Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts
Parish of Pucklechurch and Abson
1 January – 31 December 2024
Aim and purpose
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Pucklechurch and Abson (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent in promoting the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The PCC is also especially responsible for the maintenance of the churches of St Thomas a Becket, Pucklechurch and St James, Abson The Great. It has a special interest in Pucklechurch CE CC Primary School.
Objectives and activities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our churches and to become part of the parish community. The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our services can involve the 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 has considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the specific guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. 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
-
Mission and outreach work
To facilitate this work, it is important that we maintain the fabric of our two church buildings.
Achievements and Performance
Worship and Prayer
The PCC has been keen to offer a range of services during the week and over the course of the year that our community find both beneficial and spiritually fulfilling. As an example, we offer prayer time outside of the traditional services, including Tuesday Morning Prayer and have offered a less formal service (Café church) at times throughout the church calendar. We also offered specific services at Christmas, ‘All Souls’ and Remembrance in November and Abson offers a monthly Evensong and monthly communion.
This year also saw the continuation of our Scarecrow Trail and the very popular Christmas Nativity (Christingle). The former as well as encouraging families into the church environment from the village and beyond also raised vital funds for the church. The nativity service again opens our door to families in our communities and helps enrich our relationship with Pucklechurch CE CC School. We also held a Christmas Tree Festival, inviting the village organisations to take part in decorating a Christmas Tree and displaying it in Church with a prize for the best tree and a prize for chidrens
entries. This opened with church members serving tea and coffee on the Saturday and the church being open in the afternoons for a week so that people could enjoy the trees.
We again visited a local public house and organised a very well supported Carol Service raising funds and bringing the Christian message to the wider community.
At Abson church various events were held reaching out to the local community and beyond these include Snowdrop, Daffodil, and Rose Days – along with tea, coffee and cake. Abson also hold a monthly market.
All are welcome to attend our regular services. In 2024 we had 35 parishioners on the church electoral roll. In 2024 there were 5 baptisms, 0 weddings and 7 funeral services in the parish. Average Sunday attendance across both churches was 26, we see increased attendance at festivals for example Easter, Remembrance and Christmas.
Deanery and Diocesan Synod
Our representative stood down at the APCM after 15 years of service the position remains a vacancy.
Pastoral care
We had a Foundation Governor in place at the village primary school following the departure of the previous incumbent. The incumbent is working hard to further develop our pastoral care role in in school. The church continues to let out the church room to the village playgroup to support this village need where they were recently in inspected by Ofsted and achieved an outstanding rating.
Mission and Outreach
The church holds services to appeal to non-church members to enable mission. Contributions are made to Bristol Diocese via Parish Share to support the diocese’s mission in other parts of Bristol including university students. Where the PCC made the decision to contribute £17209.31 to support the work of the diocese through Parish Share. We continued to build our relationship with Pucklechurch school and in particular the new vicar and lay members have led school assemblies, both in school and church. They have also hosted prayer spaces and told the Chrismas and Easter stories through interactive play. It is PCC’s policy to make annual donations to local and national charities which normally amounted circa £200. Specific donations were made to Christian Aid, Church Mission Society,
Financial review
For the year, income exceeded expenditure by £14246.82 up from £6006.00 deficit in the previous year with the biggest items of expenditure being the Parish Share payments. Our investment finances were also impacted by market conditions and at year end our investment fund was increased in value by £6499.00. We continue to raise funds via events such as Scarecrow Trail, Christmas Tree Festival and personal donations. A detailed breakdown of our assets and liabilities is attached in the financial statement which has been independently examined.
Reserves policy
It is our policy to invest our legacy funds balances with the BF Church of England Deposit Fund. The PCC maintains capital priorities register for St Thomas’ building.
Volunteers
We would like to thank all the volunteers who contribute to the life and ministry of our church and enable it to function in a positive way - cleaners, flower arrangers, musicians, bakers, sides-people, along with many others.
Structure, governance and management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. In the parish, the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent, secretary, acting verger, representatives and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral role of the parish. All members of the congregation are encouraged 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 in the parish including safeguarding and how the funds of the PCC are to be spent.
PCC member numbers were reviewed in line with diocese rules around the size of the electoral roll.
The PCC met 9 times in 2024 with an average attendance of 6.
The APCM was held on 18[th] March 2024
We are thankful that we have a safeguarding officer to assist with the safeguarding requirements. All members of the PCC have been DBS checked and have completed the relevant safeguarding training.
Administrative information
The Parish of Pucklechurch and Abson is in South Gloucestershire and in the Diocese of Bristol. The correspondence address is St. Thomas A Beckett Church, Westerleigh Road, Pucklechurch BS16 9RD.
