## **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London** Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st December 2019 Supported by Charity Commission Registration No: 1179777 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** ## **Contents** Administrative Information...................................................................... 3 Annual Report .......................................................................................... 4 Independent Examiner’s Report .............................................................20 Statement of Financial Activities ............................................................ 21 Balance Sheet ......................................................................................... 22 Notes to the Accounts ............................................................................ 23 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** Administrative Information The incumbent is a member of the PCC ex‐officio, while all other members are elected by the Annual Parish Meeting. Churchwardens are elected annually for a one-year term of office and can serve a maximum of 6 consecutive years. Deanery Synod representatives and all other PCC members are elected for a 3-year term of office. In 2020, the following have served as members of the PCC: ## **Ex officio members** ## **Incumbent** Vacancy since April 2020. – Interim Priest: Pauline Nashashibi ## **Churchwardens** Justice Konneh (Until May 2021) Heather Pascall Anne Rose (Since May 2021) **Deanery Synod Representatives** Anthony Dass Marcia Sinclair Rowan Howard ## **Elected members** Anne Rose (Until May 2021) Briony Murray Secretary (Secretary since October 2020) Cassie Dummett (Until May 2021 – stood down to take on Safeguarding Officer Role) Chris Higgins (Until May 2021) Cynthia Mapp Dorothy Newton Georgina Wilson (Until May 2021) Goodness Marcelino Grace Moussongela (Co-opted until May 2021 – Re-elected May 2021 – for 2 year vacancy) Jim Mott (from October 2020) Katie Dawson (Until May 2021) Pat Crocker Sandra Hall Treasurer Nina Bakirtas (from May 2021) Jonathan Shattock (from May 2021) Nicola Byrne (from May 2021) Jennifer McMillan (from May 2021) 1 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** ## **Bankers Independent Examiner Quinquennial Inspector** Lloyds TSB, Archway, London Alex Sargent, ACA (ICAEW), Highbury, London Ablett Architects Ltd, Bromley. ## **Annual Report** The members of the Parochial Church Council have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements of the church for the year ended 31st December 2020. ## **About us** St Thomas is a vibrant community in the heart of Finsbury Park. We are a Church of England (Anglican) parish church. Our congregation is almost as diverse as you will find locally; from many parts of the world and from a wide range of backgrounds, regardless of age, race, or sexuality. Our church was built was as successor church to St Matthew, Friday Street, in the City and was consecrated in 1889. We are a “back-street” church with a spacious interior very sympathetic to the worship in the catholic tradition for which it was constructed. We are committed to caring for our local area. We support many voluntary groups, as well as getting involved in neighbourhood festivals and campaigns. We believe in acting out God’s love in a lively and practical way in North London. Children are at the heart of our congregation and are made welcome in our services. The church also hosts a playgroup. We have strong links with St John’s primary school, Highbury Vale. Our life with one another is not just on Sundays. We hold regular discussion groups and midweek services, and we celebrate the great Christian festivals – whenever they fall. We are good at social events, to which all are welcome. ## **Our mission** We are a welcoming, inclusive church in Finsbury Park, seeking to follow Jesus Christ and to live out the good news of God’s love by: - worshipping God, and offering prayer - exploring faith with open minds and hearts - supporting people in their spiritual journey - promoting peace, challenging injustice and responding to need - sharing hospitality and celebrating community The PCC has recently reviewed and affirmed our mission. 2 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** **Vicar’s Report (Interim Priest – Rev Pauline Nashashibi)** ## **At St Thomas’s in Covid Days** Coming to serve at St Thomas’s during the interregnum seemed a natural thing for me to do as I had been trained there and thought I knew what was likely to be needed. In the event, when I arrived in April 2020 Covid days had begun, the building was closed and we all found out that keeping things going meant doing just about everything differently. I am very grateful for the support I have received from the church community and for the willingness of clergy and reader colleagues to come to preach and preside for St Thomas’s online and in person. The immediate challenge was to maintain worship and the life of prayer during church closure. With the help of Briony Murray, Nik Myers, now based in Ireland, the teams of readers and prayer leaders led by Chris Higgins and Jenni McMillan and my daughter’s technical help at home, we were able to start a regular Service of the Word on the 19[th] of April. Within this, the habit of intercession has been faithfully maintained as Justice Konneh has gathered the prayers of the people week by week. This has also been an important way of keeping in touch