those on the Electoral Roll are able to nominate candidates for the PCC. The PCC and Church Wardens are elected annually to the APCM.
The PCC organises itself to carry out its aims and objectives by having regular meetings and various sub-committees. The PCC held 9 formal meetings over the course of the year.
The PCC’s Finance team prepares information for decision-making by the PCC and takes forward management matters with the Priest-in-Charge, with support from the Head of Operations, a PCC employee. Day–to-day management of the church is delegated to Rev’d Philippa Cook and her staff team.
The trustees confirm they have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing aims and planning activities detailed in this report.
## _Members of the PCC_
Members of the PCC are elected on an annual basis at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules.
The following have served as members of the PCC during 2025:
- a. **Priest-in-Charge** : the Reverend Philippa Cook (continuous service)
- b. **Associate Priest** : the Reverend Alison Mulroy (continuous service)
- c. **Curate** : the Reverend Luke Smith (continuous service)
- **d. Wardens** : Andrew Rixon (continuous service, resigned 17th May 2026), Jessica Martin (continuous service)
- **e. Deanery Synod Representative** : Pamela Haluwa
- **f. PCC:** Charlotte Parmiter (resigned 17th May 2026), Pamela Haluwa, Joy Middleton, Tim Lovell, Alison McIndoe (resigned 17th May 2026), Richard Herbert (appointed 11 May 2025), Abby Ewing (appointed 11 May 2025), Andrea McIntosh (resigned May 2025), Anne Bishop (resigned May 2025).
- g. **Treasurer** : Philip Ellis (appointed 11 May 2025)
- **h. Safeguarding Officer** : John Loveday
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## 3. Ministry at St Peter’s
In April, we welcomed Stephanie Ewing as our new Head of Operations, replacing David Bishop, who left his post at the end of 2024. Along with Stephanie, Philippa expanded the staff team at the start of the year with a long-prayed-for Children & Youth Pastor, Abigail Genn, and a new Worship Pastor, Alexander Dickens. This team, along with the existing clergy team - our curate Reverend Luke Smith and our Associate Priest Reverend Ali Mulroy - have made an excellent contribution to parish life and the worshipping life of everyone in our community.
## _**Priest-in-Charge Report**_ **Reverend Philippa Cook**
It has been a joy and great privilege to see the church flourish in 2025. I have been particularly encouraged to see teams growing across the board, with people keen to join in with all that God is doing through the many ministries and activities we get to be part of, both on site and around Bethnal Green. We started the year in January with a month of prayer, experimenting with different forms of liturgical and informal prayer styles. We have been excited to see what God is doing in our community since then.
## _**Spear in Bethnal Green**_
St Peter’s continued to be proud partners with Spear in 2025. Spear is a national youth employment charity which helps young people into work. St Peter’s hosts the Spear programme for Bethnal Green and the surrounding area in the Old Vestry area of the church.
The Spear team saw many changes in 2025, with the departure of Spear Coach Natalie Motta to new pastures, and the addition of two new members of the team under Centre Manager Esther Mcelhinny - Joe Liley and Maya Roberts.
Bethnal Green Spear also officially became part of the central Spear organisation, having previously been run as a separate trust.
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St Peter’s continues to support the Bethnal Green Spear Team by providing office and hosting space, supplies, and support from our congregation. Joe and Maya have started volunteering to help at Alpha and attending many of our church parish events, and are truly a part of our church family.
During 2025, the programme supported 66 young people. 75% of the young people we have supported are in work or employment a year later. Some of the companies that Spear trainees have secured paid employment at include: Harvey Nichols, Hayfin Capital Management, Nandos, Pret a Manger and The Dorchester Hotel.
## _**St John’s School**_
Partnering with St John’s CofE Primary School in Bethnal Green continues to be one of our great joys. In 2025 clergy continued to offer weekly collective worship, support with RE lessons and training for the school ‘Worship Council’ (a student body that helps to run the worshipping life of the school). In 2025 we also facilitated four worship services at St John church (Easter, Pentecost, End of Year and Christmas) where the whole school and staff body attended to celebrate these key moments as a community. We have been blown away by how receptive staff and students continue to be to exploring faith in this way.
In 2025 we also launched a monthly ‘Junior Evensong’ in partnership with Jonathan Pease (leader of East London Evensong Choir). Jonathan led rehearsals in the school, with families invited to join the evensong services that the children lead. It was wonderful to have such a full and enthusiastic choir to lead the services. There are plans to continue this project and expand it into 2026.
## _**Focus**_
Our annual church holiday to Focus was a great success this year; we joined with other churches from across Tower Hamlets to camp together in Newark, with 43 attendees from St Peter’s. Focus is an important moment for churches from throughout the HTB network, of which we are part, to gather for encouragement, worship and world class teaching. It is an amazing moment of partnership each year.
## _**Life Groups**_
Life Groups at St Peter’s have continued this year. In 2025, our life groups were: Daylight (Tuesdays), 3rd Sundays, and Streams (Wednesdays).
## _**Easter**_
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Holy Week was a special time at St Peter’s once again. On Maundy Thursday, we hosted a community meal which included communion, foot washing and ended with a watch in the chancel, which went into the night. The chancel had been decorated as a garden to enable reflection whilst people stayed to pray as we welcomed in Good Friday.
Art and Soul hosted a wonderful Good Friday exhibition, with moments of scripture, poetry and music led throughout.
Then on Easter Sunday, we gathered for one service as a whole community to celebrate the resurrection, followed by a BBQ lunch.
## _**Christmas**_
Christmas at St Peter’s is always a really special time with a fully packed programme of events. The season began with ‘Family Festive Fun’ and ‘Campfire Carols’ on the 7th December, with crafts and games in the garden followed by carols around the campfire led on our old piano. Over 200 people attended.
On the 14th December, the 10.30am service hosted the traditional ‘Christingle’ mixed with a scratch nativity (‘Nativitingle…’) which was great fun. In the evening, Churchwarden Jess Martin’s choir led a beautiful ‘Carols by Candlelight’ service which was attended by over 250 local people.
