TRUSTEES REPORT PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF ST LAWRENCE, BID80ROUGH AND ST PETER, SOUTHBOROUGH For the period January to December 2023 Charity No. 1184753 Aims and Purposes The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Lawrence, BKlborough and St Peter, Southborough has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent, the Reverend Stephen Hills, in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical. The PCC is also specffically responsible for the Maintenan￿ of the two church buildings and Ivy Cottage, Franks Hollow Road, Bidborough. In addition, wtth Christ Church, Southborough it is responsible for the house at 54 Holden Park Road. Soukhborough. Objectives and Activities The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our churches and to become part of our parish community. The PCC maintsins an overview of worship throughout the parish and makes suggestions on how our ServI￿S can involve the many groups that live within our parish. Our ServI￿S and worship put farth into practi￿ through prayer and scripture, music and sacrament. When planning our activities for the year, we have considered the Char5ty Commission's guidan￿ on public benefit and, in particular. the supplementary guidance on charities for the advancement of religion. In particular, we try to enable ordinary people to live out their faith as part of our parish communty through: Worship and prayer., leaming about the Gospel; developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus Provision of pastoral care for people living in the parish Mission and outreach work To facilitate this work it is important that we maintsin the fabric of the church buildings. Major Risks Major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the Irustees, are regularly reviewed and systems or procedures have been established to manage these risks. Safeguarding and GDPR The PCC has complied with the 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). The PCC is commrtted to implementing the House of Bishops, safeguarding policies and good practi￿ guidan￿. The PCC has adopted the House of Bishops. °Promoting a Safer Church; safeguarding policy statement.. Regulations on safeguarding and GDPR are followed under the guidan￿ of our Parish Safeguarding OffI￿r and during the year we joined the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard online tool which enabled us to identify areas where action was required. Safeguarding is a regular item on the Agenda at PCC meetings and there were no Safeguarding incidents during 2023. Achievements and Perfomiance Worship and P￿Yer A range of services are offered in both churches during the week and over the course of the year. Weekly, 8am Communion services altemate between the two churches and morning services take place at 9.30 at St Peterfs and 11.00 at St Lawren￿. A combined morning service for both congregations is held on the 5th Sunday. The service from St Lawrence is recorded each week and uploaded to the websrte for those unable to attend to view. A Sunday evening service is held at St LavKence at 6.30. Weekday moming prayers are held on Zoom. At Easter a Maundy Thursday supper and communion was held at St Lawren￿ and Good Friday was marked by canying the Cross from St Lawrence to St Peter's for a Servi￿ of worship and reflection. Christmas ￿lebrats'onS included the popular Christingle servi￿ at St Peterfs on Christmas Eve and the traditional Carol servi￿ at St Lawren￿. The planned carol singing in the churchyard at St Lawrence had to move inside due to adverse weather conditions and the church was so full some unfortunately not stay. The popular Nativity Servi￿ was again held at a local farm the previous Sunday and in the evening Pippa Hillen led a Blue Christrnas SeNice, a new initiative recognizing that it can be a time of sadness for some. A Memorial seNt￿ in September at St LaV￿en￿ for those who had lost loved ones was attended by around 70 people. It has been encouraging to see more children and families retuming to church following the pandemic. Forest Church, a monthly service for families on Sunday afternoons with outdoor activities, continues to be well supported as is Forest Sunday School at St Peterfs on Sunday mornings, a new inibative last year. 25 young people went to Fellowship Afloat in July. A Youth Club was launched in November with 25 secondary school children attending and now meets monthly. New Wine was held in Maidstone for the first time and around 20 people from the Parish attended. All are welcome to attend our regular servI￿s. At the end of the 2023 the￿ were 137 names on the Church Electoral Roll {97 St Lawren￿ and 40 St Peter). The usual Sunday attendan￿ numbers have declined slightly in 2023 - from 60 to 57 adults at St Lawren￿ and 30 to 28 adults at St Peterfs. This represents a few more folk no longer attending, due to becoming eldedy and frail, than the number