## **2022 Report and Accounts** ## **for the Parochial Church Council of St Helen’s Church, Escrick** ## **Aims and Objectives** St. Helen’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) has the responsibility of cooperating with the Priest-inCharge, Reverend Jackie Doyle-Brett and Assistant Minister Rev Maxine Waller, 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. Helen’s Church, Escrick and its finances. ## **Objectives and Activities** The PCC is committed to providing a welcoming environment for all, whether they are regular worshipers or not. We strive to be open and accessible in every respect, and to make St. Helen’s the heart of our village community. In order to achieve this, the PCC recognises the need to be financially sustainable and encourages generous giving. We are also committed to strengthening and further developing our relationship with the village Church of England Primary School. When planning our activities for the year, we considered our main objectives and tried to put in place services, opportunities for worship and community engagement that would enable us to achieve these. In particular, we tried to enable people to live out their faith as part of our parish community through: - Worship and prayer; learning about the Gospel; and developing their knowledge and trust in Jesus. - Provision of services that specifically meet the needs of members of the community who would not ordinarily attend church, particularly families. - A varied programme of ‘Heritage Activities’ which engage a wide demographic. - Regular opportunities to engage with music within the church from bell ringing to singing in our choir. To facilitate this work it is important that we maintain the fabric of the Church of St. Helen’s. ## **Achievements and Performance** As well as our own regular pattern of services, we have also been encouraged to attend services held across the Partnership. Several special services have been held here at Escrick, including Easter, Harvest Festival, Remembrance and Christmas Services. In general there has been an increase in attendance, most notably over the Christmas period which is very encouraging. Family Fun @4 continues to run successfully once a month and Rev Maxine has held Saturday morning Forget-MeNot Services. It is much appreciated that we are able to keep our church doors open every day, thanks to Nancy Mackenzie. St Helen’s is home to a range of activities, such as the monthly Heritage evenings, prayer lunches, Heritage Hub, Little Hoots toddler group and Hoot’s Cafe among others. There are also special events throughout the year such as poetry evenings and concerts and it is also used by local organisations for their regular meetings. Such events are not only important to the people that attend them but also to the church as a whole for they integrate the church into the wider community and show what a welcoming place St. Helen’s is. Through our charity of the quarter, we continue to support various local charities and organisations and would like to thank all members of the community who have generously contributed to these important causes. In September a new pattern of services was introduced across the Rivers Partnership, including a monthly U3 Holy Communion (United 3: Escrick, Naburn and Stillingfleet) and a U8 (United Eight: all the churches in the Rivers Partnership) on fifth Sundays. Also in September the Benefice unanimously agreed to reintroduce the chalice following COVID restrictions. It was also unanimously agreed for Wedding Banns to be read in any of the three churches. In November, the church was once again bedecked with knitted poppies for our Remembrance service. The poppies were knitted by volunteers from the community and created an impressive display for worshippers and visitors alike. The stunning Carols by Candlelight service was another memorable service as was the Christmas concert given by The Weighton Wayte. This year as well as our popular Big Breakfast, in early December we held for the first time a Christmas Tree Festival which proved very successful. An active relationship is maintained with Escrick Primary School and the Church/School Liaison group meet each term to seek ways of helping to teach Christian values and enhance relations to our mutual benefit. Once a month a group of volunteers present Open the Book and members of the clergy visit the school and take collective worship. In December Christingle was held in school. The service was led by Rev Maxine and each child was given a Christingle orange. In July St Helen’s hosted the Leavers service when holding crosses were presented to the leavers. Children are also encouraged to participate in our special services and throughout the year they provide examples of work for our display board. Two Foundation Governors currently represent the Church on the School’s Board of Governors. We look forward to continuing this positive partnership in the year ahead. ## **Financial Review** Total income received in 2022 was £52,343 whilst total expenditure was £46,913 meaning there was a surplus in 2022 of £5,430. This is a reasonably encouraging result, but it should be noted that on 30[th] December a £2,500 grant was received from the Diocese to assist with future fuel costs. Excluding this fuel related grant the surplus in 2022 would have been £2,930. 