## **2023 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 _(Resigned wef from 19[th] May 2024)_ , 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 worshippers 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** Throughout the year we hold special services, including Easter, Harvest Festival, Remembrance and Christmas and these have registered an increase in attendance which is very encouraging. Family Fun @4 continues to run successfully once a month where we talk about and read bible stories to the children, followed by craft making, singing and prayers, followed by food. A strong relationship is maintained with Escrick Primary School and the Church/School Liaison group meet each half 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 a Christingle service was held in school and Christingle oranges were distributed to the children, kindly prepared by a group of volunteers. In July St Helen’s hosted the Leavers’ service during which hand 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. We thank our two Foundation Governors, Louise Bartle and Christine Mason, who currently represent the Church on the School’s Board of Governors. It is much appreciated that we are able to keep our church doors open every day. Our grateful thanks and appreciation go to Nancy Mackenzie for undertaking the task of opening and closing church each day. 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, including poetry evenings and concerts. St Helen’s is also used by several local organisations for their regular meetings. Through our charity of the quarter, we continue to support various local charities and organisations. These include Bundles of Joy, Derwent Lions for spectacles, Selby Food Bank, Besom, Caresent, and currently Children’s Literature Trust. We would like to thank all members of the community who have generously contributed to these important organisations. Here at St Helen’s we are fortunate enough to count on a small army of volunteers who in one way or another contribute to keeping the wheels turning, be it preparing for special services and events or regular activities such as cleaning, flower arranging, churchyard maintenance, distributing magazines and many other tasks. To express our gratitude and appreciation for all the help and support we receive, PCC recently held a social evening in church to thank everyone. Fundraising is always high on the PCC’s agenda, as we are gently reminded by our Treasurer! Over the last twelve months we have held several successful fundraising events, including a Christmas concert, festive bacon butty and wreath-making morning, and recently a Big Breakfast held in the village hall. We thank Carolyn Skilbeck for administering The 100 Club which continues to raise valuable funds. Looking forward, PCC has a busy year ahead developing some of the initiatives already in progress such as the Memorial Garden, feasibility of installing solar panels, and completion of requirements to become an Eco-Church and an ‘Inclusive Church’. Efforts will also be directed towards fundraising, recruiting new volunteers for the numerous tasks involved in keeping our church active and welcoming, and serving our community as best we can. ## **Financial Review** Total income in 2023 was £64,874 whilst total expenditure was £56,579 meaning there was a surplus in 2023 of £8,295. This £8,295 surplus is clearly a good and welcome result and key contributory factors included £3,700 of unexpected, additional income related to housing two containers in the church car park, more funerals than usual with some significant collections and one particular funeral resulted in over £2,000 being generously given to St Helens. Similar to 2022 there were twelve weddings which, in part, is ‘catch-up after Covid’ so that again helped the financial position. Without the Christmas Tree Festival fundraising income was reduced but the likes of the Breakfast Butties, the Celebration Concert and the Weighton Waytes all made important contributions. It is also noteworthy and praiseworthy that there is a wide range of other activity at St Helens which combine to make a real difference to the church’s financial standing and, to illustrate, in 2023 the income from refreshments, book sales, the church donation box, heritage, votive and Hoots