## **THE GUILD CHURCH OF ST MARGARET PATTENS**
Rood Lane, Eastcheap, London. EC3M 1HS Tel: 020 7623 6630 E-mail:info@stmargaretpattens.org Website: www.stmargaretpattens.org
Registered Charity No: 1181352
**Annual Report of the Trustees and Financial Statements of the Guild Church Council of the Guild Church of St Margaret Pattens with St Gabriel Fenchurch for the year ended 31 December 2023**
## **Guild Vicar:**
The Revd. Andrew Keep 193 Foundling Court Brunswick Centre London WC1N 1QF
**Bank:**
HSBC plc. 1-3 Bishopsgate London EC2N 3AQ
## **Independent Accountants:**
Boardman & Co 36 Reynards Road Welwyn Hertfordshire AL6 9TP
**THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
## **2023 REPORT and ACCOUNTS**
## Contents
|Church Council Report|3 - 13|
|---|---|
|Balance Sheet|14|
|Statement of Assets& Liabilities|15|
|Notes to the accounts|16 - 20|
|Independent Examiner's report|21
|
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## **THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
## **Membership of the Trustees**
The church registered with the Charity Commission in 2018. At the Annual Meeting held in 2019 the composition of the Trustees (the Guild Church Council [GCC]) was amended to reflect more closely the provisions of the Church Representations Rules 2017.
Trustees who sit on the Guild Church Council are elected annually at the Annual Meeting, except for the Guild Vicar (Priest-in-Charge) and the Secretary (Parish Clerk), who are ex officio, in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. During the year, the following served as trustees on the Guild Church Council:-
|Guild Vicar|The Reverend Andrew Keep|
|---|---|
||Chairman of the GCC|
|Church Wardens|Mr Tony Charlwood|
||Mr Steven (Tom) Jackson|
||Mrs Sarah Hodge|
||Mr Ian Sanders (to 27 April 2023)|
||Mr Ian Felix Corbett (from 27 April 2023)|
|Parish Clerk|Mr Tony Charlwood|
|Treasurer
|Mr Neil Osmond (to 27 April 2023)|
||Mr Steven (Tom) Jackson (from 27 April 2023)|
|Deanery Synod||
|Representative|Mr John Harrison (to 27 April 2023)|
||Ms Barbara Nicholson (from 1 July 2023|
|GCC member|Mrs Jennifer Bryant-Pearson|
|Administrator|Mr Christopher Moore (to 27 April 2023)|
||Ms Barbara Nicholson
(from 27 April 2023)|
|Meetings|Between full meetings of the Guild Church Council the Standing Committee|
||is available to transact business subject to any directions given by the Guild|
||Church Council. The members are the Guild Vicar and the Churchwardens|
||with the Administrator in attendance.|
||The Finance Committee did not meet during the year, its business being|
||transacted by the GCC.|
||A Fabric Committee was established during 2012 to report to the Guild|
||Church Council.|
The Council met four times during the year (on Zoom and with some members physically present in church).
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**THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
## **Aim and Purposes**
The Guild Church of St Margaret Pattens exists to promote the gospel in and around the Guild Church and to minister to its two associated livery companies, the Worshipful Company of Basketmakers and the Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers. Also to provide a place of tranquillity and peace to all people and of all faiths or none in the City of London. As such it provides a haven for all who benefit from its presence in the City open for extended hours and is used by schools for educational purposes and other organisations for meetings, rehearsals etc. To this end the Guild Church Council (GCC) considers that it fulfils its “Public Benefit” remit.
## **Objectives & Activities**
The GCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at the church and become part of its wider community. Our services and worship embrace all through prayer, music and sacrament and the provision of a safe space for personal prayer and reflection in the busy City.
The GCC seeks to provide services reflecting the annual cycle of prayer as prescribed by the Church of England, and additionally embracing a cycle of services for our two livery companies and has done so in 2023 in an open church or through the medium of Zoom on the internet. Therefore, the GCC promotes throughout the year:-
Prayer and worship on a regular basis; Provision of education, counselling and pastoral care; Mission and outreach.
To facilitate this work the GCC keeps the building open to anyone to visit from 7.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday (but see above).
St Margaret Pattens is part of a ”hub” of churches in the area including All Hallows-by-the-Tower and St Mary-at-Hill promoting the gospel and Christian values.
## **Achievement and Performance**
## _Prayer & worship_
The GCC holds a service of Holy Communion on Thursday throughout the year open to all. There are also occasional services of Choral Evensong scattered throughout the year. All are welcome to attend our worship and are encouraged to become part of the church community. Services currently are held with a mixture of people attending in the congregation and on Zoom during the year, with numbers attending holding up well.
