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2024-12-31-accounts

ST MICHAEL WITH ST AUGUSTINE BECKENHAM

within the United Benefice of St James with St Michael and St Augustine Beckenham

Trustees’ Report and Financial Statements

for the year ended 31[st] December 2024

CONTENTS:

Administrative information page 1
Report of the Trustees pages 1-4
Statement of PCC Members’ responsibilities page 4
Independent Examiner’s report page 5
Receipts and payments account page 6
Statement of Assets and Liabilities page 7
Notes to the Financial Statements pages 8-9

PARISH OF ST MICHAEL WITH ST AUGUSTINE, BECKENHAM

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Registered Charity Number: 1179081

Address and Contact Details: St Michael’s Church Ravenscroft Road Beckenham Kent BR3 4TN

Tel: 07838146467 Email: office.stmichaelbeckenham@gmail.com

Vicar:

Fr Russell Stagg (from 3[rd] September 2024)

Bank:

HSBC Bank plc

Independent Examiner: Mr Tim Birse 8 Keswick Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 0EU

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES

Aims and Purposes

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Michael with St Augustine Beckenham has the responsibility to promote within the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church – pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The Parish is affiliated to The Society under the Patronage of St Wilfrid and St Hilda.

Structure, Governance and Management

The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Michael with St Augustine, Beckenham is a Registered Charity, number 1179081. All members of the PCC are Charity Trustees. The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England and operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure. The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules.

PCC members who served during 2024 and up to the adoption of this report:

Ex Officio members:

Fr Russell Stagg – priest from 3[rd] September 2024 Churchwarden: Matthieu Phillipault Lay Deanery Synod Representative: vacant

Page 1

Elected members of the PCC:

Carol Edwards, Roger Edwards, Hayley Philippault, Eileen Ironside

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.

The PCC has complied with the duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have due regard to House of Bishops' guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). The Child Protection Policy was adopted by the PCC in accordance with the procedures as set by the Church of England and the Diocese of Rochester. The PCC met in person 6 times throughout 2024.

Electoral Roll

In 2024 the Electoral Roll was amended as required by the Church of England. There were 23 names on the updated Electoral Roll.

United Benefice

The Parish of St Michael and St Augustine is part of the United Benefice of St James with St Michael and St Augustine, Beckenham. The patrons of the united benefice are the Bishop of Rochester and the Society for the Maintenance of the Faith. Mass has been offered as a joint benefice service alternating between St Michael and St James Churches until September when Fr Russell took up post. From September, Mass was offered at St Michael’s on Sunday at 11am, , Wednesday at 10am and Friday at 7pm

Objectives and Activities

The PCC is committed to promoting public worship for all, and in particular to all residents of the ecclesiastical parish and to enabling all who wish to worship at St Michael's and become part of the life of the church to do so. To this end, all services are public, and we also seek to be open to all comers in relation to our community and social events.

When planning activities and responding to requests for use of the premises, the PCC takes account of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in relation to charities for the advancement of religion, and we make provision for the availability of pastoral care to all residents of the parish, and any others who come in need of it, as well as our social, missionary, and outreach work. Responding to pastoral needs of both regular congregation and parishioners is regarded as an important part of the work of the PCC and priest.

Achievements and Performance

The sacraments of Matrimony, Baptism and Confirmation, and the Funeral Rites are available to all who are resident in the parish or on the church electoral roll, subject to the provision of the Canon Law of the Church of England. During 2024, 1 funeral service was held in church, 5 banns of marriage were called, and 3 baptisms were conducted. The average Sunday attendance on the Sundays when there was a service at St Michael’s in 2023 was 21 adults.

Page 2

In February 2024 interviews for the new benefice priest were held and Fr Russell Stagg was subsequently appointed.

In March work started on the vicarage in preparation for Fr Russell to move in after the summer. This began with the Diocese replacing the wiring throughout.

In April, we celebrated Holy Week and Easter, sharing services with St James’s. On Palm Sunday we welcomed Bishop Norman to lead Mass, his last Sunday before retirement.

At the beginning of September we were very pleased to welcome Fr Russell at his institution, held at St Michael’s. Members from both churches worked together to plan, prepare and celebrate the institution, and the evening was enjoyed by all present.

At the end of September we celebrated St Michael’s Patronal with a special Mass and enjoyed a time of fellowship with a shared lunch together after the service.

During October, we had a class visit from Stewart Fleming school.

In December, we again welcomed classes, staff and parents/carers from Stewart Fleming School for their nativity plays and concerts; and Churchfields School for their Christmas concerts. The money raised at all the events was in excess of £1100 and was donated to Living Well Foodbank.

We were extremely pleased to have our full Christmas services reinstated this year and the community at St Michael’s enjoyed a Christingle service, Cafe Carols, Crib Service, Midnight Mass, and Christmas morning service.

