The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary Magdalene Church, Torquay
Registration Number: 1188333
Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts of the Parochial Church Council for the Year Ended 31[st] December 2024
Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
from 1[st] January 2024 to 31[st] December 2024
Charity name: THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, TORQUAY
Charity registration number: 1188333
Objectives and Activities
The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St. Mary Magdalene, and the team clergy, work to promote the worship, mission and ministry Christ in the parish of Upton, Torquay, within the diocese of Exeter.
The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church Hall, within the grounds of St Mary Magdalene.
St. Mags exists to proclaim in words and deeds Life to the Full through Jesus Christ.
As well as Sunday services and occasional offices, St Mags runs
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The Living Room - Community Café
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The Play Room – Stay and play for parents with pre-school children
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The Store Room - Food bank
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The Recovery Room – as an umbrella for work with those in recovery.
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The Prayer Room – as an umbrella for the prayer chapel and rhythm of corporate prayer.
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The Youth Room – youth work for years 6-12)
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Voyagers - children’s ministry on Sunday mornings.
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Schools’ ministry in two church schools.
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Active engagement with the local authority and social issues in the town centre.
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Opportunities to grow in faith and friendship through a variety of events.
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Creative and cultural events.
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We work ecumenically with other local churches and the clergy take an active role in the life of the Anglican chapter.
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We also hire out the church hall throughout the week to a wide variety of community groups, parties, including the Prince’s Trust.
To enable all this to happen the Incumbant works closely with the other clergy, Licensed Lay ministers, one full time paid Living Room Pastor and a part time paid Operations Administrator, and a large voluntary leadership team.
The doors of St Mags are open to all, including / especially the most marginalised and fractured. We believe there should be rooms within the House of the Church where all can find welcome and a home.
The PCC trustees understand their important role in the governance of the church and charity.
Achievements and Performance
Through the activities listed above we see lives changed as people come to faith in Christ and are supported in the community of faith. The church cares for people in body, mind and spirit.
We continued to broaden the reach of St Mags and welcomed new people into the church both online and in person.
Through the work of the Rooms and the wider church we support many people in recovery from addiction, mental health crisis and trauma. We support the lonely, visit the sick, clothe people who are without, feed the hungry and aim to equip all Church members to be a blessing and source of life to all those they spend their days with.
We are working hard to diversify the funding streams of St Mags and have received funding from - the local authority for Store Room and Living Room. This last year we have received many small
medium injections of grant funding from local authority and local churches. We also received a procurement grant and support from a local Charitable Trust, totalling £47,000 to install a new Kitchen and shower facility to enable us to offer hot showers and laundry facility to the street homeless and most deprived. The Wash Room was opened at the start of 2025.
We have further cemented the church as an appreciated and professional hub within the wider life of Torbay, and broadened the demographic appeal of the church.
We made some significant reductions in running costs, whilst boosting the quality of the food in Living Room, e.g. more for less! This coupled with increased generosity meant for a more settled year that ended with a smaller deficit compared to 2023.
The PCC are deeply grateful to well over 100 volunteers who participate in the life of the church and who demonstrate the love of God to all who come through the doors. It is with that in mind that we supported over 100 volunteers through up-to-date safeguarding training, appropriate to their role.
Looking ahead to 2025 we will be may well be planning for and seeking funding for
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Funding to pay Conservators to complete specialist reports on marble, bells, organ, clock tower and stained glass so that, along with the outcome of the quinquennial we can put together a much larger bid/s for significant works in future years.
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Funding to install disabled access and resurface the dangerous carpark.
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Funding to employ a fixed term Family, Children and Youth Enabler
Financial Review
- Statement of Financial Activity. The headline is that the deficit for the year has reduced considerably from £15.8K in 2023 to £9.6K in 2024. When the fraud write off is excluded, the deficit is only £3.3K. Most of that deficit relates to the early months of 2024 before we started to encourage more donations for the Living Room (LR) and lowered the LR costs. The smaller deficit shows how well this concentration on the LR has gone. A huge ‘thank you’ is due to Chris Winsley for preparing meals for the LR instead of buying ready-made which has greatly reduced costs.
Total Income has increased which is good news - £240.4K compared with £167.6K in 2023 – with almost every income heading showing an increase. The largest increase is due to grants and other gifts we have received for the new kitchen and shower project as well as the continuing grants for both the Living and Store Rooms.