There are 59 members of the church on the Church Electoral role (see later report of the Electoral Role Officer). As the church is situated in the City of London where there is little residential accommodation, the majority of the congregation is from the working population, few of whom live within the City. The weekly attendance is very variable as the congregation usually attend in their lunchtime and attendance is governed by the vagaries of work, meetings etc. (see above)
Special services are held for our two livery companies at various times during the year. (see above)
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## **THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
The church is open for individual prayer and contemplation (by those of all faiths and none) daily during the week. (see above)
## _Provision of education, counselling and pastoral care_
The church welcomes visits from primary schools in and around London. The schools visit the church, learn about key historical events in the City of London, and learn about the fabric of the church and its history. (The Guild Vicar and the Administrator are both DBS checked.) After the pandemic use by schools in 2023 has increased considerably, hosting many events for the celebration of Wren300.
Counselling is provided by the Guild Vicar and the Administrator. They are available, both, by appointment and open access (as available) to hear peoples’ problems and offer spiritual advice and guidance.
## _Mission & outreach_
See above relating to schools.
The church has entertained the Indian Orthodox Church on Sundays, they hold a service each Sunday for residents of Indian ethnic origin in Greater London and on other occasions. The GCC is seeking to formalise the relationship and negotiations are ongoing.
It also caters for choir rehearsals and other uses of the church by community groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
## **Ministry**
In 2023 we have had to work out quite where we are after the dust of the pandemic has final settled. The new normal is not like the old normal. We are fortunate that the day of our main church service, Thursday, is as good a day as any for working from the office. Services continue on Zoom, and I suspect we can now see this as a good thing, that broadens our participation. Numbers attending have come back to pre-pandemic levels, for which we feel a little reassurance.
The Thursday service of Holy Communion is the cornerstone or our church life. Apart from half terms, the choir has been with us at all services, and encouragement to congregational singing, and a joy for our worship to be lifted by their wide repertoire of church music. We are immensely grateful for those who come to be with us, week by week, and the new faces we often see.
People visiting the church and using it are back also to pre-pandemic levels, with a steady stream of tourists and people using the building from our schools.
We have seen quite a number of changes amongst the people that make up the day to day life of the church. In April we said goodbye to Chris Moore. He had ventured in to the church throughout the lock down to check that things were well. He had broadened to role of Administrator by his skills in all forms of DIY and carpentry, bringing immediate help in numerous ways, and of course saving us money. With his companion, Mimi, usually quiet in her dog basket, he became part of the life and fabric of all we did. We wish him and Rose all happiness in his retirement. On the coffee stall outside, Ray, left the stall in the day to day care of Raj. We wish him well in his new semi-retirement and are delighted to see him with us as a member of our congregation. We welcomed Felix Corbett as a churchwarden. Working nearby, his
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## **THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
presence can be immediate, and is unfailingly positive and helpful. Particularly, together with Gemma, he contributes a literacy in all things IT and internet, a sorely needed contribution. Barbara Nicholson stepped into the role of Administrator, with unfailing cheerfulness, imaginative thinking, kindness and energy. It is a great asset to the church to have her with us. She also brings administrative and financial competence, which is a great asset to us.
Money is a concern for most churches and we are not without anxiety going forward, but the generosity, competence and hard work of people keep us financially afloat, and for that we are grateful. We continue to look for an occupier for the Tower Suite, and have avenues to pursue for new streams of funding
It has been said that the church usually holds together the past, the present and the future, but the bias should always be to the future. Let us hope that with a range of new faces, and the reassurance of those continuing with us, we move forward with hope and new strengths as we continue to explore life in a divine landscape enlightened by a God of love, hope and peace.
## **Reverend Andrew Keep Guild Vicar February 2024**
## **Music report for 2023**
In 2023 the choir continued to provide music for most services on Thursday lunchtimes with special music on the first Thursday of the month as well as for other services throughout the church year. Choir numbers remain stable and grown slightly throughout the year as more singers have been attracted to the bigger services. These include Katie Boot, tenor, Grace Vaughan, soprano, Rachel Tinsley, soprano, Pelham Olive, bass.
As usual January’s schedule was busy with services for Epiphany, King Charles the Martyr and Candlemas before moving into Lent with the Ashing service the day after Ash Wednesday. Choral highlights included Isaac’s Antiphon for Epiphany, Temperley’s version of The Evening Hymn of King Charles and Eccard’s Presentation of Christ in the temple. At our Music & Readings for Passiontide service on Maundy Thursday we performed classic repertoire including Tantum Ergo by de Severac, Christus factus est by Annerio and Into the woods my master went by Vaughan Williams.
The Coronation of King Charles III on 6[th] May provided the opportunity to perform a selection of royal music at the service on the preceding Thursday. In addition to O Lord, Grant the King a Long Life by William Child (1606-1697) (for the coronation of Charles II) we sang Harold Darke’s Collegium Regale Communion Service in E.
