THE CHURCH
OF ENGLAND
Diocese of Leeds
St Paul's Parish Church, Shipley
The Parochlal Church Council of the Ecdeslastlcal P3rlsh of St Paul, Shlpley
Reglsier•d charlty no 1169596
Annual Trustees Report
st
for the year ended 31 December 2025
It,

st
Annual Trustees Report for the year ended 31 December 2025
The PCC Is jointly responsible for writing and producing this report.
AIM AND PURPOSES
St Paul's Parochial Church Council IPCCI has the responsibility of cooperating with the priest in
charge. the Reverend Brian Greenfield, to promote in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole
mission of the church. pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC has a specific duty
to maintain our historic grade 2 listed church building. In addition, it has a re5pon5ibility to
support the Church of England primary Schools located withln the parish boundaries. Shipley C
of E Primary School laidedl and Wycliffe C of E Primary School Icontrolledl are our local church
schools. Both of these schools are BDAT (Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust) Primary
Academies.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The PCC is committed to enabling a5 many people as possible to worship at St Paul's and to be
part of the church community. Our services and worship, through prayer and scripture, music
and sacrament, encourage and foster faith in practice. When planning our activities and
service5 for the year, the PCC is mindful of the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit
and in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion.
St Paul's Church vision statement is..
We are a welcorning and inclusive Christian community who:
Worship the living God
Love our neighbours and our world
Share the good news
All our activities and services are guided and inspired by our faith in Jesus who we believe calls
us to put our faith into practlce in our daily Ilves. As a church community, we offer prayer and
worship, pastoral care, mission and outreach, hospitality and a variety of activities which help
people of all ages in our parish to flourish. To facilitate this work, it is important that the church
grounds and the fabrlc of the church bullding are continually maintained and developed.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Ministry Team
During 2025. the St Paul's Ministry Team was led by our Priest in Charge. Brian Greenfield (who
is also Priest in Charge at Christ Church. Windhill, Minister at the Eldwick Church and Assistant
Priest at St Peter's Church, Shipley), who was ably assisted by curate - Emma Wilkin50n and by
assistant priest Natasha Thomas, Churchwardens- Anne Luxton and Mike Wragg.
Our Licensed Lay Ministers IReader51- Chris Clough and Susan Lawrence. Lay Worship Leader-
Mark Allison, and Lay Pastoral Ministers- Susan Wood and Sheila Cudmore, are valuable
members of the Ministry Team.
Jenny Titchmarsh is our excellent Church Administrator. who provides essential support to the
ministry team and enables the church to communicate effectively with both the congregation
and the wider community.
Thanks also go to the members of the PCC for all their hard work throughout the year.
Volunteers
Before we list our activities, which express our vlslon and strategy. and show what church Ilfe
looks like in Shipley and how it benefits the community, we publicly thank all the church
members who work very hard to support St Paul's mission and ministry. Many people
contribute hugely to the life of the church in seen and unseen ways.
Worship & Prayer
Worshlp Seyvlces
Throughout 2025, we held regular 10am Sunday worship services comprising Holy Communion
on the I￿ and 3rd Sundays of the month, Family Worship on the 2nd Sunday ofthe month and
Morning Worship on the 4th Sunday of the month. These services were also live streamed via
our YouTube channel, for those watching from home. Taize and Evensong servi￿5 took place
on a bi-month rotation on the 4th Sunday of the month at 7pm. Wednesday Holy Communion
has continued to take place at 10am on Wednesday mornings throughout the year.

Messy Church
This alternative church service is an important way to connect with local families with young
children, who might not feel comfortable or confident to come to more traditional church on
Sunday. It generally includes games, activities including crafts, storytellin& Songs and a picnic
tea. The Messy Church Team is small but dedicated, we worked very hard to offer a Messy
Easter in 2025, unfortunately not well attended. However, our Messy Christmas event attracted
a significant number of families, including some new to the event. which had been planned in
all aspects bv vear 6 children at Wycliffe School who attended the lunchtime Listening Group.
They were active in getting the message out to all years at Wycliffe. Thank you to Mark and the
Listening Group.
Occasional Service5
As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the
milestones of the journey through Ilfe. This year. we celebrated three baptisms but no
weddings. We conducted three funerals. In November, we held both our annual Memorial
Service and our Remembrance Sunday Service, which was attended by civic representatives and
uniformed organisations.
Music and singing group
The music and singing group has been meeting on the first Thursday of most months for tea
and chocolate biscuits and to play and sing. We are a small band of instrumentalists and singers
who a5515t in worship once a month (usually on the second Sunday in the Family Service). We
met weekly in the run up to Christmas and were joined by members of Shipley Baptist Church
to play and sing for the Carol Service at st Paul's. We have more recently been joined by
musicians from St Peterfs.
Anyone interested in contributing will be made welcomed. Please have a word with Mark.
Prayer
The weekly Tuesday Morning Prayer Group continues to meet at 10am in the Narthexfor
approximately one hour. (During winter months, on Zoom.) We encourage and welcome new
attendees to join with us as they are able. We commence each meeting with a passage of
Scripture and are encouraged to consider what the passage is suggesting to us and how it can
support the way we pray. We then move into a quiet time of prayer for global. national, local
and church needs.