On 24th December, we welcomed in Christmas day with a beautiful, contemplative Midnight Mass service, followed by Christmas morning where we hosted a very special Christmas Day service followed by a lunch for over 30 local people.
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## _**Associate Priest’s Report**_ **Reverend Ali Mulroy**
## _**Climb & Dine**_
Climb & Dine was held monthly on Sundays for the church’s young people. We have developed the Climb & Dine format so that the climbing is followed by dinner and games at the Vicarage until 7pm. This has given the young people space to really get to know each on and off the wall. Up to 8 young people attend each session, with the age range being from Year 6 upwards.
## _**Art & Soul**_
Art & Soul is held on Wednesday afternoons in the main church. It continues to be a safe place to explore community, creativity and spirituality. Attendees included Spear trainees and a range of people from the church community and beyond. Generally between 15-25 people attend every week, with up to 10 staying for prayer time at the end.
The A&S regulars went on a trip to the National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery, and a guided tour of St Martin’s-in-the-Field in the summer.
A&S held a second exhibition of their work in the Beehive’s ‘One Wall Gallery’ for 3 months, and received much positive feedback.
A&S also continued to collaborate with the charity Arts for All, sharing a number of joint sessions. These meet ups were a wonderful way for both groups to continue to develop their personal and creative connections.
## _**Sanctuary Space**_
This was a new initiative for St Peter's in 2025. Sanctuary Space is an individually-led reflection and prayer space which is held every Tuesday between 2-4pm in the main church.
Reverend Ali Mulroy spearheaded this initiative and our collaboration with the Mission Practice, a GP surgery which will occasionally refer someone to Sanctuary Space as a way to improve their mental and spiritual health. Some people stay and pray, some meet with the clergy for pastoral conversations, and some simply want to admire the church building in peace.
It is also a wonderful opportunity to have the church open for people to access it and appreciate it outside of services and other events.
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## _**Curate’s Report**_ **Reverend Luke Smith**
## **Alpha**
2025 was a year of experiment and experience for Alpha, as we sought to make the Gospel accessible to everyone in our parish.
||||
|---|---|---|
|**Term**|**Format**|**Key Highlights**|
|**Jan –**
**Mar**|Evening
Film Series|Partnered with St Luke’s Kentish Town and St Luke’s Millwall
for the Holy Spirit Day; a transformative time where the
majority of guests encountered the Holy Spirit.|
|**May –**
**Jul**|Midday
Café Alpha|A successful pilot program for men. Guests watched content
in advance and met in a local café for dialogue. This proved a
vital alternative for those unable to attend evenings.|
|**Sep –**
**Nov**|Evening
Film Series|Continued our collaborative spirit by joining Christ Church
Spitalfields for the Holy Spirit Day.|
We hosted 22 participants and reached 13 non-members - the fruit of these courses is evident as many guests have integrated into our Sunday services and remained actively connected to the church family. We also saw an increase in church members and staff team supporting the set up, hosting groups and providing food as we moved into 2026.
## **Alpha Youth Series**
In 2025, we were proud to be part of the global launch of the new Alpha Youth Series, contributing to the 3000+ courses which ran worldwide.
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- Our older youth met fortnightly in the vicarage to trial the new material. This “safe-space” environment allowed us to refine the future invite strategy for school friends and peers
- Throughout February and March, we utilised the Tower Hamlets van postservice to run Alpha for our Spear and Elevate young adults - the familiar format of food, film and discussion made for a seamless transition into deeper faith conversations
## **Holy Spirit Day**
We brought both youth cohorts together for a landmark day of fun and faith. From “Gladiator Duel” inflatables to sessions of quiet prayer, this day was marked by a palpable sense of peace. It was a privilege to witness the Holy Spirit rest on 16 young people, inspiring them toward a more resilient and personal relationship with Jesus.
## **Elevate**
The Elevate programme continues to be a cornerstone of our church outreach to the young trainees that come through Spear. This year, we successfully facilitated over 40 sessions and engaged 150+ individuals.
Elevate this year included:
- A Summer BBQ in July, including food, board games and a DJing workshop led by DJ Krystal Roxx
- A Fire Pit evening, offering a sacred space for stillness and an opportunity to reflect on what fire represented in the young peoples’ own journeys
- 1:1 catchups through the year with numerous coffees and lunches for the purpose of mentorship
- Tower Hamlets Youth Van continued to visit, providing a fun blend of recreation and dialogue
The true success of Elevate is not just measured in attendance, but in the sense of psychological and spiritual safety it provides - for many of our young people, Elevate has become a sanctuary where they feel secure enough to explore their identity without judgement. We have been moved by several participants who, having once moved to the fringes of faith, are now returning to church because they feel “safe” and seen within our community. The peer-to-peer environment has sparked a unique synergy, where many have shared that they found fresh inspiration and renewed purpose through Elevate giving them an opportunity for more vulnerable conversations with their peers. By fostering an atmosphere where young adults feel both challenged and champions, we have seen many of our young people move from passive observers to active, inspired contributors to Elevate’s community.
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## _**Young Life Pastor’s Report**_ **Abigail Genn**
## **Sunday Kids**
Sunday Kids continues to be a safe and accessible space for children aged 0-11 to explore faith and the Bible in a setting separate from their parents. The ministry is split into two groups: Crèche (0-3 years, alongside their grown-up) and Kids (4-11 years).
Attendees include regular church families, as well as children from the local community. Across both groups, we welcome approximately 12-18 children each Sunday.
In January, the Sunday Kids team consisted of two Kids leaders and one Crèche leader. Beginning the year with a vision for growth, by March the team had expanded to 17 adults across both groups.
On any given Sunday, the team is responsible for welcoming families and helping to model what life with children looks like within the church community. Team members lead and assist in the groups during the Sunday service, according to the rota, while also helping create a warm and welcoming environment for both children and parents.
## **Little Stars**
Little Stars is our weekly Thursday toddler group for parents and carers in the local community, providing a safe and nurturing environment for little ones and their grown-ups. The group runs from 10.00am-11.30am and includes breakfast items such as pastries, fruit, toast, tea, and coffee, alongside a range of accessible children’s activities including a bouncy castle, train tracks, ball pit, crafts, and free play.
