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2024-12-31-accounts

TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD: 1 JANUARY 2024 TO 31 DECEMBER 2024

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
MARK ROBINSON CHURCHWARDEN
MEL BRACEY SAFEGUARDING OFFICER
LIZ TOWNSEND CHILDREN’S AND FAMILIES’
WORKER
KEITH NELSON
SHEILA BATTY
DAVID WILLOCK

17

ROSALYN BIRCH
EMMA SEARS
ELIZABETH LORD
SUSAN HIGGINS
DAWN CALLAWAY
SIMON BIRCH STEWARD 08/07/2024-
31/12/2024

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

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 2024

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 2024 11 screenings took place.

Tattenhams Market

In 2024 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 2024 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 2024 a deficit was recorded of £6,480 on the general fund, and a deficit of £9,393 overall. The deficit of the Children’s and Families’ Worker Fund was £14,275, so this cost has been charged to the general fund.

There was a £2,914 deficit on our restricted funds, as all the other restricted funds (Maintenance Fund, Community Garden, and Christmas Together) recorded a deficit in 2024.

We need around £2,500 every week to cover the ongoing costs of St Mark’s.

2. Parish Share and Circuit Assessment

The parish share payable in 2024 was £75,414, an increase of £4,995 (7%) on 2023.

Circuit assessment payable in 2024 was £2,100, an increase of £250 (14%) on 2023.

3. Planned giving

The overall planned giving increased slightly in 2024, by £5,333 (11.5%).

A successful campaign on giving took place in May and this has resulted in more people reviewing their giving, including attracting new people to join a planned giving scheme.

The church does not receive any funding from the government or other statutory body. The church running costs are nearly £2,500 per week, every 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 27 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.

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 2024 was 25p for every £1 of gift aided income.

A total of £12,234 was recovered for the General Fund from planned giving as well as some donations, including card donations made in church and online. This includes £1,715 recovered through the Small Donations Scheme. A further £2,886 was recovered for the CFW Fund from CFW giving and donations.

Total tax recovered in 2024: £15,120.

5. Donations

The church receives donations from groups who use the church building.

Total donations to the General Fund in 2024 was £12,647, including:

Sing £750
Food Club £1,500
Guides and Rainbows £200
Christmas Together £250
Community Lunches £130
Food Club £2,070 (for event room hire and expenses)
Relax Kidz £150

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 £175

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 £2,546 was raised for Christian Aid from the Quiz which was held at St Mark’s in May 2024.

7. Tattenhams Market

The Market has been running since October 2012, a monthly market with external stallholders paying a fee of £12 to have a table. The Church provides refreshments.

The market took place on 6 occasions in 2024. The total proceeds was £3,442 (£3,608 in 2023), of this £1,588 was taken from refreshments, and the remainder from stallholder fees.

8. St Mark’s Community Cinema

A total of 11 screenings took place in 2024, a total of £1,282 (£1,459 in 2023) was received from donations and refreshments (less expenses). A further £279 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 £2,273 (£2,406 in 2023).

10. Income from Investments

The Church receives interest at differing rates for funds invested.

Invested with Value of investment
£ 31/12/24		 Interest rate in 2024
Cambridge and Counties
Bank		 65,244 4.41%
Skipton BS 21,000 3.45% - 2.95%

Total interest income in 2024, £3,964 (£3,894 in 2023).

Interest was also received from CAF Bank balances (2.5%-2.3%)

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 2023), 5 Funerals (8), and 1 wedding.

Additionally, a sum of £217 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 2024: £573 (£747 in 2023).

12. Children’s and Families’ Worker (CFW)

Liz Townsend was appointed in September 2008.

In 2024 the regular giving with gift aid provided £15,963 (£14,310 in 2023).

An additional successful grant application was made to Community Foundation for Surrey for £7,000. A further £559 from grants received for Messy Munchkins and Messy Bundles was credited to the fund in 2024.

The total cost of Children’s and Families’ Work in 2024 was £37,798.

Total income to CFW Fund:

Regular Giving
Gift Aid
Grants
Fund at 31 December 2023
Charged to Fund in 2024
Income received in 2024
Deficit charged to General Fund		 13,078
2,886
7,559
23,523
0.00
-37,798.08
23,522.65
14,275.43
0.00

There was not a balance brought forward in the CFW fund for 2024 due to the fund being in a deficit position in 2023. A deficit has been recorded for 2024 of £14,275.43 which has been charged to the General Gund.