Pastoral Care
Pastoral care continues to be provided by the Ministry Team at St Pauls on an "as needed or
requested" basi5. We have been reviewing how this works, and where we can improve to
ensure our response 15 both appropriate and seamless. Our Lay Pastoral Ministers, Susan Wood
and Sheila Cudmore support and assist clergy as and when approprlate, within their individual
areas of knowledge and experience, providing pastoral support in the form of a visits or phone
calls, with sensitivity and care at the forefront of all they do. Pastoral activity includes visits to
take Holy Communion to the housebound and to nursing homes. Pastoral prayer requests are
responded to according to the level of confidentiality requested.
Safeguarding
The PCC continues in its commitment to the safeguarding of all vulnerable or potentially
vulnerable people. Safeguarding is a standing item on the PCC agenda, and PCC continues to
comply with its duty to have 'due regard, to the House of Bishops, Safeguarding Policy and
Practice guidance. This commitment was confirmed at a PCC meeting in the autumn. The PCC
has adopted the Church of England Safeguarding Policy Statement for Children, Young People
and Adults, 'Promoting a Safer Church., as our safeguarding policy
To assist in monitorin8 compliance with both statutory requirements and Church of England
policies we are using 'Parish Dashboards, an online system that lists the artions that need to
be taken to meet the required standards, and which generates an action plan to highlight areas
that need updating. The requirements on the dashboard are updated as national guidance
changes to ensure parishes can remain compliant. Our safeguarding action plan was reviewed
in the autumn of 2025 and the PCC is updated with progress during the year.
If safeguarding concerns are raised our safeguarding procedures will be followed, concerns
escalated to the diocesan safeguarding team and any advice or recommendations that they
make will be followed.
Alison Haigh
March 2026
Work with Children
Schools
We have responsibility for two church schools within our parlsh. Shlpley C of E Primary School
and Wycliffe C of E Primary School. Both schools became academies in 2018 and joined the
Bradford Diocesan AcademyTrust IBDATI.

ClerEY lead collective worship at both schools as well as attending other events in school such
as celebrations and exhibitions. Revd Emma has been a governor at Wycliffe for a couple of
years now, and has particular responsibility for Christlan Distinttiveness and Behaviour, as well
as supportin8 Staff as the school has been in a time of transition.
At Shipley CE, Revd Brian also takes part in prayer group at the school.
Both schools regularly visit5 church to learn about worship and come to church at Easter and
Christmas for their service5, Wlth Wycliffe also holding their Harvest and End of Year services at
Church.
We are continuing to build a relationship with Wycliffe through our Children and Families
Project. and this year partnered with the local Christian youth charity Missional Generation to
provide lunch time engagement with KS2, leading to the creation of a listening group. And are
thankful to our link worker. Mark Wheeler. for his work with us.
We are also particularly grateful for the ongoing ministry of The Open the Book, Tell me the
Story, team of Chris and Jane Clough, Carolyn Rhode5, Jean fitchmarsh and Mike Wragg who
have had a particular focus on KSI assemblies at Wycliffe, approximately fortnightly during the
school year. The basis for the assembly is one of the stories from the Lion Storyteller Bible
which are delivered through narration, costumed acting and audience participation. They
operate under the auspices of the Zephaniah Trust and deliver both Old and New Testament
Bible stories operating on an approximately two-year cycle. Both phase l and 2 have 34 stories
available to them with associated boxes of costumes and props.
Toddler Group
An outreach artivity provided on a weekly basis during term-time, the Toddler Group meets at
9.30-11.15am on Monday mornlngs. We provide space for play, a craft actlvlty, and the
opportunity for toddlers to explore friendship. whilst parents, grandparents and childminders
are able to encourage their children, and each other through chattlng together. We serve drinks
along with cake. biscuits and fruit. We finish with a much enjoyed sSng song. During the year we
have continued to hold Toddler Church at the end of each term with appropriate seasonal
content (Easter. Harvest and Christmas) these have been popular with children, parent5 and
carers alike. Our numbers have sustained this year, as while some children have moved onto
nursery and school, we have welcomed newcomers.

Uniformed Group5- Rainbow5, Brownies & Guides
St Paul's offers hospitality and leadership to the I. Shipley Rainbows, Brownies and Guides.
1$¢ Shipley Rainbows
Rainbows meets on a Monday evening and caters for girls aged between 4 and 7 years old.
Please contact Rachel He55elwood for further details.
1st Shipley Brownie5
We have 12 Brownies on our register and a healthy waiting list. Brownies have regularly moved
up to Guides at the age of 10 and we have a good feed of 7-year-oldsfrom our Rainbows unit.
We have had a change in leadership this year. Our two regular adult leaders have been joined
by a new extemal volunteer, Thea, and then recently a mum of one of our Brownies, Kim. Our
Guide helper has moved on, but our D of E volunteer has become a leader in training.
The Brownies have done the themes of"Know Myself" and "Have Adventures" They have
earned the "collectin￿ and "Holidav Interest badge. We have been given a new selection of
Interest badges this year and the Holiday Badge was the first one that the Brownies wanted to
try. They attended a sleepover and camp with other members of Girlguiding, Brownies Guides
and Rainbows from Shipley and Baildon at Blackhills near Cottingley. This included fun activities
such as climbing and forest bathing. They shared a bunkhouse with Brownies from St. Peterfs
Church.
We had a Division Guide, Brownie and Rainbow trip to the cinema to see Zootopia 2. We
learned to use air dry clay. painting and varnishing crafts to decorate a tree for the Christmas
tree festival. This will go towards earning the Craft badge.
Elaine Griffiths, Brownie Guider
I Shipley Guldes
We have a growing group of 16 Guides and three adult leaders. We have had a temporary
leader who has been working in Bradford, but who was lookin8 for work elsewhere. but
thankfully, she has just got a job with Bradford Council. We have lost a leader, Cathy, who has
moved to a different area to retire to. she has been with us for almost 24 years. and will be
sadly missed. We would welcome anyone who wants to volunteer with us, either adult or
youn8 helper, flexible or permanent.
We have a had our usual Remembrance sleepover at St Peterfs with 2nd Shipley Guides before
parading at St Paul's. We have joined in a large-scale camp in Blackhills, staying in tents for two
nights, and joining in some great activities on a beautiful weekend in May. The Guide5 have

