# _**TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD: 1 JANUARY 2023 TO 31 DECEMBER 2023**_
## _**REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATION DETAILS**_
**Charity name:**
THE UNITED CHURCH OF ST MARK
**Other names charity known as:**
ST MARK’S CHURCH
**Registered charity number:**
1176784
**Charity’s Principal address:**
Great Tattenhams Epsom Downs Surrey KT18 5RB
## **Names of Trustees**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled to**
**appoint trustee (if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||COLIN BATTY|CHAIRMAN AND
CHURCHWARDEN|||
||DES WILLIAMSON|MINISTER|||
||MARTIN TRENAMAN|TREASURER|||
||JOHN MILLER|STEWARD|||
||JANET WILLOCK|STEWARD|||
||MARK ROBINSON|CHURCHWARDEN|||
||MEL BRACEY|SAFEGUARDING OFFICER|||
||LIZ TOWNSEND|CHILDREN’S AND FAMILIES’
WORKER|||
||KEITH NELSON||||
||SHEILA BATTY||||
||DAVID WILLOCK||||
12 ROSALYN BIRCH 13 EMMA SEARS 21/05/23 – 14[ELIZABETH LORD ] 31/12/23 21/05/23 – 15[SUSAN HIGGINS ] 31/12/23 21/05/23 – 16[DAWN CALLAWAY ] 31/12/23
All trustees served for the year the report covers
## _**STRUCTURE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**_
**Type of governing document:**
Constitution 30 April 2017
**How the charity is constituted:** Association
**Trustee selection method:** Elected by membership
## _**OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES**_
## **Objects of charity:**
To advance the Christian Faith in the local community, by
- Celebration of public worship
- Teaching of Christian faith
- Mission and evangelism
- Pastoral work, including visiting the sick and bereaved
- Provision of facilities with a Christian ethos for the local community, including, but not restricted to the elderly, the young, and other groups with need
- The support of other charities in the UK and abroad
The Church would not exist without the contribution made by members who volunteer their time. Volunteers provide time in all areas of the church’s activities, including governance.
## **Policy on Safeguarding**
The Church has a Safeguarding Policy that is agreed by the Trustee’s every year. In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy and the Methodist Church Policy, the church is committed to the safeguarding, care, and nurture of everyone within our community.
All Trustees, and volunteers that work with children and vulnerable adults are required to be trained in safeguarding best practice through the Church of England or Methodist Church.
## _**ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE IN 2023**_
## **Messy Church**
Monthly worship for children and their families during term time including activities, worship and a meal.
## **Messy Munchkins**
A weekly meeting place for children under 5 and their carers, for activity, fun and support, in a Christian environment.
## **Messy Bundles**
A weekly meeting place for parents and carers and babies for support and friendship.
## **Worship**
A varied pattern of worship is provided which requires a great deal of preparation by Rev Des Williamson and the Worship team. Many people are involved in our worship including preachers and worship leaders, musicians, singers and projector and sound operators.
## **Pastoral**
The church pastoral team cares for those in need, they meet together to share concerns to make sure the right support is provided to those who need it. The team visits elderly, housebound, the sick and bereaved and anyone who would value a listening ear.
## **Community Cinema**
Films are shown mostly on Sunday evenings in the winter months, in 2023 11 screenings took place.
## **Tattenhams Market**
In 2023 the Market was held on 6 occasions providing a variety of different stalls from stallholders who rent a table for the market. The church provides refreshments, it is a good way to connect with the community.
## **Charitable donations**
In 2023 over £2,000 was raised for local, national and overseas charities. More details are included in the financial report.
## **St Mark’s Food Club**
The Food Club was launched in 2021 to provide an opportunity for local residents who need to save on their household spending due to low income or financial difficulties.
## **Community Lunches**
A team provide lunch on a Saturday once a month to people in the community who would otherwise be eating alone, or who may find it difficult to provide a lunch for themselves. The church provides
an opportunity for people to come together over a meal to socialise, to chat, and to have an enjoyable time with others from the community. Contributions are made by those that are able to, which results in a donation being made to the church at the end of the year.
## **Community Garden**
The garden was established in 2023 from initial grant funding from Banstead Primary Care Trust. A space has been created within the church grounds for the local community to be involved in gardening, and developing the garden. It has also provided a space for local people to come together for gardening, but also provide a peaceful space for relaxation.