joining us for the first time during the year. The numbers attending festival services, especially the Christmas services, were significantly higher in 2023 than 2022 at both churches. As well as our regular servI￿s, we enable our communty to celebrate and thank God at the milestones in journeys of life and fatth. There V￿re 6 baptisms in church, 6 people were confimed at a service at Christ Church Southborough, there was 1 wedding in the parish, and 15 funerals took pla￿ either in one of our churches or at the crematorium. Deanery Synod The PCC has one Deanery Synod representative for each church. The Deanery Synod provides the PCC with an important link betsveen the parish and the wider structures of the church. The Bishop of Rochester, Bishop Jonathan, spoke at the July meeting about his objectives of 'Change, Serve, Grow.. The October meeting explored the way local churches were approaching the challenges of mission and ministry in Tunbridge Wells. Buildings At st Lawren￿ the increased worship and fellowship Spa￿ in the south aisle has been well used during the year. The new weekly South Aisle Communty Café on Tuesday mornings has welcomed members of the community for coffee and home made cake and has been muGh appreciated, with a regular attendance of around 15 folk. In November the school choir sang in church with round 50 children and their grandparents attendirlg. The south aisle was also used for the relaunch of the youth group in November and also for a Lent course. At St Peter's the installation of a thermostatic heat pump in the toilet area completed the Project 22 refurbishment of the kitchen and toilet facilities and a service celebrating and 9iving thanks to all the team involved in the Project was held in May. Other V￿rk at St Peterfs included the instsllation of a safety rail on the balcony and the repair of broken windows. Repair works to the bell support structure are required and a quotation has been obtained for the installation of a nwJht silencing unrt. Pastoral Care The pastoral care teams work very hard to ensure the holistic care of individuals in need including, when possible, hospital visits, home visits where people are ill, suffering or unable to leave their homes. Six CAMEO °Come and Meet Each Otherf lunches were held during the year attended by around 25 people and were much appreciated. "Tots & Co. meet weekly in the village hall on Friday momings in term time. PALS - St Peter and St Lawren￿ Ladies - meet monthly for walks on Tuesday mornings which offer a time of fellowship together and a PALS book club also meets regularly. Opportunities for exploring the Christian faith and Bible study are offered by House Groups which meet on a regular basis and comprise around 80 people. A new initiative was "The Chosen" Watch Paty. Steve and Karen Bull hosted a series of evening sessions watching an episode from The Chosen, a film version of the lrfe of Jesus. followed by a discussion. Mission and Evangelism The leadership team met during the year to di￿usS Vision and Mission in the Parish. The Tower and Steeple website and the Tower and Steeple Facebook group allow the church family to keep in touch. Notice sheets are emailed weekly giving details of services. The Rectorfs weekday Rectory Reflections are re￿iVed by over 100 people. A Lent course "Dust and Glory'_ a journey of faith, failure and forgiveness was run at st Lawrence by Pippa Hillen. Helping those in need is a demonstration of our faith. The Diocese Poverty & Hope Appeal was supported, along with a number of organisations including Christian Aid, CPAS, Tearfund, Youth for Christ, Life and Soul, and Mosaic Resource Centre Tunbridge Wells. At the Harvest service gifts vRre donated to the Southborough Community Larder run by Christ Church in Southborough. The "Shoebox. Christmas appeal, "Operation Christmas Child", run by Samaritans Purse was supported by a number of volunteers at the South East pro￿SSIng ￿ntre in Tonbridge. The Coronation of King Charles 111 was ￿lebrated in St Lawrence church with floral displays lebrating S¢yne of the interests and activities of the King. Ecumenical Relationships The churches of St Lawren￿, Bidborough and St Peter, SoLrthborough are part of "The ACTS Group Ministry. (Anglican Churches Together in Southborough) which includes Christ Church, Southborough and St Thomas, Southborough. The churches joined toJether for the Remembrance Service at the Southborough War Memorial and also worked together to support events in Southborough Town Square at Easter and the De￿rnber Winter Festival. In November a Memorial servi￿ of thanksgiving for any in Southborough who had lost loved ones was held at St Peterfs. It was attended by 50-60 people. Bidborough School We have close links with Bidborough Church of England Primary school. Reverend Stephen Hills, Claire Rorke and Amanda Harris are Foundation Governors at the school, arKI Reverend Stephen Hills