**St Mary Magdalene with St Leonard, Bridgnorth Annual Report of the Parochial Church Council For the year ended 31 December 2024** 

**Aims and Purposes –** The Parochial Church Council (PCC) had the responsibility for co-operating with the Team Rector (when in post) in promoting the whole mission of the Church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical, in the parish.  It is responsible for the maintenance of the parish church of St Mary Magdalene, and acts as managing trustees for St Leonard’s Hall Church in Racecourse Drive and St James’ Hall Church in Lodge Lane. 

**Objectives and Activities** – The PCC is committed to enabling and encouraging as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of the parish community.  The PCC maintains an overview of worship throughout the parish.  Our services and worship put faith into practice through prayer and scripture, sacrament and music.  To facilitate this work it is important that the PCC maintains the fabric of the church and two hall churches.  As at the end of 2024 there were **98** parishioners registered on the Electoral Roll. This is the same as 2022 but reflects one death and one addition. 



**Achievements and Performance** – Despite the absence of our team rector, vicar and curate, the PCC remained keen to offer a range of services and activities during each week and over the course of the year for the benefit and spiritual fulfilment of the community. There are Holy Communion and Morning Prayer Sunday services during the month and Communion once a month on Wednesday with Morning Prayers on the remaining Wednesdays. During 2024 there was **8** baptisms (2023: 6), **5** weddings and one renewal of vows (2023: **6** ) and **16** funerals (2023: **17** ). 

We are indebted to our team of retired clergy including Simon Boxall and lay members who, together with our Reader Jane Peeler, have maintained our rota of services. As Anna Chaplain, Jane has supported, visited, and acted as advocate for our older community where needed.  We ended the year looking forward to the arrival of our new priest-in-charge Revd Suzan Williams. 

Informal services are held twice monthly at St Leonard’s Hall Church, one of which is a lay led Family Service. It has also continued to host a wide range of community activities. St James Hall Church has a popular Coffee and Chat morning. 



The Chamber Choir, under the guidance of Steve Cooper, performs for special concerts and major services and they were able to perform for the Easter Advent Concert and join an enhanced choir for the Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas. 

Our music programme continues to grow. It was a pleasure to be able to hold the English Haydn Festival again in June, and two concerts with the Bridgnorth Sinfonia were held during the year. During the year, we hosted concerts from the Birmingham Bach Choir, Bellaria, Cello and Piano Concert, Duo Arpeggio, 2s Company and Alveley Village Band. We also hosted the Endowed School Concert and Naomi’s Charity Concert, Our bell ringing continues which is a joy for us all **.** 

**Fabric** Only intermittent checks on the fabric of the building were made during the year, largely concentrating on visual inspection of the buildings structure which is in generally good condition (excepting the floor dry rot problems noted in the quinquennial inspection). The fire detection and alarm systems were tested, and the boiler was serviced. 

Basic routine cleaning in the church is now done by a contract cleaner with additional work done as required on a voluntary basis. We are profoundly grateful to all those who assist with this. 



**Little Stars.** The church hosts a pre-school group for toddlers and parents/carers “Little Stars” every Thursday morning during term time, which is run with the enthusiastic practical support of several regular volunteers. The volunteer team has continued to work remarkably well in order to maintain and expand the range and scope of activities. This has continued when it has been safe and legal to do so and this has been warmly welcomed by regular and new participants. 

**Eco Church** During the year our Eco Church activities remained slower than previously. We continued with an Eco Tip content on our pew sheets. Volunteers continued to work on our plant display in the eastern graveyard which had a good display during the year. 

During 2024 the six-bay churchyard car park had to be closed to give the grass the best possible chance for recovery. We are grateful to Sheila Royle and her team for her care of both the car park and the graveyard display. 

**Safeguarding** – The PCC has a safeguarding policy in accordance with the House of Bishops guidance of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and has 



complied with its duties under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016. Safeguarding is a standing item on all PCC agendas and an action plan is constantly reviewed. 

**Administrative information** – The church is a Registered Charity (Charity number **1181347** ). **PCC members** who have served at any time during 2024 are: 

Reader, ex officio – Mrs Jane Peeler 

Churchwardens –Mrs Jane Parr, Mr David Oxtoby (Chair) 

Representatives on the Deanery Synod – Miss Sheila Royle, Mr Roger Taylor, Miss Catherine Wilson, Elected members –Mr. J Fadelle, Mrs. H Howell, Mrs. N Cooper, and Ms M Ross. Mr B Howe Secretary to the PCC – Miss Catherine Wilson Treasurer to the PCC – Mrs Nicky Cooper 

**David Oxtoby, Churchwarden, 16[th] May 2025** 



## **St Mary Magdalene Bridgnorth** 

## **Treasurer’s Report for the year ending 31[st] December 2024** 

## **The General Fund (unrestricted)** 

On 31[st] December 2024 the General Fund balance stood at £4,932 compared with a starting deficit of £1,898. The Church had budgeted for a breakeven position for the year. Income was £3,849 better than budgeted largely due to more generous casual donations. Expenditure was slightly less than forecast as the organist retired in June and the position has yet to be filled on a permanent basis. 

