## Annual Report and Financial Statements 2023 Vicar: Daniel Whiffin vicar@parishchurch.co.uk Churchwardens: Andy Boyce andy@parishchurch.co.uk Chris Tomkinson chris@parishchurch.co.uk PCC Secretary: Sue Ryman sue.ryman@btnternet.com The Vicarage, Church Square, Bures, CO8 5AA parishchurch.co.uk PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES ANNUAL REPORT 2023 ## **REVIEW OF THE YEAR** The church of St. Mary the Virgin, Bures, Suffolk is a thriving parish church serving the village of Bures which straddles the Suffolk-Essex border. The church seeks to follow Jesus Christ in making disciples, by enabling Christians to grow in their lives of faith and reach out into the village community with the good news. The Electoral Roll comprises 117. The PCC meets bi-monthly to discuss and agree policy. Our general pattern of services has been two services every Sunday, one in Bures with Little Cornard and Assington alternating for the second service. An 8am Communion Service in Bures has also been offered on the first Sunday of the month. If there is a 5[th] Sunday in the month, this is generally a Benefice service in one of the Parishes. Additional services have also been offered for special days such as Christmas, Easter and the Coronation of King Charles III. The PCC met five times during the year plus an APCM on 4[th] May 2023. It was agreed to form 3 sub-committees of the PCC: Finance Committee, Fabric Committee and Outreach and Activities Committee. These Committees seem to be working well. The Photocopier was moved from the Community Centre to the church kitchen and therefore the kitchen had to be kept locked. The clapper from the Tenor Bell fell off, damaging the hammer that chimes the hour on the clock, but David Lee kindly managed the repairs. In an effort to save paper, the Pew News now comes out as a fortnightly Benefice Newsletter email, although some printed copies are in church for those without email. Heather Whittle was appointed School Foundation Governor and at the APCM in May Andy Boyce was elected Churchwarden. The Treasurer changed our bank from Santander to Unity Trust Bank and encouraged everyone to join the Parish Giving Scheme. The Fair Trade stall at church closed as Fair Trade have ceased to trade. All policies were reviewed and updated and there were celebrations for the Coronation and the annual Big Top service in July. St. Mary’s received a generous donation from the Open Gardens weekend and a donation from the Harvest Hop Barn Dance held in place of the Harvest Supper. There was the usual over 75’s Harvest Lunch in church, much enjoyed by all who attended. We gratefully received a grant from the Bures Music Festival for upgrades to the kitchen units. Proceeds from the Autumn Fair were shared between Smile Malawi and Pancreatic Cancer Research. An Alpha Course was run and a very successful Benefice Weekend at Launde Abbey. The Growing in God focus group have been involved in the Growing Rural diocesan training and discussions of our vision and strategy were discussed more widely, including at a PCC meeting. To complement the focus on sharing Jesus’ story in our everyday relationships, the PCC have begun work on supportive projects to increase the usefulness of the church building. The busy year ended with rather unexpected and expensive urgent electrical work needing to be done in the church and outside on the path lights. At the end of 2023 our new Plan for Growth is coming together and will be in place early in 2024. ## **AIMS & OBJECTIVES** The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of co-operating with the Minister in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical (PCC Powers Measure 1956 section 2) The PCC is committed to serving the village of Bures by enabling as many people as possible to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and join in the worship of our church throughout the parish. When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit, and particularly the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. Our goal is to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through: - Worship and prayer; learning from the Bible; enabling the development of knowledge and trust in Jesus Christ. - Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish. - Outreach work. - To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin and the surrounding churchyard. ## **MEMBERSHIP OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL** Members of the PCC are either ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. |**Position**|**Name**|**Term of Office**| |---|---|---| |Incumbent (Chair)|Rev. Daniel Whiffin|| |Associate Ministers (SSM)|Rev. Tricia Box|| ||Rev. Simon White|| |Readers (appointed by|Mr. Andrew Clifft|| |the APCM)|Mr. Murray Emerson|| |Churchwardens|Mrs. Chris Tomkinson|2018–| ||Mr. Andrew Boyce|2023–| |Treasurer|Mr. Charles Whittle|| |Deanery Synod Reps.