leads weekly acts of collective worship throughout the school. Financial Review Relative to budget expectations (set in November 2022), 2023 concluded entirely satisfactorily, cost excesses being absorbed by corresponding income gains. Insuran￿ (£900), maintenan￿ (£2300) accounted for most of the ex￿5$ costs. On the plus side, increased Donations (£3000) and Collections (£2500) less a reduction in Fee Income (£2500). helped to balance the situation. The opportunty was taken to drawdown some of the (30Yo) Rental Income (net £2600) from 54 Holden Park Road which is currently let extemally. The parishes continue to meet, in full, our agreed share of Diocesan costs (£60,000) which accounts for 70¥0 of our total expenditure. Finally, BLINK a charitable initiative between St Lawren￿ Church and a ￿1n parish in Kibaigwa, Tanzania- has been inactive for sorne time. In addrtion the principal trustees have moved away from the area. For administrative practicality, with DI0￿$an written approval, funds of £7200, in a completely separate deposit account, were incorporated into the accounts. These are fully restricted monies. are subject to separate mandate arrangements and will not affect the parishes, Di0￿san share calculations. Reserves Policy The PCC has detemined that it would be wise. in case of unforeseen expense or temporary reduction of income, to maintain reserves of unrestricted current assets, insofar as these are within the PCC'S control, at a ￿Ve1 of bebNeen three and six months 'normal expenditure, excluding items of large, special or project expenditure. As at 31.12.2023 Net Current Assets were £221,342. The Accounts have been prepared on a going con￿rn basis. Volunteers We would like to thank all our volunteers, too numerous to mention individually, who work so hard to make our church the lively and vibrant community tt is. We would like to thank our Churchwardens Ed Dix-Perkin, Bob Gibson, Roy Langman, Lin Huichinson and in particular Richard Stanbury who stepped down during the year after many years service. We are grateful to the team who lead our worship week by week. and those who care both for our churches and our church family members, including our children and young people. ClergylLay Mini8terJ In July we bid farewell to Dave Bubb, Curate licensed to Christ Church and our parish. We are grateful for the contribution he made to the lrfe of the Parish and wish him well as he moves to a new parish near PeterborougtL Pippa Hillen completed her Bishop's Certificate as part of her training for li(*nsed lay ministry. Structure. governance and management The PCC is a corporate body established by the Church of England, constituted under Trust Deed dated 1" June 2019. The PCC operates under the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure and is registered with the Charsty Commission. Charty Number 1184753. Members of the PCC are etther ex officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. All those who attend our servi￿8 are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election to the PCC. New PCC members are issued with the Church of England guidance on responsibilities and duties as a charity trustee and all Trustees are kept up to date with any additional guidance from the Charity Commission. PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and Importan￿ to the parish including deciding on how the funds of the PCC are to be spent. The full PCC met six times during the year (including the APCM) with an average level of attendance of 71 Yo. There was one decision by email. Each Church has a standing committee (consisting of Rector, Treasurer, Churchwardens and one PCC representative) to consider fabric and finan￿ matters and there is also a Ministry Team. Matters from these committees are reported back to the PCC and discussed as necessary. A PCC Standing Committee is required under Church Representation Rules and has the power to transact the business of the PCC behveen its meetings, subject to any directions given by the PCC. The Standing Commtttee consists of the Clergy, one churchwarden from each church, PCC Secretary and Treasurer. The PCC Standing Committee did not meet in 2023. Administratlve Inforniation St Lawrence Church is situated in the High Street Bidborough, TN3 OUJ and St Peter's Church in Church Road, Southborough TN4 ORX. The churches are part of the Diocese of Rochester within the Church of England. The Corresponden￿ address is: The Rectory, Rectory Drive, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells TN3 OUL. Email: towerandsteeple@gmail.com Website: www.towerandsteeple.org Patronage Board includes Church Pastoral Aid Society and The Mabledon Trust. Bank: HSBC Bank PIC Lloyds Bank PIC Independent Examiner: Zachary Ramsden St Lawrence Church is supported by a verger, David Hunter. who resides at Ivy Cottage. Curate - Rev Dave Bubb. Curate si￿nsed to Christ Church Southborough and our parish