The Church’s parish offer of £45,000 for 2024 was paid in full. 

## **Designated Funds** 

Designated funds increased by £420.The General Reserve balance is £14,657. The reserve is held to manage unplanned changes in income or expenditure. 

## **Restricted Funds** 

The Floor Renovation Fund was closed in year with £5,000 being transferred to The St Mary’s Restoration Trust (Charity no 500148) to enable a feasibility study to be commissioned about desirable alterations to the fabric of the Church including the replacement of the floor and heating systems. 

St James Hall Church showed a surplus of £3,528 on its activities and its reserves increased to £8,028. The reserves are set aside for future building maintenance. 

The Church brought the activities of St Leonard’s Hall Church into its accounts in 2024. The Hall gets its income from hiring out the space and recorded an in-year surplus of £5,053. The Hall’s Fund at the year-end stood at £15,382. 

Expenditure from the Fabric Fund totalled £2,615, essentially routine maintenance with the yearend balance being £3,362. The Music Fund balance decreased by £93 to £13,105 

Nicky Cooper 



## **St. Mary Magdalene Bridgnorth** 

## **Receipts and Payments Account** 

## **For the period from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Designated**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Prior year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**total funds**|
|**Receipts**||||||
|Incoming resources from donors|46,738.25|-|13,544.48|60,282.73|51,183.97|
|Other voluntary incoming resources|19,846.76|3,246.64|3,487.79|26,581.19|24,739.43|
|Income from investments|1,422.67|-|111.86|1,534.53|1,092.85|
|Income from charitable and ancillarytrading|8,267.00|66.20|24,109.10|32,442.30|23,517.27|
|**Total Receipts**|**76,274.68**|**3,312.84**|**41,253.23**|**120,840.75**|**100,533.52**|
|**Payments**||||||
|Activities directly related to church work|70,923.78|314.41|22,020.65|93,258.84|105,026.32|
|Fund-raising and publicity|-|991.70|61.00|1,052.70|1,752.01|
|Church management and administration|381.00|40.74|5,659.57|6,081.31|505.14|
|**Total Payments**|**71,304.78**|**1,346.85**|**27,741.22**|**100,392.85**|**107,283.47**|
|**Excess of receipts over payments before transfer**|**4,969.90**|**1,965.99**|**13,512.01**|**20,447.90**|**(6,749.95)**|
|**Transfers:**||||||
|Gross transfers between funds - in|1,860.00|5,753.67|-|7,613.67|9,472.36|
|Gross transfers between funds - out|-|(7,299.95)|(313.72)|(7,613.67)|(9,472.36)|
|**Excess of receipts over payments before other gains**|6,829.90|419.71|13,198.29|20,447.90|(6,749.95)|
|**Net movement in funds**|**6,829.90**|**419.71**|**13,198.29**|**20,447.90**|**(6,749.95)**|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||||
|**Excess of receipts over payments at beginning of the year**|**(1,897.50)**|**15,964.54**|**26,733.05**|**40,800.09**|**47,550.04**|
|**Excess of receipts over payments for the year**|**4,932.40**|**16,384.25**|**39,931.34**|**61,247.99**|**40,800.09**|
|**Represented by**||||||
|Unrestricted||||||
|General fund|4,932.40|-|-|4,932.40|(1,897.50)|
|Designated||||||
|200 Club|-|377.36|-|377.36|185.56|
|Energy Reserve|-|-|-|-|4,932.00|
|little stars|-|478.20|-|478.20|711.71|
|Reserve|-|14,656.67|-|14,656.67|8,903.00|
|Shop Monies|-|-|-|-|360.25|
|St James youth|-|872.02|-|872.02|872.02|
|Restricted||||||
|Fabric Fund|-|-|3,361.59|3,361.59|3,667.73|
|Floor renovation|-|-|-|-|5,313.72|
|Music support|-|-|13,105.43|13,105.43|13,197.61|
|St James Hall Church|-|-|8,082.19|8,082.19|4,553.99|
|St Leonard Hall Church|-|-|15,382.13|15,382.13|-|