|Mr. Alan Ryman|2023–2026| ||Mr. Derek Wolsten-Croft|2023–2026| |Diocesan Synod Reps.|Mrs. Charlotte Scott|2021–2024| ||Mrs. Marjorie Elder|2021–2024| |Elected Members|Mrs. Kate Buckle|2021–2024| ||Mr. Dick Gould|2021–2024| ||Mrs. Sue Emerson|2021–2024| ||Mrs. Sarah Manning|2022–2025| ||Mrs. Jay Sargeant|2022–resigned May 2023| ||Mrs. Andrea Carter|2022–2025| ||Mrs. Jan Lindsey Smith|2023–2026| ||Mrs Carol Barnham|2023–2026| |Co-opted Member|Mrs. Susan Ryman (Secretary)|| ## COMMITTEES OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL The PCC operates through the Standing Committee, the only committee required by law. It has the power to transact the business of the PCC between its meetings, subject to any directions given by the Council. During 2023, the PCC also had the following sub-committees: - Finance Committee; - Fabric Committee; - Outreach and Activities Committee. ## SAFEGUARDING The PCC has elected to adopt the House of Bishops’ “Promoting a Safer Church” safeguarding policy statement. A copy can be found on the National Church of England website and/or Diocesan website and a hard copy on the church notice boards. The PCC has reviewed all roles where persons in roles for our church are in position of leadership or have contact with children or vulnerable adults and the level of training required. The PCC requires such persons to comply with our duty under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 (duty to have regard to House of Bishops’ guidance on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults). ## CHURCH RETURN BY TYPE 2023 Electoral Roll : Resident - 98 Non Resident - 19 Average Weekly Attendance : Adults – 62 Young Persons – 3 (as counted during the census month of October 2023) The Parochial Church Council of St Mary the Virgin, Bures Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2023** ## **Contents** |Page|1|||Independent Examiner Report| |---|---|---|---|---| |Page|2|||Receipts and Payments| |Page|3|||Summary of Incoming Resources| |Page|4|-|5|Summary of Outgoing Resources| |Page|6|||Movement in Funds| |Page|7|||Assets and Liabilities| |Page|8|-|9|Notes to the Financial Statements| PA QLHIAL NCIAL ST&TEf4EN15 FI)R THEJEARENPINGI1 DE EMBEI2021 .1 his rL'POrt on the accounts of the pcc for the K'¢ar ended 31 December 2023 which arc sei out in pages 2 10 8 is i respcci oran examin41itsn carried our in atcordancc Hiih the Chur¢h Accounting Regulations 20061" rhe Regulaiions'l and s.145 ot-lhc Lharitie5 Ail 2011 I'fhc Acl" Respective rc5ponsibilities of Irustees gnd examintr As thc tnetnkrs ofthe Ifc you dre responsiblc lor the prep￿11￿￿ of tlie aLcounts' you considcr thai the alldii requiremeni ofthe Rcgulalious and section 1441?) of ihc Charilic.4 Act do not apply. It is my r¢sponsibiliry to issve this repon on Iho%L accounts in a¢L(IrdancL willi thc'l emis of (hL Re¥ulaiions. Basis of independenl ex#miTrer'5 report My examinariThn M'as ¢arriLd out in accordance with the CJLiieral DirecttOll% iliven hy the Charity Commission undLr section 145 ($1 (bl of ihe Act and to bL found in th¢ ChuTLh Guid1￿C¢ 2011 Cdition. That Cxdmination EncludLs a rcview ofthe accollnting rl'cords kLpL by thc PCC and a COMP￿￿15017 Ot-lhe accounts ￿'1th Ihosc records. It also includc5 considering any unuslltil Items or di4closur¢5 Irt the (i¢Lounts an(1 sL'ekiDg? cAplanalions from )oii as InJslcc.q concernbng any such maiiLPi. 'fhe procedures undertakert do nvt provid¢ all th¢ L vidence that w'ovld bc requirLd in an audii. and consequently I do noi ¢xprcs% an audit opinion on the view giv¢n by the acLOUllts. Independ¢ot examiner'% 5tstement In connection with my cxarnination. no mattcr has corne lo my atteniion.. which gives me rc&wnabl¢ C¢lUSL' io believe that in any material rL'.%P¢Li ihc rL'4uiiernents to kcep accounting rccnrds in acLI)rdan¢e wilh seciion 130 ofthL Acl; and to prcparc acLounis which accord with thc accounttng records and to comply with the requirements of ili¢ Act, and the Regulation have not bcen m¢1: vr 2. 10 which. in my opinion, att¢ntiQll should be dra￿￿ in ordcr to ¢nable a proper und£￿tandIng of the accounts to be reached- Signed.. E.¥aminer. Date.. 11. w. a* Page I ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2023** |**Note**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
Voluntary income