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 £4,881 was received from card payments in 2024 (£4,873 in 2023), including £85 (£160 in 2023) from the website. The card processing fee for these payments was £55.81 (average fee 1.1%).

14. Other Restricted Funds

Christmas Together

The event to serve a Christmas Day lunch took place once again at St Marks in 2024. Expenses for the event were covered by grants and other funding. The fund made a contribution to the General Fund of £250 to cover the cost of energy and other expenses.

The fund balance at the end of 2024 was £1,575.11.

Maintenance Fund

The fund is in place following building work completed in 2011.

The only cost to the fund in 2024 was the Quinquenniel Inspection and Report for £1,320.

Fund at 31 December 2023
Charged to Fund in 2024
Fund at 31 December 2024		 29,894.62
-1,320.00
28,574.62

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 £6,222 was received in 2024.

Fund at 31 December 2023
Grant funding received 2024
Charged to fund in 2024		 6,090.99
6,222.25
-7,585.62
4,727.62

Other grants

A sum of £17,664 was received from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council CIL Funding for resurfacing the church car park, including whitelining. The work was completed in August 2024.

15. 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 2024: £

Unrestricted Funds - General Fund 55,136

Restricted Fund - CFW Fund
Restricted Fund - Maintenance Fund		 0
28,575
83,711

Policy

General Fund

We aim to hold sufficient reserves in our general fund to cover 6 months expenditure, ie £55,000.

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.

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 2024 a sum of £1,320 was charged to the fund.

Total Reserves Requirement:

6 months General Fund expenditure
6 months CFW Fund Expenditure
Provision for unscheduled building maintenance		 56,000
19,000
10,000
85,000

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

Unrestricted
Restricted
TOTAL
Funds
Funds
2023
INCOMING RESOURCES
£
£
£
59,503
16,188
75,690
Voluntary Income
5,267
-
5,267
Activities for generating funds
3,894
-
3,894
Income from Investments
25,888
-
25,888
Church Activities
-
24,473
24,473
Other Incoming Resources
94,551
40,661
135,212
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
RESOURCES EXPENDED
96,363
48,816
145,179
Church Activities
165
-
165
Charitable grants and donations
96,528
48,816
145,344
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
-1,977
-8,155
-10,132
NET INCOMING RESOURCES
0
0
0
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
63,592
45,946
109,538
BALANCES B/FWD 1 JANUARY 2024
61,615
37,791 99,406
BALANCES C/FWD 31 DECEMBER 2024		 Unrestricted
Restricted TOTAL
Funds
Funds
2024
£
£
£
69,277
16,915
86,192
4,894
-
4,894
3,964
-
3,964
25,658
-
25,658
-
30,886
30,886
103,793
47,801 151,594
110,098
50,715 160,812
175
-
175
110,273
50,715 160,987
-6,480
-2,913
-9,393
0
0
0
61,615
37,791
99,406
55,136
34,877
90,013

