2022-12-31-accounts

St Thomas’ Church Lowther St York

ANNUAL REPORT and FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

of the PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL For the year ended 31 December 2022

www.stthomasyork.org.uk

Priest-in-Charge: Revd Alistair Rycroft

Churchwardens: Mrs Jo Bloss, Mr Robert Hazell Treasurer: Mr David Pennock Independent Examiner : Mrs Jane Kasiuk Bank: Lloyds Bank plc, Pavement Branch, York Registered charity number: 1198054

Contents

Page
Annual Report	1-3
Independent Examiner’s Report		4
Receipts and Payments account		5
Statement of Assets and Liabilities		5
Notes to the Accounts	6-7
Budget for 2023	8

Annual Report of the PCC of St Thomas’ for the year ended Dec 31[st] 2022

St Thomas’ Church (serving the parish of St Thomas with St Maurice) is on Lowther St in the Groves area of York. It is within the Diocese of York.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. The PCC has the responsibility of promoting in the ecclesiastical parish the whole mission of the church; pastoral, evangelistic, social, and ecumenical. It also has maintenance responsibilities for the church and hall.

Membership : Members of the PCC are either ex-officio or elected by the Annual Parochial Church Meeting in accordance with the Church Representation Rules. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and are then eligible to stand for election to the PCC.

During 2022, the members of the PCC of St Thomas’ Church were:

Revd Al Rycroft (priest-in-charge) – Chair David Stirk – Vice Chair Rob Hazell – Churchwarden (but moved away from York, July 2022) Jo Bloss – Churchwarden David Pennock – Treasurer Tom Dennis – Secretary Viv Pennock Anna Minihan Peter Platts Ruth Dunlop Will Mitchell (from April 2022) Maya James (until AGM in April 2022) Mr Gerald Snowden (Deanery Synod Representative) Revd Andy Hagon (curate, from June 2022)

There were six full PCC meetings during 2022

Church Attendance

As of April 2023, there were 112 on the electoral roll (39 resident, 73 non-resident). The average attendance figure for Sunday services in October 2022 was 80 adults and 22 children. In 2022, in-person services were no longer restricted by Covid regulations, but the option to view worship services online continued throughout, streamed live from the church building.

Church Services continued at 10.30am on Sundays, usually a Eucharistic Service, but with a monthly All Age Service of the Word. Children’s groups ran during our

non- all age services. We held communion services midweek through most of the year. We held special services (Christingle, Carol Service, Midnight Communion) in December.

Safeguarding: The PCC has an up to date safeguarding policy, displayed in the church and church hall. St Thomas’ follows guidance to ensure ‘safer recruitment’ of staff and volunteers. Staff and volunteers are appropriately trained according to Church of England guidance. The PCC has complied with the duty to have due regard to the House of Bishops’ safeguarding policy.

Through 2022, the Parish Safeguarding Representative was Alison Taylor. Ruth Dunlop was the PCC’s safeguarding link.

1

Review of 2022 and Priorities for 2023 (by Al Rycroft, Priest-inCharge)

As you may have noticed, I’m not the greatest planner and nor am I the best at taking time to reflect and look back. So when I come to write these reports, there is an element of scrabbling around to work out what on earth happened during the previous year. But what has been so clear each and every time I do look back is how God remains gracious and faithful; we can be so grateful that through all the highs and lows, the busyness and the bureaucracy, God’s love never changes.

2022 was in many ways the year in which things got ‘back to normal’ after the disruptions of Covid restrictions. But during Covid I remember saying many times that, while we didn’t want to change things just for the sake of it, we did have an opportunity to listen for where God might be leading us to do things differently as we got going again. I am delighted that our Sunday gatherings seem to have returned to their vibrant and loving pre-Covid pattern, but we must not be complacent and must do our best to stay alert to what God is saying to us as a worshipping community.

As we moved into 2023, a number of us felt that our priorities should be about relationships: first, our relationship with God, and a desire to get to know him better (as individuals and together); and second, our relationships with one another which perhaps remain more superficial since the disruptions of lockdowns etc. Many of us live such busy lives, and our lives in this age of technology have become so complex, that it can be very difficult to make time and space for God and for our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is in many ways a life’s calling, but this year perhaps we can make progress together in putting in place things that will help us grow. As I write in April, we have thought a lot about prayer so far in 2023, and we intend to continue to focus on growing in our love for God. As David prays, “teach me your way, O Lord… give me an undivided heart that I may honour you” (Psalm 86.11).