until July. Licensed Lay Minister- Allan Jonnes Bishop's LICen￿- Sophie Kersey, Lin Hutchinson. Emma Lawrence, Pippa Hillen Clergy PTO - Rev Ray Skinner PCC members Ex Officio members Rector: Reverend Stephen Hills Curate". Rev Dave Bubb Churchwardens". Bob Gibson- St Lawren Ed Dix-Perkin - St Lawren Roy Langman - St Peter Richard Stanbury - St Peter Lin Hutchinson - St Peter Diocesan Synod: Rodney Hutchinson Deanery Synod: Mary Cottle- St Lawren Lin Hutchinson - St Peter {Chair) (until July) (VI￿ Chair) (until APCM 2023) (from APCM 2023) (from APCM 2022) Elected members: Thomas Bird - St Peter Steven Boulton - St Lawrence Peter Dillon (Parish Treasurer) Pippa Hillen- St Lawrence Anne Hinds (Pastoral cO￿rdInator) Karen Bull- St Peter {from APCM 2023) Alison Lush (Secretary) Alison Mighell (Parish Safeguarding Offi￿r) Marion Short- st Peter (from APCM 2023) Approved by the PCC on 13 March 2024 Signed ..... Reverend Stephen ills (PC Chairman) # **The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Lawrence Bidborough and St Peter Southborough** **Charity no.1184753** **Annual Report and Financial Statements Year ended 31st December 2023** **- Parochial Church Council St Lawrence & St Peter Charity Number 1184753** ## **BALANCE SHEET at 31 December 2023** |**Note**
Fixed Assets
1
**Total fixed assets**
**Current Assets**
**Note**
Debtors & Prepayments
2
Short term deposits
Repair funds
3
Cash at bank and in hand
4
**Total current assets**
**Creditors/Liabilities:**
Falling due within one year
2
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**Total Assets - Net Curr Liabs**
**FUNDS OF THE CHARITY**
Unrestricted
6
Restricted
6
Endowment|**2023**
**2022**| |---|---| ||91,560
91,560| ||**91,560**
**91,560**| ||12,766
10,840
98,002
94,952
59,005
51,958
57,332
53,129| ||**227,105**
**210,879**| ||5,763
7,834| ||**221,342**
**203,045**| ||| ||**312,902**
**294,605**| ||305,533
294,605
7,369| ||**312,902**
**294,605**| Approved by the Parochial Church Council on 13.04 2024 and signed on its behalf by: SA Hills Signed S A Hills (Rector) Dated P Dillon Signed P A Dillon (PCC Treasurer) 14 2029 91560 Flxed A55ets 91560 Totylfts•d •#•ty 9&560 ioxi Slb]rtteTh deposh5 Ropalrfunds Cashatbank oThJ In 94952 591 57332 53J29 I27.￿5 210 Fallln8 d￿￿1*￿n (Thyear 5,763 NEraiRAEIIT ASSEts 22L342 T0tsIA￿ts. MrtCurrU•bs 311902 I94￿05 FUND50FTHE CTrL4ArrY 305533 311￿2 Appro¥ed bythe thurch Counclon 13J)4 2024 on b￿￿ff by. SA HIIS SIs￿d S A HINS {RecirA) Dated | Slymd PA {PCCTre•swerJ ## **Parochial Church Council - St Lawrence & St Peter. Charity Number 1184753 Notes to the BALANCE SHEET For twelve months ended 31 December 2023** |**Note**
**1**
**2**
**3**
**4**
**5**
**6**|Fixed Assets
Ivy Cottage
54 Holden Park Road
Ivy Cottage was given to St Lawrence Church in 1910
54 Holden Park Road was given to Christ Church and
Debtors and Prepayments
Income tax recoverable - gift aid
Advertising
Annual insurance prepaid for Ivy Cottage
Prepaid Utilities
Amount due from Christ Church re. 54HPR
Repairs Funds
Diocesan church repair fund
St L - Diocesan Ivy Cottage repair fund
Cash at bank and in hand
St L - HSBC - current a/c
St L - Lloyds bank - current a/c
St L - HSBC Deposit a/c
St L - HSBC Deposit a/c
St P - Lloyds TSB Current Account
St P - Tithe Account
St P - Vicar's discretionary fund
Petty Cash
Creditors and accruals
Rectory repairs Accruals
Ivy Cottage repairs Accruals
DBF Fees Accrual
Tithing accrual for Prior Years
Youth Fund
Utility and Sundry accruals
Tots
Adventurers
Fellowship Afloat Deposits
WLTDO fund
Ray Skinner Generation Trust Grant
Prepaid Fees due to Provider
Movement in funds
General fund
**Designated funds**
Organ Fund
Sundry Designated Items
Blink funds
**Restricted funds**
Project 2022
Blink Funds
Ray Skinner Generation Trust Grant
Total funds|**St Lawrence**
**St Lawrence**
**St Peter**
**St Peter**
**2023**
**2022**
**2023**
**2022**
£
£
£
£
75,960
75,960
-
-
-
-
15,600
15,600
75,960
75,960
15,600
15,600
by Emily Maynard "for the benefit of the Rector and use by the church members"
St Peters Southborough. The property value, income and expenses are shared on a 70:30 ba
2,335
2,116
1,610
1,809
600
580
-
-
8,221
6,335
2,935
2,696
9,831
8,144
31,775
29,500
18,418
14,682
8,812
7,776
-
40,587
37,276
18,418
14,682
3,315
3,973
-
-
966
3,096
-
-
32,518
33,988
-
-
7,287
-
13,042
11,868
-
-
204
204
-
44,086
41,057
13,246
12,072
1,299
1,719
1,016
1,016
-
780
438
438
438
-
1,000
-
500
-
70
2,572
2,180
-
49
-
82
5,325
7,834
438
-
**B/f**
**Income**
**Expenses**
**Transfers**
**C/f**
288,278
97,376
-94,613
14,492
305,533
5,012
-5,012
0
1,315
-1,315
0
0
0
**6,327**
**0**
**0**
**-6,327**
**0**
0
11,069
-2,904
-8,165
0
0
7,287
7,287
0
82
82
**0**
**18,438**
**-2,904**
**-8,165**
**7,369**
**294,605**
**115,814**
**-97,517**
**0**
**312,902**|**Parish Total**
**Parish Total**
**2023**
**2022**
£
£
75,960
75,960
15,600
15,600| |---|---|---|---| ||||91,560
91,560| ||||sis.