been following the programme and earning badges such as interest badge5 "Mixology" "Food
Critic" and "Book Lover" They have done unofficial badges "Funfest" and "Christmas
Traditions" where they learned about traditions around the world. They decorated a Christmas
tree with some hand sewn New Zealand Christmas tree flowers, Pohutukawa. We joined a trip
to the cinema to see Zootopia 2 with other Guides, Brownies and Rainbows from Shipley. They
have enjoyed learning camp and cooking skills, cooking on barbeques and cooking potatoes in
three different ways.
Elaine Griffiths, Guide Guider.
Mission and Outreach
Mission and outreach are high on the agenda of St Paul's Church as we try to be a blessing to
both the local community and the world.
Saturday Café
Our café is as popular as ever with five tables holding slx on each table these are usually all full
with some of our patrons coming and going and others who enjoy staying all morning. Some
arrive at or near our opening time of 10am and some later in the morning.
As a PLACE OF WELCOME we serve tea and coffee free of charge, and our menu consists of
toasted teacakes and crumpets with all our cakes and scones home-made and donated by our
volunteer cafe staff. Donations towards the running of the café are at everyone's discretion
and a suggested figure of £1.50 per item of food remains a5 it has for some time.
We have very sadly lost dear Mike who died suddenly and to whom we owe a great deal of
appreciation. he was a great asset to the cafe. Sheila Cudmore was feeling it very hard working
at the café whilst suffering ill health and has had to relinquish her position, many thanks Sheila
for all she has done to make the cafe the success it is. We a150 thank Saby and Diane who have
also reigned as reserves. However, we now only have four volunteers for each cafe team-
Anne, Sheila Parkin, Dee and Kate working on the first Saturday in the month and Jane, Chris,
Elaine and myself on the third. We manage very well but occasionally this leaves café patrons
waiting longer for their orders to be served and ideally a couple of new volunteers would be
very helpful if only as reserves for the odd occasion when a team member is unable to work. I
am extremely grateful to Shona who took over my role recently following my fall resulting in a
very bad break to the wrist and who has very graciously agreed to act as a reserve. I
unfortunately will be out of action for a while.

Until we receive further offers of help the café cannot look to opening more than twice a
month. We really need more volunteers because there is nothing we would like more than to
open our very popular cafe every Saturday morning.
Judith Morris
Thursday Lunch Club ITLC}
We have this every third Thursday ofthe month. The numbers vary between 20 and 25 and it
would be nice to have a few more. Susan Wood, Judith Morris, Mike Wragg, Elaine Griffiths and
Anne Luxton assist Dee O'Rourke every month in preparing and serving the meals.
We had a celebration for St Patrick's Day and Christmas.
Active Seniors
Active Seniors meet on the first Thursday afternoon of every month. Our varied activitie5
include quizzes, maybe a board game, some crafting. an entertainment and always plenty of
friendly chat. Tea, coffee, home-made scones, as well as home baking are provided at some
point during the afternoon. All seniors are welcome, either regularly or on an occasional ba51S.
Mother5, Union
Individuals participated in the Wave of Prayer in January.
The annual meeting, chaired by Rev Greenfield, was held in February. There was no declslon
about off icers so the meetin8 was postponed. In May the meeting continued at Afternoon Tea
held at the much missed. Interlude Tea Room. Barbara agreed to do the essential tasks of
leadership while the Branch is an abeyance until 202612027 when the branch is 100 years old.
In June members were invited to tourthe Kirkgate Centre and the Hive where manyofthe
original features have been preserved and incorporated.
In July Shona provlded Afternoon Tea In the Narthex for 25 people from the church. Evelyn
Haigh, the Mothers, Union Chair of Bradford Episcopal Area of Leeds Diocese, helped and
explained that the donations Itotalling £162.72] would go to provide quick growing seeds for
refugee women in DCR Congo.
Mothers, Union provided the flowers in August.
In October we f illed 12 bags with toiletries for new arrivals at the Asian Women's Refuge.
Mothers, Union decorated a tree for the Christmas Tree Festival.
The tombola at TLC Christmas lunch raised £44 for Mother5, Union project5.
Members assistthe clergy in services and home communions;
they help at Saturday Cafe, TLC and other refreshments.
We knit for the Neo-natal department of the BRI and blankets forthe Baby Bank.
In 2025 the Branch had 13 members including Bishop Toby and Henriette.

All our members have health issues and are caring for other family members.
Thank you for all your help I think what we have achieved is remarkable.
Barbara Judd
Communlty Events
For the fifth year runnin& we held a Christmas Tree Festival at St Paul's, which was an
incredibly successful event involving the wider local community, who came along to the church
to vote for their favourite Christmas trees. Thls year 32 organisations took part and around 650
people attended the event.
Communications & Enquiries
St Paul's hosts three websites- the main St Paul's Parish Church website, the St Paul's History
website and the St Paul's Virtual Tour website. Our social media platforms include Facebook,
Instagram and YouTube. We have a public Facebook page with 697 followers, an Instagram
account with 395 followers and a YouTube channel with 208 subscribers, which we use to live
stream our weekly 10am Sunday services. Our rnain website advertises our upcoming worship
services. prayer meetings, church groups and key events. These are also detailed in our monthly
edition of Church News. which is available via our mailing list or to collect from church. Weekly
emails advertising Sunday services and key notices are also sent out to our mailing list.
Noticeboards, both inside and outside the church, also advertise our services, groups and
events. The majority of our enquiries (for church hire and life events) come through our main
website or email. Occasionally, we receive enquiries via Facebook or telephone.
E¢umenical Relatlonship5: Shipley Christians Together
The year started with Shipley Baptist Church again hosting Inn Churches, providing
accommodation, food, friendship and warmth to 12 homeless people for a week in January. The
remodelling of the Market Place meant a pause in the operation of the Bible Stall as it
continued to dispense free bibles and offer prayer in all weathers. This also meant that the
Walk of Witness changed from its traditional route to finish in Central Park. This annual event is
alway5 well-attended and is a true witness of our faith. We then offered a series of Lenten
suppers and short reflections in various churches. Live@Costa evolved into Live@AvondaleClub
as we moved to a welcoming new home and we continued to offer a varied programme,
including a Christmas Carols evening, which raised funds for Christian Aid.
We had one of our busiest ever weekends in October. As a f ittinE contribution to the City of
Culture programme, Saltaire United Reform Church hosted the Big Sing- nine hours of Bradford
related music and stories. The following day we celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Shipley

