# **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Luke with St Bartholomew Reading Reg. Charity No. 1158694** **Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 17 May 2026, 12 noon, In-person at St Luke’s Church and via Zoom** **Agenda Minutes of 2025 Meeting Parish Reports including Parish Accounts** ## **Sunday 17 May 2026, 12 Noon, In-person at St Luke’s Church and via Zoom** ## **Meeting of Parishioners for the Choice of Churchwardens** _**(Anyone on the electoral roll of the church, OR resident in the parish may vote in this meeting)**_ ## **AGENDA** ## **1. Election of Churchwardens** ## **Annual Parochial Church Meeting** _**Only those on the electoral roll of the parish may vote in this meeting. Others may ask questions and join in discussion at the discretion of the Chair**_ ## **AGENDA** **1. Apologies for absence** **2. Minutes of the 2025 APCM** **3. Confirmation/Elections of Deanery Synod Members** **4. Elections of PCC Officers and Ordinary Members** - I. Election of Deanery Synod members - II. Election of PCC members - III. Appoint independent examiner if necessary **5. Outline of the Annual Reports:** - I. Chair of PCC Report - II. Churchwarden’s Report - III. Electoral Roll Update - IV. Treasurer’s Report **6. The Year Ahead** **7. Feedback, Questions and Any Other Business** (Items to be considered for AOB to be sent to the Vice Chair via office@redlandsparish.org.uk no later than 14 May 2026) **8. Closing Prayers** **9. Dates of PCC meetings –** to be agreed by members of the PCC APCM report May 2026 ## **Minutes of the meeting of the St Luke with St Bartholomew APCM Sunday 11 May 2025 In-person at St Luke’s Church and via Zoom** **Attendees:** Ann Abernethy; Steve Allen; Sylvia Allen; Kirsten Bayes; Margaret Bentall; Bar Blakey; Margaret Carter; Ola Cassels White; Martin Clatworthy; Sarah Collins; Gordon Cox; Sheila Cox; Janet Davis; Mary Evans; Jane Kenyon; Gary Kenyon; Gillian Lyne; Everette Marshall; Sally-Ann McDowell; Jenny Page; Julian Pratt; Elizabeth Rebbeck; Malcolm Reid; Janet Shield; Ben Shield; Jenny Sims; Sue Smith; John R Starr; Dianne Tavares; Shelagh Tonkyn; Alan Tonkyn; Anthony Vine; Chris Wakelin; Lynne Webb Meeting started at 11.55. Gordon Cox welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained that in the absence of a Vicar that he was elected by the PCC as Vice Chair to the PCC and was responsible for chairing today’s meetings. There are two meetings taking place, the first to elect the Churchwardens for the Parish and the second the main Annual Parochial Church Meeting. ## **Minutes of the Meeting of Parishioners for the Choice of Churchwardens** _**(Anyone on the electoral roll of the church, OR resident in the parish may vote in this meeting)**_ **1. Election of Churchwardens** Janet Davis and Lynne Webb were both re-nominated to stand as Churchwardens. No other nominations were received so both have been reelected as Churchwardens for the coming year. This will be their third year of office. This concludes the first meeting. ## **Minutes of the Annual Parochial Church Meeting** _**Only those on the electoral roll of the parish may vote in this meeting. Others may ask questions and join in discussion at the discretion of the Chair**_ **1. Apologies for absence:** Bridget Green; Leslie Green; Hilary Jakeman; Francis Jakeman; Sophia Jones; Trevor Slack; Paul Webster ## **2. Minutes of the 2024 APCM** Comments – None Amendments – None advised Minutes approval. Proposed by Sally-Ann; Seconded by Mary Evans. 35 in favour. One abstention. Minutes approved. APCM report May 2026 ## **3. Confirmation of Deanery Synod Members** Hilary Jakeman and Everette Marshall will continue to represent the parish at Deanery Synod. Thank you for your service. ## **4. Elections of PCC Officers and Ordinary Members** - IV. **Election of PCC members –** As we have 101 on the Electoral Roll we are permitted 12 elected lay members. Paul Webster and Anthony Vine are stepping down from the PCC this year, we would like to thank them for their service to the PCC and church community. This year we have two vacancies. One new nomination has been received – Trevor Slack. Proposed by Lynne Webb, Seconded by Hilary Jakeman. As the number of nominations is fewer than the vacant posts Trevor is automatically elected to the PCC. Many thanks to all current members for your continuing service and we look forward to welcoming our new member to the PCC. - V. Appoint independent examiner– Sally-Ann Mcdowell (Treasurer) advised the need for a formal appointment of an independent examiner to inspect the accounts as our income is in excess of £100,000. For the last three years this has been Jo Macalister and if approved is happy to continue for the coming year. All in favour. - VI. PCC Secretary – Sarah is happy to continue as PCC Secretary. No other nominations or interest has been received. ## **5. Outline of the Annual Reports:** - V. Vice Chair of PCC Report provided by Gordon Cox. Report provided in Annual Report which was sent out to the distribution list by email. No questions were raised. - VI. Warden’s Report – all in annual report – No questions or comments raised. - VII. Electoral Roll Update – Gillian Lyne – total this year 101 people. - VIII. Treasurer’s Report - The Treasurer produced two reports – a simplified one, plus formal accounts which are inspected and uploaded to The Charities’ Commission website. The brief one is provided in the APCM report notes and the formal full one which was sent out with the report and is also posted on Charities Commission site. We made more money than we spent mainly due to the amount of Parish Share we have been paying - 55% last year and 62.5% of full parish share this year. The plan is to eventually get to full parish share but until we have a larger income won’t do 100%. It is hoped that we may be able to get to and sustain 75% and we need to bear in mind with recruitment. Alan – a personal question to Sally-Ann - We are very, very grateful for all the work you have done and the summary report shows the level of work. You have APCM report May 2026 been hoping for some time to share day to day tasks with someone else – have you had anyone come forward? Sally-Ann – No Alan - The PCC should be aware that Sally-Ann needs to have some support and her ability to carry on long term will depend on getting more help. Libby – I would prefer see us getting a .75 incumbent rather than straining all our efforts all year every year to get 100%. - IX. Safeguarding Report – Our Safeguarding Officer (Gillian Lyne) reiterated the importance of us all being involved in safeguarding where we all aim to look after each other. Not just those who work with children or vulnerable people or on PCC. We really need to think about how we talk to each other and how we behave so we are reflecting who we are and what we are asked to do as Christians. Anyone who has not yet done any training who is interested, talk to Gillian. There is excellent training out there, available for free to all and it is good to do. We are doing really well at parish level but do need to be vigilant. - . ## **6. The Year Ahead – Lynne Webb (Churchwarden)** Obviously, the main priority of the coming year will be to appoint our new vicar. We will be completing our year of restriction in July and by then we plan to have made a start on collecting the information we need for our Parish Profile, having spent some time on our Parish Day in June working together on our vision for the future. We will be starting the legal processes necessary to bring us to the point where we can put out an advertisement and we are optimistic that this should be well under the way by the autumn and this time next year the vacancy should be filled. As a church we will continue to strive with more new members of our church joining our electoral roll, to share their talents and help us boost our finances. We will continue to welcome more young families into the congregation while remaining a fully inclusive and dog friendly church. We will continue with our many social events, encouraging members of our local community to join us. For example, Hymns and Pimms, Barbecue, Soups and Puds and our Christmas Fair to name a few. Even though we are in an interregnum, we are excited to see that there are new ideas being suggested and are hoping to see that they will come to fruition in the future. We are seeing and