St Saviour’s Coalpit Heath, PCC
Annual report and Financial Statements
Year ending 31 December 2023
Charity Number 1194075
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
| CONTENTS | |
|---|---|
| Trustees’ report | pages 3 - 9 |
| Report of the Independent Examiner | page 10 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | pages 11 - 12 |
| Notes forming part of the financial statements | pages 13 - 15. |
2
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Aim and Purposes
Since February 2023, Coalpit Heath has been a member of the Fromeside Benefice of Churches. This widens our purposes beyond the one parish.
St Saviour’s PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish, and the wider Fromeside Benefice, the whole mission of the Church: pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
The PCC is also specifically responsible for the maintenance of the Church, Church Hall and the grounds of St Saviour’s Church, Beesmoor Road, Coalpit Heath.
Objectives and Activities
The PCC is committed to enabling as many people as possible to worship at our church and to become part of the parish community. The PCC works with several groups charged with key mission and ministry priorities.
We seek to ensure that the activities we offer appeal to a wide variety of people of all ages and backgrounds. Our maintenance of the fabric of the Church, the Church Hall and the grounds helps to facilitate our work.
Achievements and Performance
Minister’s message
I was officially installed at St. Saviour’s in 2023 almost a year after my appointment and almost two years after I began taking services in the church. The service on Palm Sunday was splendid with a Bishop, bells and a post service buffet enjoyed by over 150 people.
St. Saviour’s appears to have reversed the trend of declining numbers at worship with a modest increase in both Sunday and weekday attendance. Part of this is due to the range of worship services that are on offer. Another factor is the continuing growth of community relationships. The Wednesday afternoon drop in and warm space and the Friday soup lunches offer a friendly welcome. The fayres and the horticultural show are still well supported by those who are not part of the worshipping community.
Messy Church has been a huge success this year with a good number of families worshipping in this way. The Butterflies toddler group saw a small drop in numbers in September, but thanks to many of the current mums having more children it looks set to receive a boost. An extension of the toddlers’ group this year was the “PlaySpace” sessions during the school holidays. These were hugely appreciated by the parents, who were able to bring along some school-aged children and also by some of the parents who usually attend the Brockeridge Centre, which was closed for the holidays.
St. Saviour’s hosted sessions of the Lent and Advent courses which were attended by people from across the benefice.
3
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
Our winter worship has been held in the Church Hall, which has been necessary as a result of the difficulties in finding suitable, energy efficient, heating for the Church building.
The warmth of the hall has been a real blessing and we have done all we can to still make our worship reverent in the different space.
Weddings have decreased slightly, as did baptisms. Funerals continue to take place on a regular basis, both in church and on behalf of the church at the crematorium.
The Fromeside Benefice, of which St. Saviour’s is now a member, held a review in 2023 which has resulted in a change to our worship pattern and an additional act of worship on Wednesday evening from Easter.
As the minister, I look forward to meeting and getting to know more people around the Parish: introducing more people to the Love of the Lord and supporting families in the highs and lows of life and in their walk with Christ.
Blessings.
Fr David Jones.
Worship and Prayer
Having joined the Fromeside Benefice in 2022, with the legalities completed in February 2023, St Saviour’s has continued to build good relationships with the other four churches in the Benefice, with shared clergy, services, study groups and social occasions. The highlight of the early part of the year was the installation in St Saviour’s of the Reverend David Jones by the Bishop of Swindon on Palm Sunday. The service was attended by members of all five Anglican churches, as well as representatives of Yate churches, as part of the Mission Area, and members of local free churches, with whom we are joined in ecumenical partnership.
The Benefice also welcomed the Reverend Ben Thompson as assistant curate, and he was ordained priest in Bristol Cathedral on 1[st] July, so the Benefice now has the benefit of three ordained clergy, but with Reverend David giving half his time to the Yate Benefice.
The slow process of finding and installing a new heating system in St Saviour’s meant we faced another winter without heating in church, so the decision was made to hold our services in the Church Hall, apart from festival services. This has worked well and congregations are showing signs of picking up, in a warm environment, with good facilities for refreshments and socialising after services.
There were joint study groups in Advent and Lent, well-attended by people from across the Benefice, continuing to build good relationships between the churches.
As well as the weekly Thursday evening service of compline and the Friday on-line prayer group, a new service of Holy Communion will start in April, at 7pm on Wednesdays. It is hoped that this will appeal to folk who find Sunday worship difficult because of family or other commitments.