The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006) and a registered charity since 31 August 2017 (Reg No: 1174449).
There are no significant incidents to report.
PCC Members who have served from 1 January – 31 December 2024 are:
Incumbent: Reverend Elaine Jones - From February 2024 Verger: (Acting) Julie Gibbs Elected Members: Mrs Joanne Fern (Minute Secretary) Mr Kevin Watkins Ms Julie Young Mrs L Silk Mr Alan Holder (resigned June 2024) Mr Mark Priest (resigned July 2024)
Ms Gill Kavanagh (stepped down March 2024)
Mrs Jackie Yates (stepped down March 2024 ) Mrs Joyce Harris (stepped down March 2024 )
Trustees Report approved by the PCC on 23/10/2024
ST. THOMAS A BECKET CHURCH, PUCKLECHURCH
ST. JAMES THE GREAT, ABSON
ANNUAL REPORT
and
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
of the
PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
for the year ended
31 DECEMBER 2024
Incumbent:
Rev. Elaine Jones The Vicarage Westerleigh Road Pucklechurch Bristol
Bank: Lloyds TSB 124 High Street Staple Hill Bristol
Independent Examiner:
Mrs Trudi A Adams 49 Birch Drive Pucklechurch Bristol
ST. THOMAS A BECKET CHURCH, PUCKLECHURCH ST. JAMES THE GREAT, ABSON
Independent Examiner's Report to the PCC
This report of the accounts of the PCC of St. Thomas a Becket, Pucklechurch and St. James the Great, Abson for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out in the following pages, is in respect of an examination carried out under Regulation 3(3) of the Church Accounting Regulations, 1997 and Section 43 of the Charities Act 1993.
As members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 3(3) of the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 and Section 43(2) of the Charities Act do not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those accounts in accordance with the terms of Regulation 25 of the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 and Regulation 7 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 1995.
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 43(7)(b) of the Act to be found in the guidance from the CBF. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that I would require in an audit; consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
In connection with my examination no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 41 of the Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the requirements of the Act, as also contained in the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 have not been met.
Mrs Trudi A Adams 49 Birch Drive Pucklechurch Bristol
ST. THOMAS A BECKET CHURCH, PUCKLECHURCH ST. JAMES THE GREAT, ABSON
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
GENERAL FUND RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT (UNRESTRICTED)
| Receipts Incoming Resources from Donors Standing Orders HMRC Gift Aid Collections Gift Day for St Thomas Collections for Charities Smartie Tubes Other Harvest Supper Hire of Boards Snowdrop Sunday Rose Day Daffodil Sunday Quilts & Roses Miscellaneous Other Voluntary Incoming Sources Donations/Wall Safe Grants Income from Charitable and Ancillary Trading |
Pucklechurch £ 9,246.64 6,796.27 3,085.26 5,425.00 263.15 41.62 24,857.94 1,096.04 0.00 1,096.04 5,376.00 2,373.00 7,315.00 15,064.00 5,000.00 46,017.98 |
Abson £ 450.00 1,416.15 610.00 50.00 191.37 287.00 331.95 3,336.47 4,396.40 1,750.00 6,146.40 0.00 9,482.87 |
Total 2024 £ 9,246.64 7,246.27 4,501.41 5,425.00 263.15 0.00 41.62 610.00 50.00 191.37 287.00 0.00 0.00 331.95 28,194.41 5,492.44 1,750.00 7,242.44 5,376.00 2,373.00 7,315.00 15,064.00 5,000.00 55,500.85 |
Total 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ 8,967.37 2,323.36 5,863.49 0.00 282.90 184.20 889.55 571.00 50.00 0.00 0.00 227.50 385.00 194.00 |
||||||
| 19,938.37 3,475.98 600.00 |