During 2022, Anne Wooldridge shared with me a vivid dream she had in which she was in a small house in Africa which had a patch of ground marked out in front of it, and she heard God say that she should focus on and cultivate what was in front of her. I think this has significance for us as a church, too. It seems that God has brought so many opportunities to us right here – people who join us on Sundays, who come along to the groups which run in the church hall, those we have ongoing relationships within our daily lives. Perhaps one thing he is saying to us at the moment is to give proper attention to what he is already doing, to the people who are already here among us.

If so, I think one of the most remarkable things about St Thomas’ in 2023 is the large and it seems growing number of children who are part of our church. What an immense

privilege it is that we as a community (a family) of all ages should have the opportunity to bless and to invest in these children who are so precious to God and who are growing up with a desperate need to know his love and his goodness in a complicated and all to often godless age. I’d love to ask you - each and every one who is committed enough to have read this far! – what you might be able to do in serving your family at St Thomas’, and in particular those younger members who are seeking the wisdom and the grace of God as they do the hard job of growing up. As you ask God that question, I’m sure he will give plenty of creative answers.

I do give thanks for all that is already happening, all that you are already contributing to God’s work here in the Groves. This is his world, this church is his project, and that is a very liberating thing to know! We are very grateful for all those who’ve joined us through 2022, and the arrival of a curate in Andy Hagon has been a new and a very encouraging experience for me, and I trust for you, too!

Through all the uncertainties of what lies ahead, we put our faith in the God who is unchanging and eternally loving, knowing that he will accomplish his good plans and purposes here in the Groves.

2 Financial Review for 2022 and Future Prospects

Total receipts on general unrestricted funds in 2022 were £99,316 and are detailed in the financial statements on pages 5 to7 of this report. £95,280 was spent to provide the Christian ministry from St Thomas’ Church, including the freewill offering of £34,728 to the Diocese of York, which largely provides the stipends and housing for the clergy.

Unsurprisingly all our work and worship costs increased compared to 2021, when there were still Lockdown restrictions for some of the year. This return to a more normal life, (though services are still streamed for those who wish to view from home), and the start of utilities price hikes at the end of the year contributed to the increases. General maintenance costs increased by £2,232 to £5,311, which included some essential roof maintenance and reseating and pointing of the ramp coping stones at the front of Church.

Planned Giving, collections, donations and Gift Aid Tax all increased to give a net result for the year of an excess of receipts over payments of £5,414 after transfers, which is a very good result and demonstrates the generous giving of our Church congregation.

Our total budgeted general fund expenditure for 2023 is £106,600, which equates to £2,050 per week. This is a large increase, however last year only saw the start of the utilities increases and we are now in a period of inflation from which the church is not immune. The majority of this money comes from the generous giving of the congregation at St Thomas’ Church. Church members are encouraged to use bankers’ standing orders to provide planned regular income. The budgeted requirement for Planned Giving is £80,300, or £1,544 per week. Where possible the use of Gift Aid to maximise donations by the recovery of income tax is encouraged. The tax reclaimed for the tax year 2021/22 was £14,745.

The general fund budget excludes the financing of any capital works on the structure of the Church, so in addition to all the general fund figures reported above the Building a Haven Project had fantastic, mostly in house fund raising of £33,276 last year. Expenditure on the project totalled £19,323 mostly on the purchase of the new chairs. A Community Café Fund was also created from external grants that totalled £15,822. This has funded all the improvements to the Kitchen and church hall undertaken since the start of this year.

In order to streamline some of our Restricted funds we have sold our COIF investment charity fund shares and the John Walker and Agar’s Gift charities have been amalgamated into our Outreach and Support fund and Building a Haven fund. Money from these charity holdings and the PCC’s own charitable giving amounted to £9,784, approximately 10% of our income. Support for Chris and Suzy Wilson given to CMS towards their mission costs in Ethiopia was £5,000 and a further £1,200 was provided to Louise Barclay towards her mission work in Belgium.

Reserves Policy

It is prudent for the PCC to maintain a balance of unrestricted funds, equivalent to 3 months unrestricted expenditure, £26,650 against the 2023 budget of £106,600. The balance of £51,292 on unrestricted funds at the year-end exceeded this target, however some of this balance may be required to assist with the Building a Haven project. £15,071 of our unrestricted funds are currently held in our CBF deposit fund, which is the Barbara Martin Fund. This is the amount transferred from that fund to pay the salary of our Haven Project Development Manager in 2021/22. This money will be transferred to our bank accounts as and when required.

David Pennock (PCC Treasurer)

3

Independent Examiner’s Report Report to trustees of the PCC of the Church of St Thomas with St Maurice, York (Charity no 1198054)

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Church of St Thomas with St Maurice, York, (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2022, set out on pages 5 to 7.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the 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:

• the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or

• the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or

• the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which

is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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.