On May 18[th] we celebrated Ascension Day at lunchtime with the choir singing O Rex Gloriae by Luca Marenzio, amongst other things. This was followed by The Pattenmakers’ Ascension Day service in the evening. We sang Purcell’s I was Glad and Stanford’s Magnificat in B flat. In June we held a special lunchtime Corpus Christi service including Sumsion’s Communion Service in F and Tallis’s O Sacrum Convivium. On the 13[th] July we celebrated the 300[th] anniversary of Christopher Wren’s death singing music from his time by Blow, Purcell and Ayleward, Handel, Childs and Bach!
September saw the first wedding since before Covid of Churchwarden Felix to Gemma on Saturday 3[rd] . It was good to share in some hearty hymn singing of classic hymns for the occasion – Guide me O thou great redeemer, Tell out my soul and I vow to thee my country.
Choral evensongs featured in the autumn term and we were joined by the Friends of St Margaret Pattens. The first was for Michaelmas service including Lassus’s Tibi Christe splendor Patris and Batten’s Fourth
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## **THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
Evening Service. The second was for St Cecilia and the music included Howells’s A Hymn for St Cecilia and Tertius Noble’s Mag and Nunc in b minor.
In October the Harvest Choral Eucharist was celebrated with Stanford’s Communion Service in C and All creatures of our God and King by William Harris. Later in October the Basketmakers’ annual service took place where the choir sang Darke’s Jubilate in F and Wood’s O thou the central orb. November saw our annual service of Remembrance and the music included Elgar’s They are at rest. We were very happy to be joined by Hannah Scales on trumpet for this event. In December we had our Music and Readings for Advent with traditional hymns, readings and choral numbers, which included Handl’s Ecce Concipies and the Matin Responsory adapted by Palestrina. At our annual lunchtime Christmas carol service we performed Ord’s Adam lay ` and Rutter’s John Tavener’s The Lamb amongst others. For the Livery Festival of Carols in the evening, as well as the usual Christmas carols and readings, we sang music including Howell’s A spotless rose and Rutter’s All the stars looked down. The latter was composed at the invitation of the Lord’s Taverners for their 2022 Christmas Concert in memory of Sir Stephen Cleobury.
We have done a record amount of music this year in terms of number of services and repertoire. My huge thanks to the singers for their regular and sustained commitment. We are happy to have longstanding choir member, Barbara, as the new church administrator and also welcome Felix as a new churchwarden. Together, and with Andrew and the wider team, I hope we will see the church grow and raise its profile in the city.
## **Rupert Perkins Director of Music February 2024**
## **Deanery synod**
## 1. Introduction
There are normally three meetings of the City Deanery Synod in the year – one in January or February when the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs are in attendance for the beginning of the meeting, one in the Summer, and one in October. In previous years the summer meeting has been a garden party, held in the Master’s garden at the Temple Church, attendance being by invitation of Robin Griffith-Jones, Master of the Temple.
Representation on the Synod varies according to the number of persons on the church roll. For example, St Helen’s Bishopsgate, owing to its large weekday and Sunday congregations, has a large . St Mary-at-Hill has two, and St Margaret Pattens has one. John Harrison was the Deanery Synod representative up until 27 April 2023, and Barbara Nicholson effective from 1 July 2023.
Apart from the usual business, Synod meetings often include talks, presentations, workshops and discussions in small groups. Evangelism, outreach and social issues have been hitherto the most common topics, but more recently, topics such as the environment, climate change and the effect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) have featured on the agenda. Meetings generally last for two hours, with refreshments, over which there is time to meet clergy and members of other City churches.
There is one verbal report which is often given at meetings, namely that of the London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS). The Board was established in 1836 and its primary mission is the 161 Church of England schools (58,000 pupils) in the London Diocese. Schools include nursery, primary and secondary schools, maintained schools, academies and free schools. It is possible for Deanery Synod members to be appointed as trustees of the LDBS.
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## 2. Meetings 2023/2024
The 10 July meeting at St. Stephen Walbrook was preceded by a beautiful Choral Evensong with the Square Mile Choral Scholars, followed by elections for the Deanery Standing Committee, and terminated with refreshments in the churchyard garden. It was a point of interest that although some new (as in not previously elected) candidates stood for election, the votes were heavily in favour of either present members, and/or the more traditionalist churches, which has a bearing on the topic for discussion in the subsequent meeting.