was over £3,750. In 2023 St Helen’s also received an extremely generous grant of £5,922 from The Friends of St Helens (FOSH) in respect of work to the gates into the church grounds, but, in practice, this simply offset the expenditure incurred by the church. Other than as described above, 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 gates, with no major unexpected costs, but it is noted that St Helen’s again increased its freewill offer up to £13,000 an uplift of 8.33%. In addition, St Helen’s contributed £1,625 to the running of the Rivers Partnership. St Helens had £27,299 in its Barclays current account at the end of December, but with two outstanding cheques totalling £1,590 the net account balance was £25,709 compared with £17,746 at December 2022. After a disappointing 2022 it was pleasing to see the value of St Helen’s investment account with CCLA recover strongly and the December 2023 value of £28,595 compares favourably against £25,137 at December 2022. With a net amount of £25,709 in the current account and the investment account valued at £28,595 that meant St Helen’s had a total of £54,304 in funds at the end of December 2023. The comparable December 2022 figure was £42,883. As already noted above, the 2023 surplus is welcome news and St Helen’s is in a solid but appropriate financial position. In 2024 we anticipate that the income from the containers in the car park will be much reduced and the Quinquennial Inspection is expected during 2024 so, as St Helen’s is over 160 years old, that has potential to generate some significant expenditure over the next couple of years. ## THE 2024 BUDGET The 2024 budget is predicated on income of £44,200 and expenditure of £45,925 which delivers an anticipated deficit of £1,725. At the end of 2024 it is anticipated St Helen’s will have £54,074 in funds of which £21,574 will be in the current account whilst the CCLA investment account will be valued at £32,500. The key assumptions behind this budget are detailed below: • There will be substantially less weddings and funerals, for example, there are just seven weddings booked for 2024 whilst 2022 and 2023 each had twelve weddings.  The lower number of weddings and funerals obviously reduce wedding and funeral income, but they also impact various other matters including: Collections will be reduced along with subsequent payments to charities.  Various expenses are reduced including statutory fees, organists, vergers, and bellringers.  The income from the containers in the car park will end in the first quarter of 2024.  There will be £1,000 of quinquennial inspection costs but any subsequent works will take place in 2025.  £3,000 will be transferred from St Helen’s current account and be invested in CCLA funds and that these CCLA funds will increase in value by about 3% during the year. ## **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 23 April 2023** **Ex-Officio 3 years to serve** Rev Jackie Doyle-Brett Hilary Castle Rev Maxine Waller Carolyn Skilbeck Rev Jackie Doyle-Brett Hilary Castle Rev Maxine Waller Carolyn Skilbeck Caroline Wandless (Churchwarden) Caroline Wandless (Deanery Synod **2 years to serve** Representative) Margaret Gowthorpe Judith Luscombe Nigel Wood **1 year to serve** Christine Mason (Secretary) Fiona Walters John Wilson (Treasurer) ## **1 Vacancy available** Si Helen's Church Escrick 2023 Accounts St Helen's Church, Escrick Accounts to 31 December 2023 Index: Section: Overview ofthe 2023 accounts Income Expenditure Summary of income and expenditure Curfent account Investment account Summaryoffunds Treasurer statement and audit certificate Page{s): St Helen's Church E5crick 2023 Accounts St Helen's Church: Overview of the 2023 Accounts Total income 2023 was £64,874 whilst totsl expenditure was £56.579 meaning there was a Surplus in 2023 of £8,295. This £8,295 surplus is clearly a good and welcome result and key contributory factors included £3,7CKI of unexpetted, additional income related to housing two containers in the church car park, more funeralsthan usual with some significant collertion5 and one particular funeral resulted in over £2,1 being generously gNen to St Helens. Similar to 2022 there We￿ twelve weddings which, in part, is 'catch-up after Covid. so that again helped the financial position. Without