## **Parish of Bewsborough**
## **Annual Report**
## **and**
## **Financial Statements**
## **of the**
## **Parochial Church Council**
**For the year ended 31[st] December 2023**
Incumbent Rev. Sean Sheffield
Bank Santander UK plc Bridle Road Bootle Merseyside L30 4GB
Independent Examiner R F Bavington-Jones, FCA 13 Park Avenue Dover Kent CT16 1ES
Charity Number 116 8561
PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 Charity Number 116 8561
## **Administration Information**
The Parish of Bewsborough is the representative body of the following churches:
St Nicholas, Barfrestone St Pancras, Coldred St Peter and St Paul, Eythorne and Elvington St Andrews, Shepherdswell St Peters, Whitfield St Martin’s, Guston (from August 2023 but remaining financially independent until January 2024)
The Parish of Bewsborough falls within the Deanery of Dover and is part of the Diocese of Canterbury within the Church of England. The correspondence address is 2 New Purchase Cottages, Old Farmhouse Lane, Pike Road, Eythorne, CT15 4DJ.
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006). The Parish has achieved charitable status. Individually the churches have been excepted from registration with the Charity Commission.
The PCC members who have served from 28/05/2023 until the date of the report’s approval are:
Ex officio members: Incumbent Reverend Sean Sheffield Vice Chairman John Reynolds Deanery Synod Representatives Sarah Hindle Jenny Groombridge CP Co-ordinators Jenny Groombridge Parish Disclosure Officer Jenny Groombridge AP Co-ordinator Ann Welti Appointed Members Mary Fagg Secretary John Reynolds Treasurer Jonathan Bates Karen Brown Sarah Hindle Jenny Hunt Christina Parson Richard Bates Jane Hartridge Mike Pascal Glynis Farthing
## **Structure, governance and management**
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At the Bewsborough Parish the membership of the PCC consists of elected members of the five churches seconded to the PCC.
The Local Church Council (LCC) of each church is responsible for making decisions on all matters appertaining to their maintenance and management and funding.
The PCC is responsible for overseeing each LCC and to seek a healthy balance between the identity of each district church and the unity between the churches as one body, to the end:
- (a) that people, clergy and laity alike, may best be enabled to grow in personal faith in the setting of the fellowship, and
- (b) that the solidarity between the churches may present the most effective witness, ministry, and mission in relation to the whole communities of Whitfield, Shepherdswell, Eythorne, Elvington, Waldershare, Coldred and Barfrestone; and in covenant with the Canterbury & East Kent Methodist Circuit; and in cooperation with the churches of other denominations.
This would be worked out in:
- **Worship** By respecting the particular traditions of each worshipping community. And offering vibrant, varied worship as we both celebrate the traditions of the church but explore other opportunities for worship.
- **Ministry** By Recognising that in addition to the shared ministry of the clergy, readers and authorized lay ministers and all members of the body of Christ are potential ministers. Their gifts should be discovered, developed and shared. Pastoral ministry needs to be exercised by lay people where they live, work and/or according to their particular giftings.
- **Finance** By sharing the costs of joint projects (where these have been agreed by the LCC and the PCC), clergy expenses and such resources of paid workers or equipment should be held in common, and by encouraging each church to administer its own finances.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The PCC is committed to encourage and nurture the Christian faith across the Parish communities. By enabling as many people as possible to be part of the parish communities of each church, and to put faith into practice through prayer, worship, study, and sacrament. and to offer mission and ministry and partnerships within our village communities. The PCC is committed to the creation and offering of places where people can belong and be nurtured, creating, and sustaining community connections and relationships.
When planning activities, the Incumbent and PCC have considered the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit and, in particular the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. Some of the specific areas aimed at encouraging people to live out their faith as part of
the parish community are:
- To increase the regular worshipping congregations.
- To achieve greater active involvement of all church members in ministry; and to explore and encourage opportunities for accredited and authorized ministries, lay and ordained.
- To offer opportunities to grow in spirituality and understanding of the Christian faith.
- To plant new congregations in growing parts of the Parish, such as Whitfield, offering alternative forms and expressions of worship.
- To be inviting, welcoming and inclusive Churches.
- To demonstrate compassion and care for one another and promote the healing ministry of the church.
- To underpin all our work with a spirit of generosity, good organisation and sound financial management.
