Diocese of Salisbury
The Parish Church of Saint Mary the Virgin Gillingham, Dorset
‘Open to God, Open to Gillingham’
Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31[st] December 2025 Registered Charity Number 1158272
Overview of Finances as of 31[st] December 2025
Part of the accounts for 2025 may appear confusing because of the donations to the Roof Appeal and a significant donation to the Fabric Fund, so much so that the cash flow balance sheets (Receipts and Payments) create the illusion of a very significant surplus, which indeed it is in cash flow terms. However, the reality of how we manage our day-to-day finances is shown in the summary of the General Fund which is for the day to day running of the church – here can be seen that we spent more than the income received!
The 2025 accounts still show a surplus in the General Fund but only because of a review of our reserves policy and the Rural Dean negotiating a significant reduction in the Fairer Share request for 2025. This mid-year review of our General Fund Reserve, agreed by the PCC, was for a reduction to an amount equivalent to 6 weeks of payments from the General Fund rather than the previous 3 months reserve. The resultant release of cash allowed us to pay the reduced Share to diocese in full and still leave a reduced but healthy balance at year end, albeit because a change in energy supplier delayed the October through December gas charges into 2026.
The reserve serves two purposes, first to cover any unexpected costs (perhaps not wholly justified with a current healthy Fabric Fund) but, more importantly it covers cash flow variations throughout any given period (we can dip in and out as required and remain solvent).
Part of our overall accounts are various sub-accounts covering other aspects of church life - the Legacy Fund, the Roof Appeal Fund, the Bell Ringers Fund, etc, all of which are detailed along with the overall Fund Apportionment.
Bank statements (not published as part of the church accounts) are even further complicated because they include collections and payouts for our departing Curate and Parish Administrator, the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show church tent transactions, the Gillingham Community Cinema accounts and the Rectors welcome gift - all such items are accounted for separately but utilise our bank account.
During the year banking became more problematic, firstly with Santander’s amended bank transfer mechanism and subsequently with the closure of the Shaftesbury branch. Paying by cheque has, over time, caused delays to our accounts as recipients struggle to find a branch to pay them in. Consequently, we have converted to a single signature account allowing instead bank transfers with minimal fuss but with internal controls put in place to avoid malpractice and for personal protection. Cash is paid in via the Post Office and cheques either via the Post Office or the Santander App.
At the end of September our contract for Gas and Electricity with Total Energies came to an end. Historically we have raised the energy contract through Parish Buying who claim to organise such preferential contracts for churches on a bulk buying basis. Thus, through Parish Buying we applied for a new contract with gas through Corona Energy and electricity with Ecotricity. The transfer process was tortuous, to say the least, and electricity for the church building fell at the last hurdle because the church meter is supposedly registered as a domestic meter. After 3 months of failure of Ecotricity to communicate and because we were paying an excessive out of contract rate with Total Energies, we reverted to Total Energies who not only offered a rate as good as Ecotricity but back dated the contract to reimburse 3 months of excess charges.
All our appeals were generously supported, especially the Roof Appeal which raised over £65,000, including 2 extremely generous lump sums which with Gift Aid accounted for some 70% of that total. Some of this cash, along with the Legacy Fund, has already been put to good use with the nave roof now watertight and redecoration in hand for early 2026. We also received a very generous donation to the Fabric Fund. We are blessed to have such generous benefactors.
We are also blessed by the efforts of the Eden Café which continue to provide a steady income stream along with Sunday Coffee and the Repair Cafe, so a big thank you to all those who volunteer. A thank you too for Gordon Amery with the Community Cinema that donates to the church as well as local charities. The VSR ended the year with a profit but nevertheless rental rates are to increase in 2026 because profitability is dependent on occupancy rates.
So, a satisfactory end to 2025. However, to balance future accounts and to grow our church life will require increased giving (cash, time and talents); thus, a Stewardship Campaign leading up to Passion Sunday is in hand. This is focused through our budget for 2026 for increased financial giving, increased Fund Raising, increased VSR rental charges and some judicial redirection of funds within our accounts.