(9 January 2025 4:13 pm) Page 1 of 1 



## **St. Mary Magdalene Bridgnorth** 

## **Balance Sheet detailed** 

## **Current assets** 

## **Liabilities** 

## **Reserves** 

||**As at**<br>**31/12/2024**<br>**As at**<br>**31/12/2023**|
|---|---|
|1501: Currenta/c147176[Genrl]<br>1502: BIAa/c48975368<br>1512: St James Hall HSBC current account<br>1513: little stars petty cash<br>1514: CCLA deposit 014656001D<br>1515: CCLA deposit CB3027463-001 St James hall<br>1516: St James Hall 81485962<br>1517: St James Hall deposit a/c 81485970<br>1518: St leonards 00146951<br>1519: St leonards bus bank inst 61897868<br>**Total Current assets**<br>1628: Bellringer fees P.B.<br>1635: CONTRAs<br>6699: Agency collections<br>**Total Liabilities**<br>**Net Asset surplus (deficit)**<br>Excess/(deficit) to date<br>Z01: Starting balances<br>**Total Reserves**|3,953.36<br>11,966.38<br>9,068.45<br>2.06<br>1,709.51<br>3,950.74<br>20.00<br>20.00<br>25,000.00<br>25,000.00<br>20.07<br>19.55<br>-<br>615.47<br>6,414.53<br>29.89<br>3,355.17<br>-<br>12,026.70<br>-|
||**61,567.79**<br>**41,604.09**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>319.80<br>804.00|
||**319.80**<br>**804.00**|
||**61,247.99**<br>**40,800.09**|
||20,447.90<br>(21,173.64)<br>40,800.09<br>61,973.73|
||**61,247.99**<br>**40,800.09**|



## **Represented by Funds** 

|General (Unrestricted)|4,932.40|(1,897.50)|
|---|---|---|
|Designated|16,384.25|15,964.54|
|Restricted|39,931.34|26,733.05|
|**Total**|**61,247.99**|**40,800.09**|



(9 January 2025 4:19 pm) Page 1 of 1 



Independent examiner's report to the trustees of St Mary Magdalene
Church, Bridgnorth
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of St Mary Magdalene Church
(the Trust) for the year ended 31st December 2024
Responsibilities and basls of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts
in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145
of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable
Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5J(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my
attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any
material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as reqUI￿d by section 130 of
the Act,. or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
3. Statutory fees were not accounted for correctly
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.
ane
12 Greenleys Crescent
Alveley
WV15 6PG
th
5 May 2025

## **St Mary Magdalene Bridgnorth** 

## **Treasurer’s Report for the year ending 31[st] December 2024** 

## **The General Fund (unrestricted)** 

On 31[st] December 2024 the General Fund balance stood at £4,932 compared with a starting deficit of £1,898. The Church had budgeted for a breakeven position for the year. Income was £3,849 better than budgeted largely due to more generous casual donations. Expenditure was slightly less than forecast as the organist retired in June and the position has yet to be filled on a permanent basis. 

The Church’s parish offer of £45,000 for 2024 was paid in full. 

## **Designated Funds** 

Designated funds increased by £420.The General Reserve balance is £14,657. The reserve is held to manage unplanned changes in income or expenditure. 

## **Restricted Funds** 

The Floor Renovation Fund was closed in year with £5,000 being transferred to The St Mary’s Restoration Trust (Charity no 500148) to enable a feasibility study to be commissioned about desirable alterations to the fabric of the Church including the replacement of the floor and heating systems. 

St James Hall Church showed a surplus of £3,528 on its activities and its reserves increased to £8,028. The reserves are set aside for future building maintenance. 

The Church brought the activities of St Leonard’s Hall Church into its accounts in 2024. The Hall gets its income from hiring out the space and recorded an in-year surplus of £5,053. The Hall’s Fund at the year-end stood at £15,382. 

Expenditure from the Fabric Fund totalled £2,615, essentially routine maintenance with the yearend balance being £3,362. The Music Fund balance decreased by £93 to £13,105 