Each session ends with a group tidy-up to the _Mission Impossible_ theme tune, before gathering together for a hello song where each child is acknowledged by name, followed by nursery rhymes and a goodbye song - thank you to the wonderful Jess Butler on our team for introducing this tradition!
Little Stars has continued to grow and strengthen its connection with the local community. Our first session welcomed 20 adults, each caring for one or two children. And the following week attendance increased to 31 adults with children.
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The group has developed a strong sense of community and generosity. Families regularly donate money, toys, books, and food, which are then shared with others in the community. Word of mouth has continued to be the most successful way new families hear about and join the group.
## **October Camp**
During October half term (27th-30th), St Peter's Bethnal Green partnered with St Paul's Shadwell and Christ Church Spitalfields to take 16 boys and girls in Years 3-6 away to Lambourne End Centre for a children’s residential camp.
The programme included a mixture of outdoor activities such as exploring the farm, orienteering, and low ropes, alongside worship, Bible studies, and team-building activities.
One particularly significant moment from the camp involved a child who, during a Bible session, shared feelings of low self-worth and described feeling as though they were “a burden”. While encouraging them and helping them to engage with the session, Hannah (the leader in charge) felt prompted to write a series of affirmation words on the floor and invite the children to pray before choosing one.
The child picked the final remaining word after taking some extra time to process the instructions. When asked what word they had chosen, they replied, “Chosen,” before bursting into tears and eagerly sharing with the group what he felt God had said to them. It was a deeply moving moment, and one that many of the children still talk about a year later.
## **Light Party**
On Friday 31st October, we hosted a Light Party in the church hall from 4.00pm6.30pm for church families and the wider local community.
We welcomed approximately 270 attendees throughout the event. The evening included food, interactive Bible storytelling, crafts, and free play activities centred around the theme of Jesus as the Light of the World.
Interactive story stations included the Garden of Eden, God parting the Red Sea, and Peter walking on water. Alongside these were a variety of activities including lighthouse-making, animal scratch art, face painting, biscuit decorating, stone painting, and general free play.
Many attendees were church families who invited friends from their children’s schools, alongside Little Stars families and members of the wider community. The
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event was a valuable opportunity to strengthen relationships with existing families while also welcoming many new people into the church space.
## **Morpeth**
Morpeth is a weekly lunchtime club run at Morpeth School in partnership with St Paul's Old Ford, with leadership support provided by a team from St Paul's Shadwell and myself.
The group runs every Thursday from 12.00pm-1.00pm and provides a relaxed and welcoming environment for young people in Years 7-9. Sessions include games, crafts, conversation, and space to discuss topics such as friendships, healthy relationships, education, and emotions. While the group is not directly evangelistic, it has created opportunities to build strong relationships with young people and invite them into wider church community activities where appropriate.
When I first joined the group there were around 10 young people attending each week. Attendance has now grown to over 30 students regularly attending the lunchtime sessions.
Since becoming involved, we have continued to strengthen our relationship with the school and the young people attending. Staff have recognised the positive impact the group has had on behaviour, relationships, and emotional wellbeing within the school community.
As a result of this growing trust, I was invited to support a Year 11 photography class by helping manage and support three students requiring additional attention and relational support. All three students have attended the St John’s Youth Group and continue to regularly visit the lunch club to check in, chat, and receive additional encouragement and support.
The group has also provided an important bridge for students involved in the SEN provision, creating a safe and welcoming space where they are able to interact with young people from the wider school community in a positive and supported environment.
One of the most valuable aspects of the work has been the ability to build deeper relationships with individual young people and notice safeguarding or wellbeing concerns that might otherwise go unseen within a busy school setting. The school has expressed appreciation for the additional support, care, and consistency the team has been able to provide.
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Overall, Morpeth has become a significant relational space within the school, helping young people feel known, welcomed, and supported while continuing to strengthen connections between the church and the local community.
## **St John’s Youth**
Due to our work at Morpeth School, I began supporting an existing relationship with St John's Bethnal Green and, alongside the youth worker from Christ Church Spitalfields, helped establish a youth group for local young people.
Sessions included snacks, games, conversation, and activities such as Mario Kart, creating a relaxed and welcoming environment where young people could safely spend time together after school. Young people from Morpeth were invited along and would often stop in to reconnect, chat, and share how they were doing.
One particularly significant relationship developed with an at-risk young child from Bethnal Green who joined the group during a period away from mainstream education. The youth group became a safe and nurturing environment for them, providing supportive relationships with trusted adults within their local community where this had previously been lacking.
Over time, they began attending St Peter's Bethnal Green as a young person and later became a supported “young leader” within the Sunday Kids ministry. Through this they have grown in confidence, developing stronger relationships, and regaining a sense of belonging within the church community.
The group has continued to provide a safe, relational, and non-judgemental space where young people feel welcomed, supported, and valued.
## **Mulberry Shoreditch**
I joined a mentoring team from Bethnal Green Mission Church to observe and learn from their school mentoring programme at Mulberry Academy Shoreditch.
The programme worked with Year 10 and 11 students during their lunch break, creating a safe and supportive space where young people could sit, eat together, and speak openly with supportive and nurturing adults. Around 20 students attended regularly.
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I attended weekly Wednesday sessions over a three-week period and was able to gain valuable insight into relational mentoring within a school environment, with the hope of implementing similar pastoral support opportunities within schools in our own parish.
Through this partnership, Bethnal Green Mission Church introduced me to The Feast, which then led to connections with the pastoral and Religious Studies leads at Oaklands School to discuss mentoring and pastoral support opportunities.
## **Oaklands with The Feast**
Through connections made with Bethnal Green Mission Church, I was introduced to The Feast and invited to join sessions at Oaklands School.
The Feast seeks to bring together young people from different faiths and cultures in order to build friendships, explore faith, and encourage understanding across communities.