||||||
| 4,075.98 4,752.50 1,804.00 0.00 |
||||||
Room/Church Rent PCC Fees (gross) Investments Transfer from Knight Legacy Fund Total Receipts |
||||||
| 6,556.50 30,000.00 60,570.85 |
| Payments | Pucklechurch | Abson | Total 2024 | Total 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Charitable Giving | ||||
| Overseas, Home & Secular Charities | 613.16 | 613.16 | 941.80 | |
| 613.16 | 0.00 | 613.16 | 941.80 | |
| Activities Relating to the Work of the Church | ||||
| Parish Share | 13,999.96 | 1,000.00 | 14,999.96 | 27,037.00 |
| Church Running Expenses | 5,329.54 | 2,491.54 | 7,821.08 | 12,128.87 |
| Diocesan Fees | 1,114.00 | 1,114.00 | 979.00 | |
| Clergy Expenses | 4.59 | 4.59 | 322.18 | |
| Maintenance | 2,742.80 | 3,315.60 | 6,058.40 | 2,759.99 |
| Service Expenses/Stationery | 2,533.96 | 2,533.96 | 2,969.46 | |
| Churchyard | 6,300.00 | 2,022.00 | 8,322.00 | 4,260.00 |
| Honoraria | 0.00 | 200.00 | ||
| Organist | 1,716.00 | 320.00 | 2,036.00 | 1,716.00 |
| Quinquennial Report | 1,397.50 | 613.00 | 2,010.50 | 0.00 |
| Miscellaneous | 695.81 | 120.67 | 816.48 | 530.58 |
| Bookkeeping Fees | 1,080.00 | 54.00 | 1,134.00 | 1,230.00 |
| Organ Tuning | 0.00 | 257.99 | ||
| 36,914.16 | 9,936.81 | 46,850.97 | 54,391.07 | |
| Total Payments | 37,527.32 | 9,936.81 | 47,464.13 | 55,332.87 |
| Excess of Receipts over Payments | 8,490.66 | (453.94) | 8,036.72 | 5,237.98 |
| General Fund Balance | Pucklechurch | Abson | Total 2024 | Total 2023 |
| 1 January | 8,929.12 | 5,269.70 | 14,198.82 | 8,960.84 |
| 31 December | 17,419.78 | 4,815.76 | 22,235.54 | 14,198.82 |
| Increase/(Decrease) in Fund | 8,490.66 | (453.94) | 8,036.72 | 5,237.98 |
PUCKLECHURCH & ABSON STATEMENT OF FUNDS, ASSETS & LIABILITIES
Bank Statements at 31/12/24
Fund Totals at 31/12/24
Pucklechurch
| Pucklechurch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lloyds TSB Current a/c Lloyds TSB Deposit a/c (2 year fixed) CBF Deposit a/c CBF Organ a/c CBF Share Account Cash in Hand Uncleared Cheques Cash not yet paid in Pucklechurch Total Abson Santander Current a/c Cash in Hand Uncleared Cheques Cash not yet paid in Abson Total Grand Total Fund Totals at 31/12/23 (for comparison) |
£ 9,759.04 General 0.00 Restoration 79,719.23 Organ 6,082.32 Barnett Legacy 133,806.50 Knight Legacy 40.04 Knight Endowment 229,407.13 12,693.74 242,100.87 £ 4,847.32 Unrestricted 4,847.32 (146.56) 115.00 4,815.76 246,916.63 |
£ 17,419.78 6,745.23 6,154.55 120,668.41 85,892.29 5,220.61 |
| 242,100.87 | ||
| £ 4,815.76 |
||
| 4,815.76 | ||
| 246,916.63 | ||
| 233,123.75 |
ST. THOMAS A BECKET CHURCH, PUCKLECHURCH ST. JAMES THE GREAT, ABSON
CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS
Notes to the Consolidated Accounts:
- The Central Board of Finance of the Church of England has issued regulations and guidance following the introduction of the 1993 Charity Act which says (para 1.3) that from 1 January 1997 the Act will be implemented for all PCCs. The two most significant consequences for Pucklechurch and Abson are that:-
a) we are required to present consolidated accounts for the two parishes and
b) that accounts must be separated out into restricted (where money is given for a specific purpose and cannot be used for any other purpose) and unrestricted (where funds can be used for any purpose).
-
Although there is a requirement to present consolidated accounts for Pucklechurch and Abson in fact they are financially independent and maintain their own bank accounts and practices. It is anticipated that this will continue.
-
The Joyce Barnett Legacy Fund represents a bequest to the St. Thomas a Becket Church. It is a restricted fund designated "for such objects connected with the fabric fund for the building of the church or other services provided by the church".