hopefully will continue to see a rise in our hall bookings, in fact we aim to see a notable increase in our funds generally. Our Coffee Mornings and weekly Toddlers, Craft, Scrabble and Garden Groups will continue to thrive. We are pleased that Aurora now has a licence and will continue to grow in strength at St Bartholomew’s where we will also have special services during the year. APCM report May 2026 Our Churchwarden’s Report this year contains that’s to everyone in the congregation for their continued support and love and we just know that this will continue throughout the coming year. We can’t thank Christine enough for leading us through this interregnum, for the many hours of preparation and finding time to visit the sick and those families preparing for baptism and various other challenges. We thank Francis for stepping in where needed and starting our Tuesday prayer group. Thanks to Sarah and Jane for the hard work and support they give Christine, Janet and me, Sarah just knows everything you need to know and as an added bonus she supports Reading FC! With our strong leadership team at the helm I think we are in for a successful year ahead but your prayers for your church could make all the difference. Thank you Lynne Webb and Janet Davis Churchwardens ## **7. Feedback, Questions and Any Other Business** No items of AOB provided ## **Questions?** None asked. 8. **Closing Prayers – Christine -** I love you and I love doing what I do because we together are the body of Christ in this little bit of Reading. Let’s keep on doing that and loving each other and doing things together, sometimes we will get it wrong but let’s just keep working together. Christine prayed for us all. Christine thanked Gordon for being such an excellent Vice-Chair and for managing the APCM so efficiently. ## **9. Dates of PCC meetings –** to be agreed by members of the PCC **Meeting ended 12.16pm** APCM report May 2026 ## **ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL** ## **OF ST LUKE WITH ST BARTHOLOMEW FOR THE YEAR ENDED MAY 17, 2026** ## _**Administrative information**_ St Luke's and St Bartholomew's are two churches joined into one parish, situated in Reading, Berkshire. They are part of the Diocese of Oxford within the Church of England. The correspondence address is _**The Parish Office, St Luke’s Church, Erleigh Road, Reading, RG1 5LU.**_ The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity which is registered with the Charity Commission. Members of the PCC from the last APCM (11 May 2025) until the date this report was approved are: The Rev'd Christine Blackman, Associate Priest Lynne Webb, Churchwarden Janet Davis, Churchwarden ## _Deanery Synod representatives_ Hilary Jakeman Everette Marshall ## _Other elected members_ : Gordon Cox, Vice Chair Leslie Green, Buildings Group lead Sally-Ann McDowell, Treasurer and Finance Group lead Gillian Lyne, Safeguarding Officer and Electoral Roll Officer Paul Carnell Ola Cassels White Everette Marshall Janet Shield Dianne Tavares Alan Tonkyn Trevor Slack ## _Co-opted members_ : Jane Kenyon (Hall Manager) ## _PCC Secretary_ Sarah Collins (Parish Administrator and PCC Secretary) The PCC has met on 7 occasions since the last APCM. APCM report May 2026 ## _**Structure, governance and management**_ The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All eligible Church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election on the PCC. ## _**Objectives and activities**_ St Luke with St Bartholomew's PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the Vicar in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has the maintenance responsibilities for the Churches of St Luke's, Erleigh Road, Reading; St Bartholomew's, London Road, Reading; and the Parish Hall, Erleigh Road, Reading. ## _**Church attendance**_ The number on the Electoral Roll 17 May 2026 is 108. We continued to provide zoom links for services which were appreciated by people who were unwell or out of Reading. The average weekly attendance in October was 78 (of which 8 were under the age of 16) at St Luke's. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, a total of 165 people attended our services with others joining via Zoom. As there is no regular worship at St Bartholomew’s, the October average was _**0**_ . Three services were held St Bartholomew’s in 2025 - Palm Sunday, St Bartholmew’s Day and Advent Sunday. ## _**Vacancy**_ The parish has been in vacancy since March 2024 with a suspension on appointment implemented on 15 January 2026. The PCC has recently been advised that it may start the process towards recruitment, and the necessary work is being undertaken. APCM report May 2026 ## _**Review of the year**_ ## **APCM 2026 Churchwardens’ Report** We begin by noting that the parish remains in vacancy, as it was at this time last year. Over the past twelve months, a slow but steady process of correspondence between the PCC and the Deanery has continued. We have now moved from a year of restriction into suspension, and several key issues such as the sustainability of Aurora at St Bartholomew’s and the use of our endowment policies have been resolved. With these matters clarified, we have been given permission to prepare a Parish Profile and begin the recruitment process. If all goes well, we hope to appoint a part-time Priest-in-Charge (0.5 FTE) by the end of the year. Unfortunately, not everything goes to plan, but we move forward with hope and prayer. This process takes a long time and has many stages, but we will keep the congregation fully informed at each stage, and when the time comes to meet candidates, we will ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to participate and offer feedback. ## **Community Life and Worship** Our aim is always to involve the wider community in all we do. Each year we hold a range of events including Soups and Puds; Games Evenings; a Beetle Drive and our very well attended and successful Christmas Fair. We remain immensely proud of our Community Garden, which continues to flourish. It hosts not only social events such as Hymns and Pimms and our Summer Barbecue but also worship on Christmas Eve and Maundy Thursday. During Advent, the church is beautifully decorated, and we invite visitors to enjoy the window displays as well as our Christmas services. Our monthly Coffee Mornings offer a warm welcome and raise funds for charities. We continue to support Bed for a Night and collect goods for the Drop-In Centre. The younger members of our community are welcomed through our Toddler Group, and our Scrabble Group and Craft Group continue to meet weekly. We have also hosted several art exhibitions, giving local artists a space to share their creative talents. ## **Parish Gatherings and Celebrations** Members of the congregation enjoyed opportunities to come together at our Parish Day in May and our weekend in Bournemouth in September, both of which offered valuable time for fellowship, reflection, and shared faith and vision. We also celebrated two very special occasions: - Roger and Veronica’s 60th Wedding Anniversary in May, marked with a blessing and celebration tea - In October we were privileged to host a service to celebrate the Francis’s 50th Anniversary of Ordination, a joyful and memorable service APCM report May 2026 ## **Inspections and Buildings** In November, both churches were inspected by the Deanery. Our leadership team worked tirelessly in preparation, and although no written feedback was provided, we believe the inspection went well. Our children’s area has been refurbished with a new carpet and furniture, thanks to generous donations from the congregation. It is wonderful to see more young families using this space. Aurora continues to establish themselves at St Bartholomew’s, and we are now working on a five-year contract to make this even more secure. ## **Thanks** Being a Churchwarden is a time-consuming role, made far easier by the support we receive from so many people. It is encouraging to know that we are not alone. We are deeply grateful to: Sarah, Jane, and the PCC; all those unsung heroes who clean, tidy, welcome, arrange flowers, administer the chalice, make coffee, and provide music for our worship. Then we have Christine. We don’t need to say too much about her role during the past year because you all know how extremely hard she works and how dedicated she is to our Church. She has, again kept us gong though