“Come to Christ, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight. And like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
St Peter’s First Letter to the Christians in exile in ‘Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia’ 4:2
**We are many, God's great diversity, yet we are one in Christ.** _Sam Hargreaves_
Annual Report and Financial Statement Year Ending 31[st] December 2023
The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
## **Contents:**
- **Charity Information - Page 3**
- **Rector’s/Chair’s Report- Page 6**
- **St Peter’s Church of England Primary School ReportPage 10**
- **Churchwardens’ Report: Page 11**
- **Proceedings of the Parochial Church Council-Page 12**
- **Revised Church Electoral Roll for 2024- Page 13**
- **Treasurer’s 2023 Finance Report – Page 13**
- **Independent Examiner Report- Page 14**
- **Accounts- Page 16**
- **Servers Report- Page 19**
- **St Peter’s Bell Ringing Report-Page 19**
- **St Peter’s Music Report- Page 20**
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
## **CHARITY INFORMATION:**
## **PCC Trustees:**
Reverend Andrew Denis Paul Mumby, Rector and Chair of the PCC Reverend Canon Alan James Wild, Assistant Priest (Non-stipendiary) Helen Williams, Churchwarden Kehinde Ayabo Tuki, Churchwarden (Kenny) Alexander David Metcalfe (Treasurer), Joy Diali (Secretary), Siriol Davies, Deanery Synod Representative and Vice-chair of the PCC Frances Ndoinje, Deanery Synod Representative Stuart Murrell, Member of the Diocesan Synod and Ex-officio member of the Deanery Synod Adeola Adetoro Ahmed, (Toro) Steven William Charles Rogers Gloria Brown Ayokunna Iyiola Joanne Johnson Serena Dyett
## **Bankers:**
Barclays Bank PLC
## **Independent Examiner:**
Anthony Harbinson 3 Corrina Park Belfast BT17 0HA
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of the St Peter’s Walworth (the ‘PCC’) present their annual report for the year ended 31st December 2023 under the Charities Act 2011, together with the financial statements for the year, and confirm that the latter comply with the requirements of the Act, the Trust Deed and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (FRS 102).
## : **Structure Governance and Management**
## **Organisation**
The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth (PCC) was registered as a charity with the Charity Commission in England & Wales in May 2021. The registered charity number is 1194616.
The church is governed by the Parochial Church Council. Members of the council are Ex Officio: All Licensed Clergy of the Parish (3), Churchwardens (2) elected for the year at the annual Vestry meeting, Members of the Deanery Synod (2) elected for the triennium by the Annual Church Council Meeting,
Members of the Diocesan Synod (1)
Elected Members:
Eight other members proposed and elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
The PCC has appointed a Treasurer and Secretary from its number. The Treasurer for 2023 was Mr. Alexander David Metcalfe and the Secretary, Ms Joy Diali. The Rector is the Chairman of the PCC and Siriol Davies was appointed as Vice Chair.
The PCC reserves the right to co-opt members who might have a particular contribution to make.
The PCC meets every two to three months and delegates some business to Ministry, Finance, Building Management sub-committees. The Standing Committee of the PCC comprises the Rector, Treasurer, Secretary and Churchwardens, and meets as necessary.
## **Risk Policy**
The PCC has examined the major strategic, business and operational risks which the charity faces and confirm that systems have been established to enable regular reports to be produced so that the necessary steps can be taken to lessen these risks.
## **Objectives and activities**
The objects of the PCC are the furtherance of the mission and ministry of the Church of England in the Parish of St Peter’s Walworth including the parish school, St Peter’s Church of England Primary School. The PCC has paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charities Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
## **Achievements and performance**
Please refer to the Rector’s report
## **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 (United Kingdom generally accepted Accounting Policies). 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 the affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources 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 judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
- State whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that charity will continue in business.
The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper 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 constitution. They are also responsible for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
## **Rector’s Report**
Praise God! There are so many blessings to be thankful for in our church family life at St Peter’s, and of course in our own individual lives. There are of course challenges for us all as well, which we can only navigate by God’s grace and in God’s strength. Let’s keep praying for each other: for wisdom, for grace, for our life together, and of course for faith, hope and love.
Since our last Annual Meeting **our common life** at St Peter’s has continued to grow. It has been good to see new faces in church, as well as seeing people return to church. I want to say again how important it is to remember that **we all belong** at St Peter’s, whether were new, old, younger, older, quiet, confident, here every Sunday, here once a month: **St Peter’s is your church home and mine** . We are a family: God’s family in this place, siblings of Jesus of Nazareth.