The Electoral Roll currently stands at 64.
4
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
Pastoral Care and Communication
2023 was another fruitful year here at St. Saviour’s Church as we continue our busy schedule of serving our local community.
Our Sunday services have been consistently attended by our regular congregation members and we have welcomed some new members and visiting guests.
We open the Church on Wednesday afternoons to create a quiet space for prayer and reflection. Refreshments are always available for those who like to pop in and have a chat, ask any questions they may have or just to see what’s happening in this Church.
We have lunch group who meet every Friday for a hot meal, friendship and fellowship. The people who come along really value this space to share problems and talk about any issues in a safe space.
The two Mothers’ Union groups continue to meet each month, one in the afternoons, the other in the evening. They meet for Prayer and fellowship, organising fundraising events, and supporting MU Diocesan projects.
Our Butterflies Toddler group is very popular. We meet on a Monday morning during term time, supporting parents and grandparents; offering advice and support and a safe place to play; bringing parents together to form lasting friendships. During the school holidays we offer “PlaySpace” where the toddlers can bring older siblings and children from the wider community can join, for play, craft, snacks, song time, all based on a Bible story which is usually read at the end of the session.
Once a month Messy Church is held in our Hall as part of the Benefice. This is well supported by families with children of all ages. Our work with young people continues to grow and we now have a 'share' of the Mission Area Youth Leader.
Along with our ecumenical brothers and sisters we are part of the team that visits all the local primary schools each term to deliver “open the book” assemblies. These act out a short story from the Bible, which is great fun and children seem to love.
Deanery Synod
We have 2 members on the Deanery Synod. This provides the PCC with an important link between the Parish and the wider structure of the church. Meetings are held every 3 months with representatives from each Parish in the Deanery. It is a time for worship and gathering information and sharing ideas from different communities throughout the Deanery. In the last year the Synod has been focusing on transforming churches and environmental issues.
Ecumenical Relationships
St Saviour's is actively involved in Together4Fromeside and the local Mission Partnership.
Churches Together for Fromeside is a group of 8 local churches of different denominations who work together to find solutions, growth and development for the common good in our local communities. Our principle focus again in 2023 has been the Comfort & Joy Appeal
5
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements
Year ended 31 December 2023
which raises funds for and the awareness of people in our community who are living below the poverty line.
We have also enjoyed several pulpit swaps where the minister from each of the churches swaps to a different church, giving a different perspective on the gospel and a different style of worship.
The PCC Treasurer represents the Church on the committee of the local village hall and social club (Charity number: 227189).
The Church is linked to Manor CofE Primary school. We have a place on the board of governors and worship in Church with the children and their parents at the end of term services and harvest festival. We also went into school to deliver “Christmas in a box” which was the telling of the Christmas Story using visual aids and engaging with the children. It was a lot of fun!
The incumbent and Church Wardens are the managing trustees of the Manor School Religious Education Fund which is shown in the accounts as a restricted fund.
Church Hall and Churchyard
The Church Hall continues to be very well used for a huge variety of activities and by all ages. It provides a good source of income for the maintenance and running of both the Hall and the Church. We are hoping that some of the monies recently realised from the disposal of Rathbone Close can be used to upgrade the kitchen facilities, which will make the building even more welcoming.
In 2023 Trixie who has managed the Hall bookings on a voluntary basis for over 40 years, decided it was time to retire. Her retirement was marked with a presentation and gift from the Church at the Christmas Lunch. Although she will be a hard act to follow, we have found another volunteer and wish her all the best continuing Trixie’s great work.
St Saviour’s churchyard is an active churchyard, and a number of burials took place during the year. Many graves continue to be tended by family members but there are some which the PCC takes responsibility for and this year saw the expenditure of some of the graveyard designated funds to restore some plots and improve their safety.
In November, the war memorial in the churchyard again acted as the focal point for Coalpit Heath’s Remembrance Sunday commemorations.
The grass cutting contract did not deliver the required service and the PCC were very grateful to a volunteer who was able to temporarily take over the grass mowing and bring it back to a neat and tidy state. We are implementing a plan to ensure that the churchyard grass is properly mown in 2024.
Social Committee
2023 was another big year for us. We had all the usual celebrations: Christmas Fayre, Easter Fayre, Horticultural Show, and Fathers’ Day Breakfast raising funds for both the Church and the Comfort & Joy appeal.