this interregnum with support from Francis and Asa, who step in to lead Sunday services when she takes a well-deserved holiday. ## **Looking Ahead** We have much to do in the coming year, but with your prayers and support, we believe we can achieve anything. We hope that by the time we write next year’s report, we will be welcoming our new Priest-in-Charge. ## **Janet Davis and Lynne Webb, Churchwardens** APCM report May 2026 ## **PCC Annual Report 2026** This report outlines the continuing work of the PCC over the past year and looks ahead to the next stages in the life of our parish. ## **Strengthening Our Spiritual Life** A welcome development this year has been the introduction of two series of weekday prayers held in the Lady Chapel: - **Parish Prayers** , led by _Francis Jakeman_ , focusing on the current needs of our parish community. - **Prayers for Peace** , suggested by _Barbara Blakey_ , encouraging us to reflect on the wider world and its many tensions. In this context, we also express our thanks to _Jane Kenyon_ for her dedicated work with the Bed for the Night scheme, which continues to be a vital expression of compassion and hospitality. It has also been encouraging to see three Lent Groups formed this year, following the Bishop of Oxford’s thoughtful course _Come and See: Discovering Jesus through the Eucharist_ . ## **Aurora Community Project** We were pleased to receive the long-awaited Licence for the Aurora Community Project at St Bartholomew’s. A small governance group has now been appointed to oversee Aurora’s use of the building and to ensure appropriate PCC oversight. This marks an important step forward in supporting the project’s development. ## **Worship, Music, and Community Engagement** Our popular Christmas Carol Service was greatly enriched by an augmented choir of 22 choristers, including three newcomers—one a mother and child who joined after seeing an advert in a local shop. As always, we are grateful to _Carlos Li_ , whose inspiring organ playing and rapport with the choir continue to lift our worship. We also give thanks for our band, who play for the monthly Messy Mass: _Steve Allen_ , _Mark Webb_ , and _Chris Wakelin_ . Their contribution brings energy and joy to our all-age worship. Beyond worship, the parish continues to engage the local community through: - our monthly coffee mornings - the beautiful community garden - regular exhibitions of local artists’ work These activities help to strengthen our presence and relationships within the neighbourhood. ## **Preparing for a New Priest-in-Charge** On 24 March, the PCC met with _Paul Cowan_ , Associate Archdeacon; _Peter Day_ , Associate Area Dean and _Rhodri Bowen_ , Parish Development Officer. APCM report May 2026 Their visit focused on the process for appointing a part-time Priest-in-Charge. They clarified the steps required, including the development of a Parish Profile, Job Description, and a timeline for advertising the post. The PCC unanimously agreed to seek a six-year appointment. This meeting built on the significant preparatory work already undertaken within the parish and provided valuable guidance for the next phase. It has set us clearly on track for the immediate future. ## **Thanks** My particular thanks go to Sarah for all she does for the PCC, and to the Churchwardens and Christine for their ongoing support and commitment. ## **Gordon Cox, Vice Chair, PCC 25 March 2026** APCM report May 2026 ## **Annual report from PCC Buildings Committee** The maintenance of our three buildings remains a challenge. Jane Kenyon as Hall Manager has managed to keep an eye on all three buildings but we do urgently need someone to take on the role vacated by Roger, who sadly died earlier this year. 1. All our statutory, annual and five yearly inspections including the Quinquinneal Inspections of both churches have been completed. (High level inspections were achieved using a drone.) 2. The buildings are in good condition considering their age. Work identified by the QI’s has been prioritised and will be scheduled as finances allow. The following works have been completed: 1. Pointing of the brickwork at St Luke’s has been completed. 2. The bell freed 3. Additional earthing fitted on the lightening conductor at St Barts. 4. Gutter external to the Hall’s Turner Room has been repaired and redecoration will be done as soon as the wall is dry. 5. St Luke’s low-level gutters cleared by volunteers from the Men’s group. 6. Replacement of the service boiler in the Hall kitchen Ongoing and uncompleted works include: 1. Relocation of storage in the Hall. 2. Provision of an accessible toilet directly to garden users. (Budget price £6,500) 3. Pointing of brickwork at St Barts including the bell tower. Discussion have been held with Aurora and a new draft five-year licence drawn up. The draft is currently with the diocesan Registrar for comment and processing. For the time being we will continue to work to the 2025 licence. The Buildings Committee would also like to thank Sarah and Jane for the day-to-day management of the Hall and the Church. May I conclude this report by thanking all members of the congregation who have assisted the Buildings Committee in maintaining the fabric of our buildings. ## **Leslie Green, Chair of the Buildings Committee April 2026** APCM report May 2026 ## **Finance** ## **Treasurer’s Report** This report is based on the draft accounts produced by the treasurer directly using the accounting software. These are currently being reviewed by the independent inspector and hopefully will be final by the time of the APCM. Any major discrepancies will be shared at the APCM. At the summary level, in 2025 our income was greater than our expenditure. This indicates we will easily be able to afford a half time parish priest for the foreseeable future. ## **INCOME** Total Income was about £135,600 (compared to £120,000 in 2024 and £125,000 in 2023). ## _**Income from donors, collections and gift aid**_ In 2024, we received about £51,500 via the bank (compared with £41,000 in 2024 and £39,700 in 2023). The gift aid recovered from giving and one off donations (for tax year 2023-2024) was just under £15,800 (in 2024 this was about £16,300). There were additional donations via the contactless device and the hole in the wall plus other generous donations (including a generous £10,000 legacy which has been placed into a deposit account) amounting to about £16,300. ## _**Income from buildings rent (hall and churches):**_ In 2024, income from building rent was about £36,700 (compared with £37,100 in 2024 and £37,500 in 2023). Hall income in 2024 was £16,150 compared to £18,900 in 2024 which is slightly down and may be due to a short period of time when the boiler was being replaced so the hall was not able to be rented out. During 2025, we signed a license agreement with Aurora for the use of St Bartholomew’s, though this was not signed until April 2025. This is due for renewal and an inflationary increase will be added. Utility costs are paid by Aurora (though not the standing charges). ## _**Other income:**_ Coffee mornings occurred regularly in 2025 and for each event held in the hall a rent of £90 was charged and so this was taken from the money raised. The remainder of funds raised went to different charities. The Christmas fair was held in 2025 and we raised about £1,400. There was about £650 for weddings and funerals. Our investments and interest on those investments made £10,800 in 2025. In 2024, this figure was £10,300. ## **EXPENDITURE** Total expenditure was about £106,700 (compared to £107,800 in 2024 and £114,000 in 2023). ## _**Utilities and insurance (excluding water)**_ Insurance in the two churches (and hall) was £11,750 compared to £10,600 in 2024. This was simply a general increase in insurance costs. Electricity cannot be properly calculated as in October we switched energy provider and we are still awaiting invoices for the two churches since October, so estimated amounts have been used. We have invoices for the hall as well as gas invoices for all 3 buildings. Using estimates, the electricity used is anticipated to be about the same as in 2024 for the APCM report May 2026 churches. For the hall there was about a £150 reduction so it may be that there is a slight reduction in the churches, but I felt it best to estimate the same until I see actual invoices. Gas in the two churches was about £6,550 