CAP Debt Centre with a look back at the transformational work bringing many out of debt and
we looked ahead to a 5UStainable future as we approach the end of the current funding cycle in
October 2026.
In November we held the AGM Service and were pleased to welcome new trustees, including
Shaun Craig from Christchurch. However. we urgently need more trustees if we are to continue
our work to share the love of Jesus with the people of Shiplev.
We were pleased to be part of the Christmas Lights Switch-on in the new Market Place,
providing a short reflection on the true meaning of Christma5 and distributing f liers with details
of Christmas Services taking place in the Shipley churches. A5 Usual, the year was rounded off
with our Christma5 dinner for homeless, vulnerable 2nd lonely people with well over 100 meals
provided. The online newsletter, which shares good news and information, was regularly
produced and circulated (available from info@shipleychristianstogether.org.ukl.
We are extremely grateful for the prayers, support and funding from the member churches,
including St Paul's, and the work of the many volunteers f rom the churches.
Hugh Firman Ichair, scri
Global Mission
We continue to be a Fairtrade church and seek ways to encourage our congregation to support
Fairtrade. We support the Diocese of Khartoum, Christian Aid, and Tear Fund. We also support
Andy and Katl Walsh from the Church Misslon Society ICMSI, who currently work in Brazil.
Deanery Synod
The Deanery Synod provldes a channel of communication between the parlsh and the Diocesan
Synod and brings together the views and experiences of all the parishes in the deanery. These
meetings provide a great opportunty to meet and network with representatives from other
churches in the Aire and Worth Deanery which includes the parishes of Steeton, Keighley,
Riddlesden and Morton, Bingley (which includes Gilstead and Eldwickl, the Shipley churches,
Baildon, and the parishes in the Hewenden benefice (Harden, Wilsden and Denholmel. Synod
membership comprises clergy, parish representatlves and ex offlclo members who have been
elected to Diocesan or General Synod. Each parish is allocated a number of representatives that
reflect5 their elertoral roll: St Paul's has been allocated three representatives.
The Deanery Synod is a statutory body with legally defined responsibilities. Deanery Synod
representatives responsible for the election of members to Diocesan and General Synod-
elections to General Synod will take place later in 2026.
The Aire and Worth Deanery Synod planned to meet three times in 2025 however one of these
meetings was cancelled due to unexperted events. The meeting in February was held remotely
via Zoom where we learned more about the Diocesan Digital Learning Platform from a member
io

of the LayTraining team. Synod members were encouraged to log on. create and account and
to explore the platform for themselves as well as encouraging members of their congregations
to look at what is available. The Digital learning platform is available at
www.learnin
.leeds.an
lican.or
In June Synod met at Keighley Parlsh Church where Rev Duncan Milwain spoke about the life
and work of Bradford Cathedral as a place of witness and worship, and civic cultural and
intercultural engagement and all the artivities they are carrying out in their work to fulf il their
current vision statement, which is To weave Jesus into the rich fabric of the city and beyond.
Synod meetings are open to all whether you are an elected representative or interested in the
topic under discussion- if you would like to attend a meeting to find out a little more about how
Synod works please speak to any one of our representatives.
Alison Halgh
Church Bullding
The Buildings and Grounds Group IBGGI met three times in 2025. Three members ljohanna
Hirst, Saby Halli and Meredith Woodel resigned in 2025.
Quinquennial Inspection: The 5-yearly quinquennial inspection was due in 2024, but for various
reasons was done in early 2025. The inspection was carried out by Overton Archrtects. Their
report covers basically the condition of the building and highlight5 the work to be carried out to
maintain the fabric. The report says that "The church oppeors to be generolly in good condition ond
to be well looked after." Ip.11. A major concern is the completion of the project to re-slate the
roof (chancel. -office, vestry and tower). Other issues wlll be attended to over the next few
years.
02 Equlpment replacement:
The 02 contractor, Netcs, started work towards the end of May on the removal and
replacement of the mobile phone equipment in the tower and above the kitchen. upgrading It
to process the G5 signals. This involved installing new steel platforms in the bell chamber,
replacing the equipment cabinets and rewiring. New aeria15 were installed behind the louvres in
the bell chamber. with the stone louvres replaced with fibreglass imitations (the signals are
affected by the stonework). The existing stone louvres have been stored in the bell chamber
and can be re-instated when the equipment is finally removed. The steelwork and mast on top
of the tower were removed and the roof made good.
A health and safety leaflet providing advice about the care needed if working in the vicinity of
the network mast has been obtained. This principally applies to external activities on the tower
near to transmitter aerials.
Insurance: The premises were inspected by a representative of Ecclesiastical Insurance Ithe church
insurers1 in August 2025. Various recommendations were made, which are being attended to within the
timescales allowed.
Electrical= The lightning conductors have been inspected and tested. The report has been
accepted by the insurers.
li