The main topic at the 10 October meeting at St Botolph’s Bishopsgate was a discussion of the Living in Love and Faith document, (LLF). The LLF document and process was a result of the General Synod’s formal refusal in 2017 to take note of a report by the House of Bishops on human sexuality, leading to deep divisions over this issue. In July 2023 General Synod affirmed the motion by the House of Bishops, offering an apology to LGBTQI+ people for the way they had been treated in the church. Additionally, while proposing no change to the doctrine of marriage, Synod agreed to ask the House of Bishops to work further on the prayers of LLF to be used with same sex couples in long-term stable relationships. In the debate the Bishops promised pastoral guidance for clergy and pastoral assurance that any changes would include a structure for clergy and laity of differing views to enable cooperative operation in the Church of England. Pastoral Assurance applies to clergy whose decision to use, or not use, the new prayers might put them at any sort of risk of complaint from someone who wished or did not wish them to use them. The prayers were to be the focus for General Synod in November 2023, and the way they are to be enabled for use is conflicted. The Bishops said they will commend the prayers for use in existing services but not authorise separate liturgies. There will then be a further process for the authorisation of the prayers and stand-alone liturgies using Canon B2, requiring formal consultation at deanery and diocesan synods, and then the General Synod must agree with 2/3 majorities in all three Houses (Bishops, Clergy and Laity). The process will be slow and is expected to take until 2025 for complete ratification and start of implementation, with the development of Pastoral guidance progressing alongside the legal steps in 2024.
The Lay Chair invited members to speak and it was acknowledged that this topic arouses strong feelings for some. The Lay Chair stressed that this was not a debate and encouraged members to take it as an opportunity to listen and understand. The aim was not to reach any agreement but simply to understand the breadth of opinions and views.
Twenty members spoke from the clergy and laity of nine churches before the allotted time expired, which was an indication of the interest which this matter generated.
The main topic of the meeting on 5 February 2024 was AI and the City- an ethical Christian perspective, where Revd Dr. Malcolm Brown gave a very interesting and thought-provoking talk on the management and effect of AI, from a social and Christian perspective. The main points were that:
- a) AI potentially has great significance for questions in ethics, and the exponential speed of its development could cause the debate at a national level to be left behind, unlike previous social developments which progressed far more slowly. The machine learning underpinning AI depends on what is assumed, analysed and omitted from the basic model. If the AI parameters are essentially totally secular, is there a danger of a ‘new colonialism’- i.e. the AI is grounded in algorithms devised by a Silicon Valley bias, where taken ad absurdum, the concept of faith is categorised as irrational and by association, so are any adherents of any faith, with implications for how those adherents are viewed and treated by the rest of society. As is already happening, de-banking for churches and charities is happening increasingly, partly because the AI parameters do not allow for the business ‘anomaly’ of a charity.
- b) As the fourth Industrial Revolution, is there the risk that AI will replace the ‘wrong’ targets- e.g. in military warfare, there is a strategic nuance of ‘proportional’ war – eliminating soldiers by capturing ‘enemy’ personnel as POWs is very different from eliminating them entirely. Will
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## **THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
‘carer’ robots be used for the human interaction part of the role, which has been suggested, rather than the less attractive parts of the job, and thus downgrade the human participation?
- c) Supererogation and general altruism cannot be programmed into AI outcomes which are developed under a contract model for commercial purposes, and AI cannot be a substitute for ‘soft’ intelligence.
The conclusions to be drawn were that rather than shying away from the challenges of AI, the Church needs to engage with those who develop it so that the process can incorporate the necessary human, ethical and Christian values, rather than focussing purely on the technical input and output.
## 3. Future Meetings in 2024.
Future Synod meetings will be held on Wednesday 19[th] June and Tuesday 8th October 2024
4. Conclusions and Observations.
- (a) Deanery Synod meetings provide an excellent opportunity for representatives of both laity and clergy to meet together. They are very useful for networking and making other City churches aware of the work and ministry of St Margaret Pattens and vice versa.
- (b) The meetings bring together in harmony City churches with differing Anglican traditions.
- (c) The meetings have often been a forum for exploring issues of all types; social and controversial. affecting the Church of England,
- (d) Presentations are often very detailed and informative. It would be useful if presentations could be viewed on-line and made accessible to others via the Deanery Synod website
- (e) Subsequent developments in respect of the LLF are that the prayers of dedication, thanksgiving and blessing for same-sex couples are already in use, but further concrete proposals are needed going forward.
## **Barbara Nicholson**
## **Deanery Synod Representative**
**February 2024**
## **Electoral Role Officer’s report**
The Guild Church Electoral Roll numbers fifty-nine members.
This shows a figure that has grown in 2023. If the number on the Electoral roll is to increase further, then we should continue to encourage regular attendees to consider joining the roll. Fledgling efforts to gather contact details of the more regular attendees are under way.
## **Barbara Nicholson**
## **Electoral Roll Officer**
**March 2024**
## **Fabric Report**
## **Regular Annual Maintenance.**
Maintenance and inspection arrangements are in place in respect of
-
- Gutters, downpipes and roof surfaces
- Fire Alarm system
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**THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
- Fire extinguishers
- Lightning conductor
-
- Boiler and heating system
-
- Organ
-
- PATS Electrical tests
-
- Cleaning.
## **Work carried out in 2023**
There were no major works carried out in 2023 because the church is awaiting a report from the Inspecting Architect. The Quinquennial Review was due in 2023 but it was determined to review the appointment of the Inspecting Architect, this was not completed until late in the year and approval by the DAC was required. Approval has now been obtained and the church awaits the formal go-ahead for the inspection from the Deanery.