which is about £1,800 less than in 2024. Hall gas was about £3,400 in 2025 which is lower than in 2024 (£4,200). In 2024, electricity was about £1,300 compared to about £1,500 in 2024. ## _**Charitable giving:**_ Our plan continues to be to donate to some local charities regularly and then do one off fundraising for others throughout the year. From our coffee mornings and other charitable events as well as our regular donations, we managed to give about £5,130 to charities compared top £6,000 in 2024 and £4,900 in 2023. ## _**Parish Share:**_ Our Parish share was £28,400 in 2025 compared to £26,500 in 2024. In 2026 we will be paying a 50% parish share rather than being in recovery. Costs for this are £32,050. ## _**Parish Administrator and Hall Manager:**_ The combined salaries (including pension, tax and national insurance where appropriate) were just over £20,600 compared to £20,000 in 2024. ## **BALANCE OF FUNDS** Our usable funds have increased from last year to £85,300. These were £55,400 in 2024, £43,200 in 2023 and £33,866 in 2022. We do also have some “untouchable” funds, which were valued at £291,659 on 31 Dec 2024 compared to £296,221 on 31 Dec 2024. These are the Lawrence Bequest, the Curacy fund, the Schoolrooms fund, and the Cockburn Bequest. Apart from the Lawrence Fund, all funds lost value in 2025 and the Diocese of Oxford (who oversees these funds on our behalf) was following up with the investment brokers, but it is easier to allow them to oversee them than for us to select a new broker as we do not have the expertise or time to manage this. Investments are prone to raise and fall and so should always be considered as long term. ## _**Reserves Policy**_ The reserves policy was not discussed in 2025, however our accounts show that we still meet the reserves policy as set in 2011. The reserves policy is still to maintain reserves of at least £5,000 per building for emergency maintenance to the buildings. The maximum amount to be held in reserves was agreed to be £100,000, although we could potentially hold more if the PCC determined there was a valid reason for doing so. In 2025, a couple of new restricted funds were created. A Missionary Fund for use in missionary works at St Lukes was set up from a legacy (this started with £10,000 and more may come in future years). A restricted fund for St Bartholomew’s was also set up and at year end had £7,327. This is for use of invoices related to St Bartholomew’s as needed. All reserves are held as funds invested with the Central Board of Finance of the Church of England for the time being. ## _**Finance Committee**_ The finance committee met in 2025 and further actions and decisions were shared via email throughout the year. The committee consists of the treasurer, the hall manager, the parish administrator, Kirsten Bayes and Chris Wakelin. ## **Sally-Ann McDowell, Treasurer** APCM report May 2026 ## **Safeguarding Report 2026** _“Speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of all who are vulnerable.”_ **Proverbs 31:8** Safeguarding remains a central responsibility for us as a church community. We continue to hear of abuse across all areas of society, including within the Church, and this serves as a sobering reminder that vigilance is essential. As individuals and as a parish, we share a collective duty to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. ## **A Changing Safeguarding Landscape** Safeguarding continues to evolve in response to new risks and cultural shifts. As the National Safeguarding Team notes: - **Changing risks:** The widespread use of the internet and social media has created safeguarding challenges that did not exist twenty years ago. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, may reshape these risks even further. - **Changing culture:** The Church of England has been confronting past failings and is increasingly committed to learning from them. Unlike the Ten Commandments which were “written in stone”, safeguarding guidance must adapt as risks and expectations change. At St Luke with St Bartholomew, we work to stay informed and responsive to these developments, ensuring our practice remains aligned with current guidance. ## **DBS and Administration** The past six months have brought significant administrative change. Following a data breach at APCS that affected some of our volunteers, the Oxford Diocese recommended a move to Verifile as our new DBS provider. Those impacted were offered a year’s free credit monitoring with Experian, one of the UK’s leading credit reference agencies. My sincere thanks go to Jenny Page for navigating these changes and ensuring that DBS checks continued smoothly throughout the transition. ## **Safeguarding Awareness and Training** We are grateful to Christine for preaching on Safeguarding Sunday about the importance of safeguarding, helping to keep this vital topic visible within our worshipping community. Safeguarding training has continued steadily. This year, only a small number of members reached the three-year renewal point, but we remain committed to ensuring everyone completes the training appropriate to their role. ## **Safeguarding Dashboard and Action Plan** At the time of writing, our Diocesan Safeguarding Dashboard is at Level 3, with 95% of requirements completed. This reflects a significant amount of work across the parish. My thanks go to the many people who have contributed to reviewing, revising, and approving the various safeguarding policies and procedures that feed into the dashboard. This work has generated a comprehensive Action Plan, presented to the PCC on 27 April for approval. ## **Gillian Lyne, Safeguarding Officer** APCM report May 2026 ## **APCM Clergy Report 2026** I am delighted to report that, at an emergency PCC meeting in March, we were finally given permission to begin the process of appointing a 0.5 Priest-in-Charge. Your Churchwardens will share more about this, but it is a testament to their commitment and hard work behind the scenes that we have reached this point. ## **Worship and Congregational Life** The past year has seen continued and steady growth. Sunday attendance remains between 50 and 60, and week by week we welcome new people—many of whom choose to return. Patterns of churchgoing have changed, especially for families, but we are delighted that nearly 30 children and young people now attend services regularly. We celebrated seven baptisms this year, and several families returned for our January Messy Service when we remember those who have been baptised. This year the youngest was only a few months old and the oldest well into their nineties—a beautiful reminder of the breadth of God’s family. ## **Sunday Worship** Our customary rhythm continues: - **Three Sundays** supported by our flourishing Choir, led with skill and enthusiasm by Carlos Li. We are grateful for the choir’s commitment and for the warm welcome they extend to visiting singers at special services. - **One Messy Mass** , less formal and projected on the screen, supported by our wonderful musicians, Mark, Chris, and Steve who gamely join in with even my most creative ideas. (St Lucy’s Day with leafy candle crowns was a particular highlight!) ## **Children and Families** Sunday Club meets twice a month in the Hall, offering music, games, and craft. On other Sundays, activities are available at the front of church. It is a joy to see the children feeling at home in our worshipping community. ## **Weekday Worship** We continue to offer two weekday Communion services – Tuesday evening and Thursday morning, which have become a first point of contact for several new members of the congregation. We have also maintained regular services at St Bartholomew’s, including an Advent Meditation and the celebration of the Patronal Festival. Aurora continues to care for the building beautifully, and it is a joy to return to a place filled with such treasured memories. ## **Pentecost Sunday Parish Day** Our Parish Day on Pentecost Sunday included a shared meal and time spent looking ahead to the possibility of appointing an incumbent (later this year, all being well). We reflected on the charge given to new priests at ordination and considered what we hope a future priest might help us achieve. Interestingly, several tasks were identified as ones the congregation could share, and hopefully people will come forward to volunteer for these task. APCM report May 2026 When