## _**FINANCIAL REVIEW**_
**1.** In 2023 a deficit was recorded of £1,977 on the general fund, and a deficit of £10,132 overall. The deficit of the Children’s and Families’ Worker Fund was £11,003, the fund was used up in full in 2023, and there was an additional cost of £1,270 on the General Fund.
The overall deficit has been reduced due to funding received in the year for the Community Garden. The amount the in the Community Garden Fund at the end of 2023 was £6,091.
We need around £361 each day to cover the ongoing costs of St Mark’s.
**2. Parish Share and Circuit Assessment**
The parish share payable in 2023 was £70,419, an increase of £2,547 (3.75%) on 2022. Circuit assessment payable in 2023 was £1,850, an increase of £300 (19%) on 2022.
## **3.**
## **Planned giving**
The overall planned giving increased slightly in 2023, by £2,659 (8.3%).
The church does not receive any funding from the government or other statutory body. The church running costs are just over £2,500 per week, and this needs to be financed by giving, donations and the church’s income generating activities (eg hall hire, Market and Community Cinema).
We need more people to join one of the church’s planned giving schemes. Regular giving is the core of the church’s income, and means we can plan and do things with confidence.
We are grateful to the generosity of all church members who are in one of our planned giving schemes and give regularly for the work of the church.
I would urge you to join other members of the church who give in one of our planned giving schemes, if you do not already do so.
## **Parish Giving Scheme**
The Parish Giving Scheme at St Marks continues to be the most efficient way to give, both for the giver and church administration. There are 23 givers who give this way, including regular giving to the CFW fund. Givers agree for their giving to St Marks to be collected by direct debit which is passed to the church a few days later with gift aid added. Givers also have the opportunity for their giving to increase with inflation once a year, and the majority of PGS givers opt for this which enables the church’s income to grow each year. All members of the church are encouraged to give through the scheme.
Details of the Parish Giving Scheme can be found by following the link from the giving page on the Church website.
## **4.**
## **Tax recovered**
The amount the church is able to recover in 2023 was 25p for every £1 of gift aided income.
A total of £10,242 was recovered for the General Fund from planned giving as well as some donations, including card donations made in church and online. This includes £1,659 recovered through the Small Donations Scheme. A further £2,613 was recovered for the CFW Fund from CFW giving and donations.
Total tax recovered in 2023: £13,068.
## **5. Donations**
The church receives donations from groups who use the church building.
Total donations to the General Fund in 2023 was £10,162, including:
Sing £1,400 Include Choir £400 Food Club £1,000 Guides and Rainbows £400 Christmas Together £250 Community Lunches £200 Art Exhibition £204 Food Club £825 (for church providing Warm Hub) Relax Kidz £210 Pitstop £420 Energy Support from Diocese £1,000
The remaining donations were from individuals including 2 donations of £1,000 or more.
## **6. Charitable Donations**
The following donations were made to charitable organisations, either through fundraising events, collections at services, or from church funds:
Circuit Connexional Funds
£165
An amount of £240 is also donated to the Bible Reading Fellowship, the umbrella organisation behind Messy Church, from Messy Church contributions.
A sum of £2,453 was raised for Christian Aid from the Quiz which was held at St Mark’s in May 2023.
## **7. Tattenhams Market**
The Market has been running since October 2012, a monthly market with external stallholders paying a fee to have a table (increased to £12 per market from 2023). The Church provides refreshments.
The market took place on 6 occasions in 2023. The total proceeds was £3,608 (£2,591 in 2022), of this £1,836 was taken from refreshments, and the remainder from stallholder fees.
## **8.**
## **St Mark’s Community Cinema**
A total of 11 screenings took place in 2023 (13 in 2022), a total of £1,459 (£1,372 in 2022) was received from donations and refreshments (less expenses). A further £379 was received on gift aid claimed on Cinema donations through the Gift Aid Small Donations Scheme.
## **9. Messy Church and Messy Munchkins**
Messy Church (monthly) has been running at St Marks since 2009, and Messy Munchkins (weekly) was added in 2017.
The combined net income from these groups was £2,406 (£1,853 in 2022).
## **10. Income from Investments**
The Church receives interest at differing rates for funds invested.
|**Invested with**|**Value of investment £**
**31/12/23**|**Interest rate in 2023**|
|---|---|---|
|Cambridge and Counties
Bank|85,318|2.60% - 4.50%|
|Skipton BS|11,000|2.15% -3.45%|
Total interest income in 2023, £3,894 (£1,667 in 2022).
Interest was also received from CAF Bank balances (1.15% - 2.50%)
All institutions that hold church funds are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which offers protection of up to £85,000 in case of occurrences that prevent the institution honouring requests to withdraw funds.