3,945
3,925
-
-
600
580
-
-
8,221
6,335| ||||12,766
10,840| ||||50,193
44,182
8,812
7,776| ||||59,005
51,958| ||||3,315
3,973
966
3,096
32,518
33,988
7,287
-
13,042
11,868
-
-
204
204
-
-| ||||57,332
53,129| ||||1,299
1,719
1,016
1,016
438
780
438
438
-
1,000
-
-
-
500
-
70
2,572
2,180
-
49
-
82
-
-| ||||5,763
7,834| ||||| ## Project 2022 In 2023 amounts received related to delayed grants and VAT refunds. In 2022 the general fund paid for £16,449 of expenses relating to Project 2022. Therefore the 2023 net income was transferred back to general funds in 2023. ## **Parochial Church Council - St Lawrence & St Peter. Charity Number 1184753** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES** |**For twelve months ended 31 December 2023**
**INCOMING RESOURCES**
Note
Voluntary income
1(a)
Activities for generating income
1(b)
Income from investments
1(c)
Income from church activitites
1(d)
**Total**
**RESOURCES EXPENDED**
Parish share
2(a)
Salaries, wages and honoraria
2(b)
Clergy & staff expenses
2(c)
Church running expenses
2(d)
Church activity expenses
2(e)
Mission giving and donations
2(f)
Rectory, Ivy Cottage & 54HPR
2(g)
Major repairs to church
2(h)
Major repairs to hall
2(i)
Major repairs to parsonage
2(j)
New building work
2(k)
Other
2(l)
**Total**
NET Incoming resources before other recognised gains
Gains on investment assets
on disposal
on revaluation
NET MOVEMET IN FUNDS
TRANSFERS BETWEEN FUNDS
3
BALANCES BROUGHT FORWARD AT
1 JANUARY
BALANCES CARRIED FORWARD AT
31 DECEMBER|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**TOTAL**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
83,902
18,438
0
102,340
0
0
0
0
5,172
0
0
5,172
7,302
0
0
7,302
~~**96,376**~~
~~**18,438**~~
~~**0**~~
~~**114,814**~~
60,000
0
0
60,000
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
18,266
2,904
0
21,170
2,628
0
0
2,628
6,065
0
0
6,065
6,654
0
0
6,654
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
**93,613**
**2,904**
**0**
**96,517**
2,763
15,534
0
18,297
0
0
0
0
**2023**|Adjusted to account for(£437)Carried forward -St Peters| |---|---|---| |||**_2022_**| |||**_Unrestricted_**
**_Restricted_**
**_Endowment_**
**_TOTAL_**
**_Funds_**
**_Funds_**
**_Funds_**
**_£_**
**_£_**
**_£_**
**_£_**| |||_97,109_
_0_
_0_
_97,109_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_985_
_0_
_0_
_985_
_8,743_
_0_
_0_
_8,743_| |||~~**_106,836_**~~
~~**_0_**~~
~~**_0_**~~
~~**_106,836_**~~| |||_66,223_
_0_
_0_
_66,223_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_50,399_
_0_
_0_
_50,399_
_2,324_
_0_
_0_
_2,324_
_6,996_
_0_
_0_
_6,996_
_4,682_
_0_
_0_
_4,682_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_
_0_| |||**_130,624_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_130,624_**| |||_(23,788)_
_0_
_0_
_(23,788)_| ||~~2,763~~
~~15,534~~
~~0~~
~~18,297~~
0
8,165
(8,165)
0
~~10,928~~
~~7,369~~
~~0~~
~~18,297~~
294,605
294,605
**305,533**
**7,369**
**0**
**312,902**|~~(23,788)~~
~~0~~
~~0~~
~~(23,788)~~
5,198
_5,455_| |||~~_(18,590)_~~
~~_0_~~
~~_0_~~
~~_(18,333)_~~
313,195
0
0
313,195| |||**_294,605_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_294,605_**| ## **Parochial Church Council - St Lawrence & St Peter. Charity Number 1184753** ## **INCOME** |1(a)
**Voluntary income**
Gift aided donations
Other donations
Tax Recoverable
Collections at services
Grants. Project 2022
Legacies
Other donations
**TOTAL**
1(b)
**Activities for generating income**
Fundraising
Other income
**TOTAL**
1(c)
**Income from investments**
Dividends and interest
**TOTAL**
1(d)
**Income from church activitites**
Fees
30% share of 54HPR Rental Income
**TOTAL**
**TOTAL**|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**TOTAL**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
61,942
**61,942**
1,972
7,369
**9,341**
15,531
**15,531**
4,457
**4,457**
11,069
**11,069**
**-**
**-**
**83,902**
**18,438**
**-**
**102,340**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
5,172
**5,172**
**5,172**
**-**
**-**
**5,172**
2,991
**2,991**
4,311
**4,311**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**7,302**
**-**
**-**
**7,302**
**96,376**
**18,438**
**-**
**114,814**
**2023**|**2022**| |---|---|---| |||**_Unrestricted_**
**_Restricted_**
**_Endowment_**
**_TOTAL_**
**_Funds_**
**_Funds_**
**_Funds_**
**_£_**
**_£_**
**_£_**
**_£_**| |||64,956
**64,956**
6,231