In his First Letter, in the New Testament, Saint Peter describes us as **living stones, a holy priesthood, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people** . These are amazing words, a powerful way to describe us: we who are the saints in Walworth. I would like us to hold on to these powerful titles, as I believe they call each of us to take up our place in church as living stones, members of a royal priesthood: this means that we each have a part to play in the life of St Peter’s Church. Someone once said ‘a job for everyone’, and I would like us to ask ourselves in God’s presence in our prayers ‘What is my part, for this time?’ There is a lot going on in church, and I’m so grateful to God for everything we all do. As I said on Mothering Sunday, we all do so much good that is seen, but also so much that is unseen. That is even true for the clergy and others who everyone sees doing things in church on a Sunday morning: so much goes on which only God sees. For the clergy in particular, this involves supporting the bereaved and the sick, giving confidential support on issues of housing, immigration, money, family issues, as well as all of the practicalities of our worship, our building, and the always-increasing admin and bureaucracy that goes with Church life. It is only by God’s grace and in God’s strength. Please remember, that even when you don’t see us, or hear from us, we are at God’s service; and please keep us all in your prayers as we pray for you daily.
In September we had the awful news that our beloved Bishop Karowei had died; although he had suffered with his health, this was totally unexpected and a great shock to all of us who knew and loved him. He died peacefully in hospital, surrounding by his family and friends and with the ministry of the Church at the end of his life here on earth. Bishop Karowei has been such an incredible inspiration for us all, and blessed St Peter’s with so many visits from the day of his announcement as bishop-designate of Woolwich, when he came for his first ever ordination of priests hosted at St Peter’s and including our very own Father Michael and again to include Mother Delorine during lockdown, to cook for our homeless guests during the Robes Project with Doctor Mosun (the guests were very grateful for some delicious, authentic jollof and chicken!), and more. His words from his deathbed to his twin sister Collette ‘If anything should happen to me, tell everyone that I love them’ still bring tears to my eyes as I write now, and breaking the news here at St Peter’s was a deeply sad moment for us all. I personally have never felt so known, and seen, and loved by any bishop as Bishop Karowei, and I will miss him very deeply: personally and in ministry. May our dear Bishop Karowei rest in perfect peace and rise in glory.
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
I am excited about our 200[th] Anniversary in 2025! **Building Beyond: Saint Peter's 200th Anniversary Appeal** has got off to a great start with a generous donation from friends of the church to employ a fundraising consultant, who has helped us submit a successful Expression of Interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), which means we are now preparing a First Round Development Application, in due course followed by a Second Round Delivery application, for a significant grant towards a scheme likely to cost around £3m. This is a complex process which involves a huge amount of work for our team when we are already stretched. We have set up a Project Steering Group, with 7 experienced community members, to guide us and report to the PCC, ably led by its Chair, Claire Maugham. The Appeal will address important repair and conservation issues for our Grade 1 listed Soane church, as well as finding new ways to open up the building and share the amazing heritage we are stewards of. As part of this process, we are of course mindful that the Church of England has set a target of producing net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and St Peter’s has plans to create exemplar improvements to help meet our targets. Please keep us in your prayers, and thank you to church members and community friends who have already stepped up to help the process. We began our building appeal in 2019, only to be cut short by lockdown. So in some ways, this will be our 200[th] +2 anniversary! The Heritage Fund bidding process is a long one to accommodate, amongst other things, Diocese Faculty applications and fundraising. There will be ways that each and every one of us can get involved, so please do come forward and volunteer, as well as getting your fundraising thinking caps on!
Part of Building Beyond is that we are working with professionals giving their time for free on a business plan for St Peter’s Church. There is a lot going on in the Crypt and our vision is to both serve the local community and make St Peter’s more financially sustainable. It has been wonderful to see Saint Louie open in the Crypt, out of a long-standing relationship with Chris and Lena Greenwood of Louie Louie who we’ve also worked with on large-scale gigs in church before. Saint Louie is flourishing, and we operate on a profit-share basis, which combines sustainability as a café with a community ethos (prices are lower to reflect our own community, and everyone receives a warm welcome including vulnerable people who come into the Crypt) and much- needed funds for our church budget. Room hire in the Crypt is proving healthy: and again many clients are other charities doing great work, as well as commercial hires. Please remember that church family get a 10% discount in Saint Louie, and a 15% discount on hiring rooms in the Crypt for events!
