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2025-12-31-accounts

St Peter’s Church, Ropley

Annual Report and

Financial Statements of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31[st] December 2025

St Peter’s Church Ropley, PCC Annual Report for year ended 31st December 2025 — Page 1

St Peter’s Church, Ropley PCC Contents of the Financial Statements For the year ended 31st December 2025

Vicar’s Report ............................................................................................................................. 3 Administrative Information ..................................................................................................... 5 Structure, Governance and Management ............................................................................. 6 Aims and Purposes ................................................................................................................... 7 Objectives and Activities .......................................................................................................... 8 Vision and Values ...................................................................................................................... 8 Our Church This Year Report of The Churchwardens......................................................... 9 Children and young people at St Peter’s ............................................................................ 11 Ropley CE Primary School ..................................................................................................... 12 Deanery Synod ....................................................................................................................... 14 Faith and Generosity ............................................................................................................. 14 Safeguarding Report .............................................................................................................. 15 Music In St Peter’s .................................................................................................................. 16 Website .................................................................................................................................... 18 Events and Lettings ................................................................................................................ 18 Our Church Building .............................................................................................................. 19 Report from the Gardening Team ....................................................................................... 20 Creation Care .......................................................................................................................... 21 Flower Arranging in St Peter’s .............................................................................................. 22 Tower Report for 2025 .......................................................................................................... 23 Treasurers Report 2024 ........................................................................................................ 24 Independent Examiner’s Report .......................................................................................... 27 Statement of Financial Activities .......................................................................................... 28 Balance Sheet ......................................................................................................................... 29 Notes to the Financial Statements....................................................................................... 30

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Vicar’s Report

Well, what can I say?! I could use a million superlatives to describe the amount of awesome things that took place in St Peter’s Ropley in 2025.

God, the Creator of all, is infinitely diverse in the ways he meets us, the way he works in our community, the ways he provides comfort for the grieving, the way he inspires us through music and the way he finds us together in the bonds of peace and love.

We are blessed as a church community to be so connected with the wider community in Ropley and beyond. At different points in the year we have gathered to remember - on the village green for the VE Day tribute in May, around the new war memorial outside St Peter’s on Remembrance Sunday and in thanksgiving services across the year for those who have died. At other times, it is for enjoyment and fun - the joy of the Pram Race, a wonderful Leavers service for the Year 6s heading off to secondary school and the merriment of the Ropley King Singers’ concerts.

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1— Remembrance Sunday 2025 2 — Graveyard Baptism
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This part we play in the lives of so many cannot be taken lightly, it is a great privilege that as a Church family we meet people where they’re at, whether at very difficult times in their life, very joyful times or just wanting some fellowship and company. Throughout 2025 we have seen 1000s coming in for our festivals, and our events and sharing the story of God at Christmas and Easter with their families. Our quarterly families’ Events went from strength to strength, for example at our Crafty mornings many families engaged with Easter and Advent and our Light Party in October was our biggest yet. Our community tea concerts have been joyful occasions where we welcome many to have the opportunity to listen to some music at an affordable price.

Another extraordinary highlight was celebrating the festival of Jane Austen’s birthday. We were so excited and grateful to have Peter Gritton compose a piece for the event and be able to invite Perins to join in too.

2025 was peppered with so many extraordinary wonderful moments, our inaugural Supper Club and Christmas Tree Festival to name but a few. Words cannot express the thanks to the team of organisers and volunteers that help with these community and fundraising events.

We have seen extraordinary generosity, at these events but also in our wider Church congregation and community. We saw the paths finally repaired and renewed, a huge thanks go to the Friends of St Peter’s, our buildings team and the PCC for the hard work to make this happen. This year our report has a Faith and Generosity section / stewardship, this is about how we manage and steward our finances.

In the autumn we ran an information evening that expressed our financial situation, including our loan. The response to this was mind blowing, we were bowled over by the generosity of so many that helped cut our loan down by more than half! Thank you so much if you are one of the people that donated to the paying off of the loan or to some of our Special projects, including the Youth group.

I have been so blessed by our Youth group. Since the summer, it has gone from strength to strength, details of which are in this report. Thank you to all our team members for making it happen.

While we’re on the subject of our children and young people - Minecraft church also continues to be a place that welcomes all and inspires all of us through the imagination of our incredible children and young people as they recreate Bible stories in block form and pray and sing and Explorer church and our links with the school continue to grow, do read on for more!

God has blessed all of us with an opportunity to get to know his generous love for us. Many had the opportunity to learn more and discuss Prayer in our Different Ways to Pray Lent course. We’ve introduced our new sung communion booklet and a new

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quarterly healing Eucharist and shared in worship in many different forms and ways for which I am so grateful.

1 Corinthians chapter 12 says: And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of administration, forms of leadership, various kinds of languages.

We have seen some brilliant leadership, teaching and administration this year from our team leaders, our PCC members and countless team members - that’s all of you! We have seen new leaders and preachers. We have been working on our structures of health and safety, GDPR and safeguarding, all are continual works in progress but essential for St Peter’s to be a safe place, and this is down to the hard work of some brilliant individuals, thank you to you.

I am so privileged to be a part of seeing God working in all of you and your lives. With all love and peace - Amber

Reverend Amber Beresford

Administrative Information

St Peter’s Church is situated in Church Street, Ropley. It is part of the Alresford Deanery in the Diocese of Winchester within the Church of England.

The correspondence address is:

St Peter’s Church, Church Street, Ropley, Hants SO24 0DR.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. The Registered Charity Number is 1176142

Parochial Church Council Members

PCC members who have served from 1st January 2025 until the date this report was approved are:

Vicar:

Churchwardens:

Representatives on the Deanery Synod:

St Peter’s Church Ropley, PCC Annual Report for year ended 31st December 2025 — Page 5

Elected Members:

Co-Opted Members

In addition to the PCC, four other members of the church undertake important roles:

As at the 31st December 2025 there were 94 people on the Church Electoral Roll, of whom 72 were resident in the parish.

The total Worshipping Community at the end of 2025 was 104.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a corporate body established by the Church of England. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure and is a charity that is registered with the Charity Commission.