## **11.**
## **Fees from Weddings and Funerals**
The Church receives fees for Banns and a proportion of fees from Weddings and Funerals. In 2023 fees were received for 2 Banns (2 in 2022), 8 Funerals (5), and 1 wedding.
Additionally, a sum of £155 was received from the Diocese. Following a change to the way fees from Funerals held at a crematorium are distributed to parishes, it was agreed that a sum should be redistributed to parishes based on the number of funerals conducted.
Total fees received for Church in 2023: £747 (£583 in 2022).
## **12. Children’s and Families’ Worker** (CFW)
Liz Townsend was appointed in September 2008.
In 2023 the regular giving with gift aid provided £14,310 (£13,423 in 2022).
An additional successful grant application was made to Community Foundation for Surrey at the end of 2022 for £10,000, this was received in 2023.
The total cost of Children’s and Families’ Work in 2023 was £36,584.
Total income to CFW Fund:
|Regular Giving
Gift Aid
Grant
Fund at 31 December 2022
Charged to Fund in 2023
Income received in 2023
Deficit charged to General Fund|11,697
2,613
10,000|
|---|---|
||24,310
11,003.12
-36,583.73
24,310.50
1,270.11|
||0.00|
Due to the CFW Fund running out of money in 2023, the deficit of £1,270.11 has been charged to the General Fund. It is important for regular giving to the CFW Fund, in the form of planned giving to continue and increase in order for this ministry to continue at St Marks.
The ECC has committed to fund Children’s and Families’ Work at St Marks until at least December 2024.
## **13. Payments received from credit card and debit card**
Donations and payments by card can be made in church using a self service giving device. Card giving can also be made from the giving page on the Church website.
A total of £4,873 was received from card payments in 2023 (£5,029 in 2022), including £160 (£1,635 in 2022) from the website. The card processing fee for these payments was £55.51 (average fee 1.1%).
## **14. Purchase of replacement data projector**
In December 2023 the church data projector needed to be replaced. The data projector is in a fixed position in the church and is used to project all images at Sunday services, and other services. The original projector had been used continually since 2007.
The cost to supply and fit the replacement projector was £3,900. This expenditure was agreed by ECC.
It was agreed to ask the congregation for contributions towards the cost. Contributions for a total of £1,150, was received, as well as £212.50 gift aid on these contributions.
£
|Total cost
Less contributions
Less gift aid on contributions
**Net requirement from church funds**|3,900.00
-1,150.00
-212.50|
|---|---|
||**2,537.50**|
It was agreed that the net cost of the projector to be provided by the Maintenance Fund.
## **15. Other Restricted Funds**
## Christmas Together
The event to serve a Christmas Day lunch took place once again at St Marks in 2023. Expenses of £555 were charged to the Christmas Together Fund. This included a contribution of £250 to the General Fund to cover the cost of energy and other expenses incurred by the Church for the event.
## Maintenance Fund
The fund is in place following building work completed in 2011. The following costs were charged to the fund in 2023:
|Boiler repairs
Painting of outdoor cross
Replacement data projector (net)
Fund at 31 December 2022
Charged to Fund in 2023
**Fund at 31 December 2023**|920.00
250.00
2,537.50
**3,707.50**
33,602.12
-3,707.50|
|---|---|
||**29,894.62**|
## Community Garden
The St Mark’s Community Garden was established in 2023 to provide a garden for the local community to be involved in. It has created a space for local people to come together, get involved in growing vegetables and flowers, and to relax, and enjoy the garden.
Grant funding of £10,400 was received from the Banstead Primary Care Trust.
|Funding from Banstead PCT
Charged to fund in 2023
**Fund at 31 December 2023**|10,400.00
-4,309.01
**6,090.99**|
|---|---|
## **16. Reserves Policy**
This Reserves Policy deals with the following Funds only:
## Unrestricted Fund – General Fund
## Restricted Fund – Children’s and Families’ Worker Fund
Restricted Fund - Maintenance Fund
|_Church’s Reserves at 31 December 2023:_
Unrestricted Funds - General Fund
Restricted Fund - CFW Fund
Restricted Fund - Maintenance Fund|£
61,615
0
29,894|
|---|---|
||91,509|
## _Policy_
## **General Fund**
We aim to hold sufficient reserves in our general fund to cover 6 months expenditure, ie £49,000.
The Church needs to be able to cover its monthly commitments (eg Parish Share of £6,284 per month in 2024), and be in a position to fund future year deficits, if necessary, of the general fund.