asked to describe who we are and what we hope for, the most repeated theme was community – being a Christian presence and source of support for the local community and also nurturing each other with the Church community. ## **Healing, Celebration, and Reflection** - In August, we held a service of healing, including the Laying on of Hands for those who wished. - In September, our Parish Weekend offered rest, relaxation, fellowship, and study focused on the Wedding at Cana. - Later that month, we celebrated Francis’s 50th Anniversary of Ordination, a wonderful milestone and a good moment to thank him for the wisdom and ministry he brings to our parish from so many years of ministry. - All Saints was celebrated in our Sunday morning worship, and All Souls with a special afternoon service where the names of the departed were read aloud. ## **Advent and Christmas** By the end of the Church’s year there had been a lot of busy-ness with the inspection and meetings, so in Advent we tried to focus on peace. Prayers for Peace were held in the Lady Chapel on Tuesday lunchtimes, and a series of home meditations were provided to those who wished to do them. Christmas was a time of celebration joy: - A wonderful Carol Service provided by the Choir, with members of the community accepting the invitation to join them. - The weather was kind for the Crib Service which began in the Community Garden. - A beautiful Midnight Mass led by Frances. - A warm and informal Christmas Morning Communion. ## **Lent, Holy Week, and Easter** Three well-attended Lent Groups met across the parish. Holy Week was marked by weekday services and a Maundy Thursday liturgy including the washing of feet and the Watch before the Sacrament, with our Community Garden standing in for Gethsemane. Easter Sunday was a time of great joy, and the church looked beautiful. ## **Community Connections** We continue to value our strong links with the local community. This year we hosted the funeral of a much-loved local resident, with the church full and many standing outside. We were also delighted to celebrate the marriage of a couple long connected with us through the Toddler Group. The group does valuable work with young families and our thanks go to Hilary and Francis for all their hard work over the years. APCM report May 2026 ## **A Tribute to Roger** Before offering wider thanks, I must mention Roger, whose contribution to parish life over many years has been enormous, whether overseeing the building of the office space, creating the coffee bar, designing and building the altar, and responding to countless “this needs fixing” phone calls. Roger’s health had been deteriorating for a while, but he and Veronica celebrated their Diamond Wedding Anniversary in May with a Blessing Service in church. By his 90th birthday in January, coming to church was too difficult, so thirty members of the congregation took the service to his home. Roger died in February, and our love and prayers remain with his family. ## **Thanks** Keeping a busy church like St Luke’s running smoothly is truly a team effort and so many people contribute that I hope I don’t miss anyone. My heartfelt thanks go to: Carlos and the Choir; the Messy Mass musicians; Mary and all who arrange the flowers; everyone who cleans the church (and the loos!); the young people who sort the hymn numbers; our welcomers; those who administer the Chalice; everyone who makes and serves coffee; those who clear up afterwards; Francis, for giving me a break; Ben, for being a wonderful server; Steve, for fairy lights and so much more; Jane, for always knowing where everything is and preparing so much behind the scenes; our Churchwardens, who keep me on the straight and narrow and Sarah, who endures my to-do lists and remains a constant source of encouragement. Thank you all for everything you do. ## **The Reverend Christine Blackman, Associate Priest** APCM report May 2026 ## **Sunday Club Report 2026** Sunday Club has continued to meet twice a month, supported by a faithful and committed team of leaders: Jane, Jenny, and Lynne. Each session is staffed by at least one leader and one helper, all of whom have completed the appropriate safeguarding training. ## **Attendance** The total number of children attending Sunday worship has grown to nearly 30, although week-to-week attendance varies considerably due to family commitments. A significant number of our younger children are not yet old enough for Sunday Club, but their presence in church is a joy and a sign of a growing congregation. ## **Activities and Worship** The children enjoy a lively mix of: - stories - games - crafts - opportunities to contribute to prayer Activities usually follow the theme of the day’s Gospel reading, helping the children to connect with the worship of the whole church. When they return to the service, they are encouraged to share what they have been doing, which is always warmly received by the congregation. ## **Thanks** We offer our sincere thanks to Lynne, Jenny, and Jane for their dedication, creativity, and care. Their hard work ensures that the children have a positive, engaging, and faith-filled experience every time they meet. ## **Christine** APCM report May 2026 ## **Pastoral Care Report – April 2026** The Pastoral Care Team and other supportive parishioners have offered Care and Support to members of the congregation. The Team consists of Christine Blackman, Mary Evans, Everette Marshall and me, Sheila Cox. We meet monthly to discuss the possible needs of parishioners. Some of our parishioners are now housebound but are still very interested in the activities of our Church. I'd like to thank the team for their support and for keeping contact with parishioners who cannot get out to church or to social events. We have been able to offer lifts to medical appointments and social events. For those who need equipment supplied we can help signpost to the necessary services. Shopping support is available to those who need this form of help. Parish members can ask their fellow friends for lifts if required. The teas for Senior Citizens continue to be held every other month. Thank you to the hosts and those who supply refreshments. We had a new host to visit this year. All Seniors are welcome to attend. This is a photo of one of our teas on a sunny day last June. ## **Sheila Cox - Pastoral Care Leader** APCM report May 2026 ## **Parish Hall Report 2026** The Parish Hall has continued to strengthen its role as a vibrant community hub over the past year, welcoming a wide range of groups, events, and initiatives that reflect the diversity and creativity of our local area. ## **Community Events and Exhibitions** The Hall has hosted three successful weekend art exhibitions— **Sunshine and Showers Hopes and Dreams** , and **Order and Chaos** —held in the summer, autumn, and spring respectively. These exhibitions have deepened our relationships with local artists and provided an inviting space for the wider community to engage with the arts. In May, we marked the **80th anniversary of VE Day** with a well-attended community afternoon tea. The celebration featured a charming display of our commemorative tea towels, alongside plentiful tea and cake, creating a warm and memorable occasion for all who joined us. ## **New Regular Hirers** Since September, we have welcomed two new weekly hirers offering activities not previously hosted in the Hall: - **Little Musketeers** – a children’s fencing group bringing energy and new families into the building - **The Actors Lounge** – an adult acting group adding to the Hall’s creative life In addition, a local charity has begun holding its monthly social gatherings in the Hall, further broadening our community connections. ## **Bed for a Night Scheme** Now in its third year, the **Bed for a Night** scheme has continued to offer vital support to refugees during the winter months. From January to March, and in partnership with several churches across Reading, the Hall opened its doors one night each week to provide guests with an evening meal, a safe place to sleep, and breakfast in the morning. This ongoing work remains a meaningful expression of hospitality and care within our parish. ## **Hall Bookings and Long-Standing Users** Children’s parties continue to grow in number, reflecting the Hall’s popularity as a welcoming and flexible venue for families. We also maintain strong relationships with