2025-12-31-accounts - St Helen Auckland Pcc

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The Annual Report and Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2025

Incumbent Vacancy

Bank

Barclays Bank Business Park Bishop Auckland

Independent Examiner Mr. Joseph Kellett FMAAT

S. Helen Auckland is a Society Parish under the Episcopal care of the Bishop of Beverley

REPORT OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER 2025

S Helen’s P.C.C. has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent of the parish, in promoting the ecclesiastical parish, and the whole mission of the Church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for S Helen’s Parish Church and S Helen’s Parish Centre.

Membership

Members of the P.C.C. are either ex- officio members or are elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the year, the following served as members of the P.C.C.

Incumbent: Vacant Churchwardens: Mr. John Bake Mrs. Anne Skillcorn Lay Chairman: Mr. John Bake Deanery Synod Representatives: Miss Marion Curtis Mrs. Anne Skillcorn Miss Vannessa Pearson Elected Members: Mrs Pat Bake Miss Claire Bake Miss Marjorie Brodie Miss Marion Curtis Mrs Dianne Chew Mr Robin Brown Mrs Kay Richardson Mr Ian Skillcorn Miss Alyson Smith Mrs Pat Elliott Mrs Margaret Clark

P.C.C. Treasurer: Mrs. Pat Bake ACMA MAAT. P.C.C. Secretary: Miss Vannessa Pearson

Church Wardens and members of the Deanery Synod are ex-officio members of the PCC.

Constitution

The constitution is that of the Constitution of the Church of England, which can be found in “A Handbook for Churchwardens and Parochial Church Councillors” Mowbray ISBN 0- 264-67411-1.

Committees

The P.C.C. operates through a Standing Committee, which can meet between full meetings of the P.C.C. It is the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the P.C.C. between its meetings, subject to any direction given by the Church Council.

Electoral Roll

The Electoral Roll was fully in accordance with church representation rules which states the roll has to be fully revised every six years and a full review has taken place this year. The current role consists of 103 persons.

Review of the Work of the P.C.C.

The Parochial Church Council has met six times this year.

The work of the PCC has centred around the vacancy and the completion of the Vacancy Audit Report for the Diocese.

We are currently working on obtaining the Silver Award for ECO Churches.

For the time being the roof has had to be put on a back burner until the post of Vicar is filled.

Further areas included in PCC meetings this year have included:

Safeguarding – Dianne Chew gives regular updates on safeguarding which have included the online portal, DBS updates and safeguarding training renewal.
Children and Youth Work – At the end of December we ran out of funding for the Pre-school groups and we are now looking for funding for the projects
The pointing required by the Quinquennial Report has now been completed
We have installed a new sound system

Vannessa Pearson

Secretary to the PCC, Auckland St Helen

Deanery Synod Report

Our three members of synod have attended the deanery meetings and have reported back any relevant information to the PCC

Treasurer’s Report

Planned giving was again down on the previous year and this is now becoming a major concern, in order to meet our commitments we need a regular flow of weekly/monthly income and I urge anyone who is not giving on a regular basis to speak to Pat as a matter of urgency. As both planned giving and our one off donations/collections were down so was the amount of tax recovered. We managed to the VAT refunded on the building work carried out in church which was a bonus.

The number of funerals, baptisms, and weddings has continued to decline.

Fund raising was slightly down on 2024

The quota was paid in full.

The kitchen in the centre was refurbished and we currently have no outstanding grant money to spend.

After a considerable amount of debate with the Diocese we did manage to recover £27500 from the sale of the vicarage this money was used to pay for the church repairs in 2025

A legacy of £44593 was also received.

We have a new tenant in Newman House and we had to spend just over 3k on wear and tear repairs before the new tenant move in

Safeguarding

Mrs. Dianne Chew is our parish safeguarding office. All those involved in children’s work or working with vulnerable adults are DBS checked, and a role of the names is maintained. Safeguarding training took places for all officers, our policies are displayed with contact numbers on the church and centre notice board, web site and face book page Safeguarding is on each PCC Agenda. The Diocese have created dashboards by which they communicate any safeguarding issues to the Parishes and this goes to the Churchwardens as well as the Parish Safe Guarding Officer

The Report of the Fabric and Ornaments of the Church

The building is well looked after and major works have been completed over the last 20 years including a major restoration of the church, including a new floor, under floor heating, damp protection, new pews and other associated works, the organ has been restored and added to the church has had a full rewire and new lighting scheme with external floodlighting. Two new entrance doors with glass installed along with stonework repairs to the porch. The vestry has been completely refitted including a new access staircase. A new extension including a toilet and meeting room was completed in 2018 after 10 years of planning and fundraising. Minor repairs are undertaken as and when necessary.

