## 2024 Report and Accounts for the Parochial Church Council of St Mary the Virgin, Bures ## Aims and Purposes The Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of St Mary’s church building and churchyard. ## Objectives and Activities 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. The PCC collaborates with the incumbent and Ministry Team to administer Sunday services and other activities which put faith into practice through prayer, Scripture, music and sacrament. When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Commission’s guidance on public benefit and, in particular, the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. We aim to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through: - being listeners: learning Jesus’s words of life; - being lights, shining out Jesus’s way of life; and, - being liberators, sharing Jesus who gives eternal life. To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the church building and upkeep the churchyard. ## Gathered Worship and Prayer We enjoy a programme of Sunday services with variety designed to cater for all. Our new Wake Up! congregation meets 9:15–10:00 am on the first and third Sundays of the month. In this all-age fresh expression of gathered worship, people of all ages listen to Jesus learning from the Bible and enjoy praying and singing. Our 10:30am service merges contemporary and traditional styles and Holy Communion is celebrated twice a month. An 8am Book of Common Prayer Communion Service is also offered on the second Sunday of the month. If there is a 5th Sunday in the month, this is generally a Benefice service in one of the three Parishes. Additional services have also been offered for special days such as Christmas, Easter, Mothering Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, Harvest Festival, Plough Sunday and more. We are very grateful for the service of our organist and band leader, Sue Emerson and all those who serve as musicians leading us in praise. Each wednesday there is an half-hour prayer meeting from 9:15 am and then a growing congregation enjoy an encouraging informal service of Morning Prayer from 10:00 am. Home Groups are hosted in homes around the village where their members study the Bible and pray together, while enjoying fellowship. In this way, many are encouraged in their lives as disciples of Christ. We also aim to offer regular courses for those seeking to investigate the Christian faith and for those desiring to go deeper in their knowledge. All are welcome to attend our regular services. The worshiping community comprised 125. The average weekly attendance was 67 but this number increased greatly at festivals. As well as our regular services, we enable our community to celebrate and thank God at the milestones of the journey through life. Through baptism we thank God for the gift of life. In marriage public vows are exchanged with God’s blessing. Five couples were married at St Mary’s in 2024. Through funeral services friends and family express their grief and give thanks for the life which is now complete in this world and to commend the person into God's keeping. We have cared for families and friends of loved ones hosting two funerals in 2024. ## Deanery and Diocesan Synod Two members of the PCC sit on the deanery synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the parish and the wider structures of the church. The PCC is also enriched because two members of Diocesan Synod belong to our parish. The PCC receives regular reports on the proceeding of these synods. There is provision for items to be sent from Deanery Synod for consideration by parishes and for parishes to request consideration of matters by higher synods. ## The Church Building and Churchyard 2024 has been a busy year in caring for the fabric of the church. The heating boiler broke down in February and was not up and running again until November, due to enquiries being made to several boiler repair companies with differing views on the solution. The opportunity was taken to receive a report from the Diocese Church Heating Officer regarding the type of boiler we would need to buy to comply with their non fossil-fuel policy. The advice was to pursue an air-source heat pump with electric boiler boost with a likely cost for the plant above £100,000. Thankfully, engineers were found with expertise to repair our current boiler and this was much more affordable. More work needed to be done on the electrical circuit, but this in turn uncovered even more problems which were remedied. A new Burglar Alarm System was installed as the old one was unreliable and disturbed the neighbours. The peaceful churchyard is enjoyed by many in our village community. The PCC are grateful for the work