I attended five sessions in total, beginning with a taster session at a primary school in the Isle of Dogs, followed by four sessions at Oaklands Secondary School. Sessions involved classes of up to 30 students and were led by a team of three adults, including one paid staff member and two volunteers.
One particularly encouraging aspect of the programme was its clear and intentional faith-based approach. This created opportunities to openly share my own beliefs, speak about the church community I attend, and signpost young people towards our youth group and Sunday Kids ministries where appropriate.
The programme also helped strengthen partnerships between churches, schools, and community organisations, while modelling respectful conversations around faith, identity, and culture.
Overall, the sessions created thoughtful and relational spaces where young people could explore questions of faith and belonging while building positive relationships across different backgrounds and experiences.
## **Clothes Swap**
On 15th February and 11th October 2025, we hosted Clothes Swap events for families within the local community, creating welcoming and practical spaces for parents and carers to donate and exchange baby and toddler clothes for children aged 0-2 years.
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The events ran in a relaxed “jumble sale” style and welcomed approximately 40-60 attendees at each session. Alongside the clothing exchange, we provided tea, coffee, and biscuits, as well as a small play space in the centre of the room where little ones could safely play while parents browsed and chatted together.
More than simply providing clothing, the Clothes Swap events became important relational spaces where conversations and connections developed naturally. They created opportunities to build trust and ongoing relationships with local families, while also acting as valuable signposting opportunities towards other church and community activities where appropriate.
The atmosphere throughout both events was warm, welcoming, and communityfocused, helping families feel supported both practically and relationally.
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## 4. Fabric Report
Although there was much to celebrate in 2025, the trustees note that there have been many challenges relating to the church building itself which have impeded ministry. Work to decontaminate the church of asbestos after the ceiling collapse of 2022 finally ended - sadly, with the complete removal and destruction of our pipe organ, after our organ consultants confirmed that it was impossible to remove asbestos from the soft felt linings in the organ itself.
In December, the organ room was converted into a new vestry, clearing the kitchen so it can be properly used for its intended purpose, and providing the clergy with a more private place to robe for services. We thank Richard and the whole team from R&F Insulation for all their hard work on this.
During the Christmas season, our boiler (originally installed in 1994!) finally failed, presenting the PCC with a huge challenge as they entered 2026. The trustees continue to work on a resolution to this for the long-term good of St Peter’s and its parishioners.
We would like to share our gratitude for the friendship and neighbourliness of Matthew Peberdy, the owner of the Organ Factory, who has helped us get through a few tough, cold weeks by allowing us free use of the Organ Factory’s facilities during Christmas and for services at the start of 2026.
At the end of 2025, St Peter’s was approved to become a part of the Demonstrator Church programme, a national Church programme which supports the Church of England’s Net Zero 2030 target. This would involve partially decarbonising the church by insulating ‘the Old Vestry’ (Rooms 1 and 2) and installing heat pumps to service that area of the building. We are still awaiting a date to proceed with this project given the challenges with the heating in the rest of the building, which will most likely be in Summer 2026.
In place of a quinquennial report, we also received a dilapidations report from our architect Sarah Khan of Roger Mears at the end of 2025. This indicates that substantive works need to be done to the church building over the next 5 years, most notably the replacement of the church roof and urgent works to the spire, for which we will be actively seeking funding in 2026 with an outside grant writing specialist.
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## 5. Treasurer’s Report
## _**Oversight**_
Finance at St Peter’s is overseen by the Finance Working Group, a sub-committee of the PCC made up of the Vicar, the Churchwardens, the Treasurer and the Head of Operations. This team meets regularly to oversee the regular day-to-day running of the church’s finances and to make recommendations to the PCC.
## _**2025 Income**_
The ministries and activities of St Peter’s Bethnal Green were largely funded by three groups of income: -
_Giving Income_ in 2025 amounted to £86k (2024: £76k). Giving Income includes all funding from the congregation and members and friends of St Peter’s in the form of standing orders, one-off gifts, regular collections, and related gift aid. This includes roughly £21k in legacies, which we have chosen to report separately due to their oneoff nature.
_Property Income_ in 2025 amounted to £100k (2024: £109k). This was a budget shortfall of £9k, due to no crypt rentals in the year.
_Grant Income_ in 2025 amounted to £52k (2024: £50k).
_Other Income_ in 2025 amounted to £5k (2024: £222k), with the difference vs last year mostly attributable to the unusual amount we received last year from our insurance company in relation to the ceiling collapse of 2022 and subsequent destruction of the church organ. This includes weddings and space rentals.
Overall, St Peter’s received **£243k** (down from £458k in 2024). Much of this difference was due to an outsized amount of money coming from insurance payments in 2024 due to the damage to our organ - £216k came from insurance, whereas in 2024 **£242k** came from regular sources of income. In real terms, our income remained steady (£243k vs £242k)..
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## _**2025 Expenditure**_
All expenditure aims to support our mission as a church. Expenditure during the year was unusually high, due to approximately £83k spent on the removal and renovation of the organ space and associated works to do with the ceiling collapse of 2022. This was fully funded by the insurance payments.
Over the course of the year:-
_Ministry expenses_ (including clergy, staff, retreat and event expenses) were **£129k** (2024: £118k).
_Gift expenditure_ (commonly referred to as the Parish Share or Common Fund) rose to **£71k** , a significant rise from recent years (2024: £58k; 2023: £53k; 2022: £30k).
_Property-related expenditure_ including church maintenance, utilities and insurance - including the above-mentioned £83k on organ works - was **£139k** total (2024: £55k, 2023: £52k).
Other costs such as payroll, audit and back office expenses came to **£16k.**
Overall St Peter’s spent **£263k** in 2025 on normal activities excluding major property repairs (2024: £252k; 2023: £632k) and **£356k** in total.
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## _**2026 Plans**_
The 2026 budget requires the expenditure on activities and ministries of St Peter’s should be wholly covered by the cash received. The budget will be reviewed regularly by the Finance Working Group.
## _2026 Income_
The PCC’s regular income budget forecasts an increase in regular and one-off giving, with a target of £80k.
_Property income_ is forecast at £110k from Kido’s lease of our church hall.