## **Works identified as necessary in 2024**
A report was commissioned from Bainbridges (the conservationists who worked on the organ case and the pew refurbishment) on the condition of the Churchwardens’ Pews. The report concluded that the condition of these pews was not good and estimated a cost of £10,000 plus Vat to restore them to an acceptable condition.
## **The Ten Year Plan for 2019 - 2029**
Apart from the major accomplishment of completing the Organ Restoration work in 2019/20, the implementation of the new 10 Year Plan for this decade has been delayed.
The GCC are mindful that the plan was drawn up encompassing the findings of the Quinquennial Inspection undertaken in 2017, however, the Quinquennial Inspection falling due in 2023 did not take place (see above) so the plan will need to be updated once the report is received during 2024.
The priorities that were identified in 2017 for attention in this decade were:
- Interior redecoration of the Church, including the Narthex, which was last completed in 1991. This will be a major undertaking and scaffolding will be needed.
-
- Carry out repairs to the South elevation of the Nave Clerestory.
-
- Repairs to the Vestry roof and East aisle window.
- To review the current lighting scheme in the Church. Any work needed at high level should be done when scaffolding access is available at the time the Church interior decorations are undertaken.
Many other small items will be considered when finance is available. These will include: replacement of the boiler, new glass doors at the South entrance and in the Outer Vestry and installation of solar panels. A report for these works has been commissioned and its findings are awaited.
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The GCC will need to draw up a phasing plan for the works having regard to the cost estimates and the post pandemic economic climate together with any new items resulting from the 2024 inspection.
## **Tony Charlwood Churchwarden & Parish Clerk March 2024**
## **Ecumenical relationships**
The two Livery Companies, the Basketmakers and the Pattenmakers, support the church through worship and grant aid. They have special services at the church several times each year. For the first time in two years the Pattenmakers held their Ascension Day service, the Basketmakers held their Installation Day service in October and a Joint Livery Carol Service was held on 14[th] December 2023 with about one hundred people in church, with the church’s own Carol service at lunchtime the same day with about seventy people in the congregation.
Other Livery Companies, from time to time, use the church for special services, and the church supports the wider mission of the City and the Lord Mayor and is open to the laity for private worship.
The church also conducts weddings and baptisms, ‘though demand for such services is very variable.
## **Safeguarding**
The Guild Church Council takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults (especially with the increasing use being made of the church by primary schools studying the history of the City of London). This Safeguarding Statement applies to all who make up the church ‘workforce’ which includes all clergy, holders of Bishop’s licence or permission, those commissioned or authorised by the Bishop, those, paid or unpaid, who hold positions of responsibility and work with children or vulnerable adults, and those with representational ministry, for example; churchwarden, organist and choir members. For the purposes of this statement it covers the GCC and the Guild Vicar who are together responsible for ensuring that diocesan safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented. For the purposes of this document a child is anyone under the age of eighteen years.
## _Policy 1._
The GCC has adopted, and regularly reviews, its commitment to the House of Bishops’ safeguarding policy. A copy of the full relevant policy is obtainable on the Diocese of London's website and a hard copy is displayed on the noticeboard in the Narthex.
## _Policy 2._
The Guild Church Safeguarding Representative was Chris Moore and is now Barbara Nicholson both appointed by the GCC during their period of tenure (for dates see above). The Children’s Champion is the Reverend Andrew Keep and he has been appointed by the GCC.
## _Statement of Commitment_ :
The GCC will continue to develop a safeguarding culture that:
• Creates an environment where there is awareness and vigilance about the signs, symptoms and impacts of abuse.
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• Enables and encourages all concerns or allegations to be raised in order to protect children and adults from harm.
- Ensures all those who work or volunteer on behalf of the church with children and adults achieve the
- standards required by this policy.
• Holds to account those in the church community who disregard the safety and well-being of children and adults.
## **Financial Review**
The 2023 accounts have been prepared on the Accruals basis as they were in 2022.
**General Fund, Unrestricted** - In the year the church spent £120,890 to provide ministry including a contribution to Common Fund of £32,500 which was £1,000 more than that requested from the Deanery as a contribution to the work of the wider church. The amount that the church contributes to Common Fund is based on a multi-faceted formulae and for Guild Churches with no accommodation for a priest is substantially less than for churches in the Deanery with accommodation for a priest.
The net result for the year on this Fund was an excess of income over expenditure which will need to be committed towards repair/redecoration work already identified by the Reporting Architect in the 2017 Quinquennial report on the fabric of the church.
The church was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and is Grade One listed.
## **Reserves Policy**
The GCC’s policy is to hold one year’s operating expenditure in reserve (c£120,000) to cope with emergencies to be expected in a church building of the age of St Margaret Pattens. Currently some £10,000 is held in the reserves.
## **Volunteers**
The GCC would like to thank all volunteers for their hard work, in particular our non-stipendiary priest the Reverend Andrew Keep.