## The PCC is represented on the Deanery Synod by three members. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE PCC OF THE PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2023 which are set out on pages 4 to 7
## **Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Indpendent Examiner**
As Trustees of the charity, the members of PCC are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. They consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to
- examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act),
- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity 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 management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
## **Independent Examiner’s Statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; or
- to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
R F Bavington-Jones, FCA 13 Park Avenue Dover Kent CT16 1ES
1
## **PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH**
|Consolidated Receipts and Payments Account
General Fund Year ended 31st December 2023
**2023**
**Receipts**
Voluntary Income :
Planned Giving
32,700
Collectons
7,680
Income Tax Received
10,892
Donatons
30,256
81,528
Events and Actvites:
Fundraising
1,267
Fees and Grants
13,041
Other income
14,198
28,506
Transfer from fabric Fund
4,078
Special Collectons
34
Investment income
2,158
116,304
**Payments :**
Grants to charity
84
Direct Ministry Expenditure
Parish share
55,650
Clergy Expenses
2,496
58,146
Church Running Expenses
Heat, Light and Water
8,177
Insurance
7,569
Upkeep of Services
5,679
Church Maintenance
9,208
Churchyard Maintenance
2,051
32,684
Fundraising Costs
-
Administraton:
Bank Charges
75
Postage or Statoary
406
Telephone
786
Ofce Equipment
310
Misc
2,040
Media/
5,756
9,373
Professional fees
-
100,287
Surplus/(Defcit)for year
16,017
Transfers to Designated Funds
-
Opening Balance at Bank
114,554|**2022**
29,739
8,493
11,357
27,621
77,210
2,995
12,829
1,469
17,293
750
4,0
57
755
100,065
5,381
44,093
1,813
45,906
8,198
7,428
1,300
4,650
2,160
23,736
-
79
312
600
401
3,352
3,765
8,509
2,820
86,352
13,713
-11,793
112,634|**2022**
29,739
8,493
11,357
27,621
77,210
2,995
12,829
1,469
17,293
750
4,0
57
755
100,065
5,381
44,093
1,813
45,906
8,198
7,428
1,300
4,650
2,160
23,736
-
79
312
600
401
3,352
3,765
8,509
2,820
86,352
13,713
-11,793
112,634|
|---|---|---|
|||100,065|
|||5,381
45,906
23,736
-
8,509
2,820|
|||86,352|
|||13,713
-11,793
112,634|
2
Closing Balance at Bank
130,571
114,554
## **PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH**
Consolidated Designated / Restricted Funds Year ended 31st December 2023
|**Income**
Investment Income
Donatons/Subscriptons/Grants
Tax Refunds
Designated Funds
Other Income
Fund Raising
Transfers
**Payments :**
Donatons
Repairs
Administraton
Others
Surplus/(defcit) for the year
Opening Balance
Closing Balance|**2023**
2,533
5,465
-
-
462
2,820
11,280
-
11,280
2,713
-
60
5,028
7,801
3,479
76,041
79,520|**2022**
1,823
420
-
-
-
2,671
4,914
11,043
15,957
3,071
-
-
3,942
7,013
8,944
47,625
56,569|**2022**
1,823
420
-
-
-
2,671
4,914
11,043
15,957
3,071
-
-
3,942
7,013
8,944
47,625
56,569|
|---|---|---|---|
||||15,957
7,013|
||||8,944
47,625|
||||56,569|
Note: 2023 Opening balance has been adjusted for reintroduction of Barfrestone Friends
3
## **PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH**
## **Statement of Assets**
|**PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH**
**Statement of Assets**||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|Monetary Asset:
Bank Accounts
Central Funds
Investments:
Canterbury Diocesan
Board of Finance
Value at 1st January 2023
Increase in value
Value at 31st December 2023
Total Assets
At 31st December 2023
At 31st December 2022|**Total**
95,938
114,153
210,091
42,121
4,009
46,130
256,221
232,715||**General**
**Fund**
70,552
60,019
130,571
130,571
114,554||**Restricte**
**d**
16,216
39,359
55,575
42,121
4,009
46,130
101,705
90,201||**Designated**
9,170
14,775|
|||||||||
||||||||23,945|
||||||||23,945|
|||||||||
|||||||||
||||||||27,960|
Note: 31st December 2022 balances have been adjusted for the reintroduction of Barfrestone Friends.
Approved by Bewsborough PCC on 30[th] April 2024 and signed on its behalf by
Reverend Sean Sheffield Incumbent/Chairman
Mrs Mary Fagg Secretary
4
PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH
## NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
______________________________________________________________________________
## ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Financial Statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 using the receipts and payments basis.
## Funds
General Funds represent the funds of the PCC and LCCs that are not subject to any special restrictions regarding their use and are available for application to the general purposes of the PCC and LCCs. These include funds restricted by the LCCs as being for particular purposes and are shown as separate Reserves as noted.
The Financial Statements include all monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of Church Groups that owe affiliation to another body or those that are informal gatherings of Church members.
Subject to the above, receipts and payments include income as received and expenditure when irrevocably paid.
## Statement of Assets and Liabilites
The following assets are not recognised nor valued in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
- Moveable Church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the LCCs and which require a faculty for disposal.
- Land and buildings held on behalf of the LCCs.
- Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment where the PCC or LCCs are free to dispose of such assets without such faculty.
- Amounts owing from HM Revenue & Customs where a formal claim has been made.
- Any other amounts owing to the PCC or LCCs including lettings and insurance claims.
- Legacies where formal notification of entitlement and amount have not been received at 31 December 2019 by the LCCs.
- Parish silver plate kept at Victoria and Albert Museum or elsewhere.
## Related Partes
No related party to the Council has been paid or is due remuneration or other benefits from Council funds.
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