and reflecting on the needs of the community. We added a ‘Spiritual Communion’ once a month – a prayer designed to help people feel God’s presence in times such as these. ‘Supporting people on their spiritual journey’ is also part of the church’s mission. The regular Bible Study has continued and there have been the Lent groups. I think it will be important to offer preparation for First Communion to children before they move onto secondary school. Opening church on the 26[th] of July was the next big challenge as everyone adapted to the safety needs and we became used to receiving communion in one kind only. It has been tough but over time we have become familiar with the drill. The wardens and the risk assessment group have kept us safe. It has been very good to see attendance in church grow from around 27 – 40, with a particularly encouraging response on Easter Day when we had 65 people (of whom 4 were children) and with 38 on the Sunday following. We have to leave quickly and still miss conversation and hospitality time. We have yet to find a way to replace the after service zoom coffee. As I look at participation, it is clear that both online and in church the main difficulty has been involving children and this is going to continue for as long the rules on keeping children in ‘pods’ and of safe-distancing apply. We have had a series of all-age days, online and in church with Rowan Howard’s leadership and the aid of the new database which makes it easy to stay in contact with families. There has been some very good participation (for Covid days), notably on the Harvest festival, when we had 9 family bubbles and 61 attending overall. A good many children have contributed to services, online and in church, with readings, prayers, pictures and mini plays, particularly in ‘The Christmas Story’. Making this happen depends on a lot of work and, even so, a look at figures shows how much 3 ## **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** ground there is to make up. In 2019, of a typical attendance of 100, between 25 to 40 would be children. Dorothy Newton and the Thursday Tea at St Thomas’s team and other volunteers have been keeping in touch with guests, some of whom are isolated and for whom Covid days have been very limiting. Other volunteers from the congregation have kept in touch with older members and found ways of staying in touch at a time when the open hospitality which is part of the church’s mission has been restricted. Contacts with our friends in the Finsbury Park Mosque and Muslim Welfare House have continued through the regular ‘Conversations’ meetings which the Reverend Stephen Coles established with local faith leaders and which I now convene. Sadly we have also been unable to share hospitality in open events as we usually do. I hope the Finsbury Park Sisters will be able to meet this summer. A number of factors are in play during interregnums. Attendance quite often declines, partly because people miss the vicar they love and because it’s a time when people think of making a change. There are new roles to fill and decisions about the future demand attention at a time when there is less capacity for following people up or for holding activities to draw them in. Just now these factors are compounded by lockdown rules and shielding. In spite of and because of Covid, there have been innovations. The Communications group has brought us the biweekly Newsletter and weekly emails that keep us informed, both benefitting from the new database with Mailchimp that has also supported work with children. And online worship has some plusses. Participation has not been fully analysed yet, but we can see that YouTube figures on the first day have usually doubled by the end of week 1, indicating a need for worship at other times than Sunday morning. There are reasons for keeping up the online offer and not only because we are still living with Covid. There have always been housebound people and others whose family or work situations make it difficult to come regularly on Sunday, or even at all. Also, online worship allows new people to have a look at the local church without having to cross the threshold - if they know it is on offer. Thinking of the challenges of the times and uncertainties about the future, I very much appreciate what the church community has achieved. Maybe this is a good time to connect with the Parish old-style by delivering an invitation door to door? ## **Rev. Pauline Nashashibi 10.4.2021** 4 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** ## **Secretary’s Report** In the six months since we had the last APM, the PCC has continued to hold its meetings on Zoom, having now been doing so for over a year and continuing to meet almost once per month, having done so since beginning on Zoom too. We have continued to discuss matters relating to the pandemic and how we can provide church for as many as we can. We have continued with our social distancing when we have been in the building and have also had to make decisions to close the building and move worship online. To this end, providing church for all, and sometimes needing to be fully online, we successfully applied for a further grant from Cloudsley which was offered as further emergency funds to help churches provide their online services. We have now had our video equipment installed and we have had a few volunteers interested in training, more are welcome as this becomes an integral part of our Sunday morning routines. Could you think about joining a new