6
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements
Year ended 31 December 2023
The Social Committee organised the reception following Father David’s installation back in April. Over 150 congregation, family and friends attended the service and reception where food and drinks were served. It was a lovely occasion enjoyed by all who attended.
Financial Review
Under our Finance Policy, the PCC has a duty to ensure that accounts are prepared and independently examined, to approve the accounts and present them to the APCM within 5 months of the year end. The accounts are prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
2023 has been another difficult year resulting in a deficit of £5,878. There has been a reduction in donations but an increase in income from weddings and funerals. The rental income from the Church Hall has increased as has the income from fundraising and other activities. This has been very welcome as the running costs for the Church, the Hall and the Churchyard have increased substantially. We also paid our Parish Share in full with a little extra to put the Benefice in an overpayment position.
Once again we have managed because of our substantial reserves which this year were increased further by the sale of Rathbone Close at a profit over the probate value. The net funds available have increased by £39,886 and now stand at £271,239 of which £53,145 are restricted or designated (see page 11).
There has been some progress with the new heating but no expenditure incurred yet. We will also need to spend some funds in the coming year on issues identified in the Quinquennial review. The trustees are confident that the charity remains a going concern as the reserves exceed 3 months expenditure and are sufficient to cover the upcoming exceptional expenditure.
Safeguarding
At St Saviour’s we continue to do everything we can to keep people safe when they use our buildings or attend groups and activities on our premises. We are especially mindful about the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults. In particular, the church is actively working, as part of the Benefice, to become a Dementia Friendly accredited church.
All those in a role requiring a DBS check are currently up to date (12 in total). 8 people are current with their Basic Awareness Safeguarding Training, 2 with Foundation Training, 9 with Safeguarding Leadership Training, and 7 with Responding to Domestic Abuse Training. Further courses for the Benefice will be held at St Saviour’s Church during 2024.
Our Safeguarding Officer continues to be part of the Benefice Safeguarding Team who meet at least quarterly and has been asked to take over the responsibility of the Lead Safeguarding Officer for the Benefice with effect from April 2024. Along with the Church Warden, she also continues to be a member of the Benefice Listening Team and is also a team member in the Mission Area ‘Care in the Community Team’.
Our Safeguarding Statement can be found on the Fromeside Benefice website under the heading of ‘Safeguarding and Data Protection’ heading. It is in the process of being reviewed and will be launched once it has been approved by the next Benefice Council meeting.
7
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
Structure, Governance and Management
St Saviour’s Church is situated on Beesmoor Road, Coalpit Heath. It is part of the Diocese of Bristol and the Kingswood & South Gloucestershire Deanery within the Church of England.
The PCC is a body corporate (PCC Powers Measure 1956, Church Representation Rules 2017) and a registered charity with the Charity Commission (Charity Number: 1194075).
The Charity trustees are the PCC members. PCC members who served from 1 January until the date this report was approved are:
Chair Rev. David Jones (Assoc. Minister for St Saviour’s)(from 23/05/23) Church Wardens: Mrs Mary Head (until 11/07/2023) Mrs Lucy Rogers (from 11/07/2023) Mr. Robert Boyd (from 11/07/2023) Secretary: Mrs Jill Boyd Treasurer: Mrs Alison Holliday Deanery Synod: Mrs Sarah Blake Elected Members: Mrs Jessica Lock (Minute Secretary) Mrs Sam Rees (until April 2023) Mrs Lisa Stephens (Safeguarding Officer) Mr. Mike Swain (Lay minister) Mrs Mary Head (from 12/07/2023)
8
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
Statement of trustees’ responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
-
make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
-
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
-
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed/constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report dated:
Signed by:
Lucy Rogers Church Warden
Rob Boyd Church Warden
Alison Holliday PCC Treasurer
9
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of St Saviour's Church PCC
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of St Saviour's Church PCC (the Charity) for the year ended 31[st] December 2022 which have been prepared on receipts and payments basis.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Charity, 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 the 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 giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records.
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.