The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules.

At St Peter's the membership of the PCC consists of the Vicar, churchwardens and members elected by those members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll of the church. Others, who bring particular insight and experience, may be co-opted

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onto the PCC or attend occasionally to present reports, for example the Parish Safeguarding Officer. All those who attend our services are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and, if they so wish, stand for election to the PCC.

The PCC meets regularly throughout the year and has the ultimate responsibility for a wide range of matters affecting St Peter’s church, including such matters as compliance with health and safety, disability discrimination legislation, canon law, Diocesan policies, safeguarding and creation care. 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.

Sub-committees comprising at least one PCC member and others were set up in 2024 to focus on specific areas of church life including: worship, prayer and discipleship; community; communications; fabric and grounds; stewardship; commercial (events and bookings) and major fundraising. The authority to make significant decisions remains with the full PCC.

In addition to the main body of the PCC there is a Standing Committee comprising the Vicar, Churchwardens, Treasurer, and Secretary. They meet as required and are authorised to decide on issues which may arise between PCC meetings and need to be decided upon immediately. The Standing Committee is responsible to the PCC and decisions made by the Standing Committee are reported to and where necessary ratified at the next PCC meeting.

The full PCC met every two months during 2025 with the Standing Committee generally meeting once between PCC meetings.

Aims and Purposes

First and foremost, St Peter's is a church whose primary aim and mission is to help and guide all in our community to

Discover and Share in the generous love of God

The reach of the PCC extends beyond those actively participating in the church or the Christian community, encompassing all residents within the parish.

The PCC remit described in the report section headed Structure, Governance and Management ensures that St Peter’s is effectively administered and maintained, safeguarding its physical resources and financial stability for the benefit of both the present congregation and generations to come.

Importantly, the reach of the PCC is not limited solely to those who are actively involved in church services or form part of the Christian community - the Council’s responsibilities encompass all residents living within the parish. By extending its care and oversight to everyone in the local area, the PCC affirms its commitment to serving

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the wider community, reflecting the inclusive and welcoming ethos that is central to St Peter’s mission.

Working in close partnership with Amber, our Vicar, the PCC addresses matters of general concern and significance throughout the parish. This stewardship is fundamental to advancing the church’s mission and ensuring that St Peter’s remains both a welcoming and functional venue for worship as well as a hub for community gatherings.

A primary responsibility of the PCC is to promote the Christian Gospel within the St Peter’s parish. This task covers the entirety of the church’s mission, including pastoral care, evangelistic outreach, social engagement and involvement in ecumenical activities. The PCC is dedicated to cultivating an inclusive approach to ministry that delivers benefits to the broader parish community.

Objectives and Activities

The PCC strives to welcome as many people as possible to worship at St Peter’s and to encourage their involvement in the church community. The Council oversees all aspects of worship, providing guidance to ensure that services are supportive, inclusive, and uplifting. Faith is expressed in practice through prayer, the reading of scripture, music, and the celebration of sacraments.

In planning its annual activities, the PCC takes into account the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, particularly the supplementary advice for charities advancing religion. The Council is committed to enabling everybody to practise their faith as part of the parish community by focusing on the following areas:

Worship and prayer, fostering opportunities to learn about the Gospel and to develop knowledge and trust in Jesus.

Providing pastoral care for all residents within the parish.

Engaging in mission and outreach work to serve the wider community.

Vision and Values

In January, at our first Holy Communion service of 2025, we were blessed with Bishop Philip’s presence. He “launched” the publication of St Peter’s Vision and Values statements. They relate to our

Welcome to all,

Acceptance of all,

Care for all,

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Inspiration from and to all

and the Transformation that that we may all receive.

During the year these Values were described in more detail – Amber preached on each of them over a five-week period between Easter and Pentecost and there have been other times when they have been included in themes in our preaching.

We have been struck by how all those involved with St Peter’s, whether regular members of our congregation or not, live out these values. Though we are all different, when it comes to supporting and promoting the life of St Peter’s, it seems that we all behave as one. We find this truly inspiring. So many people play their part willingly and joyfully and we are so very grateful to all who commit themselves to making St Peter’s the vibrant worshipping community that it is.

Special consideration has been and must continue to be given to our Mission objectives relating to young people, parents and families and those who may be isolated. Examples are the formation of the Ropley Youth Group, Minecraft Church (possibly a first!) and Explorer Church.

There is much more to do of course – we can never sit back and say, “job done”. We need to carry on living out our Values and to find new, engaging ways to bring the Word of God to all.

Our Church This Year Report of The Churchwardens

In 2025 we worked to enhance initiatives started in 2024. We did this to provide even stronger governance and to introduce a greater level of detail to our activities and responsibilities.

The PCC discussed many aspects of the “formal” part of church life, resulting in discussion about our wonderful events, mission initiatives, action relating to data protection, matters of finance and fabric, health & safety, policy development, the upkeep of our wonderful grounds, the bells and more. You name it, we talked about it!

There are individuals on the PCC who are focal points in areas such as finance, copyright law, data protection and so on. Our Safeguarding Officer , Wilma Hainsworth, provides us with an expert overview of all matters relating to safeguarding. The Church Wardens need to have an overview of most aspects of St Peter’s operation so that the church and its worship run smoothly.

Elsewhere we’ve noted that so many do so much for St Peter’s. There are innumerable examples of this individual and collective dedication, just some of them being:

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Although we are a charity, having all the attendant formal and legal responsibilities that brings, as our leader Amber also has the care of the spiritual life and health of all of us. It’s a “24/7” role, even when she is not formally fulfilling her responsibilities. She carries out these duties with love, care and commitment to all of us, both as individuals and the whole community of Ropley - and beyond. Working with her is a joy as the qualities she demonstrates are infectious and inspiring. We feel blessed to be able to be part of her vision and to share in her imagination and devotion to God.