The budget for _grant income_ was set at £48k, which we hope to over-achieve; this grant income only accounts for grants we are aware we will receive.
We also set a more ambitious target for _other income_ of £25k. This is forecast to come from monetising our car park and collaborating more closely with the Organ Factory for space rentals, as well as continuing to expand the number of people using space in the church on a weekly basis.
## _2026 Expenditure_
We plan to increase our _away giving_ for the third year in a row by increasing our Common Fund to £76,500 (2025: £71k; 2024: £58k). The Common Fund is the name given to the contribution made by each parish in the Diocese to support the costs of the parish clergy, clergy accommodation, clergy-in-training, and other Diocesan functions such as safeguarding. In years past, our Common Fund contribution was significantly below the level set for each parish by the Diocese, but our ability to now “pay for our plate” is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the St Peter’s community.
_Staffing_ costs were expected to rise slightly with the increase in the London Living Wage impacting most of our staff, as well as our expanded commitments to a larger staff with regards to pensions and national insurance.
## _Church restoration costs_
Depending on the success of capital fundraising, urgent capital repairs are being actively considered to the tower stonework and many other areas of the main church building. Contractors completed the removal of the organ in 2025 and the renovation of the Old Vestry is planned to be completed in 2026 (covered by grant funding; see 4. Fabric).
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## 6. Policies and commitments
## _**PCC responsibilities in relation to the financial statements**_
The PCC is responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.
Charity law requires the PCC to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charity as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources for the financial year. In preparing for these financial statements, the PCC are required to:
- Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently
- Observe the methods and principles in SORP (the Statement of Recommended Practices for Charities)
- Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and,
- Prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation
The PCC is responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
## _**Policy on reserves**_
The PCC has determined the charity should aim to hold free reserves (which the trustees define as being unrestricted net current assets less creditors falling due after one year) of no less than £58k i.e. no less than 3 months of budgeted operational expenditure.
Reserves are continually reviewed by the Finance Working Group and the 2026 budget aims to keep the level of reserves as close to the policy as possible, whilst trying to increase Common Fund contributions, as well as necessarily increasing ministry costs.
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At year end, the PCC held free reserves in compliance with its reserves policy.
## _**Risk Assessment and Mitigation**_
The financial risks which the church faces are regularly considered by the Finance Working Group. Measures are proposed by the Finance Working Group and implemented by the PCC or staff team to ensure that appropriate financial systems, policies and procedures are in place to manage and mitigate financial risks. As an organisation with a relatively low level of reserves, we manage financial risk with strong financial systems and controls. As a matter of general policy, independent professional advice is taken where appropriate.
Most cash is held by the charity in a bank current account so it is readily accessible, less the rent deposit for our Mission Hall tenant, which is held in a separate, with notice, deposit account.
## _**Health and Safety and Employment Law Policy**_
In 2025, the church employed staff, and the premises were in regular use by various groups and members of our congregation, which include children and vulnerable adults. Employment law, health and safety and safeguarding measures are adhered to, and assistance in these matters is sought from the Diocese of London and independent professional advisers.
## _**Net Zero Commitment**_
St Peter’s encourages the adoption of sustainable practice in all areas of church life - we have undertaken energy audits, recycling programmes and we encourage the use of public transport by our clergy and staff. We are committed to the national church’s Net Zero Carbon mission.
This report was approved by the PCC and signed on their behalf by:
J.Martin J.Martin (Jun 25, 2026 20:01:08 GMT+1) Jessica Martin, Churchwarden PsfCook PsfCook (Jun 25, 2026 19:44:09 GMT+1) Philippa Cook, Priest-in-Charge
Jun 25, 2026 Date Jun 25, 2026 Date
Page 20
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF**
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN ('the Charity')**
I report to the members of the PCC (who are also the charity's trustees) on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2025 on pages 22 to 32 following, which have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out on pages 24 to 26.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As members of the PCC 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 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 Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. 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.
## Nicola Harrison
Nicola Harrison (Jun 30, 2026 15:30:35 GMT+1)
Nicola Harrison CA Stewardship 1 Lamb's Passage London EC1Y 8AB
## Jun 30, 2026
Page 21
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
Investments: bank interest
Other income: proceeds of insurance claim
**Total income and endowments**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities
6
Raising funds
7
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
14
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
14|Unrestricted
Funds
£
86,339
4,946
100,000
460
-
191,745
305,205
1,500
306,705
(114,960)
-
(114,960)
317,451
202,491|Restricted
Funds
£
51,498
-
-
-
-
51,498
49,239
-
49,239
2,259
-
2,259
972,854
975,113|Total
Funds
2025
£
137,837
4,946
100,000
460
-
243,243
354,444
1,500
355,944
(112,701)
-
(112,701)
1,290,305
1,177,604|Total
Funds
2024
£
126,851
6,528
109,000
-
215,559|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||457,938|
|||||246,084
6,088|
|||||252,172|
||||||
|||||205,766
-|
|||||205,766
1,084,539|
|||||1,290,305|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing operations.
The notes on pages 24 to 31 form part of these accounts.
Page 22
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Note
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
9
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
11
**CREDITORS: Amounts falling**
**due within one year**
12
**Net current assets / (liabilities)**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
**FUND BALANCES**
Unrestricted Funds
Restricted Funds
14|Unrestricted
Funds
£
3,299
3,299
14,747
259,493
274,240
(75,048)
199,192
202,491
202,491
-
202,491|Restricted
Funds
£
970,000
970,000
-
5,113
5,113
-
5,113
975,113
-
975,113
975,113|Total
Funds
2025
£
973,299
973,299
14,747
264,606
279,353
(75,048)
204,305
1,177,604
202,491
975,113
1,177,604|Total
Funds
2024
£
975,044|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||975,044|
|||||209,136
152,153|
|||||361,289
(46,028)|
|||||315,261|
||||||
|||||1,290,305|
|||||317,451
972,854|
|||||1,290,305|
The financial statements were approved by the members of the PCC and were signed on its behalf by:
PsfCook ---------------------------------------PsfCook (Jun 25, 2026 19:44:09 GMT+1) ---------------------------------------Jun 25, 2026 Rev Philippa Cook Date Charity number: 1154668
The notes on pages 24 to 31 form part of these accounts.
