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2025-12-31-accounts

THE PARISH OF UPPER COQUETDALE PARISH OF UPPER COQUETDALE APCM 29[th] APRIL 2026

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL 2025

The PCC is the governing body of the Parish of Upper Coquetdale, a United Benefice and Parish with 6 churches, 1 PCC and 3 DCC’s in rural north Northumberland.

The parish is currently in vacancy. A strong sub-committee led by the Vice Chair, John Farndale has ensured that services in all six churches across the parish were led by a number of visiting and retired clergy from the locality and lay preachers from the parish.

During the year we were pleased to have Rev’d Dr Ric Whaite attend our APCM and our subsequent 3 meetings. At the APCM he discussed the Year of Seeking, the first of a three-year diocesan wide exploration of mission and turning outwards – Seeking, Sharing, Sending. In June Ric encouraged us to look at the next chapter in Upper Coquetdale and to notice God in our own context and our own lives. The themes in September and December were more discussion based on where we were noticing and encountering God in our own lives and how we receive consolation. The PCC have appreciated Ric’s thoughts and guidance.

The PCC warmly welcomed the news that Sandy Macaulay was applying for Reader Training and offered him their full support and best wishes.

In August we received a weekend visit to the parish from Rev’d Canon Thomas Woodhouse, Chaplain, The King’s Chapel of the Savoy within the Duchy of Lancaster, Chaplain of the Royal Victorian Order and Deputy Priest-in-Ordinary to H.M The King. It was a busy weekend which encompassed visits and tours of the parish and the monthly coffee morning on Saturday 9[th] . Rev’d Thomas presided at the service on Sunday 10[th] , followed by light refreshments and a chance to meet more of the parishioners afterwards.

In December all 6 Anglican churches in the parish came together for a Bishop’s Service at All Saints Rothbury with Bishop Helen Ann of the Diocese of Newcastle presiding. We were very pleased to welcome Bishop Helen Ann and enjoyed getting to know her after the service.

As a parish we continue to pray for a new Rector in the near future.

Toni Smith PCC secretary 29.03.26

St Michael and All Angels Alnham, St Michael and All Angels Alwinton, Christ Church Hepple, St Mary the Virgin Holystone, All Saints Rothbury, St Andrew Thropton

1

During the year, the following served as members of the Parochial Church Council

Rector Vacancy
Lay Ministers John Farndale Vice Chair
David Carey
Churchwardens Jackie Bickmore (to 10.12.25)
Sue Bowmer
Lesley Cowe
Marion Farndale
Helen Holmes
Christine Nicholson
Margaret Pope (to 24.09.25)
Electoral Roll Officer
Jenny Sordy
Julia Stott
Deputy Churchwardens 2 vacancies
Deanery Synod Reps Jeff Reynalds
Alison Ball
Sharon Graham
Lay Members Fiona Cowley
Gail Johnston Safeguarding Officer
Meron Marcyniuk
Richard Maudslay
Carol Milburn (co-opted)
Catherine Sillars
Toni Smith Secretary (from 9.11.25)
Joan Storey Data Protection Officer
2 vacancies
Officers not on PCC Chris Pope Treasurer
Adrienne Thunder Planned Giving Officer
Liz Cummings Eco Church Champion

St Michael and All Angels Alnham, St Michael and All Angels Alwinton, Christ Church Hepple, St Mary the Virgin Holystone, All Saints Rothbury, St Andrew Thropton

2

UPPER COQUETDALE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

TREASURER’S REPORT

Financial Review

At the end of the year the PCC Fund balance was £581.61, the Messy Church balance was £689.32, the Children and Young Persons Fund balance was £40.77, the Mission Fund balance was £2,000.00 and the other funds all had a balance of zero making a total of £3,311.70 for the Upper Coquetdale PCC accounts.

The Messy Church fund has been enhanced in 2025 by a donation of £150.00 from the Upper Coquetdale Churches Together (UCCT). A further £19.27 has been donated at the monthly sessions but £332.53 has been spent on various items for the sessions leaving a balance of £689.32 at the end of 2025.

Three claims have been made to the HMRC Charities in 2025 for Rothbury, Hepple & Thropton DCC for both Gift Aid and GASDS in April, August and December. Two claims have been made in 2025 for Alnham DCC - the first for the 2024 Gift Aid in January and the second for the 2024 GASDS in April. Three claims have been made in 2025 for Alwinton & Holystone DCC – the first for the 2023 Gift Aid in March, the second for the 2024 Gift Aid in March and the third for the 2023 and 2024 GASDS in April. HMRC Charities deposit all claims amounts into the Upper Coquetdale PCC bank account and then Adrienne Thunder (our PCC Planned Giving Officer) and I transfer the amount to the appropriate DCC bank account using the online bank transfer facility which requires two signatories to facilitate the transfer.

In 2025 we have received just one small donation of £20.00 through Just Giving for the Rothbury Roof Appeal which was received in September for Rothbury, Hepple & Thropton DCC.

The PCC Fund has received various donations totally £460.00 during 2025 but £150.00 has been spent on hiring the Hepple Village Hall and the Netherton War Memorial Hall for PCC meetings.

In September we received a donation of £1,600.00 specifically for Mission and a new Mission Fund has been created within the PCC accounts. A further £400.00 Gift Aid on the donation was claimed from the HMRC Charities in December giving a balance in the Mission Fund of £2,000.00 at the end of the year.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Adrienne Thunder (Upper Coquetdale PCC and Rothbury, Hepple & Thropton DCC Planned Giving Officer) for all the hard work she does on recording the Rothbury, Hepple & Thropton DCC donations and on submitting the Gift Aid and GASDS claims to the HMRC Charities on behalf of the three DCCs. My thanks go to John Farndale (Alwinton & Holystone DCC Treasurer) and to Meron Marcyniuk (Alnham DCC Treasurer) for all they do on their accounts during the year and for assisting in producing the combined parish accounts for 2025. Thank you also to Ian Friend (Alwinton & Holystone DCC Planned Giving Officer) for all he does in recording their donations.

Finally, 2026 will present its own financial challenges for the PCC and the three DCCs as we face increases in our electricity and gas bills, our churches’ insurances and paying the Parish Share to the Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance Limited but I feel sure that the congregations of the various churches will rise to the occasion and that we will be able to meet our expenditure in full.

Christopher Pope – Treasurer

29th April 2026 ....................................................... ......................................... …………………………….

Lay Vice Chair Treasurer Date Dr John Farndale Christopher Pope

3

UPPER COQUETDALE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Preparation

The Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis.

The accounts include the monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the Parochial Church Council can be held responsible. They do not include the accounts of other Church groups that owe an affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members.

Funds

General funds represent the funds of the Parochial Church Council that are not subject to any special restrictions regarding their use and are available for application to the general purposes of the Parochial Church Council. These include funds designated for a particular purpose by the Parochial Church Council.

Subject to the above, receipts and payments include income as received and expenditure when irrevocably paid.

Statement of Assets and Funds

4

UPPER COQUETDALE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Statement of financial activities PCC Messy
Church
RHT
DCC
A/H
DCC
Alnham
DCC
Children/
Youth
Mission
Fund
2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Incoming resources
HMRC GiftAid & GASDS - - 10,314.56 3,263.44 845.04 - 400.00 14,823.04 14,332.87
Just Giving Donations for Rothbury Roof Appeal - - 20.00 - - - - 20.00 1,504.09
Diocesan Board of FinanceLtd-VacancyRepayments - - - - - - - - 796.30
Donations to Upper Coquetdale PCC 460.00 - - - - - 1,600.00 2,060.00 -
Messy Church Donations - 150.00 - - - - - 150.00 300.00
Messy Church Collections - 19.27 - - - - - 19.27 76.75
Total incoming resources 460.00 169.27 10,334.56 3,263.44 845.04 0.00 2,000.00 17,072.31 17,010.01
Resources expended
Hire of Hepple Village Hall for PCC Meetings 60.00 - - - - - - 60.00 50.00
Hire ofNetherton Memorial Hall for PCCMeetings 90.00 - - - - - - 90.00 -
Transfers to Rothbury, Hepple & Thropton DCC - - 10,334.56 - - - - 10,334.56 15,838.04
Transfers toAlwinton&HolystoneDCC - - - 3,263.44 - - - 3,263.44 -
Transfers to Alnham DCC - - - - 845.04 - - 845.04 795.22
Messy Church Expenses - 332.53 - - - - - 332.53 365.34
Total outgoing resources 150.00 332.53 10,334.56 3,263.44 845.04 0.00 0.00 14,925.57 17,048.60
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources 310.00 (163.26) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,000.00 2,146.74 (38.59)
2024 Balances b/fwd 271.61 852.58 0.00 0.00 0.00 40.77 0.00 1,164.96 1,203.55
Net incoming/(outgoing) resources in 2025 310.00 (163.26) 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,000.00 2,146.74 (38.59)
Cash in Bank as at 31st December 2025 581.61 689.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 40.77 2,000.00 3,311.70 1,164.96

5

UPPER COQUETDALE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES 31 DECEMBER 2025

Current assets
Cash at bank
Funds
PCC
Messy Church
Children & Young Persons
Rector’s Leaving Gift
Rothbury, Hepple & Thropton DCC
Alnham DCC
Alwinton & Holystone DCC
Mission Fund
2025
£
3,311.70
581.61
689.32
40.77
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
2,000.00
3,311.70 1
2024
£
1,164.96
271.61
852.58
40.77
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
,164.96

Accounting policies

The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention on a receipts and payment basis.