2022 benefitted from having a total of twelve weddings and a significant increase in fundraising income with, in particular, the net funds raised at the Christmas Tree Festival £2,302 and the Big Breakfast £589 being integral to delivering the surplus. It is worth noting that (and excluding the impact of the future fuel grant) without the substantial increase in fundraising income 2022 would have seen a deficit as opposed to a surplus, and this shows how important fundraising is to the financial well-being of St Helens. In addition to the fuel related grant, St Helen’s also received an extremely generous grant of £3,453 from The Friends of St Helens (FOSH) in respect of work to the floodlights and external lighting, but, in practice, this simply offset the expenditure incurred by the church. St Helen’s did not receive any large bequests, donations, or any other similarly favourable one-off events during the year. Expenditure was generally routine, other than the work on the floodlights and external lighting, with no major unexpected costs, but it is noted that St Helen’s increased its freewill offer by 20% up to £12,000. In addition, the increased number of weddings inevitably resulted in additional statutory fees being paid to the Diocese along with extra payments in respect of the likes of bellringers, organists, and vergers. The overall surplus of £5,430 meant that at year end St Helens had £19,004 in its Barclays current account at the end of December, but with two outstanding cheques totalling £1,258 the net account balance was £17,746 compared with £12,316 at December 2021. The value of St Helen’s investment account with CCLA unfortunately decreased in value from £27,929 at December 2021 down to £25,137 at December 2022 and this £2,792 fall in value very much reflected broader global economic conditions. With a net amount of £17,746 in the current account and £25,137 in its investment account that meant St Helen’s had a total of £42,833 in funds at the end of December 2022. Excluding the £2,500 fuel grant the funds as on 31[st] December were £40,333 and this is very similar to the total of £40,245 funds in December 2021. ## THE 2023 BUDGET ## **Income** Income in 2023 is expected to be £43,000 which compares unfavourably with 2022 income of £52,343. The two main reasons for this are an anticipated drop in weddings from twelve in 2022 to about eight in 2023 plus no grant monies are assumed in 2023. In practice, a grant may well be received from the Friends of St Helen’s (FOSH) in respect of some works to the church’s gates, but this would simply cancel out the costs which are also not included in this budget i.e. the impact of any FOSH grant would essentially be neutral. In 2022 the increased level of fundraising was a key reason for a reasonably strong financial result, and it is assumed fundraising will grow by about an extra 10% up to £7,200. ## **Expenditure** In totality expenditure is expected to fall to around £45,000 in 2023 compared with £46,913 in 2022. This is largely due to expected reductions in statutory fees, the likes of bellringer, organist, and verger costs and this reflects the reduction in weddings. There are three main increases compared with 2022 and they are: an assumed increase of £3,500 in electricity costs; a contribution of £1,500 by St Helen’s to Rivers Partnership administration costs and a £1,000 uplift to the Freewill Offer. ## **Overall Financial Situation** With income at £43,000 and expenditure at £45,000 that means St Helen’s expects to have a £2,000 deficit in 2023 which, in turn, would reduce the year end current account balance by £2,000 down to £15,746. In 2022 the CCLA investments performed poorly but is assumed about half the 2022 losses will be made good in 2023 and this would increase the value of these investments up to £26,500, an increase of £1,367. With £15,746 in the current account and £26,500 in investments that would mean St Helen’s ends 2023 with a total of £42,246 which is close to the 2022 total of £42,833. ## **Additional Information** ## **Volunteers:** St Helen’s is fortunate to count on a small army of volunteers who in one way or another contribute to keeping the wheels turning, be it praying, preparing for special services and events or regular activities such as cleaning, flower arranging, churchyard maintenance, distributing magazines and many other tasks. A huge thank you to everyone, we are very