Nicky Cooper 



## **St. Mary Magdalene Bridgnorth** 

## **Receipts and Payments Account** 

## **For the period from 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024** 

||**Unrestricted**|**Designated**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Prior year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**funds**|**total funds**|
|**Receipts**||||||
|Incoming resources from donors|46,738.25|-|13,544.48|60,282.73|51,183.97|
|Other voluntary incoming resources|19,846.76|3,246.64|3,487.79|26,581.19|24,739.43|
|Income from investments|1,422.67|-|111.86|1,534.53|1,092.85|
|Income from charitable and ancillarytrading|8,267.00|66.20|24,109.10|32,442.30|23,517.27|
|**Total Receipts**|**76,274.68**|**3,312.84**|**41,253.23**|**120,840.75**|**100,533.52**|
|**Payments**||||||
|Activities directly related to church work|70,923.78|314.41|22,020.65|93,258.84|105,026.32|
|Fund-raising and publicity|-|991.70|61.00|1,052.70|1,752.01|
|Church management and administration|381.00|40.74|5,659.57|6,081.31|505.14|
|**Total Payments**|**71,304.78**|**1,346.85**|**27,741.22**|**100,392.85**|**107,283.47**|
|**Excess of receipts over payments before transfer**|**4,969.90**|**1,965.99**|**13,512.01**|**20,447.90**|**(6,749.95)**|
|**Transfers:**||||||
|Gross transfers between funds - in|1,860.00|5,753.67|-|7,613.67|9,472.36|
|Gross transfers between funds - out|-|(7,299.95)|(313.72)|(7,613.67)|(9,472.36)|
|**Excess of receipts over payments before other gains**|6,829.90|419.71|13,198.29|20,447.90|(6,749.95)|
|**Net movement in funds**|**6,829.90**|**419.71**|**13,198.29**|**20,447.90**|**(6,749.95)**|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||||
|**Excess of receipts over payments at beginning of the year**|**(1,897.50)**|**15,964.54**|**26,733.05**|**40,800.09**|**47,550.04**|
|**Excess of receipts over payments for the year**|**4,932.40**|**16,384.25**|**39,931.34**|**61,247.99**|**40,800.09**|
|**Represented by**||||||
|Unrestricted||||||
|General fund|4,932.40|-|-|4,932.40|(1,897.50)|
|Designated||||||
|200 Club|-|377.36|-|377.36|185.56|
|Energy Reserve|-|-|-|-|4,932.00|
|little stars|-|478.20|-|478.20|711.71|
|Reserve|-|14,656.67|-|14,656.67|8,903.00|
|Shop Monies|-|-|-|-|360.25|
|St James youth|-|872.02|-|872.02|872.02|
|Restricted||||||
|Fabric Fund|-|-|3,361.59|3,361.59|3,667.73|
|Floor renovation|-|-|-|-|5,313.72|
|Music support|-|-|13,105.43|13,105.43|13,197.61|
|St James Hall Church|-|-|8,082.19|8,082.19|4,553.99|
|St Leonard Hall Church|-|-|15,382.13|15,382.13|-|



(9 January 2025 4:13 pm) Page 1 of 1 



## **St. Mary Magdalene Bridgnorth** 

## **Balance Sheet detailed** 

## **Current assets** 

## **Liabilities** 

## **Reserves** 

||**As at**<br>**31/12/2024**<br>**As at**<br>**31/12/2023**|
|---|---|
|1501: Currenta/c147176[Genrl]<br>1502: BIAa/c48975368<br>1512: St James Hall HSBC current account<br>1513: little stars petty cash<br>1514: CCLA deposit 014656001D<br>1515: CCLA deposit CB3027463-001 St James hall<br>1516: St James Hall 81485962<br>1517: St James Hall deposit a/c 81485970<br>1518: St leonards 00146951<br>1519: St leonards bus bank inst 61897868<br>**Total Current assets**<br>1628: Bellringer fees P.B.<br>1635: CONTRAs<br>6699: Agency collections<br>**Total Liabilities**<br>**Net Asset surplus (deficit)**<br>Excess/(deficit) to date<br>Z01: Starting balances<br>**Total Reserves**|3,953.36<br>11,966.38<br>9,068.45<br>2.06<br>1,709.51<br>3,950.74<br>20.00<br>20.00<br>25,000.00<br>25,000.00<br>20.07<br>19.55<br>-<br>615.47<br>6,414.53<br>29.89<br>3,355.17<br>-<br>12,026.70<br>-|
||**61,567.79**<br>**41,604.09**<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>319.80<br>804.00|
||**319.80**<br>**804.00**|
||**61,247.99**<br>**40,800.09**|
||20,447.90<br>(21,173.64)<br>40,800.09<br>61,973.73|
||**61,247.99**<br>**40,800.09**|



## **Represented by Funds** 

|General (Unrestricted)|4,932.40|(1,897.50)|
|---|---|---|
|Designated|16,384.25|15,964.54|
|Restricted|39,931.34|26,733.05|
|**Total**|**61,247.99**|**40,800.09**|



(9 January 2025 4:19 pm) Page 1 of 1 



Independent examiner's report to the trustees of St Mary Magdalene
Church, Bridgnorth
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of St Mary Magdalene Church
(the Trust) for the year ended 31st December 2024
Responsibilities and basls of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts
in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145
of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable
Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5J(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my
attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any
material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as reqUI￿d by section 130 of
the Act,. or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
3. Statutory fees were not accounted for correctly
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.
ane
12 Greenleys Crescent
Alveley
WV15 6PG
th
5 May 2025