our long-standing hirers, whose continued presence contributes to the Hall’s stability and sense of community. ## **Jane Kenyon, Hall Manager** APCM report May 2026 ## **St Luke’s Toddler Group** St. Luke's Toddler group is a friendly & flourishing community group, which meets in the parish hall every Wednesday morning. It runs from 9.15am to 11.15am. The group takes a break only in the main school holidays i.e. 2 weeks at Christmas, 2 at Easter and 6 in the summer, late July to early September, fitting in with Reading Borough's school holidays. We invite all carers to bring their little ones, from babies to about 4 and a half years. We ask for a donation of £1 per adult and 50 p per child, but everyone is welcome, whether or not they can pay. Refreshments are provided by our team of helpers in the kitchen. There is also a chocolate egg at Easter and a book and balloon at Christmas! We have lots of toys, ranging from baby toys on a soft mat to ride-on trikes & cars, a trampoline, a train layout, books and puzzles, and a dressing-up box. We have all the toys out till 10.45, then it's clear-up time and we finish with a sing song round the mat. All the team members are DBS checked. We find that most of the carers who attend the group, live locally, which means they walk to the hall, and we see them on other days, when we are around the neighbourhood. The carers are always very appreciative, and one young lady who brings her little girl to the group is kind enough to say that Wednesday morning is the highlight of their week! We never know how many children to expect on a Wednesday morning - it can vary between 9 and 31 - usually it is between 15 and 18. We publicise church activities as appropriate, for example the Sunday School. Mothering Sunday, Harvest, etc. It was a great joy last October to attend a wedding, which came out of the group. At the end of the autumn term we always have a Christmas party, made up of games, a sing song and party food, after which we go into church, where Christine tells the story of Jesus' birth round the crib. If you have any young families in your neighbourhood, do give them a leaflet about our Toddler Group & encourage them to attend. It's been a great privilege to lead the group since I took over from Penny Starr 6 years ago, and I'm grateful to leave it in the capable hands of Lynne Webb, John Starr and Janet Shield through whom Our Lord will continue to bless many more Toddlers and their carers in the future. ## **Hilary Jakeman.** APCM report May 2026 ## **Monthly Coffee Morning** ## **St Luke’s Coffee Morning Report** The monthly Coffee Morning continues to be a much-loved and welcoming occasion, drawing together members of St Luke’s congregation, friends from other local churches, and neighbours from our wider community. Held in the hall on the first Saturday of the month from 11.00 am to 12 noon, it offers a friendly space for conversation, hospitality, and charitable giving. We run nine Coffee Mornings each year, taking breaks in January and August, and in December we join the Church Christmas Fair rather than holding a separate event. ## **Charitable Giving** Each month we support a different charity, usually suggested by a member of the Coffee Morning team, though we warmly welcome suggestions from the wider congregation. We aim for a healthy balance between local and international causes. Below are the charities supported over the past year, with amounts raised: |**Month**|**Charity**|**Amount Raised**| |---|---|---| |**April 2025**|ReInspired|£150| |**May**|Christian Aid|£200 (added to the total St Luke’s
giving)| |**June**|The Red Cross|£140| |**July**|Christian Community Action,
Reading|£115| |**September**|Sue Ryder Hospice Care|£160| |**October**|Médecins Sans Frontières|£210| |**November**|Chocolatada, Pilcomayo, Peru|£500 (included within wider
fundraising)| |**December**|Church Christmas Fair|—| |**February**
**2026**|Sightsavers|£145| |**March**|Medical Aid to Palestinians|£330| In addition to these donations, each month we also raise enough to cover the hall hire (£90). ## **Stalls and Contributions** Alongside coffee and cake enjoyed in the hall, we are fortunate to have a loyal group of stallholders offering: - Cakes to take home - Bric-a-brac - Jams, chutneys, and marmalade - Books and jigsaws - A monthly raffle APCM report May 2026 Donations for any of the stalls are always gratefully received, and we are very happy to hear from anyone who might like to run a stall in future. ## **Closing Note** Thank you to everyone who supports the Coffee Morning — by attending, baking, donating, running stalls, or suggesting charities. Your generosity and enthusiasm make these gatherings such a joyful part of our parish life. See you at the next Coffee Morning! ## **Hilary Jakeman** APCM report May 2026 ## **House and Lent Groups Report 2026** Outside Lent, the House Group meets monthly in the evening at the Tonkyns’ home and currently consists of nine regular members. Over the past year, our discussions have centred on three themes: Heaven, Advent, and Lent. ## **Exploring Heaven** From May to October, the group explored the theme of Heaven using a series of five short video talks by theologian Paula Gooder, based on her book _Heaven_ . Somewhat to our surprise, only one of the talks focused directly on life after death. Instead, Paula invited us to consider: - the Jewish understanding of Heaven as a real place existing alongside Earth - earthly places where God feels especially close - the role and significance of angels, noting that _“mainstream Christianity rarely talks about angels and their significance”_ - the different ways God communicates with us from His Heaven The final session addressed New Testament perspectives on life after death, raising some challenging and thought-provoking questions. ## **Advent Reflections** In November and December, we turned to four Advent themes—Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love—covering them across two sessions. Using video material from The Bible Project and relevant Scripture passages, we explored the Hebrew and Greek roots of these concepts and asked questions such as: - How might we experience God’s peace more deeply this Christmas? - How did St Paul hold joy and sorrow together in his ministry? - These sessions offered a rich preparation for the Advent season. ## **Lent Groups** During Lent, three weekly groups met across the parish: - a Sunday group led by Christine in church after worship - an evening group at the Tonkyns’ home - a daytime group led by Francis and Hilary Jakeman All three groups followed the Bishop of Oxford’s Come and See Lent programme, focusing on the Eucharist and its central act of sharing bread and wine. The course explored Jesus as: - host and friend at the feast - the Lamb of God - the Bread of Life - the True Vine - the Son of God who draws us into the worship of heaven - the one who sends us out _“to live and work to his praise and glory”_ Our discussions invited participants to respond to the Bishop’s reflections and to consider deeper questions such as: - What does it mean to form a relationship with our Christian brothers and sisters? - How might we follow St Paul’s call to overcome evil with good? These sessions were thoughtful, engaging, and spiritually enriching for all who took part. **Alan Tonkyn** 27 March 2026 APCM report May 2026 ## **Men’s Group Report APCM 2026** The idea of forming a Men’s Group emerged during the working-party discussions leading up to the Week of Gratitude and Generosity, when it was noted that men are under-represented in our congregation. Establishing a group similar to the Men’s Breakfast gatherings in other churches was suggested as a way of strengthening fellowship and building up our church community. ## **Early Conversations and Planning** Following further discussions with Christine, an initial email was sent to a number of men in the parish to gauge interest. As part of this process, Alan Tonkyn hosted a table at the Parish Day on 8 June, where anyone interested could explore the idea further. Francis Jakeman joined Alan at the table, along with three other congregation members, and offered to help with setting up the group. We are also grateful to Ian Collins, who shared his considerable experience of running a church men’s group and met with Francis and Alan to provide further guidance and practical advice. ## **Launching