Dylan Montell 2 Dowding Close, Chipping Sodbury BS37 6BX
Date: …………………………
10
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
Statement of Receipts and Payments
| Unrestricted Funds |
Restricted Funds |
Total Funds | Prior Year Total Funds |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income | |||||
| Donations and legacies | 30,740 | 30,740 | 33,053 | ||
| Income from charitable activities | 10,377 | 10,377 | 6,665 | ||
| Other trading activities | 17,419 | 17,419 | 13,391 | ||
| Investments | 3,367 | 253 | 3,620 | 1,928 | |
| Other income | 1,390 | 1,390 | 4,351 | ||
| Total income | 63,293 | 253 | 63,546 | 59,388 | |
| Expenditure | |||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 54,536 | 54,536 | 51,140 | ||
| Support costs | 8,588 | 8,588 | 7,274 | ||
| Other expenditure | 5,550 | 750 | 6,300 | 5,956 | |
| Total expenditure | 68,674 | 750 | 69,424 | 64,370 | |
| Net income/(expenditure) | (5,878) | (4,982) | |||
| Total funds brought forward | 231,353 | 242,043 | |||
| Investment Growth/(Losses) | 4,399 | (5,708) | |||
| Net Gain on sale of fixed asset | 41,365 | 0 | |||
| Total funds carried forward | 271,239 | 231,353 | |||
| Represented by: | |||||
| Unrestricted | |||||
| General Fund | 218,094 | 180,459 | |||
| Designated | |||||
| Designated Funds | 43,225 | 40,815 | |||
| Restricted | |||||
| Manor CofE RE Fund | 9,920 | 10,079 | |||
11
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
Statement of assets and liabilities
| General | Designated | Restricted | This year | Last year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed assets- Investments | |||||
| Church repairs fund | 3,346 | 3,346 | 3,058 | ||
| Religious Education fund | 2,441 | 2,441 | 2,231 | ||
| Phillips & Newman’s Graves fund | 9,765 | 9,765 | 8,926 | ||
| Church roof repairs fund | 3,074 | 3,074 | 2,810 | ||
| Churchyard upkeep fund | 6,556 | 6,556 | 5,992 | ||
| Investment fund | 17,306 | 17,306 | 15,374 | ||
| Manor CofE RE fund | 8,758 | 8,758 | 8,456 | ||
| Totals | 17,306 | 25,182 | 8,758 | 51,246 | 46,847 |
| Fixed assets– Tangible assets | |||||
| 26 Rathbone Close | 0 | 78,200 | |||
| Totals | 0 | 78,200 | |||
| Current assets– cash at bank | |||||
| CAF Current Account | 6,101 | 8,535 | |||
| CAF Gold Account | 140,784 | 26,667 | |||
| Cash in hand | 472 | 191 | |||
| Charitable needs fund | 15,798 | 15,307 | |||
| Fabric fund | 5,958 | 5,773 | |||
| Garden of Remembrance fund | 2,579 | 2,499 | |||
| PCC fund | 47,139 | 45,675 | |||
| Nat West Current Account | 1,162 | 1,659 | |||
| Totals | 219,993 | 106,306 | |||
| Grand total | 271,239 | 231,353 |
12
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
Notes to the accounts
1. Analysis of income and expenditure
| INCOME | Unrestricted | Designated | Restricted | Total this year |
Total last year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donations & Legacies | |||||
| GiftAidDonations | 15,826 | 15,826 | **16,362 ** | ||
| Free Will Offering | 1,199 | 1,199 | 1,292 | ||
| Churchyard Donations | 44 | 44 | 342 | ||
| Services and other donations | 6,055 | 6,055 | 5,224 | ||
| Legacies | 0 | 0 | 1,000 | ||
| Church Roof Fund | 21 | 21 | 21 | ||
| Organ & Choir Fund | 917 | 917 | 560 | ||
| Garden of Remembrance | 993 | 993 | 2,021 | ||
| Flood Light Sponsorship | 280 | 280 | 330 | ||
| Gift Aid Tax Refund | 5,405 | 5,405 | 5,901 | ||
| Totals | 28,809 | **1,931 ** | 30,740 | 33,053 | |
| Income from Charitable activities | |||||
| Bristol Diocese Fees | 2,072 | 2,072 | 1,839 | ||
| PCC Fees | 2,834 | 2,834 | 2,871 | ||
| Funerals | 4,468 | 4,468 | 1,905 | ||
| Weddings | 1,003 | 1,003 | 50 | ||
| Totals | 8,305 | 2,072 | 10,377 | 6,665 | |
| Other trading activities | |||||
| Hall Rental | 11,873 | 11,873 | 8,674 | ||
| Coffee Club | 68 | 68 | 158 | ||
| Mums andToddlers Group | 821 | 821 | 877 | ||
| Fundraising | 4,657 | 4,657 | 3,682 | ||
| Totals | 16,598 | 821 | 17,419 | 13,391 | |