Mrs Jane Kasiuk 20 Elmfield Avenue, York, YO31 9LS 9[th] March 2023

4

StThonBs Mfith CIMArh, LovAlvSbEe¢Yo FINANCLOL STATEfvf Nr5 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEf¥f ER J122 t￿l9r0 Fw R&tm"cted FL Totsl 2021 FLTrJ Fu)J 2022 RECEIPTS AK) PA)TrfNTS ACC0114r Re¢eiOs VdLrtary rerepts frum (knc15 Tax effcivt F4anned giiitTrJ ottrEr planwl gurKJ Coll￿￿'Cr6 Ott%f r￿urring gii1tW(k¢￿S NoTr￿uMng gilin￿{￿N￿bts Ir￿(￿ tax 59.842.C() 11.218.21 3.058.07 59.842.(K) 11,218.21 3.465.75 ,672 16.215 2.￿5 407.&8 6,359. 14.745.13 95.223.39 525.(Xl 1.720. 2.653.18 I7,￿7.Tr) 31.555.14 6￿.61 6,884.98 16.465.63 97.876.57 I7,￿7.(￿) 31.624.53 6￿.88 3.9)8.(x) 5.211.99 157.218.97 4,059 12.823 86,374 OttrKALrtary 277 249 4.307 frc¥n ctryj￿h ￿ti￿ti.e5 Otrer I￿onir@ rescuces 3.￿fj CX) 5.131.93 57,897.92 YJ.316 C 91,206 Cmrch actskib'es th"￿esan FreeMII OfknThJ 34.728.IK) .552.41 95,2￿.41 34.728.(Kl 87.465.35 122,193.35 33.075 63.425 ,500 26.912. 26,912.94 4.035.65 1,378.78 5.414.43 45.878.27 51.292.70 30.W.98 6￿.42 31.683 40 70.156.87 101,840.27 35,025.62 15,2941 11,170.561 11,165.571 1.165.57 35.932.26 117.2(X).71 153,132.97 15.2941 122,494 117,20L Bank CUT￿ (kfKtsit 11 Bank CL¥Wt (*it ￿c(￿ts 31 STATEfvENf OF ASSETS LIA8ILmES Ca4) F￿¥15 Bank Cl￿ert accwrt Bank depc6it acc￿ CBF dwsitftf 10.247.30 25.974.72 15.070.&8 51.292.70 10.247.30 72.018.76 70,866.91 153.132.97 3.￿9 41,983 71,308 117.201 46.W. s5,7￿.23 101.PAO.27 COIF Irrtestmwt FLnd ShyES sdd in 2022. Idecwse in in 2022 = £n51 6.764 51.292.70 101.840 27 153.132 97 123.965 The aitscfed c¥) fy7 tm) by the PCC cn 7th Fthkry 2023 aThJ si￿1 cn tsr Al Rycrolt IPCC Cts1[￿OnI DaKe P￿TrXk IPCC TtEasLru)

StT￿r￿s Mfflh St￿￿rICe Ctwrch. Lowttv Slrt York FWANCIAL sTATE￿￿TrIf5 FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEf4BER 21122 l Tr fiwncial slBterYEr5 ofthe PCC ha￿ been rAyrul in ￿c(Xthr￿e ilh the CFuEh AcciMJrtirvJ RegJlatior6 2rK irKJ RecaFts aThJ PaynHts b3SiS. Fund BaLar￿e Recaits PaYn￿ts TtBns BalatKe clf Ma￿"n J oh) walk￿ York Hdy TriThty J Walker SuTrYay Sch) Agafs Grft Restiicted / Charity l Furwdl Cc4lectic•)s Flowv FuTrl Creatiuty F￿d GtftPle OutrEach aThJ SupFXJt Building a Haw PrDiect Coryynunity C FWKI Acts 435 472.14 LOIO. 354.ff4 3,915.57 655. I4.793.￿) 1472.141 11.275.031 s5.7￿.23 261.23 1418.631 13rM).(KJi I655.￿) (22.811 1I.fy￿.3Ll 1,078.39 I4.723.￿) 136.33 I,fA)2.92 4,115. 2(H.73 2.CMX) ( 138.49 2,663.49 ICf6.88 14.115.f4Jl 8.839.56 2.445.59 9.044.29 18.398.40 15,649.37 150.(K) 101.840.27 33.275.64 .822.(KJ 270. 57.897.92 119.322.831 1172.631 1220.(K)I 126.912.941 Ico.(x) 70.156.87 6.42 t￿gna￿ Fun West F[￿t FurKI Fatrmic Fth 453.83 711.74 1458.821 (711.741 1,165.57 11,170.561 3 R￿e1￿S a￿1 PaynrtAWis Unrstrictej Furyl DeS￿￿￿tal F￿1 Resthctsj FurKI Total Totsl 2021 a ottw￿lun￿ Le￿cY R&unfng grants N(Tr￿u￿￿tyj I7.￿7.(K) I7.￿7.00 I7.￿7.[K) 17.907.(KI b Actiiitie5 frjr . rEreiKts Fuyl oisiNJ 69.39 69.39 31,555.14 31.555.14 31.624.53 31.624.53 277 277 c ReceisY5 from in￿1￿￿45 DIKId￿d5 aTrY int￿25t Rent from PCC POFkYty 35.28 650.61 69). 249 35.28 650.61 6￿.88 249 d ReceiFts frDm acmes Fees rptrirBY PCC Bcw)kstsll Letb'ThJ of Hall at)J Cmych R￿t frDm car Ferk 938.CA) 938.co 2.130. 2.130.(L) 2.203 760 4,307 3,￿.(X7 3.W.C e Oth¥ I￿otri1Yj ￿scA￿eS IrE￿alKe clai￿6 Loars Sale ofCOIF shJES 5.131.99 5.131.99 5.131.99 5.211.93