Electrical Installation Condition Report IEICR): is an inspection of the electrical system (wiring,
plugs, lighting, etc.) in the building. It is required by the insurers and the quinquennial. Quotes
were received from two electrical contrattors for work to be done in early 2026.
Other Interlor:
The two main heating boilers and the heatingjhot water boiler in the kitchen were inspected.
Fire extinguishers are tested annually.
The clock is currently not working. It is the property of the local council (Bradford Metl and
they are responslble for running and maintenance.
Church Grounds.. These continue to be maintained by Bradford Council. Wooden crosses: A set
of wooden boxes has been put Into the ground in front of the church to take the wooden
crosse5 Pijt there for the Easter period. Neighbourhood Action brought a group to St Paul's in
November to do some weeding and tidying up in the churchyard.
Organ: The organ, an 1892 3-manual by J. J. Binns of Leeds, is generally well maintained and
was last tuned in November 2024. It is still played regularly for services.
Hirstwood Burial Ground
During 2025, there were no burials of ashes in the Garden of Remembrance, which is
maintained by our part-time gardener, Matt Stoney. Enquiries from people searching for the
graves of ancestors also continue to be few and far between.
The final phase of planned tree work took place in March, June and September 2025. as
authorised by Bradford Council in July 2023. There is approximately one more day of tree work
still to take place.
Japanese knotweed was discovered by a member of the public along the public footpath
between the Garden of Remembrance and Hirst Wood Burial Ground in September 2025. This
was reported to Bradford Council for their attention. During the same month. two sprigs of
knotweed were also found in the burial ground Itself. These were both in areas previously
treated for knotweed. The knotweed was in a stunted bonsai state. We were advised to
monitor the knotweed until it grows larger and becomes treatable with herbicide.
Hirst Wood Regeneration Group has organised regular volunteer working parties at the burial
ground thls year. Volunteers work to clear vegetation from pathways and from in and around
graves.
The Hirst Wood Burial Board, which is a sub-committee of the PCC. has a legal duty to maintain
the burial ground in a safe state. During 2025, our church administrator has overseen the basic
administration of the Hirst Wood Burial Board.
Hirst Wood Burial Board
12

FINANCIAL REVIEW 2025
2025 has been a year of consolidation and understanding exartly where St Paul's stand5
financially but in financial terms has been reasonably successful. A number of new processe5
have been implemented including revised monthly cash counting processes, improving expense
payments, moving to an online accounting system rather than managing a complex
spreadsheet that wa5 difficult to maintain and understand, using the church deposit accounts
effectively to generate interest income.
At the end of the year we managed to pay £25,000 to the diocesan share against a request in
excess of £40,000.
Our income for 2025 is showing as £108,952 as compared to last year £92,701 but that
difference is almost all accounted for by bringing the Hlrst Wood Burial Ground accounts into
the overall PCC accounts. Our expenditure was also higher at £94,718 as against £72,642 in
2024.
As of I"January 2026 there was about £8,500 in the HSBC bank accounts, £42,000 in CCLA
deposit accounts and about £15,000 in CCLA accounts controlled by the diocese for the Hirst
Wood Burial Ground.
RESERVES POLICY
The PCC policy is that we would maintain a buffer of approximately three months necessarv
expenditure. Previously that was set at £20,000 but having reviewed the figLJres salaries
account for £1,250 per month, organist fees at about £300 a month and Electricity and Gas
standing Charges about £100 a month. A more realistic figure to maintain is £5000. We have on
deposit designated funds of over £11,000 so are more than covered.
STRucfuRE, GOVERNMENT AND MANAGEMENT
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Paul. Shipley is a corporate bodv
established by the Church of England, operating under the Parochial Church Council Powers
Measure. The PCC is a registered charity and members of the PCC are Trustees of the Charity.
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All
member5 of the congregation are given the opportunity to register on the Electoral Roll and
stand for election to the PCC. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all
matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds
of the PCC are to be spent.
13

PCC Membershlp
Ex Offlclo
Priest in Charge,.
Curate:
Reverend Brian Greenfield (Chairl
Reverend Emma Wilkinson
Assistant Priest:
Reverend Natasha Thomas
Churchwarden..
Anne Luxton (Vice chairl
Mike Wragg
Sheila Cudmore Ire-elected 20231
Alison Haigh Ire-elected 20231
Susan Wood (re-elected 2023)
Churchwarden:
Deanery Synod:
Elected Members (Trustees) at 31" December 2025
Susan Lawrence
Elected 22105/22
Re-elected 14105123
Jonathan Hall
Johanna Hirst
Elected 14105123
Elected 14105/23
Elected 14105123
Jean Titchrnarsh
PCC Secretary
Mark Allison
John Hirst
Elected 28/04124
Elected 04105125
Barbara Downes
Elected Members serving at I" January 2025 who have slnce left:
Sabhyata Halli luntil 101111251
Given its wide responsibilities the PCC has a number of subgroups or committees:
Standlng Commlttee:
Clergy, Churchwardens. Treasurer, Secretary, Mark Allison
14

Buildings & Grounds:
aergy, Churchwardens, Chris Clough Ileadl, Meredith
Woode (resigned during yearl, Johanna Hirst (resigned
during year), Sabhyata Halli (until 101111251, Rob Downes.
Clergy. Churchwardens. John Hirst.
Mark Allison Ileadl, Brian Greenfield, Emma Wilkinson,
Susan Lawrence. Jean Titchmarsh, Chris Clough. Elisabeth
Verhoven.
Hlrstwood Burial Ground Board
Worship & Muslc..
Finance and Funding..
Barbara Downes Ileadl. Mike Moss linterim treasurer),
Alison Haigh, Rob Downes.
Susan Lawrence. Susan Wood, Sheila Cudmore, Brian
Greenfield, Emma Wilkinson, Alison Haigh. Anne Luxton.
Mike Wrag& Jonathan Hall.
Brian Greenfield. Emma Wilkinson. Natasha Thomas.
Susan Lawrence. Anne LuKton, Mike Wragg.
Prayer, Pastoral & Dlsclpleship:
Pathways, Growth & Mlssion:
Other Roles of Responsibility:
Church Administrator
Jennyritchmarsh
Mike Wragg
Meredith Woode
Parish Electoral Roll Officer
Gift Aid Secretary
Safeguarding & Disability Officer, DBS Verifier
Health & Safety Offlcer
Lay Pastoral Minister
Lay Pastoral Minister
Interim Treasurer
Alison Haigh
Alison Haigh
Sheila Cudmore
Susan Wood
Mike Moss
The PCC met six times during 2025.
Electoral Roll
As of March 2026, there are 49 on the Electoral Roll Idown from 56 in 20251. 12 are male,
and 37 female. 21 are resident in the parish, 28 are non-resident.
Barbara Downes Interim Electoral Officer
15