| Investments | |||||
| Interest | 2,859 | 442 | 253 | **3,554 ** | **1,862 ** |
| P&N Graves | 66 | 66 | 66 | ||
| Totals | 2,859 | 508 | 253 | 3,620 | 1,928 |
| Other Income | |||||
| GlebeRental | 0 | 0 | 13 | ||
| Magazine Account | 748 | 68 | 816 | 1,063 | |
| Lent Lunches | 356 | 356 | 305 | ||
| Hall repairs | 0 | 0 | 50 | ||
| Miscellaneous | 218 | 218 | 2,920 | ||
| Totals | 1,322 | 68 | 1,390 | 4,351 | |
| INCOME TOTAL | 57,893 | 5,400 | 253 | 63,546 | 59,388 |
13
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
| EXPENDITURE | Unrestricted | Designated | Restricted | Total this year |
Total last year |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exp on Charitable activities | ||||||
| DBF Parish Share | 35,016 | 35,016 | 35,000 | |||
| Weddings | 425 | 425 | - | |||
| Funerals | 600 | 600 | 320 | |||
| Garden of Remembrance | 1,065 | 1,065 | 920 | |||
| Bristol Diocese Fees | 2,419 | 2,419 | 2,047 | |||
| Church Expenses & Maintenance | 3,355 | 3,355 | 6,499 | |||
| ChurchUtilityBills &Insurance | 3,828 | 3,828 | **4,067 ** | |||
| Churchyard expenses | 4,523 | 528 | 4,523 | 0 | ||
| Charitable donations | 1,708 | 1,708 | **2,287 ** | |||
| Totals | 49,455 | 4,012 | 53,467 | 51,140 | ||
| Support costs | ||||||
| LockieLtdEnvelope Scheme | 81 | **81 ** | 96 | |||
| Royal School of Church Music | 127 | 127 | 110 | |||
| Benefice Fees | 7,144 | 7,144 | 5,840 | |||
| Organ and Choir | 927 | 927 | 1,004 | |||
| Magazine | 200 | 89 | 289 | 204 | ||
| G&B Affiliation | 20 | 20 | 20 | |||
| Totals | 7,445 | 1,143 | 8,588 | 7,274 | ||
| Other expenditure | ||||||
| Hall Expenses &Maintenance | 1,041 | 1,041 | 443 | |||
| Hall Utility Bills & Insurance | 2,893 | 2,893 | 3,099 | |||
| Bank Charges | 84 | 84 | 107 | |||
| Professional Fees | 0 | 0 | 900 | |||
| Miscellaneous | 2,601 | 750 | 3,351 | 1,407 | ||
| Totals | 6,619 | 750 | 7,369 | 5,956 | ||
| EXPENDITURE TOTAL | 63,519 | 5,155 | 750 | 69,424 | 64,370 | |
| GRAND TOTAL | (5,878) | (4,982) | ||||
2. 26 Rathbone Close, Coalpit Heath
The property at 26 Rathbone Close was bequeathed to 3 beneficiaries in 2016. The value previously shown in the accounts was 1/3[rd] of the probate value, £78,200.
The house was vacated early in the year and the sale was finally completed on 12 December 2023. St Saviour’s PCC incurred substantial expenses preparing the house for sale but expect to receive reimbursement of 2/3rds of the expenses from the other beneficiaries during 2024.
The sale proceeds received were £124,979. The profit, after expenses, of £41,365 is shown as a capital gain below the line in the Statement of Receipts and Payments.
14
St Saviour’s PCC Financial Statements Year ended 31 December 2023
3. The Manor Church of England Religious Education Fund
The incumbent and Church Wardens are the managing trustees of this fund which was established by the Secretary of State for Education in 1999.
The 1999 DofE order sets out the restrictions for the Religious Education Fund which is to be used “for educational purposes related to the Parish of Coalpit Heath in connection with the provision of religious education in accordance with the tenets of the Church of England by means of a Sunday School or otherwise”.
The dividends from the fund are paid into the Nat West Bank account and are maintained separately from general church funds. The Trustees spent £750 of restricted funds in 2023 on baptism Bibles for all the Churches in the Fromeside Benefice.
4. Charitable Donations
Charitable donations are made from specially collected funds . The Christmas services’ collections are made for Sight Savers and The Children’s Society whilst the Lent Lunches collections are split between chosen national and local charities.
In 2023, we gave 25% of the proceeds from the Christmas Fayre to the Comfort & Joy appeal.
The church also manages a collection box scheme for The Children’s Society. In 2023 we collected over £1,000.
15