of the dedicated team of volunteers who care for the churchyard. The churchyard is closed for burials. ## Pastoral Care Some in our congregations are unable to attend church due to disability, sickness or mobility issues. Members of the pastoral team visit all those who request it, to listen, pray with and celebrate communion. Visits are also made to those who are sick in hospital. ## Outreach Our Open Door Cafe, every Wednesday morning is a popular community activity, where friendships are built and people are cared for. The monthly Friday Lunch Club provides meals and company to many members of our community. The monthly BASIC Community Pop-Up Shop enables more people to access necessities and also creates a place for building supportive relationships. We invite all over-75s to an excellent Harvest Lunch. The PCC are grateful to the dedicated volunteers who give so much to make these activities possible. We seek to offer regular courses which enable people to discover the Christian faith and grow in knowledge and discipleship. Special services are held specifically aimed at helping people of all-ages to discover, for example Messy Good Friday and the Walk of the Cross, and the Christingle. The Bures Village Magazine, edited by Gillian Chapman, is administered by the PCC as a service to the village. There are monthly issues. This magazine seeks to both spread the gospel and serve our community with relevant information and local matters. We seek to use social media channels to advertise our activities and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Volunteers also hold a stall at the monthly Bures market for the same purposes. We support and engage village activities, for example by carol singing at the Christmas Market, providing the venue for the Christmas Light Switch On, providing the venue for some of the yearly Bures Music Festival. All members of our congregations are encouraged to live out the life of discipleship in active service of their neighbours and the community. ## Bures CEVC Primary School St Mary’s church enjoys a strong and productive relationship with Bures Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School. We pray for the school, which is well-loved in our village. Members of the Ministry Team lead whole-school collective worship each week, act as chaplain to children and staff, and aid in the delivery of the curriculum. Twice a term, the whole school comes to the church for a special collective worship and parents and carers are invited to join. The school uses the church building and churchyard for lessons in Religious Education and more, as well as for their celebrations and festivals. Due to the school’s Church of England foundation, the Vicar is a School Governor by nature of the office. The PCC and Diocese together appoint a second Fondation Governor. Heather Whittle currently serves in this role. These governors participate with the Governing Body’s work of developing the strategic direction of the school and supporting and challenging the school’s leadership team. ## Ecumenical Relationships We enjoy partnership with Bures Baptist Church, sharing work in Jesus’ mission in our village. This is expressed through a joint service alternating between our buildings as well as joint outreach ‘Church in the Big Top’ on the Bures Music Festival main stage. We are a member church of Churches Together in Sudbury and District, building relationships and joining in collaborative activities with churches from various denominations. ## Financial Review The PCC would firstly like to record their gratitude for the support of the congregation and members of the wider community for their continued financial support during the 2024 year, especially during the current cost of living crisis. In God’s kindness we are in the position that this continued generosity has enabled us to continue to provide excellent ministry, mission, and outreach activities over the course of the year. The financial statements record total income of £112,877 (2023 - £155,143) with expenditure amounting to £115,212 (2023 - £104,916). The main reason for the reduction of income is due to a legacy that was received during 2023, with the increase in expenditure mainly due to the volume of unexpected emergency repairs required to the fabric of the building during the year. During the year the PCC opted to transfer £6,000 from the general fund to the fabric fund to ensure that there was not a significant reduction in the fabric fund and maintain our fabric fund reserves as far as practical. Net income showed a surplus (before transfers) in the general fund of £2,301 (2023 - £46,372) and a deficit (before transfers) in the restricted funds of £4,636 (2023 - £3,854 surplus). The