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024

TOTAL
2023
£		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
£		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
£		 Restricted
TOTAL
Funds
2024
£
£
£
INCOMING RESOURCES
Voluntary Income
Planned giving:
43,317
Gift Aid donations
13,068
Tax recovered
2,902
Non gift aid donations
1,886 Cash collections
481 Messy Church
2,454 Messy Munchkins
448 Sunday Coffee
11,133Donations
75,690
Activities for generating Funds
200 Derby Day Car park
3,608 Tattenhams Market
1,459Community Cinema
5,267
Income from investments
3,172 Interest on Cambridge and Counties
559 Interest on Skipton BS
164Interest on CAF Bank Accounts
3,894
Church Activities
25,141 Hall lettings
747Fees from weddings and funerals
25,888
Other incoming resources
10,000 Grant funding for CFW Fund
Grant from Reigate & Banstead CIL
for Community Garden
Grant from Reigate & Banstead CIL
for Community Garden
Grant from Surrey Wildlife Trust
for Community Garden
Grant from Reigate & Banstead CIL
for car park resurfacing
10,400 Grant from PCT for Community Garden
1,000 Grant from Waitrose for Christmas Together
1,073 Grant from Surrey CC for tables and chairs
2,000 Grant from VARB for chair refurbishment
24,473
135,212 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES		 37,247
12,234
1,537
2,841
33
2,241
495
12,647		 69,277
4,894
3,964
25,658
0		 12,768
2,886
-
-
350
22
-
889
16,915
86,192
-
-
-
0
4,894
-
-
-
0
3,964
-
-
0
25,658
7,000
2,522
3,000
700
17,664
-
-
-
-
30,886
30,886
170
3,442
1,282
3,380
346
238
25,085
573
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
103,793 47,801 151,594
TOTAL
2023
£		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
£		 Restricted
TOTAL
Funds
2024
£
£
£
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Church Activities
Ministry:
70,419
Diocesan Parish Share
1,850
Circuit Assessment
1,116
Vicar's expenses
128
Other Ministry costs
36,584
Children's and Families' Work
516
Messy Church
13
Messy Munchkins
110,626
Charity Giving:
165
Methodist Connexional Funds
165
Property running costs
2,098
Building Maintenance
5,383
Equipment and Materials
12,366
Utilities
2,079
Insurance
2,732
Hall cleaning
24,659
Worship:
366
Resources
165
Piano and organ tuning and
repair
175
Altar requisites
706
Resourcing and Training
41
Posters and leaflets
52
Lunches and refreshments
Baptism cards, books, and resources
Other
93
Sundry expenses
56
Card fees
60
Bank charge
86
DBS Admin charge
130
Other misc expenses
331
Other resources expended
555
Christmas Together
4,309
Community Garden
-
Car park resurfacing
3,900
Replacement Projector
8,764
145,344 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED		 75,414
2,100
962
146
14,275
-
-
92,898
175
175
620
1,564
9,012
2,177
2,969
16,341
309
175
79
563
8
53
10
71
56
60
38
70
224
-
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
23,523
350
22
23,895
116,793
-
0
175
1,320
-
-
-
1,320
17,661
-
-
-
0
563
-
-
-
-
0
71
-
-
-
-
0
224
250
7,586
17,664
-
25,500
25,500
110,273 50,715
160,987
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
2023
£
CURRENT ASSETS
85,318 Cambridge and Counties Bank
10,092 CAF Bank balances
11,000 Skipton Building Society
2,992 Debtors and prepayments
109,402
CURRENT LIABILITIES
-9,996Creditors - amounts falling due in one year
99,406NET CURRENT ASSETS
99,406 TOTAL NET ASSETS
Represented by
Unrestricted Funds
61,615 General Fund
Restricted Funds
29,895 Maintenance Fund
1,805 Christmas Together Fund
6,091 Community Garden
99,406
…………………………………
Martin Trenaman MAAT
Treasurer
…………………………………
Colin Batty
Chairman, Ecumenical Church Council
…………………………………
Rev Des Williamson
Minister
………………………………….
Anthony Hallett
Independent Examiner		 £
65,244
3,481
21,000
4,729		 £
90,013
94,453
-4,440
28,575
1,575
4,728
90,013
55,136
34,877
90,013

FINANCIAL STATEMENT 2024

2023
£
Income
32,865 Planned giving - GA
10,242 Tax recovered
1,657 Planned giving - non GA
1,886 Cash collections
10,611 Other donations
-35 Messy Church (net)
2,441 Messy Munchkins (net)
3,894 Interest
25,141 Hall lettings
747 PCC fees from weddings and funerals
3,608 Tattenhams Market
1,459 Cinema
94,517 Total Income
Expenditure
70,419 Parish Share
1,850 Circuit Assessment
1,270 CFW cost - General Fund
1,116 Vicar expenses
128 Other Ministry
174.74 Altar requisites
366 Worship
165 Organist/musicians and tuning
165 Grants and Giving
93 Education Training, mission
928 Maintenance
2,310 Equip and mats
12,366 Utilities
2,079 Insurance
2,732 Cleaning
331 Sundry
96,494 Total Expenditure
-1,977 Surplus/(Deficit) for Year		 2024
£
37,247
12,234
1,537
2,841
13,313
33
2,241
3,964
25,085
573
3,442
1,282
103,793
75,414
2,100
14,275
962
146
79
309
175
175
71
620
1,564
9,012
2,177
2,969
224
110,273
-6,480

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 2024.

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:

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:

Signed

Tony Hallett

22 April 2025

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 15 SEPTEMBER 2025