**Prayer & Pilgrimage:** It was a beautiful thing to see 10 of our teenagers make an incredible pilgrimage journey over land and see to the Holy Island of Iona last summer: thank you to Toro and Siriol our adult leaders who made this possible! I was amazed, after the 12-hour overnight journeys there and back that the young people came back totally buzzing and asking straight away ‘Can we go again next year?!’! Thank you to the Iona community for making it such a worthwhile time of spiritual renewal and growth, friendship and discovery for our young pilgrims. God-willing, we are fundraising fo this summer’s YouthFest and we hope at some point to give adults and others the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to Iona in the footsteps of our young people! We also held **quiet days** for adults in church at the Community of Saint Francis at Borough: although the Oratory of Saint Francis is close to Blackfriars
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
Bridge Road it is an oasis of peace and prayer, and it was good to take time out to renew ourselves spiritually as well as getting to know each other better. After Easter, we also started running **Magnify!** Which is a lay- ministry training course for local people to train for ministry in our community with all the pressures and challenges we face. This has got off to a great start, with some people coming from our neighbouring parish Saint Paul’s Lorrimore Square to join the course. We are also planning to reopen St Peter’s Church during the week for people to come in to pray, reflect, see the building, or just take a moment to shelter from the rain or from life! We have CCTV now in the Crypt and soon to be online in church as well for everyone’s safety and to better protect the building.
We continue to operate an **‘informal foodbank’** thank to our generous Harvest donations of food and toiletries. People come to the Church in their hour of need, and it is very helpful to be able to provide something to eat. If you would like to be involved in sorting and monitoring food, please let me know. As always, the Manna Centre for homeless people near London Bridge are very grateful for the donations we send to them to keep their centre running, supporting literally thousands of people each year. We have not hosted the **Robes Project winter night shelter** for homeless people since lockdown, but I hope at some point we will be able to resume: again, if you would like to be involved from co-ordinating through to volunteering or shopping, please let me know.
It was wonderful to see the return of **Walworth’s Got Talent** in October thanks to a grant from Southwark Council! Young and old showed off amazing talents including poetry, singing, dancing, drumming, and for the first time ever a young magician took the top spot! And plenty of adults and children from church were involved! Thanks to the volunteers and judges who made it a great success, with our friends Carby & Co providing amazing lighting, sound and staging as ever, at a great community rate for us! This summer, **St Peter’s Party in the Park** is back to its usual July slot! We’re grateful to Notting Hill Genesis and Southwark Council for funding and support. And we have lots of opportunities for church members to volunteer, watch this space!
St Peter’s has long established **ecumenical** friendships, and it was a joy to attend and robe for Father Thomas Udie’s 70[th] birthday with his twin sister Sister Josephine at English Martyrs Roman Catholic Church: they also celebrated 40[th] and 50[th] anniversaries of ministry at the same time! Alleluia! We also have a long established friendship with the **Old Kent Road Mosque Muslim Association of Nigeria)** who invited us to join them for the breaking of the fast (Iftar) during Ramadan, always a great experience.
In my role as Rector of St Peter’s, I also have a number of **responsibilities beyond our immediate church and parish** . I serve as one of Bishop Christopher’s Examining Chaplains interviewing ordination candidates before Bishop Christopher
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
discerns whether to sponsor them for national discernment for training for the priesthood or diaconate. I have annual and monthly teaching commitments for curates across the diocese in reflective practice and leading worship. Of course, I can’t say yes to everything, and from time to time I have to review my commitments both within and outside of the parish.
This year I have stepped down as chair of St Peter’s School Curriculum Committee and as a member of the Church of England’s Senior Appointments and Leadership Development group, and reduced my commitment to Southwark Council’s Faith Strategy Group (where I have served for a number of years with our sister Siriol and the current and previous Archdeacons of Southwark).
Since 2018 I have been an elected member of the House of Clergy of the General Synod of the Church of England which meets twice a year. At Synod I have spoken out and worked behind the scenes for justice and equality for all God’s children, focussing on justice in relation to race, gender, sexuality and other areas affecting parishes like ours such as poverty and dignity for workers.
This is linked closely to our ethos of **inclusion, justice, equity and belonging** for each one of us, for all people, here at St Peter’s. I continue to think about the idea of belonging in particular in terms of our Sunday morning worship especially. We are all different: and we are all made in the image and likeness of God. So God is no more like you than God is like me; and no more like me than God is like you. That means we need grace: grace to understand that things in church need to help you and me in our difference to know that we belong here. I might be loud, you might be quiet. You might arrive late for Mass, I might arrive early. I might like traditional music in church, you might like modern music in church. You might come to church with a big family of young and old children, I might come on my own. I might love sitting still quietly, you might love moving around and greeting people as you meet and see them. And yet: we are all one in Christ.