the Christmas Tree Festival fvndraising income was reduced but the likes of the Breakfast Buttie5, the Celebration Concert and the Weighton Wayies all made important contributions. It is also noteworthy and praiseworthy that there is a wide range of other activity at St Helens which combine to make a real difference to the church'5 financial standing and. to illustrate, in 2023 the income from refreshments, book sales, the church donation box, heritage. votive and Hoots was over £3,750. In 2023 St Helen's also received an extremely generous grant of £5,922 from The Friends of St Helens (FOSHI in respect of work to the gates into the church grounds, but. in practice, this simply offset the expenditure incurred by the church. Other than as described above, St Helen's did not receive any large bequests, donations, or any other similarly favourable one-off events during the year. Expenditure was 8enerally routine. other than the work on the gates, with no major unexpected costs. but it is noted that St Helen's again increased its freewill offer up to £13,(MXI an uplift of 8.33%. In addition, St Helen's contributed £1.625 to the running of the Rivers Partnership. St Helens had £27,299 in its Barclays current account at the end of December, but with two outstanding cheques totalling £1,5￿ the net account balonce was £25,709 compared with £17,746 at December 2022. After a disappointing 2022 it was pleasing to see the value of St Helen'5 investment account with CCLA recover strongly and the December 2023 value of £28.595 compares favourably against £25,137 at December 2022. With a net amount of £25.709 in the current account and the investment account valued at £28,595 that meant St Helen's had a total of £54.304 in funds at the end of December 2023. The comparable December 2022 figure was £42,883. As already noted above, the 2023 surplus is welcome news and St Helen's is in a solid but appropriate financial position. In 2024 we anticipate that the income from the containers in the car park will be much reduced and the Quinquennial Inspection is experted during 2024 50, as St Helen's is over 160 years old, that has potential to generate some significant expendtture over the next couple of years. St Helen's Church Escrick 2023 Accounts St Helen's Church: Income INCOME 2023 2022 2021 Planned regular giving Collections HMRCgiftaid TOTAL GIVING 8.457 8,653 3,293 20,403 8,297 6,653 3,815 18,765 16.092 3,722 28.358 Weddings Funerals TOTAL STATUTORY FEES 12,412 7,164 19.576 10,981 4,939 15,920 4,039 6,330 10,369 Monies from the Benefice Legacies and Donation Listed Places of Worship VAT claim Fundraisin and Events l(X) Club Income Allotments and Garages Housing containers in the car park Other Grants From investment accounts Mistellaneous Income TOTAL OTHER INCOME 570 618 232 13,CK13 260 5,252 1,174 365 3,7(M) 5,922 6,681 1,058 460 3,426 1.139 377 5,953 30 267 16.940 16,020 18,687 TOTAL INCOME 64,874 52,343 47,821 Note5: Collections increased primarily due tothe increased nurnber of funerals and, in particular. two of these had very significant collections. One grant was received during 2023 and that was a £5.922 payment from FOSH in respect of work to the gates into the church grounds. In 2022 St Helens recetved £3,453 from FOSH in respect of external li8hting and it also received a Diocesan grant of £2,5[￿ to assist wtth heat and light costs. The £3,700 related to housing tontainers in the car park was an unexcepted but very welcome bonus. 2023 fundraising income included the followin8 amounts: Breakfast £358 Weighton Wayte5 £437 Celebration Concert £752 Church Donation Box £l.(K12 Votive £230 Books £481 Refreshments £518 Heritage £721 Little Hoots £718 St Helen's Church Escrick 2023 Accounts St Helen's Church: Expenditure EXPENDITURE 2023 2022 2021 Freewill to Diocese Statutory Fees TOTAL TO DI0￿E 13.CLXI 2,642 15,642 12,INK) 2,274 14,274 io,o(xJ 1,475 11,475 PAYMENTS TO CHARmES* 3,493 1,783 1,389 Ooanists Ver ers Bellringers Visitin cler Pa ment to Benefice Account TOTAL FEES 2.878 1.583 2.410 1,540 3,128 1,121 1,885 1,805 206 8,145 2,322 533 658 750 4,843 8,411 Insurance 5.614 3,285 3.460 162 447 12.968 5,188 4,043 1,712 149 333 11,411 4,993 1.878 1.545 135 337 Electrici Water Internet TOTAL UTIUTIES Repair and maintenance Roof Alarm costs