RESTORATION FUND (DESIGNATED FUND) PUCKLECHURCH
| Receipts | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Scarecrow Trail | 2,679.47 | 2,917.65 |
| Recorder Concert | 370.00 | |
| Xmas Fayre | 238.67 | |
| Christingle | 102.10 | |
| Carol Service | 110.36 | |
| Beer and Carols fundraising | 73.87 | |
| Gingerbread Trail | 129.95 | |
| Revel Refreshments | 87.46 | |
| Carols in Pub | 93.18 | |
| Total Income | 3,574.47 | 3,228.24 |
| Payments | 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ | |
| Advent Lighting | 816.22 | 588.00 |
| Scarecrow Expenses | 1,024.39 | 516.91 |
| Clearing Valley/Gulleys | 1,500.00 | 475.00 |
| New Heater for Toilet | 495.00 | |
| Piano/Organ Expenses | 540.71 | 275.29 |
| Transfer to General Fund | ||
| Total Expenditure | 3,881.32 | 2,350.20 |
| Excess of Receipts over Payments | (306.85) | 878.04 |
| Restoration Fund Balance | 2024 | 2023 |
| 1 January | 7,052.08 | 6,174.04 |
| 31 December | 6,745.23 | 7,052.08 |
| Increase/(Decrease) in Fund | (306.85) | 878.04 |
ORGAN FUND (DESIGNATED FUND) PUCKLECHURCH
| Receipts | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Bank Interest | 378.79 | 249.36 |
| Total Income | 378.79 | 249.36 |
| Payments | 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ | |
| Total Expenditure | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Excess of Receipts over Payments | 378.79 | 249.36 |
| Organ Fund Balance | 2024 | 2023 |
| 1 January | 5,775.76 | 5,596.40 |
| 31 December | 6,154.55 | 5,845.76 |
| Increase/(Decrease) in Fund | 378.79 | 249.36 |
BARNETT LEGACY FUND
| Receipts | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Interest | 2,310.26 | 1,828.96 |
| Revaluation of Investment | 6,499.08 | 14,296.07 |
| Total Income | 8,809.34 | 16,125.03 |
| Payments | 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ | |
| Total Expenditure | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Excess of Receipts over Payments | 8,809.34 | 16,125.03 |
| Barnett Legacy Fund Balance | 2024 | 2023 |
| 1 January | 111,859.07 | 95,734.04 |
| 31 December | 120,668.41 | 111,859.07 |
| Increase/(Decrease) in Fund | 8,809.34 | 16,125.03 |
KNIGHT LEGACY FUND
| Receipts | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Interest | 1,839.24 | 2,231.82 |
| Total Income | 1,839.24 | 2,231.82 |
| Payments | 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ | |
| To General Fund for Parish Share | 5,000.00 | 30,000.00 |
| Total Expenditure | 5,000.00 | 30,000.00 |
| Excess of Receipts over Payments | (3,160.76) | (27,768.18) |
| Knight Legacy Fund Balance | 2024 | 2023 |
| 1 January | 89,053.05 | 116,821.23 |
| 31 December | 85,892.29 | 89,053.05 |
| Increase/(Decrease) in Fund | (3,160.76) | (27,768.18) |
KNIGHT ENDOWMENT FUND
| Receipts | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Interest | 105.64 | 95.89 |
| Total Income | 105.64 | 95.89 |
| Payments | 2024 | 2023 |
| £ | £ | |
| Total Expenditure | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Excess of Receipts over Payments | 105.64 | 95.89 |
| Knight Endowment Fund Balance | 2024 | 2023 |
| 1 January | 5,114.97 | 5,019.08 |
| 31 December | 5,220.61 | 5,114.97 |
| Increase/(Decrease) in Fund | 105.64 | 95.89 |
Incom• Church Collecalons Snov4drop SurKlay 1.416_1S 191.37 610.00 287.(Kl 810.LKI 678.88 81.47 1.733_1 9 2.996.40 1.350.00 200.00 R¢)se Day Donations Donatior frym FwierKls- Roses 41X).IXI 13S.00 47.20 72_00 872.00 613.(N) 20.00 320.00 54.00 1.000.00 100.67 l)onatlons. Bdl Ringer klir8 of Art 8oarEts Memortal stone Refund fDr heater6 167.00 184.95 Glft Ald 450.(K) Pawi¥h 8haTe Income for 2024 9.482.87 9.936.81 4.815.76 14.752.57 14.752.57 D•llcl¢ for y••
ST. THOMAS A BECKET CHURCH, PUCKLECHURCH ST. JAMES THE GREAT, ABSON
Independent Examiner's Report to the PCC
This report of the accounts of the PCC of St. Thomas a Becket, Pucklechurch and St. James the Great, Abson for the year ended 31 December 2024 which are set out in the following pages, is in respect of an examination carried out under Regulation 3(3) of the Church Accounting Regulations, 1997 and Section 43 of the Charities Act 1993.
As members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Regulation 3(3) of the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 and Section 43(2) of the Charities Act do not apply. It is my responsibility to issue this report on those accounts in accordance with the terms of Regulation 25 of the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 and Regulation 7 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 1995.
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 43(7)(b) of the Act to be found in the guidance from the CBF. That examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the PCC and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that I would require in an audit; consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
In connection with my examination no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with Section 41
of the Act; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the requirements of the Act, as also contained in the Church Accounting Regulations 1997 have not been met.
Mrs Trudi A Adams 49 Birch Drive Pucklechurch Bristol