Mike Sargent Hon. Treasurer
| GENERAL FUND | ||
|---|---|---|
| FINANCIAL SUMMARY as at | 31/12/2025 | |
| Excludingtransfers IN and Fabric funded capital items | ||
| General Funds 01/01/25 | 25170.11 | |
| Strategic Reserves 01/01/25 | 24537.50 | |
| Available Reserves 01/01/25 | 632.61 | |
| Receipts to date (Gen Fund) | 123019.72 | |
| Total receipts less Misc Account receiptsplus | Legacies | |
| Payments to date (Gen Fund) | 131134.08 | |
| Totalpayments less Misc Account Payments | ||
| Receipts minus Payments to date | -8114.36 | |
| General Funds | 31/12/2025 | 17055.75 |
| Inc legacies | ||
| Strategic Reserves | 15130.86 | |
| Usable Funds | 31/12/2025 | 1924.89 |
| £ | 65013 80 | 5031 20 | 29659 97 | 8961 27 | 108666 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Year | 2024 | £ | 41667 00 | 8757 15 | 14589 65 | 0 00 | 3212 16 | 1819 04 | 0 00 | 8600 00 | 8225 97 | 12834 00 | 1630 93 | 2311 15 | 2298 04 | 2721 15 | |||||||||||||||
| £ | 85182 87 | 87259 62 | 24787 37 | 7193 50 | 204423 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Actual | 31/12.2025 | £ | 39850 96 | 9592 23 | 35739 68 | 2000 00 | 84552 95 | 706 67 | 0 00 | 7915 00 | 6844 37 | 10028 00 | 1450 63 | 2463 00 | 2442 37 | 837 50 | |||||||||||||||
| 60250 00 | 4500 00 | 27600 00 | 5800 00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Budget to | 31/12.2025 | 39500 00 | 8750 00 | 12000 00 | 0 00 | 3500 00 | 1000 00 | 0 00 | 7600 00 | 8000 00 | 12000 00 | 1200 00 | 2300 00 | 2300 00 | 0 00 | 98150 00 | |||||||||||||||
| Budget | 2025 | £ | 39500 00 | 8750 00 | 12000 00 | 0 00 | 3500 00 | 1000 00 | 0 00 | 7600 00 | 8000 00 | 12000 00 | 1200 00 | 2300 00 | 2300 00 | 0 00 | 98150 00 | ||||||||||||||
| THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, GILLINGHAM | FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR TO DATE | RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT | RECEIPTS | Incoming resources from donors | Planned giving | Collections and other giving | Tax recovered | Other voluntary incoming resources | Legacies | Donations | Grants | Income from operating activities to further the work of the church | Impact magazine | Rent from VSR | Fundraising | Fees | Income from investments | Bank interest | Central costs paid by Milton | Central costs paid by Silton | Transfers from restricted funds | Total Receipts |
| £ | 1853 22 | 95088 61 | 11633 85 | 90 00 | 108665 68 | 0 56 | 41326 35 | 41326 91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole Year | 2024 | £ £ |
1853 22 | 518 33 | 50670 00 | 14146 55 | 10229 53 | 842 68 | 597 49 | 606 64 | 1554 00 | 0 00 | 14890 83 | 1550 89 | 147511 42 | 3822 75 | 7811 10 | 0 00 | 10119 03 | 90 00 | 17318 75 | 175467 53 | 28955 83 | 41326 91 | 70282 74 Note 1 | 70282 74 | 25170 11 | |||||
| Actual | 31/12.2025 | £ | 518 33 | 66798 26 | 12707 05 | 6917 60 | 572 93 | 421 97 | 328 59 | 42061 14 | 444 00 | 15856 25 | 1403 63 | 4095 73 | 6008 33 | 14 97 | 17318 75 | Checksum | ||||||||||||||
| 1800 00 | 85405 00 | 10945 00 | 0 00 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, GILLINGHAM | FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR TO DATE | RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT Budget Budget to |
2025 31/12.2025 |
PAYMENTS £ |
Home charities & misc charges, etc. 1800 00 1800 00 |
Activities directly relating to the work of the church | Diocesan parish share 43855 00 43855 00 |
Church running expenses 14200 00 14200 00 |
VSR running expenses 8000 00 8000 00 |
Clergy expenses 1000 00 1000 00 |
Cost of services 800 00 800 00 |
Cost of fundraising 600 00 600 00 |
Church capital expenses 0 00 0 00 |
VSR capital expenses 0 00 0 00 |
Salaries and honoraria 15450 00 15450 00 |
Mission and evangelism 1500 00 1500 00 |
Church management and administration | Office costs 3800 00 3800 00 |
Assigned fees 7145 00 7145 00 |
Bank charges 0 00 0 00 |
Transfers to restricted funds 0 00 0 00 |