6

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE UPPER COQUETDALE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

I report to the members (who are also the trustees) on the accounts of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 3 - 4.

Respective responsibilities of members and examiner

As the Trustees of the Charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the Charity'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 2011 Act.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report

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 that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 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 Church accounting regulations and 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.

This report is made solely to the Charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and the Charity's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

J Routledge FCA Ryecroft Glenton 32 Portland Terrace Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1QP April 2026

7

PARISH OF UPPER COQUETDALE - FINANCIAL SUMMARY YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2025

R/H/T
2024
2025

GENERAL FUND
£
£
Income
Planned Giving
35,984
36,081
Gift Aided Giving Non-Regular
652
882
HMRC Gift Aid/GASDS
10,075
9,436
Rent and Service Fees
2,576
5,007
Fundraising
8,020
8,644
Plate Collections
4,666
3,948
Donations
903
1,481
Grants/Legacies/Misc/Charity Collections
0
0
Investment Income
1,085
1,352
Total Income
63,961
66,831
Payments
Cost of Generating Funds
990
1,050
Charitable Donations
0
0
Church Running Costs
57,391
60,926
Parish Administration
667
1,414
Total Payments
59,048
63,390
Investments Gain/Loss
178
-389
Surplus/Deficit
4,913
3,441
GENERAL FUND BALANCE
47,841
50,968
- includes Cannon Morton Bequest and Cardstall Fund
ALL FUNDS
Total Assets
138,472
148,191
Regular income as a % of running costs
50,347 = 83%*
A/H
2024
£
7,003
335
0
0
6,497
2,692
2,830
0
525
19,882
0
0
13,103
696
13,799
761
6,083
25,621
53,790
Aln
UCP
2025
2024
2025
2024
£
£
£
£
8,209
1,416
1,408
44,403
1,245
0
0
987
3,263
795
845
10,870
770
944
797
3,520
6,283
3,366
2,556
17,883
3,384
2,238
1,529
9,596
2,146
1,451
819
5,184
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,610
25,300
10,210
7,954
94,053

0
658
141
1,648
0
0
0
0
17,647
6,675
5,470
77,169
519
20
90
1,383
18,166
7,353
5,701
80,200
299
0
0
939
7,134
2.857
2.253
13,853
33,054
4,243
6,496
77,705
65,940
32,056
36,950
224,318

16,101 = 91%
3,782 = 69%
2025
£
45,698
2,127
13,544
6,574
17,483
8,861
4,446
0
1,352
100,085
1,191
0
84,043
2,023
87,257
-90
12,828
90,518
251,081

8

Restricted Funds:

Hepple Restoration Fund balance now £14,458 R/H/T Organ Fund balance now £9,899 Holystone Restoration Fund balance now £13,895 A/H Charity Fund balance now £15 A/H Churchyard Fund balance now £10,996 Alwinton Heating Fund balance now £6,839 A/H Fabric Fund balance now £890 A/H Youth Fund balance now £252

NB - figures may not total exactly due to rounding

Key to Abbreviations: R/H/T - Rothbury, Hepple and Thropton District A/H - Alwinton and Holystone District Aln - Alnham District UCP - Upper Coquetdale Parish ,

Thropton Fabric Fund balance now £1,363 Rothbury Fabric Fund balance now £23,666 R/H/T Young People Fund balance now £916 Hepple Churchyard Fund balance now £0 Hepple Tree & Grass Fund balance now £2,835 R/H/T Parish Hall Fund balance now £15,504 R/H/T Wright Memorial Fund balance now £2,859 R/H/T Topping Memorial Fund balance now £674 R/H/T Donkin Bequest balance now £2,323 Rothbury Emergency Fund balance now £198 Rothbury Churchyard Fund balance now £80 Rothbury Coffee Fund balance now £4,102 Rothbury Refurbishment Fund balance now £11,382 Keith Moodie Bequest balance is now £5,228 Alnham Restoration Fund balance now £12,477 Alnham Fabric Fund balance now £17,977 Sequestration Fund balance now £388

Designated Funds:

R/H/T Hardship Fund balance now £1,348 R/H/T Cardstall Fund balance now £3,808

9

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL OF ROTHBURY HEPPLE AND THROPTON

TREASURER’S REPORT 2025

FINANCIAL REVIEW

We commenced 2025 with an operating balance of £16,511.53 for the General Fund in the Lloyds current bank account, Barclays RHT DCC bank account, the CBF Deposit Fund account and cash in hand which included the December 2024 collection, planned giving and donations and we commence 2026 with a balance of £19,885.07 for the General Fund in the Lloyds current bank account, the CBF Deposit Fund account and cash in hand which includes the plate collections, planned giving and donations given during December 2025 but excludes the £67.77 which the General Reserve Fund has loaned to the Hepple Churchyard Fund in December 2025.

The 2025 figures for the General Fund Receipts and Payments Account show we have a surplus of £3,441.31 which means we have received more income than we have spent on expenditure for the General Fund.

Our offer of Parish Share for 2025 to the Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd was £35,000. This was paid in full during the course of the year and was completed in the middle of December 2025 with a final payment of £1,400 all from General Fund income

Planned Giving was slightly lower than anticipated and was £119 below the 2025 budget figure due to the loss of two of our regular donors. However, Non-Regular Gift Aided giving has seen an increase of £230 in comparison with the 2024 figure. The generosity of our regular givers is paramount to our main source of income. Plate collections have decreased this year by £718 on the 2024 figure and, although welcome, this income is unplanned and cannot be relied upon. There has been a downward trend in plate collections which is partly due to the fact that less and less people are now carrying cash but in 2025 was also due to the fact that the plate collection at the Crib Service was split between the General Fund and the Rothbury Foodbank. The General Fund received £174.74 compared to the £226.16 it received in 2024. Donors are to be encouraged to give regularly through Planned Giving, to enable us to budget effectively. We now offer both our own in-house Planned Giving scheme and the Parish Giving Scheme.

The Parish would not be able to function without donations received throughout the year. These make up a sizable proportion of our income. The Votive Candle Stand and Wall Safe both make significant contributions to income with the Wall Safe showing an increase on the 2024 figure and the Votive Candle Stand is also showing an increase on the 2024 figure.

Fundraising activity for the General Fund, which is another essential source of income, commenced in January 2025 with the 100 Club renewal followed by a second 100 Club renewal in June 2025. We have raised the total of £2,012.00 during the year from the 100 Club. The Produce Stall run by Carol Milburn started again at the beginning of February and ran each month up to November with the exception of April and has raised a total of £1,070.00. In May members of the three churches ran a stall at the Hexham Car Boot sale which raised £154.00 for the General Fund and £154.00 for the Hepple Tree & Grass Fund. During 2025 Joan Storey ran a “Gladrags” event over three days which raised a total of £1,042.38 for the General Fund and further £145.57 for the Hepple Tree & Grass Fund through the sale of clothes using Vinted. The monthly Coffee Morning and Stalls events organised by Kathryn Reynalds were held in All Saints Church between January and December with the exception of August and raised a total of £4,365.44. Kathryn also ran a series of Hall Warm Hub Friday morning coffee and chat events during January and February which raised a total of £32.05 from donations and is recorded under Church Hall Donations. In May, the Coquetdale Chamber Choir gave a concert in All Saints Church which raised £217.00 for the Rothbury Fabric Fund. In August, a Tea Party was held in Fiona Cowley’s garden which raised £405.00 for the Thropton Fabric Fund.