The church is cleaned each week along with brass, silver and linen. The Guild of S. Martha’s team work hard every week to keep the church in first class order.

The roof and drains are cleared twice a year, the boilers services, organ tuned, and fire. extinguishers serviced. All electrical and gas certificates are up to date.

The under-floor heating is in constant use during the winter months, enabling background heat to the building all day to help preserve the fabric of the building and create a warm environment for daily worship.

The church has undergone an inspection by the Fire Brigade and we were given a clean bill of health.

The Quinquennial inspection was undertaken on 8th March 2021 and was received on 18th November 2021. The report highlights some issue with re-pointing stonework, the chancel roof, and chancel coping stones. A faculty has now been granted for the total work which needs to be carried out at an estimated cost of £370,762 the pointing part of this report has now been completed

Additions to the ornaments of the church during 2025

A new Sunday gospel Missal has been donated in celebration of Mr and Mrs Bake’s Golden Wedding and will be used once we change to the updated rite

Works to the Church during 2025

Soak-away drains cleared, drainp i p e s and roof gullies checked January and November.
Fire extinguishers checked and serviced.
Roof alarm system serviced.
Gas boilers repaired and serviced and gas certificate issue.
The work on the outside lights and controller was completed only for them to be damaged when the lead was stolen and we are awaiting repairs
The lead was stolen from the chancel roof and we are still waiting for insurers to give the go ahead for the work to be done
Organ tuned during the year.
The church is heated throughout the week from October to April by the under-floor system to protect the fabric of the building and the organ.
Pointing completed as per quinquennial report
Church doors treated with Osmo oil.

Pastoral review

As we have been in interregnum for nearly all of 2025 pastoral work has been limited but we have still managed the following

A full programme of social events was held enjoyed during the year.
Parish pilgrimage to Walsingham in August. Some members of the parish attend the National Pilgrimage during the late May bank holiday.
A weekly Lent lunch was held in aid of a charity
Members of the church serve the wider church by attending, Deanery Synod, and Patronal Festivals around the diocese.
Members of the congregation are involved in many social and community activities within the parish including visiting the sick, providing transport for the elderly, providing meals for the lonely on Christmas Day, W.I. meetings, helping with Sunday School and youth work.
The parish maintains its own website, Facebook page and weekly notice sheet.
We meet for coffee and cake on Sunday and Wednesday after Mass in the Ark.
• Quiz night each month.
4 young members of the congregation were Confirmed.

Provision for young people

Jolly Tots pre-school met weekly with lunch provided.
Busy Bees preschool met weekly with lunch provided.
Messy Church met once per month.
The parish provide Beavers, Cub and Scout Groups.
Sunday Club which runs in the Ark during the first half of the Parish Mass
Our choir continues to be strong and is a great support to the Mass.
Our serving team has ten members of mixed age including four children under 14.

The Ark

Weekly Coffee and open church.
Monthly quiz nights.
U3A
Local history club.
Coffee after services.
Choir practice.
Funeral and baptism teas.
ABRSM music exams.

The Parish Centre

A Health and Safety Policy has been agreed, and a Fire Policy is in place. A Policy for the Safeguarding of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults is in place.

Works to the centre in 2025

The kitchen has been refurbished thanks to the Grant from James Knott Foundation………………………….

Other work included:

Gas boilers serviced.
Fire extinguished serviced.
CCTV has been installed due to the local children climbing onto the roof of the centre and entering the premises when it is being used. A CCTV has been designed and accepted by the PCC and a QR code is displayed on the Centre notice board giving details of the Policy

Centre users:

Jolly Tots
Busy Bees
Scout, beaver and cub groups
Guide group
Slimming World
Pilates
Church social events
Children’s birthday parties
Funeral and baptism teas
Community events

The centre is well used an excellent facility for the parish and community.