As your rector and priest, I of course have a public and personal dimension to my life and vocation. On a personal note, many of you will know that I married Theo in a quiet Nuptial Mass with close family in December. Thank you for the warm wishes and prayers we have received at this beautiful moment in our lives. It is not always easy to be married to a priest! But Theo has already supported me with so much love, care and inspiration that my heart overflows: thanks be to God! As we settle into life with our children in the rectory, please do remember us in your prayers as we face the joys and sorrows, the responsibilities, opportunities and pressures of life together. Before his untimely passing, Bishop Karowei beamed with joy last summer when I told him that we were engaged to be married and joyfully prayed God’s blessing on us and our family. He and Doctor Mosun sent us a gift towards Theo’s engagement ring, and they will always be a beautiful part of our journey through life together, as will so many of you all.
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
It is impossible for me to say **thank you** to everyone who works to make sure St Peter’s flourishes as such a healthy and joyful parish church, reaching so many people across our community: and perhaps it’s not even right for me to say thank you, given that we all do what we do for the glory of God and in the service of Jesus of Nazareth, our great high priest.
I want to say a personal thank you, on behalf of us all, to Canon Alan Wild, our amazing Assistant Priest. Father Alan’s mostly un-seen Christian service in church, in school, and in our parish community cannot be underestimated and helps St Peter’s to be the flourishing church family and Parish Church that it is! Thank you, Alan! I also want to thank, on all our behalf, our amazing Staff team: since we started managing the whole building including our Crypt again in July 2023, the staff team have been stretched further than ever, and gone above and beyond – again, mostly unseen – which has not only helped us to keep the show on the road, but to work creatively to re-open the Café and work with a number of outside individuals and groups and organisations to breathe new life into the Crypt: Catherine, Mary, Josephine and Dan have been total stars serving with professionalism and warmth to ensure smooth running and a very warm welcome to the whole community who come to our Crypt for a thousand different reasons every day of the week: thank you from us all!
I can’t say this loudly enough: **you belong here. Whoever you are.** I belong here, whoever I am. There are still things we need to do to make it really feel like that for all of us. And certainly, we need to work hard in our world to make sure we also know that we belong wherever we go, in a society which is full of inequality and injustice which needs challenging every step of the way. Finally, I want to encourage each one of us to **go deeper in our discipleship** : in church, in our jobs and our roles, and in our world. Please think and pray about what God is calling you to do so that we can make God’s reign on earth better known. Is God calling you to do something new in church? Or to be more and more open about our faith in God at home, at work, in school? Or to step in a role in the politics of our world? God needs you and me to play our full role in the world for God’s justice, truth, love and mercy to be known.
Let me finish with words from our patron Saint Peter in his First Letter in the Bible, reminding us that we are God’s chosen generation in this place and for this time in the long and beautiful story of St Peter’s Church here in Walworth:
“You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” _1 Peter 2: 9-10_
Father Andrew Mumby, Rector of St Peter’s, Walworth
## **St Peter’s Church of England Primary School Report**
St Peter’s School is an essential part of parish life for our church and community. We are very blessed to have a really dedicated team of staff across the school who give so, so much to our children and families to
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
give them the best education possible. This was born out by a Good Ofsted rating which has become even harder to achieve under the new Ofsted framework for inspection of schools. We also received a SIAMS inspection which focusses on Religious Education, Collective Worship and the Christian ethos of the school, which was a truly excellent report, listing many strengths including ‘Pupils and adults grow spiritually through whole school worship, personal reflection and prayer, which are central to the school’s daily life. Close collaboration with St Peter’s Church extends spiritual growth within the local community.’ Both reports are available to read in full at https://www.stpeterswalworth.co.uk/ Congratulations to the whole school community!
## **Churchwardens’ Report: Helen Williams and Kenny Tuki-Adenubi:**
It is our pleasure to now see that majority of the members of the congregation have returned back to regular worship in church, and wonderful to be able to meet in fellowship with one another after the Parish Mass.
I will be standing down as Churchwarden after I have served as Churchwarden to the church for six years. I wish to record my personal thanks to St Peter’s Clergy Team for working with me to serve in the role of Churchwarden. Helen will later in the year be serving with another newly elected Churchwarden to replace me.
## **Fabric, Goods and Ornaments of the Church:**
Helen and I met with the Archdeacon on Saturday, March 9[th] for the Annual Church Inspection. St Peter’s Registers were inspected along with evidence of the statutory safety and maintenance checks including gas, lightning conductors, fire extinguishers and the church insurance documentation. All the documents are currently in order. There were no Faculty Applications for works during the past year.