The Parish Hall has received into the General Fund an income of £2,357.05 in rent, donations and gift aid against a total expenditure of £3,164.40 meaning that the Parish Hall account has ended 2025 with a deficit of £807.35. Our main regular group, Judali Yoga use the hall three times a week. The Whitton & Tosson Parish Council also holds its bimonthly meetings in the hall, Anthea Wilbie-Chalk has a Discussion Group twice a month and Kathryn Reynalds, our Hall Bookings Secretary, has also seen an increase in other groups enquiring about and using the hall on a regular basis. The hall is also used by various church and community groups for which no charge is made and, had the normal charge of £8.00 per hour been applied to all the ‘free’ bookings, this would have given us a further £1,228.00 in income which would have meant that for 2025 the hall was showing a surplus. Messy Church meets on a monthly basis using all the hall rooms but as this is effectively their church premises no charge is made and these sessions have not been included in the £1,228.00.

10

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL OF ROTHBURY HEPPLE AND THROPTON

The Parish Hall Fund has received £793.20 in quarterly shared interest in 2025. From the fund the total expenditure for 2025 is £2,828.29 which includes £148.00 for repairs to the slate roof, £653.76 for a new external security light and new sockets, £1,787.00 for replacement guttering and £239.53 for a television and associated cabling.

The Card Stall which Alison Ball is now running also continues to provide an important source of income which enabled the purchase of the three Royal British Legion Poppy Wreathes, one for the VJ 2025 Remembrance, one for the 2025 Remembrance Sunday and one for the 2026 Remembrance Sunday. Seventy copies of the Nicene Creed were also purchased at a cost of £245.00.

From the Rothbury Book Box we have received £202.10 in donations in 2025 for the Rothbury Fabric Fund. The Book Stall is run by Margaret Pope.

St Andrew’s Church, Thropton has had grass cutting carried out at a cost of £325.00, the fire extinguishers have been tested and one replaced at a total cost of £168.60 and the 5-year electrical testing has been carried out at a cost of £330.00. These items have been financed from the General Fund. The Thropton Fabric Fund has received a total of £62.22 in quarterly shared interest during 2025, £600.00 in donations including £50.00 from TRUST130 for a personal insurance policy being taken out with Ecclesiastical Insurance, £137.50 in Gift Aid on the donations and £405.00 from a Tea Party in August. Ecclesiastical Insurance have paid out £453.20 on a storm damage claim. From the Thropton Fabric Fund £443.85 has been paid for painting the church and £651.60 has been paid for quinquennial work. The fund has a balance of £1,363.51 at the end of 2025.

Christ Church Hepple has had its fire extinguishers tested and one replaced at a total cost of £178.20, the 5-year electrical testing has been carried out at a cost of £330.00 and grass cutting and strimming has cost £841.50 in 2025 which have all been paid for from the General Fund.

The Hepple Tree and Grass Fund which is used for the maintenance of the existing Hepple churchyard has received £100.00 in donations, £219.00 in donations from a baptism, £71.67 in Gift Aid and GASDS, £102.73 in shared interest, £33.00 in the Honesty Jar and £25.10 from the sale of jam. There has been no expenditure from this fund during 2025 and has a balance of £2,834.94 at the end of 2025.

The Hepple Churchyard Fund which is used for the new churchyard extension has received £328.00 in donations, £137.00 in Gift Aid and GASDS and £102.58 from quarterly shared interest. There has been expenditure from the fund of £834.00 for a BNG Assessment, £180.00 for a BNG Plan, £1,056.00 for two planning applications for changing the use of the land from agriculture to burial ground, £950.00 to Ninette Edwards our architect for preparing and submitting the planning applications and £285.00 to Ninette Edwards for preparing the faculty application to the DAC. After paying all the invoices, the Hepple Churchyard Fund was left with a deficit balance of £67.77 which has been funded from the General Fund as a short-term loan which means that the fund has a balance of zero at the end of 2025.

The Hepple Restoration Fund has received planned giving of £250.00, HMRC gift aid and GASDS of £163.74, and monthly interest of £79.71 during 2025 and has a balance of £14,458.22 at the end of the year. During 2024 a new bank account, known as the Christ Church Hepple Savings Account, was opened which is generating the monthly interest and was set up with a transfer of £10,000.00 from the Christ Church Hepple current account.

All Saints’ Rothbury has seen a total sum of £2,038.51 spent on cleaning and maintenance work in 2025 from the General Fund. This includes two garden waste bins (£109.00), grass cutting (£150.00), fire extinguishers tested and one replaced (£118.20), the 5-year electrical testing (£330.00), replacement of a leaking pipe (£714.14), unblocking of WC (£38.40), purchase of toilet rolls (£4.99) and the boiler repairs (£573.78).

From the Rothbury Fabric Fund £180.00 has been paid on the inspection of the East window. The fund has received £1,460.00 from planned giving, £1,681.67 from Gift Aid and GASDS, £62.35 donations from a baptism, £404.90 donations from two funerals, £77.50 donations from a wedding, £955.60 from donations, £20.00 donation through Just Giving, £80.00 for a TRUST130 donation from Ecclesiastical Insurance, £202.10 donations from the Book Box, £217.00 from a concert given by the Coquetdale Chamber Choir and £887.93 in quarterly shared interest. The fund has a balance of £23,666.40 at the end of 2025.

11

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL OF ROTHBURY HEPPLE AND THROPTON

Church running costs are showing in the accounts as £20,914.63. This figure is an increase from the 2024 figure of £18,539.10 which includes all the maintenance work undertaken at the three churches from the General Fund in 2025. A breakdown of the costs can be found in note 5 on page 9. Our energy use for the three churches and the parish hall, however, still needs to be addressed on an environmental and financial basis.

Parish Administration overall costs of £1,413.30 in 2025 shows an increase in comparison to 2024 figure which was £666.84, mainly due to the incumbent job advertising cost of £697.74.

To ensure our bank charges are not excessive I am continuing to use online banking wherever possible and we have seen a slight increase in the amount of bank charges that we have paid in 2025 in comparison to 2024 due to Lloyds Bank increasing the monthly business banking charge from £7.00 per month to £8.50 per month in August 2024. In order to keep bank charges to a minimum a cash float of £300.00 was withdrawn in 2022 and is kept in a metal cash box in the vestry safe. This means that we will not incur bank charges in future every time a cash float is withdrawn or deposited in the current bank account. The cash float is shown in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities on page 12 in the column headed CASH FLOAT against the General Fund. However, in November 2025 our Lloyds – Rothbury PCC-CG bank account was converted from a Community Account, on which we paid no bank charges, to a Charity Account on which we will pay bank charges every time we deposit or withdraw cash or cheques. Lloyds Bank have given the DCC a six months discount to assist the cash flow as we adjust to having to pay these charges. In 2025 no bank charges were paid on this account as they are paid two months in arrears but 2026 will see us paying from January onwards. Lloyds Bank has also informed me that from the middle of January 2026 our Rothbury DCC bank account will be converted from a Business Account to a Community Account and the monthly bank charge will be reduced by 50% from £8.50 per month to £4.25 per month and that the bank charges on deposits and withdrawals will also be reduced by 50%.

Printing and stationery costs of £432.37 for 2025 have increased on the 2024 figure of £246.92. The Administration Costs of £93.99 for 2025 covers the costs incurred by the treasurer, churchwarden and electoral roll officer in managing the DCC’s affairs. The Planning Giving Expenses of £6.96 covers the costs incurred by the planned giving officer in managing the DCC’s financial affairs. This figure will increase in 2026 due to the fact the Data Developments are withdrawing support at the end of 2026 for the Donation Coordinator software that the Planned Giving Officer uses and she will move to the Data Developments MyGiving cloud software for which there is a charge of £15.00 per month from July 2026. The treasurer intends to keep using the Data Developments Finance Coordinator which again will be unsupported from the end of 2026 and therefore, there will no additional treasurer expenses in 2026 and beyond.

The Insurance Premiums total for 2025 for the three churches is shown in note 5 on page 9 as £7,890.60 which is a 2.42% increase on the figure of £7,703.90 shown for 2024. The Parish Hall insurance premium was £1,075.52 in 2025 which is a 2.23% increase on the 2024 figure of £1,052.01. In August 2018 the All Saints Church and Parish Hall insurances were merged into one policy, giving us the same insurance conditions for both properties.