overall decrease in funds in the year was £2,335 (2023 - increase of £50,226) mainly due to the aforementioned repairs to the fabric of the building. As at 31 December 2024 the financial statements record total available funds of £107,256 (£63,976 unrestricted and £43,280 restricted). Looking ahead, the 2025 Budget was approved by the PCC during its January 2025 meeting providing for expected income of £119,940 with expenditure of £116,212. Our independent examiner, Neil Pearsons, will be stepping down as examiner after 3-years. We are very grateful for the work that Neil has done over the last three years and will actively look to recruit a replacement in due course. ## Reserves Policy The PCC aims to maintain a balance on unrestricted funds equivalent to six months unrestricted payments which equates to approximately £25,000. This is to provide contingency and to smooth cash flow. The PCC currently is meeting this target with funds of £30,585. The balance of restricted funds total £43,280, of which £10,506 is reserved for the upkeep of the fabric of the church and its buildings. The PCC aims to retain a minimum restricted balance of £10,000 for repairs to the church building and fixtures, so the PCC is currently meeting this target albeit by a small margin. ## 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 (a hard copy is available in the Church Office). The PCC has reviewed all roles where persons in roles for our church are in positions 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). ## Volunteers The PCC would like to thank all the volunteers who servant-heartedly work so hard to make our church the lively and vibrant community it is with a well-kept building and churchyard. We are grateful for the work of churchwardens Chris and Andy, Charlie our Treasurer and Sue our Secretary, who have worked so tirelessly for the benefit of us all. ## Structure, governance and management The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. The membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), any other priests and deacons licensed to the Benefice, churchwardens, deanery synod members, and members elected by those who are on the electoral roll of the church. All those who attend our services / members of the congregation are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. The number on the ecclesiastical electoral roll of the parish in 2024 was 125. The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. New members receive induction into the workings of the PCC. The full PCC met six times during 2024. As well as the Standing Committee, the PCC delegates work to three sub-committees, which report to the PCC at each meeting: - Finance; - Fabric; and - Outreach and Activities. ## Administrative information St Mary’s Church is situated on Church Square in the centre of the village of Bures, Suffolk. It is part of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich within the Church of England. The correspondence address is The Vicarage, Church Square, Bures, CO8 5AA. The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2006) and is registered with the Charity Commission with charity number 1183767. PCC members who have served at any time from 1st January 2024 until the date this report was approved are: Ex officio members: - Incumbent: Daniel Whiffin (Chair) - Clergy (SSM): Simon White - Clergy (SSM): Patricia Box (until retirement in September 2024) - Churchwarden: Chris Tomkinson - Churchwarden: Andrew Boyce - Diocesan Synod: Maggie Elder - Diocesan Synod: Charlotte Scott - Deanery Synod: Alan Ryman - Deanery Synod: Derek Wolsten-Croft ## Elected members: - Carol Barnham (Parish Safeguarding Officer) - Andrea Carter - Miranda Clifft - Richard Horton - Jan Lindsey-Smith - Sarah Manning - Charles Whittle (Treasurer) - Julie Whittle - Jenny Wright ## Co-opted member: - Susan Ryman (Secretary) The Parochial Church Council of St Mary the Virgin, Bures Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 PAR HIAL IL T MARY THE VIR RE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024 Contents Page 1 Independent Examiner Report Page 2 Receipts and Payments Page 3 Summary of Incoming Resources Page4-5 Summary of Outgoing Resources Page 6 Movement in Funds Page 7 Assets and Liabilities Page 8 Notes to the Financial Statements PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN BURES INANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2 This rcport on thc acci)unts of thc PCC far thc ycar cndcd 31 Dcccmbcr 2024 which arc %ct out in pas￿ 2 to 8 is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 20061'The RebTulatiuns"l and s.145 uf the Charities Act 2011 I"The ALt"I. Respectlve responsibllitles of trustees #nd examiner As the members