rota to help with this? Full training will be given. The PCC has also discussed matters relating to the interregnum which are detailed more fully elsewhere. We have discussed how we are able to help the playgroup to meet their needs, seeking to work together with them to help them provide their service to our local community. We have discussed our provisions for the 2 major church festivals, Christmas and Easter, and have offered a range of provisions online and in person as the situation allowed at the time. We have implemented our Lent / Easter collection and have communicated this to our congregation, setting up an online giving link to assist with the collection. We have discussed our financial situation, detailed further in the report below. We are now back in the building, have installed a proper video recording solution and services are now able to be recorded and uploaded for additional viewers to see later in the day, thereby reaching beyond those in the community who can come to the building, but being accessible to those not yet willing or able to return to church, and those who are engaged with us but too distant to attend regularly. ## **Briony Murray – Secretary** 5 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** ## **Electoral Roll report 2020** The Electoral Roll was revised between 31[st] March 2021 and 21[st] April 2021. There were 155 people on the roll in 2020. One name has been removed and there have been no additions. The number on the Roll now stands at 154. In this challenging year it has been unclear who should be removed as the congregation has not been in church often and it is likely that many have been shielding and participating online. Therefore, we have only been looking to remove anyone who has moved away from the area or has died. Similarly, it has been difficult to ascertain new regular worshippers in the parish. Now that we have begun to re-open church, we will continue to revise the roll until the date of the Annual Parish Meeting. ## **Anne Lambourne, Electoral Roll Officer** **Treasurer’s Report** ## **Accounts for the Year ending 31[st] December 2020.** This has been a very challenging year with the PCC’s main sources of offerings from the generosity of the congregation of St. Thomas’s and visitors. Your generosity has again enabled the church to grow in so many ways, to pay our bills, fund our commitments and support our mission partners both here and overseas. ## **General Fund:** Giving to the church increased slightly despite the closure of the building in March 2020 due to Covid. This is encouraging news for the church as we found ways to survive and even thrive in the midst of all the challenges that the pandemic has thrown our way. The church had to adapt to an online presence, embrace social media, innovate and change. I wish to thank Briony who assisted in setting up online giving via the website and Facebook. Also, Justice, for organising card and contactless payment via the digital device. ## **Building Fund:** Numerous building projects having been undertaken. We now operate several restricted funds for building works, LED lighting, solar panels and audio visual recording of services. In 2020 we applied for and received grants from Richard Cloudesley Charity and Islington Council. 6 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** **Restricted Funds:** (Collections for charities etc) Total amount collected and sent amounted to £4815 for charities, including Akwaaba, CARIS- Cold Winter Shelter, Medical Aid for Palestine and Diocese Mozambique Emergency Appeal. ## **Reserves:** Our general fund reserves stand at £5254, the building fund reserve £5,833 and other restricted reserves £24,273. ## **Conclusion:** St. Thomas is a thriving, outward looking church. We have continued to meet our Parish Share commitment to the Diocese of £60,500 as well as our commitment of our mission partners. I appeal to those who may not be doing so already, to please consider making a commitment to regular giving by way of direct debit under the Parish Giving Scheme which enables the church to claim back an extra 25% from HMRC automatically. Next year is likely to be both demanding and testing during our Interregnum and the coronavirus pandemic. Accordingly, I stress the need for us as congregants to press on and continue being supportive. Our church is not just the building and clergy but all the people who attend, each equally valuable but unique. Thank you & God bless you. ## **Sandra Hall, Treasurer** ## **Churchwardens Report** We have had two further church closures since the last church warden’s report was issued in October. We had a severely curtailed Christmas offering and many of our key people including myself caught COVID. The third church closure, though not mandatory, was requested by Islington council, supported by local faith groups, due to the severity of the infection rate within the Borough. After three months, we reopened our door on Palm Sunday and had a very successful Holy Week given the circumstances. The church also had a much needed clean on Saturday Saturday, which was testament to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers. Many thanks to everyone who has supported us during the past difficult year. Those who have helped with ensuring a safe opening of the Church. Members of the PCC and Sub Groups. From my previous report, our main priorities were: 7 ## **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** - Maintaining Sunday Worship - Engaging with the Diocese