In 2021 the Organ Restoration Fund name was changed to the Organ Fund as it was agreed that the restoration of the organ in All Saints Church had been completed. The Organ Fund has received income of £2,226.41 in 2025 through donations (£1,360.00), gift aid and GASDS (£483.32) and quarterly shared interest from the CBF Deposit Fund (£383.09). From this fund we have paid a total of £600.04 in 2025 of which £296.90 was for the All Saints Church organ to be tuned by Harrison & Harrison Ltd of Durham, £178.14 for the Christ Church Hepple organ to be tuned by Harrison & Harrison Ltd of Durham, £85.00 for the All Saints Church piano to be tuned by John Leath and £40.00 on organ lessons. The Organ Fund has ended 2025 with a balance of £9,898.82 which is held in the CBF Deposit Fund. In October 2024 the DCC took the decision to allocate some of the Organ Fund balance to a new Education Project initiative put forward by Jane Lothian, one of our organists, and as at the end of 2025 the balance of £9,898.82 in the Organ Fund was split between the project (£6,507.85) and maintenance of the three organs (£3,390.97).

In October 2024 we received a £5,000.00 bequest from the late Keith Moodie and the family were keen that the funds be held in a separate fund from the Organ Fund and so this new fund is known as the Keith Moodie Bequest. The new fund is to be used only for the maintenance of the All Saints Church organ and we can use both the capital and any shared interest accrued for that purpose. The fund has received £227.75 in shared interest during 2025 and has a balance at the end of 2025 of £5,227.75.

12

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL OF ROTHBURY HEPPLE AND THROPTON

During 2021 the then Rector, Canon John Sinclair, decided to encourage wedding parties to give more generously in the collection plate by splitting any donations given on a 50:50 basis between the church and a charity of the bride and groom’s choosing and this is shown in Collections – Special Collections in note 3 on page 8. The 50% to the church is recorded under either the Hepple Restoration Fund, the Thropton Fabric Fund, the Rothbury Fabric Fund or the Rothbury Warm Hub Fund depending upon which church the wedding was held in. It was also decided to record any Baptism and Funeral plate collections given for the church under these funds depending upon which church the baptism or funeral was held in.

The CBF Investment Units may be required to fund major work in the future or supplement shortfalls in income streams. There has been an overall decrease in the value of the CBF Investment units in 2025 due to the performance on the stock market. It is to be hoped that their value will maintain growth in the longer term. Income from interest on our CBF Deposit Fund and dividends from our CBF Investments has seen a slight increase in 2025 on the interest rates we received in 2024.

The Hepple Churchyard Fund has received £102.58 in shared interest from the CBF Deposit Fund during 2025 and the Hepple Tree & Grass Fund has received £102.73 in shared interest from the CBF Deposit Fund during 2025.

At the January 2025 meeting the RHT DCC members decided to switch the fees received for baptisms, banns, weddings, funeral, burials and monuments back to being recorded in the General Fund and the total amount of fees received during 2025 is shown in under Fees in note 9 on page 9.

The Rothbury Coffee Fund has received a total of £706.46 in 2025 which is represented by £539.35 in coffee donations and £167.11 in shared interest. Total expenditure in 2025 amounts to £160.62 which includes the purchase of a new coffee machine (£25.00), the purchase of refreshments for the patron’s representative’s visit in August 2025 (£120.00) and the purchase of coffee and biscuit items (£15.62). The fund has a balance of £4,101.69 at the end of 2025.

During a vacancy a Sequestration Fund has to be set up for the financial administration of the Rothbury Rectory and Visiting Clergy expenses which can be claimed back from the diocese on a monthly basis. At their September 2023 meeting the Upper Coquetdale PCC delegated the running of the Sequestration Fund to the RHT DCC. This is run by me, as RHT DCC Treasurer, as all financial matters concerning the rectory and visiting clergy are dealt with by this DCC. At the RHT DCC meeting held in September 2023 members confirmed that the Sequestration Fund could be set up within the RHT DCC accounts and would be funded by a transfer of an initial £500.00 from the General Reserves Fund with up to a further £500.00 available to be transferred if required during the vacancy. The initial £500.00 was transferred from the General Reserves Fund to the Sequestration in September 2023 and has been used to fund expenditure on the rectory and visiting clergy. Since the end of October 2023, a monthly claim has been submitted to the Newcastle Diocesan Board of Finance Ltd. These payments are recorded in the accounts as negative expenditure offsetting the various payments. During 2024 the extra £500 which had been made available by the RHT DCC was transferred from the General Reserves Fund to the Sequestration Fund. The Sequestration Fund is therefore not showing any income but is showing an expenditure figure of £78.02 which represents the difference between the December 2024 claim (£534.39) which the diocese repaid in January 2025 and the December 2025 claim (£612.41) which the diocese will repay in January 2026. The fund balance of £387.59 is shown in the “Statement of Assets and Liabilities” on Page 13. The December 2025 claim of £612.41 was submitted at the end of December is due to be paid by the diocese in January 2026 and will appear in the 2026 RHT DCC Accounts.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Planned Giving Administrator, Adrienne Thunder, for her tireless work in the banking and recording of all our income, to thank Christine Wilson for recording and banking the Hepple Restoration Fund income and expenditure, to thank Sandy Macaulay for running the 100 Club, to thank Alison Ball for running the Cardstall, to thank John Farndale, the Alwinton & Holystone DCC treasurer, and Meron Marcyniuk, the Alnham DCC treasurer, for their work in reimbursing Rothbury, Hepple & Thropton DCC their respective DCC’s monthly contribution to the parish running costs. I would also like to thank Paul Charlton of Ryecroft Glenton, who has now retired for all his work in inspecting the accounts year on year and for his accountancy advice when needed and to thank the RHT DCC members for their support and advice during the vacancy in what has been a difficult year to manage the finances.

13

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES REGARDING THE DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL OF ROTHBURY HEPPLE AND THROPTON

Other thanks should go to Carol Milburn for running the Produce Stall on the first Sunday of each month and for all those who do the baking, to Kathryn Reynalds for organising and running the monthly Coffee Mornings on the second Saturday of the month and for taking all the bookings for the Parish Hall. Thanks also should be given to Joan Storey for all the work she has undertaken in preparing for and running the “Gladrags” event over the last few years.

To conclude: We must ensure that we run with a surplus year on year in order to meet the DCC’s various commitments. We will not able to withdraw from Reserves indefinitely and the DCC must ensure that, through an effective budgeting process, spending does not exceed income. We need to concentrate on increasing our regular income through the ongoing Stewardship initiative by holding an annual renewal just to be able to balance our books.

If all these steps are taken it is likely we will be able to pay our estimated 2026 Parish Share in full which is £32,500. This equates to £2,708.33 per month that is needed from regular planned giving, donations and fundraising. However, if the steps are not taken it is unlikely that we will be able to pay the 2026 Parish Share in full without selling more shares and using General Fund reserves or we may default in 2026 as we did in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Going forward, maintaining a robust General Fund should be an area of priority and focus for the DCC.

Christopher Pope – Treasurer

25th March 2026

…………………………………… ………………………… ………………………

Vice Chair Treasurer Date David Smith Christopher Pope

14

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH, HEPPLE STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Preparation

The Financial Statements of the DCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the Receipts and Payments basis.

The accounts include the monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the DCC can be held responsible. They do not include the accounts of other Church groups that owe an affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members.

Funds

General funds represent the funds of the DCC that are not subject to any special restrictions regarding their use and are available for application to the general purposes of the DCC. These include funds designated for a particular purpose by the DCC.

Subject to the above, receipts and payments include income as received and expenditure when irrevocably paid.