grateful for your help and support. Recognition of these joint efforts was recently achieved when St Helen’s was shortlisted for the National Church Awards: Open for Visitors Award 2022. This year as well as our popular Big Breakfast, in early December we held for the first time a Christmas Tree Festival which proved very successful. ## **Structure, Governance and Management:** The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. At St. Helen’s the membership of the PCC consists of the incumbent (our vicar), churchwardens and members elected by those members of the congregation 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 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. The full PCC met six times during the year. ## **Church Council Members on 31 March 2022** **Ex-Officio 3 years to serve** Rev Jackie Doyle-Brett Margaret Gowthorpe Rev Maxine Waller Judith Luscombe Nigel Wood Caroline Wandless (Churchwarden) Caroline Wandless (Deanery Representative) **2 years to serve** Christine Mason Fiona Walters John Wilson **1 year to serve** Hilary Castle Carolyn Skilbeck St Helen's Church Escrick 2022 Accounts St Helen's Church, Escrick Accounts to 31 December 2022 Index: Section: OveFview of the 2022 accounts Income Expenditure Summary of income and expendtture Current account Investment account Summary of funds Treasurer statement and audit certificate Page{5): St Helen's Church Escrick 2022 Accounts St Helen's Church: Overview of the 2022 Accounts Total income received in 2022 was £52,343 whilst total expenditure was £46,913 meaning there was a surplus in 2022 of £5.430. This is a reasonably encouraging result. but it should be noted that on 30 December a £2,500 grant was received from the Diocese to assist with future fuel costs. Ex¢luding this fuel related grant the surplus in 2022 would have been £2,930. 2022 benefrtted from having a total of twelve weddings and a significant increase in fundraising income with, in particular, the net funds raised at the Christmas Tree Festival £2.302 and the Big Breakfast £589 being Inte8￿1 to delivering the surplus. It is worth noting that land excluding the impatt of the future fuel grantl without the substantial increase in fundraising income 2022 would have seen a deficit as opposed to a surplus, and this shows how important fundraising is to the finèncial well-being of St Helens. In addition to the fuel related grant, St Helen's also received an extremely generous grant of £3,453 from The Friends of St Helens IFOSHI in respert of work to the floodlights and external lightin& but. in prartice, this simply offset the expenditure incurred by the church. St Helen's did not receive any large bequests. donations. or any other similarly frdvourable one-off events during the year. Expenditure was generally routine. other than the work on the floodlights and external lighting, with no major unexpected costs. but it is noted that 5t Helen's increased its freewill offer by 20% up to £12,CK)O. In addition, the increased number of weddings inevitably resulted in additional statutory fees being paid to the Diocese along with extra payments in respect of the likes of bellringers. organists, and vergers. The overall surplus of £5.430 meant that at year end St Helens had £19.004 in tts Barclays current account at the end of December, bLrt with two outstanding cheques totalling £1.258 the net account balance was £17.746 compared with £12.316 at December 2021. The value of St Helen's investment account with CCLA unfortunatety decreased in value from £27,929 at December 2021 down to £25.137 at De￿mber 2022 and this £2.792 fall in value very much reflected broader global economic conditions. With a net amount of £17,746 in the current account and £25.137 in its investment account that meant 5t Helen's had a totsl of £42.833 in funds at the end of December 2022. Excluding the £2,500 fuel grant the funds as on 31° December were £40.333 and this is very similar to the total of £40,245 funds in December 2021. St Helen'5 Church Escrick 2022 Accounts St Helen's Church: Income INCOME 2022 2021 2020 Planned regular giving Collections HMRC gift aid TOTAL GIVING 8,4S7 8,653 3,293 20M03 8,297 6.653 3.815 18,765 7.419 5.435 807 13,661 Weddings Funerals TOTAL STATUTORY FEES 10.981 4,939 15.920 4.039 6,330 10,369 2115 3240 5,355 Monies from the Benefice Legacies and Donation Listed Places of Worship VAT claim Fundraising 100 Club Income Allotments and Garages Heritage Lottery Grant Roof Alarm Grants Other Grants From investment accounts Miscellaneous Income 570 618 232 13.003 3,570 2.552 4.745 982 550 6.681 1.058 460 3,426 1.139 377 3116 5(K) 19 20 5.953 30 680 TOTAL INCOME 5Z343 47021 38.070 Notes: Two grants were received during 2022: A £3,453 payment from FOSH in respect ol work to the external lighting. This reimbursed the church for what tt had spent. A £2,51J) grant from the Diocese to help with future fuel costs. 