**2a**
Activities for generating
**2b**
Income from investmen
**2c**
Income from Church ac
**2d**
**TOTAL INCOMING**
**RESOURCES**
**RESOURCES USED**
Parish Share
**3a**
Church running costs
**3b**
Cost of generating funds
**3c**
**TOTAL RESOURCES USED**
**NET (DEFICIT)/SURPLUS**
**Bank and deposit accounts**
Balances brought forward
Net (deficit)/surplus
Balances carried forward|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
102,929
3,375
597
9,904
116,805
51,544
18,279
609
70,432
46,372
21,303
46,372
67,675|**Restricted**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
15,720
4,694
1,912
16,012
38,338
-
33,679
805
34,484
3,854
38,062
3,854
41,916|**Total**
**funds**
**2023**
**£**
118,649
8,069
2,509
25,916
155,143
51,544
51,958
1,414
104,916
50,226
59,365
50,226
109,591|**Total**
**funds**
**2022**
**£**
82,107
6,126
1,005
21,709
110,947
47,978
66,188
1,491
115,657
(4,710)
64,075
(4,710)
59,365| |---|---|---|---|---| Page 2 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES 2 - INCOMING RESOURCES** |**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
**2a Voluntary income**
Gift Aided donations
44,653
Non-Gift Aided giving
4,943
Collections
5,768
Contactless/QR Code
398
Giving through church boxes
-
One off gifts
1,188
Legacies and grants
32,554
Donations, appeals, etc
30
Gift Aid recovered thereon
13,395
102,929
**2b Activities for generating funds**
Fetes, bazaars, bookstall
3,375
3,375
**2c Income from investments**
Interest & dividends
597
597
**2d Income from church activities**
Fees for weddings and funerals
784
Benefice weekend
-
Open Doors
1,166
Magazine advertising
3,744
Magazine sales
2,351
Other activities
1,859
Transfers from other churches
-
9,904
**TOTAL INCOMING**
116,805
**RESOURCES**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
8,370
-
1,878
16
357
2,020
400
350
2,329
15,720
4,694
4,694
1,912
1,912
345
15,550
-
-
-
117
-
16,012
38,338|**TOTAL FUNDS**
**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
53,023
53,354
4,943
3,768
7,646
5,217
414
-
357
395
3,208
724
32,954
400
380
2,677
15,724
15,572
118,649
82,107
8,069
6,126
8,069
6,126
2,509
1,005
2,509
1,005
1,129
2,458
15,550
6,690
1,166
885
3,744
5,102
2,351
2,504
1,976
1,643
-
2,427
25,916
21,709
155,143
110,947| |---|---|---| |Fees for weddings and funerals
Benefice weekend
Open Doors
Magazine advertising
Magazine sales
Other activities
Transfers from other churches
**TOTAL INCOMING**
**RESOURCES**||| Page 3 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES** ## **3 – OUTGOING RESOURCES** |**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**£**
**£**
**3a Parish Share**
Ministry Element
45,033
-
Non-Ministry
6,511
-
51,544
-
**3b Church Running Costs**
**Missionary and charitable giving:**
Giving to mission societies
-
2,000
Giving to relief and dev. agencies -
1,049
Home mission
200
-
Secular charities
30
5,690
230
8,739
**Clergy and staff costs:**
Assistant staff
116
-
Salary and payroll processing for 137
-
Visiting speakers
-
-
Working expenses of incumbent 1,036
-
1,289
-
**Church running**
Training and mission
40
-
Benefice weekend
-
14,175
Messy church
-
44
Counselling and education
-
-
Insurance
-
3,068
Organ tuning
-
-
Cleaning
1,157
-
Moveable furnishings
98
370
Upkeep of services
540
59
Worship materials
-
-
Upkeep of churchyard
77
-
Flowers
174
92
Administration
774
-
Catering
631
473
Photocopying
1,793
-
Software licences
666
-
Website and publicity
164
-
Church office
42
-
Electricity
1,646
-
Water
271
-
Oil
340
1,370
Broadband
498
-
Magazine costs
5,313
-
Regular maintenance
2,536
1,453
Major works
-
3,836
16,760
24,940
Total
18,279
33,679|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
45,033
47,978
6,511
-
51,544
47,978
2,000
4,984
1,049
2,532
200
677
5,720
1,159
8,969
9,352
116
130
137
10,498
-
92
1,036
404
1,289
11,124
40
210
14,175
4,330
44
118
-
337
3,068
2,819
-
186
1,157
1,232
468
252
599
-
-
371
77
57
266
713
774
1,617
1,104
1,131
1,793
2,343
666
622
164
177
42
2,587
1,646
2,295
271
217
1,710
3,262
498
91
5,313
5,014
3,989
3,288
3,836
12,443
41,700
45,712
51,958
66,188
**Total Funds**| |---|---| Page 4 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES 3 – OUTGOING RESOURCES - CONTINUED** |**3c cost of generating funds**
Costs of fund raising
570
Bank / Transaction Charges
39
609
**TOTAL OUTGOING RESOURC**70,432|804
1
805
34,484|1,374
40
1,414
104,916|1,491
-
1,491
115,657| |---|---|---|---| Page 5 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES 4 – MOVEMENT IN FUNDS** |Fund
