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2023-12-31-accounts

St Mary Magdalene, South Bersted

Trustees Annual Report for 2023

Our Aims and Purposes as a Charity

The primary objective of St Mary Magdalene’s PCC is the promotion of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the doctrines and practices of the Church of England. The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Revd Tim Crook, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

Our aim at South Bersted, as stated in our Mission Statement, is, ‘To know Jesus Christ better and make Him better known’ and to make and mature, maturing-making disciples of Jesus Christ. Mindful always of this, our objectives to be a BERSTED church for 2023 were to:

BELONG : Everyone hospitably welcomed, loved, supported & encouraged to frequently attend and be at home in one of our congregations and a small group. We are all broken sinners whose only hope is Jesus and equal at the foot of the Cross.

EXALT : Raising our supernatural God to His rightful first place in all of our thoughts, words and deeds. Meeting for corporate prayer expressing with gratitude our entire dependence on Him.

RESOURCE : Giving generously our treasure, time & talents, serving a ministry within this church and a mission beyond it, according to SHAPE.

SHEPHERD : Leading one another to our Chief Shepherd Jesus for pastoral care.

TEACH : Gospel-driven Bible truth, equipping all ages to navigate God’s way and thrive in life’s challenges today.

EVANGELISE : Unashamed clear and confident Gospel sharing, purposefully invitational to services, events, courses & 1- 2-1’s.

DISCIPLE : Making and maturing more disciple-making, growing and grace-filled Jesus followers.

What we planned to do to achieve our charitable objectives

When planning our activities for the year, our incumbent and the PCC have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on ‘charities for the advancement of religion’. The PCC has complied with the duty to have due regard under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, fully recognising its duty to have full regard to House of Bishop’s guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The safeguarding policy is accessible from the Church’s website.

For 2023, the following objectives and activities were planned to fulfil our aims:

to provide worship services which are relevant and accessible to all members of our parish community to teach, baptise and nurture new and existing believers

to engage in evangelism and outreach to the parish in various ways to provide pastoral care for people whether part of South Bersted Church or not to support Christian mission activities in this country and abroad

What We Achieved and How We Affected Beneficiaries Lives

Attendance at Worship

Our worshipping community welcomes visitors from within as well as outside the parish boundary, especially on our Livestream. It is our great pleasure to serve anyone from all walks of life to take part in the life of the church. We believe that voluntary attendance to worship the Lord Jesus Christ is a major demonstration of the public benefit of our activities.

The Electoral Roll at the end of 2023 stood at 71, of whom 29 were resident in the parish and 42 were non-resident.

The church endeavoured to continue providing worship opportunities through on-line live-streamed services on YouTube.

We look to encourage the deepening of the faith of all ages, our monthly ‘Powerhouse’ prayer meeting was relaunched.

Over the Christmas period a variety of services were held, including:

Teaching, Baptising and Nurturing New and Existing Believers

Throughout the year the Gospel has been preached faithfully in Sunday sermons, which are also available on the website for those who miss them for any reason.

All termtime preaching series are followed up in Small Groups, which enable members to dig deeper into the Bible together, to learn more about God’s plan for us, and to encourage one another in our daily walk. We participated in Chichester Diocese’s ‘Year of the Old Testament’ initiative by preaching through Exodus, Joshua and Nehemiah. We reviewed the ‘Two Ways To Live’ gospel outline in the summer. The Bible In One Year was promoted.

A key development in the year was the continuation of the experimental ‘Jude’s Sunday Gang’ service in our Hall at 10am in term-time for families. Using the excellent resource material, Jude (a puppet lion) introduces bible stories. Families sit and learn together at tables, engaging in the up-front bible teaching led by the vicar and discussions, quizzes, crafts and songs. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Breakfast Baps are served from 9.45am.