A significant part of what the PCC did in 2025 centred on preparing for the “Archdeacon’s Visitation” – the first since lockdown. The Archdeacon or Area Dean will visit us to find out how well we are operating. We have been assured that it will not be an audit! The pre-visit questionnaire lists 73 areas of activity, asking questions relating to where we keep our registers; who holds keys to the building; what policies are in place relating to safeguarding, the environment, data protection; do we have an operational hearing loop etc.

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We have nearly completed detailed responses to all the questions, including one which specifically relates to the “Care for Clergy Covenant”. This document asked PCC members to discuss what we already do and can do to help and support Amber and her family and we take this duty very seriously.

There is a sentence in the book “Celtic Morning Prayer” that reads, “We pray that God would send us the workers of his choice rather than our trying to advertise to get people to help us. That is, not to advertise but simply to pray that God will send those of His choice.” Here at St Peter’s we feel that God has sent us those of His choice. Indeed, as Bryce, our wonderful Assistant Priest often says, God will not ask you to do anything you are incapable of doing.

We are so very grateful to all who commit their time and talent to making St. Peter’s the vibrant worshipping community that it is. — Sue Thomas & Greville Dawson

Children and young people at St Peter’s

We continue to offer a “stepping stones” model of church for children and young people which provides fellowship and fun at each age and stage! All volunteers undertake DBS checks and safeguarding training.

Pre-school

Our community room, stocked with toys, is used throughout the week by parents and carers. The toddler’s music group Mini Crotchets, run by Joya Logan, takes place in St Peter’s on Thursday mornings supported by coffee and biscuits served by members of St Peter’s church community.

Ropley CofE Primary School

Amber takes collective worship at Ropley Primary School once a week and pupils, staff and families have come into St Peter’s for special services, performances and celebrations throughout the year. As usual, we presented year 6 leavers with Bibles at the end of the summer term with our prayers and good wishes for the transition to secondary school.

Minecraft church

Minecraft church meets every Tuesday evening in term time. A parent described Minecraft Church as “making God accessible and engaging to the youngsters” while another spoke of “a wonderful term at Minecraft church”. We have had a stable year with high retention and engagement among Minecraft church attendees. This year we’ve journeyed on build missions around the 'I am' statements of Jesus, Paul’s mission and the story of

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David. A major innovation has been the inclusion of Duplo Church activity to engage younger mission builders (and a few older ones too) with special thanks to Julia Morgan for leading on this. The new fast WiFi also promises to be a game changer allowing more devices to get online at the same time so unlocking further growth potential. Minecraft church is interesting in terms of who is attending. By way of example, on 10th February we had 37 people attend, of whom 22 were primary school age and younger (3 girls and 19 boys) and 15 were adults (11 women and 4 men). Most children and adults attending Minecraft Church (around 80%) are new to church. This is a perhaps our own experience of the “quiet revival” which has evidenced an increased interest in the Bible across the UK across all generations but most notably in the younger ones.

Events and activities for families

3 — Craft at Easter

Our Crafty Easter and Crafty Advent Saturday mornings have been as popular as ever, as was the Light Party on 2nd November. It was wonderful to see so many at the Christingle service on Christmas Eve. For families who attend regular services, there is Explorer Church in the coffee room providing ageappropriate learning and activities for part of the service.

Ropley Youth Group for ages 11-18 started in 2025 meets every term time Sunday evening for games, activities, craft and

pizza. Highlights in 2025 included sock hockey inside the church, tie-dye outside the church, a games evening, murder mystery and the transformation of St Peter’s into an escape room.

Youth Alpha and Confirmation Classes – six young people have been confirmed following two youth alpha courses at St Peter’s. Youth alpha offers an opportunity to talk about Jesus and faith and ask questions.

Sarah Earthy & Toby Beresford

Ropley CE Primary School

2025 was a wonderful year for our relationship with Ropley Primary School. We saw many wonderful performances take place in the church, and we were blessed to be able to use the Church space for dance PE lessons for years four and five as well. We

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were blessed to welcome many of the children in for services at Easter, Year 6 Leavers, Harvest and Christmas.

At Ropley Primary, at the start of the new academic year, we launched our new Christian values, working closely with the staff and School leadership. Our new Christian Ropley School values are, love, courage, and community. Each of these values has three Bible stories that the children will learn and be able to recall.

I continue to visit the school every week for collective worship and I hope one day we will be able to have a team that brings that collective worship to the pupils, for example perhaps a Bible story telling group.

The PCC continue to provide two foundation governors on the governing body, this year we were sad to see Sue Packenham-Walsh step down as governor, she has played a vital role in Church and School links and has been a brilliant and hard working member of the governing body. We have also seen Isobel Pinder take up one of the foundational governor‘s roles, after Kerriann stepped down last year. We are very blessed to have Isobel bring her knowledge and insights to this role.

4 — Kelly Betteridge, Bishop of Basingstoke with Ropley Schoolchildren

We are so grateful for our School and Mr Mills and all the teachers' care and dedication to the children of Ropley, Bishop’s Sutton and surrounding villages. Ropley Church of England Primary is the most incredible place for our future generations to learn and grow. Finally, huge thanks go to all the children who have taught us and bless us with much wisdom, imagination and inspiration over the last year.

Report by Revd. Amber Beresford

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Deanery Synod

This year at Deanery Synod we have had an interesting set of speakers. We had Steel's Funeral Directors in to speak about the various changes in culture at funerals and the upsurge in unattended cremations. We also had our own benefice LLM Gillian Gray Knight speak about rural chaplaincy, combined with Sam Scott speaking about rural poverty and food poverty generally in this generation.

We continue as a Deanery to support Kihebo Diocese in Rwanda, and our Ropley Primary School children are looking to be penfriends with a school in that diocese.

A huge thanks goes to Christine Drewienkiewicz who has taken up the role off Deanery Synod Representative, after the wonderful Keith Monkhouse and Humphrey Carr stepped down last year. Keith and Humphrey served diligently for many years and supported the church at a Deanery level. Now the baton has been fully handed over Christine, who has been a great addition to discussions and will continue reporting back to the PCC about what happens at Deanery Synod.

Discussions continue in Alresford Deanery about working together as vicars and parishes to support one another in ministry. As Assistant Area Dean, I am blessed to be able to be part of discussions to see how every parish and vicar in the deanery can be part of supporting ministry as a whole.