and Deanery re the appointment of a new incumbent - Allowing playgroup to continue and serve the community I believe we have been successful in managing priorities, and we are now on a firmer footing, due to the on-going and successful roll-out of the NHS vaccine programme. It is important to remember that we had two key challenges during the past year, COVID and the on-going situation with the vacancy. Not having an incumbent or a Priest in Charge has gone on far longer than I anticipated. ## **Sunday Worship** Like all churches, we face some uncertainty regarding how many of our regular worshippers will continue to join us for services. This is the great unknown, there may be some who have formed new habits during COVID. Conversely, there are those who may now place greater emphasis on human engagement with the community, of which our church is an important part. As a church we have done some outreach, sending out palm crosses to signal we are here reminding people of our presence and relevance. I urge the PCC to consider other activities to showcase to the wider community that St Thomas’ is open and welcomes all. As I write, it seems as though all restrictions will be lifted mid June. We look forward to removing the red tape and allowing access to all of our pews. ## **Vacancy** As yet, we have no incumbent, though conversations are continuing with the Diocese and we have appointed four people from the PCC to lead this effort including both current church wardens. This is one of our key priorities and I will play my part in helping to move things forward. ## **Playgroup** We have reached agreement with the playgroup to pay 75% of the rent due during the first COVID lockdown, Sandra has sent the invoice and we are expecting payment in the usual fashion. They continue to work under stringent COVID measures and we need to support them as best we can. I don’t expect the other hall users, Girl Guides and others to return before the autumn school term. ## **Finally** I said my previous report was my last as Church Warden, that was wrong. This is my last report as Church Warden. Heather and my newly elected replacement will form the new team with my support, when called on. Justice ## **Justice Konneh & Heather Pascall, Churchwardens** 8 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** ## **Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults** - This is the fourth report from Helena Konneh (HK), Church Safeguarding Officer (CSO), St Thomas the Apostle Finsbury Park to the PCC for the APCM on 9[th] May 2021. - The 2020 Parish Safeguarding Self-Audit action plan was reviewed, and the new 2021 self-audit completed by the following on 2[nd] February 2021: Helena Konneh (Church Safeguarding Officer), Rowan Howard (Sunday School Coordinator), Heather Pascall (Churchwarden) and Marcia Sinclair (DBS Checker). - The completed self-audit was shared with PCC members by email with a request for questions to be submitted to Helena in advance of the PCC meeting. One PCC member raised two points. A further discussion was also had at the PCC meeting on 10[th] March 2021. - Both the Parish Safeguarding Self- Audit and revised action plan were approved at the PCC meeting, also the Safeguarding Policy Statement 2021, which was signed by the churchwardens and Helena Konneh. - A new Church Safeguarding Officer was appointed at the PCC meeting on 10[th] March 2021, we welcome and thank Cassie Dummett for taking over this role. A planned handover starts with the first meeting in early April 2021. This will cover the role, training and key activities of the role holder. - The agreed self-audit, Safeguarding Policy Statement 2021 and a notification of Cassie’s new appointment was emailed to the Diocese of London on 10[th] March 2021. A question was also raised to clarify the need for a First Aider at church activities. - With the retirement of Stephen Coles in April 2020, the intention was for all Safeguarding actions to be prioritised. However, due to Covid-19 and restrictions coming into place in March 2020 work towards the actions had to be put on hold. As we lift out of lockdown, we will resume our plans. - Some progress has been made against the 2020 action plan. Notably: - DBS checks for all PCC members. - Safeguarding training is undertaken by all PCC members and some Sunday School leaders/helpers. - A role description for the Lead Recruiter is now in place. - There are several outstanding points (from 2019 and 2020) that have been carried forward to 2021, these will need to be addressed as we plan to return to our face-toface activities: - Further Safeguarding reporting guidelines for the Thursday Group / Sunday School Leaders. - Health and Safety risk assessment for Thursday Group (to now reflect Covid19 considerations). - Review the DBS recruitment process (changes have since been reflected in the Safe recruitment flow chart). - Helena would like to take this opportunity to thank the continued hard work and commitment of all volunteers, and especially: Rowan Howard, Sunday School 9 ## **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** Coordinator, Dorothy Newton, Thursday Teas Leader; Marcia Sinclair, DBS Checker and those who support the church activities as they relate to working with vulnerable adults. Also, a special thank you to Cassie Dummett who will be taking over the Church Safeguarding Lead role shortly. Helena Konneh, Church Safeguarding Officer: 21/03/2021 ## **Report of the Deanery Synod representatives** The representatives from