The Vicarage

The vicarage has been sold and a new vicarage purchased by the Diocese.

Conclusion

We hope that 2026 will see us able to appoint a new Vicar and to move forward fulfilling our Mission Statement -

Our mission is to love, serve and worship Our Lord Jesus Christ

John Bake - PCC Chairman April 2026

2025

S. Helen Auckland PCC

Receipts and Payment Account

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Nicholson
Unrestricted Trust
Receipts Funds Designated Restricted Total Funds Last Year
Voluntary Income
Planned Giving 23254 23254 23882
Income Tax recovered 12815 12815 14966
Alms 2204 2204 3771
Donations/Charities 2019 0 2019 942
Heat and Light Appeal 1588 1588 2590
Receipts from Church Activities 0
PCC Fees 3889 3889 1584
Diocesan Fees 2084 0 2084 0
Hall/Ark Lettings 9579 9579 10885
Cover support from diocese 0 0 0 0
Activities for generating funds 0 0
Fund Raising 9014 1643 10657 14033
Curate's House Rent 0 0 0 3709
Nicholson Trust Interest 2 6066 6066 6114
sub total 64857 3230 6066 74153 82476
Non-recurring receipts
Legacy 0 44593 44593 10000
VAT refund 5271 0 0 5271 0
Sale of vicarage 27500 0 0 27500 2500
Organ Fund 80 80 0
Sir James Knott-Jersey-Kitchen 0 0 0
Walsingham- Bus 0 0 0
St John of God- children Walsingham 0 0 0
Warm Spaces 0 0 0
Church Com H/L 0 0 0 0
North East Churches 0 0 0
Grants Youth Worker 0 0 9667
Grants Gaunless Gateway 0 0 0
Believe 0 0 0
Farm Rent 0 0 0 0
Total Receipts 97628 47904 6066 151598 104643
Payments 0
Quota 30000 0 30000 30000
Administration 301 301 3164
Roof Fund 0 0 0
Messy Church 0 0 0
Charities 1278 0 1278 940
Church Repairs 27760 0 27760 925
Centre Repairs 8426 8426
Fund raising 2033 0 2033 2244
Maintenance/Insurance 14378 0 14378 9434
Youth Worker Exp 0 4338 4338 3564
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Youth Worker 0 0 9314
Youth Work scotto 0 0 2727
Believe 0 0 4793
Parish Centre 10180 10180 11158
Heat and Light 10341 10341 4985
Heat and Light Subsidy 0 0 600
Cost of Services 1971 1971 4885
Newman House 3334 3334
Support Costs 4153 4153 2509
Clergy Exp 0 0 7451
stationery 140 140 686
Walsingham 0 213 213 -358
Wm Leech Loan repayments 0 0 5000
Total Payments 105870 12977 0 118847 104021
Net receipts/payments -8241 34927 6066 32751 623
Transfers between funds 9800 -9800 0
Cash funds last year 982 44445 48920 94347 84439
0
Cash funds this year end 2541 69572 54986 127098 85062
Actual Unrestricted Restricted Nicholson
Total PCC Funds Funds Funds Trust
Cash Funds
Parish Current-barclays 34748 0
Restricted Deposit Acc-barclay 33015 0
Centre Current 4349
CCLA Investment 0 52678
CCLA Investment Diocese 2308
Total cash funds 127098 67763 4349 0 54986
Restricted funds under the Nicholson Trust are as per the terms of the legacy under the control of
the Vicar and Churchwardens and not under the jurisdiction of the PCC but have been included in
these accounts for clarity purposes only.
This trust money is available for the upkeep of the fabric of the Parish Church of S.Helen Auckland only
Investment Assets stated at cost
Nicholson Trust Property Pool Shares 75000
Curates House 155000
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Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/ Charity Name St Helen Auckland PCC members of On accounts for the year 31.12.25 1163265 ended Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2026

Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of basis of report the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: J Kellett Name: Joseph Kellett Relevant professional FMAAT qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: 12 Greenfinch Road DH5 0GG

24.03.26 Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

October 2018

IER

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

October 2018

IER