Revd. Amber Beresford

Faith and Generosity

Some sections of this Annual Report refer to “stewardship,” a term that on occasion will lead to discussion focused mainly on financial giving. In 2025, however, the Diocese introduced a broader mission initiative: “Faith and Generosity”.

To help the PCC understand this development, Rev. Georgi Thompson Leask, the newly appointed Diocesan Faith and Generosity Adviser, attended its September meeting. Tim Wettone, our Stewardship Lead, was also in attendance.

Georgi explained that the Diocesan approach to giving is now framed more widely around Faith and Generosity, recognising that generosity in its broadest sense is a key expression of Christian discipleship.

Of course financial giving remains an important way in which St. Peter’s work is supported, but the new initiative encourages a fuller understanding of generosity — including the offering of time, skills, money, service and active participation in the life of the Church and its community.

Sue Thomas & Greville Dawson

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Safeguarding Report

As Parish Safeguarding Officer, (PSO) I would like to start this report with Safeguarding matters pertaining to the National Church, as these have had far-reaching consequences for all members during 2025.

After initially resisting calls to step down on national safeguarding issues, Archbishop Justin Welby GCVO resigned as Archbishop of Canterbury and left this role on his 69th birthday, 6th January, 2025. He stated that the Makin Review exposed the longmaintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth QC. He stated that it was very clear that he must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013- 2024.

On 2nd October 2025, HM The King approved the nomination of the Bishop of London, the Rt. Revd & Rt. Hon. Dame Sarah Mullally. She will be the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and she will be the first woman to hold this office. Her Confirmation of Election will be in January 2026 with a Service of Installation taking place at Canterbury Cathedral in March 2026.

Alas, Synod continues to struggle with Professor Jay’s sound recommendations in placing operational safeguarding as an independent body. Synod has taken the first small step in allowing scrutiny to be outsourced.

I’m delighted to say, that on matters locally, St. Peter’s Church, Ropley goes from strength to strength in promoting and maintaining safe practice and it strives to provide a safe environment for all who participate in Church life.

As PSO, I attend meetings of the PCC, deliver a report and I am readily available to deal with any concerns. The safeguarding records had a recent audit undertaken by the 2 Wardens. The Vicar, the Revd. Amber, and I work closely together and we take guidance, when appropriate, from the Diocesan team.

The Vicar and the PCC actively promote youth work, youth mission and youth activities and all adult volunteers are closely vetted and have undertaken safeguarding training. Certification from The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) has been appropriately complied with. The talented volunteers in this area display a variety of skills, including technological mastery, and are greatly valued.

In relation to CofE safeguarding training, very good news on that front, 48 (yes fortyeight) members of our congregation, spanning across all groups and activities, have successfully completed the official CofE safeguarding courses. I give warm thanks to all those who participated in this. DBS certification requirements to specific volunteer roles are appropriately compliant.

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Risk Assessments (RA) on Church activities and events are well under way and are being implemented. Two additional policy documents have been specifically highlighted this year for safe practice, 1) The Volunteers Code of Conduct (The CofE Code of Safer Working Practice) and 2) the Lone Worker’s Policy. Both policies are in circulation for volunteers and are used within activities and events.

There was a recent national data breach which affected 7 members of our congregation. A cyber-attack resulted in information taken from DBS application forms being compromised. This breach was officially reported by the Warden and myself to the Commissioner’s Office. In response to the breach, The National Church funded the Credit and Web Monitoring Service, for one year’s subscription, for those affected.

There was one safeguarding concern officially recorded. Our RAs have been tightened up and the Family Room is now exclusively restricted to young children under the age of 5 and their parents/guardians during Church Services. Clear routes to raise concern are known and are clearly covered in the safeguarding training. Of course, not every concern reaches the threshold of vulnerability and the Vicar and myself deal with any issues in a sensitive and sensible manner.

Safeguarding Sunday in November was duly promoted in Church with a short update on safeguarding matters and a prayer, including the words…

“We pray for all those who have suffered hurt and harm within the family of the wider Church,

For those who feel trapped… grant them a way of escape,

For those in pain, bring comfort and healing,

For those who seek justice, may they have courage and strength.

As a National Church, we are one body and if one part suffers, every part suffers with it.”

I give heartfelt thanks to members of the congregation who have supported me in carrying out this role, as PSO, in my own style.

Wilma Hainsworth, Parish Safeguarding Officer - January 2026

Music In St Peter’s

St Peter’s resounded with music in 2025. We have one resident choir – St Peter’s Choir. Our local community choir, The Ropley King’s Singers also rehearses and performs in the church. Also as part of the St Peter’s Events programme, we have been treated to many and varied concerts including the Pilgrims’ School Chamber Choir, a Jane Austen concert, Come and Sing Messiah and two Community Tea concerts featuring oboe, violin and cor anglais. It has been wonderful to work with Peter Gritton and Joya Logan,

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fabulous performers and enablers of the music life of the church and who have provided musical inspiration and much support during the year.

5 — Peter Gritton Conducting

St Peter’s choir numbers around 25 singers. We have two short Friday evening choir practices and sing at one Sunday service in the month. The choir has steadily grown in numbers and in skill. We have confident singers in all parts (although could always do with more tenors!) and have tackled a variety of anthems both accompanied and unaccompanied. The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmas attracted even more singers with around 40 taking part.

The Ropley King’s Singers, the community choir, is invited to sing in two concerts a year – summer and Christmas. The summer concert was based around Purcell’s “Come Ye Sons of Art Away” followed by lighter summer fare and interspersed with readings. In the Christmas concert, we celebrated the birthday of John Rutter amongst other sacred pieces and once again there were lighter pieces and humorous readings from members of the choir.

Huge thanks to Alison Wood, Sue Thomas and Alan Parsonson, who help with the dayto-day running of both of the choirs and provide valuable advice on all matters both musical and non-musical and also to St Peter’s Music and Events team, led by Jules Flory, who organise and run our fantastic concert series.