St Thomas’s are: Rowan Howard, Marcia Sinclair and Anthony Dass, who were all re-elected in 2020 for a 3 year term to 2023. This year, there were 3 meetings (up to March 2021). Paul Zaphiriou is Area Dean. The themes of the meetings were: ## **21[st] April 2020** : **How the Deanery and Area might develop:** **22nd December 2020:** Welcome to new Parish Representatives. Discussions around church in lockdown, working with other faiths through Islington Faith Forum, and engagement with community through foodbanks, refugee drop-in centre, memory café, cold weather shelter (some activities suspended due to lockdown). What have churches learnt through the pandemic? What insights can we share? **27[th] January 2021: Capital Vision 2030:** Presentation from Paul Zaphiriou around 3 themes of creating confident disciples, compassionate communities and creative growth. The three top priorities for the Diocese are younger, safer and more racially just. As a Parish, we will be engaging with these themes and priorities as we develop our mission action plan for the coming years. ## **Rowan Howard, Marcia Sinclair and Anthony Dass: Deanery Synod Representatives** ## **Work with Children and Young People** This year of the pandemic has meant that our usual ways of being together and providing activities for children and young people at St Thomas’s have been hugely disrupted. At the start of the first lockdown, in March 2020, we had limited ways to stay in touch, with the Church closed and no facility for online services. We kept in touch with Sunday School volunteers by email and delivered Easter eggs to all of the children from the congregation who live in or close to the Parish. Lots of the children made farewell cards or pictures for Stephen, that formed part of the delivery he found on his doorstep on Easter morning, when we sadly said a virtual goodbye and thankyou. We then developed an email data base and created a families’ email list that we could use to stay in touch with families with children and young people. This helped us with inviting 10 ## **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** contributions of prayers and pictures from our children in our first all-age online service in June. Once we were able to be back in Church, it was clear that we would not be able to recommence Sunday School classes or creche within Government guidelines. So, children and young people would need to stay in the main service with their families. We therefore started planning regular all- age services, starting with Harvest on 4[th] October, at which we encourage attendance and participation by children and young people. We were delighted to welcome 9 family bubbles at the Harvest service and collected bountiful contributions for the St John’s Brownswood Park foodbank. One parent commented “ _It was really nice to be able to come to church. I don’t think I’d realised - or had time to realise- how much I missed it_ .” We also planned a socially distanced picnic – but that was sadly stymied by changes to lockdown rules. The all age services have continued both in Church - 13[th] December for the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth - and online - Christmas Eve with a wonderful nativity narrative that many members of the congregation contributed to, Candlemas on 31[st] January and Mothering Sunday on 14[th] March. We have had lovely contributions of readings, prayers and pictures from a broad range of families. Our youth band were able to rehearse during the Autumn and contribute to our Advent worship. We conducted a youth Re-engagement survey whereby the 10 youths age 8-18, listed possible activities that would engage the youth at St Thomas. The report was sent to the PCC and communication committee. In 2021, we have included a weekly activity sheet from Roots in the notices with a range of activities for all ages to help families to engage with the Gospel themes during the week. We look forward to being able to be together in Church once again and to re-start our weekly children’s activities. ## **Rowan Howard: Sunday School co-ordinator** ## **Marcia Sinclair and Andrew Greer: Youth** ## **Tea at St Thomas’s** Sadly, Tea at St Thomas’s has not been able to meet for a year now. Our last meeting was in March 2020, so we have missed the whole of our ninth year (we’d met every week since St David’s Day in 2012). Almost none of the guests have a computer or are familiar with Zoom, so we could not transfer our meetings to virtual ones. However, we have done our best to keep in touch with most of our regular guests – 10 have been phoned each week by at least one of the 11 ## **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** hosts. Guests have appreciated the regular – and occasional - phone calls: “talking on the phone really cheers me up”. They have been very grateful for a chat – but, of course, say how much they miss the pleasure of sitting together round the tea table and chatting informally with the hosts and other guests. The phone conversations have sometimes been stressful - we’ve heard about people’s lives in lockdown and about their isolation and loneliness - and about some difficult circumstances and illnesses: “What life is this? – it’s like being in a prison cell” - “It’s hell on earth - this isn’t life, this is bare existence” At Christmas we arranged between us to deliver cards and small gifts to those guests who live nearby. We had hoped to do this in a group but, as Tier 4 regulations then came into force, we had to visit