Unsurprisingly, total expenses have also increased markedly - £250K compared with £183.4K in 2023 – but most of this is found under the ‘Repairs and Renewals’ heading. This includes the new kitchen and shower project plus work on the lighting in church, repairs to some of the church roof leadwork and the replacement of the hall’s guttering. Other expenses are pretty much in line with previous years with the increase in bank fees reflecting increased giving via the Sum Up machines in church. The ‘Donations Paid’ increase to £3.1K compared with £1.7K in 2023 primarily relates to the £100 monthly donation the church now makes to the Kawangare Project.
The ‘Write off of unrecoverable portion of fraud’ of £6361 is included following the conclusion of the associated court case in October ’24. This resulted in an order of compensation for the church of £2400 – the first instalment of which was received in January. This difference of £6361 between the previous Balance Sheet figure of £8761 and the £2400 compensation will not be recovered and,
following the advice of our Independent Examiner, has been included in 2024’s Statement of Financial Activity.
Looking Ahead. If we continue to control our expenses and if the level of giving remains steady then, hopefully, we may move back into surplus during 2025. However, there are some indicators that this may not be straightforward: a £1k a month donation has stopped due to the donor moving away and the new gas contract means we are now paying more for our gas.
- Balance Sheet. This is much healthier compared with last year. The CAF account and new Gold Deposit Account total £41.8K compared with £25K in December 2023. Also, the shortfall between these bank accounts and the totals of donated Restricted Funds and Deferred Income has reduced as follows:
| 2024 Restricted Funds 25.9 Less CBF Fund(3.4) 22.5 Deferred Income26.9 49.4 Less Bank Accts.(41.8) Shortfall £ 7.6K |
2023 |
|---|---|
| 29.2 (3.3) 25.9 25.5 51.4 (25.1) 26.3K |
Once the new kitchen and shower project is completed then the previous Restricted Hall Kitchen fund shown at £7K will no longer be needed and the remaining balance, with the agreement of the donors, can be released back into general funds. This would further reduce the shortfall.
Charities reserves policy:
It is PCC policy to try to maintain a balance on free reserves which equates to at least three months unrestricted payments. This is equivalent to £30,000. It is held to smooth out fluctuations in cash flow and to meet emergencies. The balance of the free reserves (Unrestricted and Designated Funds) at the year-end was £18,772. The PCC is taking active steps to reduce costs and increase income to restore the free reserves back up to £30,000.
A description of the principal risks facing the charity:
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A major unexpected demand on building maintenance could put the viability of the Charity at risk.
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Running deficit
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Energy Prices have gone up. We avoided the really high Tariffs and negotiated a good three year deal, however Utility prices are up about 50-75%
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One significant regular donor has ceased to give
Structure, Governance and Management
The PCC is a Body Corporate established by the Church of England (PCC Powers Measure 1956, and the Church Representation Rules 2006) and is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission. The PCC is governed by the Parochial Church Council Powers Measure (1956) as amended that came into effect on 2[nd] January 1957, and the Church Representation Rules [CRR] (2020).
The method of appointment of the PCC members is set out in the CRR. The Council comprises the Incumbent, the Churchwardens, those elected to the Deanery Synod, and other members who are elected at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, by those on the Electoral Roll. The PCC members receive training as required from courses run by the Diocese. Members of the congregation are always urged to join the Electoral Roll, and to stand for election to the PCC.
The PCC members are responsible for making decisions on all matters of general concern and importance in the parish, and for all financial matters. The PCC meet 6 times a year. Given its responsibilities, the PCC has a number of sub committees, each dealing with a particular aspect of parish life.
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The Leadership team which meets monthly.
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The Buildings advisory Group. (BAG) – termly.
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The Living Room Action Group (LRAG) - monthly
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The Playroom Development Group (PRDG) – half termly.
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Store Room steering group –(StRDG) every two months
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Each reports back to the PCC with the minutes of their meetings.