Note
Fabric Maintenance
Probert legacy – nave ceiling
Russe
Messy Church
Clock Trust
Sharp Flower fund
Dorcas Bridge
Tower Fund – Bells
Donor Specified
Launde
Total restricted funds
General fund
**1**|Brought
Incoming
Outgoing
Carried
forward
resources
resources
forward
£
£
£
£
10,819
8,459
(8,247)
11,031
17,500
669
-
18,169
-
2,000
(2,000)
-
428
62
(43)
447
338
267
-
605
415
455
(325)
545
5,338
221
(473)
5,086
2,464
132
(110)
2,486
576
9,722
(9,110)
1,188
184
16,351
(14,176)
2,359
38,062
38,338
(34,484)
41,916
21,303
116,805
(70,432)
67,675
59,365
155,143
(104,916)
109,591| |---|---| ## **Notes:** The General Fund includes £28,554, which has been designated by the PCC for future projects. These funds were designated from legacies received during the year. **1** Page 6 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES** ## **5 – STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Sharp Probert
Total General Fabric Donor Flower Tower Clock Messy Dorcas Nave Launde
Fund Specified Fund Fund Trust Church Bridge Legacy
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
Santander 18,158 17,333 825 - - - - - - - -
Unity Trust Bank 47,962 37,256 2,666 1,096 545 2,299 605 447 20 669 2,359
Cash in hand 1,186 867 40 92 - 187 - - - - -
- - - - - -
CCLA Deposit 42,285 12,219 7,500 5,066 17,500
Total Funds 109,591 67,675 11,031 1,188 545 2,486 605 447 5,086 18,169 2,359
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Debtors** As at 31 December 2023, the PCC had paid a deposit of £250 towards the benefice weekend, which is due to take place in 2025. ## **Liabilities** The PCC has a photocopier lease agreement, which commenced on 1 December 2021 and finishes on 1 December 2026. As at 31 December 2023, the amounts due in respect of this lease are as follows: ## **2023** |Amounts Falling due within one year
Amounts falling due within 1 - 5 years
Total amounts due|1,219
2,437
3,656| |---|---| Page 7 **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT** ## **1. Accounting Policies of the Parochial Church Council** The Financial Statements of the PCC have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2011 using the Receipts and Payments basis. ## **Funds** General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any special restrictions regarding their use and are available for application to the general purposes of the PCC. These include funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC. The accounts include monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC can be held responsible. They do not include the accounts of other Church groups that owe an affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of Church members. Subject to the above, receipts and payments include income as received and expenditure when irrevocably paid. It is the aim of the PCC to retain a reserve fund equivalent to 3 months expenditure. Members would like to see a sum of £25,000 held in this fund, although they appreciate that this may not always be possible. ## **Statement of Assets and Liabilities** The following assets are recognised but not valued in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities: Moveable church furnishings held by the churchwardens on special trust for the PCC and which **·** require a faculty for disposal. - Land and buildings held on behalf of the PCC. - Other fixtures, fittings and office equipment where the PCC is free to dispose of such assets - **·** without faculty and where the original cost exceeded £1,000. Legacies where formal notification of entitlement and amount has been received at 31 December - **·** by the PCC. - Investments held beneficially by the PCC. - **·** Closing bank balances as shown in the receipts and payment account. The following liabilities are recognised in the Statement of Assets and Liabilities: - Any loan or overdraft to the PCC - Any arrears of Diocesan Quota of Parish Share. - Creditors for goods or services wher the supply has been received and invoiced by 31 December Page 8 ## **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN, BURES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT** ## **2 – Bures PCC Charitable Giving 2023** |Suffolk Wildlife Trust
EPIC/Russe
DEC
Daws Hall
Royal British Legion
Pancreatic Cancer UK
Smile Malawi
RNID
SASRA
SCHT|**£**
2,624.61
2,000.00
1,048.55
786.33
762.06
630.53
630.52
256.42
200.00
30.00
**8,969.02**| |---|---| Page 9 This Annual Report and Financial Statement were approved by the PCC and signed by the chair: ______________________________ (Vicar) on **18 April 2024** .