**6,231**
15,971
**15,971**
3,174
**3,174**
6,777
**6,777**
**-**
**-**| |||**97,109**
**-**
**-**
**97,109**| |||**-**| |||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**| |||985
**985**| |||**985**
**-**
**-**
**985**| |||5,893
**5,893**
2,850
**2,850**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**| |||**8,743**
**-**
**-**
**8,743**| |||| |||**106,836**
**-**
**-**
**106,836**| ## **EXPENSES** |**Note**
**Church activities**
2(a)
Parish share
2(b)
Salaries, wages and honoraria
Par 2(c)
Clergy & staff expenses
Rectory
Training
Mobiles
Other Vicar expenses
Off 2(d)
Church running expenses
Operations
Fabric *
Worship/services
Insurance
Other
Church utility bills
Church Repair Fund
Mission and evangelism
"Co2(e)
Church activity expenses
Children & Youth
Pastoral events
Choir/Licences/Music
Community Lunch/breakfast
2(f)
Mission giving and donations
2(g)
Rectory, Ivy Cottage & 54HPR
2(h)
Major repairs to church
2(i)
Major repairs to hall
2(j)
Major repairs to parsonage
2(k)
New building work
2(l)
**TOTAL***|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Endowment**
**TOTAL**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**Funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**60,000**
**60,000**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
2,568
**2,568**
3,405
2,904
**6,309**
**0**
6,851
**6,851**
387
**387**
5,055
**5,055**
0
**0**
**0**
**18,266**
**2,904**
**21,170**
**0**
2,155
**2,155**
473
**473**
**0**
**2,628**
**2,628**
**6,065**
**6,065**
**6,654**
**6,654**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**0**
**93,613**
**2,904**
**0**
**96,517**
**2023**|**_2022_**| |---|---|---| |||**_Unrestricted_**
**_Restricted_**
**_Endowment_**
**_TOTAL_**
**_Funds_**
**_Funds_**
**_Funds_**
**_£_**
**_£_**
**_£_**
**_£_**| |||**66,223**
**_66,223_**
**0**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
2,570
**_2,570_**
31,059
**_31,059_**
**_0_**
6,453
**_6,453_**
777
**_777_**
4,342
**_4,342_**
5,198
**_5,198_**
**_0_**
**50,399**
**_50,399_**
**_0_**
1,882
**_1,882_**
442
**_442_**
**_0_**
**2,324**
**_2,324_**
**6,996**
**_6,996_**
**4,682**
**_4,682_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_0_**| |||**_130,624_**
**_0_**
**_0_**
**_130,624_**| * Includes £2904 Proj 2022 ## **Parochial Church Council - St Lawrence & St Peter. Charity Number 1184753 Notes to the STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For twelve months ended 31 December 2023** - 1 **Reserves policy** The PCC has determined that it would be wise, in case of unforseen expense or temporary reduction of income, to maintain reserves of unrestricted current assets, in sofar as these are within the PCC's control, at a level of between three and six months 'normal expenditure' excluding items of large, special or project expenditure. As at 31.12.2023 Net Current Assets were £221,342. The Accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis ## **2(b) Staff Costs & Pension** There are no employees paid by the Parish and no National Insurance or pension payments. The Rector's stipend is paid by the Diocese of Rochester which accounts for all payroll aspects independently of the Parish. ## **2(d) Church Running Expenses** Governance: includes Independent Examiner's fee of £535 (for 2022 accounts) - **2(f) Missionary & Charitable Giving** |**Grants of £1,000 or more made in the period**
Poverty and Hope
Christian Aid
Tearfund
**Grants of < £1,000 made in the period, for mission**
Other organisations/charities
Other individuals|£1,000
£1,000
£1,024| |---|---| ||**£3,024**
£4,041
£0| ||£7,065| ## **2(d) Refurbishment/Alterations- St Peter** **Project 2022** was conceived to provide upgraded toilet facilites and is now complete. All invoices have been paid. The remaining balance (£11715) on Project 2022 account(which included a drawdown of £20,000 from Reserves) has been transferred back to the main Lloyds account and the Project has been completed - 3 **PCC Members - Expenses (Trustees and related parties)** Other than an occasional small honorarium paid to the organist or verger at services, no expenses have been paid to any trustee, committee member or related party, other than reimbursement of costs for items purchased on behalf