Plans are now underway for a major “Building Appeal” to celebrate our 200[th] Anniversary of St Peter’s Church, to carryout major repairs and enhancements to the building.
During the year we were able to purchase four new flags due to the amazing generosity of individual members of the congregation: The Flag of St Peter, the Black Pride & Pride Progress Flag, the Union Flag and the Diocese of Southwark Flag. A huge thank you to all concerned.
We are fortunate to have a very small group of volunteers who clean and tidy our church including cleaning the silver and the candlesticks and cleaning and ironing the church laundry. We are most grateful for all their hard work which goes on behind the scenes week after week. If anyone wishes to help with cleaning, small maintenance jobs, helping to clear the gutters, etc please speak to any member of the Churchwardens or a member of the Clergy Team - Thank you.
Although the Rector and the Churchwardens have a particular responsibility for the church building, every member of St. Peter’s has a duty of care to look after and keep the church clean tidy for the praise and glory of God.
**Acknowledgements** : The Church Wardens wish to express their heartfelt thanks to Father Andrew, St Peter’s Rector, and Father Alan, Assistant Priest, for their leadership, guidance, pastoral care and hard work throughout the year. Thanks be to God for our Clergy. On behalf of Helen and myself, it has been a privilege and a
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pleasure to serve St. Peter’s Church and the congregation during the past year as your Churchwardens.
## **Kenny Tuki-Adenubi and Helen Williams**
## **Report on the Proceedings of the Parochial Church Council**
Serving on the PCC at St. Peter's Church offers not only an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth but also a chance to make a positive impact on our Church community.
**Meeting Frequency and Format** : The PCC meets a minimum of four times a year, either in person at the church, in the Crypt, or remotely via Zoom. These meetings are typically held on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings from 6:30 pm.
**Financial Oversight** : The PCC closely monitors church finances, supported by the expertise of Alex Metcalfe, PCC Treasurer. Various giving schemes, including the Parish Giving Scheme and weekly Giving Envelope Scheme, are available for members to contribute to the church's growth and sustainability.
**The Crypt** : During the year, the PCC took difficult decisions concerning the future of the Crypt. The Crypt transitioned from Inspire to welcoming Saint Louie Café ensuring that the Crypt continues to be a space that is open and serving the community.
**200[th] Anniversary of St Peter’s Church** : 2025 marks the 200[th] Anniversary of St. Peter’s Church and to celebrate this important anniversary, planning is underway for a significant fundraising appeal project to fully restore the building. As many of you will know, St. Peter’s Church is a Grade I Listed building and the Architect was Sir John Soane. We all have a responsibility to ensure this beautiful building is kept in a state of good repair for future generations and, of course, for the Glory of God. Further information will be provided in due course.
**Services:** Both in-person and online worship services have flourished, with a full schedule of weekday morning prayer and evening services. The dedication of the Clergy Team, Father Andrew and Father Alan, we express our heartfelt gratitude to them for their leadership and hard work.
**Organist:** Gratitude is extended to the organists, Kev and Winston, for their contributions to the worship experience through music, highlighting the importance of music in St. Peter's worship.
**Safeguarding:** The PCC prioritises safeguarding, providing training and resources to ensure the safety of all church members. Completion of the Church of England online safeguarding training is required for PCC members, emphasising the church's commitment to maintaining a safe environment.
**Churchwarden:** We also express our thanks to Kehinde Tuki-Adenubi, who has come to the end of her tenure as Churchwarden. We are grateful for her dedication and service to the Church.
In conclusion, the PCC remain dedicated to fulfilling its duties and ensuring the wellbeing of the church community. If you meet the eligibility criteria and feel called to serve, reaching out to the Clergy Team or current PCC members for further
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information would be a valuable next step. Your willingness to serve could indeed contribute significantly to the spiritual life and vitality of St. Peter's community. **Joy Diali. PCC Secretary.**
## **Preparation of the Revised Church Electoral Roll: 2024**
A Revision of the Church Electoral Roll needed to be completed prior to the 2024 Annual Parochial Church Meeting on Sunday, 26th May 2024.
Stuart Murrell, St. Peter’s Church Electoral Roll Officer, was responsible for carrying out the preparation, and is most grateful to Catherine Attride, Parish Administrator, for her help, support and expertise on completing the Revisions. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Revision preparations.
There have been 3 deletions and 7 additions since the 2023 Church Electoral roll. The 2024 Revised Church Electoral Roll stands at 225 electors and there is a copy on display at the back of church.