3 Paymk Ars Unre5thctEd FLnJ tk5igtklt&l Fln Re5trict8J FUTh Total 2022 Totsl 2021 f Church ￿tilItieS - tk7yn￿ts Costs of ge￿￿o.￿j FUNI oising costs E￿na￿"0r6 Igrantsl to chariti OKer56lS nNSSiC HonE ￿5510￿$ 5￿ular charitses Acb'iiti"es direcljy to cluch Salarie5. & h￿rariUm Wo￿1￿) ex￿6￿$ ofthe 1￿Ur￿£rt WcMkirKJ eX$￿Se5 ofassistrrt staff pa￿onage extthr Mission & e10Th￿l5￿ cists Church irsurarKe Churrh clearmr chU￿h adrrin costs Church rTr3inteTr3rKe costs Upkeep of serlices Upkeep ofchuchyard Ots PCC rADfty Lykeep SuKWt costs Loan irte￿t rkiid Church athinistrdtion arKJ thitistr&L¥ Gas costs E l££tricty cos15 Watwc(6ts Oil costs Costs oftsadiryJ Bookstsll costs Lettirg ditECt costs Parish n17￿211 c￿ts GoKemance cc6ts Major expvKlbJre Major rEFoif5 b) church bJ"Idr¥J5 Major tEFeit5 tr) church ￿711 New Ixm'ldiro C￿ nk3jor vKks 20.98 &2(XJ.04 2.750.(X) 2￿.[￿j 6,700.fy1 2,W.40 381.40 5,783 2,845 1.089 54.40 101.40 27.734.72 91.35 5,512.53 33,247.25 94.35 32,244 478.(X) L133.55 2.314.21 2.632.49 912.54 S311.22 1571.67 478. 2,312.49 2,314.21 2,632.49 912.54 5,311.22 3,EQO.51 1,178.91 1.446 2.243 2,543 1,007 3,079 2.609 22.84 L670.21 1,890.21 1,265 1212.3) L187.03 371.13 3,212.30 1,187.03 371. 2,292 833 178 .97 .97 85.(Xl 120 2,898 19,322.83 26.912.94 19,322.83 87.465.35 .552.41 63.424.76 4 ￿ exFef6es Feid to clew ir£lu a snEII inThri￿ txtwbcn vkn.ch rdates to ￿"r￿tion as PCC ￿￿ters. 5 W(king eX￿nSeS Of￿ alk(￿1 to cost cats. 6 No psyrfErts ¥￿[￿ tD PCC nErte5.

St Thomas with St Maurice Church General fund budqet 2023 Total INCOME Planned giving Collections Inco￿￿ tax 80,300 3.100 15.000 4.000 1.000 1.440 1.740 20 106600 1544 60 288 Donations Fees Car patking Hall incon Inte￿$t TOTAL 77 19 28 33 2050 Total Per Week EXPENDITURE Charity giving Support Chris & Suzy Support Louise Free Will Off ering Vicarage water Church & Hall running Maintenance Training i Scholarship Misson l Outreach Services Adrrmn 3.500 5,500 1,320 34.468 550 15,000 7.000 1.200 1.500 3.300 1.200 600 21.200 10.250 106588 67 106 25 663 li 288 135 23 29 63 23 12 Miscellaneous Lay Outreach Worker5 Children'5 Worker TOTAL 408 197 2050