2022 fundraising intome included the following amounts: Christmas Tree Festival £2.302 Big Breakfast £598 Church Box £863 Votive £222 Books £289 Refreshments £334 Heritage £617 Little Hoots £291 Workshop £220 St Helen's Church Escrick 2022 Accounts St Helen's Church: Expenditure EXPENDITURE 2022 Z021 2020 Freewill to Diocese Statutory Fees TOTAL TO DIOCESE 12,OCKI 2.274 14,274 10,0 1,475 11,475 10,000 1.600 11,600 PAYMENT5 TO CHARrriES* 1,783 2,438 Organists Vergers Bellringers Vislting clergy Payment to Benefice Account TOTAL FEES 3.128 1.121 1,885 1.805 206 8,145 2,322 533 658 580 750 4,843 1,188 276 131 750 2,347 Insurance 5,188 4,043 1,712 149 333 11,411 4,993 1,878 1,545 135 337 4.978 1.596 1.846 272 388 Electricity Water Internet TOTAL UTILMES Repair and maintenance Roof Alarm costs Churchyard 100 Club Prizes Miscellaneous linc fundraising expenses) Heritage related TOTAL EXPENDITURE Transfer to CCLA GROSS ADJUSTED EXPENDITURE 5.525 794 1,087 630 2,675 575 46,913 4.241 393 5.967 4.288 2.224 470 3,096 50 35.793 2.151 13,793 60.793 Notes: *These payments to charities are essentially collections at funerals with subsequent payment to a charity, for example Cancer Research. and services where the collection is for a specific charity, for exarnple.. Remembrance Sunday and the Royal Brttish Legion. The payments to the Diocese increased by almost £2.8C¥) which reflects the £2,000 increase in the Freewill Offer but also a substantial increase in statutory fees related to the increase in weddings which totalled twelve over the year. These additional weddings a150 largely account for the increase in payments to OTganists. vergers, bellringers and visiting clerbry. The bulk of the repair and maintenance expenditure related to the expendtture on the external lighting land which was ultimately, and very kindly. reimbursed by The Friends of St Helens) plus some remedial works to the church's guttering. St Helen's Church Escrick 2022 Accounts St Helen's Church: Summary of Income and Expenditure 21)22 2021 2020 Total Income Total Expenditure Surplus or (deficit) of income over expenditure 52.343 46,913 5.430 47,821 35,793 12,028 38,070 54,488 116,4181 Notes: In temis of previous years it is noted that the 2021 surplus was very rnuch due to a most generous bequest of £IO.Crf)O whilst the 2020 expenditure included a final retention payment of £13,793 related to the heritage projett. St Helen's Church Escrick 2022 Atcourrts St Helen's Church: Current Account 2022 2021 2020 Opening bank balance at 01 January Income Sub-total of opening balance and income Expenditure including transfers to CCLA Bank balance at 31 December Unpresented cheques Net closing bank balance at 31 Detember 12,316 52,343 64,659 46,913 19.IYM 1.258 17,746 25,288 47,821 73.109 60,793 12,316 41.706 38,070 79,776 54.488 25,288 12.316 25,288 Note&. The two unpresented cheques at 31.12.22 were: Cheque number 103233: £914 Cheque number 103237: £344 St Helen's Church Escrick 2022 Accounts St Helen's Church: Investment Account Investrnent Accounts 2022 2021 2020 TOTAL 25.137 27,929 1.376 St Helen's investment funds are made up of accumulation shares held in the Church of England Investment Fund which is managed by CCLA. During the year the value of these investment funds declined from £27,929 at December 2021 down to £25.137 èt December 2022. This £2.792 fall in value is obviously disappointin& but it is very much reflective of global economi conditions. These investment funds are held on a long-tenn basis and hopefully their value will gradually recover in coming months. St Helen's Church Escrick 2022 Accounts St Helen's Church: Summary of Funds 2022 2021 2020 Ftsnds on 31" December Current account Investment account Total funds 17,746 25,137 42,883 12,316 27,929 40,245 25,288 1,376 26.664 The PCC needs to be clear about which funds are restrirted. and which are unrestricted and or designated. 'Restricted funds, are sums of money that are held on tmst for particular purposes and can only be Spent on those purposes. 'Unrestrirted funds, can be spent on any of the PCCS general purposes. 'Designated funds. are sums of unrestrirted money earmarked by the PCC for specific purposes. All the Restricted Funds and Designated Funds were spent on the Heritage project. which ran from 2016 to 2019 so all current PCC funds are Unrestricted. St Helen's Church Escrick 2022 A￿OUnts St Helen's Church Accounts= treasurer statement and audit certificate Treasurer statemenl: These accounts are an accurate, fair and full rq)resentalion of the finances of St Helen's Church at 31 December 2022. John Wilson St Helen's Church PCC Treasurer Audlt certificate: The income and expeTrSiture accounts and the summary ot lunds are in agreemenl wtlh properly mantsined a(yJ)unts arKI re4xYds n￿Int￿'ned by the St Helen's PCC Treasurer. John Wilson. LQ L L8isa Myers St Helen's Church Auditor 10