of the parish and approved in writing by the Rector. - 4 **Fixed and Restricted/Designated Assets** Ivy Cottage was given to St Lawrence Church in 1910 by Emily Maynard "for the benefit of the Rector and use by the church members" The Organ Fund is designated as such by the PCC and not specifically restricted by the donor. The Fellowship Afloat monies represent deposits lodged for an external event in Summer 2023 5 **Salaries/National Insurance/Pension Scheme** There are no employees paid by the Parish and no National Insurance or pension payments. The Rector's stipend is paid by the Diocese of Rochester which accounts for all payroll aspects independently of the Parish. ## 6 **IndependentExamination Fee** The fee for Independent examination of these accounts will be £560, and will be paid in 2024. ## 7 **Going concern** The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the ability to continue as a going concern. - 8 **Trustees' remuneration and benefits** None of the Trustees have been paid any remuneration or received any other benefits from the charity (2022 none). - 9 **Related party transactions** There have been no transactions with persons or entities that are closely connected to the charity or its trustees (2022 none). Ila)EPEIIDEN7 EV4MINATION REPRESENTAIION LETTER PCC of St Law?nce Bid￿MI￿Oh Bnd St P•ter Southbomugh To Zathary R*[￿n (the Independent Exarriner) The follovAng representauons are rrAd& on Iho ba8ls of enqulrfes of tru81888, Staff and ￿lUnteerS with rel8vant knovAodge and expedenc8 ￿Ch 88 *e consider necessary In connedon wth your independ8Tht oxaminHtN>n of the charitys finanrAal stat•rrnnts for th• year endod 31* Decemlxr 20Z&. rnpr•sor#qtK*ns ar• rn&d8 10 th• bo81 ofwr kno￿8￿ge and b8W. 1. AM•ts IlabfjFIII•B Th? ¢h&rfty h*$ Satisfaclory th lo al as8et8 and thero are no leq•l dairm or li•t*libes on th• ththrity'¥ •$s•ts. 2. L•yl clAlm have d￿Closed to you qll claim8 in connection lrfgation Ihat hav• beon. or arn •xp•L*•d to t4, r•uived And suth m&tl•r5. as apwopriRt•. ha￿ l)wn prowty acwunted for. and (asdosed in. th• fjnanGl￿ $lqt•m•nts. 3. Lawsand i•gul•llons W• h4v8 dsthsed to you all kno￿ inslancos of [￿-CoM￿lan￿ or 8usp•cled non40rnF4i#fic• and regul01￿5 %5*0se eiferts ¥I￿ld b• consid•T•d V+hen pr•parin9 th• finanaal slatern¢nl$. 4. Rolat•d parll•• R¢lBted psty reLgtionship and tran8actk*M have t4en app¥oprfalety sccouTrtod for and ¢Jsr*)8•d M the financ￿1 4tatemonts. havo discbsod to you al relavant inlomwtron conc•rning such ra18tion*hips and tran8actic￿l and TrQt of ony Othor mNtter5 rwirn dkId¢Xs￿ in order to *ith legkslative and a¢coun*ng st*id1￿ r*quremgnts. S. Going eofi¢•rn We believe that tho charlf¥'s financtal 8¢at8rn8nts should b8 prep8r•d on a wnp concom basis on Ihe grou1￿S thwt ￿[rent and fjjture sourc*s offundino or SUPPOrt￿lI b8 mor8 than adawale for the charivs noeds. hRv• crfftsidered a penod of ts¥￿¥￿ Month8 from the date of apwo¥al oftho finan￿81 stal8[￿ts. th believe Ihal no turtsr& at tonditiOti$, nobfi•d to you. Thèm h￿￿ baèrt no of t*mM or￿n￿bon￿ in th• 4pplK4ti0rt of suth in¢omè. Yourn f•thfultr Swd on b8haWolth8 PCC ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of the** ## **Parochial Church Council of St Lawrence Bidborough and St Peter Southborough** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2023. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity's trustees, 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 charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of t he 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: - the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or - the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. ## Signed: Zachary Ramsden Name: Zachary Ramsden FCA Chartered Accountant 63 Deakin Leas, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 2JT Date: 18[th] March 2024 **PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL St. Lawrence Bidborough & St. Peter Southborough** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** The PCC is a public benefit entity within the meaning of FRS102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 governing the individual accounts of PCCs together with applicable accounting standards and the Statement of Recommended Practice as the applicable