- For interest, this compares with a Church Electoral Roll standing at 221 electors and 203 electors in 2023 and 2022 respectively.
- The Annual Parochial Church Meeting is asked to accept the 2024 Revised Church Electoral Roll as presented with 225 electors.
- The Parish of St. Peter, Walworth, qualifies for five lay representatives to Deanery Synod. This means there are three vacancies on the Deanery Synod. Is God calling you to serve in this way?
Please note that additions may be made to the Church Electoral Roll during the rest of the year by contacting the Church Electoral Roll Officer via the office email, office@stpeterswalworth.org who will present applications to the PCC.
## **Treasurer’s Report:**
The most recent financial year has been a year of transition. After extended discussion, InSpire vacated the crypt on 1 July 2023. As a result, the presentation of the accounts has changed slightly – showing an updated distinction between ‘charitable activities’ (eg, wedding and funeral fees) and income from ‘other trading activities’ (eg, crypt lettings).
The 2023 accounts show the acute impact of the cost-of-living crisis on St Peter’s utility bills, as well as the reduced rental income resulting from InSpire’s exit from the Crypt. Compared to 2022, the electric, gas and water bills have increased by a total of over £20,000. InSpire also built up both rent and utility bill arrears before vacating the crypt on 1 July 2023. The PCC is in communication with the InSpire Board to address these outstanding payments as quickly as possible.
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Despite these challenging circumstances, St Peter’s was able to nearly breakeven in 2023. The continued generosity of the congregation and monumental effort of the church team have made it possible for St Peter’s to maintain its financial footing in 2023. Of particular note is the £18,750 of net income that St Peter’s generated from crypt lettings in the second half of 2023. Josephine Ocaka and the front of house team played a fundamental role in facilitating and administering crypt bookings. The clergy, church team, and other volunteers have put in an incredible effort to generate this level of lettings income, which made a significant difference in St Peter’s ability to breakeven.
In October 2023, St Louie moved into the café area of the crypt and St Peter’s has entered into a profit share arrangement with them. The first quarter of profit share results took place in 2024, so these are not reported in the 2023 cash-basis accounts and will instead appear in the 2024 accounts. The first period of profit share included significant set-up costs, so the level of profitability of St Louie – and its contribution to St Peter’s long-term financial sustainability – will only become clear later in 2024.
We continue to be blessed by the diligent work of staff and volunteers in administering St Peter’s finance, including the support of Ellie Price, Beryl Anstee, Donna Grant, and Mary O’Neill. Catherine Attride also conscientiously manages the petty cash and invoicing for St Peter’s Church. We of course work closely with Father Andrew and receive ultimate direction from the PCC in steering St Peter’s finances **. Alex Metcalfe, PCC Treasurer**
## **Independent Examiner's Report to the members of The Parochial Church Council of Walworth, St Peter’s:**
Dear Father Andrew and members of The Parochial Church Council of Walworth, St Peter
I write to you today as your **Independent Examiner** in respect of your annual accounts for the periods ended 31 December 2023. As trustees of the charity, the members of the PCC are responsible for the preparation of these accounts and you have decided that an audit of the accounts is not required under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. Having looked at the accounts and associated evidence I concur with this decision.
In terms of my duties and responsibilities of my role it is therefore my responsibility to
- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
- follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
- state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
I can confirm that I have carried out my examination in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission, which included reviewing the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
in the accounts and seeking explanations from the management committee concerning any such matters.
I wish to make it clear that the procedures I undertook do not provide all the evidence that would be required in a full audit, and as I am not a qualified auditor, I therefore have not expressed an audit opinion on the accounts, rather I have carried out an independent examination and have reached a conclusion based on the scope of that more limited approach.
As part of my examination I also considered a range of other relevant documents such as minutes of your Annual Meeting of the two churches, the Trust reports and printouts of your General Ledger.
