## **Parish of Bewsborough**
Annual Report
and
Financial Statements
of the
Parochial Church Council
For the year ended 31[st] December 2024
Incumbent Rev. Sean Sheffield
Bank Santander UK plc Bridle Road Bootle Merseyside L30 4GB
Independent Examiner R F Bavington-Jones, FCA, FRPSL 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 2024 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 of Tours, Guston
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 until the date this report was approved are:
Ex officio members: Incumbent and Chairman Reverend Sean Sheffield Deanery Synod Representatives Jenny Groombridge Sarah Hindle Safeguarding officer Jenny Groombridge Appointed Members Mary Fagg Secretary John Reynolds Treasurer Jonathan Bates Karen Brown Glynis Farthing Jane Hartridge Sarah Hindle Jenny Hunt Christina Parsons Mike Pascall Julie Ronsley-Hawkins
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## **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 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 a 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, Barfrestone and Guston and in covenant with Dover and Deal Methodist Circuit and in cooperation with churches of other denominations. This would be worked out in:
- **Worship** By respecting the particular traditions of each Church.
- **Ministry** By recognising that in addition to the shared ministry of the clergy, readers and authorised lay ministers, all the members of the body of Christ are potential ministers. Their gifts need to be discovered, developed and shared. Pastoral ministry needs to be exercised by lay people where they live, work and/or according to their particular gifts.
- **Finance** By sharing the cost of joint projects (where these have been agreed by the district church councils and the PCC), clergy expenses and such other resources of paid workers or equipment as should be held in common, and by encouraging each church to administer its own finances.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship in our five churches and to become part of our village communities. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the villages and makes suggestions on how our services can involve all groups that live within the parish. Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer, scripture, music and sacrament.
When planning our activities for the year, the PCC have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through:
Worship and prayer; learning about the gospel; and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus.
Provision of pastoral care for people living in the Parish. To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of our churches.
Deanery Synod
The PCC is represented on the Deanery Synod by three members.
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE PCC OF THE PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2024 which are set out on pages 4 to 7
## **Respective responsibilities of the Trustees and Independent 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, FRPSL 13 Park Avenue Dover Kent CT16 1ES
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## **PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH**
|Consolidated Receipts and Payments Account
General Fund Year ended 31st December 2024
**2024**
**Receipts**
Voluntary Income:
Planned Giving
33,536
Collections
9,704
Income Tax Received
1,827
Donations
9,907
54,974
Events and Activities:
Fundraising
-
Fees and Grants
10,895
Other income
1,368
12,263
Transfer from fabric Fund
-
Special Collections
-
Investment income
2,619
69,856
**Payments:**
Grants to charity
200
Direct Ministry Expenditure
Parish share
59,207
Clergy Expenses
3,041
62,248
Church Running Expenses
Heat, Light and Water
9,204
Insurance
10,452
Upkeep of Services
6,122
Church Maintenance
5,493
Churchyard Maintenance
1,470
32,741
Fundraising Costs
-
Administration:
Bank Charges
497
Postage or Stationary
624
Telephone
1,203
Office Equipment
398
Misc.
2,453
Media
2,884
8,059
Professional fees
706
103,954
Surplus/(Deficit)for year
-34,098
Opening Balance at Bank
133,550
Closing Balance at Bank
99,452|**2023**
32,700
7,680
10,892
30,256
81,528
1,267
13,041
14,198
28,506
4,078
34
2,158
116,304
84
55,650
2,496
58,146
8,177
7,569
5,679
9,208
2,051
32,684
-
75
406
786
310
2,040
5,756
9,373
-
100,287
16,017
114,554
130,571|**2023**
32,700
7,680
10,892
30,256
81,528
1,267
13,041
14,198
28,506
4,078
34
2,158
116,304
84
55,650
2,496
58,146
8,177
7,569
5,679
9,208
2,051
32,684
-
75
406
786
310
2,040
5,756
9,373
-
100,287
16,017
114,554
130,571|
|---|---|---|
|||116,304|
|||84
58,146
32,684
-
9,373
-|
|||100,287|
|||16,017
114,554|
|||130,571|
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## **PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH**
## Consolidated Designated / Restricted Funds
Year ended 31st December 2024
|**Income**
Investment Income
Donations/Subscriptions/Grants
Tax Refunds
Other Income
Fund Raising
Funds Introduced
**Payments:**
Donations
Repairs
Administration
Others
Surplus/(deficit) for the year
Opening Balance
Closing Balance|**2024**
4,763
2,805
117
31
4,855
12,571
3010
15,581
4,251
1,244
102
2,115
7,712
7,869
81,954
89,823|**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|**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|
|---|---|---|---|
||||11,280
7,801|
||||3,479
76,041|
||||79,520|
Note: 2024 Opening balance has been adjusted for introduction of Guston
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## **PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH**
## **Statement of Assets**
|**PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH**
**Statement of Assets**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Total**
**General**
**Fund**
**Restricted**
Monetary Asset:
Bank Accounts
68,277
44,360
14,681
Central Funds
120,998
55,092
50,298
189,275
99,452
64,979
Investments:
Canterbury Diocesan
Board of Finance
Value at 1st January 2024
46,130
46,130
Increase in value
1,045
1,045
Value at 31st December 2024
47,175
47,175
Total Assets
At 31st December 2024
236,450
99,452
112,154
At 31st December 2023
261,701
133,550
104,206
Note: 31st December 2023 balances have been adjusted for the introduction of Guston.
Approved by Bewsborough PCC on 30thMay 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Rev. Sean Sheffield
Mrs Mary Fagg
Chairman
Secretary||**Designated**
9,236
15,608|
|||24,844|
|||24,844|
|||23,945|
||||
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**PARISH OF BEWSBOROUGH**
## NOTES FORMING PART OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
______________________________________________________________________________
## 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 Liabilities
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 Parties
No related party to the Council has been paid or is due remuneration or other benefits from Council funds.
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