Alison Benton, Organist and Director of Music

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Website

The Benefice website ropleybenefice.church provides the primary online information resource for St Peter’s and the rest of the Benefice. It complements other online resources such as our Events website ( stpetersropleyvenue.org.uk ), the Benefice Google Calendar which lists all services, and Facebook, all of which are linked from the website.

The website contains a comprehensive History section with extensive image galleries from before, during and after the fire as well as images capturing the rebuilding. The image galleries were extensively revised during 2025 to provide greater ease of use and add many photos taken during PCC visits during the rebuilding which extend the galleries significantly.

Ron Beal

Events and Lettings

Events

6 — One of our Fantastic Concerts 7 — The Christmas Tree Festival

Events & Lettings continue to be a major source of income for St Peter’s. In 2025 we raised over £16K from Events.

The Events Team is working to more of an official rhythm and taking care to offer a variety of events attracting all members of our community. They are also aware of the balance between availability of our busy St Peter’s, energy of the Team, and the loyalty of our supporters.

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Our website continues to work well for us, and we now have a membership of nearly 500 recipients. We use this as a booking tool as well as to advertise upcoming events and send out periodic newsletters. For the most part, this seems to be a popular and easy way of booking and many of our events are sell outs!

2025 continued to offer the popular Tea and RKS Concerts and our first “Supperclub” and “Come and Sing”. The largest event of the year was the inaugural Christmas Tree Festival. Whilst this involved a great deal of preparation, it attracted sponsors and visitors over three days and had a great community atmosphere. One offs were a visit from the Pilgrims’ School Chamber Choir and the Jane Austen Songbook.

Thanks must go to all the volunteers and PCC who turn up to assist us with stacking chairs, laying out tables, building stages, sweeping floors, cleaning loos, scrubbing kitchen and generally moving furniture. We could not do it without you all.

Lettings

Most of our lettings are now repeats or come by word of mouth. As St Peter’s becomes busier from regular use, there is a limit as to what we can offer so we do not initiate any advertising on this front. However, the Lettings for 2025 did bring in a total of over £5,000. As this area has grown, discussion has started around the management of Lettings which will be pursued in 2026.

Jules Flory

Our Church Building

It’s difficult to believe that we are into our fourth year since the reopening of the church, but it is good to see St Peter’s being used for so many different activities. Time and use take their toll on all things, and the church is no exception. The maintenance team have been kept busy this year with the increasing amount of repairs and replacements, as have the garden team with keeping the graveyard cut, the addition of some hedges and the trimming back of others. With our changing climate keeping the new hedges watered was a major task in the earlier part of the summer so, a little too late for all of the watering unfortunately, we installed a tap at the lower end of the graveyard.

Aside from the continuing maintenance a few large milestones were also achieved in 2025. The bells finally returned to St Peter’s. One bell is still being recast but

8 — This is how the bells go in…

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there is a hired one in its place, so the full peal of six bells is there.

9 — Our Newly Resurfaced Paths

The graveyard also saw a major upgrade to the paths around the church with all of them being resurfaced and edged. Whilst that was being done, we also supplied power to the gates so that we could replace the lights that had been there. The incoming power was also changed from the dual split phase that was installed when the church was rebuilt to a single phase which resulted in a considerable saving in standing charges.

In all, the ongoing maintenance of the church and graveyard is a significant undertaking, and the time and support given by the many volunteers is greatly appreciated.

Andy Bonner

Report from the Gardening Team

The Churchyard gardeners are currently five in number with two more having expressed an interest in joining the team. We meet on Tuesday Mornings (weather permitting) from10:00 – 12:30.

10 — A well-earned tea break

St Peter’s Church Ropley, PCC Annual Report for year ended 31st December 2025 — Page 20

2025 has been a busy year for us, keeping the grass under control in the 2.3-acre churchyard, together with planting trees and hedging plants made possible following a grant from East Hants District Council. The drought earlier in the year challenged us as we had to transport water by hand from the church to the hedging plants and trees. Purchasing a hose was very much appreciated.

The paths have been given a new tarmac surface, lighting added and a tap installed for the use of people tending graves and the Gardening Team. This has proved to be a welcome addition — with thanks to Quentin Sandell, Andy Bonner and Gavin Henderson. The Bramble hedge along the border of the current burial and cremated remains plot has been removed and replaced with further hedging plants. This will allow easier access for disabled — with thanks to Ian Hainsworth.

Training for new volunteers will be ongoing in Safeguarding, Health and Safety, appropriate use of personal protective equipment and the Church's policy on lone working.

Sincere thanks to all who have given of their time and out in all weathers, working in St Peters Churchyard to provide a place where the bereaved may visit the graves of their loved ones.

New members are welcome.

Barbara Pettegree

Creation Care

In our 2024 annual report, we affirmed St Peter’s commitment to pursuing sustainable and climate-friendly operations as part of our responsibility to care for creation. Creation Care goes beyond being a simple initiative. It encourages us to be thankful “for this small earth of sea and land, for this small space on which we stand”. It is a guiding principle that encourages us not only to improve our stewardship of the planet – God’s creation, but also to equip ourselves with practical tools to influence both our own behaviours and those of others. By highlighting straightforward actions, we aim to make meaningful contributions towards environmental sustainability.

Throughout 2025, we focused on strengthening St Peter’s position in this area of our mission. We undertook a review of our practices to determine what actions we could

St Peter’s Church Ropley, PCC Annual Report for year ended 31st December 2025 — Page 21

and should be taking. One significant outcome was the PCC’s approval of our Environment Policy. This document now serves as a foundation for our ongoing efforts.

In response to recommendations from the Energy Audit conducted in May 2024, we implemented a practical measure by insulating previously unlagged hot water pipes in the plant room. While this action involved minimal cost and resulted in only modest reductions to our carbon footprint, it demonstrated our determination to take whatever steps we can to reduce the environmental impact of our operations.

We sought input from the Diocesan Communications Team, sharing our ideas and receiving positive suggestions for further progress. In addition, our participation in Diocesan seminars on Creation Care provided us with valuable insights and inspiration for future initiatives.