the Group** A second email invitation was sent out, and the group held its first meeting at The Roebuck pub in September. Nine men attended, and there was lively discussion about the purpose of the group, the frequency of meetings, and the kinds of activities that would be most fruitful. The enthusiasm in the room made it clear that this was a welcome and timely initiative. Since then, the group has met twice more at The Roebuck, in November and March. Each meeting has begun with Dwelling in the Word, reflecting on a Gospel passage that would later form the basis of one of Francis’s sermons. Whether or not our reflections found their way into the sermon, everyone participated with great energy and openness. ## **Activities and Fellowship** In addition to pub gatherings, the group has enjoyed time outdoors. In January, we walked together on a beautiful sunny day in Silchester, following a route suggested by Trevor Slack, and ending with a convivial lunch at the Calleva Arms. A further country walk is planned for 11 April, again concluding with a shared pub meal. ## **Membership and Looking Ahead** The group continues to grow, with at least one new member already joining and another expected in April. We hope to expand further as the year progresses and to enjoy a varied programme of social and church-related activities that build fellowship, deepen faith, and strengthen our shared life as a parish. **Alan Tonkyn** 27 March 2026 APCM report May 2026 ## **Erleigh Road Community Garden** It was another busy year at the garden with Thursday sessions continuing throughout the year, Saturday sessions stopping for the winter months and then starting up again the spring and the afterschool club took place on Fridays during the spring and autumn term. This garden became a charity in December 2024 as Food4families could no longer support the garden. The charity manages the garden and the funds raised enable the regular sessions to continue to run. The garden is therefore now dependent on donations to be able to fund the sessions and buy seeds and materials As well as the regular sessions we also held some successful events including pumpkin carving and a wreath making workshop. We also held two open afternoons – one in May and one in September - and raised money for the garden through the sale of plants, cream teas and homemade jams, chutneys and biscuits We were also delighted that the garden received awards again this year. We entered the RHS’s It’s Your Neighbourhood awards and were awarded Level 5 ‘Outstanding’ and also the 2025 National Certificate of Distinction for consistently performing highly in this category. We also entered the RHS Reading in Bloom awards and won Gold in the Community Garden category and were Highly Commended in the Wellbeing category. ## **Naomi German** APCM report May 2026 ## **Deanery Synod Review of 2025** ## **– February Meeting St Catherine of Siena Church, Tilehurst** - **Children & Youth Work at St Barnabas, Emmer Green** David Howell, lay preacher and churchwarden, shared their parish’s experience of developing Children and Youth (CYP) ministry. - **Deanery CYP Ministry** Parishes were encouraged to continue developing CYP work. Early conversations have begun about youth-worker apprenticeships, building on the strong partnership with schools through REinspired. - **Citizens UK Update** Steve Masters has been appointed as the Citizens UK Community Organiser. Current areas of focus include: - Street safety in Reading - Justice for refugees, particularly regarding the quality of hotel food - **Parish Reflections on 2024** Small-group discussions highlighted: - Lack of volunteers - Financial pressures - Many mission initiatives, especially toddler groups - Strong ongoing work from **REinspired** - **Deanery Mission & Ministry Review** The Deanery Leadership Team has begun a staged review of long-term patterns of mission and ministry. - **Safeguarding** Synod was asked to hold in prayer all those affected by current safeguarding conversations, especially victims and survivors of abuse. ## **– April Meeting Trinity Church, Earley** - **Volunteering at Reading University** Molli Cleaver and Bethany Brown outlined principles of volunteering and student engagement. - **Draft CYP Deanery Plan** Revd Mike Smith presented the draft Children and Young People Plan, envisioning: - Engagement with CYP across all age ranges - Trained volunteers and employed ministers - Partnership with schools and community organisations - Discipleship pathways for young people across Reading **Synod approved the following motion:** _“This Synod commits to:_ • _prioritising ministry to children, young people and families through prayer and agenda-setting_ • _establishing an intentional leadership team, initially through the Deanery Leadership Team_ • _establishing a clear baseline of CYP numbers in churches and schools_ • _agreeing the draft CYP Plan 2025–2029 as the deanery strategy_ • _keeping the plan under constant review and development.”_ - **Clergy Appointments** - Revd Rachel Bedford inducted as Vicar of Greyfriars - Revd Mark Laynesmith inducted as Vicar of St Nicolas, Earley APCM report May 2026 ## **July Meeting – St Barnabas Emmer Green & Caversham Park Church** - **Estates Ministry** Revd Nick Hill (Reading Gateway) highlighted: - Reading contains **11 of the most deprived parishes** in the Berkshire Archdeaconry - Hidden deprivation exists even in apparently affluent areas - The Estates Ministry Network advocates for deprived communities across estates, HMOs, urban and rural areas **Motion passed:** _“This Synod agrees to encourage parishes, with support from the Oxford Estates Ministry Network, to:_ • _map their parishes for areas of deprivation_ • _share findings across the Deanery.”_ - **Parish Share Scheme** Mark Burton (Lay Chair & Treasurer) reported: - Ongoing decline in church attendance - Reading Deanery continues to pay its full share allocation - Proposed 2026 Parish Share Scheme: **average 4% increase** (2% minimum, 6% maximum) Approved at this stage, pending final confirmation in November. ## **– September Meeting Greyfriars Church** - **New Associate Archdeacon** Revd Paul Cowan was introduced as Associate Archdeacon of Berkshire. - **CYP Leadership & Baseline Work** The Area Dean reported progress on: - Identifying a CYP leadership team - Establishing a baseline of CYP numbers in churches and schools (in partnership with REinspired) - Developing the youth-worker apprenticeship scheme - **Mapping Deprivation** Revd Nick Hill presented his paper, reminding Synod that Reading is the poorest deanery in the Oxford Diocese. Synod agreed to follow the mapping instructions and submit data by January 2026. - **Clergy Appointments** - Revd Mark Laynesmith inducted as Vicar of St Nicolas Earley - Revd Rudy Tan inducted as Vicar of St Matthew Southcote ## **– November Meeting St Mary Magdalen Church, Tilehurst** - **Parish Share Scheme** The revised 2026 Parish Share Scheme (with minor reductions from July) was approved. - **Deanery Budget** The 2026 Reading Deanery Budget was approved. - **CYP Training** The Diocese is offering: - Annual high-quality CYP training for incumbents of churches with fewer than six children - _Youthscape Essentials_ lay training for work with secondary-age young people - A further course in development for churches with larger numbers of children - **Diocesan Synod** Revd Dr Kajsa-Stina Longuere (curate, Earley St Peter) has filled the clergy vacancy on Oxford Diocesan Synod for the 2024–2027 triennium. ## **Hilary Jakeman** APCM report May 2026 ## **ReadiFood, Reading Food Bank** Members of St. Luke’s contribute very generously to the Reading Food Bank, and their gifts are always received with gratitude. Items needed are, as ever, tins and packets of food, but people also need toiletries for adults & children, plus nappies and other items for the care of babies. A few treats are also welcome! There are tubs at the back of St Luke’s Church for donations to be left. We are grateful to Hilary and Francis Jakeman for regularly delivering your gifts to the food bank. APCM report May 2026 St Luke with St Bartholomew, Reading End of Year Financial Statements Year ending 31 Dec 2025 Introduction The accounts have been produced directly from the accounting system (Finance Co-ordinator online) and are rounding up rather than showing only the pound. statement of