of the PCC you are responsible for the preparation of the accoiints; YOU CL)nsider that the audit rcquircmcnt of thc Rcgulation8 and 8cction 144 (21 rjf thc Charitics Act do not apply. It ]% my rc%pon%ibility tn issue thi5 report on those accounts in accordance with the TeTm5 of the Regulations. Basis of Independent cxamlner's report My exami1￿tIOn was carried ollt in accordance witli the General Directions given by tlie Charity Cominission under section 14515) (bl of tlie Act and to be foiind in the Cl)iirch Guidance 2011 Edition. That exainination ii)Lludes a review ol. the accoui)ting records kept by tl)e PCC and a comparison ot'the aLcounts with those reLords. li also includes ¢oi)sidering any ui)usual items or dibclobures in the accounts and seeking explanations from yL)U as trustees ¢on¢erning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be rcquired in an audit, and con%cqucntly I do not cxprc%8 an aiidit opinion on the vicw givcn by thc accoiints. Independent ex#miner's statement In connection with my cxamination: no rnattcr h&$ comc to my attcntion.. which gives me reasonable Cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act- and to prepare accounts ￿'￿ich accord with the accounting records and to comply with the requirements of the Act, and the Regulation ha￿£ not been met; or 2. to ￿,￿leh, in my opinioi), attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accoui)ts to be reached; Signed.. NJ Pearson Date.. March 11, 2025 Page I PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN BURES FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER 2024 Unrestrirted funds Restricted funds Total funds Total funds 2024 2024 2024 2023 Note INCOMING RESOURCES Voluntary income Activities for generntin8 funds Income from invescments Income from Church activitie5 71701 20.019 7,694 2,344 201 92,720 7,694 3,386 9,076 118.649 8.069 2,509 25,916 2b 1,042 8,875 2d TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 82,619 30,258 112,877 155,143 RESOURCES USED Parish Share Church running costs Cost of generating funds 54,500 25,658 54,500 59,042 1,670 51,544 51,958 1,414 Jb 3c 33,384 1,510 TOTAL RESOURCES USED 80,318 34.894 115,212 104.916 NET SURPLUSI(DEFICIT) 2,301 4,636 2,335 50.226 Bank and deposit accounts Balances brought forward 67,675 41.916 109,591 59.365 Net surpluslldeficit) 1301 (4.6361 {2,3351 50.226 Transfers 16,0001 6,000 Balances carried forward 63,976 43,280 107,256 109,591 Page 2 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN BURES 2- INCOMING RESOURCES Unrestrirted funds Restricted funds TOTAL FUNDS 2024 2023 2a Voluntar income Gift Aided donations 47,725 5,903 4,226 8,644 56,369 5,903 4,863 203 53,023 4,943 7,646 414 Non-Gift Aided giving Collections 637 ContactlesslQR Code Giving through church boxes One off gifts Legacies ind granrs Donations. appeals. etc Gift recovered thereon 345 345 357 1.223 250 1.473 7,354 3.208 32,954 380 7,354 13,433 72,701 2.778 20.019 15.724 118.649 92,720 b Activities for enerat. und Fe￿s, bazaars, bookscall 7.694 7.694 7,694 7,694 8.069 8.069 2c Income from 5nvestment Interesc & dividend5 1.042 1.042 2,344 2,344 3,386 3,386 2.509 2.509 2d Income from church activities Fee5 for weddings and funera15 Benefice weekend 1,937 1.937 1.129 15.550 1.166 3,744 2,351 1,976 Open Doors Magazine advertising Magazine sales Other 2Ctivities 1,041 1473 1147 1,250 27 2,473 2,147 201 Transfers from other churches 27 8,875 201 9,076 25,916 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 82,619 30,258 112,877 155.143 P3ge 3 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN BURES 3- OUTGOING RESOURCES Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Funds 2024 2023 3a Parish Share 2023 Additional Payment Ministry Element Non-ministry 1000 50,179 2,321 54,500 2.000 50,179 2,321 54.500 45.033 51.544 b Church Runnin Costs Missionary and charitable giving: Giving to mission societies Giving to relief and dev. agencie5 Home mission Secular charities 2,000 1.049 200 5.720 8.969 100 4,880 4,980 30 130 4.850 4.850 Clergy and staff costs: Assistant staff Salary and payroll processing for the parisl Honararia Visiting speakers Working expen5e5 of incumbent 137 iooo 2,CX)O 1,139 3,139 1,036 1.289 3.139 Church running costs: Training and mission Benefice weekend Wake Up,. Counselling and education Insurance Organ tuning Cleaning Moveable furnishings Upkeep of services Upkeep of churchyard Flower5 Adrninistrntion Catering Photocopying SO￿4￿re licences Website and publicity Church office Electricity ater 40 14.175 44 195 2,579 440 2.774 440 3.132 3.132 3.068 1.356 1.356 1.157 468 599 77 266 774 1.104 1.793 666 164 42 1,646 271 1,710 498 5.313 3.989 3.836 41.700 794 65 275 760 736 1,473 1.015 359 33 827 65 433 1,759 787 