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, TORQUAY |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | St Mags |
| Registered charity number | 1188333 |
| Charity’s principal address | ST. MARY MAGDALENE PARISH CHURCH CHURCH HALL UNION STREET TORQUAY TQ1 4BX |
| Phone | 01803211868 |
| office@stmarymagdalene.org.uk | |
| Website | https://stmags.org.uk |
PCC members who have served from 21st April 2024 until the date this report was approved were:
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 |
Trustee name | Ofce (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Leach | Rector | ||
| Tony Hughes | Warden | Elected Apr 24 | |
| Jim Corderoy | Warden | Elected Apr 24 | |
| Sue Cooper | Deanery Synod | Elected April 23 | |
| Edwina Corderoy | Deanery Synod And PCC Secretary |
Elected April 23 | |
| Virginia Hamilton | Ex-Ofcio Deanery Synod | Elected April 23 | |
| Nigel Deller | Treasurer | Co-Opt | |
| Petrina Jones | Living room and CR pastor | Co-Opt | |
| Rev John Garner | PTO clergy | Ex-Ofcio | |
| 1. Elaine Wilson | PCC | Elected 2022 | |
| 2. Megan Clemence | PCC | Elected 2022 | |
| 3. Judith Fortune | PCC | Elected 2022 | |
| 4. Beki Newcomb | PCC | Elected 2022 | |
| 5. Mike Pugh | PCC | Elected April 23 | |
| 6. Jane Badcot | PCC | Elected April 23 | |
| 7. Joy Payne | PCC | Elected April 23 | |
| 8. Judy Fraser | PCC | Elected April 23 | |
| 9. Nick Pannell | PCC | Elected April 23 | |
| 10. Rachel Miller | PCC | Elected April 23 | |
| 11. Robin Hart | PCC | Elected April 23 | |
| 12. Emma Hammond | PCC | Elected April 24 | |
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Nigel Deller
Position (eg Secretary, Treasurer Chair, etc)
Date 18 March 2025 hial il fth E I ia al Pari tma Independent examiner'5 report to the trustees of The Parochial Church Council of the Eeelesiastieal Parish of St Mary Ma%dalene Chureh Torqua!.. I report to th¢ LliaTity tru%tcc% on my exaininatic)n of thc aLLounts uf The Par()Lhial ChurLh c.ouncil of the Ecclesiastical Parish of St Mary Magdalene Church Torquay (the Tnjst) for the year ended 31 DeL'ember 2024. Responsibilities and basis of report A% the charity truslee.% of tl)e Trust you are resw)nsiblc for the preparation of thc accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'the Act,). I report in rcspcct of my cxamination of the Tnjst's accounts carried out under scction 145 of the Act and in carrying oui my examinaiion I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Cotninission under section 145{5}(b} of the Act. Independent examlner's statement I hae complcted my exainination. I confirni that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the exainination giving me cause to believe (hat in any material respeci.. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trnst as required by section 130 of the Aet; or the accounts do not accord with thosc rccords: or the accounts do not comply wilh the applicable requirements concerning the forni and Lontcnt of aLLounts scl out in thc Charilic% (ALLuunt% and Rcport%l Regulations 2LK>8 othcr than any requircmcnt that thc accounts givc a true and fair view which 1% not a inatier ¢on8id¢red part of an independent examination. I have no concemq and have come acros8 no other mailers in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable & propcr understanding of the accounts to be reached. e.(0 LLI, L. Clarc Lillington FMAAT R2ddon Station Hill Chudleigh Devon TQ130EE Datc.. 19, March 2025
statement ot Financial Activity St Mary Magdalene Church For the year ended 31 December 2024 2024 UNRESTRICTED 2024 DESIGNATED 1014 RESTStICTED 24 zo73 Income 5tandingQrders & PGS Offertory Other Donations 77.631 1,320 78.951 74.196 14,885 30 5,354 20,270 15,174 7,770 26,181 33,951 12,132 Gift 22,012 1,848 ?3,859 19.322 Stewardship PropÈrty Income Weddings and funerals Investment Income 6,710 49 6.759 5,137 10,340 10.340 .911 2387 2387 3217 396 496 173 1,065 613 Other Incgme. Grant5 Hnd Legacies Total Income 9,404 151.536 2.010 51,427 62,841 28.952 2.536 86.352 240.414 167.655 Ex enses Admin W3 es &Cler Admin Wages Clergy Expenses TotalAdmin Wa8es& Clergy ExpensÈs ense$ 16,992 28,762 45,754 42,672 1,661 18,652 144 1,805 47,558 1,584 44.256 28.906 Cleanin airsand RenÈwals Cleaning Equipment Hire Repairs and Renewals Totsl Cleaning? Rep3ir5 and