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
St Paul's Church, Shipley is part of the Church of England Diocese of Leeds in the Episcopal Area
of Bradford and the Deanery of Aire and Worth.
The address is.. St Paul's Church, Kirkgate, Shipley, BD18 3EH.
16

THE CHURCH
OF ENGLAND
Diocese of Leeds
ST PAUL'S CHURCH
SHIPLEY
Registered Charity No. 1169596
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 December 2025
15

ST PAUL'S CHURCH SHIPLEY
IndependeDt examiner's report to the members of St Paul's Church, Shipley
Parochial Churcb Council {PCC)
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 Da¢ombor 2025 which are set ovt on pages 19 to 27.
Respcctiyc re%i)0ttsibilitsc5 of the PCC Indeyellilellt Examittcr
The PCC consider that an 8iJdit is not required for this year under section 144 {21
of Ihe Charities Act 2011 Ithe 2011 Act), and thal an indep¢ndenl exarnination is n8ed&d.
11 is my fesponsibility to
examine the *c￿ntS under 8ection 145 of the 2011 Act
follow the proc8dur85 laid down in the General Directions given by the
Charity Commissiofter5 under section 14515} {bl of the 2011 Act., and
slate whether particular matters have come to my atlention.
BL41¥ of IndcpLndent EIomih¢r's Statcu*ut
My *x8min8tron was carried out in accordance wth the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.
An examination indudès a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison
of the accounts p￿sented with those records. 11 also indudes consideration ol any unusual items or disdosur•s
in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustee¥ concerning ary such matters.
The procedures und&rtak8M d9 not provide all the evidence that would be ￿QuIred in an audit, and, consequently,
no opinion is given as to whether the acrA)unts present a"(rue and fair view. and the ￿port is limited to thos6
matters set out in the statement below.
lkndepethd¢ttf Eumirtr'¥ StstemeDt
In connection wth my examifialion, your att6nts.oft is dr4wn to the facl that, as stated in note 1, the figures felating
to Hir5t Wood Burial Board are set out in note 13 of the Accounts 8nd h8V8 not been ¢on501idat8d 85 at 2024
for comparison purpose$
Other than this no other matters have come to my attention..
(11 which give rne reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
to ke8p accounting records in accordance wilh section 130 of lh6 2011 Act,. or
to prepare accounts which accord wlh the accounb'ng records and comply the accounting
requirements of the 2011 Aet have rM)t been met,. or
{21 to which, ID my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to anabla a proper und8rstanding
of the acetsunts to be reached.
Simon H#rt FCCA
Chartered Aceountant
16

ST PAUL'S CHURCH SHIPLEY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
For the year ended 31 Derember 2025
uDfc5triCt￿ Xc5tricÉed
PuDd5
TOTAL FUNDS
21Tr24
Note
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Voluntary ineome
21a} 63,501
2,525
66.026
69,127
Activities for generats'ng fund5
21b) 24,076
24.076
20.164
Income from invèstments
21c)
15,704
903
16,607
113
Church act¢vities
21d)
2,025
2,025
3,378
Grants in support of mission
2181
219
219
182}
TOTAL INCOME
105.524
3,428
108,952
92.701
EXPENDITUR
Mission and Charitable giving
3{al
5.193
5,193
5.694
Church activitie8
31b} 89,525
89,525
66,832
Exceptional ￿n0VatiOn costs
31cl
Raising fund5
31dl
116
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
94718
72,e42
NET INCOME
10,8(
3,428
14.234
20.059
TraMfer% ofFunds
8.737
18,7371
NET MOVEMENf IN FUNDS
19.543
15,309)
14.234
BALANCES AT I JANUARY 2025
28,177
29,555
57,732
37.673
BALAf4CES CARRIED FORWAI
AT31 DECEMBER 202
47,720
24.246
0.00
71,966
57,732
Thc pws2110 27 fonii iiirtofthes¢ fininLi*I %lkl¢m¢nl4
17

ST PAUL'S CHURCH SHIPLEY
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
Note
2025
2024
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible fixed assets
885
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
Short temi deposits {CBFI
Cash al bank and in hand
11.854
19,961
2,224
44,595
65.587
e6,780
LIABILrriES: Amour￿3 FALLIP4G
DUE WtTHIPI ONE YEAR
15.4221
19.879)
HIRST WOOD BURIAL BOARD
13
154}
154}
NET CURRENT ASSETS
,847
NET ASSETS
71,966
57.732
0.47
FUNDS
10&11
Unrestricled
Undesignatèd
Designatsd- future projoets
40,350
7.370
20,807
47,720
28.177
Restric18d
24,248
29.555
71,986
57,732
Approved by th• Parochial Church Council on
26 and signed on its behall by '.
Reverend Brian Greenfield (Chaimian)
surer)
Thr Rok50n pgcs21 toZI l<)trnpllrl ofihcsc fli￿li￿j￿1 ststcmcnts
18