standard for charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (SORP(FRS102)). ## **ASSETS** **Consecrated and benefice property** In so far as consecrated and benefice property of any kind (i.e. the church and vicarage) is excluded from the statutory definition of 'charity' by Section 10(2) (a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011 such assets are not classified in the financial statements. **Moveable church furnishings** These are capitalised at cost and depreciated over their useful economic life other than where insufficient cost information is available. In this case the item is not capitalised, but all items are included within the Church inventory. ## **Tangible fixed assets** Land and buildings No depreciation is provided on buildings as the current estimated residual value of the properties is not less than their carrying value and the remaining useful life of these assets currently exceeds 50 years, so that any depreciation charges would be immaterial. An impairment review is carried out on a regular basis and any resultant loss identified is included within expenditure for the year. (NB an impairment review is a formal check that the current value of a fixed asset such as a house or building is greater than the value shown in the balance sheet. ) Any expenditure on maintenance or improvements on fixed assets is written off as incurred. **Short term deposits** These are the cash held on deposit either with HSBC Bank, Lloyds Bank, Diocese, CCLA or at another bank. ## **FUNDS** **Unrestricted Funds** These represent the income funds of the PCC that are available for spending on the general purposes of the PCC. These include amounts designated by the PCC for fixed assets for its own use or for spending on a future project and which are not included as 'free reserves' as disclosed in the trustees' report. **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. **Endowment Funds** These are restricted funds that must be retained as trust capital either permanently or subject to a discretionary power to spend capital as income, and where the use of income or other benefit derived from the capital may be restricted or unrestricted. Full details of all their restrictions are shown in the notes of the accounts. **INCOMING RESOURCES** The financial statements include all transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC 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. **Voluntary income and capital sources** Collections are recognised when received by or on behalf of the PCC. Planned giving under covenants or gift aid donations is recognised when received. Income tax recoverable on gift aid donations is recognised when the related income is recognised. Grants and legacies to the PCC are accounted for as soon as the PCC is notified of its entitlement and the likely amount due. Funds raised by church events and activities are accounted for gross, i.e. before any associated expenses. **Other ordinary income** Rental from the letting of church premises is recognised when the rental is due. Parochial fees due to the PCC for weddings, funerals etc. are accounted for when the event occurs. **Income from investments** Dividends and interest are accounted for when receivable. Tax recoverable on such income is recognised in the same accounting year. **RESOURCES USED Grants** Grants and donations are accounted for when paid, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding obligation on the PCC. **Activities directly related to the work of the Church** The Diocesan Parish Offer in respect of clergy and diocesan costs are accounted for when paid. Any additional amounts agreed by the PCC but not paid across as at 31st December are shown as creditors in the balance sheet. **DEBTORS** Amounts owing to the PCC at 31st December in respect of income tax fees, rents or other income are shown as debtors less provision for amounts that may prove uncollectable. **Diocesan Church Repair Fund - Quinquennial Funds** The Diocesan Church Repair Fund consists of funds designated by the PCC for future repairs. A contribution rate into the fund is agreed to pay for these repairs. The repairs specified in the survey report are funded by the Diocesan Church Repair Fund. ￿POrt Act. 0*•" Marth 2024