Page 23
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **1 Statutory Information**
The Parochial Church Council of St Peter with St Thomas, Bethnal Green is a charity registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales. The charity's registered number and principal address can be found on the Charity Information page.
## **2 Accounting Policies**
These financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention. The financial statements include all activities for which the PCC is legally responsible; the activities of informal gatherings of church members and groups that owe their main affiliation to another body and are excluded.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with The Church Accounting Regulations 2006, the 'Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)' ("the Charities SORP"), with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland ("FRS 102") and with the Charities Act 2011. The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as set out in FRS 102.
The Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (the '2008 Regulations') requires charities to prepare their accounts in accordance with 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005' but this accounting standard has since been withdrawn and has been replaced by the Charities SORP mentioned in the preceding paragraph. The charity has prepared these financial statements in accordance with the new Charities SORP; this departure from the 2008 Regulations is believed to be necessary for these financial statements to give a 'true and fair view'.
The principles adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below.
## a) Going concern
The PCC have assessed whether the use of the going concern basis is appropriate and have considered possible events or conditions that might cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The PCC have made this assessment for a period of at least one year from the date of approval of the financial statements. In particular the PCC have considered the charity's forecasts and projections and the possible implications should projected income and / or expenditure vary unexpectedly. The PCC have concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.
## b) Income
Income (which includes planned giving, collections and other donations) is recognised in the period in which the charity becomes entitled to receipt, the amount receivable can be measured with reasonable certainty, and receipt is probable. For the most part income is generally recognised when it is received by, or on behalf of, the PCC. Income is only deferred when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period.
Income from donations and legacies includes recoverable gift aid, which is recognised when the related donation is received. Gift aid that has not been recovered by the balance sheet date is included as a debtor.
The charity relies on volunteers to carry out many of its activities. However, in accordance with the SORP, the value of these services has not been included in these financial statements as they cannot be reliably measured.
Income from charitable activities represents income receivable from goods, services and facilities supplied in furtherance of the charity's charitable objects. It includes income from weddings and funerals, from church events and courses and for letting facilities to the local community.
Income from other trading activities represents income receivable from activities undertaken to generate funds for the charity and comprises income receiveable from letting property.
Other income comprises income receivable from insurance claims and comprises claims approved by insurance companies by the year end. Any unpaid claims that have been approved by the year end are recognised as debtors in the accounts.
The charity has taken the view that it has only one charitable activity, namely the advancement of the Christian faith, and all income from donations, legacies and charitable activities is in respect of this one activity.
Page 24
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## c) Expenditure
- Expenditure, including irrecoverable VAT, is recognised when it is incurred or, if earlier, when a legal or constructive obligation for a payment arises provided that it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Contributions in respect of the diocesan parish quota are included in the Statement of Financial Activities for all amounts agreed to being payable for the financial year. Any contributions that have not been paid over by the year end are included as a creditor.
The charity makes grants to other institutions and individuals to further its charitable objectives. Grants payable are recognised as constructive obligations arise, which is generally when the charity expresses a commitment to the recipient that can be measured reliably and then only to the extent that any conditions associated with the grant are outside of the control of the charity.
Expenditure on raising funds comprises expenditure incurred in respect of the charity's property letting income and time spent by staff on generating grant income.
## c) Expenditure continued
Governance costs, which are included in expenditure on charitable activities but are identified separately in the notes to the accounts, includes costs associated with the independent examination of the financial statements, compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements and any other expenditure incurred on the strategic management of the charity.
The Charities SORP requires charities with income over £500,000 to allocate costs to the various activities undertaken by the charity. The nature of the work of the church is considered to be so integrated that the core charitable activity costs are considered to be for the one activity.
## d) Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the PCC in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Restricted funds are donations which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors; they include donations received from appeals for specific activities or projects.
## e) Tangible fixed assets
- Consecrated and beneficed property is not included in these financial statements by virtue of s.10(2) of the Charities Act 2011. All expenditure on consecrated or beneficed buildings is written off in the year in which it is incurred.
Movable church furnishings held by the incumbent and Churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal are capitalised in accordance with the policy set out below. These items are regarded as inalienable property and are listed in the church's inventory which can be inspected at any reasonable time. Inalienable property acquired prior to 2010 has not been capitalised as there is insufficient cost information available.
Items purchased or donated for the charity's own use are capitalised when the cost of purchased items, or the fair value of donated items, is more than £500 and the item is expected to benefit the charity over more than one accounting period. Depreciation is charged on a straight line basis so as to write down the value of each asset to its estimated residual value (if any) over its expected useful economic life. To achieve this objective the following rates of depreciation are charged:
Freehold land Is not depreciated (because it is not consumed by use) Freehold buildings Over 50 years after taking account of the building's residual value Equipment Over 3 to 7 years
The trustees used an insurance valuation to help estimate the market value of the charity's freehold property on 1 January 2014 (being the date of transition to FRS102) and, as permitted by FRS102, its estimated market value on that date has been treated as being the property's deemed cost. The members of the PCC consider the residual value of the freehold building to be very high and believe that any provision for depreciation would not be material; consequently no depreciation has been charged in these accounts
The carrying values of tangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment in periods when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.
## f) Leased assets
Leases which do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the charity are classified as operating leases. Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term (unless another systematic basis is more representative of use).
Page 25
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## g) Pension scheme arrangements
The charity operates defined contribution pension schemes for its employees. Obligations for contributions to these schemes are recognised as an expense when the liability arises. The assets of these schemes are held separately from those of the charity in independently administered funds.
## h) Taxation
- The charity has taken advantage of the various reliefs from taxation available to charities and no tax is payable on the charity's income.
- i) Financial instruments The charity's financial assets and financial liabilities all qualify as basic financial instruments, as defined by FRS102. Except for loans, basic financial instruments (which includes cash, debtors and creditors) are measured initially at transaction value and subsequently measured at their expected settlement value (normally the amount of cash that the charity expects to pay or receive). The charity recognises liabilities for loans at amortised cost using the effective interest method (i.e. it excludes any interest that may be charged on the loans in future years).