So therefore, in terms of the accounts I have examined, I can confirm that no matters have come to my attention
1. which give me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements
- to keep accounting records in accordance with s.130 of the 2011 Act; or
- to prepare accounts which accord with these accounting records have not been met; or
2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Your sincerely,
Anthony Harbinson BA(Hons), MSc, MBA, FCCA, KC*HS
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
## **ST PETERS WALWORTH - 1194616**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **For the period from 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2023**
|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Endowmnent**|**Total**|**Prior Year**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**Funds**|**Funds**|**Funds**|**Funds**|**Total Funds**|
||**_Income and endowments from:_**||||||
||Donations and legacies|63,960|2,718|—|66,678|61,086|
||Income from charitable activities|13,213|—|—|13,213|35,946|
||Other trading activities|38,225|—|—|38,225|6,667|
||Investments|289|2,400|—|2,689|9,286|
||**Total income**|**115,689**|**5,118**|**—**|**120,807**|**112,986**|
||**_Expenditure on:_**||||||
||Raising funds|184|—|—|184|21,013|
||Expenditure on charitable activities|110,666|1,615|—|112,281|97,584|
||Other expenditure|10,347|—|—|10,347|3,611|
||**Total expenditure**|**121,198**|**1,615**|**—**|**122,813**|**122,208**|
||**Net income / (expenditure) resources before transfer**|**(5,508)**|**3,502**|**—**|**(2,005)**|**(9,221)**|
||||||||
||**_Other recognised gains / losses_**||||||
||**Net movement in funds**|**(5,508)**|**3,502**|**—**|**(2,005)**|**(9,221)**|
||**_Reconciliation of funds_**||||||
||**Total funds brought forward**|**15,974**|**18,779**|**—**|**34,754**|**43,976**|
||**Total funds carried forward**|**10,465**|**22,282**|**—**|**32,748**|**34,754**|
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
## Detailed Balance Sheet for St Peter’s, Walworth: Registered Charity Number 1194616
|
**Current assets**
6501: Bank current account
6506: Petty Cash
6590: Cash in hand
Z05: Accounts Receivable
**Total Current assets**
**Liabilities**
6699: Agency collections
**Total Liabilities**
**Net Asset surplus (deficit)**
**Reserves**
Excess / (deficit) to date
Z01: Starting balances
**Total Reserves**|
|**As at As at**
**31/12/2023 31/12/2022**|
|---|---|---|
|||26,934.62
34,945.92
520.00
72.44
2,496.28
755.99
3,817.50
—
**33,768.40**
**35,774.35**
1,020.19
1,020.19
**1,020.19**
**1,020.19**
**32,748.21**
**34,754.16**
(2,005.95)
(9,221.88)
34,754.16
43,976.04
**32,748.21**
**34,754.16**|
||||
||||
||**Represented by Funds**
Unrestricted
9,443.15
15,254.31
Designated
1,022.66
720.07
Restricted
22,282.40
18,779.78
Endowment
—
—
**Total**
**32,748.21**
**34,754.16**|
|---|---|
## **Accounting policies:**
1. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 using the Receipts and payments basis.
2. The statement of assets has been prepared under the historical cost conversion.
3. Agency collections are funds collected on behalf of another group over which the PCC has no control.
FUNDS:
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
1. General funds represent the funds of the PCC that are not subject to any restrictions regarding their use and which are available for application to the general purposes of the PCC.
2. Funds designated for a particular purpose by the PCC are also unrestricted.
3. The accounts include all monetary transactions, assets and liabilities for which the PCC is responsible in law. They do not include the accounts of church groups that owe their main affiliation to another body or those that are informal gatherings of church members.
Incoming resources:
1. Collections are recognized when received by or on behalf of the PCC
2. Planned giving and income tax recoverable on Gift Aid donations re recognized only when received by the PCC.
3. Rental income from the letting of church premises is recognized when the rent is received. Dividends are accounted for when received; interest entitlements are accounted for when the interest is received.
## Assets:
Consecrated property of any kind is excluded from the accounts by the Charities Act 2011. Moveable church furnishings are listed in the church’s inventory which can be inspected at any reasonable time.
## **2023 Reporting on Trusts and Charities:**
1. **The St Peter’s Sick and Poor Fund** was set up in 1867. It was registered with the Charity Commission in February 1963 (Charity number 213966). The trustees of the Charity are Father Andrew Mumby and Canon Alan Wild.
Dividends from the Sick and Poor Fund are paid into the St Peter’s Church Parish Account and used to fund Mercy Giving to the poor and needy. In 2023, income was £234 and Expenditure £157.
2. **The Two Churches Trust** set up in 1820 consists of a small deposit account with CCLA Investment Management and three CCLA trust funds. The funds generate income that is shared equally between St Peter’s Walworth and Holy Trinity with Saint Matthew at the Elephant. The St Peter’s share of fund income is currently set aside in the Parish account for building needs.
The income is paid into a separate Barclays account and administered by the Trustees Father Andrew Mumby and Canon Alan Wild. Mary O’Neill, Clergy Team PA, clerks the meetings and helps in an administrative capacity.
Income generated from the Trusts in 2023 amounted to £2691.08. Both churches were paid £2400 in November 2023 and the current balance in the Two Churches Barclays account is £850.