Total Payments 98150 00 98150 00 |
Excess - Gross Receipts minus Gross Payments 0 00 0 00 |
Total opening funds held | Total closing funds held | Opening General Fund | Note 1 53226 99 is currently held for singular purposes (includes Misc, Legacy and Roof Appeal Funds) |
| BANK RECONCILIATION | BANK RECONCILIATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DATE: | 31/12/2025 | |||
| LEDGER | C/F from 31.12.24 | 41326 91 | ||
| Plus Receipts YTD | 204423 36 | |||
| Minus Payments YTD | 175467 53 | |||
| SO's in bank but outstanding to Ledger | 0 00 | |||
| Total | 70282 74 | |||
| BANK | Santander current amount | 36839 63 | ||
| CCLA deposit | 33504 73 | |||
| Plus cash | 23 54 | |||
| Flower cash | 329 17 | |||
| Plus Cheques to be paid in | 85 00 | |||
| Plus uncleared credits | 593 39 | |||
| Minus uncashed cheques | 357 13 | |||
| Minus uncleared debits | 0 00 | |||
| Minus Gill/ Shaft Show Accts | 0 00 | |||
| 0 00 | ||||
| 0 00 | ||||
| 0 00 | ||||
| Minus Community Cinema Accts | 735 59 | |||
| Total | 70282 74 | |||
| Difference | 0 00 | |||
| VSR profitability | ||||
| Receipts | Payments | Profit/ | P/L % | |
| to date | to date | Loss | ||
| 7915 00 | 6917 60 | 997 40 | 12 60 |
FUND APPORTIONMENT @ reconciliation
| FUND APPORTIONMENT @ reconciliation |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| (Year end) | |||
| GENERAL FUND (unrestricted) | |||
| Funds at 31.12.23 | 25170 11 | ||
| Receipts | 123019 72 | ||
| Transfer ex Legacy Fund | 0 00 | ||
| Payments | 131134 08 | ||
| Funds YTD | 17055 75 | 25170 11 | |
| LEGACY FUND (UNRESTRICTED) | |||
| Funds at 31.12.23 | 12673 01 | ||
| Receipts | 2000 00 | ||
| Transfer to General Fund | 0 00 | ||
| Payments | 14673 01 | ||
| Funds YTD | 0 00 | 12673 01 | |
| ROOF APPEAL FUND (RESTRICTED) | |||
| Funds at 31.12.23 | 0 00 | ||
| Receipts | 79073 64 | ||
| Payments | 27788 04 | ||
| Funds YTD | 51285 60 | 0 00 | |
| COMMUNITY FUND (DESIGNATED) | |||
| Funds at 31.12.23 | 353 42 | ||
| Receipts | 0 00 | ||
| Payments | 0 00 | ||
| Funds YTD | 353 42 | 353 42 | |
| BELL RINGERS (RESTRICTED) | |||
| Funds at 31.12.23 | 2821 20 | ||
| Receipts | 120 00 | ||
| Payments | 1772 40 | ||
| Funds YTD | 1168 80 | 2821 20 | |
| BIBLES for SCHOOLS (RESTICTED) | |||
| Funds at 31.12.23 | 0 00 | ||
| Receipts | 0 00 | ||
| Payments | 0 00 | ||
| Funds YTD | 0 00 | 0 00 | |
| MOTHERS UNION (RESTRICTD) | |||
| Funds at 31.12.23 | 90 00 | ||
| Receipts | 0 00 | ||
| Payments | 0 00 | ||
| Funds YTD | 90 00 | 90 00 | |
| CHURCH FLOWERS (RESTRICTED) | |||
| Funds at 31.12.23 | 219 17 | ||
| Receipts | 210 00 | ||
| Payments | 100 00 | ||
| Funds YTD | 329 17 | 219 17 | |
| TOTAL | 70282 74 | 41326 91 | |
| Of which misc funds | 53226 99 | 16156 80 | |
| General Fund | 17055 75 | ||
| Total misc receipts | 81403 64 | ||
| Total misc payments | 44333 45 |
| CCLA INVESTMENT FUNDS | Administered by Diocese | Carlton Cross 134001343S CB3015372 |
14174 22 13607 56 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse Church Reid Trust 634117001S 134001358S CB3034450 CB3015378 Bid market valuation |
3977 80 3818 77 |
||
| 153187 89 147063 74 |
|||
| RESTRICTED FUNDS | Pioneer Pot CCLA 634117007D CB3034454 |
34329 09 1564 96 0 00 692 50 35201 55 |
|
| Choir Fund CCLA 634117006D CB3034453 |
1173 62 51 51 0 00 145 00 1080 13 |
||
| Carlton Cross CCLA 634117002D CB3034451 |
8715 03 791 73 0 00 0 00 0 00 9506 76 |
||
| Fabric Fund CCLA 634117001D CB3034449 |
41545 99 2072 65 4256 58 17318 75 0 00 65193 97 |
||
| GENERAL | FUND | SANTANDER 97333084 CCLA 634117003D CB3034452 |
41326 91 202135 23 1450 63 837 50 158148 78 17318 75 70282 74 |
| Monetary assets at 31.12.24 RECEIPTS Net receipts Donations Interest Income from other CCLA investments Investment gain/loss Transfers in PAYMENTS Net payments Transfers out Monetary assets at last reconciliation |
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