## **Structure, governance and management**
The GCC has met on four occasions during the year (see above). Given its responsibilities it has three sub committees:-
- i) the Standing Committee whose members are the four Churchwardens and the Guild Vicar (which meets as required) and;
- ii) the Finance Committee whose members are as above for the Standing Committee plus the church Treasurer [although the church’s accounts are continuously monitored by the Treasurer, Administrator, Guild Vicar and Churchwardens] and;
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iii) the Fabric Committee, the membership of which is variable as to circumstance, meets as necessary.
## **Administrative information**
The Guild Church of St Margaret Pattens with St Gabriel Fenchurch is situated on the corner of Rood Lane and Eastcheap in the City of London.
The church of St Gabriel Fenchurch was a small church standing in the middle of Fenchurch Street adjacent to where the main entrance to the office block, 31 Fenchurch Street, now stands. The church was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. After the Fire it was decided to join together the churches of St Margaret Pattens and St Gabriel Fenchurch. This is recognised by the canopied churchwardens’ pews at the back of the nave, one designated for churchwardens from St Margaret Pattens and one designated for churchwardens from St Gabriel Fenchurch.
The GCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Guild Churches Acts 1954 and 1960, the Church Representation Rules 2017) and is registered with the Charity Commission; registered number 1181352.
GCC members serve from the date of the Annual Meeting (usually held in April) and hold office until the date of the next Annual Meeting and their names are set out at the beginning of this report.
**Guild Vicar and Chairman of the GCC**
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THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS
BALANCESHEEr
31 December 2023
Toial
Total
Note
FIXED ASSEf5
8,535
IZ584
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors and prepayments
Shortterm Deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
io
3,731
10,458
89,026
LIABILITIES
Creditors- Amounts falling due within one year
li
28,616
NCURRENT ASSEfsi ILIABIUTIESI
(),410
27.707
TOTAL ASSEfs LESS CURRENT UABIUTIES
40.291
Creditors- Amounts fallingdue afterone year
TOTAL NET ASSEfs
944 (ts.7091
GUILD FUNDS
Unrestricted
12
49,291
Restricted
12
159.CMXI)
(69.l)
944 {.709)
roved by the lId Churth Coundl on the 26th Marth 2024and slgned on its behalf by:
The Revernnd Andrew Keep.
Guil
Vicar and Chalman ofthe GCC
Tony Chartwood, Church Warden
Tom
n, TreaSur
The notes on page5 16to 20form part of these occounts
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**THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
## _STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES_
## 31 December 2023
|Note
**INCOME**
**Voluntary Receipts**
2(a)
**Activities for generating funds**
2(b)
**Investment income**
2(c)
**Church activities**
2(d)
**Total income**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Church activities**
3(a)
**Raising funds**
3(b)
**Total expenditure**
**Net income (expenditure)**
**Transfers between funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward|**2023**
60,530
78,037
424
10,810
Unrestricted
fund|**2023**
10,000
-
-
-
Restricted
funds|**2023**
**2022**
70,530
_56,563_
78,037
_56,438_
424
_131_
10810
_11,450_
**Total funds**|
|---|---|---|---|
||149,801|10,000|159,801
_124,582_|
||120,890
258
121,148
28,653
-
49,291
77,944|-
-
-
10,000
-
(69,000)
(59,000)|120,890
_128,411_
258
_282_
121,148
_128,693_
38,653
_(4,111)_
-
_-_
(19,709)
_(15,598)_
18,944
_(19,709)_|
15
**THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
## _NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS_
## 31 December 2023
## **1 ACCOUNTING POLICES**
The GCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared under the Charities Act 2001 and in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of GCCs, and with the Regulations' "true and fair view" provisions, together with FRS102(2016) as the applicable accounting standards and the 2016 version of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (SORP(FRS102)).
These financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the GCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.
## **ASSETS**
## **Consecrated and benefice property**
In so far as consecrated and benefice property of any kind is excluded from statutory definition of 'charity' by Section 10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act2011 such assets are not captalised in the financial statements.
## **Moveable church furnishings**
Moveable church furnishings held by the Vicar and Churchwardens on special trust for the GCC, and which require a faculty for disposal, are accounted for as inalienable property unless consecrated. They are listed in the church's inventory which can be inspected at any reasonable time. For inalienable property acquired prior to 2001 there is insufficient cost information available and therefore such assets are not valued in the accounts.
All expenditure incurred in the year on consecrated or beneficed buildings, individual items under £1,000 or on the repair of movable church furnishings acquired before 1 January 2001 is written off.
## **Tangible fixed assets for use by the charity**
Individual items of equipment with a purchase price of £1,000 or less are written off in the period in which the asset is acquired.