individually. We divided the task between us, each agreeing with the guest a suitable time on Christmas Eve and then, wearing our masks, we put the parcel on their doorstep, rang the doorbell and stepped back to their gate – from where we had a brief conversation and passed on Christmas greetings from all of us from Tea at St Thomas’s. We very much hope that Tea at St Thomas’s will meet again as soon as regulations allow. ## **Dorothy, Christine, Pat, Rowan, Anita** ## **March 2021** ## **Singing Group** Unfortunately, music took a bit of a back seat in the past year due to COVID19. As a high singing church, this was devastating. We managed to provide services for parishioners online until we opened again, and since then we have been rather 'in and out' until just recently. We are glad to have singers from the Singing Group sing some responses in the service now and we hope to increase the sung liturgy soon. I also hope to resume rehearsals for the Youth Music group in the coming month, with the Singing Group not far behind. ## **Andrew Greer, Organist** ## **Monday Night Movies** The last film shown at Monday Night Movies was _In Bruges_ on 16 March 2020. Additionally, Stephen Coles had requested to have one last film shown before his retirement, _My Own Private Idaho_ , which was due to be screened on 30 March. Sadly the outbreak of Covid-19 then meant that the first lockdown occurred, and all of our activities including Sunday services were stopped. As nobody knew how this situation would progress, I had hoped that we could start film night again in the autumn of 2020, but alas, it was not to be, and like other cinemas, theatres and community groups we remain dark. 12 ## **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** However, as the situation is improving now with the success of mass vaccinations as well as lockdowns, I have hopes that we may be able to start up again in the autumn. At the time of writing it is planned to reopen the church for Sunday services on Palm Sunday, 28 March. All being well, I can see no reason why our other activities should not reopen in due course when safe to do so. Our film night always has a summer break anyway, as many people are away, and the light evenings make it difficult to screen movies, so reopening in September would be good. For those who may not know, Monday Movies were held on Monday evenings at 7pm for 7.30pm in the hall, or occasionally in the church during May/June (because of the lighter evenings). These were open to all, were free of charge (basket for donations available), and we had some - often substantial! - refreshments together to start the evening off. In 2020 we screened two films of time, mystery and loss, _Arrival_ (with Amy Adams), and _The Jacket_ (Adrien Brody and Keira Knightley); the first in a season of three murder and revenge movies: the classic Hitchcock film from 1951 _Strangers on a Train_ ; followed by _Cape Fear_ from 1961 starring Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum; and the comedy/crime drama _In Bruges_ from 2008, with Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes – mentioned above. I had planned a programme of film noir, mystery drama, and a horror or two for Halloween. If we can open again this September I would like to pick up where we left off, with this programme, or maybe an Oscar winner… We look forward to seeing you! ## **Anne Rose: Film Night Co-ordinator** ## **Reserves Policy** It is the PCC’s policy to maintain unrestricted reserves to cover the loss of income from the playgroup over a period of twelve months. On this basis, as at 31st December 2020, the required amount of reserves was £13,000. Unrestricted reserves fell during the year from £8,000 to £5,000. The trustees have noted the shortfall on required reserves, are taking action to increase the level of reserves, and will review the policy on reserves during 2021. ## **Risks and uncertainties** The principal risks and uncertainties as identified by the trustees, are in three areas: - Operational risks to health and safety and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Mitigation: activities to manage these risks have been reported above and the Safeguarding Officer reports at Trustee meetings on any safeguarding issues and any matters that arise. - Regulatory and governance risks. 13 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** Mitigation: through Diocesan resources, the trustees are updated on Church of England regulatory and governance requirements, which are then assessed and actioned accordingly. - Financial risks Mitigation: day to day risks and uncertainties are managed by the Treasurer who reports regularly to the Trustees and provides advice as appropriate. If it is apparent that levels of donations do not match expenditure commitments over a sustained period, then the Trustees will reassess those commitments. ## **Interregnum** Following Stephen Coles’ retirement in 2020 the Bishop of Stepney decided to ‘suspend presentation’ at St Thomas’s, which is a technical term for not advertising for, or appointing, a new incumbent (paid parish priest) for a period of up to 5 years in order to explore new arrangements. Instead, the Bishop proposed that St Thomas’s should explore a partnership with St John Brownswood Park, eventually leading to an arrangement whereby the two parishes would share one paid parish priest and a supporting team of unpaid clergy. After many months of discussions with the Diocese the Parochial Church Council (those