In 2024 we continued to have groups hiring the church space for activities and providing a regular income for us, including studio/recording space, Pilates for older adults, Virtue Taekwon-do classes for all ages, Baby Ballet, South East London Orchestra rehearsals & concerts, and organ practice. In the spirit of our charitable status and remit, Community based organisations are given concessionary rates for hire of the church space.

Financial Report

The financial situation of the Parish remains secure. The parish’s main sources of income are dividends form the investments managed by CCLA Investment Managers Limited, rental income from the property at 121 Ravenscroft Road, and the proceeds from letting various spaces within the church premises. Abnormal expenditure of £6,000 was spent on maintaining and refurbishing the vicarage ready for our new vicar – St James contributed a similar amount towards this work. We also had one-off costs of £2,000 at 121 Ravenscroft Road. This was a rent refund and hotel accommodation. when the boiler and heating broke down over the Christmas and New Year period. We paid the indicative offer to Rochester Diocese in full, recognising that our accumulated assets makes St Michael’s one of the most well-off parishes in the diocese. Overall, our cash balances declined by £4,000, but without the one-off expenditure they would have increased by the same amount. This indicates that we are able to live within our income, without drawing on accumulated assets.

The value of our investments, which are largely linked to the stock markets, can and does go down as well as up. However, 2024 was a good year for investment markets, particularly in the final quarter, and our investments increased in value by £25,000 during the year.

Page 3

Risk Management Policy

Risks to which the PCC is exposed have been reviewed and systems/procedures designed to manage those risks have been established.

The PCC now makes all payments by bank transfer as opposed to by cheque in previous years. The HSBC bank transfer system requires each payment to have a secondary authoriser in addition to being input by the Parish Administrator. All the cheque signatories can act as secondary authorisers.

Wherever possible, two people count the collection and the money is banked at the earliest opportunity, usually by the Church Administrator. Money is kept in the safe if it is required to stay on the church premises prior to banking.

There is a policy of expenditure authorisation and control, and the current financial situation is reported to the PCC at their meetings.

The annual accounts are scrutinised by an independent examiner or auditor as required.

Reserves Policy:

It is the policy of the PCC to ensure that the church retains sufficient reserves to meet future capital requirements to maintain the fabric of the church building and to adequately fund the activities and work of the church. Within this framework it is the policy to maintain unrestricted funds which equate to approximately six months’ ordinary unrestricted expenditure.

Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 23[rd] March 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Chair

STATEMENT OF PCC MEMBERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

Charity law requires the PCC members, as Trustees, to prepare financial statements for each financial year that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the PCC members are required to:

The PCC members are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Page 4

HONORARY INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF St MICHAEL WITH ST AUGUSTINE BECKENHAM

I report on the financial statements of the Parochial Church Council (the PCC) for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 6 to 9.

Respective responsibilities of the PCC and the Examiner

As members of the PCC and Charity Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements. You consider that the audit requirement of section 144 (2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) does not apply and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

Basis of this Report

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 PCC, and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes considering any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements and seeking explanations from you, as trustees, concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a true and fair view, and this report is limited to the matters set out in the statement below.

Independent Examiner’s Statement

In connection with my examination, no matters have come to my attention:

have not been met; or

T J Birse MA FIA 8 Keswick Road Orpington Kent BR6 0EU 23[rd] March 2025.

Page 5

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MICHAEL WITH ST AUGUSTINE BECKENHAM

RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

NOTE
5a
5b
5c
5d
6a
6b
6c		 RECEIPTS
Voluntary receipts
Voluntary income
Activities for generating funds
Investment Income
Other incoming resources
Proceeds of investment sales
Total receipts
PAYMENTS
Church activities
Costs of generating funds
Other church activities
Investment property expenses
Total payments
EXCESS OF RECEIPTS OVER PAYMENTS		 UNRESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
TOTAL
TOTAL
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
6,411
0
6,411
4,498
19,628
1,522
21,150
21,262
56,094
0
56,094
50,228
0
0
0
12
82,133
1,522
83,655
76,000
0
0
0
0
82,133
1,522
83,655
76,000
0
0
0
0
83,159
1,522
84,681
72,812
3,069
0
3,069
794
86,228
1,522
87,750
73,606
-4,095
0
-4,095
2,394
0
0
0
0
-4,095
0
-4,095
2,394
54,034
398
54,432
52,038
49,939
398
50,337
54,432
Transfers between Funds
NET MOVEMENT IN CASH BALANCES
Balances at 1 January
CASH BALANCES AT 31 DECEMBER

The notes on pages 8 and 9 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Page 6

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MICHAEL WITH ST AUGUSTINE BECKENHAM

STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AT 31st DECEMBER 2024

NOTE
CASH FUNDS
Bank current account
Bank deposit account
Deposits at Rochester DBF
Total
1
INVESTED ASSETS
121 Ravesncroft Road, Beckenham
CBF Investment Fund - Income shares
LIABILITIES
NET ASSETS
REPRESENTED BY:
General Fund
Capital - Real property
Church repair fund
2
Church Hall maintenance
2
Choir fund
TOTAL		 UNRESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
TOTAL
TOTAL
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
18,273
398
18,671
20,589
28,073
0
28,073
28,073
3,593
0
3,593
3,376
49,939
398
50,337
52,038
678,663
0
678,663
678,663
1,028,375
85,572
1,113,947
995,373
1,707,038
85,572
1,792,610
1,674,036
0
0
0
0
1,756,977
85,970
1,842,947
1,726,074
1,074,721
0
1,074,721
967,174
678,663
0
678,663
678,663
3,593
0
3,593
3,376
0
85,572
85,572
76,463
0
398
398
398
1,756,977
85,970
1,842,947
1,726,074

The notes on pages 8 and 9 form an integral part of these financial statements. Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 23 March 2025 and signed on its behalf by

___ Chairman ______ Member

Page 7

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MICHAEL WITH ST AUGUSTINE BECKENHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006, using the receipts and payments basis, which the PCC believes is appropriate for these financial statements.

The PCC owns 121 Ravenscroft Road, Beckenham, a property adjacent to the church. This property is included in the financial statements at the cost of purchase in 2018. The PCC believes this is a fair reflection of the current open market sale value of the property, subject to the existing tenancy.

Consecrated and beneficed property is excluded from the accounts by section 96 (2) (a) of the Charities Act 1993. No value is placed on movable church furnishings which require a faculty for disposal since the PCC considers this to be inalienable property.

Other investment assets comprise holdings in the CBF Church of England Investment Fund – Income Shares. These are included in the financial statements at mid-market value at the balance sheet date.

2. RESTRICTED FUNDS

Church Hall – CBF Income Account shares

The capital in this fund was originally donated to allow the maintenance of the church hall. Up to 50% of the funds can be drawn down to make repairs but must subsequently be repaid to the fund. The income is paid to the PCC’s general fund and may be used without restriction. As the Church Hall has been sold, discussions will be opened with the Diocese of Rochester regarding the future of this fund.

Choir fund

A donation of £500 was received for use by the choir. To date £102 has been used and the remaining balance is held for use of the choir in the future. The cash is held in the bank current account.

3. SEQUESTRATION ACCOUNT

During a vacancy in a benefice the PCC may retain the share of statutory fees that would otherwise be due to the Diocesan Board of Finance and use them towards the expenses of visiting clergy to take services and the upkeep of the parsonage house. Calculations have been carried out for the united benefice that show there is no excess of fees due to be returned to the DBF. Consequently no separate sequestration has been produced.

4. AUDIT

Under the provisions of the Charities Act an audit of the accounts is not required. An Independent Examination of the accounts has been carried out, and it is expected that the Independent Examiner will request a charitable donation to be made in lieu of a fee.

Page 8

PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MICHAEL WITH ST AUGUSTINE BECKENHAM NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

4
RECEIPTS
5a
Voluntary Income
Tax efficient planned giving
Income Tax recovered
Other planned giving
Collections
Donations and appeals
Grants
Total
5b
Activities for generating funds
Church Lettings
Fund Raising Events
Fees
Total
5c
Investment income
Dividends and interest
Rental income
Total
5d
Other incoming resources
Sundry income
Total
TOTAL RECEIPTS
6
PAYMENTS
6a
Fund raising trading costs
6b
Church Activities
Charitable giving
Diocesan contribution
Clergy including vicarage
Other clergy
Church utilities
Church maintenance
Church insurance
Upkeep of services
Organist and choir
Church cleaner - salary
Parish administrator - salary
Office administration
Printing and stationery
Professional fees/bank charges
Sundry expenditure
Total
6c
Investment Property expenses
TOTAL PAYMENTS		 UNRESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
TOTAL
TOTAL
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
2,320
0
2,320
2,705
1,709
0
1,709
501
184
0
184
132
1,038
0
1,038
800
1,160
0
1,160
360
0
0
0
0
6,411
0
6,411
4,498
18,975
0
18,975
19,870
0
1,522
1,522
767
653
0
653
625
19,628
1,522
21,150
21,262
30,894
0
30,894
30,428
25,200
0
25,200
19,800
56,094
0
56,094
50,228
0
0
0
12
0
0
0
12
82,133
1,522
83,655
76,000
0
0
0
0
840
1,522
2,362
1,200
36,220
0
36,220
35,332
8,405
0
8,405
2,576
316
0
316
506
9,469
0
9,469
7,608
5,294
0
5,294
4,521
2,808
0
2,808
2,791
3,427
0
3,427
1078
816
0
816
927
6,950
0
6,950
7,842
5,635
0
5,635
5,588
1,095
0
1,095
982
1,124
0
1,124
1,653
80
0
80
78
680
0
680
130
83,159
1,522
84,681
72,812
3,069
0
3,069
794
86,228
1,522
87,750
73,606

Page 9