## j) Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement
- The members of the PCC do not consider that there are any material sources of estimation or uncertainty at the balance sheet date that could result in a material adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities in the next reporting period.
- **3 Donations and legacies**
|Donations
Legacies
Gift aid recoverable
Grants:
from Henry Fawcett Fund
from Diocese
from others
**me from charitable activities**
Fees for weddings, funerals etc
Retreats and events
Letting facilities for community benefit
**me from other trading activities**
Church hall lettings
Crypt lettings|2025
£
61,202
21,209
3,678
86,089
17,461
1,800
32,487
51,748
137,837
2025
£
1,732
-
3,214
4,946
2025
£
100,000
-
100,000|2024
£
69,132
-
7,087|
|---|---|---|
|||76,219|
|||20,418
-
30,214|
|||50,632|
|||126,851|
|||2024
£
1,778
1,010
3,740|
|||6,528|
|||2024
£
100,000
9,000|
|||109,000|
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
## **5 Income from other trading activities**
Page 26
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **6 Charitable expenditure**
|Ministry expenses
Diocesan parish quota - common fund
Diocesan service fees
Clergy accommmodation and contribution to clergy stipend
Staff costs
Ministry expenses
Retreats and events
Church running costs
Property expenses including cleaning and minor repairs
Insurance
Office expenses
Governance costs
Independent examiner's fee for preparing and examining the accounts
Depreciation
Major property repairs
Church building
Grants payable (note 6b)|2025
£
71,000
-
41,835
60,944
23,938
2,721
200,438
40,627
5,871
9,271
3,350
1,745
60,864
92,606
536
354,444|2024
£
58,432
679
47,914
40,546
26,003
2,649|
|---|---|---|
|||176,223|
|||50,476
4,822
8,544
3,030
1,249|
|||68,121|
|||-
1,740|
|||246,084|
The fee payable to the independent examiner for preparing and examining the accounts was £3,150 (2024: £3,030).
## **6b Grants payable**
|Grants for the relief of poverty
Grants for the relief of poverty
**of raising funds**
Staff costs
Legal and professional fees|Institutions
£
499
499
Institutions
£
338
338|Individuals
£
37
37
Individuals
£
1,403
1,403
2025
£
-
1,500
1,500|2025
£
536|
|---|---|---|---|
||||536|
||||2024
£
1,740|
||||1,740|
||||2024
£
4,588
1,500|
||||6,088|
## **7 Cost of raising funds**
Page 27
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **8 Analysis of staff costs, the cost of key management personnel and trustee remuneration**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was 4 (2024: 2). Most of the charity's activities are carried out by volunteers. No staff received salaries at a rate of more than £60,000 per annum.
Rev. Philippa Cook, Rev'd Alison Mulroy and Rev'd Luke Smith are clergy members of the PCC. They receive a stipend from the Diocese and they are not employed by the PCC. Some of the Parish Quota paid by the PCC is used to help meet the cost of their stipends. In addition the PCC paid:
- a) £Nil (2024: £12,969) towards the cost of accommodation provided to Rev. Philippa Cook by the Diocese.
- b) £7,440 (2024: £5,448) for the provision of accommodation to Rev'd Alison Mulroy. In addition the PCC directly contributed 7,245 (2024: £7,828) toward the cost of her stipend.
- c) £23,820 (2024: £23,820) for the provision of accommodation to Rev'd Luke Smith.
No member of the PCC received employment benefits in either the current or preceding year.
## **9 Tangible fixed assets**
|Cost
At 1 January 2025
Additions
Disposals
At 31 December 2025
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2025
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At 31 December 2025
Net book value
At 31 December 2025
At 31 December 2024|Freehold
Property
£
970,000
-
-
970,000
-
-
-
970,000
970,000|Worship
and Office
Equipment
£
10,281
-
-
10,281
5,237
1,745
-
6,982
3,299
5,044|Total
2025
£
980,281
-
-|
|---|---|---|---|
||||980,281|
||||5,237
1,745
-|
||||6,982|
||||973,299|
||||975,044|
Freehold property comprises the church hall at Warner Place.
## **10 Debtors**
|Gift aid recoverable
Lettings and event income receivable
Prepaid expenditure
Insurance claims receivable|2025
£
2,024
4,113
8,610
-
14,747|2024
£
2,088
3,879
10,110
193,059|
|---|---|---|
|||209,136|
Page 28
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **11 Cash at Bank and in Hand**
|**h at Bank and in Hand**|||
|---|---|---|
|Cash at bank with immediate access
Notice deposits
Petty cash
**itors: liabilities falling due within one year**
Trade creditors
Common Fund payable
Other creditors
Accrued expenses
Tenant deposit
Loan from Diocese|2025
£
238,072
26,504
30
264,606
2025
£
11,744
17,973
3,376
5,078
26,044
10,833
75,048|2024
£
126,079
26,044
30|
|||152,153|
|||2024
£
-
-
6,121
3,030
26,044
10,833|
|||46,028|
## **12 Creditors: liabilities falling due within one year**
During the 2023 the PCC received a loan of £20,000 from the Diocese to help meet the cost of repairs to the nave ceiling. The loan is interest free and due to be repaid by 31 December 2025, however due to an administrative error the monthly repayments were stopped. The church plans to pay off the loan as soon as it is able to do so.
## **13 Pension commitments**
During the year employer’s pension contributions totalling £2,088 (2024: £1,674) were payable to defined contribution personal pension schemes. Contributions of £645 were owed at the balance sheet date (2024: £251).