Items used within the church premises are depreciated at the following rates:
Grand piano - Fully depreciated, no annual depreciation charge Computers & other similar equipment - on a straight line basis over 5 years Furniture & equipment not included above - on a straight line basis over 10 years
An impairment review is carried out at each year-end and any resultant loss identified included in expenditure for the year.
## **Investments**
Investments are valued at Market value at 31 December.
## **Short term deposits**
These are the cash held on deposit either with the CCLA or at the bank.
## **FUNDS**
## **Unrestricted Funds**
These represent the remaining income funds of the GCC that are available for spending on the general purposes of the GCC, including amounts designated by the GCC for a particular purpose.
## **Restricted Funds**
These are income funds that must be spent on restricted purposes and details of the funds held and restrictions provided are shown in the notes to the accounts.
16
**THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
## _NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS_
## 31 December 2023
|**2**
**INCOME**
2(a) **Voluntary income**
Planned giving:
Gift Aid donations
Other
Collections at services:
Open plate
All other giving / voluntary incone
Sundry donations
Gift aid recoverable
Grants:
Trust for London
Burial Ground Foundation
London Diocesan Fund
Livery Companies:
Pattenmakers
Basketmakers
Friends of St Margaret Pattens
2(b) **Activities for generating funds**
Hire fees
Forecourt trading
Radio Mast income
2(c) **Investment income**
Interest on Short term deposits
2(d) **Church activities**
GCC fees and Church events
Church lettings
Hire - Tower Room|Unrestricted
fund
**2023**
6,000
-
4,078
20,670
10,376
906
2,600
1,900
8,000
6,000
-
60,530
33,963
10,950
33,124
78,037
424
424
310
10,500
-
10,810|Restricted
funds
**2023**
-
-
-
10,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**2023**
**_2022_**
6,000
_6,550_
-
_-_
4,078
_3,510_
30,670
_17,515_
10,376
_5,504_
906
_2,484_
2,600
_2,500_
1,900
_-_
8,000
_8,000_
6,000
_4,500_
-
_6,000_
70,530
_56,563_
33,963
_27,636_
10,950
_9,180_
33,124
_19,622_
78,037
_56,438_
424
_131_
424
_131_
310
_-_
10,500
_8,450_
-
_3,000_
10,810
_11,450_
**Total funds**|**2023**
**_2022_**
6,000
_6,550_
-
_-_
4,078
_3,510_
30,670
_17,515_
10,376
_5,504_
906
_2,484_
2,600
_2,500_
1,900
_-_
8,000
_8,000_
6,000
_4,500_
-
_6,000_
70,530
_56,563_
33,963
_27,636_
10,950
_9,180_
33,124
_19,622_
78,037
_56,438_
424
_131_
424
_131_
310
_-_
10,500
_8,450_
-
_3,000_
10,810
_11,450_
**Total funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_56,563_|
|||||_27,636_
_9,180_
_19,622_|
|||||_56,438_|
|||||_131_|
|||||_131_|
|||||_-_
_8,450_
_3,000_|
|||||_11,450_|
17
**THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
## _NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS_
## 31 December 2023
|Note
3
**EXPENDITURE**
3(a) **Church activities**
Diocesan parish share
Clergy and staffing costs
4
Church running expenses
Training
Church running expenses
Church maintenance
Music - organ and choir
Cleaning
Depreciation
Major repairs
Church maintenance - external
Church conversion costs - Architects fees
Organ refurbishment
3(b) **Raising funds**
Stewardship costs
4
**CLERGY AND STAFFING COSTS**
Administrator - salary and costs
Priest in Charge - fees and expenses
Average number of employees
5
**GOVERNANCE COSTS**
Independent examiner
Administration costs, including
meetings and refreshments|Unrestricted
fund
**2023**
33,500
27,095
-
25,897
3,939
8,838
8,925
8,647
4,050
-
-
-
120,890
258
258|Restricted
funds
**2023**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|**2023**
33,500
27,095
-
25,897
3,939
8,838
8,925
8,647
4,050
-
-
-
120,890
258
258
**2023**
26,795
300
27,095
1
**2023**
2,000
2,000
**Total**|**_2022_**
_32,500_
_25,592_
_-_
_23,075_
_20,509_
_9,088_
_6,938_
_5,579_
_4,050_
-
_1,080_
-
**funds**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||_128,411_|
|||||_282_|
|||||_282_|
|||||**_2022_**
_25,402_
_190_|
|||||_25,592_|
|||||_1_
**_2022_**
_1,750_|
|||||_1,750_|
18
**THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
## _NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS_
## 31 December 2023
## **6 RELATED PARTIES**
During the year no GCC members or persons closely connected to them or related parties received any payments for expenses.
Donations included £16,427 from five GCC members.
## **7 LOAN RECEIVED**
On the 3rd October 2019 a loan of £100,000 was made to the church by the Newell family to cover the cash shortfall in funds, so far raised, towards the refurbishment of the organ.
The use of the loan is restricted to funding the organ restoration.