ST PAUL'S CHURCH SHIPLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STA TEMENTS
For the yeor ended 31 December 2025
ACCOUNTING POLICIFS
The Chureh is a public benefil entity wilhin the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have beell prepared
nder the Charities Act 2011 and in awordance wth the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, goveming the
individual accounts of PCCS, and wth the Regula*'ons true and fair vieW provisions., they have also been prapared
under FRS102 (Statement of Recommended Pratxce. ACcoun￿'ng and reporting by Charl￿'e3).
The financral statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention except for the valuation
ol investment assets, which are shown 8t markel value. The financial statements in¢lude all transactions,
assets and liabilities for which the PCC is respon5ib18 in law. They do not inclu(Je the accounts of church groups
Ih3t OW8 their main affiliation to another body nor thosa that are infomial gatherings of ehurch members.
Fund8
R8stricled funds may only be expended on the specifi¢ object forwhich they wèr8 given. Any balance remaining
unspent at the 8nd of the year must be carrièd fornwdrd as a balance on that fund.
Unrestricted funds rep￿sent the funds of the PCC that are not subjecl to any restrictions regarding their usè
and are availabh for applicabon on Ihè gener81 purposes of the PCC. Fund5 designated for a particular
purpose by the PCC are a150 un￿striCted in that th8 PCC 18 free to redesignate them.
Intorne
P5anned giving, collections and donations are recognised when ￿ceiVed by OT on behalf of the PCC.
Income tax recoverable on gift aid is recognised when the income Is recogni58d.
Grants and legacies to the PCC are accounted for as 500n as the PCC is notified of its 1è981 8nt￿ernent.
Funds raised at garden parties aHd sirnilar events aR accounted for gross.
Revenues from Ihe magazine or any olh8r sales are aCco￿nIe(j for gross.
Rental irEcome from the letting of church prèmises is recognised when the rental 15 due.
Dividends and interest are accounted forwhen ￿CeiVable and are received gross of tax.
Expertditure
- Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, orwhen committed by the PCC.
The diocesan share is 8ccDunted for when payable. subiecl to th8 PCC'S assessment of ability to pay in future.
Gaitt$ los¥e¥ on InTre5tM￿ts
Realised gain5 or losses ar8 recogni$ed when investm4nts are sold.
Unrealised gains or losses are accounted for on revaluabon of investments al 310ecember.
Flied 4sscts
Consecrated land and buildings are excluded from the accounts in awordance wth thè Charili&s Act 2011
No value is placed on mov8ble church furnishings which require a faculty for disposal.
Expenditure incurred on repair, ￿p18Cement and maintenance of the above 85sets is written off in the year.
Othèr items of equiprnent are capitalised if ovèr £1,000 individualty, and depr•ciat8d ov9r four years
in equal Instalrnents.
Inveslmenls are stated at market values at 31 December.
Hirsi Burial Ground
The Board of Managernent of Hirst Woc#J Burial Ground is a 5ul>committee of the PCC, which ha6 responsibility
for ary liability that may arise The accounts of the Burial Ground aTe attached (note 131 of the financial stalemenls
instead ol ￿Tr$olIdation as at2024. on the orounds that its objectives 8re signrficarfy drfferent from those of the PCC.
19

ST PAUL'S CHURCH SHIPLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
For the year ended 31 December 2025
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Ullrcstrictei RcslrittLbd
Fwid$
Funds
TOTAL FUNDS
2025
21124
21al V(JliiNiory sK¢onie
Planned giving
Gift aid donation5
Income tax recov6r8ble
Other planned grving
Colleclions at all $erv*ces
Donations,appeals, etc.
Legacies and M$motials
40,687
13.248
4,552
997
30
3.987
40,687
13,248
7,077
48,913
13,478
5,800
936
2,525
7,077.C
30
3,987
63,501
66 026
2{bl A¢iivAll¢sforgcnernlinEfvnds
Social and fund raising events
Telecoms Mast rental inctsme
3,498
20,578
3.498
20,578
1,997
18.167
24,076
24,076
20,164
21¢1 In¢omelrom irtk*slMvnls
Dividend5 and interest
Assets introdueed
347
15,357
903
1.250
113
113
2{d) ChEirch
Income from use of church
Fees
Insurance Claim5
2,383
1,183
1,183
150
3.378
2.025
Grants Teceivable from
- Archbishop5 Council
Listed Places of Vvorship Scheme
Dtocese of Leeds
- Other
1821
219
219
219
219
82
TOTAL INCOME
105,524
3,428
93.595
92.701
20

ST PAUL'S CHURCH SHIPLEY
NOTES TO THE FItYANCJAL STATEMENTS
For tlie year ended 31 December 2025
3 EXPENDITURE
Unrestricte( Restri¢tcd
Fund¥
TOTAL FUNDS
2025
2024
31al Mls.%liJn&r}? oIFilchuiiiLFbleslvin¥.
Church overseas ".
Dio¢es$ of Khartoum
Christian
-CMS
Tear Fund
Home missions and other church socjeties
- Bradford North Foodbank
Parish Outreach
Shipley Christians Together
Children's Society
1.000
800
I,￿0
1,000
8(K)
800
1.200
1,OCKI
BOO
94
518
1,075
518
1.075
2.000
5.193
5694
31bl ClitirchA¢iiviti¢s
Ministry..
di0¢9san share
d8rgy exp8nses
Church- running expenses
Church maintenance
Depreciation of fixed assets
Sunday school, evangelisrn & training
Fees
Musician'$ Salarie6
Telephonè
Office expenses
Publicity
25.040
25.040
20.040
27,047
7,120
885
7.937
175
3,525
423
17.363
10
27,047
7,120
16,266
8,089
2,272
77
7,937
175
3,525
423
17,363
10
89,525
3,450
475
15,847
317
66.832
3{cl t¥¢ewlu￿a1rCR2I1Va￿oIV CUSÉs
E8St End Irnprovements
Tower and Bells
Notice Board
3{dl R{hJlngfii￿d3.
Gift envelopes
Other fun¢*raising costs
116
116
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
£94,718
£0
£72,642
The Diocesan Share ￿queSted from St Paul's Church was £44.213. In the event the amounl paid
Was reduced lo 57% of the amount requested12024- 43.hl
21