Towards the end of the year, we embraced a recommendation from a questionnaire submitted to A Rocha, which was part of our application for our Bronze “Eco Church” award. We agreed to participate in the “Toilet Twinning” scheme with Uganda and South Sudan. This initiative involves twinning our two toilets by funding projects that help communities build basic toilets, access clean water and learn about hygiene - a vital combination that saves lives.

In the coming year, we are committed to taking further practical steps to implement some of the initiatives we have been considering, building on the progress made so far and continuing our journey towards greater environmental stewardship.

Greville Dawson

Flower Arranging in St Peter’s

11 — a spectacular arrangement

The St Peter’s Flower Ladies have had a busy year! We are a group of eight and have arranged flowers in St. Peter’s every week with the exception of Advent and Lent. At Easter, Harvest and Christmas we enjoy all joining together to make the Church look magnificent, usually decorating both porches and the windowsills!

Increasingly we are being asked to provide flowers for weddings, funerals and special events in St. Peter’s, which is an enormous compliment. We are all volunteers and any profit arising from what we do goes to St. Peter’s.

We were delighted to be a sponsor for one of the Christmas Trees in the Christmas Tree Festival held in December using the theme of The Flower Fairies

St Peter’s Church Ropley, PCC Annual Report for year ended 31st December 2025 — Page 22

following a Thank-You card which we were given from one of the children attending Explorer Church.

We gather together for a coffee morning through the year to discuss ideas and future plans. We are committed to reducing our use of floral foam (‘Oasis’), because of its environmental impact and all recently attended a demonstration on alternatives to foam, which the Ropley Horticultural Society arranged in the Coffee Room. We will look to develop these techniques further as time goes on.

Christine Drewienkiewicz and Jill Shakespeare

Tower Report for 2025

12 — Wow, that bell is bigger than me!

What a year! We have our bells back, well we have five with a loaned bell. With the grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund we were able to start the re-hanging. The ringers had hoped to have the bells on show in church and have a dedication service, but it did not happen due to a number of reasons. On a Thursday evening the workmen stayed late so we could have a four-bell practice. It started well, then the fourth bell sounded strange. No one was sure what the problem was. It turned out that it was cracked. It is due to be re-cast this year thanks to the generosity of a lot of people. We have a bell on loan in its place.

Before we had any bells back we advertised for people to learn to ring. A number came forward and started to learn at Old Alresford and Cheriton. Learning to handle a bell

St Peter’s Church Ropley, PCC Annual Report for year ended 31st December 2025 — Page 23

takes time, one cannot just pull a rope. There are ten regular ringers. We could do with some more willing to learn or even come back to ringing.

13 — Everybody welcome to have a go!

All adults are very welcome to become bell ringers – and all children over 10 who meet the necessary height requirement. For more information contact Rodney Skinner or email Ropley bellringers: ropley@bellringing.co.uk

The Alresford deanery have regular learners practices which people can go to.

Last July the Winchester and Portsmouth Guild of Bell ringers held the A.G.M. here to much acclaim. We have had a number of open days for locals to come and see what we do and even have a go.

I would also like to thank the P.C.C. of Bishops Sutton for the use of their bells during the time we had none. It helped to keep the band together. We go and ring for their Evensong, which we are thanked for.

Lastly, we must thank Roger Booth from Alresford for all the hard work he has done in getting the grant, helping to teach and many other things. Without his help the bells would not be back.

Rodney Skinner

Treasurers Report 2024

I am pleased to present this year’s Treasurer’s Report, reflecting a period of steady financial stewardship, generous personal commitment from our congregation and parishioners, and focus on long term sustainability. The past year has brought both challenges and opportunities, and I am grateful for the dedication, and practical support that have enabled us to maintain a healthy financial position while continuing the mission and ministry of our parish.

Income and Giving

Our overall income into the Unrestricted funds this year has remained strong at £86,843 (net of Event Costs) with 72% of this funding coming from personal giving, as follows:

St Peter’s Church Ropley, PCC Annual Report for year ended 31st December 2025 — Page 24

o Parish Giving Scheme £32,344
o Monthly Donations £6,515
o Collections £7,852
o Other Donations £2,351
o Gift Aid £11,817

This level of support is a testament to the commitment of our church family. At a time when many parishes face declining attendance and reduced giving, our congregation has demonstrated extraordinary generosity.

Alongside regular giving, we have also benefited from lettings and fundraising events. These additional sources represent a valuable source of our total income and provide supplementary support and help diversify our financial base while, at the same time, ensuring the building is used for a wide range of community gatherings.

Expenditure and Financial Management

Our expenditure has remained broadly in line with expectations. Core costs—such as the Common Mission Fund, utilities, insurance, and routine maintenance—will continue to rise, reflecting wider economic pressures. Despite this, careful budgeting and prudent decision making have ensured that we remained within our overall planned spending limits in the year.

The PCC has monitored expenditure closely, seeking value for money in all areas and ensuring that every pound spent contributes meaningfully to the life and mission of the parish. We have also continued to prioritise essential works particularly in relation to the fabric of and the equipment in our church building.

Loan Reduction

One of the most significant developments in the year has been the significant reduction of our outstanding loan. In addition to realising £12,500 of investments, we have seen unprecedented generosity from parishioners who between them donated £57,700 specifically for repayment of our loan with the Diocese. With Gift Aid and regular monthly repayment instalments we have repaid £104,000 of loan capital to reduce the loan balance outstanding to £75,638. This has enabled our monthly instalments to be reduced to a much more manageable level.

Reserves and Reserve Policy

Our reserve policy has been maintained throughout the year, ensuring that we hold an appropriate level of unrestricted reserves to provide financial stability and resilience. These reserves act as a safeguard against unexpected costs or fluctuations in income and are an essential part of responsible financial governance.

St Peter’s Church Ropley, PCC Annual Report for year ended 31st December 2025 — Page 25

In addition to our general reserves, we continue to hold designated reserves for ongoing restoration and fabric work.

Restoration and Fabric Projects

This year has seen continued progress in our long term restoration efforts. While some projects have been small and preventative, others have required more substantial investment. The footpaths have been completely re-surfaced and the Bell Restoration project is nearing completion with both being funded from existing resources together with some generous individual donations and grants.