Churchyard I￿ Club Prizes Miscellaneous linc fundraising expenses) Heritage related Riverside Partnership Fundin TOTAL OTHER EXPENDITURE 8.968 1,431 1,21)) 5.525 794 1.087 630 2,675 575 4,241 393 948 470 3,096 50 1,723 518 1,625 16.065 11.286 9.198 TOTAL EXPENDITURE Transfer to CCLA GROSS ADJUSTED EXPENDITURE 56.579 46,913 35,793 25,OLKI 60,793 56,579 46,913 Notes: *These payments to charities are essentialty collections at funerals with subsequent payment to a charity, for example Cancer Research, and seNices where the collection is for a specific charity, for example Remembrance Sunday and the Royal British Legion. With more funerals than usual in 2023 this resulted in an increase in such payments. £5.922 of the repair and maintenance expenditure related to the expenditure on the gates into the church grounds land which wa5 ultimatety. and very kindly. reimbursed by The Friends of St Helens). In addition, £1.560 vM5 spent on some remedial works to the church's guttering. St Helen's Church Escrick 2023 Accounts St Helen's Church: Summary of Income and Expenditure 2023 2022 2021 Total Income Total Expenditure Surplus or (deficit) of income over expenditure 64,874 56,579 8,295 52.343 46,913 5,430 47,821 35,793 12,028 Notes: In term5 of previous years tt is noted that the 2021 surplus was very much due to a rn05t generous bequest of ÉlO,000. St Helen's Church Escrick 2023 Accounts St Helen's Church: Current Account 2023 2022 2021 Opening bank balance on 01 January Income Sub-total of o ening balan￿ and income Expenditure including transfers to CCLA Bank balance on 31 December Unpresented cheques Net closing bank balance on 31 December 19,004 64,874 83.878 56.579 27.299 1,590 25.709 12,316 52,343 64.659 46.913 19.004 1,258 17,746 25,288 47.821 73.109 60,793 12,316 12,316 Notes: The two unpresented cheques at 31.12.23 we￿. Cheque number 103255= £910 CheqLFe number 103260: £680 St Helen'5 Church Escrick 2023 Accounts St Helen's Church: Investment Account Investment Accounts 2023 2022 2021 TOTAL 28,595 25,137 27,929 St Helen's investment funds are made up of 478.87 units 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 increased from £25.137 at December 2022 to £28.595 at Detember 2023. This £3,458 increase in value is obviously welcome, but, in practice, it broadly returns the investment value back to where it was in December 2021 or, in other words. it mean5 the ground lost in a very disappointin8 2022 has been recovered. St Helen's Church Escrick 2023 Accounts St Helen's Church: Summary of Funds 2023 2022 2021 Funds on 31" December Current account less unpresented cheqves Investment account Totsl fvnds 25.709 28,595 54.304 17,746 25,137 42,883 12,316 27,929 40.245 The PCC needs to be clear about which funds are re5trirted, and which are unrestricted and or designated. 'Restricted funds. are sums of money that are held on trust for particular purposes and can only be Spent on those purposes. 'Unrestricted funds. can be spent on any of the PCC'S general purposes. 'Designated funds. are sums of unrestricted money eamiarked by the PCC for specific purposes. All the Restricted Funds and Designated Funds were spent on the Herits8e project. which ran from 2016 to 2019 so all current PCC funds are Unrestricted. St Helen's Church Escrick 2023 Accounts St Helen's Church Accounts: treasurer statement and audit certificate Treasurer 5taten*nt: These accounts are an accurate. fair and lull representètion of the finances of St Helen's Church at 31 ember 2023. 02 Jo Wilson St Helen's Church PCC Treasurer Audit certificate: The income and expenditure accounts and the summary of fvnd5 are in agreement with property maintained accoun15 and iecords maintained by the St Helen'5 PCC Treasurer, John Wilson. Leisa Myers St Helen's Church Auditor St Helen's Church Escrick 2023 Accounis St Helen's Church Accounts: treasurer statement and audit certificate Treasurer statement These accounts are an accurate, foir and lull representation of the finances of St Helen's Church at 31 ember 2023. Jo Wtlson St Helen'5 Church PCC Treasurer Audit certrfKate: The income and expenditure accounts and the summary of funds are in agreement with properly maintained accour)ts and records maintained by the St Helen's PCC Treasurer, John Wi150ri. 1211 Leisa Myers St Helen'5 Church Auditor