The Church also needs to be in a position to fund any unexpected building maintenance to ensure that all areas of the building remain safe and secure for all users of the building.
## **Children’s and Families’ Worker Fund**
The fund is used to pay the St Mark’s Children’s and Families’ Worker (through the Circuit Payroll) salary, expenses and other CFW costs. Regular giving from the congregation and gift aid is credited to the fund. Total CFW Fund commitments are approximately £3,000 per month.
Regular income to the fund is not sufficient to meet financial commitments. The Church Council has made a commitment to fund the work to December 2024, using the general fund when necessary.
## **Maintenance Fund**
The fund is in place following the original building work completed in 2011.
ECC agreed that the fund can be used to cover essential maintenance costs. In 2023 a sum of £3,708 was charged to the fund.
_Total Reserves Requirement:_
|6 months General Fund expenditure
6 months CFW Fund Expenditure
Provision for unscheduled building maintenance|49,000
18,500
10,000|
|---|---|
||77,500|
## _**THE UNITED CHURCH OF ST MARK**_
## **SUMMARY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|Unrestricted
Restricted
TOTAL
Funds
Funds
2022
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
£
£
£
54,431
15,339
69,770
Voluntary Income
4,140
-
4,140
Activities for generating funds
1,667
-
1,667
Income from Investments
19,653
-
19,653
Church Activities
2,844
1,035
3,879
Other Incoming Resources
82,734
16,375
99,109
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
84,751
42,240
126,991
Church Activities
150
-
150
Charitable grants and donations
84,901
42,240
127,141
**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**
-2,167
-25,865
-28,032
**NET INCOMING RESOURCES**
0
0
0
**NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
82,552
53,996
136,548
BALANCES B/FWD 1 JANUARY 2023
**63,592**
**45,946**
**109,538**
**BALANCES C/FWD 31 DECEMBER 2023**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted TOTAL**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**
59,503
16,188
75,690
5,267
-
5,267
3,894
-
3,894
25,888
-
25,888
-
24,473
24,473|
|---|---|
||**94,551**
**40,661**
**135,212**|
||96,363
48,816
145,179
165
-
165|
||**96,528**
**48,816**
**145,344**|
||**-1,977**
**-8,155**
**-10,132**
**0**
**0**
**0**
63,592
45,946
109,538|
||**61,615**
**37,791**
**99,406**|
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2023**
|**TOTAL**
**2022**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**|**Restricted**
**TOTAL**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**INCOMING RESOURCES**
**Voluntary Income**
Planned giving:
41,552
Gift Aid donations
12,848
Tax recovered
1,050
Non gift aid donations
2,576
Cash collections
383
Messy Church
2,003
Messy Munchkins
375
Sunday Coffee
8,983
Donations
69,770
**Activities for generating Funds**
178
Derby Day Car park
2,591
Tattenhams Market
1,372
Community Cinema
4,140
**Income from investments**
1,381
Interest on Cambridge and Counties
263
Interest on Skipton BS
23
Interest on CAF Bank Accounts
1,667
**Church Activities**
19,070
Hall lettings
583
Fees from weddings and funerals
19,653
**Other incoming resources**
-
Grant funding for CFW Fund
-
Grant from PCT for Community Garden
-
Grant from Waitrose for Christmas Together
-
Grant from Surrey CC for tables and chairs
-
Grant from VARB for chair refurbishment
2,844
Support from Diocese
290
Fundraising for CFW Fund
61
Crowdfunding for CFW Fund
424
Funding received for Broadband
260
Christmas Together
3,879
**99,109**
**TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES**|32,865
10,242
1,657
1,886
-
2,441
448
9,963|59,503
5,267
3,894
25,888
0|10,452
2,826
1,245
-
481
13
-
1,170
16,188
75,690
-
-
-
0
5,267
-
-
-
0
3,894
-
-
0
25,888
10,000
10,400
1,000
1,073
2,000
-
-
-
-
-
24,473
24,473|
||200
3,608
1,459|||
||3,172
559
164|||
||25,141
747|||
||-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|||
|||||
|||**94,551**|**40,661**
**135,212**|
|**TOTAL**
**2022**
**£**|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**|**Restricted**
**TOTAL**
**Funds**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**£**|
|---|---|---|
|**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
**Church Activities**
Ministry:
67,872
Diocesan Parish Share
1,550
Circuit Assessment
833
Vicar's expenses