elected from the congregation to be trustees) agreed to the Bishop’s proposal for a trial period with Revd Alice Smith from St John’s as ‘Priest-in-charge’ of St Thomas’s, an official position where the priest has all the responsibilities and authority of an incumbent but without formal ‘possession’ of the parish. If successful, this arrangement could be formalised into a partnership. During positive meetings with Revd Alice, PCC representatives learned that she is expecting her first baby in October 2021. This happy news has, however, further complicated the start of the trial period. The situation has been resolved as follows: from September 2021 we shall be welcoming a part-time paid interim priest, Revd Caroline Shuttleworth, who will minister to us at St Thomas’s until June 2022. Although focussed on St Thomas’s she will also have a role at St John’s in helping cover Revd Alice’s maternity leave with additional clergy support. We are very pleased that Revd Pauline Nashashibi will continue working with us (with a well-deserved summer break). As Revd Alice returns from her maternity leave after Easter 2022 there will be a period of handover until she is ready to take over formally as ‘Priest-in-charge’ next summer (2022). From then on, we will have a trial period of about two years with this arrangement. ## **The partnership with St John’s** The form of the partnership with St John’s is to be explored. For the foreseeable future both churches will have their own PCCs and separate finances. We will look to maintain our customary patterns of worship. In the period until Revd Alice returns in 2022 and begins to lead the partnership in person, St Thomas’s will primarily focus on our own recovery following Stephen’s retirement and the challenges of Covid, exploring ‘who we are’ and our future mission, but we will also look for opportunities of informal ways of getting to know St John’s better. 14 ## **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** Chris Higgins and Rowan Howard, Parish Representatives ## **Structure and governance** The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England. It is a registered charity, governed under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956), as amended, and the Church Representation Rules. The method of appointment to the PCC is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The incumbent and wardens are ex officio members, with the remaining members elected from members of the congregation who are on the electoral roll. The PCC is responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish, including how funds are spent. In practice, responsibility for specific matters may be delegated to PCC sub-committees. In exercising its duties, the PCC has due regard to and complies with the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. The PCC met every month since the APCM in October 2020. The APCM was to be held as normal prior to the end of May 2021. This was held on the 9[th] May 2021. Due to timings regarding reporting Interregnum information, clarifications on the treasurer’s and independent examiner’s report, the meeting was adjourned to be reconvened on the 30[th] May 2021. This report and accounts were approved by the PCC on 30[th] May 2021 and signed on their behalf by Heather Pascall, Churchwarden 15 **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** ## **ST THOMAS'S CHURCH: INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES** I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2020. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. 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 instead. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; - follow all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and - to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner's 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 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 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 accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## **Independent examiner's statement** Having completed my examination, no matter has come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records, and - the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and 16 ## **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Thomas's, Finsbury Park, London Annual Report and Accounts for the Year to 31st December 2020** 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. ALEX SARGENT Alex Sargent ACA (ICAEW) 29 May 2021 17 St Thomas the Apostle. Finsbury Park Statement of financial activities For the year ended 31 December 2020 Total Total Year Ended Year Ended Dec-20 Dec-19 £k £k Unrestricted Restricted Note £k £k Income: Voluntary income Income from church activities 68,888 13,595 16,268 85.156 13,595 155,190 20.033 Total Income 82,483 16,268 98.751 175,223 Expenditure on: Church activities 81,109 17,671 98,780 212,620 Total expenditure 81,109 17,671 98,780 212,620 Net incorning/{outgolng) resources and movement in funds 1,374 11,403) 129) {37,397) Total funds brought forward at Istjan Movement between fund5 8,174 14.2951 27,213 4,295 35,387 72,784 Total funds carried forward at 31st Dec 5,253 30,105 35,358 35.387 Balance sheet As at 31 December 2020 Company no. 3038352 Dec-20 Dec-19 Note £k £k Current assets: Debtors Cash at bank and in hand 5,000 17,488 21,852 53,939 22,488 75,791 Liabilities: Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 13,953} Total net assets 22,488 71,838 The funds of the