Looking ahead, we anticipate costs will arise to ensure that our equipment and facilities remain welcoming and safe for all who use them. The existence of dedicated reserves gives us confidence that we can approach these projects responsibly and sustainably.

Looking Forward

As we move into the coming year, our financial priorities remain clear: to sustain our ministry, care for our building, and continue reducing our loan while maintaining a stable reserve position. Achieving this will require continued generosity, careful stewardship, and a shared commitment to the life of our parish.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who contributes financially and practically to the work of our church. Your support enables us not only to meet our obligations but also to grow in mission and service. I am also grateful to the PCC and all who assist with counting, banking, support, and administration. Their diligence and dedication make this work possible.

I am confident that in 2026 we can build on the progress so far and continue to strengthen the financial foundations of our parish for the future.

Alan Parsonson

Approved By The Parochial Church Council & Signed On Their Behalf By PCC Chair

Rev’d Amber Beresford PCC Chair Date: 10 May 2026

St Peter’s Church Ropley, PCC Annual Report for year ended 31st December 2025 — Page 26

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the PCC for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charity, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act') .

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

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a "true and fair" view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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

L Chapman ACA

Dated:

Page 27

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2025 2024
Note £ £ £ £
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies 2 134,313 40,012 174,325 150,561
Charitable activities 3 39,726 0 39,726 26,119
Investment income 4 0 1,288 1,288 1,169
Total income and endowments 174,039 41,300 215,339 177,849
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 5 95,773 7,503 103,276 86,245
Church restorations 6 0 84,123 84,123 76,437
Total expenditure 95,773 91,626 187,399 162,682
Net gains/(losses) on investments 0 (833) (833) 689
Net income/(expenditure) 78,266 (51,159) 27,107 15,856
Transfers between funds 7 12,500 (12,500) 0 0
Net movement in funds 90,766 (63,659) 27,107 15,856
Funds brought forward at 1 January 2025 (101,298) 124,209 22,911 7,055
Funds carried forward at 31 December 2025 (10,532) 60,550 50,018 22,911
----- End of picture text -----

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

The equivalent statement for the previous year is shown in Note 16.

The notes on pages 30 to 36 form part of these financial statements

Page 28

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025

Note
Fixed Assets
Investments
8
Current Assets
Debtors
9
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
10
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due after more
than one year
11
Net assets
Funds
12
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
Total funds		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
0
2,334
68,360
70,694
15,921
54,773
54,773
65,305
(10,532)		 Restricted
Funds
£
17,408
12,960
36,166
49,126
5,984
43,142
60,550
0
60,550		 Total
2025
£
17,408
15,294
104,526
119,820
21,905
97,915
115,323
65,305
50,018
(10,532)
60,550
50,018		 Total
2024
£
23,897
18,721
168,816
187,537
28,888
158,649
182,546
159,635
22,911
(101,298)
124,209
22,911

The financial statements were approved by the PCC on 2026 and signed on its behalf by:-

Rev A Beresford - Trustee

Page 29

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of investments which are included at market value.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis.

There are no material uncertainties over the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern due to the sufficient cash balances held at the year end.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings, they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered or receivable subject to conditions, which have not been met at the year end date, are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure or income.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in Note 14 of the financial statements.

Page 30

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Income and endowments from:

2
Donations and legacies
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Planned giving (including Gift Day)
64,215
Golden giving
0
Collections at services
7,852
Parish giving scheme
32,344
Youth club
1,259
Gift aid recovered (including Gift Day)
26,242
Bells and paths donations
0
Other donations (including contactless)
2,351
Flower donations
0
Grants:-
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme (VAT)
0
Friends of St Peter's Church, Ropley
0
Alresford Pigs Association
0
Alton Rotary
0
Ropley Society
0
WDBF
0
Benefact Trust
0
Winchester Bell Ringers
0
National Lottery Heritage Fund
0
Portsmouth Guild of Bell Ringers
0
Commonwealth War Graves
50
Other income
0
134,313
3
Charitable activities
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Events
30,326
Lettings
6,396
PCC's share of fees for weddings, funerals etc
3,004
39,726		 Restricted
Funds
£
1,465
461
0
0
0
2,421
10,541
1,438
580
7,104
2,300
750
1,000
500
500
2,000
2,300
6,229
0
0
423
40,012
Restricted
Funds
£
0
0
0
0		 Total
2025
£
65,680
461
7,852
32,344
1,259
28,663
10,541
3,789
580
7,104
2,300
750
1,000
500
500
2,000
2,300
6,229
0
50
423
174,325
Total
2025
£
30,326
6,396
3,004
39,726		 Total
2024
£
8,043
783
5,970
30,445
0
15,389
0
4,724
1,354
10,655
6,010
800
0
0
0
0
0
56,058
10,000
50
280
150,561
Total
2024
£
16,853
4,433
4,833
26,119

Page 31

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

----- Start of picture text -----
4 Investment income
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Deposit account interest 0 664 664 671
Dividends received 0 624 624 480
Other interest received 0 0 0 18
0 1,288 1,288 1,169
Expenditure on:
5 Charitable activities
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Common Mission Fund 30,557 0 30,557 26,246
Church running expenses:-
Insurance 3,802 0 3,802 3,663
Electricity 7,437 0 7,437 2,310
Gas 5,980 0 5,980 5,363
Water 101 0 101 0
Telephone and broadband 636 0 636 575
Maintenance 8,153 0 8,153 9,758
Printing and stationery 841 0 841 253
Administrator 9,040 0 9,040 6,418
Upkeep of services 3,181 0 3,181 1,442
Kids church 150 0 150 598
Events costs 15,071 0 15,071 8,586
Letting costs 190 0 190 0
Miscellaneous expenses: 115 0 115 1,220
Cleaning 2,880 0 2,880 2,730
Music costs 0 99 99 0
Garden costs:-
Flowers 0 441 441 1,065
Maintenance 0 234 234 644
Petrol 0 366 366 282
War memorial 0 1,013 1,013 0
Repair and removal of box tomb 0 2,840 2,840 0
Move headstones 0 936 936 0
Other 0 1,574 1,574 0
Shed 0 0 0 9,582
Charitable giving:-
Royal British Legion 478 0 478 489
Children's Society 373 0 373 0
The Ropley Fund 80 0 80 80
Independent examiner's fees 100 0 100 100
Loan interest 6,608 0 6,608 4,841
95,773 7,503 103,276 86,245
----- End of picture text -----