Financial Activities Uniestrfcted Restrl¢ted Endowment Tot81 lunds funds funds funds Prlor yoar totsl funds In¢ome and endovmionts from: Donations and l¢g8rie8 83.566 69,374 Income from tharitsble aclivrt 16,789 16,789 19,328 Other trading acbvil 3.768 3.768 3.218 Inv081menl8 21, 9,473 31,463 28.459 Other Income Total Incom• 126.112 9.473 135.585 120,378 Expondltur• on: Rgi$lng fvnd8 Exp8ndlture on charttable activit 95,804 9,473 106,321 107.385 Other expgndlturt 325 325 3CQ Total •xpndltur• 96,129 9,473 106,646 107.685 N•t In¢om• I l•xp•ndltur•l rowur¢•B b•forg tran•fer 29.983 28.940 12,693 Trnn•l•rn Grom Iran8fer8 ￿trIe￿n fiJnds- In 17,237 17.237 Gross Ir8n8lers beknn lunds- out (17.23n (17.237) Oth•r recognl8•d galn• I10••o• Galnwlo8ses on Investment as60t$ Gain3 on revalualpjn. fixed ass•ls, thaws own u8e I4,￿) 14,5621 6,732 N•t movem•nt In fund• 12.746 16,193 14,5621 24,377 19.42J Total fund• broughtforw•rd 41.023 286.966 228.296 308,871 Total lund• carrt•d f¢rward $3,769 16.501 282,403 352,673 328.296 R•pr•s¢nt•d by Unre8tr1ctvd Genèral lund 53,769 41.023 Re8trtctsd Admit)istrator 231 231 Missionary Fund 10,OCQ 10.oc P8rlsh Kbekgnd I￿7) 196n 11891 St Barts Restn'cted 7.237 7,237 Endowment Cockbum Bequ8st 148.811 148.811 155,019 Cura¢y Fund Lawrenco Beque81 30,830 24.915 Schoolrooms Fund 94.199 94.199 98.122 Totsl lund• 53,769 16,$01 282,403 352,673 328,296 Balanco Sheot detailed A$at 3111212024 Cla$gand ¢od• Descrlptlon 3111212025 Flxed a88ets Sthodrooms Fund 94,199 98.122 C¢xktwm Bequest 149,084 155,292 Lawrence BeqL*sI 40,051 34.136 Curacy Fund 8.324 8.671 Total Flxed a••ot• 291,659 296,221 Curr•nt a•••ts Natwest St Lukes 10.151 8,842 Natwest H811 Lloyd$ Sl B•rtS 13.810 8,248 CCLA ICBF) St Lukes dep)*t a(xx)unt 31.085 22,943 CCLA ICBFI St Barts depowl ao>)unt 2,260 2.182 CCLA ICBFI H811 deposrt ac£ounl 2,531 2.422 NalWe81 DeFosrt' Account 10.103 Cash kn hand 240 Accounts Rec•fvab 10.351 4.616 Totsl Curr•nt •￿•￿ 85.317 55.438 Llabllltl•• Acctyjnis Payab 24,302 23,363 Total LlalAIItI 24.302 23,363 N•t Au•t ¥urplu• {d•ficlt) 352.673 328,296 Rei•rv•• Excesslldeficit) lo date 28,940 1259,4191 stsrtin9 b818nce8 354,510 807,1 G¥lnsl(bs8es} on irwestment assets 126,213) 126,2131 GaIn￿{lO$84SI on investment assets {4,562) 6,732 Totsl Rewve8 352.673 328,296 Represent•d by Fund• General {Unfestsicied} 53,769 41,023 Restr￿ted 16.501 Endowment 282.403 286, Tolal 352,673 328,296 PARISH OF ST LUKE WITH ST BARTHOLOMEW, READING NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 ACCOUNTING POLICIES The financial statements have been prepared in accordan￿ with the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 to 2001 together with applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP (FRS 102). The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the annual revaluation of listed investments to market value. Fund8 General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and are available for application on the general purposes of the PCC. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted. The accounts include all transactions. assets and liabilrties for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members. Incomlng Resources Voluntary income and capital sOur￿S.. Collections are recognised when re￿iVed by or on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving receivable under covenant is recognised only when received. Income Tax recoverable on covenants or gfft aid donations is recognised when the income is recognised. Grants and legacies to the PCC are accounted for as soon as the PCC is notified of its legal entrtlement and the amount due. Income from fund raising events is accounted for net of incidental expenses. Other ordinary income: Rental income from the letting of church premises is recognised when the rental is due. Income from investments.. Dividends and interest are accounted ft)r when receivable. Tax recoverable on such income is recognised in the same accounting year. Rasourcos used Grants: Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over. or when awarded. rf that award creates a binding obli9ation on the PCC. Activities directly relatj'ng to the work of the Church: The dI0￿ssn quota or parish share is accounted for when payable. Flxad as8•ts Consecrated land and buildings and movable church fumishings.. Consecrated and beneficed propety is excluded from the accounts by s.10 (2)(b) of the Chartties Act 2011. No value is placed on movable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal Sin￿ the PCC considers this to be inalienable property. All expenditure incurred during the year on consecrated or benefice buildings and movable church furnishings, whether Maintenan￿ or improvement, is written off as expendtture in the SOFA and separatety disclosed. Investrnents: Investments are stated at market valuation. Current assets: Short-temi deposits include cash held on deposit either with the CBF Church of England Funds or at the bank. Analysis of income and expenditure Total Thls Last UnT•strl¢ted Doslgnated Re$trlctod Endowment year y•gr INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM: Oonat5on¥ and 1o94¢18• Gift Aid- Bank 51.528 51,528 40.872 Oth&r plann8d 1.078 1.078 850 L00s0 platè coll8dlon$ 1,031 one.off GrftAid gifts 2.690 2,89) 4,818 Donabon8 appeals etc 8,323 Tax re¢p)vorable on Grft Ald 12.863 12.863 11,489 Lega¢i 10.277 10,277 other funds generated 1.169 1,169 2.011 Donatlon• •nd1ogaclo¥ T¢t•l• 83,566 83,566 69,374 Income from ¢h8rftsbl• •ctlvltl Fees for wedding8 and fijnerals 428 Church h81 l&tting8- objec1fv88 16.145 16.145 18,￿￿) In¢omo from ch•rftabl• activltl•• Totsl• 16,789 16.789 19.328 Oth•r ￿dIng actbvltl 8ook81811 $8les- fvnd r8i$ing 3,768 3.184 Church hall lettings- furbd raising Oth•rlrndlng actlvltl•• Tot•l• 3.768 3,768 3,218 In¥￿tr￿ent• Divldènds 939 9,473 10,412 9,199 Bank and busfding scthty Interest 472 472 1,110 Rent from lands or tyjildings 20.579 20.579 18,150 Invoslrn•rts T¢t•l• 21.990 9,473 31,463 28.459 Income and endowments Grdnd totals 126,112 9,473 135,585 120.378 EXPENDITURE ON: ExpendltUTe on eharttable activit1•• Glving to missKryn8ry soaetie8 1.232 1.232 1,779 Giving- r•liel and developm¢nt agenues 350 235 Home miss 2,635 3,011 Secular tharÈbès 910 910 970 Mlnistry parish 8h8fe dc 19,213 9.179 28.392 26,485 A8818tant staff CA)St8 3.188 3.188 2,678 Salary of parish ¥dmlnl$lrator 20,633 19.964 brking •xpenses of incuthnl (25) (25) 1501 Parlsh training ar￿ m5Mlon 778 {180} Church Nnning- insurance 11.752 11,752 10,570 Church offirA- telephone 1,889 1,669 1,391 Organ I piano tuning 533 Church maintenance 5,470 5,470 10.559 Claaning 2.207 2,207 1.514 Upkeep of 3,740 - 4,035 2,387 Upkeep ofchurchyard 2.718 2,716 2,745 Admln181ralion 11,2331 285 19881 1,405 Church Nnnlng- olocbic 3.494 - 3.494 3,510 Church Nnning" gas 6.548 8.353 Chur¢h Nnnlng- wgter 613 613 559 Hall running- el•¢trityty 1.323 1,323 1.488 Hall running- 988 3.417 3,417 4,210 Hall running- mAlnt•nance 5,184 5.164 2,774 Hall running- waltrr 489 495 Expendlturo on eh•rltsbl• actlvStle• Totsl• 95.804- 1,043 9.473 106.321 107,385 Other •xyndltur• Govam8nce o)sts exarninationlaudit fee 325- 325 Ottwroxp•ndliurn Tolal• 325 325 300 Exp•nditurn Grand tolals 96,129- 1,043 9,473 106,fj46 107,685 FIXED ASSETS FOR USE BY THE PCC INVESTMENT ASSETS Investments held by the Central Board of Finance - Investment units. Cost at 31 December 2025 was £64,633 (market value £291.659> and at 31 December 2024 £64.633 (market value £296,221). ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND Unrnstrfcted Funds Restrlclgd Fund• Endowmont Fund• Total Fixed assets and investment 291,659 291,659 Currènt assets 85,317 85,317 Current liabilrties {24,3021 (24,302) Fund balance £61.015 £291.659 £352,674 See note below for identification of funds. LIABILITIES: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2025 2024 Accruals and deferred income £24,302 £19,382 FUND DETAILS The endowment fund comprises the Church School Rooms Fund, Curacy Fund, Lawrence and Cockburn Bequests. 01 M*y This report dated XkBBtr2026: Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 17 May 2026 and signed on its behalf by: CHARITY COMMISSION | FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to th• trustts m•mbers of The Par(￿￿ Churth CwKJl ofthe Ecdesi8￿ P8rtsh ofst Luke vitt) St Batholornow On accounts for the year ended 31-12-2025 Charity no (rf any) 1158694 Set out on pag 8•0 ac¢