Statement of Assets and Funds

15

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH HEPPLE GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT


RECEIPTS

Income from Operating Activities
Fees (9)
Church Hire
Parish Hall Rent

Fund Raising
Fund Raising General (1)
Fund Raising 100 Club
Incoming Resources from Donors
Planned Giving (2)
Parish Hall Donations & HMRC Gift Aid (10)
HMRC Gift Aid on Planned Giving/GASDS (2)
Gift Aid Giving Non- Regular (2)
Plate Collections (3)
Other Voluntary Incoming Resources
Donations (4)
Income from Investments
CBF Deposit Fund Shared Interest
NSIB Dividends
CBF Investment Funds Dividends
TOTAL RECEIPTS

PAYMENTS
Cost of generating funds
Fund Raising Costs (7)
Charitable Activities
Donations to Missions and Charities
Church Activities and Running Costs
Parish Share
Church Running Costs (5)
Clergy Expenses
Parish Hall Running Costs (8)
Service & Sanctuary Expenses
Visiting, Lay and Retired Clergy Costs
Hire of Hepple Village Hall
Quinquennial Inspection
Parish Administration
Bank Charges
Planned Giving Expenses
Printing and Stationery
Administration Costs
Incumbent Job Advertisement
Internet Broadband
Telephone Rothbury Rectory
TOTAL PAYMENTS

OPERATING SURPLUS FOR YEAR (11)
2025
£
2.340.00
310.00
2,200.00
4,850.00
6,631.82
2,012.00
8,643.82
36,081.24
157.05
9,436.41
882.00
3,947.59
50,504.29
1,480.76
1,480.76
518.37
563.49
270.05
1,351.91
66,830.78
1,050.00
1,050.00
-
35,000.00
20,914.63
35.42
3,164.40
696.06
190.66
25.00
900.00
60,926.17
102.00
6.96
432.37
93.99
697.74
80.24
-
1,413.30
63,389.47
3,441.31
2024
£
144.00
200.00
2,232.00
2,576.00
6,112.36
1,908.00
8,020.36
35,984.01
-
10,075.31
652.00
4,665.62
51,376.94
903.17
903.17

180.03
641.31
263.78
1,085.12
63,961.59
990.00
990.00
-
35,000.00
18,539.10
(726.44)
3,110.95
754.69
37.94
25.00
650.00
57,391.24
91.90
-
246.92
261.85
-
66.17
-
666.84
59,048.08
4,913.51

16

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH HEPPLE NOTES TO THE GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT 2025

1. Fundraising

The Produce/Cake Stall commenced on the first Sunday in February 2025 and continued each month up to November 2025 with the exception of April. The monthly Coffee Morning event on the second Saturday of the month was held each month from January to December 2025 in All Saints Church Rothbury with the exception of August. Other fundraising events in 2025 have included a number of Gladrags sales and a Car Boot sale at Hexham in May. The breakdown of the proceeds are as follows:

Produce/Cake Stall
Gladrags Sales
Hexham Car Boot Sale (May 2025)
Coffee Morning Events
Total
£
1,070.00
1,042.38
154.00
4,365.44
6,631.82

Other fundraising events have included a concert given by the Coquetdale Chamber Choir in May for the Rothbury Fabric Fund which raised £217.00, the Hexham Car Boot Sale raised a further £154.00 for the Hepple Tree & Grass Fund, the sale of Gladrags clothes through Vinted raised £145.57 for the Hepple Tree & Grass Fund and a Tea Party in August raised £405.00 for the Thropton Fabric Fund.

2. Planned Giving

The total of regular giving in 2025 has seen an increase on the 2024 figure of £97.23. The Planned Giving overall figure of £36,081.24 includes £9,378.24 which has been paid through the Church of England Parish Giving Scheme. From this scheme we have also received £2,165.04 in Gift Aid which forms part of the overall total of £9,436.41 for Gift Aid/GASDS claimed from the HMRC. Non-regular giving via Gift Aid Envelopes in 2025 has also seen an increase of £230.00 on the 2024 figure.

3.

Income from Plate Collections is given as the total amount for all three churches. The 2025 figure has seen a decrease on the 2024 figure. The breakdown between the three churches is as follows: -

Hepple
Rothbury
Thropton
Total
2025
£
257.80
3,041.29
648.50
3,947.59
2024
£
440.00
3,658.62
567.00
4,665.62

Collections – Special Collections

The recommendations in the Church of England publication “The Charities Act and the PCC – 2006”, as revised to take into account the revision in 2005 of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) are that collections made for specific charities, either in church or at other events, should not be included in the receipts and payments but noted separately. The totals for 2025 are shown below; these do not appear in the Receipts and Payments account.

£ Scottish Boarders Donkey Sanctuary 77.50 Alnwick District Food Bank 174.73 Upper Coquetdale PCC - Donation 100.00 Total 352.23

4. Donations Received

The sum of £1,480.76 includes £595.17 from the Wall Safe, £374.31 from the Votive Candle Stand, £104.00 from Baptism Donations and £407.28 from Funeral Donations.

17

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH HEPPLE NOTES TO THE GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT 2025 - CONTINUED

5. Church Running Costs; (Items purchased from Cardstall account not showing in these figures).

6.


Insurance on the three church buildings
Music, Bells, Organ and Piano Tuning and Organist Expenses
Cleaning and maintenance
Utilities
Miscellaneous Sundries
Total
From the Card Stall Fund the following has been paid
The Royal British Legion – Three Wreathes for 2025 and 2026
Purchase of Seventy Nicene Creed Booklets
Greetings Cards etc
Total
2025
£
7,890.60
3,240.40
4,211.81
5,365.66
206.16
20,914.63
£
59.97
245.00
148.69
453.66
2024
£
7,703.90
2,830.40
4,499.76
3,319.55
185.49
18,539.10




The total of £453.66 for items purchased is not showing in Church Running costs (5) but is shown in the Fund Movement Summary on page 13.

7. Fund Raising Cost

A limited number of fundraising events took place throughout the year which incurred the following costs:

8.

NCC Small Lotteries Licence 2025
100 Club Prizes
Total

Parish Hall Running Cost
2025
£
Insurance
1,075.52
Cleaning and Maintenance
674.04
Utilities
1,244.44
Music Licenses
170.40
Total
3,164.40
£
20.00
1,030.00
1,050.00
2024
£
1,052.01
385.71
1,511.23
162.00
3,110.95

The Cleaning and Maintenance figure of £674.04 includes £150.00 for the boiler to be tested and repaired, £162.60 for the fire extinguishers to be tested and for one fire extinguisher to be replaced, £330.00 for the 5-year electrical testing, £20.99 for paint for the Hall door and railings, and £10.45 for a new mop and cleaning materials.

It was decided by the Churchwardens and Treasurer to renew the Music Licenses for the Parish Hall for 2025 so that lets are able to use music which may be under copyright. This decision will be kept under review.

9.

Fees

Funerals
Weddings
Banns
Monuments
Burials
Total
2025
£
1,319.00
297.00
37.00
38.00
649.00
2,340.00

2024
£
144.00
-
-
-
-
144.00

18

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH HEPPLE NOTES TO THE GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT 2025 - CONTINUED

10.
Parish Hall Donations

Mothers’ Union
Warm Hub
HMRC Gift Aid
Gift Aided Donations
Total
2025
£
25.00
32.05
20.00
80.00
157.05
2024
£
-
-
-
-
-

11. The 2025 figure for the “Operating Surplus for Year” shows we have a surplus of £3,441.31 on the income and expenditure for the General Fund for the year. This has been achieved despite the fact that the overall payments for 2025 have increased by £4,341.39 on the 2024 figure the receipts for 2025 have increased by £2,869.19 over the 2024 figure.

19

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH HEPPLE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND FUNDS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025

2025 2024
Fixed assets £ £
CBF Investment Fund (1) 8,472.20 8,825.01
CBF Investment Fund (WS) (1) 859.07 894.85
National Savings & Investment Bond - Canon Morton Bequest (3) 17,000.00 17,000.00
26,331.27 26,719.86
Current assets
Debtors - -
CBF Deposit Account (3) 103,272.64 91,194.36
Cash Float 300.00 300.00
Sum Total of other Bank Accounts 18,287.12 20,257.86
121,859.76 111,752.22
Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due in one year - -
Net current assets less current liabilities 121,859.76 111,752.22
Total assets less current liabilities 148,191.03 138,472.08
Total net assets less liabilities 148,191.03 138,472.08
Represented by (2)
Unrestricted
Unrestricted - General fund (4) 29,216.34 26,231.39
Endowment
Endowment - Canon Morton Bequest (3) 17,943.00 17,943.00
Designated
Designated - Hardship Fund 1,348.07 1,289.35
Designated - Cardstall Fund (5) 3,808.35 3,666.54
Restricted
Restricted - Donkin Bequest 2,323.36 2,222.14
Restricted - Parish Hall Fund 15,504.13 17,539.22
Restricted - Hepple Restoration Fund 14,458.22 13,964.77
Restricted - Organ Fund 9,898.82 8,272.45
Restricted – Thropton Fabric Fund 1,363.51 801.04
Restricted - Topping Memorial Fund 674.45 645.06
Restricted - Wright Memorial Fund 2,858.82 2,734.27
Restricted - Hepple Churchyard Fund - 2,669.65
Restricted - Hepple Tree & Grass Fund 2,834.94 1,983.27
Restricted - Rothbury Churchyard Fund 80.23 76.73
Restricted - Rothbury Coffee Fund 4,101.69 3,555.85
Restricted - Rothbury Fabric Fund 23,666.40 17,797.35
Restricted - Rothbury Emergency Fund 197.87 189.24
Restricted - Rothbury Refurbishment Fund 11,381.80 10,549.35
Restricted - Sequestration Fund 387.59 465.61
Restricted - Young People Fund 915.69 875.80
Restricted – Keith Moodie Bequest 5,227.75 5,000.00
Funds of the churches 148,191.03 138,472.08
-