Page 32

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

6 Church restorations

Unrestricted
Funds
£
Church restorations
0
Bells restorations
0
Footpaths
0
Other church repairs and maintenance
0
0		 Restricted
Funds
£
3,229
45,211
33,099
2,584
84,123		 Total
2025
£
3,229
45,211
33,099
2,584
84,123		 Total
2024
£
1,002
74,114
1,200
121
76,437

7 Transfer between funds During the year, some of the restricted funds were deemed to be unnecessary to maintain, as the original purposes could no longer be served, or there were surplus funds in them. As a result, these funds were transferred to Unrestricted Funds and used to reduce the WDBF loan.

8 Fixed assets - Listed Investments

Unrestricted
Funds
£
Market value
At 1 January 2025
0
Dividends received
0
Dividends transferred to bank account
0
Funds withdrawn
0
Net loss/gain on investments
0
At 31 December 2025
0
Debtors
Unrestricted
Funds
£
Grant recoverable (VAT)
0
Other Grants recoverable
0
Gift aid recoverable
834
Prepayments and accrued income
1,500
2,334		 Restricted
Funds
£
23,897
624
(280)
(6,000)
(833)
17,408
Restricted
Funds
£
1,330
8,229
1,409
1,992
12,960		 Total
2025
£
23,897
624
(280)
(6,000)
(833)
17,408
2025
£
1,330
8,229
2,243
3,492
15,294		 Total
2024
£
23,040
480
(312)
0
689
23,897
2024
£
4,135
0
303
14,283
18,721

Page 33

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Loan from WDBF (see note below)
Accruals and deferred income		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
905
10,333
4,683
15,921		 Restricted
Funds
£
277
0
5,707
5,984		 2025
£
1,182
10,333
10,390
21,905		 2024
£
1,916
20,070
6,902
28,888

A loan of £200,000 was previously received from the Winchester Diocesan Board of Finance (WDBF) on which no interest was initially payable. Repayments began in July 2024 and it is repayable over 96 months at a variable interest rate currently of 4.3% per annum. During 2025, substantial additional gifts were made to the church, mainly at a Gift Day, and these funds were used as additional payments to reduce the loan.The amount repayable over the next 12 months is shown here with the balance shown below in Note 11.

11 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Loan from WDBF (see Note 10)
12
Analysis of Funds - Current year
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Appeal fund
Building fund
Church fabric fund
Music fund
Rosemary Bray memorial fund
Garden society fund
Total funds		 Funds
brought
forward
£
(101,298)
32,838
53,681
1,002
7,651
2,169
26,868
124,209
22,911		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
65,305
Incoming
resources
£
174,039
3,633
36,598
46
407
98
518
41,300
215,339		 Restricted
Funds
£
0
Outgoing
resources
£
95,773
29,468
55,587
0
0
0
7,404
92,459
188,232		 2025
£
65,305
Transfers
in/out
£
12,500
(3,321)
(3,364)
(1,048)
(2,500)
(2,267)
0
(12,500)
0		 2024
£
159,635
Funds
carried
forward
£
(10,532)
3,682
31,328
0
5,558
0
19,982
60,550
50,018

Page 34

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

13 Analysis of Funds - Previous year

Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Appeal fund
Building fund
Church fabric fund
Music fund (previously Organ fund)
Rosemary Bray memorial fund
Garden society fund
Total funds		 Funds
brought
forward
£
(119,546)
32,210
50,570
952
7,265
2,060
33,544
126,601
7,055		 Incoming
resources
£
85,032
3,916
84,148
50
386
109
5,065
93,674
178,706		 Outgoing
resources
£
73,822
850
76,437
0
0
0
11,741
89,028
162,850		 Transfers
in/out
£
7,038
(2,438)
(4,600)
0
0
0
0
(7,038)
0		 Funds
carried
forward
£
(101,298)
32,838
53,681
1,002
7,651
2,169
26,868
124,209
22,911

14 Purposes of funds

Appeal Fund : This represents monies that are ring fenced for building related costs, and a small amount reserved for church music related costs.

Building fund : This represents funds for the restoration and rebuilding of the church.

Church fabric fund : This fund was closed during the year and used to reduce the WDBF loan.

Music fund: This fund is to develop the music facilities of the church. A recognised surplus of £2,500 was used to reduce the WDBF loan.

Rosemary Bray memorial fund : This fund was closed during the year and used to reduce the WDBF loan.

Garden society fund : The PCC is responsible for keeping the church grounds in good order. The funds for this activity are held in separate accounts and will be used solely for the original purposes of the society.

15 Trustees

There were no trustees' remuneration, other benefits or expenses paid for either of the two years.

Page 35

Registered Charity No: 1176142

THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST PETER, ROPLEY, WINCHESTER

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

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16 Statement of Financial Activities - Previous year
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
Funds Funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies 58,895 91,666 150,561 66,673
Charitable activities 26,119 0 26,119 54,136
Investment income 18 1,151 1,169 1,018
Total income and endowments 85,032 92,817 177,849 121,827
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 73,822 12,591 86,413 90,389
Church restorations 0 76,437 76,437 56,113
Total expenditure 73,822 89,028 162,850 146,502
Net gains on investments 0 857 857 2,284
Net income/(expenditure) 11,210 4,646 15,856 (22,391)
Transfers between funds 7,038 (7,038) 0 (1)
Net movement in funds 18,248 (2,392) 15,856 (22,392)
Funds brought forward at 1 January 2024 (119,546) 126,601 7,055 29,447
Funds carried forward at 31 December 2024 (101,298) 124,209 22,911 7,055
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