Renewab 5.705 5,705 4.267 890 1,286 14,041 20,636 49,091 49,Q91 63,132 69,727 12.447 18.QDO Utllites and Insurance 2,950 2,950 1,617 Gas 7,351 7,351 7,499 Water 1.434 1.434 1.314 Phonellnternet 569 73 642 924 Insurance Total Lltilite5 Ind In5uranct 1,895 1.895 8.243 2Q,621 7,291 18,645 18,652 73 Other Church Runnin BankfeÈs Costs 1209 25 78 1.311 758 Church service supplies-biead, wine elo Ctsmrnon fund 1537 1.537 1,896 53,790 53,790 53.790 Cost of trading-coffeeetc. + living room supplies Depreciation Èxpense Donations palé Miscellèneous expenses Printingj Postage and stationery Professional fees 2,728 949 25,674 29,351 27,995 1,767 55L 587 2.905 2,937 2,590 545 3,L35 1,748 1313 668 1.981 1,562 3,010 31 3,041 3,819 2,727 2,727 1,489 Subscriptions 3.776 360 4.136
Manual adjustment to ensure Unrestricted Funds agree with Balance Sheet 546 Adjusted Surplus/(Deficit) (5,366) (482) (3,246) (9,095) (15,799) Unrestricted Funds as per Balance Sheet: At 31 December 2023 £ 3,632 Deficit for 2024 (as above) (5,366) As at 31 December 2024 (1,734)
Balance Sheet St Mary Magdalene Church As at 31 December 2024 31DEC2024 31 DEC2023 Flxed Assets Tan ible Assets Avand Compuier Equipmeni Less accumulated depreclaiion on Avarnd computeT equipment MDtorVchiclc5 8,526 8,526 172401 3,500 16,5971 3,500 12,8281 Less accumulated depreciation on motorvehicles 8.949 8,949 Less accumulated depreciation on fixtures and fithngs TotalTan•bleAssets 13,9301 7,619 4,714 Totsi Flxed Assets 4.714 7.619 CurrentAssets Servicesvle've etto Teceive Insur3nce &Annuèl Subscriptions IPiop3ymonlsl Total Services we've yet to receive 917 B£1 917 861 Cash we've ettoreceive GiftAid (Accrued Income) 4.154 13,936 Unb3nked offertory/Outstanding h311 hirellnspire income (Accounts Receivablel Susptct¢d Fraud Total C15h WE'veyet to receive 216 2,400 6.770 8,761 IZ,470 Investments CBF Deposit Fund 174 CBF Investment Fund Share5 Ttytal Inv¢stm¢nts 3,434 3,261 2,803 6,237 2,803 Cash at bank and in hand CAF Cash Account 11,744 25,096 CAF Gold Account Iln5pirel PettyCa5h stripe GBP Soldo 20,453 19,957 15 15 351 127 1.429 1,571 Gold DepositAccount Total Cash at bank ond in h•nd 30.014 64,OQ7 46,765 TotsicurreMAssets Tl.932 76.160 Current Liabilitie5 Service5 we've still otto delNer Car Parkingl Gront5 Received In Advance (Deferred Incornel Total seryices we'vestill gottodeliver 26.911 25.483 26,911 25,483 Cash we've still ot to Unpaid Bills IAccounts Payable) 9.992 2,408
31 DEC2024 31 DE¢2023 Wage Liabilities (Wages, PAYE, Pensions) Other Amountsowed IAcciui151 Total Cash we've still gottD pay 811 350 240 1,752 4,511 Ll.043 37,954 29,994 Net Assets 4,691 53,785 Capital and ReseNes 3,632 Restricted Fund5 Restricted fund- The Play Room ftostricttd Fund- C8F Deposit Fund R*stri¢ttd Fund- f6CE IFamily and Chil¢Jren Enabler) Restricted Fund- Living Room Re5trlcted Fund- CoTona Viru5 Fund 530 836 3,4Y 3,26l 2,428 2,428 788 157 359 359 Restricttd Fund- Play Room Leader Restricted Fund- Essential pl85teYwork forkitchen Ro5tricted Fund- CultLJro Recovery ReStrIct Fund- Store Roorn 1,329 1,329 5,013 35 5,013 245 293 277 R¢stri¢ted Fund- Festivals 610 917 Restricted Fund- SurfTo Recovery Restricitd Fund- OctobprGiving- Priority l-Poverty Support OverThe Winier-E2000 Restricted Fund- ottoberGiving- Priority 3-Halogen Heater In The LadyChapel- £540 Restricted Fund- OctoberGiving- Priority 5-Church N3veAnd SideAisle Lighting- £2,500 Re5trlcted Fund- OdobErGlvlng- Prlority 6-Hall Kitchen- 110,000 Restri¢t¢d Fund- Io Htlp Individuals in Need Restricted Fund- Emma's le3vinRgift Ro5trictod Fund- H311 Kitchcn & Shower 793 1,193 2,ODD 470 2,5(M> 7,OD3 6,893 865 1,211 75 439 Total Re5trieted Funds 25.919 15,165 Des1 ated Funds Df5ignatcd Fund Inspire Dignated Fund-V3n Total Oe5ignated Funds 20,506 20,921 20.506 10.989 Totalcèpital and Resekves
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Church Accounting Regulations 2006 together with applicable standards and the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
The Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investment assets which are shown at market value. The Accounts include all the transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include accounts of church groups that owe their affiliation to another body, nor those that are informal gatherings of church members.