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
## **Servers’ Report.**
Not a lot has changed since last year’s report. We still struggle to find people to come on to the Serving Team.
As mentioned in last year’s report, I no longer produce a Rota for the team, instead we see who turns up each Sunday and pick a team from them. Not ideal, but it saves an enormous amount of time as far as rota preparation is concerned, and the frustration of not being informed at all when someone cannot serve. Where I used to have difficulty fitting everyone on to the Rota so that each person was getting the same number of opportunities to serve, this most certainly doesn’t happen anymore.
New members are always encouraged, but it is important to remember that this is a commitment, and continuity and timekeeping have to be observed. Again a special mention goes out to Steve Rogers, as current Head Server, whose commitment and reliability is an important element in the successful running of the team.
Finally, I would like to thank, on behalf of St. Peter’s, all those who do give their time to serve at the Altar here. As I’ve said many times before, Serving is a very valuable ministry, should always be taken seriously, and is an important part of our worship here, and we are extremely fortunate that we have a few who are committed to that. I pray that numbers will improve. - **Father Alan**
## **St Peter’s Walworth Bell Ringing Report 2024:**
## **‘Ringing and reaching out in Christ to the Walworth Community’**
St Peter’s bell ringers have continued to go from strength to strength this last year. With a permanent membership expanding to 13, their skills continue to grow too, ranging from confident beginners to well-seasoned ringers who are versatile on a range of methods and successful at quarter and full peals. The reputation of being amongst the friendliest towers in London continues to attract visitors far and wide. Ringers who are keen to challenge themselves, experiencing our lightest and fastest set of eight bells around, often join in with Sunday ringing. This brings added capacity to the teaching session that follows on 1[st] , 2[nd] and 5[th] Sundays.
This year the requests for peals and quarter peals has increased and amongst local bands, included the police guild of ringers. All of this ringing increases normal wear and tear upon the ropes. Four ropes are now in need of splicing to maintain safe ringing. The maintenance of the tower remains paramount. The two steeple keepers have attended a bell maintenance course to ensure that the mechanisms are in good order. The installation of CCTV in the tower aids the visual inspection of the bells whilst ringing and is a valuable teaching aid, especially for those who have never seen inside a belfry.
The ever-growing pool of ringing talent means that the tower can fulfil all requests that are made of it. This routinely includes regular Sunday service ringing, Christmas specials, funerals and weddings which are very much within the scope of the tower.
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The Parochial Church Council of St Peter’s Walworth Charity Number 1194616
With such enthusiasm and warm energy, the tower has also attracted more teaching capacity. Huge thanks must go to Edmund who offers his time and expertise generously to assist me in the steady handling of ropes, people and ringing demands and make St Peter’s a smooth operation. Lastly, thanks must go to the congregation who keep the praise a coming and for their swift arrival into church when the bells call them to pray, worship and celebrate.
**Kev Mitchell, St Peter’s Tower Captain.**
## **St Peter’s Walworth – Music Report 2024**
It is often said that worship without music does not easily soar; so wherever St Peter’s seeks to make worship really expressive of truth, music is used, and to some tune. Sometimes this means simple acapella but at other times it means more elaborate music.
St Peter’s has two fine instruments that are maintained to a high standard and attract a discerning caliber of musician to rehearse and perform, enjoying the fine acoustic experience that is St Peter’s, Walworth.
This year’s frequent maintenance has secured the, generally, reliable performance of the organ. All except a safety cut-out during the Easter vigil, the organ continues to perform, though increasing missing notes and cyphers would indicate that the mechanism will be in need of some attention in the not-too-distant future.
Of particular note this year is that Judith concluded a number of years’ service to St Peter’s this year. She will be remembered for her versatility upon the organ and piano and her energetic performances. A huge thanks must go to her for all that she brought to the liturgy at St Peter’s. In her place we have welcomed Winston as the new organist upon the rota. He brings a wealth of experience from the nonconformist, Methodist churches across London, and he proved his versatility on Easter Saturday, seamlessly switching to the Bechstein piano mid-hymn.
The cantors have settled into a routine with Zoe and Gloria singing weeks 1 and 2 and Christian and Rita singing weeks 3 and 4. The joyful singing from the dedicated cantors in the responsorial psalm, together with the merry playing from one of the team of organists, is in flow with the simple architecture and the stained glass of the delightful Soane’s building: as the music plays and the cantor sings, the congregation is liberated to meditate upon the fusion of sung expression and on the beauty which surrounds us, and so our worship is indeed uplifted, by the power of the Holy Spirit, into a closer sense of the presence of God.
## **Kev Smart, Director of Music & Organist**
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