20

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH HEPPLE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2025

Funds
Unrestricted fund
General Reserve (4)
Endowment fund
Canon Morton Bequest Fund
Designated funds
Hardship Fund
Cardstall Fund
Restricted funds
Parish Hall Fund (1)
Wright Memorial Fund
Topping Memorial Fund
Hepple Restoration Fund (5)
Hepple Churchyard Fund
Hepple Tree & Grass Fund
Rothbury Churchyard Fund
Rothbury Coffee Fund (2)
Rothbury Fabric Fund
Rothbury Emergency Fund
Rothbury Refurbishment Fund (1)
Donkin Bequest
Thropton Fabric Fund
Sequestration Fund
Young People Fund
Keith Moodie Bequest (3)
Organ Fund
Total funds
Bank
Accounts
£
CBF
deposit
account
£
NSIB
£
CBF
investment
units
£
Cash
Float
£
Total
£
3,441.31
16,143.76
-
9,331.27
300.00
29,216.34
-
943.00
17,000.00
-
-
17,943.00
-
1,348.07
-
-
-
1,348.07
-
3,808.35
-
-
-
3,808.35
-
15,504.13
-
-
-
15,504.13
-
2,858.82
-
-
-
2,858.82
-
674.45
-
-
-
674.45
14.458.22
-
-
-
-
14.458.22
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,834.94
-
-
-
2,834.94
-
80.23
-
-
-
80.23
-
4,101.69
-
-
-
4,101.69
-
23,666.40
-
-
-
23,666.40
-
197.87
-
-
-
197.87
-
11,381.80
-
-
-
11,381.80
-
2,323.36
-
-
-
2,323.36
-
1,363.51
-
-
-
1,363.51
387.59
-
-
-
-
387.59
-
915.69
-
-
-
915.69
-
5,227.75
-
-
-
5,227.75
-
9,898.82
-
-
-
9,898.82
18,287.12
103,272.64
17,000.00
9,331.27
300.00
148,191.03

Notes

1. In 2022 the Community Hall Fund was split between the Parish Hall Fund and the Rothbury Warm Hub Fund. In 2024 the Rothbury Warm Hub Fund was renamed as the Rothbury Refurbishment Fund.

2. In 2022 the Rothbury Coffee Fund was created as a restricted fund and is funded from coffee donations made after the Sunday morning service at All Saints Church Rothbury and can be used to purchase new equipment for the purpose of producing tea and coffee.

3. In 2024 the Keith Moodie Bequest Fund was created as a restricted fund from a bequest from the late Keith Moodie and is be used for the maintenance of the organ at All Saints Church Rothbury. Both the capital and interest can be used for this purpose.

4. The General Reserve is now split between the Lloyds Bank – Rothbury DCC bank account, the CBF Deposit Fund account, the CBF Investment Fund accounts and petty cash for floats at fundraising events.

5. In 2024 the Hepple Restoration Fund was split between the Lloyds Bank – Christ Church Hepple current bank account and the new Lloyds Bank – Christ Church Hepple savings bank account when £10,000.00 was transferred from the current bank account to the savings bank account which attracts monthly interest.

21

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH HEPPLE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31 DECEMBER 2025

Fund movement summary

Funds
Unrestricted fund
General Reserve
Endowment fund
Canon Morton Bequest Fund
Designated funds
Hardship Fund
Cardstall Fund
Restricted funds
Parish Hall Fund
Wright Memorial Fund
Topping Memorial Fund
Hepple Restoration Fund
Hepple Churchyard Fund
Hepple Tree & Grass Fund
Rothbury Churchyard Fund
Rothbury Coffee Fund
Rothbury Fabric Fund
Rothbury Emergency Fund
Rothbury Refurbishment Fund
Donkin Bequest
Thropton Fabric Fund
Sequestration Fund
Young People Fund
Organ Fund
Keith Moodie Bequest
Total funds
Fund
balances
b/fwd
£
Incoming
Resources
£
Outgoing
Resources
£
Transfers
£
Investment
Gains and
(Losses)
£
Fund
balances
c/fwd
£
26,231.39
66,830.78
(63,389.47)
(67.77)
(388.59)
29,216.34
17,943.00
-
-
-
-
17,943.00
1,289.35
58.72
-
-
-
1,348.07
3,666.54
595.47
(453.66)
-
-
3,808.35
17,539.22
793.20
(2,828.29)
-
-
15,504.13
2,734.27
124.55
-
-
-
2,858.82
645.06
29.39
-
-
-
674.45
13,964.77
493.45
-
-
-
14,458.22
2,669.65
567.58
(3,305.00)
67.77
-
-
1,983.27
851.67
-
-
-
2,834.94
76.73
3.50
-
-
-
80.23
3,555.85
706.46
(160.62)
-
-
4,101.69
17,797.35
6,049.05
(180.00)
-
-
23,666.40
189.24
8.63
-
-
-
197.87
10,549.35
832.45
-
-
-
11,381.80
2,222.14
101.22
-
-
-
2,323.36
801.04
1,204.72
(642.25)
-
-
1,363.51
465.61
-
(78.02)
-
-
387.59
875.80
39.89
-
-
-
915.69
8,272.45
2,226.41
(600.04)
-
-
9,898.82
5,000.00
227.75
-
-
-
5,227.75
138,472.08
81,744.89
(71,637.35)
-
(388.59)
148,191.03

22

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH HEPPLE NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND FUNDS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025

As at 31 December 2024 the CBF Investment Fund was valued at £8,825.01 as shown on page 11 under the 2024 figure and was the figure shown in the 2024 RHT DCC Accounts. This fund was revalued on 30 June 2025 and decreased in value by £334.60 to £8,490.41. The fund was again revalued on 31 December 2025 and decreased in value by £18.21 and was valued at £8,472.20. This means that over the full 2025 year this investment fund has decreased by £352.81.

As at 31 December 2024 the CBF Investment Fund (WS) was valued at £894.85 as shown on page 11 under the 2024 figure and was the figure shown in the 2024 RHT DCC Accounts. This fund was revalued on 30 June 2025 and decreased in value by £33.93 to £860.92. The fund was again revalued on 31 December 2025 and decreased in value by £1.85 and was valued at £859.07. This means that over the full 2025 year this investment fund has decreased by £35.78.

Overall, the two CBF Investment Funds have decreased in total value by £388.59 during 2025 and as at 31 December 2025 were valued at a combined total of £9,331.27.

£
Lloyds – Christ Church Hepple (Savings) 79.71
CBF Deposit Fund Account 4,255.46
CBF Investment Fund Account (WS) 24.85
CBF Investment Fund Account 245.20
NS&I Bond 563.49
Total 5,168.71 (2024: £5,037.03)

23

THE CHURCHES OF ALL SAINTS ROTHBURY, ST ANDREW THROPTON AND CHRIST CHURCH HEPPLE

NOTES TO THE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND FUNDS AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 (CONT)

CBF Investment Fund Account
CBF Investment Fund Account (WS)
CBF Deposit Fund Account
Cash in Hand (Float)
Lloyds Bank – Rothbury DCC bank account
Total
£
8,472.20
859.07
16,143.76
300.00
3,441.31
29,216.34
CBF Deposit Fund Account
Lloyds Bank– Rothbury DCC bank account
Total
£
3,808.35
-
3,808.35

24

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE DISTRICT CHURCH COUNCIL OF ROTHBURY HEPPLE AND THROPTON

I report on the accounts of the DCC for the year ended 31 December 2025, which are set out on pages 7 - 15.