As a church, we are involved in helping the children of our local Church of England primary school to explore all aspects of faith, and once again our vicar has either goes into the school on a regular basis for collective worship, R.E lessons, and whole school worship in the church building. Helen Lambert has become an invaluable Foundation Governor.

A ‘Walk Through the Old Testament’ day was held and led by Ian Crossley.

3 weddings, 0 baptisms and 4 Thanksgivings were held in the church during 2023.

To Engage in Evangelism and Outreach to the Parish in Various Ways

As well as regular special services during the year, including Candlemas, Ishmael Praise Party, Good Friday by Candlelight, Harvest & Remembrance to which we invite all residents of the parish and beyond. we endeavour to host various social events to which we can invite friends, family, colleagues, neighbours and contacts. In 2023 these were a Burns Night Ceilidh and children’s Light Party (a positive alternative to Halloween), Charity Festive Christmas Concert with the Bognor Regis Concert Band and Regis Jazz Band, raising funds to be able to install an external Defibrillator to serve our community.

We attempted to make the most of the King’s Coronation weekend with a prayer vigil, livestreaming from Westminster Abbey, special services, Big Help Out churchyard tidy up and BBQ Bank Holiday lunch with Regis Jazz Band.

The Word 121, Hope Explored and Christianity Explored courses have all been offered.

We hosted the Mayor’s Civic Carol Service, at which our school choir, in addition to our own choir sang.

Our church continues to be appreciated by our parishioners and others as a space where life events are celebrated with joy and thanksgiving. Funerals are a special time for ‘providing comfort to the bereaved’, and we do all they can to ensure that the service provides that comfort and help.

The church building has in the past been open most Saturday mornings when a community Fairtrade coffee morning is held. The coffee morning has provided somewhere for local people to come and enjoy a coffee, homemade cake, and there are always church members or the vicar there to talk to if someone has a particular need. This outreach opportunity was reintroduced after the global pandemic in the autumn and an additional time of Thursdays 9-11.30am.

Our Church Hall is available for use by community groups and organisations. The church seeks to ensure that the hall serves the local community, and aims to maintain good relationships with hall users. The caretaker and others work hard to ensure that the hall is clean, safe and fit for purpose.

To Provide Pastoral Care for People Whether Part of South Bersted Church or Not

Our church has provided pastoral care to many members who have been ill or housebound during the year. This has involved hospital visiting, taking round meals, sending cards, taking people to hospital, telephoning, praying and many other things, often quietly in the background with no-one knowing.

Funerals: In Church = 6; Crematorium = 2, Committal only = 1. A ‘Thanksgiving For Loved Ones’ service was held in November.

We have partnered with the Bognor Regis Food Bank for many years, where our vicar chaired the Trustees through 2023. CAP Money (Christians Against Poverty) courses have been regularly offered.

Monthly ‘Everyone@11’ gatherings are followed by a fellowship Bring & Share lunch to help unite our church family.

To Support Christian Charities at Home and Abroad

In 2023 we restated our commitment that the first 5% of income should go to Christian outreach mission giving.

We also support the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal, which is a major event in the life of the church.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

RESERVES POLICY

The trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to the charity’s needs. This is based on the charity’s size and level of financial commitments held. The trustees aim to ensure that the charity will be able to continue to fulfil its charitable objectives even if there is a temporary shortfall in income or unexpected expenditure. The trustees have not impinged in any way on restricted funds or CCLA investments and will endeavour not to set aside funds unnecessarily.

The trustees undertake an annual Risk Assessment and actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on an annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event of adverse conditions. The trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks.

The PCC has written policies on the following procedures:

  1. Legacies; 2. Investments; 3. Conflict of Interest;

  2. Complaints Handling; 5. Risk Management; 6. Committed to Volunteering; 7. Safeguarding

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Parochial Church Council [PCC] is registered with the Charity Commission as required by the Charities Act 2011. Its governing document is the Parochial Parish Councils [Powers] Measure 1956.