The loan is interest free and to be repaid in full with a minimum sum of £10,000 being paid per annum.
## **8 CONNECTED CHARITIES**
## **The Friends of St Margaret Pattens**
The GCC are supported by the fund raising activities of the Friends of St Margaret Pattens, which has a separate charity registration.
|**9**
**FIXED ASSETS - TANGIBLE**
Cost
At 1st January
Additions
At 31st December
Depreciation
At 1st January
Charge for the year
At 31st December
Net book value
At 31st December 2023
At 31st December 2022|Concert
Piano
7,500
15,658
11,127
-
-
-
7,500
15,658
11,127
7,500
8,586
5,615
-
3,131
919
7,500
11,717
6,533
-
3,941
4,593
_-_
_7,072_
_5,512_
Computers & other
similar equipment
Furniture & equipment
not included above|Total
34,285
-
|
|---|---|---|
|||34,285|
|||21,700
4,050|
|||25,750|
|||8,535|
|||_12,584_|
The concert piano, although fully depreciated, is thought to have a value of approximately £7,500.
|**10**
Debtors
Prepayments
Tax recoverable
**CURRENT ASSETS**|**2023**
**2022**
4,367
_2,164_
3,292
_440_
1,304
_1,127_
8,964
_3,731_|
|---|---|
19
**THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS**
## _NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS_
## 31 December 2023
|**11**
**LIABILITIES**
Other creditors
Accruals
Loan
Note 7
Loan
Note 7
Amounts falling due within one year
Amounts falling due after one year|**2023**
14,085
4,531
10,000
28,616
50,000
50,000|**_2022_**
_236_
_12,466_
_10,000_|
|---|---|---|
|||_22,702_|
|||_60,000_|
|||_60,000_|
## **12 SUMMARY OF FUND MOVEMENTS**
|Balance
b/fwd
**Unrestricted General Fund**
49,291
**Restricted Funds**
Organ Restoration Fund
(70,000)
Pew Fund
1,000
(69,000)
Total funds
(19,709)
**SUMMARY OF ASSETS BY FUND**
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Liabilities:
Amounts falling due within one year
Amounts falling due after one year|Incoming
Resources
149,801
10,000
-
10,000
159,801|Resources
expended
(121,149)
-
-
-
(121,149)|Transfers
-
-
-
-
-|Balance
c/fwd
77,944|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||(60,000)
1,000|
|||||(59,000)|
|||||18,944|
||||||
|||Unrestricted
8,535
88,026
(18,616)
-
77,944|Restricted
-
1,000
(10,000)
(50,000)
(59,000)|Total
8,535
89,026
(28,616)
(50,000)|
|||||18,944|
## **13 SUMMARY OF ASSETS BY FUND**
20
THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARGARET PATTENS
INDEPENDENTEXAMINERS REPORT
to the
THE GUILD CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARGAREf PATfENS
I rqjort on the accounts ofthe church for the war ended 31 Oecgnbw 2023, which are set out on pages 14 to 20.
RÈspÈtti¥t rèsponsiblit*s oltTUSttÉs and Èxaminèr
The church's trust are responslble for the preparatlon of the accounts. The churth's trustees conslder that an
audit is not requir for this year under sLrtion 144121 of the Charities kt 2011 Ithe 2011 Act) and that an
independent arrinatiOn is needed.
It is my responsibility to..
examine the accounts under settion 145 of the 2011 kt,.
to follow the procedure5 laid down in the 8eneral Dhre£tions 8rven by the Charity Corrffiission
under sertion 14515llbl of the 2011 kt- and
to state whether parbtular matters have tome to my attention.
Ba515 of Independent exankner's rer
My examination was carried out in accordance the General Dirertions Biven by the Charity Commission. An
examination includes a revivm of the accounting rttords kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts
piesented with those records. It also includes considerab.on of any unusual items of disclosures in the accounts
and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such mattws. The prcKedures undertaken do not
provide all the thfidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion Is given as to whethw the
accounts present a 'true and fair viarf and the report is limitwj to those matters sei out in the slatemwt below.
Independent examiner's ststemenl
Sincethegross incorr* for the year exceeds thearmunt provided in seEtion 145131 of the¢ I can confirm that I
am qualified to att as Independt Eyamintt under the provisions of that Stttion of the P£t and that my
qual ification is 35 shown bdow_
In connection my examination, no matter has COt0 my attention..
which VeS me reasonable tause to bdiLwe that in any materi31 respectthe requi rements
to keep accounting records in accordance wth section 130 of the 2011 A£t,' and
to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting rordS and comply with the accounting
requirements of the 2011 kt have not been mer. or
to vthich. in my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understandin8 of the
accounts to be rèached.
BOARDMAN & CO
36 Reynards Road
Welwyn
Hertfordshire
AL6 9TP
5U5AN IJUAKL)MAN FCA
Chartered kcountant
27 March 2024
21