Respective responsibilities of members and examiner

As members of the DCC with responsibility for the preparation of the accounts, you consider that an audit is not required this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the DCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as members (trustees) concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the Church accounting regulations and also those contained within the 2011 Act.

have not been met; or

  1. to which, in my opinion attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

J Routledge FCA Ryecroft Glenton 32 Portland Terrace Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1QP

March 2026

25

Tha District of Alwirrton wilh Holystone in the Parish of Uppor Coquotdal8 Trea8uree8 Report for the Porlod 1st January 2025 to 81st December 21Y25 At the end of 21724 our Net Assets and Total Worth was £53789.64, and by the end of 2025 it had Increased to £65940.45. Income Planned gift aided giving during the year amourrted to £7889.04, an increase of sorng £700 over the previous year. In years past we have been receiving regular arrM￿t$ through the donorfs bank towards the Alwinton Heating Fund of £25 monlhly. amounting to £125 in 2024. These have now ceased. Other grft aided gifts amounted to £11245.00, a huge increase overthe previous year. Other regular giving "green envelop851 produced £320, v￿Y similar to th8 pr8vious yèar. Collections on the Plate carne to £33&3.96, and as in th8 previous year much of this was generated by generous donatic￿S at fijnerals. The sitijation is v8ry dilferent at our regular Sunday services. Other grfts and donations came to £2145.50. down a Itttle on th8 pr8WOUS y8ar. Our fundraising produced £7168.18, a little down on the previous year. £885 was for the churchyards fund via our 200 club. the remaining £6283.18 was for the general fund. £10 was rnised by the sale of a quitt.. £38 from books, Jarn etc.. Beetle (Jriv8s £197, christmas cakas £1425.50, Pimms ￿025, Curry £2733. Investmemnts with CCL4 £537.60 interest was earned SeNice Fees £769.5 Iweddingsl and £2090 (Funerdls and Memortalsl We raised £2272 for charity. A total of £41085.12 came into the account. ol whlch £15786 werrt into restricted funds, the remainder going into general funds Expenditure We gave £2302 to Charity, some £30 more than w& had raised. It was felt that the Children's Society sum was on thè rnean side. and a small roundlng up was done. We paid £10040 to the Oiocese. Parish expenses amountod lo £519.36. Once an lncurrt￿nt is in place this will rise considerabty. General expenses were £5645.CV3 - energy, insurance, etc Service upkeep £1961.62. This was organist's rwnun8ration, wine candles wafers etc Maintenance ." ￿urChyards £1590 (Mike's remuneration) Fabric £271.25 Itwo small repair jobs) Equipment {St Michael¥ organ & Fire Extinguishers) Architect £3183.52 We spent f28459.84 in total lasl y8ar, £.11r293.77 was from restricted tunds Computstion Our net income was £7134 (Generall £5492 {Restricted) £12625.28 (fotal) Our CCLA deposit gained £299 over the year, bul our deposit wtih the Diocese lost £773.47 in value. This represents a lotal movement of funds amounting lo £12150.81 26

Balance Sheot The monies we hold are:_ Deposited with the Diocese Deposited with CCL4 Cash at bank £18573.99 £ 6798.02 £40568.74 Total A88ets and net Worth £65940.75 District fijnds General Unrestricted Restricted £33054 £32887 Churchyards £10996 Fabric IAlw) £889.94 Heating Ww) £6839.34 Resloration (Hlystl £13894.58 Youth £252.23 Charity £14.53 Total £65940. Conclusion Our finances remain in a healthy condition. A year ago I made mention of our quinquennial inspections and the likely costs of impleM￿ting the recommendations. We have now received quotations, and the DCC is consid8ring these. The works reqLSired for Holystone are likely to be of the order of £50Cm, with Alwinton requiring rather less exp8nditure possibly around £20000. It is clear that a considerable amount of fvnd raising will be ￿quIred. My thanks go to those who have made donatrons, and supported our events, and also to those who count and bank the mon8y, Lynda, Gail and Helen. Signed John Farndale, T￿aSurer 6th May 2026 Sharon Graham. Warden 27

Table 1 •t•wrt ol FIn•￿t￿l G•N•NI VnF•9trktsd A•¥trl¢t•d Fund• A¢iivlfj¥J 2020 V•rn28N128 Ftsntts X2$ JNCOME Pl•nn•d GfftAkl•d Gmng 7889.04 7889.04 7126 1245 10000 11245 335 GrftAKI Tax R•clai 3263 44 3?63 d4 other P￿ttne￿ G￿1￿￿ ¢01kn￿on Iplatsl GrfIWDtsth•tiOn8 320 310 3383 98 3383.g 2e9175 2145.5 2145.5 2730 FwdrLlr•#1oM Co 6283.18 8B5 7165.18 7637.31 76 537.6 525 06 769.$ 2090 2859.5 Cha￿ty Cdkntlons 2272.9 1680.05 Tdal¥ 2S299.82 157855 41095 12 24818.17 EXPENDITLIRE Charfty Donallo 2302 2302 1697 1Q040 Porf8h ExwM89 ChY￿h G•neY•l 519. 519 36 698 04 5645 09 5645 09 4606 48 Upk¢ep 11 62 1961.62 607.61 alnton•nc• Chur¢ty• Fabrtc 1590 18S0 271.25 271.25 3819.24 Equlpmeftt Ar¢hito¢t 2947 2947 3183.52 3183.52 1816S.97 10293 77 28459.84 2118137 COMPIITAMON Netlbcomlng R•&￿￿¢&$ 7133.55 549173 12625.28 3652.8 299 .7n.47 474.47 Il•t Alovqrnontof FuThd* 7432.55 4718.26 12150.81 413.3 Opollillg Balanc• l Jan 2025 25621.34 28168.3 $3789.64 49376.34 lo•lng 8414n￿ 31 De¢ 21J25 3288e.56 65940.45 789.64 28

Table 1 CURAEKf A&SErs 2025 2024 1 1857&99 67￿02. 6499.02., 4056&74. 33054 25621,. 10996 252.23,. 252.23,, 14.53. 29

Table 1-2 COME 2272.9 3157.9 2627.60 1￿00 12627.6 15785.5 EXPENDfTURE 1590 821825 31&3.52 2302 10293.77 1922.6 -321825 6818.48 5491.73 -773 9846.81 4108.19 6939.34 7078.7 252.23 28168.3 clo￿n9 08lwKe 31 Oec 889 94 6&39.34 13894.58 252.23 14.53 3WO.03 30

Ir+tDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE DISTRICT CIIURCH COUNC]L of ALWIJYTOLY WII'RI HOLYS'I'OIYL I report on the accounts of ihe DCC forth¢ )'ear ended 31 tkcember 2025, which set ¢)ut aita¢h¢d. Respective res￿￿s1￿]Iities of member5 examiner AS member$ of the DCC with r¢sponsibility for the preparation of the accoutts. you consider that am audit 18 not rcqlliredthisycarundcrsc¢tion 14412] ofth¢ Charitics Act2011 (thc 2011 Act) and that2n indcrKmdcnt cxamination ss nccded. li is r¢sponbibility to- examine the accounts und¢r secttm 145 of the 2(11 l Att fi)Ilow the laid di)wn in th¢ gethernl Dtre¢tii)ns given by th¢ LM)mmission under section 145{5Xb) ot the 2011 Act: and state Y￿h￿th￿partIcu1ar tllattc￿ havc co￿¢ to att¢[LtiO￿. B&gis ofIJtdep¢nd¢DI Exami￿¢￿,3 R¢port My cxaminalion was ￿PAI (wt ill a¢ordan¥i with th¢ g¢neral Dkr¢¢tions giv¢n by th¢ ChaTity CoTllmis5iOn¢T5. A e¥amll)alion in¥ludes a review ofthe a¢£ounting Moftfjs kepi by th¢ and a ¢ompari%)n of the aLLoutJts' with those rLYord5. 11 alsu include5 Lonstdcrtng ally unusual ilens ordisLlosurcs in thL acLounls and SL*king c.xplatL21ions froln vou m¢]nbers Itru5tee5) LOnLerning SULb tndtter5. 'Ihe proLeilures undertkth du llut provide all the ¢vid¢nG¢ thot would b¢ rwuitrd in an audit consequently no opitEiOn is given a5 to wh¢th¢rthear<ounts pr¢5e]rt a'lrue tair vie￿. and ihe report is limit￿ t() th(￿£ n)2ttet% qet nui in the next 4tatemeMt. Indepe￿dellt Examiner's Ststsmtnt In ronnrction ￿7th ￿Y C￿9[￿1￿£1110￿ ￿ mattcr has CLKllC to my aftcntion.. .hi¢h give¥ m¢ Tel￿v￿ab￿ Laub¢ ￿ iKlirv¢ th(Il in mat¢rtal 1<Sp￿4 th¢ rqu1TrIn￿ts.. to keep 8CCOUllting records in accord￿¢¢ with s¢ction 130 0l-th¢ 2011 Act.. and to prepare ac¢ounts which ac¢ord with th¢ ￿¢0￿￿￿n8 rrfords and comply wkth th¢ Chvrth a¢¢ounling regulatims at)d also those wntained wrythin the 2011 Ad. haw¢ noi be¢n met: or 2. lo which, in tny opinion attention 5houtd d[￿wn in order to enable a prnperUnder5t4￿di￿g of the aibvunt5 to be rcached. J Rouiledge FCA Ryetroft Glento 32 PortlaRd Te￿a¢e Newcllstle upon Tyrt¢ NE.2 IQP 14 MAV 2026 31

St Michaels Treasurer’s Report 2025

St. Michael and All Angels, Alnham

Treasurer’s report for the calendar year 2025

The accounts have been examined by Jilly Robinson.