40
Deanery Synod
335
Other Ministry costs
36,246
Children's and Families' Work
437
Messy Church
96
Messy Munchkins
107,409
Charity Giving:
150
Methodist Connexional Funds
150
Property running costs
2,286
Building Maintenance
1,526
Equipment and Materials
6,711
Utilities
1,921
Insurance
2,657
Hall cleaning
15,102
Worship:
372
Resources
95
Piano and organ tuning and
repair
75
Altar requisites
542
Resourcing and Training
-
Posters and leaflets
179
Lunches and refreshments
158
Baptism cards, books, and resources
12
Other
349
Sundry expenses
71
Card fees
81
Bank charge
71
DBC Admin charge
137
Other misc expenses
360
Other resources expended
364
Christmas Together
-
Community Garden
-
Replacement Projector
2,440
Food Club balance transferred
424
Church Broadband
3,229
**127,141**
**TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED**|70,419
1,850
1,116
-
128
1,270
35
-
74,818
165
165
928
2,310
12,366
2,079
2,732
20,416
366
165
175
706
41
52
-
-
93
56
60
86
130
331
-
-
-
-
-|-
-
-
-
-
35,314
481
13
35,808
110,626
-
0
165
1,170
3,073
-
-
-
4,243
24,659
-
-
-
0
706
-
-
-
-
0
93
-
-
-
-
0
331
555
4,309
3,900
-
-
8,764
8,764|
||**96,528**|**48,816**
**145,344**|
|**BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2023**
**2022**
**£**
**CURRENT ASSETS**
85,186
Cambridge and Counties Bank
4,820
CAF Bank balances
21,000
Skipton Building Society
6,761
Debtors and prepayments
117,766
**CURRENT LIABILITIES**
-8,228
Creditors - amounts falling due in one year
109,538
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**109,538**
**TOTAL NET ASSETS**
Represented by
**Unrestricted Funds**
63,592
General Fund
**Restricted Funds**
11,003
Children's and Families' Worker Fund
33,602
Maintenance Fund
1,340
Christmas Together Fund
0
Community Garden
**109,538**|**£**
85,318
10,092
11,000
2,992|**£**
99,406|
|---|---|---|
||109,402
-9,996||
||0
29,895
1,805
6,091||
|||**99,406**
61,615
37,791|
|||**99,406**|
………………………………… Martin Trenaman MAAT Treasurer
………………………………… Colin Batty Chairman, Ecumenical Church Council
………………………………… Rev Des Williamson Minister
………………………………….
Anthony Hallett Independent Examiner
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2023**
|**2022**
**£**
**Income**
30,814
Planned giving - GA
10,163
Tax recovered
1,050
Planned giving - non GA
2,576
Cash collections
10,943
Other donations
-54
Messy Church (net)
1,907
Messy Munchkins (net)
1,667
Interest
19,070
Hall lettings
583
PCC fees from weddings and funerals
2,591
Tattenhams Market
1,372
Cinema
**82,680**
**Total Income**
**Expenditure**
67,872
Parish Share
1,550
Circuit Assessment
-
CFW cost - General Fund
833
Vicar expenses
40
Deanery Synod
335
Other Ministry
74.69
Altar requisites
372
Worship
95
Organist/musicians and tuning
150
Grants and Giving
349
Education Training, mission
-
Maintenance
1,526
Equip and mats
6,711
Utilities
1,921
Insurance
2,657
Cleaning
360
Sundry
**84,847**
**Total Expenditure**
**-2,167**
**Surplus/(Deficit) for Year**|**2023**
**£**
32,865
10,242
1,657
1,886
10,611
-35
2,441
3,894
25,141
747
3,608
1,459|
|---|---|
||**94,517**
70,419
1,850
1,270
1,116
0
128
175
366
165
165
93
928
2,310
12,366
2,079
2,732
331|
||**96,494**
**-1,977**|
## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the members/trustees of the Ecumenical Church Council (ECC) of The United Church of St Mark, Tattenham Corner.**
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31[st] December 2023.
## **Respective responsibilities of the ECC and the examiner**
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention
## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Statement**
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.
An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the management committee concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.
## **Independent Examiner’s statement**
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
- (1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; or
- to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed
Tony Hallett
5 April 2024
## _**DECLARATION**_
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustee’s report above.
## **Signed on behalf of the Trustees:**
|**Signatures**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Full names**|COLIN BATTY|MARTIN TRENAMAN|
|**Position**|CHURCHWARDEN|TREASURER|
|**Date**|16 SEPTEMBER 2024||