ST PAUL'S CHURCH SHIPLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
4 STATEMENT OF VINANCtAL AcfiviTIES- An￿y111 of2024 figllres
Unrc5trictLY Restricterf TOTAL FUNDS
Funds
Fund
2024
E4ote
INCOME AND ENDOWMEN1E
Voluntary incom6
2181 59,086
10,041
69.127
Activiliiys for generating funds
21b} 20,164
20,164
Income from investm8nts
21¢)
113
113
Church activil'es
21dl
3,378
3,378
Grants in support of mission
2{&1
1821
1821
TOTAL INCOME
82.660
EXPENDrruRE
Mission and chariiable givlng
31al
5.600
5.694
Church acts"vib"es
31bl 65,957
875
66,832
Exceptional renovation co$ls
31c)
Rai*ng funds
31d)
116
116
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
71,673
969
NET INCOME
10.987
9,073
20,060
Tra￿fer¥ of FU￿d5
NET MOVEMENT Iiy FUNDS
10,987
9,073
20,060
BALANCES AT I JANUARY 2025
17.190
20.483
37,673
BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD
AT 31 DECEMBER 2025
28.177
29,556
57,733
22

ST PAUL'S CHURCH SHIPLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEiYrs
For the yeAr ended 31 December 2025
5 STAFF COSTS
Wages and salaries costs in toial amounted to £16,573 12024. £20,758) in respecl of four employee5-,
cl8rgy members claimed no reimbursement of travel oxpenses12024- £Nill.
No employee earned in excess of £60,000 in the year.
6 FIXED ASSEIS FOR USE BY THE PCC
202S
curnulative
16,202
2,260
1,140
20.000
5,574
3,540
48.716
48,716
Cost of 80ilers replace(l in 2015
Cost of kitchen boiler 2017
Cost of photocopier 2018
C05t of Audiolvisual system 2019
Cost of Live-streaming equipment 2021
Cost of AudIo￿lSual additions 2022
less Deprecia*on charged ITr the year
885
Net book value at 31 D8C8mber 2025
7 ANALYSJS OF NET ASSE13 BY FUND
unrestrict￿ Rostricteil
FuTh(1s
Fund¥
TOTAL FUNDS
Fixed assets
CurTent assets
Current liabilities
Fund balance
53.195
5.475
47.719
24,246
77.441
5,475
71,966
24,246
8 DEBTORS
2025
2024
Income tsx recoverabte
Prepayments
Grants recoivable
other debtor5
11,000
13,480
446
219
5,817
19,961
219
189
11.854
LIABILITIES . AMOVNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
0.47
Accruals
Creditor5 for goods and services
Other ¢red¢or8
2.906
2,516
2,9C6
2.373
4,600
9,879
5,422
No provision has ￿en rnade for fu￿re maintenance of the ehurth buildings. The last Quinquennial inspection,
carried out during 2019. identrfied a number ol issues which it is planned 10 includè in future phases
of the roofing project when funds permtt. P05sibl& total costs are in excess of £250.000 lor which sources
of Grant funding are currently not available.
10 CAPITAL COMMITMENTS
There were no capital ￿mMitmentS at 31st December2025
23

ST PAUL'S CHIIRCH SHIPLEY
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STA TEMENTS
For the year ended 31 December 2025
11 DESIGNATEO {LEGACYI FUND
In 2017 the PCC received a magnificent Logocy of £58,(M)O from Ihe Estate of Miss Briggs, which, though not
in any way restricted by her will, il detemiined to ke8p for futLtre major projects.
In 2019 we instalSed a new Audio-visual system using these funds. and in 2021 extended it to provide
've-Streaming of services during the pandemic restrictions on attendance. In 2021 we also used part
of those monies lo make significant improv8rnents to the West End, including new outer door8.
At the end of 2020 the PCC had reluctantly agroèd to release £10,000 of these Designated fund5, in viaw
of the challenging prospects lor the Parish at that time, in order to pay a significantly higher proportion
of our Diocesan Share.
However, during 2021 we ￿e1ved a further legacy, from the estale offomier Churchwarden Alison Cockbum.
in lh8 sum of £5,000, again nol restricted. which the PCC agreed to add to the Designated funds.
In Summary (movem￿tS in 20251..
Balance ol FuThJs at 1st January
7.370
Depreaation on AIV and Live-stream equipment
B818nce of Funds at 31st D￿mber 2025
12 RESTRicfED FUND DETAIiS
Th$ movomtnt of restricted funds during 2025 and th￿r purpose is..
opening
Balance receivable payablo transf•rs
Balance at
31 December
2025
Sp2cial Collections
Organ Fund
Fabnc Fund
Tower & Bells
Children & Youth Project
other
4,709
8,769
2,788
11,612
7.677
25
249
581
2,001
4,734
8,818
3.014
5,955
1,725
1200)
13551
(7,658)
40
29 555
8,173
24,246
24

ST PAUL'S CHURCH SHIPLEY
NOTES TO THE FIIYANCIAL STA TEMENTS
For the yeAr ended 31 December 202S
Stthtement of A55Ct5 at 31 December 2024
Consolidated as at 31 December 2025
ASSETS
Investrnents - 912.08 shares in CBF Investment Fund
at market value
St Pauls account
54
NET ASSETS
£54
FUNDS
Vnreslricted
Restricted
Endowment
Higgins bequest
- Foy benefaction
£54
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BY FUND
Unwtrictc¢ Restricted Endoimi¢ni TOTAL FUNDS
Funds
21124
Fixe(l assets
investments
Net Current assets
54
Fund balance
£54
£0
£0
£54
Approvèd by the Board
ReVe￿nd Brlan Gr•enr￿ld Ichairnianl
25