For 2025, St Michael’s recorded a surplus of £4,894 (2024 – surplus £3,397).

The surplus for 2025 included an exceptional item of £2,000 being the proceeds of the sale of the container which was purchased by the church in 2018 to store furniture and other movables during the renovation works.

Income

Total income was £10,595 (£10,750).

Regular Giving. £1,408 (£1,416). No real change.

Collections. Totalled £1,529 (£2,238). Regular Sundays and Easter £602 (£962 net of £360 paid to organists), services with King’s Priory School £462, Christmas Eve £345 and funeral £120.

Fund Raising. Totalled £2,556 (£3,336). Summer Lunch.

Other Income. Totalled £819 (£1,451). Donations £519 and hire of the church premises / equipment £300.

Service Fees. Totalled £797 (£944) was in respect of two funerals, an interment of ashes and a fee in respect of a faculty.

Gift Aid / GASDS. Totalled £845 (£795).

Interest. £641 (£539).

Sale of Container. £2,000.

Expenses

Total expenses amounted to £5,701 (£7,353).

Largest repeat items: A. Heat & Power £628 net (£712 gross after adding back contributions) B. Insurance £1,706 C. Parish Share £1,724

Parish Expenses. £90. Various items.

Fund Raising Expenses. £141. Summer Lunch.

Equipment. £290. Ten new hymn books £220 and altar linen £70.

Repairs & Renewals. £84. New light in WC.

Fire Safety. £306. Annual inspection and replacement two fire extinguishers.

Church Running Costs. £378. Organ service and repair (last carried out in 2023).

32

St Michaels Treasurer’s Report 2025

Other. Totalled £354. Eight items all less than £100 each, mainly food and drink in relation to events held with King’s Priory School.

From June 2025 Lloyds Bank imposed bank charges on our Every Day and Restoration Accounts. We closed the Restoration Account with Lloyds Bank and opened a new interest-bearing account (The CBF Church of England Deposit Fund) with CCLA Investment Management Ltd. The interest earned on the new Restoration Account should more than cover the bank charges on the Every Day Account which amounted to £35 for seven months from June to December 2025.

£2,000 received 24 October 2025 from the sale of the container was transferred to the new Restoration Account.

Account Balances as at 31 December 2025

Total £36,950 Cr

  1. Everyday Accounts (Lloyds Bank) £13,288 Cr (Designated Funds £6,792 * )

  2. Rainy Day Account (CBF CofE Deposit Fund) £11,185 Cr

(Designated Funds £11,185)

  1. Restoration Account (CBF CofE Deposit Fund) £12,477 Cr

(Restricted Funds £12,477)

* £4,068 ear marked to pay for repairs to the storage room and fitting of shelves thereto.

Mr M Marcyniuk Treasurer 19/02/26

33

St Michaels Treasurer’s Report 2025

St Michael & All Angels, Alnham

DCC Accounts for the year to 31 December 2025 for the Current Accounts with Lloyds Bank

Prepared by Meron Marcyniuk (DCC Treasurer)

INCOME
Regular Giving
Collections
Fundraising
Other Income
Service Fees
Gift Aid / GASDS Recovered
TOTAL

EXPENSES
Parish Expenses
Heat & Power
Insurance
Fundraising Expenses
Equipment
Repairs & Renewals
Parish Share
Fire Safety & Legislation
Church Running Costs
Other
TOTAL
SURPLUS / DEFICIT
2025
2024
£1,408.00
£1,415.96
£1,528.64
£2,238.48
£2,556.04
£3,365.70
£819.35
£1,451.37
£797.00
£943.50
£845.04
£795.22
£7,954.07
£10,210.23
£89.84
£19.66
£628.06
£734.68
£1,706.20
£1,671.85
£140.95
£658.31
£289.90
£34.94
£83.95
£1,207.69
£1,723.92
£1,596.00
£305.98
£84.60
£378.00
£500.00
£354.27
£845.33
£5,701.07
£7,353.06
£2,253.00
£2,857.17

34

St Michaels Treasurer’s Report 2025

Current Account Balances

Opening Balance
£11,035.00
£8,177.83
Plus Income
£7,954.07
£10,210.23
Less Expenses
-£5,701.07
-£7,353.06
ClosingBalance
£13,288.00
£11,035.00
Opening Balance
£11,035.00
£8,177.83
Plus Surplus / Less Deficit
£2,253.00
£2,857.17
ClosingBalance
£13,288.00
£11,035.00
Fund Types
Unrestricted (Alnham General Fund)
£6,495.69*
£4,242.69
Designated (Alnham Fabric Fund)
£6,792.31
£6,792.31
--------------
--------------
£13,288.00
£11,035.00
Bank Accounts**
Lloyds Bank Classic
£63.18
£1,633.15
Lloyds Bank Community
£13,224.82
£9,401.85
--------------
--------------
£13,288.00
£11,035.00

* £4,242.69 plus Income £2,253.00

35

St Michaels Treasurer’s Report 2025

St Michael & All Angels, Alnham

DCC Accounts for the year to 31 December 2025 for the Restoration Account with Lloyds Bank and with effect from 23 May 2025 the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund with Churches, Charities and Local Authorities Fund Manager “CCLA”

Prepared by Meron Marcyniuk (DCC Treasurer)

INCOME
Interest
Sale of container
TOTAL

EXPENSE
Expnse
TOTAL
SURPLUS / DEFICIT
CCLA Account Balances
2025
£156.83
£2,000.00
£2,156.83
Nil
Nil
£2,156.83
2024
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Opening Balance
Plus Income
Less Expenses

ClosingBalance
£10,320.08

£2,156.83
Nil

£12,476.91
£10,320.08
Nil
Nil
£10,320.08
Opening Balance
Plus Surplus / Less Deficit
ClosingBalance
£10,320.08
£2,156.83
£12,476.91
£10,320.08
Nil
£10,320.08

36

St Michaels Treasurer’s Report 2025

Fund Types

Restricted (Alnham Restoration Fund) £12,476.91 £10,320.08 Bank Account Lloyds Bank Treasurers Nil £10,320.08 CCLA Accounts CBF Church of England Deposit Fund £12,476.91 Nil

37

St Michaels Treasurer’s Report 2025

St Michael & All Angels, Alnham DCC Accounts for the year to 31 December 2025 for the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund with Churches, Charities and Local Authorities Fund Manager “CCLA”

Prepared by Meron Marcyniuk (DCC Treasurer)

INCOME
Interest
TOTAL

EXPENSES
Expenses
TOTAL
SURPLUS / DEFICIT
CCLA Account Balances
2025
£484.27
£484.27
Nil
Nil
£484.27
2024
£539.34
£539.34
Nil
Nil
£539.34
Opening Balance
£10,700.65
Plus Income
£484.27
Less Expenses
Nil
ClosingBalance
£11,184.92
£10,161.31
£539.34
Nil
£10,700.65
Opening Balance
£10,700.65
Plus Surplus / Less Deficit
£484.27

ClosingBalance
£11,184.92
£10,161.31
£539.34
£10,700.65

38

St Michaels Treasurer’s Report 2025

Fund Types

Designated (Alnham Fabric Fund) £11,184.92 £10,700.65 CCLA Accounts CBF Church of England Deposit Fund £11,184.92 £10,700.65

39

St Michaels Treasurer’s Report 2025

Mrs J Robinson Cleughend Scrainwood Alnham Nr Alnwick Northumberland NE66 4TP

Mr M Marcyniuk Treasurer St Michael & All Angels Church, Alnham C/O The Old School House Alnham Nr Alnwick Northumberland NE66 4TN

Dear Mr Marcyniuk

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S STATEMENT

For the year ended 31 December 2025.

Concerning the following Accounts for For St Michael & All Angels Church, Alnham:

  1. The DCC Accounts for the Current Accounts with Lloyds Bank;

  2. The DCC Accounts for the Restoration Fund with Lloyds Bank and with effect from 25 May 2025 with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund with Churches, Charities and Local Authorities Fund Manager; and

  3. The DCC Accounts for the Fabric Fund with the CBF Church of England Deposit Fund with Churches, Charities and Local Authorities Fund Manager.

I have checked the relevant receipts and payments (the accounting records) and the resulting Accounts. I confirm that the accounting records have been properly kept and that the Accounts accord with the accounting records.

40