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

Ex-Officio members

Incumbent Revd Tim Crook Chairman Deanery Synod Reps Mr Paul Lacy [appointed to PCC May 2021 until 2024 and to Deanery Synod July 2021] Mr Peter Lambert [appointed to PCC May 2022 until 2025 and to Deanery Synod Nov 2023]. Mrs Paula Moorcroft [appointed May 2021 until 2024] Mr Dave Shawyer [appointed to PCC May 2021 and to Deanery Synod July 2021, until 2024] resigned 30/8/23 Elected Members Mr Darren Barber [appointed May 2022, until 2025] Treasurer Mrs June Shawyer [appointed May 2021, until 2024] resigned 30/8/23

Membership of the PCC is determined under the Church Representation Rules and consists of certain ex-officio members [the Incumbent, Churchwardens and Deanery Synod representatives] and up to 9 (or 12 if the total Electoral Roll is more than 100) members of the Electoral Roll who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting [APCM] to serve for 3 years on a staggered basis. The PCC has not passed a resolution to limit those who have served from being re -elected. Members are warmly encouraged to stand for election to the PCC and we try to ensure a balance of skills and experience where possible.

This Trustees’ Annual Report was approved by the PCC and signed on their behalf by The Revd Tim Crook, PCC Chairman

Date 26th April 2024

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL ST MARY MAGDALENE SOUTH BERSTED, BOGNOR REGIS

CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1162924

Page 2 Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees Page 3 Statement of Receipts and Payments Page 4 Statement of Assets and Liabilities Pages 4 to 8 Notes to the Accounts

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER:

Paul Bailey MAAT

19 Regents Way West Meads Bognor Regis West Sussex PO21 5QW

Page 1 of 8

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ON THE ACCOUNTS

Report to the trustees/members of the South Bersted Parochial Church Council on the annual accounts for the year ended 31st December 2023 set out on pages 3 to 8.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act), and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the organisation and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the 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 statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention

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

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

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met; or

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

Paul Bailey MAAT

19 Regents Way West Meads Bognor Regis West Sussex PO21 5QW Date: 1st May 2024

Page 2 of 8

SOUTH BERSTED PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023

Notes
RECEIPTS :
Voluntary Receipts
2a
Activities for Generating Funds (Trading)
2b
Charitable Activities
2c
Investment Income
2d
Other Receipts
2e
TOTAL RECEIPTS
PAYMENTS :
Fundraising Costs (Trading)
3a
Charitable Activities
3b
TOTAL PAYMENTS
NET INCOMING/(OUTGOING) RESOURCES
Cash funds last year end
Funds Transfer
CASH FUNDS THIS YEAR END		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
54,978
220
55,198
67,778
24,485
-
24,485
22,630
4,987
1,209
6,196
4,091
-
120
120
119
70
-
70
1,091
84,520
1,549
86,069
95,709
16,034
-
16,034
17,237
52,800
902
53,702
65,664
68,834
902
69,736
82,901
15,685
647
16,333
12,808
35,066
3,842
38,908
26,100
-
-
-
-
50,751
4,489
55,241
38,908

The notes on pages 5 to 8 form part of these accounts. All operations are continuing operations.

Page 3 of 8

SOUTH BERSTED PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31ST DECEMBER 2023

ASSETS
Church Cash Funds:
Current Account
TOTAL CASH FUNDS
Represented by:
Unrestricted Funds
Designated Funds
Restricted Funds
Assets retained for the Charity's own use:
Fletcher Income Shares
Other Monetary Assets:
Other Recoverable Amounts Due
LIABILITIES
Independent Examiners Fee
Diocesan Fees (Weddings & Funerals)
HMRC PAYE
Wages and Salaries
Credit Card		 31-Dec
31-Dec
Unrestricted
Restricted
2023
2022
Fund
Fund
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
55,241
0
55,241
38,908
55,241
0
55,241
38,908
16,578
0
16,578
11,866
34,173
0
34,173
23,200
0
4,490
4,490
3,842
50,751
4,490
55,241
38,908
0
4,202
4,202
3,820
0
0
0
166
0
4,202
4,202
3,986
0
0
0
750
2,000
0
2,000
0
0
0
0
200
0
0
0
0
51
0
51
75
2,051
0
2,051
1,025

TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES IN RELATION TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Charity Law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which comply with the regulations set out in the Charities Act 2011. The Trustees have elected to take advantage of the provisions that apply to small charities and have prepared a Receipts and Payments Account and Statement of Assets and Liabilities which are set out on pages 3 to 4.

Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 13th April 2024

And signed on their behalf by

Revd Tim Crook, Chairman

Page 4 of 8

SOUTH BERSTED PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023

1. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING

The accounts have been prepared under the “Receipts and Payments” basis as prescribed by the Charity Commissioners, and they meet the appropriate legal requirements.

2. RECEIPTS

2. RECEIPTS
Note
a) Voluntary Receipts
Planned Giving
Planned Giving Non Gift Aid
Legacies
Donations
Loose Offerings
Easy Fundraising
Gift Aid Tax Recovered
Grants
Special Appeals
b) Activities for Generating Funds (Trading)
Weddings & Funerals - PCC Fees
7
Weddings & Funerals - Diocesan Fees
Weddings & Funerals - Provision of Organist
Weddings & Funerals - Provision of Verger
Church Hall Lettings
c) Charitable Activities
4
Open For Coffee
CAP Money
Event Income
Hospitality
Teaching Resources
Other Designated Funds
Other Restricted Funds
d) Investment Income
Fletcher Dividends Received
4
e) Other Receipts
Appeals
Returnable Deposits		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
18,177
0
18,177
23,113
276
0
276
276
18,769
0
18,769
19,200
6,967
0
6,967
8,006
2,141
0
2,141
1,704
179
0
179
80
6,275
220
6,495
10,464
0
0
0
900
2,194
0
2,194
4,035
54,978
220
55,198
67,778
2,121
0
2,121
1,040
2,000
0
2,000
1,496
130
0
130
180
295
0
295
90
19,939
0
19,939
19,824
24,485
0
24,485
22,630
2,896
0
2,896
2,438
0
0
0
100
0
0
0
338
1,170
0
1,170
192
358
0
358
710
563
0
563
0
0
1,209
1,209
313
4,987
1,209
6,196
4,091
0
120
120
119
0
120
120
119
70
0
70
649
0
0
0
442
70
0
70
1,091

Page 5 of 8

SOUTH BERSTED PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023

3. PAYMENTS
Note
a) Fundraising Costs (Trading)
Weddings & Funerals
Weddings & Funerals - Diocesan Fees (2022 Liability)
Weddings & Funerals - Diocesan Fees (2023)
7
Church Hall
Caretaker
Insurance
Maintenance & Hall Supplies
Utilities
Waste Collection
Events and Resources
Event Expenditure
Open for Coffee
Hospitality
Teaching Resources
b) Charitable Activities
Ministry Costs
Parish Share
6
Church Running Costs
Office Expenses
Services
Vicar's PA
PAYE Paid
Broadband
Advertising
Church Maintenance
Utilities
Insurance
Repairs and Maintenance
Quinquennial Expenditure
Organ Tuning
Vicar and Vicarage
Council Tax and Utilities
Vicar's Expenses
Grants
Other General Fund Payments
Organist
Examination and Accountancy Costs
Miscellaneous
Restricted and Designated Fund Payments
4
Mission Giving
Appeals
All Other Designated Funds Payments
All Other Restricted Funds Payments		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
Funds
Funds
2023
2022
£
£
£
£
0
0
0
2,095
0
0
0
1,510
3,752
0
3,752
3,752
2,367
0
2,367
2,152
885
0
885
391
5,895
0
5,895
2,400
1,091
0
1,091
1,111
0
0
0
217
996
0
996
2,492
837
0
837
134
211
0
211
983
16,034
0
16,034
17,237
19,699
0
19,699
33,864
2,805
0
2,805
2,533
1,379
0
1,379
1,436
6,802
0
6,802
6,178
487
0
487
354
439
0
439
388
22
0
22
0
4,765
0
4,765
3,867
2,894
0
2,894
2,630
1,345
0
1,345
1,841
0
0
0
3,706
499
0
499
0
3,712
0
3,712
3,314
1,919
0
1,919
119
0
0
0
900
0
0
0
504
762
0
762
763
23
0
23
0
3,533
0
3,533
1,379
0
0
0
419
1,716
0
1,716
672
0
902
902
797
52,800
902
53,702
65,664