## **14 Restricted funds**
During the year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
|Church Hall fund
Organ fund
Staff fund
Clergy fund
Repair fund
Vicar's Discretionary fund
Youth fund|Opening
balance
2025
£
970,000
549
-
655
-
1,256
394
972,854|Incoming
resources
2025
£
-
-
14,606
32,929
1,800
2,163
-
51,498|Outgoing
resources
2025
£
-
-
(14,606)
(30,897)
(1,800)
(1,677)
(259)
(49,239)|Transfers
in the year
2025
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Closing
balance
2025
£
970,000
549
-
2,687
-
1,742
135|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||975,113|
Page 29
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **14 Restricted funds continued**
## **Analysis of net assets by fund**
The assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
|Tangible fixed assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors falling due within one year
Creditors falling due after one year
e previous year the movements in the charity's funds
Church Hall fund
Organ fund
Staff fund
Clergy fund
Repair fund
Vicar's Discretionary fund
Youth fund|were as follows:
Opening
Incoming
balance
resources
2024
2024
£
£
970,000
-
549
-
-
7,898
655
35,222
-
8,000
1,256
6,567
944
973,404
57,687|Unrestricted
funds
£
3,299
14,747
259,493
(75,048)
-
202,491
Outgoing
resources
2024
£
-
-
(7,898)
(35,222)
(8,000)
(6,567)
(550)
(58,237)|Restricted
funds
£
970,000
-
5,113
-
-
975,113
Transfers
in the year
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|2025
£
973,299
14,747
264,606
(75,048)
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,177,604|
|||||Closing
balance
2024
£
970,000
549
-
655
-
1,256
394|
|||||972,854|
In the previous year the movements in the charity's funds were as follows:
## **Analysis of net assets by fund**
In the previous year, the assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:
|**ysis of net assets by fund**
e previous year, the assets and liabilities of the various funds were as follows:||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Tangible fixed assets
Debtors
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors falling due within one year
Creditors falling due after one year|Unrestricted
funds
£
5,044
209,136
149,299
(45,195)
(833)
317,451|Restricted
funds
£
970,000
-
2,854
-
-
972,854|2024
£
975,044
209,136
152,153
(45,195)
(833)|
||||1,290,305|
## Information about the charity's restricted funds:
The **Church Hall** fund is in respect of the church hall at Warner Place. The custodian trustee is the London Diocesan Fund and the PCC cannot sell the property without the consent of the London Diocesan Fund.
The **Organ** fund was created from grants and donations received for the church organ.
The **Staff** fund was created from grants received to help meet the cost of employing staff.
The **Clergy** fund was created from grants received to help meet the cost of providing accommodation to clergy and the cost of making contributions to the Diocese in respect of the stipend they receive from the Diocese.
The **Repair** fund was created from grants received to help meet the cost of repairs to the church building.
The **Vicar's Discretionary** fund was created from grants received for discretionary use by the Vicar.
The **Youth** fund was created by donations received to help meet the cost of the PCC's work with children and young people.
Page 30
## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **15 Operating lease income**
The charity has granted a lease to a nursery provider that gives them exclusive use of the church hall at Warner Place. The minimum amounts receivable (until the next break clause and ignoring the potential effect of future rent reviews and any unforeseen events that could result in early termination) in respect of this lease is as follows:
|unforeseen events that could result in early termination) in respect of this lease is as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
|Within one year
Between one and five years
After five years
Income falling due:|2025
£
100,000
341,667
-
441,667|2024
£
100,000
400,000
41,667|
|||541,667|
**16** The charity has an operating lease for rented accommodation provided to clergy. The minimum amount payable in respect of this lease is as follows:
|lease is as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
|Within one year
Between one and five years
Payments falling due:|2025
£
11,910
-
11,910|2024
£
23,820
11,910|
|||35,730|
During the year the charity was charged £23,820 (2024: £23,820) for its operating lease.
## **17 Other relevant financial information**
The PCC pursued insurance claims for the replacement of contents that were contaminated by asbestos and had to be destroyed and for the decontamination from asbestos of the church organ. Insurance proceeds of £Nil (2024: £215,559) have been recognised in the accounts. The proceeds the proceeds from the insurance claims will be used to replace contents and decontaminate the organ.
During 2023 the PCC was awarded a grant of £45,000 by Tower Hamlets Council for projects that would reduce the charity's carbon footprint. The charity is currently attempting to secure further funding to undertake these project and it hoped that the PCC will be in a position to be able to claim the grant before the end of 2026.
## **18 Transactions with related parties**
During the year the PCC received grants totalling £17,461 (2024: £21,381) from the Henry Fawcett Fund, a registered charity established for the relief of poverty in the parish. The vicar and the PCC’s two church wardens serve as trustees of the Henry Fawcett Fund and the Henry Fawcett Fund is regarded as being a related party.
- During the year the charity : a) received donations totalling £10,296 (2024: £17,055) from related parties (which includes members of the PCC, any other members of key management and anyone closely connected to them).
- b) paid employment benefits totalling £Nil (2024: £41,395) to a person closely related to Anne Bishop, whilst she was a trustee. Except for the reimbursement of expenses incurred when acting as agent for the charity, or incurred when undertaking duties associated with serving as clergy, no expenses were paid to (or for) members of the PCC.
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## **ST PETER'S BETHNAL GREEN**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES WITH COMPARATIVES**
## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
|Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
Other income
**Total income and endowments**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Charitable activities:
6
Raising funds
7
**Total Expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
14
**Net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**Total funds carried forward**
14||Unrestricted
Funds
2025
£
86,339
4,946
100,000
-
191,745
305,205
1,500
306,705
(114,960)
-
(114,960)
317,451
202,491|Restricted
Funds
2025
£
51,498
-
-
-
51,498
49,239
-
49,239
2,259
-
2,259
972,854
975,113|Total
2025
£
137,837
4,946
100,000
-
243,243
354,444
1,500
355,944
(112,701)
-
(112,701)
1,290,305
1,177,604|||Unrestricted
Funds
2024
£
69,164
6,528
109,000
215,559
400,251
187,847
6,088
193,935
206,316
-
206,316
111,135
317,451|Restricted
Funds
2024
£
57,687
-
-
-
57,687
58,237
-
58,237
(550)
-
(550)
973,404
972,854|Total
2024
£
126,851
6,528
109,000
215,559
457,938
246,084
6,088
252,172
205,766
-
205,766
1,084,539
1,290,305|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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