Fund Accounting
Unrestricted funds are income funds which are to be spent on the PCC’s general purposes.
Restricted funds comprise (a) income from endowments which is to be expended only on the restricted purposes intended by the donor and (b) revenue donations or grants for a specific PCC activity intended by the donor.
Designated funds are general funds set aside by the PCC for use in the future. Project funds are designated for particular projects for administration purposes only. Funds designated as invested in fixed assets for the PCC’s own use abated in line with assets’ annual depreciation charges in the Statement of Financial Activity. Designated funds remain unrestricted and the PCC will move any surplus to other general funds.
Endowment funds are funds, the capital of which must be retained either permanently or at the PCC’s discretion; the income derived from the endowment is to be used either as a restricted or unrestricted income funds depending upon the purpose for which the endowment was established in the first place.
Income
Planned giving, collections and similar donations are recognised when received. Tax refunds are recognised when the incoming resource to which they relate is received. Grants and legacies are accounted for when the PCC is entitled to the use of the resources, their ultimate receipt is considered reasonably certain and the amounts due are reliably quantifiable. Dividends are accounted for when declared receivable, interest as and when accrued by the payer. All incoming resources are accounted for gross.
Expenditure
Grants and donations are accounted for when paid over, or when awarded, if that award creates a binding or constructive obligation on the PCC. The diocese parish share expected to be paid over is accounted for when due. All other expenditure is generally recognised when it is incurred and is accounted for gross.
Fixed assets
Consecrated and benefice property is not included in the accounts in accordance with s.10(2)(a) and (c) of the Charities Act 2011.
Anything acquired prior to 2019 has been fully depreciated on purchase under cash basis accounting, and therefore such assets are not included in the financial statements.
Assets purchased from 2019 onwards will be depreciated at the following rates from the month of purchase:
Computer Equipment – 33% reducing balance
Fixtures and Fittings – 25% straight line
Motor Vehicles – 33% reducing balance
Investments are valued at market value on 31 December annually.
2. Tangible Assets
| Type | Cost B/Fwd |
Purch. | Disp. | Cost C/Fwd |
Acc. Dep B/Fwd |
Dep. | Acc. Dep C/Fwd |
Net Book Value B/Fwd |
Net Book Value C/Fwd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AV and computer equipment |
£8526 | £- | £- | £8526 | £6597 | £643 | £7240 | £1929 | £1286 |
| Fixtures and ftngs |
£8949 | £- | £- | £8949 | £3930 | £2039 | £5969 | £5019 | £2980 |
| Motor vehicles |
£3500 | £- | £- | £3500 | £2828 | £224 | £3052 | £672 | £448 |
| Total | £20975 | £- | £- | £20975 | £13355 | £2906 | £16261 | £7620 | £4714 |
3. Fund Analysis
Some funds have amounts committed for future depreciation of assets purchased within these restricted and designated funds. These amounts are as follows:-
a. Restricted
| Fund Name | Closing balance |
Commited | Adjusted Closing balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Play Room |
£530 | £503 | £27 |
| LivingRoom | £788 | £53 | £735 |
| Culture Recovery Fund |
£35 | £35 | £- |
| Store Room | £293 | £185 | £108 |
| Total | £1646 | £776 | £870 |
b. Designated
| Fund Name |
Closing balance |
Commited | Adjusted Closing balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inspire | £20506 | £279 | £20227 |
4. Transfers between funds
The Living Room, Celebrate Recovery and Community Mission Enabler restricted funds were topped up as necessary from the unrestricted funds at the end of each month.
The Van designated fund was topped up from the unrestricted funds as necessary at the end of each month.
5. Suspected Fraud
The court case relating to this was decided in October 2024. This resulted in an order for compensation for St Mags of £2400 and the first instalment of this was received in January 2025. The remaining cost of the fraud of £6361 has been written off in the Statement of Financial Activity.
6. Staff costs
Average number of employees was 2 for 2024 (2023: 2).
No employee received emoluments in excess of £60000 during the year (2023 nil)
7. Transactions with Trustees
During 2024, the PCC received £32159 in donations from trustees (PCC members) and their close relatives. The donors did not attach any conditions to their gifts which required the charity (PCC) to significantly alter the nature of its existing activities.
One employee who is a trustee of the charity, received remuneration of £28943 and had expense claims of £144 for mobile costs .
Various expenses have been reimbursed to trustees where the trustees have purchased items personally on behalf of the church. These expenses have always been reimbursed at cost so no further disclosure is required.