Page 6 of 8

SOUTH BERSTED PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023

4. FUNDS
Note
GENERAL FUNDS
DESIGNATED FUNDS
ABC
Appeals
Book Sales
Candy Floss
Christians Against Poverty (CAP)
Churchyard
Church Sound and Projection
Duncton
Hospitality
Marketing Fund
Mission
Open for Coffee
Quinquennial Provision
Storage Container
Teaching Resources
Vicar's PA - Additional Hours
Verger's Fund
Other Designated Accounts
TOTAL DESIGNATED
TOTAL UNRESTRICTED
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Choir
Defibrillator Fund
Fletcher Alms
Flower Fund
Hall Kitchen
Puppets
Sunday School
Vicar's Projects
TOTAL RESTRICTED
GRAND TOTALS		 Balance
Balance
01-Jan
31-Dec
2022
Income
Expenditure
Transfers
2023
£
£
£
£
£
11,866
60,693
61,542
5,561
16,578
304
-
-
-
304
229
70
-
229
-
70
43
-
-
-
43
151
-
-
-
151
452
-
240
229
441
4,495
-
-
-
4,495
226
-
231
5
0
21
-
-
-
21
62
1,170
837
-
395
66
-
-
-
66
1,455
563
3,533
1,649
134
852
2,896
996
-
2,752
-
-
-
600
600
-
-
-
4,500
4,500
214
-
358
211
67
0
-
210
-
-
-
210
2,009
-
-
1,190
3,199
12,839
18,770
1,245
13,572
-
16,792
23,200
23,826
7,292
5,561
-
34,173
35,066
84,520
68,834
-
50,751
69
-
17
-
52
-
1,429
-
-
1,429
1,920
120
-
-
2,040
128
-
-
-
128
651
-
553
-
98
12
-
-
-
12
1,008
-
332
-
676
54
-
-
-
54
3,843
1,549
902
0
4,490
38,908
86,069
69,736
0
55,241

Page 7 of 8

SOUTH BERSTED PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST DECEMBER 2023

5. STAFF COSTS AND PAYMENTS TO TRUSTEES

The collective PCC members received reimbursement payments for purchases made on behalf of the Church totalling £3,696.60 . No payments were made to PCC members in the form of salary or wage as employees of the PCC.

The collective PCC members made voluntary contributions to Church funds, excluding Gift Aid claimed on their behalf, totalling £8,306.69 . No material transactions took place between the Church and PCC members or any person connected to them.

6. PARISH SHARE

In 2023, South Bersted PCC pledged a figure of £19,699 which was equal to 25 % of the Parish Ministry Costs for the year and during the year were able to pay the full amount of that pledge, leaving no liability to be carried into 2024.

7. FEES FROM WEDDINGS & FUNERALS

Historic Activity Overview

2018 - 29 funeral services, 3 weddings 2019 - 14 funeral services, 3 weddings 2020 - 13 funeral services, 0 weddings 2021 - 11 funeral services, 2 weddings 2022 - 8 funeral services, 2 weddings 2023 - 9 funeral services, 3 weddings

Page 8 of 8

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