1.473 1.015 359 158 999 1,529 253 1,529 253 1,235 375 5,759 26,307 1,045 50,923 1,235 Broadband Magazine costs Regular maintenance Major workslProjects 375 5,759 3.668 645 21389 22.639 4(M) 28,534 Total 59,042 Page 4 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN BURES 3- OUTGOING RESOURCES. CONTINUED ratin Costs of fund raising Bank l Transaction Charges 1,506 1,506 163 1,670 1.374 40 1,414 160 160 1,510 TOTAL OUTGOING RESOURCES 80,318 34.894 115,212 104.916 Page 5 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCILOF ST MARY THE VIRGIN BURES Fund Note Broughi forward Incoming resources Transfers Outgoing resources Carried forward Fabric Maintenance 10,598 6.000 10,506 Probert legacy- nave ceilinE 1&169 912 Russe 2,000 2,000 Wake Up,. 447 1440 1,024 Clock Trust 605 271 12221 654 Sharp Flowerfund 545 1901 919 Dar￿S Bridge 5,086 263 4,739 Tower FuThd- Bells 1486 212 17681 1.930 tk>nor Spetified 14,302 113,0631 2,427 Launde 1359 219 12.5781 Tor￿ ￿￿ri¢*d fvnds 41,916 30,￿8 6,000 134,8941 43,280 Generdl fund 1&2 67.675 82,619 16.0001 180,3181 63,976 107.256 Notes: The trdnsfer of £6,CNJO from the generdl fund to the fabric fund Wd5 decided at the13nu3ry PCC meeting in order to cover anticipated expenditure to maintin the fabrric of the church building. The GeDeral Fund balance includes £28.210 of designated fund& which were de5ignatrd from legacie5 rec￿Ved during 2023 and have been designated to fund future projects of the PCC. Page 6 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARYTHE VIRGIN BURES 5- STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES Sha Probert Total General Fabric Donor Russe Flower Tower Clock Mes Dorcas Nave Launde Fund ecified Fund Fund Trust Church Santander 4,057 147 2,(x)O 464 271 264 Uniry Trust Bank (Currentl Unicy Trus¢ Bank Ilnstanr Access) Cash in hand 26.973 19.864 2,237 1340 456 383 1,024 32,843 1,732 1.097 782 199 CCLA Deposit 42,285 12,219 8,090 4,476 17,500 Total Funds 107,256 63,976 10,505 1426 2,000 920 1.732 853 1,024 4,740 19,080 Debtor5 As at 31 December 2024, the PCC had paid a deposits ¢otalling £2,773.80 towards the benefice weekend, which is due to take place in 2025. Liabilities Th¢ PCC. has a photOCQPl¢T le&se agr¢¢rn¢nt, which comrn¢nc¢d on l D¢ceinbeT 2021 and finish¢5 on l D¢c¢rnb¢r 2026. As at 31 D¢cetnb¢i 2024, the amounts du¢ in r¢sp¢ct of thi5 lease aT¢ as follows.. 2024 Amounr5 Falling due wiihin one year Amounts fallin8 due within 1- 5 years Total amounts due 1438 Page 7 PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN BURES NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT l. Actountln Policles of the Parochlal Church Councll Tlic Financial SlatcJn¢nts of ihc PCC havc bccn prcparcd in accordancc with Ihc Churctl Accouniing Rcgulalions 2011 using thc RLCCiPiS and Paymcnis basis. Fund5 General funds represeni Ihe funds of Ihe PCC Ihai are noi subjeci to any speeial resiriciions regarding Iheir use and are available for application to the general putpo8e% of the PCC. The%e include fi￿d5 designated for a particular PU￿se by the PCC. The accounts ill¢lud¢ Tnon¢tary transa¢tiOlls, asset% and liabilities foT whicli tli¢ PCC can b¢ held r¢%ponsibl¢. Th¢y do not includ¢ the accounts Qt other ChuTch group5 that owe an affiliation to another ￿dy. nor those that are infomial gatherings ot ChuTch Jetnbers. Subject to the atove. receipts and payments include income as receii'ed and expenditure when irr¢vocably paid. It is Ihc aim ofthc PCC 10 rciain a rcscrvc fund couivalcni to 3 monihs cxpcnditiirc. Mcmbcrs would lik¢ io scc a sum of£25,000 held in this fund, although they appTeciaie that this tnay nut always be pugsible. 8tatement of and Liahilitie Th¢ following assets ar¢ r¢cognis¢d but not valued in the Stalernent of A&gets and Liabilities.. Moveable church fvmishings held by the churchwardens on special trust tor the PCC and which require a faculty for disposal. Land and buildings held on behalf of the PCC. Other fixtu￿, fittings and otTic¢ equipinent ivhere the PLC is flee to dispose of such assets withour faculry and M,here Ihe original cost exc¢ed¢d £l.ON. Legacies wlitre fonnal notification of entitleinent and aTnount has been rec¢iv¢d at 31 Decernber by the PCC. Investmenis held beneficially by ihe PCC. Closing bank balances as sliown in tli¢ r¢c¢ipts and payinent account. The fnllowing liabilitie% are recDgni4ed in the 8tatement i>f AsfieLs and Liabilities.. Any 108n or ow¢rdraft lo the PCC Any arrears ot Dioc¢san (￿Qta ot Parish Share. Creditors foT goods OT servi¢¢s ivher th¢ supply has been Teceivd and invoiced by 31 December Page 8 This Annual Report and Financial Statements were approved by the PCC and signed by the chair: ______________________________ (Vicar) on **13 March 2025** .