charity: Restricted funds 30,105 5.253 27,213 8,174 Unrestricted general funds Total charity funds 3S,358 35,387 Heather Pascal Trustee lain Mcseveny Trustee Notes to the financlal statements for the yearended 31 De￿mber 2020 l Accountlng policies al Basis of prep?r3tion The PCC is a public benefit entity withln the meanin8 of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention, under the Charities Act 2011 and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 and in accordance with the Charities Staternent of Recommended Practice IFR51021. Assets and liabilities are Initially rEcognised at hlstorital c95t or transaction value unless othetwise stated in the relevant accounting policy gr note. bl Golng concern At the time of approving the accounts the trustee5 have a reasonable expectation that the Charity has adequate SOUTces to continue in operatlonal existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees, continue to adopt the 8oin8 concern basis of accounting in preparing the accounts. cl Incon Planned givin& collertions and similar donation5 are recognised when received. Tax refunds are retognssed when the rncorning resource to which they relate 15 received. Interest is accounted for when received. Grants and legacies to the PCC are accounted for as soon as the PCC is notlfled of its legal entitlement, the arnount due is quantifiable and receipt bythe PCC Is reasonably certain. dl Fund accountlng Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund. Unrestrirted funds are donations and other incoming resources receivedlgenerated for the charitable purposes. Design*ed funds are unrestricted fund5 earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes. el Expend5ture Common Fund contributions are accounted for when payable. Any arnount pled8ed but unpaid at 31 December is shown as a creditor in the balance sheet.Grants and donations are accounted for when paid, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obSigation. All other expenditure is recognised on the accruals ba515 and accounted for gr05S. Ftxed assets Consecrated Property and Moveable Church Furnishings.. consecrated land and benefice property such 35 the church building and vicarage is excluded the accounts in accordance wlth slo Of the Charities Act 2011. M¢)veable church contents are held by the vicar and churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and ￿qUIre a faculty for disP05al are accounted a5 irlalienable property unless consecrated. All expenditure incurred on consecrated or benefice buildings and moveable church fuTnishings, whether maintenance or improvement. 15 expensed withln the Statement of Flnancial Activities. 81 Funds Restrirted fvnds comprise revenue donations and grants intended for a specific purpose by the donor or funds set aslde from general fund5 by the trustees for a dedicated purFY)se. Unrestricted funds are income funds which are to be spent on the P￿5 general purposes. h) Cash flowstatement The financial statements do not include a Cash Flow Statement because the charity. as a small re- Porting entity, is exempt from the requirement to prepare such a statement under the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice IFRS1021. Note5to thefln8n¢ial statements fortheyear ended 31 December 2020 I￿¢)me Unrestricied Funds (£1 Restrkied F¥￿151£} 1020 Un￿$trItted Totall£l Funds [£1 Re#Ykted Funds (£1 2019 Tot•1 ¢£1 2. Voluntaryln¢ome 51,487 16A49 952 SL487 16.449 7.509 50,501 14.714 50.501 14.714 19.512 70,463 155.190 Incometsx reclairned Collectiorts at service5 Grant5 Totsl volllnrarylncome 6,557 16.222 70,463 86.685 68*88 16.Z6B 68￿05 3. Inromofrom ¢hw(h actlvlllos Hire of churth property Pccfees Otherincome Total Income from churchartivity 10,928 765 1.902 13.595 10.928 765 1,902 iy 95 16568 1,269 2,196 20.OY3 16,568 1,269 2,196 ZO.033 Totallncome 16268 98.751 88.518 86.685 175.2Z3 Expeftdl￿re Llnre5tritted Fund$lO Restr*ted Funds (£1 2019 Unrestrlrted Totsl (£1 Funds (£1 Restdctad Funds (£1 2018 total l£J 41al The Mlnistry Qergy Expenses Mission 2,107 125 2J32 1107 741 741 420 3A20 1555 1973 41bl 7hEChuv¢h Gas& Elertrfoty Facil￿e$ Iwaterrate%towels etcl Cleaner Church Insurance Minor Repairs Buildingworks 3,916 1,342 2.048 4,632 L253 3.916 1,342 2,(M8 4,632 1.253 4,102 1,465 3,680 4,876 4,102 1,465 3,680 4,876 3,704 97,388 12,856 12 97,388 97,388 26.047 17.826 41¢) ￿rv1¢e$ Ve5try,Altar & Candles Organist. Choir& mU￿C Weekly Magazlne Otherordinary LYpen(Siture L261 1525 402 748 L261 1.909 4,201 1,027 577 7,715 1.909 4,852 1.027 577 8.366 2,175 651 402 2.175 41dl Pa￿entso￿tsldOthe Parf5h ¢Kese Fairshares Charthes 60,500 250 60.750 60,5(N) 71,rD) 250 71250 71ll 12,065 1,899 1.899 11.815 Totslexpend1￿r¢ 109 98.780 loo￿1 109.203 21 20 5.Oebtors Gift Aid recoverable Accrued income Total debtors 13.584 8,268 2L85Z 6. Credltors-falllngduewthhlrj OnE year AttruEd expenditure Overpayment by playgroup Total ¢reditorsfall6n8d*wthlnone 1,889 2.064 Funds Fund mo¥ementsduringtheyearwere asfollows.. Broulht Forwavd Carrled Forward In¢ome ExpwJi¢u¢e Tranrfer [£1 7. Restrfcted CollectionsfortharitablegNing Or88n repairfund Sdar panels & LED Ilthtin8 Mlnorrepairs rr Equipment Quinqutrnnial rep31r5 Other 4.551 16,631 4.S38 850 1.8¥5 11,8991 329 16 I6￿35 4340 1093 I￿21 11981 17,7431 12,0791 16201 4.915 329 4295 64J 27.2U 427 16268 741 117.6711 30205 & Unrestrided 82A83 18L109 14,Z951 5253 Pavmwts totr115tees No payrneThtswer&madÈtotrusteesdurin8theyw. Related P1TtyTrnn￿¢ttQ￿s There were no related partytran5actions durin8theyear.